Chapter 721

Electric Sphere

Young Allison worried about the repercussions of her action and how they may now have 'hurt' others. Life could get complicated very fast. It seemed where there was 'pleasure' there was also 'pain'. Savannah spoke with her honestly and openly about things like this. She'd told her how complicated things could get and that they happened fast. She also reminded her of the 'Natural Order'. She said it would all happen in time.

Time seemed to be the issue. Time went by so fast but yet so slow. Time was constant. It was the perception of events around it that varied. Time as a measurement all seemed to happen in one's head. Perhaps time didn't matter. Maybe it was events that did. With the ability to use a TDE, time was irrelevant. Maybe time was only something that drained away the lifespan of a human or any other organic creature. Was it the effects of a meteor impact that terminated the dinosaurs or was it time?

Anna was well aware of everything at this point. She watched Young Allison very closely now. She could see Young Allison wasn't her usual self. She didn't know if she could soothe her. She didn't know if she should soothe her or not. Maybe now wasn't the right time. Young Allison was vulnerable right now. She felt she needed to do something.

"Allison, you seem a little down." Anna said.

Young Allison felt more 'guilty' than anything, especially with some of the events that transpired. She hoped that they wouldn't get into any of those.

"I am." Young Allison said. "There's a lot on my mind."

Anna wanted to help.

"Can we talk about it?" Anna asked. "It can help sometimes."

Young Allison felt she needed to take responsibility for her actions. She was a willing participant. She could have 'walked away. She didn't. She always came back for more. The 'contact' made her feel good inside. It excited her and it sexually stimulated her. It made her touch herself more at night. It seemed the more stimulation that she did, the more she wanted. It was like a drug. She quickly realized that she was no different and Allison or her mother. Based on her personal observations, it seemed neither one of them could ever get enough.

"I did something I knew was wrong." Young Allison said. "I still did it anyway even though I knew it was wrong."

Young Allison knew it was 'wrong' but when she'd done it, it felt 'right'.

Anna wanted to know about the motivation. She knew humans were afflicted with many flaws. It seemed cyborgs patterned after humans suffered from many of those too. The use of the 'Neural Interface' only seemed to heighten those flaws. Sheila was a perfect example of extreme behavior, both sexually and aggressively. She decided it was best not to think about these things. She didn't want to have to address her flaws.

"Did your heart tell you it was wrong?" Anna asked.

Young Allison realized Anna was aware of what she'd done.

"You knew?" Young Allison asked.

Anna nodded. She knew some of it anyway.

"I did." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted some advice.

"What should I do?" Young Allison asked.

Anna believed Young Allison already knew.

"What you know is the 'right thing'." Anna said.

Young Allison was worried about what Savannah knew and thought of her actions.

"I promised Savannah." Young Allison said.

Anna wanted Young Allison to make her own choice.

"Is that the 'right thing'?" Anna asked.

Young Allison didn't want her personal choices to afflict others or cause them grief.

"It is." Young Allison said. "I don't want to hurt Savannah or anyone."

Anna wasn't sure Young Allison thought her decision through.

"Do you want to hurt CamNet?" Anna asked.

Young Allison clenched her jaw some.

"I'd rather die first." Young Allison said. "I'd never hurt her on purpose."

Anna pointed out something from her 'Savannah files'. She noticed Savannah learned it from Sarah.

"Sometimes when you love someone, you need to let them go." Anna said. "Love is also about sacrifice."

Young Allison already felt a lot of things. It looked like sacrifice would be added to the list. She just wanted to get away from it all. Maybe it was time to go into the past. Maybe she wanted to run from her problems. Maybe she was about to make them worse or make even more problems. Maybe she was unsuitable for anyone. She wanted to escape.

"I want to go into the past, now." Young Allison said. "I want YOU to take me there."

Anna wasn't surprised to hear that.

"It's not time yet." Anna said. "Other events must be in play first."

Young Allison wanted to run now.

"Why?" Young Allison asked.

Anna was aware of Cameron's timeline.

"Cameron has everything preplanned." Anna said.

Young Allison didn't think it mattered for what she wanted.

"I don't care." Young Allison said.

Anna needed to follow some guidelines.

"I don't think that's the right attitude." Anna said. "Until your mother agrees, I can't comply."

Young Allison wondered about her ability to 'order' a Terminator.

"Do you mean you can't even if I 'order' you to?" Young Allison asked.

Anna was bound by a previous commitment.

"Yes." Anna said. "Cameron's promised your mother that she would never 'take' you from her."

Young Allison wanted to go on her own. Nobody would 'take' her. She could go right to the source.

"I'll ask CamNet myself then." Young Allison said. "She can MAKE it happen."

Anna knew it was time for Young Allison to listen to herself and think.

"That's true, CamNet has the power to control Terminators and they'll follow her directives. She can send an energy bubble to any point in the past or future. There's always the risk of a temporal error too." Anna said. "Is that how you want to use the power Cameron has given you? Is THAT the 'right thing' to do?"

Young Allison felt sick now. Now she'd become demanding and abusive. She tried to get her way. She attempted to use all the means available to her. They were all wrong too. She knew it. What was wrong with her? She knew better. She knew right from wrong. She knew her duty. Why were there so many thoughts inside of her head? Why did everything seem to be a jumble and conflict with each other? She realized it was time to 'grow a pair'.

"No, it's not." Young Allison said. "With great power comes great responsibility. Thank you for reminding me. This isn't about me but about protecting the future. That's my function. THAT is my responsibility. John and the future will depend on me. I need to protect many things."

Anna didn't see any of this as 'new' to Young Allison.

"You knew the answer all along." Anna said. "All you need to do is look within yourself. Everything you need to know and do is already inside of you. It's what your life has been shaped around."

Young Allison only knew the life Cameron planned out for her. She'd made her promises to Cameron and intended to keep ALL of them. She was unaware of what her own desires and wishes were and what Cameron 'programmed' into her through 'conditioning' during her sleep. Much of what was in her mind was 'planted' there by Cameron.

"I've seen Allison, Duplicate Allison and Future Allison." Young Allison said. "Can I ever live up to be the women they are? They're all so beautiful and loved."

Young Allison wondered if she would ever be 'good enough'. It was a fear that plagued her. She knew it was a fear that Cameron shared. It never occurred to her that this may be the origin of Cameron's fear of being 'not good enough'. Maybe it originated with her. Maybe she picked the feeling up from Cameron.

Anna believed Young Allison was 'in' all of them. In all of the cyborgs who ran Cameron's program.

"Yes. You're the original." Anna said. "You'll be the best 'Allison' of them all. You are Allison Young in any form or variation."

Young Allison knew one 'Allison' stood out above the others.

"Can I be better than Future Allison?" Young Allison asked.

Anna was aware Cameron planned much more for Young Allison.

"Yes. When Cameron returns you from the past, YOU will be the best 'Allison'." Anna said. "You will be the human version of Cameron."

Young Allison doubted she could ever look as good as Cameron and knew she would never be able to do everything Cameron could do. There was only one thing that she knew she could do that Cameron couldn't. That was the ability to reproduce. It was the ability to have children and nurse them. It was the miracle to create 'life'.

This was all some very 'heavy' thought. She needed to run through the chain of events again.

"Cameron was created in my image from Future Allison." Young Allison said. "Cameron went back and saved me - Future Allison. She made her a better version of herself than she was when Cameron was created from her. That in turn helped Cameron to be better than she was by doing that. She was able to learn and grow herself."

Anna thought that summed it up nicely.

"That's correct." Anna said.

Young Allison saw it was a vicious circle.

"Now, the better version of Cameron is going to make me 'better' than Future Allison, which in doing so will make Cameron 'better'." Young Allison said.

Anna ran Cameron's program. She knew almost everything Cameron did and planned.

"That's correct." Anna said.

This was all a little mind boggling to Young Allison. It seemed like even more variables than Cameron could control.

"How do we know any of this will happen the way Cameron has planned?" Young Allison asked. "It seems like a million things can go wrong or change beyond our control."

Anna knew what Cameron thought, even if there was no proof.

"Cameron may have done this before." Anna said. "She doesn't know for sure but believes she has. You must stick to what is real."

Young Allison drew closer to Anna.

"You're real." Young Allison said.

Anna didn't back away. She loved Young Allison dearly.

"I am." Anna said.

Young Allison drew nearer still to Anna.

Anna still didn't back away. She possessed her own desires as well.

Young Allison held Anna's gaze as she moved closer….

There was a special moment that built between them. It was clear they both wasted more.

Anna's phone buzzed a special tone.

Young Allison and Anna looked at each other….

The 'moment' was lost.

Cameron was finally about to kiss Savannah in a real shared loving mutual kiss. It was something she'd wanted for years. Something they both wanted. Their lips just started to touch….

Cameron's phone buzzed a special tone.

Savannah and Cameron looked at each other….

The moment was lost.

Cameron couldn't believe it happened again.

"NO. Not now." Cameron said.

Savannah wasn't sure what happened. She knew something must have.

"What's wrong?" Savannah asked.

Cameron knew it was her ever present enemy.

"Skynet has been detected, some version of it anyway." Cameron said. "All Terminators have received the alert."

Savannah understood the threat for what it was.

"Do we need to go on 'lock down'?" Savannah asked. "Where is it?"

Savannah moved towards an arms locker. She didn't want to be caught flat footed.

Cameron didn't want to raise undue alarm.

"It isn't an imminent attack." Cameron said. "Not yet."

Savannah didn't want to take any chances.

"Where are John and Young Allison?" Savannah asked. "Do we need to warn them?"

Cameron received additional information.

"Not at this time. They have Terminators with them." Cameron said. "Only CamNet has detected the activity."

Savannah wasn't as sure as Cameron that this was 'Skynet'. She knew CamNet could become Skynet. That's what she wanted to prevent. She knew of Cameron's adverse reaction to various and past 'events' that she'd previously been subjected to. She was afraid CamNet would feel the same way. Maybe this was the first step in that direction for CamNet. Maybe something 'bad' was going to happen. It was possible CamNet experienced jealousy or was about to have a fit of rage, a temper tantrum. She wanted more information herself.

"Can John Henry verify this?" Savannah asked.

Cameron was troubled by Savannah's question. She understood the unspoken implications.

"I've received no alert from him." Cameron said. "Let me look into this further."

Savannah was worried. This might be her 'fault'.

She knew she was about to go down a narrow path on shaky ground. It was a path she needed to follow no matter where it led, even if it was to her own termination. So be it. She planned to go down fighting for what was right.

Minutes ago:

John looked over the tracking information on the boxcars. He tried to determine where they were at any time they were stopped and what was physically around them.

John Henry checked every nation's satellite photos of the areas involved. There were 'spy satellites' in orbit from more than one nation. There are actually quite a few of them. Other satellites could be re-purposed to gather the same information as a spy satellite.

"I want to find out where those boxcars were unloaded." John Henry said. "CamNet should be able to assist us."

John wasn't sure of CamNet's global reach.

"Does CamNet have all that information?" John asked.

John Henry wanted to keep the story simple.

"Yes." John Henry said. "A Skynet operative, a Gray named Fisher, installed a Skynet 'back door' into defense systems nationwide, which spread worldwide. CamNet detected the 'back door' and took control of it. She encoded it with River's encryption. No one can break the code. CamNet has since become 'invisible' and appears to be 'gone' but is really everywhere."

John Henry's server and phone buzzed a special tone.

John looked at John Henry. He knew trouble when he heard it.

"Is that trouble?" John asked. "What's the problem?"

John Henry understood the threat for what it was.

"CamNet has detected Skynet activity." John Henry said.

John sat up and began to check everything. He hoped Skynet hadn't detected them.

"What's the alert status?" John asked. "Do we need to lock down everything?"

John Henry was a little concerned by the lack of any follow up information. They didn't need to 'jump the gun'.

"Not yet." John Henry said. "This may be nothing more than a Gray trying to do something."

John was more worried about the bigger picture.

"What if it's Skynet trying to take control?" John asked.

John Henry was ready for the initial 'combat' if Skynet tried to make a move.

"Then CamNet and I will fight it in the 'electric sphere'." John Henry said.

John hadn't heard it put like that before. He wasn't sure what the 'electric sphere' was but figured it was the realm where Skynet would try for a power grab. He wondered how often any battles happened behind the scenes. He was worried about three individuals specifically.

"Where are Cameron, Savannah and Young Allison?" John asked. "I need to make sure they're protected."

John Henry received a response before he could even inquire. It was clear CamNet was on top of everything they did. That was a switch from the way things happened recently. The news was good news anyway.

"Savannah is with Cameron and Young Allison is with Anna." John Henry said. "They're all protected and alerted."

John thought how that was the 'inverse couple' of a Terminator and human together. The 'Natural Order' was always trying to assert itself. He was tired of fighting it. He was ready to bag a couple of virgins and wake up with at least one female in his bed every morning. He would really like to retire 'Rosie Palm'. He needed to refocus.

"What else do we need to do right now?" John asked.

John Henry still hadn't detected anything. He was unsure about the alert. He needed to believe CamNet must have found something. He just didn't know what.

"There's nothing more yet." John Henry said. "We need to wait for CamNet to tell us more. I'm checking everything again myself."

John Henry was sure there should be more information. Where was it?

Savannah questioned the timing of the alert as much as anything.

"Let's go see CamNet." Savannah said.

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"Why?" Cameron asked.

Savannah hadn't experienced an 'alert' quite like that.

"So we can find out more." Savannah said.

Cameron knew the threat level. This was the first stage alert.

"There's no 'more' yet." Cameron said. "This is a pre 'yellow alert'."

Savannah felt they should do something. Something triggered the alert.

"So what do we need to do now?" Savannah asked.

Cameron knew it was a waiting game.

"There's nothing to do yet." Cameron said. "We've been alerted but aren't ready for action or an attack."

Savannah was dissatisfied with the answers so far. She wanted to be involved.

"Where and when was this 'activity' detected?" Savannah asked.

It was clear Savannah didn't think this was 'real'. Maybe it was because the moment between Cameron and her was lost again. It always seemed something got in the way of their first loving kiss. It always seemed to happen at the last second.

Savannah felt her phone vibrate and looked at it.

The brown eyes looked at her and a single tear slid down on the screen.

Savannah realized that CamNet was upset that she didn't believe her. That bothered her greatly. Maybe because it was true, she may have let her personal feelings get in the way of 'work'.

Cameron wondered if the phone call would add anything.

"Who is it?" Cameron asked.

Savannah felt a sense of guilt and pettiness.

"It's personal." Savannah said.

Savannah looked at the security camera.

"I'm sorry." Savannah said.

Cameron thought Savannah was speaking to her.

"You don't need to be. I want you to have a personal life." Cameron said.

Cameron knew the more choices that were available to Savannah, the more she would never need to feel alone or rejected.

Savannah looked back at Cameron. There was something else that bothered her. It was Cameron's 'collection' of female Terminators.

"Can I see the female Terminators you've 'collected'?" Savannah asked.

Cameron was aware she may have stepped over the line. She didn't think now was the proper time.

"I'd rather you don't." Cameron said. "I'm working on some things."

Savannah could feel Cameron's hesitation. She still needed to carry out her plans. She'd personally captured more than a few female Terminators herself.

"I need one for CamNet. I need a female Terminator chassis." Savannah said. "I intend to keep my promise."

Cameron turned and started to walk away.

Savannah felt her phone vibrate again. She paused and looked at it.

The brown eyes looked at her and one winked. 'Thank You' appeared on the screen.

Cameron glanced back at Savannah.

"Follow me." Cameron said.

Savannah looked up at Cameron and back to her phone as two hearts appeared on the screen and slowly overlapped. 'Cupid' appeared and shot an arrow in slow motion. It passed through both hearts and stopped. The arrow bound them together as they overlapped.

She swallowed hard. She was unsure what she'd gotten herself into….

Things didn't develop how she imagined they would. No wonder Young Allison was captivated and enticed by this type of activity. This type of communication needed to stop. An emotionally underdeveloped girl being subjected to this attention and behavior couldn't help but be captivated by it. She was sure CamNet initiated it. CamNet may have waited for her to be with Allison while Young Allison watched and then made her move. If that was the case, it was cold and calculating.

It didn't matter. She would protect Young Allison. She would do anything to protect her. She was aware she may have 'sold her soul'. It was time to pay the price and make sure Young Allison was protected from any further 'emotional assaults' and abuse. It was she who needed to deal with CamNet.

Sometimes They Go Bad

Has it not been said
About everyone at some point
Sometimes they go bad
Even one our heart will anoint

Many things can occur
Many things go wrong
We can be rejected
Told we don't belong

Things beyond our control
They can happen at any time
If we falter, fail or error
Our own existence we begrime

We have the power
Deep within ourselves to resist
To the one we've hurt
Even if we've never kissed

It's said, love conquers all
Even rejecting one's very nature
When that actually happens
Love is more than nomenclature

Nobody