Chapter 204

Boots

Cameron was thrilled with the prospect of being able to infiltrate the Young residence. She tried to make sure Allison and her were always available if they were needed. She currently went out on missions given to her by John Henry. She went on most of them alone.

Sometimes other Terminators would go with her, even if she didn't want them to. She understood everyone tried to look out for her. She knew the human girls, as well as Derek and Kyle, would go with her as well. She didn't want to endanger any of them. Her fight was with Skynet. After the incident in Tehachapi, it was clearly personal between Skynet and her. She was the one who was specifically targeted.

It made her worry about Allison. It also made her worry about Young Alison by extension. It was another reason to get a better foothold inside of the Young residence. She figured babysitting would get their foot in the door. She would try to expand their presence afterwards.

She wasn't quite sure what would be the best way to do it. She wanted to be able to 'condition' Young Allison at night when she slept as she did with Savannah. Her young mind would be very receptive to all the information she could feed to it. She knew she should concentrate on education, but she was sure she would include 'other things' which needed to be done in the future. To have the 'seeds' in Young Allison's mind would hopefully mean they would sprout earlier than they would under normal circumstances.

When it was too late for a call to come in from the Young family for babysitting, she went out on a lead John Henry gave her previously. She collected her gear and went out to the carpool. She wasn't too surprised to see Bob out there waiting for her. She knew why he was there. She wasn't sure who tipped him off. She hadn't announced to anyone she was going to go out.

"I've been waiting for you." Bob said.

Cameron looked around.

"How did you know I was going out?" Cameron asked. "I didn't even know myself until a few minutes ago."

Bob was only tipped off a few minutes ago as well. He was instructed not to reveal his source when Cameron asked.

"It was a hunch." Bob said. "Sometimes it's nice to have help."

Cameron nodded her head slightly. It was something she mentioned to John on more than one occasion, and he mentioned to her. She figured she'd better not make a big deal about it, or it was possible one of the humans might try to go along with her. She didn't want to endanger any of them.

She didn't expect the lead to pan out to anything. It still needed to be checked out. So far none of the ones John Henry was able to uncover bore any fruit. She figured if nothing else, Bob and her might be able to stop on the way back and deal with some future Scavengers. There was no shortage of them to deal with. They drove out of the carpool area.

A figure moved out of the shadows once the SUV left the Resistance base.

"Someone needs to watch over you, Cameron." Savannah said softly to herself. "One day soon it's going to be me. It's my destiny to be at your side going forward. I can protect you in more ways than one. I can protect you from yourself. It's something Nobody can do."

Savannah made her way back inside the base. She passed by several security cameras. They should resume their normal function within a few minutes. She made sure her movements around the base and to the carpool area wouldn't be monitored by anyone. She covered her tracks on the computer as well. She didn't like to go behind John Henry's back. She liked to go behind Cameron's back even less. It was her job to aid the Resistance. It was exactly how she saw her actions. Protecting Cameron was the biggest aid to the Resistance there was.

She went to bed after she finished her studies. Her computer beeped and woke her up. She went over to it and viewed the screen. Cameron and Bob returned. Neither one of them looked damaged. She smiled, cleared the program, and went back to bed.

Cameron reentered the base. She decided to make a quick inspection of it. She went by the girls' rooms but everything was quiet. It was quiet in Derek's and Riley's room, as well as Kyle's and Sarah's room. She passed by John's room and could hear him snoring. She didn't see any need to disturb him.

She took out her phone and enacted a program. It would loop the feeds around Savannah's room. She made her way to Savannah's door and listened. It was quiet inside. She could see it was late. She didn't think Savannah was still up studying. It was always a possibility.

Cameron opened the door and slipped into Savannah's room. She quickly scanned her on her bed. She appeared to sleep. She made her way to Savannah's closet and carefully opened it. She saw her wedding dress hanging there. She resisted the urge to reach out and touch it. The wedding dress was old news to her. The future of it belonged to Savannah. She smiled and carefully closed the closet door.

She made her way over to Savannah's bed and knelt down beside her. She moved her lips close to Savannah's ear and began to speak very quietly so she could be 'conditioned'. She knew it was something everyone else would disapprove of. The only ones who knew, were the ones who would need to assist her in her absence. The job normally fell to Holly.

Cameron stayed for an hour before she slipped out. She made her way to the Command Center to see if anything developed since she returned. There was nothing new. She returned to her bedroom and stripped. She slid into bed next to John. She casually bumped him a couple of times until she saw his eyes open. She felt his hand reach over and touch her. It was what she wanted. She would stay there for another hour with him as they shared before she left again. She didn't like to hear him snore as she stared at the ceiling. There were always other things to do.

John Henry worked hard to find out where Skynet, or any trace of it was. Where was his 'brother'? Why was there the attack which appeared to be directed at Cameron, and then nothing? There was no activity in the Tehachapi area since then. There was nothing anywhere. He would send Cameron to check out new leads, but they never led anywhere. He was afraid they were stagnant.

The protection Details on the children were on their highest alert. Gail wasn't allowed to take Jesse when she went on one. It was to keep her focused. Cameron pulled more shifts, or added herself, in on Young Allison's Detail more frequently. She was there nearly every night. Allison went with her when Cameron was 'extra'.

John Henry was aware Cameron mentored Allison in everything from education to the arts, to child rearing. Cameron tried very hard to remake Allison in her image, as Cameron was made in Allison's image. Allison made Cameron better and Cameron made each Allison better. It would soon include Young Allison. John Henry knew Cameron wanted to take Young Allison into 'protective custody'. The last idea was universally rejected by all.

The more Cameron was around Young Allison, the more she wanted Young Allison as her 'own'. She was also mindful she would want to take the child from whichever of the girls had one first. She hoped she could control herself when the time came. If they were John's babies, it meant they were 'hers' as well. She was sure the girls would understand….

Ethics and morals weren't strong points with Terminators. It was about getting the job done, and the mission accomplished. Very little mattered as to what happened in the middle of the equation. There was the goal, and there was the result. It was just that simple.

It seemed the only moderating influence on Cameron was Savannah. She was special to all of them. Everyone acted 'different' in her presence. Every Terminator could 'feel' her touch when she greeted them. She always made physical contact with them and treated them as her equal. None of them were 'machines' to her. They were another form of life. If the 'Chosen One' could get to Cameron when she was about to have a 'problem', the 'problem' could be avoided.

Cameron held the thumb drive 'Pure Beauty' in her hand. She wanted to see the files more and more. She wanted the experiences which were on it. Once she downloaded them, they would be her experiences as well, Isabel-Cameron was her.

Her time alone with Allison was what drove her. The more she helped Allison, the more she loved her. They would spend two nights a week together and the entire weekends on the Young protection Detail.

They waited for Mrs. Young to call. It would be the foothold Cameron needed into the Young residence. It's what she wanted. After a few days they hit 'pay dirt'.

Mrs. Young called for a babysitter. It was decided Allison should go by herself first. It was for personal reasons. Cameron also felt she would be able to handle any awkward situation on her own.

Allison went alone. She 'met' her father, and saw her mother again before they went out. Cameron created a whole list of references for 'Allison Connor'. Allison figured Cameron chose the 'last name' to be funny, or push her agenda more. Cameron seemed to have a way of making a point. She was relentless in her goals.

She got to see her old room and all her childhood things. It was very moving to Allison to see her life still going on where she left it. It was no longer gone and destroyed. It was all still there and right in front of her. She never forgot her favorite toys or dolls. She held them in her hands with tears in her eyes and tears in her heart. What happened to the cute little girl she once was? She was going to buy a bike for Young Allison on her birthday. It would be the bike she always wanted but never got. She wanted to buy her a silver mountain bike. Cameron was right outside next door. She was there to aid if anything 'bad' happened.

As Allison played with Young Allison, she reflected on Cameron. Cameron worked closely with her on her education and her drawings. She taught her dancing and painting. She wrote poems with her. They created some together. They completed each other's thoughts. Cameron was the most creative person she ever met.

Allison didn't know Cameron did the same things for Her Allison - Future Allison. She made Allison into a better person. To help make each Allison 'better' made her 'better'. It would also aid John better in the future. The more time they spent together, the more time they wanted to spend together. No Allison ever rejected her or tried to 'replace' her. None of the girls ever rejected her. The girls didn't want to replace her, they WANTED her. She could feel it. It made her 'want' them….

Cameron sadly reflected it was Future John who rejected her and sent her away. It was John who rejected her and replaced her. The girls would NEVER do it to her. If she let them 'in', they would never abandon her. They already showed they would follow her to their death on more than one occasion. It was a very sobering thought.

All the time they spent alone together made Allison love Cameron even more. She wanted to be with Cameron, as 'Cameron', so much. The personal time she spent with Isabel-Cameron was simply fantastic. It only made her hunger more for Cameron. The more she hungered, the hungrier she became for 'more'. She was ready one hundred percent to be with John now and forever, if Cameron was there too, to share with her. She knew John wouldn't last long. Males never did. She could put up with a few minutes with him, and spend the rest of the night with Cameron. It was something beautiful to think about.

Other than to see her parents again, Allison quickly learned taking care of a child was a lot of work and responsibility. She was pleased to see Young Allison was very well behaved. She imagined she must have been as well. She didn't remember anymore. She knew Cameron wanted her baby. It would be their baby if she was with John and Cameron both. A baby would be even more work. She sure hoped Cameron would help out with the babies…. She hoped Vanna would too.

For the next babysitting stint, both Allison and Cameron went. Mr. Young was totally fascinated with Cameron the instant he saw her. He knew Cameron was the 'same' as Allison, but different. There was something about her which was special…. Everything about Cameron 'captivated' him.

Allison saw it right away. She was a little jealous. Then again, she didn't want her father to 'hit on' HER. She laughed to herself. He was clearly infatuated with what was essentially the teenage version of 'his daughter'.

'If only he knew'.' Allison thought.

Allison watched as Cameron interacted with Young Allison. Cameron was a natural. She did everything perfect. Yup, Cameron NEEDED to be there when she gave birth to John's babies. She watched a 'killing machine' perform as the most loving, gentle, and caring person. She loved Cameron even more. Cameron taught Young Allison many things. They were advanced things she seemed to learn easily. It surprised her. Cameron was the greatest, THE GREATEST.

Cameron didn't see Young Allison as a girl. She saw her as the future of the Resistance. She planned to train her to be as much like her as possible. With their 'foot in the door', she wouldn't need to 'remove' Young Allison into 'protective custody'. Allison's parents wouldn't need to be 'dealt' with to further her goals for Young Allison.

She didn't make it clear to Allison what she wanted from Young Allison. She just intended to do it. She didn't want any push-back or problems to arise. It was her long term goal to have Savannah and Young Allison at John's side as they battled Skynet in the future. It was her goal for both of the girls. Nothing was going to stop her from her goal. It was what Future John wanted. He wanted it for 'himself' - John.

Allison could feel the closer and closer she was to Cameron, the farther and farther she drifted from Vanna. It wasn't being done intentionally. It was just happening. Cameron was what was important to her. It wasn't a sexual relationship. Not yet anyway. Once it became one, she was probably done with Vanna. It bothered her to think about it. She was caught up in events.

Right now in her life, Vanna and Jesse were just 'friends' to have sex with. They gave her some 'release'. They allowed her the 'finish' she never was able to share with Cameron. The 'finish' was the goal. She soon did it almost exclusively on her own. She had better control and was able to direct her mind and thoughts where she wanted them. She was with herself at least ten times a day. One day it was twenty two times. It was beginning to be something she couldn't control. It was the frustration of her love for Cameron working against her, inside of her.

Allison felt sorry for Vanna. She told both Jesse and Vanna if she was away and they wanted to share it was fine for them to do so. She said she didn't have a problem with it as they all shared together many times. She wanted them to have each other 'more' as she concentrated on herself 'more'.

She enjoyed the sessions with all three of them. It was something they all looked forward to. She wondered if Vanna and Jesse were alone together a lot, if she would end up getting 'replaced'.

Allison didn't see she was the one who 'replaced' them with Cameron and 'herself'. She wanted to talk to Vanna about it.

It wasn't a pleasant encounter the way it started off. The girls 'attacked' each other from the start. Maybe this was to mask the true nature of their feelings for each other. Those feelings ran deep.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Cameron." Vanna said.

Stab.

"You've been spending a lot of time with John and Isabel." Allison said.

Stab back.

The girls knew each other well enough to tell how things were going to go. It wasn't something to look forward to. They would each try a little moderation. It may or may not work.

"I don't want to fight, Allison." Vanna said.

Allison noted the concession. She tried to return it and be fair in the process.

"I don't either, Vanna." Allison said. "If you have the opportunity to be with John or Isabel, I want you to take it."

Vanna still felt it was a little slap in the face.

"And if you have the opportunity to be with any of them or Cameron, I want you to take it." Vanna said.

Allison felt the slap back. She wanted it to dig in a little.

"I will." Allison said. "Don't worry."

Vanna paused and looked at Allison. The tension was growing. Either of them could become a Bitch very quickly. They would say and do things to each other they would never do to someone else, even a stranger. The sad part was, they didn't really mean what they said, even if they meant it when they said it. It wasn't very pleasant when two lovers fought.

"I've been with Jesse several times alone. I've been lonely." Vanna said. "This is the first time I've been alone with anyone else but you in the past, the present."

Allison returned her look. Maybe it was an attempt to reach out to her. The love between them was still there, even if it was twisted somehow. She decided not to bring up the fact Vanna wanted to be with Cameron and Sarah before. It was only because they didn't submit to her it didn't happen.

"I know. I told her and you it was OK when I'm away." Allison said as she now looked forward to being alone with Jesse herself. "We all love each other. We're all friends with 'benefits'."

Vanna offered a weak explanation of a possible reason. She missed Allison and needed someone when Allison was gone.

"Her new jewelry is the HOTTEST thing on her, Allison." Vanna said. "I can't resist them. You know how it was with Isabel-Cameron."

Allison did know how it was with Isabel-Cameron. She couldn't resist playing with them either. There was just something hot about them. She felt everyone had something to offer. It didn't need to be one thing specific. She knew Vanna had nice attributes too.

"Your 'smoothness' is the HOTTEST thing on you." Allison said.

Allison actually thought it was her 'bright pigmentation' which was. She was never with anyone who was 'pinker' on the top and bottom. Vanna beat all of them by a mile. She was truly unique. She wondered if it had something to do with her natural red hair.

Vanna hoped Allison would have said her pigmentation, but she didn't. Even some of the men who abused her made comments about it. They weren't insulting comments like some of them were. They were genuinely awed by her distinctiveness. It may actually have prevented her from additional abuse in some situations. She wasn't the only one who could do the laser procedure.

"Jesse has started the treatments now." Vanna said.

Allison believed hair on a female belonged on their head, and nowhere else at this point, since Vanna was this way. It was something she planned to do as well. She really didn't know what she was waiting for. Probably a refresher with Jesse would prompt her a little more.

"I would like to see it." Allison said.

Vanna still tried to hold on to the love which was misdirected.

"How about tonight, can you be there?" Vanna asked. "She would like to see you too…."

Allison frowned. It would have to wait. There was something more important that she wanted to do.

"Cameron and I will be out tonight." Allison said "Maybe after Jesse's last treatment."

Vanna looked sad.

"Allison, we haven't been together for a long time…." Vanna said.

Allison didn't like to see Vanna hurt, but she didn't feel guilty about anything. Life went on. Life moved forwards, not backwards. There was actually something she did feel guilty about. She could be with her parents again. It was something Vanna couldn't do. Maybe she was selfish because she wanted to be with them and see them. Maybe she liked being in her room again. It was her room. Many of the things Young Allison possessed were once her things as well. She knew it was something Vanna could never get back. The only way would be on a temporal mission. It could change things going forward if it happened. She didn't want her personal guilt about her family to overwhelm her.

"I know…." Allison said. "I've been busy."

Vanna couldn't help but to lash out in frustration. She thought about Allison being able to visit her family. She didn't think it was the primary driving force behind everything Allison was up to. She believed Allison had her sights set on another goal.

"You're saving all your best for Cameron, or Isabel, aren't you?" Vanna said angrily.

Allison held her tongue. She didn't want to fight. She set down her player and walked away. She didn't look back or answer.

'These Boots Are Made For Walking' by 'Nancy Sinatra', drifted around the cold room.

Vanna went in search of Jesse. The tears in her eyes weren't as bad as the tears in her heart.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Dark Side

Our hearts bleed, lifeless, alone
Love cuts deep to the very bone

Have our lives just been blown
For things that are unknown

For love that we could only loan
Half of nothing, single, lone

Ourselves away we have thrown
Anything to feel and moan

To submit to life like a drone
Wishing we could make a clone

Into our bodies life's seed sown
Pain forever into our hearts sewn

It is they who have hearts of stone
Love itself having never flown

We worship them in our minds throne
Their dark side has forever shown

Nobody