Chapter 395

I'm Going After Them

Cameron was on the TDE pad. She was about to make a temporal transfer. The energy bubble began to form around her.

River sent out a warning it was really Cameron as she was restrained by Sheila and Summer.

Savannah saw there was a problem. She jumped forward and into the energy bubble. She grabbed onto Cameron. She hoped to move Cameron off of the TDE pad before the transfer completed.

The arcing and flashing intensified.

There was a final bright flash.

Only Savannah's clothes remained.

They were both gone….

The TDE began to power down.

River broke free of Summer and Sheila. She looked at the two Terminators with extreme anger. They prevented her from stopping Cameron and Savannah from being blasted into the future. She knew she could have saved both of them. Now they were in the unknown. The careful calculations and precise setting would have been altered by two bodies in the energy bubble. Everything was specifically calculated for one individual, not two. Cameron and Savannah could have ended up anywhere 'in some future'. It most likely would not be to where the other set of Duplicates went. Cameron and Savannah could be lost in time.

"You fooled me. You deceived me." River shouted at Summer. "What just happened is your fault."

Summer didn't like the deception. It was necessary to carry out Cameron's desires.

"It was Cameron's wish." Summer said. "I'm 'Cameron'. Now I'm Summer."

River saw it differently. Summer was a different chassis and sheath, with only a copy of Cameron's program.

"You're not Cameron. You never were Cameron. You're a copy." River said. "Cameron is gone."

Summer moved in back of the TDE controls. She didn't like the criticism.

"Cameron's will has been done." Summer said. "You will need to deal with it."

River thought they overlooked the biggest factor. It was unintentional and would change everything.

"What about Savannah?" River asked. "What about her?"

Summer was highly disturbed by the incident. She tried to blow it off and seem indifferent. She was aware everything would be altered. It wasn't going to end well for Cameron. Savannah being there with her would only make things worse. It would be another distraction for Cameron and impede her mission.

"It was an unforeseen incident." Summer said. "Savannah is no more. She has self terminated."

River was more than angry. She couldn't believe they were so indifferent. Now she wished Duplicate Cameron would have come with her. She could use the extra muscle in a room full of Terminators. She didn't like the terminology at all, especially since it was inaccurate. She needed to do something. She needed to do it now.

"Self terminated? Savannah tried to save Cameron, the REAL Cameron. I can get them back." River said. "I can go after them."

A glitch impulse shot through Summer's left hand. It wasn't supposed to be complicated like this. Cameron was supposed to go alone. Savannah's action was unforeseen. It would now need to be recorded as an act of sacrifice. Everything they did going forward, would only make it worse. Things could start adding up like the 'Day Of Loss'.

"No." Summer said. "Everyone sacrifices for Cameron."

River knew they were all wrong. She felt she uncovered the true nature of the timeline the other set of Duplicates were in. It was an aberration. It was all 'wrong'. She wasn't sure of all the details, but she believed she was able to develop an overview of the situation.

"This isn't how it was supposed to be." River said. "It's possible they're in a timeline Cameron created by taking everyone back over a hundred years in a previous life. Her clone was supposed to go. Nothing will be the same…."

Summer wanted everyone to remain calm for a few minutes. Cameron, and hopefully Savannah, should return from the future very soon on their own if things worked out as intended.

"If Cameron isn't terminated, we should know shortly." Summer said. "We need to wait and see how things play out."

They all knew if Cameron was successful, she should return in seconds. It should be a few minutes at the most. With the use of a TDE from the future Cameron and Savannah were supposed to go, it shouldn't be a problem. Duplicate Cameron reported plasma weapons were in use there in her brief stay there during the temporal mishap. It indicated there was advanced technology there.

They waited in the TDE room.

There was nothing but silence.

Nothing happened.

They waited for Cameron and the others. Someone should return.

It didn't happen.

They waited longer in silence.

Still nothing happened.

Cammy was unable to get a hold of Savannah. She was out earlier. Now she couldn't find Savannah. She asked John Henry where she was at. She wanted to know what else was happening. John Henry notified her Cameron's TDE was used. Savannah went to Cameron's base earlier with River and Summer.

Vanna and Cam were nearby.

Cam picked up on the danger immediately. It sounded like some form of 'temporal mischief'. Since Cameron was involved, it was probably 'temporal malpractice'. Whatever it was, she didn't think it was good. She knew how important Savannah was to her. She didn't want it to come back to her if she knew there was a problem and didn't say anything to Vanna right away. She quickly filled Vanna in.

Anything which dealt with the future rubbed Vanna the wrong way. She needed to find out more. The best way to do it would be to show up at Cameron's base.

"I need to go there." Vanna said.

Cam didn't think it was a good idea. They would probably be some negative flak from Cameron.

"I'm not sure." Cam said.

Vanna didn't have time for games. There was nothing for anyone to be sure about other than there was probably a problem. She turned away from Cam and faced Cammy.

"I'm sure." Vanna said. "Cammy, take me to Cameron's base right now."

Cam and Cammy looked at each other.

"I don't know." Cammy said. "It's not a good idea."

Vanna was impatient. She tried to call Savannah herself. It was her third try. There was no answer.

"This is about Savannah." Vanna said forcefully. "I can't reach Savannah. I want either of you to get a hold of her right now. If not, I need one of you to take me there immediately! If there's a problem, we need to deal with it before it gets worse."

Cammy was worried about Savannah. Maybe Vanna could help in some way. Having a human female with them would give them a little more leverage. Hopefully it would also prevent them from being terminated by Cameron. She wanted to find Savannah. She didn't want to raise too big of an alarm until she knew more.

"Let's go." Cammy said.

The three of them left for Cameron's base. The drive over was in near silence. Cam asked Vanna to question Cameron herself. She believed Vanna would get a more truthful answer than either Cammy or her would.

Vanna agreed. They needed to find out where Savannah was. She attempted to call Cameron on their drive over. There was no response.

Both Cam and Cammy searched the horizon as they neared Cameron's base for any signs of an explosion. They didn't spot any flames or smoke as they approached.

Cammy arrived at Cameron's base with Vanna and Cam a short time later. They went inside and immediately found Summer, Sheila, and River. The two Terminators didn't want to say much. It was clear Sheila did, but Summer wouldn't allow her to. They didn't have any control over River. River told them exactly what happened and how she was restrained from assisting.

Vanna was very upset.

As soon as Cammy found out what happened, she went ballistic.

"I'm going after Savannah." Cammy said. "I can't let anything happen to her."

Sheila and Summer blocked the controls to the TDE.

River was very upset at how things played out. She didn't like the deception or the restraint.

"I'm going too." River said. "They won't let me near the controls."

Cammy looked at Summer with hate. She put up with enough. Savannah was in grave danger in any future.

"I need to go now." Cammy said.

Summer wouldn't allow anyone near the control panel.

Vanna reminded Cammy what was going to happen to Savannah sooner or later.

"Any future is going to savage Savannah's body in multiple ways." Vanna said.

It was the final straw.

"Move away from the controls. I'm going after Savannah. I'm going NOW." Cammy said.

Summer didn't like the discord. She was 'Cameron' too. She knew what Cameron Prime wanted. It was her final wish.

"It's not happening." Summer said. "Cameron insisted no one was to follow her no matter what happened. It is the form of termination Cameron Prime has chosen."

Vanna thought they overlooked the most important thing. Cameron wasn't the only one involved.

"What about Savannah?" Vanna asked.

Summer tried to justify what happened. It didn't sell.

"It was Savannah's choice to terminate with Cameron." Summer said.

River watched what happened when she was restrained.

"Savannah tried to save Cameron, not kill herself." River said. "You know it as well. Don't try to tell me you don't."

Cammy snapped at Summer and moved closer to the controls.

"Get out of my way." Cammy said.

River was still angry they blocked her earlier. She would have been able to act instead of Savannah. She was the one who issued the warning. She personally felt like what happened to Savannah was her fault now. If she wouldn't have said anything, Savannah would still be there, only Cameron would be gone. She wanted to put the blame for the current situation where it belonged.

"I could have saved Cameron and Savannah both if they wouldn't have held me." River said. "Summer purposely deceived me. It's her fault Savannah is gone."

Vanna cringed at the thought of being 'held'. It reminded her where Savannah was now. It reminded her how she was 'held down' in her future. She knew what always happened once it occurred.

"I'm going to go and get Savannah myself." Vanna said. "She's got to get out of the future immediately. Every second she is there, she is in grave danger."

River cringed a little as she got a flash of Vanna's thoughts. They were all terrible things.

Cam glanced at Vanna and her reaction.

Cammy knew Summer didn't have all the details. She turned and faced Summer.

"Do you know?" Cammy asked. "Do you know about Savannah?"

Summer tilted her head slightly. Savannah was gone. It was something she already knew. What else was there to know? It sounded important.

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

Cameron's Terminators were now in force in the area. They weren't in the TDE room, but they came to see what the problem was. They were mindful of the human females. The tension was high.

Cammy glanced at Cameron's Terminators and turned her attention back to Summer.

"Savannah is pregnant with John's baby." Cammy said. "Now she's in Hell. I'm going after her. I need to get her back."

Summer didn't know Savannah was pregnant. She thought the action was taken by another. She believed Savannah went to Australia to influence Young Jesse, not be a participant. She was under strict orders from Cameron about her departure.

"Cameron was unaware of it." Summer said. "She only thought Young Jesse might be pregnant, and Claire, with Allison's offspring. The TDE must remain off."

Cammy didn't want to get into a fight before she left. She glanced over at Vanna.

Vanna pointed at River.

River understood what Vanna indicated. She looked at both of them and nodded.

Cammy felt a little more embolden.

"I'm going after Savannah." Cammy said. "I don't care if I have to go to River's future to do it."

River liked the idea. It was a workaround past all of the drama. She could feel how determined Cammy was. She was as intense as Cameron. It was understandable, Cammy was 'Cameron'.

"As soon as my energy bubble forms I'm going." River said as she looked at Cammy. "We can both go."

Vanna wanted them to have more help. She wanted to go herself. She knew there was someone with much more ability than she possessed. She turned to Cam.

"You must go with them, Cam." Vanna said. "They'll need all the help they can get."

Cam understood the danger and the fact no one returned yet. It looked like a one way ticket. She wanted to let Vanna know the true danger of what they faced.

"I don't want to leave you, Vanna." Cam said. "I don't think we'll come back."

Vanna already contemplated going herself. It didn't leave her with much of a choice. The decision was an easy one.

"I love you, Cam, but we need to get Savannah back." Vanna said. "I'll go myself then. We can face whatever we face together. If we die, we die. We all die anyway. I don't think it really matters where. Right now I really don't care when either. We need to get Savannah out of the future. None of you knows what it's actually like since it's never happened to you. I know. We need to get Savannah back immediately."

Summer could see she was losing control fast. She didn't know if anyone would support her. Sheila looked like she was about to fold. Cameron's Terminators all thought the world of Savannah. They also knew the importance of River to Cameron. There may be a full mutiny in a very short while. She needed to remain in control.

"Nobody is going anywhere." Summer said.

Cammy didn't like the endless delays. It seemed Summer was trying to 'buy time'.

"You're not Cameron Prime, Summer." Cammy said. "You can't tell us what to do. I'm more 'Cameron' than you are. I'm the one who is identical to Cameron, not you."

Cam wanted Vanna protected. There was no need for her to go. She would sacrifice herself to protect Vanna. Sacrifice was the true test of love. She loved Vanna.

"River and Vanna, you can't go." Cam said. "Cammy and I will go alone. Nothing will change if we're terminated. There are copies of our programs if you choose to rebody us after our failure if we don't return. Don't destroy any more timelines or create new ones. You know this River. This isn't your fight. You're very important to your own time period."

River glared at Summer. She could feel how torn Summer was over everything.

"Savannah is important. Savannah is my fight." River said. "I can't abandon her to her doom this way. Not when it happened in front of me. Not when I was deceived. Not when I was unjustly detained."

Summer was aware Savannah being with Cameron would change everything on the receiving end. There were time lags sometimes. Cameron experienced a few of those.

"Please give it some time." Summer said. "Everyone needs to relax. They may still return. It just may be later than anticipated. None of this is an exact science, even if River's redesign of the TDE is a major improvement. We don't know what they're dealing with, where they're at."

Vanna was irritated by her response.

"It's the whole point." Vanna said. "We have to assume the worst."

Summer was already worried about the same thing. She needed to remain in control.

"We need to give it more time." Summer said. "I'm the one in control."

Cam and Cammy were both an older version of "Cameron'. Their love for Savannah was dominant. They'd heard enough out of Summer.

"SHUT UP." Cam and Cammy both screamed at her.

River could see things were going nowhere. She needed to get back to her future. She would take Duplicate Cameron and go with her. The tension was immense.

"Are you going to prevent me from entering my energy bubble?" River asked.

Summer didn't have any authority over River. She felt the same love for her every version of 'Cameron' did. She also needed to maintain some order.

"No." Summer said. "Cam, Cammy, or Vanna won't be allowed to go with you."

Vanna heard enough. She actually possessed more actual experience in the future than any of them did.

"YOU can't stop me." Vanna said to Summer.

River wanted to leave. She didn't want the other girls to complicate things. She said what she already planned.

"I can go myself." River told Cam, Cammy, and Vanna. "I can do it. MY Cameron will go with me. I'm going to try anyway."

Cammy thought of another workaround.

"We're coming with you." Cammy said. "You can send an energy bubble for us and we will go to your future. We can leave from there. I don't care what the cheap imitation Summer says. She can't stop us from doing it."

It looked like things were about to explode in the room.

Vanna looked around at all of them.

"Are we going to fight over this?" Vanna asked. "It's Savannah - SAVANNAH. We need to get her back. What's wrong with all of you?"

Summer couldn't restrain them much longer. She could hear the Terminators outside of the TDE room. It was clear they were becoming increasingly agitated. She heard the term, 'The Chosen One' mentioned more than once.

"Cameron insisted this is how it is to end for her." Summer said. "I'm her replacement. I'm Cameron."

Cammy wanted to get things rolling. Summer was in the way.

"Take a look in the mirror, SISTER." Cammy said. "I'm 'Cameron'. I'm going after Savannah. I'll do it in the present, the future, or the past. EVERY Resistance Terminator will do the same thing. I'm willing to bet all of the ones here will too. Then every human will try, one after another until they've all gone, ALL of them. YOU know it. They're ALL going to try."

Summer did know it. She tried to keep the focus on Cammy.

"It's only because Savannah is your lover." Summer said. "If you were still Cameron, John would be your lover. He would be the only one you love."

Cammy pointed out what everyone already knew. It was the truth.

"You'd better check your files, SISTER." Cammy said. "Cameron loves all the girls. You know it. It's why YOU were created. It was so she could share her love with everyone and John. You know this."

Summer didn't think anyone would back her. She was out of options. She prepared for it. She moved behind the TDE controls. Suddenly, there was a Thermite grenade in her hands.

"I'll destroy the machinery before anyone goes after Cameron, either in the future or the past." Summer said.

Cam planned to go as well. There were several options available to them.

"We'll use the one at the other base." Cam said. "It still works into the future. River can fix it for us like she did the one here."

Summer needed to prevent the day of loss from reoccurring. She needed to play a few more cards.

"It's rigged to self destruct." Summer said. "Cameron did it herself when she was there. She did it when she 'divorced' John and returned her rings to him. She planned ahead for any eventualities."

It sounded just like Cameron to Cammy. What a selfish Bitch. She was tired of the delays. She was tired of Summer.

"You're about to sacrifice Savannah, so Cameron can die." Cammy said. "It's NOT going to happen. I'm not about to allow Savannah to be sacrificed, especially for Cameron, or even worse, you."

Cam felt there was still one card to play. It should matter to the 'Cameron' in Summer.

"Do you think what's happening to Savannah is what Cameron wants?" Cam asked. "Do you, Summer? What about John's baby? Do you think Cameron wants John's baby to perish? Do YOU? It was the main reason why she rescued Duplicate Cameron and the Duplicate set of girls. It was to make sure John's baby didn't terminate with Duplicate Allison."

Summer looked at the Thermite grenade and the TDE controls.

Cammy could see the mention of Savannah's baby bothered Summer.

"YOU are a copy of Cameron like we are, Summer." Cammy said. "You know Cameron loves Savannah and wants her safe at John's side. YOU KNOW THIS. Savannah is carrying John's baby."

Summer knew it was all but lost. She still needed to carry out Cameron Prime's wishes.

"We must obey Cameron." Summer said.

Cammy tried to drive the wedge home. It was what would matter the most to any 'Cameron'.

"What about John's BABY?" Cammy screamed. "What does Cameron want more than anything?"

Summer's left hand felt a glitch impulse.

"Cameron…." Summer started.

Cammy could see Summer was distracted. She battled an internal conflict. She hit home again.

"Cameron wants the baby alive." Cammy screamed at her. "Get out of our way and let River have the control panel."

Summer tried to regain her composure and resolve. She was ready to self terminate at this point. It would be better than going forward. It was clear she already failed everyone, including herself.

"It's not happening." Summer said. "I'm going to destroy this equipment. River and Vanna, get out. I don't care if these two defective clones are damaged."

Vanna boldly moved forward. She stood near Summer.

"Then you will have to kill me too." Vanna said. "I will not leave."

Summer's left hand glitched more.

River could feel Summer at WAR with herself inside. It wasn't a good feeling.

"You can't do this, Summer." River said. "Look at EVERYONE. How many individuals are you going to kill for something you know is wrong. You know what the right choice is."

Summer wanted River out of there.

"You will be free to go when your energy bubble appears." Summer said. "Cameron thanks you for your assistance. You will return alone."

River wanted to make her position clear.

"Do you understand I'm going after them myself, alone?" River asked. "You have no way to stop me. You deceived me once. It won't happen again. You detained me once. It won't happen again."

Another glitch impulse shot through Summer's left hand.

"I understand it's a bad idea." Summer said.

River tried to hit home at Summer again.

"You know I'm going to do it anyway." River said.

Vanna saw what affected Summer. She made a point to address it again. It really was what was going to happen.

"You were already told what was going to happen once our Terminators find out Savannah is missing. They will all try to go, to bring Savannah back." Vanna said. "It will be one after another. It will be like the 'Day Of Loss' all over again and everyone is still going to do it. I'm going myself too. I'm going on the first rescue mission. Allison will come after me, both of us, and so will Jesse. Young Allison will come too when she is older. John is going to be alone forever. He will come too."

Summer was out of cards except for the 'Joker', the Thermite grenade.

"Please respect Cameron's wishes." Summer said. "If Savannah can be returned, you KNOW Cameron will do it. If Mrs. Weaver is there, you know she will do it herself."

Vanna heard how Mrs. Weaver dealt with Terminators. It was violent and brutal. She directed her anger at Summer.

"IF my mother comes back, and Savannah isn't with her or dead, I'll have her kill you, Summer. I'll ask her to rip you apart a piece at a time." Vanna said. "YOU are the one killing Savannah. She will tear you apart. I swear it."

Summer already contemplated the prospect.

"You won't have to ask her." Summer said. "She'll do it on her own, or try anyway."

Cam and Cammy moved forward. River was between them.

Summer saw it was over. The only thing left was the 'Joker'.

"I'm destroying this equipment now. Get out if you don't want to be damaged or hurt." Summer said. "I've given everyone sufficient and final warning. What happens after this point in time is on each of you, not me."

River was willing to take the gamble. Summer was about to falter or even overload.

"I'm going to have to fight Terminators where Savannah is at. I guess I might as well start now." River said. "Let's see what I can do…."

It was the moment of truth.

"We're with you." Cammy and Cam said as they advanced.

River took the lead.

"My turn…." River said.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

I'm Going After Them

Some people try for the unreachable
Like trying to catch the wind
As faults are pointed out
It is evident who is thin skinned

One might look to the sky
They may reach for the stars
Do they even remember
What is theirs and what is ours

It's like making a wish
There is nothing really there
It matters not at all
How much one will care

Many things are not real
They're based in superstition
Beliefs without any facts
Lead to unfounded suspicion

When one finally realizes
They've lost life's true gem
They better wise up and say
I'm going after them

Nobody

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Events continue in Chapter 403

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