Chapter 112

River

River was in an unknown place as well as an alternate time period. Everything was very different for her. She felt the most comfortable when she was around Cameron, John Henry or Savannah. She especially liked Cameron. Her main goal was to get back 'home'. That was all different for her too now. She liked being on her ship now. It was a little hard for her at first but her brother was able to find ways to 'help' her. He helped her find herself again. That was something her evil overlords tried to take from her. They may have altered her and trained her but she was still who she always was deep down.

Being around Savannah she was able to observe what Cameron planned and did for her. She knew Savannah was destined for greatness. Cameron allowed Savannah to find the best in herself. Maybe Cameron did not want to admit what she really prepared Savannah for. It did not slip past her. It would soon be what Cameron would plan for her as well.

She also understood the sadness Savannah felt for the loss of her parents - all three of them. That loss saddened her too. She could understand Savannah's loss and it was greater than her loss. It was a more profound loss.

Why was it that some had to lose something because of others? They should all work on trying to help people, not hurt them.

John Henry found River to be most remarkable, especially in the way she could defeat him at chess. Nobody was ever able to defeat him before.

Cameron and John Henry talked about ways to send River back to where she belonged. They were not sure how to do it safely and accurately. They determined they needed to send her back to the specific point in time when she was taken away. That would insure she was back to where she was and when she was supposed to be.

They wanted some way to test the procedure but there was no way to do that. They could end up killing River or altering her future. Based on what she told them about her timeline, that seemed like it would be a bad thing.

River currently played with Savannah. The two of them acted like long lost friends. Maybe it was because they both felt the same about their predicaments. Events happened to both of them that they could not control.

Jesse and Vanna walked by and spotted them.

"You would never know River killed two dozen people in less than a minute to see her playing like a girl with Savannah." Jesse said.

Vanna was a little concerned with that. Was that really all training and conditioning? Maybe it was because of how she'd been 'altered' in some way.

"It did not even seem to faze her in the slightest." Vanna said. "It was actually unbelievable, especially with the grace she did it with."

It still almost seemed like a 'dance' to Vanna. Maybe it was the dance of death.

Jesse hadn't expected to survive that situation. She was sure that was where she was going to die. It reminded her so much of a Scavenger camp. She never expected to survive those either.

"She saved our lives and that is all I care about." Jesse said.

Vanna wanted to connect with River better than she'd been able too. Maybe it was because she always saw 'Allison' in her. In reality they were two totally unconnected individuals. Maybe if she only saw River as 'River' things would improve. Maybe she needed to think about something other than making love to River every time she was around her.

"I have trouble communicating with her. Someone really messed with her head. She is more like Cameron than any of us girls." Vanna said.

Jesse felt when people 'messed' with your body that they messed with your head too. There were other ways to 'cut' into one's brain and they didn't all need to be with a scalpel.

Savannah and River danced around as they played with each other. They ran past John Henry.

There was a piece of paper with computations on it and a thumb drive now lying in front of him. John Henry did not even notice it was placed there at first.

River looked back at him and smiled and then she was gone.

Savannah and River could be heard giggling as they went down the hall.

John Henry went over the information that River gave to him. She'd only briefly worked with his server and looked at the TDE. She looked at it physically and as to how it was constructed along with its design. She'd basically given him plans for a new design that was based on the old design. It was very advance.

He called Cameron to come and see him. She arrived in short order. After the pleasantries were exchange, Cameron went straight to the point.

"What do you have?" Cameron asked.

"With the temporal information from Mrs. Weaver and this information that River provided me with, I think that we can modify the TDE to send her back." John Henry said. "We've been rebuilding it to be stronger and more powerful. If we make these additional improvements it will give us much more precise control. This is a real advanced breakthrough. This will be far superior to the Skynet design."

Cameron was pleased to hear that. River was the greatest to be around.

"She is amazing, John Henry. There is no other human like her. I can teach her anything and she can teach me many things. It is an experience I have never even imagined before." Cameron said. "She is wonderful…."

Cameron seemed to have a 'far off' look in her eyes as she spoke.

John Henry did not miss the look. He knew he shared it as well when he thought of River.

Cameron never felt so at ease with anyone before. Maybe Savannah was the next closest.

"I have allowed her to access any of my files she wants to see." Cameron added.

John Henry was somewhat surprised to hear that.

"Even you and John alone?" John Henry asked.

Cameron looked at John Henry with total seriousness.

"Yes." Cameron said. "I want to share 'everything' with her."

John Henry was sure that 'everything' actually meant just that. It sounded as if Cameron was ready for a personal relationship. Maybe she was thinking in broader terms.

"Do you think she would be the best suitable mate for John's offspring?" John Henry asked.

Cameron liked that idea. It wasn't what she'd been thinking about but it was almost as good.

"Yes. I would want that more than anything for John." Cameron said. "She is my perfect replacement. The children would be highly intelligent."

John Henry ignored the 'replacement' reference. He did not want to encourage her in any way.

"Have you discussed this with her?" John Henry asked.

Cameron looked down when he asked her.

"No." Cameron said.

It seemed to John Henry that River was beyond such lowly human functions.

"That may be a lower level which her mind can not operate at as a normal human female could. She seems more advanced than that." John Henry added. "She may be unsuitable for those 'activities' and functions."

Cameron did not know. River played with Savannah like her long lost sister. That was about as basic and human as one could get. She wished she could look and feel like that herself.

"Yes, she is very different. I taught her how to ballet dance yesterday. It only took one day for her to learn and master it. It is amazing." Cameron said. "She is better than me at everything. It is so wonderful…."

John Henry could see the far off dreamy look in Cameron's eyes. He was pretty sure where 'that look' emanated from and where it went.

"Do you have feelings for her?" John Henry asked.

Cameron tried to tell herself she didn't.

"No!" Cameron said. "I don't know. It is so 'different'. I may have." There was a long pause. "I do."

He felt this was how the human girls felt about Cameron. They saw her as 'perfect' and loved her for it. They all but worshiped her.

"That is how Allison, Vanna and Jesse all feel about you, Cameron." John Henry said.

Cameron began to wonder if she really was more than a 'pile of junk' or a 'piece of trash' or 'scrap metal' with that thought….

If others really saw her as she viewed River, maybe she did have some worth and value. Maybe she could be 'good enough'.

Maybe this is what she truly wanted.

Cameron and River left the TDE room. They spotted Allison and Vanna on their way back from the commissary. They watched Allison and Vanna go into their room. By the way they playfully touched and kissed each other as they walked, it was clear what was soon to follow.

River smiled and took Cameron's hand. River asked Cameron sit next to her on the floor against their wall.

"I like to sit here when they are alone or Jesse is with them. They make me feel things I never have felt before. I asked for permission to sit here." River said. "I'm not ready to go in with them - yet."

Cameron wondered if they invited her in but did not ask. She didn't know.

"They've wanted to ask me but haven't yet." River said.

Cameron quickly looked at River. That answered her unasked question. She asked the question she often wondered about herself.

"Is it because they are both female?" Cameron asked.

River smiled at the thought. It was a different 'feeling' than what she picked up off most males.

"Yes. I can feel the love." River leaned her head back against the wall and touched Cameron's face. "Feel the beauty, Cameron. Scan me and don't stop. You will be able to feel what I feel from them."

Cameron touched River's face and then her neck. She held her hand there as she scanned her.

Cameron could feel it.

It was beautiful….

It was late in the day when Cameron spotted River again. She'd made a decision based on what she'd felt earlier.

"You may sit either outside or inside our room tonight, River." Cameron said.

River felt it was deeper than that.

"You want me to sit inside with you?" River asked.

Cameron reached out and touched River's neck again.

"Yes." Cameron replied.

River could tell that Cameron was reaching out.

"I do not think I can do 'that'." River said.

River knew what Cameron was really 'asking' of her.

Cameron spelled it out in so many words. The action involved was clear.

"Please think about it for me. If you come in I can stay or leave." Cameron said. "I can participate if you desire."

Cameron and River shared a long look. It was clear what Cameron just indicated. That was a big step in her life if she took it.

"I do not know if I am ready for that step, Cameron. I would not make a good 'mother'." River said.

Cameron looked at River. It was clear it was more than that.

"I would, River." Cameron said.

River could feel her pain, pleading and that she begged her. It all happened soundlessly without words being spoken.

River wanted out of this conversation. She did not want to hurt or offend Cameron either.

"Can you make me look Tight like you and Allison?" River asked as she hoped to change the subject. "I have never looked as pretty as you two."

Cameron felt a little rebuffed.

"Yes." Cameron said.

"Thank you." River said.

Cameron could tell River was very uncomfortable about going as far as she wanted her to go. It was time to drop it for now.

"Let me get my things and we can go to your room." Cameron said.

Cameron arrived at River's room a few minutes later with all her supplies.

Cameron slipped her poem book under River's pillow.

Cameron looked at the cover as she quietly hid it under the pillow.

MY POEMS

(Art Of The Mind)

By

NOBODY

Cameron started River's makeover.

Allison, Vanna and Jesse were out and about. They spotted Cameron and River.

"How does River look better than me?" Allison asked. "Look at her!"

Vanna knew there was a lot of 'girl' in River. She'd never been forced to become a 'woman' in the Wastelands. Some aspects of her life were still pure and innocent even with the hurt and pain.

"Maybe you should start wearing a dress and living care free." Vanna told her.

Jesse was always turned on when she was around River.

"I don't know about Vanna but THREE of you that look the same and being Hot and Tight is more than I can handle." Jesse said. "I need to go to my room right now."

River liked to 'feel' her alone. She'd been outside Jesse's room before.

That was a nice feeling too….

Cameron laid out her plan for John and the future. He did not have a say in what she wanted to happen and how it was to be done. He still needed to voice his concerns.

"Cameron, I don't think this is a good subject to talk about." John said.

Cameron thought it was. It was all very straight forward.

"John, it is what I want. Do I ever ask for much?" Cameron asked.

John really felt Cameron was overstepping on her ideas. It was actually hard to believe she would go this far.

"What you are asking and basically demanding is something that is life changing." John said. "I do not think this is something River can do or should do. I don't think it is something she wants to do."

Cameron saw this for what it was.

"John, she is special." Cameron said.

John really wished that Cameron could see that she was too. She could not.

"So are you, Cameron." John said.

Cameron ignored him as usual.

"River is human, John. She is real and she is 'like' me in many ways." Cameron said. "It would be the best of both worlds, for you."

John saw it all differently. He wondered what kind of pressure Cameron applied to River. He was aware that Cameron could be very threatening at times.

"She is a little scared by being out of her time. She wants to go home." John said. "Is she afraid of you? Have you done anything to her?"

There was a look of awe on Cameron's face.

"River is afraid of no one or anything." Cameron said.

John went over the reports of the biker incident and listened to the girls first hand.

"So I've heard." John said.

"I could not have done what she did as quickly or as efficiently." Cameron said in amazement. "I would have needed to use a firearm to equal her."

That revelation made John wonder.

"Is she a match for Mrs. Weaver?" John asked. "Is she a match for Skynet?"

Cameron knew not every 'match' was physical.

"Maybe she is." Cameron said. "She is better than me at everything, for EVERYTHING."

John rolled his eyes.

'You must replace me with her.' Cameron thought.

River was everything Cameron was and everything Cameron was not….

THAT made River perfect in Cameron's mind.

'Song Sung Blue' by 'Neil Diamond', played in the background.

Beg You

YOU are someone special
You have much to share and give
With many years ahead still full of life
For which you must WANT to live

Each vice is like a nail
In the cold coffin of life
You must TRY to slay them
Emerge from the strife

YOU are young and healthy
A wealth exists within your soul
You have shared the beauty of your mind
May I help you become whole

Many demons we face
We can create ourselves
Allow me to assist you
To put them on shelves

I know I am not much, Nobody
I know I am tainted, nothing to behold
I BEG YOU to touch and warm your heart
When life is crushing and grows cold

Nobody