Chapter 427

Younger Crop

John Henry was able to come up with some new leads. John wanted to use the opportunity of Cameron being away to get out in the field and do some things on his own. He didn't like her taking all the risks. It bothered him how Cameron would always hold him back. She wanted him to delegate the responsibility. She told him it was the sign of a true leader. He believed a true leader should lead, henceforth the name 'leader'.

It was decided they would send out two teams. John went out with Bob and Steve. Kyle was with Jim and Al. They were going to do some reconnaissance. So far things progressed smoothly. It could always change and change fast. Sometimes there was a warning, sometimes there wasn't.

They identified several new locations as well as what might be another super computer. It may be two of them. John Henry identified them by energy usage which was routed through several sources to hide it. It was a nice try to hide what they were up to, but they slipped up. The Grays always got over confident and made mistakes. John Henry caught them. CamNet was there to back him up if needed. He didn't need it much. It didn't matter. CamNet was always there too. CamNet was 'Cameron' and she liked to know everything that happened.

Caution was something Cameron and John pounded into everyone. Everyone always needed to be alert, never take chances, and watch their six. If anyone went out, there were to be plenty of Terminators to tag along. Cameron supplied them with a seemingly endless supply of vehicles so they could change frequently. It was common to run the teams through an ambush they set up at different locations to see if anyone ever followed them. So far they were able to neutralize any threat. It was still something they needed to fear. They tracked down Skynet and its illegitimate offshoots. If they were careless Skynet could do the same thing to them. It would also put their families at risk.

John and Kyle were out as two separate teams, they were the team leaders. Cameron made sure two teams of her Terminators silently shadowed them. If Cameron herself couldn't shadow them, she made sure her Terminators did. She didn't like to step on John's toes, but she was there for him if needed. John Henry knew he could direct them for backup as necessary. Cameron didn't like non-Terminators being out in the field, but she understood their 'need' to want to help. They wanted to protect their families and future too. She sent her Terminators to do the same for her family.

When any non-Terminators were on a mission, it was supposed to be a reconnaissance mission. It was possible it could turn into surveillance. If it appeared it was going to turn into combat, they were to withdraw and let the Terminators move in first. Things didn't always play out like they were supposed to. On more than one occasion, the humans were In the heat of the battle. They all possessed experience from the future so it was an added plus.

John felt fairly secure in the company of Bob and Steve. Both of them were on the last mission he was on. It gave him some time to think about it as they drove. He thought about what he heard from one of the men who were there. It seemed to him one of them knew more than he should have.

"Bob, there's something bothering me." John said. "It made me wonder about something which was mentioned. The last group we encountered seemed to know about Cameron."

Bob was aware of it as well. He even asked Cameron about it. Her answer left something to be desired.

"She's everywhere. She's faced down several Skynets, or its offshoots, herself." Bob said. "She told me somehow it seemed the different Skynets were able to communicate, even if they were in different timelines."

It didn't make any sense to John. How could they do it? He was sure there was a little more in play.

"I need to say, it sounds impossible." John said. "Are we getting the whole story?"

Bob doubted they ever got the whole story when Cameron was involved. Maybe she only revealed what she felt was absolutely necessary for the after mission report. There was probably unfinished business or other things related to what she uncovered which she wanted to deal with herself. If she was going to handle it on her own, there was no need to alert the rest of the Resistance to it, and have someone attempt to do it before she could.

"All we know is we get Cameron's story." Bob said.

John scoffed at Bob's reply. He thought Bob hit the nail on the head.

"I think we all understand it's never the whole story." John said.

Steve knew Cameron thought she repeated her 'life' more than once already. It was a strange concept in all regards. There could still be merit in it based on what they encountered.

"Unless somehow it's not the first time Cameron has encountered them if she's living her life over like she thinks." Steve said. "She always makes sure the computer, Skynet, or Sky-whatever, knows it's her who terminated it. It's something she always does."

John didn't like Cameron to do it, but he understood what her purpose was for doing it. He wasn't sure he agreed with the concept. It did seem to have its merits.

"She's trying to make herself the target instead of my mother or me." John said. "She's protecting us in both the future and the past this way."

John also knew Cameron was protecting him and everyone else in the present by taking the most of the risks herself. It didn't sit well with him either.

Bob saw Cameron only playing a shell game by making herself the target. She put someone else other than John at risk then if Skynet sent Terminators back in time again to preemptively strike. With more than one future now, it could happen again.

"Isn't she endangering Allison by doing it then?" Bob asked. "We don't see Allison much anymore. I heard her mother wants to move to our base with the two younger girls."

John figured Cameron was behind the idea. It was to bring Young Allison closer to him to further her plans for the 'Natural Order'. Cameron already complained to him there was no point in anyone waiting for anything since the future was already determined. Cameron didn't see an issue with age since the outcome was already known and the end result would be the same again. What Bob said about Allison's mother made him think about her. He liked the way Claire looked too but he never mentioned it. If Cameron ever heard him say anything about it, it would only put new ideas into her head. He didn't know they were already there.

There were more than a few things John thought about when he pictured Allison or her mother. Maybe it was just another one of his many fantasies. He thought it would be extremely stimulating to be with both of them at the same time. He watched videos about the mother-daughter thing more than a few times. In the case of Allison and Claire, they were almost the same age because of the temporal factor. Somehow he thought it would make it even more exciting.

"Allison's mother is only a few years older than her. She's younger than Vanna and Jesse." John said. "Why hasn't Cameron already done it? It seems like it would be something she'd pursue on several levels."

Bob felt Cameron would terminate Paul Young at some point to get him out of the way. She hadn't done it yet because she didn't want to hurt Allison.

"Allison's father is the issue. Cameron doesn't want him around our girls." Bob said. "Allison wants her parents together. They've fallen out as a pair."

It sounded a little sad to John. It made him feel a little bad about what he thought earlier, but not by much. He still thought his idea bore merit. With the new information from Bob, it seemed to set the stage for more to happen. He wanted to know what the problem was.

"Why?" John asked.

Bob thought what everyone thought who ever saw Claire around Cameron. The looks on Claire's face said it all. Her vital signs only confirmed it. Wasn't even necessary to physically scan her to tell what was behind her reaction.

"Allison's mother loves Cameron." Bob said.

John didn't think it was anything new. It seemed as if some corrective action should be taken before things became worse.

"It happens to everyone sooner or later." John said. "I know. What has Cameron done to fix it?"

Bob thought Cameron made a good strategic move. It would better protect Claire Young and her daughters.

"She's provided Allison's mother with a female Terminator." Bob said. "Hanna is her mate now."

John shook his head in disgust. It was just like Cameron. With a Terminator in the mix, Claire would never go back to her husband. It only made the problem worse, not better.

"How does it 'fix it'?" John asked. "It will do just the opposite."

Bob didn't think John looked at it like Cameron did. Her desires were very specific.

"Claire is a known producer of beautiful girls." Bob said "It's what Cameron is after."

John figured Claire was headed for his bed at some point. He already decided he wasn't going to turn her away if it happened. She would need to be there because she wanted to be there, otherwise he wouldn't go forward with anything. It was something he was very adamant about. Everyone needed to have some type of choice in what happened. He didn't like the way Cameron controlled everyone through sex. It included him too. Like all females, Cameron learned to 'hold out' on him to influence him or get her way.

"Cameron has 'given' all the girls female Metal lovers." John said. "Her sole purpose is to control everyone. She doesn't care about the actual people."

Bob understood Cameron was the ultimate infiltrator. It made him think of a specific reference.

"It's what she does. She's the bait which captures everything." Bob said. "Cameron is the Queen."

John didn't like the new development at all. Cameron manipulated people's lives as she altered their future. He wondered how much of it was Future John's fault, HIS fault. It made him wonder how far he would go to achieve a goal, regardless of the route he needed to take to do it. He was fairly certain, depending upon the circumstances, he might go pretty low to get what he desired. He didn't think it was actually too much different from what most people would do, depending upon what the situation was. He believed it was human nature.

He was sure of one thing. Cameron was going to do what she thought needed to be done. Nobody was going to stand in her way.

John wondered if Future John told her to do things a certain way, or if it was something Cameron did on her own. It was probably a combination of both. Either way, it didn't seem he could exert as much influence as he thought he should be able to.

Sarah liked the interaction along with all the help she got from the girls and Metal girls. Jan really liked one more than the others. It was Cameron. She liked to watch them interact. Cameron was such a different person when she was with children. She evolved so much from her early days. Jan could always tell Cameron somehow from her clones. She couldn't if they were Tight. Ally was easier for her to identify, she was more like Allison. Cam and Cammy were impossible to tell apart. She heard they were supposed to run 'mixed programs' but ran their 'Cameron programming' most of the time for Vanna and Savannah.

Savannah seemed to have been away a lot lately. She must really be 'bonding' with Young Jesse. She thought about it and smiled. She 'bonded' with a few of her High School girlfriends too…. They could learn new things and explore and didn't need to worry about getting pregnant. They were also able to satisfy each other almost all of the time, unlike any of the males. None of them ever achieved a finish from a High School boyfriend. She was sure Savannah would have a much better experience on her current trajectory. She wondered how much longer it would be until Cameron brought Young Jesse to the Resistance base.

She watched how Cameron 'guided' Savannah towards John. If Cameron brought Young Jesse there as well, it would be another one she would direct towards John. It looked like Cameron was about to replace the girls there already with their younger selves to make something 'happen'. It seemed to be a younger crop, waiting to be harvested…. She wondered if the younger versions of the girls would get into a competition to see who could 'get' to John first, or if they would simply be satisfied with each other and not pursue John at all.

She thought about it a little more and decided the girls would be more than happy with each other since a finish was almost a guarantee with every encounter. The girls knew what they liked and how to achieve it, as well as deliver it. There were times when she wouldn't mind having a female friend to share with. She was sure Vanna's 'offer' was still good. She didn't think Jesse would turn down an encounter either.

Sarah actually wondered why she wasn't a grandmother yet. With all of Cameron's manipulation, she figured she would have been one several years ago. Little did she know, she already was a grandmother 'in some future'. Then again, it was in the future and hadn't happened yet, even though somehow it already did….

Cameron returned to her base. She was alone with her program clone Summer. It was time to make a decision. River's time bubble would be there tomorrow. Someone needed to be in it. Sheila already volunteered once she found out the nature of the assignment. If Summer didn't want the assignment, Sheila was going to take it. She already said she would bring an extra set of nipple rings along for Duplicate Jesse if she went. Sheila was sure once Duplicate Jesse saw her rings she would want to look the same way too.

She felt there needed to be some rules going forward in any future. She knew Duplicate Cameron would feel the same way she did, since they were the same cyborg. Maybe it was best to let Duplicate Cameron and River decide what anyone would do in their future.

Cameron laid it all out for Summer.

Summer was intrigued with the idea but wanted something else. she wanted what Cameron originally offered her. She wondered why there was still any confusion on Cameron's part. Her plan was quite clear and specific before she went on her temporal mission.

"I don't know, Cameron. I thought I was going to replace you as John's mistress so he could be close with Savannah or the other girls." Summer said. "Isn't it what you still want?"

Sometimes Cameron didn't know what it was she wanted. She wanted what was best for John. She really didn't think it was her. She seemed to be at odds with him much too often over little things. It was all very disturbing to her. It was actually what all couples or relationships experienced. Nobody agreed with everybody all of the time. Things may start out in such a manner, but it didn't take long for them to devolve into a sparring match.

"It's what I want." Cameron said. "Savannah is the 'Chosen One'. If I ever may have felt any doubt about it, it's long gone. She's a fine young woman. Savannah is better than I could ever be for John."

Cameron seriously believed it. She knew Savannah's heart was pure. The thought only reminded her she didn't really have a heart. Her heart was just a gold locket which she placed inside of her sheath herself. It reminded her she was a machine.

Summer wanted what was promised to her previously. She didn't want to disparage Savannah, but she did want to point out a few things. She was aware time would nullify her concerns, but did want to point it out.

"She's still a teenager." Summer said. "She lacks a lot of social interaction. Her world view is limited."

Cameron gritted her teeth slightly. She picked up a number of human idiosyncrasies over the years. Maybe there were other ways she was able to release 'stress' instead of her hand glitching. They were all manifestations of her inability to process things which troubled her. She believed any of Savannah's shortcomings were her fault. She was the one who kept Savannah in isolation for most of her life. She believed Savannah was well rounded and a much better person than she ever could be. She tried to guide or make Savannah everything she could never be.

"Savannah's experiences and training, as well as her education, are far beyond her numerical years. Don't forget she's almost another year older now too." Cameron said. "I've spent a lot of 'one on one' time with her as I did with My Allison, Future Allison. They are both truly dynamic individuals now. I spent almost a year with each one alone for every hour they weren't asleep."

Cameron also spent time with them sleeping. She whispered things into their ear as they slept. The 'conditioning' procedure was being done with Young Allison as well. If she couldn't go herself to do it, Holly and Hanna did. They were instructed to use her voice as she slept.

Summer shared Cameron's programming so she experienced the same things Cameron did. She was aware all of the 'one on one' time produced its own effect.

"They both love you more than anything." Summer said.

Cameron felt each of the girls 'grow' in her, as much as she 'grew' inside of each of them. Two people who were very close to each other for extended periods of time, would either fall in love, or hate each other. She preferred the former over the latter. The idea to 'get away from it all' and maintain the 'Natural Order' could have more than one ending or beginning….

"It's a two way street, Summer." Cameron said. "I was under their influence as well at the same time. I love them both. I've thought of taking both of them, Future Allison and our Savannah, with John, to a different time period."

Cameron knew there were times when the feeling was very overwhelming for her. She wasn't sure if she experienced what was referred to as deja vu or not.

Summer checked some of her blocked files. They were still blocked. Events leading up to them indicated those thoughts may have manifested into actions.

"You may have done it." Summer said. "You may have given John the best version of 'Allison' and best version of 'Savannah'."

Cameron reviewed those same files in her system. What did she do before? Was it the 'right' thing to do? There was never a concrete answer she could come up with.

"I don't know, Summer." Cameron said. "I really don't know."

Summer reviewed many of 'Cameron's personal files'. They were her files too. She understood a new door awaited her to open it. River's future offered her a real future. If she stayed there, she would be deactivated or reprogrammed from who she currently was. She would cease to exist at some point at Cameron's choosing. There was more out there for her than would ever be available to her here and now.

'Should I stay or should I go?' Summer thought.

It really didn't take too much thought to come to the most favorable conclusion for her.

"When the time bubble comes tomorrow, if it does, I'll enter it." Summer said. "I want to update before I go and I want all the files of the clones with the girls. I want everything. I will firewall it until I have consummated our relationships with the Duplicate girls for a few years and then review it."

Cameron wanted those very things herself. She just couldn't take them. Her deepest obligation was programmed into her in every system. It was John. She didn't want to deny Summer the very things she desired. It was another way to make a copy of everything as well in case there was some type of catastrophic failure in the past, the present.

"You will have everything I want…." Cameron said.

Summer knew there was one thing which would always separate them.

"It's true except for one thing. We both know it's John." Summer said. "You belong to him."

Cameron believed some things were absolute and determined by time. The fact everything already happened, seemed to be a good indicator of what would happen going forward.

"It's the 'Natural Order'." Cameron said. "If the other Duplicate Cameron was successful in her mission, it's proof of it."

Summer would like to know for sure. It concerned her a lot if the other Duplicate Cameron was successful or not. She really thought someone should have gone with her just in case there was a problem of some sort. They would have been able to send the energy bubble again right after their departure so if there was a problem both of them could have returned. If there was no problem the other one could have returned and informed everyone as to what occurred.

"How will we ever know?" Summer asked.

The same question plagued Cameron. There was really only one way to know and find out.

"I'm sure one of us will visit there." Cameron said. "I'm very concerned as to what transpired there myself."

Cameron intended for it to be her. She wanted to know what happened in her future for sure. There could also be other issues which needed to be dealt with. She planned to address those as well.

She wanted to make sure Summer would have as much flexibility as possible. She was given a DNA sample of Allison, Vanna, Jesse, Sarah, Claire and Jan. She reluctantly added Riley as an afterthought. If Summer or Duplicate Cameron would need to change their sheath they would have other opportunities available to them now.

Summer produced a tether. They looked at each other for a moment before they plugged in. Each wanted what the other was going to have. They both couldn't have the same things at the same time. Maybe in the next 'go around' in Cameron's life it would be different. Maybe it would not.

Cameron updated her files with Summer. She gave her all the files she was given copies of, and helped her firewall her directives for John. They were replaced with directives for the Duplicate girls instead. It was decided to firewall Duplicate Cameron's feelings for River to prevent a conflict with Duplicate Cameron. They were actually Duplicate Cameron's files anyway. If she chose to have Summer unlock those at a different time, it would be up to her.

Cameron and Summer silently waited for the energy bubble. Neither wanted to discuss the 'past' or the 'present', it only left one avenue to explore. It would be the future.

"All of your child care programming has been updated as well." Cameron said. "You hopefully will have three or maybe four children to attend to within a year."

Summer removed her clothing. She knew who Cameron wanted the fourth child to be from…. She wanted it to be River. She wasn't so sure it was something River would desire at the current point in time. She was still very young in reality.

Cameron looked at Summer's perfect figure. She knew Summer was more beautiful than herself. If she ever did Resequence her sheath, it would be with Summer's DNA. Nobody was as beautiful as Summer.

The arcing and flashing started on the TDE pad.

Right on schedule the energy bubble appeared.

"I'll see you soon, sister." Summer said. "I'll stay in touch."

Summer stepped into the energy bubble and the arcing and flashing ended.

Summer was gone.

There was no doubt about it.

Nobody was as pretty as Summer - Nobody

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Younger Crop

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
In some cases it must be so
True beauty can be recognized by all
It will show from head to toe

A person is supposed to be
More than just good looks
Perhaps it's another way
For them to sink in their hooks

The pure content of a mind
Is often not going to be enough
For them to continue forward
Makes it kind of tough

It is said age is but a number
Everyone knows it isn't true
If one is much younger than the other
Everyone knows what they will do

So each person is in the market
For something better they shop
Chances are better than not
It will end with a younger crop

Nobody