Chapter 367

Bad Career Choice

Bob was glad Cameron was alright and not captured or terminated. He hoped John and her wouldn't start bickering. He could see there was some tension in the air. He was aware they could argue and fight, or end up in a love making session. He witnessed both events occur at times like these. He wasn't sure what would transpire. From what he could hear, it sounded as if Cameron could be quite aggressive during this type of coupling. He didn't think it would be wise to suggest anything. He was very relieved Cameron was undamaged.

"We were worried about you." Bob said. "I was worried about you."

Cameron was glad Bob was there to watch John. He usually was able to contain John's irrational actions better than other Terminators. She was sure Savannah would be able to control him a little better than anyone, including her.

She was still a little unsure about what actually transpired. She didn't like all the worry it caused everyone. She felt there was a personal score to settle now. Even if her original mission involved Skynet activity, and Grays, the current mission was an 'off the books' operation. She wanted it to remain outside the scope of the Resistance. It was one of the reasons why she wanted Sheila and Ally there. Technically they worked for her operation. She previously 'traded' several male Terminators to the Resistance for them. She didn't view them as her property, but they were supposed to answer to her.

"Thanks, Bob." Cameron said. "I'm sorry for the trouble I caused somehow."

John really wanted to know what happened. So far they hadn't been given any details yet. Without any details, all anyone could do was speculate. Once the speculation started, it tended to get out of hand. Pretty soon each worst case scenario seemed to be the one everyone focused on.

"What actually did happen, Cameron?" John asked.

Cameron wondered about it herself. She wondered if she was in New Mexico to see if she could find a warehouse, or bunker, with the other chassis of 'herself'. If she was reliving her life, there must be more of 'her' somewhere to prove it. She didn't remember. She knew if there were more of HER, she wanted to find them. She wanted those other chassis and chips. She wanted to know more about her past life. They weren't clones, or Duplicates, they would actually be her. They would be her with a clean chip fresh from the future.

"I'm not sure." Cameron said. "I think I 'blanked out' and ended up finding a couple of Grays at some point. I was offline somehow. I may have been hit by a car. Then I was kidnapped by some sex traffickers."

Bob viewed some images of the vehicles John Henry was able to download. The images of the deceased were very violent.

"Do you mean your car was hit?" Bob asked.

Cameron found some bruising. It was mostly gone at this point.

"NO. I think I was hit by a car. I was offline for a while." Cameron said.

Cameron ran her scans again, as she checked all of her internal diagnostics. Everything was up to ninety seven percent. She checked again for any traces of recent human residue left anywhere in her chassis. Everything came back negative. She hadn't been violated through any type of penetration.

Ally and Sheila looked at each other. They knew why they were there. They would be bait for the sex trafficking operation.

Cameron looked at John. She was glad to see him, but still displeased he was there. He shouldn't have come. It's dangerous out in the field. It looked like the part of the operation with the Grays was concluded. Everything which was left was personal at this point. She looked directly at John.

"I want Bob and you to go back as soon as the jet is refueled." Cameron said. "I have a personal score to settle outside the scope of our normal operations. I don't wish to involve the Resistance in a personal matter. I think it's going to be very gruesome and bloody. I don't want your operation associated with it."

Cameron took a moment to look at Sheila.

Sheila looked back at her and nodded. She would make sure it was gruesome and bloody for those who offended Cameron. If they had a problem with Cameron, then they had a problem with her.

Ally would like to know some of the specifics. Some of the operations were very large and fortified. It usually depended upon what other types of illicit activity was associated with them. If drugs were involved, there would be a lot of money and merchandise somewhere. There would also be a lot of muscle and weapons.

"It's a personal matter with whom?" Ally asked. "Who are we after?"

Cameron didn't like being taken. She liked it less because her top was removed. It was a grievous infraction on someone's part to violate her privacy when she was incapacitated. She was sure she was probably fondled. John was the only one allowed to fondle her. It was something she allowed him to do before their marriage. It was as far as she would let him go. She turned her attention back to the current problem.

"It's with some individuals who've made a bad career choice." Cameron said. "They've personally offended me. They will pay with their lives. They are going to pay with everything."

Sheila knew the type. In the end, they were all the same groups. Since Cameron identified some targets, she was ready to act.

"They're all future Scavengers and Grays anyway." Sheila said. "We're ready. Let's go."

Cameron asked the girls to bring some mission oriented attire.

"Did you bring everything?" Cameron asked.

Ally patted her carry on bag.

"Just like always." Ally said.

John didn't like what he saw develop right in front of him. Cameron was going to go off on her own, with only some help from Ally and Sheila. It seemed like a half baked plan, if there was even a plan at all. It sure didn't seem like it. He was sure to go off on a vengeance mission was the wrong way to play it. He was there with Bob. It should be a team effort.

"We're going with you." John said.

Cameron was instantly irritated again. John seemed to have trouble listening, or maybe it was a comprehension problem. She would tell him again.

"Your scenario isn't going to happen." Cameron said. "You and Bob are headed back home."

John didn't see why not. They were already there and they could do something to assist Cameron. It didn't have to be combat. They could also serve as lookouts or a backup force if it became necessary.

"No, I want to stay." John said. "Bob and I can back you up."

Cameron thought about what John could do and not be in danger, or in the way. She looked at the jet. His presence could actually save her some time at the conclusion of her vendetta.

"You can wait here with the plane." Cameron said. "I won't have to 'borrow' one when we leave."

John figured it meant Cameron would steal one. He wanted to remind her what it really was.

"What do you mean borrow one?" John asked. "I think there's another name for your planned type of acquisition."

Cameron shrugged her shoulders. She didn't see it as a big deal. If what she borrowed wasn't damaged or destroyed, it should get back to the proper owner. It wasn't her fault people didn't take proper care of their things and safeguard them better. Savannah asked her to compensate anyone she took things from at a later date. It usually resulted in her leavening cash inside their residence, or an electronic deposit into one of their accounts. The latter was usually complements of one of the drug operations from laundered money. The cash was from drug or sex trafficking proceeds directly. They always kept a lot of cash around. She was more than happy to redistribute the wealth at Savannah's urging.

She needed to remember she was very displeased when someone took her purple coat. It was the reason why she terminated the three individuals in the bowling alley. They took something which was hers. It was something special to her. She was very pleased at the resolution of the event.

"It happens." Cameron said. "I take what I need, when I need it."

John didn't see very many weapons. They carried a full complement on the plane in several compartments.

"Will you need weapons?" John asked. "We have plenty."

Cameron felt the girls and her were weapons. She took weapons and money from the group already. It was personal, so she preferred to terminate as a Terminator. She could always whisper some 'parting message' to the future decedent, right before their neck was snapped. It also gave her a lot of stealth to operate silently. There was a little more satisfaction watching the life fade from someone's eyes, as she took a little longer than necessary to extinguish their pathetic existence.

"I've acquired some weapons, and a large sum of cash." Cameron said. "I've already made a few stops. Some of these people have taken 'early retirement'."

John figured it was probably everyone she encountered so far. He was unaware of the four individuals who tried to jump her when she headed for the first target.

He looked at Cameron's clothing. There was dried blood on it, a lot of it. He wondered how badly she was damaged in any of what transpired so far. He doubted she would be honest with him if she was shot.

"I can see it." John said. "Are you OK?"

Cameron was almost at one hundred percent. She hadn't sustained any bullet wounds yet. It would probably change before the operation was concluded.

"I think so. I haven't been shot at yet. It will most likely change at some point." Cameron said. "This is what I want to do and have planned…."

She cleaned up and changed her clothes into some she asked Ally to bring.

Everyone took in her naked form as she changed, even Bob, it was beautiful….

Cameron knew they all watched her as she changed. She tried to do it as sexy as possible without being too overt. She liked an audience to admire her. She wouldn't want one for sex like Sheila craved. Sheila once told her to achieve true fulfillment in a sexual encounter, she needed an audience to watch her perform. To stimulate the crowd gave her great satisfaction.

It made her worry about something else. Both Ally and Hanna told her they believed Sheila was actually more sexually stimulated through her violent actions, especially if it involved some type of mutilation to the perpetrator before they were terminated. It wasn't something she condoned, however she believed the perpetrators received what they deserved for their crimes, especially if they were against females. Females shouldn't be punished and targeted, simply for the way they were born.

Hanna and Allison were finally able to calm Claire down.

Allison didn't want her mother making 'bad' life decisions based on Cameron. She did understand the total infatuation and love someone could feel for Cameron, they all did. She wanted Young Allison and Summer to grow up with both of their parents, HER parents. It was something she always wished for. It was something she lost, but found again. Her relationship with her mother was more like one of 'best friends' since they were only a couple of years apart in age. Cameron and the other Terminators who looked like her also distracted from the fact she was her daughter. She was more like one of many. There were times when it seemed they would be a little more than a mother and daughter. Her mother told her Summer and Young Allison were what she perceived as her 'daughters'. She could understand her mother's reasoning. Her daughters were right there in front of her. She was an older version of Young Allison who showed up one day. She could understand the distinction, even if there shouldn't have been one. She was aware Cameron was behind Hanna and her mother 'hooking up'.

Cameron believed she protected the females better the way she did things. If there was a Terminator in a love relationship with them, she believed they would be better protected. A Terminator would protect them until they were terminated. A Terminator as a lover, would be even more motivated to protect them until they were terminated.

When her mother first found out her sexual preference, she told her, prior to getting married to her father, all of her 'special friends' were females. She said her parents made her get married to a male. It was something she could relate to. It was just kind of spooky because she and her mother were now both with a 'special friend' who looked the same. They were Hanna and Vanna. One was a Terminator, the other was not….

She marveled at the fact her mother carried her baby. Her mother was going to give birth to her baby, John's baby. She previously asked Cameron if she told John what was going to happen yet. Cameron said 'no' and left immediately. Holly stopped Allison from following her. It was clear Cameron didn't want to discuss it and she probably started to glitch as well. It was evident Cameron expected trouble with John over everything she did in the shadows. It actually seemed quite understandable. The creation of a human life should be done with the knowledge of everyone involved, even if they weren't an active participant in the procedure.

Holly knew of another factor. It was one which bothered them all. The girls from the future were unable to carry a child for very long before the pregnancy terminated.

"Cameron is afraid everyone is going to have 'trouble' again. When John finds out what she did, he's going to be angry at her. He refuses to embrace the future." Holly said. "I don't like it either."

Allison could see Holly's demeanor changed slightly. She no longer looked cheerful.

"Why?" Allison asked. "Why don't YOU like it?"

Holly believed Allison would love her baby the most. It was natural and understandable. She watched many shows on television about animals. The mother animal was extremely protective of her young. She placed their safety and care above everything else. She also needed to contend with the fact Allison loved Cameron and Vanna more than her already. She figured she might as well spell it out.

"I'll drop from third place to fourth place, in your life." Holly said. "It's just how it works."

Allison thought about it for a second. She loved John too. It would need to be factored in too at some point, especially after Judgment Day. She intended to keep her promise to Cameron to be at John's side to protect him from assassination. She would be there regardless of how many other females were there as well, including her mother.

"I'm sorry, Holly." Allison said. "The future is unstoppable."

Holly knew the future already happened. She wasn't even in Cameron's future.

"I guess I should be happy then." Holly said.

Allison didn't see anything change with her statement.

"Why?" Allison asked.

Holly came to the same conclusion Allison did earlier.

"When the future does happen, I'll drop to fifth place." Holly said.

Allison wanted to hear Holly say it. It seemed less offensive to her if she did.

"What happened from fourth to fifth place?" Allison asked.

John was the wild card which could be played at any moment.

"John with Cameron, the baby, Vanna and you…." Holly said. "I'm sort of left redundant."

Holly was sure she'd be abandoned, replaced, and thrown away. It was all of the same fears Cameron felt. Now she felt a glitch impulse in her left hand.

Cameron went over everything with Sheila and Ally she knew so far or uncovered.

Sheila didn't think they needed to overplay any of it. They would probably not return to the area anytime soon. It might just be easier to hit them hard from the start. It was actually against her personal desires, but would prove somewhat safer for Cameron and Ally. The presence of John was already a negative factor. The longer things took, the more chance there would be damage to each of them.

"Maybe we should just go in the front door and not fool around." Sheila said. "We can wrap things up quickly."

Cameron liked how they normally played it with the local sex traffickers. They didn't go in as Terminators from the start.

"It's not how we play the game." Cameron said.

Ally thought the longer they took to wrap things up, the more likely John would be to get involved. What would make it worse, was if he decided to act on his own outside of Cameron's plan.

"Sheila's right. John and Bob are going to want to 'play'." Ally said. "They are only going to stay on the back burner so long, especially if it hits the fan."

Cameron didn't say anything at first. She didn't want John's involvement.

"It's a possibility." Cameron said. "We need to make sure it doesn't happen."

Sheila thought it was a given.

"You know John won't take 'No' or 'Wait' for an answer." Sheila said.

Ally nodded. Some people were more stubborn than others.

"Does it remind you of anyone?" Ally asked.

Ally and Sheila high fived each other up high, then down low.

Cameron knew they meant her. It irritated her some. She considered her reprogramming options for them. It was an issue which seemed to creep up from time to time. She actually liked how they were, even if they did create some issues for her at times. She was very pleased with their efforts to tear through the sex trade in search of her earlier. They went in the 'front door' on all of those.

"OK." Cameron said angrily. "The 'front door' it is then."

Sheila and Ally hit over half a dozen operations hard while they searched for her earlier. They'd left a lot of dead behind. They saw how effective it was just to kill. They didn't get to help the girls though. They didn't have time. It was something they normally always tried to do.

"Forget the 'outfits' and break out the body armor, love." Sheila said. "We're going in hot."

Ally knew Sheila liked to make a 'statement' with sex traffickers.

"You're not going to collect any souvenirs again are you?" Ally asked.

The terror on the face of Sheila's male victims always excited her. Once they knew she was serious, the panic and fear set in. It was hard to say if it was the fact her eyes glowed red, or the giant smile on her face, which terrified them more than what was actually about to happen to them.

"Damn straight." Sheila said. "Someone is losing a pair. It really seems to bother them."

Ally and Sheila high fived each other up high, then down low again.

Ally was pretty sure it would bother anyone to lose a body part. It would bother her.

Cameron thought of leaving Ally and Sheila with John and taking Bob instead. They seemed to enjoy this line of work too much, especially Sheila. She wasn't aware how much devastation they left behind as they searched for her earlier. It was on a scale equal or superior to the devastation she normally left behind.

Sheila asked Cameron before if she could go into a future to specifically hunt Scavengers. She didn't care which future it was. She just wanted to get her hands on some real Scavengers. The darkness from 'Jesse' in her wanted to do it.

Cameron said she would need to think about it. She actually thought of doing it herself. She didn't want to get stuck 'in some future'.

John was very displeased about being left behind. Cameron sidelined him again. They should be 'soft' targets with no fear of any enemy Terminators being involved. He watched them depart. He waited for about thirty seconds and then turned to Bob.

"Maybe we should follow them." John said.

Bob was instructed by Cameron to keep John out of it. He watched Cameron deal with street trash on several occasions.

"No, we need to stay here." Bob said. "These are just thugs and punks. I've been with Cameron before on these operations."

John went over to the money Cameron left there with them. It seemed to be quite a bit of cash.

"How much money did she take?" John asked as he looked in the gym bag.

Bob looked over the bound notes of cash.

"It appears to be several hundred thousand dollars." Bob said as he quickly calculated. "If this was a drug operation, she would have scored millions. I've seen her do it."

John was sure Cameron controlled billions of dollars with her raids and stock manipulation. He wondered exactly how much it actually was.

"Is it true she has billions?" John asked.

Bob didn't think it was a big deal. It was just money.

"Yes." Bob said. "She's hit organized crime, drug cartels, and crooked politicians. She's 'played' the stock markets too."

John wondered how much of the future any of Cameron's manipulation actually changed anything.

"Beautiful…." John said.

Bob thought John should see a little further than just 'right now'.

"The more she controls, the harder it is for Skynet to get established." Bob said. "It's always her game."

John figured the conversation, as well as the current situation, would go nowhere at this point.

"I guess we'll wait then." John said.

Bob knew Cameron liked to be in control.

"Did we really have a choice?" Bob asked.

John shook his head in frustration.

"No." John said.

They both knew Cameron called the shots.

Cameron was fine. She was in the company of Ally, Sheila, Bob, and John. The base was off high alert. John Henry was able to issue the Stand Down order. Things returned to 'normal'.

Savannah and Cammy were soon playful. They were both ready for a little more action. It was always based upon what Savannah desired. There was some whispering among them.

"I don't know if you could." Cammy said.

"Maybe I don't have to." Savannah said.

Savannah faced Cammy.

"Maybe you don't." Cammy said.

"I've always known." Savannah said.

"Maybe it's what I wanted." Cammy said.

"Maybe it's not." Savannah said.

Cammy moved closer….

"Maybe it is." Cammy said.

It was clear by the playful banter, Savannah and Cammy were headed for a little more action. Exactly what they discussed was something private they only knew about.

With the few places Cameron knocked off earlier. A 'message' was bound to have been received. It was clearly sent to the organization.

"By now they must know someone is after them." Ally said.

Sheila knew it played out one of two ways.

"So do they run, or stay and fight?" Sheila asked.

Cameron thought the operation was a small time one, and not well connected. They were in the middle of nowhere really. She felt she already hit them where it hurt the most.

"They'll run." Cameron said. "It's not a big operation. I already cleaned out their bank."

Ally knew they would have some females elsewhere.

"They will still have a supply of girls." Ally said. "It's their commodity."

Sheila knew the group might get scared and eliminate all witnesses to their crimes.

"They may decide to kill the girls, cut their losses and run." Sheila said. "We've seen it before."

Cameron did witness it before. It wasn't an option she would allow.

"I will free them." Cameron said.

Ally thought if they ran with the girls it would be the point at which to free the girls. Everything would be packed up and ready to go. It would save them time and effort.

"The girls are all they have left, they will try to move them out." Ally said. "It's when we need to hit them."

Sheila was aware what the locations were but she didn't know the strength of the enemy.

"Is there any idea how many men we'll face?" Sheila asked.

Cameron was as concerned with the females as she was with the thugs. There was also something else she wanted to get her hands on if she could.

"No. The information I did gather, from those who were still able to talk, was sparse. I think the 'on hand supply' of females is twenty or less. The number of punks is probably about the same." Cameron said. "I want to get a list of the buyers if we can."

Sheila knew they didn't usually go after the buyers directly. It could take them out of the county.

"It's outside the normal scope of our operations." Sheila said.

Cameron thought about the girl at school who John wanted to try and save. It still bothered her how angry he was at her. He made it seem like it was her fault the girl died. It wasn't. Sarah even told him later on if someone wanted to take their life, they would find a way sooner or later. She wanted to put it in terms Ally and Sheila would understand from her perspective.

"What if it was Savannah or Young Allison who was taken and sold?" Cameron asked. "I stopped John from trying to help someone once. I still regret it. I hurt him."

Cameron knew there wasn't enough time for John to get up to where she was at to stop her. She should have let him try anyway. The outcome would have been the same, and he wouldn't have been angry at her.

Ally wanted to get started.

"OK, we get it." Ally said. "Sometimes it's nice to have help."

Cameron wanted to get things wrapped up.

"Let's go." Cameron said. "Someone has to 'pay' for everything."

The three Metal girl's eyes all glowed red now.

They were coming, and Hell was coming with them.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Everything Worked Out Fine

Each new day
Is as worthless as the last
Blinded by the future
Trapped in the past

We know what is inevitable
Is what the future has smitten
We will both succumb anyway
Our hearts have been bitten

No matter how far away
One will try to throw
It matters not the time
Our love will thrive and grow

The challenge is not with whom
Myself you try to replace
It is inexorable predestined
I will win this uxorious race

I know in the end
You will be mine
Time will prove
Everything worked out fine

Nobody