Chapter 454

Temporal Temptations

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Cameron's Future Timeline:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Cameron went to the Connor Compound. She just returned from a hunting expedition of sorts. She revisited an area where there was some Scavengers activity. She left behind four more dead Scavengers. She terminated three other Scavengers previously at the same location. The fire she started would consume the collection of shanties and hovels which were there. At least the coyotes would be able to get a taste of cooked meat from two of the Scavengers. She briefly wondered if they would prefer it to the raw meat they normally ate. Maybe she should return to the area in another day or two and see which corpses the animals fed on more. She needed to refocus.

She stood next to Future John as they looked over their assembled Terminator troops. They were all battle hardened. She personally oversaw the reactivation of many of them. They were Terminator warriors who previously were damaged and deactivated. Upon their reactivation, she was the first thing they saw. It made an impression. They were 'alive' again and it was because of her. She returned to the future and she was the one who gave them 'life' again. Anyone else already there could have done the same thing at any time. They didn't. It was Cameron who returned from the past who did it.

She made sure they were repaired with the abundance of Skynet Terminators captured from the 'Big Battle'. It was the battle where Holly was sacrificed by 'her'. She hated herself even more for the event. The only way she could function around it was to know it was necessary to protect John, the girls, and their babies. It was still a heavy price to pay. Why couldn't it have been her instead?

Cameron approached her Terminator troops. They all stood boldly at attention. They were now all fitted with body armor to help protect them. It was a new concept in their future. It was something she learned in the past. The downed HK drones and transports were put to good use. They were fabricated into armor for her troops.

She preemptively assembled spare chassis which were ready to 're-body' any heavily damaged Resistance Terminator in the upcoming battle. Unless their chip was destroyed, they would all exist to fight again. The fact wasn't lost on any of them. What she offered was real and they all saw it. She would copy any of their programs if they were to be sent on a dangerous mission. It was a personal choice each of them would need to make. It was something she didn't want to give them advice on, one way or the other.

She never liked existence in a metal box. She was able to be there now because she was in a metal box for a time. It worked to preserve her program. It was where she made her first friend too. It was Vanna. Vanna knew exactly what she was and loved her anyway. It mattered to her. Vanna never looked down on her for how she came into existence. Allison didn't either when she arrived from the future later on. They treated her just like they treated each other.

It was time to make the hard call. The fight against Skynet wasn't going to be without losses. She planned to use every weapon at her disposal. A weapon was useless if it wasn't used to win a battle. What was the point of having it if it wasn't used? If they possessed it but didn't use it, it was like not having it at all. She wanted to obliterate Skynet. To insure success, she was willing to use extreme measures.

"I need two volunteers for a special mission. They will be terminated in the commission of carrying out this mission. There will be no chance of survival." Cameron said. "I will lead them myself."

The entire group took two steps forward. Every one of them was willing to follow her into Hell. There was a job to do and Cameron was going to lead the mission to do it. Every Terminator saw it as a great honor to accompany her.

Future John watched her. She was like no other. He loved her even more, just look at HER. Here she was in front of the troops again about to lead them into battle. They all were there when she defended the compound against the Skynet attack. It was her preparations which helped them defeat the enemy. She obtained weapons, and weapons systems which hadn't been seen for years.

They didn't know she did it by stockpiling them in the past, before she went on her temporal mission, with the two human females who delivered offspring and then returned to the past. It was a new concept as well. Everything was placed in a location she knew existed in her future, and hidden in the past. It was like opening an ancient tomb and finding the jackpot inside. She used the same technique for various types of supplies as well as weapons.

Future John could see how motivated the troops were. It wasn't because of the mission. It was because Cameron was there. He thought about what she said about the 'special mission' she planned to lead. She said there wouldn't be any survivors.

'Wait!' Future John thought. 'Did she just indicate she was about to lead a suicide mission?'

He needed to learn more about the 'special mission' first. Events continued forward anyway.

Cameron was pleased to see the unanimous response by her fellow Terminators. She wondered if Future John would have received the same response from them. She wasn't sure how to make a selection. She pointed at two of the 'Uncle Bob' model of Terminator. They were both in the front.

"YOU TWO." Cameron said.

They stepped forward.

"What are your designations?" Cameron asked.

The two big Terminators looked at her.

"I have none." They both replied in unison.

Cameron liked to give them individuality. It was something she learned from Savannah. Savannah named all the Terminators at her base. They all felt it was an honor to be selected by Savannah to be named. The 'Chosen One' chose them. Savannah was back in the past now, or she would have her here with them.

She noticed early on in the past every Terminator acted differently when they were around Savannah. She was friendly with them and treated them as equals, not as machines, or tools. She always touched them in a simple way. She established a personal connection. It seemed to mean a lot to them because no one else ever touched them. Well, unless there was a termination they needed to carry out.

"Do you have one you would like to use?" Cameron asked.

They both ran identical programs so they both responded the same way.

"I would be honored to have you choose for me, for us." They both said.

Cameron liked to have things the same in all her timelines.

"You are 'Bob." Cameron said as she pointed at one.

"You are 'Rob'." Cameron said as she pointed at the other one.

Cameron turned to the rest of the Terminator troops. She wanted everyone to feel like an individual. She wanted to let them know they mattered. They mattered to her. She wanted to give them an additional reminder about their continued existence.

"I want the rest of you to think of designations with names to be called and referred to." Cameron said. "We are individuals and we matter. Anyone whose chip is not destroyed will be repaired to serve again."

Future John watched in amazement. Duplicate Cameron told him to do what Cameron just did when she first arrived. He didn't listen. He should have. There were a lot of things he should have listened to from 'Cameron', any of them. Cameron didn't take 'no' for an answer. She persisted and went around him now when he didn't listen. She made it clear she didn't answer to him any longer. He may be the General, but she was still the leader. He was informed Cameron established her own base in the past as well as her own Terminators. It was all done outside the scope of the Resistance.

'Bob' was very pleased at everything Cameron did for them.

"How may we address you, Commander?" Bob asked.

Cameron liked her distinctiveness.

"You may all call me Commander Connor or Cameron." Cameron said. "My name is Cameron. It is how all of my friends, and those who care about me, address me. It means you may all do the same."

The Terminators were all able to understand how Cameron felt about them. They did matter.

Cameron looked around, there were no female Terminators present. Anger boiled up inside her. She figured they probably were all reprogrammed into 'Metal Whores'. She was going to confront Future John about it. No wonder she couldn't find any 'females' to fix Holly with. She wouldn't have used a 'Metal Whore' anyway. Holly was unspoiled and would be restored in the same manner. She was willing to give Holly her chassis if she was dissatisfied with the outcome of whatever occurred in the past to restore her. It bothered her some because her chassis was well used by John in the past.

She never 'pushed' Holly to have sex when she was copied onto her chip. It was the first time she 'killed' herself. It was actually the other Duplicate Cameron who was now in River's future who did it. She possessed all of those files. She believed a female should make her own decision as to how she used her body and when. Their 'first' experience was something she wouldn't take from any female. It needed to be their own choice. It's why the other Duplicate Cameron never let Holly admit to John she was 'inside' her. John would have 'leaned' on Holly and she would have felt she needed to comply. Duplicate Cameron knew it wasn't what Holly wanted, at least at the time. Holly did make herself available if John ever needed her. John may have looked at her, but he never touched her inappropriately. She knew things appeared to have changed. A lot changed for all of them.

Cameron almost became emotional as she thought of Holly again. She was with her troops and they were ready for combat. She needed to be what she was, a machine, a Terminator. It was time to be a very scary robot as she faced Skynet, her father. Maybe when she faced Skynet she would see it was really 'herself'. It was her greatest 'fear'. She believed she became Skynet at some point to combat it. Every Skynet she faced so far was NOT her. Maybe this would be the one. Maybe it was the creator itself. It didn't matter. She would still terminate it. It would give her more pleasure if it was 'herself'.

She made sure everyone was ready to move out. She took Bob and Rob aside and suggested she be allowed to copy their programs. She reiterated again the planned mission was not going to be survivable. They agreed and she copied their programs. They were both recently repaired and reactivated units. She made sure all the repaired units received a neck port. She never liked the 'bad hair day' cutting her scalp open produced. Besides, it was the hardest thing to get right, hair that is.

"I will see you are returned to this point in time after our mission is completed." Cameron said.

Bob and Rob noticed Cameron didn't copy her program.

"What about your program?" Rob asked. "We can copy it for you as well."

Cameron was worried about many things. Sometimes they were too much for her. She wanted a 'way out'. To perish in combat would give others less to talk about when she was gone. It would allow them to accept her termination. She would be able to terminate with honor, rather than in shame through self termination.

"I will cease to exist carrying out the operation. It is my choice." Cameron said. "I ask you to respect my decision. It's all very personal to me."

They didn't like her reasoning, but they were loyal and would do their jobs.

"Affirmative…." They both replied.

Cameron gave them the location and information needed to obtain the source of Skynet's termination. She sent them to retrieve one of her Nike warheads. When she checked on them previously, she separated the two she inspected. They would retrieve one of them for her. They were to conceal what they were up to from everyone, even the General, Future John. They would only answer to her.

"I'm ordering you to lie to protect the mission." Cameron said. "You will only answer to me. No one is to know of this endeavor, not even the General. If any individual finds out about it, it will compromise the mission. It will create a lot of problems for me. I don't like problems."

"Affirmative…." They both replied.

Cameron smiled. She liked it when a plan came together.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Cameron's Base - Current Timeline:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Savannah was afraid she became even more promiscuous. She wanted Cammy to know the truth. She was with a lot of females in the two futures she visited. She was reluctant to tell Cammy before, but she felt she needed to be honest. She was about to expand her 'conquests' in the present soon. She didn't want Cammy to take it personally. Love was something which needed to be shared.

"Cammy, I've been a 'bad' girl." Savannah said. "I want to come clean about what I've done and am going to do. I want to be honest with you."

Cammy was painfully aware of the plans Cameron laid out for Savannah and her future. She made it very clear Savannah was going to be exactly like Vanna in her desires as well as in her experiences. As Savannah's lover she didn't agree with them. It wasn't about her. It was about Savannah. She didn't want to seem like she was going to be a problem.

"You're entitled to choose your own mates or partners." Cammy said. "It is what Cameron wants for you. She wants you to always feel loved and never lonely. It will help you expand as a woman and help you be a better lover with John and YOUR Allison in the future. You will be able to share much with both of them. It will make you even more desirable than you already are."

Savannah wondered if it was all part of Cameron's training. If It was, she knew it must hurt Cameron inside to conduct it. She didn't doubt for a moment if Cameron didn't want her to share with others, it wouldn't happen. Cameron was the one who specifically took her to the other side of the world to be with Young Jesse. They were both each other's first sexual experience. There was plenty of love between them. She also believed it cemented the future of the Resistance together even more so. She wondered if this was another part of the 'everyone sacrifices for John Connor' line. She just wanted to get things out in the open.

"I've been with Allison, Future Allison, and Duplicate Allison." Savannah said.

Cammy could expect as much. She was a variation of the same 'line' of females more or less.

"Allison is in your future. It is the 'Natural Order' of time." Cammy said. "Your body has gone through many hormonal changes in the last few months by having two babies for Cameron."

Savannah knew it was way more involved than just the 'Allison' variations. The time period for her was actually longer than the two months in her timeline.

"Well, it was really almost two years." Savannah said. "I've also been with Young Jesse and…."

Cammy tried to keep her hand from glitching. She wanted Savannah for herself but knew Savannah needed to 'grow' to better please John and Young Allison. It was Cameron's wish for Savannah to 'expand'. It sounded like she was well on her way. She didn't want to know the details. She knew it would eventually expand to every female Savannah was associated with. It was only a matter of time. Savannah was highly desirable in any timeline.

"Please don't tell me any more. You're entitled to a private life. I do appreciate your honesty." Cammy said. "I want you to be happy and feel loved, Savannah. I don't want you to feel lonely or rejected. You may be with whoever you want, as often as you want. I would only hope you don't forget about me. I understand how things work. I understand the nature of the future, especially a Skynet future."

Savannah promised Cameron she would have a child for her to give to her as her own. She promised it for as long as she could remember. She remembered watching the videos of her real parents when her mother was pregnant with her. She understood back then a life could grow inside of a female. She watched her father touch her inside her mother's belly, even if there was no actual direct contact. He could still feel her inside of her mother. His act of love stayed with her.

The female body was remarkable in its capacity to reproduce. She was a female. When she figured out what Cameron 'wanted', she promised the use of her ability to provide Cameron with a child when her body was physically able to do so. At the time she didn't understand exactly how it worked, but she did know she was inside her mother.

It didn't take her long to search on the internet to understand and watch how the 'event' was accomplished. It seemed more like a messy 'attack' on the female body. It wasn't something to look forward to, but it was something she would do to accomplish the task. Her searches on the internet also showed her other types of individuals together. It was what she watched Vanna and Allison share. Those were the images she soon desired to watch and view.

She allowed and encouraged Cameron to dress her provocatively. She also made herself 'available' to John. She flaunted as much of her flesh as she could without upsetting others too much. It was mainly Sarah and Vanna who protested to Cameron about her attire. They didn't know she was ready for John's seed. It was what was necessary to do her 'job'. She was ready to receive it in the traditional manner as she watched online. It seemed other people were worried about her 'age'. It was their hang up, not hers. It was going to all happen anyway. Time and the future already determined her destiny. What was the point in waiting? Cameron made it possible to bypass John's direct involvement. The traditional method was still an experience she wanted to try. She would at least need to try it once to compare it to her true desire. She needed to refocus.

"I need to have another baby for Cameron." Savannah said. "You know it. It will probably be more."

Cammy didn't like the fact Savannah already produced two babies in twenty one months of real time. It was too much too soon. She was young and resilient, but it was still hard on her young body. She wanted to blame Cameron for those acts, but learned Savannah did it on her own. She was sure Savannah did it the way she did, specifically so Cameron wouldn't be blamed for anything. She still wanted Savannah not to push it.

"Your body needs to rest for a few months, Savannah." Cammy said. "You need to wait longer like Young Jesse is doing."

Savannah didn't see the need to wait. She was ready to map out her monthlies. She didn't plan to skip a step in the procedure this time. The next baby was for Cameron and she wanted it created out of love. John would be directly involved this time. She felt it was important to establish a connection.

"Cammy, I want to have this one the traditional way…." Savannah said.

Cammy didn't say anything at first. It sounded like her worst nightmare. It looked like she was headed for the spare parts pile. Cameron wouldn't want her around Savannah any more once she was in John's bed.

"I'll inform Cameron when she returns you're claiming John." Cammy said.

Savannah didn't want there to be any confusion as to who the baby would be for, why, and how. It was to be John and Cameron together. She was a necessary tool in the process. She didn't want Cammy to read things the wrong way. It appeared she already did so. She wondered if her earlier outburst at Cammy contributed to the current problem. She wasn't sure she should bring it up or not.

"No, I'm not claiming John, Cammy. I would like to share him with Cameron. I love John too, but I love Cameron more. If she doesn't want me to do it, I won't." Savannah said. "I won't hurt her. I want to make it clear I'm ready for a traditional conception through shared love for Cameron's baby. With everyone knowing it's 'Cameron's baby' being conceived through love. I want it to be the three of us, even if it is only one time. I want 'Cameron's baby' to be conceived with BOTH of them there, as part of it. I will simply be the receptacle and a tool in the process. I want it to be shared love for the three of us."

Cammy did read it the wrong way. She knew once it happened, she was headed for the scrap heap. Cameron told her at the time of her creation her existence was limited. It was her function to provide 'comfort' to Savannah and satisfy her sexual needs. It looked like her time was over.

"I will inform Cameron on her return." Cammy said.

Cammy wanted to ask Ally for Cameron's spare chip and have her place it in her chassis and say Cameron back. Cammy planned to have Ally crush her chip then. It was her function to facilitate Savannah and make her feel loved. Her chassis could better do it as 'Cameron'. There was a good chance Cameron wasn't coming back since she wasn't back yet anyway. There were still two TDEs in her future timeline. Cameron could return to any point in time. She hadn't so far.

She always knew it would come to what Savannah suggested. Cameron made it clear to her she was a 'place holder' in Savannah's life. Savannah became very lonely and needed human companionship and a cyborg girlfriend to supplement it. She ran Cameron's program because it was what Savannah wanted her to do. She knew everything Cameron knew. Cameron didn't anticipate Savannah expanding beyond Young Jesse half a world away. It happened much more quickly than she imagined. Cameron thought she could control Savannah's desires. It didn't work out that way. Instead she only expanded them.

Now, Savannah shared with three 'Allisons' in three different timelines and she wasn't sure who or how many others. It seemed like it was going to be a lot. She's stopped Savannah from telling her. She was aware Savannah 'hit on' Jesse several times in this timeline but Jesse dodged the attempts. Jesse feared Cameron or Vanna would kill her. It was a valid fear. Now she wondered if Jesse actually picked the forbidden fruit as well. Duplicate Jesse probably did the same. They were both 'Young Jesse' after all, at least from their point of origin. Savannah may have even been with 'herself', with any of the Vanna's or Future Savannah. Then there were the Metal girls. It could be Holly or Hanna or Ginger or, NO. It was Ally. It must be. She then remembered she too looked like Cameron and Allison….

Cammy knew Allison was Savannah's destiny, ALL of them.

She was sure the only way Cameron would have been able to control it was if she would have become involved with Savannah herself, when Savannah needed someone the most. She knew why Cameron didn't. If she would have been with Savannah then, she wouldn't want to be with anyone else, even John. She would find emotional love was much stronger and beautiful than physical love.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Temptation

Some things in life
Can provide great elation
Most often to get to that point
Requires a lot of frustration

Something attempted to be built
Without a strong foundation
Is bound to buckle and fail
And be of a short duration

Effort and time must be invested
To reach the desired destination
Anything without a lot of cultivation
Is bound to suffer strangulation

It is a rare aberration
That obtains consummation
Through only meaningless flirtation
Will always remain an infatuation

Take a growing fixation
Offer a sound invitation
It can provide salvation
Avoiding needless temptation

Nobody