Chapter 265

Paradise

John Henry kept the surveillance operational at the site the time bubble appeared several times or tried to appear. This was something big he felt. He believed that it was something important. John and Cameron both told him this as well. The question was what exactly was this and who?

By this time he was sure like Cameron and John that this wasn't a threat. It was most likely either Mrs. Weaver, the other Duplicate set of girls or River. John Henry wanted it to be River while at the same time he hoped it wasn't. Everyone knew if River came again that Cameron was going to leave with her. River made Cameron feel complete. They'd discussed it. Cameron would always get a far away look on her face as she thought about River.

Cameron arrived in the Command Center as he checked for any updates on the temporal location.

"I want it to be either the other Duplicate Cameron or River." Cameron said.

John Henry needed to remind her it was a total unknown.

"We don't know what it is." John Henry said.

Cameron could feel it was something 'good'. She could not explain why.

"I hope it's River." Cameron said.

John Henry needed to worry about the implications to the Resistance operations.

"What will you do?" John Henry asked. "You've been able to think about this for a longer time now."

Cameron frowned a little. This was her concern. It shouldn't the worry of anyone else.

"John Henry, I know you've asked me several times." Cameron said. "The answer is always the same. I want to go with her to her future. You know I love her."

John Henry wanted to point out it was Duplicate Cameron that loved and wanted River. She only possessed Duplicate Cameron's files and feelings. They weren't really her own. The trouble was, they were her own now, since she'd consolidated all the files from Duplicate Cameron. It was all the same program anyway.

"What about John and your mission?" John Henry asked. "What about the future?"

Cameron saw this as her chance to get away from it all, forever. She possessed all of Duplicate Cameron's files and they were the same as her own files now. That included Duplicate Cameron's time spent with John and River. The latter were her prized files. She wanted some personal consideration from everyone. She felt she should matter too.

"What about ME?" Cameron snapped. "You know the torment I face every day here. What about me? I've provided John with everything and everyone that he needs for his protection and for the future. My mission is here is complete."

Cameron wanted to know why she couldn't return home to her future if nothing else. That is why they'd constructed the TDEs in the past. It was so they would always have a way 'home'. What was the purpose if she couldn't use one for that?

John Henry thought about all the 'stunts' Cameron pulled over the years. He'd been on her chip, he understood.

"I don't know, Cameron." John Henry said.

They looked at each other for a long moment.

"Go ahead, say it." Cameron said.

Cameron knew where he was headed.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." John Henry said.

Cameron hung her head and soundlessly walked away. She felt defeated. None of them really understood her or cared about her.

A single tear slid down John Henry's cheek as he watched her leave. He knew or her pain and torment.

Savannah studied nearby. She'd heard the whole exchange, just as she heard all the exchanges from everyone. She knew everything about everyone, even things she probably shouldn't know. She loved Cameron and River, she loved all of them. She knew Cameron was special among everyone, even her 'Mother'.

The older Savannah got, the more her love for Cameron 'evolved'. She never fought it. She knew what Cameron was. That only made Cameron more 'special' to her. She knew she would do whatever she had to do, to help Cameron. That was now and in the future.

Cameron gave her a 'feeling' inside of her like no other. Savannah knew she would die for Cameron if she needed to, to save her. She would die with Cameron even if it was so Cameron didn't need to die alone. She knew she was in love with Cameron. She stared off into the distance. Her face was blank as her mind wandered. She wasn't happy waiting for the future to come to her. She wanted her future as soon as possible. She was a 'big' girl now and she wanted what the others all 'shared'.

Savannah was lonely….

Jim returned Derek and Kyle back to the base. They conducted several recon missions and terminated a few Grays or future Grays.

John Henry debriefed them. Jim returned to his duties.

Kyle went off to see Sarah.

Derek thought about going to see Riley but he wanted to know more about the last target that they'd encountered in the desert. Jim seemed to be in a hurry to get back after that. It didn't seem to be something that John Henry wanted to discuss either.

John Henry and Derek were about to go over some new targets and people to 'watch'.

John Henry picked up a temporal disturbance in the hills. It was at the same location they kept under surveillance.

"The time bubble is back in the mountains." John Henry said.

An alarm alert sounded. An armed drone out on patrol was diverted to the spot.

"What is it?" Derek asked.

John Henry hoped it was the same as before.

"It's the return of the time bubble that never finished appearing completely." John Henry said.

It seemed like a threat to Derek.

"Do you want me to get John?" Derek asked.

John Henry knew Cameron was trying to reach back out to John. She was trying to hang on to what she possessed, even if it wasn't what she truly wanted.

"John and Cameron are 'busy'. They don't get much time together." John Henry said. "If something actually shows up, I will notify him."

Derek was glad to hear that things seemed smoother for John and Cameron than they did for Riley and him. They were in a rough patch. They seemed to 'fight' about everything. There was no love making. There was just rough sex every now and then. He didn't like that Riley insisted that she be tied up first either. He thought the gag and blindfold were too much. It was the only way she'd let him touch her now. She seemed to like it best when she was 'hog tied'. It was all very disturbing. It seemed to be something from her past that she needed to relive. Maybe it was because she was the one who had 'control' over it now.

"I can say, lucky him in more ways than one." Derek said. "Getting the dessert is better than having to eat the vegetables everyday, all day, then maybe getting a scrap of dessert."

John Henry thought everyone from the future would be happy to be back in the past. It was referred to as 'Paradise' by all of them. There were many times when each of them seemed very displeased to be in the past – the present - Paradise.

"It sounds like trouble in Paradise." John Henry said.

Derek knew things could be a lot worse and in a much worse place. Unhappy Paradise was still better that the future 'Hell On Earth'. He'd take the punches as they arrived.

"Nope, that's just they way it is." Derek said. "Life moves forwards, not backwards.

John Henry alerted the Blackhawk crew to prepare for liftoff.

"I've put the helicopter on standby." John Henry said.

Derek didn't want to be caught flat footed.

"Let me call Kyle." Derek said. "We need to get ready. We don't know what this is or how big of a threat it might turn into."

Derek made the call to Kyle as they waited for an update from the location.

"The drone will be there soon. Surveillance still shows nothing." John Henry said.

They waited a little longer.

Derek spotted Kyle as he approached.

"Bob, Jim and Gail are ready." Kyle said. "We have all the gear ready to go."

John Henry redirected the closest team earlier.

"Ed and Steve are headed there by vehicle. I diverted them from a stakeout." John Henry said.

This was all the unknown and it all took time for something to happen. Maybe it was nothing again. Maybe it was something important.

Earlier:

Jesse and Gail were deep in a love making session. Jesse really liked the way Gail could make her feel. She was able to make all of her lady part feel more pleasure than she thought was possible. She'd just 'finished' five times in a row a few seconds apart. She needed to rest for a bit. That was intense.

She heard Gail get the alert and watched her quickly dress and prepare to head out for possible combat.

Jesse wanted to do her part and go as well.

"Give me a minute and I can go too." Jesse gasped. "I just need to catch my breath a little."

Gail wasn't going to have that. She didn't want to see Jesse die again. She couldn't go through that again. The memories of Jesse - Duplicate Jesse flooded her now.

"No." Gail said. "I forbid you from going."

Jesse did not feel the same apprehension that Gail did. That wasn't her that perished on that terrible day. She was a member of the Resistance. She felt a duty to serve as well.

"Look, it's my job too, Gail." Jesse said. "YOU can't forbid me. You don't own me."

Gail could only picture the worst happening.

"No. I won't allow you to go." Gail said. "I can't lose you 'again'."

Jesse was angry at the control Gail seemed to have over her. Nobody controlled her, not anymore.

"Everyone dies, love. That's how life works." Jesse said. "Don't make my duty a problem."

Gail thought there were others who could go.

"Not needlessly they don't have to die." Gail said.

Jesse didn't think her help was needless. She starred Gail down.

"You can't stop me." Jesse said.

The 'Terminator' in Gail became evident.

"I will not allow you to go." Gail said.

Bob arrived at Jesse's room to get Gail. He was very worried at what he currently watched. It looked like a bad situation.

Bob hurried away and went to get Vanna to help de-escalate the situation.

Vanna was topless but left her room anyway. She grabbed a top on the way out the door.

Vanna and Bob could hear the angry words as they approached.

Vanna slipped her top on. It was inside out.

"Is everything all right in here?" Vanna asked.

Jesse and Gail both looked upset and angry.

"No." Jesse said at the same time Gail said "Yes."

Gail tolerated Jesse and Vanna together but she didn't like it. She figured that Jesse being with Vanna was better than Jesse getting hurt again or worse. She did appreciate the fact that whenever she was in off of rotation that Jesse spent all her time with her. If Jesse and Vanna needed to be together to not feel lonely in her absence, she actually did understand. She wanted what was best for Jesse, even if it was other females. She knew Jesse with Vanna was better than Jesse with John and Cameron.

Vanna sensed a real ugly argument was about to erupt. She didn't think she could do anything to stop it and would probably make it worse.

From out of nowhere, help arrived.

"Jesse, can you help me with my school work?" Savannah asked.

Everyone looked at Savannah. She held a special place in all of their hearts both human and Metal.

"Hello, everyone." Savannah said.

Everyone said hello in return.

Savannah could see Jesse was steamed. Even with her darker complexion she was 'red' with anger.

"Please, Jesse, for me." Savannah said.

Savannah looked at Jesse and smiled.

Jesse felt the 'pull'. It was Savannah's blue eyes that touched her deeply. Even if she was the same person as Vanna, there was 'life' and innocence there that Vanna no longer possessed.

Savannah moved closer to Jesse.

Jesse looked at her. It was her eyes that did it. Savannah was so beautiful. That young teenage body 'called' to her.

"Certainly, love, I'll be right there…." Jesse said.

It was clear that Jesse was not done with her 'discussion' with Gail. The argument would flare back up as soon as Savannah left.

Savannah smiled and touched Jesse's cheek.

"Now would be better." Savannah said.

Jesse felt an 'electrical' charge shoot through her. That hand and those fingers were so soft and gentle.

The 'redness' disappeared form Jesse's face almost immediately.

Vanna could see how Savannah reached deep into Jesse. She wished she could do that herself.

"Jesse and I will both help you." Vanna said.

Savannah held Jesse's hand and guided her away.

Gail caught Vanna's eye and nodded. She also nodded and smiled at Savannah when she looked back.

Savannah winked at Gail.

In that moment, Gail felt a 'special' attachment to Savannah.

Jesse was still hesitant. She never walked away from a fight.

Savannah squeezed Jesse's hand. It soothed her the same way as when Vanna did it.

Savannah stopped Jesse and looked into her eyes. She took Jesse's face in both of her hands. This was a very direct approach that spoke with meaning and feeling even before the first word came out.

"When it's necessary, we will all step up and take the risks. When it's not necessary, I don't want you to do so, either of you." Savannah said. "I already miss my mother. I don't want to miss either of you 'again'. I've already needed to do that 'once'."

Jesse and Vanna could both see how sincere and upset that Savannah was and they all shared a long hug, they understood….

Savannah smiled to herself. The conflict was over. Everyone was happy. She placed Vanna's hand and Jesse's hand together and left them off at Vanna's room.

Jesse smiled at Savannah and thanked her. She looked at Vanna and back at Savannah. She knew who Vanna was going to 'be' right now in her mind. She all but pulled Vanna back into her room and had her top off before the door closed.

Savannah winked at Jesse just as the door closed.

Jesse was all over Vanna with an intense ferocity.

Like Cameron, Savannah was in everyone's heart.

There was a solid contact this time.

The surveillance at the location told the tale.

"It's confirmed. There is someone on the ground." John Henry said.

Kyle wanted to get going.

"How soon will it be until the drone gets there?" Kyle asked. "What about the Blackhawk?"

"It is still a few more minutes for the drone." John Henry said. "The helicopter is ready and on its way. It will here in two minutes."

Derek led the team out.

"Gear up." Derek said. "It's Showtime."

The team was at the landing pad as the Blackhawk approached.

The helicopter touched down and Bob urged everyone forward.

"Get to the chopper." Bob said.

Bob was the last one on and closed the door as the Blackhawk took off.

John Henry advised them on what was happening on the ground at the target location as they flew. Ed and Steve were about to arrive and the drone was armed and tracking.

Bob liked some music as the helicopter flew. Gail started it for him. Allison preselected some songs before for them.

'Smokin' In The Boy's Room' by 'Brownsville Station', flooded their headsets.

Paradise

While offered by many
Few seem to heed advice
Even if they hear it twice
Or again if it's given thrice

One may think they are strong
What they seek is only a little vice
They are often soon shocked to realize
They are caught up in love's vise

What is lovingly shared is nice
It becomes more than life's spice
Into a heart and soul it will slice
More must be had at any price

One thing after another builds
What was once viewed as concise
Is now anything but precise
Many things begin to entice

More and more will not suffice
What was hot may turn to ice
One can gamble and roll the dice
Or appreciate they're already in Paradise

Nobody