Chapter 391

Off Limits

The girls made their way to the airport. They were all a little apprehensive except Savannah. She was determined in her goals and direction.

Any time 'second thoughts' creeped into her head, she blew them off. That seemed to happen many times. She was focused on the future. This was all about the future and to beat Skynet before it could act.

The jet took off without incident and streaked across the night sky on its way to Australia.

Savannah was surprised at how quickly everything was put into motion. She wondered if Cameron hadn't planned this in advance for her. The episode with Summer still troubled her some. She doubted Summer would be around when she got back, at least the Summer she Tasered. She was surprised that what she'd done to Summer hadn't seemed to bother anyone. It hadn't bothered her either, at least not too much.

Summer malfunctioned and acted in a disrespectful manner. She didn't care for the personal insult either. She tried to tell herself it was when Summer went after John was the reason she dropped her. Deep down she felt it was the personal insult that did it. No one ever spoke to her like that since she was in school. That was a long time ago. Maybe it all reminded her of the past, her past.

That was a past where she had a mother and a father, her 'real' parents'. That was gone and they were dead. It made her start to question everything again. That seemed to be something that happened daily at some point. It all still bothered her.

Maybe there was more at play than she knew. Everything seemed too convenient. Maybe this was all a ploy to get her to kill the Gray in cold blood. It was the talk of using the Neural Interface on him that did it. It was Ally who said that, not Cameron. Maybe they were all in on it together.

Savannah didn't want Cameron to ever do what she saw done to the female captive again. If she ever SAW that again, she would terminate the 'test subject' immediately. Maybe this is what Cameron wanted from her. She felt no guilt about anything she'd done tonight nor did she feel any guilt about what she was about to do. These were all things that just needed to be done.

It did make her wonder sometimes about some of the things she 'remembered' when she woke up in the morning. They weren't dreams. She'd been able to differentiate her dreams from what she 'knew'. She didn't know that Cameron or another Terminator would visit her room and night and whisper information into her ear for hours at a time. It was all part of her 'conditioning' for the future. It was also the reason why she'd been ready to be with John if the situation arose from a young age. It was just 'in her head' that it was the 'right thing' to do regardless of her age. It was only her love for Cameron that prevented her from acting on that 'impulse'. She didn't want to 'hurt' Cameron. The compulsion was still there and evermore so once she was physically able to reproduce offspring. Now there were hormones that fueled the 'desire' that was implanted into her head.

Savannah wanted some answers. She wondered what was really in play here. She was sure this was all her idea but maybe none of it was. Maybe Cammy would 'come clean'.

"How was everything ready so fast?" Savannah asked. "There was no preplanning to any of this."

Cammy wasn't about to take the 'rap' for Cameron. She would try to keep everything to generalities.

"Cameron continually updates everything to make sure everything is ready." Cammy said. "She's doing a dozen things at once, always."

Savannah didn't think that answer really answered her question. There was no need to 'push' Cammy and spoil the trip. It was in motion now and there were others with her. Did she put them where they didn't really want to be? She began to wonder how much of this was really Cameron's meddling and manipulation. The more she thought about everything that happened in the last few hours, the more she wondered. She did know Cameron tried to do what she thought would be best for John and the future. She often believed that Cameron needed to do things she didn't agree with or that hurt her.

"Cameron has a way of controlling almost everything the way she wants it to be." Savannah said. "She's always manipulating things."

Cammy was jealous of Cameron. Even if Savannah was her lover, Savannah would always love Cameron more than her. It was a love like no other that everyone could see.

"She doesn't hide anything from you." Cammy said. "You should know that. You should appreciate that. You are the only one she does that for. You are special to her, Savannah. You are the 'Chosen One'."

Savannah really didn't understand what that meant or why. Cameron never really gave her an answer when she asked her several times. She understood her role in the future with Young Allison.

"I don't know about that last part…. I do know Cameron is teaching me what to do for the future." Savannah said. "There's no halting her is there?"

Cammy knew there was no stopping Cameron. She sure wasn't about to try.

"Cameron is determined to protect the future." Cammy said. "Protecting the future protects John. It is your function to assist her in every way she 'asks'. You KNOW this."

Savannah was ready for the future when the future was ready for her. There was no need to rush things no matter what thoughts popped into her mind. Cameron came before her or her desires.

"I do and have BUT I will not hurt her." Savannah said. "I'll take my 'place' when I must but I refuse to hurt Cameron."

Cammy didn't think the future was changeable in regard to Savannah's place.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Cammy said. "Get some sleep. You're going to be a busy girl when we get there…."

Savannah laid her head on Cammy's lap.

Vanna did the same with Cam.

They both laid and rested the same exact way. Jesse noticed and watched them both end up in the same resting pose with the 'same' Metal girl even if they were 'different'.

"Look at them." Jesse said to Gail. "They're both exactly the same."

Gail always felt something for Savannah. It was like a feeling she held for no other. Maybe it all stemmed from when the Duplicate set of girls was believed to be terminated. Savannah begged for her not to self Terminate. She told her she needed to believe in Cameron and that Cameron would 'fix' everything somehow. They pulled her chip before she could self terminate and Cameron did 'fix' everything.

"I'd like to find out…." Gail said as her eyes lingered on Savannah.

Cammy and Cam both shot Gail a dirty look.

Jesse noticed their displeasure. She didn't want any trouble for Gail. She wanted Savannah as much as anyone did. She'd have to settle for her younger self being allowed to have that pleasure instead. She wanted that for Young Jesse.

"Sorry, love, you're all mine." Jesse said as she turned Gail's head to face her. "THAT is off limits unless you want to answer to Cameron. Even I know that…."

Jesse envied her younger self. It would be so beautiful if they could just trade places for an hour….

The jet continued its journey into the night sky. As much of the future was behind them as it lay ahead of them.

Cameron moved swiftly toward her targets, Summer was right behind her. Ally watched their rear, she also checked behind them as they advanced….

She moved soundlessly, Summer did as well. Ally was not as quiet. She motioned for Ally to stop. Cameron indicated for Ally, to go check the opening the two Terminators came out of. It was most likely empty since no one else exited from it. There could still be some Grays waiting for an 'all clear' sign.

Cameron and Summer closed in on their targets. She stopped where she was. She could hear a drone. It was not either of the two drones she was in control of. This could only be a hostile HK drone.

"John Henry, I have a HK drone approaching." Cameron said. "I'm turning the two already on station here, back over to you. Prepare for air to air combat. Check for more hostile drones that might be approaching us. This seems late in the game for their arrival."

John Henry spotted the drone and tracked it. It was locked up for an air to air missile strike. He wanted to see if there were more before he brought it down. He didn't want to spook them and Cameron's team was not in immediate danger. He was a little surprised as he received a close up image of the HK drone.

"I can see the drone. No others have been detected yet." John Henry said. "It is the larger Skyshield type that can take a pilot. The female Terminator may be in it."

Cameron wondered if there was another female Terminator…. The drone didn't seem to be in an attack posture but more like it was about to land.

"I think it is going to land." Cameron said. "I think the pilot isn't in it yet. We're tracking two Terminators now. They both survived the attack and fire."

John Henry was unaware Cameron acquired two target until he took over control of their two drones. Cameron kept it quiet. He was ready to act.

"Do you want me to strike it now?" John Henry asked.

Cameron formulated a new plan. It was risky in every way. She wanted both of those Terminators and the manned drone. She also didn't want to get lit up.

"Not yet. I want to see if we can capture it." Cameron said. "I need you to jam all communications as soon as it touches down. If it looks like it is going to attack us, hit it."

John Henry locked up the two hostile Terminators and the manned drone. He was ready to act on either one.

"It's targeted." John Henry said. "Everything is targeted."

Cameron faced Summer. She was about to take a risk.

"I want you to take down both of the Terminators." Cameron said. "I'm going to try to capture the drone. If the canopy opens I'm getting in it. It may take off with me in it if I can't control it or John Henry can't jam it."

Cameron handed Summer her Taser.

"This is all a big risk." Summer said. "I do understand."

Cameron didn't want Summer damaged before she left.

"If you can't take both of them down with the Tasers, use the Coltan rounds in your weapon." Cameron said. "I don't want you damaged. Destroy them if you need to."

Ally didn't like being separated from Cameron and Summer. She heard Cameron's plan. It was as risky as it seemed fool hearty. She needed to worry about what she'd run into.

"I'm at the opening." Ally said. "Do you want me to enter or hold?"

Cameron was still worried more Grays could come out of the opening where Ally was at. They might be waiting until the drone arrived and left.

"Hold for now." Cameron said. "We're about to engage. You heard the details. If the drone lands we move. Watch out for reinforcements."

Cameron and Summer were behind cover was they watched and waited. The large drone was about to land. It appeared unoccupied. The canopy began to open. She started to move forward.

"It's Showtime." Cameron said.

She really didn't know how this was all going to play out.

John was a little perplexed at how the HK drone arrived at the location undetected. There were two of their drones at altitude already there. They should've detected a flying drone earlier. Wait. Maybe it didn't go far and was launched locally.

"Where did that HK drone come from?" John asked.

John Henry tried to determine that already.

"I don't know." John Henry said. "It hasn't shown up on any of our tracking indicators. I barley have it targeted with both drones."

The new drone seemed like a threat in more ways than one.

"Is it an improved version?" John asked.

John Henry figured there must be some new stealth technology involved.

"It sure looks like it." John Henry said.

John was as worried as to where it came from as he was that it was there. Wherever it originated from was a threat. There were sure to be more Grays or Metal there.

"We need to find out where it came from." John said.

Cameron moved closer to the big HK drone.

"I'm going to try to board it." Cameron said. "I'll attempt to disable it if I can't commandeer it."

John Henry would prefer Cameron didn't get stuck inside of it.

"I have it targeted if it bolts." John Henry said. "Let it go and I will hit it."

John regretted leaving the area now and not sending back more Terminators sooner. He wanted more help for Cameron and Ally.

"It's just you and Ally out there, Cameron." John said. "You need more help."

Cameron wondered how the next bit of information was about to go over.

"I've reactivated Summer." Cameron said.

Everyone fell silent.

"Is that a wise idea?" John Henry asked.

He'd monitored what happened and been told by John what he witnessed. It was all very disturbing. Summer sounded unstable and dangerous.

Cameron could sense their apprehension. She wanted to ease their minds somewhat.

"She wanted to terminate Savannah upon reactivation." Cameron said. "I've convinced her it was her fault she was deactivated and why. She now understands Savannah tried to help her. Summer knows the next time she crosses a line that she'll be terminated."

Cameron thought that sounded like a good story. She hoped everyone bought it.

John wondered if he canceled the Blackhawk mission too early.

"I have the Blackhawk crew ready to call if you want them." John Henry said. "They've only recently stood down."

Cameron wanted that option. There was no way to know what was about to happen.

"We may need them if we have to disable or destroy it. They will need to haul it away." Cameron said. "Ally and Summer can handle the Metal."

John wanted to have a response ready if Cameron needed it.

"I hope you know what you're doing." John said.

Cameron would've liked to give a definitive answer to that. She really didn't know. She made light of it instead.

"I always do." Cameron said and then adding. "Well, most of the time anyway."

Summer moved into striking range. The two Terminators were waiting for the large drone to land. Cameron moved off to her side. She was ready to sprint to the drone.

Ally made Cameron and Summer aware of a new threat.

"I have movement." Ally said. "I'm about to engage. You need to act now to keep the element of surprise."

Summer acted immediately. She fired one Taser first. She hit the female Terminator. The male Terminator dodged the shots. She fired the second Taser in her other hand. She struck him with that one. Both of the Terminators were down.

Cameron made her move with the first Taser shot. Before the male impacted the ground, she was on top the drone. She tried to climb in it. It immediately began to power up for lift off. The canopy started to close.

Ally's M4 barked to life in the near distance.

Cameron scrambled into pilot's seat. She jammed the canopy open with her M4 so it couldn't close. The drone started to lift off.

This was the moment of truth. She either needed to gain control of get out before the drone was too high. Once it gained altitude they enemy could crash it with her in it.

Cameron went over the controls quickly. She then started to systematically pull wires out. The drone immediately impacted back to the ground. It spun in a slow circle. She continued to rip wires loose. The drone stopped moving and powered down.

John was worried it may have a self destruct feature.

"Is it booby trapped?" John asked.

Cameron already started to look for that.

"I'm checking." Cameron said.

Nothing was spotted so she got out. She needed to worry about Summer and Ally. She saw the Terminators were down but not deactivated. There was more gunfire where Ally was at.

"I have these two." Cameron said to Summer. "Go help Ally."

Cameron moved to the male Terminator and stuck the shocker on his neck. She then moved to the female and removed her chip, it self-destructed. She waited for the shocker to blast the male again. Once it did she removed his chip.

The firing in the direction of Summer and Ally increased. She grabbed her M4 from the drone and headed into the mix.

The two deactivated Terminators and the disabled drone weren't going anywhere on their own.

Cameron would be back, once she was finished helping Ally and Summer. She would have preferred keeping this entire operation off of the books. The arrival of the unmanned drone changed all that.

Off Limits

What is within one's grasp
How far will they reach
Is it an opportunity to take
Or a moment to learn and teach

There are boundaries everywhere
Some are created by one
Most of them are set by others
Many take away life's fun

What all will one seek out
How far are they willing to go
Will they act fast and rash
Or will they think and take it slow

There are things that are forbidden
That somehow fuels an inner desire
How quickly everyone forgets
They get burnt when they play with fire

One takes the blows and hits
Sometimes it's a contest of wits
Beauty and truth are mistaken for glitz
When one won't accept what's off limits

Nobody