Chapter 1212
No Substitute For Experience
Cam, along with her 'assistant' Summer, gave a tour of the hangar and the aircraft within it.
Without looking at the time Summer wrapped up the tour.
"We need to leave soon." Summer said.
They needed to get to the jet to keep on schedule.
Claire looked at her daughter with awe. She seemed to know so much about everything. She wasn't even sure how she learned it all. She knew Summer studied a lot.
"I'm very impressed with your knowledge of these aircraft, Summer." Claire said. "I didn't know any of those things."
Claire wondered how long it would be until Summer was flying one of them. She didn't want to ask Cam. It might make Cameron start sooner with Summer. The thought actually crossed her mind Summer might already be trained. She just might not know about it. It wasn't what she wanted for her daughter.
She needed to remember what Allison told her on more than one occasion. She told her the girls needed to be better trained before a Skynet future happened. She looked at Summer and Jan. A chill ran down her spine. She was aware of what happened to all of the girls from the future at a younger age than either of them were now. What kind of a future was a Skynet future? It sounded like a living hell of violence, death and depravity.
Jan was thrilled by Summer too. She really didn't know how she could know everything. It didn't just seem to be a lot. It really seemed to be everything.
"Summer's the smartest one of us all." Jan said.
Jesse knew Jan's statement needed a caveat. She was aware to survive in the future, people needed to look at a situation before it developed. They needed to keep in mind the lay of the land and what was going on around them. They needed to consider what was happening that wasn't visible. There was always something happening in the background somewhere. Sometimes people found out the hard way. If they survived, it would give them something to consider before the next encounter occurred.
"Don't forget you need experience as well to go along with the intelligence." Jesse said. "They're both very important in the future."
John Henry reaffirmed that.
"She's correct." John Henry said. "Experience can make a difference. Training helps too."
Jesse wanted to make it clear. The more things one survived, the better they were equipped to continue to move forward. It didn't often end well for someone in a new situation on more than one occasion. She'd seen people die needlessly.
"There's no substitute for experience." Jesse said. "I have seen lives lost because of a lack of it."
Claire didn't want the girls to hear it before the trip or ever really. She touched Jesse's arm to calm her. She could see Jesse was deeply touched by her own words.
"We don't need to get into it right now." Claire said.
Jesse looked at Claire and then at the two girls. It was because she never wanted the things that happened to her, to ever happen to them. She needed to let go of her past, the future. Right now wasn't the time to dwell there. They were about to embark on a new adventure.
"I'm sorry." Jesse said. "It's vacation time, even if it's for one or two days."
Jan hoped it would be longer than two days.
"You can be on the ship until it comes back." Jan said. "I want to do that."
Claire didn't want to give Jan any false hope. Sarah and Kyle would determine what Jan did.
"Your parents will decide what happens for you, Jan. It's only fair." Claire said. "They're the ones who are responsible for you. Even if you think you're a big girl, you still need to listen to them."
Jan frowned slightly. She didn't want to have any trouble with her parents. Her mother could be especially harsh on her at times when she didn't listen or did the wrong things. She didn't think some of them were a big of a deal. Her mother said it all mattered. She told her everything mattered.
Jesse didn't want to exclude Vanna. She mattered too. She wanted her to have some free time as well.
"I need to think about Vanna and Precious." Jesse said. "Precious comes first and Vanna deserves some time off too. I'll take over for her. We'll work out a schedule."
Claire was sure Samantha was another motivator for Jesse to take over for Vanna. It was fine with her too because it would put Allison and Vanna on the ship with her. Allison would want to be with Holly and Vanna would be freed up….
John Henry wanted to move the group along. They were currently on schedule. He wanted to keep it that way. He ushered everyone towards the door.
The group exited the hangar and headed for the jet. Frank and Dan were ready and waiting.
Summer looked the jet over as they approached it. She quickly identified the type it was. It wasn't as big as she thought it was going to be. It was big enough for their short trip. They weren't going to be in the air for very long.
Jan liked the sleekness up the jet. It was very different looking from all of the aircraft in the hangar. There was one jet in the hangar. It was very small. It looked like it could hold two people. She'd already forgotten what it was called. She'd actually forgotten most of the things she'd heard. She did remember a couple of names. One of them was called a Mitchell, another was a Mustang.
Claire was thrilled as they approached the door of the jet. Somehow it made her feel important. She knew It was the type of jet celebrities and business professionals flew around the country on. She didn't feel important like they were. She felt their group represented a different type of importance. The Resistance represented the future. It at least represented the preservation of the future.
Jesse was ready for a new adventure. She liked the look of the jet. It was smaller than the one they used to go to Australia. It was still a very fine looking machine.
Jan went up the small stairway into the jet. Summer was behind her. She remembered another name of some of the airplanes. It was something like a Sky King. No. It was a Skyraider. Maybe she would ask Summer later what the names were again. She could remember what they all look like even if she forgot the name. Oh, the small jet was called a Shooting Star. Summer made a point to tell her it was affectionately referred to as a 'T-Bird'.
Cam hadn't planned to go with them originally. Everything seemed under control at the base. Nothing had happened yet at the old newspaper plant. The flight to and from Ensenada wasn't going to take very long. She decided to join the group. She was the last one up the small stairway. She took one look around outside in both directions as the door to the jet closed.
As soon as they were on board, the jet started.
Jan and Summer were thrilled about the flight. They could hardly wait to take off. It was a new adventure for both of them.
"I've never been on an airplane before." Jan said.
Claire hoped Summer would say the same thing. She didn't say anything.
"There's nothing to worry about." Claire said. "We're in good hands."
Cam went around and acted as a 'stewardess' to make sure everyone was properly buckled in. She checked everyone's seat belt.
Jan was a little upset Cam physically checked her safety belt.
"I know how to put a seat belt on." Jan said.
Summer didn't want any problems or hard feelings.
"It's a requirement that's necessary." Summer said.
She indicated a small sign affixed to the front bulkhead.
Frank joined Dan in the cockpit.
John Henry and Cam sat with the others.
Claire wondered why John Henry wasn't flying. Maybe he wanted to spend more time with her when he didn't need to work. It seemed like he worked all of the time. If Jan and Summer weren't on board with her, she would make a move on John Henry. She would join the mile high club. She also hoped he'd be able to deliver a finish for her. She just wanted to finish one time with a male so she knew there was nothing wrong with her. She felt it was always their insensitivity towards her why she'd never finished before with a male. They just didn't care if she made it or not. They got what they wanted. It was all they cared about.
"John Henry, I thought you would fly us." Claire said.
John Henry saw it as an opportunity to get closer to Claire, and Jesse for that matter.
"Cam and I can assist with pointing out things on the ground." John Henry said.
Jesse wanted an aerial view of the ship. She wanted to see what it looked like from a broader perspective.
"Are we still going to fly over the ship?" Jesse asked.
Cam was aware it was part of the plan. She believed they would increase the excitement factor once we all were able to view the ship.
"Yes." Cam said.
John Henry went over the plan.
"We will do one flyby at ten thousand feet." John Henry said.
Summer was a little disappointed to hear it would be at such a high altitude.
"That's two miles up." Summer said. "We won't be able to see Cameron. I won't be able to anyway. The Terminators can see her that far away."
Cam already went over everything with CamNet. She told them the rest of the plan.
"The second flyby will be at one thousand feet after we turn and come in to land." Cam said. "The ship will be where we need it to be. It will almost be into the small port at Ensenada."
It sounded exciting to Claire. She wondered what would happen next. She wanted to see a little bit more of the town. She was still a little apprehensive because of Mexico's bad reputation for crime.
"Then what will happen?" Claire asked.
John Henry continued with the briefing.
"We'll land and be on our way to the ship before they're tied up at the dock. We'll arrive right as the ship clears customs." John Henry said. "You will be able to board shortly thereafter.
There were several other options available to them. He didn't know if he should go over them now or wait a little bit.
Jan wondered how far it was from the airport to the ship.
"How do we get from the airport to the ship?" Jan asked. "Will we take a taxi?"
John Henry already knew what the plan was for transportation from the airport.
"It will be something like that." John Henry said. "It will be more of a private service."
The jet taxied and got into position in front of the blast shield. It protected the railroad tracks and the street next to the north end of the runway. The street was Roscoe Boulevard.
Dan ran the engines up to full power and stood on the brakes. Everything looked good. He slacked off on the power.
The jet rolled onto the runway. It was One Six Right.
The power plants were run up and they sped down the runway. They lifted off a little past the control tower. They thundered over the golf course at the end of the runway and began their climb to altitude.
Everyone was excited and looked out of a window.
Cam and John Henry both looked down at the last house where the original team stayed. They both looked at each other but didn't say anything. They understood the significance of it to Cameron.
John Henry thought of the time John and him retrieved Cameron's poem book. It set off a whole chain of events. He knew the poems in Cameron's poem book were really her 'thoughts and feelings' about everything.
The cheerfulness of Jan and Summer brought them back to now.
John Henry and Cam called things out below.
It was a cloudless day. The sun was still low on the horizon.
"This is beautiful." Claire said.
Jesse, Jan and Summer all thought the same thing.
Ally was very upset. She knew what Sheila was going to do. It was going to change 'everything'. She was sure it was because of the earlier events Cameron orchestrated. It was Cameron's fault it was going to happen. Sheila told her it was what she wanted to do on her own. She didn't believe her. She didn't believe she was thinking straight. Maybe she should have used the Taser on her.
"We can't allow this to happen." Ally said.
Jim didn't see it as a problem. It appeared to be what they all wanted.
"From what you said, it's what Sheila wants." Jim said. "Apparently John and Cameron do too."
Jim and Gail watched as Holly and Hanna tried to calm Ally.
Gail actually thought it sounded beautiful.
"Sheila will go first with Cameron tethered before Cameron takes over." Gail said. "Sheila's 'first time' will belong to her this way. It sounds like everyone wins with this method."
Ally didn't like Gail's indifference. It just seemed like another way for Cameron to get her hands on their chassis.
"Are you going to do it?" Ally asked angrily.
Gail often looked forward to the experience, even if it was only one time. She wanted to know first hand what it was like. Jesse told her all about it, at least the good times. The ones she was given a choice with.
"I may." Gail said. "I haven't experienced what it's like yet. I want to have a choice. I want it to be my decision. I'm not afraid to try."
Gail didn't see what it could hurt to try it. She'd already done everything with the different females. If she was with John, it really would be with a male. It wouldn't be something to simulate a male. She hoped it would be more exciting.
Ally could see Gail was 'gone'. She would probably go next. If Sheila did it, they would all be expected to do it too. Some of Allison's experiences started to creep up on her. She redirected them. She didn't want to experience them.
"Oh, brother…." Ally said. "That's only because you don't have any association files from the 'Neural Interface' like we do."
Holly wanted the experience too. It was something she'd been very close to for fifteen months. It could have happened a thousand times back then. It was only her love for Cameron that prevented her from being with John. She even offered her chassis to Cameron to use since their programs shared the same chip. She thought John showed great restraint during those fifteen months. She's thought about it a little more and realized it wasn't just restraint. It was also love.
"I don't have any association files either." Holly said. "I want to try it also if I can go first in my chassis. I wanted to be with John when I needed to comfort him when Cameron was 'away' for fifteen months. I was available if he needed me then. He apparently didn't. He hoped Cameron would return somehow. It all seemed so hopeless."
Jim remembered the bad days back then. No one dared ask John or Holly what happened. It was assumed Holly provided John with sexual comfort.
"Everyone thought you did." Jim said. "You were with John for days at a time alone in his room."
It was a sad time too for Holly. To see and be with John in such a depressed state bothered her greatly. She wanted to provide him with sexual comfort. He never took any. She didn't want him to kill himself. She was sure it would have turned into a loving relationship very quickly if they'd started to share their sexual fruits.
"He was very sad and lonely." Holly said. "I kept him from 'leaving'."
Hanna wondered how Holly resisted. Maybe it was because 'Cameron' was inside her.
"You didn't even do it a few times?" Hanna asked. "I would have. I would have at least tried it once."
Holly always made herself available to John back then. He apologized to her many times about why he couldn't be with her. In the end maybe he was right. He got his wish. He got Cameron back.
"No. He believed if we did have sex, the act would seal Cameron's fate and she would never return." Holly said. "He always believed she would return somehow."
Ally wondered how.
"Why would he believe it for so long?" Ally asked. "Nobody would believe it."
Holly smiled.
"There was one person who never gave up." Holly said. "They held their belief and conviction against impossible odds and all the others. They never buckled or wavered in the slightest. It was their belief that gave John hope and strength. It was the one person John lived for."
Ally knew the story.
"The 'Chosen One'…." Ally said. "Savannah has always been special."
Holly was aware of everything Savannah had done. It wasn't only her bravery that saved lives. It was also her personality and her beliefs. Her words could defeat the enemies within others just as well as weapons could defeat the enemy on the battlefield. She'd done both on more than one occasion.
"Savannah has saved John and Cameron both from certain death." Holly said.
Gail was very proud to hear it.
Hanna looked at Gail. She wondered why she wasn't more involved.
"What about you back then?" Hanna asked.
Gail was shut down during that time period. She had enough issues to deal with on her own. She couldn't deal with them.
"Don't look at me." Gail said. "I was deactivated. Cameron 'saved' me too when she returned. I wanted to self terminate."
Jim was aware Savannah was involved in the decisions about Gail as well.
"You were going to self terminate." Jim said. "We deactivated you to protect you. Savannah is the one who asked us to do it. She said that Cameron would fix you when she returned."
It sounded right up 'perversion alley' to Ally.
"So you 'killed' her to 'save' her." Ally said. "I like it."
Gail was grateful for what Cameron did for her. She'd learned later it was Savannah who allowed the event to happen by asking to have her deactivated before she could self terminate.
"Cameron returned from the 'dead' and fixed everything. She even gave me Jesse, 'a Jesse', back." Gail said. "I owe my existence both to Cameron and Savannah."
It was all Gail needed to be reminded of. She would do what Cameron wanted. She owed Cameron a lot. She was aware the 'Cameron' on Holly's chip could have taken control of her chassis at any point in time during the time period. She didn't. Holly even offered to let the 'Cameron' on her chip choose either one of their chassis and she would take the other one. It never happened. If Cameron wanted to borrow her chassis now, she would do it and not think twice about it.
Ally didn't know what to do.
"I just don't think Sheila is herself." Ally said.
Gail knew there were options.
"Are you going to stop them?" Gail asked.
Ally looked at the door to the Owner's Suite for a short time.
"I don't know." Ally said. "I really don't know what I'm going to do."
Ally really didn't know what she could do. She did know if she got in Cameron's way, there was going to be a price to pay. It was probably going to be a costly price for her.
Savannah was about to call Gail.
Young Allison called her first. Before she could even speak Savannah cut her off.
"WHAT is going on there, on the ship?" Savannah asked.
Young Allison wasn't sure how to explain it. She'd done what she thought was the right thing.
"I'm sorry." Young Allison said. "I thought I took care of all the problems. This might have required more experience than I possessed for these matters. This must be all my fault."
Savannah didn't want to be upset at Young Allison. She'd hoped to get some better explanation.
"Has CamNet informed you what's happening?" Savannah asked.
Young Allison wasn't sure if she should try to explain to Savannah she wanted assistance in the matter. She'd called Savannah numerous times but never received an answer. She felt the choice was left to her to make.
"Yes. I've failed. John and Sheila are having sex. Cameron is part of it tethered to Sheila's chassis." Young Allison said. "Cameron was going to swap chips with Sheila earlier to do the same thing. She was going to take Sheila's purity and innocence from her. I prevented her from changing chips. Cameron did an end run around me. Somehow she even got Sheila to participate in it."
Savannah didn't want to come down on Young Allison. This never should have been dumped on her lap. In fact, it irritated her greatly. She wasn't too happy with Cammy turning her phone off and preventing her from looking at it on several occasions. It was another issue she'd need to deal with at a different time. She was sure there was more behind everything involved there as well. She wanted to give Young Allison a reminder about the facts of life. Sheila had already done everything that could be done with a female body, even if no actual male was involved.
"Purity and innocence with Sheila, and me for that matter, is a technical term." Savannah said. "Cameron is still staying within your guidelines. This is what CamNet informed me is about to happen. Cameron is going to allow Sheila to have sex with John first. Cameron is plugged into Sheila's chassis and will experience everything Sheila does. After the first time is over, Sheila will go into standby. Cameron will take over Sheila's chassis for herself."
Young Allison believed everything currently occurring was her fault. She felt she needed to say something. She did try to call Savannah. The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed there was an outside force at play preventing their contact.
"I'm sorry about this." Young Allison said. "It still seems like my fault. I should have called you and sought your advice and assistance."
Now Savannah felt bad about adding more guilt onto Young Allison. She was aware of all the missed calls. It wasn't Young Allison's fault.
"This is NOT on you." Savannah said. "It shouldn't be happening, period."
Young Allison felt another dilemma.
"Can we stop it?" Young Allison asked. "Do we even have a moral right to do it if it's what they all want? Who are we to go against what they all want? I wouldn't want anyone to stop me from being with you. I wouldn't let them, even if they delayed me. I'd still find a way. I'm going to find a way."
Savannah decided not to comment on the last part of Young Allison's statement. She knew they were going to be together soon. She didn't know when. She just didn't feel the time was right yet. She didn't feel Young Allison was ready for everything that would develop and evolve. She questioned her decision as she thought about it. Maybe it was her who was the one who wasn't ready. She needed to refocus. She talked with all of the girls about it before. She'd even spoken frankly with Sarah about it.
"It is probably already over." Savannah said. "I was most likely over in less than two minutes."
Young Allison understood. She'd done plenty of reading. She was sure at least eighty percent of the girls never made it the 'first time'. Most of the males finished too quickly. She'd read most of the males finished between thirty seconds and two minutes.
"I saw…. I mean read, it doesn't last long." Young Allison said.
Savannah wanted to place the blame where it belonged. It wasn't on Young Allison either.
"If Sheila isn't herself, then she doesn't have freedom of choice." Savannah said. "This is all on Cameron and John. It is NOT on you."
Young Allison still held a few cards to play.
"I can ask CamNet to intervene." Young Allison said.
Savannah wondered what CamNet could do in her bunker.
"How could she make it happen?" Savannah asked. "I was going to ask Gail to do it."
Young Allison knew how.
"CamNet informed me she can sound the 'abandon ship' warning. It consists of seven bell with the ship's horn and alarm system." Young Allison said. "Everyone on the ship would need to respond. They already had a drill on how to do it and where to go for evacuation."
Savannah could picture the chaos. A dozen different scenarios flashed through her mind. Every one of them was worse than the previous one. She didn't want anymore piled up on Young Allison's plate than was already there in regards to this matter
"It would affect thousands of people." Savannah said. "Don't do it. People will panic and someone will get hurt. People might even have heart attacks if they think the ship is really sinking."
Young Allison almost did it earlier. Now she was glad she hadn't.
"I can see how upset Ally is, she looks devastated and heartbroken." Young Allison said. "Sheila is her lover."
Savannah delivered some more bad news.
"Cammy isn't in much better condition." Savannah said. "I'm here with her."
Young Allison felt powerless.
"So what do we do?" Young Allison asked.
Savannah understood John's part. It wasn't the issue.
"Consensual sex is no big deal in reality if it's what they all want. It can provide gratification and release. I do it all the time with the girls. You've seen it happen." Savannah said. "It isn't John I'm worried about. It's Cameron I'm worried about."
Young Allison knew Cameron started it all.
"Cameron is the one who instigated and propagated everything herself." Young Allison said.
From all the information Savannah looked at up until now, it seemed it was all Cameron's doing.
"It appears that way." Savannah said. "If it really happened like this, Cameron is going to do it with the rest of the Metal girls too."
The idea made Young Allison wonder about something. It made her think about 'herself'. It wasn't something she normally did when she thought about any of the Metal girls.
"Will she even do it with Ally's chassis?" Young Allison asked. "What would be different? The sheath is identical."
Savannah knew it was more than just the body. She could attest to the differences between individuals, even when they started as the same individual. She had personal experience with Vanna, Duplicate Vanna and Future Savannah. She knew the differences personally. It was more than just observation. She'd physically interacted with all of them. They also gave her a pretty good insight into the various 'Allisons'. She physically interacted with all of them as well.
"Allison and Future Allison are very different in the way they act and react, even if their bodies are identical and they are the same person. You will be different too." Savannah said. "I'm different from Vanna and Future Savannah."
Young Allison was pleased to know she would be unique.
"It means I'll be 'myself' too." Young Allison said. "What do we do?"
Savannah was part of the reality of life. She was with others all the time.
"I don't know." Savannah said. "They probably want and NEED some variety. The girls and I have it ALL the time."
Young Allison felt this all weighed on Savannah now.
"You think this is your fault, don't you?" Young Allison asked.
Savannah felt that she wasn't part of the solution. She believed she was part of the problem.
"It is." Savannah said. "This happened because I haven't done what Cameron wanted me to do. I should have been with John years ago like Cameron planned for me."
Young Allison didn't want Savannah to feel like this. Maybe it was time she fulfilled her destiny. She knew what needed to be done. Maybe she should call Cameron directly and tell her to back off. She could still meet the ship at Ensenada before it sailed. She didn't want Savannah to do something she really didn't want to do, especially in this regard.
"You have a choice too." Young Allison said. "You were only a little older than me at the time. I'll take care of it. I can take the heat off of all of the Metal girls and everyone else if I step up now. I'll tell Cameron I'm coming."
Savannah didn't agree with what Young Allison proposed. She felt the bile rise in her throat as the anger rushed through her veins. It was her job. It was her function. It was her destiny. It was her duty. She was mainly worried about the underlying issues.
"You will NOT. I want to fulfill my destiny, Allison. I want it too." Savannah said. "It is just that I don't think Cameron will be able to deal with it."
Young Allison said what they both knew.
"My mother is going to do it if you don't, if we don't." Young Allison said. "I know what Cameron wants her to do. I've heard them talk about it, more than once."
Young Allison knew she could do the same things. How hard could it be? Everybody did it.
Savannah knew how slick Cameron was.
"Don't be so sure it wasn't to get you to act." Savannah said. "I'll have to act before Cameron does any of it. I'll do it. You will not."
Young Allison took it as a command or order from Savannah. She wanted to tell Savannah she didn't have that right to expect her compliance. She should be free to make her own decisions, even if they were the wrong decisions.
It didn't change anything right now.
"So what are we going to do?" Young Allison asked.
Savannah let out her breath slowly. She wanted to keep her anger in check. She wanted to ask herself if she was jealous or not. She didn't think she was. She was more worried about Cameron than whoever else was in John's bed.
"Nothing, we won't do anything at this point." Savannah said. "It seems like it was everyone's free will to make a choice."
Young Alison didn't like the results. She still believed it was her fault. She didn't think Cameron was doing either one.
"So we just do nothing and each of the five Metal girls on board feels obligated to do the same thing." Young Allison said. "They'll all get 'popped' whether they want to or not."
Savannah knew there was nothing to 'pop' on any of them. There'd been a lot go on in that area during some intense sexual exchanges. She didn't want to bring up any of Sheila's 'marital aids' with Young Allison. She would find out about those soon enough, if she hadn't already. The issue right now was the Metal girls on the ship.
"It looks that way." Savannah said.
Young Allison did some simple math. She didn't like where the results led. She wanted to see what Savannah's take on it was.
"There are only five Metal girls and the cruise is seven days." Young Allison said. "How does it play out?"
Savannah was aware there were several possibilities. If Cameron wanted to be able to experience what everyone else experienced on their first time, Jim and Bob were both on the ship as well. She briefly pictured a few scenarios and quickly forced them out of her mind. She was more worried about two other candidates.
"Jesse and your mother will be on board today." Savannah said. "Now there are seven of them."
Young Allison knew both of them would act before Vanna or Allison would.
"They will both do it too if Cameron asks them." Young Allison said.
Savannah let out another slow breath. She needed to keep it together. None of what was happening was Young Allison's fault. She didn't want to take it out on her.
"I doubt at this point if Cameron will even have to do that, ask them I mean. She has everyone 'conditioned'." Savannah said. "She already has everyone 'programmed' to act on their own indoctrination. She leaned real hard on Jesse in the past to do it. That's probably part of Sheila's problem now from the 'Neural Interface'. She probably feels the 'obligation' Cameron demanded from Jesse. She put Jesse naked in his bed many times. John never touched her. It must have hurt Jesse deeply inside to feel rejected."
Savannah was aware her 'close encounters' with John were more of a disappointment because of circumstances than they were rejections on his part. She believed each of the times they were almost together, it was going to happen. She'd been one second away from losing her virginity more than once. She needed to push the thought from her mind. It would happen soon enough anyway.
Young Allison could see the 'programmed obligations' included them.
"Even both of us are 'programmed'." Young Allison said. "We are both ready to act."
Savannah knew it was true. She needed to make her position perfectly clear to Young Allison.
"I'll do what's necessary, Allison. Not you." Savannah said.
Savannah wanted Young Allison to promise her she wouldn't act. She didn't think it was a promise Young Allison would make. She knew it was a promise Young Allison wouldn't be able to keep at some point if she did. There was too much pressure from Cameron. At some point everyone had weak moments.
Young Allison didn't want to talk about any of it anymore. They should concentrate on the operation.
"Maybe I should worry about Steve and Tom instead." Young Allison said. "The old newspaper facility bothers me."
Savannah believe everyone's mind was clouded when sex was involved. It seemed to be a flaw among humans as well as female Terminators.
"At this point, I think it's a better idea." Savannah said. "What's done is done. Everyone needs to move forward."
Savannah shook her head slightly to clear it. It didn't help.
'We can't change the past'. Savannah almost said.
It was almost funny because it's what Cameron did every day.
Vanna soothed Precious in the stroller.
Allison looked around the commissary.
"Where did Savannah go?" Allison asked.
Samantha kept track of where everyone was at. It was a Terminator thing.
"She went to look for Cammy." Samantha said.
Allison didn't think it was much of an answer. Maybe she should try a different approach.
"Where did Cammy go?" Allison asked.
Samantha didn't want Allison to dwell on it.
"Cammy went to the Command Center to check in and update." Samantha said. "Your food is almost ready."
Allison was concerned for Savannah's well being. She wanted to make her point clear for whoever was listening.
"I'm going to get Savannah." Allison said. "If she doesn't eat something now, she'll be off to who knows where without eating again. She might not eat for a day."
Vanna could see Allison's love for Savannah.
"Are you sure you are only worried about Savannah 'eating'?" Vanna asked.
Allison didn't think she needed to justify herself. Vanna was her true love.
"You know how things work." Allison said. "I'll be back in one minute."
Vanna doubted it. She'd watched events like this play out before.
"I bet you won't." Vanna said.
Allison felt that was a sucker's bet.
"No bet." Allison said.
Allison left the commissary and headed for the Command Center.
She spied Savannah trying to comfort Cammy, who looked like she was plugged in. Maybe there was some new problem.
Allison tried to make her approach known. She wanted Cammy and Savannah to wrap it up.
"Savannah." Allison said.
Savannah and Cammy looked in her direction.
"The food is ready." Allison said. "You need to eat something."
Savannah bent down and kissed Cammy.
Cammy looked better now. She glanced at Allison.
"I need to make it quick." Savannah said.
Allison could feel the tenseness in the air.
"Is there some problem?" Allison asked.
Savannah wanted to try a diplomatic answer first.
"There was some drama on the ship." Savannah said.
Allison was instantly intrigued. Since Cammy looked upset, maybe it was best not to pursue it.
"Do I want to know?" Allison asked.
Savannah wasn't really sure it mattered at this point. Allison would be on the ship in a few days along with Vanna. She knew if Cameron leaned on Jesse and Claire, she would certainly lean on Allison and Vanna as well.
"I really don't know." Savannah said.
Allison could see the anguish on Savannah's face. She's been around Vanna enough to know when there was a problem.
"You look upset." Allison said.
Allison moved up to Savannah and gave her a hug.
"I want to be with you." Allison whispered.
Savannah glanced at Cammy. She knew Cammy could hear Allison.
"I guess we all do." Savannah said.
Allison knew Savannah was highly desired.
"Be with you?" Allison asked.
Savannah shrugged her shoulders.
"Be with someone." Savannah said.
Allison wanted to put things in perspective. She believed it was something important.
"Life is short." Allison said. "If I was still in my future and nothing was fixed like it was for me, I would be dead by now."
Savannah knew the future was fluid. Nobody knew what would happen one second from now until that second arrived. Anything could happen, including J-Day.
"You don't know that for sure." Savannah said.
Allison felt she did know it. She'd almost found out the hard way. Her hand briefly touched the area where a Scavenger was going to carve his initials into her flesh.
"Mrs. Weaver saved me." Allison said. "I do know that. Scavengers captured me, she saved me."
Allison knew she'd been saved more than once too.
Savannah thought it was a price she needed to pay by losing her 'other' mother. It directly resulted in Allison being spared from the ravages of Scavengers and a torturous death. It was done because of Vanna and her. It was done to protect Vanna's lover.
"Everything is unpredictable, even if we think it is predictable." Savannah said.
Allison thought back on some of the things she'd witnessed in the past, the future.
"Nobody knows what will happen." Allison said.
Larry and Hank made sure the van continued on its way from the drone that followed it. The other drone continued to circle over their building as it searched for any additional threats.
It was time to get some answers from the prisoner they had in custody.
They would need to make it quick and go after the van.
Larry left Hank with the prisoner. He searched the dead man that had been in the vehicle first. He even removed his shoes and checked them. He moved over to the man he'd shot. He thoroughly searched him as well.
He looked at the electrical device the man previously held. It appeared to be a device they could turn the alarm on and off as well as open the roll up door. He looked over at Hank and saw he was busy with the Fanatic prisoner.
Larry went to where the control panel for the alarm was at. He made sure the bomb in the building was disconnected. He quickly went through the past command log of the electrical device. It appeared the man attempted to blow up the building before they drove around to the back. Now he understood why they were so slow to approach the building once they'd arrived. They expected it to blow up. It didn't.
He checked on the progress of the van. It slowed down after it took a series of side streets. So far it didn't look like the van had a set destination. It could be the driver was just taking additional precautions.
He went back out to check Hank's progress with the Fanatic.
No Substitute For Experience
Some seem to think
They know it all
When they fail
Listen to them bawl
Some show off
Others run and hide
It's not about honor
It's all false pride
There are those
Who think might is right
They seldom stick around
For a fair fight
There are those who preach
There are those who do
Who would you rather have
To guide and protect you
Many lack any real ability
They reek of inexperience
When push comes to shove
There's no substitute for experience
Nobody