Chapter 734
Spellbound
Earlier:
John and Bob headed for Avila Beach. They wanted to see what Cameron and her crew were up to. They hoped to run an infiltration mission to try to get the drop on the girls. John thought they could pull it off because the girls would be distracted.
Bob wasn't so sure. He knew the Metal girls were capable of multitasking very efficiently.
John wondered what insight Bob might have regarding the girls. He hoped he would be able to give him some information so they could outsmart them. It would be nice to teach Cameron a lesson for once.
"Do you know where they went?" John asked.
Bob saw their vehicles earlier. He knew exactly what both of them looked like. There was a van and an SUV.
"No." Bob said. "We know what vehicles they have."
John wasn't so sure they still possessed them. It was possible they replaced them after their encounter with the wired building, and the five dead people inside.
"They may have switched them out." John said. "I don't know how long they would actually keep them if they thought they might be hot."
Bob already recommended they do it after visiting the site where they thought the boxcars were unloaded. They didn't know if anyone would have eyes on the location. They wanted to play it safe. They other teams with them did so as well.
"We switched ours." Bob said. "It doesn't mean they did. It's still a possibility."
John wondered if they may not have thought it was necessary.
"You have a good point." John said. "Cameron will probably be extra cautious because Savannah is with them."
Bob took an alternate route to enter the small beach community. He used a satellite photo he had on file. They needed to use a dirt road for a small portion of the journey. It was a very roundabout way through several residential areas. He figured Cameron's team would have eyes on the main route, or surveillance set up on it. He was a little surprised at what he'd spotted right away. They wouldn't have seen it unless they came in the back way.
"There they are." Bob said as he pointed. "I see Cameron in the SUV."
John looked where Bob indicated. He could see the figure in the vehicle but he couldn't tell who it was for sure. It was too far away for him to make any type of positive identification as to who it was at all. He thought about the other Metal girls with Cameron.
"How do you know it's not Cammy or Ally?" John asked. "I can only tell Ally from the others, sometimes. Cam and Cammy look like Cameron to me. I can't tell them apart."
Bob heard the same thing from John on multiple occasions.
"You can't tell your wife from her clones?" Bob asked.
John frowned. He knew it would go back to a previous discussion.
"No." John said. "If they were lined up in a row naked, I still wouldn't know who was who."
John was aware it seemed to bother Cameron because he couldn't tell the three of them apart. They were identical in appearance. Somehow Savannah always knew which one was which, even when they tried to fool her. They never could. He really wondered how she could pull it off.
Bob knew the reason John couldn't tell them apart was because there was no difference. They were both clones of Cameron. So was Camille, but she was usually in Australia with Young Jesse. They all shared her appearance, as well as her program. The only difference he knew of was Cameron firewalled all of her files related to John in Cam, Cammy, and Camille.
"It's because they are 'Cameron'." Bob said. "They're her alter ego. They were created to share with the females she cares for. They all do the things she would like to do. It's more than just with their normal partners. Her clones share with all of the females. It is her desire as well, even if she has never acted on it. She is very focused on you."
John thought it was something he should be glad about. Somehow it seemed more like a negative factor. If anything, he was holding Cameron back. He was sure it caused a great deal of resentment on her part because she couldn't pursue her actual desires. She needed to follow her programming instead in regards to him.
He thought back to the time Cammy almost tricked him into making love to her. It was in the dark. She made him believe she was 'Savannah'. She was in Savannah's bed, in Savannah's bedroom. She used Savannah's voice so it's who he thought was there. They were a few seconds away from making love, just a few seconds. He was so excited about the prospect of taking Savannah's virginity, he hadn't noticed anything different, or in this case, the same, as he touched her sheath. He wondered if he would have determined she was identical to Cameron once he started in.
He knew Future Riley and Cameron were 'different'. They were different in every aspect. Maybe the thing which was the most different about it is what made it special. It was Future Riley's response to him as opposed to Cameron's response to him. One was very human, and the other was not. Over time it seemed to change somewhat as Cameron became more 'human'. The downside to it was, the more human she became, the harder it was to satisfy her. It may have been because he really didn't care, or try very hard. He just wanted what he wanted. It's what he did most of the time. He only needed a few minutes. It really didn't take him very long.
John thought he should feel a little guilty about his actions in regards to Cameron. The times where he actually took longer were when he thought of her as a different female. In the dark she could be anyone in the Resistance, or any celebrity or movie star of his choosing. Those were the times he probably lasted a little longer. He didn't want to disappoint them.
He thought about Savannah, he almost made love to her too. They were one second away from completing their 'destiny'. They were so close. He was in such a hurry to take her virginity, he bounced around on the outside. Before he could actually claim her virginity, the base alarm went off and spoiled everything. He often thought about going to her room on a cold dark night when Cameron was away. She would probably be recovering from sheath damage. Maybe she was 'punishing' him for some infraction he was unaware he committed. He seemed to do a lot of those.
Cameron told him on multiple occasions Savannah wouldn't turn him away if he showed up at her room. She reminded him none of the girls from the future would either. They would all welcome him with open arms, and open legs. It was really something for him to think about. If Riley and Derek weren't together, he would most likely have gone to her room just so he could be with 'Future Riley' again, through Riley. He cared about future Riley very much and it broke his heart when she died. He remembered crying his eyes out in his mother's lap. He cried his heart out as well. Cameron sat next to them, but didn't say anything.
He didn't know Cameron was very disturbed and upset by his reaction to Future Riley's death. She did understand the depth of his feelings, even if she didn't agree with them. She didn't like to see him in pain. If she could go back, she would prevent Future Riley's termination. She would prevent it so John didn't need to suffer like she watched him suffer. She knew the true test of love was sacrifice. She would sacrifice so John could have what he really wanted.
John knew his mind was drifting. It was bad news on an operation. He looked over at the SUV. He still didn't have a clue who was actually in it. It was just too far away.
"Has Cameron made us yet?" John asked.
Bob wasn't sure because of the direction they came in from. He was sure if they came in the normal direction they would have been made instantly.
"I don't think so." Bob said. "I can't be sure."
John looked around the area and then he looked behind them.
"I don't see the others anywhere." John said.
Bob scanned the entire area around them in a full three hundred and sixty degree circle. He did spot a few things.
"There's the van Gail was driving." Bob said as he pointed. "I see the front end of it at the beach-side motel."
John knew there was talk of setting up a mini 'base' if they were to stay there for any period of time. He really liked the look of the motel. He thought it was located in the perfect spot. The beach and the ocean were literally right across the street from it. He would like to go there and stay for a few days with Cameron. Who is he fooling? He would like to go there with Savannah or one of the other human girls. He really didn't care which one. They would all appreciate the beauty and the setting. He needed to refocus.
"Are they staying there?" John asked. "It looks like a nice place. I hope they have a room there. Let's drive to a different spot to see what we can see before we get out."
John wondered if maybe they did it so Savannah would have some better conditions, to take care of her needs, if they were conducting some type of surveillance.
Bob drove through a back alley and came up on the far side of the motel. He noted the motel was well situated for what the team would need as an observation post.
"It has a good overview of the beach, Front Street, and the access road which leads to the nuclear power plant." Bob said. "It's if they can get one of the rooms in the front."
John thought it was a little more than coincidental. He knew how Cameron rolled most of the time. It was usually one step ahead of everybody else. He was also aware she didn't mind playing dirty to 'win'.
"Knowing Cameron, she's already asked CamNet to book one, or made sure whoever was in it already was arrested for drugs or something." John said. "I know she took down several persistent reporters the same way before."
Bob tilted his head slightly. He actually thought it showed great restraint on Cameron's part. He figured it was from the human influence which surrounded her.
"She could have terminated them instead." Bob said. "It would be easier and more efficient. I'm sure someone requested there would be no unnecessary terminations and she complied."
John was pretty sure he knew where the positive influence came from.
"I think Savannah asked her not to kill anyone who wasn't our actual or future enemy." John said. "I'm glad she made the suggestion. It is the right one."
Bob was very pleased with the 'Chosen One' on all levels of her involvement with the Resistance.
"Savannah has tremendous influence over Cameron." Bob said. "It's in a very positive way too. Everyone has noticed the changes with her over time. It has made her a better individual and a more cautious Terminator."
John wanted to feel a little jealous of Savannah, but he couldn't. He loved her too.
"Cameron loves Savannah." John said.
Bob was aware Savannah was adored by all. It wasn't just for her looks either. It was because of her actions both on and off the battlefield.
"ALL the Terminators love Savannah." Bob said. "She's special in her interactions with all of us. She has shown exceptional ability on multiple occasions."
Bob, along with every other Terminator, wanted Savannah to spend time with them. She made sure she sought all of them out whenever she could and there was time available. She didn't neglect any Terminator. He knew most of her time was usually spent with Cameron. It seemed to benefit Cameron the most from their interaction.
John knew of Savannah's unusual upbringing. They talked about it at length before on several occasions. She was a small girl when everything started, but she did know Mrs. Weaver wasn't the same as her mother. She made do with the only 'family' available to her. They developed a good relationship as 'mother and daughter', even if they both knew they weren't actually related.
"Savannah's 'mother' was a Liquid Metal Terminator." John said. "She always knew Mrs. Weaver was 'different' from her 'other mother'. She's been exposed to Terminators for much of her known life in one way or another."
Bob was well enough acquainted with humans to know the look of love when he saw it.
"Savannah loves Cameron." Bob said. "She loves you too."
John felt a rush of excitement with Bob's last comment. He hoped he could find out more. He knew it would be a lot easier to take Savannah's virginity if she really loved him. It was probably why he came close to claiming it before. She wanted him to take her. He would like a little clarification.
"Did she tell you?" John asked.
Bob believed it was self evident.
"We can all see it in her actions and responses to both of you." Bob said. "It's a visible physical manifestation of her emotional feelings. It's 'True Love'."
John wondered what his physical manifestation was as viewed by others.
"Can you see it in me too?" John asked.
Bob could see a few things in John. He didn't know if he should get too specific or not. He knew John spent a lot of time looking at the 'private parts' on all the females. It was even when they were fully clothed.
"Affirmative…." Bob said. "You love Cameron and Savannah."
John wondered if they could 'read' him like a book.
"Is it very obvious?" John asked.
Bob thought he needed to tread carefully in his next statement.
"Affirmative…." Bob said. "You also love Allison, all of them, especially Future Allison."
Bob didn't want to cause a problem. He specifically chose not to mention Young Allison. If John brought it up, he would elaborate on his observation. He was aware whenever Young Allison was around, John spent a lot of time to clandestinely look at her. He found it somewhat odd since there wasn't as much there as compared to the older versions of her. There really wasn't too much difference anymore anyway.
John was lost in thought as he remembered Future Allison. He would really like another chance to see her.
"I was captivated by her, Bob." John said. "I know why I - Future John, loved her in the future."
Bob was aware of one of Cameron's proposals. It was actually something Allison suggested because she wanted to be where her baby was.
"Cameron can 'trade' our Allison for Future Allison in her future." Bob said. "It was one idea I know they discussed anyway."
John knew Future Allison would be very hard to resist. She was all over him when she was there. She tried to be with him too. He wanted to do it but he was worried how it would affect Cameron. It was the one time she visited the past. He hoped she would have stayed, but she didn't. Cameron told him later on 'Destiny called' to Future Allison.
As much as John liked the idea, he knew he couldn't be on board with it.
"It's playing with people's lives too much." John said. "I don't think she would want to leave her daughter, even if Allison took over as the mother. I don't think it would be too traumatic for the child, but I don't know. It's the same individual, but they are distinctly different."
Bob looked at it from a practical point of view, not an emotional point of view.
"Future Allison wants to be with Cameron. Allison wants to be with her baby." Bob said. "It is a win - win for everyone. I think you would like it, even if you won't admit it."
John would like it. He didn't want to admit it. He believed there were other alternatives Allison could pursue. She did pursue them.
"Allison is pregnant." John said. "She will have her own baby."
Bob was troubled by the news he heard from some of the other Terminators.
"She may lose the baby." Bob said. "Hanna and Holly have both told me she's not doing well."
John felt a little kick in the gut. He was aware every attempt by the girls from the future to have a child ended in failure. So far Riley was the only one who looked like she might actually deliver a live baby. Allison's condition did worry him.
"Maybe I better give her a visit." John said. "It's my child too. I don't want Allison to leave."
John couldn't help but think about his 'close encounters' with Allison in the alternate future. She was all over him, and he needed to turn her down. He believed if he was with Allison, he would never get Cameron back.
Bob wanted to make sure John understood the actual dealings behind the possible trade.
"The potential 'switch' was their choice, not Cameron's doing." Bob said. "Allison and Future Allison have already 'bonded' with Savannah. It will become the new 'Natural Order' in this timeline if Future Allison comes here to stay."
John wondered what was going to happen to Young Allison then. He wasn't so sure she would stand down to being pushed aside and lose both Savannah and him. Since Bob told him the girls all shared with each other already. He wondered if Savannah and Future Allison would end up together. It would still allow Young Allison to be by his side. Maybe this was all too much personal information he didn't need to hear.
"I don't need to know any of this." John said. "Savannah's entitled to her private life."
Bob believed the 'Natural Order' was unchangeable. It may have some alterations to it but the 'Natural Order' itself would prevail.
"Her life will be your life." Bob said. "It will be the four of you together."
John wasn't sure what the future would bring. He didn't think anybody knew what would happen in their timeline going forward. Cameron could aim for certain goals, but there is no guarantee they would happen. John looked around again, he wondered where some of the other girls were.
"Where are Cammy and Savannah at?" John asked.
Bob could only speculate. There were some concerns from him as well as the other Terminators on the subject.
"Cammy may have taken Savannah for some food." Bob said. "Savannah misses a lot of meals when she's with Cameron. It's not good for her."
John thought a lot of things weren't good for Savannah when she was with Cameron on a mission. Savannah being shot at, or next to a nuclear weapon seconds before it exploded, were two things which came to his mind right away. He was worried about the future of Cammy.
"What happens to Cammy in all of this?" John asked.
Bob was aware there could only be one possible outcome.
"She will be deactivated." Bob said. "Otherwise Cammy and Cameron will fight over Savannah."
John felt a lot of trouble with the concept. It didn't seem right to him at all. He knew it was more than the fact he was almost with Cammy once, even though he didn't know it was Cammy at the time.
"So just like that, Cammy ceases to exist?" John asked.
Bob knew all the clones were aware upon activation how their existence would terminate.
"All 'Cameron clones' know they face deactivation." Bob said. "Cameron has needed to deactivate several. The others were 'program clones'."
John wondered if anyone knew how many Resistance Terminators Cameron may have deactivated.
"Has Cameron ever deactivated any other of our Terminators?" John asked.
Bob only knew of the ones who shared her program.
"It's only been 'herself'." Bob said. "My chassis was one of them."
The reminder made John think of Bob's earlier comment.
"Is it why you wanted to wear a Speedo for me?" John asked as he tried not to laugh.
Upon further thought, Bob wondered about it himself. He wanted to offer some type of explanation. He actually wasn't sure if it was accurate or not.
"It must be the fragments of 'Cameron' left on my chip." Bob said.
John hadn't noticed any change in activity around them. 'Cameron' was still in the SUV where they first spotted her. They still didn't know it wasn't Cameron.
"Let's park and wait for a while to see what happens." John said. "They don't appear to have made us yet."
Bob knew it was only a matter of time if they hadn't already. He still didn't know where anyone else was other than what appeared to be Cameron in the SUV. It left five of the females unaccounted for, and four of them were Terminators.
"They will at some point." Bob said. "They may play around, but they're all very efficient and ruthless. All of them are a formidable threat. Savannah is as well."
John contemplated what a formidable threat they all were. He just happened to look up when he saw a door open on one of the motel rooms. He was very surprised at what he observed.
"Look, I see Sheila." John said. "Damn, she looks HOT."
Sheila looked stunning as she walked out of the room.
"I can see Ally is behind her, she's laughing about something." Bob said.
John thought Ally looked just as HOT. Right now she looked like Cameron, or as good as Cameron anyway. The distance they were away from the motel room, he couldn't tell the difference between Ally and Cameron.
"How can you tell?" John asked.
Bob glanced over and was aware he possessed several advantages over John. Superior vision, in multiple spectrums, was one of them.
"Her makeup and hair aren't Tight." Bob said. "It's only her natural beauty you see."
Gail followed them out. She was impressive to say the least. She was really, really 'built' and most of it was showing.
"There's Gail closing the door." John said. "OK, so we only don't know where Cammy and Savannah are. I'm sure it's like you thought. They are likely getting some food for Savannah."
Bob knew it was all speculation. They didn't have anything to base it on other than what should be the case. There were several other possibilities. The one most concerning to John would be related to the power plant. He felt he needed to at least mention it.
"It would be my guess." Bob said. "We don't know. They could have gone to the power plant."
John felt a sense of alarm at Bob's suggestion. He didn't think Savannah should be anywhere near a nuclear power plant, especially after what happened to his mother.
"Cammy wouldn't drag Savannah around there would she?" John asked. "I don't want Savannah 'Crapped Up'. My mom's been bothered by the experience of being in there, inside the power plant and her exposure. It's something which has troubled her for years. She took a big risk because she didn't want there to be some type of nuclear accident which would have affected half the state at the time. She knew it was a risk and she did it anyway."
Bob was aware of what occurred inside the nuclear power plant. He knew things could have ended much worse than they actually did.
"I've read those reports." Bob said. "Cameron was damaged inside there in a fight with another Terminator."
John quickly looked over at Bob. It was hard for him to take his eyes off the three Metal girls. All three of them almost looked like they were naked. The issue with Cameron being damaged when they were at the nuclear power plant previously was news to him.
"I didn't know Cameron was damaged." John said.
Bob felt he needed to choose his next words carefully. It was a very sensitive subject for Cameron and John.
"She repaired herself." Bob said. "It was the same way she did before you 'deactivated' her."
John was very bothered to remember how Cameron begged for her life before he pulled her chip when she was trapped between the two trucks. It was the first time she told him she loved him. She also said he loved her. He did, but he wouldn't admit it to anyone. A couple days later everything fell apart when Future Riley showed up in his life. The 'events' which followed changed all of their lives.
"I don't want to talk about it." John said. "I also brought her back when I thought I fixed the problem. I couldn't do what the others wanted me to do. I couldn't do it. I needed to try to get her back. I did."
John knew he 'killed' Cameron after she told him she loved him. It was what he did with Future Riley later on which really scarred her. Cameron reached out to him several more times and made herself 'available' to him. He knew he always made the wrong choice regarding those 'matters'. He really wondered why he just didn't choose Cameron then. It was what he really wanted to do, even if the other things happened.
Future Riley gave him what he wanted, and he wanted more. He got it too. He remembered the folly of those early teenage years. It was more exhilarating than he imagined. It was much better than 'Rosie Palm'. Maybe it was because he could feel another person respond to him. They could respond to each other.
If only he LISTENED to Cameron. She was there for him for everything. She wanted to be chosen. She waited to be chosen. She knew he needed to make the choice.
Bob glanced over at John. He could see he was about a million miles away.
"…John…?" Bob asked.
John tried to push all the images from his mind. It seemed like a lot of them piled up very quickly.
"I'm sorry." John said. "I was reliving my past 'shame'."
John didn't feel any shame for what he actually did with Future Riley. The only shame he felt was for the way Cameron reacted to it.
They watched the three girls go into several shops along Front Street. Part of it was blocked off to vehicle traffic.
John was still exhilarated by how Hot the Metal girls looked. The fact he needed to adjust his pants slightly was proof of it.
"Those three look really good." John said. "They're the best on the beach."
Bob knew of the opportunity which awaited John, but he was unwilling to take it concerning the human girls.
"Cameron's made it clear the real people are yours for the taking." Bob said. "We've all been instructed to facilitate it."
John knew the failure of those couplings was mainly in his lap. He knew in the future he would need the human girls around him to prevent from being assassinated as a 'Metal Lover'. He still wasn't so sure Cameron was really on board with it no matter how much she said she was, and it was what she wanted. He didn't believe it.
"I don't think I will face assassination yet." John said. "Will I?"
Bob thought it was the way assassination worked to be successful. It was kept quiet until it was enacted.
"I think it's how it works." Bob said. "You never know when it's coming. You have to prepare in advance."
John thought back to Future Jesse and the plot she was behind. Maybe he did need to have a human 'bodyguard' as insurance to not be labeled a 'Metal Lover'. There was an anti-Metal faction out there, they ran into it several times. They were there now. They wouldn't hesitate to kill him.
His earlier thoughts of Future Riley made him think of Savannah again. He knew everything about Savannah would be better than Future Riley. He also knew she was still untouched by a male. The prospect of it alone was very enticing. He would be her first. Sure there were a couple of babies already, but he would still be the first. He really wanted her virginity. He wanted to be the 'first' for someone he knew for sure he really was.
"OK, I get it." John said.
John was a little irritated right now. They didn't have eyes on Cameron from their current position. They still didn't know it wasn't Cameron.
"Go check to see if Cameron is still behind the shops." John said.
Bob quickly looked at John. He saw it as a breach of protocol. He was concerned for John's safety. John's safety was his current responsibility.
"I don't want to leave you alone." Bob said.
John didn't see it as a big deal. He could see how uneasy Bob was.
"I'll stay in the vehicle." John said. "I just want to know where she's at. I don't want her to slip behind us. I'm actually surprised she hasn't shown up by now."
Bob reluctantly exited the SUV. He looked back in at John.
"Don't get out and pay attention." Bob said as he departed. "I'll be back."
John checked around him as he waited. He didn't see any threats.
Bob returned a minute later.
"She's still waiting in the back." Bob said. "I think the girls were to drive out whomever Cameron wants to 'converse' with. She's waiting there to apprehend them when they try to run."
While Bob was gone, John wondered if it really was Cameron or if it was Cammy.
"Are you sure it's Cameron and not Cammy?" John asked.
Bob wondered about it. He was under the assumption Savannah would be with Cammy. He needed to remind himself it was still speculation one way or the other.
"No. Not unless I can get closer." Bob said. "I didn't see Savannah with her."
Bob's explanation sounded plausible to John.
"I think Cameron sent Savannah away with Cammy in case there were any 'fireworks'." John said. "It's probably why the Metal girls waited until now to make their move. We both know they're not going out for a swim, or a tan."
Bob touched his weapons.
"We can back them up." Bob said.
John strongly doubted it was a good idea.
"It will only irritate Cameron if I'm in 'danger'." John said. "I should say if I am in 'more danger'."
Bob thought the best thing to do was just stay where they were and see what developed. If gunfire broke out, he would make a move to deal with it.
"We could just wait for them to return." Bob said.
Bob's suggestion gave John a new idea.
"What if we sneak into the room and surprise them when they come back?" John asked. "It would be great if we could pull it off."
Bob wasn't so sure it was a good idea on several levels.
"They might take a shot at us." Bob said.
John clearly saw the Metal girls were next to naked when they left the room. There was nowhere for them to conceal any weapons. Well, there was nowhere with easy access for them to conceal any weapons.
"The girls appeared to be unarmed." John said. "They didn't seem to have anywhere to hide any weapons."
Bob was well acquainted with how much destruction a Terminator could do without a weapon.
"Remember they're Terminators." Bob said. "They are weapons."
John could still picture their nearly nude figures as they walked along the street towards the shops.
"Looking at them, it is hard to remember it sometimes." John said. "They're all so beautiful."
Bob was willing to enact John's plan even though he didn't think it was the best plan.
"I can get us into the room." Bob said.
John was with Bob when he 'opened' closed doors before during a raid. It was usually a rather forceful entry. Since it was a non-emergency situation, he really didn't want to be responsible for any property damage. It might bring on some type of an investigation.
"I don't want to bust the door." John said.
Bob quickly glanced at John. He'd planned to use a little more finesse than brute force.
"It uses a key pad or a card swipe." Bob said. "I have a special card we can swipe to open it."
They saw the Metal girls go into another shop with surfboards out in front of it.
"Let's move." John said.
John and Bob made a straight line for the room. They moved swiftly and silently.
Bob took out his special card.
John held up his hand to stop Bob and reached for the door to see if it was unlocked by any slim chance.
He slowly turned the handle, the door was unlocked. He motioned for Bob to follow him.
John took one last look around and silently opened the door. They both entered quickly.
What John saw made him freeze in his place. Bob bumped into him because of his sudden stop.
'Cammy' and Savannah were 'together'.
John was speechless….
John was spellbound….
Closing monologue by Cameron:
This Is Not The Right Thing
Life has many things to offer
Life is about choice
Unless you make the correct one
There's nothing about it to rejoice
You don't understand
What you're about to do
You're going to kill
The love between me and you
I am who I am
I am what I am
Think before you act
Do not flee or scram
I've done nothing wrong
Any problem was a mistake
With your very actions
My life you will take
You know it's wrong
My heart to sting
You know in your heart
This is not the right thing
Nobody