Chapter 301
Mile High
John was surprised at what Cameron planned to do for Jesse and her family. He was somewhat amazed that Cameron took Jesse's family 'under her wing' nearly from Jesse's arrival. He knew of the early conflicts Jesse ran into with his mother and the sexual harassment from Jesse towards Allison. Vanna thought she would have to fight with Jesse to keep her away from Allison. That was another 'problem' that Cameron resolved in a very positive way for all the girls.
He also remembered how anti-Metal Jesse was at first. That sure changed. Talk about 'Metal Lovers', Jesse took that to a whole different level. Cameron was the one who changed all that and allowed Jesse to become the better person she'd hid away inside her. He came back and told John Henry what was going to happen and why.
John Henry was disturbed with that news.
"Cameron is taking Jesse to see her family?" John Henry asked. "Is that a good idea?"
John learned the importance of family. If there were any doubts about it, Future Derek's death ended them. That was still something that bothered him. He would like to go back and 'save' Future Derek. He would send Future Jesse and him back in time so they could live out their lives free of the future. Family mattered.
"Family is important to us, even if we don't want to admit it sometimes." John said. "Aren't the people here important to you? They're like your family in a way."
John Henry tilted his head slightly.
"Yes, all of them, even Sarah." John Henry said. "It took me a little longer with her and Derek but we all understand each other and all of us have importance and worth."
"That's 'family'." John said. "We may not always like them but we always love them. We will sacrifice for them. I wish I could make Cameron understand how special she is to everyone. I really wish she could understand that there is no one more loved than her."
John knew Cameron didn't feel good about herself in any way. He also knew why. He knew what would be said next. It would com back on him….
John Henry understood what the problem was. He expressed things as he saw them.
"Cameron has been 'damaged' by Future John and you. She can't get past that. It haunts her. It torments her. I've 'felt it'. It was very uncomfortable." John Henry said. "River was able to help her to some extent but unless those files are erased, nothing will change. To erase the files, you erase part of her…. You alter who she is, was and will be. Future John already ruined part of her life by doing that. He stole part of Cameron's life from her."
John hung his read in resignation. He knew most of it was his fault. He knew Cameron didn't wish to be altered, even if it would 'help' her.
"Let's just drop it." John said. "It's a no win situation."
John Henry wanted to rectify some of the other issues before them.
"Indeed." John Henry said. "I recommend we use the Thermite on the captured HK drone and carefully pull our Metal out. I don't like this whole situation. There's way too much that does not add up."
There was another worry John developed out of that whole deal. He was afraid the enemy may have 'tagged' one or more of their vehicles while they were out surveilling the HK drone.
"Do it." John said. "Have them go over the vehicles for anything to make sure we weren't tagged with a tracker. Send one more drone to back them up. Have them put the other two in the air to scout around them and bring everyone back. Double check for tails and we will run them through an ambush site, just in case."
John Henry thought caution was prudent.
"I will inform them and get an ambush set up." John Henry said.
John didn't care for the cat and mouse routine this whole affair exhibited.
"I believe that you're correct that nothing adds up about any of this." John said. "There is someone out there. We need to find them, before they find us."
John Henry pointed out what may be the real threat.
"We might be up against Liquid Metal on this." John Henry said.
John got a disgusted look on his face. If they were infiltrated by Liquid Metal, they could all be killed in their sleep.
"That's the last thing we need." John said.
John Henry would like to have Cameron around at this time until they knew more.
"Maybe we should have Cameron hold off for awhile." John Henry said. "Let me talk to her and see what she thinks and what advice she has to offer us."
John knew once Cameron made up her mind to do something, it was hard to sway her.
"Good Luck…." John said.
That was one conversation that John didn't want to be a part of. It would probably still come back to him.
Bob needed to run down some more targets from the list that Ally gave him. Some were Resistance related others were not.
He wanted to pick one that was Resistance related. If he ran a across some future Scavengers in the process, he would deal with them. He didn't like what he'd observed at the last place that he took down with Steve and Tom.
It surprised him that none of the people they freed wanted medical attention or the police. Cameron told him it was like that ninety eight percent of the time. If there was money to be distributed, none of them wanted the police involved. That was a lot of money for most people who didn't have much.
Bob looked over the list. He selected a company that made things for Skynet in the future. It would be the owner or manager that would be the sell out. The workers could be considered collaborators.
He did a drive by and a 'once around' the location. There were other businesses nearby. He would need to 'play it cool'. He could just burn the place down but the management team would still be out there. They could reestablish the business. If there was some kind of Skynet involvement, they could tailor the new company to better suit their needs. There was no hint of Skynet involvement as of yet.
It was the end of the shift. There were seven cars in the parking lot and he watched five of them drive away.
Bob still wore his vest and the 'Security' windbreaker. He carried his M-9 and Taser. There was a chance that Metal could be protecting the facility or the owner. He took two Thermite grenades with him.
He checked the front door. It was locked. He moved around to the side and checked a door. It was locked. He went around to the loading dock. There was a roll up door and a place for trucks to back up to the dock and a door for employees. He tried the door and it was locked. He gave it a gentle shove and it opened as the door frame where the deadbolt engaged it splintered.
There was an electric pallet jack and a small forklift parked between the pass door and the roll up door. The workroom floor was full of various types of machinery..
He moved up to the small office area and listened.
"Yeah, baby, that's the way." A male said. "Stay with it. That's right. That's good. Just a little bit more.
There was the sound a female gagging.
There was some coughing by a female.
"Can I go now?" The female asked.
The male laughed.
"You know how this works." The male said.
There was some sound of a struggle.
'Slap.'
'Smack.'
There was the sound of cloth ripping.
"OK, OK." The female said.
"That's more like it." The male said. "Hurry up."
"I am." The female said.
'Smack.'
"I don't want excuses." The male said. "Did I remind you that you're ugly?"
"That's the way I look." The female said. "You say I look like 'Olive Oyl' from Popeye on top. I can't help how I was born."
'Smack.'
"Hold your tongue." The male said.
"I'm leaving." The females said. "I don't care what you do."
'Smack.'
'Thud.'
The wall shook a little with that one.
"You'll do as your told." The male said.
'Smack.'
'Smack.'
"OK!" The female gasped. "Stop smothering me."
There were several deep wheezing breaths.
"You'll do as I say." The male said.
There was the sound of a truck moving alongside the building. It moved to the back lot and then backed up to the roll up door.
"Typical." The male said. "The truck is here early."
'Smack.'
"Who said you could get dressed?" The male said. "You may be needed for our guests."
"Don't make me do that again." The female said.
'Smack.'
"Now you'll do it all." The male said.
'Smack.'
'Smack.'
'Thud.'
'Smack.'
"O K." The female cried. "I think you cracked a rib."
'Smack.'
"If you didn't look like 'Twiggy' there'd be some meat on your bones." The male said. "That's what drugs do to you. You're just a stupid Doper."
"You're the one who got me hooked." The female said. "You did that so I'd be your play thing."
'Whack.'
'Thud.'
'Crunch.'
"Oh, great." The male said. "Wake up. Wake up. Stupid Bitch."
The door from the office area opened and a man hurried out. He was in the process of hooking his pants. He went to the roll up door and opened it.
Two men entered through it.
Bob looked them over. He thought one might be Metal.
One of the men opened the back of the truck.
There were boxes of electrical components.
"Where's the finished product?" One trucker asked.
"Over here." The male said.
Bob watched as a tarp was removed. It looked like an internal component from an HK Track.
He drew his M9 and fired three times. All three men went down. He drew his Taser.
The one he thought was Metal did not get back up. He checked them. They were all human and all dead.
He pulled the roll up door down and locked it. He pushed the small fork lift against the door he'd forced open.
He collected their phones and ID.
He went to the office and found the female. She was sprawled on the ground naked. She looked like she weighed eighty pounds. She appeared terminated.
He checked and she was still alive. Her heartbeat was very irregular. There were needed tracks on both of her arms. It looked like she was pretty at one point in her life. That wasn't any time recently.
Bob used his com and filled John Henry in on everything as he loaded the truck with all of the finished product in the building.
Steve and Tom arrived and they collected the truck and drove it away. Cameron would want to look over the components herself.
He went back and checked on the female.
There was surgical tubing around her arm and a needle stuck in her arm. She was dead. He looked at the drugs she used. It was uncut. She'd over dosed.
Steve and Tom left him with six Thermite grenades total. He placed them around the building and left by the roll up door. He lifted it up and pulled it down as he went out.
He hurried back to his SUV. Smoke poured from the building as he drove away. There would be no emergency response.
Cameron thought maybe it would be better to go with Jesse alone since this was about Jesse's family. This was for Jesse. She wanted Gail to understand this was something very personal for Jesse. She knew Gail was the most 'Terminator like' of the Metal girls. She didn't have the fluidity of the other girls. Things were very black and white for Gail. She and all the girls worked with Gail to 'improve' her.
"Gail you're welcome to come but I want this to be about Jesse's family. It's not about us or other people." Cameron said.
Gail felt it was very important to meet Young Jesse.
"I understand." Gail said "I want to meet Young Jesse and her sister. She will grow into MY Jesse one day."
Gail wanted to see Young Jesse.
Cameron felt Gail missed her point.
"I know. I want this trip to be ONLY about Jesse, for Jesse." Cameron said. "This is not about your relationship."
Gail took a step back. She owed Cameron a lot.
"I understand." Gail said. "You really care about her. I thank you for that and all you've done for her and me, for us."
Jesse was very important to Cameron. She was also a 'backup' for Vanna and Allison.
"Yes, I do care. I care about everyone here, especially MY girls - John's girls." Cameron said.
It was something Gail needed to live with even if she didn't like it.
"I understand." Gail said.
Cameron wanted to give Gail some more things to think about.
"If you ever want to switch chips with any of the other female Terminators, you may. That's only if it is what you both want." Cameron said. "Everyone must agree first."
There was a chip swap that Gail wanted to do and surprise Jesse with.
"May I switch chips with a male Terminator?" Gail asked. "I want to please Jesse in 'every' way…."
Cameron felt the male body was inferior to the female body.
"I would prefer if you didn't. I've been in a male chassis. I didn't like it one bit. Your body is much more elegant and beautiful." Cameron said. "You can satisfy Jesse how you are."
Gail was pleased that Cameron spoke kindly of her appearance. It was something that troubled her.
"Do you think I'm pretty?" Gail asked.
Cameron remembered she felt jealous of Gail's and Holly's appearance from the first moment she laid eyes on them.
"Yes, you and Holly were both ravaging from the first day. I can honestly say that you have a set of breasts that just won't quit." Cameron said. "Jesse and the girls may have been with men, few of them were by choice. They all prefer women. A female can satisfy a female better than a male can. Males are only needed for reproduction."
Gail looked down at her breasts and smiled. She looked really pretty when she smiled.
"Thank you." Gail said as she moved over and hugged Cameron.
Cameron wanted to set some rules.
"You're welcome." Cameron said. "Now, for the trip, if you want a temporary chip switch, you can work that out. I can tell you that Jesse loves you just the way you are. You should never worry about that. You need to consider her feelings to before you switch."
Cameron could see the tears in Gail's eyes. She knew Gail thought about the time period when Duplicate Jesse was believed to be terminated.
Cameron wanted to ease Gail's fears and sad feelings. There was hope for the future, several times over.
"Gail, there are two Duplicate Jesses and there is Young Jesse…. I promise you, I will always have 'a Jesse' for you. It's all the SAME Jesse. I will personally go find the others if they are ever needed." Cameron said as guilt flooded her. "I'm sorry that my foolishness cost you your beloved and your relationship. Since you and Jesse, this Jesse, already developed a relationship, I didn't think it was wise to bring back your Duplicate Jesse…. There would have been a conflict…. I also promised John I would not change the timeline."
Cameron knew one of the 'Jesses' would feel 'replaced'. She knew that feeling. She was also aware of the conflict that always developed whenever there was 'two' of her.
Gail was aware that Cameron could have left some things as they were and not rescued Duplicate Jesse. It meant something to her that Cameron did rescue her.
"You fixed it. You fixed me and saved my beloved." Gail said. "It is I that owe you. I will make sure when Jesse is 'needed' that she will be there for John. I also thank you for allowing us to start a family."
Cameron believed that Jesse would rise to the challenge of motherhood but she might need a little assistance.
"You will need to help Jesse when that happens, she may find it - overwhelming." Cameron said. "I'm counting on you."
Gail was very pleased with Cameron and everything that she set forth.
"I will not fail you, John or the future." Gail said. "I swear it."
Cameron was satisfied that everything was ready.
"We will leave first thing tomorrow. I've made the arrangements and the jet will be ready for us." Cameron said. "Make sure Jesse gets some rest for a change."
Gail thought of a few other things that could happen.
"It is a long flight. She can rest on the plane after she joins the 'mile high club'." Gail said.
Cameron tried to suppress a smile.
"I will turn off my audio." Cameron said. "That's only until after you two become 'members'."
Gail thought a 'warning' was in order.
"It may be off for most of the flight." Gail said. "Jesse is very demanding and energetic."
Cameron and Gail both giggled.
Cameron knew Gail was right.
'Rock And Roll All Nite' by 'Kiss', seemed to sum up Gail and Jesse's relationship.
Bookend
Where does it start
Where does it end
Is everything in the middle
Only what we pretend
In everything we do
A message we send
We are what we are
Everyone must bend
When there are others invited
With which we must contend
When that is the case
There is nothing to defend
When one seeks another
As a new friend
Regulating who was already there
To the status of a bookend
Will the feelings that were there
Ever be able to transcend
In the long run it is feared
Things will never truly amend
Can a mind ever heal
Can a heart ever mend
It becomes painfully clear
On no one can we depend
Nobody