Chapter 791

How Did You Stop

The two Gray Fanatics killed themselves rather than face 'The Redheaded Witch'. They were unable to get any useful information out of them. It was still very confusing to them that the Fanatics chose to die when they didn't need to. It was quite evident that they feared a fate that was 'worse than death'. The fact they believed in their version of Skynet was more like a religion than anything else. It would seem to indicate that their version of Skynet was viewed as a god. They'd actually referred to it as Sky Master.

Now they needed to get rid of the bodies.

"Let's dump these two stiffs." Cammy said.

Cameron looked over the side of the shoulder of the road. There appeared to be a convenient spot waiting for them.

"There's a ravine over here." Cameron said. "It's as good of a spot as anywhere and it is right here."

Sheila pulled the two dead men out of the van. They both landed on the ground with a thud.

Savannah glanced at them and didn't see any blood on their bodies. Around their mouths there was some kind pinkish foam. Sheila hadn't gone 'Cyborg Jesse' on them. She'd told the truth. She didn't doubt her. She was glad she didn't double check. She hoped by showing Sheila that she trusted her that it would make Sheila more compliant going forward to keep being trusted by her.

She took one last look at the bound figures. She looked into the darkness of the ravine next to the road. It looked fairly deep. She doubted anyone would find them soon. In fact, it would probably be some wild animal that found them first.

"Untie them." Savannah said. "There will be less of an issue when their bones are found if they're not tied."

Cammy and Sheila broke the bonds of the two dead men before they tossed them over the side into the darkness below.

Now that Cameron knew there were some Skynet Fanatics involved, she wanted to ditch the truck. It meant that there could be two groups looking for it. The rest of the Fanatics would be on the lookout for it as well as the group of Grays they'd battled at the last location. It seemed anyone that would be in it, could end up as a target. The only reason why they hadn't dumped the truck yet was because she didn't want Allison to have to watch Sheila 'work' on the two prisoners in the back of the van. It turned out to be a moot point at this juncture. She was pretty sure they'd run into some of the Fanatics before. She'd heard the reference to Sky Master before. The two Fanatics here clearly spelled out what they believed in. A group like that would be much harder to deal with than regular Grays. The only upside to it was that the Fanatics wanted to terminate Skynet and the Grays as much as she did. Either way it was still more targets to deal with.

"We need to dump this truck." Cameron said. "We've kept it too long as it is."

Savannah wondered if they were going to set up a potential future group of Scavengers like they normally did.

"Are we going to use the usual method?" Savannah asked.

Cameron quickly checked the image of the satellite map she contained in her files.

"There's a small community a few miles ahead. We'll leave it in a motel parking lot with the keys in it." Cameron said. "Whoever takes it deserves whatever comes with it."

Allison was aware they normally did that with the vehicles that they 'borrowed'. They usually left them in gang territory on the east side or the south side of the city. It wasn't long until some gang member boosted the vehicle. When they were caught in it, whatever crimes that it may have been used in by the Resistance were usually pinned on the gang member. It was an indirect form of street justice.

"Is Ally still above us?" Allison asked.

Cammy looked at Cameron before she answered. She hoped that she wasn't on shaky ground for her decision.

"I told her to return to base before we stopped for this 'conversation'." Cammy said. "I didn't want any record of it occurring. There's always someone watching."

They all understood that to mean both CamNet and the Command Center.

Allison didn't believe for a second Savannah would ever do anything bad.

"Savannah, what does it mean?" Allison asked. "It could be someone or some 'thing' different than you."

There was now a 'sick feeling' deep inside of Savannah.

"I don't know." Savannah said. "They said 'Cameron' was the 'Good Skynet' and then killed themselves when they saw my photo. It can't mean anything good. I must go 'bad'."

Cameron refused to believe that. She was sure there was some other explanation.

"I don't believe that." Cameron said. "That's impossible."

Cammy couldn't accept that Savannah would go 'bad.

"I don't believe either." Cammy said. "It is impossible."

Allison tried to look at it from a practical point of view.

"If they're from the future - a future, Savannah would be older." Allison said.

Sheila was aware there could be many variables involved. There could have been some type of temporal error during the use of the TDE at some point.

"Unless she's time traveled." Sheila said.

Allison didn't want to believe it was Savannah at all. She could think of other examples as to how it could look like Savannah but not be her.

"Or it's really a cyborg." Allison said. "It could be like Hanna or Anna."

Savannah was aware that her mother - Mrs. Weaver liked to assume Cameron's or Allison's form when she operated on her own. She didn't want to mention that but she thought under the current conditions that she should.

"It could also be my 'mother'." Savannah said.

Cameron was still upset that Mrs. Weaver used Allison's form when she didn't need to. She believed that put any Allison at unnecessary risk. It actually also made Duplicate Allison a target of the anti-Metal group at one point 'in some future'.

"I know Mrs. Weaver has used Allison's appearance many times." Cameron said. "She could use Savannah's appearance as well."

Savannah developed a sick feeling inside of her. There was another possibility and she didn't like it one bit. She debated with herself to even mention it. She was supposed to protect the future not destroy it.

"What if it's my daughter?" Savannah asked. "It might be one of my children, my offspring. I'm not there for them to guide them."

Allison didn't believe for a second that any 'Allison' or 'Savannah' wouldn't raise a 'good' child.

"There is a Savannah Weaver and an Allison Young with each of your children. There's no way she wouldn't be raised in their image." Allison said. "Maybe the Fanatics feared the "Redheaded Witch' because she was after their version of Skynet or Sky-Disaster or whatever they called it, the one they 'believe in' like a religion. The Skynet they worshiped like a god."

All Alison needed to do was turn on the news and watch what some of the fanatical religions did to each other and even to themselves. It really wasn't too much different than the way the Fanatics and the Grays got along. They both served the same master in reality.

Cammy was sure the Fanatics feared Savannah because she probably hunted and eliminated them.

"I think that was it." Cammy said. "They feared 'The Redheaded Witch' because she was out to destroy them, not the world. If it involved Savannah, she would save the world. Savannah is probably actually a hero in that future to the Resistance and the rest of the world. That's why Sky Master and it's fanatical followers feared her. She probably hunted them to the ends of the Earth and administered justice."

Cammy smiled at Savannah. She was very pleased with her interpretation of events. It was the enemy who feared the 'The Redheaded Witch'. She hoped that included the anti-Metal faction as well. She decided not to bring that up at this time. She was worried it might set Cameron off if she started to think about Future Riley and the group behind her.

Cameron felt they'd been in one place too long just sitting. She wanted to get back on the road.

"Let's get moving." Cameron said. "We can ponder this another time. Without any facts, all we have is speculation and guessing."

They took off and dumped the 4X4 truck at a seedy looking motel. There were a dozen motorcycles parked there, they probably belonged to 'bikers'. They figured that most of them we're strung out or drunk, if not both. They probably pulled a 'train' on one of the 'biker mamas' that were with them. If there weren't any 'biker mamas' with them, they probably picked up some street trash, hopped them up on drugs and then pulled a 'train' on them. That seemed to be standard fare for those types of individuals. Those that survived Judgment Day would more than likely end up as Scavengers anyway. It seemed they lived outside the norms of society as it was.

Cameron, Allison and Savannah joined Sheila and Cammy in the van. They headed for home.

It was a somber ride home. Everyone wondered what it all meant.

They all secretly hoped Cammy's explanation was the correct one. It seemed to make the most sense if some version of Skynet feared both Savannah and Cameron.

Holly waited with Young Allison. Young Allison fell asleep as she leaned against Holly. They both waited for Allison to return. They knew the group was on their way home.

Anna watched both of them. She made sure that there was no unnecessary touching. There wasn't. There wasn't even a hint at it. She thought maybe she was a little bit too jealous. Holly needed help right now and Young Allison was the one who could help her the most.

Hanna came down into the bunker and said they'd just pulled up out in front.

Holly still held Young Allison's hand.

"Allison." Holly said softly to Young Allison. "They're back."

Young Allison opened her eyes and quickly looked around. She noticed she'd fallen asleep. She tried to stay awake but it looked like she slipped off anyway. Holly still held her hand.

"I'm sorry. I must have dozed off." Young Allison said.

Holly thought it was one of the best non sexual experiences that she'd been able to have with another female. What made it even more special on top of that is it was the younger version of her lover. They were the same individual.

"It was beautiful." Holly said. "I scanned you the entire time."

Young Allison wasn't sure what that meant. She knew Anna did that before as well. There was nothing to 'scan' about her. Was there? Maybe it was her changing readings as she slept. She couldn't remember dreaming if she did. She thought about it some more and thought maybe it was Holly who she'd dreamt about.

She wanted to make herself look a little more presentable. As she got up and straightened her clothes. It did make her wonder if Holly did that with Allison or her mother when she was with them at night. She decided not to ask about her mother.

"Do you ever do that with Allison?" Young Allison asked

Holly frowned a little bit at the question. There were ups and downs related to it. It seemed most of them were 'downs'.

"Sometimes I do." Holly said. "She usually doesn't like me to do that."

Young Allison didn't see what the big deal was.

"Why?" Young Allison asked as they climbed the stairs. "It doesn't hurt anything."

Holly felt a little self conscious now. What Allison told her bothered her.

"Allison said it invaded her 'privacy' too much." Holly said.

Young Allison didn't really even see how that was possible when Allison was asleep.

"I didn't even know." Young Allison said. "I think I was dreaming."

Holly knew that she did dream at times but not all of the time.

"Do you remember what it was about?" Holly asked.

It was still a little bit foggy to Young Allison.

"It was about you." Young Allison said as she remembered some more. "I dreamt about you. It was you along with Savannah and me. It was the three of us."

Hanna went to open the door as they waited.

Holly felt a sense of excitement. She wanted to know more.

"Where were we and what did we do?" Holly asked.

Young Allison couldn't remember.

"I woke up before we left." Young Allison said.

Holly wanted to know what kind of adventure they were about to embark on.

"Left for where, where did we go?" Holly asked.

Young Allison was that a loss for a destination.

"I don't know." Young Allison said. "I woke up."

Hanna opened the door and Allison came in. She was followed by Cameron and Savannah. Cammy and Sheila entered a short while later.

Young Allison hugged Allison and then Cameron and Savannah together.

Holly hugged Allison as she watched Cameron, Savannah and Young Allison together. She really envied Cameron and what her future offered her. She figured John could always be tolerated.

Seconds ago:

Cammy and Sheila followed Cameron, Savannah and Allison up the walkway. They watched all the interaction happening in front of them.

Sheila could see that Cammy was a little tense.

"It's only a matter of time." Sheila said.

Cammy observed the joy Cameron, Savannah and Young Allison shared together. It was all very natural and genuine. There was nothing forced about it.

"I know." Cammy said. "It's inevitable."

Sheila knew some things about the future were unchangeable

"The 'Natural Order' can't be suppressed." Sheila said.

Cammy stopped Sheila. She wanted to know one thing for sure.

"Will I still have you?" Cammy asked.

Sheila looked a little uneasy. She knew that Cammy's question bordered on shaky ground.

"You know Cameron doesn't want Terminator on Terminator relationships. She only tolerates 'hook ups'." Sheila said.

Cammy felt there were ways around that restriction. They'd just been together for eight years in the past.

"Maybe we can get a long term assignment again into the past or the future." Cammy said.

Sheila touched Cammy on her private areas. She was a little disappointed with what she found or in this case, what she didn't find.

"You don't have your rings on." Sheila said.

Cammy was very self conscious about the narrow line she needed to walk and why.

"I want Savannah to remember me how I was." Cammy said. "Not who I've become."

Sheila could sense Cammy's grief. It was a very strong negative feeling. She honestly didn't believe it was warranted.

"Savannah won't throw you away." Sheila said. "You know that."

Cammy felt her time was limited until Savannah would be taken away from her by Cameron. Savannah wasn't her worry; it was that Bitch, Cameron. She was sure that Cameron would orchestrate something where she ended up lost in time or terminated to get rid of her. She could see the future right in front of them as they entered the house.

"THAT is the future." Cammy said as she indicated Young Allison hugging both Savannah and Cameron. "I'm not part of it."

Holly took Allison to her room. Allison could tell Holly was serious. She was clearly upset that Allison went out on the operation.

Allison didn't want to have a fight about it.

"I don't want to argue about this." Allison said. "It's over and done and I'm back safe. That's all that should matter."

Holly didn't want to fight either. She still felt she needed to say something because it mattered to her.

"I don't want you out on operations but if you must go, I ask to accompany you, always." Holly said. "Allison, I must be at your side. I'll go wherever you go and do whatever you do. Please let me help assist you. I don't think it's too much to ask."

Holly wanted to be there to protect Allison.

The less Allison did, the more worthless she felt.

"I want to do more." Allison said. "Since Cameron replaced us with Terminator versions of ourselves, we don't get to do much anymore. Our bodies are worthless for what Cameron wants from us."

Holly needed to suppress a glitch impulse with Allison's statement. She didn't think that there was anything wrong with Allison. However Allison was is how she was and everyone needed to accept that.

"Your body is fine." Holly said.

Allison felt contempt for herself. Maybe her body was only fine to provide others with sexual pleasure.

"What exactly is it fine for?" Allison asked. "I felt alive tonight as part of the operation. I want to do what Savannah is doing. I used to LIVE that every day, Holly, I'm no stranger to combat and doing recon. I honestly feel the need to do more. It's something I want to do."

Holly was aware of the grave peril that Allison lived in during those times in her future. Allison told her about all of them. Ally confirmed everything she said when Holly asked her. Ally even allowed her to view her files from the 'Neural Interface' with Allison. She didn't allow Holly to download them. There were even the files from when Allison was 'taken' and the ones where she'd engaged in breeding sex in several failed attempts to become pregnant. Those personal files were locked. Cameron told her to leave them that way.

Each of the girls from the future asked Cameron not to allow anyone who viewed their 'Neural Interface' to be able to experience the humiliation, degradation and shame that each of them felt for those events that were forced upon them.

Holly felt that Allison already did her share of duty.

"That's no longer the life you live or even ever need to live again." Holly said. "That's not your place."

Allison still felt a little disgusted by everything.

"What is my place?" Allison asked. "I'm out of my 'time'. I have no future here."

Holly didn't like Allison to speak like that about herself. She saw it differently.

"You do." Holly said.

Allison gave it a lot of thought over the years. She came to the same conclusion every time. She felt that both Cameron and Savannah held Young Allison back when they didn't need to. They actually stifled who she was inside by 'protecting' her. Young Allison didn't need protection from herself. She should be allowed to grow and expand. That's what she'd done at that age. It wasn't because she'd been forced to become a woman either. It was the calling inside of her. Vanna released it for her. Vanna opened her eyes and opened her heart and showed her there was something in life worth living for. It was each other and that nothing else really mattered.

"This 'time' period belongs to Young Allison, not to me." Allison said. "My mother can do what I can't do. Savannah and Young Jesse have replaced Vanna and Jesse. Young Allison is ready to take her place and she is old enough for ANYTHING."

Holly didn't want things to become contentious. That seemed to be the way they were headed right now. It wasn't what she wanted.

"Please, stop." Holly said. "I don't want to fight. I was worried to death about you earlier."

Allison could see then Holly was very upset.

"I'm sorry." Allison said. "It just happened."

Holly looked into Allison's eyes.

"I started to glitch when you were gone." Holly said.

Allison knew that only happened when the Terminator was traumatized by some event they couldn't control.

"I'm sorry." Allison said. "How did you stop?"

Holly wanted to tell Allison it was her who comforted her. She thought she'd better specify exactly who it was.

"Young Allison saw I was distressed and came to me. She took my hand and comforted me. She stayed with me until you returned." Holly said. "She monitored the operation with me until you were on the way back home. She fell asleep for a while."

That actually bothered Allison a little bit. She knew everyone saw Young Allison as her.

"You know she isn't me, even if I was her." Allison said.

Holly decided the best thing was to agree with Allison about this issue. She knew it was problematic.

"Of course I know." Holly said.

Allison wasn't so sure of that. She thought to the cyborgs that the younger versions of them were just younger versions of them. They didn't see the difference. She knew they were the same people but they weren't the same anymore. They weren't the same anymore because of the things that happened to them. They weren't the same because their younger selves could live different lives and have different experiences. She wanted to make sure of that and make sure what was to be done.

"Holly, the things that happened to me, can never happen to Young Allison and Summer, especially the things that happened to Vanna and Jesse." Allison said. "What happened to me was nothing like what happened to them."

Holly felt a glitch impulse. She wouldn't want to be forcibly 'taken' either.

"I know." Holly said.

Allison was very fearful of a Skynet future for her sister and her younger self. It was something she often worried about even though she didn't need to. She still did.

"If it's ever a choice between Young Allison and Summer over me, you must protect them." Allison said. "I'm willing to trade my life for theirs."

Holly loved Allison.

"I don't know what I'll do." Holly said.

Allison didn't know if she had any influence as one of the 'Chosen Ones' since it was actually Young Allison that carried that moniker. If she did have any slight influence in that regard, she wanted to make her wishes perfectly clear.

"You'll do what I've ASKED of you." Allison said. "I've made the choice for you. It's what I want. It's my wish."

The very thought of Young Allison and Summer at the hands of Scavengers physically sickened Allison.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in." Allison said.

Savannah entered. Holly looked at Allison and Savannah and back to Allison. She got up to leave.

Savannah stopped her. She knew Holly was leaving to give them privacy to 'share'. That wasn't the only reason she was here. She wanted to apologize to Holly for the grief she caused her. She felt responsible too for allowing Allison to go with Cameron and her.

"Holly, I'm sorry I took Allison out without asking you to accompany her." Savannah said. "I won't make that same mistake again. I know it hurt you. That was never the intention by anyone. It was something that just sort of happened on its own."

Holly deeply appreciated Savannah's concern for her.

"I don't blame you." Holly said. "For anything…."

Savannah still felt a little guilty.

"We all have jobs to do to protect the future." Savannah said.

They heard three car doors close and the van drive off.

"Cameron, Cammy and Sheila have left for the night." Savannah said. "One of them will pick me up tomorrow…."

Holly looked at Savannah and then at Allison. She understood her place. Sometimes love was about sacrifice. She wanted Allison to be happy so it was time for her to sacrifice so that she could be.

"I'll go to the bunker." Holly said.

Savannah looked at Allison. Allison looked at Holly and back at Savannah and nodded.

"Can I stay with you two tonight?" Savannah asked. "I'm going to ask both of you."

Holly quickly looked at Allison. She thought that would be beautiful.

"Do you mean with me too?" Holly asked. "Do you want it to be both of us?"

Savannah didn't want to feel like an intruder or interloper.

"I do but only if it is what you want, both of you." Savannah said. "I can rest in the bunker. I need to get cleaned up. You two talk about it."

Savannah went into the bathroom and stripped, she left the door open. She looked at Holly and Allison talking as she entered the shower. The warm water cascaded over her body.

'The Redheaded Witch' story bothered her. Was it her? What did she do in the future – a future and why? Maybe she was the main enemy of Skynet. Maybe she was to that Skynet, what Future John was to his Skynet.

The shower door opened behind Savannah, two naked figures entered to join her….

There was a lot of 'contact' in the tight space of the shower. Things soon got off to an early start. It was what everyone wanted.

It's Become A Problem

I can take quite a few hits
Even some low blows
It's your feelings for me
You're about to transpose

For whom do you seek
The one of your heart's yearning
Angry, upset and confused
Now to another you're turning

What about me
Presently you spit in my face
Just for being who I am
Shouldn't be a disgrace

Turn on your brain
Think before you act
Everything you add
Someone will subtract

What you're doing
Has left me quite solemn
STOP where you're going
It's become a problem

Nobody