Chapter 404

Tranquility

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Events continue from Chapter 402

In Some Future: Duplicate Cameron

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Cameron tried to think on the fly. She needed to spin a 'story' for Skynet. The nature of Mrs. Weaver's construction from Liquid Metal and the ability to time travel were beyond this version of Skynet's capabilities. She used ideas from TV shows she'd watched at night when the others were asleep. That was all done between her patrols. She wanted to see what everyone else watched on TV. She also used events from her future and the other future she'd visited. She could think of a lot of events to choose from. She wanted to push it but not push it too much. She'd knocked Skynet off guard and wanted to keep it that way.

She needed to make it seem as plausible as possible. The traces of temporal transfers in Allison, Mrs. Weaver and herself were detectable. This Skynet didn't possess either Liquid Metal or a TDE. There was no way for it to explain how these readings were possible. They were all subject to termination since they were detained. She needed to step carefully. She'd witnessed several versions of Skynet that when she'd terminated them they became very unstable. She didn't want to trigger that response here.

Allison knew enough to play along with Cameron. She knew she shouldn't speak but seem to communicate with Cameron in a nonverbal manner. Their survival depended on whatever story Cameron could spin. She knew she needed to play her part. There hadn't been any preplanning on this aspect of the operation.

"I must stress the Emissary not be harmed. Her council will try to communicate with her." Cameron said. "If the Emissary doesn't return there will be a warship that will enter this time period and destroy this entire sector. It will most likely be the 'Tranquility'."

"Did you say the Tranquility?" The voice asked. "That does not seem like a battle craft's name."

Cameron could tell she'd sunk the hook in deep. She wanted to keep it there. She needed to buy time. The Special Unit's forces were outside. They should be able to defeat the Skynet forces as long as no reinforcements were sent.

"It's called Tranquility because only 'tranquility' is left after it has destroyed a sector or even a world. With nothingness there is tranquility. It becomes absolute peace." Cameron said. "We're here and you have us captive, please let the Emissary rest and recover. Then we will communicate."

"I'll think about it…." The voice said. "I have other matters to attend to now, anyway."

Skynet was being overwhelmed in a dozen places all at once. It appeared all of its transports and HK drones were shot down or inoperative. The reports dropped off as well as the Grays and Terminators were overrun by the Restorators. Now there were no communications of any type.

Skynet tried to transfer its program but was unable to do so. It could destroy everyone here and perish or try to make a deal from a position of strength. It was intrigued with what seemed to be future technology. The time travel aspect was what it most desired. If it really was exterminated in a few years by the pathetic Resistance, it could go back in time and strike earlier or push harder in the beginning to obliterate humans.

There was also the prospect to get a foothold in the future. It could rule in that future as well. With advanced technology it could rule not only the planet but the entire universe. Maybe it should tread lightly for now with the captives it held. If there was a spaceship of some kind that could destroy a planet, it needed to have that too. Humans could never beat it that way. It would destroy the planet first. It would show them who was in charge. It would show humans who was the boss.

Skynet briefly reflected if that were to occur, it would be the boss of nothing….

Bob and the 'Special Unit' slowly gained control of the base. The firing stopped inside the building. That was probably not a good sign. They'd lost communications with the team inside. That was an even worse sign.

At one point in time a group of HK drones returned but all of them were shot down. One transport also returned. It was shot down as well. The few Terminators who managed to climb out of the wreckage were soon terminated.

Skynet seemed contained here as was the plan. It must have been able to get some calls for assistance out. The battle that Cammy waged elsewhere kept Skynet busy.

The Resistance forces decimated Skynet's forces on the battlefield. The air power was knocked down first and then the Skynet troops on the ground. The Terminators sacrificed the Grays to draw out the Resistance but that failed. When they thought the Resistance started to pull out, the Terminators attacked. Cammy's plan worked to destroy them on the battlefield. The Terminators were in retreat mode right now. They literally ran for their lives.

Cammy as 'Commander Connor' led the counter attack. They easily overran the Skynet defenses. The few Terminators left in action were recalled to protect the local Skynet computers. That is where they would be terminated along with the computer equipment. Skynet recalled everyone to try to protect itself and escape. The Resistance blocked it and prevented it from escaping anywhere. Skynet was slow to react because it refused to believe the evidence present to it about the Resistance's actions. It was defeated on the battlefield.

Cammy assigned Ginger and Sandy to work with Billy and his group. They selected a few other female Restorators to accompany them. It seemed the anti-Metal group felt less threatened by female Restorators. It was amazing what impact a few female anatomical body parts seemed to have.

The Restorators were the ones who took the damage instead of the humans. Several Restorators were destroyed helping the anti-Metal leader and group. They pushed forward in the assault. They encountered a pocket of Grays who the Terminators abandoned.

Ginger sensed an opportunity here to further bring the anti-Metal faction closer. It would allow them to see the face of the real enemy. It was humans just like them that chose to serve Skynet.

"The group that is left is all Grays. They're all humans. Do you wish us to destroy them or do you wish to fight them yourself? They are very people who have fought and turned against you." Ginger said. "They are people like you."

Billy looked around at some of the damaged Restorators. Some of them displayed horrific damage. They were still in the fight. Humans injured like that would be dead. The Commander showed him the true enemy and who was there to help them.

"We'll fight alongside you as we destroy them." Billy said. "We don't need any prisoners to deal with. These people's actions have dictated their own fate. We will fight together."

The united Resistance moved forward. They brought the fight to Skynet and eradicated everything in their path. The human losses of the Resistance were very light. The human loses for Skynet was total annihilation. It was most likely that any Grays that survived without their master would probably become Scavengers. That was another problem that needed to be dealt with.

Cam was with Jesse and Vanna at the Resistance headquarters. They'd already encountered and survived one incident involving the anti-Metal faction. There were three dead bodies to show for their efforts to defend themselves. None of those bodies were from their group. They won, the other group lost.

Jesse looked out a window. She was on edge now. They didn't know Cam allowed the anti-Metal faction to show themselves earlier. It was still somewhat unnerving even if Cam always kept everything under control. It appeared a new threat emerged.

"We have an armed group approaching." Jesse said.

Cam looked out the window. She was very displeased at what she saw.

"It is that low life Snake." Cam said. "I knew I should have terminated him."

Cam assumed the appearance of Jesse's 'companion' for the upcoming 'meet'. It was her former appearance. She'd played Allison up until now. The Liquid Metal helped her to switch from 'person' to 'person'. Without using the material she looked like Cameron.

This seemed to be more of a direct approach. It may be the precursor to a larger assault. Whatever it was didn't look good.

Cam and the two girls bumped up their armament. It looked like things were going to get hot….

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In Some Future: Cameron Prime

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Cameron and Savannah just arrived 'in some future' a short time ago. They'd arrived on a battlefield. They were off of it now. Cameron sustained some damage. They took some bloody clothes off of the dead and picked up a few battered weapons. They didn't have anything else.

They spotted a crashed transport not too far away. It looked like something recent. Cameron wanted to establish a more secure perimeter.

Cameron moved off a few times to search around them. She moved Savannah deeper into the trees. She returned with more weapons. They took the best of the lot and Cameron stashed the rest.

Savannah carried a few of the weapons. Cameron wanted her to stay put.

"I want to get to that crashed transport." Cameron said. "If there is no active Metal still there, they should have some supplies for the Grays on it. I can collect them for you."

Savannah didn't want to be babied. She was here. This was the new reality. She may be here forever. She may die here. She would most likely be assaulted and abused here at some point. It would probably be multiple times. It all made sense to her as to what the girls told her and how Cameron 'trained' her. She understood it all now. It was time to step up and face the future. It arrived a little sooner than she'd anticipated. She was ready to meet the challenge.

"Cameron, I'm fine. I don't need any food or water for a few days." Savannah said. "I'll go with you. I'd rather stay with you and face the danger together. If we run into Grays, you can say I'm your prisoner and that I have some valuable intelligence or something. If we run into Scavengers you can kill them. I'll help you for what they have done to Vanna and the others…. You've hardened me. I understand now why you were doing what you did. I didn't like it at the time but now I understand it. You did the right thing. I will make sure I personally harden Young Allison and Summer as they mature, I swear it."

Cameron smiled to herself. She'd tried to harden Savannah. She never imagined they would be here fighting for their lives in the Wastelands of the future. It was sure to be a future with Scavengers and Skynet. She knew she needed to get Savannah out of this environment before it started to affect Savannah's body and John's baby.

"This is beyond anything I've ever trained you for." Cameron said. "This is the real deal and it all around us."

Savannah could see that Cameron would need as much reassurance as she would.

"We'll deal with everything and face the future together, Cameron." Savannah said. "We're here for each other. I'm here for you."

Cameron would move Savannah up a distance and pause. She would scout around them in a circle and then scout ahead again in the direction they were headed. She would return to Savannah, and scout again in a circle around them before proceeding. It was slower going than she wanted but it the only safe way to move Savannah.

She arrived at a small ridge. There was a crashed Transport at the base of the hill. Cameron watched for signs of movement, there didn't appear to be any.

Cameron returned to Savannah and moved her up using the same cautious procedure. There was the real possibility of an ambush set up here by Skynet, the Resistance or Scavengers. The transport would draw all of those groups to check out the wreckage.

"I want to watch this location a little longer." Cameron said. "You will stay concealed and out of sight. Watch for patrols or HK drones."

Savannah knew that the HK drones would be the hardest to avoid once they came around. It would be worse if there was a ground patrol with them.

"I know to try and keep a tree between the HK drone and myself if possible." Savannah said. "I will try to remain under cover."

Cameron tucked Savannah away where she wouldn't be easily spotted.

She waited another hour and carefully moved down to the transport. The entire back half was burnt out, the front third was not too badly damaged. There was deactivated Metal everywhere. It appeared any Metal that could still function left. Those incapable of movement were terminated. Their heads blasted apart with plasma weapons. It appeared some were still able to function at the time, even if they couldn't move. Skynet did not tolerate failure and it did not take care of its Terminators. They were just tools to get the job done. They didn't matter to Skynet.

Cameron was able to get some better clothing. It was the clothing of Skynet and the Grays. That might turn out to be a problem later on. She needed cleaner clothes for Savannah and this is what was available. She wanted Savannah out of the bloody clothing to prevent any bio hazards. There were also some emergency rations, a basic medical kit and packed water. She knew the water was the most important thing.

She took the medical kit, water, clothes and some of the food and cautiously made her way back to Savannah. She would go back for more water and other supplies later. First she wanted to clean Savannah up. Savannah removed her top and Cameron took in her perfect figure. Cameron carefully cleaned the scrapes and cuts Savannah already received. There was some disinfectant that she used on her as well.

Cameron hesitated at first to touch Savannah beautiful body.

"It's OK, Cameron." Savannah said and stripped off her bloody pants. "You've seen me before. I've seen you. I don't mind. We're both female. I have repaired you before. Cammy is the same as you…."

Cameron pictured a deeper future going forward. Now was not the time to dwell on it. She proceeded to tend any other small wounds. There was one that bothered her greatly.

"This is a bullet graze." Cameron said. "You were almost shot."

Savannah didn't think this was necessary. She wasn't the one that was damaged. Cameron was.

"You were shot and I'm going to clean you up next." Savannah said. "I see sutures in that medical kit. I will fix you up as well, Cameron. I want to close up what's left of your right breast to help in the regeneration."

Cameron looked down at herself. Her right breast was permanently destroyed. Too much of it was missing. That area was already severely damaged before several times. She tried to tell herself it didn't matter but somehow it did.

She made a quick sweep of the area and returned to Savannah. She removed her shredded bloody shirt.

Savannah worked on Terminators before. This was pretty bad cosmetically but there was no apparent mechanical damage. She felt a sense of guilt over Cameron's damage. She stitched the remains of the breast closed. It was now about a third if its original size. She at least hoped the suture scars would go away.

"I'm really sorry about all this, Cameron." Savannah said. "If I hadn't come, you wouldn't be damaged."

Cameron doubted that. The report Duplicate Cameron gave her said they were in a depression and there was fighting all around them. Plasma weapons were in use too.

"We don't know that for sure, Savannah." Cameron said "The major damaged area was non functional on me anyway. It doesn't matter. I'm a machine."

"Oh, Cameron, it's not like that." Savannah said and held her tight. "You know that just isn't true, not anymore."

Savannah looked Cameron square in the face.

"Cameron, if we're stuck here I'll be your mate. I'll be your lover just how you are. I love you, Cameron. Never forget that. I Love YOU." Savannah said. "That's why I'm here. So you'll never be alone or feel 'not good enough'. I'll always be here with you. This is MY choice too. I will love you no matter how you are. That is what real love is. You love the person inside the body. That is the real person."

Savannah's words touched Cameron deeply. She knew they were true and sincere. Savannah was the mate she always wanted. Savannah loved her for more than her appearance. That was real love.

Cameron loved Savannah also. Savannah sacrificed herself so she wouldn't be alone. That was love. She knew love was about sacrifice and Savannah sacrificed 'everything' to be here with her. She looked down at her damaged torso. A single tear slid down her cheek. John would never want her now anyway. She was ashamed of the way she looked and would look going forward. She decided once she got Savannah back, if she could, that she herself wouldn't return. She put her fresh shirt on and went on another sweep as the tears silently streamed down her face.

She knew she would never let John see her 'look' like this. She couldn't face the rejection that would be sure to follow. Nobody wanted 'damaged goods'.

Tranquility

Everyone would like to live
Life in joy and harmony
Instead some grow cold
They seek out an armory

Most try to avoid strife
To find some contentment
Others may be filled with
Pain, anger and resentment

Everything works smoothly
When it flows with equanimity
Or seclusion with anonymity
It may even turn into a calamity

Don't let the sky turn black
When there can be serenity
There is no need to turn everything
Into some type of obscenity

Cast out the inner demons
Control the simmering hostility
There is still much possibility
When one will embrace tranquility

Nobody