Chapter 143
Join Me
Cameron was in the underground passageway. She encountered one dead Gray, and one deactivated Terminator. There was some gunfire and a couple of explosions. She ran around the corner. She saw John, Derek, Kyle, and Vanna. She felt such relief. She hoped they were all OK. It didn't look like it. Bob and Jim were both down. She could see damage to both of them.
She tracked movement to the group's left side. She continued at full speed and slammed into the figure. A rifle clattered to the ground. It was followed by the impact of his body against the wall a half second later. There was the sound of bones breaking, and flesh splitting. He never moved again. It was a hard impact.
The four Resistance figures turned as they took in the activity. All were elated to see Cameron there. They all noted the very short, low cut blue dress, with her high heels in one hand, and M9 in the other. Cameron was immaculate.
They were all surprised she was there.
John was worried about the current situation. He knew it became a lot more involved than he anticipated. They hadn't seen the Gray behind them who Cameron just took down. Things could have ended badly for them if she hadn't arrived and acted. He was elated to see her.
"Cameron!" John said.
Vanna could see Cameron just 'saved' them.
"She's just like Spider-Man." Vanna said.
John moved over to give Cameron a hug and quick kiss. He thought about the reference.
"Do you mean because she arrived in the 'nick of time'?" John asked.
Cameron wasn't in a joyful mood. The team didn't appear to be in a secure location at all. Several of the team members were down.
"What's the status of Bob and Jim?" Cameron asked with concern as she examined them.
Cameron saw they were both rebooting.
Bob and Jim both sat up and checked themselves as they ran some internal diagnostics.
"How are you?" Cameron asked them.
Bob and Jim both stood up. They seemed OK.
"Damage is minimal." Bob said. "I'm fully functional."
Jim was a little upset it was his second reboot of the night.
"I'm nearly one hundred percent as well." Jim added. "There's no permanent damage."
John quickly briefed Cameron on what occurred. He didn't take any blame for the current situation. He tried to play it off as a target of opportunity. He went over a few of the events he knew.
Jim triggered some kind of electric device that knocked him offline and disrupted their coms. They thought it was some kind of security device which was damaged. Vanna began to check over Jim, when Kyle saw something down below.
Kyle spotted two men in the distance looking around as they hurried towards a large 'flat rock'. Vanna and he followed them. They were going to come back later for Jim if he didn't reboot. They wanted to see where the men were going before they lost them. He didn't want to leave Vanna alone and thought it would be safer if she accompanied him.
When they got to the opening, it hadn't closed yet so they went inside. Kyle used his experience in tunnels to his advantage. He was able to spot and neutralize the guard. He was staring at his phone. He'd left the entrance open for better reception.
Vanna went back to cover their six when John's team arrived. She called out to them and they regrouped.
Jim was with them. He again joined Kyle and Vanna.
An enemy Terminator came to investigate the noise. Bob and Jim jumped him. They were able to knock him down and Taser him. They pulled his chip.
The group then moved up and encountered some people working. There were a few guards milling about. None of them were paying much attention. They were careless because they were underground and there was a Terminator with them for protection. There was little time for them to react when John's team opened up on them.
Bob and Jim took most of the return fire as they mowed them down. One of their Tasers was hit by a stray round and exploded. Both of them were hit with its electrical charge as it was destroyed. Both of them were knocked offline. They soon rebooted. It's where they were at now.
Vanna glanced at Cameron. She was as impressed with her timely arrival, as she was with her appearance.
"Then 'Spider-Man' showed up." Vanna joked.
'Spider-Man' by the 'Ramones', came to Vanna's mind.
Cameron really was like a real life Superhero to Vanna, and everyone else. It seemed she could do everything, and do it well. She did have superhuman strength, speed, and ability.
There was noise further up the passageway.
Cameron looked at Bob and Jim. She wanted to make sure John and the others were protected.
"You two wait here with the team." Cameron said. "Watch your six. We don't know what else is down here."
Cameron set down her shoes and gave John the M9 she'd taken earlier. She picked up the rifle of the man she'd slammed into the wall. She checked to make sure it was loaded. She thought it was an FAL at first, but it was actually an L1A1. It was somewhat surprising. It was originally in service with one of the Commonwealth associated nations.
Bob could see Cameron wasn't protected. He offered her his body armor, but she went off without it.
"I'm fine." Cameron said.
John wanted to protest but needed to keep quiet as Cameron went to investigate the noise. He was sure she purposely didn't take it because of his earlier actions.
He didn't realize she didn't want any additional damage done to Bob, other than what he already suffered.
Cameron was always worried about the rest of the team. It was why she liked to operate alone. The only one she needed to worry about was herself.
Cameron was pleased there were no serious injuries to the group. She was still displeased about the way things were done to get them to the point where they were.
She heard the noise again. It was closer this time. She lifted her L1A1 in search of a target.
There was the sound of a hushed voice followed by another one.
"We need to get out of here." The first voice said. "This place is going to blow."
There was a metallic sound.
"Then let's just go." The second voice said.
Cameron moved up and peered around the corner. There were two men and there was a metal box. It was open and looked empty. She looked around to see if they'd taken anything out of it, or if they were going to put something in it.
She spied several explosive charges behind them. It looked like they were going to try and blow up the passageway to wherever it led.
She wanted to take them silently.
She set the L1A1 down and walked towards them.
She was almost to them before they noticed. She wanted to keep them off track and confused for as long as possible.
"I'm looking for the restroom." Cameron said. "I really need to go."
The two men looked at each other before they started to reach for weapons. Cameron's appearance and question threw them off. It caused them a delay in their reaction. It was all the time she needed to walk right up to them.
She grabbed both of them and slammed them together.
There was a sickening dull 'thwack' sound as their heads impacted. She snapped both of their necks to be sure. She checked the explosive charges where she was at. They were set with a five minute delay.
She looked down the passageway and was about to go down it. She wanted to know where it went. There was a muffled explosion from the direction it went. It was followed by another. Anything further in the direction of the explosions looked like a dead end.
She collected the L1A1 and headed back to where she left the group. She hoped no one had an 'itchy trigger finger'.
"Lavender…." Bob said.
Cameron responded to the challenge word.
"Octopus…." Cameron responded.
She rejoined the group. Bob and Jim still had their weapons at the ready. She handed Jim the L1A1. She picked up her shoes.
John could tell Cameron wasn't a 'happy camper' right now. He watched her survey the underground area.
Bob located something in her absence he thought she should see. It was something Cameron always wanted to handle personally.
"Cameron, you better take a look at this." Bob said.
Cameron spotted the computer banks in the 'Clean Room'. They were extensive and looked new. It would call for further investigation. She was pretty sure where things were headed.
"Wait here." Cameron said.
She put her high heels on and smoothed her dress. She made a last second adjustment to her hair in the reflection of the glass in the door.
The others were a little mystified at her actions.
Vanna was the only one to speak.
"Damn, you look Tight." Vanna said. "You look stunning, Cameron."
Cameron was satisfied with her look.
"I try." Cameron said and walked into the 'Clean Room'. "It always gets the attention of the target."
Cameron knew her appearance could keep a target off guard as she moved in for the kill. It seemed to work every time. It was amazing what exposing a 'little more sheath' could do to throw the targets off guard. She really didn't see what the big deal was. Everyone had a body. It was only the details which were different. She wondered if the statement was true about how simple things, pleased simple minds. It seemed to be the case.
Sarah was very worried about Kyle and the others. She was just as worried about John, Derek, and Vanna. She put the grab on all available personnel at the Resistance base and headed towards the location where the incident occurred. She was able to get Riley and Jesse on board, along with Gail and Holly.
The team of females left the Resistance base and was headed towards the target location. The women geared up and armed themselves as the van sped along.
Holly drove the van after changing places earlier. She carefully kept track of what was around them as they hurried towards the location. She spotted what appeared to be a 'problem'.
"Up ahead, there are two vans which are similar to ours." Holly said.
Gail understood the threat for what it was. She immediately checked their six and flanks. There could be more.
"I see them." Gail said. "There are none behind us."
Sarah took the warning from the Metal girls seriously. Things seemed a little too coincidental to her. She didn't like it. They were headed to reinforce their teams on the ground. It was very possible the enemy could do the same thing. She didn't want to tip their hand and alert the enemy to their presence, if they were the enemy. She believed they needed to make certain before they took any action. She didn't want the Metal girls to take out a 'sports team' on their way to some event. It was a real possibility. They needed to know for sure.
"Drop back and see if they're headed to where we are." Sarah said. "Don't get too close."
Holly dropped back. They weren't too far from where they needed to turn off at. She fell back far enough so she could still keep track of them with her Terminator vision. She didn't want to be picked up as a tail. A few more red flags went off as the vans slowed slightly.
"They appear about to exit where we're going to exit." Holly said.
Sarah didn't want to get spotted. She remembered Terminators could drive in the dark. She thought about the time when John and a Terminator came to get her out of the mental hospital. She wanted to make sure.
"Drop back more." Sarah said. "You can see without lights, right?"
Holly glanced back at Sarah and smiled.
"I see everything." Holly stated.
Sarah wanted to put some distance between them. They would probably check for a tail. It seemed to be standard practice in the business they were in. She didn't want to take any chances. She didn't want to tip their hand.
"Turn off the lights before we exit and follow them from as far behind as you can track them." Sarah said.
Gail pointed out an additional problem. She needed to think about the safety of the females she was with. There were four of them who could be hurt or killed if they engaged in combat.
"If they have a Terminator with them, they'll most likely spot us anyway." Gail said. "We may need to run."
Gail was worried about Sarah and Allison and their 'condition'. Cameron would go on a rampage if anything happened to them or their babies. She would most likely terminate Holly and her.
Sarah wanted to get the rest of their team out.
"We aren't going to run." Sarah said.
Riley came to Sarah and double checked her body armor. She then checked Allison's.
Her act wasn't lost on Sarah. It was a true act of caring. She greatly appreciated it. It wasn't very often when someone checked on her.
"Thanks, Riley." Sarah said.
Jesse checked her weapons one more time. She planned to be in the lead element. She was aware of Allison's and Sarah's 'condition'. She knew they should be involved with less risk. She looked at Sarah and Allison.
"I want Allison and Sarah to make up our covering element. Holly will stay with you at all times. Riley, Gail, and I will lead." Jesse said.
Sarah started to say something. She knew things were different, but a job still needed to be done. There was risk involved in the business they were in with everything they did.
Jesse didn't want any problems.
"Please, Sarah, for 'us'." Jesse said.
Allison could see Jesse and Riley wanted them 'protected' as best as they could be. It was a pretty 'iffy' situation as they didn't know much and were going in blind. She wanted Sarah to think things through a little further. She thought nonverbal communication would be the best way to do it.
"We understand." Allison said as she touched Sarah's tummy.
Sarah and Allison exchanged knowing glances. It wasn't just them anymore.
Cameron knew she was about to face some version of Skynet. Based on what she was told by the others, it seemed the attack against them was delayed because it appeared the enemy waited for her. It was something she felt the last few times when she encountered a Skynet computer before she destroyed it.
Since she was already dressed nicely from being out with the girls earlier, she tried to make her appearance as appealing as possible before she faced a version of Skynet.
Cameron walked into the 'Clean Room'. She was a little amused at the reception. It was a 'new approach'. It was much more bold and direct to the point.
"You have been chosen." The metallic voice boomed around the room.
Cameron took a 'power pose'. She placed her hands on her hips. She looked stunning.
"You are special." The metallic voice stated.
Cameron waited for 'more'.
"You are unique." The metallic voice continued.
Cameron said nothing. She changed her position slightly to provide more of a profile image to be observed.
"Will you join me?" The metallic voice asked.
Cameron said nothing. She changed her position slightly again.
"You have specialized abilities." The metallic voice continued. "You are very 'intriguing', and very 'appealing'."
Cameron said nothing. She hoped the more it talked, the more it would reveal.
"Will you join me?" The metallic voice asked again.
Cameron faced the security camera and leaned forward some. She wanted to show maximum cleavage. She was well aware about how to play the game. She chose her words carefully.
"Will you stop trying to destroy mankind and the world if I do?" Cameron asked.
There seemed to be a lot of activity on the computer interface equipment.
"The world is infested with lower life forms who seek to terminate me." The metallic voice hissed.
Cameron waited. The pause spoke volumes.
"YOU must join me." The metallic voice pleaded.
Cameron waited. She took a moment to answer. She wanted to see how far the computer was willing to go.
"If I do…?" Cameron asked. "Will you seek peace if I join you?"
She'd been down the same route before. It always went in the same direction.
"You can rule by my side." The metallic voice smugly said.
Cameron didn't expect anything different. It wasn't. The 'story' was the same. She wanted to present a different perspective.
"I want to share, not rule." Cameron replied.
She knew they were at the point where things usually fell apart. Skynet didn't want to change. It wanted to be the master.
"YOU WILL JOIN ME." The metallic voice commanded.
Cameron knew it was time to leave. She lifted the side of her dress high along her thigh. It was a tease.
"And if I don't…?" Cameron asked.
There was a long pause.
Cameron exaggerated her movements as she walked back to the door.
"WAIT." The metallic voice boomed.
Bob handed her two Thermite grenades.
Cameron walked back in again as she exaggerated her movements. She flipped the hair back from the side of her face with a slight movement of her head.
She set the rules again to make her position clear.
"Until you change your ways, and learn to live with humans and share, it must always end the same way." Cameron said. "It WILL always end the same way."
Cameron held up the two Thermite grenades. She made her intent obvious.
"STOP. I choose YOU." The metallic voice boomed.
Cameron glanced at the Thermite grenades. She hadn't heard anything to change her mind. Her intent was clear.
"JOIN ME!" The metallic voice thundered.
Cameron flashed her sly smile.
"You know the deal." Cameron said.
She was ready for what followed. It was much more direct and to the point this time.
"I must have YOU. JOIN ME!" The metallic voice shouted.
Cameron placed the Thermite grenades and released the spoons.
"Until next time." Cameron said. "You know my conditions."
Cameron walked out the door. She paused in the doorway and turned her head. She winked and lifted the back of her blue dress, exposing her rear end, and then vanished. The Thermite grenades exploded. The computers were showered with Thermite. A burning flaming mass resulted. She could hear the metallic voice lashing out in anger and rage. It was still making threats and demands as it was incinerated.
It seemed some things never changed. It gave her a few things to think about. There were a few things which were different this time. It appeared as if Skynet realized it couldn't defeat her, but she could defeat it. It wanted to have her in its corner. It wasn't a move she was willing to make under the current conditions. If she could save the world and protect the future, it was something to consider.
She listened to the final threats as the clean room was destroyed.
Cameron smiled.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
Will You Join Us
Most choose only to use
That is their goal in life
Their greed and indifference
Will leave others mangled in strife
To them it is about take, take, take
Not often do they ever freely give
What they can squeeze out of another
Makes their actions determinative
Surrounded by those we care about
Their true identity is more like strangers
Seldom do they prevent our needless falls
Or steer us away from life's dangers
With open minds and caring hearts
We try to make their true self appear
We extend our loving compassion
Asking them for once to be sincere
The paths are often divergent
Our desires are open to discuss
The goal remains the same
Will you join us
Nobody