Chapter 76

Carrots And Apples

Cameron and John cut their honeymoon short and returned to the base. Until they knew more about the unknown Terminator, they figured they'd better hunker down and play it safe. They did not know what the Terminator had been up to or what he was about to do. They did not know if the Terminator was 'hostile' or 'friendly'. His 'attack' on John seemed to indicate he was not 'friendly.

Bob and Al were left to collect his remains for spare parts or to turn the Coltan into projectiles for their weapons. They needed to see what information could be gleaned from his chip if any was recoverable. That still remained to be determined.

John Henry briefed Cameron and John on the arrival of Derek and Jesse. They were told of Unit 710 and the information on Mrs. Weaver. He also informed them of the trouble that developed between Sarah and Jesse along with the uneasy 'interactions' with Jesse the two girls, Allison and Vanna.

John Henry waited until John went to use the restroom and was very specific in the nature of the near unwanted sexual touching that he was able to pick up as well as the feelings of Vanna and Allison. He also repeated the specific terminology that Jesse referred to Cameron as.

Cameron did not like this development. She did not like hear how her 'association' with John was termed. It was offensive to her. What happened with the girls troubled her more. Vanna and Allison were very special to her. They suffered enough at the hands of others. If there was to be any sexual interaction, it was to be consensual.

She was well aware of what Future Jesse had done and orchestrated and hoped this one would not be the same 'problem'. It seemed that it would be. They both seemed to have similar issues even if they were from different futures.

Cameron was determined to change this attitude towards Metal and the questionable behavior. She decided she would make this Jesse her personal project. She would use all her infiltration programming and learned behavior. She planned to turn a 'Metal hater' into a 'Metal lover'.

She thought of what she wanted to do and make sure she did not get played. Jesse seemed to be a master of manipulation. She'd survived the Scavenger camps and was able to join the Resistance.

Cameron entered the room where Jesse was at.

She remembered Future Jesse and wondered how this was going to be different. This was a 'different Jesse' even if it was the 'same Jesse'. She would be like Allison as compared to Future Allison. They were the same but different.

Jesse seemed somewhat surprised when Cameron appeared. She did not appear to be afraid but acted more amused.

Cameron looked at Jesse. She saw Jesse was Hot which meant trouble. Sexuality radiated off of her. She seemed very much in command of her surroundings, especially for a newcomer.

The two of them eyed each other for a few moments.

"Hello, I'm Cameron." Cameron said. "I'm pleased to meet you, Jesse."

Cameron held out her hand but Jesse did not take it. It was clear Jesse exhibited an attitude problem. It was probably an 'authority issue' as well as a 'Metal issue'.

"Likewise, love. I have heard so much about you. I can see you are the spitting image of that little firecracker, Allison." Jesse said.

Jesse could not tell that Cameron was Terminator by looking at her in this setting. She eyed Cameron from top to bottom and back again, twice.

Cameron felt Jesse just mentally undressed her.

Cameron was not sure she liked the way Jesse looked at her. It made her feel 'uncomfortable'.

It appeared that Jesse tried to 'direct' the nature of the conversation.

Cameron decided that maybe she needed to play the 'Heavy' first. It would be the stick before the carrot. She went on the offensive. She took control. She was a Terminator after all.

She moved directly in front of Jesse and looked her in the face.

"Are there going to be any problems between us, or with my friends?" Cameron asked.

Jesse was somewhat startled by Cameron actions. She realized that Cameron was close enough to her to rip her in half. Her new demeanor seemed to indicate that.

She understood the threat from Cameron. She was not easily intimidated.

"No love, everything is carrots and apples." Jesse said.

Cameron stood there as she faced her. She was irritated and dissatisfied with Jesse's response. That seemed to be the effect Jesse wanted.

She moved closer to Jesse.

Cameron decided to push harder. Maybe a more direct and to the point approach was needed.

"Do I need to kill you too?" Cameron asked.

The smile instantly disappeared from Jesse face. She understood she faced a Terminator.

Jesse swallowed hard. She knew that any response was going to be the 'wrong' one. She remained silent.

Cameron moved closer still to Jesse.

"Don't bother my family or friends again." Cameron said.

Cameron's eyes glowing red momentarily.

Jesse felt her heart skip a beat.

"Are we on the same frequency?" Cameron asked.

Jesse was not sure what to do. Cameron was dead serious. It was like she really cared about and loved these people, real people. It looked like Cameron wanted to kill her. It looked like Cameron was going to kill her. She knew Cameron could kill her effortlessly and never even blink. She was a machine after all. Machines weren't supposed to 'feel'. She could feel the 'anger' in Cameron's presence.

Jesse knew when she was outmatched. She hadn't stayed alive this long without learning how the game was played. It was time to back peddle. She remembered an old saying, 'One who runs away lives to fight another day.'

"I will apologize to everyone I have offended starting with you, Cameron." Jesse said. "I am sorry for any trouble I have caused you. That was not my intention."

Cameron smiled at Jesse. She brought her hand up. Jesse's eyes widened and she took a half step back. She gently touched Jesse's cheek with her left hand.

Jesse was startled and terrified but surprised by the soft gentle loving touch. It actually excited her. Nobody ever touched her like that, especially a machine.

Cameron extended her right hand. Jesse took it this time.

It seemed after the 'stick' that the 'carrot' had its effect.

"Welcome to our home and our fight against Skynet. I look forward to working WITH you." Cameron said. "I'm sure you will prove to be a valuable asset."

Cameron was in total control. She detected a high fear level but no deception at this moment from Jesse. If anything, the conversation and threats seemed to spark a state of high sexual arousal in Jesse.

Cameron stepped aside so Jesse could leave.

Jesse thought it seemed like a good time to leave. She turned and walked away.

"Jesse." Cameron said.

Jesse turned around.

"Stay AWAY from John." Cameron said.

Jesse swallowed hard.

"I understand." Jesse said.

Cameron eyes glowed red for a second.

"I won't tell you twice." Cameron said.

Jesse nodded her head and walked away as fast as she could. She was scared to death and at the same time experienced a high state of sexual arousal. Cameron and her threats excited her.

She decided if Derek was not in his room that she needed to take matters into her own hands, literally. Cameron terrified her while at the same time she turned her on. Cameron was the hottest and most desirable 'female' she'd ever seen. No, not female, Cameron the hottest and most desirable 'person' she'd ever seen or met. To her there was nothing Metal about Cameron…. This was unlike any other Terminator she'd ever encountered or even heard of.

What worried Cameron was Mrs. Weaver. Was she in her future? She did not see any indication of her while she was there. Who sent the Liquid Metal Terminator from her future or whatever future it was from?

Was the 'Evil One' actually Mrs. Weaver or Skynet or both? Was it to assault John or seduce him? How did it get to this timeline? Were there others? Was Mrs. Weaver coming back? Was she going to stay in her future? Did she simply go 'home'?

Cameron did not look forward to going into the future again, any future. The present was complicated enough for her. She felt her future haunted her as her past stalked her.

The fear of going into standby again terrified her. What if those weren't dreams or nightmares but suppressed memories…. What if those events actually already happened?

Later on:

The Team went on a dual strike mission. They would hit two locations, both of them with suspected Skynet activity. The targets were fewer and further apart for attack. They'd hindered Skynet from developing. Anything that looked Skynet related was attacked and obliterated.

Cameron was not sure that if Skynet didn't gain control that they were 'winning'. It was a plus they were stunting Skynet's growth but were they really terminating it? Was it hiding instead and trying to build its strength? Where else was it hidden or active at? All these questions bothered her. She knew one day she would stand before Skynet as she terminated it herself. They would be face to face or at least face to mainframe.

She had John Henry make the team assignments. Cameron mention that she wanted to be on Jesse's team. She wanted to check her out.

John, Allison and Bob were Team One.

Kyle, Sarah and Jim were Team Two.

Derek, Jesse and Cameron were Team Three.

The first target was a factory. It was being set up to make HK drones. Sarah destroyed one of these facilities on her own when Cameron was inoperable. The group hit another one since then. This was the third one. Like everything Skynet related, as soon as they cut off one head, two more seemed to grow in its place.

John's team and Kyle's team were in and out with no problem. Derek's team was not as lucky. Cameron hung back to watch Derek and Jesse perform. Everything went well until Jesse got careless. She deviated from the plan and entered an area they were told to avoid. It was outside the mission parameters.

Cameron collected Derek and sent him to rejoin the other two groups. Cameron requested Bob join her. He did. Cameron explained the situation to Bob.

"Where did she go?" Bob asked.

Cameron told him.

"Why would she go there?" Bob asked. "That was outside the plan parameters."

Cameron feared something deeper or more sinister here.

"I am not sure. I want you to help me track her so we can see what she is up to. It is possible she is a Gray or some future Skynet operative." Cameron responded. "We don't know much about her and I know the 'problem' my Future Jesse was."

Bob was briefed on that whole scenario.

"Affirmative." Bob said.

Cameron did not know what to expect or what Jesse's goal really was. She was aware her earlier interaction to threaten Jesse did that while at the same time it sexually aroused her. It was behavior she hadn't experienced before. Other humans did not respond like that.

"She may be trying to establish contact with someone. I want to find out. I don't trust her." Cameron added.

Bob knew he could beat some answers out of her. He'd interrogated Grays before. They always talked before they terminated.

"Do you wish for me to interrogate her?" Bob asked.

Cameron was aware that would result in Jesse's termination.

"No, not yet, I don't want her hurt." Cameron said. "If she is not 'dirty' I think I can rehabilitate her. I believe she has a lot of potential. It would be a challenge and rewarding to me to reeducate her. I want her to prove herself on her own."

Bob nodded his head, he understood. Cameron had 'other' plans for Jesse. Bob could see that Jesse could be quite 'attractive'. Her moral compass did not exist and she would be compliant with Cameron's suggestions.

Dream

Some may possess
A smile that will beam
Perhaps hidden behind it
Is an unseen scheme

They may say words
That radiate joy and agleam
To a lonely troubled soul
They may even create esteem

Will their actions be
As part of the team
They may linger and wait
Before they strike and ream

Based upon their looks
Their actions one can deem
Is anything ever really
What it should seem

As it all slowly falls apart
They will make one scream
One wonders how it is possible
For what was once their dream

Nobody