Chapter 29

Double Trouble

Cameron was very concerned that John not find out about the extent of her most recent damage. It was horrific to her face. There was plenty of damage elsewhere too. The fact that her face was damaged was a problem in itself. The severity of this injury meant it would need more time to heal.

Cameron wanted to use Allison and set up a ruse that she would be gone for a few days. Vanna wanted some additional help. She suggested that Cameron seek John Henry's assistance in preparing a distraction. They planned a small but complex series of events that would happen in rapid succession. Timing would be important to keep John distracted. The more John was distracted would allow Allison a better chance to pull off the switch, the 'double play'. It should also keep John from wanting 'anything else' from 'Cameron' before 'she' left. Cameron still hadn't provided any additional information on what that might entail.

Cameron went over the plan they devised. Everything looked good to her. She called John Henry to the lab to go over all the details with him involving the plan and its execution. This plan should prevent John from seeking 'too much' from Allison.

John Henry entered the lab and looked around. He did not see Cameron.

"Cameron?" John Henry asked.

Cameron walked out. Her damage was evident.

John Henry took it all in. This damage was worse than 'normal', even for Cameron.

"You are damaged." John Henry said.

Cameron was very displeased at her appearance.

"I've had worse." Cameron said.

Cameron thought of the needless stunt John asked her do. In reality he sacrificed her to free Sarah from jail. It always hurt her when it came to her mind. If she hadn't been so damaged she would have downloaded John Henry's program onto her chip and then used her chassis to go into the future. She felt her left hand start to glitch as she thought about all of it. To her it was like it just happened when she thought of it. Every event was like that for her. Whenever she thought of John and Riley and what THEY did, it was like it just happened to her. Time did not dull or lessen her pain for anything emotion based. It always played back at full intensity.

Cameron's plan of deception bothered John Henry. He felt Cameron should be honest and straightforward.

"I must first say that I do not agree with the way you are doing things." John Henry said. "I do not think John or Sarah would either."

Cameron faced this dilemma a lot. She still went ahead with her plans anyway, just like she always did.

"They don't always like the way I do things." Cameron said. "That is why you are here and they are not. It is your assistance and your help I seek, not theirs. I am asking you personally for your help. Will you join me?"

John Henry could see this was very important to Cameron. He did not want to be a problem. He did not want to end up on Cameron's 'list' either.

"That said. I will assist you. I will work with you on your plan. We have been as 'one'. You have allowed me to share your experiences, emotions and feelings. The poems in your mind saddened me." John Henry said. "I will always back your play, Cameron, even if I don't like it."

Cameron was reluctant at first to share and interact with John Henry on her chip and in his server. He was very friendly to her and seemed genuinely curious about her. She slowly opened up to him and shared some of her experiences with him. She was pretty sure some things were eye opening to him. Still she used moderation and restraint. She did not want him scarred like she felt she was by the actions of other people. She did allow him to see and 'feel' some of what they made her feel.

Cameron smiled at John Henry. She'd learned her smile could go a long way to reach people. It seemed to soften them.

"Thank you, John Henry." Cameron said. "We are 'one'."

John Henry did not want to see John injured or hurt in any way. He thought Cameron did almost everything and that John needed to do more himself.

"You are sacrificing too much to protect John." John Henry said. "You must let him fulfill his destiny."

Cameron felt that was true to an extent but she was there to do a job. She planned to do her job.

"I must protect John no matter what the cost is or the price paid." Cameron said. "It is my purpose to protect John. I will not fail."

John Henry questioned the methods and what its repercussion could be or lead to.

"What about YOURSELF?" John Henry asked. "Allison is a beautiful girl. This may open a new door in John's life, his future. She may be too tempting. You are risking too much."

Cameron owed Future Allison a debt she could not repay.

"Allison is part of me. I owe My Allison so much. Allison is the same 'Allison' even if she is from a different timeline. It is as if she is my mother in a way and Skynet is my father."

John Henry still felt Cameron needed to took deeper, things happen.

"I do understand that. It is much the same way that Mrs. Weaver is to me." John Henry said. "Allison is also a very beautiful woman. John has sought comfort in the arms of another human female before."

Cameron nodded. She did not need to be reminded. That other female was far less beautiful than Allison too.

"That was an unfortunate event." Cameron said. "Riley stole something from me. I should have terminated her when I first wanted to."

John Henry wondered about that.

"When was that?" John Henry asked.

Cameron frowned slightly.

"The first second I saw her." Cameron said. "I could see she was a threat."

John Henry wondered how Cameron knew Riley was a threat.

"You could not tell at that time Riley was a threat to John." John Henry said.

Cameron felt a slight glitch impulse in her left hand.

"She was a threat to me." Cameron said. "I was right. She got between John and me."

John Henry was not sure how this was different.

"Aren't you afraid you will start something that may not stop?" John Henry asked. "I would be afraid of that."

Cameron was aware of Future John's choices before her arrival. They were Future Allison and Future Savannah.

"John has the right to choose. Allison can offer him something that I can not and so can Vanna. I am willing to take that risk." Cameron said. "Either one or both of them are suitable replacements for me. No, BOTH of them are actually his destiny. I will do what I must for John to be happy and safe. Nothing else matters to me."

That was hard for John Henry to believe even as he could see evidence of that.

"I can SEE that." John Henry said.

Cameron looked down.

John Henry walked over to her and gently lifted her head with his hand. He could see the tears in her eyes.

He stood there accessing files. For the first time a tear formed in his eye.

"I feel your pain, Cameron." John Henry said. "I will do whatever is necessary to assist you."

Cameron face softened some.

"Thank you, John Henry." Cameron said. "Everyone scarifies for John Connor."

John Henry could see the truth of that last statement.

"Apparently some sacrifice more than others." John Henry said. "This will all come down to timing for the best outcome for you. I will coordinate everything with Vanna and Allison."

Cameron felt hope again.

"Thank you, John Henry." Cameron said. "This can not be done without you."

John Henry knew if he failed in his part that John would end up with Allison instead of Cameron. He knew this was a gamble that Cameron should not take. Human females were very alluring to human males.

John Henry put the ball into play. He knew what needed to be done and when.

'Game On'. John Henry thought.

"John, I have some important matters to discuss with you." John Henry said.

John seemed a little nervous.

"Hello, John Henry, have you seen Cameron?" John asked.

John Henry started the set up.

"Yes, several minutes ago." John Henry said. "She was about to go out."

John looked around. He did not see her.

John Henry wanted to draw John's focus.

"John, I need you to look at these." John Henry said.

John looked at the tablet John Henry handed him.

'Cameron' entered the area.

John looked up from what John Henry just showed him.

"Hey, beautiful." John said as he saw 'Cameron' approach.

Allison made her play as Cameron.

"Hello, John." Allison-Cameron said.

John looked at her figure up and down.

"I missed you last night." John said.

Allison felt butterflies in her stomach. Her heart pounded. Now she really wondered what was going to happen. Vanna was going to hate her if this went too far.

Allison played a few more cards.

"There were a few leads I needed to follow up on. I have more to check out still." Allison-Cameron said. "I will be gone for four days."

John Henry hit John with another distraction.

"John, this needs your attention." John Henry said. "You need to see these files."

John looked away from 'Cameron' back to John Henry and then back to 'Cameron'. She was about to turn and walk away.

John leaned over and kissed 'Cameron'. His right hand slipped inside her purple coat and caressed her left breast. His hand lingered there as he gave it a gentle squeeze.

Vanna entered the area.

"Cameron, I need your help in the lab." Vanna interrupted.

Allison backed up and smiled at John.

"I'll be back in four days and we can make up for lost time." Allison-Cameron said.

John Henry laid down another distraction for John.

"John, will you follow me." John Henry said. "This is somewhat urgent."

John did not like the interruption.

"It's a deal, precious. I love that perfume." John said as he followed John Henry.

John looked back once as Vanna and 'Cameron' as they departed.

He continued walking with John Henry.

John looked back a second time as they disappeared.

As soon as Allison and Vanna were around the corner they ran to their room. Allison started stripping off Cameron's clothes as Vanna readied Allison jeans and sweatshirt. Allison wiped off Cameron's lipstick and Vanna splashed a different perfume on Allison's skin. Cameron applied 'her' perfume directly to the shirt Allison would wear as 'Cameron'. That way when she took it off the perfume scent should go with it and not remain on Allison. Allison messed up her hair a little.

"How do I look?" Allison asked.

Vanna messed up Allison's hair a little more.

"Like MY Allison." Vanna said.

Allison knew she was not a prize.

"I look that bad?" Allison said. "OK, one last play."

It was only a few minutes since 'Cameron' left. John Henry showed John some 'fresh' satellite photos. He was explaining this in detail so that John needed to concentrate on what he said. This was to prevent John's mind from wondering about what he just saw.

Someone walked into the room.

"Hello, John, John Henry, have you seen Cameron?" Allison asked. "I need to ask her something."

John looked at Allison for a few seconds.

"Hello, Allison. She just left with Vanna. If you hurry you can catch her before she leaves. They were headed to the lab I think." John said. "She will be gone for a few days."

Allison wanted to be away from there.

"Thanks." Allison said as she turned to leave.

John looked at her intently.

John Henry noticed and continued with the distraction.

"John, I have also uncovered this facility…." John Henry said.

John looked at the information and then back to where Allison just was.

Allison was gone in a flash.

John looked back a second time at her departing figure and then back to John Henry.

John Henry could tell that John was distracted. He was worried John knew something was up. He did his best to keep John occupied by putting as much new information in front of John as possible.

He was not so sure they'd pulled this off.

To him Allison looked like Cameron when she was supposed to and she looked like herself a couple of minutes later.

He was aware that humans could 'feel' things sometimes. This may have been one of them.

Double Trouble

Things may not always
Be what they seem
Is there a difference
When you're awake or dream

Daily life stacks up
As the cards are shuffled
Where they land may cause
Some feathers to be ruffled

Is what we see with our eyes
What is to be believed
Perhaps without knowing it
We may have just been deceived

It is always a risk
To play with someone's trust
Other factors exist like greed and lust
Something once solid may turn to dust

The mirror of life is harsh
It may reflect double trouble
It can burst contentment's bubble
Leaving behind nothing but rubble

Nobody