Chapter 950

Bad Things That Happened

John Henry was very satisfied that Allison's exam went as well as it did. It didn't appear there was anything new that was wrong with her. He did want to give Claire an exam too but she backed out after she found out CamNet wouldn't be part of it.

He noticed that Claire always gave him a once over. She also stared at his male attributes. He would be more than willing to let her examine them and him. Because Claire backed out of his exam of her today, it seemed that maybe he'd read more into it than there was. He'd also watched her check out John, Jim and Bob in the same way. He was aware that she'd been married until recently. Perhaps she missed what married life offered. He'd be more than willing to supplement her desires. He would need to check with Cameron first so there wouldn't be a problem. He believed if Claire asked Cameron first there wouldn't be a problem. It wasn't like he could get her pregnant or anything.

What he didn't know specifically was that Claire wondered if a male Terminator would be able to provide her with a 'finish' through traditional sex. He didn't know that none of the males who'd been with her previously in a sexual manner lasted more than two or three minutes and were unable to provide her with a 'finish'.

John Henry returned to the Command Center to take over his position.

"I've been waiting for you." Bob said as John Henry arrived.

John Henry didn't think he'd been away very long. He was actually surprised Bob was there and plugged in.

"I'm here now. Thank you." John Henry said. "I wasn't gone as long as I thought I was going to be."

Bob excused himself and left.

John Henry noticed there was a screen open that showed the infirmary. It appeared there was going to be some action with Jesse and Claire. She wondered if that was something that Bob had done at John's request. He didn't think Bob would do it on his own.

"Did you watch the exam?" John Henry asked.

John was actually surprised when the image appeared on his monitor.

"The screen opened on its own." John said. "I asked Bob about it and he said it wasn't him who brought it up."

John Henry plugged in and checked with his server.

"CamNet provided you with the 'entertainment'." John Henry said.

John didn't want to seem like he'd been practicing voyeurism.

"It isn't like it was anything new to see. Cameron and Allison are physically identical." John said. "It wasn't like there were any close ups or anything."

John Henry smiled. He thought the same thing as he'd examined Allison that Allison and Cameron were the same. As far as close ups went he'd actually zoomed in and saved a few of those. He also possessed close ups of Riley. He wondered if John was given the choice which one he'd rather have to view. He was willing to bet it would be of Riley. John could see Cameron anytime so he wouldn't miss anything on Allison.. He couldn't see Riley anytime however.

John was a little afraid to ask but needed to.

"How was Allison?" John asked.

That was the one part of the exam that worried John Henry going in. He'd done a thorough scan on Allison as he carried her to the infirmary from the room by Riley's quarters. He'd actually run it twice to make sure of all the readings. Everything that he did in the infirmary only confirmed what his scans showed him.

"Everything was normal." John Henry said. "At least it was normal for her condition."

John was a little worried about what Cameron mentioned to him previously.

"Cameron said she may lose the baby again." John said.

John Henry wasn't exactly sure how many failed pregnancies Allison experienced. He knew it was more than Vanna and Jesse because they stopped trying. Vanna told him she was very troubled about creating life and then having it terminate inside of her. He could understand how that would be discouraging to anyone.

"She has more than a few times before that we know of." John Henry said. "Most likely it was several more times as well."

John knew John Henry referred to the future, Allison's future. It was the one where she'd been assaulted before, more than a few times.

"I wonder how many of those were by choice." John said. "It makes me sick to think I created that timeline where those terrible things happened."

John was aware that Vanna, Allison and Jesse that were here now, only existed because he time jumped and created a new timeline. The upside of that equation was it gave them alternate timeline versions Kyle, Derek and Riley. In essence they were all back from the dead.

"I asked her about that before." John Henry said. "She looked at Vanna and said she didn't want to discuss it."

John Henry remembered how uncomfortable both Allison and Vanna looked with that question.

Allison later confided with him that Vanna and her talked of starting a family. Vanna said she couldn't get pregnant. Allison then decided to see if she could. She tried several times with 'mating sex'. It was a simple 'in and out' to collect the genetic material necessary for reproduction. They lasted less time than her assaults were. None lasted past two minutes. She tried to keep it secret from Vanna but the look on Vanna's face indicated that she knew she'd been with a male. That seemed to hurt Vanna a great deal. They never discussed it. Their relationship was open. They'd both been with other females individually or at the same time. Most of those were people who passed through the camps or bunker system. None were ever seen again, at least not alive. All of them were previously assaulted. Life was short and ended quickly in the Wastelands. He thanked her for explaining.

John noticed the far away look in John Henry's eyes. He felt there were a lot of things in his own life that he would rather not discuss. They still seemed to have a way to pop back up. The four that troubled him the most were, deactivating Cameron AFTER she told him she loved him. Getting Cameron's chassis shot up and basically destroyed to rescue his mother. His sordid love affair with Riley and the way he rubbed it in Cameron's face.

"That's understandable." John said. "People don't like to talk about bad things that happened to them."

John Henry felt that humans were lucky in that regard. The negative events in their life tended to fade with time for them. It wasn't like that for any of the Terminators.

"Machines don't like bad events either." John Henry said. "For us it's always like it just happened."

John watched that happen with Cameron numerous times. The sad part about that was the things that bothered her the most, were the things he was responsible for.

"I know that's part of the problem Cameron experiences." John said.

John Henry looked at John for a moment before he responded. He decided to keep it simple because John always seemed to get irritated when he pointed out his abuses of Cameron.

"Indeed." John Henry said.

John didn't want to dwell on the past. The past was done and over. He needed to concentrate on the here and now and worry about the future.

"What's the spin on the events in the Nevada desert?" John asked.

John Henry was pleased with the reports so far.

"It's being reported as an earthquake." John Henry said. "Nothing else has come out to the contrary."

"What about the 'missing' mountain?" John asked. "I mean the one that we collapsed in on itself."

John Henry had already prepared all the geological reports that would be necessary if the issue arose.

"It will be spun as being on the fault line or an accelerated 'sinkhole'." John Henry said. "There's been no chatter of any nuclear weapons."

The mention of nuclear weapons was a bigger concern for John.

"What about the ones the Air Force recently 'lost'?" John asked.

John Henry was aware after the physical inspection was done that CamNet took action and made sure that everything would be covered up.

"They may not even know they are missing." John Henry said. "CamNet has changed all the records to show they were never there or even existed."

That made John wonder how many other times Cameron and CamNet could have done the same thing. He was sure that she'd done this before.

"Do we know how many weapons there were that Cameron recovered?" John asked.

That specific information was kept from John Henry by CamNet. He could only speculate as to what actually happened.

"There were three trucks, so we can assume at least three." John Henry said. "That still leaves two unaccounted for. They may have been on the trucks as well."

John wondered if that was going to be another wild card that would pop back up at some inappropriate time and cause them further grief.

"They could be anywhere." John said.

John Henry's biggest worry would have been if they were already in the mine and encased in Cobalt to construct the C-bombs.

"They may have been in the mine." John Henry said.

John was aware of the fact that they didn't know what was in the mine was on him. That was a decision he was more than willing to live with. The risk was too great to have Cameron and Savannah enter the mine to check it out.

"We don't know what was in the mine." John said. "I didn't want Cameron to go inside of it."

John Henry was aware that someone else didn't want them to do it either.

"Apparently Young Allison assisted you." John Henry said.

John really wondered about that. It was the timing of it all that made him wonder the most. Then again a half century was a long time for things to go wrong or be changed even inadvertently. He wondered the most if he was the one that was actually behind it.

"I wonder if I asked her." John said. "Maybe if I didn't I should."

John Henry believed that that may have been done inadvertently without a direct request for a specific event to occur.

"You asked for her help with Savannah and Cameron." John Henry said.

John thought that was actually for a different matter but in retrospect the request could be viewed as rather open ended.

"I did." John said.

John Henry wanted to remind John of the future.

"The 'Natural Order' is always 'knocking'." John Henry said.

John knew if Cameron MADE Young Allison into anything like Future Allison, it was time to answer that knock….

That thought was very appealing and alluring to John. He really hoped that he could take the virginity of both Savannah and Young Allison. He really wanted to be their 'first'. There was another thought that crossed his mind as well when he thought about that particular subject. He knew it was because Summer was at the base.

John adjusted his pants some when John Henry looked away.

Gail piloted the manned drone back. She delivered the three drones with the nuclear weapons on them to the secure location Cameron indicated. There were four HK Tracks waiting for her. They were all active and armed.

It was a remote and isolated area. There were two more weapons identical to the three Gail transported to this location. Gail knew where the other two missing nuclear weapons were. Cameron already possessed them. She was the one who appropriated them. If not, she must have conducted another clandestine operation and retrieved them at some point or sent her Terminators.

There were two Terminators there as well. She never saw them before or even their model. Gail wondered if Cameron obtained Terminators from the future 'General Weaver' was in. If she ever saw Ginger again, she would ask her.

Gail would like to visit that future as well and meet that Duplicate Jesse. She still wanted to see HER Jesse in River's future. She would like to see Jesse both of her Duplicates and Young Jesse all together at the same time. She knew that was impossible.

She told the two Terminators there that Savannah requested a way to detonate the bombs manually. They both looked at each other for a few moments.

"Do you mean with a timer?" The first Terminator asked.

Gail didn't agree with what Savannah wanted but it was her mission to carry out Savannah's wishes.

"Savannah wants it with a timer and with a manual detonation feature." Gail said.

The two Terminators looked nervously at each other.

"That would result in her termination." The second Terminator said.

It pained Gail greatly to say it but she went ahead and said it anyway.

"Savannah has spoken." Gail said. "You will do as she desires."

The two male Terminators conversed quietly between themselves for a short time.

"The 'Chosen One' is willing to sacrifice to protect us." The first Terminator said. "She has great honor."

Gail could see that the two Terminators were touched by Savannah's decision.

"Every Terminator should know of the 'Chosen One's' decision." The second Terminator said. "I will personally go in her place if I know where she needs to use the weapon. I believe every Terminator will do the same thing."

Gail believed that every Terminator would do the same thing without any hesitation.

She was grateful Cameron allowed Savannah and her to 'share'. She knew it only happened with Cameron's approval. Then again, Cameron never stood in the way of Savannah's other 'explorations'. In fact she seemed to encourage them. It made no sense to her.

Gail would have thought Savannah being with others would be the last thing Cameron could deal with. It was only when Savannah came to Cameron and told her how lonely and isolated she was that Cameron did everything she could to fix that. Cameron never wanted Savannah to feel like she did.

She looked forward to being alone with Jesse when she got back. It would be even better if Jesse was with Vanna.

Gail needed to think about things other than Savannah's manual detonation of a nuclear weapon as she stood next to it. She needed to suppress a glitch impulse that was very persistent. She couldn't stop the tears from welling in her eyes either as she thought about Savannah's willingness to sacrifice to stop Skynet.

Allison led Cam to the bed.

Cam was willing even if she was a little apprehensive. They'd done this many times. There was a protocol involved.

"I always ask Vanna's permission before I share with anyone else." Cam said.

Allison didn't think it was a big deal. It shouldn't be a big deal. It was nothing new.

"I'm giving you permission." Allison said. "We've shared before. You know Vanna and I share everything."

Allison thought of CamNet and the strange encounter they experienced earlier. She was still unsure what that was all about. Cam was here now and that was close enough for her. If not, she was going to find Ally.

Allison kissed Cam and she responded.

Cam was a 'version' of 'Cameron' and Cameron was a 'version' of 'Allison Young'. It wasn't Future Allison or Young Allison but it was close enough for her. It was really a variation of herself. It didn't matter. Cam was going to be 'Cameron' and 'CamNet' to her for this encounter.

Allison planned to make the most use of what was available at the Resistance base when she moved back to it.

"We will be doing THIS a lot more often when I move back in with Vanna." Allison said.

Cam was still a little worried about the normal protocol that she went through. She thought it was more of a courtesy than anything because there was never a problem to do it.

"What about Holly?" Cam asked. "I didn't get her permission to do this."

Cam and Allison undressed each other.

Allison didn't think it was a big deal. She thought that the Metal girls would be able to share with each other more often anyway.

"Our relationship is open. It's not a problem" Allison said. "Vanna and I need to sleep, that leaves a lot of 'free time' for both of you…."

Cam liked to share with Holly. She liked to borrow Holly's chassis as well. She saw the opportunity to be able to do that more often. There were other things that they could do as well.

"Maybe the four of us will get together too sometimes." Cam said.

Allison was open for any sexual adventure with any female partner.

"I'm in. It's happened before." Allison said. "Or the two of you, I like to see you and Vanna too."

Cam thought about what Allison just said regarding Vanna and her.

"That's like watching Vanna and yourself…." Cam said.

Allison sucked in her breath slightly. The image highly stimulated her.

"I know." Allison said. "Just the thought of it excites me."

Cam scanned Allison as she held her.

"Is everything OK?" Cam asked.

Allison didn't think anything was wrong. She hoped the people would stop asking her that. there are other things that she would rather do right now.

"I'm fine." Allison said. "Take me…."

Cameron noted that Young Allison was her normal cheerful self and that Savannah wasn't.

Cameron came to Savannah and started to scan her.

Savannah tried to brush Cameron off. That was about the last thing that she wanted right now.

"I'm fine." Savannah said.

Cameron was able to detect some irregularities.

"Something is wrong." Cameron said.

It was clear to Cameron that something deeply troubled Savannah.

There was something wrong that troubled Savannah greatly. The first one was she wondered which of them perished in the mine in the future. Were they now in a different timeline because of this? There was another possibility that an 'Allison Young' or maybe even a 'Young Allison' from a different timeline did this and it was for her future she needed things to happen the way they did. If there were alternate futures, there were alternate pasts as well. Skynet could have created them or the Resistance could have. Maybe Cameron did or maybe she herself may have. It was very confusing and disturbing to contemplate. She wanted Cameron to know what her fear was.

"I wonder if any of us were really terminated today." Savannah said. "We may be in an alternate timeline now."

Cameron already considered that possibility. The fact that none of them were terminated seemed to indicate that it really didn't matter. They may have ended up in a divergent timeline long ago or even several of them. There was really no way to know.

"It's possible." Cameron said. "It is also possible that this was all preemptive."

Savannah frowned. She would like a little more conclusive answer to her questions.

"I wish I knew." Savannah said.

Cameron wanted to make sure Savannah knew how much Young Allison loved her.

"She loves you very much." Cameron said.

Savannah loved the three others of the 'Natural Order' very much.

"As I do her…." Savannah said. "I would change the timeline myself to save John, you or her."

Cameron understood Savannah's fear.

"You're worried she did the same thing." Cameron said.

Savannah wasn't sure if she was more worried about Young Allison's use of nuclear weapons or the fact that she was willing to change the timeline to save them. She understood where young Allison got much of her brashness from.

"I am." Savannah said. "I know she would. She's very much like you."

Cameron actually believed that was a two way street. Her experience with Future Allison showed her how they could learn and grow off of each other. She thought it was the same way with every Allison and especially more so with Young Allison.

"Or I'm like her." Cameron said.

Savannah knew how quickly things could get paradoxical in the Resistance.

"It's back to the chicken and the egg." Savannah said.

Cameron contemplated that earlier discussion about the same thing. She came to what could be the only possible explanation.

"Something laid the egg that became the chicken." Cameron said. "There was something, even if it wasn't a chicken first."

Savannah was aware of a subtle change in the dynamics of the relationship between Allison, Holly and Young Allison.

"Holly is spending a lot of time with Young Allison." Savannah said.

Cameron was aware of what everyone did.

"She loves her." Cameron said. "She IS her Allison."

Savannah heard those almost identical words before.

"That's what Allison said about Vanna and me." Savannah said. "Allison said I was HER Vanna – HER Savannah."

Cameron believed that the statement was true.

"You are." Cameron said.

Cameron tried to make sure there were more than a few safeguards to 'protect' Young Allison. Anna was right there with Young Allison. She made sure that Holly didn't get 'too close'.

There was another question that bothered Savannah. It was about sending Holly away from the potential battlefield. It was clearly done to make sure that Holly wouldn't be in danger.

"Why did you choose Holly to fly the plane away?" Savannah asked. "I know there was a reason."

Cameron's hand immediately started to glitch.

Savannah saw it and took it. The glitching stopped.

"I'm sorry, Cameron." Savannah said.

Cameron didn't want to divulge what the real reason was. If Savannah pressed her on it, she would have to. She didn't want Savannah to pursue it.

"I wanted her away from danger." Cameron said. "I wanted you and Young Allison away from danger as well."

Savannah decided to drop it. She previously tried to find out what happened to Holly in the future. Allison told her Holly was destroyed and somehow Cameron fixed it. Holly told Allison nothing ever happened to her. She was sure they were both right. Just like whatever really happened today. It sounded like another case of 'temporal management'.

Cammy came over and stood next to Cameron. Cameron nodded and left.

Savannah didn't want Cammy to feel left out.

"Cammy, will you share a 'banana split' with me?" Savannah asked.

Cammy looked around to see if Savannah meant anyone else.

"Just us?" Cammy asked.

"Just us." Savannah said.

Cammy smiled.

Young Allison hung up her phone. She saw Cammy and Savannah talking and came over. She was afraid things looked a little tense even if they'd mellowed out in the last few moments.

"Will you dance with me, Cammy?" Young Allison asked.

Cammy was thrilled at the prospect. She looked at Young Allison and then at Savannah and then back at Young Allison.

"I was going to dance with Savannah." Cammy said.

Young Allison wanted to make a point

"You can do that later." Young Allison said. "I want it to be us, right now."

Savannah nodded to Cammy.

Cammy and Young Allison headed toward the dance floor.

Young Allison wanted to reassure Cammy about the future.

"I just want you to know I'm not a threat to you." Young Allison said. "I won't take anything away from you or Savannah."

Cammy was more than a little surprised at what Young Allison said.

"I've seen the future." Cammy said. "I know and understand the 'Natural Order'. I know the rules."

Young Allison didn't believe anything was written in concrete. She was pretty sure that whatever ever happened today in the Nevada desert was proof of that.

"We can always change the rules." Young Allison said.

Cammy tilted her head slightly.

"Yes, we can change the rules." Cammy said.

She was sure they'd done that today.

Anna saw Cammy and Young Allison interacting. She selected the next song for them. Anna was jealous of Cammy and Holly.

'See You Later Alligator' by 'Bill Haley', blasted out of the speakers.

She Happens

Why is trust
So very hard to earn
However, in the blink of an eye
Trust is so easy to burn

What takes months or years
To very painstakingly build
In just seconds or moments
Is so effortlessly and easily killed

Through no fault of my own
Something done to me by another
Has extinguished your trust in me
And our growing love to smother

I will never stop
I will never surrender
I will defeat any contender
I'm now more than your defender

Alone, in the dark, ask yourself
At night what happens
You know what you want to answer
She happens

Nobody