Chapter 153

Crossroads

Cameron and the girls were in an unknown environment. It appeared they suffered not only a temporal error, but a positional one as well.

They needed to determine where and when they were. Currently there was a new problem.

Cameron heard something near them. It was nothing good.

It was a predator stalking them. It was after them.

Cameron got ready to strike. She tracked the sound moving towards them. She waited and took aim with a rock. The predator moved slowly and carefully. It was aware of their presence and stalked them. It was about to attack.

She calculated the predator's position and rate of stealthy advance. She decided to strike first at the unseen threat. She threw one of the stones she selected. She hoped a tree branch wouldn't deflect it.

There was a dull 'thud' and a loud roar. There was now rapid movement.

She knew she was on target. It was time to follow up the attack. She threw a second stone.

Something flashed past them as the second stone hit it. It staggered when they heard the dull 'thud' of the second impact. It roared again. It appeared to be hurt, but not incapacitated.

Allison saw what looked like a giant cat with spots on it. She viewed similar animals on television before. She only got a quick glimpse at it.

"I saw it." Allison said. "It was a leopard."

Jesse wondered where they were at this point. She was pretty sure leopards were located mainly in Africa, with some in Asia.

"Are we in Africa?" Jesse asked.

Cameron checked her visual reference files and made a positive identification.

"No, it was a Panthera onca, a feline in the Panthera genus. It was a jaguar." Cameron said.

Vanna thought it narrowed down the area where they were, even if it was expansive in size.

"So we're in Central America, or the northern part of South America." Vanna said.

Cameron was upset they were so far from 'home'. The positional error was bad enough.

"Apparently…." Cameron said.

Now the time period would be the next factor she needed to ascertain. The temporal error would determine their fate.

Allison thought a mammal seemed more 'modern' than a dinosaur. It was a good thing. It could still span thousands of years.

"What century are we in?" Allison asked.

Cameron looked up at the reddish clouds overhead again.

"I still don't know yet. I need to see the stars." Cameron said. "Stay close to me and stay away from the water. Stay right behind me. Watch your feet and where you walk."

Cameron was more hopeful. If they were in the Western Hemisphere, they were within walking distance of their home. It could take many months. It all depended on what they came across and 'when' they were. If they were decades or centuries off, it wouldn't really matter.

Either way Cameron was going to get them home. She was determined they weren't going to die in the jungle. She rearmed herself. If the big cat came back, she would kill it this time if it continued to stalk them. She would use her full Terminator force against it. She was aware the reflexes were very good on such creatures. She would attempt to disable it with the rocks and move in for the kill with her spear.

If the animal attempted to grab her, she would be able to overpower it, but would most likely sustain some sheath damage. It wasn't herself she was worried about. It only took a moment for one of the girls to get careless and be attacked. Her friends were going to need food and the animal's skin could make clothing, or at least a body covering.

Cameron was now worried about other predators. She needed to keep her senses finely tuned. The big cat would most likely be back at some point. Maybe she would approach it head on and fight it in a 'fair fight'. She would pit the animal's strengths against her strengths. It would determine who the 'king of the jungle' really was.

"Stay close and stay away from the water." Cameron repeated. She knew what could lurk there.

Vanna read of some threats before. She thought they were mostly in South America.

"Do we need to worry about Piranhas, alligators, and crocodiles?" Vanna asked.

Allison watched a nature program one time about them.

"I think they're referred to as a Caiman." Allison said. "There are several different types."

Cameron was aware they were all threats depending on where they were at.

"Yes. We need to worry about them." Cameron said. "Let me always lead. I don't want anyone to lag behind."

Cameron was worried for her friends. She was worried too about the mess she'd gotten them all into. Depending upon how remote the area they were actually in was, would determine the number of predators they would need to look out for. Without man around to encroach upon their territory and kill them, the animals ruled the jungle.

They moved through the jungle. Cameron was ever aware and listened for the tiniest sound or anything which was different, or changed as they approached. She knew the animals were highly attuned to their environment and the slightest changes alerted them to danger. It in turn alerted other animals.

At one point she thought the big cat was back, but the noise never repeated itself. It may have picked up their scent and remembered its last encounter. It suffered a painful rebuff without even getting close to its 'prey'. It may have picked up Cameron's predator pheromones and thought otherwise.

Cameron needed to pass under the canopy of the trees in many places. She searched for danger in front of her, to each side, behind her, and above her.

There were birds which made noises now. She didn't see them. They were hidden and seemed to like to stay out of view.

It suddenly grew very quiet around her. The girls all noticed it too. The silence was deafening.

They all readied their spears to attack, or defend themselves with a thrusting motion.

Cameron knew she needed to engage the threat first.

"Stay here." Cameron said. "Don't move from here."

Cameron advanced slowly. The danger seemed in front of her.

Without warning, the danger was upon her. It dropped from above. It was a giant snake. It was a constrictor of some type. She thought it was an anaconda.

The giant snake tried to wrap around her but she avoided its grasp. It tried to bite her as well. It almost did. She tried to keep it where it was so the girls wouldn't be endangered.

She went to move but tripped. Its tail section wrapped around her feet and made her fall. Its giant head made another lunge at her. This time she grabbed its jaws. The snake wrapped itself further around her body at this time.

She saw the girls move forward with their spears and began to stab at the snake. She wanted them to be safe, but they came to help her anyway.

She forced the snake's jaws open until they broke and ripped apart. The lower one tore completely off. The snake now thrashed around violently.

"Get back." Cameron shouted to the girls. "It's dying now."

Cameron changed her grip and now held the snake's neck area behind its head. She looked directly into its eyes. She let her eyes glow red. She showed the snake what 'constriction' really was. She crushed the tissue flat and ripped its head off. The headless body thrashed and twisted violently. She still held the head and pointed it at it violently contorting headless body. She wondered if it comprehended its demise, or was already dead. She tossed the head into the thrashing mess. She could see the body of the snake bleeding from dozens of puncture wounds which were inflicted by the girls.

She checked for any damage or injury among the girls. There wasn't any. She was undamaged as well.

The girls all talked excitedly at what they just witnessed.

Allison looked at the remains.

"Did you see the size of the snake?" Allison asked.

Vanna was sorry she did.

"It looked like it was big enough to eat one of us." Vanna said.

Jesse could see the danger.

"Even if it couldn't eat us, it could still kill us." Jesse said. "I know it was a constrictor, but it still tried to bite Cameron anyway."

Vanna relayed a story to them about a nature show she watched. It was when a giant constrictor battled some type of crocodilian. She didn't remember where it was at, or exactly what the reptiles were. She remembered the crocodilian bit into the snake as it wrapped around it and they thrashed around in the water and on the land. She remembered the snake repeatedly bit a raised eye on the crocodilian. She was sure it must have blinded it in one eye at some point. She was pretty sure the two reptiles disengaged and went their own ways. They would both most likely avoid a similar creature again if they spotted one. Then again, she didn't know. She didn't know what the intelligence level of a reptile was.

Cameron was especially worried about the water now.

"Don't go near any water at all in the form of a pond, stream, or river." Cameron said. "All crocodilians can come up out of the water extremely fast, grab their prey, and drag it back into the water in a matter of seconds. It usually ends up drowning its prey rather than killing it with its jaws, even if they're quite impressive."

Cameron cleaned her hands on some leaves and led the group away. She cautioned them to be silent as they moved. They were all highly aware right now of every sound.

She listened for additional danger as she advanced. Her head tilted slightly to the side with a new sound. She paused and focused. She heard something which was good news.

Cameron smiled.

It was machinery. It was in the distance but it was there.

There was something man made near there. It at least brought them to within a couple of centuries from when they left.

Cameron was elated.

"I can hear man made machinery in the distance." Cameron told the girls.

All three girls knew it was a positive turn of events. None of them really wanted to run into a dinosaur anyway. It left the threat of more big snakes or large reptiles which could still be a problem. There was the big cat too if it came back.

Cameron continued to lead the girls through the dense foliage. Anything in her path scurried off before she saw it. It was good and bad.

A little further on, the foliage thinned. Cameron came across a dirt road. It was in good shape and appeared maintained. It was a good sign. Now they were within a century of their time.

There was a spot of oil. She reached down and touched it. She was very pleased at what she analyzed. It was synthetic oil. It was even better.

Cameron explained everything to the girls. All three of them were happier than they were before. It was a relatively modern innovation to be used in remote areas like where they were. Synthetic oil was much more expensive than oil.

"At least we are within a few decades of our time." Cameron said.

Allison was aware it could be a pendulum swing with the direction of time.

"Is it in the future or in the past?" Allison asked.

The elation of the girls all faded a little with her statement. It was still a wide span of years.

Allison's question was still a worry to Cameron. She hoped for the past as opposed to the future. Any time ahead in the future would allow John more time with Riley. If it was in the past, it would allow them time to return to where and when they left from, before anything actually occurred. There was still no way for her to make a determination.

"I don't know yet." Cameron said.

Vanna swatted at some insects hovering around her. Her exposed skin seemed to be highly attractive to the insects.

"We should be able to get some clothes soon." Vanna said.

Jesse still liked to see all of them all naked. She found the insect problem troubling as well. She hoped to lighten the mood some.

"We don't want those small bright pink nipples getting sunburnt, do we?" Jesse joked.

Vanna glanced at Jesse. They were very different in many regards in the details of their anatomy, especially in pigmentation of various areas.

"Larger browner nipples can get sun burnt too." Vanna said.

Allison looked at Cameron and then at herself. They were both closer to Vanna, than they were to Jesse, in all areas.

"Mine are in-between, and I don't want mine sunburnt either." Allison said. "I guess we won't have to worry about 'tan lines' this way."

Cameron smiled at the girl's playful banter. The new revelations really lifted everyone's spirits. She really needed a look at the sky. She wanted to know exactly what time period they were in. It gave her hope anyway.

Cameron proceeded with caution. The last thing she wanted to encounter was a group of men. Finding the girls, lost and naked, would prompt the men to want 'more'. She didn't want them to be subjected to violent predatory sexual behavior again.

She wanted to be the one to find anyone, or any threat first.

Cameron stopped and listened. She stiffened. The far off sound was a threat of the worst kind. It wasn't what she wanted to hear. It was modern machinery for sure.

"Everyone get down." Cameron nearly shouted. "Back up against the trees quickly."

The girls did as Cameron instructed and looked around them. They couldn't detect anything different. They knew it was a threat, they just didn't know what.

"What is it?" Vanna asked worriedly.

Cameron looked in the direction she could hear the noise. It sounded as if it was headed straight for them.

"It might be an HK drone." Cameron said. "Hurry…."

The noise grew louder.

Cameron listened but couldn't yet see it. As she continued to listen she was relieved. She could now identify the noise.

"It's a small jet." Cameron said.

The girls could all hear it now as well.

One minute later a small twin engine jet flew low over them. It was painted black. The landing gear was down. The flaps were down.

Cameron immediately headed in the direction the jet was going. It must have been lined up to land on a runway if the gear and flaps were both down.

It started to get dark.

"The jet is going to land close by here." Cameron said. "It's within five miles based on its approach. I think it's closer."

Cameron knew exactly what direction to go based upon the approach of the jet. They would probably have to weave their way through the terrain, but she would always know the right heading to return to.

The girls tensed up. They understood what it would mean. Contact would soon happen. They were under armed and undressed. None of them wanted to be apprehended in an unclothed condition. They knew what would follow their capture. They all knew Cameron would protect them from it. It also meant there was a good chance they could be injured during the process.

"We are bound to run into humans or machines soon." Cameron said.

Vanna swatted at some more insects.

"The sooner we get some clothes the better." Vanna said.

Allison wanted a sip of water soon.

"I'm starting to get thirsty too." Allison said.

Cameron looked sadly at the three girls. She understood their hardships and displeasures. She hadn't allowed them to drink any of the water they encountered. She understood physical exertion, the heat, and dehydration would all take a toll on them. It was all her fault. She didn't know what to say. If they were close to habitation, which it appeared, she should be able to get some supplies for them. She needed a little more time.

"I'm sorry for all the discomfort I've caused all of you." Cameron said. "I might be able to procure something safer to consume soon."

Jesse touched Cameron's arm to reassure her.

"Cameron, don't worry about it. We're all here with you by choice." Jesse said. "We've all endured Hell in our past, the future."

The responsibility weighed heavily on Cameron.

"I still feel bad because I've marooned us 'somewhere' in time." Cameron said.

Vanna knew they left for the future. They knew what the future was like.

"We all knew we were headed for a struggle before we left." Vanna said. "We all came anyway. We're all here for you, Cameron."

Cameron understood. It didn't make her feel any better.

A break came in the clouds. Cameron looked at the stars in the budding darkness.

"Oh no." Cameron said. "NO!"

Cameron looked like she might shut down. The girls became worried. It appeared as if there was a new danger. They were unable to spot it.

"What is it?" Vanna asked.

Cameron checked the stars again. She knew the answer would be the same. It was.

"We've been gone too long." Cameron said. "I've failed. It's over…."

Cameron started to cry.

The three girls became even more worried.

"How much time has passed?" Jesse asked.

They only arrived a few hours ago.

"We've only been here less than half a day." Allison said.

Cameron couldn't face the girls.

"John belongs to Riley now…." Cameron said.

The three girls all looked at each other. Now they were even more worried.

Allison wanted to know exactly what the time span was.

"How long has it been?" Allison asked.

Cameron didn't think it really mattered any longer. Time was her enemy.

"It's been too long. That's how long it's been." Cameron said. "I've thrown everything away for nothing."

It sounded like they were too far in the future.

Vanna was worried about something else other than just the date.

"Are we even in the same future?" Vanna asked.

Cameron wasn't sure it really mattered. Not any longer anyway.

"We are in the future all right. It's just not where I wanted to be. We're more than a decade off where I wanted to go." Cameron said. "I don't know which future it is either."

It sounded like the original mission was a bust.

"So we can't complete your mission?" Allison asked.

Cameron thought about what she left behind. She thought about where they currently were.

"No." Cameron said. "This was all for nothing."

Vanna hoped something was salvageable. There were still options which might be available to them, depending upon where and when they actually were.

"How long have we been gone from our departure date?" Vanna asked. "We can work something out."

Cameron did the math. To her, her world was gone.

"John and Riley should have at least one child by now." Cameron said as she nearly collapsed. "I've lost him 'forever' for NOTHING. Now I have less than NOTHING."

Allison remembered Cameron mentioned what she just said in one of her poems. She decided not to comment on it. She moved closer to Cameron, as did Vanna and Jesse.

Cameron cried as the girls tried to comfort and console her.

It pained all of them to see a mighty warrior reduced to tears. It showed them how much Cameron was really like all of them now. They all were in the same spot before.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Crossroads

Everyday life can grind to a halt
When confronted with life's crossroads
One can look in utter disbelief
As everything around them erodes

The choices seem slim when the crossroads
Are the junction of 'nowhere' and 'dead end'
Where is there to go at that point
There is nothing on which to depend

It all becomes very clouded
Life is about making choices
Things always seem confusing
As our head hears many voices

Which way is up
Which way is down
We are forced to wear a frown
Instead of a beautiful crown

Does one listen to others commands
As their life around them implodes
Or do they stand tall and firm
As they make their own crossroads

Nobody