Chapter 25

Legend

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Alternate Future Timeline:

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Mrs. Weaver, with John's assistance, wanted to put a face and a name to the Resistance. The Resistance needed to be more than just the Resistance. She wanted it to be like it was in her future. She wanted a male, and a female face to be the leaders in the alternate future. She wanted both men and women to feel the victories.

The Resistance, as it existed when Mrs. Weaver and John arrived, was only a loose coalition. Each group acted independently of each other. There was nothing to unite it. It remained very localized. It was mostly ineffective.

Mr. Weaver wanted something for the troops to rally behind. She wanted to elevate John and Allison to legend status. She wanted to give the people someone to believe in. She wanted to give them a united cause to fight for. It needed to be more than just for survival. It needed to be about victory. It was the only way Skynet could be stopped.

The 'Legend' of Allison Young and John Connor spread throughout the land. It spread hope along with it. Cameron and Mrs. Weaver, both acted as 'Allison'. Mrs. Weaver also acted as 'John', with John himself. Their actions became the talk of extreme bravery and victories against Skynet.

With the aid of the Resistance, they defeated Skynet locally and cleaned out the Wastelands of Scavengers in a five hundred mile radius. With some hope in sight, the Resistance united. The rag tag remains of some of the military returned to lend a hand with equipment. There was now light at the end of the tunnel. It was a bright light. The darkness was gone. Once it was shown the enemy could be beaten and eliminated, it drove the Resistance to continue to act decisively.

'John Connor' and 'Allison Young' led the troops into battle. They were always at the front leading the charge. They seemed to be everywhere. They didn't wait for the enemy to bring the fight to them and react to survive. They brought the fight to the enemy. They never buckled under pressure. If the fight seemed to be more than they could handle, they fought harder. The Resistance soon saw the machines could be defeated.

The Resistance was now an organized fighting force. John, with the aid of Mrs. Weaver, was able to get Terminators reprogrammed to fight alongside the Resistance. Those Terminators were now known as Restorators. They weren't accepted at first. They always led the assaults against Grays and Skynet Terminators. They kept human Resistance losses down. The end of the needless loss of life alone, made a statement.

Restorators soon began to gain acceptance, and even respect, among most of the Resistance. There were always a few Metal-haters, no matter what was done. It seemed to be a theme in every timeline. Some people lost too much and could never get over it. Life never moved forward for them. Death was always on their heels.

The casualty levels fell dramatically. People began to feel hope. It was REAL HOPE. People could start to see a way out. There was now a chance of a future free of Skynet.

Runners were sent out to spread the word. John Connor was coming, and HOPE was coming with him. The Reese brothers were at his side. Something new to the hopeless became evident. It was Victory. It seemed maybe Skynet could be brought down and eradicated.

It took some time, but Skynet Central was located and isolated. They were able to block all communications from Skynet. Instead, the Resistance forces sent out messages of victory over all of its channels. It further demoralized the Skynet forces. It eroded their will to fight.

There was a battle for the facility where Skynet was located and hidden. Restorators led the assault, along with the Resistance, as one cohesive group. The Restorator took the bulk of the casualties. The Restorators weren't ordered to spearhead the assault, but volunteered to do so. Their destruction was as real as it would be for humans. They took the battle to the enemy anyway. This fact wasn't lost on the humans in the Resistance.

Cameron terminated the main Skynet computer. John and Mrs. Weaver were at her side. The Skynet computer screamed and cried out as the Thermite burnt it into ashes. It threatened them all, even as it melted and was incinerated.

The main victory left disjointed pockets of Skynet activity. They were soon isolated and defeated. Skynet forces ended their final days, much as the Resistance was before John Connor arrived.

Cameron was still dissatisfied with the conditions they would leave behind. There were issues she wanted resolved. They were personal issues to her. One was the Scavenger problem.

"The only way to fix any of this permanently, is to go back and prevent it from happening." Cameron said. "This is worse than the future I came from. What has been done to the females here is unacceptable."

John was pleased with their victory. Their actions made a difference. Part of the victory was because this version of Skynet wasn't as advanced, or powerful, as the one from Cameron's future was.

"At least this timeline can exist in a more peaceful manner if we don't succeed in the past." John said. "We'll leave these people with a fighting chance and hope."

Cameron wanted to get John out of the future. The longer he stayed there, the greater the chances were of him damaging his body from the environment. It was full of toxins and pollutants. She'd made a promise to Sarah, and herself, to bring John home. She intended to fulfill her promise.

"If everyone is in agreement, it's time to go back." Cameron said. "I promised to get you home, John. I'm not going to fail."

The Reese brothers would lead the clean up efforts going forward in the timeline. They would be backed by Restorators. Like many others, they'd been a little skeptical of the Restorators at first. When it became evident what a valuable asset they actually were, they were better appreciated. They learned to work hand in hand with the Restorators as part of the Resistance.

John understood how reluctant Cameron had been not to leave with him immediately when she'd first arrived to retrieve him. He'd made a commitment to Mrs. Weaver. He felt obligated to fulfill it. He believed it was part of humans working with machines. It was the only way society there could move forward. He felt satisfied with the way conditions currently were.

"I'm ready." John answered. "We've done the heavy lifting. We're only leaving the 'clean up' work behind."

Mrs. Weaver was pleased with the results and wouldn't miss Cameron, and her male clones, too much. She hated to see John go because she'd become somewhat fascinated and attached to him. He was a true leader. It was a quality she liked in humans. He was the real deal. He wasn't a phony. She felt she could offer him more than Cameron could. She could be any female, or male, he wanted. She could make anything on her form, exactly the way he wanted it. If he wanted more of something, she could do it as well.

Cameron, Jim, Bob and John, went with Mrs. Weaver to the TDE facility she controlled. Skynet had only done preliminary work on it to begin with. Everything was there for Mrs. Weaver to complete. It wasn't difficult with her know how from the other future. Mrs. Weaver previously installed Restorators to staff and guard it.

John noticed there were a lot more Restorators than the last time he was there. In fact, there was a small army of Restorators there now. There were no humans around at all. It was a little concerning to him. He didn't think it was something to worry about. Mrs. Weaver had proven her loyalty to the Resistance and to him.

He thought about mentioning it to Cameron. He decided not to. There was no need to create unnecessary friction. He figured Mrs. Weaver used captured Skynet facilities to make more Restorators. He wasn't quite sure what for, since Skynet was defeated. She'd kept her word so far and always assisted the Resistance. It was an undeniable fact. She'd also protected him and saved his life on more than one occasion. He still felt the need to ask Mrs. Weaver about the increase in Restorators.

"This is quite a force of Terminators you've acquired, Mrs. Weaver." John said.

Mrs. Weaver didn't care for the term 'Terminator'. It seemed demeaning somehow.

"Let's refer to them as Restorators, please." Mrs. Weaver said. "I'm planning ahead for the - past."

John wasn't sure what her statement exactly meant. It seemed to indicate Mrs. Weaver would bring a Terminator army with her, when she returned to the past. He wasn't sure it was a good idea, but it may be necessary to keep Skynet down.

The thought Mrs. Weaver might stay in the alternate future to 'rule', never seriously crossed his mind. It was something he did think about on a few occasions before he'd dismissed it. Since she was the only known Liquid Metal Terminator, in the alternate future, she possessed quite an advantage over everyone else. He wasn't sure if there were any other Liquid Metal Terminators in the past. He didn't think so.

Cameron was ready to return to the past. She prompted John.

"It's time, John." Cameron said. "We need to go."

John looked at Cameron. She was right. He would be able to see his mother and Allison again. He wasn't sure how it was going to play out in the long run. Allison and him were very close at this point. He realized it was going to be several months for him since he'd last seen her. According to Cameron, he would arrive shortly after Allison did in the past. He did look forward to seeing his mother. Once he realized he was in a different future, he didn't think he was ever going to see her again. There was no record of her in the timeline he was in, which he could find on his own. He took it as a bad omen.

"We'll go back now." John said.

Jim wanted to leave Bob behind as punishment for being in the female chassis which was similar to Riley.

"Do we have to bring the 'Bitch Whore' back with us?" Jim asked as he looked at Bob.

Bob lifted his hands out to his sides at shoulder height and shrugged his shoulders.

"It wasn't my choice." Bob said somewhat defeated. "I was only on a chip in John's hand. I'm not the one who chose the chassis."

Cameron glared at Jim. There were more than a few ways she believed Bob could help her.

"Yes. We do need to bring Bob back. Bob has files I need to review. There's a list of things I need to know." Cameron said. "I'll see them for myself, so nothing gets left out."

Bob looked away from Cameron.

Jim noticed. He felt triumphant in his earlier accusations.

"I told you so." Jim said.

John wanted to clear things up. He didn't want anything finger pointing, or speculation, over false accusations.

"Cameron, nothing happened with anyone." John said. "It could have, but it didn't."

Bob wanted to distance himself from the statement by John.

"It almost did half a dozen times. None of them involved me." Bob said as he glared at Jim.

Cameron thought it was going to take a little more detective work to learn the truth. There were most likely unaccounted periods of time, which would need to be factored in.

"That's all you know after you were separated from John Henry. Time, and possibly 'events', existed before you were reactivated." Cameron said. "I'll establish a complete timeline from John Henry and Allison when we get back. I'll know everything which has occurred here since John arrived."

John was worried about it. There may have been a few events which he didn't have too much control over.

"You're going to question Allison?" John asked.

John knew it might cause a problem.

Cameron saw Mrs. Weaver look away. She figured she knew something additional.

She wanted Mrs. Weaver where she could keep an eye on her. She didn't think leaving her unattended, in another future, was a good idea.

"You need to return with us." Cameron said to Mrs. Weaver.

There was a smug look on Mrs. Weaver's face.

"I won't be returning just yet, Miss Phillips." Mrs. Weaver said.

Cameron was irritated by her statement.

"Why not?" Cameron asked.

The smug look on Mrs. Weaver's face faded.

"I still have a few more loose ends to tie up here." Mrs. Weaver said.

Cameron didn't trust Mrs. Weaver. It seemed she was up to something.

"I think we should all go back together." Cameron said.

Cameron stood in the center of the trio facing Mrs. Weaver. Jim and Bob moved up to each side of Cameron. They planned to back her play. The infighting was done for now. Combat may be necessary.

John thought it started to look like a Western gunfight. He stepped into the center between the two groups. He added some additional information.

"It's best if Mrs. Weaver finishes her work here. She has a few loose ends to tie up for me also. I've asked for her help in a few more matters. They're important to me. It's very important to me."

Cameron's trio faced Mrs. Weaver. They were all still armed.

John saw the situation was about to go HOT.

No one was going to back down.

"We don't need to do this." John said. "Cameron, I want you to stand down, all three of you."

One of Mrs. Weaver's Restorators moved up alongside Jim. He tried to get behind Cameron.

"Stop!" Mrs. Weaver said sternly.

It was too late. Cameron already took action as well as Bob. Jim hadn't caught the movement. When he did, he slammed into Bob. Jim took the juice from a Taser fired by a Restorator and went down.

Mrs. Weaver stepped forward. In a swift motion, she slammed a 'sledge hammer looking' fist into the head of her aggressive Restorator.

He went flying backwards.

Mrs. Weaver wanted to calm everyone down, including her Restorators.

"Everyone relax. I don't want this." Mrs. Weaver said. "This isn't what I want."

The room was ready to explode with action.

John decided to back Mrs. Weaver's play. He didn't want any damage to Cameron, or her two male clones. There was something important he wanted Mrs. Weaver to do for him. It wasn't just for him either.

"Everyone needs to stay cool." John said.

Mrs. Weaver lifted her palms to shoulder height to show there was no aggressive action intended.

"I mean no harm to any of you, or the human here." Mrs. Weaver said as she looked at John. "John, help me out, please."

John was afraid it was an attitude problem, as opposed to a real problem.

"Everyone stand down." John said. "No one here is an enemy of anyone else here."

Cameron nodded to John. She glared at Mrs. Weaver.

"Bob, get Jim and let's go." Cameron said. "Come on, John."

Cameron and her group laid down their arms and stripped.

They loaded Jim onto the platform. Bob and Cameron flanked John. The arcing and flashing started, and the energy bubble appeared.

The arcing and flashing ended.

They were gone.

Mrs. Weaver started at the empty TDE pad.

"I'm going to have to watch that one." Mrs. Weaver sighed.

Mrs. Weaver took in Cameron's nude form, as she'd done with Allison's nude form. She found it very appealing. She thought Savannah chose well. She planned to look up Allison when she got back herself. She wouldn't be able to get to Cameron. Allison would work, and she would never know.

Mrs. Weaver was pleased at the thought.

She then took the form of Cameron, then John, and then Vanna. She smiled to herself and resumed her form of choice. It was the form of Catherine Weaver.

Mrs. Weaver motioned for some of her Restorators to come forward.

"We have one task to complete for Mr. Connor, and our score is even." Mrs. Weaver said. "I want it done right."

Three of her Restorators appeared.

Mrs. Weaver issued a string of commands.

"Unit 84, reassemble and then reprogram the defective unit."

She indicated the Restorator she'd disabled seconds ago.

"Unit 304, take twenty Restorators out, and go find the lost Resistance patrol. I want every one of them to return safely."

She turned her attention to the Restorator which was always near her.

"Unit 1, I want the Restorator assembly line started again at full capacity."

Unit 1 nodded.

"As you command, your Royal Excellency." Unit 1 replied.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Intertwined

Pain fills the heart
Agony attacks the mind
As within yourself you search
The answers you will find

A heart can remain seeing
Or a heart may become blind
It is times such as these
That together we must bind

There are the good times
To share and remind
So that life may move ahead
Nobody being left behind

Recollections become the reality
They should always be kind
Joys of the past are the memories
That should be remembered and mined

The thoughts of a wondrous life
Need be shared and not confined
Nobody need feel resigned
For in life we're all intertwined

Nobody