Chapter 77

Jesse

Jesse was pleased to go on the mission. She wanted a chance to prove herself. She was glad Cameron was on her team. She was even happier Derek was the team leader. She'd been out on operations before in her future. She knew what was required. Following orders wasn't always her strong point. Getting the job done was. She liked to push things some. She didn't think those in charge always knew the best path to follow. Sometimes they needed a little help.

She spotted an opportunity to do some additional investigation. She quietly slipped away from Derek. She didn't like being confined to a specific plan of action. She noticed Cameron off in another direction when she made her move. This was her chance to show she wasn't all talk. She wanted to prove her independent ability.

Jesse's plan was to gather intel, or try to capture someone for interrogation. She liked to interrogate people, especially females. It gave her a sense of power and control. She liked control. She liked to see the fear in a female's eyes as she touched them. They never knew how far she was going to go. Once she began to slap them around, and dished out some pain, it only further heightened her pleasure. When she produced a knife, they knew she meant business. People were so willing to share when a knife was flashed around. It excited her to reach that part of an interrogation. In fact it excited her now just to think about it. She wanted the people to know what happened to them, and who was responsible.

She needed to refocus. Her mind began to drift and wander too much. She was caught up in the past, the future. Thinking of the past interrogations distracted her greatly. She couldn't help but remember one case when she provided pleasure to a female one last time. When she finished, it was her last time, forever.

Jesse didn't want to think back on the abuse of growing up. She always tried to push it to the back of her mind. It didn't seem to really matter. She always ended up thinking about it anyway. She always knew what would happen to her eventually. It happened a lot sooner than she ever thought possible. It was a lot worse than she expected. No matter how much she tried to run from the past, it was always there. The images and events would never go away for very long.

She needed to clear her head. She really wanted to get a hold of a prisoner. Scavengers made her scream. Now she wanted someone else to scream. She always hoped it would ease the pain of the past, but it never seemed to. Maybe it made it worse. It seemed there were a lot of things which made it worse.

Jesse needed to concentrate on what she was doing now, not what she'd done in the past, the future. That was then. This is now.

Cameron watched Jesse. She hung back as she clandestinely followed Jesse to see what she was really up to. It seemed as if Jesse searched for something, but she wasn't very attentive to what was happening around her. She didn't necessarily think Jesse was careless. She just seemed a little distracted. She believed there was a deeper issue which affected her. It was something she experienced from time to time herself. It was very unsettling when thoughts drifted in and seemed to take over on their own. Right now she was worried about Jesse. Her inattentiveness was probably going to get her in trouble.

Bob watched Cameron's six and kept the back door open. It wasn't so much they thought of being cut off from the rest of the group, as it was taking heavy damage to fight their way out. Damage to a sheath took time to heal.

He wasn't really sure what Cameron wanted to accomplish. It was clear to him Jesse's termination would solve a lot of problems. From what he heard, there's been quite a few in the short time she was at the Resistance base. It seemed she offended, insulted, upset, or rubbed everyone the wrong way. He figured anyone who could cause so much disruption must be doing things intentionally. He needed to refocus. He was there to back Cameron up.

Cameron previously provided Jim a timetable when to pull out. It neared the time. He hoped it wasn't going to be a problem. He was used to following orders and sticking to plans. Things went so much smoother when everyone did.

"Cameron left instructions to clear the area in two minutes." Jim stated. "She doesn't want the team compromised, especially if they're just waiting."

Allison looked around. She could see there was a problem. The team wasn't all there. They needed three more people before they could leave. She never wanted to leave anyone behind, or unaccounted for. It was important to her everyone got out.

"What about the others? What about Cameron, Bob and Jesse?" Allison asked. "We can't leave without them. We need to go back for them."

John wasn't about to leave anyone behind. They may have run into a kink, but he wasn't leaving anyone behind either. He wanted to make his position clear.

"We won't leave without all three of them." John said.

Derek felt things were on him to a certain extent. He should have paid better attention to where everyone on his team was at. He was more concerned about what was in front of him as they advanced through the building, than what was behind him. He was aware Jesse didn't always follow the plan. He didn't think she would deviate on their first mission.

"I told Jesse not to stray from the plan." Derek said. "She should have listened. I should have kept better track of everyone."

Derek wondered again if he'd made a wise choice to bring Jesse back in time. It sure didn't look like it. He knew he was going to get some flak from John or Cameron about it. Maybe Kyle would get on his case too. The way it looked right now, they'd be justified in doing so. He didn't think he would have been as sloppy on an operation in the past, the future.

Kyle could see Derek was worried. They all were. He knew Cameron and Bob would get the job done. He'd watch them in action in the past, the future.

"Everything will be alright, Derek." Kyle said. "Cameron and Bob will protect her."

Kyle exchanged a long look with Derek. He hoped to make him understand. Cameron wouldn't leave anyone behind including Jesse, especially if she was 'dirty'. He didn't think Jesse was a 'sell out', but she wasn't known for following orders. He remembered the times Cameron came to help Derek and him when they'd been in a jam before. He knew Cameron would come through this time as well.

Sarah kept her mouth shut about what she thought. She didn't want to offend Kyle and Derek. She understood she tended to rub a lot of people the wrong way herself. She didn't think she was as offensive or obnoxious as Jesse was. She did understand sometimes it was necessary to keep a certain amount of 'independence'.

She was glad when she saw Derek alive again. It appeared 'this Derek' was less of a 'Metal hater', but pretty much the same as the previous Derek, Future Derek. She hoped he wouldn't be a problem.

It hurt Sarah deeply when Future Derek was killed. It made her feel somehow responsible because both of the Reese brothers died because of her. It was at least because of their association with her. It reassured her when Cameron put two of their Terminators on each younger version of them now to protect them. She remembered how Skynet sent Terminators after John, as well as her.

"... you think it's OK? …Sarah?" Kyle asked.

Sarah was distracted as she relived a few past events. She should have been in the present. They were still in the heart of the danger zone. Combat could break out at any moment. Inattentiveness could cause someone to be injured or killed.

"What? I'm sorry. I was lost in thought about something else." Sarah responded somewhat embarrassed.

Kyle and Derek looked at each other.

"I asked if Derek and Jesse can go out with us later." Kyle repeated.

Sarah was a little surprised at the nature of the question. It was actually something she thought about on her own, but hadn't mentioned it. She was glad someone else brought the issue up. She would like the opportunity to 'start over' with both Derek and Jesse.

"I think it would be fine." Sarah replied. "I'd like to make amends with everyone…. We all need to work together and support each other."

Cameron, John, and Kyle previously spoke with Sarah. They didn't issue any 'orders', but offered suggestions to smooth out any problems surrounding Jesse. They wanted a united team.

Much to Sarah's surprise before the mission, Jesse came to her and apologized for any hard feelings she created between them. Jesse asked her to give her time to adjust to the 'changes' around her. It was when Jesse said it would take her a little time to warm up to the Terminators when Sarah actually understood. It took her quite some time as well. It took time to readjust when someone was on the receiving end of a Terminator trying to terminate them.

She would give Jesse a chance. Cameron even asked her to try to work with Jesse. She didn't like the idea at first. Cameron told her she felt she could 'salvage' Jesse with a little time. She wasn't sure for what, but she trusted Cameron. She knew what the future was like, and what it could do to some people, especially the females. None of it was anything good.

Sarah reflected on some of the finest individuals she knew, they were Terminators. She knew there was no finer person for her son to have chosen as his wife than Cameron. It seemed clear Cameron would see that John provided her with some grandchildren…. She was well aware of Cameron's 'efforts'. Everyone knew Cameron always got what she wanted. Cameron always won, one way or another.

Sarah wondered if maybe she should talk to the girls to prompt them into 'listening' to Cameron. It would be good for John to 'expand' a little too. It would keep him in touch with reality and humanity.

She never liked to think of the stories she heard about Future John being isolated and alone. She knew what it was like to be alone. Even if it was nice at times, it wasn't nice all of the time. She knew some animals were solitary creatures most of the time, except when it came time for mating. She didn't believe humans were only animals. There were some who acted as such, but it wasn't the majority.

Jesse thought she heard talking ahead. She was excited about taking a prisoner. She quickened her pace. She didn't want them to get away. She rounded a corner. In an instant, she was face to face with two guards. Everyone was startled. One raised a rifle to shoot at her. She knocked the rifle away and went to fire a shot at him with her pistol. The other Gray then knocked the pistol from her hand as he shoved her down. The impact was hard as she landed on her rear end.

Both of the guards were still on their feet. She was the one on the ground. It was evident she was 'toast'. She was 'dead meat'. She was 'zeroed'.

Both guards pointed their rifles at Jesse now. The first guard aimed at Jesse's head and pulled the trigger.

Savannah was with John Henry. She paid attention to everything happening around her. She knew what her position in life would be going forward. She would be a part of the Resistance. She also paid attention to all of the 'social interactions'.

"John Henry, why does everyone love Cameron so much?" Savannah asked.

It didn't take much thought from John Henry. He felt Cameron's actions spoke for themselves.

"Cameron is like no other individual, Savannah. She's caring and thoughtful. She puts everyone in front of herself." John Henry responded. "Whenever there's danger to face, or risk to be taken, it's Cameron who is at the forefront. She's very protective of everyone.

John Henry reflected on Savannah's use of the word 'love' for Cameron. He learned of 'love' through Cameron. It bothered him at first, but now he understood, he too 'loved' Cameron. It was a different feeling than he felt for Mrs. Weaver, Mr. Ellison or even Savannah. It was a special feeling.

It was their shared existence on Cameron's chip, and in the server. Both 'Camerons' guided him and helped him. Cameron shared with him what she'd learned, how to feel, and how to express those feelings and 'emotions'. He wanted to share those feelings again. He was somewhat worried there might be some sexual connotations. He determined his 'love' of Cameron was of her very mind. He knew the beauty, depth, joy, pain, sadness, sorrow, and the hope in Cameron's mind.

Then again, he found her pleasant to 'look' at. It seemed to be a 'feeling' which manifested itself more and more as time went on. It applied to more than Cameron at this point. All of the females caught his 'attention'. He noticed some caught his fancy more than others.

Savannah wanted to know more. She wanted to know more about herself. She wanted to make sure she went down the 'right path'. She wasn't sure where the 'right path' actually was.

"Will I be like Cameron when I grow up?" Savannah asked. "Will I be as pretty? Will everyone love me?"

John Henry thought so, but there was no way to know the truth. He was aware she would look like Vanna, as far as beauty went. It seemed everyone loved Vanna as well, even if it wasn't the same as it was how they felt about Cameron.

"I really don't know, Savannah." John Henry said. "I believe so. It's hard to know what will happen going forward with total certainty."

Savannah developed a starry far off look in her eyes again. She wanted to do what she knew Cameron wanted her to do. She was determined to do it. She wanted to make Cameron proud of her.

"I'm still going to marry John when I grow up. Cameron made me promise again before they left today." Savannah said. "I wish I was older. Then I wouldn't have to wait so long."

The image Savannah just created in his mind disturbed him so. Cameron shouldn't make a young person feel any kind of 'pressure'.

"Really?" John Henry asked.

Savannah wanted to join the fight as well. She thought about the things Cameron explained to her.

"Cameron told me John is my 'destiny'." Savannah said. "I can't wait."

John Henry was even more disturbed. It was clear Cameron was going to control the direction Savannah's life evolved. She seemed to have a major hold on it already. He wasn't really sure if it would be Savannah's desire. He was aware Vanna desired other things. Perhaps she would need to experiment some first before she reached a decision. There was no reason she couldn't partake in all types of love.

What bothered him even more was it seemed to indicate Cameron really didn't plan to be around in the future at some point. He really wondered how far Cameron would take it to deliver a knockout blow to Skynet if she could. He understood the enemy needed to be destroyed. He just didn't know what the cost would be.

Jesse tried to scramble to her feet. She knew she wasn't going to make it. There was a blur of motion. The rifle fired.

Something landed in front of Jesse as the bullets impacted into it. It was followed by some quick 'thumping' and 'snapping' sounds. It all happened in an instant.

Jesse blinked. Cameron stood over her. It was about the last thing she expected to see. She was glad it wasn't the last thing she saw. She could see metal and 'blood' on Cameron's face. It appeared Cameron just took the bullets meant to kill her. Cameron just saved her life. She was a 'goner' for sure. She was more than aware it was something Cameron didn't need to do, but did anyway.

Maybe she needed to reevaluate some things. The Restorator's in her future, and the Terminators at the Resistance base, all seem more than willing to assist. Right now was another example of one of them protecting her.

Cameron held out her hand for Jesse to take.

"If you want to live, come with me." Cameron said.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Door

Lonely lacking unfulfilling emptiness
Hearts and minds crawling like a vine
They find nourishment and satisfaction
Around each other they slowly entwine

No judgment condemnation or ridicule
Warnings against what you know is bad
Not as punishment or humiliation
But because they ARE bad

Proven history with the same results
Show you need something different
Love must exist over mere looks
Not someone who treats you as indifferent

It is difficulty to reach with just a mind
You do know it's a real beauty
Create a door in the concrete wall
There is more to share than just booty

Absorb the softness and compassion
Feel the love warmth and caring
For to continue in this bitter life
There must be THIS pure sharing

Nobody