Chapter 361

Safe Bet

Cameron advanced toward the battle. She moved off to the side from Dan and Summer. She hoped for a better angle on the targets. She wanted to make sure John was protected. If she eliminated the threat herself, then he was.

She saw there was a hostile Terminator down near Summer. He attempted to reboot when Summer hit him again with her Taser. She was incapacitated and unable to stand. One of her legs was all but destroyed.

The targets were focused on where Summer and Dan were.

Cameron moved up close to the enemy unobserved. She pulled her Taser and fired twice. Both targets went down. She wasn't sure if the modified Taser would kill humans, she was about to find out. It didn't really matter to her. They tried to hurt John. They were going to pay. They were going to die anyway, one way or another. If they were lucky, the high powered Taser would've killed them. She planned a brutal interrogation session for them if they survived.

Dan moved to the Terminator that Summer fought and brought down. He removed the chip from it. He could see Summer's leg was severely damaged. She'd stayed in the fight nonetheless.

Cameron checked the two Grays she'd taken down, one was dead. The other one was still alive. She moved to Summer to check her injuries. She didn't like what she saw. There was more to see yet.

"I'll be fine." Summer said. "I only need some repair to my leg."

Cameron was glad she possessed plenty of spare parts.

"It looks more like you will need a new leg." Cameron said. "I have spares."

Summer was self conscious about some additional damage. It was - private.

"There is some additional damage. It is pretty high up." Summer said. "Some things are missing. I can feel they're damaged. There's not much left."

Cameron became even more concerned. She moved in close to look at the damaged and missing tissue. She was a little shocked at what she saw was damaged. She was horrified but tried to downplay the issue.

"Most of it is still there. I think it will regenerate." Cameron said. "It will still be functional. It will still be what they want anyway."

Summer wondered what that meant. She was more worried about her face. She touched the injuries to her face.

"How bad is my face damaged?" Summer asked.

Cameron looked at Summer's face and back to her private area. She would rather have the face damage over everything else that was no longer there down below.

"I've had worse." Cameron said. "You'll be fine."

Cameron knew it always bothered her when her face was damaged. She was always afraid her face would end up how her damaged breast was for so long and not properly regenerate. It still bothered her to see the breast finally get back up to size but it lacked the nipple. After she'd re-infused her DNA with a fresh sample from Allison, everything corrected itself. She knew if she was 'ugly' John would replace her - again.

Summer touched her face as she tried to look down below. She looked very worried. Her leg was a mess. It would need to be replaced. She hoped everything else would regenerate fine. She would be functional, she hoped she wasn't disfigured.

Cameron could see Summer running every worse case scenario going forward. It wasn't a healthy thing to do. She possessed plenty of experience in that regard.

"You'll be fine, Summer." Cameron said to reassure Summer.

Maybe it was really to reassure herself.

Bob and John arrived.

"Bob, take the Terminator." Cameron said. "Dan, get the Gray. I've got Summer."

Cameron carefully picked Summer up and carried her away.

"You're hurt too, Cameron." Summer said. "You need repair."

Cameron brushed it off. She didn't want John to start in on her.

"I'm replaceable, you know that." Cameron said. "I'm taking you to get repaired."

John wanted to look Cameron over more but she would have none of it. He watched Cameron carry Summer away. He noticed some bloody sheath material on the ground.

'I'm glad Cameron wasn't damaged.' John thought.

He looked at it. There was a mess there. It reminded him of some of the damage to Cameron actually. He'd spent a lot of 'close up' time in that area.

He bent down and looked further. He remembered he could look like that too. He was hopeful there was no major damage to Cameron's sheath. He doubted they would make love any time soon if it did. He wiped his hand on his pants.

Bob noticed what John looked at. He didn't say anything. It was clear one of the female Terminators was very damaged. None of their Terminators were usually that damaged.

Ronny and Ron collected the parts from the HK Tread and Terminator and loaded them in a box truck that was parked at the dock. They found nothing else of value inside the building. There was no version of Skynet set up there. They torched the building and left.

Al moved up to the damaged HK Tread and pried the hatch open, it was empty.

The helicopter departed with Derek and Jim on board once it was clear there were no additional casualties.

"OK. We have some tidying up to do and some vehicles to collect." Kyle told the five Terminators.

Al stood with Kyle.

"I'm to remain with you at all times." Al told Kyle. "It's Cameron's orders."

Kyle nodded. He'd just seen his brother saved by Metal again. He also saw the damage to Jim. That could have been on Derek instead. Derek would be dead. It could have been him too. It still could be. He was glad Al was there.

"That's understandable." Kyle said. "Keep an eye on my back."

Kyle knew to keep his guard up so it didn't happen to him either. They weren't done here and Skynet already tried to get this equipment back once.

The other truck that another Cameron clone commandeered was now at a secure location. John Henry was to come and inspect the cargo himself when they were able to free up some more Terminators.

It was a half constructed HK Tread with all the parts. The power source was not yet installed. More help arrived. They could get it unloaded and assembled soon. There were some suggestions made to improve the design if they were going to keep it. Cameron reaffirmed she wanted it.

Ally and Sheila were drafted to assist. They didn't like doing manual work.

"How did we get stuck doing this?" Ally asked. "We're lovers not mechanics."

Sheila would rather be elsewhere too.

"Cameron needed more help." Sheila said as she looked around. "We can still be lovers too."

They saw that a Gray captive was also deposited.

"Dan dropped us off a new 'toy' for Cameron." Ally said.

Sheila perked up some. She liked to interrogate Grays. The pain she inflicted excited her. It was almost a sexual response to her but different.

"I want to question him." Sheila said. "I enjoyed 'interacting' with the last one."

Sheila planned to carve this one up good. Cameron was displeased with her actions dealing with the other Gray.

"I liked our other assignments better." Ally said.

Sheila was a little jealous that Hanna was still at the Young residence.

"Hanna is still on her assignment." Sheila said. "They need to bring Claire and the girls and move them to the base."

Ally saw a problem with that. She was sure Cameron wouldn't want another male around Vanna, Jesse and especially Savannah.

"What about Mr. Young?" Ally asked.

Sheila thought males were only good for donating what was necessary for reproduction.

"He's unnecessary." Sheila said. "His function was completed long ago."

Ally thought Sheila missed a major component of a family and how it worked.

"Try and tell Allison that." Ally said. "Remember, I'm 'her' also."

Sheila didn't want to argue the point. Mr. Young already served his purpose. For Cameron's plans he was redundant and unnecessary. There was no need to upset Ally. She planned to spend some alone time with her when no one was looking.

"Start laying parts out." Sheila said. "We can get out of here sooner."

Ally was still a little miffed at Sheila for what she said about Mr. Young. She knew Allison loved her father.

"Whatever…." Ally said.

Derek and Jim got back to the base first. Everyone made sure Derek was taken care of. Riley and Sarah were at his side.

Derek only received a few scrapes and bruises. There was one small piece of shrapnel. He'd pulled it out of his leg on the flight back. The ringing in his ears was gone. It was Jim he was worried about. His back looked awful. He still felt that was his fault.

"You can all help Jim first." Derek said. "He looks bad."

Vanna and Savannah went to work on Jim along with the Metal females.

Cameron arrived with Summer later on.

Savannah and Vanna went over to work on Cameron.

Cameron was worried about Summer. She'd looked at the damage closer. She doubted it would regenerate properly.

"Vanna, I need you to help Summer." Cameron said. "She's going to need some 'special attention'."

Savannah went to follow Vanna. Cameron didn't want her to see the damaged private area on Summer. She didn't want that image in her mind. She touched Savannah's arm.

"You can tend to me." Cameron said with a smile.

Savannah smiled back and went to work.

Vanna could see Summer's leg was a mess. She wasn't sure what Cameron indicated. She looked at the other damage. That was a first in that area. She sucked in her breath. It looked like Scavengers got a hold of Summer and there was a lot - missing. She wasn't sure she could come up with a solution. She tried to put a brave face on it.

"Cameron has some extra parts to get you fixed up." Vanna said to Summer.

Summer could feel the damage was extensive. She didn't buy Vanna's optimism. She was 'Cameron' after all, a clone of her program anyway.

"How bad is it?" Summer asked. "Tell it to me straight."

Vanna thought a new chassis would be a better solution.

"It's bad." Vanna said. "I've never needed to fix damage like that. I don't know if it's fixable. I suggest we Resequence your DNA processor again. That should help."

Summer only started to Resequence in the last few days. She still looked like the Terminator whose chassis she inherited.

"Do I get a choice?" Summer asked.

Vanna wasn't sure where this was headed.

"You're 'Cameron', right?" Vanna asked.

Summer was proud at that as much as she was appalled.

"Yes. I'm a copy." Summer said.

Summer thought that was a warning from Vanna. Maybe she should stick with the young, Young girl's DNA - Summer.

Dan arrived for repair as well. He'd picked up some spare 'parts' when he met Ally and Sheila and gave them the Gray. They'd been waiting for him.

Ally let Sheila get 'everything' Cameron requested. That was more attuned to her programming from Jesse. It was quite disturbing to watch everything she did. It was as perverse as it was exciting.

Vanna looked at the replacement leg and complete pelvic area. That was interesting in itself.

"I'll inform Cameron." Vanna said. "I'm going to get started."

John came in as soon as they got back and he checked on everyone and Cameron.

John asked Cameron how she was and she told him she was fine.

He gave her a long hug. He was about to leave when he saw where Vanna was at. He gave Vanna a hug too and silently walked away.

Vanna wasn't sure what that was all about.

It was time to get to work.

John passed by Cameron on his way out but was silent.

Cameron expected a fight. Not a word was said about her and she didn't berate John for being out in the first place.

Maybe it was time they tried to understand each other better.

Cameron wondered how long that would last. She also wondered what John did over by Vanna. Maybe he'd wanted to check out Summer. She bet he wouldn't say anything about her different pigmentation in that area again. At least everything was still there on her. She smiled to herself to know it was all in good working order too.

Kyle and the Terminators picked up all the parts they'd collected and brought them to the area where the unassembled HK Tread was.

Ronny already left the truck with the parts of the two destroyed HK Treads. Ron and him returned to Cameron's base for minor repairs.

John showed up with John Henry later on and they started to go over every part, piece by piece, to see exactly what they were dealing with and make sure it was no Trojan Horse. Anything questionable was destroyed with Thermite. They would fabricate anything they needed themselves to get one HK Tread up and running. It would be upgraded to their standards as well.

"We can use the programming from the drones along with any additional programming we may need from Cameron and myself." John Henry said. "This large type of HK can also hold an operator."

That sounded intriguing to John. He pictured himself out on the battlefield in an HK Tread.

"Who gets that job?" John asked.

John Henry thought anyone could. It only took some instruction. He wasn't sure that was preferred to autonomous control.

"Anyone who is trained can control it or it can operate on its own the same way the HK drones and HK Tracks work." John Henry said. "They work on their own but we can redirect them as necessary."

John knew their drones were usually controlled by John Henry. If the HK equipment operated on its own and independently, no one was really in charge of them, they were pure AI at that point.

"That sounds like Skynet." John said.

John Henry didn't see that as a problem. It was a plus to him.

"It is all about control and survival." John Henry said.

John was well aware that Cameron liked control and was able to survive quite a bit.

"And we both know Cameron is excellent at both of those." John said. "She likes machine against machine."

John Henry knew how the final battle would take place.

"Yes." John Henry said. "She will have to fight Skynet on its own terms one day."

That was information that always bothered him. He wanted that battle fought without Cameron if possible.

"Can't you beat Skynet?" John asked.

John Henry thought he could hold his own but he wasn't sure he could beat it.

"I don't know." John Henry said. "The two individuals that could combat it are Cameron and River, each would use different methods. Together they would be unstoppable."

John didn't want to involve River. It was hard enough to keep her from assisting them before.

"This isn't River's fight." John said. "She hasn't even been born yet nor will be for several more centuries."

John Henry was deeply disturbed by something that he dared not question or even mention. He was aware the new Young daughter, Summer, was extremely gifted and highly intelligent. He was worried Cameron may have conducted some 'temporal malpractice' and traveled to the future. She could have taken River from her mother, which would most likely result in her mother's termination and brought her back to this timeline. She then could have implanted the embryo into Claire Young since they were genetically compatible. He would need to monitor her development. It was possible she could be River's sibling, offspring or even a clone from that future. He needed to refocus.

"River will be in contact with Cameron again." John Henry said. "I'm sure of that."

That sounded like a recipe for disaster to John.

"Why?" John asked.

John Henry knew what Cameron was obsessed with currently.

"Cameron wants to find the Duplicate girls that went into 'some future'." John Henry said. "I think she can only do it with River's help and be able to get back here."

John was aware that was a possibility but since none of the Duplicates ever returned, it seemed to be a slim possibility. The implications were still quite intriguing.

"Then there would be another 'Cameron, Allison, Vanna and Jesse'." John said.

John liked the prospect at having a second Cameron in his bed. If she was a Duplicate, she was Cameron too. He adjusted his pants slightly.

"It seems it would be most likely." John Henry said. "If any of them are still alive that is. It's hard to know since none of them have ever returned that we know of."

There was still another worry for them. He didn't see it as the threat that Cameron and the others did.

"What about Mrs. Weaver?" John asked.

John Henry would like to know where she was at. He wanted to know what she was up to.

"Unfortunately that is an unknown." John Henry said. "We have no idea where or when she is or if she still exists."

John doubted Mrs. Weaver could be easily terminated by anyone, including Skynet.

"I would bet she does." John said.

John Henry knew how ruthless Mrs. Weaver was. He was sure he'd only seen a fraction of it.

"That would be a safe bet." John Henry said.

Safe Bet

One can't make someone love them
No matter how hard they wish or try
The end result of that failed attempt
Is sure to make one cry and want to die

Perhaps the easier way to go
Is with the one who wants them
Maybe the rough uncut stone
Will turn out to be a real gem

A person's appearance is transitory
True beauty is more than skin deep
Once the beauty within is found
That's the one to want and keep

It all comes down to one question
Will the love grow and last
The way it unfolds over time
May be dictated by the past

Don't concentrate on the dreamboat
It is sure to make one fret
Take the gamble out of it
Stick with what is the safe bet

Nobody