Chapter 89

Hydra

Derek and John worked with John Henry through the evening and all night long.

It gave John time to think. He wondered about their accomplishments.

"Do you think we have smashed Skynet once and for all?" John asked.

John Henry doubted that. It seemed there was always some version of it lurking out there somewhere.

"No, but I do think we have defeated it for now." John Henry said. "I have monitored all internet traffic and I see no traces of it still active."

Derek recently watched a TV series. Skynet reminded him of that show.

"It's like a zombie. We keep killing it but it never dies." Derek added.

John Henry referenced Derek's statement. He found another age old description.

"One could say it was like the mythological Hydra." John Henry said. "There is always another head or more to grow in the place of the one we cut off."

John still felt they'd made some progress. He was sure they'd made a difference.

"OK, so we are ahead here in my time for now. We have passed two future Judgment Day dates. In Derek's future, Skynet is crushed and in the future Cameron came from, Skynet was nearly finished when she left." John said. "There were only a few small pockets left."

That all seemed true from the latest reports but things could change. There were also a lot of unknowns that popped up.

"That leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Where is Mrs. Weaver and where do these Terminators keep coming from?" John Henry asked. "Some have chips which once they are removed they destroy themselves. I can not track them back to a specific time or place."

Derek could not answer much of that.

"Mrs. Weaver left to return to her future, which is Cameron's future, to finish off Skynet there. She said it was - personal." Derek said. "We don't know more than that or where she went specifically. We only know she sent hundreds of Restorators into some future."

That worried John as to where Mrs. Weaver actually ended up at.

"Cameron said nothing was different from where and when she returned in her future." John said. "She saw no indication of Mrs. Weaver in her future."

Derek knew Mrs. Weaver was gone. There was an army of Restorators with her.

"So what future is Mrs. Weaver in or when?" Derek asked.

John Henry did not like the choices. There was bound to be trouble with any or all of them.

"Mrs. Weaver may be in an alternate timeline or even lost in time." John Henry said. "I still don't see how she could get to her future from Derek future."

That really worried John. Depending on where or when in time Mrs. Weaver arrived with an army of Metal, she could change everything.

"Who knows what could be changed with hundreds of Terminators - Restorators…." John said. "I don't know and it disturbs me so."

Kyle wanted to spend the day with John. They'd originally bonded as 'friends' in his future because he did not know at the time John was 'his' son. He was 'Kyle Reese' but he was from a different timeline. Either way he shared the same DNA with any other Kyle Reese. They all started out as the same person.

"You know, John, it is still hard for me to grasp that I am your father." Kyle said.

John wondered how long he would be an 'only child'.

"I would expect to have a sibling pretty soon…." John said.

Kyle laughed. He'd been working pretty hard on that. Sarah and he discussed it. They decided that whatever happened, happened.

"Maybe, that would be something. Would that bother you if there was?" Kyle asked.

John hoped if that happened it would take his mother out of combat. She needed a break from the violence, danger and death.

"No, I think my mom could use a breather from all 'this'. It would be nice for the two or three of you get away from all this and live a real life." John said. "She really deserves that. You all do."

Kyle could not help but think about the future – his future.

"I think I would like that myself." Kyle said. "At least in the time we are in now a child has a chance. In the future, my future, most of them died early if they could even be conceived. It was an awful place."

John heard the stories from Vanna, Allison and Cameron.

"So I have been told." John said. "What about Derek and Jesse?"

Kyle got a sad look on his face. Things had changed and changed a lot.

"I don't know, John, Jesse is 'different' now." Kyle said. "She is not who she once was. Somehow she is a better person, more thoughtful and caring. She spends less time with Derek. John, she looks at you all the time. That is both you and Cameron. She is close to Vanna and Allison too, real close. I even saw her playing with Savannah. She genuinely looked happy. It is like she really cares about others now. It's like she found the part of her life that was 'missing'."

John knew Cameron planned to 'work' with Jesse as her 'personal project'. He was not aware of the specifics of all that Cameron planned for Jesse. He would have been very surprised to know all of them.

"Is that a bad thing?" John asked.

Kyle knew he was about to enter a 'touchy' subject. The best way to face it was just to say it.

"For Derek it is." Kyle said. "The woman she was before was more suited to Derek. Jesse only cared about herself before. Now it is like she has a 'family'. She actually cares and worries about people now. John, I think she is in love with Cameron, she literally worships her."

Kyle felt Jesse devoted her life and future to Cameron.

John was unsure of his role in all this.

"Is there something I should do or say to her, to Jesse?" John asked.

Kyle knew what Cameron wanted from Vanna or Allison. He felt it was extended beyond that now. He knew the next subject would get 'sensitive'.

"I don't think you should be 'alone' with her." Kyle said.

John didn't feel he'd done anything in appropriate.

"Why?" John asked. "We are just friends and colleagues."

Kyle witnessed Jesse in action in his future.

"She is very 'seductive'. She knows how to get what she wants." Kyle said.

Allison told him Cameron threatened Jesse before.

"I don't think she would go against Cameron." John said. "She knows better than that."

Kyle felt very uneasy with what he was about to say. He hoped it fell under the 'father, son' advice category. He was about to indicate John's wife selected a 'mistress' for him.

"John, she would be acting on Cameron's 'wishes' with her blessing." Kyle said. "She would act to give Cameron what she wants."

John felt somewhat confused by all this.

"Did Derek tell you this?" John asked.

It was more of the 'mother, son' talk that Sarah asked him to carry out for her.

"No, Sarah told me." Kyle said. "We both thought it needed to be addressed. I drew the short straw."

John felt his mother could go off the deep end occasionally.

"Mom can overreact sometimes…." John said.

Kyle came across some more disturbing information from Derek.

"Maybe, but Sarah is pretty spot on." Kyle said. "Derek told me Jesse will only have sex with him a few days before, during or after her reproductive cycle."

John knew that was an age old method of preventing pregnancy. He was aware it was not as reliable as modern methods.

"Maybe she does not want to get pregnant or use birth control." John said.

Derek was concerned enough to spell out to Kyle it seemed to be a 'deeper' issue.

"We think it is because she does want to get pregnant but not by Derek." Kyle said.

John took in what Kyle said. He suddenly felt very defensive.

"What are you saying…?" John asked. "Kyle, I have never touched Jesse, ever. I swear it. Why would she want - me?"

Kyle did not want to accuse or offended John.

"Nobody says this is your fault or doing. We feel it is what Cameron wants. Jesse will do ANYTHING for Cameron." Kyle said. "Jesse wants to please Cameron. Having your child would tie her to Cameron 'forever'."

John felt bewildered. He knew his plans were different from Cameron's.

"Kyle, I don't plan on having a 'family' anytime soon." John said.

Kyle still felt he needed to send out a warning. Jesse 'as a female' was unstoppable.

"Jesse is different now but you don't KNOW her like we do." Kyle said. "Derek and I are only trying to warn you. Derek will not interfere with anything you two do. Their relationship is open."

John thought he could control himself. Then again he hadn't done so well 'before'.

"Kyle, you don't have to worry." John said.

Kyle looked at John with total concern.

"No, but YOU do…." Kyle warned.

Cameron walked up to Jesse.

Cameron smiled and gently rested her hand on Jesse's bare shoulder. Her smile broadened as she looked into Jesse's eyes.

"I like your tank top, Jesse, it is very revealing." Cameron said.

Jesse did what Cameron told her to do.

"A girl has got to flaunt what she has to get noticed." Jesse said. "I took your advice."

Cameron noticed one 'problem'. It would be easily fixable.

"How sweet, make sure you don't wear a bra either. It is nice to give the 'twins' some room to move freely." Cameron said. "Have you been following the nutritional guide I gave you? It is important everyone be in top health."

Jesse removed her top. She held it and waited for Cameron to take her bra off. Cameron smiled and did. She lingered putting her top back on so Cameron could view her topless. It excited her greatly to have Cameron see her this way. She put her top back on. Her perky firm breasts almost popped out of the loose fitting top when she moved.

Cameron made she the top was very loose. It was easy to get a 'nip slip' or even an entire breast to pop out of it. She had Jesse make a few practice moves. She was satisfied when Jesse learned to do it at will.

Jesse looked nervous. She'd done everything Cameron asked of her. She would use her body anyway Cameron asked her to do so without question. What she questioned was exactly what Cameron wanted and if Cameron was sure that was what she really wanted.

"Yes. I have followed all your guidelines and instructions, ALL of them." Jesse replied. "Are you sure this is what you want Cameron? I don't want to do anything you don't want."

Cameron saw it a little differently.

"It is not what I want. It is what is 'necessary'." Cameron said.

Jesse was well aware of some of the 'stories' from Cameron's past.

"And if that girl - Riley were here?" Jesse asked.

Cameron's face lost all expression.

"I would terminate her myself the moment I saw her." Cameron said. "She took John from me once. It will never happen again. I will KILL her."

Jesse noticed that Cameron's eyes glowed red. It scared her even more. She swallowed hard.

"Cameron, I don't know about this." Jesse said. "I just don't feel comfortable, taking or 'using' what is belongs to you."

The part about 'killing Riley' did not help Jesse feel any more secure.

Now Cameron looked upset.

"That is the same problem Allison and Vanna have." Cameron said. "They don't understand the future. We can never stop Judgment Day, it is inevitable. We must plan ahead. I must be replaced. It is what I want for John."

Jesse was scared. She wanted Cameron to know why. She felt it was a legitimate point to make.

"I don't want to hurt you, Cameron." Jesse said. "I don't want you to kill me either."

Cameron could see Jesse was afraid.

"You won't hurt me and I won't kill you. Do what is necessary for ME." Cameron said with a wink and smile. "I'm counting on you."

Jesse was excited and terrified at the same time. Somehow that even excited her more.

"OK, love, but I am still - scared." Jesse said.

Cameron decided if Jesse could not do what she wanted, she was going to use the TDE to prevent herself from returning to John the night she did. From deep inside her she felt she must return to John what was 'his'. The 'Natural Order' must be restored. She knew she MUST be 'replaced'.

'I must do what Future John 'wants'.' Cameron thought.

As Cameron walked away from Jesse, 'Queen Of Hearts' by 'Juice Newton', played in her mind.

I Don't Think You Understand

Each individual is independent
They do things in their own way
What may work for some
Leaves others in a confused disarray

Events tend end up divergent
One can see more than another
Even without dissimilar eyesight
Often leaving the other in a pother

To solve a problem
One may take drastic action
The other a more limited approach
The contrast causing a bad reaction

For every up, there is a down
For every in, there is an out
To arrive at the final destination
Two may take a very diverse route

We are all made very different
No two see the same in any artwork
I don't think you understand
How we work

Nobody