Chapter 456

Temporal Turbulence

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble formed.

Cameron was in it.

The arcing and flashing ended.

Cameron collected her clothes from the ground where she left them seconds ago. She dressed quickly. She headed for her date with destiny. No one there should know she left and returned to the past.

Since she knew Holly was back, and as she always was, she could conduct her final mission easier. It troubled her greatly because of what happened to Holly, what SHE did to her. She would have relinquished her chassis to Holly and used the damaged one on her current mission if things hadn't been 'fixed'. She didn't know of the sacrifice Ginger was willing to make. It would have saddened her even more.

She used her spare chip to activate the new 'Cameron Prime' in the past. She didn't believe she would survive her mission in her future. If she did, and she returned to the past, she would terminate the new 'Cameron' for having been with John. It didn't matter if it was her program or not. It wasn't her. The only other versions of her who would be allowed to be with John were her two Duplicates. Duplicate Cameron, in River's future, already was. Nobody knew she was a Duplicate at the time. The 'hocus pocus' was all necessary so John wouldn't know her fate or mission, one way or another.

The replacement 'Cameron' would deal with everything since she was gone. She hoped 'Cameron' would facilitate Savannah and John mating and create a child for John and 'Cameron' out of love and sharing. Now without Cammy, it would be easier for Savannah to join with John and 'Cameron' as a single family unit.

Cammy would have been a problem anyway. She wouldn't have wanted to 'give up' Savannah to her rightful place in time. It was an unintended benefit of forcing Cammy, as Ginger-Cammy, to hold Savannah in the energy bubble when she stepped out of it when Savannah was sent back in time. She didn't like what a Bitch Cammy could be to her at times. What irritated her the most about it was Cammy ran her program, even if somewhat modified. Cammy was her and they often butted heads over Savannah. In reality it meant she was a Bitch too.

She knew they didn't like the way she did things. She did them anyway. She always did what she believed was necessary to accomplish a task. Maybe sometimes it was a little heavy handed. It didn't matter if she got the job done. What was the point of attempting to accomplish a task if it wasn't completed? It was just wasted time and effort. She knew her mind was drifting. It was a way for her not to think about her impending doom. She was only glad Savannah wasn't there with her. If she hadn't forced Cammy to keep her in the energy bubble, she would be. Savannah was in the past where she belonged with John.

Cameron knew the upcoming encounter with Skynet may be her last. It was fine with her. She made sure there was a 'Cameron' for John. He would never know the difference. It was imperative to her to terminate Skynet. It remained a threat to the past, present, and future in any form. It was time for action.

Cameron went back to her troops and sought out Future John.

She was sure to butt heads with Future John over the different operations which were laid out and to be put into play. He didn't like to listen to her. Hopefully after the success of the 'Big Battle' at the Connor compound, he would listen better. It was because of Bob and Holly-Cameron the attack by Skynet was a failure. If things were left to Future John's defenses before she arrived, the Connor compound would have been wiped out from the face of the Earth. She disregarded him and reinforced the base anyway.

Her main motivation to strengthen the camp was because of who else was there. It was Savannah and Claire. She couldn't let anything happen to them. Before she went on her 'Offspring Mission', she made sure there would be plenty of supplies available for the infants, as well as some defensive weapons. She obtained everything she needed in the past. She then hid it in locations she knew which still existed in her future. When she arrived, they were the first things she collected and brought back to the compound.

The way events played out, Cameron was right, Future John was wrong, again.

Cameron found Future John soon enough. It actually irritated her to see him. He shouldn't be there. He didn't need to be there. He was a father now and should be with his children, along with their 'indirect mothers'. She was more than aware how things played out when dealing with Future John. It was bound to be more of the same.

"I want you to hang back, John." Cameron said.

Cameron wanted to lead her troops alone. She didn't want Future John needlessly put into harm's way. She knew it was going to be a problem, like it always was.

Future John hoped Cameron would've been tied up longer wherever she went so he could have started the battle without her. He was the General and he didn't like her running everything. It didn't matter if she was right or not. It made him look bad. It seemed to be something which always occurred.

He hadn't listened to her in the past and caused heavy losses among the Resistance. Cameron told him to use more Terminators but he didn't listen. The anti-Metal faction thought he used too many of them anyway. They decided to blame 'The Little Metal Bitch' who followed him around as the source of the losses. It was actually just the opposite. Cameron tried to prevent the losses. He needed to send her away to prevent them from destroying her and him.

Future John would try and get Cameron squared away up front. It usually didn't work very well. When she was first with him she was more obedient and compliant. It was no longer the case. She was her own 'General' and a one individual army. She reminded him several times she answered to no one. She was there on her own accord with her own TDE which sent her there, and would retrieve her or her associates.

"You know as General I need to be in the thick of it for our troops." Future John said. "I'm the leader of the Resistance."

Cameron needed to put Future John in his place. She made sure they were away from the troops, both human and Terminator. He needed to understand how her plan was going to work. It was already planned out. He better not mess things up. He would cost the lives of both humans and Terminators, again.

"John, YOUR troops are the reserve, back up, and defense forces. You don't control the Terminator shock troops." Cameron said. "They are MY troops. I will lead them and they will follow me. Don't make me order them to do it. What I'm trying to do is save human lives. I know your ego gets in the way, but every human life is important. Terminators don't have families. They can be replaced, or even a new one constructed. It doesn't work the same way for humans."

Future John could see the problem already. Cameron wanted to sideline him again. He didn't know what she planned yet. She wouldn't tell him. He needed to know. She needed to come clean. He was the General. He was the one in charge.

"Cameron, what do you have planned for Skynet? How are you going to destroy all of it?" Future John asked. "We think it can only be reached by going deep underground."

Cameron possessed the other Duplicate Cameron's files. She used herself as bait and walked a backpack nuke right into Skynet's lair. She hadn't expected to survive either. Duplicate Cameron was HER. She was Duplicate Cameron, both of them. They were created from her during John's interference with the TDE in the past. It irritated her more than a little to think how John was always a problem, whether he was in the future, or the past.

"I'm going to obliterate Skynet, John." Cameron said. "I've done it before."

Future John saw it as nothing more than suicide. He didn't think Terminators could self terminate. Then again, there wasn't anything he didn't think Cameron could do at this point. He was sure she was more human with her personality and traits, than she was a Terminator. He heard Savannah referred to Cameron as a mechanical human. The more he thought about it as he interacted with her, the more he believed it was true. He still didn't want anything to happen to Cameron, any of them.

"How? You'll end up trapped underground." Future John said. "I know you plan not to return. You can send Terminators in your place."

Cameron wanted to laugh. Future John still wanted to see her for more than she was. She was a machine. She was expendable. She already replaced herself in the past. There was a Duplicate of her for Future John. Her existence no longer mattered. She was redundant.

"John, I am a Terminator." Cameron said. "I can't ask someone to sacrifice in my place. My existence is no more worthy or valuable than theirs is. I'm a machine who was constructed for killing. It's what I'm going to do. I'll kill my creator. Skynet should reap the benefits of its own creation. I'm more than willing to give it a firsthand look at how terminations work."

Cameron often felt she led a life full of torment. She wanted to blame others, but she usually blamed herself. She knew there was only really one thing to blame. It was Skynet for ruining the world and creating her. If she never would have been created, she never would have suffered. She wouldn't feel like she did right now this instant.

Future John disagreed with Cameron's evaluation of herself. He believed it wasn't true, at least not to him. Cameron was special among the machines, everyone knew it too. There was no other like her. There never was. Even her Duplicate wasn't her. He wanted some answers first. He didn't want to see her terminated.

"What are you planning, Cameron?" Future John asked. "I need to know your plan."

Cameron was tired of the conversation. She would need to restate the obvious, again.

"The plan is what I've done before." Cameron said. "It's just that simple. It's why I'm the one who's going to do it."

Future John didn't like her evasiveness. Why couldn't she just tell him? He could assist her better if he knew the plan, her plan. He felt his concern was genuine and honest. How could it not be? He always loved her.

"I think you're going to be terminated." Future John said. "I can't allow it. I won't allow it."

Cameron was glad she didn't need to deal with Future John on a personal level right now. He was bullheaded. They all were. How hard could it be to listen to what she told them, and do what she wanted them to do?

"I guess every 'John' is the same." Cameron said. "My John didn't listen to me and three of my female friends almost died because of it, one carried his child. YOU are going to listen to me. LOOK, I'm still here. I know what I'm doing. I've done it before. I've faced down Skynet in two other futures and destroyed it. I've stayed ahead of it in the past. Judgment Day hasn't happened yet. I am the one who is responsible for it, not you. I don't believe anyone can honestly say since I arrived back to the future, things haven't played out better than they would have if I wasn't here."

Future John wanted to tell Cameron he loved her. Maybe if he told her of her past, she would listen. Maybe she would terminate him. He needed to say something. He needed to do something.

"Cameron…." Future John started.

Cameron was done arguing. It didn't change a thing. She was going to do things her way. They were going to save lives. It was time to make her point.

"John, do you believe in ME?" Cameron asked.

Previously Future John approached Savannah, but kept his physical distance. He wanted to be her 'first'. Who wouldn't? She told him of Cameron's exploits and how Cameron always returned, even when everyone else thought she was 'gone'. Savannah told him she alone believed in Cameron and Cameron always came back to her. Maybe the key to it was Cameron came back to Savannah, not him, Past John. She certainly wasn't there for him right now either. She wanted to protect the children, who she viewed as 'her children'.

"Yes." Future John said. "Savannah, YOUR Savannah told me you were invincible and eternal….'

It pleased Cameron to hear it, especially from Future John.

"Do you believe her?" Cameron asked.

Future John could see Savannah's love for Cameron was strong. It was stronger than anyone else's love. Savannah believed what she told him. Maybe he should too. Cameron faced Skynet in four different timelines. Cameron was still alive and fighting.

"Savannah is a remarkable young lady." Future John said. "She explained many things to me. She is the most dynamic, special, highly educated, sweetest female of them all. Past John will be a lucky man to have her."

Cameron glared at Future John. She hoped she didn't need to terminate him for any infractions against Savannah. She warned him not to touch her. She took a step towards him. It was an aggressive move to say the least.

"You didn't touch her, did you?" Cameron asked.

Future John remembered Cameron, Duplicate Cameron, warned him his manhood, all of it, would be nailed to the door of their room. It would serve as a mummified reminder of what his sexual greed and lust did to him…. To add insult to injury, he received a reminder his genetic material didn't matter. Cameron was the one who provided him with children. He couldn't do it himself. He was a little concerned with the look on Cameron's face right now.

"No. I did NOT." Future John said. "'Cameron', MY Cameron, said if I did anything, it would be the last time I would ever be with a female as a man. I could tell she meant it too."

Cameron didn't want to fight with Future John. The talk of his 'punishment' left them on a lighter note. She needed to act and she didn't need to worry about his safety. She really wanted him to listen to her. She couldn't let anything happen to him.

"I would have done the same thing to you. Any female from the past is off limits to you." Cameron said. "I'm here to help you. It's what I'm trying to do. I need you to TRUST me and BELIEVE in me, John."

Future John looked at Cameron. Who was he fooling? Cameron was the leader, even if he was the General. She meant well and she meant to terminate Skynet. She was also very effective. Savannah told him how Past John often didn't give Cameron the support she wanted and needed. She told him not to make the same mistake, again.

"I do, Cameron." Future John said. "I promise."

Cameron loved Future John, she always did. She was glad they would part on a positive note this time. It may be the last time. She didn't have any positive proof she would find what she was looking for. Time would tell.

"Thank you." Cameron said and left.

She didn't look back at Future John as she walked away.

Future John swallowed hard. He knew Cameron still loved him. It was why she couldn't look back. She wouldn't have been able to go if she would have. He didn't know on her recent junket into the past, it was the same reason she didn't go to see Past John. It was also why she didn't see Savannah. Savannah's love would have held her.

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Cameron's Base - Current Timeline:

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Allison went to talk with Savannah. Ally was just leaving the room. She knocked and entered. She felt she needed to let Savannah know the truth and about what she witnessed.

She told Savannah how Cameron came and went in a few minute's time.

Savannah was devastated. Why would Cameron come back and not see her? She was at the base already. It made her worry about why she didn't see her. She could only think of one reason, and it wasn't a good one either.

Allison mentioned nothing about Holly, nor ever would to anyone. Cameron was very concerned about the information. She knew Holly met some terrible fate. Either being reprogrammed as a 'Metal Whore', or terminated. She never imagined the destruction of her sheath and Holly being featureless and genderless. It would have troubled her even more than if Holly would have been turned into a 'Metal Whore'. She was told nothing actually happened to Holly. It was the same thing Holly told her independently of Cameron. Maybe she should leave well enough alone and believe them. She believed there was another problem which occurred. Based upon her earlier fears about Holly, it was something she thought needed to be known.

She also told Savannah what she witnessed…. It was the 'death' of Cammy. She understood how it would affect Savannah. It was no different than how she felt about Holly. Savannah felt the same way about Cammy.

Savannah drew in her breath and looked grim. She needed to make sure she understood Allison fully.

"So you saw Cameron remove Cammy's chip, and place her spare chip in her skull?" Savannah asked.

Allison looked through the little window in the door. She thought about running for Savannah then, but she needed to ask Cameron about Holly first before she left.

"I watched her do it myself." Allison said. "I don't think I could have stopped her. I wanted to see what happened so we would know how to deal with it going forward."

Savannah's face was emotionless. It worried Allison. Savannah knew how to operate all the equipment. She was worried about what she might do next.

"Where's the chip?" Savannah asked. "Did Cameron take it with her?"

Allison remembered clearly what she looked at on the table.

"No, it was lying next to a bloody scalpel." Allison said.

Savannah didn't understand why Cameron hadn't come to see her. Was it because she 'killed' Cammy? She didn't think so. It was because of something deeper and even more devastating. It was why she hadn't gone to see John either.

"Cameron left for the future again and never talked to anyone?" Savannah asked. "I don't like the sound of it at all. She can't go off alone, again."

Savannah was angry she wasn't able to see Cameron. She knew why too. She would have stopped Cameron from going, or tried anyway. She knew she would have left with Cameron too unless she was being physically restrained, again. No Terminator would ever do it to her again. If she was the 'Chosen One', then it needed to be respected.

Allison wondered if maybe she blew it by wanting to talk to Cameron about Holly. She saw what she saw.

"Yes." Allison said. "I saw everything."

Allison could see Savannah was upset. Now it was her turn to console and soothe Savannah. She shared her comfort, understanding, and love with Savannah.

Earlier Allison believed she lost Holly forever, now it appeared Savannah lost Cammy forever…. She thought Savannah would be more upset about Cammy's termination. Then it hit her, she knew Savannah was going to reinstall the chip, even if she needed to Taser 'Cameron' to do it. Savannah was going to kill 'Cameron' to get Cammy back. She didn't think it through. If she would have, she would have figured out Savannah would go after Cameron to bring her back too.

Allison was deeply in love with Savannah at this point. It was HER 'Savannah' again to her. The teenager who first loved her and who she first loved. The beautiful teenager who saved her. It was as if time was turned back. She knew Vanna was going to go ballistic when she found out what she 'did'. She knew Vanna told Jesse before that if she ever touched Savannah, she would kill her. She believed Vanna would have carried out her threat. She also believed Cameron would have acted first, so Vanna wouldn't actually need to do it herself. It would be so Vanna wasn't tainted going forward in anyone's eyes. They could all blame it on the very scary robot from the future. It was before Savannah was with Young Jesse. Maybe because things were different now Vanna would be more understanding. She knew it wouldn't be any different than what she just did was Savannah earlier. She was pretty sure Vanna wouldn't kill her.

She planned to start spending more time with Savannah at this point. She knew her younger self was a few years away from being with Savannah. There was no reason she herself couldn't fill the void. It was unless Young Jesse came here to live…. She wasn't sure if she could compete with Young Jesse. She saw Jesse was able to replace her in Vanna's life. Young Jesse would probably do the same in Savannah's life…. They were the same people after all.

Everything was so complicated, Allison thought….

Holly drove Allison back to Palmdale. She knew Allison was 'with' Savannah again. She knew Savannah was the 'Chosen One'. The 'Cameron' which was still on her chip, reminded her Savannah was the only one there who could reproduce. Savannah needed to feel loved and share her love. If Savannah didn't feel love and loved, she wouldn't reproduce. She would become withdrawn and reclusive.

Holly communicated with the 'Cameron' on her chip about what happened in the future. The way Cameron greeted her and touched her. It indicated to her something 'more' must have happened. 'Cameron' said she only knew as much as Holly did. 'Cameron' thought it was best if they left it alone. Without any facts, it was just speculation. Speculation didn't prove anything and usually created uneasy feelings.

Why they were withdrawn before the battle appeared to be what Cameron wanted. It wouldn't have been done without a reason other than to protect her. There were plenty of Terminators in Cameron's future who could deal with Skynet. It wasn't something Holly needed to deal with. If anything Cameron should be thanked for her actions, however they were done. Cameron always knew what was best for everyone…. After all, Cameron may have done all this before, right?

When they arrived, Claire gave Holly a long hug and greeted her daughter. She gave Holly a sly smile and whispered 'anytime' to her, Holly nodded slightly. It was what she wanted to hear. Who wouldn't? She was dynamite in bed. She learned in Cameron's future more than a few new things. Much of it was propagated by Claire and backed up by Future Allison. Who could say 'no' to those two?

Holly loved Allison dearly, but her mother was a better lover by far. She was very exciting and stimulating to be with. She wanted more. She looked in the distance and saw Hanna glare at her. It was clear they both thought the same thing.

Later, Holly would seek Hanna out and share any of her files with her Hanna wanted. Holly felt bad about not 'sharing' Future Allison more with Hanna, especially after being with Claire as herself, and not as 'Hanna'. They still shared. She didn't need to do it.

The Metal girls decided to tell her and transfer some information.

Hanna tried to access the files from 'Cameron' on Holly's chip and was met with an angry response from 'Cameron'.

Holly and Hanna ended up sharing all their files and Holly was able to get the files of Vanna with Allison from the 'Neural Interface'.

After they untethered, Hanna kissed Holly and she responded. They now shared each other's experiences.

Holly got it all. There was Jesse, Vanna, Sheila, Ally, and Claire. Hanna blocked any of the 'bad' experiences Vanna suffered, and all her experiences with men. Every one of them was abuse and done against her will. Even if she was forced to perform on her own under the threat of death. Vanna actually hated those encounters more. She would rather have been forcibly taken. The results of some of the encounters were a little hard to swallow.

Holly felt complete now. She understood Allison better. In fact she saw Allison as the 'bait' to get her closer to Savannah herself. She planned to encourage the relationship. She wanted more….

The 'Cameron' on her chip, completely firewalled herself off at this point. Holly was unaware she was even there. 'Cameron' wanted no part of any of their new plans and desires….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Turbulence

Everyone wants things
To work smoothly and flow
It seems no matter what
Some things always blow

Maybe they happened slowly
Or they progressed too fast
It seems those are the kind
They never grow or last

If everything worked perfect
Would anyone ever evolve
Everyone would be stuck
In their tiny orbit they'd revolve

It is never easy at all
For anyone to make a change
Things that are different
Are awkward and strange

No one likes upheaval
Or any real disturbance
To reach any destination
All flights experience turbulence

Nobody