Previously, a lot has happened. Sonia was trapped in the bank vault but was eventually released with Catherine's help.
Sonia is livid in a Skynet kind of way (think of j-day). She wanted to kill the perpetrators but brave Lesley was able to rein her in, even if there was a risk of being killed by her – she had no idea what Sonia was thinking. (processing).
Both cyborgs have used improper means to get themselves impregnated. Logically, they should never do this as it endangers John for many reasons. Why did they do it? Yes, of course, you would think that their developing emotions have made them broody and maternal. Read on, you are in for a surprise.
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1962 – 30 July Tuesday – Tilley is at school.
Now is the time for Cameron to buy a cheap looking car (flivver) but first she must have driving ID. Sarah has already told her that she must not kill policemen, so it is a better idea to produce ID if stopped. (T:SCC ch2 Gnothi Seauton).
She takes Oleg by bus to the city & locates a large stationer's artistry shop. The young female assistant appears more than ready to help a customer.
She asks if it is OK to sample the inks & paints, putting a $5 bill in her hand, "I am sitting an exam for a glossy mag. My gothic grunge characters must be perfect".
The girl smiles then heads off to find a dictionary, she imagines in her mind pictures of Frankensteins and Lurchs daubed on walls. She thought Cameron said 'gunge'.
Cameron occasionally observes her whilst she takes lids off of tubes & tins, sniffs & touches with different fingers.
After the girl has flicked though the pages of the dictionary, found the word and read it, she mouths 'oh' and nods her head.
Cameron smiles at her as she looks across the room & their faces meet.
Oleg looks to see where Cam is looking, sees the pretty girl & smiles too.
Cam believes she might require help choosing another dress for her 1st night.
So, after loading lots of items in to 2 baskets, asks the assistant where best to buy a nice modern outfit.
She suggests 'Trendy Wendy' just around the corner. She tells Cameron how much her items will cost, which is carefully monitored, just in case the pricing is wrong.
The assistant named Jane says "are yer goin for a good night out?"
"Yes, I will be singing at the 'Spur Em On' on Friday".
"Oh wow, I'd love ter go there, are there any more tickets or can we just walk in?"
"I believe it is free".
"Good, my boyfriend & I like to jive".
"If you promise to turn up I will sing some jive songs".
"Great, we'll be there".
Back home, Oleg finds out what Cameron is up to & can't believe his eyes at the way she draws the marriage cert. It is as though it is being printed after being spooled, from the top of the page to the bottom, as she draws a stamped Mississippi logo on to the blank sheet.
He is sent to the kitchen to peel & chop the veg.
As Cameron does her intricate paint work, Oleg does as he is asked & brings in the bags of various metal filings & drug store vitamins, including vit. C & iron. Cameron has stored them on a cupboard. (Since arriving from 2024, she has been able to rinse out her bag of iron filings and remove all the grindstone grit).
Next, he brings in chopped up liver, heart, kidney & various meat, plus black sausage and a big spoon. (The butcher has agreed to make up small amounts of each item when she goes to his shop).
She has Oleg well trained to help when she is busy with other things.
As he walks in and out of the sitting room, he asks her if she would like a drink, which is answered with "yes" and a small smile.
Oleg is impressed with the work(wo)manship.
Cameron stands up & walks over to the immaculately clean cooker & places the document on cardboard from a box which is on a clean baking tray.
She places that on a grilling tray, which rests on the grill oven.
Next the oven is turned on, to cook a large chicken containing walnuts which she shelled earlier with the crushing of her fingers.
She was clever enough to wrap them in a towel first.
Out of the blue she says "we have to go Oleg(olyeg)".
Alarm "what's happened?"
"We need to meet Tilley from school".
Deep down, Cameron is worried that another Dean/Marta expulsion might be what they are greeted with.
'This is what is meant by childrearing, anything could happen' she thinks.
Oleg replies "oh, that's all right then".
Cameron notices Oleg checking the mirror & combing his hair. He has already shaven.
She will check the reason for this outside the school gates.
When they turn the corner to the school, a wheelchair & some women outside their cars can be seen.
At this point, Oleg does not seem to want to know Cameron & slows down.
He says "Keep going, I'll let you meet Tilley Alone".
Inside the gate, Tilley is talking to a lady as she hears from the boy in the wheelchair "cor, that must be her".
The wheelchair moves forward & holding the handles is Tilley.
Smiles all round.
Cameron thinks 'that boy likes the way I look'.
As she approaches, Tilley says "this is Eddy and that is his mom Mrs Jordan".
Cameron is surprised & returns the compliment "I am Mrs Cameron & this is my husband Oleg".
Oleg smiles then looks around to see if anybody heard – possibly not but now it would seem that Cameron is his wife.
Cameron says "please use 'Sonia', Tilley calls me Cameron or Mom. She is our adopted daughter.
I need to get home. Our chicken is cooking in the oven".
Mrs Jordan's face shows that she is surprised they adopted Tilley but is OK with it.
Tilley asks "can Eddy come with us & have dinner? I'll take him home after. Please Cam, er Son, er mom".
(Tilley turns her head to face Mrs Jordan)(smile) "I'm still getting used to the idea, I'm really happy now. If he can stay the night I'll tell him stories.
He said he likes Frankie Stein movies about a big nasty man. I know lots of things to tell him. Will that be OK?"
Tilley eventually stops yakking.
Eddy looks up to his mom as she says "I don't have any clean underwear for you".
Tilley trying to get her way says "if he gets them dirty, I'll wash them for him. I did it many times for injured people".
Cameron quickly interjects "before she was adopted, she was kept prisoner with others by slave smugglers.
Can you imagine that happening in this country? If Eddy is coming, you must push him but we must go now".
Mrs Jordan, being of average mind, says "sure, but be good Ed. You hear!", then thinks about what Cameron has just said.
"Sure mom, come on Til, let's get out of here".
It seems his life at home is a little mundane. Eddy has a fairly large head, curly hair and his ears are quite thick and protrude slightly.
When they get home, Cameron carries Eddy up the stairs. This would kill a normal person.
He says he can walk with his calliper but she wants them up there & through the door quickly.
Indoors, she heads for the cooker.
The marriage cert is dryer but now it must finish drying in fresh air.
She takes it over to a high shelf in the sitting room & leaves it there.
Cam has a small problem, no gravy.
She still has food in her oesophagus from earlier that morning, but traces of vits, filings et al have been absorbed.
She takes a saucepan in to the bathroom & regurgitates some of it, leaving the rest for her child.
It is fairly thick in texture & the addition of a meat cube, some flour, a touch of salt & 2 spoons of tomato ketchup should do the trick.
An hour later they are eating around the table.
Cameron hears words like 'mmmmm' & 'yum yum'.
An hour later, if anyone listens carefully, they will hear Cameron barfing over the toilet again.
She will eat her own meal with the apartment rent payers.
Soon Anthony/Sylvia will be home.
Cameron has instructed Tilley to wait outside for them to tell them about their guest.
As they go up the stairs, she tells them that his mother did not have him inoculated against polio when he was a baby.
"Oh" is all they can think to say.
Cameron sits with the siblings during their meal, having given Til/Ed a pen & pad from the same stationer.
She says between mouthfuls, immaculately emulating a human to speak with an empty mouth & licking her teeth & lips:
"OK, write down what we have eaten, as follows: walnut – nuez, next line, chicken = pollo, vegetable = vegetal, cabbage = berza, carrot = zanahoria". (Pron. Nueth, poyo, bexetal, bertha, djanahordja resp).
The 2 help each other with the letters, words & pronunciations as Tilley tells Eddy how she learnt the alphabet & write some words.
Sylvia & Anthony are quite intrigued when she explains "my friend will be ever so happy to see me. Cameron, er mom told me that she cries for me because she thinks I'm dead. It makes me sad to think of Allison getting up in the night to cuddle her – that's my job".
Eddy asks "does she have a father?"
"No, he died a long time ago in 2015 when mommy was carrying me away from a terminator attack – I was only 2.
My mom was very brave but she caught a disease & died.
After that, Conny tells me she looked after me. We are very lucky to be alive. She told me that mommy was black and daddy was white".
Cameron is not bothered by these stories, as they are looked upon only as stories by a girl with a vivid imagination.
Eddy for one, is certainly mesmerised – as is Sylvia. Tony is conversely creeped out and believes every word.
Tilly then tells Eddy another fact, as she looks around the room, "I forgot to tell you, Conny is Mexican. Her name is short for Contessa, Contessa Alvarez. I'm not sure if Marta has an English meaning – perhaps it is Maria or Martha or something. I'll ask her when I meet her. I can't wait. Conny is very strong and brave. She has a temper and says lots of swear words."
"Like what?" says Eddy
"Er, mother fucker is one word. I was not sure who was supposed to be doing it, so I asked her whether it was a son or someone else. She got ever so annoyed and told me not to ask a question like that".
Eddy, even Tony had to smile at that and the subject had to be, in Cameron's favourite word, 'terminated'.
After evening meal the siblings wash up, giving Cameron time to check Tilley's book bag.
There is a letter inside. She reads it. (school heading on the top & date).
Dear Mrs Cameron, now that your daughter has been at school one day, it is important that she is identifiable as one of our pupils.
We require that she wear our standard skirt, blouse, cardigan, white socks & brown sandal-shoes.
She will also need the stationery itemised on the attached list.
Thank you for supplying her with some educational books but unfortunately she will need the book on the yellow list to cover our curriculum.
I noticed today that she came with sandwiches etc. for her lunch. I wouldn't suggest she give any of it to other children. If this is a problem please let me know. Yours faithfully, Ms M McDonald. Ps. Please don't forget Tilley's birth certificate, adoption details and your marriage certificate.
Cameron shows the letter to Tilley. "Oh, I forgot about that" – she reads it.
"No way, I'm not wearing a skirt, the boys are bound to try & see my panties".
Sylvia replies "they will if you continue to sit the way you do now & you must be careful to bend down ladylike".
"Eh?"
"Oh Cameron, you've got your work cut out" says Sylvia.
Cameron copies Tilley "eh?"
This actually makes Tony laugh. He asks "Do you wear skirts?"
"Yes, mostly when I am with John".
"And are you careful not to let him see your knickers?"
Straight face "no".
Now Eddy is laughing too.
Tilley stops laughing "no way, I'm wearing what I've got on now. They won't make me".
An agreement is made & Cameron neatly cuts then sows up another pair of her jeans just level with 2" down her inside leg.
Soon enough Eddy is about to be let down after Tony informs Cameron that Eddy cannot share a room with Tilley.
"If the authorities find out, the CPS might be involved".
Very soon Cameron is alone with Tony – she is under the impression he might blab.
"No (frightened), Eddy might tell somebody at school, some kids can't be trusted to keep secrets".
"Oh, thank you for explaining. I will write a letter for you to give to Mary-Belle's parents, asking them to let you stay tonight, telling them that we need your bed because Tilley's school friend's mother is ill".
"They won't believe it. Anyway, I'm not a kid. I don't need letters written to my parents. Who the hell do you think I am?"
"OK, I will come with you & bring the kids".
Tony gives in.
The next morning, (1 Aug 62), Cameron helped Eddy put on his calliper & trousers after he called for help. His condition made his legs quite large, as was his weight – not too bad though. She even gave him a vase the night before.
She was cyborgly surprised by his lack of inhibition in these matters. He asked that Tilley not come in the room).
Quite soon, Tony's car pulls up outside.
Tilley rushes to a window & shouts "Mary-Belle's kissing him (pause) now she has her arms around his neck".
She watches them get out the car "Tony has tapped her on the ass & she run away smiling".
Cameron flatly says "they have made love".
Sylvia says loudly "CAMERON!"
They all laugh.
Eddy thinks this is a great place to live.
Once at school, Cameron shows her marriage cert to reception & promises to have her birth & adoption papers tomorrow.
Back home, Cameron has a rummage.
She finds Tony's birth cert in a draw in his bedroom but Sylvia's cannot be found.
This will have to do.
She scans both sides & puts everything back in their exact positions.
She soon gets to work after gnashing through a piece of uncooked smoked haddock & raw carrot.
Oleg has a rough idea that she is a terminator with flesh but does not say anything.
Very soon, the cert is over the cooker drying.
Oleg is unprepared to be setting off to a marriage records office but Cameron is a kind of 'spur of the moment' kind of girl.
They go by Bus.
Once inside, Cameron finds that the adoption of an afro-Caribbean-American girl could prove difficult & take a long time because of 'red tape'. (Yes you are right. Cameron asked what the tape was needed for).
When the woman starts asking questions, Cam says "OK, I'll tell her mother that. By the way, she has cancer".
The woman says "Oh, sorry to hear that. Get her to agree to make you godmother. That could help you to foster the girl if you go through the correct channels with the authorities".
"Thank you for explaining (smile)".
Cameron grabs Oleg's hand saying "I'll let you tell her what we are going to do when we meet her at school".
Oleg understands & puts his hand around her waist, "sure".
He is a little confused by the signals he receives – does she want to be married to him for instance.
The pair goes in to a breakfast/lunch/diner for Oleg's benefit – he enjoys the percolated coffee.
Now it is time to head back, get the shopping, then wait for Tilley to come out of school & receive some unsettling news.
First of all, Cameron befriends the first woman she sees & asks her if there are many adopted or fostered children at the school.
The reply is "well, I'm sure Jesalyn Bell must have, she's got 6 & none of them look the same haha. D'yer wanna hear a joke?"
"OK".
"A husband & wife have been married for 15 years & have 10 boys.
Her man sez t' her; 'Mary, I've been meaning t' ask yer a question for a long time. Jethro looks different from my other sons, who is his father?'
'You are'."
The woman heard another woman behind her laughing but Cameron was straight faced as she says "that is good. I am sure he would not like to think that another man had inseminated his wife".
Both women turn to face each other & laugh.
Cameron turns & walks away then hears "is she dense or pretendin t' be?"
The children in Tilley's class come out ….. but not Tilley!
Alarm.
Eddy is there, he is always sent out early to avoid the rush. As soon as he sees Cameron his face drops.
She says anxiously & slightly high in octave, which is how her emotional response has developed "where is Tilley?"
"Sitting in the registrar office Mrs Cameron".
Heads turn.
A fast 'Cameron stomp' up to the door. It flies open faster than what could be considered normal.
'BLAM' as the big rubber stop flies off & hits the wall. Now faces really are looking. Eddy is shocked.
Cam walks a short distance to see Tilley looking glum, sitting on a chair in the registrar room with her skirt in her hands.
She sees Cameron & stands up.
"What did you do?"
"Mr Mitchell made me take my shorts off".
Cameron's eyes turn a light shade of mauve (blue/red). "Where is he?"
"Ms Matthews says she wants to talk to you".
"Put your skirt on, stay there".
As Cam leaves the room with a terrifically fast about turn, Tilley is shocked & looks to see if the registrar lady saw her.
Her horror filled face says everything.
(Cameron's eyes only slightly glowed).
She reaches the principal's office, opens the door & stands there waiting for something to be said.
From the road, the room is visible – the window is large, originally chosen to keep an eye on the kids. The mothers can see everything.
"Ah Mrs Cameron, please take a seat".
"I don't want it".
"OK, I had to intervene in an incident today. Tilley is refusing to obey dress code & do as her teacher asked her to: (here is the actual sequence of events).
Mr Mitchell is at the back of the room showing a girl 79° of a circle on her set square. She held it on an incorrectly set centre dot.
Tilley's pencil eraser falls on the floor under the seat of the boy in f front of her.
Without thinking, she uses a tunnel tactic when retrieving a dropped weapon.
She leans right over the desk and grasps it.
"Why are you wearing shorts Tilley?"
"So that people don't stare up my panties".
"Miss Ramsey, you should not be leaning over desks to pick things up".
"Well I can't help that, I got what I wanted without harming you".
"That is disrespectful. You must learn to be a little lady. Go to the bathroom & take them off".
Tilley undoes her skirt "I'd rather take this off. I feel more decent".
"TAKE THEM OFF".
"NO WAY YOU PERV., I'M NOT SITTING AROUND IN MY PANTIES".
"I DIDN'T MEAN JUST WEAR THEM".
"YOU WANT THEM OFF TOO, I'M GOING TO MS MATTHEWS" She storms out the room & runs up the corridor.
She flings the door open & without lowering her voice "MR MITCHELL WANTS ME TO TAKE MY PANTIES OFF".
Ms Matthews is sitting with her secretary.
The entire classroom across the corridor can hear.
"Come in here and shut the door. What the hell are you talking about?"
Tilley starts to explain things very fast, as she saw them.
Then there is a knock at the door.
It opens "ah there you are".
Tilley sees Mr Mitchell, "HE'S STILL AFTER ME. CALL MY MOM".
Now Ms Matthews is sweating (not literally).
"Look, Mr Mitchell, please go back to your class, we'll speak later".
"WHAT? ARE ALL THE GIRLS NOT…."
"TILLEY, BE QUIET. MR MITCHELL GO".
Ms Matthews is thinking about Cameron, her reaction, possible authority involvement, the afro-Caribbean reaction, 'hell the police', her job.
These things go through her mind but of course she does not expect it to go that far.
She speaks in a calm tone "Michelle, we'll talk later".
"Yes Ms Matthews".
She looks at Tilley "tell me exactly what was said word for word".
Cameron intervenes & says "Tilley is unable to be ladylike, let her keep her shorts or I will take this further".
"I'm sorry Ms Cameron, I have rules to abide by".
Cameron instinctively walks behind Ms Matthews and emerges the other side – almost matching CW in a stare competition.
She says "I have rules too, Tilley's wellbeing. If she feels threatened by one of your rules, then the rule must change".
"I can't do that".
"I want Tilley to have a decent education at this school". (The children are ferrying out of school).
She continues "I will be visiting all the parents and children in Tilley's class for their version of events. Are you sure you want all that?" (2nd circle).
"You are using threatening behaviour, this is unacceptable".
"Possibly, but it is not wise to cross me. So do you agree to change this rule?"
"Er"
"We will turn up on time in the morning".
Cameron walks very fast out of the office only glancing at Tilley. "Come on".
Tilley rushes out after her.
They meet Oleg and walk home in silence.
Tilley looks at Oleg, Oleg looks at Tilley.
Indoors, Cameron prepares dinner, alone, leaving Tilley to give Oleg her version of events.
They will not eat until the siblings get home.
It will be a simple meal of smoked haddock, peas & potatoes, which will be followed by ice cream & tinned cherries.
Making Tilley wait is her punishment. (Even if Oleg has to wait too – which annoys him and his stomach agrees with him).
It is a good job there is plenty to eat. (It smells really nice, which does not help matters).
It is during this time that Cameron chooses to speak "you played him".
Tilley looks up "what?"
"What you did had consequences. I am sure by now you know what I am. When I am with you Tilley, I switch off my Skynet responses to situations.
I have also switched off my Allison infiltration processes – after all, they are only mimics.
I am trying to be a good mother to you Tilley and as such, I want to act as human as possible.
I want to learn to blend & master childrearing.
I now know what you are capable of & will prepare myself to expect such things in future".
Cameron knows that now is a good time to hug Tilley.
She goes over with her arms outstretched in the hope that Tilley would stand up & reciprocate.
Tilley is embarrassed & looks at Oleg's face.
Oleg ushers Tilley to stand with a head nod.
Cameron continues with her lecture whilst giving a gentle squeeze "what you did was very clever & well thought out but the consequences involved me.
You should have told me what you had planned & I would have told you not to visit the principle & involve me.
I must keep a low profile when things happen that I am not able to handle properly".
"I'm sorry mom. By the way, did you know your eyes lit up?"
"When?"
"In the registrar office, I think the lady saw too".
(A quick diagnostic) "Oh yes 15:23.03s. It won't happen again. If Michelle in registrar asks about that, tell her I take mauve eye drops which are susceptible to increased pressure on the whites of my eyes. It is due to my heart pumping fast & raising my blood pressure. It makes them glow".
"OK".
"It is important that you make your teacher feel better about you. You must apologise and look sincere".
"Sincere".
"Show him by your facial expression and actions that you are sorry. I will visit your principal, Ms Matthews and tell her that you had a bad experience last year. Ever since then, you refuse to take any risks".
"What kind of experience?"
"You must not tell anybody. That way they will conjure up their own assumptions".
"Oh", says Tilley with a grin.
"When lunchbox time occurs, you must sincerely apologise to Ms Matthews too".
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Back in 2009, 27 February
The 2 small teams, Derek & Contessa/Thomas & Allison, head off in their respective destinations. They have changed time for 2 individuals in big ways. They have not affected our timeline because Rebecca (scarf in bus door) has been plucked from Soviet era 2011. June's husband has been taken from the future – 1 week to be precise. Therefore there will now be 2 genetically identical double husbands for June. What a surprise she will get.
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In the next chapter, unexpected hell breaks out. This is followed by more hellish things. Oh yeah, there is hell before 'unexpected hell too'. To cap it all, the worst thing imaginable happens to Lesley, and then believe it or not, something else happens to her. Make a note of this and see if I am right.
Oh & Yeah, in 1962 Mississippi, something horrible happens there too. (Very bad to be precise and it results in something very very surprising for everybody).
I have to admit, in the next chapter, I found writing Sonia's escape from FBI HQ very very difficult. I wanted you to picture exactly what was happening. Just like T3 when Arnie hangs on to the crane lorry hook. I should imagine writing that was hard to describe if you really wanted to portray everything, such as things like the child's play house being squashed, etc etc. (I bet you don't even remember that bit).