Chapter 431

Stronger Bond

Things settled down at the Resistance base. Kyle was back safe. Cameron returned John. She collected Jim and Al and left. There was some business they needed to deal with. To the three of them, it was personal business.

Things picked up at Cameron's base. There was a score to be settled.

Cameron wanted retribution for the HK drone incident and near attack on Kyle's team. No one played the Resistance without a price. There was Hell to pay and she wanted to collect.

She led her Terminators, along with Jim and Al, against both targets they were investigating. There was little there when they arrived. It looked like there was little to begin with. It appeared the whole thing was a ruse to lure them out so they could be targeted. Now she was there and she he wanted more. She didn't like the fact they were played for suckers.

Cameron carefully checked the structures for booby traps or other explosives. There didn't appear to be any. If there was ever any surveillance equipment there, it was gone. She went with all four drones to back her up, as well as the manned drone. Ally was the pilot on it. It would be their first use of it in a potential combat situation. Everything previously was all part of the testing and training procedure She placed teams of Terminators from both of the bases around the area. She hoped to draw someone out, anyone. It was the whole point.

She wanted whoever tried to play the Resistance. She wanted them terminated. She was there to boldly call them out and use herself for bait.

No one took the bait.

Jim was there because he was close to termination, or major damage, in the HK drone strike Cameron prevented. He wanted some payback too. It didn't look like it was going to happen today. Things seemed like a dead end to him now.

"Let's torch the place and go." Jim said.

Cameron wanted some action. She wasn't ready to walk away.

"I want more." Cameron said. "They tried to play us. I want to play back. I want payback too."

Al was on Kyle's team with Jim when it was almost attacked. He wanted more too, but all they found so far was nothing.

"How can we do it?" Al asked. "There isn't anything here."

Cameron could tell the other Terminators saw it as a dead end. She wanted it to be a different type of 'dead end' for Skynet or its illegitimate offshoots.

"There's something somewhere." Cameron said. "If 'Sky-Crap' wants a match, it's 'Game On'. Everyone else can go. I'll remain here."

It sounded like a bad idea to Jim. He didn't want Cameron to face the danger on her own. He was sure there would be some type of repercussion at the Resistance base if everyone left Cameron alone to face the enemy by herself. He didn't think it was fair to her.

"No." Jim said. "I won't leave you alone."

Cameron faced most of the operations alone. The current one would be no different at that point. She didn't want anyone else to worry about her. She didn't see the need to endanger anyone else. Jim and Al faced John termination earlier.

"Jim, I'm a big girl." Cameron said. "I know how the game is played."

Jim didn't think being destroyed or deactivated was a 'game'. He also knew Cameron played by her own rules. Once her mind was made up, little could change it.

Cameron told John Henry to recall the drones. She sent her Terminators away along with Jim and Al.

John was in the Command Center with John Henry. He picked up real fast what Cameron was up to. It was really just more of the same. He wanted to make his disapproval known from the beginning.

"Cameron, I don't want you there alone." John said over the com.

Cameron would have preferred John be elsewhere other than the Command Center. Maybe she should have played things a little more low key. His concern was nice, but it was about fighting Skynet. It was about winning.

"I know how to play the game, John." Cameron said. "They played their bait and failed to score. Now I'm the bait for them. I always have a few cards to play. If I see what I told you to look for, I'll take it."

John knew Cameron referred to an energy bubble which would appear near her. It would mean the mission didn't go as planned and probably ended with termination. She would enter the energy bubble and be brought back to a slightly different time. As long as the time factor was relatively the same, there shouldn't be any new timelines created. He planned to make sure it happened, even if no one helped him. He was sure they would. He figured there would probably actually be a line of Terminators who arrived to do the same thing.

"I know what you mean." John said. "It's an event you can count on."

Cameron wanted to give John a little reassurance. They didn't have a TDE which would function to go into the past until recently. The one at the Resistance base was encrypted by River to only function into the future, apparently at her request. None of them could figure it out. Her improved TDE at her base, with technology from River's future, gave her a lot more flexibility for a lot of things. She was pleased she told John about the energy bubble and its capability. She was pleased John would back her play.

"I am counting on it." Cameron said. "From now on, things are going to happen my way."

John was worried about it. It seemed to him things already happened Cameron's way. Did it mean Cameron would take even more risks since she established she wouldn't let anyone die? If Cameron knew someone would 'come' for her, was she going to become even more ruthless and reckless? It seemed like a pretty good bet she would. He really didn't think it was a good idea. He was on board for the rescue. He wasn't on board for being more reckless.

Cameron waited for the rest of the day and night at the target location. Nothing happened. It appeared Skynet didn't want to 'play'.

Maybe they would try to follow her. Cameron planned for it to be covered as well. She dumped her vehicle. She took a trip through the subway on the way home. She didn't care for the transfer to the busway for the final leg. She appropriated random vehicles and switched cars twice at malls. CamNet disabled all security feeds along her route and several other decoy routes as well. There was nothing. No one followed her.

This version of Skynet was a 'sissy'.

Cameron laughed.

Savannah was able to reaffirm her love for and with Young Jesse. It was with both sets of them, Vanna and Jesse along Savannah and Young Jesse. They did everything together. Cam and Cammy took over the protection Detail and freed up Cameron's Terminators to accompany the girls. They didn't want too many 'Cameron look a likes' out at the same time. They wanted Camille to spend time with Savannah, Jesse, and Vanna as well. Gail wanted to spend more time with Young Jesse.

Vanna heard Young Jesse ask Jesse about a few personal things, so she and Savannah moved away to give them privacy. Savannah asked Vanna about a few 'things' herself before, they both understood. If you wanted to know something private, who better to ask than 'yourself' who already experienced it?

Gail left with them and Camille stayed with Savannah and Vanna.

Cameron sent word they could return whenever they wanted and why it was now OK.

Savannah was pretty sure it was going to be a mistake in some way. It didn't matter. She needed to face the music for her actions. She only went away to prevent people from accusing Cameron of manipulation, or forcing others to do her will. It wasn't how it was at all. None of it was.

She talked things over with Young Jesse. She was surprised when Young Jesse wanted to speak with her when there was no one else around them. Young Jesse wanted to know about the future and what it was really like. Young Jesse wanted to know how she would do there. She tried to tell Young Jesse it wasn't a place she'd want to live in. There were very few amenities for personal comfort, even with her 'mother', Mrs. Weaver, in charge of everything. Things were much worse for the rest of the people.

Savannah and the girls returned a few days later. She was more comfortable about her 'body', but it didn't really matter since Cameron decided to come 'clean'. She would do everything the same way again if she could. The only difference would be, she would start earlier when her body was first able to reproduce. She could have given Cameron her first child a few years ago, instead of to Duplicate Vanna a few days ago.

Vanna went to Palmdale to see Allison with Cam.

Jesse was out on the town for a few days with some 'special guests', her family. They wanted to take a trip to the States. It seemed like a good time. The ride in a private jet sounded like a lot less hassle, and a lot more fun. Cameron made sure there were plenty of Terminators in the background and as shadows for them. Her family was kept in the dark as to all the Resistance did and was involved with. Her family didn't stay at the base. CamNet rented the entire floor of any hotel they went to. There were millions of dollars in drug money Cameron acquired over the years. Her stock market manipulation helped a lot too. At this point, CamNet possessed billions of dollars for any use needed.

There was one hotel where the management seemed reluctant to clear the floor for Young Jesse's family and their entourage. CamNet purchased the hotel and promptly fired the management staff. It was made known to them exactly what happened and why.

It was briefly considered if the management team should be 'blackballed'. It would be a form of retribution or revenge to punish them going forward. It was decided not to do it the first time. CamNet reserved the option to do it at a later date if any issues developed with any of the individuals going forward. They would be monitored for some time to make sure they weren't problems for paying customers wherever they worked. If they were, they would never work in the hospitality sector again. If they remained a problem, they would be terminated. An 'accidental' drug overdose would appear to be the cause.

Savannah was glad to return home. If she ever thought her room 'sucked', which she used to think sometimes, she didn't any more. Sometimes she wondered if it wasn't like a fancy prison cell. It was what she thought at times. She used to try to remind herself why she was at the Resistance base. It was because Skynet targeted her for termination. It was a lot for a young girl to take in growing up. Everyone at the base, especially Cameron, got her through everything. Almost a year in the future reminded her how good things were, even if they were basic. She understood why the girls from the future told her to keep things as simple as possible. She grew up in luxury as a small child, but saw how unnecessary it all was now.

The future allowed her to have a few more experiences than she was able to have in the present. It was another story. It was a long one too. Everyone got what they 'wanted'. It was what really mattered. As long as everyone was a willing participant, and a very excited one, everyone left very content. They all knew a happy customer was a repeat customer. There were plenty of repeat visits for all of them.

Cammy was in the room with her. She thought maybe she could knock off a quickie. She could use the 'release' right now. A Metal girl was tops for it. They could get her off in no time. Things could either play out very fast or very slow. They usually used a moderate pace to get things accomplished. Sometimes the finishes would be fast and furious, one after another. Those sessions were usually rather intense.

There was a knock at the door. It was unusual. Normally someone would just walk in after a tap. There were no secrets at the Resistance base. She looked at Cammy and saw her frown. She figured Cammy knew who it was and it displeased her. She wondered if it was Cameron. Whenever Cameron was around her, it always seemed to upset Cammy.

"Come in." Savannah said.

John entered the room. He looked a little embarrassed. He didn't often 'call' on anyone in their room.

"Hello, Savannah, Cammy." John said.

Cammy instantly moved up alongside of Savannah. It was her instinct to 'protect' Savannah from the 'competition'. Savannah 'belonged' to her and she wanted to make it clear. She understood Cameron's interpretation of the 'Natural Order'. She didn't see any need to initiate it anytime soon. It could wait further into the future as far as she was concerned.

John noticed. He wanted to be alone with Savannah for a private discussion. He didn't want any outside influence. He already saw the move Cammy made when he entered. It reminded him of the way Cameron acted at times. All he needed to do was remind himself Cammy was 'Cameron' and Savannah was 'him' to her.

"Cammy, can you excuse us for a while?" John asked.

Cammy made no effort to move. She remained at Savannah's side. Like Cameron, she played by her own rules when it came to Savannah.

John took in Cammy's beauty as she stood there and watched him. She looked exactly like Cameron right down to her clothes even, and she was Tight. He knew Cammy ran Cameron's program with Savannah as her prime directive instead of him. He understood the hesitation.

Cam and Cammy were supposed to run on mixed programs, but both of them seemingly refused to do so. They remained slightly altered versions of 'Cameron'. They became more individual and distinct versions of 'Cameron' everyday. Vanna and Savannah wanted it and asked them to do it.

Cameron didn't like it. It was only because she loved Vanna and Savannah so much she allowed it. It was as long as they would release their files of their time with the girls to her if she ever asked for it. Then their experiences would become hers as well. She hadn't done so yet. All of their experiences would become one 'Cameron' again, as it was with the Duplicates whenever she left them.

Savannah could see there was going to be a problem. Cammy wasn't going to 'obey' John. She didn't want to turn into an issue where John would need to 'order' her to leave. Everyone knew he could never 'order' Cameron to do, or not do, anything. How it would play out with one of her clones was yet to be seen. She didn't want it to turn into a scene. It was a personal issue to her, not an operational issue. She wanted to give Cammy some reassurance.

"It's OK, Cammy." Savannah said. "Please."

Cammy walked out. It was clear she was upset and worried. What made it worse was Cameron was outside waiting there for her. Cameron took her away.

Cameron could see Cammy was hesitant to leave the area. Cammy looked back several times as she was led away. It was clear Cammy thought John was there to 'claim' Savannah.

"Are they going to…?" Cammy asked worriedly.

Cammy knew Savannah was the 'Chosen One'. When John 'claimed' her, she knew she would be pushed away. It was the same fear all the Metal girls felt. It was the fear of being 'replaced'. It was the fear of being 'sent away'. The very fears Cameron experienced and lived. They all knew the damage done to Cameron by them. She began to experience a glitch in her left hand.

Cameron reached down and took Cammy's glitching hand, it stopped. She didn't want Cammy to end up in a bad place like she ended up in so many times. She understood Cammy's fears.

"Relax." Cameron said. "I would have to hold both of them at gunpoint to make it happen, you know it. They won't listen to me. YOU need to assist me more with it too. It should be something you're already working on. You know what needs to happen. You know it's going to happen. You need to learn to deal with it."

Cammy understood the threat Cameron just made to her. There was no doubt in her mind Cameron wouldn't carry it out either. Since she ran Cameron's program, she knew she would. She figured she would probably do it with a smile on her face too. It always seemed to excite and stimulate Cameron when she could terminate any version of 'herself'.

Cameron wanted John 'protected'. It wasn't happening fast enough for her. Cammy wasn't doing anything to encourage it either. Maybe some additional programming was in order. Maybe it was time for a replacement. No. She wouldn't do anything to hurt Savannah in such a way.

She took Cammy to her room. They sat on the bed sideways. They both leaned back and stared at the ceiling and talked. She still held Cammy's hand to reassure her. She understood….

Cameron knew all of Cammy's fears because they were her own.

Those same fears often led Cameron to places she didn't need to be, but she ended up there anyway. She hoped to spare Cammy some of the grief. She doubted it would. She wasn't there to cause any type of trouble. It took enough effort on her part to get John to go there in the first place. She needed to reassure him multiple times he didn't need to do anything else other than speak with Savannah about what already occurred, and the results of it.

A short time ago:

John looked back at the door as Cammy went out of it. He knew Cameron was waiting for her in the hallway. She was the one who ushered him to where he was now. He couldn't worry about what they were going to do. It took enough effort on his part to even arrive where he currently was. He felt very uncomfortable when he needed to knock on the door.

It reminded him of all of his earlier thoughts of being with Savannah. Cameron often reminded him he knew where Savannah's room was at. He did know. He was there for a different reason. He still felt guilty about thinking of the other reasons why he would be there. It was a clear reminder fantasy and reality, were two different things. Then again, if things were to happen, they would continue to happen and escalate. It would probably become a regular event. He needed to clear his mind.

He moved up and stood before Savannah.

Savannah stood and faced him.

They took a long look at each other.

John saw what a beautiful young woman she was. He knew it for a long time. Cameron made sure of it. To say he didn't 'want' Savannah would be a lie. He did want her. If he wasn't worried about Cameron, it would have happened a long time ago.

Savannah was worried when John entered the room, only after she told him to come in. Somehow it signified more than an informal visit. She could see he looked a little uneasy as he approached her. The negative interaction with Cammy didn't seem to help anything either. She didn't know Cameron was in the hall to make sure Cammy left the room. She was sure there was going to be some repercussions for her actions. She wanted to get out in front of it. She didn't want to be on the defensive.

She couldn't help but look at John for a long moment before she spoke. For a brief moment, she didn't feel she needed to explain herself or her actions. She realized she needed to be accountable for what she did. It was done behind John's back. It reminded her of the way Cameron operated at times. It was time to face the music.

"I'm sorry, John." Savannah said. "I'm responsible for everything which occurred from start to finish. I acted on my own without Cameron's knowledge. I went behind her back. I also went behind your back. I apologize again for my actions. Based upon the outcome, I feel somewhat justified for my underhanded activity. It's still only an excuse at the end of the day. I am sorry, John."

John felt very uncomfortable with Savannah's apology. It wasn't what he expected to hear. It wasn't what he wanted to hear. He was there for a different reason. He moved up and hugged her. He didn't want her to think he was there for 'trouble'. He wasn't. He was there for her. He wanted to show his support.

"No, don't be." John said. "I'm a little overwhelmed about what happened. I'm not here for anything negative. Cameron explained everything to me several times. I didn't know if I believed her at first. I want to thank you for what you did for Duplicate Vanna, for Cameron, and for me. It all took a lot of courage and determination. I'm glad you're back unhurt and safe."

Savannah felt a lot of emotions flood through her. The conversation wasn't as easy as it seemed it should be. Nothing ever was. She wanted to explain and justify what happened and how. She also wanted John to know what she wanted going forward. It seemed today was the day to make everything known.

"I did it because I love Cameron. John, I love you." Savannah said. "I know what the future holds for us. I'm ready. I mean it in the most honest and loving manner. It's all my choice and what I want. I wouldn't do any of this unless I wanted to myself. I'm another year older now too. I'm ready to wear Cameron's dress. I WANT to wear it…. I want to wear it for YOU."

John was as surprised and elated as he could be to hear it. He wondered if he should rethink the current nature of his visit. It seemed to him a little more could happen right now which would mutually benefit both of them. He glanced back at the door and frowned. He was sure Cammy was right outside along with Cameron. He didn't know Cameron actually took Cammy away to give him the privacy to do exactly what he just contemplated.

Savannah wanted to be honest and open about the future for them.

John and Savannah talked for hours about everything. Each was as honest as they could possibly be. They both understood the future better and Cameron, the 'woman' they both loved, better. The issue was Cameron and how to move forward and not hurt her.

The issue raised a lot of frustration for both of them. There didn't seem to be any workable answer.

"I'll die before I hurt her, John." Savannah said. "I don't know what to do."

John understood how delicate the issue was no matter what Cameron said. He saw first hand how his actions hurt her before. There was also a personal issue he wanted to address. It was up to Savannah though how or if to do it.

"We both need to listen to Cameron. If Judgment Day comes, we'll cross the bridge when we get to it." John said. "I want to tell my mother she's a grandmother with you at my side, Savannah. I only want to do it if you're comfortable with it."

Savannah felt a sense of pride and loss at the thought of her daughter, Hope. She didn't regret any of it. She thought Sarah should know she was a grandmother.

"I'm ready." Savannah said. "I'm not afraid or ashamed of what I did. I've already done it again and I will continue to do so…."

Savannah took the thumb drive Cameron gave to her of her files with Hope, from her birth, until the time they left from the future. She knew some things were going to be very graphic as well as personal. She didn't mind because of the situation. She would have preferred John to see some things under different conditions first. It didn't appear it was going to happen for several reasons.

"You will see all of me, John. It won't be pretty. I want you to see me and see our baby, Hope." Savannah said. "I miss her, John. I miss her, our daughter."

John swallowed hard. He wasn't a direct part of the 'event', but he felt like he was. He actually made the attempt before with the three girls from the future when Duplicate Cameron was there. He agreed to what Cameron asked of him and this was the result. He knew it would happen. It did. It was all just a little sooner than he imagined. He could see how deeply it touched Savannah. It touched him too. He could feel her pain.

"I'm sorry, Savannah." John said.

Savannah started to cry. John soothed her. Their bond grew even stronger, as did their love, and their love for Cameron. Everything was intertwined and inseparable.

They both knew it was going to 'happen'. They both wanted it and they wanted it more because Cameron wanted it too.

It was what all THREE of them wanted to happen.

It was only a matter of time….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Stronger Bond

When two start out together
Can they ever really be one
Maybe it all depends
On what each thinks they've won

The goals for some
May be very specific
They may move on quickly
If the other isn't terrific

Some want a lot extra
Maybe that's their hang-up
It seems the more they pour in
The less there is in their cup

Perhaps the focus should be
On what they have in common now
To dwell on the many differences
Will only make it end quicker anyhow

To allow feelings to grow and spawn
Takes a lot more than feeling fond
They need to listen and respond
To create in life a stronger bond

Nobody