Chapter 519

Quick Kiss

Earlier:

Jesse and Gail went out. They didn't get out very often and they didn't do very much when they were out. That was what everyone thought. It seemed that Gail seldom ever tried any food when other Terminators tasted some just to see what the chemical composition was or how many warnings were set off in their HUD. Then again Gail was created as a Restorator. Her 'Neural Interface' program was rather limited.

Gail always did whatever Jesse wanted to do. They agreed to never talk about some of the things. She understood that Jesse needed to deal with her past. She was able to find out from Sheila what all motivated her. She could see deviant behavior by Sheila at times. It was very un-Terminator like. It was from the 'Neural Interface' with Jesse that caused it.

"Do you want something to eat?" Gail asked.

Jesse checked over her weapons as Gail drove the SUV.

"You know what I like to eat or have eaten, love." Jesse said.

Gail did know that. It seemed that Jesse never got enough. She didn't realize it was Jesse's way to escape her past demons.

"I can pull over." Gail said. "The rear seats fold down."

Jesse laughed.

"That's why I love you so much." Jesse said.

Gail was pleased to hear Jesse loved her. Jesse's love meant everything to her. She'd never gotten over the loss of Duplicate Jesse to River's future.

"I like to please you." Gail said.

Jesse smiled as she touched Gail's cheek.

"You do it so well too." Jesse said. "You always try what I ask."

Gail tried very hard to please Jesse with everything. She wanted her love. She would do anything to keep it.

"Let's go where we planned first and then we can decide what else to do." Jesse said.

Gail knew where they were headed. She just wasn't sure what was going to happen when they went there.

"No problem." Gail said. "It should be like the last time."

Jesse put her weapons away.

"That's what I hope." Jesse said.

Gail figured some people were going to die soon.

Derek and Riley spoke with Cameron about giving her their baby when it was born and she burst out crying.

Derek and Riley were unsure what to do. They hadn't expected Cameron to start crying uncontrollably. They tried to calm her. They thought she would be 'happy'. They could both see she seemed to possess the same emotions and feelings that they did. She looked just like Allison in a tearful moment. They hadn't seen Allison ever cry that hard before.

Cameron was overwhelmed with 'emotion'. What Riley offered her was something irreplaceable to Riley. It was the most precious thing anyone could offer since it was probably their only chance for Riley to have a child. This was a sacrifice she didn't deserve from anyone, especially someone's ONLY child. Cameron knew that's what made it so special. The depth of this gift was immeasurable, it was priceless. Maybe it was the fact she'd actually thought of killing Riley at one point that magnified her 'feelings'.

There were many females she'd terminated over the years. Some were Grays or future Grays. Some were involved in illegal activities. Most of those were enablers in the sex trade of young females. She usually let Sheila deal with them and looked the other way. Sheila always 'worked' on them and made sure they were 'punished' and suffered before their termination. She tried not to think about the 'things' Sheila kept from them as she used her knife. The screams were very pronounced at times. She'd actually disposed of the 'collection' more than once. She needed to focus.

Cameron slowly regained her composure. She knew she needed to get it together. What Riley and Derek laid out was so very special. It wasn't like they could just go have another baby. This one had taken years and a lot of experts to make it happen.

Riley and Derek felt some relief when Cameron collected herself. They were about to call John or Savannah.

Cameron looked at Riley and Derek with the utmost seriousness.

"That's the most special offer or gift anyone could ever make to me, Riley." Cameron said. "I know how hard you've tried to have a child and we have worked to make this happen for you, for YOU and Derek."

Riley did know how hard Cameron worked and she'd brought in the top specialists to help her. Cameron also deflected all the questions about why Derek and her showed such toxic test results. Cameron paid them more and more until they shut up. She blamed it on government research projects that went awry. She also knew that Cameron wanted to have a baby she could call her own. She still wanted to help Cameron.

"We want to share with you, Cameron." Riley said. "I want you to have it as your own. It exists because of you. You made this baby happen. I want to share with you."

Derek saw how Cameron went out of her way to help them. He saw how she helped everyone. She took most of the risk for the Resistance. It was time someone made their appreciation clear.

"We both do, Cameron. We've discussed it and we both agree. It's what we both want for YOU." Derek said. "You don't know how special you are to all of us. You've protected all our younger selves and done everything for us now. You've done so many special things for me, for us. You never asked or expected anything in return ever."

That was the thing that actually impressed Derek the most. Cameron never once expected something in return for what she did for others. She just did it because it was the right thing to do.

Cameron really didn't know what to say. She'd never expected to hear this offer from Derek and Riley. She always thought it would be Savannah, Young Jesse or Young Allison that would give her a child. No matter what she wanted, she still needed to think of the others first. They all came before her.

"I appreciate this gift from BOTH of you." Cameron said. "But I can't take your only baby. I understand the depth of your offer and its significance and sacrifice. It truly is like no other."

Riley didn't have as hard of a time to make the proposal to Cameron as she'd thought she would. It was because she believed in her offer and why. She didn't want Cameron to make a decision too soon.

There was also something else that trouble both Riley and Derek. It was what another future version of each of them had done to Cameron. That bothered both of them greatly. Riley knew that everyone kept space between them and her so they wouldn't 'offend' Cameron. The ironic part was that it was Cameron that always reached out to her.

"Well, at least think it over for a few days." Riley said. "Cameron, we want you to know how much we love you and appreciate you. We're still both troubled by what other versions of 'us' have done to you."

Cameron felt a lot of guilt over that. She hadn't been as fair as she should have at first. She went out of her way to atone for that. It still troubled her.

"I know that was neither of you." Cameron said. "I've always known that even if I treated you rudely because of it. I do apologize for that and I've tried to make amends for any ill behavior on my part. I have many shortcomings."

Cameron tried to treat both of them fairly as she would any of the others. In fact, she'd reached out to both of them to show her concern and appreciation for them. She took both of them on excursions for things that they liked, both alone and together. She really tried to make a personal connection with both of them.

Derek grew up and fought in the Wastelands. He knew how cruel and rough life could be. Cameron was like no other to him. That meant something to him. He was against Riley's 'proposal' at first until he thought about all that Cameron did to help them. The 'gift' they could offer made a statement to show their appreciation.

"Cameron, you've done more for me, more for US than anyone ever in my life." Derek said. "Cameron, we love you."

Riley couldn't agree more. Cameron even protected her family and younger self on her own. She never asked for that but Cameron went ahead and did it on her own. That meant something to her.

"Derek's right." Riley said. "No one ever has done so much for me either. It was all done out of the caring and kindness in your heart."

That last statement almost made Cameron start to cry again. She knew she didn't have a heart, a real one anyway. What made it worse was that she never would either. At the end of the day she was still a scary robot from the future. It was all she would ever be.

Cameron gave both of them long hugs and a kiss on the cheek and thanked them. She also reassured them she wouldn't take their only child from them. She didn't think she could take a child from anyone. She'd listened outside Savannah's room and heard her cry before about her daughters. She couldn't cause that kind of pain on any mother.

She turned to leave but wanted to do something special for Riley. She turned back around and gave Riley a small quick kiss on her lips. She saw Riley's eyes light up as she did that. It was the least she could do for the offer Riley honestly made to her…. The most precious gift a female could make.

Riley was surprised and elated. She knew that Cameron reached out to her again in a very special way.

It was Riley's most simple kiss and her most treasured….

Cameron was elated. She'd been deeply touched by the offer of Riley and Derek. She hadn't felt this much joy and happiness in a long time. She knew she was a machine and not supposed to be 'happy' or feel 'happy' but she did. At least to her this was her perception of 'happy'. This was a day to be remembered.

She thought maybe she would even seek out John. She felt like sharing right now. He said he didn't mind her 'appearance'. Maybe she would give it a try. She would try and please John extra special when she found him and they were alone. There was more than one way to please him. She didn't mind to swallow either. She liked all of John's 'little soldiers' inside of her in two out of the three places he'd put them. There were no pleasure receptors in the third spot. He still liked to use it from time to time so she let him. his pleasure came before hers.

Cameron saw Sarah coming.

Sarah just finished a conversation with John. She spotted Cameron with a big smile on her face. She wasn't sure she'd ever seen Cameron look that 'happy' before.

"You look happy." Sarah said.

"I am happy." Cameron said. "This is really a special day for me."

Sarah was very pleased to hear that. She knew the distress that Cameron was under earlier. That looked like it was in the past now.

"I'm glad it's turned out so well for you." Sarah said.

Cameron was pleased about it as well. She wanted John to know. She wanted him to know of Derek's and Riley's generosity and willingness to sacrifice.

"Have you seen John?" Cameron asked. "I want to ask him something. I want to tell him something. Something very special just happened to me. I want to share it with him."

Cameron knew she also wanted to share with John. Sutures or not, she wanted to share with him and please him. She'd seen what Cammy set on her belly in the lab. She hoped it wouldn't be detached again if John got carried away.

Sarah wondered about what she'd caught a glimpse of a few seconds ago. Maybe Cameron knew more about it. The thought of John and Savannah 'sharing' right now never crossed her mind. She knew it would eventually happen.

"I just left him about twenty seconds ago at Savannah's room." Sarah said. "It looked like she was wearing your wedding dress…."

The smile evaporated from Cameron's face instantly.

'NO….' Cameron thought as she hurried away.

Cameron immediately headed for Savannah's room.

Sarah wasn't sure what just happened. Cameron looked distressed again as she hurried away.

"See you later." Sarah called after her.

Cameron did not even hear her. She'd adjusted and refocused her hearing for elsewhere….

John Henry tried to put it all together. It just seemed that there was more in play than he'd been able to piece together.

He'd been bothered by John asking him earlier if Cameron may have been 'captured'. That nagged at him. The more he thought of her unexplained absence, the more it seemed likely.

What if she was? It could have happened.

That could compromise their operation and Cameron's operation. They could both be wiped out and the Resistance would be no more. It would be a fatal blow to everything. It would also lead to the Grays or Skynet knowing about Future John, River and the two sets of Duplicates as well as Mrs. Weaver….

John Henry tried to reconstruct all that happened with Cameron in the last few days. He'd been in contact with her chip as well as Holly. The Reese and Young Details could also be compromised. EVERYTHING could be wiped out along with ALL the people. This would be a fatal and final blow to the Resistance.

This could be the prelude to a disaster bigger then they'd ever faced. If Skynet or its operatives were to gain control of both his network AND Cameron's, it could go online and take over immediately. Skynet could launch its attack within hours. Judgment Day was possibly only hours away….

John Henry possessed no concrete proof of any of this. He was just overwhelmed by it. He wasn't sure why. Maybe none of it would happen. Maybe they were seconds from an attack….

Kyle passed the Command Center and noticed John Henry. He knew something was off right away. He'd never seen John Henry look like THAT. He was aware that John Henry was 'attacked' before and almost terminated. He needed to find out more fast.

"Is everything OK?" Kyle asked. "You seem worried."

John Henry felt a little confused. He began to wondered if it was because his recent exposure to Cameron in her compromised state. Maybe he was infected too. It was a possibility. Maybe the attack he feared was about to start. He didn't know and wasn't really sure about anything right now.

"I don't know." John Henry said. "I'm worried we might be about to be attacked."

Kyle was instantly alert. He was also shocked and worried. Where did this information come from? He needed to know more, quickly.

"Why?" Kyle asked. "Is anyone moving in? Do we need to do something specific? Are there any troops or Metal coming?"

Kyle was worried about Jan and Sarah and everyone else too. He looked at all the monitors but saw nothing. He didn't see any threat anywhere. Maybe it was John Henry that was compromised.

"What do you know or see, John Henry?" Kyle asked. "Show me, tell me. Are YOU under attack?"

Kyle looked around. There was usually Metal around or close by. He spotted Jim.

"Jim." Kyle called. "Come quick."

Jim ran to where they were. He could see that Kyle looked alarmed and that John Henry looked confused.

"What is it?" Jim asked. "What's wrong?"

Kyle still frantically looked at the monitors for any sign of a breech.

"Do you see anything that shows we're under attack or about to be attacked?" Kyle asked. "Is John Henry under attack?"

Jim rapidly looked over the monitors and computer screens. He checked several times. He was very worried about what Kyle asked. Something serious may be about to happen if it already hadn't.

He watched John Henry but hadn't unplugged him yet from his server. That might be their only clue as to the nature of the attack, if one was even happening. It might be something that only John Henry detected, even if it was John Henry that was under attack.

"I don't see anything." Jim said. "Maybe he's tied into something that we can't see."

Kyle turned and faced John Henry. He needed to make a personal connection to him.

"Tell us, John Henry." Kyle said. "We need to know right now. Do we need to defend ourselves?"

John Henry was overwhelmed right now. He was sure it was from his earlier exposure to Cameron on the lab server. There was nothing specific. He didn't have any data or facts. He didn't have anything.

"I don't know…." John Henry said.

Kyle knew they needed more help. He wished that John was here. He didn't know where he was at. He looked out in the hall. He spotted Bob in the distance.

"Bob, come here right now." Kyle called.

Bob could see that Kyle was very distressed. He worked with Kyle under fire and he never looked like that, even when the bullets flew. He ran to the Command Center.

Kyle felt this was all falling apart fast. This may be the attack they feared.

Maybe Judgment Day was coming. Maybe it was here.

Cameron rushed to Savannah door. She was going to barge in.

WAIT – STOP, Cameron needed to tell herself. She FORCED herself to stop.

Cameron listened outside Savannah's door.

"You're beautiful, Savannah." John said

"You're handsome, John Connor." Savannah replied.

There wasn't much talking. Then Cameron heard it. There was no mistake as to what was occurring. They were wedding vows.

"I do." Savannah said.

"I do." John said.

Cameron heard the sounds of their clothes coming off – it was happening….

Cameron's eyes glowed red.

It was her worst nightmare.

John was trying to steal Savannah from HER….

Quick Kiss

Everyone wants something
That's why they all hunt
Does anyone really know
What it specifically is they want

The answer to that question
Is doubtful at best
For no one knows the answers
As they take life's test

Most people settle
For what they can obtain
It's usually far short
From what they'd hoped to gain

That's just how it works
People take what is there
To have nothing at all
Is worse than to share

It's better to swing and not miss
There can still be moments of bliss
Tiny defects one can dismiss
It all starts with that first quick kiss

Nobody