The Terminator (Terminator)

Overview
The T-800 "Terminator" Model was the primary antagonist of 1984 The Terminator film as portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. However the popularity of the character and the actor has given rise to his shift as a heroic protagonist, often pitting himself against more sophisticated "Terminator" Models such as the T-1000, the T-X, and the T-3000 in the sequel movies as a defender of humanity.

Background
The T-800 is the first cybernetic organism created by Skynet which consists of living tissue of flesh, skin, hair, blood, and body fluids covering a hyperalloy endoskeleton. It was so successful that Skynet would mass produce a number of this model including the T-850 and the T-888.

Heavily based on previous Terminator models such as the T-90 which was the basic field combat units; Skynet attempted to create a series of infiltrator models to destroy the Human Resistance. It's immediate predecessor was the T-600 which had a rubber skin of synthetic latex which were easily spotted by the Resistance resulting in Skynet developing the T-800 models.

The cloned biological tissues gave the T-800's enabled them to pass for humans as they could bleed, sweat, and breath. Further, they would slowly heal injuries and even show signs of aging which enabled the T-800's to pass as a human being for extended periods. Even a thermal scanners would not be able to tell the difference between a T-800 and a human being.

The T-800 was originally sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor by its creator and programmer, Skynet; an artificial intelligence defense network that gained self-awareness and seeks the eradication of humanity. The plan was to kill her before the birth of her future son, John Connor who grows up to be Skynet's primary adversary and later permanently deactivates it.

Successive models of the outdated T-800 model have also been reprogrammed by the Human Resistance and have served as protectors and soldiers against the Machines.

Personality and Traits
The Terminator is a cyborg with living skin, blood, and hair overlaying a hyperalloy chasis under-skeleton. This allows the Terminator to be more adept as passing for a human being as it appears to sweat, smell, and even bleed. However, despite its superior camouflage which is able to fool human senses; animals such as canines can readily detect just what the Terminators truly are.

It is primarily a military infiltration unit and assassin and has extensive programming in human psychology and anatomy. This allows it to predict human behavior to a certain degree and also function as more efficient killers but they only a very limited personality; deliberately so on part of Skynet as it would require them to be much more intelligent and self-aware and thus a potential threat to itself.

Trivia

 * The Terminator is the sole character who appears simultaneously on the American Film Institute's 100 Heroes and Villains List for his roles as a villain in the 1984 Terminator film and as a hero in the 1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Quotes

 * Listen, and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.
 * "I'll be back." ―The Terminator; The Terminator
 * "Come with me if you want to live!" ―The Terminator to Sarah Connor; Terminator 2: Judgment Day
 * "Hasta la vista, baby." ―The Terminator; Terminator 2: Judgment Day
 * "You are Terminated!" ― The Terminator; Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
 * "I'm back!" ―The Terminator; Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
 * "Desire is irrelevant. I am a machine!" ―The Terminator; Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines