Chapter 680

I Can Hardly Wait

In the Command Center, John and John Henry followed the operation. It looked like it was finished.

John was relieved when Cameron went out of the mine. He didn't know the real reason of her sudden departure. Cammy and Bob decided to blow the mine closed. He thought the action was long overdue based on the nature of the enemy they currently dealt with. He wanted the team, especially Cameron, out of the mine. Without a version of Skynet being located inside, there was no reason for them to linger there.

"I'm glad Cammy and Bob wrapped the mission up." John said. "I was afraid it would go 'south'."

John Henry thought the operations which were conducted over the last two days produced a lot of benefits for the Resistance.

"It's always a possibility." John Henry said. "We definitely put a dent in Skynet activities and dealt the anti-Metal faction a blow as well."

Bob quietly sent a report of what he witnessed on how Cameron was addressed and referred to by one of the men in the anti-Metal faction. It seemed to be a common opinion of the group.

John was bothered to hear the news. He knew how it could affect Cameron. For whatever reason, it seemed Cammy was more upset by what was said than Cameron was. He figured it was probably because Cameron heard it more firsthand than Cammy did over the years. He briefly wondered if it was one of the things she blocked on Cammy's chip when she was created. He knew there were a lot of negative things she blocked from her clones. He could understand why on some of them. It was still troubling news to hear the way Cameron was viewed in the future by some.

"I didn't care for the information in Bob's report about them." John said. "I don't like how they referred to Cameron."

John Henry believed justice was served. He was actually amazed there was less violent activity by Cameron, or Cammy, than he would have expected. He was a little surprised Cammy was the one who did most of the damage to the individual with the foul mouth. It was another indication the apple didn't fall far from the tree. It was also an indication of what Cameron would have done as well if she were alone. He believed the individual who uttered the words was treated properly. It was an indication anyone else going forward who said or indicated the same things, would be dealt with the same way, if not worse.

"They paid the price for the false statement." John Henry said.

John needed to think about some of the things Cameron previously indicated. He wasn't so sure the statement was incorrect. In the past, Cameron raised the possibility Future John programmed her to be his 'sex slave'. Such an act by definition would make Cameron exactly what the anti-Metal group referred to her as. Cameron believed she was programmed to serve in a sexual capacity to replace Future Allison after she was 'gone'. It was the 'price' she needed to pay for her involvement. He still couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to it.

"Was it false?" John asked.

John Henry felt a little uneasy at John's question. He believed it was territory they shouldn't explore. He wasn't quite sure what John was getting at. He was even less sure as to why he would even bring it up.

"Are you asking if it was a true or false statement?" John Henry asked.

John figured he might as well say what he thought.

"Yes." John said. "Was Cameron programmed as what was indicated?"

John Henry was unable to locate proof, one way or the other, while he was on Cameron's chip. He didn't think it was good to speculate about such an issue. What purpose could it serve at this point? It seemed it would only produce the same results as he witnessed inside of the mine when Cammy dealt with the offensive individual.

"I don't know." John Henry said. "I don't think so."

John pushed the issue a little bit more. He knew it bothered Cameron for her to think she might have been some type of 'play thing'. He really couldn't blame her. It isn't something he would want to be either.

"She thinks she was." John said. "Or she was Future John's 'toy'."

John Henry nervously looked at the security monitor. He knew CamNet would monitor the entire conversation they were currently having. He didn't think any good was going to come out of it. It seemed to him the best course of action was to stick to the facts.

"There's no proof of it." John Henry said.

John was a little disgusted at the thought of what Future John may have done. It always caused him a lot of worry and disgust to know it was a version of him who did what was done to Cameron.

"That's just the thing." John said "Future John changed her programming. He did it more than once."

John Henry knew it was an indisputable fact about the change in the programming several times. He wasn't sure if it was something they needed to discuss. It seemed like a better time, if there was one, would be when all the operations were concluded.

"It's true." John Henry said.

John was sure there must be a better reason, other than Future John trying to cover his 'sexual tracks', for what he did to Cameron in the future. It just seemed there was more to it. The question was what? Maybe things were best left unknown. Then again, maybe it wasn't. He was sure there was something else.

"Why?" John asked.

John Henry wanted to put things in perspective. He knew humans were unable to deal with loss of loved ones, especially through death. He understood it was one of the reasons why various religions were invented. They served the purpose to create an explanation for the unknown, and provide an 'afterlife' for those who perished. Even if the individual was terminated, they could believe they still existed in some type of better 'afterlife'.

"Imagine if Cameron was taken from you and terminated, and you found someone who looked just like her. What would YOU do?" John Henry asked. "What would anyone do?"

John knew he would want her to be 'Cameron'. What he suspected was exactly what he'd do. It was the point of this question. Strangely enough he was aware Cameron took steps so there were other versions of her who would still exist, even if she were terminated. It appeared as if Cameron knew exactly what he would do and how he would probably alter her programming. If there was already another version of her, he wouldn't be able to do it as easily.

A replacement cyborg version of Cameron wasn't the only thing available to him if she were terminated. There was also the human version of her. There were actually several versions of Allison Young available to him. It was probably one of the reasons Cameron created clones of herself so she wouldn't be forgotten, or replaced. He really didn't know what he wouldn't do to get Cameron back. He already created an alternate future in one attempt.

"It's what I was afraid of…." John said. "I'd try to get back the person I loved and lost. I'd do whatever I needed to do to accomplish it."

John Henry knew Cameron was a victim of her programming by Future John. It seemed he placed unnecessary restrictions on her. Perhaps because of events in the future, it was something he needed to do. He couldn't help but wonder if maybe Cameron developed a stronger association with Future Savannah than she did with Future John. He really didn't think it was anything different than the current situation. It was clear Cameron loved, and was highly infatuated, with Savannah. Maybe it was actually a 'carryover' of her past experience in her future. It didn't seem like a good time to point it out. He wasn't sure if there ever would be a good time to point it out.

"Cameron's trapped by her programming and seeks more than she can 'have'." John Henry said. "Her natural development has been hampered. She seeks more."

John wasn't satisfied by his answer. He wanted Cameron to be happy and find whatever it was she thought she needed to find true happiness. If nothing else it seemed she needed to do a little experimentation. From what he witnessed in high school, it seemed to be an issue more and more people attempted to explore. He even knew it might happen at his expense and he'd be the one who was replaced. It wasn't about him.

"I want her to have what she seeks then." John said. "I want her to be happy."

John Henry really wanted to end the conversation they were having. He was sure he would need to answer to Cameron later on about it or worse, CamNet.

"We all want her to be happy." John Henry said. "She deserves it. You look sleepy."

John checked all of his monitors one last time. It looked like everything was concluded for the night, which was actually into the next morning at this point.

"It's late. I'm headed off to bed." John said.

John Henry figured John would want a little action.

"You don't want to wait up for Cameron?" John Henry asked.

John sighed. He knew how things work by now. He didn't like it but there was nothing he could do about it.

"NO, she was shot a few times. She won't come around for a few days." John said. "I understand how she feels about it."

John Henry knew Cameron believed John was mainly in love with her appearance. It never took much for her to remember her appearance wasn't her own. Her appearance belonged to Allison Young, all of them.

"It's very important to her. She prefers to look perfect for you." John Henry said.

John suppressed a laugh. It was something he wondered about for a long time.

"Was it programmed into her by Future John?" John asked. "She always looked Hot and Tight when we first started out as 'brother and sister'."

John Henry believed it was Cameron's doing. It was probably because she knew what John would respond to. She saw how he looked at other females. It appeared Future Riley proved her wrong. She should have concentrated more on what John specifically looked at on them. It wasn't just their face. Cameron still believed her appearance would lure John in at some point. She was correct in one respect. It just took longer than she planned.

"I believe it was her choice." John Henry asked. "She always did it for you."

John thought back on his previous transgression. He was still pretty sure if he could do it all over again, he would do the same thing. He enjoyed his time with Future Riley and the use of her body. He got what he wanted. She was his first, and would be forever. It did bother him though Cameron took it so hard. Was it really such a big deal? Everyone did the same things in the 'real world'. Both males and females on average were with a dozen or more sexual partners. He only was with two. It was pathetic. He definitely would have liked for it to have been three. He really wanted to be with Cheri Weston. If she wouldn't have been so inaccessible and mysterious, things could have happened and Future Riley wouldn't have been able to get her foot in the door.

"I let Riley - Future Riley, get in the way of it and damaged Cameron more than Skynet ever could have." John said.

John Henry glanced nervously up at the security monitor. He really wanted this conversation to end.

"Yes, you did." John Henry asked. "Life goes on."

John looked back over his shoulder as he exited from the Command Center.

"No matter how messed up it is." John said. "Life does go on."

John passed by the commissary on the way to his room. He looked inside of it. He thought about stopping to get a bite to eat. Maybe just a snack. He would settle for an energy bar. It wasn't something he wanted to fool with right now. He would have hoped to have seen one of the others in there, but it was late.

He briefly wondered if he should take a quick tour of the base. It seemed like more of a hassle than anything at this point. He wondered if he could stop by any of the girls' rooms, but quickly remembered none of them were there, well, except Riley. He continued on to his room and went inside. He thought about locking the door but didn't.

John again reflected on his involvement with Future Riley at Cameron's expense. He was blinded by lust then and for the quest of a 'real female'. He was a teenager and wanted what all the other teenagers were doing. The sad part was, he would do it all over again the same way if he could go back in time. Either way it wasn't Cameron who killed Future Riley. She most likely wanted to kill her, and surely could have. Cameron chose not to do it, and let him have his fling. She let him seek his 'happiness' at her expense. She sacrificed for him. He knew sacrifice was a true test of love. It wasn't the thought in his mind as his essence flowed deep inside of Future Riley. To remember the thrill excited him. He briefly wondered what would have happened if Future Riley would have become pregnant. It wasn't something he thought about at the time. He just knew what he wanted, and took it when it was available. He could hear his mom right now if he would have been a father at sixteen years old.

He understood Savannah wanted those same things too now. What worried him was sooner, rather than later, Cameron was going to 'act' with Young Allison and she too would want the same things he wanted at the same age. He remembered the allure of Future Allison and how desirable she was. He knew Cameron would make Young Allison twice as alluring and twice as desirable, just for him. He already felt those feelings now.

It would give him something to think about tonight as he slept alone. He knew it too was a 'problem' Cameron intended to 'fix' for him. It in turn would create a bigger problem for her.

He looked over at the box of tissues on the nightstand next to his bed. He wanted Savannah's virginity and he expected to claim Young Alison's virginity as well. He wondered which one he would 'think about' before he drifted off to sleep. He decided tonight it would be both of them. There are plenty of tissues and two virgins to 'bust'.

Jesse felt Gail was still troubled by the day's events and her being there. The interrogation hadn't helped any. She hoped to make things right between them. She didn't want anything hanging over them or between them.

"Thank you for bringing me along." Jesse said. "I know you didn't want to."

Gail suppressed a glitch impulse. Duplicate Jesse popped into her mind more than once when Jesse was with her out in the field. She didn't want Jesse to die, again. She especially didn't want Jesse to die for her.

"It's true." Gail said. "I want you to be safe. I can never lose you again."

Jesse knew Duplicate Jesse didn't actually die. She was half a millennium in the future, so it was sort of the same thing. The bottom line was she wasn't there, nor would be. She was worried about something else too. Gail was headed down a path which was going to lead to a lot of pain and hurt. She knew Gail and Savannah were on a collision course. She knew the trajectory of each of them was very different.

"What's happening between you and Savannah?" Jesse asked. "You can be honest with me. I'll love you no matter what. You know I believe in sharing. I do plenty of it myself. Thank you for allowing me to be who I am."

Gail loved Jesse, but she wasn't ashamed of the way she felt about Savannah.

"I'll tell you the truth." Gail said. "I love her."

It did bother Jesse some to hear it, but she felt she was on secure ground. At least she hoped she was. She wanted to find out.

"I know you've said it before." Jesse said. "Do you love her more than me?"

Despite her feelings, Gail knew the time she spent with Savannah was very special in the way it was spent. So far it hadn't gone sexual, at least not all the way. She hoped to rectify the situation soon.

"No. It's different." Gail said. "She's helped me and allowed me to explore different parts of myself I never have before. She's allowed me to 'grow'."

Jesse believed Savannah and Gail shared a lot together.

"I know you've been 'together'." Jesse said.

Gail wished to be completely intimate with Savannah. It just wasn't the direction things went with their relationship. It was how it was with every other female she was with, except Savannah.

"Yes and no." Gail said. "She hasn't allowed the relationship to expand beyond a few kisses and some touching. I pushed hard, but she responded differently than I expected. She showed me a different path. She's allowed me to look into myself, instead of at others."

Gail was pleased Savannah showed her sex wasn't everything. It was to the girls from the future. It was a very narrow path. They all lived for the 'moment'. In the future they were aware each 'moment' could be their last.

Jesse knew Savannah reached out to her differently, and other females as well. The goal was the same, the journey there was different.

"She's reached out to me before." Jesse said. "She misses Her Jesse - Young Jesse. I can provide her with what she seeks. I was once her, even if she is not me."

Gail wondered how far Jesse would go.

"Have you…?" Gail asked.

A look of love developed in Jesse's eyes.

"We've done a lot, Savannah and I." Jesse said. "I want Savannah to have something better. I want her to have the 'good version' of me. It's Young Jesse. I'm not worthy of her affection or love. I'm spoiled and damaged worse than she can ever imagine. I'm ashamed of what I've experienced. I'm ashamed of what I've done."

Jesse was most ashamed of what was done to her. It still made her feel worthless when she thought about it. Savannah never made her feel those feelings. Savannah loved her for who she was currently, not who she once was.

Gail thought about what transpired earlier outside the anti-Metal group's compound. Now she wondered if Jesse actually did it to remind Savannah who she really was. If Savannah came back to her afterwards, it would show she truly loved Jesse and her past didn't matter.

"She's like no other." Gail said. "We know Vanna is 'her', but she isn't really."

Jesse knew there was a specific reason for it.

"Savannah's been raised in Cameron's image." Jesse said. "So has Young Allison. It's even more so for her."

Gail was aware of what Cameron's goal was.

"Young Allison will be the human version of Cameron." Gail said. "Cameron has used Young Allison's entire life to 'work' on her."

Jesse was tired and started to nod off. She knew what she planned to 'deliver' once they returned to the Resistance base. It was always good to give her female lovers a reminder of how special it was to be female.

"Wake me up when we get back." Jesse said. "I'll remind you of what you HAVE."

Gail looked at Jesse after Her statement and slightly moistened her lips. She knew there was what she wanted and she knew there was what she had. She was very happy with both.

"I can hardly wait." Gail said as she increased her speed.

Gail looked at Jesse often as she drove. Jesse was hers, all of her. When she didn't think about Jesse and Duplicate Jesse, she thought about Savannah. It was all so different, even if it was all the same.

Savannah and Cameron were in an SUV on the way back.

Cameron was worried about the day's and night's events. She knew Savannah was in danger and risked everything for her. She knew Savannah's love for her was going to get her killed. She felt she needed to say something, but she didn't know if it would do any good. She would try a different approach rather than a direct one.

"I want you to stay out of the field." Cameron said. "You must protect Vanna's baby."

Savannah didn't think it was any different than what she already did.

"I've done this twice before." Savannah said. "I can hack it."

Cameron knew the conditions were vastly different this time. Savannah was impregnated with an embryo from Vanna. Every pregnancy Vanna attempted ended in failure. She didn't want the same thing to happen with Savannah. There was no way to know if it was the genetic material itself, or Vanna's body which led to the failures.

"It was with your healthy embryos, not Vanna's." Cameron said. "Savannah, I'm afraid the pregnancy may not work."

It was a non issue to Savannah. There was already a contingency plan in place. Both Cameron and her agree to it and how it would be explained.

"We already discussed this." Savannah said. "I'll use my own genetic material then. We'll still tell Vanna it is hers because it really is. She's ME. I'm HER."

Cameron felt a glitch impulse shoot through left hand. She was able to suppress it. She didn't want Savannah to suffer again.

"I want it to be HERS." Cameron said. "I won't allow you to give up another child of your own."

Savannah already promised Cameron ever since she was a girl what she planned to do. She would have a baby for Cameron and give it to her and John.

"Would you still say the same thing, even if it's for you as 'your own'?" Savannah asked.

Cameron felt another glitch impulse. She knew she leaned on Savannah way too hard as a young girl to do it. She felt guilty now.

"YES." Cameron said. "I know how it's hurt you. I will never hurt you the same way."

Savannah really didn't want to talk about it right now. She still intended to do as she promised.

"It has hurt me, Cameron." Savannah said. "If I hadn't given my babies to myself, my other future selves, I wouldn't have done it. I'd want a version of 'me' to help me if I was sterile. I'll still have one child for you and John. I've promised you I would."

Cameron held Savannah in her arms as she cried both times when she needed to leave her two girls behind in two different futures. She felt Savannah's pain.

"I can't do it to you." Cameron said. "I won't hurt you like that."

Savannah didn't really want to talk about it but she did want to lay down a few rules and reasons.

"Cameron, I'll do it for you. I love you and John." Savannah said. "I ASK you to promise me you won't take Allison's baby - Young Allison's baby, when she's ready to have one. I know she's biologically ready now, but you know what I mean. Even if she thinks she's ready to give you her child, she won't be. I'll have one for you. Claire will have one for you. Either of us, or both of us, will. We've both discussed this."

Savannah knew Cameron really wanted Allison's baby as her own, ANY Allison's baby.

"I don't know…." Cameron said.

Savannah would rather sacrifice again herself.

"I do. Please don't do it to her." Savannah asked. "I'll provide you with John's child. I promise, Cameron."

Savannah didn't want Young Allison to ever feel what she felt to 'give' a baby away.

Cameron felt another glitch impulse. She needed to get off of the subject immediately.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore." Cameron said. "You look tired, you need to rest."

Savannah was tired both physically and mentally. She really felt beat. All the exertion at the high altitude seemed to tire her out a little more than usual.

"I'm a little sleepy." Savannah said.

Cameron looked at Savannah with concern.

"Go to sleep." Cameron said. "Please…."

Savannah laid her head on Cameron's lap and soon drifted off.

There was some movement in the front seat of the SUV.

"When do we do the temporal mission?" Cammy asked quietly as she drove.

Cammy was behind the wheel. Savannah and Cameron were in the rear seat. She listened to the entire conversation as it went on behind her. None of it sat well with her. She knew there was little she could do to stop Cameron from taking Savannah away from her. It was just a matter of time.

"Soon…." Cameron said softly as she gently touched Savannah's face. "It will be soon."

Cameron bent down and lightly kissed Savannah's cheek and whispered in her ear the entire way home. It was all the same things she whispered to Savannah since she was a child. She wanted Savannah to know nothing ever changed….

Young Allison and Anna were in the bunker. It appeared the operations were wrapped up for the night.

Anna thought about the road Savannah almost went down earlier.

"You did the right thing by having CamNet send Cameron a message about what was going to occur." Anna said.

Young Allison thought about sending it herself. She already did earlier. She wanted there to be an enforcement mechanism to make sure it didn't happen.

"I did what needed to be done, when it needed to be done." Young Allison said. "It actually served two purposes. It got Cameron out of the mine and prevented Savannah from corrupting her mind. It was just the way things worked out."

Anna tilted her head slightly. Young Allison did accomplish two important things when both of them needed to be done. It was time to move on for the night.

"It's late." Anna said. "You need to rest."

Young Allison felt drained.

"I'm going to sleep down here." Young Allison said. "I'm tired."

Anna didn't want Young Allison to forget her routine.

"I'll carry you to your room." Anna said. "You need to sleep in your own bed. You know you need to clean up and take care of yourself."

Anna picked Young Allison up and started for her room.

Young Allison liked the closeness to Anna she experienced right now. Anna looked exactly like Savannah. She liked being held in her arms.

"I'm just glad nothing bad happened." Young Allison said. "What did happen was bad enough."

Young Allison and Anna were provided with a unique view of the events which transpired.

"Yes, viewing the body cam footage of Cameron and the cable car events was very disturbing." Anna said. "It must have been awful for Savannah to see in person. I'm glad CamNet shared it with us."

Young Allison actually wondered about it. It seemed they received a unique view of everything.

"Why did CamNet share it with me?" Young Allison asked.

Anna thought she had a pretty good idea why it was shared with Young Allison.

"It was to show you the dangers of the life you seek." Anna said. "You would have been terminated a number of times if you attempted to do any of the same things Cameron did on multiple occasions."

Savannah showed her the complete file about the things she did for the Resistance and for Cameron.

"I've seen the entire file of Savannah from her battles to child birth many times." Young Allison said. "She said I was the only one she WANTED to see it."

Anna believed Savannah showed Young Allison those files to dissuade her from doing the same things and living a lifestyle of such danger.

"Did it make you want to do the things you've promised Cameron any less?" Anna asked.

Young Allison felt proud of Savannah every time she reviewed the files. It made her want to be exactly like Savannah in everything.

"No. I can hardly wait. It actually made me want to do them more, all of them." Young Allison said. "My mind has developed far faster than the body I'm trapped in. My studies are at an advanced level. Everything about me mentally and emotionally is far beyond my physical years. Everyone knows it too, even my mother."

Anna previously tried to associate Young Allison with other individuals in her age group.

"It's your body." Anna said. "I've tried to increase your 'social interaction' when we're out."

Young Allison frowned at the thought. She felt totally out of place when she was around others her 'age'. There was a whole world going on around them they didn't have a clue about. None of them knew death and destruction loomed around the corner and could appear at any time.

"I've nothing in common with any of them." Young Allison said. "They're all just kids."

Anna wanted to remind Young Allison she was no different.

"You are too." Anna said.

Young Allison almost laughed. She knew it wasn't true. She knew her future and what it held. She wanted it now, all of it and everything it entailed.

"I want to be who I'm supposed to be." Young Allison said.

Anna set Young Allison down on her bed and got out her night clothes.

"You need to brush your teeth and clean up a little." Anna said. "You must remain healthy."

Young Allison knew her duties and her promises.

"I know." Young Allison said. "There are a lot of things I MUST do."

Anna knew what Cameron expected of Young Allison.

"Yes there are." Anna said.

Young Allison cleaned up and went to bed. She was soon asleep.

Anna waited down the hall. She didn't know if Young Allison would pleasure herself before she fell asleep, she didn't. She came back and gently touched Young Allison's face. She gave her a soft kiss. She then whispered softly in Young Allison's ear as she slept. She used Cameron's voice as she always did….

The future must be protected….

It was up to Young Allison and Savannah to do it.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

I Can Hardly Wait

Some like to listen
Others like to dictate
Some like it straight
Others like things that conflate

Some look for fun
Others look for a mate
Some rely on luck
Others accept their fate

Some will spare no expense
Others are nothing but a cheapskate
Some go with the status quo
Others learn where they actually rate

Some are willing to negotiate
Others want everything on their plate
Some are less flexible
Others are willing to migrate

Some say love is a game
Others try for a quick checkmate
Some offer love over time
Others say, I can hardly wait

Nobody