Knives For Hands || John Connor

viii. Terminated

he couldn't breathe. a tire rolled out of the fire, and john watched as the guy who had his gun trained on it relaxed and put it away.

"the fuck was that, huh?! do you realize what you just did?" john screamed at him. "you killed her! fucking asshole!" tears were started to form, but he hastily wiped his eyes.

"the girl is fine."

"fuck you!" his vision swan with tears as he watched the fire.

they drove down the street, and after a while john couldn't take it anymore. he took a few shaky breaths and said "okay, time out, stop the bike," he signaled a time out and continued, "time out, come on, stop the bike."

the guy weaved out of traffic and slowly came to a stop. john immediately jumped off. he wanted to know who the hell this guy is, thinking he could just come in and wreck his entire life.

john's eyes seemed distant, elsewhere, as he stared at the man in front of him. "so," he started, "don't take this the wrong way or anything, but you're a terminator, right?" as he spoke, it was hard to miss the way his voice shook.

"yes. cyberdyne's systems, model 101."

he walked around the guy, and studied the bullet holes in his jacket. he stuck his finger in one of them, no blood. he let out a breath. "you're- you're really real?"

the guy didn't have any change in expression. john caught his breath again, "i- i mean, you're like a machine underneath, right? but sorta alive outside?"

"i am a cybernetic organism, living tissue over metal endoskeleton." his voice was completely monotone. no emotion whatsoever.

john poked the guy's face a few times. "this is intense," he whispered. "get a grip, john. okay," he took a few more deep breaths, "um, you're not here to kill me, i figured that part out for myself. so, what's the deal? why'd you leave (y/n) back there?" john barked, tears beginning to form in his eyes at the mere mention of her.

"my mission is to protect you. protecting the girl is unnecessary."

"yeah?" his voice rose in pitch. "who the hell sent you to protect me? and not her?"

"you did. 35 years from now, you reprogrammed me to be your protector here."

"bullshit!" john sighed. when the terminator didnt respond, he simply threaded his hands in his hair with a shaky breath.

ꫛ

everything was on fire. she could see the cop melt in to flames, but was building back fast. as she scrambled out, she saw the gray pigment of her metal melt off her arms. she stumbled down to the pavement just in time to see john wipe tears from his eyes and start to drive off with the big guy.

she didn't know what do from here. her best bet is to put a tracker on their bike. she doesn't really trust her aim, but it's worth a shot.

she formed a small piece of metal from her hand and separated it. if she could get in on the bike, she'd sense the piece. she threw it as hard as she could, and it stuck to a part of the wheel.

the big guy looked at her, but then looked away, noticing she wasn't a threat to them. now, for her bike.

ꫛ

the terminator pulled them into a store's parking lot out of town, next to a phone booth.

"do you really think she's okay?" john asked softly. he was practically begging for her to be okay. she's not dead. if he said it enough, he'd believe it.