Chapter 78

Hate?

Jesse was down on the ground. She couldn't believe she was still alive. It was clear Cameron just saved her life.

Cameron held out her hand for Jesse to take.

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

Jesse took her hand. Cameron pulled her up. She thought Cameron could have done nothing, and let her be killed. Cameron 'threatened' her earlier over the issues with Sarah, Allison and Vanna. She now realized it was just for her to leave her friends and family alone.

Cameron risked damage to herself to save her. In fact, she saw the damage to Cameron. Nobody thought of her first, ever. Nobody was willing to sacrifice anything for her. She didn't know Cameron very well. When she was in a bind, Cameron was there for her. Cameron came for her. It really meant something to her.

Bob was with them now. Terminators were there to help her, and to save her. Jesse wanted to say something to Cameron. She was at a loss for words. Even with the damage to Cameron's face, she noticed how beautiful Cameron was. She always was able to see it. How could anyone look so attractive all the time? That little firecracker Allison, could never look as good, ever. She needed to clear her mind, it began to drift. Now wasn't the time. It was the time to focus. They needed to fight their way out.

Jesse knew Cameron put herself in harm's way to protect her. Bob was there to back both of them up. Why would they do it for her after the way she'd treated them? She'd said some terrible things to the Terminators, but not to Cameron. She still remembered Cameron's warning.

She saw how all of the people and Terminators interacted and got along at the base. It was like one big 'loving family'. These people cared for, and looked after, one another. These people were something special. Now she could see Cameron wanted her to be part of it and to be 'special' too. Cameron was hard, but she was fair.

All of those thoughts flashed through Jesse's mind in a few moments.

Cameron wanted to know if there was any damage to Jesse she hadn't detected.

"Are you hit?" Cameron asked.

Jesse didn't think so. None of the bullets hit her.

"No." Jesse said. "I was just knocked down. You saved me."

Cameron was aware the enemy was now alerted to their presence. It was going to make everything a little more difficult to get out. She could hear some movement up ahead. She fired a burst from her M4. It was answered with a scream from off to the side.

Jesse hadn't seen or heard the threat Cameron just eliminated. She hadn't seen or heard the threat she walked into her either. She needed to remember Terminators possessed abilities far beyond those of a human. She watched as those abilities were put to use on the 'right side' of the conflict.

Cameron knew there were going to be other threats. She wanted to offer Jesse the maximum amount of protection.

"Stay behind me at all times." Cameron said. "Bob will be behind you and cover our six."

Cameron reached down and picked something up. She handed Jesse her pistol.

"Thanks." Jesse said.

Jesse noticed there was some movement off to the other side. Bob fired from behind her. The reports seemed loud being so close in back of her.

Bob could see he startled Jesse someone. He didn't want her to slow down.

"You need to keep moving." Bob said. "There will probably be more threats."

Jesse closed up on Cameron some. She watched Cameron set some explosive charges in a few places. Behind her, Bob placed a few more.

Cameron moved to another part of the building. There were vats of chemicals in one corner.

Jesse followed Cameron as she showed her where to place the explosives to have the maximum effect. She saw it was a learning experience too. Cameron was instructing her. Cameron didn't berate her. She was aware how negative some people could be in adverse circumstances. Cameron was cool and collected. She moved with extreme efficiency and skill. It was still hard to believe Cameron was a machine as she followed her.

Cameron moved into another section of the building. They came in the back way to the new room. There was a man by the door at the front. He looked out to where they'd been earlier. He held a rifle as he searched for a target. He was waiting to ambush them.

Jesse quickly realized she probably would have walked into the ambush. She was glad there were two Terminators there to assist her.

Cameron wanted to make Jesse feel like part of the operation. She wanted her to get her confidence back. She indicated for Jesse to take the shot to bring him down.

Jesse nodded and took aim. Two shots rang out and the man fell. She was glad she hadn't missed. She was sure both of her shots were fatal.

They passed by his body as they moved through the room into the next one. The man's head was blown open. There was a hole in his back where his heart would be on the front side.

Cameron nodded to her. She could see the shots were well placed.

"Good shooting." Cameron whispered.

They moved into the next room. Cameron handed her one of the explosive charges. There were several places she could place it. It looked like she needed to make a decision as to where the best spot was to place it. She looked at Cameron, she just nodded. Bob and her kept watch.

There were metal tanks of some type of compressed gas. They were marked as flammable. She placed the charge on the lowest tank in the middle of the group.

Jesse looked at Cameron and she nodded again. It was the right choice.

They swept back through the building. They went out the way they came in. They didn't spot anyone else. They were all dead. She realized other than the gunfire she was involved in, the other Grays were killed by Terminators. It was a reminder of their lethal efficiency at what they were designed to do.

Cameron guided Jesse forward to get away from the building, the fireworks were about to start. She took out a detonation control box and flipped a switch. A red light came on. She took one last look around and offered the box to Jesse.

Jesse was a little surprised. She liked the inclusiveness and gesture by Cameron. She nodded and took the device. She took one last look around herself and pushed the button. The building began to blow up behind them. They came to a fence. Bob ripped the chain link apart. They quickly passed through. Cameron now followed behind them. She urged her to hurry and covered their exit.

There was a Terminator in front of her, and a Terminator behind her, to help and protect her. For once in a long time, she didn't feel like a piece of trash. She didn't feel like something someone 'used', and then threw away. She felt like a person again. It made her feel like she belonged. It was a feeling she couldn't remember since her parents died.

Once they were clear Cameron checked Jesse over to make sure she wasn't severely injured.

Jesse was surprised yet again. Cameron physically touched her as she looked for any damage or injuries. No one ever cared if she was hurt or injured before. No one cared to ask, let alone actually check. Cameron cared about her. No one ever cared about her before. She felt something inside her. She felt something deep within her change.

It was clear things were different now. Everything was different now. All of the things Derek told her about Cameron became very clear. He hadn't exaggerated anything. If anything, he probably 'under sold' Cameron. It was clear Cameron was a very unique individual.

Jesse tried to fight some of her inner feelings since she first laid eyes on Cameron. She could no longer fight them. They took hold. There was a 'feeling' there now. She knew it was never going to go away. She prayed it would never go away. It was a special feeling.

Cameron's hand was on Jesse's neck.

Jesse looked Cameron in the face. She felt the need to say something. She needed to express herself. She needed to let Cameron know.

"Cameron…." Jesse started.

Cameron looked directly into her eyes. She didn't want to cause Jesse any problems going forward.

"Please, don't say it, Jesse." Cameron said. "Go back to Derek."

Jesse didn't know what to say. It wasn't something she said very often. It wasn't something she liked to say, even when she felt it. What she currently felt was a whole new level.

Cameron looked into her face and eyes, and then she was gone.

Jesse watched her go. It seemed like Cameron moved like a leaf in the wind.

Cameron was very agile and mobile. It was like fluidity in motion.

Jesse thought Cameron was like a shadow, a shadow at night.

Allison and Sarah came to her and checked on her too. They led her back to where John, Kyle, Derek and Jim were. Bob brought up the rear. It was time to leave.

They arrived back at the base. John and John Henry went over the reports from each of the team.

John gathered the group and went over the action and the results. He finally got around to Jesse.

Cameron asked John to go easy on her.

John saw it was important to Cameron not to be angry or demeaning to Jesse. It wasn't his intention to do so. He was upset she deviated from the plan. Cameron was damaged because of it. He understood Cameron wanted to keep team unity. A united team was always stronger than a divided team. He paused and looked at Jesse.

"Jesse, what happened?" John asked. "Things apparently didn't go as we planned."

Jesse decided to own up to her mistake. There was no reason to make excuses. She knew what she was doing when she did it. She realized she endangered and damaged others because of her actions.

"I messed up." Jesse said. "I thought I could take a prisoner. I put others at risk and in harm's way. I apologize for what I did. It won't happen again. I'm sorry, everyone. I'll do better the next time. I promise."

John moved on. It surprised everyone but Cameron.

Cameron was pleased with the debriefing. She wanted to add a few additional details. She felt they were important.

"Jesse will do better on the next raid." Cameron said. "She just needs a little time to get acclimated to our operating procedures. She helped me place explosives before we left the building. Everything was a success."

The warriors all looked at each other. What they heard from both John and Cameron wasn't what they expected. They all thought John and Cameron would rip into Jesse for her actions. They thought she would be made an example of. It didn't happen.

John moved on with the briefing.

"This is the second target…." John started.

They went over the mission plan, and then went over it a second time.

Everyone paid attention this time. No one wanted anyone else to be injured or hurt.

It was time for the second mission. It was a reconnaissance.

Cameron wanted to go with Jesse. Everyone else wanted to go with them. She wanted to keep it simple. She decided Bob and Jim would shadow them. She went over the mission profile once with Jesse. She showed Jesse a series of satellite photos. They included both daytime and nighttime images.

Jesse wanted to redeem herself. She looked over all the information in detail. She was aware everything could change in an instant, as occurred at the previous location.

Cameron was satisfied with the mission profile. She handed Jesse the keys to the SUV.

Jesse was a little surprised Cameron allowed her to drive. She could see Cameron wanted to make her feel included.

Before they went out to the carpool, they both checked over each other's equipment.

Jesse liked the attention to detail Cameron paid to her.

Derek, Kyle, Sarah, and Allison all contacted Cameron before they left. They wanted to know if they could go and be of assistance or not. She reassured them everything was under control.

Jesse checked the equipment in the SUV once they reached the carpool. There were extra weapons and munitions located inside of it. She got into the driver's seat.

Cameron got in on the passenger's side. She didn't want to be the focus of the mission. She wanted Jesse to follow the plan, as if she was alone.

"I'm only going to say something if I see a problem about to develop." Cameron said. "This is a recon. I want you to conduct it as if you were on your own."

Jesse wasn't sure if the mission they were currently on was the one originally intended or not. She didn't think so. She was sure she was being given a test. She already learned her lesson. It only took a quick glance at Cameron to see the negative results of her earlier actions. She didn't intend to mess up again.

Cameron told Jesse she was only going to be an observer. She wasn't going to be an active participant. She was there to make sure Jesse was protected. She received a communication from John Henry. Bob and Jim were on a parallel route. It was what she wanted. She didn't want Jesse to notice they had a tail. She didn't want Jesse to know there was additional help nearby.

Jesse and Cameron arrived at the location.

The recon went as scheduled.

Jesse thought there were a few things she could have done differently. She didn't. She stuck to the plan. Everything went smoothly.

Cameron didn't have any complaints. They headed back to the SUV.

They returned to the base.

Jesse stowed her equipment. She reported to the Command Center. She turned in her report along with some photos she took.

John and Cameron complimented her on her performance.

Jesse felt pleased she redeemed herself. There was still something which troubled her. She tried to apologize for her earlier mistakes and the damage Cameron suffered. Cameron told her not to worry about it, and anyone can make a mistake. Cameron said if they don't make the same mistake again, then it was a 'lesson', and everyone could learn.

Cameron smiled at her as she touched her cheek, she asked her after both missions how she was. She also checked to make sure she was alright. It was clear to her Cameron really cared about her.

Jesse couldn't take her eyes off of Cameron. It 'happened' and she didn't care. To her it was the most natural feeling ever.

Jesse was determined to pull her weight. Every time she looked at Cameron she felt something inside of her. It always seemed to grow. She saw the loving way John tended to her wounds. Allison and Sarah were there to assist with anything at all. Vanna worked on Cameron when she returned. These were people who really loved each other she thought. They actually cared about each other. Nobody was a tool or an implement. No one was expendable.

All Jesse could remember was the brutal treatment she received, and all the terrible things which were done to her. She then found comfort in handing out brutal treatment to others. She remembered the times she was stuck in Scavenger camps.

She blamed her scars on Terminators, but they really were inflicted by other humans. Her biggest scar was placed on her by a female in a Scavenger camp. It forever scarred her perfect figure. The woman did it just to mar it. It's what the woman told her. She laughed as she did it. The woman laughed harder as she screamed in pain. The scar was going to be put on her face. The men who were going to 'use' her, said it would spoil their pleasure. It was one abuse she was grateful for. It lasted for a day and a half.

Jesse didn't think a Terminator would operate in such a manner. Only people hurt others for pleasure. She thought about it more and more. She hated people as much as she hated Terminators. No, used to hate Terminators. She looked at Cameron again. She knew what happened inside of her. She couldn't stop it nor did she want to. She wanted more. She knew she was in love with Cameron….

Cameron made her want to be a better person. She tried to be. She started to watch her tongue and not mouth off as much. She thought more about other people. She tried to help in a meaningful manner. She became more 'human' again. Cameron led her back to the path to be 'human' again. It was ironic a Terminator showed her how to be 'human' again. It all meant so much to her. Everything meant so much to her.

Jesse offered to go on any mission she could with Cameron. She would volunteer for any mission, regardless of the danger. She proved herself in combat as she fought at Cameron's side.

When they returned back to the base alone one night, Jesse NEEDED to say something.

"Cameron…." Jesse said.

Cameron knew what Jesse wanted to say.

"Please, don't say it, Jesse." Cameron said.

Cameron looked at her as 'motherly' as possible.

"Go to Derek. He needs you, Jesse." Cameron said. "Together you make each other better people. You help each other to be better."

Jesse's eyes were wide.

"Cameron…." Jesse tried to continue.

Cameron reached over and squeezed her hand.

"Sometimes it's nice to have help." Cameron said. "Help can come in many forms."

Jesse's mind was in overload mode. It was ready to burst.

"Sometimes it's nice to help." Jesse replied.

They continued their journey in silence.

Jesse knew she would follow Cameron anywhere or do anything Cameron asked of her. Cameron was like no other…. Cameron showed her what it was like to be alive again. Cameron showed her what it was like to be human again.

After they were back at the base, Cameron checked her over one final time before she left.

Jesse watched her go.

"I love you, Cameron." Jesse softly said.

A single tear slid down her cheek.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Hate

There is love
There is hate
Is the difference between them
Really that great

We can be pushed from one extreme
To that of another
They can overwhelm us
As slowly they smother

Emotions boil up inside us
Intense feelings can rapidly shift
We try to make sense of it all
As through daily life we sift

Views can always change
Who we are can evolve
We get stuck in our own orbit
As around life we revolve

Maybe it is more
Than determined by fate
One thing is for sure
We all love to hate

Nobody