Chapter 190

Trash

Mel and Jim made their way along the side fence of the property towards the rear of the building.

"I don't see any surveillance cameras." Jim said.

The two Terminators moved closer to the building.

"Let me check the box truck." Mel said. "You can try the doors."

Jim went to the rear door and tried the handle. It was locked. He moved over to the first roll up door and tried it. It moved up about half of an inch and then stopped. He went up on the dock and tried the second roll up door. It didn't move at all. He moved to the roll up door in back of the box truck. It was secured as well.

Mel did a thermal scan of the radiator and engine compartment of the box truck. Everything was cool. The truck hadn't been started in hours. He joined Jim up on the dock.

"The truck hasn't been started anytime recently." Mel said.

Jim looked at the doors on the rear of the building.

"Everything back here is secure." Jim said.

They would still need to check both sides of the building and look for a window not closed tight, or another door, if there was one.

"I'll take the east side." Mel said.

Jim nodded.

"I'll try the west side." Jim said.

The two Terminators split up and went down the sides of the building.

Mel encountered another door. He tried it. It was secured. He could see there was a spider web just above the door handle. It was hooked to the door as well as the door frame. It didn't appear as if the door had been opened in quite a long time. He returned towards the rear of the building.

Jim was on the west side of the building. There were no doors on the west side. He spotted a small horizontal window halfway down the side of the building. There were actually two of them. They appeared to be restroom windows since both of them were fitted with opaque glass. The first one he tried was secured. He reached up and touched the second one. It moved. It didn't appear to be latched. What they didn't know was if it was wired to some type of an alarm or not.

Mel came around the back of the building. He didn't see Jim. He passed in front of the box truck and went around to the west side. Jim motioned for him to hurry over.

"I found an open window." Jim said. "I'm going to kneel down. Stand on my back and see if it's wired or not. I believe we can both fit through it."

Mel stood on Jim's back and looked at the restroom window. It didn't appear 'wired' to him. He slid it all the way open. He pulled himself inside.

"I'm in." Mel said.

Mel reached back and gave Jim his hand.

Jim pulled himself up and joined Mel in the restroom. They would enter the interior of the building from there.

John went to the lab at Cameron's request. He knew what she was up to and didn't like it one bit. What was wrong with her? He knew she loved him.

He couldn't understand any of it. For that matter, he couldn't understand much of what Cameron wanted to do and already seemed to have done. Why didn't Cameron ever think about him and his feelings? It was almost as if a part of her 'hated' him and sought to repeatedly 'punish' him.

John knew why. He too 'hated' himself for it. It was his 'involvement' with Riley, Future Riley. He also knew he carried the burden for what 'he', as Future John, did to Cameron in the future. The strange part about it was, Cameron didn't even know what all was involved. It was all speculation.

He knew a big part of it was because he rubbed spending the night with Riley in Cameron's face. He knew it was because Cameron came to his room and 'offered' herself to him, and he rejected her and ran off with Riley to Mexico instead. She was never going to forgive him for those transgressions. He wondered how many times a day Cameron relived those events. It was probably thousands of times a day, maybe millions. He was aware every time she 'thought' about it, it was as if it'd just occurred.

Cameron called him over to a table with a covered figure. She folded the sheet off of Isabel's face.

John stood over Isabel. Only her face was visible.

He could see the beauty in her face. She was beautiful, but she wasn't what he wanted. He wanted Cameron.

Cameron was very proud of Isabel. She was in perfect condition. She wanted John to see how beautiful she was going to look. She wanted him to look at 'everything'.

"Do you desire to see the 'rest' of Isabel?" Cameron asked. "What you see here is going to be my new chassis, sheath, and name."

John was irritated. He didn't like what Cameron was about to do. Even if she did it, why did she need to have a different name? Was she trying to throw away all of her past association with him? It sure seemed like it, even if it wasn't. He wanted to make his displeasure known.

"No, Cameron, I don't." John said.

The longer he thought about it, the more he disliked Cameron having a 'new name' even more. What was wrong with her old name, her name?

Cameron looked upset. John's attitude instantly bothered her.

She wanted to be 'someone different'. This was her chance to do it. It was her chance to finally get away from it all. Why did John always disrespect her? Why? She thought the matter of the chassis selection was settled. John must want a different sheath. She would need to find Holly again.

"Would you prefer Holly's appearance over Isabel's appearance? I'll inform Holly." Cameron turned to walk away.

John felt Cameron missed the whole point. He wanted her. He wanted all of her. However she was, is how she was.

"Cameron, STOP this. I won't allow you to do this. I want YOU how you are, however you are." John said. "This is unnecessary folly. It can't lead to anything good. You know it as well as I do."

John never witnessed Cameron look so unkempt. She did nothing to groom herself anymore. It was like she'd given up. Maybe she'd given up on him too. Maybe there was nothing to give up.

Cameron saw him look at her. It irritated her even further. It seemed much of what John did always irritated her. She wanted to make her point to John. She was well aware what he concentrated on when they were alone. She might as well start there.

"I no longer wish to remain in this 'damaged' sheath." Cameron said. "Isabel is much prettier than I am or will be. She will be able to 'function' as your wife. She has everything you want and value in a female. Let me show you. We can start down there. I know you spend a lot of time looking at things down there."

Cameron knew what John wanted in a female. She really wasn't sure why John always needed to look so long down there. Every time she checked, nothing was different. It was always the same. She started to pull the sheet off of Isabel.

John reached out and stopped her. What Cameron planned isn't what he wanted. It surely wasn't the way he wanted to do it. If Cameron really wanted to do something of this magnitude, he would see all of her when they were alone and together. Not like a piece of meat on a table to be inspected like an image on the internet.

John's refusal to cooperate with her was very upsetting. She was well acquainted with what John looked at on a female. She was aware of his internet searches. She would view the same images he did. She too soon became fascinated with the differences of every female in her private areas. How could they all be different? It was the same apparatus. She needed to refocus.

"Don't you want to see all of her?" Cameron asked. "John, this is my new body. It's our new body for me, for us. I'll submit as often as you desire. I won't hold back anymore. When you tell me to 'spread', I will. I'll be just like 'warm butter' for you I'll spread so easily."

John didn't like to hear Cameron 'sell' herself short. It wasn't the kind of relationship he wanted, even if it was beneficial to him and his desires. He wanted to make his position clear. He wondered how many times he was going to need to do so.

"No, I'll take you however you are. It's YOU I want, not your body, or certain parts of it. I don't want you to change." John said. "If you feel you MUST. I'll accept you however you are in whatever form, no matter what you can, or can no longer 'do'."

John had enough of the madness. It was clear Cameron and him were on different wavelengths. There wasn't going to be anything productive out of the meeting. If anything, it was only going to create harder feelings and additional animosity. It wasn't his goal. He wasn't the one who summoned her there. He needed a break. He turned to walk out.

Cameron felt he was displeased with Isabel. She hadn't listened to a word he said about his feelings and what he really wanted. She was still fixated on appearance. She knew what motivated and drove John, even if he didn't. She didn't believe he saw a female as more than anything to have sex with. She saw the way he looked at every female. She didn't believe it excluded his mother either. She saw the way he looked at the other Terminators, especially the female ones. She knew what John really wanted.

"I'll talk to Holly…." Cameron started.

John threw his hands up in the air.

"Whatever." John said.

He walked away without looking back.

Cameron was upset John didn't like the choices she provided him with. He seemed very rude and insensitive to her. She didn't believe he understood her. By the nature of her construction, there were unique possibilities open to her. They were possibilities a human female couldn't compete with. It was time to teach him a lesson. Who did he think he was?

It was John's attitude and insulting behavior which made the next part of her decision easy. As the door closed behind John, she decided she would destroy her old chassis and move on. As soon as her current defective chassis was reduced to scrap metal, it could be regulated to the junk pile. It would be the only way to move John forward. Whatever happened to her chassis now was John's fault with his poor attitude and lack of caring about her. It was John's attitude which forced her to make the tough decisions. She really wondered who he thought he was sometimes.

She felt she was someone NOW, not - Nobody. Why wouldn't John allow her to be what she wanted? He didn't 'own' her. Who was he to have any say in what chassis her chip was in? Maybe she should have the chip installed in a male Terminator's chassis. It would be nice to give John a little 'taste' of what she needed to endure for so many years.

Cameron went back over to Isabel. She uncovered her and touched her, all of her. She could hardly wait. Again she looked at every square inch of Isabel. She missed nothing.

She didn't ask herself if what she really wanted was a female lover. Maybe it was what she really desired and didn't know it.

Vanna, Allison, and Jesse all told her only a female could truly satisfy another female. It was because they understood their bodies and how they responded. The information was always present in her mind. It was 'background' noise at this point so she didn't 'hear' it, even as it 'spoke' to her.

She couldn't help but remember how she watched Vanna touch her sheath as it was repaired. It was before the server she was in was connected to it by a tether. She didn't know all the details about Vanna then. What she did know was a loving touch when she saw it. She desperately wanted to feel the loving touch as it was delivered.

John sought out Vanna and Allison. He wanted to be around 'real people' for a while after his unpleasant episode with Cameron. It was like she could hear him, but never actually listened to him. He didn't even consider it was the same way Cameron often felt about him. Maybe it was the fate of all couples.

He was pleased when He found them together. He looked at the beauty in both of them as he approached. They really didn't do anything to make themselves look 'pretty'. They were naturally beautiful. It saddened him somewhat to know why they didn't fix themselves up more.

They seemed pleased to see him. He always noticed Allison's eyes give him a 'once over'. Vanna's eyes never did. It almost made him feel ashamed for the men who'd abused her so cruelly.

Vanna wanted to know more about the attack. She knew the group was drawn to the Tehachapi area so they could be targeted with some of Skynet's deadliest weapons. They could be used out of the 'public eye' in the remote and isolated location. None of it was left to chance. Everything appeared to be specifically targeted.

John and John Henry believed it was to assassinate Cameron. Skynet may not know Allison was a human from another timeline. It may have believed Cameron and Allison were the same individual. As far as their DNA went, they were. It was what was under the skin, or sheath, which was different.

"So you think this was all about destroying or capturing Cameron or Allison?" Vanna asked.

Allison glanced at Vanna. She didn't like the implication. There was clearly a target on her back. It wasn't just her back she was worried about.

John needed to think about the nature of the attack. It seemed very specific to him.

"Yes." John said.

Allison thought about the nature of the attack in what they viewed from the helicopter as they approached.

"If they watched the feed from the drone as everything happened in real time, it would have appeared Cameron was destroyed." Allison said. "It's what we thought too."

Vanna thought about it. Perhaps a chassis swap for Cameron would be a worthwhile event to take the heat off of them. She didn't want Allison to become a target. She was concerned about her long time lover.

"Maybe it would be a good thing if Cameron does change her 'appearance' for a while." Vanna said. "It might throw them off if they think they succeeded. Maybe Allison better stay out of sight as well."

John thought about it for a while. He could hear the logic in Vanna's statement, even if he didn't like it. He was defeated. He needed to think things through.

Maybe Cameron NOT looking like 'Cameron' would save her from termination. She made herself a target of Skynet by always communicating with it when she destroyed it. Cameron wanted to take the heat off of Sarah and him as a threat. She put it square on herself and became the target. It meant Allison also became a target by extension.

John needed to look at the reality of the situation. He needed to think about the safety of their entire group.

"I'll tell Cameron to do as she wishes." John said. "You may be correct."

Vanna and Allison glanced at each other, like John's 'approval' would matter to Cameron…. They could see he still didn't 'get it' or understand her. There was no point in them trying to explain it further to him. Their words, like Cameron's, fell on deaf ears.

John looked disgusted, angry, and upset. He hadn't taken it out on Allison or Vanna. He decided to leave before he did.

Allison softly touched John's arm as he got up.

John felt the touch as if it was an electrical impulse. It was more than a touch, even if it's all it was.

"John, I'll be here for you, for 'anything'." Allison whispered.

John knew what she meant. Her arms would welcome him, as her body 'received' him. He tried to redirect the meaning.

"I know, Allison." John said. "I may need your DNA."

Allison glanced at Vanna and still held her ground and reaffirmed her position. She wasn't ashamed or bothered by any future activities which may ensue.

"Take whatever you need or want…. I'll do anything for Cameron and you." Allison said. "Anything, John…."

John looked at Allison before he left. John knew he could have 'Cameron' again whenever he wanted her. Allison was beautiful….

Vanna was irritated somewhat by Allison's offer. It was clear exactly what she offered. She did understand the nature of the situation and the complications involved with it. Maybe it was one way for them to start a family as well. She didn't want to say anything.

She did know it was a game two could play when it came down to it. It may not have been by choice, but over the years she learned a number of skills on how to please a male in the Wastelands. It only took one look at the head of another female, which was blown open, who didn't carry out the instructions she was given good enough. She always made sure she was good enough. It was about survival. She did what she needed to do to survive.

Cameron returned to the lab. It was time to move everything forward. She conducted one last inspection. The current one was mechanical.

She examined the port in Isabel's neck.

"That's nice work, Mr. Murch." Cameron said.

Mr. Murch was always a little uneasy around Cameron. She reminded him too much of Mrs. Weaver at times. He was aware she was responsible for many terminations. He didn't want to be one of them.

"Vanna and the others all helped." Mr. Murch said. "We checked over everything on Holly as well."

Cameron could see there were still options available to her.

"Thank you." Cameron said.

Mr. Murch left.

Holly entered the lab. Cameron summoned her to assist her.

"Are we ready?" Holly asked.

Cameron wanted to take things to the next level. She wanted to make sure everyone was on board.

"Yes." Cameron said. "Are you sure?"

Holly didn't think she was the one who needed to be sure.

"Yes." Holly said. "ARE YOU sure?" Holly asked.

Cameron made her decision. It was final.

It was time to get started. Things didn't get done thinking about them.

Cameron plugged a cable into the back of Isabel's neck and plugged it into the server. She plugged a cable into the back of Holly's neck and plugged it into the server.

Holly plugged a cable into the back of Cameron's neck and plugged it into the server. The chip Cameron kept in reserve was connected to the server as well.

All the pieces and players were present.

Allison and Vanna felt very sad for Cameron and John. They knew where Cameron and Holly were at now. They weren't invited to be part of the process. They watched Mr. Murch all but run from the lab as soon as he was done. They saw him glance back over his shoulder once.

"They're in there doing it now." Allison said.

Vanna looked sadly over at the lab door.

"I can't believe Cameron is doing this to herself." Vanna said.

The love burned bright in Allison's tear filled eyes.

"I'll still love her however, or whoever, she is…." Allison said.

Vanna felt only she really understood the 'real' Cameron.

"We all will, even John." Vanna said. "I loved her on her server. THAT was My Cameron."

The profound sadness of the girls grew.

The transfer procedure continued.

Holly finished the chip installation. The transfers were completed as Cameron asked her. She felt there was more to it than she could currently remember, even though it just occurred. She disconnected all three of them from the server.

It was time to see what happened.

Isabel rebooted. Her eyes opened. She smiled at Holly.

Holly was a little bit surprised to be greeted with a smile.

"Cameron?" Holly asked.

Isabel-Cameron frowned a little.

"My name is Isabel." Isabel-Cameron corrected her. "Cameron has been terminated."

Holly's next words carried more than one meaning.

"I'm sorry." Holly said.

Isabel-Cameron stood and touched her body as she moved around. She looked very pleased.

"This is better than I hoped." Isabel-Cameron said. "Look at how perky I am."

Holly watched as Isabel-Cameron examined everything about her new chassis, again. She'd even brought a hand mirror to see 'everything' as it was. It seemed to make her smile the most.

Isabel-Cameron got dressed with the clothes 'Cameron' brought for her to wear earlier. They were the clothes she brought in reality.

Holly looked at Cameron's former and deactivated chassis.

"What about her?" Holly asked.

Isabel-Cameron looked at her former chassis with disgust.

"It's a piece of trash." Isabel-Cameron said. "It will be disposed of. Nobody would want it anyway…."

Holly looked sad.

Isabel-Cameron wanted to move things along. There was no point delaying what needed to be done next.

"Bring what I instructed you to obtain and let's do it." Isabel-Cameron said as she looked at her former chassis. "It's time to take out the TRASH."

Isabel-Cameron roughly picked up the unmoving form of her former self, 'Cameron'. The contempt she seemed to feel for it was obvious.

They left the lab. Holly carried some weapons and held the doors for them.

Isabel-Cameron went to the storage area and threw her former chassis in a corner. It impacted the wall with a heavy thud. She moved forward and kicked 'Cameron' in the face with her foot. Her head snapped back at a crazy angle. It then rolled off to one side and rested on her shoulder.

"I HATE YOU." Isabel-Cameron said.

She looked at Holly. "Give it to me - NOW."

Holly didn't agree with what was about to happen. She did as Isabel-Cameron instructed her. She loaded an acid round into an M79.

Holly handed Isabel-Cameron the loaded M79.

Isabel-Cameron looked at her former chassis with contempt and disgust.

"I HATE YOU." Isabel-Cameron repeated.

Holly watched Isabel-Cameron point the M79 at 'Cameron's' face. She was a little concerned about being in such close proximity to what was about to occur. She was glad there wasn't an HE round involved. The round which would be used was bad enough.

"The acid round will severely damage the unit." Holly said.

Isabel-Cameron smiled.

"Not as much as the Thermite grenade will. You'll hand it to me next." Isabel-Cameron said.

Holly could see Isabel-Cameron was on the 'edge'. She was concerned for her own safety at this point. It was the only reason she agreed to assist Isabel-Cameron. She didn't want to be next.

Isabel-Cameron was tired of waiting around. It was time to take things to the next level. She wanted to make sure Holly wasn't damaged.

"Step back." Isabel-Cameron said.

Holly was horrified.

Isabel-Cameron aimed the M79 at the face of her former chassis and pulled the trigger….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Start Anew

We have survived
Against death's embrace
Despite confusion, guilt
Blame, shame and disgrace

Look your attacker
Square in the face
Spit in their eyes
Laugh in their face

They only can hurt us
They can not kill us dead
Only WE can do that
Please choose life instead

Remember dearest
Nobody KNOWS your pain
I will listen and comfort
I do not want you to slain

If you decide you must die
Let me take your place instead
I will forfeit my life for yours
For without you I am dead

Let it be only one death
Me instead of you
May it free you from the demons
So you may start anew

Nobody