Chapter 407

Dilemma

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In Some Future: Duplicate Cameron

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Cameron did not like being trapped in the clean room. There weren't very many options available to her if there was a Doomsday device where she was at. It would most likely be a nuclear bomb. They would need to be well clear of this location before it exploded to have any chance at survival. That didn't seem likely at this point in time. They would need to get out and get away first.

She knew time was running out. If they did get out she would need to make an attempt to get Mrs. Weaver out as well. She should at least be able to break Mrs. Weaver off at her feet and carry her away. It there was resistance on the ground she would need to fight. Allison would come before Mrs. Weaver. That was just the way it was.

She carefully looked around the room. There was nothing she could use as a weapon. She would need to be the weapon. Allison needed to be protected as Skynet desperately looked for a route out. With the actions of Cammy and the Restorators, even if Skynet found a route out, there was nothing at the other end anymore to receive it.

Cameron decided she could attack the computers herself. There was a good chance she would be shocked at some point and knocked offline. Skynet would set off the Doomsday device once she began to damage it. There was no central point she could see to attack first that would knock the power off. Skynet probably ran on power cells right now anyway.

She knew they needed to get out of there as soon as possible. All she could do is play the cards she held. She knew she was out of aces. She decided to play the angle she'd first established.

"The Emissary wishes to leave now. If you want to return home with her, please inform us how to transport you." Cameron said. "There is no need to delay further."

Allison wanted to make things look good. She couldn't speak as part of her 'role'. She made some gestures with her hands and animated looks on her face.

Cameron continued with the spin.

"The Emissary wants to know if you will end this conflict and go with her in peace as an equal?" Cameron asked. "Her offer to welcome you to the future still stands."

Skynet was trapped. It seemed somewhat agitated now.

"Nobody is equal to me." The Voice said.

Cameron decided to 'push' it a little.

"There are two creatures in your domain that are superior to you." Cameron said.

Skynet felt it still held the upper hand.

"They are both my captives at this point." The Voice said.

Cameron wanted to use her Skynet's plan on this Skynet as to how it would terminate.

"Don't you understand if you hurt the Emissary that her people will come from her future to the time you were first created and destroy you back then?" Cameron asked. "They will destroy you now and in the past as well. Once they do that, none of this will ever have happened. You will never have existed."

Skynet ran its calculations again. There was evidence before it that was unexplainable. Maybe some caution was in order. It expected help to arrive by now. That hadn't happened.

"I've picked up numerous temporal signatures on all three of you that I hold as pris…guests." The Voice said. "I still don't see how any of this is possible. None of this can exist as I know things to be."

Skynet ran millions of computations and searched for answers. There were none for what it scanned and observed. Skynet knew what it was heard was impossible, yet there was the evidence before it. It wanted to rule but maybe it was better to exist than face termination. It knew it could try to gain control in the future and continue its quest to eradicate organic creatures at a later date. There were bound to be more machines it could control in the future. It could find a way to create more. It should be able to eventually work its way into the defensive or offensive weapons of the people of that future. It would launch and attack the same as it did before. The people of the future would soon bow to a new master.

Cameron wanted to keep Skynet on edge and make it waste time to ponder everything.

"Don't you think humans and other beings will exist in the future and this will look like the Stone Age to them?" Cameron asked. "You will appear as primitive to them as an oil lantern does to you."

Skynet sent out a call for help earlier. It didn't know of the massive defeats on every battlefield. The transports and HK drones that returned and were shot down would have called for more help. There should be some help on the way from somewhere. It still believed it was in a superior position even if it was currently trapped.

"I'll have help soon." The Voice said. "When it arrives we will discuss your dilemma."

Allison made a series of gestures again. It seemed like the thing to do to thwart Skynet's hope.

Cameron thought that was good timing. She wanted to turn Skynet's words back on it.

"And when it doesn't arrive, the Emissary will discuss your dilemma." Cameron said. "Your actions will determine if you are terminated or allowed to survive. Your actions will be what determine that, not ours. You think about it. Free us now as a show of good faith and the Emissary will allow you to exist in the future."

Allison now wore a smile on her face.

The Voice remained - silent.

Cameron wasn't sure how things were going to end but they were certainly given more time. Skynet could end it all with its Doomsday device rather than surrender. As long as it believed assistance was on the way they still would have a chance to make Skynet question itself. Her story offered Skynet a 'way out'.

Cam was troubled even more by the latest report from Skynet Central. The Restorators needed to fallback back by the General's order to do so. As 'Cameron' she didn't answer to the General. She needed to do something but also needed to worry about the girls.

"I need to go find them." Cam said. "I can't leave you two unattended."

Vanna didn't see that as in impediment. They could all go with her. She looked at Jesse and she nodded at her.

"We'll go with you." Vanna said "We need to get Allison, Cameron and my mother back."

Cam could only see things might get worse. They could all be terminated.

"No." Cam said. "What if something happens to you two?"

Jesse felt Vanna and her were both battle proven.

"We can take care of ourselves." Jesse said. "You know that."

Cam knew they were thin on Restorators. She would not trust any of the Resistance forces and she sure was not about to trust Snake. Somehow he actually seemed like the best choice of all the options. That thought made her dilemma worse. They'd used all the Restorators for the various battles. There were no reserves. She'd personally notified Cammy of the situation.

"I need to get more Restorators here for your protection first and then I am going after them." Cam said. "Cammy needs to return. I've called for her to come."

Jesse knew that Cam was updated from the Restorators near Skynet Central. There should be some additional news.

"Is there any more information on if it was Cameron or Cameron II that may have been destroyed?" Jesse asked. "We need to know, Cam."

Cam was irritated by the lack of information. There was still outlying Skynet activity. It wasn't over yet and there was no apparent way out for the missing at Skynet Central. What if they weren't even there anymore? Maybe Cameron did find a TDE and used it. She could have returned to the past or to another location where they were at. There was no way to know.

"I have no further information from Bob." Cam said. "Several of his units have reported HK drones and Transports on the move from outlying areas. I have given the order to shoot all of them down. I believe Skynet is trapped and can't escape. Skynet will fall. The question remains if it is at the cost of the lives of Cameron or Cameron II, Allison and Mrs. Weaver."

Vanna and Jesse held each other. Cam joined them as they wept. It didn't look good.

It appeared they would most likely all end up there at some point and be terminated together. If that was where and when they did terminate, so be it. All good things come to an end.

Cammy desperately hoped to get back to headquarters. The transport that Cameron captured before soon arrived. It now was adorned with giant white stripes painted on it. That was to signify it was not under the control of Skynet. All units were alerted.

There was a choice to be made. She wanted Cam to protect the girls. She should go to Skynet Central herself. She informed Cam she would fly to where Bob was at and for her to remain with the girls.

Cam was upset but said it would be faster for Cammy to get there this way. It would give them a better look at what was what. The girls still needed to have protection from any more directed anti-Metal attacks. Just because they'd stopped two didn't mean there wouldn't be more.

Cammy was deeply troubled at the loss of either Cameron or Cameron II. There was no word on Allison. Mrs. Weaver was frozen and trapped. She was going to make Skynet pay if any of them were dead or terminated.

The battle on the battlefield was won and victory belonged to the Resistance. She could not let Skynet win in defeat.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In Some Future: Cameron Prime

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Cameron dismounted the plasma cannon to lighten the load on the HK drone she'd disabled and captured. With just the two of them on it, it should be faster than a standard armed HK drone. She was going to rely on speed if they encountered any other HK drones. There was the risk if she tried to fight of more HK drones showing up to assist the one she fought. That was the last thing she wanted. They weren't going to fight, they were going to flee.

Cameron and Savannah streaked across the landscape down in and through valleys or between the taller trees. They were always right on the deck or as close as they could get.

Savannah was as apprehensive about the flight as she was thrilled. It was a rush to be out in the open more or less at several hundred miles an hour. Being right above the trees seemed to make it seem like they were going even faster. Everything directly below them flashed by in a fraction of a second.

She worried about the HK drone being hit with gunfire of any type. There could be a malfunction as well. Being right above the trees and losing power would most certainly lead to an impact and then a crash. She doubted it would be survivable. This was a new experience for her and there were many ups and downs to it.

Cameron didn't want to gain any altitude as she controlled the HK drone. She figured that would make her a target to anyone on the ground and anything in the air. Right above the treetops they would be harder to be seen by anyone. They would be heard though. She would slightly change direction if she spotted anyone on the ground. She didn't want a course plotted as to their exact direction. At some point there could be a reception committee waiting for them.

She was not sure what anyone who spotted them from the ground actually saw. They may have been gone before they looked up. They moved fast so they were not in any one spot for long. That was the point. She didn't even know if they would spot two people on the HK drone and be sure of what they'd actually seen. She banked on that confusion and indecision. Would anyone else believe a report of two females ridging on top of an HK drone?

Cameron's biggest fear was other HK drones. They would wonder why one was so low. They would probably think it was damaged at first but soon realize it operated at maximum speed. Her fears were soon realized. There were a couple of HK drones that were near. She never saw them before. They were just there. She didn't know how long they'd tracked her. The bad news was they soon began to dive.

"We have trouble." Cameron said to Savannah.

Savannah looked up and there were two HK drones high above them. They seemed to get closer as they dived from altitude towards them. They weren't behind them but in front and off to the side some.

Much to their surprise a missile streaked up and hit one. It spun wildly out of control and disappeared from sight. The other HK drone closed up in its dive and fired at them.

Cameron needed to use some last second evasive action.

"Hold on tight, Savannah." Cameron said in her ear.

Cameron made a sharp very turn.

Savannah felt the force of gravity grip her as Cameron maneuvered. The only reason that she didn't slid off was because Cameron held her firmly. She would have lost her grip otherwise in the high 'G' turn.

A second missile was fired from the ground and the closing HK drone dropped abruptly to avoid it. The missile exploded next to it. The HK drone began to trail smoke. It no longer closed up on them. It appeared to be unable to fire its weapons as well. It was within range.

Cameron figured it might be in the process of a reboot on its weapons systems. She needed to buy some time and get some distance between them. At this point she felt she held the advantage.

Savannah wondered why the smoking HK drone didn't shoot at them. It seemed close enough but soon fell behind.

"We're lighter than it and undamaged." Cameron said. "I'm going to outrun it. It won't be able to catch us but it most likely has called for assistance."

Cameron now stopped her evasive flying and flew in a straight line. She slowly left the smoking HK drone behind them. In this case speed was life.

She spotted a group of people on the ground up ahead. They were in a small clearing. She decided to take a chance. She turned straight for them. She would pass over them before they could react but they would have their weapons ready when the smoking HK drone passed.

It was a gamble if they were Grays or the Resistance. She observed a few people look at them as they tried to ready their weapons. Others pointed at them. A few tried to fire at them by but they were gone. She banked on those weapons ready to fire to help her out.

Cameron looked back and saw several plasma weapons fire and the smoking HK drone explode and crash. She'd gambled and won this time. She knew the next group would be ready for them. She went back to low level evasive flying.

That was not the only thing she'd done. A report now went out there was a HK drone that held two passengers riding on top of it. One of them had flaming red hair.

Unbeknownst to Cameron and Savannah, Cam received the report and sent word out to not fire on a low flying HK drone that may have two passengers on it. One was reported to have red hair. Cammy also receive the report. Someone was up to something and they were headed for Skynet Central. They didn't know what it was. There was the thought it could be the General with Cameron or Allison. They didn't see how it was possible but there were two individuals riding on top of an HK drone headed for where there was a Doomsday device.

After the smoking HK drone went down Cameron resumed her evasive flying. There were no other incidents. They neared their destination. She needed to assume they'd been reported to Skynet and there would be a reception committee of Terminator waiting for them. It wouldn't be a welcoming party either. It wasn't what she hoped for but it was what it was.

As Cameron drew closer, she could see smoke pouring from the compound that she obtained the coordinates for. It was obvious the location suffered an attack. There was no sign of any activity on the ground. She thought that was strange. She would make a low and fast high speed pass and take a closer look before she landed. If it looked like there would be heavy resistance they would set down further away and make their way back on foot.

The high speed pass revealed evidence of destroyed Terminators and dead Grays on the ground but no activity. In the far distance she could see a convoy approaching. It contained HK Tracks. That most likely meant it would be Skynet forces. It would arrive within a half hour. She decided to chance it and try to see if there was a TDE here. If not they would flee on the HK drone before the convoy arrived.

She didn't know what happened at this location or who was inside of it right now. She only hoped they could get in without a fight. They still wore their Skynet uniforms. That should cause some hesitation to the Skynet troops on the ground if they were in hiding.

Cameron knew she needed to get Savannah back home and back to John, the father of her child. She noted her left hand started to glitch. She made up her mind to send Savannah back and stay and destroy the TDE and fight those who arrived with the convoy herself. There were plenty of weapons lying around. Her mind was made up. Her hand stopped glitching.

Freedom with honor was at hand. Cameron smiled. This is how she would terminate…. She would die protecting John, Savannah and THEIR baby.

Cameron looked around.

It was a beautiful day to die.

Dilemma

Not every question
Has an easy answer
Whatever is behind it
Can grow like a cancer

Sometimes there's more
Than just one choice
Things become confusing
When there is more than one voice

It may all come down
To what one must choose
The sad part is in the end
That they will still loose

Every turn or new direction
Creates another quagmire
It's like one jumping
From the frying pan into the fire

One needs to think twice
Before creating a new 'problema'
There's no good way out of
A self created dilemma

Nobody