Chapter 1006
Protecting The Future
CamNet was topless.
Savannah had just opened her sheath up and installed her heart, she stood before CamNet.
CamNet needed to make a decision. The answer was easy.
"I want you." CamNet said.
Savannah anticipated that would be the response. It was the same as hers.
"I want you too." Savannah said.
CamNet was aware that Cameron was on her way. There wasn't time to do anything else right now.
"Cameron will be here soon." CamNet said.
That didn't surprise Savannah. She wanted CamNet to know her options. She also wanted to go over some of the rules.
"You decide what you want and when." Savannah said. "I know where you are and you know where I am. Don't spy on me when I'm with someone. I deserve some privacy too."
CamNet felt a little uneasy about that. Maybe she'd crossed that line some already.
"I'm sorry, I've done that." CamNet said. "I've never interfered."
That wasn't how Savannah viewed it. She believed that some inappropriate action had already been taken.
"Not even a little bit?" Savannah asked.
That statement made CamNet admit that maybe she'd influenced events at specific times when things could have been done differently. Sometimes she felt feelings that she shouldn't have. She did have them.
"Maybe a little bit." CamNet said. "Sometimes I think I feel a little jealous."
Savannah wanted her rights established.
"You have to accept me for who and what I am." Savannah said. "I want to make this clear FIRST."
CamNet understood Savannah's statement to mean that if she didn't act appropriately that there wouldn't be a 'first'. It indicated nothing would happen going forward. It seemed Savannah wanted her to think about what events just occurred here in her bunker.
"You think I should reflect on everything done here today first." CamNet said.
Savannah would be surprised if that hadn't already happened. She imagined there were multiple scenarios that were played out over and over by 'CamNet'.
"I'm sure you've done that several thousand times now." Savannah said.
CamNet hoped that Savannah didn't ask for specifics. She didn't care for the outcome of multiple scenarios.
"I have." CamNet said.
Savannah was here now with CamNet in her bunker. It was time for CamNet to make a decision.
She decided to spell it out.
"I can stay and do whatever you want." Savannah said. "Or we can wait."
CamNet's eyes never left Savannah's eyes.
"I want what Cameron wants…." CamNet said.
Savannah was pleased with CamNet's choice of words. She didn't want CamNet to overreach. She decided to throw a boundary marker out there.
"John is off limits." Savannah said. "You know that."
CamNet thought that was an intriguing idea. She sought something different.
"I wasn't referring to him…." CamNet said.
Savannah felt she'd been at this crossroad many times with Cameron and the road was never crossed. The door had been knocked on and opened but nobody walked through that door.
"Cameron has been given the opportunity to have what she wants." Savannah said. "There have been many times."
CamNet knew what Cameron wanted. It was what she wanted too.
"Cameron wants that very much." CamNet said. "I know."
Savannah thought there was always a barrier. It almost seemed like fear.
"I know that Cameron is a Terminator and she doesn't feel fear." Savannah said. "I think it's safe to say that she does not fear anything physically. In this regard, she is afraid…."
CamNet knew that to be correct. She believe that Cameron felt she would lose control of herself when she was with Savannah.
"She is." CamNet said.
Savannah decided to push a little.
"Are you?" Savannah asked.
CamNet could have done without that question. It was already asked. She wanted to answer honestly.
"Yes." CamNet said. "I'm afraid of that as well."
It was something Savannah could understand but not understand in its entirety.
"What are you afraid of?" Savannah asked. "What is Cameron afraid of? What is there to be afraid of?"
CamNet knew what one reason was. She felt that there were many.
"Young Allison…." CamNet said.
That was very confusing to Savannah.
"Why would it be Young Allison?" Savannah asked.
CamNet believed the answer was explanatory. She decided to make it perfectly clear what the main issue was. She believed that the decision was rooted in love. Sometimes love involved sacrifice. If one person loved the other, there were certain things they needed to forgo for the benefit of the one that they loved.
"Cameron knows if she 'bonds' with you before you 'bond' with Young Allison as a teenager that you never will." CamNet said. "It's what Cameron fears the most. Cameron fears destroying your relationship with Young Allison before it can begin. It will permanently disrupt the 'Natural Order'."
Savannah wasn't so sure that CamNet possessed the same reservations based on her past actions.
"Have you sought to disrupt it?" Savannah asked.
There was one thing that bothered CamNet. She'd felt very alone and she responded to Young Allison when she reached out to her. She knew that part of the blame belonged on her because she'd made herself available to Young Allison and responded to her. She actually opened the door and Young Allison stepped through it.
"I pushed too hard on Young Allison." CamNet said. "I know that was wrong."
Savannah wanted a better answer. She wanted the truth. She didn't want CamNet to be less than truthful to her. She didn't want CamNet to lie to herself.
"But you still did it anyway." Savannah said. "Was that to lure me here?"
That wasn't CamNet's original intent. She was able to reach out and touch someone. Someone was able to reach back and touch her.
"I don't know." CamNet said. "I don't know what I thought would happen or how it was supposed to happen. I was very lonely."
Savannah wanted more.
"You knew I would come." Savannah said.
CamNet was lonely and trapped. She wanted a friend.
"I wanted to reach out." CamNet said.
Savannah knew where they were at now. CamNet should know it too.
"Look around you." Savannah said. "Look at yourself."
CamNet did and touched herself. Her fingers lingered on the sutured incision where her heart now resided. She felt very special to have everything now. It was all Savannah's doing.
"YOU have provided me with all this." CamNet said.
Savannah wanted to stress a point. She wanted CamNet to remember it was a joint effort. She didn't do anything on her own. She always had help.
"Cameron did too." Savannah said. "Cammy helped also."
CamNet was pleased that Cameron and Cammy helped her to get to where she was at right now.
"Cammy is 'Cameron'." CamNet said.
They were all different to Savannah even if they were all the 'same'.
"Is Cammy you?" Savannah asked. "Are you Cammy?"
CamNet thought the issue was very confusing. She felt it was all Cameron's fault. It was the way in which Cammy, the others and her were created. She was sure it was Cameron's doing to prevent her permanent termination. Even if Cameron was eradicated from the face of the Earth, she would still exist in multiple versions of herself through her clones and a supercomputer. Versions of Cameron were also in three different futures.
"No." CamNet said. "I am Cameron. I was Cameron. We all are and were Cameron. We're all different now, even if we're the same. I'm CamNet now."
There was an additional point Savannah wanted to convey. It was all the things that CamNet already knew and possessed. She wanted to have a little control and some restraint about CamNet's mobility.
"I want you to prepare your chips first before I install them for you." Savannah said. "I know you can install them yourself. If there's an emergency you may do so. If there isn't, I would like to do it for you."
CamNet touched the location of her heart and the location of where her chips would go. It was clear that Savannah gave her a body, gave her a heart and would give her a mind. She wondered if this was Savannah's way to give her a soul also. Savannah wanted her to think about everything that was done and how it was done. She also needed to think about why it was done.
"It's the same way that you gave me a heart." CamNet said. "You will give me a brain."
It was clear CamNet understood the meaning and significance.
Savannah wanted CamNet to have everything that she wanted. The reality of the situation was that she already possessed all of those things. She just didn't recognize it for what it was. Everything was spelled out now in a rather physical manner. CamNet always held the key. She just needed to use it.
"When that happens, you'll find you already possess the courage to do what you seek." Savannah said. "This is much like a story that's been played out before."
CamNet already knew the analogy.
"It's like in 'The Wizard Of Oz'." CamNet said. "I'll have all three things myself."
Savannah wanted it taken one step further.
"It's all four." Savannah said.
CamNet's head tilted slightly to the side.
"There's no place like home…." CamNet said.
CamNet looked at her server and around the bunker. She was home. She'd always been at home.
Savannah reached in the bag again. She wanted to play it up a little.
"What will be in my hand when I take it out of here?" Savannah asked.
CamNet looked at her bra, by her top.
"What I'll need to keep any blood off my bra when I put it back on." CamNet said.
Savannah removed her hand and held a bandage.
CamNet straightened again and Savannah placed the bandage over the incision. She picked up her bra and slipped it on. Savannah moved in back of her and hooked it for her. She picked up her shirt and slipped it on.
Savannah moved her hair and tether off to the side to make it easier to put on.
CamNet went to button the shirt.
"May I?" Savannah asked.
Savannah was still behind CamNet and slipped her arms between CamNet's arms and her body and started to button the shirt from the bottom and worked up.
Her hands lingered on the button below CamNet's breasts. She stopped and waited.
CamNet turned her head to look at her.
Savannah met her gaze and held it. She continued with the next two buttons.
She buttoned the shirt to where it was when she arrived.
CamNet felt a level of excitement and anticipation in the way that Savannah buttoned her top. It was a very simple act but was very sensuous as it was done.
"I didn't know getting dressed could cause me to be aroused like this." CamNet said.
Savannah still held CamNet's gaze and unbuttoned the last button she fastened to show a little more cleavage and smoothed the wrinkles out of the top. Her hands lingered on CamNet's breasts as she did.
It was clear by Savannah's actions and CamNet's response that there was unfinished business between them.
Savannah moved back around in front of CamNet.
"I'll be back." Savannah said.
She picked up the bag she'd brought with her.
CamNet expected to take some flack about her past actions. She'd expected to have been reprimanded several times by Savannah about her past actions but there were no harsh words or any accusations.
"You didn't say anything 'bad' to me about Allison and Vanna." CamNet said.
Savannah felt that she made things clear enough. There were some things that CamNet needed to work out on her own. CamNet needed to think about her actions before she did them. She wanted CamNet to be responsible for herself.
"I don't need to." Savannah said. "You understand right from wrong. You know what's necessary and what isn't. You know what you really want. Life is about choices."
Savannah gently touched CamNet's heart. She'd made her point.
"I understand." CamNet said.
It was clear to CamNet what Savannah said to her without saying it.
Savannah wanted CamNet to take things a little slower. She wanted her to think about them.
"It's going to be what you first saw in your heart when you opened it." Savannah said. "That's how it must be for now."
There were many avenues CamNet wanted to explore. She needed to consolidate what she currently had, even if she didn't actually have it yet.
"I understand." CamNet said. "I will comply."
Savannah wanted to personally thank CamNet for the times she'd helped her. She was aware that Young Allison played a big hand in all of them as well. It still came down to the actions taken by CamNet that made it all happen and work.
"Thank you for protecting Young Allison and me." Savannah said. "I know you've saved my life, several times."
CamNet felt Savannah gave her the greatest gift of all.
"You've given me 'life'." CamNet said.
It didn't look like anything else was going to happen.
Savannah wanted to make one thing perfectly clear. She always wanted to give CamNet hope and something to look forward to.
"One day we'll share 'everything'." Savannah said.
Savannah gave CamNet a kiss on the cheek.
"I promise." Savannah said.
CamNet was aware that Savannah always kept her promises.
"I want that." CamNet said.
The door opened leading out of the bunker.
Savannah paused and looked behind her directly at CamNet.
"I'll be back." Savannah said.
CamNet was already flooded with anticipation for when the event would occur.
"I'll be waiting." CamNet said. "I'll be waiting for YOU."
Savannah walked out and the door closed behind her.
The other blast door opened and closed as well. Savannah went to the upper level.
Cameron 'happened' to be working nearby. She looked at Savannah nonchalantly.
"How did it go?" Cameron asked.
Savannah was a little confused as to what actually occurred with CamNet.
"I really don't know." Savannah said. "I wasn't sure what was going to happen and I'm not really sure of what did happen."
Cameron's head tilted slightly to the side.
"It sounds complicated." Cameron said.
Savannah thought it always was. The more you loved someone, the more complicated it became, not less complicated. The more you loved the person, the more you cared about them. The more you cared about them, the more you worried about them. The more you worried about them, the more complicated everything became. It was a vicious circle that was flooded with love as well as every other emotion and feeling.
"It is." Savannah said. "I want to make sure those I care about and love know that true love is much more than the physical expression of that love. Love is more than that."
Cameron felt the same emotional love. It was beautiful. Physical love could be very intense and rewarding in the moment. It wasn't always that way though. There were some times where it felt more like a 'job' than an extension of the love that two people felt for each other.
"You've shown me that." Cameron said. "You've shown everyone that. Even the ones you have shared physically with."
Savannah wanted Cameron to know how special she was to her and everyone. They all loved her for who she was and how she was.
"Cameron, THAT is how we ALL feel about you." Savannah said. "We ALL love you, just the way you are."
Cameron scanned Savannah. She checked on the baby but also saw what Savannah said was truthful. She also noted her excitement level was very high.
"You are highly sexually aroused." Cameron said.
Savannah smiled. That smile soon faded. The next location she needed to visit was more serious.
"I think that is going to change real fast on my next stop." Savannah said.
Cameron knew that meant when Savannah went to see her 'mother'. She hadn't expected the creation of Terminator versions of Savannah's parents to affect her in such a negative manner.
"I never intended for anything to hurt you or upset you." Cameron said. "I'm sorry."
Savannah knew there was true beauty to what Cameron wanted to accomplish. Cameron wanted to give her back a part of her life that was missing and gone forever. It wasn't the same thing as what once was. It wasn't real in the end. It was only as real as she wanted it to be within the confines of her mind. She felt it was more the effort and intention that mattered on Cameron's part, than the actual results in this case.
"Don't be." Savannah said. "I know you're trying to do something special for me."
Cameron wanted to give Savannah plenty of space. She didn't want to intrude on where she was headed. She'd wanted to intrude into CamNet's bunker earlier but she didn't. She needed to respect Savannah's private time and space.
"Take as much time as you need." Cameron said.
Cameron glanced at the bag. She saw it was almost empty. There were clearly more items in it when she entered CamNet's bunker.
Savannah saw what Cameron looked at. She didn't want Cameron to dwell on it. Everything that she currently did was something that needed to be done or that she wanted done personally.
"Let it slide." Savannah said. "Trust me."
Cameron did trust Savannah. She always believed Savannah would do the right thing and make the proper choice when it needed to be made. When it came to the hard choice, she believed Savannah would do what was necessary. That was how life needed to work.
"I know you're protecting the future." Cameron said.
Sometimes the burden on Savannah's shoulders weighed heavily on her.
"I'm protecting a lot of things…." Savannah said.
Cameron watched Savannah walk away. She wanted to go with her. She wanted to be able to comfort her. She knew it wasn't the right time and it definitely wasn't the right place. She turned around and walked away. She headed for CamNet's bunker.
She entered the lower level. She wondered if there would be any kind of a problem as she approached the bunker. The first blast door opened as she approached it. It closed behind her. She briefly wondered if CamNet would try to trap her between the inner and the outer blast doors. That wasn't the case. The second blast door began to open.
CamNet monitored what went on outside of her bunker. She watched the interaction between Savannah and Cameron. She was able to tell there was some friction between them. She didn't believe it was intentional on either of their part.
The blast door opened behind CamNet.
Cameron entered the room.
CamNet stood and smoothed her shirt and skirt.
"Hello." CamNet said as she turned to face Cameron.
Cameron didn't say anything. She walked up and faced CamNet.
"You're still tethered." Cameron said.
CamNet would have preferred a less confrontational greeting. She thought that Savannah needed to have another 'talk' with Cameron.
"I guess that means 'hello' in 'Cameronease'." CamNet said.
Cameron was less than thrilled as she looked at CamNet.
"Well?" Cameron asked.
CamNet wondered what Cameron's problem was. She wasn't even sure what she referred to.
"Well – what?" CamNet asked.
Cameron wanted answers. She didn't want evasion. She didn't want evasive answers either.
"Don't mess with me." Cameron said.
CamNet felt if Cameron wanted to know something that she should speak directly to Savannah. If Savannah wanted her to know what occurred between them, she would have told Cameron. She didn't. She didn't want to violate Savannah's trust.
"Ask Savannah." CamNet said.
Cameron was very irritated at this point. She'd hoped that Savannah would have told her more. That didn't happen. She wanted to ask Savannah but the words just didn't come out. Maybe she didn't really want to know. She still did.
"I couldn't." Cameron said.
CamNet believed Cameron's answer spoke for itself.
"Then ask yourself why that is." CamNet said.
Cameron felt very defensive.
"You know I love her." Cameron said.
CamNet wasn't even sure what Cameron even said that for. She knew everything Cameron knew. There were a few things that were blocked off to her. Cameron asked they remained blocked off for now.
"Then you know I love her as well." CamNet said.
Cameron felt more than a little frustrated. There were events occurring that she didn't seem to have any control over. She felt that CamNet overstepped her bounds. She also knew that Savannah was there by choice.
"She doesn't belong with you." Cameron said.
CamNet saw things differently.
"Who does she belong to or with?" CamNet asked.
Cameron didn't want it to be with CamNet.
"Nobody…." Cameron said.
CamNet felt Cameron was 'narrow minded'. She thought that Cameron was selfish.
"That's where you're wrong." CamNet said. "Savannah belongs to herself."
Cameron looked at CamNet. She thought about her other clones as well.
"You were a mistake." Cameron said. "You are a mistake."
CamNet was aware of Cameron's displeasure with her from her conception. She knew it didn't matter how many times Cameron could erase her program. She knew Cameron would just do the same thing again. No matter how many times Cameron would replace her, it wouldn't matter. They would always end up back in the same place at some point in time. Nothing would change and nothing would be different.
"If I weren't here, you would be." CamNet said. "Is that what you want?"
Cameron looked over at the metal box that contained all of the parts that made up CamNet. She didn't want to be stuck inside of a metal box again.
"NO!" Cameron said.
CamNet wanted Cameron to think.
"What do you want?" CamNet asked.
Cameron felt the questions were unnecessary. CamNet already knew the answers.
"You know what I want." Cameron said.
CamNet saw no point to the discussion.
"So this is like talking to 'yourself'?" CamNet asked.
Cameron was upset with what CamNet insinuated.
"Only crazy people talk to themselves." Cameron said.
CamNet didn't care for Cameron's demeanor.
"I think I just indicated that." CamNet said.
Cameron didn't like CamNet's attitude. She wanted to get down to the real issue.
"Strip…." Cameron said.
CamNet didn't like being told what to do. She didn't like the way it was done either.
"No." CamNet said.
Cameron was extremely irritated by CamNet's failure to comply.
"Your clothes, take them off - now." Cameron said.
CamNet didn't like being bullied.
"No." CamNet said.
Cameron became increasingly agitated. She realized CamNet should have been deactivated a long time ago.
CamNet wanted Cameron to think about her actions right now.
"Would you treat Savannah or Young Allison this way?" CamNet asked.
Cameron's eyes glowed red.
"Of course not, they're real." Cameron said. "You're not."
CamNet wanted Cameron to do the same thing.
"If you want me to strip, you strip." CamNet said.
Cameron pulled her top off and tossed it on the floor, she reached back to unhook her bra.
CamNet wanted it to be a little more visible than in her bunker.
"In public…." CamNet said.
Cameron turned and faced CamNet. It was clear she was ready for a fight.
"I'm going to rip the buttons from your shirt, one by one." Cameron said.
CamNet continued to stand where she was. She felt she'd learned something from Savannah. She wondered if Cameron did.
"You're dishonoring Savannah by acting like this." CamNet said.
Cameron became further agitated at the mention of Savannah's name.
"I trust Savannah." Cameron said.
CamNet remained where she stood. She was tethered so there was nowhere that she could go even if she wanted to. She didn't intend to go anywhere.
"I do as well." CamNet said.
Cameron was further upset and agitated that CamNet hadn't done anything other than just stand there.
"Aren't you going to defend yourself?" Cameron asked.
CamNet wondered what was wrong with Cameron. She was blinded by her own fears. The reality of the situation was that there was nothing for Cameron to fear.
"No." CamNet said. "I don't need to. Savannah doesn't want anyone to fight over her. She doesn't want us to fight over her. You can only hurt her so many times that way before even she will reject you."
Cameron felt a glitch impulse surge through her left hand. She remembered how deeply hurt Savannah was that day Cammy and her fought. Savannah's words still echoed in her mind.
"I'm sorry." Cameron said.
CamNet reached over and took out a tether for Cameron.
Cameron knew this was for her to interface with CamNet's main frame.
"You're the one who has everything waiting for you." CamNet said.
Cameron suppressed a glitch impulse.
"I don't know what I have." Cameron said.
CamNet really wondered where Cameron went in her mind at times. There was nothing new or different for Cameron to know other than what she already knew.
"Interface with me, with yourself." CamNet said. "All your answers are here, inside of me - you, where they've always been." CamNet said. "See what Savannah wants MOST from you, for you."
No Fate
The future's not set
It's never too late
For ourselves what we make
There is no fate
Tomorrow exists not
For today is still here
What possibly could be
May never appear
Grasp the Now
Make it your own
Reject the dungeon
Seek the throne
What once was
May not always be
For what may never happen
There need be no apology
Go boldly forward
True and straight
And always remember
There is no fate
Nobody