Chapter 186
Girl Power
The Resistance teams were somewhat taken by surprise when a helicopter arrived to retrieve the drone rather than a box truck as they thought it would be. They figured a ground pick up would have involved one or more Terminators. They would have tried to capture them if it would have been the case. It wasn't. The real prize would have been for them to get a female Terminator. They needed her chassis for Cameron.
The two SUVs were now in pursuit of the UH-1 which hauled the downed HK drone slung underneath it. They were at a major disadvantage tracking it and trying to keep up with it. They needed to stick to the roads. The helicopter could go anywhere. The fact the helicopter wanted to stay off radar worked to their advantage. It meant the helicopter would stay low to the ground.
They'd placed a tracker in the downed drone and it's what they currently followed. Following it actually seemed a little easier than they thought it would be. It didn't seem to be moving very fast.
John was worried about Cameron. He wanted to get her out of harm's way. He thought it was a mistake having her come along. He thought it would help her to be out with him. It didn't seem it did. He was unaware of her attempt to throw herself in front of a speeding locomotive to destroy herself. He would be even more worried than he was right now with the information.
He was also concerned because the HK drone originally tried to go back the opposite way the helicopter was headed now. Maybe there was something they missed. He hoped they weren't being set up. He also worried they were being drawn off so the helicopter could go elsewhere and they wouldn't be able to track it. Its slow progress kept them in hot pursuit.
It was clear to John Henry the girls were going to go on a mission to assist Cameron. He figured he'd better take control of it. He didn't want a 'free for all'.
The Blackhawk was on standby. It was now given the clearance to go.
"Gear up." John Henry said. "I've called up the helicopter."
Allison looked at the group of girls. She wanted more help for Cameron if it was available.
"What about Kyle and Derek?" Allison asked.
John Henry was pleased they both returned to the Resistance base a short time ago. They did so because of the questions they received from Sarah and Riley. Jim and Mel were able to get a few more leads out of the Gray they questioned. They would follow up on those later on.
Derek and Kyle both told him they were ready to go on the mission to assist Cameron and John. It appeared Sarah chose a different direction for Kyle.
Sarah told Kyle he 'made' Jan, now he needed to watch her. Taking care of a small child was more work and frustration than Sarah remembered. Maybe it was just what she tried to tell herself to give her an excuse to go so she could assist Cameron. She needed a break and potential combat seemed like just the thing to her.
Kyle was a little reluctant to take a backseat and let Sarah go in his place. He could see it was personal to Sarah since it involved both Cameron and John. He was sure what she said about Jan being a handful was just an excuse. He would soon find out otherwise it wasn't. He never saw her have any trouble. He was the one who was inexperienced when it came to children.
Sarah looked out the door of the Command Center towards where her room is at. There was a smile on her face. She needed to get away from it all for a while. She also felt obligated to assist Cameron and John.
"Kyle is tied up. Someone has to baby sit." Sarah said. "Combat will be like a 'vacation' for me…."
It wasn't the answer any of them expected to hear.
Vanna wanted to make sure they didn't act prematurely. She didn't want to jump the gun and tie up their resources unnecessarily. She could also see it was similar to the move they made on 'The Day Of Loss'.
"Did they say they needed any assistance yet?" Vanna asked.
Jesse didn't like the reports of what Cameron went through. She would have been concerned more if she knew the full extent of all the personal difficulties Cameron experienced on the mission so far. All of the girls would have been even more troubled if they knew.
"No, but we need to be there for Cameron." Jesse said. "She needs us, ALL of us. She needs to see and feel our support."
Gail looked at Jesse. She understood how Jesse felt about Cameron, as well as Allison and Vanna, and even Riley. Jesse confessed to Gail the first time she was with Allison and Vanna she envisioned Allison as 'Cameron' for a while. She never did it again when they were alone together. Jesse told her she loved them too much to do it again. Jesse later felt ashamed she disrespected both Allison and Cameron in such a way. It was a moment of weakness.
It was also a moment of strength for Jesse to realize it. She didn't think it was uncommon for people to think about others sometimes when they were in an intimate situation. Sometimes it might be done consciously or subconsciously.
Gail asked Jesse about other women and men. Jesse told her each person has something different to offer and asked her to leave it at that. It wasn't something she really wanted to discuss. She said anything done by choice was a very private moment when two people shared with each other.
She didn't push it. She then asked what she herself offered to Jesse. Jesse told her she seemed to have nearly everything to offer of all of the others put together. Jesse told her she satisfied her more than all the others combined.
Gail felt happy and hoped Jesse could love her as much as she loved Jesse. She would talk to John again about 'helping' Jesse and her start a family. She would have to thank Cameron again for suggesting it to her.
"…about it, Gail?" Jesse asked. "Gail?"
Gail blinked her eyes. She was lost deep in thought.
"I'm sorry. I was thinking about something else." Gail said.
She quickly reviewed her files and answered Jesse's question.
John Henry decided to make Sarah the group commander. He didn't want to say she possessed the most experience dealing with Cameron and John. It was what he thought though. He was a little concerned there would only be one Terminator with them.
"Sarah will be the team leader. Dust off is in thirty minutes." John Henry said. "Get everything ready and be ready to go."
Everyone went to gather their gear.
John Henry wanted some additional assistance for them. He also knew they couldn't shortchange the base. It would upset Cameron greatly if she didn't feel the base was adequately protected.
Vanna and Allison hurried back to their room. It was awhile since Allison went out on a combat operation. It was even longer for Vanna. So far the nature of the situation didn't seem very severe. They both knew it could change in an instant. Everything could be fine and dandy one second, the next second all Hell could break loose.
Vanna wanted to 'help' Cameron in any way she could. She also wanted to watch over Allison. She felt it was her duty. She loved Allison dearly and would do anything for her, just as she would for Cameron.
She was a little surprised when they opened the arms locker in their room. All of her gear was neatly arranged and ready to go.
"Did you do this?" Vanna asked.
Allison smiled.
"The only other one in here is Jesse." Allison said. "She's usually busy as soon as she comes into the room."
Vanna smiled at the thought. Jesse was always good in bed. She always left them highly satisfied. Jesse never stopped until the person she was with was able to finish at least once. It was usually more than once, including several multiple finishes. Those were the ones which were really wild.
Based upon what Jesse told them about Gail, she really wanted to be with a Metal girl. It seemed they could deliver multiple finishes on a regular basis. Those were really something to look forward to and experience. She didn't want to get sidetracked.
"It's true." Vanna said. "Thank you for getting my gear in order. I've been a little lax about it."
Allison only organized everything a few days ago when Cameron started to have additional 'problems'. She planned to take Cameron's place on the operations. She hadn't told anyone it was what she was going to do. She was sure it would cause additional problems, probably on several levels if she would have. It didn't matter, she was going to do it anyway.
"It never hurts to be prepared." Allison said.
Allison really wondered if it was possible to be prepared for anything in the lifestyle they led. She fought for the future in the past. It was her duty as a Resistance fighter to do everything possible to defeat Skynet. The time period She was in didn't really matter. The objective was the same.
She was grateful she was given the opportunity to return to the same time period Vanna was in. She really thought she was never going to see her again. It caused her an immense amount of grief to even think about it. They were together again. They still took the fight to Skynet when they found it. It was the same enemy, even if it was a different time period.
The two SUVs were headed toward the Central Valley. It's where the tracker led them. From the location where they left near Bealville, there were really only two routes they could take. One route paralleled the railroad tracks, the other route was Highway 58.
John was increasingly worried they were in a 'sucker play'. With the uncertainty of what was actually happening, there were a lot of questions. The fact the HK drone initially tried to go towards the direction of Tehachapi when it was first damaged, sat heavily on his mind. It tried to go towards Tehachapi for a reason. It bothered him enough he felt he needed to say something.
"I want one team to go back toward Tehachapi." John said over the com.
Bob drove the second SUV with Holly and Cameron in it. He was a little surprised John wanted to split the team up. Then again, they were in two separate SUVs in case the situation called for them to split up.
"Why?" Bob asked.
John expressed his fear. It was just the way he read it. He knew humans and Terminators perceived events differently. Even with the same set of facts, they could reach the same conclusion, or a different conclusion. There was a matter of perception and 'feeling' involved, rather than just logic.
"I think they're trying to lead us away from where they're really going." John said. "If they lead us too far in one direction, we'll never be able to get back to track them in time."
Bob glanced over at Cameron. Her face was blank. It looked like 'the lights were on, but no one was home'. He believed Dan and Three would be able to provide sufficient protection for John under the current circumstances.
"We'll go back." Bob said.
John was relieved to hear it. It was what he wanted to happen. He thought it would be better for Cameron to get her out of the danger zone. He was sure Bob picked up on what he wanted done.
"Thank you." John said.
Bob was sure John did it to keep Cameron out of harm's way, especially in her current 'condition' right now. He also believed Cameron would take unnecessary chances on purpose. She seemed to take them anyway, even when she didn't feel like she currently did. Maybe she did and they didn't know.
He was sure there was probably a lot they didn't know about Cameron. He didn't think all of her days away from the base were spent dealing directly with Skynet, or even some of the outside drug and sex trafficking operations. He knew the non-Resistance matters were all conducted 'off the books' so the Resistance wasn't tied into them.
Bob turned around and concentrated on the road. He glanced over at Cameron. He never saw her look like she currently did. Other than the natural beauty of her face, her appearance was terrible. Then again, she spent quite a few miles on top of a moving train, as well as under it. She also went through several tunnels. They were always filled with exhaust smoke, and particulate matter, from the locomotives. He scanned her features and detected no change physically. Maybe things were happening 'inside' he thought. He was aware it was where the major change to her sheath would occur.
Cameron looked over at him. She saw Bob stare at her. The 'sick' feeling inside of her seemed to grow a little more.
"Is it happening?" Cameron asked.
Bob wanted to stick to the facts as he could see them. He thought a lot would depend upon what the new DNA donor actually looked like.
"Not externally as far as my scans show." Bob said. "There's no external difference detectable. Do you know what the new appearance of your sheath will look like?"
Cameron purposely didn't look to see what the individual looked like. She didn't want to know. She didn't think it would really matter since she planned to vacate the chassis anyway.
"No. I only took the sample of the teenage girl who was recently diagnosed with the 'syndrome'. I didn't want to know." Cameron said. "It doesn't matter what her appearance, or race is. A human female is a human female. With the new chip, she will be a Terminator and nothing more. It's the way it should be. It's the way it should have been for me."
Cameron regretted allowing her 'feelings' to get the better of her and start a sexual relationship with John. It just seemed to be a compulsion in her once he 'chose' her. She really wondered what her relationship with Future John was. All of those files were erased. Part of her life was missing. Based upon the current circumstances, she didn't think it was necessarily a bad thing. Maybe some things were better not to know.
Bob and Holly looked at each other. They were both very worried. They headed back eastward on Highway 58. They didn't know what they would find.
Cameron thought she should be irritated because John sidelined them. She did remember Bob volunteered their group to go back. It actually wasn't John's decision, even if it was indirectly. She really didn't care at this point. She didn't know it was a real fear of his about being led on a wild goose chase.
Bob and Holly felt the same way and understood John's concern for Cameron. They didn't understand his worry about action in a different place. Maybe they would have been a little more vigilant if they did. They would have been doing a little more than babysitting.
Derek heard about the helicopter flight and insisted he go along. He saw this as an 'all hands on deck' affair. He asked Sarah or Riley to look after Jan and Savannah so Kyle could go with them. They both wanted to go on the mission. He could see it was very personal to both of them.
Kyle didn't want to make an issue out of it. He would remain behind.
Sarah said it would do him some good. Maybe he wouldn't want to be so 'busy' at night doing other things if he saw what was involved.
"You made her, now you care for her." Sarah reminded Kyle with a smile as she kissed him and departed. "Everything has a price."
Kyle understood the truth behind Sarah's statement. Everything did have some type of price associated with it. Sometimes the price wouldn't be evident for months, or even years. At some point it would catch up and the toll would need to be paid.
Everyone checked their gear and waited for the helicopter to arrive.
The Blackhawk arrived shortly. There were two company pilots and a crew chief. They were all former special ops personnel. It was their job to operate the helicopter only, but if they needed to enter the fight, they were trained and ready. It was something the Resistance team hoped to keep them out of. The fight against Skynet wasn't their fight yet.
The six females and Derek boarded the helicopter. They put headsets on to facilitate communications and remain updated by John Henry. They received progress reports continually. Not one of them seemed promising.
They considered taking two Terminators off of the protection Details. John Henry reminded them Cameron was adamant they protect the children. The death of Duplicate Allison and her baby haunted Cameron. Cameron knew the children were the future.
They all remembered Skynet went after the children on the 'Day Of Loss'. It was all the motivation any of them ever needed to carry out an operation against Skynet or any of its illegitimate offshoots.
Skynet went after Sarah. Skynet went after John before he was born. Skynet went after John once he was born. Skynet went after Savannah. Skynet went after the young Reese Brothers. Skynet went after Young Allison. It was very personal to all of them.
Cameron worked at trying to break the code encrypting her genetic Resequencing subroutines. If she could break the code, she could fix the TDE and go back and save the girls, the baby, and 'herself' on 'The Day Of Loss'. She didn't care if there were 'two' of each of them. It was better for John. John MUST be provided for. Her hand began to glitch.
John previously told Cameron he could never watch if someone else touched her. Cameron offered to be with him and the 'others' when he finally did what she wanted. John must be with REAL females, not a 'machine' masquerading as one. John needed to be protected from Skynet. He also needed to be protected from the anti-Metal faction of the Resistance. Both were a real threat to him, and her. The glitch in her left hand grew worse.
Cameron tried to hold her left hand closed with her right hand. It didn't work. She wished River or Savannah was there with her right now. They were always able to 'reach' her. No. She didn't wish they were currently where she was. She was in a danger zone. She didn't want them in a danger zone.
She wondered why she left the future again. She left Future John behind with Future Allison and Future Savannah. She wanted to stay. Future John and Future Allison would have accepted her. Future Savannah would have too. Why did she leave? She loved Future John and Future Allison. Why did she go? She now realized she couldn't stand to WATCH Future John touch, and be with, Future Allison and Future Savannah. It was what John said to her. Her John couldn't 'watch' her do it. She couldn't either. She loved John. Her left hand was now in a fist. She couldn't open it.
Cameron was aware Bob and Holly watched her. She didn't say anything about it. She understood they cared for her. They weren't afraid of her for themselves. They were afraid for her.
She climbed over the front seat and got in the back seat with Holly. She laid her head on Holly's lap. Holly gently stroked her face. They drove in silence. Holly comforted her as she did with John in his darkest hours after Duplicate Cameron's termination, her 'death'. She was there on Holly's chip when she did it.
Cameron looked at Holly and smiled. Her face went blank. She stiffened and shut down.
Holly still gently touched her face. Her tears silently fell on Cameron's cheek.
The helicopter with the girls thundered through the sky. Everyone seemed to have a grim look. They didn't know what awaited them. They wanted to back up Cameron and get her out of the danger zone. Each one of them planned to take her place on the operation.
Allison looked around the interior of the Blackhawk. She wanted to see the people 'look alive' a little.
"Let's liven this ride up." Allison said. "I can't stand it any longer."
Gail helped her plug her player into the com system.
'At The Hop' by 'Flash Cadillac', blasted through the speakers in their headphones as the copter flew on.
Derek and the females all checked their gear. They were ready….
Closing monologue by Cameron:
Unwell Too
I have been told
My mind is ill
I have been told
My mind is sick
I have been told
I live in the past
I have been told
I'm not good enough
I have been told
I'm untrustworthy
I have been told
I should dress otherwise
I have been told
What is wrong with you
I have been told
Don't be so afraid
I have been told
I need help
I have been told
I'm different
I have been told
I'm not the same
I have been told
I'm crazy
I have been told
I'm insane
I have been told
My mind is unwell too
Nobody