Chapter 717

Don't Worry

John was very upset that they'd lost the boxcars. They carried HK equipment of some type. He believed now that they should've commandeered them when they left the old newspaper plant. What they carried could kill many people in the future. He'd hoped for a bigger prize. He'd hoped that they would be led to some version of Skynet or some stockpile of HK equipment somewhere. That wasn't the case. It appeared that they'd been played.

It reminded him that to gamble, also meant one could lose. The game wasn't over yet but in the second round they'd come up short. Now they needed to backtrack and see if they were any better at being detectives than gamblers.

"I want you to keep control of whatever satellites you need to find the boxcars." John said. "Pass the word to CamNet."

John Henry knew CamNet received the word as soon as John said it. He knew both of their servers already searched everywhere. It wasn't long before they were rewarded with a hit.

"I've just received the new satellite imagery." John Henry said.

John sat up in his chair and looked at John Henry. Maybe this was the break that they needed.

"Have you found them?" John asked.

John Henry tried a new approach by using visual imagery of what they knew the boxcars physically looked like.

"I believe so." John Henry said. "The 'reporting marks' have been changed."

John was somewhat surprised. That was much quicker than he thought it was going to take. He wondered how John Henry knew they were the right boxcars if the information was changed.

"How do you know it's them?" John asked.

John Henry double checked his search parameters.

"I've identified them by the rust patterns on the roof." John Henry said. "They're as distinct as fingerprints."

If these were the right boxcars, John didn't want to lose them again.

"Where are they?" John asked. "Can we get to them?"

John Henry was pleased to see that the boxcars, as usual, hadn't traveled that far from the point of origin.

"They're headed south through Cajon Pass." John Henry said. "That's still close enough to inspect them in a short time once they stop."

John tried to determine who the closest team was.

"Do we have anyone who can intercept them?" John asked.

John Henry felt some caution and restraint was in order for their next move. He didn't want to get caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"We can but they're most likely being watched by Grays or Skynet in some manner." John Henry said. "It'll tip our hand that we've found them."

John didn't want to lose the boxcars again. He especially didn't want to lose what was in them.

"I want what is in them or I want them destroyed." John said.

John Henry didn't want to act too early.

"We still need to use caution." John Henry said. "We don't want to become targets."

John hoped that the Skynet forces left some 'fingerprints' behind in their nefarious activities. He also wondered if they used the same vehicles and they showed up in multiple locations.

"Can you identify any vehicles that were used at any of the locations the boxcars have been or from where the trackers were left at in Arizona?" John asked.

That was one aspect that John Henry already started on.

"I'm checking." John Henry said. "I may have found two."

John had a pretty good feeling as to what they would find in the way of at least some of the vehicles.

"Don't tell me. One of them was a white van." John said.

John Henry didn't say anything.

"Well?" John prompted.

John Henry displayed several images.

"Yes. One appears to be." John Henry said. "The other is a dual cab pick-up truck."

The description of the pickup truck made John remember Derek, the one that was killed - Future Derek. It still bothered him. They'd just left him there, dead. It was like he didn't matter. It was very traumatic for him. Even now to think about it bothered him greatly. Soon after that his mother was arrested and not long after that he 'destroyed' Cameron. How could he have done that to her? What was he thinking? They only needed to wait a little bit until Sarah was transferred and then they could have broken her out of custody like they did with Future Derek before.

John Henry could see that John looked distressed.

"John, what's wrong?" John Henry asked.

John's emotions were all at a heightened level currently. He spoke harshly even though he didn't intend to. It just happened.

"EVERYTHING…." John said.

John didn't need to wonder why at times he felt Cameron resented him, even if she loved him. He remembered the way he'd rubbed Future Riley in her face and backed Future Riley over her. The way Future Riley and him made fun of Cameron. The night he made love with Future Riley in the truck and smirked at Cameron about it the next morning. He remembered the look of hurt on Cameron's face and – he didn't care. The worst part of all was that he'd almost pushed the button to terminate Cameron over Future Riley's death later on. So much of this was on him. It made him very angry at himself. Between Future John and himself, it was no wonder Cameron suffered so much.

"EVERYTHING…." John said again.

John Henry knew that humans needed to 'talk' about things sometimes. He wasn't sure exactly what that was supposed to do because it didn't actually change anything. No new information was learned by the person who did the talking either. They simply rehashed what they already knew.

"Do you want to talk about it?" John Henry asked.

John was aware that any talk of what happened previously always came back and pointed the finger at him.

"NO!" John said. "We have a job to do."

John knew Cameron needed to do a job as well. Her job was to protect the future and make sure he shared companionship and the women he loved – Future John loved. It was what Future John programmed into her. It's what HE did to her. Everything that was 'wrong' with her, he was the cause of. It's a wonder Cameron didn't hate him. Maybe she did. Right now he hated himself.

Maybe it was time to do what he was supposed to do.

"Where's Savannah at?" John asked.

John Henry already knew the answer to that question.

"Savannah's with Cameron and Young Allison." John Henry said.

There it is - The 'Natural Order', and he was missing from it.

John was somewhat aroused when he asked about Savannah. When he heard that she was with Young Allison he was aroused even more. He really wanted both of their virginity. He wanted to be the first with both of them.

"How old is Young Allison now?" John asked. "She looks more mature every time I see her."

John Henry was sure it would be a mistake for John to pursue Young Allison at this time. He knew there were many countries around the world where there weren't such inhibitions for older males to do that.

"She's not old enough." John Henry said. "That may cause some issues with Claire, Sarah and Savannah."

John quickly tried to play it off like he referenced something else.

"That's not what I meant…." John said.

John wondered if Cameron would stoop to using hormones on Young Allison. He wouldn't put anything past Cameron. She was programmed with a mission to accomplish. He'd challenged her and she said she would prevail. He knew Cameron never lost because it was never over until she 'won'.

He knew he needed to get his head back in the game.

"Forget it." John said. "Have our people in Arizona encountered anything or anyone tracking them?"

John Henry made sure all the teams were on alert. The most challenging part was the fact that due to the remoteness of the area, any way in or out was like going through a funnel.

"No." John Henry said. "There are only so many ways in and out of those areas. They've all acquired new transportation."

John figured that they used the normal method of auto theft.

"I probably don't want to know." John said.

John Henry didn't see it as a long term problem. Normally they only 'borrowed' the vehicles for a week or two at a time. Sometimes it was only for a few hours.

"It's doubtful." John Henry said.

John wanted to use those troops for the next phase of the operation. He wanted them to arrive there safely and not already be identified when they arrived.

"Have them clandestinely change vehicles at least two more times and converge on the area where it appears the boxcars are headed." John said. "I want that Coltan. I want to know where they're taking the HK Tracks or HK drones."

John still wanted them destroyed if they couldn't put the grab on them. What was worse was they didn't even know what was in those boxcars. They'd expected to do an easy trace and another quick victory. At least he was. Things just didn't work out like that.

John Henry would make sure that the boxcars were tracked going forward visually.

"I'll notify Cameron of these developments." John Henry said. "The boxcars will be targeted in case we need to destroy them."

John was done wasting time and fooling around. They couldn't get a quick victory he wanted the game over.

"If we can't get the goods ourselves, I want it done anyway." John said.

Savannah was worried about Young Allison. She was here to see Allison as well. She looked forward to sharing with Allison. Somehow because she needed to see Young Allison also, it seemed to make everything feel 'weird'. She felt very conflicted.

She went to see Allison. They were both hungry to 'share'.

Allison left her door open. Savannah entered and went to close the door. She looked back as the door was about to close. She saw Young Allison look at her. She felt bad for her. It stabbed her heart deeply. She was lustful for Allison but she felt a deeper calling. Her true calling. She was very aware what she was about to do with Allison was exactly what Young Allison wanted her to do with her. The fact that they were actually the same person somehow made it seem even more bizarre.

Allison was all over her as soon as the door closed. She knew there was something more important than her sexual gratification and lust. She stopped Allison from undressing her.

"I need to be with Young Allison." Savannah said.

Allison stopped but she was clearly confused.

"What?" Allison asked.

This wasn't what Allison expected.

Savannah needed to think about the speech that she'd just given Young Allison and what she'd indicated about knowing limitations and restraints.

"I need to spend time with her." Savannah said. "It's very important to her and to me."

Allison didn't see what the problem was. They were the same person after all. Besides she was highly sexually aroused right now and desired sexual stimulation with repeated gratification.

"I am 'her'." Allison said.

Savannah was well aware that if she stayed with Allison now that Young Allison would turn back to CamNet. It wouldn't be to punish her. It would be because she felt comfortable to turn to CamNet in a time of need.

"She needs me now. I need to keep her from going down a path she'll have trouble recovering from." Savannah said. "It will mess up her life and her future. If things go too far they'll leave emotional scars that never heal properly."

Allison knew the pain and hurt of scars like that. She thought back on what she saw and it still troubled her. It was wrong on so many levels for Young Allison to be led down that path by a supercomputer.

"I understand. Go help her." Allison said. "I can see the seriousness of this. There's no way it can end well for anyone."

Allison moved up and kissed Savannah and placed Savannah's hands on her breasts.

Savannah couldn't help but give them a few gentle squeezes. She knew that her duty was elsewhere currently.

"I'm sorry." Savannah said.

Allison still held Savannah's hands firmly to her breasts. She wanted to leave her with a reminder of what she could offer. At this particular moment in time she didn't think about Cammy and that Savannah was able to share something exactly like this every day.

"I have a few things she doesn't, not yet anyway." Allison said. "Go to her."

Savannah left the room and found Young Allison in the bunker sobbing.

Young Allison looked up with surprise and love in her eyes. She quickly wiped away the tears. Her heart that was about to break, suddenly was filled with love and joy.

"You came for me?" Young Allison asked. "You didn't stay with her."

Savannah was glad that she made this decision. It was the proper one under the current circumstances.

"No. You need me more." Savannah said. "I'll always come for you."

Savannah gave Young Allison a hug.

Young Allison held Savannah close and tight. She never wanted to let go. Today wasn't a good day for her.

Savannah hoped to make the day somewhat special for Young Allison if she could.

"What would you like to do?" Savannah asked. "I'm here for you, for us."

Young Allison remembered the report of the 'mermaid' and the small child. She wanted to improve herself as she spent time with Savannah.

"I want to go swimming. Anna can't swim." Young Allison said. "I want to be able to swim as well as you can."

Savannah knew something was up and decided to prompt Young Allison. She wanted to see what Young Allison actually knew about what occurred at the pier the other day.

"In a pool or in the ocean?" Savannah asked.

Young Allison wanted to be proficient in any body of water.

"I want to do both." Young Allison said. "I want to be able to do what you did - can."

There it was. Savannah was pretty sure at this point that Young Allison found out about the rescue that she'd accomplished. It bothered her slightly since she'd asked for no one to say anything to anyone.

"Did someone say something?" Savannah asked. "Remember, we will never lie to each other. I know that sometimes things seem very personal. If you can't say or tell me, then say that. I'll leave it alone. I know how the truth can hurt sometimes. Usually time will fix that and we can discuss it at a later date. It's only when I see that there's going to be personal harm to someone I care about and love that I'll push the issue and intervene on my own."

"I don't know if I should say." Young Allison said. "You're already angry at her."

Savannah understood what that meant. She also wanted to clarify her intervention into what happened earlier. She didn't want to be upset or angry with anyone. She did need them all to understand how things needed to be though and why.

"I'm not angry at CamNet or you." Savannah said. "I don't want her hurt or you either. I'm trying to help both of you. Everyone needs to understand that there's no substitute for experience. Sometimes based on past experience, someone can offer insight as to what's going to happen if someone continues down a path that leads to nowhere. I want to make it clear that I'm not upset or angry with anyone about anything."

"Really?" Young Allison asked.

Savannah thought about Cameron's poem book and the pain that was behind most of those poems. It was pain that Cameron never needed to suffer or experience. It was mostly thoughtless acts by others that created that pain and those problems.

"I don't want either of you hurt because I care about both of you." Savannah said. "I love both of you. CamNet is a version of Cameron. I love Cameron. I love you. To hurt people isn't good for anyone - ever."

Young Allison was very proud Savannah saved a child's life. She didn't think that there was anything wrong if anyone knew about that. As far as she knew she was the only one who did know other than Cameron and Savannah and of course John Henry and CamNet. Since the choices of the people who knew about the event were limited, She didn't see anything wrong with telling Savannah about what she knew and how she new it.

"She – CamNet, showed me a news report about a 'redheaded mermaid' who came from the deep water and saved a child. She then swam off before they could go on the beach." Young Allison said. "I know it was you. CamNet didn't tell me but I know it was you."

Savannah felt goose bumps on her skin as she remembered and relived the experience.

"It was." Savannah said. "I didn't want anyone to know. I don't like the 'attention' for doing the right thing. Sometimes in life there is a risky choice to be made. Because it is the right choice at the moment, it's not a hard choice to make. We do what we have to do when we have to do it. That's all I did. I saw someone who needed help. I knew that I would be able to help them and I helped them. If you look at it from that point of view, it's really not a big deal. It was just what needed to be done at that particular point in time"

Young Allison still saw it differently. A small child was alive right now because Savannah acted.

"You saved a life." Young Allison said. "You're a hero."

Savannah didn't view any of her past actions as heroic. They were all things that needed to be done and she was there and able to do them. She didn't view herself as special in any way.

"I'm just a teenager, Allison." Savannah said. "Our lives are all very complicated and confusing. We can hurt each other without trying."

Allison listened from the bunker door. She was so proud of Savannah. She also knew she herself made the hard choices before as well as Vanna. It made her love Savannah even more.

She was surprised to hear that Savannah saved a small child from drowning in the ocean. She would need to go look up the incident and see what she could find on the internet. There was bound to be something. If there wasn't, it showed John Henry and CamNet were hard at work and carried out Savannah's wishes. That in itself would confirm the event was true.

She also wondered if CamNet would tell her if she asked her directly about it. She was a little worried that CamNet was going to be angry with her for 'telling on her' about Young Allison. That was OK too. They could talk about it. Savannah wasn't the only one who could 'offer' herself to CamNet in Young Allison's place. The idea actually intrigued her. It would be one way for her to be with 'Cameron' even if it wasn't Cameron directly. She wasn't really sure how everything would work since CamNet currently was nothing but wires and electricity inside of a metal box.

Cameron listened to the whole exchange between Savannah and Young Allison. She also watched Allison watch the two girls in the bunker. She was proud of all of them. She knew she would make Young Allison the best of them all…. Well, equal to Savannah anyway. Savannah was the greatest.

Deep down somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that there was 'another'. For some reason none of that 'clicked' inside of her head yet. Maybe there was a reason for that too.

Holly, Anna and Summer returned. Holly and Anna went next door after they returned Summer to Claire.

Claire watched all of them. She clung to Summer and kissed the top of her head.

"I won't let them have you." Claire said softly.

A figure stood behind Claire and Summer.

"Don't you want her protected?" Hanna asked.

Claire jumped a little.

"Of course I do." Claire said. "I just don't want to lose her."

Hanna felt the burden of the 'Neural Interface' with Vanna. Those thoughts and images we're very prevalent in her mind right now. They were all extremely disturbing.

"You don't know what was done to Vanna when she was Young Allison's age." Hanna said. "I have those 'memories'."

Claire felt guilty about not being able to protect Allison in the future that she grew up in. It wasn't really her fault because she was dead. She didn't want that abuse to happen again even at her own expense. She would gladly exchange her life for theirs, for her daughters.

"You MUST protect her – protect them." Claire said. "My girls come before me. If it ever comes down to it, I want my girls safe over me."

Hanna had strong feelings for all of them.

"I love you and all of them." Hanna said.

Claire knew enough of what happened to the girls from the future.

"Promise me that my daughters will come first." Claire said. "No matter what will happen to me."

Hanna hoped it would never come to that.

"I promise, Claire." Hanna said.

Claire felt a sense of relief for something that she hoped never happened.

"Thank You." Claire said.

Hanna pointed out that no one would be alone going forward.

"Summer and Jan will have each other to protect." Hanna said.

Claire already saw the foundations for what Hanna just indicated. She didn't want to go 'there' for a few more years, five would be better. Deep down inside of her she knew it would probably happen sooner rather than later in the next few years. She believed that whatever happened should be the choice of the girls. She didn't see anything wrong with them 'experimenting' as they grew older. She actually believed they would be a lot happier and suffer a lot less heartaches. She also knew that they would better be able to satisfy each other than any male ever would be able to do.

"Don't worry, Mommy." Summer said. "Cameron will protect ALL of us. Cameron's invincible. Cameron's eternal."

Claire could see the love and sparkle in Summer's eyes when she spoke. It did sadden her some because she knew Summer already belonged to Cameron.

I'm Worried About You

There are many things
Which seem to cause me worry
Things that should be clear
Are cloudy and blurry

Life is a gamble
Filled with indecision
Putting my mind and heart
On a course for a collision

Do we do what we want
Or try to do what is right
It seems either way
Both end in some type of fight

Each new day evaporates
We trudge on blindly
We take the blows
Seldom treated kindly

I worry about me
I worry about us too
But most of all
I'm worried about you

Nobody