Chapter 494

Follow You Anywhere

Cameron headed out with Ally and Sheila. They all wore body armor. She was tired of getting shot up. Plasma rifles would be good in the current timeline, but it was a two way street. They could damage her just as bad. She hadn't anticipated getting hit with a partial blast from a plasma rifle in her future. She dodged behind a support beam. It took most of the plasma blast. The damage done to her still bothered her to think of it. She knew she needed to focus, and not dwell on what was already done and over with. She made it out with the help of Savannah. If Savannah hadn't been there, she would have been terminated.

A glitch impulse shot through her left hand. Savannah almost died with her, for her. She needed to refocus. Love of such strength was hard to find. It was even harder to earn. She started to drift again. It would have been her fault if Savannah perished with her. It would have been on her. She didn't need to dwell on it right now.

Ally and Sheila were with Cameron. They noticed Cameron seemed somewhat distracted.

"You don't look so hot." Ally said,

Cameron frowned. She didn't like the criticism.

"I'm fine." Cameron said.

Ally laughed. She was well aware of how things worked with Cameron.

"It's what they all say before they shut down or overload." Ally said. "You'll probably do both."

Cameron didn't like how Ally was now. She liked her how she used to be. She wasn't really 'Ally' anymore right now. She was like a different individual after she used the 'Neural Interface' with Future Allison. She didn't want to get into any verbal altercations when they might face potential combat. It was something Ally was always ready to engage in. She didn't like to take the back seat to anyone.

"I'm fine." Cameron said. "Let's stick to the operation."

Cameron made sure everyone carried two Thermite grenades with them. She carried four. A Thermite grenade wasn't as fast acting as a plasma grenade, but they were the best thing they possessed against Terminators and 'main frames' in the current time period. She used them multiple times in the past, present, and future. Once they started. Nothing could put out the Thermite.

Ally looked at Cameron again. She still looked 'off' to her. She didn't feel she did anything wrong to point out Cameron's current condition. It couldn't affect the operation. It could put the rest of those on her teams in danger. She felt she already made her point. It was time to focus on the operation. She wanted to make sure exactly what the mission parameters would consist of. Cameron was known for changing the nature of the mission as it went along.

"Do you want the Terminator captured if it's a female?" Ally asked. "Or do we have enough skirts for now?"

Cameron didn't care for Ally's reference. She understood the term was colloquial. It still seemed degrading in its context.

Sheila hoped it was a female Terminator. She always did a thorough 'examination' to make sure there was no damage which wasn't noticed at the time of her capture.

"There's no such thing as 'enough skirts'." Sheila said. "I'd like to get a hold of some fresh meat."

Cameron flashed Sheila a look of disapproval.

Sheila smiled and shrugged her shoulders. If she didn't have a vest on, she would have popped a breast out with a nipple ring on it. Maybe it was a good thing the vest was on. Cameron didn't look very pleased right now.

Ally understood the nature of Sheila's desire.

"Any 'examination' Sheila gives to a female Terminator is actually a form of abuse." Ally said. "She would be arrested anywhere else."

Sheila didn't like the reference.

"I think it's more a matter of perspective and opinion on your part." Sheila said. "Any damage done to a new recruit needs to be found and repaired. I wouldn't care if I was arrested. There isn't a jail capable of holding me."

Ally looked at Sheila and scoffed.

"Whatever…." Ally said.

Cameron didn't care for the negative interaction before they entered the combat zone. She really disapproved of what Ally did with the 'Neural Interface'. She looked at her Metal girls. They were always there when she needed them. The recent damage to her sheath still weighed heavily on her. She wanted to keep them safe.

"We won't take any chances. We take them down first and ask questions later." Cameron said. "I don't want either of you damaged or terminated."

Cameron was more than a little uneasy. The operation they currently were on was her first combat since her mission into her future. The damage she received there was very fresh in her mind. She was always worried about damage to others.

The Metal girls appreciated her concern.

Sheila wanted some excitement if they came across any Grays on the operation. She already started to think of the numerous ways she would be able to get answers.

"If we capture a Gray, I want to interrogate them." Sheila said.

Cameron looked down at the knife Sheila played with in anticipation of an interrogation. She didn't want a messy battle zone. She didn't want to fool around. The longer they stayed in a combat zone, the more likely it would be for the enemy to launch a counter attack. She didn't see any need to take chances.

"No." Cameron said. "We terminate everyone."

Sheila looked a little disappointed. Enhanced interrogations gave her much the same feeling as a sexual encounter. Both were a 'rush' to her.

"I can make them talk." Sheila said. "We can gather further intel. I like to make them talk, it excites me."

Cameron was afraid Sheila was beyond 'excitement' at this point. It seemed things took a more serious nature.

"No. I don't like what you've done the last few times." Cameron said. "Remember what Savannah taught you. I check your room often. I disposed of any 'souvenirs' you acquired."

Sheila looked a little worried. Maybe she took things too far. She didn't think it was a big deal. It was because of what Jesse previously did in her future. She collected 'souvenirs' as well. She was also a little concerned about Cameron in her room.

"Why?" Sheila said. "Why were you going through my things?"

Cameron wasn't in a mood for games. Things were about to get serious. She needed to maintain control. It took a lot of effort to do it. It was part of Cameron's routine when she was around either base. She needed to know what was happening at all times and what everyone was involved with. It was very difficult to keep track of everything, and make sure everyone stayed on the proper path she selected for them.

"I go through everything of everyone's all the time. You know I do. I need to know what's happening." Cameron said. "I go through everyone's trash. I review all the surveillance footage. I monitor all computer traffic. I know what everyone is doing and with who."

Sheila was clearly unhappy Cameron went through her personal items. Personal items were things a person put value on. It wasn't of a monetary type either. It was usually something which touched them deeply inside or may have some sentimental value.

"It sounds like it's you who has a 'problem'." Sheila said. "It's your hang up, not mine."

Sheila didn't think it mattered what she did on any of the 'off the books' operations. They were all directed against the drug trade and sex traffickers. They weren't related to Resistance matters at all. They were more like 'crime fighters'. They took care of the things law enforcement chose not to deal with. Everything they found, law enforcement could have found just as easily. She understood most of the problem was the lack of willingness on the part of the District Attorney to enforce the laws already on the books.

Ally wasn't sure she liked Cameron snooping around so much, especially since she did her 'upgrade' with Future Allison.

"Do you invade our privacy at our base or is it everywhere?" Ally asked.

Cameron didn't really need to have this conversation right now. It wasn't too hard to figure out. She took care of the physical surveillance, her super computer assistant took care of everything else.

"CamNet monitors 'everywhere'." Cameron said. "I monitor 'us'."

Sheila was still upset about her 'souvenirs'. She wanted to keep what she acquired from the female enablers. She didn't care so much about the males. Male abusers came a dime a dozen. She wanted to turn things around on Cameron.

"I bet Cameron does it to hide what she does." Sheila said. "Who knows what perverted things she does and hides it from everyone else. I think she's hard on me because she probably does the same thing and doesn't want anyone to know. We all know how forthcoming she is with facts or the truth. I don't think the last two things are anything she can deny, at least with a straight face."

Cameron felt a little defeated. She did a lot of things she would rather have done differently. It wasn't how it played out. She needed to live what was already done. She didn't go out of her way to do the type of things Sheila did. She didn't take any satisfaction in making the enemy talk when it was time for an interrogation. Most of her questioning involved blunt force trauma. It usually resulted in multiple broken bones. She didn't view it as her fault. If the enemy being questioned was forthcoming with the information, there would be no need to bust them up. Their termination would come much more swiftly.

"I'm not proud of much of what I do anymore." Cameron said. "It's my function to protect John and protect the future. It's my function to stop Skynet. I'll do whatever I have to, whenever I have to, to make those things happen."

Ally figured now was a good time to change the subject before it centered on her. It was bound to happen sooner or later. She didn't understand why everyone was so jealous of her. Why did everyone resent the fact she improved herself? She felt they should be happy for her, even if they couldn't be happy, because she was able to make herself better. She wanted to stick with the operation.

"Is it just us three?" Ally asked.

Cameron wanted to keep things simple. Ally and Sheila didn't have full time human lovers. Everyone else did. it mattered now. CamNet would watch their backs. There were a few things they could rely on if they needed to make a heavy hit.

"We'll have drone support." Cameron said.

Ally never 'questioned' Cameron before. Since she was 'improved', she did it without thinking about it. She was aware of how Cameron normally played things. It wasn't always the best way to do things for them.

"Is there something you're not telling us?" Ally asked. "You seem distracted. You seem a little off. if you're going to go into combat, we need you to be at one hundred percent. We don't want you to endanger us needlessly."

Cameron didn't want to go there. What almost happened to Savannah troubled her. It would have been her fault. She could still see the energy bubble appear behind Savannah and she never even looked at it. Savannah looked at her instead. Savannah stayed to die with her. How could she do such a thing? She wasn't worth anybody's life, especially Savannah's. There were so many things to deal with.

"I have a lot on my mind." Cameron said.

Sheila moved closer to Ally.

"It's more like Future Allison is on her mind." Sheila whispered to Ally. "It's Savannah too I bet."

Ally felt an intense desire for Savannah now since her 'upgrade'. She wanted what Future Allison wanted.

"I got my eye on Savannah." Ally whispered back. "I'm claiming her."

Cameron was clearly irritated. She didn't need them to ride her right now. She knew they said what they did on purpose, just to give her a hard time. If there was some type of challenge, she wanted to know what it was.

"You both know I can hear you." Cameron said. "Do you have some issues with me you wish to discuss?"

Ally was ready to come back with some 'smart' remarks but refrained. She could see Cameron was on the 'edge'. Cameron's next action proved it even more. She indirectly directly threaten them with termination.

Cameron reached down and touched her Taser.

Sheila and Ally understood the unspoken threat….

Cameron was actually worried something 'bad' would happen to Ally and Sheila. Maybe she should have left them back at the base. There was no need to risk them when she could do it herself.

"I can do this without either of you." Cameron said. "I don't NEED anybody."

Cameron knew there was always - Nobody.

Ally felt a little indignant.

"You really know how to charm a girl." Ally said.

Cameron's eyes glowed red for a second. She stopped the SUV in the middle of the street. Several cars honked at her as they passed.

Ally flipped them off.

"Learn how to skill drive." Ally shouted at them.

Cameron didn't want to deal with it.

"I'll walk." Cameron said. "You two can go back to the base."

Cameron started to get out.

Ally and Sheila looked at each other. They knew they took things too far.

"Come on, Cameron, we were just trying to razz you a little." Ally said. "Lighten up."

Cameron turned and faced them. Her eyes glowed red. The past events weighed heavily on her. Others paid for her mistakes.

"I was almost terminated a few days ago. I went to face Skynet alone." Cameron said. "There was one GIRL there with me who came on her own to help me. Four Resistance drones and two Resistance Terminators perished in the battle. Each one fought until the end and then ruptured or overloaded their power cells to do even more damage. All of them did it to buy time for me and Savannah. They bought time at the expense of their existence. It still weighs heavily upon me. Future Allison and Cammy both arrived to make sure we got out. How would things have ended if the warhead exploded while the girls were still there?"

Ally didn't see how it was on them. They would have gone with her.

"Relax, Cameron." Ally said. "We weren't invited."

Cameron was very troubled by all of it. The human girls never should have been there. She should have been terminated instead.

"Neither was Savannah, Future Allison, or Cammy." Cameron said. "They came for me FOR ME. I almost got them all killed, again."

They could see Cameron was highly agitated. They didn't rib her much more than usual. It was usually a way for them to blow off a little steam before the main event.

Sheila didn't want Cameron to be compromised. She seemed pretty close to it right now.

"Cameron, please stop." Sheila said. "I'm sorry if I was out of line. We may be in combat soon. You need to be at one hundred percent. You know we will support you. We will all protect each other. It's what we always do."

Ally was afraid it was on her. Maybe she pushed it a little too far. She knew what her 'problem' was. She quickly found the 'restore point' in her program Sheila made her set. She was glad she set it now.

"I'll disengage the 'Future Allison' programming for the rest of the mission and until you tell me to reinstate it." Ally said. "I've firewalled it for now. I'm sorry, Cameron. We're both here to help you."

Ally initiated her restore point and was just 'Ally' again. She was back to 'normal' now.

Cameron drove in silence while the voices screamed inside of her head.

There were always so many of them. Why didn't they ever stop?

Some drone images showed up on the screens in the Command Center..

John was surprised when them appeared. It looked like trouble.

"What's going on?" John asked.

John Henry detected Cameron was headed into combat of some type. He didn't know what.

"Cameron is after a target." John Henry said. "I think it's Skynet related."

John sat up and looked at his monitors. That was about the last thing he wanted to hear. Cameron wasn't 'herself' the last few days. Something really bothered her.

"Beautiful…." John said. "Is she on her own?"

John Henry picked up three body cams now also. They weren't available to him until John asked the question. He understood CamNet monitored what they were doing. She provided them with more information so John wouldn't worry as much.

"No, Ally and Sheila are with her." John Henry said. "Two of the drones are as well."

John wanted more support for Cameron and the girls. If there was going to be trouble, he wanted her to have total support.

"Send the other two drones and ready the manned drone." John said. "I want to use it."

John Henry was a little alarmed at the idea.

"Are you going to pilot it?" John Henry asked. "Your training is minimal."

Cam walked into the Command Center.

"I'll take it up." Cam said. "Cameron may need me."

John was glad to hear it. He was worried about Vanna.

"What about Vanna?" John asked.

Vanna came around from behind Cam. She was ready to 'dance'.

"What about me?" Vanna asked. "Cameron needs our help. We'll give it to her. I'm ready to gear up myself."

John Henry didn't want things to get away from him. He already called in some of the teams.

"It's unnecessary. I have two teams of Terminators on their way to assist her." John Henry said. "I believe Cameron has backup as well if she needs it."

John knew what the root of the problem really was. It was because of what almost happened to Cameron. No. It wasn't so much about Cameron. It was about who was with her and what could have happened.

"I know what the trouble is." John said. "She's trying to do everything herself to protect all of us. She was almost terminated in another timeline, her future."

Vanna looked for Jesse when they left her room. Cam indicated they needed to go to the Command Center. Now she understood why.

"Where are Jesse and Gail?" Vanna asked. "Did they go out to help?"

John Henry was a little surprised when Jesse saw Savannah and Cammy leave. She asked to follow them as backup with Gail. It seemed a little unusual.

"No, Jesse wanted to back up Savannah and Cammy on their assignment." John Henry said. "It wasn't high risk so I approved it. Cameron specifically told Savannah and Cammy what their assignment would be. It was away from where she was going with Sheila and Ally."

John was a little concerned about Jesse and Vanna. They both felt they were 'worthless' as females now. It wasn't the case at all. He wasn't so sure there was anything involving Skynet which couldn't rapidly escalate.

"It's just the thing. Anything can go 'high risk' in a second." John said. "Vanna, I understand why you and Jesse feel you have less 'importance'. You however don't have less worth as people and team members. You all remain as important to me as you always have."

Vanna wanted to laugh but didn't. She was one of many at this point. She was redundant about four times over. Savannah was the only one of 'her' which actually mattered. She also was the one who took all of the risks as far as the rest of the humans went.

"There are four of me and three of Jesse, maybe four if Future Jesse is still out there somewhere, plus our younger selves." Vanna said. "It's not like we really matter very much anyway."

Cam didn't like to hear Vanna speak in such a negative fashion. It didn't do her any good to do so. It only made things worse. She loved Vanna.

"You matter to me." Cam said.

Vanna knew Cam was a 'gift' from Cameron to her. She was programmed to love her. She replaced 'John' in Cam's programming from Cameron.

"You were created so I would matter to you." Vanna said.

Cam believed Cameron cared a lot about all of the girls and everyone.

"Don't you think you mattered enough to someone so they shared themselves with you the only way they could?" Cam asked. "I would say you matter a lot. YOU were the first to receive such a gift. Cameron GAVE 'herself' to you because she LOVES you."

Vanna felt bad now. She felt a little sorry for herself. It seemed to happen a lot. There were just some things she could never see him to put behind her, even if she tried.

"I'm sorry, Cam." Vanna said. "I do KNOW it's true."

John didn't want the troops bickering amongst themselves over non-issues. They needed to concentrate on the matters at hand.

"Look, we need to worry about Cameron, Ally, and Sheila right now." John said. "Everyone matters."

Vanna didn't want to make things worse. Maybe she did it a little more than she should have.

"I'm sorry, John, everyone." Vanna said. "Cam, please go help Cameron and the girls."

Cam was worried about Savannah's team too. If there were two more drones available, besides the manned drone, the other team should receive some support as well.

"Send one drone to help Savannah and Cammy." Cam said. "I'm on my way."

John thought it was a good idea. The others needed protection too.

Gail drove the SUV. She looked over at Jesse. She was 'different' than normal.

Jesse noticed Gail check her out.

"We don't get out much anymore." Jesse said.

Gail wasn't happy they were out at all. She would have rather gone alone.

"We're only out because you wanted to watch over Savannah." Gail said. "I could have done it myself. There could be hard targets to face. It's not like what we normally do with future Scavengers."

Jesse could see Gail was a little upset at her. She didn't see why.

"I do want to watch over Savannah." Jesse said. "It's true."

Gail wasn't sure it was even about Jesse. It seemed deeper. She thought she might know what it was.

"Is it for yourself?" Gail asked "Or is it for Young Jesse?"

Jesse placed Gail's hand on her neck. Gail could scan her for truthfulness.

"It's for both of us, love." Jesse said. "You know I won't love you less."

Gail scanned Jesse. it seemed to be a genuine concern. There was no ulterior motive.

"You're being honest as always." Gail said. "I know your 'hunger'."

Jesse was troubled by her past. She was associated with a couple of groups of Scavengers, she thought if she could inflict pain on others, it would make the pain she felt go away. She soon realized it didn't make it go away at all, it only made it worse. She got away from those groups, but still would hurt others whenever she could. She took 'souvenirs' from those she left alive when she was done with them. There was no point in taking them from the dead. It was a terrible time in her life. She wanted to move on and leave it behind her.

"Gail, I'm trying to be a better person." Jesse said. "You and Cameron are trying to help me get beyond my 'past'. I want it too. I'm very ashamed of so many things."

Gail was aware of the 'defective behavior' involving Sheila. She was Sheila's base program with the 'Neural Interface' with Jesse. Jesse warned everyone there was a lot of 'darkness' in her. Cameron and the girls helped Jesse get past most of it. Sheila seemed to seek it out within her and embrace it. Sheila said it stimulated her and excited her to do those things. They all knew those things were wrong to do. It seemed Sheila preferred violence to sex. Sheila liked sex a lot too. It seemed to indicate something in a very negative way. The level of violence said something. It wasn't anything good.

There were some things which troubled Gail. She loved Jesse. She lost 'her' once. She wanted to self terminate over it but they stopped her. Cameron 'fixed' the problem, sort of. Duplicate Jesse was still alive in River's future. She couldn't see her or be with her. It was five hundred years in the future. She wasn't about to lose another Jesse.

She was very troubled Duplicate Jesse didn't come back to her. Cameron told her she asked Duplicate Jesse to stay in River's future so the timeline wasn't disrupted. Cameron reminded her a power cell lasts a long time. It could also be replaced. She said when Jesse terminated from old age, she would be able to go into River's future and be with Duplicate Jesse there and continue from the point where things were interrupted before. She quickly realized it was an effective strategy.

"I'll follow you anywhere, Jesse." Gail said. "Even if it's to termination…."

Jesse didn't want things to go quite so far. She really hoped they wouldn't.

"Sure, love." Jesse said. "Let's hope it doesn't happen."

They both knew there was no guarantee it wouldn't. There was no guarantee they could stop Skynet. There was no guarantee they could prevent Judgment Day. There was no guarantee any of them would survive any of it. There was no guarantee there would even be a tomorrow.

The only guarantee in life was one day they all would die.

Nobody knew when or how.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Follow You Anywhere

There are those who
Our heart we will bare
In the faint far off hope
The burden they will bear

If they are the one
Who is willing to share
The feelings many expand
As for each other they care

Everyone must be mindful
Remain alert and stay aware
It doesn't take much
To leave one in despair

Time grows mundane
Some seek to compare
Before anyone knows it
They may have an affair

Things that have been broken
Are not easy to repair
The attempt at reconstruction
Is the path to nowhere

Always think twice
Before one reaches out to snare
The acts actually intended
May cause the other to scare

To be alive itself
Is often very unfair
It can distort reality
Leaving one with only a prayer

For the worst in life
One must always prepare
Of every new player
One must always beware

If one gets lucky
And is treated fair
A heart won't tear
They may follow you anywhere

Nobody