Chapter 684

I Can Eat

John spent some time looking around the area where the captured HK drone was being tested. He remembered what Savannah did when she was out with any Terminators in the field. He made a point to stop and talk to each one of them. He asked them if any of them had a problem or grievance that they wanted addressed. He told each of them that they could come to him at any time with anything and he would listen and attempt to deal with the issue. He thought that seemed to please them. He really didn't know. He couldn't read Cameron's Terminators at all. They seemed pretty stone faced all of the time but we're cordial to meet him. Technically they worked for Cameron and not the Resistance or him.

He expected another run in with Cammy. He wondered what he would do if she really tried to hit on him. If they were alone and she took off her clothes he didn't think he'd be able to resist her. What would it hurt to knock one off? No really, what would be the big deal? It wouldn't hurt anything or anyone. Well, it wouldn't hurt anything anyway.

Bob could see that John's mind wandered. They were done with the inspection and review of the captured equipment. He wanted to get him back to base before there were any additional problems. He wasn't sure what Cammy's game was but he was pretty sure she wasn't upset at him earlier, even if she tried to act like it. It seemed that 'show' was mostly for John.

John took one last look around for Cammy before they left. He didn't spot her. He was on his way back to the base with Bob. Now that he'd thought about it, he couldn't get the thought out of his mind. He wondered what he would've done if he'd been stuck in the alternate future with Cameron's chip in Bob's chassis. He knew 'Cameron' in Bob's chassis always backed off and allowed him to be 'alone' with Allison. Maybe she feared his mother destroyed her chassis in the past. Whatever it was, Cameron allowed him the freedom to choose. Again, it was Cameron who sacrificed for him.

There were other female Terminators and Restorators in the that future but Cameron didn't want to be in one of their chassis for some reason. Maybe she wanted her 'first remembered experience' to be in her own chassis. He hoped that it was. It made him wonder what really happened between Future John and Cameron. It also made him wonder if she was programmed as a 'Metal Whore' when she was first captured and reprogrammed as she feared.

It was all some heavy thought.

John arrived with Bob to the Resistance base.

Bob could see that John was lost in thought. They'd been back in the carpool area for ten minutes now. He thought it was time to go into the building.

"Do you want to go inside?" Bob asked. "Or is there somewhere else you wanted to go?"

John blinked his eyes and looked around.

"That was fast." John said. "I think I'm all done for the day."

They went inside. Bob kept an eye on John to make sure he got back to the Command Center without further incident or delay.

John Henry looked up when John entered the Command Center.

"How'd the testing go?" John Henry asked.

John was impressed with what he saw. He'd actually seen several things that he was impressed with. One was the new HK drone. The other was Cammy's breasts.

"Everything was better than I expected." John said. "That HK drone was really quiet."

John decided not to mention what Cammy showed him.

John Henry was a little worried about the advances in Skynet technology in the present.

"Recently we've experienced trouble detecting some of the HK drones we've faced before." John Henry said. "It seems this new generation will be even harder."

John didn't want Skynet to get a stronger foothold in the present.

"That's even the more reason we need to nip this in the bud and make sure an assembly line isn't set up." John said. "Cammy indicated it was hand fabricated."

John Henry ran down every lead they came across as well as everything he could speculate on. He tried to keep track of raw materials and equipment being sent or moved anywhere around the area.

"I search for everything." John Henry said. "The bigger threat will be if they get a Terminator assembly line set up."

Bob stayed with John all the way into the Command Center. He remained silent until now.

"This is getting better by the minute." Bob said.

John glanced back at Bob and smiled faintly. He'd heard him say that more than a few times. He found it somewhat amusing, even if it was serious in nature as to its inference. He did want to have some teams ready to act though if John Henry came across any leads or solid hit.

"As soon as you get anything, we'll move on it." John said. "I want to hit them hard."

Bob knew that was how Cameron acted. He wanted to point that out to John after their earlier conversation.

"Do you mean just like Cameron?" Bob asked.

John knew it was the same. He did understand Cameron's concern for all of them and her need to act to do what she thought would protect all of them. He was worried that protection mainly was directed at him to keep him out of the field and safer at the base. He knew that no place was safe but there were places that were safer than others.

"We can act just like Cameron." John said. "As soon as she detects a threat, she eliminates it."

John didn't always like the way Cameron did things but he knew she did what she felt she needed to do. He could better understand that now. He also knew Savannah put herself in danger by going with Cameron whenever she could. It always seemed to make Cameron use more caution. It also increased the risk to Savannah. He'd viewed the video files and drone footage and was aware that Savannah faced more danger than any other human he'd ever seen, even when he was in the alternate future. He really didn't know if there was anything he could do about that. It didn't seem so. It appeared that if he really wanted to get Savannah out of the field that he needed to take her as 'a wife' and have children with her. It was exactly what Cameron wanted him to do. He really wondered if she would stop at anything to achieve her goals and complete her mission. The sad part was he knew when Cameron was done with Savannah that Young Allison was next. Everything would repeat itself again. Now that he thought about Savannah and Young Allison again, he really wanted their virginity.

Sarah stopped by to see Riley. She felt no animosity towards this version of Riley at all. She knew she was a completely different individual than Future Riley, even if they were technically the same person. The circumstances were totally different.

"How do you feel?" Sarah asked.

Riley looked down at her belly and ran her hand gently over it.

"Tell you the truth, I feel like a whale." Riley said. "Do you know where Derek's at?"

Sarah smiled. She'd been down that road twice. She knew exactly what Riley referred to. She also knew the beauty of what would transpire at the end of the journey.

"Derek went out with Kyle earlier." Sarah said. "He said you were sleeping when he left and he didn't want to wake you. He asked me to stop by and look in on you, he's worried about you. If you need help with anything, just ask me. I know how it is and I'll help you however I can. We all will. Don't be afraid to ask anyone, including John or any of the Terminators."

Riley touched her belly again.

"I think it's almost time." Riley said. "I can feel it."

Sarah smiled to herself. She'd thought the same thing many times. It was always a lot longer than it seemed like it was going to be or should be. Nine months was nine months and there weren't many shortcuts. If there were, they usually weren't a good thing.

"You still have a little ways to go." Sarah said. "It just seems like you are going to explode and you think you can't get any bigger but you do."

Riley looked down at her body. There is one other thing that bothered her but she didn't mention it. She thought that her breasts would get bigger the closer she got to delivery. They stayed pretty much the same size as they'd always been. They weren't small but they weren't gigantic either. She didn't want to think about it. She knew that there were mothers that were unable to nurse in the future. She hated to think that those were the lucky ones because they were able to have a child. Then they were unable to take care of it.

"That sums it up." Riley said.

Sarah thought that maybe Riley could use a break from the Resistance base.

"I was going to take Jan to see Summer." Sarah said. "Do you want to come with me?"

Riley still felt that she was close to delivery. She didn't want to get caught away from home or in this case away from the base.

"I don't know if I should travel." Riley said.

Sarah didn't think it would be a problem. She knew they were going to need some 'muscle' to accompany them. She decided to look for a couple of the Metal girls. She liked going places with them. They were all much different and more outgoing than Cameron. They seemed more like human girls than scary robots from the future. Well, maybe Gail always seemed a little bit stiffer than the rest of them. She sure did look pretty though when she smiled.

"I'll see if I can get a couple of the Metal girls to go with us." Sarah said. "They're usually quite entertaining and amusing to be with when I go out."

Riley was still a little hesitant.

"Let me think about it." Riley said. "If not, go without me. Jan needs to get out more often."

Sarah knew Jan should get out more but she'd tried that with John. It always seemed to have complications and end badly. The Resistance base normally was loaded with Terminators and Resistance fighters from the future. It seemed to be a little bit more secure than any other location that she could be at.

"I feel she's better protected here." Sarah said. "I'll check on you later."

Sarah left.

Riley wanted to go. She touched her belly and frowned. She did want to go out. She just didn't know how welcome she was. She always felt haunted by the actions of her other future self, Future Riley. Even though nobody said anything she thought they all held her accountable for what the other version of her did to Cameron and John for that matter. She sighed and went back to her room.

She took off her top and looked at her breasts in the mirror. She was sure they weren't any bigger yet. When was that supposed to happen?

Savannah knew she'd become very promiscuous, like Vanna was. She was aware Cameron facilitated all of her 'adventures'. She didn't want it to be a problem for them. She wanted to be direct and open with Cameron.

"Cameron, does it bother you when I'm with Allison, any of them or Young Jesse?" Savannah asked. "Does it bother you when I'm with the other Metal girls?"

Cameron didn't feel her hand glitch, she smiled. She never wanted Savannah to feel lonely, rejected or replaced like she'd felt.

"No, it doesn't." Cameron said. "I want you to feel happiness and be able to share. I want you to love and be loved."

Savannah wasn't sure of her next question and on how shaky of ground it would be or not. She decided to ask it anyway. She'd really like to know how some things weren't viewed the same way.

"Please excuse my next question. I don't mean for it to be controversial or cause you any problems. How's that different than when John was with Future Riley?" Savannah asked. "I'm sharing my body and myself with others, a lot of them."

Savannah knew John and Future Riley made love at least once. There was a lot of heavy petting too. A lot of it was done in front of Cameron.

Cameron did feel a glitch impulse this time. When John went to terminate her, she'd told him the truth about how she felt. He still 'killed' her anyway. She still felt anger and resentment if she thought about the past events. They seemed unfair.

"I told John I loved him." Cameron said. "I made it clear I was 'available' and I'd evolved. I offered my chassis to him to use. He rubbed Future Riley in my face. In EVERY instance where John, Future Riley and I were together, John always chose her and backed her over me. They made fun of me and laughed at me. In front of her, John treated me like - Nobody."

Savannah wondered sometimes exactly how Cameron thought about different things. Love was one of them. She loved Cameron dearly and she did feel guilt sometimes when she was with the other girls. She knew that every time Cammy made her finish that it wasn't Cammy to her; it was Cameron who's the one who did it.

"You've told me you love me and I've told you that I love you." Savannah said. "You've even provided me with 'yourself', through a surrogate, your clone."

Cameron wasn't sure if she was the one who directed Savannah in the choice of her sexual partners or not. She based Savannah's choices on those that she made for her. She'd done that based on what Vanna's preference was. Maybe she further planted those thoughts deep in Savannah's mind when she'd 'conditioned' her nightly from the time she was a girl. Vanna made those choices for herself because she couldn't stand men and hated them all because of all the abuse she'd suffered. Maybe Savannah made the same choices because that's what she'd told her to do. Females were the choice that she'd made for Savannah on her own. Maybe she made those same choices for Savannah because that was the choice that she really wanted for herself. Instead she needed to do Future John's bidding and follow his choices because that's what he programmed her to do. Either way she believed that Savannah followed her heart. That was all that mattered to her.

"For you, it's natural to be with any of the girls, Metal or human. Females are in your true nature." Cameron said. "That's what I wanted for you. It's allowed you to be a better person and be loved by all."

Regardless of anything else, Savannah knew that everyone loved Cameron.

"Everyone loves you, Cameron." Savannah said.

Cameron could only think of all of her shortcomings and problems that she'd experienced over the years. None of them left her with a good feeling.

"I don't want to talk about it." Cameron said.

Savannah could feel Cameron pull away. She wanted Cameron to open up, not contract.

"Cameron, I'm here for you." Savannah said. "Talk to me."

Cameron always felt a sense of elation and security when Savannah was near her.

"I know you are, Savannah." Cameron said. "You always have been."

Savannah did the 'Neural Interface' so the files could be used with Anna. She updated that 'Neural Interface' at least once a week if not twice a week. She wanted those files out there because she wanted Cameron to experience them as well as Anna. She wanted Cameron to know that was the whole purpose behind it.

"Have you ever shared any of the files Anna has of me?" Savannah asked.

Cameron tried not to but she couldn't help to want to look at them. She knew she couldn't download the files and mingle them with her own because that would change who she was. She still wanted to know who Savannah really was inside and the 'Neural Interface' allowed her to do that.

"Yes." Cameron said. "I've asked her to share some of 'you' with me. I've only 'looked' but not downloaded them."

Savannah knew that Anna wasn't allowed to be with any male or female, human or Terminator. That seemed very restrictive to her

"You don't allow Anna to 'share' with anyone." Savannah said.

Cameron felt justified in her decision. Even if she didn't know what that decision was based on.

"I'm her base program." Cameron said. "You're her personality. She's to remain pure and unspoiled for now."

Savannah felt Cameron suffered from self imposed restrictions. She honestly didn't see the need for them.

"You don't allow yourself to share either." Savannah said.

Cameron frowned. She felt a great sense of frustration.

"I want to." Cameron said. "I almost have. We almost have."

Savannah knew that she could take Cameron. That wasn't what she wanted. That wasn't what she wanted for Cameron. She wanted it to be Cameron's choice and her decision. Cameron needed to be the one to take her.

"I know. I can't push you." Savannah said. "It has to be organic for you. Like when we were on the pier."

Cameron felt a rush of joy to think about what Savannah just said. She'd been so close to what she'd wanted. Their lips just started to touch as the incident occurred.

"It seemed so natural to me." Cameron said. "I felt almost 'human'. I forgot I was made from metal and synthetic material. I feel like a 'real girl' when I'm with you at those times."

Sometimes Cameron felt like she was 'Allison' when she was with Savannah. She knew that she wasn't but she still felt that way.

Savannah could think of only one way that Cameron could make a statement like that.

"How do you know what a 'human' feels like?" Savannah asked. "Is it from your files of Allison – Future Allison?"

Cameron knew there was a certain amount of perception and interpretation involved to enjoy the 'Neural Interface' files. That's what she was designed to do to blend in to be better infiltrator.

"Yes and the files of you that I've looked at." Cameron said.

Savannah was worried about several of the times when Cameron disappeared for a few days at a time and ended up thinking that she was 'Alison'. During those times, Cameron didn't know she was a Terminator and really thought that she was a human female.

"Do you know what triggers you to become - Allison?" Savannah asked.

Cameron asked herself those same questions many times.

"When that happens, I believe I AM Allison." Cameron said. "I don't know I'm a very scary robot then. I don't know what I really am and that I'm not 'real'."

Savannah often wondered if Cameron or one of the other Terminators could act like that all of the time and not know that they were a Terminator but think they were a real human female.

"So if you stayed like that, would live life as a human female and not know the difference?" Savannah asked. "What about food and waste products?"

Cameron was aware that she didn't have a full digestive tract like a real human. Sadly she also knew that she didn't have a working reproductive tract either. The only apparatus she was created with seemed to allow others pleasure by the use of it. It seemed to provide them with more pleasure than she derived from it. She was always left with a slimy mess to deal with.

"I don't know." Cameron said. "I can eat."

Savannah knew that was true but it seemed rather limited in scope from what she'd witnessed.

"But it's usually only a little." Savannah said. "Normally it's just a bite or two."

Cameron felt frustrated over those events. Not only did she not have any control, she also seemed to have no recollection, maybe she was left with a fragment or two at best.

"I don't know." Cameron said. "It's only ever been a few days at a time. I don't seem to have any files related to it. It's like what happens is erased when I recover."

Savannah wondered if Cameron really wanted to be a human female or at least live her life as one.

"Would you want to be 'Allison' all the time?" Savannah asked.

Cameron did remember she actually was happy when she was 'Alison' on more than one occasion. She remembered the feeling and it was beautiful. Those were the only times that she was truly happy like a human could be.

"Yes." Cameron said. "I'm happy when I'm her."

Savannah thought of another interesting prospect.

"Could Anna ever think she's me or a 'Savannah'?" Savannah asked.

Cameron wasn't sure what would happen. She didn't know if her episodes were based on the damage done to her chip or not.

"I don't know." Cameron said. "I'm her base program. She could think she was me, Allison or you."

Savannah wondered why only Cameron seems to be afflicted.

"I don't believe any of the other Metal girls has malfunctioned in this manner." Savannah said.

Savannah wondered if maybe it wasn't malfunction but 'evolution'. It could be a design so perfect that the Terminator wouldn't know what they really were anymore.

Cameron felt flawed on many levels. The feeling of 'not good enough' always haunted her.

"I've received much damage over the years." Cameron said. "I'm defective."

Savannah saw it differently. Upon further reflection, she was sure of it.

"I think you're continuously evolving." Savannah said. "I don't think you're even close to being done yet either. I don't think it's a defect but part of your design."

Cameron wished she knew the answer to that.

Derek and Kyle were out on recon with Jim. They'd needed to pressure John Henry non stop to get a non combat operation out of him. John was away earlier with Bob and they were able to pull a recon assignment from him. When John was there, he was usually the one that blocked it to prevent them from going out.

Regardless of anything else, the Reese brothers were pleased to be out in the field and doing something more than sitting around the base.

"Do you think this recon will produce anything?" Derek asked.

Kyle was a little worried that they may have been given a 'make work' assignment.

"No, but we still need to check it out." Kyle said.

John Henry showed them some video of the new HK drone that was captured before they left.

"I can't believe how quiet that new HK drone was." Derek said.

The thought of that sent chills down Kyle's spine.

"If we'd faced those, we would've been creamed out." Kyle said. "You can't even hear it coming. At least we were able to have a few moments' notice."

Derek needed to agree with him. He was sure they would've been wiped out with the new generation of HK drones.

"Those were bad days." Derek said. "We didn't have much warning."

Kyle wanted to ask about the baby but he knew it made Derek nervous.

"Are you getting excited?" Kyle asked.

Derek swallowed hard and quickly glanced at Kyle

"Do you mean about the baby?" Derek asked.

Kyle hoped he hadn't overstepped.

"What else?" Kyle asked.

Derek had been with more than a few women over the years. He never thought he'd be able to become a father.

"It still doesn't seem real." Derek said.

Kyle was pretty sure the next subject would be pretty touchy.

"It will when it happens." Kyle said. "Does Riley still want to give it to Cameron?"

Derek felt like he was punched in the gut. He was mystified by Riley's desires.

"Yes." Derek said. "I don't understand it. It's probably our only chance to have a child."

Kyle didn't think it was something Derek needed to worry about.

"Cameron won't accept it." Kyle said. "You should know that."

Derek shook his head slightly from side to side.

"I do know that." Derek said. "It's still in Riley's head."

Kyle wondered if Riley viewed it as some type of 'payoff' or 'trade' to Cameron.

"Is it because Cameron's taken care of Riley's younger self and her family?" Kyle asked.

Derek was sure of that, at least for some of the reason.

"Yes. That's part of it" Derek said. "She can't believe Cameron would do that for her and her family, you know, after all the other things."

Kyle knew that Cameron was certainly a very unique individual.

"Cameron's a stone cold killer. We've all seen her in action." Kyle said. "But she's also loved by everyone, very generous and magnanimous. Anything anyone has ever asked for, she's provided it."

Derek thought that Cameron even took it a step further.

"And even things people haven't asked for but that she knows they'd like." Derek said.

"She really is like no other." Kyle said.

Kyle didn't think that only humans were impressed by Cameron

"How about you, Jim, what do you think?" Derek asked. "How do your fellow Terminators feel?"

"Cameron is our leader and inspiration." Jim said. "We'll follow her anywhere."

Kyle knew that Cameron wasn't the only one.

"What about Savannah?" Kyle asked.

"She's the 'Chosen One'." Jim said. "We'll follow her anywhere."

"Is it true Savannah can overrule Cameron?" Derek asked.

"Yes." Jim said. "Cameron trusts Savannah's judgment over hers."

"That is a lot of power for a teenager." Kyle said.

"Savannah's earned that right in combat and in protecting Cameron." Jim said. "She's taken down more Terminators herself, than all of the other humans combined. Only Cameron has deactivated more enemy Terminators than Savannah. That accomplishment isn't lost on any Terminator. Savannah's done many things and been willing to make any sacrifice, even if that sacrifice resulted in her own termination. Every Terminator knows this. We've seen it."

"That's true." Derek said. "Few people would have done what she's been willing to do."

"We have seen some of what she's done." Kyle said. "She doesn't like us to talk about it. She said anything she's done, anyone would have done and it should only be viewed for instructional use or training. She wants no credit or anything different than anyone else."

They all knew that attitude said something special about Savannah.

"Savannah's actions speak for themselves." Jim said. "Just like Cameron's do."

Kyle spotted something.

"Hey, check that out." Kyle said as he pointed.

Derek saw it right away.

"We might be onto something here." Derek said.

Jim didn't want this to turn into a combat operation. He'd been specifically warned about that.

"This recon is not to go hot." Jim said.

Derek and Kyle quickly glanced at each other.

"Are those Cameron's orders?" Derek asked.

"Do you wish to argue with her?" Jim asked.

Kyle didn't think that they needed to push it but if they did they would.

"We'll keep it cool for now." Kyle said. "But it may escalate."

Jim wanted to make sure that they knew about the newest find at the base.

"I'm updating John Henry now." Jim said.

"We may not have time." Derek said.

Jim wasn't the only Terminator that was there to watch their back.

"Ed, what do you have on your side?" Jim asked.

Derek and Kyle quickly looked at each other.

"It looks like trouble…." Ed said.

It was apparent that the lead paid off and the recon was about to become more than a recon.

That's What I Want

Life has much to offer
There are many from which to choose
The question then becomes
Do we win or do we lose

Which head will pick
Do we flip a coin
Or let the choice
Come from the groin

Can the heart
Override the mind
Or do the hormones
Make us all blind

Each day's a new challenge
Our ship headed for the rocks
Can our true love
Guide us to the docks

What is it I seek and desire
For what my will heart hunt
It is my Sweet Love
That's what I want

Nobody