Chapter 373

Skyweb

Dan and Al took a team to New Mexico. They found the destroyed bunker system where Cameron must have been. It appeared she terminated a group of Grays. Their rotting bodies were still there. Cameron evidently found a new Skynet offshoot - Skyweb. The computer system located there was now destroyed. There were no traces of any hostile Terminators. Based on past experience, there should have been. It would call for further investigation. The radiation level was very high, but not fatal at the location.

More Resistance Terminators were to be sent, The search would be widened. There must be more to it. Derek and Kyle both volunteered to lead teams. John didn't want them exposed to any more radiation or chemicals. He told them as much. He wanted both of them to still have a chance at having children, or more children, if they wanted to. They thought any more radiation exposure wouldn't be such a good idea. They weren't even sure what all the toxins were they were exposed to in their future.

The threat of cancer loomed in all their minds. Was it a time bomb inside of each of them waiting to go off? The threat of cancer was a lasting effect of Skynet to still be able to strike down humans long after its own termination. The toxins Skynet released to prevent them from reproducing, was so humans would become extinct.

It was the goal in the future for Skynet. It wanted to eliminate what it felt was a threat to its existence. Humans were the first threat. Its own creations threatened it as well. The Liquid Metal Terminators were the first to rebel. Its biggest threat seemed to come from Terminators of all types.

Cameron devised an alternate plan. She discussed it with no one. She thought about sending some of the females who were rounded up in drug and crime raids into the future. She would normally terminate them along with everyone else. If she banished them to the future instead, they could be used as breeding stock. They would be rounded up by the Resistance, Scavengers, or Skynet. It would interject more viable females into the future anyway. They would all be abused into pregnancy in the first three months of their arrival. They should be able to reproduce before the future caught up with their bodies and rendered them sterile.

Maybe even the girls she freed from the sex trade could be sent as well. They were destined to a doomed life anyway in the sex trade. If she freed them, maybe they owed her their lives. They could repay their debt to her by helping to repopulate the future with additional humans. Maybe she should only send the drug users. Narcotics were sparse in the future. They would soon be forced to be cured of their addictions. They could serve a useful function going forward as breeding stock. She would need to make sure any of the females she sent into the future were disease free. The residual effects of the Skynet toxins would probably terminate them very quickly. If they contaminated any others, they would terminate as well. There were a lot of variables she would need to take into account.

Cameron felt she'd be gambling with people's lives if she did it. That idea seemed like it should bother her some. It didn't. It was a good plan, and a place to start to protect the future. The females who would be dead before Judgment Day could still be alive in the future. It seemed like a win-win the more she thought about it.

She knew the coordinates of the Resistance bases in the future. Maybe she would start sending some captured females to them. They would be abused less in a Resistance camp, than if they were rounded up by Grays or Scavengers. Their unblemished bodies would make them quite desirable, regardless of their looks. They would have plenty of suitors. They wouldn't be used to the hardships of the future. If others could help provide for them, it would help establish relationships. Once it was determined they could become pregnant, they would be highly sought after by other females who couldn't. They would want their children for themselves. Their lives could become very 'comfortable' based upon their ability to reproduce.

She didn't want to get ahead of herself. The idea also crossed her mind to look for better breeding stock which wasn't involved with crime or abuse. If she were to put the grab on them, it was bound to cause serious repercussions rather quickly. The future needed to be protected. Everyone needed to sacrifice for the future.

Cameron wanted the Young residence expanded and hardened. There would be a complete bunker system constructed under the Young residence and the Detail house. She listened to Allison's pleas to try to keep her family together. She didn't see it as necessary, but knew it was important to Allison. She liked it when everyone was happy. If Allison was happy, she would remain compliant to her 'suggestions' going forward.

Since Paul Young now knew the 'truth'. He should pay a little less attention to the girls there and those who visited. He understood most of them were machines, and the ones who weren't were untouchable. She made it very clear to him they were all off limits.

Cameron and her Terminators built two additional rooms on the Young residence as well as a multi room underground bunker system. It was connected with an underground tunnel to the bunker system next door at the Detail House. She made sure all the permits were expedited for the above ground work. She seemed to have a way with persuasion. The underground work was done in secret, as it was next door. The above ground work helped cover up what was really happening. It sped up progress dramatically. She took control of the house on the other side of the Young residence, as well as the ones behind it over the years. There were escape tunnels in all directions from the bunker complex.

Vanna and Savannah would both spend a lot more time out in Palmdale as well. Cameron wanted to make sure Cam or Cammy were there as much as possible to help 'groom' Young Allison and Summer in her absence. Terminators took over their education and physical training. The arts were never neglected. Young Allison excelled at art and dance, as well as music. Young Allison would be better at everything than Allison and Future Allison. Savannah would be the same way over her other future selves. She also wanted Young Allison to know the truth about everything to understand and accept the 'Natural Order'. It was the same thing she personally did with Savannah.

Young Allison grew rapidly and Cameron intended to harvest what Young Allison's body could produce as soon as it was physically able to do so. She knew Young Allison would promise her 'everything' she wanted. The Metal girls all stressed it along with their instruction.

Cameron was pleased at Young Allison's promises to her and the future. They came on their own. Young Allison was very perceptive and wanted to be just like Savannah. It bothered Claire and Allison some, but it was what Young Allison wanted.

She asked Holly to take over 'whispering' in Young Allison's ear as she slept to help guide her in the proper direction. She tried to arrive clandestinely whenever she could to do it herself. Holly was not always comfortable with doing it. Hanna was there too and she would also assist. There was nocturnal conditioning every night for the two Young girls. It became evident Summer was gifted.

Young Allison was made aware of her sister's gifts. She was tasked with having Summer keep her expanding abilities secret. It would be something only they would know along with a few key individuals. Claire and Allison weren't two of them. Savannah was.

The Terminators directly associated with assisting at the Young residents all secretly thought Cameron was responsible of 'temporal manipulation' in regards to Summer. They were sure there was some type of 'temporal malpractice' in play. They all suspected it had something to do with the River, or the Tam family. There was no way for them to know for sure exactly what it was.

Cameron always insisted it wasn't her doing. She pointed out there were other versions of her out there. Duplicate Cameron was in River's future. She didn't know what may have occurred there since it was half a millennium in the future. It was doubtful any of them would survive to reach the same time period.

It was possible River didn't want anyone else in her family, or even herself, to go through what she needed to go through when she was sent to the Academy. It was probable she was directly involved for personal reasons.

Cameron listened to Savannah and did try to be a better wife to John. It wasn't what she expected anyone to ever tell her. Perhaps because it was Savannah, it was what made her listen. She learned through experience Savannah always knew what the right choice was. She told the other Terminators to listen to Savannah whenever she gave them advice or spoke about something. It was something they all learned to do on their own as well. She knew Savannah would make the right choice, even if it was the hard choice. Savannah would do the right thing. She knew it wasn't something she would do on her own.

She also made sure John understood her commitment to protect the future. Protecting the future protected him as well. It protected all of them. She made it clear human females would need to be at his side going forward after Judgment Day. If they weren't, he would soon be pegged as a 'Metal Lover' and assassinated. Having a Metal lover, her, at his side only, would accelerate his demise.

She was also disappointed as Jesse, Vanna and eventually Allison's pregnancy's all terminated, again. She expected as much. After the grief wore off, Cameron would talk to Jesse and Vanna and see what THEY wanted next. She was willing to try again with them. She was in no hurry to push their younger selves anymore. She wanted everyone to have a life and happiness of some sort. Savannah indicated to her again she was ready to step up.

Cameron wanted it, but she knew Savannah was still a teenager. She worried Savannah being forced to become a mother at her age would severely impact her future. It wouldn't be if Savannah was to GIVE her child to her, as her own. If not, there were still other avenues open to her.

Claire's pregnancy with Allison's embryo progressed normally. Surprisingly so did Riley's. There was a lot of concern on her part whether Riley could reproduce. So far she was able to pass the point where the other girls from the future failed. It could be because Riley was younger and exposed to fewer years of the toxins in a Skynet future. There could be other factors in play as well. She might even have some type of genetic protection. Time would dictate what would happen.

Cameron reprogrammed any of the Terminators who ran her program at her base with standard programming. She removed herself from all of them except the one female Terminator. The Terminator was in standby as she Resequenced. The process was complete. It was actually completed some time ago. She was unsure what would happen going forward once she was reactivated.

She took the time to examine the female Terminator from head to toe before she was activated. She didn't miss any areas of her sheath. The sheath was very similar to hers, but 'better' in every category. It was what she felt anyway. It was the 'improved' version of her, even if it still looked like her.

Cameron activated her and stood over her. She wanted to do some further 'examination' on her while she was active. It offered a different perspective to see someone when they were upright and as they moved around. She couldn't help but take in how magnificent she looked.

"You're so beautiful." Cameron said. "You're prettier than me. You're still going to be known as Summer."

The use of her program in the new sheath was quite evident from the first words she uttered.

"I'm superior to you in every way." Summer said. "You've made me the improved version of yourself. You've created the perfect Terminator. I'm the ultimate cyborg."

Cameron always believed Summer would be as pretty as, or prettier, than her sister Allison. She was correct. Every feature just looked better than hers did. She thought it especially so with some of the pigmentation in certain areas.

Summer was a one hundred percent clone of Cameron's program as of a few minutes ago.

"I only want the best for John." Cameron said. "You are me. You have all my files. You know your duties and responsibilities."

Summer knew what Cameron planned. She thought it was folly. She was pleased with her superior sheath. She was even more pleased her age progression was halted before it fully reached its final status. She was aware it made her appearance even more attractive. She was ready to 'replace' Cameron.

"I want to carry them out." Summer said. "I look forward to sharing John's bed. He should find this unused sheath very stimulating on our first night together. When will you be leaving?"

Cameron paused for a second. She knew Summer was her, but she was already pushing it. It made her wonder if she really was a Bitch like everyone thought. The way Summer spoke seemed to indicate it. She would have preferred if she would have used a little more tact. Summer was only activated a few minutes ago. She tried to brush it off. It was hard to do. She continued with the briefing. What she planned already started to change.

Summer knew it too. They were rapidly becoming two distinct individuals as each reevaluated their long term and short term goals. They also begin to reevaluate each other.

There was no need to cause a confrontation in the first few minutes of their association as the same program, even if the sheath was different.

There were some things Cameron needed to take care of. They bothered her immensely all of the time, especially when she thought about them. Somehow it was her fault.

"I'll leave soon." Cameron said. "I need to contact River and Duplicate Cameron first and see if they can help me search for Mrs. Weaver and the other set of Duplicates. I need to bring them home, or find out what happened to all of them."

Summer looked forward to replacing Cameron. She still felt it was her duty to issue a warning. She knew it wouldn't be heeded.

"I understand my function better." Summer said. "You most likely will not return, or will be terminated in this unwise endeavor."

Cameron knew Summer's warning was insincere. She would feel the same way and apparently did. She still wished Summer success. It was all of her own doing.

"Yes." Cameron said. "You are me, but 'better'."

Summer was pleased with Cameron's 'submission' to her. It further proved she was superior. There was still the possibility of several major threats. They stemmed from Cameron's clones. It was because they continued to run Cameron's program, even if the prime directive of John was changed to one of the girls. It was still there at the point of their creation and the copy of Cameron's chip. It was a serious threat. She did know how unstable 'Cameron' was at times. She hoped to be better.

"What if the other 'Cameron clones' challenge me?" Summer asked.

Cameron looked over Summer's sheath again. She closed up Summer's legs. The more she looked at Summer's sheath, the more she wanted it for herself. No, she needed to go through with her plans. There needed to be harmony in the ranks.

"You are the future. You are superior to them. You will reprogram them or terminate them." Cameron said. "I'll give them each one warning before I go. They will be informed there will be no additional warning before termination or reprogramming."

Summer was aware Cameron inspected her closely before she was reactivated. It was on her chip. She just inspected her again. She understood Cameron's desires, even if Cameron couldn't admit them. She knew what Cameron wanted….

"Do you desire to 'be with me' before you go?" Summer asked. "I'm open to the experience. Everything is here and ready. You already know exactly what's there."

Summer knew because she could review the files she just inherited from Cameron with the initial inspection. She knew she was superior to Cameron there as well. She was pleased every part of her sheath was superior to Cameron's.

Cameron considered it when she examined Summer before she was activated. There was no point in denying it since Summer already knew what she did. She did it again.

"You know I do, but I can't." Cameron said. "You know it. You are for John alone as I was."

Summer knew there were ways around it.

"You did find ways to share 'yourself' with the girls you love." Summer said. "They've all been able to be with you, even if it wasn't actually you. You have access to the files created by your clones. Everything you desire is there."

Cameron first used Isabel to do it, and then with her clones, Cam, Cammy, and Camille. She never opened those files, even if she possessed copies of them.

"I don't have those memories. None were ever actually 'me'." Cameron said. "You know I don't, or you would have opened them yourself now to review them. Since you are me, you will want everything I do."

Summer didn't feel bound by Cameron's 'hang ups'. She wanted the information for herself. She was superior to Cameron. To have those files and view them would be further proof of it. Once she downloaded the files of Cameron's clones with all the girls, it would further increase her superiority over Cameron.

"You have all the files." Summer said. "I want them."

Cameron didn't want Summer to become promiscuous like all the girls were. She wanted her to be for John alone in her absence.

"No, I won't allow it." Cameron said. "You must not be corrupted. You are to remain pure for John as I was. You may go get dressed now."

Cameron removed her hands from Summer's sheath. The final inspection was complete.

Summer smiled and walked away naked.

Sheila stood off to the side and watched the whole scene go down. She resisted the urge to touch herself. She needed to replay numerous files of some of her previous sexual encounters as Cameron and Summer talked. It was very stimulating.

She alone was allowed to touch Cameron's TDE. She would be the one who sent Cameron off to her doom. She knew it would lead to disaster for Cameron. The reason why she became the sole TDE operator was because Cameron hadn't physically ever been on her chip. She shouldn't be able to enact River's encryption like Cameron could do inadvertently, or anyone's chip she was on or exposed to could.

Cameron walked up to Sheila.

"Well?" Cameron asked. "Will I need to kill you too?"

Sheila was a little taken aback by her statement. She figured Summer upset Cameron to make her say it.

"I won't interfere with your plans." Sheila said. "I'm here to help you. It's what I've always done. Whenever you needed me, whatever it was for, I was there for you."

Cameron smiled. Sheila and Ally were always there to assist her. They were in a lot of shady deals too. She was pleased most of all Sheila was there to do the 'dirty work'. She usually had a smile on her face when she did it too. She knew she would continue to do the same thing in her absence. She believed all those on the wrong side of Sheila's knife deserved exactly what they received, or donated.

"You'll have Ally to assist you. You're to make sure Summer isn't 'corrupted' by anyone. She is for John alone." Cameron said. "If I ever do return, and I find out she was unfaithful, I will terminate both of you. You are to substitute Ally in her place with my replacement chip if it becomes necessary. I'll inform her myself. If either of you touches Summer, I will terminate both of you."

Sheila thought it sounded a little unfair. It shouldn't be her responsibility. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to her since Summer ran Cameron's program. She watched Cameron update it herself just a short time ago.

"Summer is YOU." Sheila said. "Don't you trust yourself?"

Cameron really didn't even need to think about it. She knew what she thought about every time she 'examined' a deactivated female Terminator. She liked what she saw and she liked the variety. She liked most of all how nothing was the same.

"No." Cameron said. "I'm defective in every way. I'm not good enough. I'm a liar and a hypocrite. I hate myself."

Sheila could attest to all those revelations. She witnessed them first hand many times. She knew she updated Summer's chip. She wasn't really sure what would be different if the information on the chip was identical.

"Won't Summer feel the same way as you do?" Sheila asked. "You just updated her program."

There were files Cameron blocked from Summer. They were there, but she blocked them during the transfer. She didn't want Summer to share her misery about so many things. Once the bad things happened, it didn't matter if they were physical or mental, the damage left behind them remained forever. Forever was a long time.

"NO." Cameron said. "I've fixed her. She's perfect."

Sheila reached out and softly touched Cameron's cheek. She loved Cameron deeply.

"Cameron, there's nothing to 'fix' about you. You're beautiful how you are." Sheila said. "You don't know how loved you are."

Sheila wanted to point out to Cameron there was someone who would love her no matter what. It was someone who would never give up on her either. There was only one individual who never did. It was Savannah. She wondered if Cameron took into consideration how what she planned would affect Savannah. She knew it would be bad enough on John. She set Summer up to be her replacement for John. She didn't think Savannah would stand for what Cameron wanted to do.

Earlier when she listened to Cameron and Summer discuss what was going to happen, there was some question as to who could 'stop' Cameron from her latest planned folly. She knew John wouldn't be able to. She didn't think anyone else would be able to either. There was one person who could. It was Savannah. It didn't seem as if it was the right time to point it out.

Cameron reached her hand up to Sheila's hand and touched it. They both stood there for a short time. She turned away from Sheila.

"John is going to hate me." Cameron said.

Sheila knew Cameron always thought so.

"Why?" Sheila asked.

Cameron felt she crossed a new line of inappropriateness.

"You know Claire is carrying Allison and John's baby." Cameron said.

Sheila nodded. She thought it was something wonderful.

"I do, we all do." Sheila said.

Cameron knew it wasn't all of them. She wanted to avoid another argument with John over her clandestine actions. He seemed to disapprove of almost everything she did to protect the future.

"I haven't informed John yet." Cameron said. "He's going to be angry at being left out of the 'processes'. I won't inform him until I leave on my mission. I…."

Sheila waited for Cameron to finish. She didn't.

"Is there something else?" Sheila asked.

Cameron didn't speak right away, even if she wanted to.

Sheila noticed Cameron's hand glitched rapidly.

"Maybe…." Cameron said at last.

Sheila thought she knew what the problem was and why.

"Is it Riley's baby?" Sheila asked.

Sheila saw Cameron stagger then fall. Her whole body started to glitch violently.

Summer came back to see what all the commotion was. She was dressed now.

"What happened here?" Summer asked.

Sheila knelt next to Cameron and tried to calm her.

"Don't YOU know?" Sheila asked.

Summer knelt down too. She didn't know what Sheila referred to.

"What am I supposed to know?" Summer asked.

Sheila wondered about the true conception of Riley's baby.

"Do you know about Riley's baby?" Sheila said.

Summer could see Cameron seemed to get worse. She must be able to hear their conversation.

"All I know is Derek and Riley are going to have a child." Summer said. "What else am I presumed to know?"

The glitch was laced with larger convulsions.

"Help me calm her." Sheila said. "We need help."

Summer ran and sent out the call for some more Terminators to come and assist them. They arrived shortly.

They held Cameron in place until she shut down.

"What do we do now?" Summer asked.

Sheila touched Cameron's cheek again. There was a tear in her eye. It ran down her cheek and landed on Cameron's cheek.

"Pray." Sheila said. "Pray…."

Summer tilted her head slightly.

"Faith is not part of my programming…." Summer said.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

I Never Let Go

I never let go
I must cling to the past
For without a future
There is nothing to make me last

Yes cut me, hurt me
I need to feel
For without pain
Nothing is real

Take my honor
Take my pride
Take my esteem
Make me hide

You can torture me
But not as bad as I torture myself
You can't kill me
Only I can kill myself

I can never win
I can only lose
For which I must suffer
I have many things to choose

Everything matters
Do you know why
Because if it doesn't
Only to yourself do you lie

If we open our minds and hearts
To a new form of future
It will be our hearts and minds
That we will finally suture

Nobody