Chapter 245

Hated

Derek, Kyle, and Jim placed surveillance devices around the area. They needed to keep them hidden from view from both ground level and from above. If there was an HK drone being tested in the area, they didn't want it to spot them.

So far there was no concrete proof there was an HK drone actually involved. The homeless person indicated it was a UFO. Based upon the nature of how they saw it operate, and where it operated at, indicated it might be something Skynet related.

Derek looked around the area as they installed the last surveillance device.

"How did the homeless individual report what they saw?" Derek asked. "There's no electricity up here. It's possible they had a cell phone, but they would have no way to charge it."

Jim decided to check into it further. The individual who made the report was on a seventy two hour hold for psychiatric evaluation. It meant they needed to deal with the authorities directly.

"It would be a long walk out of here on foot." Jim said.

Kyle thought of a few other things.

"They might have had a dirt bike or some type of vehicle." Kyle said. "They would need to get supplies from time to time somehow."

Derek began to wonder if the whole thing wasn't a sucker play to draw them out. There were an awful lot of unanswered questions.

"What do the past satellite images indicate from this area?" Derek asked.

Jim contacted John Henry. They soon all viewed a multitude of images taken over the last month, as well as several years.

"It's difficult to determine exactly what is what since the shanty is located under the bridge." Jim said.

Kyle looked for any type of vehicle or mode of transportation.

"I don't see any cars, trucks, motorcycles, or even a horse." Kyle said.

They were well away from the encampment with the placement of their last surveillance device.

"I think we need to look over everything again." Jim said.

Kyle looked around them.

"I think we better make sure we're not on anybody else's surveillance equipment ourselves." Kyle said.

Jim searched for any such devices as they placed their own devices.

"I haven't spotted anything." Jim said. "I've been on the lookout for any."

They took a different route back towards the abandoned bridge. There was no sign of any other humans in the area. They slowly approached the encampment from the other direction they originally approached it from.

"We need to find where the latrine is at." Derek said. "There should be some area where they discard their trash as well. We need to look for what people don't normally look for in these types of situations."

They went through everything in detail the second time around. They didn't find any trace of firearms or ammunition. It was probably a good thing. If the homeless person would have taken a shot at what they believed was a UFO, and it was an HK drone, it probably would have attacked them.

Kyle uncovered a few things which surprised him.

"Is the person who made the report a male or a female?" Kyle asked.

Jim tilted his head slightly.

"I assumed it was a male." Jim said. "I'll check right now."

Derek went over to where Kyle was at.

"What did you find?" Derek asked. "I hope it wasn't something which seemed Scavenger related."

Kyle indicated a few things he found.

"I believe there was a female living here." Kyle said. "I found some feminine care products."

Derek didn't think it was anyone who was there against their will. There was no indication of any type of restraints anywhere.

Jim received an update from John Henry.

"The homeless person is a female." Jim said.

He showed them an image of her taken during her admittance to the psychiatric institution.

The Reese brothers looked at the image.

"She doesn't look too old, even if she looks weathered and seasoned." Kyle said.

Derek thought about life in the Wastelands. Where they were at didn't seem too much different.

"It's what living like this does to someone." Derek said. "It adds years on to the front of your life, and subtracts them from the back end of your life."

Jim now possessed all the background data on her.

"She's twenty-nine years old with no prior criminal or psychiatric record." Jim said. "She went off the grid four years ago."

Kyle looked around where they were at.

"I wonder what happened four years ago." Kyle said.

Derek shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't think I want to know." Derek said. "I think it's time to go."

Jim wasn't so sure. Maybe they needed to investigate the area a little further.

John watched Cameron walk into Vanna's room. He waited for Jesse to open her door. No one answered. He would find out later Gail and Jesse went shopping and out for a little time on the town. He was surprised to learn it because Gail didn't like to go out much with Jesse. She was very protective of her. She was always afraid something 'bad' was going to happen again. Gail knew Jesse was safer at the base. It was much the same way Cameron treated him, but even more extreme. Maybe it was because Duplicate Jesse actually perished.

Now he was a little upset to think about what happened on the 'Day Of Loss'. Somehow it all seemed like it was his fault. He didn't think it was. Maybe it was because he tried to rescue Cameron, well, Duplicate Cameron, back from her one way mission against Skynet. If he wouldn't have done anything and allowed her to do what she was going to do, which is what she did anyway, the Duplicate set of girls wouldn't have died. None of them were supposed to know about what Duplicate Cameron went off to do. It was only because Jim and Bob were aware she left with a backpack nuke and intended to use it. He was the one who set everything else in motion. The Duplicate set of girls from the future all paid the price.

He looked down the hall and walked past Vanna's room. He could hear giggling and music playing. He picked up his pace and left the area. Maybe it was time to seek out Allison as well. Why wait for the future, when the future was available and ready now? He knew from the moment he saw Allison he instantly developed feelings for her. Not only did her appearance remind him of Cameron, her playful demeanor reminded him of Cameron on their first couple of days in school in Red Valley. Cameron was very different for those first few days before it was revealed she was a Terminator. He often wondered why she seemed like such a square later on when they jumped to 2007.

He wanted to be with Allison in the future. It was clear by her repeated attempts she wanted it too. They were close several times in the future and the present. It was clear it was just a matter of time. Cameron stated multiple times it was what she wanted. Well, it was what he wanted too. It was time. There was one obstacle in his way right now. Allison wasn't at the base anymore. She was in Palmdale with her parents. He couldn't fault her for being able to get back something she lost. He would like to see his actual father if he could. Kyle was the same person, he just wasn't Future Kyle.

It did make him feel bad for Vanna and especially Savannah. There was no way for them to see their parents again without some type of temporal manipulation. He wasn't sure what the situation was with Jesse. He certainly wasn't going to ask her about it. He didn't want to drag up any bad memories for anyone. He remembered how sometimes he would see his mother cry softly to herself when she was alone. He was sure it was for Future Kyle. Maybe it was for everything else she needed to go through to protect him piled on top of it. He needed to refocus. His mind was in a bad place right now.

John went in search of Bob. He would make this an 'inspection mission'. He hoped it morphed into a 'booty call'. They would check on the Reese Detail first. They would then head out to Palmdale and check on Young Allison's Detail. He thought maybe he would 'check out' Allison as well. He knew it was what he always wanted. He knew Holly would be there too. If she wanted some action as well, why not? He was ready to expand his experiences, besides Holly hadn't been with a male. Maybe he could rectify it. He'd like to claim a real virgin, even if she was a Terminator.

It angered him to reflect on Cameron's shenanigans. All of those added together cost him several years without her. YEARS, John thought, what kind of relationship is that? He even thought she was dead for over a year. Did she ever wonder how it hurt him? She provided for Holly to be there for him on the fifteen month misadventure. He didn't collect then, but he would today if it was offered. Anything which happened needed to happen freely with everyone involved.

He was aware Cameron made sure Allison and Vanna were there for him, and later on Jesse too. She told him he needed to have them at his side and in his bed in the future to keep from being assassinated. What was he waiting for? Cameron already stopped 'participating' when they were together. She would take whatever position he requested, or even mount him. As soon as he 'finished', she would wordlessly leave. Usually she took her clothes and dressed in the hall. He could hear her crying sometimes as she walked away. He wanted someone to hold him who wanted him, not someone who felt they were obligated to be with him. He didn't want someone who didn't want to really be there anymore.

The relationship appeared to have run its course. It was finished. It seemed neither of them really even cared. John still loved her. At least he thought he did. Maybe he didn't, maybe he never did. Maybe Cameron was right. Maybe he only loved her appearance. He realized maybe he really loved Allison. Then he reminded himself he didn't know Allison when he met Cameron. It was when Cameron lied to him and hit on him at school. Now the reminder angered him. Their whole relationship was predicated on lies and deception.

He wondered what changed if anything. Cameron was impersonating Allison, NOT herself then. It's who He fell for at the time. It was Cameron who acted like Allison, not her stiff robotic manipulative self. Maybe he was in love with Allison before he even knew she existed because Cameron emulated her.

What about Future John? John didn't have any idea what the situation really was. It could all be more of Cameron's lies and manipulation. Who knows? How do you find out? Anything could have happened in the future. Anything could have happened when she went back to the future. She said she was only in the future for less than a year. How did he know for sure? She could have been there for ten years as far as he knew. As it was, the adventure left him alone for months with no idea if she would return.

Cameron claimed she never was with anyone before, but he saw no 'evidence' or 'proof' of it on their wedding night. It was probably a lie too. He wondered what exactly Cameron hadn't lied about. She even admitted to him before she lied to him about important things as well. Cameron was a liar, PERIOD. Right now he almost hated her.

'BITCH.' John thought. 'I'll show you….'

John would make sure he rubbed Cameron's face in it again. He would do just like he did the night he made love to Future Riley in the truck. He smiled as he thought about it. It was a special time for him. Sure Future Riley may have played him, but she still loved him. It was clear the way they shared they loved each other. It was really a shame they couldn't trust each other more. It was because of their 'handlers'. Future Riley was manipulated by Future Jesse. He was controlled by Cameron and his mother. Both of them faced an uphill battle from the start.

He couldn't help but feel some sadness again about all of those who died because of him. Why did anyone need to die because of him? He really wasn't anyone special. His mother and Cameron always told him he was. He just couldn't see it. He needed something to take his mind off of the past. He needed to make his own future.

John found Bob. They headed out. He didn't have much to say. He was lost in thought and anticipation. He really looked forward to finding out how Allison and Cameron 'compared'. He really didn't think everything could be the same. Maybe it could be. He was sure going to compare everything when they were together. He knew if nothing else, Allison's response was going to be different. He knew it was going to be better. What if it wasn't?

John sat in silence as they drove to the first location.

Bob could see John was irritated.

"You seem upset." Bob said as they drove.

John didn't look at him. He was beyond upset but tried to keep himself under control. There were a few million thoughts cascading through his mind. He didn't want to take it out on Bob. None of it was Bob's fault. Bob was always there for him when he needed him, unlike Cameron. It seems she was only there when she needed something from him, or some new way to control him.

"No." John said.

Bob knew John was upset. He decided to push it. He was well aware what the real problem was. Everyone at the base knew what the real problem was. It was time to address it. Maybe some corrective action could be taken. He didn't care for some of the things he witnessed go on around the Resistance base.

"Cameron is out of control." Bob said.

Bob's statement caught John off guard. He agreed with it, but was surprised Bob actually 'said' it. He wondered now if there was more going on he didn't know about. He was sure there always was. Maybe something extreme happened.

"What?" John asked.

Bob wanted to make his position clear. He felt it was for the good of everyone including Cameron.

"Cameron needs to be reprogrammed." Bob said.

John wondered where the statement came from. It sounded kind of extreme to him. It would change who she was. He wasn't sure if anybody would want to have who they were changed. When his mother was in the mental institution, it was what they tried to do to her as a human. He wanted to know a little more. He looked at Bob.

"Would you want to be reprogrammed?" John asked.

It actually seemed quite simple to Bob. Who wouldn't want to be repaired if they were 'broken' or damaged? It would be better to operate at one hundred percent efficiency in all regards.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "I would want it if I was malfunctioning. Why would I want to be defective if I could be fixed? If I wasn't operating within my parameters I could end up doing something negative. I wouldn't want to be responsible for injuring anyone or damaging anything if the problem could have been fixed first."

John felt a little defensive for Cameron. Maybe he could see something the others couldn't. He knew how humans responded to changes around them and inside of them. He understood Cameron's expanding 'feelings and emotions' were something she wasn't used to dealing with.

"Maybe she's 'growing' and not malfunctioning." John said. "It may be part of her natural evolution as a Terminator to be more human-like."

Bob didn't see it the same way. Cameron was a machine.

"It seems unlikely." Bob said. "Her behavior is erratic and irrational."

John was aware people almost always grew further apart as time passed, rather than closer together. Cameron acted like a 'real' female at times. He watched her mood swings come and go. He watched her do things differently at times. He knew she was very torn over some things she needed to do.

"She acts just like a human female or human male at times." John said. "She's very much like a 'real' person."

Bob wondered how John was so confused.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "She isn't 'real'. She's a cyborg. She's a machine. She should behave like one."

John watched what his mother went through as she tried to protect him and provide for him. He saw what 'real' females experienced and how they reacted to it. He saw the girls at the base interact negatively at times. Cameron acted no different than any of them did at this point. Maybe it was the problem. Well, maybe it was one of the problems. He was sure the biggest problem was time, time changed everyone.

"She's as 'real' as any female I know." John said. "It's the relationship that's dead."

Bob remembered Cameron spoke of relationships having a 'shelf life' before it all fell apart. She told him the feelings fade and die. Soon the people only exist with each other until they accept the fact it's over. They may stay until they find someone better, or even just different. It didn't sound pleasant at all.

"Cameron did say relationships only last six months to two years before it only becomes 'toleration'." Bob said.

John remembered the poem where Cameron 'talked' about it. He needed to agree with the statement. They were long past the time period. He didn't think it was even good for six months. Cameron disappeared on their wedding night for months. He often wondered if she ran back to the future, to be with Future John instead of him. It was always in the back of his mind maybe Future John was 'better' in bed than he was. Once Cameron 'tried' him, she went back to where she knew it was better. It was a terrible time. They all thought she was dead. He thought she was dead. It happened several more times. She did write about such things though.

"Did you read her poems too?" John asked.

Reading the words was unpleasant enough for Bob. He was glad he didn't 'feel' them like Cameron offered. Cameron offered to expand their programming so they could be more human-like.

"Yes, she asked all of us to read them." Bob said. "She wanted us to experience what emotions and feelings will do to us and how they will damage us. She even offered to let us feel what she felt when she wrote each poem. She said it would be painful. She told us we were better off without feelings like she felt. Look what happened to Gail for over a year."

John remembered Gail wanted to self terminate once she was back at the base when Duplicate Jesse was killed. She made sure everything was taken care of on her assignment first. She was a mess by the time she was back at the base. It was terrible to see. It made Cameron on a bad day seem 'normal'.

'Chalk up another one to suffer for Cameron's actions.' John thought.

"Yes, she needed to be deactivated to keep from self terminating over grief." John said. "The loss of her beloved was too great for her to continue."

Bob didn't like to see machines or humans in distress. It was worse if the feelings came from inside of them. They couldn't control what happened inside of them. He could only think back about Cameron's multiple escapades. Something needed to be done. Someone needed to do something.

"Love seems painful. Cameron has attempted self termination multiple times and even attempted to destroy the 'function' of parts of her sheath." Bob said. "Reprogramming is the only solution. I think we should do it. I will deactivate her so we can save her…."

John wanted a better solution. It sounded like the 'end' of Cameron. There needed to be some better choice. He wanted Cameron 'fixed', but he wanted her to 'fix' herself. It didn't seem it was going to happen anytime soon. The recent turn of events was probably only going to make it worse. They were still some things he didn't want to see.

"I don't want her terminated." John said. "I won't allow it."

Bob thought of a way to fix Cameron without terminating her. He would need to get a copy of her chip from when she arrived from the future. He believed it was the best bet.

"If you send me back in time to 1999, I'll deactivate her and copy her chip. I can go into standby with it. I can give it to you in the current timeline to replace the defective one." Bob said. "That's unless you still want to keep from meeting her in 1999 like you said before."

John wanted it. He wanted to go back in time and alter events so he would never meet Cameron in the first place. It would be a new timeline, but that version of him would have a better life. Bob would protect him instead.

"No, I don't want to meet her." John said. "All our lives will be better if we don't meet. You alone can be my protector. I would prefer it."

Bob smiled. He would be John's guardian in the past now. He could still offer John a simpler 'Cameron' who was still 'Cameron'.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "I can copy her chip so you may replace it in this timeline. She will be herself, but from 1999 and uncorrupted."

John wanted 'Cameron-Allison'. He would want her to act like she did on the first day of school. It would be a better version of Cameron. He would order her to stay the same way always.

"I want the same girl I met on the first day of school, Bob. It's who I want. It was Cameron being 'Allison'. I want Allison…." John said. "I don't even know who Cameron is anymore. I don't think I ever did. The sad part is, I don't think she does either."

Bob already began to plan the temporal mission. He would offer John something better than Cameron. He would bring another female Terminator with him. It would be her function to 'service' 'teenage John' to her fullest capability and female attributes. John would never need to think of another female once he was with her.

"It will be my mission once the TDE is repaired." Bob said. "Do you wish me to take one of the female Terminators with me? She can be reprogrammed to better serve your 'needs' as a teenager. She will serve all your needs, whatever they are, or you desire."

John thought about it. He would like to have a female who 'put out' as required by him as a teenager. He would probably 'hit it' three to four times a day. The very thought of it excited him immensely. He would like to have the same opportunity now.

"I don't care. Any one of them is fine as long as it isn't Cameron or Ally." John said. "Surprise me in 1999. Just make sure my mother understands it's part of the female Terminator's function to provide me with sexual comfort."

Bob knew what a fifteen year old male would like and be 'turned on' by. The fact she was a Terminator would allow her to be available twenty-four-seven. She would do anything and everything John wanted.

"I know just the one to reprogram and bring." Bob said. "Along with her accessories, you will find her irresistible…."

'Sheila' by 'Tommy Roe', played in Bob's mind.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Limited Time

Tick tock tick tock
Beware when you start the clock
Before the exam we know the result
Why is it always still a shock

Six months to two years
Before it all falls apart
Minds cracked and shattered
A chunk ripped from a heart

Is it infatuation lust or greed
Or the love we want seek and need
We know loves spelling
Will we again misread

The pain and anguish
To try for something nice
But do we lose it all
If we roll the dice

Before we start
We know how it will end
Then once again to Hell
Ourselves we send

Nobody