Chapter 742

Lucky Man

Cameron was very pleased to observe the four of them interact. She was aware Cammy was the 'stand in' for Young Allison at this point. Seeing John and Savannah together seemed so natural. She wanted them to do this more often now. She really hoped Savannah would adapt and want to mate with John regularly. She didn't know they still hadn't done anything yet.

Savannah and John weren't really hungry now. They only tried a few bites before they left. They were both too keyed up by the recent events. Cameron called to see how the clean up was going and asked Gail to come and get them.

Gail brought the van up and picked all of them up from the side of the restaurant. She let John off at his SUV. Bob waited for him there.

John gave Cameron a hug and then Savannah one before he got out. As John pulled away from Savannah their hands lingered before they slowly separated. They both better understood what needed to be done. It wasn't only for Cameron and the future but for themselves as well. There was something beautiful waiting for them to explore and embrace.

Cammy was let off at her SUV and she would head back to the motel to collect Cameron and Savannah. She was to do a sweep of the small streets around the motel to make sure that there were no surprises waiting for them. Cameron wanted to check everything out at the motel.

Gail let Cameron and Savannah out at the motel. Cameron went to inspect the rooms. She was to keep watch on the front of the motel until Sheila and Ally joined her.

Both rooms were back to 'normal'. The hardwood floors were cleaned of blood. Bob even patched the hole in the wall. Gail quietly opened the supply room and replaced all the bedding. She even found some 'touch up' paint for Bob to use.

Earlier, when Gail left the bathroom she'd lifted the pillow John left on the center of the bed and checked the sheet with her hand. She found no trace that 'anything' actually happened. She decided to keep that information to herself. If Savannah felt a reason to indicate 'otherwise' then that was good enough for her. Savannah must have something in mind and she would back Savannah's play.

Ally and Sheila waited in the room the Grays came to attack when Cameron and Savannah arrived.

Cameron briefly looked around the room and nodded. There was a slight smile on her face.

"You did excellent work here." Cameron said.

Sheila and Ally were pleased Cameron approved of their work to get everything cleaned up.

Ally was a little worried about what happened previously. She felt the need to address it.

"Cameron, about earlier…." Ally started.

Cameron instantly felt self conscious about the earlier incidents. She knew that she'd pushed a little too hard. It was certainly more than she needed to. She shouldn't have made the threats that she made. She didn't want to make the Metal girls grovel for something she was just as guilty of as they were. She decided to use a page from 'Savannah's playbook'. The entire incident would be negated.

"There is no 'earlier'." Cameron said as she cut her off. "None of it happened. I apologize for my actions."

Ally and Sheila shared a long glance with each other at Cameron's statement.

Sheila decided to pick up the ball and run with it.

"What actions, love?" Sheila asked. "Nothing happened. You know that we're always there for you no matter what the situation is. That's all that counts in the end."

Cameron hugged both of them. John Henry indicated that the additional Terminators that arrived in the area would assist them with the body disposal.

"Were the deceased Grays picked up as scheduled?" Cameron asked.

Ally was pleased she didn't need to deal with the stiffs. She'd just assisted Sheila, Bob and Gail with the clean up.

"Two teams of Terminators showed up and took them and both of their vehicles away." Ally said.

Cameron liked it when things came together. John Henry updated her with even better news.

"We're done here then." Cameron said. "I've been informed by John Henry of our next target. It's under surveillance right now."

Sheila didn't want Savannah or John drug back into the danger zone. There seem to be enough teams of Terminators to handle things on their own.

"We can take care of it." Sheila said. "Savannah and John can get some rest."

Cameron saw she was serious and not joking around.

There was one other piece of business that Ally wanted to deal with. She really wanted to deal with it on her own. She looked down at her hands. She felt the need to wash them again. Everything she needed to touch in the surf shop disgusted her.

"I'd like to go back and terminate that creep at the surf shop before we go." Ally said.

Cameron understood the need for a 'personal termination'. Sometimes an individual needed to be dealt with. There was a certain amount of satisfaction to do it yourself. She did however want to leave a little distance before they did too much at Avila Beach.

"CamNet informed me he'll be arrested tomorrow and child porn will be found on his computer." Cameron said. "I'm sure his fellow prison mates will be more than happy to enact some of the scenes that he viewed others do on him once he's in the 'big house'. I'll make sure John Henry has word leaked out that he was a child abuser. I've used that technique before. The perpetrators were given a 'prison welcome'.

Ally liked that decision even better. It would be just and rightful punishment in this case. She was pretty sure with CamNet on the situation that things would be handled with 'extreme prejudice'.

"There probably was already some there." Ally said. "Thank you and thank CamNet for me."

Ally looked at her hands again. They didn't feel as 'dirty' now.

Savannah went into the bathroom where she'd choked the female to death with Cameron. In her mind she could still see the female Gray's eyes looking at her and pleading as the life faded from them. She was a collaborator and a safety risk. She was a Gray. She tried to kill her. Now she was dead. She won and the female Gray lost. It was the female Gray's eyes that still bothered her. There seemed to be a point the female Gray knew she was going to die and it was all because of her and what she'd done to make it happen.

Cameron didn't want Savannah to get lost in the past. The event was done and over with. There's no need to dwell on it. What needed to be done was done, it was just that simple.

"Savannah, it's time to go." Cameron said.

Savannah drew in a long breath.

"I'm ready." Savannah said.

Savannah exited the bathroom. She didn't look back.

Cameron was worried about Savannah. There was a new 'hardness' about her.

She'd taken out her anger on the female Gray and MADE Savannah kill her the way it was done.

Cameron didn't know if she should apologize or let Savannah tough it out. Maybe she would test the water a little.

"Savannah, I need to know if there are any problems." Cameron said as they joined Cammy.

Savannah understood the nature of the future in the ugliness that was associated with it.

"Nope…." Savannah said. "I'll protect MY family, OUR family and the future no matter what I have to do, to do it."

Cameron knew that she would too. In fact, she'd gone to extreme measures several times to do just that. Several times those almost resulted in her own termination.

She was a little worried about Savannah's physical well being too. She knew Savannah experienced something 'different' today.

"I understand." Cameron said. "Is everything else OK? If you're feeling sore or have any discomfort, we can take it easy."

Savannah knew Cameron referred to the 'intercourse' she thought occurred that didn't.

"The future of Skynet doesn't allow for those luxuries." Savannah said. "We'll finish the job we started. I need no special consideration nor do I ever ask for any. We move forward."

Cameron was a little worried sometimes because Savannah never said anything if she was hungry, tired or whatever.

"You're a trooper, Savannah." Cameron said.

Savannah believed she was taught by the best on how to do things.

"I do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done." Savannah said. "Just like you."

Cameron appreciated the praise from Savannah. She did want Savannah to be like her but she needed to remember Savannah was human and not a Terminator.

"That's why you're the 'Chosen One'." Cameron said.

Savannah was never really sure what that term actually meant. She saw things a little differently. It was actually quite simple from her point of view.

"I'm just a teenager trying to keep the world from being blown up." Savannah said. "I'm really nothing more."

The future was a weight that always rested on Savannah's shoulders.

Cameron scanned Savannah again.

Savannah liked to get updates from Cameron. There was nothing she felt different one way or the other at this point in the pregnancy.

"How's Vanna's baby?" Savannah asked.

Cameron flashed Savannah her beautiful smile.

"Everything is normal and healthy." Cameron said. "As are you…."

Savannah wanted to move the operation forward. She felt that she would have a certain amount of influence as long as she was with Cameron.

"Let's go say 'hello' to our other new Gray 'friends'…." Savannah said. "The ones we haven't met yet."

Cameron was updated by both John Henry and CamNet. There were actually several options open to them.

"We are." Cameron said.

Savannah believed their actions were more than justified based on the earlier events with the booby traps left behind for them in the boxcar and the building.

"They came to bring the fight to us." Savannah said. "Now we're going to bring it right back to them."

There was more at play here than they knew yet.

It was going to prove deadly to someone, maybe even one of them.

Bob and John were headed away from Avila Beach.

John hoped to get a lead on one of the big rigs that eluded them. He really wanted to get his hands on that HK equipment.

Bob watched the rear view mirror. It took him much longer than anticipated to spot what he knew would be there.

"We have a shadow." Bob said.

John figured as much as well.

"Is it Cameron?" John asked.

"No, it's Gail, Ally and Sheila." Bob said.

John was a little displeased with that news. He would have preferred one of the newer teams to take over that job. He felt the Metal girls should reinforce Cameron's team.

"They should be with Cameron and Savannah." John said.

John knew Cameron sent all her help away again to protect him. This always put Savannah at greater risk. That seemed to bother him even more now after today. He personally saw how far Savannah was willing to go if the situation warranted it. It was clear she would have been willing to sacrifice her life to protect him. That concept really bothered him.

Bob didn't disagree with John about help for Cameron and Savannah but he'd seen the same scenario played out time and time again. He really didn't think John should expect there to be a different outcome when he was in the field. It did remind him of something he viewed earlier.

"I received an image from CamNet when you were at your meal." Bob said.

John didn't think it was much of a meal. He wondered if he'd done something he shouldn't have. He'd needed to listen to the Metal girls rib him earlier. He hoped he hadn't given them something new to rub in his face.

"What was it?" John asked.

Bob was able to compare the image with one that he had on file.

"It was the four of you." Bob said. "You were all together and looked so 'happy'. I've seen you four like that before."

John wasn't sure when that event occurred. Maybe it was something that happened around the base one time. Everything sort of became a blur with time.

"Where was it at?" John asked.

Bob was pleased when he recollected the event.

"It was in the future, in Cameron's future." Bob said. "It was Future John, Future Savannah, Future Allison and Duplicate Cameron. It was the four of you, just like that."

John thought about some of his earlier thoughts when they were in the restaurant. There were a lot of things that went through his mind as he looked at Cameron, Cammy and Savannah.

"I was aware of that today as well and that Cammy was the 'stand in' for Allison." John said.

Bob was aware that there were several possibilities for 'Allison'.

"Which Allison was it?" Bob asked.

John got a little 'rise' out of the question. He knew which one he wanted and why but he would be content with any of the Allisons that he'd met. He really did look forward to getting some sack time with any of them, especially with Young Allison. He planned to claim her virginity as well.

"I really don't know." John said. "They all started from the same one so it will be 'Allison', one way or another."

Bob nodded. He'd interacted with all of them. Even though they were all the same person, they were all slightly different, especially in their adult form. He believed that anyone Cameron would be patterned after must have real merit of some type.

"It's the 'Natural Order'." Bob said.

John spent some time going over the way the events unfolded and in the order they unfolded. He believed that they were actually unorchestrated. He knew Cameron was capable of pulling off many things but this wasn't one of them.

"I don't really think Cameron set any of this up, at least to happen the way it did." John said. "It really is like she said it will be, or actually is, in the future."

Bob was aware of all the looks that any of the girls drew when they were out. They turned everyone's head. There was no doubt in his mind that Savannah Weaver and Allison Young in any variation, including a cyborg version of them, were beautiful by human standards and even Metal standards.

"You're a lucky man, John Connor." Bob said.

John quickly adjusted his pants when Bob checked his side view mirror.

"I don't usually feel like it." John said. "But I can see what is going to happen. It's beautiful, Bob."

John really wondered what it would be like to have Savannah and 'an Allison' around him all the time. He really wondered how events would play out. Would it be one of them who preferred to be with him or would they prefer to be with each other? Maybe it would be the three of them. Then there was Cameron. Maybe it would be the four of them. He also needed to accept that the main draw for the girls would most likely be Cameron instead of him. He still figured he would get some sack time with all of them. He hoped that Cammy and Anna would be around as well. It was past time that 'Rosie Palm' was retired permanently.

It all actually seemed quite simple to Bob. He really wondered why John fought what was bound to happen for so long. It seemed to him that was the whole purpose of Future John sending Cameron back. It wasn't only to protect John but protect his future with the girls as well.

"It's what you – Future John, have programmed Cameron to do." Bob said. "You liked what you shared and you made sure you would share it again 'now'."

John was aware of the fact that he'd been allowed to associate with the versions of Savannah and Allison that were both unspoiled or ravaged by the future. Future John wanted to make sure that he received the best version possible of Savannah Weaver and Allison Young. It all still left him with a certain feeling of guilt.

"It seems so many of Cameron's 'problems' were created by me or Future John, which is still me." John said. "I've caused her great suffering and pain, almost from day one."

John knew many of Cameron's problems really did stem from Future John or him.

John Henry interrupted their thoughts.

"We have the targets under surveillance." John Henry said.

John was pleased to hear that but he still felt there was a bigger fish to catch. In fact it was three bigger fish.

"What about the trucks?" John asked. "I really want to get at least one of those. I dislike how we got played."

John Henry didn't like to dwell on the same subject. They'd been over the issue multiple times.

"I'm sure Cameron is even more displeased." John Henry said.

John was troubled by another issue as well. Since John Henry was to watch over the group that was to watch over the power plant, it appeared that the Grays slipped one in on them. Skynet seemed to have a way to be able to do that to them from time to time.

"Can you tell what the Property Manager at the power plant did or was doing?" John asked. "He must have been up to something specific."

John Henry needed to do a little more research but from what he's been able to gather so far it looked like Skynet pulled another 'fast one'.

"I think he's connected them, the Grays or 'a Skynet', into electricity that's generated from the power plant. I believe it is done by a clandestine bypass without anyone knowing they have access to it." John Henry said. "They're taking it before it is even registered on the grid. It is an effective strategy to elude detection. It also currently gives Skynet an unlimited source of power."

In his review of Cameron's reports, John was able to determine that electrical power was something that determined which way events went in each of the futures.

"Is it for a TDE?" John asked. "Or is it for Skynet itself?"

John Henry knew it was too early to make that determination.

"Those are several possibilities." John Henry said. "It could be for production of an assembly line as well. It could even be for a giant power cell they're creating. It could be all of them or none of them. We'll need to send teams in to investigate."

John was troubled by another issue that Cameron brought up. It was an event that he knew was used on more than one occasion, including with Mr. Ellison.

"At dinner, Cameron said they may try to replace the Property Manager with a Terminator." John said.

John Henry believed they were going to have a more immediate problem to deal with other than a Terminator replacement.

"They'll have to wonder what happened to their two teams." John Henry said. "They've been trying to contact them."

John knew that was going to cause them a bigger problem going forward. It didn't appear that they would have the element of surprise at any point going forward.

"They're going to expect us then." John said.

John Henry already made the notification to the Terminator teams that were out in the field.

"That seems to be most likely." John Henry said.

John felt that he should have received that information a little earlier. He figured Cameron probably had a hand in the delay of that notification.

"Where's Cameron at?" John asked.

John Henry didn't like to be the bearer of bad news.

"That's currently unknown." John Henry said. "She's gone dark with Savannah."

John knew Cameron would be after a target and she'd sent all her help with him. He was afraid that Savannah and Cameron would be in grave danger soon. He always hated when the 'trouble' seemed to fall back on him.

"Beautiful…." John said.

Cameron followed up on some of the information that they'd obtained from the Grays. She decided to enter the target area from the back way. It was more of a 'side way' really. It was actually a very unconventional way.

The SUV was battered as it drove over a rough 'road'. Cameron drove without the lights on. She needed to keep her speed moderate, even with her Terminator abilities. The 'road' was in total disrepair. It was clearly unmaintained.

Savannah was a little concerned for the safety of both of them.

"Can you see?" Savannah asked.

Cameron continued to look ahead when she answered.

"I see everything." Cameron said.

The bouncing of the SUV seemed to worsen the longer they drove.

Cammy wanted to expand on Savannah's earlier concern.

"Are you sure about this road Cameron?" Cammy asked. "It's very rough."

Cameron reviewed the satellite image of the area that she kept on file. There was a certain appearance to the landscape that she had CamNet further research and follow up on.

"That's why I'm sure about it." Cameron said. "It's an old construction road."

Savannah spotted something that she thought was completely out of place.

"That looked like an old railroad 'right of way' we just crossed over." Savannah said.

Cameron decided to share some past history with Savannah and Cammy.

"It was. There used to be a narrow gauge rail line that ran from San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach." Cameron said. "There are still a few traces of it left."

Savannah noted that one of the piers at Avila Beach was slightly different from the construction of the other two.

"Was one of the three piers at Avila Beach an old railroad pier?" Savannah asked.

Cameron hadn't researched that specific information. It wasn't relevant to where they were at right now. She could only speculate.

"That's most likely." Cameron said. "It is a pretty small place to warrant three piers."

Savannah wanted to follow up on another issue.

"What about the Property Manager?" Savannah asked.

Cameron wanted the Metal girls to check that out specifically. She designated them to watch over John, so she sent John in that direction. She knew that the Metal girls would follow.

"John and his team have been directed to check out his place of residence." Cameron said.

Savannah could immediately see several different implications that could arise.

"Was he married?" Savannah asked.

Cameron recollected the images that popped up of the female Gray moving rapidly up and down on top of the Property Manager when they'd entered the motel room.

"Yes." Cameron said.

Savannah previously reviewed some reports of an encounter with a city traffic planner and her replacement Terminator husband. It didn't end well for the unsuspecting female.

"So that means if he's already been replaced by a Terminator that his wife is probably dead." Savannah said.

Cameron wasn't so sure that Savannah was concerned for the well being of the Property Manager's wife.

"She will be at some point." Cameron said. "You're worried about the female Gray we terminated."

Savannah knew it was her, more than we. She was still dissatisfied with the entire event and the final outcome. She involuntarily looked at her hands in the darkness. They were now instruments of death.

"I can't help but wonder if we could have helped her." Savannah said. "I wonder if I could have helped her."

Cameron knew she could only do so much to help Savannah with this issue. It was an issue that Savannah needed to deal with herself and accept the reality of the situation for what it was.

"There's nothing to wonder about." Cameron said. "She was a Gray. She was a threat and the threat was eliminated. She tried to kill you. I would've asked Sheila to terminate her anyway. I was actually surprised to still see her in such good shape. I think that was because of your influence."

Savannah was glad that Sheila hadn't gone 'Scavenger' on the female Gray.

"I didn't want Sheila to get carried away." Savannah said. "I don't think that's ever a good thing."

Cameron wanted to come clean with Savannah. She wanted Savannah to know she was just as corrupt.

"I did that to a Gray." Cameron said. "He called me a 'Metal Bitch'."

Savannah didn't think that was anything new for Cameron.

"That's different." Savannah said.

Cameron didn't want to think about the details. She decided not to share that bit of information with Savannah. Not yet anyway.

"Is it?" Cameron asked. "I wanted to do it and I enjoyed doing it. I was angry and upset and I wanted to hurt him."

Savannah thought that everyone could always use some improvement, including herself.

"Then we'll work on that together for the future." Savannah said. "I'll help you."

Cameron wasn't sure that anything could actually help her.

"I wanted to do it to the female. I wanted to hurt as well." Cameron said. "You helped me NOT do that to her. I don't like what she tried to do to you, especially when you wanted to show her compassion."

Savannah was unsure if Cameron was trying to make her feel better about killing the female Gray or if she really would have done that to her.

It seemed there was a lot for Savannah to think about.

Into the darkness they drove.

It wasn't because Cameron drove without the headlights on either.

I Thought You Should Know

There are many things we see
There are many things we feel
There are many things we hear
Leaving us to wonder what is real

What is usually presented
Is not a true representation
Often only a flirtation
Giving us false elation

Can we ever know someone
Or is it how the game is played
Everyone soon enough dismayed
A false charade conveyed

What once proudly was
Will soon dissipate
Love turns to hate
Now a burden to participate

You must know by now
The climb has reached a plateau
It is all downhill from here
I thought you should know

Nobody