Chapter 398

Never Lose That

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In Some Future:

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Part of Cameron's plan would involve some 'hocus pocus'. It was all part of the plan to keep Skynet on the defensive and to continue to look in the wrong direction.

Cam took over as 'Cameron'. She would play 'Commander Connor' to keep her presence visible as they prepared for the 'mock strike' that was scheduled. No one was to know Cameron, the General and the Special Unit already moved out toward the real objective – Skynet Central.

Cam was already at the location where the troops were being assembled to make it look good.

The real fear in the back of the group's minds was Allison. Cameron II was there to help protect her. The threat of going to Skynet Central was ominous.

Cammy assigned both Ginger and Sandy to Jesse. She would stay with Vanna. She wanted to make sure they were both protected.

Unit One arrived. He seemed a little hesitant but he'd learned his lesson, at least for now, not to delay with what may be critical information.

"We have just received word that someone named 'Snake' wants to see Jesse." Unit One reported to Vanna. "It seems he may possess important information."

Cammy knew there was trouble in that sector of the complex. Cam spoke with her before about going with Cameron II in the dead of the night to 'clean' that place up Terminator style. The threat from that area needed to be treated with caution. They may need to delay some of their plans. Cam already possessed experience with that sector.

"Cam should to go with her." Cammy said. "Jesse needs protection."

Vanna was in charge now that Mrs. Weaver and Cameron were away. Life and death decisions now fell on her. There was a good chance Allison was already 'lost'. Now Jesse could be too. It was time to make some hard choices.

"Cam is busy now." Vanna said. "Ginger and Sandy can go with her."

Cammy wanted to watch over Vanna. She also wanted Jesse protected. She wasn't sure if that would 'sell'.

"NO. They might be made as Metal." Cammy said. "I'll go with Jesse. Ginger and Sandy will stay with you."

Vanna didn't know if everyone was a 'team player'. Past incidents indicated otherwise.

"What about Unit One?" Vanna asked.

Cammy felt the main issue was resolved.

"He won't be a problem." Cammy said. "Cameron has 'spoken' to him. She's updated all of us…."

Vanna figured Cameron 'threatened' him. She didn't know it was the prospect of 'false power' was what brought him around.

"So he fears the General and the Commander both?" Vanna asked.

Cammy felt their team would be able to play a few more cards than Unit One.

"He does as well as the Commander's three clones and the 'Special Unit'." Cammy said.

That seemed like a pretty good threat to Vanna. There was always the possibility Unit One may try to play both sides of the field. She didn't want to mention that but it was something not to forget. She was privy to the 'mock strike' Cam was now involved with. She believed there was real merit to it. She needed to address the issue. It was a way to protect the group headed for Skynet Central. It would help protect Cameron and Allison.

"There's nothing like playing with a stacked deck." Vanna said. "You know, I've been thinking about something important. What if we carry out the 'mock strike' anyway? We can launch it early right after the strike on Skynet Central starts. That way they can't draw off any resources the enemy tried to send help to Skynet Central."

Cammy and Cameron both discussed this plan earlier. It would most likely result in human casualties. That was something Cameron wanted to avoid.

"I've discussed this with Cameron myself." Cammy said. "It is an option we both liked but did not want to commit to. People will die if we do."

Vanna knew people died in war. It was still a good plan to help out the team at Skynet Central. The goal was to defeat Skynet as much as it was to get the materials necessary to construct the TDE.

"I'd like to send Unit One with Cam on that strike if we carry it out." Vanna said. "I haven't told her yet I want a real strike now."

Cammy figured there would be Metal casualties in any such attack. She decided to take that risk herself. It was what Cameron would do too.

"I'll lead the strike instead of Cam if we decide to do it. I don't want to drop this in her lap as a surprise." Cammy said. "Cameron II was second in line. I'm third. Cam is fourth. That's the 'order' directive from Cameron Prime herself. That's the same order we will attempt to return to the past. Cam will stay and become 'Cameron' here if she is the last one. She will still be with all three of you. It is a choice assignment that both Cameron II and I would covet. Duty comes before pleasure."

All Vanna could hear from Cammy was 'Cameron'.

"How different from Cameron are each of you now?" Vanna asked.

Cammy was aware many things would change based on what happened going forward. It may not be what any of them 'wanted' but it was necessary to make everything work. Life moved forwards, not backwards.

"We're all different in our relationships with each of you. Other than that we are all still 'Cameron'." Cammy said. "Our internal programming has firewalled Cameron's relationship with John and each girl has taken 'his place' for each Cameron clone. As each of us goes into the past, our memories of our female companion here will be permanently erased as we become 'Cameron'. We will never remember our relationships with the girls. We won't know we're not Cameron Prime. That's the only way it can work."

Vanna wondered if that was what Cameron experienced when she was sent from the future. It would explain a lot and where Cameron's 'lost memories' went. Either way Future John was responsible for that, even if Cameron did it herself. She hoped there was a 'workaround' the issue. Cammy's love for her would be 'gone'.

"Can you override that directive?" Vanna asked.

Cammy hoped so. It seemed unlikely. Cameron's personal memories with Future John were 'gone'. She'd searched her files for any traces too. There were none.

"I'm sure going to try. I love you, Vanna." Cammy said. "I never want to lose that."

Vanna was aware there was a real possibility that Cammy and Cameron II could be destroyed in the attacks that were planned. There'd been some discussion on some contingency plans.

"Allison said if Cameron II is destroyed, that if it was possible, her chip data is to be combined with yours. You would be both Cammy and Cameron II." Vanna said. "Is that what you want?"

Cammy was aware of the plan. If it was enacted over time the two programs would become one and one of them would become a 'new' entity at that point while everything else stayed the same.

"Cameron II and I have discussed this before." Cammy said. "Because of your love for Allison and hers for you, it's acceptable that we are with both of you as one unit – Cammy. The same applies to me if I am terminated. My chip will be merged with Cameron II. She will become 'Cammy' then, herself."

Cammy also knew it was Cameron's directive too. Cameron didn't want Allison and Vanna to be 'split up' by their Metal lovers. They would stay together to share 'Cammy' and not drift apart with their own separate 'Cameron'. That was something that they knew already begun to happen. Nobody really wanted to address it and 'lose' what they'd developed. There would be lost love no matter how things played out.

"I need to go with Jesse." Cammy said. "We can discuss this further, later."

Vanna didn't like the idea at all. Nobody did.

Cammy needed to take care of certain things. The immediate one was go with Jesse since Cam was assigned elsewhere right now. the second one was to go and replace Cam since Vanna wanted to make the 'mock strike' into a real one.

Jesse was glad Cammy was with her but she wondered where Cam was at. She wanted to ask if Cam would be safe but she knew better than that. No one was ever safe.

"Is Cam going to be alright?" Jesse asked.

Cammy felt once she replaced Cam she would be.

"Everything will work out fine." Cammy said.

Jesse and Cammy approached the 'bad side' of town.

Cammy didn't care for this sector. Cam discussed 'cleaning' it up before. Now that they were about to enter it, she could see why.

"Is there going to be trouble?" Cammy asked.

Jesse knew things were touch and go before but she didn't think they would go south again. Maybe they would.

"I don't think so." Jesse said. "I can't say for sure."

Cam didn't like what she looked at around her.

"Cam told me she was going to terminate these people." Cammy said. "She asked us to come with her so we could terminate ALL of them."

Jesse knew that hadn't happened yet because of her. That lull may not last for long since Cammy obviously felt the same way Cam did.

"I asked her not to." Jesse said.

Cammy liked everything less with each step.

"I will do it for her." Cammy said. "I don't like it here."

Jesse knew the clones were all 'Cameron'. She used to live in places like this. She'd made it out. Others could too if they were given the right circumstances and someone to believe in them.

"Please wait, love." Jesse said. "I know you're looking out for us. You know we all love you, 'Cameron'."

Cammy needed to 'correct' all the girls, Cam and Cameron II did as well. The girls were technically correct.

"It's Cammy. It always has to be Cammy." Cammy said. "There can only be one Cameron or we will fight for John."

Jesse wondered how far that fight would go.

"Would you really fight?" Jesse asked.

Cammy was sure there would be a termination before it was finished.

"Yes." Cammy said. "That's why all of the 'John specific' programming is firewalled in each of us."

Jesse wondered what else was altered or firewalled. Maybe she could find out what Cameron really thought about her.

"Do you love me?" Jesse asked.

Cammy tilted her head slightly. Cameron loved all of the girls. That was why she'd created the clones to 'share' herself with the girls in the only way she could.

"Yes." Cammy said. "That programming wasn't altered. The clones love all the girls. I'm for Vanna. Cameron II is for Allison. Cam is for you. Otherwise we will fight over each of you."

That sounded like some serious love to Jesse.

"Do you love us that much?" Jesse asked. "You would fight over us?"

Cammy was very goal orientated. Cameron and all her clones were.

"Yes." Cammy said. "Each of you is what we exist for. You are our purpose. We love you."

Jesse sensed an opportunity here. This might be a chance to get a little 'strange' that wouldn't be so 'strange' even if it was a different individual. The clones all looked the same now.

"Do you ever want to be with one of the other girls?" Jesse asked.

It was a prospect that the clones discussed before. Cammy wanted to have some fun.

"What makes you think we haven't?" Cammy asked.

The look on Jesse's face was priceless.

Cammy laughed. She'd better come clean.

"I'm sorry. So far we haven't but if one or more of us is terminated we can expand our directives." Cammy said. "That's all something we've agreed upon rather than create more clones."

The thought of terminations bothered Jesse.

"What if only Cameron is left?" Jesse asked.

"If only Cameron is left and she can't return to the past, she will share the rest of your lives with all three of you as 'herself'." Cammy said. "Nobody wants to be alone and lonely forever."

Jesse felt a rush of elation.

"So, she really loves us…." Jesse said as a statement.

Cammy didn't see any harm in stating the truth.

"Yes." Cammy said. "Cameron does. Only her commitment to John has kept her from loving each of you as a true lover."

Jesse loved Cameron even more. Cameron was like no other. Well….

Jesse and Cammy arrived from a different direction than the last time. There'd been a 'reception committee' waiting for them. They didn't see one this time.

Jesse spotted Snake watching for them to come the way they'd come before.

"Hey, love." Jesse said.

Snake spun around. He'd been caught off guard. He quickly recovered.

"Well… I didn't think you had it in you." Snake said.

Jesse still looked for an additional threat.

"I'm here." Jesse said. "Where are your friends?"

Snake shook his head slightly. That was a bad scene for him.

"I don't have any 'friends' after what happened the last time." Snake said.

Jesse didn't think that was her fault.

Cammy didn't like the area and she liked Snake even less. She wanted to terminate him now and be done with it.

"Why are we here?" Cammy asked.

Snake could see Jesse's companion was in her usual form. He didn't know she was different.

"The killer speaks." Snake said.

Cammy immediately moved forward to terminate Snake.

Jesse grabbed her arm. She knew Cammy was going to kill him.

"No, love, not yet." Jesse said. "He's just a punk slag, you know that."

Snake started to back up when Cammy started towards him. He tripped and fell. His rear end was firmly planed on the ground at this point. He remembered these girls couldn't take a joke.

"I'm sorry. I was just fooling about." Snake said. "You need a man."

Cammy needed to listen to Jesse for now. An appropriate response popped up on her HUD.

"When I find one, I'll think about it." Cammy said. "So far I haven't seen any."

Snake was highly offended.

"Hey…." Snake started.

Jesse cut him off before he made it worse and Cammy killed him anyway.

"Shut up, love, or she'll kill you." Jesse said. "Like me, she's only into women. The 'Bad Lands', Wastelands and Scavengers do that to you…."

Snake knew what happened to females in all of those areas.

"OK – OK." Snake said. "I'm sorry about all – that."

Cammy advanced closer to Snake.

"Why are we here?" Cammy repeated.

Snake back peddled but Cammy grabbed him anyway. In a surprise to everyone she helped him stand. She backed away from him.

"You have soft hands." Snake said.

His eyes rolled over Cammy's figure – it was perfect.

Jesse needed to refocus this operation fast.

"Her heart is hard as – stone." Jesse said. "Spill it."

News traveled fast through the bad section of town. It was directly related to what Jesse first asked him about.

"Word is out that the anti-Metal faction has experienced some infighting, several of them are dead. It looks like they killed each other. One of them was eaten by rats." Snake said. "There may even have been a Gray among them."

That was a new twist for them to be so sure about one of them being a Gray. It looked like Mrs. Weaver's plan went off without a hitch. She didn't think the anti-Metal faction would report the issue.

"How do you know they were Grays?" Jesse asked.

Snake thought it was all very incriminating.

"It was by some of the things that were found in their rooms. There were transmitters and stuff." Snake said. "None of it worked any more."

Cammy knew everything so far. She also knew that someone sat on the information. She needed to find out if it was a cover up. That might indicate a bigger problem.

"Did the anti-Metal faction report this?" Cammy asked.

Snake knew it was a problem and that's why he asked for them to come. He felt he needed to report it himself. Grays in the camp would only lead to a Skynet attack at some point.

"No. They hate Metal. They are not going to help the General or her daughter." Snake said. "I alerted you as soon as I found out."

That sealed Cammy's plan to lead the attack for real instead of Cam. She wanted to personally keep an eye on the anti-Metal faction.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope when they go with Commander Connor on the upcoming strike that they all make it." Cammy said. "Maybe seeing her work with the Restorators will change their minds."

Snake liked the girls as much as he feared them. He didn't like trouble that would flow downhill back to him either.

"I doubt it." Snake said. "I wanted to warn the Commander to watch her back."

Cammy expected trouble going forward.

"Will she need to?" Cammy asked.

"Yes." Snake said.

Cammy smiled at Snake.

"Thank you." Cammy said. "I'll let you live for now."

The look on Snake's face was filled with terror. He wondered how anyone so beautiful could look like a stone cold killer a second later.

Jesse didn't want any hard feelings.

"She's just joking, love." Jesse said. "I thank you too."

They started to leave. Jesse paused and turned. She wanted to keep a good relationship. It provided them with a 'back door' to what went on around the camp.

"Here." Jesse said as handed Snake her pistol. "Your pistol looked kind of wasted last time. I can get another one."

Snake looked at the weapon with awe.

"Thanks." Snake said. "I really appreciate this."

He'd never seen one in almost perfect condition before.

"Keep it hidden." Cammy said. "Keep your old one. If someone takes it from you, use your new one on them. They won't expect it – from you."

Snake nodded. It might give him the edge in a scrape.

"I like the way you think." Snake said.

"That is not the only thing you like about her and me." Cammy said. "Just so you know - It's NEVER going to happen."

Cammy and Jesse took off.

Snake looked in amazement. Those were some hard women but so beautiful….

Never Lose That

Few seem to know what they find
When they first find it
They only recognize that
Once the other has split

No one is every really appreciated
For all the little things they do
It is when those things are missed
The other realizes what they blew

Why is that always the way
It seems no one ever learns
In the emptiness that follows
For the past everyone yearns

Everyone is unique
They are like no other person
Every failed attempt at repairs
Only seems to make things worsen

On one's laurels don't grow fat
For soon enough they will fall flat
A workable relationship needs chat
Once it is found, never lose that

Nobody