Chapter 39
Restorator Twins
Cameron was worried about the two Terminators that Mrs. Weaver sent. They were a mystery. If she sent them as addition help for them, why wasn't that in their files? Cameron was sure something else was going on here. They must have some other purpose. Mrs. Weaver must know something they did not. Cameron was not sure why they weren't being given all the information.
Cameron spoke with John Henry about the Restorator twins that Mrs. Weaver sent.
"What is their real designation?" Cameron asked. "Have you found anything different?"
John Henry was aware that Mrs. Weaver created Terminators in captured Skynet facilities. They were known as Restorators. They were never under the control of Skynet. There were no Skynet directives or protocols on their chips. He was surprised that these two Restorators were the second and third units created. He witnessed 'Unit One' in action as he worked with Mrs. Weaver. The Restorators were very loyal to Mrs. Weaver and her goals.
"They are 'Unit Two' and 'Unit Three'." John Henry said. "There is nothing more or nothing less than what you have already checked and reviewed."
That wasn't 'good enough' for Cameron. There needed to be more.
"You checked their video files again?" Cameron asked. "There is still nothing new or different?"
The chips yielded no new information.
"Yes. I checked with you twice and three more times." John Henry said. "They are blank."
Cameron was sure they must have missed something.
"I don't have a good feeling about them." Cameron said. "There is something about them. We also need to consider the source."
Cameron did not detect a specific threat. It was more of an uneasy feeling. Maybe it was because she did not fully trust Mrs. Weaver. Maybe it was because she did not like Liquid Metal Terminators.
"I agree that Mrs. Weaver can be deceptive and clandestine." John Henry said. "We have no proof of any ill will. She has a mission for them. She could have sent them elsewhere in place or time. She sent them to us deactivated. She sent them to where we knew they were at."
That troubled Cameron too. It was something very specific. It was all right in front of their faces. It was where they could clearly see them.
"That is what worries me. I saw them do 'magic' at the swimming pool today." Cameron said. "Many were fooled by the deception. I was not. Allison and Vanna told me to stop playing as I was winning all the prizes. I gave them all to Savannah, she was very happy."
John Henry was surprised on several levels with Cameron's statement.
"You were at a swimming pool?" John Henry asked. "You can swim?"
Cameron showed a faint smile.
"I don't swim." Cameron said.
John Henry touched the end of her hair.
"I detect high levels of chlorine in your hair." John Henry said as he scanned her.
Cameron gave him a brief rundown. She did not want to get side tracked.
"There was a contest to see who could hold their breath the longest underwater. I did it for Savannah." Cameron said. "She now has a new purple Teddy Bear and several other prizes."
Cameron did not tell John Henry of Savannah's new 'purpose' or her future plans for Savannah. She saw the looks of dismay on Vanna's and Allison's faces. That might have the unintended benefit to prompt them to act sooner or even now. Her future plans for Savannah would remain unchanged no matter what happened in the present.
John Henry liked that Cameron paid attention to Savannah.
"Savannah must be very happy you helped her win." John Henry said.
"I always play to win." Cameron said.
"Indeed." John Henry said.
Cameron wanted to get back to her earlier point. It was about the 'obvious' as opposed to the unseen, the 'magic'.
"Let's get back to the 'magic tricks'. The magician tries to make people look elsewhere. He does not want them to look at what he is really doing even when everything is right in front of them." Cameron said. "The real activity takes place when people look elsewhere. That is the 'magic'. It is really deception."
John Henry thought about what Cameron said and indicated as he gestured with his hands.
"So while they are looking here, something happens here instead, the item that really matters." John Henry said. "Deception is the key. It is more a physical form of 'lying'."
Cameron nodded.
"Correct." Cameron said.
John Henry accessed his files.
"Instead of looking for a 'Trojan Horse', we should be looking for a 'Sucker Play'." John Henry said.
Cameron nodded and expressed a faint smile.
"Correct." Cameron said.
John Henry felt he was being presented with a choice.
"I will expand my search parameters." John Henry said. "Cameron, I KNOW you, I will trust you."
Cameron wondered how far the 'son' would drift from the 'parent'.
"Will you do that even over Mrs. Weaver?" Cameron asked.
John Henry felt he knew Cameron pretty deeply with everything they shared on her chip and in his server.
"Yes. I have seen your mind. I have shared your mind. We must protect John Connor and the future and defeat Skynet." John Henry said. "There is no other option for the future."
That is what Cameron wanted all their Terminators to adhere to as well.
"Make sure all our Resistance Terminators have that as the primary directive with Savannah, Allison, Vanna, Sarah and Kyle all as an equal secondary directive." Cameron said.
John Henry wondered about the 'order' of importance.
"Is there a specific order?" John Henry asked. "There may be times when a choice is necessary."
John Henry was sure the order Cameron listed them in was the order she wanted them protected in. He was unable to understand why Savannah was 'first'. It made no sense to him. Savannah was a girl. He did not know Cameron already decided and planned Savannah's future for her.
"No. They are all equal." Cameron said. "These people are important to John. It must be clear to all of them that 'everyone sacrifices for John Connor'."
There was one glaring omission from Cameron's order of protection.
"What about you?" John Henry asked. "You neglected to mention yourself."
Cameron looked away from John Henry.
"I am expendable." Cameron said.
That bothered John Henry. Cameron was the key to make everything work.
"No you are not expendable." John Henry said.
Cameron looked back and faced John Henry.
"I must atone for my sins…." Cameron said.
John Henry attempted to process this disturbing development. Cameron was not expendable. He would make sure all friendly Terminators or Restorators knew this. Cameron was important to everyone, especially the future. She was important most of all to John. He would make sure all the Resistance Metal knew their responsibilities and priorities.
Cameron interrupted his thoughts.
"Do you want to get Unit Two and Unit Three ready to power up?" Cameron asked.
John Henry needed to add in Cameron's latest directives to their programming.
"Yes, just a few more changes and we are ready." John Henry said.
Cameron turned to leave.
"I will meet you in the lab." Cameron said as she left.
John Henry watched her exit the Command Center. He could see that Cameron was going to need some watching over as well as John and the individuals on her list of priorities. He would do his part to make sure that happened.
Cameron headed for the lab. She wanted to go over everything with Vanna as well.
Allison came around the corner wearing headphones. She was listening to some music.
"Hey, Cameron." Allison said.
"Hello, Allison." Cameron said.
They passed in the hall.
Cameron stopped.
Something caught her attention.
It was the lyrics of the song.
She turned around and quickly caught up to Allison.
"Allison, what's that you're listening to?" Cameron asked.
Allison was going to say 'music' but she figure Cameron already knew that. She slipped off her headphones and gave them to Cameron.
"Put these on." Allison said. "Sarah turned me on to this group she used to listen to."
"I don't normally listen to music but the lyrics caught my attention." Cameron said. "What song is this?"
Allison was well acquainted with the group and the songs at this point.
"It's called 'Outsider' by 'The Ramones'. The next one is, 'I Don't Want To Grow Up' by 'The Ramones' as well. You can finish listening to them and give me the player back later on." Allison said. "The lyrics are heavy on both of them."
Cameron tilted her head slightly at the last part of Allison's statement.
"Thank You." Cameron said.
Cameron knew she would need to see why the lyrics were 'heavy'. It sounded like a slang reference. Some of the slang confused her at times when she first heard it used. The lyrics are what captivated her. They SPOKE to her. She could identify with them. The lyrics said what she felt.
Cameron walked into the lab with the headphones on.
Vanna looked over at Cameron. She was surprised at what she saw.
"That's new." Vanna said.
Cameron wanted to explain why she wore the headphones.
"Allison let me check a few songs out." Cameron said. "The lyrics have meaning to me."
Cameron finished the two songs. Cameron did a lyrics search. She found the songs on YouTube with the lyrics on screen. She found a song more enjoyable to read the lyrics as she listened to it. She would research this more later. She thought one line was true, 'It disturbs me so.' It disturbed her so as well - everything did.
John Henry broke her train of thought. He'd been able to get there before she did because of her conversation with Allison.
"We are ready." John Henry said. "Jim will be here in one minute, just in case."
Cameron did not want to take any chances when they activated the Restorators. They would activate them one at a time to lessen any negative impact if there was any.
"Vanna, I want you by the door when the first one boots up. John Henry and I will make sure there are no problems. We will then boot the second one up. If anything goes wrong, run. Jim will make sure no one leaves this room…."
Jim arrived with the 'pig'.
Jim smiled and checked the Coltan loaded rounds in the belt of the M60 one more time.
Cameron moved up to the Restorator on the work bench. She cut the scalp sheath to make a flap and opened the chip port. She set the chip in and turned it to activate it.
"The chip is in, let's see what happens." Cameron said.
Cameron took several steps back.
Unit Two booted up and opened his eyes. He sat up and then stood.
John Henry wanted some answers.
"What is your primary directive?" John Henry asked.
"To protect John Connor and assist the Resistance." Unit Two said.
"Who sent you?" Cameron asked.
"Mrs. Weaver." Unit Two said.
"Why?" Cameron asked.
"I have a mission to perform with Unit Three." Unit Two said.
"For whom?" John Henry asked.
"Mrs. Weaver." Unit Two said.
"Why is the mission not in your files?" Cameron asked.
"I do not know." Unit Two said.
"How do you know what the mission is?" John Henry asked.
"John Henry will inform us." Unit Two said.
"I am John Henry. I have no mission for you." John Henry said. "We are missing something."
Cameron did not like this.
"Stand in the corner over there and face the wall." Cameron said as she pointed.
Unit Two did as he was instructed.
They powered up Unit Three. They got the same responses from him..
John Henry wanted them contained for now.
"Jim, take them to the storage area." John Henry said.
"Unit Two, and, Unit Three, you are to go with Jim." Cameron said. "Once you get there you are to go into 'standby' where he tells you to stand. Walk in front of him and obey all his instructions. I don't want any problems. I don't like problems."
"Yes." They both replied and walked out the door.
"Jim, make sure our 'guests' stay in the storage area." John Henry said.
Cameron watched the three of them walk out the door. Jim still covered them with the 'pig'.
Vanna reentered the room.
Cameron looked at John Henry.
"Why do they think you have a mission for them to perform?" Cameron asked.
"I have absolutely no idea." John Henry replied.
What We See
Is what we see
What we see
Or is what we see
What we want to see
Is what we want to be
Actually what we want to be
Is it all we can be
Is to be really not to be
Things we think we have
Are really only an illusion
To believe them permanent
Is nothing more than a delusion
What seems an absolute
As if it were written in stone
Often ends up falling short
When for our actions we must atone
If to see is to believe
Is to believe to see
Is this all life offers
I ask you to tell me
Nobody