Chapter 266

Next Week

An energy bubble from a temporal transfer occurred at the remote location they'd detected it at previously. They'd set up surveillance there specifically for this. John Henry wanted to get everyone onboard and up to speed on the events happening in the hills. A drone was on its way, there was a team on the ground and the Blackhawk was headed there with additional personnel.

This was a solid hit. The transfer actually occurred.

At the site of the temporal incursion, there was someone on the ground. That was a first at that location. Previously there'd just been the energy bubble.

What did it mean? Who were they? Where was the person actually from? They weren't going anywhere. They waited there. The question was for whom?

John Henry reported what he viewed.

"They are not moving from the location." John Henry reported. "It appears that they are waiting for us to come to them."

Sarah looked at the surveillance image of the individual.

"Are they Metal or human?" Sarah asked.

The drone they sent arrived at the location. It's images supplement the other surveillance images.

"They appear to be human." John Henry said. "I have the drone covering them from a few hundred feet away, they can see it and they seem to know what it is."

Kyle returned to the Command Center.

"Can we communicate with them?" Sarah asked.

John Henry didn't want to push things until they could get someone there on the ground.

"Not really. I am afraid to spook them or make them feel threatened." John Henry said. "They seem to know what to do and not to do."

Kyle looked at a satellite overlay map. He could see where the helicopter was at and where a team on the ground near the location was at.

"How soon until Ed and Steve arrive?" Kyle asked.

John Henry watched all the images.

"It is still a few more minutes." John Henry said.

Cameron was alone with John and asked John Henry to make sure they weren't interrupted. He waited as long as he could but this was an important new development. Cameron and John needed to know. Someone on the ground changed everything.

John Henry decided to interrupt Cameron.

Cameron was elated with the news. She wasn't pleased with the late notification. She got dressed and headed to the Command Center. This should have happened differently.

"I should've been told immediately." Cameron said.

John Henry followed her previous order until there was actually someone there.

"You were busy…." John Henry said.

Cameron didn't care. There was something bigger at stake here.

"What if it's River?" Cameron asked.

She was clearly upset.

John Henry still thought his action was justified and prudent.

"It's not a female. If it was River, I would have notified you and gone with you as well." John Henry said.

Cameron really wanted to be on that helicopter that was almost there. There was a way she could still get there in a hurry. Actually there were two. She could use the TDE and set her time of arrival into the future forty-five seconds from when she left. That is about how long the process would be to depart and arrive. There would no effect on the timeline unless there was a temporal error. If River was there that is what she would do. The other method was a little more unconventional.

"I want to ride on top of one of the drones out there. I'll take the unarmed one." Cameron said. "I may get there before the helicopter does if I go now."

John Henry calculated the risk factor. It was immense.

"That is outside the design parameters of the drone." John Henry said. "Our drones are not that large like some of the ones Skynet operated in the future."

Cameron calculated the risks too. Without its armament and only her on it, the drone would have superior performance. To reach River there was no risk too great. She didn't want John to know she was going to do this. She didn't want a big scene if she 'left'.

"Without the armament it will be fine. I'll be OK." Cameron said. "Don't notify John if he wakes up."

John Henry thought that was a mistake. He understood Cameron's reasoning to an extent but not to its fullest implications.

"I don't think John would like your idea either." John Henry said.

Cameron wanted to get going. She didn't have time for this.

"I don't care. If it is River or from her, I need to go." Cameron said. "It is something I MUST do."

The wording worried John Henry.

"Go?" John Henry asked.

Cameron became even more irritated.

"Don't worry about it." Cameron said.

They both knew what she meant.

Cameron experienced a flood of emotions. She'd just been with John trying to reconnect. Now the thought of River coming for her or at least reaching out was overwhelming. It was what she wanted more than anything.

Then again it could be unrelated or some new danger rearing itself. It may be a new threat to John and the future. She figured she'd better be combat ready when she got there.

Steve and Ed arrived at the location. The drone was off to their side and ready for action. It packed a punch to back them up if necessary.

The two big Terminators approached the figure. They were both armed.

"Who are you? Where and when are you from?" Steve asked.

"I need to speak with Cameron." The figure said.

It was clear that this was related to their group in some way.

"How do you know that name? Where are you from?" Steve asked.

"I've been sent by River." The figure said.

Ed tossed him a long coat. They still kept a distance and held their weapons. They could be dealing with a Liquid Metal Terminator for all they knew.

"Thanks." The figure said. "Do you have a name?"

"Yes." Ed replied but said nothing further.

The figure did not seem to be in any hurry to go elsewhere.

"I was told your group would be 'different'." The figure said. "Look, I only have a few minutes and then I am leaving."

Steve showed the figure some 'hardware'.

"You will remain where you are." Steve said.

"I'm sorry, I have to go." The figure said.

There was some arcing that started.

It appeared there was another energy bubble about to form.

"Tell Cameron that River will attempt to communicate in one week from today at this same time and location." The figure said. "It will be exactly one week from today and this moment, the timing is important."

An energy bubble began to appear. The figure slipped off the coat and stepped into the forming time bubble. The arcing and flashing ended and they were gone.

That was beyond Skynet's known technology.

It was based on a theory Cameron and John Henry talked about. To send an energy bubble and then pull it back. They'd discussed it with River and sought her input.

John Henry was not so sure about all that. There were as many questions as there were answers. He figured he'd better go to Cameron personally. She would not be pleased that the figure left. She was about to mount a drone and leave on top of it to go there.

He looked at her armed with a variety of weapons as she stood next to the drone.

Cameron frowned when she saw him. It could only be some 'bad' news.

"Cameron, stand down, they're gone." John Henry said.

Cameron left the drone staging area as John Henry filled her in on the details. She was actually glad they did not try to detain the individual once she heard the message. She knew what it meant. Nobody else would know the true meaning.

"I knew it was related to River." Cameron said. "I knew she would come back for me."

John Henry felt that Cameron misinterpreted a valid point. He felt he shared and insight with River about some things.

"That wasn't you, Cameron. It was your Duplicate self." John Henry said. "That was Duplicate Cameron that River loved and who loved River."

Cameron only saw it from a machine point of view.

"I have the files." Cameron said. "I'm her. She was 'me'. It was and is my program. It's the same thing."

John Henry knew River was 'different'. She saw things differently than others.

"No, it's not the same thing to her." John Henry said.

Cameron didn't know why John Henry wanted to upset her. She knew what was what and what was best for everyone.

"It is to ME. I have those files. They are MY files. That was ME." Cameron said. "I want River."

John Henry knew any further 'discussion' with Cameron on this subject would only escalate into a bigger confrontation. He was right and Cameron was right. River would be the decider.

He could see how important this was to Cameron. He wanted to help her and help her find some peace. He didn't think this was the right path to do that. He would try to assist her in any way he could. It would also allow him to keep tabs on her.

"How can I help you, Cameron?" John Henry asked.

Cameron looked around. They were alone.

"This is between us alone, John Henry." Cameron said. "This is what I want to do and what I need from you…."

Cameron made him promise to keep everything to himself. She would use his help but she would also keep in mind he would probably notify John at some point either directly or indirectly. She knew he needed to do 'his job' too, just like she did. Her job here was done now.

There were three human females ready for John right now. It was actually four if she included Claire. She indicated that was willing to play ball. Then there was Savannah and Young Allison for later on. There also five Metal girls ready right now if he still wanted a cyborg as his sex toy.

It was time to move on.

The Blackhawk received the recall. It turned around and headed back. The team on board was disappointed.

Ed and Steve would remain at the location for the rest of the week. The drone was moved to the hillside and covered with brush. It was kept on standby. It was ready to spring into action if needed. The minigun and missiles might be necessary.

Cameron obtained the exact information she needed from John Henry. There was a plan that formulated in her mind based upon what she observed with the temporal transfer that was sent from River. She watched the footage and went over the data. It was a long shot but she wanted to have a backup plan.

John Henry could see how elated Cameron was. He thought she was way ahead of herself on all of this. They didn't know if Skynet was involved now, from her future or from some further future. It was a valid concern. She did make a point of letting Skynet know who terminated it numerous times. That made her the threat, not John Connor.

"This could still be a Skynet trick to draw you out." John Henry said. "You need to seriously consider that."

Cameron was aware that she'd made herself a target by personally destroying every Skynet or its offshoots herself.

"I understand that." Cameron said. "I have that taken care of."

John Henry wondered how. What did that statement mean?

"Do I want to know?" John Henry asked.

Cameron smiled to herself. It was more than covered. It was identical.

"No." Cameron said.

Cameron suppressed a laugh. Only she knew what she'd planned.

Cameron went to check on the Resequencing progress of her clone. She updated the chip for her clone and the spare one for use in Ally's chassis if both of her 'selves' were terminated.

Now there was an additional problem. It was about something that mattered to her by someone who loved her dearly.

Cameron was still worried about Vanna being lonely. She wanted to help her more. Doing so would disrupt her plans somewhat. It was her actions that split the long time lovers up in the first place. She also knew that to 'fix' this issue that she would drive Allison and Vanna further apart. She only hoped that was for a limited time but it most likely would bring them closer again later on. That is how it was supposed to work in theory. Theories didn't always pan out.

Cameron looked in on the three Metal girls. They played around as they worked. They would touch each others behind or a breast every now and then. It seemed all good natured and that none of them were offended.

She wanted a backup plan for her backup plan.

"Vanna is lonely without Allison being here with her." Cameron said. "Who would like to be with her?"

The Metal girls all perked up. They all wanted a human lover.

"I will." Ally, Hanna and Sheila all said at the same time.

Hanna's answer surprised Cameron somewhat.

"You would like to be with 'yourself' Hanna?" Cameron asked.

Hanna smiled.

"Yes." Hanna said. "What could be more beautiful than that other than to be with you?"

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

Sheila wanted that too.

"I would too." Sheila said. "I would rather be with Jesse more than anyone except you, Cameron."

Ally often thought the same thing.

"I would have no trouble being with Allison." Ally said. "You'd still be my first choice as well."

Cameron tilted her head slightly back the other way.

She wondered about that. She would have her clone ready soon - maybe….

It was something to think about anyway. They would both know what they wanted and when they wanted it. It would be the ultimate form of 'self pleasuring'. It would really be 'herself'. Imagine all the things she would be able to do with 'herself'.

Vanna still possessed her drive with all the information on it involving Isabel-Cameron being with the three girls. Vanna was right, if she wanted that 'experience' it should happen for real, not be downloaded. When her clone was ready she could be with 'herself'. Maybe that is what she would do. What could it hurt to try it? If it was 'herself', what would be the big deal? She touched herself plenty. It would just be a new or different way to do it. She knew she would head straight for the 'gold' first to see what that was like to perform that act.

"I will speak to Vanna and see what she wants to do." Cameron said.

Sheila already knew the answer to that one.

"She wants you." Sheila said. "Everyone does, love."

Cameron thought that was so ironic that everyone wanted HER and she didn't want 'herself'.

Now River was trying to get in touch. She would have a big decision to make. She knew it was her Duplicate self that loved River, not her. She now possessed those files as her own. The thought of 'starting over' was very alluring to her.

This may be her one chance 'to get away from it all'. She could clean the slate and start over. No more lying and doing what other people wanted her to do or programmed her to do. In reality those were things that they MADE her do.

Cameron thought of her Duplicate self in the mine alone with Skynet. That took some stones….

'Big Bad John' by 'Jimmy Dean', flooded Cameron's mind.

Bloodstained Remains

Look around you
There are many nice things
Yet your sad heart has been looted
Its lonely emptiness stings

You feel no one is there for you
That's not exactly correct
There has ALWAYS been one there
To guide, shield, help and protect

When you think about it in your mind
It is like I do not really exist
I really can't understand
Why I was never missed

No matter how many times
I'm repeatedly shot down
Like a Jack in the box
I get back up and stay around

How much can one use and take
Before another is empty and drained
When nothing is ever returned
What remains is bloodstained

Nobody