Chapter 485

Temporal Trade

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Cameron's Base - Current Timeline:

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Sheila sent the energy bubble to the coordinates Cammy provided her with. It was so Cameron and Savannah could enter the energy bubble and return.

The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble formed and disappeared.

The arcing and flashing ended.

They waited as Sheila worked the controls again.

The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble reappeared. It was empty.

The arcing and flashing ended.

The TDE pad was empty.

Cammy knew something must have gone wrong. They should have been there. Savannah and Cameron should have returned with the energy bubble.

"NO!" Cammy said. "NOOOOOOO!"

Ally understood the severity of the situation. Cameron and Savannah weren't coming back. It appeared they didn't survive the nuclear blast, and whatever else blew up along with it. She knew what needed to be done. It was time for one of them to become 'Cameron Prime'.

"They must not have made it." Ally said. "I'll get Cameron's spare chip."

Cammy didn't like what Ally said. She wasn't ready to give up on Savannah. She didn't really care about Cameron at this point. It was all Cameron's fault. If Cameron would have returned when she was supposed to, none of them would be there. The battles in Cameron's future should be fought by Future John and Duplicate Cameron. Savannah never should have been there in the first place. She lost her cool and shoved Ally.

"SHUT UP." Cammy screamed at Ally.

Ally didn't like being shoved. They were supposed to carry out a specific mission upon Cameron's demise. Cammy didn't have any business shoving her. She needed to recognize the reality of the situation.

"What the Hell?" Ally asked.

Sheila could see things were rapidly getting out of hand. She looked at Cammy. She wanted everybody to take a step back. It was only the first try. They were far from finished.

"Relax, love." Sheila said. "We're not done yet."

Cammy didn't have time for experiments. She wanted to go back. She directed her anger at Sheila this time.

"SHUT UP." Cammy said. "I'm going myself."

Ally could see Cammy's emotional state was very precarious. It appeared she was on the verge of losing control. No doubt it was because her program was 'Cameron's program', even if it was slightly modified as far as the protocols went towards John. She wasn't there to cause trouble. She wanted to help. She wanted Sheila to try one more time.

"Ease up." Ally said. "We can try it again. We just need a slight pause between the attempts."

Sheila understood Cammy's anger. She didn't think it was going to help anyone right now.

"As soon as it resets, I'm going to do it again." Sheila said. "It will be ready in a few seconds."

Cammy was ready. Maybe there was a delay. Everything was based on estimates by Cameron as to when everything would happen. The timing could be off. They might not be in the correct location yet. There could always be some type of unforeseen issues develop. She was sure it was a timing issue.

"Then do it again." Cammy said. "Try it ten seconds later."

Cammy was still naked. She was tired of playing games. She was sure it was going to take some 'hands on' involvement. She didn't notice or care. She moved over and stood on the TDE pad. She would go herself.

"DO IT - NOW." Cammy said.

Sheila hesitated. She knew Cammy was 'Cameron', 'a Cameron'. She also knew she currently was highly unstable. They could all see her hand glitch wildly. She was going to overload soon at this rate. To send her in her current condition wasn't the right thing to do. It would be too easy for her to make mistakes.

Cammy became angrier when nothing happened. She could see Sheila didn't want to send her. She looked over at Ginger.

"Ginger, help me. I need to get Savannah back. I can't let anything happen to her." Cammy said in anguish.

Ginger understood Cammy's grief. It was fueled by her love for Savannah. It also clouded her judgment. There were too many unknowns. She wanted Cammy to think things through first.

"Cammy, what if the timing is off?" Ginger asked. "We need better information. We don't need to do this right this instant. We can go back to any point in time."

Cammy didn't care at this point. Something needed to be done. She didn't like the delay.

"Then each one of you will go in my place at a different time until one of us comes back with them." Cammy said. "We need to get Savannah back. The time for lollygagging is over. DO IT. SEND ME."

Ginger was sure it was a one way ticket. She was out of her future. Maybe this was why she was still there in the past. She was expendable. The others weren't. Her loss wouldn't affect the timeline in any way if she didn't make it.

"Let me go in your place, Cammy." Ginger said. "John may 'need' you. I'll go. I'll try."

Cammy could see Ginger was prepared to sacrifice herself for all of them. Ginger wasn't a part of their timeline. She belonged to another future. She felt it was her responsibility.

"I have to get Savannah and Cameron back." Cammy said. "I HAVE TO."

Sheila wanted Cammy to remember her duty and function. It was in the present, not in the future.

"Cammy, you know you may be needed here for 'other things'." Sheila said. "YOU know it."

Ginger would try herself, but she didn't want all the female Terminators sacrificed. She wanted Cammy to try to think things through a little further. She was currently blinded by her grief. She understood Cammy's emotions were much more advanced than hers were. The timeline they were in needed to be protected.

"It's not about you, Cammy. It's about the future and John." Ginger said. "I'll go, send some of the males next if I don't return. As soon as they know the nature of the mission, I believe every single one of them will volunteer. Cameron and Savannah are important to everyone. They're important to me too. Don't waste the females."

Ginger believed they would probably be terminated one by one. It didn't matter. She wanted to get Cameron and Savannah back too.

Cammy could see it now. They were correct. She was able to regain her composure. She needed to think things through. Ginger was right. They needed better information. She looked at Ally.

"I'm sorry, Ally." Cammy said. "I wasn't thinking. I was angry."

Ally understood the reaction. The longer they associated with humans, the more like them they all became. It allowed them to blend in easier and become better infiltrators.

"It's nothing to worry about, just forget about it." Ally said. "We all understand - Cameron."

Cammy was aware there were other options to use. She wasn't sure if any new timelines would be created or not. She didn't want them to get ahead of themselves as far as creating a new 'Cameron Prime'. Duplicate Cameron, from Cameron's future, was supposed to become the new 'Cameron Prime'. A clone of Cameron was supposed to replace Duplicate Cameron so Future John would have 'a Cameron' for himself.

"It's Cammy until we run out of options." Cammy said. "I'll go back and stop them from ever going if I have to. I can't let anything happen to Savannah."

Cammy moved off the TDE pad.

The arcing and flashing started.

"What's going on?" Cammy asked.

Sheila looked over the controls. It wasn't their TDE. She held her hands up in the air in front of her to show she didn't touch anything. There was only one other possible choice.

"It's not me." Sheila quickly said. "This is incoming from another TDE."

The energy bubble appeared. 'Cameron' was in it.

The arcing and flashing ended.

'Cameron' stood and looked around.

Cammy moved forward and looked at her from top to 'bottom' and back again. She saw the same naked figure before, in the future. It was all wrong.

"What the Hell?" Cammy asked. "Why are you here?"

'Cameron' stepped forward and slapped Cammy.

"YOU lied to me." 'Cameron' said.

Cammy didn't believe she actually lied. She chose all of her words carefully. She wanted future Allison to believe she was Cameron. She didn't want anything to happen to Future Allison. It almost did.

"I didn't lie to you, Allison. I never said I was her." Cammy said. "The ironic part is, I probably soon will be."

Ally took in everything too. There were several differences on this version of 'Cameron'. One of them was nursing breasts, and the other was pubic hair. She also noted the newcomer didn't look as good as Cameron, but she did look better than Allison or her.

"Allison?" Ally asked as she realized it was Future Allison. "How the Hell does SHE look better than me too? We're identical. She's the Hottest Allison yet."

Sheila took in the new nude figure as well. She wanted to get to know this version of 'Allison' a little better.

"It's not quite true, love." Sheila said. "You do look better than her in one 'area'. She's definitely got you beat on the top."

Cammy shot Sheila another angry look.

Future Allison looked around the room. She recognized Cammy and saw another person who looked a lot like her but not quite. They could use a little more work fixing themselves up a little. She wanted to address the issue Sheila pointed out.

"I would like to take care of 'that' while I'm here. Savannah show... - told me all about it." Future Allison said. "I want to see my parents, my younger sister, my younger self, and my other timeline self too. Where are Cameron and Savannah at?"

Cammy was still upset. She laid it out plain and simple.

"They're lost in YOUR future somehow." Cammy said.

Future Allison still stood on the TDE pad. She was 'in for a penny' right now. She might as well make it 'in for a pound'. She was 'ready' to go.

"Let's go get them." Future Allison said to Cammy. "I'm sorry I slapped you and thank you for what you did."

John entered the room.

He saw 'Cameron' standing there. It was the girl he saw on the first day of school in New Mexico. It was her….

Future Allison took in the new arrival. She knew who it was instantly.

"John?" Future Allison asked. "…John Connor…."

John realized it wasn't Cameron. He noted the 'differences' between her and the other 'Cameron' models. He 'checked her out' as she stood next to Cammy. It was impossible not to notice, they were both still naked. It was a side by side comparison, even if it was by chance. He actually wondered if it was who he thought. There was only one person it could be.

"Allison?" John asked.

Future Allison ran to John. She shared his bed for years in the future. Now he was here and young! She wanted the current timeline version of him. If the situation wasn't so extreme, she would take him right now. Maybe they could find a room with fewer people before they got started.

"Oh, John." Future Allison said. "You're so handsome."

Ally could see Future Allison was very different from Allison. She didn't have the same baggage to carry Allison did. The girls from the other future all experienced it a lot rougher growing up. She wanted to improve herself. She knew exactly how she could do it.

"I want to use the 'Neural Interface' with HER." Ally said.

Sheila's eyes were on her as well. It was the hottest Allison yet. They all knew she was the 'Allison' which Cameron 'MADE'. She was the 'Allison' who Cameron was patterned after.

John felt embarrassed with a naked 'Allison' hanging on to him in front of other people, even if they were Terminators. Maybe nudity didn't bother them. He was still a little uncomfortable with it, especially depending upon the situation. Where he was right now could be considered a situation.

Sheila could see John was uneasy. She figured he was worried about what Cameron would say. Cameron wasn't there right now. She knew Cameron wanted John to be with the human females. She believed this was the perfect opportunity. If Future Allison was only there temporarily, there wouldn't be any emotional baggage going forward once she left.

"If you turn her down, love, you need to get your head examined." Sheila said. "I mean - both of them."

Ally laughed out loud. She tried to get John to be with her before. She always told him it was the 'same' as Cameron and Allison. She could verify the fact from being with Cameron's clones, as well as Allison.

Cammy shot Ally and Sheila even angrier looks. She thought there needed to be some reprogramming with the other Terminators when everything was all fixed. She did want to rib John some. She figured it would make him leave sooner.

"John, get OUT." Cammy said. "I'm bringing Savannah back as well. That's unless you're ready to man up and embrace your future, NOW. There won't be a need to wait for Young Allison to look like her. SHE already does and knows what to do."

Cammy pointed at Future Allison as she spoke.

Future Allison still clung to John. She reached down and grasped 'him' through his pants. She liked what she found. He was 'ready' right now.

"He is going to need to lose some of his clothing first." Future Allison said. "Everything else is good to go right now. I'll let him knock one off in the corner. I don't care if I make it or not. I just want to be with him right now. I can tell he won't last long."

John was even more embarrassed now. Everything Future Allison said was true.

"I won't come back until it is safe." John said and left.

He heard the girls all giggle as he left the room. He was totally 'thrilled' by Future Allison. No wonder Cameron was so Hot. Future Allison was too. In fact, she was the Hottest of them all. He didn't know Future Allison was only like she was now after Cameron went back and 'worked' with her when she rescued her. He did need to consider what Sheila said though. What was the point in waiting for Young Allison when Future Allison was there now? He liked the part about her knowing what to do. It made a big difference in how things played out.

He wasn't sure how things would play out once they started. It might go from something mutual first to the hardcore act. It could start out with the hardcore act too. She seemed excited enough so it would be smooth sailing from the start. Right now his mind was off of Cameron and Savannah. He didn't know it was what the Metal girls and Future Allison wanted to do.

He still didn't have a clue as to the peril Cameron and Savannah were in.

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Savannah saw the damage to Cameron. She knew she was trapped there. She understood when there was a large quantity of metal showing, a Terminator wouldn't transfer. There was no choice to make. There was only what her heart told her. She promised Cameron since she was a young girl she would never leave her or abandon her. She didn't want to think about the way Cameron forced her to remain in the energy bubble when she stepped out of it earlier. She wouldn't have abandoned Cameron then either. She didn't have a choice then. She did now. Her love was strong and true.

"I'm not leaving you, Cameron." Savannah said.

Cameron felt such grief. She was going to be responsible for Savannah's death. It was the last thing she wanted.

"You must leave, Savannah." Cameron said. "You can't die because of me. I'm not worth your life. John will need you now more than ever."

The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble appeared.

Savannah was supposed to enter it. She faced Cameron instead. The look of love was in her eyes.

The energy bubble remained there for a short time and then started to dissipate.

The arcing and flashing ended.

It was gone.

Nothing was in it.

Savannah never turned to look. Her eyes remained on Cameron the entire time.

"I'll never leave you, Cameron." Savannah said. "I promised. I love you."

Cameron wanted Savannah to think about herself, not her. She was Nobody. Savannah was the future.

"Oh, Savannah, it was your ride home." Cameron said. "Your whole life and future is ahead of you. You don't need to do this. I don't want you to do it. Please, don't do this. I'm going to be responsible for your termination. I can't accept it."

Savannah knew the timer on the nuclear warhead was running down fast. It would explode in seconds. She wanted Cameron to have peace of mind as they perished. She wasn't afraid either. The fear in her was replaced by the love in her.

"It's my choice to remain with you. You are my life and future." Savannah said. "You will not die alone. I promised you. I'll never reject or replace you. I'll never send you away. I'll never abandon you. I love you, Cameron. I'm here for you. I always have been and I always will be. I swear it."

Savannah moved close to Cameron to embrace her as the end neared. She wanted to kiss Cameron as it ended. It was how she wanted to 'go'. She gave Cameron a tight hug. She noticed one of her breasts fit into one the holes burnt in Cameron's sheath. She pulled off her shirt. She pulled closer and angled her body to align with Cameron's damage. Cameron watched as Savannah's nursing breasts filled and slightly bulged out around the damage to her sheath. Both gaps were filled this way. The exposed metal was covered.

New hope surged through Savannah. She was aware her breasts may be damaged or even destroyed. She didn't care. She would do anything to save Cameron. She refused to abandon Cameron under any conditions. She wanted to know if what she currently viewed would work to get Cameron back.

"Cameron. if you hold me tight against you, will this work?" Savannah asked. "The metal doesn't show like this. I think we can transfer together. I want to try it anyway."

Cameron didn't know. It might. If it didn't they both would die. The timer was running down fast. She didn't know what would happen to Savannah's breasts. They could be burnt or she could end up with cancer later on. She knew Savannah wouldn't back down. The other choice was death through vaporization. It was only seconds away. She wanted the hope Savannah offered her.

"If the energy bubble appears again, we're both going into it." Cameron said. "I'll hold you tight."

Cameron knew if nothing else, Savannah would be gone when the energy bubble arrived. Savannah would return and be safe, even if she didn't return. She didn't want John to see her how she was now anyway, she would rather terminate. She was going to terminate in seconds anyway.

Savannah wasn't sure Cameron wouldn't back away at the last second. It wouldn't be the first time. It still angered her to think of it. She never would have left Cameron in the first place. If Cameron backed away at the last second again, she would be gone and Cameron would be left behind. She wanted to make her position clear.

"Cameron, you have to promise to hold me tight and not let go." Savannah said. "Don't screw me over again."

She knew Cameron was worried about her appearance. She would ask Cammy to 'help' Cameron out. It could be through a chassis swap or a 'sheath transplant'. She knew Cameron did it before.

Cameron wanted Savannah's love. She knew Savannah would love her just like she was right now. It was worth the gamble. Savannah's love was love to die for. Savannah already proved it when she didn't leave when she could have.

"OK." Cameron said. "I want to try, Savannah."

Savannah wanted to make it clear what was going to happen. If there is any last minute hanky panky.

"If you let go of me, I swear I'll come back." Savannah said. "I swear it."

Cameron didn't doubt the resolve of Savannah at all. She was always true to her word and just proved it.

"OK, Savannah, we'll give it a go." Cameron said. "I want the life you can offer to me."

Savannah knew the plasma burns would never heal properly. She wanted Cameron to know there was a future for her.

"Cameron, I'll love you no matter how you are." Savannah reminded her. "I promise. You remember that. I love you however you are. However you are, is how you are. I love you more than anything. True love is much more than appearance."

Cameron made the calculations. Everything seemed positive.

Maybe it would work….

She took comfort to know Savannah always kept her promises. If it did work, her life would be with Savannah going forward. John deserved better than her anyway. She would encourage Allison, Vanna, and Jesse to step up and take their place at his side. She was sure he would enjoy the variety if nothing else. In their physical attributes, the three of them were totally different in every way from each other, everywhere.

Cameron knew she would ALWAYS be 'good enough' for Savannah. It meant something to her. It meant everything to her. She understood true love.

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Cameron's Base - Current Timeline:

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Future Allison looked at the door John left through. She was going to try and make love to him before she returned to the future. Maybe he could get her pregnant before she left. It was certainly worth a try. In reality it wouldn't be anything new to her at all. It certainly would be more exciting, a new person always was. John Connor was her lover in the future. They literally were the same person.

She didn't want to get ahead of herself. They needed to get Cameron and Savannah back first. She would ask Cameron for her permission. She wasn't about to stab Cameron in the back. She knew it was what Cameron said she wanted for Past John with the girls from the other future, as well as Savannah and the younger version of herself. Maybe Cameron might reconsider if it was her instead of any of them, even if two of them were her. There was a lot on her mind. As long as she was standing there naked on the TDE pad, she might as well go on the rescue mission too. It was her future after all where they were. What could be more appropriate? It was time to go.

"Come on, Cammy." Future Allison said. "Let's go."

Cammy was aware they could arrive after the nuclear blast or there could be other things wrong, or even happening as they arrived. She saw all of the opposition, even as she left the hangar area. She knew it would all be directed at Cameron once it was determined what she was actually attempting to do

Ally figured an additional warning was in order. She didn't want any repercussions if things went bad and people started pointing fingers. She knew it was what Cameron faced in her future from the anti-Metal faction.

"Are you sure, Allison?" Ally asked. "It might be a one way trip. You have no idea what your about to face. It could be anything. Bad things could happen to you. You can only go if you're willing to take all of the risks, and maybe forfeit your life."

Future Allison looked at Ally in detail. She knew Ally was a Terminator copy of 'her'.

"Yes. I understand the risks." Future Allison said "Nice try by the way."

Ally looked down at the front of her sheath. She knew what future Allison meant. She was as impressed as she was offended.

"No wonder Cameron is such a Bitch." Ally said.

Future Allison laughed.

"Us Bitches hang together." Future Allison said. "In fact, it's what I'm about to do as soon as someone pushes the button and gets the ball rolling."

Cammy stepped up next to Future Allison and glanced down.

"We'll take care of everything while you're here." Cammy said. "It will make you even Hotter."

Future Allison knew it was if they returned. It was something she actually hadn't considered as part of the reason why she was there. She couldn't help but make a 'wisecrack' about it.

"It's what I came here for. Razors are too hard to find…. Light the candle." Future Allison said jokingly and then turned serious. "My turn…."

Sheila was impressed with Future Allison. The controls were set and checked. She activated the sequence on the TDE.

The arcing and flashing started.

The energy bubble appeared around Future Allison and Cammy.

The energy bubble vanished.

The arcing and flashing ended.

They were gone.

Ally looked at the empty TDE pad. She really wanted to be like Future Allison instead of Allison.

"Come on, Sheila. Bring them back." Ally said. "I want to do 'Neural Interface' with that Bitch. She's totally HOT. I wish I could be like HER. I WANT to be like HER."

Sheila planned to hit on Future Allison. She knew a good time when she saw one.

"Get in line, love." Sheila said. "I'm taking a run at her myself."

Ginger was a little appalled at the conversation. The Metal girls there all seemed so detached.

"How can you two talk like this right now?" Ginger asked. "They might not come back."

Ally and Sheila didn't mean to be rude or seem insensitive.

"It's so we don't end up crying, Ginger." Ally said. "We're both hurting really bad right now. We're trying to cope and not glitch out or overload. It's a way for us to avoid the actual problem and situation. We still know it's there. We just don't want to dwell on it since there's nothing we can do about it other than what we're already doing."

Ginger knew humans did things like that. She would like to be more 'human' like the Terminators there were. She wanted to remain in the timeline she was in. She could always return to her future the moment she left with the TDE, even if she spent years where she currently was. Time was irrelevant, when it could be controlled.

"I'm sorry, I do understand. You're trying to lighten the mood or take your mind off what is really happening. I'm not as advanced as you two are." Ginger said. "I love all of them too."

Sheila understood the appeal of Cameron better.

"Cameron is a chick magnet." Sheila said. "She was created in the image of THAT Allison. No wonder everyone wants her like they do Cameron."

Ally noticed John's 'reaction' earlier as Future Allison held him.

"Even John wants to 'do her'." Ally said. "If Future Allison gets him alone, she's not going to take no for an answer. I guarantee she'll do everything herself. She'll probably 'start him up', and then ride him like a wild bull."

Ginger saw the 'bulge' in John's pants as well.

"I noticed." Ginger said. "I think he'll already be 'started up'. She is extremely appealing in every regard."

Ginger knew Duplicate Allison 'in some future'. She met Allison there. Now there was Future Allison. She wanted to be with Future Allison too. She found her to be quite alluring.

They ALL did….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Trade

It is hard to move forward
When one is always afraid
It soon becomes evident
That life is just a charade

Words can cut deep
Like a sharp blade
It always seems to be
How the game is played

Everything one does
Is how they're portrayed
Was it really the message
That they wanted conveyed

There are many things
That rain on life's parade
How long will it be
Until one is betrayed

There is always some price
That will need to be paid
There is no such thing
As 'made in the shade'

Each new person encountered
Leads to another barricade
For everything is soon exposed
As yet another masquerade

Everyone wants an upgrade
So some things they evade
To hear love's true serenade
What is one willing to trade

Nobody