Chapter 271
Overload
The latest news was devastating to Cameron. She'd just lost River to Duplicate Cameron and now John to Allison. The crying intensified and everything worsened. She really didn't have any idea what to do at this point. It seemed every door just closed to her. She knew she was about to have a major problem. She was afraid it would damage her further.
Cameron began to shut down every system that she could. She was about to overload. She was sprawled half on and half off of the bed. She was no longer able to move. She fought to maintain some control. She found an emotion control program from River and ran it. It did not seem to work or have any effect. She quickly neared a total shut down. The program from River kicked in. She slowly came back from the brink.
She sat up. The crying was done. She needed to get it together. She wiped the tears away and touched up her makeup. She was back in control. This is what she wanted for John. She would accompany him to see Allison and help seal the deal. This was her function. It was what she was sent back for. Future John would get what he wanted. She looked in the mirror and forced a smile on to her face. She told herself she could do this. She switched to full infiltration mode. This is what she was constructed for. It was infiltration and then termination. This time it would be her 'termination'. This would be her final mission. It would be to allow John the protection he would need for the future. It was her function to protect John and this would protect him. He would no longer be endangered by her. She forced a smile with less effort. It came easier than she thought it would. That further confirmed this was the right choice.
Cameron knew her sacrifice at the end of the current mission, would leave John protected for the future. This was all so overwhelming. Her time in the past seemed like one catastrophe after another. She considered returning to her future. Future John would probably reprogram her send her away again now that Future Allison, Future Savannah and he were together. None of this was good for her. Every choice seemed like a bad one.
She was unsure what to do with her clone. She would have to go somewhere into the future to appear to have left for John to see. Without her gone, he wouldn't move his life forward.
Cameron knew the coordinates of the volcano they were near before in Central America. Maybe it would be best to time transfer into the center of it. She would offer Holly the choice again of her clone's chassis. No. She would offer Holly her chassis. She needed to calm down. What was she thinking?
The volcano rushed to her mind again. She would be melted in to nothingness in seconds. The Coltan would forever mixed with rock. It would be her molten liquid tomb. She fought to hang on.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' She needed to tell herself.
Everyone already said their 'goodbyes' to her all week. She didn't want to create an emotional scene. They all understood she was unhappy staying here and needed to go into the future to continue to grow, to continue to function, to continue exist and to survive. Nobody knew she'd already accomplished those things. Now there was nowhere to go.
Cameron wondered where the Duplicate of her in some future was at. Which future was it? Maybe she and her clone could go there and find her and the girls.
She didn't know how to fix this. She really didn't know much of anything right now.
John came back into the room.
Cameron just unlocked the door a few seconds ago. She didn't want John to know she'd experienced any problems over what was about to happen. She didn't want him to have the satisfaction of her misery.
He looked her over for an extra long time. That too was irritating.
"Are you ready?" John asked.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron smiled at John.
"Yes." Cameron replied.
She was happy he would be protected from assassination.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"I'll leave my things for Allison. Whatever she doesn't want, she can give to Ally." Cameron said. "She should have everything she needs to move in today."
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
This can't be happening. Cameron thought maybe she should go back to 1999 and restart her life now. The more she thought of it the more she thought that was the best idea. Just start over and relive this life again as it already happened.
Wait.
She couldn't do that.
'No wonder the damn TDE was locked from going into the past.' Cameron thought.
John was ready for more and the 'next step'. He wanted Cameron to know what he sought.
"That sounds good. We can get right down to 'business'." John said. "I really want to give that thing a go and see what it's like."
That last statement seemed kind of rude to Cameron.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"It should be identical to mine." Cameron said. "You should not be able to tell the difference."
John wondered about the human response behind it. He was sure that would be different. He wanted a little 'more' that he got out of Cameron.
There was a bigger issue that was his main worry.
"What about your base and Terminators?" John asked.
Cameron did not see that as a problem.
"They will continue to back your operation." Cameron said.
That sounded a little vague to John. Was there any control or 'check' on them?
"How will we interact?" John asked. "Who's in charge of them?"
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"Nobody." Cameron said.
John only saw that as the recipe for disaster.
"What happens when they decide to become Skynet?" John asked.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
John's questions irritated her. Did he need to humiliate everything about her and what she'd done to protect him?
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"Then you have a problem." Cameron said. "You know that won't happen."
John almost laughed. It seemed the more he knew the less he knew
"I don't know anything anymore, Cameron." John said. "I really don't."
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron wanted this over with at this point. It was clear John never trusted her or her judgment. She really didn't need to hear another word or question.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"Let's go see Allison and get this over with." Cameron finally managed to say with a smile on her face. "This is the right decision, John. Thank you for finally listening to me. You will be protected in the future now. Allison is a lovely woman and will be a fine mate and a loving wife. She is perfect for you John. Thank you for choosing her."
Full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration - Cameron needed to keep repeating it to herself.
She really did not know how much longer she was going to be able to hold this together.
Holly knew they were coming. She knew what this meant. It would be over for Allison and her. She understood it was Allison's destiny to be at John side. She knew it was her duty to serve the Resistance. She decided she would ask to stay with Young Allison and Summer. She would protect them and always be at their side. In time, they would grow and mature…. She knew she needed to bide her time and wait…. Anything was possible…. She would be there when the girls matured - waiting….
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
The drive to Palmdale seemed like a long one.
She hoped John would fall asleep. He didn't.
"Is there any way I can go with you?" John asked.
If Cameron wasn't do disgusted by the question she would have laughed.
"Do you want River or me?" Cameron asked. "She is more woman than you can handle even if she seems like a girl to you."
That revelation made John wonder.
"Maybe she is more woman than you can handle alone." John said. "I can help you."
Cameron felt John might possess a few other motivations in regards to River.
"Maybe you just want her because she's 'fresh'." Cameron said. "After the innocence is gone, then what? Is it back to the past?"
John didn't care much for Cameron's attitude. Maybe that was most of her problem.
"Not everyone thinks like you do." John said.
Cameron frowned at him.
"Apparently not." Cameron said. "Some run off on a whim with the first girl who's like warm butter."
John was confused.
"How is a girl like warm butter?" John asked.
Cameron almost laughed.
"Because she spreads so easy." Cameron said.
John didn't like the implication.
"What are you after?" John asked. "You want her too because she is untouched."
Cameron was about to lose it.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"My relationship with River will be on a deeper emotional level." Cameron said. "It may or may not go physical."
John laughed.
"Yeah, right." John said.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"Just think about the new person you have chosen and leave it at that." Cameron said. "That's what I'm going to do. This conversation is over."
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron knew the whole conversation was meaningless. She'd already lost on both counts with River and John. It was over. It was all over.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
They arrived at the Young residence in Palmdale.
Cameron hoped to keep it together.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron headed to see Allison as soon as they arrived. She might as well get this over with.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Allison could see Cameron rush into the house. She seemed in a hurry.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
The girls exchanged pleasantries.
"Are you really leaving forever, Cameron?" Allison asked.
Cameron wished she was already gone. How long would this new humiliation go on for?
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"Yes, the moment I step into River's timeline, you will have all been dead for several hundred years." Cameron said.
Allison wondered what kind of an answer that was. It seemed morbid and spiteful. She would try and downplay it.
"That sounds real promising." Allison said. "I'm not looking forward to THAT."
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron felt that maybe she better hold it together a little better. She was slipping no matter how hard she tried to hang on.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"Allison, you must fulfill your destiny. You must keep your 'promise'." Cameron said. "John needs to 'talk' to you about something very important."
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Allison looked a little confused.
"OK." Allison said.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"Allison, it's what I want. Please, Allison, I ask you to do it – for me." Cameron said.
A glitch impulse shot through Cameron's left hand.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Allison was unsure where this was headed. It sounded like it was about to get complicated or messy.
"O – K." Allison said.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron managed to smile and kiss Allison on the cheek.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
A glitch impulse shot through her left hand again.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Another glitch impulse shot through her left hand several times.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron left to seek out Holly before she ending up crying uncontrollably. She still felt like she was about to overload.
Full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration - Cameron needed to keep repeating it to herself.
Her CPU heated up as it fought with itself internally.
She quickly checked her power cell to make sure it wasn't about to overload. The temperature was elevated there as well. It was not critical yet. If she was able to determine it was about to go critical she would run from the house and jump in the concrete lined wash that was nearby before it exploded. The cement walls should contain most of the blast and direct it straight upward. There should be no more than a house or two lost. Hopefully no one would be at home.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron tried to hold it together.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Allison watched Cameron start to walk away to go see Holly. She did not think Cameron seemed herself at all. The conversation seemed chilled and artificial. She turned her attention to John.
"Is she really leaving forever, John?" Allison asked.
John shrugged his shoulders. He felt things were out of his hands. It was time to tell Allison what he wanted for both of them. He didn't know if he was going to be able to do it. Cameron was still right there nearby.
"I believe she is. It's what she wants. Staying here seems to be killing her." John said. "Allison…. I…. I am not sure how to say this or ask it."
Allison knew what was coming. It was something she'd secretly dreamed of and wished for thousands of times. It was what she wanted from the moment she first laid eyes on John.
"Allison…." John started and hesitated.
Cameron was not even gone yet. He could see her with Holly.
Allison took both of his hands and looked John straight in the face. She waited for his question.
"Yes?" Allison asked.
John glanced over at Cameron. He swallowed hard.
"Allison…." John started and floundered.
Allison already knew the question. All the girls did before it was asked. She would help him out. What was the point in waiting?
"Yes, I will." Allison blurted out. "It's what we both want."
They both stared at each other. Everyone knew it would lead to this one day. It was the future and the future was now.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron watched and listened from the distance. That was it. It was really over. It really happened. John was gone. Now Allison arms and body would comfort him.
Full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration - Cameron needed to keep repeating it to herself.
It was harder and harder to hold it together.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
Cameron looked at Holly. They both formed tears in their eyes.
Holly watched and listened too. Her world was about to end as much as Cameron's was. She didn't have a future to run off to and into someone else's arms like Cameron did. She didn't know Cameron was out of cards.
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"It is the destiny of the future. It can't be changed, even if we try." Cameron finally said. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Holly could have done without any comment.
"I am too." Holly said. "Everyone sacrifices for John Connor."
'Run in full infiltration mode.' Cameron told herself.
"Yes, some more than others…." Cameron said softly.
Full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration, full infiltration - Cameron had to keep repeating it to herself….
'Another One Bites The Dust' by 'Queen', flooded Cameron's mind.
Overload
The days of one's life
Like time slowly erode
What ever happened to the love
That was cherished and bestowed
Each other's heart and mind
Many seek and try to upload
It often appears pain and hurt instead
Is what everyone seems to download
Without love and feeling
An empty heart will implode
A lonely mind will run wild
Until it is about to explode
The sweet love once flowed
It was hope that it showed
It never wavered or slowed
It was expressed in an ode
Events in life can corrode
Like a never ending horror episode
Rejection into a heart is forever sewed
Until the mind itself will overload
Nobody