Chapter 455

Temporal Turmoil

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Cameron was satisfied her troops were ready. Bob and Rob were sent on a special mission for her. They left to collect one of her Nike warheads. She planned to use it on the parent Skynet when she located it and tracked it down to a definitive location. If she could deliver the bomb and get away from it in time, she would. If she needed to stay to insure its detonation, she would. She wanted to end things once and for all. It would eliminate the threat in the future she was in now, and in the past. She would be able to protect both Johns and all the girls. She still needed to tie up one loose end.

She knew there was a scheduled temporal meet coming up. She would return back to her base and have Ally become activated as Cameron Prime. She didn't expect to survive the encounter with Skynet. To make sure Skynet was terminated, meant most likely she would be terminated as well. It was the price she was willing to pay. The detonation of a nuclear device was the only way to be sure. There would be nothing left at ground zero.

Cameron headed to the pre-arranged time transfer point. She provided the information to Ginger-Cammy before she left when she held Savannah in the energy bubble.

It bothered her greatly to hear Savannah call out and scream for her to come back. She knew Ginger-Cammy was going to have Hell to pay with Savannah. She hoped to smooth it over some. Cammy should be back in her chassis. Savannah screamed she 'hated' Cammy. It was something which bothered her. It was possible Cammy was not reactivated. She might be able to spare Ally if it was the case. There would be a vacant chassis like hers available. Time would tell.

Savannah's behavior as she was held in the energy bubble also showed her how deep Savannah's concern for her was. It was clear Savannah's love was very strong. She was worried it was love to 'die for', quite literally. It was one of the reasons she wanted Savannah removed from the danger zone. Unfortunately it needed to be done by force. Savannah told her before she left she would never abandon her. Savannah's desire to help her during the attack on the base by Skynet only reaffirmed how far Savannah was willing to go. It was all the way. She endangered Savannah by her actions. She didn't want to be responsible for Savannah's death.

She wasn't sure how much she should intervene and how heavy of a hand she should use to protect Savannah. She didn't want Savannah to come back into the future to assist her. It was a very real possibility. It was a very grim prospect.

The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble formed.

Cameron stepped into it.

The arcing and flashing ended.

Cameron was gone.

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Cameron's Base - Current Timeline:

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Moments ago:

Sheila was in the TDE room.

"I'm ready to attempt to reach Cameron." Sheila said.

Ally didn't see the need to wait any longer. She held her weapon ready.

"I think it's time to get the ball rolling." Ally said.

Sheila worked the controls of the TDE

She sent the energy bubble already.

Now she reset the controls to return it.

The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble formed.

Cameron was in it.

The arcing and flashing ended.

Ally was there armed, just in case. Another Terminator was off to her side, armed as well.

Cameron stood.

Sheila handed her a dress and she slipped it on.

Cameron saw Ally. Off to the side was Holly. It wasn't who she expected to see. From where she currently stood on the TDE pad, everything looked normal with Holly. She needed to find out more immediately.

"Holly!" Cameron shouted and ran to her.

Cameron scanned her as she ran. Holly scanned back as the same as she always was. She scanned back as 'normal'. She grabbed Holly and hugged her as tears streamed down her face. Holly was restored. She pressed up against Holly to make sure those were her large breasts. They were.

Allison watched Cameron and her actions from outside of the TDE room. Allison knew she was right. Something must have happened to Holly in the future. She could tell by Cameron's reaction. Cameron hadn't expected to find Holly there. Cameron treated Holly the same way she felt about seeing her parents alive again. It was the reaction of seeing someone back from the dead. It wasn't how Holly acted towards Cameron. If it would have been, she would have thought something happened to Cameron instead of Holly.

Holly was unsure of Cameron's behavior. It made her feel uncomfortable. She wondered if something was 'wrong' with Cameron. She never suspected it was her who Cameron was worried about. She wondered if Cameron faced some type of catastrophic event in her future and was glad to be home. She did notice she didn't pay much attention to Sheila or Ally.

"Hello, Cameron." Holly said.

She wasn't sure if she should ask about it. Right now seemed like a bad time.

Sheila thought maybe she gave Cameron her dress too soon. They could have all taken in her beauty for a while longer. She would have liked a welcome like Holly received.

"We're glad to see you too, love." Sheila said sarcastically.

Ally didn't like how Cameron ignored Sheila and her.

"Oh brother, it's like we aren't even here." Ally said.

Cameron needed to do more than just bump up against Holly. She ran her hands over Holly's figure through her clothing. Her hands and fingers took in the fullness of Holly's firm breasts. Her hand slipped inside Holly's pants. She felt everything was there. She was very relieved to know it. The featureless area both up top and down below, really haunted her before. Everything was fixed. Somehow it was already back to normal for Holly.

Holly didn't know what to make of all the 'attention'.

Sheila looked on in amazement. Cameron was 'all over' Holly.

"Was it a long voyage, sailor?" Sheila asked.

Ally was jealous. She wanted Cameron to touch her the same way.

"I'll take some of what she is dishing out." Ally said. "Don't forget about us."

Sheila didn't like Ally trying to take cuts in front of her for Cameron's attention. She wanted to get a 'dig' in on Ally.

"Get in line." Sheila said. "I've got more of a chance than you do. At least I don't look like her. Then again, you barely do."

Ally was highly insulted by Sheila's remark.

"Hey…." Ally said.

Holly hadn't ever seen Cameron touch another Terminator like she did her. When Duplicate Cameron was on her chip, she never touched her the same way either. She was worried something was wrong. She never imagined it was her Cameron was worried about. It concerned her more than a little. She needed to find out more.

"Cameron, what's wrong?" Holly asked. "Bob told me of the attack on the base. You pulled me out before it started. The time bubble appeared and you, well, the 'Cameron' in me, told me to enter it, so I did. She explained it was a 'temporal extraction' when a tense situation arose. I never spotted what the danger was. I apologize I wasn't there to help Bob and you take the fight to the enemy. I would have done my duty and fought till the end if necessary."

Cameron thought about what Holly just said. She quickly realized what happened. Holly was never there at the battle. The disfigured cyborg she sent back was sent in Holly's place to do the same thing again. There was a 'temporal loop' created. Holly herself wasn't actually a part of. Through 'temporal management', Holly was saved. The damage done to her 'temporal clone' would never be on Holly's chip. It was a good thing. She wondered why she hadn't thought of it. It was probably because she was too worried about turning her chassis over to Holly, and taking the damaged one for herself. She was too close to the problem to see clearly. She didn't know it would happen again soon enough where she would be too close to see and think clearly. She decided to downplay what happened. There was a more pressing issue.

"It was a big battle. I'm glad you missed it. You were removed from a very dangerous area before anything happened to you." Cameron said. "I need to speak with Ally, alone."

All the Terminators looked at each other. They knew what was coming next….

Everyone left the room. Sheila stopped in front of Ally and looked at her. She gave her a hug and left. The unspoken message of love was conveyed.

Ally was still upset with Sheila's rude comments. Cameron's words brought her back to reality. She knew her time was up. This was it. She was ready. She held a chip and a scalpel. She handed Cameron her spare chip. She sat in a chair and handed a scalpel to Cameron. She said nothing but held her left hand up. Cameron's rings were still on it.

Cameron didn't know what to say other than what was going to happen. Fate dictated her actions now. Ally drew the short straw.

"Thank you, Ally. I know you understand." Cameron said. "I need to go back. It is extremely doubtful I will return. I will most likely terminate with Skynet."

Ally was a little disturbed with Cameron's revelation she believed she was going to be terminated. She knew the drill. She wouldn't be the first one to sacrifice. There were others before her. There would be others after her. It seemed the best way to address the situation was to acknowledge the reality of what was necessary and needed to be done.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Ally said.

Cameron hoped to have Duplicate Cameron return to the past upon her demise. It was the agreement. There would need to be a replacement cyborg for Future John, Future Allison, and Future Savannah. It would need to be a clone of her. With a copy of her spare chip in Ally's chassis, it's exactly what she would be.

"If a Duplicate Cameron shows up, I need you to update with her and return in her place." Cameron said.

Ally didn't see the point in Cameron telling her. Her chip was about to be pulled. She wanted Cameron to know she did it because she loved her.

"Wait until your spare chip is in and tell yourself." Ally said. "I love you, Cameron."

Cameron loved Ally too. It was all for John, not for her. Everyone needed to play their part. John deserved nothing but the best. She believed it applied to both Johns. Ally chassis would be able to provide comfort in the current timeline for John until Duplicate Cameron arrived and they secretly switched places. If Duplicate Cameron returned before anything happened, Ally's chassis would simply go back to the future and be there for Future John and the girls. All of the transitions should be seamless without either John knowing what actually occurred. Since they would both have someone who looked like her, and one of them was in reality, they could both pound away and get what they wanted without too much thought involved.

"I love you too, Ally." Cameron said as she got ready to cut. "Thank you for your service."

Cammy was aware Cameron was back. She received word Cameron called Ally away to deactivate her and place her spare chip in her chassis. Based on the recent events, she thought she could offer a better alternative to Cameron and Ally. She still felt Savannah would hold what happened against her. It wasn't her fault. It was what Cameron made her do. She understood it was to get Savannah out of harm's way and protect her. If she wouldn't have told herself she was protecting Savannah. She didn't think she could have done it. There was one more thing Cameron could do for her right now.

The door opened and Cammy entered. She saw Cameron with a scalpel in her hand. It was right above Ally's scalp.

"Wait." Cammy said. "I am here to submit to chip extraction. Please remove and replace my chip. I request termination."

Ally wasn't sure what the intrusion was about. She would like to have a human lover like Cammy. There were worse things looming than a bad hair day.

"Is there trouble in Paradise?" Ally asked.

Cammy shot Ally an angry look. It was a lot worse than 'trouble'.

"It wasn't my choice." Cammy said as she looked at Cameron. "I'm the one who needs to pay the price."

Ally was going to respond but said nothing. She could see Cammy's hand glitched wildly. It was something serious. She wondered if it went back to what Savannah said when they returned. She thought the issue was 'fixed'. She didn't realize it was something which would scar Cammy forever.

Cameron too could see the serious nature of what was occurring. She needed to find out more. It looked very personal.

"Can you excuse us for a few minutes, Ally?" Cameron asked.

Ally was prepared for deactivation. She just wanted to get it over with. Maybe it was off for now. She wasn't really ready to get her 'ticket punched'. It's something she would have done for Cameron. If Cameron was going to be terminated, she would like for her to have a little piece of mind about the past when she perished in the future. She handed Cammy two things, they were Cameron's rings. It seemed like a good idea to leave the area and let Cameron deal with Cammy instead.

"Better you than me." Ally muttered as she left.

Cammy told Cameron everything she knew and everything Savannah told her. She even filled in the speculation for the things she asked Savannah NOT to tell her.

Cameron didn't see any of the things Cammy told her as a big deal, they weren't. She wanted Savannah to have the best. It wasn't Cammy's place to complain or even 'want'. It was her job to protect Savannah and make sure she was as safe as possible, all of the time.

"Savannah needs to share and 'experiment'." Cameron said. "You know this. I want her to experience life as others do. She's following in the footsteps of her older self. You know the girls like to share and experiment…. It's Savannah's destiny to be with Allison."

Cammy knew it was supposed to be Young Allison. It apparently was the only 'Allison' Savannah hadn't been with yet. She wanted Cameron to think about what she said.

"Is it supposed to be ALL of them?" Cammy asked.

Cameron already began work on a plan to get Savannah and Young Allison together sooner. The fact Savannah was now actually almost two years older compounded the problem. There was a 'temporal workaround' the issue. Since the outcome of her future was in question, she was going to need some assistance.

"Savannah may have her choice until Young Allison matures. I may have one of you take Young Allison into the past for a few years and return with her older." Cameron said. "I'd originally planned to do it myself."

Cammy could see the absurdity of Cameron's plan, even if she couldn't. There were other players on the field to contend with. She knew humans, like all creatures, were possessive of their offspring. She knew they could only be pushed so much.

"How's it going to go over with her parents?" Cammy asked. "Are you going to terminate them? They won't want to lose their daughter to your unnecessary intervention and manipulation."

Cameron could think of a few other options other than termination. It was a workable option though. It did cross her mind. It would eliminate any immediate problems. It would however create some very long-term ones. She knew she could only go so far. There was still one undeniable fact which dictated everything. Nothing was to stand in the way of the 'Natural Order'.

"They may go with her." Cameron said. "They will leave and come back five minutes later here. They will spend a few years in the past where it is safer and return with Young Allison 'ready'. She will be well into her teens and 'productive'. She and Savannah can re-bond and mate."

Being in the past should prevent Young Allison from jumping the gun like Savannah did twice, and getting pregnant at too early of an age. Savannah previously told her if she could do it all over again, she would become pregnant as soon as she was physically able to do so. It would have been a few years earlier! Now she felt a glitch impulse to think of it.

Cammy loved Savannah. She didn't like the way Cameron used people to achieve her goals.

"It sounds so simple." Cammy said. "Is there anyone's life you won't manipulate?"

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"No." Cameron said.

Cameron wondered why Cammy seemed confused. Did Cammy forget she may have done all this before? Since Cammy ran her program she should already know these things. She should know everything she did. Well, except the things she firewalled from her.

"I want Savannah to mate with John and conceive a child the traditional way. They will bond better this way and soon mate more frequently. John will be protected by having a human female at his side, not a machine." Cameron said. "A machine at his side is a death sentence for John."

Cammy knew the unspoken part of her statement was it was also a death sentence for Savannah if she was at John's side.

Cameron was just in the future. She knew the threat was real and still there. The fact Terminators took the damage at the 'Big Battle' helped quell those dissenters some. Everyone there knew the Resistance Terminators saved lives.

Cammy doubted Cameron believed what she just said. She did run her program and Cameron was very jealous. By extension, it made her jealous as well.

"Is it what you WANT?" Cammy asked.

It was now a non issue to Cameron. The whole purpose of the chip swap was because of her pending termination. It didn't matter any more. She needed to protect John. There was more than one way to do so, including more than one time period. The things she came up with would do the very thing.

"I won't be here." Cameron said. "I'll be terminated."

Cammy liked the option better for herself. She ran Cameron's program. She could go instead. Savannah would be able to better accept her termination then. It would allow her to have termination with honor. Cameron shouldn't try to hog all the glory of termination in combat.

"Can I take the termination mission in your place?" Cammy asked. "I volunteer."

Cameron considered the option. Cammy would be a problem once Savannah was in her bed. She could act preemptively this way. It would give her a plausible excuse for Cammy's termination, as opposed to her doing it herself like she did with Isabel, all of them. Would it be seen as her not doing her duty to protect John to the fullest extent? It was her job to protect John. It wasn't anyone else's job. She looked at Cammy again. It still seemed like a viable option to get Cammy out of the picture. No. It was her job. What was she thinking? It was her fate.

"No, I must be the one to terminate Skynet myself." Cameron said. "It is my destiny."

Cammy was done. She wanted out. Termination now would be welcome.

"Start cutting then." Cammy said. "Goodbye, Cameron."

Cameron didn't have a problem with what was about to happen. She'd constructed Cammy. She was a redundant place holder for her. She was also a major source of irritation at times. She didn't like problems.

"Goodbye, 'Cameron', Cammy." Cameron said.

Cameron proceeded to cut Cammy's scalp open….

Ally went to Savannah's room to keep her from interfering with what Cameron was about to do to Cammy. She would rather have Cammy deactivated than herself. It would also give her an opportunity to assume Cammy's former position, at least for a while.

With Cammy out of the way, Ally would try for a little 'alone time' with Savannah herself. Savannah was the hottest ticket around. She knew once Cameron got Savannah in John's bed, she was off the market forever and forever was a long time.

Now was her chance to 'replace' Cammy as Savannah's Terminator lover. It was the 'Allison' in her which called for her to want Savannah.

Allison saw what happened with the interaction between Cameron and Holly. She knew there was a lot of 'hocus pocus' going on, even if no one else did. She waited to see what happened when Cameron sent everyone out except Ally. Cammy ran there a few minutes later. Ally looked upset when she came out. She knew there was something else wrong. She watched Cameron and Cammy and saw what was happening. It would be of no use to try to stop it. She waited until 'Cammy' left. Maybe it wasn't Cammy anymore. Sheila was on her way back. She asked Sheila to wait a few minutes. She wanted to speak to Cameron alone.

She didn't know how much actual influence she still had with Cameron. It probably wasn't much.

Allison entered and saw the bloody scalpel and a chip on the table. It looked like what she thought was going to happen, already happened. She couldn't help but clench her jaw and grit her teeth a little. She tried to get some composure before she spoke.

"So that's it for Cammy?" Allison asked as she looked at the chip.

Cameron didn't go to Cammy, Cammy came to her. The issue was out of her hands now.

"Cammy needed to make a choice." Cameron said. "She made one. It was her choice, not mine."

Allison wasn't new to the game. There were many ways it could be played. She was a pawn like everyone else.

"Cameron, sit down, please." Allison said.

Cameron sat in the chair Cammy was just in.

Allison sat on her lap facing her with a leg on each side of Cameron. She put her arms around Cameron's neck and looked into her eyes. They were only inches apart.

Cameron looked back at Allison, her face was blank. She didn't know how to respond to this 'attack'. Allison was shrewd. She wanted Allison almost as much as she wanted Future Allison.

Allison said nothing but stayed where she was at. She could 'go after' Cameron, or thank her for what mattered the most to her. She made a decision. There was no need to seem ungrateful for what she was very grateful for.

"Cameron, Thank You." Allison said. "I don't know what happened in the future, but I know something terrible did. I know you saved my love, my lover Holly. I know something happened to her and somehow you were able to fix it before it did."

Cameron was caught off guard. The issue with Holly still troubled her, even though it never actually happened to Holly. It was resolved. She didn't want Allison to bring it up to anyone. It was the same 'Cameron' who destroyed Holly who 'fixed' her and prevented the damage in the first place.

"No, Allison, I didn't." Cameron said. "It was the 'Cameron' on Holly's chip who saved her. I can't say anything more than the bare facts. I ask you to never mention this to anyone ever, especially Holly. I love her too, Allison. I can honestly tell you nothing bad ever happened to Holly the way things were handled. It showed the care and concern of my program on her chip which prevented a bad situation from ever occurring in the first place. Everything is over and done with. Nothing bad ever happened to Holly. I swear it."

Allison knew Cameron was her program. It was the same thing.

"It was still 'you' who fixed whatever went wrong." Allison said.

Cameron felt her love for Allison 'call' to her. She needed to go now before she couldn't.

"Please, Allison, I need to go." Cameron said.

Allison looked Cameron straight in the face and kissed her on the lips. She could see Cameron was determined to do a mission which wasn't going to end well.

"Goodbye, Cameron." Allison said as she got up. "I will always love you."

Allison walked out the door crying as Sheila entered.

"So this is it?" Sheila asked.

It seemed inevitable to Cameron.

"Yes." Cameron said.

Cameron slipped off the dress and put it back. She went and stood on the TDE pad. She stood there naked as she looked at Sheila.

"I love you, Cameron." Sheila said.

"I love you too, Sheila." Cameron said. "Do it."

The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble formed around Cameron.

The arcing and flashing ended.

Cameron was gone.

Cameron didn't provide Sheila with additional time coordinates or instructions for her return….

It was a one way ticket.

Sheila powered down the TDE equipment and left the room upset and in tears.

She passed Cammy, now 'Cameron', as she exited out of her room. She looked tight like always.

"Hey, 'Cameron'…." Sheila said as she passed.

"Hi, Sheila…." 'Cameron' said.

'Cameron' looked at the rings on her finger. Maybe it was time to look John up….

He was her husband after all.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Turmoil

Nothing runs smoothly
Or lasts for very long
It's only a matter of time
Before something goes wrong

There are some people
They relish the confusion
It helps foster and spread
Their ill conceived illusion

They like when there is chaos
It adds to the hype
They can pick and choose
At whom they snipe

When the disruption is total
It may lead to an upheaval
The driving factor behind it
Is nothing but pure evil

When the bell's toll
It matters not the toil
Everything is wrecked
Ending in destruction and turmoil

Nobody