Chapter 656

Very Surprised

Earlier:

Steve and Cammy needed to take the cable car to the top of the mountain. The aerial tramway didn't open for a few hours yet. They needed to kill some time. They checked some locations with repeated cell phone pings. They spotted a few of the white vans which were used by the Skynet forces. They followed the white vans. The vans pulled up in the front parking lot of a small eatery. They watched the Grays go inside. It wasn't apparent if any of the group were Terminators.

Cammy found it somewhat odd the group went out together. They didn't know where the group came from, or if they all came from one location. It was yet to be determined. They would like to know where they went if it wasn't back to where they came from, or the old packing house.

"I can't tell what they're doing here." Cammy said.

Steve knew humans liked to consume food two or three times a day. The logical assumption would be it was the morning meal, breakfast.

"I think they're eating." Steve said.

Cammy was suspicious of whatever they were up to. She wasn't sold on the obvious.

"Or it's what they want people to think." Cammy said. "This could be a 'front' for something else."

Steve looked around further based on Cammy's speculation. He began to wonder too if there was more than met the eye.

"Something looks out of place." Steve said.

Cammy was aware some of the female Terminators offered better distractions than others. Both Gail and Sheila were able to offer visual distractions with their breasts. It kept people from looking at their faces. Gail's was based on her gigantic size. Sheila's was based on her often exposed breasts with her nipple rings. It didn't matter if they were smaller than Gail's or not. The rings made everyone look twice. In her case, her beauty worked against her. Everyone looked at her face.

"I wish Gail was here with us." Cammy said. "We could use her 'knockers' as a distraction while we tag the vehicles. I can't do the distraction myself since I don't want to be seen later on at the top of the mountain and recognized."

Steve knew there were other ways to cause distractions. Some of them could be enhanced with a little extra panic in them.

"Let me light the dumpster on fire. It's off to the side. Everyone will look at it." Steve said.

Cammy climbed in the back of the SUV and found three more trackers and a road flare.

"Here." Cammy said as she handed Steve the flare.

Steve didn't want it to look too obvious as to what occurred in the dumpster. It should look more like an accident.

"Maybe I should just use a match." Steve said. "The flare will look too deliberate if anyone investigates. It will also be harder for them to extinguish the source of ignition. It would be hard to explain how an ignited road flare ended up in the dumpster, without raising suspicion."

Cammy retrieved a match from one of the survival packets.

Steve took the self striking match from Cammy. He planned to make his move quick and get out.

"I should be able to slip around to the back of the building before the fire takes off." Steve said.

Cammy took it upon herself to be the one to tag the vans.

"As soon as the panic starts I'll tag three of the four vans." Cammy said.

Steve was worried they didn't have enough trackers.

"What about the fourth one?" Steve asked.

Cammy took out her knife and brandished it.

"It will have a flat." Cammy said. "It won't be going anywhere if they decide to take off in a hurry."

Steve drove past the vans. They all appeared unoccupied. They continued on and parked in the back. He got out and took off on foot. He headed past another structure and came up on the backside of the dumpster. It was out near the street waiting to be picked up. He reached inside as if he looked for aluminum cans to recycle. He pulled some small cardboard boxes out of it. He placed them on the ground in back of the dumpster and lit the match. He quickly went back the way he came from. He figured a small fire could be extinguished without drawing an emergency response. He made sure the hose was visible on the side of the building near the dumpster. Their goal was to cause a minor distraction, not create a major event.

She heard someone come out of the building.

"Fire." Someone said.

Cammy figured everyone would look in the direction the man indicated. She was already in motion as the small fire behind the dumpster turned into a smoky fire. She stuck her knife in the tread of the first van so it would look like a road puncture. There was a slight 'hiss' of air. She quickly moved between the other vans. She tagged all three of them. She was in and out in less than twenty seconds.

Steve was already waiting for her in the SUV. She hopped in and closed the door. They drove away from there and out the back way. They never saw anyone. There wasn't any gunfire. It was probably the best indication the enemy didn't detect them, or know who they were if they did. They hoped no one saw them. There was no indication anyone did.

Cammy passed on word to the base as to what she did.

John Henry was a little surprised with Cammy's move. He was even more surprised where she planned to go to next.

Cammy took one more look around them in all directions. She was satisfied they hadn't picked up a tail. She turned her attention to Steve.

"I've informed both John Henry and CamNet of all my tags." Cammy said. "It includes the ones at the old packing sheds."

Steve calculated their position and the current time. Everything looked good to go for the aerial tramway ride to the top of the mountain. There was something going on at the top and they were going to find out what it was.

"Let's go ride the cable car." Steve said. "It will just be opening up as we get there."

Cammy reviewed the website for the aerial tramway on her phone. It looked like an interesting ride if nothing else. The only trouble was, she knew there was more waiting at the top for them. She really didn't know what they would find. She hoped nothing found them.

"I'm ready." Cammy said.

Cammy looked around at the arid landscape as they headed for the base station of the cable car. It was a very inhospitable looking landscape. Strangely enough there was a city located right in the middle of nowhere. Palm Springs seemed out of place. It looked like a lot of people lived there.

She thought there were an unusual amount of golf courses around the area. She wondered how much water was wasted keeping the grass green in the arid landscape.

There were groups of houses which were fairly new in big blocks of housing units. They were closely packed together. There was no yard to any of them in the front or the rear. She figured it saved on water usage. The houses looked expensive. She just didn't see what the draw was for anyone to live there. She figured they must all be wealthy because there certainly wasn't enough work around the area for everyone to do. She didn't think it was a good spot for a retirement home either. The outside heat would be very oppressive on the elderly. The electric bill for air conditioning would be substantial.

There was a railway station to the north of town well out of the city limits and structures. She checked on her phone. It appeared to be an unmanned stop. There was no indication of a rail line into the Palm Springs area itself. The airport was located on the outskirts of town as well. She saw there was a museum there with a considerable number of flying Warbirds.

They made their way through the city in the middle of nowhere towards the mountains to the west. There were signs which indicated where to go to reach the aerial tramway. She thought it strange there were two types of cable cars. There was a cable car which operated on tracks where the passenger car would grasp the cable and be pulled along. Or an aerial cable car. It appeared the suspended cable car was fixed to the cable itself. It operated in a balanced fashion with a second cable car. One cable car always went up at the same time the other one came down. They continued to follow the signs.

Cammy knew the low desert often was the hottest place in the nation. She was fairly certain of one thing. The heat was definitely about to be turned up on the enemy. Once she uncovered what exactly was going on, they would launch a raid against the location. The Command Center would keep track of where the vans went. Any other place they stopped at was a potential target. If anyone in the vans tried to run, they would know exactly where they ran to. Most likely there was more than one alternate location where the group set up operation. It was the case with all of the Skynet offshoots they dealt with.

Cameron and John shared with each other. They each experienced a really good time. It wasn't what either one of them expected. They wanted to relive some of their old times together from when their marriage was relatively new. Things turned out a little differently because now they knew what the other one liked and how to satisfy them completely.

John was a little worried about the time. He was actually surprised he hadn't heard anything from the Command Center. He figured either Cameron left instructions for them not to be disturbed, or there was nothing of significance going on. He knew there were teams out doing recon. Without Cameron being on one of the recon teams, he didn't think things would go hot prematurely.

"I need to get back to work." John said. "They're going to wonder what happened to me."

Cameron didn't think so.

"I told John Henry where I would be if he needed me for anything." Cameron said. "I think he'll have a pretty good idea of what happened to you."

John looked over to see if she was joking or not. He could never tell. Sometimes she would flash him her sly smile. He didn't see it right now.

"I need to get cleaned up." John said.

Cameron got out of bed. Reached over and scooped John up in her arms as she did. He was more than a little surprised.

"I'll carry you to the shower myself." Cameron said.

John wasn't sure what Cameron was up to. He did know one thing. It was much easier for her to pick him up and carry him, than it was for him to pick her up and carry her.

"You can run the water while I attend to my personal business." John said.

Cameron sent him down in front of the toilet.

"I guess we'll both get to run some water." Cameron said.

She went over and turned on the shower and got the water up to the proper temperature, while John finished up with his personal affairs.

After they showered and finished up. Cameron wanted to try something new. It was what Savannah did with Gail.

John was very excited as he dressed Cameron. He picked out one piece of clothing at a time and put it on for Cameron. She did the same thing for him simultaneously. It was a fun and joyous time for both of them to share.

"It was really something." John said.

It took Cameron back in time when she used to dress Savannah and brush her hair. It was done a little differently in the way they did it. The concept was still the same however.

"It was a first for me." Cameron said.

John had only previously undressed Cameron. Sometimes he may have been a little carried away as he hurried to get her clothes off. There were other things he wanted to get to once Cameron was 'unwrapped'. Maybe it was part of the problem which existed between them. He liked to get straight down to business. Maybe he should have taken some consideration for Cameron's needs. He always got what he wanted so he didn't really care. It was a little late to worry about what was in the past now.

"I've never dressed you before." John said. "It was Hot."

Cameron was very pleased with the process and the closeness it brought to them.

"I liked when you brushed my hair as I sat on your lap." Cameron said. "I have only ever done…."

Cameron stopped in mid sentence.

She almost said. 'I've only ever done this to Savannah.'

Cameron remembered she would pick out an outfit for Savannah, help her put it on, and adjust it just the way she wanted it. There was always a lot of skin showing in specific areas. As Savannah got older, she tried to cover over certain areas more thoroughly, but the material wasn't there to do it. She would then brush Savannah's hair, fix it the way she wanted Savannah to look, and put her makeup on for her. She made Savannah look the way she wanted her to look.

John wondered why Cameron stopped suddenly. There was a far-off look in her eyes right now. He wondered if she was still 'there', or if her mind went elsewhere. He waited for her to finish, but nothing happened. He decided to prompt her a little.

"What?" John asked.

Cameron didn't want to say what she just thought of. She wanted to deflect the conversation.

"'I've only ever done it myself." Cameron said.

John was a little worried about the way Cameron looked. He could see she developed a problem. He didn't have a clue of what it was caused by. Everything was going so smoothly. He needed to know more.

"Cameron, what's wrong?" John asked.

He noticed Cameron's hand began to glitch.

Cameron felt an extreme sense of guilt. She felt she stole Savannah's life from her.

"What have I done?" Cameron asked. "I've made her into 'me'."

Cameron didn't want Savannah to 'become' her. She knew of all her torments and problems. She was now afraid Savannah was going to experience those as well. It would all be her fault.

John wasn't exactly sure what Cameron referred to. He just knew she didn't look in very good condition right now.

"Cameron..." John said worried. "You don't look so hot."

Cameron's face was blank. If anything, it looked like she possessed the 'thousand yard stare'. Her feelings of guilt and remorse continue to expand.

"I'm MAKING her do what my body can't." Cameron mumbled. "I've stolen her life from her. There is another. I'm doing it again too…."

John was confused. He wanted to know what Cameron referred to. He couldn't quite hear everything she said clearly.

"What?" John asked. "What are you saying?"

Cameron forced herself to remember what Savannah told her. 'You fight it and remain in control, Cameron.'

She fought the overwhelming feelings which flooded her. Savannah's words came to her. 'You taught me to be strong, you made me strong. The strength comes from you, Cameron. My strength is your strength. Your strength is my strength. Think of me and let your mind master itself. You are the one in control, not anything or anyone else. You stand up for yourself.'

Cameron pulled it together. It was Savannah's words which helped her. They were the words she taught Savannah. The glitch in her hand stopped and she regained her composure. She still found her ever emerging emotions troublesome to deal with at times. They weren't getting any easier to deal with. The more there were, the harder it was to deal with all of them.

"I'm fine, John." Cameron said. "I was flooded with 'emotions' right now. I still have trouble dealing with them. I'm sorry. I don't know how far they will eventually expand. There's no way for me to hold them in check. I've tried."

John was relieved to see Cameron looked better right now. He didn't want her to have to apologize for who she was. He figured she would probably end up even more complicated than a human female. It was because time dulled the feelings of humans. Time did nothing to dull the things a Terminator experienced. Whenever they thought of them, it was always like it just happened.

"Never be sorry for who you are." John said.

Cameron smiled at John and touched his cheek lovingly. There were times she wished she could be a better person. Sometimes she needed to remind herself she wasn't a person. She wasn't sorry for who she was, she was only sorry for what she was. She would still like to be better. The bottom line was she still needed to fight Skynet. She preferred to do it on her own and spare the others the danger and burden it presented.

"I really shared a special time with you now, John." Cameron said. "I wish I could be a better wife to you. I can't. I know you understand the burden of the future I carry."

She didn't want to share John with other females because she believed they would all be better than her. She did want John to have comfort and happiness. She was willing to sacrifice for him. She at least hoped she would remain as the 'leftovers'.

John wanted to point out a few positive things to Cameron. He thought there was a pretty big one.

"I do." John said. "It is because of YOU why Judgment Day hasn't happened."

Cameron was aware she let her budding emotions get away from her when John asked her to marry him. It was never supposed to be her function. She suddenly had access to new files.

"John, I was never supposed to be your wife. I was to be 'a lover' for you when you felt alone and nothing more." Cameron said. "There are files which are unlocking in me now."

John was still confused by everything. He wasn't sure if Cameron indicated she suffered from some type of internal assault.

"Is it an attack?" John asked.

Cameron began to review the new files.

"No, there are files appearing I didn't know I possessed." Cameron said. "They are things you programmed into me."

John always dreaded when Cameron referred to his future self. He was pretty sure he never wanted to be like Future John. Maybe everyday he was a little bit closer to it. It was a very uneasy feeling for him. He wanted to remind Cameron whatever was wrong right now, wasn't really his fault, even if it was.

"You mean Future John did it." John said.

Cameron checked the files as they unlocked. Somehow all of it was wrong.

"NO! It was YOU." Cameron said. "You did it in the future you went to. You PROGRAMMED me to be your wife."

John didn't want Cameron to be angry at him.

"Cameron, I love you." John said.

Cameron was very upset with what she just found out.

"YOU did this to me." Cameron said. "YOU are the one who's ruined my life and created this eternal torment for me."

John was unsure what Cameron actually talked about right now. He had no idea what she referred to. It sounded a lot more like something Future John would have been behind, not him.

"Cameron, I didn't." John said.

Cameron just uncovered evidence which proved otherwise.

"I have the files. I have the proof." Cameron said.

John still didn't know what she talked about or how he was involved.

"It wasn't me." John said.

There was a disgusted look on Cameron's face.

"I sure didn't do this to myself." Cameron said.

Cameron blinked. It was still the same second, the same instant John asked her, 'Cameron, what's wrong?'

Wait.

Cameron attempted to determine what just happened to her. Everything which just happened was in her head and happened in a millisecond. She wondered how the whole conversation could play out as she viewed it. She viewed it from her point of view and as John would have viewed it from his point of view. She must have calculated what his responses would be and why. She certainly couldn't see into his mind, even if somehow she felt she did. She wasn't River. It really didn't make any sense. She felt the need to get away from it all.

"I'm fine, John." Cameron said. "Really, I need to go."

Cameron double checked the time. The whole 'exchange' happened in a few milliseconds in her mind. None of it was real.

John didn't want Cameron to go off on her own in the condition he just saw her in.

"I can go with you." John said. "I'd like to be allowed to go with you."

Cameron responded differently than she intended to. She just couldn't help herself.

"Sure, John, I'd like it." Cameron said. "Let's go."

John didn't know what was happening but knew something was.

"I don't feel 'done' yet." Cameron said.

She led John back to the bed. She stripped both of them….

John didn't intend to end up in front of the bed again so quickly. He took in Cameron's beauty. He certainly wasn't going to complain or turn her down. He wasn't going to complain about it.

Still, in the back of his mind, he knew Cameron was bothered and tormented. He really didn't know how to reach her. He really wondered if anyone could. The only person who might have a chance to actually do it was Savannah.

Vanna watched Claire and Hanna leave with Summer. Two Terminators from the Detail House followed them. One ran back briefly to tell Bob to keep Young Allison there for a few hours.

Savannah already asked him to do it.

Vanna peeked down into the Bunker. Cam and Holly were still tethered as well as 'sharing'. She wanted to join them. Maybe she could do it next time. She really thought the best part of coming to Palmdale to see Allison was the other females she gained access to she didn't normally have at the Resistance base.

She thought things would be so much better and simpler for everyone if the Young family just moved to the Resistance base. She knew Claire soon would become the most popular person at the Resistance base.

It was time to get down to business. She let her breath out with a sigh. She stripped off her robe and hung the cloth belt on the outside of the door handle. She entered Allison's room. There was no sign of Allison, maybe she went with Claire and Hanna.

She was still a little nervous about what was about to happen. She really thought she could go through with it this time.

Vanna looked over at the bed. It was just like Allison told her it would be. There were two covered figures in the bed. She could tell they were kissing under the covers. It was OK with her because she was really ready, they might as well be too.

It was time to reclaim her womanhood.

Vanna moved up and threw back the covers.

"Surprise…." Vanna said.

She expected to see John and Savannah.

"Surprise…." Savannah and Allison answered back.

Vanna stood there speechless. She was surprised - very surprised.

The smile was frozen on her face.

Savannah and Allison looked at each other.

"What's wrong?" Allison asked.

Vanna just stood there. She was still speechless.

The smile faded away. It slowly was replaced by a look of shock.

Savannah and Allison both started to get out of bed. All three of the girls were naked.

Whatever this was, it wasn't what Vanna thought she was going to see and be a part of. She wanted some type of explanation as to what exactly was going on.

"What the Hell?" Vanna finally managed to say.

Allison felt and looked a little confused. She actually discussed this with Vanna previously.

"This is what you said you wanted." Allison said. "You even told me."

Savannah was confused. She did have the discussion with Allison. They were obviously talking about two different things without knowing it.

Savannah wanted to reinforce what Allison said. She thought this was all worked out with Vanna.

"I went over this with you too." Savannah said. "I told you we were together a dozen times. I was being honest about it. I didn't want to keep any secrets from you."

Vanna looked at Savannah. She knew Savannah did tell her those same words. It was she who somehow got it all wrong or confused.

"I thought you were talking about John." Vanna said. "I saw Bob here."

Savannah and Allison looked at each other.

"I'm sorry, Vanna." Savannah said. "I thought we were doing this for Allison. I thought it was what you wanted. I'll go. I'm really sorry about this."

Savannah looked around for her clothes.

Vanna looked at Allison and Savannah. They both looked so hurt. This wasn't what she expected, but it was still something which could be beautiful. Savannah and Allison both thought they were doing something for her. She didn't want any hard feelings from anyone.

"Wait. I must've misunderstood everyone. You both told me the things you said you did." Vanna said as she looked at Savannah. "You weren't with John?"

Savannah felt a little self-conscious about the last question. John had bounced around on the outside, but he never made it inside her body. She was only one second away from losing her virginity before. It never happened. No part of a male was ever inside of her body in any location.

"No." Savannah said. "Never…. It almost happened once, but technically I'm still a virgin, at least concerning a male."

Vanna really thought Savannah went all the way with John. It obviously was her mistake.

"I thought you did." Vanna said. "I'm sorry."

Savannah went to her clothes. Right now she felt like an intruder, a guilty intruder.

"I'm really sorry about this." Savannah said.

Vanna wasn't there to hurt anyone either. It was just a misunderstanding.

"Wait." Vanna said. "This just isn't what I expected. I thought I would make love to John. I thought both of us would. I mean you and me, Savannah, with John."

Savannah thought it would be quite an adventure if it ever happened. She was up for it if it ever did. At least Vanna would be there to guide her. She actually agreed to all of this as a special treat for Allison.

"I wanted us, both of US, to make Allison feel special." Savannah said. "I wanted this to be our gift to her. I wanted her to feel happy instead of down and depressed."

Vanna wanted to make Allison feel special as well. Right now, to know Savannah was going to be there too, actually excited her more. The more she thought about and looked at Savannah naked with her young body, was to see herself as she once was. Now she wanted it too. It was time for a 'redo'.

"OK - OK." Vanna said. "You two get back in the bed and cover up and we will do this again. It was my misunderstanding. I want this the way you intended it to be. Let's do an instant replay."

Vanna went back outside. She shook her head to clear her mind, took several deep breaths and turned the door handle to enter the room again. This would be almost as good as what she was expecting. She made sure the cloth belt was still on the door handle and closed the door.

"Surprise…." Vanna said as she threw back the covers.

"Surprise…." Savannah and Allison answered back.

Vanna selected a song on Allison's player and climbed in bed next to Allison. Savannah was on Allison's other side. They were the 'bread' and Allison was the 'meat' in their 'love sandwich'.

Savannah and Vanna looked at each other and giggled.

Allison was thrilled beyond belief at this moment. What could possibly be better than this?

"Please, please me." Allison said. "Everywhere…."

'Still The One' by 'Orleans', drifted around the room.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Very Surprised

People come and go
Most of which no one cares
There are always some
At which everyone stares

Some people are pleasant to look at
While others are much less than fair
Maybe those low on looks
Are willing to take a dare

The comforts they have to offer
Are the same as any other
Some always want more
They soon move on to another

The sad truth seems to be
Character isn't determined by looks
Which group is more likely
To devolve into love's crooks

As one becomes despised
They are often chastised
They soon spout nothing but lies
Is anyone really very surprised

Nobody