Chapter 29
Double Trouble
Cameron was very concerned John didn't find out about the extent of her most recent damage. It was horrific on her face. There was plenty of damage elsewhere too. The fact her face was damaged was a problem in itself. The severity of this injury meant it would need more time to heal. She wanted to use Allison and set up a ruse which indicated she would be gone for a few days. It would be a way to plausibly explain her absence.
Vanna wanted some additional help. She suggested Cameron seek John Henry's assistance in preparing a distraction. They planned a small but complex series of events. They would happen in rapid succession. Timing would be important to keep John distracted. The more John was distracted, would allow Allison a better chance to pull off the switch, the 'double play'. It should also keep John from wanting 'anything else' from 'Cameron' before she left. Cameron still hadn't provided any additional information on what it might entail.
Cameron went over the plan they'd devised. Everything looked good to her. The girls left to set everything into motion. They would be staged and ready to go at the appropriate time.
She called John Henry to the lab to go over all the details with him involving the plan and its execution. This plan should prevent John from seeking 'too much' from Allison.
John Henry entered the lab and looked around. He didn't see Cameron.
"Cameron?" John Henry asked.
Cameron walked out. Her damage was evident.
John Henry took it all in. The recent damage was worse than 'normal', even for Cameron.
"You're damaged." John Henry said.
Cameron was very displeased at her appearance.
"I've had worse." Cameron said.
Cameron thought of the needless stunt John asked her to do. In reality, he'd sacrificed her to free Sarah from jail. It always hurt her when it came to her mind. If she hadn't been so damaged, she would have downloaded John Henry's program onto her chip, and then used her chassis to go into the future. She felt her left hand start to glitch as she thought about all of it. To her it was like it just happened when she thought of it.
Every event was the same way for her. Whenever she thought of John and Riley, and what THEY did, it was like it just happened to her. Time didn't dull or lessen her pain for anything emotion based. It always played back at full intensity.
John Henry was bothered by Cameron's plan of deception. He felt Cameron should be honest and straightforward. He didn't agree the burden of Resistance matters should fall on Cameron's back either. He'd offered to step up and assist her multiple times. She usually insisted he remain at the base to protect it and watch over the others. He didn't necessarily think any of the humans, including John and Sarah, would need to do more on their own. They could make better use of the Terminators associated with the Resistance. They should be able to have a few more come online soon to assist them.
"I must first say, I don't agree with the way you're doing things." John Henry said. "I don't think John or Sarah would either."
Cameron faced the same dilemma a lot. She still went ahead with her plans anyway, just like she always did. She didn't want to make a big production out of it.
"They don't always like the way I do things." Cameron said. "It's why you're here and they aren't. It's your assistance, and your help I seek, not theirs. I'm asking you personally for your help. Will you join me?"
John Henry could see it was very important to Cameron. He didn't want to be a problem. He didn't want to end up on Cameron's 'list' either. He was aware there was a certain amount of distrust Cameron viewed him with. It was because of his creation and association with Mrs. Weaver. He wanted to affirm his commitment to Cameron.
"Since I've said everything I needed to say, I'll assist you." John Henry said. "I'll work with you on your plan. We have been as 'one'. You've allowed me to share your experiences, emotions and feelings. The poems in your mind saddened me. I'll always back your play, Cameron, even if I don't like it."
Cameron was reluctant at first to share and interact with John Henry on her chip, and in his server. He was very friendly to her and seemed genuinely curious about her. She slowly opened up to him and shared some of her experiences with him. She was pretty sure some things were eye opening to him. Still, she used moderation and restraint. She didn't want him scarred like she felt she was by the actions of other people. She did allow him to see and 'feel' some of what they'd made her feel.
She smiled at John Henry. She'd learned her smile could go a long way to reach people. It seemed to soften them. Some people told her she had a beautiful smile. She hoped she would be able to smile genuinely, when it was appropriate.
"Thank you, John Henry." Cameron said. "We are 'one'."
John Henry didn't want to see John injured or hurt in any way. He understood Cameron's concern. He thought Cameron did almost everything. He believed John needed to do more himself.
"You're sacrificing too much to protect John." John Henry said. "You must let him fulfill his destiny."
Cameron felt it was true to an extent. She was there to do a job. She planned to do her job.
"I must protect John. It doesn't matter what the cost is, or the price paid." Cameron said. "It's my purpose to protect John. I won't fail."
John Henry questioned the methods and what its repercussions could be or lead to. He worried about how far Cameron was willing to go to accomplish her goals.
"What about YOURSELF?" John Henry asked. "Allison is a beautiful girl. This may open a new door in John's life, his future. She may be too tempting. You're risking too much."
Cameron owed Future Allison a debt she couldn't repay.
"Allison is part of me. I owe My Allison so much. Allison is the same 'Allison', even if she is from a different timeline. In a way, it's as if she is my mother, and Skynet is my father."
John Henry still felt Cameron needed to look deeper. Anything could happen. He felt it was necessary to point out events which occurred in the past.
"I do understand the comparison. It's much the same way Mrs. Weaver is to me." John Henry said. "Allison is also a very beautiful woman. John has sought comfort in the arms of another human female before."
Cameron nodded. She didn't need to be reminded. The other female was far less beautiful than Allison too. She believed she hadn't responded quickly enough to the threat.
"It was an unfortunate event." Cameron said. "Riley stole something from me. I should have terminated her when I first wanted to."
John Henry thought about it. He wondered how long it took Cameron to determine it was a problem.
"When was it?" John Henry asked.
Cameron frowned slightly. It was something she didn't like to think about.
"It was the first second I saw her." Cameron said. "I could see she was a threat."
John Henry wondered how Cameron determined Riley was a threat so quickly.
"I don't see how you could tell Riley was a threat to John in the first second." John Henry said.
Cameron felt a slight glitch impulse in her left hand. She felt a hit a little closer to home with her initial impression.
"She was a threat to me." Cameron said. "I was right. She got between John and me."
John Henry wasn't sure how the current situation was different. Based on Cameron's previous statement, it seemed events would replay themselves.
"Aren't you worried you'll start something which may not stop?" John Henry asked. "I'd be concerned about it."
Cameron was aware of Future John's choices before her creation and involvement. They were Future Allison and Future Savannah.
"John has the right to choose. Allison can offer him something I can't, so can Vanna. I'm willing to take the risk." Cameron said. "Either one, or both of them, are suitable replacements for me. No, BOTH of them are actually his destiny. I'll do what I must for John to be happy and safe. Nothing else matters to me."
It was hard for John Henry to believe, even as he could see evidence of it. Cameron's current condition seemed to verify her statement about how nothing else mattered.
"I can SEE that." John Henry said.
Cameron looked down.
John Henry walked over to her and gently lifted her head with his hand. He could see the tears in her eyes. He understood the pain was real and deep rooted.
He stood there accessing files. For the first time a tear formed in his eye.
"I feel your pain, Cameron." John Henry said. "I'll do whatever is necessary to assist you."
Cameron's face softened some. There were certain realities she needed to deal with. Not all of them were easy or desired.
"Thank you, John Henry." Cameron said. "Everyone sacrifices for John Connor."
John Henry could see the truth of her last statement.
"Apparently some sacrifice more than others." John Henry said. "This will all come down to timing for the best outcome for you. I'll coordinate everything with Vanna and Allison."
Cameron felt hope again. She didn't want John to worry about her. She didn't want anyone to worry about her. She was appreciative of all the assistance she would receive.
"Thank you, John Henry." Cameron said. "This can't be done without you."
John Henry knew if he failed in his part, John would end up with Allison instead of Cameron. He knew this was a gamble Cameron shouldn't take. Human females were very alluring to human males.
Earlier:
John watched John Henry excuse himself from the Command Center. He thought it came at a good time. He needed to use the restroom. He got up and did so. He cleaned up and started back towards the Command Center. Since he was up and out, he thought about taking a tour of the base. He could use the break to stretch his legs a little.
He looked in the commissary. The lights are off. He turned the lights on and went inside. He made his way to the refrigerator and looked inside for a moment. He didn't see anything he could grab for an easy snack.
His mother still would prepare food for him when she was around. He knew it wasn't the best food, but it wasn't the worst either. It seemed the girls from the future were all even more challenged than his mother was when it came to cooking.
John closed the refrigerator door without taking anything, and returned back to the Command Center. Maybe someone would make something later on.
John Henry went over all the details with Cameron. There were a specific series of events which would need to occur in a specific order. He returned to the Command Center.
He was pleased to see John was still inside. He received the notification from Cameron to start the process. He put the ball into play. He knew what needed to be done and when.
'Game On'. John Henry thought.
"John, I have some important matters to discuss with you." John Henry said.
John seemed anxious. Perhaps he seemed a little nervous.
"Hello, John Henry, have you seen Cameron?" John asked.
John Henry started the set up.
"Yes, several minutes ago." John Henry said. "She was about to go out."
John looked around. He didn't see her.
John Henry wanted to draw John's focus.
"John, I need you to look at these." John Henry said.
John looked at the tablet John Henry handed him.
'Cameron' entered the area.
John looked up from what John Henry just showed him.
"Hey, beautiful." John said as he saw 'Cameron' approach.
Allison made her play as Cameron.
"Hello, John." Allison-Cameron said.
John looked at her figure up and down.
"I missed you last night." John said.
Allison felt butterflies in her stomach. Her heart pounded. Now she really wondered what was going to happen. Vanna was going to hate her if this went too far.
She played a few more cards. She knew she needed to be concise and quick. She needed to spend as little time as possible in the Command Center.
"There were a few leads I needed to follow up on. I still have more to check out." Allison-Cameron said. "I'll be gone for four days."
John Henry hit John with another distraction.
"John, this needs your attention." John Henry said. "You need to see these files."
John looked away from 'Cameron', back to John Henry, and then back to 'Cameron'. She was about to turn and walk away.
John leaned over and kissed 'Cameron'. His right hand slipped inside her purple coat and caressed her left breast. His hand lingered there as he gave it a gentle squeeze.
Vanna entered the area.
"Cameron, I need your help in the lab." Vanna interrupted.
Allison backed up and smiled at John.
"I'll be back in four days and we can make up for the lost time." Allison-Cameron said.
John Henry laid down another distraction for John.
"John, I need you to follow me." John Henry said. "This is somewhat urgent."
John didn't like the interruption. He tried to focus on Cameron.
"It's a deal, precious. I love your perfume." John said as he followed John Henry.
John looked back once at Vanna and 'Cameron' as they departed.
He continued walking with John Henry.
John looked back a second time as they disappeared.
As soon as Allison and Vanna were around the corner, they ran to their room. Allison started stripping off Cameron's clothes as Vanna readied Allison jeans and sweatshirt.
Allison wiped off Cameron's lipstick and Vanna splashed a different perfume on Allison's skin.
Earlier, Cameron applied 'her perfume' directly to the shirt Allison would wear as 'Cameron'. That way, when she took it off, the perfume scent should go with it and not remain on Allison.
Allison messed up her hair a little.
"How do I look?" Allison asked.
Vanna messed up Allison's hair a little more. It was the look she was used to.
"Like MY Allison." Vanna said.
Allison knew she wasn't a prize. She didn't think there was too much she could do about it, even if she could.
"I look that bad?" Allison asked. "OK, one last play."
It was only a few minutes since 'Cameron' left. John Henry showed John some 'fresh' satellite photos. He was explaining things in detail so John needed to concentrate on what he said. This was to prevent John's mind from wondering about what he just saw. They were all things which he needed to go over. None of them were as urgent as he made them seem.
Someone walked into the room.
"Hello, John, John Henry, have you seen Cameron?" Allison asked. "I need to ask her something."
John looked at Allison for a few seconds.
"Hello, Allison. She just left with Vanna. If you hurry you can catch her before she leaves. They were headed to the lab I think." John said. "She'll be gone for a few days."
Allison wanted to be away from there. She didn't want John to look at her for too long.
"Thanks." Allison said as she turned to leave.
John looked at her intently.
John Henry noticed and continued with the distraction. He thought he needed to intensify his efforts a little more.
"John, I've also uncovered this facility…." John Henry said.
John looked at the information and then back to where Allison just was.
Allison was gone in a flash.
John looked back a second time at her departing figure. He returned his attention to John Henry.
John Henry could tell John was distracted. He was worried John knew something was up. He did his best to keep John occupied by putting as much new information in front of John as possible.
He wasn't so sure they'd pulled it off. He reviewed all of his files. He believed the visual presentation should've been convincing.
To him, Allison looked like Cameron when she was supposed to, and she looked like herself a couple of minutes later.
He was aware humans could 'feel' things sometimes. This may have been one of them.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
Double Trouble
Things may not always
Be what they seem
Is there a difference
When you're awake or dream
Daily life stacks up
As the cards are shuffled
Where they land may cause
Some feathers to be ruffled
Is what we see with our eyes
What is to be believed
Perhaps without knowing it
We may have just been deceived
It is always a risk
To play with someone's trust
Other factors exist like greed and lust
Something once solid may turn to dust
The mirror of life is harsh
It may reflect double trouble
It can burst contentment's bubble
Leaving behind nothing but rubble
Nobody