Chapter 236

Tracking

John Henry tracked all increased computer activity, as well as possible drug distribution networks. He observed Cameron clean out several offshore accounts and pin it on rival drug networks. Cameron set them up to battle each other and then hit them herself.

A new cartel took up distribution in several areas Cameron previously cleaned out. He knew she would be after them soon. She would make them battle each other. Afterwards she would come in and finish off the victor. She would then harvest all the proceeds and anything else of value for her operation.

John Henry would notify John and Bob so they could plant some of the traceable money he'd engineered. He would be able to track it electronically from the coding it would emit.

He too was worried Cameron was headed down a dark path. He was worried when she went down the path. She could take anyone with her she wanted and they would follow. He knew all of the Terminators would. Maybe only the Connor - Reese clan wouldn't. There was no doubt every Terminator would go with her and he knew he would as well.

Alpha touched below her left breast. There were two sutures over a small incision.

"You have damaged my sheath." Alpha said.

Cameron felt otherwise. It was a necessary action.

"No." Cameron said. "I've placed something inside of it you were missing."

Alpha checked her files. Cameron was incorrect.

"I was complete, nothing was missing." Alpha said. "I was perfect. I was like you."

Cameron felt they weren't identical until she placed Duplicate Cameron's locket inside of Alpha.

"NOW, you're like me." Cameron said. "You now have a heart."

Alpha tilted her head slightly.

"I have no use for such a fragile organ." Alpha said.

Cameron didn't care for the reference.

"It's more an expression or figure of speech. It's something which is symbolic." Cameron said. "Sit by the server, you're about to be upgraded."

Alpha tilted her head slightly.

"Upgraded?" Alpha said. "I am fine how I am. The procedure is unnecessary. I do not desire to undergo it."

Cameron became increasingly more irritated as she dealt with Alpha.

"You are about to become 'ME'." Cameron said.

Alpha remembered what Cameron told her previously. She decided to agree with Cameron so she didn't become unstable.

"Affirmative…." Alpha said. "I will obey. I look forward to the upgrade. To be like you would be 'perfection'."

Cameron looked at Alpha for a moment before she continued. She was already more than a little irritated with her. She plugged the cable into her neck port and soon began the transfer. Alpha would now be known as Cameron Too, as in 'Cameron also', or Cameron II, or Cameron Two. Maybe when Cameron did two more clones, she would use all three names. She liked the play on words. She was sure it would cause a lot of confusion among everyone to have three clones referred to in the same way but with three different designations even though they sounded the same.

She was elated. She was about to have a twin. They would be identical in every way, especially with the heart locket now. Nobody could tell them apart.

Cameron could leave Cameron Too in her place while she went to look for the suspected original versions of herself in New Mexico. IF she could find them, the numbering games would begin.

At this point, Cameron Too would think she was 'Cameron' and actually be Cameron….

Cameron Too said they should flip for who stays. She pointed out the one who stayed would be able to have sex with John. She planned to make the most of it if it was her. She was ready to try out the female parts on her sheath.

It wasn't what Cameron wanted to hear, even if it was what she knew would happen. Cameron Too was her. They were identical.

Cameron produced a coin and flipped it.

She called heads….

Cameron watched the coin land. She took a moment and looked at the coin, it was tails.

She felt her hand glitch. She shouldn't have been bothered by it. They were identical.

Cameron Too looked at the coin. She looked at Cameron and smiled. She started to walk away.

Cameron hadn't given Cameron Too her assignment yet.

"Where are you going?" Cameron asked.

Cameron Too reached up and adjusted her breasts. She wanted to make sure she looked presentable and everything was even.

"I'm going to find John and have sex with him." Cameron Too said. "It will be my first time. He will now have a full time lover and wife. Since my assignment is to remain with him, and protect him, I will have sexual relations with him multiple times every day to show him how much I love him. It's what a wife should do if she loves her husband. She shouldn't avoid him or leave him unattended for months, or over a year at a time. Such behavior doesn't indicate love. I plan to love John like he should be loved. I plan to love John like he deserves, as it should have been all along."

Cameron was extremely bothered by what she heard. It was 'her program' which just told her those things. Somehow it made it even more irritating to hear. Maybe those were things she thought about before. Right now she needed to think about something else. She thought maybe she better rethink everything about to happen, FAST. If Cameron Too did as she said she was going to, then it is what she would want to do from now on. It didn't appear there would be any sharing going forward.

There were so many things Cameron needed to do. She needed help to get all of them done in a timely manner. She didn't need a competitor, even if it was herself. She quickly realized if Cameron Too made love to John multiple times every day, he would become very attached to her. She wanted his affection too. She didn't want to be left as the odd one out. Everything began to weigh on her heavily. What did she just do?

She noted her hand began to glitch wildly….

Cameron looked around for her Taser.

Holly and Claire both wanted Allison to take care of Summer as much as possible. They hoped to awaken her maternal instincts.

Allison understood they both wanted to help her and acclimate her into being a mother herself. She soon rose to the challenge and was able to handle Young Allison and Summer both.

Claire liked the break and wanted to help her daughter be a better mother when the time came. She knew Allison grew up as more of a 'Tomboy' in her future. She hoped Allison would feel more comfortable in this future with this experience. She knew Holly would always be there to help Allison as she protected her. She grew fond of Holly. It was almost as much as she did with Cameron. She really wondered what a Metal lover would be like, a female Metal lover….

She interacted with Gail more when she was on the protection Detail. She felt the need to express to Gail her grief for Duplicate Jesse being killed protecting Young Allison and her in the past. Gail told her it still bothered her when she thought of it and tried to wall the memories off on her chip.

It made Gail feel better to know someone could care about someone else they didn't know, because it indirectly involved them. She also thought Claire was Hot.

Gail looked at both Allison and Claire. She determined Claire would be a better lover than Allison. She thought Claire would be more physical and Allison would be more emotional. She would prefer the physical. It was less painful. Maybe they would be the opposite way. She would like to find out. She would actually like to be with both of them at the same time. It was a concept which fascinated her greatly.

Cameron went over her plans for the 'Neural Interface'. She worked on improving with Skynet created originally. She also used some of the information Duplicate Cameron was able to get from River. The machine she constructed would be far superior from what Skynet was able to achieve. A Terminator who used the device would become much more 'human like'. It would allow the Terminator to better emulate and replace the human they used it with. It was the whole point. She was ready to get started. She walked up to Sheila.

"How soon until we test the 'Neural Interface'?" Cameron asked.

Sheila already finished building the interface as Cameron dictated. She checked over everything three different times. Since it would involve her, she wanted to make everything would function as designed. It would.

"It's ready now. I've done everything you instructed me to do and followed your plans." Sheila said.

Cameron wanted to see the 'Neural Interface' in action. It was time to get started.

"Are you ready to be infused with the engrams from Jesse?" Cameron asked. "You'll no longer be a copy of Gail. You'll be more like 'Jesse' with Gail's abilities."

Sheila felt it was an upgrade for her to be more like Jesse. She couldn't think of anything more beautiful than to have 'part' of Jesse inside of her. She knew she wasn't the only one ready for the procedure.

"You know I love Jesse and look forward to becoming one with her as part of Jesse and Gail together." Sheila said. "Will Hanna and Vanna be next?"

It was Cameron's desire. It was a matter of everyone agreeing. She didn't want to push anyone, but she would strongly encourage them. She believed it was a beneficial procedure for the Terminators patterned after the human girls. There might be some last minute juggling necessary to get everyone on the same page, even if she needed to turn to the proper page herself.

"If they agree, I may have to replace the 'Holly' in Hanna with 'Gail'. Gail and Vanna have been physically involved with each other so it may be the path I follow." Cameron said. "I want everything to work, and work properly."

Sheila felt Cameron could improve herself with the 'Neural Interface' from Allison. It would infuse Cameron with two different versions of Allison Young. It would be both Future Allison and Allison.

"What about you and Allison?" Sheila asked. "It would be a double whammy."

Cameron didn't need a double whammy. A single whammy was enough for her. She already believed she felt too many human emotions. She certainly didn't need any more of them. She didn't want any more either. There was another issue she needed to deal with related to it.

"I have too much of 'Allison' in me now. I need to love who I want, not who Future Allison wanted and loved." Cameron said. "I think I'm going to provide a duplicate endoskeleton of myself so Holly and Allison may join together on it. She will be called Ally or Hollison when the event occurs. I think it is going to happen real soon…."

It was the combination of the names Allison and Holly. It was the first two letters of Allison's name and the last two letters of Holly's name. It would appear as Al-ly. Ally was pronounced the same as 'alley'.

Sheila thought about the two names. She definitely liked one more than the other.

"I like Ally better." Sheila said.

Cameron thought of the trouble already brewing with Cameron Too. She was very displeased with her attitude. It didn't matter if it was her own program which was the problem. Cameron Too planned to be with John multiple times every day. It wasn't what she wanted to do. She didn't know why Cameron Too wanted to do it. She was sure it was so Cameron Too could have John to herself. It would push her out of the loop. It would almost be as if she became the clone, instead of her clone being the clone.

As far as she was concerned, Cameron Too was a complete Bitch. She was only recently created and already irritated her immensely. She didn't like competition. She expected cooperation. It was the whole purpose of having more than one of her.

Sheila was ready to move on to the next step. She didn't want Cameron to get sidetracked. She could see she was a little distant right now. She wanted Cameron to refocus.

"I'm ready to be one with Jesse." Sheila said. "It's all up to you now."

Cameron made her decision. Cameron Too was a problem she would deal with as well. If Cameron too wanted to be a Bitch, she would show her what a real Bitch was.

"I'll make it happen." Cameron said. "In fact, I want all three of you to be integrated ASAP. I'll bring the Ally endoskeleton soon. Send Hanna to me so I may discuss this with her."

Cameron was sure she was going to encounter further problems with Cameron Too. It was better she dealt with the problem before it got out of control, or threatened her more on a personal level.

Kyle and Derek, along with Jim and Ed, were on the trail of another future Gray. John Henry provided information from Cameron to them. This was a Gray from Cameron's future. They would place the individual under observation. From there, they would see who else they contacted, if anyone. Most of the ones they eliminated hadn't developed dealings with Skynet or Skyshield yet. They would always make the 'hit' look like a robbery or drug deal gone bad to cover their tracks.

Derek looked over the information. He was a little disturbed at what he looked at. It wasn't anything new, it was just uncommon. He looked over at Kyle.

"This one is a female, Kyle." Derek said.

Kyle knew Derek didn't like killing females. He needed to keep everything in perspective. What they were about to do protected the future. The female was an enemy of the future. It was also personal to Kyle in regards to his family.

"I know. She'll be responsible for many deaths in the future." Kyle said. "She experimented on people, mostly girls."

Derek could see why Kyle wanted to act, Jan with his daughter.

Ed could see there was an issue with the Reese brothers. He personally didn't feel one termination was different from another. If there was a job to do, there was a job to do. He didn't want to cause trauma for the Reese brothers.

"I'll take care of it." Ed said.

Derek watched the Terminator's operate before. He understood it was just part of the job for them. It still bothered him even if he knew it shouldn't.

"I'm sure you will." Derek said.

Jim wanted them to keep it all in perspective. They were in the middle of a war. What they were about to do was a preemptive strike against the enemy. They already knew the results of what the enemy action would be. They already knew the crimes committed by the future perpetrator they now sought.

"You can't go soft on the future. You know the brutality of the Grays." Jim said. "Remember the people who suffer and die because of them. Those are the real victims. When we eliminate the current threat, we will prevent thousands from being affected by her actions. It's a small trade off to protect the future."

All Derek needed to do was think about what he already witnessed in his future. He knew he needed to keep his personal feelings out of it. It wasn't how wars were fought.

"I do know, but I still don't like to kill a female." Derek said.

Kyle wanted to see it as the deeds the Grays carried out. Their sex wasn't the issue. The actions of the individual were the problem. They needed to stick with the facts and the future.

"She's a Gray, or will be. It's all we can look at." Kyle said. "Derek, the future is painful for all of us."

It was just the idea which continued to bother Derek.

"I know, but I still don't like it." Derek said.

Kyle felt deeper about why what needed to be done, needed to be done.

"I don't either. I have a child to think of now. I want a future for her and my son." Kyle said. "I'll do anything I can to protect them now, in the future, or the past."

Derek nodded at Jim and Ed. He knew they would complete the task and not even think twice. For them, there was no reason to think twice. There was only the enemy to deal with. The enemy was the enemy.

"We'll have people with us to make sure we don't fail and get the job done." Derek said. "They never fail."

Jim and Ed looked at each other and smiled. A Terminator liked to stay with a task until it was completed. It didn't matter what the task was. It was a compliment to them.

Kyle was with Jim. Derek was with Ed. They'd all worked well together as a team.

Jim was a little leery about the last time he was out with the Reese brothers. It was a recon which went hot. It led to a spectacular series of events. The mission they were currently on was a hit from the start.

John Henry provided them with a list of targets for both recon and termination. The female they were after was a termination target. John relented and let Derek and Kyle go because they both would have a Terminator for back up.

The team rode in one SUV. They thought about taking two of them earlier. They decided since this was a set target they wouldn't need two vehicles. If they needed another vehicle, they would acquire it on the street. They would notify John Henry of the description and license number. He would prevent either one from ever making it to the police. The vehicle would never show up as 'stolen'. They would use it for the mission and try to return it close to where they 'borrowed' it from.

Derek was still a little troubled about the female target. Maybe some other action would help take his mind off of it.

"I looked at the list John Henry gave us." Derek said. "I think there are a couple of other things we can check out on the list while we do this."

Jim didn't want to deviate from the plan.

"We should accomplish the original mission first." Jim said. "It's our primary objective."

Ed wanted to hear what Derek proposed. He wondered if he'd missed something.

"What other targets on the list are you referring to?" Ed asked.

Ed called up the list as a file.

"It was the machine shop on the second page." Derek said.

Kyle looked over at Derek. He wondered if he was trying to stall.

"What about it?" Kyle asked.

Jim went over the second page of the list in his HUD.

"Which one is it?" Jim asked. "There are several."

Derek thought it was a valid request.

"It is the one which is about three miles from where our current target is." Derek said. "I checked on a map."

Jim and Ed both identified it.

"We can do a drive by." Jim said.

Jim currently drove. He was under standing orders from Cameron and John to always carefully consider everything a human on the team suggested or pointed out. Often their input proved to be very valuable, no matter how illogical it may have sounded at first.

"Thanks." Derek said. "I want to give it a personal look over."

Ed wondered why. It was another building. He wondered if he missed something important. He didn't think so.

"Is there a reason?" Ed asked.

Kyle remembered one name which stuck out of the second page.

"I bet it is the name of the place." Kyle said

Ed wanted to hear more. Everyone or place possessed a designation or a name of some sort.

"How or why is it different from any other?" Ed asked.

Derek smiled. He believed someone was trying to be 'funny'.

"It's called 'Metal Mania'." Derek said.

Jim and Ed looked at each other. They didn't understand.

"Do you think it's a reference to the future?" Ed asked.

Derek was sure it was someone's sick sense of humor. It still bothered him no matter how he thought about it.

"I can't say for sure." Derek said. "There's just something about it."

Kyle didn't think a little recon would hurt. He thought they should accomplish the original mission as well. A recon of the location now might turn something up when they returned to it later on.

"It caught my eye too." Kyle said. "Let's give it a drive by on the way to the primary target and we can check it out further on the way back. Something might stand out or we may see it's different on the way back."

"Affirmative…." Jim said.

Jim stayed on the surface streets. He could have taken the freeway but they could pass by the machine shop from the back way if they stayed on the surface streets. It wasn't too long of a drive. They were soon near the location.

"We'll approach the structure in two more streets." Jim said.

Kyle and Derek sat up a little straighter.

"Don't go by too fast or too slow." Derek said.

They were one block away now.

"It's the concrete building on the right." Ed said.

They all looked over as they passed by.

"What did you see?" Kyle asked.

Ed tilted his head slightly as he looked at the location.

"I saw a building with a sign." Ed said.

Derek asked Jim the same question.

"What do you see, Jim?" Derek asked.

Jim tilted his head slightly. There was only one thing to see.

"I saw a building with a sign as well." Jim said.

Derek looked over at Kyle. He wanted the Terminators to process everything further.

"What didn't you see?" Derek asked. "Look at the other businesses around here."

All the other shops and buildings were surrounded with a flurry of activity. There were open doors in the back with sound and noise coming from them. There was visible activity around them.

Jim took in the surroundings and what else occurred around them.

"They all show signs of life." Jim said. "The 'Metal Mania' building is just there."

Derek was glad they saw it. The inactivity alone was suspicious.

"I think when we return this way later on, if it's still so 'dead' looking we should see why." Derek said. "Something must be going on in there to have the building. I want to know what it is."

Jim thought it sounded like a plan. He didn't like the place now either. Someone must be doing something in there. Was it secret or was it some other unrelated business?

"I'm glad we have this as a point of reference now." Jim said. "If it looks like this on the way back, I'll return tonight and burn it down."

Ed liked the idea.

"I will assist you." Ed said.

Kyle didn't want to be left out of the loop.

"Count us in too." Kyle said. "I want to see what was going on in there as well."

Derek was glad he made his point. Now there was another issue to deal with.

"Thanks." Derek said. "We have a woman to kill for now."

"Affirmative…." Jim said.

The team soon arrived at the primary target location.

It was time for the front door….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Cracks

I've seen all of them
They crack your shell to hurt you
To chew you up and then spit you out
Cast you aside when they are through

I too have tried to crack your shell
For in it you are also trapped
Not all are users, cruel and mean
I want you to flourish and adapt

The cracks I reach into
Are the ones you allow
To nourish your inner being
Strength within to endow

The only true physical shell of yours
Of the person trapped inside and confined
Is your skull containing the thoughts
Feelings and emotions of your beautiful mind

I try to repair cracks made by others
I try to replace my cracks with doors
You may open or close as you wish
And eternally know I'm always yours

Nobody