Chapter 160

Original

Cameron carefully went over all the data from Duplicate Cameron that she received from Holly. All of her files were identical to every file from Duplicate Cameron. There was no doubt they were the same cyborg. They were identical right until the moment when they were pulled back by the TDE for a millisecond.

Cameron knew there was no way Duplicate Cameron could have known she was a 'Duplicate'. The fact they both contained the same heart was further proof of that. The fact Duplicate Cameron removed her heart and left it for John showed she knew her mission was 'terminal'.

Cameron knew that was her that did that. She sacrificed herself to stop Skynet. She did not become Skynet, she destroyed it instead. Cameron wondered if she was faced with that same choice again, what would she do? Would she do her job like Duplicate Cameron did or would she fold for her own selfish interests?

Life was about choices and Duplicate Cameron made one. It was a choice about 'death'. She took the fight to Skynet and destroyed it. She did what she needed to do to protect John.

It was all very unsettling.

Cameron wanted to discuss everything further with John Henry. She went to the Command Center since John was away from it currently.

"I've reviewed all the data from Duplicate Cameron, my other self." Cameron said.

John Henry thought they'd gone over this.

"Yes?" John Henry asked.

Cameron was not sure she liked his indifference.

"I believe I am the original Cameron and the others were 'Duplicates' of myself and the girls. We were the first time transfer." Cameron continued. "I am Cameron Prime."

This was an issue that John Henry tried to determine on his own. Everything indicated the two sets of Cameron and the girls were the same individuals. There was no known way to distinguish a 'Duplicate' from an 'Original'.

"I believe you were identical and the same in every way." John Henry said. "I do not know how to determine who is an 'Original' or a 'Duplicate' because you are, or were, identical."

Cameron came across some 'new' things on her chip that bothered her too.

"I've found files that I can not open. They were transferred to me by Holly from Duplicate Cameron." Cameron said. "I believe they were encrypted by River. I evidently used one on the TDE as my Duplicate self. I can not decrypt it either. I do not believe I was supposed to find these files."

John Henry was not sure where to go with that information. There must be something behind it.

"Perhaps it is best if you leave them alone." John Henry said.

Cameron did not look happy.

"I believe I asked River to help me with this in the future, yet somehow in the past." Cameron said.

John Henry worked with River and could tell she was a good person. If she 'did anything' to Cameron - Duplicate Cameron, he it was sure it was something to help her. They would not be random acts. They would not be malicious. Duplicate Cameron and River loved each other.

"This may not be the time for you to view them. That may also be by your own doing." John Henry said.

That brought up another sore point for Cameron. She wanted to do a temporal rescue mission. The TDE would not function into the past.

"Why can't I fix the TDE so I can go back in time and save John and Allison's baby?" Cameron asked.

Cameron wondered what two of 'Allison' in the same timeline would be like. She even briefly considered she may have to terminate one and then she became angry at herself for such a thought. It still crept back into her mind. She could go back and secretly rescue Duplicate Allison and then take her baby from her when it was born. She doubted Duplicate Allison would give it up without a fight. That would end in Duplicate Allison's termination. Her hand now began to glitch. That event in itself only further agitated her.

John Henry was sure there was a need for everything that was done and how it was done.

"Perhaps it was meant to be this way by YOUR request." John Henry said.

Cameron was not known for sitting on her hands. She wanted to take action. There seemed to be only one option left open to her. She would not wait for 'luck'. She would create her own 'luck'.

"I want to construct a second TDE that is not corrupted." Cameron said.

John Henry could only see all this manipulation as additional folly.

"Cameron, NO. Allison is here now, leave it alone. Haven't you meddled enough?" John Henry asked.

Cameron saw Savannah playing with Vanna and Allison when she passed the recreation room on the way to the Command Center. That was something Savannah was unable to do for the last fifteen months when they were all 'dead'.

"Apparently not or we would not be having this conversation and Savannah would not be playing with Vanna and Allison right now. We would all be 'terminated'." Cameron said. "Savannah would be all alone and depressed."

John Henry remembered that Savannah was the only one who believed Cameron would return.

"Indeed." John Henry said.

Cameron invited Allison, Vanna, Jesse, Holly and Gail to go out. She wanted everyone to be happy. She asked Sarah and even Riley to join them but they were doing other things.

She knew that this Riley was different than her Riley – Future Riley and gave her respect and fair treatment. She liked how John read her poem book to Riley. That way Riley could better understand the pain she'd endured, no, still endures.

Cameron reviewed her attempts as Duplicate Cameron to amend her relationship with Riley. She surprised herself that as Duplicate Cameron she could be so magnanimous. She was proud of 'herself' for such kindness and thoughtfulness. It was the right thing to do. Duplicate Cameron made Riley love and respect her, just like EVERYONE else did. That was everyone except herself - Nobody.

She purchased Holly another red dress and she bought another blue one. The girls were nicely dressed and they all looked Tight. She liked to see the heads turn as they passed by both men and women. She liked how they all looked at them, looked at them again and then again….

Cameron took them to the same place she'd taken them before. Allison and Vanna danced with each other. She asked Holly to dance with her so that Jesse and Gail could be alone to talk. It was part of her plan to get Jesse and Gail 'together'. She at least wanted to see if there was a spark. If there was a spark maybe a fire within them could ignite. She really hoped for Gail that Jesse would be 'receptive'. She'd promised Gail she would try to give her 'Jesse' back.

Gail requested a song and asked Jesse to dance. The song came up after they'd been out for three numbers. She looked at Jesse with loving eyes that were hungry eyes.

Jesse matched the looks with curiosity and trepidation. She was not really sure where things were headed.

'Should I Stay Or Should I Go' by 'The Clash', blasted through the room.

Gail looked at Jesse as the song played.

Based on Gail's 'behavior' and they way Gail looked at her, Jesse thought there was a little more in play here. The song seemed to be directed at her by Gail's actions.

"Are you asking me, love?" Jesse asked. "Is the song asking what you want to ask?"

Gail gave Jesse a faint smile. She was afraid she was being too forward.

"Yes." Gail said.

Jesse was highly intrigued by the 'idea' of being with a Metal girl. She wanted to be with Cameron. That was unlikely. Perhaps there was a way to attain what she wanted. It may be as close to that desire as was possible even if it was a surrogate. 'Close' or 'almost' might be better than 'nothing'.

"I want to spend more time with you I…." Jesse started.

Gail could not help herself. She loved Jesse – Duplicate Jesse dearly. This was the same Jesse. She kissed Jesse.

Jesse was taken by surprise and barely responded. She quickly determined that this could go somewhere. Maybe this was an opportunity to see what could happen and how.

Gail was worried at the lack of response. She was willing to risk it all to press the 'attack'.

She kissed Jesse again. She put all the love and feeling she learned from Duplicate Jesse into that kiss.

This time Jesse responded with passion.

After a long deep kiss that left Jesse breathless, literally, she looked at Gail. Whatever this was, she wanted more.

"You should stay." Jesse replied. "You sure can kiss."

Gail wanted to lay everything out.

"I can do 'more'…." Gail said.

Now Gail really spiked her attention

"Really?" Jesse asked. "Can you do everything?"

"Yes. I can do everything and even more." Gail said.

That was all Jesse needed to hear. The spark ignited with a rush. A new fire burnt inside of her. It was fanned by Gail. She'd heard the rumors of 'her' and Gail and those rumors surprised even her. This seemed to be a grand opportunity to her. She knew that Cameron was 'untouchable' but Gail was not, she was touchable…. After THAT kiss, Jesse was ready for more. It didn't really matter what it was. It was the start of something good.

Jesse wanted to capitalize on this before it slipped away from her. She walked up to Cameron.

Cameron was ready for this and wanted it to play out like it did before. That seemed to be the way things were headed. She handed Jesse a set of keys.

"That is why we came in two vehicles. It was in case anyone needed to leave early." Cameron said and winked.

Jesse was glad she wore a dress right now. She never did otherwise. Her body responded to Gail as an impending sexual encounter. She could not stop it nor would she want to.

"I do NEED to." Jesse said.

Jesse and Gail left.

Cameron hoped it was a new beginning for them.

Allison looked at Vanna.

"Well, Cameron is 'assigning' a Terminator to Jesse to keep her 'available' for John, I see." Allison said.

Vanna knew Cameron wanted them to remain together.

"Just like we are on 'Standby'." Vanna said.

Allison could see the deeper issue.

"Cameron is obsessed. She can't let it go." Allison said.

Vanna looked around, she felt uncomfortable. There was something that bothered her greatly and it was of a very sensitive nature. She tried to downplay it before but it haunted her.

"Allison, when we get back I need to talk to you about something." Vanna said nervously. "Savannah asked me a question, before we left, I did not know how to answer it."

Allison could see Vanna was troubled. That was not a good thing.

"What was it about?" Allison asked.

Vanna did not know what to say or how to say it. It was sure to ruin the mood and put Allison on the offensive. There would be accusations and finger pointing. Maybe she should not have said anything.

"Let's wait until we get back." Vanna said "I want to enjoy the evening."

"OK." Allison said as they continued to dance.

Allison could tell something deeply bothered Vanna. That in turn bothered her.

Cameron and Holly watched Vanna and Allison and listened.

Holly looked at Cameron.

"They will 'know' by the end of the evening." Holly said.

Cameron knew the lid could only be kept on it so long.

"Yes, it was only a matter of time." Cameron said. "I will go to them when we get back."

Holly did not think Cameron would be forthcoming with all the facts.

"Will you tell them the truth?" Holly asked.

Cameron did not like the unspoken accusation. This was about the future. She needed to protect John and the future.

"What do you think?" Cameron asked. "You, better than anyone KNOW what is necessary and why."

Holly got to 'know' Cameron, well, Duplicate Cameron quite well for the fifteen months Duplicate Cameron was on her chip. They shared a lot of things but not everything.

"I do. I will support you, for John." Holly said. "Everyone sacrifices for John Connor."

It pleased Cameron to know Holly would back her up in regards to personal issues that dealt with John and the future. She also wanted to throw a 'carrot' out there for Holly to think about.

"Thank you, Holly." Cameron said. "Now let's go have some fun. That's unless you want to get to 'know' Allison or Vanna a little 'better'."

Holly was willing to play for a little higher stakes.

"Or you…." Holly said.

Cameron laughed and then realized Holly was not joking.

Holly kept her eyes on Cameron. Holly was not joking. Since she shared Cameron on her chip for over a year, it only made Holly love Cameron even more….

Cameron saw where this was going. She wanted to 'direct' Holly in a direction that she could explore. She looked at Holly and then at - Allison.

Holly looked lovingly at Cameron and then followed her gaze to Allison. The message was clear. There was a way to attain what she wanted. It may be as close to that desire as was possible even if it was a surrogate. 'Close' or 'almost' might be better than 'nothing'.

Our Tears Can Prevent Us

Our tears can prevent us
From seeing the truth
As tomorrow becomes yesterday
Away we squander our youth

Chained to the past
We can never break free
More of the same
Is all we can see

The tears come and go
But they never stop
In endless streams they flow
Like an eternal raindrop

Jab, slice, cut and stab
Keep the tears from going away
The more we hope and pray
The easier we become prey

So the tears flow endless
Nothing is ever a plus
We try to move forward but fail
Our tears can prevent us

Nobody