Chapter 11
Replaced
Jim was able to stand everyone down. It was a couple of 'Friendlies' that arrived. It was John Henry and a Resistance fighter. The base was now off alert. Weapons were returned back to the security of their lockers. Life resumed where it stopped. Skynet hadn't tracked them down again - yet. That threat still remained.
The constant worry of Skynet or one of its affiliates finding them was real. Mrs. Weaver had been targeted and Savannah Weaver had been targeted. Mr. Ellison became the spokesperson for the company. He'd been targeted too at one point. They'd decided to report the news that Mrs. Weaver and Savannah were both killed in the 'accident' that occurred at the company headquarters. That was when a small aircraft seemed to have encountered some control problems and an unfortunate accident occurred. They did not want to report it as 'terrorist' attack or directed attack. The value of the company would drop if the truth were known.
Cameron and Vanna were in the lab.
Cameron received the information updates from Cameron Two almost as fast as Jim processed it. There were some interesting developments. Not all of them were good.
As Cameron put the weapons back, Cameron Two fed her some disturbing information. She froze in place at what was revealed. She stopped what she was doing. Her left hand experienced a slight glitch. There was a heaviness in her - heart. She stood up and looked at Vanna. She knew what she needed to do. It was the right thing.
There was a feeling of sadness that touched Cameron in a way she was unsure of or why. No, she knew why.
Cameron turned to Vanna.
"Come here, Vanna." Cameron said. "Please."
Vanna walked over. It appeared that Cameron wanted to tell her something.
"Yes?" Vanna asked.
There was a faint smile on Cameron's face that helped mask her growing sadness.
"That was a brave thing you did." Cameron said. "I am not worth your life."
Vanna did not want to argue the point with Cameron. To her, Cameron was worth her life. She loved Cameron. She would do anything for her. Vanna would never abandon Cameron. She would die first.
"You are trapped here. I could not leave you." Vanna said. "I will not leave you."
Cameron could see Vanna meant what she said. She appreciated that level of commitment.
"It will have to be a comfort to me to know that you would not leave me in the face of death." Cameron said. "I will never forget that. I promise to make that and THIS up to you one day somehow."
Vanna was thrown off by Cameron's wording.
"What?" Vanna asked very confused.
Cameron was unsure how best to proceed.
"Give me a hug, Vanna." Cameron said.
The two embraced. Cameron took two steps back. She looked Vanna in the eyes.
"Look at me." Cameron said.
Vanna looked. She was aroused to have Cameron standing topless in front of her. She said what she felt.
"You're ravishing, Cameron." Vanna said. "Nobody is a beautiful as you are."
Cameron felt empty.
"Take a good look." Cameron said.
Vanna was worried where this conversation was going.
"Why?" Vanna asked.
Cameron's face lost all expression. It was as if a part of her had withered.
"Your wish has been granted." Cameron said. "You get to see and touch the real thing now."
Vanna was even more confused by Cameron's words.
"What do you mean?" Vanna asked.
The faint smile returned to Cameron's face. She was pleased that Vanna would be able to find some joy and happiness in her life.
"The Resistance Fighter is Allison - Your Allison." Cameron said. "Now you have the REAL person. You can again have what you really want and who you really love."
Vanna had trouble processing what Cameron just said. She was still focused on Cameron.
"You're real, Cameron." Vanna said. "I… I… I don't know what to do."
Cameron knew there was only one thing for Vanna to do.
"I do. Your beloved has come for you. Go to her. Go." Cameron said. "Take the rest of the day off and come back tomorrow. You have a lot of catching up to do. Share your love with the one who deserves it. Your true love has come for you."
Vanna started crying.
"I'm sorry, Cameron." Vanna sobbed.
A sense of resignation came over Cameron.
"Aren't we all." Cameron said.
Vanna left in tears to find Allison.
The story always seemed to end the same way Cameron thought.
Cameron slowly put her top back on. In just a few seconds she was Tight again. It was like nothing ever happened except her hand was still glitching. Another chance at love and sharing was just stolen from her in an instant. The hollowness of her heart hurt.
'Replaced'. Cameron thought to herself.
It seemed to be the story of her existence - her life.
Cameron decided she needed to call Sarah and do so quickly. She laid out a plan and some insurance. There were other matters to deal with now.
As Cameron called Sarah the printer worked furiously in the background. Cameron was printing more poems of sadness and sorrow.
John Henry needed to speak with Cameron.
Cameron asked Sarah to have Mr. Ellison stall him for a few minutes before he came to see her. Cameron needed to get a few 'things' in place first. If she was going to play a game, she would play to win.
Everything was quickly put into action and was now ready.
Cameron waited behind a workbench.
John Henry entered the lab and came towards Cameron.
Cameron wanted answers.
"Where's John?" Cameron asked.
John Henry saw John only a short time ago.
"He is fine." John Henry said.
Cameron was relieved to hear that. She wanted her chip back now so she could bring him home. She was sure getting it back was going to be a problem. It was time to be forceful.
"My chip, give it to me – NOW." Cameron demanded.
Cameron lifted her M79 and pointed it directly at John Henry. There was the possibility he was not who he appeared to be. It was a strong possibility too.
John Henry scanned the weapon that Cameron held.
"That weapon would appear to do more damage to Mrs. Weaver than me. It would not incapacitate me but it would severely damage my sheath." John Henry said.
Cameron smiled at him. She shifted her eyes ever so slightly. John Henry followed her gaze.
"This will." Sarah said.
She was concealed off to the side. John Henry was unaware of her presence and now he was in the kill zone.
There was an audible 'click' as Sarah released the safety on Mr. Ellison's M60. It was almost deafening in the silence of the lab.
John Henry looked over at Sarah and noted the Coltan rounds in the belt. They would damage his chassis beyond repair.
Sarah still saw 'Cromartie' in John Henry. It would be easy for her to pull the trigger and hold down on it.
"I'll pump you full of these, I swear." Sarah said.
John Henry was aware of her reputation.
"I am sure you would." John Henry said.
Cameron was tired of waiting. She held the upper hand now.
"I need my chip." Cameron demanded again. "Come and give it to me."
John Henry hadn't moved. He was sure any choice he made would be the wrong choice.
Sarah did not like the delay.
"Do it - NOW." Sarah said. "I'll light you up."
John Henry was at a disadvantage.
"I don't have it." John Henry said.
Sarah did not buy it. She wanted results. She wanted John back.
"Give her yours or you're scrap metal." Sarah said.
John Henry needed some time to clear things up.
"Let me explain." John Henry said.
Sarah wanted results, not excuses.
"I've been itching to smoke some Metal, so might just as well be you." Sarah said.
She pulled the M60 stock tight into her shoulder, her finger tightening on the trigger.
Cameron could see Sarah was about to cut John Henry down. She needed to learn more first.
"Wait." Cameron said.
John Henry was sure he could clear things up.
"Let me interface with - myself or 'Jim' as I am now told by Mr. Ellison and you can review all the data and files directly." John Henry said.
Cameron would have Cameron Two do that in case it was a trick or there was a terminal virus unleashed.
Sarah still wanted a few answers.
"What's the story on the girl?" Sarah asked.
John Henry could explain that one quickly.
"I can tell you that now." John Henry said.
Sarah wanted to hear it.
"This better be good." Sarah said.
John Henry decided to keep it simple.
"She was targeted for termination. I took a few rounds in my back as we used the TDE. John, Mrs. Weaver and..." John Henry paused as he looked at Cameron and the M79 still pointed at him. "And - another friendly Terminator drove the Grays away that attacked us."
Sarah wanted the information on the chip for Cameron.
"We need the information you have." Sarah said.
Cameron hadn't moved or spoken again since her first few words, she lowered the M79. She looked sternly at John Henry.
"Do it." Cameron said. "I want everything. I want it now."
John Henry left the lab. He glanced back once as he exited. He knew that it was a close one for him, a little too close.
Cameron walked over to Sarah and helped her up.
"Thank you, Sarah, for being there for me." Cameron said.
Sarah knew she needed Cameron's help.
"You're all I have left here until you bring John back to me, to US. I know you are going to be the one to do it." Sarah said. "I have known it ever since John left."
Sarah knew Cameron was the only one who could do it. John would return for Cameron. John would return with her.
A few minutes later the information was being fed to Cameron as Cameron Two cleared it. She saw everything that John Henry did and experienced right up to the point where he met up with Mrs. Weaver and John in a Skynet factory.
What she learned was that 'John Henry' was transferred to a new chip off of her chip. The feed soon restarted again. They were about to put her chip in a new chassis. John insisted on it. The feed suddenly went blank.
All the information to Cameron stopped. She wondered if it was an 'attack'.
"What's happening?" Cameron asked through the com system.
"Cameron Two is trying to erase herself." Jim said.
"Both - Jim and I are trying to stop her." John Henry told her.
Maybe this is the 'attack' she feared.
"Is it some kind of virus?" Cameron asked.
"No, she is self terminating." John Henry said. "I didn't think this was possible."
Cameron needed answers and she needed them now.
"Let me see what she saw immediately." Cameron demanded.
Cameron knew something catastrophic must have happened for Cameron Two to try to self terminate. This was going to be bad news of some kind. Maybe John was terminated. If John was dead, Cameron was going to self terminate also. There was no point to exist if that were the case.
The door began to open to the lab.
The feed restarted.
Cameron saw her chip being inserted into a new Terminator chassis. It was a blonde haired, big busted female chassis. She wanted to scream. It was very similar to - Riley. No wonder Cameron Two attempted to self terminate.
Cameron broke the feed. Her left hand glitched wildly out of control. She knew she was close to shutting down.
'Replaced!' Cameron almost screamed.
The lab door closed.
"So where is Cameron?" A voice asked.
Cameron stood up, turned around and looked at her. It was a ghost from her past.
'Replaced!' Cameron wanted to scream again.
Cameron extended her hand and smiled.
"Hello, Allison, I'm Cameron."
Replaced
Not good enough
It makes you feel dejected
The next step in life
Is to be rejected
It means someone thinks
That others are superior
Do they even know
What's in the interloper's interior
It crushes your spirit
It is yourself that you blame
Your world slowly collapses
You are filled full of shame
It seems very easy
To be thrown away
Your words mean nothing
They don't care what you say
You try to hang on
There is no hand to hold
You radiate love's heat
Yet are showered with cold
Sometimes things happen
Leaving you feeling disgraced
It cuts to the very bone
To know you've been replaced
Nobody