Chapter 944

Back That Far

Vanna and Allison finished up their talk and interaction with CamNet. They were really at a loss as to why she physically wanted to see them. They were both left with the feeling she wanted to see Savannah and Young Allison as 'adults'. They were the same individuals after all.

Allison watched the way CamNet hugged Vanna before they left. It was more than a hug. When it was her turn, CamNet looked directly into her eyes as she grasped her and pulled her close. She pictured CamNet was making love to her in her mind. She really wondered if CamNet was seeing 'Young Allison' in front of her and touching her.

There was no sexual contact of any type or even any indicated. It was very unusual. Allison and Vanna would have responded to any sexual overtures if they were offered. Everyone knew it but no one spoke of it or acted on it.

Vanna didn't know what Allison thought about the whole event. She was unsure herself what really happened or what the real purpose was. They were thrilled to see CamNet and interact with her. They were both unsure why they needed to go there.

The girls were on their way back to the base now.

Allison looked over at Vanna.

"That was quite an 'experience'." Allison said.

There was a look of joy on Vanna's face.

"It was beautiful." Vanna said. "That was 'MY Cameron'."

It reminded Vanna so much of Cameron once her chassis was repaired and she was hooked up to her server with the tether. That was a beautiful time in her life. She was able to find love again after missing Allison so much. At that point she was sure she'd never see Allison again. That all changed. She would have preferred to have a few more weeks alone with Cameron before Allison was sent back. Even a few more days would have been enough time for Cameron and her to consummate the relationship. It never happened.

Allison found the experience to be very rewarding. It was really a new adventure in more ways than one.

"Why do you really think she wanted us there?" Allison asked. "Was it really just to speak with us in person? She must be very lonely."

Vanna was worried everyone may have overstepped their bounds. She was sure there was going to be some negative repercussions involved.

"I'm not sure." Vanna said. "Cameron's going to be very angry at her."

Allison understood they were responsible as well.

"We did ask for her help." Allison said. "We wanted to make sure that everyone was protected."

Vanna took a good look at all of the computer equipment that she could see in CamNet's bunker. She was sure there was a lot more that wasn't visible. She was sure that was by design. She'd spoken with John Henry before about the extent of CamNet's ability. He assured her it was quite extensive and that she had a copy of everyone's program.

"She knows everything Cameron and all the Terminators know." Vanna said. "She has copies of all their programs."

Allison needed to think about that for a few seconds. It literally meant that CamNet knew everything about everyone. At least she had the ability to know that.

"So she can access files of Cam and you or Holly and me?" Allison asked. "She even has a copy of the 'Neural Interface' we did for Hanna and Ally. She has 'parts' of us."

Vanna needed to think about that as well. Allison was correct about the 'Neural Interface' aspect of everything. She wasn't sure what restraints were put on CamNet by Savannah or by Cameron but she was willing to bet that there were a few. How long CamNet would be OK those restraints was another story. It was clear there was a lot of potential for CamNet to continue to grow and expand.

"She has that ability." Vanna said. "I don't know if she uses it. It's clear that she can if she wants to. I don't believe that she's looked extensively into any of those files. That's just my belief. I don't know."

They didn't know Savannah asked CamNet to never access those personal files of others unless there was some emergency. She stressed there were private and personal things that happened between individuals that should remain between those two individuals.

Allison looked around the interior of CamNet's bunker. It wasn't a place where she would want to be every second of every minute of every day of her existence.

"She's trapped inside that bunker." Allison said. "I would view them all non stop if I were her. It would be a way for me to experience things in life that I couldn't experience on my own."

Vanna figured that wasn't the only thing that Allison would do as she viewed those files.

"You would also pleasure yourself." Vanna said.

Allison didn't think that was a big deal. She knew that that was something that everyone did in the future. That included both males and females. Sometimes that was the only 'escape' from the death and destruction around them. There were always those beautiful moments of 'escape' when nothing mattered and Skynet didn't exist. Even now with all the variety of females available to her, she still liked to spend time alone a few times a week as she pleasure herself.

"I always have." Allison said. "Sometimes I just like to be 'alone' with myself when I do it."

Vanna did too but she preferred to be with another person whenever possible. She wanted the comfort of another human being to share with. She needed the close physical contact for reassurance. She hadn't been with anyone when she'd first returned to the past. It was only after she met Cameron that she ready to move on from Allison and restart a new relationship. She'd finally accepted that she would never see Allison again. She was pretty sure if she hadn't been so focused on Cameron at the time that something probably could have happened with Sarah in the meantime. She thought that would have been a very beautiful experience as well. She really hoped someday that she could be with both of them. Allison would have to do for now.

"It's more pleasurable if you have help." Vanna said.

Allison did like to be pleasured by someone else as much as she enjoyed pleasing them. It was a real special feeling to her to be able to make another female 'finish'. There were still times when she liked to get away from it all and be alone.

"I just like to be alone sometimes when I do it." Allison said. "I don't need to worry about anyone or anything. I can put whoever I want there with me in my mind. I can do what I want and as many times as I want."

Vanna felt a little insecure right now. There were times when she wondered if anyone actually needed her or if she was only a tool of convenience for their pleasure. That was all she'd ever been in the hands of men. She was never a person to them at all. She was just an object for their sexual pleasure. She didn't want to think about that right now. She understood Allison's form of 'escape'.

"We all do that." Vanna said. "Sometimes when we question our self worth, we wonder if we really NEED anyone else."

Allison looked over at Vanna for a long moment. She didn't want her to go into a bad place right now. She was pretty sure it was because of her recent exposure to CamNet and her previous desire for Cameron when she was in the same situation.

"We both know the answer to that." Allison said. "We do. We all need to have someone. We all need to have someone special."

The two longtime lovers looked at each other and were very thankful for each other.

They were startled back to reality.

"Is there anywhere else you want to go?" Bob asked.

It was the first time Bob spoke on the way back home since he greeted them. He hadn't gone far after he let them off at CamNet's bunker. He figured they wouldn't be in there very long but they were in there longer than he'd expected. He was responsible for them and he would take them back to the Resistance base. If they wanted to go somewhere else on the way back there, he was good with it. They were already out so why not.

Vanna was aware their Terminator girlfriends were on the way back. She wasn't sure if that was something that CamNet orchestrated or not.

"Back to the base works for me." Vanna said. "Cam and Holly will return soon."

Bob was aware of what would happen with the Metal girls.

"Cam will be back before Holly." Bob said.

Bob silently listened to the girls talk. It gave him an inside look at what CamNet was and did. He wanted to let the girls talk on their own. They would be the most honest with each other that way. He didn't want to get 'gigged' by CamNet for being too intrusive in her 'business'. John Henry made him aware of what happened when you stepped on CamNet's toes.

Allison was actually excited with that information.

"If Cam is up to it, I'd like to be with both of you." Allison said.

Vanna wondered about that. She wondered if it was intentional that Cam would return before Holly.

"Is that because of our recent encounter with CamNet?" Vanna asked. "I think that you're going to view Cam as 'CamNet' this time instead of as 'Cameron'. I know what you do."

Allison knew that Cam, Cammy and Camille all ran Cameron's program. Technically they were all 'Cameron' even if they weren't. She didn't see it as a big deal or with much distinction in reality.

"Yes." Allison said.

Vanna didn't have a problem with that. She saw this as an opportunity for her to have some more time alone with Holly. Allison wasn't always in a sharing mood with Holly. She was sure there were several reasons for that. She thought the biggest one was that she could pleasure a female better than Allison could. Allison didn't want to lose Holly to another female. It was an unfounded fear. There was more than enough to share.

"If I can be with you and Holly later on…." Vanna said. "That's if Holly is in for it."

Allison really wanted to be with Cam right now. Nothing else really mattered.

"There's plenty to share for everyone." Allison said.

Vanna looked forward to the encounter with the two Metal girls once they returned.

Allison looked at Bob.

"Our conversation doesn't bother you does it?" Allison asked.

Bob stole a quick glance at the girls in his rear view mirror.

"Negative." Bob said. "I'm used to it."

Vanna looked over at Allison.

"So are we…." Vanna said.

Allison and Vanna both laughed.

"Jesse is going to want in." Allison said.

Vanna was pretty sure Jesse was 'off the market' right now. She was sure that they could still share with her and everything but Jesse was definitely fixated on a new target. She would personally like to spend a lot more time with Claire but she didn't because of Allison.

"Claire and Jesse seem pretty happy with 'each other' right now." Vanna said. "Does it bother you?"

Allison felt a little irritated to be reminded about it. She was aware both Jesse and Vanna would rather be with her mother over her if they had the opportunity. It always left her with a feeling of being 'not good enough'. It even got to the point where she would spy on her mother when she was with other females to see exactly what she was doing differently than her. Everything looked the same to her. She figured it must be the way it was done that was what all of the other females preferred.

"Yes. It does to a certain extent." Allison said. "Because it's my mother it does but I know you both have been together too. I need to remind myself that my mother is a person too and between our ages. She's still a young woman. I know we all have needs and desires. As a female I don't deny her to express her wants and desires and find fulfillment where she can, even if it is with my lovers. There's room for all of us to share and have some variety. It's not like any of you can get her pregnant or anything if you know what I mean."

Vanna was even more stimulated by Allison's answer.

"Bob, drive faster." Vanna said. "My needs and desires are calling."

Bob increased his speed. He hoped he could get a little more out of the girls before they arrived back at the base.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "You can always 'warm up' on the way."

Allison started to touch Vanna.

"We already are…." Allison said.

The SUV swerved a little.

Vanna knew what the problem was. She knew it wasn't a glitch like Cameron often experienced.

"Keep one eye on the road, Bob." Vanna said. "We want to get back in one piece so we can all share a piece."

Allison giggled.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "One eye on the road it is."

Bob kept the other one on the rear view mirror and what Allison and Vanna were doing. He thought they both seemed very excited. He wondered what all happened back at Cameron's base.

He looked down at his groin area. He could tell right away that this was going to be one of those instances where he needed a bigger pair of pants. Maybe after he let the girls off and if he wasn't needed for anything else, he could stop by his room and relieve the swelling.

Cameron and Savannah walked side by side towards the hidden area.

"Savannah, I want you to do two things for me." Cameron said.

Savannah wanted Cameron to know that she was there for her.

"You know I will." Savannah said. "Name it."

Cameron looked directly into Savannah's eyes as she spoke.

"I want to share everything with you and make love with you one time." Cameron said. "Then I want you to deactivate me…."

Savannah listened to what Cameron said. She currently faced Cameron and looked her in the eyes. She wanted to make one thing very clear to Cameron.

"I'll die first before I'd ever deactivate you." Savannah said. "I'll never kill you."

Cameron thought there could be extraneous circumstances involved at some point.

"What if I go bad and try to kill you?" Cameron asked.

Savannah would accept death before she would terminate Cameron.

"I won't terminate you." Savannah said. "I won't put my life before yours. You're more important to me that I am to myself."

Cameron thought it could be a little more extreme than just 'going bad'.

"What if I become Skynet?" Cameron asked.

Savannah had already taken preemptive action to prevent CamNet from doing that exact thing at some point. She believed she could do it with Cameron as well.

"I'll reason with you. I'll bargain with you. I'll help you prevent that." Savannah said. "I'll never allow that to occur. I'll make myself available to you for anything you want to do. You can choose at that point if you want to kill me or if you want to love me. The choice will be yours. I'll accept whatever fate you determine for me. I'll never hurt you."

Cameron knew both of the girls would use their love to keep her from going bad or to ever become 'Skynet'. It was what she wanted them to do. They were her 'Fail Safe'. She originally didn't want CamNet to have a chassis. She quickly determined what Savannah's end game was in that regard. She admired her forward thinking. She knew at some point Young Allison would be in CamNet's bunker as well. The future needed to be protected and the girls would make sure that it was.

Young Allison watched them from a distance. She finally headed towards them when Cameron became more distraught looking. She wasn't sure what was going on but she didn't like it. She was worried there was some underlying issue for Cameron they didn't know about yet. She decided to throw a wild card at them.

"What are you two whispering about?" Young Allison asked. "It looks serious. I hope it's not about me or what I did."

Cameron glanced at Savannah and then looked at Young Allison.

"Do you want the truth?" Cameron asked.

Savannah was a little worried about the nature of the conversation.

"Cameron!" Savannah said.

Young Allison looked at Savannah and then looked at Cameron.

"Savannah and I ALWAYS want the truth." Young Allison said. "It's better to know where we stand at any given point in time."

Savannah didn't want Young Allison to know the finality of what Cameron said.

"It was of a personal nature." Savannah said.

Young Allison smiled at both of them.

"Now I really want to know." Young Allison said. "We're all going to share everything anyway in the future. The future doesn't need to be far away either."

Savannah tried to downplay the issue.

"Allison!" Savannah said.

Cameron looked at Savannah and Young Allison. She felt very strongly about what she'd told Savannah originally.

"I want Allison to know the truth about me." Cameron said. "I asked Savannah to be with me as a lover and then to deactivate me."

The smile faded from Young Allison's face. She knew Cameron wasn't joking. She understood why Savannah didn't want her to know that.

"That's unacceptable." Young Allison said. "I won't allow your deactivation. I'd die first."

The words seemed to hit home with Cameron. They were almost identical to Savannah's words. They were the words of love, even if it involved sacrifice.

"Savannah said the same thing." Cameron said. "In reality I'm a threat to John and both of you. I think it's safe to say that we all know that."

Cameron really didn't know what the girls could see in a very scary robot from the future. Her hand started to glitch again.

Savannah allowed Young Allison to move forward and take it.

Young Allison wanted to make a few things perfectly clear to Cameron.

"You're not the one who capped off an H-bomb today." Young Allison said. "I was responsible for that. I did that, not you. You're not responsible for all of the things that we do."

Cameron wanted to make clear to Young Allison what would have happened with the mine if the H-bomb hadn't been detonated deep in the ground.

"I would have gone into the mine and Savannah would have followed me. You would have followed both of us." Cameron said. "Bad things always happen in them. They would have happened again, the bad things."

Young Allison knew there was some truth in that statement but she also knew there was a different reality that actually happened. The reality was the only thing that mattered.

"Bad things did happen. They happened to Skynet today." Young Allison said. "There were no bad things for us today."

Savannah thought this almost seemed routine.

"None of us seems very concerned about what happened." Savannah said.

Young Allison followed every operation through the reports and through all of the video or visual files that were available. She may not be there physically but she'd been in each of those places.

"You two have lived it and I have read the reports." Young Allison said. "Is there anyone who really wanted to do THAT again? Is there anyone who wanted to go after Skynet underground in a hostile environment?"

Cameron would still have attempted to go into the mine if she could have. There was something deep in her programming that called for her to personally terminate every version of Skynet that she could find.

"I would have. I wanted to face Skynet." Cameron said. "I wanted Skynet to know it was me who terminated it."

Young Allison didn't regret the destruction of the mine her way.

"It still was, sort of." Young Allison said.

Cameron showed Savannah and Young Allison where the external controls were to open the hatch into the hidden hanger.

Young Allison entered the code Cameron provided for her.

The 'rock' lifted and exposed an entrance. There were two HK Tracks waiting inside.

They were both active and tracked them.

Savannah and Young Allison both dodged to different sides out of the immediate line of fire.

It quickly became evident that HK Tracks weren't a threat to them.

Savannah brushed her clothes off.

"A little heads up on the HK Tracks would have been nice." Savannah said.

Young Allison brushed her clothes off as well.

"Who don't think so…." Young Allison said as a statement.

Cameron purposely didn't tell the girls what would be waiting for them. She always wanted them to be on guard and be able to respond instantly. That was exactly what they'd done.

"Your response was very proficient." Cameron said. "Staying 'on guard' only adds to your training and ability. You must never forget that the future is about survival. For there to be a future both of you must survive."

Savannah and Young Allison both held their Tasers.

"If they can recognize us as 'Friendlies', they can also identify us as 'targets' if they're compromised." Savannah said.

Cameron felt that was much her point from earlier with her conversation with Savannah and later Young Allison.

"That applies to all of our machines." Cameron said. "It also means even me. I've targeted John before. I tortured Sarah when she was injured. We're all a threat."

Cameron really believed that. A day never went by where she didn't think about it. She often wondered if the new day was the day she would revert and go bad. She thought back to when she went up the steps to go into the house after they'd returned from Serrano Point. Sarah wondered if getting 'crapped up' was what would cause her cancer later on. She wondered if she would 'go bad' again. There were no definitive answers at that time. There still weren't. It was very unsettling.

John wanted to stay on top of the rest of the operations and do some follow up on the casino. That operation was probably not finished yet. Even if it seemed like it was. It would probably rear its head again at some point. They still needed to try to undo whatever it was Skynet accomplished there. He wasn't so worried about what the Syndicate was up to.

"What's happening at the casino?" John asked.

John Henry already prepared for what he knew was going to happen.

"The Syndicate has reestablished control." John Henry said. "All their computer records have been copied by us and erased."

John was sure they would need to keep a careful watch on the Syndicate casino.

"I want you to keep an eye on them and make sure they don't reestablish any contact with any Grays again." John said.

John Henry was sure that the Syndicate casino was in for a few changes.

"I don't think that will be a problem." John Henry said. "I expect the Syndicate to clean its own house. All the problems related to them should take care of themselves. All of that missing money is going to have to be accounted for by someone. I think we all understand how that story will end for the people who were in charge."

John didn't like to cheer for the Syndicate but in this case when dealing with Grays and Skynet he would.

There was the collateral damage to contend with as well on the other parts of the operation.

"How extensive was any damage from the 'earthquake'?" John asked.

John Henry checked for any new information. There wasn't any.

"It's the same as the last time you asked me." John Henry said. "There was minimal significant structural damage and only two deaths reported. Both were deaths from heart failure. Those two individuals already suffered from pre-existing conditions. The two individuals most likely would have terminated soon anyway."

John agreed with John Henry's assessment on the two heart failure victims. There was a bigger concern on his mind.

"I'm just glad Cameron and Savannah are safe and everyone else too." John said. "I don't care anymore how many underground nuclear explosions there are as long as our people are nowhere near them. That's actually a good tactic. It kept Cameron out of the mine and safe, at least safer."

John Henry was sure that Cameron acquired more nuclear weapons from the trucks that were stopped. He thought that she could retroactively go back and make sure that Skynet was thoroughly terminated at any place she'd dealt with it before.

"I'm sure Cameron will make use of the new policy." John Henry said. "I can almost guarantee she will go back and do this in places she's encountered Skynet."

John thought back on the danger that Cameron and Savannah had been in before. He knew he couldn't stop all of that going forward but any that could be prevented, he was on board with.

"There have been too many close calls for Cameron and Savannah." John said. "Can you track whatever was taken out of the trucks?"

John Henry had already been warned by CamNet to not worry about it.

"No." John Henry said. "I think we know what they were and where they went."

John was aware of a new possibility as well.

"We also know Cameron and Young Allison won't hesitate to use them." John said.

John Henry was still unsure about the temporal chain of events.

"Remember Young Allison hasn't actually done that." John Henry said.

There was one thought that plagued John about that and Young Allison.

"Yet it already happened." John said. "Could it have been an 'Allison' from a different timeline?"

John Henry had already come to that conclusion as well. He was glad that John mentioned it on his own. It certainly looked like another can of worms.

"Going back that far, I would have to say, yes." John Henry said.

John could see there were a lot of events that he wouldn't have any control over. He would only be able to react to what others did. He was a little worried about what almost happened earlier with Claire. He was glad that he wasn't watching his favorite scenes from 'Pretty Baby' when that event occurred.

"I want to know when Cameron, Savannah, Anna, and Young Allison return." John said. "I also want to know before Claire walks in on us again. Maybe we need to start closing the door."

John wondered about Claire. Cameron indicated to him that Claire was 'available' in her absences. He was sure those absences would be timed to Claire's fertility cycle. He was also aware that Claire was much more like Future Allison than Allison.

He was also reminded that the three girls from the alternate future he'd 'created' all carried a lot of personal baggage inside their minds. That was his fault. He felt that he was responsible for the things that happened to them. When he thought of Savannah, Young Allison, Summer and his sister Jan, it really sickened him. He just couldn't imagine those things happening to them. He really felt sick about what happened to Vanna and Jesse when they were just girls and all the years that followed after that.

He really understood why Cameron and the Metal girls went out 'hunting'. They were trying to kill the Scavengers who hurt Allison, Vanna and Jesse. They were trying to make sure the girls there were protected better.

Cameron was always trying to protect the future, especially when targets were clearly identified.

John knew Cameron was always right, even when she wasn't.

He was the one that was wrong, even when he wasn't.

Back That Far

It seems that there are many
Whose memory is defective
To find the truth of the past
Shouldn't take a detective

Maybe it's just that people
Only remember what they choose
They really don't care
Whose heart they bruise

People only hear
What they want to hear
They disregard the rest
Even if they cause a tear

It's all about the self
Nothing else really matters
They don't worry much about
Hearts and minds left in tatters

There are those who like to spar
They don't worry about what they scar
They leave a heart and mind ajar
Does anyone remember back that far

Nobody