Chapter 865

I Think I Know

John Henry was contacted by CamNet with some specific information. It was a rough plan that seemed to have some merit.

"John, I've received some suggestions from CamNet." John Henry said.

John didn't think that was anything out of the ordinary.

"That happens all the time." John said.

John Henry thought there was some relevance based upon the topic. It was one that they'd just discussed. It was a different approach.

"It's been suggested we act as if we are the Grays that Cammy and Gail took down and call for 'help'." John Henry said.

John wasn't so sure that was a good idea. He didn't see any need to inform the area that they were about to investigate further that there was some kind of a problem.

"That would alert the other location." John said. "They'd be put on guard. They'd be on the lookout for anything different."

John Henry felt that there was some merit to the plan. It was bound to remove some of the people that were at the location they wanted to investigate.

"That might reduce their personnel if they decided to send help to the other location." John Henry said. "They may also decide to pack up and make a run for it."

John thought it might speed the recovery of the HK equipment if they did that.

"That would make our operation easier if they packed everything up for us." John said. "They may also decide to stay and fight."

John Henry just wanted to point out it was an option that they hadn't considered. It was something to think about.

"It's an option anyway." John Henry said.

John thought the presentation of the idea was a little different than normal. He was pretty sure that there was more behind it than met the eye.

"Where's this information or suggestion really from?" John asked.

John Henry didn't want to run afoul of CamNet.

"CamNet didn't specify." John Henry said.

John was pretty sure he knew what the actual source of the recommendation was from.

"I think I know." John said. "She's always trying to think the operations through and watch out for us. I should thank her."

John Henry already arrived at the same conclusion as soon as he received the message from CamNet. He didn't think it was a good idea to rock the boat. The suggestion arrived by the method it did for a specific reason.

"I think it's best if she wishes to remain in the shadows for now that we honor that." John Henry said. "It's her 'age' that bothers her."

John thought of some of the rumors that he'd heard. Knowing how Cameron operated and liked to control people's lives, he was sure that they were more than rumors.

"I don't think that will be an issue much longer…." John said.

John Henry hoped to avoid getting into any details of a probable event. That was especially more so since he didn't have any input or say into the matter. He wanted to keep his hands off of it.

"That would be a safe bet." John Henry said.

John smiled. The thought Young Allison could soon look like Future Allison was very alluring and enticing to him. He really regretted not taking Future Allison up on her 'offer'. She said being with John Connor was something that happened all the time in the future. For her to be with him in the past or present would be no different to her.

He was positive that if Future Allison ever returned that he was going to take advantage of that offer, if it still stood. He kept passing up what was being offered and what was available. He really wondered what for. His close encounter with Cammy showed there was no need not to take advantage of the bounty of booty. He at least wanted to be with the virgins and get that issue 'corrected' and out of the way.

"…her mother." John Henry said.

John realized he'd let his mind wander. It seemed to happen more and more, even when they were in the middle of an operation. There were certain deep rooted thoughts that were in his mind and sometimes they were triggered. He didn't know those deep rooted thoughts stemmed from his nightly 'conditioning' when Cameron was around.

"What?" John asked.

John was aware he'd been daydreaming about being with Future Allison again. He really thought that she was something worth daydreaming about. He really thought someone that vibrant and young didn't need to be stuck in a future that was little more than Hell. He'd like get her out of the future and move her to the Resistance base.

John Henry didn't understand how John was so easily distracted. None of the concepts that they discussed were new. He decided to repeat his previous statement.

"I stated, for things like that you would need to contend with her mother." John Henry said.

That reminder made John think about Claire. She was very attractive and seemed to indicate she was 'available' for several things. Maybe he could manage to get one of those 'mother – daughter' deals that he'd always heard about. He didn't need to wait for 'temporal ageing'. Allison and Claire were available now. He was sure they were both 'good to go'. He wasn't so sure about both of them at the same time though. He would still like to try that. He needed to refocus.

"I think Cameron will 'take care' of anything regarding any of that." John said.

Cameron did tell him their relationship was 'open'. Maybe it was time to take advantage of that.

John remembered Cameron's words to him earlier.

'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.' Cameron said to him or something like that anyway. He understood what it meant.

If that wasn't a 'green light' to have at it, what was?

Cameron reminded him often that none of the Metal girls could say 'no' if he asked them. It appeared in Cammy's case that he didn't even need to ask. She was more than willing to offer. Actually if he thought about it, all of the Metal girls seemed to make a similar offer. He really didn't see any need not to do as they desired. What could it hurt? No really, what could it hurt? It seemed like good clean fun if everybody was on board with it voluntarily. A warm body would be nice to wake up to everyday, not a few times a month.

The drone images Cameron's teams looked at seemed about the last place to look for something Skynet related. It was an effective strategy.

The images that Savannah initially looked at bothered her.

"It looks like a playground." Savannah said.

Dan was able to read a sign as he passed on the motorcycle. He also thought the property wasn't in the best shape.

"It has a 'Child Day Care' sign on the front of it." Dan said. "The property looked run down."

Savannah understood that statement to mean that the original use of the property could have changed. She wanted to be absolutely sure before they made any type of aggressive move. She specifically made sure that everybody understood her position.

"We need to make sure no children are present." Savannah said. "If there's even one, we will need to devise a new plan. There will be no exception."

Cameron looked further at the drone scans that she received. Everything was run down including in the playground area.

"I think they were able to rent the building cheap." Cameron said. "They may even be squatting in it, if it was abandoned."

Sheila believed they might be able to get some insight based on what may have already transpired there.

"John Henry needs to do a records search." Sheila said.

The more that they uncovered about this unknown group, bothered Cameron more and more. There appeared to be something very sinister going on.

"These people are going to turn out to be part of the 'anti-Metal' faction or worse." Cameron said. "I can 'feel' it."

John was painfully aware that the anti-Metal faction was still part of the Resistance. They both shared a common enemy. The difference was more in the details than in the policy. He felt that they could share some type of common ground.

"I want to try to make contact with them." John said over their coms. "We're both fighting Skynet."

Cameron was appalled at the idea. She wondered why John seemed to have such a short memory of past events. There'd already been one attack directed at them. It was actually directed more at her specifically. It just hadn't played out the way it was intended by the perpetrators. She was to be blamed for an incident that she wasn't responsible for and deactivated by John as punishment. In other words, she would have been terminated for something she wasn't responsible for.

"No." Cameron said. "They'll infiltrate us AGAIN if we try to work with them."

Savannah knew that was a jab at John. She also saw Cameron's hand start to glitch. She knew she needed to take control of the situation immediately. She didn't want things to get out of hand. It seemed Cameron was steamed enough already. There was no need to make it worse.

"Cameron, I want you to sit in the back with me." Savannah said.

Sheila was parked, so Cameron moved into the back with Savannah.

Savannah kissed Cameron on the cheek and took her left hand. The glitch stopped. She smiled at Cameron and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"John, that's a negative on trying to make contact with them." Savannah said. "Cameron is very upset now. Those people have proven they can't be trusted. They'll turn on us once they're done with the Grays and Skynet. I saw them in the future too, both of the futures I went to. They tried to kill Cameron's clone when they thought she was Allison - Duplicate Allison, because she was a "Metal Lover'. You know what they did from Cameron's future…."

Savannah felt Cameron gently squeeze her hand. Cameron 'thanked' her for standing up for her.

"We should still try." John said. "They may be able to help us or provide us with additional information."

Cameron was able to collect her thoughts. She was also ready to act. She was determined that she would confront this group herself.

"If there are no children present, I'll lead the assault myself." Cameron said. "That decision will stand."

John was aware that Cameron wanted vengeance. He also knew that Sheila was with her. He figured that they would both take great satisfaction if they were able to 'work' on any of the people involved.

"I don't want any interrogations." John said.

Savannah felt it was way too early to make any type of determination like that. Events could play out otherwise where additional information may be needed.

"That will be determined by their actions and attitude." Savannah said. "We don't know what will happen later on."

Savannah reached forward and squeezed Sheila's shoulder gently.

Sheila glanced back and nodded.

Savannah was aware she would be identified as a 'Metal Lover' by that group. The funny part of that was Cammy was her 'Metal lover'…. She loved Cameron and all of the Terminators dearly. It didn't bother her in the slightest that she was a 'Metal Lover' by more than one definition. It was actually something that she was quite proud of. She would stand by that decision and belief even if it meant her life. She did understand that when the anti-Metal faction came to assassinate John Connor that she would most likely be by his side and die with him.

Cammy and Gail went by and checked out the warehouse by the rail yard. They did the inspection as quickly as possible. It was mainly a half hearted attempt to look over everything again. That wasn't why they were there. There were other things that they wanted to do.

"OK, we did what we said we would do." Cammy said.

Cammy felt justified that she could continue with her plans with John.

Gail was able to gather what was really going on by what was said and what wasn't said. Sometimes what wasn't said, said a lot more than what was actually said.

"I can take you back to see John." Gail said. "It sounded like you both made plans."

Cammy felt confident enough now to talk about what she wanted. She also knew that it was more than just what she wanted. It was what John wanted as well.

"It seemed that way." Cammy said. "I wanted to be with John because Savannah was with Cameron."

Gail felt a glitch impulse but was able to suppress it.

"She was?" Gail asked. "Are you sure?"

Gail knew if that was the case she would never get to be with Savannah. Cameron would eliminate all the competition, one way or another.

Cammy was sure of the things that she saw and felt with her own hands. She didn't think it was too hard to add everything up and do the math.

"I saw the wet towels and the messed up bed." Cammy said.

Gail showered with Savannah before and even dressed her. That didn't mean Cameron and Savannah were together as lovers yet.

Cammy was able to see the look of concern and worry on Gail's face.

"I can see you truly love Savannah, Gail." Cammy said.

Gail knew that everybody's relationship was open. It still made her feel like an intruder. She knew that she was one of the few individuals who hadn't been with Savannah yet.

"I do." Gail said. "I don't mean to intrude on you or Cameron."

Cammy thought about her programming. She was given very specific directives from Cameron about what to do when it came to Savannah. Savannah wasn't to be denied love from any source. Cameron wanted Savannah to share as much love as possible and to feel as loved as possible.

"You're not." Cammy said. "I'm to facilitate whatever Savannah's desires are. Even though I love her, I'm programmed to make Savannah feel the love from 'everyone'. I never stand in her way if she seeks comfort and love from anyone. She in turn has encouraged me to share and love others as well. I have."

Through her own personal experience, Gail knew that was true. She believed it was true for all of them.

"I think all the girls, and Metal girls, do the same." Gail said. "We all share our partners while having 'open relationships'."

Cammy thought about how her own existence rapidly evolved from what it was at the time of her creation. She was very much more today than when she was created.

"Our programming has developed so much and so fast that we are almost like human females anyway." Cammy said.

Gail couldn't help but think about Cameron's roller coaster ride of emotions that she'd witnessed.

"I think that happened to Cameron a long time ago." Gail said. "She sometimes seems even more human, than the human females do."

Cammy could think of one big biological difference that separated them from human females. She believed that was an obstacle that could never be overcome due to the different makeup between humans and the Metal girls.

"The only way we aren't like them is being able to reproduce offspring." Cammy said.

Gail was painfully aware that not all human females were capable of reproduction.

"Even some of the human females are unable to do that." Gail said.

Cammy felt that was a very touchy subject. She'd seen the pain and anguish that some of the human females went through because of that. It was no fault of their own either. It was the fault of Skynet. The younger uncontaminated versions of Vanna and Jesse we're both able to reproduce. That fact alone proved Skynet was the culprit as to why Vanna and Jesse couldn't reproduce.

"We all know Cameron needs Savannah to continue to grow." Cammy said. "Cameron may have grown past John but she will never grow past Savannah and Allison – Young Allison."

Gail carefully went over all the reports about the future that there were. She wanted to understand the true nature of the 'Natural Order'. She didn't want to change or alter it. She wanted to see what it was based on and how it functioned.

"That's why they're together in the future." Gail said. "They all NEED each other."

Cammy was there in Cameron's future. She'd witnessed it with her own eyes. She'd also lived it and was a participant at times.

"It's the 'Natural Order'." Cammy said. "It's inevitable."

Both Cammy and Gail understood that no matter how much they cared for or loved Savannah, it was clear she belonged to the future. They both understood that anyone who stood in the way of that would be forcefully knocked out of the way and cast into the nothingness of termination.

Allison watched as Vanna took care of Precious. It was all done with a great amount of care and love.

"I can see how much you want to be a mother." Allison said.

There were times when Vanna was very disgusted with her body and its ability to function as it should. She didn't believe that any of its shortcomings were her fault. She was very pleased that Cameron was able to help her develop a very special function of at least part of it.

"The older I get, the more I have that desire." Vanna said. "I can't. I have tried so many times. Nothing ever 'sticks'."

There were times Vanna felt like an 'embryo serial killer'. It bothered her greatly to know that life had been created and then was just as quickly terminated.

Allison felt and shared Vanna's pain. She also had her own shortcomings to deal with. Sometimes they were very overwhelming. She understood why some events took place in the way that they had. That was something that she didn't have much control over even though a certain aspect of it should have belonged to her. There was real reasoning behind what was done. What was done is what needed to be done.

"I don't know what to do anymore." Allison said. "I want to share a family with you. If I run away into the future, I'll try to take someone else's family away at that point."

Vanna felt an extreme sense of guilt and grief. She'd witnessed the pain Savannah went through upon her return from the future. It wasn't the future that caused that pain for Savannah. It was what was left in the future that was the source of that pain. She really didn't think she could be a part of that and need to face Savannah everyday in the present.

"Cameron can help us…." Vanna said. "I can't ask Savannah to give up her baby for me again. She's done that twice. I know she would have one for me, for us. That would kill me to give up my baby."

Allison felt very guilty about what was done as well. She didn't believe anyone should need to suffer on her part for her shortcomings.

"I can't ask my mother either." Allison said. "I know it is hard on her. She would also have one, for us."

Vanna tried to contemplate what choices were available to them.

"What do we do?" Vanna asked.

Allison could only see one direction and she wasn't sure it was the right one anymore. Not too long ago she saw that direction very clearly. Now it seems like the wrong direction

"Do we run to the future?" Allison asked.

Vanna wanted to write her own story. She wanted both of them to do that.

"NO!" Vanna said. "We make OUR own future."

Jesse walked with Holly back to Riley's room. She began to experience a lot of apprehension over what she was about to do. She even questioned her ability to be able to do it even though it was proven that she could, at least physically.

"I feel very nervous about this." Jesse said.

Holly tilted her head slightly as they walked. What Jesse said surprised her.

"I didn't think anything bothered you." Holly said. "You're as tough as Coltan."

Jesse felt the grip of the past - the future, weigh heavily upon her at times. She didn't think that was any fault of her own but she knew that a lot of it was. She may have been a victim of circumstance but she was also a willing participant.

"It still bothers me. A lot bothers me." Jesse said. "I'm ashamed of things I've done and things that have been done to me. Maybe how I act helps me cope."

Jesse sometimes felt that she hid in plain sight. She'd constructed a 'wall' around herself that was invisible but it was there as if it was real.

Holly viewed Jesse for the person that she was now. She believed who a person was now, was more important than what they may have been before. That was then, this was now.

"You're very beautiful, Jesse." Holly said. "I mean both inside and out too."

Jesse quickly looked at Holly when she made that statement. She could see that Holly was serious.

"I don't feel that way." Jesse said. "I've asked Cameron to make sure that I - Young Jesse I mean, not be allowed to make the same mistakes I've made. I never want her to find that darkness that lurks inside of her."

Holly wasn't so sure that the 'darkness' was already inside of Young Jesse waiting to be discovered. She believed that Skynet was responsible for the 'darkness' that developed in Jesse.

"You know that won't happen." Holly said. "Camille is 'Cameron'; everything will be different and better for her, no matter what happens."

"I never thought I would be able to do this…." Jesse said. "I mean help Precious."

Holly was very aware of her construction and the facade that covered her Coltan chassis.

"I envy what your body can do." Holly said. "Mine was constructed for killing. Yours was created for - creating."

Jesse felt a sense of guilt and regret.

"Mine doesn't - create." Jesse said. "Skynet has ruined my body."

Holly glanced over at Jesse's breasts. They were noticeably larger than they were a short time ago. Based on her observation of Claire, she knew that Jesse wasn't yet done with her new development.

"It may have taken some things from you but not everything." Holly said. "Cameron can help you."

Jesse honestly didn't know if there were any motherly instincts left in her. She may have ruined all of them or they may have been ruined for her. She really didn't know. It left her with an extreme feeling of fear. It was the fear of failure.

"Let's see how I do first." Jesse said. "I'm scared I won't be good enough."

Jesse's words hit home with Holly. She'd heard those very words before.

"You sound like Cameron." Holly said.

Jesse saw things a little deeper than that.

"That is just the thing." Jesse said. "It's Cameron that sounds like us and FEELS like us – humans."

Holly thought humans were very resilient and adaptable.

"I think you'll do fine." Holly said.

Jesse really wished she knew the answer to that. She didn't

"It's the moment of truth." Jesse said.

Holly knocked twice and opened the door to Riley's room for Jesse.

Ally listened to the plan John laid out.

"It can't hurt to try." Ally said. "You're going to flatten the place anyway, right?"

John thought about asking for more drones to make his plan a 'maximum effort'.

"Yes." John said. "At midnight I'll launch a massive drone strike."

Ally could only see positive things in the plan.

"So what do we have to lose by trying to spook them now?" Ally asked. "If they load the trucks for us, that's even better. If not, we blow them up where they are now. If they run, we take them down."

John wanted decisive action. He didn't want any unnecessary actions on the part of some individuals.

"I want all of them terminated, if that happens." John said. "I don't want any more 'interrogations'."

Ally doubted John would be able to enforce the last part of his statement.

"You might have to take that up with Cameron." Ally said.

John felt his input was minimal on the subject. He knew that there were others that would have much more impact than he ever could.

"No. Not with Cameron. I'll take it up with Savannah or Young Allison if I have to." John said. "They have the influence to prevent that."

Ally really thought that that would depend upon the circumstances.

"There may be times when they won't." Ally said.

John would take whatever help he could get. He knew he needed to respect it when it was given too.

"Then I'll trust their judgment on a case by case scenario." John said. "They aren't the 'Chosen Ones' for nothing."

Ally thought she didn't need to get as close to the target area as she was going to previously. She thought the other events should play out. She didn't want to risk being discovered before they did.

"Do you want me to hold up then and see what shakes loose?" Ally said.

That sounded like a good idea to John.

"Yes." John said. "I don't like risking damage to anyone if it can be avoided."

John thought back to the time he foolishly 'sacrificed' Cameron to get his mother out of jail. It was all so needless and unnecessary. He didn't think Cameron ever truly forgave him for that. How could she? He DESTROYED her.

"OK, I'll slow down." Ally said.

"…What…?" John asked.

John was lost in thought about his shortcomings with Cameron. If he dwelt there too long he'd think about Riley next.

Great, now he just did.

John smiled.

Anna received some feedback from John Henry about Young Allison's plan.

"They're going to try your idea." Anna said.

Young Allison didn't want it looked at like that.

"It's an idea, not 'my idea'. We're all a team." Young Allison said. "I hate Skynet too. We'll all fight together and share together."

Anna was proud of Young Allison.

I Think I Know

When someone's a stranger
What's really known about them
Will one ever know the truth
Will the lies ever stem

Are they who they say
How does one find out
Can one ever know
What they are all about

There's no way to verify
What happened in the past
Is only the future to come
Enough to make it all last

One can always listen
Is it enough to believe
Will one's trust they thieve
Leaving a heart to grieve

When one's love they bestow
Is there still room to grow
Will they fold or show
I think I know

Nobody