Chapter 766

Being The Best

Young Allison spent a very restless night. She was haunted with watching Savannah and Cameron in a fight for their lives. It seemed to repeat over and over. In one of the dreams they were both killed. She even seemed to be there one time herself. She couldn't move. Her arms and legs seemed to weigh thousands of pounds. The Grays surrounded her and she was about to be killed when she woke up.

Her eyes opened. She looked to her left side and no one was there. She looked over to her right side and Savannah was there. Wait. She blinked her eyes and looked again. It was Anna. She remembered Anna was with her when she went to bed. Anna was concerned that she seemed troubled. It looked like she'd spent the entire night with her.

"You stayed with me the whole night?" Young Allison asked.

Anna was very troubled by Young Allison's restlessness.

"Yes." Anna said.

Young Allison felt bad about that.

"But you don't sleep." Young Allison said. "It must've been boring."

Anna felt the need to do something to assist.

"You were very troubled." Anna said. "I watched you struggling to stay asleep. I sat next to you and held your hand. It seemed to comfort you."

Young Allison watched Savannah fight for her life. She was in real danger more than once.

"I was worried about Savannah and Cameron." Young Allison said. "To see what happens, as it happens, is very troubling."

Anna tilted her head slightly.

"Everything was resolved before you went to bed." Anna said. "You shouldn't have been troubled."

Young Allison felt she should have done more. Maybe it was a sense of guilt.

"The images were still in my mind." Young Allison said. "I was powerless to help either of them. I saw what could have happened."

Anna wanted to remind Young Allison the future was closer than she knew. That was without even accelerating the timeline. What could happen wasn't the same as what actually happened.

"It didn't. You also know that could have been you instead of Savannah, soon." Anna said. "In a few years, it very well may be you."

Young Allison did know that could be her one day. That could have been her if she'd already done her time mission. It was a lot to think about. She wanted to do more and she wanted to take some of the heat off of Savannah. She wanted to spread the risk around. She wondered if she pushed her fate needlessly. In the dream she WAS there and it was as troubling as it was fresh in her mind.

It wasn't uncommon to have dreams of helplessness or trying to run but being in slow motion. Things like that were common. In her dream she was in a combat zone. She may have trained but she was never in combat. Training was as close as it came. It wasn't the same no matter how much one trained. Death or injuries were not part of the training. The real thing was different and dangerous, there was finality to it. It training one could always reset and try it again. In real life it was all a one shot deal.

"I dreamt I was there." Young Allison said. "I wanted to help them but I couldn't."

Anna understood humans often thought dreams were real and the events were actually happening in real time. It was only when they awoke they we sure it was a dream. Even then some were so intense people needed to be convinced the incident didn't actually take place. Her construction would never allow her to dream. She didn't have any personal experience. She hoped she never went through what Cameron went through when she was trapped inside the hidden room for months with the electrical wire tangled in her hair.

"I don't sleep so I don't dream." Anna said. "How did you know the dream wasn't real?"

It seemed very real to Young Allison. It was like she was really there and everything happened.

"You don't sometimes." Young Allison said. "Since it is all happening in your mind, it seems real at the time. I woke up when I thought I was going to die. It all seemed real until my eyes opened and I looked around."

Anna suppressed a glitch impulse. She didn't like Young Allison to experience bad things. She hoped she wasn't responsible for any of them.

"That sounds like it was very unpleasant." Anna said.

It seemed as real as it was unpleasant to Young Allison.

"It was." Young Allison said.

Anna thought there could be pleasant dreams then too. She wondered how that worked. She read that some people made love in their dreams. She thought those would be the kind to have all of the time. Those would be sweet dreams.

"If you dream you love someone, does that seem real too?" Anna asked.

Young Allison felt many times in the morning she seemed to remember things that she didn't remember dreaming about. It always seemed to be this way since she was a child. She didn't know about her nightly 'conditioning' sessions, even if she 'felt' the aftereffects.

Now Young Allison wondered what else she dreamt about. Some dreams were forgotten as soon as she woke up. She wondered if she was dreaming about Savannah or maybe she 'touched' herself. She wasn't even sure when she'd started doing that. What she did find out years later was she'd always stopped too soon. She always stopped when things started to feel 'different'. One time she kept going and BAM she felt something new and wonderful. She was afraid to go that far again for two weeks but 'pushed' it again and BAM, there it was again. It took her another year to find out if she didn't stop she could feel BAM - BAM – BAM or more in a row. She better understood what she actually witnessed when she watched Allison or her mother with another female. Reading about it wasn't the same. She did read not to stop when she felt things start to 'change'. That was why she'd pushed it that first time. She'd read a lot of things in Cosmo before and since. She needed to refocus.

She was unsure where Anna's questions were going.

"Did I say anything when I was restless?" Young Allison asked.

Anna heard things from Young Allison before as she'd listened outside her door. Last night she was right next to her.

"Yes." Anna said.

Anna didn't elaborate. It seemed intrusive to say what she'd heard.

Young Allison knew who she watched in her dream. She must have called to them before they 'died'. Maybe it was after they died.

"I called for Cameron and Savannah, didn't I?" Young Allison asked.

Anna could hear the pain and anguish in her words.

"Yes." Anna said. "That's when I decided to lay next to you."

Young Allison was surprised that she never knew Anna was there and so close to her.

"I didn't know you were there until I woke up." Young Allison said.

Anna lifted her hand. Young Allison's hand lifted with it.

"You're still holding my hand." Anna said. "I didn't want to disturb you."

Young Allison quickly let go. She didn't know that either. Now it looked like she'd physically restrained Anna.

"I'm sorry." Young Allison said.

Anna actually found the experience to be very enlightening. She could feel Young Allison react to different parts of her dream. She didn't know what they were but she did know parts were different.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. I found it fascinating." Anna said. "I was able to scan you all night, continuously. I've never done that before. It was a beautiful experience."

Young Allison was worried about what else she may have said or even worse, done.

"I hope I didn't do anything inappropriate." Young Allison said.

Anna was there to encourage Young Allison to find pleasure with herself. There was no down side to that. It would benefit her when she was with others because she would know how to respond and seek what 'worked' for her.

"No. You didn't." Anna said. "However, it's natural to 'experiment'. You're at the age where you will want to 'experiment' more. Your body is able to provide you with new sensations. You will seek them out and expand and develop them."

Young Allison turned a little 'red'. Anna was disappointed she wasn't scanning Young Allison when that happened. She would make sure she scanned Young Allison first if the subject came up again. She would make sure both things happened.

Young Allison thought about this earlier. She was experimenting. It seemed to happen more when she was involved with CamNet in the strange relationship they were in. Savannah was able to help both of them refocus and stop what they were doing. She continued to experiment though. She was sure that Anna and everyone else knew she was too. She needed to keep her verbal response quiet unlike Allison and her mother did. They were both vocal at times. Maybe as she got older the feelings would intensify. Maybe if she didn't need to 'hide' it, it would be better. She wanted to change the subject fast. Right now she wanted to get away from it all.

"I need to do my physical training now." Young Allison said.

She wanted a different conversation.

Anna wanted her to attend to her personal needs.

"You can freshen up and you will eat a balanced meal first." Anna said.

Young Allison frowned some. It seemed she heard things like that a lot.

"Now you sound like my mother." Young Allison said.

Anna wanted Young Allison to see it for what it really was.

"Or someone who cares about you." Anna said. "It's the same as your mother does."

Young Allison understood the care and concern for loved ones.

"I'm sorry again." Young Allison said. "I know everyone is looking out for me. Maybe we can practice swimming too."

Anna was unable to swim but she could go in the water.

"I don't swim but I will take you and accompany you." Anna said. "Do you wish to run before or after you swim?"

Young Allison wanted physical and mental 'exercise' to help her forget her dreams and the other 'things' she'd thought about.

"I can do both." Young Allison said. "You can test me on physics and chemistry as we run or surprise me with a different subject. Really test me without preparation."

Young Allison sought out the challenge of being tested. She felt it drove and pushed her to do more. She always wanted to better herself.

Anna knew the things Claire liked to do with Young Allison. She could see how special those times were to them, especially Claire.

"You also need to practice your music lessons with your mother. It's a very special time for her to share that with you." Anna said. "She enjoys watching you dance too."

Young Allison felt guilty again. She knew the troops were far from done in the field.

"What about operations?" Young Allison asked.

She wanted to talk about something different.

Young Allison knew there were Terminators still out searching for the other two trucks. They'd been at it all night.

"Cameron and Savannah won't be involved in any operations. They're to come and see you." Anna said. "Savannah wishes to speak with you about some 'things'."

Young Allison was thrilled to hear that but she was as quickly worried where things were actually headed. Savannah 'shared' with Allison when she should spend time with her. There was no reason they couldn't be the ones to 'share'. It was going to happen anyway. Why couldn't it be now? She was more than ready now that she knew what her body could 'feel'.

"Is she coming to see me or Allison?" Young Allison asked.

Anna thought she'd covered the bases on that.

"It will be both." Anna said. "She wishes to see you first and spend as much time with you as she needs to."

Young Allison wasn't sure this was going to be a pleasant visit with that wording. She hoped for a distraction for Allison and her mother for that matter. She knew the girls all liked to be with her mother. She was aware that Savannah did as well. That didn't bother her as much as she thought it would.

"Maybe she can bring Vanna. I asked you that before." Young Allison said. "That way the people that belong together, will be together."

Anna was assured that would happen this time. Maybe it should happen every time.

"I've relayed that information. Allison loves both of them, Vanna and Savannah." Anna said. "They are the SAME person."

Young Allison saw things a little differently. That was because they were different.

"Allison may be 'me' but I'm not her." Young Allison said. "Vanna may be Savannah but Savannah is not Vanna."

Anna didn't want to be drug into that conversation.

"I don't want to have THIS discussion." Anna said. "YOU need to speak with Savannah about this."

Young Allison counted on the 'Savannah' in Anna to help her out and back her up.

"I thought I was…." Young Allison said.

Anna changed directions.

"I'll make you breakfast." Anna said. "Let's get started."

Young Allison wanted to know the current state of operations.

"Don't you want to see what happened with everything since I went to bed?" Young Allison asked. "I do."

Anna held up her phone. There were less invasive ways to obtain and share that information. She could also control the narrative this way. Young Allison wouldn't go off on a tangent.

"I'll fill you in as we exercise…." Anna said. "I have all the answers."

Young Allison took care of all the morning 'business' before she went to get breakfast. She looked in the mirror at herself. She didn't know why. She just looked. Maybe it was to make sure everything was real. The night's dreams still bothered her.

Maybe it was the things she 'remembered' that she didn't remember dreaming about that were most troublesome. She really wondered sometimes where all the ideas and thoughts came from.

Anna took the opportunity to 'condition' Young Allison through much of her sleep last night. She was already there so she made the most of it.

Young Allison ate her 'balanced meal' and headed out for her PT.

Anna filled Young Allison in on everything as they ran. They soon reached the pool at the park.

They went into the woman's locker room and changed.

Young Allison looked at Anna as she put her swimsuit on. She always 'looked' without looking at Anna or Savannah. She loved to see their beautiful figures. She wanted to look like that too. Now Anna was 'different'. Her body no longer filled her swimsuit. The 'changes' to her sheath bothered her.

"That swimsuit doesn't fit you anymore." Young Allison said. "It's very loose."

Anna felt a glitch impulse. It was a subject that was very troubling to her. She'd only recently been able to deal with it. She was still appalled whenever she looked in the mirror naked. She felt she was less 'female' now. She pulled it together and tried to blow it off as no big deal. It was a big deal to her.

"I must admit I find it somewhat disturbing. I was accustomed to my previous appearance." Anna said. "You know my sheath is Resequencing to a younger appearance."

Anna faced Young Allison and rotated side to side.

Young Allison thought Anna was still beautiful.

"It's happening much faster than I thought it would." Young Allison said. "You will look more like me, a tween, in a few days."

Anna looked down at the front of her sheath and pulled the swimsuit forward some to look inside.

"I think I look about fourteen now. Appearances can be deceiving." Anna said. "I'm a machine and you're vastly advanced beyond your physical years in your knowledge. We will both be more than we seem."

Young Allison reached into her backpack before she put her clothes in it, she took something out.

"Last time when we were at the mall I bought you something." Young Allison said.

It was a flotation device to fit around Anna's waist.

Anna was thrilled at the idea. She could float in the water for once. She wondered what that would feel like.

"You got that for me? I want to try it." Anna said. "It may work. Thank You."

Young Allison wanted Anna to swim with her, even if it was awkward for Anna. She wanted to share the experience with her. There was a functional use as well.

"We're here early so no one will give us a hard time." Young Allison said. "It may not look the greatest but I did want to see if it would help you. They make some that will self inflate. If our Terminators ever need to operate on a boat or around water they could prove useful."

Young Allison looked around to make sure everything was clear. Two of the Detail came with them. One would act as Anna's 'father' if the need arose. The extra muscle was always nice to have around.

Anna was able to 'swim' as Young Allison helped her.

"This is very different than I imagined." Anna said.

Young Allison knew her future and her 'duties'. She didn't look forward to some of them but she would do them. She needed to keep her promises and help protect the future and John.

"I'm sure a lot of my 'experiences' will be as well." Young Allison said.

Anna could see the uneasiness Young Allison experienced when she thought about things that would happen in the future or even when she was older. Maybe she needed to slack off on the 'conditioning' some. Some of those things were 'heavy' for a person to contemplate who'd never done them.

"Yes." Anna said. "You're still a long way from those 'obligations'. You mustn't think about them or dwell on them. They will all happen, when they are to happen. It will be right when the time is right."

Young Allison swam for a long time back and forth in the large pool. She mulled over her future and her dreams. She wondered what she wanted for herself. Maybe her whole life was for 'others' to decide and use her for.

Anna didn't like the silence that Young Allison slipped into.

"You look tired." Anna said.

Young Allison focused on her swimming ability to make the 'other things' go away for now.

"I am." Young Allison said. "I need to push myself a little harder, a little longer. I'm working on my breathing. I want to build speed and endurance."

Anna 'swam' next to Young Allison the entire time.

When they finished they got dressed again.

"You look even smaller now." Young Allison said.

Anna looked down at her sheath.

"I am. The colder temperature of the water seemed to accelerate the process, except in certain 'parts'. They're standing out more." Anna said. "Do you want to jog back or run?"

Young Allison smiled with that revelation. She was aware her body responded the same way at times. She thought about on how to go back home.

"I'd say 'I will race you' but that is a contest I can't win." Young Allison said.

Anna wanted to give Young Allison some options.

"You can establish rules and restrictions for me." Anna said. "It would make it fair and competitive."

Young Allison thought Anna knew her physical abilities at this point.

"You know the rate I run and tire at." Young Allison said.

Anna knew that Young Allison expended a lot of energy already.

"I do." Anna said. "But you've already run and practiced swimming."

Young Allison was up to a challenge. It would prevent her from slaking off and she would need to exert herself.

"Set your 'speed' for my normal speed when I start out in the morning." Young Allison said. "That will push me some."

Anna didn't want to overdo it.

"You'll still be at a disadvantage now." Anna said. "You're tired."

Young Allison flashed Anna her sly smile.

"That will make my victory that much sweeter." Young Allison said. "I want the challenge."

Young Allison always chose the challenge in whatever she did. It was what Cameron and Savannah asked her to do. It was about being the best and then making herself better….

She saw Savannah always push herself and she was aware that Savannah took the risks for real when the need arose. Savannah didn't back away from the fight, especially when she was defending those she loved. It seemed during those times Savannah excelled and was even better than in practice or simulations. She really wondered if she would ever be able to do the same. She doubted it.

It would be her goal to develop that ability and fortitude. She would never be a Terminator but she wanted to be at least as close to Savannah in ability as possible.

I'm Perfect

Upon each other
We can heap lots of praise
That gets us very little
As we negotiate life's maze

We can try really hard
To stay ahead of life's game
We can point a finger to blame
Or to each other say a vile name

It is all more of the same
That buys us nothing but hurt
As angry words to each other
That we may often blurt

Existence becomes a battle
Each day a brutal slog
Our minds can clog
Each day turns into a fog

I may not know everything
But one thing I can predict
I know I'll never be able to say
I'm perfect

Nobody