Chapter 291

Deal

John wanted to go over the current information with John Henry. It seemed like there should be more activity than there was. They knew Skynet was out there in some form. There were Terminators and Grays to deal with.

"Are there any new targets for us?" John asked. "Something should happen soon for us to hit."

John Henry knew that Cameron tried to hit every new threat on her own first. She wanted everyone protected.

"Not really, Cameron and her girls have attacked most of the threats. She will invite our Metal to accompany her on a regular basis." John Henry said. "Cameron has taken the human equation out of it and is running an all Metal show."

John shook his head. It reminded him of something else.

"Just like Skynet." John said.

John Henry felt that John failed to understand Cameron wanted to protect all of them. She tried to protect her 'family' and the people she loved and cared for. She tried to correct her mistakes that she made in the past – the future. That was where Resistance losses mounted. Now Cameron used Terminators and didn't risk humans. She made copies of all of their programs and could 're-body' them if necessary to live and fight again, even if they were destroyed. Ally spoke with him once about a related issue. Ally was aware that she would replace Cameron with her 'spare chip' if Cameron were terminated. Ally hoped Cameron's clone, Cameron II would be ready first so Cameron II could replace Cameron in that event.

"Apparently, it's probably much the same as what Mrs. Weaver and whatever future she is in is doing too." John Henry said. "I know Cameron wants to go search for her as well as the other set of Duplicates."

That sounded like more bad news to John. It was really just another road to nowhere and Cameron's ultimate destruction. Why couldn't she leave well enough alone? 'Temporal management' was ore like 'temporal malpractice' when Cameron was involved. The more she tried to 'fix' things the more she was going to mess things up. It was sheer folly and bound to end in doom.

"I don't want her to go." John said. "I know she doesn't care if she gets stuck or doesn't come back or gets terminated. I do care. Cameron can be very reckless with her own existence and the feelings of others, especially those who love her."

John Henry believed that Cameron's continual evolution of her programming was responsible. He didn't see any way around that without really messing with who she was on her chip.

"She's indicated that to me as well." John Henry said. "John, you must accept Cameron has grown beyond all of this. She's become her own creator of a good version of 'Skynet'. It's only the love she feels for you and the girls she even still comes around here. Her programming has advanced beyond what she once 'was'. It's not done expanding yet either. I think we both know this."

John Henry couldn't prove it but he'd bet that Savannah was the only real reason Cameron still came around. Savannah's love and belief in Cameron was stronger than anyone else's, including John.

John didn't need to look any further than some of Cameron's poems. They pretty much laid out her feelings and beliefs in black and white. The underlying tone of them was eternal hurt and pain but she continued to struggle on. The fact that she still did that said something. He wasn't sure what but it meant something.

"I know, John Henry. I know." John said. "It's the inevitable fate of all relationships. I know I exist only in the 'toleration phase' of our relationship now. I've read Cameron's poems about it. She wrote them years ago predicting what would happen…."

John Henry thought that Cameron's belief about reliving her life over again was behind it all. Things must always happen the same way or nearly the same way. There seemed to be some 'temporal currents' that led to the same places and points in time. Skynet's inability to 'terminate John Connor' was one of them.

"That's because they all happened to her before…." John Henry said. "Even if the details are lost to her, everything that happens is a repeat or déjà vu."

John could see that this conversation was going nowhere. He wanted some action and to do something on his own. He would take his own team of Metal with him. He wanted action, not excuses. If Cameron could strike targets, so could he. If she 'left' again, it was what would need to happen anyway. Why not start now?

"Find a target for me to strike with Bob and Jim." John said. "I know why Kyle and Derek like to go on operations. I understand now…."

John would feel better in combat and not have to think about Cameron. He knew now that it was a mistake to marry Cameron. He also understood why Future John sent Cameron away. To love her and not to have her was a living Hell beyond belief. Sometimes he wondered if Future John sent Cameron back to punish him. Maybe Future John did it to punish him - 'John in the past' for the person he'd become in the future….

John Henry was sure that John's 'desire' for combat or combat related operations was going to be a problem. At Cameron's base, CamNet would be aware of anything he set up. He could see John was frustrated but this was all going to end up an even bigger problem in the end. It would most likely drive Cameron further away from him. He would do as John requested. John was the General, even if Cameron was the real leader. He could understand why Future John needed to send Cameron away. It was the only way to deal with the 'problem' short of terminating her.

Allison knew she'd taken a big step forward in her life. She was pregnant now. She didn't feel any different really. Her mother told her she would start to feel things soon enough. They all happened a little at a time.

Her mother told her that morning sickness could happen around six weeks into the pregnancy but not everyone experienced it. Her mother told her that both times when she was pregnant with her and Summer that it was not bad for her. It seemed at the most it was maybe only a few days of sickness for each of them.

Allison figured she would be one of the ones to experience it at its full intensity. She didn't know why she thought this but she did. She often felt she drew the 'short straw' and this pregnancy would be no different.

It seemed that Holly scanned her non stop. She knew Holly was as worried as she was, maybe more it almost seemed.

Allison took out her phone and looked at it. She wanted to call Vanna. She wanted the support from Vanna. She NEEDED Vanna right now. She felt a little guilty about 'abandoning' Vanna but she wanted to be with her family. At the same time she knew that Vanna could not be with her family, they were all still dead.

The emotional attachment was still there and strong. It was the physical aspect that disappeared. It was all very sad to her. She slowly put her phone away and wondered where it all went wrong. It seemed towards the end that Vanna didn't really 'see' her anymore even if she was right there in front of her. Something blocked Vanna's emotional compass. Being with her family gave her the emotional connection she sought, even if it was different in scope and practice.

Gail was all over Jesse as much as Holly was all over Allison concerning the pregnancy.

"Look, love, I know you mean well but you need to stop scanning me every five minutes." Jesse said. "Nothing is ever different from the last time, is it?"

Gail looked a little taken aback. She was worried about Jesse and the baby.

"No." Gail said.

Jesse was a realist in life. She believed that the cards landed where they fell. They did not often fall in her favor.

"Whatever is going to happen, is going to happen." Jesse said. "That's how life works. We take the punches and keep going."

Based on past events, Jesse didn't know what would happen. She didn't think it would be anything in the long run. She was sure she was pregnant at least half a dozen times over the years, maybe even double that. She didn't really know.

She'd been exposed to a lot of sex. Most of it was not by her choice. There'd been a lot of men that left their essence inside of her. She'd experienced a lot of missed periods before. The problem with that was she didn't know if it was from being pregnant or lack of food and nutrition. It may have been that her body 'shut down' those functions to survive. The beatings probably hadn't help her any either. Most likely more than one life was beaten out of her, literally. There was an underlying issue she didn't want to address. She was afraid that Skynet 'ruined' her body like so many of the others in the future.

Cameron was very upset with herself for the grief and loss she'd caused Vanna. She wasn't pleased at the way she made Vanna feel, even if it was indirectly. She spent the next week with Vanna. She took her places and did things with her. She ran the idea of a Cameron II as an 'Ally program' clone for Vanna. That clone would become her personal protector and 'lover'. It would be what Allison and Jesse shared with Holly and Gail. She was literally with Vanna every minute except when she was asleep. She really monitored Vanna on a regular basis several times an hour. She wanted to 'fix' Vanna and give her back her life. The life she took from Vanna, more than once….

Vanna was a little amazed at what Cameron offered her. It was a dream come true, almost. She wanted to be with Cameron, not just a cyborg who looked like her. She wanted to make her position and desires clear to Cameron.

"I'll do that if either personality or program can take control over the other." Vanna said. "I want that option."

This was something that Cameron worried about. Two of 'her program' did not get along at all.

"You mean switch back and forth between Ally and 'me'?" Cameron asked.

Vanna smiled and touched Cameron's cheek.

"Yes." Vanna said.

Cameron was afraid she would fight with her clone if her personality and program were able to remain separate in any way. The underlying 'problem' actually bothered her.

"It would be better to merge them into one program as Ally has done with Holly and 'Allison' on her chip. It's all one program now." Cameron said. "It will lead to a conflict with myself at some point unless Cameron II goes into the future in search of the Duplicates. I always fight with 'myself'. I must be a total Bitch."

Vanna was willing to take that risk. She would gamble her life to be with 'Cameron'. Cameron was her program so even a 'copy' of it was still her. It would still be 'Cameron'. She believed that this would make her life complete even if it was short. She could at least die happy.

"I will accompany her." Vanna said. "I would go into the future and the unknown to be with you, Cameron, even your clone. It would still be you, it's your program."

Cameron could feel Vanna's desperation. It was a death sentence if she went into the future with her clone. There was no guarantee anyone would return. None of the second set of Duplicates or Mrs. Weaver was able to return yet. That should have happened years ago. That meant they were all most likely terminated. She needed to talk Vanna down from that goal. She also felt she owed Vanna 'herself'.

"It must become a separate program from Ally and me for what you desire." Cameron said. "The programs can remain separate for a short time…. I will allow that. I OWE that to you."

Vanna felt her dream was about to come true.

"Are you saying…?" Vanna asked.

Vanna and Cameron looked intently at each other. The desire to share burnt deep inside both of them. They'd been so close before. They were so close they could almost - taste it.

"Yes…." Cameron said as she left it open.

Vanna would do whatever Cameron asked of her right now if this could really happen.

"I want that, Cameron. Please for me. I need you. I want it to be you." Vanna said.

Cameron felt an obligation that was almost as deep as her love for Vanna. Vanna 'fixed' her. Vanna made her whole. Vanna protected her. Vanna went to 'die' with her. Vanna truly loved her. It was time to make things right and end Vanna's suffering. The very suffering she'd created for her. It was time to step up to the plate.

"I will protect you as you have done me." Cameron said. "I will pay my debts…. I will express my love for you."

Vanna was in heaven….

"Thank you, Cameron." Vanna said. "I love you so much."

Cameron appreciated everything about Vanna.

"What name will you chose to call me - my clone?" Cameron asked.

Vanna hadn't thought that far. This was all of a sudden.

"What are my choices?" Vanna asked.

Cameron quickly thought of a few.

"Alliron, Camisson, Cam, Cammy…." Cameron said.

The name Cammy struck a note with Vanna. It was because she'd heard it so many times from Savannah.

"Cammy." Vanna said. "It's a name I already use. Well, Savannah does anyway. I know it is her pet name for you. Cam is also a good choice. I don't want to take away anything from Savannah."

Vanna thought maybe Cam would be a better choice as one day Savannah too would most likely have her own 'Cameron', well, Cammy anyway.

Cameron decided on Cam. This altered all of her plans going forward again. Vanna's well being and life were more important to her right now. Love mattered.

"I'll get back to you tonight on what we can work out." Cameron said and left.

Vanna was elated. She felt such a rush of excitement. This is what she'd wanted from the first time she communicated with Cameron on the server. She didn't tell anyone she'd been pretending Allison was really 'Cameron' for the longest time. In fact, she didn't even remember the last time Allison was actually 'Allison'…. The sad part was that she really didn't care. She loved Cameron, she always did. She always resented the fact that because Allison returned to this timeline that it prevented Cameron and her from completing their love for each other…. Vanna was so close all those years ago. So close she could almost - taste it.

Vanna looked for her player. She quickly looked through some songs and selected one.

'Devoted To You' by 'The Everly Brothers', is what she played as she dreamed of her own 'Cameron'.

Deal

Not everything may be as it seems
There are many with things to conceal
One can look and see what is presented
That doesn't mean they are actually real

Who one appears to be
May be what holds the appeal
Their own actions and time
Will be the true reveal

What once seemed
To be something ideal
Can often shift and mutate
Into a problem and an ordeal

One may know what they feel
It may even cause one to kneel
One may be filled with glee and zeal
It may turn out to be surreal

What once was thought to heal
Has instead left one to squeal
Love isn't something for one to steal
Nothing in life is ever really a deal

Nobody