Chapter 111
I Understand
Riley attempted to make her 'move' on John earlier. She was ready to take everything a step further. She planned to go all the way. With her initial attempt at seduction, John led her to his room. Events played out much differently than she planned.
John took out Cameron's poem book and began to read every poem to Riley one after another. The bed was right there. He didn't plan to use it. He wanted to make Riley understand why things couldn't progress any further than as friends and co-workers. He believed Cameron's words were very clear about her feelings.
Riley sat and listened for hours as John read every poem to her. There was no anger or malice towards her. It was clear he wanted her to understand the depth of the hurt and pain Cameron felt. No, not felt, FEELS. She understood if she could feel Cameron's pain through her words, it must be much more intense for Cameron to experience the feelings she attempted to convey to others.
John tried to explain whenever Cameron thought of past events, she felt everything as if it just happened. Time is unable to dull her pain. It seemed to be the one advantage humans held over machines for the same type of trauma or any bad events. The mental pain faded for humans as did the physical pain. Humans could heal themselves to a certain degree.
Riley was very touched by Cameron's words as well as the way John conveyed them to her. It really helped her see everything in a new and different perspective.
"John, I didn't know. I understand now. I'm sorry." Riley said as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
John wasn't sure how to express what he felt in the deepest of terms. He didn't want to give up hope and he needed proof. Sometimes when he was overwhelmed, Savannah would come and sit with him. She would take his hand and hold it. She always told him to have faith. She always reminded him, 'Cameron was invincible. Cameron was eternal.' So far Savannah was correct in her belief about Cameron's return. Even though he doubted it this time, Savannah's resolve forced him to believe. Before he would ever accept Cameron's demise, there was one thing he would need to see first.
"I love Cameron more than anything." John said. "Until the day I see her terminated with my own eyes, I'll never give up hope."
It was clear to Riley, to be with John in a love relationship was a dead end. Maybe she should think in some other terms. 'Dead end' seemed kind of terminal. She wondered if it was what awaited her. She remembered the looks on all of the girls' faces before the energy bubble enveloped them and took them away. They weren't looks of just anger, they were looks of hate. It made her question what her future held.
"I understand." Riley said. "Will they kill me if, I mean, when they come back?"
It was a good question. John observed Cameron and the girls all looked pretty upset when they left. No. It was more than 'looked'. They were incredibly enraged, especially Cameron. He was sure it was much more than anger or hate. He believed it was jealousy. He knew jealousy could drive a person to do anything. There was no way to know what would happen. He would do his best to have Cameron spare Riley's life.
"I don't know." John said. "I'll try to prevent it if I can."
John honestly didn't know if he could. He was sure if Cameron didn't do it herself, one of the girls would. They would all try to protect Cameron. He didn't have a clue what went on outside his room a few hours ago with his mother, Bob, and John Henry. Riley was literally seconds away from being killed. The girls weren't the only ones who wanted to protect Cameron, and in reality protect him.
Riley continued to sit and listen to John read. She could feel the hurt and pain in John, as he felt Cameron's hurt and pain. There was a deep connection there. It seemed to her Cameron could feel everything she could. It was a little disturbing to her a machine was so 'human'. There needed to be a strong love to feel the strong pain.
Maybe Skynet's creation was a little more advanced than she ever thought. Then again, it was the whole purpose of an infiltration unit. They could be used to replace someone and remain undetected. The machine would need to be good at interacting with other humans and participating in sexual relations. Everything would need to be very 'human like' to avoid detection.
Riley was ashamed a 'version of her' was responsible for what happened to John and Cameron. Now she felt like a total Bitch herself. It made her feel dirty and unclean. It was also a little strange to know John actually was with 'her', even if it wasn't her, but it still was. The whole thing was a head shaker.
Now she felt the hurt and pain as well herself.
Riley swore she would try to make things up to Cameron and John somehow. She knew she needed to pay a debt to both of them. She wasn't sure how. One day she knew she would do something special for Cameron. She owed it to Cameron. She wanted to atone for what 'she' did from another future.
Riley also realized Sarah was right when she said Cameron was more 'human' than they were. It seemed a 'mechanical human' would possess many advantages over a 'real human'. She was sure there was still one thing a human female could do which a female Terminator couldn't do. It was reproduced. Then again, with Skynet's destruction and pollution of the environment, many human females in the future seemed to be unable to reproduce.
She was sure she should have been pregnant multiple times in the future, as well as in the past, the present. She reached down and touched her belly. There was nothing alive in there. Apparently there never was either. What advantage did she hold over a 'mechanical human' at this point?
Cameron rode the motorcycle with River seated behind her. She didn't push the speed limit. As much as she wanted to get back to the base, she dreaded what she would find there. When those thoughts started to overpower her, River would give her a 'reassuring squeeze' as the motorcycle thundered along. If the timeline was different, everything was lost.
Allison, Vanna, and Jesse, followed behind Cameron and River in the truck they took from the dead bikers. They played over all the events which occurred from when Riley was spotted outside of the TDE room until River killed all of the bikers single-handedly, in a very short period of time. They all agreed whatever Cameron decided, they would back her play. It didn't matter what it was. They all agreed they weren't going to let Cameron self terminate either.
The five of them returned to the area of the base. Cameron parked the hog and asked River to wait in the truck with the girls. She said she would verify this was the correct timeline. If it wasn't, she was really unsure what to do.
Cameron went to investigate. She was able to breach the base security and take a look inside. The relative ease in which she was able to enter the base, apparently undetected, was an issue which would need to be addressed. If she could do it, so could the enemy. Who was the enemy? What was the enemy? Their enemy was more than one thing or group. They needed to worry about the enemy 'within'. It was the anti-Metal faction. They tried to get her terminated before. Why would they stop or not try again? Maybe the next time they would try a direct approach. They might decide to assassinate John and replace him with someone of their beliefs.
It was one reason she tried to limit who was in their operation and part of the Resistance. There were other people along the way who could have been recruited to join them. She insisted they didn't include them. At what point does someone turn on you? She watched John 'turn' on her. It all happened in a few days. Right now it was mostly a family affair. Jesse was a wild card, but she'd brought her under her control and wasn't a threat. Riley was new and she was a big 'unknown'. Maybe she was a 'Joker'. It could be John let the wolf into the sheep's pen again, depending on how far he'd fallen under Riley's influence.
As Cameron looked around the base, she was sure it was the same timeline. Everything looked right. Some things were in places she remembered them. She hadn't spotted any sign of the girls or 'her' there. She decided to go back and collect the girls. She thought it would be best if they all went in together. She slipped back out. She apparently didn't trip any of the security on the way out either. It really was an issue which needed to be addressed.
A short time ago:
The girls watched Cameron go. They were very apprehensive about it.
Vanna didn't think it was a good idea for Cameron to go alone.
"One of us should have gone with her." Vanna said.
Allison felt the same way. She did offer to go with Cameron.
"I tried. She was adamant I shouldn't go in case she was terminated." Allison said.
It was a sobering thought for all of them.
Jesse wanted to go as well.
"It was because she didn't want you to be terminated with her." Jesse said.
The longer they waited, the more they worried. What if Cameron didn't come back? Maybe she was terminated. What would happen to them? What were they supposed to do? Where would they go? Would they be hunted down and terminated at some point? Were they going to be looked at as the enemy? It seemed likely.
They were all relieved to see Cameron on her way back.
Jesse was worried. There could be a threat headed right towards them which they wouldn't be able to recognize until it was too late.
"What if it's not Cameron?" Jesse asked. "What if she was terminated and this is a different 'Cameron'?"
River spoke. She'd been quiet up to now. She wanted to better understand the girls she was with. She believed they were all very open and honest with each other. It was something she found as a rarity in her time period. She was a stranger in a strange place.
"I believe I can tell." River said.
The girls wondered about it. River seemed to be able to 'see' inside of their minds. They 'tested' her and were a little surprised she could 'see' whatever it was they wanted to express. She could tell even if they wanted to keep something hidden. They weren't sure of her abilities. They all heard Cameron say River was a 'weapon'. She seemed to be a weapon as deadly as a Terminator, with the ability to 'sense' what was in other peoples' minds. It could make her a very effective weapon.
Cameron approached the truck.
River looked Cameron over as she headed towards them.
"It's Cameron." River said.
The girls all clutched their weapons a little less tightly.
Allison was going to point out a different timeline version of 'Cameron' would still be 'Cameron'. She decided to go with what River determined. She figured if anyone could tell the difference, it was River.
The girls all exited the truck.
Allison wanted to know what awaited them.
"Well?" Allison asked when Cameron returned.
Cameron gave a faint smile.
"It's our timeline. It's our present time." Cameron said.
Cameron didn't need to remind herself about the timeline. Even though it was the same timeline, months had passed since they left in the TDE room. For them it was only less than three hours' time since they first spotted Riley outside the TDE room, until her foray into the base.
Vanna could feel the hesitation in Cameron. It looked like a little prompting was in order.
"And?" Vanna asked.
Cameron hesitated. She didn't want to answer.
Jesse asked the question they all wanted to know the answer for.
"Are they?" Jesse asked. "Have they?"
River moved up to comfort Cameron. She could feel the distress overwhelm her.
The girls understood.
It was bad news.
Cameron looked at each of the girls. It was time to 'pay the piper'.
"Let's go." Cameron said.
The girls were ready.
"Why not." Vanna said as a statement.
The five girls formed up and moved out. Their current clothing was very bold and distinct.
They looked very intimidating in their recently acquired biker attire.
Allison would have liked to have had her player so she could play the song which played when they left.
It was: 'Bad To The Bone' by 'George Thorogood'.
The five women walked down the hall.
Allison was on Cameron's left, River was on Cameron's right, Vanna was on Allison's left and Jesse was on River's right.
They continued down the hall five abreast.
Their biker clothing was intimidating.
There was the look of triumph on their faces.
Onward they walked.
Riley just left John's room.
She wiped away her tears. She was now aware of the depth of hurt and pain Cameron felt. It was pain which never went away for her.
Riley looked up….
The five women walked down the hall.
Allison was on Cameron's left, River was on Cameron's right, Vanna was on Allison's left, and Jesse was on River's right.
They continued down the hall five abreast.
Their biker clothing looked intimidating.
There was a look of hate on their faces.
Onward they walked.
Jesse pulled out the knife she stabbed the two bilkers with.
Vanna and Allison both put their hands on pistols taken from the bikers.
Cameron's left hand glitched.
Riley stood there in awe as she spotted them approach.
Riley saw death.
Death was coming for her.
The five women walked down the hall.
Allison was on Cameron's left, River was on Cameron's right, Vanna was on Allison's left, and Jesse was on River's right.
They continued down the hall five abreast.
Their biker clothing was intimidating.
The look of death was on their faces.
Onward they walked.
The weapons came out. Cameron raised both hands. They looked more like talons now.
Riley saw death coming. There was no escape. There was nowhere to run.
River looked at Riley. She felt something. It was remorse, guilt, sadness, sorrow, and shame.
"Stop." River said.
She moved in front of them and placed herself between the four women and Riley.
The women slowed. They were confused.
River needed to make a point. She needed to make them understand.
"This one is different from the one who hurt you. She knows your husband is off limits. She understands now." River said. "She's a different person, just like the girls here are different from the ones in Cameron's future, even if they're the same people."
Cameron and the other women stopped.
River and Cameron looked at each other.
Cameron nodded.
River smiled at Cameron.
Cameron understood.
Things were different, even if they were the same.
Cameron walked up and faced Riley.
Riley was petrified with fear. What happened next surprised her.
Cameron gave Riley a smile.
"Hello, my name is Cameron. I'm John's wife. It's a pleasure to meet you." Cameron said as she held out her hand. "Welcome to our operation."
The weapons the others brandished, quickly disappeared.
Riley was unable to speak at first. She slowly regained her composure. She really thought she was going to be killed. She thought she was going to die. Instead Cameron shook her hand and welcomed her. She thought Cameron was beautiful. The smile on her face only seemed to enhance her beauty.
"My name is Riley. I'm pleased to meet you. I'm sorry for any trouble I may have caused you. It will never happen again."
Riley still held Cameron's hand.
Cameron continued to hold Riley's hand as she scanned her.
The girls all knew what Cameron was doing, even if Riley didn't.
Cameron's smile increased somewhat. Riley was being honest.
"We can get together later on." Cameron said.
Riley left. She was a little less afraid, but not by much. She wondered if it was how the girls normally dressed. It seemed rather intimidating. She wondered how there were three of 'Cameron' now. She sure didn't want to stick around and ask. She noticed Cameron still looked hotter than either of her two other 'twins'.
The group of women let her pass.
Jesse followed Riley with her eyes. Her knife was still in her hand.
River moved closer to Jesse and touched her knife hand. She kept it down. There was no threat.
"No, love." River told Jesse. "She's no longer a problem."
Jesse thought River could really read her mind.
"I can see and feel many things, Jesse." River said as she smiled at her.
Jesse knew it was the next thing she thought.
Cameron wanted to go into her room. She didn't want their guest to be left unattended. She was also aware of a problem they needed to fix. They took someone out of their timeline. They needed to return them.
"Can you girls look after River for tonight? I want to be alone with John." Cameron said. "Let River speak with John Henry so we can find a way to send her back to her home."
Cameron faced the girls.
"I want to thank all of you for what you've done for me." Cameron said. "I'll never forget this. I promise to 'repay' you."
Cameron looked into each girl's face.
"I Promise." Cameron said again.
Cameron moved up and touched River's cheek.
"Thank you, River." Cameron said as she smiled at her.
River smiled back at her and winked. She then went off with the others.
Cameron watched them walk away.
River looked back at Cameron as they departed.
Cameron and River exchanged a long glance.
They both felt 'something'….
Cameron opened the door.
John held her poem book in his hands. There were tears on his face.
"I love you, John, and you love me." Cameron said.
John was dumbfounded.
"Cameron!" John said in amazement.
He ran into her arms.
"I'm back." Cameron said.
The poem book was between them as they embraced and kissed.
No, it wasn't between them, John thought.
It's what bound them through eternity. Cameron's poems were what would always bind them together. Cameron's poems, ARE Cameron.
'Time After Time' by 'Cyndi Lauper', played softly in the background.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
I Understand It's A Bad Idea
Trust is something that
We must slowly earn
But in a few seconds
That trust can instantly burn
Trust is very important
But there is something that blinds
It is when our mind is overridden
By the love our heart finds
Emotion and feeling cloud rationality
We stop thinking straight and clear
Making poor decisions, taking chances
Events are seldom what they appear
Love countermanded reason
Driven, we are possessed by lust
Throwing caution to the wind
Hoping we can build the trust
We think we have found a panacea
In our mind we know and say
I understand it's a bad idea
Then turn around and do it anyway
Nobody