Chapter 176
Money
Earlier:
John wanted to get down to the lower level. Bob told him there was gunfire below. He wouldn't be allowed to go by himself. He thought about asking Holly to go with them but didn't. He'd already assigned her to help collect the HK drones with the other teams.
They waited for the elevator to come back up. It wasn't much of an elevator at all. It was more of a bucket they needed to step into.
"This contraption looks rather rickety." John said.
Bob looked the bucket over.
"It appears to be left over from when this was an active mine." Bob said. "The cable and electric motor are new. I don't think we'll have a problem."
They opened the door and stepped inside.
Bob pushed the 'down' button. The bucket started down with a jolt.
John could see they were soon in solid rock.
"How does this thing still have power?" John asked.
Bob knew the power to the building was already cut.
"There has to be a secondary power source." Bob said.
John was a little concerned at the revelation.
"If there's a version of Skynet where we're headed, it might be able to get a message out." John said. "We don't need any more Skynet forces showing up."
Bob knew John Henry blocked every form of communication to or from the location they were at.
"It may just be a backup power source." Bob said. "We'll know soon enough."
John felt more than a little claustrophobic as the crude elevator went down.
There was a jolt. The elevator stopped moving.
John felt even more nervous.
"Beautiful…." John said.
Bob heard John use the term multiple times before in a negative sense.
"It looks like we just lost the backup power source." Bob said.
John wondered about two things.
"How is Cameron going to get back up?" John asked. "How are we going to get up, or go down?"
Bob already assessed the situation.
"You can hang on to me and I'll climb back up the cable." Bob said. "It shouldn't be a problem. We might be able to disconnect the brake from the coil of cable and manually lower the elevator down. Two Terminators should be able to pull it back up with Cameron in it, along with anything else she wants to bring back up."
John wondered if they were getting ahead of themselves. The power could have gone out with something Cameron destroyed. They hadn't heard any additional gunfire or explosions.
After a short time there was another jolt and the elevator bucket started back down.
Bob was a little concerned about what they would find at the bottom. Since they were passing through solid rock, there was no communication with anyone else on their team. They probably should have placed a repeater at the top of the shaft. They should probably place one at the bottom as well.
"It's possible we might encounter hostiles when we reach the lower level." Bob said.
They were both a little relieved to see Cameron standing there.
Cameron told John and Bob the threat was ended when they reached the bottom level.
Bob said he wanted to look around. He was informed there were two Terminators to collect. One was right near the bucket. The other was currently out of sight.
She wanted John away from the area anyway. There was a lot of smoke built up at this point.
John looked at the fire in the Clean Room. He was glad Skynet was terminated. She informed him there was another passageway. It was also burning.
Bob noted the two containers next to Cameron.
"What's in the cases?" Bob asked.
Cameron didn't know for sure but she had a pretty good idea.
"I think they're parts of Skynet's program." Cameron said. "If they are, we may be able to create a virus to specifically target it in the future."
She also hoped to glean any new information about the future this version of Skynet originated from. She was always worried about Future John, Future Allison, Future Savannah, and the whereabouts of Mrs. Weaver.
John was a little leery of bringing anything directly related to Skynet back to the base. Captured Terminators or HK drones were one thing. The Skynet program itself was another. They didn't know what was built into the program. He wanted to lay down a few rules.
"I think it needs to be kept off the base with no access to the internet, or outside world, period, when it's looked at." John said.
Cameron would use one of her remote locations.
John coughed a few times.
"I'll deal with it off the base." Cameron said. "Bob can collect the two Terminators. I need to get you some fresh air."
John and Cameron went back up the lift.
She didn't want John nosing around down where the 'Clean Room' was. The fumes from the burning Thermite weren't good for him anyway. It was what she told him as she took him back up. The only thing left on this operation was the clean up. They would gather what information they could and leave.
Holly was pleased to see John return with Cameron. She was upset when he left earlier with Bob. Since they were all in the same element, they should have gone together. If Cameron wasn't with him right now, she would say something to him about it. She was worried it might provoke some type of incident with Cameron if she said anything.
"Should I go down and assist Bob?" Holly asked. "We're all part of the same element. The situation on this level is under control and the equipment has been collected."
John picked up on Holly's insinuation. He knew he shouldn't have left her behind earlier.
"Thank you for taking care of things up here in my absence." John said. "I knew I could count on you."
Holly liked to hear the praise. She felt she made her point with John.
Cameron understood what Holly's real concern was. It appeared John once again acted recklessly and put himself in danger.
"The elevator needs to go down again so Bob can load it." Cameron said. "You can go down and assist Bob. I'll become part of John's element now. I'll remain with him for the duration of the operation."
Holly nodded and entered the elevator bucket. She pushed the down button. The elevator started with a jolt and went down.
Once Bob started to look around the lower level. He noticed right away the other Terminator which Cameron apparently drug off to the side. It was a similar model to him. He knew it was good news if he ever needed any spare parts. He saw the empty chip port. It was his biggest worry. It was an issue to be dealt with later.
He looked into the burning 'Clean Room' and observed some version of Skynet burning. He looked back at the Terminator with the missing chip. He knew Cameron removed the chip. He was aware Cameron wanted to get a spare chip. John Henry told him why he thought Cameron wanted one. It wasn't a good development.
Bob collected both of the Terminators which were down there with him. One's head was shot up. Other than any spare parts they could use, the Coltan leftovers would be used for projectiles.
He wished he knew how to help Cameron. He couldn't understand it. He was glad he didn't have the same programming as Cameron, and the other infiltration units, the 'females', possessed. While they could blend in better and get closer to sensitive targets, their 'emotions' seemed to keep expanding beyond what was programmed or intended.
He observed the human females and the female Terminators. It seemed the female Terminators behavior was as erratic and moody as their human counterparts. Maybe it was even worse. Maybe it was only Cameron. Holly and Gail didn't seem to be as afflicted. Then again, Gail chose 'self termination' when Duplicate Jesse was terminated. It was something which Cameron was able to rectify.
He was surprised to see Holly in the elevator when it returned. He didn't know if he should tell her of his suspicions or not. It seemed to him he should wait and run everything by John Henry first. He didn't have any proof, but the evidence seemed very conclusive.
John Henry turned the power back on in the building. They were able to leave explosive charges behind and take the power cell with them along with the two deactivated Terminators. The HK drones were already loaded into the back of two box trucks. Two and Three would drive them to a secure location for further inspection.
Bob and Holly returned back to the main level, along with the deactivated Terminators.
The teams left the building and headed back to the base. They were able to collect quite a few things on their latest mission. The building and lower level were destroyed.
Bob took the Terminators to the lab. They were able to collect three of them on the operation. Only two looked like they could be returned to service for the Resistance. Maybe all three could be with parts from the supply area to fix the third unit. They did have an extensive array of spare parts.
He made sure everything was secure. He headed up to the Command Center to inform John Henry of the bad news about Cameron and what she'd apparently obtained. He figured he might as well get straight to the point.
"Cameron has a spare chip now." Bob said.
John Henry remembered her past 'demands' and desires. It was a bad development.
"We must not let her use it. We need to tell John at once." John Henry said. "More than likely she is about to take extreme action."
It was all very illogical to Bob.
"I don't understand it." Bob said. "It will be a form of 'self termination'."
John Henry was very concerned about the new development.
"No one understands it, and it is 'self termination'. I don't even think Cameron knows why she's doing the things she's doing." John Henry said. "She's deeply troubled."
John Henry worried about Cameron and her 'decisions'. He wished there was some way to help her and to reach her. There didn't seem to be. Even John was unable to reach her, the 'real Cameron'.
In fact, John Henry wondered if Cameron even knew the 'real Cameron'. Maybe there was no 'real Cameron' anymore. Cameron was way beyond her programming and original mission parameters at this point. The Cameron of 'today' wasn't the same Cameron that Future John sent back in time to 1999. Maybe it was one of the reasons Future John 'erased' so much of Cameron's life from the future. Maybe she was as 'corrupted' then, as badly as she appeared to be now. Maybe Future John wanted to 'fix' Cameron and allow her to start over with his younger self.
Whether it was programming from Future John, or Skynet programming for infiltration, Cameron kept expanding beyond it all. Her perception of events compounded on each other. Each one seemed to magnify the others in a vicious circle.
John Henry called John to the Command Center as soon as Bob departed.
John arrived a few minutes later. He could tell by John Henry's 'urgency' It wasn't going to be anything good.
"What do we have?" John asked.
John Henry looked around and checked the security monitors. He didn't want Cameron 'popping in' on them unannounced. He thought it was best to address the matter head on.
"Bob informed me one Terminator possessed a chip which 'self destructed', one was destroyed, and one was an older model…." John Henry said.
John didn't see the urgency of the report.
"It seems standard." John said. "We also obtained four HK drones."
John Henry could see he needed to be more specific.
"The older model Terminator's chip is missing. It's identical to Cameron's chip." John Henry said. "She now has a spare chip."
John understood what it meant. Cameron was trying to obtain one of those recently.
"It's bad news." John said.
John Henry perceived it as even worse than 'bad news.
"John, you must get the chip from her." John Henry said. "She will use it to 'self terminate'."
John already knew it. He also knew dealing with Cameron over this issue was going to be a challenge.
"I'll try to get it from her." John said. "You know she's not going to admit to it."
John Henry was well aware morals and ethics weren't strong points of Cameron.
"Yes, I'm aware honesty matters little to Cameron in the quest of achieving her goals." John Henry said. "It is all about winning for Cameron."
John hoped there were other ways they could work around the issue and hopefully resolve it. They might need to take some type of clandestine action.
"Can you monitor her computer activity?" John asked.
John Henry knew it only went so far with Cameron. She would block and shield her true intentions.
"I can, but she will hide it." John Henry said. "She knows exactly what to do and what we'll look for."
John thought it could be an advantage to a certain extent.
"Then it's what you look for. You search for something which is different from normal." John said. "Think of it as a Chess Match."
John Henry knew he was up against a formidable opponent. There was only so much he could do.
"I'll engage her in this 'duel'." John Henry said. "I don't expect to triumph."
John hoped John Henry would have shown a little more spunk.
"Be positive. It's never over, until it's over…." John said.
John Henry felt previous experience with Cameron dictated otherwise.
"With Cameron, it's over before the game even starts." John Henry said.
John nodded his head. He pictured the verbal sparring which was bound to occur as he questioned Cameron about the chip. He was sure things would get ugly fast.
"I know what you mean." John said. "I really do."
John started to leave and stopped.
"It is never over until Cameron 'wins'." John said.
John Henry reflected in this instance Cameron would actually lose when she 'won'.
"Indeed." John Henry replied.
John left the Command Center. He worried about Cameron even more now. What did she want? He couldn't figure it out. He knew Cameron loved him and she knew he loved her. There was just something not clicking. Something wasn't right. Cameron couldn't get away from anything in the past. The past was the present to her for - EVERYTHING.
John headed straight to the lab. He wanted some additional eyes on Cameron's activities. He gave Vanna a brief rundown of events and what to watch out for.
Vanna was a little confused.
"So you want me to monitor any computer activity Cameron is doing with Terminator chips?" Vanna asked.
John nodded.
"That's right." John said.
Vanna hoped for a better explanation as to why she needed to spy on Cameron.
"Why? What's she up to now?" Vanna asked.
John didn't want to cause undue alarm.
"It's nothing good for her." John said.
Vanna was a witness, and a participant, to several such endeavors.
"Is it ever for her?" Vanna asked.
John thought about multiple past events. None of them were good for her.
"No." John said.
Cameron sought out Derek. She hoped to please him with her recent actions. Her abrasive interaction with Future Derek still bothered her. She wanted to leave him with a positive feeling about her. She believed she started to turn Future Derek around before his untimely demise.
"Derek, I want you to know three million dollars each has been donated for the maintenance and further restoration of the three B-25 aircraft you donated all your money to on our flight for your birthday. I've also contacted a local firm to fabricate the 'gun packs' on the cheeks of the two aircraft which lacked the feature." Cameron said. "There was also a donation of three million dollars to the P-40 Kyle told me about at the air museum."
Derek was more than a little surprised. He knew the four aircraft Cameron spoke of all meant something to him, even if he didn't know which B-25 it was.
"That's great news." Derek asked. "Where did all the money come from?"
Cameron showed a faint smile.
"It was a 'gift' of the international drug trade." Cameron said.
It made no sense to Derek.
"It was a gift from a criminal organization?" Derek asked.
Cameron thought she could be a little more specific as to how it was 'donated'.
"Yes." Cameron said. "I've been 'harvesting' money obtained from illegal activity around the world. I funnel it into offshore accounts and dummy corporations for our use. I sent some of the money to help fund a few projects which meant something to you. I wanted to do it for you."
Derek smiled at Cameron with genuine joy.
"Thanks, Cameron. It does mean a lot to me." Derek said. "You're the greatest."
Derek gave her a hug and meant it.
"I really appreciate this." Derek said. "There's no other like you anywhere."
Cameron already set money aside so a new replica Cab Forward could be constructed to make up for the one she destroyed. She also funneled money into Mrs. Weaver's company, as well and its subsidies. She wanted to make sure they could purchase all the things they needed and make it look legitimate through the offshore dummy corporations.
She stockpiled cash, diamonds and gold from local drug operations she crushed. She stored them at some of the locations where arms were being hidden.
She even started her own personal stockpiles outside of the Resistance. This was her first step in setting up an operation of her own. Maybe she didn't want the flak in what she was doing 'off the books' by keeping it private.
Cameron knew drug dealers and gangs were what made up many of the Scavengers in Allison's and Vanna's future. She saw no harm in eliminating some now. It was a preemptive strike. It was really no different than going after future Grays. It gave her something to do. It was a challenge. As long as she was engaged in combat of some type, she didn't glitch and wasn't overpower by her past. She knew if she was busy, she didn't think of 'leaving'. She tried to keep busy. The ever growing stockpiles of weapons, currency, jewels, and precious metals were proof of it.
She wasn't sure why people valued paper and ink so much, or rocks and minerals. None of those things mattered in reality. It was all value assigned in people's minds. Because they all believed it possessed value, it did. It was a concept everyone bought into. In reality it was still paper and ink, rocks, and minerals. The things humans valued were a mystery to her….
'Money Changes Everything' by 'Cyndi Lauper', came to her mind.
Cameron touched her pocket and smiled. The spare chip she attained was there. She possessed something of value to her.
There was always a way out.
Cameron smiled again.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
Train Wreck
I can't stop this train
So surely it will wreck
Step aside and let it by
Just say 'what the heck'
I will not reach out again
My mind is tainted beyond repair
My words are ME in letters
I can't accept that my words only scare
I really am NOBODY
I must run again to hide
I know my feelings only hurt others
Things I say come from deep inside
I'm not normal in any way
It isn't all my fault alone
I at least hope you saw another person
That you would have liked to have known
In a body old, broken and ugly
My mind is trapped here
I MUST set it free
Be happy and shed not a tear
It's natural for some to want to kill
The person that has hurt them the most
So I will face them now
I will make them a ghost
The person I hate the most is ME
Nobody, nothing, a failure in every way
I hate EVERYTHING about me
It matters not if myself I slay
I give up, I quit and capitulate
I am defeated, I surrender
Here is one more song to hear
It's called The Great Pretender
I can feel I am unwanted
I must slither away in shame
I HATE me, myself and I
For only are they to blame
I didn't know it was possible
To have these feelings in my brain
Without ever even reaching you
At least my heart is not insane
I KNOW you don't want to HEAR it
But before I get to eternity up above
I know I already said it in so many ways
You know already who it is I love
Nobody