Chapter 971

I Am Redundant

John and John Henry were unsure of what they'd stumbled on to.

John Henry verified everyone's current position.

"John, all of our team members are away from the structure." John Henry said. "I don't believe anyone was detected."

John went over all the current data. There was nothing there to go by. Out of the blue they were faced with a new problem and unknown activity on Skynet's part.

"Like everything, this has to be part of something bigger." John said. "It seems that we're always playing catch up."

John Henry was a little disturbed how their operations tended to unfold. They usually came across something small and it kept expanding and getting bigger. The last operation that ended with the detonation of an H-bomb in the Nevada desert was a perfect example.

"The question is what?" John Henry asked. "We need more intel."

John looked at the images they started to receive from the new equipment that was installed.

"Hopefully the surveillance cameras that Gail and Cam left behind will shed some light on that." John said.

John Henry was aware they were able to cover two sections of the building with surveillance equipment.

"Before the other teams pulled back, they set surveillance up to cover the front and the back." John Henry said. "We'll be able to see what happens on the ground. The drones will give us an overview of what's happening around the area.

John looked at the personnel who are currently on station at the old super market. They were all female Terminators. That was highly unusual for an operation. Most of the male Terminators had been involved with other projects.

"When are we going to get some more of our Terminators back?" John asked.

John Henry understood that John referred to the male Terminators.

"They're all processing the large quantity of Skynet equipment we were able to appropriate over the last week." John Henry said. "More of them should be available soon."

John was very pleased with the quantity of Skynet equipment they were able to capture. He understood the process of going through all the captured equipment to make sure there was nothing hidden that could be tracked by Skynet later on.

"It's hard to believe so much happened in the last week." John said. "What else do we have on any of the boxcars or potential hiding places?"

John Henry hoped to get a hit on something soon. He really wanted to get his hands on a few more boxcars full of HK equipment. He'd been very displeased at the way the Skynet forces were able to play him more than once with that equipment.

"We are still working on that." John Henry said. "Something will shake loose. It always does. Like this new location."

John was still worried about the potential repercussions of the H-bomb that was detonated in the Nevada desert. It was deep underground when it detonated. Most only thought it was an earthquake. He was worried about anyone to attempt to determine what it actually was. They didn't need people snooping around things they'd done. They didn't know what was inside the mine and they didn't want anybody to go looking for whatever was in there.

"Has there been any more feedback on the 'earthquake' in Nevada?" John asked.

John Henry server and CamNet we're able to 'fix' all the data so that it looked like nothing more than an earthquake.

"No." John Henry said. "We've been able to satisfy all interested parties that it was an 'earthquake'."

John was aware there was one group out there that knew otherwise. It was anyone else connected with the Skynet group that was involved with the Syndicate casino and the mine itself. They were fairly certain that whenever they took down any particular group of Grays or Terminators associated with them that they always missed a few stragglers. They could have been out on other operations at the time that they conducted their raid.

"There's a Skynet group out there that knows it wasn't." John said.

John Henry hoped that they might get lucky.

"That's unless they were all inside the mine." John Henry said.

John didn't want the true nature of what happened at the Nevada mine to come out. He wanted any of the Skynet forces that survived to think the catastrophe was of their own doing.

"Maybe they will think that whatever they were trying to do ended badly." John said. "If they were constructing a giant power cell, they might think that it exploded. They couldn't have known there was an H-bomb in there waiting for them for half a century. It's the Cobalt I'm worried about most."

John Henry checked the sensors they left around the area of where the mine used to be.

"We still haven't detected any Cobalt or any increase in surface or atmospheric radiation of any type." John Henry said.

John absentmindedly scratched his head. Whatever was in the mine remained a mystery.

"I wonder what was really in there." John said.

John Henry was aware of what Cameron wanted to do.

"Cameron would have gone in…." John Henry said.

They both knew Cameron wanted to go in there and face Skynet herself.

John was very glad she was away from that mine when it exploded. There was nothing they could do at this point.

"I guess it doesn't matter now." John said.

It made John think of the 'Day Of Loss'. Cameron knew she would face Skynet and terminate it. She planned to have the girls as 'replacements' for her when she was terminated. They were to be at John's side and provide him with their shared love. She didn't calculate the girls love for her was stronger than for him. The end result was that they all appeared to die trying to help her and prevent her termination. He believed the depth of that love only expanded since that time. He doubted any of it expanded for him.

John needed to stay focused and on top of the current operation.

John Henry checked the drone activity of the surrounding area. He wanted to know if their minor incursion had been detected or raised any type of alarm.

"The two drones at the supermarket location haven't picked up any suspicious activity happening around the vicinity." John Henry said. "There's no evacuation or reinforcements apparent."

John saw no need to rush this. They knew where the Grays were and the building wasn't going anywhere. If anyone left they would be followed and any new potential location would be identified as well. They could send in a strike team at any point they wanted.

"We'll watch the location for a couple of days." John said. "If it doesn't lead us to any other locations, we'll take it out and burn it down."

The unspoken threat here was that these could be the anti-Metal faction or the Fanatics as well. If it was the Fanatics, they wouldn't need to worry about burning the structure down. The Fanatics would do that themselves with all of them still in it or blow the entire place up. They avoided being taken alive. Most of them took poison if they could before capture. They believed in Ascension into the 'Electro Spear' if they perished serving SkyMaster.

The main thing for now was for them to keep their teams as safe as possible.

"Do you want me to split the teams up into units of two each?" John Henry asked.

John would like to know a little more about which group they currently faced.

"Do it and stage them around the area." John said. "I don't want them in too close. We don't want to tip our hand and alert the Grays. It would be best if we can learn what they're doing."

He doubted the change in plans to go over very big with the Metal girls. Like all Terminators, they preferred action over surveillance.

John Henry divided the groups up into specific teams.

Sheila and Ally became Team One.

Holly and Hanna became Team Two.

Cam and Gail became Team Three.

Cammy and Savannah arrived soon after Cameron did.

Cameron hoped Savannah and Cammy would have gone elsewhere once the 'stand down' order was given. She knew that everyone acted on the recommendation of Savannah.

"I don't want Savannah out here on surveillance duty for hours at a time." Cameron said. "There are others who can do that."

Savannah didn't want to make a big deal about her presence.

"I can stay with either Cammy or you, Cameron." Savannah said.

With the talk of biological or chemical toxins possibly being stored at the location, Cameron didn't want Savannah anywhere near the area.

"I'd prefer if you were away from here." Cameron said. "You need proper rest and nourishment."

Savannah didn't want special consideration. She never asked for any.

"I'll manage, Cameron." Savannah said. "I don't need any special treatment."

Cameron faced Savannah. The love between them was strong, neither wanted to 'test' it unnecessarily. Savannah needed to think of the baby she carried, Vanna's baby.

"You know what I'm talking about." Cameron said.

Savannah did know what Cameron referred to. She'd been through two pregnancies and she was still early in this one. She didn't detect anything different from the other two.

"I do, Cameron." Savannah said. "I'm fine."

Cameron was aware how desperately Vanna wanted to be a mother. She received reports from the other Terminators at the base and from Allison directly.

It was the call from Allison that really struck home with her. Cameron was touched by her honesty and caring for her longtime lover.

Allison said she didn't want Vanna to know she called her. Cameron assured her the call was confidential. Allison said if she lost her baby that she wanted Vanna to have one if her mother would carry it for them. Allison said they both agreed that Savannah was never to give up one of her children again to anybody. She knew they meant her as well. Allison also said they didn't want Young Allison bred…. Claire said that about both of her younger daughters. She again offered to have as many children as Cameron wanted but for her not to breed Young Allison or Summer.

She didn't like the way they made her sound with the talk of breeding humans. She'd never done that, even if she'd considered it. Savannah and Young Jesse both became pregnant on their own. That wasn't her specific doing. She may have provided the genetic material to Camille but she never administered it herself.

Cameron didn't tell Allison that Savannah was pregnant again with Vanna's baby this time. She already knew Vanna wouldn't accept Savannah's baby. That was why she went through the trouble of doing it the way she'd done it with Vanna's genetic material this time. It was more the idea of who the baby 'belonged' to. Savannah possessed a strong young healthy body that already proved itself twice.

Everything was set into play already. It was all waiting on what happened with Allison's baby. That would set a chain of events into motion with Young Allison, Claire, Savannah and Young Jesse.

Cameron was aware at some point that Young Allison is, was or would be, in contact with Cammy and Sheila in the past and set up the events in the desert of Nevada.

There was much to think about. There was so much that could go wrong. Maybe none of it would work.

"…Cameron…?" Savannah asked.

Cameron blinked her eyes twice and looked around.

"What?" Cameron asked. "That will be fine."

Cameron was a little 'off'. She unsure of what was asked. She wondered how long she'd been lost in thought. It was some pretty deep thought because of the subject matter it concerned.

Savannah was a little concerned at where Cameron's mind had gone for a short period of time. She wanted to see how much of what she said that Cameron actually heard.

"I said you and Cammy can make up the Fourth Team fourth team and I'll make it back to the base on my own." Savannah said. "I can hitchhike."

Cameron tilted her head slightly as the ramifications of what Savannah just said hit home. That method of transportation was totally unsafe.

"What?" Cameron asked. "No, that's unacceptable."

Cameron would call off the entire operation before she let Savannah go off on her own, especially to hitchhike.

Savannah smiled at Cameron.

"That wasn't what I really said." Savannah said. "I just needed to check to see how much attention you paid to what I said."

Cameron was aware Savannah was holding her left hand. She figured she must have glitched out.

"Did I have a problem?" Cameron asked.

Cammy looked at Cameron with a disgusted look on her face. She still thought Cameron should be deactivated before she became a problem for everyone again.

"Yes." Cammy said. "You are a problem."

Savannah immediately shot Cammy a dirty look.

Cameron didn't like when that happened. It must have been the emotional stress. She wondered how long she'd been affected. She's been worried about the girls and their babies. It was a very serious subject to her.

"How long was it this time?" Cameron asked.

Savannah touched Cameron's cheek.

"It doesn't matter." Savannah said.

Cameron felt the unconditional love that Savannah radiated towards her.

It was clear to Cammy that she needed to reinforce Cameron and Savannah. It was what she wanted to do anyway. She didn't think it was safe for Savannah to leave her alone with Cameron.

"I'll remain here as the Fourth Team." Cammy said.

Savannah would prefer if Cameron remained out of the danger zone for a while. She wanted to offer an alternative.

"Cameron can return to the base and spend time with John." Savannah said. "I'll remain here with Cammy."

Earlier that was exactly what Cameron wanted Savannah to do. Now Savannah wanted her to do the same thing to keep her out of the danger zone.

Cameron didn't respond to that statement and forged ahead with the operation. She wanted to get things straightened out to the way they normally were.

"I want all the teams here replaced with male Terminators." Cameron said. "The Metal girls are all away from their 'assignments'."

Cammy didn't see the need to redeploy the troops that were on station. She thought it was another irrational statement by Cameron.

"If the Young family moves to the base, all of the Metal girls become redundant." Cammy said. "Everyone will have a human partner instead of a Terminator."

Cameron didn't like that statement. She faced Cammy.

"What if Young Allison moves to the base with them?" Cameron asked. "Do you feel you are redundant to Savannah?"

Cammy felt a little combative and wanted to state the obvious.

"I've been redundant since you created me to do what you lacked the courage to do." Cammy said. "I'm your alter-ego for your continued failure."

That irritated Cameron intensely. She became angry.

Cameron pulled away from Savannah and moved towards Cammy.

Cameron and Cammy faced off. The underlying tension was great. Neither of them planned to back down.

Savannah never wanted to see them fight again. It was time to put the brakes on both of them. It broke her heart before when they fought over her at the Resistance base.

"STOP THIS – N O W." Savannah said forcefully.

Savannah didn't want Cammy and Cameron to start fighting over her. She saw that once and never wanted to see it again – EVER. That caused a pain in her heart greater than the loss of her father and when she lost Mrs. Weaver, which also meant her real mother was gone as well.

She wanted to tell them that she would never talk to the one of them who threw the first blow. She knew that would get their attention but she knew that she wouldn't be able to do that even if she tried. She loved both of them dearly.

Cameron and Cammy both backed away from each other.

Anna became alarmed at the tension that developed between Cameron and Cammy.

"Cammy and Cameron are going to disrupt the entire mission." Anna said.

Young Allison was very disturbed about what happened. She didn't like the tension that suddenly built up. She thought it was totally unnecessary and uncalled for. Savannah told her one time how it hurt her inside when they'd actually fought over her.

"I hate when they do this." Young Allison said. "It hurts Savannah immensely."

Anna thought it would be best if they withdrew from the area.

"Cameron and Savannah need to leave." Anna said.

Young Allison didn't like that Cammy was left out.

"What about Cammy?" Young Allison asked.

Anna was sure at some point that Cammy would need to be deactivated.

"Cammy is redundant and not part of the 'Natural Order'." Anna said. "Her time is limited."

Young Allison didn't agree with Anna's statement. She wanted some alternate plans put into effect.

"I want another Terminator there with Cammy or Cameron and Savannah out of there for now." Young Allison said.

Anna was sure the same fate awaited her that would befall Cammy. Once the 'Natural Order' was established, she would be redundant the same way that Cammy was.

"I'll go." Anna said. "I am redundant as well."

Young Allison didn't want to hear any talk like that. She found the entire nature of the conversation disturbing and wanted it kept private.

"NOBODY is redundant." Young Allison said. "How much of this is John hearing?"

CamNet updated Anna when Young Allison asked her question.

"None of it." Anna said. "CamNet has blocked it from everyone but this location."

Young Allison wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. Most things didn't bother her. They'd trained her to deal with every situation and contingency. The personal issues dealing with Cameron and Savannah always touched her deeply and she thought she felt the same pain that they both did at times.

"Why does she want me to hear this?" Young Allison asked. "It's very painful."

Anna understood that CamNet wanted Young Allison to know it wasn't always fun and games in a relationship.

"So you know how messy relationships can be." Anna said. "She lets you see how it really is, with everyone."

The hurtful issues made Young Allison want to try and avoid them.

"It doesn't give me anything to look forward to." Young Allison said. "I've seen enough heartache around here as it is. I know things get touchy and tense at times."

Anna believed it was all part of the life experience.

"I think that's the point." Anna said. "You'll face the same issues too one day. Things always happen and you won't be able to avoid them. You'll need to deal with them."

Savannah warned her that with great joy there can also be great pain. She'd seen her parents fight and issues arise with Vanna and Allison before. All of them weighed heavily on her.

"I know Vanna and Allison fight and argue sometimes." Young Allison said. "It always bothers me."

Anna understood the reason why it bothered Young Allison so much when Vanna and Allison experienced problems.

"Are you afraid one day that it will be Savannah and you fighting?" Anna asked.

It was a fear that Young Allison felt. She loved Savannah and wanted the good things from a loving relationship. It was clear there was always some salt to go along with the sugar.

"Yes." Young Allison said. "I'm very afraid of that. I don't want to fight with her. I know that it will happen at some point."

Anna felt she possessed some pretty good insight into Savannah since she'd done the 'Neural Interface' with her.

"That's how all relationships work." Anna said. "At some point you will disagree over something. You have to stand up for yourself too. You can't be pushed around by anyone. Savannah will tell you that herself if she hasn't already. She won't want to fight either but she wants you to be your own person as well. Everyone matters."

Young Allison understood she needed to be prepared for the future. Not all battles would be fought on the battlefield. She did her training whenever it was provided to her. She may not always agree with the training she was given. She understood it was all done for a purpose.

"There are some parts of my 'training' that I don't like." Young Allison said. "This is one of them."

Anna thought those were the things Young Allison needed to learn on her own.

"Perhaps those are the lessons that you need to study the hardest." Anna said. "They might be the most difficult battles that you may need to fight."

Young Allison understood the mental battles could be just as painful as the physical battles.

Vanna and Allison retreated back to their room once the action was called off at the new target location.

Their plan was to share with each other. Allison would play the part of 'Metal Summer' and Vanna would play the part of 'Savannah'. The impending action at the old supermarket put the brakes on everything for now.

Vanna was relieved that she wouldn't need to deal with any battle damage repair, at least for a while.

"I was about to go to the lab and get ready for repairs." Vanna said.

The unknown danger that the old Supermarket presented, left a lot of tension in the air.

"The day is still early." Allison said. "The action might pick up later on."

Vanna was worried about all of the Metal girls. Cam and Holly were both there as well.

"Let me call Riley and see what's happening." Vanna said.

Allison thought that would be a good time to get an update from Samantha as to Riley's progress. She wanted to know how things worked out without being intrusive.

"I'll call Samantha and see what she has to say." Allison said.

Vanna knew Riley needed help but she also needed to deal with the issues herself and not shy away from them.

"No." Vanna said. "Riley needs to deal with everything herself, first."

Allison thought that was true. There was another issue she needed to discuss. She knew now that her mother was at the base that Vanna would like to join the 'line up' to visit her.

"Did you and Claire set up a meeting time?" Allison asked.

Allison didn't like saying her 'mother' to Vanna over a sexual encounter.

Vanna wanted everyone to get something out of it if it happened. She didn't want Allison left high and dry.

"IF you and Jesse want to spend some time together." Vanna said.

That was fine with Allison. Jesse always delivered.

"Without the Metal girls here, it limits the combinations." Allison said. "I always enjoy the time I can spend with Jesse."

Vanna looked at Allison with a straight face.

"That's unless you and Claire want to 'hang out'." Vanna said. "All girls need a few secrets."

Allison let out an uneasy laugh. The thought had actually crossed her mind on more than one occasion. Claire was more like one of the girls than her mother to her. They were almost the same age.

"I hope you're joking." Allison said. "Maybe Savannah will come back."

THAT idea made Vanna feel a little self conscious. She didn't believe she could compete with her younger self for anyone. She was sure that if anyone had the choice between either of them that they would pick Savannah before they would pick her.

"That's your favorite, isn't it?" Vanna asked.

Vanna just couldn't be jealous of 'herself'.

Allison didn't need to think much about it. If she had a choice between the two of them for a sexual encounter she would pick Savannah. She'd spent half of her life with Vanna. That experience meant something to her. They'd shared and suffered together for years. She knew that Savannah was spoken for several times over. Vanna belonged to her and she belonged to Vanna.

"I enjoy sharing with Savannah." Allison said. "But you are my true love, Vanna."

Vanna felt a rush of joy deep inside of her.

"Am I really?" Vanna asked.

Allison looked at Vanna with love in her eyes and in her heart.

"You always have and you always will be. We'll raise our children together." Allison said. "I think that says a lot."

Vanna believed that was true.

"We will both have children one day." Vanna said. "They will be brothers or sisters too."

Allison understood why they would really be all one big family.

"I guess they will." Allison said. "Jesse's child will be also."

Vanna understood the shortcomings of her body. She knew it wasn't her fault but she knew there was someone who could help her.

"We need Cameron's help." Vanna said. "I need her help."

Allison believed Cameron would take care of them.

"Cameron is in charge." Allison said. "She always has been and always will be."

Vanna didn't think they had a whole lot of input as to what would actually happen or when.

"Yup." Vanna said. "We're all along for the ride."

Vanna knew Cameron would find a way to help her.

Vanna didn't know Cameron already took steps to deal with that issue.

Cameron needed to make sure Vanna's baby would continue to grow in Savannah.

There were still many things that could go wrong.

Why Should I Tell You

I don't know you anymore
I don't know who you are
Your behavior has become erratic
The way you act is quite bizarre

Another now comforts you
Away from me you have turned
I've been cast aside
It's me that's been spurned

I was not good enough
For another you soon sought
Flushed away like waste
It was me you soon forgot

One will only ever understand
When this happens to them
Now I'm less than nothing
When once I was a shiny gem

You act like it is no big deal
It was me that you slew
You wonder what is wrong
Why should I tell you

Nobody