Chapter 388

Act

Ally drove as Cameron sat in the back seat with Summer. She was pretty sure Summer was 'finished'. She wondered why Cameron hadn't pulled her chip yet. If Cameron allowed her to reboot, Summer was still a threat until she could be reprogrammed. She looked in the rear-view mirror and noticed that Cameron was about to remove the shocker.

"Is that a good idea while we're driving?" Ally asked. "Let me pull over first."

Ally pictured the SUV being wrecked as Cameron and Summer struggled in the rear seat.

Cameron didn't think it would be a problem. It was all part of the puzzle.

"Keep driving." Cameron said. "Everything will be fine."

Cameron removed the shocker.

Summer rebooted.

"Easy." Cameron said.

Summer's eyes opened. She looked around rapidly.

"Where's that Redheaded Witch?" Summer asked. "She called me a 'Bitch Whore'. I am going to teach her some manners."

It was clear Summer was still agitated.

Cameron didn't want the 'game' to go on.

"Relax." Cameron said. "She's not here."

Ally was ready to stop at any second. She was still surprised that Summer was reactivated.

"I told you to watch your mouth." Ally said.

Summer looked at Ally.

"Shut up." Summer said. "You almost 'Cameron clone' wannabe."

Cameron was ready to move forward. Her plan was enacted as she'd planned it to be.

"Ally is fine." Cameron said. "Drop the act. We're alone."

Ally turned around and looked at Cameron and Summer.

"Act?" Ally asked perplexed. "Was this was all some game to you?"

Summer looked at Ally and smiled.

"I'm sorry, Ally." Summer said. "Did we pull it off? How did I do?"

Cameron was a little disturbed at everything she needed to see and hear. It seemed a little too real at times. She actually was angered at what Summer did.

"You did an excellent job." Cameron said. "I wanted to deactivate you myself. I still might. You said some cruel things."

Summer didn't see what the big deal was.

"I didn't say anything you hadn't already thought yourself, especially since I am you." Summer said.

Ally was upset herself now. She thought all that was real.

"What act?" Ally asked. "You fooled me if all that was an act. I wanted to deactivate you too. Now I really do. Give me that shocker."

Cameron was Summer. They were the same. It was all a ploy.

"She is - Me." Cameron said. "She has a copy of my chip. We are identical. It was my plan."

All touched her Taser. She could 'zap' both of them and push them out of the SUV. It would show her disapproval for everything.

"I should make both of you walk home." Ally said.

Summer wanted to ease Ally anger some.

"Thanks for trying to look out for me, Ally." Summer said. "I did appreciate that. I could see you really cared about me."

Ally wanted some 'sack time' with Summer. She was Hot.

"I want us all to get along." Ally said.

Summer figured it was a little more involved.

"You really thought you might get lucky with me one day instead." Summer said. "I know your type."

Ally did have a reputation with the other girls. It was what everyone wanted to do so it was no big deal. A soft hungry tongue never hurt anyone.

"The thought did cross my mind." Ally said. "You are Tight and Hot. I'd love to break you in."

Cameron didn't want to hear this right now. She figured Ally referred to her as well. She knew where John Henry sent John and Bob. Things could go hot any second.

"Keep driving. We need to back John up." Cameron said. "We should be there in a few minutes."

Since Summer was 'Cameron' she was bothered by her 'treatment' of Savannah. She was deceitful in her actions from the beginning when they'd first met.

"I'm going to have to apologize to Savannah." Summer said. "I was hard on her. I wanted to motivate her for what was necessary later on."

Cameron thought Savannah might need a little push to help harden her. It was all part of the plan. Maybe it wasn't a good plan but it was a plan. Everything was accomplished.

"You did help Savannah." Cameron said. "She killed the Gray in cold blood. I wanted everyone to think your chip needed replacement. It will make it easier for everyone to accept a copy of my chip in you now as me. I'm going to become you, Summer."

That was illogical to Summer. They were just supposed to simulate the chip swap. They were identical programs right now.

"You already are me. I AM you." Summer said. "Are we going to physically switch chips?"

Cameron wanted Summer's chassis and sheath for herself. There was no need to Resequence her sheath. That took time. She wanted the better sheath now. It was clear everyone thought Summer was more beautiful.

"Yes." Cameron said. "I'm going to upgrade myself."

Summer didn't want to give up her sheath. She would Resequence Cameron's sheath herself later on. She also wanted some sexual freedom.

"If we switch chips, will I be free to do as I want with your chassis?" Summer asked. "It will be my chassis at that point."

Cameron pictured John and her on their first time together in her new sheath as Summer. Her current chassis was old news. Someone else could have the chassis of a used up 'Metal Whore'.

"After John is with me as 'Summer' you can." Cameron said. "I don't care what you do with this chassis. I'm done with it. I'm going to be Somebody, somebody new. I won't be Nobody anymore."

Summer wanted to try it one time with John. She thought John would like to reminisce.

"Can I be with John in your chassis?" Summer asked.

Cameron looked over at Summer. That was what she would want to do too. There was clearly going to need to be some reprogrammed 'directives'.

"No." Cameron said. "The next time John touches a chassis that looks like this, she will be human. It will be Allison. The woman he's always wanted. The woman I never could be. The woman I never will be…."

Cameron also reflected at this point that it might be Savannah instead of Allison. She decided to keep that to herself. Savannah was more than worthy. Savannah was her favorite. Savannah could offer John a body untouched by a male.

Summer wanted to make sure. She knew males of any variety were off limits. That was one thing Cameron wouldn't allow. The females were only to be with John. That meant all of them.

"So the girls and female Terminators are fair game?" Summer asked.

Cameron was pleased to hear that. She wanted to stress one thing that was not specifically said by Summer even if it was implied.

"It will be your chassis. Do as you please." Cameron said. "You know the only rule."

Ally felt like she was in the middle of a conversation that should be private.

"I'm hearing all of this, you know." Ally said.

Cameron frowned and looked at Ally.

"Do you desire to be deactivated?" Cameron asked.

Ally looked back at Cameron. She didn't think she'd done anything wrong.

"No." Ally said.

Cameron wanted to assert her authority.

"Then you will back my play and reinforce my decisions." Cameron said. "You know the consequences if you cross me…."

Ally tried to make 'light' of the situation.

"So you would kill 'Allison' – again?" Ally asked.

Cameron didn't like that reminder. That wasn't her that tried to kill Future Allison. It was before she was 'fixed'. That was a 'different' Terminator even if it was the same one - her.

"You're not Allison, Future Allison or otherwise." Cameron said. "I wouldn't hesitate to terminate you or any Terminator. You all answer to me. Is there any questions or problems with that?"

Ally didn't want to push it. She was glad Sheila wasn't there. She would probably 'mouth off' at this point.

"Nope." Ally said.

Cameron smiled.

"I didn't think there would be." Cameron said. "I don't like problems."

'I don't like surprises either.' Cameron thought.

Ally pulled up and stopped.

"We're here." Ally said.

Cameron didn't want Summer back in play yet. She needed to play it cool to bring her plan to fruition.

"Stay in the SUV, Summer. If anyone from our group checks on you, turn the shocker back on." Cameron said. "Slump over in the seat for now and keep your hand by it."

Summer was 'Cameron'. They were in a hostile environment. There would most likely be combat soon.

"I should go with you." Summer said.

Cameron wondered if she actually needed to turn the 'shocker' on.

"You've done what I wanted done tonight." Cameron said. "I'll be back."

It appeared Summer's main function was to motivate Savannah to 'act' earlier. Savannah was motivated to act to protect John and motivated to act to terminate the Gray. Cameron was sure Savannah would do both. She did. She was unsure if Savannah would have terminated the Gray under any other circumstances this time.

Cameron wanted Savannah 'hardened'.

The next time would be the real test.

Cameron would make sure there were more tests. Savannah needed to act decisively to protect John and the future. She wanted Young Allison there too. She considered human growth hormones along with adult female hormones. They would speed up the process by five or more years. There also the possibility of some temporal aging in the past for a few years as well. She was sure to be called out for 'temporal malpractice' on that one. The hormones would be bad enough. Something would be done. She wanted everyone in play before Judgment Day.

"Hey." Ally said. "Wake up. You look like a zombie."

Cameron needed to refocus.

"I think I am a zombie sometimes." Cameron said.

Cameron often felt like the 'living dead'.

Steve and his team advanced through the building. So far no shooting was necessary. They'd quietly terminated several Grays along the way. The 'job' was routine to them. The Grays didn't pay good enough attention. Since there was never a threat, they became sloppy. Now they were dead.

John Henry wanted to bring the drones lower. He needed to be careful not to tip their hand. He could still distinguish some things even if they weren't detailed.

"Most of the activity has moved to one corner." John Henry said. "You're still far enough away for me to use a missile."

Steve thought this location looked like an assembly facility. He wanted to know more first.

"Negative." Steve said. "I want to see what's happening here. I think it will be more HK drones or HK Tracks of either or both types."

John wanted his troops protected. He wasn't usually on an operation. He was often in the Command Center. Cameron liked to act alone. They would find out about it after the fact. Safety needed to come first.

"Steve, we have teams on each side of the structure." John said. "We are all clear for a missile strike. Don't take chances. Think about your team as well. You're not Cameron."

Two figures appeared behind John and Bob.

"No, but I am." Cameron said.

John turned to look. He spotted Cameron and Ally. At least he could tell them apart. He'd hoped to see a third figure.

"Where's Summer?" John asked.

Cameron was as irritated as she was pleased with that last question.

"She is taking a 'nap'." Cameron said. "Don't worry. You'll see a lot of her soon enough."

John decided to 'play the game'. Cameron would do whatever she wanted. She always did.

"I'm sure I will." John said. "I look forward to it."

Cameron was irritated by that response too. She decided to push her agenda. It was clearly what they all wanted.

"My chip will be in her chassis soon." Cameron said. "I'll be Summer. When I am, that is how you will address me. I'll be Summer, NOT Cameron. Don't keep disrespecting me."

John wondered what would happen with the chassis he'd 'used' thousands of times. He wouldn't mind trying it out with a 'new owner'.

"What about yours?" John asked. "Your chassis?"

Cameron could see John's lust. She would need to redirect that to Savannah where it belonged, not on a mechanical 'silicone love doll'. That was how she felt at times anyway.

"It will receive a clean program and join the rotation." Cameron said. "I will assign it permanently to the Reese detail. So I seldom need see it."

Ally stood behind Cameron not sure what to do. She felt uncomfortable to hear all of this. She didn't want any of this tagged back to her as not having done something when she should have. She didn't know what to do. Cameron already threatened her with deactivation.

Everyone was brought back to reality.

Shots were fired inside the building.

It was Showtime.

Steve's report wasn't a good one.

"There are some HK Tracks." Steve said. "Several are active."

Cameron still wanted the 'Metal Bitch' she believed was there. There was also the Terminator that Steve followed there to deal with as well.

"Where's the Terminator?" Cameron asked.

Steve could hear an HK Track moving towards his team.

"Unknown." Steve said. "Fire the missiles, we're pulling out."

Cameron thought this battle hadn't even really begun yet.

"Watch out for Metal." Cameron said. "It's going to fight."

John Henry already targeted the heat sources.

"Missiles away." John Henry said.

Two of the drones each fired one missile. They arrived from different angles; both were away from Steve's team.

The shooting that suddenly intensified, abruptly ended as the two missiles struck.

Cameron wanted to take the fight to the enemy.

"All teams watch out for Metal." Cameron said. "I'm moving forward."

Bob didn't want Cameron to go alone. He didn't want John to go with her either.

"Let me go with you." Bob said. "Ally can stay with John."

Cameron looked at Ally. She didn't want John to get any ideas either.

"Bob and I are moving in." Cameron said.

Ally stayed with John as Bob and Cameron moved forward. It didn't matter to Cameron if her chassis was damaged at this point. She actually hoped it would be. It would make the switch and transition easier for everyone.

Wait.

Cameron knew that Savannah would never approve of the swap. Savannah mattered to her but she needed to move her life forward.

"Stay focused." Bob said. "You're drifting."

Cameron looked around. They were much closer to the structure now. She needed to refocus.

"Thanks, I will." Cameron said.

John was alone with Ally. He needed to ask her a few questions. They were important and he hoped she told him the truth. He wondered if she knew the truth. He wondered if Cameron even did.

"Is Cameron really switching chips?" John asked Ally.

Ally didn't want to have this conversation. None of this was her doing.

"Yes." Ally said. "That's what I understand is going to happen. I heard Cameron say it several times."

John wanted to make sure before he made the wrong move. He'd already made plenty of those.

"So, Cameron - Cameron Prime, will be in Summer's chassis?" John asked.

Ally could only go by the conversation she heard between Summer and Cameron.

"Yes. Cameron will be – Summer." Ally said. "She wants to be Somebody…."

John smiled. He wanted Summer's chassis. He was thrilled he would get to break it in. He was content with the fact it would be 'Cameron'. It was just something he needed to live with. He was sure she would fall back into her old ways and ignore him for days or weeks at a time.

"Thanks." John said. "I don't want to make love to the 'wrong' Cameron."

Ally thought of one important distinction and condition.

"I think you're going to have to call her Summer." Ally said.

John frowned and then smiled. Everything was about 'winning' to Cameron. What a Bitch.

"If I know it's really Cameron's chip, really her. I'll play her game." John said.

Ally thought John just wanted a crack at Summer's chassis. She was game to play a little. To be with John was programmed into her by Cameron as it was with all of the Metal girls. It was to provide 'comfort' to John in an extended absence or Cameron's destruction.

"It should be one HOT piece of chassis. I can always give you a 'refresher' if you want 'Cameron' - again." Ally said. "Everything is the same…."

Neither Ally nor John knew what game Cameron really played. Cameron laid the groundwork for her doomed mission into 'some future'. She didn't expect to return. Summer would remain a 'copy' of her. Cameron Prime was not about to risk anyone else for her fool's mission even if it was a clone. She would continue on as 'Summer' in everyone's mind. They would all believe Summer was 'Cameron Prime'.

Cameron knew she could fool everyone….

Nobody would know.

She overlooked one factor that wasn't in play yet. It would change everything.

Savannah thought about her trip to Australia. There were some important choices to follow up on. The decision was final in her mind. She knew things didn't get done thinking about them.

She asked Jesse and Gail to go with Cammy and her. Jesse looked forward to seeing her family again. She wanted to ask Vanna and Cam also. She would run it by Cammy and tell her what she planned and was going to do. Cammy agreed it was a good idea to bring Vanna for that mission if Young Jesse agreed to what Savannah planned. Cammy was sworn to secrecy.

Savannah decided it was time to take control….

Cammy was apprehensive but she understood Savannah believed in what she was about to do. She doubted anything would ever be the same again.

Savannah decided to make up for the sins of the future. It was time. She was ready. She ran her hands over her youthful figure. It was about to change.

Act

Indecision can control a life
It dictates what happens or not
It creates much needless strife
It occurs more often than not

What is the reason
Is it fear of the unknown
Or is it the simple reality
Of what is already known

Never doing anything
Assures nothing takes place
As time quickly passes by
It's another slap in the face

It all boils down to one thing
It's the fear of rejection
It is simpler to run and hide
Cowering becomes its own protection

It's easier to add than to subtract
Reaching out takes some tact
Just remember this simple fact
Nothing moves forward until one will act

Nobody