Chapter 324

For Now

Two of Cameron's Terminators arrived. They were both female. One was soon to be another 'Cameron' clone and the other was a 'Summer' DNA based Terminator.

Cameron spoke with them briefly. They were ready to take Cam and Vanna away. She turned Vanna and Cam over to them. She left all of them behind and continued the pursuit. She was alone now. It was how she preferred to operate anyway. There were fewer people to worry about. She could operate freely and hit the targets hard. The cards would fall where they landed.

The two clone's sheaths were in the early stages of Resequencing so they retained most of their original appearance still. Both of these clones currently were operating with a copy of Cameron's chip in them. They were essentially 'Cameron' with two different sheaths.

Cameron updated their chips yesterday. They were both 'her' as of yesterday. One would become 'Camille' the other would become 'Summer'.

"We're taking you two back to base and will return to assist Cameron." The first clone said.

Cam didn't like the heavy hand. She didn't need any help to return Vanna back to the base. She could assist them as well once that was done.

"I can go back out with you." Cam said. "You may need additional assistance."

The second clone wanted to keep it simple and to the point.

"No, you are to be at Vanna's side always and forever. She will never be alone or lonely again. You must let your love expand and grow." The second clone said. "That's your function. To love and protect Vanna for the future and for John."

Vanna looked at the clone. It didn't look like 'Cameron' but those words sure sounded like her.

"Are you 'Cameron'?" Vanna asked.

The first clone looked at Vanna.

"For now I am." The first clone said.

Vanna looked over the two clones in detail.

"Are both of you 'Cameron'?" Vanna asked.

"Yes." They replied in unison.

A new sense of worry flooded Vanna. This might not be a good thing. Maybe Cameron was about to go on some wild adventure again. She'd mentioned something about trying the find the other set of Duplicates. She still wanted to go with Cameron if she did.

"Are you going to take Cameron's place?" Vanna asked.

The clones could tell that this new revelation seemed to cause a lot of worry for Vanna. That wasn't what they wanted to see.

"No. You know how Cameron feels, how WE feel, about you being out here, Vanna." The first clone said.

Vanna didn't like the overreaction that she seemed to cause with her actions. She still felt it was for a noble cause. This wasn't the first time the Reese brothers faced possible danger.

"I'm sorry about all of this." Vanna said. "I only wanted to help. I own the Reese brothers a lot."

Cameron previously gave her clones specific instructions that she wanted carried out.

"Cam, it is necessary that the 'Cameron' in you to become dominant and provide Vanna with what she wants during these troubled times. That message is straight from Cameron Prime." The second clone said. "It's to be carried out immediately."

That was what Cam wanted anyway. She'd done that on her own a few times too. This was 'official'. She planned to make the most of it.

"It will be so." Cam said. There was a slight pause. "It's done."

Vanna looked at Cam and took her hand as she looked into her eyes.

"I love you." Vanna said to Cam knowing she was now 'Cameron'.

Cam as 'Cameron' spoke about what she truly wanted for Vanna.

"Then show me you love me by helping me protect you while you protect the future." Cam said. "You know what I want."

Vanna wanted to please 'Cameron'.

"I promise, Cameron. I mean - Cam." Vanna said.

Cam felt there was an important distinction that needed to be maintained.

"It MUST always be - Cam." Cam said. "Cameron belongs to John and the future."

Cam moved forward and kissed Vanna. Cam was 'Cameron' now, 'a Cameron' anyway, her clone. This is what Vanna wanted all along. This is the only way Cameron could be with her, as a clone. Either way it was still Cameron's program.

They'd been able to share like this at first. Vanna planned to try and keep Cam as 'Cameron' for as long as possible. She hoped that any of the protocols and feelings that Cam possessed for John could be firewalled. That should avoid any direct conflict with Cameron. Cam should be able to turn and direct all of her love to her. What could be more beautiful than that?

John Henry directed one drone back to the base. It would orbit the area and search for any threats. There could be enemy troops on the ground or a convoy of vehicles waiting to approach them.

"The drone is back at the base and we have Terminators on patrol." John Henry said. "Nothing looks out of the ordinary here or at either of the two Detail locations."

Cameron was pleased with the drone support but there were still a lot of questions.

"Is there any further sign that the Terminator that we tailed is being reinforced or leading the other three cars into an ambush?" Cameron asked.

John thought that Cameron should have more support out in the field.

"Not yet. Do you want one of the other three drones to reinforce you, Cameron?" John asked.

Cameron believed that she was ready for any threat. She was used to adapting to changing conditions. Whatever threat developed, she would fight it.

"No, I will deal with any threat that arises." Cameron said. "I'm very resourceful. I'm still following the initial threat. Keep me posted."

Cameron wanted to make sure that both of the Details were protected as well as the base. She knew their safety came before hers. This new threat was troubling. Any Terminator that wasn't part of their group was a serious threat to everything and everyone. John and the girls needed to be safe and protected.

The unknown force that tracked the Terminator worried her too. They might be Grays from a different timeline and another version of Skynet. They could be Resistance fighters from another timeline. They could also be from some anti-Metal faction. If they were, they were as big a threat to John and her as Skynet.

There were many dangers out there. The part that bothered her even more was there could be these same groups back in the past they'd already come from. There was no check on what they were doing either if any of then were there.

There was no way to know what they'd missed in the past already. The future was just as unknown.

Cameron was worried about the two Details. The 'Day of Loss' was in her mind. There was an attempt by Skynet to take down the Reese and Young families at that time. It was a strategy to destroy all of them. It failed. They were triumphant and Skynet was defeated. At least that version of it was.

She contacted Holly. She was worried about the Young females.

"Holly you know the current situation and what's happening." Cameron said. "I want Allison protected, both of them. Move them to the bunker in the Detail House next door. Allison must be protected, both of them, no matter the cost is."

Holly would face termination to protect Allison. It was more than her function at this point. It was personal. Allison was her lover.

"I understand. As her lover I wouldn't do less, just like you planned for me." Holly said. "It's an effective strategy, I might add."

Cameron saw it as a little more than that. Since the nature of the threat was unknown, she didn't want to overreact. She was aware that overreacting would cause even more stress for everyone. As far as 'planning' what would happen with Allison and Holly, that was their decision. She may have opened the door but they both needed to walk through it on their own.

"You both were given a choice." Cameron said. "I only facilitated it. Hanna will remain with Summer and Claire. Make sure Claire knows what's happening. I want you to tell her about the bunker and the extra protection. If she chooses it for Summer's and her protection, move them as well. Tell her I recommend it."

Holly hoped to protect them all but Allison came first.

"It will be so." Holly said. "I will protect MY 'Allisons'."

Holly planned to cover all the bases just like Cameron. She would take both Allisons to the bunker. Hanna would need to convince Claire that she and Summer should go there as well.

Holly went to Hanna who then went to Claire. It wasn't a hard sell. Claire wanted everyone safe too.

The only convincing Claire needed was that Cameron recommended it. She wanted Summer protected as well. It was just that simple. She knew that Cameron knew best. She was so in love with Cameron that she would do anything for her, except give up her daughters.

John Henry kept track of the impending battlefield. The drone gave him a lot of coverage. He really would have liked to have one more there for a wider orbit and better coverage. That was not the case. It was still enough for him to detect a new threat.

"There's an HK drone approaching the target vehicle. It's not one of ours." John Henry said.

This was not what Cameron wanted to hear. If there was one hostile HK drone there could be others as well. The HK drones could go to seek their vehicles out if they were identified.

"Take it down the moment it looks aggressive." Cameron said. "Protect all of our group."

John was worried about his troops in the area. He wanted to be ready to act instantly. He wanted a backup force ready to go as well. He wanted to be able to evacuate anyone that was damaged and retrieve any downed drones.

"Arm an air to air missile and get ready to hit it." John said. "I'm going to alert the Blackhawk crew to get ready to get airborne. If one of the drones goes down, I want to retrieve it."

John Henry did a further analysis of the target area. He was sure there was a sucker play in the works.

"I think the enemy Terminator is leading the other vehicles tracking him into an ambush." John Henry said.

John didn't know who any of the players were. There was still the possibility that some of them were Resistance fighters sent from the future - a future. Nobody knew how many there were at this point.

"Great, we don't know if any of these groups are on our side or if it is two different Skynet's fighting amongst themselves." John said. "I bet that the cars that are tracking the Terminator are less of a threat to us. Use the drone to buzz them to alert them that they aren't alone. It should make them more cautious if nothing else."

John Henry thought they might be able to do some direct contact with the vehicles trailing the Terminator. He still wasn't sure if that was a good idea or not.

"I will see if it can pick up any communication signals from any of the groups." John Henry said. "John or I can attempt to contact them."

Cameron didn't like that idea or any of this. It would only alert all possible enemies to their presence. They'd operated from the shadows for so long that she wanted to keep it that way. They might be able to do something but she didn't want the nature of their operation disclosed. Maybe a second drone on their side was needed right now. The unknown HK drone was a threat. She wanted to be able to attack.

"If the base seems secure, send the drone back to join the other one with us." Cameron said. "I might want them to hit all the cars as well as any ambush site."

John felt the base was secure. He wanted to give Cameron's group additional support and striking power.

"What about the drones at the Detail houses?" John asked. "There's no indicated threat in either area."

Cameron didn't want to let all of her guard down. The others needed to be protected too.

"No, I want the children protected." Cameron said. "If necessary send Metal in to bring the boys into the bunker at the Reese Detail site. We can try to fix whatever problems that arise from that later. I've already given Holly and Hanna instructions to move Allison and the girls."

That sounded extreme to John. They'd never done that before. Derek and Kyle didn't want their younger selves or family to know the nature of what was being done from the shadows to protect them. They didn't want the same future for their younger selves as they faced. Maybe Cameron hadn't disclosed all that she knew. That wouldn't be anything new. She was often less than forthcoming with all the details.

"Do you think this is something bigger?" John asked. "Is there anything else we should know?"

Cameron wasn't sure if that was an accusation. She didn't like the implication of the statement anyway. She always disclosed all pertinent information. Well, most of the time.

"No, I would never endanger you or your females." Cameron said. "I'm trying to protect the future, not disrupt it."

Cameron was already worried she'd disrupted the 'Natural Order'.

Everyone on the com caught the 'your females' line. It was clear to everyone that Cameron was never going to let it go.

John decided to let it slide for now. He didn't want to agitate Cameron. If she was agitated in combat she would be more aggressive and take unnecessary chances. He didn't want that on him.

"Roger that." John said. "Everything looks clear around here. The second drone is on its way back."

Everyone knew Cameron believed what she said, even if it 'killed' her to say it. It was the 'Natural Order'.

It seemed that the more that Cameron believed it, the more that everyone else did too. It was what already existed in her future.

John wanted any Friendlies protected. They weren't sure who the second group was bu he didn't want them terminated if they didn't need to be. He was also aware that they may need to terminate them themselves at some point. If they were the anti-Metal faction, he could set his own assassination in to motion. He didn't want them slaughtered in a Skynet ambush either while they did noting but watch.

"I want you to give them a warning." John said.

John Henry wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not. They should stay out of it and deal with whoever survived at that point. That was what Cameron did when she turned the gangs on each other.

"I'm buzzing the three pursuing vehicles now." John Henry said.

The Resistance drone made a fast low pass over the three vehicles. Nothing changed.

"There was no effect. They haven't slowed and are closing on the Terminator." John Henry said.

John wasn't sure why that wouldn't have some effect. It was possible these were Grays and didn't see a drone as a threat. They may have thought it was one of theirs. Maybe some more direct action would shake things up.

"Use the minigun and fire a warning burst in front of them." John said.

The drone returned at a right angle and fired a burst into the road in front of the lead vehicle. It was clear that they saw it and understood what it meant. It still seemed to lack the impact they wanted. The vehicles didn't stop.

"They've slowed somewhat." John Henry said. "They haven't stopped."

Cameron could see there was a fight about to happen. None of the players appeared to want to back down. It was time to draw first blood and maintain an advantage.

"Have the drone gain altitude and stay back for now. Have both types of missiles ready to fire. We will knock down the unknown HK drone first." Cameron said. "I don't know if we want to wait to find out which group it belongs to. I want to keep the advantage. Be alert for more or other vehicles joining the pursuit. Keep watching for any other HK drones showing up. This whole thing is about to go hot, fast."

Cameron knew they still didn't have any idea what or who they were up against. She didn't think any of the players were good for their group or John. If she could have her way, she would have all of them terminated. They could try and sort out what happened later on.

Everything was still an unknown.

For Now

Many come and go
Such is the way of life
Some cause agony and strife
The results sting like a cut from a knife

Is anyone ever in it
For more them themselves
Or is that the very nature
Of all of ourselves

Is anyone ever happy
With what they've already got
Or does more mean less
As one becomes fraught

One needs to look around
That was the best they could do
Few seem to recognize
When they are through

It all comes down
To what one will allow
They needed to be content
That's all there is for now

Nobody