Chapter 144

Ambush

John observed Cameron in the 'Clean Room'. He was a little confused. He tried to figure out what was happening. He didn't like what he saw and heard. It seemed very 'personal' to him.

He saw Cameron take the Thermite grenades from Bob, leave them behind and walk out. They exploded seconds later.

John noted the smile on Cameron's face as she exited the 'Clean Room'. He wanted some answers.

"What just happened back there?" John asked.

Cameron knew things were going to get ugly. She didn't need anyone looking over her shoulder. She didn't need anyone to 'second guess' her. It was another reason why she liked to work alone.

"What did it look like?" Cameron asked.

Vanna heard John's question. She wondered about the same thing herself. The way she saw it, it was more than a little disturbing. She believed she understood Cameron's question.

"It looked like Skynet was 'hitting' on you." Vanna said.

Cameron was a little surprised herself. She could see the demands were a little more assertive on this occasion.

"There's always a new angle." Cameron said.

John saw it more than a little differently. It appeared to be the other way around to him. He looked at the way Cameron was dressed.

"Or she was hitting on it." John said. "Everything seemed a little odd."

Derek could see John was upset. He wanted to lighten the atmosphere some. He pointed out the obvious. He didn't think there needed to be any tension.

"She is 'dressed to kill'." Derek said.

Kyle looked quickly at Derek then at John. He caught the humor in Derek's statement.

"I need to agree with Derek." Kyle said.

John didn't look very happy. There seemed to be a deeper dimension this time.

"I didn't like it." John said.

Cameron felt they all missed the point. There wasn't anything for them to like or dislike. All there was, is what there was. What she did was part of her function.

"John, I'm an infiltration unit. It's my function to get close to my target so I may terminate it." Cameron said. "It's what I do. I'm good at what I do."

John looked disgusted. He wanted to get away from there at this point. He was very dissatisfied with the operation so far. He still didn't think he did anything wrong by turning the recon into an assault.

"Place the rest of the charges and let's get out of here." John said.

The smoke billowed out of the 'Clean Room'. The screaming metallic voice was now 'silenced'. It was terminated.

John motioned for the others to move ahead while he held Cameron back. He wanted to have some time alone with her.

"Bob and Jim, please turn down your audio." John said. "I need a private moment."

Bob and Jim figured on what was about to come. They actually expected Cameron to tell them to do the same thing.

"Affirmative…." Bob replied as they both reduced their hearing ability.

John slowed. He looked at Cameron. He was worried.

He knew the implications of what he witnessed. It was actually Cameron's words which seemed to bother him the most.

"Would you do it?" John asked. "I want the truth."

John knew Cameron wasn't always forthcoming with all of the facts. He didn't know how honest she would be.

Cameron said nothing at first. She didn't want to respond to him. Normally such an encounter with Skynet would have occurred in private. She didn't look at John.

John knew what the answer was going to be based on Cameron's body language.

"Do you mean if it meant saving the world and several billion lives?" Cameron asked. "Isn't THAT what all THIS is about?"

John didn't want to think about a hypothetical. He was more concerned how things would affect him. He wanted a definitive answer. He decided to push the issue.

"Would you?" John asked again.

Cameron was even more irritated at this point. The questions answered themselves. She didn't need to answer them.

"What would you do, John? I've given you my replacements. I've made available what is rightfully YOURS. I've given you everything you wanted. I've done everything you, Future John, programmed me to do. I'll do what's necessary when the time comes. There's no choice." Cameron said. "It's my function to protect you and the future. I'll not fail."

John believed it was more than what she just said. He believed it went deeper. He felt Cameron made it personal.

"You're MAKING Skynet 'want' you." John said.

Cameron didn't like the conversation. Everything she stated was fact. She would spell everything out to John again.

"It's what I was built for. I was constructed for infiltration and then termination. I'm a machine, John. I'm expendable. You and your children aren't. YOUR future is the destiny of time." Cameron said flatly. "I'm the aberration. I have my programming. I know my function. You know it too."

John knew in an instant, Cameron would do whatever she needed to do to protect him and the future. It was clear Cameron believed her existence didn't matter. He saw things differently. He wanted to put his foot down.

"Cameron, you can never do anything like this." John said worried. "I can't allow it. I will NOT allow this."

John's attitude, and lack of respect for her, greatly upset Cameron. She was there for a very specific reason. It wasn't to be a mechanical love doll. It was time to remind him of the future.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Cameron said.

She hurried away from him. Her heels clicked loudly on the floor as her pace increased. She passed ahead of Bob and Jim.

John was left behind….

Bob and Jim resumed their normal audio input and fell in back of John.

Jim picked up the Terminator they disabled and carried him away when they passed by him.

There was a burst of gunfire from somewhere behind them.

Cameron returned in a second.

"You two, get John out of here." Cameron said. "I'll take care of it."

She took the L1A1 from Bob. It was clear she was going to handle the threat alone.

John didn't want to see Cameron go off by herself. He wanted to make sure she received some assistance.

"Take one of them with you." John said.

Cameron didn't look at him. There was already enough on her mind. There was a new problem. She didn't want to rehash any other problems. She wanted people to listen to her. None of what they currently faced would be happening now, if they would have.

"They have their orders." Cameron said. "Someone is going to follow orders on this mission."

John could tell her comment was directed at him. It was because he didn't follow the plan earlier for a simple recon. He still believed he was justified in his actions. He saw there was a target of opportunity. He wanted to hurt the enemy. It's what they did.

Cameron dropped back further. She wondered where they came from. The clean room was destroyed. The passageway was collapsed from the explosion. She wasn't sure what someone was shooting at behind them. It was a threat no matter what.

A second weapon fired. There was a gun battle between two people. Now it was even a little more concerning.

Cameron approached with the L1A1 raised. She searched for a target. This was a little confusing to her. Was it a Gray fighting a Gray? Maybe it was someone from the Resistance which infiltrated the Grays and was trying to get out now. Maybe it was specifically someone from the anti-Metal faction. It would be as bad as a Gray to her if it was. They would both look at her with the same contempt.

There was another furious burst of firing and there were two screams as the firing abruptly ceased.

Cameron looked around the next corner. The air was thick with smoke from the burning 'Clean Room'. She needed to switch to a different vision spectrum.

There was a man lying on the ground behind the two men she slammed together. He'd been using their bodies for cover. He was still alive. She picked up his rifle and tossed it aside. He carried no other weapons.

There was another man sprawled on the ground. There was a chunk missing from his skull. He was dead.

She returned to the first man. He opened his eyes. He coughed because of the smoke.

"You Metal Bitch." The man gasped.

Cameron was insulted. She wasn't sure how the man identified her.

"Do you know me?" Cameron asked.

The man probably would have spit if he could. He couldn't.

"You're Connor's Metal Whore." The man gasped.

Now Cameron was irritated. It also alerted her to the fact the man referenced the future. His reference was to Future John. She was aware her association with Future John caused a lot of problems in the Resistance. She didn't think any of them were her fault. She wanted to clear the air for personal reasons.

"I am not." Cameron said.

The man's eyes were filled with hate. It was clear he would do more if he could. He couldn't.

"The Resistance doesn't need 'your kind'." The man gasped. "We'll terminate you and every Metal Lover. The machines are the enemy. It doesn't matter who controls them."

Cameron knew this man was from the anti-Metal faction and a serious threat to John, her John. She wondered if the man would have taken a shot at John if he spotted him earlier. She believed he looked enough like Future John for the man to have made the connection. Her main concern was the timing.

"How long have you been back?" Cameron asked.

The man was very weak now.

"A few years." The man gasped. "We've been looking for you and Connor. You're very elusive."

Cameron was aware this was probably before she returned and rescued Future Allison and returned her to Future John. The purpose of Future Allison and Future Savannah was to 'protect' Future John from the anti-Metal group. It was why she wanted Allison, Vanna, and Jesse to 'step up' and be at John's side now. He needed to have humans at his side. He needed to have human females to keep him grounded. He needed to have companionship and love. He needed the girls.

A glitch impulse shot through her left hand. Not only were the people back to combat Skynet, they were there to terminate John and her. There could be less time than she thought possible previously. Perhaps more drastic action would be needed immediately. Maybe she would need to ask Riley to do it. John needed to be protected.

No. She would have Savannah help her. Savannah wouldn't fail her.

It sent another glitch impulse through her left hand. There were going to be some repercussions.

Savannah was 'young' in the eyes of everyone but her. Savannah told her she was 'ready'. What else did she need to hear? In time honored tradition going back a few hundred years to the beginning of time, it wouldn't have raised an eyebrow. It was how things were done in the past. Life was shorter, 'things' started earlier.

Cameron knew they faced a very serious threat with the anti-Metal faction active in the past, the present. They posed as big of a threat to John and her as Skynet did. She didn't want to be responsible for the death of Resistance fighters. John's safety came first. John's safety always needed to come first. She looked at the dying man. He was clearly in pain. His wounds were non-survivable.

"Rest in peace." Cameron said.

She snapped the man's neck.

Cameron hurried and caught back up to the group. It appeared there was a new threat when she arrived. Somehow everything involved with the operation seemed to get worse and worse.

Sarah quickly assembled a team when she found out John and his team was in trouble. Gail, Holly, Allison, Jesse, and Riley were with her. They encountered a potential threat on their way to the area where John's team was currently at.

Holly saw the vans ahead slow. She verified their location.

"The target vehicles are about to stop." Holly advised. "We're here."

They were surprised by an update from John Henry. It was the first good news, even if there was bad news associated with it.

"I've established communication with John." John Henry came over the com. "The entire team is with him and no one is hurt. They are waiting in a tunnel in front of where the two vans have stopped. They need to come out as soon as possible. There's a fire in the clean room behind them."

Apparently the minor damage to Bob and Jim wasn't reported to John Henry. It was probably because it didn't inhibit their ability to function.

Holly watched as the men dismounted and formed up. They were ready to advance.

Sarah watched what was happening too. She didn't want John trapped underground. It was time to act. It was time to rely on the Terminators, even if they were Restorators. What she needed them to do was the same thing a Terminator would do.

"Holly, how fast can you and Gail get to those two vans unobserved?" Sarah asked.

Gail checked the distance and terrain. She made a quick calculation.

"Thirty-two seconds from when we exit the van." Gail said.

Holly wanted Sarah and Allison protected.

"You two must stay here." Holly said to Sarah and Allison.

Jesse planned to go along with the Metal girls. She didn't think Riley and her could keep up with Gail and Holly in the dark over the terrain. She wanted to be able to deliver maximum firepower against the enemy.

"It will take us longer to back you up." Jesse said to Gail.

Holly thought of a new approach. It would only delay their arrival by three seconds. Either way, they needed to act.

"It will take thirty-five seconds if we carry them." Holly said. "We need to get moving."

Sarah calculated everything quickly. It was 'go time'.

"John Henry, tell John all Hell will break loose in forty seconds from my 'mark'. He will have four 'Friendlies' firing from the east side." Sarah said. "Don't engage them. Their team should concentrate on the vans and their personnel."

Everyone checked their weapons.

"Get ready to move." Sarah said.

Gail picked up Jesse. Holly picked up Riley. The two girls held their weapons at the ready.

Jesse was thrilled at the mode of transportation.

"I always wanted to be carried across the threshold." Jesse said.

Gail was a little confused.

"But we've already had the 'honeymoon'…." Gail said.

Jesse giggled.

Allison and Riley exchanged glances as they smiled at each other.

No one said anything. It was what they all figured.

Sarah tried to keep from smirking as she told them to go.

"I'll give you a ten second head start." Sarah said.

Holly and Gail took off with their charges.

Sarah counted eight seconds off.

"John Henry - Mark." Sarah said.

John and his team counted the seconds.

Holly and Gail were well on their way. They each carried their armed and deadly cargo.

Holly and Gail reached the location they wanted. They set down the two girls and aimed their weapons as well.

Jesse made sure everyone was ready.

Once they were all in position, the team opened fire.

Most of the men fell in the first volley of shots. They were slow to respond. They were all focused in another direction. They started to turn their attention to where the gunfire came from.

John's team opened up and the rest of the enemy team fell. Most of them now faced the wrong direction as they were hit.

It was over in seconds. There was no return fire directed at either team.

It was a classic 'L' shaped ambush. It was very deadly to the enemy.

Sarah and Allison remained in the van.

Allison only glanced at the direction all the shooting was coming from. Her concern was elsewhere. She watched their six and around them. She felt her heartbeat quicken. She spotted a threat.

"It looks like we have trouble." Allison said.

Sarah looked back to see what Allison spotted. She saw it a second later.

There were two more vans rapidly approaching from behind them. They didn't want to get caught sitting there. They weren't in a defensible spot for an attack from behind them. They would be outgunned. It was time to use some strategy.

"We've got to move right now." Sarah said.

Sarah previously left the van running for a quick 'get away'. It was in 'Neutral'.

Allison moved to the back of the van with her M4. She braced herself in.

"Hit it." Allison said.

All Hell seemed to break loose in front of them.

Sarah didn't see why they couldn't add to the total. She quickly told John Henry she would let the two new arrivals follow her through the ambush location. The two teams could engage them when they entered the kill zone. They would catch the new group of the enemy in the same ambush.

Sarah turned on the lights as the other two vans turned their lights off. She wanted to indicate she was about to move.

The firing in front of them stopped.

John Henry informed them the targets from the first two vans were down.

Sarah let the vans close up on her to ensure pursuit. She moved the shift selector to 'First' and 'firewalled' it. The van sent up a rooster tail of dirt as it surged ahead. She wanted it to appear as if she was going to run.

She could see the bodies in front of her from the initial ambush. A lone figure moved among the fallen from the first ambush. The van's bumper finished the job with a dull 'thud'. The van bounced slightly twice and kept going.

Sarah killed the lights. She gauged her distance from the ambush site.

"Hang on, Allison, I'm going to stop." Sarah said. "They should as well."

Both vans slowed as Sarah slowed. They were right in the kill zone.

They'd taken the bait and followed the 'Pied Piper' to their doom.

The two Resistance teams opened up on the vans. The Coltan rounds ripped through the vans like a hot knife through warm butter.

It was over in seconds. Only a few rounds were fired in return. None of them were close to either Resistance team.

Bob and Jim, with the help of Gail and Holly, dumped the bodies of the fallen into the tunnel. It was now a tomb. Smoke still poured out of it. They closed the entrance.

They loaded the salvaged weapons in the first two vans which were undamaged. Bob and Jim disabled any tracking devices on them. Gail and Holly each drove one. Bob took over for Sarah.

Jesse went with Gail. Riley went with Holly. Bob and Jim went with Sarah, Kyle, Derek, Vanna and Allison.

Cameron told John to ride with her in the vehicle she appropriated from the thugs earlier. She handed him the keys and told him he could drive.

The explosions could be felt as the ground started to rumble.

Seconds later the building erupted.

John and Cameron rode alone. They followed the three vans.

"Cameron…." John started.

John started to speak and then stopped. After a pause he started again.

"Cameron…." John said.

Cameron interrupted him. She wasn't in the mood to hear any excuses. She believed John was careless. She was very upset they didn't listen to her, especially John.

"John, you HAVE to embrace YOUR future. I don't know how else to make this any clearer. The longer you wait, the MORE you hurt ME." Cameron said. "All of it affects me as well."

John only saw it from his current point of view.

"Cameron, I love YOU. YOU are my wife." John said. "THAT is why I CAN'T hurt you."

Cameron looked over at him.

John could see the tears streaming down her cheeks.

Cameron needed to make things happen. John seemed to be unresponsive to reality. There was only one choice left.

"John…." There was a long pause. "I want a divorce…."

John said nothing.

Cameron cried the whole way home.

'Wendy' by the 'Beach Boys', played as John drove.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Ambush

What is an Ambush
Isn't it really a surprise
It can be a physical attack
Or verbal with a bunch of lies

It seems the words
Are meant to polarize
Where do they come from
They can hurt as they criticize

When there's no honor
It's easy for one to despise
Things only spoken or shouted
Can damage as quickly as they brutalize

Who around you can you trust
The woodwork is filled with spies
From this type of unjust anger and hate
One must stand tall, hold firm and quickly rise

Do we really have friends
Or even some workable allies
There's no room for compromise
As everyone works on our very demise

Nobody