Chapter 14

Reunion

Cameron decided to take along some backup when she went into the future to find John. She determined that since John Henry was back that she could use the chassis of of 'Jim' that was formally serving in that capacity. 'Jim' was the chassis and modified sheath of the James Ellison Terminator.

Cameron carefully copied over her entire program from 'Cameron Two'. They were able to get the chip ready and repaired that was originally in the James Ellison Terminator. She double checked her work and installed the chip.

'Jim' opened his eyes and sat up. He then stood and walked around. This was essentially 'Cameron' in a male Terminator chassis at this point. It would have the Cameron Two 'personality' attributes. Cameron Two tried to self terminate previously.

"I won't be doing much ballet in this chassis." Jim-Cameron said.

Jim-Cameron still used Cameron's voice modulation.

They all laughed at that statement and the fact that Jim-Cameron sounded like Cameron.

Sarah briefly imagined Jim-Cameron wearing a pink ballet tutu, ballet slippers and doing a pirouette. It was an image she quickly tried to purge from her head without success. It kept popping back up.

Jim-Cameron looked down at his lower section.

"Not to forget the extra 'Junk' either." Jim-Cameron joked.

All five female voices laughed again. This time it was even louder.

Cameron was ready to get things moving now. She'd created reliable backup, which was essentially 'herself' and she was ready to go. She expressed some apprehension in what she was about to do. There may be some trust issues regarding John Henry.

"With the information from John Henry we know the exact time and location from where Allison was sent back from." Cameron said. "I am counting on Sarah and Allison to make sure no one interferes with anything. We're not sure what 'orders' John Henry has from Mrs. Weaver."

Cameron looked at Sarah and Sarah nodded. It was an unspoken message. She counted on Sarah to watch her back to make sure John was returned to this timeline. She knew Sarah would back any play that would bring John back to her. She knew Sarah would do whatever was necessary to make sure that happened. It was doubtful anyone would stand in Sarah's way.

Cameron reluctantly left the copy of her program on her server. She wanted to be very specific about what she wanted done.

"The copy of 'me' that hasn't yet been deleted from my server will ensure nothing goes wrong on that end. Vanna knows how to operate everything and make all this work." Cameron said. "If I don't come back, I ask that my server be erased. Without John here with me, I no longer desire to exist."

Vanna swallowed hard and there were tears in her eyes. The 'Cameron' on the server in the lab was 'Her Cameron'. That was the 'Cameron' she fell in love with.

Allison noticed the emotional exchange and wondered…. It was the second one she'd witnessed. She knew there was something going on there. It was obvious that Cameron looked like her but only better. It seemed to her that alone would make Vanna infatuated with Cameron. She hadn't been there and Cameron was. She'd made her play in the future with John. Things happen when you are all alone without the one you love. You want to love the one you're with.

Vanna didn't know if she could do that and erase 'Cameron'. She didn't know if she could 'kill' 'Cameron'. She would try to carry out Cameron's wishes.

"I'll do as you ask." Vanna said. "I promise, Cameron."

Jim-Cameron stood next to Cameron as she looked at Sarah, Vanna and Allison. She made her mission clear to them.

"I will not come back without John. Both of us will carry on to the end or our end." Cameron said. "I will not fail. I will search for John until my power cell runs out or I'm terminated."

Jim-Cameron was still irritated about the copy of Cameron's program, their program, that was placed in the near Riley look alike chassis in the future by John. He wanted some corrective action taken.

"What about that 'Bitch Whore'?" Jim-Cameron asked. "I'm going to terminate her myself."

Cameron planned to deal with that 'problem' on her own.

"She won't be returning with us and re-modulate your voice." Cameron said. "I will take care of her personally. I'm Cameron Prime you will follow my instructions."

Jim-Cameron re-modulated the voice and was now just Jim.

Jim nodded that Cameron was the one in charge even though their chips were identical.

Cameron figured there would be a future problem over this. Their programs were identical right now but every second apart 'Jim-Cameron' slowly became a different Terminator as was 'Cameron' on the 'Cameron server' in the lab. She needed to leave that copy in place to watch over John Henry until her return.

She was upset. Both of them were upset that John used that female chassis for a replacement of her. She would rather self terminate than become a Riley 'look alike'. John already chose Future Riley over her once. Did he do it again?

Cameron knew what John and Future Riley did the night they spent together. She'd caught him red handed. She was the one that did the laundry. She identified all the dried fluids in his underwear. They were samples from a male and female. She wondered if John would remember the look of hurt and betrayal on her face as he went up the stairs. NOBODY could ever forget that look. Did he have to smirk at her right before he went out of view?

"Sarah, you man the Pig and let Allison have the Thumper. I expect to return if we or anyone does, right after we leave. That is how I will attempt the time transfers. If it all works right and there is no temporal error, we should return almost instantly. If Mrs. Weaver is with us there will be four returning, if not there should be only three. Watch for any Skynet tricks and any unfriendly Metal, especially Liquid Metal." Cameron said. "Sarah, fill Allison in on the 'gas' canisters."

Cameron and Jim stripped.

Vanna took in the full unclad beauty of Cameron. It was so much more special to see her nude and alive rather than nude and dead.

Sarah saw it as well. There was no denying Cameron's beauty.

Allison looked on in awe. She took in Cameron from head to toe and back again. She could see Cameron had more to offer Vanna than she did and they were theoretically identical. Cameron was HOT. She could only see Cameron as someone different and not someone who looked like her. She felt she looked like Cameron's 'older cousin'.

"Damn, your body is perfect." Allison said in amazement. "How can you look three times better than me?"

Sarah and Vanna wondered the same thing. They didn't want to say it out loud. It made them wonder what Metal versions of them would look like.

Cameron was very aware of her recent damage. It still haunted her to think of it.

"You should have seen my sheath not too long ago. You wouldn't have thought so then." Cameron said. "I was severely damaged and then abandoned…."

Sarah wanted to change the subject over John 'sacrificing' Cameron to get her out of jail. It was a foolish move on John's part and Cameron was the one who paid the price. She still remembered the mess she was. It made her sick to think about it. She decided to change the subject.

She did notice something about Jim that was hard to miss.

"Nice package." Sarah wisecracked.

Cameron and the girls did notice Jim.

Jim just smiled.

Cameron was done waiting.

"Let's do it." Cameron said. "We want John."

Vanna set the controls on the TDE and actuated it. The energy bubble appeared along with the arcing and flashing. They were enveloped in the energy bubble. Then in a flash they were gone.

The TDE pad was empty.

Cameron said she planned to return almost instantly after she left.

Sarah, Vanna and Allison waited. Nothing happened.

A minute passed and then another. Sarah and Vanna looked nervously at each other. Five minutes passed and soon it was ten minutes. The time seemed to drag on. They'd been waiting for hours. Sarah and Vanna both looked like they wanted to cry. One by one they used the restroom or brought back a snack. Server-Cameron ran millions of calculations and did millions of searches. They began to nap on and off. There were always two of them awake and alert.

Waiting….

Fourteen hours later, the arcing and flashing started. Sarah and the girls all looked at each other. This was the moment of truth.

Sarah released the safety on the M60. Allison moved off to her side to flank her with an M79. Allison learned the 'acid round' was the only thing they currently possessed at their immediate disposal that might slow down or stop Liquid Metal. A Thermite grenade would work too but it was not as directed. The Coltan rounds in the M60 would disable any standard Terminator. Each of them possessed a Thermite grenade. Sarah carried her 'satchel charge' slung over her back. No one was getting past her.

Four shapes began to appear. Sarah cursed to herself as she saw one was the model of Terminator that killed Kyle. John was next to it with Cameron on his other side. Jim was lying flat and unmoving behind them.

"John!" Sarah said.

Sarah stayed ready on the trigger. The M60 pointed at the big Terminator.

"Mom! Mom, it is OK. It's a version of Cameron as 'Uncle Bob'." John said.

Sarah couldn't believe her eyes. John was back. Cameron did it, just like she promised. Just like she always knew Cameron would.

Sarah rushed forward to hug John. He looked like crap. Sarah saw the cuts and scars and bruises covering him. He didn't look nearly as 'bad' as Allison did.

Cameron took control.

"Bob, get Jim. Let me help John." Cameron said. "I have him."

John and Sarah shared a long embrace.

"Thank you." Sarah said as she looked at Cameron.

Sarah deeply meant what she said to Cameron.

Cameron stood next to John and smiled at Sarah.

"I told you I wouldn't come back without him." Cameron said.

Vanna wondered about the time delay.

"How long were you gone, Cameron?" Vanna asked.

"I was there for two months. I'm sorry for the time delay. We ran in to some 'trouble' when we were about to transfer." Cameron said. "There was a last minute power struggle that started to develop. Our timing was slightly delayed."

Cameron looked over at Jim in Bob's arms.

Vanna looked at the empty pad, sadness flooded over her.

"What about my mother?" Vanna asked.

Allison tried to process what Vanna said. How could Vanna consider that 'thing' her mother?

"Your - mother?" Allison asked bewildered.

That was the closet thing Vanna had left to her parents, even if it wasn't real.

"YES! My mother." Vanna repeated.

John had some information on that.

"She'll return soon. Cameron's filled me in on everything as well." John stated.

Everyone put on the clothes that were waiting for them.

Allison and John faced each other. They looked at each other for a long moment. She then hugged John.

Cameron noted the long embrace of John and Allison. It was a little - too long. She was glad Allison at least waited until John put some clothes on. She was pretty sure at this point that John and Allison probably did the same thing naked and alone. If John did it with Future Riley, there was no way he wouldn't do it with Allison.

No one said anything about it.

Cameron wondered what it all meant. Who would John choose? Allison was real. She was a very scary robot from the future.

There was some movement as Jim rebooted.

Reunion

What was once gone
Has now been found
In all known reality
It is quite profound

There will be choices to make
What will they be
Will they be good
Or harmful to me

Time and distance
Can take their toll
Will I be shredded
Or will I be made whole

For what has occurred
Is Nobody to blame
Will the past's feeling
Be something to reclaim

Is this reunion
What we behold
Will it be fate or chance
As love's dice are rolled

Nobody