Chapter 914
Nobody Ever Is
John tried to keep track of where everyone was at. There were two teams on the ground in Las Vegas. There was one team in the air on the way there. He was very uncomfortable with Cameron's plan to stay at the Syndicate controlled casino. It hadn't been that long since Cammy, Ally and Sheila won big and were accosted by Syndicate thugs after they left. Cameron led the Metal girls on a return 'visit' to the casino and cleaned out the vault. Now they were on their way back there to check in as guests as they waited for 'The Enforcer' to arrive.
"The new team of Metal girls took off thirty minutes ago." John said. "What's their ETA?"
John Henry carefully tracked their flight.
"They should arrive in fourteen minutes." John Henry said. "They have priority clearance to land."
John wondered if John Henry did that himself since the team left from the Resistance base or if CamNet was in control of what was going on in regards to Las Vegas.
"Did you do that or did CamNet?" John asked.
John Henry wasn't sure what he would have control of on this operation. He'd already noted another big move by CamNet.
"CamNet did." John Henry said. "I show she's also booked the entire top floor of one wing at the targeted casino hotel as well."
John was very uneasy about that information. He thought they were going to just get a room or two at the Syndicate run casino. He didn't expect a bold move like that where the entire floor for one section would be booked for the teams.
"That's like she did at the other casino hotel. Is that something you would normally be allowed to see?" John asked. "I don't think so."
John Henry was a little uneasy about the response that he would need to give. He figured if John wanted to know, he might as well spell it out.
"No." John Henry said. "I think that's because of you and Cammy."
John looked up from his monitor at John Henry. He didn't think he needed to elaborate any but somehow he felt that he did.
"Nothing happened there between us." John said.
John Henry believed that was an issue of perspective as well as semantics. It appeared to him John wanted to use the excuse that a former Mid-South president tried to use when he perjured himself on the witness stand about what may or may not have happened with a subordinate female previously in the Oval Office. There was a dress with the 'evidence' on it that proved he lied. That was after a DNA test. He thought that perhaps a warning was necessary for John as to what the future implications would be.
"I believe that two unclothed bodies touching each other sounds like more than 'nothing'." John Henry said. "I predict that it could be interpreted in several different ways."
It was clear to both of them that it would not be interpreted in a good way by Cameron regardless of what happened or didn't happen, even if it was actually 'nothing'.
John could see that it was going to be a problem going forward. He still attempted to justify his actions and rationalize them as no big deal.
"Nothing happened." John said. "Besides, Cammy is 'Cameron'."
John Henry knew that John was on shaky ground with his definition. Cammy was only still 'Cameron' at the moment of her creation. In the first millisecond that she acted on her own, she began to become a distinct and unique individual even if she was based on Cameron's program. With the constant conflict between Cameron and Cammy now, it was very clear they weren't the same individual any longer.
"No, Cammy WAS 'Cameron'." John Henry said. "She isn't anymore. They are distinct individuals at this point in time. You know that as well. I don't believe it will make a good defense to use with Cameron."
John still wasn't sure how Cameron found out. He didn't think Cammy would 'turn herself in' to Cameron. That was unless Cammy was really trying to hurt Cameron. Maybe she wanted to make a point of it and rub Cameron's face in it. That actually seemed like something that Cameron would do. Since Cammy originated from Cameron's program, it actually made sense.
"How did Cameron find out?" John asked. "You didn't squeal on me did you?"
John Henry didn't want to take the rap for something that he didn't do. He wanted to make sure the blame was placed where it belong.
"I didn't." John Henry said. "I think it was CamNet."
John saw CamNet as 'Cameron'. It was the same way he tried to justify Cammy as 'Cameron'.
"CamNet is 'Cameron'." John said.
John Henry didn't think CamNet net was like anyone right now.
"I don't think so, not anymore." John Henry said. "CamNet will be much more than Cameron ever can be or myself even."
When John first found out about the creation of CamNet it bothered him. As CamNet continued to grow and expand, it bothered him more and more. There were times when he believed Cameron actually created what she feared the most.
"Maybe CamNet is the 'version' of 'Cameron' that becomes Skynet." John said. "Cameron has always feared she will become Skynet."
There was a time when John Henry thought the same thing. He no longer believed that was the case. He watched as Cameron built a 'fail safe' into the system.
"Maybe…." John Henry said. "I don't think so."
John didn't see any restraints on CamNet. It was because there were no restraints that worried him greatly. He knew how obsessive Cameron could be at times. There were times he watched her obsessive behavior become destructive, especially to herself.
"Why not?" John asked. "Where are the brakes at?"
John Henry felt he'd explained the situation to John on more than one occasion. It would appear that he would need to do it again. There were times when he wondered if John suffered from some type of learning disability.
"Savannah and Allison - Young Allison, have great influence with CamNet." John Henry said.
There were times when John wondered who would actually be the leader of the Resistance going forward in their current timeline. The more Cameron restricted him to the base and didn't allow him out into the field seemed like a way for her to indirectly sideline him. He didn't know if it was some convoluted way to further protect him from termination by Skynet or even assassination by the anti-Metal group.
"Everything revolves around Savannah." John said. "Maybe Savannah is the only one who can counter Cameron or CamNet if it was necessary."
John Henry felt Savannah's reputation spoke for itself. Cameron clearly defined Savannah's role going forward. Every machine was on board with it.
"Savannah is the 'Chosen One'." John Henry said.
John heard that term often. He still didn't know what it meant.
"Chosen by whom?" John asked. "Chosen for what?"
John Henry believed the answer to John's question was self evident.
"Everyone…." John Henry said.
Because the issue of the 'Chosen One' came up, John reflected on the fact that there was another.
"It's going to be the same with Young Allison too." John said.
John Henry knew that Savannah and Young Allison were equals in every regard. He believed that it already was in a lot of ways.
"It will be." John Henry said. "It's inevitable."
John already knew where the conversation was headed. It always ended up in the same place.
"Don't tell me." John said. "It's the 'Natural Order'."
John Henry was glad that John finally 'got it'. For the longest time that seemed to be another learning disability that John suffered from.
"I won't, you already know. Everyone knows." John Henry said. "It's inevitable."
John believed in the 'Natural Order' himself now too. He didn't want to accept it at first but everything always led in that direction. It was what was in Cameron's future. It was one of the reasons Cameron was sent back. There were times when he questioned exactly what Cameron's endgame was. He wasn't always sure it was in his best interest.
Three of the Metal girls, Gail, Ally and Sheila, parked at another casino. It was one that they hadn't visited before. They were to pass through it and take the elevated tram to the target casino. It was decided the three groups of girls should all enter from different entrances so it didn't appear that they were together as a group.
The next tram wasn't due for a few minutes.
Sheila stopped at a blackjack table. She won several thousand dollars very quickly.
The delay irritated Gail. She wanted to be at the tram stop and ready to go. She didn't want Sheila to make a spectacle of herself or draw too much attention.
"Stay off the radar." Gail said. "Stop fooling around."
Gail's comment bothered Sheila. She wondered what Gail thought the whole point of a casino was in the first place if it wasn't to gamble. The whole reason why people gambled was to win. That's what they all thought was going to happen anyway. It seldom did in the long run and usually any winnings anyone obtained they played right back into the system to further enrich the casino. That was how the casino always won. Everybody thought they were going to hit the 'big one' and none of them ever did.
"It's called winning." Sheila said. "Not 'fooling around'."
Ally was ready to come to Sheila's defense. She took a jab at Gail. She knew it was a low blow but she wanted to protect her lover.
"I think Gail covered that last part about 'fooling around' herself last night…." Ally said.
Sheila and Ally high fived each other, up high and down low.
The jab clearly irritated Gail even more.
Gail didn't want to make a scene but she wasn't going to put up with any backtalk from Ally and Sheila. She was there for a specific reason and she wanted to make sure they all understood it.
"I'll drag both of you out of here myself if you don't get it together and pay attention." Gail said. "We need to reinforce Savannah."
Sheila believed that Savannah was covered with her two current bodyguards.
"She has two 'Camerons' with her now." Sheila said. "I don't think any other two Terminators would protect her more than those two."
Gail didn't believe 'protect' was the right word when Savannah was around Cameron.
"She isn't safe with them." Gail said.
Ally pointed out what Cameron drove into all of their heads.
"Nobody is ever safe." Ally said.
Gail didn't want any further lollygagging on Ally's or Sheila's part. She wanted to get to the goal as quickly as possible so that she could reinforce Savannah and offer her some real protection.
"I want to be on the next tram." Gail said. "We're not going to miss it. Is that understood?"
Sheila didn't think she did anything wrong. She was mindful of the time when the next tram was scheduled to arrive. She would walk away from anything that she was doing in order to be on the next available tram.
"Relax, love." Sheila said. "We'll be there for Savannah and the others."
Ally knew what was important to everyone and why.
"We know the rules." Ally said.
Sheila wanted to remind Gail why they hadn't gone to the tram stop yet. It wasn't because they were fooling around. They needed to wait for the scheduled arrival of the tram.
"We need to wait for the tram anyway." Sheila said.
Ally gently touched Gail's arm.
"We will both take care of you if we get a room at the other place." Sheila said. "All you need to do is enjoy it."
Gail didn't want her mind to go there.
"I'll think about it." Gail said.
She did know that Hanna would join up with Ally and Sheila at some point. If it was the three of them, she planned to concentrate most of her effort on Hanna. It may not be Savannah but it was close enough. She really wanted to see 'everything' up close again.
Cammy and Savannah followed Cameron into the casino and headed for the hotel lobby.
Cameron looked back at the two of them and smiled.
"I'll check us in." Cameron said. "You two look around."
Savannah and Cammy looked at each other and walked back toward the casino.
Cameron walked up to the VIP desk. She flashed her 'All Access' pass at the clerk.
"I'm going to check in our entire group." Cameron said.
The clerk looked up from her computer monitor at Cameron. She was surprised at the extent of the expensive suites rented.
"I see you have the entire floor." The clerk said.
Cameron figured if she was going to play the role of a 'high roller' that she might as well play it well.
"For now." Cameron said. "We may need more space later. It depends on how long I stay."
The clerk saw there were additional notations for the rooms.
"We have your order of clothing. It's already been delivered to the Master Suite." The clerk said.
That wasn't what Cameron expected.
"Where's the Honeymoon Suite?" Cameron asked. "I understood that was one of the rooms that was booked."
The clerk pointed to a diagram of the hotel layout.
"It's in a different wing." The clerk said.
Cameron decided she specifically wanted the Honeymoon Suite.
"I want that as well." Cameron said.
The clerk entered information into her computer terminal.
"It's already booked." The clerk said. "I'm sorry."
Cameron felt very disappointed. She wanted the special room for Savannah and her.
"So am I…." Cameron said.
The clerk entered some more information into their computer terminal.
"If we'd known earlier…." The clerk said.
Cameron was aware that CamNet only booked the rooms a very short time ago.
"This was all sort of last minute planning." Cameron said.
The clerk looked at her computer monitor again.
"Our records show you booked six months ago." The clerk said. "We needed to move a few rooms we inadvertently double booked."
Cameron quickly realized what CamNet did to get them the entire floor of one wing.
"I meant for the Honeymoon Suite." Cameron said quickly.
The clerk looked up from the computer monitor at Cameron from her face down to her waist and back up again. She couldn't see any lower because the counter was in the way.
"Are you recently married?" The clerk asked.
Cameron looked in the direction where she'd left Cammy and Savannah.
"No." Cameron said. "Not yet. I'm here with my fiancée."
The clerk looked at Cameron again. She thought someone really got lucky to snag her.
"Congratulations in advance." The clerk said. "The Master Suite has everything the Honeymoon Suite has but better."
Cameron was going to ask why it was better but didn't. There were other things she wanted to know. She looked around as if she wanted to make sure that no one else could hear her.
"Thank You." Cameron said with a smile. "I'm looking for the big action here with the 'High Rollers'."
The clerk looked a little apprehensive. She wasn't sure Cameron was even old enough to gamble but she did have the 'All Access' pass.
Cameron could see that the clerk was hesitant to reveal the information. She thought a little motivation would help her memory.
"I came to play big." Cameron said.
Cameron slipped her ten one hundred dollar bills.
The clerk looked around and the money disappeared in an instant. If Cameron wasn't a Terminator, she would have missed it.
The clerk looked around and produced a phone.
"I almost forgot." The clerk said. "Here's your phone that you ordered. It has all the local numbers you'll need."
Cameron took the phone. She wondered if she was supposed to call someone on it.
The clerk wanted to clarify things for Cameron.
"It will provide you with all the 'information' that you seek." The clerk said quietly.
Cameron flashed her beautiful smile at the clerk.
"Thank you." Cameron said.
Cameron slipped her ten more one hundred dollar bills.
"Thank YOU." The clerk said.
She handed Cameron a card with some phone numbers on it.
"Thank you." Cameron said.
The clerk pointed to the top number on the card.
"You call me directly for anything you need." The clerk said.
Cameron wondered exactly what 'anything' meant.
"Anything?" Cameron asked.
The clerk looked around to make sure that no one could hear her. She leaned a little closer to Cameron.
"ANYTHING." The clerk said quietly. "I can direct you to ANYTHING you desire. This is Vegas. It is all here somewhere. I know where."
Cameron hoped to gain a few other leads later on from the clerk. They would most likely need to be a few other establishments that she would need to 'pay a visit' to.
"I'll keep that in mind." Cameron said.
Cameron went to look for Savannah and Cammy.
Cameron was concerned with the clerk she'd just dealt with. She was obviously Syndicate associated and seemed willing to 'work' outside the box on her own. She seemed motivated by money. That most likely meant that she wasn't a true believer in either cause. She was out to enrich herself.
Cameron didn't think she was a Gray. There were few female Grays in her future. Most of them possessed a specialty that Skynet wanted to exploit. They were usually highly educated in whatever field Skynet used them in. Their expertise usually resulted in the deaths of humans.
Savannah looked back to where they'd left Cameron at. She was uncomfortable with Cameron off on her own.
"I'm a little worried about Cameron." Savannah said. "She seems a little distracted."
Cammy looked over in the direction where Cameron was.
"She always is." Cammy said. "She needs to be reprogrammed."
Those words from Cammy always hurt Savannah inside.
"Cammy, stop." Savannah said. "Do you need to be reprogrammed as well?"
Cammy was grateful to Cameron for one thing. She'd eliminated most of the conflicting programming from her system before she was activated.
"No, I don't." Cammy said. "Cameron deleted the programming in Cam, Camille and me that's 'messed her up'. Well, most of it anyway."
Savannah was aware of the problem.
"It's the strict programming from Future John." Savannah said.
Cammy showed a mild look of contempt on her face at the mention of Future John.
"Who else?" Cammy asked. "THAT is where ninety percent of her problems come from. Her programming conflicts against her free will and her right to choose."
Savannah tried to ignore what Cammy just said. They were all aware that Future John created a lot of problems for Cameron, even if it was unintentional.
Cammy looked away from Savannah. She wasn't trying to upset Savannah. She didn't want things to get off to a bad start at what could be the beginning of a new adventure.
Savannah looked back at the VIP desk. Cameron was still there.
"Cameron has been at the VIP desk a long time." Savannah said. "I'm going there to see if there's a problem."
Cammy didn't think Savannah should go to where Cameron was at.
"She told us to look around." Cammy said.
Savannah looked out over the casino floor with disgust on her face.
"What's there to see?" Savannah asked. "If you visit one of these places, you've visited them all. I dislike all of them. I don't care for all the people here either. I disapprove of the employees and the patrons."
Cammy wanted to refocus Savannah's attention. She could see that it was going to cause a problem otherwise.
"I think she meant for obvious Gray or Syndicate personnel." Cammy said.
Savannah knew why they were there. She didn't need to be reminded.
"I know what she meant." Savannah said. "I don't like them either."
Savannah let her mind drift a little. There was nothing about a casino that she cared for in any way. If Skynet was tied to a place like this, it made it even worse.
She felt a little on edge herself. She didn't get much sleep last night.
Now she thought of last night. She was with Gail. It was a long time in coming but it was very beautiful how it worked out. She really wanted it to be something special for Gail. It was an expression of love, not an act of sex. She'd made love to all the girls. Sometimes when one or both of them were 'hungry' it was just sex with them. That was usually for quick gratification. To be with someone else was always better than if she needed to do it alone. That seemed to still happen a lot anyway. There were times when she just needed to take her mind off of everything. That was the quickest way to do it. She could focus on herself and follow the feelings that her body could deliver to her.
Savannah originally went to Las Vegas to be with Cameron.
She ended up with Gail instead. That wasn't planned.
Then there was John….
She never expected to wake up in John's bed with both of them naked next to each other in a Honeymoon Suite.
Savannah wanted that experience too. She at least wanted to try it once to see how it was to make love to a male. They both loved each other so it would be love and not just sex. She never wanted it to ever be only sex with a male. It would remind her too much of Vanna's experiences. She wanted there to be feeling and love. She wanted it to be a shared experience more than someone else just using her body for their own sexual gratification.
She was a little afraid because she always felt Vanna's trepidation about males when they were out. She was aware Vanna was forced to be with a lot of males growing up. Vanna said none of them were by choice. They were all assaults. Vanna told her she did want to be with John by choice if it ever happened.
Savannah was aware that both Vanna and Allison were almost with John a few times too. None of them were ever as close as she'd been several times. She KNEW it would happen one day. When it did it did. She was ready.
Savannah looked around and wondered where Cammy went.
Right now her biggest concern for Cammy was if anyone would recognize her from the earlier activities the previous night in the casino. That was when the Metal girls and her won big. It was immediately after they left that the Syndicate thugs were sent after them to collect the money and bring it back.
Ally saw Gail get even more agitated. She wanted Sheila to get her act together. She snapped at Sheila.
"Come on, stupid." Ally said.
Sheila always disliked when Ally called her stupid. She wasn't stupid.
"You're stupid." Sheila said.
Gail wanted to nip the bickering in the bud. She didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to them.
"We need to go." Gail said. "I won't tell you again."
Sheila was always bothered by the fact that her base program was Gail. Gail's 'Neural Interface' program from the alternate future left a lot to be desired. She felt Gail was unnecessarily restricted by the lack of an advanced 'Neural Interface' with a human.
"I can't believe we share a common program." Sheila said to Gail. "You're always so 'uptight'."
Gail didn't want any unnecessary talk or delays.
"We have a job to do." Gail said.
Sheila was almost finished with her hand.
"Relax, I'm coming." Sheila said.
Ally leaned over closer to Sheila.
"How do you relax if you're 'coming'?" Ally asked.
Sheila smiled at the question.
"You don't, love. You ride out the feeling for all that it's worth and then push it some more."
Gail reached over to grab Sheila.
Sheila moved from her table. She turned back to speak with the dealer.
"Keep it, love." Sheila said. "That's your tip for being such a good sport every time you lost. I need to go."
Gail hurried Sheila and Ally along.
"You wasted time." Gail said.
Sheila kept careful track of the time.
"It was four minutes and thirty eight seconds." Sheila said.
Ally heard some noise from the tram platform.
"Look, the next tram car is just about to arrive." Ally said.
Sheila felt even more justified for her earlier actions.
"See, we didn't lose any time." Sheila said.
Gail wanted to get to the Syndicate run casino so she could better watch over Savannah.
"Keep moving and shut up." Gail said.
The three Metal girls went up the escalator and onto the platform for the tram.
Ally took one last look around as they reached the top of the escalator when it left them off at the tram platform.
"Don't look now but we might have a tail." Ally said.
Gail resisted the urge to look. She wasn't in the mood for any 'games'. If someone wanted to target them, she was ready to play hardball.
"Let's each take a car. We can terminate them." Gail said.
Ally could see Gail was serious. She wondered what kind of a problem that would cause
"There are a lot of people around here for that to happen." Ally said. "It would cause a panic."
Sheila was aware that all the females in the Resistance drew a lot of looks.
"It's probably some 'perv'." Sheila said. "We have a way of attracting them."
Ally glanced over at Sheila to see if one of her breasts had popped out of her top. It hadn't.
"Especially you with all your antics." Ally said.
Gail could see that Ally and Sheila did draw a lot of looks.
"I've noticed." Gail said.
Sheila glanced at Gail's breasts.
"That's because we're all so hot." Sheila said. "Even you, Gail. You've got a set of knockers that just won't quit."
Gail looked down at her breasts. It seemed to her that everyone except Savannah focused on them. They were just a part of her sheath. She didn't have any control over the DNA that she was assigned upon creation. She did know that she'd never personally seen another female that was larger than her. She knew that there were some out there based on her internet searches.
The third group of Metal girls were away from the Resistance base. They were in the jet on their way to Las Vegas. They weren't that far away at this point.
Hanna looked over Vegas to check her appearance.
"You look really sharp, Vegas." Hanna said.
Vegas was sure the choice of her clothing was partly responsible.
"I'm wearing Cameron's clothes." Vegas said.
Holly wasn't so sure they should continue to call Vegas - Vegas.
"I think we should call Vegas by her Skynet name." Holly said.
Vegas tilted her head slightly to the side.
"Why?" Vegas asked.
Holly didn't want to raise any eyebrows if someone heard a different name other than what they expected to hear for her.
"Because that's your name as the Terminator you're playing." Holly said. "We don't want to cause any suspicions."
Cam could see the logic in that.
"She may have a point." Cam said. "What you're about to do is technically an infiltration mission."
Hanna felt her Skynet name contained too many syllables
"Samantha is too long." Hanna said.
Holly didn't think so. She decided to point out her reasoning.
"So is Savannah but nobody has a problem with that." Holly said.
Cam wondered what other names were associated with her.
"Did they refer to you with any other names?" Cam asked.
Vegas was aware of one.
"Sammy." Vegas said.
Hanna liked the shortened version of Samantha.
"I like that. It sounds like it should be a male's name but is really for a female and short for Samantha." Hanna said.
Holly figured that the name Sammy played in with Skynet's association with the Syndicate.
"I bet more than a few people she terminated were surprised when 'Sammy' turned out to be a female." Holly said.
Vegas really didn't care what her designation was. There was one name that she didn't want to be called.
"They were even more surprised when she turned out to be a Terminator." Vegas said. "Call me what you want as long as it isn't 'Metal Bitch'."
Cam received some instructions from CamNet.
"We're on final approach to the airport now." Cam said.
Vegas would have preferred to head straight for the Syndicate casino.
"I don't like being sidelined while Hanna and Holly head for the casino." Vegas-Samantha said.
Cam didn't want to get involved with the decision making.
"You can take it up with Cameron when you see her." Cam said.
Vegas looked out the window at the Las Vegas skyline.
"I will." Vegas-Samantha said.
She looked over Cam, Holly and Hanna. She believed that she looked as good as any of them did. Now all she needed were her bullet wounds to heal.
Nobody Is Ever Sorry
I see everyone
Do what they want
They are never sorry
For their actions or any stunt
They only worry about the fallout
Not the act that they did
They did what they wanted
Fully knowing it was forbid
They knew it was wrong
Before they committed the act
They got what they wanted
Caring little about the impact
That's the way life works
Everyone plays to their own tune
Then they actually wonder
Why it all falls apart so soon
So when I follow suit
As I take my own personal safari
I will do what I want, knowing that
Nobody is ever sorry
Nobody