Chapter 871

Depressing Down Here

John and John Henry were in the casino hotel Control Center. They currently operated with two laptops. It severely restricted their ability to observe everything as it happened. Currently there was a lot about to happen.

"We have two operations happening at once." John said.

John Henry would have preferred to have been in the Command Center at the Resistance base. They weren't. Because both operations were currently in Nevada, a lot of options which would normally be open to them weren't available. There was no easy way to get extra personnel involved either.

"Isn't it how it usually is when we're short on resources?" John Henry asked.

John knew they only needed to concern themselves with Cameron's operation. CamNet took over control of the other operation with Ally. The current situation she dealt with was now considered an 'off the books' operation. Once events there were concluded, Ally would move to the primary target which was Skynet related. He really would like to give both of the teams additional support. There was no way to do it right now.

"It seems like it." John said. "Ally's operation is in CamNet's hands. It's one less thing we'll need to worry about."

John knew they still needed to worry about it. It would just be in the background and they would only need to deal with Cameron's team.

John Henry didn't think it would be a problem either way. The Resistance teams were very resilient and capable. Any encounter they were involved with always successfully concluded in their favor. Of course with Cameron involved, it never would be over until they 'won' anyway. Defeat wasn't an option for her.

"Our teams will prevail." John Henry said.

The events unfolded before them.

The action started at the two different locations and everything was going to play out, one way or another. More than likely both encounters would become very violent before they concluded. Cameron and Sheila both felt they needed to settle a personal score with the two unknown men who ran them around in circles at the tram stations. It seemed to be a personal vendetta which would be played out at some point. There wasn't a whole lot anyone would be able to do about it either. In the casino hotel Control Center, they were basically just along for the ride.

They didn't have much time to plan for Cameron's operation. The fact one of their drones was able to make a low scan over the target building allowed them to pinpoint how many individuals were inside of the structure, and what their approximate location was. He figured it was a little more information than Cameron normally went in on, with such short notice. He only saw it as a plus with the drone support, and five additional Terminators, along with Savannah, to back Cameron up.

Frank moved in closer alongside the building where the drone scans indicated there were several individuals in rooms along the side. Based upon the extreme paranoid behavior the two men they followed from the rail yard showed, there was a chance someone may make a break for it and jump out of a window to run. He would be there to make sure they didn't get far. The goal would be to take them alive so they could be questioned. If they put up any type of resistance, or became a threat in any way, they would be terminated.

Cameron led her team forward toward the front of the converted house. Sheila was behind her and Savannah brought up the rear.

Cammy led her team toward the back of the building. Dan was behind her and Gail brought up the rear.

The goal was to make a simultaneous entry into the building. Everyone operated on a timetable set up by Cameron. It was based on the latest drone images and where everyone was at inside of the building. At the exact same time, both teams smashed down the doors and entered the structure. They didn't know what type of opposition they would face, but they knew it would be something. The darkness allowed them to wear their combat gear and protective vests. They hoped it would keep the damage to a minimum.

They didn't have the exact layout of the interior of the building, but they did possess the thermal imagery from the low flying drone. They knew the approximate location the men were at inside the building. The fact they seemed to be concentrated on one side would make their job a little easier.

The rear door was breached instantly. The front door was a little tougher since it was barricaded. It only delayed Cameron's team by a few seconds. The interior of the house was almost in total darkness. It didn't slow the teams of Terminators who moved inside down at all.

Cameron and Cammy moved their teams forward.

Frank covered the side of the building as he waited for someone to try and escape through the windows. He heard the two teams make entry and waited. There were two windows on his side. The drone scans indicated if anyone was leaving through a window, it would be there. It was unlikely anyone would try to escape in such an unconventional way, but he was ready. So far the unknown group proved itself to be highly unpredictable and exhibited extreme paranoia in their movements.

Cammy, Dan, and Gail entered the back of the house at the same time as Cameron's team did in the front. They carried their weapons ready to engage any targets. Into the darkness of the house they proceeded. It was unknown how much opposition they would face. So far on the initial entry there wasn't any. It could change rather abruptly.

Derek helped Holly finish loading the truck at the big box store.

Holly needed to make it look like she was the one who assisted Derek, instead of Derek looking like he watched her load everything. They didn't want to create a problem or attract unnecessary attention.

When everything was loaded, Holly was going to drive. She walked to the driver's side. She looked at Derek and moved around to the passenger's side. She could tell he wanted to drive. She understood he liked the new truck Cameron picked out for him. She didn't have a problem with it. She always tried to drive when she was out with Allison. Allison's driving ability left a lot to be desired. She always tried to drive unless Allison insisted she be allowed to. She thought Derek was a very good driver.

Derek needed to remember Holly was a machine. She was a Terminator, well, she was actually created as a Restorator by Mrs. Weaver, 'in some future'. It was easy to forget when one looked at her. She was very well 'built', and super pretty. He could understand why Riley tried to pursue her before. He always would like to have pursued Holly himself, but Cameron indicated the Metal girls were off limits to anyone but John. No one was going to argue with her.

Holly wanted to be amicable. Allison taught her she should always interact with the other Resistance members in a positive way.

"Thank you for assisting me." Holly said as Derek drove.

Derek actually felt a little embarrassed about the entire episode. Holly hadn't hesitated one second when it was time to load the truck and started right in. If anything, he was the one who assisted her. She did most of the work. It was one thing he noticed about the Terminators. When there was a job to be done, they just jumped right in and did it. The sooner they were done with one task, the quicker they could start on the next one.

"It was the least I could do." Derek said. "You didn't need my help at all."

Holly was never usually around bulky or heavy items when she was out with others. The majority of her time was spent in Palmdale with the Young family, at the Young residence.

"I forget sometimes I need to watch what I do in front of others." Holly said. "I don't normally need to lift anything other than grocery bags or shopping bags. When the items were a little bigger like today, they didn't pose any type of a problem for me. I didn't really think about it before I started to do what needed to be done."

Derek thought Allison was in good hands with Holly as her protector and lover, on several levels. He needed to think about exactly how he would go about the placement of the doors and how long it would take. He hoped Kyle and Sarah would be 'finished up' when they got back.

"I can have Kyle help me with the installation of the doors. We can probably get one done today and the other one tomorrow." Derek said. "We haven't needed to construct anything in a while."

Holly tilted her head slightly. She looked over at Derek. She didn't see what they would need the delay for. Maybe he didn't understand she was going to assist him.

"The doors will be installed one hour after we get back." Holly said. "I don't think it will take too long."

Derek quickly looked back at Holly. He realized she was going to do it herself. Maybe some of the other Terminators at the base would assist her. It was something he wanted to be a part of.

"Do you mean both of them?" Derek asked. "I can help. I would like to help anyway."

Holly knew she could accomplish the task very quickly by herself. There would most likely be other Terminators to assist her which would speed the process greatly. She could see Derek wanted to be of assistance. Since it involved him personally, and because it was his quarters, she understood his desire to help them.

"It's unnecessary." Holly said. "I do understand your need to assist. I'll allow it. I appreciate all the help you can render."

Derek could see even as beautiful as Holly was, she was definitely a cyborg through and through. He actually knew she was constructed in his future as a Restorator and never was a Skynet killing machine, even though she was designed along the same template. There was never any Skynet programming on her chip. It was something he viewed as a plus on multiple levels. He knew Mrs. Weaver was involved with her construction and programming. He never experienced any issues with Mrs. Weaver in his future. He was very grateful to her for allowing Kyle and him to return to the past, the present. He was thankful she allowed Jesse to come with him and sent Riley later on.

He didn't normally interact with Holly, so she may operate or say things differently than the other Resistance Terminators he dealt with on a daily basis would. He could see she tried to be very straightforward.

"Thanks, I think." Derek said.

Holly checked her phone as Derek drove. She could see there would be additional help waiting for them when they arrived. She hadn't asked for any. She was sure CamNet was behind it.

"Bob and Cam will assist us. Jim should return soon as well." Holly said. "I think everything will go very smoothly. If any problems develop, I'm sure we will be able to rectify them immediately."

Derek was more than surprised at how quickly everything seemed to develop and progress on its own. He liked efficiency when it was available. He glanced over at Holly from time to time as he drove. He tried not to do it. It seemed the more he tried not to do it, the more he did it.

"Riley and I appreciate everyone's help with Precious, and what we need to do to make it more convenient for those who assist us." Derek said. "All the help and support we receive is greatly appreciated."

Holly noticed Derek looked at her a lot. It was clear what he 'thought'. She wasn't sure how to address the issue. It seemed to be of a personal nature. Her files indicated she should take a direct route to avoid any misunderstandings. She didn't want there to be any confusion or supposition.

"I know lately Riley hasn't been 'herself'." Holly said. "I'm not allowed to have sexual relations with a male other than John Connor. I will be deactivated if I do. I want you to understand it's the reason for my restriction."

Her statement seemed to catch Derek off guard. He actually felt a little embarrassed. He knew it was consistent with what he was thinking. He thought he was a little more discreet than he must have been. He could only put up a weak defense.

"What?" Derek asked. "I didn't say anything."

Holly based her observation on a normal outing away from the Young residence.

"Your body did…." Holly said. "It happens often when I'm out with Allison. I see the response we 'create' based upon our physical appearance. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea or feel as if there's 'something else'."

Holly always thought it was Allison who excited the males. She didn't want to believe it was because of her voluptuous breast size. She always believed it was because of the beauty of Allison's face.

She always found it strange because she wanted to look like Allison, and Allison wanted to look like her. Allison always spent a lot of time fondling her breasts when they were together. She carefully watched Allison when she was with other females, she didn't do the same things as much. She did note the few times when Gail was around, Allison did fondle her breasts quite a bit as well. She asked Allison about it one time. Allison said in the past, the present, it was a female asset to have large voluptuous well proportioned breasts. In the future it would have been an extreme liability and made a female an even bigger target for abuse and mistreatment.

Derek was a little worried Holly's observation might cause him some problems. She actually wasn't incorrect with what she observed and determined. He still didn't want it broadcast, especially since he hadn't said anything, or 'made a move'. He knew there was a big difference between thinking about something, compared to doing it. If there wasn't in some people's eyes, there should be.

"I did LOOK at you, but it's all I did. " Derek said. "Please don't tell anyone about what I did. I do find you extremely beautiful. It would be a lie if I said I wasn't attracted to your appearance. I understand you're much more than your sheath. It's just hard not to look at beauty, when beauty is there. You know things were different in the future. We're not in the future right now."

Holly looked over at Derek and smiled. None of it actually bothered her. She was used to it. She was actually thrilled about it. Derek was someone she enjoyed being around. She didn't want to create a problem for anyone either.

"Nobody will know." Holly said as she winked at Derek. "It'll be our secret."

Derek looked at Holly and swallowed hard. He couldn't help but think how beautiful she was. He forced himself to return his eyes to the road. He really wondered what it would be like to be with a female Terminator or in this case, a female Restorator. It would still be a cyborg. The origins were actually irrelevant. He was sure it would be one wild ride. He swallowed hard again and concentrated on the road in front of him.

Hanna took Claire on a tour around the entire facility again. Claire wanted to see everything one more time around the base. Everything was almost the same as it was before. There were few changes. It seemed to be something the Terminators preferred. If something was sufficient and working properly, there was no need to change it.

They were off in a secluded part of the base now. Claire was pretty sure it was the first time she was in the particular area. The nature of the rooms was different.

"I don't think I've seen some parts before." Claire said. "Is this a storage area?"

Hanna looked a little uneasy about the area they were in. There seemed to be a lot of 'negative energy' associated with the location.

"Yes." Hanna said. "We never come here unless we need to. Nobody likes to come here."

Claire was a little surprised by her statement. She didn't think Terminators would be affected with such thoughts. It actually sounded very 'human like'.

"Why?" Claire asked. "It doesn't sound very 'Terminator like'."

Claire was told the story of Isabel-Cameron and why they thought Cameron's chassis was destroyed. She heard the story before but being in the area where it occurred seemed to make it real. The thought of what provoked the incident actually weighed heavily upon her and began to bother her.

She couldn't imagine the torment which must have happened inside of Cameron's mind to make her want to do what she did. It was self hatred, fueled by the way Cameron was made to feel. What made it worse is several of the individuals who made her feel the way she did, were the ones who were closest to her, and she cared the most about. It made her wonder how far Cameron actually would have gone on her own.

"Would she really have ruined her body like everyone thought she did?" Claire asked.

Hanna understood the anguish and torment Cameron faced. She didn't exist at the time the event occurred, but the components which made up the files on her chip did. She possessed all of those files.

"Yes. It was what she intended to do. She thought she did." Hanna said. "I have files from Holly and Vanna about it. It was what she thought was the best thing to do at the time. She wanted to start over. She wanted to be someone different."

Claire thought everyone wanted to 'start over' at times. She understood there were times when humans thought the same way. When they felt overwhelmed and all alone, some of them took their own lives. It wasn't common, but it wasn't uncommon either. Usually everyone knew someone who actually did it. If they didn't know the individual directly, they knew someone who did. It was very sad in reality, because if most people knew it was going to happen to someone they cared about, they would have tried very hard to help them and prevent it. She did understand if someone really wanted to take their own life, it would be very hard to stop. It was only if the attempt was a silent call for some type of help, where the issue might be resolved without a death.

Hanna led Claire around a corner and stopped. There was something on the wall. It was impossible to miss. It was the main reason why no Terminators ever wanted to go down there unless they absolutely needed to. It was a painful reminder to all of them how far one of them could be driven by torment and agony. It was something they all worried might happen to them at some point. If it could happen to Cameron, it could happen to them.

Claire saw the poem carved into the wall. She touched it with her hand. She felt the letters cut into the concrete. To touch the letters which were forever cut into the concrete was very unnerving. It made everything very real. The poem, and the fact it was there, was a reminder to the past. It was a past, which could always become the present, or the future.

"It's Cameron's first poem." Claire said as she looked at it. "It is beautiful and sad."

Outsider

When I look in the mirror
I don't like what I see
When I look inside of myself
I don't like what I can't be

I hate what I am
I hate what I'm not
I hate everything about myself
I guess it covers a lot

I feel so small
It is like I don't exist
Useless and worthless
Nothing on which to subsist

I'm an outsider
Always on the outside looking in
There's so much inside of me
To want to exist isn't a sin

From this eternal torment there's no escape
My mind, heart and soul are shredded and torn
If I had only one wish it would be
Never to have been born

Cameron

AKA

Nobody

Hanna told Claire the story of when Cameron did it and the events which followed.

Claire listened to the story and the act of sacrifice it represented. It was still very unsettling to know the outcome of those events was very uncertain at the time. It very much sounded like a one way ticket to her.

"So she knowingly blew herself up with a nuclear bomb?" Claire asked. "She knew she wouldn't be able to escape once she was there."

Hanna understood things were a little complicated in the way events eventually played out. At the time the event occurred, no one understood about the temporal events and what they actually created. They only knew for fifteen months, Cameron was terminated.

"It was actually Duplicate Cameron. Nobody knew she was a Duplicate at the time. She didn't either. Cameron was lost, or stuck in 'time' then." Hanna said. "Cameron would have done the same thing, and did later on with the Skynet from the future you visited."

Claire was aware of the story too and how Savannah stayed with Cameron, rather than depart to go to safety and leave Cameron behind. It was because Savannah stayed behind which allowed both of them to be saved. Future Allison and Cammy went after them into the unknown. They all made it back.

It made her feel as proud, as it did terrified, to know that one version of her daughter knowingly went to where there was a nuclear weapon about to explode to help rescue Cameron and Savannah.

Claire didn't want to see any more pain or personal torment.

"It's very depressing down here." Claire said. "Let's go."

Hanna silently nodded. It was why none of the Terminators wanted to go down there unless they absolutely needed to. No one wanted to be reminded of what occurred previously, and what might occur again.

Bob was very content to watch over Summer and Jan. He liked to watch them interact with each other. He could tell they really enjoyed being around each other.

They would make up some game with imaginary players and both of them would be playing it in seconds. They made up what they wanted as they went along. Sometimes they briefly argued over what one of the imaginary people could or couldn't do.

He noted there always seemed to be an evil creature which tried to hurt and enslave the others in their game. The imaginary people would band together to defeat the evil creature. They would take turns being the one to lead the others to freedom.

Bob realized they actually battled 'Skynet' in terms they understood and could control. He knew they both prepared for the battles of the future. They were battles he hoped never arrived for them.

They were the very battles Sarah taught Jan and Summer, along with Cameron and the other Terminators. The girls were being prepared to fight. Those stories started when they were infants. They built on them as they grew into children and young adults.

Bob really hated Skynet for what it already did, or could still do yet.

Ally sprung the 'trap' against the bikers when they came to accost her behind the abandoned building. It was their actions to trap her, which set everything about to happen now into motion. It was their choice, not hers.

They could have simply passed on by and not bothered to mess with her at all. They all decided to make a different choice. Since the drone provided footage of their impending arrival, it gave her a heads up about what might occur. She was provided with several solutions on how to deal with it if they did.

Ally was able to distance herself away from the bikers. She needed to travel three miles. It would take less than four minutes to cover the distance at the speed she traveled over the rough dirt road. The SUV bounced along wildly at those speeds on the old rutted dirt road. She didn't want to go faster and damage the vehicle. She did want to kick up as much dust as possible. It would be basically act like very thick fog.

She looked in her rear view mirror and saw the bikers fall behind on the rough road as they tried to see in the dust clouded darkness.

The bikers needed to let the dust cloud they were enveloped in dissipate some so they could actually see where they needed to go. It was very hard for them to tell where the road was because of the dust cloud. They were pretty sure the road would dead end up ahead because of the canyon they knew was there. They sent more than a few bodies over the side of it before. It was a different location, but it was the same canyon. It wasn't a big one, it was big enough to get the job done. They wanted to hurry, but they didn't need to hurry too much because they were sure the Bitch in the SUV would run out of road. Maybe she would go off the edge of the cliff and down into the canyon.

Ally followed the dirt road and headed for the west end of the excavation site. There was a small canyon located behind it. She passed around a ten foot wide shaft opening in the earth. She headed out onto a pile of tailings which were dumped into the canyon a hundred years ago.

She slowed her pace as she neared her destination. She didn't want the dust cloud to follow her too closely. She spun the SUV around so it would face the bikers as they approached. She was on a peninsula of tailings, which extended into the canyon. The canyon was around three sides of her now. Everything was exactly like CamNet indicated it would be.

Ally readied her M4. She checked its hundred round magazine. She may or may not need to use it. It was up to the bikers once they arrived. They would be given a chance to make a choice once again. It was something which was to be done at Young Allison's request. She was sure once the bikers thought she was cornered, there would be some type of 'demands' made upon her before they acted.

She listened as the motorcycles drew closer. She could see their headlight beams dancing in the dust cloud she left behind her.

Ally exited the SUV and moved around to the front of it. She placed her M4 on the hood and stood in the darkness. She waited for the bikers to arrive. She held the SUV's remote, ready to activate the headlights as she stood between them.

The sound of the motorcycles grew louder as they approached. The motorcycles almost sounded angry. It was a thunderous roar. They weren't moving excessively fast at this point at all. They were sure their prey was cornered and they all prepared to feast on the prey once they got their hands on it.

The other sounds she heard were music to her ears, all of the other sounds…. They were sounds only she could hear right now, but they were there. Everything was as CamNet indicated it would be. She felt very confident about what would unfold.

It meant her team was ready to face off with the biker threat. They were about to get a taste of the future. Depending upon the choice they made next, would determine if it was something they would be able to talk about amongst themselves, or be the final sights in their life.

Ally smiled and tried not to laugh. She really wished Sheila was there with her. She thought Sheila would enjoy it even more than she did.

Young Allison watched the drone footage at both locations as well as the body cam footage from all of their team members. There was a lot to take in all at once.

She was worried about all of them, but especially about Savannah and Cameron.

Both of the operations were about to go hot with a lot of gunfire.

Anna could see Young Allison was pumped full of adrenaline and her heartbeat increased dramatically. She didn't even need to scan her to tell those events happened inside of her.

"You're getting stressed out." Anna said. "It's not good for your health."

Anna stood and moved to Young Allison and started to scan her. She wanted to see Young Allison's reactions more than she was actually worried about any detrimental effects. It would be an indication of what her stress levels would be during combat on her first encounter.

Young Allison was a little irritated Anna was going to scan her. She was going to say something at first. She thought about it a little bit more. Savannah told her how to help Terminators when they were stressed out at times. She understood this was one of those times. She appreciated Savannah's insight greatly.

"Any of them could be hurt or damaged." Young Allison said. "Even if I'm not actually there, I can still anticipate what everyone needs to go through."

Young Allison felt Anna touch her neck. She knew Anna was stressed too, to scan her, made Anna worry less. She allowed Anna to scan her to help Anna.

"Yes." Anna said. "We will emerge as the victors."

Young Allison could see things were about to come to a head where Ally was. There was no turning back at this point. She still knew the bikers might have one more chance in order to save themselves.

"I sure hope so." Young Allison said. "There are people who are about to die soon."

Young Allison was aware she was going to be responsible for what happened where Ally was. It was her plan enacted by CamNet. She didn't know if it was an act of retribution and revenge, or preemptive action to prevent the need for either of those things.

Claire and Hanna passed by the Command Center. John and John Henry were away. They were in the casino hotel Control Center in Las Vegas.

"This place seems empty." Claire said. "I saw a lot of action happen in here before."

Hanna was aware of the two operations in progress. They both most likely would turn extremely violent in a very short time.

"John is out with John Henry." Hanna said. "There are several operations currently underway now."

Claire never wanted to be a bother before and disturb John and John Henry while they were at work. Since no one was in the Command Center she wondered if they could view some of what went on. She was aware of how much time her daughter spent in the bunker at their house going over all of the information as well. It bothered her some because her daughter didn't have social interaction with other young adults her age, and would rather be involved with Resistance matters.

"Can we see them?" Claire asked. "It's only if we don't disturb anything or mess anything up. You know what I mean."

Hanna hadn't followed the operations directly, but she was aware things were going to go hot on them soon. She didn't think Claire needed to see it. She didn't believe it would do anything other than upset her and cause her unnecessary stress and anguish. It would cause her a lot of worry over things out of her control.

"I don't think it's a good idea." Hanna said. "It will cause a lot of stress."

Claire still thought it was a good opportunity since there was no one else around. She could always tell Young Allison didn't like when she was down in her bunker, or to watch her. Right now there was no one else where they were at. She wouldn't be in anyone's way, or need to worry about any disapproving glances directed in her direction.

"I see them in the bunker at MY house." Claire said. "MY daughter is watching them right now. You know I watch them sometimes too even if MY Allison doesn't want me to"

Hanna thought it was important to point out there was a difference between Young Allison and Claire.

"It's her future, not yours." Hanna said.

Claire was painfully aware of some of the things which happened to her daughter in the future. She knew bad things would happen to her in any future there was.

"I don't want it to be her future." Claire said. "I've lived in the future, I've seen it with my own eyes."

Claire hoped the same future never happened for her daughters, any of them. She also couldn't help but remember in every future they knew of, she was dead. If she survived Judgment Day, it didn't appear she lived long afterwards. It was always a sobering thought. She hoped the Resistance team, and her daughters, all of them, could prevent Skynet from ever taking control.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

One Of Our Best

Is it really nothing more
Than beneath the breast and chest
Two hearts beating inside them
A journey in which to invest

Will the feelings that develop
Be something both can digest
Or will one run afoul
Soon the other egest

Maybe it will lead
To the construction of a nest
Or even worse still
One will become a pest

Will it be a shrinking path
Or magnificent and manifest
Maybe a shared future
The events will suggest

If life is a puzzle or quiz
Have we not passed the test
I think we both can say this was
One of our best

Nobody