Chapter 301

Mile High

John was surprised at what Cameron planned to do for Jesse and her family. He was somewhat amazed Cameron took Jesse's family 'under her wing'. It was nearly from Jesse's arrival. He knew of the early conflicts Jesse ran into with his mother and the sexual harassment from Jesse towards Allison. Vanna thought she would have to fight with Jesse to keep her away from Allison. It was another 'problem' Cameron resolved in a very positive way for all the girls.

He also remembered how anti-Metal Jesse was at first. It sure changed. Talk about 'Metal Lovers', Jesse took it to a whole different level. Cameron was the one who changed all of it, and allowed Jesse to find and become the better person she hid away inside her. He went back and told John Henry what was going to happen and why.

John Henry was disturbed with the news. There could be repercussions on multiple levels.

"Cameron is taking Jesse to see her family?" John Henry asked. "Is it a good idea?"

John learned the importance of family. If there were any doubts about it, Future Derek's death ended them. It was still something which bothered him. He would like to go back and 'save' Future Derek. He would send Future Jesse and him back in time so they could live out their lives free of the future. Family mattered.

Since they were on the subject of Jesse, and he just thought about Future Jesse, he wondered what really happened to her. Future Derek indicated, 'John Connor said to let her go'. There were times he experienced doubts. He didn't hear any gunfire after Future Jesse left. He wondered if Future Derek sent a message to her indicating he was 'done' with her. If Future Jesse was still alive, why didn't they come into contact with her again? He was always worried she became the nucleus of the anti-Metal faction in the current time period. He pushed those thoughts from his mind. The issue was family.

"Family is important to us, even if we don't want to admit it sometimes." John said. "Aren't the people here important to you? They're like your family in a way."

John Henry tilted his head slightly. He felt very comfortable around all of them. A few took a little longer than others, but they all mattered to him. Some of them were very special to him. He was pleased he was part of a family.

"Yes, all of them, even Sarah." John Henry said. "It took me a little longer with her and Derek, but we all understand each other. All of us have importance and worth."

John couldn't help but think of some of the difficult times he went through with his mother. The low points didn't matter. In the end, she was still his mother. His main worry was actually Cameron.

"It's how a 'family' works." John said. "We may not always like them, but we always love them. We will sacrifice for them. I wish I could make Cameron understand how special she is to everyone. I really wish she could understand there is no one more loved than her."

John knew Cameron didn't feel good about herself in any way. He also knew why. He knew what would be said next. It would come back on him…. It always did. He believed it was rightfully so for the way it damaged Cameron. It also helped him keep his pants zipped, even when Cameron provided him with willing females.

John Henry understood what the problem was. He expressed things as he saw them.

"Cameron has been 'damaged' by Future John and you. She can't get past it. It haunts her. It torments her. I've 'felt it'. It was very uncomfortable." John Henry said. "River was able to help her to some extent, but unless those files are erased, nothing will change. To erase the files, you erase part of her…. You alter who she is, was, and will be. Future John already ruined part of her life by doing it. He stole part of Cameron's life from her."

John hung his read in resignation. He knew most of it was his fault. He knew Cameron didn't wish to be altered, even if it would 'help' her. On more than one occasion he seriously considered doing the same thing. He remembered how Allison confronted him and said he was trying to erase what he did. It wasn't anything Cameron did. It was him.

"Let's just drop it." John said. "It's a no win situation."

It seemed to John Henry it was a discussion for which there was no resolution short of some 'temporal incursion'. He actually wondered if Cameron ever went back and used 'temporal management' to correct the past. He believed it would be 'temporal malpractice' if she did. There were current issues which needed to be dealt with.

"Indeed." John Henry said. "I recommend we use the Thermite on the captured HK drone and carefully pull our Terminators out. I don't like the whole situation. There's way too much which doesn't add up."

There was another worry John developed out of the situation. He was afraid the enemy may have 'tagged' one or more of their vehicles while they were out surveilling the HK drone. It was possible it could have happened. He didn't want to take any chances. He wanted to offer the team maximum protection.

"Do it." John said. "Have them go over the vehicles for anything to make sure we weren't tagged with a tracker. Send one more drone to back them up. Have them put the other two in the air to scout around them and bring everyone back. Double check for tails and we'll run them through an ambush site, just in case."

John Henry thought caution was prudent. It seemed like a very good idea.

"I'll inform them and get an ambush set up." John Henry said.

John didn't care for the cat and mouse routine the event exhibited.

"I believe you're correct. Nothing adds up about any of this." John said. "There's someone out there. We need to find them, before they find us."

John Henry pointed out what may be the real threat.

"We might be up against a Liquid Metal Terminator on this." John Henry said.

John got a disgusted look on his face. If they were infiltrated by a Liquid Metal Terminator, they could all be killed in their sleep.

"It's the last thing we need." John said.

John Henry would like to have Cameron around at the base until they knew more.

"Maybe we should have Cameron hold off for a while." John Henry said. "Let me talk to her and see what she thinks and what advice she has to offer us."

John knew once Cameron made up her mind to do something, it was hard to sway her. He figured it wouldn't hurt if John Henry tried. He certainly wasn't going to give it a go.

"Good Luck…." John said.

It was one conversation John didn't want to be a part of. It would probably still come back to him. He wasn't always sure if he was actually the one responsible for everything or not. Sometimes it seemed like it. He didn't think the current situation was on him.

Bob needed to run down some more targets from the list Ally gave him. Some were Resistance related, others were not. He was recruited by Cameron to conduct some operations for her while she was preoccupied. He also wanted to deal with the threats which would most affect John.

He wanted to pick one which was Resistance related. If he ran across some future Scavengers in the process, he would deal with them. He didn't like what he observed at the last place he took down with Steve and Tom. It seemed to him it was very intrusive to be tied down while someone else abused them. Why would anyone be excited to do such a thing? He understood deviant behavior was widespread in the future. It obviously existed from the beginning of time. It seemed to him there were religious documents which clearly indicated the true nature of humans from the start.

It surprised him none of the people they freed wanted medical attention or the police. Cameron told him it was the same way ninety eight percent of the time. If there was money to be distributed, none of them wanted the police involved. It was a lot of money for most people who didn't have much. A few of the individuals were severely abused and needed medical attention to remain alive. They were usually unaware of what actually occurred or how they were rescued. The main point was, they survived.

Bob looked over the list. He selected a company which made things for Skynet in the future. It would be the owner or manager who would be the sell out. The workers could be considered collaborators. If anyone opposed him, they would be treated as such.

He did a drive by, and a 'once around' the location. There were other businesses nearby. He would need to 'play it cool'. He could burn the place down, but the management team would still be out there. They could reestablish the business. If there was some kind of Skynet involvement, they could tailor the new company to better suit their needs. It would probably also be better able to conceal the nature of what occurred there. There was no hint of Skynet involvement as of yet.

It was the end of the shift. There were seven cars in the parking lot. He watched five of them drive away.

Bob still wore his vest and the 'Security' windbreaker. He carried his M-9 and Taser. There was a chance there could be a Terminator protecting the facility or the owner. He took two Thermite grenades with him. He would burn the structure down if it became necessary.

He checked the front door. It was locked. He moved around to the side and checked a door. It was locked. He went around to the loading dock. There was a roll up door with a place for trucks to back up to the dock. There was also a door for employees. He tried the door and it was locked. He gave it a gentle shove and it opened as the door frame where the deadbolt engaged it splintered.

There was an electric pallet jack and a small forklift parked between the pass door and the roll up door. The workroom floor was full of various types of machinery.

He moved up to the small office area and listened. What he heard was extremely disturbing.

"Yeah, baby, that's the way." A male said. "Stay with it. That's right. That's good. Just a little bit more. Keep it going. Don't slow down. I'm almost there. That's it. There it is. Take it all."

There was the sound of a female gagging. It was followed by some intense coughing by the female.

"Can I go now?" The female asked.

The male laughed. It wasn't laughter of joy. It was an evil laugh.

"You know how this works." The male said.

There was the sound of a struggle.

'Slap.'

'Smack.'

There was the sound of cloth ripping.

"OK, OK." The female said. "Stop hurting me. Don't wreck my clothes. I'll take them off."

"That's more like it." The male said. "Hurry up."

"I am." The female said.

'Smack.'

"I don't want excuses." The male said. "Did I remind you you're ugly yet? If I didn't already, I'm reminding you now."

"It's the way I look." The female said. "You said I look like 'Olive Oyl' from 'Popeye' on top. I can't help how I was born. What's wrong with you?"

'Smack.'

"Hold your tongue." The male said.

"I'm leaving." The females said. "I don't care what you do."

'Smack.'

'Thud.'

The wall shook a little with the last impact.

"You'll do as you're told." The male said.

'Smack.'

'Smack.'

"OK!" The female gasped. "Stop smothering me. I can't breathe."

There were several deep wheezing breaths.

"You'll do as I say." The male said.

There was the sound of a truck moving alongside the building. It moved to the back lot and then backed up to the roll up door.

"Typical." The male said. "The truck is here early."

'Smack.'

"What are you doing? Who said you could get dressed?" The male said. "You may be needed for our guests. Maybe they'll find you more appealing than I do. I strongly doubt it. You know you're only good for one thing, well, maybe two."

"Don't make me do it again." The female said. "I don't like when there's more than one at a time."

'Smack.'

"Now you'll do it all." The male said.

'Smack.'

'Smack.'

'Thud.'

'Smack.'

"O-K." The female cried. "I think you cracked a rib."

'Smack.'

"If you didn't look like 'Twiggy', there'd be some meat on your bones." The male said. "It's what drugs do to you. You're just a stupid Doper. You're the one who ruined your life. Don't put it on me. I've killed people for less crap than I have to put up with you."

"You're the one who got me hooked." The female said. "You did it so I'd be your 'play thing'."

'Whack.'

'Thud.'

'Crunch.'

"Oh, great." The male said. "Wake up. Wake up. Stupid Bitch."

The door from the office area opened and a man hurried out. He was in the process of hooking his pants. He went to the roll up door and opened it.

Two men entered through it.

Bob looked them over. He thought one might be a Terminator.

One of the men opened the back of the truck.

There were boxes of electrical components.

"Where's the finished product?" One trucker asked.

The male pointed off to the side.

"It's all there." The male said.

Bob watched as a tarp was removed. It looked like an internal component from an HK Track.

He drew his M9 and fired three times. All three men went down. He drew his Taser.

The one he thought was a Terminator didn't get back up. He checked them. They were all human. They were all terminated.

He pulled the roll up door down and locked it. He pushed the small fork lift against the door he forced open. He didn't want anyone else to enter the building.

He collected their phones and ID.

He went to the office and found the female. She was sprawled on the ground naked. She looked like she weighed ninety pounds. She appeared terminated.

He checked her, she was still alive. Her heartbeat was very irregular. There were needed tracks on both of her arms. It looked like she was pretty at one point in her life. It wasn't any time recently. He would take her with him when he left and leave her at a hospital.

Bob used his com and filled John Henry in on everything as he loaded the truck with all of the finished product in the building.

Steve and Tom arrived. They collected the truck and drove it away. Cameron would want to look over the components herself.

He went back and checked on the female. He was very disappointed with what he found.

There was surgical tubing around her arm, and a needle stuck in her arm. It wasn't how he left her. She was dead. He looked at the drugs she used. It was uncut. She overdosed. He was very disturbed by the turn of events. He was going to get medical assistance for her. He wanted to put her into one of the programs Cameron and CamNet controlled. He took one look back at the female as he left the room. He thought maybe he should have acted sooner. He needed to wait to see what the truck was going to do.

Bob took one look at the terminated men. He believed he better understood some of the actions Sheila took when she dealt with certain individuals. It was a Resistance operation. He felt such punishment was warranted after what he listened to.

Steve and Tom left him with six Thermite grenades total. He placed them around the building and left by the roll up door. He lifted it up and pulled it down as he went out. He took one look back as he moved away. He was still bothered by what happened. He couldn't help but feel the female purposely overdosed to end her suffering. She didn't know someone was there to help her.

He hurried back to his SUV. Smoke poured from the building as he drove away. There would be no emergency response. He was still bothered by the events which occurred inside of the building before the terminations began.

Cameron thought maybe it would be better to go with Jesse alone since this was about Jesse's family. It was for Jesse. She wanted Gail to understand it was something very personal for Jesse. She knew Gail was the most 'Terminator like' of the Metal girls. She didn't have the fluidity of the other girls. Things were very black and white for Gail. She, and all the girls, worked with Gail to 'improve' her.

"Gail you're welcome to come, but I want it to be about Jesse's family. It's not about us, or other people." Cameron said. "It's not about Jesse and you. It's going to be a very delicate and touchy situation for her. It won't be easy for her to deal with."

Cameron was certain Jesse would be overwhelmed by emotion no matter how hard she tried not to be. She understood the conditions Jesse last saw her family in. It sounded very unpleasant to her no matter how it was looked at. She was going to see the dead, alive again.

Gail felt it was very important to meet Young Jesse. It was an opportunity she didn't want to miss.

"I understand." Gail said "I want to meet Young Jesse and her sister. Young Jesse will grow into MY Jesse one day."

Gail wanted to see Young Jesse.

Cameron felt Gail missed her point. It was almost as if Gail didn't hear her. She knew Gail did.

"I know what you want. I want this trip to be ONLY about Jesse, for Jesse. It's about her family." Cameron said. "This isn't about your relationship."

Gail took a step back. She owed Cameron a lot. She could see how important it was to Cameron. She was sure it was even more important to Jesse.

"I understand." Gail said. "You really care about her. I thank you for it and all you've done for her and me, for us."

Jesse was very important to Cameron. She was also a 'backup' for Vanna and Allison.

"Yes, I do care. I care about everyone here, especially MY girls, John's girls." Cameron said. "You know what the future may dictate. It needs to happen when it's time."

It was something Gail needed to live with, even if she didn't like it. She didn't like it either.

"I understand." Gail said.

Cameron wanted to give Gail some more things to think about. She hoped it might help expand the way she looked at things.

"If you ever want to switch chips with any of the other female Terminators, you may. It's only if it's what you both want." Cameron said. "Everyone must agree first."

There was a chip swap Gail wanted to do and surprise Jesse with.

"May I switch chips with a male Terminator?" Gail asked. "I want to please Jesse in 'every' way…. I think it's something she desires to experience again."

Cameron felt the male body was inferior to the female body. If Jesse wanted a male, she wanted it to be John. Jesse wasn't the problem, John was.

"I would prefer it if you didn't. I've been in a male chassis. I didn't like it one bit. Your body is much more elegant and beautiful." Cameron said. "You can satisfy Jesse better how you are."

Gail was pleased Cameron spoke kindly of her appearance. It was something which often troubled her. She understood appearance was very important to humans. They all said it wasn't, but she knew it was by the way everyone acted.

"Do you think I'm pretty?" Gail asked.

Cameron remembered she felt jealous of Gail's and Holly's appearance from the first moment she laid eyes on them. They possessed qualities desired by the majority of males she encountered. She could tell by the way they looked at females of a similar appearance and build.

"Yes, you and Holly were both ravaging beauties from the first day. I can honestly say you have a set of breasts which just won't quit." Cameron said. "Jesse and the girls may have been with men, few of them were by choice. They all prefer women. A female can satisfy a female better than a male can. Males are only needed for reproduction."

Gail looked down at her breasts and smiled. Everyone thought she looked really pretty when she smiled.

"Thank you." Gail said as she moved over and hugged Cameron.

Cameron wanted to set some rules.

"You're welcome." Cameron said. "Now, for the trip, if you want a temporary chip switch, you can work it out. I can tell you Jesse loves you just the way you are. You should never worry about it. You need to consider her feelings too before you switch."

Cameron could see the tears in Gail's eyes. She knew Gail thought about the time period when Duplicate Jesse was believed to be terminated. She wanted to ease Gail's fears and sad feelings. There was hope for the future, several times over. There was something she wanted to clarify. The implications of it bothered her.

"Gail, there are two versions of Duplicate Jesse. There is Young Jesse…. I promise you, I will always have 'a Jesse' for you. It's all the SAME Jesse. I will personally go find the others if they are ever needed." Cameron said as guilt flooded her. "I'm sorry my foolishness cost you your beloved and your relationship. Since you and Jesse, this Jesse, already developed a relationship, I didn't think it was wise to bring back your Duplicate Jesse…. There would have been a conflict…. I also promised John I wouldn't change the timeline. He was very adamant about it."

Cameron knew one version of 'Jesse' would feel 'replaced'. She knew what the feeling was like. She was also aware of the conflict which always developed whenever there were 'two' of her. It appeared she could never get along with herself, even if she tried. She did try.

Gail was aware Cameron could have left some things as they were and not rescued Duplicate Jesse. It meant something to her because Cameron did rescue her. It meant Duplicate Jesse was still alive. She was also half a millennium in the future.

"You fixed it. You fixed me and saved my beloved." Gail said. "It's I who owe you. I'll make sure when Jesse is 'needed', she will be there for John. I also thank you for allowing us to start a family."

Cameron believed Jesse would rise to the challenge of motherhood, but she might need a little assistance.

"You will need to help Jesse when it happens, she may find it overwhelming." Cameron said. "I'm counting on you."

Gail was very pleased with Cameron and everything she set forth. She especially appreciated Cameron's confidence in her.

"I will not fail you, John, or the future." Gail said. "I swear it."

Cameron was satisfied everything was ready. She felt Gail would be able to accompany them now. She believed all of the parameters were understood and would be adhered to.

"We will leave first thing tomorrow. It includes you as well. I've made the arrangements and the jet will be ready for us." Cameron said. "Make sure Jesse gets some rest for a change."

Gail tilted her head slightly. She thought of a few other things which could happen.

"It's a long flight. She can rest on the plane after she joins the 'mile high club'." Gail said. "Thank you for allowing me to come with you."

Cameron tried to suppress a smile.

"I'll turn off my audio." Cameron said. "Only until after you two become 'members'."

Gail thought a 'warning' was in order.

"It may be off for most of the flight." Gail said. "Jesse is very demanding and energetic."

Cameron and Gail both giggled.

Jesse almost seemed to be like a Metal girl with the way she performed in bed.

Cameron knew Gail was right.

'Rock And Roll All Nite' by 'Kiss', seemed to sum up Gail and Jesse's relationship.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Bookend

Where does it start
Where does it end
Is everything in the middle
Only what we pretend

In everything we do
A message we send
We are what we are
Everyone must bend

When there are others invited
With which we must contend
When it is the case
There is nothing to defend

When one seeks another
As a new friend
Regulating who was already there
To the status of a bookend

Will the feelings that were there
Ever be able to transcend
In the long run it is feared
Things will never truly amend

Can a mind ever heal
Can a heart ever mend
It becomes painfully clear
On no one can we depend

Nobody