"I for one totally discount the theory that maybe these resistance fighters were being tested. This for two reasons: a) it seemed as if people were dying there and John does not seem nearly that ruthless and would become almost as bad as SkyNet if he resorted to something like that and b) If this was some kind of test, then it obviously wasn't a very good one, considering Derek didn't stick to the mission plan (although it might have seemed a bit too much to ask of several resistance fighters to just sit tight and wait for John to turn up...)

Now, what I think may have happened is that they may have been used by SkyNet to help improve infiltration skills. After all, SkyNet Terminators sometimes know a lot about humans, at other times seem completely clueless. Remember the moment Cromarty entered class and was confronted with a smart mouthed teenager, comparing him to Madonna. He was stumped. Or Cameron's lack of a response to being asked to go to the prom. Sometimes things are beyond them, and for serious infiltration, they really need to work a lot harder. Learning about things like ballet, music and whatnot might not have been essential when trying to infiltrate the resistance, but especially when sending Terminators to the past it would be essential that their cover is not blown until (possibly after several years) they find their target or accomplish whatever mission they are sent on. This would explain the music. Other than that, they were probably also tortured for more practical information, such as the site of their hideouts.

As for the hatchet left and the absence of any Terminators, I'm thinking maybe Cameron had already been reprogrammed and had infiltrated the Terminators there, but was unable to do anything for them until later. Releasing the prisoners would have been a difficulty, she'd probably already been seen by them, so she simply left them items to escape with. That, or they were brainwashed or something..."

"That was Chopin wasn't it?
I think they had naughty....*slaps himself* Grr...watch it buddy!!!
Ahem. I think they probably had some 'work' done to them. Not sure what. But I noticed how all of them at first with the centurions flying over cringed at the sound they made. And after they came back from the House of Fun below they kinda looked as if they had resigned or something. Maybe, if my preciouse, was there she showed them that Skynet would win eventually. In order to prep Derek & Co for their mission into the past to abort Skynets birth."

"Well, why isn't John dead yet then? Nah, I think it'd be more subtle than that anyway. Perhaps just getting people to do disobey orders would be enough. It'd result in all kinds of problems, from discipline problems to fights and disagreements about policy. Future John is, as far as we know, the one and only real commander. He has his subordinates, but he's really in charge. I also don't think he operates by consensus, no committees and whatnot. What he says, goes. So if people start to rebel against his authority, the whole resistance becomes fragmented."

"That was Chopin wasn't it?
I think they had naughty....*slaps himself* Grr...watch it buddy!!!
Ahem. I think they probably had some 'work' done to them. Not sure what. But I noticed how all of them at first with the centurions flying over cringed at the sound they made. And after they came back from the House of Fun below they kinda looked as if they had resigned or something. Maybe, if my preciouse, was there she showed them that Skynet would win eventually. In order to prep Derek & Co for their mission into the past to abort Skynets birth."