Chapter 508

We Are All One

Ally and Sheila took one Gray into custody on a branch of the flood control channel. Sheila needed to leave for Palmdale right away with Hanna. It left Ally to deal with the Gray. He was tied up and gagged. He was still out. One of the teams of Terminators turned their SUV over to her. She really didn't care for babysitting duty. She was just as soon terminate the Gray and be done with it. She thought Sheila was going to deal with him. Sheila was supposed to interrogate him at Cameron's base. Now she was called away. It left her stuck with the Gray.

She arrived at Cameron's base with him later on. She placed him in Cameron's 'experiment' room or cell. Nothing good ever happened in there.

Cameron arrived after a while. She needed to take care of something before her arrival. She waited outside with Ally.

Ally wondered what the hold up was. Cameron usually went to 'work' right away. Sheila was the one who enjoyed doing the interrogations, she was away.

"What are you going to do?" Ally asked.

Cameron looked over at the cell.

"I need to get some answers." Cameron said.

Ally waited for Cameron to enter the cell. Nothing happened.

"What are you waiting for?" Ally asked.

Cameron needed to take care of a few things when she left the Resistance base. She wanted to do them on her own. She asked the others to delay their arrival. Savannah was to join her soon when Cammy and Bob were free.

Previously, when they searched the panel truck, she came across a few leads she planned to track down herself. She went in search of one of them when she left the Resistance base. It was where the panel truck was registered to. It wasn't at the same complex the team took down. It was a different location. She wanted to check everything while it was still fresh. It was only a matter of time until word would get around as to what occurred at the other location. The rest of the group would flee.

She parked two blocks away and walked there on foot. It was in an industrial area, it wasn't too far away. She went over the rear fence from the building in back of it on the next street. She approached the building from the rear. She didn't spot any surveillance cameras on the outside of the building. It made her approach much easier. She moved up to the roll up door in the rear and listened. It was quiet. She moved along the west side. There was a driveway from the street in the front. There was a door on the side. She paused and listened. She turned the handle, it was locked.

Cameron wondered what was inside. She went back around the rear and checked the east side. She didn't want to pass around the front yet. It was where someone would most likely watch for an intruder. There were no doors or windows on the east side. She went to the rear of the building again.

She looked at a satellite map when she parked her SUV. There were no skylights on the roof, or she would go up there for a look. Normally she would force open a door and enter. She didn't want to tip her hand. She brought a 'snap gun' with her. It was a mechanical lock pick tool. She went back to the side door and listened again. She inserted the 'snap gun' into the lock and activated it. If someone checked the lock, there should be no evidence it was picked. She turned the lock and opened the door a half inch. No alarm went off. Something even more comforting than an alarm not going off, was the fact there was no explosion. The door wasn't rigged with a booby trap. It was always a possibility when dealing with the enemy.

She opened the door a little further and made sure there were no wires connected to anything. There weren't. She slipped inside. Her Glock was in her hand. She made a quick search of the building. No one was inside. There was little in the building. There were a few crude beds set up. She didn't spot a 'comfort bunk'. It gave her a little piece of mind, but not much. There was no weapons cache or advanced computer equipment. She placed a tracker on the modem to see where the internet traffic went from the location.

She didn't find anything of value. She left behind two surveillance devices and left. She would keep an eye on the location. She took a different route back to her SUV and left.

Cameron needed to refocus. She didn't like to strike out. The nature of the threat they currently faced was very serious. It put a number of their group in jeopardy. She turned her attention back to Ally.

"I want to wait for Savannah." Cameron said. "Cammy is bringing her along with Bob. None of our people are to go out anymore with less than two Terminators for each person. It will be until I eradicate all members of the latest group."

Ally wasn't so sure about dragging Savannah into things. She watched Cameron do it before. She remembered how angry Savannah was. Then again, it was when Cameron was conducting 'experiments' on human females. She tried to download her program into a human female body. It worked to an extent, but the females were always left in bad shape. The cell was usually a bloody mess when Cameron was finished. She wondered if it would be more of the same.

"Do you wish for me to clean up the 'mess' when you're done?" Ally asked.

Cameron looked over at the cell. Nothing happened in there yet.

"I don't know." Cameron said.

Ally wondered what kind of an answer it was. It seemed it should be cut and dried.

"You don't know what?" Ally asked.

Cameron turned around and faced Ally. She didn't like to be questioned.

"I DON'T KNOW." Cameron shouted.

Cameron felt there were a lot of things she didn't know. Now wasn't the time to address them.

Ally looked at Cameron for a short time. The tension was high. She didn't want things to take a negative note.

"Mellow out." Ally said. "Don't blow a fuse."

The events of the night weighed heavily on Cameron. None of them were Ally's fault. She was upset the location she stopped at on the way over didn't bear fruit. She could only hope if there were any others associated with the building, they would turn up, and the surveillance devices would alert her to their presence.

"I'm sorry." Cameron said. "I'm worried about everyone."

Ally noted Cameron's hand started to glitch. She went to comfort Cameron when she saw there was someone else there now who could do it way better than her.

Savannah and Cammy arrived with Bob.

Savannah heard Cameron shout and now saw Cameron's hand glitched. Cameron didn't often shout. She didn't need to. Something was off.

Cammy and Bob hung back as Savannah moved forward. They both knew Savannah could calm Cameron. Savannah could always 'reach' her. Maybe Savannah was the only one who actually could.

Savannah took Cameron's hand and then embraced Cameron in a long and firm hug.

"I'm here now with you." Savannah said. ""We'll make everything work out."

Cameron slowly raised her hand and hugged Savannah back. The hug lasted a long, long time. The two females were pressed close together.

Savannah wanted Cameron to scan her. They held together so tightly they could both feel her heartbeat between them. In effect, it beat for both of them. It was a heart which beat sure and true.

Cameron reflected the last time they were this close, Savannah saved her life and made the time transfer possible. Savannah was this close because she was willing to perish with her. Savannah promised she would never abandon her and she didn't. You sure they were both going to terminate and it upset her greatly because Savannah didn't need to die with her or for her. Savannah made everything work out then too.

Savannah broke the hug and took a step back.

Everyone else previously left the room. She could have stayed there for hours doing the same thing, even if it was nothing.

Cameron looked at Savannah.

"I didn't want to let go." Cameron said. "It felt so 'natural' to hold you in my arms…."

Savannah knew when whatever 'happened', it was Cameron who was the one who needed to make the first move. It was the only way it would be real. Cameron would need to act, not respond. Cameron needed to commit. She wanted to make it clear to Cameron.

"You scanned me…." Savannah said. "Everything is up to you."

Cameron knew it was true. What she 'wanted', and her 'duty' conflicted. She was sure sometimes she acted on what she wanted. Sometimes there were so many thoughts inside of her head.

"I know it. It is I who must choose." Cameron said. "You're ready for everything and everyone."

After her encounter with John in the Command Center, Savannah was ready for 'more'. She felt it was time. Her body told her it was time. Cameron told her the same thing when she was younger. Cameron said her body would tell her when it was 'time'. The fact she needed to 'freshen up' some before she left the Resistance base was proof of it. Her body was clearly ready for more.

"I am." Savannah said. "It's what I want, YOU and John."

Cameron wanted more. Right now she felt 'guilt'. It was her actions against Skynet which led to the group being hunted and Savannah and Cammy almost being terminated. She felt she needed to address it. It bothered her immensely. It was why she personally planned to terminate everyone involved with the group. When they went after Savannah and Cammy, they went after her. They thought Cammy was her.

"I'm sorry I almost got you and Cammy 'hurt' earlier." Cameron said. "I know it could have been worse. It was bad enough."

Savannah looked at Cameron. What happened just happened. It wasn't anyone's fault other than the enemy.

"It wasn't your fault, Cameron." Savannah said. "You know it isn't your fault. It was their fault for launching the attack in the first place."

Cameron didn't want anything bad to happen to Savannah. When bad things happened to her, Savannah was always there for her.

"You've ALWAYS been there for me for everything." Cameron said. "EVERYTHING…."

Savannah stood tall before Cameron. She only did what she felt were the right things to do.

"I'll never abandon you or reject you." Savannah said. "I'll do anything for you."

Cameron hadn't even looked around the room. She didn't care if anyone was there. She moved in front of Savannah and tilted her head slightly to kiss her.

The moment built up. They were about to become 'one'.

Savannah reached up and pulled Cameron close, their faces drew near and their lips were about to touch. She knew Cameron needed to act first for 'it' to happen. Cameron needed to 'take' what was hers. She felt her body respond the same way it did for John. It surprised her some. It was just the way her body responded to similar circumstances, even if the actions involved would be somewhat different.

It was what they wanted, both of them.

Cameron couldn't stop the events happening. She didn't want to either, even if she could. The chemistry was there. Everything was there and ready. It was happening. All of her hopes were about to come true.

It all changed in an instant.

A blood curdling scream broke the moment and momentum.

There were two more violent agonizing screams which followed.

Savannah and Cameron both looked over where the noise came from.

Cameron knew it was the Gray. She briefly wondered if Sheila was at the base.

Wait.

Maybe it wasn't Sheila but Jesse. Jesse already volunteered to go to her base to conduct the interrogation herself. It wasn't something she wanted Jesse to do. Maybe she did it on her own. She needed to find out. She turned her attention to Savannah.

"Did anyone else come with you besides Cammy and Bob?" Cameron asked.

Savannah was a little confused by the question.

"No. It was just us three." Savannah said.

Cameron held Savannah back with one hand and moved toward the cell. She didn't see anyone else near it. If anything happened, he must have done something to himself.

Cammy, Ally, and Bob were all there now too. They returned from wherever it was they retreated to.

Cameron looked at Cammy. It was clear she wanted Savannah away from there right now. She needed to determine what exactly occurred.

Cammy immediately took Savannah away. She wasn't sure what else could go wrong inside the room. Bob followed them. He was told to stay close to Savannah.

Ally waited outside the door to the cell. There was no one else there.

"What's going on?" Ally asked. "I don't see Sheila around here."

Cameron frowned slightly at Ally's response. It was probably because it was her first thought as well. She moved forward and opened the door. Ally and her entered the cell.

The Gray's head hung on his chest. Blood flowed everywhere.

Cameron lifted his head. Blood flowed from both his eyes and mouth.

Somehow he managed to get one hand free and blinded himself. He then bit off his own tongue. He still held it in his hand. It appeared he pulled it out as far as he could and then chewed through it. It fell to the floor as Cameron let his head go. He was still alive, but now in shock.

What she witnessed was different behavior for a Gray. Most Grays were in it for the perks Skynet offered them. Most of those consisted of having first crack at the Resistance females before they entered a work camp. They were all heavily abused before they entered the system, and were slowly worked to death.

What she just witnessed was insane behavior, like some kind of a 'fanatic'.

None of it made any sense right now.

Savannah didn't like being ushered away. She wasn't a girl any more. She didn't like being treated like one. The last time Cammy interfered with her was when she held her in the energy bubble when Cameron stepped out. She wanted to make herself clear.

"Cammy, let me go." Savannah said. "I want to go to Cameron."

Cammy didn't know the nature of the threat. Savannah was more secure away from the problem. Something happened in or around the cell which was yet to be determined.

"No." Cammy said. "You'll remain here with Bob and me."

Savannah was done playing games. The decisions about her life and future were hers to make. Not others. She didn't like getting screwed over. She wasn't going to allow it to happen again.

"LET GO OF ME - NOW." Savannah said firmly.

Cammy was only trying to protect Savannah. She released Savannah and looked at Bob. She didn't feel she did anything wrong.

It was clear Bob didn't want to get involved in what looked like a 'personal' issue. It seemed like more of a domestic dispute than an operational one.

Savannah didn't want to seem harsh to Cammy. She didn't want to be restricted either. She went to where Cameron and Ally were at. She entered the cell and saw the Gray bleeding. Both of his eyes were ruptured and his tongue was on the floor.

Cameron looked at Savannah nervously. She would have preferred if Cammy kept her away like she instructed her to do. She glanced at the man and back at Savannah.

"I didn't do it." Cameron said. "He did it to himself. No one else was in here with him."

Cameron was afraid Savannah would think she tortured him and be angry at her. She was aware Savannah knew what went on in the room before. Similar events occurred in there previously. She did things to others she shouldn't have done. The condition some of them were done under didn't help matters either.

Savannah could see the worry on Cameron's face. She knew it wasn't Cameron's doing. Not this time anyway. She didn't want to cause Cameron any unnecessary grief.

"I heard." Savannah said. "You were with me. I know. He was by himself when it happened."

Savannah walked up and lifted the man's head. She didn't wince or flinch. She let it drop as he moaned. She reached behind her and brought her Glock up. She chambered a round and fired once into his head. There was no need for him to suffer. He wouldn't be able to tell them anything now anyway. She said nothing. She stuck her Glock back behind her and proceeded to untie the man so he could be removed from the chair.

Cameron, Cammy, and Ally all exchanged a quick glance with Savannah's actions. It wasn't what any of them expected to happen. It all happened very swiftly.

Savannah could see her actions caught the three female Terminators off guard. She was ready for the next part of the equation. It was time for the cleanup.

"Where does the trash go?" Savannah asked.

It was clear she was ready to move the man.

Ally usually cleaned up Cameron's messes. There was no need for Savannah to ruin her clothes.

"I'll clean up." Ally said. "I'm used to it."

Savannah felt a little sick. The job needed to be done. It was part of the 'job'. She felt a little queasy, but wanted to complete the task.

"No." Savannah said. "I'll assist you. I need to learn to do the dirty work as well. I can throw up later…."

Cameron didn't want Savannah to deal with a mess like this. She was still somewhat surprised with the swiftness of Savannah's actions. She was sure she was to blame for it herself, by previously exposing Savannah to the nature of similar events.

"Are you OK, Savannah?" Cameron asked.

Savannah asked herself the same question. She didn't like the answer. She thought maybe she would feel a little different or worse. She didn't. She just didn't need to see for the man to suffer any longer. They weren't going to get any other information out of him.

"Yes." Savannah said. "I acted a little more directly than I might normally have. It scares me a little."

Cameron wasn't sure what she meant. Savannah hadn't done anything wrong.

"What does?" Cameron asked. "You aren't responsible for anything."

Savannah looked at Cameron and then at the deceased Gray. She thought about where she was. She looked around the cell and focused her attention back on the Gray.

"What just happened does." Savannah said. "It bothers me less and less. I don't even feel guilty about doing what I just did. I just killed an unarmed Gray. I told myself I wanted to end his suffering and misery. Maybe I just wanted to kill a Gray because of what happened earlier. I really don't know. Either way he is dead."

Not only did she really not know, she really didn't care.

Cameron knew people died in combat. The enemy brought the fight to them. The group they currently dealt with tried to specifically target Savannah and Cammy earlier. In the past, the nature of the battlefield was different than it was in the future. There are no clear cut lines which indicated one side or the other. There was no neutral zone.

"It happens on the battlefield." Cameron said. "It's all about winning and staying alive."

Savannah could see in their fight, there often weren't front lines. The enemy could, and often did, appear anywhere. It was the same thing with their group. They ended up in different locations because it was where the leads led them. There was no easy way to sum it up. All she could do is look at the total of it all.

"The world is our battlefield." Savannah said. "The battlefield is everywhere around us."

Cameron was aware it was true, but even more complex. Time itself needed to be factored into it. There wasn't only one timeline. Even if the battlefield wasn't defined, there were multiple fronts to it. Each timeline presented a different front. Time itself was the battlefield. The ground it was fought on was insignificant.

"As is TIME…." Cameron added. "We will face each challenge as it arises."

Cammy came in to help Savannah. She didn't like the situation Cameron put Savannah in. She didn't want Savannah to fool with a mess like the one in front of them.

"I'll do this." Cammy said.

Savannah wanted to remember the cost for talking a life. Her actions produced a consequence. Someone was dead. Their life was over. She was the one who ended it. What happened previous to the point where she took action was irrelevant. It was her actions which ended it.

"No, Cammy, don't help me." Savannah said. "I need to do this. Ally will help me."

Cameron didn't want Savannah to need to work alone with Ally. She was as responsible as anyone was. She wanted to draw the team closer. Savannah's selfless act did it. It reminded all of them Savannah mattered. It also showed her actions mattered and she thought about them.

"We'll all help." Cameron said. "We are all 'one'…."

Cameron moved to another room at her facility. Savannah insisted she 'clean up' the mess with Cammy and Ally only. Savannah told her she wasn't responsible for what happened and didn't want her to feel she was. Somehow she still felt it was her fault.

The respect Cameron held for Savannah continued to grow. She was like no other. She felt Savannah was like Vanna and Allison combined, with some Sarah and John thrown in. She also knew Savannah was like 'her'. It was the sum of all those who raised her, but somehow better than all of them combined. It was all the people and Terminators who contributed and assisted with Savannah's upbringing. The sum also included Mrs. Weaver. All of them allowed Savannah to find the greatness within herself and expand it.

Cameron always wanted to make a Future Allison Terminator and a Savannah Terminator once she possessed enough deactivated female Terminator chassis to do it.

There was now a Resequenced chassis to activate. Cameron stood over her naked form. The sheet which previously covered the Resequenced Terminator was in her hand. She saw how beautiful the Terminator really was. She also saw Sheila used the laser on her. She examined everything. She couldn't get over how beautiful the pigmentation was, especially where the sun didn't shine. It was a lot like Hanna, but the face looked younger. She slowly ran her hand over the Terminator's curves. She touched all of them and thought the REAL person was out there, waiting for her.

Cameron knew Sheila tried to improve, and fight the 'old Jesse' in her. Jesse fought it in herself. Jesse became a much more loving and a better person. She thought they all were such wonderful and beautiful people. She loved them all. She also knew she loved Savannah. It was a different love than she felt for the other females she loved. She was afraid to let the love escape from within her, for if it did, it would be unstoppable.

She decided she was going to take Claire, Young Allison, and Summer into the past for a few years and then return them to the current timeline. It was time to build her future family and life NOW. She was tired of waiting. She wanted what Future John already obtained, thanks to her. She wanted it for herself. She would have Savannah visit them once a month for a few days to a week at a time, so her bond would grow and develop with Young Allison, Summer, and Claire. It would be perfect to have a Metal Savannah to help her and protect the three females. She decided she would call her 'Anna'.

Cameron heard someone coming and quickly covered the new female Terminator.

"…Cameron…?" Savannah asked.

Cameron reviewed her files.

"I'm sorry, Savannah." Cameron said. "I was just thinking about our future, and the past. What I will need to do to achieve what we all want."

Savannah looked over at Cammy. Savannah saw Cammy's hand start to glitch.

Cammy moved her hand behind her. She knew what her future held. It appeared to be closer than she thought. She was only a 'place holder' for Cameron.

"I'm fine." Cammy said. "It appears I'll be 'one' with Cameron soon."

Savannah didn't plan to sign off on it. She loved Cammy. Even if Cammy was 'Cameron', she was a different entity now. Cammy deserved to live.

"You won't need to be." Savannah said. "You DON'T need to be."

Cammy was aware how Cameron operated. She didn't like competition, even when it was 'herself'. It actually seemed to make it worse.

"I do, or I will end up fighting Cameron for you." Cammy said. "You know how it always ends up for her clones with John involved."

It always ended in termination of the clone. Even if it was only her program and the sheath was different.

Cammy and Cameron knew if they ever fought over Savannah, it would be a fight to termination for one of them. They both knew it wouldn't be Cameron who was terminated in the end.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

We Are All One

What's a relationship based on
It must be more than just one's self
Everyone belongs someplace else
Other than placed on a bookshelf

No one wants to end up
As another's personal possession
When it event happens
It is little more than an obsession

When one won't hear and listen
To the other's pleading voice
Eventually that will lead them
To make a different choice

To be placed in a box
Is not what anyone wants
They want to share and be equal
Not the victim of goofy stunts

It is time to open up
To shine under the sun
As long as we work together
We are all one

Nobody