Chapter 30

Unrestricted

Cameron remained hidden in the lab. She watched the video feed of the 'double play' as it happened. Everything seemed to work as planned. It all looked perfect. Everyone did everything they were supposed to do, when they were supposed to do it. John was the only variable.

Wait.

Something happened which looked like trouble. John just touched Allison's left breast. His hand lingered a little longer than normal. It was longer than when he touched her the same way. She was used to John catching a quick 'feel' every now and then. It was more of a playful greeting for them. She was the one who'd initiated it. She figured it was one more way to keep John's attention focused on her. She needed to worry about the others now. One time when they were kissing, she'd mentioned to John that her breasts might not be 'real', but they were real to her. She was pleased with the extra level of closeness, even if it wasn't much.

Now she watched John's hand linger a little longer than usual on Allison. One reason why it might have been longer popped into her head. Was he really checking for a heartbeat?

Wait.

No red flags seemed to have gone off. A few minutes passed. John Henry kept the distractions coming. John was constantly busy with no free time to think about anything else. Here comes the double play…. Allison already made her appearance as has 'Cameron'. Now Allison made her appearance as 'Allison'.

She thought maybe they'd pulled it off. She wasn't sure at all. She knew if she suspected something, she would play her cards close to the chest.

Cameron was worried it wasn't going to work. Everything looked good, but John did those two double takes as Allison walked away both times. Something was clicking in his head, even if he didn't know what it was yet. It might hit him at three o'clock in the morning. She was sure John suspected something. She hoped the timing and distractions were enough to keep John from knowing. She knew he wasn't a dummy. Well, most of the time he wasn't.

Vanna came back to the lab. She seemed excited.

"Did we do it?" Vanna asked.

Cameron really didn't know.

"I don't think so." Cameron said. "I'm not sure."

Vanna looked a little worried.

"Do you think he knows?" Vanna asked.

Cameron frowned a little.

"I think so." Cameron said. "It's a possibility."

Vanna watched the video feed from the Command Center. She didn't see anything to indicate it.

"It doesn't look like it." Vanna said.

Vanna and Cameron continued to look at the security feeds John Henry provided them with. Nothing really changed. Maybe they did pull it off.

Allison soon arrived and gave Cameron her clothes and purple jacket back. She was really happy Cameron let her wear it.

She looked at the video feed with Vanna and Cameron.

"Did it work?" Allison asked.

Cameron was very unsure.

"I really don't know." Cameron said.

Allison knew Cameron watched the entire exchange. She wanted to come clean about what happened. She didn't want any animosity. She actually thought she was going to have to make love to John or something the way Cameron talked about it earlier. She'd been worried the most she might need to perform some type of sex act with John. She was glad they were nowhere near it.

"It was a simple kiss and he copped a feel." Allison said. "It was no big deal."

Cameron was afraid, it was because his hand lingered there longer than 'normal'.

"He may have been checking for a heartbeat." Cameron said.

Allison remembered her heart was pounding.

"Damn! Do our breasts feel the same?" Allison asked.

Allison looked at Vanna as she waited for a reply. She knew there was no way Vanna hadn't checked when she restored Cameron's sheath.

"Vanna?" Allison prompted. "The one I touched was pulp."

Cameron considered asking them to touch and compare them right now. She would like to see how Allison felt compared to her.

Vanna quickly glanced at Cameron.

"They feel identical." Vanna said.

Cameron wanted to watch the Command Center for a little longer.

"I think we should let it play out and see what happens." Cameron said. "I needed to try if nothing else. I'm trying to protect John."

Cameron could see John was distracted as he listened to John Henry. It seemed he was really laying it on for John. At least it would keep John from thinking about what happened in detail. Everyone really played their part for her. She wouldn't forget how everyone stepped up to assist her.

Maybe there were times when she felt inadequate about various things. Maybe she felt underappreciated at times. She certainly felt she was 'not good enough' on multiple occasions. She really liked how everyone was there for her. She was glad she had friends now. It made her think back to the time when she told Eric she didn't have any friends.

So far she'd resisted the urge to check up on Eric and see what happened. She still hoped the reason why she hadn't seen him at the library anymore, was because he sought medical attention as she'd informed him he needed to do. She thought sometimes it was better not to know.

John wasn't sure what just happened. Something was off. He couldn't place it. A lot happened at the same time. John Henry came up with some important targets. John Henry suggested they wait until Cameron returned from her current mission before they acted.

Without knowing it, Cameron and John Henry created a new problem. It was one which could prove fatal to John.

John liked the fact there was a clear target. He wasn't about to wait. He was tired of waiting to act. Without Cameron there to restrict him, he could lead a strike. He was done waiting and being coddled. He wasn't having any of it. Without Cameron around, it was time for action. With Cameron gone for a few days he could get out into the field. The timing of Cameron's absence was a blessing to him. He believed Cameron restricted him way too much. It was a very touchy subject to bring up with her. Now he wouldn't have to.

He was aware most of the time the targets weren't as clear cut, as the ones he was just presented with. There wasn't any guesswork or reconnaissance necessary. The targets were a sure thing.

"Cameron hasn't let me get out enough into the field to do my share." John said. "I should be the one leading these strikes, not sitting in safety here."

John Henry saw right away they'd created a new problem. He tried to tone things down.

"A leader must also delegate responsibility." John Henry said. "Cameron worries about your safety."

John knew what happened to Cameron when she wouldn't see him, or allow him to touch her. He knew there was only one reason she would avoid him after a mission. It was because she was damaged.

"I worry about her safety too." John said.

John Henry tried to put the brakes on things.

"True love is a two way street." John Henry said.

To John, it seemed Cameron drove a bulldozer, or a tank, down the center of the two way street. It was usually 'her way' on everything. He did understand she wanted to protect him. He just wasn't sure it was the right move.

John made up his mind. He would need to do a little planning.

"I want to wait a few hours before we go out. I'm taking Bob and Jim on a mission." John said. "I'm unrestricted for a while."

John Henry could see things were getting away from him. He sure hoped Cameron was still watching the video feed. She was going to have to stop it from happening herself. None of them could.

"Do you think it's wise to go without Cameron?" John Henry asked.

John really didn't care at this point. He'd run plenty of operations in the future he went to. He was experienced and he was good at what he did. The way he felt right now, it really didn't matter. He looked at John Henry. He was reminded of something he told Cameron once.

"You know I'm still going to do it anyway." John said.

John Henry at least wanted additional assistance for John.

"Will Sarah and Allison go with you?" John Henry asked. "It's nice to have help sometimes."

John was worried about both of them. He didn't want to say it. He came up with an excuse instead. He was aware both of them had gone on missions with Cameron. It was mostly Allison recently.

"They can have the time off." John said. "It'll be good for them to rest up and relax."

John realized how lame it sounded, even as he said it

John Henry saw it for what it actually was. It was actually no different than what Cameron did for John.

"You really don't want to put them in harm's way." John Henry said.

John saw no point to lie. He was worried about them.

"There's no fooling you, John Henry." John said.

John Henry knew the statement wasn't quite accurate. He'd been fooled before.

"Sometimes…." John Henry said.

John Henry wondered if John knew he was doing the same thing as Cameron, when it came to protecting people. He knew he needed to get the Terminators Cameron captured, up and running for some additional help. He hadn't planned he would need them so soon. John Henry knew Terminators could take more damage than humans, with less negative after-effects.

John Henry was aware events were rapidly spiraling out of control. The current turn of events wasn't foreseen by Cameron or him. It only reminded him about how things could change rapidly. Even with the most careful planning, something could change in an instant.

Cameron allowed Vanna to do something to speed her healing process. It wasn't something she liked to do because it ended up replacing sections of her original sheath. They would be absorbed into her sheath and become part of her like everything else. It was just the idea of losing more of 'herself'.

Vanna made the sheath graphs to speed up the healing process. It was the only reason Cameron allowed them. She could see and be with John sooner this way. It also put her back in combat sooner.

When her face was damaged, it affected her readiness to interact with other targets and not stand out. The goal was for her to blend in so she could get closer to the target with fewer difficulties.

Cameron was displeased at her appearance. She felt she looked like a quilt. It was what needed to be done to get back into the game sooner.

"Thanks, Vanna, this will save me a few days of regeneration time." Cameron said. "The sheath tones don't match, but soon will. I hope."

At least this way there was no metal, or even worse, teeth, showing. She reached up and touched the repair to her cheek.

John Henry appeared in the lab. Cameron hadn't contact with him yet about John's idea. He figured he needed to go to her and let her know what was going to happen.

"Excuse me, Cameron, John is going on a mission with Bob and Jim." John Henry said.

Cameron frowned. She expected John to do something. She hadn't expected it to be so soon.

"I figured as much. He won't be alone." Cameron said.

John Henry thought he needed to clarify his statement.

"Sarah and Allison aren't going." John Henry added.

Cameron became a little more visibly alarmed.

"Do they know?" Cameron asked.

John Henry knew they didn't and why.

"No." John Henry said.

Vanna took out her phone. She wanted to make sure John had backup.

"Do you want me to notify them?" Vanna asked.

Cameron didn't want them in danger either. She didn't realize it was the same reason why John hadn't notified them.

"No!" Cameron said.

John Henry tried to point out the obvious. It wasn't his first choice to be the one to say it. It still needed to be said.

"To win a war, there will be risks and casualties. It's inevitable." John Henry said. "It's impossible to win a war from the sidelines."

Cameron decided to go now. She would carry out the strike. She needed to get moving. She was worried.

"I must do more." Cameron said. "I need to strike the target before John gets there."

Vanna looked worried.

"You do too much already." Vanna said.

Cameron was clearly upset.

"I must protect John and those I lo… care about." Cameron said.

Cameron noted her hand started to glitch again. She tried to hide it behind her back. John Henry and Vanna both saw it.

Nobody said anything.

Sarah entered the lab. She carried her gear with her. She looked at Cameron and winced.

"You look like Hell." Sarah said.

Cameron remembered the last time she'd heard the statement from Sarah. She didn't want to relive those same events again. She quickly pushed the thought from her mind. Her appearance may be somewhat compromised, but her ability wasn't.

"Hello, Sarah." Cameron said. "I'm one hundred percent functional. I'm sorry for my appearance."

Sarah already regretted what she'd said.

"I'm sorry." Sarah said. "I didn't mean it to sound so hard. It was more a matter of saying."

Sarah placed her gear on the floor.

The door opened again.

Allison walked in. She carried her gear as well.

Sarah could see they were all on the same page. She tried to make light of the situation.

"Girl's night out again?" Sarah asked.

Allison smiled at Sarah.

"Damn straight." Allison said.

Vanna felt left out.

"It looks like it." Vanna added. "I'm going too."

It was about the last thing any of them wanted to hear.

"NO ! ! !" Three voices chimed in at once.

Vanna needed to speak her mind.

"I need to help share the burden. I can't stand by and see my friends risk everything." Vanna said. "Cameron, I can't stand seeing you do this to yourself. John may need our help."

Cameron tried to show Vanna her importance.

"Vanna, if you're injured, who will repair me when I'm damaged?" Cameron asked.

Allison didn't want Vanna in combat either.

"She's right. Who will help patch up the rest of us if you're hurt?" Allison asked.

Vanna felt she was qualified to fight.

"I was trained to fight also." Vanna said. "I have before. You know it."

Cameron wanted to put the lid on things.

"We've voted. You will stay, PLEASE." Cameron said.

Vanna didn't want to make an issue over it.

"Alright, I will this time, but not next time." Vanna said. "What's fair is fair."

Cameron gathered what she wanted for the mission to back up John. They all collected their gear and weapons. They double checked everything again.

Cameron, Sarah and Allison left.

Vanna watched them go. She felt she needed to do more.

Vanna called John Henry.

"You know what's happening, right?" Vanna asked.

John Henry wanted to share the burden as well.

"I do and I want to join them. This war isn't all on the backs of Cameron and John." John Henry said.

Vanna wanted a few more cards to play.

"We have our specialties. Are those chips ready for insertion?" Vanna asked. "I want a Terminator crew operational the next time an 'event' like this comes up. We're not sitting it out, and watching from the sidelines anymore."

John Henry needed to do some more testing on the chips.

"I have four nearly ready." John Henry said. "We'll be ready next time."

Vanna looked forward to showing up in combat with four additional Resistance Terminators. They would be able to make a big impact when they arrived.

"Should the six of us make a future date?" Vanna asked.

There was a pause as John Henry processed the statement.

"I think you would be busy with five of us." John Henry said.

Vanna quickly looked at John Henry.

"Did you just make a joke?" Vanna asked.

John Henry flashed a quick smile.

"I hope so." John Henry said.

Vanna laughed.

Vanna knew it would be one wild date. It would be more appealing to her if it was five females instead of males. Vanna wondered if there were any more female Terminators out there to be captured. Now THEY would be a date.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Unrestricted

The beast is away
I'm FREE for now
I've escaped its grasp
But feel its claws somehow

The jailer has gone
Why can't they see
I've escaped my cell
Make a call to me

The evil ghost has vanished
No longer haunting my soul
Where is the salvation I seek
To make me whole

The shackles are off
No longer do they bind
Can't you feel the flood
Escaping from my mind

The shadow has disappeared
Not stalking my every move
Is there something more
That I must prove

The secret agent has fled
Not here to spy
My plea for help unanswered
I don't know why

Nobody