Chapter 62

Heavy Metal

John went for a walk in the park to try and clear his mind. He was very unsure about what happened last night. Allison followed him and silently took his hand as he walked. They walked hand in hand without a word spoken, for a long time. He thought about what occurred up until NOW, at this moment in time.

He quickly went over everything which happened in the last few months.

They attempted to use the TDE as a beacon or lifeline to help Cameron return back to their timeline, and their TDE pad. It wasn't designed to work in such a manner. Sometimes when the energy bubble departed, it didn't reappear on their TDE pad. They were unsure what happened, or where it went. All the energy went somewhere and did something. It should have always returned. It didn't. At least it didn't return to their specific location.

They weren't sure if the 'destination' signal bounced off of the 'send' signal. What they attempted to do was unproven. It left a lot of unanswered questions.

There were no reports which indicated the arrival of the energy bubble at any specific location when it didn't return to the TDE pad. They didn't know if it went to a random location, or to the same location. They didn't want any investigations started, by anyone. Any version of Skynet would be bound to pick up on the reports as well. They didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to themselves. So far they'd tried to operate, and remain, in the shadows.

John Henry tried it for months. Nothing worked. It was time to accept the reality of the situation. There was no need to continue the attempts. He informed John it was his belief and understanding, Cameron wasn't coming back.

Cameron should have returned the day she left if her mission was successful. All attempts to use their TDE since then failed. They hoped to 'pull' her into their timeline. The only options which remained were, Cameron was terminated, there'd been a temporal error, or she was stuck in a divergent timeline and unable to get back to their timeline. Everyone, both Terminator and human, came to the same conclusion. Cameron was gone.

Only Savannah believed Cameron would return. She told everyone Cameron was coming back. Her faith was unshakeable. She always said Cameron was invincible and eternal. She would walk away from the others very upset, because no one believed her. She would go back to her room and look at Cameron's wedding dress. She knew what she promised Cameron. She intended to keep her promise. She could see John's life was stalled.

Cameron stressed to her about John's well being. He couldn't become isolated. He couldn't remain alone. It would only drive him further into the depths of depression. John needed to remain out of the darkness. It was her duty to make sure it happened.

"I promise, Cammy. I promise." Savannah would say over and over.

Nobody knew what she planned.

All their lives seemed to have stagnated, slowed, or just stopped moving forward.

John knew the truth. Cameron was gone. He tried to tell himself it wasn't true, but it clearly was. Savannah had kept his hopes up so far. Maybe he just didn't want to disappoint her and do anything to dampen her belief.

Cameron had been gone for months. It was clear she wasn't coming back. They all needed to start living again. They all needed to move forward. Life moved forward not backwards. It was time….

John and Allison were together and alone in the park. The future called to them. They discussed what to do to move forward, it included Vanna too. Allison was very adamant everything would be shared equally with Vanna and her.

The moment John and Allison wanted to share in the future, and in the present, was about to happen. It was their long overdue expression of love.

Allison wanted this moment for so long and now it was about to happen….

John wanted this moment for so long and now it was about to happen….

Allison and John's lips were about to touch in their first mutual kiss as 'John and Allison'. They were both ready. There were no more games, it was time to share. They wanted and needed to share their loss, share for a future together, share the pain, share the hope and joy. They both wanted it. Cameron made it clear to all of them, it was what she wanted upon her demise. It was going to happen….

They were both filled with love and anticipation. Their hearts and minds called to each other as their bodies responded to each other. Nature was at play now. Instinct drove both of them.

The softness of their lips were just about to make contact.

Nothing could stop them now.

Bob suddenly appeared.

"I'm sorry to intrude." Bob said. "We have trouble."

The look of pain on both John's face and Allison's face was evident. If not for the fact Terminators didn't joke, they might have thought it was a cruel attempt to stop them. For Bob to intrude at this moment, meant there was a real problem.

Bob hesitated at first to approach John and Allison. He knew it was one of the things Cameron wanted to happen upon her demise. It only took him a fraction of a second to realize there were more important matters to deal with. It was a matter of survival. If someone wasn't alive, nothing else mattered.

The look of disbelief was on both their faces. The reality of their lives kicked in.

John was aware of the threat needed to be something major. It's possible they'd been reacquired by a Skynet Terminator.

"What is it?" John asked immediately.

John knew it must be something bad. There were a million thoughts in his mind.

Bob could only identify the threat, as a threat. He didn't know the specific nature of it yet.

"I spotted a Terminator." Bob said.

It was bad news on several levels. They were close to 'home'. They were under armed for a confrontation with a Terminator.

"Where?" John asked.

Allison gripped her Coltan loaded Model 66. She was glad she kept it ready. A carefully placed shot from it could disable a Terminator. She knew if one of their legs could be damaged, someone could run from them and hopefully escape. It was much the same tactic a lion would use to bring down its prey. It would always first grab them at the hind corners. It was done to damage their ability to continue to run. She would concentrate all her fire at one knee of the hostile Terminator if they were confronted. It wouldn't stop them but it would slow them down.

John gripped Cameron's Glock. He carried it exclusively. 'Cameron' was always with him in battle this way. It looked like 'Cameron' would fight yet another day vicariously through her Glock. It wouldn't be the first time. Hopefully it wouldn't be the last time either. He knew any confrontation could turn deadly. Right now they needed to identify the nature of the threat, and how to best combat it.

A second figure rushed forward to join their group. It was Jim. He was with them in seconds.

Allison tried to lighten the mood as they prepared for combat. She thought she'd been able to successfully sneak out of the Resistance base. She wanted to follow John and Bob. It was clear she wasn't the only one who tried to act clandestinely.

"Did you follow me?" Allison asked.

She knew one of the Terminators always did.

Jim didn't think it was a big deal. It was nothing different from normal.

"Always…." Jim replied. "It's my function to protect you."

Allison rolled her eyes.

"Oh, brother." Allison said.

She was glad he did follow her, based on the current situation. Two Resistance Terminators to deal with a hostile Terminator, would certainly be in their advantage.

Jim wanted to make it clear to Allison, as to the extent of his interaction with personal matters.

"We'll never interfere with your 'coupling'." Jim said. "We're to facilitate it if possible."

Allison was sure his statement could have been phrased a little differently.

"How 'romantic'." Allison said sarcastically.

John and Allison exchanged quick glances.

Everyone knew what Cameron wanted.

John wanted them to focus on the current reality.

"What about the Terminator?" John asked.

Bob spotted the Terminator when he hung back and waited for John and Allison to kiss. He wondered if they would do more than just kiss behind the tree and bushes, or wait until they returned to the base. He'd viewed many different types of personal human interaction with others, when he was out. It seemed some events could literally happen anywhere. He wanted to point out the extent of his observation. It didn't appear to be directed at them.

"I picked it up following two boys." Bob said.

The mention of 'two boys' sickened John. He already knew who the boys were going to be.

"Where are they?" John asked.

Bob pointed. The three figures were closer to them now. There were two boys and a female.

"They're right there." Bob said. "She's a Terminator."

It was a well built blonde female. Her appearance was very striking.

Jim identified her for what she was.

"She's an infiltration unit." Jim added.

A new fear gripped John. His encounter last night still haunted him.

"Is she Liquid Metal?" John asked very worriedly.

Bob didn't think so. She moved and acted like a typical Terminator.

"No." Bob responded. "I don't think so."

Jim spotted a second figure on an intercept course towards the Terminator and the two boys. It appeared to him to be another Terminator. He believed it was a Liquid Metal Terminator.

"The other one is. It's tracking the blonde Terminator, or the young boys." Jim said. "It looks female as well. I'm sure it's a Liquid Metal Terminator."

John knew this was all related to last night somehow. He looked over the newest intruder. It was another female Terminator. There was something familiar about her….

It was all bad news to John. He wondered if the actions they'd taken to try to get Cameron back, brought this down on them. It may have made them a magnet for Skynet activity. Their efforts could have been detected, and Skynet Terminators were sent to investigate.

They didn't have a clue as to what was what.

"Great, we don't know from which timeline they're from. We don't know if one is protecting and one stalking, or if both are stalking, or both are protecting." John said. "We need to assume someone is up to no good."

John looked around the area. They were headed into the rocky part of the park. There were a lot of small rocky hills there. He knew they needed to act with what they had with them. Those boys needed protection. It wasn't their war, not yet anyway. Hopefully they could prevent it from ever being their war.

Allison was more than a little concerned about everything.

"We need to find out what's happening." Allison said.

John thought they already knew enough.

"We need to be ready to go on the offensive." John said. "Those boys need our help. They need it now."

Allison thought there was more to the story than met the eye.

"Do you know who the boys are?" Allison asked.

John figured the truth was going to hit Allison hard.

"They're the young versions of Derek and Kyle." John said.

Allison gasped. She was ready to fight now more than ever. Derek and Kyle always protected her.

Bob pointed out they weren't prepared for this type fight. They'd gone for a walk in the park, not out for combat. They lacked any weapons to deal with a Liquid Metal Terminator.

"If the Liquid Metal Terminator isn't a 'friendly', we're at a major disadvantage. I don't have the M79 with me." Bob said. "We don't have any acid rounds or Thermite grenades."

Jim lacked his weapon of choice.

"The pig is back at base as well." Jim added.

Bob frowned.

"This is getting better by the minute." Bob stated.

Allison wanted to try something. She looked like 'Cameron'. It might mean something to one or both of the Terminators, for better or worse.

"Let me use myself as bait to see if one breaks off to engage me. Bob can back me up." Allison said.

Allison started to go.

"NO!" John almost shouted.

John reached out and held onto Allison.

Allison wanted to make her position perfectly clear. She'd already made her choice. There were no second thoughts involved.

"John, we need to protect those brothers. I'm going to do it. I owe them my life." Allison said. "They saved me so many times. They've always taken care of me. I'll do no less for them."

Allison broke free of John.

"My turn…." Allison said as she took off.

She ran between the boys and the blonde Terminator. She literally put herself in the middle.

The blonde Terminator went after Allison, or at least in Allison's direction.

Allison briefly thought she'd gone from the frying pan into the fire. She looked back and kept running.

The blonde Terminator turned and saw the Liquid Metal Terminator go after Allison as well. The blonde Terminator changed directions to block the Liquid Metal Terminator. It didn't appear as if they were working together. They could be from different futures or different groups of Skynet.

John thought about going after Allison. It was too late for him to stop her. He needed to take additional protective action.

"Jim, get those boys out of here, even if you have to pick them up and carry them." John said. "They're the most important thing here. I want them away from here."

Allison ran like she never ran before. She glanced back over her shoulder. Now she spotted both the Terminators tracking her on a collision course. At least she'd saved Young Derek and Young Kyle for now. Life was about choices, and she just made one. She may have just traded her life for theirs.

She reflected Cameron made the hard choices too. The hard choice wasn't so hard when it was the 'right choice'. She understood so much more about Cameron in an instant. You did what you needed to do, when you needed to do it. The cards would land where they fell.

Allison was losing ground and getting tired. The time for running was over. It was time to fight. She gripped her Model 66 and turned in a crouch. She took a combat stance.

It didn't look like it was going to end well for her. She'd faced death before in her future. Her life never flashed in front of her eyes any of those times. Instead, she searched for a target. She intended to go down fighting.

Allison was aware of movement on her right flank.

It was Vanna!

"What the Hell?" Allison asked.

John Henry was there too with the M60, as were Al, Dan, Ed and Frank. Two of them each carried an M79.

Allison thought she might live the day out after all now. She actually thought she was about to die. She thought it was kind of strange it hadn't bothered her as much as she thought it would.

"Heavy Metal!" Allison said. "I like it more every day."

John Henry offered a quick explanation.

"I looked further at John's request and suspicions. I found traces of some temporal incursions last night." John Henry said. "I picked up the blonde Terminator on surveillance cameras at the park, as I tracked John and you. We geared up and we came 'ready'."

John and Bob previously moved to follow Allison.

Bob didn't want to leave John unprotected.

"I need to stay with you." Bob said.

John wanted Allison protected.

"Bob, go to Allison. Jim will be back." John said. "I'll be fine for right now."

Bob went down and moved in front of Allison.

"Back up, Allison, I'll shield you." Bob said.

Jim rejoined John soon after Bob left.

"The boys are out of the park." Jim said. "I don't believe they suspected anything was wrong. I know they don't know about any of this."

The Heavy Metal force spread out and confined the two unknown Terminator arrivals.

The Liquid Metal Terminator moved the hair from her face.

There was a gasp among everyone.

Everyone stood in amazement.

The Liquid Metal Terminator was - Cameron - sort of….

"John, Hello. I am back for - MORE." The Liquid Metal Terminator said.

John faced her and swallowed hard. This was all a little hard for him to comprehend. He was more certain than ever he'd already met the Liquid Metal Terminator. As to exactly what happened to him in his room, he would really like to know. He was certain it was more than a dream. Right now with everyone in danger, he wished it was a dream. It wasn't.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Heavy Metal

Each day presents new issues
With events we must address
Some we try to promote
Others we try to suppress

Do we help ourselves
As upon others we transgress
Or do we help them out too
To prevent unnecessary distress

Life may be played
As if it were a game of chess
Upon further thought and reflection
Do only ourselves we outguess

Do we move forward
Or do we wander and digress
Is just being alive
The only sign of success

Heavy Metal is more than music
It is something we can possess
It can assist us as it relieves stress
Maybe even to share a loving caress

Nobody