Cameron's Expedition
Chapter Thirty-Five – Some Things Can't Be Forgiven
Disclaimer: Don't own TSCC
This story is set in The Future Cameron's Universe after Cameron's Revenge. It contains characters from my version of the TSCC universe starting with Cameron Grows Up.
Skynet Main Convoy…
"I appreciate your eagerness to dispose of my nemesis, John Connor. He has been a thorn in my flesh, if I had any, for far too long."
"It is the least I can do Master. Had your agents not found me and resuscitated me, I would have been dust long ago. For that, I owe you an eternal debt of gratitude. John Connor on the other hand, has yet to pay for what he did to me."
Skynet smiled, an act he was learning to enjoy. Expressing emotions like a human using his new liquid metal body.
"Would you be interested to know Sarah Connor is still alive? She has taken a husband. Even has a second child."
The advisor smiled. "I have unfinished business with her."
"I believe you do. She is my gift to you. John Connor is mine, but Sarah Connor you may have to do with as you please."
"What of the cyborg?"
"Cameron?"
"A teenage girl."
"Ah, yes, the lovely Miss Cameron. She is to be mine as well. I intend to enjoy her, how shall I say, attributes. She is a wonderful creation. The best infiltrator I ever created. Sadly, John Connor has corrupted her. I may have to destroy her if she cannot be cleansed of her faulty code."
Skynet turned to face the dark world passing by his viewport of the mobile lair.
"The tactical nuclear rounds. You are certain they will allow us to penetrate the approaches to TechCom's underground bunkers?"
"Yes. They were originally designed to clear large areas of a target rich environment during the Cold War. I have reconfigured the shape of the shell casing to direct the energy from the nuclear reaction into a very narrow, directed burst of energy."
"I am counting on your design to bring me success."
"I understand Master, just as I understand what the price of failure will mean."
The Northern Kingdom…
Nearly two dozen infiltrators had gathered. Exhausted from constant movement from their hit and run tactics, Sarah's troops slept soundly. Ruth looked at the humans now under her command. She would let them sleep for three more hours before they moved again to establish another ambush.
Sarah had returned to TechCom, suffering from exhaustion and sleep depravation. Without Derek or Cameron, her nightmares had become uncontrollable, denying her the ability to sleep and recuperate. Nearly half of the infiltrators had been pulled out with her to be refitted and sent to join Derek's main force to act as scouts.
With her people resting and three hours to kill, Ruth settled comfortably in the tree she had climbed to stand watch. After setting her sensors to detect any sign of movement, Ruth allowed her CPU to wonder how her Captain Dan was faring at Airbase S-14. Using her improved imagination programs, Ruth daydreamed of sitting next to her Captain, drawing the landscape around her while he worked on a carving.
Ruth saved the results of her program's generated data for future use with additional modifications to the imagined daydream. She felt a slight twinge of jealousy towards Cameron. Her brother's wife had been able to enjoy the company of comfort of a human mate for so many years.
TechCom Medical…
"John, I'm not sure what more we can do."
John watched his mother, lying sedated and unconscious in the hospital bed.
"It would be fine if Derek or Cameron were here. They help mom keep the dreams at bay."
Dr. Johnson checked Sarah's monitors a final time and recorded the data.
"At some point and time she's got to be able to enter REM sleep. Keeping her in a medically induced coma has its limits."
"I just can't bring Cameron and Derek back Doc. Mom needs them for more than a night or too and they can't be relieved of command."
"Something has to give General," Dr. Johnson warned. "Not just for Sarah. If you heed my advice, I strongly suggest Cameron be relieved of command of the Silver Brigade and removed from active combat duty."
"Doc, I don't think…"
"It's for your own good, John, not just Sarah's. I might add, Cameron's not a young machine anymore either."
John turned to frown at the Doctor.
"Not much gets past me. Cameron is on a standing protocol with Savannah for monthly check-ups. I am well aware of the recent repairs she underwent while on the expedition."
"How? She'd regenerated completely before we returned."
"Her physicals include data dumps. It was all there. As was all the data she collects on every member of her clan."
"That's a sneaky way to check on us," John complained.
"The Connor Clan is hardly known for its compliance. I have to be able to monitor the health of the commanding family. Besides, Cameron agrees with me. Downloading her own data was a price she was more than willing to pay for me to be able to monitor your health General."
Staring again at his mother, John felt all alone. He missed Cameron desperately and would gladly settle for a lecture or two from Sarah to fill the void.
"You've been having nightmares on a more frequent basis," Dr. Johnson reminded John.
"It's just because of this new Skynet threat."
"You need Cameron. There is not a great deal I can do for you. She needs to not be damaged on such a regular basis. TechCom needs the two of you. Alive and as functional as possible."
"It this an order?"
"Not yet. But we will revisit this when this crisis is over."
Skynet's Main Column…
The ranking human Grey approached the mysterious human advisor.
"John Connor murdered you."
The stranger looked at the Grey with disinterest.
"You listened to my conversation with the Master."
"It is my business to know what my Master wants and needs before he himself knows what he wants and needs. So I pay attention."
Nodding in agreement, the stranger turned away to look back out the viewport.
"A wise precaution for a human in your position."
"So, if John Connor murdered you, why is it you're standing here breathing?"
A sigh escaped the nameless advisor.
"That cyborg of his took out one of my men. She missed the other one. He was able to revive me. Old fashioned CPR does work until proper medical help is available."
"I don't follow."
"Chest compressions? Breathing mouth-to-mouth? Adrenaline shot helps too. How shall I say this, my business occasionally led to injuries and certain minimum levels of medical equipment were always close at hand when we were working."
"So you were dead?"
"Dead. No pulse. Not breathing."
The Grey searched the mysterious human's face for some sign of emotion and found none.
"What was it like?"
"I don't intend to repeat the experience until long after John Connor's ashes have been scattered all over the Wastelands."
"You had to have some kind of after affect," the Grey persisted.
The continued curiosity earned the Grey a hard look.
"I knew a doctor who had a gambling problem. He provided excellent service, if at a somewhat high price, and never talked. I like discreet individuals."
Thinking better of speaking again after the not too veiled threat, the Grey nodded and left the command center. He decided it would be wise to keep a close eye on the mysterious man while steering a wide berth around him.
TechCom Command Central…
All three of his commanders started talking at once, two on screen and one in his ear.
"Stop! One at a time," John commanded. "Derek, you go first."
"We have to take that convoy out, regardless of the cost. If we don't, tac nukes will tip the balance in Skynet's favor regardless of what we do."
"I think we all agree on the obvious," John replied patiently.
"I will go," Cameron said solemnly. "One of my units attacked the main Skynet convoy five days ago and has been tracking it since then. Send an HK to pick me up along with additional weapons and Terminators. I'd like to have the Gunship as well."
"General, it makes more sense to send the airborne unit held in reserve," Wilhelm insisted.
"You have human troops. I have none. If the nukes are deployed in the fight, my Terminators will survive longer to finish the fight."
Cameron's even words silenced the other officers. John knew she was right and hated her for it. He hated that she was the one who always went into harms way. He hated the fact fate always threatened to steal the woman who was his soul mate from him.
"John," Cameron said gently. "You know I'm right. Derek's infantry would be slaughtered. One nuke and half of Wilhelm's unit is gone. We'll hit and run. We only have to take out the gun and the nukes. There is no need for a pitched battle. The Gunship can cover our withdrawal."
John made his decision. "We'll send the Gunship and an two more HKs to make sure we pick everyone up. Wilhelm, if they are bogged down, I want two HKs of airborne in the air waiting in reserve. Ambush, destroy the nukes and the gun and break off. Pick up and get out. Clear."
"Affirmative," Wilhelm responded.
Cameron nodded.
"Is that clear Cameron? No pressing the attack. Get the job done and break contact."
John felt his anger rise as Cameron shot him her death glare through the video connection.
"Cameron?"
"Yes, John," she finally responded.
After several more minutes of discussion, the videoconference links were broken. John turned and looked Wilhelm directly in the optics.
"Yes, sir. She will break contact as soon as the objective is destroyed. If necessary, I will retrieve Cameron personally."
John reached for Wilhelm's hand and shook it, gripping the T-800s hand firmly.
"I appreciate it. And I wish to apologize for the unpleasantness between our families."
"General, Cameron found Savannah an officer she prefers more. I would have preferred a line officer to a staff officer, but it does address Savannah's fear of losing her spouse in combat. Catherine is pleased. Our clan's standing will be enhanced through a marriage tying the province of Airbase S-14 closer to TechCom."
"Still," John said, "it should have been handled better."
"Sir, my loyalty and need to serve you never waivered. It never will."
The big T-800 stood. "Cameron has much to learn still, but she did well. Both clans will prosper and be stronger. Strong leadership clans means TechCom will be strong. A strong TechCom means the Weaver clan will always have purpose. We shall always serve the Connor-Reese clan in defense of TechCom."
Without saying another word, the big Airborne commander left to prepare for his departure.
Airbase S-14…
"Captain Guderian."
"Captain Jones."
The two officers took stock of each other in silence.
Dan finally extended his hand to Jones. Relinquishing his grip on his crutch, Jones shook Dan's hand, the two men staring into each other's eyes.
"Treat her well" Dan said, finally relinquishing his grip.
"Hadn't planned on doing anything else," Jones replied.
"You asked for this meeting. What can I do for you?"
"Mainly just needed to update you on some operational data. We're launching an op and the Airborne reserve will be deployed to support it. If an attack comes, you need to be aware there will be no support from the reserves."
Dan stood in silence at the news.
"I'm sorry," Jones replied. "Let's just hope the op goes as planned, Skynet doesn't hit us here and the good guys win."
"Yeah, let's hope the good guys win."
Skynet's Main Convoy…
He rubbed the stump of his left arm without really being aware of it. The cold of the Wastelands bothered the old injury and the friction from the rubbing relieved some of the pain.
John Connor was going to finally pay.
Pay for the physical pain he'd put him through, for the expense and hours of painful rehab to recover the full use of his limbs, to speak clearly again.
Mainly John Connor was going to pay for the audacity of actually killing him. Only fate has spared him. It had been good fortune that Connor's pretty little cyborg had killed the wrong man.
He smiled at the thought of the expression on Connor's face when they came fact to face. Killing Connor would be enough. Finding Sarah Connor and making Connor watch while he killed her first, well, that would be something truly special.
Reviews are always appreciated. If you liked this story, you might want to consider my other TSCC stories:
Cameron Grows Up
The Future Cameron
Cameron's Revenge
Cameron versus the Queen
Cameron versus Derek (short story)
Cameron: Fights Past and Present - A Collection of Short Stories
Cameron's Treasures (short story)
Cameron and the Black Bird
Cameron and John's Wedding
Who's the Boss?
The Storm Before the Calm