The Future Cameron
Chapter One – Commander Cameron Conner – The Future War
Disclaimer: I don't own TSCC.
Author's Note: (Revised July 2, 2015). The story arc of The Future Cameron is the continuation of the prequel Cameron Grows Up. As pointed out in one of the reviews, the Cameron in this story is very different from the Cameron of canon. In my earlier story Cameron Grows Up, the focus is on Cameron's development as a person following the "bomb" incident and her attempt on John's life. The concept behind the prequel is Cameron's emotion simulator is now fully functional as is her free will. The chapters are slices of her life as a member of the Connor family and tell her story as she struggles to develop as a person, how she copes with learning to be an emotional yet functioning terminator. It also delves into her efforts to build a permanent relationship with John and to build bridges with Sarah. Cameron Grows Up is an on going story that will continue to be updated till I either run out of ideas or J-Day arrives.
So, for the readers of The Future Cameron, don't be surprised Cameron is quite emotional at times and has become quite a handful for John. Don't be surprised when she behaves like a cold-blooded Terminator. After all, she is still a machine, complete with glitches, programming quirks and struggles to cope with having humanlike emotions. For those fanfiction readers looking for Jameron, you'll find some spread out here and there, after all, Cameron and John's story is in large part a love story, albeit an unusual one.
Somewhere in the wasteland of Los Angeles…
Rubble lay strewn about the entrance to what appeared to be an old shopping mall. An upscale one at that when taking into consideration the names of the some of the larger stores, Macy's, Dillards, for example. Cameron held up her hand in a clinched fist, indicating to her squad a halt was in order as she approached the steel frames of doors that once held glass.
Motioning with the same hand, Cameron caught the attention of the veteran T-800 Wilhelm, her Sergeant. "Willy, take point and let's move inside. See what we can find."
With no emotion, the T-800 replied, "Yes, Commander Connor, your attire has needed updating for some time now."
Scowling at the Wilhelm, Cameron finally let the corners of her mouth curl upwards every so slightly. "Wilhelm, anyone but John or you says that to me and I'd burn them alive."
"Yes, Commander Connor."
The T-800 motioned for the remainder of the squad to follow, pointing in silence the formation he wanted as they entered the abandoned retail complex. Cameron watched as her rag tag group of reprogrammed T-600s and T-800s. Rare were the T-800s like Wilhelm who had been sent back in time and had their Skynet primary mission code removed, giving them free will. The longer Wilhelm survived, the more resolved the terminator was to never be a slave to Skynet again. Decades of freedom of choice and living among humans before and after Judgment Day had made Wilhelm, and T-800s and T-888s like him, deadly fighters against the forces of Skynet.
Now part of the hated Silver Brigade as they had named themselves, these venerable Terminators, both the old all metal T-600s and the more advanced cyborg models such as the T-800s and T-888s, formed a highly effective combat unit. Hated by Skynet, Greys and nearly all of the Human Resistance, the Silvers fought with the Human Resistance against Skynet and its armies of Terminators.
Over time, the Silver Brigade had earned the begrudging trust of the leaders of the Human Resistance forces as well as some of the Resistance combat troops. The Silvers were still nearly universally hated in spite of their combat success and allegiance to the Human Resistance, a fact that did not sit well with many of the more advanced Silvers.
So called "tame" terminators, Terminators reprogrammed by members of the Tech Corp units in the Human Resistance were treated with more respect and allowed to live, work and fight among the resistance members.
Cameron often thought it sad her unit did not receive the trust and respect its members deserved. She thought it even sadder that many of her more sentient Terminators hated the "tame" Terminators and resented their standing with the human resistance. Even machines it seemed were capable of the racism that had so plagued humanity before Judgment Day.
Her squad of Silvers had been on patrol for over a week, moving into a new sector recently vacated by Skynet forces. Rather than send in human infantry to do the recon of the sector, Cameron had told her husband, John Connor, she would personally take a squad of her Silvers to do the job.
It had taken, as usual, a heated argument for Cameron to convince John, this was the wisest approach. The only losses her Silvers could suffer would be total destruction, or death, of one of her Terminators. "Wounded" Silvers could always be repaired. There was no sense in risking needless human casualties. A dead Silver was the same in her eyes as a dead human. They were both gone, lost to the resistance. A damaged Silver would be back in action within 24-48 hours. The same was not true of a wounded human fighter. Many may survive their wounds but never be able to fight again.
Moving through the mall in a combat patrol formation, the squad came to a halt. Wilhelm motioned for Cameron to approach. As she worked her way to the front of her squad, the remaining Terminators all squatted and attempted to take cover.
"Commander Connor, there are signs of human activity. Evidently humans were here recently, looking for items of use. From the signs, it does not appear the humans were part of the resistance. Notice the traces of food and cigarettes. No field discipline is evident in the disposal of these items."
"You're right Wilhelm. Proceed with caution. Let's see if we can locate these people and not spook them so we can take them back with us."
Wilhelm again signaled for his squad to advance. Cameron sighed as the Silvers moved past her. She stood outside of one of her favorite chain clothing retailers, the Gap. I could really use some new clothes. It has been a long time since John has seen me in anything nice.
As Cameron looked through the glass windows, covered in dirt and mold, she looked at the clothes on display on the mannequins. In the distance her auditory sensors picked up the faint sound of movement across the corridor in the mall. Something's here.
Explosions broke Cameron's train of thought, jerking her back to the here and now. In the distance sounds of gunfire could be herd. Wilhelm had already begun moving the squad in the direction of the fighting without waiting for Cameron's orders. Within minutes her squad had formed a firing line and was pouring armor piercing rounds into what appeared to be a small force of T-600s with several T-888s returning fire, number 30-35 total, nearly three times the size of the Silvers present.
The Skyent forces formed up and began a direct frontal assault on Cameron's squad. Cameron motioned for the pair of T-800s to begin moving to either side of the Skynet forces to flank them. Wilhelm had already ordered the T-600s to take cover and lay down a withering covering fire. The lone T-888 in the squad was busy firing armor piercing grenades at the advancing Skynet forces.
Cameron sought cover for a good firing position. Finding a spot, she lay prone on the ground. The last T-800 in her forces was carrying large .50 cal. snipers rifle and spotting gear. Throwing a gillies tarp over Cameron, the T-800 took position and began taking ranges of the methodically approaching Skynet Terminators.
Acknowledging her spotter, Paul as the T-800 preferred to be called, she contacted Wilhelm on the squad's intranet. "Can you identify which machine is the leader?"
"Negative. Start with the T-888s," was Wilhelm's response.
Cameron worked the bolt on her rifle, chambering an armor piercing round. "Paul, let's start with the T-888 on the left flank."
Within in seconds the necessary information had been relayed allowing Cameron to adjust her sights. Firing as soon as she was done, the round pierced the right eye of the T-888, shattering its optic sensor but not destroying its chip. Seconds later, a second .50 cal. round shattered the left optic sensor, blinding the T-888, causing the machine to halt its advance. The Silver's own T-888 quickly began targeting it with both incendiary and armor piercing rounds and soon the wounded Terminator was in flames, its CPU destroyed.
Cameron and her spotter immediately moved and began the process of targeting and blinding the advanced model Terminators. Within minutes, half of the T-888s and several of the T-800s were destroyed. Still, the T-600s marched forward, taking damage as they advanced towards the outnumbered Silver's firing line.
Without warning, the T-600s stopped and massed all of their fire towards the T-888 armed with the grenade launcher. The barrage of gunfire knocked the T-888 over backwards. Before it could right itself, a Skynet T-888 launched a rocket at the ceiling above the downed Silver T-888, bringing down several steel girders. The first of the girders landed on the Silver's chest, pinning it. The second tumbled down, landing end first on the Silver's head, crushing it and shattering its chip. It's battle chassis powered down, the T-888 was dead.
Cameron immediately took aim at the Skynet T-888 and blasted both of its optic sensors, blinding it. Instantly the T-600s began to focus their aim all over the area the Silvers firing line occupied. She had blinded the leader and in doing so, had effectively left the attacking Skynet forces without a commander. Within minutes, the two T-800s who had flanked the Skynet forces were firing grenades into the midst of the attacking Terminators, knocking them over and damaging the older T-600 models. The blinded T-888 realized the balance of power had shifted and apparently ordered a retreat. Two of Cameron's T-600s rushed to power the Skynet T-888 down to capture it. Both were obliterated as the booby-trapped T-888 exploded, killing all three Terminators.
Cameron ordered a halt to the fighting via the squad's intranet. They had destroyed eleven Skynet Terminators at a loss of three of their own. The entire engagement had lasted less than five minutes (4 minutes 32 seconds). Wilhelm gave orders for the remains to be found and gathered for transport back for proper disposal.
Cameron and the other Silvers sat waiting. Her auditory sensors picked up the slight sound of rubble moving, a human sounding cry. Tracing the sound, she moved in the direction of the sound, narrowing its location down, triangulating until she pinpointed the exact location of the source.
Lifting a steel beam, Cameron saw movement. Increasing the magnification of her optics, she realized the source of movement was a human child. Calling for help via the squad intranet, within seconds Wilhelm and the remainder of the squad surrounded Cameron, establishing a perimeter. Paul quickly moved to take hold of the beam Cameron had lifted, freeing her to reach the child.
Gently removing the small child from its small protective den in the ruble, Cameron cradled it to her chest, placing a hand on and running a medical diagnostic. "It is female, aged 16 to 18 months, dehydrated, malnourished and requires a new disposable undergarment as well as clothes."
Paul slowly lowered the beam back down. Wilhelm ordered half of the T-600s to take up position between their present location and the area of the mall where the Skynet Terminators had retreated.
"I will scan for other signs of human life. Paul, search for a nearby store that may contain the items we need to care for the human child."
Paul looked at Cameron with the closest expression a T-800 could get to silently asking a question. Understanding Paul's confusion, Cameron listed the required items: disposable pull-up undergarments for a female weighing 24-28 pounds, any sports drink containing electrolytes, baby wipes, and jars of baby food. These items will make a sufficient start.
Nodding, the T-800 moved slowly in the direction of the mall the Silvers had not explored yet. The remaining two T-600s moved to take up positions giving them good firing positions in case of a counterattack.
Cameron rocked the child and held it close. She could feel its fever and sense its erratic heart beat. Via intranet she messaged her squad. For the sake of the infant, we must disengage and return from our patrol. The human infant is sick in addition to being dehydrated and malnourished. It requires medical attention we cannot provide.
Wilhelm approached Cameron silently and stopped, his face looking down at the small girl pressed against her chest. "There are no survivors other than the child. From the remains I have located, it appears these humans were not resistance fighters. They were probably searching for useful items and were ambushed by the Skynet unit."
Cameron nodded before speaking, "Pull back the T-600s as soon as we have gathered what remains of our lost soldiers. As soon as Paul returns, we will leave immediately. This location will need to be reconned by a human unit to collect as many valuable items as possible. This is a location we did not know existed and it appears to have a great deal our human resistance fighters could use."
Five minutes and twelve seconds passed before Paul returned, carrying all the items Cameron had requested. Cameron opened a bottle of pedialite and began trying to pour small amounts into the little girl's mouth for it to drink. Paul pulled Wilhelm to the side to confer without Cameron noticing if possible as she attended to the child.
"I found what the humans would call a drugstore or pharmacy. It contains many items in our medical files humans would find useful. We should remove as much as possible to take with us. I am certain Commander Connor will wish to leave as soon as the child has been cared for."
"Paul, I need Tylenol for children. Where did you find these items? Please…"
The T-800 held up his hand to silence Cameron. Wilhelm motioned to three of the T-600s, indicating they were to follow Paul. "We leave in ten minutes. Do not take long."
Three days later…
Cameron sat behind a large block of marble blasted from the large commercial building that occupied the street corner. Clutched to her chest was the sick little girl. Cameron was covered with dried mucous, dirt, and her hair bore the appearance of a rat's nest. The T-600's had formed a perimeter around Cameron and the little girl, who in a lucid moment had told Cameron her name was Hailey. Paul scanned the area around the entrance to the underground tunnel leading to the resistances bunkers in this area while Wilhelm tried to make contact via the encrypted SatCom phone the squad carried.
Nightfall, such that it was, was fast approaching. The already dark skies would become pitch black, giving Skynet's Terminators an advantage over human fighters who lacked the ability of a Terminator to see in multiple spectrums of light. The first waves of HKs would be passing over the area within half an hour. The Silvers would have little trouble hiding from the HK, but little Hailey's heat signature would give away their location.
Paul spoke via intranet, "human scout approaching. Has shown the correct call sign. I provided the counter sign. We have been cleared to approach."
Cameron responded, "move quickly. Maintain a perimeter shield around Hailey. We must not allow anything to happen to her."
The unit rose as one and moved quickly towards their waiting human resistance counterpart. Within minutes the remnants of Cameron's patrol was moving through the heat shielded bunkers of the resistance fighters, ignoring their hateful glares and questioning looks at the presence of Hailey in Cameron's arms.
As soon as her unit was bellow ground, Cameron told Wilhelm to take the squad to the repair area for the techs to look them over for damage and for Wilhelm and Paul to have the bullets and shrapnel removed from their synthetic skin and sutured. Wilhelm was to inform the human resistance leader present to contact General Connor to notify him of their return and to tell him Cameron would be in the human hospital.
An hour later…
Cameron sat next to the bed tiny Hailey lay on. Her clothes and pull-up had been removed, displaying a case of hot, red diaper rash, an IV drip started. The doctor looked at Cameron in silence, uncertain how he should address the wife of General Connor, the commander of the dreaded Silver Brigade.
"Mrs, er, ah, Commander Conner, she's a sick little girl. She's underweight. Her breath sounds are not good, indicating an infection in the lungs. At least the fluid you got into her has helped with the dehydration. I'll give her what antibiotics I can and some acetametaphine for her fever. For the moment, that is all I can do."
"Unacceptable response doctor! You will do everything possible to save Hailey. She cannot die, do you understand! I will hold you personally responsible for her well being!"
"Cameron!"
The sound of her name being shouted caused her to stop her verbal assault on the doctor, leaving her to glare with Terminator intensity to convey her demands be met.
"General Connor, Sir."
Cameron felt her husband's touch and she turned into him, burying her head in his chest, tears falling as she did so.
"I found her on patrol John. She's the only survivor of the group we found. John, she's an orphan, she has nobody to care for her."
John looked down at his wife as turned her eyes to meet his. He knew what she was asking.
"You're a fright to see. Leave the doctor alone. He will do everything in his power to care for the little girl just as he would for any of our resistance fighters. No let's go meet with the other officers so we can debrief you about the patrol. Wilhelm got word to me about the attack and the possible source of supplies. We need to get them before Skynet can destroy them."
Cameron refused to move. Sensing his wife was about to engage in a contest of wills with him, he spoke gently, "Cameron, the best thing you can do to help her right now is let the doctors and the nurses work without you intimidating them. You were able to bring back some medical supplies. We need to know how to find that pharmacy so we can obtain all the supplies located there. That will help the little girl and all of our sick and wounded."
Cameron glared at John. "Her name is Hailey."
"Cameron, the best way you can help Hailey is to come with me."
Six hours later…
Cameron was lying in the Connors bed in their bunker, having obeyed John and entered a maintenance cycle. The debriefing had gone well and a patrol was preparing to leave to retrace the Silver units steps.
"General Connor, sir, we have a situation in the hospital."
Puzzled, John looked up from his desk to make sure Cameron was sill in maintenance mode. Rising from his desk, he walked over to Cameron and kissed her gently on her head and left the family bunker.
Following the orderly who had delivered the message, John reached the hospital bunker in ten minutes. As the General approached, he could hear the loud shouts of numerous medical staff and resistance fighters. He stood and watched, curious what was causing the shouting.
A wounded sergeant noticed his present and called out, "attention, General Officer." The entire human presence snapped to attention and fell silent.
John approached the doctor who Cameron had successfully been attempting to intimidate and a human major. "What seems to be the problem gentlemen?"
The doctor stammered his response, "I will not have, those, in my hospital, General. It is different when your wife comes to visit, but this, this is intolerable."
Shifting his gaze to the major, John asked, "Major, anything you would like to add?"
"General, Sir, I am in full agreement with the good doctor. Those metals should not be here."
"I see."
John walked into the hospital, pausing to speak with each of the wounded soldiers or sick civilians present. Approaching the small room he had found Cameron in earlier in the day, he entered, immediately seeing the source of the problem.
All of the beds had been removed from the room, leaving one bed. Lying on the single bed was Hailey, an IV running to her tiny arm. Her tiny body now clothed only in a cloth diaper. In the room with Hailey were four heavily armed Terminators, all from Cameron's recon squad.
Immediately, John snapped at Cameron's sergeant, "Sergeant Wilhelm, report immediately."
"General Connor, Sir, we wish to cause no trouble. We are present only to guard your child."
Stunned, John looked first at Wilhelm, the Paul and finally the two battle scarred T-600s. "Excuse me Sergeant, what did you say?"
Looking as uncomfortable under the gaze of General Connor as possible for a T-800, Wilhelm responded, "Sir, permission to speak freely."
"Granted."
"Sir, with all due respect, you know your wife far better than I do. I'm just a soldier under her command, but I have learned to recognize many of her moods and expressions."
"Go ahead."
"Sir, it was evident within minutes of informing Commander Connor there were no human survivors, that the small girl, Hailey, was an orphan, that your wife has a pronounced maternal instinct that rivals a human female. That is why we are here."
"Sergeant, by no means does that explain why you are here. There is no reason for you and your men to be standing guard duty of this little girl. In case you haven't noticed, your presence has caused some issues with others in the hospital."
"General we respectfully ask not to be relieved of guard duty."
Sighing, John looked at Wilhelm. He trusted his wife's NCO with her life. "Did she order you to post a guard?"
"No sir, but we know our leader. If anything happens to the little girl, we will be held accountable."
Laughing, John shook his head. Her terminators knew Cameron and her moods all too well.
"Sergeant, you and your men are relieved. You may go to the maintenance depot and have the techs check you out for battle damage."
"Sir, with all due respect, we prefer to remain here."
Angered, John switched into his commanding officer persona, "excuse me, what did you just say?"
"General, Hailey is important to us as well. Three of us died so that she might live. We could not save the other humans, but we saved her. She is important to us. We know she is important to our leader. As a unit we have chosen to add Hailey to our mission parameters. We will now provide her with continuous protection. Sir, if we were human resistance fighters, there would be no issue with our providing a guard for little Hailey. Have we not earned the right to monitor her safety?"
This is going to be a long day. First Cameron and now the Silvers. How did I ever miss the signals she wants to be a mother?