Chapter 531

Why Is She Here

John Henry followed up on all their past actions. He looked for any threats or future targets. His search seemed to have hit 'pay-dirt'. He double checked his findings with CamNet. It was a solid lead.

"John, I think we have something." John Henry said.

John was troubled by the trauma that happened to Cameron. He really wanted to lash out at any remnants of that specific group. It was personal to him at this point.

"Is it from the group that hurt Cameron?" John asked. "If it is, I'm going myself to get some payback."

John Henry found much older information. It was an operation where they'd never tied up all the loose ends because they couldn't find them. Cameron faced great danger as well there.

"No, it is from a previous encounter." John Henry said. "You were there when we saw where the HK Tracks were assembled but weren't able to track down all the places where the parts were actually made. That's changed."

John knew that was also the location where Savannah emerged as a great tactician and solid leader. She'd stepped up on her own.

He knew he needed to stay with John Henry on this briefing and stop dreaming about Savannah. Cameron did everything she could to make them attracted to each other and fall in love. Now it'd happened. He wasn't sorry for what almost happened in Savannah's bedroom. He knew if it didn't happen that he would lose Cameron forever. Savannah was so beautiful, intelligent, fun, witty and smoking hot….

"…John…." John Henry said.

John was caught off guard. He'd been thinking how much he wanted to take Savannah's virginity.

"That's fine." John quickly answered.

John Henry looked at John with his head tilted slightly.

"How is it fine?" John Henry asked.

John was lost in thought earlier and missed whatever John Henry asked him. He'd pictured Savannah as she would squirm beneath him as he 'broke her in'. He wanted to see the look of pain and pleasure on her face.

"What you said." John answered.

John Henry was disturbed by John's answer. It seemed he was on board with Cameron's termination now. He wondered why there was a shift.

"I said Cameron was almost terminated." John Henry said. "How is it fine?"

John thought maybe he should come clean at least to a certain point. He decided to leave out the part about Savannah. It would be better to keep the focus on Cameron.

"I'm sorry. I'm worried about Cameron. I think my mind drifted some." John said. "I know if I won't do what she wants that she'll either leave for another future or the past. If nothing 'happens', I'm afraid she'll seek termination in combat."

From his observations, this sounded more like water under the bridge to John Henry. It was clear to all that the 'Natural Order' started to assert itself.

"John, everyone is aware what's happening or has happened." John Henry said. "It's no longer - 'What Cameron wants'."

John wasn't sure where this was going.

"What exactly does that mean?" John asked.

John Henry believed it was self evident. Cameron's future was the perfect example. It showed how far Savannah was willing to go.

"It means there is a very lovely young woman that loves you and Cameron. Who's sacrificed the most special things a female can have for Cameron and the future." John Henry said. "One of them benefited you in the future because it was no longer possible for you to have a family in the future. Isn't THAT what Cameron keeps telling you? Can you honestly say you don't love Savannah?"

John was a little irritated now. Everything revolved around Cameron's manipulation. He really didn't like how she played with the girl's lives and their hearts. It was supposed to be for his benefit but what was the personal price that everyone needed to pay?

"I do love her. I also love Vanna, Allison and Jesse." John said. "Cameron made me love all of them and for them to love me."

John Henry's research into humans and love was quite extensive. He'd wanted to know if he could 'love' and how what he felt could be defined. He thought a cyborg could be programmed to feel 'love' but he didn't think a human could be 'made' to love someone. That was something that needed to come from within the individual. He knew often one person would love another who didn't have those same feelings. It was something beautiful when two people both loved each other. He was aware that there were different degrees and types of love. Love wasn't a 'one size fits all' feeling.

"Nobody can make anyone love someone." John Henry said. "There has to be something there, especially when it's mutual."

John was aware of Cameron's manipulation of everyone's lives almost from the day she was reactivated when he was still in the future. Her actions directly or indirectly split up couples and altered their lives. Cameron tried to control the direction those lives went. He was aware that later on Cameron split Vanna and Allison up, Derek and Jesse and Jesse and Riley. He was pretty sure she'd split up Claire and Paul Young as well. She did it to free the females up for him. They were more likely to seek him out without a female companion or a male companion. It was all very cruel if one thought about it.

"Cameron is the 'Queen Of Hearts'." John said. "We ALL know what she's done to EVERYONE."

John Henry watched Cameron carefully as she 'directed' the females. He though the 'fissures' were already there that Cameron may have widened. He'd never seen Cameron 'force' anyone. At best she'd hold a door open and allow them to walk through.

"Then you're a 'victim' as well if that's the case." John Henry said. "Cameron's only facilitated the desires and hunger within the people themselves. She never MADE anyone do anything they didn't want to do. She always gave them a choice."

John saw it as 'strong arm' tactics without the physical force. Maybe the lure was Cameron herself. Everyone wanted to be with her and so far she'd only been with him, at least in the past. Who knew what really happened in the future. Cameron still claimed those files were erased. What if they weren't and that was just what she'd said?

"That may be true but she's sure 'leaned on' them a lot to make the 'right' choice." John said. "Cameron created choices for them that didn't exist before. She narrowed their selection as well. It was never a 'free choice' for any of them but only the choices that Cameron offered."

Cammy boldly entered the Command Center. She didn't look happy at all. In fact she looked just like Cameron.

"That's enough of this nonsense and speculation about Cameron." Cammy said.

She'd heard them discussing 'things' as she approached. She didn't like their discussion, especially about Savannah. She'd listened a little bit before she'd entered.

John looked at her and said nothing further. Cammy WAS 'Cameron', her clone anyway. He saw it as further proof to the length Cameron would go to make sure her wishes were enacted. She sent her clones to do the 'dirty work' so she could have her hand out of the cookie jar but still have the cookie.

John Henry speculated that CamNet alerted Cameron or her clones to the change in the direction of the original conversation. Usually CamNet locked him out of his system to 'punish' him for infractions that involved Cameron or the girls.

"We were discussing possible foundry locations for the HK Tracks." John Henry said. "I'm sorry we were side tracked on another subject."

Cammy didn't like how Savannah was affected by everything that happened to Cameron in the last week. She knew that Savannah was going to step up herself to go on more missions. That was unacceptable to her. She decided to take the missions herself. Cam didn't want Vanna to step up either. They decided they would take Cameron's place.

"I want the information myself." Cammy said. "Cam and I will be doing more in the way of strikes. We're stepping up. Cameron's been doing too much. We're going to share the burden."

That meant Cam and Cammy were really willing to share the - damage.

John saw it for what it really was because he felt the same way himself. It was about protecting Cameron and everyone needed to do more. It was one big crap sandwich and they all needed to take a bite. He wanted to see if they would come clean.

"What do Savannah and Vanna have to say about that?" John asked.

Cammy looked at John. She decided to tell him the truth. Maybe he would help keep Savannah and Vanna at the base. He knew what the risks were.

"That THEY are going to lead the assaults themselves to take the burden off Cameron." Cammy said. "That is what they 'say'."

It was true. John was right that both of them wanted to take some of the heat off of Cameron. Now he looked like the jerk for forcing the issue.

"I'm sorry." John said.

Cammy wanted John to know how deeply ALL the girls were affected both human and Metal.

"Sheila, Ally and Gail all want to do more as well. Jesse will accompany them." Cammy said. "THEY ALL LOVE CAMERON."

John could see he'd hit a nerve and it was a bigger problem now. Everything went back to how Cameron MADE everyone love her.

"Relax." John said.

John could see the 'Cameron' in Cammy was about to boil over. He resisted the urge to tell her not to 'blow a fuse'. That would have accelerated the 'melt down'.

Cammy didn't like how John looked at her. It looked like he was going to 'mouth off'. Savannah never showed her any disrespect like that. Who did John think she was, Cameron?

"Young Jesse and Camille want to come also." Cammy said. "Claire has Hanna, Holly and Anna all TRAINING her, by HER choice, both Claire and Young Allison."

John swallowed hard. Images from 'Pretty Baby' flashed through his mind at the mention of Young Allison. He wondered how bad Cameron manipulated her.

"Did Young Allison ASK for this?" John asked.

Cammy was insulted by the question. Cameron never MADE anyone do anything. It was always their own choice. Cameron just made sure they made the correct choice.

"Yes, she did. She wishes to fight alongside Savannah." Cammy said. "Both Future Allison and Allison talked to her about everything and the future. They explained EVERYTHING to both Claire and Young Allison. She knows the future and her destiny."

John Henry didn't like Cameron to be blamed for everything that John didn't like. It was wrong for John to feel that way.

"That isn't Cameron's doing, John." John Henry said.

John pushed the images from 'Pretty Baby' out of his head. Maybe the parallels were too great to do that. Maybe that was why he always thought of them. Cameron stole the girls 'childhood' from them and 'made' them into adults in girls bodies. They didn't think girls things, they all thought adult things.

"Isn't it?" John asked. "Young Allison is still a girl. She shouldn't be looking forward to her 'destiny'. She shouldn't be looking forward to being in combat or warming someone's bed. A GIRL shouldn't need to think about any of those things."

Cammy wanted to point out that was what happened to girls her age after Judgment Day. Maybe Vanna and Jesse could remind him. Female's became a commodity. They were little more than 'currency' in the future. There were no social morals any longer. The animal in MEN resurfaced and they became the animals they really were.

She thought maybe she should put it in simple terms for John and use the very words that Young Allison used.

"Young Allison wishes to protect the future for her sister Summer and YOUR sister, Jan." Cammy said. "She also wants to make sure it will be safe for Allison's baby."

John felt arguing with Cammy was like arguing with Cameron. It was pointless and they never listened to what he said.

"It's like everyone is on a different page than me." John said. "They all follow Cameron's wishes."

Cammy wanted John to THINK. She was now visibly angry.

"WHY is Cameron HERE?" Cammy asked. "What was the reason YOU sent Cameron here, back in time to YOU? Was it so you would have a cyborg 'love doll' to USE as a 'Metal Whore'? WHY IS SHE HERE?"

John Henry wanted to try and get John away from Cammy's wrath. He could see she looked very much like Cameron on a bad day.

"I can answer that." John Henry said. "Cameron was sent back to prevent the horrors of the future from happening, stop Skynet and protect John."

John looked at John Henry. When he looked back, Cammy was gone. He was surprised at who was there. He hadn't expected to see her there.

Savannah stood there as she looked at them. She'd been behind Cammy the whole time. She'd heard everything that was said or implied.

"Cameron's done ALL those things mostly by herself." Savannah said. "That ends NOW. My love for her is worth more than my life. I'll do anything for her, John - ANYTHING."

John was well aware that Savannah PROVED that already. She'd faced death more than once.

Now Savannah was gone as well.

John was pulled back to reality.

"CamNet is asking me to confirm the targets." John Henry said.

John needed to refocus.

"What's happening?" John asked.

John Henry spoke of what Cammy and Savannah indicated.

"Everyone's embracing the future…." John Henry said.

John felt disgusted and left out. It was like he missed the bus that everyone else was on.

"Everyone but me…." John said.

John Henry decided not to elaborate.

"Apparently…." John Henry said.

John wanted to act himself now. He needed to know where Cameron was at. As far as he knew she was in the middle of everything right now.

"Where's Cameron?" John asked.

John Henry checked the security cameras.

"She's in the process of destroying the infant Skynet she captured along with Sarah and Kyle." John Henry said.

John was glad to hear she wasn't out in the field. He also wondered what she was doing exactly with his parents.

"Beautiful." John said. "Absolutely beautiful…."

Holly took over watching Summer so Claire and Young Allison could train. The training had been going on for awhile but now really picked up in intensity. The physical training and dance skills Cameron instructed Young Allison on gave her great physical agility and strength.

Holly wanted Allison to take it easy since she joined in with them to practice. She monitored Allison every fifteen minutes.

Allison wanted to keep in shape and train with her mother and younger self. She didn't need to be 'mothered' by a cyborg. She didn't expect her current pregnancy to do any better than the others. They all ended in failure. Her body was worthless in her opinion.

"Look, Holly, if something's going to go wrong, it's going to go wrong." Allison said. "We both know how this is going to end – again."

Holly was with Claire in Cameron's future. That baby was Allison's baby that Cameron 'gave' to Future Allison.

"Cameron will fix it." Holly said.

Allison was irritated and on the edge right now. She spoke angrily. She just wanted to get away from it all.

"Everyone expects Cameron to do EVERYTHING." Allison said. "I want to go back to my future. That's where I belong."

Allison knew being in this timeline disrupted it.

Holly didn't say anything for a long time. Holly was from that same future. That was the future she was created in. She was created as a Restorator by Mrs. Weaver. She wondered if Allison would take her when she left, she doubted it. She didn't want to upset Allison further.

"I'll inform Cameron." Holly said.

Allison saw Holly try to hide her left hand as it began to glitch behind Summer.

Allison came to Holly and hugged her.

Holly scanned her.

"I'm sorry, Holly." Allison said. "I'm so moody and worried about everything. I'm worried about my mother and Allison and this baby I have, MY baby."

Holly felt very frustrated. All she did was try to help.

"I don't know what else to do." Holly said. "I'm trying my best."

Allison was further disgusted with herself. She could see the anguish she caused Holly to experience. That wasn't her intention.

"I'm sorry, Holly." Allison said again. "It's nothing personal. It's me."

Holly felt defeated. Allison should return to her long time lover. It was a mistake for them to be separated and try and have a scary robot from the future fill in.

"I think you need to go back to the Resistance base and be with Vanna. She's better suited to respond and act on your needs." Holly said. "I'll join combat rotation."

Allison felt terrible now. She could see Holly was serious. She didn't want her to feel like that.

"Holly, stop." Allison said. "Please for me, stop."

Holly saw it for what it really was and needed to be.

"No, Allison." Holly said. "You NEED to be with John or Vanna or BOTH of them. You NEED real people."

Allison tried to hug Holly.

"I'm sorry." Allison said.

Holly pulled away.

"I need to put Summer in her room." Holly said.

She was done.

She selected a song on her player and left it for Allison.

'Rhythm Of The Rain' by 'The Cascades', softly drifted around the room.

Why Is She Here

Why is what one has
Never 'good enough'
It seems some can't recognize
When they have the right stuff

Is it because it's the same thing
The same face everyday
Maybe they are tired
Of things the other will say

Toleration becomes the way
As things gel into stagnation
One or both may seek
Some form of variation

Things really only last
Six months to two years
Anything that drags on longer
Is bound to produce grief and tears

You don't need her
Let me make this clear
That's what I'm for
Why is she here

Nobody