Chapter 332

Mouse Trap

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In Some Future:

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Mrs. Weaver was dissatisfied with the operation at this point. What they'd found so far wasn't what she was after.

"The next location is larger." Mrs. Weaver said.

Cameron hoped they would find something. They also needed to use additional caution.

"I think it's safe to say that we're being tracked by now." Cameron said.

Mrs. Weaver wasn't often out anymore. She let her Restorators do most of the work. Maybe the other location was to redirect them and delay them.

"I'll keep that in mind." Mrs. Weaver said.

Cameron suggested that they leave the main body of the strike force in a defensible location not to far from the other location they wanted to check out.

Mrs. Weaver really wanted to find out what Skynet built in no man's land. It was a challenge if nothing else. Skynet knew it faced a group of unknown Terminators. She figured that Skynet might think she was a 'standard' Terminator, like all of the rest of them. She knew there were plenty in the Resistance that thought that too. None of them knew just how unique she really was. Maybe she would let Cameron lead a few Restorators and she would slip away and check things out on her own.

Cameron and a small group of Restorators, three of them, advanced on the target with Mrs. Weaver. This was their second objective. They'd avoided detection so far by the HK drones flying around. None of them ever approach anywhere near them. They were deep inside Skynet controlled territory at this point.

Mrs. Weaver went off on her own. She went to a different side of the target area. Cameron would have preferred that they all stayed together.

The strike force waited out of sight. They were ready to advance upon either Cameron's or Mrs. Weaver's orders.

Mrs. Weaver made sure her Restorators followed any of Cameron's orders as if they were her own. That showed a certain level of trust. They'd both witnessed each other in action before.

Cameron left her three Restorators outside the facility as she entered alone. It was their job to keep the entryway secure for the rest of the Strike Force to move up or her to get out.

No sooner than Cameron entered the structure than a patrol of Skynet Metal came around the far corner of the outside of the building. Her three Metal troopers were forced inside to prevent their detection. She was aware she was now trapped inside the building along with the three Metal troopers. It was most likely only a matter of time until they were detected….

She liked this set up less and less. Where was Mrs. Weaver at? Her earlier worry crept back some.

A group from the Resistance asked to meet with Colonel Weaver. Cammy advised her that this was most likely not a good development. They'd waited until they were sure General Weaver was away. Some of their group was with the strike force. That meant they knew where the General was at. They didn't know much about Commander Connor yet.

Cammy was sure this was going to be part of the anti-Metal faction. There would at least be a few there from that faction. Jesse and Cam would be with her and Cammy. Allison and Cameron II would watch their backs.

Unit One was there as well. He still a little miffed that General Weaver left Vanna in charge. He was always the one to be in charge before if the General was out. He didn't understand the attachment of the General to Vanna and Savannah in the past. It was very illogical to him. He was told that Vanna and Savannah both felt a deep attachment to the General. He didn't understand that the General felt an attachment to them and responded to the love the girls shared with her.

They got down to general business at first but soon the real issue came up.

The leader looked over his group and then faced Vanna.

"Colonel Weaver, are you human?" The leader of the five delegates asked.

Vanna expected as much but she still wanted to seem highly offended. She would need to see where this went.

"Why would you even ask me that?" Vanna asked. "Are you human?"

The leader looked a little irritated that Vanna threw his question back at him. He forged on ahead.

"There's been a lot of talk among the different groups of the Resistance that Metal has taken over this conflict." The leader said. "Can you prove you're human?"

Vanna discussed this possibility with Jesse and Allison before. That was mainly why Jesse and her were there.

"I hope you enjoy the show." Vanna said.

She stood and showed her scar. Jesse did as well.

They could see the impact of the scars on the gathered group. It was clear there was a lot of pain behind those scars too.

It was also clear that Vanna's scar was most likely from Scavengers. There were few that survived those encounters in their future.

Vanna like the response the scars drew. She decided to push it a little further. Maybe she would shock them a little more.

"I don't know what other proof to offer you. You all know that Metal heals without scarring." Vanna said. "Do you want one of the females to confirm when I have my monthly cycle?"

The leader could see he may have pushed it a little too far. The girls should not have needed to show something so personal. He was glad they didn't get into the stories behind them. It wasn't really these girls here that were the issue. It was the other leadership, the General.

"I apologize. You didn't need to do that. I can see it was very personal. I know Metal doesn't scar." The leader said. "Some of the people started to wonder about the General."

Vanna was aware that was an issue that Mrs. Weaver always seemed to raise questions about. It wasn't so much that she was a Terminator as much as how she conducted herself. She could be abrasive without trying. She chose her words carefully.

"I'm not Metal." Vanna said. "My friends aren't Metal. General Weaver is my mother. She has a lot on her mind and can seem aloof at times. It is her personality. Terminators were responsible for my father's death. Everything has been very difficult for her going forward. She does a good job even if her personal skills are lacking. Her strategic and tactical skills are not."

The leader looked very uneasy as if he'd overstepped his bounds. He felt he came with a winning hand and now it was all shot down with proof.

Vanna could tell she held all the cards now. She still wanted to remain diplomatic. She wanted to make friends, not enemies. They might need to spend a lot of time here. The thought that they could be marooned here forever was in the back of her mind. It was time to play up Cameron a little.

"Commander Connor is with the General now as you know. She's leading the assault. Commander Connor wanted to use only Metal so they could keep human losses down. She's done this many times. NOBODY has more experience than her at fighting Skynet, Grays and Scavengers." Vanna said. "I'm the one that will now handle all the interaction between the Resistance, the General and the Restorators. I've worked extensively with Metal for years."

The leader looked at his entourage. They all thought that was a good thing. They would at least have someone to hear them out. Maybe more could be done now to improve the living conditions. He felt maybe he needed to offer an explanation for his earlier question of her humanity.

"It's just sometimes the General seems so mechanical and cold." The leader said. "I didn't mean to be rude. It was a legitimate concern for obvious reasons."

Mrs. Weaver brought all of them up to speed on her accomplishments since her arrival. Vanna was aware how much was accomplished in a short time.

"Hasn't the Resistance scored victory after victory since the General arrived with Metal to help her?" Vanna asked. "What more do you want?"

The leader and his associates didn't like being sidelined and regulated to a 'second class' status.

"We want more control." The leader said.

Vanna learned that the Resistance was almost wiped out as a fighting force when Mrs. Weaver arrived. They were soon to be rounded up and sent to work camps or terminated. His answer actually irritated her.

"More control of what?" Vanna asked. "So you can go back to being annihilated? Then you will split up into petty factions and start fighting amongst yourselves? How many will end up as Scavengers or Grays at that point? How many will even survive? How many will be dead? There's order now."

The leader was unsure what to say. He knew that was true. There'd been enough of that already. He wanted to respond to her but there was no good response. Things were better since the General arrived even if they'd lost all control.

Vanna wanted to give them some light at the end of the tunnel. Once they built a functional TDE, they probably wouldn't be around that long.

"I can assure you that once Skynet is defeated that the General and I will leave this 'area' to help elsewhere." Vanna said. "That's a promise. This is only about the defeat Skynet."

The Resistance members looked at each other. That almost sounded too good to be true. Would the General 'walk away'?

"You mean she will just leave?" The leader asked.

Vanna believed that she should return to her future to prevent disrupting the 'Natural Order' any further. With Allison at her side she was ready to go to anywhere or any when. She was ready for a further past too if she could be away from Skynet forever.

"Yes." Vanna said. "We all will. Our home is elsewhere. We all want to go home."

That statement left the Resistance leaders with an even bigger worry. They might not have anyone to control the Terminators that assisted them. The fact they were Restorators was lost on him. They didn't see a difference other than they were on their side for now.

"What about the Metal?" The leader asked.

"Do you want help rebuilding society? There aren't a lot of healthy bodies or much construction equipment." Vanna said. "The Restorators can assist you or they can go with us. They're called Restorators and not Terminators for a reason. They are to assist in the restoration of society to a more workable and livable level."

Vanna wasn't so sure about that but she learned to lie well from Cameron and her mother. It was easy to lie once you started. It could also be the basis for reality. She believed it was better to rebuild than destroy.

Allison and Cameron II along with Unit One were all in the shadows. They made sure that no one tried to pull a fast one or assassinate anyone. It looked like a legitimate meeting so far.

Vanna was willing and wanted to help. She'd ended up in the burn pile for the dead once. She was aware how hard life was. She'd really like to help improve it.

"Give me a list of any grievances or even desires your people have and I will address each one. I can't guarantee anything yet but I will look into every matter or issue myself. The General has the final say for obvious reasons." Vanna said. "I'm here to help and protect the future. We all want Skynet defeated. Please have ALL your people understand that. If Skynet isn't brought down or wins, everyone loses. ALL of us lose and will be force into a work camp or killed."

The leader looked very uneasy. He questioned even having come now. This wasn't what he'd expected. The Colonel seemed genuine and truthful. He could see the hope that General Weaver offered with the Restorators. It WAS working too, for now. Maybe they'd been too quick to judge. They were all still alive right now and making progress.

Vanna could see how uneasy the group was. She didn't want that. She wanted to help.

"Please…." Vanna said. "We all need to communicate and share. I'm glad you came. We can meet once a day or every other day if you wish. I need all the help I can get to do this job right and help everyone. I want everybody to work together. Don't let something fester. Come to me and I will personally address each grievance."

The Resistance group was encouraged at this point.

Allison watched from another room. This didn't look good. They hadn't expected others to be around other than Mrs. Weaver's Restorators. These people seemed antsy. They come looking for an excuse to rebel. That wasn't what they'd found. Some of them looked very unhappy at they way events turned. They were probably from the anti-Metal faction.

"Cameron, can you slow or stop your Resequencing?" Allison asked.

Cameron II frowned a little. She wanted to Resequence and she needed to correct Allison about her designation. The issue of Allison's safety was a concern too.

"It's Cameron II. I'm not Cameron, yet. Resequencing can be slowed. I don't think it can be stopped." Cameron II said. "We can try. I can see that with the anti-Metal faction that it may cause a problem if we all look like you. It would also endanger you. I will inform the other two clones."

Allison wanted to 'ask' but didn't think now was the right time.

Cameron II knew what Allison pondered. She took Allison's hand and pulled her close. She looked into her eyes.

"I'll ask Cameron when she gets back." Cameron II said. "There will be no need to wait for us to Resequence then. We will all be able to share immediately. It will be a beautiful way to transition."

That was what Allison wanted to hear. It was like they would be able to be with a group of 'different people' as the changes occurred. She was very aroused now.

"Thank you." Allison said.

Allison started to move away. Cameron II still held her hand. She stopped and looked at her.

Cameron II wanted to reassure Allison and also remind her of her current duty. She was able to scan Allison's arousal.

"It will be soon, Allison." Cameron II said. "I promise. Now let's keep watch."

Cameron II felt Allison's further response and it excited her.

The Cameron clones were free of the obligations of Cameron, the 'Cameron' they all thought was Cameron Prime. Everything related to John and Future John was firewalled. Each girl was now the 'prime directive' of that specific clone. They would not compete for John or the other girls.

Vanna continued the meeting with Jesse in the other room….

Cameron was unsure what this facility was. She wondered if it was a trap of some sort. It was just the thing Skynet would do. The sort of thing she would do. She would build a 'mouse trap', put out the bait and see what you catch in it.

It was too easy to get here and this facility didn't belong there. It sent out data that was easily intercepted. She thought Mrs. Weaver miscalculated. Then again maybe this was a trap for her and a way for Mrs. Weaver to get rid of her and make it look like a combat loss. That wasn't a good thought but it did cross her mind.

Cameron was still upset with what Mrs. Weaver said earlier about Future John possibly being her 'husband'. If that were the case, then she wasn't the aberration to time or the 'Natural Order' that she'd believed she was. She was simply fulfilling HER destiny. Maybe this was all deep in her programming from Future John. Did Future John love her so much, he was willing to sacrifice that love for his younger self? She wouldn't have left him for that assignment on her own. Maybe that is why Future John altered her programming. This was all very troubling to her. She seemed to have enough problems to worry about and that 'Bitch Whore' Riley too. She felt a glitch impulse shoot through her left hand. She was able to suppress it, for now.

She needed to get her head back in the game. If Mrs. Weaver wanted to throw her off and distract her, she'd succeeded. This whole deal looked like it was about to turn into a battle zone. Cameron was ready for a fight and wouldn't back down. It was the trap part that still bothered her.

She was afraid they were about to be involved in a sucker play and she was not at one hundred percent 'mentally'. Then again, she wondered if she was ever at one hundred percent. That was probably years ago that she last was….

Mouse Trap

Many will hunger and thirst
For any tiny little scrap
They don't even realize
It's all a bunch of crap

If they'd turn on their brain
And put on their thinking cap
They would soon figure out
Everything is really a wrap

No one can lift themselves up
By their own bootstrap
There are always those few
Who want a neck to snap

There's no free ride in life
Only those who seek to entrap
They end up with a sharp slap
When they thought they could lap

The love and the joy
Turns into a wicked mishap
That pressure on everyone's back
Means they are caught in life's mouse trap

Nobody