Chapter 320

Crybaby

When Cameron returned to her base, her Terminators already finished repairing each other. The two captured female Terminators were both patched up as well. They were both now fitted with a neck port.

The two new female Terminators were both naked on work benches. One of them needed one of her lower legs replaced and the second one received a new arm from the elbow down. The sheath tones didn't match. She also showed damage to her torso with some breast and abdomen damage. She was pleased to see everything was still there, even if it was stitched up. She didn't want any delays with her plans.

Cameron knew Resequencing should take care of the problem. She examined everything about them as she tried to decide which one she would Resequence as her clone, and which one would become Summer's clone. She spent a little time examining their private parts. She found it fascinating how different they were from each other and herself. How could everything be the same, yet so different?

She made sure everything was ready to go and administered the DNA coding for Resequencing. It was done. In a few weeks there would be another teenage 'Allison' and a teenage 'Summer'. She really looked forward to seeing how Metal Summer turned out. She already calculated age progression. Summer should be beautiful. She believed Summer would be more beautiful than Allison. She was aware it would mean Summer would be more beautiful than her. She was unsure what name to use for the new Terminator. Summer was the logical choice but June, Julia, Augusta, and Vera were all good choices. She liked the name 'Summer'. It was a beautiful name.

Cameron went through their chips three times and removed any helpful information and erased everything else, twice. She then used her spare chip she took back from Cam, and copied her program two more times. It would create two more program clones of her, with one of them to have her appearance, well, Allison's appearance.

She thought if she liked the 'look' of Metal Summer more, she might take it as her new chassis. Her old chassis could be put into standby until Savannah was older or requested it. John would have to adapt. It was time John accepted her program was her, not Allison's appearance. She would go by her new name as well, Summer.

Cameron decided if John refused to accept her as 'Summer', it was time for her to move on. She was tired of being disrespected. It was IF she chose Metal Summer's chassis and new sheath. There were still many choices for John to choose from as a replacement for her. She wouldn't hinder his decision. She felt she already did enough of it.

John needed to get with the program. It was past time for John to start thinking about the future and stop living in the past. Time waited for Nobody.

Cameron needed to go deal with the Gray 'crybaby' and continue the 'Neural Interface'. She was ready to scrap the project and just terminate the crybaby Gray Bitch. She almost ripped her tongue out one day when she was crying and begged to be let go. She grabbed her tongue and was getting ready to rip it out, literally. She wanted to HURT her. It was her actions in the future which made it so hard for women to have offspring because of the biological warfare she helped unleash into the Wastelands. There may even be the counterpart of her in the future Jesse and Vanna came from. If there was, and it was her, it meant she was responsible for the termination of Vanna's baby, John's baby. The scans for Jesse didn't look much better. If it also resulted in another termination of John's offspring, she was sure she would terminate her in the same way as she did to the first test subject. She would be reduced to a pile of waste. She smiled as she thought about it. It gave her immense pleasure to beat 'herself' before.

The termination of John's offspring was a death sentence for the Gray.

Cameron knew she was close to 'losing it' with the test subject, real close. She didn't really even care anymore. Nobody listened to her anyway.

At this point, what difference did it make?

Allison and Holly returned to Palmdale. They were greeted by Hanna and her mother.

Holly came over and checked on Allison again as she scanned her.

Allison rolled her eyes.

"Do you and Hanna need to scan me every fifteen minutes?" Allison asked.

Holly looked confused. It was for Allison's own good. Surely she must understand….

"Yes." Holly replied. "Is something wrong?"

Allison could see Holly thought it was 'normal' to do it under the circumstances.

"Oh, brother…." Allison said. "I'm sorry I asked."

Holly was a little upset. She wanted to help Allison. She felt her actions were justified.

"Cameron is worried about you. So am I." Holly said. "Cameron cares about you. I care about you."

Now Allison felt bad. She thought she owed Holly an apology about something else too. She didn't regret her actions with Vanna, but didn't want to offend Holly either. It was the elephant in the vehicle on the way back. There hadn't been much discussion as neither one of them wanted to touch the issue. It might be as contentious as it was sensitive.

"I'm sorry, Holly." Allison said. "I'm also sorry about Vanna. I mean about what happened with us earlier."

Holly stiffened. Her hand started to glitch slightly. She hid it from Allison. She didn't need to cause Allison even more stress. She knew what she needed to 'say' even if she didn't fully agree with it.

"Vanna needed you. She suffered a tragic loss." Holly said. "It was the compassionate thing to do. You love each other. I understand you NEED each other."

Holly couldn't help but think the same thing could happen to Jesse and Allison. As much as she cared about and loved Allison, she didn't know if she'd be able to comfort her properly during such a time. She would most likely need the help of Vanna so Allison didn't need to suffer as much. It wasn't something she wanted, however it was something she needed to acknowledge. She would keep it to herself for now.

Allison could see Holly was still troubled. She wanted to explain herself and her actions.

"I know it hurt you. I know I hurt you, Holly." Allison said. "We were together for so long, we do love each other. I love you as well. It's all so confusing sometimes. I wanted Vanna to know she's loved. We love each other deeply. If it was me, I would want her there to support me and comfort me. I would need her as well as you."

Holly cringed at Allison's statement. It was what she just thought moments ago. She felt even guiltier than she did before. There were other issues which troubled her. She felt she was number 'two' with Allison at best.

"It will all work it out in the end." Holly said. "I know my place now. I will accept it over 'nothing'."

Allison saw it all differently. She'd learned to share her love with others. It was something beautiful, not something 'bad'. Holly couldn't see the bigger picture. She was hung up on what was right in front of her. She understood Holly didn't have any experience other than her. Maybe it was her fault for not trying to help Holly 'grow'. Right now she wanted to make Holly feel special. She knew just what to do. She possessed a lot of experience.

"It's not how it is, Holly." Allison said as she sat on Holly's lap facing her. She touched her face and then deeply kissed her. "This is how it is…."

Allison hit play on her player for Holly.

'Baby Likes to Rock It' by 'The Tractors', drifted around the room.

Claire was worried about Allison because of what happened to Vanna. She hovered outside the room as she listened. She was very worried about her daughter. She left as soon as Allison made her move on Holly to share her love. She knew Holly needed 'reassurance'. She would like to give Holly some personal 'reassurance' herself….

She was ready to 'step up'. She would talk to Cameron about it. If Allison experienced 'trouble', she felt maybe she could 'help'. She was 'productive'. Cameron could do to her as she did to Allison. She would ask Cameron to do the procedure herself. She also would be open to try the 'traditional method' of conception. She would give the child to Allison to raise as her own. She needed to think about the implications. True, it would technically be Allison's 'sibling', but she could raise it as her own child. It was the least a mother could do. She loved Cameron like everyone else. She wondered how to break the news to her husband. Maybe it was best to just tell him the truth, or say she was acting as a surrogate for the birth. Either way, sex with Paul would only happen at certain times of the month. In fact, since she fell in love with Cameron, it wasn't really happening at all. She felt she needed to be ready when Cameron was. She would ask Hanna to start monitoring her.

She didn't know Holly and Hanna were both doing so already. Cameron liked to cover all the bases in case she needed to act.

Claire could offer something Cameron needed. It was her healthy, productive body. She knew she would do anything for Cameron, as an afterthought she added, and her daughter, Allison.

She would like two things out of it for herself. One was to be with Cameron. The other was to be with John for the conception. She hoped he would be able to 'deliver in bed' since no male was ever able to do it for her. She wanted to share and feel the love. She wanted to be more than a receptacle for others' pleasure for once. Just one time is all she wanted. She always needed to wait until Paul fell asleep, and then 'finish' herself. It was a very dissatisfying experience for her.

Claire wanted to blame her parents for forcing her to 'turn her life around' and get married like a 'normal girl'. She tried. It just wasn't the same. Nothing was the same. No male who ever touched her, ever did anything more than seek their own personal gratification from her through various sex acts. She was willing to try it with John if it was what Cameron wanted for a conception to occur. She could do it the same way Allison did as well.

Claire didn't know Cameron already planned the same thing.

Cameron even thought as far ahead to replace Claire at the Young residence with an infiltration unit after the 'Neural Interface'. She would be pleased to learn she may have an easier alternative to the problem. She didn't want to terminate Claire before she needed to take Young Allison and Summer from her.

As long as Cameron could keep Judgment Day from happening, Young Jesse and Savannah grew older, healthier, and stronger. Young Allison and Summer could remain with their mother. Hopefully Allison wouldn't have any problems. She seemed to be the best candidate so far. It made her wonder what happened with Duplicate Allison in River's future. She was also now worried about Future Allison and Future Savannah. She knew they never reproduced before. They should have. Future John was with them long enough….

Cameron noted her hand started to glitch wildly again. It was all so overwhelming and time consuming. There were so many things to control. She decided to deal with the crybaby later and go back and see John instead.

She really didn't know how to make John understand how important everything was. She was afraid she was going to malfunction again.

Cameron wanted the Gray Bitch to - SHUT UP.

She screamed at her to - SHUT UP.

There were too many things to think about.

Bob and Jim took over from Al and Ed. John Henry assigned them a new task. They thanked Al and Ed for their assistance while they went on the operation with Cameron. Now it was time to pick up where they left off.

There were two goals for them. One was to track the Coltan. The other was the drug and sex trafficking operation they stumbled onto. They were able to glean some additional information and leads from the terminated thug's phones. They were aware if they didn't follow up on the leads, Cameron would. Since she removed all of the Metal girls from combat, she would most likely go alone to deal with the 'problem'. It would probably lead to more damage to her. She saw gangs, drug dealers, and sex traffickers, as future Scavengers. She wanted to deal with as many of those individuals in the past, before they became an even worse problem in the future.

They were closest to the location where they'd taken down the first drug and sex operation. It was quiet as they passed by there.

Jim was a little worried about the captives they freed.

"What do you think happened to the females?" Jim asked.

Bob only thought about letting them go.

"I don't know." Bob said.

Jim wondered if they should have done a little more.

"Do you think any of them were recaptured?" Jim asked.

Bob knew about some of the operations Cameron conducted. It wasn't uncommon for such an event to occur. Since many of them were drug users, they soon ended up right back where they were. It might not be by the same group, often it was one of their competitors. They weren't too picky where they got their 'merchandise' from. They just needed to be able to sell it so they could collect the money.

"It is most probable some will be captured again at some point." Bob said.

Jim thought how Al and Ed acted was more efficient. They physically removed them from the danger zone.

"Maybe we should have taken them away like Al and Ed did." Jim said.

Bob still believed the drug use of the individual would determine their fate.

"It still doesn't mean they wont be recaptured." Bob said.

Jim was still worried they should have done more.

"I don't think we did enough." Jim said.

Bob could see Jim was troubled. He drove around the neighborhood two more times. They didn't spot any of the females who they freed from captivity and further abuse.

"I don't think any of them are still around this location." Bob said.

Bob headed for the second location Al and Ed took down. It was a crumbled charred mass of rubble. It was evident the destruction was total.

"This place is toast." Bob said.

Jim looked at the desolation and destruction.

"You can say that again." Jim said.

Bob gave Jim a quick glance.

"This place is toast." Bob said and tried not to smile.

Jim looked quickly at Bob. He saw he was joking.

"Let's see what's happening where they left the truck." Jim said.

Bob drove to the local Mall-Mart. Nothing was spotted around there. There was no sign of the box truck.

"Someone took the bobtail." Jim said.

Bob didn't think it would be too hard to reacquire.

"They left a tracker on it." Bob said.

Jim checked his phone. He was a little disappointed.

"It doesn't show up." Jim said.

Bob was a little more concerned. He could understand the organization wanting to repossess their vehicle. He didn't think they would do such a thorough search on it to find a hidden tracker. There was only one conclusion.

"Someone must have found it." Bob said.

They left the Mall-Mart.

"We need to be on the lookout for it." Jim said

Bob looked in his rear view mirror. He didn't like what he saw.

"We have a tail." Bob said.

Jim looked in the side view mirror.

"It's a dark sedan." Jim said. "We must have missed someone and they identified us."

Bob wondered about it. Al and Ed dumped the truck, not them. He didn't see how they could be made.

"I'm not sure about it." Bob said.

The sedan turned off.

Bob cut over on the next street to parallel them. He contacted John Henry for traffic cam information. John Henry was able to pick up the sedan and vectored them in to follow it.

"They're going to turn in your direction." John Henry said. "There's a female in the back with a male. I think they found her hiding near where the truck was parked."

Bob pulled over and waited.

The sedan crossed over the street in front of them. They waited thirty seconds and started out again. They spotted the female in the back seat was crying.

They followed the sedan back to a store front in a row of buildings. The sedan pulled around to the back.

"I bet it's the massage parlor." Jim said.

Bob and Jim were both more 'aware' of their male attributes. Being around the girls all the time 'raised' their interest in females more than it originally did.

"I haven't been to a massage parlor recently." Bob said. "Maybe we can check it out."

Jim tilted his head slightly.

"Do you mean to get a message?" Jim asked.

Bob thought more along the lines of the back room activity. He didn't see why they couldn't get a massage anyway.

"We can do it too." Bob said.

Jim thought about the activity which occurred in the back rooms.

"Some people always want a little more." Jim said.

Bob looked over at Jim.

"It should never be done under these conditions." Bob said.

Jim couldn't help but think about the terror, fear, and shame he saw on the faces of the females they freed from sexual servitude.

"If someone is forced to do this, it isn't right." Jim said.

Bob thought about the way things worked elsewhere around the world. He thought there was a little more choice involved for some of the individuals. He was sure a lot of it still was tied into the person's drug use.

"In countries where this is legal, it's a job someone has chosen to do." Bob said. "Where it is illegal, it is most often a job chosen for someone by someone else."

Jim thought about the person's lifestyle, regardless of the country. There often seemed to be a common denominator.

"Drug use plays a big role in it as well." Jim said.

Bob wanted to take a closer look. It was clear the female in the back of the sedan didn't want to be there. She would most likely want to be where she was taken even less. There was something they could do about it. Future Scavengers were still future Scavengers.

"Let's pay them a visit and see what we can shake loose." Bob said.

The receptionist looked up as Bob and Jim entered the massage parlor.

Bob took a moment to look around the interior. He spotted several surveillance devices. He faced the receptionist and smiled.

"We're here for the 'full package'." Bob said.

The receptionist looked around.

"It's five 'C notes'." The receptionist said.

Jim wanted to find the most vulnerable female first.

"We don't care for the older ones." Jim said.

The receptionist looked at both Bob and Jim.

"It's five 'C notes' each then." The receptionist said.

Bob handed the receptionist ten one hundred dollar bills. He held up another hundred dollar bill.

"This one is for you to make sure she's not too old." Bob said. "I don't want a twenty year old."

Bob handed the receptionist an additional 'C note'.

The receptionist smiled. Tips were rare, especially a large one. She would direct them to the proper room.

"Go to the end room." The receptionist said. "It's a new girl too. It's her first day. She's under twenty."

The receptionist buzzed them in through the door into a hall.

There were several rooms with open doors. One was closed. They looked in the open doors as they passed. There was a female sitting in the coroner in each one of them. They clearly didn't want to be there. They didn't look up as they passed. They probably hoped they wouldn't be 'selected'.

There was another door off to the side of the last room marked 'No Admittance'.

Bob and Jim conversed in a low decibel tone only a Terminator could hear.

"I think it's where we need to go." Jim said.

Bob didn't like what he saw as they passed down the hall. No one wanted to be there. He wasn't so sure about the receptionist. They could be under some type of duress as well. He didn't see any 'needle tracks' on them, but there were other types of narcotics as well. There was one issue in particular he wanted to deal with.

"I want to get the girl out too." Bob said. "We need to get all of them out."

They looked in the end room. There was a younger female in there. It was clear she'd been crying. She tried to smile at them, but couldn't do it. They didn't know what the extent of her involvement was at the establishment since she was new.

They entered the room and closed the door.

There was a bed in the room and a chair.

Bob sat on the chair. He looked at the female.

"Come sit on my lap." Bob said.

The female hesitated but came over and did. She remembered what the mean people told her, and what would happen to her if she didn't comply.

"I'll do whatever you want." The female said. "I can be with both of you at the same time too."

Bob pulled the girl close. He whispered in her ear.

"We're here to get you out of this place." Bob whispered. "Use your fingers and show me how many guards are here."

The female looked intently at Bob. She could see he didn't have a 'lustful' look in his eyes. He radiated strength and confidence. So did the other man.

She extended three fingers and looked at the wall next to them.

She kissed Bob on the cheek and moved her lips close to his ear. She would try to tell him what she knew, and what she was told.

"They record everything in the rooms to blackmail people later on." The female whispered. "They have my older sister. If I don't do this, they'll hurt her. They said they won't hurt me, but will hurt her instead. They said they didn't want to damage the valuable merchandise. She's in the first room. It was where I saw her earlier."

Jim heard everything. The first room was closed when they went down the hall.

"Let's get started." Jim said.

Bob and Jim made some low decibel plans. They communicated with John Henry. They were ready to act.

"I need to use the restroom." Bob said. "I'll be right back."

Bob stood and moved back to the female.

"Get on the floor three seconds after we leave and stay there." Bob whispered.

There was fear in the girl's eyes. It wasn't for herself.

"My sister…." The female whispered.

Bob already communicated with John Henry. He would cut the power at a specific time. He wanted to let the girl know they would retrieve her sister.

"My friend will go there first." Bob whispered. "The lights will go off at the same time."

Bob and Jim both exited the room. Jim went back down the hall and Bob went to the room marked 'No Admittance'.

The power went off.

It was Showtime.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Crybaby

There are many things
That can cause a heart to ail
None of them really matter
If nobody can hear them wail

The pain is all their own
As they face it all alone
Nobody really cares
As they suffer and moan

People only understand something
When it actually happens to them
Until that unfortunate event occurs
Others they only can condemn

As long as some get what they want
They really don't care about others
They would choose someone new
If they could have their druthers

In the end it all boils down to nothing
Unless they get another chance maybe
Until such an event will occur
They will be seen only as a crybaby

Nobody