Chapter 11

Replaced

Jim was able to stand everyone down. It was a couple of 'Friendlies' who'd arrived. It was John Henry and a Resistance fighter. The base was now off alert. Weapons were returned back to the security of their lockers. Life resumed where it stopped. Skynet hadn't tracked them down again, yet. The threat still remained. It was something which would always remain. With Skynet's ability to use time travel, the threat could appear any time or any when.

The constant worry of Skynet, or one of its affiliates, finding them was real. Mrs. Weaver had been targeted. Savannah Weaver had been targeted. Mr. Ellison became the spokesperson for the company. He'd been targeted too at one point. They'd decided to report the news Mrs. Weaver and Savannah were both killed in the 'accident' which occurred at the company headquarters. It was spun a small aircraft seemed to have encountered some control problems, and an unfortunate accident occurred. They didn't want to report it as a 'terrorist' attack or a directed attack. The value of the company would drop if the truth were known.

With Cameron Two in the system, along with John Henry as Jim, it wasn't too hard to control the official narrative. Information could be planted or removed into any computer system. If a reporter seemed too aggressive, it wasn't too hard to place 'compromising material' on their cell phone or computers. Some of it could land them in prison for decades once it was 'discovered'.

The super computer didn't mind playing hardball to protect the Resistance. Cameron Two was willing to be a little more aggressive than John Henry as Jim was.

Cameron and Vanna were in the lab.

The threat was very real, even if it was brief.

Cameron received information updates from Cameron Two almost as fast as Jim processed them. There were some interesting developments. It didn't seem to her as if all of them were 'good'.

As Cameron put the weapons back, Cameron Two fed her some disturbing information. She froze in place at what was revealed. She stopped what she was doing. Her left hand experienced a slight glitch. There was a heaviness in her 'heart'. She stood up and looked at Vanna. She knew what she needed to do. It was the right thing.

There was a feeling of sadness which touched Cameron in a way she was unsure of or why. No. She knew why.

Cameron turned to Vanna.

"Come here, Vanna." Cameron said. "Please."

Vanna walked over. It appeared Cameron wanted to tell her something.

"Yes?" Vanna asked.

There was a faint smile on Cameron's face. She'd been able to force one to appear. It helped mask her growing sadness. She wanted to commend what she felt needed recognition. She also wanted to point out something she believed.

"It was a brave thing you did." Cameron said. "I'm not worth your life."

Vanna didn't want to argue the point with Cameron. To her, Cameron was worth her life. She loved Cameron. She would do anything for her. She would never abandon Cameron. She would die first.

"You're trapped here. I couldn't leave you." Vanna said. "I won't leave you."

Cameron could see Vanna meant what she said. She appreciated her level of commitment.

"It will have to be a comfort to me to know you wouldn't leave me in the face of death." Cameron said. "I'll never forget it. I promise to make it, and this, up to you one day somehow."

Vanna was thrown off by Cameron's wording. She was more than a little confused.

"What?" Vanna asked.

Cameron was unsure how best to proceed. She knew what seemed to comfort humans. It actually comforted her as well.

"Give me a hug, Vanna." Cameron said.

The two embraced. Cameron took two steps back. She looked Vanna in the eyes.

"Look at me." Cameron said.

Vanna looked. She was aroused to have Cameron standing topless in front of her. She said what she felt.

"You're ravishing, Cameron." Vanna said. "Nobody is as beautiful as you are."

Cameron felt empty. She wanted to offer Vanna something. She knew it wasn't very much in reality.

"Take a good look." Cameron said.

Vanna was worried where the conversation was going. It didn't seem to be in the direction she wanted it to be.

"Why?" Vanna asked.

Cameron's face lost all expression. It was as if a part of her wilted. Something which had budded and blossomed inside of her, would now be forced to wither. She wanted Vanna to know what awaited her.

"Your wish has been granted." Cameron said. "You get to see and touch the real thing now."

Vanna was even more confused by Cameron's words.

"What do you mean?" Vanna asked.

The faint smile returned to Cameron's face. She was pleased Vanna would be able to find some joy and happiness in her life.

"The Resistance Fighter is Allison - Your Allison." Cameron said. "Now you have the real person. You can again have what you really want and who you really love."

Vanna had trouble processing what Cameron just said. She was still focused on Cameron. Was Allison really here? Her emotions were shattered in all directions.

"You're real, Cameron." Vanna said. "I… I… I don't know what to do."

Cameron knew there was only one thing for Vanna to do. It was the 'right thing'.

"I do. Your beloved has come for you. Go to her. Go." Cameron said. "Take the rest of the day off and come back tomorrow. You have a lot of catching up to do. Share your love with the one who deserves it. Your true love has come for you. This is a moment you both need to celebrate."

Vanna started crying.

"I'm sorry, Cameron." Vanna sobbed.

A sense of resignation came over Cameron.

"Aren't we all." Cameron said.

Vanna left in tears to find Allison.

The story always seemed to end the same way Cameron thought.

Cameron slowly put her top back on. In just a few seconds, she was Tight again. It was like nothing ever happened except her hand still glitched. Another chance at love and sharing was just stolen from her in an instant. The hollowness of her heart hurt.

'Replaced.' Cameron thought to herself.

It seemed to be the story of her existence, her life.

Cameron decided she needed to call Sarah and do so quickly. It would need to involve Mr. Ellison as well. She laid out a plan and some insurance. There were other matters to deal with now.

As Cameron called Sarah, the printer worked furiously in the background. She began to print more poems of sadness and sorrow.

John Henry needed to speak with Cameron.

Cameron asked Sarah to have Mr. Ellison stall him for a few minutes before he came to see her. She needed to get a few 'things' in place first. If she was going to play a game, she would play to win.

Everything was quickly put into action and was now ready.

Cameron waited behind a workbench in the lab.

John Henry entered the lab and came towards Cameron.

Cameron wanted answers.

"Where's John?" Cameron asked. "How is he?"

John Henry saw John only a short time ago.

"He's fine." John Henry said.

Cameron was relieved to hear it. She wanted her chip back so she could bring John home. As soon as she received it, she would go after John. He didn't belong in the future. The future was a dangerous place. She was sure getting her chip back was going to be a problem. It was time to be forceful.

"My chip, give it to me – NOW." Cameron demanded.

Cameron lifted the M79 and pointed it directly at John Henry. There was a possibility he wasn't who he appeared to be. It was a strong possibility too.

John Henry scanned the weapon Cameron held. He deduced what types of ordinance may be in it.

"The weapon would appear to do more damage to Mrs. Weaver than to me. It wouldn't incapacitate me, but it would severely damage my sheath." John Henry said. "I've already sustained some sheath damage when I left the future. If I was a threat, you wouldn't be able to stop me."

Cameron smiled at him. She shifted her eyes ever so slightly.

John Henry followed her gaze.

"This will." Sarah said.

Sarah was concealed off to the side. John Henry was unaware of her presence and now he was in the 'kill zone'.

There was an audible 'click' as Sarah released the safety on Mr. Ellison's M60. It was almost deafening in the silence of the lab.

John Henry looked over at Sarah and noted the Coltan rounds in the belt. They would damage his chassis beyond repair.

Sarah still saw 'Cromartie' in John Henry. It would be easy for her to pull the trigger and hold down on it.

"I'll pump you full of these, I swear." Sarah said.

John Henry was aware of her reputation. He wasn't so sure her stay in the mental institution was based solely on her reiteration of events which happened to her, and how it involved the future.

"I'm sure you would." John Henry said.

Cameron was tired of waiting. She held the upper hand now.

"I need my chip." Cameron demanded again. "Come and give it to me."

John Henry hadn't moved. He was sure any choice he made would be the wrong choice.

Sarah didn't like the delay.

"Do it - NOW." Sarah said. "I'll light you up."

John Henry was at a disadvantage.

"I don't have it." John Henry said.

Sarah didn't buy it. She wanted results. She wanted John back.

"Give her yours or you're scrap metal." Sarah said. "I swear it."

John Henry needed some time to clear things up.

"Let me explain." John Henry said.

Sarah wanted results, not excuses.

"I've been itching to smoke some Metal, so might just as well be you." Sarah said.

She pulled the M60 stock tight into her shoulder, her finger tightening on the trigger.

Cameron could see Sarah was about to cut John Henry down. She needed to learn more first.

"Wait." Cameron said.

John Henry was sure he could clear things up.

"Let me interface with - myself, or 'Jim' as I'm now told by Mr. Ellison. You can review all the data and files directly." John Henry said. "There are important events you need to process first. John declined to come back with me now. He needs to finish some things there first."

Cameron would have Cameron Two do the interface in case it was a trick or there was a terminal virus unleashed. She wouldn't receive the information until Cameron Two determined it wasn't a risk.

Sarah still wanted a few answers.

"What's the story on the girl?" Sarah asked.

John Henry could explain it quickly.

"I can tell you now." John Henry said.

Sarah wanted to hear it.

"This better be good." Sarah said.

John Henry decided to keep it simple.

"The female was targeted for termination. I took a few rounds in my back as we used the TDE. John, Mrs. Weaver and…" John Henry paused as he looked at Cameron and the M79 still pointed at him. "And another friendly Terminator drove the Grays away who'd attacked us."

Sarah wanted the information on the chip for Cameron.

"We need the information you have." Sarah said.

Cameron hadn't moved or spoken again since her first few words, she lowered the M79. She looked sternly at John Henry.

"Do it." Cameron said. "I want everything. I want it now."

John Henry left the lab. He glanced back once as he exited. He knew it was a close one for him, a little too close.

Cameron walked over to Sarah and helped her up. She lifted the M60 with one hand as she assisted Sarah. She wanted to express her current feelings. She believed it was something very important.

"Thank you, Sarah, for being there for me." Cameron said.

Sarah knew she needed Cameron's help. She was sure John would only return for Cameron. Cameron was her connection to the recent past.

"You're all I have left here until you bring John back to me, to us. I know you're going to be the one to do it." Sarah said. "I've known it ever since John left."

Sarah knew Cameron was the only one who could do it. John would return for Cameron. John would return with her. She was certain Cameron would bring him back one way or another, even if he didn't want to return. She didn't care how it was done, as long as it was done. She wanted her son back. It was her duty, as much as it was Cameron's, to protect him. It was what her life was based on from the moment she'd found out she was pregnant.

A few minutes later the information was being fed to Cameron as Cameron Two cleared it. She saw everything John Henry did and experienced, right up to the point where he'd met up with Mrs. Weaver and John in a Skynet factory.

What she learned was 'John Henry' was transferred to a new chip off of her chip. His program was taken off of her chip. The feed soon restarted again. The new chip was placed into John Henry's chassis. They were about to put her chip in a new chassis. John insisted on it. Mrs. Weaver had been a little reluctant, but agreed after she made a selection. The feed suddenly went blank.

All the information to Cameron stopped. She wondered if it was an 'attack'. Perhaps what she feared about a 'Trojan Horse' of some type just occurred.

"What's happening?" Cameron asked.

Cameron needed to use the com system. There was no longer a computer up-link.

"Cameron Two is trying to erase herself." Jim said.

She was a little concerned about what she heard next.

"Both Jim and I are trying to stop her." John Henry told her.

Cameron worried even more it was the 'attack' she'd feared.

"Is it some kind of virus?" Cameron asked.

She expected Jim to respond. He didn't.

"No. She's self terminating." John Henry said. "I didn't think it was possible. I believe it was over what she viewed."

Cameron needed answers and she needed them now. Why would Cameron Two attempt to self terminate over images?

"Let me see what she saw immediately." Cameron demanded.

Cameron knew something catastrophic must have happened for Cameron Two to try to self terminate. This was going to be bad news of some kind. Maybe John was terminated. If John was dead, she was going to self terminate also. There was no point to exist if it were the case. A new door which had been about to open was slammed in her face just minutes ago. She'd already lost John once. She didn't want to lose him for real and know it.

The door began to open to the lab.

The feed restarted.

Cameron saw her chip being inserted into a new Terminator chassis. It was a blonde haired, big busted female chassis. She wanted to scream. It was very similar to Riley. No wonder Cameron Two attempted to self terminate. She needed to stop viewing the image, or she would do the same.

Cameron broke the feed. Her left hand started to glitch wildly out of control. She knew she was close to shutting down.

'Replaced!' Cameron wanted to scream.

The lab door closed.

"So where is Cameron?" A voice asked.

Cameron turned around and looked at her. It was a ghost from her past.

'Replaced!' Cameron wanted to scream again.

Cameron forced herself to remain in control. It was very hard for her to do. Everything wasn't about her. She extended her hand and smiled.

"Hello, Allison, I'm Cameron."

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Replaced

Not good enough
It makes you feel dejected
The next step in life
Is to be rejected

It means someone thinks
That others are superior
Do they even know
What's in the interloper's interior

It crushes your spirit
It's yourself that you blame
Your world slowly collapses
You are filled full of shame

It seems very easy
To be thrown away
Your words mean nothing
They don't care what you say

You try to hang on
There's no hand to hold
You radiate love's heat
Yet are showered with cold

Sometimes things happen
Leaving you feeling disgraced
It cuts to the very bone
To know you've been replaced

Nobody