Kristanna cocked her head, standing in the doorway of Sarah's bedroom, waiting for her response. Sarah turned around, jumping at the sight of her standing there silently. "Jesus Christ!" She gasped. "What're you doing?" Sarah snapped, backing away.
"Waiting to assist you. You said you need money. I have some. Would you like me to go and get it?" Said Kristanna softly, remaining still.
Sarah shook her head. "Uh. No. We'll be fine. We're going to check out that safe house."
Kristanna sighed, approaching Sarah carefully. "I know you have no reason to trust me, Sarah. But I'm here to help. If I wanted you dead, we wouldn't be having this conversation. You need help, whether you want to admit it or not... If you'll allow me to, your mission could go much more smoothly." Her leather creaked as she moved.
Sarah scoffed, shaking her head. "But why? I-I just don't get it... Why would you help us? Never mind Fashion or Skynet. Why commit yourself to having a 'normal life'?"
It took a moment before Kristanna could respond. Sarah shook her head and walked away.
"Curiosity," She replied, glancing back at Sarah, who'd stopped at the door.
Sarah sighed, glancing back at her. "Alright. Get us the money. And take Cameron with you... I need to talk to John alone." she said, looking reluctant.
Kristanna nodded. "Of course." Pausing for a moment to calculate the route to her nearest bank, "I'll be about 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic."
Sarah smiled faintly. "Seen you later." Heading off to find John. Kristanna followed behind her momentarily before heading into the kitchen, spotting Cameron and smiling at her.
"Cameron. I'm heading to the bank to withdraw the money Sarah needs. She said to take you with me." She said with a smile, her red leather outfit creaking as she leaned on the countertop.
Cameron glanced at her plainly, cocking her head as she narrowed her eyes. Sarah popped around the corner moments later. "It's alright, go with her. We'll be fine." Cameron glanced at her as she nodded, disappearing again seconds later.
"Whenever you're ready. We'll take my car." Said Kristanna. Cameron didn't respond, heading for the front door as Kristanna followed behind her.
They head down the garden towards the street and jumping into the M3. Kristanna started the engine and pulled off, heading for the highway. Cameron sat in the passenger seat, gazing out the window. Weaving through traffic, she made quick progress getting to the bank. As she drove, she glanced over at Cameron, thinking about making small talk, but realised it would probably be pointless given Cameron's apparent lack of social skills.
"You have an interesting choice of clothes. I'm guessing you don't have any particular style in mind?" She remarked, keeping her eyes on the road.
Cameron looked at her. "No. I wear whatever fits and change them occasionally, or if they're damaged."
Kristanna nodded. "Fair enough. How about a shopping trip? I can help you get a sense of style? It would help you fit in better. I could help you in a few other ways too if you'd like?"
Cameron cocked her head. "You could teach me to be more human?"
"Yeah, I've had a few years to perfect my mannerisms and dialect. And I'm waiting on the opportunity to explore a few other aspects of human behaviour too." She replied.
"When can we start?" Cameron asked, looking as curious as a 300lb robot could look at least.
Kristanna smiled. "I can start some right now. But the more in-depth learning, I can always arrange to take you out again after we've dropped the money off to Sarah?"
"Okay. I'd like that." Cameron replied, gazing around the interior of the car.
Kristanna focused on the road as she turned onto the highway, checking her mirrors as she sped up to merge with the traffic flow. "You should try blinking a little more often. Humans don't tend to like it when you stare."
Cameron looked at Kristanna, blinking a few times. "That's better. If you remember to do it enough, it'll gradually become second nature. But don't overdo it, just remember, if you're looking at someone or something for more than a few seconds, then blink."
"Oh, and smile every now and then. Start small, a slight smirk maybe, no teeth. Then build up and try to judge when you think it's appropriate for a certain type of smile. But stick with small gestures for now." She added, keeping a close eye on an erratic driver passing on her right, taking note of their license plate as they came racing past well above the speed limit.
"I will keep that in mind." Said Cameron, once again gazing out the window.
Kristanna looked over at her, eyeing her body structure and other physical assets. She began a new subroutine via her extensive clothing database, matching the sizes and shapes she'd scanned with clothes she thought would suit her best or their nearest equivalent.
Eventually, they pulled into the parking lot outside a bank and jumped out. Kristanna opened the trunk and pulled out a lockable briefcase before heading inside with Cameron at her side. Together they stood in line, waiting to be seen by a clerk.
As they waited, Kristanna gazed around idly, assessing the room's layout and how many exits it had using her onboard sensors.
Scanning: Lifesigns detected... 18.
Exits available... 3.
Threat level... low.
Social interaction required: Persuasive subroutines on standby...
A tannoy called out a clerk's number, and the two of them approached, greeted by a middle-aged woman who smiled at them.
"Hi, how may I help you today?"
Kristanna smiled back. "Hey, I'd like to make a withdrawal, please."
"Of course, Miss, can I take your name and address, please?"
"Kristanna Loken... Trousdale Estates, Beverly Hills..." She replied, giving the lady her full address, which Cameron secretly memorised.
After running her details, the clerk nodded. "Alright, Miss Loken, how much will you be withdrawing today?"
Kristanna leaned closer and lowered her voice slightly so as not to draw unwanted attention "30 Thousand dollars, please."
The clerk paused for a moment, stopping to double-check what she heard "30 thousand?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Bear with me one moment, please. I'll need my manager's approval before I can clear this." said the Clerk, reaching for a phone behind the counter.
"Of course, take your time." Kristanna smiled. A manager emerged a few moments later to ask Kristanna a series of questions regarding what she needed the cash for and why. Kristanna quickly formulated a cover story, using Cameron to pose as a family relation who needed work done to their house and was asked if they could pay in cash.
A few minutes later, she got approved, and the clerk began counting her money. Kristanna put the briefcase on the counter and loaded it up. Once done, the clerk bid her fair well and Cameron and Kristanna head back to the car.
On the way back, Kristanna spotted a fancy dress in a shop window. She stopped to view it before shaking her head and moving on. Cameron cocked her head. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"If I stop, I'll end up buying it. Let's get going." Kristanna sighed, pressing on towards the car. Cameron followed. They jumped in, and she started the car. "No, no, no... You don't need it." Kristanna muttered to herself, sighing as she resisted her urge to buy stuff.
Back at the house, John and Sarah discussed having Kristanna around. "I'm not sure about her... Something just doesn't seem right. She's too human. Seeing one of them blending in like that worries me."
John shrugged. "You could say the same about Cameron; she's almost the same... Apart from the years of experience, the other one has. If she's as advanced as she says she is, we should give her a chance. I mean, she's had plenty of opportunities to kill us both already..." he replied, sitting in the kitchen with Sarah opposite him.
"To be honest, I'm not sure I trust either of them. They're machines! Don't get me wrong, Cameron has been useful on occasion..." said Sarah, but John cut in moments later.
"And Kristen, or whatever she's called, is supposedly more advanced. I think we're wasting an opportunity getting rid of her; imagine what she could do to help us... We need every ally we can get, machine or not. I'm not comfortable with them around either, but it's better than fending for ourselves." he said.
"Maybe so. And you're right. We need everyone we can get. But my instincts say somethings not right. It doesn't help they're both attractive young women... Cameron is attached to you enough as it is. And you're a hormonal teenager!" said Sarah.
John shook his head. "Oh, mum, for God's sake! Stop!" Getting up to walk away in disgust.
"John, I'm serious! I don't want either of them making advances on you, and god forbid you to them. You're still a kid, and they're machines!" Sarah snapped firmly.
"Look, mum, I don't care about any of that! We've got more important things to worry about, like saving all of humanity! And if we're gonna have any chance of saving it, we need them with us." John snapped back, sighing as he sat back down with his head in his hands.
Sarah looked at him for a moment, feeling sorry for him having such an enormous burden placed on his shoulders, feeling the same weight on her own also. "We'll see how things play out. If Kristanna stays true to her word, then she can stay."
John nodded, still disgusted that she suggested he'd make moves on either of the terminators. As good as they looked, he'd thought he'd never be able to look past what they really were.
