Chapter 558

Taken Too Much

The Blackhawk was escorted to the helicopter base by Cam in the manned drone. It quickly touched down. Their three drones soon appeared overhead to back them up and keep an additional watch for any hostile activity. Their biggest worry would be the arrival of HK drones. They also would need to consider some type of ground activity. so far nothing materialized.

Steve, Tom, Dan, and Al exited the helicopter with Derek, Kyle and Sheila. Ed was the one at the controls when they picked up Sheila.

Cameron stayed with Savannah, Jesse, Derek, and Kyle as they went through the hangar with the vehicles and HK Tracks. The rest of the Terminators searched for any survivors. None were found. Maybe it would have been more accurate to say none survived the encounter.

Steve, Tom, Dan, Al and Bob all took one of the big rigs loaded with the HK drones and departed. It was something Cameron wanted very much to gain control of. Five big rigs loaded with HK drones, which would now serve the Resistance was a very big bonus. They would split up into two separate groups. A drone went with each group. Cameron wanted everyone away from there before any Skynet reinforcements arrived. HK drones posed the biggest threat.

Cameron selected the vehicles they would leave with from the stockpile at the old helicopter base.

Savannah looked at the HK Tracks in the hangar on the other end earlier with Cammy.

"It seems like a waste to leave all these HK Tracks here." Savannah said. "It looks like they proved valuable in tonight's fight."

Cammy was pleased she was able to bring five of them into the fight. She viewed them as honorary Resistance machines. They would need a thorough reprogramming if they were to keep them.

"They did." Cammy said. "They made the difference."

Cameron appreciated their contribution too. They did help them out when they needed help. It's certainly made their job easier. They also prevented any unnecessary damage to them. She looked at some of the vehicles they could use when they left. She could see some workable options.

"We'll take the five that helped us." Cameron said. "They're part of our team now."

Cammy was pleased to hear it.

Sheila looked over Gail for damage. Gail didn't want Jesse to see her closely. Savannah noticed what was going on. She thought Cameron would best be the one to address it. She was the most 'experienced' in the matter.

Cameron talked to Jesse and told her she knew how Gail 'felt' right now. It was very upsetting not to be one hundred percent for the one they loved. She told Jesse it bothered her to no end to have John see her shot up.

Jesse was aware of it. Cameron would be gone days at a time to have things heal up first. It was hard to not want to help, or just be there for the one you cared about. She knew she should give Gail some space.

She wanted to ask Cameron why it didn't bother her if Savannah saw her shot up and repaired her. She thought maybe it was better not to bring it up right now. Cameron took some damage earlier with Bob. She would ask Savannah later.

Savannah made the rounds and checked on all of the Terminators. She stood off to the side and waited to speak with Gail.

Gail looked a little worried. She could see Savannah wanted to speak with her.

"Hello." Savannah said with a smile.

Gail wanted Savannah to be with her now. Savannah worked with damaged Terminators all the time. She was troubled by her current status. Most of her problems were perceived issues rather than actual problems.

"I'm still fully functional." Gail said.

Savannah knew where the response was headed. She waved everyone away from Gail.

"Gail, I know you're worried about your appearance." Savannah said. "Jesse will love you no less. In a short time you'll be back to your beautiful self."

Gail was upset, but what Savannah just said pleased her. She liked it because Savannah said she was beautiful when she was undamaged. She was glad she wasn't shot. She knew both Bob and Cameron took some rounds earlier. Her current appearance wasn't the only issue which troubled her. She looked around to make sure there was no one else in earshot.

"I feel ashamed." Gail said. "I was going to be terminated, you saved me."

Savannah didn't want Gail to become 'hung up' on the issue. It would trouble her forever if she did. She would downplay it and try to deflect the issue.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of." Savannah said. "Cameron needed to face the same issues many times, too many times. I know how much she's been bothered by it all. You can't dwell on it. If something didn't happen. It didn't happen. 'What if', is only a question. 'What is', is the only thing which matters."

Gail was very troubled she was about to be terminated. She failed Jesse and Savannah on the battlefield. Savannah needed to rescue her.

"It's not the only thing…." Gail said.

Savannah knew what Gail was getting at. She tried to keep her away from it, but she was back. She made sure Gail was the one to pull the chips on the two male Terminators who attacked her. It was important for what it symbolized.

"Gail, you fought two Terminators. YOU deactivated both of them." Savannah said. "It's all anyone ever needs to know. I promise to never say anything other than that. I saw you fight them. I saw you deactivate them. Anything else is irrelevant."

Gail could see Savannah wanted to 'protect' her. She understood now it was what Savannah did for Cameron too. Savannah didn't need any 'credit'. She didn't tell anyone she fought and deactivated three Terminators on her own yesterday. It came out later. Savannah always said she did what she needed to do, when she needed to do it. Nevertheless, Savannah was a remarkable individual.

"You're truly the 'Chosen One', Savannah." Gail said. "You've done so much…."

Savannah didn't think so. She didn't think there was very much choice in her life. Everything was planned out for her. She only stepped up and 'wore the shoes' which were laid out for her. It seemed to be the right choice for her. She didn't think there was anything special about her.

"No, I'm just a teenage girl who has a lot of responsibility and expectations to live up to." Savannah said. "Cameron has shown me and guided me to my place in life and in the future."

Gail could see there was so much more to Savannah. She felt very content now in her presence. She understood it was the same thing Cameron would feel in Savannah's presence. It was a very reassuring and loving feeling.

"Thank you, Savannah." Gail said. "Thank you for 'everything'."

Savannah didn't want anything to become an issue. Even though it was very serious, she wanted to leave a personal note on it. She smiled and winked at Gail.

"It'll be our secret." Savannah said.

Savannah gave Gail a hug and a kiss on the very small area of exposed metal of her face. It happened when she was slammed into the rocks by one of the Terminators.

Gail could see Savannah truly accepted her for how she was, and what she was. She felt Savannah 'grow' even more inside her….

She knew it was building up for a long time, now it erupted inside of her like a volcano. There was no way to stop it. She wouldn't have wanted to stop it even if she could. It was something which made her 'feel' from deep inside of her.

Savannah took Gail's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as she went to leave. Their outstretched arms slowly separated.

Jesse watched as Savannah calmed Gail down and put her at ease. She was grateful for it. She also saw how Gail 'responded' to Savannah. It was clear Gail was in love with Savannah. She felt the same way herself. She wanted to be with Savannah and she hoped Savannah would be with Gail. There was beauty in shared love. Savannah was about love, not just sex.

She thought of her past life with less than honorable people. She hurt men and women. She did it on purpose, just to hurt them. She thought about what she did to other females. She even almost hurt herself at times. Maybe it was to 'punish' herself. She wanted her body to be more than just a sex object to others and herself. She wanted love. Savannah radiated love. She desperately wanted the same love for herself. She thought Young Jesse was very lucky to have received the same love from Savannah. She never wanted Young Jesse to be her.

Jesse looked around at the burning destruction. There was a lot of damage without any casualties on their part. It usually wasn't the case in the past, the future. There was usually a lot of death and injury to those in the Resistance. When humans needed to go up against machines, the machines usually prevailed.

The wreckage of the HK drones on the runway was a sign they were lucky from the start. If all of those HK drones could have gotten airborne, the nature of the battle would have taken a turn for the worse very quickly. They also would have been attacked in the SUV before they would have even reached the hangars on the base.

She needed to keep her focus on the present. The past was the past, even if somehow it hadn't happened yet. It was something which was very hard to get away from, even when one tried.

Jesse gathered her thoughts. Everyone on the team made it. Nothing else should matter.

Cameron wanted to get away from the base before any hostile HK drones showed up. They hurried to get things cleaned up.

The four female Terminators were able to load three of the HK Tracks into three of large trucks and two onto trailers. They were all covered with tarps. They didn't want anyone to see what they transported.

The four female Terminators then went about setting all the power cells in the HK Tracks left inside the hangar to overload and explode. All were armed so it would be a big fireworks show. They removed everything from the damaged SUV Savannah arrived in. They then drove it inside the soon to be destroyed hangar. They also collected any deactivated or damaged Terminators from the area. They would take them with them.

Cameron was very pleased with how many she would be able to get back into service at her base.

They split into two groups and left. Cam, in the manned drone, stayed with Savannah and Jesse. The remaining drone would go with Derek and Kyle. Each group of four vehicles would have two Terminators.

Cameron looked over the procession and thought of the events which occurred today, both in the day and the night. They were lucky today. They scored a bounty of new equipment. The only Terminators to receive damage were Gail, Bob, and her, everything was repairable.

She didn't like having Savannah and the other humans out in the field, especially in combat. Even worse, Savannah and Jesse were alone without a Terminator to protect them at one point. They all stepped up and did their parts. It was Savannah she was worried about. She knew she was pushing her too hard and asking too much from her. She knew she already took too much from Savannah.

John was pleased at how the operation played out and the HK equipment which was confiscated. He wanted to go over things with Cameron. He called her but she was slow to respond.

"…Cameron…?" John asked.

Cameron missed what he'd said. She was concentrating on Savannah. She just decided to tell John how it was.

"Sorry, I was…." Cameron said. "Not paying attention."

John was a little surprised at Cameron's truthfulness. He hoped she was alright. It was unlike her to acknowledge any shortcoming on her part.

John and John Henry went over their plans for stashing the vehicles and cargo they appropriated. Everything would be inspected at a remote location before being stored at any of their secure locations. They wanted to make sure there were no trackers or any other hidden surprises on the equipment. Everything needed to be reprogrammed as well.

Teams of Terminators were organized to start the process as soon as each group arrived at the selected remote location. Everything would be gone through to make sure it couldn't be tracked and Skynet operatives couldn't locate them. They didn't want to inadvertently end up with a 'Trojan Horse' which could be used against them.

Gail and Bob would return for repairs with Savannah, Jesse, Derek and Kyle.

John didn't like the fact there was one person 'missing' from the repairs lineup.

"What about you, Cameron?" John asked. "You have some damage."

Cameron hoped the issue wouldn't come up. Now it did. It irritated her because John 'cared' about her. She was Nobody. He needed human females at his side to be protected against assassination. No. She just didn't like him to see her damaged. He already saw enough of her in such poor condition over the last few days. He didn't need to see anymore. Even if she was a 'walking pile of junk', she didn't need anyone to see she was. There were other tasks she needed to be attended to as well.

"I'll return when we're finished with the inspections." Cameron said. "The job isn't done yet. I'm responsible for everything until its conclusion."

Both John and John Henry protested her decision.

Savannah knew how things worked. She was ready for her response. She knew how to make Cameron think things through a little further. A human touch was always a nice reminder.

"I'll stay and help Cameron." Savannah said. "We'll finish up together."

There was a long silence.

Cameron knew Savannah was still sore from her impact wounds. She didn't want to put Savannah through more hardship.

"I'll return for repairs with Bob and Gail." Cameron said. "We'll need two vehicles anyway. Savannah will ride with me."

Savannah looked over at Jesse who watched everything.

Jesse nodded. It was clear Savannah knew how to deal with all of the Terminators.

John watched the body cam images and listened to the com traffic.

"I don't understand it." John said.

John Henry tilted his head slightly. He thought there was a lot John didn't understand. He wondered if John referred to something specific.

"What?" John Henry asked.

John didn't know how to say it other than to say it.

"I don't understand how Savannah has so much positive control over Cameron." John said. "Savannah seems to act like a part of Cameron's program that's - missing."

John Henry thought Savannah was a positive influence on everyone. He saw it a little deeper as well.

"Cameron loves Savannah." John Henry said. "Savannah loves Cameron."

John wasn't sure what it meant exactly. He thought he fell into the same category too. What was the difference? Maybe he didn't want to know.

"So do I." John said. "I think."

John Henry wondered about it. He thought 'physical attraction' and the 'person inside' a body were two different things.

"Which one of the two do you love?" John Henry asked.

John thought it was obvious. Maybe it wasn't. He did get sidetracked some. It made him think about some scenes from a movie he liked a lot.

"It's both of them, John Henry." John said. "I love both of them."

John Henry figured it was best to 'tow the line' Cameron laid out.

"It's the "Natural Order' Cameron has proclaimed." John Henry said.

John shook his head in disgust. He wondered about the lives Cameron stole from Savannah and Young Allison to do her bidding.

"You mean engineered, orchestrated, and manipulated." John said.

John Henry felt a little defensive for Cameron. He saw it for what it was. He wondered exactly who should take the 'blame' for John's interpretation of events. Should the blame be placed on Cameron's shoulders? Why was Cameron there? Who sent Cameron? Who established her protocols and directives? He didn't think Cameron was the one to blame.

"YOU sent her from the future." John Henry said. "It must be what YOU wanted…."

John didn't know if he hated Future John or should thank him. One thing was for certain, John sure hoped he never became the same version of himself. Now Savannah was on his mind. He really wanted her virginity. He wanted to be the 'first' for once and know it. Cameron did keep Savannah isolated from any males. He thought it was a good thing.

Cameron and Savannah rode together.

Savannah insisted she inspect Cameron again before they left. She wanted to make sure Cameron's damage wasn't worse than she said. Cameron wasn't always forthcoming with the facts. She explained to Cameron before she was to see her damage, no matter how bad it was or where it was. Cameron would always take her clothes off for Savannah to inspect her. It wasn't meant to be sexual, but it still radiated sexuality between them.

They stripped next to each other when they went swimming. They both looked at each other without looking. It was something all females did. They all liked to see how they 'compared' to other females. Maybe it was instinctual to want to know what the 'competition' would be. It was the same process most of the animals went through When selecting a mate. It was everything from mammals to insects who needed to go through some type of ritual, or event, to prove themselves.

Cameron finally spoke after they drove awhile.

"Savannah, I'm deeply sorry." Cameron said.

Savannah knew what was coming. She went over the same issues with Cameron before.

"Cameron, stop." Savannah said. "Please."

Cameron thought of a past event. She passed by Savannah's room when she was replaying the files she provided to her. They were the files of her two baby girls. She would often hear Savannah cry softly to herself. She wanted to go into her room and comfort her. Somehow it didn't seem like she should be the one to do it. She was the one who felt responsible for the children being where they were, and Savannah being where she was.

Instead she would start to glitch and need to go away. It hurt her deeply to know she hurt Savannah this way.

Savannah felt the vehicle swerve slightly and Cameron lowered her left hand to her side. She wanted to set things straight

"Cameron, you know I did what needed to be done for - myself." Savannah said. "I know I need to do it twice more as well, maybe more. It's something I can do. It's something I can do to help. Sometimes it's nice to have help."

Cameron cringed a little at Savannah's words. She felt it was all much more deeper than just 'help' for someone. She wanted Savannah to do things for John and her. She wanted Savannah to want what she wanted for her. She 'influenced' Savannah every way she knew how. She even 'conditioned' her at night as she slept.

Was she the one to blame? Was she just following her directives? Did she push her own personal agenda? She wondered if it was. Maybe everything really was her fault. What about all the promises she made Savannah make? Was it the right thing to do? Is it the right thing to do to anyone? She didn't think so. She needed to keep it together. Enough was enough. Savannah deserved better than what she wanted for her and from her.

"I'll never ask you to do it again." Cameron said. "I free you from EVERYTHING I've MADE you promise me."

Savannah saw it differently. She was aware of what Cameron did to 'direct' her. She made her own decisions. Even as a small girl she knew what she wanted. She may not have understood all of the details as to what would be involved with some of the promises, she agreed to the premise of the promise and what it meant.

"They're MY promises, Cameron." Savannah said. "I made them, not you."

Guilt and remorse began to flood Cameron. Were they Savannah's own decisions? Were they done on her own free will? She didn't think so. She was too heavily involved in what happened. She wanted to come clean.

"I MADE you make them." Cameron said. "I forced you to make them."

Savannah was very determined. She actually acted on her own to get pregnant the first time. She used the 'genetic material' Cameron supplied for Camille to use on Young Jesse. Cameron wasn't involved in the process at all. Cameron didn't even know what Young Jesse and her did on their own. Her original intent was to have a child and give it to Cameron and John as their own. She ended up giving it to Duplicate Vanna 'in some future'. She helped 'herself' in reality.

"I would make everyone of them again." Savannah said. "You can't stop me. In fact, it is time again…."

A sense of dread and fear began to overtake Cameron. Savannah deserved a better life. She didn't need to do the things she wanted her to do. It continued to weigh on her. It bothered her greatly.

"NO." Cameron said.

Savannah already planned out her next 'adventure'. She wanted to share it with Young Jesse and Cameron. She wanted something which would be less stressful for everyone involved. Maybe they could have some 'fun' and view it as a 'vacation' of sorts. It would be a way to get away from it all, even if it was for only a few months.

"I want to go into the past this time." Savannah said. "Young Jesse can go as well. I'd like her to be there. I want to spend eight months with you and her, and then come back and have the baby here."

Cameron could see about four things 'wrong' with the idea. She knew it wouldn't 'fly' if anyone got wind of it. She could also see there were a couple of individuals who weren't included in Savannah's proposal.

"What about Cammy and Camille, they'll miss both of you." Cameron said.

Savannah didn't see it as a problem. It shouldn't be a problem. If it was the choice of Young Jesse and her, how could it be a problem? It could all happen in a few hours time in the present while the eight month time period would actually happen in the past in real time. It wasn't an issue Cameron should stress out over. She believed it was a workable and viable proposal with a solid foundation. She didn't want to seem too serious.

"We can leave and come back before they even know we're gone." Savannah said. "They can change diapers when we return."

Cameron quickly looked at Savannah to see if she was joking or serious. She couldn't tell either way. She knew Savannah was very sexually active with all of the females. She secretly watched Savannah for hours before. Everything looked so loving and beautiful to her. She saw the way Savannah touched the others. it was different from the way they normally touched each other. Allison and Vanna did touch each other the same way, but not always. She knew it was the touch of love. She was still worried about the flak she would pick up from Cammy and Camille later on.

"I think they should go." Cameron said. "I don't want you to feel 'lonely'."

Savannah decided to 'offer' Cameron what she wanted, but was afraid to take.

"Unless you want to go with me - alone…." Savannah said. "It would be just the two of us. No one would know where we were or what we - did. We would only be gone from the base for a short time…. Nobody would know."

Cameron quickly looked at Savannah. She WANTED what Savannah indicated. She wanted to be alone with Savannah and feel nothing but love. She knew if she did it, she would never come back. She would stay with Savannah in the past, free from all they encountered in the present. They would have a child they could raise together. It would just be the three of them….

"Cameron, watch out." Savannah said.

Cameron drifted onto the shoulder of the road.

Savannah reached for the steering wheel.

Cameron quickly corrected herself.

"I'm sorry." Cameron said.

Savannah knew it was her 'fault'. She knew Cameron wanted what she 'offered'. She also knew Cameron was conflicted by her programming from the future. She didn't want to cause Cameron any more unnecessary stress.

"Forget I mentioned it." Savannah said. "I was just thinking…."

Savannah wanted to change the subject. She turned on the radio. The first channel was a broadcast about vitamins. It was just a sales pitch from some company. She figured if someone wanted to take vitamins, they would take vitamins. She adjusted the radio.

She reached over and took Cameron's right hand and held it tightly it in her own. She forced Cameron to return her left hand to the steering wheel. It was steady and firm, the glitch was gone. She knew what to do to 'help' Cameron.

'Hollywood Nights' by 'Bob Seger', softly flowed through the interior of the SUV.

At the end of the song Cameron looked at Savannah.

Cameron knew she was too far from - home.

"Savannah…." Cameron said. "I'll do whatever you want…."

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Taken Too Much

What does one offer to another
Maybe both are not on the same page
Sooner or later it seems
That will leave one in a rage

Their goal is never
To just be friends
Anyone who says that
Really only pretends

Each has something to offer
That's why they are both there
Nothing will ever happen
Until one of them takes a dare

When one gets what they want
They are ready to move on
What's now yesterday's news
Only makes one bored and yawn

When one doesn't let go
The other becomes a crutch
The way of life is such
When one's taken too much

Nobody