Chapter 1189

North Star

Sheila led Ally and Hanna into the door next to the small stage. She wanted to knock off a quickie. It seemed like the best place to go for now. It was convenient anyway. It was right where they were at waiting for the next half of the performance to start by the Rockabilly Trio. They wouldn't need to go into a restroom, or go back to the private area and use one of the rooms, or crowd into Sheila's small room.

Ally was a little apprehensive Sheila wanted to go through with it. It seemed like the wrong place. It seemed like there were too many variables.

"We don't know where this goes." Ally said. "We don't know who else could be in there, or who might show up."

Hanna looked back as they entered. It seemed like a bad idea to her as well. There was no control over what outside influences could affect them.

"I don't think we should go back there." Hanna said.

The prospect of danger only excited Sheila further. She wondered what it would be like being caught by strangers in the middle of a sex act. She tried to quell their fears.

"Relax." Sheila said. "I'm part of the crew."

Ally wondered how Sheila would explain being dressed in an evening gown and having sex on a stage in a public area would go over as 'part of the crew'.

"You don't look it." Ally said. "You would need to do a lot of explaining. I really don't see what being part of the crew would have to do with anything. You would be terminated on the spot, from your job I mean."

Sheila didn't really care. She wanted a little action. She wanted it now. She didn't want the other girls to get 'cold feet'.

"I'm allowed a break." Sheila said. "It's not a slave ship after all."

Hanna wasn't sure it was a good comparison or not to make. She remembered reading most of the cruise ships were of foreign registry and didn't adhere to any of the work rules or regulations of most western nations. The workers complained of 'slave like' conditions for the terms of their 'contracts'. She read one or two crew members always 'jumped ship' with every cruise. With over a thousand crew members, it didn't seem like too big of a percentage.

It did show a certain amount of dissatisfaction where people were willing to risk a lot, to get away from the ship and what they felt was its oppressive behavior over them. It also showed the majority of crew members went along with what they agreed with. It wasn't so much about helping themselves. It was about helping their families. Maybe they needed to put up with a little more than they wanted to, but their families could use the money. It would appear once again the true test of love was sacrifice.

The three Metal girls went up on the small stage from the inside doorway. They were currently blocked from the rest of the theater by the curtain, it was down and closed.

Ally wanted to see if anyone paid any attention to them entering the stage door. She hoped if anyone did they would think they were some of the ship's performers getting ready to dance or sing when the music started again.

"I'm going to peek out." Ally said.

Sheila thought it was unnecessary. She didn't really care.

"Don't be such a worry wart." Sheila said. "You know I don't like sissies."

Ally frowned at Sheila's comment. She ignored her and moved up to the side of the curtain and peeked out. She didn't like what she saw. There were more eyes now than there were a few minutes ago.

"There are a lot of people out there." Ally said.

Hanna didn't think it was a problem since the band played in the corner by the dance floor. It should be where most of the people were focused. She figured if anyone spotted them the way they were currently dressed in their evening gowns, they would probably think they were going to do one of the female singing acts from the Sixties. She thought it might be a little more convincing if they all wore long gloves.

"The band plays off to the side where the dance floor is." Hanna said. "We are off the main track right now. Most of the people are focused in the direction where the band will play. No one is looking up to the stage. There's nothing happening on it right now. Well, on the outside of it anyway."

Ally wondered if another group would come in to use the stage after the Rockabilly Trio finished. She neglected to see what act would follow them when their gig was finished.

"What's the next act?" Ally asked. "Maybe they will come in and start to set up and find us here."

Sheila was tired of waiting. She wanted her 'bell' rung. She wanted Ally and Hanna to stop lollygagging.

"The next act is me doing it myself." Sheila said. "I need a 'finish' at this point."

Ally thought Sheila needed better restraint.

"What are you going to do when you're in the nude sunbathing area tomorrow?" Ally asked. "Are you going to do it yourself right out in the open? You need a little self control."

Sheila thought of a few ways to hide what she did, if she needed to do it.

"I'll bring a towel or 'use' the restroom a lot." Sheila said. "Maybe I'll do both."

Sheila actually thought it depended upon who was up there with her in the nude sunbathing area. There would be a few other options open to her then. Like everyone, she preferred younger to older. If they were fit and trim and looked anything like Sarah, she was good with it as well. She didn't care what their age was.

The more Ally thought about it, the more it worried her.

"I don't think we should do this." Ally said. "Not here anyway, it's a bad idea."

Hanna heard a noise. It sounded like trouble.

"Quiet." Hanna said. "Someone's coming."

Sheila couldn't resist the pun.

"I wish it was me." Sheila said.

They heard the door they entered from open. Someone was there. It appeared they were about to be discovered.

Sheila really wished one of them would have started in on her if they were about to be caught. She figured if nothing else, it would throw off the person who found them. She really hoped it wouldn't lead to a termination. It certainly wouldn't be any of them.

Derek and Riley looked at the two specialty restaurants. It was clear two days wasn't going to be enough to do everything. There were too many places to visit.

"We're not going to have enough time to do everything on the ship." Derek said.

Riley felt a bigger worry than eating. She also worried about her daughter.

"You mean not enough time to eat at every place?" Riley asked. "We need to worry about Precious too. I do it all the time. She's important too."

Derek worried about Precious as well. He didn't want to make it sound like he was insensitive. He wasn't. He was caught up in the excitement of being on the ship and everything being a new experience. There were clearly a lot of things to experience.

"I know." Derek said. "I'm sorry."

Riley wanted to call every few minutes. She knew Precious was in good hands with Vanna and Samantha. She appreciated the hourly updates. It was all the time in between calls she worried about. She knew part of her apprehension was because it was the first time she was away from precious for so long. In reality it was still only a few hours. She wondered what kind of wreck she would be by the time it was the first actual day, or twenty-four hours.

"I'm trying not to call Vanna or Samantha every ten minutes." Riley said. "The two days we're here are going to seem like forever."

Derek didn't think it was a problem. Once they were in a port, Cameron said there was a helicopter or plane ready to fly them back to Van Nuys.

He wanted to get one more day out of their stay. It was a seven day cruise. If they were on for three days, whoever replaced them could be on for four days. He would like to get off at Catalina Island instead of San Diego. He was aware there was an airport on Catalina as well as helicopter service. It would mean the replacement team would be able to fly in and they would be able to fly out from either San Diego or Catalina.

"I want to stay three nights." Derek said. "Vanna and Samantha will take good care of Precious for us. You know they will. Vanna wanted to try to do more. She wants to know what it's like. I think an extra day would help her find out."

Riley was sure Vanna was going to find out it was a lot tougher than it seemed it should be. She thought maybe John Henry could keep tabs for her so she wouldn't need to bother Vanna and Samantha constantly. She could just deal with him. She could probably just deal with his server and wouldn't need to trouble John Henry at all.

"I'll call John Henry when we get back to the room, our suite, and have him give me a report." Riley said. "They're all probably sleeping by now."

Derek moved up to Riley and looked her in the face. He wanted to support her. He didn't want her to get 'high strung' over the issue. If she was worried or upset, she might not want to make love to him. He didn't want to cause her any unnecessary grief.

"We'll do whatever you want." Derek said. "I care and worry about both of you."

Riley touched Derek's cheek and drew him in closer and gave him a kiss.

"We can eat at the steak house tomorrow or the Italian place." Riley said.

Derek didn't think Italian cuisine and his tuxedo would be a good match. He didn't consider himself a sloppy eater, but sometimes things happened.

"If I have my tuxedo on tomorrow, I don't think Italian food will be a smart choice." Derek said. "I might mess it up."

Riley looked at the menu posted on the wall outside the steak house. They already looked at the one at the Italian restaurant. They could knock one the two off now. They didn't have to consume everything, but they could try a few things. She didn't like to waste food, but she already saw how much food was wasted at each of the tables. Cameron told them it was how it was on the cruise ship. She told them it was a rare opportunity for them to try a multitude of different things they would normally not get to try.

"We can do one of them now if you want." Riley said. "We're right here. Cameron said we could do what we wanted. If this is what you want to do, then it's what we'll do."

It sounded good to Derek. He spotted a steak he liked on the menu. He also remembered something he saw on the Italian menu.

"I want a Porterhouse steak. I can do it another day." Derek said. "We can hit Tony's and split a lasagna dish now. I know you like lasagna. I bet they make it really good on the ship. It'll be really fresh too."

Riley wondered about the others. They were in the middle of a break from the group performing in the small theater.

"What about the Rockabilly Trio?" Riley asked. "Will go back later and see if they're still there?"

Derek heard Cameron and John both say they could do whatever they wanted. They could always watch the group another day.

"We can catch them again tomorrow." Derek said. "I think I saw a sign which said they played in the same venue every night."

He knew they didn't put on a big stage show like the performers they saw earlier in the main theater, but they sure played some solid music with some catchy tunes.

Riley felt she needed to follow Derek's lead. She didn't want to make any waves.

"Sure, Derek, we can do it." Riley said. "I want us to stay together for the entire cruise."

Riley smiled at Derek. She wanted to make him happy. She hoped the 'maid's outfit' would further his happiness later on. She planned to give him as much sex and love as he wanted. She planned to drain him dry. It was time her lady parts got a real workout. She wondered if Derek would be able to keep up.

Holly took the opportunity as Derek and Riley looked at the specialty restaurants menus to quickly purchase the items Riley looked at and have them sent up to Jim. She wanted them to be there before Riley returned to her suite.

She was given instant service once she showed her room card.

She quickly moved out before Derek or Riley spotted her in the shops. She was pleased Cameron wanted to surprise Riley like this. She was very content to be a part of it. She often wondered how things would have turned out if she would have submitted to Riley's desires previously. There was no real way to know what would have happened. She decided it was best not to think about it. It would all be speculation. The way things turned out, where the way they were now.

She knew Riley still wanted a little more. With all of her experience, she was willing to provide some of it for her. She didn't think she would need to ask for Cameron's permission or not. She just knew she couldn't interfere with Derek and Riley's relationship in regards to each other and Precious.

Kyle and Sarah walked arm in arm alongside the small theater on the open deck to the very back of the ship. The evening air was a little brisk. There was no real wind blowing on them on the side they were on.

The deck became very narrow as it moved along the side of the rear theater. There were no more lifeboats where they were at. The sound of the ship moving through the water became increasingly prominent the closer they moved to the rear of the ship.

There was the vibration of the four giant screws propelling the ship underneath them. There were thousands of gallons of water being displaced and churned up below and behind them. A frothy wake of white water and foam was left like a trail. It was noisy and mesmerizing to watch in the light reflected off of the ship. They were at the rear of the ship before, but they were on the upper deck. The noise level was considerably greater where they were currently at. The ship was traveling at a greater speed now than it was as they pulled out of the port.

Sarah stared at the ever changing shape of the wake behind them.

"There is something peaceful or compelling in watching it." Sarah said. "I'm not sure which one it is."

Kyle felt it too. He thought it was a lot of things. It was all so different for them. The ship was an experience in itself. It was a major change in pace of the things they normally did. Sure they went out every now and then and visited places, but they were usually never gone for more than a day or two at the most. It was certainly nothing like what they experienced so far in the few hours they were on the ship. It was definitely unlike anything he ever experienced in his life. It was easy to reflect on life standing at the rear of the ship watching the water churned up behind them.

"Maybe it's both." Kyle said. "It's sort of mesmerizing. It kind of makes you forget about everything just to watch it constantly changing."

There was one other couple at the back of the ship. They left when they arrived.

Sarah wondered if Kyle wanted to do a little bit more.

"I think we can walk all the way around the ship on this deck." Sarah said.

Kyle wanted to go to the front if it was the case. He wanted to do something he saw in a movie. Maybe Sarah wouldn't want the same thing. The movie didn't end well for all of the characters. He didn't want Sarah to equate it to any past events in her life, especially if they involved a version of him.

"Can we go to the very front, like in the movie?" Kyle asked.

Sarah was pretty sure which movie he indicated. She could understand the thrill of it. She also understood the loss involved. She didn't want to seem too eager one way or the other. Her answer was vague.

"I don't know." Sarah said.

Kyle didn't want to push it.

They moved around the back of the ship to the other side. Once they started forward it was much windier than it was on the other side. It wasn't a warm wind.

Sarah was a little chilled. She moved closer to Kyle. Her evening dress didn't provide her with a lot of warmth.

Kyle picked up on her discomfort right away.

"We can go in if you want." Kyle said. "It is a little brisk out here. It will be warmer if we go back inside."

Sarah put Kyle's arm around her.

"I'm good." Sarah said. "Being next to you gives me all the warmth I need."

Kyle wanted Sarah to know how he felt.

"You're my eternal ray of sunshine." Kyle said.

Sarah wanted to laugh, but she couldn't. The sincerity behind Kyle's words moved her. She doubted anyone else would see her the same way.

"You are probably the only person I've ever known since John was born who thinks it." Sarah said.

Sarah believed most people looked at her negatively. She could understand why. She didn't fool around, and she didn't mince words. If she had something to say, she said it. In order to ensure John's survival, she didn't try to make friends, and she didn't play nice. She may have burned a lot of bridges behind her in the process. John and the future came first, everything else was incidental. She did what she needed to do and let the cards land where they fell.

Kyle figured they were a couple. What else should matter between them?

"Maybe I am." Kyle said. "We're the only ones who count to each other anyway. Well, us and our two children."

Sarah moved closer and gave Kyle a kiss. She was always very pleased whenever Kyle referred to John as his son. She knew at one point in time Kyle and Future Kyle were the same individual. Jan was his daughter. They were both her children. Kyle and her were both of their parents. The technicalities didn't matter.

She felt it was time her lady parts got a real workout tonight. She hoped the maid's outfit would be in the room so she could surprise him with it later on. She hoped Kyle would be able to keep up.

"I can tell someone is in for a good time tonight." Sarah said.

Kyle smiled. He felt all the time they spent together was a good time. It didn't matter what they did or didn't do.

Gail hung back at the outside corner of the rear of the small theater. She could see Kyle and Sarah at the very stern. She could look back down the one side of the ship to see what was coming. She didn't want to intrude on them. Being 'blind' on the other side of the ship bothered her, but it was very low risk. The only threat they might encounter was a drunk. Alcohol flowed a little too freely on the ship for her liking. She was aware it was a major source of revenue for the cruise company. People fell off ships from time to time. If someone became unruly or caused a problem for the team, she would help them over the side. She knew the bodies of those who went overboard were seldom recovered.

She watched Sarah and Kyle enjoy each other's company. She hoped to be able to do the same with Jesse tomorrow night. She didn't think it was going to happen with Savannah.

She was actually relieved Savannah wasn't on the ship. She knew what Cameron would make her do. She still didn't like the way events played out in Las Vegas. She disagreed with what Cameron attempted to do. She believed it should be Savannah's choice at her own time and her own choosing. She wouldn't stand in the way of the 'Natural Order'. She simply saw no need to rush it.

She wanted to stay focused on her job. She still kept an eye out for the older couple and for the disrespectful passenger from the buffet area. She briefly wondered if someone went over the side near the stern, if they would be sucked underneath the ship and ground up by the giant screws which propelled it. If it were to happen to them, they really would be fish food when it occurred. It was doubtful any traces of them would ever be found.

John and Cameron started forward along the side of the ship.

They were both a little uneasy at how tense the conversation became earlier. Neither one of them wanted to cause a problem for the other. They silently dropped the issue for now.

The deck was wide and there was plenty of room for two couples to pass side by side. The lifeboats were secured above them in their davits. There were wooden benches which housed additional life vests along with deck chairs against the side of the superstructure.

They passed some of the shops from the outside.

They spotted Derek and Riley as they looked through the glass into the interior.

Cameron took John's arm and moved him along. She didn't want him spying on them or worse, getting caught spying on the others. It could always cause a problem.

"There's nothing for us to see there." Cameron said. "Everyone is allowed to do what they want."

John understood Cameron's drift.

"I'm sorry." John said.

Cameron reminded John of what Savannah often reminded her.

"Everyone needs their privacy." Cameron said.

Cameron didn't mention the fact she sent Holly along to monitor whatever Riley looked at in any of the shops. She would also be able to review the security footage later on if there was a question about something.

There were other couples who would come outside for a few minutes and soon return inside. A woman in a jogging suit power walked past them.

John was impressed with her stamina.

"She's moving." John said.

Cameron read what often happened to passengers.

"Everyone will take in three times or more of their normal calorie intake each day of the cruise." Cameron said. "Some people don't want it to get away from them."

Cameron felt they could all try different foods for the added variety but just consumed less of each of the food items. It was only for a week so she didn't think it was a big deal.

John figured he was probably at five times his normal calorie level right now, maybe more. He felt kind of lazy right now.

"Maybe I should be jogging then." John said.

Cameron didn't think it would be a problem of much duration. Once they were done with the cruise, everything would return to normal. She wanted John to save his strength for the bedroom later on anyway.

"You will gain seven to ten pounds but return to near normal within two weeks back at the base." Cameron said. "The last pound or two may take a little longer. It's fairly common for cruise passengers. Everyone recovers. You might be a little tougher if we were to take back to back cruises or maybe even a world cruise for six months."

John didn't think he would be able to get away for six months to go on a world cruise. It was an intriguing thought though. Based upon his current culinary performance of being on the ship for less than twelve hours, he wondered if he would end up about a hundred pounds heavier by the end of it.

"It would be quite an adventure." John said. "It's really something I would like the others to do and get away from Skynet for a while."

Cameron would like John to take the world cruise with Savannah and Young Allison. In fact, she would like all the human females to go. It would include Young Jesse, Jesse, Vanna, and Allison. It would be even better if Claire and Summer would go with them.

"There are many possibilities available." Cameron said.

The closer they went to the front of the ship, the more they could hear the water crashing against the bow. They could also feel the impact through the surface of the deck below them. They could see the little waves as they angled away from the bow with the light from the ship reflected on the water.

It looked to John like the deck in front of them would send them up a stairway. He thought they would be able to remain on the same walkway all the way around the front of the ship.

"Do we have to go up a deck?" John asked.

There were two choices they could take.

"We can continue straight and it will turn and cut in back of some of the machinery used for docking." Cameron said. "We can go up the flight of stairs one deck. It will take us through a covered section to the bow."

John wondered if it would be similar to a movie he saw once. It didn't end well.

"Like in the movie we watched?" John asked.

Cameron didn't care for some of the events in the film. The open area of the deck at the front of the ship John referred to was normally off limits to the passengers. There was a small pool up there for some of the crew members. She knew they wouldn't have any trouble accessing the location if John really wanted to go there.

"It's not exactly like it." Cameron said. "We'll be in a covered section right below the spot. I can have Bob take us all there tomorrow when we leave Ensenada. It will be just like in the movie then."

It sounded exciting to John.

"I think everyone will like it." John said. "How often can each one of us get to be the 'King Of The World'?"

Cameron would turn his request over to CamNet. She figured Skynet already had its sights on being the 'King Of The World'. She did her best to make sure it didn't happen. She wanted to give John what he wanted.

"I'll find out and set it up." Cameron said. "The captain will receive orders from corporate to clear it. We will be in direct view of him and everyone on the bridge at that point."

John wasn't so sure he liked the scrutiny. It would single them out.

"Maybe we should skip it then." John said. "I don't want any unnecessary attention. Maybe the covered walkway is a better choice. no one can see us then."

They headed up the small set of stairs and started under the covered walkway.

John was aware as they neared the front of the ship the sound of the bow crashing through the waves seemed to vanish. It was extremely quiet when they reached the very front. They were well past where the bow cut into the water. It was below them and in back of them.

There seemed to be very little wind. There was more wind as they walked along the deck next to the superstructure. It was totally dark where they were. There was only a slight sea breeze and the stars out in front of them. The lights from the ship were behind them.

To see all the stars without the usual light pollution reminded John of times past with his mother. He was always being trained and resented much of it. He heard what his mother told him but didn't believe any of it. It all seemed so impossible. He just wanted to be a kid and grow up like all the other kids. It was like there was always a weight around his neck. He didn't realize there was a target on his back too. He found it out soon enough as well. His mother's stories weren't make believe or crazy talk. They were for real.

"Look at all those stars…." John said. "I haven't seen so many in a long time."

Cameron told him their names before.

"Do you remember their names?" Cameron asked.

John didn't think so.

"I might remember a few of them, maybe." John said.

Cameron wanted John to remember the names.

"I'll tell you all of them on the three sides of the ship we can see from this entire bow area." Cameron said. "We will have to move from side to side to see them all. It's plenty dark where we're at right now to do so."

John wanted to start with an important one.

"OK." John said. "Start with the North Star."

Cameron moved a little bit more to the port side and pointed upward.

"There's Polaris, or the North Star. It is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor…." Cameron started.

John may not have paid as good of attention as he should have before when his mother instructed him, and later on when Cameron did. Right now where he could see everything out in front of him and above him, he wanted to know more. He listened intently to Cameron.

Cam washed Savannah's back like she asked. In fact she washed everything. They both did for each other. No spot was missed. Some spots received a little extra attention.

It already proved to be a rewarding experience for Savannah. She was glad she was still in the shower. Cam cleaned her up again.

It was clear Cam was going to try real hard to please her in every way she could. It was even more so than she normally did.

The two girls playfully dried each other off. They both made sure no spots were left untouched. Cam hung the towels back up to dry. They would probably need to use them again by morning time.

Savannah led Cam over to the bed and opened it.

It was time to get down to business.

"Would you like the top or bottom?" Cam asked.

Savannah operated from both or either side. One could work on the other and then they could switch. There were many possibilities and combinations. There were many positions and styles.

"Either one works for me." Savannah said. "It's just like shotgun barrel combinations. There is over and under, and side by side. There is also single shot, slide action, and self loading."

Cam thought about it for a few seconds. A single barrel shotgun was what she wanted to start out with.

"This is about you tonight." Cam said. "Lie down and relax. I want to do everything for you."

Savannah liked the idea. She also liked to reciprocate.

"I want to take care of you too." Savannah said. "Fair is fair."

Savannah stretched out on the bed.

Cam moved next to her.

They turned their heads and looked at each other.

Cam turned on her side and touched the side of Savannah's face with her hand. She gently kissed Savannah.

"I'm going to reward every inch of your body tonight with sensation." Cam said.

The thought drove Savannah's excitement level up a few notches.

"Is that so?" Savannah asked playfully.

Cam smiled at Savannah.

"It is." Cam said.

Cam's hand moved off of Savannah's cheek and down along her neck and down the center of her body. It continued on and traced a circle around her navel.

Savannah sucked in her breath a little bit in anticipation.

Cam looked at Savannah and Savannah looked at Cam.

Savannah felt Cam's other hand move to the back of her neck. It was clear Cam was about to scan her as she stimulated her.

Cam's hand continued its journey. It continued straight down. Savannah drew in a deeper breath. Cam's hand veered off of its current trajectory and headed down her right leg.

Cam kissed Savannah again and her mouth began to trace the same path her hand had.

Savannah squirmed around a little bit.

Cam needed to shift her position.

It was clear Cam was going to do as she said about touching every part of her body and flooding her with sensation.

Cam intended to save the best parts for last.

Savannah closed her eyes and absorbed everything. The Metal girls were the greatest.

Cammy decided she might have played it a little close with Summer's 'conditioning' session. It was normally Hanna, Holly, and Anna who 'conditioned' Summer, Allison, Young Allison, and Claire. They each worked on their 'assigned' female first and took turns with Summer.

Cammy only participated a few times. She wasn't normally there.

Now Claire was at the base with Summer. Some things were easier and some were harder. It depended on what they were.

CamNet made all the Metal girls aware Jan wanted to 'learn more'. Cameron previously was hesitant to start any 'conditioning'. She thought Sarah would have an 'issue' with it. She told all the Metal girls to hold off. Under normal circumstances she wasn't about to send a Terminator into Jan's room with Sarah and Kyle there.

Cammy thought about giving it a shot tonight anyway. Sarah and Kyle were away. She was about to move over to Jan and start. She thought about what trouble she might create and decided to slip out while the coast was clear.

She hadn't heard any movement in Claire's room since she left there earlier. She decided she would take another look to see what was happening. She quickly looked at Jan and Summer to make sure they were deep asleep. She moved over to the pass door and listened. It was quiet. She took one look back and then moved inside of Claire's room.

Cammy could see the two figures side by side on the bed. They were pretty much in the same spot they were before. She paused for a moment to make sure neither one of them woke up with her arrival. She remembered how Jesse lifted her head the last time. This time there was nothing.

She walked up to the bed and stared at the two sleeping forms. She carefully pulled the sheet up on each of them so they were covered up to the level of their neck. She resisted the urge to 'cop a feel' from either one of them. She didn't know if she would be back later on to check on them or not.

She really hoped to find them awake so she could have shared with them. She moved back up to the pass door and looked inside Summer's room. Summer and Jan were in the same position they were when she went into Claire's room. She entered Summer's room and took one look around. It was time to go.

Cammy quietly exited the room and headed for John Henry. She would see if there were any updates on anything. If anything new developed, she wanted to handle it herself and not have Savannah involved with it. She wouldn't need any help to face the challenge. She was 'Cameron' after all.

Anna was confused as to the order Young Allison consumed her food.

"Why did you eat your salad last?" Anna asked. "It's normally the first thing eaten at a multi course meal."

It was an easy answer for Young Allison.

"I didn't want my burger or onion rings to get cold." Young Allison said. "Warmed over fries or onion rings don't cut it. They lose their crispness and get soggy. It doesn't matter if they're warmed in an oven as opposed to a microwave or not. They're just not the same anymore."

Anna tried to think of a solution. Some things didn't seem possible and others did.

"I could have deconstructed the burger for you and rewarmed the meat." Anna said. "Everything else would have been the same."

Young Allison liked the way she handled it.

"It's fine the way I did it." Young Allison said. "Everything worked out fine."

Anna nodded and thought of the final results. It didn't really matter the order the food was consumed because once it went through her digestive tract, it sort of all ended up similar anyway.

"I guess it all comes out the same." Anna said.

Young Allison looked at Anna. She wasn't sure if she was joking or not. She didn't really think it was a joking matter.

"Gross." Young Allison said. "We don't like to talk about it. I don't want to talk about it. No one wants to talk about it. It's just something we need to deal with."

Anna didn't know why. It was a natural occurrence.

"All biological creatures are the same." Anna said. "One time I watched a dog do it, after he sniffed it some, he started to…."

Young Allison ended the part of the conversation. She knew exactly where it was headed. She didn't want the image in her mind before bedtime.

"Stop. I don't want to hear it." Young Allison said quickly. "We've all seen it before. Let's just say once bread is toast, it can never be bread again."

Anna wanted to wrap things up for the night. It wasn't her intent to upset our disgust Young Allison before bedtime.

"Maybe we can review what happened tonight instead." Anna said. "It's unless you're ready to clean up and sleep. I would prefer it."

Young Allison hadn't decided what to do next. She eyed Anna's malt.

"Are you going to have any more of your 'double strawberry' malt?" Young Allison asked.

Anna only tried a sip. It added information to her database about different types of food. Most of the food added 'warnings' of some type.

"No." Anna said. "Do you want me to freeze it?"

Young Allison knew a malt frozen in a freezer was just as bad as rewarmed French fries or onion rings. Besides, she made other plans for the malt.

"Hardly, frozen malts are never the same either the second time around." Young Allison said. "They end up rock hard. When it's defrosted, the sides will start to de-thaw but the center section stays frozen. It will never be a malt again after it happens. I'll finish it off now."

Young Allison checked her Taser and Model 66. She got up from the kitchen table and began her inspection of the house and the bunker.

Anna didn't think it was necessary for Young Allison to do so.

"I can do it for you." Anna said. "I don't sleep."

Young Allison knew now was the time to be more vigilant and not slack off.

"I'm sure you'll do it several times an hour after I fall asleep anyway." Young Allison said. "I like to stay in practice."

Young Allison figured Anna would probably keep an eye on her as well. It was what she did every night anyway.

Anna noticed Young Allison now carried her firearm.

"You didn't carry your Model 66 with you when Claire, Allison, and Summer were here." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted to prepare for the future.

"They're not here, and I do now." Young Allison said. "Is it a problem?"

Anna liked Young Allison stepping up on her own.

"Not for me." Anna said. "It is always good to prepare for the future. The future is inevitable."

Young Allison knew the future was elusive.

"After every new second, there is still the future." Young Allison said.

Anna knew it was true as long as they could keep Skynet from taking over the world.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

North Star

To see into the future
Some say look to the sky
It's not the future but the past
As life passes them by

Light takes millions of years
To reach our planet's view
What once was may be gone
What about those around you

Don't look to the past
For what the future is perceived
Like all of the others
You'll only be deceived

There's no tomorrow
It's just another today
When it arrives like always
Time is impossible to belay

Hold close the one dear
Hopes and dreams can go far
Gaze into the night sky
Wish on the North Star

Nobody