Chapter 247

Smart Choice

Derek and Kyle both reactivated their coms. They checked in with Jim. So far he hadn't encountered anything out of the ordinary. Nothing Skynet related was spotted.

Jim continued his trek just below the ridge line of the hill. He was even with where the containers were situated in the canyon below. He carefully crept up to the top of the ridge and looked down. He didn't spot any movement around the containers. He slid back down from the crest and continued further to the north below the ridge line. He would go another half mile before he made his way over the top and down into the canyon itself. He kept Derek and Kyle informed of his progress.

Derek and Kyle continue down the canyon they were in. They didn't see anyone along the way going in either direction. They cut over towards the next canyon and prepared to start up it. It was another dirt road. A dry washed and ran down the center of the canyon.

Jesse and Gail were out shopping and having a good time. They seldom went out alone.

Cameron liked to keep a tight watch on everyone. She liked to control what did or didn't happen.

Jesse felt it was nice to be out just the two of them alone. It was almost like a 'real' relationship.

Gail was worried about Jesse being out. She knew things could go wrong, fast. She was concerned about Jesse's safety, even though they were having a good time.

Then it all changed in a few moments. It went from beautiful to ugly.

There was a young teenage Asian girl out with her friends.

A group of four older girls started to give the young Asian girl a hard time about her appearance. She looked 'different' than they did.

Jesse saw it right away. She knew what it was like to be singled out for being 'different'. The same thing happened to her more than once. Even later in life, to look 'different' sometimes made you a target. She couldn't help being 'different' because it's how she was born. It was the same way a Terminator couldn't help being 'Metal' because it's how they were built. They didn't have a choice. No one did. The anger and hate in Jesse boiled to the surface instantly.

'The blind hatred and discrimination stops NOW.' Jesse thought.

Jesse was the 'Old Jesse' all of a sudden in an instant. Just like that, 'she' was back and she was mean. Gail was with her so she felt no fear to approach the older girls. She would have done it anyway on her own. Cameron's orders were none of the girls went out without a Terminator chaperone. The current situation appeared to be one reason why.

Gail noted Jesse became angry and wanted to act. She told her not to get involved.

Jesse said she NEEDED to. She told Gail it would be the same if she treated her differently just because she was a Terminator. She actually did the same thing before and she hated herself for it. Cameron showed her a Terminator was just as much of a 'person' as a human was.

She boldly walked up to the girls and placed herself in front of the younger girl. She faced the four mean girls. She expressed a look of determination on her face.

"You 'skanks' leave her alone. If you 'Bitch Whores' want to pick on someone who's 'different', I'm right here." Jesse said. "I look like her."

Gail moved up as well to protect Jesse. It looked like it was going to go hot.

The girls sized up Jesse and Gail.

They both looked very intimidating.

Jesse looked at the abused girl and smiled.

"Go on, love, go back to your friends." Jesse said to the girl. "The problem is over."

The girl took off as Jesse and Gail blocked the path of the four girls who tried to follow her.

"Get out of our way." The first girl said.

Jesse wanted to make sure the girls understood what was about to happen if they continued with what they were doing.

"Stop. Not so fast. Do you sluts want to get busted up or take off?" Jesse asked. "It's your choice."

Jesse actually hoped they would push it and get busted up.

"There are four of us." The second girl said.

Gail didn't like them. She didn't like how they looked at Jesse either. The Terminator in her went into full effect. The fact she was actually a Restorator was irrelevant at this point. The chassis was designed to terminate humans. Four girls didn't present an obstacle to her in the slightest.

"It wouldn't matter if there were forty of you." Gail said.

Jesse could see Gail meant business. She wanted to give the girls something to think about. She handed Gail a metal chair.

Gail took it and bent the metal.

One of the girls tried to bend it back, and then two of them tried. They couldn't budge it.

Gail took the chair and bent it straight again.

The mean girls all looked at each other. The two that tried to bend the metal chair took a step back. They saw the real threat Gail posed to them. She was much stronger than both of them combined. It took all of their effort to try to bend the metal of the chair. It took no effort for the big girl in front of them to bend it, and then unbend it. It might as well have been tissue paper to her.

Jesse liked to see their apprehension. She wanted to see if they wanted more.

"Well?" Jesse asked.

Jesse's comment angered the other two girls. One of them started to pull a knife out.

Gail reached over quickly and grabbed it. She snapped it in two. She then crushed it into a circular mass of metal.

The mean girls looked at the destroyed knife. It was now broken and crushed. They all looked at each other. What they witnessed was hard to believe.

"That's impossible." The third girl said.

Gail remembered what Cameron said on a number of her 'challenges' on a 'fun night' out.

"If it's impossible, how did I just do it?" Gail asked.

Gail's question seemed to anger the girls even more.

Jesse could tell the girls were slow learners. She would act as necessary. What happened next was up to the girls.

"This is your last chance to leave in one piece." Jesse said.

The girls looked at each other again and then quickly left. They looked back to make sure they weren't being followed.

"It's a smart choice." Jesse said. "Keep moving."

Jesse's statement seemed to quicken their pace.

Gail was pleased with the outcome.

"It was 'fun'." Gail said. "It's like when we go out with Cameron."

Gail liked to go out with Cameron. She took all the Terminators out for 'fun nights'. She always added to her collection of weapons or cash with whatever she could glean. They didn't always know it allowed Cameron to check their proficiency and willingness to follow HER.

Jesse looked at the retreating girls with disgust. She would have liked to have given them all a permanent reminder of the encounter. It wouldn't be today.

"If Judgment Day comes, they'll end up as Scavengers. I've dealt with their type before." Jesse said. "If we weren't in such a public place, I would have 'hurt' them. I guess everyone gets a second chance."

Jesse was glad Cameron gave her a second chance. No, not gave, Cameron created it for her. Cameron opened a door for her to enter. Cameron gave her a choice. She chose to enter and it changed her life….

The young teenager came over and thanked Jesse for helping her. Gail slipped her two twenty dollar bills and said to have a good time. She was pleased to see a smile on her face.

Jesse felt good about herself. It was something she never thought she would feel again, especially from where she was just a few years ago. Cameron changed her for the better. She reflected on how much she loved Cameron. She wished she knew how to help Cameron….

Gail knew Jesse thought about Cameron right now. It was OK. She thought about how Cameron 'gave' her Jesse back, 'a Jesse' anyway. She worried about what happened to Duplicate Jesse now. She scanned for any additional threats around them.

Maybe next time she might use a little more force on her own. It never hurt to leave a lasting impression, since most people were slow learners.

Allison led John towards her bedroom.

John looked around as he was being 'towed' by Allison.

Allison all but drug John into her room, she expected John to bolt. She didn't want to be left hanging.

"There's no turning back." Allison said.

John followed her into her room.

"I want to make sure you want this." Allison said.

She looked at him for a moment as if giving him one last opportunity to retreat. She then closed the door behind them. She hoped the closed door would turn into an open heart.

John took a moment to look at the closed door. He understood what it represented. His life was stuck. It actually seemed like it was going in reverse at times. It wasn't what he wanted.

"I want to move my life forward." John said.

Allison looked a little concerned.

"What about Cameron?" Allison asked. "She won't terminate me, will she?"

John hoped not. He doubted Cameron would even care anymore. The relationship seemed dead most of the time. Cameron must have told him hundreds of times to do it. He thought back on the times when each of the girls was naked in his bed waiting for him. He knew the only reason they were there was because of Cameron.

"It's what she wants for us anyway, we all know it." John said. "I think we're 'done' anyway."

Allison smiled and touched his cheek. She didn't want him to dwell on any negative issues. Everyone seemed to have enough of them anyway. Nobody needed any more.

"I doubt it." Allison said. "Everyone needs a break or some variety sometimes."

Allison playfully stripped in front of him.

John saw how beautiful she was. It was just like looking at Cameron.

He was afraid all he was going to see was 'Cameron' and not Allison. He didn't want to do it. It wouldn't be fair to Allison.

Allison could see John was hesitant. She didn't know why. She was completely naked in front of him. What could be more clear than what she offered? It was herself.

"Well?" Allison asked. "Are you just going to 'eyeball' me?"

John slowly started to strip. He was a little nervous. No, he was a lot nervous. He tried to offer an excuse. He could hear how lame it sounded, even as he spoke it.

"I was admiring how beautiful you look." John said. "Allison, you look perfect."

Allison smiled and spun around for him to see all of her.

"There aren't any second thoughts are there?" Allison asked. "This is what Cameron wants. THIS is what I want. THIS is what you want."

John moistened his lips slightly as he took in Allison's naked beauty. Somehow she seemed even more beautiful than she ever did. His mind and body were in a battle.

"It is, I think." John said.

John started to get 'cold feet'.

Allison knew what she wanted. She wanted it now.

"THIS is what you've always wanted." Allison said as she indicated her nude figure. "This is all for you."

John stood naked before Allison. He swallowed hard and looked away before he looked back. He felt somewhat defeated. Everything was right there for him to take. He knew it would be over in thirty seconds once he started. What could thirty seconds hurt? No, really, what would thirty seconds hurt? There was still major doubt in his mind. He hoped it would go away. It didn't. As much as he wanted Allison, he needed to say something. He wanted to be fair to her too.

"Allison, I don't know about this." John said. "I love Cameron…."

Allison frowned. It seemed John needed to make a choice.

"Do you wish Cameron was here instead of me?" Allison asked.

John didn't reply.

Allison looked frustrated.

"LOOK at me." Allison said. "LOOK at my body. THIS is for you, John."

John looked at her. He did want her. He just couldn't do it. He thought he should at least try since the stage was already set. Somehow it wasn't any easier.

"Maybe…." John started.

John looked around the room. He wanted to 'escape'. There was nowhere to run. There was nowhere to hide.

Allison wanted to move things along. She knew just how to get things started.

"TOUCH ME" Allison said.

She reached out and put his hands on her breasts.

"LOOK at ME, TOUCH ME." Allison said. "What do you see?"

John touched her and looked at her face.

"I can only see Camer…." John started but stopped.

He felt really bad right now.

"Maybe it's all you WANT to see." Allison said.

John felt his current actions seemed disrespectful and hurtful to both Allison and Cameron at this point. All he was going to do is keep hurting people if he stayed.

"I'm sorry. I really don't think I can do this." John said. "I didn't mean to hurt you like this, Allison."

Allison wasn't done yet. John made it clear who he wanted.

"I told you to LOOK at ME. TOUCH ME." Allison said. "LOOK at my skin. What do you see?"

John moved his hands away. Maybe he shouldn't have left them there for so long. He couldn't help but try to compare Allison to Cameron. What he touched didn't feel any different to him at all. It felt exactly the same. He needed to admit the truth. The only person he continued to fool at this point was himself.

"I can't." John said defeated. "I want Cameron…."

John didn't see any way out of the current situation.

Allison heard everything he said. She understood it all for what it actually meant.

"You're not leaving yet - Mister." Allison said forcefully.

John knew Allison wasn't about to back down. He was 'trapped' there and she wasn't about to let him go. Maybe it was time to just 'do it' and get it over with. Maybe he would feel more comfortable after he knocked off a quickie. It wouldn't take long.

What could it hurt?

No, really. What could it hurt?

Jesse thought about the day. It was good overall. The ugly incident began to creep back into her mind. She was still upset about the encounter with the four girls.

"Those girls really got to me." Jesse said. "I don't know what their problem was."

Gail learned people seemed to have all kinds of problems which weren't based on fact or logic. Humans seemed inherently illogical to her anyway. They weren't as organized and orderly as machines were. Well, Cameron might be the exception.

"It seems more common than not." Gail said.

Jesse frowned and nodded.

"It's a sad fact." Jesse said.

They returned to the SUV.

Gail could see the 'old Jesse' hadn't gone away yet. It looked like Jesse wanted to hurt someone, maybe even kill them. It appeared when the old ways crept back, they weren't easily contained.

Jesse thought about the earlier incident. The more she attempted to put it behind her, the more it seemed to weigh on her. Justice hadn't been done yet. She wanted a better resolution. She wanted a permanent resolution. It was the only way to end the problem forever.

"I want to find those girls." Jesse said.

Gail wondered how. The encounter was several hours ago.

"What are you going to do when you do find them?" Gail asked.

Jesse took out her knife. She knew exactly what she was going to do to each of them.

"I'm going to hurt them." Jesse said. "It will be a reminder to them every time they want to be abusive."

Gail looked over quickly at Jesse. She knew it was something Jesse carried out in her future. She started on some females who were Scavengers and later expanded to others. They weren't in the future now. There were others who could become involved.

"It's a little extreme." Gail said. "There might be repercussions."

Jesse looked at the blade of her knife. It had been a long time since a blade she held in her hand tasted blood. She wanted the girls to pay. They offended her as much as they did the young teenager. They weren't afraid of her at first. She wanted them to be afraid of her in their dreams. She wanted their dreams to be nightmares.

"There has to be punishment and retribution." Jesse said. "If there's no punishment, they'll keep doing it."

Gail knew the bad girls may take retribution out on the Asian girl later on. They might do the same thing to her. It was what Jesse did to others when she was hurt. She felt a warning was very appropriate.

"They may escalate their response towards the young female next time." Gail said.

Jesse knew it was true. She would need to hit harder. Leaving them scarred for life was no longer good enough. It was time to enact justice. Justice in the Wastelands meant only one person walked away. They weren't in the Wastelands, but the situation was close enough to warrant the same type of action.

"No." Jesse said. "I'm going to kill them now instead."

It actually sounded like a better option to Gail. There wouldn't be anyone left to seek retribution on anyone else. There wouldn't be any witnesses to talk. She thought of a good way to do it.

"I'll run them down if we spot them." Gail said. "It will look like another hit and run. There are so many now, they don't even make the news anymore."

Jesse wanted it to be personal. She wanted to see the look of death in their eyes as she took their life from them. It was something she once thrived on. She didn't remember right now it was a feeling she came to regret. She was full of anger and hate.

"I want to kill them myself." Jesse said. "I want them to know it was me."

Jesse laughed as she pictured it.

It worried Gail more.

It wasn't 'her Jesse' right now. It was a dark evil vindictive Jesse.

Jesse put her knife away and looked at her Taser and her Glock.

Gail could see Jesse was determined to kill them right now. She wanted to offer a less personal solution. It was the one she suggested earlier. She was sure it would raise the least amount of questions.

"It will be easier if I run them down." Gail said. "There are dozens of hit and runs a day with all the undocumented foreign nationals. They don't have driver's licenses or insurance. They're afraid if they stick around the accident scene they will be deported back to their own country. It's who the police will think did it, and not look into it further. They get a 'pass' currently."

Jesse wanted the girl's blood on her hands, not the bumper. She wanted more.

"I want to see the terror in their eyes." Jesse said. "The others will watch as I take the first one. They'll be even more fearful and terrified when I come for them. They'll know what's coming. They'll do anything to keep it from happening to them."

Gail realized Jesse was reliving what happened to her. It was what she witnessed while being held in a Scavenger camp. She knew this story. Five girls were captured. One was picked at random and killed in front of the other four. They were given a choice to do everything asked of them and demanded from them, or join the other girl who was dead on the ground.

The girls all agreed to do as instructed and never hesitate, complain, or cry about it. It was their life now. They were 'sex slaves' for all practical purposes. They needed to perform acts on any of the men there when told to do so, any time of the day or night, no matter what they were doing. One by one the girls hesitated too long to do something at some point. They were beaten and then killed. Eventually only Jesse was left and needed to 'service' the entire camp herself. She was busy eighteen hours a day, everyday.

Gail needed to end this. She needed to get Jesse 'back'.

"If Savannah or Cameron was with us, would you still do the same things to the girls in front of them?" Gail asked. "You're better than what you once were. It isn't you anymore."

Jesse looked over at Gail.

It hit her like a ton of bricks. She felt a little sick.

"No." Jesse said. "I wouldn't want them to see me as a monster. I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me."

Jesse wondered how she slipped so far so fast. It was like she went back to the future, in her mind. It was never a good place to go. It was a good place to be away from.

Gail pulled over and hugged and kissed Jesse for a little while.

"You never need to go there." Gail said. "Come to me, or go see Savannah or Cameron. They'll be your inspiration."

Jesse wiped her tears away.

"Thank you." Jesse said. "I may have needed to vent, but I don't need to act. I need to exhibit restraint and control. I need to find the love and not the hate."

Jesse thought back to the one Scavenger camp she was in. It was one of many.

She was singled out in the camp because she 'looked' different than the other females did. Because she was different, it made her more desirable. She was glad those Scavengers all remembered her face as she slit their throats, one by one, when she finally was able to get all of them intoxicated at the same time.

She remembered each one of them and everything they did to her, or made her do.

She bound their hands and feet. She stood over the leader first. She slit his throat. His eyes opened in terror and confusion as his life spurted out of him.

Jesse moved closer to him as he gurgled and thrashed about.

"I just wanted you to know it was me who killed you." Jesse said.

She punched him hard in the face.

"Payback is a Bitch." Jesse said and moved on to the next one.

Six men died that night. She freed four girls who were captured earlier in the day. It was her motivation to act. She didn't want to see them abused and killed. She was in the camp for nine weeks.

Jesse looked over at Gail.

"Life moves forward, not backwards." Jesse said. "Always remind me when I need it."

Gail was a little concerned about something else. When they did the 'Neural Interface' with Jesse and Sheila, Jesse warned them there was a very dark side to her. She saw it emerge today. She wondered how things would play out when they emerged in Sheila. Sheila was a Terminator. She wouldn't have any inhibitions about what she did. Guilt and remorse were never Terminator strong points. She would need to keep an eye on Sheila. Sheila's base program was her program. Her personality is what she would inherit through the 'Neural Interface' from Jesse. It could be very dark and brutal.

Earlier:

Cameron and Vanna talked and shared their feelings. They both opened up with no stops. An avalanche of thoughts and feelings exploded from both of them.

They talked about what was available, and what they wanted.

After sharing thoughts for fifteen minutes they both decided they wanted the same thing.

Cameron looked at the bed, Vanna followed her gaze.

"Well, let's go do what we both want…." Cameron said.

Vanna didn't want to delay any longer. She already delayed things far too long.

"There's no point in putting it off…." Vanna said.

Cameron was ready.

"We BOTH know what we want…." Cameron said.

The two females were ready to act.

It's what they did.

Jesse was better now. The SUV pulled into the carpool at the Resistance base.

"Gail, I remember a song which sort of reminded me about someone who is 'different'." Jesse said. "They were 'different' because it's how they were born."

Gail was curious.

"What song is it?" Gail asked.

Jesse called it up on her phone on YouTube. It was one which contained the lyrics.

'Half-Breed' by 'Cher', played from the speaker as Gail read the lyrics.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Choice

Everything in life
Is about making a choice
It's the only way
To make one hear your voice

I know that it
May sound somewhat strange
But it's you yourself
Who can make things change

It's always easier
To return to the castle
Because things that are different
Are usually a hassle

Look at your hands and feet
There's no enslaving chain
The restraints that hold you
Exist only within your own brain

As life evaporates into time
It becomes harder to choose
Because no matter what you do
You feel you will always lose

Nobody