P3R50NLTY fUNCti0N

John Connor

&

Cameron Phillips

"I had planned on waiting for you with Derek's sniper rifle."

Her soft footsteps were barely audible as her bare feet brushed against the wooden floor. The pink pajama pants that she wore dragged at her feet because they were slightly too long for her. It was too cold a night to be wearing just a tank top but then again Cameron didn't feel cold. Or at least it was something that she wasn't bothered with.

She had decided to wear pajamas even though it was unnecessary since she didn't sleep. Nonetheless here she was walking in her pink pajama bottoms and white tank top. If anyone didn't know any better they would say that she looked like a normal girl. Or at least…almost normal except for the M041 rifle that she carried in her arms. It crossed diagonally across her chest as she made her way towards the east end of the house.

Just as many times before she would let her mind drift off into her past and John's near future.

The brunette followed closely at his heels in heat of the battle. There was dirt caked on her face and an evident lesion just above her brow that revealed her endoskeleton underneath. Just a few yards in front of her was John Connor holding a M-4 carbine assault rifle. He too, just like her, had a laceration that extended from the bottom of his left cheek to the corner of his eye. Except there blood flowed freely from the cut unlike hers.

In the midst of all the chaos she kept a watchful eye on him, knowing his location at all times. She would check constantly, looking over her shoulder, as if afraid that he would leave her behind. There were only a few of them from the twenty that began the raid.

Glancing to her left she locked onto his location. There were two other people with him who she did not bother identifying. He was roughly only thirty two meters away. She continued to observe him until they locked eyes. He gave her a reassuring nod as if to calm her nerves. She watched him pull out a walkie talkie, which every raider was equipped with, from his belt. From her position she saw his mouth move as he spoke into the mouth piece. There was a .53 second delay until his message and his voice reached her communication device latched on to her waist.

"Our target is the main factory's power source located on the lower level," she heard him say. "We only have a limited window so get in, get out. No mistakes."

The heat from the fire the raiders had set as a distraction was beginning to warm her cheek. From her standpoint she watched several terminators leave the complex from the west entrance and towards the flames. It was several seconds until she heard hurried footsteps and gravel being crushed beneath someone's weight. Looking up she saw the barrel of rifle pointed at her skull just above the tip of her ear. She spared the intruder a simple glance and identified him.

Scanning… … … Retrieving Files… … …

Name: Male - Derek Reese.

Age: Middle Thirties.

Known Affiliations: Resistance Member. General John Connor's uncle.

Other Information: Refrain from using girlfriend vernacular

He wasn't going to shoot her…no…but that didn't mean the temptation wasn't still there. His arm dropped along with the rifle to his side as she kneeled down beside her.

"Derek Reese. The west entrance is one hundred thirty three point sixty four yards north east of our position. Factoring your weight and physical fitness it will take you twelve point fifty four seconds to reach the destination point. I will make it in ten point thirty four," Cameron stated in monotone.

The older male cocked an eyebrow at the machine. . He would have argued, but he knew that it was no use. However that didn't stop him from developing an irrefutable hatred of it. Tilting his rifle he checked his gun for the third time that night. It was loaded…it always was. Old habits seemed to die hard.

"Why don't you just worry about your self and the mission before you start worrying about me," he rebuked using a spiteful tone.

The brunette stared at him and blinked dubiously. "It will take you two point twenty two more seconds to reach the objective. You will go first and I will follow," she began. "I will cover you."

Derek fought back a scoff as he tore his eyes away from hers. He let his head fall to the ground and tried to shake off the many thoughts in his head. If he could he would kill his nephew for making him work with her. There were so many other thoughts. There were so many proceedings that shouldn't have been done.

She shouldn't have been there.

She shouldn't have been fighting with them.

She shouldn't have been assigned to this mission.

If it was up to Derek he would have taken his gun and pointed it to the back of her head. Taken his pocket knife and stab it deep into her skull ripping out her chip as he did so. It would have solved a lot of his problems and he would probably be praised for his efforts. He knew that he wasn't the only one that wanted her gone.

Only on problem: John.

There were several things wrong with her presence in the resistance but most of all it was her intimacy with John that send people over the edge. People would ask what was it that he saw in that metal? And Derek knew it was because she looked like her. And it was because she looked like her, was the reason he had kept her around for so long. Or at least that's what he thought…

"I don't need your help, Metal," Derek argued

He took a quick survey of the field and when it was clear he kicked off from his crouched position. He ran gaining speed with step. He sprinted off to the west entrance leaving Cameron behind without sparing a second glance.

She watched him leave their cover until he was a few yards away. Twenty point twenty two seconds later she followed him.

"Pull the trigger."

Her eyes scanned the yard from the window onto two shadowed figures about fifty meters away. To the natural eye they would appear as fleeting shadows or two vague figures. Except to Cameron she could see the distinct face of John with a familiar blonde. The pupil of her eye dilated as she zoomed in on the two people.

Riley stood adjacent to John wearing a flirtatious smile. Her head tilted slightly caused her blonde hair to fall softly on her profile as John stood across from her with a yielding smirk on his face. The two seemed to be talking carelessly and oblivious to the world around them.

Requesting offensive systems…

Authorization Required.

Cameron Phillips.

Accepted. Booting up offensive systems…

He didn't understand. Riley was a threat and that he put her in danger. But he wouldn't listen. Not to Sarah, not to Derek, and not to her.

But she understood a lot more than John knew.

Offensive systems online. Welcome Cameron Phillips.

Termination analysis. Target: Female; Riley.

Termination not required

Override. Activate Termination.

Input Target: Female. Riley

Location: 48.35 meters north.

There were three of them now. Derek, Cameron, and John. And there were only nine raiders left when the team made the move to enter the factory. Derek and John were breathing heavily while Cameron kept a watchful eye as they caught their breath. Blood, sweat, and dirt mixed on their skin. The slash on Cameron's brow had grown into a large gash going down her left eye to reveal the red hardware underneath. Now more than ever she looked like the machine that everyone tried to make Connor see.

They were several meters away from the factory's power source. All they had to do was place and set explosives so they could set it off from the outside. Derek ruffled through his pack and took out the three chargers to set them.

Meanwhile Connor checked his gun to see that it was half loaded. He only had one more magazine before he would be out of ammunition. If he was worried it didn't reveal on his face. Beside him Cameron watched him keenly. Upon seeing his low supplies she reached into her pocket revealing her last magazine. She looked at it briefly before holding it out to him.

He caught her movement at the corner of his eyes and it took a second to realize her intentions.

"There are nine raiders remaining from the initial twenty. We are out numbered and my functioning capacity has dropped significantly. There is only a seventy four percent chance of survival and sixty seven percent chance of success. This will increase your offense by two percent," she explained to him.

He looked at her as she tried to read the emotion in his features. There was a hint puzzlement and sadness reflected in his eyes.

She was always trying to protect him.

She was looking after him, even now in the future when she didn't have to. Even when she wasn't told or programmed to.

He understood why she did the things she did and why she acted the way she acted. Sometimes she was completely illogical and irrational. Sometimes reckless and thoughtless with all disregard to her sense of self preservation.

But even with the metal exposed she was different from the rest of them.

Because sometimes she showed compassion. Sometimes she showed concern. And sometimes she did things that she did because she wanted to.

It only took a moment before he gave her his answer.

"Keep it because either way I'm not leaving without you," he replied seriously.

Cameron tilted her head in confusion and even with her half metal face he swore he could see the confusion and concern in her eyes.

Before she was allowed to talk Derek shoved a charger in each of their hands while holding one in his own. Cameron and Connor both looked at Derek surprised. Up until now he hadn't said anything and his presence was forgotten.

"They're all ready. All we need to do is set them in place," Derek said firmly.

Connor nodded turning to take a survey of the area. "Let's get to work," he said sharply.

Beside him Cameron reluctantly pocketed the magazine.

She knew better than to argue with John Connor.

"One shot."

Cameron took note of their position doing several calculations.

It would only take the bullet one point three seconds to breach the blonde. Her hand gripped the handle of the M041 rifle as she lightly brushed the trigger. Riley and John continued to talk as Cameron watched intently from afar. She focused on the female as the M041 rifle in her arms lifted up to her eye level.

It was a clear shot.

And she would only need one.

It was almost too easy.

But…she was a threat…and she had to protect John.

"Do you know how bad I'd have felt?"

It was complete confusion and disarray. There were too many things to examine and calculate. The flames consuming the building lit up the shadows before it turned into smoke filling the sky. The eight remaining raiders were running towards the convoys eager to make an evacuation. As the people ran past her she was facing the other way towards the inferno taking small steps towards him.

Her eyes zoomed in on John as he and another resistance fighter tried to fight off a T-950.

Scanning…Retrieving files

Confirmed: John Connor and Blair Williams.

Location: 102.4 meter SW.

Retrieving Files… … …

Name: Female; Blair Willaims

Age: 28

Occupation: Pilot

Known Affiliations: Resistance

Taking a step forward she loaded her rifle with her last magazine she tried to give to Connor. Her left leg suffered a deep cut down to her endoskeleton causing her steps to stagger. With her full functioning capability she would be able to reach them in a matter of seconds but her damages were starting to hinder her.

There was a barely audible clicking sound with each step she took from the metal in her leg. Her HUD flashed red as a warning replayed over and over.

Warning.

Damage to left femoral endoskeleton.

Multiple components needed of repair.

Immediate attention required.

Failure to do so result in automatic shut down.

Warning. Damage….

She didn't care. She needed to get to him.

From far away she saw John sprint towards the machine. It was like a scene from a nightmare. One of the T-950's eyes had been damaged and had lost its red glow. An arm was missing and most of its torso was covered in blood…most likely a human's blood.

Blair, whom had stumbled when trying to escape, was crawling on the ground. As she tried to crawl back up the cyborg reached down with its one arm and grabbed the girl by her back collar hurling her up off the ground effortlessly.

"Blair!" John called he ran closer to them.

He saw the fear I her eyes as her raven hair fell down in front of her face. She tried to squirm free clawing at the metal arm that held her captive.

"Connor!" she managed to cough out. "Run!"

He ignored her request as he continued towards them. Sweat and blood dripped down his face as he pulled up his gun. As the T-950 held up the petite female it left him open and vulnerable to attack. With its extensive damage it wouldn't take a lot to take it down.

He would only need one shot.

The terminator looked at him stationary for a moment but it was too late. He was too late to calculate his mistake as Connor pulled back the trigger.

Connor froze.

There was no sound.

No bullet.

No shot.

Connor struggled with the rifle as he pulled the trigger again...and again…several times until he came to the realization that he had no more ammunition.

Damn.

"Connor!" Blair cried as she chocked in pain kicking at the cyborg.

"Shit!!" he cursed as he dropped his gun.

It didn't take long for the cyborg to analyze what had just happened. As if satisfied it took a step forward towards Connor still holding the girl up in its arm.

In Connor's eyes there was a flash of fear before he started to formulate a plan in his head…except…

There was no plan.

There was no escape.

But there was Cameron.

She had finally made her way towards him despite her functional state. Standing adjacent to the three of them she glanced back and forth between John and the Terminator whom still held Blair captive. Her face revealed no emotion as she pulled the M401 rifle up.

Analyzing… … …

Ammunition: Low

Objective: Protect John Connor.

She pointed it at the terminator and the female.

"Oh god…" he whispered out loud.

Realization hit John for the second time that night as he saw Cameron aiming for the machine…with Blair in front of it.

Warning.

She was aiming for the T-950 and she wasn't going to try to save Blair while she was at it.

Immediate attention required…

"Wait! Cameron!! Wait!! " John yelled at her. He felt his mind pull him in two different directions. One towards Blair the faithful and loyal resistance fighter or hyperalloy combat chassis.

Initiating automatic shut down

But she wasn't going to listen to him.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The sound of the firing rifle echoed through the empty space several times. John watched in horror as he watched each bullet hit Blair going through her fragile body piercing the T-950's endoskeleton on the other side. The terminator dropped the female's lifeless body as it slumped down to the ground with each shot. But even when it was down on the ground she continued to fire until she was out of bullets. Until the terminator and the female laid dead side by side on the ground.

"Cameron! No!!" He called in vain watching the horrid scene unfold.

Shutting down

But his pleas never reached her.

John watched as the rifle fell from Cameron's hand before her body crashed down to the ground just as Blair's and the T-950's.

"Cameron!!"

But his words would never reach her.

"Not bad at all."

Cameron stood still as if she was waiting for something. Calculating. She was frozen in time with her finger on the trigger.

From the shadows was still watching them with the gun in her hand ready to shoot. She calculated how the much the glass would slow the bullets momentum and how long it would take for her to terminate if the bullet reached her head instead of her heart. Riley's lips moved as she spoke meaningless talk to John.

And then he smiled once again.

He looked at Riley with relaxed eyes as he laughed at whatever it was that the blonde had said.

Cameron's eyes lingered on him studying his features. He was so easy to read unlike him in the future. She had seen that face on him before…she didn't see it too much in the future.

He didn't smile often in the future. Because in the future there were only a few fleeting glances where she caught a look of regret or sadness.

And she didn't want him to stop smiling.

She stepped away from the window lowering her rifle. They were on the front porch now. They were close enough that she could hear their conversation if she wanted to…but she didn't. Waiting in the shadows she watched them smile and laugh awkwardly. John had his hands in his pockets while Riley had her hands folded in front of her.

She saw Riley's lips move and John to shift his weight uncomfortably. The girl twisted her body and inched closer…and closer.

"But I know someone who would have felt bad.

The convoy rocked back and forth on the dirt path. It was making its way towards the base with three inhabitants. Two were human and one was machine. Derek sat in the passengers seat as John sat beside him driving. Meanwhile Cameron's lifeless body was laid in the back.

Her clothes were torn and tattered just as John and Derek's. They each had suffered their fair share of injuries but Cameron looked as if she was falling apart. For the duration of the ride they sat in silence.

When they reached the base Connor carried Cameron's body into one of the many rooms and began to work on her damages. There were many whispers and stares as he carried her through the camp. It didn't help that the majority of her skin was missing and the metal was clearly visible. There was no damage to her chip only her body so it wouldn't take long until he would have her back online. He continued to work in silence for an hour until the he heard the door open.

He let out a sigh not looking up from his work. "I said for no one to bother me."

"So are you going to tell me what happened back there?" Derek asked ignoring him.

Connor knew it was coming.

"What are you-"

"Where the hell is Blair?" he asked accusingly.

"I told you. I'm not explaining this to you again," he rebuked. He barely spared Derek a glance as he continued to work.

"That's not what I meant," Derek added.

"Then why don't you say what you mean," he snapped back.

"I mean," Derek started "What the hell are you going to do about it?"

"It…meaning…"

"The fucking machine Connor!" Derek yelled finally snapping. "Don't play stupid with me. What are you going to do about the Metal," he said looking at Cameron for a moment. "If you asked me you should get rid of her now…it would be easier now that she's shut down."

Derek took a dangerous step towards Cameron.

Out of the corner of his eye John saw this movement. He sprang from his chair almost knocking it backwards. He had a look of anger and turned to face his uncle, standing in between him and Cameron. "Don't--"

"Don't what Connor? You're going to pick that machine over your own people? She killed Blair in cold blood! Or don't you remember?" Derek interrupted.

"You don't think I know that!?" John started to yell. "She was trying to help!"

"Yeah I don't think you know that. Or maybe you've forgotten that there are people outside that are willing to die for you. Just like Blair did. The metal is dangerous and unpredictable."

"And what human isn't? What would you have done if you were in Cameron's situation? Huh Derek? She did the one thing that she thought was necessary," John argued.

Derek paused contemplating his next words. His eyes fell on Cameron's body and he shook his head in disapproval. He couldn't believe that he was trying to fix her. "She needs to go, Connor." He dared to take another step towards the machine.

Before he could take the step John placed a firm hand on Derek's chest to stop him in his tracks.

"No one touches her," he said firmly.

Someone who would never forgive me if I had done that."

A small click echoed in the silence as John entered the house. As she stood in the shadows she focused in on his lips that curved slightly at the corners forming a smile. He never smiled…anymore…at least not to her. But here he was smiling as he walked through the front door.

He only smiled when he was the Riley.

"Why does she make you smile?" Cameron blurted out.

Cameron's sudden outburst caused John to jump back nearly knocking into the wall as he tried to find her location. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dark lit room. It wasn't until later that he saw her standing in the shadows near the window.

"What the hell are you doing there?!" he asked after regaining his composure. He kept his voice at a reasonable level. After all everyone else was asleep…more or less.

"I'm securing the perimeter," was her reply.

He looked at her skeptically. He opened his mouth to speak but wasn't able to formulate any words. It wasn't that she was cradling and assault rifle. Cameron carrying a gun wasn't anything out of the ordinary. But he kept looking at her up and down trying to make sense of the scene before him. She was barefoot nonetheless with pink pajama pants with a white tank top that showed her navel. Her brown curls swept around her round shoulders and her slender arms. He blinked before he was able to snap himself out of it.

"Wait---What…are you wearing??" he finally asked her giving her a judgmental look.

Cameron tilted her chin down looking at her outfit as if she had forgotten what she was wearing.

"Pajamas."

John shook his head in frustration at her one word answer. "No—I mean. I see that. Why are you wearing them?" he asked her folding his arms in front of his chest.

The cyborg tilted her head as if confused at his question. He would get a simple answer to his simple question.

"It's night time," she replied.

"I know that but you don't sleep. You don't need to wear any pajamas," he said.

"Yes, you are right. I do not sleep but Sarah does not approve when I walk around without clothes."

John let out a defeated sigh knowing that he would never receive a logical explanation for her attire…or at least one that he wanted to hear.

"Alright whatever…" he finally said turning to go up the stair way.

Before he did so he saw Cameron return to watching out the window with the gun in her arms as if she was scared someone would take it away from her.

A nagging question poked at his mind as he saw her looking out the window.

"We're you spying on me?" he asked pivoting to face her once again.

Without glancing back at him she gave him another one answer question.

"No."

He looked at her wanting more information but knew he was waiting in vain.

"I was securing the perimeter," she added as her eyes scanned the front porch. "You should not have been with Riley-"

"That's none of your business" he interrupted.

"In an open area," she continued. "You made yourself and her an easy target. You should be more careful."

"So…what? You were just lurking her in the shadows like a freaky stalker ready to shoot her if she tried anything?" he asked half sarcastic but afraid of the answer.

This time Cameron turned to face him as if angered by his question. She took a step forward and lowered her voice to an almost inaudible whisper.

"If I was going to kill her I would have done it already," she said with a blank face.

She lingered in his presence for another moment before turning on her heel. Taking her gun with her she continued to secure the perimeter leaving John to his thoughts alone in the dark. John furrowed his brow looking at her fleeting form before he managed to step back. For a moment he could have sworn he saw something.

A memory?

Guilt?

Something that she remembered long ago.

He didn't know…

Disclaimer: I do not own Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles

Thank you DragonSeraphin, KirijamaScion, yume girl 91, xxYoursTrulyxx, and badkidoh for your reviews!

Yay! So more John and Cameron in this chapter...sorry it was so long!