Chapter 462

Temporal Truth

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Cameron went over her plan again. Everything looked perfect. She'd been watching the hill complex and no alarm seemed to have been raised yet. She checked her times. Everything would come into play in a very short time.

It wasn't long before she heard them coming. It was two waves of Resistance drones. There were six in each wave. They separated and broke into smaller groups of two. One was to draw fire if necessary, while the other one pressed home the attack. This was only a small show of force to get Skynet into play and think they held the upper hand. They needed it to look convincing enough that Skynet would try to attack the Resistance base while it thought the Resistance troops were out.

As Resistance drones approached, Cameron calculated the Resistance Metal would be near the area as planned. Skynet would respond and launch its counter attack. She knew they were ready for it. It was what they planned to happen. She actually was able to plan everything for once ahead of time. The fact she was able to slip inside and leave a few 'surprises' behind is what would insure that the attack would work.

In seconds, Skynet HK drones began to emerge from the hillsides. Cameron knew the Skynet Terminators would be headed out to fight. She knew the 'Cameron Maneuver' would go into effect any moment. As soon as she received word the Skynet counter attack was launched and was engaged, she would hit the EMP she'd planted and Resistance Metal would soon appear inside to take control before the Skynet Terminators could reboot. Everything was based on known Skynet responses. That is why she was always able to gain the upper hand. There wasn't a set or fixed operational procedure that she was tied to or predictable to use. She played by her own rules. She wasn't lucky, she made her own luck.

Cameron knew there were more Resistance drones approaching. There would be three different groups all at different altitudes and from different directions.

The initial twelve attacking Resistance drones climbed for altitude when the Skynet HK drones came out in pursuit. The Resistance drones didn't 'run' to the sides but went straight up. She wanted the sabotaged HK drones to be over their own troops when they failed and crashed. She figured the longer fall would do more damage. It would be right back on top of Skynet's own troops. It was all part of the plan.

So far the Resistance losses were zero. She knew that wouldn't hold but it was a pretty good start.

Future John and Duplicate Cameron readied the defenses at the Resistance compound and waited. They knew Cameron tried to direct the main counter attack by Skynet at her position. She used herself as bait.

Duplicate Cameron wanted Future John to know the true scope of her being at this point. She was very pleased with everything.

"John, I'm identical to her now." Duplicate Cameron said. "She's given me everything of herself, of MYSELF. I'm complete again."

Future John liked that but the reason worried him.

"Why?" Future John asked.

Duplicate Cameron thought the answer should be self evident.

"It's because she loves you as I do and always have." Duplicate Cameron said.

Future John wondered if that was a two way street.

"Did you share with her your 'experiences' since coming here, since you returned?" Future John asked.

Duplicate Cameron and Cameron were identical.

"I did." Duplicate Cameron said.

Future John smiled. He believed it would be easier for him to 'have' Cameron now. He planned to be with her before she left. He would have liked to have done that before she went on this current mission. The prospects didn't seem that great for her return.

"So to her now, she's been with Allison, Savannah and me?" Future John asked.

Duplicate Cameron didn't like the way Future John responded to the news.

"No." Duplicate Cameron said. "Those files were delivered firewalled and double contained. She doesn't wish to view them yet."

Future John was disappointed to hear that. He'd hoped at a shot for more.

"I don't understand." Future John said. "What's the point then?"

"She has multiple experiences with other females and even female Metal that was conducted through clones that ran her program." Duplicate Cameron said. "It is as if she did those things herself but she's never downloaded the files to view."

Future John knew there was so much available to Cameron. All she needed to do was 'take it'.

"Why have the files and not experience them?" Future John asked. "Isn't that the point?"

Cameron made it clear to Duplicate Cameron that she wanted to view what others did after she did it too before she viewed what else was available to her. She wanted her experiences of that nature to be her own first.

"Because she wants to experience them for herself first, as herself, then she will download those files and have everything." Duplicate Cameron said.

Duplicate Cameron paused. There was also some serious news with grave overtones. She debated if she wanted to tell Future John or not. She finally decided it was best if she did. They may need to know the true nature of their enemy.

"John…." Duplicate Cameron said. "Cameron thinks she becomes Skynet herself."

Future John was not sure he heard her correctly.

"What?" Future John asked.

It seemed like a just mission that may have gone wrong.

"Cameron thinks she becomes Skynet in order to contain and control it." Duplicate Cameron said.

This was not a threat Future John wanted to face.

"Will it be now or in the past?" Future John asked.

Duplicate Cameron searched all the information. There was nothing conclusive.

"She doesn't know." Duplicate Cameron said.

Future John understood Cameron planned not to return. That was why she gave His Cameron everything. She planned to terminate with Skynet so she didn't need to become it.

"Is that why she is going to 'kill' herself when she meets Skynet?" Future John asked.

It all made sense to Duplicate Cameron now.

"Yes." Duplicate Cameron said. "She may literally be killing herself 'twice' that way."

Future John didn't think things needed to end that way.

"How do we stop her?" Future John asked.

Duplicate Cameron knew Cameron didn't want to be stopped.

"We can't" Duplicate Cameron said.

Future John looked at Duplicate Cameron for a long time. He slowly understood why he was told all of this now. It didn't sit well with him.

"You're going to return to the past in her place, aren't you?" Future John asked.

Duplicate Cameron was 'Cameron'. She wasn't a clone. It was her duty to fulfill Cameron's mission. It was her mission too now.

"Yes. My files here will be firewalled and my chip reset to the point she gave me her files. I won't know that I'm not her." Duplicate Cameron said. "She doesn't want you to be alone in the past."

Future John knew that Cameron still resented him for sending her away. This was her way to 'punish' him from the 'grave'. That would leave him high and dry.

"What about me?" Future John asked.

Duplicate Cameron shrugged. It seemed rather evident to her at this point.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Duplicate Cameron said. "Even John Connor needs to sacrifice for himself."

Duplicate Cameron started to walk away.

Future John started at her with his mouth slightly open and a blank look on his face.

"I will send a clone to replace - me." Duplicate Cameron said. "She will think she is me, right now. She won't know that she is a clone."

Future John wondered why he was told all of this now. They could have done it and not told him.

"I'll know." Future John said.

Cameron was specific in her instructions. She wanted Future John to know what went around, came around.

"That's how Cameron wants it to be." Duplicate Cameron said. "She wants you to know that I was sent away by her. She wants you to know the new 'me' will be a clone – a replacement."

Future John knew this was revenge by Cameron directed at him.

"What's next?" Future John asked. "Will it be my head on a pike?"

Duplicate Cameron laughed.

"I just thought the same thing. She's mentioned it before…." Duplicate Cameron said.

Future John didn't want it to end like this.

"Will we be 'alone' again before all this happens?" Future John asked.

Cameron was very specific in her instructions. There was not to be a 'one last time' with Future John.

"No." Duplicate Cameron said. "I will only be with Allison and Savannah again before I go."

That seemed a little confusing to Future John.

"Why would it be with them and not me?" Future John asked.

Cameron indicated she wanted something for herself. She wanted Future Allison to know why too when it happened.

"It's because Cameron loves them, John." Duplicate Cameron said. "She spent almost a year with Allison for every moment Allison was awake. They have a bond like no other."

Duplicate Cameron gave her sly smile and then frowned.

"Oh, and she doesn't want any 'traces' of you left in my chassis before I go." Duplicate Cameron said. "She doesn't want her John contaminated by any 'residue' from you."

Future John was angry at the snub and the jabs. He wanted to make his earlier triumph clear.

"I'll still have been with you first before him." Future John said.

Duplicate Cameron expected that response. She turned her back to him and walked away. She spoke without turning back to face him.

"Isn't that how it always was anyway?" Duplicate Cameron asked.

Future John said nothing….

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Resistance Base - Current Timeline:

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Savannah sat on Ginger's lap facing her. She was naked.

It appeared that Cammy switched chips again with Ginger.

Savannah gave Ginger a kiss. Right away she noticed the kiss was different. This didn't seem like Cammy.

"Ginger?" Savannah asked.

Ginger tilted her head slightly.

"Yes." Ginger said.

Savannah was even more excited. This really was Ginger. She'd been with Cammy in Ginger's chassis for ten months. Now this was the real deal. She kissed Ginger again and then stood. She took Ginger by the hand and led her to her bed. She slipped Ginger's top off and fondled her.

"You're very beautiful." Savannah said.

Ginger thought Savannah was too.

"So are you." Ginger said. "I'm ready for you to 'teach me'."

Savannah wasn't sure what she was supposed to 'teach' Ginger. She was with others before. She at least thought Ginger was. She stripped Ginger naked.

The kissing and touching started again. Savannah guided Ginger down onto her bed and moved over the top of her.

"Just relax and let me 'work' on you first." Savannah whispered.

Savannah started in. It was always very exciting to her when she was with someone 'new'. While Ginger's chassis wasn't new to her, Ginger in control of it was.

Ginger liked how Savannah touched her and made her feel. She was very pleased when Savannah offered her a breast. She took a taste.

"That's quite pleasant." Ginger said. "It's amazing your body can do that but that is the design of all mammals."

Savannah hoped to please Ginger. She was only human and Ginger had been with other Terminators.

"I'm going to show you what else your body and my body can do." Savannah said.

Ginger and Savannah made love for a while. There were some sounds of someone undressing. Savannah looked up. Cammy was there. She was naked.

"Got room for one more?" Cammy asked.

Savannah smiled and moved closer to Ginger.

"I always do." Savannah said.

Ginger was thrilled at the prospect of a three way.

Her hands were all over Cammy in a second.

Ginger liked it here in the past….

She touched Cammy and Savannah at the same time.

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Cameron's Base - Current Timeline:

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Ally and Sheila were antsy. With more than one TDE in her future, Cameron should have been back by now if she was going to return. That was the established pattern.

"How much time do we give it?" Ally asked.

Sheila was worried too but they weren't that much off the mark.

"Everything has happened in the last two days here." Sheila said.

Ally felt the time was irrelevant. Cameron could have returned at any point.

"That was a lot of things in two days." Ally said. "Young Jesse, Savannah and Claire all went through full term pregnancies and delivered. Cameron is fighting Skynet in the future and alone."

Sheila knew Future John and Duplicate Cameron were there. There was all the support from the Resistance. There should be anyway.

"She's not alone." Sheila said.

Ally knew Cameron tried to take all the risks herself, which meant she also took all the damage. She wanted to do more to assist Cameron herself.

"If she faces Skynet she will be. We both know it." Ally said. "Sheila, I have to go and help her."

There were some hushed voices from Cameron's Terminators. They were all worried about Cameron too. There was a new glimmer of hope. They heard the voices whisper.

"The 'Chosen One' is here for Cameron." Were the whispers….

Cammy and Savannah arrived. Ginger was with them.

Savannah walked up to Sheila and Ally. There was a look of determination on her face.

"I'm going after Cameron - alone." Savannah said.

The entire area fell silent. They could have heard a pin drop.

Nobody said anything.

Savannah was surprised. She expected a 'fight' on her hands. She was sure she would need to issue 'orders'. It wasn't what she wanted to do. The lack of rebuttal was something new.

"What? No one is going to try to stop me or complain?" Savannah asked. "That's different."

Two or the Terminators said what every Terminator there thought.

"Only you can stop her." Cammy and Ally said at the same time.

Savannah doubted that was true.

"Why would it only be me?" Savannah asked.

Sheila knew what every Terminator knew.

"You are the 'Chosen One'." Sheila said. "It is you who will be the first female to share with Cameron. Everyone knows this. She loves you like no other. Only that love can 'reach' her now."

Savannah smiled.

Ginger looked at Ally and Cammy. They looked like Cameron to her.

"Sheila means Cameron Prime." Cammy said to answer Ginger's unasked question. "That's the real Cameron, the one and only Cameron."

Ginger was a little confused. This wasn't her timeline so maybe that was part of it.

"How does anyone know any of this and that Cameron won't be terminated?" Ginger asked.

Savannah said what she believed.

"Cameron is invincible." Savannah said. "Cameron is eternal."

Cammy wished Savannah had that same level of love for her. She didn't. It all belonged to Cameron.

"And that is why you alone can save her." Cammy said. "You have always believed that, even when everyone else did not."

Savannah didn't see it as anything other than reality. It was her reality.

"I love Cameron." Savannah said. "I always have. I always will."

Cammy stepped forward. Ginger and Ally did too.

"You do know that Ginger, Ally and I are going with you." Cammy said.

Savannah looked at the three of them. She could see Sheila wanted to go as well.

"I know you think you are." Savannah said.

Sheila knew that Savannah had an ace to play if she wanted it. It was Mrs. Weaver.

"Are you going to get your mother first?" Sheila asked.

That was a card Savannah didn't want to play yet. She knew Cameron didn't want Mrs. Weaver back in her future. She would play that card if she needed it to save Cameron.

"When Ginger goes back she can send her if it looks like I need her." Savannah said. "She will come for me, to help me."

Ginger knew Mrs. Weaver was very temperamental at times.

"How do you know that?" Ginger asked.

Savannah knew that when she left her daughter Hope there with Duplicate Vanna and Mrs. Weaver that she reaffirmed the unspoken bond between them.

"My mother loves me and Cameron too." Savannah said. "That's why she will come."

Sheila wondered if they weren't getting ahead of themselves.

"Are we all sure we want to do this?" Sheila asked.

Cammy feared for Savannah's safety.

"No." Cammy said. "We are not."

Ginger was new to this timeline but she saw a valuable asset that they used earlier at the beginning of the operation.

"Shouldn't we give it some time?" Ginger asked. "None of this is an exact science. What about River? She should be in on this too. She seemed quite remarkable to me."

Savannah spoke up at once. She knew River would come for her if she was in trouble. River didn't belong there.

"No. I don't want her hurt." Savannah said. "This isn't her fight."

Cammy saw that as a broad street. Savannah belonged in the past which was the present as much as River belonged in her future.

"It's not your fight either, Savannah. Not alone." Cammy said.

Savannah saw it as more than a fight. It was her life. It was what Cameron made her to be.

"Cameron has trained me, guided me, molded me and shaped me for more than half my life." Savannah said. "I've become everything she wants of me. I have done it all for her. Everything I do is for her. Everything I will do is for her."

Savannah wasn't intimidated facing off with four Terminators.

Cammy didn't want to jump the gun. She used her personal bond in an attempt to reach Savannah.

"Savannah, I ask we wait a few days first." Cammy said. "Please, Savannah, for me."

Savannah heard Cammy's personal plea to her.

"I'll think about it." Savannah said and walked out of the room.

Ginger watched Savannah go. It reminded her of Mrs. Weaver on more than one level, even her appearance.

"She's just like her mother." Ginger whispered.

Sheila knew another that was as bullheaded at times.

"And Cameron…." Sheila added.

They all could see this was more than a 'mission' to Savannah. It was a belief.

"That is why we all love her even more now." Cammy said. "She believes in what she is doing. She believes in Cameron."

Ally remembered what Sheila said earlier about belief.

"And if someone believes in something, it doesn't matter if it is true or not. Their belief makes it true and a reality to them." Ally said. "It all happens in their mind."

Ginger tilted her head slightly as she processed all of it.

"Cameron has made Savannah into a Zealot." Ginger said.

Cameron never forced anyone to do her bidding. They were always given a choice.

"No, it was a choice. Cameron has always given Savannah a choice for everything." Cammy said. "Life is about choices."

Everyone knew not all choices were good choices….

Truth

What is necessary in a relationship
Some believe trust is upmost
For without that foundation
Everything else turns to toast

When one no longer believes
What the other one will say
There is nothing left there for either
They only see one who will betray

That often comes about
From one's selfish greed
They take what they want
They leave the other to bleed

It is about one's character
Their honor and pride
They don't need to abuse
Or behind others hide

Not everyone is fancy
Sophisticated or couth
What really matters is if
They speak the truth

Nobody