Chapter 421

It Can't Be You

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Events continue from Chapter 417

Summer's Timeline:

Cameron Prime Returns:

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John decided to go out on a mission since Cameron seemed to be away for a few days. He didn't like the flak he received when she was around. He went out with Bob, Jim and Derek.

John Henry provided them with some leads to follow up on. From the surface it did not look like much but Skynet and its illegitimate offshoots seemed to hide deeper and deeper.

John was happy Cameron was 'with' him earlier and even happier to see after she left that her rings were not back in the drawer on top of her poem book.

He thought she was wearing them. That was a good sign in itself. She didn't wear them when she knew she was going to be in combat. He wanted to help share the load. That's why there was a team out right now without her in it.

It was always a 'problem' when he went out in the field. He felt he needed to do his share. There was no reason Cameron needed to do it all. He hoped she would spend more time with him later on. He was still a little unsure what all the hoopla was about with Cameron trying to push Summer on him. Summer sure was Hot though. He did need to admit that. He'd really like to do a three way with Cameron and her.

"…John…?" Derek asked.

John looked around. It seemed he'd lost focus. That wasn't the thing to do in a combat situation.

"What is it?" John asked somewhat embarrassed.

Bob and Jim looked at each other but said nothing. Derek's question was clear and concise. It only required a simple answer. It was clear that John wasn't in the proper combat mode right now.

"I asked how things were going between Cameron and you." Derek said. "I know you were having some rough spots. I have to say, we all do at times. I know."

Derek knew all too well the struggles of married life. Sometimes he thought the screwing you get wasn't worth the screwing you took. Some moments were very tense. His prior 'association' with Jesse was a further reminder of that. Maybe the trouble with that was they were never on the same page. At least at the same time they weren't. The future was always between them, even if that was what bound them.

John could only base his answer on what he'd observed. He didn't know the true extent of Cameron's adventure or the actually amount of time she'd been in a future. He didn't have a clue as to what really happened with Cameron and Savannah.

"Things seem good right now." John said. "Cameron's been around more lately. I was afraid she was off to some other future or past but she is still here."

John thought how Cameron was recently all over him non stop. It was almost as if she couldn't get enough of him. That is the way it seemed. She wasn't with him for weeks at a time but when she was, it was out of this world. He wasn't sure what really happened when she didn't come around. Maybe he did know and no one wanted to address the issue.

He thought about it some more. It was the part when she didn't come around that worried him. He knew she was shot up most of those times. She didn't like him to see her damaged. He could never make her understand he wouldn't love her less if she was damaged. Cameron still tried to fight most of the battles alone. That meant she suffered alone too. Wait. There was always someone who could reach her. They could reach out to her and 'touch' her. It was Savannah. Savannah was the only one who never gave up on Cameron when things looked bleak and final. He thought Savannah and Cameron were out now. Maybe it was a training exercise.

Derek hoped for the best with Cameron and John. He was very grateful for what Cameron did for his family.

"You know, Cameron did Riley and me a real 'solid'." Derek said. "She's found the best people around to help Riley. The pregnancy wouldn't have happened without her. I really owe her one. No, I owe her a lot. She's done so much for me, for all of us. I really love her, John. Everyone does. You're a lucky man."

'It doesn't feel that way sometimes….' John thought.

John didn't think that was the place to dwell right now. He needed to stay alert, not slip into the past and its pain.

"Cameron does have a way to make everyone love her, even love - love her." John said.

Derek knew that was true. He saw the way everyone looked at Cameron. He saw how they all acted around her. Whenever Cameron was near, everyone changed somewhat, it was like an invisible force.

"I think Sarah is the only female who doesn't love – love her." Derek said. "I know Riley does as well as the rest of the girls. That was why Jesse left me. It was for Cameron. She wanted to be closer to Cameron and that didn't include me being with her."

John thought that was a significant revelation.

"Did Jesse actually say that?" John asked.

Derek saw it for what it was.

"No, but it was obvious. Cameron is a 'Chick Magnet'." Derek said. "Everyone loves Cameron."

'Everyone except Cameron loves Cameron.' John thought.

He was painfully aware it was his actions that were behind most of Cameron's problems.

"I made her hate herself. I made her feel 'not good enough'. She's unable to forget that and let it go. I think that's why she tries so hard to give everyone what they want."

Derek thought there was a lot of positive out of the negative if that was the case.

"She does, John." Derek said. "I think it helps give her self worth and helps her with all the not so nice things she's needed to do as a Terminator."

John knew Cameron always seemed to have a lot on her plate. It often seemed that most of it was 'leftovers'.

Bob looked in the rear view mirror.

"We have a tail." Bob said.

John quickly contacted John Henry.

"Great." John said.

"There is a drone on the way." John Henry said. "I'm checking to see whoever else is near you. I can set something up. We can lead the people behind you into an ambush."

John Henry sent out the alert.

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Events continue from Chapter 420

Cameron's Base:

Cameron Prime Returns:

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River and Sheila stood ready.

River made a few last second adjustments.

Cameron was only gone a short time.

Cammy and Summer stood by with weapons still.

"Let's do it." River said.

Sheila pushed the start button.

The arcing and flashing started.

The time bubble returned.

"It's them." River said. "I can feel it."

There were three nude figures in it.

The arcing and flashing ended.

Cameron, Duplicate Cameron and Savannah were on the TDE pad.

They'd only been gone less than two days from here, in this timeline, from when Savannah went after Cameron. They'd been in the other future for nearly ten months.

Cammy rushed up to Savannah and gave her a big hug.

Duplicate Cameron looked at River. She just saw the girl she now loved, with the files from the other Duplicate Cameron, for the first time.

River handed Cameron and Savannah their clothes. She didn't give any to Duplicate Cameron. She already knew what Cameron was going to do with Duplicate Cameron.

Greetings were exchanged and everyone was happy, except Savannah.

River went to Savannah to comfort her. She doubted it would be enough.

"That was a hard choice you needed to make, Savannah. I don't know if I could have made it myself." River said. "You gave Vanna what she could never have. You gave Hope to 'yourself'."

Duplicate Cameron looked at Summer. It was the first time she'd seen her too.

Summer wasn't sure she liked the way Duplicate Cameron looked at her.

"I'm Summer. I'm your - sister." Summer said.

Duplicate Cameron now possessed the files from Cameron of both River and Summer. To see them in person was different.

"I'm pleased to meet you." Duplicate Cameron said.

Sheila came around the control panel and looked at Savannah once Cammy released her.

"Wow! You have a full blown set of knockers now, love." Sheila said.

Cammy, Summer and River all thought the same thing.

Savannah looked down at her full breasts.

"I need to hide them." Savannah said somewhat embarrassed.

River didn't think so. Savannah hadn't done anything wrong.

"No, you don't." River said. "You never need to hide who you are, especially when your heart is pure and true."

Savannah looked away from River to Cameron.

"I don't want to cause Cameron any problems." Savannah said.

River knew Cameron would need to atone at some point. Not everything was Cameron's doing.

"Cameron needs to face her 'actions'. She believes in what she's doing." River said and glanced back at Savannah. "Has done…."

River walked up to Cameron. There was some unfinished business between them.

"Open your hand." River said.

Cameron did. River gently set Cameron's two rings back in her hand. She knew Cameron gave them to her because she didn't think she would return.

Cameron looked at them. She was back. Maybe she wasn't done.

"That was in case I didn't make it back." Cameron said.

River knew that Cameron silently asked her to be with John if she didn't make it. The rings could have also gone to Savannah if she'd returned alone without Cameron.

"I know what you wanted." River said.

Cameron knew it was decision time. She faced Duplicate Cameron and held the rings out to her.

Duplicate Cameron needed to make a choice. She could cling to the past or take a bold step forward.

"I want to but I can't." Duplicate Cameron said. "You know we will fight over him if I do."

Duplicate Cameron knew John was her husband too. She was 'Cameron'.

Cameron's magnanimity wasn't lost on anyone. She'd just offered to do the 'right' thing at her own expense.

"Thank you." Cameron said as she gave Duplicate Cameron a big hug.

Duplicate Cameron wanted to leave now before she changed her mind. Her journey wasn't complete.

"Can you send me back to the future now?" Duplicate Cameron asked. "I mean back to My future - Our future."

Cameron knew how Duplicate Cameron felt right now.

"River, my Duplicate doesn't want to remain here any longer than necessary or she's afraid she won't want to leave." Cameron said. "We need to get her 'home'.

Every second Duplicate Cameron was there in the past, the more she wanted to stay and claim what was hers. Having Savannah and River there right in front of her didn't help any. It made her want to stay even more.

River made sure things were ready based on Cameron's previous discussion.

"We've done all the calculations." River said. "We don't know if it will work or even if that is where she will end up for sure. We have all the temporal data."

Cameron knew their transfer was to the second.

"You got our transfer right on." Cameron said.

River knew there was a 'beacon' for the energy bubble to lock onto. There was nothing active in Cameron's future.

"We did have a helpful factor." River said.

Duplicate Cameron just wanted to leave now.

"Please send me." Duplicate Cameron said. "I want to go 'home'."

Summer could see the concern. It was time to test it first. Summer figured she was expendable. She felt that way now after everything that happened.

"I can go to test it." Summer said.

Summer started to remove her clothing.

Sheila could see everyone was apprehensive. It was time for her to step up.

"I'll go, love." Sheila said. "I'm less critical to every timeline."

Duplicate Cameron felt responsible.

"No. I'm going alone." Duplicate Cameron said. "I created this whole mess."

Cameron felt it all landed back on her doorstep.

"Actually, I did. This was all my doing." Cameron said. "I'll go."

Duplicate Cameron was ready for this to end one way or another.

"We're not doing this again." Duplicate Cameron said. "I'm going alone."

Duplicate Cameron was naked the whole time. She moved over and stood back on the TDE pad.

Cameron and everyone else took in her perfect figure.

Duplicate Cameron's eyes were transfixed on River. She wanted her too now. River was worth staying for and fighting for. No. She needed to go.

"Please, just do it." Duplicate Cameron said.

If she continued to look at River and thought about Past John for ten more second she would get off the TDE pad. She wanted BOTH of them….

River and Sheila started the TDE.

The arcing and flashing started.

The time bubble formed.

The arcing and flashing ended.

Duplicate Cameron was gone.

Cameron looked at the empty pad and put her rings on. She was afraid that story wasn't over yet.

"How soon until you leave?" Cameron asked River.

River and Cameron shared a long glance.

"It will be soon." River said. "Cameron…."

Everyone left the room. They could see River needed to speak with Cameron privately.

"Cameron, I don't know how to ask this…." River said.

She quickly explained to Cameron what she wanted.

Cameron wanted that for herself…. It was tempting.

"I'll ask for a volunteer." Cameron said. "That's a choice assignment."

River thought it would be. She would give it some time in her timeline first. The girls and Duplicate Cameron had been there less than a week so far. Things still needed to get adjusted.

"If it is what is needed I'll send a time bubble in exactly one week from the time it is now." River said. "I'm going to let a few months go by in my timeline…."

Cameron didn't plan to let River down.

"One week from now if the time bubble appears, someone will enter it." Cameron said.

River didn't want Cameron to get sidetracked again.

"It can't be you." River said. "Keep in mind that three of us look almost the same already."

Cameron nodded. She left the room and sent Savannah in.

River felt she possessed some insight that Savannah needed to know going forward. It would be hard on her.

"Savannah, you may need to do the same thing more than once." River said. "I know you already know this."

Savannah already figured as much. The future would be hard on every 'Savannah Weaver' that was in one already.

"I do." Savannah said. "I'll come to your future if needed…."

They held a long embrace.

River didn't think it would be her future.

"It may be elsewhere." River said. "You're still a girl, like me."

Savannah looked down at her body.

"After having a baby, I sure don't feel like one." Savannah said.

Savannah noticed River look at her bulging breasts.

"I can see that." River said with a smile.

River went out to where everyone waited and said her 'goodbyes'. She returned with Sheila.

River checked the controls. She slipped her dress off and stood on the TDE pad.

Sheila started the TDE. Her eyes were transfixed on River's perfect form.

River gave Sheila a wink.

"Do it." River said.

Sheila pushed the button.

The arcing and flashing started.

The time bubble formed.

The arcing and flashing ended.

River was gone.

Sheila left the TDE room once everything was powered off.

"I'll take care of everything here." Sheila said.

Cameron left with Cammy and Savannah. They all had tears in their eyes. There was a profound sense of loss and sacrifice that they all felt.

They silently headed for the carpool.

The girls all felt sad about River leaving.

They headed out and grabbed an SUV. Cameron would take them back to the Resistance base. They talked as they went and were halfway there. Cammy wanted to know more about the future where Savannah was.

Savannah tried not to talk bout or dwell on the baby. There were still issues related to it that needed to be addressed.

"How long will it take for my body to return to 'normal'?" Savannah asked. "I think some things are permanently 'changed'."

Cameron knew there were a number of factors involved.

"It depends on…." Cameron started then received the alert from John Henry. "There's trouble. John and Bob are out and have a tail."

Cameron told John Henry she would respond. She didn't mention Savannah and Cammy were with her.

Savannah reached in the back of the SUV and started to pull out combat gear and body armor for the three of them.

Cameron didn't want to put Savannah right back in harms way.

"No, Savannah. I'll have Cammy drive you away and commandeer another vehicle for myself." Cameron said.

Savannah was ready for more. She fully understood her role in the future. Now was not the time to shy away from it.

"Cameron, John may need our help. We ALL are going to help." Savannah said. "Don't argue. It's happening, we'll follow you anyway. We all have a job here too."

Cameron turned and looked at Savannah and then to Cammy.

Cameron was concerned for Savannah's safety but so proud of her for who she'd become and for what she'd done. Savannah was truly the 'Chosen One'.

"As soon as Cammy is armored up we'll switch." Cameron said. "We're all a team. We fight together."

It Can't Be You

Does one ever really choose
Or are they the one chosen
It seems when it is time to ask
They often choke and become frozen

When one feels the love grow
Why are they gripped with fear
They want to be closer
To the one that they hold dear

Perhaps everyone knows that feeling
It is the fear of outright rejection
From the pain from being cast aside
There is no form of protection

It seems the very world around one
All collapses in on itself again
Leaving one with nothing
But to pick up paper and pen

Maybe words from the heart
Can reach out and break through
Until the one realize who they're from
Then says, it can't be you.

Nobody