Chapter 461

Temporal Truancy

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Cameron was away from the Skynet base. She experienced a minor scrape with three Scavengers. She was able to take them down one at a time, without them ever knowing they were about to terminate before their neck was snapped. She made her report to Future John and Duplicate Cameron. She was sure she was undetected by anyone, and her 'plan' would go into effect. She left a few 'surprises' behind. A few more would happen as the events unfolded. She was still disappointed the parent Skynet wasn't located there.

Earlier she made her way into a Skynet facility. She didn't find the parent Skynet she wanted, but she left her calling card. She hoped to be able to use the location to find the parent Skynet. It was time to put her plan into play.

Cameron sent out encrypted coordinates to the 'bubble techs'. They would begin to send Resistance Terminators into the 'future'. They would all arrive at the same time inside the Skynet base she just visited. They would begin to arrive as the 'faux attack' started. It would be a type of 'Trojan Horse' tactic. In future usage it would become known as the 'Cameron Maneuver'.

They could send dozens of Terminators or people, and have them all arrive at the same time, even if they were sent at different times, as long as they knew the appropriate coordinates. They didn't want groups transferring in on top of each other. It wouldn't be a pretty one. It was possible the energy bubbles could bounce off of each other and be deflected to a different location or even time period. She didn't know if it would be possible for two of them to collide and combine with each other. She was unsure what kind of mess it would create.

The fact she was inside already meant she knew where everything was at and where the Terminators needed to go. It wasn't always a luxury they would be able to have on the battlefield. It was all possible due to her skill and daring to enter the facility and map everything out. She disabled HK drones in the process. She was able to do everything, remain undetected, and make her way out of the Skynet facility.

If the new technique worked, it would allow them to recover more Skynet materials and equipment by taking control of the facility from inside and not suffer the losses of a direct assault. Cameron wanted those HK drones for Future John to have control of as well as more Terminators for his protection. If her plan worked, Skynet would be donating both. If things didn't work out as planned, Bob and Rob could still deliver the 'package'. There would be nothing but a crater at the location if she used the 'package'. Either way she would still win.

Cameron reflected on a previous conversation she conducted with Future John as she waited for the 'attack' to begin. She questioned Future John about Liquid Metal Terminators. He only possessed limited knowledge. He only knew of the one which was on the submarine. She asked him if he communicated with it. He said 'no', but it may have deceived him. He didn't know if he did. He felt he was 'watched' several times, but there was nothing or anyone there when he checked. Future John never thought to question the wall, floor, or ceiling. A Liquid Metal Terminator could become a number of objects other than something human or animal related.

She was still dissatisfied with his answers. She wanted to know more about Mrs. Weaver and where she came up with her 'suggestion' she was with Future John. She still didn't think it was her. She knew how deceitful Liquid Metal Terminators could be. A shape shifter by nature was deceptive. Their very appearance 'lied' to everyone. Whatever motives existed within their mind would probably be just as deceitful as well.

"Did you feel you were being watched before or after you sent me away?" Cameron asked. "I mean about being watched by something unknown."

Future John tried to think back. There was nothing concrete to go on, only a feeling. He even brought in Resistance teams to search his quarters for any listening devices. He didn't know Mrs. Weaver could send out a rat, lizard, or a snake to spy on people.

"I believe it was both." Future John said. "I felt the feeling with Allison and Savannah. I felt it after Cameron returned, MY Cameron."

Cameron reran all her files dozens and dozens of times about her time with Future John before he sent her away. She always drew a blank.

"I never detected her." Cameron said. "She may have blocked my programming somehow."

Future John wasn't sure what Cameron referred to. It seemed important to her. He wasn't sure of the female reference either.

"Her?" Future John asked. "Was it a female?"

Cameron didn't want to get into any of it now. If he hadn't erased her files before he sent her away, she might have a better record.

"It's a complicated story and involves all of us and MY Savannah." Cameron said. "I'll have Your Cameron explain the whole thing to you. I will update her."

John really wondered what Cameron referred to. She usually was not so confused or in the dark. It made him wonder exactly what it all revolved around. He wasn't sure why it mattered now if it already occurred in the past. Even though he experienced a sense of uneasiness, he never felt threatened or as if any of their lives were in imminent danger.

"It sounds complicated." Future John said.

Cameron didn't want to create any problems over something which was already done or may not have happened at all. She was aware Mrs. Weaver always seemed to have a fascination with John based upon his reports of his encounters prior to her arrival in the other future. From what Duplicate Cameron reported, Mrs. Weaver's infatuation seemed to switch to her to her 'in some future'. It was something she noticed right away after her arrival there. She also noticed Mrs. Weaver wasn't as direct about things to her as she was with Duplicate Cameron.

She always let Mrs. Weaver know she appreciated her help and she would give her cooperation however she told her she would do it. She wanted to be good on her word and she was. Mrs. Weaver seemed to understand she couldn't be pushed too far. It was all still being played out in some future with the Duplicate set of girls and the two clones of Duplicate Cameron. For all practical purposes, they were clones of her. When she returned there with Young Jesse, everyone seemed to get along in harmony with each other.

"It is complicated and I'm not sure how the story will end." Cameron said. "I want it to end well for everyone."

Cameron's thoughts returned back to the present. The Resistance Terminators should arrive soon in three prongs. A few of the Resistance drones would come and fire a few plasma rounds to get the Skynet HK drones to come out and 'play'. It is what Cameron wanted. It was to draw them out and make Skynet think it faced a major battle. It was the message she wanted sent to the parent Skynet.

She checked her times for everything. They needed to make it look good for Skynet. She would detonate the EMP she planted inside right after she cut the power with another explosive charge. All Skynet would see was a massive battle about to take place, and then not know what happened. It should launch its counter attack force into the waiting missiles of the Resistance. Those troops were all in place near where the suspected the HK drones were to be launched from. The Resistance base was on full alert and ready for an air assault. They also stood ready for a ground assault if it came to it. The type of attack at this time was doubtful.

They could attempt to capture more HK drones if they wanted to send in more operatives to the locations and attempt to capture them before they could be launched. it wasn't a move Cameron wanted to take. Any HK drone could attack the Connor compound. She didn't want to put the girls or children at risk. HK drones would be less useful for helping rebuild society than reprogrammed Terminators would be. She believed her decisions were sound especially since they were to remain undetected until they played their hand, their way.

If everything went as planned they should be able to cripple Skynet, once and for all.

Cameron also knew she would still need to face the parent Skynet computer herself - alone.

It still dogged Cameron the encounter would be terminal for both of them. If she did find Skynet was really 'her', she would stay for sure and terminate with it. She didn't deserve to exist if she was Skynet. What if all the destruction and death was linked back to her? It was a lot to process.

If the master computer wasn't her, then maybe she would try to flee. She didn't see how in this case. She needed to make sure the Nike warhead exploded, even if she needed to do it manually. It was the choice Duplicate Cameron made to destroy what they believed was the parent Skynet in the past timeline. She wanted to make sure no part of it was able to escape electronically to some other location. There seemed to be enough offshoots and startups as it was.

It really wouldn't matter at that point, nothing would.

She was glad she didn't leave any coordinates or times for her base in the past to contact her. She didn't want Savannah to come and try to find her. She hoped creating a new 'Cameron' with her spare chip would be enough for Savannah. Savannah was very important to Cameron. By activating her replacement with her spare chip, she hoped to provide 'herself' to John and Savannah. She was unaware how it all fell apart.

It was Savannah's involvement why everything was reversed and restored to 'normal'.

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Cameron's Base - Current Timeline:

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Ally and Sheila discussed Cameron and her latest endeavor. Ally was upset Sheila didn't have more information. She was angry at Sheila for not pressuring Cameron to reveal more. She just watched Savannah in 'action' against the new 'Cameron'. It was over and done with for now and Savannah took control of the duplicate chip.

Sheila didn't see how any of it was her fault. She did what Cameron asked of her. It was what any Terminator would've done. If Cameron wanted her to know more, she would have told her.

"Cameron left no instructions, not with me anyway." Sheila said. "It's all I know."

Ally was worried because Cameron created her 'replacement'. It didn't bode well.

"She's going to do something foolish." Ally said. "We both know it."

Sheila did try to offer Cameron a way out.

"If I knew where and when she was going to be, I would send an energy bubble now and pull her out." Sheila said. "I don't know. I asked her for coordinates and times for extraction, she didn't give me any."

The answer wasn't good enough for Ally. She planned to do more.

"I want you to send me there to help her." Ally said. "I want to help her."

Sheila couldn't offer any assistance as far as location.

"We all do, love." Sheila said. "We all do. We don't know where or when."

Ally wanted a workaround. She wasn't sure what the best way to do it would actually be. She could go to the coordinates Cameron went to, either by a few minutes, or a longer time period. If she went too early and Cameron caught her, she would most likely make her return. If she waited too long, there might not be any way to track where Cameron went or what she was up to. She was fairly certain there would be a lot of death and destruction which occurred somewhere going forward. There was a good bet Cameron would be at the center of it. It still left a lot to be desired. There were two Terminators there who watched the Connor compound for a long time.

"Bob and Holly both know where she was." Ally said. "They watched for her for two months. They can tell me, or go with me."

Sheila remembered her instructions to leave the TDE room when the TDE ran several times. Cameron specifically told her before she left Holly wasn't allowed to use the TDE again ever.

"Cameron has forbidden Holly from any further temporal activity." Sheila said. "They sent me away when they 'fixed' something. There must have been more than one catastrophic event. Cameron has gone back to 'fix' them."

Sheila and Ally both knew Cameron wasn't done with whatever she was 'working' on in the future. They both saw how Cameron acted when she saw Holly. She physically checked Holly's sheath for damage with her hands. She touched Holly's sheath everywhere. It was clear she wanted to make sure everything was there and where it was supposed to be.

Ally couldn't help but think the worst. It wasn't something she even wanted to say aloud. She felt she needed to.

"Was Holly or Cameron terminated?" Ally asked. "We could see something must have happened."

Sheila remembered the blank looks on Bob's and Ginger's faces after the TDE was used. When she ran back to see what happened, they didn't 'know' anything. They thought maybe they tested it. They didn't even know if they did.

"I don't know." Sheila said. "Bob and Ginger both erased all their files related to whatever happened. I'm sure Cameron demanded they do it. I'm not sure if they actually were given a choice or not. I doubt it. Whatever they were involved in must have been something horrific."

Ally knew no one ever said 'no' to Cameron. The only one who could was Savannah. She was the only one Cameron would listen to. She didn't listen to John. Whatever Cameron set out to do now she made sure John and Savannah didn't know. She specifically made a point not to see either of them and leave before Savannah found out she was there. It would most likely mean she expected a 'bad' ending.

"It's why Cameron is doing this alone." Ally said. "Something catastrophic happened and she's not going to endanger anyone else. She would rather be terminated first."

Sheila knew how much Cameron cared for all of them. It was why she was always the one shot up in battle by often going in alone.

"She loves us all, as we love her." Sheila said.

Ally was determined to do more. It seemed the only way to be able to do so was to go to where Cameron was. If there was no one there to help her, there was no one there to help her. She believed Cameron could use some real assistance.

"It's exactly why we have to help her." Ally said. "I will help her."

Ally knew they were going to all start trying to go after Cameron to help her. It would happen one at a time and in groups. It was the same thing they would have done to try and find Savannah if River wouldn't have been there. It would soon turn into another 'Day Of Loss' if they did.

"I need to go after Cameron soon." Ally said. "It's just a matter of time until Savannah comes back here. None of us will be able to stop her. If anything happens to her, it's going to come right back at us."

Sheila knew it was true. She didn't see Savannah confront 'Cameron' and reactivate Cammy, but Ally told her. It seemed the best way to protect Savannah would be if more of them accompanied her.

"We can all go with her." Sheila said. "The more the merrier."

Sheila also realized it would give her an opportunity to hunt Scavengers in the future instead of future Scavengers in the present. All of those in the future were dirty for sure. There was no guesswork necessary.

Ally frowned. Savannah would act in the same way Cameron would.

"That's just it." Ally said. "She won't allow us to go with her. She will 'order' us to stand down."

Sheila knew Cameron gave every Terminator instructions which indicated if Savannah gave an 'order', it was to be followed. Even John Henry and CamNet needed to follow Savannah's 'orders'. It was to be done immediately and without question on anyone's part. It was more than likely all of the humans would as well. For them it wouldn't be an actual 'order' as it was to the non humans.

"If or when the 'Chosen One' speaks as the 'Chosen One', we will all obey her." Sheila said. "Did she 'order' 'Cameron' to deactivate herself?"

Ally smiled. There was no force verbally or physically.

"That's just it. She didn't need to." Ally said. "'Cameron' even asked her if it was an 'order' to stand down. Savannah tossed her Taser on the bed and said 'no'. She said her love was strong enough for 'Cameron' to listen to her and she did."

Sheila saw the down side to it. She was worried about Savannah going forward.

"It's love to die for." Sheila said. "Cameron is going to get Savannah killed."

Ally was sure it was even worse.

"Savannah won't abandon Cameron when she finds her." Ally said. "I could see it. Savannah will stay with Cameron until the end, even if she can leave and save herself. She won't go."

Sheila knew that Savannah never gave up on Cameron.

"Savannah believes in Cameron." Sheila said. "When someone believes in something, it doesn't matter if it's true or not. They believe it is. It makes it real or true to them. The 'Chosen One' will save Cameron or die trying."

Ally knew she needed to get cracking. She needed some help from Bob.

"With Savannah willing to sacrifice herself, it will be the only way Cameron won't end up destroying herself." Ally said. "Savannah knows her presence is the only thing which will prevent it. I saw her in action, Sheila. She's going to do what she believes is right. Cameron is going to get her terminated."

Sheila thought they should try and warn Savannah of the danger she would face if she attempted to go after Cameron. She didn't believe it would do any good. If Savannah's mind was made up to go after Cameron, nothing was going to dissuade her. She only hoped Savannah didn't try to go alone. She knew Savannah would worry about endangering any of them. It didn't matter if it was what they were constructed for, but also their job to assist the Resistance. It would specifically be Savannah in such an endeavor.

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Resistance Base - Current Timeline:

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Savannah lay sprawled on the bed. She was exhausted. She was only back from the future for a day so far. 'TDE Lag' or 'Time Lag' caught up with her. Having experienced a few 'guests' in her room only added to the fatigue.

Cammy shared with her for hours and left her after she fell asleep.

Savannah who looked around. The surroundings were very familiar. It appeared to her she was 'in some future'. She wasn't quite sure how she got there. Maybe she was there to see her 'Mother'. No. She was probably there to see her daughter, Hope.

She looked around the area and wondered where everyone was at. She didn't spot anyone. She called out several times to see if anyone could hear her. Unit One was usually in the vicinity of where the girls were. Duplicate Vanna told her he was probably there to spy on them when their 'Mother' didn't do it herself. Her dealings with Unit One were kept to a minimum. He seemed very polite and cordial around her. She was sure it was because her 'Mother' told him he better be. His dealings with the others always seemed to exhibit some tension.

The next thing she knew, she was in the restoration unit for damaged Restorators, and any Terminators who were captured and reprogrammed. She hoped she might run into Ginger or Sandy. They always seem very pleased to see her. She would allow both of them to touch her lower abdomen when she was pregnant. Once they started, they would stay with her and continue to hold their hand there. It seemed to fascinate them how humans could reproduce. One human could actually create another one.

There was no one in the restoration unit. She began to become a little worried no one else was around. She wanted to be away from wherever she was at.

Savannah opened her eyes. Ginger was in her room. She was sitting in a chair looking at her. It seemed a little strange since she must have experienced a dream about Ginger just before her eyes opened. For whatever reason, she remembered she was looking for her. Savannah made no effort to cover her naked figure. She wanted to make clear to Ginger what 'options' were available.

"Hi, Ginger." Savannah said.

Ginger seemed very comfortable to look at Savannah's naked figure. Savannah noted it. Her previous dealings with Ginger would indicate otherwise. Ginger would be much more respectful and not presumptive about anything. She was very kind and polite. What she currently viewed indicated someone else with a different disposition. It was a little more bold, but not aggressive. Perhaps Ginger's expanded sexual experience in the past gave her more confidence. It most certainly would give her more 'hunger'.

"Cammy needed to run some errands, she asked me to look after you. She said you might need some 'assistance' with some things and you might feel a little under the weather." Ginger said. "She said she would rather have me here more than anyone else."

Savannah knew Cammy was up to something. She wanted to see how things played out. Ginger, or at least her chassis, wasn't there by chance. She thought she knew how Cammy would think, or what games she would play.

"Did she now?" Savannah asked. "How many chip ports do you have, or who else is on your chip?"

Ginger shrugged her shoulders. It didn't seem like it should matter right now. It was apparent things were about to go a little further.

"Does it matter?" Ginger asked. "Maybe Cammy wanted you to review some things you've seen and experienced for the last year to 'compare' them to earlier."

Savannah sat up and exposed the true shape of her naked form. She was ready for it to play out some. She was ready for a little more adventure.

Ginger took a good look at Savannah.

"I can see we're very much alike." Ginger said.

Savannah didn't think there was anything new there.

"Ginger, I've been making love to Cammy in your chassis for the last ten months. It was as best as I could do for about a third of them when I was pregnant." Savannah said. "I know every inch of your sheath looks like, from your 'birthmark' to your 'hidden mole'."

Ginger tilted her head slightly. She wondered what Savannah referred to.

"What 'hidden mole'?" Ginger asked.

Savannah didn't want to explain it to her right now.

"It doesn't matter…." Savannah said.

Ginger wanted to look her best.

"Cammy is going to show me how to look Tight." Ginger said. "Ally tried but she never seems to pull it off."

Savannah giggled. Allison always relied on her natural beauty. Young Allison was able to fix herself up nice and do it fast too. It was Cameron's doing. She wanted to move things along.

"It's the 'Allison' in Ally." Savannah said. "Did she say what I might need 'help' with?"

Ginger unbuttoned a few buttons on her top and showed a lot of cleavage with her plump breasts. They weren't as large overall as Gail's but they were fuller than Holly's breasts.

"Yes." Ginger said. "Cammy was very specific."

Savannah stood up and walked over to her.

"Are you sure?" Savannah asked. "Is this what you want?"

Ginger smiled at Savannah.

"It is." Ginger said. "I asked Cammy for her permission."

Savannah sat naked in Ginger's lap facing her.

"Are you asking for mine?" Savannah asked.

Ginger played it out a little.

"No, you're going to ask me." Ginger said.

Savannah reached up and took Ginger's lower jaw and turned her face towards her. It was a forceful, but gentle move. It was a move of dominance.

"No. I'm going to tell you." Savannah said. "You like to follow orders. You want to be told what to do and what you can and can't enjoy. I think you've been a naughty girl…."

Ginger looked excited.

"Yes." Ginger said. "It's how I want it…."

Savannah was excited. She was pretty sure it was Cammy back in Ginger's chassis. She would know soon enough. She knew her lovers inside and out and what each response, every action, or stimulation produced. The three 'Allisons' were very similar, but Future Allison was the best. She planned to work with Allison here and get it fixed…. Duplicate Allison and Allison were identical but they still differed in their responses somewhat. She was sure she could tell them apart if they were side by side. She learned quite a bit in both futures. Savannah needed to teach Allison, what Future Allison taught her.

It was time for the student to be the teacher.

The circle of pleasure would not be broken.

If it was really Ginger and not Cammy's chip inside, she was following a script laid out by Cammy. Either way there was a new opportunity, there was no need to let it slip away.

It was time for Ginger 'lesson' now.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Truancy

Some people are only there
When they want something specific
They can take something terrific
And turn it into something horrific

It seems to be
The very nature of the beast
On others they feast
While they give the least

Some people would rather take
Than ever share or give
It is their choice in life
They hope everyone will forgive

While some people may forgive
There are very few who forget
Those events will foster regret
Everything will need to be reset

For any bad behavior
There's no immunity
To ignore the other is lunacy
There is no excuse for love's truancy

Nobody