Chapter 912

Like Daughter - Like Mother

John still wanted to be out in the field with Cameron but it was good to be back at home. Back at the base he could actually feel 'in charge' again. He didn't feel like he was in command of anything when he was in Las Vegas. It seemed all the events ran him, from the enemy activity to his near sexual partners.

He figured Cammy and Savannah were still both 'good to go' if the conditions and mood was right. The prospect of 'breaking in' both of them was very enticing to him. It would be to have sex with Cammy and to make love to Savannah. Not only did he want to compare Cammy to Cameron he also wanted to be her 'first'.

When he was in the Command Center, he was away from it all. He was out of the action and a little more secure than out in the field. That gave Cameron more freedom to operate. He didn't want to cause Cameron any more distractions. He didn't like drawing off Cameron's help. She always assigned it to watch over him. That left her and by extension Savannah in greater peril.

Currently the exact situation was unknown in Las Vegas. They'd stumbled across a connection between Skynet and a Syndicate run casino. That was all by accident when the Metal girls won big and the casino didn't want to pay up. CamNet used her ability to manipulate the casino and force them to pay the girls the cash they were 'owed'. As soon as they left with the cash from the casino, the Syndicate bosses decided they wanted their cash back they sent three thugs out to collect it from the Metal girls. That was a mistake on the Syndicate's part. When the Resistance team looked a little harder at the casino, they were able to make the Skynet connection and determine how Skynet was able to use the Syndicate to blackmail key individuals with the use of 'underage' or 'dead escorts' found in the mark's room and the blackmail that followed for the benefit of Skynet.

John understood what Cameron's next target was going to be. Everything going forward with the Syndicate casino would revolve around the male Terminator known as 'The Enforcer'.

"We need to locate 'The Enforcer'." John said. "That will determine where Cameron goes next."

John Henry understood not only would it control where Cameron went, it would control what Cameron did. Ever since 'The Enforcer' was identified from the casino surveillance footage that they were able to view, both CamNet and his server searched for a positive hit anywhere in Nevada. The Syndicate goons seemed to believe 'The Enforcer' was in Reno. He wasn't so sure of that. That may be where he went previously but he didn't think that he was still there.

"I'm searching all traffic cams and speed trap cameras now." John Henry said. "We know what he looks like. We also need to consider that he may be elsewhere other than on the road from Reno."

John needed to agree with that last assessment. The logical assumption would be that 'The Enforcer' would have decided to return back to the Las Vegas area as soon as there was a problem indicated. That problem could have either been the warehouse that was taken down or the fact that the vault was cleaned out at the Syndicate casino by the Metal girls.

"I think he's already back in or at least near Las Vegas." John said.

John Henry wondered how John arrived at that conclusion without any evidence to back up his hypothesis. That actually was his belief as well based on the events that happened.

"Based on what?" John Henry asked.

So many things happened. It almost seemed like they started a month ago. It was only yesterday since they spotted the two errant boxcars that set a whole chain of events into motion. There were a lot of things that happened in that time period. None of them led specifically to John's conclusion, yet somehow all of them did.

"I feel that it's based on all the events that have happened since yesterday." John said.

John Henry didn't want to argue the issue. He did understand human intuition played a critical role on more than one operation previously. He believed that the male Terminator would attempt to find the female Terminator first so that they could work together to combat whatever situation developed at the Syndicate run casino.

"I'm watching the area around the casino." John Henry said. "I think he will try to find the 'Metal Bitch'."

John believed that the better course of action for Cameron was to stay in the Las Vegas area.

"Let me call Cameron." John said. "I feel that going to Reno is a mistake at this time."

John Henry was certain that the main reason why Cameron wanted to go to Reno would be to make a 'withdrawal' from the other Syndicate controlled casino. That same location seemed to be where 'The Enforcer' went to. It would appear that Cameron wanted to get the attention of the Skynet and Syndicate groups and hold it.

"I think she wants to do more there than find 'The Enforcer'." John Henry said. "I think she wants to clean out the other casino associated with this group located there as well."

John was a little surprised that Cameron would be motivated to do another heist.

"Do you think it's just to do another robbery?" John asked.

John Henry believed it was more than just a robbery.

"Yes." John Henry said. "It will deny funds and control to Skynet."

John needed to think about what they'd learned so far that was going on in the Syndicate controlled casino.

"If they were using 'girls' and gambling debt at the one casino to blackmail key individuals, they're probably doing it at both of them." John said.

John Henry knew that there was the potential for five different cities to be involved in total.

"Don't forget the one in Laughlin." John Henry said. "They may also have casino connections in Tahoe or Carson City."

John looked at a satellite map of the entire state of Nevada. He could see the remoteness and isolation of some of the areas.

"That place is in the middle of nowhere." John said.

John Henry wasn't sure which location John actually referred to. They all seemed like the middle of nowhere to him. The way things were laid out in Nevada was nothing like how they were laid out in California where cities continuously butted up against each other so that there was no discernible break between them. In Nevada there were often hundreds of miles of empty desert that was only disturbed with small clusters of population. It was only because of the 'vice' involved in Nevada that people would even go there in the first place. He thought that the general landscape was very similar to Mars in most respects. The main draw was the gambling but the legalized prostitution was an added bonus for the less populous counties in the state. It was the bigger counties where prostitution was technically illegal that actually ran the largest number of girls in prostitution which was all done illegally and generally controlled by the Syndicate. He looked at the satellite map again himself and responded to John's statement.

"So was Las Vegas at one time." John Henry said. "It started out as a little blip on the map. It was originally little more than a water stop on the railroad as it passed through the area. After World War Two the Syndicate built it up rather quickly as a way to help mask all of their other illegal activity. Casinos became a good point to launder ill gotten gains. It became a good source of revenue for the Syndicate to get their hooks into as many people as possible. Skynet was able to take advantage of that pre-established operation for the benefit of itself."

John remembered all the open desert that surrounded them just moments after the jet took off from the Las Vegas Airport. Even as big as the city was, it was still literally in the middle of nowhere.

"So it was and is." John said.

John Henry doubted the reach of Skynet was limited to a few Syndicate establishments. Once Skynet would have determined the amount of control and funds available that it could obtain, it was bound to reach out further. It would try to remain as covert as possible to avoid detection.

"They may also have casino connections that we don't know about with other casinos in any of those places." John Henry said. "The Grays may have branched out."

There was no sure way yet for them to know the extent of how far the cancer of Skynet spread through the casinos of Nevada.

Gail's team flagged Cameron down and ran some ideas by her 'off the record'. They didn't want any negative influence from the Command Center involved. They were going to look into a few things. They decided what they would do. They may not inform John of all of them yet.

John contacted the girls again before they departed. He was still under the assumption they were headed for Reno.

"Cameron, I want you and both of your teams to remain in the Las Vegas area." John said.

Cameron decided to play it a little coy.

"I want to go to Reno." Cameron said.

John still believed that was unnecessary.

"You can go there later on." John said. "We believe 'The Enforcer' has already returned back to the Las Vegas area."

Cameron's team speculated much of the same thing but so far they hadn't found any proof of that.

"Have you spotted or identified him?" Cameron asked.

John Henry knew that they didn't have a lot to go on.

"Not yet." John Henry said.

Cameron wanted to float the idea that they'd discussed amongst themselves.

"In that case, we're going to 'visit' the casino again." Cameron said. "We haven't been there for a few hours."

John originally thought Cameron referred to the casino hotel where they stayed earlier. He wondered if maybe she meant a different location where there hadn't been any problems. He wanted to make sure he knew where they would be. He thought that there was still a possibility Cameron would want to get together with Savannah. He really couldn't blame her in that regard. He wanted to do that as well.

"Which one will you go to?" John asked.

Cameron looked over at Savannah before she spoke.

"The casino we know is compromised by Skynet." Cameron said.

John looked over at John Henry before he spoke. He wasn't quite sure he understood what she meant.

"Are you going to rob it again?" John asked. "Will they have that much more money this soon? It's not very late in the day yet."

It sounded like a bad idea to John.

Cameron was pleased to see that she'd gotten John's attention. She decided to ease his mind a little. She doubted it would be much.

"No. We want to give back some of their money, as customers." Gail said.

That sounded like an even worse idea to John. They'd robbed the place only a few hours ago. That made no sense. He wanted to make sure that he understood her clearly.

"You want to go back into the casino you robbed and play there?" John asked.

Cammy could see they'd raised a note of worry in the Command Center. She thought that she would add to it a little.

"Yes." Cammy said. "We'll check in as well. We can stay there."

That idea seemed even worse than the last one to John. Maybe it would be better if they went to Reno at this point. He just wanted to make sure that he got everything straight that they wanted to do.

"You want to STAY as a guest in the casino you robbed?" John asked. "There were people killed there earlier as well."

Sheila was ready to get her hands dirty again. The Syndicate wanted to make a statement with them earlier. They made a statement with the Syndicate instead. Now it was time to rub their face in it.

"That's what she said, love." Sheila said. "I think they owe us a little hospitality since they were going to rob, beat and assault us earlier. If we would have been human girls, that would have happened."

Ally wanted the Command Center to know that there was a method to their madness.

"We think 'The Enforcer' will return there." Ally said.

John wanted some rational thought at this point.

"Savannah, what do you think?" John asked.

Savannah already went over the plans with Cameron and the rest of the Metal girls. They were all on the same page.

"I think 'The Enforcer' is back here as well." Savannah said. "I also think we need to return the drones back to their outlying bases, before they cause a rise in 'UFO sightings'."

John Henry and his server had been hard at work since the start of the operation to make sure that all 'UFO sightings' were pinned on the military.

"I've attributed all UFO reports to military testing as I suppress them." John Henry said. "There's a large Air Force Base near you just north of town off Interstate 15."

"We saw two B-1 bombers fly out of there." Cameron said. "We're also not that far away from Groom Lake and the military installation known as Area 51. I think between those two locations they will give us a lot of cover."

Savannah was more worried about the Air Force Base that was right outside of Las Vegas. More than likely military personnel visited Las Vegas on their leave time. Some of them were bound to run up gambling debts. Others may be inclined to 'sample' some of the local female clientele. Both of those endeavors could be corrupted by Skynet and the Syndicate.

"Maybe that's a target of Skynet as well. They would be able to target key personnel there and blackmail them. They could gain unfettered access to the base and the weapons stored there." Savannah said. "Do they have nuclear weapons there?"

John Henry tried to keep track of all the U.S. military installations where nuclear weapons were stored. His search of the records indicated they weren't tracked very well and more than likely some of them disappeared over the years. Cameron was responsible for some of those disappearances previously.

"Yes." John Henry said. "They say they don't but they do."

Cameron believed that Skynet had its claws deep in the Las Vegas area. That most likely meant at the Air Force Base as well. She wanted a 'hands on' check of the nuclear inventory. With Skynet this close to nuclear weapons and the ability to compromise people on the base to get to them easily, worried her.

"Keep a watch on that and check the nuclear inventory." Cameron said. "Have someone there make a physical check, not a computer one. Try to use two different people if possible in case one of them is compromised. I may need to go there myself."

John felt that the bad ideas seemed to flow non stop from Cameron on everything in the Las Vegas area.

"No." John said. "I don't want you to do that. I don't want you on the Air Force Base. I don't want you to deal with any nuclear weapons."

Savannah didn't believe any of the Resistance team members needed to be worried about. There were plenty of other nut jobs out there who like to blow themselves up.

"I think nuclear weapons are something the Fanatical Grays would like to get a hold of." Savannah said. "They really want their 'god version' of Skynet - SkyMaster to take control."

Cameron felt that she'd made her point with John.

"John, I'll get back to you." Cameron said.

Ally was a little confused at the outcome of the conversation. She still wasn't sure what their destination was.

"Now what's the plan?" Ally asked. "Is it the Syndicate casino or Reno?"

Cameron wanted to go where the action was.

"Let's head for the Syndicate casino." Cameron said.

Savannah wanted to know when the rest of their reinforcements would arrive. She thought if they were going to the Syndicate casino that they might come in handy.

"What is the ETA on Cam and her team?" Savannah asked.

Cameron wanted to make sure when all of her cards could be played. Well, it wouldn't be all of them; it would be the opening salvo.

"Let me check." Cameron said.

Cam just finished with the chip when Cameron called.

"It's almost ready." Cam said.

Cameron wanted to make sure the physical aspects of the 'Metal Bitch' would be good as well.

"What's the status of her wounds or any other damage?" Cameron asked.

Cam was impressed with Claire's needlework.

"Claire removed the projectiles and stitched her up." Cam said. "She's very skilled with a needle. The wounds will heal very quickly."

Cameron was surprised that Claire was involved with the repair of a Terminator.

"Claire?" Cameron asked.

Cameron didn't like that idea. That could turn into some real bloody business on occasion.

Cam didn't want it to become an issue with Cameron. She wanted to let her know that Claire was a willing participant.

"Claire asked to help." Cam said. "She said that she needed to acclimate herself to the future."

Cameron would prefer if Claire not become involved in that aspect of the operation.

"That can get messy." Cameron said.

Cameron thought of some of the damage done to her along with the missing chunks or sections from her sheath. It seemed that the most severe part of that damage happened in her mind.

Cam wanted to reassure Cameron that there were no problems.

"She didn't even vomit." Cam said. "She's a trooper."

Cameron wanted to move the operation forward. It sounded like all the pieces were ready to be put into play.

"Get the chip in the 'Metal Bitch' and get her back here to Las Vegas." Cameron said.

Cam wanted to know what would happen once they arrived at the airport.

"Will you pick us up?" Cam asked.

Cameron knew that transportation wouldn't be a problem at the airport.

"There are a few vehicles at the airport that were left there earlier." Cameron said. "Use those. Bring two of them."

Cam wanted to run one more proposal by Cameron. She was pretty sure that it wouldn't fly. Since she was asked to do it, she would do it anyway and see what happened.

"Claire has asked to come as well." Cam said.

That was NOT what Cameron wanted to hear, especially with Claire pregnant with Allison's baby again.

"NO!" Cameron said. "I don't want her damaged."

Claire heard Cam speak with Cameron. She moved forward and took the phone after she wiped the 'blood' off of her hands.

"Hello, Cameron." Claire said.

Cameron already knew what Claire's endgame was.

"Hi, Claire." Cameron said. "I know what you want."

Claire wanted additional training. She was willing to step up in place of her daughter.

"I do want it." Claire said.

Cameron felt that Claire was too valuable on her current 'assignment'.

"You must remain undamaged." Cameron said. "You know why."

Claire understood the risks but she didn't feel she was the only one who would face them.

"I do but what about Savannah?" Claire asked. "The DAILY risk to her is greater than it is to me."

Cameron didn't need to be reminded of her shortcomings and the danger Savannah faced with her.

"I know, Claire." Cameron said. "I know."

Hanna was sure Claire was going to cause Cameron a problem. She was pretty sure it was going to cause one for her as well.

"Claire, STOP." Hanna said. "You're going to cause Cameron to start glitching."

Claire looked at Hanna for a long moment.

"OK." Claire said.

Hanna didn't want Claire to risk herself either.

"Please, drop it." Hanna said.

Claire didn't want to cause anybody problems before an operation. She wanted to make sure it is understood that even if she backed off now, she wanted to go forward later on.

"OK, Cameron. I'll sit this one out." Claire said. "I want to use the training you and the Metal girls have taught me."

Claire wanted to keep Young Allison out of combat when she returned from the past as a teenager. She was willing to step up in Young Allison's place and assume all of her duties. Those included the duties with John as well.

Cameron's intention to train Claire wasn't to use her for combat but to help protect her family. She wanted her to have a longer lifespan than she did in Allison's future.

"That training was to better protect you and your three daughters." Cameron said. "Please give me Cam back."

Claire believed that taking the risk herself was the best way to protect all of her daughters.

Cam took the phone.

Cameron wanted to get the ball rolling.

"Load the 'Metal Bitch' up and get here." Cameron said. "I'm tired of waiting."

Cam put her phone away.

"Let's put the chip in and see what we have." Cam said.

Claire could see that she'd ruffled more than a few feathers.

"I wasn't trying to cause a problem." Claire said.

Hanna didn't want Claire to feel like that. Nobody saw it like that.

"We know that, Claire." Hanna said.

Holly didn't see it as a problem either. She saw it as what they all wanted to do.

"You want to help." Holly said. "We all do."

Cam wanted to point out that there were alternatives for them when they were damaged or destroyed in combat.

"Our programs are all copied on a server." Cam said. "We can take this chassis here and Resequence it to our DNA and put a new chip in it and 'Presto', we are 'rebodied' and as good as new. You can't do that."

That sparked an idea in Claire's mind.

"Can the 'Metal Bitch' be Resequenced to my DNA?" Claire asked.

Holly tilted her head slightly to the side. She found the idea intriguing.

"Do you mean to make a Terminator version of you?" Holly asked. "Do you want that?"

Claire didn't want Young Allison or Summer to face the horrors that Allison, all of them, faced in the future.

"Would it be just like me?" Claire asked.

Hanna was aware with the advanced 'Neural Interface' it would be close.

"It would be like I am to Vanna or Ally is to Allison." Hanna said.

Claire had been fooled by all of the Metal girls before. She was also intrigued that whenever she was with Ally, that for all practical purposes, she was with 'Allison' even if it wasn't Allison.

"You could all fool me." Claire said. "Sheila too with Jesse."

Cam wanted to remind her of what all would be necessary.

"We would need to use the 'Neural Interface' on you." Cam said.

Claire was sure that Cameron conducted that procedure on her before.

"I think Cameron did that already." Claire said.

The three Metal girls all looked at each other. That was news to them.

"When?" Cam asked.

Claire remembered the time period clearly.

"It was back when Paul moved out." Claire said. "It went a lot smoother than I thought it would. He actually seemed 'happy'."

The three Metal girls all looked at each other again. That most likely meant one thing. There was already a Metal version of Claire and she was with Paul. None of them wanted to mention that. Cameron kept that as a secret if that was the case. They all figured it was a young teenage version of Claire as well.

Hanna went to the server and looked up the file.

"Here's 'Claire's program'." Hanna said.

Claire was pleased to hear that. She wanted to make sure that it was up to date.

"I want to update it." Claire said. "In case anything happens to me. I want My Allison and Summer to still have their 'mother'. Just in case…."

Cam wanted to get to Las Vegas. They needed to get moving.

"We need to go as soon as we get this chip in." Cam said. "I'll ask John Henry to do the procedure or you can wait until Cameron is back and speak with her."

Hanna wanted her to speak with Cameron first as well.

"That's what I would recommend." Hanna said.

Claire didn't think she needed to rush anything. There was already something on file. It was only a few years out of date. She figured that the only thing missing was about a thousand sexual encounters with all the different females, both human and Metal.

"I'll wait." Claire said.

Cam moved to install the chip in the 'Metal Bitch'.

"Claire, move over by the door, please." Cam said.

Claire was a little surprised at the request.

"Why?" Claire asked.

Holly didn't want to scare Claire but she did want her to be able to run if necessary.

"In case there's a problem." Holly said. "You will need to take off."

Claire reached back and pulled out a Taser. That seemed to surprise Cam.

"Since when do you carry that?" Cam asked.

Claire believed she should be at least as prepared as her daughters were.

"Ever since Allison - My Allison has carried one." Claire said.

Cam tilted her head slightly to the side.

"Like mother, like daughter?" Cam asked.

Claire believed it was just the opposite.

"No." Claire said. "Like daughter, like mother, I'm learning from her."

The Metal girls all tilted their heads slightly with that revelation and justification.

They were all aware of Young Allison's spying on the females at the Young residence and what she most likely learned from those observations. There was some 'teaching' going on there even if it was unknown to the 'teachers'. Cameron previously instructed the Metal girls not to interfere and facilitate Young Allison's 'curiosity'.

Cameron wanted to make sure that Young Allison's focus was on females. She was pleased to learn that ninety three percent of her internet searches were of females or females together with each other.

Young Allison monitored what happened at the Resistance base.

"You're spying on them." Anna said.

Young Allison was aware Anna knew most everything she did, even when she went to bed.

"I am." Young Allison said. "You know I 'observe' everyone."

Anna believed that was a two way street.

"Why?" Anna asked. "Do you like to be spied on?"

Young Allison viewed it as a learning process. She felt her actions were justified.

"I'm isolated here." Young Allison said. "I like to see how the other's 'interact'. I've learned a lot."

Anna didn't want things to get away from her again. That already happened once and Savannah was the only one who was able to stop it.

"That's not good." Anna said. "Remember the 'other problem' that was 'created'."

Young Allison didn't feel it was a 'problem'. It wasn't a problem for her. It wasn't a problem for CamNet. The only problem was with everyone else. They weren't her, she was.

"That was only a short time ago." Young Allison said.

Anna wasn't sure exactly how much Young Allison would be shown of what she wanted to see.

"Will CamNet show you 'everything'?" Anna asked.

There were some restraints imposed on Young Allison.

"No." Young Allison said. "CamNet said, 'some things must remain private'."

Anna understood what that meant.

"All girls need a few secrets?" Anna asked.

Young Allison looked at the stairway that led up from the bunker into the house.

"I don't think there are many secrets left around here." Young Allison said. "I think even I know most of them."

Anna was well aware of Young Allison's 'activity'.

"I think you're right." Anna said.

Really Big Hug

Most will never give you
A true loving hug
They will use or abuse
Pull from under you the rug

People don't care
They soon turn smug
They don't want
The real warmth of a hug

They will grab and grope
At your clothes tug
They don't want YOU
Only your body to hug

When the chips are down
You feel like pulling the plug
Always remember that there is
Still one who wants YOU to hug

There's no escape
In a jug, mug or drug
So feel the loving warmth
As I send YOU a really big hug

Nobody