Chapter 323

Down The Rabbit Hole

Cameron headed out. She wanted to get to where the unknown Terminator was spotted. She wasn't happy about having to argue with John and even more disturbed by what Vanna did. She was very upset when she learned Vanna was out. Cam and Sheila should never have allowed this. She knew what Vanna was doing and why.

Like Cameron, Vanna felt worthless because she thought she was barren. This was only her second attempt. It was really the first attempt for her. The other attempt was by her Duplicate. Duplicate Vanna was now in River's future.

Cameron caught up with Dan and Frank. Bob and Jim were there with Derek as well. Vanna and the girls went elsewhere after they let Derek off. She would've preferred if they'd remained together.

"Dan and Frank, I want you two go back to the Reese residence." Cameron said. "Take Derek and Jim with you and increase your perimeter."

Bob was now teamed up with Cameron. He figured that she would want to act soon.

"Do you want to move in now?" Bob asked.

Cameron looked around. She didn't feel comfortable.

"No. I don't like this set up at all." Cameron said. "Something doesn't seem right."

Bob filled Cameron in on what he knew so far. It wasn't much.

"Vanna, Sheila and Cam have moved in front of where we think he's headed." Bob said.

Cameron felt a glitch impulse shoot through her hand. She attempted to suppress it. It stopped. She understood Vanna's frame of mind. Vanna's Terminator girlfriends never should have let it go this far. There might be some type of punishment necessary for them. This was a serious infraction to her.

"They shouldn't even be out here." Cameron said. "I may have to reprogram Cam and Sheila."

They all knew that was a veiled threat for Terminators that defied Cameron. She'd deactivated more than one female Terminator. Those were all based on her program.

Bob didn't think that sounded fair. The girls weren't the only ones to act rash. He felt they were protecting Vanna.

"How's that any different than what you've done? Did you want them to physically restrain Vanna?" Bob asked. "That's what they would've needed to do. Vanna is very headstrong. She would've tried to have gone off on her own at that point. That would be even worse."

Cameron thought of her earlier encounter with Savannah. She was going to be the same as Vanna soon enough and probably even more headstrong. She was aware that Ally needed to gently restrain Savannah when she left.

"Yes, I would have restrained her myself." Cameron said. "Vanna is needed for the future at John's side. If Vanna isn't there, John won't be properly protected. John MUST be protected."

Bob wanted to point out that Savannah was 'old enough' now to assume those 'duties' but decided not to push Cameron, she was already angry.

Cameron figured what Bob was thinking and that he didn't agree with her. None of them did except Savannah. She was the only one that mattered anyway for her future duties.

"Bob, Allison and Vanna belong to John." Cameron said. "That's the future - EVERY FUTURE."

Bob decided to let it go. He wanted Cameron to be as close to one hundred percent as possible for any upcoming action.

"Affirmative." Bob said.

Bob realized if he pushed further that Cameron might consider reprogramming him as well. When Cameron got an idea in her head, she never seemed to be able to let it go. In fact, she seemed to never be able to let anything go.

That was a problem for all Terminators but it seemed to be especially so for Cameron.

Earlier:

Vanna, Cam, Sheila and Derek arrived near where the Reese brothers were at. They let Derek off to be with Dan and Frank. They would remain there as part of the 'shadow' on the Reese brothers. They would be able to deliver an appropriate response if it was needed.

Vanna urged Cam and Sheila on in pursuit of the Terminator that was detected.

Cam didn't think they should be out in the first place. They were out and Vanna kept pushing it.

"Vanna, we should wait for Cameron." Cam said. "She's already going to be angry."

Vanna was full of fire. She was angry at herself and angry at Skynet. She wanted some retribution. She wanted to make her position clear.

"Look, I'm not letting anything happen to the Reese brothers." Vanna said. "I'm no longer essential. Savannah is ready to take my place if I fall. It is HER place anyway. It is rightfully HER place. I'm the aberration. We all KNOW she's the one at John's side in the future, not me."

Sheila could see that any argument was pointless. They still should've used more caution. She wanted to remind Vanna of the danger in a more graphic way.

"I think we should've stayed with Bob, Jim and Derek." Sheila said. "We're split up and don't know what we're facing. Cam and I can take some 'punishment' but you can't. You saw first hand how six Terminators were recently shot up."

Vanna needed to check her temper. She didn't want to be angry or mean to Cam and Sheila. They were all on the same team. They were there to help protect her. She wanted them to understand how she felt.

"I don't want to argue with you two. You know I love you both. I'm going to have a big enough fight with Cameron over this." Vanna said. "Let's be careful and try not to engage the threat unless we need to. I will gladly trade my life to protect the Reese boys in any timeline. I owe it to them. I owe my life to them and Allison. They SAVED my life before, more than once. I'll do whatever I need to do to save them."

Vanna thought back on that time period in the future. The first time was when she was left for dead and thrown in the burn pile. Allison found her and drug her out. Allison and the Reese brothers nursed her back to health. They literally gave her life back to her. She absentmindedly touched her scar. It was because of the scar that Allison was freed and because of the scar that Allison recognized her and nursed her back to health - back to life.

The thoughts of Allison further deepened her depression. She loved Allison with all her heart. She wanted to be with her still. It didn't look like that was ever going to happen again. Not full time anyway.

Now it was all on the line again. She hoped she didn't end up with any more scars or worse - dead. Maybe she was better off dead than having to deal with Cameron later on over this.

If she was dead, all of her troubles and problems would be gone. Everything would be. It was something she'd often thought of in the past, the future. She'd watched others go off to die in combat because they were 'done'. They wanted to die with some honor even if they were really committing suicide by their actions. Maybe she was about to attempt to do the same thing. Did it matter? No, really, did it matter?

Cameron wanted some resolution. She didn't want Vanna in danger. Vanna's team with Cam and Sheila was out in front of where they thought the Terminator would go. She wanted to have a team in front of them and in back of them for better control.

"Cam, we're coming up on your position." Cameron said. "Is Sheila ready to move out?"

Cam, Vanna and Sheila were all set.

"We're ready to roll." Cam said.

Cameron was still uneasy about the whole affair.

"Pull out and stay in front of him." Cameron said. "Bob and I will follow him. I don't like this."

Cam was concerned that the Terminator was spotted in the first place. She wasn't sure how that determination was made. This is where they were now so it didn't really matter.

"I agree, Cameron." Cam said. "This is too out in the open."

John Henry provided them with additional aerial support. He wanted to give the teams some breathing room.

"I have all four drones up. There are two for your operation and one each at the Young and Reese residences." John Henry said over the com. "Everyone can back off and let's see what the surveillance shows us."

Cameron saw this as her opportunity to personally protect Vanna. It would really be two of 'her' since Cam would be there too.

"Fallback and regroup." Cameron said. "I want Sheila to go with Bob. I'm going to ride with Cam and Vanna."

Cam and Vanna exchanged looks. Cameron was going to be upset big time, they could see it coming. There was sure to be a confrontation.

Cam figured her short existence was very rewarding. She expected Cameron to deactivate her. Her time with Vanna was well worth it. It was always Cameron's desire to share with Vanna. She was able to fulfill that desire as Cameron's clone.

John Henry was able to get a better overall view of events as they unfolded with the drone support. They weren't what he expected and he wasn't even sure of what he'd uncovered. There appeared to more in play than anticipated.

"I detect other vehicles moving around the Terminator that you're following." John Henry said. "I don't know if they are tracking him or reinforcing him. He's changed direction. He must have made one of the tails."

Cameron ordered her team to hold once there was drone coverage. They would advance as necessary and hold as necessary to maintain a safe zone. The drones could strike at any time at this point.

"It's not us. We aren't even moving right now. We're switching people around." Cameron said. "Where does it look like he's headed?"

John Henry made out more of the 'players' in the operation.

"He's headed towards the north right now." John Henry said. "There are three other vehicles in play."

Cameron wondered since there were four vehicles identified so far, if there were more they hadn't identified yet. She wanted to use more caution.

"I say we hang back and see how it plays out." Cameron said. "Jim and Dan can head back out and Derek can stay on the Reese detail with Frank."

John Henry was worried about the additional 'players'.

"That still leaves us short on coverage of one vehicle." John Henry said.

Cameron used another phone. She could see they were shorthanded. She was also concerned with what the base might face.

"I have it covered. Additional help is on the way for us." Cameron said. "Have all the Terminators at the base been activated?"

John Henry redirected all ongoing operations to this unfolding operation.

"Yes." John Henry said. "I've also recalled the other operations gathering intel or doing recon. Everyone is mobilized."

Cameron was worried about John and the others at the base. This could be an elaborate trap to lure them away from the base to attack it. She wanted to redirect some of her current support. She also needed to see what John's input was now that they'd learned more.

"Make sure the base is covered. Recall one of the drones operating with us and have it return to orbit the base." Cameron said. "Does John have any additional input?"

John watched everything develop. He was glad that Cameron sought his input now that they'd learned a little more. He'd refrained from getting directly involved until now.

"No, Cameron. We are on top of everything here at the base and everything is secure." John said. "We appear to be dealing with two separate forces. I think that the unknown Terminator that we encountered may call for back up as well."

Cameron was aware that they'd dealt with several different groups of Grays before. It was never clear which future they were from. Each version of Skynet didn't have the same goals and each of them wanted to be the only Skynet. They may share common goals but the hoped for end result was always different. They anti-Metal faction was out there too.

"We've dealt with some 'shadow forces' before. I think these are connected." Cameron said. "They are either 'Friendlies' or some really bad people."

No one really thought any of them would be 'Friendlies'.

Cameron checked her phone. It was good news for once.

"I have two vehicles with four of my Terminators nearing the area." Cameron said. "We will be in better shape now for any ground action."

John was aware that Cameron's Terminators directly supported the last big operation the team was on when six Terminators were damaged. The reports were that Cameron's Metal was the most heavily damaged in that affair. That was probably because they were the most 'Terminator like' of the group that was there. They were very mission focused.

"Are they the 'green vest' Terminators?" John asked.

Cameron decided to physically remove Vanna from the operation at this point. There were simply too many unknowns.

"Yes." Cameron said. "Two of them are. The other two are going to take Vanna away."

Vanna didn't want to be sidelined. She was there to assist, not to draw off resources.

"Cameron, I can stay and fight." Vanna said. "Please let me share the burden."

Cameron was very concerned for Vanna's well being both mentally and physically.

"No, Vanna. I need you to help protect John." Cameron said. "Two of them are taking you back to the base."

Cameron was alone with Vanna and Cam at this point. Bob and Sheila were now together elsewhere. She cut her links and asked Cam to cut her audio. She wanted a private conversation with Vanna. Vanna was important to her on many different levels.

Vanna figured that Cameron was about to chew her out. She was at least glad that it wasn't done in front of everyone.

"Vanna, listen to me." Cameron said. "I can't let anything happen to you. I'm not going to lecture you. I better than anyone understand what you're feeling. Don't make my same mistakes, PLEASE. You're very important to the future and John but most of all you're important to me."

That wasn't the lecture that Vanna expected to hear. This was a lecture of love. It touched her deeper than any lecture of anger could have.

Cameron looked at Vanna. She wanted to reach her deep within her mind.

"I know you understand, Vanna." Cameron said. "Please do this for me."

Vanna was overcome with emotion. It all stacked up inside of her and was about to burst out. She wanted to stay strong for Cameron. She wanted Cameron to know why she did it.

"OK, Cameron, I'm sorry about this whole thing." Vanna said. "You know why I did this."

There was a very uneasy feeling inside of Cameron. She thought of it as a 'sick' feeling in relation to what a human would feel. She wasn't here to berate Vanna for the very things that she'd done herself.

"I do, that's why I'm not going to say anything negative to you." Cameron said. "I know how you feel. It's not over yet for you in that regard. We can keep trying. I would appreciate it if you try again. You know how I want it done too…."

Vanna swallowed hard. Cameron wanted her and John to try for a traditional conception. She wanted that too but she didn't want to 'hurt' Cameron by doing that. She was about to say something but didn't think right now was the proper time.

Cameron motioned for Cam to turn her audio back on.

"You will return to the base with Vanna." Cameron said. "Please take care of her for me."

Cam knew that would leave Cameron alone. That wasn't a good prospect any time, especially under the unknown circumstances they currently faced.

"That will leave you by yourself." Cam said.

Cameron smiled faintly. She'd been in this position many times. It was nothing new.

"I'm always alone." Cameron said. "There's Nobody to watch over me."

Nobody knew where this current affair was going to go or what would develop. The battlefield was always fluid and anything could happen.

Cameron's main goal was to remove Vanna from the immediate danger zone. She would be alone and she could operate freely at that point. That would probably cause more concern to everyone else. It didn't matter to her. There was a job to do.

Down The Rabbit Hole

Every journey through life
Can take its grisly toll
It can turn into a hard climb
When it should've been an easy stroll

Things become more problematic
What looked like a small knoll
Turns into a steep mountain
Further distancing the goal

One's being is taxed
From the head to the sole
It seems the real cost
Comes out of one's soul

Everything is complex
One questions their role
Chaotic and difficulty increase
With the punches one must roll

Strange as it seems
There is little control
One desires a parole
Nobody is there to console

The more that happens
The less one remains whole
Is it the start or the finish
As one heads down the rabbit hole

Nobody