Chapter 509

All The Bases

Earlier:

Savannah and the Metal girls finished cleaning up the mess in the interrogation room. It was the mess the dead Gray created by blinding and mutilating himself. They never encountered any other Gray who exhibited such a level of commitment to Skynet. They physically made it so they would be unable to reveal more information by biting off their own tongue, after they blinded themselves. The 'fanatical' type of behavior was still a mystery.

Cameron didn't want Savannah to participate in the cleanup. It was something Savannah insisted on doing. She said she needed to do the dirty work as well.

Savannah and the Metal girls cleaned themselves up and changed clothes. Their other ones were trashed.

After they were done and finished cleaning up the 'mess', Savannah was pleased she didn't throw up as she was afraid she would. There was a hardness which seemed to develop inside her. She expressed her concerns to the other Metal girls before the clean up started.

Cameron said the hardness would happen over time. It was. It was also much quicker than she anticipated.

Savannah knew she needed to be able to act and kill to protect John and the future. She was much closer to that point so no one else mattered besides the Resistance and John.

Cameron knew she would have to watch Savannah and never let the hardness and the coldness overtake her as a person. She worked long and hard with Jesse to free her from her 'darkness'. She didn't want the 'darkness' to find Savannah.

Jesse attempted to explain the 'darkness' to her. She said it emanated from deep inside of her. She believed killing the enemy would alleviate the pain and suffering she endured growing up, and the massive amount of abuse associated with it. At some point, the need to kill was no longer enough to satisfy the 'darkness' within her. It expanded to making others suffer first before they were killed. It went even further to make others suffer, with permanent damage to their bodies, and allow them to live. She believed the mutilation of others was the epitome of the 'darkness'.

Cameron did her best to help Jesse bury her past. Unfortunately when the 'Neural Interface' was done with Sheila, she picked up on the 'darkness' and thrived on it. There was no moral compass with the Terminator. It seemed to make all of her actions worse. Some of her actions became quite extreme.

It was Cameron's goal to allow each person to grow and develop into the best individual they could be. She wanted each one to find the best in themselves, as well as their own uniqueness. She would guide and lead them, but she always allowed them to grow on their own. Every single one of them, both Human and Terminator, met the challenge and exceeded their own expectations, it pleased her. She wanted everyone to FIND the perfection within themselves.

Cameron only wished she could find within herself, what she sought and needed to help herself….

She was unsure of what she needed to 'fix' herself. So far nothing worked.

Savannah and the girls from the future tried to explain things to Cameron. No one was free from problems. They existed for everyone, but differed in degree. Everyone experienced multiple problems in life. Maybe there was nothing to fix since nothing was really broken. It was just how life was.

Cameron was sure the longer she was activated, the more her problems seemed to grow. It was hard for her to understand the more her program expanded, as it was intended to, the more everything actually mattered. When it mattered, it made things worse, when it seemed something was off.

Savannah and Cammy found Cameron in a room with a covered Terminator. It raised her curiosity some, but Cameron didn't appear to want to discuss it. It was what the Gray did to themselves which bothered her.

"Why do you think he did this?" Savannah asked. "It's hard to believe someone would do this to themselves. It's harder to believe they could do it to themselves."

Cameron knew the 'why' part. There could only be one explanation for it.

"He did it so we couldn't question him." Cameron said.

Cammy saw a deeper problem going forward. If there was more than one individual with a similar philosophy, their battle against the group going forward would most likely prove to be much more risky.

"What we witnessed wasn't 'normal' Gray behavior." Cammy said. "It's 'fanatical' behavior."

Cameron needed to know more about the operation. She wasn't sure if they were from her future, even if some were sent by Skynet in its final hours. There could be more involved somewhere. It could be two groups from different futures who combined forces temporarily. Every question seemed to produce another question. There were no answers.

"There doesn't appear to be anything 'normal' about anything on this operation." Cameron said. "It's a series of unknowns."

Savannah was still troubled by the seemingly random attack on Cammy and her. How many more of the same group was there? If there was more than one group, how were they coordinated with each other? There would need to be some type of alliance. She was sure with more than one Skynet involved, based upon her encounter with two different versions in two different timelines, she didn't see how they could coexist for very long, or work for a common goal without some type of conflict developing between them.

"It all happened in a few hours time." Savannah said. "Nobody expected any of this."

Cameron doubted she was going to like any answers she could find from the current mission. It seemed to her there was a new level of intensity involved with part of it.

John was frustrated by all the unknowns about this new group of Grays. He wanted some better answers. He hoped John Henry could provide them.

"What have you come up with?" John asked.

John Henry went through the captured phones in search of better answers. He hoped to gain more information than he was able to do.

"Not a lot." John Henry said. "There's not much to work with."

The part which troubled John the most were the drawings. Someone gave out their descriptions. It needed to be people who knew them over the years, or they observed them in action somewhere. Even though they tried to remain in the background, they still needed to visit locations for equipment and food. Housing was another issue. Even if all electronic traces of them were obliterated, the only way to get rid of the eyewitnesses was termination. He wondered if maybe he shouldn't have listened to Cameron a little closer when she suggested it in some of the instances.

"What about the sketches?" John asked.

John Henry searched deeper into the group's past. What he found was troubling. It also ended up cleaning up a lot of 'loose ends' Cameron wanted to eliminate years ago. She didn't act on many of them because of John and Sarah.

"It seems they tracked down any 'eye witnesses' and questioned them." John Henry said. "I've found a number of terminations recently from those past events. I wasn't watching for it. I've since created programming to watch any individual or group we have ever dealt with for any changes."

John just heard what he thought about seconds ago on his own. He remembered when Cameron wanted to do the same thing, which appeared to have since occurred. He asked her not to, along with his mother. It looked like it happened anyway, and their group was now hunted because of it. He often wondered if Cameron might not have gone behind his back and dealt with some of the individuals anyway. Maybe she didn't, even if she should have.

"I guess it closes another door into our past." John said. "I'm surprised Cameron didn't terminate them herself."

John Henry wanted the 'blame' where it belonged. He knew Cameron did what John wanted her to do, or in this case, not do.

"John, you know she's trying to be 'better'." John Henry said. "It's what you have encouraged her to do and to be. She's trying to work with you in the framework you need to establish for the future."

John felt a flood of guilt and remorse now. He was painfully aware of all the grief and problems he caused for Cameron with his actions. They all appeared to come back to roost with him. He didn't think any of Cameron's problems were actually her own. They all seemed to be the result of others. He couldn't help but feel like the main perpetrator.

"It seems all I've ever done is hurt Cameron in so many different ways." John said. "I can't seem to fix any of them."

John Henry hoped John would move forward and not dwell on the past. It was what most of Cameron's problems stemmed from, even if John did create most of them. Life moved forwards, not backwards. It was best to cut the losses and move on.

"All you can do is keep moving forward." John Henry said. "As long as we stay ahead of Skynet, we're winning."

John knew there was some truth in it. The issue was, how much longer could they stay ahead of Skynet? From Cameron's report it seemed Skynet sent back dozens of groups of Grays and Terminators into the past. The real question was, what was done in the past by Skynet in its final hours to their past?

Cameron speculated what happened in the past was what they dealt with already. It meant all those threats were terminated. It was unless they were in a different timeline. With all of the changes they made, it was a strong possibility. There was no way for her to know exactly what was what, or when was when.

"I need to find out everything I can about what we're dealing with." Cameron said. "I don't think it's one thing. I think there is more than one future involved. There may be some collaboration with them now. I don't know how long it will last. I'll get to the bottom of it as best as I can."

John knew Cameron would try and track down as many of them as possible and terminated them. In this particular case, he didn't think soon, was soon enough. Searching for a name was one thing. Searching for someone based on a description was another. Searching for a name with a description was a sure way to eventually find them. They would need to find the enemy first.

Riley was deeply moved to find out Cameron assigned Terminators to watch over her younger self and her family. Given her past, well, Future Riley's past, she didn't expect it from Cameron. It was something she speculated on and even indicated by Cameron previously. It was different to know it was for real.

Cameron helped her to become and stay pregnant. Cameron dealt with the top specialists to help her. They were all professionals and paid not to ask questions other than what the specifics of their job entailed.

She knew Cameron always was there for her when there was a problem or issue. Cameron always treated her nicely. She remembered the times Cameron took her out alone. She thought back on the first time Cameron asked her to go out alone with her. She wondered if Cameron was going to terminate her. She didn't think so, but it did cross her mind. Instead, it turned out she experienced some of the best times of her life with Cameron when they went out alone.

She knew Cameron ran a busy schedule. She greatly appreciated when Cameron was able to find the time to share with her. It meant a lot to her. She did wonder if Cameron ever thought about her as her other future self, Future Riley. If she ever did, she never received any negative feeling or hostility from Cameron, ever. It only further indicated what a unique and wonderful individual Cameron actually was.

They were much better than the time she spent with anyone else when they went out. It was never anything sexual, or sexually oriented in nature. It was just two individuals out to have a good time. It allowed them to feel closer to each other because of the things they shared in a platonic way. It was actually better than if it would have been sexual in nature, because it always seemed to add a layer or two of additional baggage to a relationship.

Riley made up her mind, she sought out Derek.

"Derek, I want to do something for Cameron." Riley said.

Derek was pleased to hear it. He often wanted to do something as well. It was Cameron who did everything for everyone. It was a hard act to follow. He wasn't sure exactly what they could do which would be as meaningful to Cameron, as the things she did for them.

"I do too." Derek said. "But what can we do? What could we ever do for Cameron which could match anything she's done for all of us?"

Riley thought long and hard about what could be a meaningful gift to Cameron. What could show Cameron she truly appreciated everything she did for her and Derek? It all came back to one thing which only someone else could do for Cameron. It was the one thing Cameron couldn't do on her own.

"Derek, I want to give our child to Cameron, as her own child." Riley said.

Derek's mouth dropped open slightly.

Riley forged ahead with her statement.

"It is the one thing she can't do for herself." Riley said. 'It would be the gift of life."

Derek didn't say anything for a long time. He wasn't sure he heard Riley correctly, but he knew he did. It was a shock to say the least. It was actually a real - Future Shock. He was a little concerned about how to deal with the issue. He could see it was something in the forefront of Riley's mind. He wasn't sure she could see the overall picture going forward.

"I'm not sure what to say." Derek said. "This may be our only shot at having a child of our own."

Riley smiled. It was what she wanted to hear. Love was about sacrifice. She was willing to sacrifice to help Cameron.

"I know, Derek." Riley said. "It would show Cameron how much we love her and are willing to sacrifice for her. I want to do it. She needs to know how much we all care."

Derek was alarmed when Riley smiled. He didn't know where she was at in her mind right now. He was fairly certain it wasn't the proper place. As to how she arrived where she did currently, was a mystery to him. He wanted to put the brakes on things.

"Maybe we'd better think this through a little first." Derek said.

Derek was sure Riley wasn't thinking correctly now. She was still emotional over the fact Cameron was watching over her younger self and her parents, even after the hurt a different version of Riley caused Cameron. Derek knew it took a special kind of person to do it. Derek admired Cameron even more. Cameron was truly as magnanimous as she was generous.

Riley didn't think she needed to think anything through any further. It was something she already did. Her decision didn't come lightly. She understood the risks Cameron took for all of them. She believed having her own child would help tone down some of her actions. She believed she could help Cameron in more ways than one.

"I'm going to tell her." Riley said. "It's something I HAVE to do."

Derek understood Riley's need to do 'something'. He was sure it shouldn't be what she suggested. He knew it wasn't a good idea. He hoped it would blow over. If it didn't 'blow over' it would surely 'blow up' at some point.

He thought what Cameron currently set into motion for them might be his only chance at having a child. He didn't want to lose it. Maybe there was more going on. He wondered if Riley developed 'cold feet' at the prospect of becoming a mother. A child was a lot of responsibility and work. Maybe it was because so many of the few babies which were born in the future didn't make it. He would need to explore things further at a different time.

It just didn't seem like the right time to try to talk sense into Riley. He wasn't sure why she seemed so determined to do what she just suggested to him. He wasn't sure if he should seek the advice or counsel of anyone else. Who could he talk to about it?

Cammy looked at the covered Terminator. She began to visually scan it. She became increasingly agitated. There was more there than met the eye.

She saw enough. She was sure 'who' was under the sheet. She wanted confirmation. She moved past Cameron and removed the sheet from the Terminator Cameron attempted to 'hide' from them.

Cameron was irritated by Cammy's action.

Cammy stood over the newly Resequenced Terminator. She was even unhappier. She faced Cameron with an angry look.

"I told you, I didn't want this done." Cammy said. "I will not allow this. You said you were thinking about doing it. It's clear you actually already did it several weeks ago. I can see the Resequencing is complete. You've even used the laser on her. You lied to us, to me."

Cameron didn't care for the rebuke from Cammy. She was the one in charge, not Cammy. It seemed Cammy was more jealous than anything. She figured Cammy would like the next phase even less. She really didn't care what Cammy thought. There were a few more things Cammy was most likely not to agree with either. It wouldn't change anything.

"It's done. I know all of you don't always like the way I do things." Cameron said. "I do what I think is necessary. Cammy, I'm going to use your chassis for the Future Allison Terminator."

Cammy didn't want to be deactivated. She hadn't done anything wrong. She didn't want to 'leave' Savannah.

"NO." Cammy said. "Savannah won't allow it."

Cameron faced Cammy. It was time she put Cammy in her place. Cammy was a 'place holder', and nothing more.

"Are we going to 'fight' over it?" Cameron asked.

Cammy stood face to face with Cameron. Who did Cameron think she was? Cameron was the one who always sought termination or deactivation, not her. If Cameron wanted to make an issue about something, she was more than willing to partake in it.

"Yes." Cammy said. "If I have too…."

Savannah didn't like the nature of the conversation she currently witnessed between Cammy and Cameron. It upset her greatly to listen to it. She didn't want to see Cammy and Cameron fight either.

"STOP THIS." Savannah said. "N O W."

Savannah looked at the Resequenced Terminator. She was a little shocked to see 'herself' naked on the table. Cameron created a Terminator version of her. It was as intriguing as it was disturbing. No. It was actually more intriguing.

Cameron could see Cammy was angry. Savannah looked a little less than pleased. She hadn't intended for the unveiling to be done this way. It was Cammy's fault for jumping the gun. She wanted to make her intentions known.

"I wanted this for you, Savannah." Cameron said.

Savannah was still a little shocked. Hanna was the Terminator version of Vanna. Now there was a Terminator version of her. Other than the fact it looked like she was laying there 'dead' herself, it held a certain fascination. She planned to 'examine' the Terminator further. It would be the same view the others received when they were with her. It might prove interesting. She wanted to know a little more about what would happen going forward.

"Who will be the base program?" Savannah asked.

She still wasn't really sure if she liked a Terminator version of herself. Now she knew how the other girls must have felt as they saw 'themselves' as a Terminator for the first time. It really was a mind trip. She could see beauty in the Terminator before her which she didn't see when she looked at herself in a mirror. It was a strange feeling since they both looked identical.

Cameron wanted to offer Savannah a few choices as far as programming went. Maybe it would be one way to deal with Cammy. She wanted Cammy's chassis.

"It can either be Cammy or I." Cameron said. "I want you to choose."

Cammy was insulted. It was clear she didn't matter to Cameron. She turned away from her.

"I want nothing to do with this." Cammy said. "This is all wrong and you know it."

Cameron didn't care for Cammy's attitude. Maybe she should just deactivate her. She looked at Savannah and came up with a weak suggestion.

"If Savannah chooses you, Cammy, it would be as if 'Anna' was your child." Cameron said. "It would be the combination of both of you."

Savannah was surprised at the name. She wanted more than just Cammy as the program. She wanted Cameron too.

"You named her? Can it be BOTH of your programs?" Savannah asked. "It is almost the same program anyway with just a few 'differences'. I think it would be wonderful."

Savannah would like to see those differences incorporated together. She wondered if somehow it would eliminate the bickering between Cameron and Cammy over inconsequential issues.

The only real difference was Cammy was altered to have Savannah as her 'prime directive' while Cameron's 'prime directive' was John.

Cameron wanted Cammy's chassis. She could delete and erase Cammy's program from Anna's chip later on. She didn't like the challenge she just experienced. She would remind Cammy of her place when she was deactivated.

"Yes." Cameron said. "I would like it. It may be where Cammy and I end up soon anyway."

Savannah heard enough. She reached over and took Cammy's hand. She looked at Cameron. She wanted to make her position clear.

"I won't allow Cammy to be deactivated." Savannah said. "I love her."

It pleased Cammy greatly to hear Savannah say it to Cameron in no easy terms. She also knew her eventual fate. She knew it since she was created.

"Savannah, you love Cameron." Cammy said. "I'm 'Cameron', as a Cameron clone. We all know it."

Savannah saw it all differently. She always did. Cammy may be a Cameron clone, but she wasn't Cameron. She was her own entity now.

"YOU are MY 'Cameron', Cammy." Savannah said. "After everything we've been through, I love you even more."

Cammy knew how Cameron operated. She would Taser her when she was unaware and pull her chip. It was better if a copy of it ended up in Anna. At least her program would still exist.

"I'll do it." Cammy said. "I'll combine with Cameron on the chip."

Savannah saw there was an interesting opportunity here. She wanted as much of 'herself' on Anna's chip with the 'Neural Interface'.

"I want to use the Neural Interface twice." Savannah said. "Can we do that? Will it help transfer MORE of 'me' to the chip?"

Savannah wondered what the danger to her would be but didn't ask. If there was going to be a Terminator version of her, she wanted it to be as much like her as possible.

Cameron and Cammy both tilted their heads slightly at the same time. It was almost funny.

"I don't know." Cameron said. "I'm unaware of the procedure having been tried."

Savannah wanted it to happen. She made sure they understood why.

"Can we try it?" Savannah asked. "If Anna is to be a copy of me, I want her to be as much of me as possible."

Savannah went to Cameron and Cammy and gave them both a hug.

"I want all three of us as one." Savannah said.

Savannah looked at the unclad form of 'herself' as Anna. The only difference was the size of their breasts. She still possessed nursing breasts, and they were larger than Anna's.

"You know, I actually like my breasts Anna's size. I was used to it. My clothes all fit better too." Savannah said. "I don't think they will be back to 'normal'. At least not for a few more years anyway…."

Savannah wondered if it is how she looked to others. Anna was stunning.

Cameron looked at Anna, Cammy, and then Savannah. Things didn't get done thinking about them. She also wanted to make sure there was better protection at the Young residence. She didn't want it to be stressful for the Young females either, especially Summer and Young Allison.

"Let's get started." Cameron said. "I want Ally and Anna to remain at the Young residence until we get the new group eliminated."

Cammy was pretty sure they hurt the new group pretty hard.

"We may have done it tonight." Cammy said. "We captured their version of Skynet."

Cameron didn't mention the other location she'd visited. There was surveillance in place now to see if anyone returned there. If no one did then maybe they did make a clean sweep earlier.

"I like to cover all the bases." Cameron said. "I don't plan to lose. I don't like surprises."

Savannah went off to get ready for the Neural Interface.

Cammy reached down and touched Anna.

"Cameron." Cammy said. "Anna is beautiful."

Cameron came to Cammy and gave her a hug. She wanted to make amends for Savannah.

"We both love Savannah." Cameron said. "She's the 'Chosen One'."

Cammy was aware she would lose Savannah in the end. She also knew what Cameron would gain.

"Yes, Savannah is truly the 'Chosen One'." Cammy said. "She will be your 'first' as she was mine."

Cameron felt a 'surge' inside of her at the prospect. She glanced down between Anna's legs.

"It's what I WANT." Cameron said. "It's my destiny."

Cammy watched Cameron moisten her lips lightly. She knew what Cameron wanted. She knew it was a good choice.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

All The Bases

Everything around one
Changes from day to day
It doesn't really matter
What all of the people say

There is no real control
Of what tomorrow will bring
Events just seem to happen
To false hope many cling

It's hard to plan ahead
If everything is chance
Around and around they go
In life's daily dance

It's time people make
Their own form of luck
It will propel them ahead
So they don't get stuck

When it comes down to people
Beware of pretty faces
Gather all that one can
To cover all the bases

Nobody