Chapter 223

What Now

The Blackhawk brought the HK drone and two deactivated Terminators back to the Resistance base. They were in for a few surprises with what they found out as everything was processed. It would develop later on.

When John Henry reviewed the chips of the two Terminators he was surprised. He discovered Skyshield was actually after Isabel. They apparently wanted to retrieve her. They must have identified her by facial recognition. There was no indication about Allison Young or the Young residence in Palmdale.

The knowledge in itself was troubling. Was Skyshield looking for someone else? How much surveillance did they have set up? John Henry tracked everywhere Isabel went and found the cameras. There was one by a home improvement store. It was near the doctor's office, and one at the mall. He was able to hack into their network. He could control what they observed and when. He could also loop their feeds at any time if they operated in any of those areas again. They at least knew what sections to avoid.

Cameron wanted their system infected, erased, and eliminated. She wanted it used as a weapon against Skyshield. Since they now knew about it, they might be able to use it to their advantage.

John Henry went through all the surveillance footage and traffic cams and erased everything. He'd previously found the connection to a Skyshield server and infected it with a virus which would erase everything. It would also infect and erase any computer system which tried to interact or interface with it.

It was a surprise to all, and a relief, Young Allison hadn't been the target. It was Isabel who was. Maybe it was because Cameron made herself the target. Young Allison was who she was patterned after once she was a teenager. The threat still remained.

Cameron wanted security beefed up around the Young residence. Allison and Holly would stay with the Young family in place of Isabel. Isabel's removal was a sore spot for the Young family. Gail and Sheila would be in the Detail house next door along with Steve and Dan. Al went to reinforce the Reese detail. They weren't going to take any chances.

With the determination the Young Family wasn't the target, it was decided to keep Paul Young out of the loop for now. Claire thought it would be better if he didn't know the 'truth' about everything. It was hard enough for her to accept. She did realize Isabel and Cameron gave her clues all along to make it easier for her to understand and accept. She long suspected something was going on. She was sure Allison and Cameron were directly related to her somehow. Now she knew the story.

She was proud of the woman Allison grew into. Her grown daughter was beautiful. The strange part was, now she was also only a couple of years younger than her. It seemed to be the hardest part to accept. They were more like sisters at this point. There were 'two' of her daughter in her home, and more of her in other futures.

It was really a Future Shock to Claire.

Isabel was recalled to the Resistance base. Allison didn't want her to just disappear. Isabel bid the Young family farewell before she left for Resequencing. Cameron's original plan consisted of Isabel returning to the base without a 'goodbye'. Since Isabel was really 'Cameron', or at least her program clone, she didn't see it as an issue. Allison said it would be hard on Young Allison and Claire to do it unannounced. They would need closure. Mr. Young would want to know what happened to her and why Allison and Holly were now there instead.

Allison knew what it was like in the past, the future, for someone to be there one day and then gone the next. Sometimes they never knew what happened to them. They were just gone. No one knew where they went or what transpired, or why. Sometimes it was someone they knew for years, other times it was a new arrival. It was very unsettling for the ones which were known for some period of time. It was unknown if they were captured by Skynet or fell into the hands of Scavengers. It was especially troublesome when they were females.

Cameron listened to Allison. She could tell Isabel meant a lot to Claire and Young Allison. The revelation made her feel good about herself. It looked like she made a positive impact on someone for once. She didn't realize it was how everyone thought about her.

She was also a little concerned because she became careless. She didn't Resequence Isabel from the beginning because she was intrigued with her appearance. She wanted a new appearance for herself and Isabel offered it to her instantly. They ended up going through several renditions of Isabel until they finally ended up where they were now. It seemed everything to do with Isabel created some type of problem.

Isabel and Cameron returned to the base. She decided to Resequence Isabel at once. Her appearance was now a liability. She was actually glad they Resequenced Sheila to Jesse's appearance.

Cameron took Isabel with her to find John before she was deactivated. Isabel and Cameron tried one last time to have John be with 'Cameron' as Isabel. He refused.

"John, I'm 'Cameron'." Isabel pleaded. "You're my husband. I want to be with you."

As much as John wanted to, he knew it would be a problem. Cameron was right next to Isabel when she pleaded with him. He tried to point out the obvious.

"Look who's next to you." John said. "It's not the same."

John looked at Cameron standing next to Isabel. It was Cameron. She was his wife. It wasn't Isabel. Somehow because there were actually two cyborgs with Cameron's program only made it worse.

The conversation soon broke down and everyone was angry and upset. Cameron didn't like when she didn't get her way. It was apparent any 'Cameron' didn't like it.

Cameron was furious. Isabel was livid.

Isabel even suggested they could both be with him simultaneously. She told him they were both his wife. She knew what John would like to watch. She knew Cameron was up for it, since she was. They would be together with each other first, before they shared with John.

Cameron even asked John to switch her chip into Isabel's chassis so she could try it out. She wanted to know what it was like to be someone different and be with John. She believed the difference in the detail between Isabel's sheath and her sheath would produce a different physical result when she shared with John. It was based on Isabel's solo experiences with herself. They were different from her readings of her solo experiences.

John really wanted to be with Cameron in Isabel's chassis. He was sure it would cause some kind of a problem going forward. If Cameron liked Isabel's chassis better when they shared, she might not want to return to her original chassis. He was sure it was a can of worms no matter how he looked at it.

The idea of both of them together first was even more appealing. His biggest worry about it was Cameron might decide she liked being with a female better than with him. He knew the girls were all more than willing to accommodate her. He was aware they would rather share with her instead of him if they were given a choice.

Being rejected 'again' made Isabel ask Cameron to speed up her termination. She wanted her chip erased immediately.

Cameron talked to Vanna about what she wanted done. She consolidated her information from Isabel's chip and Isabel was deactivated awaiting the Resequencing procedure.

Isabel's last words to Cameron were to erase her chip and never reactivate her again. She told Cameron if she ever made a clone again, everything related to John on a personal level needed to be removed or firewalled. The clone of her, or her program, should be for operations only and not as her duplicate. She also mentioned, even as upset as she was, Cameron should appreciate John's loyalty and devotion to her specifically.

Cameron tilted her head slightly with the last part of Isabel's statement. Even as much as it irritated her John wouldn't do as she asked him, and even told him, she was still very pleased inside he didn't. He made a mistake once, it was a big one too, he hadn't made one since then.

He even was able to resist the human females she pushed on him on multiple occasions. She did notice the way Claire responded to him. It gave her a few ideas for going forward. She still believed her Ace was Savannah. It was only a matter of time. She would need to stop by Savannah's room and look at her wedding dress when Savannah was there. It would be another reminder to Savannah of her future duties and obligation to the future.

Cameron returned to the Young Residence in a few days. There were some things she needed to take care of at the Resistance base and elsewhere.

Claire was very pleased to see Cameron. She looked Cameron over. She was impressed. A human female would have been scarred for life. Cameron looked perfect.

"Your face is healed and you look more beautiful than ever." Claire said.

Cameron was pleased to hear it.

"Thank You. I don't like when my face is damaged. I don't like John to see me damaged." Cameron said.

Cameron didn't want John to reject her because her appearance wasn't up to his standards. She knew her appearance was very important to him. Because it was important to him, it was important to her.

To Claire it was clear Cameron cared deeply for her husband. It wasn't a 'job' to her, even if it was a job. There was more to it on a very personal level.

"You really love him, don't you?" Claire asked.

Cameron smiled. There were deeper issues too.

"Yes, I couldn't function without him." Cameron said. "I hope you understand the importance of the protection which is needed for Allison and Young Allison. Protecting them protects the future. John will need a human female at his side going forward."

Claire wanted her daughters protected. She understood there was a real threat out there. It was a threat which could rear its head at any time. It could even come from the future as it did for John and his mother.

"I do. I've learned so much from Allison. It's really something to see her so pretty and as a woman." Claire said. "It's all still so hard to believe."

Cameron wanted to stress Allison's beauty was her own. She was patterned after Allison. It wasn't the other way around. Allison's beauty was genetic.

"Her beauty is all natural." Cameron said. "She gets it from you."

Claire's complexion blushed a little. She liked to hear Cameron thought she was pretty. There were some of the other things she learned too which were a surprise to her. It was for more than one reason. She didn't know if she should mention it to Cameron or not. She hadn't mentioned it to Allison.

"Previously I was surprised to learn she has a female companion. I always thought Vanna, with her red hair, was beautiful. I really like her. Allison told me Vanna is the future version of Savannah. I must say Savannah is turning into a real beauty like Vanna is." Claire said. "This is all so hard to grasp and to accept as reality. I have seen it all with my own eyes. I have to believe it. It's all such a Future Shock."

Claire didn't mention she found Vanna to be highly desirable. There was something about her appearance which excited and intrigued her every time she saw her. She was a little dismayed to know her daughter and Vanna were lovers. It put Vanna out of bounds. She knew she needed to keep her distance for more than one reason and not tell anyone or ever say anything.

Cameron wanted to lay out the game plan.

"The future is a shock to everyone." Cameron said. "Holly and Allison will be with you and Young Allison twenty four hours a day. Sheila and Gail will accompany you whenever you go out. They are only seconds away as we speak. Two male Terma - associates will shadow you as well. I'll be here often and bring Vanna sometimes so Allison and her may 'share' with each other. It's important they keep their relationship healthy and vibrant."

Claire understood what it meant. She really liked Vanna a lot. She was grateful to Vanna how she watched over Allison in the past, the future. They saved each other's lives on more than one occasion. Allison said she couldn't talk about all of the details as to what was involved, but she wanted her to know what Vanna did for her and meant to her. She really wondered where things would go next.

"Will Allison be with John in the future?" Claire asked.

It was Cameron's plan. She didn't think now was the time to point out Young Allison would be as well and Young Allison was the proper 'Allison' in this timeline. Allison, Vanna, and Jesse were just place holders for her for John. She wanted John to have human female companionship until Savannah and Young Allison were ready. Being 'ready' to Cameron meant being able to reproduce. Age was just a number to her. She would find out later it caused a lot of flack for everyone else.

"Yes." Cameron said. "It will be Vanna as well, and hopefully Jesse will be too. I want all three of them to be with him."

Claire understood Vanna's true nature from Allison. She didn't think Cameron should push anyone in a direction they might not want to go. It was what her parents did to her. She was happy with what was produced with the relationship, she was always dissatisfied with the relationship itself. It wasn't what she wanted. It was what her parents forced her to do to 'straighten her out'. It seemed to her like Cameron forgot someone, herself.

"What about you?" Claire asked.

Cameron didn't want to get into it. She stated the most likely scenario.

"I will most likely be terminated." Cameron said. "I don't 'belong'. I'm an aberration to the timeline. I've disrupted the 'Natural Order'."

Claire could see the tears form in Cameron's eyes and then stream down her cheeks.

"Oh, Cameron…." Claire said as emotion gripped her.

Claire came to comfort her. She loved Cameron too. She did notice something which she wondered about. She touched Cameron before. Now she hugged her deeply the same way she did with Allison. Everything about them felt identical when they were in her arms. The way she saw Cameron respond wasn't too different from the way she saw Allison respond either, especially to traumatic events. Cameron really seemed like a human female to her in every way.

Everyone loved Cameron except Cameron.

Previously they captured four HK drones from an assembly line which was in the process of being set up. John Henry led the procedure to rework them to best suit the needs of the Resistance. They also wanted to make sure they wouldn't fall back under Skynet control. Everything was redone to remove Skynet from their systems or any type of future control.

John was displeased with their encounter with another HK drone. He wanted to have a Resistance drone response of their own. He checked in with John Henry about the progress of the program. He felt it should be moving along quicker.

John Henry was pleased he could give John some positive information.

"I have one of the drones we captured ready for testing." John Henry said.

John wanted it taken care of as a priority. He wondered what all would be involved.

"I want it done ASAP. I want some air power. Will you download some of your program into them?" John asked. "Is there some other type of program necessary?"

John Henry wanted to increase the drone's capability to operate autonomously when not under their direct control. There would be times when they might not be able to contact the drone and it would still need to perform its function. It was much the same way the drones operated as HK drones under Skynet control.

"Yes." John Henry said. "There will be some from me for a conventional response. There will also be some from Cameron for unconventional responses. She's better at it than I am. Mine will be strategic and textbook. Cameron's will be tactical, fluid, and organic."

John wasn't sure which one was the better approach. It seemed Cameron's approach would provide greater flexibility. He didn't think it would hurt to have the programming from either one of them available to the drones.

"What will the armament be?" John asked.

In the future, the drones would have a plasma cannon. They decided to use conventional weapons designs to start out with.

"There will be a flexible minigun with Coltan projectiles, two small air to air missiles, and two small guided air to surface missiles. Our drones aren't very big." John Henry said. "The missiles are small but will be effective. The standard Skynet armament was all based on ground attack. The air to air capability will give us an advantage if we encounter an HK drone."

John was satisfied with the progress. Now there was the latest round from the encounter in the High Desert to deal with.

"What about the HK drone we brought from Palmdale and the two Terminators?" John asked.

John Henry figured he was about to give John a surprise on the update.

"The two male Terminators are being repaired and reprogrammed." John Henry said. "There was a female Terminator pilot we discovered as well in the wreckage of the larger drone Bob brought down with the Stinger. She is severely damaged and may not be repairable. We were unaware she was in the wreckage of the drone until we started to process it. We will harvest the Coltan from her endoskeleton if the damage is too great."

John Henry was sure Cameron would harvest at least some of the female Terminator's sheath if she proved to be un-repairable. He didn't bother to mention it to John.

John was a little concerned about the HK Drone itself. It was the third Skynet, or Skyshield, HK drone they encountered which could hold a pilot, or occupant of some type. Cameron told him it wasn't something which was used in her future or the alternate future he was in.

John wondered about the crude unfinished drone which could take a pilot they encountered in the mountain hangar. It was where they captured the female Terminator with Asian features.

"Do you think the female Terminator who became Sheila was the pilot for the drone we destroyed in the mountains near Keene by Tehachapi?" John asked. "Are they using female Terminators because they're smaller?"

John Henry tilted his head slightly. It's possible the female Terminator with the Asian features was going to be the pilot for the manned HK drone they were working on.

"Your assessment is most likely. I think they used female Terminators because they are somewhat diminutive. The manned drones associated with Skyshield need a lot of work." John Henry said. "I don't see them getting any military contract soon with such a poor level of quality. I plan on having our four drones combat ready soon. It will be after we finish the testing of the first one. The other three will be patterned after the first one."

John liked the fact they made improvements and upgrades to their drones. He was still intrigued with the idea of a manned drone. It could be flown as a regular drone, or under the control of a pilot. He wouldn't mind trying to fly one. Most likely Cameron would have a fit.

Claire comforted Cameron. She could feel her pain and hurt. How could Cameron be a 'machine'? She seemed as emotionally fragile as any female. She hurt 'inside' for all the same reasons.

Previously Allison mentioned Cameron created a Poem Book she should read.

"When you read it, Mom., you'll feel it." Allison said. "You'll never see Cameron as anything but another girl."

Claire felt that way already. She watched Cameron dance, learn instantly, adapt, and improve. She watched her help Young Allison. She was able to teach her things. They often were advanced things too. The love, caring, and sharing Cameron gave out was tremendous.

She knew from the start Cameron and Isabel were special. It turned out Isabel was 'Cameron'. She could tell the other female cyborgs weren't as advanced. It was clear they were still learning and improving. Holly was the next most advanced. She was sure it was why Holly was inside of her house now. Gail and Sheila were next door.

There was one thing Claire thought was terrible. She was very upset Isabel was deactivated and was no more. Her existence was ended, it was like lights on, lights off. She was 'dead' as far as they saw it. She developed strong feelings for her. Cameron explained she contained all of Isabel's information. She told her they were 'one' again.

"Isabel was me and I was her." Cameron said.

Claire realized she was in love with Cameron, and Isabel because she was 'Cameron'.

She thought Holly was wonderful too. She was a little shocked to see Allison kiss Holly once as she walked into the room. Once they were spotted, they both stood and faced her. Allison took Holly's hand and looked at her. A message was clearly sent. She understood it and everything it 'said' silently. Allison gave Holly another quick kiss in front of her. Allison wasn't ashamed of her love for Holly and wanted her to know. No words or explanations were necessary. She realized Holly would protect Allison at all costs to herself. It made her smile. She saw how a 'machine' like Cameron, could love as well. She knew Cameron would protect all of her daughters, no matter what the future wrought. Holly was proof of it.

It was all still so hard for Claire to fathom.

What was next? What now?

It was all really more than a Future Shock.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

What Now

Most of the time it seems
No matter which way we get turned
Someone gets bumped into
Or another bridge is burned

Blindly through daily life
Like a bulldozer we plow
We cringe and we wait
For the next one to disavow

We always reach out
We wait for a hand returned
Often it is rejected
Once again we are spurned

We always hope in the end
That it all works out somehow
Since little ever changes
Does it make a difference anyhow

The affectionate touch of another
Is meaningless if it isn't earned
It's a lesson often forgotten
It always needs to be relearned

Is there one we can wow
What will or won't they allow
Before another we must bow
We always soon ask again, what now

Nobody