Chapter 851

You Can Have It

Cameron let Sheila and Savannah off in front of the casino. They wanted to head off the two unknown men before they were able to go out one of the side entrances, or separate. Based upon their previous actions, they were certain the casino was just a diversion so the men could drift away from their vehicle unnoticed. They needed to know where they went and what they were up to. They needed to find out who they actually were.

Savannah and Sheila entered the casino. The reaction each of them felt was totally different.

Sheila saw an opportunity to show off. It was her way to prove she was better than everyone else in there. She was aware the odds favored the house. She liked to change the odds. Soon after she started to play, she was the one in charge and the dealers were the ones who needed to try to figure out ways to still cheat her, they never worked. She still beat them anyway. Somehow it made each victory sweeter. She liked to go up against the best, and then 'put them in the wall'. It happened quite literally a few times, even if it was a term associated with vehicle racing.

Her method of operation, or MO, caused some of the trouble in the past when she was there before. It was when Las Vegas was a real, 'in the middle of nowhere', dumpy town. It's not to say it still wasn't 'in the middle of nowhere', but it was a very large town now and quite fancy, at least in certain areas it was fancy. There were still a lot of run down dumpy areas. Not all of them were on the outskirts. It was a long drive from any other large center of civilization to reach the location in the middle of the desert. The fact it was very near the area where nuclear weapons were tested didn't seem to help any. Hundreds of those atomic tests were exploded above ground. It was only in later years where the tests were conducted below ground.

She also faced animosity because of her 'sheath appearance' in the past, and the fact she was 'female'. She relished the opportunity to prove her 'superiority', while she flaunted 'race' and 'gender'. There were more than a few bodies buried in the desert when individuals found it out the hard way. What their main problem was, they didn't have any idea what a Terminator was. She was more than willing to show them exactly what she could do with just her hands to their pathetic and weak human bodies.

There was more than one thug or 'knuckle dragger', where she placed her foot squarely in the middle of their back and ripped off both of their arms, one at a time, or sometimes both at once. Depending upon the nature of their infraction, other things might be ripped off as well. She always asked them before they terminated how they were going to do all the 'things' to her they said they were going to do. She hoped her laughter and taunting was the last thing they heard as they died. She also reminded them it was payback for all of their previous victims. She liked to remind them everything came with a toll. She was more than willing to collect it.

One time on TV there was a nature program. It was about some different animal predators in Africa. They would show a leopard or a cheetah who encountered a male lion where they needed to fight. The leopard and the cheetah were both mighty predators. Against the male lion they didn't last very long. She also saw where a male lion was confronted with a group of hyenas. Eventually through repeated attacks, the hyenas were able to bring the lion down. The high and the mighty always fell. Nobody was invincible. Circumstances did seem to have quite a bit to do with it.

For Savannah, it was all completely different than the way Sheila saw it. She wasn't there to show off or prove anything. She would rather not be there at all.

It was the first time Savannah was ever actually in a real casino. It was very different from the solitude and serenity of her room at either base. The lights and noises were mind boggling, the smells weren't so much so. The odors of the various vices the people were addicted to did nothing but disgust her.

She looked on as hundreds of people gambled their money away. She knew some of them actually gambled their 'lives' away. She wondered if they ever thought about how the casino was able to afford all the luxury and splendor which surrounded them. It was by TAKING their money. All the opulence didn't derive from people winning more than they lost. It was paid for by all the fools who thought they were going to 'hit the big one' and go home rich. Nobody went home rich from a gambling establishment. She really wondered how they could be so ignorant. What was even worse about the thought, was the imbeciles couldn't wait to come back and do it all over again.

She figured the survivors inside the casino after J-Day, would most likely end up as Grays or Scavengers. It would be the very few who actually survived. Any of those survivors who were diseased or sick would be dead within the first year as Skynet released its toxins into the environment. They killed everyone with 'pre-existing conditions'. Skynet didn't foresee when they did it, there were plenty of humans who were strong enough to survive. It meant the survivors were the strongest and best equipped to survive of the humans, not the weakest. The lack of transmittable diseases ensured the survivors would thrive. Many of the survivors were afflicted in other ways, but not enough to kill them outright. The inability for most of them to reproduce was the most notable consequence. It was the slow road to extinction, rather than the fast one.

Savannah looked around in disgust. How many of these people would even know what to do if Skynet ever took over? She didn't think there was any way to reach the people. There was no 'free ride'. Everything has a price to pay at some point, everything. These people all chased a fantasy which didn't exist. It was actually probably some type of mental affliction at the root of their problem, and their inability to understand how to solve the problem. She really wondered why they thought they were going to 'win'. If everybody won, the casino couldn't exist.

It made Savannah think of the two futures she visited and lived in for almost two years. She looked around at the people. They really didn't have a clue what was coming. They were all so caught up in the moment, dreaming of the 'big win'. The 'big win' in the future was to survive the night. The next day was the 'big win' every night. There was no way to know when death would come to anyone. It lurked around every corner, and in every shadow. There was no future. There was only the moment to thrive on when the individual was alive, which could end instantly.

Sheila noted right away Savannah didn't like what she looked at. It wasn't the grandeur of the casino either. It was the people inside who disgusted Savannah. It made her feel 'bad' because these were 'good people' compared to the crowd Jesse fell in with in her future. She was glad Savannah didn't know what it was like inside of a Scavenger camp. She only knew through the 'Neural Interface' with Jesse. It gave her a first-hand look at how low people could go, even if she never actually experienced it herself.

John Henry communicated with Sheila to pick up her VIP 'All Access' Pass at the 'special services' desk. It was already to go. Savannah hung back a little way as Sheila conducted her business. Savannah wondered if anyone would approach her if they thought she 'looked' under the gambling age. She fingered her VIP Pass, just in case. She doubted anyone in an official capacity actually would if they were associated with the casino. They would want her money just as much as they wanted the money from everyone else. Even though there were millions of dollars available for her to spend at the Resistance base, and Cameron base, she would only spend what she needed to keep her cover.

Savannah began to wonder if any of the people inside the casino would try and 'hit' on her. She thought they were so lost in the false hope they would hit 'the jackpot', they were oblivious to everything else but their alcohol and tobacco products. She was sure plenty of them used multiple types of illegal narcotics as well. It was a character flaw in the individual which drove them to use those unnecessary vices in the first place. It seemed as if people were victims of their own minds. She was sure when those things ran out, their animal instincts would take over, especially in their inebriated condition. Then again, it appeared the casino made sure no one ran out of alcohol. The more the fools drank, the more money they didn't have to spend, they spent. She knew there were individuals there gambling money put on credit card charges, or money which should have been used to pay their rent, or buy food for their children.

Sheila returned to Savannah with her VIP Pass and gave her ten thousand dollars. She hoped Savannah would try a few of the games and not look so dejected about all of it.

"This is some cash complements of the illegal sex trafficking trade." Sheila said. "Money is all part of our cover. We're listed as 'High Rollers'. If anyone in an official capacity questions anything, a wad of hundreds should quickly quell their questions. Money has a way of talking, especially in this town."

Savannah remembered seeing the store rooms full of cash around the Resistance base as she grew up. There were literally millions and millions of dollars in those rooms Cameron collected from the sex and drug trade on her 'off the books' operations. She didn't understand it all at first, but Cameron made sure she did understand it, and why she did what she did to fight it on her own. It was because of the things which happened to Vanna, Jesse, and Allison. She looked at the roll of bills.

"Thanks. How much did you keep?" Savannah asked.

Sheila showed her a single one hundred dollar bill.

Savannah expected her to at least keep a few thousand. She wanted to verify the small amount.

"You didn't keep any more?" Savannah asked.

Sheila was ready to take on the house. She was always ready, even in the past.

"If we stay here an hour, I'll have it up to a hundred thousand dollars. It's only if I take it easy on them. If I wanted to make a 'statement', I could get it into the millions." Sheila said. "John Henry and CamNet will help you with anything electronic if you don't want to fool with the cash or deal with other people. I understand you don't want to associate with the people who work here, or come here to lose. We don't know how things are going to play out or how much time we need to 'buy'. There will be times where we can't just stand around and watch someone without creating some kind of an issue for someone. Remember, there are a lot of losers inside of this establishment and everybody wants something for nothing. It's just the way it works."

Sheila looked around and found a quarter between two slot machines. She looked up at one of the security monitors. She figured CamNet was currently tracking them. She gave it to Savannah.

"Try this in one of the electronic machines here." Sheila said.

It wasn't really something Savannah wanted to do.

"Which one?" Savannah asked.

Sheila knew it wouldn't make a difference.

"Anyone you want." Sheila said.

Savannah frowned slightly.

"I might just as well throw it in a wishing well." Savannah said.

Savannah put it in the closest electronic slot machine and pushed a button. The three rows of numbers and symbols 'spun around' and the machine started flashing lights, and ringing bells when it stopped 'spinning' inside. It was the maximum amount payable by the machine.

Savannah could have done without all the noise as the machine made its pay off.

"See what I mean." Sheila said. "I'll make my money on card games. I'll know what every card is in a few rounds. After I do, the game is mine."

Savannah didn't want Sheila to lose focus and what they were actually inside the casino to do. It seemed Sheila was very caught up in the moment. She thought maybe it would have been better if Gail would have been the one to accompany them instead of Sheila inside of a casino.

"Maybe we better cool it and look for the two unknown men Dan is trailing." Savannah said. "His last report was they were headed in our direction."

Savannah started to walk away from the slot machine. She hadn't touched anything which came out of the machine.

Sheila tilted her head slightly as Savannah walked away.

"You forgot your winnings." Sheila said.

Savannah really didn't want to get into her beliefs and ideals on the floor of a casino with Sheila. She simply gave her the short answer.

"You can have it." Savannah said. "It's filthy lucre, even if it was won fairly. It represents people's lives ruined and their futures destroyed. It symbolizes destitution, not wealth. If I need to use this money you gave me as part of this operation, I will. Most of the people who are in here, who survive, will probably end up as Scavengers after Judgment Day. There's no easy money or free ride. Just look at all of them. I mean really look at them. None of them know how pathetic they look or what's coming."

Savannah was certain the people inside the casino didn't know how 'poor' they actually were, regardless of how much wealth they actually may have access to. It wasn't about money. It was about what was in people's hearts and minds.

Sheila knew those were the true feelings of the 'Chosen One'. She also knew Savannah would donate any money left over to a battered women's shelter, or the children's hospital. Everyone was aware Savannah and Cameron tried to help those who faced doom not of their own accord. She knew Savannah encouraged Cameron to 'donate' most of the captured funds in cash to causes which were worthy of it. There was plenty of 'electronic money' they were able to control as well from organized crime. The cash was just the icing on the cake. The real money was in the banks and other institutions which held onto billions of dollars. CamNet could make people's bank accounts come and go just as easily.

Savannah wanted an update as to where the men were. She didn't want it to look as if she was attempting to spot someone as they came towards her.

"Dan, give us a heads up as to where you're at and where the men are." Savannah said. "I think we should be able to see them very soon."

Dan responded immediately. He was at the point where he was afraid if they turned around one more time, they were going to notice him.

"The two men have moved into the central part of the casino." Dan reported. "They seem to be headed somewhere specific. If they see me again they may make me as a tail. I need to fall back."

Savannah didn't want him to be made as a Terminator either.

"Stay back." Savannah said. "We'll take it from here."

Sheila looked in the direction Dan indicated.

"I see them." Sheila said she quickly pointed them out to Savannah. "We're on them, Dan. Try to reposition yourself so you're no longer behind them."

Savannah wanted to position herself where she would have the most Terminator protection if an incident were to arise.

"Sheila, you try to stay in front of them. I'll try to stay behind them." Savannah said. "Dan will be in back of me and Cameron will be in soon. Let's move."

Savannah was cautious but she wasn't fearful. It may come later, but right now it was only caution she felt. She took one more look around her and saw the 'living dead' gambling away the parts of them still alive. The sad part was, the people were all there by choice. They were addicted to failure. It was the same as any substance offered to those who used it and we're addicted to it. None of them could see it. What made it all a little bit sadder was if they actually did see it, they were so far gone they probably wouldn't even care. Sometimes she didn't need to wonder why Skynet saw humans as the problem and a threat. It was clear most of them were. If they weren't a threat to someone else, they were certainly a threat to themselves.

Young Allison watched the security feeds come in from the casino. Unlike John and John Henry, with only two laptops, Anna and her were able to see everything. CamNet and John Henry's server provided them with the best views of everything relevant to their endeavor. There seemed to be quite a lot.

CamNet made sure Young Allison heard what Savannah said about gambling and the casinos.

Young Allison actually hadn't thought a lot about it. Her life was rather simple as well. She did have a few more material things than Savannah did, but it wasn't a whole lot. She also possessed more than Allison, but she didn't have near as many as her mother did. Allison and Savannah always told her to keep it simple. There were things she wanted sometimes she didn't get, even though she could have.

What she saw when she looked at the security camera footage of the casino, was a lot of people doing different things. It appeared most of the time none of them actually looked very happy. There were moments of happiness when they would get back a few of the dollars they lost. Other than those few times, they sort of looked like zombies.

She noticed something which caught her attention. Based upon the current circumstances, she thought it needed some type of an explanation.

"Where's Cameron at?" Young Allison asked. "She stopped showing on the team's location map."

Anna knew what the problem was right away. The parking structures weren't wired the same way the hotels and casinos were for cell signals.

"She's inside of a parking structure." Anna said. "Her signal can't get through the layers of concrete. It's almost like she's in an underground bunker, even if she might be several floors above the ground."

CamNet noted Young Allison's concern and addressed it. A video feed from a security camera showed Cameron hurrying through parked cars soon appeared on a monitor.

Young Allison looked at the satellite map. It displayed what everything was as well.

She noticed a white line with curves in it. She noticed it went to various casinos. She zoomed in on several spots on the satellite image. She quickly determined it was some type of track with a tram on it. It clicked in her head all of a sudden from some other information she read about Las Vegas as to exactly what it was.

"There's some kind of an elevated tram or monorail system. It connects several of the casinos. It doesn't look like it goes to all of them." Young Allison said. "It's the easiest and fastest way for someone to move to or from each of those casinos. It's what I would use to change locations quickly. There would be multiple choices available to me to get off at. I could get off or on at any time, or switch directions."

Anna quickly picked up on Young Allison's concern with what she viewed.

"Do you think the two men are headed for it to move to a different casino?" Anna asked.

Young Allison could see the advantage of the mode of transportation instantly. It would also help avoid large crowds or allow one to get lost in a large crowd.

"It's what I would do." Young Allison said. "I would have another vehicle at each of the different casinos and switch to or from them easily from the tram. They'll intermingle with thousands of people along the way as they go. Depending upon how they play their cards, so to speak, they should be able to keep good track of their surroundings."

Anna would have thought it would be an undesirable form of transportation because it went along a fixed route and was controlled by someone else. She did a quick check. The tram was set up for automatic operation. Someone couldn't get on or off of it easily. The points Young Allison made were valid points as to how to quickly move around, or to avoid, or get lost in a crowd.

"I'll ask CamNet to send out the advisory." Anna said. "It may become a factor. I couldn't see it may pose an obstacle to our current operation if they use it."

Young Allison also wanted her search parameters narrowed. There was an awful lot going on and it was easy to lose track of someone. CamNet could assist her with what was relevant for what she wanted to see.

"Thanks, I want to observe Cameron and Savannah with every camera they'll pass." Young Allison said. "I don't like the way these places look."

Anna forwarded the request to CamNet.

"You'll have everything." Anna said.

Young Allison received the alert from Ally about the change in direction of the vehicle they followed. They hadn't heard anything for a while and then they were suddenly notified it looked like a destination was reached. It seemed rather sudden. She hoped the Grays they were pursuing didn't 'make them', and led them to a location where they might be ambushed.

"We need to worry about Gail and Ally as well." Young Allison said. "Their operation just changed."

Young Allison looked at the security cameras in the casino and came to much the same conclusion Savannah did. CamNet noted her disgust and played the short exchange between Savannah and Sheila about it.

It made Young Allison smile to know Savannah and her thought the same about so many things. It never occurred to her the thoughts may have been reinforced in her sleep.

It appeared their nightly 'conditioning' directed the girls away from the vices which afflicted much of humanity. It also directed them towards each other, Cameron, and John. There were some things in life which mattered, and most things which didn't.

Gail and Ally followed the Grays from the rail yard. They ended up at a row of small industrial looking buildings. The area was run down with a lot of abandoned buildings. There was graffiti on some of them. There was a lot of trash in the area and around some of the buildings.

Ally was familiar with the look of similar areas in Cameron's 'off the books' operations. It was an area ripe for crime and illicit behavior. It was the type of area where the drug trade, or the sex trade, might set up a base of operations to stay off of the radar. The only individuals who adventure into such areas desired whatever vice it was they might be able to sell. Everything associated with vice tended to be those who exploited others so they could earn money through no effort of their own, but on the backs of others instead. In the case of the sex trade, it was a quite literal analogy.

"This is a real seedy part of town." Ally said. "It looks like an area where nothing good happens."

Gail didn't care for the area either. She thought the appropriate type of personnel were there.

"Since they're Grays, nothing good will happen anyway." Gail said. "I want to terminate them. They pose a threat to Savannah and everyone else too."

Ally tried to think a little longer term as far as the events could unfold.

"Let's see what they do." Ally said. "If we put a long term team on them, we might be able to identify ALL the boxcars or containers as they are cycled through this town. We can expect a team to leave here every time it happens. We should be able to recover even more HK equipment once its location is identified."

Gail was more concerned about the immediate threat. Savannah was in town and she needed to be protected, as an afterthought she remembered John did as well.

"We need to know what their strength is and if there are any Terminators there." Gail said. "If there's even one Terminator, we need to bring it down. Any operation we set up will eventually be discovered by the Terminator and put our personnel in jeopardy."

Ally didn't want to jump the gun. If there was an immediate threat, they would take care of it. It should be up to the Control Center as to what they wanted to do long term.

"We'll let John or Cameron go ahead and make the decision about it." Ally said. "It's above our pay grade."

Gail tilted her head slightly.

"We don't get paid." Gail said. "We serve the Resistance to defeat Skynet. It is our duty to serve a just cause against an unjust cause."

Ally made sure she didn't laugh. She didn't want to set Gail off. She pointed to one of the duffel bags in the back.

"It's just an expression." Ally said. "If we need any money, we still have about two million dollars in cash with us. We made quite a hall."

Gail watched as a roll up door opened and the vehicle went into a structure.

"They've turned to go inside a building." Gail said. "The door must be automatic."

Ally knew John Henry should monitor everything around their position.

"Let's hope so." Ally said. "John Henry can send the code again to open the door for us, or another team to enter the building the same way."

Gail wanted to check things out on foot in the rear of the building. She wanted to gather as much intelligence as she could.

"You take over the SUV." Gail said. "I'm headed around to the back for a closer look on foot."

Ally wasn't so sure it was a good idea during the daytime.

Evidently the Control Center thought it was.

"It sounds like a plan." John Henry said as he came across their coms. "Use caution and don't engage at this time."

Ally was still concerned.

"I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves." Ally said.

John Henry wanted to ensure caution would be used. Their goal was to find out everything involved with the Gray's operation.

"If you get spotted, you'll blow the operation." John Henry said. "I want you to withdraw rather than fight. I don't want them to know there are Terminators watching them."

Gail parked at the curb. She felt she was giving a green light. It was good enough for her.

"Affirmative…." Gail said as she exited the SUV.

Ally slid over into the driver's seat. She could see Gail was still steamed and was more likely to act on her own to eliminate the threat the Grays presented. She now thought maybe Gail should have remained in the SUV and she should have gone instead.

She was used to Sheila acting out on some of the 'off the books' operations for Cameron. Sheila's motivation was usually personal amusement. Gail was afflicted with a deeper response. It was based around emotional issues. It was always a bad combination to mix with dealing with the enemy.

John dried Cammy off.

"You missed a few spots…." Cammy said.

John knew Cammy was really pushing it. He tried to check himself a little bit. It didn't do much to help.

"I'll leave those for you." John said.

John handed Cammy the towel. She tossed it in the corner where Savannah and Cameron's towels were thrown.

Cammy stood naked before John.

She looked at the entrance to the bedroom.

John looked over and saw the bed was neatly arranged now but still open. It called him….

Cammy watched him look. She could tell what he thought about.

"You can have it…." Cammy said. "We both want it."

John thought about a lot of things from the past.

"There are always things we want." John said.

Cammy didn't see any reason not to attain them.

"I get all mine." Cammy said.

Cammy really made John think about Cameron right now.

"It's never over until you win." John said.

Cammy looked at John and smiled.

"You got it." Cammy said.

John looked at the bed across the way. It was clear everything was 'ready to go', including Cammy.

"Well?" Cammy asked.

John looked at Cammy's naked form, at the bed and back at Cammy.

"Do you want me to carry you across the 'threshold' and 'make you a woman'?" John asked.

It was what Cammy wanted to hear. She saw it as the 'green light' to act. She wasn't about to lose this moment. She felt she would need to act on her own initiative.

"Yes." Cammy said. "But I'm carrying you. I'm not 'old fashioned'. I take what I want."

In a quick motion, Cammy scooped John up in her arms and headed for the bedroom.

John was surprised. Was this Cameron, or was it Cammy? What if it was neither?

Cameron said her program was her. Her clones all shared a copy of her program. The clones were all the same on the outside, and the inside….

John was sure Cameron was 'with' Savannah earlier based on the way the bed looked. He was a little upset it wasn't Savannah with him. Cammy or Cameron now would serve him just fine. His eyes were glued to Cammy's breasts as she carried him. By the tension in his pants, he knew he was ready. It was clear 'Little Willie' was at 'full attention'. He'd always wondered if the clones were totally identical in every detail. He was about to find out. It was what he hoped anyway. He really didn't see what it could hurt.

"Why not?" John asked.

Cammy smiled at John. She looked just like Cameron. John still wasn't sure. He was caught up in the moment. It reminded him of when he was in the truck with Future Riley. He thought he should feel guilty now, but he didn't. He didn't feel guilty when he was in the truck with Future Riley either. It was what he wanted then, and he took it. He was about to do the same thing again.

It really didn't matter who it was, just as long as it was someone. If they wanted 'something', there was no reason he couldn't give it to them, especially when they indicated they wanted the 'something' from him.

John was along for the ride. This was Las Vegas and it looked like he just hit the 'jackpot'. It was time to collect his winnings. He glanced down at his bulging pants as Cammy carried him. He wasn't sure if he would need to fool around with foreplay or not or just go for the 'gold'.

Cammy said she was ready and so was he. He figured he better take what he wanted first, and worry about Cammy's needs later. He didn't want to miss the opportunity.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

You Can Have It

Some think they're the most
When they're really a misfit
It is actually only themselves
They seem to outwit

Their own failings
They can never admit
They're always unqualified
It makes them unfit

Their own transgression
They always seem to omit
Everything they actually do
Is little more than counterfeit

They like to rule and command
By forcing others to submit
Their own actions and words
Make them a hypocrite

They only want to use
They will never commit
If it's the best they can do
It's all yours - you can have it

Nobody