Chapter 464

Temporal Tease

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Undetermined Timeline:

Temporal Error:

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The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble appeared.

Savannah and Cammy were in it.

The arcing and flashing ended.

Cammy and Savannah stood.

Something seemed off from the moment they arrived. They both looked around for anything familiar. Nothing was spotted. Everything was all off. It didn't look right. They both knew what it meant.

"Where are we?" Savannah asked.

Cammy looked upset.

"Not where we want to be…." Cammy said.

They were both in Cameron's future before. It wasn't anything they saw previously.

It looked like everything just got a lot more complicated. Not only did they not know where they were. They needed to know when they were.

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Cameron returned from her personal reconnaissance mission. She supervised the capture of the Skynet resources. She made sure the fallen Resistance drones were retrieved. They were attached to other drones and flown back to the repair facility. A group of damaged HK drones was taken with them. They should provide enough spare parts to repair them. There were also the HK drones they captured. Some of those could receive the chips from their drones if necessary.

The Resistance Terminators were still amazed none of them were destroyed in the battle. They were able to view the destruction and carnage inflicted on the Skynet forces. It was all Cameron's doing.

She was hailed and cheered by the Resistance Terminators. She reminded them it was a joint effort. She told them to never forget it. It was a team effort by both Terminators and humans to defeat and destroy Skynet. The job wasn't done yet.

They still didn't see it the same way. She went off on her own accord, and did all of it by herself. The drones she reprogrammed with her programming supported her. Everything which occurred, happened because of her.

She left the bulk of the Resistance force there to get things cleaned up. The Skynet base was captured with minimal damage. It could be converted into a Resistance asset. She made sure some of the Resistance Terminators would be left there to keep it secured. She also warned them not to get complacent. She reminded all of them it was how she was able to do what she did. It only took a look around to see how it played out. She gave them a reminder they were probably Skynet Terminators at another facility who may have been stationed at the base previously. They would know all the ins and outs on how to get inside. It gave the Resistance Terminators something to think about and make sure they remain vigilant.

Cameron returned to the Connor compound. She didn't want any kind of a big deal made about what happened. As she approached the compound, it appeared it would be the case anyway. She was cheered as she approached by both Terminators and humans. She didn't like all of the attention. She didn't want to have the opposite effect if she was terminated when she confronted Skynet. She knew there were still anti-Metal people out there. She wanted to bridge the gap if she could, and eventually reunite all of the Resistance.

Duplicate Cameron embraced Cameron, so did Future Savannah and Future Allison. Cameron also wanted to see Destiny and Joy as well. They were 'her babies' too. She would do it when she got the chance.

They were the babies Cameron wanted for herself but sacrificed to allow the others in this future to receive them. Those two babies should be in her and John's room at the Resistance base in the past. Now they were there instead.

Cameron didn't embrace Future John. She could see he wanted to. She ignored him. It was Duplicate Cameron's 'function'. It was another sacrifice she made. She would still be there in the first place if he hadn't sent her away. Maybe Skynet would have been completely defeated by now if she would have remained in the future. Maybe Future John would be assassinated and she would be terminated if she stayed.

There was tension in the air between them.

Future John didn't like the prospect of how events were going to play out going forward, especially upon Cameron's demise. He didn't look forward to losing Duplicate Cameron to Past John, and having a clone replace her. He knew it was all part of some plan by Cameron.

"So, you're still alive. I guess I don't get 'punished' yet." Future John said. "I don't care for your plan either."

Cameron was irritated by his attitude. She reminded him of Past John's words. They were Future John's words too. She didn't care for them, even if they were a metaphor. She was in the mood for games or a verbal sparring match.

"I was never 'alive'. I'm a machine." Cameron said. "Don't worry, it's coming. It won't be the first time I was sent away from here either. It's something you should remember."

When she arrived at the compound, she was elated at the minimal losses they suffered. Future John seemed to have a way to bring her down. If he wanted an argument she was willing to give it, even if it wasn't what she really wanted to do.

Future John didn't want to get into an argument with Cameron right now. He knew she was itching for one. He figured she was probably upset she wasn't able to destroy Skynet and herself. He knew everyone was watching them. He also needed to give her the credit due to her. Maybe it was time he acted like the General instead of a spurned lover. Cameron's accomplishment was remarkable.

"Cameron, I must say it was a great victory you orchestrated." Future John said.

Cameron wanted everyone united.

"We all worked together." Cameron said. "Terminators and humans worked together."

John wasn't so sure her statement was factual, even if she wanted it to be. He was aware no humans were ever in danger on the operation. Cameron was very adamant about it. None of the Skynet forces reached the base. The action out in the field was all Terminators.

"It was an all Metal show, Cameron." Future John said. "It was an amazing victory. It was all orchestrated by you. There were zero losses."

Cameron didn't see it the same way. She was further irritated by Future John's lack of sensitivity. It was evident he still didn't see things the same way she did. Her view was factual, his was not. She was a machine. There were other machines which were damaged.

"It wasn't zero losses, several of our drones fell, John." Cameron said. "They're machines, like I am. They took the battle to the enemy, and paid the price. Perhaps they were alive, but no longer are, in your opinion."

Future John didn't want them to get on a bad footing. He was aware his earlier comment was rude and hurtful. He was worried more about his self-pity than he was about the great feat Cameron pulled off. He wanted to make things right.

"I'm sorry, Cameron." Future John said. "I'm not trying to be a jerk. I apologize for my earlier statement. It's not about me. It never was. It's never about one person."

Duplicate Cameron was there for the entire exchange. She remained silent at the verbal jousting match. Since Cameron updated with her, she understood exactly how Cameron felt. It was no different than her. Cameron thought about taking her spot where she was now. She would needed to have gone to Past John instead. There were a lot of sacrifices on everyone's part to get to the point where they were at now.

It made her wonder how events would have played out if Cameron and her would have reversed roles when they left the future Mrs. Weaver was in. She was given a choice when they returned to Cameron's base whether she wanted to stay and be with Past John, or return to their future to be with Future John. Maybe she chose the future so she could be with Future Allison and Future Savannah as well.

What if the roles would have been reversed? Would she be the one doing what Cameron just did now? Would she even be in the future for any of it? Would she have brought Savannah and Claire there? If Cameron did, it's what she should have done. Maybe it wouldn't have been. She didn't spend more effort to hunt down Skynet like Cameron did.

Would they still have been given the same warning they were at the base because of Cameron, and those who came to look for her? They might all be terminated right now if events hadn't played out the way they did. It was very uncomfortable to think about it. She was aware she would need to assume the role of Cameron Prime very soon, if events played out like Cameron anticipated. Her programming was set so she wouldn't know she wasn't Cameron Prime when she arrived in the past.

Cameron didn't like the turn of events either. She wanted to make amends. She looked at Future John and then at Duplicate Cameron.

Duplicate Cameron understood what Cameron wanted to do. She was impressed Cameron sought her approval first. She nodded back to Cameron. She wanted harmony too. She also knew Cameron was soon to be terminated. It seemed to be what Cameron wanted. She was to be returned to the past as 'Cameron Prime' when it happened. It seemed like a better idea if they could all be in good standing with each other as things progressed forward. There was no need for things to end on a sour note with any of them. She knew what needed to be done, even if Future John didn't.

Cameron moved forward and gave Future John a hug. The future called to her in a negative way. It wasn't Future John's fault. She didn't want to leave bad thoughts in anyone's mind about her. She already knew what her final destination was, even if the journey hadn't been completed yet.

"I'm sorry, John." Cameron said. "I have a lot on my mind."

Cameron reflected the nature of impending termination created a lot of uneasy feelings.

Future Allison watched everything. She didn't feel it was her place to speak. She understood the true nature of the friction. Cameron loved Future John, but he belonged to Duplicate Cameron now. She took Cameron's hand and led her away from Future John.

Cameron saw Future Allison, Future Savannah, and Duplicate Cameron were all there to see her. She was worried about 'Her' children. She could understand the nature of their jubilation, there was still something more important which always needed to be considered.

"I want one of you with MY children, always." Cameron said to Future Savannah and Future Allison. "You know the sacrifices which were made to make it happen. It's more than just what Savannah and Claire did for both of you."

There were two teenage girls who now helped to watch over Destiny and Joy. Hormone treatments were started on them to supplement Future Savannah and Future Allison for nursing.

"We always are, Cameron." Future Allison said. "We just wanted to welcome you back right now. The other girls are with them. They are all right over there."

Future Allison pointed to where they were. The two girls smiled and waved at them.

Cameron was the one who recruited them. It wasn't too hard to do. She verified the fact both of them were with a number of different sexual partners. Several of them were against their will. It was how they both started out. It seemed to be a common denominator in any future for how a female was initiated into womanhood. It was something she wanted to change.

It was something the Duplicate girls 'in some future' discussed with Mrs. Weaver. They wanted to try to get some type of control of the situation going forward. Duplicate Jesse suggested public emasculation to start out with. Duplicate Savannah agreed with her, but thought they needed a more measured approach going forward. As more order was established, it was made clear any type of abuse wouldn't be tolerated. The Duplicate girls set up a network so any such crimes could be reported and acted on, unlike they were previously. Strangely enough, the perpetrators started to disappear from the Resistance controlled areas one by one.

Cameron could feel her mind drifting. She needed to refocus. She smiled at Future Allison as she touched her cheek. There were a lot of things on her mind.

"I'm sorry." Cameron said. "I'm worried about many things."

Future Allison pulled herself closer to Cameron and looked at her face.

"You know I love you, Cameron." Future Allison said.

Cameron returned the gaze. She loved Future Allison as well.

"I love you too, Allison." Cameron said.

Future Savannah looked uncomfortable as she watched them. She did know HER Allison loved Cameron more than her, and all of them, except maybe Destiny now. It was a different type of love.

When Future Allison returned from 'the dead', she told Future Savannah about everything Cameron did for her, and everything she tried to get Cameron to do. She made her love for Cameron clear to all of them.

They all feared at some point Future Allison would try to seek Cameron out in the past. They feared she would abandon them and run. Now Cameron was there. She didn't need to run, she just needed to reach out.

What they didn't see was Cameron put a 'hook' in Future Allison to keep her in the future. The hook was Destiny. There was something more important to her now in her future than Cameron was in the past. There was only one problem. Cameron wasn't in the past anymore. It changed the dynamics of everything for everyone.

Later when things calmed down, Future Allison approached Cameron again, they were alone.

Future Allison thought long and hard about it many times, especially when Cameron returned. It was time to spell it out since all her hints and overtures were unanswered.

"Cameron, I want to share our love." Future Allison said. "It will be you and me together, alone. Cameron, I want to be with you. I want to make love with you. I want to share everything with you. I want us to be 'one'."

It pained Cameron to hear it. It was what she wanted as well. It just wasn't the right time. It seemed it was past the time now. The end was near. She didn't want to open up any doors which were going to be slammed painfully closed.

"I want it too, Allison." Cameron said. "I want to be with you. I don't think I can."

Cameron didn't think she should, no matter how much she wanted to. She believed it would hurt Future Allison more to share with her now, and then be terminated. It would scar Future Allison's mind forever. She didn't believe it would be fair for Future Allison's well being going forward. She couldn't help but think about the adverse reactions both John and Future John experienced in regards to her being away from them for what they viewed as forever. She didn't want Future Allison to go down the same path. The more she thought of it, the more likely it seemed. It was something she would need to keep in mind.

Future Allison knew Cameron loved Savannah, the younger version of Her Savannah. Savannah wasn't there anymore, but she was. She hoped to have some influence on Cameron. She knew it wouldn't be the same as Savannah could have. She hoped her love could reach Cameron. She didn't like the finality of what appeared to be in Cameron's future. The future of Cameron's future was no future, or any past future. She knew it was more than speculation.

"Cameron, we all know you don't plan to return to John, Your John." Future Allison said. "We all know you believe you will be terminated."

Cameron felt the 'pull' of Future Allison. She still needed to complete her task to protect all of them. It was more than about her. It was about protecting everyone and protecting the future. Someone needed to take the fight to Skynet. Someone needed to combat the enemy. She believed she was best qualified to accomplish the task. There was no need to risk human lives or the existence of Terminators when she could deal with it herself, alone.

"I must stop Skynet." Cameron said. "It's something I MUST do."

Future Allison decided she wasn't going to let Cameron die alone. She hoped being there with Cameron would help save her. If not, they would die together. She hoped to reach Cameron in a more personal way if she could.

"Cameron, please let my love reach you and share with you." Future Allison said. "I'm going to go with you. I want us to be together before we die. I'll be there too when it happens. We will terminate together."

Cameron looked at Future Allison and started to cry. She remembered in the past when Allison went into the unknown to die with her. Allison never hesitated either. All her folly created the Duplicates. It broke her heart to know every Allison was willing to die for her, or die with her. How was their love so strong it meant more than their own life to them? They would ALL sacrifice for HER, a walking pile of junk. Why?

It was why she forced Cammy to hold Savannah in the energy bubble. It was why she didn't talk to Savannah when she made her visit to the past. Savannah would do the same thing too. It was too much for her to be burdened with.

Cameron staggered and went down on her knees. She was about to overload.

Future Allison was right there to steady her, hold her, and soothe her. She was able to get Cameron to lie down. She took Cameron's glitching hand and held it. She pulled it up to her breast and kissed it. The glitching stopped. She rolled on top of Cameron and held her as they both cried.

Cameron felt Future Allison's warmth pressed against her. It comforted her. She could feel the love radiate off of Future Allison. It was a very reassuring closeness. It did indicate how much someone could care for another one.

Future Allison wished her body could melt into Cameron's body and they would become one, truly 'one individual'. Cameron was created from HER. She wished she could give Cameron life, to give Cameron whatever it was she was 'missing' and needed. There must be some way to reach her. She wished Savannah was there. She knew Savannah could reach her. Savannah wasn't there.

Cameron stopped crying in a few minutes and so did Future Allison. Future Allison still lay on top of her as she held her. She could feel Future Allison's heart beat. It comforted her. She could 'feel' the love Future Allison 'sent' to her. Future Allison held her closely.

In the distance a baby started to cry.

Future Allison looked up immediately.

"It's Destiny." Cameron said.

Allison recognized her baby. Her next statement said it all.

"I know." Future Allison said. "Destiny is calling me."

Future Allison took Cameron's face in both hands and kissed her. She made up her mind already what needed to be done. She hoped to offer Cameron more than one thing she desperately wanted.

"I love you, Cameron." Future Allison said. "I'll be your mate for life. PLEASE don't kill yourself. It can be you and me and Destiny. We can go wherever you want to go, just the three of us. We can see who else you want to go with us."

Future Allison touched Cameron's cheek and left. She was ready for the ultimate sacrifice.

Cameron watched her go. The desire to take Future Allison and run was overpowering. She would return to the past and take Savannah too. It would be the three of them. She would make sure Savannah was pregnant again first. They would also bring Destiny with them. It would be Savannah, Future Allison, their two children, and her.

In the distance she watched as Destiny cried for her mother. Future Allison answered when Destiny called.

Cameron knew destiny called to her as well….

So be it. What needed to be done, needed to be done. She needed to protect all of those she loved. As long as the threat was out there, no one was safe. It was a threat to every timeline as well.

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Cameron's Base - Current Timeline:

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John looked at the empty TDE pad still. How could they have allowed them to leave? How could they do it to Savannah?

"What's wrong with all of you?" John asked. "You just sent a girl off to die! It's Savannah, our Savannah."

The other Terminators all returned. They weren't happy about it either. They also knew Cameron was there too. There was only one person she would listen to. It wasn't John or any of them.

Ally wanted to make sure John fully understood everything.

"No, John." Ally said. "It's YOUR Savannah."

John was angry. He didn't want to hear about the 'Natural Order' right now. Both Cameron and Savannah were gone.

"Enough…." John shouted.

Sheila wanted John to see the reality of it all.

"She's right, love." Sheila said. "Everyone knows it, even you."

Ally thought a little refresher course in history was needed. John didn't need to yell at her. She wasn't the problem. He was.

"You're trying to avoid Savannah as you did Cameron." Ally said. "We all know the story."

John wanted to scream. Now they were going to rub Future Riley in his face. She was DEAD and he was the one she died for. He might as well have killed her himself. Wait. It was exactly what happened, even if he didn't pull the trigger. His mother told him what would happen and he didn't listen. A lot of bullets did fly around where they went.

"I don't need to hear it again." John said.

Ally thought he did.

"You KNEW Cameron was the ONE when you were chasing Future Riley. Just as you can SEE and know Savannah is the ONE now. It's what Cameron has ALWAYS wanted for you AND her." Ally said. "It's your destiny. It's Savannah's destiny. It's Cameron's destiny. You ALL know it."

John wanted to argue and try to justify his actions. There was only one problem, he couldn't justify them. Everything he did with Future Riley was wrong. He knew it was wrong, but he still went ahead and did it anyway. He got what he wanted from Future Riley and he rubbed it in Cameron's face.

Sheila wanted him to listen.

"Cameron told us how it is in the future. It's the three of you and her in the future, her future, your future, John." Sheila said. "Cameron told us it's how she always knew it would be. How she wants it to be. How it WILL BE."

John didn't want to think about Future Riley, or how Cameron and Savannah were both gone now.

"This is all so wrong." John said. "You're all in on it."

Ally wanted John to understand how things really were. None of them could bring Cameron back.

"John, we all want Cameron back." Ally said. "ALL of us. Only Savannah can make it happen. Cameron won't listen to anyone else, not even you. Their love is strong."

John didn't need to be reminded he didn't have any control over Cameron. In reality he never did. He did know she loved him. Maybe she loved Savannah more.

"Is it stronger than Cameron's love for me?" John asked.

Sheila was pretty sure the events would speak for themselves.

"IF they come back, I think you'll have your answer." Sheila said.

John knew now Savannah hadn't been 'brainwashed' by Cameron. It was LOVE which drove her, both of them. It was pure sweet emotional love. It wasn't complicated by any physical aspect, yet. The emotional love which radiated out of Savannah was reflected back by Cameron. The love Cameron felt for Savannah seemed to be magnified by both of them.

He needed to think about it some more. Maybe it was more than emotional love. Maybe it was more than that. If it was, he would be lucky to still be included.

"Have they…?" John asked a little worried.

Ally wanted to make John sweat a little. Maybe he would think things through and get on the band wagon. He wasn't going to go anywhere simply being a referee.

"What happens in the future, stays in the future." Ally said.

Ally, Ginger, and Sheila all took some satisfaction at the look of discomfort on John's face.

John knew they were right but he refused to admit it.

"You people are all demented." John said. "Cameron has corrupted all of you."

John briefly wondered if a mass reprogramming was necessary, but he knew it wasn't. The girls weren't the problem. He was.

Ally wanted to give John a little reassurance.

"John, you need to stop while you're ahead." Ally said. "Let's wait for a while and see what happens. Cameron and Savannah will be back. We all know it."

John really wished he could believe it.

"Do we?" John asked as he looked at each one of them. "Do we?"

Actually none of them knew it, but they all wanted to believe it. They all wished they could believe it like Savannah could.

There was only one problem. None of them was Savannah.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Tease

Each and every person is different
Even if what's offered is the same
Some are a little more convoluted
They like to tantalize and play a game

It is the mind inside the body
That will allow it to rust or shine
If both are willing to give and share
That's what will allow the stars to align

No one remains a rock forever
They will wither and fade if they do
Because of the evil actions of others
The loneliness will expand and accrue

Many will explore on their own accord
Others many needed a gentle nudge
Some are a victim of their own mind
It will never allow them to budge

When push comes to shove
Who's the one that's going to please
Will it be more or less of the same
As they remain a big tease

Nobody