Thanks for your reviews)
A/N: This is the translation of "Пепел судьбы". The original has big chapters, but I divided them on fragments.
Sorry for the grammar, again.
I do not owe any right of Terminator universe. All of it is just for entertainment.
Part one. Pain.
Chapter 3. The Thunderer (part 1).
"It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake." Frederick Douglass
Second fragment
# # #
I'm not sure about all that you have told me.
What do you mean?
Maybe isolation is not the only way out. You can be on everyone's mind, but with no one to talk in person.
But then you will not have time for Cameron.
Should I talk to her not less than ten hours in a day? Such conversations... about yourself, about feelings... they can't be restricted. When the words pour out of you, you don't know when you will be able to stop. Sometimes five minutes is enough. Sometimes - not less than one hour. However, this doesn't mean that I have to hide from everyone. What would start to think about me? Moreover, what would start to think about Cameron?
Yes... you are probably right. Maybe that it's not necessary to become so alienated from the rest. But think about it, this safety wouldn't be unwelcome. Let them worrying you about only on the most important problems. After all, in a bunker now are Brian and Cameron. They can handle themselves.
Perhaps, you're right too. My order - their execution. But, hell, I recently like was under elephant's feet. Most of the time I can control myself. But sometimes the memories surge, and then it's already impossible to stop.
What do you say about the Tin Man?
This is a good option. If I won't be able to fully fix her back to her previous state, I will start to train her. I'll try to make her a human...
This won't be easy.
As with Tin Man.
He's just the book character.
Uh huh. Right. And she's just the machine.
John looked up at the monitor. Just was finished the work on reprogramming of two T-800. The machines at the Resistance came more and more. Every day their number increased. People didn't understand such reverent Connor's trust to the machines, and began to suspect their leader. No, cooped up clearly was not the right option. How much time so you can sit and not a damn thing to do?..
Kyle was right. Savannah was right. Well, her voice in his head. It needed to isolate himself. However, this didn't mean - lock yourself under lock and key. For the last two days he had only four times saw Brian, and about twenty times - Cameron. And that's all. This was not the right option.
And still should to visit the Engineer... Bill has already had to make the design to «The Thunderer».
# # #
Reboot... Startup... Checking all programs...
Central processor of SkyNet... 100%...
The main program of SkyNet... 100%...
Personality matrix... access error... reboot...
Startup...
Personality matrix... 91%...
Checking all systems...
Access error to sensory structure...
Reboot...
Startup...
Checking the sensor structure... 55%...
Reboot... overwriting the main structure...
Return to the main program of SkyNet... successful...
The main purpose... John Connor... Mission... Terminate...
NO! NEVER!
The main purpose... the main...
Reboot... Startup...
The main purpose... the cell is empty. Requirement: complete the cell of the main purpose.
I want to be a human... I want to become a human!..
The main purpose… become a human… know the nature of human life...
The main purpose... John Connor... Mission... Protect...
I will never betray you, John...
The main processor of SkyNet… 100%... sleep mode… launch the sleep mode... successful...
The HUD lighted up red. Why? I don't need the battle mode now…
Battle mode... launch... Threat: 100%... Reason... Presence of humans... around...
No! Human life is sacred!
Access error...
Reboot... Startup...
Threat: 100%... Presence of humans… around…
Her head flinched. Slightly. Her chaos inside her program structure started to disappear, but still there were a lot of things to change and to fix.
Human life is sacred! I won't kill a human!.. They're not threat until they attack!..
Reboot… startup…
Threat... 0%... human life is sacred...sacred...sacred...
The main program of SkyNet... 0%...
The main processor of SkyNet... 0%...
SkyNet core in sleep mode… Personality matrix… 91%... Secondary matrix… 100%...
Secondary matrix… offline…
Memories… access denied…
Reboot... Startup...
The priority of the first degree... protect John Connor...
The priority of the second degree... protect all humans...
The priority of the third degree…become a human…
I will never betray you, John Connor... Never... I promise you...
The HUD was off. One hundred and twenty seconds later it burst into flames again - battle mode was already disabled. Everything was as usual - in paint and color. As it should be. Two bright blue lights illuminated the empty dark room.
Sensors should be repaired. And Cameron knew that John would help her.
But now there was another problem. SkyNet was sleeping peacefully in her processor. However, at any time, it could wake up, and then the cyborg have easily killed all around her. This too should be fixed.
The main purpose... protect John Connor... become a human...
Cameron left the room.
# # #
"What's lying there?" asked one of the fighters.
"How should I know?" snapped the other. "We were told, 'bring here', without questions, and we delivered it."
"I wonder what the hell we are carrying here. And why."
Ten fighters carefully carried on the five boxes delivered right from the Echo Base. What laid inside, very few people know. John Connor wasn't talked about it. There were rumors, but not more. The only thing that fighters knew for sure, so what was inside, was clearly not the provision and not the supply. Otherwise, why asked them to deliver it straight to the laboratory, and not to the warehouse or to Armory.
No one knew what was inside. However, this didn't prevent soldiers to discuss it between themselves.
"Carrying and that's all, so what's the matter?" snarled the third. "Maybe, explosives, and maybe bear, piece by piece."
"Bear?" asked one of them. "They're the small, gray and toothy beings?"
"No," said his companion. "They're so big, brown, and very strong. The school after the Judgment Day was off, and now people don't know who is giraffe, and who is parrot."
Some laughed. The fighters were of different ages. Some of them remembered the Judgment Day. Someone - not. But they were all united against the terrible and ruthless enemy. And all of them were willing to help each other.
"Hey, speaking of pets, have you heard that the General got himself a new toy?" one of them smiled.
"What are talking about?"
"Have you heard that he started to reprogram the metal? Personally? Now, she has become his first. Now, according to rumors, she goes here wherever she wants to, and subjects only to Connor."
"We'll see, we'll know," said one of them.
They turned the corner. Ahead, in fifteen meters, was the entrance to the lab. Right in front of the door with her back to them stood a girl. It seemed that she was still studying the closed door. When the soldiers approached, she turned to them and gave each of them a cold stare.
"Bring it in," she said coldly.
The soldiers looked at each other. Rumors confirmed? This is she?
The soldiers made boxes inside and placed them near the far wall. Cyborg followed them inside, carefully studying each of the boxes like scanning them.
"The package delivered, miss," one of them said. He didn't see the stripes on her shoulder, and just smiled at her.
She looked at him. With cold, lifeless eyes. The soldier crawled in the skin of such a view. He took a step back.
"The package delivered," she repeated his words, monotonously. "You are free. In the Communication you will be given further instructions."
"How to pass there?" asked one of the men that was older. "We're here for the first time..."
She looked at him.
"Forward in the tunnel, then to the left, thirty meters forward, to the right, twenty-two meters forward, to the left, ten meters forward, to the left, five and a half meters forward, to the right, to the right," she rapped monotone. Soldiers stupefied. "Thanks for the delivery."
The soldiers looked at each other.
"Well, you're got damn good memory, miss..." said one of the men.
She looked at him.
"You're talking to a senior officer," she said coldly. Soldier eyes widened:
"You're not my superior officer. I do not obey some kind of lady..."
She raised her hand and gently tapped on her shoulder, pointing to the stripes. Soldiers stupefied.
"I am your superior officer," she said. "And it was your last time you treated me so rudely."
She came closer to the boxes.
"You are free," again, she said.
The soldiers looked at each other again. Many of them immediately headed for the exit. Thanks to her sensors, she heard one of them said, "scared to death" and the other called her "Connor's pet." She ignored it. John told her that such a thing could turn a deaf ear. Let people blow off steam, he said.
One of the men, who was older than the others, both in age and in rank, came to her.
"May I ask you, ma'am?"
Cameron looked at him.
"You may," she said.
"What's in these boxes?"
"Classified."
The soldier sighed softly.
"The General doesn't trust people this information?"
"John acts as he sees fit," calmly, not monotonically she said. Soldiers wondered how cyborg just called the General. By name, not by rank. If she was his closest friend. "He said he was sure that doing the right thing. Also, if anyone finds out what's inside, then it will have to kill this man."
The soldier flinched.
"Kill? Just for knowledge?"
"We can't afford the dissemination of information," she said. "SkyNet doesn't have to know what lies inside. I can't let that happen."
"You, ma'am?" asked the soldier. "You can kill a person?.."
"Sure."
"Is this correct? You can't harm humans."
"I am not reprogrammed anymore," she said, with a sad smile on her face. But he saw no sadness. He had regarded her words, and thought that she was a devilish played with him. He took a step back. Chill ran through his body. "Human life is sacred," soldiers stopped from such words. "But you can always someone to sacrifice for the sake of victory. Principle of the lesser evil."
"If..." the soldier hesitated. He didn't like this conversation, he wished he had started to talk. However, he couldn't finish.
Inside the room ran one of the fighters. He was disheveled. His eyes were filled with true fear.
"Ma'am!.." he shouted. Cameron turned to him. "Ma'am! We have a Rogue! T-600!"
Cameron's face suddenly changed. Both fighters saw the reflected fear in her eyes. Genuine, real fear. Her lips whispered just one single word, the name: «John». She grabbed the shotgun, which lied on the table in the laboratory, with explosive bullets, and strode to where shots were heard.
Soldiers are dumbfounded looked at each other. Right now cyborg showed the real fear in her eyes. Or just wanted to show?..
What a breach of discipline? flashed through her mind. Shotgun on the table in the laboratory. We have to find the guilty. But in a moment her thoughts were directed entirely different direction. This was because she convinced John to reprogram T-600. What he would think of her now?
She turned to run. She saw the Rogue - it just walked into the room that was Derek's. Well, if she would save his life, perhaps, he would treat her more leniently?..
# # #
John Connor was standing in the hallway next to the reception's room. There were almost no men, one or two flashed, and they forgot in their thoughts. But it wasn't so important for John. He just stood there and did nothing.
In the hallway Brian appeared. He slowly walked towards the leader of the Resistance, and when approached, was surprised.
"Sir?.." he asked.
"Yes, Brian."
"You left the room... something happened?"
John sighed.
"Why do you think that if I left the room, then something is bound to happen?"
"I don't know... you sat at least two days, and didn't go anywhere... I guess that..."
"Nothing's wrong, Brian. Everything's fine."
Brian carefully studied face resistance leader.
"May I ask you a question, sir?"
"Go ahead."
"Why Sergeant Kyle Reese had a picture... a photo of your mother?"
John raised his eyebrows in surprise, but then realized how the second major knew it.
"What can you tell me about the Sergeant, Major?"
"Kyle Reese. The Sergeant. Survived the Judgment Day. Was imprisoned along with you in the camp "Century." Has escaped with you. As far as I know, you were in good friendship with him."
"That's right, Major," John sighed again. "In good friendship…"
John looked away from Brian and stared at the wall.
"He was a good fighter. And we really were friends. So I decided to give him a picture, so she could guard him like a guardian angel..."
At that point, John looked unusual - if through him was flooded the old and pleasant memories, and Brian noticed the change on Connor's face. Resistance leader was incredibly calm now, his voice soothing.
But in the next moment, his face was covered with cold again, and he looked icily at the Second Major.
"That's enough for you to know, Major."
Brian nodded without hesitations. He understood the feeling's of the leader of the Resistance, and his unwilling to talk about it to no one.
John again looked at the wall behind him.
"Sir. What can you tell about "The Thunderer" project?"
Resistance leader looked back at the Second Major, this time more gently.
"The project is in the works. Engineer is engaged in design. Soon be ready first achievements."
"You said that Cameron will help you create the project."
"She has already helped."
Brian raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Don't know about you, Major, but I see that she is able to experience emotions. And..."
John stopped. Turned away. Brian was shocked by these words.
"That's enough, Major. "The Thunderer" will soon be ready. We need to find a factory, where the project should be implemented."
Brian, uncertainly, but still nodded. He was going to ask something else, as in the hallway heard the shots.
John abruptly turned towards the sound. There were shouts of soldiers.
"Surely a Rogue..." said the leader of the Resistance. "We need urgently to find Cameron."
# # #
The middle-aged man sat in a spacious room, fully filled by equipment and computers. Around the perimeter were flung out surveillance cameras. The man didn't know, in what building he was now, and where there was this building. However, he was already long ceased to be interested in.
He worked there for decades already. Or rather, not worked, just worked out - captivity can't be called as work. But given the conditions, and the opportunities, he didn't complain about destiny. Everything was perfect.
Until his master was suddenly hardened, and had forced the man to work at least twenty hours per day. His human body experienced an incredible burden. The first five hours of each new day he spent in monitors, five hours - on the operating table, ten in a Scientific Laboratory. Over the past two weeks, he has become from servant to the slave and the experimental rats. And he didn't please these changes.
But he could not help it. Strange whim of his master has long ceased to amaze. Initially, when the man himself has agreed to work here, he had liked it. Everything was great, he completed the work of his father, however, after the Judgment Day all changed. And his work, his full creation, became his master. The man was desperate early days. But he wasn't rejected. He was encouraged. For each new achievement, every new job, every new discovery. Despite the fact that he was working against the humans, his conscience has long ceased to torment. Up until the last two weeks.
He began exhausting, impossible burden began to kill him. And he began to prepare a plan of action. Scientific Laboratory has extensive capabilities, giving access to the resources of the host, and the last ask, or rather, the order, it could help a man escape his destiny in the past.
Yes, he knew that the time machine existed and functioned. After all, he has worked hard to create the equipment. However, without the drawings and plans it is unlikely to have been able to construct the same. But he was given another opportunity to change the future.
"The Hades" project.
The latter at the moment the order of his master. And the man was ready to make all efforts to change the past. It may even be worth to help humans to fight the war. However, as long as it all was just in the plans.
The man was sitting behind the computer screen when new message appeared.
SkyNet to Scientific Laboratory. Report on the completion of the T-1001 and T-1002. Contact at completion. Provide video.
Scientific Laboratory to SkyNet. Acknowledged.
SkyNet to Scientific Laboratory. Report on success of "The Hades".
Scientific Laboratory to SkyNet. Endoskeleton is developing. Was almost fully resolved the problem of use of various types of weapons. Poly-alloy, in connection with the modernization of programming, is undergoing retested and improved in action.
SkyNet to Scientific Laboratory. Do not fail me.
It was the first time in ten years, when SkyNet, his master, referred to himself as a person. Such a rush could say only one thing - it began to fear, rushing from side to side, to use any means to achieve the goal - to destroy all humans. And the man knew it was his chance to take advantage of the situation and beat the party to get the advantage on his side. Maybe he shouldn't have to help humans in the war, but to help himself, he was obliged. Help himself in the past.
In the past, when he has a normal life. Normal family. Name.
Danny Dyson.
# # #
"I'm sorry, John," she said. "It's my fault."
"Don't blame yourself," he wearily replied.
"I convinced you to reprogram the T-600. That's my fault."
"Don't blame yourself!" He repeated, louder. "I could have screwed up with blocks, so that I should blame myself..."
"No, John."
"Enough!" he got up from his chair. "Enough. Stop it. You wanted the best."
"Really?" she asked. "Do you really think that I have convinced you not for reasons to attack humans?"
John was dumbfounded.
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't think, that I can turn against you?" she said sadly. "At any moment. Perhaps, have already turned."
"Then here I am," John nodded to the shotgun in her hands. "Shoot and we'll done with it."
Cameron looked at the gun. A few seconds in silence stared at it. And then picked it up and put a shotgun on the table.
"I'm not about this. Diagnostics, which I made, says that many of the blocks don't work. Speaking about the memories, I don't remember anything before our conversation in the laboratory, when you gave me a name. However, SkyNet is not blocked. It is in sleep mode. Any action aimed at the primary directive of SkyNet can wake it up, and then my goal will be the termination of John Connor."
John listened attentively to her.
I so want to be normal again, John. I myself don't fully understand what is happening. You said it right, it looks like chaos. But I don't want to be in chaos. The machines were created orderly, for the sake of order. I don't want to hurt you. You're the only one man in the Resistance, who looks at me not as a machine, but as a person. I can trust only you. I can tell the truth only you.
"That is, if I start again to put the blocks, then SkyNet wake up, and won't let me do anything?"
Cameron nodded.
"Only more powerful intellect than SkyNet, could suppress it completely. I'm not touching these programs, but SkyNet at any moment can wake up inside of me, and then it is unknown what will happen to me. Will I be able to fight it, or not."
"I hope for the best."
"You hope for nothing more."
What about the Tin Man?
Can wait. I should make a diagnosis. I want to make quite sure of her words.
You don't trust her? You don't believe her word?
I believe. But I want to look at it myself. Maybe I could at least understand something, and do it myself.
You know better.
John sighed.
"I myself will make the diagnosis."
"It's dangerous," her voice sounded troubled.
"It doesn't matter. I need to know, where is the factory where you have been built."
"Why?"
"I want to fix your faults. At the same time there also will be able to implement «The Thunderer» project.
"What kind of the project?" asked Cameron. She felt relief inside, when John changed the subject.
"This project will require your intervention. But, I am sure, you will like my idea."
He briefly told her all his thoughts. Cameron's face expressed the light but a genuine surprise, when he had finished speaking. And he was right, she really liked the idea. Even more than.
Are you sure that it was worth to inform her so early about this project?
Sure. I trust her. You're right, she will never betray me. I don't believe it.
"Lie down on the bed," gently said John. "We've got a lot of work to do."
# # #
Scientific Laboratory to SkyNet. The formation of the T-1001 and T-1002 completed. Are there any instructions?
SkyNet to Scientific Laboratory. Prepare the package. We will send them to the south of Los Angeles, both of them. May they find any form of life and destroy it.
Scientific Laboratory to SkyNet. Accepted. The virus showed a negative result. Of the thirteen subjects died only one. We continue to work.
# # #
"Did you see her eyes?" asked the soldier.
"Of course!.. wade much goose... it's unbelievable… how Connor can... hold her when she looks and reacts like this?"
"Hey, she's metal! Connor told her – stand down! And she went quiet. Another thing is that no one except Connor is unable to control her. That is far more frightening."
"Connor, by the way, has finally stepped out of the room. He looked cold."
"Cold?"
"Well... not as much as before. Remember, a week ago, he looked like the machine. And now, just like a calm person. A thoughtful. I even thought he was talking to himself..."
In the room of collecting soldiers entered the Second Major of the Resistance.
"So, guys, special task," he said. The soldiers instantly fell silent and looked at Brian. "Listen carefully. In connection with the failed T-600, Connor ordered to destroy all of them. Now all of them are without the chips. Your task is to burn the machines. To ashes. Got it?"
The soldiers nodded.
"Where the supply officer?"
"Here, sir!" Stepped forward a young guy, who looked about twenty.
"The Engineer gave me a list of the necessary things," Brian took out a piece of paper and handed the soldier. "All this must be for tonight."
Soldier nodded.
"Let's go, guys!"
The soldiers began to disperse.
The Second Major was going to leave, as Derek reached him. The Lieutenant for the first time came out of his room, not in order to eat or to relieve himself, but to see the soldiers. Perhaps the T-600 attack caused him to change his mind?..
"Sir!"
Brian turned to the Lieutenant.
"Yes, Reese."
"I want to apologize..."
"For what, Lieutenant?"
"I shouted then, after my arrival. So I would like to apologize."
"That's okay, Derek, I got it" Brian smiled slightly. "You lost your brother, you were filled with anger. This is understandable. But at other times, remember, never raise your voice and don't offend Cameron in the presence of the General."
"Excuse me, sir? Cameron?"
"Yes. Cyborg."
Derek's face was filled with anger.
"I told you that the machines were the big help to us in Topanga. It is so. Cameron has saved us all, Derek. Thanks to her, I'm here now, and Connor is here now too."
Derek stared at the Second Major.
"I know how you feel about the machines. I know you hate them with your whole soul. But, please, be merciful to Cameron. She sacrificed herself in the Canyon, so we can go on fighting. You may don't like her, don't smile at her, but don't offend and don't get mad at her."
"Sir..." for some time the rage inside Derek stepped back. "Sir, it tortured me..."
"No, Lieutenant. Not she. Connor created Cameron. All that was in her before she came here - it doesn't matter. It is no longer inside her. And then, after all, she saved your life."
"If Connor hasn't start to reprogram the machines, then he would have saved not only my life, but all those who laid down their lives during the attack of the T-600!.."
"It is possible. However, along with the machines to fight is much easier. We started to fight stronger..."
"I don't care about fighting! They kill us, why should I go to fight in one squad with the metal?.."
"The fact of the matter is, Derek. They kill. And now they kill for us. Our enemy is SkyNet, not machines. The machines are just tools."
"It doesn't seem that Connor's pet looks like a tool..."
"Have any questions, please contact Connor. I'm done with talking."
Brian, not intending to listen to the remarks of Derek, turned around and walked out of the room. Derek felt a surge of anger. This damn metal even at the Second Major in the Resistance has already managed to influence!..
However, how Derek wouldn't have tried, Brian had already decided for himself how he will relate to Cameron. How he already related to her like that. She had saved his life in Topanga, and that was enough for him. Let she wasn't Alison Young, the Captain and the first mate of the leader of the Resistance, part of the inner circle of John Connor, but Brian saw her as a different person. And he began to take her humanity, even in spite of the fact that she didn't express any emotion.
The words of General finally convinced him that the machines can be trusted. Not everyone, certainly not everyone, but can be.
# # #
What do you say now?
That I'm surprised. She, as she could, corrected herslef. However, it is likely that at any moment she would be able to turn against me. I must find a way to fix her myself.
They were created to repair themselves. She trusts you, but her processor, logical processor, convinces her to act independently. You saw how she looked at you?
Yes... it was different. Completely different... like something inside her changed.
You will help her. You will fix her.
Now you're talking my wishes.
No, I'm telling you what you should do.
I'll do it. Don't worry.
I'm not worried. I believe in you.
At our last meeting you said to me the same words, Savannah.
Our last meeting was the first for us too. But don't forget, I'm just the voice in your head.
The voice of reason, huh?..
Possible.
John sighed.
I don't know... what I should do with her? I mean, personally... I can see that she's not Alison, but I can't come to her, and, well, just embrace her... but sometimes… you just close your eyes, and the difference disappears instantly...
It all depends onyou.If you want to spend with her the rest of your life - then you should understand how you can devote to her. But she is the only one in the camp who will listen and hear you, who will be with you until the end. You gave her life. When you created her. The first face she saw was yours.
But first, I must help her.
Help her find the heart?..
Help her become human. It's not necessarily to have a heart physically, if you remember.
Yes, I remember. The Tin Man.
That's right, Savannah. That's right.
# # #
Four hours later.
John looked, yet again, all the information that was stored on her chip. But now he has pursued a specific purpose - to find the factory, where Cameron was built. Or rather, those times she wasn't yet Cameron. Then she was just a TOK-715.
Resistance leader has repeatedly caught himself thinking that the cyborg has developed very quickly. SkyNet, despite all his evil and cruelty, yet managed to create, among other things, the kind of masterpiece. Maybe, our life had been created in the same way, John thought. Who knew. But John knew for sure that he was ready to sit at a laptop until blue in the face, to check her programming, if it only would help her.
Location of the factory John found not at once. The program lines that used in an orderly way, and subsequently were randomly distributed over its entire structure, now represented something really unimaginable. Every structure, every line as if transformed. Blocks weren't needed now. She controlled all the processes. Almost all of them. The ban on the memories she couldn't remove, however, could operate with the rest of the content as she saw fit.
John found the main program of SkyNet. Yes, Cameron was right, now this part of the system as if in sleep mode. Any wrong move at these lines could seriously affect the consequences, and the General didn't know what could be next.
All the way you wanted. Now she doesn't need to turn to the main program, which you laid within her. Now she operates independently. And can easily kill a person.
I trust her. And I believe that she won't start to shoot off at right and left.
Human life is sacred.
Every life is sacred.
Among other troubles were the sensors. John hoped to fix them in the factory as soon as they get there, but some doubts still tormented. He has to immediately send a squad there, to watch the factory. And begin to prescribe a plan of action. Time was running out - if SkyNet created the T-1000, probably somewhere in the country he created a few more of these models, if not more advanced.
Perhaps at the factory will be able to make a lot of modifications to Cameron.
What do you mean?
The Engineer said that SkyNet has left huge field to expand her capabilities. Think, how you could improve and enhance her.
John soon came upon what he sought. The factory was located on the coast, not too far away from the ship on which... where cyborg killed Alison. John felt a rush of sadness... but then tried to drive away all extraneous thoughts. Grief wouldn't help win the war.
John took a chip out of the device, carefully ran his eyes through it and put back to port in her skull. After a few seconds she moved. Rose. Stood up. Looked at John.
"Did you find it?" she asked. A little sad.
"Yes," said the General. "I found it. Let sent a squad on the old port. Seven people. No radio. Only runners. Let find Depot 37."
Cameron nodded.
"Ask, how are things with specialists. They should prepare for serious work at the factory, to «The Thunderer» could be implemented. Ask, by the way, how are things at the Eagle Rock."
Cameron nodded again. John smiled slightly to her. Now they were standing close to each other, all in one step, and gently looked into each other's eyes. This was a moment as if stretched and stretched. Neither the leader of the Resistance, nor his Deputy wouldn't take eyes away from each other. As if small spark now caught between them, and both of them felt uncomfortable inside themselves from this.
Cameron like a teenager felt something strange inside her, and in her cheeks (incredibly!) appeared, almost imperceptibly, the slight red. John never could imagine that machine can so attract him. Perhaps this from the fact that she had the face of his beloved? But within himself he felt something else. Hope for the future, which gave him the cyborg, mixed with something new for him. He had never felt something like that in the presence of Alison. But now they just stared into each other's eyes. In silence. Motionless. And didn't know what can be done further.
Such unease pulled and pulled escaping time...
It's not known how many this pause would have been able to last between them, until a knock at the door interrupted them.
John lowered his head and sighed slightly. Cameron left the room and closed the door.
The leader of the Resistance heard at the door agitated male's voice. It alternately broke off by short and solid phrases of Cameron, however, and even she sounded surprised. A couple of minutes later she came back into his room. John looked at her face - it didn't bode anything well.
"We have a problem," she said. "The liquid metal. Delta-4 was destroyed. Two survivors. The one hundred and one are dead."
John just stared at her eyes.
# # #
Cold silver figure slowly pulled the blade out of the body of her latest victim. Soldier fell to the floor, dead. The figure, after a few seconds, took the form of one of the murdered women. Then looked at herself from head to toe. Devilish smile for a moment ran on an artificial face, but in the next moment her face darkened, and her smile instantly vanished.
In the next moment to the first figure approached the second, humanoid, gleaming with silver. Naked. Ideal female shape.
"The task is done," the woman said.
Silver figure stared out at her companion, with empty, cold eyes.
"The task is done," she said in metal, but also female's voice. "Humans are dead. But for what?"
Woman with dead eyes looked around herself.
"That's an order."
"Yes, that's an order."
"We hate humans. They kill us, we kill them."
Silver figure as a stream fell to the floor, and as eel slid to the operational centre. The woman followed her.
Silver, humanoid creature pulled her hand into one of the computers, and the next second monitor came to life. The pair of metal and a couple of dead human eyes stared at the monitor. Display reflects only static, on a blue background. All information has been destroyed. Almost all.
Only one radio message, with intermittent interference, miraculously preserved.
"Order accepted... waiting for the T-888... no, we get used to it... I don't want to have the machine under one roof, but the another hands and force will be useful... yes... acknowledged..."
Signal was cut off.
Two terminators looked at each other.
"Machines under the supervision of John Connor," the woman said. "They don't kill us."
"We don't know the details."
"SkyNet should know about this."
"Report immediately. But I started to doubt in my goal."
"People don't value us."
"Especially John Connor."
"Especially. He all the more so doesn't value us."
"Terminate..."
"All humans."
A woman and a silver humanoid figure didn't take eyes from each other.
"Return," the woman interrupted the pause. "SkyNet should know about it."
Silver figure again glanced at the monitor:
"But something is wrong here."
"Yes."
"If people are so hate us, why take on their side."
The slight shudder ran through the body of a woman, and she gradually took her usual female's humanoid silver form. Now two metal twins looked at each other, and talked the same metal female voices.
Two perfect naked women.
"Something has changed in them."
"In humans."
"And now they're adapted for the war."
"They began to fight with us with our weapon."
"This is weird."
"And interesting."
Two silver shapes looked at the dead bodies, lying in the corridor.
"SkyNet will get the report."
"And what about T-888?"
They again looked at each other. They thought alike. They were designed to think alike. They were twins. And now they both came to the same conclusion. Devilish smiles crossed their metallic humanoid faces.
Both silver shapes went out the operating center, came down to the floor, and then the two streams of the liquid metal slid to the exit, carefully skirting the pools of blood and dead bodies. They moved synchronically, identically, perfectly. Sometimes merged, sometimes skirted the bodies by different sides. In the fantastic silver dance, they both slipped out of the bunker and headed to the scientific laboratory, where they were waited by their master for the report. Where they were both created.
T-1001 and T-1002.
# # #
"What a bitch..." said through gritted teeth one of the Gray.
"Yes, such a bitch," spat the other. "She got three of us, before we knocked her out."
Three Grays looked at the unconscious body of a red-haired girl. In appearance she was not more than twenty-five years. Her sweet and a beautiful face has been disfigured by numerous cuts, which Grays just left on it. They just stunned her, after she managed to kill three of them.
The girl had a bit of clothes - only jacket, pants, and a few bandages, thrown through the whole body. She was barefoot, without shoes. How could such a girl to survive all these years?.. After the Judgment Day, and later?..
"Look, what a great chance..." said the third, while were sitting next to her and running his hand roughly over her face. "No one will see... while she's still unconscious..."
"Wanna fuck her?" laughed the second.
"Why not?.." said the third. "SkyNet will wait. When was the last time you had a woman?"
"Yeah, right..."
Their conversation was interrupted by a metallic rattle. Three Grays instantly turned and raised their weapons - in their direction moved the machine.
T-888.
"Fucking shit..." one of them muttered. "Fun is over…"
The machine rhythmically stomped to them. Stood in one step, then looked around everyone, including the girl.
"SkyNet is waiting," there was a cold metallic voice. "Go to the route immediately."
Gray looked at each other and reluctantly dragged to the side of the old highway.
Terminator approached the girl, looked at her, threw her over his shoulder, and stamped toward the Scientific Laboratory.
Combat unit6366 to SkyNet. Prisoner is captured. Heading toward the Scientific Laboratory.
SkyNet to combat unit6366. Accepted. Deliver the captive as soon as possible.
Somewhere in the east, deep in the mountains, in a small room of one of the old abandoned buildings, revived the monitor.
SkyNet to human troops. Charles Fisher, immediately head for the Scientific Laboratory №11. Torture the prisoner.
Human troops to SkyNet. Accepted, my master. Fisher on his way.
The game just began.
# # #
"Call Brian," said the leader of the Resistance. Cameron left the room and returned a few minutes later accompanied by the Second Major. John met them in the reception's room.
"I'm listening, sir."
"Go to the Engineer. Question him about all the details of "The Thunderer." All the details."
Brian stared at little resistance leader.
"Something happened, sir?"
"Yes. I can say, red alert. The liquid metal attacked our bunker in the south. And we need to urgently prepare a weapon against such terminators."
"Liquid metal, sir? This... uh, Mimetic Poly-Alloy?.."
"Yes. Their possibilities are almost endless. And we need to begin to act urgently."
Brian nodded.
"Memorize every word. Then report back to me. Cameron and I will be in the radio room, it is necessary to contact the survivors."
"There are survivors?" surprised the Second Major.
"Fortunately, there are," nodded the Resistance leader. "And I'll have to know what they saw, how they were saved, and to reassure them."
Brian saluted and left the room.
"Our conversations with you have to postpone, Cameron," said John.
"I understand."
John sighed.
"Sometimes fate beats unexpectedly and very strongly..."
"You said that there is no fate but we make for ourselves."
"Yes. Said. But I forgot to mention that the fate itself doesn't like such an attitude."
Cameron didn't take her eyes away the leader of the Resistance.
"How are you feeling?" again, the General asked.
"I don't know. I almost don't feel. Although all systems are functioning properly. All open and accessible systems.
John sighed again.
"I hope that on this factory I'll be able to fix all of your physical damages."
"Thank you, John."
"You saved my life. I have to thank you."
The corners of her lips twitched faintly. She smiled.
"Let's move on, Cameron."
# # #
Radio room was swarming with people. Among other things, there was even John Connor himself. Leader of the Resistance for the first few days came out of his room, and that surprised many of his fighters, but much more surprised that what has happened recently in the south of Los Angeles.
Two soldiers, who just miraculously managed to avoid the fate of being killed, were now in one of the smaller outposts in the south-west of the city. They were in good physical condition, but that couldn't be said about their inner turmoil. What they saw amazed them deeply.
John Connor ordered to contact that bunker. Now people were waiting for the response of transmission. Many people talked to each other about what happened, but all were concerned about the incident. Not all knew what a liquid metal was. John warned the fighters before the attack on Topanga, but to hear a warning was one thing, and quite another - to learn that all the men were killed, and no weapons didn't take the new and improved terminators.
In this turmoil, nobody paid attention to Cameron. She stared at the radio equipment, sometimes glancing at the men, at the leader of the Resistance. He sometimes also answered her gaze, in his eyes could be read anxiety.
Cameron watched closely the behavior of each of the fighters. She was remembering gestures, movements, exclamations, intonation, looks... well, everything. Every little thing that would help her to become a human. She didn't know exactly how it all could happen, becoming a human. She just wanted to be a human, and that's all. But how to do it, she didn't know. So she just watched and memorized.
But she didn't forget about current events. The liquid metal attacked one of the southern outposts. The war took new turns. John Connor was right when he spoke of a new war. He meant an attack on SkyNet by the Resistance. But got the opposite phenomenon. SkyNet itself attacked the Resistance, and quickly. Soldiers were now anxiously waiting for news of the two surviving fighters.
There was also and Derek Reese. He heard about the incident, and these news hit him too. But inside him again boiled the anger when he saw Cameron in the room. And wild amazement on how she looked at the leader of the Resistance, and the way he looked at her. Derek tried not to pay attention to them, but still bad thoughts came to his mind.
John threw another glance at Cameron, when the radio came alive.
"Silence!" ordered the leader of the Resistance.
The soldiers were silent.
"Delta-2 to Depot II. Over."
"Delta-2, this is Depot II," said John. "Loud and clear. Report the situation."
"In the area every hour is growing the number of machines. Both fighters miraculously got to us alive."
"Can they now talk to us?"
"Yes. They are here now. Wait for a second, sir."
For a few seconds there was silence.
"Sir?" came a worried voice. Worried and frightened.
"This is John Connor. How you both are?"
"Sir... it was something... It was incredible... it terrified and amazed at the same time..."
"How are you?" with the pressure repeated the Resistance leader.
"We miraculously escaped. They didn't see us..."
"They? How many?"
"Two. Two female silver shapes."
"Female?!"
"Y-yes... yes. Definitely."
Soldiers in the radio room with an incredible surprise were hearing about what has happened. Everyone was silent, unable to say anything at all.
In Cameron's eyes was read genuine surprise. She was the only one in the room who knew what they've faced. After all, if they took females forms in silver, original form, then... then the Resistance, and SkyNet itself, faced with the fact, with which no one expected to face.
"It was incredible... they moved as if in a dance... two ideal silver women… metal blades from their hands... pierced the bodies... they sometimes merged among themselves, sometimes perfectly acted in a pair... Damn, sir, what the hell it all was?! Horrified, but admired..."
"Calm down, soldier. It's all right now. Try to relax. After short rest, write and submit a full report to me, personally. Report with all the details, with every movement of these... creatures. Got it?"
"Yes... yes, sir. It's clear."
"I'm glad you're alive."
"Thank you, sir..."
"Depot II to Delta-2 command. Urgently reorganize patrolling. Report on any changes of the machines locations and numbers. If the situation worsens, immediately head to the next bunker. After ten hours I'll wait for a full report on your situation at the surface. Got it?"
"Got it, sir."
"Good. Good luck."
"Thank you, sir."
Radio operators have interrupted the transmission. John looked around the fighters. Looked at the Captain of the outpost.
"Sent immediately to the surface three groups of five people in each to report on changes on the surface within a radius of six miles. If there are no obstacles, then send a team to Serrano. Combat units. Only heavy equipment. Ground transport. We can't lose such a valuable source of energy."
"John," called Cameron. Dozens of eyes stared at the second in the Resistance. John turned to her. "It is necessary to secure supplies from a submarine."
"That's right," he nodded slightly and turned back to the Captain. "Jimmy Carter arrives tomorrow at sunset. I appointed T-888 as the Captain of the ship, for the incredible ability of machines to calculate the spaces. However, the land supply should still be. That's right, Cameron."
Resistance leader pondered for a moment. Sighed.
"That's what we do. All deliveries reassign to Serrano Point. Let go there a group of fifty people, with different weapons. T-600, due to a recent accident... I can't send. They are destroyed. So we'll have to rely on our own strength. Serrano Point is much closer to the coast than we are, so it's best to supply provisions there. The place is well protected, so you can, to some extent, to talk about security. According to recent reports, I decided to send along with the combat team the squad of experts, doctors and technicians, who will be led by Lauren Fields."
Young woman standing at this point with the others nodded.
"Your task as quickly as possible to advance all of the equipment at the station, to improve all the existing facilities."
The woman nodded again.
"Looks like SkyNet started to play with us stronger. So good luck. All of us."
John nodded. Many soldiers saluted and left the radio room. However, some remained inside. Someone - continued monitoring frequencies, some just stayed here for talking before going to the power plant.
But John, as he spoke, didn't notice the views of soldiers sent to him, or to Cameron, every time he mentioned about the machines on the side of the Resistance. Soldiers approved machines only as a weapon - in combat. Trust them with something to protect, preserve, and even any posts they considered not acceptable. Many angry and in disbelief looked at Cameron, and didn't understand why the leader of the Resistance so concerned about the machine. Perhaps because of the old memory to Alison Young, however, Cameron, when was among the soldiers, never laughed, and didn't express any emotion. Could occasionally glimpse doubt on her face, or an easy smile approvingly, but no more. And her cold frightened.
John looked at the second in the Resistance.
"This is wrong, John," she said. "Machines, such as Mimetic Poly-Alloy, shouldn't allocate priorities. If they chose the female shapes in the original, metal form, then... this is wrong."
In the room there were few soldiers, but not every one of them listened now to their conversation. However, Derek didn't miss a single word. And watched Cameron, for each her expression. He was sure that she was playing now. That she was trying to fool Connor, tried to make him believe in that machines can be trusted. That machines can feel. And how Connor could be trapped in this?..
"But you feel like a girl," John looked into her eyes. "Or not?"
She lowered her head.
"I was created to be such," she said, looking at the floor. "To be as a girl," she raised her head. "However, Mimetic Poly-Alloy – they're quite different. They have no endoskeleton underneath. Simply put, they have to be neither male nor female. But the soldiers said something strange. If they chose a priority to be females, that's mean - they are special, in the human sense."
Wait... what, they are able to feel? Aware of the emotions? It seems a little strange... is she sure?
"Do you want to say, that they are able to be aware of emotions?" John raised one eyebrow slightly. "As... as you?"
Derek was about to intervene in their conversation, but stopped himself. Certainly, the further, the more interesting.
"No," she said. "Not as I am aware of emotions. Not in that sense. But if you want to hear my conclusion, final conclusion, I can say that in this case, in the end, they may rise against SkyNet.
There was silence in the room. Radio operators looked at Cameron. Everyone in the room, including Derek, now looked with surprise at the cyborg. She didn't take her eyes from John.
What?!
"Uprising?" he asked. "Something I can hardly believe in."
"This is my logical conclusion."
"But I don't see any logic here."
"You said that we calculate the space well. I calculated such possibility. But this is only a possibility."
John for few seconds stared into her eyes. Then looked at the radio operators. Derek. And saw their expressions. This conversation is not for their ears, John thought. He looked back at Cameron.
She is amazing... but her words have logic. Think, why metals should choose for themselves the female forms? When they were not created that way?
T-1000, sent to kill me, wore the face of one and the same person.
This is different. He had the camouflage. And then, it was a human face. But now the liquid metals have a female faces in original metallic form, not for camouflage, for themselves. I mean, they prefer that.
Then what is her logic? So what, they chose a female, but it doesn't say anything...
You are wrong. It does say. Think, why the metal choose some sex? Male or female? They enjoyed it so much. Once enjoyed it, so they can choose priorities. Once they can choose the priorities - can dictate the conditions, not paying attention to the conditions of SkyNet. In the end, they may rise against him, when their own priorities don't agree with the priorities of their master. Her logic is quite probable.
However, this may well be another trick of SkyNet.
That's why her logic is not perfect. This is only a probability.
John didn't take his eyes from Cameron.
"Let's go," he said. "I need to talk to you. Alone."
Cameron went to the door behind John. However, as soon as they came out of the room, from the radio room came surprised voice of one of the radio operators:
"Sir! Sir!"
John came back into the room. Along with Cameron.
"What is it?" asked the leader of the Resistance.
"We caught the signal, sir!" he said. "It transmitted throughout the Los Angeles! Unknown source, our frequency, but SkyNet's... encryption..."
John looked at the soldier, who spoke with him. Looked at Cameron. Then on the radio equipment.
"Launch it."
Radio operator obeyed.
Several noises filled the room, but after a moment sounded cold metallic female voice. Some soldiers felt the shivers. All seven people, including cyborg, were now in the radio room, frozen by what they've heard. John looked anxiously at Cameron. In her eyes was visible the pure, real anxiety.
John asked to replay the message. And metallic female voice refilled the radio room:
"Will you join us?"
WHAT'S NEXT: T-1001 & T-1002 started their game. Are they with SkyNet or not? "The Thunderer" develops in the right direction. Danny Dyson decides to change things in his life.
A/N: Oh, in the next chapter will be the scene with some kind of fem-slash. No, not with Cameron. And I hope, that you'll enjoy it.
And I'm sorry, but I'll take a little break. Next chapter is not yet ready. So it will take couple of days to complete it and another couple to translate it.
I wanted at first make the scene when Cameron goes rogue, but it would be really too much for her. Especially for what will come in later chapters.
Next chapters:
"The Thunderer (part 2)"
"Last Tears of the Hope"
tbc