Chapter 372

Impossible

John wanted to find out what really happened in New Mexico. There was a chance they wouldn't find out, but he thought it was worth a try.

"Send Dan, Al, and some members off one of the Details." John said. "I like for everyone to get out every now and then. You can do a little rotation."

John Henry didn't see it as a problem. It was part of their standard operating procedure.

"Cameron normally takes care of it." John Henry said. "She conducts 'Fun Nights' out for all the Terminators."

John was aware of some of it. He couldn't say he approved of it one hundred percent.

"Then afterwards Cameron hits drug and gang operations with them." John said.

John Henry saw it as an extension into the future. He believed the sex trafficking operations which Cameron took down were probably the most important. John failed to mention them. Protecting females from involuntary servitude was more than just a noble cause to eliminate. It seemed John needed a refresher course.

"Thinning the herd of future Scavengers is a good thing." John Henry said. "Ask any of the girls from the future if you forget…."

John knew the girls from the future were all abused, especially Jesse and Vanna. He really couldn't blame them for seeking companions who experienced similar fates. They didn't need to talk about it, but if they did, the others KNEW what they felt and why. He saw the work of Scavengers first hand.

"No, I won't forget. Just to think about what I saw still makes me sick." John said. "Scavengers were worse than Skynet."

John couldn't help but think about the episode he was recently a part of out of state. Cameron inadvertently came into contact with some sex traffickers. She conducted a personal vendetta against them. He didn't agree with any of it. What he did agree with was when he saw the dozen and a half females who were freed from their forced servitude. It made him understand Cameron's personal quest much better. Cameron told him she didn't think females should be punished just because of the way they were born. He needed to agree with her. He remembered the looks on some of their faces when they finally realized they were free. Cameron reminded him some of them would end back up in the same line of work within the next few weeks. He didn't play much of a part in the operation, but he was pleased with the results.

John Henry felt most of the problems were a carryover from each individual's past.

"They were a product of their past accentuated by Skynet." John Henry said. "Don't forget, Cameron and Mrs. Weaver both worked hard to clean the problem up in the alternate future you created."

The mention of the alternate future he was responsible for, along a reference with a to Mrs. Weaver, was a reminder John could have done without. Maybe it was the not knowing part which made it harder.

"What about her and her whereabouts, John Henry?" John asked. "Mrs. Weaver has been gone too long."

John Henry tried everything he knew to find out what happened to Mrs. Weaver. Nothing worked. Cameron told him she hadn't given up yet.

"I wish I knew." John Henry said. "It's possible the other Duplicate Cameron and the other set of the Duplicate girls are with her. I know Cameron is trying to find them."

John wondered how Cameron could find them if John Henry couldn't. He wondered if it was because of the supercomputer at her base. He wanted to verify exactly how it would work.

"How is she going to do it?" John asked. "Does she have access to information you don't, at her base?

John Henry didn't approve of Cameron's plans but he knew what she intended to do.

"She plans to do it by going to look for Mrs. Weaver and the Duplicates girls herself." John Henry said.

John knew it would be some new folly if Cameron tried it. The fact Mrs. Weaver was still missing proved it wasn't a good idea to look for them. Cameron would most likely suffer the same fate. Cameron could end up stuck in some divergent timeline or suffer a temporal error. Either way she would be lost. He was pretty sure if Duplicate Cameron could return, she would have. She wouldn't know she was a Duplicate until she returned to the current time period. He would really like to be able to put the brakes on Cameron.

"Who can stop her?" John asked.

John Henry knew only Cameron could stop herself.

"Nobody…." John Henry said.

John just shook his head. He could only picture what new chain of unpleasant events it would unleash. Maybe it was better to let sleeping dogs lie rather than stir up a hornet's nest. Without a destination, it just seemed illogical. How many different timelines would Cameron attempt to reach? How many of them could she return from? How would her fate be any different from the other set of Duplicates, or Mrs. Weaver?

There was no proof any of them were still alive. They could have all been terminated upon their arrival in whatever future they ended up at. Maybe there was a temporal error. If there was, it could be even greater than they thought. Perhaps in their attempt to escape wherever they were at, they ended up in a further future, or somewhere in the past. It wouldn't be the recent past either.

None of it made any sense to him. He didn't see why it was important either. If the other set of Duplicates and Mrs. Weaver met some untimely fate, there was no need for Cameron to do the exact same thing and suffer the same fate.

Cameron left the base in one SUV with Savannah. Cammy, Cam, Ally, and Vanna followed her in another SUV. She wanted to lay the ground work for what needed to be done in Palmdale. Allison wanted her father to know what was actually going on. It was for more than just one reason. Her main goal was for him to understand exactly who she was and how it was all possible.

She received word from her base there was a potential 'hit' on her earlier operation. One of the phones may have turned up a lead. She didn't want to deal with it right now. John was using most of the Terminators for other things. She contacted Sheila and sent her. She sent a message to Cammy that Ally may need to back Sheila up and to acquire another vehicle for her. She also stressed they arrive at the Young Residence for the proper timing cycle of the events she wanted to unfold.

Sheila headed out as soon as she received the information from Cameron's base. She wasn't sure what she would encounter. It sounded like things would go hot. She was always ready for some action. Didn't matter if the action was with the girls, or dealing with Skynet. If it was dealing with the underworld, it produced great satisfaction for her to terminate the individuals involved in the different types of illicit trade. She touched her knife and she headed for an SUV.

Cammy didn't want to follow Cameron's instructions. She wanted to keep the team together. She decided to fill all of them in.

"Cameron wants Ally to back up Sheila." Cammy said. "We need to get her a separate vehicle. It seems like a poor time to make such a decision."

Vanna didn't like the idea either. She was with three Terminators. Three Terminators could do a lot more damage than one. Sheila was supposed to be involved as well, which would be a fourth Terminator if they remain as a group.

"Why can't we all go together?" Vanna asked. "There are more of us to assist if we do."

It's what Cammy hoped for. She wanted someone else to suggest it. She wasn't surprised it was Vanna. She knew if she would have been the one to say it, Cameron would have given her a hard time about it later on. Since Vanna was the one to say it, she didn't think there would be a problem. She tried to make it look like she wasn't responsible for the new suggestion Vanna made.

"Cameron wants us to carry out our original mission." Cammy said. "She only needs Ally."

Cam could see Vanna wanted to get involved. It was probably going to be a bad idea. She knew Vanna felt bad about herself because of her inability to reproduce. She didn't want her to take any unnecessary chances. She tried to downplay the issue and stick with the plan Cameron wanted done.

"We need to carry out our original mission." Cam said. "Ally can assist Sheila."

Vanna was willing to help out. She felt backing up Ally and Sheila was more important. She felt she would be able to play with a certain amount of leverage. She figured if nothing else it would provoke a response from some of them.

"I'm going to go with Ally then." Vanna said. "You two can go play Cameron's game for now. We all know it's unnecessary and what's more important."

Ally liked the show of support but felt it would create a bigger problem, especially if anything happened to Vanna.

"I think I'm good." Ally said. "Things might get messy."

The girls all started talking at once.

All of their phones rang. It was John Henry. He carried on a different conversation with all four of them at the same time through his server. He informed them he secured additional backup for Sheila and they were to continue with their original mission.

Vanna was sure the change in plans was based upon her desire to go with Ally. It was OK now since they would remain together like she wanted them to do. She wanted to seem like she was disappointed, even if she wasn't.

"It seems there was all a lot of 'to do' about nothing." Vanna said.

It upset Cam because Vanna wanted to look for a fight. It pleased Cammy and Ally because Vanna was still willing to step up. It also pleased Cam but she would never admit it. Vanna was her lover and responsibility.

They continued on their original mission to arrive at the Young residence after Cameron laid the initial groundwork.

Sheila continued on to the target area and was informed of the new plan. She wanted to get Jesse and go join the girls in Palmdale, but it wasn't in the cards right now. She actually wondered what Jesse was up to. She would need to find out where Gail was at. Jesse should be nearby.

Cameron arrived with Savannah in Palmdale. It was time to get Paul Young squared away.

Savannah was a little concerned about what was to transpire.

"Are you sure this is a good idea going forward?" Savannah asked.

Cameron tilted her head slightly. There was very little she seemed to be sure about any longer.

"No I'm not." Cameron said. "It's what Allison wants to happen. She's very concerned about her parents, both of them."

Savannah couldn't help but feel a little sad. She was concerned about her parents as well, all three of them. Two of them were dead, and one of them was missing. She could understand Allison's concern.

Cameron and Savannah exited the SUV and started towards the door of the Young residence.

Claire greeted them both with a hug when she opened the door. She was very elated to see them, especially Cameron. She shared a long silent 'look' with Cameron. She was sure her latest reaffirmation of what she was going to do for Cameron was conveyed to her. It was.

They both thought of everything Claire offered to Cameron.

As soon as they went into the house, Cameron noticed Paul Young check Savannah out. It was after he finished checking her out. She briefly thought of terminating him again for the way he looked at Savannah. She was used to it for herself. She honestly didn't see what others found so fascinating about her.

Holly and Savannah took Young Allison and Summer out for a walk, the protection Detail was split in front and in back of them. Young Allison took Savannah's hand as they walked. Her eyes were filled with joy and love. The two girls, though separated by years, were not separated by love. The foundation for their future was laid the moment the two of them were introduced to each other. Everything they saw with Vanna and Allison only reaffirmed it.

Claire watched what happened when Cameron and Savannah arrived. She wanted to slap Paul, but how could she blame him? She basically abandoned him in their own home. They hadn't been together for months. In fact, it was only a few times since Summer was born. She was the one being satisfied by another 'female' everyday. She experienced more 'finishes' since she hooked up with Hanna than she experienced in her entire life. How could she blame Paul for just 'looking'?

She believed if anyone was responsible for the current predicament, it was her parents for not accepting her for who she was, and what her desires were. They were the ones who forced her to get married to a male. They told her being with a male would 'straighten' her out. She tried to do it. She was a good housewife. She had children. What she didn't have was satisfaction or love.

Allison sat next to her mother. Cameron sat next to Allison. All three of them faced Paul.

Paul didn't know what was up, but it must be something which wasn't going to be very good. Everyone looked very serious. There were way too many hot females in and out of there for the last few years. Now his daughter Allison - Young Allison, looked like Cameron and Allison who sat next to his wife. It looked more like Allison was Young Allison's mother than Claire. No, maybe they looked more like sisters or even twins, but somehow they were years apart in age. Then there was Cameron. She was one of a kind. He knew anyone would die to be with her. She was so special….

The redhead Allison was in love with was Hot too. He saw the way Claire looked at her…. Then there was Holly. Every time he spent too much time looking at Allison, Holly would make him take his eyes and thoughts off of Allison and concentrate them on her. She always showed more and more skin to the point where he couldn't help but to look at it. He knew Allison shared two HOT girlfriends. He didn't understand Holly protected Allison when she made him not look at her.

Claire looked at Allison and then at Cameron. There was no easy way to start.

"Paul, there are some things I need to tell you." Claire said. "I know you've seen a lot of strange things and I know I've failed as your wife, lately."

Claire couldn't help but feel like a failure for the entire marriage. She did try to do everything a wife would do. She never complained when he didn't deliver either. She didn't try to make him feel bad about himself. Somehow she doubted he would have. The sad fact was, he never delivered once. She thought it would get better after the first few times. It didn't. If anything, it got worse as he did less and less. To add insult to injury, he wanted her to use other parts of her body to satisfy him. Both were even less satisfying to her and she received no benefit at all from the encounters. She always did what he wanted. The only satisfaction she got was from herself. It grew very unfulfilling as the years passed.

Paul wasn't even sure if they were even married still. They certainly weren't by 'practice'. They were more like roommates, without benefits.

"It's an accurate statement." Paul said.

Claire felt guilty but not by much. She wanted to get things out in the open.

"Look at Allison sitting next to me." Claire said. "LOOK at her, Paul. What do you see? Look real hard."

Paul did look. He looked at his 'daughter' fully grown somehow. A twinge of guilt flooded him. He thought of doing so many things with Allison before. He knew Cameron was untouchable, but he thought of them with her as well.

Allison could see the look of remorse and fear on her father's face. She felt she needed to say something. There was a lot of emotion built up inside of her. It was something she wanted to say from the first moment she saw him alive again.

"Daddy, it's me - Allison." Allison said.

Paul already began to think it, but there was no way for it to be possible with anything he knew to be fact or true. He did know what was before him. As much as he wanted to believe her, there was still a lot of doubt. There were still a lot of irregularities.

"It's impossible." Paul said. "What about her?"

He pointed to Cameron. Was she his daughter too?

Claire wasn't sure how to make her point.

"Look at her, Paul. I know you can see Cameron is like Allison, but 'perfect'." Claire said. "Nobody can be perfect, but Cameron is. I know you've watched her from the first day you saw her. You know what I'm saying is true, even as impossible as it seems."

Cameron took over the briefing. She received word everyone else was in place and ready to act. She was also informed Sheila would receive assistance from John Henry.

Like always, Paul refused to believe what Cameron told him. The future and cyborgs were too hard to believe. It all seemed like some elaborate joke or scheme to make it look like he was insane. If he ever told anyone what he just heard, he would be put in an asylum.

Cameron thought it was time for some reality. Paul wasn't 'sold' yet.

"Do you agree there can be no other one exactly like me?" Cameron asked.

Paul looked at Cameron. She was flawless in her appearance. He was now supposed to believe she was some kind of a robot? They were from the future? He wondered where this was headed.

"Yes." Paul said. "You're so special, Cameron, there can't be anyone like you, not even Allison."

Cam, Cammy, and Ally came into the room.

Cameron stood next to them. All four were in a row and dressed identical. Allison stood and moved into the center. There were two cyborgs on each side of her.

"How about now, Daddy?" Allison asked. "How is THIS possible?"

Paul was speechless.

Vanna came into the room and moved next to Allison.

"Vanna is Savannah from my future." Allison said. "I know you can see it. You checked her out pretty good before she left. She has a cyborg counterpart as well."

Paul was flooded with even more guilt. He quickly looked at Claire. He did check Savannah out and thought of a lot of things. She was a young teenager.

Hanna came into the room and stood next to Vanna.

Savannah returned and now stood between Hanna and Vanna.

Holly kept Young Allison and Summer outside on the swing set.

Maybe they weren't all insane. Maybe he was, Paul thought. This was impossible by everything he knew. If he wasn't looking at all of them right now, he wouldn't believe any of it.

Allison could see her father started to understand it all. It was what she wanted.

"We're not done yet." Allison said. "It's going to be a mind blower."

Paul really wondered what else was possible. They told him about different futures, time travel and cyborgs, which were robots who looked human.

"There's more?" Paul asked.

Allison looked at Claire.

"Mom is going to have my baby for me." Allison said. "It's from my body. All of the girls from the future can't carry an embryo for more than a few months. We need help."

Claire felt guilty and relieved at the same time.

"I'm sorry, Paul." Claire said. "I didn't know how to tell you."

Paul was focused on the part about Claire being pregnant. He didn't fully understand Allison's wording.

"Do you have another lover?" Paul asked.

Claire looked around and looked at Hanna. She might as well come clean.

"Yes." Claire said. "It's not another man. It really is Allison's baby. I'm carrying it as a surrogate. I've never been with any other man since we started dating or after we were married."

Paul focused on the fact Claire was involved with another female. She tried to tell him many times she was attracted to other females. He thought two minutes in the sack would help her refocus. It did. It was away from him, and back to where she found satisfaction and love.

"You have a female lover, now?" Paul asked.

Claire could think of a few technicalities there. Hanna wasn't a female by definition, but by appearance and function.

"Yes and no." Claire said.

Paul wondered what was next.

"I don't understand." Paul said.

Hanna stepped forward and took Claire's hand.

"I'm her lover and protector." Hanna said. "I'm a cyborg as well. I'm the same as Cameron."

Paul looked at Vanna with Allison and Hanna with Claire.

"So my wife and daughter both have the same lover?" Paul asked.

Savannah wanted him to know it was the same in all the futures.

"ALL of the Allisons do too." Savannah said as she glanced out toward the back where Young Allison was playing. "They will…."

The future was hard enough for Paul to comprehend and there were several futures. This was truly a Future Shock. The concept only made it even more impossible.

Cameron believed the future was inevitable. It already happened for her.

"It's their destiny." Cameron said. "The 'Natural Order' of time can't be changed, it will always reassert itself. It has in every future."

Cameron, Hanna, Ally, and Claire stayed with Paul and answered all of his questions.

Allison and Vanna went off alone to spend time together.

Savannah went back out to spend time with Young Allison. She was so happy to see how beautiful she was. Cammy stopped her for a few seconds. She wanted to stay in the game and make a point.

"I'm yours until she's grown." Cammy whispered. "At least a little more."

Savannah frowned at Cammy. It wasn't how it was or would be. She didn't believe in making choices for others.

"I would never do anything to hurt her." Savannah said. "She will have a choice. Young Allison will determine who she loves, and her own future. I swear it. I won't let anyone make her do something she doesn't want to do."

Cammy believed Savannah's answer was proof of what would be. The love was already there and cemented between both of them.

"See what I mean." Cammy said. "You just reaffirmed my point."

Cammy, Cam, and Holly moved off to let the girls play.

Holly looked over towards the room where Allison and Vanna were.

Cammy didn't like it because she offended Savannah. She did understand the reality of it all.

"I know none of us likes it." Cammy said. "But it is the 'Natural Order' of time for all of them.

There were a lot of things Holly didn't like.

"I hate it." Holly said. "But I understand it. They've all made it clear over and over, and Cameron too. Are Cam and you both still 'Cameron'?"

Cam knew she was on shaky ground by remaining a copy of Cameron's program.

"We're both still 'Cameron', for now." Cam said. "We're 'Cameron copies'. Cameron isn't happy with it."

Holly didn't see Cameron smile much except when she was around Savannah and Young Allison.

"Is Cameron ever happy with anything?" Holly asked.

Cammy knew what Cameron felt. She felt it too.

"Yes she is." Cammy said as she looked at Savannah. "She's very happy sometimes, happy and proud…."

Paul was faced with a lot to take in. Cameron informed him his bank accounts were full. She showed him he would no longer have any financial worries. Allison asked him to please stay with Claire for the sake of Young Allison and Summer. She explained the hardships of growing up without Claire and him, her parents - THEM, and the fact she didn't have a sister before. Claire informed him she would have as many babies as Allison wanted. When Allison was happy enough, Claire would have them for Cameron as well. Technically those would be half siblings to both Allison and Summer. John would be the father. He wondered how she would get pregnant. It didn't sound like he would be involved in the process. Maybe it was better not to know.

Cameron could see Paul was still in a state of denial. He would need a little time to process it all.

Paul was at a loss for words. He hoped when he 'woke up' his current nightmare would be forgotten. It was one of the strangest he ever experienced…. It all seemed so real.

Somehow it was all so impossible, it must be real.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Impossible

To see it is to believe it
Is that statement really true
Or is it all hocus pocus
To make one easier to subdue

If there is sleight of hand
Then there is sleight of mind
It seems the actions of some
Are meant to be unkind

Events are sure to end badly
Perhaps even quite tragic
If one thinks wrongs
Can be fixed with magic

Wave a magic wand
Throw some fairy dust
It only goes to show
There's no one to trust

It's often been said
Don't believe everything one hears
One knows if it's impossible
With the experience of years

Nobody