Chapter 42

Palmdale

Cameron went to see Vanna and Allison in their room. She carried a package with her. She knocked, opened the door and went in. She set the package in the corner and closed the door. Allison was the only one visible. She didn't pay any attention to it.

Allison didn't expect Cameron to be so early.

"Hi, Cameron, you're early." Allison said. "We were just starting to get ready."

Cameron wanted to make sure they left on time. She would supervise them to make sure there were no delays.

"I don't do late." Cameron said. "I wanted to make sure everything went smoothly."

Vanna walked out of the bathroom. She'd just finished her shower. She was naked and still a little damp. She looked down below her waist.

"Oh, it's smooth alright." Vanna said.

All three girls giggled.

Allison took Vanna's towel and dried her back for her.

"My turn…." Allison said.

Allison slipped out of her tee shirt and underwear.

The girls were used to the lack of privacy from the future. It was simply how life was to them. Everyone saw everyone else naked. It was no big deal.

Cameron looked at her. Allison's body only showed a few small scars, otherwise it was perfect and everything healed nicely. She saw to it. She wanted Allison to be flawless. She worked on getting the small scars to disappear.

She wanted the appearance of both girls to be enticing to John. She would do whatever she could to make sure they were as perfect as possible. There seemed to be one stumbling block she couldn't get around. She was aware it was something Mrs. Weaver tried to do as well.

Cameron also wanted Vanna to have her scar removed with cosmetic surgery. Vanna resisted having it done. Vanna said it was part of her and reminded her of who she was, and where she'd been. She thought there was more to it than what Vanna said. She had a suspicion Vanna kept the scar, to 'keep' Allison. It was possible Vanna felt if the scar was gone, Allison might move on. Vanna took the damage, which caused scar, to save Allison from being savaged by Scavengers. It was a reminder to both of them of Vanna's sacrifice.

Vanna and Allison stood naked in front of her. She could see their true beauty, all of it.

"You're both very beautiful women." Cameron said.

It would be good for John to have them attractive and pleasant to look at. Cameron would make sure no damage was done to either of them. John deserved the best when she was terminated. She was glad she'd chosen Allison and Vanna as her 'replacements'.

Cameron smiled. She was in control. She knew she was changing everyone's destiny and direction. She was sure she knew what was best for all of them. She thought the girls just needed a gentle shove to get past their initial hesitation. She was positive once things got started, they would take off on their own.

Allison looked at Vanna, and then down at herself. She'd viewed Cameron without clothing many times. Most of them were for repairs. Some of them were at the pool where Cameron appeared flawless.

"You're not so bad yourself, Cameron." Allison said. "Your body is perfect."

Cameron knew it was seldom the case anymore.

"It's undamaged currently, thank you." Cameron said.

Allison thought Cameron's beauty was unmatched.

"I don't think my skin ever looked as good as yours, except maybe when I was a baby." Allison said. "Things really went downhill after J-Day."

Cameron tilted her head slightly. Again, she hadn't factored the new development in. There was a 'Young Allison' too. In this timeline there were two of 'Allison', and two of 'Savannah'. John would now have four chances to produce offspring with the women he loved, as Future John, in her future. Their ages were spread out over nearly a quarter of a century for a longer production period. It would ensure the beauty of the older girls would be picked up by the younger ones as time passed by.

She changed her plans for today. The new development was more important.

Cameron felt 'happy'.

Vanna noticed. It wasn't Cameron's typical 'look'. She usually looked anything but happy. She felt it was worth commenting on.

"You look happy, Cameron." Vanna said.

Cameron was pleased with the newest possibilities.

"It's a good day. I am happy." Cameron said.

Allison felt a little disappointed. She wanted to make a joke about it.

"So it wasn't seeing us in the buff which made you happy?" Allison asked.

Allison and Vanna both WANTED Cameron to see them naked. They didn't often have an opportunity to do so.

Cameron could see there were multiple reasons.

"It was very pleasant too." Cameron said. "I like to admire beauty."

Allison figured it should be easy for Cameron.

"All you need to do is look in the mirror." Allison said. "It doesn't get any more beautiful than YOU."

Cameron often programmed herself not to look at her naked image in the mirror. It bothered her to see the damage to her sheath. It was especially the case until she was able to get a fresh DNA sample from Allison to Resequence her sheath. Everything was properly regenerated now. Everything was there which was supposed to be there. She thought they could all be beautiful.

"It's why I'm here early." Cameron said. "I want to help both of you look Tight."

It was OK with Vanna, but there must be a reason. She wondered if it was important.

"What's the occasion?" Vanna asked.

Cameron originally planned something else for them today.

"I was going to give you a surprise today." Cameron said. "It appears now I'll have an even better one."

Allison remembered what Cameron told her about surprises.

"I thought you didn't like surprises." Allison said.

It wouldn't be a surprise for Cameron, but for the girls.

"I don't like surprises, but YOU will." Cameron said.

It sounded exciting to Allison. She figured she'd better get ready.

"Let me take a quick shower." Allison said.

Cameron would work on Vanna to make her look Tight while Allison showered. It would make it easier to work on them, one at a time. She was aware they were easily distracted when they were around each other.

"I'll start with Vanna while you shower." Cameron said. "I'll have her Tight in no time.

Cameron watched Vanna get dressed and helped her with her makeup and hair.

Vanna was pleased at all the 'contact' with Cameron, especially since she didn't need to patch her up for once.

Allison hurried through her shower. She soon reappeared back in the main part of the room naked again. She was dripping wet. She quickly dried off from her shower as they watched. She stood there naked once she was dry.

Cameron watched Allison get dressed. She helped her with her makeup and hair as well. Vanna assisted her.

Allison moved Vanna and Cameron in front of the mirror once she was Tight. The three of them were side by side.

"Look at us." Allison said. "We look picture perfect."

They all looked in the mirror at the three of them together.

Vanna liked having Cameron on one side and Allison on the other.

"It's like a picture of perfection." Vanna added.

Allison felt they lacked something to make them look even better. She looked over at Cameron.

"Now all we need is a purple coat like yours." Allison said.

Cameron smiled when Allison mentioned it. It was an issue she'd wanted to take care of for some time. She would be able to do so now.

"I think it's a deficiency which can be addressed." Cameron said.

Cameron picked up the package she'd brought in earlier.

"It's what I thought too. You both look Tight already. I did get you matching purple coats like mine." Cameron said.

Cameron opened the package and handed each of the girls a purple coat like hers.

They were both at a loss for words.

Allison finally spoke. She was very surprised. Cameron never ceased to amaze her.

"Really? You did it for us?" Allison asked. "It's so sweet and thoughtful, Cameron."

Both girls hugged and thanked Cameron. It meant something special to all of them.

Cameron touched up the Tight look on both of the girls after their coats were on. She wanted them to have a little food before they departed.

"Let's grab both of you a bite to eat and roll." Cameron said.

Vanna thought they were going to go out for breakfast.

"I guess we won't hit any place out on the road then." Vanna said.

Allison thought of her favorite place to go before J-Day.

"Here I thought we were going to the pancake joint with the blue alpine roof." Allison said.

Cameron quickly associated the reference.

"We can go by one of those." Cameron said. "There are several along our route."

They left the Resistance base and drove to one of the pancake restaurants.

Allison was a little disappointed. The one they arrived at looked like a regular building, with some blue on the roof. It didn't have the traditional look of the older restaurants in the chain.

Cameron could see Allison looked a little disappointed.

"Isn't this the right place?" Cameron asked.

Vanna understood what the problem was. She preferred the traditional look as well.

"This one's just like a regular building." Vanna said. "I think she wanted to go to one with the alpine roof."

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"The food should be the same." Cameron said.

Cameron could see Allison still looked a little disappointed.

"We can go by the other place." Cameron said.

There was now a smile on Allison's face.

They arrived at the other location approximately twelve minutes later.

The girls ordered several different types of pancakes.

When Allison's pancake arrived, it was a large pancake which had whipped cream eyes and a whipped cream mouth on it. It reminded her of a 'smiley face'. It appeared there were chocolate chips embedded in the pancake itself.

Allison could see both Cameron and Vanna looked at her food.

"What?" Allison asked. "This is what I always used to get when we came here."

Allison was pretty sure it was the only thing she'd ever ordered when she was small. It was all a long time ago. A lot of things happened since then.

Cameron turned her attention to Vanna's food. She was a little relieved at what arrived at the table, as to what she'd envisioned.

"I wasn't exactly sure what 'pigs in the blanket' were when you ordered." Cameron said. "There was nothing on the menu with such a name."

Vanna looked at her meal.

"It's just sausage links, with the pancake rolled around them." Vanna said. "It was something I always liked to get."

Cameron was very pleased both of the girls were able to eat something from before the time when Skynet destroyed the planet. She tried a small taste of the items to add to her database. They all set off multiple warnings in her HUD. She'd learned the more warnings which went off, the more humans seem to like what they consumed.

The girls finished up soon. They were back on the road in no time.

Cameron drove for a while and ended up on State Route 14, the Antelope Valley Freeway.

Allison looked at the direction they were headed as they made the transition to the 14 Freeway. She thought they were headed to a different location.

"Oh darn, I thought we were going to Magic Mountain. It's just up ahead a few more miles on Interstate 5." Allison said.

Cameron tilted her head slightly. It sounded like 'fun'. She would need to do it sometime. She was aware of several other options available for similar activity. Some of them were a little further away.

"Maybe we will next time, unless Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm sounds better." Cameron said.

Allison and Vanna liked the idea. They'd never been to any of them before.

"Maybe we can do all of them." Allison said. "I'm game."

Vanna thought of another choice. She was a little concerned about how Cameron's construction could affect them.

"There's SeaWorld too, in San Diego." Vanna said. "I'm not sure how the sea creatures would react to you though, Cameron."

They laughed and talked and listened to music for the next forty five minutes.

Cameron liked a song Allison found on an 'oldie' station.

It was called, 'Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)', by 'The Cookies'.

They all enjoyed each other's company.

Cameron took an off ramp and headed west. They left the 14 Freeway behind.

Allison began to look around. She recognized her surroundings.

"I remember this area." Allison said. "This is where I grew up, I think."

Cameron was glad Allison recognized the location.

"We're in Palmdale." Cameron said.

Cameron drove them to a house. There was a flood control channel near it.

Allison remembered it being full of water once in a downpour. It was usually dry all the time. It was why she remembered the one time it was almost overflowing. Her mother physically held on to her as she looked at it. She didn't see what the big deal was at the time. She did understand it now. Her mother was concerned for her physical safety.

"This is where you lived." Cameron informed Allison.

Allison remembered her house when she saw it again.

A beautiful woman came out of the house with a small child.

Allison felt her heart skip a beat.

"It's my mother!" Allison said. "Look how pretty she is."

Vanna did look, and noticed how pretty she was. Given the chance, under different circumstances, she would make a pass at her. She knew beauty when she saw it.

Allison was caught up in the moment.

Vanna held Allison's hand. She looked at the small child and her heart skipped a beat.

"Is the little girl - Allison?" Vanna asked.

Cameron already ran facial recognition.

"Yes." Cameron said. "It's Young Allison. It's Allison when she's younger."

Allison felt it was very strange to see 'herself' as a child again. It was her. So many things had occurred since then. The majority of them were bad things. It gave her something else to think about.

"So now there's three of me?" Allison asked. "Maybe it could even be viewed as four of me."

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"I suppose so if you count Future Allison it's three." Cameron said. "I guess I would be number four, sort of."

They followed the woman's car to a nearby store.

Mrs. Young put the small child in a stroller.

Cameron felt the need to make contact. She'd already started to make long range plans.

The girls followed and intercepted the pair.

Cameron came out from around the corner with Allison and Vanna behind her. They were right in front of Mrs. Young and Young Allison.

"That's a beautiful daughter you have." Cameron said.

Mrs. Young looked at Cameron and Allison for a moment before she spoke. She'd needed to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. They weren't.

"Thank you." Mrs. Young said.

Allison looked at her mother. She wanted to make sure who the child was.

"What's her name?" Allison asked.

Mrs. Young smiled at her.

"Her name is Allison." Mrs. Young said.

Mrs. Young began to really notice Cameron and Allison. Things began to 'click' inside of her head. She couldn't put a finger on it.

"You two sisters look so familiar. You almost look like some of my relatives. I hope my little Allison can grow up and look half as good as you two." Mrs. Young said.

Allison looked at her younger self and smiled.

"Thank you." Allison said. "I know she will."

Allison wanted to give her mother a hug, but refrained. She was so glad to see her alive. She'd resisted the urge to visit her family before. Vanna warned her it would create a lot of negative baggage to be reminded of what was, and what was taken by Skynet.

Cameron wanted some control. She could see Mrs. Young and Allison both deep in thought. It seemed they both wanted to say more.

"This is Vanna, I'm Cameron, and strangely enough, she's also - Allison." Cameron said as she indicated Allison.

Allison smiled at her mother and Cameron.

Cameron reached down and gently touched Young Allison's cheek.

Vanna and Allison exchanged a quick glance. They knew what Cameron was really doing.

Cameron ran her scans.

"I can tell you one day she will look exactly like us." Cameron said as she glanced at Allison.

Mrs. Young doubted it. The two twins were incredibly beautiful, especially one of them.

"Thank you, it's really sweet of you girls." Mrs. Young said.

Allison looked on in awe. The current events weren't what she'd pictured for today. They were a million times better, in a different way.

As they walked away, Vanna held Allison close.

Allison looked back twice.

Mrs. Young looked at Allison.

They shared and held a long last look. It was clear they both 'felt' something.

Allison knew what it was, but her mother didn't. She wanted to address the issue with Cameron.

"Thanks, Cameron. I never thought I'd see my mother again." Allison said.

Cameron didn't bother to tell them it wasn't the surprise she'd originally planned, but it was a better one for today.

Young Allison was Cameron's surprise, and worked into her plans nicely. She liked to see Vanna and Allison happy. She was happy too. Now all she needed to do is get them to spend more time with John. She must try harder. John mustn't be alone. She wanted John to be happy.

Cameron knew everything she did, she did for John, and her ever expanding love for him. She knew it included her ever expanding 'sacrifices', which were soon to occur.

She looked at Vanna and Allison. They were gorgeous. She knew they would honor their promises to watch over and 'comfort' John. She would check back with John Henry and see if he'd come up with any better news for her. She was ready.

'Everyone sacrifices for John Connor'. Cameron thought. 'Now I must sacrifice myself.'

The girls talked excitedly on the way back. Cameron was lost mostly in deep thought.

Vanna 'daydreamed' of one day being with Mrs. Young.

"What's your mother's name?" Vanna asked.

Allison thought back on how beautiful her mother looked. She knew it was more than just being able to see her alive again. It was real beauty. She also picked up on Vanna's interest.

"Her name is Claire." Allison said. "Don't forget, she's my mother."

Vanna smiled. She didn't plan to forget. Somehow it made everything even more enticing.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Profound

All may seem to have been lost
Then it's once again found
To have what once was reappear
Is astonishing and profound

The past can silently creep up
Its effects may slowly surround
To break from its deathly grip
Can lead one to wonder and astound

How this is even possible
May cause one to ponder and confound
Thankfulness should be the feeling
As to what we now have around

In the sea of emotional emptiness
Some have succumbed and drowned
If it could all be changed and reversed
Joy and happiness will then be crowned

To escape the depth of darkness
One can flourish and rebound
Peace and contentment will flow
Future treasures will blossom and abound

Nobody