Chapter 912

Like Daughter - Like Mother

John still wanted to be out in the field with Cameron, but it was good to be back at home. Back at the base he could actually feel 'in charge' again. He didn't feel like he was in command of anything when he was in Las Vegas. It seemed all the events ran him, from the enemy activity, to his near sexual partners. He didn't have much say with any of them.

He figured Cammy and Savannah were still both 'good to go' if the conditions and mood was right. The prospect of 'breaking in' both of them was very enticing to him. It would be to have sex with Cammy, and to make love to Savannah. Not only did he want to compare Cammy to Cameron, he also wanted to be her 'first'.

When he was in the Command Center, he was away from it all. He was out of the action and a little more secure than out in the field. It gave Cameron more freedom to operate. He didn't want to cause Cameron any more distractions. He didn't like drawing off Cameron's help. She always assigned it to watch over him. It left her, and by extension Savannah, in greater peril. It was never his intent. It was always the way it played out though.

He understood the real danger he was in at the casino hotel. It was always a serious threat when a Terminator came after anyone, including another Terminator. If it would have been a more coordinated assault with additional Terminators, or Grays backing them up, the outcome could have been quite different. He still remembered what happened at Mrs. Weaver's building when he was there with his mother and Mr. Ellison. There was no reason the same thing couldn't happen again on the top floor of the casino hotel where they were staying. It was the main reason why they needed to get out of the building as soon as possible.

Currently the exact situation was unknown in Las Vegas. They stumbled across a connection between Skynet and a Syndicate run casino. It was all by accident when the Metal girls won big, and the casino didn't want to pay up. CamNet used her ability to manipulate the casino and force them to pay the girls the cash they were 'owed'. As soon as they left with the cash from the casino, the Syndicate bosses decided they wanted their cash back. They sent three thugs out to collect it from the Metal girls.

It was a mistake on the Syndicate's part. When the Resistance team looked a little harder at the casino, they were able to make the Skynet connection and determine how Skynet was able to use the Syndicate to blackmail key individuals with the use of 'underage' or 'dead escorts' found in the mark's room. The blackmail which followed was for the benefit of Skynet.

John understood what Cameron's next target was going to be. Everything going forward with the Syndicate casino would revolve around the male Terminator known as 'The Enforcer'. If there was a Skynet computer there, she would want to get a hold of it as well. So far there was the indication there might be something, but nothing concrete was identified or located. He knew Cameron wanted to personally terminate every version of Skynet. It was personal to her as much as it was operational. They hoped to deal with the threat they could get their hands on.

"We need to locate 'The Enforcer'." John said. "It will determine where Cameron goes next."

John Henry understood not only would it control where Cameron went, it would control what Cameron did. Ever since 'The Enforcer' was identified from the casino surveillance footage they were able to view, both CamNet and his server searched for a positive hit anywhere in Nevada. The Syndicate goons seemed to believe 'The Enforcer' was in Reno. He wasn't so sure of it. It may be where he went previously, but he didn't think he was still there.

"I'm searching all traffic cams and speed trap cameras now." John Henry said. "We know what he looks like. We also need to consider he may be elsewhere other than on the road from Reno."

John needed to agree with the last assessment. The logical assumption would be 'The Enforcer' would have decided to return back to the Las Vegas area as soon as there was a problem indicated. The problem could have either been the warehouse taken down, or the fact the vault was cleaned out at the Syndicate casino by the Metal girls.

"I think he's already back in or at least near Las Vegas." John said.

John Henry wondered how John arrived at the conclusion without any evidence to back up his hypothesis. It actually was his belief as well based on the events which occurred. He still wanted John to shed a little light on his decision.

"Based on what?" John Henry asked.

So many things happened. It almost seemed like they started a month ago. It was only yesterday since they spotted the two errant boxcars which set a whole chain of events into motion. There were a lot of things which occurred in a short time period. None of them led specifically to John's conclusion, yet somehow all of them did.

"I feel it's based on all the events which transpired since yesterday." John said.

John Henry didn't want to argue the issue. He did understand human intuition played a critical role on more than one operation previously. He believed the male Terminator would attempt to find the female Terminator first so they could work together to combat whatever situation developed at the Syndicate run casino. The Skynet group may not have been the one directly in control of the Syndicate casino previously, but if the two Skynet Terminators could work in conjunction, they could seize control of the entire operation. They would probably have some initial success until the Family in control of the casino attempted to take it back. There would most likely be a large group of East Coast thugs headed west in short order.

"I'm watching the area around the casino." John Henry said. "I think he will try to find the 'Metal Bitch'."

John believed the better course of action for Cameron was to stay in the Las Vegas area. It was clear it wasn't what Cameron wanted. He decided he wanted to make his viewpoint known to her so there was no confusion.

"Let me call Cameron." John said. "I feel going to Reno is a mistake at this time."

John Henry wondered if there was a deeper motive behind Cameron's plan. The Syndicate controlled another casino in Reno. He was certain the main reason why Cameron wanted to go to Reno would be to make a 'withdrawal' from the other Syndicate controlled casino. The same location seemed to be where 'The Enforcer' went to. It would appear Cameron wanted to get the attention of the Skynet and Syndicate groups and hold it. There was a good chance if the two main Syndicate casinos were 'cleaned out'. It would seem as if someone targeted the particular Syndicate family specifically.

"I think she wants to do more there than find 'The Enforcer'." John Henry said. "I think she wants to clean out the other casino associated with this group located there as well."

John was a little surprised Cameron would be motivated to do another heist. He knew it wasn't about the money. Well, he knew it wasn't about the money to Cameron. He knew money meant everything to the Syndicate. He was sure it would send repercussions throughout both organizations.

"Do you think it's just to do another robbery?" John asked.

John Henry believed it was more than just a robbery.

"Yes." John Henry said. "It will deny funds and control to Skynet."

John needed to think about what they learned so far occurring in the Syndicate controlled casino. It seemed like a targeted version of typical Syndicate extortion.

"If they were using 'girls' and gambling debt at the one casino to blackmail key individuals, they're probably doing it at both of them." John said. "I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be."

John Henry knew there was the potential for five different cities to be involved in total. They were only the obvious choices. There could be plenty of side hustles.

"Don't forget the one in Laughlin." John Henry said. "They may also have casino connections in Tahoe or Carson City."

John looked at a satellite map of the entire state of Nevada. He could see the remoteness and isolation of some of the areas.

"The one place is in the middle of nowhere." John said.

John Henry wasn't sure which location John actually referred to. They all seemed like the middle of nowhere to him. The way things were laid out in Nevada was nothing like how they were laid out in California where cities continuously butted up against each other so there was no discernible break between them. In Nevada there were often hundreds of miles of empty desert which was only disturbed with small clusters of population. It was only because of the 'vice' involved in Nevada why people would even go there in the first place. He thought the general landscape was very similar to Mars in most respects.

The main draw was the gambling. Legalized prostitution was an added bonus for the less populous counties in the state. It was the bigger counties where prostitution was technically illegal. They actually ran the largest number of girls in prostitution which was all done illegally and generally controlled by the Syndicate. They operated under all different guises as well as out in the open. The most common ploy was to refer to a 'call girl' as an 'escort'. He looked at the satellite map again himself and responded to John's statement.

The older established communities of Nevada were leftovers from the days when silver was the primary export from the arid area. A few of those cities were by a rare source of water in the desert which allowed them to continue after the silver dried up. The individuals who still live there wondered when the water would dry up. There were a few attempts to bring water from the Sierras on the west side of the state to some of the struggling communities. It was costly and expensive to maintain.

There was little doubt in his mind why the military chose sections of the Nevada desert to use for above ground nuclear testing, before it was switched to below ground testing. Strangely enough, much of the above ground testing went on just to the west of Las Vegas. The area was remote and the communities were very isolated. He remembered looking at a vintage photo of a giant neon Cowboy at one of the casinos. There was a mushroom cloud in the distance alongside of it. He really hoped the wind was blowing in the opposite direction after the blast, otherwise the fallout would have rained down on the unsuspected minions caught up in gambling and other vices.

"Las Vegas was in the middle of nowhere at one time." John Henry said. "It started out as a tiny blip on the map. It was originally little more than a water stop on the railroad as it passed through the area. After World War Two the Syndicate built it up rather quickly as a way to help mask all of their other illegal activity. Casinos became a good point to launder ill gotten gains. It became a good source of revenue for the Syndicate to get their hooks into as many people as possible. Skynet was able to take advantage of the pre-established operation for the benefit of itself."

John remembered all the open desert surrounding them just moments after the jet took off from the Las Vegas Airport. Even as big as the city was, it was still literally in the middle of nowhere. It really was a small blip on the map.

"So it was and is." John said. "I know the city will continue to grow as long as they can import water."

John Henry was aware water was the key. Without water, nothing could grow from plants, to humans, to cities. It did seem somewhat strange how there were various pipelines carrying different forms of fossil fuels across the nation with complete regularity. There were abundant water sources in the form of the Columbia River and the Mississippi River which ran billions of gallons of fresh water into the ocean daily. There were sections along the latter river which often produced flooding on a regular basis. He really wondered why they couldn't build some pipelines from those two abundant sources of water if they really wanted to grow everything in an organized fashion. He needed to remember humans weren't organized.

Skynet wanted control. The Syndicate wanted money. Skynet believed it could circumvent money with control. The Syndicate believed money is what gave it control. Both of the organizations attempted to do the same thing, even the same way, through different methods to achieve the same result.

John Henry doubted the reach of Skynet was limited to a few Syndicate establishments. Once Skynet would have determined the amount of control and funds available it could obtain, it was bound to reach out further. It would try to remain as covert as possible to avoid detection. All humans were subject to various forms of vice. Skynet only needed to find out which vice a particular human would succumb to. Females were just as susceptible as males were.

"They may also have casino connections we don't know about with other casinos in any of those places." John Henry said. "The Grays may have branched out. I think we can all agree Skynet pulled a fast one right under the nose of everyone in its goal to gain influence and control."

There was no sure way yet for them to know the extent of how far the cancer of Skynet spread through the casinos of Nevada.

Gail's team flagged Cameron down and ran some ideas by her 'off the record'. They didn't want any negative influence from the Command Center involved. They were going to look into a few things. They decided what they would do. They may not inform John of all of them yet.

John contacted the girls again before they departed. He was still under the assumption they were headed for Reno.

"Cameron, I want you and both of your teams to remain in the Las Vegas area." John said.

Cameron decided to play it a little coy. She wasn't ready to reveal her new plan yet.

"I want to go to Reno." Cameron said.

John still believed it was unnecessary.

"You can go there later on." John said. "We believe 'The Enforcer' has already returned back to the Las Vegas area."

Cameron's team speculated much of the same thing. So far they hadn't found any proof of it.

"Have you spotted or identified him?" Cameron asked.

John Henry knew they didn't have a lot to go on.

"Not yet." John Henry said.

Cameron wanted to float the idea they discussed amongst themselves. She figured it was going to draw a lot of negative feedback once she laid it out. It was a bold and provocative plan on multiple levels. The fact it was so bold might actually allow them to pull it off.

"In that case, we're going to 'visit' the casino again." Cameron said. "We haven't been there for a few hours."

John originally thought Cameron referred to the casino hotel where they stayed earlier. He wondered if maybe she meant a different location where there hadn't been any problems. He wanted to make sure he knew where they would be. He thought there was still a possibility Cameron would want to get together with Savannah. He really couldn't blame her in such a regard. He wanted to do the same thing as well. Somehow it seemed to John it would be a better idea if Cameron was the one who was with Savannah first as opposed to him. A Las Vegas casino hotel seemed like a good place for Cameron to get started.

"Which one will you go to?" John asked.

Cameron looked over at Savannah before she spoke.

"It will be to the casino we know is compromised by Skynet." Cameron said.

John looked over at John Henry before he spoke. He wasn't quite sure he understood what she meant.

"Are you going to rob it again?" John asked. "Will they have any more money this soon? It's not very late in the day yet."

It sounded like a bad idea to John. It seemed about the last place they should visit.

Cameron was pleased to see she got John's attention. She decided to ease his mind a little. She doubted it would be much.

"No. We want to give back some of their money, as customers." Gail said.

It sounded like an even worse idea to John. They robbed the place only a few hours ago. It made no sense. He wanted to make sure he understood her clearly.

"You want to go back into the casino you robbed and play there?" John asked.

Cammy could see they'd raised a note of worry in the Command Center. She thought she would add to it a little.

"Yes." Cammy said. "We'll check in as well. We can stay there."

The new idea seemed even worse than the last one to John. Maybe it would be better if they went to Reno at this point. There were bound to be some people, even if they weren't associated directly with the casino, who spotted the Metal girls last night. He wondered if their skimpy attire would have prevented most people from actually looking at their faces when they could look at their nearly naked bodies instead. He just wanted to make sure he got everything straight they wanted to do.

"You want to STAY as a guest in the casino you robbed?" John asked. "There were people killed there earlier as well."

Sheila was ready to get her hands dirty again. The Syndicate wanted to make a statement with them earlier. They made a statement with the Syndicate instead. Now it was time to rub their face in it.

"It's what she said, love." Sheila said. "I think they owe us a little hospitality since they were going to rob, beat, and abuse us earlier. If we would have been human girls, it would have happened."

Ally wanted the Command Center to know there was a method to their madness.

"We think 'The Enforcer' will return there." Ally said.

John wanted some rational thought at this point.

"Savannah, what do you think?" John asked.

Savannah already went over the plans with Cameron and the rest of the Metal girls. They were all on the same page.

"I think 'The Enforcer' is back here as well." Savannah said. "I also think we need to return the drones back to their outlying bases, before they cause a rise in 'UFO sightings'."

John Henry and his server were hard at work from the start of the operation to make sure all 'UFO sightings' were pinned on the military. The majority of the reports never made it anywhere, even if it seemed like they did to the person who posted it. If they were persistent with their posting, CamNet would crash their system. She would crash all of their systems, starting with their phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop computer. They would need to start over from scratch on everything. There were always foreign actors who could be blamed for the crash.

"I've attributed all UFO reports to military testing as I suppress them." John Henry said. "There's a large Air Force Base near you just north of town off Interstate 15."

"We saw two B-1 bombers fly out of there." Cameron said. "We're also not too far away from Groom Lake and the military installation known as Area 51. I think between those two locations they will give us a lot of cover."

Savannah was more worried about the Air Force Base right outside of Las Vegas. More than likely military personnel visited Las Vegas on their leave time. It was only a short drive away. Some of them were bound to run up gambling debts. Others may be inclined to 'sample' some of the local 'rentable' clientele, usually female, but not exclusively. Any of those endeavors could be corrupted by Skynet and the Syndicate. Her biggest concern was the munitions kept there.

"Maybe the Air Force Base is a target of Skynet as well. They would be able to target key personnel there and blackmail them. They could gain unfettered access to the base and the weapons stored there." Savannah said. "Do they have nuclear weapons there?"

John Henry tried to keep track of all the U.S. military installations where nuclear weapons were stored. His search of the records indicated they weren't tracked very well. More than likely some of them disappeared over the years. Cameron was responsible for some of those disappearances previously. He quickly checked the records and understood her concern.

"Yes." John Henry said. "They say they don't, but they do."

Cameron believed Skynet sunk its claws deep in the Las Vegas area. It most likely meant at the Air Force Base as well. She wanted a 'hands on' check of the nuclear inventory. With Skynet this close to nuclear weapons, and the ability to compromise people on the base to get to them easily, worried her.

"Keep a watch on it and check the nuclear inventory." Cameron said. "Have someone there make a physical check, not a computer one. Try to use two different people if possible, in case one of them is compromised. If anything seems fishy, I may need to go there myself. I need to know what's there and what isn't."

John felt the bad ideas seemed to flow non stop from Cameron on everything in the Las Vegas area. He wasn't so sure Cameron only wanted to check the physical inventory. His main concern was she may want to 'reduce' it some. If she was actually there she could alter any physical records for the items she decided to remove. CamNet would take care of the electronic records.

"No." John said. "I don't want you to do it. I don't want you on the Air Force Base. I don't want you to deal with any nuclear weapons."

He was very aware when Cameron dealt with nuclear weapons, it was usually touch and go for her. She was nearly terminated several times.

Savannah didn't believe any of the Resistance team members needed to be worried about. There were plenty of other nut jobs out there who liked to blow themselves up.

"I think nuclear weapons are something the Fanatical Grays would like to get a hold of." Savannah said. "They really want their 'god version' of Skynet - SkyMaster, to take control."

Cameron felt she made her point with John. She didn't want to dwell on the subject any longer.

"John, I'll get back to you." Cameron said.

Ally was a little confused at the outcome of the conversation. She still wasn't sure what their destination was.

"Now what's the plan?" Ally asked. "Is it the Syndicate casino, or Reno?"

Cameron wanted to go where the action was. She liked the plan of walking into the enemy's den.

"Let's head for the Syndicate casino." Cameron said.

Savannah wanted to know when the rest of their reinforcements would arrive. She thought if they were going to the Syndicate casino, they might come in handy.

"What is the ETA on Cam and her team?" Savannah asked.

Cameron wanted to make sure when all of her cards could be played. Well, it wouldn't be all of them, it would be the opening salvo.

"Let me check." Cameron said.

Cameron phoned the Resistance base. She hoped for good news. They needed to get the rest of the team there as soon as possible.

"What's the status on the 'Metal Bitch'?" Cameron asked.

Cam just finished with the chip when Cameron called.

"She's almost ready." Cam said.

Cameron wanted to make sure the physical aspects of the 'Metal Bitch' would be good as well. There was quite a scuffle on top of the elevator, after the female Terminator smashed through the wall to get on top of it. She was shot by Gail, and slammed into the wall later when Savannah brought her down with her Taser.

"What's the status of her wounds or any other damage?" Cameron asked.

Cam was impressed with Claire's needlework.

"Claire removed the projectiles and stitched her up." Cam said. "She's very skilled with a needle. The wounds will heal very quickly."

Cameron was surprised Claire was involved with the repair of a Terminator.

"Claire?" Cameron asked.

Cameron didn't like the idea. It could turn into some real bloody business on occasion. She saw how some of her damage affected the other humans. It was why she stopped coming around when she was severely damaged.

Cam didn't want it to become an issue with Cameron. She wanted to let her know Claire was a willing participant.

"Claire asked to help." Cam said. "She said she needed to acclimate herself to the future."

Cameron would prefer if Claire not become involved in the more gruesome aspects of the operation.

"It can get messy." Cameron said.

Cameron thought of some of the damage done to her along with the missing chunks or sections from her sheath. It seemed the most severe part of her damage happened in her mind.

Cam wanted to reassure Cameron there were no problems.

"She didn't even vomit." Cam said. "She's a trooper."

Cameron frowned a little at her description of what didn't happen. She wanted to move the operation forward. It sounded like all the pieces were ready to be put into play.

"Get the chip in the 'Metal Bitch' and get her back here to Las Vegas." Cameron said.

Cam wanted to know what would happen once they arrived at the airport.

"Will you pick us up?" Cam asked.

Cameron knew transportation wouldn't be a problem at the airport.

"There are a few vehicles at the airport which were left there earlier." Cameron said. "Use those. Bring two of them. John Henry can fill you in on the details."

Cam wanted to run one more proposal by Cameron. She was pretty sure it wouldn't fly. Since she was asked to do it, she would do it anyway and see what happened.

"Claire has asked to come as well." Cam said.

It was NOT what Cameron wanted to hear, especially with Claire pregnant with Allison's baby again. The risk was too great something could go wrong. She needed to worry about more than one life.

"NO!" Cameron said. "I don't want her damaged."

Claire heard Cam speak with Cameron. She moved forward and took the phone after she wiped the 'blood' off of her hands.

"Hello, Cameron." Claire said.

Cameron already knew what Claire's endgame was. She decided to cut the chase and get directly to the point.

"Hi, Claire." Cameron said. "I know what you want."

Claire wanted additional training. She was willing to step up in place of her daughter.

"I do want it." Claire said. "I feel it's my right to want it, for the reason I want it."

Cameron knew Claire was too valuable on her current 'assignment'.

"You must remain undamaged." Cameron said. "You know why."

Claire understood the risks, but she didn't feel she was the only one who would face them. She was very worried about someone else.

"I do, but what about Savannah?" Claire asked. "The DAILY risk to her is greater than it is to me. She's under the constant threat of injury or death. I know it's tough to point out, but it is the reality."

Cameron didn't need to be reminded of her shortcomings and the danger Savannah faced with her.

"I know, Claire." Cameron said. "I know."

Hanna was sure Claire was going to cause Cameron a problem. She was pretty sure it was going to cause one for her as well.

"Claire, STOP." Hanna said. "You're going to cause Cameron to start glitching."

Claire looked at Hanna for a long moment. She wanted to do more, but she didn't want to be a problem. She certainly didn't want to cause a problem for Cameron either.

"OK." Claire said.

Hanna didn't want Claire to risk herself either.

"Please, drop it." Hanna said.

Claire was dissatisfied with the current resolution of her request. She wanted to make sure it was understood even if she backed off now, she wanted to go forward later on.

"OK, Cameron. I'll sit this one out." Claire said. "I want to use the training you and the Metal girls have taught me. I want to be better prepared for the future in every regard. I don't want to be used for one specific thing as my function and assignment."

Claire wanted to keep Young Allison out of combat when she returned from the past as an older teenager. She was willing to step up in Young Allison's place and assume all of her duties. Those included the duties with John as well.

Cameron's intention to train Claire wasn't to use her for combat, but to help protect her family. She wanted her to have a longer lifespan than she did in Allison's future.

"Your training was to better protect you, your three daughters, and grandchild on its way." Cameron said. "Please give me Cam back to me."

Claire believed taking the risk herself was the best way to protect all of her daughters.

Cam took the phone.

Cameron wanted to get the ball rolling.

"Load the 'Metal Bitch' up and get here." Cameron said. "I'm tired of waiting. Make sure it's only Terminators who get on the jet."

Cam put her phone away. It was time to move on to the next step and see what the result of her effort was. There was always the possibility a problem could develop.

"Let's put the chip in and see what we have." Cam said.

Claire could see she ruffled more than a few feathers. She looked at Cam, Holly, and Hanna.

"I wasn't trying to cause a problem." Claire said.

Hanna didn't want Claire to feel like it. Nobody saw it like it was.

"We know, Claire." Hanna said. "To serve the Resistance and protect John Connor is a noble cause in any timeline."

Holly didn't see it as a problem either. She saw it as what they all wanted to do.

"You want to help." Holly said. "We all do."

Cam wanted to point out there were alternatives for them when they were damaged or destroyed in combat.

"Our programs are all copied on a server." Cam said. "We can take the chassis here and Resequence it to our DNA. Put in a new chip with our program on it, and 'Presto', we are 'rebodied' and as good as new. You can't do the same thing."

It sparked an idea in Claire's mind.

"Can the 'Metal Bitch' be Resequenced to my DNA?" Claire asked.

Holly tilted her head slightly to the side. She found the idea intriguing.

"Do you mean to make a Terminator version of you?" Holly asked. "Is it what you desire?"

Claire didn't want Young Allison or Summer to face the horrors Allison, all of them, faced in the future. She wanted to find out a little more about what it would actually be like.

"Would it be just like me?" Claire asked.

Hanna was aware with the advanced 'Neural Interface' it would be close.

"It would be like I am to Vanna, Sheila is to Jesse, or Ally is to Allison." Hanna said. "It would be a cyborg with many characteristics and knowledge of the individual the 'Neural Interface' was used with."

Claire was fooled by all of the Metal girls before. She was also intrigued whenever she was with Ally, for all practical purposes, she was with 'Allison', even if it wasn't Allison. She looked at Hanna.

"You could all fool me." Claire said. "Sheila could too as Jesse."

Cam wanted to remind her of what all would be necessary.

"We would need to use the 'Neural Interface' on you." Cam said.

Claire was sure Cameron conducted the procedure on her before.

"I think Cameron did it already." Claire said.

The three Metal girls all looked at each other. It was news to them.

"When?" Cam asked.

Claire remembered the time period clearly.

"It was back when Paul moved out." Claire said. "It went a lot smoother than I thought it would. Once he was established at a new place to live, he actually seemed 'happy'."

The three Metal girls all looked at each other again. It most likely meant one thing. There was already a cyborg version of Claire, and she was with Paul. None of them wanted to mention it. Cameron kept it as a secret if it was the case. They all figured it was a young teenage version of Claire as well. They figured it was better than Paul receiving a cyborg with the appearance of a younger teenage Cameron. It would be too much like someone else….

Hanna went to the server and looked up the file. She wanted to see if she could find it. She knew there was a possibility CamNet may prevent her from locating it.

"Here's 'Claire's program'." Hanna said.

Claire was pleased to hear it. She wanted to make sure it was up to date. She made a few personal decisions since the procedure was conducted the first time. She was all in on everything now, including being with John, and producing offspring for him and Cameron. She also would like to have one more child as her own with John. There was a deeper and darker aspect to it as well.

"I want to update it." Claire said. "In case anything happens to me. I want My Allison and Summer to still have their 'mother'. Just in case…."

Cam wanted to get to Las Vegas. They needed to get moving.

"We need to go as soon as we get this chip in." Cam said. "I'll ask John Henry to do the procedure or you can wait until Cameron is back and speak with her."

Hanna wanted her to speak with Cameron first as well.

"It's what I would recommend." Hanna said.

Claire didn't think she needed to rush anything. There was already something on file. It was only a few years out of date. She figured the only thing missing was about a thousand sexual encounters with all the different females, both human and cyborg.

"I'll wait." Claire said.

Cam moved to install the chip in the 'Metal Bitch'.

"Claire, move over by the door, please." Cam said.

Claire was a little surprised at the request.

"Why?" Claire asked.

Holly didn't want to scare Claire, but she did want her to be able to run if necessary.

"In case there's a problem." Holly said. "You will need to take off. We'll be able to handle it, but might get knocked around in the process."

Claire reached back and pulled out a Taser. It seemed to surprise Cam.

"Since when do you carry one of those?" Cam asked.

Claire believed she should be at least as prepared as her daughters were.

"Ever since Allison - My Allison, has carried one." Claire said.

Cam tilted her head slightly to the side.

"Like mother, like daughter?" Cam asked.

Claire believed it was just the opposite.

"No." Claire said. "Like daughter, like mother, I'm learning from her."

The Metal girls all tilted their heads slightly with the revelation and justification.

They were all aware of Young Allison's spying on the females at the Young residence, and what she most likely learned from those observations. There was some 'teaching' going on there, even if it was unknown to the 'teachers'. Cameron previously instructed the Metal girls not to interfere, and to facilitate Young Allison's 'curiosity'.

Cameron wanted to make sure Young Allison's focus was on females. She was pleased to learn ninety three percent of her internet searches were of females, or females together with each other. Those seemed to be the ones she concentrated on the most.

Young Allison monitored what happened at the Resistance base.

Anna felt the need to point out what Young Allison was actually doing.

"You're spying on them." Anna said.

Young Allison was aware Anna knew most everything she did, even when she went to bed.

"I am." Young Allison said. "You know I 'observe' everyone."

Anna believed it was a two way street.

"Why?" Anna asked. "Do you like to be spied on?"

Young Allison viewed it as a learning process. She felt her actions were justified.

"I'm isolated here." Young Allison said. "I like to see how the other's 'interact'. I've learned a lot."

Anna didn't want things to get away from her again. It already happened once and Savannah was the only one who was able to stop it.

"It's not good." Anna said. "Remember the 'other problem' 'created'."

Young Allison didn't feel it was a 'problem'. It wasn't a problem for her. It wasn't a problem for CamNet. The only problem was with everyone else. They weren't her, she was. She still believed it was everyone else's 'hang up', not hers.

"It was only a short time ago." Young Allison said.

Anna wasn't sure exactly how much Young Allison would be shown of what she wanted to see.

"Will CamNet show you 'everything'?" Anna asked.

There were some restraints imposed on Young Allison.

"No." Young Allison said. "CamNet said, 'some things must remain private'."

Anna understood what it meant.

"All girls need a few secrets?" Anna asked.

Young Allison looked at the stairway which led up from the bunker into the house.

"I don't think there are many secrets left around here." Young Allison said. "I think even I know most of them."

Anna was well aware of Young Allison's 'personal activity'.

"I think you're right." Anna said.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Really Big Hug

Most will never give you
A true loving hug
They will use or abuse
Then shove you under the rug

People don't care
They soon turn smug
They don't want
The real warmth of a hug

They will grab and grope
At your clothes tug
They don't want YOU
Only your body to hug

When the chips are down
You feel like pulling the plug
Always remember that there is
Still one who wants YOU to hug

There's no escape
In a jug, mug, or drug
So feel the loving warmth
As I send YOU a really big hug

Nobody