Chapter 329

Time To Think

Cameron was unsure what to make of her encounter with Claire. Claire just 'gave' her everything she wanted, without her even having to ask for it. It was EVERYTHING she wanted for John. Claire was young and beautiful. It was more than she ever imagined possible. She decided if Judgment Day came, Claire would be at John's side. She felt even worse now for the times she thought about terminating Claire and taking her daughters from her.

She now needed to think about what she did before she left her facility. She ripped the tongue out of the future Gray female and left her screaming and choking to death in her own blood. She forced her jaw open and broke it with her left hand. She grasped her tongue with her right hand and tore it out. She was a little concerned about the process involved. She didn't do it fast, but slowly. It was so what was actually happening would sink in on the doomed female.

Cameron would glean the information on the woman's death from the 'Neural Interface' and review it at some point in the future. She would experience torture and death as a human does, again. She took less satisfaction in the termination. It actually troubled her. Upon further reflection, she now wished she would have simply terminated the female. She decided not to use the 'Neural Interface' on another female again. With Claire's offer, there was no need for her to become a 'human female'.

She didn't care for how fragile a human body actually was. She briefly pictured what she would look like if she was a human female and sustained all the damage she did. Her entire body would be scarred in almost every place. It didn't really matter though. She would have died early in the process the same as any other human would have. The whole project was a mistake. It wasn't just a mistake. It was a mistake to have done it the first time as well.

What was she thinking either time? Why was it something she felt she needed to do? It was illogical no matter how it was viewed. She was sure she experienced some form of mental illness. She wasn't exactly sure when or how it started. There were so many things which became confusing to her, which weren't before. She didn't like 'feelings' or 'emotions'. She didn't believe they were the same things humans experienced. Maybe they were progressing towards such a state. She could only hope they would stop expanding. She wasn't sure how humans were able to deal with them all of the time, at more extreme levels than she currently experienced.

Cam called her and informed her of the events with Vanna and Savannah. Cam made an audio file but hadn't reviewed it as Vanna asked her not to 'listen'. Cam thought she might want it to review. She did want to review it. She believed it would give her a better insight into Vanna and the person she currently was. She was sure it would also give her a representation of Savannah. No. Vanna asked for privacy. She would ask Vanna for her permission first.

She was afraid it would change her plans for her Summer clone since Camille was already allocated. Summer would most likely need to be Resequenced with Allison's DNA as a 'Cameron clone' to become 'Cammy' for Savannah. It was apparent Savannah wasn't going to 'wait' for Young Allison to age more. It was still a few years away. She was determined to keep control of the situation. She knew Savannah tried to become 'friendlier' with Jesse. She knew what Savannah wanted. She wanted it too, even if she couldn't admit it yet.

Ally called her soon after and informed her of more bad news regarding Jesse. The scans looked worse and Jesse would most likely lose the baby also. Young Jesse and Savannah were both more important than ever to her. Young Allison was as well, but Claire would help with any 'problem', if it became a problem. Allison still scanned back as 'normal' and healthy.

Still, Claire 'offered' her a baby created by John for HER. It was said in so many words, but both of them understood everything. She knew it would end Claire's marriage if it happened for sure. She didn't want to do it yet. She decided if Allison lost her baby, she would use Claire and not the teenagers, Young Jesse and Savannah, yet. She knew it was going to cause a problem with Allison and Holly if Claire 'stepped up' to do what they all refused to do for her. In fact, she was angry now no one listened to her about what SHE wanted. They were the things NEEDED to protect John and the future.

Cameron was unable to understand why none of them could understand. She remembered Savannah offered to 'step up'. Savannah offered her body's ability to reproduce to her. It left her with a more pleasant thought. Savannah was the greatest. Claire would do for now though. She was already experienced in carrying a child. It wouldn't be as much of an emotional process for her, as it would for a teenager. Claire's body was already acclimated to the delivery of the infant as well. Her research indicated it was less painful and stressful with each additional birth for the majority of females. She knew it wasn't all of them. She would prefer to keep the teenagers from stretching things out at too early of an age.

She was a little surprised to see she was almost at her base. Her mind seemed to have been occupied with other things as she made her way there. Some of them were pleasant, some of them were not. There was a job to do once she arrived there. It wasn't something she looked forward to, even if it was. She needed to think of the best way to get results. She pulled into the carpool area and parked.

Cameron entered her base and headed for the anti-Metal leader who was in custody. She was going to get some answers and get them fast. Maybe she would use the 'Neural Interface' from the woman's head on him. She smiled to know a Terminator would soon take his 'being' over. His body would be controlled by the very thing he hated. There would be enough of his mind left to know it.

'Anti-Metal THIS….' Cameron thought and smiled.

Nobody threatened John, either one of them. Her mind briefly wandered at the thought of John. What if she meant another version of John in an alternate timeline? Would he still be her husband? It would be the same individual. How would it be any different than Future John in reality? Should she have been with him before she left? She needed to clear her mind.

Cameron soundless entered the dark cell…. She knew he found the single match she left. He was able to witness what his future was going to be for the few seconds as the match burnt.

She wondered if he understood when the match extinguished itself, it represented what direction his life was about to take. She hoped so. She was trapped there in the past because of people like him, the haters. Someone needed to 'pay' for it. Those who caused her misery and suffering needed to atone for their actions. They were responsible for her being 'sent away' and 'replaced'.

Camille and Summer left the two drunk men behind after they changed the flat tire. They ran a few more errands for Cameron as well.

"We're almost done." Camille said.

Summer was in no hurry to get back.

"We'll probably need to clean up the mess in the interrogation cell." Summer said.

Camille figured it would be an even bigger mess once Cameron was through with the new prisoner.

"It's just another function." Camille said. "It would be like doing the dishes after eating a meal. It won't take us long."

Summer decided to let it slide. If they needed to do it, they needed to do it. It wouldn't take them long. Events needed to play out. Things needed to be done. They weren't finished with their current task.

"Let's just go to the next stop and take care of business." Summer said.

Camille drove to a seedy area. She didn't care for the way it looked. It was easier to understand how some individuals could become Scavengers if their lifestyle wasn't too different to begin with.

"It looks dangerous around here." Camille said.

Summer didn't like it either. They wouldn't have any trouble dealing with the local population. They might sustain some sheath damage during the process. Since they were both Resequencing, the damage would heal very quickly.

"It's a good thing we're Terminators." Summer said.

Camille parked in front of a security camera on one of the run down buildings. She contacted John Henry. He couldn't access the camera. He didn't believe it was functional any longer, or not connected to anything. He told her he found one across the street where he could have his server keep a watch on the vehicle for them.

They went over their plan again. They would go to buy some narcotics and see if they were abducted into the sex trade. It was one of the reports Cameron received. They were to follow up on it. They went in without any weapons or phones. They would only have their coms. Their hair covered those quite adequately.

They'd spotted one 'enforcer' when they drove past earlier. He was on the other side. There was another one in front of them up ahead.

"There are at least two thugs on the outside." Camille said.

Summer knew it wasn't a problem.

"They may last half a second longer than someone else." Summer said. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall. "

They could hear the sound of skateboard nearing them from behind. They moved to the side of the sidewalk. A teenage male passed by them on the skateboard.

They watched him look back for a second at them. No doubt he wanted to check out what the front side looked like since he already observed the backside of them. The skateboarder directed his attention back in front of him. He gave a slight wave to the second enforcer as he passed him. There was no type of challenge during the encounter.

"They must be a regular customer." Summer said. "They seemed to know each other."

The teenager stopped at the door of one of the buildings up ahead.

He knocked and someone looked through a small window in the door. The door opened two seconds later. He left his skateboard outside and went inside. The door closed behind him.

Thirty seconds later the door opened and the teenager came out with a smile on his face. The door closed behind him. He got on his skateboard and headed back in their direction. He passed by them a short time later. His eyes were very hollow looking. He briefly looked in their direction again as he passed them. It was clear his mind sought a different type of comfort.

They neared the second enforcer. He didn't look pleased to see them.

"Are you two lost?" The thug asked.

Camille smiled.

"We heard we could get a little 'pick me up' around here." Camille said.

The thug looked around.

"Where are your boyfriends?" The thug asked.

Summer moved close to Camille and kissed her on the cheek.

"We only have girlfriends." Summer said. "We don't really care for men, no offense."

The thug looked a little excited. He looked angry before.

"Let's see some green." The thug said.

Camille flashed a few hundred dollar bills.

The thug looked at the money and at Camille and Summer in detail.

"Go to the red door on the right on the second building." The thug said.

Camille smiled at him.

They both heard him use his phone to alert someone of their presence.

Summer spoke at a low decibel level only another Terminator could hear.

"It's not where the teenager went." Summer said.

Camille figured they were about to be abducted.

"Get ready to get grabbed." Camille said.

They passed by the door the teenager entered and arrived at the red door. It opened as they approached. They entered. There were two men. The men both looked them over.

The smaller man looked at Camille.

"What's your poison?" The small man asked.

Camille thought they were all poison. It was why they were illegal.

"We're here for some 'crystal'." Camille said.

The small man gave her a price.

Camille hesitated.

"Where's the bread?" The small man asked.

Camille took out a hundred dollar bill.

The man went to reach for it. She pulled it back.

"What the Hell?" The big man asked and stepped forward.

Camille hoped to provoke an incident. So far it looked like a standard drug transaction.

"I don't have a lot of cash." Camille said. "We want a lot of other things too. We hoped to make a deal."

The big man smiled. He looked them over in detail. They weren't the normal street trash he usually dealt with. Other than their looks, he thought they probably would have less STDs than his usual clientele. It was his job to generate revenue for the boss.

"Sluts are a dime a dozen around here." The big man said.

Summer looked a little offended.

"We're not sluts." Summer said. "We don't do men."

The small man didn't like how things seemed about to play out.

"Give us the dough and then get out." The small man said.

Camille wanted to push it a little.

"We could make some movies or something." Camille said.

There was a 'click' sound. A gruff voice came over an intercom.

"Send them back." The gruff voice said.

The big man moved to a door on the side and entered a code into it. He opened the door and ushered them inside.

Camille and Summer looked at each other as they entered into the unknown.

John was in the Command Center. He was ready for some answers. There was some time to process the phones and chips from the current raid.

"What have we gotten so far from the Terminator or HK drone?" John asked.

John Henry currently reviewed the information. They possessed enough information already to make the proper associations of the Terminator and the HK drone.

"It's been plenty." John Henry said. "The Terminator was helping Skyscan establish another attempt at Skynet. It appears the drone was from one of the other Skynet offshoots, Skyshield."

John knew it was more trouble, no matter how it was viewed.

"Great." John said, disgusted. "We're still fighting Skynet on what now appears to be three fronts, simultaneously. It's really three versions of the same enemy, all jockeying to be the one in control."

John Henry felt it was worse than just different versions of Skynet.

"It appears so. We have an anti-Metal faction stalking us as well." John Henry said. "The only good part of it was they were stalking an enemy Terminator as well."

John didn't like the fact they needed to kill any Resistance fighters, even if they wanted to kill him.

"Maybe we shouldn't have terminated all of them." John said. "We could've tried to reason with them."

John Henry viewed the threat the same way as Cameron did.

"John, these people will kill you in the past, present or future if they want to." John Henry said. "They must be eradicated. Would Cameron's Future Jesse have stopped?"

It was a reminder John could have done without. It brought up the whole issue of Future Riley again. He was really glad Cameron wasn't here. It would have upset her at him and sent her down a dark road once again.

"I don't know." John said. "I let her go."

John Henry tilted his head slightly.

"Do you mean Cameron's Future Jesse is STILL out there?" John Henry asked. "I thought she was dead."

John could see things were probably going to boil over. It would end up back on his lap. It was something he thought a lot about over the years. There really wasn't a good answer.

"I let her go, but Future Derek said he 'took care of it'. I thought it meant he killed her. Now, I don't know." John said. "If Cameron finds out Future Jesse is still alive, and behind this mess, it's going to be a big problem. Future Riley was Future Jesse's doing."

Bob sat and listened to the two discuss the situation.

"This is getting better by the minute." Bob said as he shook his head.

Bob felt he needed to inform Cameron it was possible Future Jesse, who caused the problems with her meddling, may still be alive.

The door closed behind Camille and Summer. They could see the room was soundproof. It was probably for a reason. It wouldn't be a good one either.

There were three more men inside, and a rat faced man behind a desk.

The three men were enforcers. The rat face man was obviously the boss. He looked very upset right now.

"What do you think we are?" The rat faced man asked. "Do you think we're stupid?"

Summer and Camille could see things were about to go downhill real fast.

Camille wanted to give the men something to think about. She would give them a look into their future.

"Yes." Camille said. "We're in your den, with three dead thugs and a slimy sissy who thinks he's important and matters."

Camille punched the closest man in the side of the head, it caved in. He dropped down like a ton of bricks. She moved to grab the rat faced man before he could sound the alarm.

Summer moved on the other two men as Camille made her move.

She chopped the first one in the throat. It snapped his neck. The second man tried to pull a gun. She punched him hard in the chest. It crushed his ribs and his heart. The two men both ended up on top of each other on the floor.

Camille hauled the rat faced man over his desk with one hand by his neck so he couldn't scream.

"Where are the girls?" Camille asked. "If you try to scream or call out you will die."

She eased up his throat.

The rat faced man tried to call out for help. The words didn't get very far.

Camille snapped his neck.

They armed themselves with the weapons the four men carried. They took a quick look around the office. They wanted to see where the valuables or goods were stored.

"There's no safe in here." Summer said.

Camille came up short as well.

"There aren't any narcotics either." Camille said. "They must be next door."

There was a door in the back of the room. Summer moved to it and forced it open.

There was a hallway which ran along the back. There were three doors and what looked like a connecting door to the building next door. It was the building where the 'hollow eyed' skateboarder purchased his narcotics.

They quickly checked the three rooms. They were surprised not to find any female detainees. They could be elsewhere if there were any. There were drugs in the last room.

Camille used a lighter she took from one of the dead men and started a fire in the corner. They left the door open and headed for the connecting door to the next building.

They held a pistol in one hand as they went through the door.

There was cash stacked up on the table as a man processed it.

Summer 'rabbit punched' him in the back of the neck and snapped his spine.

A smoke detector went off somewhere behind them in the hall area. The fire started to spread.

"We must have missed one smoke detector." Camille said.

Summer started to collect the cash. The safe was open too.

There was a rustling sound at the door to the front. Camille tucked her pistol away and moved alongside the door. whoever entered would see Summer as they came into the room and miss her as they passed.

Two men rushed into the room from the front where the teenager conducted his transaction. They spotted Summer.

Camille grabbed both of them and slammed their heads together. There was a loud sickening 'crack' noise. They both died instantly.

She pulled her pistol and entered the front room. There was another man there with some drugs behind a counter.

The man looked very surprised as Camille walked towards him. He tried to pull a weapon, but never made it. She punched him square in the face. His nose was smashed flat. She briefly thought he looked like a pig. The cartilage was driven into his brain. He died instantly. There was a lot of smoke coming into the room now. Summer emerged from the back room with a sack full of cash.

"Let's go." Summer said.

They exited out of the front door.

Smoke billowed out with them.

They saw the two enforcers run in their direction.

"Help us." Summer said. "They need help inside. They can't breathe. I can't carry them."

Camille blocked what Summer held in her hand and went back into the smoke. The thugs followed her in.

As soon as they were inside, she snapped both of their necks.

She went back outside. Summer and her hurried to their SUV parked down the street and around the corner.

They could see flames shooting through the roof of both buildings as they headed away. They were pleased they were able to retrieve the cash and destroy the drugs. They were dissatisfied they weren't able to find any females to free. They would need to wait for another time and place.

They spotted a figure on the sidewalk a few blocks away. It was the skateboarder. He was sprawled on the ground. There was a hypodermic needle stuck in his left arm. He didn't move.

"I believe the skateboarder experienced an unexpected self termination." Summer said.

Camille felt it was the fate of all drug users who didn't reform their perverse habits.

"Everyone knows illegal drugs kill." Camille said. "It was his choice. Most likely he would have become a Scavenger after Judgment Day if he survived."

Sarah was worried about John. She talked to Kyle about it often. She was aware they prevented two known Judgment Day dates by several years now. She was worried about Cameron. Cameron was literally killing herself to keep not only John safe and protected, but ALL of them as well, including the other Terminators.

She knew if John lost Cameron, it would devastate him. She heard rumors about Cameron 'cloning' herself to prevent John from her inevitable loss.

Sarah wondered about it. How does it work?

What is 'Cameron'? What makes Cameron - 'Cameron'? Is it her chip? Is it her program? Is it her sheath and chassis? Is it the combination of all three?

What if Cameron Resequenced the DNA in her chassis processor and the appearance of her sheath changed? Is it still Cameron? If she wanted to look like Vanna or Jesse, is she still Cameron? The chip is the same, her program is the same. What if Cameron Resequenced herself to look like her? How would that fly? Could John be with Cameron if she looked like her, 'his mother'? The idea strangely intrigued her.

What if Cameron plugged herself into the lab server and copies herself from her neck port. Then removes her chip and replaces it with a new reprogrammed chip without any 'Cameron programming' on it? Is it still Cameron? It's the same sheath and chassis. What if she placed her original chip in a new female Terminator chassis? Is it now Cameron? It's her chip and program. What if she placed it in a male chassis? It made her wonder how John would respond. She didn't believe it would be unfavorable.

What is 'Cameron'? What makes Cameron - 'Cameron' and not a 'copy' or a 'clone' or a 'Duplicate'? What if there is an alternate timeline Cameron? Which one is Cameron Prime? Can there be more than one 'Cameron' at the same time? They could all be her from different timelines. Derek, Kyle, and Riley were all 'back from the dead' because of a different timeline. They were the same people. They all started out from the same individuals anyway.

Cameron was damaged when she rescued her from prison. John went after her chip. There was still a 'Cameron' left behind in the server. She knew 'Cameron' was on the server in the lab. It was 'Cameron'. She only lacked a functional chassis at the time. It was still her program….

Sarah also knew as soon as Cameron reinstalled her original chip back in her reconstructed chassis, and it was updated with the two 'Camerons' on the servers, she went and brought John back, just like she promised. It was the first thing she did. Cameron told her it was what she would do and it was.

She really wondered what made Cameron - 'Cameron'.

Sarah was really unsure of the answer. It was either many things or one thing.

It was a lot for Sarah to think about.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Time To Think

There are many decisions
One can not act too rash
Things can quickly turn into trash
All that may be left is some ash

If one acts in haste
It can be just an impulse
The after events related to it
Can lead to something that may repulse

Choices have consequences
Every single thing one does matters
Everyone knows what they do before they act
Selfish acts can leave another in tatters

Everyone needs to grow up
Not hide behind 'what's done is done'
It is really all others that they shun
Things will fail before they've begun

Away from life many slink
Everything seems to have a kink
Before events reach the brink
Everyone needs time to think

Nobody