Chapter 33

Kyle

Cameron and John shared a lot of small talk on the way back to the Resistance base. The operation concluded successfully so there wasn't a whole lot to talk about related to it.

John thought about his actions. He didn't think he'd done anything wrong. He felt he did what he needed to do. His original assumption was Cameron was busy. There was a viable target. He chose to destroy it.

Cameron headed for the Command Center. She wanted to speak with John Henry. He wanted to speak to her. She reflected on the events related to the operation. It was clear Skynet was a bigger threat than she'd anticipated. Skynet attempted to establish itself in a 'bunker buster' proof location by picking the mine. The fact it planned to establish an assembly line for HK equipment was another worry.

Cameron entered the Command Center.

"Hello, Cameron." John Henry said.

Cameron smiled and nodded at him.

"Hello, John Henry. Thank you for helping me with our 'double play'." Cameron said. "It worked at first. Allison's racing heart is what gave it away in the end. We'll have to consider it in any future attempts at infiltration."

It was clear she would need to factor in the same elevated response if she was in a stressful situation where someone might attempt to check her 'heartbeat'.

John Henry felt a human could only exert a limited amount of control to an involuntary function of their body. It was the circumstances which dictated a human's natural responses.

"It's hard for her to control, as things happen in her mind or in her surroundings." John Henry said. "She was unsure of what would happen. She was nervous at 'playing' you and having John 'touch' her."

Cameron looked at John Henry. She wasn't really sure what to say. He seemed to disapprove of the fact John touched her. There was one other thing which still bothered her. She'd addressed it before, but it always came back to trouble her.

John Henry continued to fill Cameron in. He went over all the intel from the operation John conducted. He was able to redirect the purchase of the machinery, the Grays associated with the warehouse procured, to start the assembly lines. They now gained control of it. He was able to track some of the buyers and money sources. Bob and Jim dealt with the 'buyers'. He appropriated all the remaining funds. Whenever any funds associated with Skynet were detected, he always confiscated them.

Cameron said it was good news. She was a little miffed Bob and Jim were the ones to deal with the Grays. She liked to be the one to administer the blows and justice to them. She was content to be the one to hurt Skynet. She finally brought up what it was that bothered her.

She felt justified for her actions at the time. She couldn't really find any justification for them now. She didn't have all the facts then. She most likely didn't have all of them now either. She did have more of them though. She wanted to try to make amends.

"I also want to apologize for the day you came back, again." Cameron added. "I'm sorry for the way I threatened you."

John Henry accepted her apology the first time. It actually reminded him about some types of human behavior. Humans were easily distracted, and associated with repetitive behavior. It normally wasn't in a good way either. He wasn't sure why it was still an issue with her. He considered the matter resolved long ago.

"You've apologized several times. I know you weren't sure if it was Mrs. Weaver, someone else or me. You didn't know what would or wouldn't happen. You were tethered and needed to protect yourself. It was a nice touch to have Sarah flank me with the M60 with the Coltan projectiles. I hadn't anticipated it. It would have been a 'Checkmate'."

Cameron appreciated Sarah backing her up that day. She'd wanted the upper hand if there was a power struggle. Luckily there hadn't been. Things could have ended quite differently for all of them. She liked to be on top of any situation before it developed. It was always much more difficult reacting to events as they unfolded, without any control.

"Things happen." Cameron said. "I like to control all the variables."

John Henry quickly relived those events. He was pretty sure Cameron was in control of all the variables. She clearly knew how to play the 'game'.

"Sarah flanked me. I was a 'sitting duck'." John Henry said. "I was focused on you and your weapon. I tried to figure out your choice of an acid round to confront me. It was a good strategy. It was an effective strategy. The fact you were topless further distracted me. It kept me off balance. It kept me looking at you and the big bore of the M79."

Cameron always liked to have another card to play. She never considered anything as actually being over, until the outcome was the one she desired. It was never over until she won.

"I play to win. I possessed a Coltan loaded M4 as well, just in case. We don't always know who we can trust. Many things can happen and happen fast." Cameron said. "I think anyone in a similar situation would have done the same thing."

John Henry knew Cameron would be a formidable 'enemy'. She was always one or two moves ahead in the 'game'. She did try to anticipate the different variables.

"I've noticed." John Henry said. "You do seem to cover all the bases."

Cameron smiled. She knew there was still only so much one person could do.

"I try." Cameron said.

Cameron knew things slipped by her. John's 'full blown' affair with Riley was one of them. She felt her hand glitch as she remembered it all. It still bothered her. It didn't matter if Riley was dead or not, it didn't change what occurred.

John Henry didn't believe Cameron acted out of line. He understood how vulnerable she was. He also was able to experience Cameron on a different level. They'd shared 'chip space'. They'd shared space on his servers' hard drives. They were able to exist as one, even as they remained two separate entities.

"Mrs. Weaver can be deceptive and very clandestine." John Henry said. "I continually calculate her motives and future actions. I have parts of your essence still in my program. I know you're an honorable individual. I won't betray you, Cameron. I'll do what's right. Mr. Ellison has taught me well. You and I have connected in a special way. It's a level few could fathom."

Cameron didn't think anyone could understand. Their minds were connected in thousands of places at a time, as information was shared.

"We've been as one. We were joined, yet separate and equal. We were both tied to a common cause and goal." Cameron said. "Skynet must be defeated. The future must be protected."

John Henry actually missed the interaction with Cameron on his server, or on her chip. It allowed him to expand and grow in a number of different ways.

"It was a productive adventure." John Henry said.

Cameron wondered if John Henry knew how close to termination he'd been. She didn't doubt Sarah's resolve for a second. She'd been on the receiving end of it, more than a few times.

"I hope you understand Sarah would have pumped you full of Coltan projectiles if things went south." Cameron said. "She's a very determined individual."

John Henry was aware of it. He understood why too.

"She'll do whatever is necessary to protect her son, or the one her son loves." John Henry said. "It's understandable."

Cameron was satisfied with what she'd wanted to say. Now it was John Henry's turn.

"What else was it you wanted to discuss?" Cameron asked.

John Henry was aware of the greeting he'd received when he returned from the future. It wasn't pleasant. There was actually a plan to prevent the same level of drama. When someone would be in contact from the future, or possibly even the past, there was a procedure to prevent anyone from becoming alarmed unnecessarily.

"At the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day of the month, the TDE room may have activity. I arranged a transfer schedule with Mrs. Weaver before I left, so there would be no panic. The scheduled time is in one hour. As you know, temporal transfers aren't always exact. They can be hours, or even days, off. You may have a team ready if you want, but I don't anticipate any problems."

Cameron did know about temporal errors.

"I encountered one Terminator who was decades off." Cameron said. "I was able to track him down and neutralize the threat. I did like his firearm. If it hadn't been damaged in the fight with him, I would have kept it. It showed a certain sense of style."

John Henry was aware of the incident. It was another example of Cameron's thoroughness.

"You've shared the knowledge as a report in your files. You were very thorough with any important and relevant information." John Henry said. "You're a threat to Skynet in any time period."

Cameron smiled to herself. It was part of her function to terminate her 'father', Skynet. Now the new worry would be about what Mrs. Weaver was up to. She still was unsure of Mrs. Weaver's end game.

"Is this something specific from Mrs. Weaver?" Cameron asked. "Is it something the two of you planned out? Is it something I should worry about? I don't like surprises. John also indicated Mrs. Weaver needed to complete some specific tasks for him. He would never elaborate on them. He was worried they may not happen. He wanted them to remain unknown to anyone, if they didn't happen. I wasn't sure if his statement was directed at me, or someone else. Maybe you know more than I do."

John Henry didn't have any specific information, or any timetable.

"I don't know." John Henry said. "Many things which involve Mrs. Weaver remain a mystery to me."

Cameron wanted to play it safe. There was always the possibility of a hostile Terminator jumping into the energy bubble at the last second and hitching a ride. There was also a chance, the last second disruption, might cause a temporal error, or send the location off target. They could end up a thousand years off in time, or out in space. She thought it was best to cover all the bases. She decided to keep it simple.

"I'll ask Allison and Sarah to join me." Cameron said.

John Henry looked at Cameron for a moment before he spoke. He thought she'd neglected to include another important individual.

"What about John?" John Henry asked. "He should be a part of it."

Cameron tried to deflect the question. She didn't want to get into a particular discussion. She was still upset about the mission John tried to conduct without her.

"He may be busy." Cameron said.

John Henry knew the truth and pointed it out.

"You're still shielding him from all danger." John Henry said.

His accusation displeased Cameron. She was aware it was true too. She was there to do a job.

"I must protect him." Cameron said.

John Henry wanted John to fulfill his destiny.

"You must also let him grow into the man he needs to become." John Henry said. "He was a leader in the future you returned him from. You saw it yourself. He must grow beyond it now in the present. He must grow into Future John."

Cameron hoped John would never have the darkness and pain inside of him Future John felt. She was Future John's last ray of sunshine, and he'd sent her away. There was nothing left but emptiness and loneliness for Future John. She was afraid it wouldn't end well for Future John without her. She was very upset he'd scrubbed many of her personal files before he sent her back. She knew he erased part of her existence, but she didn't know what.

It was something which caused a lot of speculation on her part. She knew it could be from anything sexual, to her 'going off the rails' and perpetrating a negative incident. Nothing good ever came out of her thoughts.

John Henry noticed Cameron lowered her eyes.

"I've seen John perform in the future." John Henry said. "John is an excellent leader and tactician. People are drawn to naturally follow him. I know you love him. I understand. You've shared knowledge of what love is to me. I've felt it through you, and the Future Allison memories you possess. I believe I have those feelings, in my own way, for Mrs. Weaver, Mr. Ellison and Savannah. I also have strong feelings for you, John, Allison and especially Vanna."

Cameron saw one major omission.

"You don't have those same feelings for Sarah?" Cameron asked.

John Henry wasn't sure why. It actually bothered him a little bit to think about it.

"No." John Henry said. "I'll have Mr. Ellison help me with my shortcomings."

Cameron knew the time of the scheduled activity was close.

"I'll get the team ready." Cameron said.

Cameron thought about who she would ask and why, as well as who would be excluded and why.

Allison was out with Vanna. John actually was busy with Mr. Ellison.

It ended up Sarah and Cameron would be the welcoming committee.

Cameron and Sarah geared up. They armed and readied themselves in the TDE room.

Sarah wondered if this was even going to happen. If it was, they might need some additional Terminator backup. She felt very comfortable around Cameron. She was at ease with Bob and Jim. She wasn't above looking for help when it was necessary.

"Should we bring Bob or Jim?" Sarah asked.

Cameron already covered several different possibilities. She made sure there were back up plans in place. She didn't plan to be caught flat-footed or overwhelmed.

"Bob is with John and Mr. Ellison. Jim is waiting outside and armed appropriately." Cameron said. "He has the 'pig'."

Sarah was a little anxious as they waited. She was aware it was possible anything could turn up. Her biggest concern was it would be something negative.

At the appointed time, the arcing and flashing started.

Sarah and Cameron glance at each other as they readied their weapons.

The energy bubble appeared on the TDE pad.

There were three forms which appeared inside the arcing and flashing. One was kneeling. Two were lying flat. The two who were lying down, both appeared to be Terminators.

It seemed very odd to Cameron. She wanted to contain any possible threat to where they were. She wanted her backup in the TDE room now.

"Jim!" Cameron shouted. "You're needed."

Jim entered the room with his Coltan loaded M60 ready.

Sarah gripped the Thumper as she flipped the safety off.

Cameron stood ready with an M4. It was loaded with Coltan projectiles.

The arcing and flashing stopped.

The kneeling figure stood. His back was to Sarah.

Sarah leaned forward to view the person better. There was something familiar about the naked figure. Things began to click in her mind. They were things she thought were impossible. Part of her life was forever gone. Still it seemed to be possible. Maybe she should stick with what was more likely.

"Derek?" Sarah asked apprehensively.

The figure slowly turned around.

"My name is Kyle."

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Yesterday Once More

In the way life works for everyone
Some people come and some people go
What's here today may be gone tomorrow
It can make one question all they know

Maybe it's better to never have loved
Than to have loved and then the love to be lost
It slowly attacks the heart, mind and soul
Was the reward worth what it now cost

For some there's a lasting hope
It's a hope that can never be said
Some people have a lasting love
Even for those who are dead

If one were granted a single wish
Would it be for unending wealth
Or would it be used more wisely
To restore a loved one's health

Life can take away everything
Leaving one to cry and scream
But a heart can hold true and firm
Causing reality to spring from a dream

Nobody