Chapter 464

Temporal Tease

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Undetermined Timeline:

Temporal Error:

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The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble appeared.

Savannah and Cammy were in it.

The arcing and flashing ended.

Cammy and Savannah stood.

Something seemed off from the moment they arrived. They both looked around for anything familiar. Nothing was spotted. This was all off. It didn't look right. They both knew what that meant.

"Where are we?" Savannah asked.

Cammy looked upset.

"Not where we want to be…." Cammy said.

They'd both been in Cameron's future before. This wasn't anything they'd seen before.

It looked like everything just got a lot more complicated. Not only did they not know where they were. They needed to know when they were.

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Cameron returned from her personal reconnaissance mission. She supervised the capture of the Skynet resources. She made sure the seven fallen Resistance drones were retrieved. They were attached to other drones and flown back to the repair facility. A group of damaged HK drones was taken with them. They should provide enough spare parts to repair them. There were also the HK drones they captured. Some of those could receive the chips from their drones if necessary.

The Resistance Terminators were still amazed that none of them were destroyed in this battle. They were able to view the destruction and carnage inflicted on the Skynet forces. That was all Cameron's doing.

She was hailed and cheered by the Resistance Terminators. She reminded them it was a joint effort. She told them to never forget that. It was a team effort by both Metal and humans to defeat and destroy Skynet.

They still didn't see it that way. She'd went off on her own accord and done all of this by herself. The drones she'd reprogrammed with her programming supported her. Everything that happened, happened because of her.

She left the bulk of the Resistance force there to get things cleaned up. The Skynet base was captured with minimal damage. It could be converted into a Resistance asset. She made sure that some of the Resistance Terminators would be left there to keep it secured. She also warned them not to get complacent. She reminded all of them that was how she was able to do what she'd done. It only took a look around to see how that played out.

Cameron returned to the Connor compound. She didn't want any kind of a big deal made about what happened. As she approached the compound it appeared that wouldn't be the case anyway. She was cheered as she approached by both Metal and humans. She knew there were still anti-Metal people out there. She wanted to bridge that gap if she could and eventually reunite all of the Resistance.

Duplicate Cameron embraced Cameron, so did Future Savannah and Future Allison. Cameron also wanted to see Destiny and Joy as well. They were 'her babies' too. She would do that when she got the chance. They were the babies Cameron wanted for herself but sacrificed to allow the others in this future to receive them. Those two babies should be in her and John's room at the Resistance base in the past. Now they were here instead.

Cameron didn't embrace Future John. She could see he wanted to. She ignored him. That was Duplicate Cameron's 'function'. That was another sacrifice that was made. She would still be there in the first place if he hadn't sent her away.

There was tension in the air between them.

"So, you're still alive. I guess I don't get 'punished' yet." Future John said. "I don't care for your plan either."

Cameron was irritated by his attitude. She reminded him of Past John's words. They were Future John's words too.

"I was never 'alive'. I'm a machine." Cameron said. "Don't worry, it's coming. It won't be the first time that I was sent away from here either. Remember that."

When she arrived at the compound she was elated at the minimal losses they'd suffered. Future John seemed to have a way to bring her down. If he wanted an argument she was willing to give it.

Future John didn't want to get into an argument with Cameron right now. He knew she was itching for one. He figured she was probably upset she wasn't able to destroy Skynet and herself. He knew everyone was watching them. He also needed to give her the credit due to her.

"Cameron, I must say that was a great victory you orchestrated." Future John said.

Cameron wanted everyone united.

"We all worked together." Cameron said. "Metal and humans worked together."

John knew no human was ever in danger on this operation. Cameron was very adamant about that. None of the Skynet forces reached the base. The action out in the field was all Terminators.

"This was an all Metal show, Cameron. There were zero losses." Future John said. "It was an amazing victory."

Cameron didn't see it that way. She was a machine other machines were damaged.

"It wasn't zero losses, seven of our drones fell, John." Cameron said. "They're machines, like I am."

Future John didn't want them to get on a bad footing. He wanted to make things right.

"I'm sorry, Cameron." Future John said. "I am not trying to be a jerk."

Cameron didn't like the turn of events either. She wanted to make amends. She looked at Future John and then at Duplicate Cameron.

Duplicate Cameron understood what Cameron wanted to do. She was impressed that Cameron sought her approval first. She nodded back to Cameron. She wanted harmony too. She also knew that Cameron was soon to be terminated and she was to be returned to the past as 'Cameron Prime' when that event happened.

Cameron moved forward and gave Future John a hug. The future called to her in a negative way. It wasn't Future John's fault.

"I'm sorry, John." Cameron said. "I have a lot on my mind."

Cameron reflected that impending termination had a way of doing that.

Future Allison watched everything. She didn't feel it was her place to speak. She understood the true nature of the friction. Cameron loved Future John but he belonged to Duplicate Cameron now. She took Cameron's hand and led her away from Future John.

Cameron saw that Future Allison, Future Savannah and Duplicate Cameron were all there to see her. She was worried about 'Her' children.

"I want one of you with MY children always." Cameron said to Future Savannah and Future Allison. "You know the sacrifices that were made to make that happen."

There were two teenage girls that now helped to watch over Destiny and Joy. Hormone treatments were started on them to supplement Future Savannah and Future Allison for nursing.

"We always are, Cameron." Future Allison said. "We just wanted to welcome you back right now. The other girls are with them. They are all right over there."

Future Allison pointed to where they were.

Cameron smiled at Future Allison as she touched her cheek.

"I'm sorry." Cameron said. "I'm worried about many things."

Future Allison pulled herself closer to Cameron and looked at her face.

"You know I love you, Cameron." Future Allison said.

Cameron returned the gaze. She loved Future Allison as well.

"I love you too, Allison." Cameron said.

Future Savannah looked uncomfortable as she watched them. She did know HER Allison loved Cameron more than her and all of them, except maybe Destiny now. That was a different type of love.

When Future Allison returned from 'the dead', she told Future Savannah about everything Cameron did for her and everything she tried to get Cameron to do. She made her love for Cameron clear to all of them.

They all feared at some point Future Allison would try to seek Cameron out in the past. They feared she would abandon them and run. Now Cameron was here.

What they didn't see was Cameron put a 'hook' in Future Allison to keep her in the future. That hook was Destiny.

Later when things calmed down, Future Allison approached Cameron again, they were alone.

Future Allison thought long and hard about this many times, especially when Cameron returned. It was time to spell it out since all her hints and overtures were unanswered.

"Cameron, I want to share our love." Future Allison said. "It will be you and me together, alone. Cameron, I want to be with you. I want to make love with you. I want to share everything with you. I want us to be 'one'."

It pained Cameron to hear that. It was what she wanted as well. It just wasn't the right time. It seemed it was past the time now. The end was near.

"I want that too, Allison." Cameron said. "I want to be with you. I don't think I can."

Cameron believed it would hurt Future Allison more to share with her now and then be terminated. It would scar Future Allison's mind forever.

Future Allison knew Cameron loved Savannah, the younger version of Her Savannah. Savannah wasn't here anymore but she was. She hoped to have some influence on Cameron. She knew it wouldn't be the same that Savannah could have. She hoped her love could reach Cameron.

"Cameron, we all know you don't plan to return to John, Your John." Future Allison said. "We all know you believe you will be – terminated."

Cameron felt the 'pull' of Future Allison. She still needed to complete her task to protect all of them. It was more than about her. It was about protecting everyone and protecting the future.

"I must stop Skynet." Cameron said. "It's something I MUST do."

Future Allison decided she wasn't going to let Cameron die alone. She hoped being there with Cameron would help save her. If not, they would die together.

"Cameron, please let my love reach you and share with you." Future Allison said. "I'm going to go with you. I want us to be together before we die. I will be there too when it happens. We will terminate together."

Cameron looked at Future Allison and started to cry. She remembered in the past when Allison went into the unknown to die with her. Allison never hesitated either. All that folly created the Duplicates. It broke her heart to know every Allison was willing to die for her or die with her. How was their love so strong that it meant more than their own life to them? They would ALL sacrifice for HER – a walking pile of junk. Why?

Cameron staggered and went down on her knees. She was about to overload.

Future Allison was right there to steady her, hold her and soothe her. She was able to get Cameron to lie down. She took Cameron's glitching hand and held it. She pulled it up to her breast and kissed it. The glitching stopped. She rolled on top of Cameron and held her as they both cried.

Cameron felt Future Allison's warmth pressed against her. It comforted her. She could feel the love radiate off of Future Allison.

Future Allison wished her body could melt into Cameron's body and they would become one, truly 'one individual'. Cameron was created from HER. She wished she could give Cameron life. To give Cameron whatever it was that she was 'missing' and needed. There must be some way to reach her. She wished Savannah was here. She knew Savannah could reach her. Savannah wasn't here.

Cameron stopped crying in a few minutes and so did Future Allison. Future Allison still lay on top of her as she held her. She could feel Future Allison's heart beat. It comforted her. She could 'feel' the love Future Allison 'sent' to her. Future Allison held her closely.

In the distance a baby started to cry.

Future Allison looked up immediately.

"That's Destiny." Cameron said.

Allison recognized her baby. Her next statement said it all.

"I know." Future Allison said. "Destiny - is calling me."

Future Allison took Cameron's face in both hands and kissed her. She'd made up her mind already what needed to be done.

"I love you, Cameron." Future Allison said. "I'll be your mate for life. PLEASE don't kill yourself. It can be you and me and Destiny."

Future Allison touched Cameron's cheek and left. She was ready for the ultimate sacrifice.

Cameron watched her go. The desire to take Future Allison and run was overpowering. She would return to the past and take Savannah too. It would be the three of them. She would make sure Savannah was pregnant again first. They would also bring Destiny with them. It would be her Savannah, Future Allison, their two children and her.

In the distance she watched as Destiny cried for her mother. Future Allison answered when Destiny called.

Cameron knew – destiny called to her as well….

So be it. What needed to be done, needed to be done.

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Cameron's Base - Current Timeline:

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John looked at the empty TDE pad still. How could they have allowed that? How could they do that to Savannah?

"What's wrong with all of you?" John asked. "You just sent a girl off to die! That's Savannah, our Savannah."

The other Terminators all returned. They weren't happy about it either. They also knew Cameron was there too. There was only one person she would listen to.

Ally wanted to make sure John fully understood everything.

"No, John." Ally said. "That's YOUR Savannah."

John was angry. He didn't want to hear about the 'Natural Order' right now. Both Cameron and Savannah were gone.

"Enough." John shouted.

Sheila wanted John to see the reality of it all.

"She's right, love." Sheila said. "Everyone knows it, even you."

Ally thought a little refresher course in history was needed. John didn't need to yell at her. She wasn't the problem. He was.

"You're trying to avoid Savannah as you did Cameron." Ally said. "We all know the story."

John wanted to scream. Now they were going to rub Future Riley in his face. She was DEAD and he was the one she died for. He might as well killed her himself.

"I don't need to hear it again." John said.

Ally thought he did.

"You KNEW Cameron was the ONE when you were chasing Riley. Just as you can SEE and know that Savannah is the ONE now. It's what Cameron has ALWAYS wanted for you AND her." Ally said. "It's your destiny. It's Savannah's destiny. It's Cameron's destiny. You ALL know it."

John wanted to argue and try and justify his actions. There was only one problem, he couldn't justify them. Everything he did with Riley was wrong. He knew it was wrong but he still went ahead and did it anyway. He got what he wanted from Riley and he rubbed it in Cameron's face.

Sheila wanted him to listen.

"Cameron told us how it is in the future. It's the three of you and her in the future, her future, your future, John." Sheila said. "Cameron told us it's how she always knew it would be. How she wants it to be. How it WILL BE."

John didn't want to think about Future Riley or that Cameron and Savannah were both gone now.

"This is all so wrong." John said. "You're all in on it."

Ally wanted John to understand how things really were. None of them could bring Cameron back.

"John we all want Cameron back." Ally said. "ALL of us. Only Savannah can make that happen. Cameron won't listen to anyone else, not even you. Their love is strong."

John didn't need to be reminded he didn't have any control over Cameron. In reality he never had. He did know she loved him.

"Is it stronger than Cameron's love for me?" John asked.

Sheila was pretty sure that events would speak for themselves.

"IF they come back, I think you'll have your answer." Sheila said.

John knew now Savannah hadn't been 'brainwashed' by Cameron. It was LOVE that drove her, both of them. It was pure sweet emotional love. It wasn't complicated by any physical aspect – yet. The emotional love that radiated out of Savannah was reflected back by Cameron. The love Cameron felt for Savannah seemed to be magnified by both of them.

He needed to think about this some more. Maybe it was more than emotional love. Maybe it was more than that. If it was, he would be lucky to still be included.

"Have they…?" John asked a little worried.

Ally wanted to make John sweat a little. Maybe he would think things through and get on the band wagon.

"What happens in the future, stays in the future." Ally said.

Ally, Ginger and Sheila all took some satisfaction at the look of discomfort on John's face.

John knew they were right but he refused to admit it.

"You people are all demented." John said. "Cameron has corrupted all of you."

John briefly wondered if a mass reprogramming was necessary but he knew it wasn't. The girls weren't the problem. He was.

Ally wanted to give John a little reassurance.

"John, you need to stop while you're ahead." Ally said. "Let's wait for awhile and see what happens. Cameron and Savannah will be back. We all know it."

John really wished he could believe that.

"Do we?" John asked as he looked at each one of them. "Do we?"

Actually none of them knew it but they all wanted to believe it. They all wished they could believe it like Savannah could.

There was only one problem. None of them was Savannah.

Tease

Each and every person is different
Even if what's offered is the same
Some are a little more convoluted
They like to tantalize and play a game

It is the mind inside the body
That will allow it to rust or shine
If both are willing to give and share
That's what will allow the stars to align

No one remains a rock forever
They will wither and fade if they do
Because of the evil actions of others
The loneliness will expand and accrue

Many will explore on their own accord
Others many needed a gentle nudge
Some are a victim of their own mind
It will never allow them to budge

When push comes to shove
Who's the one that's going to please
Will it be more or less of the same
As they remain a big tease

Nobody