Chapter 268
Mission Accomplished
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River's Future Timeline:
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The arcing and flashing was done.
Cameron arrived in River's timeline or future.
She was amazed at how this TDE was much faster, more efficient and less traumatic. It would be much better and easier transfer for non-Metal. She stood and looked around. Everything where she was at now was new and different to her. She possessed Duplicate Cameron's files and she'd been here before, at least to this future.
Cameron spotted a welcome face. She watched a smile blossom on it. It was River.
"I've been waiting for you." River said.
River walked up and gave Cameron a hug and a dress, in that order.
Cameron could feel River stiffen somewhat. She knew something was wrong. It was what she feared, she knew what was coming.
River backed up and looked at Cameron. There was a look of hurt on River's face.
'Please don't SAY it.' Cameron thought.
Cameron knew WHAT was about to be said. It was her WORST nightmare. She didn't want to 'hear' it. It happened anyway.
"You're not MY Cameron." River said.
It was like a slap in the face for Cameron. The words stung down to her very core. She'd been afraid of this. It was the rejection she feared. All of her hopes and dreams were dashed in an instant. If she hadn't readied herself for this, she would probably have shut down or at least been near to doing that.
Cameron still held a few cards to play. She'd prepared for this scenario, just in case.
"Yes and no." Cameron said. "My Duplicate self, 'Your Cameron', was destroyed."
Cameron could see the tears well up in River's eyes. She planned to offer hope for both of them.
"Please don't cry." Cameron said. "We're going to rescue her before that happens with your TDE…."
River looked hopeful. She learned to 'trust' Cameron. This was a different version of Cameron with 'her Cameron' as part of her.
Cameron explained about the TDE malfunction and how the two sets of Duplicates were created.
"If I fail, there's a Duplicate of me 'in some future' and a clone of me at my base, as well as a 'replacement version of me' if needed." Cameron said. "There's always a Cameron for you. They are all versions of MY program. My program is the base program for every 'Cameron'."
Cameron could see River wanted 'HER Cameron'. It was the same dilemma she faced with everyone else and HER program.
She explained everything to River and what needed to be done. She provided River with all the times and coordinates. She did not want to alter the timeline that John was in or her break her promise to not alter that timeline. That was also going to create it's own problem if she could rescue any of the Duplicates. There would be more of the same people - now.
River went over what her TDE was capable of based on theory and technology. It was much more advanced than anything she expected Sheila to do at her base with the technology they possessed. She would need to get all the specifics from River and make the same improvements. Maybe she better see how things went first. She didn't want to get ahead of herself. She could end up terminated before this was done.
"I've only just finished this TDE a few hours ago." River said.
"We saw it was tested for several weeks over an extended period." Cameron said.
"That was all done today in the last few hours." River said. "I needed to work out any bugs."
Cameron was even more impressed. Because the tests were spaced out over time in her timeline it gave them time to prepare and what to expect even if they happened here in a few hours.
"That's all very impressive." Cameron said. "I'm ready to go get Duplicate Cameron."
River wanted Cameron to know that what she wanted to do was unproven technology. It should work in theory. It may not in actuality.
"You may end up in solid rock." River said. "I can try and send the energy bubble on its own first. We don't know what would come back."
River was aware it could be the nuclear weapon stuffed inside of a hollowed out torso. She didn't mention that to Cameron.
Cameron didn't know what the final specifics were of Duplicate Cameron's demise. The tunnels and the relays were blown up by Skynet. What actually happened in those last few minutes was unknown. Skynet may have gotten the upper hand. She did not want to bring back any version of Skynet into this timeline.
"I need to go myself and make sure it is safe to bring her back." Cameron said. "If I don't return myself or with her, that means something went wrong. I want your promise you won't come after us or allow anyone else to try and follow us or rescue us."
River already knew that would happen.
"There is one who will come after you at some point." River said.
'It's not John.' Cameron thought.
"No." River said. "It's not John."
Cameron was a little startled. She shouldn't be. She possessed all of Duplicate Cameron's files on River. She was aware that River was gifted.
"I know who it is." Cameron said.
River smiled.
"It is the one who never gave up on you." River said. "It is the one who loves you the most."
Cameron knew it before she left.
"Savannah is the best of them all." Cameron said. "In my timeline, that is."
River worked extensively with Savannah when she was at the Resistance base.
"She will come for you or stay with you even if it means her own termination." River said. "There is another…."
Cameron didn't know if she should comment on that.
"I believe that." Cameron said. "I also understand what else may be involved or at play. I haven't done anything like that."
River smiled. She knew that Cameron wanted to say 'not yet'. She said it for her.
"You mean at least not yet anyway." River said. "With the improved TDE you may do many things you would not have or even been able to do."
That thought made Cameron think about the encryption on the Resistance TDE. Maybe she would ask about it later. Maybe she wouldn't need to.
River went over all the controls and settings with Cameron.
"I think we're ready." Cameron said. "I hope this works."
River looked at Cameron.
"I hope it does too." River said. "Bring My Cameron back to me."
Cameron slipped her dress off. River took in her naked beauty. She wondered why she couldn't ever seem to look like THAT or did she? She gave Cameron another hug and a kiss on the cheek.
River took the controls as Cameron waited on the TDE pad.
The arcing and flashing started. Cameron was enveloped in an energy bubble. She vanished in seconds. It was all very rapid.
Cameron was gone.
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Events From The Past - Chapter 150:
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"What is that?" The voice boomed.
"Eternity." 'Cameron' said.
"You cheated." The voice boomed.
'Cameron' finished the code. The time on it flashed 30 seconds and counted down. As soon as the nuke armed, a file came up on her HUD. She wasn't expecting that.
She disabled the speaker to shut Skynet up.
It was a file in her system that was hidden only to activate upon the certain termination of herself. 'Cameron' read the file and smiled. What she'd suspected about her life was true. This was part of her fate.
'Nobody knows - but me'. 'Cameron' thought.
'Cameron' laughed.
"I ALWAYS win." 'Cameron' said.
'Cameron' turned to see the arcing and flashing behind her. She knew a time bubble was about to appear. She was not really sure how but she did have a pretty good idea why. Help was on the way and she knew who was behind it.
'Cameron' was elated when she saw the nude form of 'River'. It was who she thought would come for her.
No.
Wait.
It was another cyborg. It was – her.
'Cameron' was very confused. Somehow there was a clone or a Duplicate of her.
"Come with me if you want to live." Cameron said.
Cameron and 'Cameron' both stepped into the time bubble as it formed again immediately. Both Camerons were gone five seconds before the nuke capped off. They made it out. Skynet didn't.
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River's Future Timeline:
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River watched Cameron go. She took out a second dress and a Taser type weapon, just in case. She kept that hidden but accessible. She was not sure what she would bring back. She was confident it would be what she wanted. There was no 'feeling' otherwise or of any danger.
The arcing and flashing started and ended rapidly.
There were two figures in the energy bubble. She was very pleased it worked as intended. She was more relieved to see that both of the figures were female.
Cameron was back - BOTH of 'her'.
Cameron and Duplicate Cameron stood side by side.
Cameron could see they were identical. She was not surprised when River went straight to Duplicate Cameron. She knew who was who. She watched as Duplicate Cameron and River embraced. She could see and feel the love. She envied what they shared. She also was aware there was someone like that for her. She awaited her return even if she didn't know she was even gone yet.
Duplicate Cameron looked very happy and very relieved.
"I knew you would come for me." Duplicate Cameron said. "I knew it."
Cameron explained what transpired and Duplicate Cameron was devastated to learn that all three of the girls perished. If River hadn't been there for her she may have shut down and collapsed. It was clear that Duplicate Cameron loved the girls as much as she did. She contained the files to prove it.
Cameron could see Duplicate Cameron felt everything she did the same way. She was really looking at a version of 'herself' that was only 'out of date'. It was kind of unsettling.
"We have to go back for them." Duplicate Cameron said. "I have to save the baby."
Duplicate Cameron started to glitch. River calmed her as she always could do.
Cameron stepped up. It was time to go again.
"I am." Cameron said.
Duplicate Cameron moved up next to her.
"I'm going with you." Duplicate Cameron said.
Cameron didn't want to risk Duplicate Cameron with a temporal error or something right after she'd been rescued. She didn't want River to be 'hurt' again either.
"No. Your destiny is here with River." Cameron said. "This is your future now. You're at 'home' and you've found the peace you seek. Your journey is over, even if it has really only just begun."
Duplicate Cameron was as determined as Cameron. How could she not be?
"I'm not letting John's baby die." Duplicate Cameron said.
"Neither am I." Cameron said.
The two cyborgs could see they were identical and would do the same things.
"Then we will go together." Duplicate Cameron said. "That will increase the chances of the mission's success. From what you describe there will be several Terminators we will need to battle in just a few seconds time. Both girls may be injured. I understand the timeline can't be altered as to what 'happened' even if we change the final outcome."
River needed to stress the timeline request that John wanted Cameron to adhere to. If they changed anything, Cameron may not have the same world to go back to.
"It is imperative we do not alter the timeline." River said. "We know what happened. That must be replicated. That is most likely what you will actually do."
Cameron knew it was all about the timing.
"The timing is of extreme importance." Cameron said.
Cameron gave River the information for the next TDE mission. They would go after Allison, Vanna and 'John's baby'.
Both Cameron's slipped off their dresses and waited on the TDE pad.
River could not help but admire the view.
"Do it." Cameron and Duplicate Cameron both said at the same time.
The arcing and flashing started and ended rapidly.
Both Camerons were gone.
River upped the power output. There should be four to return.
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Events From The Past - Chapter 150:
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A firefight broke out on the hillside.
Vanna exited the car and was immediately grabbed by a Terminator. It sprung up from a 'spider hole'.
Allison rushed to help her. The Terminator grabbed her as well and they rolled down the hill as someone fired rounds into it. They landed and both girls were down. Vanna was out. All Allison knew was to hold on to her Model 66. The Terminator picked her up by the neck and started to squeeze.
She knew where to shoot to destroy it. She could not get her hand up to its head. She aimed for the junction of its power cell as she started to black out, she pulled on the trigger.
Allison saw a time bubble start to appear behind the Terminator She could see Cameron and 'River' came for her and Vanna. She relaxed her finger on the trigger as the Terminator dropped her to engage the new threat.
Both Camerons rushed forward. They 'close lined' the Terminator. Cameron tore his head off while Duplicate Cameron ripped inside of him to cause damage to overload his power cell.
Allison was a little confused at what she witnessed. 'River' acted like a Terminator.
Cameron picked up Allison and Duplicate Cameron picked up Vanna. Another time bubble started to appear. They stepped into the forming time bubble. Both Camerons carried their precious cargo.
The arcing and flashing started and ended rapidly.
The battle on the hill top raged on, there was a massive explosion a few seconds later as the power cell in the Terminator that grabbed Allison and Vanna exploded.
Allison and Vanna were already gone with Cameron and Duplicate Cameron.
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River's Future Timeline:
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The arcing and flashing started and ended rapidly.
River was pleased to see there were four of them. She was worried that Vanna and Allison needed to be carried.
The group was back. That was what counted. She didn't sense any pain or injury from anyone. That was a good thing.
Allison was confused to see another 'River' when she figured out there were actually two of 'Cameron'.
Vanna was up now and even more confused that Allison was. She'd been on a hillside the last she remembered with a Terminator.
Cameron and River clued the girls in.
"There's one more to save." River said.
Vanna and Allison were worried about both 'Camerons' and the danger they faced. They also hoped to get Jesse back.
Cameron and Duplicate Cameron were ready to go again.
"Do it." Cameron and Duplicate Cameron both said at the same time.
The arcing and flashing started and ended rapidly.
Both 'Camerons' were gone.
River upped the power output. There should be three to return.
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Events From The Past - Chapter 150:
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Jesse turned to help Gail when the Terminator grabbed her foot. She screamed as it pulled her down forcefully.
Gail heard Jesse scream as she fought with her Terminator.
The fallen Terminator started to crawl back in the direction of the Young vehicle.
"I must terminate Allison Young." It stated, over and over.
Jesse was down. She crawled after it.
Jesse caught the Terminator. It rolled over and grabbed her. It pinned her to the ground and started to squeeze her neck.
"I must terminate Allison Young." It stated.
"Allison belongs to John." Jesse gasped.
She pulled the pin on a Thermite grenade she held between them.
Gail was out of sight. Both Gail and the Terminator she was fighting were offline on the opposite side of the truck in a drainage ditch alongside the road.
Jesse saw a time bubble began to appear. Cameron and 'River' hopped out of it. She held the spoon on the Thermite grenade and hoped she didn't release it at this point. The Terminator released her to engage the new threat. She would be able to keep the Thermite grenade from exploding now.
Cameron and Duplicate Cameron grabbed the Terminator and yanked it off Jesse as it released her. Cameron twisted his neck and ripped his head loose but not off. It bobbed at a crazy angle.
"Gail…." Jesse gasped.
Cameron took the Thermite grenade from her hand, as Duplicate Cameron drug the disabled Terminator further away from the wrecked truck and Gail.
The time bubble began to appear again. Duplicate Cameron scooped up Jesse and stepped into it as Cameron left the Thermite grenade on the damaged Terminator and then entered the energy bubble as well.
All three were gone before his power cell exploded.
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River's Future Timeline:
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The arcing and flashing started and ended rapidly.
They arrived at River's location with Jesse.
Allison, Vanna and Jesse all hugged each other, both Cameron's and River. There were a lot of questions. Cameron was not sure they would like all the answers.
Cameron knew it was Mission Accomplished.
'Promised Land' by 'Chuck Berry', came into Cameron's mind - both of them.
Mission Accomplished
There are many challenges in life
Not all of them may be achievable
Some may present grief and strife
Others may be quite conceivable
Events must move forward
To break free of the past
They can not always be ignored
There's no need to make them last
Anyone on their own may question
What all they can envision and conceive
They may only be shackled and bound
By what they're willing to hope and believe
It is time to raise the bar
To reach for a higher goal
When that is fully attained
It will make them feel whole
Not everything that was before
Needs to be abolished or demolished
Some things can be honed and polished
The happy ending is a mission accomplished
Nobody