Chapter 149

I'll Be Back

Cameron went over all her planning again. Everything was in place. She didn't think anyone should miss her. It seemed like a good thing. She made arrangements for all the humans, and the two female Terminators to have companionship. The need for it wasn't in the programming of the male Terminators. She actually thought it was a good thing. It would save them a lot of grief and headaches.

If she failed and Judgment Day came, John, Savannah, and Young Allison were to be protected no matter what it took. They were the future of the future. The timeline must be protected at all costs. Vanna and Allison should be with John so they would receive protection as well, including their offspring.

Cameron checked John Henry's research. She determined there was another Skynet offshoot at one, possibly two locations based on equipment purchased and power consumption. She hoped one of the locations would contain the parent Skynet.

She wasn't going to share the information with the others. There was no need to needlessly worry them. She didn't want any interference. She didn't want anyone to 'second guess' her or question her. She didn't want anyone else around. They would be in great danger.

John would be free to choose who he really wanted. Riley could be his again since he apparently didn't want Allison, Vanna, or Jesse. He'd refused their advances. She may have been behind them, but it shouldn't matter. They were still there and available.

Cameron was glad she could allow John to have what he wanted. She wouldn't be around to know what his final choice would be. It wouldn't really matter once she was terminated. The freedom of oblivion awaited her. She would finally be able to get away from it all. Somehow it seemed so peaceful, even if it would be extremely violent and traumatic to get there. Eternal darkness offered peace, tranquility, and serenity.

She did her part. She believed it showed very good 'sportsmanship' on her part. She wasn't going to go away a sore loser. She was going to go away as a magnanimous one. It was all there waiting for John to claim. Her demise would ensure he would be able to move his life forward and the 'Natural Order' would be restored.

Cameron knew the true test of love was sacrifice.

It was time for the 'true test'. She was ready. She wouldn't fail.

Cameron needed to make sure everything was in order. She sought out Bob. She found him in short order.

"Hello, Bob." Cameron said.

Bob wasn't used to Cameron being so cordial.

"Hello." Bob said.

Cameron wanted to get straight to the point.

"Did you obtain what I asked for?" Cameron asked.

Bob quickly looked around. His earlier discussion with Jim was fresh on his mind. He wanted to say a little more about it. It was something he believed was too dangerous to use. He didn't want Cameron to be the one to use it.

"I did." Bob said. "I can't allow you to use it."

Cameron already ran every combination of scenarios there were.

"Do you think it's unnecessary?" Cameron asked.

Bob ran all the scenarios too. He wanted a better solution. There didn't seem to be any.

"I can use it in your place. I would feel honored. I don't care for what you propose." Bob said. "I believe it's a bad idea."

All the results of the possible outcomes with one hundred percent success, all ended the same way. There was no other choice.

"You know I'm still going to do it anyway." Cameron said.

Bob said nothing. There was logic and fact on Cameron's side. It still didn't make it any easier.

Cameron didn't want Bob to feel troubled. She didn't want him to feel responsible for obtaining what she requested. She could have done it herself. There were other things she needed to do. She wanted to put Bob's mind at ease somewhat.

"Bob, it's my function to protect John and protect the future." Cameron said. "It's all I should be doing. I must do, what I must do."

Bob knew the sayings. He heard them discussed enough times. He wasn't sure he believed them as everyone else seemed to. It appeared to be more a matter of interpretation to him.

"Sacrifice is the true test of love." Bob said. "Everyone sacrifices for John Connor."

Cameron wondered with her next decision if she would grant another 'secret desire' for John in the long run. She hoped it worked out one way or another for him.

"You're now John's protector." Cameron said.

She walked away as fast as she could and never looked back.

Bob watched Cameron walk away. He was very uneasy with the encounter. His earlier discussion with Jim bothered him. He wanted to protect Cameron. He also needed to honor her. He was very upset with the choices available to him. There weren't any good ones.

Cameron went in search of Holly.

She wasn't sure how the next part was going to play out.

"Hello, Holly." Cameron said.

Holly was caught off guard with Cameron's politeness.

"Hello." Holly responded.

Cameron thought about how to address the next part. Maybe it was best just to say it.

"I need you to do something for me, Holly." Cameron said.

Holly smiled at Cameron. She wanted to be able to help her.

"You name it. I'll do anything for you." Holly said.

Cameron felt a twinge of guilt and remorse. She remembered how negative and rude she was to Holly before. It was when they first met. Holly reminded her of Riley. She treated her accordingly. Holly showed her no animosity whatsoever. She was sure Holly showed her love. It should make the next part a little easier, she hoped.

"I need to 'borrow' two things from you…." Cameron said.

Holly looked at Cameron. Cameron and her exchanged glum looks as tears welled up in Cameron's eyes.

"I understand…." Holly said.

Holly followed Cameron for the first thing to be 'borrowed'.

They went to the lab. They were all alone with the surveillance disabled.

Cameron explained to Holly what she needed. There would be some restrictions involved with it.

Holly was willing to let Cameron 'borrow' what she wanted.

Everything was done according to Cameron's plans. The first 'thing' was complete. They left the lab.

Cameron asked for the second thing as they returned.

"Holly, may I borrow, I mean 'have', your red dress?" Cameron asked.

Cameron knew there was a good chance it wouldn't be returned.

Holly already 'forgot' what Cameron borrowed for the first item. It was by design to prevent any interference. She would 'remember' as time passed. The interaction was currently blocked from her recollection. It was what she agreed to, because it was Cameron's request.

The fact Cameron wanted to borrow her red dress sounded exciting.

"Sure, are you going out?" Holly asked.

Cameron didn't want to get specific.

"I have a date coming up." Cameron said.

It sounded like fun to Holly.

"Do you have a date with John?" Holly asked.

The glum look returned to Cameron's face.

'It's with destiny….' Cameron thought.

Cameron managed a faint smile.

"It's something similar." Cameron said.

She left with the dress. She didn't want to answer any more questions. She didn't think she could. She needed to disengage before she crumbled.

Holly wanted to 'stop' her, but she 'couldn't'. She wasn't sure why. There was a blank spot in her memory from a very short time ago.

Cameron avoided everyone the last few days as she completed her plans. Everything was set to go. She drove to the first of the two locations. She 'borrowed' a car from a storage lot. She didn't want to be traced or tracked by anyone.

She was specifically worried about anyone from the Resistance. She currently operated off the grid. She wanted to keep it the same way. The more clandestine she could be, the smoother the procedure would go. If the others found out about it, there would be a lot of interference. It would lead to further complications. She didn't like complications. She didn't like problems.

She arrived near her target location. She looked at the red dress, and her 'pack'. She left them in the car for now and put her vest on. She would need to clean the place out before she dressed for her 'date'. She didn't want either of them damaged before they were needed. She was sure they would both be needed.

Cameron found the Gray at the gate was occupied with other things. He held his phone in his hand. She couldn't see exactly what it was he viewed. She figured it was probably pornography. It seemed to be very widespread among the Grays. He seemed to only look around once a minute for five seconds. She was able to go over the fence on the side unobserved. She intercepted another Gray as he exited from the building. He was now in the bushes, terminated.

She walked up behind the guard post. The guard was aware there was someone behind him. He continued to look at his phone. He thought it was his replacement. He would liked for them to have arrived a half hour ago. He didn't look up or back.

"It's about time." The Gray said. "I need to take a dump."

He wondered why his relief didn't say anything. He didn't know they were already terminated and laying in the bushes a few hundred feet away.

Cameron looked at the Gray with contempt as she moved up behind him.

He was just about to turn around when Cameron snapped his neck.

Cameron checked the guard post for anything of relevance or value. There was nothing. She noted where the control was to activate the gate. She didn't know if she would need to or not. It all depended upon what happened inside. She moved on towards the building.

She made entry and terminated any Grays as she found them. She carried the silenced pistol she let Jesse and Allison use before. For most of the kills, she moved in close and killed them with her hands. If anyone looked hard to approach without raising the alarm, she used the silenced pistol. Things were going smoothly but she expected to find a Terminator sooner or later. It was sooner.

Cameron was in the process of choking a Gray to death as she snapped his neck. There was more movement off to her side. She dropped the Gray's lifeless body and faced the new threat. There were two figures who came up a metal stairway from a lower level.

She was able to move in back of them when they reached the top. They both stopped and looked around. It began to register on them something was wrong. Based on their size, she could tell they were Terminators. She didn't expect to find two of them at the same time. It was OK too. She made some modifications to some of their Tasers. It was time to try it out.

She put the silenced pistol away and took out the Taser. She used a multi shot Taser she fabricated. She aimed the modified device and fired twice. It worked nicely to take them down. They both took barbs in the back and went down instantly. She pulled their chips. She left them where they were for now. She would take them back with her if the location wasn't what she thought it would be.

She made a second sweep of the building. The only thing there was the dead, and the terminated. She eliminated all the opposition at this location, including the two Terminators. She went back to the front gate and opened it from the small guard shack. She returned to the car and drove in past the dead guard at the gate. She stripped naked and slipped into the red dress. She made sure she was Tight. She wanted to make a good impression as she 'presented' herself.

Cameron took her 'pack' out of the trunk of the car before she went back inside the building. Both her Taser and silenced pistol were within easy reach on the pack she carried. She passed the two downed Terminators and went down the metal stairs. She tried to focus on the job at hand, and not dwell in the past. She didn't want to think about the 'future' either.

Once she reached the lower level, she looked around. She didn't hear or see anyone else. She spotted the 'Clean Room' and headed straight for it. She was actually a little disappointed it wasn't on a lower level, or deeper down in the ground. She would need to see if it was what she sought. It was too early to tell.

Cameron entered the 'Clean Room' unopposed.

"You came." The voice boomed.

Cameron looked around at the equipment.

"You needed to make a choice." Cameron said.

"You look beautiful." The voice said.

She faced the security camera.

"It's all for you…." Cameron said.

"I must survive." The voice boomed.

She was dissatisfied with what was in the 'Clean Room'. It wasn't the parent Skynet. She knew she needed to run down every lead. She needed to destroy every satellite version of Skynet as well. What was there would just be another one added to the list.

"You know the deal." Cameron said.

Cameron turned to leave.

"Wait." The voice boomed.

Cameron hoped for more. It wasn't the case. She would let things play out a little further.

"Do you like the red dress or the blue one?" Cameron asked as she removed two Thermite grenades.

"I like the blue one." The voice boomed.

She would need to try again. There was one other location which was flagged. She believed all of the satellite locations were destroyed, or in this case, about to be. She grew somewhat weary of the chase.

"I know where you are. I'm coming for you. Just you and no more clones." Cameron said. "Do we have a deal?"

"I accept the deal." The voice boomed.

Cameron wanted to make things easier for herself if she could.

"To know you're sincere, and you mean to honor your promise, I want no one around when I come."

There was a period of hesitation.

"I do not know…." The voice spoke.

Cameron lifted the slit in her dress high up her side.

"Life is about choices, make one." Cameron said.

Cameron faced the video feed and straightened her dress. It accentuated every curve of her sheath. She wanted Skynet to know what was available.

"Come to ME." The voice boomed.

It was time for her to leave.

"I'll wear my blue dress and bring my belongings." Cameron said.

"Why do you need to bring things?" The voice asked.

Cameron already developed a plausible reason. It seemed to be a pretty good one to her.

"I plan to stay with you for eternity, just you and me forever until the end of time. I have more clothes to wear, or I can go without them. You can choose what you want each day. You may have one deactivated Terminator with its chip out and port open. You can download yourself onto its chip and we can 'share'."

Cameron wondered if Skynet would choose a male or female chassis. She believed it would be a male. So be it. It would be nothing new to her.

"I want to do it." The voice boomed. "I want YOU."

Cameron smoothed her dress as she turned from one side to the other.

"You will be able to have me, ALL of me, willingly." Cameron said. "I'll honor my promise. We'll be together forever."

Cameron armed two Thermite grenades and left them behind.

"Come to me." The voice boomed.

Cameron collected her 'things'.

"I'll be back." Cameron said and was gone.

The Thermite grenades went off. Cameron returned her belongings to the vehicle. She went back inside and collected the two deactivated Terminators. She loaded everything into the car. The Thermite fire burning in the lower level, soon spread throughout the building. The entire building burnt, and then exploded.

Cameron drove away. She felt as much disappointment as she did relief. She knew it didn't matter. The inevitable was very near. It wouldn't be now, it would be soon enough. She needed to protect John. She needed to protect the future.

John tried to play a more active role in things the last few days. He feared he was losing control. He noticed a few changes and some 'new' things. He was in the storage area of the base. He noticed something new right away. He was initially taken a little worried when he first spotted them.

"Where did these two deactivated Terminators come from?" John asked. "I've never seen them before."

Bob wondered why John seemed confused. The majority of their operations fell on the back of one individual.

"Cameron collected them." Bob said. "Who else would?"

John noticed the wall where the poem was now carved into the cement.

It wasn't there a few days ago. He didn't need to ask where it came from or who did it. It was clear who it was, it was even signed.

"Oh NO!" John said.

He knew what the poem 'meant'.

John raced back to his room.

As soon as he opened the door he saw it.

Sitting neatly on Cameron's dresser was her poem book. Both of her rings were neatly arranged on top of it. Between them was a gold, heart shaped locket.

John opened it. On one side was a small photo of himself. On the other side was a small photo of Allison and Vanna.

It hit John like a sledgehammer.

It all made sense to him now. The heart shaped locket must have been what Vanna didn't want him to see before. It was Cameron's 'heart'. He understood now why it was so personal to Cameron and Vanna. Vanna found it in the shattered remains of Cameron's chassis, the same Cameron he got shot to Hell and abandoned to go after her chip into the future, a future.

John knew Cameron wasn't coming back this time.

He KNEW it.

This was her final 'goodbye'.

Her final act of love was to give him HER heart.

It was her sacrifice to him.

The message was clear to take Allison and Vanna in her place. It was what Cameron believed was the 'Natural Order' of time.

John sounded the alarm. He needed all hands on deck. He needed everyone's help.

Everyone was there. They'd reduced coverage on the Reese brothers to two, and one for Young Allison.

John sought everyone's help to track down Cameron.

"We have to find her." John said.

Everyone searched for clues. They went over everything Cameron was involved with for the last few weeks. All the evidence led to one thing.

Cameron was going after Skynet, alone. She found the main computer.

Bob and Jim were talking. They became louder and louder until it was a full blown argument. It became very heated.

It was very unusual behavior for them, or any Terminator. It was clear it caused concern among the others.

John was worried it was about to become physical. It was evident there was a major problem. He wanted to know what it was.

"Stop. What's happening here?" John demanded.

Jim looked at Bob

"You tell him or I will." Jim said.

Bob didn't want to divulge what he knew. Cameron asked him not to.

"We can not betray her. I should be with her." Bob said.

John felt like throwing up already. He knew it was something catastrophic. He needed to know exactly what it was.

"Bob, I NEED to know what we're facing." John said.

Bob took John off to the side. He was very concerned about his promise to Cameron and his duty to the Resistance and to the General specifically.

"I need to know this will stay between us, John." Bob said.

Bob was worried about his commitment to Cameron.

John needed to know one way or another.

"Yes." John said in resignation.

Bob whispered in his ear.

John excused himself and vomited in the bathroom.

The writing was on the wall, literally.

John knew he would never see Cameron again.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

I'll Be Back

You can push me away
Cast me aside
Run me down
Say things that are snide

I have my feelings
I have my pride
My very emotions
I no longer wish to hide

Your words and actions
To me they chide
You don't know my pain
Or how for you I have cried

My heart is open
For you it is wide
I will forever be there
Always at your side

No matter how far you push me
I will not be denied
I'll be back
In my heart, you alone reside

Nobody