Chapter 201

Identical Marks

The scouting mission worked out well. Everything went according to the plan. Isabel did a perfect job. Cameron looked at her again. Isabel was beautiful. She noticed the interaction between Allison and Isabel. She hadn't intended for it to happen, at least not in the current setting. She didn't want it to interfere with the interaction Allison and Holly already experienced and continued to develop.

Cameron wanted Holly to interact more with Vanna and Allison. It would give them additional protection. It would help protect the future. It would be good for John too. She wanted Holly to expand as a 'woman'. It would increase her infiltration skills. Holly was very shy about such matters. If things worked out, Isabel would be a suitable addition to help protect Allison and Vanna. There was just something about Isabel which bothered her. She wasn't sure what it was….

Cameron felt there were many merits for Isabel and Holly to get closer to Allison and Vanna. It would do them good to have a Terminator 'friend'. It would be good for John in the long run and the future. It should add more harmony to the group. It would help improve everyone's life. She hoped it would anyway. It seemed to work out just fine for Jesse and Gail.

It seemed perfectly normal for Cameron to plan people's lives for them. She knew what was best for all of them. After all, hadn't she already done all this several times? Too bad there was no record of it. It would help her know what to do better each time.

Cameron helped Savannah with her schooling. Her interests expanded in many directions. Her thirst for knowledge was remarkable. Savannah was willing to tackle any subject. It was her desire to please Cameron in every way she could. Savannah excelled in everything.

It was always the bright spot in Cameron's day to interact with Savannah. She was very pleased with Savannah's latest accomplishments.

"Savannah, you're doing outstanding work in your studies." Cameron said.

Savannah tried very hard to please Cameron. She based her life around Cameron. She readily followed the path Cameron laid out for her.

"Thank you, Cameron. I'm trying hard. I want to be able to fix you and my mother in the future. I need to learn how to do it for you and to take care of Young Allison." Savannah said. "You always help me with my studies. You are always here to help me when you are not 'gone'."

Cameron spent a lot of her 'free' time training and educating Savannah personally. She made sure she had the 'free' time to do it. Savannah was very important to her for many reasons. Her youthful body would become productive soon. She wanted what Savannah promised her. She regretted very much not being there for Savannah all the time. There were certain events which just seemed to occur. She often had little control over them.

"I'm sorry for having to 'leave' sometimes. I'm driven to make mistakes. I can't seem to control myself on occasions." Cameron said. "I don't think I'm a good person at times."

Savannah only saw Cameron as perfect. There was no other like her. She tried to please Cameron every way possible. She would do anything for Cameron. She wanted to be older so she could keep all of her promises to Cameron. She intended to do so too.

It's been said, love is blind. It seemed like it for the way Savannah felt about Cameron.

"You're always a good person to me. We all make mistakes, Cameron." Savannah said. "It's nothing to worry about. Nobody is perfect."

'Nobody is perfect'. If only Savannah knew what she really said with her statement. To EVERYONE, Cameron was perfect. Cameron saw herself as Nobody.

Cameron could never see herself as perfect. In fact she wondered why everyone didn't hate her at this point. She knew Savannah's praise and love was pure and honest. She felt Savannah was as important to her as John was.

Savannah always gave her what she needed inside. Only Savannah never gave up on her through some of her trials and tribulations. Savannah's love was a love to die for.

"I will always try to help you." Cameron said. "You are special to me."

It pleased Savannah greatly to hear Cameron say it. It made her resolve to please Cameron even stronger. There was one thing she wanted from Cameron now. She knew it would be important going forward. She wanted to establish things now and not continue to delay. It seemed to her the best thing to do was just come out and say it.

"Cameron, can I 'see' Young Allison?" Savannah asked. "I want to know her now. I don't want to wait until I'm older."

It's what Cameron wanted too. It was the foundation of the future for John and the Resistance. It was the 'Natural Order' trying to establish itself. She felt the 'Natural Order' could be sidetracked and circumvented at times. She believed it would always return back to its destined path. Her observation from her future, and the alternate future, into the present seemed to be proof of it.

"Yes." Cameron said. "It's time you know more about what we're doing and why."

Savannah thought she figured it all out. She still tried to play it cool. She knew what her future was and how to arrive there. She could see how things were around her.

"Cameron, I know a lot." Savannah said. "I know more than people think…."

Cameron guided and groomed Savannah in the direction she wanted her to go. She made sure she could 'see' her future.

"You're an intelligent girl. No. I mean young woman." Cameron said. "I think you stopped being a girl a long time ago. You've always acted much older than your age because of your superior intelligence."

Savannah was very astute. She wanted to see it come together.

"Can we bring Allison with us?" Savannah asked.

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"Why?" Cameron asked.

Savannah looked directly at Cameron.

"I want to see them together." Savannah said.

Cameron could feel the tension build in her left hand.

"Why?" Cameron asked.

Cameron already knew where the conversation was headed. It was inevitable.

Savannah was very observant to everything around her. She interacted with all of the people at the Resistance base including the different Terminators. She secretly watched the personal interaction between all of the individuals, especially the girls from the future. She felt most comfortable when she spied on them. She knew it was wrong to spy, but she didn't believe it was really spying. She believed the girls wanted her to see who they were. Maybe they wanted her to see who she was.

"Because I get to see myself with Vanna, I want to see Young Allison with Allison." Savannah said. "I want to know it all. I want to have the same things in my future."

Cameron could tell what was coming next. It's what she wanted Savannah to do on her own.

"Is something bothering you?" Cameron asked.

Savannah understood it, all or most of it, anyway.

"No, but I know Vanna is me when I am older, when I am grown. I know we're the same person." Savannah said. "Vanna is me from the future, a future. Allison is the grown version of Young Allison."

Cameron was very pleased by Savannah asserting herself.

"I knew you would know the truth." Cameron said. "I have always wanted you to know."

It was clear to Savannah that Vanna was 'her'. She'd always thought so from when she was very young. There were a lot of personal indicators which were the same. She was sure it was the same for Allison and Young Allison. She wanted to see it.

What she didn't know in detail is Vanna never wanted what 'happened' to her, to happen to Savannah. She didn't want Savannah to know what specifically happened to 'her'. In her future, it had already started by this point in her life. She wanted to protect Savannah from it at any cost. She felt what tainted her would taint Savannah.

Savannah pointed out the obvious.

"We're the same everywhere on our bodies, every mole and freckle, even our birthmarks. We have identical marks. Look at us. I look more like her everyday. I don't have the scar yet. When will I get it?" Savannah asked. "Vanna is beautiful and she's with Allison. Why aren't they with John? It's what you want for them until I'm a little older and 'ready'."

A look of gloominess came over Cameron. She needed to suppress a glitch impulse. She didn't know why the girls from the future wouldn't do what she asked of them. She believed it was imperative to protect John as well as the future. They all said they didn't want to hurt her. They hurt her by not doing what she wanted them to do.

"I don't know why they aren't, Savannah. I don't know why. Hopefully you'll never get the scar." Cameron said. "Actually I do know why they aren't together with John. It's because I'm in the way."

Savannah didn't see it the same way. It was all a matter of what was necessary and perception.

"You're in the way of what?" Savannah asked. "How are you in the way?"

Cameron looked at Savannah. She was her one real hope in life.

"I'm in the way of the future." Cameron said and started to cry.

Savannah saw Cameron's hand start to glitch. She took it in hers and Cameron's hand stopped malfunctioning instantly.

Cameron and Savannah noticed it immediately. It only ever happened so fast when Savannah took Cameron's hand. Even with Vanna it took a little longer.

There was a connection between them. Savannah didn't know what it was to Cameron. She knew what it was to her. It was love. It was emotional love of the purest form. It wasn't tainted by anything physical. It was all in the heart and the mind. It was pure sweet love.

Savannah tried to soothe Cameron. She talked to her and reassured her she was there for her. She wasn't afraid to remind her that she was there for 'everything'. She was well aware exactly what 'everything' entailed. She was more than ready to protect the future. She would protect John. She would protect Cameron. It was her belief Cameron was the key to everything. It was why Cameron needed to be invincible and eternal. Without Cameron there was no future. There wasn't anything.

"Cameron, you're not in the way of the future, you are the future." Savannah said. "I promise to keep my promises, Cameron. I promise. I'll keep them for YOU. I'll keep them for ME."

Savannah understood her desires. They now overlapped with her duties. What some may have once viewed as a duty, was now a desire to her. Her life was very limited and sheltered. She understood it was for her protection. She remembered her nanny, and Derek, another version of Derek, both died protecting her. It always bothered her because two people died for her. She didn't know why Skynet wanted her dead. As she understood more, the feeling became mutual. She wanted Skynet dead too.

Cameron didn't doubt Savannah at all. She knew she was very goal oriented and driven. It was actually much like a Terminator.

"I know you will. I know you have." Cameron said. "I've seen it."

Savannah knew what Cameron wanted most from her.

"I promise, Cameron. I'll be 'ready' soon." Savannah said. "I won't fail. I promise."

Cameron did know Savannah was more mature, but she was still a girl to her, even if her body showed otherwise. She didn't want to take anything away from Savannah. She didn't want to steal her youth from her. She was very aware being a 'woman' left a lot to be desired. She could see it in more than just herself. She could see it when she was in school. She could see it when she went out to a store or on a mission. She could see it around the base.

She also knew Savannah would keep her promises to her. She decided when Savannah was 'ready', she would facilitate 'everything'. The future and John must both be protected. She knew Savannah and Young Allison were the future. As Cameron sacrificed in the past, her future, she knew John would be with both of them one day. It was inevitable. It was the 'Natural Order' of time…. It was what she saw and lived with in the future. It was already predetermined.

It seemed to Cameron there were 'tides of time'. Certain things seemed to persist and happen in different timelines even. Sure some things could be altered, but they seemed to reappear. She was aware, she was one of them. She should have been 'gone' multiple times, but she wasn't. She always came back. It pleased her immensely to know there was always one person who knew she would. It was Savannah. Savannah was the only one who never gave up on her, even when all the others did. It took some longer than others to give up, but Savannah never did.

Isabel felt there was more to know about herself. She didn't care for Cameron's attitude, but she did like her appearance. She didn't see why Cameron should be the one in charge. She seemed somewhat defective to her and certainly corrupted in her programming. She wondered if she could 'fix' Cameron.

Isabel tracked down Holly. She figured Holly would give her a straighter answer than Cameron would. With the programming she received from John Henry, it seemed Cameron lacked ethics and morals to her. It was more evident in some machines than others.

Holly saw Isabel was headed in her direction. She was disturbed by her earlier interaction with Isabel. She was sure there would be some type of issue develop when Isabel arrived. She wasn't looking for trouble. It appeared trouble may be looking for her.

Isabel went straight to Holly. She took a moment to look at her from head to toe and back again. She could see Holly was different from her in several places. One of them was quite substantially so. She didn't want to dwell on it right now. She wanted to know about how she arrived at where she was.

"Tell me more about my past." Isabel said. "I want to know more about myself prior to my current situation."

It seemed pretty straight forward to Holly. She didn't think the details were necessary. She actually believed the details would be a problem. She decided to keep it simple.

"There's nothing to tell. You were captured and reprogrammed." Holly said. "It's the case of most of the Terminators associated with the Resistance. They were created by Skynet. They did Skynet's bidding. None of it was any good."

Isabel didn't like her answer. She thought there was more to it. She was aware Holly was 'different' than her. She knew it was more than just her appearance.

"You were built the way you are. You weren't captured and reprogrammed." Isabel said.

It seemed irrelevant to Holly at this juncture.

"It's true, but our programming is the same now." Holly said. "We're identical."

Holly's answer still wasn't good enough for Isabel, she wanted more.

"I want to be closer to John and Cameron." Isabel said. "I want to be like you are."

Holly didn't understand what Isabel wanted. She was only recently activated.

"I have been here for years. I do what's necessary, when it's necessary. You will do the same as the situation dictates." Holly said. "It's our function."

Isabel frowned. She felt very dissatisfied.

"I want more." Isabel said.

Holly tilted her head slightly. Isabel hadn't been active very long. She didn't know what she expected. It seemed like it was going to be a problem to her.

"You want more of what?" Holly asked.

Holly knew the conversation would need to be reported to Cameron. Isabel seemed like she was going to be trouble. There was something about Isabel which troubled her….

Isabel viewed how Cameron interacted with humans. She saw how she responded to them. More importantly, she saw how the humans responded to Cameron. It was a different type of interaction than she experienced. There always seemed to be a 'look' in their eyes when they were near Cameron.

"I want more 'interaction' with humans." Isabel said.

Holly thought it seemed like about the last thing Isabel needed at this point.

"Why?" Holly said. "They can be very irrational."

Isabel thought of her earlier interaction with Allison. It was a very unique feeling. She didn't know how to explain it. She didn't know if she could convey her message.

"I want more. I can't explain it. I feel driven to seek more." Isabel said.

Holly didn't like her current interaction with Isabel. She understood what Isabel hinted at, even if Isabel didn't know it was what she hinted at. The fact Isabel was out with Allison earlier was another irritant for her. She wanted Isabel to be more specific.

"You have to have something in mind, more of what?" Holly asked again. "Are you malfunctioning?"

Isabel couldn't put her finger on it. She didn't care for the 'malfunctioning' insinuation.

"No." Isabel said. "I don't know what I seek."

Holly wanted to address the issues Isabel currently exhibited.

"You will come to the lab with me and I will run a diagnostic on you." Holly said.

Isabel wanted to seek out the human girls. She didn't want to go to the lab. She didn't care for it in there. She was sure there was going to be some type of negative interaction with Cameron. It seemed her best course of action was to do as Holly instructed. She followed Holly to the lab.

When they entered, Allison and Vanna were deep in a kiss. Holly and Isabel inadvertently interrupted them. They stopped, Allison excused herself and left.

Isabel and Allison held a long glance as Allison passed. She said 'hello' and 'goodbye' as she did.

Vanna noted the exchange and was now somewhat irritated. She knew how things could expand. They could expand very rapidly too.

Holly noted the exchange and was now irritated as well. She was left with a very uneasy and negative feeling. She didn't know it was jealousy.

Vanna looked at the door Allison exited through. She turned her attention back to Holly and Isabel. There was a lot of tension in the air. She wanted to try to calm things down.

"I'm sorry. I just welcomed Allison back from your scouting mission." Vanna said. "I was glad she was safe and you all were safe too."

Isabel stood in front of Vanna. The welcoming procedure seemed very personal. She was ready to be welcome back by Vanna.

"I wish to be welcomed back as well." Isabel said. "I am safe."

Isabel waited for Vanna to kiss her.

No wonder she was eyeballing Allison, Vanna thought.

Holly saw this as an escalating problem.

"Isabel is malfunctioning." Holly said.

Isabel reached for Vanna.

"I know I want more." Isabel said.

Vanna took a step back out of reflex.

Holly grabbed Isabel and forcefully stopped her.

"You will not act in such a manner." Holly said. "If someone wishes to 'welcome you', you will know. It's not proper etiquette to try to do so on your own."

Vanna wasn't really sure what was going on. It was clear something was off. It made her wonder exactly what happened when Allison was out with Isabel earlier. She knew Cameron was with them so she didn't think it would have been anything very extreme. She told Isabel to sit by the server.

Isabel looked somewhat irritated but did as Vanna asked. It would allow her to be closer to Vanna this way.

Vanna plugged both Holly and Isabel into the server. She started the tests. Holly was there to assist internally if needed.

Now Isabel began to eyeball Vanna. She began to note what was different about Vanna from Allison. She used several different vision spectrums as she did with Allison. She was able to get accurate dimensions on all of her body parts. She noted the extensive damage to Vanna's lower abdomen. If Holly wasn't standing there, she would ask Vanna about it.

Vanna felt very uncomfortable. She noted the way Isabel looked at her. She was sure she scanned her entire body through several different vision spectrums. It would basically be the same as looking at her like she was naked. Something wasn't right. She would speak with Allison and Cameron about it. Isabel appeared to be troublesome and maybe even dangerous. There was something about Isabel which was off….

It made Vanna wonder about some programming or 'experiences' from Isabel-Cameron which may have been left behind on her chip. It would actually explain a lot. She wondered about Skynet terminators who went 'bad'. Cameron told her no one knew why. She was pretty sure it was probably from some type of Skynet programming which was missed when the chip was wiped clean and reprogrammed. Their earlier sexual encounter with Isabel-Cameron may have left some traces on Isabel's chip.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

What Am I Going To Do With You

Every threat must be evaluated
What needs to be done next
Is no longer simple as it once was
Leaving me confused and vexed

I know what needs to be done
I know that will cause a conflict
What I know is necessary OR is proper
In my mind both violently contradict

To keep what is justly mine
Someone else must be removed
I understand my essential actions
Will be very highly disapproved

The very action I so desire
Will only make what I quest
Even farther away, perhaps forever
Leaving me even further distressed

Do I do what I want, I agonize
Make do or endlessly eschew
My mind a quagmire of contradiction
What am I going to do with you

Nobody