Chapter 444

Temporal Tragedies

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Bob heard the HK drones as they neared where he was at. He heard Holly fire a patterned volley of shots in the distance. That seemed like something Cameron would do. In seconds he saw the first HK drone. They were all heavily armed. It may even be a new generation of HK drones. They were very low to avoid detection by radar.

If Bob and Holly hadn't been there, Skynet would have taken the Connor camp by surprise. Skynet would have inflicted severe damage and maybe wiped the Resistance out. They would have wiped out the leadership anyway.

Bob could see there were dozens of HK drones. He needed to pick his shots carefully. They would be all over him in a few seconds once he opened up. He waited until the first wave passed over him and then open fire on five of them in quick succession from their rear.

The first HK drone he hit was the last one to pass over or near his position. His first shot scored on the port engine mount and blew that power plant off. The HK dropped on the side and went straight into the ground. It tumbled twice and rolled once.

Before the first HK drone hit the ground he'd fired twice more and scored two additional hits in the same way. The second HK drone tried to increase power on the remaining power plant and flipped over on its back in the opposite direction as the first one. It impacted the ground and caught fire.

The third HK drone attempted to turn back towards him once it was hit but entered into a tight spiral instead and impacted on the ground almost like an aircraft in a flat spin. It was relative undamaged but could not take back off.

The fourth HK drone erupted into a fireball and nosed over. It ended up in the trees. The fifth one was the furthest away. It exploded and showered flaming debris in all directions. That event seemed to cause more confusion among the remaining HK drones.

Each one was hit in the power plants. All five HK drones went down. By waiting until they passed by him, they couldn't bring their weapons to bear on him. That tactic was used up right now. The second wave was almost to his position.

He knew he needed to get away from where he was at quickly and did. He was now a target. The other HK drones would have his position zeroed. The surprise was lost.

There was a massive explosion behind him as he moved from that position. It appeared that at least two HK drones fired at where he was. One used a missile and one fired a plasma cannon.

By conducting their surveillance of the Connor compound Bob and Holly became an inadvertent LP, or listening post, for the Resistance camp. The HK drones flew low to try to avoid detection and this was the only way they could have been detected before they would have shown up at the Connor compound. The real question was, how many were there and where did they come from?

The HK drones were so low it actually limited their response. They were in too close to maneuver and get a good shot at them. That rapidly changed.

In a short while, Bob heard Holly open up and seven HK drones went down, again that seemed like Cameron's work. He couldn't see what happened but he could hear it. He moved up and fired at more HK drones. He knocked four more down. He moved rapidly from that second location as another massive explosion shattered the area where he'd just been. Some of the drones were armed with a large plasma cannon and not just a minigun and missiles. The first group of HK drones were past him now but three remained behind to search for him. Now, it was cat and mouse. He didn't like being the mouse.

The three HK drones gained more altitude so they could search over a wider area. It actually made them better targets as Bob could see them from any new position he took up. He needed to pick his next shots carefully.

Bob watched as the HK drones began to systematically attack any place anyone could hide. Two of them flew by the bunker he'd just appeared in from the past and both started to attack it. They attacked it from different sides. One HK drone used a plasma cannon while the other one used a missile and then a second one. The bunker took a lot of punishment before it was destroyed. That location was rubble. He sure hoped Sheila or Sally-Ally hadn't followed him. The remains of the bunker was now just collapsed and broken debris.

He was able to knock those two HK drones down as well when they passed by each other. He was able to concentrate his fire. The downside to that latest victory was now the third HK drone had him zeroed…. It didn't look good.

He sure hoped they got another 'Cameron' on line and operational in the past when he left. He didn't know what they were waiting for.

This was clearly not some probe or light strike. This was a annihilation mission. It appeared it was just starting. The sound of more HK drones seemed to increase. Some of them moved to a higher altitude. That would give the defenders at the Connor compound targets to engage further out now.

As soon as the HK drones were detected 'Cameron' took control of Holly. She knew Bob was fighting behind her. She knew she needed to protect Future John, the girls, Savannah and the babies. It was time to fight. The HK drones were here. There were a lot of them.

Holly-Cameron avoided the initial barrage that was aimed at her location after she knocked seven of the HK drones down. She still heard Bob carry on the fight behind her. She was able to pop up and bring five more HK drones down and then they were past her. Three remained behind to stalk her….

They'd inadvertently spoiled Skynet's surprise. There were crashed and burning HK drones all around her. The three HK drones slowly closed in around her. She watched them fire on any position someone could hide. They would have her zeroed in seconds at this rate. They formed onto a loose circle around where she was at. This tactic would allow two of them to pinpoint her location when she engaged the any one of them.

From the Connor compound Cameron observed the destruction going on in the near distance. It wasn't very far away. It would only be seconds before the HK drones arrived. There could be transports or a ground assault that followed along with them. That seemed most likely.

"There may be a ground assault coming in back of this HK drone attack." Future John said.

He thought the same thing as Cameron.

Cameron looked at both Duplicate Cameron and Future John. She wanted them to get away. She was the 'extra' one in this future. That fact made her expendable. She didn't want John to repeat the mistakes of the past either.

"If we survive the initial assault of the HK drones, I want both of you to get the girls and the children and get away from here." Cameron said. "I'll hold this position for as long as I can. Take all the non Metal and go. Remember there are to be no unnecessary human losses, John."

Duplicate Cameron could see Cameron would most like terminate here. That didn't seem fair to her. They were the same.

"What about you?" Duplicate Cameron asked. "I'll stay and fight with you if John will go."

Cameron didn't want to argue about this. She wanted everyone protected. What happened to her didn't matter.

"I'll buy you both time." Cameron said as she looked directly at Duplicate Cameron. "You must make sure MY children are safe no matter what, John and the girls too."

Duplicate Cameron and Future John could see the two infants were what meant the most to Cameron. She viewed them as her own children.

Future John couldn't help but wonder about Cameron's development since he'd sent her away into the past. She wasn't the same machine she was then. He'd watched her for the months she'd been there. She was superior in every way now. He sent her away to protect her and to help his younger self develop. He believed most of the development was on her part.

The HK drones were visible now. They were almost right on top of them. Some of them were at a higher altitude and they became the long range targets. That would thin the herd before their arrival.

"Here they come." Duplicate Cameron said.

It was time to fight.

Plasma weapons opened up from all over the camp. The HK drones dropped like flies. Some managed to score hits and a few screams could be heard in the camp.

The bottom line is they were not taken by surprise. Their defenses were all manned and responded. It turned into more of a 'turkey shoot'. The HK drones were in too low and too close to be able to maneuver well. The ones at higher altitude were even easier targets.

The defenders gained and held the upper hand as the battle progressed. That was all thanks to the 'Cameron' that was out there - fighting alone. That battle still raged in the distance. It was much closer now.

Bob managed to avoid a direct hit from the last HK drone that stalked him but took shrapnel hits. The smoldering HK drone he'd used for cover took a hit and pieces of it were blown off. His sheath was damaged in dozens of places. He moved again but the HK drone closed in on him. There was nowhere to go. He turned to fire. He would go down fighting, not running. He fired at the HK drone but before his first shot hit it, the HK drone exploded and crashed. That must have been a shot fired by Holly-Cameron. He was sure Cameron was in total control at this point.

Holly-Cameron knocked it down and saved him. She also made herself a bigger target for more HK drones.

She managed to knock down the three HK drones that stalked her and saw there was one still in Bob's area. She'd dodged but still took more than a few rounds from a minigun burst across her upper torso. A partial plasma burst hit her lower torso when it hit the ground between her legs as she flung herself backwards. She aimed a long shot at the HK drone near Bob and fired. She scored a hit. She saw it explode and crash. She hoped Bob was still functional. She was aware she'd sustained major sheath damage.

Holly-Cameron monitored the warnings going off in her HUD where she'd been damaged. She was mechanically functional but knew there were numerous damaged spots on her sheath. Metal was exposed, massive amounts of it. She wouldn't be able to use the TDE anytime soon. The plasma burns more than likely permanently damaged her sheath at this point.

'I'm sorry, Holly.' Cameron thought.

She'd damaged Holly's sheath and the damage was most likely permanent. The plasma burnt areas would never regenerate properly – if ever. She wanted to look at the damage but was physically unable to do so yet for some reason. It was as if she was programmed to prevent her to look at the damage to her sheath – Holly's sheath. She wondered what all was in play here.

'My program is copied onto your server as is your program.' Holly communicated back to Cameron. 'We may terminate here now but we will still live on. Stay in the fight. We must protect Future Allison, the children, Future John and the girls.'

'Everyone sacrifices for John Connor'. Was the same thought Cameron and Holly shared at the same time.

Holly-Cameron made one last search for Bob but didn't see him. She was afraid he'd been terminated. She headed for the Resistance compound. She feared there may be a ground assault. The base would need all the help they could get. The firing that came from the compound was intense. She could see the HK drones fall as she approached. There were a lot of them scattered about. It appeared the early warning paid off.

There were screams heard above the battle every now and then. It didn't look good. The battle was far from over. If there was a major ground assault the compound would most likely be overrun. Something needed to be done to keep the Skynet ground troops away from the Connor compound.

Bob managed to get to one of the first HK drones he'd downed. It appeared the large plasma cannon on it was still operational. The HK drone tried several times to take off but couldn't. He ripped out the control lines for the damaged engines and it stopped moving.

He wanted to get that plasma cannon ready in case another HK drone arrived or any transports showed up. He could do some major damage with the plasma cannon.

The plasma cannon was the only way he would be able to damage or knock down a transport. He would let any HK drones pass for the next wave and save the big blast of the cannon for the high value target.

Holly-Cameron decided the same thing. She needed a larger weapon. There seemed to be a selection of HK drones lying around her location. They were in various states of damage. It was clear none of them would fly again without repair. She could still provide better warning to the camp from out here. She too tried to get one of the plasma cannons on a downed HK drone operational. She knew if any transports came that she would need the heavy hitting power it could deliver. Transports were where the weapons fire would need to be directed.

She knew she needed to work fast as the next wave would arrive shortly. It was going to limit her mobility to need to fire from a fixed position. She would see if she could get more than one HK drone re-purposed for the next wave.

Holly-Cameron figured this was where she would be terminated. She intended to hold her ground.

'Everyone sacrifices for John Connor'. It was the same thought Cameron and Holly reminded each other.

Termination with honor was at hand.

Cameron, Duplicate Cameron and Future John all survived the initial assault. The damage to the compound was scattered but not widespread. It appeared the initial causality rate was low.

Cameron wanted Duplicate Cameron and John out of there.

"You two go." Cameron said. "I have this under control with the Resistance Terminators. Get all the humans away from this area. The assault is far from over."

John checked his command and communication network. It was still functional. There was some good news to report. His call for assistance was answered.

"There's Resistance air support on the way in the form of captured and modified HK drones." Future John said. "They won't be here for awhile. They're marked with our symbol, our insignia. Our Terminators will know which ones not to shoot at."

Future John started to pull his troops out and evacuate them. The humans all saw that the Terminators stayed at their posts and would fight as they retreated. They all understood the sacrifice that was about to take place. Anyone whoever doubted Future John before and his decision to have Resistance Terminators no long did at this point. They all saw that Cameron was the one that was now in charge of their defense and survival. Their Terminators would cover their retreat.

The Terminators all held firm as they saw Cameron stayed to lead them. She communicated with them and gave instructions. This was like the 'good old days' to some of the Terminators. Those who hadn't fought with Cameron before heard of her exploits. Now she was here to lead them again. They knew Cameron wasn't going anywhere and neither were they. They knew Cameron didn't back down. If this was their last stand, Cameron would be the last Terminator standing.

The Metal was ready and steady.

Duplicate Cameron and Future John got the humans organized and away. They both returned to where Cameron was at, much to her dismay. She needed them to leave now. This was going to get real ugly in the next few minutes.

Cameron looked directly at Duplicate Cameron. She repeated her earlier request.

"I'll hold this position with our Terminators. Get everyone out now." Cameron said. "You must make sure MY children are safe no matter what along with John and the girls too. There are the Duplicate girls 'in some future' and in River's future. Go get them for whichever John will need them…."

Duplicate Cameron felt guilty. This was her timeline now, not Cameron's.

"Cameron, you go with John. I'm the Duplicate." Duplicate Cameron said. "I'll stay. Your future is in the past."

Cameron saw it as a deeper issue at this point. Duplicate Cameron already established deep personal bonds with everyone there. The 'Natural Order' was a functioning reality here. That couldn't be disrupted. The 'Natural Order' could never be disrupted.

"No. You've mated with John and the girls. They need you. It's the 'Natural Order' now." Cameron said. "I will survive…."

Cameron recalled that was the name of one of the songs Summer liked to listen to. She could only hope she would survive.

Tragedies

Life is a series of events
Some of them work out well
Many of them do not pan out
Some become a living Hell

What is the deciding factor
It what will work and what will not
The same mistakes are repeated
When life's past lessons are forgot

It seems almost impossible
Yet it happens again everyday
One should watch another's actions
Not listen to the words they say

Every new day or person
Doesn't need to be a catastrophe
One needs to turn on their brain
To prevent they usual atrocity

It's time to grow up and think
Stop the needless casualties
Or it all starts over again
With the next set of tragedies

Nobody