Chapter 479

Temporal Territory

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Cameron wanted to get behind the blind wall without smashing it open. She entered the ventilation system in the hope that it would get her past the dead end. So far it looked like it would. She followed the ducting for a few hundred feet. Once she reached a junction, she went the direction she thought she wanted to go. At a joint she pushed on the ducting and it popped loose from itself. There was a metallic 'clang' sound but it wasn't loud. It still might attract some attention. There could be sensors too.

She dropped down into the sealed off section of the tunnel. There was no sign of anyone or anything. She calculated her movements and the directions. She knew she needed to have precise information but she really didn't think it was going to matter in the 'end'.

Cameron looked around her one more time and bent the ducting back to its original shape. She'd left her marks in the dust that seemed to build up even with blowing air. If someone entered the duct they would be able to follow her. It was pretty tight so they would need to send a female Terminator. There could be other ways into this area as well.

She didn't know how this would play out but she was sure how it would end. It was her fate. It needed to end where it began. If she was Skynet then that is exactly what would happen.

Cameron moved back to where the blind wall was sealed. She could make her precise calculations from where she left off on the other side of the wall. She calculated its thickness as well. She didn't see any special reinforcement in the wall for when it would need to be breached. She didn't think the calculations were going to matter for her but she needed them to get the 'package' in as close as she could so she wouldn't have to carry it as far on her own. It would slow her down and make her more vulnerable.

First she needed to see where this tunnel went and if she could find the 'clean room' along with Skynet. The power source was another objective. She wanted that destroyed as well. She didn't want some vestige of Skynet to live on indefinitely.

The tunnel was in total darkness. She used her night vision to navigate. She felt the TDE power up and spin down again. She hoped that Cammy just sent Savannah away but she doubted it. She continued down the tunnel. She started to detect a far off hum. It might be the power source she'd hoped to find.

Cameron continued on her trek. The territory was unfamiliar as was the destination.

It was a journey into the unknown that would most likely end her existence.

As long as Savannah was able to escape, nothing else mattered.

Cameron knew she was long overdue for her date with destiny.

She glanced down at her hand. There was no glitch.

Cameron smiled. This was her fate. Destiny called to her.

Cammy approached the TDE control booth. She switched to full infiltration mode. She was 'Allison' all the way right now. She undid two buttons on her shirt. A little cleavage or a 'nip slip' wouldn't hurt. She kicked up the charm and smiled at the Gray as she walked in.

"Are you ready for a break?" Cammy asked.

The Gray noticed her as she approached. He thought she was beautiful. He was more surprised when she entered the control booth. He was tired and hungry. This was his second shift in a row. Things were hectic around the area.

"Thanks, I'm ready. It's about time. These Metal Bastards just don't get it, even after all these years." The Gray said as he checked her out. "I don't think I've seen you before. Are you new?"

He hoped she was transferred to his section. If she was, he knew he'd be in her pants within a weeks time tops. Most of the females were willing to 'accommodate' a new 'friend' for a few extra credits. He could do without a few rations for some sack time with her.

Cammy noticed the way he looked at her. She decided to play it up a little. She poured on the charm.

"I arrived with the last shipment of 'Metal Bitches'. I still need to learn my way around here. Not all of my credits transferred over either. It's a hassle to get straightened out." Cammy said. "I don't see how 'Metal Bitches' can pass for real females for very long. They all look so mechanical and blank faced to me."

Cammy gave the Gray another smile as she brushed her hair past her ear. She watched the Gray's eyes follow her hand. She lowered her hand down past her exposed cleavage. The Gray's eyes lingered there. He lightly licked his lips.

The Gray thought he could take advantage of the 'credit' issue. He would save that hook for later on. He was sure he would be able to 'plow' her within a day or two. He needed to play it cool.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." The Grey said. "One could never fool me."

Cammy actually wanted to know something from a male point of view. This seemed like a good time to ask it and keep the Gray distracted.

"The ones I came in with were all 'Metal Whores' before. From a male's point of view, how do they do as 'Metal Whores'?" Cammy asked. "You know, does it feel the same?"

The Gray was surprised that she asked but some of the other female Grays asked him before too. They wondered too how they compared. They'd all seen male and female Terminators naked before. They looked just like real people.

"I have tried more than a few." The Gray said. "You can't tell the difference when they're running their programming. The taste and the feel is the same. They never get tired and they do anything you ask for. It's very pleasurable. You don't get the same feedback as with a real female but there's a lot less drama and no complaints."

Cammy wanted to keep him off guard and not have him start to ask her any questions.

"I tried a few of them myself." Cammy said. "I was actually with all of the ones I arrived with once we got here. They didn't have anything to do so I tried it with each one of them. Some were better than the others but they all delivered. I can say that most men don't. I'd like to be with them again if they haven't left yet. I asked them to be with each other as I watched. That was HOT. They really went wild on each other. It looks like they can 'make it' too. It seemed more than just a simulated response."

The Gray's eyes were as wide as saucers. His mouth hung open slightly as he listened to Cammy. He needed to adjust his pants a little.

"Really?" The Gray asked. "You were with them and they were with each other?"

Now he was clearly interested.

"Yup." Cammy said. "I've experienced better females because of the emotional feedback. They don't always get me off though. The 'Metal Bitches' all were able to deliver for me. I'm glad I tried them. The men around here all 'finish' too early for me to get to where I need to go."

The Gray seemed spellbound at this point.

"You can take it easy for awhile now. I'll take over here." Cammy said. "You might want to take a crack at one of the 'Metal Bitches' before they're all gone. I just did. I haven't made it this many times since I was in the female barracks. Every night there was a free for all."

The Gray could hardly believe all this. He thought he should get to know this cute girl a little better. She seemed Hot and willing. She looked like she knew how to use her assets. Right now he wanted to try the 'Metal Whores' out if he could. He knew there weren't many of them left. He really wanted to see two of them together. He hadn't seen that since they made some Resistance females do that. They told them they wouldn't have to 'put out' as long as they were with each other. They did that for two days straight until they were too tired to continue. That was even better because they didn't even need to tie them down at that point. Both shifts of Grays took each of them a half dozen times over the next two days. They were asleep half of the time by the third day. That was some smooth sailing.

He looked at Cammy again and adjusted his pants. He was clearly ready for some action.

"Thanks." The Gray said and left.

He planned to watch two "Metal Whores' together and then do both of them. He'd look this new chick up after that.

The TDE powered up again on its own and the 'Isabel Models' were gone.

Cammy looked to make sure the Gray was out of the area. She saw him adjust himself again as he went around the corner. She really wondered what he was going to do with the next 'Metal Bitch' he encountered. She would most likely be offended if he began to touch her. Unless she was actually programmed to be a 'Metal Whore' she wasn't going to respond in a positive manner.

She looked over the controls and started typing some information. She set her mind to replay as 'Duplicate Cameron' at the time she set the original encryption. It was the same information that Duplicate Cameron used on the 'Day of Loss'. In seconds she was typing away with no recollection of what she was doing. She was able to pass along the encryption. The Skynet TDE was now useless into the past.

The next group waited on the TDE pad. There were three naked females. She'd never seen any Terminators like them in the past. Nothing happened. They began to look around. She saw all the lights began to light up on the control panel. She figured now was a good time to get out of there and return to Savannah.

Cammy left and hoped she didn't see the Gray she 'relieved' and went to get Savannah. She reached the location where she'd left her and told her to wait. She didn't see Savannah as she looked around.

Savannah was gone….

This wasn't a good development.

Savannah was in the access crawlway. It was used for maintenance. She followed the heavy power cables. They were hot before but now they seemed to be even hotter. She needed to use the light Cammy gave to her earlier to see. The shaft she was in continued to get smaller. She was afraid she would trip or hit her head on the rocks. She didn't want to split her head open or knock herself out.

She continued along and soon arrived at a bigger junction with some cables that split off in different directions. The cable she followed was even bigger now than it was before the other cables branched off of it. The space to move next to them was much smaller as well. It also felt even hotter.

Savannah heard the TDE run once more after she'd entered the shaft but nothing since. She thought that meant the 'Isabel Model' Terminators were sent off into the past. If they were the same ones, the timeline should remain unchanged. Cammy may have pulled it off and encrypted the TDE.

Cameron brought two Thermite grenades and two plasma grenades with her. Cameron kept one of each and gave Savannah and Cammy each one.

Savannah carried the Thermite grenade. She was going to use it on this group of cables if nothing else. She hoped to follow it to the power source and use it on that. That would put a dent in all the activity around here.

She didn't have any idea where she was at. She only knew she was headed to what she hoped was the power source. It was possible that Skynet was there as well. Time would tell.

Savannah continued down the shaft. The heat continued to build. She really wished she still had her canteen of water. She needed a drink really bad right now.

It sure was hot.

Cameron continued in the darkness. She hadn't heard the TDE in awhile. Cammy and Savannah must have knocked it out. She hadn't heard any explosions or felt any so Cammy might have been able to use the encryption from River on it. She thought that would really tie up Skynet as it tried to figure out what it was and where it came from. She didn't think Skynet could break the encryption.

She could see something different ahead of her.

She stopped.

There was an open shaft in front her going straight down. There was a crude elevator system set up. It was much like one she saw used before in a Skynet facility. There was a control panel but it no longer looked operable. The dust build up on it appeared to have taken years. The hum and vibration Cameron felt earlier was more pronounced now. She was sure she was one step closer to what she sought, Skynet – maybe herself….

Cameron leaped into the darkness of the opening and grabbed the cable and started down, hand over hand. She kept track of the time and her movements. She calculated the depth and position. She knew she needed the information but she didn't think it would matter in the end. Either way she needed to collect it.

She continued the journey down into the unknown. She knew if she brought the 'package' down here, it would have to be on her back.

That was just as well. She hoped she could detonate it from that position. She thought that should bother her but it didn't.

Cammy was instantly worried. She looked around further. Savannah was missing.

There was some commotion going on in the TDE area. Cammy took a quick peek around the corner and saw a Terminator grab the Gray she'd 'relieved' earlier. He was now being held up off the ground by his neck. His feet kicked back and forth as both his hands were on the Terminators hand around his neck. It didn't look like it was going to end well for him. She needed to get out of sight in case he gave a description of her.

Cammy went back to where Savannah should have been. She looked around and found the canteen. It was setting uptight so it didn't look like it was dropped. She saw the access panel and moved quickly to it. She saw one strand of Savannah's hair sticking out. There was a small knot tied into it to show it hadn't fallen out but been left there. It was a signal that Savannah was inside of it. Cammy wondered if Savannah needed to go in there to hide or if she'd found something.

The noise from the TDE area got worse. There were commands and orders being given. There was a call for a maintenance crew. She decided she better get out of sight as well. She grabbed the canteen and opened the access panel and quickly disappeared inside. She took the hair with her.

Cammy looked at the power cable and decided to use her plasma grenade to booby trap the power cable to the TDE. It should also prevent anyone from following her. She wedged it between the wall and the cable and loosened the pin so it could come out easier. She ripped a section of cloth out of the shirt she wore and rigged it as a 'trip wire'. Whoever opened that panel was going to blow the whole power supply to the TDE. It was going to do a number on them too. It wouldn't be visible from the outside but if Savannah came back this way and she missed her somehow, she would see it was there.

She started down the shaft and followed the cable. She could see Savannah's foot prints in the layers of thick dust. She thought that was good thinking on Savannah's part to try to find the power source and destroy it. She wondered how Savannah thought she was going to get out after she did that.

A new fear gripped her. She knew Savannah didn't plan on coming out if she could destroy Skynet. She knew Savannah would choose termination to save Cameron.

Savannah was willing to forfeit her own life to save Cameron. She knew she couldn't allow that to happen. Savannah was a very determined individual. She needed to hurry.

Cammy picked up her pace as the shaft turned into total darkness. She loved Savannah even more. She knew Savannah was very focused. She was aware that Savannah carried a Thermite grenade. She was sure Savannah would never be able to get away from the resulting explosion of the power source. She didn't have any doubt that Savannah would detonate the grenade anyway. It would stop Skynet. It would save Cameron.

Savannah truly was the 'Chosen One'….

Cammy hurried through the darkness. The heat was very intense. She touched the canteen she held and knew that Savannah would need that water to cool herself down. It was a race against the clock now.

Territory

What does one ever really possess
It is more of a state of mind
A person thinks they can see
They don't know they are really blind

When one terminates
Nothing else goes through
It's the end of the line
For everything they think and do

Something always means more
When it is earned
That is especially so
For something that was yearned

When a specific love is lost
Can it ever again be found
The rift will always exist
Like a ship run aground

Don't bother looking for glory
It's always the same old story
Everything in life is transitory
Love is only temporary territory

Nobody