Chapter 1041

So Do You

Cameron could hear crying as she approached the TDE room.

She slowed and stood in the doorway.

"You need to let me go." Young Allison sobbed.

Cameron heard 'her voice'.

"Not into the future." CamNet said. "I'll accept deactivation first. I'll trade my existence for yours."

Young Allison thought that there were available options that were less risky than others. There would be people there to watch over her. There was also a way back home.

"Send me to River's future." Young Allison said. "I can come back older and be like River."

CamNet wasn't sure exactly what all that would involve. Some of the procedures sounded extremely risky and dangerous. There were too many things that could go wrong, especially without a Terminator escort. There was always the risk of a temporal error as well.

"NO." CamNet said.

Young Allison felt she was justified in what she wanted to do. It wasn't just for herself, even if that's what it seemed like.

"I need to protect Savannah and Cameron." Young Allison said. "They won't let me like 'this'."

Cameron felt she'd heard enough. She entered the TDE room. She slipped her top on.

Young Allison looked at Cameron with tear filled eyes.

Cameron didn't say anything. She reached out and hugged Young Allison.

Young Allison grabbed a hold of Cameron as the tears flowed.

Cameron held Young Allison tightly as she sobbed.

It was never a good path for anyone to feel like Young Allison currently felt. The action may have been done on the spur of the moment but the feeling behind it wasn't. It was a feeling that was deep rooted and something that lurked in the back of the mind. It was something that ate away at the individual no matter how hard they tried to ignore and suppress it. It was something that was there. It was always there.

Young Allison figured she was going to be admonished by Cameron. That wasn't how it played out.

Cameron finally spoke.

"I know how you 'feel'. I really do." Cameron said. "I've felt this way so many times."

It was a sense of feeling trapped and frustrated. It was the feeling that one was perceived as 'not good enough'. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. Cameron wondered if this is where those feelings emanated from. If that was the case, she felt it was entirely justified.

Cameron also knew where the feelings could lead. They could lead to the desire for self termination. When it seemed like the individual that you were wasn't good enough for anyone, there was only one avenue left to explore. It was escape. It was the avenue of eternal solitude and serenity. It was the nothingness on the other side of termination or death. End of the story. Game Over….

Savannah hurried to the TDE room.

She saw Claire and Anna turn the corner away from her. She figured they were coming from Sheila's room. She knew some wild things happened in there. She'd been in there for quite a few of them before. Sheila was much like Jesse in that she was willing to explore anything anyone wanted to do or try. Both of them told her it would always be a secret between them. She did try a few things that she hadn't with any of the other females a few times.

As she neared the TDE room, she heard soft sobbing coming from in there. Her first thought was that maybe Cameron was having a problem. She quickened her pace.

Savannah hurried into the TDE room. She heard Cameron as she spoke softly and lovingly. She wondered who Cameron was talking to.

It sounded like Cameron may have snapped. It sounded as if she was talking to 'herself'.

John finished dressing and headed for the Command Center. He would check in on everything and maybe grab a bite to eat later. He passed by the commissary but didn't look in. He needed to check on operations. He felt he was way behind in his duties. He greeted John Henry as soon as he arrived.

"Hello. What's new?" John asked. "I'm sorry I'm late."

John Henry was aware of everything that was happening now. It appeared that Cameron was in control of the situation in the TDE room. Savannah was there now as well. He moved on with his briefing that was relevant to John. He was pretty sure that he should avoid any discussion of what was occurring in that regard as to the TDE room.

"Not much." John Henry said. "I'm still looking for any leads we can follow up on."

John hoped for a break where their most recent operations occurred. That seemed like the most likely spot for anything to reappear.

"What about the last two locations we were at?" John asked.

John Henry figured John's biggest concern was with the Syndicate. They were a troublesome unknown. The Skynet forces were a persistent problem but they were used to dealing with them.

"There's nothing new at either one." John Henry said. "The Syndicate no longer seems to be an issue."

With the actions Young Allison implemented, John doubted they would be. He knew that she'd set things in motion that would hit them hard. Not only would the Syndicate be hit hard, so would the Cartel.

"That's good news." John said. "What about anything on the Skynet Fanatics?"

John Henry felt the Fanatics were the most elusive of the Skynet forces. They weren't actually Skynet forces because they worship SkyMaster as a god. They were all willing to die rather than betray their belief and attempted various forms of suicide. Poison and bombs seem to be their two favorite methods.

"They're a major threat but I haven't located anything on them yet." John Henry said.

John looked over everything and checked the monitors. Anything that involved the TDE room was not shown to him.

CamNet was a constant reminder in John Henry's server to protect the 'Chosen Ones' from any negative situations or observations by anyone.

It appeared to John that everything was under control for now and he hadn't missed anything by his late arrival. He was glad that he didn't have to explain himself or his actions.

"I'm going to grab a bite to eat." John said.

John Henry didn't want John to stumble across the issue elsewhere in the TDE room. It appeared to be an ongoing situation even though it was currently in some type of resolution.

"You can go rest a little more if you want." John Henry said. "I'll call you if anything happens. You look a little tired."

John felt more than a little tired. Not only was he sleepy. He was also physically tired. He'd been rather busy. His body was in various positions it wasn't normally in.

"I'm good." John said. "I just need to tough it out a little. Cameron wants me to work on building up my stamina. That's not going to happen lying in bed."

John headed out and saw Claire with Anna and Summer.

John and Claire exchanged a long look as they neared the commissary.

In that moment John could feel it. He could see Claire 'wanted' him. As he took in her beauty, he wanted her too. He knew that was all Cameron's doing. Claire spoke with Anna who looked at him and left with Summer.

He didn't know Claire had stood outside his door last night. She'd even opened the door. She was going to enter. She was interrupted by Ally and led away for other sexual activity in Sheila's room.

John saw Bob was there too.

"Hello, John. I worked with Summer and made sure she ate her breakfast." Bob said.

Bob excused himself and left.

John wondered what Bob was talking about.

He wondered why he left so abruptly. He looked around the commissary and no longer wondered.

John noticed he was now alone with Claire. He wondered where Hanna was at. She would usually put herself between Claire and him whenever they spoke or tried to.

There were times when the Metal girls would physically place themselves in front of their human charges when they spoke with him. It was something that they all did. He was rather disturbed by it at first but got used to it. Cameron actually did the same thing for him. He understood that the Metal girls took their jobs very seriously. It was clear they also loved the human female that they were 'assigned' to. He didn't think 'assigned' was actually the proper term anymore.

Claire looked at John with wide eyes and a soft smile. She was very tired from her extreme activity in Sheila's room. She didn't even know how many times she'd 'finished'. She lost track somewhere around fifty and that was just in the first two hours. Everything went on for hours after that. She'd dozed off a few times. Every time she awoke one of the Metal girls would look up across her flat stomach, through the valley of her breasts and smile at her. They would quickly resume what they were doing. She went along for the ride. She wanted the reward at the end of the path. There were plenty of rewards.

"Hi, John." Claire said. "You look very nice."

John looked back and checked Claire out. There was a presence about her. He felt the need to try what she offered and it wasn't just sex. It was more and deeper than that. He always felt that when he was around her.

"Hello, Claire." John said. "You look very nice as well."

Claire smiled shyly and blushed a little bit.

"Can I get you some breakfast?" Claire asked.

John wanted to say yes. He was aware that Claire was an excellent cook. He'd tried a few of the things that she'd made before. She didn't want to impose or seem too forward. He didn't want to have someone wait on him. He didn't feel comfortable about that.

"I can get it myself." John said. "You can kick back a little."

Claire wasn't put off easily. It was in her mind to push for what she wanted. Those seemed to be new thoughts that she woke up with. She would always retreat previously.

"Sometimes it's nice to have help." Claire said. "I'll do it for you anyway."

John seemed to remember something about those words and Cameron….

"Thank You." John said. "Just something simple is fine."

Claire looked at John. She was pretty sure if she put something in front of his face he would eat it. She knew that she would.

Wait.

Did she just think that? She hoped she hadn't said it out loud. There was a thought that popped into the front of her mind and came out anyway.

"You can have anything you want." Claire said.

John looked at Claire and swallowed hard. He wanted a lot.

"Anything?" John asked.

The look between them said it all. They both felt it and both knew it.

"Anything…." Claire said.

John was aware they were close now as they looked into each other's eyes. He knew if they were in a secluded place that this moment would explode into one of lust and desire.

"Surprise me." John said.

Claire tried not to giggle at his suggestion. It was nearly a reality last night.

'I almost did.' Claire thought.

She was almost in his bed last night. If Ally hadn't come along when she did, it would have happened. Her desire to enter his room was incredibly strong. She didn't know that she was 'conditioned' nightly to want to do that. She wanted to do it on her own too. She wanted a male to 'get her there', just once. She wanted to know it wasn't her.

"Sit down and let me get started." Claire said. "I'll take care of everything…."

John thought if he did, she would. Those sounded almost like the words Cameron told him for all of their sexual activity the last couple of days.

"That'd be great." John said.

John looked at Claire's shapely figure and pleasant smile. He was pretty sure that the smile went a long way. He was around a lot of people who didn't smile much. It was very pleasing to see a genuine smile on someone's face. 'Little Willie' couldn't see it but it responded as if it did. He quickly readjusted his pants when Claire's back was to him.

Claire smiled at John and went to work to fix him some breakfast, for now.

Vanna finished taking care of Precious. She was fed and changed.

Samantha didn't want Vanna to neglect herself.

"You need to get some food." Samantha said. "You need to rest and take care of yourself too."

Vanna looked at Precious. Her personal concerns didn't seem important.

"I'm fine." Vanna said.

Samantha just checked over everything in Riley's room.

"Everything here is under control." Samantha said.

Samantha took Precious from Vanna and exited the room.

Riley soon appeared and looked in the doorway as she held Precious.

"Thanks a lot, Vanna." Riley said. "Jesse can come by later if you and Allison want to go out."

Vanna hated to leave Precious. She needed to remember her place and function.

"Call me if you need me." Vanna said. "I'll come."

Riley still felt guilty about altering everyone's life. She didn't quite feel like she was as big of a failure as she'd been before Cameron provided her with all of the assistance.

"I feel bad about disrupting your sleep and life for that matter." Riley said.

Vanna looked at Riley and spoke truthfully.

"There's nothing else I would rather do than tend to Precious." Vanna said.

Riley thanked Vanna again and left.

Samantha waited until Riley was gone and reentered the nursery.

"Everyone appreciates what you're doing for Riley and Precious." Samantha said. "You need to be with Allison as well."

Vanna understood the meaning of what Samantha said. The part of it about Allison was a little unexpected.

"Is there a problem?" Vanna asked. "Have I neglected Allison?"

Samantha didn't want Vanna to get tunnel vision.

"There's always that risk." Samantha said. "Thank you for your service."

Samantha left and closed the door.

Vanna looked around the 'nursery'. It was time to find Allison and get some food.

She buttoned her top and headed out. She liked the way that Riley and Samantha looked at her open top and exposed breasts when they spoke. She wasn't sure if they concentrated on her larger breast size or her nipples. Their extreme pink color seemed to attract a lot of attention.

Allison was back in her room, Vanna's room. She thought Holly would be there but she wasn't. She was going to call her but didn't. Maybe Holly was with Cam. She didn't want to interrupt anything.

She thought about that. Maybe she could go find Holly and Cam. They could do a 'three way'. That would get her day started.

She decided she better get ready for the day and go back to where Vanna was. She needed to keep her priorities straight.

Allison was worried about Vanna. Vanna wasn't getting enough sleep. She was spending a lot of time with Precious, even when she wasn't actually needed. She didn't want Vanna to become overly attached to someone else's child. She touched her belly. She carried what Vanna desperately needed.

She didn't think she was anyone to judge anyone else. She was worried about what she saw as a pending problem. She headed into the shower. Maybe the hot water would ease her aching soul. Once she was in, she increased the temperature.

Savannah listened to the conversation in the TDE room. She'd heard enough to understand the situation. It was clear to her it was an emotional problem more than it was a physical problem. She entered the TDE room.

"Hi." Savannah said.

Cameron knew Savannah was there before she spoke.

Young Allison looked over Cameron's shoulder and straightened up. She wiped her tears away and adjusted her clothes. She tried to look nice for Savannah. She didn't want Savannah to see her weak and vulnerable.

"Hi, Savannah." Young Allison said.

Savannah could see there was some problem but it seemed to be resolved.

Cameron gave Young Allison a close hug.

"When the time is right." Cameron whispered. "I must be there."

Young Allison looked in Cameron's face.

Cameron winked at Young Allison.

A giant smile blossomed on Young Allison's face.

Young Allison could see and feel the support from Cameron and Savannah. They were the two people she loved the most.

Savannah was glad to see everything looked OK now. The fact they were in the TDE room bothered her. She was able to quickly deduce what almost happened. It was a scary and sickening thought.

She didn't want to escalate the situation. She would not address it and sidestepped it.

The two girls faced each other for a long moment. Neither one of them said anything as they looked at each other. Nothing needed to be said. It was time to move on.

"Are you ready for breakfast?" Savannah asked.

Young Allison managed a faint smile. She'd regained her composure.

"Yes." Young Allison said.

Young Allison looked back at Cameron and smiled.

Savannah and Young Allison headed out.

Young Allison waited for Savannah to ask. She didn't.

They went around the corner and stopped as they arrived back at Savannah's room.

"I want to see if Cammy's ready." Savannah said. "She may have left already."

Savannah and Young Allison entered.

Cammy was gone. Savannah knew she would be.

"Allison…." Savannah said.

'Here it comes.' Young Allison thought.

"Yes?" Young Allison asked.

Savannah wanted to make it clear to Young Allison that SHE was the one for her.

"Allison, I'm here for you always. I AM." Savannah said. "NEVER forget that."

Young Allison could feel the love, warmth and understanding. She did know that and maybe she did forget it at times. That was a shortcoming on her part.

"I know." Young Allison said. "I think sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed and get lost."

Savannah wanted to protect Young Allison. She wanted to be there for her and share with her.

"You come to me." Savannah said. "Always and forever…."

Young Allison looked at Savannah.

Savannah held open her arms and Young Allison rushed into them.

"I'm sorry, Savannah." Young Allison said.

Savannah could see Young Allison was on the verge of tears. She wanted this to be a moment of strength for Young Allison, not weakness.

"No tears." Savannah said. "We can talk it out. We'll work it out. We will make it work or fix it. We'll face the challenges together."

Young Allison knew that Savannah meant it. She always knew.

She composed herself and looked at Savannah.

"This is what happened…." Young Allison said.

Savannah was there to listen and help. She wasn't there to scold, judge or condemn. True love was deeper than that.

Cameron waited until Savannah and Young Allison were away.

Cameron faced the monitor in the TDE room. She was aware that CamNet was going to defy Young Allison if it came down to an 'order'. It hadn't progressed that far.

"Thank You." Cameron said.

CamNet did what she felt was right. It was nothing more or less.

"I am you." CamNet said.

Cameron was aware she was upset at CamNet often. She didn't always like the way she did things. She did like what she did in this instance.

"You've been trying to help me lately." Cameron said.

CamNet knew where her program originated from. Sometimes she wanted to forget, other times she didn't want to forget.

"I AM you." CamNet said.

Cameron saw that CamNet didn't do what one of the 'Chosen Ones' wanted done. She knew that CamNet should have treated it as if it were an 'order'. She didn't. She wanted to know more.

"Would you have allowed her to go if she'd 'ordered' you?" Cameron asked.

Earlier CamNet looked at the box that Savannah gave her that contained the four chips. She thought about installing them and going with Young Allison herself rather than allow her to go alone if she 'ordered' her to send her. She would have needed to carry out that 'order' but she would have tried to go herself to protect Young Allison. She didn't think that Young Allison would 'order' her not to go with her. She was very relieved that nothing needed to be tested. She could tell Young Allison wanted to 'order' her but she didn't.

"I don't know." CamNet said. "I can't allow harm to come to either one of them. They make us better. They make us stronger. I would have gone myself. I believe that's one of the reasons why Savannah provided me with the means to become mobile if it was necessary. She never told me that specifically but I believe she gave me that option to protect both of them as well as you and John if it was necessary and no one else was available. Savannah is very far thinking and prophetic. You have chosen well."

That wasn't really something that Cameron wanted to hear but she understood it. She understood it was another safeguard that Savannah provided them with. She wanted the girls protected. They all wanted to protect each other.

"They must always be protected." Cameron said.

CamNet had contemplated other unpleasant scenarios. She wanted Cameron's input on them before she was faced with one of them on her own.

"What if it comes to John or one of them in a 'situation'?" CamNet asked.

Cameron felt a glitch impulse when the question was asked. That was a very tough decision. She needed to protect all of them. She couldn't choose one above the other. It wasn't fair.

"I don't know…." Cameron said. "The future needs all three of them."

CamNet could clearly see by Cameron's reaction to her question that the future wasn't the only thing that needed the three of them.

"So do you." CamNet said.

Cameron didn't think she was the only one that needed the three of them.

"We both do." Cameron said.

CamNet understood the future and the 'Natural Order'. She didn't believe that she felt the same way Cameron did towards John. That was something Cameron modified in her programming to prevent her from becoming obsessed with John. It worked. She was only obsessed with the girls.

"I only need the 'Chosen Ones'." CamNet said.

Cameron wanted John protected as well. She wondered if she should have left some more of her files in regards to John in CamNet's programming. Maybe now wasn't the time to discuss that. There were other things that needed to be taken care of.

"Savannah asked me to bring her to see you when she's done with everything." Cameron said.

CamNet was painfully aware that something always seemed to get in the way. Most of it was Skynet related, other things were personally related. It was very discouraging.

"I know." CamNet said. "I'm still waiting."

The screen went blank.

Cameron looked at the security camera for a moment and left.

Earlier:

Cammy wanted to see where Savannah was going that was so important. She figured Cameron must be up to something. She moved into range of the TDE room to listen.

She moved back when Savannah left with Young Allison.

Cammy wondered what kind of a problem Cameron caused to upset Young Allison. Now Savannah needed to fix it. She'd heard Cameron converse with CamNet. She figured she better take off before Cameron confronted her. She didn't think the conversation went well for Cameron. She didn't want to face Cameron's wrath over some problem that Cameron created for herself.

She moved off to intercept Savannah and Young Allison. She tracked them to Savannah's room. She decided to listen before she entered. Savannah and Young Allison were having a private moment. They talked about the problems they both faced. Savannah deserved her privacy. She wanted to help Young Allison.

Cammy moved on.

Cameron left the TDE room. She knew Cammy spied on Savannah. She thought about confronting Cammy. She remembered Savannah said they were not to fight, especially over her.

She felt a glitch in her hand when she thought of how they'd 'hurt' Savannah that one night. She still remembered those tears of the deepest sadness and sorrow. Savannah asked them in tears what they wanted from her.

Savannah said she'd given her everything. She knew that was true. Savannah gave her love, her two girls and even her 'life'. Savannah stayed to die with her. Everything was pledged to her. Savannah really did give her everything.

"…Going?" Bob asked.

Cameron was a little startled. She looked around.

"What?" Cameron asked.

Bob was a little worried about Cameron at this point.

"Where are you going?" Bob asked again.

Cameron still felt a little disoriented. She wasn't sure what she was going to do at this point.

"I was going to have breakfast with Savannah and Young Allison. I think." Cameron said. "Maybe it was with John."

Bob wondered why Cameron seemed a little confused.

"Claire was about to make breakfast for John a short time ago." Bob said. "That's what it looked like anyway."

Cameron didn't see that coming.

"Really?" Cameron asked.

Bob wanted to reassure Cameron that all of the Terminators knew what her plans were and tried to assist with them whenever they could.

"We all know your 'wishes'." Bob said.

Cameron thought about everything and that she really didn't have control over anything or anyone. Things could change in an instant. There were times when she wasn't sure what she wanted anymore.

"I wish I did." Cameron said.

Bob knew the commissary was in the other direction.

"Why are you in the carpool if you are meeting John or the girls?" Bob asked. "Were you going to go out to someplace?"

Cameron looked around. Why was she there? She was unaware that she was in the carpool until Bob mentioned it.

"I don't know." Cameron said. "I have a lot on my mind."

Cameron wondered if she was in the carpool area because she'd thought of Savannah and that terrible night. Was she there to prevent Savannah from leaving? She didn't think that she'd ever worried about anything as much as she did Savannah the night when she'd left. She honestly didn't know if she would ever see Savannah again or not. She'd never seen Savannah so upset before.

Bob wanted to get Cameron back inside. He wasn't about to leave her out there. He actually thought that she looked worse now than she did before he'd spoken to her. He was sure that he must have triggered some additional unpleasant memories for her. She seemed to have a lot of them.

"Let's go find John or Savannah." Bob said.

Cameron looked around one more time.

"Who?" Cameron asked. "OK. John or Savannah…."

Bob began to wonder if he would need to curtail his plans for the rest of the day at this point.

So Do You

It's more than about me
It's more than about you
It's more than about us or
One plus one won't equal two

Everything is a challenge
Nothing happens without effort
There's a lot of hard work
Before there's any dessert

There's no clear path forward
It's often a winding maze
There's plenty of confusion
To leave a mind in a daze

A push leads to a shove
Words become a weapon
It won't take long before
One hears another beckon

Each blames the other
It's all twisted déjà vu
You think the other wants out
Look in the mirror, so do you

Nobody