Chapter 10

Allison

The normal quiet of the base suddenly ended. An alarm began to sound. The noise blared throughout the Resistance base. This was not welcome news. If Skynet 'made them', they were in for a heap of trouble and a world of hurt. They were in serious need of more combat personnel.

Jim was preoccupied watching Cameron and Vanna interact in the lab. The fact that Cameron was topless only added to his distraction. Cameron Two told him to get his act together. Jim snapped out of his stupor. The alarm sounded near the TDE room. That was bad news. It was followed by even worse news. It was what activated the alarm. It was a surge of temporal energy.

There was a time displacement bubble forming inside the complex. It was in the TDE room itself. Jim sent out the warning. All hands on deck. Everyone needed to be armed. This was no drill. They might need to repulse a Skynet attack directed inside their base. Cameron Two updated Cameron in the lab.

Sarah was ready. Cameron previously told Sarah to stage weapons in several locations throughout the complex in arms lockers with a quick access code for entry. That way heavy weaponry could be quickly put into action without always have to lug the firearms around and without leaving the weapons lying around unattended. Sarah was worried about Savannah's safety and any of the technicians associated with the project. Small arms were what most of them carried on them at all times.

Sarah was tired of being out gunned, she gabbed two Thermite grenades and an M79 as she slung an M4 over her shoulder. Cameron developed an 'acid canister' round for the grenade launcher. It was specifically for use against Liquid Metal. Cameron thought of Mrs. Weaver as she developed and manufactured them herself. Only Cameron and Sarah knew they existed. Cameron did not think it was a good idea to tell Mr. Ellison or Vanna that the acid rounds were intended for use against their 'Boss' or 'mother'. They were marked as 'Tear Gas' so it was unlikely anyone else would want to use them or even ask about them. Sarah also slung a 'satchel charge' with two pounds of C-4 in it over her other shoulder. Nothing was getting by her.

Too many times Sarah felt she was at a disadvantage when it came to dealing with hostile Terminators. The prospect of needing to deal with Liquid Metal Terminators only made it worse. Cameron was her best weapon. The trouble now was that Cameron was trapped in the lab and tethered to her server. Sarah knew they previously possessed a few chips from deactivated Terminators. She really wished she would have let Cameron keep one. It would allow Cameron to be here right now.

Sarah saw Mr. Ellison hurry after her with an M60. It was loaded with Coltan projectiles. They were also specially made by Vanna and Cameron from the electrocuted Terminator's endoskeleton remains. That was the one Mrs. Weaver apparently took down. Each Coltan 7.62 MM round produced the same effect on a Terminator as a single .50 BMG AP round in testing.

Mr. Ellison felt confidant in the fact that he carried a one hundred round belt of the deadly anti-Terminator projectiles. He hadn't forgotten how hard it was to take Metal down with conventional weapons. What a nightmare that was. It ended with twenty dead agents for nothing. In the end, Cameron was the one who ended the threat after half a dozen more Mexican policemen were killed. Mr. Ellison reflected on the mass destruction of his fellow FBI agents against Metal, ONE Terminator. What if they sent an army of them? Mr. Ellison double checked the M60 belt again. It was 'payback time'. Metal bested him before, it wasn't happening again. He would gladly take on whatever Metal army Skynet sent to avenge his fallen comrades.

After he issued the warning, Jim pointed out fact that the time bubble was appearing in the TDE room. That may be a sign it was probably Mrs. Weaver or John Henry returning. They both knew the exact coordinates. Whoever it was, figured it would probably cause less of a panic. Sarah wasn't panicked, she was - ready. Cameron Two warned that John Henry with Cameron's chip could have been compromised. Skynet would know where to send its troops.

Sarah hoped it would be John…. She missed John so much and Cameron NEEDED him soon, real soon. Sarah knew Cameron and Vanna were - bonding. John could have been gone five minutes or five years or five decades. Sarah didn't really have any idea what to expect. It could be anyone or any-THING. They could be from anywhere or any-when. It was the unknown. Sarah didn't like the unknown. She liked answers. If this was not John, maybe it would be someone from the Resistance. They might know something.

Cameron and Vanna heard the alarm and knew what was happening. This could be nothing more than a Friendly returning or a full blown Skynet assault. They didn't have anyway to know for sure. Since it was happening in the TDE room it might not be an assault. Cameron also knew her chip may have been captured. She was captured before. It could have happened again with Skynet this time.

Cameron was aware that John Henry with her chip could have been compromised and all the data from both him and her gleaned. It could now be put to use against them. It was a real possibility. They viewed information from another Terminator's chip before. Skynet could do it to them. Skynet could wipe out the Resistance in its entirety. That was the goal of Skynet anyway, one of its goals.

Cameron immediately moved Vanna behind her in the lab. Cameron wanted to protect her. Cameron felt a NEED to protect Vanna. Cameron HAD to protect Vanna. It was more than protecting a human or Resistance fighter at this point. There was a deeper calling inside her.

Cameron quickly proceeded to remove weapons from a locker. She was glad they were positioned around the compound. She was glad they were where she was.

The first one Cameron pulled out was an M79. She quickly loaded it with an 'acid round'. Next was an M4. She checked the magazine and charged the weapon. She pulled out an ammo can with four Thermite grenades in it. She checked her Glock and stuck it behind her back.

As she double checked all her equipment, Cameron noticed her top was still on the counter across the room. She was topless, ready to fight. She briefly thought that must look odd. Then again, if Skynet was behind this event and it was an attack. The Terminators or Grays attacking them would also be unclothed.

Vanna appreciated that Cameron physically moved her behind her. That was not good enough. Cameron needed protection too.

Vanna moved up next to Cameron to assist her.

"I can fight too." Vanna said. "I have before. I am trained."

Cameron glanced over at Vanna. She did not want her to be injured or killed. She would do the fighting. She needed to protect Vanna.

"Stay back." Cameron said to Vanna. "I will protect you."

Cameron placed the M79 in front of her on the counter and picked up the M4. It was also loaded with hand crafted Coltan 5.56 MM rounds. They were smaller projectiles with less mass but they would still bring down Metal.

Cameron handed Vanna a Thermite grenade. That is all she wanted Vanna to have as a defensive weapon.

"If I go down, throw this and use the escape exit." Cameron said. "It will damage both regular Metal and Liquid Metal. It will buy you time. Every second will count. Run as fast as you can and don't look back."

Those last words echoed in Vanna's mind….

They were the very words she'd used once in the past - the future. A chill swept over her thinking of the incident….

Vanna snapped out of it and came back into the present. She would deal with those memories another time. Right now she was here for Cameron and she was not going anywhere. She was painfully aware that Cameron had been sent away and abandoned before. She was not going to run.

"I won't leave you, Cameron." Vanna said. "I refuse to go."

The two locked eyes. They both knew and felt it.

Vanna knew it was love. She was sure that Cameron did too.

Cameron did know it. She'd lost John and Future John. She did not want to lose Vanna as well. She needed Vanna at this point in time.

"You must, I insist." Cameron said understanding. "Please, Vanna, for ME."

"I won't." Vanna repeated. "I can't abandon you. I won't abandon you, even if it costs my life."

Vanna placed her Thermite grenade near the escape exit and pulled the Glock from behind Cameron. She checked it herself. There was a round in the chamber. It was 'ready to rock'. Vanna was tired of running. She was ready to fight.

Cameron tried a different way to make Vanna listen to her and think of herself and her future.

"Allison is still in your future, in a future. I will survive - through her." Cameron said.

Vanna did not want to leave.

"That was then, this is now." Vanna said.

Cameron felt such respect and honor for Vanna. She knew it was much more than that at this point.

All Vanna felt was - love. She knew she was hopelessly in love with Cameron. It was the best feeling ever that she'd felt or experienced for another - person.

Sarah was in position when the flashing and arcing stopped. Mr. Ellison was off to the side so each one could flank the other.

"Come to, Momma." Sarah said as she released the safety.

The energy bubble dissipated.

It was a Terminator.

It was crouched on the floor. Sarah could see bullet holes in its back. She raised the M79 to fire. She would ask questions later.

Mr. Ellison had a better view of the figure on the TDE pad from his position.

"Wait!" Mr. Ellison shouted.

Sarah paused.

"It's John Henry." Mr. Ellison said.

The naked form of John Henry slowly stood. He staggered once, then turned around. He was supporting a smaller figure that he'd been shielding with his body. The hair was over the figures face.

Sarah looked and saw it was female. Sarah noted how beautiful her nude form was. It looked so familiar….

The female reached up and brushed back her hair from her face.

Sarah looked in amazement.

It was - Cameron.

"Cameron." Sarah said.

There was no response.

"Cameron!" Sarah nearly shouted.

'Cameron' just looked at her.

"My name is Allison…."

Predator

Beautiful smooth and sleek
In search of fresh prey they seek

Hunger drives their selfish quest
Gauging who can taste the best

Distress catches their ear
They know the prey is near

The wild dictates their savage laws
They wet their fangs and extend their claws

They stand ready to pounce
Those in their way they will trounce

Excited they feel the victory is mine
This one is fresh, tender and fine

They move in for the easy kill
To dominate and overpower is the thrill

Pushing the attack with experience they persist
The prey weak and once defeated does not resist

They feed hungrily at will
The kill increasing their violent skill

Blood lust rages out of control to hunt
The more that they have the more they want

Others begin to sniff around, they lash out in rage
This kill is theirs and must be kept in a cage

The kill is theirs alone something they own
They drag it along to finish it off at home

That was ravishing a nice taste
Soon it is crapped out as nothing but waste

The skeleton remains stripped to the bone
A warning to others their triumph is proudly shown

Nobody