Chapter 429

ALL Of Them

Cameron's actions saved Kyle's team from suffering a loss. No one was killed or terminated. It was a close one. Another ten seconds and it could have been a different story.

Kyle would have been most protected since he entered the storm drain system. Jim was the last one to leave the SUV. More than likely he would have been the one to suffer the consequences.

Cameron rendezvoused with John. She wasn't happy he was even out in the field. He took the opportunity of her having to do other things to 'slip' out and think he was going to get away with it.

John saw the look on her face as she pulled up. He knew what was next. He didn't want to hear it. It was going to be more of the same. Cameron always ridiculed him and ran him down for trying to do his job as a leader.

"Don't even say it." John said. "I already know."

Cameron didn't look pleased. She glared at John for a long moment before she spoke.

"Get in." Cameron said.

Bob moved to follow John.

Cameron shot Bob an angry glance. She thought he should have kept John out of harm's way better. It was Kyle's team which was actually targeted, not John's. She didn't want to seem too harsh.

"Not you." Cameron said.

Bob didn't care for Cameron's anger. He didn't feel John's actions were his doing. John was very uncontrollable when she wasn't around. He was also the General. His commands needed to be obeyed and followed. He lifted his hands to shoulder height and shrugged his shoulders as he looked at John. It wasn't his fault.

Cameron clenched her jaw tight as she waited for John to get in the SUV. She took off as soon as John was in.

She drove in silence. The silence was deafening.

John couldn't take it anymore. He needed to justify his actions. It was supposed to be a simple recon. It shouldn't have been a big deal. It shouldn't be a big deal now either. Everything ended without any problems for their teams. He still felt a certain sense of responsibility for what occurred.

"OK, we blew it somehow." John said.

Cameron looked at John. Based upon how close the HK drone was to launching its attack, it seemed a little worse than saying they 'blew it somehow'.

"It could have been you." Cameron said. "It could have been your team who was targeted. You could have been injured or killed. A few seconds later and there would have been at least one termination, if not more."

John was sure her eyes glowed red several times. He knew she was upset. He didn't want to argue and make it worse. It was what normally happened between them. Usually it was little things which seem to rapidly grow and expand. There were harsh words and mean things said which never should have been. It appeared it was going to happen again.

Cameron wanted to moderate her response as best as she could. It took a lot of effort on her part to do so. She pulled into a parking structure and exited the vehicle. She looked at John for a moment before she spoke.

"Let's go." Cameron said forcefully.

John got out and looked back at the vehicle they just left. He wondered where they were going to go at the mall.

Cameron transferred to another one with John. She went out another exit with a line of cars. She made a clandestine vehicle swamp out of the sight of prying eyes from drones or satellites. There were no security cameras in the area where they parked and made the switch either.

John nodded his head. He always wondered why they could never track Cameron when he wanted her tracked.

"Now I understand how you do it." John said.

Cameron was still angry. John's statement only seemed to irritate her a little further. She made her point anyway. She didn't push too hard or forcefully.

"Do you mean not get terminated?" Cameron asked. "Do you think it's easy to not get tracked by the enemy, or those who refuse to accept their destiny?"

John thought she stayed pretty calm under the conditions. It was clear she was steamed. He really figured it should have 'blown up' by now. He was about to offer some feeble excuse. He just needed to think of one first. He couldn't think of anything good. He was sure anything he said would make it worse. It usually did.

Cameron didn't care for John's delayed response. She didn't think it was necessary to keep telling him the same things over and over. It didn't seem to do any good. Even as she tried to keep her cool, she could feel it start to slip away from her.

"I'm not going to say anything else about this, John. I don't have to, you KNOW." Cameron said and then screamed. "YOU KNOW!"

John cringed a little as he looked over at her. There was no doubt about it now, her eyes glowed red. He knew she was beyond angry.

"OK, you're right, Cameron. I'm sorry." John said. "I know, there should be more Terminators."

Cameron saw she hit home. She wasn't done. She wanted some concessions without any negative feedback. She wanted John to say something on his own.

"And?" Cameron asked.

John didn't want to answer. He knew what Cameron was after. He hoped the question would pass. it didn't.

Cameron became further upset by the unnecessary delay.

"AND?" Cameron asked louder.

John exhaled slowly before he answered. There was no stopping Cameron. He thought about the recent 'green light' he gave Cameron to act. It was something he agreed to at the time, but since experienced second thoughts. Now wasn't the time to protest. It was the time to acquiesce and prevent the situation from getting worse. He still wanted to make sure those involved would have a choice.

"You can do whatever the girls want, if they agree on their own." John said. "I might not always be around…."

Cameron smiled to herself. It was what she wanted to hear. She got what she wanted. Now she could come clean without repercussions.

"I have." Cameron said. "For this very reason."

John thought about what Cameron said. It sounded serious. He hoped to calm Cameron. He was also curious as to what may have occurred.

"Have there been any results?" John asked.

Cameron felt 'covered' now. There were definitely results. Savannah's baby 'in some future' seemed like a fairly conclusive result.

"Yes." Cameron said.

John swallowed hard. It meant one of the girls was pregnant. He wasn't sure if he should ask her or not, but he wanted to know.

"Who?" John asked.

Cameron smiled slightly. She glanced over at John.

"ALL of them." Cameron said.

John wasn't sure he heard her correctly. It couldn't possibly be right, could it?

"All of them?" John asked.

Cameron was sure it would be a real 'future shock' to John. She wanted to make herself clear.

"ALL OF THEM." Cameron said.

John touched his head. He was sure she meant the girls from the future. It meant all three of them carried his child now. He wanted to verify the fact.

"Do you mean it's all three of them?" John asked.

Cameron almost wanted to laugh. She could see John was nervous and worried. The next revelation should add to the 'future shock'. Maybe she would stick with the girls in the present, for now.

"It's all six of them." Cameron said.

John mulled it over in his mind. Cameron must have gone after the younger girls too. How dare her. He needed to verify the damage Cameron did with his assistance.

"It's all SIX of them?" John asked in astonishment. "Allison, Vanna, Jesse, and…. No, you didn't."

Cameron didn't reveal all of the information. Some things were already 'finished'.

"It's done." Cameron said. "Young Jesse and Savannah are pregnant, both of them."

John ran the names through his mind. There was Jesse, Young Jesse, Vanna, Savannah, Allison. NO! He didn't think Young Allison was ready yet. Maybe Cameron used hormones on her. Wait. He better play it cool and not give her any ideas. He wanted her to tell him.

"You only mentioned five names." John said.

Cameron glanced over when she said the next name. She wanted to see his reaction.

"Claire, Allison's mother, is pregnant too." Cameron said.

John's mouth dropped open slightly. Did he hear her right?

"Mrs. Young too?" John asked. "Cameron, what have you done?"

Cameron didn't see a thing wrong with what she did. The events were dictated by the future, not by her. She was just a cog in the wheel. She needed to stay one step ahead of Skynet. So far she believed she was.

"I've done what I have to do. I've prepared for the future." Cameron said. "It's coming, and Hell is coming with it."

John sat in silence for a few seconds. He was going to have six kids all about the same age from six different females. How was he ever going to explain it? He didn't even get to create one via the traditional method. It was really something he would have liked to try, at least with one of them. It was probably out of the equation forever now. It didn't seem like something he should ask Cameron about.

"Six kids." John said. "I can't believe it."

Cameron wasn't finished. John didn't know the entire playing field yet. It was time to spell things out a little clearer.

"It could be seven, maybe more." Cameron said. "There's the Duplicate Allison in River's future. You did it on your own…."

John did what Duplicate Cameron wanted for them. It wasn't really on his own and there was no physical contact on his part. Wait. Did she say it might be more than seven? Shirley she must be up to some type of elaborate ruse.

"How is it 'more'?" John asked. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"

Cameron thought it was time to get it all out in the open. She planned to have all of the girls become pregnant if possible. Then she would start on their second child and maybe more.

"There are the other five Duplicate girls besides Duplicate Allison, and maybe River." Cameron said.

John added the numbers up. It boggled his mind.

"It's like thirteen kids, Cameron." John said. "WHAT have you done?"

Cameron saw it as an opportunity to cover her tracks some.

"Actually it will be fourteen. There's the child Savannah already gave birth to." Cameron said. "'In some future', she delivered a baby."

John couldn't believe it. Savannah was a teenager. How could Cameron do this to her? She indicated she was going to do it again. He needed to verify her earlier statement first.

"Are you telling me Savannah already delivered a baby 'in some future'?" John asked. "How could you? I knew something was up. I KNEW it. All of it was your doing. Let me get this straight. Are you saying right now I have a child?"

Cameron wanted to point out there were some temporal issues at play. The answer could be interpreted several different ways, with totally opposite implications.

"Technically you have zero right now. In a decade you will have one." Cameron said. "In a few hundred years, MAYBE another."

Somehow John didn't think it was the point.

"Stop." John said.

Cameron was sure the failure rate would be high. It always was with the girls from the future. They were all damaged. She wanted to offer an explanation as to what she was up to and why. She believed based upon the circumstances her actions were totally justified.

"John, the girls from the future can't carry a baby to term." Cameron said. "Riley is the only one from the future who might. Look at all the trouble she's gone through. I brought in the best doctors around for her, THE BEST."

The reminder of the failure rate eased John's mind somewhat. He remembered Vanna and Jesse failed before when Duplicate Cameron was involved. There were still three females not from the future in the mix now. As far as Riley went, he did need to concede Cameron did her a big favor. It was a lot of work involved to make it happen. He understood there was no guarantee it would actually occur either. There was one individual who troubled him more for some reason than the others.

"I know you did it to help Riley, but why Allison's mother?" John said. "I don't really even know her."

Cameron saw it as simple mathematics. Claire was a proven 'track winner'.

"Claire volunteered because she CAN have children, John." Cameron said. "She's having Allison's baby for her. She currently carries Allison's embryo. It's not her own, even if it's yours."

Somehow it made sense to John, even if he didn't agree with it. Cameron sidestepped the future and dealt from the bottom of the deck. She always did play to 'win'.

"OK, you made your point, again." John said.

Cameron was as deflated as she was elated by the whole thing. Nothing was written in stone other than what Savannah already accomplished. Only what actually occurred was concrete proof. Everything else was still in flux.

"I don't know what will happen for sure going forward." Cameron said. "I think there will be trouble…."

John felt a little less intimidated now. He might not have fourteen kids on the way after all. It still seemed like a lot could happen. He thought about Young Jesse. He actually didn't know her at all. He would actually like to meet her at some point. Based on Cameron's current demeanor, it seemed like a bad time to ask about it. If she offered for him to visit Australia and meet her, he would. He needed to focus on what could occur.

"Cameron, what's realistically going to happen with all of this?" John asked.

Cameron knew the next part was tricky. Producing children fell on the backs of three females.

"Young Jesse should deliver for Jesse. Claire hopefully will have Allison's baby. Savannah will have one for Vanna, here." Cameron said. "I may have to take all of them into the future, all the futures, for the girls there. Every one of the future girls may be sterile."

John was in such shock, he couldn't even process his anger or amazement. Cameron wanted to help the girls in the only way they could be helped. It was just 'wrong' even if it was 'right'. He wondered how much of it was actually the choice of the individuals involved. He was sure there was a lot of coercion and probably some intimidation.

"I'm not sure about any of this." John said.

Cameron figured she might as well lay a little more on John at this point. He couldn't be upset about everything at the same time. So far he hadn't asked her specifically about three of the females she indicated. She decided it was better to let him know before he began to question it.

"I found Duplicate Cameron who was stuck 'in some future' along with the other set of Duplicate girls, and Mrs. Weaver." Cameron said.

John forgot about all his 'kids' for right now. Cameron found something much more important. It could be their biggest threat but he didn't think so.

"You found Mrs. Weaver?" John asked. "Tell me more about her."

Cameron felt on surer ground here. There were some points of contention between her and Mrs. Weaver but they didn't actually seem to be intentional on either of their parts. It was just the way they each operated which could cause some friction.

"There's nothing to tell. I've made a complete report. I don't want to talk about her right now. They're all still there with Savannah's baby for the other Duplicate Vanna." Cameron said. "The other Duplicate Cameron returned to my future to be with you - Future John. I need to go there again and see if they've been able to have children for you - Future John. I may have to take Savannah and Claire with me there. As for Young Jesse, I may need to take her to either River's future, or the one with Savannah's baby. Her services won't be needed for my future because of obvious reasons."

They both knew Future Jesse was no longer there. Her exact whereabouts were unknown.

John sat in silence for a little while. Cameron just unloaded half of the universe on him. He shook his head to clear it but it didn't help. He looked at Cameron.

"Let me get this straight. Savannah delivered a baby, MY child, a decade from now, but she actually gave birth to my child?" John asked. "I actually have a child?"

Cameron knew it was the only one so far.

"Savannah did have your child, her baby. She gave it to herself - Duplicate Vanna, 'in some future'. It's where Mrs. Weaver is at." Cameron said. "It's very complicated. It was a very emotional issue for everyone involved, especially Savannah."

John wasn't sure if Cameron said the sex of the baby. It was all sort of a jumble at this point. He wanted to make sure.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" John asked.

Cameron looked at John and smiled.

"It's a beautiful girl, John. She's so beautiful." Cameron said. "I wanted her for myself, for us. It's originally how it was going to be, but events changed and things played out differently than were anticipated."

He could see the joy and happiness in her face. He didn't want to spoil it. He did it enough times.

"What's her name?" John asked.

Cameron got a far off look on her face.

"It's Hope." Cameron said. "Because few children can be born there and fewer live, Duplicate Vanna and Savannah named her Hope. She's hope for that future, John. Savannah gave Hope to their future."

John felt a sense of pride. Maybe it was because Cameron did. He wanted to see his child.

"Can I view your files to see her?" John asked. "I want to see my daughter."

Cameron was up to it on several levels. She also needed to respect Savannah' privacy in some regards.

"Sure, John, I'll plug in and you can see her. You can see all the footage of her, even when she's being born. I was there for everything. I'll have to ask Savannah if she wants you to see her under those conditions first. You will see all of her…." Cameron said. "It was painful for her as well. It was harder for her than it was for Claire. I was there when they both delivered. I was very worried for Savannah. She's still very young, John. I wanted her to wait a few more years but she didn't."

John still couldn't believe he was a father. It was all mind blowing. He wanted his mother to know. He felt it was something which would be important to her. He knew his mother was always worried about her reported cancer appearing and claiming her life at an early age. He also needed to think about compromising. He didn't want to pick another fight.

"Cameron, I don't know if I'm angry or elated." John said. "I'm still trying to process all of this. Can I tell my mom she's a grandmother? I don't want to step on anyone's privacy."

Cameron thought she might like to have a little time before they dealt with Sarah. She would like to have some reinforcement on her behalf, from Savannah.

"Why don't you wait until Savannah returns and you can both tell your mother together." Cameron said. "I'll have all the files for everyone to review then."

John thought a little harder about what Cameron said and didn't say.

"Savannah was going to have the baby for you, wasn't she?" John asked.

Cameron looked a little sad when she looked at John.

"Yes." Cameron said. "I didn't know she was pregnant until after we were 'in some future'. She did it without my knowledge. It broke my heart, John, to have to leave the baby there. I think the time transfer may have hurt the baby. It's why she decided to give it to Duplicate Vanna - herself. John, she gave Hope to herself. It was the only way Duplicate Vanna would have been able to have a child there. It's just how some things worked out on their own."

John ran some of the timeline through his head. It didn't quite add up.

"It sounds like you started all this a little sooner than the other day." John said. "It also sounds like you didn't push Savannah, if you didn't know. Thank you for not pressuring her at least."

Cameron felt somewhat justified in her actions. She also felt everyone was given a free choice.

"I may have facilitated Savannah and the girls, but I've never pushed them to do anything they didn't want to do for themselves and their partners." Cameron said. "John, I've tried with the girls several times each already over the years. It always ends the same. They can't carry the baby to term, ever. They all have failed multiple times. My fears of the future are worse than I thought. If Judgment Day comes before you have a family, you never will…."

John could see Cameron was sincere. She didn't act out of malice or selfishness. She acted out of love.

"OK, Cameron, I understand. It's now or maybe never." John said. "Anyone pregnant now may need to have the baby in another future for the girls who can't. Is it what you're saying?"

It was Cameron's biggest fear. She didn't want to expose the younger girls to the future if she didn't have to. It was a very risky proposition on multiple levels. A lot of things could go wrong, including a temporal error.

"Yes. I need to investigate further." Cameron said. "I'm trying to help everyone as best as I can. I'm not trying to hurt you or anyone. This is all necessary because of Skynet, John. I'm trying to fix what I can to help the girls I love. The girls you love too, John. They're all part of OUR family."

Cameron stopped.

John looked around. He'd been so worried about everything Cameron unloaded on him, he hadn't paid attention to where they were headed. Now he didn't have a clue.

"Where are we?" John asked.

Cameron didn't want any secrets from John. She loved him.

"It's my base." Cameron said. "Here it is. I wanted to tell you the truth about everything."

John and Cameron got out.

Cameron looked a little lost. She wanted to be as honest as she could. It wasn't always easy for her.

John went to Cameron and held her in a long embrace. He realized she reached out to him in her own way. It was all as personal to her as it could get.

"I love you, Cameron, and you love me."

Cameron looked relieved.

"I love you, John, and you love me."

John knew he needed to up his game.

"Cameron, it's time I start being Future John." John said.

Cameron was glad to hear it. She wasn't sure he was ready. She didn't want to start another argument over it.

"Yes." Cameron said.

John felt he needed better direction and help from Cameron to do it.

"Tell me what I need to do and guide me. I'll start listening better. The futures you've been to are all Hell on Earth."

It was what Cameron wanted to hear. He was ready.

There was a long moment of silence.

"John, if you ever see an energy bubble appear near you, I want you to enter it." Cameron said.

It sounded dangerous to John.

"Why?" John asked.

Cameron laid it out plain and simple.

"I'll be saving your life, or River, or a Duplicate Cameron will be." Cameron said. "After what almost happened to Kyle today, I made up my mind. If he was killed or seriously hurt, I decided I was going back in time and fix it. I love my family and I'm not going to let any of them die or be hurt again. I want to make sure they can have the families they want as well. John, I'm trying to protect and fix the future. I need you to understand I'm doing what I was meant to do. I'm doing what YOU programmed me to do. I need your help and support. You can't keep punishing me for what I need to do, because of you, for you."

John briefly wondered if it was what Cameron did today. Wasn't she in Palmdale? He decided not to ask.

He knew Cameron was torn and conflicted over what she was supposed to do as programmed by Future John - HIM. He knew he hadn't listened to her before. He realized how much it must have hurt her. It made him feel awful.

"I love you, Cameron." John said. "You have it, you have my support."

John and Cameron held each other as they both cried.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

All Of Them

Some things work out
Some things don't
When someone says can't
Can't really means won't

What is it actually
That everyone wants
They'll do many things
Even pull crazy stunts

Love seems to bring out
Every form of irrational behavior
What they actually seek
Will not be their savior

It most likely will lead
To a path filled with doom
Most tend to sink fast
Very few will zoom

Nobody knows which one to choose
As they search for life's gem
They wonder which one will fail
The answer is easy, it's all of them

Nobody