Chapter 289

Get Back

Cameron needed to work on several problems and issues. It was time to get the ball rolling. None of it got done thinking about it. She knew what she wanted. She knew the people who were needed to help her achieve her goals. Everyone needed to perform THEIR function as did she. It was time for everyone to step up to the plate.

She met with Jesse and Vanna. Gail approached her as well. She discussed her plans with Gail and the girls and left. Everyone was ready for more.

Cameron met with John. It looked like he was on his way back from the Command Center. They entered the room, which she only saw as 'John's room'. They stripped each other. John fondled her a lot. It seemed to excite him so she allowed it. It actually sort of irritated her. The mating process itself seemed more like an 'attack' on the female body to her in reality. Once they started to kiss she was able to get a little more into it.

She 'started up' John. He wanted her to keep going until he finished. She got little in return out of the procedure. Normally she would do it to please him, but not today. She wanted a little more and she wanted his essence where it belonged. She tried to participate as much as possible on this occasion. It was different this time because there was a purpose. She didn't run her programming. She just tried to be 'herself'. John really seemed to enjoy her this way. They spent a few hours together.

Cameron felt new motivation this time. It was to be a special sharing event for her. She made sure John was satisfied multiple times. She would always start him up and mount him, or was on her knees. In the latter position, she needed to remind him to use the proper receptacle twice. She told him he could use the other one next time. She gave up reminding him there were no pleasure receptors there. He never listened. She really wondered if she shouldn't borrow a male chassis so she could reciprocate in the same manner. Maybe John would listen then, maybe he wouldn't. She wondered what would happen if he liked a male chassis better. She decided she better not chance it.

She stayed with John until he could perform no more. He was like a wet noodle at this point no matter what she did. He seemed very satisfied. She was too. They were both satisfied for different reasons. He fell asleep. She dressed and departed after a stop in the bathroom. She carried a small vessel.

Cameron met with Gail again before she went out with Sarah and Kyle. Gail and her exchanged a long silent look. She handed Gail the vessel. Gail thanked her. She kissed Gail on the cheek and she thanked her…. Things may be about to change.

Later on, Cameron and her Metal girls conducted a raid against a new drug operation. They were able to nip it in the bud before it could get any type of foothold. It was somewhat discouraging to know every time they took down an operation, there was always another one to spring back up in its place. It seemed as if humans possessed a death wish to pump illegal substances into their bodies. No wonder Skynet was so willing use drug operations to raise funds to get itself established.

She scored a bounty of weapons and equipment, as well as hoards of cash.

Sheila was a little upset they didn't take down any sex traffickers. She was told to put her knife away.

The next evening she went out with Kyle and Derek against another Gray target.

Derek and Kyle were both thrilled to be out with Cameron. They knew from the start it wouldn't be a recon. It was to be a hit.

"We really appreciate this opportunity." Derek said.

Cameron was aware they usually pushed their recons into hits.

"I know it's nothing new." Cameron said.

Kyle knew what she meant.

"There's always one or more Terminators with us." Kyle said. "We only act if the opportunity presents itself. We're already there if it happens, so we just take care of it."

Derek was a little defensive as well.

"We always follow the instructions from the Terminators with us." Derek said. "It's exactly what we're going to do with you. You tell us what to do, or when to back off, and it will happen instantly. We never look to cause a problem, but we don't back away from a fight."

Cameron knew firsthand how good Derek and Kyle were in the field. She went over the reports of all the recons they went on

"I trust your judgment." Cameron said. "As long as I don't need to answer to Sarah or Riley, I don't have a problem with it. I think you both know it, or it wouldn't be happening."

Derek and Kyle glanced at each other. They did know it. They also appreciated it.

"We try to do our best." Derek said. "We know it's what you do as well. Thank you."

Kyle nodded.

"You're the best, Cameron." Kyle said. "You always make sure our families, and everyone, are protected. We believe your hard work and effort should be commended. I know sometimes there are those who may butt heads with you, but they know you're doing the right thing and keeping everyone safe as you do it. Thank you."

Cameron felt a sense of elation. It wasn't often when she heard someone express gratitude and appreciation for her efforts. She knew Kyle referred to John about butting heads. She knew they all butted heads at some point with those closest to them.

"Thank you." Cameron said. "Let's go over all the intel and we can get started. I have satellite maps of everything in both the day time and night time. If everything works out as well, maybe we can do a little more than take down one Gray."

Derek and Kyle understood what Cameron meant. It sounded like they were going to hit a target in addition to the Gray. They looked at all the information and listened intently as Cameron explained everything.

The three of them made their way to the carpool after they were done with the briefing. Kyle and Derek checked over the SUV and made sure it was fully stocked. It was. They all put on their protective vests. They wanted to be ready when they arrived at the target location.

Cameron climbed in behind the wheel of the SUV and started it.

"One of you can ride in the front on the way there. They can ride 'shotgun'." Cameron said. "The other one can ride in the front on the way back. I like everyone to be treated fairly."

Cameron thought back to the time when Sarah picked them up from school and John called 'shotgun' to ride in the front. She didn't understand the saying and thought they were talking about weapons and called 'nine millimeter'. She wished they would have explained it to her then. There were a lot of things she didn't know. There still were a lot of things she didn't know.

They left the Resistance base and soon arrived at the location of the future Gray. They could see the light was on inside of the house. It went off in one room and turned on in another room as they watched.

"The lights are on, so someone is home." Cameron said. "Let's do it."

Cameron got out of the SUV and started to walk towards the front door.

Derek wondered if they should check anything else since they just arrived.

"Are we going straight in?" Derek asked.

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"Of course we are." Cameron said.

Kyle thought they should verify the target first.

"What if it's not them, and it's someone else?" Kyle asked.

Cameron didn't care for collaborators, even if they didn't know they were a collaborator.

"I'll open the door 'Terminator Style'." Cameron said. "I'll let you two handle it from there. You already saw photos of the target. It's not a female."

Derek knew Cameron referred to him because he expressed reservations about killing unarmed females. He needed to remind himself if he did, he would be saving hundreds of lives in the future by eliminating the Gray now, even before they knew about Skynet or what a Gray was. It was usually an offense they hadn't even thought of. For some of them it was what they did think about and they were able to carry it to fruition under Skynet.

"It's our duty to protect the future." Derek said. "I know what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. I'll take the lead on this one."

Cameron knew he would do his duty when the time arose. Gender wouldn't be the issue. The crimes committed against other humans would be.

"Follow me." Cameron said.

Cameron walked right up to the front door and slammed it open. Derek and Kyle were right behind her.

Derek moved past Cameron and headed for the room with the light on. It was a bathroom.

Cameron was right behind him.

Kyle went to check the other side of the house. It would be the living room and kitchen area.

The bathroom door opened and a man looked out. It was the target.

Derek fired one round from his M9. The target disappeared back inside the bathroom. He glanced inside to verify no one else was in the bathroom. He moved towards the closest bedroom.

Cameron went past Derek to check the other bedroom.

They all called 'clear' from their respective areas. The target was down and the location was secure.

"Do you want me to torch the place?" Derek asked.

Cameron reached into her pack. She took out some plastic bags with a white substance in them.

"I'm going to leave these here." Cameron said. "It will look like another drug related crime. The police don't even investigate them anymore."

Cameron reached down and picked up the ejected shell casing from the floor.

"Let's go." Cameron said. "We've already been here for twenty-three seconds."

They made their way out of the house and down the street back to the SUV. The entire operation from start to finish was fifty-four seconds.

They made their way to the secondary target. It was a machine shop which showed up in some paperwork from a previous Skynet facility they took down. It had been under surveillance for several weeks. Nothing new developed. It still posed a threat to be used again. They disabled the alarm and did a quick search of the building. Cameron detected Coltan shavings near a lathe and a drill press. No additional Coltan was found. They dumped out several cans of chemicals around inside the interior. The chemicals were highly flammable.

Kyle and Derek each tossed a Thermite grenade into the work area as they exited out through the office area. When they exploded, they ignited the chemicals. By the time they reached the SUV, the building was totally engulfed. There would be no emergency response thanks to John Henry. The building and the equipment inside of it would be a total loss.

Cameron was satisfied everything went off without a problem. She knew it would be a low risk operation, but it never hurt to have a Terminator with the humans.

Derek and Kyle were pleased to stay in the action and not go soft. They asked to go with her soon and do it again.

Cameron expected the next outing with Derek to be a social one along with Riley.

The night after the last raid, Cameron went out with Derek and Riley and shared a good time with them. They were both happy to spend time with her.

Riley especially enjoyed any time with Cameron, even if Derek was along. She really thought Cameron was the greatest.

They all could see Cameron was so different when she was away from Skynet related operations. She really seemed like any other person. She was more human like than the humans were.

Cameron wanted to give John a surprise in the morning.

The next morning John woke up to find Cameron next to him in bed, naked. It indicated what was to follow.

"I'm surprised to see you here again so soon." John said.

Cameron was turned off by his statement right from the start. She was there for a different reason, otherwise she would have collected her clothes and walked out of the room naked. She would have dressed in the hall or in one of the girl's rooms. Similar events occurred more than a few times. She did it to avoid the fight which was sure to follow. She tried to remain calm.

"I'm full of surprises and unpredictable." Cameron stated. "I'm here now so let's make the most of it."

John wondered what was up and how long Cameron would be gone for the next time. He figured he'd better take advantage of the bounty of booty. It didn't happen very often.

"There's nothing like a spontaneous love making session." John said. "It sure beats 'Rosie Palm'."

Cameron didn't like his tone. The mood immediately soured more. What did it make her in his eyes? Now when John touched her, she would just lie there and let her mind run other calculations as he savaged her sheath. When he was done, she would wordless leave. She would let John have what he wanted. She wouldn't be a part of it as a participant, but only as a 'recipient'. Once again, John made her feel she was good for little else…. It wasn't a good feeling. She tried to keep it together.

"We're ALL here to protect the future from Skynet and try to save a few billion lives while we're at it. I know everyone loses sight of the goal from time to time." Cameron said. "I know I've gone to extreme measures to achieve the goal sometimes."

Cameron really wondered if John thought her only function was to provide him with the use of her chassis like some 'silicone love doll'. There was a war to fight.

John felt his next words might make the difference between Cameron using some caution or following some reckless endeavor.

"I'd say so." John said. "I don't like it but, I do understand. I know this is about more than you and me, I get it."

Cameron felt justified in her actions to do whatever was necessary to fight Skynet. She didn't need any 'second guessing' or speculation on how something could have been done differently. She was the one on the ground and in the fight. She was the one who took the risks to keep all of the others as safe as possible. Shouldn't it matter to them?

"John, please try to understand I do what I can and I'm always trying to protect you and the future." Cameron said. "It would seem because I have apparently done this before, I must know a little about what I'm doing, even if it doesn't seem like it. I apologize for all my errors and shortcomings."

She wondered if she did it enough times, if she would ever be 'good enough'. Somehow she doubted it. She would really like to know if she was reliving her life over and over.

John thought what Cameron said was new. Cameron didn't offer much in the way of apologies. It made him feel a little 'bad'. She was the one on the front line. She was the one who took most of the damage. She was the one who was always out on her own.

"Cameron, stop." John said. "I get it. I don't like it, but I get it."

Cameron was tired of it all too. The war was destroying their relationship. She did want to be with John, but the setting there and now wasn't right. If they were out of the war with Skynet, things could be different. They could be better.

"John, we can go into the past fifty or a hundred years ago and try to live a normal life as husband and wife - only." Cameron said. "My TDE is functional and only Sheila is allowed to touch it. I'm ready to walk away from all this if you want to do it with me. None of this will matter. We will be a couple in love. We will be free from our past and our future."

John really needed to think about what Cameron just said. She was serious. She offered him a way out and they wouldn't be under the eye or scrutiny of anyone. Could he really leave everyone behind to just be with Cameron? It was sort of what he did when he went after her chip into the future. He left it all behind to try and get 'Cameron' back, even if it was just her chip. He felt pretty guilty right now about a lot of things….

"So you really do love me?" John asked.

Cameron smiled at him.

"I love you, John, and you love me." Cameron said.

John loved to hear those words and know Cameron meant them. He would need to think about what Cameron offered earlier. Could he do it and turn the war over to this mother, father, and uncle? Would his happiness lead to their terminations in his place? It was a heavy trip to contemplate. He figured he better stick to the present.

"I love you, Cameron, and you love me." John replied.

It pleased Cameron to hear John say it. She decided to be with John as herself and share who she truly was. The very thought of being able to go back in time and just live a life with John as her husband excited her. Now she would give John a little programming with the love making. She wanted to make John happy. She now felt aroused and very excited. It would make tomorrow even more special…. It would make the creation of life, out of an act of love.

Cameron tried her hardest to please John. She did everything the way he liked it and he 'delivered' where she wanted him too. It was a special time for both of them.

"It can be like this every day in the past." Cameron said. "It will be us alone and together, all of the day and all of the night. We can be together as much as you want and as you desire."

It was really something John needed to think about. He also picked up on the reference to the song by the Kinks.

Cameron started John up again and climbed up on top. She rode him hard. Even when he finished, she stayed with it and increased her intensity. She could see how it drove him crazy. The thought alone made her finish.

John was sure he would be insane before the day was done if Cameron kept it up. Maybe the intensity would kill him.

'What a way to go….' John thought.

He was aware there certainly were a lot worse ways to go out.

Later on Cameron drove to Palmdale. She called Holly before she left and went over everything again with her. Holly and Allison were good and everything was fine at the Young residence. She was pleased to hear it and looked forward to seeing Young Allison and Summer, as well as Claire.

It seemed Claire was a 'happy person'. She didn't find too many people who always acted the same way. She was around even fewer of them. Maybe Savannah was the only one she was around at the base who was 'happy'. She knew the future and the past weighed on all of the rest of the others. Claire made her feel good inside and she became quite fond of her. She knew Claire was attracted to her. Then again, who wasn't? She did think of one who wasn't - Nobody.

On her drive to Palmdale, Cameron reflected on her earlier conversation with Vanna. She was highly disturbed and agitated by it. She was unsure what to do and Vanna was very unhappy. Vanna's future well being seemed to be in question.

Vanna looked at Cameron with complete seriousness.

"Cameron, I want to go into the future with you when you go to look for the other Duplicates and my mother." Vanna said. "I know the risks and accept them."

Cameron knew right away what Vanna 'said'. She was willing to perish in the unknown, rather than live her life 'here and now'.

"Your place is here to protect the future." Cameron said.

Vanna believed Cameron could understand exactly where she came from with her next statement. She thought about it before she said it.

"Cameron, I'm lonely…." Vanna said. "The life here is 'not good enough' for me anymore. I'm ready for the finish. I would like it to be honorable."

The 'not good enough' words struck Cameron like a blow. It was a terrible feeling. Vanna just really said she wanted to die without saying it. She wanted her death to count for something if possible. It was a feeling she knew well. She'd experienced it enough on her own. Maybe there was something else she could 'offer' Vanna. Maybe she needed what Jesse and Allison shared everyday.

"I can have Ally, Hanna, or Sheila here to make you feel 'less alone'." Cameron said. "Do you have a preference?"

Vanna thought about asking for all three. She wondered what Cameron would do. She quickly realized Cameron would agree. It still wasn't what she wanted. She wanted something more. She wanted the forbidden fruit.

"I do have a preference." Vanna said as she looked at her. "It's the one you didn't mention…."

Cameron knew right away what she wanted. It was no surprise really. It was what Vanna always wanted from their first conversation when she was stuck in a metal box. Vanna wanted her.

"It's me." Cameron said.

Vanna kept track of what happened at the base. She tried to keep track of what happened at Cameron's base as well. Whenever the Metal girls were around, she always tried to get whatever information she could. there was a way to make it happen without Cameron needing to compromise herself directly.

"I know you have a clone ready to go. I want her." Vanna said. "I need YOU. I need her. It's the only way it's ever going to happen. We both know it."

Cameron looked at her for a long time. She could see how desperate Vanna looked. She was on the edge right now. If this conversation didn't end well, it wouldn't end well for Vanna.

Vanna was desperate.

"PLEASE." Vanna begged. "You know we BOTH want it. I NEED this, Cameron, PLEASE."

Vanna's woods cut into her deeply. They cut even deeper when she heard them again.

"I don't know…." Cameron said. "There could be problems and complications."

Vanna moved up and took her arm. She was sure there was a way around it which wouldn't raise too many eyebrows.

"You can say it's Ally…." Vanna whispered. "Nobody will know…."

Cameron didn't plan for things to go forward like this. It was a new kink. It wasn't something she planned on or factored into her desires. The desperation of Vanna kept grinding into her. She would try to convince Vanna there could be other ways to get around the problem.

"Cameron II hasn't been activated." Cameron said. "I have other plans for her…."

Vanna saw there was still a way to make it all happen. It didn't need to happen in the current timeline.

"Send her to the future and I'll go with you, with her." Vanna said. "It's what I want. You stay here where you belong with John. I know we won't be coming back…. Savannah will continue to age and take her rightful place in the future, here. You KNOW it will be Savannah and not me at John's side. She has your wedding dress. You know it's her and she's the one. You've always known it was her…. Savannah is the 'Chosen One', not me."

The gravity of what Vanna wanted was too much for Cameron. It was a death sentence for her. A glitch impulse shot through her hand.

"I will not kill you again. I got you killed once." Cameron said. "It's a one way ticket. I can't endanger you. I can't do it to you again. I refuse to do it."

The look on Vanna's face said it all. She was on the ropes and finished. Her body was still alive, but her mind was almost gone. She could tell Vanna thought about dying. Her request was a form of 'suicide' without actually taking her own life. It was a way to die with some dignity. It was surely a doomed mission into 'some future' and the unknown. It was a journey for her to take, not anyone else. It was her folly which created the situation. She already rectified half of it. She was responsible to rectify the other half of it. She doubted it was possible, but she still needed to try.

Vanna wanted to set Cameron straight. She watched her act on her own numerous times. She helped repair her damage over and over. It was time to share the burden, even if it was the final burden.

"But you can endanger yourself?" Vanna asked. "What about the rest of us? I've been loyal to you and served you always. I've loved you from the first time we 'met'. You know I can't get pregnant. My Duplicate tried and failed. I'm damaged…. I know what you feel…. I feel worthless too. Cameron, you owe it to me…. PLEASE. I love you, Cameron. I love you."

Vanna's words cut her the bone, or actually to her Coltan laced hyper alloy chassis. She was very aware of the place Vanna was at right now and it wasn't a good place. There were few positive or productive choices made at that point.

"I'll think about it." Cameron said and walked off.

Vanna was always there for Cameron from the start, her love and devotion never wavered…. Vanna was the first person to be her friend and love for who she was and for WHAT she was, a machine. It all counted for something. It was love which mattered….

'Get Back' by 'The Beatles', echoed through the empty room.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Get Back

Daily life goes on as always
Sometimes it fades to black
Why must every moment
Seem like it's an attack

Each new challenge
Turns into a drawback
When is one given a break
When is one cut some slack

Do moments of happiness exist
In only a fleeting flashback
Maybe to question the norm
Leaves one feeling like a quack

Perhaps the reality of love itself
Is something one can only hijack
For surely in the end like always
It will dictate some type of payback

The mind may buckle and split
The heart will wither and crack
Words of love seem like a hack
No one wants to hear another yak

One can take life's blows
Absorb the endless forms of flak
Maybe things are easier with a full rack
Everything else is only a setback

Does one forge boldly ahead
Or only retreat and fallback
Maybe everyone is only a snack
When one gives, what do they ever get back

Nobody