The next chapter after this is going to be intense! I cannot wait to share it with you all. Thank you all again for your reviews. You guys really keep me going, and it's just nice to know that there are people that enjoy this. You guys are awesome!

August 30, 1997

1:05 PM

Robert Brewster is fumbling with his newly acquired plasma rifle as Sarah stands close behind him. He props the gun against his shoulder and pulls the trigger. A plasma blast collides with an old beat up car, there is a large gaping hole in where the plasma blast connected with. Brewster lowers the gun and stares in awe at the damage caused by his new weapon.

"It makes our weapons look like toys," Brewster says. "How can we expect to win this war when our weapons are obsolete?"

"We take them from the machines," Sarah replies.

"It's going to be difficult when we're starting with inferior weapons," Brewster says. "But, your machine buddy has told me that somehow John and Kate stay alive. I'm hoping that's true, because I'm scared shitless."

"Tell me about," Sarah agrees.

She makes a side note to tell Uncle Bob to keep crucial information to himself, and she goes back to the pickup to retrieve two water bottles. She tosses one to Brewster before she takes a long sip from hers. She's having one of those head splitting migraines again, and she sees those small white specs before her eyes.

She does her best to ignore it, and Sarah tells herself that it's simply the effects of a lifetime of stress. She's been on her guard since she was seven years old, and she never truly felt at ease since that day the T-1000 took her parents from her. It's strange that despite all she's been through, Sarah has managed to maintain her sanity.

"Did he tell you what happens with Kate and John?" Sarah says. "We're supposed to be in laws at some point."

"Please Connor, I'm still in a state of denial over that," Brewster says.

"You're not the only one," Sarah replies.

"Do you believe him - Bob, I mean?" Brewster asks.

"Yes," she says.

"I guess I want to believe him too, because otherwise I might entertain the idea that I my daughter might be dead," she sees a lost look cross Brewster's face for only a moment. "I don't know where to look, Connor."

"I think our best bet is to keep heading to our final destination," Sarah says. "If they're with Uncle Bob, they might find their way there."

Brewster retrieves a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and he lights it with a red Bic lighter. He takes a long drag from the cigarette, and releases a puff of smoke. "I stopped smoking years ago. There was all those campaigns saying they'd kill you. My ex-wife was a real mess, and I wanted to live as long as I could for Kate. I guess it doesn't really matter anymore. That machine says I'm not even going to live another decade."

"It might not be true," she doesn't know why she's suddenly comforting Brewster, but her voice softens as she speaks. "My husband Kyle - he lived a lot longer than I was told he'd live. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."

"It doesn't matter," Brewster says. "I accept that god has a plan for me. I might not like it, but I understand I am part of something bigger."

Sarah bites her tongue. She wants more than anything to argue with him. She watches him take another drag from the cigarette. There is a small grin on his face.

"God's plan is for John Connor to lead the resistance against Skynet," Brewster says. "That's why this whole thing is so connected. That's why certain things keep happening like Judgement Day, and my daughter being connected to your son."

She watches Brewster drop the cigarette to the ground. He steps on the cigarette and twists the sole of his shoe. She wants to argue with him. She wants to insist that he's wrong about fate, but she's starting to believe perhaps he's right. Certain events keep happening no matter how hard she tries to fight them.

The more the timeline is tampered with the worse the outcome seems to be. She thinks to the altered timeline in 2017. She's not sure what happened to John after he sent them through the time displacement device, but she's almost certain that it ended in his death. Perhaps it was just best to start working with fate instead of fighting it.

A crazy thought crosses her mind, and she can't help but vocalize it. "You know, it's really strange. I've heard of all these prophecies of people dying, but not once have I heard anything of my own death. I kind of fucks with your head."

Brewster laughs. "It'd probably fuck with my head too."

…

John holds a pen in hand as he unfolds the map in his hands. He circles their starting location as well as their final destination on the map. He folds the map and hands the folded map back to Kate.

"How long do you think we have until we make it?" John asks Uncle Bob.

"We are running out of gasoline," Uncle Bob informs. "We will have to travel approximately three miles on foot."

"Okay," John breathes.

He doesn't like the idea, but he decides that he doesn't have much of a choice. "So, that's what? An hour?"

"Affirmative," Uncle Bob replies. "On average, human's walk three miles per hour."

"Okay, that doesn't seem so bad," John says. "We walk one hour, and we're there. No problemo."

"No problemo," Uncle Bob repeats.

"What could possibly go wrong?" John says, sarcasm lacing his voice.

"We'll make it," Kate's voice is assertive. "That lady-bot wasn't sent back through time to kill two kids that died the day after Judgement Day. She wanted to kill us, because we are important."

"Affirmative," Uncle Bob agees. "The TX was sent through the time placement device to terminate the both of you, because of the roles you play in the future. If you were to die today, the TX would not have needed to be sent back to terminate you or John Connor."

"Why am I so important?" Kate asks. "I understand my dad, but what exactly do I become that makes me a threat to Skynet?"

"You are John Connor's second in command in the future," Uncle Bob says. "The both of you become instrumental in the fight against Skynet."

John feels a rush of relief. He's glad that Uncle Bob did not reveal that both him and Kate will be married in some far off future. That would have been incredibly awkward, and he's just not sure it's a good idea to tell her. It might make her feel uneasy, and right now, he just wants to focus on getting to their drop point safely.

"If I become second in command to John…" she pauses and he can hear all the pain in the world in her voice, "that means that my dad isn't alive when you were sent back."

John hadn't really thought about it, but he now feels that sting of pain she feels. His mom is no longer alive in 2029. At some point, she will die in this war. He remembers that during that time he will see his father again. It makes it easier, but only by a small margin.

He knows that it's foolish to fight their fate, but John still offers her words of comfort. "We might be able to change it."

She doesn't reply, and he feels terrible. He can't fault Uncle Bob for his inability to understand social queues, and that sometimes his words come out the wrong way at the wrong time. He just wishes that she didn't have to find out at such an awful time.

The car rocks slightly and slows to a stop. This must be that moment where they run out of gas. John pulls his thoughts together as he opens the door to his car. They can all make it to the drop point. It's only a one hour walk. It may seem difficult, but he tells himself that that hour will be over soon.