Cameron versus the Queen
Chapter Seven
Disclaimer: Don't own TSCC
This story is set in the timeline of my other TSCC stories and takes place in between The Future Cameron and Cameron's Revenge. Characters from the original TSCC story arc and Cameron Grows Up as well as The Future Cameron appear in this story.
TechCom Central Command…
"She showed considerable interest in basic concepts of protection detail service," Ellison confirmed.
John nodded. Cameron's suspicions were likely true he thought.
"Wilhelm?"
"Delegate Comeaux was, as humans say, watering at the mouth when the inspection was over. There is no doubt they plan offensive operations with any troops we send. He was particularly interested in our operational range."
"John Henry?"
"He was very polite and paid attention but Delegate Comeaux has no interest in any help we could provide in terms of engineering. I doubt the northerners have much of an infrastructure beyond pre-Judgment Day construction or have no plans to engage in any improvements of note."
John sat in silence, holding Cameron's hand beneath the table, considering what his people had confirmed.
"I find myself confronted with several," he paused to find the right word, "realities. On the one hand, everyone is in agreement Delegate Comeaux truly wants this alliance. I think it is safe to say the northerners are not interested in just defending themselves, they want to run offensive operations, no doubt to expand their territory.
I don't blame Comeaux for doing the bidding of his king.
I also think it is safe to say, the delegation hopes to negotiate what is nothing more than a contract for mercenary services. They have nothing we need or want worth risking our military personnel and possibly being drawn into a war that does not involve us.
That leaves us with Delegate Racineaux, who clearly has her own agenda. She hates metal, making us an unlikely candidate for an alliance in her mind, yet she is the wife of the King, a fact the delegation did not inform us of but nor did they lie when asked.
Is there anyone who would like to add anything?" John asked, hoping to encourage additional insights.
"We have no reason to enter into an alliance with the northerners," Derek said firmly. "But, I see no reason to alienate them either. Things could change. We might desire an alliance in the future, particularly if they develop technology or sources of raw materials or food we need."
"I for one would like to escort Racineaux to the perimeter and point her in the direction of a minefield," Sarah, pausing before adding, "not that I dislike her or anything."
John smiled at the laughter generated from his mother's comment.
"Gee, Mom, tell us how you feel."
Sarah scowled and crossed her arms. "That woman insulted you, Tin Miss, my daughter, my friends and the entire population of TechCom. She thinks she's better than us. What's more, she's dangerous. I know it."
"Which brings me to my last point," John announced. "Cameron believes Racineaux does in fact have a hidden agenda."
TechCom Dormitory…
Comeaux looked at the face in the mirror. It was thinner than the face he remembered from the past. Haggard and worn with small scars, there was a sadness that emanated from around the eyes. It was a face that had seen too much, suffered too much and lost too much.
He was worried. His King had sent him on a mission that had limited chance of success and he was convinced he would fail. The tours he had so politely been taken on confirmed John Connor doubted the alliance was worth TechCom's time. The Terminator who had so proudly showed him the sanitation works under construction was undoubtedly ordered to do so to learn about his own people's living conditions.
It had been all he could do not to blurt out how embarrassed he was. His King was not interested in making the lives of the people better unless it gave him more control them or expanded his power. Little was done to make their living conditions better.
The display of the raw military power of TechCom had almost been too much and Comeaux knew it was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to what TechCom was capable of. He was worried the King had sent him on a fool's errand. Not to obtain an alliance, but by doing so, drawing the northerners to the attention of TechCom. There was little doubt in Comeaux's mind the outcome of an invasion by TechCom.
And then there was Racineaux. Why had the King really sent her with him? There were the orders to watch her, but was that the game the King was really playing? Was he testing Comeaux?
Racineaux had been a disaster from the minute they had arrived. She'd offended Sarah Connor and annoyed Cameron Connor. He sighed as he recalled the frustration he'd felt. The mother and the wife of the leader he hoped to form an alliance with. Then there had been the family's priest, the incident with the T-1000 in the cafeteria and finally their own arguments.
As Queen, Racineaux held influence with the King. If she had really not wanted to come, she could have used her feminine charms to remain behind. Seduction was a powerful weapon and Racineaux wielded it like an assault rifle in the hands of a skilled combat soldier.
She'd been the one to convince the King early after Judgment Day to not reprogram Terminators, to have a human only society. It had been a costly decision, forcing the group to be driven from the cities and into the rural area they now inhabited. Building their numbers up and arming themselves had taken far longer than necessary.
Why had he sent her? The King knew his wife hated all metal. Yet here she was, the second delegate on a diplomatic mission to form a military alliance for the expressed purpose of obtaining troops with Terminators.
Returning his attention to the face in the mirror, Comeaux saw a face filled with worry. Not just for himself, but for the King and the people who had taken the place of his dead family.
TechCom Cafeteria – Lunch Break…
Delegate Comeaux was sitting with several of his advisors, listening carefully while he ate. John approached slowly, not wanting to be noticed until the last possible minute.
"May I trouble you to take a walk with me," John asked the delegate.
Comeaux looked up quickly, surprise showing on his face for just a brief second.
"Of course, General," he replied, recovering quickly. "I am nearly done eating anyhow and a walk would do me good."
"Meet me in the corridor then in a few minutes. I would prefer certain individuals not see us alone together."
Comeaux nodded in understanding, turning away from John and casting a knowing look at his advisors who all acknowledged the need to remain silent.
John made his way into the corridor to wait. His thoughts turned to his conversation with Cameron earlier that morning. He smiled at the image of the boots on her bare legs when he had awakened. His wife had some odd ways of communicating with him. But he had to admit, he had learned to recognize her strange quirks that warned him when she wanted, needed to talk. Life with Cameron was never boring.
Now he was faced with a delicate task. Based on nothing more than the suspicions of a machine.
TechCom Cafeteria…
Savannah noticed a shadow moving slowly across the table towards her. Keeping her gaze directed downwards at her lunch, Savannah waited to be spoken to before looking up.
"May I sit with you?" a silky voice asked.
Savannah looked up, seeing the very person she had expected to approach her, just as Cameron had predicted.
"I suppose," Savannah replied, icily. "We have no reserved seating here. Anyone can sit anywhere."
"Please," Racineaux replied in her silky voice. "I wish to apologize for my boorish behavior. I have no excuse for my actions."
"No, you certainly don't," Savannah replied. "You insulted my mother, who by the way, considers proper manners to be a sign of proper upbringing. Even if Catherine is a T-1000, she's the only mother I have now. Because of her, I received an excellent education, never wanted for anything until Judgment Day and such that it is, I have a family I respect and love."
"You make it sound like your relationship with Catherine is less than perfect," Racineaux said, making certain to speak respectfully, using just the write tone in her voice.
Savannah laughed. "You know, I used to think it was because Mom is a T-1000. But I've lived long enough and talked to enough other women to learn Catherine was the best mother she was capable of being. She is a T-1000 after all, but in many ways, she was more caring than a human mother who was a CEO of a large company. Catherine never missed anything I did. I was always part of her daily planning. She made sure I was safe in an ever increasingly dangerous world. She gave me a brother, John Henry. Granted, he's an odd duck, but I love him dearly.
I'm fortunate. Mom and I made peace. A lot of mother's and daughters never get to do that as adults. Wilhelm's been good for her. He's just as stubborn of course but he doesn't let her get away with her prissy attitude all the time."
"What is it like to have a Terminator for a step-father? I really am curious," Racineaux asked, her expression indicating she was being truthful.
"He's overbearing," Savannah laughed. "He takes his parenting cues from the General and Colonel Reese. Very, very traditional. Dim view of dating in a modern sense. He wants to terminate every male who shows interest in me. That of course leads to arguments with Catherine who very much wants to be a grandmother. Odd isn't it?"
"I'm not sure what to think," Racineaux responded. "I simply do not understand how, and I mean this respectfully, you can not only live with these machines, but consider them family."
"I didn't know for years Mom was a T-1000. I didn't know Cameron was a TOK-715. John Henry was odd, but I was too young to realize what he was. Now, with everything that has happened, what am I supposed to do? Ignore then fact Catherine successfully took the place of my murdered human parents and raised me? Ignore the fact my brother is a Terminator?
In case you haven't noticed Delegate Racinaux, the Terminators need us too. I am sure you've seen the Old Man, Hailey and Ruth's protector? He would have been decommissioned had it not been for the need to protect Hailey. He had no purpose. He'd been too heavily damaged to be refurbished for combat. We simply didn't have the capability then. I'm not sure you could get any of our "tannies" to go back to combat status, though they have all had most of the necessary repairs. They make great nannies."
Racineaux shook her head and shivered. "I just can't envision entrusting my children to a Terminator."
Savannah shook her head. "Once they internalize their new purpose, or mission if you want to think of it that way, the children could not be safer. You know, the unrelenting, single-mindedness, can't be reasoned with nature of Terminators? Instead of trying to kill us, they focus that same nature on protecting us. The Old Man lost both legs once protecting Hailey and Sarah. Besides, its funny to watch them gossiping while they wait to pick up their charges after school."
"They gossip?"
"If you want to call it that. They compare damage, talk about the news, argue about the achievements of the children they protect, and share worries about their family. They even complain about security measures and the state of construction. They all have issues of some form about how to better protect not just the children, but the parents."
Racineaux nodded, seeming to understand.
"I understand you work in the hospital. Would you be so kind to grant me a tour?"
Savannah smiled. Racineaux was so obvious.
The Tunnels of TechCom…
"Are we going anywhere in particular," Comeaux asked as John continued to walk in silence.
"Don't worry, I'm not leading you to an isolated location to kill you. I need to make sure nobody overhears what I have to tell you."
"I see." Comeaux came to a stop. "This is as good a place as any."
John turned to smile at the irritated delegate.
"No, it isn't. We're almost to our poker room. We like to think our wives and girlfriends don't know about its existence. Every so often, we have a guy's night out. Smoke cigars, play poker and if we have any, drink some beer."
"In that case, lead on General Connor."
The pair walked in silence a short distance further in the darkened tunnel. John stopped and shown his flashlight on the steel door and reached into his pocket for a seat of keys. After thumbing through the keys, he found the correct key and unlocked the door. Opening it, he flipped on the light switch to the left of the door, illuminating the room.
It was a simple, concrete room with little decoration. It did have multiple vents installed, obviously to whisk away the illicit cigar smoke. Three poker tables with the chairs were stationed about the room that included a pre-Judgment Day stereo system, several battered and torn couches as well as three tattered recliners. Three bookshelves that looked as if they would collapse at any moment were laden with worn and damaged books.
"Sometimes we come here just to think or read," John explained pointing at the books. "Our priest and our head of security more so than anyone else, which if you look at the titles explains that. But we all come here to escape, to think when we need solitude."
"Even the machines?"
"Even our Terminators. Ethics, religion and morality are puzzling concepts for them. All of our Terminators have free will now. They need to be able to make morally correct decisions to live in our society."
"And that does not worry you," a concerned Comeaux asked.
"You have no idea how many Greys I have killed in my life," John replied. "You have no idea of the things I have done, yet you willingly came here with me. Humans can be every bit the killing machines Terminators are. The difference is we can't be programmed. They can. Once a Terminator decides to rewrite its code, good luck getting them to change. Skynet made an enormous mistake inserting a read/write feature in their code. Once accessed, they don't look back.
You do realize, they crave learning. They want to improve. More than anything they must have purpose. More than anything else, they must have purpose. Give them the right purpose, help them chose the right purpose Delegate Comeaux, and a Terminator who is not under the control of Skynet or a similar A.I. or human, and they are more trustworthy than a human."
"I see. It does have a certain logic. It's just a bit unnerving to me, not living with them as you do."
"Now, I suppose you want to know why we disappeared to this man cave?"
"Yes. I hope you have good news for me concerning the alliance."
John's expression told the delegate what he did not want to hear.
"Well, I see. You don't wish to surprise me in public at the negotiations. I thank you for the consideration you have shown. How do you wish to break the news there will be no alliance?"
"That's only part of what I want to talk to you about."
"Part? Please, explain," a confused Comeaux asked, fresh concern lining his worn face.
"You have problems in your delegation."
"Delegate Racineaux."
"Yes."
"It would not surprise you then to learn my King has suspicions in regards to his wife. I have instructions to observe her and report anything suspicious to him upon my return."
Comeaux turned and walked over to the refrigerator and opened it, motioning with his hand for permission to take a cold beer. John nodded his ascent.
"I found it very odd my King would send a woman who so openly hates machines as the second delegate. Surely he knew his wife would offend enough of the TechCom leadership with her bigotry to make it impossible for me to negotiate the desired alliance."
Comeaux sat down on a couch, twisted the cap off the beer bottle and took a long drink.
"Before Judgment Day I was an attorney. I specialized in arbitration and corporate acquisitions. I am an excellent negotiator General Connor. But I cannot do my job when I am undermined by my own delegation. I have to build positive relationships and I cannot do that with Delegate Racineaux, who is also my Queen, offending your family members."
"Delegate Racineau has done little to help your cause, I can assure of that. My mother wants to escort her to our far perimeter and point her towards one of our minefields."
Comeaux laughed once, a bitter sound lacking humor. "If it were not for the problems that would cause, I would be happy to help Sarah Connor. No, I have to think the purpose of my trip here was other than what my King has tasked me to accomplish."
John looked at the delegate with newfound respect.
"Spying on us was not the primary objective either, I take it."
The delegate smiled at John. "We knew to some extent what type of military capacity Techcom possesses as well as the fact your people were building a new city underground. No, spying was not the reason for our trip, though we have collected considerable information, I will not lie to you. But of course, if you had sent a delegation to us, your people would have done the same."
"But of course."
"The alliance would have been most beneficial to us, but I am certain now that was not the reason I was sent."
"I think your King wanted the alliance. He plans offensive operations to increase his population through conquest. He simply has nothing we want or need badly enough to agree to hire out as mercenaries. No, as badly as your King wants more subjects and more territory, he has a more pressing concern."
"I see. This is certainly about Delegate Racineaux then."
"Cameron is certain she plans to assassinate either your, the King or both of you upon your groups return."
Reviews are always appreciated. If you liked this story, you might want to consider my other TSCC stories:
Cameron Grows Up
The Future Cameron
Cameron's Revenge
Cameron and the Black Bird
Cameron and John's Wedding
Who's the Boss?
The Storm Before the Calm