Chapter 723

Past Memories

John needed to worry about this new problem as well as the troops out in the field related to the boxcar activity. They were all in danger of some sort. He was glad he pulled them out when he did. Whatever was happening out there was a set up and it was a sucker play for them.

"How soon until Bob is back?" John asked.

John Henry quickly checked Bob's position. He was on the freeway.

"It might be a little over an hour." John Henry said. "It depends on traffic."

He knew the teams that were in the next state would have a much longer drive ahead of them.

"What about the three teams that were in Arizona?" John asked.

John Henry checked their position. One team was on the '40', another was on the '10' and the last one on the '8'.

"They're still a few hours out." John Henry said. "They've all taken divergent routes and acquired new transportation, several times. None of them report any type of a tail. They will all eventually converge on the '10' where it intersects the '15' and run each other through an ambush."

John saw them as 'extra' personnel right now. He planned to make use of them.

"As soon as they're back, I'm going with Bob and them to see what we can find around Avila Beach and SLO." John said.

John Henry hoped that he hadn't heard John correctly but he knew that he did. He could see no good come out of any of this with John in the field.

"Trouble is what you'll find." John Henry said. "I can't recommend this. It's a bad idea."

John looked a little smug. He flashed John Henry a slight smile.

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

John knew it would cause a problem with Cameron at some point. She didn't like him out in the field when there were Terminators available to do those tasks. He felt the need to do more and try and spread the risk. He wanted to take some of the heat off of Savannah as well. From the intelligence that they'd gathered, it seemed relatively low risk at this point.

This was something that they'd uncovered and he wanted to follow up on it. This was a solid lead on several counts. It would be nice to upstage Cameron for once too.

Cameron became more worried as she walked with Savannah. She knew there was probably going to be some kind of repercussions once Savannah started looking around. She knew she'd taken a lot of leeway and was going to ruffle some feathers. Maybe it was time to atone for her transgressions. Everything that she'd done, she'd done in good faith and with a good motive.

She couldn't take the suspense anymore. She stopped Savannah outside a closed room. It was time to come clean.

"I'm not proud of what I've done here." Cameron said.

Savannah was aware how choices were made. People always said they would do things differently if they could do it over. She didn't believe that. They had a choice the first time on how to do them. What they did, is what they wanted to do.

"But you've done it anyway." Savannah said.

Cameron suppressed a glitch impulse.

"I have." Cameron said.

Savannah wanted to test her theory and see how honest Cameron would be to her.

"Would you do it again?" Savannah asked.

Cameron was aware that they didn't always like the way she did things.

"Yes, I think so." Cameron said. "I don't think I always do everything the same, when I relive my life. I think sometimes I do different things."

Savannah would like to know more about what Cameron said and if it was really true or not.

"You don't know for sure you do." Savannah said.

Cameron often needed to make a choice when she did something. She wasn't sure that she would make the same choice twice. Sometimes there was no choice. There was only what needed to be done.

"I don't." Cameron said. "But I would bet on it."

Savannah knew there was no proof that Cameron lived her life over even if Cameron thought she was. Maybe the future that her 'mother', Mrs. Weaver was in was proof of that. There was no trace of any of them 'in some future'. The speculation was that was the time Cameron took them all to the past to live their lives out peace.

Cameron stood before a door with a keypad.

Savannah looked away. She wanted to give Cameron privacy and control. She knew Cameron needed some secrets. Maybe after she looked in this room, she wouldn't still think that.

Cameron noted that Savannah gave her privacy. She really appreciated and respected that. She didn't want to have any secrets from Savannah.

"You may observe the code." Cameron said. "I trust you, Savannah."

Savannah watched as Cameron entered the code.

The door opened.

Cameron closed it again. She wanted to make sure that Savannah could open the door on her own. That would also give Savannah the option to do what she wanted with anything in the room when she was tied up on an operation or unavailable. She wanted Savannah to have complete freedom of choice and control if she wanted it.

"You try it." Cameron said.

Savannah did and the door opened. She closed it again.

Cameron looked at her. She wondered why Savannah closed it again.

Savannah smiled at Cameron. She wanted to see how far her influence reached.

"CamNet, please open the door for me." Savannah said.

The door opened. She looked over at Cameron to see what her reaction would be. Cameron remained stone faced.

"Thank you, CamNet." Savannah said.

Cameron knew CamNet trusted Savannah as much as she did.

She went to enter but stopped and faced Savannah. She wanted to give Savannah a heads up that everything may not 'agree' with her.

"What you're about to see are probably things you might be upset with, some more than others." Cameron said. "You may 'hate' me for some of the things that I've done here."

Savannah wanted to reassure Cameron that her love was strong.

"I won't be angry at you." Savannah said. "I'll never hate you."

Cameron wasn't so sure because of what she'd done. She didn't want Savannah to have to compromise herself later on if she disagreed with what she'd done.

"I would ask you to promise me that but I don't want you to have to break your promise." Cameron said.

Savannah listened to Cameron's repeated warnings. She became more and more apprehensive of what she was going to see. She really didn't have any idea what was inside the room that would cause Cameron to issue her repeated warnings.

"Is it going to be that bad?" Savannah asked.

Savannah noticed Cameron's left hand already started to glitch. She moved to Cameron's left side and took it with her right hand. She interlaced their fingers.

She held Cameron's hand tight and smiled at her. She gave Cameron's hand a reassuring squeeze.

"For better or for worse…." Savannah said.

Cameron quickly looked at Savannah when she said that and repeated the words. She understood their meaning in the normal context they were used in. She thought that it said a lot on Savannah's part and hers.

"For better or for worse…." Cameron repeated.

They entered the room together.

Savannah looked in amazement and somewhat in shock. This wasn't what she'd expected to see.

"Cameron, what have you done…?" Savannah asked.

Savannah felt Cameron's hand try to glitch again, even though she held it. She gently squeezed Cameron's hand to reassure her that she wasn't going to release it. She wasn't going to 'punish' or forsake Cameron. She drew near Cameron and remained at her side. She wanted to remind Cameron that she wasn't going anywhere. She would keep all of her promises. She wanted to remind Cameron if they're going to die. This is how they would be, side by side.

Young Allison was very upset that Anna no longer wanted to go with her into the past. She knew she'd reached too far and now there was a price to pay for that 'mistake'.

"If you don't go with me, who will be the one to go…?" Young Allison asked.

Anna suppressed another glitch impulse.

"I don't know." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted to comment about something else that she'd noticed. She hadn't said anything earlier because she always 'checked out' Anna whenever she thought she wasn't looking. She didn't want to get caught doing that. At this point she didn't really see what difference it made. She's been caught on plenty of things.

Anna tried to hide the changes that happened to her sheath daily as much as possible. She stood before the mirror every day and watched her beautiful shape slowly erode away. Her breasts were only three quarters of their original size right now. She thought that bothered her the most. There was still a lot more regression necessary. It was very traumatic for her. There was no longer need to hide it now.

"I'm in the process of Resequencing to a 'tween' appearance physically but not in height. It was to better match your appearance. We were to 'develop' fully together." Anna said. "I wanted to look the same as you do now and when you mature."

Young Allison knew that was a sacrifice by Anna to do that, a big sacrifice. She knew how all the human girls, including her mother, felt about their 'womanly appearance'. The more she thought about it, the worse it made her feel.

"I'm sorry about ALL of this. This is all my fault." Young Allison said. "I've learned a lesson these last few days."

Young Allison figured it was actually quite a few lessons. She wondered how to fix all this and stop hurting people, especially the ones she cared about and loved. They seemed to be the ones she hurt the most.

Anna was sure any lesson was short lived that young Allison thought she'd learned.

"You'll forget any lessons that you think you've learned as your hormones start to kick in." Anna said. "They'll drive you and control you as they did John."

Cameron made Young Allison aware of what and how John betrayed her with Riley - Future Riley. She'd asked Cameron about Savannah and her promiscuity. Cameron explained she was the one who provided Savannah with her sexual partners. She said as long as she was the one who controlled everything she didn't have a problem with it. Cameron explained to her that the only restriction was that Savannah could never be with any other male other than John. At that point Cameron looked at her and said, 'That also applies to you.' Cameron paused and reached down to touch her lower belly, 'It especially applies to you.'

Young Allison knew it was time she refocused. She'd trained for missions much harder than this.

"I won't endanger the mission." Young Allison said. "I'll do my best to meet every demand or any training Cameron provides me with. I've tried very hard so far."

Anna nodded her head slightly.

"I'll inform Cameron." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted to show her resolve and commitment. She knew she was better than this and she was going to prove it.

"I've neglected my studies the last few days." Young Allison said. "I'll make up for anything I've missed."

Anna nodded again.

"I'll explain everything to Cameron." Anna said. "My replacement can take over your training."

Young Allison was caught off guard. She hadn't believed what Anna indicated earlier. Now it seemed to be fact.

"Your – replacement…?" Young Allison asked.

Anna felt that her mentoring fell short of Young Allison's needs and requirements.

"I'm unfit for this assignment." Anna said. "I've failed."

Young Allison couldn't believe what she'd heard. This was all her fault.

She tried to 'fix' it and somehow it all seemed to get worse. She didn't know that this was a feeling that Cameron often experienced as she tried to 'fix' things.

Savannah looked around the room in amazement, if not in mild shock.

"Cameron, what have you done…?" Savannah asked.

Cameron looked around the room with a sad look on her face. She hoped to 'fix' some things in the past with temporal management. She would need what was in the room to assist her.

"What I failed to prevent." Cameron said.

There were a number of work benches. They all contained a still figure resting on them. Each of them was covered with a sheet.

It looked like some type of morgue to Savannah. It was kind of creepy. She was here and these were all machines. There was nothing to fear, she hoped.

"What will I find under these sheets?" Savannah asked.

Cameron felt some sadness as she thought about why what was in the room, was in the room. She'd failed others in the past. That was unacceptable to her. No one should have ever died because of her. Maybe she should have assigned that blame to Skynet and all the destruction that followed it around, both directly and indirectly.

"You will see some you know, some who have fallen. There are some that are dead. Some are from the future or past." Cameron said. "I have a few other 'projects' I'm working on as well."

Savannah went to the first figure. I was obviously a female. The shape of the sheet over the chassis reminded Savannah of Cammy in her bed.

"May I?" Savannah asked.

Cameron moved around to the other side of the work bench. She was ready to atone for her transgressions. She knew that everything came with a 'price'. It was time to pay the Piper.

"Yes." Cameron said. "That's why we're here."

Savannah and Cameron moved the sheet together down just past her breasts.

Savannah felt a rush of excitement at what she looked at.

"She's beautiful, Cameron." Savannah said.

"This is 'Allure'." Cameron said. "She is the improved Future Allison Terminator, with the improved and updated 'Neural Interface'."

Cameron really said it was the 'improved version of herself'.

Savannah wondered where the most important part of 'Allure' was at.

"Where's her chip?" Savannah asked.

Cameron moved the sheet down further. She indicated a slight bulge in her very flat stomach area.

"Here, in her abdomen." Cameron said.

Savannah was curious. She moved the sheet down a little further. She was a little surprised at what was there.

"I can see you didn't use the laser on her." Savannah said.

Cameron ran her hand over the pubic hair. She was glad that hers was gone forever. She liked how she looked now. She knew that she could Resequence her sheath again if the need ever arose for her to have hair other than on her head. She hoped that wouldn't be necessary until it was time to return to the past and relive her life over again. Maybe she should spice things up one time and not Resequence her sheath before she returned to the past. She would like to see how John and Sarah viewed her at that point. She wouldn't have any idea why the only hair that was on her, was on her head, besides it was always the hardest thing to get right, hair that is.

"When she's activated, she's programmed to not know she's a Terminator." Cameron said. "She'll think she's Future Allison as I once thought I was."

Cameron reflected it was the one time in her life when she felt truly happy in spite of all the other events associated with it.

Savannah wondered what that was supposed to be for. It seemed like at some point when 'Allure' found out she wasn't a human female that there was going to be a problem, a big one.

She glanced at Cameron and carefully covered 'Allure' up. She straightened the sheet as neatly as possible.

Savannah moved to the next one. This one was a female also with noticeably smaller breasts.

She reached to move the sheet.

Cameron stopped her.

"I did this for you." Cameron said. "I asked Cammy and Sheila to construct a 'Neural Interface' in the past, it was used on her during a 'doctor's visit'."

Savannah wondered what Cameron tried to tell her. She noticed that there was almost a look of terror on Cameron's face. She really wondered what she was about to see.

Savannah saw the red hair as she started to move the sheet. She stopped. It hit her like a sledgehammer between the eyes. It felt like she was gripped in a vice. The shape and figure wasn't of Vanna or her. It reminded her of 'someone else'. Someone she missed very much and thought about often.

Cameron saw Savannah stop and just stand there for a short time.

Savannah looked up at Cameron. It was difficult for her to speak. She finally managed to get the words out.

"Is this my - mother?" Savannah asked.

Cameron wondered how much Savannah was going to hate her.

"It is." Cameron said.

Savannah carefully moved the sheet down to her neck only. She felt a rush of something shoot through her body; she wasn't sure what it was.

"She looks so young and beautiful." Savannah said.

Savannah reached out and gently touched her face.

Cameron didn't know what to say.

Savannah was at a loss for words as she tried to put it all together.

"You sampled her DNA? You did the 'Neural Interface' in the past?" Savannah asked. "Was it before I was born? She looks like a late teenager or in her early twenties. I can't believe how beautiful she is."

Cameron made sure that she covered all of the bases in regards to the 'Neural Interface'. It also reminded her of a promise that she failed to keep to Savannah.

"The 'Neural Interface' was done before and after your birth. She can be activated either as your mother before her death or as she was before she was married." Cameron said. "I never was able to bring your 'mother' back to you like I promised when you were growing up."

It was a shortcoming that always bothered Cameron. It was Mrs. Weaver she referred to, not her birth mother.

Savannah saw that as a promise fulfilled. It was just a little different than she'd imagined it would be.

"You took me to her." Savannah said. "I saw her 'In Some Future'. I know where she is whenever I want to see her again."

Savannah reached down and touched her 'mothers' lower abdomen through the sheet. She could feel the slight bulge of the chip. She knew that that was her 'mother', at least a part of her.

"If I put her chip in, will she also not know she's a Terminator?" Savannah asked. "Will she wonder how she looks 'younger'?"

Cameron had the 'Neural Interface' done twice to try to cover all eventualities.

"She will not know she's a Terminator." Cameron said. "I don't know how we can explain everything to her. If I activate her prior to her marriage, there are many things she will not know. You will be one of them."

Savannah wondered how she would get along with her 'mother' as a friend. There were a lot of questions here. Cammy and Sheila we're just back from the past. There hadn't been enough time for all this to happen.

"This didn't all happen in the last few days." Savannah said.

Cameron saw everyone's death as her failure. She was determined to fix all of them. She didn't want to hide anything from Savannah.

"I've planned this for years." Cameron said. "I've been on a few time missions myself and collected DNA samples and used the 'Neural Interface' on others as well. I was very careful not to alter the timeline – this time."

Savannah looked around the room. It really was like a morgue. These were mostly 'dead' people. She understood the depth of Cameron's feelings and emotions were much greater than she'd ever anticipated.

"Do I want to see the rest?" Savannah asked.

Cameron didn't look around the room. She kept her eyes on Savannah's eyes.

"I don't know." Cameron said.

Savannah looked at the covered forms in more detail. It was clear that some of them were taller and built differently. They didn't have female attributes.

"Some of these are males." Savannah said. "Like the one next to my mother."

Cameron's eyes remain transfixed on Savannah. Savannah looked up at her and their eyes locked again.

"Some are males." Cameron said.

Savannah felt the emotions run wild inside of her again. Her heartbeat was already elevated. It began to pound now. She could hear it in her head. Her mouth suddenly became dry and it was hard to swallow.

"Will I find my father under that sheet?" Savannah asked.

Cameron could see Savannah's face change somewhat.

"You will." Cameron said.

Savannah's next words surprised Cameron.

"I don't want to do this right now." Savannah said. "I want to go."

Savannah suddenly looked very distressed.

Cameron was sure that Savannah was going to hate her.

"I'm sorry." Cameron said.

Savannah turned to leave but composed herself. She was here for CamNet.

She wiped a few tears away and calmed herself. She was there to do a job and she was determined to do it. She wanted to make the best choice for CamNet.

"Is there another 'Allison' here?" Savannah asked.

Cameron moved to another table and pulled the sheet down to her waist.

"Yes." Cameron said.

Savannah thought she looked identical to 'Allure'. There was something that attracted her slightly more than it did the sheath of 'Allure'.

"Who was she supposed to be?" Savannah asked.

"She is to be 'Fusion'. She will be the Terminator version of Young Allison when she returns from the past. She has no chip yet. I wanted to wait to do the 'Neural Interface' when Young Allison is a teenager. She will have a broader range of 'experience' at that point in time."

Savannah started to reach out to touch her breasts. She checked herself and didn't.

"She looks beautiful." Savannah said.

Cameron could see the sheath produced the effect she wanted it to.

"She's been Resequenced to a slightly younger age." Cameron said.

Savannah thought that 'Fusion' was more alluring than 'Allure'. She didn't have a chip currently to be placed into her as 'Allure' did.

"Is there any other 'Allison'?" Savannah asked. "I don't want to use 'Allure'."

Cameron moved the sheet down a little further so Savannah could look at all of 'Fusion'.

"We can use Fusion, the teenage Young Allison." Cameron said.

Savannah nodded. She wanted work to begin immediately.

"You will make sure she has four chip ports." Savannah said.

Cameron would comply with Savannah's demands. She did have one request regarding the procedure at this current time.

"I will but I do not want the chips in yet." Cameron said.

Savannah wanted to make sure everything for CamNet was taken care of. She looked nervously around the room one more time. She needed to go.

"When the work is completed with the extra power cell, I'll take her to CamNet." Savannah said. "I want to leave here for now, please."

Savannah went to leave and stopped. She went and stood between her 'parents'. She carefully moved the sheet from her father's face and gently touched his cheek and then her mother's face. She then gave each one a kiss on the cheek and covered them over.

"Bring Fusion, soon to be 'CamNet'." Savannah said and walked out of the room without looking back.

It took all of Savannah's resolve to hold herself together. She didn't know how long she'd be able hold it all in. She just looked at things she thought she would never see again. She wasn't sure she wanted to see them under the circumstances either.

Past's Past

It was once said
I was stuck in the Past
That is so very true
To make things last

Living in the past
To advance or relive the contrast
To hide from reality
The future is my past

I can feel once again
The times that were good
The happiness, joy and love
For things I once stood

From within the past
I can HURT and punish myself
Inflict pain and damage for
The torment of being put on a shelf

To feel the agony of the past
I know that if I can bleed
Then I'm still alive
Sharing my feelings as you read

There's no today
There's no tomorrow
Everyday is yesterday
Little joy but plenty of sorrow

I have always felt this way
Except when they loved me
For I was able to bury the past
A today and a tomorrow to see

Nobody