Chapter 915

Standing Firm

It wasn't as simple to John as it appeared it should be. Skynet, or at least some Grays, were tied in with the Syndicate in at least one casino hotel. It was most likely more than one and in several different cities. What was the direction forward? Was there one? Would this lead to a new can of worms? He'd really like to have a little more information before things got started.

"I'm still unsure of what Cameron's planning." John said.

John Henry knew that Cameron liked to operate on her own. Most of that was done without any planning. She took the target under observation and then determined what she needed to do to take it down at that time. It appeared she was going to do the same thing with the Syndicate run casino.

"That's because she hasn't planned anything." John Henry said. "You know much of what Cameron does is organic."

John didn't agree with that philosophy. He liked it when things were planned out and there was 'back up' help if necessary. He was aware that most of the Resistance operations were conducted by Cameron on her own. Her often damaged sheath was proof of that.

"She likes to act, not plan." John said. "I know she produces results and carries much of the burden of the war on her own back. I don't agree with that. That isn't something that she needs to do. There are others here, including myself, who want to help and do their share. It bothers me that Savannah is the one who often assumes the risk along with Cameron."

John Henry really didn't want to have the same discussion about Cameron and her actions again. They could discuss it all they want and it wasn't going to change anything. Cameron was still going to act when she thought that she needed to act. It was just that simple.

"She was built to act." John Henry said. "It is your job to plan."

There was a question John wanted to ask but didn't want to ask it. He did anyway. He had the sick feeling that it would determine his fate, probably sooner rather than later, in regards to Cameron.

"Did Cameron rent the 'Honeymoon Suite' at the other casino hotel?" John asked.

John Henry expected that question to come up earlier. It hadn't. He wasn't going to bring it up because he didn't want John to go back to Las Vegas. He didn't want to go back to Las Vegas either.

"I wondered how long it would take you to ask that." John Henry said. "Hopefully you don't plan on returning. As far as the Honeymoon Suite goes, I don't know. Do you want me to ask?"

John did want to know but he didn't want to make a big deal about it.

"I was just curious." John said.

John was still worried that Cameron might leave him for Savannah. As much as he was worried about it, he wasn't that worried. He was sure that he would still be able to 'visit' Cameron as well as Savannah. He also believed he'd have a shot at all the other girls, both human and Terminator at that point. He'd be more than happy to strip away the virginity of each of the Metal girls.

John Henry attempted to look at the floor plans of the Syndicate run casino and hotel. What he found, or in this case didn't find, was exactly what he'd expected.

"I'd show you the footage from the upper floor of the hotel but CamNet has control of that and isn't willing to share." John Henry said. "At least not yet she hasn't."

John developed a little sick feeling in his gut. It seemed like it was going to be some payback to him. He'd heard the expression before that what goes around, comes around. He figured he was about to find out.

"CamNet's going to rub it in my face, like I did with Riley - Future Riley to Cameron." John said.

John didn't regret what he did with Riley – Future Riley, just maybe the way he flaunted it in front of Cameron every chance he could.

John Henry was well aware of the scenario and what John did specifically to Cameron. He'd shared chip space with Cameron and she made sure that he knew exactly what John did to her. He knew it was always a contentious subject with her.

"Your actions in that regard were questionable." John Henry said. "It's possible there will be some 'payback'."

John could have done without hearing that. It was what he expected anyway. That only reinforced his belief. He felt there was some justification in his actions even if it made a weak argument.

"I was sixteen years old. I was in love with Riley – Future Riley." John said. "I don't know what I was thinking."

John Henry knew that humans were driven by hormones at that age. He'd watched Savannah go through the same thing at an even younger age when she told Cameron that she needed someone. That was when Cameron decided to 'offer' Young Jesse to her. It appeared to be something that both of them needed at that age.

"Maybe it was that the 'little head' exerted more control of you than the 'big head'?" John Henry asked. "It's not an uncommon occurrence among males."

John remembered his night in the truck with Riley - Future Riley. It was something that he wanted more than anything. Everything was right there in front of him. It was so close that he could almost taste it and then he did. He wasn't in control of himself at that time. There was no way to stop what happened from happening.

"I guess it did." John said. "I forever scarred Cameron."

John Henry didn't think Cameron factored into John's decision at all. He was focused on what was there and available.

"You still did what you wanted." John Henry said. "You could have walked away at any time."

John knew that was true. If he could do it all over again, he would probably do it all the same way, most of it anyway. He would try to make his 'move' sooner with Riley - Future Riley though. He loved her. They were able to complete that love. It was still a special moment in his life. He wouldn't give up that experience for anything.

"I did." John said. "I don't regret that I did it. I do regret the way that I handled it."

John Henry remembered something Cameron told him once. She told him that every action has a reaction even if it wasn't evident for years. It was still there and it would still happen.

"Everything has a price…." John Henry said.

John watched one of the monitors. He didn't like what he saw.

"Hey, what's that?" John asked.

John Henry was able to view some images through several security cameras. It wasn't the Syndicate run casino that they were in either. It was at another casino nearby.

"It looks like Gail, Sheila and Ally have a tail." John Henry said. "They appear to know."

John thought he should have spotted something earlier. His mind had been elsewhere.

"I want you to make sure." John said. "I haven't been paying good enough attention to everything."

John Henry felt that happened more and more with John. He learned to work around it. He would only point things out when it became necessary for there to be a decision of consequence.

"I have." John Henry said. "You've been distracted."

John Henry could see John was 'gone' right now. He was lost somewhere in the past.

John thought about it. Maybe he was. It seemed every time he thought about Riley – Future Riley, he was distracted. He still wondered sometimes if he could go back in time and save her. He was unsure how to do that and not change the timeline. He wondered if anyone would even help him. For some reason he thought that Mrs. Weaver would. She could take the place of Riley – Future Riley, from right before she was killed by Jesse - Future Jesse, until the time he 'looked' at her in the morgue.

For Riley – Future Riley, it would be the 'next day' in her life for her in this current timeline. The love and everything it offered could continue unabated…. Cameron often indicated she wanted him to have a human lover. If he was going to have one, why couldn't it be Riley - Future Riley?

It still bothered him what happened to her. It wasn't directly his fault but it was indirectly. If he thought about it long enough, he could probably convince himself that it was actually Cameron's fault. The whole event was orchestrated to get him to turn on Cameron and pin Future Riley's death on her. If Cameron wasn't with him in the present, there would have been no need for Future Jesse's plot.

Gail, Ally and Sheila were about to board the tram at a nearby casino to go to the Syndicate casino and hotel.

It seemed to the Metal girls that they'd picked up a tail. There was some debate over what to do and how to do it.

Gail wanted to terminate the individual and thought they should each take one of the tram cars to make sure they got him.

Ally wanted to keep their team united.

"No, we should all stick together." Ally said.

Gail felt if they stuck together, that the individual could end up in a different tram car. They wouldn't be able to get to him.

"I still think he should be terminated." Gail said.

Sheila thought that Gail was 'termination happy' right now.

"Easy, love." Sheila said. "You want to terminate them, because you want to terminate me."

Gail was upset that Sheila stopped to gamble earlier when she wanted to go to the tram platform.

"The thought crossed my mind." Gail said.

Ally didn't want Gail to take everything so seriously.

"Come on." Ally said. "You know she likes to razz you."

The three Metal girls entered the last tram car. It was empty.

Gail quickly identified the man that Ally spotted earlier. She didn't like the way that he looked.

"He's waiting on the platform." Gail said.

Ally didn't think he looked like a threat yet.

"Aren't you glad you didn't terminate him?" Ally asked.

Gail looked away from the man and directly at Ally.

"No." Gail said.

Sheila figured they could always go out and force him into the tram car.

"It's still not too late." Sheila said. "I can go get him."

Still wondered why he hadn't entered their tram car yet. She could only come to one conclusion.

"He's waiting for reinforcements." Gail said.

Ally still thought that it was a 'perv'. The man didn't look like a Gray or Syndicate material. She had a pretty good idea what caught the man's attention earlier.

"I think he was intrigued by Sheila's jewelry." Ally said. "She shouldn't have flashed him with it."

Sheila didn't think it was a big deal at the time. It was just a simple nip slip. She'd wanted to distract the blackjack dealer and she did.

"Everyone is intrigued by it, love." Sheila said. "There isn't anybody that doesn't look when it's shown."

Gail didn't like that the man followed them up the escalator to the tram platform. If Sheila provoked the incident, she wanted her to lure him into the tram car so he could be terminated. She still wanted to terminate the man.

"Then show it again and get him to come on board. Do something useful." Gail said. "This tram is leaving in a few seconds."

Sheila looked directly at the man and moved just 'right'. Sure enough her right breast was exposed with the nipple ring shining brightly.

The man looked around and dashed onto the tram car just as the doors started to close. He moved to the back of the tram car.

Gail got up and went to the back where he was and sat down. She was tired of playing games. She decided to confront the man before he became a threat to Savannah. She was ready to go full Terminator on him if she needed to.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Gail asked him. "Let me see your arms."

The man was stunned and looked totally confused.

"What?" The man asked.

Gail moved menacingly closer to the man. It was clear that she meant business.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Gail asked him. "Let me see your arms - NOW."

The man looked somewhat smug when he got on the tram car. He now looked terrified.

"See my arms?" The man asked. "Who are you?"

Ally could see that the situation was about to get out of control. She was sure Gail was about to rip his head off. She'd watched her do that to a Syndicate thug when they were at the casino vault earlier in the day.

"We're casino security." Ally said as she sat in front of him.

Ally flashed the badge she'd taken from one of the Syndicate thugs who tried to rob them. That episode turned out a little better for the Metal girls than it did for the thugs.

The man looked at both of them a little apprehensively.

"You two are both security?" The man asked.

Ally had a stern look on her face as did Gail.

"Of course we are." Ally said.

Gail didn't want the man to try to deny he'd followed them.

"You exhibited suspicious behavior." Gail said.

Gail reached over and shoved his left sleeve up. She then did the same for the right side.

The man seemed confused by Gail's behavior. He didn't understand what she was looking for

"What are you doing?" The man asked. "Are you making sure I don't have any 'cards up my sleeves'? Maybe you're looking for needle tracks. I don't have either of those."

Ally wanted to give the man something to think about.

"You were observed following our decoy." Ally said. "There've been some sexual assaults recently. You weren't involved in any of those were you?"

The man looked even more worried now.

"What?" The man asked. "No!"

Gail and Ally questioned him further. It appeared John Henry or CamNet slowed the tram down.

The tram reached the next stop.

Gail came to the same conclusion that Ally had earlier. The man was simply a pervert. She took some time to study him and his clothing in detail. She made a disturbing discovery but he wasn't a Gray or a Syndicate thug.

"Get out." Gail said.

The man looked a little hesitant to leave.

"I recommend you listen." Ally said.

The man looked a little bit smug again.

"I don't know who you people are." The man said.

Ally was ready to let Gail snap his neck if he gave them any more backtalk.

"We're casino security." Ally said. "Maybe we need to take you in."

It appeared that the man didn't believe them.

"What exactly would you take me in for?" The man asked.

Gail had enough of the man. She used some Terminator strength on him.

"I'd say, 'how about this for starters?'" Gail said.

Gail reached inside his light jacket. She pulled out an electronic device. She then reached down to his shoe and pulled off a small camera.

"Maybe you want this turned over to the police?" Gail said.

Ally had spotted the device as well.

"I see this is the famous 'up-skirt camera' trick." Ally said.

The man was worried that he'd been caught. He was even more worried about some of the images they were on the recording device. He'd been by the park earlier and around some girls. There were no explicit pictures of them but there were pictures of the girls playing.

"I don't want any trouble." The man said. "It was just some harmless fun."

Ally thought that they'd made their point. She wanted him to leave before Gail terminated him. If he didn't get out at this stop, she would let Gail snap his neck.

"We'll let you off with a warning this time but don't let it happen again." Ally said. "Now go. You're banned from all casinos in town."

Ally took his picture.

"This is already posted." Ally said. "Exit the casino and take off."

The man looked at both of them and ran off. He took one last look at Sheila as went down the stairs.

Sheila made sure he saw what he wanted to see one last time.

Gail still wanted to terminate the man.

"That was a future Scavenger." Gail said. "He should be terminated."

Ally didn't feel too much different about him at this point. She didn't want to attract any unnecessary attention to the tram line if they terminated him in the tram car.

"If we see him again you can." Ally said. "I didn't like him."

Sheila moved back to where Ally and Gail were after the man ran off.

"Let me see that camera." Sheila said as she looked at some of the images and footage. "I see underwear is optional here."

Gail looked at the images as Sheila scrolled through them.

"There's one of you." Gail said.

Sheila could see that the man missed his mark.

"I have pants on." Sheila said.

Ally looked at the angle of the picture.

"I think he was aiming for your top." Ally said.

Sheila lifted her top up and exposed both of her breasts. She jiggled her torso which caused her breasts to bounce a little up and down. Her nipple rings did so as well.

"All he needed to do was ask…." Sheila said. "I always say 'If you got it, flaunt it'."

The tram moved along faster as it continued towards the target casino.

The three Metal girls looked at all the photos. There were some really good shots. CamNet asked for the photos for 'reference'. So did John Henry.

John and John Henry watched the confrontation with the three Metal girls and the 'perv' go down.

John was glad when they let the man get off at the next stop.

"That could have gone worse." John said.

John Henry was pretty sure that was as close to a termination that someone could get and not be terminated.

"Not by much." John Henry said.

John was pretty sure that Gail was going to terminate him. If Ally hadn't intervened, he was sure that she would have.

"They didn't kill anyone." John said.

Upon further review of some of the images that were on the device, he thought that the Metal girls might look him up later on. Some of the images were of younger girls at a playground. Even though there was nothing sexual, it indicated the man's interest in them.

"Not yet. He exited the casino and ran down the street." John Henry said. "He didn't look like he wanted to stick around."

John wanted to keep track of where the man actually went.

"Track him." John said. "It could have been a ploy."

John Henry was able to track him two different ways.

"Gail tagged him." John Henry said. "I can follow him visually and with the tracker. There are enough cameras around there to do that."

John wanted to turn his attention away from the distraction of the man with the hidden camera. He didn't want to lose sight of what their real target was.

"What about the target casino?" John asked. "I've only spotted Cameron, Cammy and Savannah."

He knew that they would check for any obvious irregularities in the casino and hotel lobby.

"They're giving everything a 'once over'." John Henry said. "I still have no information on 'The Enforcer'."

John wondered about some of the earlier scuffles that occurred behind the scenes.

"Are there any further signs of the Grays and the Syndicate fighting?" John asked.

The scuffle appeared to originate around some finger pointing between the Grays and the Syndicate thugs.

"No." John Henry said. "Once the Grays that were left told the Syndicate thugs 'The Enforcer' was on his way back, peace was made real fast."

It made John wonder what exactly they knew.

"They must have seen him in action." John said.

John Henry was pretty sure there would be a lot of 'action' once 'The Enforcer' returned.

"If they haven't, they will." John Henry said. "I've changed the computer files to make it look like the Syndicate has been shortchanging the Grays and maybe even responsible for the 'robbery'. I made it look like the manager was behind it."

John was sure that would produce some negative results for the Syndicate thugs. There was one big question that still troubled him though.

"Why can't we find 'The Enforcer'?" John asked.

John Henry previously floated an idea in his head. He hoped that it wasn't true and there was no evidence that it might be. If it was what he suspected, the Resistance team was in for some serious trouble.

"Maybe he's Liquid Metal." John Henry said.

John didn't think any of the teams on the ground were armed with weapons capable of damaging or destroying a Liquid Metal Terminator.

"I hadn't thought seriously of that. It's time to accept that it's a possibility." John said. "Send out an alert at once. We're not set up to deal with Liquid Metal on this operation."

Cammy went off to check something but quickly returned to where Savannah was at.

Savannah looked at her phone as she received the alert. She quickly looked at Cammy.

"Did you get this, Cammy?" Savannah asked.

Cammy carefully looked around the room.

"Yes." Cammy said. "None of us seriously considered this possibility. 'The Enforcer' could be here now, amongst us."

Savannah remembered what the Terminators looked like 'in some future' that Mrs. Weaver dealt with. They were literally split in half or ripped apart. She certainly didn't want that fate for any of the Metal girls or herself.

"I don't think being here is a good idea." Savannah said. "We should withdraw and wait for him to reappear. We would at least know where the target was at and not find out the hard way. We don't have many Thermite grenades or even any acid rounds."

Cammy felt they were totally under armed at this point.

"We certainly don't have any with us here." Cammy said.

Savannah wanted to run everything by Cameron including her idea to withdraw for now. She looked around for her but couldn't spot her

"Where's Cameron?" Savannah asked, as she looked around. "She was just there."

Cameron received the alert as well. Earlier she did briefly think 'The Enforcer' might be Liquid Metal but discounted that thought. Now she would need to revisit it. That would be a 'game changer' if he was Liquid Metal.

She checked with CamNet and John Henry to see if past surveillance footage gave them any more clues. There were periods where 'The Enforcer' would leave the casino and be gone for days at a time. There were no other recognition 'hits' on him around town.

Cameron saw Cammy and Savannah headed towards her. She could see a very concerned look on Savannah's face.

"Cameron." Savannah said. "We need to withdraw from here."

Cameron felt if they'd only been there for a very short time. She hadn't been able to gather much intelligence yet.

"It's too early." Cameron said. "I want to know more about what's going on around here."

Savannah felt it was too big of a risk with no guaranteed payoff.

"Until we know more, we need to leave this place and make sure we're not followed." Savannah said.

Cameron needed to listen to Savannah. She remembered Savannah's earlier warning and she didn't listen to it.

"Your apprehension about the warehouse proved correct." Cameron said. "You should have held firm on that."

Savannah gave in on her earlier apprehension because she knew Cameron wanted to enter the building. She knew she should have stuck with her gut feeling. It was time to do that now.

"I know." Savannah said. "If not for what CamNet did for us, we would have been terminated. I'm standing firm now. We're withdrawing."

Savannah contacted John.

"John, I recommend an immediate withdrawal until we know more." Savannah said. "Until we can identify 'The Enforcer', the risk to our team is too great."

John was actually a little surprised that Savannah contacted him. He knew that she didn't need to but he was pleased that she did.

"I'll order it at once." John said. "You have the power to do it yourself."

Savannah tried to work within the framework of the Resistance. She wanted John in the relative security of the Command Center. That's where he was. She wanted him to make the decisions in this regard.

"You're in charge." Savannah said. "If we were isolated or it was an emergency, I would order it myself."

John issued the order. He wasn't sure that everyone would follow it. He wanted Savannah's assistance to make sure that everyone obeyed the order

"Savannah, make sure Cameron gets out." John said.

Savannah wanted to reassure John of her function.

"I will, John." Savannah said. "You know that's why I'm here."

Earlier John Henry indicated to John that he was on a secure line. He felt that he needed to address something that happened previously at the other casino hotel.

"I do." John said. "About earlier…."

Savannah understood what John meant. She didn't want him to worry about it.

"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Savannah said.

John was appreciative to hear that. He felt Savannah and him had a very good understanding of each other. He wanted to let her know that anything else she wanted to do was OK with him. He honestly believed that Cameron would benefit the most from some 'personal interaction' with Savannah.

"If anything else happens, it's fine, Savannah." John said. "We both love her and all love each other."

Savannah was very relieved to hear that. She didn't want to feel like an interloper or intruder.

"Thank you, John." Savannah said. "It will happen for ALL of us at some point."

John understood what she meant. It was what he wanted as well.

"I know." John said. "It's what we all want. It's the 'Natural Order'."

She wanted John to take care of the Resistance business now.

"Issue the withdrawal." Savannah said. "If there are any problems or delays here, I'll handle it on my end."

John wanted to say one more thing to Savannah.

"Thank you, Savannah." John said. "Savannah…."

There was a pause.

Savannah didn't think the words were necessary. They all felt the same way.

"I do too, John…." Savannah said. "We all do."

Standing Firm

Many are confused and indecisive
When it's time to make a decision
Perhaps that's most evident at times
When a heart and mind have a collision

Does one do what's right
Or do what they want
They may need to confront
Or try a stupid stunt

That will show the true nature
If they're a person or a beast
Will it be Doctor Jekyll or Mister Hyde
Which one will be released

Then there are others
Who are straight and true
They are always the ones
To care about and pursue

There are things that happen
That make one uneasy and squirm
They can take solace and comfort
When they see the other standing firm

Nobody