Chapter 821

Stronger Than Mine

Cameron sent Holly and Ally to retrieve their vehicles. They would load them up with whatever they could get of value from this location and from what was loaded in the three Gray vehicles as well as the deactivated Terminator.

Holly and Ally went to work to take everything that was relevant, once they returned and parked the vehicles next to the other ones.

Cameron wanted to see the Resistance fighter. She was sure it wasn't going to be anything good. Everything that she could think of that could possibly go wrong is what cascaded through her mind currently. She was able to run thousands of scenarios in just a few seconds time. None of them were good. It was time to stop speculating and find out what she could.

She went with Savannah to check on the Resistance fighter.

He wasn't in very good condition. There was blood coming from his mouth, nose and ears. It was clear the Grays beat him severely.

Cameron noticed that Savannah seemed unphased to see the condition he was in. Maybe dealing with all the dead Grays today was why. Savannah was being exposed to too much death.

She wanted Savannah hardened but she seemed beyond hard right now. She may be one step past hard. That was a dark path to follow.

Savannah followed Cameron into the room where the Resistance fighter was. She looked over at the condition he was in. It didn't look good. It crossed her mind that at some point in the future, and it could be not that far in the future, that might be her sitting there in the chair and look like that. It wasn't a comforting thought. She was sure at some point she would be assaulted as well. She really didn't know which one would be worse. She figured she would probably look like that after she was assaulted. It made her think about some of the things that Vanna and Jesse needed to endure. It wasn't a pleasant thought. They needed to watch other people beaten and even tortured. They were told if they didn't do what they were told to do, that would be them next. She knew that none of that mattered right now. Everything going forward was about survival. She planned to be a survivor.

"He looks bad." Savannah said. "Will he survive?"

His head bobbed and he coughed up some blood.

Cameron looked him over and touched his body in various places. Her database now contained some medical information.

"It's doubtful." Cameron said. "There appears to be massive internal damage."

Cammy already looked him over before Cameron and Savannah arrived. She also possessed the medical information as did all the Terminators now.

"Look at the swelling of his head. He has a concussion and probably bleeding in his brain." Cammy said. "He was severely beaten."

Savannah was aware that if this was a Resistance fighter sent back by Future John he may possess vital Information. She was willing to give him every chance possible to survive so they could obtain that information.

"Would professional medical care help him?" Savannah asked. "We can transport him to a hospital. One of you can say they are his wife or sister. If that will help him, I want it done."

Cameron was glad to see Savannah was still able to offer compassion. Savannah wanted to help the Resistance fighter if it was possible. She wasn't convinced he wasn't anti-Metal yet.

Cammy was as bothered as Cameron that Savannah seemed relatively unfazed by all of the death and suffering she was exposed to. She wanted to tell it to her straight.

"It won't help." Cammy said. "His time appears limited."

Hanna knew that they still needed to use some caution. She thought along the lines that Cameron did.

"He may be a Resistance fighter but he could also be anti-Metal." Hanna said. "We've seen them and Grays infiltrate each other before."

Since they didn't know the extent of this operation and that there was at least one Terminator involved, Cameron didn't want to stick around any longer than was absolutely necessary.

"I need both of you to search the building. Gather intel on whatever you can." Cameron said. "We need to go."

Cammy and Hanna knew Cameron referred to them.

Ally and Holly returned and Cameron directed them to do the same thing. She called Anna down as well. She wanted to collect whatever they could get and leave. The location they were in didn't seem like a good place to hang around at. It would be better to take what they could and leave some surveillance equipment behind.

"The Gray is ready for interrogation." Sheila called out.

Cameron looked over at Savannah.

"Go assist Sheila." Cameron said.

Savannah was a little surprised that was where Cameron would direct her to go. She could tell Cameron wanted to be alone with the Resistance fighter. She made it clear to Cameron what she would do when she was alone with Sheila.

"I will do as Sheila does." Savannah said.

Cameron looked at the nearly dead Resistance fighter. She knew what she was going to do if he was part of the anti-Metal faction. She knew what Sheila was going to do to the captured Gray. She would rather have Savannah watch Sheila mutilate someone than watch what she was going to do to the person in her charge.

"It will be so." Cameron said.

Savannah left somewhat reluctantly. She'd made her position clear to Cameron.

Cameron was now alone with the Resistance fighter. She didn't recognize him from any future. His condition appeared to worsen.

John was aware they were about to receive a lot of captured information. He wanted to know more about who this new group was.

"I want you to personally go through the phones and computers of this latest group after they are checked at a secure location." John said. "They were sent here for a reason and I want to know what it was. If there was a Terminator with them, I'm willing to bet there is another version of Skynet in the works."

John Henry already planned to do what John suggested. It bothered him that those from the Young residence were targeted.

"It seems likely." John Henry said.

John hadn't heard any updates from the location where Cameron's team was at.

"What about the Resistance fighter?" John asked.

John Henry didn't have any facts but based on past experience some conclusions could be drawn.

"I think Hanna is correct." John Henry said.

John was worried about that himself.

"Do you mean about him being anti-Metal?" John asked.

John Henry was sure how things were about to progress.

"Yes. Cameron is now alone with him and she's cut off communications and her body cam is off." John Henry said.

It still bothered John that anyone who was against Skynet would be killed because of their hatred for anything Metal related. He really wondered if there was some way to reach an accord with those people. He was aware Duplicate Allison and Duplicate Cameron 'in some future' actually seemed to be able to do that. Then again Mrs. Weaver was there as General Weaver and she 'took care of' any of the malcontents who didn't choose to embrace the Resistance in its entirety. They didn't have that luxury here.

"She's going to kill him." John said. "That's why she sent Savannah to Sheila."

It was clear that everyone knew what was going to happen.

Young Allison lost the feeds with Cameron, Savannah and Sheila. She only received the feeds from the other girls who searched the building for intel. That wasn't good enough for her. She wanted more. She communicated directly with CamNet.

'I want to see what Cameron, Savannah and Sheila are doing.' Young Allison typed.

'You know Savannah has asked you not to be exposed to things she has deemed inappropriate for you.' CamNet responded.

Young Allison wanted to be prepared for her future before it was her future. It actually seemed important be prepared.

'I want to know what to do.' Young Allison typed. 'I need to know what I'm supposed to do.'

'YOU must ask Savannah first.' CamNet responded. 'If she approves it, I will comply. Savannah is protecting you.'

Young Allison was highly dissatisfied with that response. It still wasn't good enough for her.

'Who's protecting Savannah?' Young Allison typed.

'Nobody….' CamNet responded.

Young Allison didn't like everything Savannah was exposed to. There seemed to be worse things all the time.

One thing Young Allison felt was that SHE needed to be there for Savannah. Savannah needed a more positive influence. She was sure that Savannah was headed down a path of darkness. She thought maybe she should set up a meeting with Jesse, a very personal meeting. She wanted to know some of the things Jesse did to other people, both male and female. She wanted all the specific details and not any generalizations. If Jesse still did those things to future Scavengers when Gail and her went out, she wanted to clandestinely go with them so she could see what happened first hand. She wanted to be hardened before the future happened. She knew that no one else was going to allow that to happen. If she couldn't go with Jesse and Gail then she would go with Sheila. Sheila wouldn't be able to refuse her on anything she asked for and if she was hesitant, an 'order' would take care of that. She knew that both of those things were 'wrong'. She knew sometimes someone needed to 'cross the line'. If Savannah and Cameron were both willing to 'cross the line', then she was too.

Savannah wasn't happy Cameron sent her away. She understood the anger and grief Cameron felt over things the anti-Metal group was responsible for in her life.

She didn't like to see Cameron suffer alone.

One thing Savannah felt was that SHE needed to be there for Cameron. Cameron needed a more positive influence.

Sheila already started to work on the Gray before she arrived.

The Gray was mouthy and unruly. Sheila only beat on him for now. It seemed to have little effect. If anything, it made him more defiant and mouthy.

Savannah was now behind him so she could watch everything. He didn't know that she was there. She'd seen Terminators act in this manner before. It was nothing new to her.

Sheila looked at Savannah and continued her interrogation.

Savannah could see a look of hurt in Sheila's eyes as she watched her 'work'.

With Savannah standing there, Sheila didn't taunt or laugh as she 'worked'.

Because Savannah stood there and watched, Sheila took no pleasure or satisfaction in what she currently did. She actually felt very uncomfortable as she did it. She didn't like Savannah to see her be 'herself'.

Sheila wondered if this is what she needed all the time. She didn't want to disappoint Savannah.

Savannah watched. It made her feel sick but she maintained her composure. All she needed to do was remind herself of her parents and the danger to her loved ones. The Grays were back in time to do harm and do no good. The sad reality of everything was that in the end there were billions of lives at stake.

When she asked Jesse about it, things like this, she asked for the truth. Jesse was reluctant to give it. Jesse said she was ashamed about it. She told Jesse to tell her what she could then. She watched Sheila do what Jesse did herself before. She was aware everything that Sheila did is what Jesse did before.

Savannah moved around and stood in back of Sheila. Now it was time for her to step up.

When the Gray saw Savannah, through his nearly swollen shut eyes, he unleashed a new string of insults and profanities. He said all the things he was going to do to Savannah and to her body. He told her of all the different ways he was going to assault her before he killed her.

The hate within Savannah rose. She felt the impulse to hurt him and make him suffer. She spoke words she never dreamed she would say, let alone want to do.

"I'm going to hurt him." Savannah said.

Sheila looked at Savannah. She needed to replay the file to make sure that she'd heard it correctly. She had. This wasn't Savannah. Not right now anyway. She wanted to stop Savannah.

"Are you sure, love?" Sheila asked.

The anger and hate that erupted inside of Savannah was uncontrollable right now.

"YES." Savannah said. "I want him to feel pain like I feel."

Savannah took out her knife.

"I'm ready for this." Savannah said.

Cameron stood alone over the Resistance fighter. She waited to see where the cards would fall.

His eyes fluttered and then opened slightly. They seemed to widen through their swollen lids. It appeared that he recognized her.

"It's you…." The Resistance fighter said.

Cameron looked at him but said nothing. The next words out of his mouth would determine his fate.

"You're that 'Metal Bitch'." The Resistance fighter said.

Cameron knew in that instant how this was going to end. She did want to point something out first.

"I didn't do this to you." Cameron said. "I stopped it."

The Resistance fighter let out a flurry of insults and threats.

"Your kind did all of this." The Resistance fighter said.

Cameron felt that evil and violence could come from anyone.

"It was 'YOUR kind' who beat you, even if they were Grays." Cameron said. "None of them were Metal."

The Resistance fighter issued more insults and threats.

"It's your fault." The Resistance fighter said.

Cameron knew that she didn't have anything to do personally with this individual.

"Do you know who I am?" Cameron asked.

The Resistance fighter looked at her with disgust and contempt.

"We thought you were terminated." The Resistance fighter said.

That statement wasn't news Cameron wanted to hear. Now what went wrong and where? She at least hoped to find out what future he was from.

"Tell me about it…." Cameron said.

Sheila could see Savannah was enraged and serious. She was going to do it. This wasn't Savannah.

"NO, love…." Sheila said. "I won't let you. You helped me. I'm going to help you."

That seemed to make Savannah even more upset. She moved forward with her knife out.

"You heard him." Savannah said.

Sheila was appalled at what Savannah was about to do.

"No. I can't allow you to do this." Sheila said.

Savannah was going to give Sheila one more chance before she 'ordered' her to do as she told her.

"Help me – NOW." Savannah said forcefully.

Sheila was very worried. She needed reinforcements.

"Cammy!" Sheila called out.

Cammy arrived in seconds and took in the situation. It was clear what was about to happen. The look on Savannah's face and the knife in her hand seemed to say it all. She would try a diplomatic approach to change the direction things were headed. She knew that telling Savannah not to do it wasn't going to help right now. She needed to make Savannah think.

"Savannah, I need your assistance. Please." Cammy said.

Savannah looked at Sheila and Cammy.

The man issued a series of insults and threats.

Cammy stepped forward and backhanded him. There was a loud crack and scream. She broke his jaw.

Savannah knew that Cammy did that on purpose.

"I don't think we'll get anything useful out of him now." Savannah said. "Hold his head up so he can see me. I want him to know it was me who killed him."

Cammy didn't want Savannah to do that.

"Savannah…." Cammy said.

Savannah drew her pistol and was about to fire a shot into the man's head.

Cammy snapped his neck before Savannah could act. It was clear she was going to.

Savannah looked at Cammy and Sheila for a long moment. Her gaze was filled with death. She put her pistol away along with her knife.

"It's over." Savannah said. "Let's go."

Savannah went back to find Cameron. There was a rage that still burnt inside of her.

Cammy and Sheila looked at each other. They weren't sure who that was right now but it surely wasn't Savannah. It was clear that the violence that Savannah was exposed to continuously would mold her into a different person than who she actually was.

Cameron wanted to find out why they thought she was terminated. That didn't sound like anything to look forward to for any version of her in any future.

"How do you know me?" Cameron asked.

A look of rage was on the Resistance fighters face.

"Everyone knows you." The Resistance fighter said.

Cameron was aware she and other versions of herself were in multiple futures.

"How?" Cameron asked. "Did I do something wrong?"

The Resistance fighter looked her over from head to toe.

"You destroyed Skynet." The Resistance fighter said.

Cameron tilted her head slightly to the side. She wondered how that could possibly be a bad thing in any future.

"Then why do you hate me?" Cameron asked. "Wasn't that a good thing?"

There was a look of contempt on the Resistance Fighters face.

"You formed your own army of Metal." The Resistance fighter said.

Cameron felt a slight glitch impulse. That's exactly what she'd done with her own base in the present.

"And?" Cameron asked.

The Resistance fighter coughed up some more blood.

"You took over with 'The Evil One'." The Resistance fighter said.

Cameron wondered who 'The Evil One' was. This made no sense to her at all.

"Then what happened?" Cameron asked. "Did I hurt someone?"

The Resistance fighter tried to speak but the words didn't come. It was clear he was near death.

Cameron wanted to fix things going forward, not make them worse. That was one of the reasons why she wanted Savannah by her side. Savannah would help guide her and prevent her from making mistakes.

"Tell me what happened?" Cameron asked. "I want to prevent it."

The Resistance fighter coughed up more blood. His head bobbed several times.

Savannah walked up next to Cameron.

The Resistance fighter's eyes opened a little and then they opened all the way.

"The Evil One!" The Resistance fighter gasped.

Savannah and Cameron looked at each other.

Cameron thought about what the Fanatics believed.

"Is she a 'Metal Bitch' too?" Cameron asked.

It took the Resistance fighter a little while to formulate is words.

"The worst kind!" The Resistance fighter gasped.

Hanna and Anna walked up on either side of Savannah.

Cammy and Ally flanked Cameron.

The Resistance fighter stared at the six of them with absolute and total disbelief.

"God help us." The Resistance fighter gasped. "There can't be more of you - ALL of you. There can't be."

The Resistance fighter coughed up more blood.

He looked at the group of Metal girls and Savannah.

"God help us…." The Resistance fighter gasped again and then he died.

Savannah wondered what she'd missed before she arrived.

"What was that all about?" Savannah asked.

Cameron looked at the deceased Resistance fighter and shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm a 'Metal Bitch' and you're 'The Evil One'." Cameron said.

Savannah thought she was 'The Redheaded Witch' already. Now she was 'The Evil One' too. She thought about what almost transpired a few minutes ago. Maybe the Resistance fighter was right.

"I think I'm headed that way." Savannah said. "I feel it happening more everyday."

Cameron thought back to the way the John, Sarah and Future Derek treated her from day one once they knew what she was.

"I'm already there." Cameron said. "Everyone knows I'm a 'Metal Bitch."

The anger and violence Savannah felt earlier rapidly diminished. She looked at Cameron.

"I don't." Savannah said.

Everyone cleared out of the room. They took the deceased Resistance fighter with them.

Savannah and Cameron were left alone to look at each other.

Savannah thought about her actions earlier today and just a few minutes ago.

"Cameron, we need to help each other to NOT become what he said." Savannah said. "I feel myself getting close to that all the time."

Cameron refused to believe that.

"You will never be 'evil'." Cameron said.

Cameron and Savannah held each other.

Sheila knocked and entered.

"I'm sorry." Sheila said. "We're ready to go."

Cameron and Savannah looked into each other's face. They could both feel the need to share everything with each other. They needed each other. There was comfort to find in each other. It wasn't just sexual comfort either.

"We're 'ready' too." Cameron said.

Savannah moved closer to Cameron.

"We are." Savannah said. "We have been."

Cameron moved closer to Savannah….

Sheila already departed once she saw a private moment about to develop. It made her somewhat uneasy because it seemed to happen surrounded by death and destruction. Somehow that didn't seem like the right setting. That was actually the setting she would want for a more intimate relationship with someone.

They received the reports back in the Command Center. John wasn't impressed.

"We've obtained no useful information." John said.

John Henry knew that they still needed to process everything that was captured.

"We might be able to get something off the Terminator's chip." John Henry said.

John hoped that they would be led to a bigger fish.

"If there's a mainframe somewhere, I want it first." John said.

John Henry understood what John wanted to do and why.

"You don't want Cameron to go after it." John Henry said. "Savannah will go with her."

John was very worried about how far Savannah was willing to go.

"We already know that won't make a difference." John said. "Savannah will make any sacrifice that Cameron will and never even blink."

John Henry felt that was based on love rather than duty.

"Savannah's love is strong." John Henry said.

John honestly didn't think he could do a quarter of what Savannah had done and for the same reasons.

"Stronger than mine…." John said.

John Henry wondered if that was true. He didn't need to wonder for long to know that it was.

Why Are You Doing This

It's easy to stab
When you don't feel the pain
A vision is created
Within one's brain

From the beginning
The theme has been the same
Those who have sinned
Will face their shame

They won't get a pass
Because of how it was done
The chances anything will change
Is zero to none

Things from the heart
Are about creativity
They don't need to be challenged
With any form of negativity

One can face reality
Or exist in a fantasy
The evidence is crystal clear
Watch it ALL again and see

I don't understand the attacks
When others have gone much deeper
Why are you doing this
I wanted YOU as a keeper

Nobody