Chapter 172

Property

Earlier:

Allison was in the Command Center, she followed the situation with Cameron as it unfolded in Lake Tahoe. Vanna and Jesse were with her. When the issue about River arose, it was clear what would need to be done. None of the girls ever actually met River. It was the Duplicate girls who interacted with River previously.

Vanna became a little worried when she realized Allison was going to go and attempt to impersonate River. Other than their physical appearance, they didn't have anything else in common.

"I think I should go with you." Vanna said. "I think the more friendly faces Cameron sees, the better it will be for her."

Jesse wanted to go as well.

"I couldn't agree more." Jesse said. "Let's go."

John Henry didn't want the situation to get out of hand.

"John only wants Allison, Gail, and Jim to go." John Henry said. "We don't know what's going to happen or how things are going to play out. We still don't know the nature of the problem Cameron experienced in the first place. He doesn't want a repeat of the events from fifteen months ago."

Allison, Vanna, and Jesse all looked at each other. They could have done without the reminder all of them were killed. Well, the Duplicate versions of them were all killed.

"I'm going to go alone." Allison said. "I'll go with Gail and Jim and follow the instructions. We might need to play more cards later on. I don't think we should play all of them at one time until we know more about what's happening."

Vanna gave Allison's arm a gentle squeeze.

"Do what you need to do." Vanna said. "Just be careful. If you need to run, run."

Allison didn't know what she would face. Currently Cameron believed she was her. Well, it was probably actually Future Allison who she believed she was.

She left with the two Terminators and arrived at the airport.

"You need to use extreme caution." Gail said. "We'll protect you as much as we can. We can't overdo it or seem too aggressive initially. We don't want to trigger a negative response inadvertently."

Jim wanted to give Allison some reassurances as well.

"Let things play out as they unfold." Jim said. "Don't force anything and never take an aggressive stance or posture."

Allison didn't plan to resist Cameron at all.

"I'll do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done." Allison said. "Let's go."

They arrived at the airport soon enough.

Allison approached the group from the jet. She followed behind Gail and Jim.

Van Nuys Airport:

Cameron was ready to take things a step further. She thought she was 'Allison' and Allison was 'River'. She tried to kiss 'River'.

Allison backed out of the kiss Cameron tried to give her. She took it on her cheek instead. She held Cameron's shoulders in her hands. She wanted the kiss, but not like this, not as 'someone else'. If Cameron kissed her, she wanted it to be as her, 'Allison Young', because she was Allison Young.

She looked into Cameron's eyes. She begged with her eyes for Cameron to get better soon. She was going to stick with Cameron as long as it took to get through the current mess. She decided if Cameron tried to kiss her again, she would let her. There was no need to cause Cameron further distress and make her feel unwanted or rejected.

Allison wanted to try and get a few things straightened out her way. She looked into Cameron's eyes as she spoke.

"I want to call you 'Cameron'. It's the name you usually use. It would make me happy if you use that name." Allison said. "I'm accustomed to it."

Cameron frowned a little and then smiled at Allison.

"OK, I like it too, but I like Allison better. It feels more 'natural' to me." Cameron said.

Allison thought it was a first step. Maybe if Cameron heard her name enough, some things would start to click.

"Thank you, Cameron." Allison said.

Cameron touched her wrist and looked around.

"I lost my bracelet." Cameron said. "Someone may have taken it from me."

John knew the story. It made him worry about Allison even more now. It was the point where Future Cameron went to kill Future Allison for lying to her.

Now John worried Cameron might think she was Future Allison and Allison was Future Cameron during her interrogation. It could still produce a 'Terminator response' in a reverse way.

"I want you to always use the name 'Cameron'." Allison said. "We don't need the bracelets anymore."

Cameron looked at her wrist one last time and then lowered it.

"OK. We don't need the bracelets any longer. For you I'll use the name 'Cameron'. Are you ready?" Cameron asked.

Allison wondered if she'd missed something.

"Am I ready for what?" Allison asked.

The blank look returned to Cameron's face.

"To go, we need to leave." Cameron said. "I'm ready to go."

Allison started to get worried.

"You're ready to go where?" Allison asked.

Cameron looked impatient. She thought everything was clear to everyone.

"Back to the future." Cameron said.

Allison looked at John who shook his head from side to side briefly and then she looked back at Cameron.

"It's not going to happen." Allison said.

Cameron became agitated again. Everyone tensed up. The Terminators were ready to grab Cameron if she became violent or tried to attack Allison.

Allison ignored the danger to herself. She was worried about Cameron. She moved up closer to Cameron. She flashed a big smile on her face. She wanted to try to calm and reassure Cameron. She didn't know if her presence was enough to do it. It was time to up the game. She kissed Cameron on the cheek.

Cameron smiled and relaxed. So did everyone else. It was close….

"When can we go then?" Cameron asked. "I hope it's soon."

Allison needed to think fast.

"I have some things I need to do here. It's why I'm here in this time period." Allison said. "Do you want to go into the future without me or stay here with me until I finish everything? I'm not ready to go yet. I would like you to stay and wait for me."

Cameron wanted to remain with 'River'. She didn't want to get separated again.

"I want to stay with you." Cameron said. "I'm glad you wore your dress. I remember you wore it when you left. I remember how beautiful you looked when you took it off…."

Allison wondered if Cameron was going to ask her to take it off now. She hoped not, but she would. Maybe Cameron would see she wasn't as beautiful as River was.

"Yes, this is the same dress. I'm pleased you kept it for me." Allison said. "Thank You. We need to go back to the base."

Allison was glad she grabbed it on the way out. She changed in the SUV on the way over. She noticed Gail stare at her as she changed without actually staring. She didn't mind really. She was used to others seeing her naked. It wasn't anything new or to worry about.

She understood what was really happening. She knew Gail saw her as 'Cameron', not as 'Allison Young'. Everyone did it when they saw her naked, even Vanna. It was no big deal really. They shared the same DNA.

Gail did take in the unclad figure of Allison. She was aware it was exactly the same as Cameron's figure. She replayed those files several times already. Allison was beautiful in every way, just like Cameron was….

She briefly wondered if maybe she should have 'waited' for Allison instead of seeking Jesse again. She knew relationships were fluid. There was still a chance things could evolve. Jesse shared more than one friend. She didn't see why she couldn't as well.

Cameron looked at the Terminators who were still around her with a lot of apprehension. The blank look was back. It was very unnerving to see.

Allison noticed the tension return. She took Cameron's hand.

"Will you ride with me?" Allison asked.

Cameron turned away from the Terminators.

"OK." Cameron said. "I'd like to. I'll drive."

It sounded like a bad idea to Allison. She didn't want something as simple as a traffic incident to set Cameron off. There were enough of them to set anyone off on any given day as it was.

"I'd like to drive." Allison said. "Where I'm from, I didn't get to do much driving."

Cameron smiled. She glanced back at the other Terminators as well as John. She was somewhat displeased with all of them. She wasn't really sure why. She looked at the gigantic breasts on the other two females. It made her frown a little more. She was just glad they didn't have blonde hair. If they did, they would have reminded her more of someone she didn't care for. It was someone who took something from her. What was taken was something she could never get back. She couldn't quite remember what it was. She focused her attention back on 'River'.

"Sure you can." Cameron said. "I don't want anyone else to come with us."

Allison quickly looked over at John. He shook his head slightly back and forth. She understood the message. She wanted some backup. She followed the earlier interaction between Cameron and Holly near the casino, as well as on the jet. She believed Holly would present a lesser threat than any of the other Terminators would to Cameron.

"Holly has been teaching me how to drive." Allison said. "May I bring her with us? I would feel more confident when I drive. It shouldn't be a problem."

Cameron looked over at Holly. Holly smiled at her. Her earlier thoughts were no longer in her mind. She thought Holly was beautiful.

"Of course." Cameron said. "We don't want any accidents."

Everyone gathered there was relieved to hear it.

John was still displeased with everything. He really didn't like Cameron to see him as Future John. He knew he shouldn't push the issue. He couldn't help it. He wanted to look out for Cameron too. The words just slipped out before he could think it through.

"Can I come too?" John asked.

Cameron frowned. She looked John up and down from head to toe and back again. There were some unpleasant thoughts associated with him, even if it wasn't him.

"I think you've done enough of that already for my taste." Cameron said.

Cameron meant what she said quite literally.

Allison and John were both unsure what her answer meant. They both knew what it sounded like. No one wanted to comment on it.

Bob didn't want things to escalate. He didn't want anything to set Cameron off. He knew it could be something as simple as a word or a phrase. John's comment clearly produced a negative reaction already.

"John, you can ride back with me." Bob said.

They all got into the two SUVs parked there.

When Allison pulled out, she clipped the bumper on the other SUV. There was a loud 'screech' sound and a minor impact was felt. It was nothing new for her. There were always things in her way which shouldn't have been there. She really wished people would be more careful about how they parked and drove.

Cameron wondered if maybe Holly or her should drive. Highways were very unsafe places to travel.

John was very upset he couldn't ride with Cameron. He was worried more about Allison's safety than he was his. He was a little surprised when Allison clipped their SUV when she pulled away. He was aware her driving habits left quite a bit to be desired.

"Where do you think this is going to go from here?" John asked.

Bob looked over.

"There's no way to know." Bob said. "I think the familiar surroundings will do Cameron good."

John wasn't sure what they would do. He wondered if more drastic action would need to be taken. Somehow it seemed like it would be necessary.

"We'll see." John said.

Gail and Jim rode in the back seat. There wasn't much they could add to the conversation.

The two SUVs arrived back at the base a short time later.

John went to talk to John Henry as soon as they were back at the base. He thought things over on the way back to the base from the airport. The more he thought about it, the more he thought some type of drastic action needed to be taken before something set Cameron off. They needed to know what happened to her first which propagated all of the events.

"We need to shut Cameron down and pull her chip." John said.

It seemed a little extreme to John Henry. It appeared to him as if things started to resolve themselves.

"I don't want to do it." John Henry said. "We need her permission first."

John wanted to get Cameron 'fixed' as soon as possible. He didn't see it as a problem.

"She's MY WIFE." John said. "I'm giving permission to you."

John Henry was surprised with John's answer. He wanted to make a distinction. He believed it was an important one too.

"She may be your wife, but she's not your 'property'." John Henry said.

John realized what he sounded like. It wasn't good. Maybe he should have tried a little less direct approach.

"I want to help her." John said in resignation. "I'm sorry."

John Henry now felt a little selfish himself.

"Have Allison bring her to the lab and we will try to interface with her through the server. If necessary I can interface with the server to communicate with her." John Henry said. "I know we need to find out what happened and initiated the events. We're still at risk until we know more."

John Henry was excited at the prospect of 'sharing' with Cameron again. It was an experience he craved and longed to share again. Their thoughts could touch and mix as they shared…. The events which led up to where they were currently at were important to know as well.

After they arrived back at the base, Allison took Cameron to the lab. Vanna was waiting there for her.

Vanna was very apprehensive about what was 'wrong' with Cameron. Her fears were about to get fueled. She was still very concerned about Allison.

Cameron paused for a moment before she entered the lab. She wasn't sure she liked such locations. It seemed bad things happened in them. She spotted another familiar face. Her earlier apprehension was quickly forgotten.

"Hello, Savannah." Cameron said as she gave Vanna a kiss on the cheek.

Vanna and Allison exchanged glances of worry. They both caught the 'Savannah', not Vanna, reference.

Cameron thought she was Future Allison, Allison was River, and Vanna was Future Savannah.

Jesse came into the lab.

Cameron looked at her. She didn't like what she saw. There was something about her….

Jesse felt a little uneasy at the way Cameron looked at her. She hoped to lighten the mood some.

"Hello, love, I hear you've experienced quite an adventure." Jesse said.

Jesse came up to hug Cameron.

Cameron stood before Jesse. She tried to remember something. She couldn't quite place it. The female was supposed to do something for her…. It was something important. Something she couldn't do herself….

Jesse looked a little nervous.

Cameron reached up for Jesse's neck.

Gail started to move forward, Holly stopped her.

Cameron touched Jesse's neck and scanned her.

A bigger frown came across Cameron's face. She remembered something now.

"You're not pregnant yet." Cameron said.

Gail shot Jesse a stern glance.

Jesse looked at Gail and John. She then looked back at Cameron.

"Maybe we can talk about it another time." Jesse said nervously and left.

Gail quickly followed her out.

Before the door closed, someone rushed in.

"Cammy." Savannah said as she ran up toward Cameron. "I missed you."

John and Vanna both tried to grab her.

Savannah dodged both of them without even slowing. Cameron's training lessons proved to have taught Savannah well on how to move to avoid capture.

She went right up to Cameron and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She listened outside to the exchange between Cameron and Jesse. It was when she decided to make her play. She whispered something in Cameron's ear.

Cameron's eyes widened. She looked at Savannah and Vanna, then at Allison. She then looked back to Savannah and Vanna, then back to Allison. Cameron looked defeated.

Cameron's entire body slacked. She looked like she might collapse. Her hand started to glitch.

Cameron hung her head and then slowly lifted it. She looked at Allison.

"You're Allison, not River." Cameron said.

Allison was a little defensive. She did wear River's dress, but never identified herself as 'Allison' or 'River'.

"I never said I was River." Allison said. "I'm from the future too, even if it's a different one."

It was when Cameron saw Savannah everything 'clicked'. It was what Savannah did and said which hit home for her. It all started to come back now.

Cameron and Savannah looked at each other for a short while.

Savannah took Cameron's hand and the glitch immediately stopped. Everyone noticed.

"Thank you, Savannah." Cameron said as she smiled at her.

Cameron felt she was 'touched' by the 'Chosen One'.

Now there was a bigger problem to worry about. It was time to try to put everything together.

"How long have I been 'gone', and what have I done?" Cameron asked. "Did I kill or hurt anyone?"

John decided to make his play. He moved over to Cameron and gave her a hug and a kiss.

"Just my feelings." John said.

The glitch in Cameron's hand started again.

Savannah moved back and took Cameron's hand. The glitch immediately stopped.

Everyone noticed again.

Savannah always seemed to be able to calm Cameron instantly.

Cameron again felt she was 'touched' by the 'Chosen One'.

Everything looked like it was in order there.

The three remaining Terminators left.

Gail followed Jesse out of the lab and tracked her down.

She stopped Jesse and faced her.

Jesse knew there was no use lying about it. She went right to the heart of the matter.

"I told you what Cameron wants me to do." Jesse said.

Gail knew what it was. It wasn't what she wanted to happen.

"Have you?" Gail asked.

Gail was worried she would lose Jesse to John if they 'mated'.

"Not yet." Jesse said. "But I will if the opportunity comes up. I promised Cameron, Gail. I've already told you this. It was prior to our involvement."

Gail didn't want to be cast out.

"What about me?" Gail asked. "What about us?"

Jesse was willing to have more than one child.

"I'll still love you, Gail. We're both female. Only I can have a child. If you want to have a family, this is one way for us to do it."

Gail worried about the methods used to 'lean' on Jesse.

"Would you do it because Cameron 'told' you to do it?" Gail asked.

Jesse wanted to reaffirm her position.

"I would do it because I want to for us now." Jesse said. "I would've done it before just for Cameron. You know I love Cameron. I'll do anything for her, even die…."

It was a stab to Gail's 'heart', which was really her mind, but she did know. Everyone loved Cameron, even if they didn't WANT to. Jesse did tell her everything…. Both versions of Jesse did. They both said the same exact things. They even used the same exact words.

Gail came and hugged Jesse as she looked into her eyes.

"You're mine and belong to me forever." Gail said.

Gail hoped she didn't make Jesse sound like property.

Jesse thought for now she was, but if she could ever get to Cameron….

"Sure, love, we belong to each other." Jesse said.

Gail wanted to take things a step further.

"Prove it." Gail said

Jesse was ready for a distraction. She knew just the place to go to get it.

"Anytime." Jesse said as she led her into the bedroom.

Both women began to slowly remove the clothing from the other one. There was a lot of touching involved during the process. Each one seemed to be very pleased with what the other one offered.

'Taking Care Of Business' by 'Bachman Turner Overdrive', played as the women stripped each other.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Property

Look around and what do you see
Open your imagination and curiosity
Are you one of many in the majority
Or merely nothing more than an oddity

We have been led to believe
Life offers us some type of lottery
That is simply a perpetual fallacy
Truth dictates it's a mockery

We think we are learned and smart
Hopefully viewed as being scholarly
Maybe it is only veiled snobbery
Fueled and propagated by our audacity

Aren't the lies we hear daily
Nothing more than a robbery
As our trust is stolen improperly
When we can recognize debauchery

Where does it start or end
There seems to be no equality
An emotional void is true poverty
That is not limited to a minority

Loneliness and emptiness breed
Contempt, anger and animosity
Which some see as a monstrosity
Perhaps leading to a vile atrocity

Can one break their shackles
Or are we already in a monopoly
Passed around like a commodity
Regulated to being someone's property

Nobody