Chapter 658

Rockin' Robin

Steve and Cammy were in the aerial cable car on their way to the top of the mountain. They would be able to take the cable car as far as the header station. The rest of the journey would have to be on foot. They didn't have an exact destination.

There was another round of gasps as the cable car passed the next pylon.

Soon they neared the center section in the cable.

Cammy spotted something which appeared to be above them and headed towards them. It would pass by next to them.

"Here comes the other cable car." Cammy said.

Steve noticed the other cable car passed them in a flash.

"It seems to go by fast and looks higher." Steve said.

Cammy noticed it as well. She calculated they actually passed each other at the same height.

"It's a matter of perception. They're traveling at the same speed as us since we're all connected to the same cable. The closing distance is double our speed. We're traversing a long span between two pylons now." Cammy said. "I think we may experience some more wind sway."

The sway increased at a few points as gusts of wind hit the cable car. The additional side to side movement of the cable car produced further gasps.

Steve looked into the distance to the east.

"I can see into the next state." Steve said.

Cammy was aware on a clear day they could actually see much further.

"If it remains clear, we can see all the way into Mexico once we're at the top." Cammy said. "I read it in the brochure while we were waiting."

Steve wasn't so sure it would be anything beneficial. There were a lot of illegal narcotics which came across the southern border. Skynet forces dealt in illegal drugs to raise money. It was one of the things Cameron attempted to combat in her 'off the books' operations whenever it was possible. With the open border policy pushed by some of the politicians, there were many criminals who crossed over as well. They were heavily involved in human sex trafficking as well as illegal narcotics.

"We can deal with the other problems another time." Steve said. "We need to find out what's occurring up here first."

Cammy tilted her head slightly. It took her a moment to reference Steve's statement.

"The Metal girls will be busy." Cammy said.

They passed two additional smaller pylons with the usual reaction from the others on board. They slowed as they neared the header station.

Cammy looked back down the length of the cable to the base station. She knew trouble was coming on the next cable car up.

The cable car dramatically slowed and crept very slowly into the header station. There was a mild jolt and a thud as the cable car came to a stop. The door opened and everyone exited.

There were large patches of snow on the ground and the surrounding hills were covered in snow. They watched the snow increase in volume as they climbed upward in the cable car.

Cammy and Steve took a quick tour of the facility, the eating area, and shops. They wanted to know where everything was located as well as the different entrances or exits from both levels of the upper station.

There was also a movie playing in one room about the construction of the aerial tramway. She noted the aerial Tramway first went into service in 1963. It was the same year the bank with the TDE opened. Cameron used it to transfer from 1999 to 2007. A lot happened in the first few months they were in 2007.

In the small gift shop, Cammy bought two pairs of light gray sweatpants. One pair for each of them, and a tan colored backpack to put them in for now. She would have preferred to find white for the items she bought, but they weren't available in the gift shops at the base station or the header station. She thought they might come in handy later on.

Steve saw the advantage of the new attire, but was concerned about one other factor based upon the snow.

"With our jackets reversed to the white side, and the sweatpants on over our other pants, we'll blend in better with the snow." Steve said. "When the sun goes down it will be below freezing here. Maybe it will even snow again. It will make our footprints detectable and restrict our movement."

Perhaps the unspoken part of his comment was they wouldn't be able to elude an enemy Terminator who could use different vision spectrums to locate them other ways.

Cammy figured the wind swept top of the mountain would be even more inhospitable than where they were now. If it was snowing, or the wind was blowing, it would help mask any tracks they made. There were a lot of rocks which stuck out of the ground. They seemed to accumulate snow at a slower rate than the ground did. They could also travel off of the trail where few would tend to venture due to the difficulty in moving around. They could go places humans couldn't.

"We'll manage. It'll be even colder where we're going." Cammy said. "Until we warm things up…."

Cammy moved to the second floor above the header station and watched as the cable car was boarded by a few passengers for the trip down. It departed underneath and in front of her.

She could see the cable traveling directly below her. She didn't want to remain there as the other cable car came up. If there was a Terminator in the cable car, they would observe her as the cable car made its approach. Her goal was to remain undetected so the Skynet group would lead them to wherever what they were doing was located

They decided the best thing to do was take up two separate points of observation and see where the Grays went once they arrived. They wanted to identify them. Right now they didn't know what any of them looked like, but they thought they would be able to tell by their actions who they were once they arrived.

Steve felt they were going to be at a disadvantage. It was possible the Skynet group would look for anyone who might have eyes on them. They needed to be careful they weren't spotted. He didn't want to get into a gun battle in the cable car station or the surrounding area. There was nowhere for them to easily disappear to.

"We don't know who to look for or how many there are." Steve said. "We don't want to get clocked either."

Cammy knew humans liked to congregate together. They also knew what the final destination would be for the Grays or any Terminators with them once they arrived.

"We'll know." Cammy said. "They brought two vans up. There should be a group or several smaller groups of two or three people. I think they will take one of the hiking trails."

Steve could picture it. They would probably be carrying things with them as well. Whatever it was would be disguised to look like something else, especially if it was weapons.

"Affirmative…." Steve said.

Cammy, like Cameron, wanted the male Terminators to use more colloquial speech. She took a quick look around them to see if anyone paid attention. It didn't appear so. It was possible there could be Skynet operatives who worked for the Aerial Tramway itself, or were employed in another facet of the operations with the gift shops or food centers. They might be on the lookout for anyone who appeared to be looking for them.

"Next time try to use 'OK'." Cammy said with a smile. "If we see anyone paying attention to us, either you or me, we need to let each other know. You don't know how dirty the area is or what all Skynet is involved with in the low desert."

She decided to run in full infiltration mode. Currently she was like Cameron on John's first day at school in Red Valley. In infiltration mode, she would be very amicable to anyone who dealt with her. She would look like any other teenager. She wouldn't look like a very scary robot from the future.

Steve was a little surprised at the change in her demeanor. He thought how much Cammy reminded him of Future Allison right now from when he visited Cameron's future. He helped guard her for months there as Cameron 'remade' her. She was very alluring like this. He could see the attraction of humans to her. He was even strangely stimulated by her current demeanor. He wondered if this was how the female Terminators acted when they were alone together. He thought it must be a very pleasant experience, even without the sexual stimulation they all shared with each other.

Tom accompanied him when Cameron took them on the mission into her future. It was to prevent Future Allison's termination by 'Skynet Cameron', herself. They both strongly questioned what exactly it was Cameron hoped to achieve. They still supported her in every way possible. Once they were able to free Future Allison from Skynet's control, she didn't want to be in their company at all. She attempted to escape multiple times a day. Eventually, Future Allison started to believe everything Cameron told her. Cameron told her the truth. After several months she didn't try to escape as often. The last few months Future Allison didn't try to escape at all. They actually got along quite well with her and enjoyed interacting with her. They still made sure she didn't try to escape. Her arrival at the Conner Compound too early would jeopardize Cameron's mission to go to the past.

Young Allison took one look back at the house they just left. She knew Savannah was there because Bob told her they arrived together. She was a little jealous of her older self. No, she wasn't a little jealous, she was a lot jealous. She would have liked to have seen Savannah first. She wasn't able to do so. Savannah didn't need Allison, or her mother, or any of the rest of them. All Savannah needed was her. It was all she needed anyway. She needed Savannah.

She tried to push it all out of her mind for now. She was thrilled they were going to the 'period diner'. It was one of her favorite places to go to.

The mini caravan arrived at the local diner. It was loosely based on a '1950's type diner' and malt shop.

The protection Detail waited outside.

Young Allison was captivated by the blaring 'jukebox' with its flashing colors and never ending songs from the late Fifties and early Sixties.

'Rockin' Robin' by 'Bobby Day', was the song which currently blasted through the speakers.

Young Allison wanted to dance. She took Anna's hand and led her to the small dance floor. Dancing gave her an excuse to be in close physical contact with Anna. She was fairly certain dancing was a precursor to couples taking things a little further, especially when there was a slow dance where they held each other tightly. She wasn't really sure such a formality was needed in more modern times. People knew what they wanted, and did it. It was how she saw things anyway.

"Bob, can you watch Summer for a few minutes?" Claire asked. " I would appreciate it, if you don't mind."

Bob looked over at the Summer and smiled.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

Summer looked at him for a few moments and smiled back at him. She already determined he was someone to trust and look up to.

Claire and Hanna hit the mini dance floor.

Bob entertained Summer by folding origami figures for her. He made whatever animal she asked for. Summer was thrilled by her new expanding collection of 'animals'.

'Rockin' Robin' ended playing. Young Allison went to the jukebox and watched it select, and change another record. She saw how the little arm switched the records.

"This is one of my favorites." Young Allison said as a smile beamed on her face when she spied the record label.

'No Particular Place To Go' by 'Chuck Berry', blasted through the room.

Young Allison looked happy and excited.

The girls all started to dance again.

Bob continued to make more and more complex origami animals for Summer.

She thought Bob was the greatest for all the things he could make for her.

Everyone seemed happy for once. It was as if they could all forget about the future and the present. It was more fun to 'live' in the past, at least for now.

It was because there was no threat from Skynet during the late Fifties early Sixties. It was a time long before Skynet reared its ugly head. They would need to make sure Skynet didn't go back to those time periods and try to change anything either.

The current experience and atmosphere only made Young Allison want her temporal mission even more. Without the fear of Skynet hanging over them, every day could be like this. Even the Terminators could take it easy, or at least easier. It was the time period she would ask Cameron to take her back to.

Cameron and John just finished a shared shower. They were about to enter the bedroom so they could relive their wedding night again.

John was a little surprised at what Cameron said to him.

"John…." Cameron said. "Make me - Savannah…."

It didn't make any sense to him.

"What?" John asked as he carried Cameron.

Cameron wanted human females around John to protect him from the anti-Metal faction. He was hesitant to have intercourse with any of the human females so far, well, other than Future Riley. She wanted to give him a taste of what it would be like for him to do so. She thought if he pretended she was Savannah in the darkness, it would make it easier to actually be with Savannah at a future time. In his mind it already would have happened. Once something happened, each next time was easier.

"I want you to pretend I'm Savannah." Cameron said. "Let my body and charms be hers."

Cameron reached over and flipped out the light. She sent the room into total darkness.

John bumped into the bed and set Cameron's feet down on the floor.

John felt a little self-conscious about what Cameron wanted him to do. He also felt a little guilty about it. He did want to be with Savannah. He wanted her virginity more than anything. To treat Cameron like Savannah wasn't a good idea. It wasn't the right thing to do, especially with Cameron pushing it.

"I can't do it." John said.

Cameron's hand shot up to John's neck. She started to scan him. She wanted him to know if he lied to her for her next question, she would know, and he would know she knew.

"Can you honestly tell me you've never shared sex with me, or made love to me, and NOT thought of anyone else as you pounded away?" Cameron asked. "Tell the truth."

Cameron heard other names before when John got carried away.

John felt even guiltier. He did it many times. Cameron was all the girls at some point in time. The two she was most often was were Future Riley and Young Allison. He didn't want to admit to either of those things. He was sure any answer he gave was going to be the wrong answer, whether it was the truth or a lie. He didn't think it was anything different than what other people did at times.

"Cameron…." John started.

Cameron felt she was on solid ground with her question. She knew from reading in several different publications it was a common event which occurred among males with females. It was also something females did as well. Not all relationships were smooth and rosy. A dark room could offer the participants a little bit more than what was actually being provided, especially when sexual relations became more of a task than a pleasure. Some individuals needed to find a way to make it pleasurable. If they couldn't love the one they were with, they might as well love the one they wanted to be with, even if it wasn't actually them. The mind was a great compensator.

"It's normal human behavior." Cameron said. "I read it in Cosmo. Everybody does it."

Cameron pressed on John's neck to remind him she currently scanned him. She really wanted to see if he would lie.

John tried to dodge the question.

"You read Cosmo?" John asked.

Cameron was often frustrated about her budding feelings she didn't seem to have any control over. When they visited Doctor Sherman's office, she picked up one of the magazines on a little table in the waiting room. She found some of the articles very interesting. She acquired more of the magazines and read them when no one was around. She also found a lot of things on the internet.

"I don't sleep." Cameron said. "I've read a lot of things."

John wasn't really sure how to handle the current situation. He thought it was one thing to pretend someone was someone else. He also thought it was another thing to pretend someone was someone else, when they knew you were pretending they were someone else. It seemed very disrespectful to him, even though in reality it was the same thing. Maybe it was just the fact they would know they were 'somebody else' when he finished. He wanted to be honest, but he wanted to put everything in perspective.

"Cameron, I don't want to pretend you're Savannah now." John said. "Yes, I've thought about Allison, River, Vanna, Jesse, Claire, Savannah, and all the Metal girls before. I've also thought about actresses, celebrities, and those in the music industry. I want to say many of those times were when I needed to 'spill my own seed'. It was mostly when you were 'dead'. I was all alone."

Cameron was on Holly's chip for those fifteen months, well, it was actually Duplicate Cameron who was. She was aware John often 'spilled his seed' when he thought he was alone. She knew it was all natural behavior based upon what she read. She hoped for some additional information.

"It's understandable." Cameron said. "And?"

John said nothing. He knew what she was after. There was one name he left out earlier. It was Future Riley.

Cameron thought back to the morning when she caught John sneaking back into the house. She knew where he was, who he was with, and what they did.

"You didn't have to think about HER because you DID IT with HER." Cameron said.

Cameron clearly insinuated it was Future Riley. It irritated her as well to know she heard the name 'Riley' during John's sleep more than a few times.

John didn't want to go down what was bound to be a very rocky road.

"Cameron, what's wrong with you?" John asked. "You're hot and cold, sexy, and combative. It's all back and forth at the same time."

Cameron tried to check herself. She was there to have a good time with John, not start some kind of fight which would serve no purpose. All it would do was drive them further apart. There was already too much distance. She tried to come up with an explanation. She couldn't.

"I don't know, John." Cameron said. "I really don't."

John thought about how Cameron previously pushed all the girls on him. She'd even placed them in his bed naked. He wondered how it must have hurt the girls to be turned down when they were ready and willing to act. It was very hard for him to do. He only did it, or actually didn't do it, because he didn't want to hurt Cameron. If he was unrestricted, he would have been all over them in a second. He was sure he would finish in less than a minute with each of them, well, at least the first few times. He should be able to stretch it out later on. He hoped to give them a 'payoff' then.

John also reflected on how he and Savannah almost made love. What he thought was almost twice, but one of them was Cammy masquerading as Savannah in the dark. Cammy tried to fool him to hurt Cameron. He really wondered how what Cameron wanted him to do right now was really different from what Cammy attempted to do. It didn't seem like a good time to bring it up. It was something none of them were ever supposed to discuss again. Savannah wanted it to be like it never happened and everyone agreed.

It was Cameron's job to protect John and protect the future. She needed the human girls to help her do it. She needed John to help her do it. He needed to help protect himself by surrounding himself with those who wouldn't be targets, or make him a target.

"John, you know what needs to happen." Cameron said. "Please LISTEN to me and do what I ask. It's the best way to protect you from those in the Resistance who will wish to do you ill will."

Cameron knew no matter how many of them she terminated, there would always be more. Once they found out she was the one terminating them, there would be even more than ever. It would be a self-fulfilling prophecy of perpetual failure.

John witnessed Cameron in various states of emotional distress over the years. He didn't want to be directly responsible for any more of them than he already was.

"Cameron, I know it will hurt you." John said. "No matter what you say or think, I know it will hurt you. It's not something I want to do to you. I know what you want done sounds great and would be beneficial to everyone, except one person. The one person is you."

John knew it was never about him. His main concern was for Cameron.

Cameron wasn't really sure it mattered. It cost her a lot of distress because it hadn't happened. She might as well have the same distress and have John protected.

"Either way, I'm hurting now anyway." Cameron said. "I want 'more'…."

John was pretty sure he knew what Cameron meant by 'more'. She wanted to be with the girls, especially Savannah.

"I know you keep 'growing', Cameron." John said. "I know it. I know I'm restricting your 'development'."

Cameron saw it as a two way street. It was a street she wanted to take a journey down.

"You MUST fulfill your destiny." Cameron said. "Then I can fulfill mine…."

John thought if Cameron 'fulfilled her destiny' without him, it would be without him forever.

She told him before she thought she did it already, if she was living her life over and over. She even told him she 'remembered' seeing Savannah's and Future Allison's graves after they died as old women. It was actually a very unnerving experience to think about and remember. Was it true? If there was a past like she described, what did it do to the future? It would have affected several futures. It would have changed everything.

Cammy moved back inside the lounge area where she could see everyone who got off the cable car as they passed through.

Steve took up a position outside in case anyone tried to slip out through the 'restricted area'. They saw several workers do it without any alarm sounding, even though it said one would sound. It didn't.

The next cable car arrived and all the passengers exited.

Cammy pretended to look at some leather purses from a small shop as she watched and communicated to Steve what she saw.

"I make two groups." Cammy said. "One group has three men and one group has five people. Two of them are female."

Steve knew none of the Metal girls liked to see another female Terminator.

"Is one a 'Metal Bitch'?" Steve asked.

Cammy felt some disgust at what she saw. She checked her files and verified she saw the female Terminator before.

"Yes, I recognize the blank eyed look." Cammy said. "I saw this 'Metal Bitch' in Cameron's future when I was there. At least it was one who looked like her. It's confirmation of what she is, whether it's the same one or not. I want to be the one to personally terminate her when the situation arises."

Cammy gave Steve a file number to look up. Cammy and Cameron transferred images of all known Terminators, both Resistance and hostile, to all of their Terminators. It would be their own version of 'facial recognition'.

Steve didn't think the 'Metal Bitch' possessed the same finesse as their Metal girls did.

"She looks like trouble." Steve said.

Cammy noted the way the other female looked around. It looked like she wanted to run, but was afraid to. There was no where she could go without being rapidly apprehended. It seemed if the female ran, she knew she would be terminated.

"The other female doesn't look happy and appears distressed." Cammy said. "I don't think she's there by choice."

Steve was somewhat confused as to what the girl's status would be.

"Is she a hostage?" Steve asked.

Cammy's face turned into a frown.

"Worse, I believe she's being trafficked as a sex worker for the Grays." Cammy said. "It is probably something she got caught up in, and ended up in a worse situation then she could ever imagine. It never ends well for the female once Grays get a hold of them. One of them always takes it too far."

Steve was aware the Metal girls hated to see other females abused because of what happened to the girls from the future. It also indicated a bigger problem. He wondered if there was a 'comfort bunk'.

"It must mean they have a long term operation going on up here." Steve said. "One of them probably terminated whoever was tied to it."

There were times when Cammy didn't see much difference between Grays and Scavengers.

"It was also a method Skynet used to control the Grays. When they ran out of female human sex slaves, the Grays were given 'Metal Whores' to pacify them and keep them in line." Cammy said. "I know the 'Metal Bitch' is the one who put the 'grab' on the other female. I can just tell. I bet it was done under false pretenses too. When the other female realized she was in trouble, it was too late for her to get away."

She was sure the main reason why Skynet provided 'Metal Whores' to the Grays was so closer tabs could be kept on them to make sure there was no descent in the ranks. It was just another way to spy on them. The female Terminator simply did her job, even if she needed to do it with a smile on her face.

Steve was sure the nature of the mission just changed based on the new information.

"Is this still a recon mission?" Steve asked.

Cammy saw the new mission as twofold.

"NO. It's now a rescue mission, within a search and destroy mission." Cammy said. "I want to act right now, but I know I can't. I need to find out what else is going on up here first. I know the female is going to be abused before we identify everything. I believe she has already been abused. It probably happened in the back of one of the white vans."

Steve thought they were a little short handed based upon the new groups which arrived and what must already be in place.

"If we're going to escalate things beyond just reconnaissance, we should request additional help." Steve said. "We need more Terminators."

Cammy was angered by the new turn of events.

"I can handle them all myself." Cammy said.

Steve knew the 'Cameron' in Cammy did the talking and thinking right now.

Steve made sure his com was in communication with John Henry as soon as the 'Metal Bitch' was spotted. He knew CamNet would pick up the information and relay it to Cameron. Cameron gave standing orders to all of the Resistance Terminators she was to have control of every 'Metal Bitch'.

He thought it was a good idea to alert John Henry how Cammy wanted to expand the operation, and conduct the fight on her own. He thought it was prudent to have more help. It would assure mission success and cut down on collateral damage. There was still a lot they didn't know. Based on what they observed so far, it was probably going to be a lot worse than they even imagined.

Cammy knew only one thing at this point. She was going to try to free the female once they found the Gray's bunker on the mountain. She wanted to take down the 'Metal Bitch' too. The operation was personal to her.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Four Letter Word

What is love
It's a four letter word

It can grow from like
It can be a wish
It can make you pine
It can make you care
It may make you long
If can make you hold
It can be just lust

Love the four letter word
May morph into the opposite

It can turn to hate
It can become vile
It can make one push
It can make one take
It can turn ugly
It can make one sore
It can cause pain
It can hurt
It can cause harm
It can become dark
It can turn evil
It can turn to fear
It can deep into your mind stab
It can cause your heart to maim
It can cause people to kill

Nobody