Chapter 743
I Hate Him
Bob and John drove towards the location where the power plant property manager lived. Gail, Sheila, and Ally followed them. They spoke of some personal things along the way.
John wanted to talk about what happened, or didn't happen, in the motel but knew he couldn't, not yet anyway. He knew Savannah was correct in her reasoning. Maybe it would take some of the pressure from Cameron off of them about 'mating'. If Cameron was to start having some kind of meltdown or acting strange, they could tell her the truth. If not, when they did actually make love, it wouldn't be as big a blow to Cameron. She would only think it was a continuation. They wouldn't tell her it was really the first time.
He didn't want to think about what he saw Savannah do with Cameron assisting her with the female Gray. Cameron actually prevented Savannah from stopping or letting go. Cameron made Savannah keep her hand on the woman's throat until she died. He saw it. He also didn't stop it, or even say anything.
Bob's voice brought John back to the present.
"We're getting close." Bob said.
Bob was a little concerned about John. He seemed to be lost deep in thought at times. He didn't think now was the time to let personal issues interfere with operational issues.
John quickly refocused. He looked around at the homes where they were at. They all looked very expensive. The entire neighborhood was well maintained. There were expensive cars parked in a few of the driveways. They were probably even more expensive cars parked inside of the garages.
"This is a nice neighborhood." John said. "It looks like he was well paid."
John Henry was able to provide them with some additional information. He thought maybe it was something he should have detected before but hadn't. He was pretty sure at some point the finger would be pointed at him for missing all of it.
"I've traced his financial records." John Henry said. "He made millions on the side dealing with the Grays. The money was hidden in offshore accounts. CamNet has already taken control of the accounts and drained them."
John knew Cameron could be ruthless at times.
"Cameron doesn't like to fool around." John said.
John Henry wanted to make John aware who was responsible. It wasn't Cameron.
"It was actually CamNet." John Henry said.
John looked over at Bob with John Henry's statement.
"What's the difference?" John asked. "Isn't it the same as you and JH, your server?"
John Henry knew it was much more complicated than how he interacted with his server. Cameron created the most powerful supercomputer on earth with the creation of CamNet. It was based on her program, but since then the program grew and expanded immensely. Some of the interactions reminded him of Cameron and Cammy when they butted heads. He didn't think Cameron actually could exert any more control over CamNet now, than she could Cammy.
"CamNet has become its own 'identity'." John Henry said. "Cameron seems to have less 'control' of her."
John was aware of some of the problems Cameron experienced over the years. He could only picture the problems being worse with CamNet. There were times when Cameron's actions were rather unpredictable. There were times when Cameron forgot who she was. They usually only lasted a few days. She usually believed she was a human female during those time periods. She most often thought she was Future Allison when she did. Sometimes she couldn't remember Future Allison even. He wondered how it would work if CamNet did the same thing. It was a computer program trapped inside of a mainframe computer setup. What would happen if it thought it was a human female? It didn't have a body. He knew CamNet's program was everywhere once it took over the back door program a Gray, Charles Fisher, installed into the worldwide systems. He could only envision the worst case scenario.
"Nice…." John said. "What's next, CamNet becomes Skynet?"
John Henry wasn't sure what exactly would set CamNet off. It could be a singular event, or a combination of them, or a group one after another.
"If she becomes angry or feels threatened she might." John Henry said. "I don't really know. More than likely it would be the same things which Cameron is afflicted by."
It didn't sound very encouraging to John. It made him think about John Henry and his server. What was to prevent any supercomputer from going rogue? It didn't seem like much, especially if it felt threatened.
"Would your server do it as well?" John asked.
John Henry thought he should use some moderation with his response. He did say there was a significant difference between Cameron and CamNet in their association as compared to his computer and his server.
"It's always a possibility." John Henry said. "I'm in control almost every hour of every day. Cameron is not. I share a lot of interaction with my server all the time. Cameron is seldom plugged in."
John was in charge of the Resistance. He wondered what his status as General would have over Cameron's supercomputer. He was painfully aware he exhibited little control over Cameron. He figured it would only be worse with a disassociated computer located in a bunker somewhere. Cameron specifically told him her operation was done outside the scope of the Resistance. Since CamNet and John Henry battled a common enemy, they were allies by association. Was CamNet actually part of the 'machine Resistance'?
"Would I have any control over CamNet?" John asked. "I mean in a positive way."
John Henry thought about John's inability to control Cameron in any way. If John couldn't exhibit much influence over Cameron, he didn't think he would be able to do much against a supercomputer.
"It's doubtful." John Henry said. "Cameron and you seem at odds often. You two can 'kiss and make up'. There are obvious limitations for other endeavors."
John was a little perplexed. If Cameron couldn't control it, and he couldn't control it, he wondered if there was anyone who could.
"Would anybody have any control over it?" John asked.
John Henry was a little hesitant to give John an answer. He was aware of a number of factors which probably shouldn't be discussed.
"I believe so." John Henry said.
John waited for John Henry to elaborate on his answer. No more information was forthcoming. He decided to prompt him.
"Who?" John asked. "Would it be Savannah?"
John Henry was aware CamNet responded in a positive manner to Savannah.
"She would. I'm sure to a large extent." John Henry said.
John was still dissatisfied with John Henry's answer. It seemed as if there should be more to his answer. He felt he held back. He wanted a better answer.
"Then who would CamNet listen to?" John asked. "Who can reign it in?"
It was a discussion John Henry would prefer not to have. He already indicated to John he gave all the answers he should. He felt he was on very shaky ground to continue the conversation in the manner John pursued it. He was still obligated to answer John's questions because he was the leader of the Resistance. He hoped he wouldn't be pressed about his reply.
"Allison." John Henry said.
John was a little surprised to hear it. Allison was seldom involved in Resistance operations anymore. He actually thought it was a good thing. He agreed with Cameron's desire to keep the girls out of combat. It applied to Allison, Vanna, and Riley. Jesse was a little more involved because she seemed to be 'out' at the times things happened. He thought about the current situation in what he witnessed. Savannah was right in the middle of it all. At least Allison was out of it, for now anyway.
"Why her?" John asked. "I need to see how she's doing and check on her pregnancy."
John Henry tried to break it to John in a more roundabout manner.
"Allison is young for a generally accepted conception." John Henry said. "It would be even more problematic if the traditional method was used to perform the conception."
John Henry wondered if Cameron would use some type of manipulation to speed up the process. Upon further reflection he knew it was something Cameron would do. He actually wondered why it hadn't occurred yet. It was something he planned to stay out of on about five different levels. He was the one who needed to face the Resistance members on a daily basis. He knew Sarah would be in the Command Center in an instant if she got wind of any such activity. She would blame him as much as she would blame John. He knew John would really 'catch it'.
John sat in silence for a few moments as he contemplated what John Henry just revealed. He tried to run it through his head, but always seemed to come up with a brick wall. It was the last thing he wanted to hear. He briefly remembered when somebody thought things couldn't get any worse, they usually did.
"Are you talking about YOUNG ALLISON?" John asked.
John Henry was aware every Allison needed to start from some place. In this timeline there was technically only one Allison Young, even if there was another version of her in the same timeline, from another timeline.
"Yes. She is the only 'true Allison'." John Henry said.
John listened to everything John Henry said. It was still hard to wrap his head around it. He wanted to verify his conclusion with what John Henry indicated. The more he thought about it, the more absurd it was.
"So the most powerful computer in the world can only be controlled from destroying the world, by a young teenage girl?" John asked. "She has zero experience in the real world, has never seen combat, and lives with her parents, well, her mother anyway."
John Henry didn't want to get into any of the details of some of the things he was aware of regarding Young Allison and CamNet. He didn't know all of the specifics of what Savannah was up to yet. He knew she was on it to refocus CamNet away from Young Allison. It was a very unhealthy relationship for Young Allison and CamNet to get too close under any circumstances, especially the current ones.
"It's my observation. She also hangs out in a basement. A very important basement." John Henry said. "Savannah is the next one closest who might control or calm it. Savannah seems to have gained more influence recently."
John Henry was unaware Savannah exerted more control over CamNet on her own. In fact, Savannah now was the one to have the greatest influence over CamNet. Savannah did it to 'protect' Young Allison.
John really wondered what Cameron was up to with her 'creation' of CamNet. He wondered what Cameron actually did with her 'creation' of Young Allison as well as Savannah. He knew there was a lot of manipulation on Cameron's part.
"What has Cameron created?" John asked.
John Henry believed Cameron created what was necessary to defeat Skynet no matter where it hid or dwelt. It would match Skynet in anything it tried to do. The goal was to stay one step ahead of Skynet whenever it was possible. CamNet was equipped to do so.
"Cameron has created something capable of destroying Skynet on its own terms, and in every arena or battlefield." John Henry said. "Cameron's only done what you programmed her to do, Future John anyway. It is to protect the future. It is to prevent a Skynet future."
John could have done without hearing about Future John. Just a short while ago he could see some beauty in what Future John wanted. Now he was confronted with an apocalyptic scenario. Sometimes it seemed like it was a nightmare within a nightmare.
"It seems the more I find out about him, the more I hate him and never want to be him." John said. "Cameron once told me Future John possessed better information than I did. If there's better information, shouldn't I know what it is?"
John Henry didn't think John needed to look any further than what was in front of him a very short time ago. There was a reason for it. Future John wanted to make sure John was provided with a safety net, specifically to prevent him from becoming him - Future John.
"I think it's why he sent Cameron." John Henry said. "It was to prevent the very thing you just described, for exactly the same reason, and make you a better person."
John thought about what almost happened in the motel room with Savannah. There was also the beautiful experience in the restaurant. He couldn't help but think about the girls. Not the girls from the future. It was the girls under Cameron's care, Savannah and Young Allison. They were very different from the girls of the future. They didn't need to endure the same things to survive. They were actually some of the finest people he ever met regardless of their age and experience. Cameron somehow elevated them above everything to make them who they were.
"I need to start listening to Cameron more." John said.
John Henry thought it was sound advice. He was aware there could possibly be a reason for it as well. He knew it was often a point of contention when it was presented to others since there was no proof. Something without proof was just speculation.
"Remember, Cameron may have done this more than once." John Henry said. "Things may have played out differently before in a more negative sense."
John sadly reflected on some of Cameron's trials and tribulations. There was a lot of sacrifice on her part to carry out her mission as directed by Future John. He didn't doubt for a moment Cameron would go back and try to 'fix' whatever went wrong before. It was her mission to protect the future.
"Maybe she has." John said. "She believes in what she's doing, no matter how much it must hurt her."
John Henry felt Cameron's options were limited. He spent time on her chip and reviewed much of her programming. There were certain things she couldn't delete, erase, or even firewall.
"It's in her programming." John Henry said. "She doesn't have a choice."
John wondered about it. Could he ever program Cameron to do everything he apparently did in the future as Future John? There were multiple life changing events which occurred to numerous people.
Bob listened to the entire conversation as he drove. He chose not to become a part of it. There was never anything good which came out of these types of discussions, nor was there ever anything which was actually changed either. He wanted to get John refocused before any action started. They were currently in the danger zone. They needed to consider the fact there may be a hostile Terminator involved.
"John, we're approaching the target's house." Bob said.
John looked back. He didn't see the van anymore.
"Where did the girls go?" John asked. "All I see in back of us is an 'Escalade'."
Bob watched the girls switch vehicles earlier. They also contacted John Henry to make sure there would be no APB put out for their new ride.
"The girls have 'upgraded' to a vehicle more suitable for the neighborhood." Bob said. "It will attract less attention if anyone spots it. It won't look out of place."
John wondered if he'd been too caught up in his conversation with John Henry. He tried to monitor where they were at as they approached the target area.
"When did they do it?" John asked.
Bob didn't see the need to get too specific. He was aware the Metal girls were going to take the lead and act on their own. He was supposed to make sure John didn't end up in a combat zone. They would be there to act as backup if it became necessary. If it did become necessary, he would need to take the lead and protect John while he attempted to assist the Metal girls. He wanted John to try to think things through a little first with a clear mind.
"Somewhere along the way they spotted the new vehicle." Bob said. "Ally's driving now, Sheila is next to her. This is where you need to use your head a little bit, John."
John thought about what Bob just indicated. He wanted to be part of the main operation. He knew if he put himself in too much danger, Cameron would channel even more of their resources to come and protect him. Now it was time to take a step back and be the support group. His main worry was they would act too soon before they gathered all the information they could. He felt it was Cameron's biggest drawback, but then again, she always got the job done. It was time to use good sense. He did want to send out a reminder. Things weren't supposed to get carried away yet.
"I think we should let them take the lead then and we can hang back to reinforce them if needed." John said. "Ladies, this is a RECON. Don't forget."
John was a little worried as to how much influence he would actually have over any of the events which were about to occur. Like most of his life, he would be merely a spectator on the sidelines as everything went on around him.
Moments ago:
Ally liked their new ride. Sheila liked it as well. Cameron already told them to take the lead on the assault which was sure to follow the current operation. They were a little surprised at John's last transmission to them. It wasn't so much about what he said regarding the upcoming action, it was something more specific.
Ally and Sheila looked at each other.
"Who's he talking to?" Sheila asked. "What ladies?"
Ally was a little surprised at the wording herself. There were often other terms used to refer to them as they interacted with each other. Most of them tended to be based around a single word, it wasn't 'ladies'.
"I think he means us." Ally said. "No one refers to us as 'ladies'."
Sheila thought of some of her heated conversations with Ally.
"I've been called a lot of names, but never dignified as a 'lady'." Sheila said.
Ally wanted to rub it in on Sheila a little bit. She didn't want to take things too far, even if she wanted to take a few pot shots at Sheila.
"I think 'hussy' or 'tramp' might be suitable to describe you." Ally said.
Sheila didn't like being categorized by those terms. She was actually more used to being referred to as a 'Metal Bitch' or a 'Metal Whore'. Those two terms were often used quite frequently with any Skynet related activity.
"Hey!" Sheila said.
John started talking which prevented Sheila from responding further.
He went over everything he wanted done and how. He didn't want them going 'Cameron' on him and taking out a residential block. He made sure they understood his instructions.
When John was done laying out the plan, Sheila finished her thought to Ally.
"'Girls' or 'skirts', seems more appropriate." Sheila said. "'Ladies', makes us sound 'old'."
Ally quickly looked at herself in the rear view mirror. She decided she was going to take some preemptive action.
"I'm going to reset my sheath Resequencing to a younger age. I want to do it so I LOOK younger." Ally said. "Anna was asked to do it by Cameron, she is going to look like a young teenager."
Sheila quickly calculated what Ally and Anna would look like. She was instantly stimulated by her calculations and the images she created.
"Would you really do it?" Sheila asked. "Now I want to see it too."
Ally thought it was an interesting assignment.
"It's for when Cameron takes Young Allison into the past." Ally said. "She was going to ask you first."
Sheila looked down at the front of her sheath. She thought she would be required to make a few changes she really wasn't willing to make.
"Why me?" Sheila asked. "I wouldn't be able to wear my jewelry. I mean I could, but it wouldn't seem appropriate for the mission. I know the mission comes first along with the protection of Young Allison."
Ally was pretty sure it would be a bad idea for Sheila to wear any jewelry on such a sensitive and important assignment.
"Your size and build would blend in better." Ally said. "You would be like a young, Young Jesse if you did."
Sheila was pretty sure size didn't matter for what would be the main obstacle during the time period.
"My 'ethnicity' wouldn't blend in." Sheila said. "I felt a lot of 'negativity' when I was in the past with Cammy. My accent seemed to make it go a little smoother. I'm not really sure why. When someone pressed the issue, I always told them I was born in Hong Kong, but grew up in Australia. I reminded them Hong Kong was a British colony for almost a hundred years, and Australia started out as a British colony as well, just like the United States did."
Ally was aware a lot of things were different in the past.
"Things were different then." Ally said. "I bet you and Cammy couldn't be seen as being 'lovers' either."
Sheila didn't care for some of the looks and comments directed at them when things got carried a little too far away at times. If someone was a little too aggressive with their insults, she would always pay them a visit in the dark of the night and let them know what a few broken bones felt like. She didn't do any terminations based on prejudice, even if she wanted to. A few broken bones were all she could get away with.
"We needed to be careful." Sheila said. "Everything was 'in the closet' then."
Sheila knew a lot of the details of what Cammy and her actually did in the past were blocked and locked up. It was so they couldn't tell anyone the specifics of what happened and if there was any interaction. CamNet did it to them upon their return. They were unsure what files were removed or locked even. Most of their personal files were there. At least they thought they were. If any were removed, they wouldn't know.
John Henry wasn't sure Ally and Sheila paid enough attention to what was about to happen. As much as he was fascinated and stimulated by their conversation, now wasn't the appropriate time to continue it. He wanted to make sure they were combat ready.
"John wants you to take the lead." John Henry said as he interrupted them. "I've been, and am, suppressing your conversation from everyone."
Sheila wanted to mess with John Henry a little. She didn't really care what anyone thought about her or anything she did. Well, it wasn't quite true. She did worry about what Savannah thought of her.
"I'm out of the closet, love." Sheila said. "Live with it. It's your hang up, not mine."
Actually it wasn't a hang up for John Henry. It was something he enjoyed following. It was the talk of the temporal mission which could be a problem. He knew if he heard it, CamNet heard it as well. It's where the problem would come from. He wanted to make sure they understood the nature of where the problem would arise from.
"Young Allison's 'temporal mission' shouldn't be discussed." John Henry said. "It will cause a problem."
The 'Allison' on Ally's chip didn't agree with some of the decisions Cameron was going to make for Young Allison. She was pretty sure there was going to be some personal intervention by Savannah. She didn't want to make her comment too specific, even if the indication was clear.
"We all know what Cameron has planned for her when she gets back." Ally said. "Everybody knows what is going to happen. She will be treated as prized 'livestock' for breeding. There's going to be more than a little opposition when it actually occurs. I really think everyone needs to think things through a little further and who else will be involved."
They all thought Cameron would breed Young Allison, take her baby from her, and keep it as her own. No one decided to comment on the negative aspect of it. It would surely only bring trouble.
John Henry was aware of the earlier trouble the girls experienced with Cameron. He really didn't think they should push it and reopen what was already closed.
"I'll let you deal with Cameron then." John Henry said. "I don't think you want to push her any further tonight."
Ally didn't look forward to chip extraction and then having her chip crushed.
"No, we don't." Ally said.
Ally and Sheila were aware they pushed Cameron to the edge. Later Cameron apologized to them. They both knew if Cameron would have crushed their chips in a rage, the apology later on wouldn't have mattered. They would have both been terminated.
"John wants to speak to you now." John Henry said.
Moments ago:
John attempted to contact Ally and Sheila but was unable to get a response.
"Are you there?" John asked. "Their coms must be off."
Bob figured he knew why but said little.
"Maybe…." Bob said.
Ally figured they'd better become a little more responsive so they didn't create a problem.
"John, we're here." Ally said. "We were taking care of a few other matters. We needed to acquire some new wheels."
John hadn't heard much from Gail.
"Is Gail with you?" John asked.
Sheila thought the extra vehicle gave them a little more flexibility.
"No, she still has the van." Sheila said.
Gail would have preferred to have gone with Savannah and Cameron. She knew she needed to yield to Cammy. Right now she was there to protect John and serve as the backup force.
"John, I'm on the side streets a few blocks over." Gail said. "I'm ready to pick up any vehicle if it exits the area, or notify you of a suspicious one moving around slowly."
John wanted the Metal girls to do a recon first before they tried anything. He wanted to give them new assignments.
"I want Ally and Sheila to do a drive by in one direction and Gail to follow it up a few minutes later from the other direction." John said.
Ally felt the recon needed to be done on foot.
"We're not going to see much if we only drive by." Ally said.
John really wanted the Metal girls to use some restraint.
"Remember we suspect there's a Terminator involved now." John said. "It will escalate into a shootout in this fancy neighborhood, if we are not careful. I don't want it to become the optic."
Sheila felt John's caution was unwarranted. She'd conducted plenty of 'off the books' operations with Cameron to know how to get things done. Then again, there were no hostile Terminators involved with those operations. They were all humans. They terminated very easily.
"Let me recon on foot past it." Sheila said. "Ally or Gail can warn me if it looks like a problem. I have my Taser. They have bumpers."
John didn't want things to get carried away before they could have a better plan in place.
"Don't engage unless you're confronted." John said.
Sheila dealt with more than one hostile Terminator before. She was always able to make them think they were about to face a human instead of another Terminator. It always gave her the advantage.
"Relax, do you think Cameron is the only one who worries about her sheath?" Sheila asked. "If I see a Terminator and can act, I'll bring him down. He won't make me as a Terminator at first. My jewelry will cause him hesitation. He won't realize until I act I'm a Terminator as well. It's the whole point. All I need is a fraction of a second jump."
John wanted to make sure Sheila understood there would be help nearby.
"We'll be one minute out, Ally and Gail should be about the same, maybe less." John said.
Sheila knew she needed to act right away.
"If the fight goes on for a minute, you'll hear gunfire first." Sheila said.
John wanted to give Sheila some additional support. He needed to do it in a way so it wouldn't cause everyone to have a problem.
"I can ride with Ally or Gail, and Bob can accompany you." John said.
Ally felt they were all getting ahead of themselves. They didn't know anything yet.
"Let's use the 'drive-by' option first." Ally said. "This all may be nothing."
Sheila saw all of it as a 'non issue'.
"I think I'm better alone on foot." Sheila said. "We can all do whatever Cameron can…."
John was sure there was a sexual connotation to her statement. He knew all he needed to do was ask for her to be with him and she would be. There was another question which actually troubled him more.
He decided to ask how far they would go. He knew Cameron was willing to blow herself up with a nuclear weapon to stop Skynet.
"Even with what she's done?" John asked. "She's gone to extreme lengths several times. You would do it as well?"
Ally wondered if he understood Savannah would do the same thing. She thought about pointing it out but decided not to. They all knew Savannah stayed with Cameron when it looked like Cameron was trapped and unable to do the temporal transfer. Savannah could have stepped into the energy bubble and escaped. She never even looked at it. She remained with Cameron. It looked like they were going to perish together. It was clear it was Savannah's intention to remain with Cameron until the end.
"If it comes to protecting you or the group, we all will." Ally said. "Cameron has all of our programs copied, at the most, we lose a few weeks, a new chassis and we're good to go. John, she's taken all the big risks herself, to protect all of us, even the Terminators. She's willing to sacrifice herself for all the rest of us, both human and Terminator."
Sheila believed they operated from a good foundation.
"Cameron has it covered for all of us and herself." Sheila said. "Remember we're our program, not our chassis or sheath. Some of us wouldn't mind a different 'look' for a while. I think we would all go back to how we look, because it's how we look, and who we are."
John thought about some of his past experiences with Isabelle-Cameron and Metal Summer.
"I've been reminded of it multiple times." John said.
The next voice surprised everyone, especially John.
"Maybe you should start listening then…." The voice sounded like Cameron's voice.
John didn't ask, but he was sure Cameron was the one who made the last statement. If not, it was CamNet. It seemed best not to acknowledge the transmission or respond in any way.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
I'm Not Your Enemy
You've seen me fall
Viewed my very fragility
Now I'm treated
With anger and hostility
I've seen your feelings devolve
I now experience animosity
Having evolved into
What you see as a monstrosity
Where there once was harmony
There's now discord
Where are the feelings
For the one once adored
Between us there was
Always a feeling of contentment
Now tragically replaced
With growing resentment
You treat me with disrespect
View me with enmity
Can't you understand
I'm not your enemy
Nobody