Chapter 385

It Is My Wish

John Henry sent one drone to back up Steve's team. When it was sent, they didn't know the target would end up at two separate locations. It was redirected to John's location when he arrived. It wasn't what John wanted, it was what happened anyway. As soon as the drone arrived, it was ready to attack.

"I have the first drone on station." John Henry said. "Do you want me to strike the target?"

John wanted to have the option for a strike, but not call it in yet. He'd asked John Henry to get two more drones up as well. He wanted to make sure the other team was protected as he originally intended. As for his current target, he hoped to gain a little more information before they needed to act. He was still concerned about Steve's team.

"No." John said. "Not unless Steve requests it for his location. I want to know where the Terminator is going. Steve, don't hesitate to call for a hit if you feel it is warranted. I don't want anyone damaged. Watch out for an ambush."

Steve's target was on the move after splitting off from the Grays. Everything indicated their target was a Terminator. They needed to remember they could be made at any point in time. The hostile Terminator wouldn't indicate it if he planned to lead them into an ambush.

"Affirmative…." Steve said. "We can drop back and the drone can keep us posted. I don't want him to 'make' us."

John wanted everyone to use caution. There was a chance they would be led to additional targets.

"Take a divergent route and stay alert." John said. "I have Derek and Kyle each leading strike teams. They're out to assist you. We have three of our drones up, one is still in reserve. The three out will remain at an altitude high enough where a Terminator can't hear them."

John Henry got another team ready to act as a Strike Team, or a Mike Force, if necessary. The Blackhawk was put on alert.

"The Blackhawk crew has been notified." John Henry said. "The chopper is ready."

Bob wanted to take the Grays now at the location he was at with John. The longer they waited, the greater was the chance they would be detected or the Grays could fortify their position.

"How long are we going to wait?" Bob asked. "We have enough of our Terminators now to make our move."

John knew Terminators liked to make a direct approach. He looked at Bob.

"Do we go in through the front door, Bob?" John asked.

Bob smiled and looked at the objective. He believed it was the best approach to take down the target. He learned over time going in the front door was usually actually less risky than attempting some other form of entry which was more clandestine. It was what the enemy tended to watch for. They didn't expect to be attacked through their front door.

"Is there any other way?" Bob asked.

John remembered his mother told him Terminators always like to enter through the front door. He didn't need to remind himself it was something they were actually constructed to do. As a human, he would need to use a lot more caution than a Terminator would.

Ally and Summer picked up the communication John's team was about to go in. It was their job to watch the back of the building. They were out in search of a female Terminator. Because John decided to go out on the operation, they needed to back him up for additional security. They needed to forgo their mission to follow protocol to protect John.

Ally was worried about Summer. This was her first combat and she didn't want her to be damaged. So far her attitude was rather flippant and arrogant. It was actually more than a little irritating to deal with her. She strongly doubted it would be very long before Cameron needed to deactivate her. She did want her to use caution. If Summer became careless, it could endanger her as well.

"Great." Ally said. "Make sure you have all your body armor on. If you get shot up, Cameron will let me have it. Don't do anything rash or stupid."

Ally knew Cameron would blame her if Summer got shot up on her first operation. It wouldn't matter if Cameron was going to deactivate her or not. The fact Summer was damaged would be what would come back to haunt her.

Summer ran a 'cleaned up' version of Cameron's program. She didn't think Ally's warning was necessary. She possessed all the programming she needed. She didn't care for the comment about doing something 'rash or stupid' either. It was time to let Ally know her status.

"I'm invincible." Summer said. "I'm the ultimate Terminator."

Ally shook her head. She didn't need to hear that kind of talk right now. It was the wrong attitude to have when combat was imminent.

"It's the 'Cameron' in you talking." Ally said. "Bullets don't know you're 'invincible'. They only know targets. I don't want you to take ANY chances. You need to listen to ME."

Summer didn't see it as a problem.

"I will, for now." Summer said. "I'm 'Cameron' too."

Ally didn't need another Cameron wannabe.

"And I thought I was a Bitch." Ally muttered.

Summer glared at her.

Ally glared back.

The two 'sisters' weren't getting along very well. Right now they were the Terminator versions of Allison Young and Summer Young. They were biological sisters.

Ally was sure Summer was headed for termination with her current attitude. She already said she would challenge Cameron for John. She seemed unwilling to listen. She seemed to have a way to irritate someone almost instantly. Summer needed to use the 'Neural Interface' with someone. Right now she was headed for the scrap heap. Even when 'Cameron's program' was 'modified', it still left a lot to be desired.

She actually wondered what it would be like if Summer did the 'Neural Interface' with Summer Young. She was small, but she was incredibly intelligent. In her case, she didn't think size mattered. Summer Young was going to be one of the most intelligent humans to walk the face of the Earth. She also believed it would tone down Metal Summer quite a bit.

Cameron decided to use the new TDE at her base. It was the first test and attempt to actually use it. She needed to contact River. Cameron's TDE was modified as per the specs River used on her TDE. It was superior to the Skynet design.

She wasn't sure if there was a problem with her TDE or if there was a problem where River was at. She wanted to contact River one week after she left River's future. It was several years later in her timeline. River and Duplicate Cameron were to try and find a way to reach the unknown future the second set of Duplicate girls went to. Since none of them returned, it was presumed they were KIA. It didn't sit well with Cameron. It was a wrong she needed to right, even if it meant her own termination.

It was her actions which put them where they ended up at. She knew it was actually the fault of John for forcing John Henry to attempt to use their TDE outside of its normal operating procedures. It ended up creating a Duplicate set of girls along with Duplicate Cameron. From what they gathered, it also created a second Duplicate set which ended up 'in some future'. No one knew which future it was.

Cameron decided to use a calculated reverse time progression to work back up to the moment she departed River's future if it became necessary. She needed to find out what went wrong. She didn't know if it was the equipment, or the personnel.

"Keep bringing the time back by twelve hour increments." Cameron said. "We'll walk the time back right up until the moment after I left if we have to. I'm very concerned about what went wrong with our scheduled rendezvous."

Sheila was concerned about the extended usage of the TDE. It wasn't designed to be on and running for so long. They used the maximum power setting every time as well. She knew what Cameron wanted to do. She also needed to issue a warning.

"The equipment is heating up." Sheila said. "We should stop testing for now. We could end up damaging something and not know. We might end up losing power during a transfer if everything is too hot."

Cameron knew they were using a lot of power. She knew of the damage John caused to the TDE at the Resistance base. It was when he tried to get her and the girls back before. It eventually blew the back off of the control panel. She decided to listen to Sheila with extreme reluctance. She didn't want to make the same foolish mistakes John made previously.

"All right, break off." Cameron said. "We've sent a message. I hope."

Cameron decided to contact John Henry to see what all the new alerts were about.

John Henry filled her in on everything happening.

"I tried to let you know about John, Kyle, and Derek." John Henry said.

Cameron felt what she was doing was more important. Earlier she sent two of her own teams out anyway. They were all experienced Terminators.

"I was busy." Cameron said. "Ally and Ron know what to do."

John Henry figured Cameron would want to get involved in the operation since John was out in the field. He knew she hated when he was out. He wanted to find out ahead of time so he could let John know.

"Do you wish to enter the operation yourself?" John Henry asked.

Cameron thought about it for a second. It would be a good learning opportunity for Savannah. There were plenty of Terminators present, and she would be there.

"I'll pick up Cammy and Savannah. Notify them of our activity and what's planned." Cameron said. "Have them ready."

Cameron wasn't happy the 'boys' were out. She hoped to give Savannah some more field experience as well. She knew she wanted to 'harden' Savannah. She wanted Savannah to act and not think about the consequences. If something needed to be done, it needed to be done. If Savannah needed to kill, she needed to kill.

"I don't like John, Derek, or Kyle out when it can get hot." Cameron said. "Don't worry about Savannah. Cammy and I will protect her. I at least want her in on the 'mop up'. It doesn't appear we will face a full on assault."

John Henry didn't agree with what Cameron planned for Savannah. It didn't take much to figure out her real game plan. It was something he didn't disagree with totally, even if he did disagree with it.

"You want Savannah to finish off any survivors." John Henry said. "I know what you want her to do."

Cameron didn't see a thing wrong with the concept. It was going to need to be done anyway. The only question would be who would actually do it. Savannah needed to be able to kill and not think about it or question herself. The enemy needed to be eradicated, not coddled.

"I want her hardened." Cameron said. "The future is cruel. She needs to act without a second thought. Her survival, or John's survival, may depend on it one day. The enemy is the enemy by choice. They understood the dangers of what they signed up for when they signed up for it. The end of their service is a foregone conclusion."

John Henry knew Cameron's plans went against what humans felt and believed. It would be cold blooded murder in reality. A prisoner could be unarmed or incapacitated. There was nowhere for them to hold prisoners. They served an evil master. They signed their own death warrants when they turned against their fellow humans and sided with the machines who wanted to destroy humanity.

"You want her to act like a Terminator." John Henry said. "She's still a human girl at the end of the day. Don't forget it. She didn't grow up in the Wastelands, or come from the future like the other girls did. She's grown up in our care and custody. We're the ones responsible for her. Don't forget it either."

Cameron wanted the security bumped up on the three humans out already, and Steve's team. Steve's team was going after a Terminator. She found John Henry 'morality' troubling. It didn't apply when dealing with Skynet. Skynet wanted to destroy the world.

"The future dictates she must act just like a Terminator, not me." Cameron responded. "Savannah is the future. She will learn to survive the harshest conditions. Send the fourth drone. I want one each for John, Derek, Kyle, and Steve's team."

John Henry would have preferred to send one to back up Savannah. He figured with Cameron and Cammy there, there were already two of Cameron. He knew there were other Terminators as well. He still would like to have given Savannah the extra coverage.

Cameron clandestinely notified Ally's team and Ron's team to try to leave a wounded survivor. They weren't sure why. It was an unusual request from her. They figured she must be training someone. It was most likely Savannah. None of them thought it was the right move. They understood Savannah needed training, they weren't sure she needed the type of training Cameron wanted her to do.

Vanna and Allison were together. They just shared a loving session in each other's arms. It was where both of them wanted to be. Since their relationship was open, they could be with others at any time as well. It included both humans and Terminators.

Allison knew Vanna and her mother shared many 'looks'. She believed her mother was with Hanna probably because of Vanna. It disturbed her some when her mother chose the 'same' female lover as hers was. It was her mother's choice, but she knew Cameron facilitated it. She knew Cameron thought she was protecting her baby, the baby her mother carried for her. She was aware she was also going to be a mother in a few months. It was all so hard to believe. She still didn't think she could do it on her own. So far she failed every time she attempted to do so. She would need her mother's help.

Like all the girls from the future, her pregnancies didn't last long. All of their bodies were damaged from the pollutants and biological warfare Skynet unleashed. Since it failed to kill all of the living humans, Skynet tried to prevent any more from being born. Eventually they would become extinct.

It crossed Vanna's mind if she ever did enter a relationship with Claire, she would literally 'see' where Allison 'came from'. It was a strange thought. No, she just couldn't do it. Hanna could tell her anything she wanted to know about Claire. She planned to ask Hanna if she could review her video files. It always excited her to see a 'new female' and how she 'looked'. She really did want to see where Allison 'came from'.

Allison was still worried about Vanna's earlier proposal to be with her father. She didn't see it for what it really was. Vanna really wanted to be with her mother.

"Vanna, my father is off limits." Allison said. "If Hanna needs to expand her 'duties', it should be her alone. If she is with my mother and father, there's more chance of her drawing them closer and hopefully back together."

Vanna saw it just the opposite way. She seemed to have enough experience in a similar regard.

"Or she'll drive them so far apart nothing can ever be fixed." Vanna said. "You know how relationships come and go and drift. Look at us."

Allison was aware of it. She also was a little worried about Holly. Cam was the Terminator version of her appearance. Maybe Holly would find Cam offered 'more'. Cam didn't get tired and never needed to rest. The Metal girls would best know how to please each other.

"I've noticed when we're together, Holly and Cam are too now." Allison said. "Sometimes they just tether for hours, other times they share."

Vanna understood why. It was their 'fault'.

"Can you blame them?" Vanna asked. "It was killing them to have to 'watch' us."

Vanna felt it was more than just Cam and Holly needing to watch them together. She knew they could hear them as well, even if they were in another room or down the hall. She figured it was just as bad for them to listen to as it was to see it.

Allison thought it was beyond the physical aspect of Cam and Holly together. She could offer Holly some of her human attributes as far as emotions, feelings and love. When two Terminators 'plugged in', they could literally share everything. She was jealous.

"I don't like Holly being with Cam so much. They're sharing everything mentally and physically. It is the ultimate relationship to share the body and the mind completely."

Vanna thought it was beautiful to be able to share everything.

"I wish we could do the same thing." Vanna said. "Hanna told me Ally and her have done it as well."

Allison thought about it. Hanna was 'Vanna' and Ally was 'her' because of the 'Neural Interface'. It seemed like a beautiful concept. It was probably the closest thing possible to what she just mentioned to Vanna. It was still beyond their personal capability.

"It's the 'us' in them that's sharing totally then." Allison said. "It must be so beautiful."

Vanna checked the time.

"Cam and I will need to go back soon." Vanna said.

Allison was aware Jesse took 'her place' in Vanna's life at the Resistance base. She wanted to be with her family. She could still see Vanna at her house. Jesse and Vanna both needed a human lover. It was something she couldn't deny either of them. She wondered what Vanna's level of attachment to Jesse was. She knew the longer they were with each other alone, the stronger the bond would grow. It was just the way it worked.

"Do you miss Jesse already?" Allison asked.

Vanna knew Jesse never could get enough. One time she watched Jesse share with all the Metal girls, and her, for two days straight. Jesse only stopped when Gail physically prevented her from being with anyone else. Even with the restriction, Jesse pleasured herself for a few more hours non stop. She slept for two days afterwards. Jesse later confided in her Gail calculated she 'made it' over a few hundred times. Jesse needed a week for all the abraded layers of epidermis to heal in her private area. She wore off a few layers from friction.

"Yes." Vanna said. "I can have Gail and her come by to see you. There's plenty there for all of us…."

Allison didn't want Jesse around her father. She knew Jesse hadn't been with a male in a few years and she was ready for the experience again. Based upon what her mother told her, it would probably be a very negative experience for Jesse. She didn't want Jesse to get pregnant from her father either.

"No, I don't want her near my father." Allison said. "She's too 'hungry'. Jesse has no restraint."

Vanna previously thought it as well, but Jesse's actions, or lack of them, proved otherwise.

"I think she does now. Savannah tried to hit on Jesse before she went to Australia." Vanna said. "Jesse confessed it to me. She said she did nothing to initiate it and turned Savannah down. Jesse told me she literally had to get up and run out of the room more than once before things went too far. It's why Cameron took Savannah to Australia."

Allison wished her first experience could have been the same way. It wasn't. A gun was held to the side of her head as she was forced to become a woman. She didn't want it to happen. She didn't care if she died or not. She realized the male was going to use her body anyway, even if the side of her head was blown open. She decided it would be better to live. She already knew it's what all the other females needed to go through. She knew it wouldn't be the last time it happened either. It wasn't. She needed to push those thoughts to the back of her mind and focus on what Savannah and Young Jesse were able to share with each other.

"It must have been beautiful for both of them…." Allison said. "Savannah and Young Jesse I mean. Each would've been their own, and the others 'first love'."

Vanna remembered her first experience. It was a group of men and they held her down and took turns. The pain was incredible. When the first man finished, the next one started, then all of them did. As soon as the first man found out she was untouched, they didn't stop. More men came later on as well. She suppressed a gag reflex. It was bad enough, and then they flipped her over….

"I'm happy Savannah was able to give herself freely and not have her innocence taken by force." Vanna said with tears in her eyes.

Allison could see Vanna was traumatized as she relived her past. She knew Cameron took steps to prevent it from ever happening in this timeline.

"Those things will never happen to her or any of these girls, Vanna. Cameron will prevent it. Our Metal girlfriends will prevent it. WE will prevent it." Allison said. "I swear it."

Vanna couldn't let it happen to any of the girls there ever.

"I do too." Vanna said as they held each other sobbing. "I'll die before I ever let anyone touch any of the girls."

Allison thought of her sister and Young Allison. Those things could never happen to them. The Terminators would prevent it. They would prevent it as well. She agreed with Vanna. She would die trying to prevent it as well.

"We both will." Allison said. "I swear it."

They both knew Cameron provided them all with Terminators to protect them. They were more than just their lovers. They were there to do so much more.

They may not always like the way Cameron did things, but she was usually right.

Cameron slowly provided them all with a Terminator girlfriend. One after another they all received one. The way it was done was not overt but subtle. It seemed to happen at a time when each of the girls needed a 'special' lover the most. The strange part about all of it was, it seemed 'right'.

Savannah and Cammy received the word to 'gear up'.

It wasn't what Cammy wanted to hear. She worried what Cameron would do to manipulate Savannah to 'harden' her.

Savannah wanted the experience. She was told there would be plenty of Terminators with them. She quickly got ready and checked all her gear twice.

"I'm ready." Savannah said. "I'm in full combat gear."

Cammy planned to keep a short leash on Savannah. She needed to go over every scenario.

"I'll be at your side always. Cameron will be with us as well." Cammy said. "Things may get hot. Things happen fast. We may be separated too at some point. You need to help me make sure it doesn't happen."

Savannah thought Cammy overreacted a little. It wasn't her first 'dance'.

"I've trained to be a Resistance fighter, Cammy." Savannah said. "You know Cameron has prepared me. I've killed before, and been in combat. I'll have to kill again. When Judgment Day comes, I'll have to kill a lot. I know my duties and functions, ALL of them."

Cammy knew Savannah proved herself before.

"You're a good warrior, Savannah." Cammy said.

Savannah wanted to make one thing clear to Cammy. It was important to her personally. It was what she would do without hesitation if the situation dictated it.

"I will also NEVER let Cameron sacrifice herself." Savannah said. "Even if I must sacrifice myself in her place, I will do it to protect her. I swear it."

Cammy knew Cameron didn't want it under any circumstances.

"It's not Cameron's wish." Cammy said.

Savannah faced Cammy and looked her in the eyes.

"It's mine. It is MY wish." Savannah said. "You will honor it."

Cammy remembered Savannah made her promise not to interfere when it looked like she was about to make a 'big mistake'. She didn't think it was the same thing as what they were about to face now.

"I've promised to do it." Cammy said. "Know I will honor my promise because I love you, Savannah. I know you love Cameron. I know you love 'me'."

Savannah loved Cameron with all of her heart. She always had. There was nothing which mattered more to her than Cameron.

"I do." Savannah said. "I love Cameron. I'll do anything for her except hurt her."

The look of love was in Savannah's eyes.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

It Is My Wish

Everyone can hope and pray
They will find the right one
The way things work out
The chances are zero to none

In their head and mind
Everyone has a dream
The way it plays out
Will make one scream

The one we desire
Is the one to hold dear
The way it turns out
Is just another nightmare

One above all others
Will catch another's eye
The way events pan out
Turns into another lie

Into the sea of others
One casts their line to fish
They hope to pull the right one out
It is my wish

Nobody