Chapter 309

More Ways Than One

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Cameron Prime Timeline:

Events Pick up From Chapter 305

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Jesse said her 'goodbyes' to everyone in Australia. It was an experience a million times better than she ever imagined. Everything Cameron arranged for her family, Young Jesse, and her was beyond belief. It was a great joy to see her parents again, and most of all, her younger sister. The loved ones who were dead from her future were alive, healthy, and thriving. She remembered, in the future, when the men in protective suits pulled her away from her family as she screamed. She never saw them again. They were all deathly sick and she couldn't help them. She did everything she could until they physically drug her away from them.

She could tell when her family saw her, it must have raised a lot of questions about her and who she really was. Maybe it would make the truth easier when it came out. She wanted to tell them. She wanted to warn them about the future. The Resistance may have delayed Skynet several times, there was no guarantee they would be able to do it forever.

Jesse exchanged several long glances with her mother. She knew her mother knew who she really was. It pleased her to no end. Maybe she wanted her mother's affirmation after all of these years. She received it. Young Jesse and her looked so much alike, their bodies were almost identical in shape and proportion as well. She was actually surprised at how almost identical they were everywhere. The main difference was in height and it wasn't very much. In another year or so, they would be identical. Her younger self, Young Jesse, knew something was up with her as well.

When Young Jesse looked at Jesse, she saw 'herself'. It was like looking in the 'mirror of time' and seeing how you would look as you got older and fully matured in a few years. She was unsure what to say because what she thought was 'impossible' as she knew things to be. The concept of Jesse, of 'her', back from the future was something which never crossed her mind. It was impossible. How could there be TWO of her at the same time, years apart, and both in the same place? She even wondered if Jesse was really her mother and perhaps gave birth to her at a young age and 'gave' her away. She knew it wasn't uncommon in the central cities of the States for girls to be pregnant at twelve and a grandmother at twenty-five. Her mother could really be her aunt or something.

She couldn't help but wonder if she was calling the wrong person 'Mum' for all these years. If Jesse was really her, like she believed, she wanted to know what was going to happen. She wanted to know what her future would be. She wanted to know the places she would go and the things she would do. She especially wanted to know the people she would be with were. She wanted to know when she met the right person, if she ever did. They were all questions she wanted to ask, but couldn't.

Cameron gave Young Jesse a number to call if she ever needed 'anything'. There would be help there in a very short time and if material things were needed, they would be provided within a few hours. Young Jesse wanted to ask more questions about everything. She told her to just accept things for the way they were for now.

Young Jesse gave Cameron a long hug and kiss on the cheek. It was clear she was highly infatuated with Cameron.

Cameron returned it the same way. She wanted to give Young Jesse something to think about.

"I'll be back…." Cameron said.

Cameron figured some version of her would be.

Young Jesse was captivated with Gail and especially Cameron. It excited her immensely to watch Jesse and Gail interact with each other. She felt the desire to do the same thing rise in her. She knew what the girls her age in school all did.

"I'll be waiting…." Young Jesse told her. "I know you'll come back for me."

Cameron stressed what Jesse asked her to do and what she wanted as well for Young Jesse. She scanned young Jesse as she asked her about any boyfriends or girlfriends. Young Jesse told her there weren't any, yet.

"Remember, there are to be no boys." Cameron playfully reminded her. "I want you to do it for me…."

Cameron briefly wondered if she should have said, not do it.

Jesse smiled at the exchange. She really hoped a male never laid a hand on Young Jesse ever. She knew Vanna felt the same way about Savannah, and Allison felt the same way about Young Allison. If John did in the future with any of them, it was OK with her, as well as Vanna and Allison. She wanted a piece of the action too. She was happier than ever.

Gail took it all in. She was excited and jealous at the same time. It was evident Jesse, both of them, loved Cameron more than ever. Cameron was much better able to interact and blend in with humans than she could. They all seemed to be as captivated by her appearance and charm as she was.

She again offered to stay to protect Young Jesse. Cameron assured her it was unnecessary. Cameron would later discuss with her about copying her program into another female Terminator chassis. She could select the sheath appearance of it and return to protect Young Jesse that way.

Gail agreed and said she would have to think about the sheath. She knew if she chose Cameron's sheath appearance, she would be able to get 'close' to Young Jesse, real close. She asked Cameron not to inform Jesse of what they discussed. She was afraid Jesse would be angry if she knew she was trying to 'get closer' to Young Jesse. Cameron advised her against neglecting Jesse in favor of Young Jesse. She said it would make Jesse feel 'not good enough'. She told her it was a terrible way to feel.

Cameron smiled at Gail. It pleased her to know she further got Gail's devotion to her, as well as her love. It was all good news for John. It would help her to have Gail further her agenda to protect the future.

It only saddened Cameron more to reflect John chose Riley over her in the past, and Future John pushed her away in the future. With disgust she noted her left hand began to glitch again. It always did when she thought of her rejection.

Cameron really couldn't understand why she was 'good enough' for everyone else, except the man she loved, 'John', both of them. She tried to forgive them, but she could never forget. Since she couldn't forget, she really never could forgive them either…. It disturbed her so. Every emotion and rejection played in her mind as if it just happened again. She felt she was nearing a melt down. Why would they do it to her? It wasn't the way she treated them.

Jesse and Gail both noticed something was wrong. They were at her side instantly. They tried to soothe and calm her. They weren't sure what the problem was.

"It's OK, love." Jesse said. "We're all here for you."

Jesse took Cameron's glitching hand and it stopped glitching almost instantly.

The fact it did, actually excited Jesse. She was pleased she could have such a positive effect on Cameron. It also stirred the emotions inside of her for other things.

Cameron started to scan Jesse. She was able to note Jesse's changing readings as she scanned her. It helped to soothe her and comfort her as she 'felt' Jesse's excitement. She knew it was what true love felt like…. It was beautiful.

It was the same feeling she 'felt' when she scanned Savannah. It was even more intense from Savannah. She was a little worried about Savannah since she just thought about her. She knew Savannah wanted more. She didn't know what to do. She was sure any choice or decision she made was going to be the wrong one. She needed to push those thoughts from her mind right now. She was with Jesse and Gail now. They were both with her.

They were a little ahead of schedule. They drove by a few locations Jesse wanted to see one more time. They were all places she thought she would never see in their true beauty again. They were all destroyed the last time she saw them. It was all very emotional to her. The thing which mattered the most was her family was still alive, and as protected as they could be under the current conditions. The fact there were Terminators there in case anything ever did happen was a major relief to her. She never wanted the things which happened to her to happen to Young Jesse, or anyone else in her family, especially her sister.

She didn't know if her sister was 'lucky', not to have gone through what she went through or not in her future. She tried to tell herself she was. She wasn't so sure. Even if her sister endured what she did, and survived like she did, she would have still been alive. It was something which troubled her every time she thought about it. It didn't matter. What was done was done. Things happened the way they did. They wouldn't happen the same way again with what Cameron provided her family with.

They arrived at the airport and breezed through the checkout procedure. The jet was waiting for them. Cameron and Gail, along with Jesse, did a 'walk around' the aircraft to give it a visual inspection.

Cameron climbed into the cockpit. She wasn't at one hundred percent.

Gail kept a watchful eye on Cameron and moved up close to her. She wanted to assist Cameron, but to do it silently.

Cameron looked at Gail. Gail nodded. She climbed out of the pilot's seat. She would let Gail pilot the flight home. She took up the copilots position. She moved back into the cabin after take off. She laid her head on Jesse's lap as she performed internal maintenance on herself. Jesse gently stroked her hair and face. It was very soothing and comforting. It was much like what Savannah often did for her.

Jesse was worried to death about Cameron. Every now and then one of her silent tears would land on Cameron's beautiful cheek. She cried for Cameron….

After a few hours Cameron opened her eyes and smiled at Jesse. She wiped the tears from her cheeks. She thanked Jesse and moved up to join Gail.

Gail let Cameron take control but she stayed in the cockpit, just in case. Cameron and her spoke quietly as Jesse slept in the back. She decided what she was going to do and informed Cameron.

Cameron was pleased with what was requested and suggested. It was what she wanted. She still needed to 'warn' Gail. She didn't fully understand the more her program evolved, the more 'human' she became. She actually experienced many of the insecurities humans did. As a 'human' she was 'normal'. The only trouble was, she wasn't a human. She felt she needed to point out a few things.

"I'm defective, Gail." Cameron said. "I'm unfixable. I've tried for years to 'fix' myself. It's never worked."

Gail disagreed with the concept in its entirety. She thought of some of her past actions. They seemed 'right' at the time. She decided to self Terminate when she lost Jesse - Duplicate Jesse, before. The Resistance team deactivated her before she could. It was later on, after Cameron returned from the 'dead', she reactivated her, and gave her back what she lost. Cameron gave her back a version of Jesse.

"No, Cameron, you are the most special person there is, machine or human." Gail said. "You fixed me, you fix everything. What I've asked for Young Jesse, is what I want."

Gail asked for the next female Terminator they came across to be Resequenced with Allison's DNA and have the combined program of Cameron and her on it. Her program would be the main program but Cameron's entire program would be there too. She saw it as a way to improve herself and provide an additional back up for Cameron if it was ever needed. She also saw it as the ultimate 'experience' to share everything with Cameron, a 'Cameron'. Holly previously told her how special it was to share with Cameron - Duplicate Cameron, for fifteen months. She said she wished it could have been forever. With what she asked for with Cameron now, it would be forever. Even if Cameron's program 'took over', she would still be there to share with her.

Cameron knew what Gail contemplated and why. She saw it as additional protection for John if she were terminated. She was very happy with the decision and its future possibilities. John and the future must be protected. Her program with Gail's program would insure an additional backup for John in more ways than one.

When the female Terminator arrived, she was sure the protection would quickly expand into a personal relationship. She would be able to be with Young Jesse the same way she was with Vanna as Cam. It wouldn't actually be her, but it would be her program. She wouldn't have the files herself, but the version of her with Gail would.

The flight home was uneventful and Cameron didn't exhibit any further problems.

Cam and Ally met them at the airport. They brought two vehicles at Cameron's request. Cameron took one and drove off. She didn't say anything.

Jesse and Gail hadn't been able to thank Cameron again before she left.

Cam and Ally were worried, but not as much as Gail and Jesse were. They didn't know of the earlier difficulty when they left Australia.

They quickly contacted John Henry. Jesse and Gail explained the problem and why they were concerned.

"I have a drone airborne and on the way." John Henry said.

Cam was sure it was a bad idea.

"She will know and avoid it, or redirect it." Cam said.

John Henry felt he covered all the possibilities this time. He took some measures so he wouldn't lose control of the drone. He understood Cameron's concerns, she needed to understand their concerns. Theirs were just as valid as hers were.

"I've altered its programming." John Henry said. "She shouldn't be able to control it."

Ally laughed. She felt she knew Cameron better than all of them. She wanted to let John Henry know he was most likely in for a surprise.

"Like that's going to happen." Ally said. "She'll out think you before you even start to think."

John Henry was sure they covered all of the bases. There was a supercomputer backing him up. There was also some old fashioned human insight.

"John thinks he knows where she's going." John Henry said. "Bob and Jim are with him. They're going to try and intercept her."

John Henry thought maybe he should have said 'watch over her' instead. It didn't really matter now. His transmission was already out there.

Earlier:

John was out with Bob and Jim. He wanted to run down some more leads on Grays or possible Skynet activity before Cameron returned.

"Do you want to bring the Metal girls along?" Bob asked.

John wanted to keep it simple. He didn't see the need to involve others. He felt Bob and Jim were sufficient to assist him.

"I don't want to be a bother." John said. "There's no need to make a big production out of it."

Jim and Bob quickly looked at each other. They knew Cameron was supposed to return soon. John was pushing it by trying to get out and do more while she was still away. It seemed like it would be a better idea for him to wrap things up and return back to the Resistance base.

John Henry came across a lead about some Coltan. It might be on the move. Cameron, along with Mrs. Weaver's company, controlled all the known sources of Coltan. There was speculation Skynet found more sources of Coltan in the future, and sent back operatives into the past to mine and then produce HK equipment from it.

Bob was informed of all the information. He believed it was something sensitive in nature which concerned Cameron directly.

"Maybe we should let Cameron deal with this one." Bob said.

John rolled his eyes. It was the whole point of trying to do it on his own. He wanted to take some of the heat off of Cameron. He didn't want to go through the hassle of explaining everything again. It seemed he needed to do it every few hours when he was out with Bob and Jim. He understood their concern for him and why. He just felt he needed to do more.

"Let's just go." John said. "We're doing this."

Bob drove. John elected to sit in the back of the SUV. He allowed Jim to sit in the front with Bob.

John looked at the weapons next to him. There were three M-4 carbines. Two of them were equipped with an M203. He looked over the seat into the rear compartment. In the back there was an M82A1 and an M60. There was a selection of Thermite grenades and several satchel charges. There were a few M18A1 mines. It was something he saw Future Derek use before when they were at the military academy and confronted the Terminator hunting Martin Bedell.

"What's with the Claymore mines?" John asked.

Bob liked to have a good selection of weapons.

"I decided to bring those at the last minute." Bob said.

John looked away from them.

"I guess seven hundred steel ball bearings blowing out the front of one of those can do a number on someone." John said. "I watched Future Derek use those on a Terminator once. They didn't even slow him down. He used the M82A1 to bring him down."

Bob was familiar with the incident.

"I know his chip was destroyed by the Barrett in the tar pit." Bob said.

John was proud Future Derek stopped the Terminator. He needed to use himself as bait to protect Martin Bedell at one point. He knew it upset Future Derek when he did. It was the right thing to do. He would do it again if he needed to.

"I expected Cameron to help me but she wasn't there." John said.

Bob looked over at Jim. They knew differently.

"Cameron was there." Bob said.

John didn't think so.

"I never saw her." John said.

Jim tried to think of a diplomatic answer which wouldn't offend John too much.

"She was there to back you up if you needed it." Jim said. "She remained unseen and on the sidelines when you dealt with the Terminator."

John wondered about it. It was good to know, even if it was troubling because she was actually there to watch over him and not become involved.

"Was she testing me?" John asked.

Bob saw it more as training as opposed to testing.

"She allowed you to grow, but was there to help if you needed her." Bob said.

John was a little irritated to hear it. He didn't see why it couldn't apply to what he currently did.

"Well, it's what I'm doing now then too." John said. "I'm growing."

Bob was going to point out Jim and him were there and they would do most of whatever needed to be done. He decided he better not point it out.

"We will be at the target location in a few hours." Bob said.

John thought it was closer.

"Is it the same one John Henry told me about?" John asked.

Bob nodded.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

John always liked to hear him say it. He gave up trying to get him to use more 'natural speech'.

They all received a priority report from John Henry. Cameron was back already. She just left the airport on her own. Gail and Jesse reported she experienced some 'problems' when they left Australia after Cameron said she was 'not good enough'.

John wasn't happy about the report he received from John Henry about Cameron going off unannounced on her own. They planned for several contingencies to track her and now it was time to employ them. The reference of Cameron's statement seemed to clearly point at him, again. What else was new?.

"Beautiful." John said. "I think this one is on me."

In this case, he thought he might know where she was headed. They didn't need any fancy technology to track her if he was right. If he was correct it was further proof of the failure he truly was to Cameron. He thought the same thing again. What else is new?

It wasn't a good feeling.

He directed Bob where to go. They turned around and set out to find Cameron.

John thought about a million things. Most of them were about how he hurt Cameron. Further proof of it was when Cameron showed up where he thought she would be. It was what he anticipated and feared. He would have preferred she hadn't shown up there. It was a further confirmation of the failure of his love for Cameron.

He watched her walk up. She looked very confused and uncertain. He wanted to greet her. He hoped it would ease her trepidations. Maybe it would, or maybe it wouldn't. It might set her off as well.

"I've been waiting for you." John said. "I knew you'd come here."

Cameron was a little surprised to see him.

"You were waiting for me?" Cameron asked.

John really didn't know what to say other than the truth. It was all on him. It was his fault. All the problems she faced, and the risks she took, so she could be terminated in combat, all fell on his doorstep.

"Yes, I'm so sorry, Cameron, for what happened." John said.

John was at the spot where Cameron first saw him with Riley. It was their last house. It really was on his doorstep.

"Cameron, I don't know how to make this up to you, or how to fix it." John said. "I know it's literally tearing you apart both mentally and physically."

Cameron ran millions of scenarios and they all came back the same. She was 'not good enough' for John, any of them.

"John, I've tried to run from it, fight it, accept it, and even self terminate because of it." Cameron said. "I can't seem to do any of them. I can't get past it no matter how hard I try. John, I don't think we belong 'together'. It was wrong for me to take you. I have destroyed the 'Natural Order'. I've failed my mission. I'm worthless. I'm 'not good enough'."

John took Cameron's glitching hand. The glitch only slowed. It didn't stop. It never did for him. Only the girls could calm her. He knew what she truly wanted. She wanted the love of the one who never gave up on her, and believed in her no matter how impossible it looked going forward. Cameron needed the 'Chosen One'.

John really wished he would have brought Savannah with him.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

More Ways Than One

There are many twists and turns
As one winds through life's maze
Is there ever a right way to exist
There sure are plenty of wrong ways

What may to be good with some
Turns into something bad for another
Instead of helping and lifting one up
They appear to choke and smother

There are many directions
With no right way to turn
What should be fostered and built
Instead will warp, rot and burn

One can hang back from everything
As life quickly passes them by
They should not be too surprised
Nobody can hear them cry

With many shaky starts it seems
That it was over before it begun
When it is time to falter or fail
There are more ways than one

Nobody