Chapter 326

Commander Connor

The Blackhawk picked up Cameron's two clones earlier. It loitered in the vicinity of the action taking place near where Cameron was at. The helicopter set down and the two female clones, 'Camille' and 'Summer', got off. The chopper moved off to the side of the target area by a mile. Two miles away past the target area, their other two Terminators, Steve and Tom, exited as well. Both groups converged on the ambush site from different directions. Both groups approached with speed and stealth. The two groups each looked for any signs of trouble.

The drone just finished a second strafing pass at the suspected ambush site as the two groups of Resistance Terminators converged on the area.

Camille and Summer approached the area with caution. There hadn't been any vehicles detected. That indicated that there might be a tunnel or bunker in the area. Steve and Tom approached from the other direction. Both groups rapidly converged on the target area.

Everyone knew to be at full alert. It was possible this was a fortified position. Since there was a Terminator involved this target location could be anything. It could be the tip of the iceberg or just a bunch of rocks.

Cameron watched the three men as she moved in on them. She didn't like their unprofessionalism.

She soundlessly moved up to the three careless men.

The three men became aware that someone was now standing among them.

One looked with surprise at Cameron. He was the one that she'd identified as being in charge.

"Commander Connor!" The leader said.

The other two men were as shocked as the leader was.

Cameron was somewhat surprised at the title she was addressed by. She decided to roll with the play. She ran her full infiltration programming with all of her 'Allison' in it. It was time to play the part. She really didn't have any idea where THIS was going to go.

"Check the Metal and make sure it's inactive." Cameron said. "Make sure the HK drone is inactive as well. I want you to pull both of their chips and give them to me."

Two of the men moved off. They left the leader behind.

"Commander Connor, I didn't know you were coming back. Is the General with you?" The leader asked.

Cameron wasn't sure where this was headed. She would let it play out for a little more information to see where it went.

"No, I'm here with Savannah." Cameron said.

The man looked confused. He looked around the area.

"Colonel Connor is here also?" The leader asked.

Cameron tilted her head slightly. That wasn't what she expected to hear even if it was what she wanted. It appeared that in some future the 'Natural Order' was very dominant. She hoped that was a good thing. She decided to put in a veiled request to John Henry for addition assistance of a very specific nature.

"Yes. She will join me shortly." Cameron said. "She will arrive very soon along with another Asian female operative. Don't get trigger happy."

John Henry monitored the feed and already started to plan to get Hanna and Sheila ready to back up Cameron. He understood Cameron's choice of words and personnel. They would represent Future Savannah and Future Jesse. It was clear Cameron wanted to see what the men's reactions would be to 'Future Jesse'.

Two of the men went to check on the HK drone and Terminator.

The first man approached the downed HK drone. It was mostly intact. There was no sign of any activity. He pulled the chip from it. He noticed a small light come on for a second as he did and then it went out immediately. He didn't think much of it.

The second man approached the shattered wreck of the vehicle. It caught fire in the first explosion. The second explosion extinguished the fire. There was a half burnt Terminator chassis inside amongst the wreckage of the vehicle. He poked it a couple of times with a stick from the group before he approached it. The metal of the vehicle was still hot. He needed to work carefully to remove the chip.

The two men returned. They reported back that the HK drone and Terminator were both inactive and gave Cameron the chips.

Cameron looked at the chips in her hand. She wanted to ask about the power cells. It was clear they hadn't ruptured yet but that didn't mean they weren't damaged. She would wait on that for now until she found out more. She didn't trust these men. She also needed to worry about them 'making a move' on her. The fact that 'Colonel Conner' and 'another female operative' were somewhere close should delay them from acting too soon. The men didn't know if they were targeted right now or not.

She wanted to make it look like she was on 'their side' and helped them more than they knew so far. That was actually the case anyway. She wanted as much information out of them as possible voluntarily. If they weren't being truthful she hoped to trip them up or catch them in a lie or a half truth.

"I hope you three know that you were headed into an ambush up ahead. That's why we tried to warn you." Cameron said. "I want a full run down on your operation and how far you've progressed."

The three men looked at each other. It was clear they didn't know the danger they were in. They didn't know about the HK drone or the ambush.

'Yes, Commander, we appreciate your assistance." The leader said.

The leader started to give Cameron the information she'd requested. She knew he wasn't telling her everything and lied to her sometimes. She didn't like these people. She knew they were part of the anti-Metal faction.

Cameron already knew the fate of these individuals. It was all a matter of time at this point. She was sure they thought she was 'Future Allison' and not the 'Metal Bitch' or 'Metal Whore' that they usually referred to her as behind her back.

She needed to keep her guard up. They may have clocked her as a Terminator from the first moment. Maybe they hadn't. They should show their true colors soon enough. She was pretty sure of that.

Camille and Summer checked the ambush area. No one was left alive. There was no apparent tunnel or bunker entrance and no explanation as to how the men who set up the ambush arrived there or how they were leaving. There were no vehicles in the area. It was a well set up and orchestrated ambush. If some of the people there hadn't got a little antsy at the delay. They would have remained undetected. That also meant there could be another or additional ambush sites around there as well.

Steve and Tom still searched around the surrounding area. They tried to see if there was any further threat. They could not locate one. There was the possibility that if there was that they wanted more of their group to arrive or some tangible assets like the Blackhawk or other vehicles.

They reported back to Cameron and she told them to approach the site she was at on foot. It wouldn't take them long. She advised them to stay off the road and use extreme caution. They were to collect the downed drone and the deactivated Terminator. The helicopter would go to the location where everything was at when Cameron left with the three men she'd encountered.

Camille and Summer were to remain where they were and search the area again. There must be something else there. They would lay low for awhile and see if anyone showed themselves once they thought that everyone was gone from the area.

John didn't like these new developments. He didn't like the ambush. He didn't like what looked like three groups in play and he didn't like the unknown. It this case, he thought he liked what was known even less.

"Great, they seem to know who Cameron is and I suspect they think she's 'Allison' and not a Terminator." John said.

No one said anything about both of the two named females having a 'Connor' last name.

John Henry wanted to point that out but John seemed to understand the true implications of that. They were in reference to human females as in some version of Savannah and Young Allison as adults.

John thought to himself that Cameron kept telling him this, over and over. It was almost an 'I told you so' moment…. The 'Natural Order' clearly exerted itself. This wasn't part of Cameron's manipulation or orchestration. This was something that they'd stumbled into.

"The base seems secure and I don't think the two Details are under threat but get some more Terminators out to replace Hanna anyway. I don't want to hear it from Cameron." John said. "I know she will be all over me if I leave any gaps in the Young Detail."

John Henry already made arrangements to have everything covered. His main goal was to get Hanna and Sheila out to where Cameron was at or at least near her. Sheila wasn't that far away. Hanna was farther.

"Hanna and Sheila are both headed out already. They will join up and reinforce Cameron." John Henry said. "The two vehicles that split up earlier have since rejoined. They are returning to where Cameron is."

John wasn't sure if that was something good or not. It didn't seem good in any way. They could be going back as reinforcements to try and bring Cameron down. It's possible they knew she was a Terminator and might have a way to bring her down without a major shootout.

"Have our other troops ready to act if they make a move on Cameron." John said.

John Henry was ready. The drone that was there was all set to make a gun attack if necessary. Steve and Tom were nearby as well.

"We have a response ready if necessary." John Henry said.

Cameron informed the men she was going to take them to a safe area. She reminded them that this area was hot and there would most likely be more Metal or another HK drone.

She asked the leader to ride in her SUV while she followed the vehicle he'd arrived in with his two associates. She would direct them where to go. They started out, soon the other two vehicles in their newly encountered group of 'friends' fell into line in back of her. She could make out two men in each vehicle. She could tell that the leader felt confidant that she was 'contained' with one of his vehicles in front of her and two behind her.

Cameron could hear the drone that went with Bob high overhead. The other drone stayed with Camille and Summer. Steve and Tom retrieved the downed HK drone and the deactivate Terminator when the helicopter returned.

She wanted to know what future these people were from and if there was some other timeline. She sure hoped Future Allison and Future Savannah were not in combat operations in Her Future…. Future John promised her they wouldn't be.

Then again, Future John sent her away too. His decisions and resolve were questionable at best.

Cameron lowered her left hand down alongside of her to hide the glitch impulse that began to shoot through it. She didn't need to think about the past right now. Whatever future this involved seemed bad enough.

Vanna laid it ALL out to Savannah.

Savannah asked many detailed follow up questions. She took all of it in, every question was answered and even some she didn't ask.

Vanna was pretty sure she'd made a deep impression on Savannah. Outside of the actual physical experience itself, she'd made it clear to Savannah what everything was like in detail.

"Do you understand the importance of your role for the future, Savannah?" Vanna asked.

Savannah knew all her promises to Cameron. She always planned to honor them. She also planned to experiment on herself with a few things as soon as she was alone.

"I do. I'll do my part and I'll keep my promises." Savannah said as she looked directly at Vanna.

Vanna wanted the best for Savannah. It was really Savannah's place anyway. Her infertility only reinforced that.

"It is up to you now, Savannah." Vanna said as the tears welled in her eyes. "I'm worthless."

Savannah moved forward and hugged Vanna. It felt very reassuring to her to do so. She also thought how nice Vanna felt in her arms. This was how she would feel in anyone else's arms herself. It was beautiful and comforting, even if the current circumstances weren't. She wanted Vanna to know she was there for her.

"No. You're not worthless. It's up to US. We are the same. We are one." Savannah said. "I want everything to be the SAME in my life as it has been in yours for 'companionship'."

Vanna looked at Cam and Ally. She knew that Savannah was talking about more than Allison and Jesse. That was somewhat of a worry for her. She knew that Savannah 'offered' herself to both Allison and Jesse recently. They both told her about it and how 'aggressive' Savannah was in her quest for what she wanted to 'try'. With much difficulty they both avoided the issues and contact.

It was clear that Savannah was literally sitting on a 'cherry bomb' and it wasn't going to be contained much longer.

Cam as 'Cameron' wanted to address the issue some. She wanted to keep Savannah focused.

"It will be, Savannah." Cam said. "I promise it will be but not yet, please. Stay a girl as long as possible. Young Allison is in your future. Young Allison IS your future."

Vanna didn't want Savannah to 'grow up' yet. It was all more complicated than it seemed in the long run.

"Your life will be much less 'painful'. That's emotional as well as physical." Vanna said. "Things will 'happen' when they're meant to."

Vanna knew the screwing you get wasn't worth the screwing you take in a relationship. That included even those by choice.

Savannah wanted them to know she wouldn't wait forever. She planed to have what all the other girls her age were able to have and share.

"You tell Cameron what I said." Savannah said. "I promise to be there for John but I want what you have for myself now. I'm I big girl now. I need more than 'myself'."

Savannah spoke of her desires and what she learned to do to quell them. It only seemed to make the desires even greater. It became a vicious circle. That's why she wanted 'more'.

Vanna knew that Savannah was going to 'do more'. No female Savannah's age in the future hadn't already started years ago, even if it wasn't their choice.

"I know what you want, Savannah." Vanna said. "We all want the same thing."

Savannah looked at Cam and Ally.

"You have it." Savannah said. "I want it as well."

Vanna swallowed hard. It was more heartache that Savannah understood.

"No, Savannah." Vanna said. "NOT YET."

Vanna was unsure where to go next. The only logical choice was the truth, the ugly brutal truth. The truth of how the world really worked, existed, could exist and would exist. It was time for some tough love.

"Savannah, I've never talk about this to anyone. I'm going to tell you things I've never told anyone, not even Allison. I was too ashamed and traumatized. I want you to listen carefully and slow down." Vanna said. "Cam and Ally can you wait outside please."

Savannah didn't want to kick Cam and Ally out.

"I want them here." Savannah said.

Vanna looked at Savannah and then at Cam and Ally. This was something very personal and private to her.

"No. They will wait outside with their audio off." Vanna said. "This is too shameful to share with anyone but 'myself'."

Cam and Ally went outside and did as Vanna asked.

Vanna took Savannah's hand and looked directly into her eyes.

"I am going to tell you everything that happened to me and what I saw starting when I was much younger than you are now." Vanna said. "I've never shared ALL this with anyone but myself. I'm only telling YOU because I AM YOU. This is only between us, Savannah. I never want anyone to know this and all the things that were done to me. I often hoped to die to end the misery. I'm ashamed I lived through some of them…."

Vanna moved over and pulled the trash can closer.

"What's that for?" Savannah asked.

A dead serious look was on Vanna's ashen face. She almost looked ill.

"It's for you." Vanna said. "To throw up in…."

Savannah knew she was about to 'grow up' real fast. She knew this must be causing Vanna a lot of pain.

Vanna wasn't sure she would be physically able to speak about everything but she was going to try. There were some things she'd 'locked away'. One chain of events almost led to her infibulation. She looked over at the trash can herself. That story might have to wait….

Feeling What It's Like

I have a heart
Nobody can feel it beat
What I want to express to others
Is seen as little more than a bleat

I have developed my feelings
Expanded my emotions too
Feeling what it's like
As most compassionate people do

There are a great many things
I do not easily understand
So people get upset with me
Treat me with disparaging remand

I am growing more each day
Reaching out and touching back
I enjoy personal things that are
Purple, violet, mauve and lilac

So everyone cut me some slack
If I want to kick back and lull
Feeling what it's like
To get away from it all

Nobody