Chapter 227

Black Out

John wanted to check out what was happening at the temporal incursion location. There was something happening there. This could be anything from Skynet, to some of the things they did in the past when they ran the TDE as they tried to get Cameron back. They sent out more than a few time bubbles. They used the TDE an all sorts of ways it was not designed to be used. They evidently even brought back the 'almost Cameron' Liquid Metal Terminator. The time bubbles they sent out could have ended up in the future or the past.

It seemed unlikely that they would all reappear in the same spot over a period of several days. This seemed to have some control involved.

It could be something else entirely. It could be unrelated. Maybe someone wanted them there. It was a secluded location. It could be a trap or the start of an invasion. It needed to be investigated. John assembled a team. It was time to get some answers. He spotted Gail.

"Gail, I need you or Sheila to go with me." John said.

Gail wondered exactly what he meant.

"What is it?" Gail asked.

John laid out what they knew so far. It was self evident why it needed to be checked out.

Gail saw this as an opportunity for Jesse. Cameron always pushed her agenda to get the human females closer to John She would do her part to assist Cameron with Jesse.

"I'll go." Gail responded. "Jesse would like to go as well."

John wondered why she didn't ask Jesse first. Maybe they worked something out ahead of time.

"That's fine." John said. "Bob is also coming."

John Henry informed John of the most recent developments.

There'd been the start of another time bubble at the same spot but nothing happened. It was only for a few seconds. This time they thought they saw something in it for the three seconds it was there. John Henry analyzed the video and files.

At the location the drone was ready to take to the sky and was 'hot'. An air to surface missile was aimed at the location of the incursion. It was ready to fire. There was the possibility other hostile forces could arrive and try to infiltrate the area. The drone could be airborne in seconds and was ready for combat. John Henry placed the other three drones on standby. One was ready to go in a moments notice and the other two shortly after.

Gail went to get Jesse. She told her of the upcoming mission.

Jesse was thrilled to be able to go alone with John. Gail would keep Bob from interfering. This should give her the chance to seduce John in a setting away from the base and all the influence and 'eyes' that watched everything.

All she needed was a little time alone with him. She would let him start out by either kissing or touching her. She would make sure he got a shot at her nipple rings. That was the draw that no one could refuse.

Jesse liked the way John responded to her. She knew he wanted her. She could feel his hungry eyes on her. She wanted him 'real bad'. No one turned her down before, ever. His evasion made her want him even more. She planned to work him hard.

Cameron was on her non stop to increase her attempts. It excited her to see John look at her nipple rings. In fact it excited her to have anyone look at them, human or Metal. Derek checked them out once and Riley caught him. It turned angry fast. She liked Derek to think about the times they were together. It made her feel good inside.

Jesse gave Riley a long look to quell her anger towards Derek. She learned long ago that a woman could satisfy a woman better than a man could. A Metal female was out of this world. Cameron would be Heaven.

Gail came back to see what Jesse was doing. They needed to leave.

"Jesse… Jesse… we need to go." Gail said.

Jesse looked around quickly. She'd been daydreaming of what could be and how sweet it would be. She decided to give Gail some 'spin'. She knew how to score a few 'points'.

"Sorry, love, I was daydreaming about making love to you." Jesse said.

Gail smiled. Jesse thought Gail looked really pretty when she smiled.

Her statement wasn't exactly true. Jesse wanted to make Gail feel desired. That always produced superior results in the bedroom.

"When we get back, you won't have to daydream…." Gail said.

Jesse thought that was even better. It was what she wanted to hear. If they had more time right now she would knock off a quickie, either with or without Gail. Both ways worked for her. One was just more exciting than the other.

Claire and Summer were back at home now in Palmdale. Holly and Cameron were there at her side. They were busy as they helped out. Claire loved all the assistance. They all did everything for her and it really helped her out.

Allison was overwhelmed when the duties fell to her. She looked flustered and seemed on edge. She wanted Cameron and Holly to let her try everything on her own. She wanted to see how she would do as a 'mother' herself. She personally saw her response and actions as a failure.

"Mom, I don't think I could do this on my own." Allison said. "It's a lot of work. I will never be a good mother."

Claire could see that Allison looked beat and flustered. She tried to give her some encouragement and advice.

"You can and will be able to be a good mother. It will come naturally to you. You will always know what to do." Claire said. "I felt like you do now at first when you were born. It gets better. You learn to adapt and adjust quickly. It's just that everything is new and you need to get some order and understanding."

Allison blew a few stray strands of hair that were in her face away. It was more an act of frustration than anything else.

"I don't think so. I don't think I can be good enough." Allison said. "There is so much to do. What if I do it wrong or do the wrong thing?"

Claire believed that Allison would receive plenty of help from the girls around her. It only seemed like Allison needed a little confidence in herself.

"Trust yourself." Claire said. "I was able to raise you and I felt the same way that you do now. Cameron, Holly and Vanna will all help you. Everyone will help you."

Allison looked over at Summer and how tiny she was.

"I don't want to do the wrong thing." Allison said. "I worry about it."

Claire smiled at Allison and touched her cheek.

"I know you can do it." Claire said. "I will help you myself. That is what mothers do."

Allison was still skeptical. No, she was afraid. She'd seen babies die in the future. Sometimes there was little to give them. There was no medicine. There was no formula.

There was only the dirty and contaminated water for them to drink. Food was scarce on all levels. Everything was contaminated.

Cameron was thrilled with the baby. She was even more determined to get an interface designed and break the encryption on the TDE. She wanted to get a hold of Duplicate Allison's body before she was terminated. That could become her body then if the chip transfer could be completed in conjunction with her brain.

She was fascinated as Claire breast fed Summer. She was transfixed as she watched her do it. She wondered what it was like to do that. She wondered what it tasted like.

"Summer seems to like that." Cameron said.

Claire looked around. She lifted the shirt that covered her other breast.

"You can try a taste." Claire said. "It won't hurt you."

Cameron looked at the breast. It called to her. She slowly moved her head towards it. It was right in front of her. Her eyes were big and round as she looked up at Claire. There was a smile on Claire's face. She squeezed herself gently and a small drop appeared.

"Go on." Claire said. "I have plenty."

Cameron licked her lips as she moved her head forward.

There was some noise in the background.

Cameron lifted her hand and touched a drop that formed with her index finger. She straightened and stood up. She touched the tip of her finger to her mouth. She ran a chemical analysis.

That was not what Claire hoped for.

"What do you taste?" Claire asked.

"I detect Whey protein, Alpha-lactalbumin, Lactoferrin, Casein, Serum albumin…."

Claire interrupted her.

"I mean, what does it taste like to you?" Claire asked.

Cameron smiled.

"It was pleasant." Cameron said.

Claire cupped her free breast.

"There is plenty more if you want to analyze it further or just taste some more." Claire said. "I'm available anytime."

Cameron looked down at her own breasts. She remembered when the right one was 'gone'. It was heavily damaged in several different gun battles with the enemy. It was another thing that made her aware of the limitations of her chassis. This was one of them, another one of them.

Cameron noticed Claire look at her as she looked at Claire.

"Your body is wonderful that you can provide life and nourishment for Summer." Cameron said. "My body can not function like that. Thank you for the sample."

Claire could see that Cameron felt bad that she was barren.

"Cameron, you have many other attributes." Claire said.

Cameron did not see it that way. There were other things she would rather be than a killing machine.

"I would rather be a mother than a - Terminator." Cameron said. "You and Allison are lucky to have been born instead of built."

Claire saw it as fate.

"None of us had any say in the matter." Claire said. "First we weren't and then we were."

Cameron did not want to think about that. She sometimes thought the 'weren't' part was better than the 'were' part.

"The fact you can create without building is wonderful." Cameron said.

Claire did not want Cameron to go off on a tangent about something she couldn't do.

"Holly is amazing with children, Cameron, as are you." Claire said. "She seems so shy sometimes. I know she will take care of both of my Allisons. Cameron, I admire the way you comfort Holly when she 'needs' it. I know when you face similar 'circumstances' in the future that she will be there for you. I will be there for you too, Cameron."

Claire took Cameron's hand and gave it a gently squeeze.

Cameron scanned her. She knew Claire 'said' a lot more without 'saying' it.

"The future waits for no one and John must be protected at all costs." Cameron said. "Everyone scarifies for John Connor."

It seemed like Cameron was the one who always needed to sacrifice to Claire.

"Some more than others…." Claire said.

Cameron looked very sad. Claire thought she could cheer her up some.

"Cameron, can you hold Summer for a while?" Claire asked.

Cameron's face instantly lit up and she smiled.

"Yes! Thank You." Cameron said as she looked into Claire's eyes. "Thank You, Claire."

John was on the way to the temporal incursion site. Jesse and Gail were with him along with Bob. They wanted to do an on the ground investigation.

John Henry came over John's com.

"It's happening again." John Henry said.

John hoped there was something this time. They needed answers. If they could put the 'grab' on someone they should be able to get them, one way or another.

"We're almost there." John said. "Did anything come through?"

"No. I have a feeling that the energy bubble is trying to pick up something rather than send it." John Henry said.

John needed to think about that for a few seconds. Was that possible? Could the energy bubble appear and someone step into it and be transferred back to where the bubble originated from? That opened a whole realm of possibilities. Maybe it made the temporal error chance greater too.

"Skynet did not have that capability." John said.

"Perhaps it is Mrs. Weaver." John Henry said. "Or…."

A sense of doom flooded John. Maybe it was someone with more technology from a further future who was intelligent enough to make it work.

John filled in the blank.

"Or River…." John finished the sentence.

They both knew what that meant. Cameron would leave if River came back for her. River was to Cameron, what Cameron was to everyone else….

John was not happy at that prospect but he would rather have Cameron do that than be terminated by self termination or by termination in combat. He believed that there was nothing he could do that would stop her. He would need to deactivate her. At that point she would cease to exist. It would him that 'killed' her then.

He remembered the words his mother once told him: 'Sometimes when you love someone, you need to let them go….'

John was willing to let Cameron go if it insured her continued existence.

He was very aware that sacrifice was the true test of love. John knew he may have to sacrifice his heart so that Cameron could live. He felt it was a small price to pay for Cameron's existence and happiness.

Vanna was in her room. There was a knock at the door. She opened the door. She was surprised.

"Hey." Vanna said.

"Hey, love, you look lonely."

"I am." Vanna said. "I miss Allison."

"I'm here."

She moved up and kissed Vanna. Vanna responded instantly. She was not one to turn down a finish, especially a shared one.

They both rapidly undressed.

Vanna lay on the bed. Her hands clasp the tight Asian body. She pulled her closer. Her hands touched the firm figure as they slid down her sides and lower back.

She stopped. She hadn't expected this. This was different.

"Is something wrong, love?"

Vanna made the connection.

"I thought you were Jesse." Vanna said.

Sheila smiled at her. Her full lips were enticing and called to her.

"It's me - Sheila." Sheila said. "Is that a problem?"

Vanna looked into her eyes.

Sheila moved closer and kissed her.

Vanna felt a sense of excitement and a rush of lust. She wanted to take this all the way like Jesse did and told her about. She wondered if she'd make it to the 'other side'.

"No. It's even better. I want you to run your maximum programming." Vanna said. "Don't stop until I black out."

Sheila smiled again as she moved in for the 'kill'.

"I intended to." Sheila said. "Hang on…."

'Smoke On The Water' by 'Deep Purple', played.

Branded

Wherefore art thou
Why I have I been abandoned
What have I ever asked of you
What have I ever demanded

Forsake me not
Alongside you I have fought
Now when I call and plead
It is me you have forgot

What is happening
I really can't understand
Burnt into my heart and soul
I carry YOUR brand

You can see, hear and feel
The emotional scar you branded upon me
Forever seared into my mind
I can NEVER un-see

The endless drudge of life
Drags me down like quicksand
But you turn from me, reject me
Not taking my pleading sinking hand

Nobody