Chapter 641

Risky Odds

Savannah discussed everything with Cameron. She was ready to see the specialist and have Vanna's embryo implanted. There was still a big chance it wasn't going to work. If it didn't, she would use her own genetic material and tell Vanna it was her embryo from her body. In reality it really was, since they were the same person. She knew Vanna wouldn't take a baby from her otherwise. She wanted to help Vanna. She really was helping 'herself'.

Claire already did the embryo transplant for Allison. It was her second time. They were all afraid of losing Allison and have her leave to go into Cameron's future to be with 'her' baby.

Cameron or Cammy scanned Savannah every day. They knew when her body would be the most receptive. It would be her first time as a surrogate. It would be her third pregnancy.

"Cameron, I'm ready to go." Savannah said. "You said it needed to be today for the best results."

Cameron frowned. She wanted to be there this time. Skynet got in the way.

"Cammy will take you to the specialist." Cameron said. "I'm sorry I can't go with you."

Savannah was very disappointed. She wanted Cameron to be part of the process this time. She wanted to make her desire clear.

"Why aren't you going?" Savannah asked. "I want you to be there."

Cameron was updated by CamNet a short time ago. There was new information.

"Something has come up." Cameron said.

Savannah was highly disappointed. Vanna would need to wait. She needed to assist Cameron. It was her function.

"I'll go with you." Savannah said. "We can do everything next month."

Savannah turned to get her gear.

Cameron could see things seemed to fall apart fast. The doctors would be waiting for Savannah. Everything was supposed to be all set.

"NO. You need to see the specialist as scheduled." Cameron said. "It's very important. They'll have everything ready for you."

Savannah knew it was important. Whatever Cameron needed to do instead must be even more important. She didn't like Cameron to be alone.

"OK, I'll see the specialist as scheduled." Savannah said. "When everything is done, I'm going with you."

Cameron felt there was too much risk for Savannah. Vanna's embryo may be delicate.

"I can't allow it." Cameron said. "Vanna's depending on you."

Savannah felt her body was strong. There was very little change in the beginning. The morning sickness would come later on.

"This is nothing new to me. I've been through this twice before." Savannah said. "I need to accompany you. You know this."

Cameron wanted Savannah to rest. She would make sure she wasn't alone on the mission.

"I'll be careful." Cameron said. "I'll take Bob with me."

Savannah wanted Cameron with plenty of backup. The close calls they experienced over the last few weeks dictated otherwise.

"It's not enough. I want more Terminators with you." Savannah said. "You should have more help."

Cameron didn't want Savannah to back out of the procedure or to go with her into the danger zone.

"I'll take a team." Cameron said. "Here comes Cammy. I asked her to take you in my place. I apologize again for the disruption with the plan."

Cameron hugged Savannah close. She didn't want to let go.

"This means a lot to me." Cameron said. "It'll mean a lot to Vanna too."

Savannah didn't want to make a big deal about it.

"Have you told Vanna yet?" Savannah asked.

Cameron was worried about the viability of Vanna's embryo. She did want Vanna to be able to act as the mother in every other way.

"I haven't told her the specifics. She doesn't know yet what we, l mean YOU, are doing for her." Cameron said. "I've already started hormone treatments for Vanna and Jesse. They will both be able to nurse. Vanna thinks she's going to try again herself. I don't want her to try to interfere with our plans to assist her. You know how stubborn some people can be."

Savannah thought the last part of Cameron's statement was very telling.

"Who would know better than you about anyone being stubborn?" Savannah asked.

There was a sad look on Cameron's face.

"Nobody…." Cameron said.

Savannah was a little surprised about one aspect of what Cameron indicated. She knew Young Jesse wanted a traditional conception for Jesse's baby. It would serve two purposes to use the traditional method. Young Jesse wanted to get 'popped' for real. She wanted to share her virginity with John. The conception would be created out of love. Maybe she changed her mind.

She was sure Vanna and Jesse would make the most use of their nursing breasts once the hormones kicked in. She wondered if Vanna's breasts would be as large as hers were with the different method.

Savannah wasn't sure how descriptive she should get about Young Jesse's desires. They were actually very personal.

"Young Jesse hasn't informed me yet." Savannah said. "I'm surprised. There were several things she wanted taken care of at the same time."

Cameron wanted Young Jesse to have some more time.

"It's still in the process." Cameron said. "I don't want to push her. It's just another piece of the puzzle to have, in case it needs to be played. I won't hinder anything else she wants to do…."

Savannah was fairly certain what Cameron indicated was a 'traditional conception' for Young Jesse with John. She wanted to be with Young Jesse again. She missed their shared love.

"I'll talk to her." Savannah said. "I can go there or you can bring her here."

Cameron could feel Savannah's desire. She would need to have Jesse and Sheila make themselves more 'available' to Savannah. It wasn't the same thing, but should tame the desire some. She knew both of them would be willing to spend all of their time with Savannah if they could. Everything needed to be done with moderation to prevent other problems from developing.

"Either one of those can be arranged." Cameron said. "We don't need to rush anything."

Savannah understood what Cameron wanted to prevent. If Allison really wanted to be with her baby, Cameron would allow her to go.

"I know we're doing it this way so we don't lose Allison and Vanna." Savannah said. "I don't want to lose them either."

Cameron believed Savannah could reach Allison on a different level. She would even encourage them to be a pair all of the time. Vanna seemed happy with Jesse, for now anyway.

"Maybe you can 'comfort' Allison." Cameron said. "You seem to offer her something Vanna can't."

Savannah wasn't sure what it meant. She knew Cameron meant more than her youth. Maybe it was because she lacked the 'baggage' Vanna carried. Maybe it was her love.

"I will." Savannah said. "It's if she's up to it. Young Allison has told me Allison is very depressed."

Cameron didn't want Savannah to get sidetracked on the 'wrong' Allison, but she didn't want to lose Allison either. She knew every Allison wanted to be with Savannah. It was her desire as well. She wanted the relationship with Young Allison to get started and expand. It was what the 'Natural Order' needed. There was no reason Savannah couldn't be with both of them at the same time.

"Do you speak with Young Allison often?" Cameron asked.

Savannah felt she was an open book.

"I speak with everyone. You already know it." Savannah said. "I know CamNet monitors everything. CamNet knows everything I do and who I do it with."

Savannah felt it was the same for everyone. She did believe she received a little extra 'oversight' by CamNet.

Cameron used to monitor everything Savannah did. Once Savannah became sexually active she wanted to give her space and opportunity. She wanted as much love or pleasure as possible for Savannah.

"She does." Cameron said. "I don't invade your privacy, not any longer anyway. I don't want to influence your personal happiness in any way."

Savannah wasn't so sure about it. She knew Cameron even used to know when she pleasured herself. Vanna told her one day to 'push it' some more. She did the next time and achieved her first 'finish'. She always stopped when there was 'too much feeling' before. She was very young at the time too. Vanna told her years later Cameron didn't think she knew how to finish to the full extent of her female anatomy. It was an awkward conversation. She was pleased to learn how to really finish though. She learned the multiple finishes later on. It was still a surprise Cameron didn't know everything she did.

"You don't?" Savannah asked.

She almost said, 'you used too'. She didn't want to cause any additional problems for Cameron. She let it slide.

Cameron knew she needed to step back so Savannah could 'grow'. She didn't want her hampered with all of the 'hang ups' John was 'afraid' of. She felt his stunted sexual development was her fault. Future John never was without plenty of females until Future Allison, and then Future Savannah, were with him. He found he liked love better than sex. It was why Future Allison's 'loss' affected him so deeply. It was what he tried to replace with her. It didn't work.

She was a cyborg. She was only capable of following commands. Her programming still needed time to develop so it could further emulate a human female. It did start to develop eventually. The anti-Metal faction grew more restless in the meantime. They put more pressure on Future John about the 'machines' surrounding him. The main inference was her. They were termination threats made against him and her. Maybe if her programming wouldn't have developed as quickly as it did, it wouldn't have been as big of a traumatic event to her when they were separated. She didn't want to leave Future John. He didn't want to 'send her away'. He did.

Cameron felt she was slipping. She was starting down a narrow path she didn't want to go on right now. She needed to refocus. The thing she wanted most was right in front of her. It was Savannah. She didn't want to infringe on anything Savannah did.

"No." Cameron said. "I care for you too much, Savannah. I don't want to intrude or hurt you. I never interfere with anything you do."

Savannah knew Cameron encouraged her to share and explore. Cameron did facilitate everything she desired, especially on a sexual level. Cameron always told her she should feel as much love as possible.

"I don't hide anything from anyone." Savannah said. "I'm not ashamed of anything I've done or anyone I've been with. Age doesn't matter to me. The person does."

Savannah never really thought about it in terms of age. Young Jesse was the only one around her same age she was with. All of the other females were older. Well, not all of them, the two teenagers who helped out in Cameron's future were a little younger than her. She was able to teach both of them a lot.

They were both very curious about her unblemished body. Her skin was very smooth. There were no sores or ulcers on it. One day she saw them kissing each other. She wasn't surprised. It was the way of the future, all futures. She could tell they loved each other. She wondered how far things may have progressed between them. She made some noise outside of the room to give them a chance to separate before she entered. They still sat side by side and held hands as she did.

She asked them if there was anything she could assist them with. They looked at each other and then back at her. She told them she would tell them anything they wanted to know and be completely honest about it, whatever it was. They ended up discussing her sexual life. She was very honest and open with them about it.

They were both surprised to find out she was still a virgin, especially since she was pregnant for the second time. She explained to them how it was done and why. They told her she was the 'oldest' virgin they knew about. Both of them became 'women' years ago. It wasn't their choice. She told them things were different in the past. They were predators out there, but not like in the future.

They both asked if they could be with her. She was very excited at the prospect. She told them she wanted to be with each of them alone the first time. If everything worked out for everyone, the three of them could be together at the same time. It was how things developed. It soon expanded into further exploration with Future Allison, Future Savannah, and Claire. At some point Ginger-Cameron, Holly and Holly-Hanna became involved. Cameron knew about all of it. Sometimes she wondered if Cameron didn't orchestrate it all. Cameron was the one who recruited them to become 'wet nurses' with hormone treatments.

Savannah knew she was drifting. It was easy to do sometimes. Some events from the past could become so overwhelming when they were thought about. It applied to bad things as well as good things. She refocused on her conversation with Cameron.

Cameron wanted Savannah to have as much freedom and choice as possible.

"I'll only ever be notified if CamNet detects a problem or an emergency." Cameron said. "It's all I'll know. The call would only be listened to if I needed to protect you. You know what I want for John and you. It won't hurt me either. I want you to have the best of everything."

Savannah hugged Cameron again.

"I love you, Cameron." Savannah said.

Cameron hugged her a little harder.

"I love you, Savannah." Cameron said.

Savannah saw Cammy remained out of the way of their conversation. She didn't think Cammy was as 'hands off' as Cameron was now. She tried to involve herself in all her affairs. She understood Cammy was 'worried' she would be 'replaced' with someone 'better'. She reassured Cammy all the time it wouldn't happen. She needed to deal with the issues at hand.

"I'll go with Cammy now and see Allison later on." Savannah said. "I'm sorry if I was rude earlier."

Cameron always appreciated Savannah's openness and honesty.

"I always want you to say what needs to be said. Sometimes I need to be reminded other people have feelings too, not just me." Cameron said. "I always want you to help me with it. John will need your help too. You won't be the only one who helps us either."

It was clear the implication was about Young Allison as well.

Savannah felt everyone, including her, needed a reality check once in a while.

"We all need to be reminded of things at times." Savannah said. "Nobody is perfect."

Cameron wanted to keep her promise to Savannah. She called Bob and requested his assistance. He said he was on his way.

Bob met up with Cameron. He looked around.

"Where's Savannah?" Bob asked.

Bob thought for sure Savannah would be there to go with Cameron.

Cameron wanted to keep things simple.

"She's working on a special assignment." Cameron said. "Only she can do it. It's being done in secrecy by her request, and mine too."

Bob thought the last part narrowed down the choices.

"I understand." Bob said.

Cameron wanted to keep things quiet. She didn't know what would happen. She honestly didn't think things would play out until the end. It was OK. There was a backup plan in place if it needed to be used. Nobody would know the truth. It was to be something special.

"Nobody needs to know about it yet." Cameron said. "I've been informed of several Skynet leads.

Bob would have expected a bigger team.

"Is it just us?" Bob asked.

Cameron didn't want to get stretched too thin. Things were just supposed to start out as a reconnaissance. It wasn't supposed to get overly complicated and turn into combat immediately.

"No, we'll be joined by more Terminators." Cameron said. "We'll be working at two separate locations."

Bob received a burst transmission from the Command Center. He was given all the information.

"John Henry's filled me in." Bob said.

Cameron was worried about the HK drones which were sent to attack the mine.

"We'll look for where the armed drones came from first." Cameron said. "It's the biggest threat."

Bob was unsure of the location. He decided to bring some insurance with them.

"Where are we going to go?" Bob asked. "I have two 'Stingers'."

Cameron wasn't sure. There wasn't a specific address they could go to.

"We only have an area to search in." Cameron said. "Sheila and Ally will meet us."

Bob was impressed to watch the Metal girls work to get the team out at the mine.

"They worked very hard on the rescue." Bob said.

Cameron knew Bob led the rescue effort.

"So did you. I thank you." Cameron said. "It could've ended worse. All of us made it because of your efforts and leadership. I know if everything happened a little slower, we wouldn't have been at the point we were when we needed to get out. We would all be in the bottom of the canyon with millions of tons of earth and rocks on top of us."

They both knew if it would have happened the way Cameron indicated, Savannah wouldn't have survived for multiple reasons.

Bob saw them as the 'heart' of the Resistance. He felt his efforts were the same as they would have been for any other Resistance Terminators. Maybe there were a little extra personal ideas behind it.

"With both Savannah and you 'missing', it put a scare into all of us." Bob said. "John, Savannah, and you are the motivating forces which help drive us."

Cameron believed it reinforced what she said all along.

"It's the 'Natural Order' asserting itself." Cameron said. "I'm only the place holder for Young Allison."

Cameron knew John needed the 'comfort' her sheath could offer him, well, certain specific 'parts' of it anyway. She wanted the human girls to assist her.

Bob was in Cameron's future for a few months. He seemed to have more than a few missing files from then. He did have plenty of other files.

"I've been to your future." Bob said. "I saw the real 'Natural Order' first hand."

Cameron felt some events happened by accident or chance.

"I don't know if it's valid." Cameron said. "The TDE malfunction created the dilemma."

Bob was sure some things would've happened anyway.

"It was meant to be, or it wouldn't be." Bob said. "If your Duplicate wasn't there, you'd have a clone there. It would still be you, even if it wasn't. You know what I mean."

Cameron frowned slightly.

"I do know, even if I don't." Cameron said.

Bob witnessed the attraction between Cameron and Future Allison. He believed it was where the real connection existed.

"You wouldn't have made a clone for Future John, but you would've for Future Allison." Bob said. "We both know this."

Cameron felt as much love as she did guilt.

"Every Allison is special." Cameron said. "I owe her, all of them. Let's go."

Bob and Cameron headed out. Bob drove a large van with all the 'hardware' he brought along.

Cameron looked in the back of the van. She was a little surprised at everything she could see.

"We have a lot of weapons." Cameron said. "Is there something I missed?"

Bob didn't like being under gunned.

"After the 'mine incident', I don't want to take any chances." Bob said. "John asked me to look after you. I wanted to make sure there were weapons for every contingency we could run into on this operation. Skynet equipment must be taken very seriously because of its destructive nature. We know there are groups out there with HK drones, HK Tracks, and HK Treads. We will be ready for all of them."

Cameron believed it was her function to look after the others, not the other way around.

"I don't need looking after." Cameron said.

Bob said nothing. The silence said it all. They both knew Savannah helped and 'saved' Cameron several times.

"I don't think it's always the case." Bob said.

Cameron thought about some of her close calls.

"Sometimes it's nice to have help." Cameron said.

Bob nodded.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

John was aware Cameron was going after the possible location of the armed HK drones which came to attack them. He wanted to do his part. He didn't like all the risk to fall on Cameron's back. It also fell on Savannah's back by extension. They almost lost Cameron's team more than once. The team really ended up in a situation where they needed outside help to get out of it.

He would let Cameron deal with the direct threat. He wanted to deal with the other threat which seemed a little less deadly. It still needed to be dealt with. He didn't want to take away any resources from Cameron to do it.

"I want to go to the location of the HK drone which did the recon on us. I want to go to where it came from." John said.

John Henry knew there were already teams set up to deal with everything. Cameron already arranged more help than normal. He knew she didn't want John out in the field. If he was, she wanted to accompany him personally. He would try to talk John down first. It usually didn't do much good.

"I don't think it's a good idea." John Henry said.

John was supposed to be the leader. He wanted to lead.

"But you know I'm still going to do it anyway." John said.

John's move seemed premature to John Henry. They needed more information. It was my everything was a recon instead of an assault.

"We don't even have a location or target." John Henry said.

John wanted to be close when they did.

"I feel I need to do more." John said.

John Henry thought some events were out of John's control.

"Is it because of the 'mine incident'?" John Henry asked.

John was afraid they lost everyone several times.

"Yes." John said. "I felt so helpless, it's a wonder any of them survived."

John Henry was able to see Cameron pull off events of a similar nature more than a few times. He thought about what Savannah always said. Cameron was invincible. Cameron was eternal. With Duplicate version of her, and her various clones, it was true in more ways than one.

"Cameron has a way of doing it." John Henry said. "I mean surviving."

They both knew Savannah played a role in many of those 'saves'.

"It still bothers me because Young Allison could have been hurt when they were inadvertently caught up in the opening stage of the operation. They were out doing what should be MY job."

John Henry understood the future.

"It's their destiny." John Henry said.

John saw it as manipulation.

"No." John said. "It's Cameron's doing. She's making their destiny and future for them."

John Henry possessed files. He even visited a future himself.

"John, the future has already happened." John Henry said.

John changed the future by accident.

"No. 'A future' has happened…." John said. "It doesn't have to be this future."

John Henry understood Cameron needed more personal 'interaction'.

"John, you must allow Cameron to continue to 'grow'." John Henry said. "You know she needs 'more'."

John was more than willing to see Cameron share with the girls. He would even like to watch them. He didn't think he should mention it to anyone. He was sure if it happened with Cameron in the girls, he would see it at some point. If he was lucky, he would be a part of it.

"I do know she needs more." John said. "I'm not stopping her from 'expanding'. I believe I've done what I can to encourage it."

John Henry believed Cameron waited for John to 'expand' first.

"You need to expand with her." John Henry said.

John didn't care for the current nature of the conversation. It seemed to have changed directions rapidly on him. It seemed like it was best to try to keep some distance and not get wrapped up in a discussion he didn't want to have.

"I don't know." John said.

John Henry checked his monitors.

"Cameron's found something." John Henry said.

John sat up. It was way sooner than he expected to hear anything. He wondered if Cameron actually knew more going in than they were led to believe.

"Does she have all her help there yet?" John asked.

John Henry thought the hit on the location happened earlier than anticipated. He hadn't expected it either

"She only has some of it." John Henry said.

John saw it as bad news. Cameron wasn't known for waiting things out. She was all about action.

"You know she won't wait if she thinks she has a target. She acts." John said.

John Henry knew Cameron calculated the risks. It seemed she was willing to gamble a little more than others would be willing to do.

"If she calculates a forty percent chance of success, she takes it." John Henry said.

John wanted a higher threshold of success. He immediately thought of the 'glass' being half full, or half empty analogy.

"It's a sixty percent chance of failure." John said. "What kind of odds are those?"

John Henry felt Cameron was very skillful.

"They're long odds. They're risky odds." John Henry said. "They're the kind of odds Cameron likes."

John didn't like long odds. They were too risky. He wanted additional personnel dispatched immediately.

"Send more help her way." John said.

John Henry knew Cameron previously set things in motion.

"She's already made arrangements." John Henry said.

John was visibly angry. He wanted Cameron to have help now.

"That's it." John said. "I'm heading out."

John Henry saw it for the bad idea it was.

"You'll disrupt Cameron." John Henry said. "It will take her off of her game as she worries about you. She'll send all her help to protect you. She will end up with less help if you carry out your rash action."

John wanted more help anyway.

"Organize a team to send to the other location." John said.

John slipped a piece of paper with the words, 'Follow Me', on it to John Henry.

"I'm going to make a 'pit stop'." John said. "You can take care of what you needed to do earlier while I'm gone."

John got up and headed for the restroom.

John Henry soon followed from a different direction.

"Once you get a team assembled, I'm slipping out to join them." John said. "This way we won't alert CamNet or cause Cameron any additional worries."

John Henry didn't think anyone would be fooled for long.

"She'll find out soon enough." John Henry said. "The body cam footage is all monitored."

John felt the need to act.

"I have to do MORE." John said.

John Henry wanted some 'cover'.

"I'll set it up." John Henry said. "YOU must ORDER me to do so."

John knew how Cameron threatened all of the other Terminators. He didn't want to cause any problems for anyone else because of his actions.

"I order you to set it up." John said. "I don't want Cameron to deactivate you.''

John Henry was sure he was just dealt some risky odds. He wanted Cameron protected too.

"It may still happen anyway." John Henry said. "I'll set it up. Be ready to move in fifteen minutes."

John was sure things wouldn't play out smoothly. He still needed to do what he thought was right. He was worried about Cameron. He didn't want Savannah to have to do what should be his job either. It was time to face the risky odds. He rolled the dice.

"Thanks." John said. "It's a go."

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Risky Odds

When two people first meet
There may be an instant connection
Most often there seems little hope
That defies any detection

Sometimes only one feels it
They need to work real hard
They must reach inside the other
They hope they don't get charred

One often wants more
Than the other wants to share
They must take a leap of faith
To proceed becomes a dare

Sometimes things will work out
No one knows for how long
If the love and trust are there
Things can develop and grow strong

More often than not
One only sees other's facades
Lust is not caring or love
It makes going forward risky odds

Nobody