Chapter 111
I Understand
Riley sat and listened for hours as John read every poem to her. There was no anger or malice towards her. It was clear he wanted her to understand the depth of the hurt and pain that Cameron felt. No, not felt - FEELS. John tried to explain that whenever Cameron thinks of these events that she feels everything as if it just happened. Time is unable to dull her pain. That seemed to be the one advantage humans held over machines for this type of trauma or any bad events. The mental pain faded for humans as did the physical pain. Humans cold heal themselves to a certain degree.
"John, I didn't know. I understand now. I'm sorry." Riley said as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
John was not sure how to express what he felt in the rawest of terms. He did not want to give up hope and he needed proof.
"I love Cameron more than anything." John said. "Until the day I see her terminated with my own eyes I will never give up hope."
It was clear to Riley that to be with John in a love relationship was a dead end. Maybe she should think in some other terms. 'Dead end' seemed kind of terminal. She wondered if that was what awaited her.
"I understand." Riley said. "Will they kill me if – when they come back?"
That was a good question. John observed that Cameron and the girls all looked pretty upset when they left.
"I don't know." John said. "I will try to prevent that if I can."
John did not know if he could. He was sure if Cameron did not do it herself that one of the girls would. They would all try and protect Cameron. He did not have a clue what went on outside his room a few hours ago with his mother, Bob and John Henry. The girls were not the only ones who wanted to protect Cameron and in reality protect him.
Riley continued to sit and listen to John read. She could feel the hurt and pain in John as he felt Cameron's hurt and pain. There was a deep connection there. It seemed to her that Cameron could feel everything that she could. That was a little disturbing to her that a machine was so 'human'. There needed to be a strong love to feel the strong pain.
Riley was ashamed a 'version of her' did this to John and Cameron. Now she felt like a total Bitch herself. It made her feel dirty and unclean. It was also a little strange to know that John actually was with 'her', even if it was not her but it still was. The whole thing was a head shaker.
Now she felt the hurt and pain as well herself.
Riley swore she would try to make this up to Cameron and John somehow. She knew she needed to pay a debt to both of them. She was not sure how. One day Riley knew she would do something special for Cameron. She owed it to Cameron. She wanted to atone for what 'she' did from another future.
Riley also realized Sarah was right when she said Cameron was more human than they were.
The five women returned to the area of their base. Cameron parked the hog and asked River to wait in the truck with the girls. She said she would verify this was the correct timeline. If it wasn't, she was really unsure what to do.
Cameron went to investigate. She was able to breach the base security and take a look inside. That in itself was an issue that would need to be addressed. If she could do it, so could the enemy. What was the enemy she wondered? Their enemy was more than one thing or group. They needed to worry about the enemy within. That was the anti-Metal faction. They tried to get her terminated before. Why would they stop or not try again? Maybe the next time they would try a direct approach. They might decide to assassinate John and replace him with someone of their beliefs. That was one reason she tried to limit who was in their operation and part of the Resistance. At what point does someone turn on you? She'd watched John 'turn' on her. It all happened in a few days. Right now it was mostly a family affair. Jesse was a wild card but she'd brought her under her control and was not a threat. Riley was new and an unknown. Maybe she was a 'Joker'. It could be that John let the wolf into the sheep's pen again depending on how far he'd fallen under Riley's influence.
As Cameron looked around the base she was sure it was the same timeline. Everything looked right. She decided to go back and collect the girls. Cameron thought it would be best if they all went in together. She slipped back out and apparently did not trip any of the security on the way out either. That really was an issue that needed to be addressed.
The girls watched Cameron go. They were very apprehensive about that.
"One of us should have gone with her." Vanna said.
Allison did offer.
"I tried but she was adamant I not go in case she was terminated." Allison said.
That was a sobering thought for all of them.
"That was because she did not want you to be terminated with her." Jesse said.
The longer they waited the more they worried. What if Cameron did not come back? Maybe she was terminated. What would happen to them? What were they supposed to do? Where would they go? Would they be hunted down and terminated at some point? It seemed likely.
They were all relieved to see Cameron on her way back.
Jesse was worried.
"What if that is not Cameron?" Jesse asked. "What if she was terminated and this is a different Cameron?"
River spoke. She'd been quiet up to now. She was a stranger in a strange place.
"I believe I can tell." River said.
The girls wondered about that. River seemed to be able to 'see' inside of their minds. They 'tested' her and were a little surprised that she could 'see' whatever it was they wanted to express. She could tell even if they wanted to keep something hidden.
Cameron approached the truck.
"It's Cameron." River said.
The girls all clutched their weapons a little less.
Allison was going to point out that a different timeline version of 'Cameron' would still be 'Cameron' but decide to go with what River determined.
The girls all exited the truck.
"Well?" Allison asked when Cameron returned.
Cameron gave a faint smile.
"It is our timeline. This is our present time." Cameron said.
Vanna could feel the hesitation in Cameron. It looked like a little prompting was in order.
"And?" Vanna asked.
Cameron hesitated. She did not want to answer.
"Are they?" Jesse asked. "Have they?"
River moved up to comfort Cameron. She could feel the distress overwhelming her.
The girls understood.
It was bad news.
Cameron looked at each of the girls. It was time to 'pay the piper'.
"Let's go." Cameron said.
"Why not." Vanna said as a statement.
The five girls formed up and moved out. Their current clothing was very bold and distinct.
They looked very intimidating in their recently acquired biker attire.
The five women walked down the hall.
Allison was on Cameron's left, River was on Cameron's right, Vanna was on Allison's left and Jesse was on River's right.
They continued down the hall five abreast.
Their biker clothing was intimidating.
There was the look of triumph on their faces.
Onward they walked.
Riley was about to leave John's room. She wiped away her tears. She was now aware of the depth of hurt and pain Cameron felt. It was pain that never went away for her.
Riley looked up….
The five women walked down the hall.
Allison was on Cameron's left, River was on Cameron's right, Vanna was on Allison's left and Jesse was on River's right.
They continued down the hall five abreast.
Their biker clothing looked intimidating.
There was the look of hate on their faces.
Onward they walked.
Jesse pulled out the knife she'd stabbed the two bilkers with.
Vanna and Allison both put their hands on pistols taken from the bikers.
Cameron's left hand glitched.
Riley stood there in awe as she spotted them approach.
Riley saw death.
Death was coming for her.
The five women walked down the hall.
Allison was on Cameron's left, River was on Cameron's right, Vanna was on Allison's left and Jesse was on River's right.
They continued down the hall five abreast.
Their biker clothing was intimidating.
The look of death was on their faces.
Onward they walked.
The weapons came out. Cameron raised both hands. They looked more like talons now.
Riley saw death coming. There was no escape. There was nowhere to run.
River looked at Riley. She felt something. It was remorse, guilt, sadness, sorrow and shame.
"Stop." River said.
She moved in front of them and placed herself between the four women and Riley.
The women slowed. They were confused.
River needed to make a point. She needed to make them understand.
"This one is different from the one who hurt you. She knows your husband is off limits. She understands now." River said.
Cameron and the other women stopped.
Cameron and River looked at each other.
Cameron nodded.
River smiled at Cameron.
Cameron understood.
Cameron walked up and faced Riley.
"Hello, my name is Cameron. I'm John's wife. It is a pleasure to meet you." Cameron said as she held out her hand. "Welcome to our operation."
The weapons that the others brandished quickly disappeared.
Riley was unable to speak at first. She slowly regained her composure. She really thought she was going to be killed. She thought she was going to die. Instead Cameron shook her hand and welcomed her.
"My name is Riley. I am pleased to meet you. I am sorry for any trouble I may have caused you. It will never happen again."
Riley took Cameron's hand.
Cameron held it as she scanned Riley.
Cameron smiled.
"We can get together later on." Cameron said.
Riley left. She was a little less afraid but not by much. She wondered how there were three of 'Cameron' now. She sure did not want to stick around and ask. She noticed that Cameron still looked hotter than either of her two other 'twins'.
The group of women let her pass.
Jesse followed her with her eyes; her knife was still in her hand.
River moved closer to Jesse and touched her knife hand. She kept it down. There was no threat.
"No, love." River told Jesse. "She is no longer a problem."
Jesse thought his girl really can read my mind.
"I can see and feel many things, Jesse." River said as she smiled at her.
Jesse knew that was the next thing she'd thought.
"Can you girls look after River for tonight? I want to be alone with John." Cameron said. "Let River speak with John Henry so we can find a way to send her back to her home."
Cameron faced the girls.
"I want to thank all of you for what you have done for me." Cameron said. "I will never forget this. I promise to 'repay' you."
Cameron looked into each girls face.
"I Promise." Cameron said again.
River moved up and touched Cameron's cheek.
"Thank you, River." Cameron said as she smiled at her.
River smiled back at her and winked. She then went off with the others.
Cameron watched them walk away. River looked back at Cameron as they departed.
Cameron and River exchanged a long glance.
They both felt 'something'….
Cameron opened the door.
John held her poem book in his hands. There were tears on his face.
"I love you, John, and you love me." Cameron said.
"Cameron!" John said in amazement as ran into her arms.
"I'm back." She said.
The poem book was between them as they embraced and kissed.
No, it was not between them John thought; it is what binds them through eternity. Cameron's poems are what will always bind them together. Cameron's poems, ARE Cameron.
'Time After Time' by 'Cyndi Lauper', played softly in the background.
I Understand It's A Bad Idea
Trust is something that
We must slowly earn
But in a few seconds
That trust can instantly burn
Trust is very important
But there is something that blinds
It is when our mind is overridden
By the love our heart finds
Emotion and feeling cloud rationality
We stop thinking straight and clear
Making poor decisions, taking chances
Events are seldom what they appear
Love countermanding reason
Driven, we are possessed by lust
Throwing caution to the wind
Hoping we can build the trust
We think we have found a panacea
In our mind we know and say
I understand it's a bad idea
Then turn around and do it anyway
Nobody