A decade after the destruction of Cyberdyne Systems, John Connor lives as a wanderer, haunted by the loss of his mother, Sarah Connor, and the lingering fear of Skynet's pursuit. Despite the absence of the predicted human-machine war in 1997, John remains cautious, aware of the looming threat posed by the malevolent artificial intelligence. Unable to locate John directly in the past, Skynet deploys the T-X, a highly advanced Terminator equipped with a shapeshifting liquid-metal exterior and an indestructible metal endoskeleton. The T-X's mission is to eliminate key figures in the Resistance, including Kate Brewster, John's eventual spouse and ally. In a countermeasure, the Resistance sends a reprogrammed T-850 Terminator to safeguard both John and Kate, ensuring their survival against Skynet's relentless pursuit.