Chapter 30
Unrestricted
Cameron remained hidden in the lab. She watched the video feed of the 'double play' as it happened. Everything seemed to work as planned. It all looked perfect.
Wait. Something happened that looked like trouble. John just touched Allison's left breast. His hand lingered a little longer than normal when he touched her like that. She was used to John catching a quick 'feel' every now and then. It was more of a playful greeting for them. She was the one who initiated it. One time when they were kissing she'd mentioned to John that her breasts might not be 'real' but they were real to her.
Now she watched John's hand linger a little longer than usual on Allison. Was he was really checking for a heartbeat? Wait. No red flags seemed to have gone off. A few minutes passed. John Henry kept the distractions coming. John was constantly busy with no free time to think about anything else. Here comes the double play…. She thought that maybe they pulled it off. She was not sure at all.
Cameron was worried it was not going to work. Everything looked good but John did those two double takes as Allison walked away both times. Something was clicking in his head even if he didn't know what it was yet. It might hit him at three o'clock in the morning. She was sure John suspected something. She hoped the timing and distractions were enough to keep John from knowing. She knew he was not a dummy.
Vanna came back to the lab. She seemed excited.
"Did we do it?" Vanna asked.
Cameron really did not know.
"I don't think so." Cameron said.
Vanna looked a little worried.
"He knows?" Vanna asked.
Cameron frowned a little.
"I think so." Cameron said. "It is a possibility."
Vanna watched the video feed from the Command Center.
"It does not look like it." Vanna said.
Vanna and Cameron continued to look at the security feeds that John Henry provided them with. Nothing really changed. Maybe they did pull it off.
Allison soon arrived and gave Cameron her clothes and purple jacket back. She was really happy Cameron let her wear it.
She looked at the video feed with Vanna and Cameron.
"Did it work?" Allison asked.
Cameron was very unsure.
"I really don't know." Cameron said.
Allison knew Cameron watched the entire exchange. She wanted to come clean about what happened. She didn't want any animosity. She actually thought she was going to have to make love to John or something the way Cameron talked about it earlier. She'd been worried the most that she might need to perform oral sex on John. She was glad they were no where near that.
"It was a simple kiss and he copped a feel." Allison said. "It was no big deal."
Cameron was afraid that it was because his hand lingered there longer than 'normal'.
"He may have been checking for a heartbeat." Cameron said.
Allison remembered her heart was pounding.
"Damn! Do our breasts feel the same?" Allison asked.
Allison looked at Vanna as she waited for a reply. She knew there was no way that Vanna hadn't checked when she restored Cameron's sheath.
"Vanna?" Allison prompted. "The one I touched was pulp."
Cameron considered asking them to touch and compare them right now. She would like to see how Allison felt compared to her.
Vanna quickly glanced at Cameron.
"They feel identical." Vanna said.
Cameron wanted to watch the Command Center for a little longer.
"I think we should let it play out and see what happens." Cameron said. "I needed to try if nothing else. I am trying to protect John."
Cameron could see John was distracted as he listened to John Henry. It seemed he was really laying it on for John. At least it would keep John from thinking about what happened in detail. Everyone really played their part for her. She would not forget this.
John wasn't sure what just happened. Something was off. He could not place it. A lot happened at the same time. John Henry came up with some important targets. He suggested they wait until Cameron returned from her current mission before they acted.
Without knowing it Cameron and John Henry created a new problem. It was one that could prove fatal to John.
John liked the fact that there was a clear target. He wasn't about to wait. He was tired of waiting to act. Without Cameron here to restrict him he could lead a strike. He was done waiting and being coddled. He wasn't having any of that without Cameron around. It was time for action. With Cameron gone for a few days he could get out into the field. This was a blessing to John. He believed Cameron restricted him way too much. It was a very touchy subject to bring up with her. Now he would not have to.
"Cameron hasn't let me get out enough in the field to do my share." John said. "I should be the one leading these strikes not sitting in safety here."
John Henry saw right away they'd created a new problem. He tried to tone things down.
"A leader must also delegate responsibility." John Henry said. "Cameron worries about your safety."
John knew what happened to Cameron when she would not see him or allow him to touch her.
"I worry about her safety too." John said.
John Henry tried to put the brakes on this.
"True love is a two way street." John Henry said.
To John it seemed Cameron drove a bulldozer or a tank down the center of that two way street. It was usually her way on everything.
John made up his mind.
"I want to wait a few hours before we go out but I am taking Bob and Jim on a mission." John said. "I am unrestricted for awhile."
John Henry could see this was getting away from him. He sure hoped Cameron was still watching the video feed. She was going to have to stop this herself. None of them could.
"Do you think that is wise to go without Cameron?" John Henry asked.
John really didn't care at this point. He'd run plenty of operations in the future he went to. He was experienced and he was good at what he did.
"You know I am going to do it anyway." John said.
John Henry at least wanted additional assistance for John.
"Will Sarah and Allison go with you?" John Henry asked. "It's nice to have help sometimes."
John was worried about both of them but didn't want to say it. He came up with an excuse instead.
"They can have the time off." John said. "It will be good for them to rest up and relax."
John Henry saw it for what it actually was.
"You really don't want to put them in harms way." John Henry said.
John saw no point to lie. He was worried about them.
"There's no fooling you John Henry." John said.
"Sometimes." John Henry said.
John Henry wondered if John knew he was doing the same thing as Cameron when it came to protecting people. He knew that he needed to get the Terminators Cameron captured up and running for some additional help. He hadn't planned on needed them this soon. John Henry knew Metal could take more damage than humans with less fallout.
John Henry was aware events were rapidly spiraling out of control. This was not foreseen by Cameron or him.
Cameron allowed Vanna to do something to speed her healing process. It was not something she liked to do because it ended up replacing sections of her original sheath. They would be absorbed into her sheath and become part of her like everything else. It was just the idea of losing more of herself.
Vanna made the sheath graphs to speed up the healing process. That was the only reason Cameron allowed them. She could see and be with John sooner this way. It also put her back in combat sooner.
Cameron was displeased at her appearance. She felt she looked like a quilt. This was what needed to be done to get back into the game sooner.
"Thanks, Vanna, this will save me a few days of regeneration time." Cameron said. "The sheath tones don't match but soon will. I hope."
At least this way there was no metal or teeth showing.
John Henry appeared in the lab.
"Excuse me, Cameron; John is going on a mission with Bob and Jim." John Henry said.
Cameron frowned.
"I figured as much. He won't be alone." Cameron said.
John Henry thought he needed to clarify his statement.
"Sarah and Allison are not going." John Henry added.
"Do they know?" Cameron asked.
"No." John Henry said.
Vanna took out her phone.
"Do you want me to notify them?" Vanna asked.
Cameron did not want them in danger either.
"No!" Cameron said.
John Henry tried to point out the obvious.
"To win a war there will be risks and casualties. It is inevitable." John Henry said.
Cameron decided to go now. She would carry out the strike.
"I must do more." Cameron said worried. "I need to strike the target before John gets there."
Vanna looked worried.
"You do too much already." Vanna said.
Cameron was clearly upset.
"I must protect John and those I lo… - care about." Cameron said.
Cameron noted her hand started to glitch again. She tried to hide it behind her back but John Henry and Vanna both saw it.
Nobody said anything.
Sarah entered the lab. She looked at Cameron and winced.
"You look like Hell." Sarah said.
Cameron remembered the last time she heard that statement from Sarah. She did not want to relive that day.
"Hello, Sarah." Cameron said. "I am one hundred percent functional. I am sorry for my appearance."
Sarah already regretted what she'd said.
"I'm sorry." Sarah said. "I didn't mean it like that."
Sarah placed her gear on the floor.
The door opened again and Allison walked in.
Allison carried her gear as well.
"Girl's night out again?" Sarah asked.
Allison smiled at Sarah.
"Damn straight." Allison said.
Vanna felt left out.
"It looks like it." Vanna added. "I'm going too."
"NO ! ! !" Three voices chimed in at once.
Vanna needed to speak her mind.
"I need to help share the burden. I can't stand by and see my friends risk everything." Vanna said. "Cameron, I can't stand seeing you do this to yourself. John may need our help."
Cameron tried to show Vanna her importance.
"Vanna, if you're injured who will repair me when I am damaged?" Cameron asked.
Allison did not want Vanna in combat either.
"She's right. Who will help patch up the rest of us if you are hurt?" Allison asked.
Vanna felt she was qualified to fight.
"I was trained to fight also." Vanna said. "I have before. You know that."
Cameron wanted to put the lid on this.
"We have voted. You will stay – PLEASE." Cameron said.
Vanna did not want to make an issue over this.
"Alright, I will this time but not next time." Vanna said.
Cameron gathered what she wanted for the mission to back up John. They all collected their gear and weapons. They double checked everything again.
Cameron, Sarah and Allison left.
Vanna watched them go. She felt she needed to do more.
Vanna called John Henry.
"You know what is happening, right?" Vanna asked.
John Henry wanted to share the burden as well.
"I do and I want to join them. This war is not all on the backs of Cameron and John." John Henry said.
Vanna wanted a few more cards to play.
"We have our specialties. Are those chips ready for insertion?" Vanna asked. "I want a crew ready for operation next time an 'event' like this comes up. We are not sitting it out and watching from the sidelines anymore."
John Henry needed to do some more testing on the chips.
"I have four nearly ready." John Henry said. "We will be ready next time."
"Should the six of us make a future date?" Vanna asked.
There was a pause as John Henry processed the statement.
"I think you would be busy with five of us." John Henry said.
"Did you just make a joke?" Vanna asked.
"I hope so." John Henry said.
Vanna laughed.
Vanna knew that would be one wild date. It would be more appealing to her if it was five females instead of males. Vanna wondered if there were any more female Terminators out there to be captured. Now THAT would be a date.
Unrestricted
The beast is away
I am FREE for now
I have escaped its grasp
But feel its claws somehow
The jailer has gone
Why can't they see
I have escaped my cell
Make a call to me
The evil ghost has vanished
No longer haunting my soul
Where is the salvation I seek
To make me whole
The shackles are off
No longer do they bind
Can't you feel the flood
Escaping from my mind
The shadow has disappeared
Not stalking my every move
Is there something more
That I must prove
The secret agent has fled
Not here to spy
My plea for help unanswered
I do not know why
Nobody