Chapter 769

Longer Than You Thought

Cameron debated what to do. She knew where Savannah was at. She was in her menagerie of unactivated cyborgs. She wasn't sure how to approach it and not make it worse. It was clear what she thought was going to be a good idea actually turned out to be anything but one. She was sure it was such a 'problem' because Savannah was so young when she 'lost' her parents, all three of them.

She waited outside the room Savannah was in. She needed to think what to do.

There was nothing to think about. It was time to act.

Cameron opened the door and went in.

Savannah stood between her 'parents'. She didn't turn to look at Cameron.

Cameron thought because Savannah ignored her, maybe she should leave.

She was sure it was all one big mistake at this point in time.

Savannah was lost deep in thought. There was an opportunity here to 'see' her parents again. There were parts of them 'alive' with the 'Neural Interface'. Even with actual data, it would still only be an illusion. Her parents were dead. The idea to speak with them again was very enticing. What she would speak to, would still not be her parents. It would be a cyborg programmed to think they were her parents.

It was hard for her to move forward when the direction was unknown. Was this really a step forward, or was it really a step backward? Maybe it was nothing more than a misstep. What possible good could come out of it? Wouldn't it all hurt more for her in the long run, if not sooner?

Savannah heard the door open behind her but she didn't look. It could only be one person. She knew Cameron was there.

Cameron did not say anything.

Savannah knew she was about ready to leave. She didn't want her to go.

"Come here, please, Cameron." Savannah said.

She still hadn't turned around to look at Cameron.

Cameron came up behind Savannah. She didn't say or do anything. She wasn't really sure what she should do. It still seemed like she should leave.

Savannah was still deep in thought. There were a lot of thoughts cascading around her mind. Some of them were good, a few of them were not. Most of them were nothing but a jumble.

"They look so 'alive'." Savannah said. "Even as they lie here 'dead', they look like they're sleeping."

Cameron wasn't sure exactly what she should say. She wanted Savannah to know they were the same as her. She wasn't sure what it was worth, but she thought it might mean something to Savannah.

"They're machines, like me." Cameron said.

Savannah felt very conflicted inside of herself. What was she doing there? What did she think was going to happen? Was it possible for any good to come out of this? Why did life need to seem so complicated at times? Why couldn't everything be easy? Why couldn't anything be easy?

"I don't know what to do." Savannah said. "My parents are dead and have been for more than a decade or longer. It's hard for me to remember them. Sometimes I don't know what I actually remember, or what I think I remember is what I remember. Maybe I don't remember the reality at all. Maybe it's only the reality time has created."

Cameron was terrified she was losing Savannah. It was her worst nightmare. She felt she needed to say something to try and fix things.

"Savannah, I apologize for this." Cameron said.

Savannah turned and faced her. She didn't think Cameron needed to apologize for anything.

Cameron saw Savannah's eyes were welled with tears and her face was red with grief, or anger. Maybe it was both. She hoped she wasn't looking at the face of hate. Her worst fear was for Savannah to hate her and reject her. It would be her own fault too. Everything happening in the room was her doing. The blame rusted squarely on her shoulders, not on anyone else.

Savannah didn't want to be angry at Cameron. She understood Cameron wanted to do something special for her. She loved Cameron dearly and knew Cameron didn't try to hurt her by doing it. She knew Cameron wasn't human. Human emotions were hard for Cameron to understand, no matter how much she tried and was around humans. Maybe what she needed right now was a hug from Cameron. She wanted to be close to someone and Cameron was the one who was dominant in her heart.

"Hold me." Savannah said.

Cameron moved up and very gently held Savannah until she felt Savannah grasp her and hold her tight. When it happened, she did the same thing. She could feel everything inside of Savannah reach out to her. Savannah wanted her for more than sexual comfort. Savannah wanted her because she was who she was. She couldn't help but remember how she was treated with such disdain for who she was by Sarah, Future Derek, and even John, when she first became associated with them.

Savannah never treated her like they did. Vanna and Allison never did either. Jesse took a little longer to win over, but she was able to win her over completely. She felt if she could make Jesse love her, she accomplished something. Future Allison took a little while to get on board. After what she tried to do to Future Allison, it seemed quite understandable it would take her a little longer to believe she was there to help her and to save her. She was very pleased she was able to accomplish it as well.

Right now Cameron was very unsure of herself and questioned all of her actions.

"I make everyone hate me." Cameron said. "I'm sorry, Savannah."

Savannah looked up at Cameron with tear filled eyes. She didn't want Cameron to think the wrong thing. There was no hate or animosity in her heart for Cameron.

"Hate you? How could I ever hate you?" Savannah asked. "I love you, Cameron."

Cameron was touched.

"I love you too." Cameron said.

Savannah looked into Cameron's eyes.

"Cameron, earlier…." Savannah said.

Cameron shifted uncomfortably.

Savannah adjusted her arms as she held Cameron, she touched something. It was something she didn't want to find. It was a Thermite grenade.

She remembered what CamNet told her. She was a little worried when she heard it. She told CamNet she didn't believe Cameron would use it. CamNet assured her Cameron would if she felt she needed to.

"CamNet said you would bring it and threaten her." Savannah said.

Cameron felt she lost control of CamNet more and more each day. She believed Savannah was a counterbalance to the issue.

"I did. CamNet is me, but I'm not CamNet." Cameron said. "You've taken control of CamNet from me."

Savannah didn't feel the same way at all. It was never her intention. She wanted to assist CamNet. Maybe what she did with CamNet, is what Cameron wanted to do with her 'parents'.

"No. I'll be a positive influence on CamNet." Savannah said. "I control Nobody. It's wrong for anyone to control anyone else. Everyone needs to be who they are. If they can't be who they are, then what are they? They are Nobody."

Cameron was aware the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

"CamNet is flawed, like me." Cameron said.

Savannah wasn't sure flawed was the proper term. Everyone was flawed if it was the case. It was more about actions, than it was the makeup of a person's mind. Savannah believed redemption was available to anyone who was willing to accept it. Not everyone was willing to be redeemed.

Her dealings with the homeless were a case in point of it. Some people were offered a way out and a path forward. They didn't want to take it. They would rather live in misery and squalor. It really made no sense. She knew there were a lot of issues inside people's heads. Most of them weren't good. Some of those people needed help. They were never going to get it.

"CamNet overstepped HER bounds." Savannah said. "I will guide her down a different path. I'll 'fix' her."

Cameron was sure Savannah would take CamNet down more than one path. Maybe it's what needed to be done if she wanted to be 'fixed'. She believed Savannah was able to 'fix' her. Maybe if she could 'fix' her she could 'fix' CamNet too. She believed Savannah saved her life in more ways than one. One thing was for sure. Savannah never gave up on her. It seemed there were many times when she gave up on herself. Savannah never did. She believed she owed her existence to Savannah.

"You've 'fixed' me." Cameron said. "I'm still here. I wouldn't be if it wasn't for you."

Cameron knew she would have been destroyed in combat facing Skynet several times over if not for Savannah being there for her. Savannah even stayed to die with her. She wanted to protect and save Savannah. Instead Savannah protected and saved her. It is never how she imagined it would be.

Savannah released Cameron. She then turned and kissed each of her 'parents' on the cheek before gently covering them back over. She knew life moved forward. It was time to do it. To dwell on the past, and what could have been, was the road to nowhere. Her life and her future were in front of her. Wallowing in sadness and sorrow did nothing.

"I need to go see Young Allison." Savannah said.

Cameron knew Savannah thought deeper than sexual gratification or activity.

"Are you going to 'fix' her too?" Cameron asked.

Savannah believed anyone could be 'fixed' if they wanted to be.

"I'm going to try." Savannah said.

The tears were gone and the beautiful smile was back on Savannah's face.

Savannah took Cameron by the hand and led her out of the room.

"We can dwell in the darkness or shine in the light." Savannah said.

Cameron thought of some of the events of her existence. Many of them didn't leave her with a positive feeling at all.

"I think I dwell in the darkness." Cameron said.

Savannah looked at Cameron and smiled. She didn't believe Cameron was stuck there.

"I shine in the light." Savannah said. "So will you. The light will guide you from the darkness."

Cameron knew she needed to trust Savannah. Savannah believed in what she said.

"I'll try." Cameron said. "I know you'll guide me."

Savannah gave Cameron's hand a loving squeeze. She wanted to refocus both of their minds. Neither one of them belonged in the darkness when the light was right in front of them.

"Let's go see OUR future mate." Savannah said.

Cameron's face lit up with a smile. Those were the kind of words she liked to hear. It was part of the goal of her existence to make it happen. Savannah was by her side to make sure her mission was completed. Savannah always gave her hope.

Savannah was very pleased with Cameron's change of demeanor.

"See, you are a ray of sunshine." Savannah said.

Cameron learned something a long time ago. It started when Savannah was just a young girl. It seemed to grow over time. She always felt very comfortable when she was around Savannah. She always felt she talked to the real person inside of the body. It wasn't the person the body wanted to radiate like it was with most people. It was genuine and true. It was honest and open. Sometimes she believed Savannah lost everything but hope. She couldn't help but think it was the name of one of Savannah's daughters. She gave Hope to everyone 'in some future', including Mrs. Weaver. Savannah always made her feel more comfortable and hopeful.

"I am, when I'm around you." Cameron said.

Savannah wanted to make sure Cameron didn't forget it.

"Will you be the same way no matter what we do?" Savannah asked.

Cameron wanted what Savannah told her was there.

"I'll become the sun as we do 'more'." Cameron said.

Savannah wanted to remind Cameron of the things she did have. She knew sometimes it was easy to forget what was right in front of a person. It happened to everyone at some point.

"You have the best of both worlds at your command." Savannah said.

Cameron believed it was a two way street.

"You do now as well." Cameron said.

Savannah was in a more playful mood now. She wanted to give Cameron something to think about.

"My 'Yin' has no 'Yang'." Savannah said with a sly smile.

Cameron tilted her head slightly as Savannah led her away.

It was clear in the Command Center what was about to happen next.

Cammy wanted to do something. She wanted to lead an assault.

John wanted a better plan which might involve less damage to their Terminators. They came up with one. Not everyone was pleased with it.

John Henry listened to the plan as it was laid out. He saw only one possible outcome from every scenario related to it. He wanted to make sure John understood the direction things were going to go no matter what course they took.

"John, they're going to go hot." John Henry said.

John agreed with his assessment. They need to find out if one of the big trucks was actually there or not. He couldn't help but feel it was what guided him more than the safety of the Terminators involved who would be the ones who found out.

"I can see it." John said. "Let's see if the 'Trojan Horse' works."

John Henry didn't like the plan. He needed to make his disapproval clear.

"We still don't have a good plan." John Henry said. "I think they need something better."

John was tired of fooling around with the Skynet forces. He wanted action.

"If we want to find the trucks, we need to do something other than what we've done." John said. "If one of the trucks isn't where they're at, we need to find out where it is and go to the next location. The other troops out looking so far haven't uncovered anything."

John Henry was painfully aware his efforts to find them on his own hadn't bore fruit. There were teams of Terminators looking in several locations. There was one team headed towards another location given up by the two Grays in the quarry. They didn't have anything to report yet. The closest thing they could act on was where Cammy's team was located. He understood when Cameron was out there, she needed to act.

"Agreed…." John Henry said. "It's not a good plan. Sometimes there never is a plan. There's just action."

John wondered about the other Resistance Terminators who were out there searching as well. Cammy's team wasn't the only one with a lead.

"What about the other teams?" John asked. "They must have some leads."

John Henry felt he undertook a Herculean effort to go through every single frame of footage on every camera they could find to obtain a clue.

"Both CamNet and myself are working to find them. We're reviewing every surveillance camera and every traffic cam along every route." John Henry said. "There's a lot of effort involved. We still don't know if it's actually two big rigs we're still looking for. The equipment could have been stashed somewhere. The big rigs could still be on the move to create confusion. It was much the same thing they did with the two boxcars we detected in Cajon Pass. They contained nothing but a booby trap when we looked inside of them at the big yard in West Colton. It's something we need to keep in mind on every step of this operation."

John was aware of their hard efforts. He knew they didn't like getting played any more than he did. The issue of the missing trucks along with the missing HK equipment was now personal to all of them, more than it was professional. He couldn't help but feel they were very lucky to run down one of the trucks as it was. He was glad he was a part of it. He still felt it was all his responsibility. If anyone got damaged on any of the current operations, it was going to be on him.

"I know you're both working on it." John said.

John Henry did feel they uncovered a few things they hadn't anticipated. One was the secret bunker on the grounds of the nuclear power plant at Serrano Point. He believed it was actually a bigger find than any of the three trucks would be. Skynet was up to something. They were able to interrupt it before it was completed. If they wouldn't have been doing what they were doing, it would have remained undetected.

"Look at the other things we have accomplished in this search." John Henry said. "Maybe we did get lucky on a few of them. Everything was going on right under our noses, specifically my nose, I didn't know about. It was something well thought out. If I didn't oversee the Serrano Point Nuclear Power Plant, I wouldn't feel as bad about it. I do oversee it. It happened right in front of me. I apologize to everyone who was almost terminated in the effort to destroy it."

John was reminded of the danger he watched Savannah go through at the location, at several different points in time. None of them sat well with him.

"We also experienced a few close ones, especially Savannah." John said. "She really pulled us through the operation and salvaged it several times single handedly. Things could have ended much differently than they did."

John was still troubled by what he saw Savannah go through and do. She always took the risk. She put the burden and the danger on herself. She was also willing to sacrifice so others would be spared. He wondered if he could have done half of what she did and not buckled. He honestly didn't think so. He didn't think many people could either.

His mother tried hard to prepare him for the future. He saw her in action and her bravery. He saw all the same things in Savannah too. Like his mother, Savannah rose to the challenge. She met the challenge and exceeded it. Maybe he did see his mother in Savannah. Then again, his mother did have a hand in Savannah's upbringing. If his mother was a positive influence on Savannah, then his mother did a much better job with Savannah than she did with him. He believed it was something his mother should be proud of.

John knew he was only a punk teenager until he went into the alternate future he created. It was in combat there he was able to use the skills his mother taught him. He didn't have his mother or Cameron to rely on. He needed to do the job himself. He felt he rose to the challenge. He believed he made a difference there and accomplished something.

He also knew he received a lot of help to do it. Mrs. Weaver, Allison, and the Reese Brothers all aided and supported him greatly. He still did a lot on his own.

He thought back on it. It made him think of the way he needlessly destroyed Cameron. All they needed to do was wait a few days. Why didn't he wait until they tried to move her into Federal custody? Why did he make Cameron go into a fortified location to get her out?

Seeing Cameron's destroyed and lifeless form in the chair would forever haunt him. How did she end up the way she did? How could he have done it to her? Why did he do it to her? There were a lot of his decisions he needed to question. Right now wasn't the time.

He needed to get his head back in the game. They were about to have troops in combat soon. They were about to face the unknown.

Now Cammy's team was headed into action.

"Our team is on the move." John Henry said.

John wanted to see how things would go.

"It's Showtime." John said.

The three Terminators at the target location decided to act. They thought about a direct assault. It would be the quickest, as well as the most dangerous. There was another plan they wanted to try. It was a little more unconventional, but should work just as well. They would approach the location from three different sides. Sheila would take the front, Cammy would take the side, and Bob would take the rear.

Cammy moved in along a row of stacked old pallets. Some of the stacks were collapsed against others. The entire area looked unstable. It was actually a wonder some of the homeless hadn't started a fire and burnt them up trying to stay warm. It was a common occurrence. She observed pallet yards on fire before on the news. They burnt intensely.

Bob was on the backside of the building. He was in motion as well. He was actually on the other side of a fence on the property in back of the one they were after. It totally concealed his progress as he closed in on the target building. Even if the enemy watched the rear of their building, it was doubtful they watched the rear of the building behind them.

Sheila was on the main street. She held a map they found in one of the vehicles they passed by. It was a map of Oregon. For this endeavor, all she needed was a map for a prop. The real props which would do all the 'talking' were barely contained within her blouse right now. The beauty of it all was, they wouldn't need to say a word but merely show themselves.

The three Resistance Terminators all moved into position. They were all ready to go.

"I'm in position." Cammy said. "I'm ready to move in on the door on the west side. I see no one."

Bob was up against the fence on the other side in the rear.

"I have the back covered." Bob said. "I see no external activity."

Sheila was on the street in front of the building in plain sight. It was the plan.

"I'm in front. I look like a 'drongo' with this map all unfolded, wrinkled up, and flopping in every direction." Sheila said. "I don't see anyone either."

Cammy began to wonder if anyone was even inside. So far they hadn't personally observed anyone. No sounds were detected either.

"Maybe they're out." Cammy said.

Bob felt it could be more sinister than the enemy being away. Maybe they were made the moment they arrived. Maybe one of the two men he wanted to terminate warned them. Since the two men were homeless, there wasn't a lot they wouldn't do for money. To sell someone out seemed to be one of those things. The entire building could be an ambush point now, or a giant booby trap.

"Maybe they're waiting for us." Bob said.

John was a little worried about Sheila's bold plan. He knew it was a Terminator thing. He thought it applied more to Cameron and it did the other Terminators.

"Sheila, are you sure you still want to go in the front door?" John asked.

Sheila knew it was a good plan. They used similar ones before against the drug and sex trade groups. What she didn't care for on this one was the map she carried. It made her look like a 'doofus'. It was all part of the act to make her look non-threatening.

"We need to act soon. I don't think they'll see me as a threat. I only have a loose tank top on." Sheila said. "But I still feel like a 'dill' with this map."

John was well aware how Sheila could get anyone to focus their eyes on one, or both of her nipple rings, when she exposed a breast, or both of them.

"I don't think they will look at your map." John said. "You have a way of 'distracting' people, both men and women."

Sheila enjoyed when she made people look where she wanted them to look. Her only worry going up against the Skynet forces was she wouldn't be able to wear any type of armored protection. She didn't want her breasts damaged any more than Cameron did. It wasn't because they actually did anything, since they were non functional, but they were part of her sheath. They were a part of what made her who she was. Her appearance was important to her, as it was to all female Terminators. She looked down at the front of her loose tank top. Everything was inside and ready to go. It always was.

"Those are 'props' I don't mind using." Sheila said. "But I don't have any body armor on now."

Sheila was worried she may get shot up. She didn't want to lose a nipple ring and the breast it was attached to. She saw the damage done to Cameron before. She was aware some of the damage was so horrific things couldn't properly regenerate without waiting many months. Even such a long wait may not have fixed the damage. Cameron was lucky enough to get some appropriate replacement sheath material and a new influx of Allison's DNA.

She was glad there was a group of 'Jesse's' to tap into for fresh DNA if she ever needed it. If she ever did need a fresh DNA sample, she hoped Young Jesse would be the one to provide it. It was just the thought of it which seemed appealing, even if the DNA was identical.

Cammy's words brought her back to 'now'.

"I offered to go in your place." Cammy said. "I have everything you do."

John Henry didn't want the Metal girls to think about the modifications they did to their sheaths. They needed to concentrate on the task right now and not each other.

"Stay focused on the mission." John Henry said.

Sheila was still in a playful mood.

"John won't be after hearing everything." Sheila said. "He's seen what I have."

Cammy continued to move her position forward. There was no opposition, nor were there any types of security devices visible.

"I see no surveillance cameras." Cammy said. "I've moved to the side door."

Bob observed nothing in the rear either. He decided to move his position up to be ready to strike instantly.

"I've pried a metal section in the rear fence loose." Bob said. "I don't see any cameras or sensors anywhere in the rear. I'm about to advance to the rear door."

He'd be able to move through the fence rather than climb it. It would help keep him less visible the way it was done.

Sheila decided to get the ball rolling. She was the one who took the lead on the operation. If there was anyone inside, it was to draw them up to the front.

"I guess it is time for me to 'ring' the bell." Sheila said. "I would rather have my 'bell' rung."

Sheila walked up to the front door and tried it. She might just get lucky.

It was locked.

She figured someone watched her from inside. It was time for some bait.

Sheila fumbled with the map and pretended to get off balance. A breast with a nipple ring popped out.

The door was immediately unlocked and it opened.

It appeared her suspicions were correct and someone just took the bait.

"What do you want?" A gruff voice asked.

Sheila played the part.

"Hello, Mate. I'm new in town and lost." Sheila said. "I'm looking for 'City Hall'."

The gruff voiced man looked out, and then up and down the street.

Sheila made a point of covering her breast while folding the map and then having it pop out again as she put the map in her pocket.

The gruff voiced man's eyes were transfixed as he looked at it.

Sheila noticed. She made a point to slowly tuck it back into her tank top.

"I'm sorry." Sheila said. "We have topless beaches where I come from. It's no big deal there. Everyone here seems uptight about it. I'm not sure why. It's something all females have anyway. I say if you have it, then go ahead and flaunt it. Now I'm going to have to buy a top, or a whole new bikini, so I can sunbathe by the pool. I really hate tan lines. I mean what's the big deal? It's just a pair of norks with a little jewelry."

The gruff voiced man looked up and down the street again.

"It's not something you see everyday here." The gruff voiced man said. "Are you by yourself and alone?"

Sheila wanted to convey the fact she was lost and alone.

"I got separated from my tour group." Sheila said. "We're only here for a day. I don't want them to move on without me. They might not even miss me."

The gruff voiced man checked the street one more time. He wanted to make sure there were no witnesses. He was aware some of the homeless types frequented the area, but he didn't see any of them currently.

"So nobody knows you're here?" The gruff voiced man asked.

Sheila knew what was about to come next. She wanted to make sure she was 'invited' in the front door.

"Nope…." Sheila said. "I lost my phone too. They couldn't even find me if they needed to. I'm sure my phone would end up pinging somewhere across town at this point. It's a good thing I have a nice bloke like you willing to help me out."

The gruff voiced man's eyes were focused on her tank top. He absent mindedly adjusted the front of his pants.

"Really?" The gruff voiced man asked. "So no one can track you either…."

Sheila wanted to sound a little indignant.

"Track me?" Sheila said. "I'm not a 'Roo'."

The gruff voice man took another look up and down the street. It was clear.

"You can use our phone." The gruff voiced man said. "It's inside."

The door opened all the way.

"Thanks, Mate." Sheila said as she entered the building.

The gruff voiced man went outside behind Sheila and looked up and down the street again. He double checked to make sure it was clear and no one observed what was about to happen.

She heard the door close and lock behind her.

Sheila knew the Grays Just made a big blunder. They thought they just took her captive. It was actually the other way around. They just didn't know it yet.

"You're going to be staying a little longer than you planned." The gruff voiced man said. "You're about to learn a few new 'customs'."

Sheila thought she be teaching a few new customs instead.

It was clear the sheep didn't have a clue they invited the wolf into their pen. It was evident the little head always made the wrong choice over the big head.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

In A Situation Like This

What you've done
You can never justify
Did it ever matter to you
How you made me cry

Aren't my feelings
Of importance or concern
As for another you yearn
While me you spurn

I should matter
I too am somebody
It kills me to death
To be made to feel like Nobody

I still cling on
Snapping at any scrap
It's been proven true
Love itself is a trap

If it was another person
YOU had to watch me kiss
How would you feel
In a situation like this

Nobody