Chapter 577

Thank All Of Us

Savannah was appalled by what was missing from Cameron's sheath. Her legs were damaged. The area above them was damaged even more. There was nothing there but metal. The sheath was all torn away. Only a few pieces of sheath material were left. Everything on either side of the exposed metal looked like raw hamburger meat.

Cameron started to look down at herself but stopped. She already saw the area once. She didn't want to look again. She wanted Savannah to understand why it was her duty to step up and take her place at John's side.

"Savannah, you must promise me you'll take my place." Cameron said. "I mean now, starting today. John must be provided for. He'll need companionship. I can no longer provide for him as a female. It's now your function. I'm asking you to share yourself with him."

Cameron was very worried about Savannah's personal desires. She at least wanted Savannah to try it with John one time to see if it was what she would want going forward. She knew the sexual preference of every other Savannah Weaver was for females. She wanted to tell Savannah it would only take a few minutes for her to lay there every day for John. She could still have all of her female friends including Cammy.

Savannah took another look at the damaged area on Cameron. She understood Cameron's request to her. She thought about how close John was to taking her virginity the other day. She could still almost feel John bouncing around on the outside in his haste to 'bust' her. She really wished she would have been able to try it one time already. It wasn't the issue here and now. The issue was about repairing Cameron. She was very worried Cameron would self terminate if she were to step up now and be at John's side, as well as in his bed.

"Cameron, we can fix this." Savannah said. "You can use 'sections' off the other female Terminator."

Cameron knew John would have no choice at this point but to accept Savannah if the damage remained unrepaired. Too much material was missing. Some of it would heal but it would never be the same. There would only be some scarred sheath material there and nothing else. The area was simply gone and unrepairable. Her female anatomy was completely missing.

She didn't really care anymore. It was the excuse she was hoping would happen in some way. Damage or termination in combat was the best way. Now John could fulfill his destiny. The 'Natural Order' would be restored. She thought about canceling her 'gender' before. Now it was done. It was done to her in combat. It was a combat loss. It was damage inflicted on the battlefield. Everyone could accept it as battle damage. She didn't see it any different as someone losing a limb on the battlefield. There were always individuals who lost an arm or a leg during combat. She was aware some males lost other things as well. They would be incapable of reproduction after their injury because nothing was there either. She remembered the damage done to Holly's sheath. Hers would now be identical in the same area if she chose not to do anything else. It was time to move everyone's life forward. She made her decision.

"I don't know if I want to do it." Cameron said. "This was one of the few 'areas' where I still retained my original sheath. There will be little left of the original sheath at this point. I'm going to leave the damaged area as it is now. It will help John to 'move on'."

Savannah listened to Cameron. She was full of anger now. It was a switch from the pity she felt seconds ago. She walked over to Cameron and slapped her. It was a hard slap.

'SLAP'.

All three Terminators were stunned.

Savannah faced Cameron. She heard enough. She knew how things were. She knew how things needed to be. She wasn't going to get caught up in Cameron's world about what John needed and when. It wasn't about John. It wasn't about her. It was about Cameron.

"Stop this." Savannah said. "NOW…."

Cameron looked at Savannah with hurt in her eyes. Savannah 'hurt' her. It wasn't like Savannah. Savannah always supported her. Why would Savannah abandon her now?

"I…." Cameron started.

Savannah wanted to get some control over the situation. She knew Cammy and Cam both would have offered their chassis to Cameron already. She knew Ally would too and so would Camille for that matter. It wasn't about a functional sheath as a 'female'. It wasn't about a few simulated anatomical female organs. Cameron wanted her to be a leader and be like her. Well maybe it was time. Cameron said she possessed a certain amount of authority over all of the machines. It was time to see if it was true. It was time to think outside of the box, and she didn't mean the little one either. It was gone.

"You've been damaged before and repaired." Savannah interrupted. "You can use the TDE and 'replace' yourself before you enter the building. I'll run the TDE myself. Cammy has talked me through it a dozen times. I'll send you. CamNet will assist me. Nobody will know. You can't be extracted before the damage occurs. It will never happen to you when we use this procedure."

Those last words hit home. Cameron was sure Savannah chose them carefully. She considered it. She did it to save Holly from irreparable 'damage'. Her current damage was very much the same as the damage she inflicted on Holly's sheath when she was in control of Holly's chassis and her future. She knew they could have replaced significant sections of Holly or replace her chassis and given her a new body. She also knew the horror would live on in Holly's programming, in her mind forever. She fixed it too. For Holly, it actually never happened with temporal management. Holly never knew…. What Savannah just proposed was what she did for Holly.

There were other factors she needed to consider. She needed to think about John and the future. She needed to have John protected from assassination by the anti-Metal faction. She also wanted to push her agenda. She would consider asking Young Allison to step up. It would please John greatly. She was sure Savannah would step up rather than see Young Allison advance her timing to be at John's side. She knew it would be like holding a gun to Savannah's head to act in place of Young Allison. She could still achieve what she wanted. Wait. Where did all of this come from? No. She needed to move everyone's life forward.

"Savannah, I want John to move on…." Cameron said. "I wish to remain genderless."

Savannah promised to be with John. It was a promise. She loved Cameron. She wanted Cameron restored and whole. She wanted to share her love with Cameron. It was her desire. Love spoke louder than a promise. She wanted Cameron restored to how she was before any of the damage occurred. She would be able to keep it out of Cameron's mind if they used a temporal extraction.

"I don't care about John." Savannah said. "I want you the way you were. It's what I want."

Cameron could see she failed. She was a failure. She thought it would have been better if her power cell would have been damaged and exploded when she was in the clean room. It would all be over. She would be gone. Everyone would be better without her.

"I'm worthless, Savannah, I…." Cameron started.

Savannah didn't want to hear self-pity. She wanted Cameron to be the leader she was. She didn't like what Cameron said at all. She went to slap Cameron again.

Cameron's hand came up and stopped Savannah from hitting her in the face this time. She was surprised at what happened next.

Savannah anticipated it. Her other hand followed the first and made contact with the other side of Cameron's face. It was louder and harder.

'S L A P'.

Savannah was pleased she outflanked Cameron and made her point.

Cammy and Cam looked at each other but remained silent. It was clear Savannah wanted to remain in control of the conversation as well as the situation. They both knew Savannah could 'order' them to do, or not to do something. One thing they did know was Savannah wouldn't take either one of their chassis from them for Cameron. Maybe it was too early to make such an assumption.

Cameron knew Savannah wouldn't back down. Maybe she trained her too well…. It pleased her more than it displeased her over her current agenda. There weren't too many individuals who would stand up to her. She didn't believe anyone else would dare to strike her either. She was still a little surprised about Savannah's dominant behavior. It was aggressive, but it was well intentioned. She believed it would have a profound effect on a human. It did have an effect on her.

Savannah knew it was time to get tough. She possessed her own feelings too. What she felt mattered too. There were only so many things she could do to make a point. She knew she currently dealt with a very scary robot from the future. Cameron was a machine. She was human. She looked Cameron directly in her eyes as she spoke.

"I'll NEVER be with John unless you're restored to how you were before this incident. I'll never allow him to touch me." Savannah said to Cameron's face. "I swear it."

Cameron still held Savannah's wrist from when she tried to strike her face. She didn't hurt it, but immobilized it inches from her face where she stopped it. The other side still stung from the other hand which made contact. She scanned Savannah as well as she spoke.

Savannah faced Cameron. There was fire in her eyes. She needed to play hardball with Cameron. If she needed to alter some of her past promises to do it, so be it. Some things were more important than others. Besides, Cameron already freed her from her past promises from childhood. There were certain things she needed to stand up for.

"Scan me. I'm not bluffing." Savannah said. "I'm not lying. You know it. You KNOW I'll do as I say."

Cameron smiled faintly. Savannah spoke the truth. She was very determined and strong willed. It would serve well to hold John in 'check' in the future. It would also be a 'check' on her as well. It was what she wanted. Savannah clearly changed the dynamic of the conversation and what she thought was going to happen. Savannah would stand up to the enemy, including those within the Resistance.

"You play rough." Cameron said. "You play to win."

Savannah still faced Cameron. She wanted Cameron to scan her as she spoke.

"It's never over until I win." Savannah said.

Cameron knew Savannah learned it from her.

Cam and Cammy took it all in. They knew Savannah could 'order' all of them to do what she wanted to happen. It's not how things were being laid out. Savannah chose the hard way to do things. She chose the hard way because it was the right way.

Cameron released Savannah's wrist and gave her a hug. It was hard for her to believe how Savannah would always put her interests first over her own. If it wasn't an indication of love, she really didn't know what was.

"You're always looking out for me." Cameron said. "Even when I make poor decisions you're there to help me. Thank you."

Savannah thought her love should speak for itself. She loved Cameron dearly. It wasn't just about John and the future anymore. It should be about them at this point. It should be about all of them.

"I'll always look out for you, Cameron." Savannah said. "The 'Natural Order' mustn't be disrupted. We've both seen the 'Natural Order' in the future, YOUR future. It's the FOUR of us. It will be OUR future as well. I love you, Cameron. I do. Never forget it. My love is eternal. Sometimes when I protect you, I need to protect you from yourself. I think it's something all of us can experience at times. I may need your help one day."

Savannah looked at Cam and Cammy. There was some contempt in her stare. She didn't like the way things happened earlier. She didn't like their complicity in what Cameron proposed either.

"You two should be ashamed of yourselves." Savannah said. "I know you're both 'Cameron' so you think her behavior is 'normal'. Start thinking more like Vanna and me. Seek out the 'Future Allison' in your programming. Be more than what you think you need to be."

Cam and Cammy both tilted their heads slightly in the same direction.

"I'm sorry, Savannah." Cammy and Cam both said at the same time.

It was almost comical to Savannah, but she was stern. She wanted to make her point. She just loved the Metal girls.

"You should be." Savannah said.

Cam and Cammy both tilted their heads slightly in the other direction.

"I am, Savannah." Cammy and Cam both said at the same time, again.

Savannah thought it was a good time to remind them about what they all pounded into her head since she was a girl. For some reason it made her think about the first time she experienced her monthly cycle. She was schooled far beyond her years of age. She was well versed in human anatomy and what was necessary for reproduction.

She looked at the images of males and females. There were videos on the internet. Some things actually troubled her. Intercourse looked like an 'attack' on the female body more than anything to her. It was no wonder Vanna was repulsed by the act. She knew Vanna survived much worse. She knew she could too. She expected John to come and 'visit' her every night. It never happened. She really thought it was what would happen. Cameron showed more restraint than she thought she would. Why did she think about it right now? She needed to refocus.

"Start thinking about how all of your actions affect the rest of us, including ME." Savannah said. "It isn't about you or me. It's about the future. Everything WE do needs to protect the future."

Savannah looked at Cammy and Cam. It was time to get to work. Things didn't get done thinking about them.

"You two, gather sheath material of any kind from the deactivated Terminators. We're patching the exposed metal on Cameron for now." Savannah said. "Only what we need to do to get Cameron patched up to use the TDE."

They all started to get to work. In a short time, Cameron's exposed metal was covered.

Savannah thought it reminded her of a doll she once played with. It was female in the torso appearance but genderless elsewhere. It always bothered her because the doll was different from her. Why did she have something different there in the doll didn't? She figured it was a question a lot of females asked themselves when they changed the clothes on the doll.

John previously asked John Henry to inform him of Cameron's whereabouts if it changed. He didn't want her back in combat right away.

The change was sooner than either of them expected.

"Cameron's leaving the base." John Henry said.

John sat up in his chair.

"Who else is with her?" John asked.

John Henry was pleased to see one person with Cameron.

"Savannah and Cammy are." John Henry said. "Cam has returned to Vanna."

John was glad Savannah was with her. He wanted to know what they were up to. He knew CamNet possessed the same information they did. He didn't want to get outmaneuvered.

"Where are they going?" John asked. "Did they 'make' our targets?"

John Henry sensed a lot of apprehension between them.

"I don't think so." John Henry said. "They both look upset."

John wondered what it was all about. Cameron was usually 'happy' when she was around Savannah. At least she seemed happier around Savannah then she did in his presence. He was sure there was something wrong. Whatever happened in the lab, neither John Henry nor him weren't able to hear or listen to it. He thought some personal intervention was necessary.

"I'm going to check on them." John said.

John Henry could only picture things taking a turn for the worse based on past practice.

"I'd advise against it." John Henry said.

John frowned. He still wanted to know what they were up to.

"Maybe…." John said. "Can you track them?"

John Henry didn't want to have CamNet 'lean' on him.

"I only can if Cameron allows it." John Henry said.

John realized he was more worried about Savannah. He was used to Cameron's follies, sort of. There never seemed to be an end to them.

"Great." John said. "She's pushing Savannah real hard. Cameron may not need to rest or sleep, but Savannah does."

John Henry saw it all for what it was or what it actually evolved into.

"Cameron's function is to protect the future and you. It seems Savannah's function is to protect Cameron, you, and the future." John Henry said.

John was displeased to hear it framed In such a way.

"Who told you such a thing?" John asked. "Was it Cameron?"

John Henry was as surprised as John was when Savannah told him. She was still very young at the time.

"No, Savannah did." John Henry said. "It was years ago."

John always expected to find Savannah in his bed. It never happened. It seemed Cameron showed a little more restraint than he thought she would. He could have visited Savannah's room, or any of the girls. He never did. He was sure his mother would have flipped once she found out about it. He didn't realize Cameron actually left the choice up to them. It seemed like the right thing for her to do. He needed to push the thoughts from the past out of his head. What happened now is what mattered.

"Beautiful. Try to track them." John said. "They're up to something."

John Henry tilted his head slightly.

"When isn't Cameron up to something?" John Henry asked.

John thought about it for a short while.

"Never…." John said. "It's her 'M O'. It's how she operates."

They were both more worried about Savannah than Cameron. They didn't know what the real story was at all. It was probably a good thing.

Savannah was pleased to be at Cameron's base. She liked to interact with Cameron's Terminators. They really seemed to like to interact with her. She treated them like 'people'. They felt they mattered in her presence.

Cameron watched the interaction and it pleased her. All of her Terminators were loyal to Savannah by choice. It was what she wanted. Savannah knew how to deal with both the machines and the humans. She was the perfect specimen. No. She wasn't a specimen. Savannah was herself.

She went over the controls and settings of the TDE with Savannah. Once she identified the specific time and coordinates. Savannah was able to do everything else on her own.

Savannah decided to send 'damaged Cameron' first, but to have her arrive after 'undamaged Cameron' from the timeline departed. She didn't want Cameron to 'see' herself. She didn't want either Cameron to see herself. They couldn't know what was happening with each other. It was really with themselves.

Cammy worked on a program with Cameron so she wouldn't know she was damaged, and not even know she was replaced. Everything forward from the moment of her arrival would be erased. It would all play out again as it had since it already happened. Cameron wouldn't know she was genderless until after she received the damage. When she was damaged, there was actually nothing there but solid sheath material to cover the metal.

Savannah remembered the 'electric' sound the cowardly security guard reported. He said he heard it twice. It was exactly what they were about to do. It gave her confidence they were about to do the right thing. In fact, they already did it, even if she hadn't done it yet.

It was Showtime.

Cammy moved a blank faced Cameron onto the TDE pad.

Earlier:

Prior to the attack:

Cameron was on her way to meet up with her Terminator. She was at the installation where the HK Tracks Cammy sabotaged ended up at. It appeared they did what they were programmed to do.

As she neared a deep part of the dry wash, she saw an energy bubble appear. She could see it was empty. She knew it was for an emergency extraction from the future. She didn't know how far in the future it was. She immediately dropped her weapons and entered it. She knew if a time bubble appeared, she or anyone else was to enter it.

As Cameron departed she saw another time bubble begin to appear. There was someone in the other one. She didn't see who before she transferred. She didn't make the correlation about Holly at the time, and what happened in her future.

When 'damaged Cameron' arrived, she was programmed to 'forget' everything which happened to her before this moment in time once she was dressed. She was also programmed not to know she was damaged. As the damage reoccurred during the battle, it's all she would know or remember.

Temporal management solved the 'problem'.

Maybe it was one problem it solved.

Would it create another?

The arcing and flashing started on the TDE pad at Cameron's base. When it was done, Cameron knelt there. Her naked body was beautiful and undamaged. She looked like a nude super model.

Cameron saw Savannah at the controls of the TDE with Cammy behind her. She saw Savannah's face light up as she stood.

Savannah moved around the TDE controls and gave Cameron a long hug. Cameron hugged her back. Savannah finally let go and stepped back.

Savannah resisted the urge to touch the 'parts' on Cameron which were once again there. She looked forward to the day when she would see them as they made love for the first time. She would wait.

Cameron knew right away something was up. Savannah at the controls of the TDE said a lot.

"What did I miss?" Cameron asked.

Savannah looked at Cameron's perfect nude figure.

"Nothing…." Savannah said.

Cameron pictured the worst case scenario. Savannah wouldn't take such drastic action unless something catastrophic occurred. She thought of the most catastrophic event.

"Was I terminated?" Cameron asked.

Cammy spoke too quickly.

"No." Cammy said.

Cameron frowned. She needed to know more.

"Do you have any files for ME?" Cameron asked.

Savannah looked at Cameron's face. She didn't want Cameron to know all the details.

"NO." Savannah said. "I'll brief you on what happened. You will be told what you need to know."

Cameron wanted to know more. She wasn't sure yet how much time she lost.

"I want my files." Cameron said.

Savannah knew when to stand firm. She might need to push her 'weight' around more.

"You're not getting them." Savannah said.

Cameron looked at Savannah. She knew Savannah wanted to do what she thought was best for her. It also told her something 'bad' must have happened.

Cammy was to fill in most of the 'missing time' for Cameron.

"You'll be given all relevant data and information." Cammy said. "You'll know most of what happened. It's all the information I've been instructed to give you."

Cameron knew she was the one who made the rules and gave the orders.

"Whose order is it?" Cameron asked.

Savannah looked into Cameron's eyes. It was time to do what was right.

"It's MY order." Savannah said. "You'll know of all the events except a few 'details'."

Cameron remembered her orders to all the Terminators. It was any order from Savannah, was the same as if she gave the order herself. She also remembered Savannah could counter any order from her. Savannah was to have the final say in any order.

Savannah couldn't control her emotions much longer. She was so pleased to see Cameron restored back to her normal self. It touched her deeply inside.

Cameron could see Savannah holding back her tears. She didn't want to push her.

"You're here now, Cameron. The timeline hasn't been disrupted." Savannah said. "I ask you to leave it at that. It is MY order to ALL of you."

Cameron knew Savannah was reluctant to actually issue an 'order'. She knew it was something very important to Savannah. It was to be used very wisely and with extreme discretion.

Savannah ordered both Cam and Cammy to erase the files with the damage they saw done to Cameron.

Nobody would ever know but Savannah.

It was the same thing Cameron did for Holly.

Nobody knew.

A short time ago:

John Henry needed to be careful what he reported. He didn't know any details.

"Cameron's base is running their TDE." John Henry said.

John was sure he knew what it meant.

"Great. They're trying to 'fix' something." John said.

John Henry thought about the last Terminator to receive repairs. It was Cameron.

"It's most likely." John Henry said.

John tried to call Cameron, Savannah, and Cammy. No one answered.

"They are running it a second time." John Henry said.

John could only imagine the worst.

"This is getting better by the minute." John said.

After a few minutes John's phone rang.

"Did you call me?" Cameron asked. "I was busy."

John was more than surprised.

"Are you OK?" John asked. "Is everyone OK?"

Cameron was undamaged currently.

"Yes, I'm fine." Cameron said. "So is everyone else. I'll be by to see you soon, we can talk more then."

Cammy gave Cameron all the relevant files of the battle and events.

Cameron looked around.

"I want all my files." Cameron whispered to Cammy.

Cammy was under orders from Savannah to restrict the information.

"You have all the information you need." Cammy whispered.

Savannah heard Cameron. She didn't think it was an accident. Cameron and Cammy could communicate at a decibel level she couldn't hear.

"Stop whispering. Maybe I'll have to start threatening to deactivate Terminators myself." Savannah said. "Let's go."

Savannah took hold of a hand from both Cameron and Cammy as they departed.

"Thank you, Savannah." Cameron said.

Savannah didn't think it was too big of a deal. It actually seemed like an easy fix. Maybe it was too easy.

"Thank ALL of us." Savannah said. "It was a team effort."

Cameron and Cammy looked at each other as they walked.

They both knew Savannah was truly the 'Chosen One'.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Thank All Of Us

Once the magic wears off
What's actually left
If it's nothing more than sex
It's little more than theft

To what once was 'everything'
What was the real attraction
Was it an addition
Or actually a subtraction

Maybe it's the question
That all soon ponder
It's the start and catalyst
That makes them wander

Some think twice
They put on the brakes
That doesn't really change
Any of their many mistakes

Such is the way of life
There's no need to make a fuss
Do we blame each other
Or thank all of us

Nobody