Chapter 1031
It Was My Choice
The girls were at the ice skating rink. They arrived there shortly after they left the multiplex. They watched a superhero movie there and used the arcade.
Young Allison 'messed around' inappropriately with Anna-Ally after her second fall.
Savannah came over and stepped in. She said she would take over Anna-Ally's instruction. She sent Young Allison and Ally-Anna off on their own.
Anna-Ally watched Young Allison and Ally-Anna tear around the ice rink. She thought it almost looked like they were floating on air the way they moved so smoothly along.
"Wow!" Anna-Ally said. "They're really good."
Savannah could see Anna-Ally was impressed. She was too.
"Young Allison excels at everything." Savannah said. "She practices until she's perfect, and then she practices some more. You also need to remember there's no substitute for experience. She'll have plenty of experience on anything she challenges you, or anyone else, first. She likes to go in with an advantage."
Savannah was very impressed with all of Young Allison's achievements. She was also very proud of her. She realized how jealous she was earlier. She was very jealous. She knew it clouded her judgment and it was never a good thing. Still, she didn't want anyone to mess with what 'belonged' to her. She didn't think it was the right way to think about it, but it's what was inside of her head when she did. It seemed she usually thought that way in the morning when she woke up. She 'belonged' to Young Allison. Young Allison 'belonged' to her.
Anna-Ally was really impressed. The quest for perfection was one thing. The ability to achieve it was another. The drive and motivation behind it was the true factor. She wanted to know where the root of it actually came from. She thought it made a difference.
"Is it all Cameron's doing?" Anna-Ally asked. "Is the quest for perfection pushed by Cameron?"
Savannah knew it was more than just Cameron's involvement. It was the same for her. Cameron did want their best, but so did they. The drive and motivation came from within.
"No." Savannah said. "It's all from Young Allison. Cameron always urged us to find the most there was already within us in anything we did. She always said she wanted our abilities to be our own. When I was younger I didn't understand it. I do now."
Anna-Ally looked at her 'programming' from the 'Neural Interface' with Allison. She didn't like what she found. Actually, she didn't like what she couldn't find.
"Allison doesn't have the same 'drive'." Anna-Ally said. "I don't either."
Savannah didn't want to talk about Allison or the other girls from the future. She knew they all needed to carry a lot of baggage. She thought things were different in the present. She didn't see why Anna-Ally couldn't motivate herself.
"You can fix it in yourself." Savannah said.
Anna-Ally felt there was no desire within her to do it. Maybe if she was with a human lover full time she would try to better herself. With Sheila to fall back on, it was good enough for her. They spent most of their time kissing or with their face buried elsewhere on the other. There didn't seem to be a whole lot else which mattered along those lines. Everyone got what they wanted and they could enjoy it for hours or even days on end.
"I don't have the drive to give myself the drive." Anna-Ally said. "There's absolutely zero motivation."
Savannah was dissatisfied with her answer. She thought she could assist Anna-Ally. 'Holly' was the base program in Anna-Ally not 'Cameron'. It left her with the conclusion it was almost a negative experience to have 'Allison' on her chip from the 'Neural Interface'. She still couldn't blame the girls from the future. The way to survive was not to be noticed. They all tried very hard to look as plain as possible. Allison even tried to hide her face with her hair whatever she could.
"I'll help you." Savannah said. "Let the 'Holly' in you out a little. She's really good at this."
Anna-Ally wanted to better herself some. Savannah was tough on her earlier. She knew she'd deserved it. Savannah didn't hold a grudge against her. She'd tried to help her.
"You tell me what to do and I'll do it." Anna-Ally said. "I want to learn. Young Allison did try to tell me what to do. I didn't listen."
Savannah would help Anna-Ally. She also wanted to warn her. She didn't want to see her get stuck in another sucker play. She was glad she wasn't the one who played air hockey against Young Allison. It wasn't something she normally did, or even did very often before. She also didn't have as much experience as Young Allison at ice skating. She knew it was something Anna-Ally needed to accept as well. She knew in a relatively short amount of time Anna-Ally would be able to master the mechanics of ice skating. It would be the finesse and style she would need to learn over a longer period of time, and with practice. She thought a few specific tips were in order.
"You won't be better than her, you know." Savannah said. "Young Allison is the best. She'll draw you in and get you close. With a smile on her face she'll stick an ice pick in your heart, or in your case, alongside your eye towards your chip. She may use her Taser on you as well. I think she'd like to be close so she could look you in the eye when she did it too. She'd want you to know who was going to deactivate you. I've seen her train. She's utterly ruthless."
Anna-Ally suddenly was left with a lot to think about. She didn't want to be deactivated by anyone, especially over some minor infraction. She needed to refocus. She was aware her chassis was superior to a human body for everything, except one thing. Well, there were a few other minor things too.
"I have the ability to be better than her." Anna-Ally said.
Savannah smiled.
"It's true, but you don't have the experience. Right now you don't have it." Savannah said. "Remember, there's no substitute for experience."
Anna-Ally reflected on it for a few moments.
"I think I'm finding it out the hard way." Anna-Ally said. "She uses my superiority against me. It makes me overconfident going in without any additional thought."
Savannah tended to agree with her assessment. She wanted to give her a couple of more reminders about the way things worked. Sometimes they were easy to forget. It didn't matter who the individual was. There were other things she wanted it to do. It was what they were there for actually.
"Don't feel bad. She's shown Cameron a thing or two as well." Savannah said. "Everyone gets overconfident at some point in time. It can be a fatal mistake. Never underestimate your enemy. Even when you think you're winning, you may not be and not even know it. It's enough of the tough talk. It's time to have some fun. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. It shouldn't be anything else. It's not a competition. Don't let anyone take the fun away from you."
Anna-Ally took in everything Savannah just said. She thought it was actually quite a lot. She didn't feel so bad about herself to know Cameron was shown a thing or two as well. She remembered young Allison was able to show Skynet a few things as well in the recent battles. The episode with the bikers was always fresh in her mind, and the way it was handled. She knew none of them would have taken the same steps Young Allison did in everything she was involved with the last few days. It was time to move things ahead. She wanted to have fun. It sounded fun to have fun. She wanted to have fun.
Savannah took Anna-Ally back out on the ice. She wanted her to have a good time. She instructed her and Anna-Ally only almost fell once. She reminded her even during competitions the ice skaters sometimes experienced a mishap. They could all slip and fall at any point with just a small error. She knew it was often when they tried to do a new maneuver or something special. They could often pull it off in practice, but during the event, things didn't always work out.
Anna-Ally was pleased with the way Savannah assisted her. It seemed she always knew what she would need to know next.
"You know what to tell me and how to help me." Anna-Ally said.
Savannah learned from the best. Cameron was the one who taught her and she taught Young Allison.
"I've done this before and trained someone." Savannah said. "I taught Young Allison along with Cameron's and Claire's help."
Anna-Ally quickly took a second look at Savannah. If Savannah taught Young Allison, it meant she was good too. She better skip any challenges for today. She remembered what Savannah said earlier about feeling overconfident and underestimating your opponent. She probably would have made the same mistake once she got in a little more experience in practice.
"I think you like to help people." Anna-Ally said. "I think it says a lot about you."
Savannah just did what she always did. She didn't think it was a big deal. Sometimes there were certain circumstances or conditions which needed to be dealt with. He was what she did. Nothing got done thinking about it. She wanted to give Anna-Ally a few more things to think about as well. She believed incentive went a long way as did motivation.
"If you want to learn more than just skating, you can always learn music or dance from Claire." Savannah said. "She really enjoys teaching both of those subjects. She misses not being able to do it anymore because of the Skynet situation."
Anna-Ally liked to think about Claire. Claire was an amazing person to be with. Maybe she should broaden her horizons a little. Dance and music were both fine arts as well. It was more than just the mechanics involved. There was a certain amount of skill and finesse involved. It was more than just learning. It was also creating. She took a moment as she looked at those out on the ice rink.
"Claire must look hot on skates." Anna-Ally said. "I can see where dance could be used as a carryover into ice skating. I guess it's sort of dancing on ice in a way."
Savannah noticed Claire never seemed to have any issue being with Cam, Cammy, Camille, or Ally, even though they looked identical to her daughter. It was obvious she saw 'Cameron' when she was with them, not 'Allison'. Claire also understood every Metal girl was her program regardless of the chassis or sheath.
"I think you've seen everything about her there is to see." Savannah said. "There isn't much any of us hasn't seen about everyone else who's active."
Savannah knew it left Sarah and Riley as the two big unknowns. What exactly they could bring to the table, or the bedroom, was still a mystery for most of them. Obviously Jesse could give some insight into Riley, but she never did. She felt private matters should remain private unless someone didn't want them to remain private. It was pretty much standard fare around the Resistance base for the Metal girls.
Anna-Ally was happy to be with any of the girls. She did like the human girls when they were available. She also enjoyed being with Sheila when she could. There might be a lot of banter between Sheila and her, but it didn't change the underlying feeling for both of them. They were both deeply in love with each other. She did have a new worry with Cammy in the mix now. She knew events would play out, however they would play out.
"Maybe…." Anna-Ally said. "It's a small universe we exist in."
Savannah thought of her times with Claire and everyone else.
"I believe it is." Savannah said with a sly smile. "It happens…."
Anna-Ally almost piled up when she looked over at Savannah.
"Watch it." Savannah said quickly.
Anna-Ally quickly corrected herself. She needed to remember the ice was a less forgiving surface than if one were on the ground, or a floor of some type.
"Oops!" Anna-Ally said. "I guess it does all work out. We all get around."
Savannah knew they all did. Life was good in Paradise. When she was younger she used to hear the girls from the future talk about 'Paradise'. She didn't really understand it then. After her visit to two futures, she didn't know what Paradise was. It actually upset her to think how many people were unhappy and miserable about their current condition in life. She knew it could get a lot worse. They would wish for their old life back if they could get it once they were in in a Skynet future.
There was still one issue Savannah wanted resolved. It was about what she witnessed earlier. With two bodies in direct contact with each other, it was hard to determine exactly what occurred. It was time to find out. She decided on the direct approach.
"What did Young Allison do to you?" Savannah asked.
Anna-Ally was worried a problem might develop. She decided to play it cool. She wasn't about to squeal on anyone.
"She helped me up." Anna-Ally said.
Savannah stopped Anna-Ally and faced her. She wanted the truth.
"You heard me." Savannah said. "Give it to me straight."
Anna-Ally didn't know exactly what Savannah may have observed. She arrived only seconds after the incident. She didn't see it as a big deal. It was something the girls playfully did with each other from time to time. It was usually in a more open manner when they faced each other. Sometimes when they were behind another one, they might reach around and do the same thing.
"She 'copped a feel'." Anna-Ally said. "I have less in my current chassis. I barely noticed when it happened. I wasn't even sure it happened at first. She was in the process of helping me up. I actually needed to replay my files. There may have been an extra touch which wasn't really necessary. I don't want there to be a problem about it. I didn't listen. I fell down, again. It all comes back on me. I know I overstepped my bounds earlier. It falls back on me, again."
Savannah didn't think the size of anyone mattered in one of their private wasn't the issue in the current situation. There really wasn't much difference between any of them anyway anymore. It was the way things were done. There was the issue of character, decency, and other people's feelings. Everyone mattered. Everything mattered.
She didn't like the way Young Allison touched Anna-Ally. Everyone should have a choice. One person shouldn't 'take', even if they were playing around. They still knew what they were doing. To take advantage of somebody was wrong and they knew it was wrong before, and when they did it. They certainly knew it was wrong after they did it.
"I don't want Young Allison doing things like she did." Savannah said. "She needs to learn restraint and control under all conditions. We just can't take whatever we want, when we want it. I know things happen when people are fooling around. Usually it doesn't take much for a lot more to happen in those situations. I don't want to be indirectly pressured into giving her what she wants either."
Savannah felt it already happened with her involvement with CamNet. She wanted CamNet to lay off of Young Allison. It was an unhealthy relationship no matter how it was viewed. She understood the loneliness of CamNet stuck in her bunker. She believed with the attention and affection she gave Cam Net, it would at least temporarily quell some of her desires. She knew it was the same with Young Allison.
Anna-Ally didn't see a solution. From what she observed so far, Young Allison was going to be a handful in everything she did. It would apply from the battlefield to the bedroom and everything in between.
"I don't think anyone is going to be able to control Young Allison." Anna-Ally said. "She's already much like Future Allison. She will be very 'aggressive'. I understand the need for restraint, common sense, and good judgment. I don't think control of anyone will change those things in them. I believe it will make them worse."
Savannah didn't like how the 'Future Allison programming' changed Anna-Ally. Maybe there was some still on her chip. It literally made her a different individual. She wasn't the same anymore. She was pleased when Cameron made her give it up and stop using it. She turned back into her old self. It was like she 'died' for a while, there was a 'new individual', and then she came back again. It was one of the reasons why she didn't want Gail or Holly to do the 'Neural Interface' with anyone at the current time. it would change who they were now, into someone different. It wasn't a path she wanted to see Anna-Ally go down again.
"Do you ever access other programming?" Savannah asked. "I specifically mean the 'Neural Interface' from Future Allison?"
Anna-Ally liked the 'Future Allison' programming. It made her feel 'alive' without the need for pain. It made her feel more vibrant and joyful.
"No." Anna-Ally said too quickly. "Cameron removed most of it. She took it from me. I wanted to keep it. Cameron forced me to give it up. She took it from me because she knew I would still use it. She was right. I would still use it because of how it made me feel. Maybe it was like a drug. I can see how individuals become dependent on an outside source of something because of how it makes them feel, even if it's temporary."
Savannah was sure Anna-Ally still possessed a little more of the programming than she let on. She didn't want to see her change herself again.
"I recommend you stay away from it." Savannah said. "I like you how you are. I don't want you to change. I don't want to lose you. I did for a while and I didn't like it. I was very happy when you returned to who you actually were. You didn't need to be anyone else."
Anna-Ally quickly looked at Savannah. She understood the warning.
"I understand." Anna-Ally said.
Savannah showed Anna-Ally a few more moves and things to do and how to do them. She knew it wouldn't take her long to master everything, and it didn't. She knew all the moves, she just lacked the experience to carry everything out in a smooth and cohesive manner. A few practice runs and she would have it down. She would be ready for the big leagues.
"You should be ready for an Olympic Gold Medal now." Savannah said.
Anna-Ally was now very smooth and proficient. She moved like a professional. She was able to use her Terminator abilities to become proficient in everything she was trained in. She was pleased at the way Savannah would point things out to make her improve. She felt very confident in her new abilities. She looked around for Young Allison.
Savannah could see Anna-Ally wanted to challenge Young Allison now. She decided she better give Anna-Ally another warning. She wondered if Anna-Ally paid attention to her earlier warning about what would happen.
"Don't think you can beat Young Allison now." Savannah said. "She'll set you up. You better replay the files of what I just told you a few minutes ago."
Anna-Ally felt confident in her abilities now. She was a Terminator. She was superior to any human. They weren't in the water and no child birth was necessary.
"I'm better now." Anna-Ally said. "I'm superior to everyone here right now where we are."
Savannah could see Anna-Ally was overconfident. It was just the kind of 'mark' Young Allison would look for.
"When Young Allison gets competitive, she plays to win." Savannah said. "She won't play fair either. All you need to do is think about Cameron and how far she's willing to go in order to 'win'. There have been some pretty extreme examples. I was there for one of them. You don't know what it's like watching the timer countdown on a nuclear weapon with only seconds left until it detonates. It's never over until they win."
Anna-Ally was aware of where Young Allison learned her desire to win no matter what the cost was, or what was necessary to do it. She wanted to make sure the blame was placed where it belonged..
"It's Cameron's fault." Anna-Ally said. "I won't say I'm any better as far as ethics go, but some of us are worse than others."
Savannah felt it was much more than ethics. It was about protecting the future and protecting John. It was about doing what it took and not asking questions or worrying about the aftermath. There was no 'second place winner'.
"It's about survival and being the last one standing." Savannah said. "She has a killer instinct. She hits hard and she hits low. She won't let up either."
They were both aware of Young Allison's input on several recent missions. It saved all of them from a lot of damage, or even from termination. Young Allison was responsible for a number of deaths of the enemy. Her 'attack' on the Syndicate was proof of how hard she was willing to hit. Hundreds were probably already dead because of her action against the Cartel and rival Syndicate groups. She made sure CamNet took billions from them. She wanted to hit them where she made sure it would hurt. It wasn't in the loss of 'soldiers'. It was in the loss of money.
She was pretty sure she would go after selective infrastructure next. She would probably have CamNet direct rival groups on what to hit specifically. CamNet would know what things each group cherished. There were always factions in each group. She would probably put them against each other as well to do the dirty work.
Anna-Ally was sure Young Allison would be a force to reckon with.
"She'll be a 'human Terminator'." Anna-Ally said.
Savannah cringed a little at the thought. She did view Cameron as a 'mechanical human', but she didn't want to view Young Allison as a 'human Terminator'. She wanted to make sure her humanity remained intact. She wanted to make sure Young Allison could love and continue to love. It was where her love would come into play.
"Not if I can help it." Savannah said.
John and Cameron 'finished up'. They put their clothes back on. They headed back to the GT.
Cameron quickly folded the 'space blanket' and stuffed it back in John's rear pocket. She was very pleased with its performance. It kept the sand out of places where it didn't need to go and it made sure any insects remained below them when they were on the overlook of the San Fernando Valley.
They shared playful kisses along the way back.
John sure hoped when they arrived back at the GT he wouldn't see Derek's truck parked there. He was very relieved to see it wasn't.
The approach to the overlook was coned off however. Al was there. It seems part of it did happen at some point. It was actually a logical assumption.
"I don't like surprises." Cameron said. "I made sure our six was covered. I didn't want anybody to interrupt us as either one of us was about to 'finish'. A spoiled 'finish' is hard to restart. It's never as good when it does happen after the interruption either."
John wanted to point out 'Cameron's six' was uncovered for a better part of the evening. He decided not to comment on it. It was the truth, but he might spoil things if Cameron took it the wrong way. Jokes didn't always go over as intended with her. He was still surprised by the number of them Cameron actually told earlier in the evening. He didn't want to encourage her to do more, but he would like it if she did on her own.
"Is Bob here too?" John asked.
Cameron didn't take any chances with security. She tried to cover all the approaches to their current location.
"He's back two miles the way we came from." Cameron said. "Jim is down two miles the way we're going to go. They could both be back to this location very quickly if there was some type of disturbance."
John didn't like all the attention while he was out with Cameron. He knew they were all concerned for his safety. He wondered how it would be on the cruise ship. He didn't want to have to stay in the room most of the time, even if it was a suite. He also didn't want to leave a big footprint and make it look like the president was visiting with a bunch of Secret Service security.
"Are we going to have this same coverage when we go on our honeymoon?" John asked.
Cameron looked a little concerned at his question. She didn't want to take any chances.
"I would feel better if we did." Cameron said. "Don't you want to see Bob and Jim in a Speedo?"
Cameron smiled and giggled after the last part of her statement.
John thought about it…. He wanted to offer her something to think about.
"I would, but only if you were still in their chassis." John said.
John tried to be playful and joking. He didn't think Cameron would take him literally.
Cameron tilted her head slightly. She wanted to use Sheila's chassis but the prospect of using Bob's or Jim's chassis would give her a chance to show John a few things. She hadn't been with anyone in a male chassis. She would like to try the experience to see how it differed from hers. John might not be so quick to do some other things once he found out what they were like. She didn't see why she couldn't borrow anyone's chassis on the ship. With John's latest revelation it appeared it wouldn't make too much difference if it was a male or a female Terminator chassis.
"It can be arranged." Cameron said. "It would still be my program, so it would still be me. I could show you what some things are like. I'm sure it will be quite eye opening. I'm sure a few other things will be opened as well."
John thought the conversation wasn't headed where he wanted the night to go. Cameron already pointed out some 'areas' didn't have pleasure receptors on Terminators or humans, male or female. He wondered if she was in a male chassis, if she would want to be with a female as well. She said she could control both her chassis, and the one she was connected to with the tether. He thought it would be an interesting prospect to be with herself as both a male and a female at the same time. He didn't like the idea of 'someone else' being with Cameron, but it actually would be Cameron. If one thought about it long enough, it didn't seem like a big deal. The male Terminator chassis was a 'machine'. Was it really too much different than a battery powered marital aid device? It was the same thing, it just had a lot more attached to it. He shook his head to clear it. He wasn't even going to suggest any of it to her. He knew it was something she would do. He actually wished he wouldn't have said anything at all.
They stood holding hands as they looked at the Valley below.
John could see traces of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in several spots as it wound down the side of the hills into the flatlands of the Valley. It continued north across the valley until it ended at the 118 Freeway.
"It's all 'downhill' from here right?" John asked.
Cameron remembered there were a few small dips but she didn't think those counted. The overall street was downhill.
"Yes." Cameron said.
John hoped she was talking about Topanga and not their relationship as far as 'downhill' went. He wanted to drive a little more, but he thought he would see if Cameron wanted to drive again. He took the keys out of his pocket and held them up.
"Did you want to take the wheel?" John asked.
Cameron tilted her head slightly. She was a little confused.
"Don't you want to drive?" Cameron asked.
John still held onto the keys.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to." John said. "I don't want to seem like a wheel hog. I like to share."
Cameron looked at the keys. She thought it would be safer if she drove. She didn't want John to overdo it on the steep downhill segments. If he 'hot-dogged it' the vehicle might get away from him on one of the curves. She thought maybe she could just say something if he started to get a little reckless. She knew 'no one likes a nag'. She didn't want to be a 'back seat driver'. It was kind of hard to do in the GT because there was no back seat. The engine was mounted behind them. She could see he wanted the wheel time. She wanted him to be happy. She would issue a warning and hope she wouldn't have to issue an admonition later on.
"You need to watch your downhill speed. There are several very sharp corners." Cameron said. "If I notice any danger, I'll notify you as soon as possible."
John was pleased Cameron would allow him to drive. He looked north across the Valley.
"Thanks, I won't overdo it. Don't let me either." John said. "Topanga goes all the way to the 118."
Cameron waited for John to say a little more. He didn't. She decided to elaborate from where his statement left off. There was a very hilly route through the hills by the 118 Freeway. If John wanted to take the challenging route, she would need to start moving assets into place to block the roads.
"Yes." Cameron said. "Right where Stoney Point is at, there's the turnoff for Santa Susana Pass Road. We can take it to Simi Valley and come back through Black Canyon. We will go past the old Santa Susana Field Laboratory. There was extensive propulsion testing there for years. Then we can head down back into the valley on Woolsey Canyon Road."
She didn't want to mention the area around the Santa Susana Field Laboratory was highly contaminated for several reasons. One of them was from the rocket fuel used over the years. The other one was from a Sodium Reactor, which melted down, twice. If they remained in the vehicle they would only pass through the area, and be by everything very quickly.
John was well acquainted with Stony Point. It was a landmark visible for miles. There was one other aspect of the route Cameron suggested which caught his fancy.
"The Santa Susana Field Laboratory is where they tested the rocket engines." John said. "I remember I read somewhere about it. Some of those were used on the Apollo missions to the Moon.
Cameron was aware there was a lot of contamination in the soil, and the rock, from the different types of rocket fuel used. There were a number of incidents at the field laboratory over the years it was in service. Not all of them involved the rocket fuel. It was a subject she hoped to avoid earlier and decided to only mention it since John brought it up.
"There was also a sodium nuclear reactor there. It melted down, twice." Cameron said. "It was always covered up. There was a lot of cancer associated with Dayton Canyon. It was the natural runoff area from the location. The water eventually made its way into the Los Angeles River. Now Dayton Canyon is full of million dollar homes. Go figure."
It sounded like a lot of canyon driving to John. He was a little tired out from all his 'activity' with Cameron. The mention of radiation and toxic contamination didn't resonate very well either. It reminded him of the future. Skynet made sure there were plenty of both of those. It briefly made him wonder if the residents of Dayton Canyon, who didn't succumb to any diseases, would fare in a Skynet future because of their long time exposure.
"Maybe we can do it another time then." John said. "I don't want to overdo it."
John started to walk to the driver's side of the GT. He stopped and looked back. He went back over and opened the door for Cameron. She smiled at him and went inside. He closed the door and headed back to the driver's side. He climbed back in the driver's seat of the GT. He went ahead and hooked up the five point safety belt system.
Cameron checked his safety equipment. She didn't think it was too late yet. She wanted to offer John some more wheel time.
"Is there some other place you would rather go?" Cameron asked.
John looked over at Cameron and smiled.
"Yup…." John said.
John fired the GT up and made a three point turn.
"Remember to take it easy going downhill." Cameron said.
John planned to follow her advice.
"I won't push it. Well, at least not too hard." John said.
It was still in his head what Cameron told him earlier. Speed kills.
"You're the Boss." John said.
Cameron smiled at John. She was glad he finally got it.
She was pleased now and determined to get it down to nine hundred and eighty by morning. It looked like 'Little Willie' was going to get a real workout. She hoped it was 'up' to the task.
It briefly crossed her mind she should check for any friction damage. Everything was pretty smooth on her end. All of her female attributes functioned as they were intended to simulate a human female. She was very pleased with the results.
Savannah worked with Anna-Ally some more and her skill and ability developed nicely.
Young Allison skated over to comment on Anna-Ally's new ability.
"Maybe we'll teach you how to play hockey next." Young Allison said. "I think you would be a force to be reckoned with on the ice against the opposing team, even if they were human males."
Anna-Ally thought it would be a challenge. She figured she would be able to do pretty well once she understood all the rules of the game. There was something else which caught her fancy. She watched a few females go through some routines on the ice she thought were beautiful. She would rather learn how to do it. There seemed to be a lot of violence in hockey. Somehow she thought it would be a sport Sheila would enjoy.
"When I'm back in my chassis, I'd rather practice the finesse of ice skating." Anna-Ally said. "Some of what I saw was wonderful."
It was what Savannah wanted to hear. It would take time and effort on Anna-Ally's part. She wanted to encourage her.
"You would be beautiful doing it." Savannah said.
Young Allison thought there were other options open to her as well which involved a lot of finesse. She wouldn't have to worry about stamina, or range of motion, but she would have to worry about the details to be good at it.
"I think she'd be better as a ballerina." Young Allison said. "It's what Summer says she wants to be."
Anna-Ally thought back on Metal Summer. Summer would be just as beautiful. They shared the same DNA.
"As pretty as Summer will be, she should be an actress." Anna-Ally said.
Savannah felt the same way about Young Allison.
"Allison is pretty too." Savannah said.
Young Allison smiled at Savannah.
"So are you, Savannah." Young Allison said.
The two girls exchanged a look of love.
Savannah checked the time.
"Maybe we should head back soon." Savannah said.
Young Allison didn't want the fun to end. She looked at Savannah.
"Please, can we stay another fifteen minutes?" Young Allison asked. "I'd really like it if you'll allow it."
Savannah liked the respect in the way Young Allison asked.
"Since you asked so nicely, we'll make it twenty more minutes." Savannah said.
Young Allison reached over and took Anna-Ally's hand.
"You're with me." Young Allison said. "Remember to pay attention and listen if I tell you anything. I might have to help you up off of the ice, again."
Anna-Ally remembered Savannah's earlier warnings about Young Allison. She was warned she didn't play by the rules. She played to win. She really didn't want to take another trip down onto the ice.
"Don't trip me." Anna-Ally said.
Young Allison tried to look offended but didn't quite pull it off. She actually looked devious.
"I'd never do it." Young Allison said. "At least so you knew. I can help you back up again…. If you go down…."
The girls all looked at each other for a long moment. The phraseology wasn't lost on them.
Young Allison finally giggled at her own statement.
Savannah didn't want things to get away from her. She didn't want any 'hanky panky' either.
"She'll get up on her own." Savannah said. "I don't want any 'accidents' of any type."
Young Allison frowned.
"Killjoy…." Young Allison said.
Savannah wanted to point out there were other alternatives. One of them was the original plan.
"We can still leave now." Savannah said. "There won't be any more issues if we do it, because we won't be here."
Young Alison didn't want to leave yet. She knew when not to push it.
"Everything is fine." Young Allison said. "Come on, Ally, let's go."
Anna-Ally and Young Allison took off.
"She's really something." Ally-Anna said.
Savannah's eyes followed young Allison.
"Yes she is..." Savannah said.
Ally-Anna didn't want any difficulties when they returned. She felt she made her point. She was pleased she actually got to look like herself, like 'Cameron'.
"As soon as Young Allison is asleep, I'll let Ally have her chassis back…." Ally-Anna said. "If you two want to 'get together', you can. I don't care what she does with her own chassis. I do care what happens to mine."
Savannah actually liked the idea, but there was something else she would rather do instead.
"I may sleep next to Young Allison tonight if she asks me." Savannah said. "You know it's just to sleep. I want to keep it like a sleepover, not a seduction, or free for all."
Ally-Anna knew Savannah would use restraint and good judgment.
"I do you would make sure it remained friendly." Ally-Anna said. "Your love is respectful and honorable."
Savannah was well aware Young Allison literally sat on a 'cherry bomb'. She was more than ready to expand her sexuality.
"In another year, she's not going to take 'no' for an answer." Savannah said.
Ally-Anna doubted it would be a year. She was pretty sure Young Allison would try to be with John as well as Savannah. She didn't think Cameron would buckle before either one of them were with Young Allison.
"Isn't it about the age you started?" Ally-Anna asked.
Savannah could have done without the reminder. There were a lot of other things which occurred as well. She believed in free choice, but there were just some things she didn't want to happen.
"It was and I was pregnant soon afterwards…." Savannah said. "It was all done artificially. I'm not going to allow her to do it. I know I have no right to curtail her sexual freedom and the choices she wants to make about it. I do know I need to protect her both mentally and physically from doing the same thing I did. There's more to it than just the physical aspect."
Ally-Anna strongly doubted Savannah could stop her if she was determined. Young Allison was a very strong minded as well as strong willed individual.
"You may not be able to stop her from doing anything." Ally-Anna said.
Savannah reflected on how both of her pregnancies went to term and were delivered in two different futures. The medical conditions were anything but pristine in either one of them. They were relatively sanitary, but it was all she could say about them.
"I'm sure going to try to stop her or at least slow her down." Savannah said. "I don't want her going through the same pain."
Ally-Anna was aware the future lacked many amenities. Young Allison would be at the Resistance base or Cameron's base if she were to deliver an infant.
"There will be plenty of pain medicine at the base." Ally-Anna said.
Savannah's face looked a little ashen right now.
"It wasn't the pain I was talking about." Savannah said.
Ally-Anna possessed the files of Savannah's emotional pain about the deliveries and separation from the 'Neural Interface'.
"I'm sorry." Ally-Anna said.
Savannah let out a slow long breath.
"So am I." Savannah said. "So am I…."
Ally-Anna could see the tears in Savannah's eyes as she thought about it.
Savannah saw Ally-Anna look at her.
"I'm fine." Savannah said. "It was my choice."
Ally-Anna was aware of the pain and regret Savannah faced.
"You're a trooper." Ally-Anna said.
Savannah felt that she didn't really have a choice. She'd wanted to give the first baby to Cameron and John. It ended up with Duplicate Vanna 'in some future'. Future Savannah ended up with the other one, but at least it was planned from the beginning. It wasn't quite as hard, but it still was. She needed to help 'herself'. If it wasn't then, when would it be? If it wasn't her, who would it be? She did what needed to be done, when it needed to be done It was just that simple.
"I don't know what I am, if you want to know the truth." Savannah said.
Ally-Anna believed that Savannah was tops.
"You're the greatest." Ally-Anna said.
Savannah was pretty sure Ally-Anna had a biased opinion. She did have the 'Neural Interface' from her. She didn't want to comment on it. There were other more important things to think about right now. One of them was Young Allison.
"Let's go make sure Young Allison has a good time." Savannah said.
Savannah knew the pain of being separated from one's family. She also knew the pain of 'giving' her daughters away.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
It Was My Choice
When things start out
The direction isn't always clear
It could cause them to cheer
Or leave them with a tear
People take the gamble
They'll take a risk
It might be something that lasts
It might end rather brisk
It's the nature of the beast
It's programmed in a brain
No one wants to see it
Go down the drain
Even when one strikes out
They still want to play the game
No one wants to be sent away
In humiliation and shame
Maybe it wasn't to be
At least you heard my voice
Maybe there's nothing to rejoice
Always remember it was my choice
Nobody