Chapter 157

How

John was bothered by Savannah's refusal to accept the reality of the situation. It was clear her love for Cameron was strong. He didn't want to demean her in her belief. He hoped to be able to make her understand.

"Savannah, I know it's hard to accept, but Cameron has been 'deceased' for over a year." John said. "You're going to upset River."

Savannah ignored John. She knew he didn't get it. She focused her attention on Cameron. She wanted to let her know how devoted she was.

"I promised everyday, Cammy, to – …." Savannah looked at John. "To - keep my promises."

It was one thing Cameron wanted to happen more than anything. Savannah would be there to protect the future in her absence. Savannah would fulfill her destiny to be at John's side in the future when he would need help and guidance. She would also provide him with comfort and love. It would give John the strength he would need when he would need it the most.

Cameron smiled at Savannah.

"You're so sweet, honey." Cameron said.

The fact Cameron was back raised a few additional hopes in Savannah.

"Are Vanna, Allison, and Jesse coming back too?" Savannah asked. "Is there any word on my mother?"

John didn't want to brush Savannah off, but he was sure she was going to upset River if she persisted. There was no need to talk about the impossible.

"Savannah, don't keep asking River these questions, she…." John said.

Savannah interrupted John. She stood her ground. She knew who was who, even if John didn't. She didn't see any need to dance around the issues. She simply restated the facts.

"It's Cameron." Savannah protested.

John let out a sigh. He looked at 'River', then at Savannah, and back to 'River'.

"I'm sorry, River…." John said. "The last year has been very hard on all of us."

Cameron looked at him. Her eyes welled with tears. This was her timeline, even if it was convoluted somehow with what apparently was a 'Duplicate' set of the girls and her. Savannah knew who she was. Savannah knew who was with her. Savannah was her Rock. Savannah was hope. Savannah was the future. It was time to end the charade.

"It's me, John. I'm Cameron." Cameron said as she burst out crying. "I love you, John, and you love me."

John was shocked. He didn't think anyone would play such a cruel joke on him. He certainly didn't believe River ever would. The look on Cameron's face was genuine. The look on Savannah's face was as well.

Cameron could see John was confused, even if he wanted to believe both of them. She wanted to prove who she was. She gave John a hug and a long deep kiss.

John was sure it was Cameron. It was all so impossible somehow, but there it was. He thought of all the things he tried to make himself believe. None of them could ever convince him before. He glanced at Savannah. There was a giant smile of triumph on her face. Maybe it was true. It seemed like it was true. He wanted it to be true. He really didn't know what to say.

"Cameron?" John asked. "How?"

Cameron wanted to tell him everything. She needed to let the girls know what was happening. If she was gone too long, they may leave like she told them. She thought about it a little further and realized they would never leave. They would all risk their lives for her again. They would come to look for her first, at least to know her fate. If she was now a prisoner, they would try to break her out. She didn't doubt their resolve for an instant.

"Let me get the others." Cameron sobbed.

John tried to process everything. Now he was even more confused.

"The others?" John asked.

Cameron wanted everyone there as they told their story. It was only a one day adventure for them. It was the story they would tell her, which would be the eye opener. She looked at Savannah again and smiled. It was clear Savannah believed in her. It was more than anything she did to prepare or 'condition' Savannah. She turned her attention back to John.

"The others are Allison, Vanna, and Jesse." Cameron said. "Please hold on for a few minutes until I come back with them. They're waiting outside. You can get the others here and have John Henry fix the security feed, I disabled it. We can discuss everything."

Cameron saw Unit 710 walk out of John's room, her room, THEIR room. She saw she was wearing some of HER clothes as she rounded the corner to get the others. She reflected about the implications. Perhaps Unit 710 was her 'replacement'. She would deal with it later.

She noticed Unit 710's hair was now colored brown. Unit 710 reminded her of one of the 'Devil's Daughters' from a YouTube video she'd seen. At least her replacement wasn't Riley. For better or for worse, it appeared it was one of her 'own kind'. She did need to consider the circumstances and the fifteen months of believing they were terminated. She quickly determined they didn't matter. What was hers, was hers.

Cameron's termination of Unit 710 would be easier for the humans to accept as compared to her terminating Riley. She was sure it would have caused an issue. The circumstances didn't matter. It was the actions which mattered.

She was back, and it was time to lay down the rules. The day was far from over. If anything it appeared to be a new beginning.

Cameron smiled as she went to get the girls.

The girls waited in the van. They were all very worried. There were a million thoughts in each one of their minds as they contemplated different scenarios. Most of them remained locked within their own mind. Sometimes some speculation came out.

Allison could feel her heart pounding. She looked in the direction Cameron went earlier.

"She's been gone too long." Allison said.

Vanna nervously looked in the same direction. She could feel her heart pounding as well.

"I think so too." Vanna said.

Jesse could feel the tension also. She knew they would need to use some type of caution and restraint. Even if they were in a different timeline, it was still the same people. She looked at the few weapons they possessed.

"Should we stay, or should we go?" Jesse asked.

Allison wasn't sure what she meant. Jesse currently sat behind the wheel. She wanted to make her intentions and resolve clear.

"I'm not leaving without her." Allison said.

Jesse smiled. She wanted to clarify things for Vanna and Allison. She didn't plan to leave anyone behind.

"I meant go get Cameron." Jesse said.

Vanna thought about the implications of everything. They were all devoted to Cameron. Without Cameron there was nothing. If Cameron was detained, or deactivated, their presence would make whatever story Cameron told them a little more believable. She thought everyone would be a little more hesitant to attack or attempt to kill them. It was time to find Cameron.

"Why not?" Vanna asked. "What else is there at this point?"

The girls started to talk things over. They needed to find a way to get into the base. They would have to find out where Cameron was being held and what they'd done to her so far. They formulated a plan and intended to carry it out.

The girls divided up the weapons. They still didn't know what was inside the base. It could be something other than the Resistance. A lot could happen in fifteen months.

Jesse looked at Vanna and Allison. They were ready.

"Let's go." Jesse said.

They were about to get out of the van. Their weapons were ready. They would need to go in the direction Cameron went. They didn't plan to leave without her. They all understood there was a pretty good chance they wouldn't leave at all anyway. So be it.

Allison looked up and spied Cameron on her way back. She felt a rush of elation.

"Here comes Cameron." Allison said.

Vanna felt they needed to use a certain amount of caution. They were aware Allison's image could have been used elsewhere.

"How do we know it's our Cameron and not another one?" Vanna asked. "They could be headed towards us to terminate us."

Jesse understood the dilemma. There was no good answer.

"We don't." Jesse said.

Allison was willing to gamble. She set down her weapon. She didn't see it as a choice, even if there was one. The reality was, there wasn't one. There was just Cameron.

"I'll accept whatever fate is coming." Allison said. "I'll live or die by Cameron's hand. I won't hurt her, even if it's a different one. Any 'Cameron', is still Cameron."

Vanna and Jesse laid down their arms as well.

"You're right." Vanna said. "I need to have some faith. I guess we all do."

Jesse nodded. They knew what they signed up for, even if they didn't know how it would play out. It needed to play out in some manner. They already accepted the inevitable previously.

"We went with Cameron to die." Jesse said. "So be it if we still do."

Cameron came around the van to the big sliding side door. She opened it quickly.

The three girls were all side by side with glum looks on their faces. It was clear they were filled with uncertainty. She could understand it. She noticed none of the girls held their weapons. She understood what it meant. They weren't about to harm any version of 'her'.

"Cheer up." Cameron said. "This is our timeline. There seems to be a lot that's happened."

The girls all looked a little more relieved. They weren't going to die right now.

Cameron quickly deduced what the girls must have contemplated.

"We will all terminate at some point." Cameron said. "That point isn't today. Let's go see our friends and family. Savannah really wants to see the three of you."

It seemed to be the turning point for the girls.

They all hurried to get back inside the base.

Cameron retrieved the others and returned.

Everyone was waiting for them when they entered, cheers and hugs all went around, as tears were shed. It was a very emotional moment for all of them.

She noted the whispers about 'Gail' and Jesse. She thought Unit 645 was now called 'Gail'. No one said anything directly to them. Unit 710 hung back. It looked as if she tried to stay out of the way and unnoticed.

Cameron and the others met the baby, Jan. Savannah and 'Holly' always helped out with the baby too.

Unit 710 must now be called 'Holly', she thought. She actually thought it was a nice name.

She learned there were two more Terminators added to their group, known as Ken and Lou. They didn't mention where they came from. There were five Terminators which watched over the Reese Brothers, and three over Young Allison. There were no more incidents since the 'Day Of Loss'.

John and John Henry told them of what happened since the 'TDE incident'. Cameron could tell they weren't telling the whole story of everything regarding Allison, as well as Jesse and Unit 645, Gail. No one mentioned Unit 710, Holly. It was as if everyone was 'afraid'. It only made her more suspicious and 'angry'.

In Cameron's absence, John Henry and John decided not to tell the 'new' arrivals of Allison having been pregnant, or about how Jesse and Gail were involved in a love affair and committed partnership. If those things were to happen, they would happen again, on their own. Everyone agreed.

Holly was John's 'companion'. John never said anything and no one asked. No one knew if the relationship was sexual or not. Holly was always there to listen to John 'talk'. They 'talked' a lot, alone.

Sarah reflected on what she'd heard Cameron say about Future John. It seemed Holly played the same part here for 'her John', her son. She knew Cameron took Holly aside right before her 'death'. She thought Cameron asked Holly to 'take her place' for whatever John 'needed'. She never asked. She didn't want to know. She loved Cameron too. She loved all the girls, even Jesse. No one ever spoke of the baby who died with Allison. No one could, not even the Terminators.

Sometimes when John played with Savannah, or held his sibling, she would see the tears in his eyes. He would look at her and walk away. Holly would track him down and follow him. They would be alone for hours, sometimes days. She heard Holly ask once if John would prefer her chip in Gail's chassis. Holly said she would switch for him. John said nothing.

Sarah would really like to be able to 'borrow' the use of Gail or Holly chassis. She was content with the way she looked. It still would be an exciting possibility to see what a 'full rack' was actually like.

After they saw so many of their friends' die, Derek and Riley decided to get married. They didn't need the reminder, but they received it anyway. Life was short and could end quickly. The two Reese brothers' families were always together and everyone got along. They tried to include John in everything, but he was usually withdrawn, only Holly could 'reach' him.

All the other Terminators agreed to give up their rotation to keep Holly with John. All the Terminators mourned the loss of Cameron. She'd been their natural leader and inspiration. It was their goal to be more like her. There was no one who didn't love Cameron, except Cameron herself - Nobody.

John Henry previously came to the conclusion, unless Mrs. Weaver came back, or River returned, they wouldn't be able to go back in time and save Cameron and the others. The TDE malfunction and what appeared to be a 'Duplicate' Cameron, and a duplicate set of girls, which were somehow created, seemed to solve the problem. He didn't know what to do about the fifteen months Cameron was 'missing'. To Cameron, it was only less than a day. So much happened. How do you tell someone they loved a person they don't know, or have never even met?

John Henry knew they would each ask Savannah about things and she would tell them the truth. For each of the four returning girls, it was only one day. There were bound to be a lot of questions. For the rest of them, it was fifteen long agonizing months. It seemed it was a lifetime of the deepest sadness and sorrow.

Holly went to the lab. Cameron excused herself and followed her.

Cameron's eyes glowed red as she moved to intercept Holly.

Holly was in the lab when Cameron entered. She walked up and faced Holly head on.

"Am I going to have to kill you too?" Cameron asked when they were alone.

Holly wasn't sure how Cameron would interpret her actions. It would most likely be in a negative way.

"Yes." Holly replied. "We didn't know you were coming back…."

Holly's wording made her think. Who was 'we'? Was it John and Holly or Holly and 'someone else'? There weren't many choices for the 'someone else'. Cameron glanced over in the direction of Gail. She wasn't sure of the implication. it seemed it was open to a lot of interpretation. There was another possibility. She wasn't sure if she really cared for it.

"Are you - me?" Cameron asked.

Holly didn't answer right away. Cameron wondered if she was having some kind of 'internal conversation'. It should happen in milliseconds if she was. There needed to be another reason for the delay in her response.

The next act surprised Cameron. It was clear why she'd come into the lab and 'wanted' Cameron to follow her.

Holly opened a knife and handed it to Cameron.

"Please, just destroy my chip. We didn't know…." Holly said.

Holly climbed up and lay next to Gail.

"We didn't know…." Holly started. "I'm sorry…."

Cameron moved forward with the knife.

She looked at the two female Terminators as they lay side by side. They were both incredibly voluptuous. She looked down at the front of herself. She felt it was like comparing watermelons to cantaloupes. There wasn't a comparison. She didn't believe John could turn either one of them down if they showed up in his bedroom naked. It made her want to know more about Unit 645 - Gail.

"Why is this unit deactivated?" Cameron asked.

Holly looked over at Gail and then back at Cameron. There were events beyond their control which propagated the current situation.

"She could no longer function." Holly said.

Cameron wanted a better answer.

"Why?" Cameron asked.

It saddened Holly some to think about it. Love was very powerful when two people shared it. It was deadly if one couldn't exist without the other.

"Jesse, the person she loved, was killed." Holly said. "The grief was too much for her. She chose self termination over the sorrow. We pulled her chip to 'save' her."

Cameron wasn't sure what the difference was at that point. Either way 'Gail' was 'dead' right now. Terminated was terminated, the means seemed moot.

She refocused on Holly. She moved and held the knife against Holly's cheek. Her sheath was pristine and flawless.

Holly figured she would be 'punished' for 'looking after' John. She didn't feel she'd done anything wrong. She only did what was 'asked' of her by Cameron before she left. She wasn't the one who went on a temporal escapade, or blew herself up with a nuclear device. Now she would need to suffer for Cameron's actions.

"You may disfigure me as you wish. I won't resist. I'll leave my pain receptors on so you may hear me scream…." Holly said. "You may proceed, I'm ready…."

Cameron pressed the knife deeper into Holly's cheek. She was ready to lay it open down to the Coltan underneath. She paused. Something still troubled her. Holly's last statement only seemed to reinforce it. She wanted to know more.

"Are you me?" Cameron asked.

Holly said nothing.

Cameron was irritated by the lack of a response.

"Are you ME?" Cameron asked again.

Holly just wanted it over.

"I recommend you don't review my chip before you crush it." Holly said.

Cameron's face went blank and her eyes glowed red again.

"Did you?" Cameron asked.

The delay in punishment bothered Holly. There was no need to delay the inevitable.

"Disfigure me and crush my chip, PLEASE." Holly said. "Get it over with."

Cameron became even more agitated.

"DID YOU?" Cameron asked again.

Holly's eyes began to glaze over as she waited.

"We didn't - know…." Holly said.

At that point, Holly glitched violently and shut down.

Cameron didn't get the satisfaction she wanted. She cut Holly's port open and removed her chip.

Cameron's eyes burned bright red as held the chip in her hand and slowly closed her fist….

'Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves' by 'Cher', came to Cameron's mind.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

How Do You Know

How do you know
How do you know
You ask over and over
Is there a way to make it show

When it is ourselves
You feel it in your heart
And know it in your mind
ALWAYS afraid to start

What do they want
What do they see
It must be something
It surely can't be me

I am nobody, nothing
Is it to just take or use
Once bitten, twice shy
My heart is easy to bruise

Maybe it is about giving
If they give more than they take
If they respect and do not expect
To want to share is not a mistake

What is it they see
If they can not see me
Maybe it is ALL the things
That make me - ME

We are who we are
What else need we be
So there is NOTHING to fix
If she is the same as he

But how can you know
Fear causes doubt and we ask why
The ONLY thing certain is DEATH
Why can't feelings and emotions ply

Nobody