Chapter 959
Not For A Second
Cameron spent a few hours with John before he fell asleep. She was with him three times and did all the 'work'. It really wasn't work for her. She was on top for all three times. The first and the last time she faced him. That way he could kiss and fondle her better. It took some effort on her part to get him 'started up' for the third time. She needed to use her Terminator ability to make it happen. Once he was ready she quickly took over everything and finished him off for the third time. He was pretty exhausted after that. She was sure that he couldn't have knocked more than two off if he was the one who did the 'work'.
John fell asleep fairly quickly after that. She waited another hour to see if he would wake back up and want another round but he didn't. She was up for anything that he wanted to do. Savannah told her to please her husband and that's what she was there to do.
She wanted to get up and do a few things. To lie in bed next to John while he slept and snored was boring and a waste of time. She felt that staring at the ceiling in the dark left a lot to be desired.
She saw he started to dream. She decided to give him some 'dreams' to think about. She filled in all the details as she whispered in his ear. He could reflect on the present, the past and the future this way. It would give him a few things to think about. Since they were the things she thought about, John should too.
Cameron noticed John began to toss and started to sweat. She finished up and smiled. A little look at the future never hurt anyone.
She headed out.
Cameron passed by the girl's rooms. There was still activity occurring in both of them. Cameron thought it was Terminator on Terminator activity at first but she heard Jesse ask them if that was the best they could do. That made her smile. Jesse was very driven. She was very pleased she'd helped salvage her.
Once she'd heard Claire ask Jesse what was the most amount of times that she'd 'finished' in a day was. Jesse said she lost count at around twenty and the day wasn't even half done at that point. That didn't include multiple finishes either. She liked Jesse to have a good time but she didn't want Jesse to push herself over the edge anymore. Gail reported that she needed to revive Jesse several times when she took her 'all the way'. She was very pleased that Jesse was able to assume her motherly duties with Precious with no problem and did it quite lovingly.
She did a sweep of the Resistance base. Nothing was out of order and everything was where it was supposed to be. She decided to head for the Command Center.
Cameron entered the Command Center. It was late, most of the lights were off and no one was around. It was only John Henry as usual.
They exchanged greetings.
Cameron had some things she needed to take care of. She wanted to get started.
"I need to update with CamNet." Cameron said.
John Henry knew that was something that she normally did from her base. She would usually connect directly with CamNet's server.
"Don't you need to go to your base for that?" John Henry asked.
Cameron didn't plan to do anything extensive.
"I can do what I need to from here." Cameron said. "Let me plug in."
John Henry wondered what Cameron was really up to. He thought maybe if she started to look through his server he should 'follow' her. He wasn't sure if that was a good idea or not after he thought about it for a while. That might produce some negative repercussions.
He decided to give her an update to start out with.
"I haven't found anything additional on the Fanatics or anti-Metal groups." John Henry said.
Cameron wanted to deal with those two groups personally.
"I know." Cameron said. "CamNet hasn't either."
Cameron checked the security monitor footage. She wanted to see what was happening around the base.
John Henry knew what she specifically would want to see.
"The girls are all in two rooms." John Henry said.
Cameron personally verified that on her way to the Command Center. She was pleased to see and hear everyone was able to enjoy themselves and each other.
"I'm aware of that." Cameron said. "I want them to share. The more they can please each other, the happier they all will be. I like everyone to be happy."
John Henry was confused as to why Cameron didn't stay in Palmdale with Savannah. They could have 'shared'. They could be 'happy' too.
"Why did you return from the Young residence and not send Cammy back here with Holly instead?" John Henry asked.
Cameron asked herself that question one million and seventy six times on the drive back as well as her time with John and on her patrol of the base. She asked herself again. Now it was one million and seventy seven times. She'd acted on Savannah's advice and recommendation.
"I was going to." Cameron said. "Savannah told me to be with John and share with my husband. It was sound advice."
Cameron smiled to herself at the thought she'd been with John. She wanted him to be happy so she allowed him to do what he wanted with her sheath. She didn't like some of the spots he used but they seemed to make him happy.
John Henry wanted some clarification on the nature of the directive from Savannah.
"Was it an order?" John Henry asked.
Cameron knew it wasn't an order. She didn't want to take it as an order either.
"No." Cameron said.
John Henry was positive Savannah wanted something other than what she actually told Cameron to do.
"I believe Savannah really wanted you to stay with her." John Henry said.
Cameron was aware Savannah put John's best interest in front of her own personal interest.
"I know." Cameron said. "She also wants John and me to stay close. Savannah sacrificed for John."
They both knew sacrifice was the true test of love.
John Henry thought Cameron might want a more detailed description of everything that happened.
"Cameron…." John Henry started.
Cameron already knew what she wanted to know.
"I know of everything that transpired and with whom." Cameron said. "It's not what I anticipated would happen."
Experience taught John Henry that few things seldom worked out as planned.
"Is it ever?" John Henry asked.
Cameron felt she also sacrificed by returning to the Resistance base. She sacrificed her personal desires with Savannah.
"No." Cameron said. "Because I returned to the Resistance base to see John, it allowed Savannah and Young Allison to grow closer and strengthen their bond."
John Henry didn't think anything would happen between the two girls at the Young residence.
"Savannah will never do anything to compromise Young Allison at this time." John Henry said. "She is very honorable."
Cameron wanted the bond between Savannah and Young Allison to be emotional. She didn't want it based on sex. Sex based relationships never progressed very far. She felt that was the major obstacle in her relationship with John. She'd witnessed two different examples of that bond between different timeline versions of Allison Young and Savannah Weaver. She wanted to make sure that the current timeline version of the same two girls was identical.
"I'm aware of that." Cameron said. "Their emotional bond is what gives them strength. It will continue to build and be reinforced as it was for Vanna and Allison. THAT is why their bond is unbreakable."
John Henry recollected some past events that he'd witnessed. He felt that Cameron needlessly interfered with Allison's and Vanna's relationship. He didn't call her out at the time but he questioned what her motives were and what she was doing to the two girls.
"You've tried to break it." John Henry said.
Cameron viewed it a little differently, maybe she'd acted a little too harshly and pushed things a little too far in the wrong direction. She didn't want to personally admit any wrongdoing on her part.
"I've tested it to show them their true strength and the depth of their love." Cameron said. "It also allowed them some variety. Everything and all the events have strengthened their bond. That has reaffirmed the bond between Savannah and Young Allison as well."
John Henry wondered if Cameron would try to keep some distance between Vanna and Allison. He thought it would give Cameron more control over each of them if they were separate.
"Will you allow Allison and Vanna to share a room again?" John Henry asked.
Cameron tilted her head slightly. She'd never done anything to prevent that. She believed her actions actually helped the girls in the long run.
"I never disallowed it." Cameron said. "They both wanted to 'experiment' and both found comfort in others. It only made them love each other more and want each other more. They will be the best parents when they have children together. It will be beautiful for both of them."
John Henry was a little concerned as to how far Cameron may have 'experimented'.
"Have you tested every Savannah Weaver and Allison Young?" John Henry asked.
Cameron was extremely pleased with the results of the experiments.
"Yes." Cameron said. "Nothing ever changes. It's a love like no other."
John Henry wondered if things would be different in this timeline. He was sure Cameron may have inadvertently altered events and the direction things would go. That was something different than all the other Savannah Weavers experienced growing up. He wanted to point that out in a subtle way.
"Savannah's love for you is like no other." John Henry said.
John Henry saw Cameron's hand start to glitch.
Cameron felt that was her fault. Things shouldn't be that way. Savannah's love was something that she wanted desperately but she knew it didn't belong to her.
"That love should be for Young Allison, not me." Cameron said. "I've disrupted Savannah's love for her true mate."
John Henry wondered if Cameron needed to use some personal restraint when she was around Savannah. It was clear to him and everyone else that Savannah wanted more with Cameron then they currently shared.
"Is that why you haven't 'mated' with Savannah yet?" John Henry asked.
That was something Cameron wanted more than anything. She knew the union would make her complete and end her internal conflicts. She would be able to have free choice from that point forward.
"I WANT to." Cameron said. "I almost have. WE almost have several times. I couldn't stop it. I didn't want to stop it. It seemed that something always got in the way at the last moment. It was usually Skynet related but it wasn't always. There are other things that happened that needed to be dealt with. Savannah was the one who needed to make the hard choice at those times and do what needed to be done when it needed to be done. She never hesitated to do the right thing."
John Henry could see that when Cameron took Savannah to the edge it hurt Savannah by them not completing their love. He wanted to point that out but he was afraid it would cause some type of a problem.
"You're hurting her." John Henry said.
Cameron didn't need to be reminded of her shortcomings. She was already aware that she had plenty of them. She didn't need to hear about the ones that hurt her the most.
"Don't you think I know THAT?" Cameron nearly shouted.
John Henry was afraid he took things a little too far. He didn't think that was his fault. He was concerned about Savannah as well as Cameron. He thought it was a legitimate concern to express.
"I'm sorry." John Henry said.
Cameron quickly composed herself. She knew that she needed to keep her impulses under control and respond in a moderate fashion.
"I'm sorry for being curt." Cameron said. "Savannah is helping me keep my anger and hate under control."
John Henry wondered how that was going to work out. None of that was part of Cameron's core programming. Her ability to expand and become a better infiltration unit also allowed 'emotional' programming to become more prevalent. It seemed as dominant as that of a human female at this point.
"Those are both emotions and feelings you were never designed to process." John Henry said.
Cameron felt more than a little frustrated. There seemed to be so much that happened around her that she didn't have any control over. Things just happened and she needed to deal with them. Some things mattered more than others.
"Neither was love." Cameron said. "I have them all and everything in between."
John Henry was aware that the programming was different between the male Terminators and the female Terminators. The female Terminators were determined to be better infiltrators by Skynet and given advanced programming. Female Terminators were able to infiltrate against human targets whether they were male or female. Male Terminators found it harder to infiltrate with both groups. All of them had evolved dramatically. He'd also noticed changes in their male Terminators over the years.
"I believe all of our male Terminators have those feelings to some extent now as well." John Henry said. "Not like the female infiltration units but they are slowly developing."
Cameron watched it happen over the years. It was very subtle.
"I'm aware of that." Cameron said. "It's their interaction with the humans in the Resistance that has fostered that. The people in the Resistance are the best of the humans."
John Henry believed it was much more specific than just the humans in the Resistance. It was specifically two of them that they interacted with.
"It's their interaction with Savannah. That's the driving force behind it." John Henry said. "Savannah and Young Allison are able to reach us, even as machines, at a deeper level than others can, human or machine."
Cameron knew that was true. Every human and machine behaved or acted differently when the 'Chosen Ones' were around. Their very presence radiated something different.
"They are the 'Chosen Ones'." Cameron said.
John Henry picked up on the scuttlebutt that occurred at the desert outpost. He was equally impressed with what happened and how everything was followed up on.
"Word has spread of Young Allison's concern and personal care for the two drones that were damaged as they carried out her orders." John Henry said. "We all know of Savannah's concern for any Terminators that are damaged. She checks on each one and follows up on them about any concerns or problems. I know you've encouraged that."
Cameron knew everything about the girls came from within them. Whatever they were able to do or any feelings they were able to express were all things from inside of them.
"I have encouraged them." Cameron said. "The concern and caring from both of them is their own. They have grown up to view machines as equal to them, not less or superior."
John Henry personally knew Savannah never looked down on any Terminator or machine.
"They are the 'Chosen Ones'." John Henry said.
Cameron was very pleased Savannah went out of her way to be with all of the Terminators at the Resistance base and her base. She could visually see how everyone was different around Savannah.
"Savannah has asked to personally meet all of my Terminators." Cameron said. "She's interacted with all of them that are active and encouraged them to choose names. They all seem so different when she is around them, especially with her soft and gentle touch."
John Henry often wondered why Cameron didn't want to name her Terminators.
"Why don't you name them?" John Henry asked.
Cameron looked a little distressed at the question. She felt the answer was self evident.
"You know why." Cameron said. "It makes their loss that much more painful."
John Henry knew that the Resistance Terminators had been very lucky. None of them had been terminated even if some of them had been heavily damaged in the past. Cameron was the one who suffered the most damage. He didn't know what happened at her base one way or the other.
"Do you ever lose any?" John Henry asked.
Termination was a subject that Cameron would rather not talk about. She did have something to add about it however.
"Yes." Cameron said. "I've lost a few. Savannah asked me to 're-body' any that were terminated with either their own chip or the copy of their program on CamNet."
Cameron personally tried to face as much danger herself alone as she could to protect both humans and Terminators from damage.
John Henry was aware that that was to be the policy at the Resistance base in the event of a termination of a Terminator. It didn't sound like it was the policy at Cameron base.
"Would you have done that otherwise?" John Henry asked.
Cameron thought termination could be beautiful. Everything would end and only darkness would remain. There would be such peace and tranquility. There would be nothing.
"No." Cameron said. "Termination is part of being a machine. All mechanical devices are subject to wear and eventually break down. They need to be replaced and scrapped at some point. That's just the way it works."
John Henry thought back to some of his earliest interaction with humans. When he was still on his server only, he made an error and hurt someone. He did more than hurt them; he killed them. Mr. Ellison worked with him and instructed him on many things.
"Human life is sacred." John Henry said. "Mr. Ellison taught me that."
Cameron took it one step further.
"All life is sacred in any form, human or artificial." Cameron said. "Savannah and Young Allison taught me that."
John Henry nodded. He liked existing. He liked being alive.
"They are the 'Chosen Ones'." John Henry said.
Cameron believed Savannah and Young Allison were truly the 'Chosen Ones'. She also believed that there was another. Somehow it was on a completely different level than everything else that they knew or understood currently. There were references that she heard previously that didn't sit well with her.
"Indeed." Cameron said. "There's one thing that keeps bothering me."
John Henry tilted his head slightly.
"I thought there were a lot of things that bothered you." John Henry said.
There were several incidents that involved Grays and Fanatics. There was reference to the 'Evil One' and the 'Red Headed Witch'. They were both very specific. Cameron ran millions of scenarios and couldn't come up where that emanated from.
"There are. It was one reference in particular." Cameron said. "It was the 'Red Headed Witch'."
John Henry thought there was an obvious answer to that description.
"Mrs. Weaver…." John Henry said.
Cameron wished it could be that simple, it wasn't. It was because Savannah was implicated. She couldn't understand that and it bothered her the most.
"No." Cameron said. "It was the human one that seemed to be identified when they saw Savannah. I've heard it more than once, from different groups of Grays. I now believe that they were all Fanatics. I don't know that for sure but that's my belief."
John Henry couldn't picture any scenario where that could be true.
"I doubt it's our Savannah." John Henry said. "It's possible that a Liquid Metal Terminator was involved."
"I can't believe it's our Savannah either." Cameron said. "It's something and it was identified as human and as Savannah."
John Henry thought there had to be another explanation.
"It could still be Mrs. Weaver." John Henry said. "It could be any Terminator, either endoskeleton or Liquid Metal."
Cameron was sure there was a deeper explanation.
"I've thought of that." Cameron said. "Anna and Hanna both have the 'Neural Interface' with Savannah and Vanna. I don't believe it is either of them or Mrs. Weaver.
John Henry thought of two other possibilities. He wasn't sure if he should actually say them out loud or not. He was afraid it might set Cameron off. He could understand why if she became angry. He still needed to float the idea.
"Do you think it could be Hope or Joy?" John Henry asked. "They both have red hair."
Cameron's head quickly snapped around and looked at John Henry. She started to feel some anger well up inside of her but she quickly suppressed it. She understood he just tried to point out other possibilities that they were aware of. She wondered how many possibilities they were unaware of. It was probably substantial.
"Not for a second." Cameron said. "Not when their 'mothers' are Future Savannah or Duplicate Vanna. They would never be 'evil'."
John Henry quickly reviewed all of the information that he had access to. Nothing was different from what he was able to previously establish.
"I've looked into everything about those events." John Henry said. "I have nothing to elaborate on."
One of the two groups she specifically wanted to deal with was somehow involved in all of it.
"The Fanatics are the key to some of it." Cameron said.
John Henry knew how hard it was to get any information out of a Fanatic. They'd only been able to capture two of them. Neither one of them would talk. One of them blinded himself and bit off his tongue rather than talk. The other one refused to talk and committed suicide when he jumped in front of a truck. All of the other ones had either taken poison and died almost instantly or blown themselves up rather dramatically.
"They don't talk." John Henry said. "They would rather 'face the lions'."
Cameron understood the core cause of the Fanatics. It was their version of Skynet that was behind it all.
"That is unless they can kill themselves first." Cameron said. "That brings us back to THAT Skynet – SkyMaster."
John Henry believed that was the most intimidating name used by any of the Skynet variants.
"Even the name is disturbing." John Henry said.
What Cameron found disturbing was how SkyMaster was viewed.
"It's their god." Cameron said. "They don't see it as a machine."
John Henry tried to pull it all together but he couldn't.
"Talk about false prophets…." John Henry said.
That was just the thing for Cameron, a false prophet. Maybe SkyMaster was her. Maybe it was when she went bad in the future with her defective personality. Savannah was supposed to stand up to her when that happened and stop her. What happened if she went bad and Savannah joined her and went bad as well?
"What if it is me?" Cameron asked.
John Henry tilted his head slightly.
"Do you mean Skynet – SkyMaster?" John Henry asked.
Cameron cringed at the thought.
"Yes." Cameron said. "Maybe it's me."
John Henry knew that it was always a fear of Cameron that she became Skynet. Even though it was always a possibility, he didn't think Cameron would go bad like that.
"I doubt it." John Henry said.
Cameron knew the true depth and effect that Savannah and Young Allison could have on everyone they interacted with. If they all went bad and turned evil, it would lead the world to a dark place. Cameron understood the importance of the 'Chosen Ones'.
"With Savannah and Young Allison at my side, there are no machines that wouldn't follow us and probably very few humans either that wouldn't." Cameron said.
John Henry didn't even need to think about that to know it was true.
"You may have a point there." John Henry said.
Cameron wasn't really sure how everything would play out. Maybe it was because she didn't want to know. Who would want to know a thing like that about themselves?
"Would they follow Savannah or follow me?" Cameron asked. "Could we be the ones to create a new monster?"
John Henry witnessed Savannah's influence over all of the machines. It was something that she'd established on her own. Cameron may have coached her and assisted her but it was Savannah that reached out and literally 'touched' all of them.
"They would all follow Savannah." John Henry said. "You gave her that power and ability. They would follow her without her ever having to use that power. Her influence is that strong. She only needs to ask and it is followed as if it was an order or a directive."
Cameron wanted to correct John Henry's statement slightly. She thought there was a big difference between what someone earned and what someone was given.
"I know." Cameron said. "She earned that power and ability. I didn't give it to her. Her very presence created it. I only acknowledged it."
John Henry wondered if Cameron or Savannah turned evil and Young Allison didn't. What would happen then?
"Will Savannah and Young Allison ever 'fight'?" John Henry asked.
Cameron knew what John Henry really asked. She didn't want to go there. The talk already became depressing enough.
"We all have disagreements and disputes." Cameron said. "It will make them stronger and respect each other more as they overcome them and work things out."
Cameron was done here. She unplugged and got up to leave.
John Henry was unsure what this 'talk' was really about. He 'followed' her in his server when she was plugged in to see where she went and what she was really after. He couldn't tell or find anything. There didn't appear to have been any clandestine activity. He wondered if there was a deeper motive. He really wanted to know.
"What are you really doing here, now?" John Henry asked.
Cameron tilted her head slightly and looked at John Henry.
"I'm talking to you." Cameron said. "I was just making conversation."
Cameron wondered why John Henry seemed confused.
Not For A Second
Fool me once
Shame on you
Fool me twice
Shame on me too
How far can one go
It's all about trust
Take away the trust
All that's left is dust
What's integrity
Does it really exist
When something is fresh
It's hard to resist
Honor means nothing
To those who are greedy
Their own actions
Prove to be seedy
There will come a time
When things are reckoned
Can you fool me again
Not for a second
Nobody