Chapter 685
Is It
John and John Henry received the information from Jim. It looked like the recon was a positive hit. It seemed to have the potential to go hot.
It wasn't how they thought the mission would play out. Nonetheless, it was always a real possibility any recon could turn hot. Cameron's missions were a prime example.
John looked at the raw images.
"What are we looking at?" John asked.
John Henry thought it was too early to make a determination. He would like to view everything a little further, along with some additional information.
"I'm not sure." John Henry said. "I'm still getting the information."
John knew Kyle and Derek were itching for a fight. It's not what he wanted until they got some better planning and additional personnel out to the area to assist them. He didn't want their forces to be outnumbered, or out armed.
"I don't want this to go 'hot' until we can get more Terminators out there." John said. "Who's the closest?"
John Henry checked his satellite overlay map with the Terminators position locators. He doubted John was going to like his response.
"It's Cameron." John Henry said.
It wasn't what John wanted to hear. He knew she wouldn't want to wait around for reinforcements. If she thought she could strike the enemy, especially with a surprise attack, she wouldn't hesitate. It was how she operated.
"It figures." John said. "As soon as she gets there, it's going 'hot'."
John Henry wasn't so sure this time she would be as impulsive. There was another factor which would influence her decisions. In fact some of her decisions might be influenced for her. Since Derek and Kyle were already at the location, he didn't hesitate to notify any Terminators who could help.
"Maybe not, Savannah's with her." John Henry said. "I've already notified Cameron of the situation."
John wanted to hear it even less. He didn't want Savannah put in danger again. She was just in the middle of it all yesterday. He wanted to think it was longer, but it wasn't. It was yesterday.
"Savannah's seen enough combat." John said. "I don't want her to get hurt."
John Henry wanted to remind John it wasn't a singular issue. Savannah wouldn't be the only human who was out there.
"Derek and Kyle are out there." John Henry said. "Savannah won't allow herself to be sidelined or Cameron either. They already know the Reese brothers are out there. I don't think anything would stop them at this point from going."
John wondered how much control he actually had at this point. It didn't seem like very much. He thought it was a little like the story of the inmates running the prison. There were some things he could do.
"Get more Terminators there." John said.
John thought things just went from bad to worse. He needed to try to make sure all of the troops were protected as best as they could be. He didn't want anyone to make any rash moves before more help was in place.
Earlier:
Cameron and Savannah were on their way back from the beach. Savannah's pants and underwear were soaked from her rescue of the small child in the ocean.
Savannah touched her pants.
"My pants are drying pretty fast in the open window the way you put them." Savannah said.
Cameron's hand rested on Savannah's inner thigh for much of the drive. It was where Savannah placed her hand earlier. She hadn't advanced it much. She wanted to go a little further but didn't want to seem too presumptuous. If Savannah repositioned her hand in a different location she wouldn't hesitate to do a little more.
"Your underpants are still wet." Cameron said.
Cameron was close, but still 'afraid' to go 'there'. She scanned Savannah as her hand rested on Savannah's upper inner thigh. She wanted to 'go for it', but she knew she needed to 'knock' first. She didn't feel she was able to do so.
Savannah was very excited and stimulated by where Cameron's hand was at, even if it didn't make 'contact' with her private parts. Her body still responded to the anticipation and desire, as opposed to any direct stimulation. It was more an involuntary reaction anyway. It was clear her body was ready for more. She reached down and touched the side of her underwear.
"That's for sure…." Savannah said.
Cameron scanned Savannah for most of the drive with her hand in the same location. She noted the higher she moved her hand the more Savannah's reading's changed. Not only could she visually see her respond. She could actually feel her respond. She thought it was something very special for human females.
Her reactions were much less visible in scope and function. Her sheath was designed for infiltration. Not for pleasure for her. The 'female parts' which were there were designed to 'get the job done', and not a whole lot else for her. She was just glad her model was equipped with pleasure receptors. Previous models of female Terminators weren't so equipped. All the reactions needed to be stimulated during copulation. At least she was actually able to feel something and express it in a real time response. She believed the human female body possessed many advantages over her synthetic sheath.
From her observation, she believed a human female could experience everything at a much greater level than she possibly could. The intensity of the human female response wasn't always the same either. Sometimes it seemed to be magnified more than a previous time. She was able to base her conclusion on personal observation as well as direct reports from the Metal girls. They can actually provide her with data which showed the response was variable.
"I don't have the same reaction, at least not to the same extent." Cameron said. "I only have just enough secretions to assure it will be pleasurable to the male. It's very important the 'mark' not detect any difference between a Terminator's sheath and a human female. Luckily the response of human females is widely varied."
Cameron noted Savannah's readings changed abruptly with her statement. They seemed to 'spike'.
Savannah was very familiar with the sexual responses of a Metal girl. She felt with years of practice, they were all very similar to a human female at this point in time. They were able to learn and observe how to react to every type of stimulation and the effect it would produce. She actually believed they learned to enjoy it more than a human female could. What she needed at this point were some tissues to get everything cleaned up and dried off. She touched her pants one more time. They were relatively dry at this point. They were a lot drier than her underwear was anyway.
"I'm going to slip my underwear off and put my pants back on." Savannah said.
Cameron was more than willing to give up her clothing to Savannah. Nudity didn't bother her at all. She thought about it for a second. As long as her sheath wasn't damaged, it didn't bother her in the slightest. She didn't mind exposing her female body parts. She did mind exposing her sheath with damage. She didn't like to be damaged.
"I can let you have my underwear and pants to wear." Cameron said. "I have a long shirt on. It's all I need."
Savannah pictured Cameron with basically nothing more than a 'miniskirt' on with her statement. She didn't want things to get carried away again if she switched back to her pants. She didn't want those to suffer the same fate.
"Stop…." Savannah said. "I'm already aroused enough."
Savannah didn't want to have a climax in front of Cameron without actually being with her. She was pretty close with anticipation. She was pretty sure if Cameron's hand ventured over a little more, and got straight to the 'point', it would probably happen as soon as contact was made.
"I don't mind if anyone sees me." Cameron said. "My breasts and private area are just part of my sheath. All females have them in some variation. I really don't see what the big deal is with some individuals. The majority of the animals are the same way in some fashion. They don't need to wear clothes."
Savannah wanted to get dressed. She thought there was a particular reason why humans were a little more sensitive than other creatures. It was probably because they could act on more than just instinct. They could act for pleasure. Others could act by force. It was where the real differences seemed to separate humans from other animals.
"It's the most private part." Savannah said. "I need to put my pants back on."
Cameron tilted her head slightly to the side with Savannah's statement.
Savannah tossed her very wet underwear in the back, next to her still wet bra. They were a matching set.
Savannah reached for her drying pants. She brought her pants into the front seat. She touched them a little more thoroughly and frowned.
"They're not as dry as I thought." Savannah said as she slid her pants on.
She used another tissue before she pulled them all the way up.
Cameron watched her. She reached over and touched the material. She would still prefer to trade her pants with Savannah.
"They're a little more damp than they look." Cameron said. "It's still going to be somewhat uncomfortable."
Savannah noticed Cameron lightly moisten her lips. It was different. Then she did it a second time. She knew Cameron responded with anticipation to what she wanted to do. She was willing to bet at this point Cameron was probably having a similar reaction as her, even if it was less in scale. When the coupling was desired in any form, there was usually a more positive reaction to make it occur.
"I can take them back off." Savannah joked.
Cameron looked at Savannah with her sly smile.
"I'll help." Cameron joked back.
Savannah put her shoes and socks on.
"At least if we get pulled over, I won't feel embarrassed now." Savannah said.
Cameron didn't think they would get pulled over. She wouldn't stop anyway. John Henry routinely redirected all law enforcement vehicles away from them. If for some reason they were about to be stopped, the officer would receive a priority call to draw them away from their location.
Cameron's phone buzzed.
Savannah recognized the tone as 'trouble'.
Cameron read the message but said nothing.
Savannah looked questioningly at Cameron.
Cameron frowned. She looked at Savannah.
"I need to take you back." Cameron said.
Savannah wanted a better explanation. She didn't see why they needed to go back. She could only come to one determination why.
"Is there some trouble?" Savannah asked.
Cameron felt anything which involved Skynet was trouble.
"Yes." Cameron said. "I want you and Vanna's baby protected."
Savannah could see Cameron was a little more uneasy than normal. She figured it was probably due to whichever team discovered the contact.
"Who is it?" Savannah asked.
Cameron frowned a little more as she looked at Savannah.
''It's Derek and Kyle." Cameron said.
Savannah wasn't about to back out of a fight. She hopped in the back and started to collect their gear and weapons. She noticed as Cameron observed her from the rear view mirror. She wanted to stick with the established protocol for assistance. She didn't plan to let Cameron talk her out of it.
"Don't even say it." Savannah said. "We're going to them now. If someone needs help, everyone responds. It's what I would want. It's what we're going to do."
Cameron smiled to herself. Savannah was a trooper. When more Terminators arrived, she would make sure Savannah was better protected.
Savannah hoped Cameron would have provided her with some additional information by now. So far there was nothing. It made her wonder what was going on.
"What are we up against?" Savannah asked.
Cameron wasn't really sure, other than it was Skynet related. Things seemed pretty 'par for the course' at this point.
"The unknown…." Cameron said.
Savannah briefly glanced up and looked at Cameron.
"It's another day on the job." Savannah said as she readied the equipment.
Jim instructed the Reese brothers to remain in the SUV while he took a closer look. He moved around the side of the building for a better view a few minutes ago. He was now on his way back. He quickly reentered the SUV.
Derek wanted to know if Jim was able to confirm what they suspected.
"What did you make of it?" Derek asked.
Jim verified it was what they thought it was. There was no doubt.
"It's definitely a subassembly for an HK drone." Jim said.
Kyle could tell right away the operation was going to be bigger than whatever they stumbled on.
"Great." Kyle said. "It means they're shipping it somewhere else for assembly."
Jim thought it was a byproduct of the past actions of the Resistance by eliminating other such Skynet facilities.
"I think they're doing as we've seen before." Jim said. "They make subassemblies in one location and then ship them elsewhere for assembly. It's usually somewhere more remote so they can do the testing. They don't want all of their operation wiped at one time if it's exposed."
Derek was a little concerned at how quickly the operation seemed to have been reestablished.
"We just smashed several of those operations a few months ago." Derek said. "How have they set back up so fast?"
Jim knew it was more bad news on several levels.
"John Henry believes we're dealing with several 'Skynets' from different time periods or different timelines." Jim said. "It's why we have the 'Sky-whatever' offshoots all trying for control."
Kyle could see the conflict of interest between the different Skynet's could work against them. It would actually most likely benefit them, even if indirectly.
"So each 'Skynet' wants to remain in control, and they're not working together?" Kyle asked.
Jim didn't think they actually established any concrete information to back the theory up, other than what they were able to observe.
"Apparently not…." Jim said. "It's still a theory. Skynet wants domination, even over itself."
Ed arrived from the other side. He was just updated by John Henry.
"Cameron's coming." Ed said.
Kyle and Derek quickly glanced at each other. They knew what it meant. There was bound to be action.
"Does everyone have their body armor on?" Kyle asked.
They all knew Cameron would go in herself to destroy the facility.
"Savannah is with her." Ed said.
Derek and Kyle looked at each other. They knew most of what Savannah experienced, as well as all the danger and close calls she was put through. They were both worried about her.
Jim noted their concern. His interpretation was different from theirs.
"Don't worry." Jim said. "Savannah will protect Cameron."
Derek and Kyle looked at each other with his statement.
It wasn't what Derek and Kyle were worried about. They wanted Cameron to protect Savannah.
Derek wanted some clarification for Jim's statement.
"What will Savannah protect Cameron from?" Derek asked.
The two male Terminators briefly glanced at each other before they looked at the Reese brothers.
"Herself…." Ed and Jim both said at the same time.
John Henry and John received the information on what Derek's team found.
John didn't want Cameron to get ahead of herself before they could find out more information. They needed to know where the parts came from to be used in the sub assembly, and where they would go for final assembly. He didn't want Cameron or anyone else to jump the gun.
"We need to see where the subassembly goes." John said. "From there we need to backtrack the other subassemblies. We need to find out where everything is coming from in order to stop it. If we only get a piece or two, everything else remains in place."
John Henry thought they were the victims of their own success against Skynet.
"Agreed…." John Henry said. "Each subassembly may even be made up of smaller subassemblies. We've hurt the Grays badly in the past. The more they can diversify, the harder it is for us to get everything. The less we get, the easier and quicker they can restart production."
John was aware their success was mostly due to Cameron's efforts, usually on her own. The procurement of the raw materials bothered him. It was something they tried to control but couldn't.
"We've done a pretty good job so far." John said. "Where are they getting the Coltan from?"
John Henry previously brainstormed the issue with Cameron and CamNet. Cameron, through CamNet, controlled most of the known Coltan in this time period. They could only come to one conclusion.
"I believe they're mining deposits which have been found in the future we don't currently know about." John Henry said. "Cameron controls most of the known reserves and stockpiles. Anyone who won't sell control to her dummy corporations, through her stock manipulation, has been terminated and then Cameron's taken over. She feels it's necessary to control such a vital resource."
John didn't like to hear about the terminations. He was under the impression Cameron would terminate individuals who weren't directly connected with Skynet with a little more caution. It was mainly done under the urging of Savannah. She explained to Cameron the more dead bodies there were, the more people who would look into what they were doing.
He felt a little bit guilty about wanting Cameron to spend hours in his bed staring at the ceiling in the dark room while he snored. He liked to have her there in case he woke up in the night so he could 'knock off' a quick one and then fall back to sleep. He didn't care if Cameron derived little to no satisfaction from those brief encounters for his benefit. She always told him there were things she needed to do. He knew she was correct. He wanted the 'comfort' her sheath could provide.
"I guess I shouldn't have been so hard on her for not wanting to lie in my bed while I sleep." John said.
John knew how selfish it was of him, especially when Cameron told him she didn't want to go into standby. He used to think she should lay there next to him as he slept anyway.
John Henry was aware of the misuse of Cameron's time by John. She expressed her concerns to him several times over not being able to do her job properly. He knew she pointed out to John on multiple occasions there were others he could seek for comfort. He wasn't really sure what John's hesitation was. Cameron even put some of them in his bed. He wasn't sure how it was possible to be clearer as to what Cameron indicated could occur. He felt the fault was John's on several levels.
"Your 'interaction' with her has curtailed her full potential as a weapon." John Henry said.
John didn't need to be reminded of his failures and shortcomings.
"It seems to have done a lot of things, most of them are negative." John said.
John Henry was pleased John understood the issue.
"Yes." John Henry said.
John didn't really need to hear it.
"Beautiful…." John said.
John knew it was true. He knew he was responsible for most of the 'damage' done to Cameron. If it wasn't him directly, it was that bastard - Future John. He really hated him sometimes.
Cameron headed toward the target area. She knew she needed to make sure Derek and Kyle were protected from harm as well as Savannah. She wanted to try to keep things low key to start out with. It wasn't always possible. Sometimes a situation presented itself which needed to be dealt with.
"We're almost there." Cameron said. "This is only a recon and surveillance for now."
Cameron knew she could come back later and 'finish' the job herself, alone. There was no need to put anyone else in danger. She would like to be able to get them to withdraw from the area. She would need to establish everything was under control.
Savannah doubted it, she gave Cameron a sly look. She didn't think it would remain a recon or surveillance for very long.
"Is it?" Savannah asked.
Cameron was concerned about the sub assemblies. There was a bigger fish to fry. She wanted to know where the finished product was being assembled. It was possible once the equipment was completed it was moved to other locations for storage. She wanted all of it.
"Yes." Cameron said. "I need to find out where the parts are going."
Savannah wanted to know how Cameron read the situation currently, even if the information was extremely limited.
"Are you expecting trouble now?" Savannah asked.
Cameron always expected trouble. If it didn't follow her, it preceded her. She wanted to stay one step ahead of the enemy. If they became careless, it would be a problem for them.
"Yes." Cameron said. "They'll be watching for us. They know we're looking for them. It only takes one slip up to bring destruction down on all of us."
Savannah wondered how often Cameron actually messed up.
"Have you made many slip ups?" Savannah asked.
Cameron glanced over at Savannah. She was grateful Savannah was able to preserve one part of her original sheath. Since all of the material on her head and most of her body was regenerated or replaced, she was pleased with what was left. It seemed like an important part to her.
"Yes." Cameron said. "Look how I've been shot up. You know where the only major area of my sheath is still original, and not a replacement section or regenerated. Thank you for allowing me to retain it."
Cameron didn't like to sexualize females. She understood what was important to a human female about her body and its use. It was important to her too. It was something special and seldom seen by others under normal conditions.
Savannah hoped to give the section a 'closer look' at some point in the future. She didn't think it would hurt to send another hint out to Cameron.
"I guess I sort of did it for myself too." Savannah said with a smile on her face.
Cameron returned the smile.
"It's the 'Natural Order'." Cameron said.
Cameron lightly moistened her lips again.
Savannah didn't think Cameron was aware she did it a few times. If she saw it again, she was going to ask. She was pretty sure Cameron's desire for 'more' was stronger than she thought. She was pretty sure the desire was a compulsion at this point. She couldn't blame her, it's how it was for all of the females.
Young Allison conducted her studies. She looked forward to her mother working with her on the piano later on.
Anna knocked and entered.
Young Allison looked up from her study material.
"Is it time for my physical training?" Young Allison asked.
Anna would've preferred if it was the case. It wasn't. She didn't like the information she needed to deliver, even if she liked where she was actually at.
"No. You asked to be notified when Cameron or Savannah were involved in an operation." Anna said. "You're being notified."
Young Allison finished the calculation she was making by hand and quickly checked it against her laptop and then closed her computer.
"You saw what I was working on?" Young Allison asked.
Anna paid strict attention to everything Young Allison did. It wasn't just Resistance related matters. It also included her personal affairs.
"Yes." Anna said. "I see everything."
Young Allison liked to do more than one thing at a time.
"You can quiz me as we follow the operation." Young Allison said.
Anna didn't want Young Allison to neglect anything. They were still other things which needed to be taken care of.
"What about your music lesson and physical training?" Anna asked.
Young Allison figured she would need to work a little harder. It was OK, she liked to push herself.
"I'll work them in as I have more time. No hours will be cut from either." Young Allison said. "You know I never fail."
Anna didn't like some of the places where Young Allison made up lost time. They were important as well.
"You trade sleep and socializing time." Anna said.
Young Allison headed into the bunker with Anna. She wanted to make her position clear, even if others disagreed with it. She didn't.
"I get it all done. It's the only thing which matters in the end." Young Allison said. "What do we have?"
Anna explained the situation to Young Allison and what occurred so far and was likely to occur. There was one thing she could have done without.
"CamNet has sent you an 'eyes only' message." Anna said.
It seemed highly irregular and unusual to Young Allison.
"Really?" Young Allison asked. "Why was it just to me?"
Anna wasn't really sure. It did worry her a little.
"It must be something 'personal'." Anna said.
Anna didn't think it was more of the inappropriate 'social interaction' from CamNet. At least she hoped it wasn't. She already observed there were things occurring which shouldn't, even if they were subtle.
Young Alison was a little surprised at the nature of the message and how it was delivered. She was even more surprised as to what the message was about.
It was a news report of a small child who claimed to have been saved from drowning in the ocean by a Mermaid. The child said the Mermaid came from under the water from below them and saved them. The Mermaid then kissed them. It was what they remembered after they were saved from 'sinking'. The Mermaid touched their face and smiled at them and then disappeared under the water again when they were being taken ashore by a surfer. They heard the Mermaid say she couldn't go out on the land.
When asked about the description of the Mermaid, the child said the Mermaid's face was very pretty with beautiful red hair. It was also the same description of an animated Mermaid by a well known organization known for animated features.
Goose bumps formed on Young Allison as she listened to the report. She knew Cameron and Savannah went to the beach today. She knew it was Savannah who saved the child. She wasn't really sure about the Mermaid aspect of it. She thought it was the child's interpretation of why Savannah didn't want to be seen in public. It definitely was an original concept in regards to the Resistance.
CamNet played the transmission for her between Cameron and Savannah.
"We don't need to mention this to anyone." Savannah said. "I'll talk to John Henry."
"Do you want anyone to know?" Cameron asked.
"Nobody…." Savannah said.
Young Allison was aware of what CamNet did for her. She knew it was like a special treat for her and the secret between them. She wasn't sure why Savannah didn't want anyone to know. She figured it was because Savannah didn't feel she did anything special, and didn't need anyone to mention it to her.
'Thank you.' Young Allison typed to CamNet. 'It'll be OUR secret.'
A heart shaped smiley face appeared on her screen and then winked at her.
Young Allison felt so proud of Savannah. Savannah was the greatest. Her modesty only seemed to magnify her accomplishments.
"OK, Anna." Young Allison called out. "I'm ready. I also want to practice my swimming more. We're going to double the time from now on. I need to practice in cooler water whenever I can."
Young Allison looked at the heart shaped smiley face again before it disappeared. She reached up and touched the screen where it was. She let her hand linger there for a moment. She felt something happen inside of her. There was a feeling she couldn't quite explain.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
Is It...
Is it a crime to want to love
To share feelings and emotion
Not some worthless sexual encounter
But to share a hearts true devotion
Is it a sin to want to love
Minds touch in the deepest thought
Pain and loneliness are pushed aside
Pure true love can never be bought
Is it wicked to want to love
To exchange desires and feel passion
To understand the damage to a mind
Giving strength and expressing compassion
Is it evil to want to love
With someone who knows your pain
Who does know the hurt and shame
Knowing the beauty within your brain
Is it sinister to want to love
Eyes sending love without needing to speak
Two hands touching as the fingers communicate
It's true pure love, strong not weak
Is it ugly to want to love
The true beauty is the person within
The good, the bad, and the ugly in us
Something deeper than the outer skin
Is it horrible to want to love
To share the feeling of a 'normal' life
We have the desire and ability
Damaged and afraid we exist in strife
Is it atrocious to want to love
With someone different but yet the same
For without love, feeling and sharing
It is simply time to end life's cruel game
Nobody