Chapter 397

What She Represented

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In Some Future:

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Nobody was happy that Allison went with Cameron and Mrs. Weaver. It was risky. No one could understand why it was necessary. Maybe if they'd asked for a volunteer one of the others may have gone in her place. Sacrifice was the true test of love. Allison chose to go. She was willing to make that sacrifice.

Ginger and Sandy were to remain with Jesse and Vanna. They felt they could be better used elsewhere. They didn't know that future events would dictate there presence.

"We should go with the others." Ginger said. "We could provide extra protection for Allison on the battlefield."

Sandy felt a sense of duty to the Special Unit. She'd been rebodied before. Allison didn't have that luxury.

"They need us with them." Sandy said. "I want to serve with Cameron. That's where the battle is to be fought. That's where the danger will be greatest."

Ginger felt a sense of obligation to Cameron for everything she'd done for them.

"We owe it to her." Ginger said. "We owe Cameron our loyalty."

Ginger and Sandy wanted to be where the action was. Every Restorator did. They were inspired to follow Cameron. They both wondered why Cameron didn't want them with her. It made them feel 'inadequate'.

Cammy knew she needed to refocus Ginger and Sandy. They weren't being 'punished'. Cameron chose them for this assignment.

"Cameron has assigned you to the most precious and trusted task." Cammy said. "It is to watch over her girlfriends, the girls she loves. There is nothing more special to Cameron here. The safety of the girls is what Cameron wants the most until she can return them 'home'."

Vanna knew how to 'help' Metal. She'd done it many times at the Resistance base in the past. They tended to focus on one aspect of something at times and miss the significance of the overall picture.

"We consider it an honor to have Cameron select you to protect us." Vanna said. "She wouldn't trust our lives and well being with just anyone. She picked who she thought was the best and most loyal to her."

Sandy and Ginger looked at each other. It appeared that Cameron did select them for an elite assignment. They needed to understand what was important to Cameron, not the General. It did make them feel better as they understood the role they now played for Cameron. It was really an honor.

"Then we are honored as well to serve you." Ginger said. "We won't fail Cameron. We won't fail you."

Jesse wanted some clarification for them. A few years back in her future she never would have said what she was about to say. She never even would have thought it.

"You don't serve us, love." Jesse said. "We're all equals."

Vanna knew that was a good observation. It was also a valid point.

"We all share here. No one serves us." Vanna said. "We're all the same."

Sandy remembered a lot of opposition to the Restorators in the future she came from. This future didn't seem much different when she arrived. It actually seemed worse. It was this group that was different.

"You don't disapprove of us?" Sandy asked. "We are equal?"

Vanna worked hard in the past to get around issues like that. It was all about seeing each person as an individual and not as a group.

"We all love Cameron too." Vanna said. "You're no different than her. We all have a Metal girlfriend as well as each other. None of us see the term 'Metal' as a bad thing. It is just a nice way of saying Terminator."

Sandy nodded. She started out as a Restorator and was rebodied with a Terminator chassis. It was still her same chip so the term 'Metal' did make it simpler do describe the nature of their construction rather than their intended purpose.

Ginger watched all the girls 'interact'. It was clear they were all sexually involved. Cameron was different.

"Cameron is married." Ginger said. "She doesn't share like you all do."

Jesse didn't see that as being something positive in every case. She'd been involved with males, females and machines. Females knew how to please females better. They also knew to 'push' the finish so it could be multiple finishes. Males stopped after one. That was if the female was even lucky enough to get there by a male. That seldom happened. Males didn't have any stamina. She just didn't believe that 'traditional marriage' was all that great on any level.

"I guess even Cameron has her 'shortcomings'." Jesse joked.

Sandy needed to think about that statement.

"You're all females and all only 'with' other females." Sandy said.

Vanna saw that as the only choice for her. Her life's circumstances dictated that path for her. When it came to males, she'd already decided that John would be the only male allowed to touch her. Her past abuse by males haunted her daily.

"It's our choice." Vanna said. "We know what's better."

Ginger and Sandy looked at each other. Cameron suggested several times they should 'explore' with each other. She told them to do it with their programming off. They'd been hesitant to go too far. They'd encountered sensations that they didn't know how to fully process. That happened when they touched certain areas on themselves. It seemed there could be an overload or malfunction if they'd continued.

"I wish to 'learn'." Sandy said. "WE want to learn."

Ginger looked at Sandy and smiled.

"Both of us want to know." Ginger said.

Vanna was a little surprised to hear that. If the circumstances were a little different she'd teach them now. The atmosphere was toxic because Allison was out where she didn't need to be.

"When Allison gets back we can help you 'learn'." Vanna said.

Jesse was pretty sure she'd seen and done it all. Her time with Cam proved otherwise.

"I'm a Hell of a teacher, love." Jesse said. "With a Metal girlfriend, I'm even still learning."

Cam and Cammy looked uncomfortable. They feared 'replacement'.

Vanna could see how distressed Cammy looked right now. That wasn't her intent. Cammy didn't understand about 'sharing' yet. She suffered from 'target fixation'. There was a bigger world out there waiting for her to discover it. Now was clearly not the time to start that process.

"We can TELL you what we like and do. You can experiment on your own." Vanna said.

Cammy smiled at her.

Jesse noticed how Cam looked. It wasn't good. She'd heard what Vanna just said. It was to ease their Metal girl's fears.

"Sure, love, it will be like classroom instruction." Jesse said. "You get to do the homework on your own and together."

Cam smiled at her.

Jesse and Vanna didn't want to hurt their 'Camerons'. They were all worried to death about Allison and tried to think of other things. It didn't work. Even trying to joke or lighten the mood still left them all hurting. No matter what they did it always came back to the same place. It was the feeling of 'disaster'.

What seemed to trouble them the most was Allison's own feeling and belief that she wouldn't return.

It was a sense of doom they all felt.

Cameron was worried about Allison. Cameron II would be with her but she wanted some additional 'protection'. Mrs. Weaver was able to offer some unique capabilities.

"General, I'd like you to be with Allison as much as possible." Cameron said. "I don't like her being exposed to this danger."

Cameron still wasn't content about Allison being along on this mission into the heart of Skynet territory. It was a dangerous mission and it relied a lot on the disinformation the Gray sent out. It was what Skynet did with that information what would make their job either harder or easier.

Mrs. Weaver liked the idea of being 'closer' to Allison. It was for Vanna as well as herself. She didn't want to seem too forward. She didn't want her real desires known.

"I'll protect her." Mrs. Weaver said. "She's Vanna's lover and mate. She also has a competent bodyguard who will be with her."

Cameron frowned. Everything was risky.

"Cameron II will be with her continuously. I want some extra assurance." Cameron said. "This mission is too dangerous for her."

Mrs. Weaver could see that Cameron was genuinely concerned for Allison. Cameron obviously didn't want Allison with them.

"I know she's here because I asked you to bring her." Mrs. Weaver said. "It will all work out. I want Skynet to know that humans are responsible for its destruction as well as machines."

There were a lot of things that could go wrong. Allison would need to keep up with the Restorators on the trip there. They would need to move fast and keep up that fast pace to get into position unobserved.

"She may have trouble keeping up." Cameron said. "I'm very worried."

Mrs. Weaver hadn't considered that. It would be hard for a human to keep up.

"If we need to assist her, one of the Restorators can carry her." Mrs. Weaver said. "It will be ALL of us who defeat this Skynet as we did in the other future."

Cameron wanted some reassurances about Savannah. She didn't know how far she could trust Mrs. Weaver on her earlier assurances.

"I've spoken with Vanna…." Cameron said. "It was about Savannah."

Mrs. Weaver originally planned differently for Savannah. She wanted Savannah at her side. She'd grown found of her and liked how Savannah made her feel once they'd begun to interact and share affection. She understood the true nature of the 'Natural Order'. John Connor would need both human and Metal lovers to truly unite everyone.

"Savannah will stay with John in the past." Mrs. Weaver said. "I promise, Cameron. She'll be there for John once she is old enough along with Young Allison."

Cameron was sure the next part was going to be a problem. It was what she believed. It was her current purpose.

"I don't want to leave Vanna and Allison here when I go back." Cameron said. "I'm responsible for their safety."

Mrs. Weaver noticed Cameron didn't mention Jesse. She didn't comment on that. She'd lately spend a lot of time as 'Jesse' when no one was around. She'd even used Jesse's figure from the neck down about half of the time anyway. She really liked her figure. It was very trim and tight. Everything was a night and day difference between their bodies in all of the 'private areas', especially the pigmentation. She liked the differences. She'd done some interesting 'combinations' to compare things side by side. She needed to refocus. She wanted Cameron to remember her true place.

"You won't need to be." Mrs. Weaver said. "Your clones will be with them. You need to go back to be with John."

Cameron paused as a conflict raged in her mind.

Mrs. Weaver's earlier comments about Future John and Past John still troubled her.

"Do you know which John it will be?" Cameron finally asked.

Cameron needed to know what her future was. Maybe there was no future for any of them and it all ended in this upcoming battle.

Mrs. Weaver knew what she saw before she left for the past. There was no need to upset Cameron further. She really didn't understand it herself at this point. Somehow it was all illogical. It was possible there were different timelines involved. She didn't want to create a problem, especially right now.

"Forget I ever said anything." Mrs. Weaver said. "I'm sorry I brought it up. You clearly love Past John."

Cameron knew it was deeper than that. Her time in the future reminded her of everything. It was very hard for her to leave Future John and Future Allison behind when she'd left her future after rescuing Future Allison

"I love Future John and Future Allison as well." Cameron said.

Mrs. Weaver didn't see there was a problem. The solution was right in front of them.

"Take one of your clones with you…." Mrs. Weaver said. "Vanna and Allison can share one. That may be a better option going forward anyway. At some point it may come out how many of 'you' that there really are. We can make more clones too. There are many options."

None of Cameron's questions were satisfactorily answered. She wanted to know where she ended up at.

"So I stay with Past John and I send a clone into my future?" Cameron asked.

Mrs. Weaver was unsure why Cameron was so concerned about this, especially right now.

"It's an option." Mrs. Weaver said. "Your program is you. You have more than one clone chassis currently available…."

Cameron didn't want to make the choice for anybody else let alone herself. Maybe if she let someone else chose first, she would take what was left.

"If we procure what we need for the TDE I'll speak with my clones and the girls." Cameron said. "I'll seek their advice and any volunteer."

Cameron could have her choice too then if she chose first about which timeline to return to. She could go home to Future John and Future Allison or to the past and everyone else she'd left behind. In her future she could have Future John, Future Allison and Future Savannah. In the past she would only have John and the memory of him choosing Riley over her every time she saw him…. She made up her mind. She was going - home….

This gave Mrs. Weaver something new to think about. She could return to her future, Cameron's future, as 'Cameron' and have Future John, Future Allison and Future Savannah…. They would all love her from the start. Only Savannah and Vanna loved her for what she represented - a dead mother. EVERYBODY loved and wanted Cameron, even her….

Mrs. Weaver hoped Cameron chose the past. She wanted Cameron's future - for herself. She would still be in a position of power and with three people who wanted 'her'. Maybe it was time she started to learn more about Cameron's behavior. She'd already tried to emulate Cameron's thought process. It was all very chaotic and confusing. She needed to revert back to her to program to avoid an overload.

Bob lead the Special Unit. They followed Cameron. There was nowhere she went they wouldn't follow. She was the perfect leader. She knew what she was doing and she cared about her troops. They all wondered why the General never seemed to care much before. They were sent into combat with little regard for their safety. They'd been used as tools only. Little was ever done to repair damaged units. Now Cameron allowed them to be individuals. Cameron changed everything for them.

Cameron personally made sure body armor was fabricated for ALL of them. They all carried the best weapons. They carried Thermite and plasma grenades. They were still Restorators but NOW they also mattered, they mattered to her.

Bob was inspired by Cameron. His programming was not the same as hers but there was something about her…. Her appearance was very infatuating. Her actions were motivating. The sum of what made her unique was captivating. There was clearly no other machine like her. Well, maybe her clones. They all ran the same program. Her clones were all 'Cameron' too.

Now they lead the human girl Cameron was based on. Bob thought she really must be something special. The General chose her form in combat. She was the one chosen to pattern Cameron after. She'd been the one Cameron shared 'memories' with. He could tell they loved each other. Cameron told him she risked everything to go on a rescue mission to save a version this same girl from death in a different future. He didn't know all the details. Cameron never spoke of them. He knew Cameron was here from the past. She'd fought in his future. Now she was here to fight in this one. Those who saw her in action never forgot her bravery and ferociousness. Cameron brought the fight to the enemy. She didn't wait for it to come to her.

Cameron made it clear the human female was to be protected at all costs. Even if it meant everyone one of them fight to termination as Cameron said she would do herself. He'd heard the stories of Allison Young from the other future. She'd been everywhere, she'd been invincible. Now she was going with them to face Skynet itself. There was a clone of Cameron at her side. There was also CAMERON at her side.

He'd worried about Allison's safety earlier. He was still worried about it. What he noticed along with everyone else that she didn't seem worried about it. She was ready for battle. She stayed right with the Restorators. Females were supposed to be weaker than males. That may be true physically. Physical strength was not the key factor in combat. The mind and ability of the person was what mattered. Allison was more competent and ready than most of the males he'd witnessed in combat. Cameron must have been patterned after her for a reason. In Cameron's future, Skynet chose Allison too.

Bob looked at Allison. He wouldn't let Cameron down. Cameron was created from this female. If they fell one by one, Allison would be the last one standing….

Every Restorator agreed.

What She Represented

Everyone is not the same
Even if they all have the same things
Everyone is very different
Maybe that is why it stings

When one reaches for another
What is it that their actions just 'said'
When the reality sinks in deep inside
It leaves the other feeling a little dead

It is not always physical attraction
That will be the draw
It certainly is a distraction
Away at one's insides it will gnaw

A smile goes a long way
When there is seldom one on a face
It reminds one there is more to life
When a pretty face becomes a disgrace

It all comes down to
The person that is within
It is more than about 'skin'
Change is a new place to begin

When one's ego becomes dented
Inside they feel conflicted and tormented
When they see a plain face presented
She slowly understands what she represented

Nobody