Chapter 206

Relatives

There was a meeting about the next mission in the Command Center. They discussed if they should include Cameron in the planning of the mission. The idea didn't go over very well.

John Henry and Bob both took issue with Cameron 'babysitting' instead of terminating.

Bob felt Cameron was too distracted. He believed it impaired her activity in the field. He was worried it would make her careless. Well, more careless than usual.

"Cameron is busy." Bob said. "I can do it myself. I don't want any problems."

John wondered how it was any different for Bob, than if Cameron did something on her own. Where was the backup? Where was the assistance? Where was the teamwork? He didn't like it when Cameron did it. He didn't want anyone else to do it either.

"No one is doing anything by themselves." John said. "There seems to be enough of it already. I don't agree with it under any circumstances. We have plenty of personnel to assist in any operation. It doesn't matter the size of it either."

John Henry felt it was pretty much what Cameron did anymore. It didn't matter what she was told or asked to do. He believed she attempted to do too much, especially alone.

"Cameron doesn't seem to 'listen'." John Henry said. "She's always on her own."

It was a major source of irritation for John. Cameron suffered a lot of needless damage over the years because of it. It translated to less time spent with him on several levels. Any time he tried to 'talk' about it, it became a bigger problem. She was away right now so it was why the planning session which currently took place.

"I know." John said. "She's deeply troubled. Now that she believes I'll be assassinated in the future for being around Terminators as a "Metal Lover', the issue has further upset her. It's only made her obsession worse…."

Bob saw it as a problem from Cameron's future. She went back to the future to resolve all of those issues. The problems should have been addressed and circumvented. Future Allison and Future Savannah were both with John. Cameron was out of her future. It was no longer an issue.

"It was in her Future. She fixed it." Bob said.

John thought of the other failed attempt which was created by the TDE incident, and malfunction, when she wanted to 'fix' it again. It created a new series of events, which they didn't even know the extent of. There were actually quite a few unanswered questions which there weren't any good answers for.

"Did she? Is there another Duplicate group of Cameron and the girls somewhere in the future, a future? Where is Mrs. Weaver? She's 'in some future' with an army of Terminators." John said. "How does Skynet keep coming back? Are there more Skynets in our past too? How many timelines are there?"

John Henry was confounded by some of the same issues and ideas. He worked with the issues and never could come to a resolution with any of them. Too much was unknown. There were too many variables and not enough facts. The things which they seemed to lack the most were the facts.

"There's no way to know the answers to any of those questions." John Henry said. "To try to find out would create more problems."

John felt they'd drifted too far off the upcoming mission at hand. It was the immediate issue which needed to be dealt with. He wanted it taken care of as soon as possible. He decided it was probably best to leave Cameron out of it. There were other Terminators, as well as other Resistance fighters available.

"I'll go with Bob and Holly." John said. "Maybe Derek or Kyle will go too. I want to keep it simple."

John Henry and Bob looked at each other when John said it. They were aware it always created a problem for Cameron when John was in the field. Now he was going to do it behind her back.

Bob felt he needed to address the issue beforehand.

"You know Cameron doesn't like it." Bob said. "What about taking Isabel instead?"

John Henry knew Isabel was another problem. He was aware of what transpired when Isabel was taken on a mission with Cameron and Allison. There was also an altercation with Isabel and Holly outside of the lab. More recently there was some trouble outside of John's room with Cameron and Isabel. He wasn't sure how specific he should get in front of John based upon what he deduced actually occurred.

"Isabel was malfunctioning and needs to be reprogrammed." John Henry said.

John Henry monitored the feed when Cameron terminated Isabel in an instant, just like that. Cameron ended Isabel's existence and then erased her chip. What was even worse was, she did it with a smile on her face. Cameron enjoyed terminating her…. It was very unlike Terminator behavior. It made him wonder how much Cameron's long term exposure to humans may have corrupted her. It seemed to be the type of violence some humans chose to do on their own.

Isabel was a sore spot for John. She caused him a lot of grief. The reports he reviewed of Isabel after her second reprogramming were just as bad, if not worse. No, they were worse. She started from a 'clean' chip. There was no 'Cameron' on the second chip to blame her problems on. He wondered if there was something deeper they didn't know about. It was a real possibility. It was by a very chance encounter they were able to come across her chassis in the Tehachapi area.

"Check her system for something hard wired into her, or hidden someplace." John said. "Something was always 'off' when Cameron was copied on her chip. I never could place it. Remove her sheath in sections if you have too. They can be replaced after you look for anything hidden. If they're 'clean cuts' they will heal rapidly. Check the endoskeleton itself for anything hidden. I want to make sure she's not some 'Trojan Horse' we picked up and brought into our fortress. We all know how the original story ended."

They all reflected how they'd been 'lucky' so far not to have the base attacked or overrun. They took down a number of 'Skynets' and Grays in the process.

John Henry wanted to get things moving. He wanted to give John some new suggestions. He thought for what John wanted, he could better use some of the personnel involved.

"Take Al or Dan and leave Holly." John Henry said. "I'll have her and Vanna go over Isabel, inch by inch. It will be 'messy'. I may need to have Gail replace Vanna for the procedure. It's a lot to ask from a human to 'cut' someone else up like so much chum."

John reflected on what Cameron did before that he saw. It was a messy ordeal. He didn't want the burden on Vanna without some input. She already had enough skeletons in her closet from her past, the future.

"Do what you need to do." John said. "It makes me sick just to think about what they have to do. Give Vanna a choice before she starts. I don't want her sick or traumatized."

John didn't want to make Vanna ill by having to cut a 'female' apart. He briefly wondered if Jesse would want to do it. He was aware she 'punished' males and females before. The action was bad enough. What made it worse was, she kept the 'parts' she cut off the living people as trophies.

It was something Derek wouldn't stand for. At the time Jesse had a choice to make. She chose Derek over her 'collection'. Cameron and the girls worked on her ever since and really turned her around. He didn't want to cause her to relapse into her old habits. She obviously enjoyed what she did to others, or she wouldn't have done it so many times.

Cameron was excited about her infiltration mission of the Young residence. Allison and her established a foothold inside the house. They'd been there all night with Young Allison. She enjoyed working with Young Allison. She was able to show her and teach her many different things.

Allison spent a lot of the time looking at the things in her room without Young Allison there. It really allowed her to think back into the past before Judgment Day. She didn't think it was a good place to dwell for multiple reasons. She wanted Young Allison to lie down and sleep before her parents came home. Cameron reluctantly released Young Allison to her. She lay down with Young Allison on her bed as she read her a story. It was a story she liked to hear when she was still young.

Later on, Cameron heard the car return from the Young's night out. Young Allison's parents would enter the house in a few moments. She opened the door for Mrs. Young. Mr. Young was still outside getting things out of the car.

Mrs. Young smiled at Cameron.

Cameron wanted to use the terminology she developed.

"Young Allison is asleep." Cameron said.

Mrs. Young looked in Young Allison's room. Allison was asleep with a book still in her hands, as Young Allison slept next to her.

Cameron thought there might be some revelations made tonight. She felt the stage was set.

Mrs. Young looked at them sleeping side by side. They looked so peaceful. They looked so similar. They looked like sisters…. Maybe it was in the back of her mind before, but to see them asleep side by side, seemed to hit home a little harder.

Cameron stood behind her. She wanted to see if she could prompt anything from Mrs. Young.

"They looked so peaceful, I left them alone." Cameron said.

Mrs. Young nodded. She still thought they looked almost identical as they slept side by side.

"Allison, I'm home." Mrs. Young said softly.

The response was a little different than she expected.

"Yes, Momma." Allison said and drifted back off to sleep.

Mrs. Young felt something. It was almost as if she had been struck, but not hurt.

There were a lot of thoughts coursing through her head.

Mrs. Young looked harder. She looked at Cameron, Allison, and Young Allison.

Something very profound occurred to her. It was almost hard for her to believe.

Mrs. Young drew in her breath. It was clear Allison looked more like Young Allison, than she did Cameron, and they were twins!

"Excuse me." Mrs. Young said.

She went and took out some old photo albums.

Cameron wanted her to do it. She wanted her to make the connection. She wanted Young Allison to know the truth. Her mother was going to need to know it first.

Allison stirred on the bed at the same time Young Allison did. They were both on their side now in an identical position. They looked the same. One of them was just bigger than the other.

Cameron followed Mrs. Young. She hoped to prompt her.

"Are you looking for something, Mrs. Young?" Cameron asked.

Mrs. Young wanted the relationship to be a little more personal. When she heard the name Mrs. Young, it made her think of her mother-in-law. She was sure there was some type of deeper connection between her family and Cameron and Allison.

"You can call me, Claire." She said. "I feel like I know you two from 'somewhere'."

Cameron thought now wasn't a good time to point out she was the one who 'named' Allison with her phone call to Mrs. Young from the shelter. She actually didn't want to think about her time there in the halfway house. There was a lot of unpleasantness associated with it on several levels. The only thing good she could take away from the entire experience was it was the first time she genuinely felt happy. John spoiled it rather quickly for her. She needed to refocus on the present situation.

"Is it because Allison called you, Momma?" Cameron asked.

Mrs. Young wasn't really sure what she wanted to say was the right thing to say. When she thought about it in her head, it really sounded ridiculous.

"Yes. You could all be sisters. Allison looks just like MY Allison sleeping beside her." Mrs. Young said. "Allison looks like My Allison as a grown up teenager. I can see it now."

Cameron thought she should be included in the equation. She didn't want to get too far away from the prize.

"As do I." Cameron said.

Mrs. Young saw a higher level of refinement and beauty in Cameron. It was hard to put into words. Cameron 'looked' like Allison, but she was totally different.

"No, you're different. You're 'perfect', Cameron." Mrs. Young said. "The two Allisons are the 'same', but you're different. I know how to 'read' people. I get a feeling inside. I believe you're more different, and special, than anyone I've ever known."

Cameron was afraid she may have pushed it 'too far' on her first night. She tried to deflect the conversation. She wanted to take the focus off of her.

"Young Allison is a very special girl, Claire." Cameron said. "You should be very proud of her. In the short time I've spent with her, I can see her potential is unlimited."

Mrs. Young worked with people on a personal level for both dance and music. She was able to get a feel for them almost instantly. It determined what their abilities were.

"I've seen you teach her things, Cameron. You have a special way with children. You're gifted. You really are 'perfect'." Mrs. Young said. "There's something about you which sets you apart from all others, even Allison."

Cameron wished she could see or feel it in herself, she couldn't. Still she could see Mrs. Young was honest and sincere. She didn't even need to scan her to know it. She also saw depth and substance to Mrs. Young. She was actually only a few years older than Allison. She was younger than Jesse and Vanna. She was pretty too. She also produced beautiful offspring. The thought would return to her later on with more sinister motives.

"Sometimes it is nice to have help." Cameron said. "I try to be helpful and do what I can."

Mrs. Young felt like she was taking advantage of Cameron and Allison for all the things they did for Her Allison.

"I feel like I should pay you more." Mrs. Young said. "Maybe I can teach you to dance or give you music lessons."

Cameron saw another opportunity. She was proud of some of her personal accomplishments. She felt they helped to make her a better 'person'. She would actually like to demonstrate them for someone who could truly appreciate her ability and skill. It was one thing for people to say it looked nice, and another for someone to know the hard work involved to achieve such a level of performance. It took work for Terminator to perfect it as well. Some things were very technical. Timing and precision were critical.

"I can dance." Cameron said. "Put some music on softly. I'll show you."

Mrs. Young possessed a large selection of music and played what Cameron asked for. She watched Cameron dance. Cameron was perfect. She never saw such perfection, ever. Cameron was a match for any professional. She believed Cameron was capable of winning any dance competition.

Cameron noticed Mr. Young watch as well from the distance with 'hungry' eyes. She could see his thoughts weren't on dance or music. He didn't realize he ogled a teenage version of his own daughter for all practical purposes.

Mrs. Young tried to process everything she just witnessed.

"I'm speechless, Cameron." Mrs. Young said. "It's the best dancing, the best art, I've ever witnessed. It would take a lifetime of experience and practice."

Cameron told the truth and tried to push her foot a little further in the door.

"I only started a few years ago. I get better everyday. Dance is the hidden language of the soul." Cameron said. "I've been teaching Allison and some of our friends, Vanna, Jesse, Holly, Gail, and Isabel. I think you should meet them. They're great with children and they can help around the house too, as can I."

Mrs. Young wanted to meet the group of gifted girls. She really wanted to see how they would compare to Cameron. She didn't believe any of them could be as gifted as Cameron was.

"I'd like to meet them." Mrs. Young said.

Cameron wanted to show her worth a little more and reinforce a few things.

"You will." Cameron said. "I cleaned all the rooms for you too. The dishes are washed and put away. I also did the laundry and folded everything. I'll vacuum next time. I didn't want to disturb the 'Allison sisters'."

Mrs. Young looked around. She was actually a little bewildered. Everything was spotless, neatly arranged and organized. She even needed to sew a few things. It was done too. She knew all of those things took time to do. She figured the girls must have been busy the entire time to get everything accomplished, and done so perfectly. She felt a little overwhelmed at everything she viewed.

"You're worth more than I can pay you." Mrs. Young said.

Mrs. Young was aware most babysitters just turned on the TV and snacked from the refrigerator. It was a complaint from some of her friends. It was one of the reasons why she hadn't gotten a babysitter before. It was clear she hit the jackpot.

Cameron brushed it off. She wanted to keep her foot in the door.

"You really don't need to pay us at all." Cameron said. "I enjoy doing this and don't need any pay. It helps me become a better person for doing it. Call us anytime for anything and one of us will come, we have friends too, just like ME, who can always help you with anything. We'll go now. Thank you for allowing us to watch Young Allison. Thank you for watching me dance."

Mrs. Young was all but speechless in Cameron's presence. She knew a truly gifted individual when she spotted one. Cameron was clearly like no other.

Cameron collected Allison and they got ready to leave. She checked on Young Allison one more time before they left.

Mrs. Young watched them leave. She went back to her photo albums. Cameron was so 'special'. She knew the twins must be related to her somehow…. They just looked so identical to Her Allison.

She thought how beautiful Cameron was. Cameron….

Mr. Young disappeared earlier after Cameron looked at him and frowned. He thought he would take his wife out more so the babysitters could come more often. They were 'captivating', especially Cameron…. He wasn't sure where his wife found them, but he wasn't going to complain.

Cameron and Allison were outside and away from the house.

"How did it go?" Allison asked.

Cameron smiled. She was very pleased.

"Everything went according to the plan." Cameron said.

Allison was aware of Cameron's desire to 'take' Young Allison away from her parents originally. It was something she didn't agree with. She didn't want it to become a point of contention.

"Don't forget, these are my parents." Allison said. "They're 'back from the dead' for me. I don't want to 'lose' them again. They're very important to me. To be able to get back a loved one who's been lost, is a very rare opportunity."

Cameron could see Allison 'feared' one possible outcome.

"I won't do anything to endanger them." Cameron said. "I'm trying to give them better protection. I mean better protection for all of them. All four of them."

It was a surprise to Allison. She feared the worst. She didn't think anyone could stop Cameron once her mind was made up. Wait. There was one person who probably could. It was Savannah. She would need to speak with her privately when the opportunity presented itself at the Resistance base.

"You're not just worried about Young Allison?" Allison asked.

Cameron was worried about Claire too. She was a known producer of a beautiful daughter. She was still young, younger than Vanna or Jesse, and only slightly older than Allison. She already thought of future plans for her. She doubted Allison was going to like those. She already laid the ground work for it tonight.

"You have a sibling on the way." Cameron said. "You are going to have a..."

Allison didn't want to know if it was going to be a boy or a girl.

"DON'T tell me yet." Allison interrupted.

Cameron tilted her head slightly. She didn't see a reason to not know what the sex of the baby would be. It wasn't going to change. There was no need to make waves.

"As you wish." Cameron said.

Cameron knew it was good news for John. It was the only thing which really mattered.

There was a lot of potential for the future at the Young residence. Everything John needed now, and for the next twenty five years, was at the Young residence. Well, except for Mr. Young….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Chagrin

Never on the same page
Are we for those we yearn
The end result is the same
We always crash and burn

Some may have looks
They can use for bait
They may get lucky
Even have a date

Some have nothing
There's no way to ever win
Soon they are shattered
Left with nothing but chagrin

Yet we reach out still
The thirst for love is strong
We may be perceived as tainted
Then whatever we do is wrong

What was or might be
Isn't who we are now
Look past our flesh to within
Don't treat us like a sow

Sometimes true love
Can be before our very eyes
We can't recognize it until
Away slowly drifts the prize

Nobody