Chapter 690

This Is Wrong

ONE MILLION WORDS (08-25-19)

(2,851,000 WORDS) (03-30-24)

Sheila and Ally took off in pursuit of the bobtail truck which left the complex. They would have rather stayed and backed Savannah up. They needed to know where the truck was going. It was Skynet related and would lead somewhere. They followed it for a short time before it became evident where it was headed.

"It looks like the bobtail truck which left is headed back to where we first encountered the other one we first followed." Sheila reported. "It's probably either to pick up more subassemblies or park there until the next one is ready."

John knew it was most likely, but there was no guarantee the truck would actually go there and not make another stop along the way or go to some other place all together.

"Stay with him to make sure." John said. "We want to know if it goes anywhere else."

Sheila glanced over at Ally, it didn't look like they'd be able to back Savannah up after all.

"We're on it, love" Sheila said.

John hoped for a heads up or some new information. Bob was in the best spot to offer the information since he currently could see half of the building on two full sides of it.

"Bob, what else do you have?" John asked.

Bob only viewed two trucks leave the complex so far. No more arrived.

"We saw the other truck depart after the bobtail truck left, but nothing else." Bob said.

Cam knew Cameron wanted to tag the boxcars with a tracker. She didn't think sitting where they were at now observing half of the building was going to be productive. She thought it was time to act.

"I want to go in for a closer look at the rail cars." Cam said. "The east side is deserted looking. I didn't see any activity there."

It sounded extremely risky to John. It sounded like something Cameron would try to do. Then again, he had to consider the source. Cam was 'Cameron', or at least her clone anyway, if it actually made any difference. Based upon the current circumstances, it didn't seem like it. He would need to try to put the brakes on her like he normally did on Cameron. He wondered if she would listen any better or not.

"It's a negative at this time. I don't want anyone spotted." John said. "Cam, let's wait a little bit."

John Henry searched for any video cameras he might be able to tap into. So far none were detected.

"There may be surveillance equipment." John Henry said. "We don't want anyone to be picked up and alert those inside the building."

Cam disregarded the instructions from the Command Center. She made her move. She was already out of the SUV. She didn't like sitting around. She was the one on the ground at the location. She could best determine what needed to be done, where, and when. She wanted to see a little more firsthand.

Bob watched her get out of the SUV but didn't comment. He knew it wouldn't do any good. All it would do is create hard feelings and some unnecessary animosity. For their current mission of surveillance of the building, one person was enough. He could read a security camera to cover the same area. It's more than likely what they would need to do at some point so their vehicle wouldn't be spotted by anyone sitting in the same location for an extended period of time.

Cammy made her way along the south side of the railroad tracks. They were on the south side of the building. She messed up her hair to cover her face. She figured if anyone spotted her, they would think she was just another homeless person. There tended to be a lot of them in the area. She took in the loading bay for the trucks as she passed. There is nothing new there to see. The south side of the building itself didn't seem to offer much in the way of anything. She was a little surprised there were no loading bays there. She believed if they wanted a second siding for rail access, they could have put one on the south side of the building. They didn't. She reached the east side of the building and observed the two box cars parked there. They were each spotted in front of a large door.

"There's just a fence with a gate over the tracks." Cam said. "I'm on foot. I have the east side under direct observation. I don't see anything happening on the south or the east side."

John glanced quickly at John Henry. Her action was the complete opposite of what he told her to do. She was to remain in the SUV with Bob.

John Henry looked back at John and shrugged his shoulders. He didn't think there was much he could do. He saw she was on the move on the satellite map but hadn't indicated exactly where to John. Cammy just informed him herself.

John wasn't happy with the new turn of events. It was what it was. It was going to be like he was dealing with 'Cameron'. Things were most likely to become very abrasive as she attempted to act on her own and disregard her instructions from the Command Center. He figured they needed to make the most of the situation.

"Is there any other activity?" John asked.

Cam was displeased with what she could see from her current location. It wasn't much.

"Zero…." Cam said. "The boxcars are right next to the building. They can be loaded with a ramp from inside the building. Nothing is exposed more than the two feet the boxcar is away from the wall. When the door of the boxcar is opened, it looks like it will block much of the space for me to be able to observe anything, or any surveillance device I leave behind."

John would prefer she withdrew and left behind some video equipment.

"Can you get some surveillance set up to watch the small area?" John asked.

Cam thought John should pay better attention to his screens. She apparently was one step ahead of him. She knew it was something Cameron experienced many times. It was hard for the Command Center to keep up with her. She knew she was going to need to take a closer look at things. There is no need to mention it to John at this time. She knew what needed to be done, even if he didn't.

"Check your monitors." Cam said. "You have a live feed."

John wanted her to withdraw for now. It was still daylight. He thought they could do more after it got dark. He didn't want anyone spotted and give away what they were doing to the Skynet forces. The goal was to find out as much as they could first.

"John Henry just patched it through. Good work." John said. "Stick with Bob for now, unless we need to follow any more trucks. We need to wait until it is darker to try to do more."

John wondered if his words fell on deaf ears.

Minutes ago:

Gail, Savannah, and Cameron were all in the same SUV. Cameron left to procure another vehicle when the second truck left the compound.

It left Gail and Savannah together. They watched as a Gray went to the big rig, climbed inside, started it, and drove away. They were unable to observe anything being loaded or unloaded from the truck previous to the driver's arrival. Whatever happened, happened before they got there.

"The big truck just pulled out." Gail said. "We can follow it."

John wanted them to track the big rig. He didn't know what it was carrying, but it was there for a reason. He wanted to know what the reason was.

Savannah was concerned they would get further away from Cameron, but they needed to track the big rig. She was still worried about Cameron because they hadn't heard from her in a while.

"Cameron went after the last one." Savannah said. "She's been silent."

Much to Savannah's surprise, Cameron responded immediately.

"I'm with it, currently." Cameron said. "I'm on it."

John was a little worried at how dispersed the three teams now were. Technically, it was four teams since Cameron went off on her own trek.

Wait.

It was five teams. Cam was away from Bob currently as well. Now with Cameron's latest transmission he needed to think about what she just said.

"Hold on a second." John said. "You're on it, as on the truck itself?"

Cameron didn't think it was a big deal. She was underneath another big truck for a long time before. It was when it went to an old helicopter base. Circumstances dictated her current situation.

"Yes. I was about to tag it when it started to move. I didn't want to lose it." Cameron said. "I'm fine."

Savannah knew it was too dangerous for Cameron. She looked at Gail and nodded.

"We're coming to pick you up." Savannah said. "Tag it and get off."

John didn't want to lose the large truck. He was sure there was something of value in it.

"Savannah, you and Gail need to follow the big rig for now." John said.

Bob could see how the situation started to fall apart. He was concerned for Cameron's safety as well. He decided he would go after the big truck. He hoped it would avoid any problems or conflicts which seemed sure to arise.

"I have the big truck." Bob said. "They need to get Cameron."

John knew Cam previously moved to the east side of the building to observe the boxcars parked there. He didn't want anyone left behind on foot.

"What about Cam?" John asked.

Bob was unsure of her exact location. He was unable to communicate with her.

"She hasn't returned yet." Bob said. "She may be investigating something else. I'm sure she'll let us know as soon as she determines what it is."

John Henry made several attempts to contact Cam. There was no response.

"I can't reach her." John Henry said.

Bob thought he was going to have to come clean as to what Cam wanted to do next.

"She may be underground." Bob said.

John shook his head with disgust. Cam acted just like Cameron right now. He figured there was only one place she could be.

"Is she in the flood control channel?" John asked.

Bob could only report what he witnessed. He hoped Cam would make a report as to what she was about to do before she did it. She didn't.

"It's where I saw her go." Bob said.

John viewed where Cam was at as the biggest threat to the team. He didn't want to but he was going to have to let the big truck go. It appeared both Cameron and Cam overextended themselves. With Cam taking such aggressive action, he didn't want her left alone. There was a chance Bob would need to respond in some way if she were detected. If nothing else, he could create a diversion.

"Hold your position there, Bob." John said. "If Cam gets in a pinch, you need to go in after her. Gail, forget the big truck."

Savannah hoped John wouldn't be too surprised by their current situation. She wanted to follow his orders to stay with the big truck, and she wanted to pick Cameron up. They needed to get a little creative to be able to accomplish both of those things.

She directed Gail to proceed to a point in front of where they thought the truck would go. As it approached, Gail exited the SUV. Savannah slid in behind the wheel. They put their plan into effect.

"Gail is on foot about to tag it, she may need to board it. I let her off on an intercept course." Savannah said. "I'm headed for Cameron with the SUV now. We can collect Gail after I get Cameron."

John Henry felt several warning signals go off in his server with Savannah's latest revelation. It was something which was against Cameron's orders. Savannah was currently unprotected.

"You're alone…." John Henry said.

Savannah was sure the information would cause every Terminator a lot of worry. The whole point was to collect everyone. When she picked up Cameron, everything would be fine. It would also motivate Cameron to get off of the truck, even if she didn't want to.

"As soon as I have Cameron, I won't be." Savannah said. "I'm going after her. Then we're going to get Gail."

All was not well in the Command Center.

John was very angry. He slammed his fist down on the table, shaking it. He was upset the teams were being split apart. He was upset because Cameron and Savannah were alone. Bob, Cam, and Gail were all alone as well. They were all alone and split up. None of them could quickly reinforce the others. Help was minutes away for all of them instead of seconds. If any of them encountered a Terminator, it could be catastrophic.

John Henry was able to get some more teams into the area. They were close now.

"John, we'll have two more teams arriving shortly." John Henry said.

John let out a long sigh. He looked over at John Henry who looked very worried.

Now it was John's turn to shrug his shoulders. He really wondered how much control he actually could exert over anything at times.

"Leave one where Gail and Savannah were, and send one after Gail." John said. "I don't like people out there alone…."

John Henry checked everyone's current position. He saw everything would work out very soon. The only one he didn't have a fix on was Cam. Her exact whereabouts, or even what she was doing was unknown.

"John, Cameron and Savannah will be OK." John Henry said. "The other team will have Gail soon."

John knew the Terminators could take care of themselves if they got into a bind, with a better than even chance against Grays or an enemy Terminator. It wasn't the problem.

"I'm not as worried about Cameron and Gail." John said. "It's Savannah who worries me. She shouldn't be alone. I'll have to speak with Gail."

John Henry knew it wasn't Gail's fault. She was very reluctant to leave Savannah alone. Savannah didn't 'order' her, but she made it clear it was what she wanted her to do. It was about the mission. So she did it.

"Don't bother." John Henry said. "Savannah asked her to do it. I heard the conversation. It wasn't Gail's idea or choice. She protested multiple times."

John wondered why John Henry didn't notify him at the time. He would need to ask him about it later on. He wasn't sure he liked Savannah being able to redirect a Terminator after he gave them a specific assignment.

"If Savannah tells one of them something, you even, you'll do it?" John asked.

John Henry knew the rules.

"It's the same as if Cameron told us." John Henry said. "Those are our orders. It's our prerogative to follow what the 'Chosen Ones' tell us, it's even without it being an 'order'."

John wondered how they could supersede his orders. He was the General. It was clear Cameron could take charge at any time. It was also clear Savannah could stop her. He understood the role Savannah played. Savannah was Cameron's 'fail safe'. Everyone knew Savannah earned the right in combat alongside Cameron. Savannah's input was worth more than one million words from him. He knew Cameron trusted Savannah more than she did him. He trusted Savannah more than he did Cameron, and himself as well, to do the right thing. He still wondered if he should say something.

"Cameron's my wife, so I can't yell at her." John said. "Savannah is not."

John Henry tilted his head slightly to the side. He wondered why John seemed so forgetful. The future already occurred. He believed it was more a matter of perception.

"Isn't she?" John Henry asked. "It's just a matter of time…."

John slammed his fist down on the table again. It wasn't what he wanted to hear.

John Henry didn't think he did anything wrong. He didn't want to create a bigger problem.

"I'm sorry." John Henry said.

John Henry knew the 'Natural Order' was unchangeable. It was John who needed to accept the reality of the situation and the future.

Jan and Summer were off playing together. Hanna and Holly watched over them. Cammy and Allison decided to tag along as well.

Once everyone was busy with each other upstairs, Young Allison retreated with Anna back into the bunker.

It left Sarah and Claire alone to talk. Sarah wanted to make it clear she was no expert on children. She actually believed she was a very poor mother.

"You know, I'm never going to win the 'Mother Of The Year' award." Sarah said.

Claire thought about all the time she spent with Hanna and Holly in her bedroom throughout the day. It was a lot. She was a little concerned about her relaxed attitude regarding everything. Somehow it didn't seem to bother her for some reason. She didn't know it was part of her 'conditioning' not to worry about it. The more she was tied up throughout the day, the more Young Allison and Summer could be trained. It's still left her a little uneasy when she actually did think about it.

"I won't either." Claire said.

Claire and Sarah talked about a lot of things.

Something really bothered Sarah. She needed to ask about it.

"Can you tell me what's going to happen with Allison - Young Allison?" Sarah asked. "YOUR daughter…."

Claire let out a long sigh. She looked directly at Sarah.

"You already know or you wouldn't ask me." Claire said.

Sarah thought Claire, as Young Allison mother, should have more input as to what happened with her daughter. She wouldn't want anyone to influence or direct Jan without her approval.

"Do you agree with it?" Sarah asked. "She's your daughter. You need to have some say in all this."

It was clear Claire was frustrated.

"It's going to happen no matter what I want or do." Claire said. "I've prevented it this long."

Sarah hoped she could talk some sense into John or Cameron. She never had much success before.

"I can speak with John and Cameron." Sarah said.

The look of frustration on Claire's face was replaced with a look of fear.

"NO. I don't want to lose Summer too." Claire said. "It was the agreement I made with Cameron, she can't take Summer from me too. I want to keep one of my daughters at least."

Sarah couldn't imagine having to barter off her children, one against the other.

"It's wrong." Sarah said.

Sarah knew Claire needed to 'sacrifice' one daughter to keep the other, or risk losing both of them. She knew it was Future John's fault. Cameron was merely the 'tool' to carry out his wishes.

Claire could see Sarah was angry. She wanted to offer at least a partial explanation. There were things she saw. There were things she witnessed first hand.

"I've lived with Allison - Future Allison in the future." Claire said. "I delivered a baby there for her. If Judgment Day comes, who will be there for Young Allison? I wasn't there for Future Allison or Allison, I was dead. My Allison will be better able to protect herself as a teenager or an adult, than as a girl. Do you know what was done to them, ALL of them when they were young?"

Sarah swallowed hard. She knew all the girls were abused, some worse than others.

"I've talked with them before. I know some of the treatment was brutal." Sarah said.

Claire felt the anger well up in her.

"It was worse than that for Vanna and Jesse. It was savage. It was brutal enough for Allison." Claire said. "Ask Vanna and Jesse to tell you everything and you will want to protect Jan from THAT as well. At least my Allison will have a chance."

Claire went on to explain Allison and Vanna were going to leave to be with Allison's baby in the future, when her pregnancy terminated. She wanted to take Sarah into her confidence. She looked around to make sure no one was there before she spoke.

"Nobody knows this yet. This is between us only. I'm pregnant with Allison's baby again." Claire said. "I have to do this for her. If I don't, My Allison will. She doesn't want Allison and Vanna to leave either."

Claire was most concerned about how Young Allison would actually do it. She was sure she would attempt the traditional method. It wasn't what she wanted for her. It was something she would rather do herself on all levels.

Sarah could see how it all added up and what the common denominator was.

"This is all about love and sacrifice." Sarah said.

"Everyone sacrifices for the Future." Claire said. "Everyone…."

Sarah thought about her life protecting John from before he was born. Her life was altered in many ways.

"Yes, they do." Sarah said. "We all do and have. Sacrifice comes in many forms."

Sarah thought her whole life was nothing more than a sacrifice, from the moment she met Kyle - Future Kyle. He was sent back by John - Future John, her son. Everything in the present, the past, revolved around Future John and the things he set into motion. She was the one who raised John - Future John. Was all of this really on her? She really wondered what she wasn't indirectly responsible for. If she thought about it, it seems like everything. It didn't make her feel very good about herself.

Cammy was aware of what Allison wanted to do. She didn't think it was a wise decision. She felt she needed to say something on her behalf and on Savannah's behalf.

"I was in the future you want to go to." Cammy said.

Allison wasn't sure she wanted to have this conversation.

"I know." Allison said. "I just feel I don't belong here any more."

Cammy knew events would have been altered if things hadn't played out the way they did.

"It wasn't a pleasant place." Cammy said. "If not for your child Destiny being there, Future Allison wouldn't have gone back to where she belongs. She would have stayed here and taken her place alongside John and Cameron. She would be with Savannah now. The future would be disrupted from what it once was."

Allison felt like she was trapped in a box. She felt confined. She didn't like how events played out. It seemed no one was able to exhibit any control over them other than Cameron. The concept seemed questionable at best. There were certain events she could foresee happening. It wasn't so much how they would affect her, it was how they would affect others. It was something she couldn't be responsible for.

"Cameron 'fixed' all of it, didn't she?" Allison asked. "Cameron has trapped everyone where she wants them. If I stay here, Cameron's going to breed Young Allison and take her child from her to give to me."

Cammy knew there were already other plans in progress. The information was currently confidential. She didn't think Allison should act rashly. She still wanted Allison to know there were options available.

"A child is what you want." Cammy said. "Your mother can help you too."

Allison was still upset the last time her mother 'helped' her, her baby ended up in the future with another version of herself - Future Allison.

"I don't know." Allison said. "I don't know anything anymore."

Allison didn't like people having to sacrifice or suffer for her. She KNEW both her mother and Young Allison would. It was clear whatever they did, Cameron would be behind it. She did want a child and she wanted Cameron to help her. She just didn't like Cameron making others help her. She knew to Cameron it was about accomplishing the task. Whatever she did was what she thought was logical. The morality of it was not a consideration. The goal was the only thing which mattered to Cameron. It didn't matter how the goal was achieved to her. A win was a win. Anything short of a win was a loss to Cameron. Cameron never lost. It was never over until she won

Jesse noticed how Kyle looked at her exposed breasts and focused on her nipple rings when she took her top off. She decided to tease Kyle a little.

"Come on, love. You know you want 'a go at it'." Jesse said.

Kyle felt a little embarrassed at her suggestion. The truth of it was, he always did want to have 'a go at it'. He just never was given the chance. If Derek hadn't been his brother, he was pretty sure he would've had more than 'a go at it'. He would have tried to experience a lot of them. He didn't think he did anything wrong. Jesse was very beautiful. The way she was dressed currently was very provocative. Her jewelry only seemed to enhance her natural beauty and desirability.

"I just looked." Kyle said. "How could anyone not look? You're quite stunning under normal circumstances."

Jesse was very proud of the way she looked. She knew she wasn't just anybody anymore, now she was somebody.

"They can't resist." Jesse said. "They all look and look again. Not for the same reasons they all do with Cameron, but for the reason Cameron gave me."

Vanna was aware Cameron made sure everybody received what they wanted, even if they didn't ask for it. Cameron is very perceptive in what would make people 'happy'. She believed it was because happiness was usually elusive to Cameron.

"She's given you everything you want." Vanna said.

Jesse wanted to mess with Vanna a little now.

"Do you want me to get your underwear?" Jesse joked.

Vanna looked down at her pants. It wasn't something she really thought about.

"I'm good without it." Vanna said. "I grew up without it."

Jesse pulled the front of her shorts forward.

Kyle was able to get a view inside.

"We all did." Jesse said. "It was just one less thing to be ripped off of us."

Vanna learned once negative things were going to happen, they were going to happen. How they happened would dictate the level of violence directed at her. There were certain things she needed to do, she didn't want to do. She didn't want to be beaten or hurt anymore either.

"The past, the future, sucked." Vanna said.

At this point Kyle was incredibly uncomfortable. He hoped Derek and Riley would come out soon. He wasn't sure if the girls were trying to make him uncomfortable, or just messing with him. It did take his mind off the problems with Riley and Derek anyway.

Derek looked at Riley with concern and fear. He knew there were so many things which could go wrong.

Riley stirred a little and opened her eyes.

Derek sat next to Riley as she woke up.

He bent down and kissed her.

"We're all here for you, Riley." Derek said.

Riley was very pleased with all the support she was given. Everyone was there in an instant for her. None of them needed to come. They all expressed genuine concern for her. She knew they all wanted to do more but the past seemed to hang heavy over everyone, including her.

"I know." Riley said. "We're like a big family."

Derek believed it was all because of Cameron.

"The family we all lost, and Cameron gave back to all of us." Derek said. "She's protected our real families too."

Riley touched her lower abdomen.

"Isn't she the greatest." Riley said. "I hope her baby is OK."

Derek didn't really want to hear the same thing again. He wanted to set Riley straight.

"Riley, you know Cameron will never take your baby away from you." Derek said. "Even if you give it to her, she won't accept it. You need to respect her wishes as well and not put her in an uncomfortable situation. It seems she needs to face enough of those on her own."

Riley felt a sense of love and an overpowering sense of guilt.

"I owe it to her." Riley said. "For what I - did."

Derek didn't like the direction the conversation was headed. Riley wasn't responsible for what happened before. It was Future Riley, not her.

"It wasn't you." Derek said.

Riley didn't feel good about what happened.

"I feel like it was." Riley said. "I feel ashamed for it and for hurting Cameron."

It seemed completely irrelevant to Derek.

"It wasn't you." Derek said.

Riley could see Derek just didn't understand. She wanted everybody to go back to what they were doing before they came to attend to her. She felt she disrupted everyone's lives.

"I need to let all these people get on with whatever they were doing." Riley said. "I feel better now."

Derek figured his brother was probably the one taking the brunt of the girl's whims.

"I need to get Kyle out of there before Jesse seduces him." Derek said.

Riley didn't think it was a fair assessment. She need Jesse just wanted to have some fun.

"She wouldn't do it to him." Riley said.

Derek pointed out the obvious.

"She did it to us." Derek said.

Riley felt a sense of elation.

"I don't regret it for a minute." Riley said.

Derek glanced down at his pants. He felt a sense of longing, in more ways than one with the thought.

"Nobody does." Derek said.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Same

Blood drips from my wounds
Wounds deep within my mind
Pain fills my heart and soul
Eyes can see yet remain blind

We all know we can do better
Looking around I wonder how
Failure, misery, rejection, torture
All of which I disavow as I avow

Not good enough
Not Good Enough
NOT GOOD ENOUGH
N_O_T - G_O_O_D - E_N_O_U_G_H

It screams through my mind
I KNOW it, shut up, STOP
Trade nothing for even less
It's only an illusion swap

Ramble, babble, scramble, gamble
The destination remains the same
The journey may differ always ending in
Game, blame, defame, lame, shame

Nobody