Chapter 291

Deal

John wanted to go over the current information with John Henry. It seemed like there should be more Skynet activity than there was. They knew Skynet was out there in some form. There were Terminators and Grays to deal with.

"Are there any new targets for us?" John asked. "Something should happen soon for us to hit."

John didn't think they ever needed to wait too long between operations before a new one developed. It always seemed to be the case.

John Henry knew Cameron tried to hit every new threat on her own first. She wanted everyone protected. She believed it was her responsibility to protect all of those in the Resistance herself. She didn't want John to send others out and have something happen to them. It was something she was criticized for along with Future John.

"Not really, Cameron and her girls have attacked most of the threats. She will invite our Terminators to accompany her on a regular basis." John Henry said. "Cameron has taken the human equation out of it and is running an all Terminator show."

John shook his head. It reminded him of something else. It was something Cameron always told him she feared. It was a fear of his as well. It wasn't too hard to make the connection.

"Just like Skynet." John said.

John Henry felt John failed to understand Cameron wanted to protect all of them. She tried to protect her 'family' and the people she loved and cared for. She tried to correct her mistakes she made in the past, the future. It was where Resistance losses mounted. Now Cameron used Terminators and didn't risk humans. She made copies of all of their programs and could 're-body' them if necessary to live and fight again, even if they were destroyed. Ally spoke with him once about a related issue. Ally was aware she would replace Cameron with her 'spare chip' if Cameron were terminated. Ally hoped Cameron's clone, Cameron II would be ready first so Cameron II could replace Cameron in such an event.

"Apparently, it's probably much the same as what Mrs. Weaver and whatever future she is in is doing too." John Henry said. "I know Cameron wants to go search for her as well as the other set of Duplicates."

It sounded like more bad news to John. It was really just another road to nowhere and Cameron's ultimate destruction. Why couldn't she leave well enough alone? 'Temporal management' was more like 'temporal malpractice' when Cameron was involved. The more she tried to 'fix' things the more she was going to mess things up. It was sheer folly and bound to end in doom.

"I don't want her to go." John said. "I know she doesn't care if she gets stuck, or doesn't come back, or gets terminated. I do care. Cameron can be very reckless with her own existence and the feelings of others, especially those who love her."

John Henry believed Cameron's continual evolution of her programming was responsible. He didn't see any way around it without really messing with who she was on her chip.

"She's indicated it to me as well." John Henry said. "John, you must accept Cameron has grown beyond all of everything here. She's become her own creator of a good version of 'Skynet'. It's only the love she feels for you and the girls she even still comes around here. Her programming has advanced beyond what she once 'was'. It's not done expanding yet either. I think we both know it."

John Henry couldn't prove it, but he would bet Savannah was the only real reason Cameron still came around. Savannah's love and belief in Cameron was stronger than anyone else's, including John's.

John didn't need to look any further than some of Cameron's poems. They pretty much laid out her feelings and beliefs in black and white. The underlying tone of them was eternal hurt and pain but she continued to struggle on. The fact she still did it said something. He wasn't sure what, but it meant something.

"I know, John Henry. I know." John said. "It's the inevitable fate of all relationships. I know I exist only in the 'toleration phase' of our relationship now. I've read Cameron's poems about it. She wrote them years ago predicting what would happen…."

John Henry thought Cameron's belief about reliving her life over again was behind it all. Things must always happen the same way, or nearly the same way. There seemed to be some 'temporal currents' which led to the same places and points in time. Skynet's inability to 'terminate John Connor' was one of them.

"Perhaps it's because she believes they all happened to her before…." John Henry said. "Even if the details are lost to her, everything which happens is a repeat, or déjà vu to her."

John could see the conversation was going nowhere. He wanted some action and to do something on his own. He would take his own team of Terminators with him. He wanted action, not excuses. If Cameron could strike targets, so could he. If she 'left' again, it was what would need to happen anyway. Why not start now? What was the point in sitting around? He could see why Derek and Kyle wanted to stay in the thick of things. They didn't want to lose their edge in combat.

"Find a target for me to strike with Bob and Jim." John said. "I know why Kyle and Derek like to go on operations. I understand now…."

John would feel better in combat and not have to think about Cameron. He knew now it was a mistake to marry Cameron. He also understood why Future John sent Cameron away. To love her, and not to have her, was a living Hell beyond belief. Sometimes he wondered if Future John sent Cameron back to punish him. Maybe Future John did it to punish him, 'John in the past', for the person he became in the future…. Maybe Future John wanted to punish himself.

John Henry was sure John's 'desire' for combat or combat related operations was going to be a problem. At Cameron's base, CamNet would be aware of anything he set up. He could see John was frustrated but things were all going to end up an even bigger problem in the end. It would most likely drive Cameron further away from him. He would do as John requested. John was the General, even if Cameron was the real leader. He could understand why Future John needed to send Cameron away. It was the only way to deal with the 'problem', short of terminating her.

He just couldn't see what Cameron's end game was. Maybe it was the whole point. There probably wasn't one. Since there was no goal for her to achieve, she went off in different directions to search for one. He wasn't sure what Mrs. Weaver's end game was either. He wondered if they would end up fighting at some point. He hoped they wouldn't. He really hoped they could work for a common goal to defeat Skynet. Sometimes it was just too much to think about.

Earlier:

Savannah usually went through the same procedure every day when she woke up. It was her goal to wake up before the alarm went off. She was actually surprised when she didn't. She wondered if it was because her life was so predictable. It was the same thing everyday, day after day. There was little variation or change.

She thought back on how her day started off. She started out the day like any other. She woke up and looked at the alarm. She smiled and turned it off. She beat it by three minutes today. She took care of her personal business. She did some physical training in her room before she went out. Maybe she would go for a run with Sarah or Riley later on.

It seemed to her both Sarah and Riley needed someone to talk to. It was OK because she needed to talk to others as well. She always talked to Vanna about her personal things. She talked to Sarah and Riley about them as well. She didn't think it would hurt to have a different perspective.

Savannah stopped by the commissary and got a quick bite to eat. She always tried to pick a few items which contained a sufficient quantity of protein to get the day started. Meals were never very elaborate or special around the Resistance base. It was just how life was.

Since she didn't spot Sarah or Riley. She decided she could go back and study. There were times when she wondered why she needed to study so much. It seemed she already knew everything. She decided to go the back way to the Command Center. She liked to stay in touch.

The nature of the conversation between John and John Henry bothered her. It always bothered her whenever they would talk about Cameron, or when John wanted to risk himself needlessly. She was ready to step up. There was no reason she couldn't go on the any of the operations in John's place. John was important to the future. It seemed to revolve around him the way events played out. The disaster of the alternate future was proof of it. She didn't like what happened to the other girls, or her, in the alternate future.

When she determined what John was going to do, she slipped out of the Command Center and personally contacted Bob and Jim. She wanted to make sure they were both available. It also crossed her mind she could go with them. She needed some field experience for real. She knew Cameron wanted to go with her when it happened. It seemed Cameron was always distracted. She wondered if maybe she could sneak along in the back of the SUV. She was trained through multiple simulations of many different scenarios. She also worried she might become the weak link in the chain because of her lack of actual experience in the field. She didn't want to be the one who endangered John.

Savannah decided it would be best if she continued with her regular routine. She didn't want to compromise an operation or cause Cameron any additional grief. She returned back to the same old things. It was very mundane and boring. She needed more. She needed some personal interaction. Her desire for it was very strong. She wanted to experiment with more than just herself.

Allison knew she took a big step forward in her life. She hoped it was a forward step anyway. It might not turn out to be. She was pregnant now. She didn't feel any different really. Her mother told her she would start to feel things soon enough. They all happened a little at a time.

Her mother told her 'morning sickness' could happen around six weeks into the pregnancy, but not everyone experienced it. Those who did tended to experience it to different degrees. Her mother told her both times when she was pregnant with her and Summer, it wasn't bad for her. It seemed at the most it was maybe only a few days of sickness for each of them.

Allison figured she would be one of the ones to experience it at its full intensity. She didn't know why she thought it but she did. She often felt she drew the 'short straw' and her pregnancy would be no different.

It seemed Holly scanned her non stop. She knew Holly was as worried as she was. It almost seemed it was more.

Allison took out her phone and looked at it. She wanted to call Vanna. She wanted the support from Vanna. She NEEDED Vanna right now. She felt a little guilty about 'abandoning' Vanna, but she wanted to be with her family. At the same time she knew Vanna couldn't be with her family, they were all still dead. She was sure it was another reason why she felt guilty about Vanna. She could enjoy something Vanna never could. It wasn't her fault about what happened to Vanna's parents.

The emotional attachment was still there and strong. It was the physical aspect which disappeared. It was all very sad to her. She slowly put her phone away and wondered where it all went wrong. It seemed towards the end Vanna didn't really 'see' her anymore, even if she was right there in front of her. Something blocked Vanna's emotional compass. Being with her family gave her the emotional connection she sought, even if it was different in scope and practice.

Allison understood time was always the enemy in the end. It seemed things eventually caught up with someone no matter what they were. Perhaps the cruelest indication of time was death. Everyone's time to die happened at some point. For some people it was earlier than others. Time seemed to ravage every relationship in some way as well. No relationship was the same as time passed as it was when it started, or when it finished. Maybe the real enemy of everything was time. Time always kept ticking. Time waited for Nobody.

Gail was all over Jesse as much as Holly was all over Allison concerning the pregnancy.

Jesse appreciated the concern, but it was to the point of being irritating now.

"Look, love, I know you mean well, but you need to stop scanning me every five minutes." Jesse said. "Nothing is ever different from the last time, is it?"

Gail looked a little taken aback. She was worried about Jesse and the baby.

"No." Gail said.

Jesse was a realist in life. She believed the cards landed where they fell. They didn't often fall in her favor.

"Whatever is going to happen, is going to happen." Jesse said. "It's how life works. We take the punches and keep going."

Based on past events, Jesse didn't know what would happen. She didn't think it would be anything in the long run. She was sure she was pregnant at least half a dozen times over the years, maybe even double that. She didn't really know.

She was exposed to a lot of sex. Most of it wasn't by her choice. There were a lot of men who left their essence inside of her. She experienced a lot of missed periods before. The problem with it was, she didn't know if it was from being pregnant, or lack of food and nutrition. It may have been her body 'shut down' those functions to survive. The beatings probably didn't help her any either. Most likely more than one life was beaten out of her, literally. There was an underlying issue she didn't want to address. She was afraid Skynet 'ruined' her body like so many of the others in the future.

The past, the future, was never a good place for her to dwell. There weren't very many good events to reflect upon. Life itself was a very negative experience. She was only able to steal a few moments of happiness every now and then. There seemed to be very few of those as well. The majority of them were provided by herself. She didn't know how the current events would play out. It seemed like the best course of action would be not to get too engaged. Things were different now. She was sure the current events would catch up to her.

Cameron was very upset with herself for the grief and loss she caused Vanna. She wasn't pleased at the way she made Vanna feel, even if it was indirectly. She was still the one responsible. She spent time with Vanna. She took her places and did things with her. She ran the idea of a Cameron II as an 'Ally program' clone for Vanna. The clone would become her personal protector and 'lover'. It would be what Allison and Jesse shared with Holly and Gail. She was literally with Vanna every minute except when she was asleep. She really monitored Vanna on a regular basis several times an hour. She wanted to 'fix' Vanna and give her back her life. The life she took from Vanna, more than once….

Vanna was a little amazed at what Cameron offered her. It was a dream come true, almost. She wanted to be with Cameron, not just a cyborg who looked like her. She could be with Allison if the appearance was all she wanted. She wanted the real thing. She wanted to make her position and desires clear to Cameron.

"I'll do it if either personality or program can take control over the other." Vanna said. "I want that option."

It was something Cameron worried about. Whenever there were two cyborgs who ran 'her program', they didn't get along at all. It seemed there was always a lot of frustration. Things never tended to end well either. The main issue which seemed to cause the trouble was centered around John. She didn't need any more headaches. There were already enough issues to cause those. She hoped to work around the issue Vanna wanted.

"Do you mean you want her to switch back and forth between Ally and 'me'?" Cameron asked.

Vanna smiled and touched Cameron's cheek. It was exactly what she wanted.

"Yes." Vanna said.

Cameron was afraid she would fight with her clone if her personality and program were able to remain separate in any way. The underlying 'problem' actually bothered her. It all seemed to come back to her. It never left her with a good feeling either.

"It would be better to merge them into one program as Ally has done with Holly and 'Allison' on her chip. It's all one program now." Cameron said. "It will lead to a conflict with myself at some point unless Cameron II goes into the future in search of the Duplicates. I always fight with 'myself'. I must be a total Bitch."

Vanna was willing to take the risk. She would gamble her life to be with 'Cameron'. Cameron was her program, so even a 'copy' of it was still her. It would still be 'Cameron'. She only needed to remind herself her first encounter with Cameron was when she was on John Henry server. It was when 'Cameron' was held captive in a metal box because her chip was elsewhere. She believed it would make her life complete even if it was short. She could at least die happy.

She didn't agree with Cameron's desire to find the other set of Duplicates or her mother. It seemed to her if there were some way for them to return to the present they would. There was also no guarantee any of them still existed. There might not even be a Duplicate set of girls. Her Liquid Metal mother might no longer exist either. She understood life was fleeting. There was no guarantee how long anything would last. It seemed worth the risk to her to be with 'Cameron'.

"I'll accompany her. In reality it will really be you." Vanna said. "I would go into the future, and the unknown, to be with you, Cameron, even your clone. It would be the same. It's your program."

Cameron could feel Vanna's desperation. It was a death sentence if Vanna went into the future with her clone. There was no guarantee anyone would return. None of the second set of Duplicates or Mrs. Weaver was able to return yet. It should have happened years ago. It meant they were all most likely terminated. She needed to talk Vanna down from what was most likely an unachievable goal. She also felt she owed Vanna 'herself'.

"It must become a separate program from Ally and me for what you desire." Cameron said. "The programs can remain separate for a short time…. I will allow it. I OWE it to you."

Vanna wasn't sure if anyone ever owed her anything. She did believe one hand washed the other. With what Cameron indicated, she felt her dream was about to come true. She was ready to move her life forward. It seemed it was stuck in reverse.

"Are you saying…?" Vanna asked.

Vanna and Cameron looked intently at each other. The desire to share burnt deep inside both of them. They'd been so close before. They were so close they could almost - taste it.

"Yes…." Cameron said as she left it open.

Vanna would do whatever Cameron asked of her right now if It could really happen.

"I want that, Cameron. Please do it for me. I need you. I want it to be you." Vanna said.

Cameron felt an obligation which was almost as deep as her love for Vanna. Vanna 'fixed' her. Vanna made her whole. Vanna protected her. Vanna went to 'die' with her. Vanna truly loved her. It was time to make things right and end Vanna's suffering. The very suffering she created for her. It was time to step up to the plate.

"I will protect you as you have done for me." Cameron said. "I will pay my debts…. I will express my love for you."

Vanna was in heaven….

"Thank you, Cameron." Vanna said. "I love you so much."

Cameron appreciated everything about Vanna.

"What name will you choose to call me, my clone?" Cameron asked.

Vanna hadn't thought too far ahead. The actual reality of the situation was all of a sudden. She wondered if Cameron would have a preference. She didn't think whatever name it was, would really matter.

"What are my choices?" Vanna asked.

Cameron quickly thought of a few. She tried to revolve them around her name

"Alliron, Camisson, Cam, Cammy…." Cameron said.

The name Cammy struck a note with Vanna. It was because she heard it so many times from Savannah. She didn't want to overstep on her younger self's private world.

"I like Cammy." Vanna said. "It's a name I already use. Well, Savannah does anyway. I know it's her pet name for you. Cam is also a good choice. I don't want to take away anything from Savannah."

Vanna thought maybe Cam would be a better choice as one day Savannah too would most likely have her own 'Cameron', well, 'Cammy' anyway.

Cameron decided on Cam. It altered all of her plans going forward again. Vanna's well being and life were more important to her right now. Love mattered.

"I'll get back to you tonight on what we can work out." Cameron said and left.

Cameron couldn't help but think about all the trouble she experienced every time there was a program clone of her. Perhaps it was one of the 'tides in time' which events always seemed to return to. It was as if some things were destined to be, and other things were destined not to be. Maybe it was because they were supposed to be done in a certain way. A clone of her for someone other than John or herself might be the solution. Things wouldn't be centered around her. They would be centered around the individual the clone was assigned to. They would still need to be some files firewalled.

Vanna was elated. She felt such a rush of excitement. It's what she wanted from the first time she communicated with Cameron on the server. She didn't tell anyone she pretended Allison was really 'Cameron' for the longest time. In fact, she didn't even remember the last time Allison was actually 'Allison'…. The sad part was she really didn't care. She loved Cameron, she always did. She always resented the fact that because Allison returned to this timeline, it prevented Cameron and her from completing their love for each other…. Vanna was so close all those years ago. So close she could almost - taste it.

She still found everything so hard to believe. Was it about to be reborn? It was certainly a new chapter which was about to unfold. She felt the need to express herself. She looked for her player. She quickly looked through some songs and selected one.

'Devoted To You' by 'The Everly Brothers', is what she played as she dreamed of her own 'Cameron'.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Deal

Not everything may be as it seems
There are many with things to conceal
One can look and see what is presented
It doesn't mean they are actually real

Who one appears to be
May be what holds the appeal
Their own actions and time
Will be the true reveal

What once seemed
To be something ideal
Can often shift and mutate
Into a problem and an ordeal

One may know what they feel
It may even cause one to kneel
One may be filled with glee and zeal
It may turn out to be surreal

What once was thought to heal
Has instead left one to squeal
Love isn't something for one to steal
Nothing in life is ever really a deal

Nobody