Chapter 383

Been Chosen

Cameron was irritated. She wasn't getting results fast enough. There was so much she needed to accomplish. Ally and Summer didn't produce answers quickly enough for her. She wondered if she needed to do EVERYTHING herself. It sure seemed like it. She wanted answers and she wanted them now.

"What have you found?" Cameron asked.

Ally and Summer were unable to turn up any new information.

"There's nothing to find so far." Ally said.

Cameron knew the trail led back to their area.

"Then you need to look harder." Cameron said.

Summer didn't see how it was possible.

"We are." Summer said. "It's what we're doing."

Cameron was irritated by the slow progress. There were a number of problems which weighed heavily upon her. She was worried about her upcoming mission into the unknown. She didn't need any backtalk.

"Don't become a problem." Cameron said. "I've had it."

Neither Ally nor Summer wanted to ask Cameron as to who or what she referred to. It seemed like a quick way to be deactivated or 'erased'. They both knew Cameron was stressed out and highly agitated. They didn't think they did anything wrong, or hadn't done enough yet. Whatever demons haunted Cameron, were of her own doing. It wasn't on them.

"We'll keep looking." Ally said.

Summer and Ally left.

John wanted to find the Skynet Terminator they believed was back in their area. He wanted to find it before Cameron did. He knew something was coming soon from Cameron. It wouldn't be anything good either. He could feel it. He pushed his troops. There were several teams out in the field already searching.

"Has Steve found anything?" John asked.

John Henry didn't have anything new since the last time John asked him. It was only a few minutes ago.

"No. His team is out searching." John Henry said. "Something will turn up."

John frowned. He hated to ask the same questions. His frustration was what drove him. He didn't want Cameron to try and work around him. Somehow it seemed like a competition, even if it shouldn't be. Maybe it was more a matter of principle than anything else. He really wasn't sure. He knew what he wanted. He knew even more what he didn't want Cameron to get a hold of.

"I want to be there when it does." John said. "I want the female Terminator."

John Henry didn't see the need for John's agitation. Cameron would be the one who dictated the events. It's how it always was. Even if John were to get a hold of the female Terminator, he doubted he would hang on to it for very long. Cameron would simply take it and leave another male Terminator in its place. There wasn't much John could do about it one way or the other. There never was. All he could do was point out the reality of the situation.

"I wouldn't stress out about it." John Henry said. "If Cameron has made her move, you won't be able to stop her."

It was a deeper issue to John. It was more than just about a captured female Terminator. It was about the future of both of them. He often seemed to be more of a spectator to his life than a participant. Cameron often seemed to follow her own agenda and bypass him. He wasn't really sure why. There seemed to be certain arcs in her behavior. She appeared to be in the middle of one currently. He knew how things played out. Well, he knew how Cameron wanted them to play out. They usually didn't go the way she anticipated. He spoke a little harsher than he should have. He couldn't help it.

"If I don't, the new 'Metal Bitch' is going to end up in my bed as 'Cameron'." John said. "I can feel it coming."

John Henry was aware with all the clones Cameron already created, something like it could have occurred previously.

"What makes you think it hasn't already happened?" John Henry asked.

With all the crap John went through with Cameron, he thought maybe it did. There were times when she seemed so distant and lost. He felt when she needed him the most, she wanted him the least.

"Has it?" John asked. "Sometimes I think it has."

Cameron went from hot to cold, and from passionate to indifferent at times. It was almost like two or more different 'people' anyway. He couldn't help but think he was partially responsible for her behavior. Not only did she suffer from whatever Future John put her through, which was still him, to his own actions. He knew it was more than just the fact he was with Future Riley. It was the way he did it and rubbed it in Cameron's face, over and over. She needed to put up with it and didn't do anything negative about it.

John Henry knew John seemed to have trouble with the concept as to how it actually worked for a cyborg. Their program was who they were. The sheath and chassis were interchangeable. The sheath and program could be duplicated. Even if the original equipment was destroyed, whether it be the hardware or the software, the copy of either one would simply become what once was. It was a seamless transition. The only difference existed within someone's mind. He would attempt to explain the concept to John once again.

"The clones are identical." John Henry said. "With a copy of Cameron's program, they are her."

John clenched his teeth. The conversation reminded him too much of some of the ones Cameron carried on with him at times.

"No, they would NOT be her." John said. "I don't want to talk about it."

Bob entered the Command Center.

John welcomed the change in pace. He could use a new topic.

"Bob, I want to be able to roll on a moment's notice." John said. "Have everything ready. I'm going too."

Bob glanced at John Henry. John Henry simply shrugged his shoulders. He could see John was serious. There must be a major threat.

"Is there a Terminator?" Bob asked. "Is it a female Terminator?"

John didn't know for sure, but he suspected it was.

"Yes." John said. "There's evidence which indicates there is. There were female garments found at one of the locations. They weren't Cameron's style. I don't like the direction it will take things. I'm worried about Cameron."

Bob could see the concern on John's face. It was a serious issue for all of them. He didn't think John could prevent Cameron's plans, nobody could.

"We all feel it too, John." Bob said. "You can't stop her. You may already be too late."

John wasn't about to roll over. He would at least like to know a little bit more about what was going on. He remembered an old saying from a football coach.

"I'm sure going to try." John said. "It's never over, until it's over."

John Henry and Bob both knew it was never over until Cameron 'won'. She would continue the pursuit of her goal indefinitely until it was achieved. It didn't matter how long it took.

"She's driven by forces within her she can't control." Bob said. "Any of us would gladly take her place in whatever she plans."

John watched Bob offer to give up his power cell to blast Duplicate Cameron out of the mine she went into to destroy Skynet before. The Terminators all volunteered to do the same thing. They needed explosives fast. They didn't have a lot of high explosives available. The Terminators knew their power cells were what was quickly available and highly explosive.

"You'd all do it, even if it would mean termination?" John asked.

The Terminators in the Command Center didn't even need to think about it.

"Yes." Bob and John Henry said at the same time.

Bob knew there was a difference in the programming between the male and female Terminators. The nature of their missions was somewhat different. The job was still termination of the target in the end. He believed John was lucky to be chosen by Cameron for everything they shared.

"We may have different types of programming, but we all love Cameron." Bob said. "You're the lucky one. You're the chosen one."

John thought back on their track record. There was a glaring conclusion he could actually make from it. It wasn't quite as positive as he would have liked it to be. He also needed to remind himself there was only one person who never gave up on Cameron.

"Sometimes I don't feel like it." John said. "Savannah is the 'Chosen One' to Cameron."

John Henry was sure John didn't recognize his good fortune as much as Cameron didn't understand how loved she was. It was more than just a matter of perception.

"You should always feel like it's you." John Henry said. "There isn't a man, woman, or machine who wouldn't want to be you."

John wanted to laugh but didn't. He witnessed the games Cameron played with her clones. He believed it was a very improper thing for her to do.

"Since she's started to clone herself, there should be more of her to spread around. It would appear to be quite literally." John said. "I don't like it either. She can do whatever she wants by using such a technique. It might even be considered underhanded."

Bob didn't think so. Cameron was very discretionary in what was transferred back to her system from the clones. It was actually a very controlled procedure.

"She needs help." Bob said. "She's terminated several copies of herself. She lets whatever happened expire with their termination. She doesn't share or know of their experiences."

John saw it was more than the sex. It was about control. The clones did her 'dirty' work. Cameron was the one who controlled all of them. Sometimes he wondered if they weren't stringless marionettes. Cameron was the 'Master Puppeteer'.

"She wants control." John said. "She's controlling people by her questionable actions. It's wrong no matter who wants what. It's little more than an elusive illusion."

John Henry wasn't sure of the endgame, but he knew how it would end for her clones. He watched it happen before.

"Every clone knows one day Cameron will terminate them." John Henry said. "She will terminate their program and their existence. There isn't a whole lot they can do about it either."

John could believe it himself. He felt he knew Cameron well enough to know she would cross any line when she wanted to. It wouldn't matter who was in her way. She wasn't like a bull in a China shop, she was more like a bulldozer in a China shop.

"Are you positive she doesn't download any information?" John asked.

John Henry questioned it himself. He watched Cameron in the lab work with the chips she removed. She copied everything first before the chips were erased.

"No. She saves the 'information', but never downloads it to view or 'experience'." John Henry said. "I've asked her about it."

John could see it all for the losing endeavor it was. He wanted action.

"Send out more teams." John said. "I want the Skynet Terminators terminated. I HATE Skynet."

Bob didn't like to see John so agitated. When he was like this, he made mistakes. They all made more mistakes than usual. Logic and rationality was knocked aside by emotion and frustration. He didn't want to cause John any more stress.

"I'll get everything ready for us." Bob said.

John wanted everyone out on the operation. He would take all the help he could get.

"Search for more targets. Derek and Kyle can lead teams as well for the search." John said. "Make sure they have plenty of Terminators. If either one of their teams are the ones to make contact, they're to fall back and let the Terminators lead the attack."

John Henry could see Derek and Kyle out looking for hostile Terminators as the can of worms it was.

"I need to caution you on the seriousness of this." John Henry said. "A lot can go wrong."

John was all but defeated at this point. There were always risks. Things still needed to be done. They didn't get done by thinking about them.

"I know." John said. "I know."

Any of the human Resistance team members getting hurt was the last thing John wanted. Cameron would be angry enough when she found they were out. She was going to be even angrier at him for being out. It didn't matter. He needed to protect Cameron from herself and her irrational actions. He couldn't see his actions were just as irrational and he needed to be protected from himself as well.

Hanna was upset her experiences wouldn't be allowed to expand. She decided to concentrate on Claire even more. There was a lot of love to be gleaned from Claire. The more they were together, the more they wanted to be together.

Hanna looked Claire in the eyes and touched her cheek.

"I'm to help you with everything." Hanna said.

Claire touched Hanna's hand on her cheek and faintly smiled.

"I'm pregnant, not paralyzed." Claire said. "This is my third time."

Hanna felt a little bit of a rebuff. She needed to remember Claire was a very resourceful female. She was highly skilled in all domestic functions, even if she disliked the ones in the bedroom, with a male.

"I want to help." Hanna said. "I care about you."

Claire could see she 'hurt' Hanna some. It wasn't her intent.

"I'm sorry." Claire said. "I know you care."

Hanna smiled at her and gave her a hug.

Claire reflected on Hanna's earlier conversation with Vanna and Allison. The subject matter made it quite contentious.

"I've thought about what you said…." Claire said.

Hanna needed to heed Cameron's warning.

"Cameron told me to back off unless Paul makes a move on Vanna or Savannah." Hanna said. "Everyone is safe for now."

Claire was taken aback by the thought of Paul with Savannah. She was a beautiful young woman now. She found Savannah quite attractive herself, as well as Vanna. She took a moment to look at Hanna, she knew she looked identical to Vanna. She knew if Vanna wasn't Allison's lover, things would have happened between them long ago. She thought the other Terminators could make their own decisions.

"Can Cameron control what you do?" Claire asked.

Hanna, like every Terminator, needed to fear Cameron. She was very vindictive when she felt she was crossed or disrespected. They all knew Cameron 'carried' the Resistance on her back alone most of the time.

"No. She can deactivate me later on if I anger her or disobey her. She's terminated several Terminators." Hanna said. "Cameron calls the shots."

Claire remembered Isabel. She was very upset when Isabel was 'gone'. She wondered why Cameron didn't need to follow orders.

"I thought John was supposed to be the General." Claire said.

Hanna smiled. John wasn't Future John, even if he was.

"He is, but Cameron is the woman behind the man." Hanna said. "She's in control. She makes it all happen."

Claire heard stories about the future. She wanted to learn as much as she could about it. It was as intriguing as it was dreadful. What made it all stranger, was the fact it already happened, even if it didn't yet.

"Allison told me about a problem like it. It caused resentment in Cameron's future." Claire said. "People died."

Hanna believed it was more Future John's fault rather than Cameron's fault. Future John seemed to have as much trouble listening to Cameron as John did. She tilted her head slightly. Somehow it all made sense since they were the same individual.

"Yes." Hanna said. "Too many people were upset because Terminators seemed to be running the fight against Skynet. The human losses were high. Cameron wants to make sure it never happens again."

Claire wondered why Cameron was sent back if she was so close to Future John. It seemed there needed to be more to the story.

"Is it why Cameron was sent away?" Claire asked.

Hanna was sure there were a multitude of factors involved. The files Future John erased left a lot of questions unanswered.

"It may have been to keep both her and Future John from being assassinated." Hanna said.

Hanna knew there was some speculation Future John sent Cameron away to prevent her from being destroyed by the anti-Metal faction. He stayed to take the heat, and removed Cameron from the immediate threat.

Claire could see the burden Cameron carried at times. She may be a machine, but it all still took its toll. The longer Cameron existed, the more 'human like' her program allowed her to become.

"Is it why she's trying to do everything herself now?" Claire asked. "Is it why she wants the girls in John's bed?"

Hanna saw it for the sore point it was. Cameron's actions were a double edged sword. She did what she did to protect and provide for John. It could only happen at her own expense.

"Yes." Hanna said. "Cameron doesn't want him to be alone or isolated. John must not be perceived to only care about or love Terminators."

Claire loved Cameron deeply. She was as infected as everyone else was. She promised her body to Cameron, and John by extension. She intended to fulfill her promise. She needed to do it without hurting Cameron if possible.

"Hanna, if Cameron needs me to be in John's bed, I will. I want you to know it upfront. I won't hesitate for a second." Claire said. "I've promised Cameron I will. I intend to keep my promise when needed. I will help protect John for Cameron. I will help protect John for the future. I will yield back to Cameron at any point."

Hanna frowned. It was information she didn't need to hear again. She wanted to remind Claire there were others.

"It's the place of your daughter, not your place." Hanna said.

Claire saw it all differently. She seemed like the perfect choice. She was able to have children as well. She would do it for Cameron and the future. As an afterthought, she thought for John as well.

"I'm only a couple of years older than Allison." Claire said. "I'm younger than Jesse and Vanna. I'm able and willing to reproduce for Cameron and John."

Hanna could see Claire missed the real point of the 'Natural Order'. The girls from the other future disrupted everything. They provided Cameron with a shortcut, which seemed to create as many problems as it could solve. She looked at Claire a moment before she spoke.

"I was talking about Young Allison. I'll take your place in Paul's bed if necessary." Hanna said. "Cameron has chosen you as a backup."

Claire didn't need her daughter to have such a burden laid on her. She knew she would be able to satisfy John, and Cameron, much better than her daughter could, any of them.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Claire said. "Everyone loves Cameron."

Claire knew if she was needed, she would step up. Her daughters could wait for their 'turn'. She thought the women could teach the girls a few things. They certainly knew a lot more.

Vanna was held for months in various Scavenger camps. She was forced to perform every sex act possible with males, and even some females. She did what was necessary to survive. She was alive today because she did. Almost every other female she knew from those times, was dead. She could 'sacrifice' herself again to help Allison and her family stay together.

"I'll do it." Vanna said. "I'll be with Paul to keep your family intact. I can do what's needed to keep him there."

Allison couldn't believe what she just heard. Vanna never wanted to be with a male again, unless it was John. There were several aspects of it which just didn't sit well with her. She figured it was only a matter of time until Vanna was with her mother. She didn't need the other parent to be involved as well.

"NO - Vanna." Allison said. "He's my father."

Vanna swallowed hard. Her skin felt cold and clammy now. The bile rose in her throat a little. She took a deep breath. There might not be a gun pushed into the side of her head, or a sharp blade on her throat, but it was the same thing. She would do what was necessary. She didn't think she could feel any more worthless than she already felt, but somehow she did now.

"I always see him look at me." Vanna said. "I don't like how he looks at Savannah. He used to look at you the same way before he 'knew' you were his daughter."

Vanna was sure he figured it out even before he was actually told the truth. it did seem to stop his ogling anyway.

Allison did know it. It bothered her a great deal. She knew her father 'had sex' with her in his mind many times before he knew she was his daughter. She could feel it. It seemed like it was her mother's fault. She didn't put out for her father.

"You know him and my mother are having problems." Allison said. "They've been going on for a long time."

Vanna didn't know Cameron canceled Hanna's plan.

"Hanna is going to move in on him." Vanna said. "It would be better for your mother if I did it instead. If a Metal girl gets a hold of him, he's never going back to your mom. Besides, I can't get pregnant. I won't have your brother or sister."

Vanna knew she could get pregnant. The problem was, she couldn't stay pregnant. Her body seemed to reject everything within the first couple of months.

Allison wasn't sure when she ever heard anything more insane. Vanna couldn't be with her mother, father, and her, all at the same time, even if not in the same setting. It was just crazy talk. It seemed like it was wrong on about a dozen different levels, no matter how it was viewed.

"Listen to yourself." Allison said. "It's insanity talking. You're MY lover. You can't be my father's and mother's lover as well."

Allison didn't want to picture herself being with Vanna, after she was just with her father.

Vanna could see how insane it was. She wasn't the only option.

"It was just a thought to keep him away from Savannah and the Metal girls." Vanna said. "I'll talk to Jesse."

Allison thought it was an even worse idea somehow. She knew the allure and performance of Jesse was next to none.

"NO WAY." Allison said. "She's like a Metal girl. You know she is. Nobody can say 'No' to her. She's too HOT."

Vanna knew differently. Anyone could be rejected.

"John has." Vanna said. "He's said 'No' to all of us."

Allison didn't think it was a fair comparison.

"It's only because none of us wants to hurt Cameron." Allison said. "You know we don't. John doesn't want to hurt her either."

Vanna didn't think Allison was being fair to Paul.

"Your father is a person too, Allison." Vanna said. "Don't forget it."

"Whatever..." Allison said.

She threw her hands up in the air. Everything was a nightmare.

"I know, Vanna. I don't know how to fix any of this." Allison said. "All I know is my mom is going to be having kids for the next few years, and my dad isn't going to be involved."

Vanna still thought she was the best choice for the 'mission'.

"Will it be Jesse or Hanna?" Vanna asked. "He's gone for good either way."

Allison looked at her long time lover. She just couldn't do it to Vanna. She knew it would slowly kill her. She didn't want it to tear her mind apart. She was sure it would.

"I don't know." Allison said. "I just don't know."

The two long time lovers looked into each other's eyes. They would do anything for the other one, anything.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Vanna said.

Cameron wanted to act. It was time to contact River and ask for her assistance. The risk of disappearing like the second set of Duplicates did was too great to try on her own. It was a risk even she was worried about. There was a lot of uncertainty about it on several levels.

Cameron looked over at Sheila.

"Are we ready yet?" Cameron asked.

Sheila needed to operate the TDE. Everything checked out.

"I think so." Sheila said.

Cameron wondered how bad of an idea all of it was. It didn't matter. It was tearing her apart inside. The Duplicates needed her help. They would come for her if she was 'lost'.

"I need to do this." Cameron said.

Sheila wondered how it would play out.

"Will they come?" Sheila asked.

Cameron didn't like to ask for help. She knew she needed it. She wasn't even sure if the goal she sought existed. She did know Mrs. Weaver was out there somewhere, even if there wasn't another Duplicate set of the girls and her.

"Yes. I want an energy bubble from both River and us." Cameron said. "I need their help."

Sheila was ready to start the procedure. They needed to hide their location from John and John Henry. The power usage would give away their position unless they hid their activity. They already knew how to manipulate the power supply.

"OK." Sheila said. "Mask the grid."

Cameron unleashed CamNet into the power grid. Events would happen county wide which mirrored what they were about to do.

"It's done." Cameron said. "Do it."

Sheila powered up Cameron's TDE.

Everything was about to change….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Been Chosen

When one reaches out
Who is it that really picks
Is it the asker or the asked
Assuming there are no tricks

What brings people together
Is it more than luck or fate
What determines how it will go
Whether it will be love or hate

It seems soon enough
That one becomes the other
Feelings may one of them smother
While the other seeks another

It's all based on circumstance
Where two happen to be
It's all there is to it
I think everyone will agree

No one wants the leftovers
Or in time to remain frozen
Everyone wants to be the one
Over others they've been chosen

Nobody