Chapter 167

Right Now

Jesse and Gail really hit it off. They were the talk of the base now. It was mostly because Gail was back, as was Jesse. To the people at the base, there was no difference between the girls there now, and the ones who 'perished'. Other than the fact they were gone for over a year, nothing else was different. They were the same people until the TDE incident. For the girls back now, they were only gone for a day for them.

Life seemed to pick up and move along as if nothing ever happened. Everyone was more than willing to go along with it and forget the terrible 'Day Of Loss' and the sad time which followed.

John was briefed by John Henry. He wanted to go after the new version of Skynet. It was over a year since they saw any activity. There hadn't been anything new since the 'Day Of Loss'. No one talked of that day since everyone was back. Wait, not everyone, the baby was still 'gone'. He knew there was a child on the way with Duplicate Allison. With the TDE encrypted to only work going forward in time, there was no way to 'fix' it, yet. Well, there was, in a way. It would be to do it again the same way. If Cameron pushed him on it again, he would 'do it'. Being around his little sister Jan made him think about it, always.

"...them?" John Henry asked. "With everything?"

John must have let his mind drift some thinking about other events.

"What…?" John asked.

John Henry could see John was a little distracted.

"How hard do you want to hit them?" John Henry asked again. "With everything?"

John wanted to wipe Skynet out. He also didn't want to drop the ball again. There were a few things he knew he needed to make sure were better protected.

"I hate to reduce the guard on the children. We know what happened the last time." John said. "It was bad enough. It could have been worse too."

John reflected on how they were hit. Duplicate Jesse paid with her life. Gail felt such grief over her death, she wanted to self terminate. After she was reactivated and spent a little time with Cameron, she was 'fine'. Everything worked out. It was all thanks to Cameron.

He couldn't understand why Cameron couldn't fathom his love for her. Sure he pursued Future Riley, but he was manipulated into it. It was what he tried to tell himself anyway. He still chose Future Riley over Cameron nonetheless at the time. It was still him who made the choice. He and Future Riley were just starting a sexual relationship until her untimely 'demise' ended it. He was never able to forgive himself for it. His mother and Cameron both warned him of the extreme danger his association with Future Riley could be. They were both right. He let the little head do the thinking for the big head.

When he read Cameron's poems, he KNEW how much he hurt Cameron. Tears filled his eyes just thinking about it. The pain, sadness and sorrow he created in her seemed to haunt him as well. It saddened him more to know she felt it all at the same intensity everyday, as if it just happened. How it must hurt….

John Henry asked John a few more questions, but there was no response.

"… Maybe we should discuss this later…." John Henry said.

John missed another question.

"What?" John asked. "I'm sorry. I was thinking about something else…."

John felt a little embarrassed.

John Henry knew what John was thinking about. It was the same thing he always thought about. It was the same thing EVERYONE thought about, it was Cameron. Even he did it. Anybody who was around Cameron any small amount of time loved her. She was like a 'love magnet'. She was so special to everyone. Every machine and human loved her. There wasn't one of them who wouldn't follow her to their termination or their death. It was proven several times over. No one would hesitate to do it again.

John Henry hoped for a better setting to continue.

"Let's wait for Cameron, and anyone else, for their input and discuss what we all want to do." John Henry said.

John couldn't focus right now. He needed to get away for a few minutes.

"Maybe so." John said and left. He needed to find Cameron.

Allison was still shocked, now it was by the news she didn't have sex with John after all. Here she was all wound up about having sex with John, now it never happened. It was all Duplicate Allison anyway, not actually her. It sure felt like it was her.

She knew how hard it was for Cameron to come clean and admit she lied on purpose to get her way. It showed Cameron was becoming more 'human' all the time.

It was time to find Vanna and tell her the truth.

Allison laid it all out. She felt better after she did.

Vanna was a little perplexed at the latest revelation. It was a big difference in how things were done.

"So we didn't get 'lucky'?" Vanna asked. "I mean our Duplicate selves didn't?"

Allison wanted to keep it simple.

"Apparently not." Allison said

Vanna wondered about the earlier confusion in conception.

"Did Cameron view her files incorrectly?" Vanna asked.

Allison lied to protect Cameron. She told Cameron people lied all the time. She just did so to her long time lover. She knew there were good lies, as well as lies of omission. She knew they were still lies, but sometimes a lie could protect someone from unnecessary grief. She wasn't so sure it was actually a bad thing depending upon what it was.

"I think that's it. She told me of her 'error' a short time ago. I think those were files she didn't want to view, or relive." Allison said. "They were from Duplicate Cameron and transferred off of Holly's chip."

Vanna looked at her for a moment and didn't say anything right away.

She wondered if Vanna was going to question her. We all lie, Allison thought. She didn't want to make Cameron look bad in anyone's eyes.

Vanna interpreted it a different way. Maybe Cameron was being 'selfish' this time and didn't want to 'share' John.

"Maybe we did and she doesn't want the same thing 'again'." Vanna said somewhat disappointed.

Allison wanted the conversation to end. Vanna's speculation was only going to make things worse.

"I don't think so. I think we should drop it." Allison said.

Vanna looked at Allison. She knew Allison better than anyone. They'd all heard about River and some of her extraordinary abilities. She was told River could 'see' what was in other people's minds. She didn't need to be River to 'read' Allison. She could see where Allison was 'at' right now. She took a moment to look her over before she spoke. She was sure of her question.

"How 'bad' do you have it?" Vanna asked.

Allison knew what she was asking. She didn't want to say anything.

Vanna prompted her. She wanted to hear Allison say it.

"Allison?" Vanna pushed.

Allison looked at her defeated. She didn't want to lie to her long term lover again. She didn't think it was anything wrong.

"Bad, I have it REAL BAD. OK. I can't help it." Allison said. "YOU know how it is."

Vanna came over to comfort her. She knew how Allison felt. It was something she felt herself as well. She didn't want Allison to worry about it.

"I know, Allison, I KNOW." Vanna said.

Allison couldn't stop the feelings inside her from expanding and growing.

"The more you try to tell yourself it isn't so, the MORE YOU LOVE HER." Allison said.

Vanna felt the exact same way from 'Day One'. She did know. She also knew the love kept growing.

"I know Allison, I KNOW." Vanna repeated.

Allison and Vanna were both helplessly in love with Cameron. It seemed to be love which kept expanding.

Gail and Jesse spent a lot of time in Jesse's room. They seldom went out. Gail was fine with whatever Jesse wanted to do. She would spend hours doing the same things to Jesse over and over. It seemed Jesse never could get enough.

Cameron mentioned to Gail they should try some other things, other than having sex all the time.

"It's what Jesse wants." Gail said. "She said it makes her forget about everything. I want to help her forget about the past, the future."

It worried Cameron some. She thought she was able to get Jesse past her past. Maybe she didn't. There was a lot of darkness and hurt in Jesse's past. She wanted Gail to do more to assist Jesse. The relationship Gail and Duplicate Jesse shared previously was more than just in the bedroom. Things needed to be taken a step further.

"Then you need to help her move past the past." Cameron said. "You need for the relationship to grow."

Gail wanted to make Jesse happy. She didn't want it to be a 'job'.

"Is it my new function?" Gail asked.

Cameron didn't like the attitude. She wanted to help both of them. They weren't stuck the first time around. The relationship was more rounded and widespread with Duplicate Jesse. It made her wonder what was different between Jesse and Duplicate Jesse. They should want to do everything the same. It seemed to be how Vanna and Allison operated.

"If you really want to help Jesse, and make her happy in the long run, it is." Cameron said. "Don't make the relationship just about sex."

It was all Jesse wanted from Gail most of the time. Jesse wanted her to reach the 'moment' and stay there for as long as possible, with as many times as possible. She didn't want to lose Jesse.

"I'm going to do what Jesse wants me to do." Gail said. "I want her to want me. I don't care what I have to do to make it happen."

Cameron felt there were times when it was the true nature of her relationship with John. She wanted Gail to expand and not be 'trapped' or confined. Gail only possessed a limited 'Neural Interface' program with 'some female' from her future. She was very much a Terminator most of the time.

Both Holly and Gail were limited in their desires to learn and explore sexually. It wasn't something Mrs. Weaver stressed in their programming. So far Holly resisted the advances the females indicated they wanted with her. Gail was receptive to Duplicate Jesse's advances and was willing to experiment. She carried it over to Jesse when Duplicate Jesse was terminated.

Gail had always been in love with Jesse, Duplicate Jesse, from the first time they were together. She felt both versions of Jesse were the same, even if they were slightly different. Their sexual needs and responses were identical so it is why she liked to concentrate on those. It made her feel good to scan Jesse as she finished, over and over and over. To bring Jesse pleasure, brought her pleasure as well.

Cameron looked at Gail and touched her cheek. She wanted to protect her. She was aware at some point she would feel her only purpose was to provide sex. It might seem like love, but it would devolve into just sex.

"Life has more to offer than sex." Cameron said. "You need to build a future for tomorrow, and stop living in the 'right now'. By not allowing Jesse to move forward, you're actually keeping her trapped in the past, as she tries to escape from it."

Gail wanted more. She shared more with Duplicate Jesse. She wasn't sure why everything wasn't the same with Jesse as it was with Duplicate Jesse. She wanted Jesse to have a better life.

"I'll try and help her." Gail said.

Cameron knew it was a two way street. There was plenty of room for both of them to grow and expand. There were many other things they could do, and still share with each other.

"You'll help yourself, as you help Jesse." Cameron said.

Gail thanked Cameron for the advice.

Right now Cameron wanted to see John.

She was ready for some more, of what she just told Gail she should have less of.

Life was strange.

Cameron spotted John headed towards her and was pleased.

"Cameron." John said.

She kissed him as he came up to her.

"Yes, my sweet love?" Cameron asked.

John thought maybe Cameron wanted something else. Now he felt as guilty as Hell because he'd thought of his 'adventure' with Future Riley instead of Cameron earlier.

"Let's go out." John said.

Cameron was all for some type of adventure. She could see a possible opportunity as well.

"Can I invite Allison and Vanna to come with us?" Cameron asked.

John didn't want Cameron to push her agenda. He knew it was really his, Future John's agenda. He didn't want to complicate things, nor start some type of argument. Those seemed to happen on their own enough as it was anyway.

"I hoped it would be just us." John said.

Cameron thought additional protection for John would be good.

"Should we take Bob or Holly as chaperones?" Cameron asked.

John figured some extra muscle would be nice. He was a little worried about Cameron and Holly. He wasn't sure if there were any hard feelings. He didn't think there should be since nothing ever occurred. He understood people could see things differently as well.

"Are you and Holly, OK?" John asked.

Cameron knew what John was really asking. She now possessed all the files from Duplicate Cameron. There was no need for anyone to worry.

"I was there with her, John. She never acted 'inappropriately' and neither did you." Cameron said.

John was still miffed because Cameron, Duplicate Cameron, didn't let him know she was inside Holly on her chip. It was a lot of 'Rosie Palm' for nothing. There may have been gratification, it just wasn't the same. He much more preferred it when someone else needed to deal with the 'results'. He was still uneasy about the fifteen months of nothing.

"If I KNEW one hundred percent you were with her, I would have acted 'differently'." John confessed. "We could have shared every day. I wouldn't have mourned you as much as I did. Make no mistake, I did mourn you. It was why you 'assigned' Holly to watch over me. You know what almost happened before."

Cameron felt a slight glitch impulse. She was aware both John, and Future John, nearly took things to the next level to end their pain over her 'loss'. There was also another major consideration. She didn't want John to become attached to another Terminator, especially a female one. She remembered the only way John stopped his pursuit of Future Riley was upon her termination. No matter what she offered him, it wasn't good enough.

"It's why I never told you." Cameron said. "You were supposed to mate with Allison and Vanna as my 'replacements'."

She decided not to mention Savannah since it always seemed to upset him. She was aware of why while John may be hesitant to pursue Savannah going forward. She didn't doubt for a moment Savannah would avail herself to John and become his mate, as well as his protector, against the anti-Metal faction of the Resistance. She believed Savannah was her ace in the hole.

John wondered about what Cameron said about the Duplicate set of girls. Duplicate Cameron knew the Duplicate girls were terminated.

"No one figured all three of your 'replacements' would end up dead." John said. "Or YOU either."

Cameron still thought Duplicate Cameron had a good plan.

"Events progressed 'unexpectedly'." Cameron said. "Everything should have worked out fine."

John wondered how far things would have gone. If the Duplicate girls survived, Duplicate Cameron still would have been on Holly's chip. It seemed as if there would still be some type of problem or conflict later on at some point.

"What if everything would have went as you planned?" John asked. "Then what would have happened?"

Cameron still thought it would be pleasant for John. It was what all males wanted.

"You would have two or three children by now." Cameron said. "There would be two beautiful women with you all the time, and a third whenever you wanted her. All of them would be willing and available. All three of them want to share with you. It's what I wanted as well. It's what I still want."

It was still a little hard for John to fathom. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to have a ringside seat and watch others touch the one someone cared about. It would literally be right in front of their face.

"All this was supposed to happen while you 'watched' from inside Holly?" John asked in disbelief.

Cameron viewed it as fulfillment of her mission. She didn't think it would be a big deal. It was very satisfying to complete a mission. She needed to remind herself all victories weren't sweet. She wanted him to know there was a further incentive down the line just besides the girls from the future. There were the girls from the present as well.

"Yes. The 'Natural Order' would be restored. You could have 'meat and potatoes' every night, and 'desert' whenever you wanted it." Cameron said. "I would then have gone on to protect Young Allison for you until after she grew up, and Savannah too."

John thought of the multi decade plans Cameron made. It was clearly far beyond the scope of her original mission as dictated by Future John. Still, it was a very intriguing thought.

"How romantic, my wife is lining up sexual partners for me for the next twenty five years, while she plays 'dead' and watches the whole thing. It's almost kinky." John said as he shook his head. "I'm very satisfied with what I currently have. I don't want to lose it again either. I don't want my actions, even if they've been 'approved', to cause you any emotional strain or harm. I know you say it's what you want. I don't believe it. Even if it was something I want, which is very enticing, I know not to do it because I love you."

Cameron tilted her head as she referenced 'kinky'. There were additional incentives she could throw out there.

"Don't forget, I was still in Holly and she is beautiful too…." Cameron said.

John doubted Cameron would remain 'inactive'. At some point she would take some kind of action. It was possible Cameron could borrow Holly's chassis or Gail's chassis. It could probably be done without a chip swap. She could probably use a tether and plug directly into their neck port, from her neck port. It seemed there were other possibilities open to her as well.

"Would you have gone back into your future and tried to get another body, like the one you have now with the same appearance?" John asked. "I know there are other options too."

Cameron tilted her head slightly. She was aware John liked her current appearance. She really didn't know why. It seemed to turn a lot of heads wherever she went, especially when she was Tight. Both Gail's chassis and Holly's chassis did offer what some would view as superior female attributes. She wasn't sure a change was necessary for John's sexual pleasure. There was something which could give her an advantage as well.

"Yes. I like the way I 'look'. Future Allison would have helped me. I would however like to upgrade to a Liquid Metal Terminator. I would still look like this, but I could be 'anyone' you want me to be at any time." Cameron said. "I could even offer you 'different' body parts and sizes."

'Except Riley'. Cameron thought.

John saw it as all much simpler than Cameron indicated. He wasn't really sure Liquid Metal would be quite the same as the living tissue on Cameron's current chassis. Somehow it was supposed to be, but he wasn't sure. He almost found out when Mrs. Weaver posed as Future Allison on more than one occasion in the alternate future.

"You know what, Cameron, I like you just the way you are right now." John said.

John's statement made Cameron feel good about herself. It wasn't something which happened very often either. It was time to give John a little comfort and share with him. It was time to give him what he wanted. It made her feel very wanted as they shared. She wasn't sure about the rest of the time. Maybe she should share more often.

"In that case, our bed awaits us, Right NOW." Cameron said.

'I'm On Fire' by 'Bruce Springsteen', played as they undressed….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Right Now

For some things in life
We need to wait
Hopefully for the delay
Things will turn out great

It is seldom the case
Things evaporate or deflate
Leaving us to feel disappointed
Or maybe even steamed and irate

There are always some
Who we wish to relate
We don't want the events
To slow down or stagnate

For those we hold dear
We may even hope to date
If things work out and go well
We might even want to create

Always keep in mind
There is a lot on one's plate
For things we want right now
We still often need to wait

Nobody