Chapter 267

Today Is The Day

Word spread throughout the base. River or someone associated with her made contact with their group. Everyone knew what that meant. It was what they all feared. They all knew Cameron was going to leave. Few believed she would return when she left.

John figured this was going to happen. He tried for a week to reason with Cameron, bargain with her, beg her…. It was fruitless.

Cameron was soon to leave for the future, River's future. There was no stopping her. It was something she needed to do for herself.

John sat for a long time with Cameron. He knew what was going to happen. He knew there was no way for him to stop it. Anything he did or pushed on was only going to make it worse or happen sooner. He finally got up enough courage to speak.

"Are you coming back?" John asked.

Cameron didn't really want to have this discussion. The answers were self evident before the questions were asked. She looked forward to a new beginning and a chance to get away from it all.

"I don't know." Cameron said. "I don't think so."

John figured as much. He wanted a reason.

"So just like that, you're gone…?" John asked.

John wondered how everything could mean so little to Cameron now about him. Sure they were in the toleration stage of the marriage and relationship but is this really this how it would end?

Cameron fulfilled her mission. John was protected with a force of Metal and Resistance fighters. There were several versions or Allison Young and Savannah Weaver. Everything Future John wanted for John was in place.

"Yes. I have provided you with my replacements…." Cameron said. "I recommend you choose Allison as you wife, your REAL wife, with Vanna and Jesse as your mistresses."

John knew this is what Cameron tried to put into motion for him so many times.

"It ends just like that?" John asked. "It's just that easy?"

It seemed pretty clear and straight forward to Cameron.

"Yes." Cameron said. "What don't you understand? We have been over this dozens of times. You must embrace the future."

John tried one last card.

"I love you, Cameron, and you love me." John said.

John waited for her to respond in kind. When she didn't say it, he knew….

"Yes?" Cameron asked. "Nothing has changed."

Cameron did not want to say it.

John knew it was over.

"How is abandoning me – 'Nothing has changed'?" John asked.

Cameron was irritated that John somehow was unable to comprehend what was going to happen and what must be done for his protection.

"John, don't make this difficult. It's happening." Cameron said. "We can be together one last time if that is what you want. The use of my sheath can be fresh in your mind as you transition over to Allison. It will make your comparison of our bodies that much easier for you. We can go to YOUR room - one last time. Maybe you don't want that anymore."

John didn't want one 'final time' with Cameron. He wanted her to be there forever.

"I don't." John said. "I want you all of the time."

Cameron felt she'd made her position clear. It all started with Duplicate Cameron. Nothing was ever any different after she took those files as her own.

"You knew this day was coming…." Cameron said.

John originally understood Cameron would go to be with River later on. Not while he was alive and they were in the middle of a war with Skynet.

"I did." John said. "I thought it would be after I – died."

A faint smile graced Cameron's lips. That was her original plan, the current 'calling' inside of her dictated otherwise. She was 'driven' by some inner force she could not control.

"So did I." Cameron said. "This is something I must do."

John could only look at her with disbelief. He remembered the words that were told to him, 'Sometimes when you love someone, you need to let them go.'

Was that the test of true love to let the one you love go and be free? Did you need the kill your own heart so their heart could live?

If you truly loved someone you would sacrifice for them. John knew now he must sacrifice for Cameron's happiness.

Sacrifice was the true test of love.

John could feel Cameron long ago grew beyond what he could offer her. She was so advanced now that only River's future could satisfy her. He wanted Cameron to be happy, he felt ashamed he couldn't provide that happiness. He kept telling himself that this was better than Cameron self terminating. He hoped maybe one day that he would actually believe it…. At this point, he didn't.

Cameron worked on her mission to get her clone ready. It would be 'her' for all practical purposes. In fact when activated, the clone would think she was 'Cameron' because she – was. She would instruct her clone to remain at her base until John chose Allison as his wife. Then she could 'reappear'. It still angered her that none of them would listen to her about what was needed to protect John in the future.

It was her mission to protect John. She'd done that. He was secure. NOW, her being at his side and in his bed would only endanger him in the future. She saw this as the completion of her mission. Mission Accomplished. All of her directives were completed.

Cameron was at a loss as to why no one seemed to get it.

It was all so straight forward and - simple.

It was like they were all in on it together, to thwart her.

Cameron went to see Allison.

She gave Allison a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Allison knew what was coming. It was not what she wanted to hear even if it was what she secretly wanted to do.

"It's time for you to take your place at John's side." Cameron said.

Allison cringed.

"I can't." Allison said.

Cameron expected some resistance.

"You will be his wife." Cameron said. "You will be his real wife."

It felt like an 'arranged marriage' to Allison.

"I can't." Allison said.

Cameron didn't want this to be more difficult than it needed to be.

"Please, Allison, for me. I never ask for much from anyone." Cameron said.

Allison didn't want to 'hurt' Cameron.

"Cameron, I can't." Allison said. "Please don't make me."

Cameron wanted John protected. It was Allison's function to do that now.

"You MUST protect him, Allison." Cameron said. "I'm counting on you."

Allison could see Cameron's hand start to glitch. She wasn't sure if it was because she was resisting Cameron or if it was what would happen if she went along with everything. She took Cameron's hand in hers and the glitch soon stopped.

"Cameron, whatever happens, it will all work out in the end. Everything is like that." Allison said. "We all adapt and adjust."

Cameron was sure that Allison in John's bed would be the easiest for him to adapt to. It would be just like being with her almost. It didn't seem like a problem or big deal to her. The future was already written and this was Allison's 'job'.

"I want it to be you." Cameron said. "Just like it was, will be and is in the future."

Allison was aware she was an aberration to the timeline she was currently in. Cameron was trying to take a short cut by forcing her to assume her younger self's place.

"Cameron, it will be." Allison said. "It will be Young Allison and Savannah, when they are 'ready'."

That was like a slap in the face to Cameron. She didn't want to wait for Young Allison to be 'ready'. Savannah was biologically ready now. Her age would cause a problem among some of them. There were no 'age issues' with Vanna or Allison. She needed them RIGHT NOW.

"I don't want John to have to wait." Cameron said. "Please…."

Cameron desperately wanted Allison to listen to her…. If the TDE would function into the past she would take Young Allison from her home and bring her to the past for a few years and then bring her back 'ready'. That was probably another reason why the TDE was locked from going into the past. The part that irritated her the most about all of this was that apparently she asked River to encode and encrypt it.

It pained Allison deeply to hear Cameron plead and beg her to be with John.

She thought the mental anguish for Cameron must be terrible.

Allison burst into tears as Cameron drove away.

It was real….

Cameron wanted to see Vanna. She felt it was important. She was unsure why, she just knew it was. She went to the lab.

She gave Vanna a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I don't believe you will leave." Vanna said.

Cameron was unsure what to say.

"I wanted to see you before I left." Cameron said.

Vanna loved Cameron dearly. She always had.

"I can't believe it. I won't believe it. I refuse to believe it." Vanna said.

Vanna wanted to share everything with Cameron. It was her dream in life.

"I'm sorry we never explored our love." Cameron said.

Vanna remembered how close they were at one point. That was when Allison returned.

She understood Cameron's pain and anguish even if she did not agree with its solution.

"Perhaps you may continue that journey with River when you arrive at your destination." Vanna said.

Cameron gave Vanna a faint smile.

"I own you something if nothing else." Cameron said.

Vanna was not sure what that meant.

"You owe me nothing." Vanna said.

Cameron wanted Vanna and Allison back together and both of them with John.

"Remember your beloved." Cameron said. "That's where your future is."

Vanna felt sad. She knew people drifted in and out of life.

"There is only one way you will make me believe you are really leaving." Vanna said. "I will never accept it any other way."

Cameron moved up to Vanna and gave her a hug. She lifted her head and moved her lips in front of Vanna's lips. Here was the kiss Vanna wanted. All she needed to do was take it.

Vanna saw this as the 'kiss of death'.

Cameron waited for Vanna to kiss her.

Vanna knew if she kissed Cameron she would never see her again.

"I'll save that kiss for when you get back." Vanna said.

Cameron softly smiled.

"We'll see." Cameron said.

Cameron turned to leave.

"There is someone who loves you more than all of us." Vanna said. "Her love will bring you back even if you leave."

"Goodbye, Vanna." Cameron said.

"It's never goodbye." Vanna said. "I do wish you the best."

Cameron walked out of the lab.

Vanna needed to sit down. She sat at her desk and looked at the stack of Cameron's poems.

She gently touched the poems. This was all that was left.

Vanna cried her eyes out.

John gave up. He was sure any more input from him would only drive Cameron farther away faster. He hoped John Henry could reason with her. Try to change her mind. He doubled it. It was worth a try.

John Henry didn't want Cameron to leave any more than anyone did. He cared for her deeply. John asked for his help but he did not think it would matter. Cameron was determined. He would try again to dissuade her.

He would try logic and reason first.

"You don't know this isn't a trap." John Henry said.

Cameron calculated the odds. They were in her favor.

"No, I don't." Cameron said.

He tried other known problems.

"There could be a temporal error." John Henry said. "You could end up anywhere or any-when. That is a great distance and vast amount of time."

Cameron calculated the odds. They were less in her favor.

"It's a risk I must take." Cameron said.

John Henry didn't see the unknown or oblivion as valid risk.

"No, it is not." John Henry said. "You're not thinking clearly."

Cameron was tired of the 'dance'. Her mind was made up the second River left for her future.

"It's happening." Cameron said. "Accept it."

John Henry did not want to 'accept it'. It was a bad choice on Cameron's part. It was her place to be here now to protect John.

"Cameron, you must stay here with John." John Henry said.

Cameron could see the writing on the wall even if the others couldn't. How could they all be so blind?

"My mission is finished here." Cameron said. "If I stay with John it will only endanger him after Judgment Day."

John Henry knew the future was fluid. The Resistance fighters with them now were proof of that. Nothing was set in stone. Not even death.

"That was YOUR Future John." John Henry said. "Not this John. We've changed things."

Cameron stood up. She was done here.

"John is - John." Cameron said. "It is just that simple."

Cameron walked away angry.

She needed to calm down some. She did.

Cameron stood outside Savannah's room. She was torn what to do. Nothing else touched her like this, like Savannah.

Cameron knocked and then entered.

Savannah looked at her.

Cameron looked back at Savannah. She could not speak. Feeling and emotion gripped her from inside. It was overpowering. Savannah's presence gripped her. She loved Savannah.

Savannah came to Cameron and took both of her hands and looked her in the eyes.

"You don't need to say anything, Cameron. I will fulfill every promise." Savannah said. "You have prepared me for this. I will take my place when I need to. I promise, Cammy. I promise. I will have his children. I will protect John and protect the future. I'm ready."

Cameron still did not say anything, she couldn't.

"Cameron, remember I will always love you and I will be there when you need me, for both yourself and John." Savannah said. "I will see you soon."

Cameron hugged Savannah as the tears flowed down both of their cheeks.

"You'll be back." Savannah said as Cameron closed the door. "You always come back. You are Invincible. You are Eternal."

Cameron heard the words of love, unshakable faith and devotion.

"I'm destined to be at your side, Cameron." Savannah said. "I love you."

All the love Cameron could ever want was right here.

Cameron cried harder as she walked and then ran away.

Cameron planned to leave without saying farewells to everyone. Her clone was 'her' and would be ready soon. It was 'her' in reality anyway. It was her program. Her program was her.

Cameron rechecked her files. River agreed to meet one day before the date stated. It was to make sure it was River and not a trap. They'd planned this long before River returned to her future, well Duplicate Cameron and River planned it.

It was time.

Cameron slipped out unnoticed. She spent her last night with John. Nobody knew of her advanced twenty four hour timeline. She'd already programmed the security feeds to loop before she started her departure. She made it out unnoticed.

Cameron hurried from the base as fast as she could and never looked back.

Cameron sent a message to Steve and Ed to check on a suspicious car in the area. They left temporal location to investigate. She wanted them away. They would find the car she arrived in. It was stolen last night from the closest town. That was where she left another stolen vehicle from out of state. She wanted to do this without interference. She hoped to get away unnoticed. She wanted to be gone without anyone knowing when it happened.

She was now at the location alone. All the surveillance there looped.

Cameron went to the spot the time bubble appeared and anticipated her future.

She stripped her clothes off. She didn't want to leave a clue.

She neatly folded them and concealed them behind a rock. She placed more rocks on top of them to hide them.

'Red River Valley' by 'Smiley Burnette', drifted through Cameron's mind as she waited.

At the exact time twenty-four hours ahead of schedule, the arcing and flashing started and the time bubble appeared. Cameron stepped into it. The arcing and flashing ended and soon disappeared.

Cameron was gone.

It was just that simple.

Today Is The Day

Many days come
Many days go
They don't change much
Who don't think so

Yesterday is gone
It was mighty glum
Tomorrow isn't here
Maybe it will never come

Every action that is taken
Requires some kind of a choice
Most leave much to be desired
Few are anything to rejoice

Time keeps on moving
People slow down with age
Is life but a stage
Or really an invisible cage

Look all around you
It's time to break way
Time waits for nobody
Today is the day

Nobody