Chapter 241

Prophecy

Cameron was dissatisfied with the 'Neural Interface' testing from her chip into a human. The reverse technology from a human to a chip worked much better. The current results she'd experienced with Nobody left much to be desired. It was amazing how a human body could be damaged by a sustained attack from a Terminator.

The need to break the encryption was not as critical now for the TDE. Cameron decided the machine to human transfer with the 'Neural Interface' would not work out as she'd planned. The 'Neural Interface' obliterated the personality of the host. It left behind many fragments of their former self but that was all. She really wanted Allison's baby, John's baby - HER baby. There were still three 'Allisons' out there, maybe four. She was not done yet. She loved Allison and did not want to 'kill' her 'again'. She did realize it was wrong to rescue Duplicate Allison from death and then end up 'killing' Duplicate Allison herself.

Cameron left Hanna, Ally and Sheila to run things in her absence at her base. They were loyal to her and would keep her operation running. She would work on getting more Metal to staff her operation. It would be an all Metal operation. There wouldn't be any humans. Metal could be replaced. They could be rebodied or reborn with a copy of their program. Humans could not be replaced or reborn. When they were dead, they were dead forever.

Still, she thought of going back and rescuing the ones that fell for the ones that loved them. It seemed like a noble and caring gesture. It just seemed she may create more problems by attempting that.

Unless the deceased could be rescued near the time of their termination, everything that followed would be different. The timeline would be altered. She'd often thought of going back to rescue Future Kyle for Sarah and Future Derek for John. She even thought of saving Charlie for Sarah as well. It would at least give Sarah some peace of mind. She might even save Future Riley. She still remembered how John cried and cried after her death. She wanted to 'fix' that. None of those people needed to die. None of them cared for her at that time. She did not care for them either. Things were different now. People change. She'd changed.

Maybe this was another reason she'd apparently asked River to encrypt the TDE from going back in time. Maybe she'd 'fixed' all that 'before' and made things worse.

Maybe she'd done a lot of things that she shouldn't have. Maybe she still would. She really wondered how many timelines she'd created herself. Maybe she didn't want to know.

Cameron wanted to motivate Allison. She was also aware Claire was 'available' since she already produced two beautiful children. She believed that Paul, Claire's husband, would be a problem but given the right circumstances and explanations he may understand and accept Claire having someone else's child as a 'Surrogate Mother'. She would make it worth his while financially to consider it. She decided to groom both of the Young females, Allison and her mother. Claire was only a couple years older than Allison and younger than Vanna and Jesse. She looked very much like Allison or 'her' for that matter.

She left her base and headed for the Young residence. She did not think Claire's marriage was strong at all. Claire indicated she was very dissatisfied with married life. It was unfulfilling to her in every way. The only positive out of it was her two, well three, daughters. If it wasn't for Allison living back at home to be with her parents, Claire would probably have left Paul. She felt a different calling in life….

Cameron decided if Claire and Paul did split up that she would make sure Claire did not look for any other male suitor. She would ask Jesse and the Metal girls to 'help' her keep Claire on the 'proper' path. She wanted Claire as another 'backup' for John.

She exited the 14 freeway and headed for the Young residence on the surface streets. She arrived in short order and headed for the front door.

Claire opened the door and greeted her before she could even knock.

"Hi, Cameron." Claire said.

Cameron liked the pretty smile that formed on Claire's face. It was the 'smile' in her eyes that said it all.

"Hi, Claire." Cameron said.

Claire gave Cameron a big hug. She held it for a long time. It allowed Cameron to scan her. She wanted Cameron to scan her. Cameron did and made sure she knew she was scanning her. They both silently communicated their desires without words. They both hoped the other picked up on them.

Cameron knew Claire was 'offering' herself to her.

"I've missed you, Cameron." Claire said as she gave Cameron a kiss on the cheek.

Cameron almost turned into the kiss to take it on her lips. Claire was 'viable'.

Claire still held her in the hug. She didn't want to let go. She wanted Cameron to 'feel' her.

"I've missed you." Cameron said. "I wanted to see Young Allison and Summer as well."

Claire reluctantly released Cameron. She wanted to tell Cameron that she loved her.

Claire did not need to 'tell' Cameron. She knew it, she'd just 'felt' it. She now considered Claire as an 'alternate' to the other girls as well. Claire produced beautiful children, especially daughters.

Holly and Allison came out of Summer's room. They just got her down for her nap.

Allison noted the unspoken interaction of her mother and Cameron. She felt more than a little jealous. She actually felt her mother had a better 'shot' at Cameron than she did.

"Hey, Cameron." Allison said as she gave her a long hug and held it.

Holly did not look very happy but she actually understood.

Allison and her mother shared a long stare. Both women knew they loved the same woman - Cameron. She realized that her mother would do what she was reluctant to. Claire wanted her to KNOW. She was not ashamed of it either. It was more of a statement of fact than a challenge.

"Hi, Allison, Holly." Cameron said as she nodded to Holly.

Holly nodded back.

"How are my little girls?" Cameron asked.

Allison smiled and decided to run with it.

"All three of us are fine." Allison said.

Allison, Holly and Cameron laughed.

Cameron decided to push her agenda. It seemed to be the right time with the right group present.

"Are you ready for your own baby?" Cameron asked.

Holly stood in back of Allison. Her hands rested on Allison's shoulders. It was a show of support.

"Yes, I am." Allison said as she looked at her mother.

Cameron wanted to make it clear to Allison what the end game was. She knew Allison 'feared' something. Part of that something was 'her'. It did not give her a pleasant feeling.

"You will have to be the mother, Allison." Cameron said. "I will not take your baby from you."

That cut the tension in the room.

Allison quickly offered an 'olive branch' back to Cameron. Her love for Cameron was strong.

"I want your help along with Vanna's and Holly's." Allison said.

Claire didn't want to demising her daughter's dreams.

"I'll help as well." Claire said.

Allison appreciated her mother's support. It just felt a little awkward.

"Thanks, Mom." Allison said. "It must not be easy to hear your 'unmarried' daughter talk of having a child in front of you."

Claire thought of Young Allison as her daughter. Even if Allison was the grown version of Young Allison. It was still a concept that was hard to get over. There were TWO versions of the SAME person. One was just older than the other.

"No, it is not easy but I understand the situation and the future." Claire said. "Remember you are still a 'little girl' to me."

Allison wanted to say more, confess or try to explain everything to her mother, Holly and Cameron. Allison never really talked about any of it except to Vanna. It was all very difficult and personal. There was so much that she didn't have any control over.

"I've done a lot of big girl stuff. A lot of big girl stuff has 'happened' to me…." Allison said.

Claire needed to defend and help her daughter right now.

"Allison - STOP." Claire said. "That's all in the past, even if somehow it is still in the future or hasn't happened yet or again or will. I'm not sure how it all works. John is a good man. He will make an excellent father."

Cameron smiled and looked at Allison.

"Allison will make an excellent mate for John." Cameron said. "It's their destiny."

Everyone cringed at Cameron's words. They knew how they must hurt her to say them.

Cameron hid her glitching hand from view. She kept telling herself that she needed to protect John and the future. She almost started to believe it herself. The glitching slowed and stopped. She did believe it….

Gail could see that Jesse was troubled. She knew it was about Sheila.

"Do you miss her?" Gail asked.

Jesse enjoyed being with 'herself' and 'Gail' with Sheila. She could spend hours touching every inch of Sheila's body. Everything on it was perfect. That was how she once looked when she was young. That all changed.

"I do. Sheila was the same as you until after the 'Neural Interface'. Now she's gone." Jesse said. "I still want to be with her."

Gail didn't want Jesse to forget about her. When Sheila was here it seemed she did more often than not. Now she could have Jesse to herself again. That was the way it should be. That was what she wanted. Sheila was sent to Cameron's base but she was the Metal version of Jesse too.

"We can still share." Gail said. "We still have each other and Vanna still has you."

Jesse felt a little guilty about spending so much time with Sheila that she'd neglected Gail. The feeling passed quickly. She'd enjoyed what she'd done. She would do it again too if the opportunity arose.

"Right now we have each other." Jesse said. "What are we waiting for then…?"

Gail started to strip.

"We're waiting for your clothes to come off…." Gail said.

They were off in a flash.

Jesse was always ready….

John was a little worried and apprehensive. He was glad Bob was there now.

"You look troubled." Bob said.

John felt troubled. He was unsure about the direction going forward.

"I am troubled." John said. "Cameron wants me to visit Mrs. Young."

Bob tilted his head slightly. That did not seem like a problem. Maybe there was something he'd missed.

"Why?" Bob asked.

"She thinks it is important to Mrs. Young." John said.

"Why?" Bob asked.

"To meet her grandchild's father." John said.

"Why?" Bob asked.

"I hate the way Cameron is always manipulating everyone." John said.

"Why?" Bob asked.

"Stop saying that." John said.

"Wh…. Affirmative." Bob said.

John rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry." Bob said. "They were the most logical responses."

John wasn't upset with Bob. None of what was going on was his doing. It all seemed to fall back on Cameron.

"I don't know if Cameron and I are supposed to be together." John said. "So many things happen to pull us apart. Cameron does so many things to keep us apart. Maybe that is why I sent her away in the future. Maybe it was to stop her meddling. Maybe I sent her away so I could have a 'life'."

Bob doubted that was true. He searched for an answer.

"Maybe you sent Cameron away to keep you from being assassinated and her from being terminated." Bob said. "Do you want to be with Allison?"

John felt a hunger there that was barely repressed.

"It would be a lie to say I don't. I do. I've wanted Allison from the moment I saw her." John said. "She was like Cameron but so different. She was always so alive and vibrant."

He knew that was based on the 'Allison' that was a victim of the future. She still shined in spite of it all. He could only imagine an Allison not tainted by the future. That would be Young Allison….

"You've missed many chances." Bob said.

"Yes I have. I always thought my love for Cameron was stronger. I know now it's not. I thought somehow me being true to Cameron would mean something to her. I wanted to show her my regret for my transgressions with Future Riley. I know Future Riley was a mistake and she was killed over my association with her." John said. "I'm as responsible for her death as Future Jesse was. My mother warned me. Cameron warned me. I didn't listen to them."

Bob wondered what the extent of John's involvement was with Future Riley.

"Did you 'mate' with Future Riley?" Bob asked.

"We were together one night in a vehicle." John said. "We talked about it before. We did a lot of things leading up to it. It just seemed to happen. Cameron caught me in the morning when I returned. She's never forgiven me. That's my fault too because I rubbed it in her face and smirked at her. I didn't care if she felt hurt at that time. It was all a big mistake on my part. All of it was."

Bob wondered how far John would go or at least wanted to go.

"Did you want to mate with our Riley?" Bob asked.

That was an easy answer for John.

"Yes, I did. I saw her as MY Riley. I almost did. I felt the same things I felt for My Riley. They are the SAME person too." John said. "I saw her dead, Bob. I saw her dead. It really killed me inside. I cried all night as my mother comforted me. Then she was alive again and I KNEW she wanted me. I wanted her too."

Bob could understand the glee. Terminations were usually final. It would be like seeing the dead come back to life.

"Why didn't you?" Bob asked.

About a million thoughts ran through John's mind at this point. That was a good question. He'd questioned himself thousands of times about it.

"I'm not really sure. No. That's not true. I didn't want to hurt Cameron, again with Riley. Cameron would have killed her if I did." John said. "That would have fulfilled Future Jesse's prophecy."

"Maybe you need to start listening to Cameron." Bob said. "There seems to be no escape from Fate or Destiny."

"Apparently not." John said.

'Runaway' by 'Del Shannon', came to John's mind.

Phoenix

Joy to the world
The Phoenix has risen
Thank you for freeing me
From my self made prison

Something so wonderful
Should never be hurt
Words cut and bleed
Be careful what we blurt

The mind is a forum
It is all in our head
Feelings of others should
Be thought before said

Unlike some of my kind
I DO feel guilt and remorse
I will be careful
And stay on course

Away I will crawl
Back into my shell
Each day is but
A never ending hell

Nobody