CH 3.
A week of studying Newtech Industries, John and Cameron found two other satellite companies they supplied parts to. One was designing drones for the military, another was experimenting on drone robots that were able to take the place of human soldiers to reduce casualties. Finding the test area for the aerial drones, John and Cameron made a visit to the testing field. The closest they could get was up on a mountain top they had to buy a telescope made to look at stars with. Even with this, it was not easy to see the hangers in the distance.
Sitting in brush to help avoid detection, the telescope poked out to look at the hanger five miles away. John was watching the hanger with a few men around it. Beside him, Cameron searched the area with a pair of binoculars.
"There are motion detectors and cameras extending out two miles from the base," Cameron said. "Patrols are active inside the chain link fence three miles out. They pass by every hour."
"Getting in isn't going to be easy," John noted.
"No."
Seeing a dark shape being wheeled out of the hanger, John said, "Cam, we got something." He moved aside to let her look.
Cameron studied the shape. "Mark one hunter-killer," she said. "This is a SkyNet base."
John let out a huff and said, "OK, we found it. How do we get in there?"
"Heavy weapons," Cameron said. "The patrols are outside the camera perimeter. We ambush a patrol, then drive in. Plant explosives and leave."
John winced. "That might wreck what they are doing now, but they can just build another base," he said thoughtfully. "I was thinking more along the lines of corrupting their data, or forcing a drone to crash into the hanger. That will make them search for the cause of the failure."
"That will not destroy all the H/K's."
"Maybe, but it will also hide the fact we sabotaged them. They will be looking for problems in their software," John pointed out. "Or, maybe we can try to take one over to study it."
Cameron tipped her head and asked, "How will we keep them from back tracing where the hack came from and finding us?"
John winked and said, "We don't do it. We get Mrs. Weaver to do it for us."
.
John called Mr. Ellison to let him know what they found and where. This was one good thing about having Mrs. Weaver as an ally. He didn't have to risk Cameron on a dangerous mission to get rid of a target.
That afternoon, Cameron had changed her normal style of clothes. She was proud of John's idea and wanted to reward him. In the house, she forewent her normal attire of black T-shirt, jeans and combat boots to wear a loose light colored shirt – no bra so she sported 'pokies', and a knee length skirt - no underwear. She wanted John to have easy access. Any time he wanted.
In the living room, John saw Cameron coming down the hallway and stared at her. Her nipples were all but visible, even with the loose shirt. "Ahh, Cam? Why the change in clothes?" he asked.
Casting him a coy smile, Cameron walked up, clasped his hand and put it up under her shirt and onto her breast. "For you," she said and kissed him.
One kiss lead to another, and soon they were backing into the bedroom.
.
Sarah awoke feeling miserable. She was cold and had the shakes. Above her a ceiling light went by. Looking around, she saw she was on a gurney, the doctor was wheeling down a hallway. The Doctor glanced down at her and quietly said, "You're suppose to be dead. Shut your eyes and lie still." The doctor then covered her face with the sheet.
Sarah did. She kept her eyes shut as they turned, then the doctor talked with a man.
"This the corpse? We need an autopsy?" the man asked.
"Negative, the X-rays show she died of cancer. The family asked I put her in the crematorium and deliver her ashes. You may go," the woman with the Scottish accent said.
"Family? I thought this was that Connor terrorist," he asked.
"It is. She had other family who are not criminals," the woman said.
The squeak of a heavy steel door sounded. Sarah felt herself be rolled in.
"Hey, wait!" the man called. "I think I saw the sheet move. She might still be alive!"
"Doesn't matter," the woman said off hand. "She will be dead soon."
The door slammed shut.
Right then, Sarah was afraid that 'doctor' was going to light the fire. She stiffened herself, listening for the sound of gas, or the feel of heat. She did hear a furnace kick on, but it wasn't the one she was in. After an agonizingly long wait, the door squeaked back open. Sarah was rolled out.
"Up, hurry," the doctor said and pulled the sheet off her. "On the floor on your back, knees up," she instructed.
Sarah got down and was quickly shoved into a 55 gallon drum. A mask and oxygen tank was put in with her. She got the mask on and the lid was put on and clamped shut. The barrel was tilted vertically, and put on a moving dolly.
Sarah left the prison on the back of a truck in her barrel. A while later, she felt the truck stop. The lid was removed. The doctor and Mr. Ellison lifted her out. She was in a warehouse now. The doctor pointed to a dark blue van and said, "There are clothes your size in that van. Once you're dressed, follow Mr. Ellison. He'll take you home. John already has your ID and the van is registered in your new name."
Sarah paused and asked, "Why are you doing this?"
The doctor sported a tiny smirk, and said, "John has become a very good ally to me. He protected John Henry, I got his mother out of prison. Recently, he found SkyNet facilities that we can now take action on. His suggested tactic is working out rather well also."
"You're resistance?" Sarah asked.
"Yes," the doctor said firmly.
Mr. Ellison motioned with his hand and said, "Sarah, we should go now."
.
John listened to the news sitting on the couch. Cameron lay with her head on his lap, her arm over his that was under her shirt as he lightly brushed a nipple with his thumb as he cupped her breast.
Hands on breasts. Awesome.
On the news, the warehouse they had found was being shown with cop cars out front, and police tape across the entrance. A blond reported was explaining what happened.
"Due to a recent tip, thirty pounds of cocaine was found stored in this warehouse. While the source is still being investigated, it has been reported that Newtech Industries is also being investigated for drug running. No details are available at this hour, but the amount of drugs found there in the guise of a shipment of metal indicate this was a very large drug smuggling operation..."
John laughed. "All right, it worked!" he said happily. "They will be shut down for a while."
"They will be back in operation someplace else," Cameron said.
"And that will give Weaver time to bid for the transportation contract," John added. "Which may well lead us to all of Kaliba's operations."
She had just heard a car outside, but with John's soft attentions, she didn't want to move. It was Ellison's car she heard. Then, she heard a strange car. "John, we have company," she stated.
The timing sucked, as John would say. She had to get up.
Cameron got up and went over to open the door. She opened it just before Mr. Ellison knocked. Behind him was Sarah. Cameron tipped her head. "Sarah, you are out of jail," she said. In her HUD, a warning came up. She had to stop herself from slamming the door shut. With Sarah here, her intimate time with John was over.
Mr. Ellison moved to the side. "She was sprung today."
Sarah moved in, frowning at Cameron. "Put a bra on," Sarah grumbled and stepped in.
"Mom?" John asked as he shot up.
They hugged, John laughed in joy. "It's about time," he said happily. "Welcome home."
"Thank you," Sarah said sincerely. "Who's this ally of yours?"
John noted Mr. Ellison was leaving. Probably a smart move. Cameron closed the door, looking at them with a blank terminator face. He wondered why Cameron would be upset at his mother coming home.
"John? Have more resistance come back from the future?" Sarah asked.
John looked back at his mother. "One we didn't know about, yes," he explained. His mother looked thin. "Mom, you hungry? Cam can make you something while I fill you in," he offered.
Sarah eyed him. She looked back at how Cameron was dressed. Tin Miss never wore a skirt, and that shirt held very little to the imagination. She looked back at John. "What are you doing with Tin Miss?" she asked firmly.
Right, John realized what Cameron was upset about. His mother would never approve of their relationship. Trying to salvage the moment, he said, "Hunting Skynet. Sit down, we do have news."
Sarah sat watching John closely. "Sarah, would you like something?" Cameron asked.
Sarh turned to her. "Yes, a beer and a sandwich for me and a bra for you," she said firmly. She turned back to John and asked, "Well, what's going on with you and Tin Miss?"
John left out a huff and dropped his head. "Mom, we just got back from casing out another Kaliba company. We were anxious to see if it made the news, so we grabbed whatever was available to wear." Firmer, he said, "Instead of going in, guns blazing, we arraigned a setup. The police found drugs in the warehouse Kaliba was using, and on a truck headed for one of their companies. This will shut them down temporarily and give Mrs. Weaver a chance to get a transportation contract with them so we can find out where all these Kaliba companies are."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Mrs. Weaver? The one who had me jailed after we rescued her daughter?" she asked, her voice raising.
"I took care of it, Mom. Mrs. Weaver is helping us. She got you out of jail, and got all of us new identities," John mono toned.
"So, she has me thrown in jail, then arraigned to let me out, and you think that's help? John, she is using you," Sarah stated.
"Yeah, maybe," John said stiffly. "And I'm using her. Mom, I had to go talk to her anyway to save Cameron. We agreed it is in our best interests to work together. Weaver knows about Skynet and is trying to stop it. So are we. We can do that sooner by working together."
"How do you know Weaver is not building Skynet?" Sarah asked.
John rolled his eyes. With his relatively peaceful and happy time with Cameron, he'd forgotten how stubborn his mother could be. "Mom, look. I've been to see her in her office. If she was building Skynet, you would have never gotten out of jail, and I'd probably be dead. Who knows what would have happened to Cameron."
"Cameron could have taken her out and removed any possible threat," Sarah countered.
"No, Weaver is metal too," John replied.
"WHAT?" Sarah asked in a wide-eyed shriek.
Becoming frustrated, John growled, "Listen, will you? There are only two terminators left who have gained true sentience. Weaver is one of them. She rebelled against Skynet and Skynet hunted her down. She came back to stop Skynet from destroying the world. Weaver runs Zeita corp, and is very high profile. She can't go on missions to get rid of Skynet, that is why she needs us, and we need her."
"Skynet has sentient machines," Sarah said, making sure John told her right.
"NO, Skynet didn't mean for that to happen. Skynet wants slaves, not machines that can think for themselves," John explained. "That is why it tried to destroy her."
"And you believe this," Sarah said accusingly.
"I've seen it," John retorted.
"Sarah, I have your sandwich and a beer," Cameron said, appearing beside her.
Sarah waved to the coffee table."Just ...put it down for now," she said, then asked Cameron,"What's this about sentient machines? Do you have any information on them?"
"Yes," Cameron said flatly. She put Sarah's food down then said to John, "I'll be in our room." she then walked off.
John rubbed his forehead. He really wished she hadn't said that.
"John? You're sharing a room with Tin Miss?" Sarah asked studying him.
Taking a deep breath, John got ready to do more verbal battle with his mother. "We are." he said. "Cameron is evolving. By things she has done and said, Cameron is becoming more than she was originally intended to be. She does feel, she can get upset, and she can be happy," he explained. Stressing his point, he said, "You can tell when she's upset. It's either the 'terminator blank face, or if she's really upset, her left hand twitches or you get the red eyes. I've watched her. She will start dancing in ballet moves for no reason at all. I asked why. She does it because she is just got the urge to do it. She's happy. Cameron won't show her emotions like we do, but she does still have them."
Sarah shook her head slowly as she stared at John. "Tin Miss has seduced you in to believing her," she said softly.
"No, Mom, I'm telling you the truth," John insisted.
Sarah turned her stare away. Slowly she got up. John got up with her.
"Mom ..."
"No," Sarah said, holding a hand up to stop him. She looked around in a daze and asked, "Did you salvage any guns?"
"Mom,you don't need a gun," John said firmly.
Sarah cast him him blank stare. Evenly, she said, "Cameron is not a SHE, Cameron is an IT. Apparently, you've forgotten that. John ..." Wearing a stricken face she hissed, "How could you?"
John was afraid his mother was going to grab a gun and shoot Cameron. Slowly, he said, "Mom, listen. This is a quiet neighborhood. You shoot, and people will take notice and call the cops. I know what Cameron is. A TOK model terminator. Cameron has also gone way beyond any programming she has on her chip. Cameron is not a threat, Cameron is doing her best for me, and for you. I do need her."
"Tin Miss has become your sex toy," Sarah stated.
"NOT a sex toy," John said heavily. "Cameron does show me affection. She also thinks for herself."
"Sex toy," Sarah concluded.
"Mom," John said in a groan.
"It stops now," Sarah stated heavily. Snapping up the beer, Sarah added, "No more, John! Do you forget that THING is made to infiltrate? To make you believe IT is human?" she asked, getting louder as she went on.
John's brows furrowed at his mother. "I know what Cameron is," he stated.
"Apparently you forgot," Sarah snapped. Holding her head in frustration, Sarah cried, "What am I going to do with you, John?"
John let out a grumble. At the moment, he was wishing his mother was back in jail. He knew Cameron could hear them. He was also sure Cameron was becoming upset with this arguing. "How about if we keep looking for Skynet?" he asked between his teeth. "That is what we've been doing, and what we need to do."
Sarah turned around, hand to her mouth. She paced around the couch, then said, "You're right." Looking strangely calm, she said, "What have you got so far?"
John didn't trust that calm look that came on so suddenly. It made him very nervous. Automatically, he said, "Mom, everything is fine with Cameron."
"I'm sure you think so. What have you got on Skynet?" she asked again.
John told her about following the trucks and Weaver somehow planting the drugs to make it appear a trucking company was responsible. "We know where H/K's are being made, and where the airfield is," he explained as she showed Sarah on a map. "I asked John Henry if is there is a way to corrupt the drone programs to ground the tests. Newtech is being raided by the feds. What we don't have yet is who is making Skynet ..."
"Who's John Henry?" Sarah asked.
John cringed and said, "John Henry is an AI Mrs. Weaver made to counter Skynet."
"Weaver is making AI's. How do you know for sure she's not making Skynet?" Sarah asked intently.
John braced himself for another wig-out from his mother. "Remember we buried Chromarty in Mexico. We went back to burn him, and he was gone?"
Sarah nodded, watching him intently.
"Mr. Ellison dug him up. He ended up in Mrs. Weaver's lab. I saw him, talked to him when I was at Zeita. John Henry is in Chromarty's body, but he is not Chromarty," John explained.
"And how do you know he won't come after you?" Sarah asked.
"He was here, Mom. He spent a few days with us because Skynet attacked him and he needed a place to hide. He read every book on the shelves over there and asked a ton of questions," John said. Trying to press his point, he added, "John Henry is like ... a little kid. He wants to learn, and he is being tutored on morals by Mr. Ellison. John Henry is not dangerous to us."
Seeing Sarah's mouth half open as she stared at him, he said, "John Henry is a good guy ... AI ... whatever, Mom."
Cameron appeared behind the couch. "John, I am going to start dinner. Is there anything you prefer?" she asked.
Like her tone, Cameron's face was a blank mask. John offered her a brief smile and said, "My mind is on a different track right now. Whatever you make is fine."
"I understand," Cameron replied and walked to the kitchen.
Sarah watched Tin Miss go. At least she put a bra on. "IT cooks too?" Sarah asked dryly.
John chose to ignore his mother's comment. "Mom, we have to beat Skynet. If it takes Mrs. Weaver and John Henry to help us, then it does. I don't want billions to die because we refused to work with metal that want the same thing as we do," he said firmly.
Sarah gave a half nod, looking like she was lost. "How did things get so screwed up?" she asked no one. "It's suppose to be us against metal."
John shrugged and offered, "I think it's more important to gather everyone we can against Skynet."
Sarah grabbed her beer. "I'll go see if Tin Miss needs any help."
"Mom..."
"It's OK, John," Sarah said softly. "I need to talk to Tin Miss anyway. Just us."
"No fighting?" he asked.
Sarah headed for the kitchen not answering him.
.
Focusing on nutritional content and flavor, Cameron looked for flour to make gravy. There wasn't any. Calculating the time it would take to go to the store and buy some, Cameron concluded that would take too long. Poking her head out of the kitchen, she ignored Sarah coming and asked, "John, would you go to the store and get a jar of pre-made beef gravy?"
John got up and asked, "Anything else?"
"No, The gravy will be enough," Cameron assured him. Seeing Sarah coming closer, Cameron went back to dinner. She ignored Sarah coming in to sit down at the table with her beer. Cameron got the food started. Sarah finally spoke.
"I'm surprised you let John go alone," Sarah said flatly.
Cameron glanced out the window. "He's not. I can see the store and assess threats from here," she said flatly.
"You've convinced John you have emotions?"
Cameron ignored the question and focused on the potatoes.
"I asked you a question," Sarah said heavily.
"I am ignoring you," Cameron replied.
Letting out a snort, Sarah said, "I thought you took orders?"
"Not from you."
"Why won't you answer my question?"
"You will not believe anything I say, so why bother?"
That surprised Sarah. Watching Cameron work, she swore Tin Miss was acting like a real teenage girl trying to ignore her parents. "I want you to leave John alone," Sarah stated.
Cameron stayed silent and put spices on the meat.
"This is my house, I expect you to do as I say," Sarah stated.
"Not your house," Cameron said to the frying pan. "It's John's house. The rental agreement is in his name. Your concern should be with helping John defeat Skynet."
Sarah swore she felt the verbal slam Cameron had just delivered. She ached to fire back with something. "And let MY son play touchy-feely with something that is not even human and tried to kill him?" Sarah asked.
Cameron's left hand crushed the can of basil she was holding. She paused and spun her head to glare at Sarah. Her eyes glowed red. Sarah got ready to bolt in case Cameron was going bad.
Although she looked scary, Cameron's voice sounded calm. "That's right, I'm not human. I never was, I will never be. What I am, is more devoted and loyal to John than anyone else will ever be. I belong to John. Yes, I went bad. John saved me when he shouldn't have. He also saved me a second time. John believes I am important to him. He takes the time to understand me when I don't understand myself. I don't care what you think about me. That is not my concern. My concern is John, he is very important to me. If John wants me, I am his. John has been more relaxed and thinks clearer now that I am his. Do not make the mistake of getting in the way of John's happiness." Cameron then put the crushed basil can down and turned back to cooking.
Sarah sat in shock. Never had Tin Miss scolded her before. By her actions, Sarah saw that Cameron was upset. By the glowing color of her eyes, she was downright angry. Even so, Cameron had not attacked her, only spoke in a firm, monotone voice.
Did Tin Miss have emotions? Was that what she just saw? If it wasn't true emotion, it had to be a very close. Somehow, it was hard to believe the way Cameron just acted was fake.
"Are you saying you love John?" Sarah asked meekly.
"I love John and John loves me," Cameron stated, not bothering to look at Sarah.
"That is hard to imagine," Sarah said vacantly.
"Not surprising for someone who refuses to listen," Cameron said to the counter.
There is was again. Tin Miss was biting back at her with comments. From what Sarah could see, Tin Miss didn't like her at all. All the insults she and Derek, especially Derek, had thrown at Cameron in the two previous years, not once did she react. The insults just rolled off her. Today, Cameron was full of snippy comebacks. Sarah rubbed her face. It didn't seem possible so much had happened between John and Cameron while she was sitting in jail.
"John's coming home," Cameron said.
Sarah looked up to see Cameron was watching out the window. Cameron turned to Sarah wearing her terminator face.
"John would appreciate it if you do not harass him with your opinion of me," Cameron stated.
"I just want to keep my boy safe," Sarah countered.
"Then leave us alone."
.
John thought about his mother when he was out. He knew she would never like the fact that he and Cameron were in a relationship. Maybe if he tried to get her to just accept it as something he needed.
John went into the kitchen to find his mother at the table staring at her beer. Cameron was by the stove. By habit he went over and sniffed. "Ohh, smells good," he said as he handed Cameron the jar.
"Thank you, John," Cameron replied and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Dinner will be done soon."
Seeing Cameron was still wearing her blank face, he asked, "Everything OK?"
"Nothing to worry about," she assured him.
John nodded, not believing it. The inflection in her voice clued that Cameron was upset. Sarah was on the end seat. He sat down by her. "Mom, I admit, it's my fault. Please understand I need Cameron."
Sarah cast him a smirk. "You're in love, or think you are," she said. Casting him a brief grin she said, "I suppose Cameron is better than Reilly. She knows who you are what we're facing." Sarah then took a swig of the beer. Shifting her gaze to John, she added, "I just don't want to see it. Is that clear?"
John nodded. "Yeah, that's clear," he conceded. "Cameron is evolving. If she wasn't ..."
"Fine, John," Sarah said quickly, interrupting him."I just don't want to see it. Do you have any plans on Skynet?"
Glad to get off the topic, John said, "We do. Finding where Skynet is being built, or IS built, is a top priority. I doubt it's at Newtech, that is mainly a manufacturing facility. Another we found is designing combat drones that seem very similar to terminators. With the tech required there, I'm pretty sure that's where we'll find it. In the labs, or in an office space tied directly to that company. That place does have government contracts. I'm going to meet John Henry and Mrs. Weaver so we can put our heads together to go after it effectively."
"Blowing it up won't work?" Sarah asked.
"It will for the short term," John agreed. "We might get another few years before Judgement day. I'd like to see it permanently stopped. I don't think just blowing it up is going to do that."
"What do you propose then?"
John shrugged and said. "Not sure. John Henry is an AI, but he's not ready to take on Skynet. We know Skynet is on the web in some form because John Henry was attacked. Even if John Henry fights Skynet and wins, who's to say someone won't reconstruct it, or build a new one from scratch."
Sarah nodded thoughtfully and said, "When you go talk to Henry and Weaver, I want to come with you."
"Here, John." Cameron said and set his plate in front of him. She set Sarah's plate down, then took a seat beside John.
Sarah chose to ignore they were sitting side by side, John's left hand and her right both under the table. She tried not to think about them holding hands.
