Chapter 371

I Promise Cameron

John Henry investigated the information related to Cameron's unknown adventure. She'd followed up on some of the leads and that is where they'd taken her. There was still a lot missing. The new information that he did discover was quite disturbing.

"It seems some Skynet offshoot was using the old atomic proving grounds to set up shop." John Henry said. "They figured the fear of radiation levels would keep people away."

John thought the risk of cancer was a pretty good deterrent. He wondered if Cameron hit some group with a knockout blow.

"Did Cameron use one of her nukes?" John asked.

That was the first concern that John Henry checked into.

"I haven't detected their use yet." John Henry said. "The only recent nuclear activity has been in Southwest Asia and Northeast Asia."

John knew one area was religiously motivated and the other was a maniacal dictator.

"I don't think any of those were Cameron." John said. "Are they?"

John Henry saw those areas as 'ground zero'. By their very nature both of those regions were unstable.

"No." John Henry said. "Those will be some of the first networks Skynet will attack, control and use. When the rest of the world amps up in response bringing everything online, Skynet takes control and wrecks the planet. It's a brilliant plan."

John shook his head in disgust.

"Nice." John said. "Let's get back to Cameron."

John Henry wanted to reassure John but also caution him on other possibilities.

"She hasn't used her four nukes yet." John Henry said. "She may have acquired more by now as well."

John sat up in his chair and Faced John Henry directly. This revelation was a new major concern.

"Where would she get them?" John asked. "Why do you even say that?"

"I've recently noted several weapons that were scheduled to be decommissioned seemed to have disappeared." John Henry said. "I think Cameron may have sent her Terminators in to obtain them."

It sounded a lot like history repeating itself to John. It was a little too much like it.

"That was what Skynet tried to do with the Nike warheads." John said. "Maybe it's Skynet. Try to get a hold of Ally or Sheila and see what they know. We don't need some rouge Skynet affiliate jumping the gun."

Now, with that thought, John hoped it was Cameron that obtained control of the weapons. He knew the more Cameron controlled, the less Skynet could control. It was what Cameron tried to tell him all along. He just didn't want to hear it.

The more John Henry looked at things the more worrisome it became. It looked like Cameron took down something Skynet related.

"I think Cameron may have attacked the Skynet offshoot in New Mexico." John Henry said. "I don't believe she did that as 'Allison' if she did. It could have been."

They both knew something must have happened to her that made her glitch out.

"I want a team of Metal sent there to check it out." John said. "Maybe I should go myself."

That sounded like a bad idea that just got worse to John Henry. John going there himself was bound to cause an even bigger problem. The threat level was unknown.

"There may be high radiation levels." John Henry said. "It will not affect the Terminators. They were constructed to withstand a limited amount of very high exposure."

That wasn't something John considered before. He was worried about his mother, Cameron and everyone else at this point. Radiation and humans didn't mix well.

"Was Cameron contaminated?" John asked. "Has she set off any alarms? What is the threat level to everyone else?"

John Henry quickly checked all the scanning devices again.

"No. We haven't picked up anything out of the ordinary around here." John Henry said. "We're good."

'Cameron' walked up.

John looked at her. He wasn't sure if it was Cam or Cammy or Cameron.

"Sheila said you wanted to ask me some questions." She said.

John looked at her a little further and remembered what he'd asked for either Ally or Sheila to do.

"Ally?" John asked.

Ally hoped to last a little longer as 'Cameron'. She never seemed to be able to pull it off.

"Yes, you seem surprised." Ally said. "I don't always have to look like Allison. I can look like Cameron too."

John and John Henry proceeded to ask her about any new nukes. She didn't know of any but would ask Cameron.

Ally was aware of the time. This was an unintended stop.

"I need to go soon." Ally said.

John wondered why Ally might try to pass herself as 'Cameron' even if she wasn't. He wanted a further explanation.

"Where?" John asked. "Why?"

Ally couldn't answer what she didn't know.

"I'm going out with Cameron." Ally said. "She only told me what to wear and said to look Tight."

John was sure she was off to do some mischief of some kind.

"Do I even want to know?" John asked.

Ally wanted to shift the 'blame' back to where it belonged. This wasn't on her.

"I doubt it." Ally said. "Your best option is to forget about it unless you LIKE to fight with Cameron."

John and John Henry questioned her about what she knew about any additional additional activities by Cameron. She didn't know anything.

Ally left and took off with Cammy, Vanna and Cam in one SUV. They followed Cameron and Savannah in another one.

Earlier:

Cameron arrived back at the base after her latest adventure. She was dissatisfied with the whole encounter and the Grays that tried to ambush her. There were even more questions now than ever about that operation.

She thought about going to see John but figured it would turn into a hassle. He always gave her a hard time about going out alone. He just couldn't understand she did that to protect everyone else. She didn't want anyone to take the risk when she could. She went to her room and changed. She made sure she looked Tight. She planned to spend some quality time with Savannah today.

Cameron always liked to spend time alone with Savannah.

Cammy wasn't too happy about Cameron coming around to see Savannah. She knew Cameron would put pressure on Savannah to become pregnant. She was aware Cameron made Savannah promise her this since she was a young girl. It was something she found very disturbing. She currently ran an outdated program of Cameron's but Savannah was her top priority to take care of. Savannah replaced John in her 'Cameron' programming. Protecting Savannah meant her not getting pregnant at this early age, by ANY means. It was also why it repulsed her that Cameron placed that burden of Savannah in the first place.

The only one who didn't see anything wrong with what Cameron did was Cameron - Cameron Prime.

Cammy was instructed to wait with Cam, Ally and Vanna.

Savannah wanted Cammy to help her get ready and look Tight.

Cammy received a call and needed to leave. She went out the door.

The door opened back up twenty seconds later. 'Cammy' was back again already.

"That was fast." Savannah said.

'Cammy' didn't say anything.

Savannah looked closer. Her face lit up and she went over to 'Cammy'.

"Hello, Cameron." Savannah said as she hugged her.

Savannah's response pleased Cameron. She worried that giving Savannah Cammy would lessen her love for her. Based on the reaction it hadn't. Savannah still looked at her with love in her eyes and hopefully in her heart.

"I'm here to assist you." Cameron said.

Savannah liked that. Cameron always assisted her since she was at the base when she was around. Cameron chose all of her attire for her to wear. She told Cameron she didn't like the thong underwear and skimpy low cut underwear replaced it. It was a good thing she'd used the laser or she would need to shave a lot.

She wanted to play it up for Cameron. She stripped all of her clothes off until she was naked.

"Tell me where to start." Savannah said. "A fresh start is always good."

Cameron licked her lips lightly. She loved Savannah dearly. To see Savannah naked with her perfect shapely form excited her greatly. Her desire to touch it was almost overpowering. Savannah was very appealing. Savannah naked was very alluring.

She kept her hands to herself and went to Savannah's dresser and then her closet. She laid out what she wanted her to wear.

Cameron watched as Savannah dressed. It was all done very sensually and with style. Savannah could be very seductive. She was sure the 'show' was for her. It made her want Savannah even more.

Once Savannah was Tight they left. When they reached the carpool area Cammy came over to join them even though Cameron told her not to earlier.

"You have your assignment." Cameron said.

Cammy didn't move for a few seconds. She silently turned and walked away.

That encounter left Savannah with a very uncomfortable feeling.

"Why couldn't Cammy ride with us?" Savannah asked. "I wanted her to."

Cameron smiled and touched Savannah's cheek.

"I wanted some alone time with you." Cameron said. "Just us two."

Savannah looked back once and shared a stare with Cammy before they each got into a separate SUV.

Cameron drove in silence with Savannah. The mood was a little solemn.

Savannah knew Cameron was going to pressure her again. It seemed to happen a lot lately. Maybe it would be about Cammy. It was clear that Cameron was jealous. Maybe she wanted to know about her sex life. She didn't want to discuss it. It would make her feel 'guilty' in front of Cameron.

''You know I'm not going to talk about what we do." Savannah said. "It's private."

Cameron did want to know what they did. She'd listened outside the room more than a few times. She decided to downplay the issue. She would put Savannah on the defensive instead.

"If I wanted to know that, I'd ask Cammy." Cameron said. "I know she is still 'me' and hasn't integrated yet with her other programs."

Savannah knew this was a sensitive issue. She wanted to get ahead of it. It was her doing and she would take the heat for it.

"I asked her to delay that." Savannah said. "I don't want any problems over this. It's what I want. "

Cameron felt she'd made her point. She just wanted to stress it a little more.

"You know that isn't what you really have." Cameron said. "I'm right here."

Cameron and Savannah looked at each other for a long moment. Savannah wondered how Cameron could stay on the road and then noticed her left eye looked forward and not at her.

Savannah knew Cameron was right. Cammy was her clone in every way anyway. She knew what Cameron was really after. This whole discussion was to manipulate her.

"I can't be with John, Cameron." Savannah said. "Even if you are really there 'yourself', I won't do that to you. I can't. I can't hurt you like that. I will have children for you, Cameron, but I will not take John from you."

Savannah felt the SUV swerve slightly and Cameron lowered her left hand from the steering wheel. She'd started to glitch. She looked at Savannah with both eyes now.

"You promised." Cameron said.

Savannah reached over and touched Cameron's cheek. She took her right hand and moved it off of the steering wheel. That move forced Cameron to regain composure and use her left hand again. The glitch was gone.

"I still do. I promise to be with John and at his side, when it's necessary." Savannah said. "You are his wife. START acting like it."

Cameron and Savannah exchanged a long glance.

Savannah knew few people could talk to Cameron like that. She also knew, Cameron knew, she spoke with total honesty. Cameron could scan her if she wanted to.

Cameron smiled as the apprehension faded from her face.

"Thank You, Savannah." Cameron said.

Savannah squeezed her hand and Cameron looked at her again.

"I promise, Cameron." Savannah said.

Cameron held her gaze a little longer before she returned her eyes back to the road.

As Cameron held Savannah's hand she scanned her and calculated the next 'window'.

Savannah knew what Cameron was doing right now. She held Cameron's hand even tighter and never took her eyes off of Cameron.

Savannah was ready to do anything for Cameron, except HURT her. If Cameron wanted to use her body, then she could.

The second SUV followed the first.

Cammy kept a constant watch on Cameron and Savannah. She thought Cameron needed to pay better attention to the road.

Ally thought the atmosphere was a little stiff. Maybe it was because Cammy looked so glum. She decided to lighten the mood.

"We look like triplets." Ally said as she looked at Cam and Cammy.

Vanna checked all of them out nonstop. This was like Heaven to her.

"You don't hear me complaining." Vanna said.

Ally looked over at Vanna. She wanted some of that.

"Maybe one of you should drive." Ally said. "I don't have any Cameron on my chip."

Cammy was a little insulted by that statement. She wasn't sure what it meant.

"Why?" Cammy asked.

Ally decided to push it.

"So I can have some fun in the back seat with one of you and Vanna." Ally said.

Cam felt a little defensive now. Vanna belonged to her. She didn't like interlopers.

"That's why you're driving." Cam said. "You need to focus on the task and not fantasize about some untimely sexual encounter."

Ally tried to hide a sly smile. She'd wanted to ask a few personal questions before so now seemed as good a time as any.

"Cam, do you and Cammy ever switch?" Ally asked.

Vanna looked at Cam and then at Ally.

"I'm right here you know." Vanna said.

Ally could see she hit a nerve. She pushed it some more.

"So…." Ally said. "It's a valid question. I would."

Cammy didn't want to have this discussion. She was even more upset she couldn't ride with Savannah.

"Savannah knows who is who." Cammy said.

Ally could read a lot into that statement.

"So…. You've discussed it." Ally said.

Vanna wondered how involved this was.

"Have you?" Vanna asked as she at Cam.

Cam and Cammy looked at each other. Both of them remained silent.

Ally could see there'd been some thought if not action taken. Vanna and Savannah were the same person.

"It's still YOU either way, Vanna." Ally said.

Vanna knew it was a technicality but not how she perceived it. She never wanted Savannah to be her.

"No, it's not." Vanna said. "I'm 'me'."

Ally decided to roll the dice.

"If you ever want a 'five way'…." Ally said. "I'm in."

Vanna didn't like Savannah being degraded.

"Shut up and drive." Vanna said.

Vanna would take the 'five way' if it was Allison instead of Savannah - herself. She didn't want Savannah tainted. She was worried enough about everything that already started.

The Metal girls all looked at each other. It was something they wanted to try.

Vanna could see everyone was aroused some now. She thought that a 'four way' with her and the three machines would work too….

Ally looked over at Vanna and winked, her hand started to snake over towards Vanna.

There was a loud crack that startled Vanna.

Cam leaned over the seat and slapped Ally's hand - HARD.

"Keep your hands to yourself and drive." Cam said. "And shut up."

Ally didn't like the rebuke.

"What a 'Kill Joy'." Ally said.

Now all the girls were upset at each other.

Vanna still wondered if Cam and Cammy may have switched. She knew if it was her, she would have. She didn't have a problem with that but would like to know which one of them it really was. That would make it more exciting to her to be with Cammy and know it was Cammy.

John was very concerned with this new aspect of radiation and what happened in New Mexico.

"I want Bob, Dan and two others to check out New Mexico." John said.

John Henry wanted to remind John of Cameron's protocols.

"Bob and Jim are to remain with you and the Reese family whenever Cameron is out." John Henry said.

John was sure that statement was to remind him to stay at the base.

"Even if I say otherwise?" John asked.

"Affirmative." Bob said.

Bob arrived and entered the Command Center.

"Hi, Bob." John said.

"Hello. They're Cameron's orders." Bob said. "When she's protecting the future, I'm to protect you. You know this."

John didn't think Cameron spent enough time with him.

"I spend more time with you than her." John said.

Bob knew that was true. He decided to offer John a few options.

"I can have her install her program back on my chip…." Bob said.

John Henry and John looked at each other and then back to Bob.

"Was that a joke?" John asked.

John wasn't sure if it was. The idea somewhat intrigued him, he wasn't sure why….

Bob decided to point out the past.

"This chassis, with Cameron's program, has been at your command before…." Bob said.

John swallowed hard.

Bob looked at both of them and burst out laughing.

"Gotcha." Bob said.

John laughed too.

"Yes you did." John said. "You've been hanging around the girls too much."

Bob liked to be around the girls. They intrigued him.

"Affirmative." Bob said.

That made John laugh harder.

A Promise Is A Promise

I promised
I would never leave
So now to eternity
Forever I will grieve

Never ending, everlasting
Forever is a long time
But to have feelings
Is not a crime

Like an animals foot
Caught in a trap like glue
Through the bone and flesh
I gnaw and chew

Escape is elusive - almost
Or endless story
A promise is a promise
Do you remember Richard Cory?

Nobody