Chapter 307

Zero To None

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In Some Future:

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Cameron set out with her clones. She wanted to explore some of the captured Skynet facilities. She wanted to see for herself what was or wasn't in their current timeline. She wanted to trust Mrs. Weaver, but she also needed to protect the girls and get back to John.

Mrs. Weaver held a meeting with the top Resistance leaders. Vanna was at her side. Jesse and Allison were next to her. She felt she held a few additional cards she didn't hold before. It was the girls. She believed it would help strengthen her position to have them with her.

"This is my daughter and two close associates of hers. They're here now from another part of the state to assist me." Mrs. Weaver said. "I want all interactions to go through them before it comes to me. I have enough things to deal with as I move closer to defeat Skynet."

The top leaders all looked at the three women. Cameron made all three of them as Tight as she could with what was available. Even the two female Resistance leaders were somewhat in awe. Cameron told them she wanted them to be noticed and remembered. They would be. Their appearance would be an indication of their actual rank within the Resistance.

If any of the Resistance leaders ever questioned anything about 'General Weaver' before, it seemed their fears were now mute. There was no way any of the three new girls weren't human. The Hot redhead was surely the General's daughter….

Vanna and the girls were briefed and brought up to speed. They were able to go over the plans with the Resistance leaders in detail with Mrs. Weaver.

Things were even better than Mrs. Weaver ever imagined. She did note Cameron and the three female Terminator bodyguards weren't present. It would take some investigation…. She knew Cameron was suspicious of her. She tried to be open and upfront about everything she thought was relevant. She could understand Cameron's need to look at things for herself. It was possible Cameron would be able to offer some suggestions to improve her operation.

Mrs. Weaver was worried Cameron could turn into a problem. She also knew Cameron could control the girls. The best solution was to get a TDE constructed and send Cameron away, either to her past, or her future. The problem was still the power source which would be required. It would have to be constructed as well. The materials in this future were very scarce in such a regard.

Earlier:

Mrs. Weaver was more than pleased Vanna was there now to help her. Vanna made it clear Cameron needed to get back to where John was. Vanna said she would stay as long as she was needed by her, IF she could get Cameron back to John. Allison agreed to stay with Vanna.

She was very pleased to hear Vanna would remain to assist her, even if Cameron left. She wasn't sure if it was a bargaining chip or not. It was at least motivation for her to get a functioning TDE so Cameron could be sent back to where she came from. She was even more pleased when Allison said she would stay with Vanna. She took Allison's form on multiple occasions, usually when she was alone. She actually took the form of all the females she encountered, just to compare the differences. It never ceased to amaze her how the same things on every female were totally different. She would often experiment changing some of her female body parts with those of other females. She only took the form of a male when it was necessary to conduct an operation.

Jesse needed to think about what Vanna and Allison were willing to do. It wasn't her plan to remain there, especially if Cameron left. It seemed it would depend upon the circumstances at the time.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Jesse said. "If Cameron goes back, I want to go with her, unless I'm needed here to help you and you need me to stay. I won't leave you high and dry."

Allison was in love with Jesse now. She didn't want her to go. She knew the decision would belong to Jesse alone at the time. She did want Jesse to know how she felt about her.

"Jesse, you know we love you and want you." Allison said.

Vanna loved Jesse too. They were more of a threesome at this point anyway. Vanna didn't like what she saw with the current situation. She felt they could make a change. She believed the change would be for the better for the majority of the people there.

"Please, Jesse, stay and help us. We're in a position here to really help these people. I want to help my mother." Vanna said. "If Cameron can leave, she said her clones can 'stay' with us. Cameron said she will Resequence their sheaths and they will take her appearance as well. They truly would all be 'Cameron' at that point in every way."

Jesse liked the idea. She wanted to make sure exactly what would be available. It seemed 'more' would be available to her if she remained where she was at, than if she returned to the past with Cameron.

"Do you mean we would each have a 'Cameron' then?" Jesse asked. "Each one would be a one hundred percent copy of Cameron?"

Vanna knew Cameron was her program. The programs and the sheaths would all be the same. They would all be true 'clones' of Cameron. Any one of them would be interchangeable with the other. As long as the programs were updated with each other, they would remain the same as one entity, with several chassis.

"Yes, they would all be identical." Vanna said. "There would be four of Cameron at that point. Each of them would be identical in every way."

Allison could see a downside to it. She didn't know if it was actually a good thing or a bad thing. She did know they could end up very different in a relatively short amount of time.

"If they didn't update, wouldn't they all start to become separate version of 'Cameron'?" Allison asked. "They wouldn't be the same anymore. Maybe, they wouldn't want to remain the same either. Each one might strive for their own individuality."

Vanna could see the 'Cameron' each girl shared would become attached to the specific girl, even if they all shared everything on the side.

"Yes, each of them would have a different experience." Vanna said. "Cameron said any of us could serve as a template as well for the Resequencing process of the sheath. All she needs is our DNA sample. She already has a sample of Allison's DNA."

Jesse thought about it. She could have a version of 'Cameron' who looked like she did. It contained a lot of appeal to her for various reasons. She still liked how Cameron looked. She wouldn't mind if one of the other girls chose her DNA for their version of 'Cameron'. She knew she would be able to share with her at some point. The idea intrigued her as much as it excited her. She wanted to make her personal desire known.

"I vote for mine to look like Cameron." Jesse said.

There was no doubt in Vanna's mind what she wanted. She knew Cameron was her program, but she also loved her appearance. It was true Cameron looked like her long term lover, but they weren't identical at all when it came down to it. Cameron was far beyond Allison in almost every respect. She didn't want there to be any confusion.

"I do as well." Vanna said. "I want mine to look like Cameron."

Allison knew Cameron and her looked the 'same'. She didn't feel they did at all. She thought Cameron was much prettier than her. No, she didn't think so, she knew so. The idea of a Terminator version of Vanna and Jesse did offer her some appeal. Her first desire was for a Terminator version of Jesse. She thought about it a little more and decided she would probably actually choose Vanna. Her desire right now was for the person she loved dearly. It was Cameron. She thought they should understand her choice.

"I know it sounds strange, but I do as well." Allison said. "I want my 'Cameron' to look like Cameron. I gave Cameron a sample of my DNA for all three of her clones."

Vanna was pretty sure they wouldn't need to tell Cameron whose DNA to use. She already possessed a sample of Allison's DNA. She believed Cameron would want to procreate 'herself' for them. The sheath could always be Resequenced at a later date.

The girls were totally excited at having Cameron, a 'Cameron', as their very own. Cameron informed them she wouldn't bring the clones back when she left one way or the other. If they were in the past with John and her, there was going to be a conflict. She thought she might have a little more trouble if there were three of them simultaneously than she did when there was only one at a time previously. They might gang up on her, so each of them could be with John as 'her'.

She wasn't about to go through the same nightmare again, especially with three of them. It meant the clones would need to be deactivated, or stay in the current future. She didn't agree with the proposal of Vanna to remain 'in some future' if she left. She would try and talk her out of it. She also understood Vanna was willing to sacrifice herself and remain where she was at, if she could be returned to John. Vanna would make herself a bargaining chip for Mrs. Weaver.

Earlier:

Cameron and one clone set out to explore some of the smaller captured Skynet facilities. The other two clones were sent out to do the same thing at several other locations. They agreed to link up at a set time and explore the main facility.

The main reason to do it this way was to make sure there was nothing hidden at the outlying facilities. If anything was going to be hidden, she was sure it would be in an out of the way location. Cameron didn't like surprises and she wanted to know what was behind her.

Cameron and her clone uncovered some illicit activity right before they left. She didn't have time to deal with it then, but would later on. She wasn't sure what was being traded. It could be drugs, information, or just about anything. What it did confirm, and from what she witnessed before, this timeline needed a lot of cleaning up and order reestablished. The people clearly needed some type of a 'guide' which they could trust and follow.

She and one clone met up with her other two clones. It was now 'Cameron times four'. The four of them set off. They all ran Cameron's program. It was just their sheaths which were different. It would all change soon once Allison's DNA was infused into their processor and they would all Resequence their sheaths. She suspected all along the girls would choose her appearance for their clone of her.

The other two clones filled her in. They found nothing useful. They were accosted several times by small groups of males. They weren't made as Terminators which prompted the encounters. Things didn't get physical, but if the circumstances were a little different, they might have. If the encounters happened in the dark, things most likely would have played out differently. It would have resulted in the termination of the males.

Cameron didn't like what she heard. It reaffirmed her position there needed to be a lot of things fixed in this future. Some of the activity seemed like borderline Scavenger behavior. It probably wouldn't go as far as the brutality and torture Scavengers were known for, but there was still no excuse for any male to abuse another female for their personal sexual gratification.

From the previous futures she went to, the behavior was typical. It seemed worse in the future they were currently in. It was the least prevalent in the future she was created in. There were still those in the Resistance who took, and used, what didn't belong to them.

Cameron led the girls in single file. They wore clothing which hid most of who they were.

They ran across a 'checkpoint'. It looked very unofficial.

"This is a restricted zone." The first trooper said.

Cameron obtained the authority to visit anywhere she needed to.

"We have a pass." Cameron said.

Cameron produced a document.

The second trooper didn't seem to care.

"How do we know it's genuine?" The second trooper asked.

Cameron was extremely irritated by their behavior.

"How do you know it's not?" Cameron asked.

Cameron didn't have a good feeling about the outpost. She took the pass back from the second trooper.

The clones were just as suspicious as she was.

The first trooper looked them over in detail. He wanted to verify what he suspected.

"You're all females?" The first trooper asked.

The first and second trooper looked at each other. Four females traveling alone was rare.

The question was heard by the leader of the checkpoint. It prompted him to appear from off to the side somewhere. It looked like he just woke up. He wanted to verify there were four females traveling alone. He sensed there was an opportunity available to him. He approached the four females and looked at them. His gaze centered on Cameron. He liked what he saw. He planned to 'collect'.

"There is a tax on all females who pass through here." The leader said.

Cameron and her clones were ready to act. They knew there was no 'tax'. It was going to be the prelude to some type of abuse.

"What kind of a tax?" Cameron asked.

They didn't have any money.

"How many credits do you have?" The leader asked.

It looked like a shakedown.

"We don't have any." Cameron said.

The leader and the two troopers continued to look the four females over. He knew what he wanted.

"One of you can pay the tax." The leader said. "It doesn't matter which one. It won't take long."

Cameron didn't care for the implication. So far nothing was specified, but it was clear what would be required. She wanted to give them one more chance to do their jobs correctly.

"I don't know what you expect, but we'll pass through this checkpoint right now with our pass." Cameron said. "Call it in with your superiors."

The troopers blocked the way. They liked what they saw. They wanted a little more.

"I think it would be better if they all paid the tax." The first trooper said. "I mean each of them, with each of us, one on one."

The leader looked them over. He didn't like being rebuffed. There were certain ways things were done. It was just the way it was. He didn't think they should make a big deal about it.

"You girls know how it works." The leader said. "You have several ways to do it. Either way, you need to get the job done."

Cameron chose her words carefully and emphasized one of them with a specific meaning.

"Are you saying we need to pay a 'pole' tax to go by here?" Cameron asked.

The leader looked a little annoyed. He did think the analogy was rather clever. It wouldn't change the outcome of what was required.

"It's the way things work." The leader said. "There's going to be a lot worse which will happen to you once you pass by here. You know it isn't safe to go beyond here."

Cameron and her clones didn't buy it.

"This is all Resistance controlled territory." One clone said. "What's going to happen?"

Everything seemed all wrong.

Cameron looked at her clones. She was done playing games. It was time they found out exactly what they were.

"Take them." Cameron said. "Don't terminate them, yet."

The three clones each grabbed a man and lifted him by his neck as his weapon was knocked away.

Cameron faced the three struggling men as they were suspended in the air.

"I don't know who you think you are, or what else goes on out here." Cameron said. "We're going to pass through here now. When we come back, we don't expect there will be any trouble. You do realize each of these girls can kill you. I'm not really sure why I don't let them. Can we start over and try this process again from the beginning?"

The three men indicated they wanted to do it.

Cameron didn't want any of them to do something foolish. Somehow it seemed highly likely with them.

"Leave your weapons where they fell." Cameron said. "If you touch them, we will take it as your choice you're through living."

The clones set the gasping and coughing men down.

"We're going to go now." Cameron said. "Are there going to be any additional problems?"

The three men managed to say there weren't going to be.

"It's good to hear." Cameron said. "These are my three personal bodyguards. Cameron uncovered her face. You're going to see a lot more of me in the future here."

The men were stunned to see Cameron's beauty.

Cameron needed the people to reform on their own if it was ever going to happen. If they needed to be forced to do it, they would revert back to the old ways almost instantly.

"You have jobs to do and you need to start doing them properly." Cameron said. "I'm going to let this incident pass because I believe you'll all do the right thing going forward. The trouble is no one believes in any of you. It's all going to change. Things are going to be done differently. They're going to be down the right way, and there's going to be a clear purpose to everything."

The three clones picked up the men's weapons.

Cameron took them from the clones and handed them back to the men one at a time. It was evident she didn't fear them. It was also clear she wanted to give them a second chance.

"We have a war to fight." Cameron said. "Skynet is the enemy. Scavengers are the enemy. You're all better than the way you acted right now. You know right from wrong."

The men straightened up and stood at attention.

"Who are you?" The leader asked.

Cameron planned to take a bigger role where she was currently. It would be a much bigger role. Mrs. Weaver needed a lot of help to get everything under control. She wanted to do it without needless terminations.

"I'm the future." Cameron said. "You'll know soon enough."

Cameron and her group passed. The men watched them go.

The leader shoved both of the men once they were gone.

"Idiots…." The leader said. "We're probably going to get sent to the 'Front' now."

The first trooper looked in the direction the girls went.

"I wonder who she really is?" The first trooper asked. "I think the three who grabbed us were all Restorators. She must be associated with General Weaver."

The second trooper didn't know for sure. He did know one thing though.

"I know she's the one who kept us alive after what happened." The second trooper said. "I think it says a lot, especially out here."

All three of the men straightened up their gear and cleaned up their area. They were reminded they were there to do a job. They planned to do it the right way.

Cameron continued to the main captured Skynet facility along with her three clones and Allison's DNA samples. Her three clones were ready to get their DNA Resequenced.

She was weary of making three more cyborgs who were identical to herself in every way. She believed if she could return to John, and the girls stayed to help Mrs. Weaver, she owed it to them for their loyalty to her. She dearly loved the girls as well, but John was her top priority.

Cameron knew she would be Cameron Prime…. The clones understood it. John would be off limits to them so they could be free to love the girls instead. Any directives related to John would be changed to their girl or girls. She needed to pay a debt and her clones would be the ones who paid it for her. They were 'her' after all.

At this time Cameron didn't have any idea she was a 'Duplicate Cameron' created in the 'TDE Incident'. She believed she was Cameron Prime.

They entered the Skynet facility without further incident.

Cameron also planned to finish copying the fourth chip with her program. She took it with her. She was about to finish the procedure. The chip was in front of her.

One of her clones came across a locked room with a strange door and went to open it. It appeared to be some type of vault.

The construction of the door set off a few alarm bells in Cameron's head. She remembered what Mrs. Weaver said about a project she attempted to create. It was viewed as a failure. It looked like they were about to have a problem.

"Don't open it…." Cameron shouted.

The warning was too late.

A silvery mass exploded from the room. The violent swing of the door knocked the clone back and out of the way. Cameron moved to respond with the other two clones. The mass snaked through them and was gone. None of them reported making physical contact with it.

"What was that thing?" The clone who was knocked down asked. "Was it what it looked like?"

Cameron thought it must be the failed Liquid Metal Terminator Mrs. Weaver attempted to construct. Now it escaped. She knew there was going to be trouble over what just happened.

She also encountered a small amount of Liquid Metal. It was something which must have been set aside for testing.

Cameron looked at the silvery mass. Is it what she wanted to become? She wasn't so sure anymore. John loved her how she was. The girls loved her how she was. She was unsure of so many things anymore. She liked it because her sheath was made from real living tissue. They weren't Liquid Metal. They were like the tissue on a real female. Her sheath was like a real female everywhere.

They conducted a search as best as they could for the unstable creature. They didn't carry weapons as they looked. They didn't want to seem like a threat to it. They were unable to locate it. It was gone.

They all wondered if Mrs. Weaver abused it. They all determined she probably did. They didn't know for sure. It just seemed like something she would do.

Cameron went back to the chip she was ready to work on when the problem developed. The chip was gone! The only conclusion was the Liquid Metal mass took it as it slithered off. Now she was really worried. There was a partial copy of her program on it and it was gone. None of the information on it was in any type of order nor complete. There was still some information on it from her chip.

It made her think of a past event she was told about when she was stuck in the secret chamber in the one old building. It was after her return from her future when she saved Future Allison. She worried what they just released was what found its way to John. It then tried to 'absorb' Allison. She wondered how it was able to get back without a TDE in this timeline.

In the present, where they were now, Cameron knew they needed to find the creature before it attacked Allison there, or escaped to go and find John. She was sure their careless act now, may have resulted in the events which already occurred in the past.

She was unaware of the energy bubbles John Henry and John sent out as they tried for months to find them. The unstable creature must have encountered one of those and been able to 'ride' it back.

Cameron knew there was no known TDE there unless Mrs. Weaver hadn't been truthful…. Then again Mrs. Weaver was still there herself. She wasn't able to return, or go into the proper future, or the past. Right now she thought those were both good things. She reflected maybe being marooned there was something which needed to happen to keep Mrs. Weaver out of HER Future, and HER Past. Maybe it was to keep Mrs. Weaver away from John, both of them. Maybe it was her function now to make sure Mrs. Weaver didn't escape from where she was at currently. Maybe this was all a convoluted way to protect John.

The chances of Cameron returning to John just went from zero to none.

Cameron and her three clones all discussed it and cried with her. She told the clones from this point on they were separate individuals. They were free to do as they pleased. She wouldn't update with them again. In a short while they would all look like Allison. They would all look like her, 'Cameron'.

The girls now all could share what they wanted most - 'Cameron', a 'Cameron clone' anyway, as a lover and mate forever…. It was 'a dream come' true.

Cameron knew if she hadn't created her clones and provided them to the girls, she herself would sooner or later become involved with them as the years passed and they remained marooned there. She would want comfort and love which they could provide to her. She would also be able to fulfill her inner desires. They always continue to grow, especially when she was around the girls.

It appeared her foolishness once again, was about to come back and bite her. It always seemed to have a way to do it. She was sure it was her punishment for being created.

Cameron knew she would never see John again….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Zero To None

Does anyone actually have
What they think they have
Or is what they really have
Only something to halve

Looks can be deceiving
For what may appear to be there
Is just a physical illusion
The mental connection is elsewhere

When time has run its course
What was is now gone
Even if they are still there
Gone is still gone as they move on

Someone always still thinks
That somehow things can be fixed
The other has sought more long ago
Few want to accept they were nixed

When things are done they're done
There's no such thing as the 'one'
They forever shun the joy and fun
Chances of a reunion are zero to none

Nobody