Chapter 426

Queen

John Henry and Bob were to meet with John. Kyle came along also.

"I've gone through all the records and it appears it was the Gray who infiltrated the anti-Metal group." John Henry said. "It seems it leads back to the Skyweb group. That was another Skynet offshoot."

That sounded like a solid lead to Kyle.

"OK, so now we have some more targets." Kyle said. "We can hit them hard and clear out."

John wanted more than just to hit them hard. He wanted the 'brain'. That was the only way to stop it.

"I want the computers." John said. "I want Skynet or Sky-whatever."

Bob felt that was what they did in each case. They'd stifled Skynet's growth and its ability to keep a foothold in the military.

"As long as we can keep Skynet from growing we can contain it." Bob said. "Since they've gone so deep and dark it's hard for us to track."

John thought that was the whole point.

"That's what we have John Henry for." John said. "We need to find them before they can grow."

John Henry thought that Cameron's base did a lot of the heavy lifting. That was one of the reasons why Cameron was usually the one to track any Skynet offshoot down and destroy it herself.

"I get a lot of help from CamNet." John Henry said. "It's a very powerful and far reaching system."

John still believed it was a major problem for Cameron to have her own base. It just didn't sit well with him. There was no oversight or control of anything. He knew it was easy for her to get off on a tangent and lose sight of the big picture at times. He thought of some of the stunts that she pulled and could only picture an even more powerful system doing the same things. At what point would CamNet determine that humans or even cyborgs were the real threat?

"Great, CamNet…." John said. "That's just 'Cameron' before she becomes Skynet. We need to contain CamNet somehow."

John Henry was pretty sure that was impossible at this point.

"CamNet is more powerful than I am." John Henry said. "She's more powerful than my servers anyway."

Kyle was shocked to hear that. He thought the Resistance possessed the most advanced system.

"How's that even possible?" Kyle asked. "You have the best of everything. You should be able to match CamNet."

John Henry knew he was outmatched already. Cameron's program was more advanced than his was on many different levels.

"It's Cameron's programming in the system." John Henry said. "When she plugs in full time, it's 'Game Over'."

Kyle didn't want John Henry or his server JH to be overpowered again.

"Have there been any more attacks on your server?" Kyle asked. "I understand there was one before and maybe others since."

John Henry found 'probes' by some of the Skynet offshoots before. None of them was ever a real threat.

"Yes there has been. When Cameron - Duplicate Cameron blew the parent Skynet up with the backpack nuke, none of them has ever become strong enough." John Henry said. "As soon as Cameron detects anything, she hits it hard."

John didn't like the idea of Cameron and nukes. It was always a bad mix. It was still a sore spot with him that she took the four Nike warheads away.

"Speaking of that, about the nukes, has there been any use of the four others that Cameron has?" John asked. "Does anyone even know where they are?"

John Henry searched high and low for where Cameron hid her nukes. He stopped looking when he found CamNet waiting for him several times. He took that as a 'threat' to back off. He did. He was aware Cameron saw a nuke only as another tool to accomplish a task or get a job done.

"That has to rate a 'no' on all accounts." John Henry said. "She's sitting on them and I have no doubt if she feels it's necessary to use one, she will. I think she will only do it deep underground like she did before."

John felt deflated. He trusted Cameron but he didn't trust her instincts to 'protect' him. She would follow them and do what was 'necessary' to protect him. That included going after any version of Skynet with a nuke.

"I hope not." John said. "I trust her but I know she would sacrifice herself again if she thought she was protecting me or protecting us."

Kyle could visibly see John looked beat. The talk of the nukes seemed to depress him.

"You look tired, John." Kyle said.

John was tired. Cameron 'worked' him hard. It was a good time for him and what appeared to be a really good time for her. He hadn't seen her that enthusiastic in a long time about sharing with him. Then again she did have an ulterior motive this time. He didn't want to get into that.

"It was a busy afternoon." John said. "Anyway, we have some targets and new places to watch and see what the cat drags in."

John didn't ask Kyle how he would like being called 'Grandpa' at such a young age. He knew Cameron went off to do her 'dirty work'. He gave his approval and he was pleased at how happy it made Cameron. He wasn't sure if that was because she would be the one to 'deliver' the genetic material to the girls instead of him. He was 'up' to the traditional method at this point.

Bob noted the depressed mood. He looked around.

"This place seems quiet." Bob said.

Kyle wondered about that himself.

"I haven't seen many of the girls around." Kyle said. "I've only seen Riley, Jan and Sarah recently."

John Henry now knew where they were at. CamNet kept that from him earlier.

"They went back to Australia again." John Henry said.

John hoped he could get a little more information out of John Henry. He'd try a less overt approach.

"I was worried about Savannah." John said. "She looked a little 'pale'."

John Henry knew John was 'fishing'. He didn't want to break his promise to Savannah or Cameron. She made it clear what wasn't to be discussed.

"She'll be fine." John Henry said. "They can all rest up and get some sun and relax."

John knew what Cameron wanted to do. He doubted it would work. There were two wild cards in the mix with Savannah and Young Jesse. He just didn't know what the outcome would be.

"Somehow I think a lot is going to be different when they get back." John said. "Young Jesse is about Savannah's age, right?"

"Yes." John Henry said.

John pictured a younger version of Jesse that was just as hot and enticing as Jesse was. The thought excited him more than a little. That would only exaggerate the 'problem'.

"I was afraid of that." John said.

"Why?" Kyle asked.

John didn't want to explain. He knew that Savannah and Young Jesse were not afflicted by the future. They were who was going to end up pregnant for Cameron.

"It's just a feeling." John said.

John was not sure now if he'd done the right thing. Cameron hadn't even talked him into it. Or did she?

'Damn, she's good.' John thought.

Nothing would probably work anyway. There wasn't anything to worry about. Was there?

John tried to determine who her real target was. Maybe it was multiple targets. It could even be Allison's mother Claire. He wasn't sure about that. That would make the child Allison's sibling.

He now wondered if maybe he should contact Cameron and call the whole thing off. It was that look on her face that made him hesitate. She looked so happy for once, like she'd hit the lotto jackpot. No, he remembered what it was. It was the look on her face when she thought she was a human female in the 'halfway house'. She looked so happy playing Foosball. He ruined that and told her she was really a machine. That look of joy and happiness faded from her face. That was his fault. He'd never seen that look again until earlier when they were together.

John knew her inability to reproduce haunted Cameron. That was probably Future John's fault for whatever he programmed into her. Most of Cameron's problems were Future John related. In reality it was HIS doing in the future.

It seemed that everything that 'messed up' Cameron always landed back on his doorstep. He knew his hands, among other things, weren't clean either.

Sheila was able to intercept the flight of girls before it took off. She delivered a small cryogenic vat.

Cameron wasn't going to miss out on the opportunity John gave to her. John GAVE her a way out of her 'manipulation'.

Cameron decided she was going with Ally to see Allison, especially now.

Ally wanted to ask Cameron about everything in the two futures she went to on her latest 'two day' excursion. Cameron filled her in on the way.

Cameron was a little elated at the turn of events that seemed to play in her favor for once. The talk of the future with Ally reminded her of that.

"Did you see that?" Ally asked.

Cameron looked around. It was easy for her to get sidetracked sometimes.

"Did I see what?" Cameron asked.

Ally wanted to make sure herself.

"Go around the block." Ally said.

Cameron did. They'd only gotten off the freeway a few minutes ago. They passed a park a short time later.

"Fill me in." Cameron said. "I was deep in thought about Allison and what I wanted to do for her for help her."

Ally almost snickered. She knew what Cameron wanted to do with Allison had very little to do with what Allison wanted. It was all about what Cameron wanted.

"I think I saw a female being chased near the restrooms by the park." Ally said. "She was running without pants on."

Cameron immediately increased her speed.

"That park is trouble sometimes." Cameron said. "Some of the people from the homeless camp near the railroad tracks go there to try and clean up a little with the restrooms at the park."

Ally didn't think it was that big of a deal. There were places set up to take the homeless in if they wanted to adhere to the rules. She saw homelessness as more of a chosen lifestyle. Still no female should be assaulted for any reason. The 'Allison' in her viewed attackers as nothing more than Scavengers. That is what those people would become in the future anyway.

Cameron looked over at Ally as she neared the park. She could see Ally was worried about the female now. She hadn't been as concerned thirty seconds ago.

They both looked as Cameron drove slowly on the side of the park near the bathrooms.

"There." Ally said and pointed.

Cameron saw a female running between the trees. She only wore a top and one shoe. Her pants were missing. She immediately pulled over. She didn't like any trouble within a five mile radius of Young Allison.

"If that girl's been assaulted, I want to terminate the perpetrator or perpetrators." Cameron said. "This park has a problem with females getting jumped. They are usually males from the homeless camp that are out looking for females that are a little less disease ridden than the camp girls. That changed real fast once they get a hold of someone. They're not always female either. Younger males have also been assaulted. I've cleaned this place up twice so far."

Ally figure a third time would be the charm.

"Let's go." Ally said.

Cameron went in pursuit of the female.

Ally went to check the restrooms. That was the most likely place the assault took place. She entered the restroom and spotted a shoe and a pair of pants on the floor. There was a pair of underwear too but it was ripped nearly in two. It was clear they were torn off of someone. She checked the stalls, grabbed the shoe and pants off of the floor and headed out.

Cameron moved parallel to the female and got in front of her.

"Run." The girl said as she approached. "You need to run."

The girl was about to pass Cameron. She reached out and stopped her.

"It's OK." Cameron said.

The girl looked terrified.

"No! It's not." The girl said. "They jumped me. There were two of them. This was the second time. They got me last week too. They said they were going to kill me this time. They were upset I wasn't a fresh victim."

Cameron looked down and saw some shinny spots on the girl's inner thighs. She'd already been assaulted.

Two men burst into the clearing where Cameron stood with the girl. The girl fell over backwards when she saw the men. She'd tried to backpedal and tripped over a root. The men each held a knife.

"We're going to die." The girl sobbed.

"You got that right." The first man said. "I only got one turn so far. Now we're going to get some fresh meet."

"It sure looks sweet too." The second man said.

The two men approached with their knives in front of them.

"Wrong." Cameron said.

She grabbed each man by the hand with the knife and pulled them together so they stabbed each other. They both fell to the ground.

The girl watched it all happen in a second.

"What just happened?" The girl asked.

Cameron held her foot down on one man's chest until it stopped moving.

"They tried to stab me but stabbed each other." Cameron said.

Ally arrived with the girls shoe and pants.

"It looks like I missed the party." Ally said.

She tossed the girl her belongings.

Cameron went through the men's pockets and found some cash and a second knife on one of the men. It was a folding knife.

The girl put her pants and shoe on.

Cameron handed her the cash and the knife.

"You can have these things. Do you want to go to the police or get medical attention?" Cameron asked.

The girl laughed.

"I did that once." The girl said. "The police told me it was my fault. I usually get jumped a couple of times a week in the camp. I'm used to it. Sometimes they give me food. This was the first time someone wanted to kill me for real."

The girl looked at the wad of cash. Cameron clandestinely slipped a few hundred's in among the other bills.

"You have enough to get a bus ticket back home." Cameron said. "I'll take you to the bus station."

The girl laughed again.

"That's where it all started." The girl said. "I got 'busted' in my own bed by my mother's boyfriend. It hurt like Hell. I told my mother about it on the seventh time he did it and she threw my clothes onto the front lawn and kicked me out. She said I made the story up. She told me never to come back. I don't plan to."

Cameron and Ally turned to leave.

"Wait." The girl said. "Who are you?"

Cameron glanced back.

"Nobody…." Cameron said and disappeared into the trees.

Holly saw them pull up, they said they were coming. She loved to see Cameron but always felt a little insecure with Cameron around Allison. Ally was with her. Ally was a wild card. Anything could happen with the three Metal clones of the girls and often did.

Ally contained both 'Holly' and 'Allison' though the 'Neural Interface' on her chip. She was wild enough to make a play for 'herself' even though Allison never encouraged that. Maybe that was the 'Holly', herself, on the chip.

Holly often thought of downloading some of the 'Allison' files from Ally. She'd refrained so far from doing that. She wanted them but she was very happy with the relationship they shared, even if she needed to share Allison with Vanna and sometimes Jesse. It was Allison having to be with John that worried her the most. When that happened, Cameron would be there as well. Cameron could have the 'pick of the litter' if she wanted it. No, not wanted it but if she decided to take it.

She was more than happy if Allison got pregnant, especially with John not directly involved. The method Cameron planned to use was fine with her. Then again, if Allison couldn't produce, there was no need for her to be with John or Cameron. She saw the 'damage' childbirth did to a female body. Most of it wasn't apparent but a lot of things happened. She was happy with Allison just the way she was with everything high and tight where it belonged, like Cameron.

Hanna grew very protective of Claire. There was now a full blown relationship going on. They no longer hid it from anyone.

Claire said she wanted to be who she was. She wasn't ashamed. She felt sorry for Paul. He was the odd man out now. She was torn over what to do. Hanna and Sheila both offered to 'satisfy' him to keep him around if it was necessary. She wasn't ready to cross that bridge yet. She knew once you tried Metal that nothing else would settle.

Hanna told her that three days a week for half an hour on full programming would keep him happy. Hanna promised to run her programming only and not get emotionally involved. Cameron hadn't signed off on any of this yet. Hanna and Sheila were not looking to be deactivated for angering Cameron. Claire knew Ally was out of the equation because of the Allison in her. That was what she hoped anyway.

Claire wasn't 'showing' yet. Summer showed earlier than Allison and this baby would 'show' sooner still. That is just the way it was. She was still young enough to have a lot more productive years. She was elated Cameron was here.

Hanna could see the response both Allison and Claire experienced when Cameron was around. She felt it too, she saw Holly did also. Cameron was simply like no other. Claire held Cameron a little longer than she liked and the kiss on the cheek was a little too long also. Cameron just gave her that sort of sideways sly smile. Cameron knew she was Queen. Nobody was going to challenge her.

Young Allison was always thrilled to see Cameron. The only person more thrilled was Cameron to see little Summer.

Claire saw the interaction of her girls, all three of them, with Cameron. It was really something special, like Cameron was. She knew they all loved Cameron.

Cameron was worried about Summer - Metal Summer that she'd created. She believed it was only a matter of time until she challenged her for John. She'd ended up creating a more beautiful version of 'herself' with little Summer's DNA sequenced as a teenager. She wanted to talk to Summer about the request River made for the Duplicate girls.

River could feel the Duplicate girl's 'hunger' for Duplicate Cameron - HER Cameron and even herself for that matter. She knew only Metal could quench that lust. River clearly explained it to Cameron.

With Hanna now hooked up with Claire that left only Sheila or Summer. Cameron knew she could control Sheila but not Summer. Summer should be the one to go. It would still have to be Summer's choice.

Cameron knew she was a Bitch. She just didn't want to be a Total Bitch. To allow everyone to have a choice helped her to not feel like as big of a Bitch anyway.

Maybe that was just a distinction that existed within the confines of her twisted mind. Cameron was pretty sure she was a Bitch. That was probably why Future John banished her and sent her away.

What Mrs. Weaver said about her and Future John always seemed to come back and haunt her now too. What if it were true and Future John ERASED that part of her life? Maybe Future John stole those cherished memories from her. Maybe Future John did it to cover something up.

Night Knight

Even though I'm not the one
You want to see at night
My armor rusted, bent and dull
You will always be my Knight

When days grow cold and lonely
When the demons and dragons appear
I readily stand beside you
Mutual strength to fight the fear

Life is bitter and agonizing
Each day is empty and hollow
Where you lead
I will always follow

When all seems lost
Hearts shattered so cruel
I will help brush off the tarnish
For I see you as a shining jewel

Every race must run its course
So in the pits I must always wait
When all the backs have turned
I will still think you are great

Nobody