Chapter 415

Lifeboat

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In Some Future: Duplicate Cameron

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In Some Future: Cameron Prime

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It took Cameron longer than she would've liked but she got the beacon up and running on the TDE pad. They began to send out a low energy signal. The hope was that River or her team at her base would search for a signal to lock onto. The goal was to have a 'lifeboat' sent. It should give them a solid frequency and location. The beacon also squawked the time and date.

One of the girls or one of the four 'Camerons' was always at the location. Cameron or Duplicate Cameron tried to be there as much as possible. They wanted to take the risk and not have that fall on anyone else. They were all instructed to record what the contact frequency was and enter the 'lifeboat'. It should be exactly what Cameron did to visit River's future when she got her TDE up and working. That was when River sent the energy bubble for her. Ginger or Sandy could fill in as well for one of them. Cameron would remodulate the frequencies from time to time. She often returned to the old ones. She'd discussed this procedure with River before she left. It all came down to their signals being on the same frequency at the same time and finding each other.

Cameron was sure that the unstable Liquid Metal creature that was encountered in the past was picked up somehow by John Henry. That was when John and John Henry kept trying to send out the energy bubble and then bring it back before it was there for more than a second. It was a good concept but the equipment needed to be modified to make it accurate and stable. They didn't have all of the variables under control to make everything precise.

She was sure everyone would search for a way to get Savannah back. She knew they'd arrived much later 'in some future' than anticipated when Savannah was with her. Savannah entered the energy bubble as it was almost formed. That last second change disrupted everything. At some point River would figure that out and start making adjustments.

Savannah sought Cameron out. She'd become weary of ever getting back at this point. Month after month passed by. It seemed they were stuck. There were several power plants under construction but materials were scarce for them.

Cameron watched Savannah enter the room. She wore loose clothing and looked down at her belly when she pulled her shirt tight over it.

"Cameron, I think I'm starting to 'show'." Savannah said. "We've been here for almost five months. Should I still try to hide it from my mother?"

Cameron didn't tell her she'd been 'showing' for a few weeks already. She'd asked Savannah not to say anything. She'd hoped to be out of this future by now. It was down to decision time. This was all on her even though she wasn't an active participant in how Savannah became pregnant. She'd orchestrated the 'cover-up'. It was time to come clean. It caused Savannah a lot of frustration to keep trying to hide it from everyone.

"No. We need to talk with your mother." Cameron said. "I'll take full responsibility. This is all my fault."

Savannah knew that wasn't true. Young Jesse and her both acted on their own. They impregnated each other. The children weren't for them. They wanted to help those who couldn't have their own children. That included the girls from the future as well as Cameron.

"You didn't even know I did it." Savannah said. "It was my own doing."

Cameron was worried to death about what the time transfer would do to the baby or even Savannah. She was worried Savannah was now too far along in the pregnancy and the time transfer may cause her to miscarry at this point. With the old TDE the time jump was hard on the body. She was sure it would induce labor upon arrival. The improved TDE from River's designs was faster and less harsh on the body. As to what could happen it was still unknown.

Savannah felt her actions were justified. She'd also begun to consider other possibilities. She wasn't sure how they would fly with Cameron. Cameron kept telling her she wasn't going to take her baby away from her. That wasn't how she saw any of this. Still, the baby growing inside of her began to call to her maternal instincts.

"Cameron, I want you to tell my mother the girls can't get pregnant." Savannah said. "I mean they can get pregnant but nothing ever sticks for more than month or two. They've all tried multiple times. I want to bring Vanna with us. I want to bring all the girls and Duplicate Cameron too. I want you to lay it all out."

Cameron worried about the reaction the girls would have. In the past timeline Vanna tried to go into combat so she would be killed in action. It was really suicide with honor. A glitch impulse shot through her hand as she recalled it all. It still bothered her. All of the girls could react negatively.

"It will be hard on them to know they can't get pregnant." Cameron said. "I know how hard it was on our girls. We all know what Vanna did and why."

Savannah remembered how Cameron went to Vanna and spoke with her. She wasn't angry at Vanna for doing what she did. She seemed to support her decision even as she talked her out of it.

"You never scolded Vanna about that." Savannah said.

Cameron understood where Vanna was at personally at the time. She knew why she did it. She also knew her actions and those of her other Duplicate made some bad decisions too.

"No. It was because I know how she felt. I feel that way so often and have done plenty of questionable or even some stupid things myself." Cameron said. "We're here now with a Duplicate set of girls because of some of my poor decisions. Look at this mess we're in now. That all goes back to me."

Savannah could see now as she could then it was a bad choice for Cameron to make. She was very disturbed at the time and unstable. It seemed like more of a mental breakdown than a bad decision.

"I was there. You were going to burn yourself up with a Thermite grenade. That was many years ago." Savannah said. "That was so many years ago for us but not for the Duplicates."

Savannah remembered it all in detail now. She was just about to join the girls surrounding Cameron with the Thermite grenade. It seemed Cameron was going to burn all of them. She was sure Cameron wouldn't release the spoon if she joined them. She was willing to gamble her life then to save Cameron. She was on her way over when Cameron backed down. John Henry promised to deactivate her permanently instead.

Cameron could've done without that reminder of some of her past failures. That was a bad day which led to a bad series of events that altered everything and created even more problems.

"For me, it's like it just happened. It all is, when I think of any of it." Cameron said as her hand started to glitch. "When I think of anything, it's like it just happened for me or to me."

Savannah moved over to Cameron. She took her hand and held her.

"Please, Cameron, don't go there. Think of me instead." Savannah said. "Think of the 'here and now'. I'll always be here for you."

The glitch stopped and Cameron regained some composure. She didn't need to go down a rocky road right now.

"Thank you, Savannah." Cameron said. "It was starting to pile up on me."

Savannah didn't think there was any other outcome going forward. She was ready for whatever the future brought. It was her destiny.

"I'll always be there for you, in both of the futures and in the past, OUR future." Savannah said. "I love you, Cameron."

Savannah looked into Cameron's eyes. She still held her close. She drew closer slowly. Cameron didn't turn away. As their lips touched….

"What's going on here?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Savannah and Cameron's heads snapped around, the moment was lost.

Savannah was a little upset at the interruption. It was her 'mother'. It was time now to lay everything out.

"I was about to kiss Cameron." Savannah said. "I'm pregnant."

Cameron quickly looked at Savannah and then at Mrs. Weaver.

There was a long silence.

"What?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Savannah could see her words may have hit home on several levels.

"I said, I was about to kiss Cameron and I'm pregnant." Savannah repeated.

Mrs. Weaver didn't like the implications. She thought Savannah was better 'watched' than this. Maybe she would need to take over Savannah's security herself. There needed to be some accountability here.

"When?" Mrs. Weaver asked. "How? Who?"

Savannah could see her 'mother' wanted to kill someone right now. Maybe that was every 'patents' initial reaction. She needed to make things clear fast before they got worse.

"I was pregnant when I got here, Mother." Savannah said. "It happened in Australia."

Mrs. Weaver looking at Cameron. She was the most likely culprit. She'd seen them 'close' when she'd entered the room. What was that all about?

"Were you behind this?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Savannah knew this was all on her. Just like it was with every other pregnant teenager. The decisions were hers even if they were facilitated directly or indirectly by Cameron.

"She didn't know until we got here." Savannah said. "I didn't tell her. She found out on her own."

Mrs. Weaver's attitude seemed to soften some.

"Is that true?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Cameron was still a little mystified how it all went down and why they were at where they were at now.

"Yes." Cameron said. "I was as surprised as you are. I still am."

Mrs. Weaver didn't like the fact Savannah apparently was violated even if she was a participant.

"Who's the father?" Mrs. Weaver asked. "I need to know so I kill the right person."

Savannah wanted the true nature of her actions known, all of them.

"It's not like that. I've never had sex - with a male." Savannah said.

Mrs. Weaver thought she'd heard it all, evidently not.

"Never with a male…?" Mrs. Weaver asked. "Does that mean…?"

Savannah didn't question her decisions. She would repeat all of them again if she could.

"Yes, mother. It's my desire. It's what I wanted, what I want. I'm attracted to females." Savannah said. "Just like every other Savannah Weaver is."

Cameron didn't like the heat shifted to Savannah. It was time to put all the blame on herself. Savannah didn't need any headaches.

"You don't need to ask your teenage 'daughter' about her sex life." Cameron said. "I take full responsibility for what happened. It's my fault. She was under my watch and care when it happened. I was careless…."

Mrs. Weaver didn't even seem to hear Cameron. She was still focused on Savannah and what she'd just revealed. Some of it was good news. Maybe three parts of it were.

"I'm going to be a Grandmother?" Mrs. Weaver asked. "Savannah, this is great news. I'm sorry I was a little shocked at first. I'm even happier to know you remain untouched by any - male."

Mrs. Weaver looked at Cameron. Savannah was about to take the 'prize' when she'd come in. It was not a moment too soon. She knew when Cameron 'bonded' with Savannah that it would be a permanent bond. She wanted to leave all the options open to herself until there was a safe functioning TDE.

Cameron was still unsure about the whole chain of events that just happened. Her guard was down and Savannah was right there. Savannah was so caring, loving and so beautiful…. She was going to let Savannah 'take her' if that moment would have continued. In the past she'd wanted to be with Vanna and Allison. She WANTED that. Now it almost happened with Savannah. Cameron knew now it would be Savannah that would be her first female 'experience'. Savannah truly was the 'Chosen One'. She didn't see any real problem with anything since she was actually a machine. She only masqueraded as a human female. She was still a very scary robot inside.

Savannah felt her actions were with merit. It wasn't a random act but very focused and directed. Cameron wouldn't take her baby from her but she was sure Vanna would. There were underlying facts that seemed unchangeable.

"Both Young Jesse and I decided to get pregnant for our older selves." Savannah said. "None of the girls from the future can carry a baby to term. They've all tried quite a few times each and failed."

A new prospect popped into Mrs. Weaver's head with this revelation. It wasn't something she'd considered before.

"Young Jesse?" Mrs. Weaver asked. "The younger version of this Jesse? You're both about the same age."

Savannah didn't think bringing her Cammy up was the thing to do at this point. She'd just stick to where she'd been elsewhere.

"I felt very alone and lonely. I wasn't about to hurt Cameron and be with John. He would never touch me anyway. " Savannah said. "I did sort of try to find out. I'm not really sure why. It wasn't something I really wanted to do. Young Jesse is my girlfriend, we're lovers."

Cameron felt guilty. She was the one responsible for Savannah trying to make herself 'available' to John. She'd made that 'desire' part of Savannah's 'conditioning'.

Mrs. Weaver was a little worried about Vanna and the others going forward. Vanna pledged to remain at her side. She didn't think Vanna would be barren or Allison and Jesse too.

"Are you saying none of the girls here, the Duplicates, can have children?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Cameron went over some of the past with Vanna and Jesse to try to get a better picture of events moving forward after several failures to remain pregnant.

"With all the multiple assaults and some of the consensual activity that as occurred since they were teenagers, none of them ever knew they were actually pregnant. They all experienced several months of missed periods at times but thought it was because of the poor nutrition. There was a pretty good chance they all conceived more than once, the three of them growing up." Cameron said. "None made it past the first trimester."

Savannah thought a lot about the next part of her statement. Her mind was made up. She decided what she was going to do when she was about to kiss Cameron. The conversation only seemed to strengthen her resolve. It was time to lay it out.

"Mother, if you stay here in this timeline with Vanna and Allison and I'm still here when this baby is born, I'm going to give it to Vanna as her own. It really is her 'own' if you think about it. The time transfer may injure or kill it anyway. I'm not willing to take that chance." Savannah said. "You'll have your 'daughter' Vanna and your grandchild here with you."

Cameron looked at Savannah, she wanted that baby. Young Jesse and Claire were both pregnant as well, so maybe this would work out. She would talk to Savannah about this more.

Mrs. Weaver contemplated slowing the construction of the power sources. That would be to keep Savannah here until the baby was born. She didn't want to dwell there. She wanted to know more.

"Have you told Vanna this yet?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Savannah made a few decisions earlier. She was young and still healthy thanks to Cameron and everyone else.

"No, I just decide this when I was about to kiss Cameron." Savannah said. "I'm going to have one for Cameron as well when we get back."

Mrs. Weaver could see some more possibilities here. She might need to harvest some genetic material herself. It wouldn't be hard too do. It was a very simple act. She'd observed males finish in as quick as twenty seconds before during her intelligence gathering outings.

"Who's the father?" Mrs. Weaver asked. "Is it John?"

Cameron knew there was no way around this part. She still thought her original motivation was sound.

"Yes, he doesn't know." Cameron said. "I sent some 'genetic material' to Australia for Young Jesse. It was supposed to be for when she was older. The girls moved up the timetable and failed to notify me."

Mrs. Weaver didn't possess the same skills as Cameron did in this regard.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Savannah glanced at Cameron. She was sure she knew.

"I haven't asked Cameron yet." Savannah said.

Mrs. Weaver wanted to know more. It seemed important even if it wasn't. The baby would still be whatever it already was. She looked at Cameron.

"Do you know?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Cameron didn't want to cause a rift. She felt that was Savannah's decision to ask or know.

"Yes." Cameron said. "When Savannah wants to know I will tell her. She hasn't asked yet."

Savannah wasn't sure she wanted to know yet. There was another issue she felt would be more important going forward.

"Can you manipulate the hormone levels in Vanna so she can lactate?" Savannah asked. "I want her to be able to nurse the baby herself, maybe Allison too."

Cameron tilted her head slightly. There were actually several ways to do that. She would make sure Cammy started a manual 'hands on' program today. She knew it was possible to make the body respond to the 'demand' for lactation placed on it artificially.

Mrs. Weaver controlled all of the medical stores there were from the Resistance and from Skynet.

"I have access to the medical supplies to do that." Mrs. Weaver said. "I believe we can do that. Jesse may want to as well."

Savannah didn't want to get too far ahead of herself.

"I'll go with Cameron and run all this by the three of them." Savannah said. "I don't even know if they will want to do this."

Mrs. Weaver wanted one of them to at least want this. She did.

"They'd better." Mrs. Weaver said. "This is the best news ever. I'm going to be a Grandmother…."

Later on:

It was unexpected when it happened.

Cameron was on watch in the TDE room. She'd just made an adjustment to the frequency the TDE squawked. The arching and flashing started. The beacon worked. An energy bubble began to form. The lifeboat was here. She quickly left a message which noted the time and frequency and stepped into the bubble.

The arcing and flashing ended.

Cameron was gone….

Lifeboat

In the darkness of life's ship
Many will seek out a lighthouse
They hope it will guide them
Away from a dirty louse

The rocks may loom ahead
Unseen in the dark or night
If they don't wreck the ship
They'll still cause a lot of fright

The fog rolls in and obscures the view
Soon there can be heard breakers
The ship will be run aground
Everything goes to the takers

Maybe in the doldrums
One will encounter a pirate ship
Think of what will happen
As away the clothes they strip

One grows weary of life's ship
They want to escape and stay afloat
They look at those around them
Who will be their lifeboat

Nobody

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In Some Future: Duplicate Cameron

In Some Future: Cameron Prime

Events continue in Chapter 418

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