Chapter 1193
Power Of The Mind
Previously:
Steve and Tom took the deactivated Terminator to a secure location to make sure there wasn't a hidden tracker concealed anywhere on him or inside him. They did the same with the phone.
The deactivated Terminator was naked on a table.
They weren't able to get much from his phone either. The only thing they were able to get were some cell tower hits.
Normally they dealt with John Henry and John. CamNet contacted them and told them she would be running lead on the operation and they would deal directly with her. They were specifically instructed not to contact the Command Center or the Young bunker unless there was an emergency or the threat of an imminent attack.
They were a little surprised at the change in protocol. They hoped to receive a better explanation but none was forthcoming. They knew not to ask when CamNet was involved. Everything was always 'need to know' and apparently no one ever needed to know other than what they were told.
They suspected it was because the Fanatics were involved or whatever the Terminator had been doing. They still didn't know if the Terminator was associated with Skynet or SkyMaster. They both suspected Skynet. So far they hadn't actually encountered any Terminators associated with the Fanatics and SkyMaster.
They were currently in an industrial building on the outskirts of the city. It was time for them to leave to follow up on what little information they had. They needed to deliver the deactivated Terminator to a holding facility for CamNet. They weren't sure what went on there that couldn't be accomplished at Cameron's base.
CamNet assured them there was no activity around their location. They loaded the deactivated Terminator and disabled phone into a different SUV and left the industrial building. There would always be several SUVs at a location like they were at. There would be several more at the location they went to. They would always switch vehicles when they left each location. It made them harder to track.
They drove for a few miles to a secondary location. It was another industrial building. They drove through an alley between two buildings and arrived in the back. The roll up door on a building opened as they approached. They drove inside the building. They were met by two Terminators who worked exclusively for Cameron. They were normally at her base.
The two Terminators were Larry and Hank.
"We have it from here." Larry said.
Steve handed him the keys to the SUV.
"It's all yours." Steve said.
Steve and Tom walked over to another SUV and got into it. They noticed there were several work benches with deactivated Terminators on top of them. At least two of them were females. They were a little surprised at their appearance. Hank quickly closed the door to the room they were in. Neither one of them said anything or mentioned it. They knew it was best not to get involved in Cameron's affairs.
They took the new SUV they were given and headed to where CamNet directed them to go. They didn't discuss anything on the way.
"We're here." Steve said.
They parked a quarter of a mile away from the target area. They were assured there would be no police patrols in the area for the duration of their reconnaissance. They were instructed to approach the target area from two different directions. They were aware if they'd been working with the Command Center they would have been required to remain together. CamNet did things a little differently.
They reviewed satellite images of the area they would need to approach. They would have liked to have some current drone images. None were available. They were sure if the Young bunker were involved they would have had drone support.
They both set off in different directions. Steve would approach the rear from the west side. Tom would approach the front from the east side.
They didn't expect any trouble. There was no way to know what they would find.
Earlier:
Cameron received a call from Young Allison and needed to leave the small theater. She told John to dance with the girls. She took him over and stood him in front of Sheila, Ally and Hanna.
Sheila was reluctant to dance with John at first. She knew what Cameron wanted to do wasn't his fault. He was here now to dance and he chose her. The thought alone made her feel better.
She saw Ally and Hanna both step up to take her place without hesitation. She knew they didn't want to do it. It allowed her to see how her friends looked after her. They were willing to sacrifice on her part. It meant they both loved her. They loved her enough to sacrifice themselves. Sacrifice is the true test of love.
Sheila decided to face the future. She stood and thanked her friends and lovers. It was a special moment for them. She wouldn't let them suffer in her place. She loved them too.
She would do it her own way.
Sheila decided what she was going to do in her mind, with her mind. She was the one and wanted to be the master of her own fate.
After she stood she took John's hand and led him to the dance floor. It could be a beautiful experience if it was done right. It would all be about the power of the mind.
Sheila danced with John. She held him close. Her body was pressed up against his. She'd never held him or touched him like this before. She felt his arms around her as hers were around him. It actually felt very nice. John was always nice to her. He was never mean. They never argued or fought. Their relationship was 'personally professional'. If anyone 'deserved her' it was John. He was a good guy.
Hanna and Ally danced with each other and watched Sheila and John. It was clear to them Sheila decided to deal with the issues her own way. She would create her own reality. It would all happen on her chip.
Ally wasn't sure exactly what was happening but she could see what it looked like.
"Look at Sheila, she's submitting to John." Ally said. "They look like lovers dancing like that."
Hanna wanted to dance with Sheila that way herself. Ally would do for now.
"Sheila's allowing John to see how her chassis will feel in his arms later on tonight. The only difference will be Cameron's chip will be in her chassis." Hanna said. "I think Cameron should use a tether instead. Everyone is going to have a 'bad hair day' if they don't. Cameron will still have total control that way."
Ally thought it was a better idea too. Hair was the hardest thing to get right. The real issue was if Sheila did it, they would be expected to do it as well. It would start a chain reaction of events that no one would be able to control. It was clear Cameron was going to get her way no matter what she needed to do to do it.
"It means we're all going to have to do it if Sheila does." Ally said. "I'm going to volunteer for tonight instead. I don't want Sheila to do this to herself."
Hanna wanted some control too.
"I'm as well." Hanna said. "I don't want Cameron to use my chassis anymore than Sheila does. We should be able to give her a reprieve for a day or two."
Ally wanted to protect her friends even if she didn't want to submit.
"I don't to it either." Ally said. "I don't want to do it the way Cameron wants it done."
Hanna still wanted her chassis 'first experience' to be her own and not under the control of someone else. Maybe they could do it first before turning control over to Cameron. She felt it would be an acceptable exchange. None of them could say 'no' to John if he ever asked them. Cameron put the protocol into their programming. It was to make sure John would have female comfort and companionship in the advent of her absence. She wanted to run the idea by Ally and see what she thought.
"What if we're allowed to be with John first with our own chip?" Hanna asked. "We could do it first and then Cameron could take over."
Ally felt they'd all been 'good girls'. Well, at least when it came to males. Cameron shouldn't be so selfish to take what was theirs to give. They should at least get the first few minutes themselves. It was something they all wanted to do anyway. They'd all indicated to John that they were available. All he needed to do was ask.
"I'd do it." Ally said. "You know none of us can say 'no' if he ever asked us. It would be different at that point if Cameron used our chassis afterwards. At least our 'first time' would still be our 'first time' and not hers 'again'."
Hanna figured it would cause a problem for Cameron at some point, if not immediately.
"I don't know if Cameron could actually deal with it, with us 'sharing' with John." Hanna said. "Cameron knows we'd all love him after that."
Ally didn't see too much of a difference for some of the things that already happened.
"She seems to be able to deal with Savannah being with all of us." Ally said. "How's it any different if they will all be mates in the future?"
Hanna wondered about it. It could be the total opposite. Maybe it was really to keep Savannah away from John a little longer. Cameron feared the 'competition' as much as she encouraged it.
"Cameron has always promoted all of it for Savannah." Hanna said. "She's allowed and orchestrated events for Savannah to be with every active female."
Ally watched Sheila with John. Everything seemed totally different now.
"Sheila seems more comfortable now." Ally said. "Look at her. Look at her face and how she's holding him. I think she's 'making love' to John in her mind…."
Hanna watched Sheila and John too. It looked like what Ally said was true. Sheila looked like a young lover out on the dance floor with John. Sheila was probably 'making love' to John in her mind right now. It was a different concept.
Steve moved towards the target area along several small streets. He used several different vision spectrums to scout for any hidden targets or irregularities. So far none had been encountered.
He paused when he heard some movement off to the side in front of him. He was able to identify a fast moving target. It was a feline. It must have detected his predator pheromones based upon how quickly it ran away. Usually they encountered a terrified canine who cowered in fear. They weren't normally able to climb a wall to get away from them.
When he was two blocks from the target area he entered the property of one business. He needed to go over two fences before he was in the rear of the next property. He was now one block away from the target location. He was directed to approach it from the rear and the west side.
Moments ago:
John wasn't sure why Cameron insisted he dance with one of the Metal girls. He wanted to dance with her. She needed to take a call and he was afraid if she didn't, it would cause a problem. It seemed important to her.
Ally and Hanna both stood up right away. Sheila took a little longer but asserted herself. He thought she looked a little sad with a hint that there'd been tears in her eyes. He wondered if the girls may have experienced a problem with each other over something. He knew they had 'tiffs' with each other at times. It was something everyone experienced.
He was aware that Ally and Sheila were often at odds with each other. Cameron told him never to worry about it because it wasn't what it looked like. She told him they were deeply in love with each other and didn't want to admit it. Her explanation made him wonder about their relationship in the beginning before Future Riley. Maybe he should have treated her a little better then he had. Maybe it was the same thing like Ally and Sheila experienced.
Sheila was a little stiff at first but now she felt very comfortable in his arms. He really liked the way she felt pressed against him. Right before the song was about to end, she looked into his face, she clasped him tightly twice in a row. It seemed her eyelids fluttered slightly both times. Her fingers pressed deep into his back. She then rested her head on his chest.
The song ended. They separated a little bit. Her arms were slow to release him.
It strangely reminded him of Cameron when she was able to 'finish' when he was on top. It made him wonder about what just happened.
Now when he looked at Sheila, everything was different. Her face radiated a look of happiness and the beautiful smile was back. There was no look of sadness or hint of tears. She seemed very energetic and 'alive'.
Sheila glowed as she spoke to John. A vibrant feel emanated from her.
"It was beautiful, John." Sheila said. "I've never done that before."
John wondered what she was talking about. He'd seen her dance earlier in the sky lounge.
"Do you mean dance?" John asked.
Sheila tilted her head slightly.
"I mean with a male." Sheila said.
John was a little confused.
He noticed Sheila still held his hand. It was like she didn't want to let go of it.
She looked like she wanted him to kiss her. The way she looked at him made him feel like kissing her. There was something there that wasn't there before. The 'fire' she normally radiated was replaced by a 'soft tenderness'. She looked so human right now. She looked like a schoolgirl full of hope and joy.
The next song already started and they were still both standing there looking at each other. There was an overpowering urge to kiss her as their eyes were still locked on each other.
Sheila smoothed her dress over her tight figure. Her nipple rings were clearly visible. It looked like she wanted to be 'taken'. Not only that, it was almost like it already happened.
Earlier:
Ally watched Sheila with John. It was clear to her what was occurring.
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Ally asked.
Hanna watched them too. She saw it.
"Sheila's making love to John in her mind." Hanna said. "To her they're making love right now."
Ally saw it too. She also saw what was about to happen. Sheila was headed for a 'happy ending'. She was able to tell through a lot of first hand experience.
"Look how she is holding him, she's about to 'finish'." Ally said.
They both saw Sheila raise her head and look into John's eyes when she did 'finish'.
Hanna understood what Sheila was doing. She's just made John her 'first' in her mind.
"This is her way to cope with it." Hanna said. "It looks really special."
Ally understood it too.
"To her now, John is her 'first'." Ally said. "There's something beautiful about it. I'm not sure what, but it's beautiful."
Ally and Hanna both witnessed it with their own eyes.
"Now I want to do it too." Hanna said. "I feel hot and bothered now."
Ally felt it as well.
"So do I." Ally said.
The next song started.
Sheila still held John's hand as she looked into his face. The look of love was on her face.
"Look at them." Hanna said. "Sheila's in love with him. I mean really in love with him now."
They watched Sheila smooth her dress in front of him. She clearly offered herself to him. It was done without any words being spoken. It was done through body language.
"John was her 'first'." Ally said. "Even if nothing actually happened and they were both fully clothed in a room full of a hundred people."
Hanna felt that way too about what she'd seen.
"To her it did happen." Hanna said. "It was real to her."
It looked like Sheila and John would start to kiss each other any second.
"What should we do?" Ally asked.
Hanna wanted to take some action.
"We need to rescue her before Cameron gets back." Hanna said. "As soon as Cameron sees her, she's going to know what happened."
They didn't think Cameron would agree with it. They figured she would become angry.
Ally didn't want Sheila to take any heat over what Cameron caused to happen.
"It was Cameron's fault." Ally said. "Cameron made this happen."
Hanna wanted Sheila protected too. It was time to act.
"I'll dance with John." Hanna said. "Take Sheila away from him. They are going to start kissing any second. John's not going to be able to resist her. Nobody can resist her when she's like that."
Ally needed to get Sheila away from John before they actually did start to make love. She wouldn't put anything past Sheila at this point. She knew how quickly Sheila could pull her dress up or even off for that matter.
Hanna and Ally both agreed it was a volatile situation. They both agreed on something else as well. It was all Cameron's fault.
John couldn't take his eyes off of Sheila. There was something happening. The longer she looked at him like that, the more he felt it. The more he wanted to kiss her. It reminded him of when he was with Future Riley. Sheila looked at him now, like Future Riley looked at him 'afterwards'.
He was startled as Hanna suddenly appeared in front of him. Ally physically separated Sheila's hand from his.
Ally led Sheila away. He saw Sheila's head turn back and look at him.
Hanna wanted to refocus John.
"Why not…." Hanna said.
Hanna grasped John and started to dance with him. She turned him so his back was to Ally and Sheila. He turned his head back to look at Sheila. There was something more there that needed to be finished between them. Sheila looked back at him as Ally led her away.
Hanna kissed his cheek which made him turn his head back and face her.
"I'm your partner now." Hanna whispered. "Be a gentleman about it."
John knew it was rude. He just couldn't help it.
"I'm sorry." John said.
In seconds John felt Hanna hold him exactly the same way that Sheila had just done….
John held her back the same way. He knew it was how Savannah would feel in his arms…. It was beautiful.
Hanna wondered how John would see her. Would he see her as who she was? Would he see her as Vanna? She probably figured he would see her as Savannah. She didn't think it really mattered too much. Once someone got down to business, they were all the same. She knew it from firsthand experience.
Ally was a little worried about Sheila. It was almost like she was in a trance. She really wondered what was going through her mind right now. She waved her hand back and forth in front of her face. The 'thousand yard stare' didn't change. She snapped her fingers twice in front of Sheila's face.
"Are you OK?" Ally asked.
The 'far off' look was still in Sheila's eyes.
"What?" Sheila asked.
Ally shook her head. It was obvious that Sheila was 'out to lunch'.
"Oh, brother…." Ally said.
Sheila looked around as if to make sure no one was listening. She was very excited to tell Ally. She'd just 'made love' for the first time with a male.
"I made love to John." Sheila whispered. "He was my first…."
Ally wanted to tell Sheila she was still fully clothed, at least with a dress on. There hadn't been any actual intimate contact. Sheila appeared to be in her own world. It looked serious. Sheila must have jacked her files around.
"What have you done to yourself?" Ally asked.
Sheila seemed very pleased. She looked happier than a schoolgirl.
"It was beautiful, Ally." Sheila said. "I was with him first. I was with him before Cameron will be."
Ally was convinced Sheila was out of it. She looked over to see what Hanna was doing. Much to her disgust, Hanna started to do the same thing.
"Great, she's doing it too." Ally said.
Sheila looked at Ally.
"I was with him first." Sheila whispered.
The song was about to end.
Sheila looked over at John and Hanna.
They both saw Hanna's face look up at John's face as she grasped him tighter. It was clear Hanna just 'finished'.
Sheila understood.
"It's beautiful, Ally." Sheila said.
Ally wasn't sold on the idea.
"I bet." Ally said.
A look of total seriousness came over Sheila.
"You need to do it too, Ally. You need to be with him as well." Sheila whispered. "I'm going to do it again."
Ally could see Hanna looked exactly like Sheila did just a while ago.
"Let's go get her before they kiss." Ally said.
Sheila's eyes were wide with excitement.
"I kissed him." Sheila said. "We did everything…."
Ally watched the whole thing with both of them. They didn't do anything.
"This is all Cameron's fault." Ally said.
Ally and Sheila went to retrieve Hanna before something real did happen.
John was happy to see Sheila was back.
"You're back." John said.
He looked at Hanna and released her hand.
Ally moved in front of Sheila and Hanna.
"The next song is about to start." John said.
Sheila led Hanna away as she still looked back at John.
John pulled Ally in as the music started.
Ally wanted to buy some time.
"My turn…." Ally said.
Cameron finished the call with Young Allison. She really wondered why Savannah hadn't called her. Maybe Savannah forced Young Allison to step out of her comfort zone to deal with a serious issue. It was a serious topic. Young Allison handled it very well. There wasn't any cussing, harsh words, lecturing or yelling. It was a statement deep from her heart about humanity and empathy. It was about what was right and what was wrong and the choices people made.
There wasn't an 'order' to do or not do anything. There was only a request to by Young Allison to put her in the place of the others for what she planned. At that point, what would she do?
It reminded her of Savannah willing to take the punishment for Sheila before. Savannah told her unless she was willing to punish her in the same way, she shouldn't do it to anyone else in their group.
Both of the girls were correct in what they said and when they said it. Both of them could have 'ordered' her not to do either thing. They didn't. They wanted her to find the answer in herself so it would mean something now and in the future.
They both stood up to challenge her in the most loving and caring way possible. It was what they really believed.
Cameron knew what she wanted to do was 'wrong'. She wanted to do it for John and herself. What was she really trying to do? Was it because she wasn't sure John was the first one to touch her? If she made love to John in all the female chassis, one of them would have to be their first time. She'd checked all of their chassis before and none of them showed 'proof' of being untouched. She'd even reset her DNA using a sample from Young Allison. Nothing ever changed down there, even when other parts of her sheath regenerated.
She needed to go back inside and take over from the girls before they actually tried to do anything. She saw that Sheila and Hanna looked very happy as they talked in hushed tones. They looked like they were sharing a deep secret or something.
The song ended and John looked at Ally. They held hands for some reason. The look on Ally's face was a look of 'love'. John must have thought Ally was her and done something. Ally looked exactly like her tonight, maybe even a tad better. It was certainly a first no matter how one looked at it.
It looked like John and Ally were about to kiss. Maybe John thought it was her. He did earlier. They'd tried to fool him and did. Ally backed out of the deal then. It didn't appear she was going to this time.
Cameron was about to intervene when Sheila and Hanna came and took Ally away.
The three girls all looked at John with 'love' in their eyes.
She wasn't sure what happened but something did.
John spotted Cameron and smiled.
Cameron looked around. There were one hundred and twenty seven people in the room. It was doubtful John did anything inappropriate in front of so many people. The girls must have done something. They all looked at Cameron with a strange look on their face. They all looked 'guilty'.
She thought about Young Allison's message. She decided not to tell them her decision until a later time.
"Hi, Cameron." John said.
There was no smile on Cameron's face.
"I'm back." Cameron said.
John noticed and wondered if there was a situation of some sort.
"Was there any problem?" John asked.
Cameron glanced over at the three girls.
"There wasn't…." Cameron said.
Cameron wasn't so sure now. It looked like there may be.
Kyle and Sarah were right there too.
They came over.
"The band is finished." Kyle said
Sarah wanted to see some more of the ship.
"Where are we going to go next?" Sarah asked.
Cameron would take them wherever they wanted to go.
"We can check out the atrium on deck five or the casino on deck six." Cameron said. "There is still the buffet or the other eating areas. They are all closing soon except the buffet. It's always open. There's room service too."
Kyle looked around for Derek and Riley.
"Is that where Derek went?" Kyle asked.
He saw Holly waiting out in front of their muster station. The Italian restaurant.
"Yes." Cameron said.
John looked over at Tony's.
"Hey, they're coming out now." John said.
Kyle looked at Derek.
"Did we miss anything?" Kyle asked.
Derek patted his belly.
"You missed the best lasagna ever." Derek said.
Riley didn't want to seem like a pig.
"I only tried two bites." Riley said.
Cameron looked around.
Sheila, Hanna and Ally were still back by the small theater. They were all excitedly talking to Gail.
Holly moved further down the central corridor near another lounge and bar, past the specialty eateries.
Cameron went over the options again on where they could go next. She wanted Riley and Derek to know what else was available. They decided to go to the bottom of the atrium and look around then up one floor from there to the casino. No one wanted to do miniature golf tonight. They all thought tomorrow would be better. Sarah and Riley didn't think their dresses were appropriate. It was rather cool outside as well. The speed of the ship and the wind didn't help any. Since it was on the upper deck, the weather would be magnified.
Cameron watched Holly take Riley off to the side and speak with her. Riley smiled and gave Holly a hug. Riley then went to Derek and told him something. From what Cameron was able to hear, it was that everything was fine with Precious.
Holly went to the central elevator bank to call the elevator for them. Gail tagged along behind. Sheila, Ally and Hanna were nowhere to be seen.
Cameron wasn't sure what happened when she was outside but it seemed something must have. The three Metal girls all looked like they shared a deep secret.
She would quietly ask Gail later what Ally, Sheila and Hanna told her.
Cameron thought they all looked like she must have on her wedding night for some reason.
She was sure there was more going on there than she knew. She wasn't even gone that long. At least it didn't seem like it. She wondered what would happen next as she pondered Young Allison's unsolicited 'advice'.
Minutes ago:
Tom moved in the opposite direction of Steve. He would need to go a little further to be able to come back from the opposite side. He was to approach the target area from the front and the east side.
He checked around him as he moved. He detected movement in front of him when he was halfway to the target area. There appeared to be several shopping carts and a makeshift shanty between two of the buildings that had blind sides. It was obviously a small homeless encampment. It wasn't something that had shown up on the satellite photos. It was relatively new.
Tom made a quick report to CamNet about the obstacle that was currently in front of him. Normally he would double back and seek an alternate route. His goal was to remain undetected. He'd only needed to avoid two passing vehicles so far. He'd been able to successfully conceal himself until they'd passed. CamNet directed him to continue on his current path. If any of the homeless individuals presented a problem, they were to be terminated.
He was a little concerned with the change in protocol. When he operated under the direction of the Command Center, there were to be no unnecessary terminations. He was aware the protocol was enacted by Savannah. It was backed up by the General.
He briefly thought back on his mission with Savannah in the mine. It was a very disturbing experience to think about. He was sure he would have been terminated on that mission. Savannah was there with him along with Cammy and Cameron at the end.
He'd watched Savannah enter the danger zone with little chance of survival when she went in search of Cameron. She barely made it through the opening in the fallen rocks he'd created before more rocks fell and closed off the opening. She went in search of Cameron without any protective gear or her breathing apparatus.
He thought her chances of survival were next to none. He worked frantically to reopen the opening so he could go after her. Cammy arrived a short time later. She was able to squeeze through the opening he'd created. He was surprised when Cameron, Cammy and Savannah returned a few minutes later.
They made the journey back to the pipe they hoped to escape from. They found the pipe blocked and soon experienced a cave in. They needed to enter the exposed part of the pipe to avoid being crushed. He was sure it was the end for all of them. Savannah's presence kept all of them calm. Her words gave all of them hope.
He remembered the feeling he'd experienced when they thought Savannah died. It was a feeling of sorrow and sadness. It was something he'd never experienced before. He vowed to himself that if he was able to get out of the predicament they were in, he would terminate every vestige of Skynet he could ever find no matter what it cost him personally. It was Skynet's fault Savannah was dead and he was going to avenge her. He felt a wave of relief flood over him when Cammy and Cameron were able to revive Savannah.
He needed to refocus.
He was able to pass by the homeless shanty without the need to confront anyone. His thermal scans indicated there were two individuals in the shanty. They both appeared to be asleep or passed out. He was aware drug and alcohol use was rampant among the homeless.
Tom looked back once to make sure he wasn't followed. He wasn't. He wasn't sure he would have terminated the homeless individuals if they weren't a threat. He knew Savannah would disapprove of such behavior. It made him wonder if it was a test by CamNet to see if he would follow her instructions or do what he knew Savannah wanted. He wasn't really sure if what Steve and him were directed to do wasn't some type of test as well.
He was sure the main reason why they operated directly under CamNet was because CamNet didn't want Savannah to become involved and risk additional exposure to the Fanatics. Things never seemed to end well when the Fanatics were involved.
He was now one block away from the target location. He communicated with Steve. They were both ready to move in.
Power Of The Mind
Will one's actions
Be how they're defined
Will they be praised
Will they be maligned
Love is a powerful force
It makes one deaf and blind
It makes it much harder
For the truth to find
Often to their own fate
One feels powerless and resigned
Maybe they can defeat it
When strength and courage are combined
With one's own thoughts
Their growth is confined
Perhaps the real mistake was
With those they're aligned
One must themselves remind
Who was the one left behind
It can all be overcome
With the power of the mind
Nobody