Chapter 39
Restorator Twins
Cameron was worried about the two Restorators Mrs. Weaver sent. They were a mystery. If Mrs. Weaver sent them as additional help for them, why wasn't it in their files? She was sure something else was going on. They must have some other purpose.
Mrs. Weaver must know something they didn't. She wasn't sure why they weren't being given all the information. If there was critical information out there they needed, it should be given to them. They shouldn't have to blunder into whatever it was.
She understood she was going to need to look a little deeper. She spoke with John Henry about the Restorator twins Mrs. Weaver sent.
"What is their real designation?" Cameron asked. "Have you found anything different?"
John Henry was aware Mrs. Weaver created Terminators in captured Skynet facilities. They were known as Restorators. They were never under the control of Skynet. There were no Skynet directives or protocols on their chips. He was surprised the two Restorators were the second and third units created. He'd witnessed 'Unit One' in action as he worked with Mrs. Weaver. The Restorators were very loyal to Mrs. Weaver and her goals.
As far as what their names or designations were, it seemed rather straightforward and basic. It also seemed repetitious on Cameron's part. There were no new developments since the last time.
"They're 'Unit Two' and 'Unit Three'." John Henry said. "There's nothing more, or nothing less, than what you've already checked and reviewed."
It wasn't 'good enough' for Cameron. There needed to be more.
"You checked their video files again?" Cameron asked. "There's still nothing new or different?"
The chips yielded no new information.
"Yes. I checked with you twice, and three more times on my own." John Henry said. "They're blank."
Cameron was sure they must have missed something.
"I don't have a good feeling about them." Cameron said. "There's something about them. We also need to consider the source."
Cameron didn't detect a specific threat. It was more of an uneasy feeling. Maybe it was because she didn't fully trust Mrs. Weaver. Maybe it was because she didn't like Liquid Metal Terminators.
John Henry thought there could have been even more variables involved. There weren't. There weren't any other obvious variables. Everything seemed up front and straightforward with him.
"I agree Mrs. Weaver can be deceptive and clandestine." John Henry said. "We have no proof of any ill will. There's no specific mission for them. She could have sent them elsewhere in place or time. She sent them to us deactivated. She sent them to where we knew they were at."
It troubled Cameron too. It was something very specific. It was all right in front of their faces. It was where they could clearly see them. She understood seeing was believing. She was also aware there could be some deception involved. It was clear things weren't always as they seemed, especially when someone wanted to pull a 'fast one'.
"The apparent transparency is troubling. It's what worries me. I watched them do 'magic' at the swimming pool today." Cameron said. "Many were fooled by the deception. I wasn't. Allison and Vanna told me to stop playing as I was winning all the prizes. I gave them all to Savannah, she was very happy."
John Henry was surprised on several levels with Cameron's statement. He was most concerned with what Cameron was doing there in the first place. It made him want to know more before he got into her premise about deception.
"You were at a swimming pool?" John Henry asked. "You can swim?"
Cameron showed a faint smile. She could see his initial reaction was much the same as hers. She decided to reaffirm the obvious. There were certain limitations on Terminators.
"I don't swim." Cameron said.
John Henry reached out and touched the end of her hair.
"I detect high levels of chlorine in your hair." John Henry said as he scanned her.
Cameron gave him a brief rundown. She didn't want to get side tracked. She didn't think it was a big deal just because she'd been in the water. Being in the water, and swimming, were two different things. She was rather pleased with the way events played out.
"There was a contest to see who could hold their breath the longest underwater. I did it for Savannah." Cameron said. "She now has a new purple Teddy Bear and several other prizes."
Cameron didn't tell John Henry of Savannah's new 'purpose' or her future plans for Savannah. She saw the looks of dismay on Vanna's and Allison's faces. It might have the unintended benefit to prompt them to act sooner, or even now. Her desire to groom Savannah was about protecting John. Her future plans for Savannah would remain unchanged, no matter what happened in the present.
John Henry liked it when Cameron paid attention to Savannah. He was aware Savannah looked up to Cameron. She was still very appreciative because Cameron, Sarah, and John, came to rescue her. It was something they didn't need to do, but they did it anyway.
"Savannah must be very happy you helped her win." John Henry said.
Cameron didn't believe it was much of a contest. She didn't need to breathe. She could have stayed underwater indefinitely. It still pleased her because she was able to defeat the competition.
"I always play to win." Cameron said.
John Henry thought about some past events. He understood Cameron's determination.
"Indeed." John Henry said.
Cameron wanted to get back to her earlier point. It was about the 'obvious', as opposed to the unseen, the 'magic'.
"Let's get back to the 'magic tricks'." Cameron said. "The magician tries to make people look elsewhere. He doesn't want them to look at what he is really doing, even when everything is right in front of them. The real activity takes place when people look elsewhere. What's done clandestinely, is the 'magic'. It's really deception."
John Henry thought about what Cameron said and indicated as he gestured with his hands.
"So while someone is looking here, something happens here instead, the item that really matters." John Henry said. "Deception is the key. It's more a physical form of 'lying'."
Cameron nodded. She believed it was an accurate analogy. Someone's eyes, as well as their perception, were 'lied' to. She'd heard the term before about someone pulling 'a fast one'. She could see now there were several variations, as well as interpretations to the term. Some were verbal, and some were physical.
"Correct." Cameron said.
John Henry accessed his files. Maybe the answer to the question wasn't directly in front of them. It was what they continued to look for.
"Instead of looking for a 'Trojan Horse', we should be looking for a 'Sucker Play'." John Henry said.
Cameron nodded. She displayed a faint smile.
"Correct." Cameron said.
John Henry felt he was being presented with a choice.
"I'll expand my search parameters." John Henry said. "Cameron, I KNOW you, I'll trust you."
Cameron was aware of the term, 'the Apple didn't fall far from the tree'. It made her wonder how far the 'son' would drift from the 'parent'. She decided the best course of action was to bring it up directly.
"Will you do it, even over Mrs. Weaver?" Cameron asked.
John Henry felt he knew Cameron pretty deeply with everything they'd shared on her chip and in his server.
"Yes. I've seen your mind. I've shared your thoughts. We must protect John Connor and the future. We must defeat Skynet." John Henry said. "There's no other option for the future."
It's what Cameron wanted all their Terminators to adhere to as well.
"Make sure all our Resistance Terminators have the same information as the primary directive ,with Savannah, Allison, Vanna, Sarah and Kyle, all as an equal secondary directive." Cameron said. "I want everyone protected."
John Henry wondered about the 'order' of importance. There could be situations beyond their immediate control.
"Is there a specific order?" John Henry asked. "There may be times when a choice is necessary."
John Henry was sure the order Cameron listed them in, was the order she wanted them protected in. He was unable to understand why Savannah was 'first'. It made no sense to him. Savannah was a girl. He didn't know Cameron already decided and planned Savannah's future for her.
Cameron didn't want there to be a 'pecking order'.
"No. They're all equal." Cameron said. "These people are important to John. One thing must be clear to all of them, 'everyone sacrifices for John Connor'."
John Henry thought something important was missing. There was one glaring omission from Cameron's order of protection.
"What about you?" John Henry asked. "You neglected to mention yourself."
Cameron looked away from John Henry. It was an issue she would rather avoid.
"I'm expendable." Cameron said.
It bothered John Henry. Cameron was the key to make everything work. He wanted to make his opinion known.
"No. You're not expendable." John Henry said.
Cameron looked back and faced John Henry. She believed her past needed to be reckoned with.
"I must atone for my sins…." Cameron said.
John Henry attempted to process the disturbing development. Cameron wasn't expendable. He would make sure all friendly Terminators, or Restorators, knew it. Cameron was important to everyone, especially the future. She was important most of all to John. He would make sure all the Resistance Terminators knew their responsibilities and priorities.
Cameron interrupted his thoughts. She was ready to move things along. She believed they'd learned all they could from the chips of the two Restorators.
"Do you want to get Unit Two and Unit Three ready to power up?" Cameron asked.
John Henry needed to add in Cameron's latest directives to their programming.
"Yes, just a few more changes and we're ready." John Henry said.
Cameron turned to leave.
"I'll meet you in the lab." Cameron said as she left.
John Henry watched her exit the Command Center. He could see Cameron was going to need some watching over, as well as John, and the individuals on her list of priorities. He would do his part to make sure it happened.
It did cause him to wonder what exactly Mrs. Weaver's end game was. He appreciated her assistance to the Resistance. He just didn't know what her long range goals were.
Cameron headed for the lab. She wanted to go over everything with Vanna as well.
Allison came around the corner wearing headphones.
"Hey, Cameron…." Allison said.
Cameron could hear Allison was listening to music. She didn't think much of it at first.
"Hello, Allison." Cameron said.
They passed in the hall.
Cameron stopped.
Something caught her attention.
It was the lyrics of the song.
She turned around and quickly caught up to Allison.
"Allison, what are you listening to?" Cameron asked.
Allison was going to say 'music', but she figured Cameron already knew she was. She slipped off her headphones and gave them to Cameron. It seemed like it would be easier just to let her listen, rather than attempt to describe it.
"Put these on." Allison said. "Sarah turned me on to this group she used to listen to."
Cameron understood the musical aspect to a song. It was something else which specifically seemed to touch inside of her.
"I don't normally listen to music, but the lyrics caught my attention." Cameron said. "What song is this?"
Allison was well acquainted with the group and the songs at this point. She'd already listened to everything twice.
"It's called 'Outsider', by 'The Ramones'. The next one is, 'I Don't Want To Grow Up,' by 'The Ramones' as well. You can finish listening to them and give me the player back later on." Allison said. "The lyrics are heavy on both of them."
Cameron tilted her head slightly at the last part of Allison's statement. She doubted it was related to anything physical.
"Thank You." Cameron said.
Cameron knew she would need to see why the lyrics were 'heavy'. It sounded like a slang reference. Some of the slang confused her at times when she first heard it used. The lyrics are what captivated her. They SPOKE to her. She could identify with them. The lyrics said what she felt. She walked into the lab with the headphones on.
Vanna looked over at Cameron. She was surprised at what she saw.
"That's new." Vanna said.
Cameron wanted to explain why she wore the headphones.
"Allison let me check a few songs out." Cameron said. "The lyrics have meaning to me."
Cameron finished the two songs. She did a lyrics search. She found the songs on YouTube with the lyrics on screen. She found a song more enjoyable, if she read the lyrics, as she listened to it. She would research it more later. She thought one line was true, 'It disturbs me so.' It disturbed her so as well, everything did.
John Henry broke her train of thought. He'd been able to get to the lab before she did, because of her conversation with Allison. He'd contacted Jim and asked him to join them.
"We're ready." John Henry said. "Jim will be here in one minute, just in case."
Cameron didn't want to take any chances when they activated the Restorators. They would activate them one at a time to lessen any negative impact, if there was any. Her current concern was about Vanna.
"Vanna, I want you by the door when the first one boots up." Cameron said. "John Henry and I will make sure there are no problems. We'll then boot the second one up. If anything goes wrong, run. Jim will make sure no one leaves this room…."
Vanna didn't believe such a precaution was necessary. She would do as Cameron asked, to prevent any further worry to Cameron about her.
Jim arrived with the 'pig'. He smiled and checked the Coltan loaded rounds in the belt of the M60 one more time.
Cameron moved up to the Restorator on the work bench. She cut into the scalp sheath area, to make a flap, and opened the chip port. She set the chip in and turned it to activate it.
"The chip is in, let's see what happens." Cameron said.
Cameron took several steps back.
Unit Two booted up and opened his eyes. He sat up and then stood.
John Henry wanted some answers. He would start with the most important one first.
"What's your primary directive?" John Henry asked.
Unit Two looked at them with an expressionless face.
"It's to protect John Connor and assist the Resistance." Unit Two said.
Cameron wanted to know more. She was sure there was more.
"Who sent you?" Cameron asked.
Unit Two was aware of his creation and the one responsible.
"Mrs. Weaver is the one who sent me." Unit Two said.
Cameron was a little impatient with his answer.
"Why?" Cameron asked.
Unit Two looked at his colleague on the floor.
"I have a mission to perform with Unit Three." Unit Two said.
John Henry hadn't been able to find any mission for either of them. If they had a mission to perform, someone specific needed to assign it to them.
"For whom are you to perform the mission?" John Henry asked.
Unit Two could only state what was in his files.
"The mission is for Mrs. Weaver." Unit Two said.
Cameron knew there was no mission. It needed to be something else.
"Why's the mission not in your files?" Cameron asked.
Unit Two was only aware he needed to carry out the mission.
"I don't know." Unit Two said.
John Henry was extremely confused. How could there be a mission, and the Restorator not be aware of what was involved?
"How do you know what the mission is?" John Henry asked.
Unit Two searched for an answer.
"John Henry will inform us." Unit Two said.
John Henry looked at Cameron, and then back at Unit Two.
"I'm John Henry. I have no mission for you." John Henry said. "We're missing something."
Cameron didn't like the way things were going. It seemed like there were even more questions now, than there were before.
"Stand in the corner over there and face the wall." Cameron said as she pointed.
Unit Two did as he was instructed.
They powered up Unit Three. They got the same responses from him.
Cameron was as irritated with Unit Three as she was with Unit Two.
"We need to maintain control." Cameron said.
John Henry wanted the two Restorators contained for now.
"Jim, take them to the storage area." John Henry said.
Cameron believed the storage area was a better choice than the lab. It would help keep Vanna out of harm's way, in case anything negative developed.
"Unit Two, and, Unit Three, you're to go with Jim." Cameron said. "Once you get there, you're to go into 'standby', where he tells you to stand. Walk in front of him and obey all his instructions. I don't want any problems. I don't like problems."
The two Restorators looked at Cameron.
"Affirmative..." They both replied and faced the door.
John Henry agreed with Cameron. He didn't want any problems either.
"Jim, make sure our 'guests' stay in the storage area." John Henry said.
Cameron watched the three of them walk out the door. Jim still covered them with the 'pig'.
Vanna reentered the room.
Cameron looked at John Henry.
"Why do they think you have a mission for them to perform?" Cameron asked.
John Henry pondered the question himself. He ran multiple scenarios, and came to the same conclusion every time.
"I have absolutely no idea." John Henry replied.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
What We See
Is what we see
What we see
Or is what we see
What we want to see
Is what we want to be
Actually what we want to be
Is it all we can be
Is to be or really not to be
Things we think we have
Are really only an illusion
To believe them permanent
Is nothing more than a delusion
What seems an absolute
As if it were written in stone
Often ends up falling short
When for our actions we must atone
If to see is to believe
Is to believe to see
Is this all life offers
I ask you to tell me
Nobody