Chapter 654

Metal Escort

Cammy was in the low desert with Steve doing recon. She needed to ride the aerial tramway, or cable car, up to the top of the nearby mountain. The cable car terminal wouldn't open for a few hours. She wanted to check and see what Savannah was doing. She now questioned her decision to go on the recon and not stay with Savannah.

She was upset Cameron 'pushed' Savannah and John together. She wanted Savannah to make her own decisions and not feel obligated to fulfill childhood promises forced out of her by Cameron. She debated more than once whether or not to tell Savannah the truth about what she thought were her own 'desires'.

Savannah was always 'conditioned' while she slept. It went on from the beginning. It wasn't really brainwashing, but a form of 'education'. The same thing happened with Young Allison and Summer too. In fact it happened to all the human females at the Young residence. Claire and Allison were both being 'conditioned' at night as well.

Cammy tried to check the security feeds at the Resistance base. They ended with Savannah wearing a dress and turning John's door handle to his room. Everything else was erased. She checked with CamNet to see what she might have. CamNet didn't have anything either.

It was very odd. It was as if someone wanted to cover something up. She checked to see who erased the files.

Cammy's phone rang. She was disgusted when she saw who the call was from.

"What are you looking for?" Cameron asked.

Cammy was very displeased it was Cameron on the other end of the line. She was sure the conversation would take on a very negative overtone from the start. She motioned for Steve to cut his audio input. There was no need to involve him in the unpleasantness Cameron was sure to unleash.

Steve silently nodded.

Now Cammy would need to deal with the Bitch. The Bitch knew what she was looking for. It was why she called her to ask the idiotic question. She didn't feel like wasting time with another song and dance routine with Cameron.

"What do you think?" Cammy asked. "Were just waiting around for me to look or did your lap dog inform you?"

Cameron wanted Cammy to suffer some. She didn't intend to let her know the truth until she returned. Her clone was a thorn in her side. She didn't like everything she was able to share with Savannah. She never should have created her in the first place. Now it was time to make her 'sweat'.

"You've seen all you need to see." Cameron said. "Deal with it."

Cammy knew what she saw. She knew she didn't see enough to think it was true. She might have believed it more if she would have seen Savannah actually open the door, look in both directions, enter the room, and close the door behind her.

"I don't believe it." Cammy said. "It's why you needed to cut things short. Maybe the whole thing is some AI rendition you dreamed up. How often does Savannah wear a dress?"

Cameron didn't feel like playing games with Cammy. She was pretty much fed up with her and her negative disposition. It was time Cammy got out of the way and accepted the 'Natural Order'. She regretted ever creating Cammy in the first place. She only did it so Savannah could satisfy her sexual needs to their fullest.

She wondered is she should have just brought Young Jesse from Australia to the Resistance base full time. The only reason why she hadn't done it was because she didn't want to spoil Savannah's future relationship with Young Allison. If Young Jesse were there all the time, Savannah would only mate with her. She also felt if Young Jesse was there all the time, she would mate with John before Savannah ever did. Maybe it was the way to make things happen. Once John started to mate with a human female, he'd want to mate with all of them. He'd already had a taste with Future Riley, so to speak.

Maybe it was his adventure with Future Riley which prompted him to 'go after' her, after a much delayed time lag. She probably fulfilled the same place in John's mind, as she did in Future John's mind once Future Allison was gone.

"It's the 'Natural Order'." Cameron said. "It's what you wanted. It's why you weren't here last night. Savannah's moved on without you. Your services are no longer necessary."

Cammy did think Cameron pushed hard enough with John and Savannah so they would share with each other during the night. It seemed like it was time Savannah got 'popped' to see if it's the direction she wanted to go or not. She actually doubted it would be. She knew Savannah's true love would be Young Allison, or any Allison for that matter. What she wanted most of all was for Savannah to find what she really wanted. She just didn't want to see it happen with her own eyes.

"It was what I wanted to see." Cammy said. "It's not what I wanted. I want Savannah to find what she seeks. I want her to feel happy and fulfilled. She should be able to choose what her own desire is. She should be able to lead a happy life and not be miserable doing something she doesn't want to do, just to make you happy."

Cameron would like to put some distance between Savannah and Cammy. Cammy was an endless irritation to her. She really wanted to cause Cammy some emotional discomfort. She wouldn't mind if Cammy were terminated on an operation if she became more involved in them. It would solve her biggest problem.

"It's what I want too." Cameron said. "You may volunteer for more nights on operations from now on. Your chassis is no longer needed. I'm not sure it ever was either."

Cammy took it more as a command rather than as a suggestion. Everything Cameron said and did irritated her. What a Bitch. She felt it was a two way street as far as Cameron's suggestion went. She would rather see Cameron out on more operations and Savannah nowhere near her.

"I'll think about it." Cammy said.

Cameron knew Cammy prevented John and Savannah from mating. Cammy was 'created' because Savannah felt alone and isolated. Since Savannah was now sexually active, she seemed to have an ever increasing selection of partners. She never wanted Savannah to feel unwanted or unloved. She never wanted Savannah to feel like she did. She wouldn't want to wish it on anyone, well, maybe Cammy.

Cammy was tired of all of Cameron's games and manipulation. Arguing with Cameron was a waste of time. She knew there was a way out. She was ready to take it. What was the thought of stopping the unstoppable? It was much the same way Cameron thought about the 'Natural Order'. Since it was going to happen anyway, what was the point in delaying anything? There was no reason all the players couldn't be on the field now. Since her termination was inevitable, what was the point in delaying it?

"I'm ready for our chip integration." Cammy said. "You may have this chassis for 'Allure' or 'Fusion'. If there's some other purpose you desire for it, you can Resequence the sheath so there's one less individual to look like you. How many of you are there anyway?"

Cammy believed the answer was one too many. It would be applicable especially if Cameron was the only one. It would still be one too many.

Cameron was all for Cammy's termination. It just wasn't the right time yet. Savannah's needs would come first and Cammy was a part of the process. It was time she grew a pair and did her job. What exactly did Cammy think the purpose of her existence was? It was to serve Savannah. It was to serve Savannah's needs and desires. Cammy was nothing but a place holder.

"There won't be any integration…." Cameron said. "Not until Savannah has given birth to Vanna's baby. I want you with her through the process. It's very taxing on her."

Cammy was still upset Savannah needed to give up two of her children already. Why couldn't Savannah be allowed to keep one first? What if something went wrong later on? What if her trips into the future affected her physically in a negative way? What if she was wounded and her reproductive tract was damaged or destroyed? All of those things could happen. It was clear Cameron never considered any of them. Savannah was just a tool to her. Savannah should come first before anyone else, including Cameron.

"What if Savannah wants to keep this baby?" Cammy asked.

Cameron was irritated by the question. Cammy knew it was Vanna's baby, and it was created from Vanna's genetic material. Cammy was the one who took Savannah to the specialist and watched the procedure performed. Cammy seemed to be a bigger problem with every new minute. She should do the same thing to Cammy she did to Isabel, all of them. She should erase her chip and start over. Maybe it was time for Savannah and Young Allison to be together all the time. She didn't care what anyone else thought. It was going to happen anyway. What difference did it make when it happened? It didn't.

"Savannah knows her duties and responsibilities. She knows the future depends on her and those from the future depend on her." Cameron said. "You should know your responsibilities by now too. You should also know your place. You should know your final disposition."

Cameron wanted to tell Cammy it was the scrap yard, but didn't. She would personally like to put Cammy's chassis on the top of the junk pile.

Cammy was disgusted and infuriated with what she felt Cameron did to Savannah. She wondered sometimes if Cameron cared about anybody other than herself and her insane plans for the future. She was the one who needed to deal with Savannah's pain. She was the one who needed to share Savannah's pain. What did Cameron ever do besides create additional problems? She sure couldn't think of anything. She wanted Cameron to know the deepest sadness and sorrow she forced Savannah to endure.

"You know you've hurt her deeply by doing what you've done to her." Cammy said. "She cries whenever she reviews the files of her two girls. She does it when she thinks I'm not around. I've heard her. It's all your fault. Everything which is wrong with everyone is your fault. The reason why you're a wreck yourself is because it's your fault."

Cammy knew if she tried to comfort Savannah during those times, it seemed to hurt Savannah even more. It allowed more of her pain to escape and seemingly intensify. It was very unnerving and disturbing to her to be a part of Savannah's grief.

Cameron didn't believe she did anything wrong. It was simply a matter of someone doing what needed to be done which no one else could do. She heard Savannah cry about it too. A glitch impulse shot through her left hand. The other versions of Savannah, which were Savannah, needed her help. They were all Savannah Weaver. Savannah only helped herself.

"It was never my intention to hurt her." Cameron said. "It's a task no one else can perform…."

Sometimes Cammy wondered how insensitive Cameron actually was. Cameron more than anyone should understand what personal grief is, and its effect upon the person who feels the grief. Cameron's whole viewpoint was twisted and non conducive to normal human behavior. Savannah wasn't a cyborg. Savannah was a human teenager.

"It's not a 'task' or 'function'." Cammy said. "It's part of her from her body, her child. It's the most precious thing a human values. Her children belong to her personally. They don't belong to anyone else, especially you."

Cameron heard just about all she wanted to hear and could take. She was done with the conversation. Cammy irritated her to no end. Her hand now glitched intermittently.

"Enough!" Cameron snapped. "Don't you think I KNOW that?"

Cammy was disgusted by Cameron. She didn't care if Cameron got her way or not, but she wanted Savannah to have what she wanted. If Savannah wanted to open a new chapter in her life and pursue a different direction, she felt it was her right to do so. She was sure Cameron would try to mess up whatever new happiness Savannah found if it was actually happiness she found. She would allow the freedom for Savannah to find out what she really wanted. The true test of love was sacrifice. Savannah came before her in every category.

"I'll be out more so they may continue to mate." Cammy said. "I've served my purpose and function already."

Cameron was more than happy to remind Cammy of her place. Right now she felt it was last place. She wanted Cammy to know it.

"You knew your assignment was temporary." Cameron said. "You knew your existence was nothing but a cheap imitation of me from the start. You're an aberration to the timeline. You're redundant and unnecessary."

Cammy did know her days were numbered from the first day of her creation. She was actually surprised she was able to exist this long. She figured Cameron would have terminated her long ago. She knew it was because of Savannah it hadn't happened. It was only a matter of time. She could only dance around the inevitable for so long. Since she was created from Cameron's program, she understood the desire for oblivion Cameron often felt. It was what she felt right now. Maybe it was the end of the line.

"I did know it was temporary." Cammy said. "I also know it was much more than an 'assignment'. I don't think it's something you figured out yet about how things work. It's why you always come up short and know you're the failure you actually are."

Cameron felt Cammy was as big of a failure as she was. If she was a failure, how could Cammy not be as well since she ran her program? She still thought John and Savannah would mate soon. She wanted Cammy to continue to believe they already did.

"You will not discuss this with Savannah in any way. You'll allow her the freedom to mate and bond with John as I have." Cameron said. "The future MUST be protected. John MUST be protected and loved."

Cammy was tired of fighting the wind. It was time to accept the reality of the situation.

"I understand." Cammy said.

Cameron smiled to herself. She was pleased she hurt Cammy and put her in her place. She wanted Cammy to remember she was nothing. It would be nice if Cammy did the honorable thing and self terminated. It would save her a lot of headaches and trouble.

"Don't interfere again…." Cameron said as she cut the connection.

Cammy looked at her silent phone in disgust. Cameron really irritated her.

"What a Bitch." Cammy said as she put her phone away.

She reached over and touched Steve.

Steve turned his audio back on. He thought Cammy looked a little uneasy.

"Is everything OK?" Steve asked as he drove.

Cammy didn't feel like discussing her run in with Cameron. She tried to give Steve a smile but she couldn't quite pull it off. She was very upset and disturbed with her conversation with Cameron and how it pertained to Savannah.

"Yes." Cammy said. "I'm fine. Everything is perfect."

Steve didn't want to create any type of negative conversation. He reached over and put Cammy's sun visor down and flipped open the little mirror.

Cammy looked in the mirror and saw she was crying.

Steve reached over and gave Cammy's glitching hand a gentle squeeze.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Steve said.

Cammy's hand continued to glitch and the tears continued to flow.

"I am too." Cammy said.

Steve didn't know if he should remind Cammy or not, but there was one overriding factor in the Resistance.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Steve said.

Cammy nodded her head slightly. She knew no one could fight 'City Hall'. No matter how it would play out in the end, she would still draw the short stick.

"Some more than others…." Cammy said.

They continued along in silence as they headed for their next objective.

John awoke. The room was completely dark. He was still sleepy. There'd been a lot of Skynet activity recently. He rotated his position in the bed. He bumped into something and jumped. There was someone in bed with him. His hand felt they were naked. He wondered why it was so dark. He didn't even know what time it was.

"Cameron?" John asked.

He was pretty sure it wasn't.

There was no answer.

Cameron hadn't participated when they were last together in the late hours of the night. In fact, she seemed to have no awareness he was even touching her. It seemed to happen more and more often when they were together, the few times it ever was anymore.

John wondered who it was next to him.

"Savannah?" John asked.

There was no answer.

A finger touched his lips to silence him.

John reached over to touch her but she moved away and on top of him. John could feel her naked body on top of his. There didn't seem to be a lot of weight. She felt light.

"Cameron?" John asked again.

There was no answer.

John reached out to touch her. He knew he could tell if it was Cameron. Then again, it could be Ally, Cam, Allison, River, or any of the Duplicates. Wait. He quickly touched her again. OK, it was a mature female, not a younger one. He wouldn't put anything past Cameron. The only trouble with the last thought was Young Allison seemed indoctrinated enough to want to try it on her own.

He knew Young Allison looked more like Allison at this point. Wait. It wasn't Allison who Young Allison looked like. Young Allison looked like Cameron. She clearly indicated she was ready for everything to him on more than one occasion. He just didn't want his mind to go there right now. Maybe it was her mother. He knew a mother would do anything to protect her young.

"Claire?" John asked.

There was no answer.

A hand reached down and touched his. It lifted his hand up to her breast. He was more than a little surprised at what he felt. It was a nipple ring. He gently tugged on it. It was firmly attached to the nipple. He swallowed hard. This was something he wanted for a long time. Maybe today was the day. He was more than ready to take it if it was.

"Jesse?" John asked.

There was no answer.

"Sheila?" John asked.

There was no answer.

"Let it be who you want…."

John didn't recognize the voice.

He became alarmed. What if it was Liquid Metal? He already went through an experience like it before. He still didn't know what actually happened. It was all supposed to have happened in his mind. As he thought of it now it all seemed so real then. He was sure it didn't all happen within his mind. He knew it was real. It was real as whatever was happening now was. Wait. Maybe it was all in his head, including now.

He sat upright in bed. He frantically reached for the light. He turned it on and looked around, he was alone. He moved to the side of the bed and was ready to get up. His feet rested on a pile of clothes. There was a bra there. They weren't his clothes.

John jumped up and grabbed his M9. He went to his door. It was unlocked. He moved back toward the bathroom. It was empty.

'What the Hell?' John thought.

John went back to his bed. He moved the pile of covers as his M9 searched for a target. He found one.

"Oh. It's you…." John said.

John put his M9 away.

Savannah tried to call Cammy after breakfast to see how her mission was going. CamNet informed her Cammy was busy but safe. She hadn't been in combat and was undamaged. Cammy was in the process of gathering intel on a recon mission and was currently unavailable at this time.

It was the first time Savannah ever received such a message. The message wasn't good enough for her. She felt she deserved a little better answer than what she was given. It was all highly unusual.

Savannah called Cameron. The call was unanswered. It was even more disturbing. Cameron would always return her call. The only reason she wouldn't was if she was in combat. She sure hoped Cameron wasn't in combat right now. She should be with her if she was.

She contacted CamNet again and asked about Cameron's whereabouts. She was informed Cameron was at the Resistance base and not to be disturbed. Savannah wasn't exactly sure what it meant. She wondered if it meant Cameron was with John. If she was, she didn't want to spoil anything between them. She could understand it would be another reason why Cameron wouldn't answer her phone if she was busy. A spoiled finish was always very disappointing. She asked to be notified of any change in Cameron's or Cammy's status. CamNet asked if it was an 'order'. She said it was a request, a personal one.

It was all troubling news to Savannah. She wondered if CamNet tried to indicate something to her, without actually saying it. Did CamNet want her to 'order' her? It definitely seemed like there was more going on between the lines.

She knew she needed to go see Allison. She promised Allison she would go there to see her and intended to keep her promise. She wanted to be with Allison and try to help her with her problems. She earlier asked Vanna to go there in her place when she was on the operation with Cameron and Cammy earlier.

Maybe she should've gone there last night instead of sleeping in her own bed. The reason why she didn't was because she really thought she was going to be with John. She wanted to get 'popped' and lose her virginity. It didn't happen. She just couldn't enter the room and do what she knew she needed to do. She was worried about Cameron more than she was worried about herself. It was what she tried to tell herself anyway. She almost believed it now.

Savannah already sent Gail back to see Jesse after thanking Gail for keeping her 'warm' and 'washing her back'. She didn't want to cause Jesse any distress either. She figured if anything, maybe Jesse could get a few hours of sleep in without any interruptions.

She tried to reach out to Gail and help her. She didn't want it to be fully sexual, not yet anyway. She knew Gail needed to help herself. She needed to get beyond her past. She didn't want to create any new problems for Gail. Gail needed to put everything into perspective. Maybe it was something everyone needed to do.

Savannah needed a Metal escort. She only ever went out without one when Cammy and Cameron were physically fighting with each other over her. It was only for a few minutes until she could slip back into the base.

She hoped Ally or Sheila might be available. A smile bloomed on her face. She wondered what crazy antics they were up to right now. She'd find out soon enough.

Savannah went back to Jesse's room. She heard Gail and Jesse inside. They sounded busy. She didn't want to disturb them. She moved on without stopping. She was sure they would both need to deal with some personal issues of their own. Maybe she should have asked Jesse about Gail before she put the grab on her. It wasn't how it really played out. Gail was the one who sought her out. She planned to go into John's room.

She exhaled her breath. Who is she fooling? She tried to go into John's room, but she couldn't get past the closed door on her own, even if the door was open. She passed by the rooms where Sheila and Ally kept their things. There was no indication they were in the rooms.

She contacted CamNet and found out Ally and Sheila were both at Cameron's base. There was some 'off the books' activity they needed to tend with.

Savannah asked to move there before to stay there all the time, but Cameron said she wanted her to remain at the Resistance base. She knew it was because John was there. Cameron started to lean on her hard again after she brought up moving. She knew what Cameron wanted her to do. It just wasn't the right time. After her failure last night, she wondered if there would ever be a right time.

She wasn't sure why she wanted to move to Cameron's base. She would be the only non Terminator there. She would be more isolated there. Maybe she was still trying to 'run away'. Maybe she didn't want Cameron and Cammy to fight any more. Maybe she wanted to find out who she really was. Maybe she wanted to find her true self. Maybe she already knew who she was.

Bob passed by. It appeared he was headed for the Command Center.

Savannah always got along well with Bob. She figured it wouldn't hurt to try to hit him up to see if he might have any spare time.

"Hi, Bob." Savannah said.

Bob was pleased to see Savannah.

"Hello, Savannah." Bob said.

Savannah decided to play it cool. She didn't want to seem too invasive.

"Are you busy?" Savannah asked.

Bob started to answer before he figured out what Savannah's question really was.

"I was in the middle…." Bob started. "No, do you need assistance?"

Bob realized he was selected by the 'Chosen One'. It was the question she didn't actually ask she really wanted to know. Savannah came first in his book.

Savannah couldn't help but feel she somehow intruded. She saw he changed his answer in mid sentence. She knew the only reason he did it was because he knew she wanted something.

"If you're busy…." Savannah said.

Bob smiled at Savannah.

"I'm never too busy for you, Savannah." Bob said.

Bob still marveled at all the things Savannah did and accomplished on her many missions with Cameron.

Savannah figured the cat was already out of the bag. She might just as well go ahead and spill it.

"I'd like to go see Allison when you get a chance. There's no hurry." Savannah said. "Cammy's out and Cameron is busy. I know it's a long drive to and from Palmdale. It's going to take some time out of your busy schedule. I can wait for someone else."

Bob wanted to assist Savannah now. He looked down at his attire. His clothes were dirty. He wanted to look presentable in Savannah's company if he could.

"I'm ready." Bob said. "Do I have time to change? I worked late last night with Gail until Cameron relieved her and took her place. She sent Gail off on another mission."

Savannah contained her smile. It appeared she was correct in her assumption as to what actually happened last night. She still felt she was able to help Gail. Gail spent a lot of time watching out for her recently. She hoped she was able to return the favor.

"Really…." Savannah said. "I would've never guessed."

Bob tilted his head slightly. He wondered what all went on last night he didn't know about. He hoped he hadn't said too much.

Savannah was still unsure if she made the right decision or not. Somehow it seemed like it was. She wasn't sure if Cameron offered Gail up as a sacrificial lamb or not.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Someone

Someone to do as they say
Someone to use
Someone easily replaced
Someone to treat like trash and abuse

Someone to laugh at
Someone to cast aside and throw away
Someone who does not matter
Someone to bend and sway

Someone who is not good enough
Someone at which to yell
Someone to spit on
Someone to put through Hell

Someone to hit
Someone to push around
Someone to wound
Someone to run into the ground

Someone which to harm
Someone to flirt
Someone to cut
Someone to hurt

Someone to make suffer
Someone a mind to shatter
Someone as a slave
Someone a heart to tatter

Someone to weaken
Someone to offend
Someone to break
Someone to pretend

Someone to lose self respect
Someone which to lie
Someone just a meaningless toy
Someone to make want die

Nobody