Chapter 921

Finishing Touch

John watched all the video feeds. They still didn't know if 'The Enforcer' was Liquid Metal or not. That was going to make a difference when it was time to take him down. They were going to need the proper weapons to be able to do that.

He checked on the status of his teams. They were all on standby and ready for action. The wait was hard on all of them.

John Henry noticed John seemed a little antsy. He wanted to reassure him everything was good to go.

"The teams are ready to move out." John Henry said.

John viewed some of the surveillance cameras from inside of the Syndicate casino.

"I still see 'The Enforcer' is still inside." John said.

John Henry could tell that tensions were high inside the Syndicate casino.

"It appears he's having a 'discussion' with some of the Syndicate personnel." John Henry said.

John didn't think that 'discussion' was the right word based upon what he viewed.

"It looks more like he is about ready to terminate them." John said.

John Henry didn't think there was much they could do about that.

"It happens." John Henry said.

John could see that things continued to heat up.

"It may be sooner than we think." John said.

John Henry watched as things escalated towards a tipping point.

"I think he's about ready to 'clean out' the Syndicate." John Henry said. "What he does next, will depend upon if they challenge him or not."

John remembered what Cromartie did to the FBI team that was sent to bring him in by Mr. Ellison.

"That won't end well for the Syndicate." John said.

John Henry thought of the horrific damage that John needlessly inflicted on Cameron when he foolishly sent her in to get his mother out of jail.

"It won't end well for 'The Enforcer' either." John Henry said.

John would prefer any damage happen to the Skynet Terminator as opposed to any of theirs.

"Better him than any of us." John said.

John wasn't sure what Skynet's endgame would be. Taking out the Syndicate at one casino was only going to bring some of the other Syndicate Families down on them. Maybe that's what Skynet wanted to happen. They could replace all the Family heads with Terminators. This could give them vast control based on what they'd found already at the Syndicate casino.

It seemed Skynet never ran out of ideas on how to gain control and then try and keep it. It looked for every advantage and apparently created them at the casino, one way or another.

If Skynet could gain control of the Syndicate, it would literally inherit thousands of soldiers who blindly followed their bosses. In a way they were sort of like the Fanatics in that regard.

Cameron and the rest of the team watched various video feeds on their phones of the current situation inside the casino. There were several areas that they were able to observe.

There seemed to be 'hard feelings' between the Grays and the Syndicate. Because 'The Enforcer' was there, it seemed to embolden the Grays. That was probably because they knew what damage he could do to the opposition, especially when they didn't know what a Terminator was. The Syndicate thugs would find out soon enough when they were terminated.

Savannah watched as everything seemed to escalate in the lower levels of the Syndicate Casino.

"It looks like there's going to be trouble." Savannah said.

Cameron watched as the armored car was loaded with stacks of money. She was sure those were probably the funds from their illegal activity as well as from the casino in Laughlin. If they were, that was all of the Syndicates money from all of their operations in the back of the armored car.

"I don't think the Syndicate men are happy about ALL the money being taken away." Cameron said.

Savannah wasn't able to pick up any audio Transmissions on the screens that she viewed.

"Are you able to hear them?" Savannah asked.

Cameron relied on an age old technique for intelligence gathering.

"I'm lip reading." Cameron said. "All the Metal girls are as well."

Savannah was a little surprised to hear that.

"I never really thought about that before." Savannah said.

Terminator hearing was superb through all levels.

"Normally we can hear everything." Cameron said. "Sometimes we can't. Remember, our primary mission was to infiltrate without being detected."

Savannah thought about all of the 'special times' that she'd spent with all of the female Terminators. She was sure all of the intimate contact further refined all of the Metal girl's ability to blend in with humans and act with 'human like' behavior under all conditions.

"I don't think any of you would have a problem with that anymore." Savannah said.

Cameron believed that she had a lot to do with some of that. She'd refined the 'Neural Interface' procedure so that the recipient of the enhanced program was very much like the human it was copied from. She also felt that the refined 'Neural Interface' procedure allowed the female Terminators to feel love more as humans did.

"Sheila, Ally, Hanna and Anna all have that covered perfectly." Cameron said. "They even act human when they don't need to. It's just how they are with the superior 'Neural Interface'."

Savannah was aware that was Cameron's doing and her refinement of the Skynet process. Cameron perfected the perfect infiltrators. Cameron was able to accomplish what Skynet hadn't been able to do itself.

Samantha ran a very limited program. She didn't think that it mattered that much in regards to her behavior.

"I think I can pass for human." Samantha said.

Cammy tried to remain in the background as much as possible when Cameron and Savannah were with her. It was very easy for her to get into an argument with Cameron over the smallest thing. She believed Cameron should be deactivated because she was unstable. She didn't want to get into an altercation with Cameron either physically or verbally because Savannah asked her not to 'fight' with Cameron on any level. She hadn't been around Samantha very long but she found her somewhat irritating.

"Maybe after those bullet wounds heal." Cammy said. "You would be in an ICU unit if you were a human female. That's if you were even still alive."

Savannah didn't want the tension in the air to continue to grow. At times it seemed like it was a powder keg ready to explode. That wasn't what she wanted to see or hear around her. With a combat situation about to develop, she wanted everyone on their toes. She decided to compliment everyone instead of chastise them.

"You can all pass for humans." Savannah said. "Even Gail can now as well."

Cameron watched as Savannah spent more and more time with Gail after the raid on the old helicopter base. She knew that something happened there that was 'covered up' by Savannah. She didn't question Savannah's motive or reasoning. If Savannah felt some information needed to be redacted, she respected that. There were quite a few of her missions where the entire story wasn't actually reported, only the facts that mattered were.

"I know you've been 'working' with her." Cameron said.

Samantha was very infatuated with Savannah. She'd only been activated a very short time but she found Savannah very intriguing. She didn't know if it was from the programming she inherited from Cameron or not. She didn't feel that it was.

"I want Savannah to 'work' with me." Samantha said.

Cammy rolled her eyes. She could see an unnecessary conflict was about to develop with Samantha. What Samantha said irritated her. She figured that it agitated Cameron immensely.

"Keep it zipped." Cammy quietly warned Samantha. "This isn't the place or time. It's also not your territory."

Cameron turned and gave Samantha a dirty look. She was about to remind Samantha her 'existence' was this one mission. Then she would be deactivated and Resequenced and given a new chip after all that. There were several possibilities for Samantha at that point. She would be added to Cameron's menagerie at her base to await final activation and disposition.

Savannah ignored Samantha. She didn't want to go there with Cameron and Cammy in the same vehicle. The tension was already high enough. There was no need to make it worse. She knew that they all wanted to know more about what happened at the old helicopter base. Everyone had all the facts as to what actually happened. It was the unreported details that were unimportant.

"Gail went through a little bit of a rough patch with some personal issues." Savannah said. "I helped her get through it. I think that everyone is allowed to have some privacy sometimes when they need it."

Cammy understood Savannah's unspoken warning not to continue to ask her questions about what happened on that day. She wanted to give Savannah some positive reinforcement.

"Savannah always knows what's best for us." Cammy said.

Cameron looked over at Savannah and took in her beauty. She didn't want her to have any negative personal interactions as she'd experienced herself.

"I want Savannah to only ever feel love." Cameron said. "I've assisted her in achieving that."

Samantha carried enough of Cameron's program to know that not everything was fine and dandy with Cameron in that regard.

"At what cost to you?" Samantha asked.

Cammy didn't want Samantha to get into any touchy personal information.

"Watch it." Cammy warned. "Don't go there."

Cameron was irritated with the question. She looked back at Samantha. Even if there was a 'cost' it didn't matter when it came to Savannah. Savannah deserved only the best.

"There is no 'cost'." Cameron said. "There's only the reward of knowing Savannah feels loved. That's the greatest gift of them all."

Samantha was sure that it was all part of Cameron's 'end game' in regards to the Terminators. She didn't want to say that they were manipulated but she did believe they were all motivated. No one was forced to do anything. They all had freedom of choice

"I think that's so every Terminator will stand their ground and fight until termination to protect her. They will all do it because they love her." Samantha said. "It's more than just duty, function or purpose at that point."

Cameron believed that some individuals were more valuable than others. What happened in the future was proof of that. It was only because of certain individuals that the Resistance was allowed to rise and strike out against Skynet. Those certain individuals didn't stand alone. There were others who stood with them and behind them and helped make them what they were. Because of that association, those individuals were just as important as the other key individuals. It was a symbiotic relationship.

"If we're ever 'over run', John and Savannah will be the last ones standing. I swear it. EVERYONE sacrifices for Savannah Con…." Cameron said as she stopped short.

Cammy was sure Cameron was about to say 'Savannah Connor'. That was something she didn't agree with. She didn't like to agree with Cameron on many things. She did need to agree with Cameron on what she'd just said about Savannah's survival. She knew that it was true for her and she felt it was for every other Terminator as well.

"I do too and every other Terminator will do the same thing" Cammy said.

Samantha didn't have any personal interaction with Savannah, at least not yet anyway. Through the programming that she inherited, she felt the same things as the donor did.

"I 'feel' it in my chip as well." Samantha said. "We will do it because John is our duty. We will do it for Savannah because it is our duty and we all love her."

Cameron used some of her program for Samantha's temporary mission. It was logical Samantha felt things about Savannah that she felt. That should have been addressed before Samantha's activation. She didn't care for Samantha's 'personal interest' in Savannah already.

Savannah appreciated the high regard that she was held in by the Terminators. She wanted to remind them that everybody mattered. She didn't believe that her life mattered more than anyone else's.

"We're all equal." Savannah said. "ALL of us. I have no more importance, value or worth than any of you or any other member of the Resistance."

The three Metal Girls all looked at each other but said nothing.

They all knew Savannah was the 'Chosen One'. That statement was only further proof of it.

It was clear to all of them that Savannah never requested or expected anything different from anyone else. It was just the type of person she was. Savannah was a beautiful person, both inside and out.

Savannah literally could have the world at her command. Instead she chose to share it with everyone equally. She always put others before her.

Wealth to Savannah was - love.

In that regard, Savannah was very wealthy.

Sheila was talking.

It seemed to upset Ally. It never seemed to take much to get Sheila and Ally to butt heads. It was only further proof of how much they loved each other. They always tried so hard to seem like they didn't, which only made it even more obvious that they did love each other.

"Quiet, you're disrupting my hearing." Ally said.

Sheila looked offended.

Gail spoke before she could respond.

"Stop eavesdropping." Gail said. "You will respect Savannah's privacy."

Ally thought Gail would be a little less judgmental if she knew her name came up.

"I heard your name." Ally said.

Gail didn't think it would be anything detrimental if Savannah was there.

"Now you really need to stop listening." Gail said. "Pay attention to what's going on in the casino. We may be in combat soon."

Sheila didn't believe they could do any more than they were currently doing. They needed to wait for the situation to change before anything would change for them.

"Relax, love." Sheila said. "Don't be so high strung."

Gail didn't think being 'combat ready' was the same as being 'high strung'. She thought it was more related to situational awareness.

"We need to worry about protecting Savannah, especially if there is Liquid Metal involved." Gail said.

Sheila saw that there were some 'changes' at the Syndicate casino.

"Look at your phone." Sheila said.

Ally stopped eavesdropping and looked back down at her phone.

"Nice." Ally said.

Gail didn't like what she saw on her phone either.

"Get ready to roll." Gail said.

It was clear the time for waiting was over.

Moments ago:

Cam was with Hanna and Holly. Like all of the other Metal girls, they waited to get the information so they could act. She didn't like what Hanna was currently engaged in.

"I don't want you to listen to Cameron and Savannah." Cam said.

Hanna didn't see what the big deal was. There was nothing else to do. She was pretty sure that she detected Cam doing the same thing earlier.

"You are." Hanna said.

Cam did listen initially but she knew she wasn't a part of that conversation.

"I stopped." Cam said. "It's not a public or open discussion. You know that."

Holly didn't eavesdrop on either of the other two vehicles.

"I'm not listening." Holly said. "I respect Savannah and the others."

Cam, like all Terminators, held Savannah in the highest regard. Since her program was a modified version of Cameron's program, it was probably especially more so.

"We all do." Cam said.

Hanna also listened to what was happening in the other vehicle.

"It seems Ally and Sheila should too." Hanna said.

Cam glanced over and could see the agitated look on Gail's face. She figured that Ally and Sheila were in for a 'tongue lashing'. If that didn't work, Gail would probably physically grab both of them and rough them up.

"Don't worry." Cam said. "Gail will keep them in line."

Hanna believed there was a little more to that situation than met the eye.

"That's Cameron's doing." Hanna said.

Hanna believed Cameron wanted Savannah to have a 'physical enforcer' to watch over her. Gail was big enough to fight any other Terminator, either male or female. It appeared she was further 'motivated' now as well.

Holly didn't think that was a fair comparison. If there was anything personal between Gail and Savannah it was private and should remain that way.

"No, it's not." Holly said. "It's between Gail and Savannah."

There were times when Cam felt a little envious. She thought that was a justified response based on the fact she was a clone of Cameron both physically and electronically.

"Cameron and Savannah are the two most desired individuals." Cam said.

Hanna was aware there was a big distinction there. One person was approachable and the other one wasn't. That made a distinction in the long run.

"The difference there is, Savannah knows how to love and 'share'." Hanna said. "I think that makes Savannah more desirable."

Cam was a little offended by Hanna's analysis. Since Hanna's program was based on the 'Neural Interface' with Vanna, who was actually Savannah from the alternate future, she wasn't sure it was a fair assessment.

"That sounds like an unbiased opinion." Cam said more than a little sarcastically.

Hanna wasn't sure if she liked that statement.

"I'm based on Vanna." Hanna said. "I'm not based on Savannah."

Holly didn't want to get involved in the controversy but everyone knew that Vanna started out as Savannah before John created the alternate future. They were the same core individual, even if their life experiences differentiated them.

"That's a pretty fine line." Holly said.

Cam maintained a constant watch on her phone of what happened in the Syndicate casino.

"Check out your phones." Cam said.

Hanna had been busy eavesdropping on the other two vehicles. She didn't want to admit that.

"That's what we've been doing." Hanna said.

Holly noticed right away what Cam meant.

"I see it." Holly said.

Hanna watched as developments changed.

"Smooth." Hanna said.

Cam glanced at Holly and Hanna and the other two vehicles.

"It's time to roll." Cam said.

Moments ago:

Savannah wanted the conversation to take a different direction.

"Let's concentrate on the operation." Savannah said.

Savannah was uncomfortable about being 'talked about'. She always tried to do her fair share and then some as she helped out. Everything she did seemed normal to her. It wasn't like she was trying to be different and certainly not 'better' than anyone. She did what came natural to her. She always tried to think of others first.

She believed there was a solution to every problem and she tried to find it. She wanted harmony among all Resistance personnel. Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted.

"Check your phones." Cameron said. "That is a new development."

Savannah stopped worrying about herself and looked down at her phone.

"Beautiful…." Savannah said.

Cammy checked her phone as well.

"I see it." Cammy said.

Samantha wasn't surprised at the new development.

"I think it's 'go time'." Samantha said.

Cameron glanced over at the other two vehicles.

"Let's rock." Cameron said.

Allison watched Vanna tend to Precious. She looked so natural doing it. She was very aware that Vanna and Jesse weren't getting any younger and they'd both experienced multiple failures to become pregnant or sustain a pregnancy.

She experienced her troubles too but she'd been able to carry a pregnancy longer than either Vanna or Jesse ever could. She also ended in failure every time. At least one Duplicate Allison was able to give birth. That was why she kept trying. Duplicate Allison was - HER. They were the same individual.

Vanna noticed Allison look at her while she looked a million miles away at the same time.

"Do you want to hold her?" Vanna asked.

The 'thousand yard stare' slowly faded from Allison's eyes. She blinked twice and looked at Vanna.

"You seem so natural doing it." Allison said. "You always did with Summer and Jan too."

Vanna liked to tend to children. They were so small and beautiful. They weren't tainted and damaged like 'grown ups' were. Few of them needed to grow up faster than they were supposed to in the past, the present. It wasn't like it was for the girls in her future.

"I enjoy it." Vanna said. "It makes me feel 'alive'."

Allison felt anything but alive when she tended to children. She felt very uncomfortable.

"I always feel clumsy." Allison said. "I'm deathly terrified I won't be a good mother. I REALLY am, Vanna."

It was a fear that always seemed to pop up within Allison. To watch her mother deal with children only seemed to make her feel worse. Her mother seemed to do it effortlessly.

Vanna looked at her longtime lover and smiled.

"I'll be there alongside of you." Vanna said. "It will be how we always knew it would be."

Allison felt a little more uncomfortable as she thought of some previous events.

"Future Allison told me in Cameron's future that Savannah used to nurse both of the babies at the same time, hers and 'mine'." Allison said.

Vanna knew the reference was that Future Alison was 'given' Allison's baby that her mother carried for HER, for Allison. Cameron redirected where that baby ended up at. They all understood Cameron's reasoning, even if they didn't like it.

"Please don't dwell on that." Vanna said. "We both met Future Allison and I love her dearly."

Allison reflected on Future Allison's brief visit. Future Alison made the rounds with everyone, including her. It excited her immensely to know whatever she experienced with Future Allison is exactly what everyone experienced with her. She wasn't sure how but somehow Future Allison was not only sexier than her, she was hotter than her. It didn't really matter in the end because Future Allison was still her.

"I know we both 'shared' with her." Allison said.

Vanna thought that was a wonderful experience that they were able to do. It was as unique as it was special. It was beautiful. She'd shared with Savannah before.

"We've both shared with a younger version of ourselves and each other." Vanna said. "It's really like a totally different person."

Allison was aware that things were a little rougher for females in the future that they came from.

"We all shared different life experiences." Allison said.

Vanna felt some of them drew a shorter straw.

"For some of us it was worse than others…." Vanna said.

Allison looked at Vanna with love in her eyes.

"I'm really sorry about that." Allison said.

Vanna took a deep breath. She wanted to make the future a better place. She never wanted any female to be held down by a group of men as they took turns.

"If we can prevent Savannah and Young Allison from ever having to go through any of that, I'll be happy." Vanna said.

"As well as Summer and Jan…." Allison said.

Vanna reached out and touched Allison's lower abdomen.

"That includes Precious too." Vanna said. "And your baby…."

Allison placed her hand over Vanna's hand and pushed it firm against her belly

"You mean OUR baby, Vanna." Allison said. "It will be OUR baby."

Vanna's face moved close to Allison's face.

"I love you." Vanna said as she gave Allison a kiss.

"I love you too." Allison said.

Vanna gently held Precious between them as they kissed.

"I hope Riley and Derek are 'done'." Vanna said. "I really need to 'finish' now."

Allison was a little worried she would get ahead of Vanna again.

"I promise not to finish before you do." Allison said.

Vanna didn't think it was a big deal. It wouldn't be anything new anyway. It was about sharing with each other. That was something she liked to do with Allison anytime.

"I don't mind." Vanna said. "I'm happy just to see you satisfied."

They entered the room with the new doorway into Derek and Riley's room. They stood at the connecting door and waited.

"Let's listen." Allison said. "I want to make sure its clear before we knock."

Vanna giggled softly.

"I would hate to spoil anybody from 'finishing'." Vanna said.

Allison looked at Vanna and smiled.

"There is nothing like a finishing touch." Allison said.

The two girls looked at each other with love in their eyes. The one thing in life that they both appreciated the most was to finish with each other at the same time. In that moment they were able to escape the future and the past, even if they were the same.

Jesse and Claire were together.

"I think maybe I should go check on Precious." Jesse said.

Claire looked at Jesse's breasts.

"I didn't take too much." Claire said.

Jesse reached up and touched both of her breasts.

"I know." Jesse said. "Let me call Vanna."

Jesse called Vanna and found out she was already there and was good to go if needed for Precious. Vanna assured her she was fine staying with Precious.

"Vanna has it covered." Jesse said.

Claire rushed forward and started kissing Jesse as she led her back to the bed.

"I want to do 'everything'." Claire said.

Jesse looked at Claire with love in her eyes. It wasn't something that she ever allowed to escape from inside of her. With Claire it was different. She couldn't stop it. She'd already tried and it didn't work.

"You got it, love." Jesse said.

Jesse wanted to share everything with Claire. She would find out soon enough if Claire would still want her. She'd learned a long time ago that anyone that knew the true version of her didn't stick around long.

Maybe it was a test. It seemed everything in life was a test of some type.

It was clear to Young Allison that there was a lot of tension developing at the Syndicate casino. It appeared like things were about to go critical.

"It looks like the Terminator is getting ready to leave." Young Allison said. "I think there is going to be a confrontation."

Anna was aware of what it looked like with a Terminator on a rampage. It wasn't pretty.

"This may be violent." Anna said.

Sometimes Young Allison wondered what people thought happened around the Young residence in Palmdale.

"I have access to TV and movies." Young Allison said. "I've reviewed footage from every battle we have visual records of. I've reviewed the body cam footage as well as Terminator visual files. I think it's safe to say that I've seen it all."

She especially liked to review Sheila's files. Somehow Sheila always managed to slip a few close up images of her with other females. She attempted to determine exactly who the other female was based on Sheila's image. She was aware one of them was her mother. She knew those images were allowed by either Cameron or CamNet for her to see. Now wasn't the time to dwell on them.

Anna wanted to remind her there was a difference between an actor and a real person.

"Always remember, those are real people dying." Anna said.

Young Allison was aware that every person started out as a baby and grew up. They had friends and families, some of them may have had spouses and children. She didn't have any control over the lifestyle that those people chose to live. It was their lifestyle that determined their fate.

"I do." Young Allison said. "This whole life we live is really more like some creepy for real video game."

Anna watched as the trouble started in the Syndicate casino.

"Here it comes…." Anna said.

Young Allison knew what went around, came around.

"He'll get his soon enough." Young Allison said.

We're Not Trapped

Do we know what we have
If we can't accept what we feel
Allowing our emotions to anneal
Seeking someone more ideal

We both know the feelings
We know what they mean
What has happened is organic
It was never planned or foreseen

The only perceived obstacles
Exist with the depths of the mind
Surely you can tell and see
That love's stars have aligned

It's more than obvious
That something has risen
It may seem confining
Love is not a prison

It's with pure sweet love
That your heart has been wrapped
Love is our freedom
We're not trapped

Nobody