Chapter 1046
I Am
Savannah led Cammy away from the commissary. She'd been given a message by Cam that Cammy was going to leave the room naked. It sounded exactly like the incident that happened earlier when she'd left Sheila's room. Claire made sure Cammy put some clothes on. She decided to keep an eye on her.
They entered the carpool area and Savannah checked over the SUV. She made sure all the weapons were present and she took stock of what everything was. It was a standard package of items. There was usually enough firepower to level half of a city block.
Normally one of the Metal girls drove whenever they went out.
Savannah didn't want to take any chances if Cammy wasn't at one hundred percent.
"Get in. I'm going to drive." Savannah said.
Cammy could tell that Savannah thought something was wrong with her. She didn't think so. She felt fine. She didn't see what the big deal was about leaving without her clothes on. She was in a hurry. It was a common mistake that anyone could make. That's what she tried to tell herself anyway.
"I can drive." Cammy said.
Savannah didn't want to make Cammy feel bad.
"I want to get some wheel time in." Savannah said. "I need to keep my driving proficiency up."
Cammy didn't want to get into an argument with Savannah. She usually drove so she knew where they were headed.
"Where are we going?" Cammy asked.
Savannah wanted to give Cammy a little surprise. She might as well tell her now and make sure it was OK with her. She thought it would help boost up Cammy's spirits.
"You wanted to hold a puppy, so we're going back to the pet store in the mall." Savannah said.
A big smile blossomed on Cammy's face. It was followed by a look of mild confusion.
"I did. I do." Cammy said. "I don't know if I'd like a kitten or a puppy better."
Savannah decided to lay out the facts to make Cammy's decision easier.
"Do they use cats in the future for anything other than catching rodents or to eat as food?" Savannah asked.
Cammy knew that statement to be true.
"No." Cammy said. "They seem to have limited usefulness."
Savannah wanted to make her point clear and back it up with some well known facts.
"Have you ever heard of a 'seeing eye cat' a 'watch cat', a 'guard cat' or a 'police cat'?" Savannah asked.
Cammy tilted her head slightly. It was clear one type of animal was more useful than the other.
"No." Cammy said. "Maybe I would like a puppy better. It seems to be able to perform more functions. It must have a higher intelligence level as well since they're able to follow simple commands. Felines are unable to do that. Their small walnut sized brain seems to be of limited capacity."
Cammy could see her point. Cats were cute when they were kittens. When they grew up they weren't so cute. They then slept for the next three quarters of their lives. If someone had a twelve year old cat, it had been asleep for nine years.
"Maybe I can buy a puppy and bring it to the base." Cammy said.
Savannah was worried about the other Terminators. They didn't possess Cammy's special pheromones. The majority of them still used the predator pheromone that Cameron developed. She didn't want the animal to cower in fear all the time.
"We have a lot of Terminators around the base." Savannah said. "I don't think pets are a good idea. We're just going to go there so you can see and interact with the small animals for a while. Taking care of a pet is a lot of responsibility."
Savannah was aware there was another major problem with pets. They died. Most pets had a relatively short life span compared to humans. She'd seen sad children when she was still in school because their pet died. It was usually their first exposure to some type of death. Her first exposure was a little more traumatic. It was father and then Future Derek and her nanny. When Mrs. Weaver left, it was like she was 'dead' too for all practical purposes. She was gone. It also meant her real mother was dead as well.
There was something else Cammy wanted to see at the mall.
"I want to see the 'wishing well' again." Cammy said.
Savannah recalled Cammy's fascination with the 'wishing well' before.
"What did you wish for last time?" Savannah asked.
Cammy looked quickly at Savannah.
"I'm not supposed to tell." Cammy said.
Savannah smiled. That was one of the interpretations of how it was supposed to work for a 'wish'. She wanted to try a different method. She would try the indirect approach.
"Did you get what you wanted?" Savannah asked.
Cammy looked at Savannah. She did get one of the things she wished for. She reached up and touched below her left breast. She received a heart. Savannah gave her a heart. No. It wasn't a heart, it was her heart.
"Yes." Cammy said. "I did receive one of the things I wished for. I don't think the other people who threw coins into the 'wishing well' are going to obtain the things they wished for."
Cammy had folded up a hundred dollar bill and put it into the 'wishing well'. She'd heard somewhere that, 'you only get what you pay for'. She was pretty sure that was the case. She thought a 'C note' went a lot further than a penny.
Savannah looked at Cammy with some seriousness.
"I really need to go to the jewelry store and pick something up." Savannah said.
Savannah could see Cammy looked worried.
"I need to pick some things up for some other people." Savannah said. "It's a surprise."
Cammy wasn't sure she liked surprises. She only liked them if they were good surprises.
John was glad to get back to work. He felt in control in the Command Center. He couldn't say the same about the commissary. He didn't think that Young Allison played him at all. She was very confident in her beliefs and actions. She did make him very nervous. It hadn't helped any when she opened her shirt up a little more than it had been. He knew he shouldn't look at her breasts but he couldn't help it. There was just something enticing about the way that she looked as compared to Cameron, her clones or Allison. Claire made a point for him to look down her top as well when she served him an omelet. He was pretty sure that Young Allison did that because that's what her mother had done. He believed Young Allison saw it as a 'challenge' and met it. He did note that she'd waited until Savannah left the room before she did it.
He shook his head to clear it. He needed to refocus.
"What's the latest?" John asked.
John Henry quickly did an in depth check. He was pleased to see everything was the same. That meant no immediate action was necessary.
"Not much is happening." John Henry said. "Everything is the same since you last asked me."
John felt it was good news but it didn't usually last long.
"It will pick up." John said. "It always does."
John Henry watched much of the activity in the commissary. He observed what Claire did, including unbuttoning her top. He thought it was somewhat strange when Young Allison did exactly the same thing later on. He noticed that they both did it when John wasn't looking. He did note that John noticed right away when he did look. It seemed John spent a lot of time looking at both of their breasts. Maybe that was a subject to stay away from for now.
He made a point of studying females. He was fascinated by the female body. He was also fascinated by its various functions. It seemed superior to the male body in everything but strength. He always wondered about the fascination that humans seemed to have over the size of breasts. He wondered if that was some carry over from thousands of years ago when the size of a female's breasts may have determined whether an infant would survive or not. There was no baby formula back then. The infant needed to rely solely on the mother. He was sure that was the reason why both males and females seem obsessed with the size of a female's breast. He thought about Riley and all the trouble she had and realized that size didn't always matter. He knew he was drifting.
"How did your breakfast go?" John Henry asked.
John quickly looked at John Henry then back to his monitors. He wasn't sure if that was a 'loaded question' or not. He wasn't going to say that he had an omelet with a 'side of breasts'.
"It was different." John said.
John thought about how comfortable he felt around Claire. Her presence was very satisfying. She was really charming and pleasant to be around. She was very soothing. The fact she was good looking only added to her appeal. That sneak peek at her breasts that she gave him was a nice treat too.
"How did your conversation go with Savannah and Young Allison?" John Henry asked.
John was impressed at what he'd witnessed. He felt very comfortable around Savannah. When he was around Young Allison he always felt very nervous. He realized that he used to feel the same way about Savannah when she was that age. Maybe it was from watching 'Pretty Baby' too many times. He knew they were the 'forbidden fruit' at that age but somehow that seemed to make him want them more. What was he thinking? He needed to stick with the questions that John Henry asked him.
"The conversation was mostly with Young Allison." John said. "How would you feel about working with her if I go on the cruise with Cameron?"
John Henry didn't think it would be anything new. Maybe it would be a little more direct.
"I've worked with her before but it's usually through Anna and CamNet." John Henry said. "She prefers to remain in the background."
John hoped to bring her to the Resistance base and into the Command Center.
"I mean here, in my spot." John said.
John Henry thought she would like to 'work' from her bunker with Anna and CamNet.
"She might be uncomfortable doing that here at the Resistance base." John Henry said.
John wondered what the difference was.
"Why?" John asked. "She doesn't seem to have a problem doing it from the Young bunker."
John Henry would like the opportunity to watch her in action. It would also give him a chance to study her. He wanted to compare her to Cameron every way that he could. He even wanted the physical aspect. He wanted to know how big of an influence this version of 'Allison Young' actually had on Cameron.
"I'd like to work with her directly." John Henry said. "She feels more confident dealing with Anna and CamNet."
John remembered what Young Allison indicated to him in the commissary. It was her appearance, based upon her age.
"Maybe she's worried it might cause a problem." John said.
John Henry believed it would have just the opposite effect on Terminators. They were aware that age and appearance didn't matter when it came to ability and results.
"Not with the Terminators it won't." John Henry said. "They all know of her multiple decisions that assisted Cameron and Savannah. They've seen both of the 'Chosen Ones' in action. They know Young Allison's place in the future."
John let out a slight sigh. He wondered if he was the only one with a 'hang up' about the future, the future that Cameron wanted. It pained him to remember that Cameron carried out his wishes from the future, from Future John. He also was concerned about some of Young Allison's decisions. He wondered how much of it was actually from Young Allison and how much of it was from CamNet.
"How much of what she did would you have done?" John asked.
That was an easy answer for John Henry. He either didn't contemplate some of the things she'd done or didn't implement them on his own if he had. The bottom line was that Young Allison acted when the Command Center didn't.
"I think because of the fact that she needed to act through CamNet answers that question." John Henry said. "Every call she made was a good one, even if it was extreme."
John figured that was because of Cameron's meddling in her life. He didn't know the extent of what Cameron did to any of the girls. What little he knew about was enough to cause him a lot of concern. If he were to know the full extent of Cameron's 'conditioning' he would be appalled, especially if he knew what that 'conditioning' consisted of.
"Is that all because of what Cameron has done to her?" John asked.
John Henry saw it differently than that. Cameron never 'made' them do anything. He understood that Cameron may have planted the seeds and opened the doors but it was the girls who walked through the doors on their own.
"Cameron has only ever allowed Savannah and Young Allison to find the greatness within themselves." John Henry said. "Their abilities and intelligence along with their compassion and love are their own."
John felt it was a little more than that.
"I think there was a lot of 'push' to that." John said.
John Henry always 'watched' Savannah and Young Allison practice different things.
"Have you ever seen her dance or play music?" John Henry asked.
John had only heard a few things from Cameron in that regard.
"Not really." John said.
John Henry had a multitude of files of both girls practicing music as well as dancing. He watched them often through his server.
"I have a file with some of that on it." John Henry said.
John Henry started the file for John. While John watched and listened to that, he quickly checked out the action in Sheila's room. He was really captivated watching them. It was to the point of distracting him. He closed the screen and would review it later, when everyone was asleep.
John was moved by what he saw. It was mostly Young Allison and Savannah. He could see the ability of each of the girls alone and he could see the harmony of both of them together. The sum of both of them together was much greater than either one of them alone if they weren't together.
"She's beautiful to watch dance." John said. "Young Allison and Savannah interact beautifully together."
John Henry was aware of Claire's abilities. They were mostly domestic abilities. It seemed that Cameron found a new function for her. Claire could carry and deliver children for Cameron or to where Cameron wanted them delivered.
"Claire was a music and dance instructor." John Henry said.
John's thoughts went back to Claire again. He still remembered looking inside of her top earlier. He really liked what he saw. He didn't know how things were going to play out.
"They're all special." John said.
John Henry wanted to mention that there was another but didn't.
"Very." John Henry said.
John was aware that Cameron MADE him want all of the girls. He just couldn't understand it. Things were really good between them right now and she still hinted at the girls. At this point in his life he was more than willing to take them. He wasn't going to turn anyone else down anymore. He didn't care if they were a Terminator or a human. He wanted Cameron and what she had to offer but he was tired of the dry spells. He never knew when she was going to disappear for a week, a month or fifteen months. Maybe it would be forever. He understood why she wanted to provide him with comfort. She was worried about her own demise.
"I want to go with Cameron." John said abruptly.
John Henry tilted his head slightly. He watched John bid Cameron farewell earlier. He wondered if John already forgot. He was aware that some humans didn't remember things very well. Other ones seemed to have a selective memory.
"She already left for the park with Young Allison." John Henry said. "You watched her leave earlier."
John chuckled to himself slightly.
"I meant on a cruise." John said.
CamNet provided John Henry with some new information. He was a little surprised at the nature of it as well as the origin.
"You're already booked for the next sailing." John Henry said.
John didn't say anything for a few seconds. This was news to him.
"I am?" John asked.
John Henry verified the date with CamNet and was provided additional information
"Yes." John Henry said. "Cameron and you are booked for the next voyage".
John was a little surprised. He would have thought Cameron would have mentioned it to him.
"Cameron didn't say anything concrete yet about it." John said. "I thought everything was still in the discussion stage."
John wondered if he now knew something that he wasn't supposed to, at least not yet. Maybe she was going to tell him later on. Maybe it was a surprise that he wasn't supposed to know about yet.
John Henry was further surprised with the latest revelation from CamNet. It was a surprise earlier when CamNet purchased the cruise line. It obviously gave her great flexibility to make a last minute booking.
"Savannah and Young Allison, independently of each other, booked both of you through CamNet." John Henry said.
John wanted to know more.
"Did they do it for Cameron or for me?" John asked.
John Henry tilted his head slightly.
"I think we both know the answer to that." John Henry said.
Cameron moved away from the girls with Anna. She wanted Young Allison to interact with Jan and Summer on her own.
Anna watched Young Allison as she played around with the girls. It was something that she didn't see her do enough of in Palmdale.
"Young Allison is very torn over what to do." Anna said.
Cameron remembered what Savannah told her earlier. She believed it was a correct assessment.
"Young Allison will return to the Young bunker and see how she does on her own." Cameron said.
Anna wasn't so sure of that. She could see how much Young Allison cared about Summer.
"I don't know." Anna said. "Look at her."
Cameron watched Young Allison interact with both Savannah and John earlier.
"I am." Cameron said. "She knows her future and wants it, now."
It sounded to Anna like Cameron was ready to act.
"When do we leave?" Anna asked.
Cameron watched Young Allison for a while longer before she spoke.
"I don't know." Cameron said. "I really don't."
Cameron wondered what she was doing sometimes. It was what she was programmed to do. She was sure of it. The files must be hidden since she couldn't find them directly. She saw how hurt and lost Future John was without Future Allison and Future Savannah. Her being there wasn't enough for him. She knew she made herself 'available' to Future John every chance she could get. There were no files showing he ever did anything. If he did, they were all erased. There were a lot of erased files in her system. Part of her life was gone and missing forever. Who does that to someone? Who steals their life from them?
Anna was a little puzzled by Cameron's answer. She could see that Cameron was lost deep in thought. She saw two figures approaching in the distance.
"Here comes Sarah and Jim." Anna said.
Anna's statement interrupted Cameron's thoughts.
They exchanged greetings when Sarah and Jim arrived.
Sarah was a little surprised to see Cameron and Young Allison were both there now. She looked over at the three girls. Summer and Jan were very happy with each other and they both looked up to Young Allison.
"They all look so happy together." Sarah said.
Anna was worried how long that happiness would last in any of them.
"They do." Anna said.
Cameron wondered if Sarah would say something about her plans for Young Allison.
Sarah looked around.
"Cameron, can I speak with you privately?" Sarah asked.
Cameron thought maybe Sarah was going to chastise her. She looked at Sarah and thought that she looked very fatigued. Now she wondered if something was wrong with Sarah.
"Is everything alright?" Cameron asked. "How are you feeling?"
"What?" Sarah asked. "Do you mean with me? I'm fine. I think I am."
Jim and Anna moved away. They went back closer towards the girls.
Cameron was ready for an earful. Here it comes….
"I spoke with Claire." Sarah said. "She's a very special woman. I want you to think about what you want her to do."
This wasn't the conversation that Cameron expected from Sarah. She'd watched the footage of Claire interact with John in the commissary.
"It's her choice." Cameron said.
Sarah had her eye on Claire herself. She wondered if it influenced her viewpoint. She still felt she needed to say something.
"Is it?" Sarah asked. "You're coercing her to act."
Cameron suppressed a mild glitch impulse. The issue was much deeper than coercing a human female.
"I want John protected." Cameron said.
Sarah wanted John protected as well. The issue to her was the way that it was being done.
"She's a person too." Sarah said. "Don't use her daughters against her."
Cameron didn't say anything. She knew she was guilty of that. She knew that she'd used Summer 'against' Claire on multiple occasions. She didn't think it was that big of a deal. There was no threat or anything.
Sarah could tell that Cameron knew exactly what she meant.
"All I'm saying is that she's a woman like me and a mother like me." Sarah said. "We'll do anything to protect our children, even if it is something we don't want to do. I needed to do a lot of that to learn how to protect John. I hated most of it. I did it for John's protection. I needed to be able to protect him. I hated what I had to do to get the training but I did it for John. I want John protected too. I just want you to know how you can make someone feel without really thinking about it."
Cameron thought maybe she did push a little bit too much. She didn't want to cause any deep rooted resentment.
"I'll speak with Claire and clear things up." Cameron said. "I'll make it perfectly clear to her that she's free from any obligations or implications from me in regards to John."
Sarah wondered if maybe she'd overstepped her bounds. It was something she felt she needed to say. She cared about Claire as well. That was a personal issue on her part.
"I just wanted to mention that." Sarah said. "I want John protected too."
Cameron looked at Young Allison and Summer. She believed the stage was already set.
"Her daughters will act on their own in time, both of them." Cameron said.
Sarah was aware of the 'Natural Order' and Young Allison's involvement. She wondered what was in store for Summer.
"Did you say both of them?" Sarah asked.
Cameron needed to remember all of the things that Savannah told her. Everything needed to be the choice of the individual involved. It didn't matter what it was for.
"I don't know." Cameron said. "They will all have freedom of choice."
Sarah would really like for all the girls to have a real life. As much as she was pleased to watch them interact, it still saddened her some.
"We need to protect them." Sarah said. "Look at them."
Cameron did look at them.
"I am." Cameron said. "They're all the future. The children are the future."
Vanna, Allison and Bob headed out.
Allison saw an opportunity she didn't normally have.
"I want to drive." Allison said. "I never get to."
Vanna quickly looked at Allison. She knew why Allison didn't get to drive very often.
"That's because no one wants the car wrecked." Vanna said.
Allison was offended by Vanna's remark.
"I'm a good driver." Allison said. "I haven't hit anything for a long time."
Vanna was sure the reason for that good news was because no one let her drive for a long time.
Bob would have rather driven himself. He could see there was some tension in the air.
"You two ride in the front." Bob said. "One can drive to where we're going and one can drive back."
"I'm driving then." Vanna said.
Vanna took the keys from Bob.
Allison didn't say anything.
Vanna liked her to be a little submissive but not too much.
Allison still wanted to drive. She didn't want Vanna to look down on her.
Vanna drove away from the carpool and headed out.
Bob still didn't know where they were headed. He would like to know the destination so he could plan any escape routes that were necessary.
"Where are we going?" Bob asked.
Vanna was just glad to be away from the base.
"Out." Vanna said.
Allison knew that they hadn't decided. They'd discussed a few places but hadn't settled on one.
"We don't know yet." Allison said.
Bob could tell they were traveling over the speed limit.
"You're speeding." Bob said.
Vanna glanced into the back seat.
"Just what I need, a back seat driver." Vanna said.
Bob felt justified with his comment.
"Your safety is my responsibility." Bob said.
Vanna didn't think it was a big deal. She didn't want to get stuck in traffic.
"I just wanted to pass that slowpoke." Vanna said.
Allison thought everyone drove too slow. She passed all of them when she drove. It required a lot of lane changing. She believed in 'skill driving'. She seldom used her turn signals as she passed and maneuvered through the slowpokes. She didn't think Vanna had done anything wrong.
"There are a lot of slowpokes." Allison said. "They should ride the bus."
Bob was aware that Cameron helped Allison learn how to drive. He understood the root of her unorthodox driving skills.
"Are you going to eat somewhere?" Bob asked.
Allison wanted to go to a restaurant. She narrowed it down to three choices.
"Yes." Allison said. "I'm hungry."
Vanna looked over at Allison.
"Where to?" Vanna asked.
There was one place that popped into her mind over the others.
"I haven't been to that pancake place in a long time." Allison said.
Bob could think of only one place that had the word 'pancakes' in its name.
"Is it the one with the blue Alpine roof?" Bob asked.
Allison looked back at Bob and smiled.
"That's the one." Allison said. "It is rather international."
Vanna thought that was a good choice since she hadn't been there in a long time.
"OK." Vanna said. "That works for me. I want to be out in the fresh air a little."
Bob viewed the air in the future.
"It may not be there forever if we can't stop Skynet." Bob said. "I mean the fresh air."
Skynet was a thorn in Allison's side. She didn't like the burden to always fall on Savannah to deal with Skynet.
"I want to do more." Allison said.
Bob didn't think that was any longer a concern for Allison.
"Cameron removed you from all off base duties." Bob said. "You know this."
Allison didn't feel that was her decision. She was a trained Resistance fighter. She'd spent plenty of time dealing with Skynet in her future. She thought now was as good as any time to look for some action.
"We're out now." Allison said. "Have John Henry find something. The SUV has everything we need. We checked it before we left."
Bob looked at his phone and gave Vanna an address.
"Are you giving us a target?" Vanna asked.
Bob thought the address would be self evident when Vanna arrived.
"It's what you said you wanted." Bob said.
Vanna and Allison looked at each other.
Jesse called Riley to see how things were going.
Samantha answered.
"Riley is indisposed currently." Samantha said.
Jesse wanted to ask why. It could be anything from being with Derek to taking a shower. She knew most people needed some privacy. She actually liked an audience when she did things, especially if it was with a female in front of other females. That always turned her on. She thought maybe she should stick to business.
"When will I be needed?" Jesse asked.
Samantha thought everything was under control currently. She hadn't noticed any anomalies with Precious.
"Not for a while." Samantha said.
There were a few things Jesse wanted to take care of.
"I might head over to the lab to do some work." Jesse said.
Samantha wondered if Jesse would be alone or not.
"Will Gail be with you?" Samantha asked.
Jesse had been with Gail earlier. It seemed that she needed to leave rather urgently.
"Gail left a short time ago." Jesse said. "She said she needed to take care of a few things."
Samantha would monitor everything and make sure Jesse was in place before Precious needed her.
"I'll give you a heads up." Samantha said.
Jesse dressed and headed out.
She worked on some things for Vanna in the lab but she felt a little lonely. Gail left suddenly right before they were going to share again. Gail told her Precious would need her soon and left alone.
She decided to see where Claire was at. She really liked spending time with her, even if it wasn't for sex. It usually was though. Claire taught her some of the fundamentals of music. There was a keyboard that Savannah used to have before she got a new and bigger one. It was in the lab.
She decided to discreetly find out if Claire was 'busy'. She made a quick trip to the Command Center.
"John Henry, is Claire up?" Jesse asked.
John Henry was a little surprised at the inquiry.
"Yes." John Henry said.
Jesse expected more of an answer.
"Well?" Jesse asked.
He didn't think it was his place to say. Cameron told him that everyone needed some private time.
"I don't want to invade her privacy." John Henry said.
Jesse laughed at John Henry's statement. She didn't think there was anyone who didn't know what everyone else did or with whom.
"There's no privacy here." Jesse said. "We're all one big happy family."
John Henry felt there was a solution to her problem that didn't involve him.
"Perhaps you should call her directly." John Henry said.
Jesse thought about it for a few seconds.
"I don't want to bother her." Jesse said.
John Henry was surprised to hear that.
"Really?" John Henry asked.
Jesse smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
"Everyone deserves some privacy." Jesse said.
I Am
Who likes to keep track
Of what someone else does
Maybe they're obsessed
Perhaps they get a buzz
Either the person is there
Or they're not
How that plays out
Can indicate a lot
It can leave one high and dry
Or chasing the wind
Sooner rather than later
It will leave a heart skinned
What is perceived as being there
May not really be there
Another person close by
Doesn't mean they still care
People always move on
It's easy to scram
They don't think anyone's watching
They don't know that I am
Nobody