Chapter 322

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Sarah finally got up the courage to speak with Kyle. It wasn't an easy subject for her to discuss. It still needed to be done. Riley asked for her help. She knew it hadn't been easy for Riley to even discuss it with her. She knew if it was her that she'd have trouble too to discuses it.

Kyle pondered what Sarah just said. It was a lot to take in and it was a sensitive subject.

"I don't know, Sarah." Kyle said. "Derek has never specifically asked me. I don't know if I could ask him if the roles were reversed. Would you want that?"

Sarah wasn't really sure. Her circumstances were different.

"I don't know. I've already given birth before, she has nothing. I think we were lucky. I've never used any birth control but we've only been blessed with one child since your return. I should've been pregnant several times over by now." Sarah said. "You may be affected as well to some degree. If I was pregnant, none of them stuck. It could be me too. I'm older now."

Kyle knew there were a lot of factors involved.

"I think you're right. We were lucky." Kyle said. "What Cameron said about the future and childbirth is so true. I think it was worse in my future timeline than hers. Very few children were born and most of those that were didn't live long."

Sarah thought it was best if Derek and Kyle went over a few things alone. They were highly personal. That left her with a bigger 'problem' to deal with.

"I've been blessed with three gifts from the future, you and my - our two children." Sarah said. "You need to talk with Derek and both of you can decide what you need to do. I'll talk with John but I need to talk to Cameron first."

Kyle was a little concerned how Cameron would take any of this. It seemed anything dealing with John and Riley might be taken the wrong way.

"Is that even a good idea?" Kyle asked. "I think it will cause an issue."

Sarah used a little reflection here. She didn't want to cause a problem for anyone.

"It will simply be an option open to Cameron." Sarah said. "I don't want to hide anything from her. I want her to have a choice. If she says 'no' I will go no further. I don't want to hurt her ever again."

Kyle wanted to make the first move. It seemed it would create the least problems.

"Let me talk with Derek before you say anything to anyone." Kyle said. "I don't want to hurt Cameron, she's the greatest."

Sarah couldn't agree with that more. She better understood Cameron now. Well, most of the time anyway.

"Yes, she is." Sarah said. "I don't always like the way she does things but I do believe that she believes she is doing everything for our son John."

Kyle may have questioned a few things or decisions that Cameron made over the years.

"Sometimes it makes you wonder but in the end she is usually right." Kyle said.

Sarah nodded.

'Yes, she is.' Sarah thought.

Sarah was very aware that John would be dead now if not for Cameron being there for him so many times. She knew if Cameron were not leading the raids that John would do it. She'd seen the way Cameron came back sometimes. John would be dead if he looked like that.

The way Cameron looked sometimes after a battle made Sarah feel bad about the things she'd said to her before. She knew Cameron was very worried about John seeing her with horrendous damage. She thought Cameron was afraid John would replace her again.

She really didn't agree with John's actions in the past but tolerated them. John foolishly blew their cover with his misguided adventures with Future Riley. In retrospect she wondered now if it would have been better off to provide John with sexual comfort herself at that time. She'd learned a long time ago to separate sex from love. They were really two different things. She'd used sex plenty of times to achieve her goal's in life and for John. Maybe she should have done more for him then to keep him safe. Life goes on.

Savannah returned with the fresh clothes. Cameron just finished drying off.

Cameron wrapped the towel around her waist and took her clothes.

Savannah looked over Cameron's mostly naked sheath.

"Your wounds are already healing." Savannah said. "You will be Tight again soon."

Cameron looked down at some of her damage. It was minor.

"Since the body armor there haven't been any 'parts' blown off." Cameron said. "That saves a lot of regeneration time."

Savannah remembered when Cameron was damaged and didn't have a nipple on one breast for a long time. She'd often looked in the mirror when she showered and wondered how she would look like that. She was glad when Cameron finally healed up properly.

Not in front of her but where she could still see, Cameron dropped her towel and dressed. She watched without 'looking'. Cameron was so gorgeous to her, even with the damage. She wished she could look like that.

Savannah thought Cameron was the most beautiful female in the world. She knew her destiny. Every 'Allison' looked like that or would…. She thought that maybe Cameron wanted to remind her of her 'destiny'. If she was, it worked.

Cameron knew that Savannah secretly watched her. She didn't care. Nudity didn't bother her. It was simply how people were. Savannah saw all of them change before when they went swimming. Savannah helped repair her damaged sheath before. She'd seen most of her during that process.

"I'm going to use some of your makeup to 'Tighten' up." Cameron said.

Savannah looked over at the things Cameron bought for her previously.

"It really is your makeup. You bought it all for me." Savannah said.

Cameron held out her arm. She wanted to share some 'girl time' with Savannah.

"Come and help me look Tight. I can fix you up too." Cameron said.

Savannah smiled and went over to Cameron.

Cameron always liked to instruct Savannah on getting the look 'just right'. John liked it when she looked Tight. She would make sure Savannah could look the same. It only took time and effort. She'd also noted the razor Savannah kept in her shower. She would have Vanna go over some 'options' for Savannah…. She knew they would please John in the future too.

Derek hoped for a little action. He was in the Command Center. He was in the process going over some possible targets with John Henry.

An alert came across John Henry's server and all the terminals around the base. It wasn't a good sign.

"We have Metal near the Reese brothers." John Henry said.

Derek became instantly combat alert.

"Is it a hit?" Derek asked. "Are they protected?"

John Henry was glad he'd sent Al and Ed to back up that operation when Bob and Jim freed them up earlier.

"The Metal was observed in the vicinity but not actively stalking them." John Henry said. "Al and Ed are on it, Frank and Dan are with the boys."

Derek didn't plan to sit around and see what developed. He was worried about his parents as well as Kyle and his younger selves.

"I'm going to reinforce them." Derek said. "Let me get Kyle or John."

John Henry quietly redirected Bob and Jim away from their current operation.

"Bob and Jim are on the way already." John Henry said. "They were already out."

Vanna was at work in the lab. She monitored the feeds and alerted her girls. She wanted to reinforce the operation.

Cam and Sheila both advised her against it. It only seemed to make her more determined. The more the Metal girls tried to get her to stand down, the more she wanted to go.

Vanna didn't feel good about herself and what her body apparently couldn't do. She felt worthless and angry at herself. She didn't care what happened to her right now.

"Come on. Let's go." Vanna said. "I'm ready."

Cam frowned.

"You're not thinking clearly." Cam said.

Vanna shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm going." Vanna said.

Sheila thought they needed more information.

"This isn't a sound decision." Sheila said.

Vanna looked at both of them and frowned.

"I'm going with or without you." Vanna said.

Vanna put on her vest and checked her weapons.

Cam and Sheila looked at each other.

"I won't allow you to go." Cam said. "All females are on restricted duty."

Vanna laughed.

"That no longer applies to me." Vanna said.

Sheila tilted her head slightly, Vanna was a female.

"Why wouldn't it?" Sheila asked.

Vanna was ready to go.

"I'm nothing more than another Resistance fighter." Vanna said. "Are you coming or not?"

Cam and Sheila quickly geared up.

They exited the lab.

"I don't think this is going to go over very well." Sheila said.

Vanna looked back at them.

"I really don't care." Vanna said. "It's happening."

They continued on their way and arrived in the Command Center a minute later. Vanna showed up with Cam and Sheila.

"Come on, Derek, let's go." Vanna said. "I'm ready."

John Henry and Derek looked up at the new arrivals.

Vanna was flanked by Cam and Sheila, all of them wore body armor and carried weapons.

John Henry could see this was going to be a problem.

"You've been removed from combat duty." John Henry said. "All three of you are to stand down."

Vanna laughed.

"That is before they knew I couldn't have children." Vanna said. "Come on, Derek. It's time to go."

Derek looked at the three girls and back at John Henry.

"I don't want you to endanger yourself, Vanna." Derek said.

Vanna looked at Derek.

"You put your neck on the line plenty of times for Allison and me. Now it's my turn. Come on girls." Vanna said. "We're out of here."

The three females left. They weren't waiting around.

"Cameron isn't going to like this." John Henry said.

Derek saw this as his chance to get out too. This looked like a good excuse.

"I better go with them." Derek said. "There's Metal for each of us. We have it covered."

Derek hurried off after them. He stopped only long enough to grab his gear.

John Henry called Cameron and John. He knew they would not be pleased with these new developments - any of them.

Cameron and Savannah playfully applied makeup to each other. They were sharing some 'girl time'.

It was times like this that Savannah felt Cameron was like any other female, even if she was a machine.

It worried Cameron a lot that Savannah was seldom around other females of her own age. Sure Vanna, Allison and Jesse were there but they were older and their life experiences were all different. They were not the typical teenage girls that Savannah should be growing up with. Sarah was able to give Savannah more of a 'teenage experience' on many things better than any of them.

Cameron's phone rang and she listened without saying a word. The smile slowly faded from her face. She put her phone away. She didn't look very happy.

"Savannah, come with me." Cameron said.

Savannah could tell that something was wrong right away.

"Where are we going?" Savannah asked. "What's happening?"

Cameron didn't want to alarm or worry Savannah more than necessary. She decided to play it close to the vest.

"John Henry is putting the base on lock down and you are going to stay with Ally." Cameron said. "It will be like staying with me almost."

Savannah didn't like getting sidelined. She felt she was ready to assist in combat operations. She'd trained for half of her life already. She wanted to remain with Cameron.

"No it won't." Savannah said. "Ally can never look as good as you do. She isn't as pretty, even if you are both identical. You're not on her chip. It isn't the same."

Cameron smiled as she led Savannah away.

"Cameron, I want to do more." Savannah said.

Cameron looked at Savannah. She knew she was more than ready. It would surely cause a major problem with John and Sarah if she allowed any combat to happen with Savannah.

"This is an unknown operation right now that's developing." Cameron said. "It's too risky."

Savannah didn't think that should make a difference.

"You're going." Savannah said. "You matter too. I want to be at your side. I will protect you."

Cameron wanted that more than anything right now.

"That will happen soon enough." Cameron said. "It won't be today."

Savannah knew that was a good first step even if it wasn't today.

"I want your promise that I will be able to go out with you the next time." Savannah said.

Cameron glanced over.

"It may not be the next time or even soon but I promise it will happen before too long." Cameron said. "I swear it."

Savannah felt her heart flutter a little. That was what she'd wanted to hear.

"I'll stand down this time." Savannah said. "I'll hold you to your promise as well."

Cameron knew this was what John Henry just experienced with Vanna. They were the same person after all. That meant soon Savannah wouldn't be able to be contained, just as Vanna wasn't right now either.

They spotted Ally down the hall.

"I'm here." Ally said to Cameron.

Ally could see a soft smile on Savannah's face and a look of grim determination on Cameron's face.

"Stay with Savannah until I get back. I'm sending Jesse, Sarah, Riley and Jan to join you." Cameron said. "Go to the 'safe room'. Gail and John Henry will assist you. John and Kyle will be around as well."

Savannah wondered what Cameron was about to face.

"Where are you going?" Savannah asked.

Cameron gave Savannah a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm not sure yet." Cameron said.

Cameron turned and walked away.

Savannah felt the need to go with her, it was very overpowering. She started to go after Cameron. Ally reached out and gently stopped her.

"Cameron, I should be going with you." Savannah said.

Cameron was already gone.

Savannah was ready to step up and use her training. It was time she did her fair share. They were not going to keep her shackled much longer.

"I'm sorry, Savannah." Ally said. "We have other duties right now."

Savannah knew Ally was doing her job. She needed to do so as well.

"Let's get the rest of the girls and get everyone secured." Savannah said.

Ally could see Savannah was ready for more. She really hoped that they didn't need to defend the base. It was a possibility.

"Sure, Savannah, we'll protect everyone." Ally said.

Savannah watched where Cameron went. She turned back to Ally.

"Let's go." Savannah said. "We have our job to do. There are people that will need to depend on us."

Cameron hurried back to her room. John was there. He'd started to collect his gear. She knew there was going to be a new problem.

"I received the alert." John said. "Let's get ready and go."

Cameron didn't want a fight. She needed to do her job as well.

"No, John." Cameron said. "You're staying here."

John knew this was coming. It was always the same story. Cameron always tried to hold him back. He felt that she didn't think he could do the job or something. He was the leader of the Resistance. It was time to make his position clear.

"Cameron, I'm going." John said.

Cameron tried to blow him off without making a scene.

"No, you're not." Cameron said. "That's final. Keep everyone updated and make sure Holly and Allison and the Young detail are safe. I don't like this."

John hoped if he downplayed the danger that Cameron would relent.

"All we know is they spotted some Metal and it doesn't seem to be a threat or related to our group." John said. "This seems like overreacting."

Cameron knew what John was up to. She decided to use it against him and to her advantage.

"Good, then you are in charge of the base." Cameron said. "I will neutralize the threat."

John watched Cameron gear up.

"I should be going with you." John protested.

Cameron faced John. She spoke with all honesty to him.

"NO, you should take care of your troops and make sure all of them are safe and secure. That is what a leader does." Cameron said. "Please start acting like one."

She gave John a kiss and headed for the door.

"I'm sorry, Cameron, you're right." John said. "I have it covered."

Cameron was already gone.

Cameron knew enemy Metal was always a danger. They were here from somewhere and doing something. Anything related to Skynet was a threat.

Bob and Jim were out when they received the alert. They were needed and were recalled. There were still a few more places they wanted to check out. That would need to wait for now. The buildings weren't going anywhere.

"We can come back to this." Jim said.

Bob wanted to tie up all the loose ends.

"We will." Bob said. "Let's go."

John Henry vectored them towards the threat.

Options

One likes to think
That they are in control
No ride is ever free
There is always a toll

Are anyone's decisions
Ever all their own
Will they bear fruit
Or end up under a tombstone

Life is uncertain and in flux
There are many paths to choose
With so many choices to make
Will one win or lose

When is it time to play
When is it time to fold
Will one hit the gold
Or be left out in the cold

What are the options
When the goal is unknown
It's a pretty good bet
Most will end up alone

Nobody