Chapter 907

Things We Wall Off

John didn't like to leave Cameron behind. He felt like he ran out on her. There was little he could do to change it at this point. He spotted several signs for the airport. They were almost there. He soon would be on a jet headed back to the safety of the Resistance base. Cameron and Savannah would still be out in the field battling the unknown.

Upon further reflection, the only unknown part of it was which group it would be. They already knew it was going to be some type of combat. There would most likely be bullets flying in all directions. Depending upon which enemy it actually was, would determine what other things could be brought into the fight. His biggest worry was HK drones. Terminators were his second biggest worry.

The lead and tail vehicles closed up on the one John was in. The Metal girls still lagged a little behind. They would close up when the procession went through the airport checkpoint. They still wanted to leave a little space in case they needed to take action, or anyone else tried to slip in behind them. They would engage the threat while the other three vehicles sped away.

John and the two teams arrived at the airport boundary checkpoint. They were already cleared to enter.

He wondered what all they needed to do before they could take off.

"Do we need to fuel the plane or get clearance?" John asked.

John Henry was in constant contact with CamNet. She assured him everything was good to go. He figured there must be a little more to it than he already knew. He could only report what he was told.

"Everything is taken care of." John Henry said.

They passed through security without stopping and drove near the jet ramp. Their procession of four vehicles moved toward their jet. They pulled up right next to the jet.

There were two figures waiting at the jet.

It was Bob and Jim.

"I've been waiting for you." Bob said. "Jim has everything cleared. We're ready to go."

John was as pleased as he was surprised to see Bob and Jim waiting for him. He would have liked for both of them to be with him earlier at the casino hotel. Maybe they could have taken some of the heat off of Cameron and her wild elevator escapade. He would be a little more concerned about it, if he knew the full scope of what almost occurred, several times.

"I'm surprised to see you here." John said. "I didn't know John Henry contacted you."

John Henry was about to say he didn't contact Bob or Jim.

Bob didn't want to dwell on the question. He decided to keep things simple.

"I was contacted this morning." Bob said quickly. "We only arrived a little while ago. It was a short flight. There was a charter flight waiting for us at Van Nuys. It seems there are a lot of flights from Van Nuys to Las Vegas on a daily basis."

The request to Bob and Jim came from CamNet, not from John Henry, or his server. Nobody knew it was a request from Young Allison. She wanted more help for John, so the Metal girls could go back and help Cameron's team.

John looked around at the Terminators gathered there. There were also the gunny sacks full of cash and the laundry hamper in the back of the van. It was where the deactivated female Terminator was concealed at.

" I think the jet will be crowded with this many people." John said.

Jim wanted to reassure John why they were there. It was made very specific to them what would happen and why.

"Bob and I are to free up the girls." Jim said. "They have an operation to finish with Cameron."

John was pleased to hear it. He hoped some of the other Terminators would be able to stay as well. He wanted to leave as much help for Cameron's team as possible. He didn't think he needed a plane full of Terminators to watch over him on the flight from Las Vegas to Van Nuys. There wasn't much going to happen while the plane was airborne. If there was, the plane probably wouldn't be airborne for very long.

"I would like more of the team stay to assist them." John said. "I think Cameron's team should have more help."

Bob thought he better spell it out clearly to John right now before things got complicated. They wouldn't be able to be changed anyway.

"It's our primary function to make sure you return safely back to the Resistance base." Bob said. "It's something which can't be argued or changed. You need to think of Cameron and Savannah and what they want for you. Your safety is very important to them."

John thought about them. He thought a lot about them. There were some thoughts about both of them which wanted to creep into his mind right now he didn't want there. It wasn't the right time. Not while they were in danger.

Based upon the way events seemed to play out, he felt it was a mistake to come to Las Vegas. He didn't regret it though. He shared a good time with Cameron. He was almost was with Cammy and Savannah. Maybe next time he would get lucky. It was something to look forward to. He really wanted to claim the virginity of both of them. They both seemed more than willing to let him have it. He thought about how neither one of them wanted things to stop, just as they were about to happen. They encouraged him to continue with what he was doing and complete the task, even if it was for only a second. He wanted them to have a better experience than just a second.

Jim entered the plane. John Henry lifted the laundry hamper with the 'Metal Bitch' in it up to the side of the jet and tipped it upright. With the transfer done in this fashion, she could be removed without anyone seeing what actually happened. If anyone spotted them transporting what looked like a 'dead female', it might not go over so well. The fifteen bloody bullet wounds and cut open scalp wouldn't help matters any. They could always claim she was a 'movie prop'. It was the other things they carried with him which would be much more difficult to explain. The weapons were all covered and stowed along with the sacks of cash, and Cameron's 'things'.

John saw the Metal girls were still there. He wanted them to leave. He felt he was secure enough with all of the male Terminators there with him. There were a lot more than he expected to be there. Bob and Jim were two more which were totally unexpected.

"Go." John said to the three girls. "Please go help Cameron's team."

Ally looked a little impatient. They were given very strict orders as to what would occur, when, and how. Any deviation would cause them a lot of problems later on. She decided to spell it out in simple terms.

"We need to wait until you're wheels up." Ally said. "We can't leave before then. Do you want us to be deactivated? The longer you lollygag, the longer we have to stand here and do nothing. I'll probably have gray hair by the time you're airborne."

John understood every second counted now. He wanted the Metal girls to go back and help Cameron as soon as they could.

"Everyone get on board." John said. "Fire this thing up and let's go."

Sheila wanted to mess with John a little bit before he left. She walked up to him and put her mouth up against his ear.

"If you get bored on the flight back, there is always the 'Metal Bitch'." Sheila said. "She won't 'mouth off' or 'talk back'. Remember, there's no way to know with Skynet Terminators what any of their prior 'assignments' were."

John wasn't sure if he should respond to Sheila or not. It seemed like a bad idea. She moved away quickly from him and rejoined Ally and Gail. He looked at the three of them and then climbed on board with the seven male Terminators and the deactivated 'Metal Bitch'.

The jet was powered up. It was given immediate clearance. It taxied and took off. John was on the way home and headed for a more secure environment.

Bob was the pilot.

Jim was the copilot.

Seconds ago:

As soon as the jet started to taxi away, Ally looked at Sheila.

"We both heard what you said." Ally said. "I wonder how many of our chassis were used to do something like you suggested at some point."

Sheila wondered the same thing. It was something all female Terminators wondered about. The only two who didn't were Gail and Holly. It was because they were created as Restorators by Mrs. Weaver in the alternate future. They were never slaves to Skynet.

"I don't think it really matters in our case. All of our sheaths have been Resequenced." Sheila said. "Everything on all of us is 'brand new' after the process. My sheath before it was Resequenced was missing a 'nork' from battle damage. As you all know, I have two of them again and they're both perfect. It means everything else is too."

Ally needed to think about it for a little bit. What Sheila said was true. Most of them sustained some type of damage before their chassis were captured. All of them were Resequenced, except the two Restorators and Cameron. Cameron still possessed her original Skynet appearance and sheath. It meant if anything happened to her previously, it happened to her. If any of those things Cameron thought happened to her with Future John, or when she was first captured, really happened to her. She was very glad her sheath was Resequence to its present appearance. Sheila was right; everything was like 'brand new' on all of them. It was all of them except Cameron.

If Cameron actually relived her life over and over by replacing herself at the time of her temporal transfer to the past, everything on her would be very well used. It was probably something no one should point out to her.

Gail knew the jet was about ready to take off. She wanted to get everything squared away so they could leave the airport immediately after the jet took off.

"We can take a better vehicle." Gail said. "There are several here."

Sheila looked forward to sharing with Ally on the 'fold down bed' seats in the mini van. She felt a little disappointed. She really hoped to put on a show for any other motorist who might actually glance in their direction as they passed by.

"I wanted everyone to see me 'perform' in the back of the mini van." Sheila said.

Ally wanted to expand on her previous observation as to what Sheila was.

"It's because you're an exhibitionist." Ally said. "Nobody wants to be put on display for private moments unless they have a mental disorder."

Sheila was offended by Ally's insinuation.

"If anyone has a mental disorder, it's obviously you." Sheila said. "Some of us have it, some of us don't."

Ally Ignored Sheila. She figured Sheila's head and hair would block all the action anyway. They wouldn't be much anyone could see even if they looked. She looked over the other two vehicles parked there.

"Do you want the 4X4 or the SUV?" Ally asked.

They could hear the jet power up as it started down the runway.

Gail quickly looked at the vehicles. It was clear which one was intended for them. It was stocked with the very things they might need to use shortly.

"We'll take the SUV, it has more space." Gail said. "It also has three sets of weapons and vests they left behind for us."

Sheila was still upset she wouldn't get to perform with Ally in the back of the mini van. She didn't like when the others ignored her.

"I can drive the 4X4. We can race each other back to where Cameron is." Sheila said.

It sounded like a bad idea to Ally.

"We don't need to look for trouble." Ally said. "It's bound to find us soon enough."

Gail wanted everyone to get moving. She didn't want to waste any more time.

"Get in the SUV." Gail said. "I'll drive. We need to get back and assist Savannah and Cameron."

Sheila was a little offended Gail didn't mention Cammy.

"Don't forget, Cammy is there too." Sheila said as she looked at Ally. "She's a real Cameron clone, not a cheap imitation, with a half baked program."

There was a loud dull thud as Ally punched Sheila in the back.

Sheila went to punch Ally in the back.

Gail didn't want any trouble. She grabbed both of them by the collar and shook them back and forth several times.

"There won't be any fooling around." Gail said. "I want both of you combat ready. I'm worried about Cammy as well. She's not part of the 'Natural Order', none of us are. We're all expendable, Cameron and Savannah are not. You know what I mean."

Ally and Sheila climbed in the back.

"What a killjoy." Ally whispered. "Jesse must like it rough."

Sheila whispered as well. She knew Gail could still hear both of them.

"Apparently, Savannah must as well." Sheila whispered back.

Gail turned and looked back at both of them, but said nothing further.

Sheila and Ally giggled as they got their gear ready.

The girls watched and waited. The jet soon screamed down the runway.

They saw the front landing gear lift off and then the main landing gear. They were free to go. The jet was airborne.

"Let's go." Ally said.

They started out immediately. They needed to find out what Cameron's current status was.

"Let's make some time." Sheila said.

Gail was already out of the airport and headed for Cameron's last reported location.

They were at a major time and distance disadvantage at this point. Still, help was on the way. They sported a new set of wheels and were fully armed and ready. They would be able to take a little more damage, as well as dish out a lot more with their vests and weapons.

Savannah wondered when things were going to pick up. The brown sedan was only going to follow them for so long before it made its move.

"I think things are going to happen soon." Savannah said. "It would be nice to have a little extra firepower."

Cameron received some new information from CamNet moments after Savannah spoke.

"We have drone support." Cameron said.

Savannah looked over at Cameron.

"I thought they were both going with John." Savannah said.

Cameron was as surprised as she was pleased with the information from CamNet.

"There was an additional force of drones sent by CamNet to assist us." Cameron said. "I didn't request them. I didn't even know they were coming until they were here. They just arrived."

Cammy thought about all the recent direct assistance they received from CamNet. She thought the timing of Cameron's announcement just moments after Savannah spoke was a little more than coincidental.

"It seems CamNet has helped out a lot recently." Cammy said. "It's very unusual and much more so than previously."

Savannah thought she knew who was really behind it. She understood how sometimes someone wanted to remain in the background.

"John and John Henry have been away from the Resistance base." Savannah said. "We're lucky someone picked up the slack and made sure we were covered on all of our operations."

Cameron was sure she knew who was behind it and why, but decided not to bring it up. She was provided with a new update by CamNet.

"John is wheels up." Cameron said. "He's away from the current danger zone."

Cameron immediately slowed down. She wanted the enemy to close up on her. She was ready for action. She was done being the cheese. She was ready to be the cat. The mouse proved quite irritating to her.

Savannah could tell Cameron was ready for action. She wondered if any additional help was on the way, other than the drones.

"Is it time to take out the trash?" Savannah asked. "Do we have any additional help on the ground?"

Cameron was again updated by CamNet.

"Gail, Sheila, and Ally are returning to assist us." Cameron said. "It seems Bob and Jim came to make sure John got back safely. It was an unexpected surprise."

Savannah thought it was a little deeper than a surprise.

"It looks like CamNet wanted to make sure we were covered." Savannah said.

Cammy calculated their current location from the airport. It was quite a way.

"It will take some time for the girls to reach us." Cammy said.

Cameron already made the calculation herself. She wasn't about to wait any longer than necessary. She wanted to get things wrapped up.

"It will be over before they return." Cameron said. "I'm done waiting."

Cameron was tired of being dogged. She wanted to know who 'made them' and how.

If they were Grays or Syndicate thugs they would be a minor problem. If they were the Fanatics, or Terminators, things would be more complicated. There was still 'The Enforcer' out there somewhere.

Allison went to Vanna's room. She listened outside for a few seconds and knocked.

There was no answer.

Allison tried the door, it was unlocked.

"Vanna?" Allison asked as she opened the door a few inches.

Allison entered and saw Vanna was on her bed - THEIR bed.

Vanna looked over.

"Hi, Allison." Vanna said.

Allison could see Vanna was upset.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Allison asked.

Vanna was sure it would make things worse if she did. Sometimes when there was uncomfortable news, a 'crack' could split open into a major fissure. She still thought maybe she needed to.

"I don't know." Vanna said.

Allison wondered if she wanted the company of a different female. She wanted to phrase it differently than she would normally refer to her.

"Do you want me to go?" Allison asked. "I can send Jesse or Claire. I can get one or more of the Metal girls if you want them."

Vanna was momentarily intrigued by the idea. She didn't get to be with Holly or Hanna very often. It wasn't what she wanted right now. She wanted to be with her true love. She looked at Allison with wide eyes.

"No." Vanna said. "It's you I want most of all. It always has been."

Allison was very pleased to hear it. It was how she always felt as well. Sure they could share with other females, and often did. They could even love them as well. She still only had one true love. It was Vanna. She moved over and sat next to Vanna. She pushed her shoes off and stretched out next to Vanna on the bed.

The two girls were content just to be in each other's company. It was what true love was all about. They enjoyed doing things together and sharing their lives. Sex was just one way to express the love. Sometimes they made love, sometimes they shared sex. There was a difference and they did both of them.

Vanna looked over at Allison.

Their eyes locked with each other's eyes.

Allison reached over and took Vanna's hand.

Their fingers hungrily touched each other until they interlaced. They held firmly together.

Allison knew when not to 'push' her lover. Now was one of those times. She wanted to give her a few choices. She was a little unsure of the course of action.

"Do you want me to stay now, or come back later so you can rest?" Allison asked.

Vanna squeezed Allison's hand and held the pressure a little tighter.

"I want you to stay." Vanna said.

They lay in silence for several minutes.

Allison knew whatever path Vanna was on, it wasn't a good one. She didn't want her to get 'lost'. She was right there next to her. She wanted to help. Her mother already indicated it was something about the past, the future. There was a lot of ugliness which emanated from there in every direction.

"How can I help you?" Allison asked. "I know you're hurting."

Vanna wasn't sure where she wanted to start. She certainly didn't know where the conversation would end up.

"I realized last night I really want to be a mother." Vanna said.

Allison waited for more. She wanted Vanna to proceed at her own speed and what she was comfortable with.

"Taking care of Precious and nursing her was so beautiful, Allison." Vanna said. "I really saw what I've been missing all these years."

Allison didn't think Vanna would remain childless.

"I'm sure Cameron will help you try again." Allison said.

Vanna couldn't help but think back on all of her abuse and the time they tried to breed her. She never was pregnant she knew of, even with all of it. If she was, none of them 'stuck' for more than a month.

"It won't work." Vanna said. "My body is totally worthless. I'm worthless."

Allison knew Vanna wasn't worthless and her body wasn't totally worthless. It may have some shortcomings, but it could still do a lot.

"Was your body totally worthless last night?" Allison asked. "It provided nourishment for Precious. YOU did that. YOUR body did that. You provided for an infant who needed you. I think it's something very special."

Vanna reached up with her free hand and touched her breasts. They worked flawlessly, just like they were supposed to. It was one thing Skynet wasn't able to steal from her.

"Yes." Vanna said. "It did. I can help others. I can be a 'wet nurse'."

Allison didn't have high hopes for her body either, but she wasn't going to give up trying.

"I want you to do it for OUR baby when I have it." Allison said.

Vanna rolled over and faced Allison.

"OUR Baby?" Vanna asked.

Allison looked at Vanna with love in her eyes.

"Yes, OUR Baby." Allison said. "WE will be its parents. BOTH of us."

The girls both felt a 'calling' inside of them.

"So it's 'meat and potatoes' again?" Vanna asked.

Allison smiled at Vanna. She simply restated what it always was for both of them.

"Yes." Allison said. "A little 'dessert' every now and then won't hurt any…."

A very serious look came over Vanna's face.

"I'll do whatever you want, to be a parent with you." Vanna said.

Allison could see Vanna was very serious. There were some others they needed to think about as well.

"What about Holly and Cam?" Allison asked.

Vanna knew they both loved their Metal girl's as well.

"I'm sure we can fit everyone in…." Vanna said. "There is more than one kind of 'meat', and many kinds of 'potatoes'. The variety of desserts are endless."

They laid in silence again for a few minutes.

Allison believed Vanna wanted to tell her a little more. She didn't want to push, but she thought a mild prod would help.

"Can we talk about it now?" Allison asked.

Vanna sucked in her breath slightly. She was very ashamed of her past and what was done to her. She spoke to Savannah about it. Because she did it once, it would help her now speak to Allison. She swallowed hard and took a moment to catch her breath.

"Yes." Vanna said. "There are things I never told you before…."

Allison understood the depth of her pain. She didn't want Vanna to 'hurt' herself.

"If they're too painful, you don't need to." Allison said. "I'll love you the same no matter what. You KNOW it."

Vanna did know it. She always knew it. It just bothered her about what was done to her and what almost happened to her afterwards. How was any of it her fault?

"It was very shameful to me." Vanna said. "I don't know if I was more ashamed of the things done to me, or the fact I realized I would never be a mother because of them…."

Allison could see how deeply buried in Vanna's heart in mind whatever she wanted to say was. She didn't think that she needed to hear it. It didn't matter.

"Oh, Vanna…. Every girl needs a few secrets…." Allison said. "You don't need to say anything."

Vanna felt she needed to get it out of her system. It was like a cancer growing inside of her.

"I want to." Vanna said. "I need for you to know…."

Allison heard dozens and dozens of terrible stories from Vanna about the things which happened to her since the first group of men drug her out from her hiding spot, stripped her clothes off and held her down. Many more terrible things happened afterwards.

"I thought I knew 'everything'." Allison said.

Vanna really didn't know what to say.

"It appears my shame and humiliation knows no bounds." Vanna said.

Allison waited. She thought she knew every shameful and vile act done to Vanna over the years. What could be worse than the things she already knew? Maybe she didn't want to know. Maybe she should just tell Vanna to say the things in her mind as if she was saying them to her aloud. Maybe she could get past them as if she actually spoke about them. She really didn't know what course of action to take.

"You don't need to say anything." Allison finally said.

Vanna wanted to get it out of her system.

"I think there are some things we hide from ourselves." Vanna said. "Things we wall off to - survive."

Vanna thought there were things if she didn't hide them, she would kill herself to escape them.

Allison was ashamed of much of her life as well. She didn't like some of the things done to her. She didn't like some of the things she did. She was determined she was going to have a baby.

"We've survived, both of us have." Allison said. "We're going to be parents. I swear it."

Vanna didn't want to take a baby from Savannah, no matter how much she wanted one. She would rather DIE first.

"We can't ASK them." Vanna said. "It's not right."

Allison didn't believe it would be necessary to ASK.

"We won't have to." Allison said. "WE were them. WE are them. What would you do if WE were them again in their place right now? Would you walk away and turn your back on them? You would not. I would not."

Vanna was sure she would do the same things Savannah did. How could you not help yourself? She knew it came with an emotional price tag. It might be a little less painful than it would be to a stranger, or an acquaintance, than it was to do it for yourself.

"I don't know what to do." Vanna said.

Allison thought she would do what Savannah did for two of her future selves.

"It will all work out in the end somehow." Allison said. "It always does."

They both believed in Cameron. She would help them somehow.

They didn't know Cameron already initiated the procedure to help both of them. Savannah carried Vanna's embryo and Claire carried Allison's embryo. Cameron wasn't about to lose her friends, and those who she loved. She always kept them close, even if she gave them a lot of space.

Cam and Holly were outside the room and listened from down the hall. They didn't like what they heard. It seemed they played a much smaller role in the lives of the girls they loved than they thought.

"So what happens to us?" Holly asked.

What they heard wasn't news to Cam.

"I don't know." Cam said. "They belong together. They need each other. We've both always known it from the start. We've seen it with our own eyes. Whenever they're 'broken' they can always 'fix' each other. You know what I mean."

Holly thought back to when she wanted Allison and her to get married. Allison never answered her. She knew why. Allison wanted someone else to be her wife. Allison wanted Vanna. It was what Allison always wanted. It was her long time lover Vanna.

"I do know it." Holly said. "I knew it ever since I asked Allison to marry me."

It was news to Cam. It isn't something she ever heard specifically before.

"You did?" Cam asked.

Holly remembered how disappointed she was. Allison didn't reject her, but she didn't answer her. She understood later on, Allison didn't want to hurt her.

"Yes." Holly said. "I knew then she wanted Vanna as her wife if she ever got married."

Cam didn't think Holly should have been so surprised.

"I take it she said 'no'." Cam said.

Holly didn't want to replay the incident. She was sure it would cause her hand to glitch.

"No, she didn't say much of anything. She never would answer me." Holly said. "I never got a 'yes' or a 'no'."

Holly thought it was because Allison still wanted the option for the future. It was heartbreaking not to get a 'yes'. It would have been more devastating to get a 'no'. A vague response was better than a hard 'no'.

They heard Vanna start to tell Allison one of her deepest secrets. It wasn't something they should hear unless it was being told directly to them because of the personal nature of it. She wanted to give Vanna her privacy. She cared very much about her and loved her deeply.

"This is very personal." Cam said. "We need to go."

Holly didn't want to know about any more personal pain or suffering. When Vanna first told Allison there was something to tell her, she didn't want to hear what it was. She knew it was something which was very painful to discuss.

"I've already turned off my sensitive hearing." Holly said. "I haven't heard a word of it. I've heard too many stories of pain and suffering. I heard things from others when I was in Cameron's future. I don't need to hear anymore."

The Metal girls heard many of the stories from Jesse, Vanna, Allison, and Riley. They were all abused in the alternate future more than a few times. For some of them, it was way more than a few times. They really didn't know how the human girls were able to cope with it. They all thought if something like it happened to them, they would self terminate. They thought the human girls were all much more adaptable and tougher than they would be under the same circumstances.

Cam didn't want to hear it either. Vanna already told her more things than she ever wanted to hear. She only listened to them because she knew Vanna needed to talk about them. She was able to lend her ear. She was also able to visualize everything Vanna described as it happened, and the aftermath. It was all very unsettling.

"Every girl needs a few secrets…." Cam said.

Cam looked around and then smiled at Holly.

"Let's go make a few of our own…." Holly said.

Cam and Holly thought they would spend a lot more time together if Vanna and Allison moved back in together. They figured Gail and Hanna would be available more often too. Claire would want to be with Jesse and Vanna a few times a week. There would be Ally and Sheila looking for 'a piece of the action' too. They would probably have so much free time, they would start going out on more operations.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Things We Wall Off

Everyone likes to think
They are a rock
Anyone who hears it
Knows it's a crock

When someone pulls back
To build an inner fortress
The end result will be
They end up heartless

To retreat within one's self
Becomes lonely and cold
It will only get worse
As they wither and grow old

Time waits for no one
The clock keeps on ticking
No one wants to be left behind
At another's boot heels licking

At the plight of others
We shouldn't scoff
To hide from life is seems
Many things we wall off

Nobody