Chapter 910

Back Home

John was in the jet high above the desert. Las Vegas was now behind them. He was worried about Cameron's team somewhere out in the desert where she faced several unknown assailants.

John Henry sat next to him.

"Cameron's team just took down the group who followed her." John Henry said. "There was no damage to any of the team."

John was a little surprised. It happened quicker than he thought it would. It was clear to him Cameron didn't wait very long to act as soon as he was airborne and away from Las Vegas. It was obvious if they didn't need to wait for him to leave, she would have acted earlier. If anything would have gone wrong because of the delay, the finger would have been pointed at him, again.

"I'm glad to hear there were no problems or injuries." John said. "What's our current location?"

"We just passed the state line." John Henry said. "We're back in California, well, we're over it anyway."

John smiled to himself. He realized if they would have tried to do reconnaissance in the jet, Cameron wouldn't have been able to have acted when she did. Now the problem was already resolved and over with. At least part of it was over with. He was sure there was more bound to follow. He would need to follow it from the Command Center at the Resistance base.

He looked out the window as the jet flew. The nothingness of the desert started to turn into sporadic houses. Soon there were housing tracts. They went over the mountains where everything pretty much turned back into the native vegetation. Once they were past the mountains the houses started in earnest. There were thousands and thousands of them. He looked around and they were everywhere. He knew in the future everything was gone. It became the Wastelands. Most of it was destroyed in fires which followed the selected nuclear blasts Skynet unleashed on the world. There was always a shock wave and heat wave which followed the blasts. Once fires started in urban areas without any suppression, they spread very quickly. He really hoped to prevent it from happening again.

Bob looked back from the cockpit.

"We'll be wheels down in five minutes and thirty seven seconds." Bob said. "We should be back on the main road and headed for the Resistance base in approximately ten minutes."

Everything happened like John Henry described to him earlier when they left Las Vegas. It appeared everything was precisely mapped out and planned as was indicated.

When they landed at Van Nuys and taxied off the runway, John hoped they would end up by the hangar where he saw the Warbirds earlier. He wanted to prompt John Henry a little bit.

"Are we going to stop by the hangar with the Warbirds?" John asked.

John Henry knew it wasn't where they would normally park the jet near.

"No." John Henry said. "It's not on the schedule for what Cameron wants for now."

John was a little disappointed. He remembered Bob gave a specific timeline just a short while ago. He didn't think a little deviation of the schedule would hurt anything.

"I would like to see more about everything there when it's convenient for everyone else to do so." John said.

John Henry thought it was out of his hands. He felt Cameron should be the one to make the decisions about what she was doing when it involved the others.

"I'll pass the information along." John Henry said. "When we stop, we need to transfer the 'Metal Bitch' into one of the vehicles and get back to the base."

John thought they could actually do it in one of the hangars.

"Where does this jet park at?" John asked.

John Henry knew they most likely weren't done with the jet yet. He was pretty sure it would return to Las Vegas.

"It will be left out on the tarmac for now." John Henry said. "Some of our personnel will deal with everything. We need to get you back to base."

John was a little dissatisfied with the way things played out. He was back at the base in no time. He would rather still be where Cameron was. Now it was back to the same 'four walls'. It wasn't so much he felt trapped or even bored which bothered him. It was the fact he didn't feel he did enough personally to assist with the Resistance activities.

"I'd like to say it's good to be 'back home', but I really can't." John said.

When they first arrived, John Henry hurried to get to the Command Center as soon as they returned. John stopped for a pit stop in his room before he joined him. The first thing he did was reconnect with his server. He was soon flooded with millions of bits of information and data. It was good to be back home. It gave him a feeling of control. He wasn't sure why it wasn't the same for John.

"Why not?" John Henry asked. "It is for me. I feel 'whole' again since I'm plugged in."

John would have at least liked to have driven down the Strip at night. Instead, the only 'strip' he witnessed was of Cammy, and then later Cameron. He would need to take those as a consolation. At least with Cameron everything paid off and he was able to score. Savannah in his bed at the end would have been the icing on the cake if they were able to have a few more minutes alone together. They would have been able to 'share' and he would have been able to have claimed her virginity. Oh well, maybe next time. He was at the same spot several times before with the same results. Nothing happened. He really didn't think John Henry could understand where he was coming from or his perspective.

"I enjoyed getting out for a change." John said. "I would like to have seen a little more of the city. I would have liked to have seen a little more of Las Vegas. I know some of the live stage shows are quite spectacular. There's something about seeing a performance live, as opposed to watching one on a television screen, or even the big screen."

John Henry was more than a little worried at the way events played out on the top floor of the casino hotel. He would have liked to have seen some of those things as well in person. It wasn't the hand they were dealt.

"It wasn't safe there." John Henry said.

John wished there was a better answer to his statement but there wasn't. There was only the cold hard truth proven over and over again to him. It was something his mother pounded into his head over and over. She even became very angry when he tried to make light of it or blow it off. He didn't understand then what he knew now, and what she knew all along. He needed to remember she was there when Future Kyle, his father, was killed. She saw a lot happen in a short time.

"It's not safe anywhere." John said.

John Henry knew it was a matter of degree. It did make a difference where they were at.

"It's safer here than it was there." John Henry said. "It's safer in the past, the present, than it is in the future. Danger can present itself in many forms, even as simple as a traffic accident. It doesn't always need to take the involvement of Skynet."

John wondered how long it would hold true. They were lucky so far and were able to spend more than a decade where they currently were. At some point the enemy would show up at their door. It always seemed to be the case.

"It's true." John said. "I think we need to add the caveat, 'for now', to the statement."

John thought back on his near sexual encounter with Cammy. They almost made love. Actually it would have just been sex. Then later on Savannah and him almost made love. It would have been love. It would have been a deeper and shared feeling. At least Cameron shared with him between the two near misses. He knew her involvement in the second one, he really didn't know her involvement in the first one, if any.

It was really nice to see Cameron in her wedding dress again. He really wondered who she brought it for. He knew deep down it was for Savannah to wear, either for her, or for him. On his second round with Cameron, she was 'Cammy' in his mind. He wanted to fulfill the 'near miss'. He was able to do it within the confines of his head. It wasn't the same thing, but it was close enough. He wasn't sure how it could get any closer since they shared the same DNA, and the same program.

"…the 'Metal Bitch'…?" John Henry asked.

John was caught off guard. He was thinking about things he shouldn't think about right now. He needed to get it together. Cameron's team was still out there in Las Vegas.

"What?" John asked.

John Henry was sure John's mind was still in the Honeymoon Suite of the casino hotel. There was no need to make a big deal about it. He was sure there would be plenty of repercussions about some of the events which occurred there. He wanted to forge on ahead with the issue at hand.

"I asked what you thought of Cameron's plan to use the 'Metal Bitch'." John Henry said.

John knew he let his mind wander to his earlier sexual exploits. He was briefed on the plan before the jet touched down in Van Nuys. He gave it some thought, but not a whole lot. He didn't care for it from the start. It seemed to be a very risky endeavor.

"I don't like it." John said.

John Henry knew Bob and Jim delivered the 'Metal Bitch' to the lab to be processed when they returned to the base. The plan was already put into motion. It didn't appear it was going to matter if John liked it or not. It was something Cameron wanted to try.

"Cam, Hanna, and Holly are working on her now." John Henry said.

John believed the idea itself left a lot to be desired. He thought it was too risky for the reprogrammed Terminator to go alone. He wanted to make sure there was additional support for her and for Cameron's team.

"I want to send a full team of Terminators with them." John said.

He actually believed every Terminator, other than the pilot and copilot of the jet, should have remained where Cameron was at earlier. If there was some version of Skynet there, they were going to need all the help they could get.

John Henry could see there was a possible conflict about to develop between what John wanted and what Cameron wanted.

"Cameron said she doesn't want a lot of personnel on the ground." John Henry said. "She said to send the Metal girls only."

John didn't think three additional Terminators would be near enough. He also thought there was another potential problem with the scenario.

"It's only Holly, Hanna, and Cam. Do we want four people who look like Cameron there?" John asked. "I think Savannah asked for Bob as well."

John Henry believed Cameron would have a sufficient force of Terminators to deal with any issue.

"They will also have the 'Metal Bitch'." John Henry said. "There are ten of them. There will be nine female Terminators and Savannah."

John could see it was a sizable force of Terminators. It was actually more than went out on most operations against Skynet targets. He was sure anything he did to rock the boat was going to create a lot of waves.

"Maybe I'll listen for once then." John said.

John Henry didn't want John to get any second thoughts about returning to Las Vegas. It would end up reducing Cameron's help to one individual, Savannah.

"If you're not there to drain off Cameron's help, she can use all of her personnel to their fullest extent." John Henry said. "They are all Terminators. They will be able to act as such without any other duties in their way."

John felt there was one individual among them who was always at a disadvantage. One of them wasn't a Terminator.

"Except Savannah…." John said.

John thought back to the times he was out in the field and Cameron sent all her help away to protect him. The only one who was always at her side was Savannah. She was the only one who never gave up on her.

In the past when it seemed Cameron was terminated, or not going to come back, they all gave up on Cameron except for Savannah. Savannah always told them Cameron was invincible and eternal. It was so hopeless at times nobody believed her. They thought she was unable to deal with the current issues. She was young so no one pushed their negative beliefs on her. If anything, Savannah's determination kept a spark of hope open in the back of everyone's mind.

John wasn't sure if it was because Cameron wanted to personally protect Savannah, or because Cameron loved Savannah so much she wanted to be with her. Maybe it was really like Cameron needed to be with her.

He knew Savannah was there to protect Cameron 'from herself' with her risky decisions. Most of all, he knew Savannah was there because she loved Cameron. It was a love strong enough to die for. Anything so intense was love, real love.

It really made John wonder what he would do when faced with certain death. He could save himself and live with what happened to Cameron, or stay with her to die. It made him think back on how he was responsible for Cameron's heavy damage and near destruction when he foolishly sent her to get his mother out of jail. He didn't go with her. He wasn't at her side. He sent her into an impossible situation, and then was surprised at the damage done to her. It really made him wonder exactly what he thought was going to happen. If anything, he risked Cameron being incapacitated. The authorities would then have a complete endoskeleton of a Terminator and could reverse engineer it. What was he thinking?

Cameron, Cammy, and Savannah were successful in dealing with the unknown vehicle who tailed them.

The battle in the desert was really no battle at all. It was over in seconds against targets ill equipped to deal with Terminators. They hadn't been able to get many answers. It was clear everything pointed back at the casino which tried to 'rob' Ally, Sheila, and Cammy. It started a chain of events which led them to where they were now. They were able to give the casino a taste of their own medicine.

Cameron drove the three of them back towards Las Vegas. It's where the action was, in more ways than one. It's where the danger was. It was where the enemy was in the form of both Skynet and the Syndicate. The two men in the sedan proved the Syndicate itself came after her and her team. Their challenge would not go unanswered. If they wanted to bring the fight to her, she was more than willing to bring the fight to them instead. She would rather have things operate on her terms, rather than their terms.

She decided to use Savannah's idea. She requested Cam, Holly, and Hanna to come and assist them. She wanted all the female Terminators to come and assist her. They would bring back the 'Metal Bitch' too with a 'new program' in her. She wanted her to work with them. The new program would be based off of her spare chip. It would be a version of her slightly out of date. There were a lot of files which weren't copied over. There was always the risk the 'Metal Bitch' could be taken down and the information from her chip used against them.

Vanna, Claire, and Allison were all at the Resistance base and were protected. John wanted to send Bob as well but Cameron wanted the extra protection at the base for the girls. Bob was assigned by Cameron to protect Jan and Summer if anything went wrong.

Cameron wanted to link up her current forces still on the ground. Gail's team was still headed towards them. They needed to remain behind at the airport to make sure John was able to get out of Las Vegas safely. Once he was 'wheels up', they headed over to join back up with her team.

"We should encounter Gail's team shortly." Cameron said.

Cammy looked into the distance ahead of them.

"I see them." Cammy said. "They're in the SUV Steve drove earlier."

It was the SUV with Ally, Gail, and Sheila.

Cameron wanted to give them a little more flexibility.

"I want a third vehicle." Cameron said. "Cammy, you can team up with Sheila."

Savannah didn't like the idea at all. She wanted stronger teams. She didn't want to make a big deal about it, but she wanted her idea known.

"Cameron, I want two teams of three." Savannah said. "It's my suggestion to you."

Cameron knew it wasn't an 'order'. She immediately understood what Savannah really meant. Savannah 'asked' for better protection for her, not for Savannah herself. She didn't know if she needed extra protection or not.

"Let me think about it." Cameron said.

Savannah didn't think there was anything to think about. She knew Cameron would come to the conclusion it was the right decision.

Seconds ago:

Gail's team was on an intercept course to rejoin with Cameron's team.

"We should be coming up on them soon." Ally said.

Gail spotted the SUV a few seconds later.

"I see them." Gail said.

Gail made a U-turn to be able to follow them. She waited for a moment until Cameron's vehicle passed. She soon moved in back of them, but kept a few cars between them. She didn't always stay in the same lane. She varied the distance as well as the number of cars.

Sheila figured Cameron would want some additional operational flexibility.

"I bet Cameron will want another vehicle." Sheila said.

Gail didn't think any additional vehicles would be a problem. They could simply pick one up anywhere, or if they were near the airport again, they could retrieve some of the ones used to transport John's team there.

"I'll keep driving this one." Gail said. "One of you can stay with me."

Gail knew Sheila would want to be with Cammy. Their eight years in the past 'alone' together was common knowledge now. Word came down from CamNet as to what rules everyone would follow in regards to the temporal event. Everyone was to refrain from asking either of them what happened during all those years, as to what they did in the past, or what they 'shared'.

It could cause a conflict with Cammy and Ally because they both loved Sheila.

Earlier:

Young Allison watched John's plane depart Las Vegas. She knew he would be back in the Command Center at the Resistance base soon enough. She knew she would need to take a step back and run everything through Anna and CamNet first so they could correlate things with John Henry once he was plugged back in.

They watched the drone footage of the take down in the desert. She thought the 'drive by' attack on the unknown vehicle happened very quickly. She watched in awe as Cameron ripped the door off the side of the vehicle and pulled out the driver. Cammy did the same thing on the passenger side. It showed how much strength a Terminator could exert. After they were done with the brief interrogation, both bodies were stowed in the trunk. She watched as Cameron and Cammy easily rolled the vehicle over several times and into the ravine near the road. They then departed the area.

Young Allison thought Cameron's request for more Terminators was good if she was going to expand the developing operation in Las Vegas. It seemed to her additional Terminators would be preferable.

"I'm glad the Metal girls are going, but I think even more Terminators would be better." Young Allison said.

Anna didn't think Young Allison should 'second guess' Cameron. The Command Center was up and running. They shouldn't get involved.

"Cameron knows what she's doing." Anna said.

Young Allison thought of the decisions she made herself which helped the teams in the field. She knew she wasn't supposed to get involved directly, but nobody ever stopped her. She knew Cameron allowed her to grow and become more involved in the operations. She allowed her to make decisions which proved to be beneficial to everyone. They were necessary because she thought Cameron and her teams weren't protected well enough.

"I don't always like Cameron's plans." Young Allison said. "I don't mean to say they're bad plans, but sometimes they leave a lot to be desired. Sometimes if an individual isn't in the same arena, they can have a different perspective of the events as they unfold."

Anna knew Terminators needed to use less caution when they were out in the field.

"You need to remember they're Terminators." Anna said.

Young Allison could see the problem Cameron possessed as well. Anna just confirmed it with her exclusion of someone.

"Savannah isn't." Young Allison said. "She's human and is subject to every human shortcoming as compared to a Terminator. There are a lot of things she can't do which they can. There are things she needs to do they don't have to. It all needs to be taken into account by someone. The bottom line is Savannah isn't a Terminator."

Young Allison felt sometimes she was the person who needed to be 'someone' in the equation.

Anna didn't want Young Allison to forget what she was either.

"No, Savannah isn't a Terminator." Anna said. "I'm a Terminator too."

Young Allison looked over at Anna and took in her figure.

"You look a little different now." Young Allison said.

Anna was instantly offended by Young Allison's statement. She quickly reached up and pulled her top forward so she could look down inside of it. She didn't think there were any new changes.

"Maybe only a little bit." Anna said. "I'm not too bad. I'm fine how I am."

Young Allison was aware Cameron wanted Anna to look around the same age as her. Anna would be able to take care of herself if she was accosted by any questionable individuals.

"You'll look like me soon enough." Young Allison said.

Anna understood her mission, but she felt she needed to give up more than was necessary for her personally.

"It actually bothers me." Anna said. "I'm not regressing much more. I should still look fine."

Young Allison would have preferred if Anna hadn't regressed at all. She liked when she shared the same appearance as Savannah. She knew she could say something about it to Cameron, but didn't.

"I know." Young Allison said. "I'm sorry about it. You're doing it for me so I will be better protected. I truly appreciate it."

Anna thought about her appearance. She really wondered if she needed to regress anymore. She knew it was her duty and mission to protect Young Allison. She couldn't let anything happen to her.

"Everyone sacrifices for Allison Young." Anna said.

Anna was very displeased as to the state of her sheath's current appearance. She wasn't going to allow it to regress anymore. She stopped the process and wouldn't re-initiate it unless Cameron forced her to. If Cameron did, she would recommend Cam or Cammy take her place on the mission. They could regress to the same age as Young Allison and be her identical twin. She would also point out Cameron could do the same thing.

Young Allison acted like she didn't see anything, but she did see Anna look at her physical appearance several more times. She was sure her hand glitched each time she did it. She didn't want to cause any additional trauma for Anna. She would need to speak with Cameron about the situation. She believed Anna should resume her former appearance. She didn't like the fact Anna was being traumatized because of her. It wasn't her doing. It was Cameron who was the one behind it.

It seemed there were more and more things she needed to become involved with. Maybe it's what Cameron wanted her to do. Cameron always told her to use her voice and speak up when she saw something wrong or an injustice.

Allison sprawled on the bed next to Vanna.

"I'm tired." Allison said.

Vanna felt it was a little bit more of a workout than normal for both of them. They weren't getting any younger either.

"The 'procedure' is easier with one of the Metal girls. They do most of the movement and the 'work' for us." Vanna said. "I'm usually along for the ride and the 'free' finish."

Allison could always use a little more exercise. She did however like the 'name' of what they just did.

"When it happens, we reap most of the benefit." Allison said. "It's just funny they named it after a tool for cutting paper or cloth."

Vanna enjoyed every 'finish' she could experience. She found it especially rewarding there were many ways to have a 'finish'. All 'finishes' were good, some of them were just better.

"It gets us to where we want to go." Vanna said. "I find it very exciting myself."

Allison remembered when Vanna first taught her the procedure in the future. It was a little more involved than some of the other methods they used to share with each other. They needed to wait for a time when they were alone to take full advantage of it. It wasn't always the case for the way they shared other times. A lot happened out in the open because there wasn't a choice. Things which were different could be quite exhilarating for everyone.

"You always have." Allison said.

Vanna first learned the procedure from a female who was mutilated in a Scavenger camp. It was able to provide her with enough stimulation through to allow her to have a 'finish'.

"I have." Vanna said.

Allison touched her arm and felt she was a little sweaty. It was quite an invigorating workout.

"Let's shower." Allison said.

Vanna touched the sheet where they were only a short time ago.

"I'm all for it as long as we shower together." Vanna said. "I'll change the sheets later."

Allison didn't want Vanna to worry about it.

"It is what it is." Allison said. "I'm just glad we have clean sheets."

Vanna believed it was proof an 'old dog' could learn new tricks.

"Things picked up when the Metal girls showed us, and took us to a 'higher level' than we were able to reach before. Now we know 'where to go' with the intense stimulation." Vanna said. "There are always new things to learn and experience even when we think there aren't. Variety is definitely the spice of life."

Allison wanted to share her future with Vanna, especially if there were children involved. Something really bothered her though. It was Holly and Cam. She didn't want to neglect them, or make them feel like they were abandoned.

"Vanna, what are we going to do when we move back in together about our cyborg lovers?" Allison asked.

It was a question Vanna contemplated herself. It seemed there was one easy solution which would satisfy everyone.

"Get a bigger bed…." Vanna said.

Both girls giggled.

Allison was serious though. She really wondered how it was all going to work out and fit together. There were probably going to be a lot of hard feelings and hurt feelings. She really didn't want to make anyone feel like John and Future Riley made Cameron feel about herself.

The 'Metal Bitch' was now at the Resistance base. They began the process to start repairs and reprogramming. She was in the lab for the procedure.

Claire watched as Cam worked on the 'Metal Bitch'. Holly and Hanna helped as well. She was intrigued with what she viewed. She wondered about the areas which weren't currently visible.

"Her face is beautiful." Claire said. "Can I see the rest of her?"

Hanna understood exactly what Claire wanted to see. She wanted to see all of her. She felt there needed to be a warning about what else would be seen.

"She has 'damage'." Hanna said.

Hanna felt a little insecure with Claire asking to 'see' another female Terminator.

Holly could see Hanna was bothered by the request. She tried to put a little spin on the issue of damage instead.

"It's not pleasant to see." Holly said. "There are a number of bullet wounds."

Claire viewed damage to Terminators before. Most of it was just cosmetic damage on the face.

"I want to see what it looks like to be shot." Claire said. "It's the same thing as what would happen to you or Cameron."

Cam was very aware of what Cameron experienced hundreds of times.

"It's happened to Cameron many times." Cam said. "Most of her sheath has been replaced or regenerated."

Hanna could tell Claire was genuinely concerned.

"Go ahead." Hanna said. "You can stop when you've seen enough. She will need a few sutures and a fresh set of clothes anyway."

Claire could see bloody bullet holes in the clothing of the 'Metal Bitch'.

Holly could see Claire was a little hesitant.

"We can help you." Holly said. "It doesn't bother us."

Cam believed Holly's statement should come with a qualifier.

"Unless it's us who's the one damaged." Cam said. "None of us like to have face damage."

Claire understood they were all cyborgs. They shouldn't worry about any of it.

"Why?" Claire asked.

Cam looked at Claire and told her what every female Terminator feared. It seemed to be a pretty straightforward concept.

"We're worried we will be ugly and we'll be rejected by our human lovers." Cam said.

Claire wanted the Metal girls to know love was based on more than just appearance. One's appearance may be the initial attraction, but it was what made up the individual inside which determined how anyone's feelings would progress or where a relationship would go.

"Love is more than skin deep." Claire said. "Beauty is transitory. One day I will get old and I'll be ugly. I'll still be the same person inside, even if the outside is different."

Claire thought it was true if she lived long enough for it to occur. Apparently in Cameron's future she died early. It was always a very unpleasant thought to think about. She was currently alive, but in other futures she wasn't. She always wondered exactly how she died. It didn't seem anyone knew. If they did, they weren't telling her.

Cam was aware she packed a lot of Cameron's baggage simply because they were the same program.

"It still bothers us." Cam said. "I know of Cameron's concern over it. She's blocked much of it from my programming, but there is still enough there to cause ME worry."

Hanna and Holly removed the top from the 'Metal Bitch'.

There wasn't much damage, but it was still horrific to Claire.

"OH - God!" Claire said.

Hanna was ready to take Claire away from the area and out of the lab.

"You don't need to look." Hanna said.

Claire felt she did need to look. She knew if Skynet ever gained control, she would see plenty of carnage of various types. The current situation would allow her to adapt to it better going forward. She knew she currently viewed a cyborg who could be repaired. She knew the damage would heal without a scar. She knew if the same thing happened to a human they would be dead. If they somehow survived, they would be terribly scared going forward. It made her think about the stories she heard about Cameron.

"The same thing has happened to Cameron hundreds of times?" Claire asked.

Cam could only go on what she knew at the time her program was cloned from Cameron's program. It was quite a while since she was created.

"Yes. As far as I know." Cam said. "It may actually be thousands of times by now."

Claire looked at the inanimate figure on the workbench.

"I can see bullet holes through her bra." Claire said.

Hanna would prefer Claire not dwell in the specific area.

"She'll have damage to her breast area. They're non functional, it doesn't matter." Hanna said. "It's simply an organic sheath over a Coltan endoskeleton."

Claire believed she was around Terminators long enough to know it wasn't true.

"I bet it would matter to all three of you." Claire said.

Cam knew it would matter to her. She didn't want to end up with a missing or deformed breast like Cameron experienced for many months previously. She needed to suppress a slight glitch impulse when she thought about it. She knew how relieved Cameron was when she was infused with Allison's DNA and everything regenerated properly.

"It would matter." Cam said. "It does. It's why Cameron insists we all wear body armor now, whenever we can anyway."

Claire could see Holly looked very uneasy about the subject.

"Being associated with human females has allowed us to expand beyond our programming." Cam said. "It has made all of us better infiltrators and allowed us each to find love, as well as multiple lovers…."

Claire didn't know what exactly happened around the Resistance base since she was normally at her home in Palmdale. There was one question she always wondered about but always was a little reluctant to ask because of privacy issues.

"Have any of you been with a male?" Claire asked.

The three Metal girls all looked at each other.

"It's forbidden." Holly said. "We're to remain 'untouched' by males or we'll be deactivated. John may 'need' us one day if Cameron is ever destroyed. She wants only the best for him. We're not to be 'soiled'."

Claire could see Cameron laid down a lot of restrictions for the other Terminators. It seemed to her there were some things they should have some saying, or at least a choice.

"It doesn't sound fair." Claire said. "I can honestly tell you, you're not missing much."

All four of them laughed.

"It's the function of the male to help propagate the species." Cam said. "The female body does all the rest."

Claire could testify to it three times over.

"You can say that again." Claire said.

"It's the function of the male to help propagate the species." Cam said. "The female body does all the rest."

Claire started laughing.

The three Metal girls all tilted their heads slightly and looked questioningly at each other. Cam did exactly what Claire asked her to do. It was a simple fact. It didn't seem funny to any of them.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Back Home

The world is a big place
So is the future or the past
When one can go between them
What will go and what will last

No place is safe
That's what's been told
It's more of a matter
About what's controlled

When one leaves the nest
Life itself becomes the test
For the weary there's no rest
What will turn out to be the best

How far will one go
What's the limit of the range
It's seldom very far
Which is somewhat strange

It won't take long
To feel forsaken and alone
Remember one thing
There's always room back home

Nobody