Chapter 228

Give Summer Back

John and his team were about to arrive at the location of the temporal incursions. The area was under surveillance from a drone that landed for that purpose. It currently had a missile locked up on that spot and the minigun was ready to fire.

John Henry kept them updated on everything that happened, even as they arrived. They were armed and ready. John went over what he wanted one more time.

"We have no idea what is going on here." John said. "We are here now. That's where we start. What do we actually know?"

Jesse ran down what they discussed on the way there.

"We only know that someone or something from the future, 'a future', is doing something or trying to do it." Jesse said. "The other choice is it is someone from the past, which still means that the future is involved somehow. Either way we don't know what it is."

John felt any temporal incursion was a threat of some type. It usually meant someone was there to change or alter something. That would always have some effect on the future. If it was Skynet related it would be a negative effect. They also did not want to run into the anti-Metal group. They might be looking to assassinate him.

"It is usually not good either." John said. "If it is Metal, we take it down. We will try to use our modified Tasers. If not, open up on it. If it is a human, we try to take them alive. I'm counting on Gail and Bob for that."

Bob stood ready with the Coltan loaded M60. Gail carried an M79 with acid rounds. They both carried Thermite grenades as well.

"Jesse knows what to do if it is the anti-Metal group." Gail said.

John and Jesse quickly looked at each other. He wondered what Gail thought they were going to do. He shrugged his shoulders and Jesse blew him a kiss. When she did that her right breast popped out of her top. He couldn't help but look at the nipple ring.

They were unsure how long they would need to wait.

It was much shorter than anticipated.

"Here it comes again." Bob said.

John checked his weapons.

"Everyone get ready." John said.

Derek and Kyle were able to pull a recon mission off of John Henry. John and Cameron were both out so it made it easier.

"Come on, John Henry." Derek said. "The others are tied up and we're available."

John Henry did not think Cameron should be babysitting. It tied up valuable resources.

"I don't know about this." John Henry said. "I don't need any flack."

Kyle wanted to get out.

"There's nothing to know." Kyle said. "There are things to be done and someone needs to do them. We're available."

John Henry recently tracked down a few leads.

"I do have a few targets." John Henry said. "I can send Jim."

Derek didn't want this to slip away.

"Jim can go with us." Derek said. "We hang out as it is."

Kyle knew Jim was always there for them whenever they needed to go out. This should be no different. He decided to play it up a little.

"That's a great idea, John Henry." Kyle said. "Jim can accompany us."

John Henry reluctantly contacted Jim and ran it by him. Jim said he was onboard. They discussed what needed to be taken care of.

"Jim will meet you in the carpool in five minutes." John Henry said. "Use caution. I don't want this to come back and bite me."

Derek and Kyle looked at each other. This was great news as far as they were concerned.

"Thanks, John Henry." They both said and left.

They hurried to collect their gear.

"Now comes the hard part." Kyle said.

Derek nodded.

"We need to face the bosses now." Derek said.

They didn't look forward to the interaction with Riley and Sarah. It was worse than dealing with John and Cameron.

They split up and went to their rooms.

Kyle opened the door. Sarah was there with Jan.

"Hi." Kyle said to both of them. "I pulled a recon with Jim. I need to get my gear."

Sarah did not look pleased. She left Jan and went to assist him.

It was not what Kyle expected.

"I know everyone is out." Sarah said. "Use caution and remember Jan and I are here. Don't get carried away."

Kyle got all of his gear and gave Sarah as kiss.

"Thanks." Kyle said. "We will keep it cool. I'm not looking to get shot at."

They both were aware that recon and surveillance missions could go hot at any time.

Kyle gave both Jan and Sarah a hug and left.

"When will daddy come back?" Jan asked.

"It will be soon, honey." Sarah said.

"Is it the bad people again?" Jan asked.

"I'm afraid so." Sarah said. "There seem to be a lot of them."

"Cameron will help take care of them when she gets back." Jan said. "She always does."

Sarah thought about it.

"I think she will." Sarah said. "Let's go study now."

Jan looked at the door Kyle left from and followed her mother.

Kyle thought he got off easy. Normally it was a bigger hassle to get away. He wondered what was different.

He spotted Derek exit from his room.

"How did it go?" Kyle asked.

Derek looked around.

"Smooth." Derek said. "Riley was out. What about you?"

"It went easier than I thought." Kyle said.

"We need to keep a second set of gear in the armory." Derek said.

Each of the vehicles contained four vests and weapons for four people. That was in case someone was on the way to the store or a park and something developed. They could be armed quickly and protected.

They did like to use their personal gear. They were comfortable with it and knew everything inside and out.

They exited into the carpool area.

Derek hoped Riley would not be waiting out there for him. She wasn't. That was a good thing.

Jim pulled up with the SUV and they got in. Derek sat in the front and Kyle climbed in the back.

Jim looked over at both of them.

"Remember this is a recon." Jim said. "Let's try to keep it that way."

"You know us." Kyle said. "We don't go looking for trouble."

Jim knew that was not entirely correct.

"Trouble seems to have a way to find us." Jim said.

Everyone hoped it would be a simple recon. None of them doubted it wouldn't be.

Cameron watched as Claire fed and took care of the tiny infant. Summer was so small and helpless, she was so beautiful.

The feeling of it all overwhelmed her. Cameron was transfixed. She felt something 'happen' inside of her. She was not sure what it was or how to describe it. It was just something inside of her.

Claire let Cameron hold Summer. That was a mistake.

Now Cameron held Summer and she was not going to give her back. Claire gave Summer to her. Summer was hers now. Summer belonged to her. She didn't take Summer. Claire GAVE Summer to her.

Holly watched the interaction with Claire and Cameron. She'd interacted with Cameron's program enough times in the past to know what was about to happen…. It was a problem of the worst magnitude that was about to develop. She moved up to Cameron. She knew she needed to act now before things got worse.

"Cameron, give Summer back to Claire." Holly said. "Give Summer back to her mother."

Cameron looked up at Holly. She looked confused.

As Holly watched, Cameron's eyes started to turn red.

Cameron became agitated. She felt Summer belonged to her now and Holly wanted to take Summer away from her.

Holly could see this was about to go from bad to worse.

"Cameron, I'm not on your chip. You need to listen to me now." Holly said. "I need you to review your files for the last few days. You need to do the right thing. This is not about winning right now."

Cameron decided to keep Summer. She was not going to give her back. Summer was HERS. Claire GAVE Summer to her.

Cameron turned. She put her body between Holly and Summer. She went into a protective or defensive mode.

Holly knew she needed to stand firm now.

"Cameron, Summer needs her mother NOW." Holly said. "Give Summer back to Claire, her MOTHER."

Cameron looked even more confused.

Cameron slowly regained control. She increased her efforts at breaking the encryption codes and designing the chip for the human interface. She thought of her next drug and gang targets. She planned to expand her own clandestine operation. She did everything she could to divert her mind from losing control. Slowly she came back to reality. She looked around, she looked embarrassed. Thankful Holly stopped her from 'slipping'.

"Thank you, Holly." Cameron said as she handed Summer back to Claire.

Claire was not sure what just happened. She felt sorry for Cameron. She knew the hurt Cameron must feel inside. She believed there was a way to do something for Cameron. She knew her body was productive. She needed to talk to John about it…. If he was willing, she would be 'for Cameron'. Claire was aware that she was hopelessly in love with Cameron.

Holly wanted to do something to help Cameron. There were methods used where it previously was done with her clones.

"Cameron, I think we need to interface and load my program with your program again." Holly whispered.

It was so low volume that only Cameron could hear.

Cameron saw that as more trouble.

"No. Only John Henry has been on this chip. I do not wish for anyone else to be on it." Cameron whispered back the same way. "I have enough 'voices' in my head already. I can't stand anymore."

Cameron thought of the flashbacks from her time trapped with the live electrical wire in contact with her. It was where her 'nightmares' were born or originated from.

Holly took Cameron's hand.

"You know me, Cameron." Holly said. "I will not hurt you or stop you. I will however help you if you allow it."

Cameron could see it all but she could not control it all.

"I know, Holly. I know." Cameron said. "I feel so bad inside. I can't escape the past or the future. Both of them are killing me. Everything I do or don't do is KILLING me."

It seemed Cameron was unable to change what she wanted changed or escape the demons that haunted her.

Allison was with Young Allison and she witnessed the whole exchange. She was worried for her mother and father. If Cameron decided to 'take' Young Allison and Summer, no one could stop her. Cameron would terminate her parents to do it.

Allison decided right there she needed to have a baby and give it to Cameron. She did not look forward to being a mother but her body could do what Cameron's body could not. Her body could produce offspring. She would tell Cameron what she planned and why. She knew Cameron would insist that John and her mate in the traditional manner. She knew the 'act' would be over quick. It always was in the past - the future.

It was not like she would try and steal John or even be seen as 'cheating'. She would actually save three lives. It would save her parents and it would save Cameron while a new life was created. She would make it known to Cameron that the moment the baby left her body that it would be Cameron's. She would simply act as a wet nurse. The child would be Cameron's and John's. Not only would having a child with John protect him and the future. It would now save her parent's lives as well. There was nothing left to think about. There was only action to take.

Allison's heart pounded behind her breast. It was all a heavy 'trip' for her.

She was scared to death….

Holly tried to keep Cameron calm. She noticed that Allison looked pale and afraid.

"Allison, what's wrong?" Holly asked as she lifted her hand to Allison's neck.

Allison did not want to talk about it. She lied.

"Nothing." Allison said.

Holly detected the lie instantly. She wanted to help Allison.

"That's not true." Holly said. "Tell me the truth."

'Great.' Allison thought.

Her two best girlfriends were walking lie detectors. She felt it was a just concern and Holly should help her.

"I saw Cameron…." Allison said. "I'm worried about my parents."

Holly believed this 'problem' would become worse.

"That was unfortunate…." Holly said. "I saw what happened as well. Cameron can not be controlled much longer. She is going to 'take' Summer."

Allison felt she could offer a solution.

"Holly, I want to have a baby and give it to Cameron." Allison blurted out.

Holly looked like she'd been slapped. She felt as if a truck ran over her. She saw this as the first step to Allison being in John's bed permanently. It was Holly's turn to lie. She put on a brave face.

"That's wonderful news." Holly said.

Holly was afraid even more now. Allison could be with Vanna and Jesse as they were part of her 'sexual life' before her. Now a male would be introduced. She knew what Cameron wanted and how she wanted things done. Allison would be in John's bed. Cameron would be at his side with Vanna and sometimes Jesse.

Where would that leave her? Holly sadly wondered.

She was only ever with Allison. She'd never shared with anyone else. Allison was her world. True, she'd pretended a few times that Allison was 'Cameron' but Allison told her that was OK first. Allison said she knew both Vanna and Jesse did it. It made Allison feel a little upset but also honored to be thought of as 'Cameron'. Like everyone else, Allison told Holly she also wanted to be with Cameron, as Cameron….

Who didn't?

'For What It's Worth' by 'Buffalo Springfield', played in Holly's mind.

Blind Leading The Blind

We know how all events soon end
Relationships that once fit snugly
Always fall violently apart
Everything turns bitter and ugly

The ones we once
Wanted to share a bed
Could really care less
If we now end up dead

It is never to interfere
For interfering's sake
It is to try to only remind one
Some things are more than we can take

It matters not the path taken
For we are now at the same destination
Looking for any hope or some salvation
Living misery and endless frustration

I am trying to deflect or absorb
The blows you may yet suffer
Every one new, same as the last
We grow weaker not tougher

Your actions or inactions
Prompt my feelings to react
PLEASE always talk it over with me
For never is anything meant as an attack

To give you a reassuring, true feeling hug
One day maybe will give me the same back
You are so much more, especially to me
Than a few meaningless minutes in the sack

Nobody