Chapter 497

Closing Fast

Sheila drove in silence. She knew Cameron wanted to 'punish' her by sending her back to the base. She didn't mind because she was able to spend some time alone with Savannah. So far the ride was in total silence. Somehow that didn't seem like a good thing nor was it what she'd expected. She waited for a scolding. She was sure Savannah would give her one.

Savannah waited for Sheila to open up a little. She reached over and took Sheila's hand. Luckily it wasn't the hand she'd used to 'remove' the man's tongue. She could still see some blood on it even though Sheila wiped it off. It made her wonder how much force it took to rip someone's tongue out. She knew that Cameron did that more than a few times.

Sheila looked over at Savannah. She saw 'Hanna' and 'Vanna' there as a younger version. Savannah was somehow even hotter than the other two. She was head over heels in love with Savannah. She felt that way about all the human girls.

Savannah wanted to reach out to Sheila and reassure her.

Sheila felt that Savannah's caring and compassion needed a response. She wasn't sure where to start or even what to say. The things she did were 'natural' to her. She didn't see what the big deal was with everyone. The 'Neural Interface' from Jesse made it seem 'normal' to her.

"I'm sorry, love." Sheila said.

It was the first spoken words of the drive.

Savannah gave Sheila's hand a gentle squeeze. She wanted to wait a little before she responded. She didn't have a 'problem' with Sheila. It was her actions that were the problem. She didn't know what all Sheila may have done but she did know what Jesse had done. Jesse very shamefully told her how she mutilated both males and females in a sexual manor. She was very descriptive. She later took a mirror and looked at herself. There was a lot going on down there and she imagined everything 'gone'. Jesse thought it would make her feel better but it didn't. She could only assume that Sheila did the same things and kept them as Jesse had done in her future.

The anticipation did a number on Sheila. Normally she would be arguing with Ally about something. They did it a lot. They both knew it was because they cared about each other, even if they tried to make it seem like they didn't. Savannah's approach was totally different. It was non-confrontational and compassionate.

Savannah wanted everyone to be the best versions of themselves that they could be. That was something that needed to come from inside them. She'd watched Cameron operate before. It was clear that sometimes harsher methods needed to be employed.

"I don't want you to do that or those things anymore." Savannah said. "That's unless you HAVE to for our protection. I know sometimes harsher measures are necessary. I don't condone unnecessary violence but I do know it has its place."

Sheila knew Savannah referred to more than what just happened. Most of the things she'd collected were from future Scavengers. That was both the males and the females who enable much of the abuse against other females.

She felt Savannah squeeze her hand gently again. The smile on Savannah's face was stunning. It was so beautiful. She could see and feel it as she scanned Savannah. She could tell that Savannah was honest with her and spoke from her heart. She knew Savannah wanted her to scan her as they spoke. It was Savannah's way to show she was open and sincere.

"I'll try to contain the 'darkness'." Sheila said. "It just comes out so easily. It seems like what I need to do. Someone needs to give justice to the girls abused by the future Scavengers."

They both knew the 'darkness' emanated from Jesse and her troubled past. Jesse experienced many horrors and committed a few herself. It was the fact that Jesse, at that time, actually enjoyed hurting others that Sheila picked up on with the 'Neural Interface'.

Savannah wanted Sheila to make it 'personal' with her.

"Look beyond the darkness to the light. I know you can do it if you try and think of me." Savannah said. "You can try for me."

Savannah leaned over and gave Sheila a kiss on the cheek.

Sheila was elated that Savannah kissed her. She didn't want to disappoint Savannah.

"I'll try harder." Sheila said. "Sometimes it just happens. That was what happened tonight. He upset me and spoke ill of you. I don't know why. I wanted to make him shut up. I wanted to make him hurt."

Savannah saw that Sheila did make him shut up and hurt. She could also see that Sheila was nervous. It was clear Sheila expected further 'punishment'. That wasn't to be the case. She wanted to make her position clear and why. It wasn't about the person. It was about the actions.

"I do disapprove of some of your actions but I don't disapprove of you, Sheila." Savannah said. "Remember that, there's a difference."

Sheila tilted her head slightly as she reflected on Savannah's words. Savannah wasn't upset with her but what she'd done. That revelation made her feel better.

"OK, love, I'll give it a try for YOU." Sheila said. "I don't want to do things that you disapprove of."

Savannah wasn't sure if Sheila got it all. It was about right and wrong. It was an issue beyond her.

"It is not that I disapprove of them but that they are wrong." Savannah said. "There's a difference there too."

Sheila did understand that. It was just when she did them it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. She needed to not act on the impulse.

"I do know that." Sheila said. "I'm sorry I lacked control."

Savannah didn't want to leave Sheila feeling down. There was no point to dwell in the past. Life moved forwards not backwards. Their talk was productive and now it was time to move on.

"Thank you." Savannah said. "Let's go join the chase now."

Sheila instantly perked up. Savannah wasn't going to punish her. Savannah wasn't going to let Cameron punish her either. They weren't through for the night. It was just about to get started.

"Do you mean you don't want to go back to the base?" Sheila asked.

It was clear Sheila was excited and stoked.

Savannah wasn't about to go back to the base without some payback. She was about a second away from death earlier.

"Are you kidding?" Savannah asked. "Those Bastards tried to kill Cammy and me. I want some retribution."

Sheila was jazzed. She planned to help Savannah out. If they confronted the enemy, she planned to show Savannah how things were done Terminator style.

"Payback time…." Sheila said.

The girls 'high fived' each other. They were on the same page now.

"Who don't think so?" Savannah asked.

Sheila somehow felt very content and relaxed now. Savannah tore her down a little and then rejuvenated her, it all in the same conversation. It was all done with love and without malice.

Sheila leaned over and kissed Savannah on the cheek.

"I'll protect you." Sheila said. "I swear it."

Savannah still held Sheila's hand. She gave it a gentle squeeze.

"I'll protect you too." Savannah said.

Sheila understood why Savannah was the 'Chosen One'.

Cameron asked John Henry to isolate and broadcast, only to her, the conversation going on in the vehicle Savannah was in. It was everything she knew Savannah would do. She though Savannah was the greatest. She knew Savannah could 'reach' Sheila.

Ally felt that Cameron's driving was a little erratic. It seemed she was distracted. She saw that Cameron was drifting and reached over to gently correct the steering wheel.

"… Cameron…?" Ally asked. "Do you want me to drive?"

Cameron looked around. She wondered if she'd missed something. It happened at times. She noted Ally's hand on the steering wheel.

"Sorry, I was thinking about something." Cameron said.

Ally released the steering wheel she'd reached over and corrected.

"I don't really want to test out the 'airbags'." Ally said.

Cammy knew that 'something' was really 'somebody'. She wanted to say something but that would only make things worse and spark hard feelings.

Cameron looked over at Cammy. It was a challenge.

Cammy looked away, she knew Cameron knew, she knew. She was aware that she couldn't 'compete' with Cameron, even if she WAS 'Cameron'.

Cameron knew it too. NOBODY would stand in her way to take what was rightfully hers. She hadn't 'claimed' Savannah yet but everyone knew it was coming. She wanted Savannah to continue her explorations and learn to love and share. It made Savannah a better person and it would make her a better lover for John. She wanted John to have the best. The more Savannah could learn, the more she could share. That wasn't just with John either.

Cammy and Ally waited for the SUV to swerve if Cameron's hand glitched, it never did.

A single tear formed in Cammy's eye.

Cam tracked the hostile vehicle from the manned drone. It stopped after it did a series of evasive maneuvers. It was clear they'd checked for a tail.

"I have one Gray that's exited the vehicle on foot." Cam reported.

Gail and Jesse closed up. They'd trailed the vehicle out of sight or on parallel routes since Cam knew where it was at all times.

"I'm going after him." Gail said.

Cameron didn't like the idea. Jesse would be on her own at that point.

"NO. Stay with Jesse." Cameron said. "I want her protected."

Jesse didn't think it was a problem. She was in shape and she could move fast.

"I'll go with Gail." Jesse said. "I can keep up."

Cameron wanted Jesse protected. She gave Cam new instructions

"Cam, stay with Jesse." Cameron said and then added. "And stay Gail as well."

Cam didn't want things to get personal. She knew what was necessary.

"I will." Cam said. "I know what you want…."

John Henry moved one of the drones on long range patrol back to where the vehicle was at that they'd tracked.

"I have the target vehicle covered." John Henry said. "One drone is with it and locked on."

John thought everyone was a little jumpy. They held all the cards right now.

"Don't burn him yet." John said. "It looks like we're in control of the situation."

John Henry knew there were more players about to enter the field. Things might need to be wrapped up sooner rather than later.

"I don't want to take any chances." John Henry said.

Sheila entered the combat zone at Savannah's urging. It was personal to her.

"We're closing in on the target vehicle" Sheila came across the com. "We have him."

Cameron was worried about Savannah. She wanted her back at the base but she heard Savannah tell Sheila to join the fight and why. She wanted Savannah to take 'personal' action at times. It would insure the job was done. She wanted to hone Savannah's killer instinct. It might insure her survival one day.

"Savannah, I want you to use caution." Cameron said. "You're not me."

Savannah didn't see any danger yet. She felt Jesse and Gail faced that on foot with the Gray that they tracked.

"Roger that." Savannah said. "We're only tailing."

Cameron wanted to back Savannah up. She also needed to worry about Jesse and Gail.

"I'm almost to your position." Cameron said. "I'm letting Ally out to follow and assist Jesse and Gail. Cammy and I are closing fast."

As Ally departed the vehicle Cameron gave her a directive.

"Make sure Jesse is safe and undamaged." Cameron said. "THAT is your primary function."

Ally planned to do that anyway. The girls always came first. That applied to combat as well.

"I will." Ally said and was gone.

Cameron and Cammy sped away to assist Savannah and Sheila.

Kyle, Sarah and Jan were near the Control Center.

John looked out and smiled at them. He figured there was going to be a problem if they stopped. They did.

It only took a few seconds for Kyle to see what was going on. He wasn't pleased. He felt it was his duty to be out in potential combat, not the girls.

"How is it that Jesse and Savannah out in the field and we're not?" Kyle asked. "Derek and me, I mean."

Sarah and Jan followed him. She'd heard what Kyle said. She thought he needed a reminder. She whispered something to Jan.

Jan ran up to Kyle and he picked her up.

John said nothing since Sarah glared at him.

Sarah came up to Kyle and looked him in the face with their daughter between them. It was an unspoken reminder that he had a family to think about.

"Next question…." Sarah said.

Kyle saw it as protecting the present and the future protected his family as well. He knew Savannah was out there. She was a young teenager. He knew Jesse could take care of herself.

"I get it but Savannah is the youngest." Kyle said.

Sarah was a little indignant. Maybe Kyle said that because Savannah wasn't a male.

"And she's just a female?" Sarah asked.

Kyle wondered where that came from. He still held Jan. He hadn't said anything like that. He didn't think he'd implied it either.

"I didn't say that." Kyle said. "Come on."

Sarah thought maybe she'd overreacted some. Savannah ran up a list of accomplishments for her young age. Not all of them were on the battlefield either. They were just as important to those futures as were her other actions.

"Savannah has also been to two different futures for almost two years, given birth to two children or will, even though she already has. She was also part of the destruction of Skynet in those two futures." Sarah said. "She's a remarkable person and she's a beautiful female."

John wondered if some of that conversation was directed at him. It seemed like it. He had a few things to say.

"She also helped save Cameron and brought her back to me." John said. "Don't you think I know that? I worry about it."

John knew any time he brought the subject up with Cameron that it always turned into a fight.

"I want to see my sister in law Savannah." Jan said. "She looks so pretty in her white dress; the one Cameron gave her."

'She's not your sister in law yet.' Sarah thought. 'But she will be.'

John cringed a little at the 'sister in law' comment. He figured that Cameron was responsible for that. He was glad to see Vanna step into the mix.

"You will see her soon, sweetie." Vanna said as she took Jan from Kyle. "'Old Vanna' will have to do for now. I'll take you to play for awhile or would you rather study?"

Jan liked to play with Savannah. She taught her things too. Vanna looked just like her and so did one of the Terminators.

"I want to play. You and Savannah look the same." Jan said. "And Hanna does too."

Vanna laughed with Jan as she took her away. Everyone knew the sadness that Vanna felt for being sterile. That sad fact was the result of Skynet.

Sarah knew there were a lot of strange things she'd seen over the years. No wonder they put her in the 'nut house' for speaking the truth.

"This is a strange world we live in." Sarah said. "If I wasn't part of it, I wouldn't believe a single word of it."

Kyle made sure Jan and Vanna were gone. He looked at John.

"John, the girls shouldn't be out there when Derek and I are in here." Kyle said.

Sarah jabbed him in the side. She didn't like him out in the field either or to take chances.

John could see the 'issues' with his parents. He didn't want to get in the middle. There was actually someone else to 'blame'.

"You know what." John said. "I'll let you argue it with Cameron when she gets back."

Kyle believed he could offer a reasonable argument.

"I will." Kyle said. "Derek will be a father soon. It looks like everything Cameron did has worked out for them."

'Everything Cameron did', echoed in John's mind.

John wondered what Cameron 'did' do. He needed to go check on Allison and see how 'their baby' was coming along. So far that was the only handy work of Cameron's he was a part of that he knew about in this timeline. He also wondered if Derek was really the father of Riley's baby or if Cameron took a few shortcuts along the way. He knew he was the father of everyone else's baby.

The last time he'd been to Palmdale, Claire was 'all over' him. It was only Young Allison who came and asked him to help her with her school work that saved him. He saw the look Young Allison gave to her mother. He saw them look at each other. Cameron made sure Young Allison knew her future and she wasn't going to let anyone get in the way, no matter who they were.

It was apparent that Cameron was doing to Young Allison as she'd done with Savannah. He wasn't so sure it was 'brainwashing' but it seemed pretty close to him. When it came time to harvest their virginity, he planned to do so. Cameron was unstoppable. It did have some perks for him.

Closing Fast

When one reaches out
What is it they actually want
It's all about sex or control
That's the goal of the hunt

It matters not who they are
Both males and females are the same
It's all about experience
To determine who controls the game

There are no set rules
It's survival of the fittest
Try to change the trajectory
One ends up on the 'crap list'

It's all about conquest
And who takes possession
Those cast aside and rejected
Often get caught up in obsession

It is never about long term
What will be real and last
It's all about the moment
Close the deal fast

Nobody