Chapter 213

His Wife Too

John, Bob, and Dan brought down an HK drone and terminated a dozen individuals, including a female Terminator.

The carnage on the tarmac wasn't very pretty. John needed to check out the rest of the facility. They needed to use caution. There could still be others in hiding or an ambush waiting for them. Their job wasn't finished yet.

John and his team entered the hangar. There was another larger drone under construction. It was like the one Isabel was in. Bob brought it down with a LAW rocket as it began to make its second attack. It was the drone Bob brought down at Keene near Tehachapi.

They saw it could take a pilot. It actually contained a cockpit with a canopy. There was also a set of controls. It appeared it could operate autonomously like a normal drone, or be controlled by a pilot. It was something new. It was the second example of this design they encountered.

John was no expert, but what he looked at seemed rather unrefined. It looked like something someone built in their garage.

"How close is this thing to being finished?" John asked. "It looks like junk."

Bob looked it over and agreed. It appeared someone tried to modify a HK drone and make it a little larger so it could take a pilot, or at least a passenger.

"It looks like it's a long way from completion and is very crude. The smaller drone was a Skynet offshoot. The Skyshield stuff is junk." Bob said. "I'm not sure why there needs to be any deviation from the efficient design of a standard HK drone."

The evidence still indicated Skynet involvement. It may be overt or clandestine. They hadn't established exactly what it was yet.

John wondered if it was some type of military requirement for the drone to have a pilot. He agreed with Bob, the standard HK drone design was already an efficient killing machine.

"Well, if there were two Terminators working with them, Skynet is involved somehow." John said. "It was done for a reason. What we're looking at is here for a reason."

Bob looked at some of the machinery in the hangar. There were a few sub assemblies in different places.

"This is a new design, even if it is crude." Bob said. "I think everything is being hand fabricated."

John nodded as he looked it over. Since they hadn't encountered any additional hostile personnel, he wanted to wrap things up. If there were two Terminators involved with the operation they knew of, there could always be more.

"I need Dan and you drag the people from outside in here. We'll blow this whole place." John said. "Load the female Terminator in one of their vehicles. We'll take her back. Move the rest of the vehicles inside here. Let me look for any hidden computer servers."

Bob and Dan scanned the inside of the hangar one more time for any possible threats. None were detected. They set out to accomplish the tasks John assigned them.

John looked around but found nothing major at first. He was in an office area near the end of his search. There were only a few desktop computers. He quickly removed the hard drives from them. It didn't seem like enough. He was sure with the construction of the HK drones, there should be some additional computer equipment.

He took a moment to look around the interior of the room. There was a wall with only a painting on it, and nothing else in front of it. The rest of the room seemed cluttered. Something there seemed out of place to him. He went to the wall and looked it over. There were some scuff marks on the floor. Some 'red flags' went off in his head. He quickly backed away from the wall.

He looked for Bob or Dan. He couldn't see either of them offhand. He set the hard drives down on a desk and drew his Glock. He kept the 9MM pointed at the wall as he looked around it. He could feel a slight draft at the bottom. He was sure it was a 'door', and not a wall. It was clearly something someone didn't want to be easily found.

It made him wonder what was behind the 'wall'. Was it some version of Skynet? Was it Skyshield? Maybe there was a Gray, or a group of them. They could have weapons pointed at him right now. The bullets would tear through the wall or door as if it was tissue paper. The bullets would do the same thing to his body.

He looked around and found the latch, or what he thought was the latch to open it. He was pretty sure there were no Terminators inside or they would have come out to fight by now. He activated the latch and there was a 'click' sound. It seemed very loud in the quiet of the office.

He wasn't sure if the 'door' swung in or out. He held his Glock ready and pushed on the 'door'. Nothing happened. There was nothing to pull on to pull it open. There was nothing to push on to slide it.

He went back to the latch and flipped it back and forth a few times. There were some 'click' noises but nothing else happened.

John took one look in back of him at the hidden 'door'. He also considered the possibility there were one or more individuals inside holding it in the closed position.

He looked for Bob or Dan again. He still didn't see them even though he heard them moving things around. He was a little frustrated at this point.

Bob saw most everything was ready to burn. He looked around for John. Where was he? He made a quick sweep of the hangar and ended up at the office area.

He spotted John holding his Glock in his hand. He immediately sensed danger. He moved boldly into the room John was in. He was ready for combat.

John motioned for him to remain quiet. He held his index finger to his lips. With his free hand he pointed at the wall. He indicated where the latch was at.

Bob understood the situation. There was a hidden compartment or chamber. It was possible there were Grays inside. He moved over to where John pointed. John moved around him to the other side. His Glock remained pointed at the wall.

He looked over at John and tried the latch. There didn't seem to be anything else. He pushed on the 'door' himself now. There was a splintering of wood and breaking of drywall. A section of the 'wall' broke off. He quickly smashed through the breach and entered the room. He held his Glock in one hand and Taser in the other. There were no targets.

"It's clear." Bob said.

John moved forward and stepped on the debris to go inside.

There were several large computer banks set up. It looked like a major find.

"Did we hit the jackpot?" John asked.

Bob began to look through the equipment.

"Everything is gone." Bob said.

John looked too. He didn't like what he saw. Actually, he didn't like what he didn't see even more.

"They moved the mainframe out of here." John said. "At least all the hardware which made the mainframe, it's all gone."

The removal of the equipment appeared to be fairly recent.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

Bob's statement made John smile. It never got old.

They looked around the room. There was nothing of value.

John collected the hard drives he removed from the desktop computers.

Bob took them from him. He wanted to put them with some of the other items they planned to take with them.

"I'll put these with the salvageable phones we collected." Bob said.

They went back out into the hangar. Dan was in the process of photographing the manned drone.

"I'm done here." Dan said.

John wondered if they should attempt to take the crudely constructed manned drone or not. They didn't have anything available to load it into. There was no type of truck or trailer available. They wouldn't be able to take the remains of the HK drone Bob shot down either. It seemed their best course of action would be to make sure everything was destroyed. They didn't know who or what else was associated with the group they took down.

"Let's wrap it up." John said.

Bob put the hard drives in a backpack along with the phones he'd deactivated.

"There are just a few more things." Bob said. "Wait outside."

John went out. There was one SUV sitting there with the female Terminator in the back. He set the backpack in the back. He took a moment to look at the damaged female Terminator. He realized it could be Cameron in the same condition on one of her operations where she went out alone.

Maybe when they got her back to the lab, and Cameron looked her over, he would point it out to her. It was a very real possibility. They were actually quite lucky it hadn't already happened. He didn't really want to think about it. He took one last look at the female Terminator and closed the door.

They moved any remaining ordnance into the hangar and torched it. The explosion should destroy everything when it happened.

Dan drove the appropriated SUV with the new female Terminator in it. Bob and John followed him in their own SUV. They could see, and then hear, the massive explosion behind them as they headed away from the area.

John Henry would set up surveillance to watch the area and see who came looking to check on it.

John looked forward to paying them a 'visit' when they did. They needed to find out where the computer equipment was moved to from the hidden compartment. There was no way to know if they already encountered it at one of the locations they previously took down, or if it was something they still needed to find.

Like everything Skynet related this chapter may be closed, but the book was far from being finished. It would never be finished. There would always be some new version of Skynet to pop back up somewhere.

The new operation showed Skynet still tried to expand and get a foothold in any government systems where it could. They really wondered where the contents of the empty mainframe they found ended up at. They would probably encounter it soon enough. If they were lucky it would be one of the ones they'd already taken down. There was just no way to know.

Holly and Allison went up to the door as Isabel and Young Allison opened it.

Young Allison ran to Allison. She called her 'Cammy'.

Allison felt a little deflated. 'She' didn't recognize 'herself'. She figured Young Allison picked the name 'Cammy' up from Savannah. It was a term of endearment Savannah used with Cameron.

"No sweetie, it's me, Allison." Allison said with a big smile.

Young Allison looked a little less happy.

"Cammy?" Young Allison asked as she looked around.

Allison thought maybe Cameron would show up later on at some point.

"Maybe later on, it's just me for now." Allison said. "I guess I'm just a second place winner."

Claire greeted both of them when Young Allison was 'done'. Young Allison actually asked the questions she wanted to know as well.

Allison and Holly said hello to Claire.

Claire was very pleased to see both of them. She gave Holly a once over, and then did it again. She knew beauty when she saw it.

Allison took Young Allison off to play.

Claire looked at both of them as they went off. She really wondered how they could look so much the same. She might not have noticed it at first, but every time they were together, she couldn't help but notice it now. Allison really looked like her Allison, just older. Maybe it was just her imagination.

Isabel and Holly helped put the items from the store away and then they went to Isabel's room.

Claire watched them when they left. She noticed they closed the door behind them. She remembered Cameron said Isabel only had 'female friends'. She really wished she had a few 'female friends' who looked like either one of them. She couldn't believe how beautiful the girls were.

Holly felt more than a little uneasy when the door closed.

Isabel took out a cable.

Holly stopped her. She wanted to say something but couldn't think what she wanted to say, or how. She didn't want to divulge her new found sexual freedom.

Isabel was 'Cameron'. She knew where things were going. She saw them move away from each other when they arrived.

"Holly, it's OK. It's what you both wanted." Isabel said. "I wanted it as well for you two."

Holly was a little surprised.

"You know?" Holly asked.

Holly was apprehensive, but not embarrassed.

Isabel didn't think it was a big deal. She, well, Cameron, was the one who helped set the stage for both Allison and Holly. She believed it was something they both needed.

"I'm 'Cameron' too." Isabel said. "I know what you wanted. I know what you BOTH wanted. It's in our programming to seek a mate to blend in. It's to learn to become a better infiltrator. The closer to a human we are, makes our detection very much harder. We have our own discretion over who we choose. Sometimes we are chosen. Don't transfer those files of yourself and Allison onto my chip. They belong to you alone. They're special to you. I don't want them. I want you to cherish them. They will be the first of many. Each new one will be more special than the last. I'm very happy for you."

Holly could understand a lot of things better now. It was the case of someone not really being able to understand something until it happened to them. Sometimes people think they 'know' how something is, but in reality they don't. She better understood why they were some things Duplicate Cameron didn't share with her when she was on her chip for fifteen months.

"Thank you, I hope so." Holly said. "I understand why you didn't share all of your personal files with me before. They're very special. I now appreciate you allowing me to experience 'it' on my own. Thank you for allowing it. It was what you always said you wanted for me. You always know what's best."

Isabel's program was Cameron's program. There were times when she really wondered if she did know what was best or not. She tried to do what she thought was the correct or proper thing most of the time. There were times when she cut corners where she knew she shouldn't.

Holly turned around and Isabel plugged in the cable. Then she did so for Isabel. To her, sharing with 'Cameron' was like a form of mental 'sex'. It was the type of 'feeling', but in a different way. She knew both mental and physical sex now. Life was good for her. She was happy.

Isabel showed her the file she made planning the 'replacement' of Claire and the 'elimination' of Paul.

All Holly could find was the regular 'Cameron' programming. Perhaps it all stemmed back to Cameron's earlier desire to take Young Allison into 'protective custody', or as her own daughter.

They both knew Cameron already was dealing with enough problems.

Isabel felt worried, as well as embarrassed. She wasn't sure how to best deal with it. She didn't want any trace of what she thought to remain.

"Please remove all traces of the file, Holly. I don't want Cameron to know I thought of it." Isabel said. "I'm very ashamed of it."

Isabel's decision seemed unnecessary and worrisome to Holly. She thought Cameron should know. It was possible Cameron could have the same thought as well. There wouldn't be any calming influence on Cameron's chip either as there was on Isabel's chip.

"But you ARE 'Cameron'." Holly said. "Are you sure you want to lie to yourself?"

Isabel felt a little confusion over it. She didn't think it was lying to herself until Holly mentioned it. Now it seemed like it was. She knew from the start she was only a copy of Cameron. It always put her in second place. She was aware there weren't any second place winners. She didn't know it was a similar thought Allison experienced a short time ago.

"No, I'm not. I'm equal to Cameron, but I must be subservient to her. If I'm not, there would be another 'problem'." Isabel said. "It's why 'you' are part of the programming here on my chip with me, to help stop me from hurting these fine people, or Young Allison."

Holly was sure having 'two Camerons' was going to be a mistake. She was sure it would get out of hand again. This type of thinking was the start of it. She felt it was important Cameron knew.

"I'll have Cameron interface with you directly about it." Holly said. "You need to not keep secrets from 'yourself'. How long will it be until you decide to reprogram yourself, Isabel?"

Isabel didn't want to end her existence. She wanted to expand it if possible. She knew certain sacrifices would need to be made in order to do her job to protect Young Allison.

"I don't know. I look forward to Cameron's visit. I need my alone time files with John. I'll keep this copy of myself as long as I can personally protect Young Allison for John." Isabel said. "I want to be with John in this chassis. I'm his wife too. I am 'Cameron'. I miss John."

Isabel really hoped Cameron would share John with her. They were the same program, even if the sheath was diffident. Since they updated often, their programs were almost always identical. She was just as much 'Cameron' as Cameron was.

It sounded more like a worsening problem to Holly. There was always one thing which would justify it at the end of the day.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Holly said.

Cameron returned from her endeavor with the five terminated thugs and the two vans. She gleaned all the information from their phones as to where they operated out of. She still needed to pay the location a visit and take care of business.

Since the thugs disappeared without a trace, it was going to leave more than a few unanswered questions for their overseers. There were more pressing matters to attend to at the Resistance base.

Cameron learned the recon John went on turned 'hot'. She wasn't pleased they acted without her, and more support. She added the vans to her collection and was headed for the base. She would gather whatever she could from the crime syndicate as she terminated it. It would be a new challenge. When she faced a challenge she didn't glitch. Perhaps when she did what she was constructed for, everything operated as it should within her systems. She was constructed to terminate humans. The danger seemed to quell the inner turbulence she felt at times.

She knew she needed to do something about Isabel. At some point they would have a problem. The protection of Young Allison was more important right now. She couldn't be with the Young family, and be able to watch over John at the same time as 'Cameron'. She knew she needed to share her alone time files of John with Isabel. Isabel was her. At some point Isabel would want to be with John. She knew Isabel would want to be. If her chip was in Isabel's chassis, it's what she would want, and feel entitled to.

She was unsure what to do about it. Maybe she would have Holly actually swap the chips for a few days a month. If she did, only her chassis would be touched by John. John seemed to have a 'hang up' about what made Cameron - 'Cameron'. She noticed her left hand began to glitch. Holly was there to help Isabel's program in case Isabel glitched. Holly wasn't allowed to share those personal files.

Cameron tried to steer Holly and Allison towards each other. She hoped it worked out. She couldn't share herself with either of them as 'herself'. It was what they both wanted. She was sure it was what everyone wanted. She still didn't think she was anything special.

She tried to help those who she could. Right now it was Holly and Allison. They both needed each other right now. She always tried to help everyone be happy and get what they desired in whatever way she could facilitate it. She actually enjoyed matchmaking. Then again, maybe she just enjoyed manipulating people. She also realized she was 'pimping' Allison out again, this time it was to Holly. It didn't bother her much. She wasn't sure why. The bottom line was Allison would be better protected for John.

Protecting John was her primary function. Those around her were all 'tools' to help her accomplish the goal. She needed to protect the future. Protecting John protected the future. She would attempt to protect as many of the others as she could as well.

Cameron was worried about herself. All the manipulation made her wonder. It made her wonder about her future. She wondered when she would become 'Skynet'. It disturbed her so.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Condescend

I seem to have a way
When a message I send
To upset some with words
That I have spoken or penned

When I seek to communicate
I'm not trying to offend
To try to be someone different
I would have to pretend

Others have beliefs
With which I must contend
However my own beliefs
I'll always justify and defend

I'll do what I can
To patch, fix or amend
For events that occur
Causing problems I didn't intend

If I had more
Would there be less to spend
Life is but a blurry fog
Each moment harder to comprehend

Whatever I seek
I can't apprehend
Everything with a start
Will surely have an end

Others look up
A route to ascend
The only path for me
Into darkness will descend

There's only myself
On which I need depend
As time endlessly ticks on
Nobody is my friend

Nobody