Chapter 181
High Desert
John felt they needed to follow up on the HK drone sighting. Cameron agreed to go along and help track down the HK drone. They would each lead a team of two Terminators. He wanted to try to keep a small footprint. The operation was to be a reconnaissance.
There was the uneasy feeling the enemy activity was a ruse to lure them out into the open so they could be targeted. If there was a Skynet related group out there, they needed to be dealt with. Any vestige of Skynet was a threat to the future. They would need to be vigilant and try to strike the first blow.
It was time for a road trip through the High Desert. They would need to traverse through the region to reach the Tehachapi area. One was almost totally flat land. The other was an isolated mountainous region.
The two teams armed themselves with the weapons they thought they might need. It was supposed to be a recon mission. They always seemed to have a way of escalating, especially if Cameron was along.
John wanted to gather any intel they could first so they could track down the source of where the HK drone was constructed. An assembly line posed the biggest threat to the present as well as the future. They took down one facility recently before a production line could be set up. Maybe there was another in the works some place else. Maybe the HK drone John Henry detected was from the building they took down. They needed answers, not speculation.
They took State Route 14 north from Interstate 5. They would need to pass through Acton, Palmdale, Lancaster and Mojave along the route.
The teams were a little more than a third of the way there. They currently were about to pass through Palmdale. Cameron thought about asking to stop and see Young Allison. She then thought better of it. She knew the importance of Young Allison for the future. Since her sheath was 'altered', Young Allison's future with John would be necessary. It was the 'Natural Order' of the future anyway. John may resist accepting his future, but she knew what it already was.
A new thought came into her mind in its place. Cameron knew she belonged around machines. It would be nice to see a machine, be a machine, and do what it was designed to do. Not masquerade as something it wasn't.
Cameron was very familiar with the area surrounding Sierra Highway. It was one way to access Edwards Air Force Base. She was there a few times to check on things, or 'borrow' a few things.
Sierra Highway was actually built next to the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. It was currently controlled by another company. The rail line was constructed between 1875 and 1876. Everything else in the area came later. There were still vast empty areas of nothing but High Desert terrain. Depending upon the altitude, Joshua Trees would appear from time to time.
"Can we drive along Sierra Highway?" Cameron asked. "We can parallel the railroad tracks. Maybe we can pick up a train to pace. We would all be headed in the same direction."
Bob would have preferred to stay on the 14 Freeway. He wanted to accommodate Cameron. Maybe if they did what she wanted, she would seem less depressed. He took the next exit and cut over to the east for a short distance. He then headed north along Sierra Highway which paralleled the railroad tracks.
The community of Palmdale itself continued to grow. They would need to cross over the railroad tracks in two different places as the road switched sides. The tracks remained in the same location going from north to south. They went under a railroad bridge.
"Those are the tracks for the Colton Cut Off." Cameron said. "It was completed in the late Sixties to bypass Los Angeles for traffic headed for the Sunset Route."
They passed near Palmdale Airport. They didn't spot any of the B-2 bombers in for maintenance. They passed through some desert brush in the ever shrinking gap between Palmdale and Lancaster. The two communities would soon become one giant metropolitan area.
They passed an F-4 Phantom II on a pedestal in Lancaster. It was next to the railroad tracks. Cameron thought it wasn't a good fate for a once proud machine. It was 'retired' and stuck on a pedestal. It was trapped there for everyone to see. It was unable to do what it was built for. The other choice was the scrapper's torch. She knew the aircraft would slowly deteriorate over the years if it remained on display exposed to the elements. The elements took its toll on everything, including the landscape.
Cameron wondered about the fate of Terminators. Would they end up on display in a museum some day? What kind of humiliation would it be? She could only imagine the abuse her sheath would suffer at the hands of those who viewed it. She wondered if at some point it would be displayed without clothing, further adding to the humiliation. She would gladly choose the scrapper's torch over the pedestal for herself. At least she could make her own choice, the poor plane couldn't.
She wondered what it would be like to fly a Phantom. She would fly a few feet off the ground at supersonic speed. She would push it to past Mach 2.5 at altitude. She would 'zoom climb' to its maximum altitude to see the earth from miles up above it.
She wondered what it would be like to bail out and open the parachute at such a great height. She could slowly float down to the ground from the high altitude. She would drift for miles. She didn't need oxygen. It would be cold. It shouldn't affect her functioning. She wasn't sure if it would have any effect on the parachute. It seemed unlikely.
Cameron thought it would be beautiful…. She could be free as she floated and drifted high over the landscape…. Maybe it was what it would be like to get away from it all….
Freedom….
Now it didn't really matter, nothing did. She'd already started events which were now unstoppable. The choice was final.
Just north of Lancaster the railroad tracks paralleled Sierra Highway very closely. There was a shallow drainage ditch between them and a small patch of dirt which was part of the 'right of way'. In a few minutes they picked up a container train. It was running northbound at track speed. They slowly overtook it.
Cameron looked at Bob and smiled.
"I want you to pace the locomotives." Cameron said.
Bob looked over at her. He slowed some as they approached the head end power.
There were five big diesel-electric locomotives on the point.
Cameron rolled down her window, the throaty sound was awesome.
"Listen to them thunder." Cameron said. "They're powerful machines."
The five big yellow locomotives bulled their way across the High Desert and the slowly increasing grade.
"I love the sound of those four cycle engines. The single two cycle engine among them just doesn't have the same throaty roar." Cameron said. "I like the 'muscle car' sound."
The five locomotives represented two separate manufacturers. General Electric constructed the four cycle engines. General Motors constructed the two cycle engine. The specific engine models were rated at 4400 horsepower and 4300 horsepower respectively by the manufacturers. They were nearly identical in performance, but differed in construction details. They were the products of two competitors. Everyone believed they could build a better 'mousetrap'.
To see, hear, and feel the vibrations of the locomotives up close like they were, as they worked hard, made Cameron think about her recent adventure on Donner Pass.
'Wreck Of The Old 97' by 'Johnny Cash', played in Cameron's mind. She liked the live version from Folsom Prison the best.
Cameron felt sad she wrecked the replica Cab Forward. There wasn't time to do anything else. The people were trapped on the narrow ledge outside of the tunnel. She took the risk. She didn't even know who she was when she did it. She only knew she needed to save the people. Maybe if she would have known she was actually a very scary robot from the future, she wouldn't have done it. She didn't know who or what she was when she did it. She felt the need to help those who required assistance.
She used some of her 'funny money', confiscated from illicit drug and crime operations, to contract with the manufacturing firm who fabricated the replica she destroyed. They were paid to custom make several more new AC-12 locomotives. She wanted to replace what she ruined. They would be custom built replicas as was the one she wrecked. Modern manufacturing techniques allowed for the reproduction of various types of machinery long ago forgotten to time. It also included aircraft.
The replacements should make everyone happy, just like her replacements would make everyone happy…. She liked when everyone was happy. Some things were just so simple.
As Cameron's life 'burnt' around her, she wondered how to save herself. She could see no reason to do so. She only hoped the Resequencing would start so she could progress with her plans. As soon as she saw or felt the changes, the new chip would be installed and 'Cameron' would be no more. A big smile came across her face. Freedom was near. It would be beautiful to escape….
There wouldn't be any more problems. There wouldn't be any more worry. There would just be nothing. It was really something to look forward to, freedom, freedom at last.
Bob noticed the smile on Cameron's face. It worried him. He was worried as were all of the Terminators about Cameron. She was their leader and the backbone of the Resistance. John was the General. It was Cameron who did the most to hurt Skynet. She always took the fight to the enemy. Most of the Resistance victories could be attributed to her.
He was aware the action came with a price. Cameron was extensively damaged in all the combat over the years. Maybe what was happening to her internally was a manifestation of all the action and damage. She was the one who always took the risk herself over the other Terminators. Her courage and bravery wasn't lost on them. It's why her current 'condition' troubled all of them so. She was their leader and inspiration. They needed her.
Derek, Kyle, Jim, and Mel continued to follow the two men who visited the destroyed Skynet location.
John Henry was able to track them with the tracker Jim placed on their vehicle.
"It looks like they're headed back into the city." Kyle said. "I'm surprised our 'marks' haven't been blown up yet. Well, you know what I mean."
Jim kept track of the remote control detonator on the deactivated bomb. So far it hadn't received a signal yet.
"Maybe the Gray, or Terminator, wants to see what they found out first." Jim said.
Derek doubted the two men would ever be able to spend the money they were promised.
"I'm sure once they leave the meet, they won't go far." Derek said. "It was probably put there in case the men decided to run before they completed their task."
Once they were in traffic, they closed up the distance on the other vehicle. They were less than half of a mile behind it. Whenever they switched to a parallel route, they would close up to within a quarter mile of it, one street over.
John Henry was able to view the vehicle once they were in the city from the different traffic cams, and surveillance cameras, along their route. Both of the men were still in it.
They expected the vehicle to arrive at an industrial building somewhere along the way. It wasn't where it eventually stopped at. The car pulled over to the side of the road and the two men exited.
"I thought they'd end up in a shopping mall, if they didn't end up in an industrial building." Derek said.
Kyle was a little concerned about the location as well.
"There are a lot of kids around the area." Kyle said. "I didn't think they would stop at a park either."
The location left them somewhat exposed as well.
They watched the two men exit the vehicle. They carried an old duffel bag with them.
Kyle and Mel got out on one side of the park.
Derek and Jim drove to the other side and got out.
They waited to see who the two men made contact with.
Holly was in the back seat behind Cameron.
She reflected on the changes she was going to subject herself to for John. She needed to keep telling herself she was a Terminator, nothing more. It was her function to assist the Resistance. To have John Connor, with his wife Cameron by his side, would aid the Resistance and bridge the gap between Man and Machine. It would help unify the factions and bring peace. Now she would have to, no, must, turn over her chassis to Cameron so it could be Resequenced with her current appearance.
She would sacrifice for the Resistance, the future, and John Connor. It was necessary after Cameron purposely 'ruined' her sheath.
Holly wondered what her new appearance would be once her chip was placed in Cameron's altered chassis…. She didn't think it would look anything like her current one.
She thought of asking Cameron if she could 'be with' John one time before her chip was switched into the altered chassis. She wanted to know for herself what it was like. She also didn't want Cameron to be the first to 'use' her chassis. She should have the privilege. She wasn't the one who 'ruined' herself. She would allow Cameron to have her chassis. She didn't want to allow Cameron to have her purity as well.
John's team followed Cameron's team. They didn't know why they exited the freeway when they did and picked up Sierra Highway.
Unit Three, now referred to as Three, didn't like the alternate route.
"Why are we taking this road?" Three asked. "The freeway is more efficient. There are stop lights and cross traffic along this route."
They followed Cameron's team through Palmdale and Lancaster. They eventually caught up with a train traveling northbound.
Three noted the other SUV slowed some.
"I wonder why they've slowed." Three said.
John wasn't actually sure. He was sure it was something to do with Cameron.
"I think probably because Cameron wants to do so. They're pacing the locomotives now." John said.
Three took a moment to take in the activity. He thought there was some beauty to observe the five big machines as they worked. It was a simple task based upon horsepower, tractive effort, and tonnage to be moved. The other factors involved in the equation were the grade and curvature of the tracks once they reached the mountains. It didn't appear as if the weather would factor in under the current conditions. There were always variables to any task, even one as simple as hauling freight.
"They are giant powerful machines." Three said. "They will have their work cut out for them soon as they enter the steeper grade to get over the mountains."
They all could see the mountains looming in front of them to the north and west. Situated in the center of them was Tehachapi. There was a lot of remote land on both sides of it through the mountain pass. Those remote areas would be a good place for the enemy to set up an ambush.
They passed the turn off to Edwards AFB to the east and continued north. They soon entered the community of Mojave. It seemed to have shrunk since Highway 58 bypassed it to the east. Highway 58 used to run through the middle of the town. Many communities were abandoned as the freeways bypassed them, they didn't have the same importance anymore. Mojave was luckier since State Route 14 still ran into it, and through it, before angling off to the northeast.
Cameron thought of herself as abandon, bypassed, replaced, thrown away, trash, rubbish, garbage, and waste. She hated herself at times. Why wasn't she 'good enough' for Future John to keep? How does one banish the one they love? Why did HER John choose Future Riley? WHY? Why was she 'not good enough'? Why couldn't John push the button for her? She would be 'gone'. John would have the women time chose for him. Why…?
They crossed over the railroad tracks on a large bridge. There was a second set of railroad tracks which came from the east along the north edge of Edwards Air Force base. It was a competitor railroad. The two railroads shared trackage rights from Mojave to Bakersfield over Tehachapi pass. She spotted a sign with an airplane on it and an arrow pointing east soon after they entered Mojave.
Cameron remembered something Derek mentioned once. The Mojave airport contained a collection of Warbirds, and former military aircraft, used for recreation and research. There were many other aircraft stored there as well.
"Take the turn off for the airport." Cameron said.
Bob did so. He wondered what Cameron was up to.
"Why?" Bob asked as he headed east.
Cameron wanted to see things for herself. It was an impulse she felt.
"I want to go there." Cameron said. "I do what I want."
Bob shot Cameron a quick glance. He wasn't so sure about her answer. There was no need not to accommodate her request. The airport dealt with aircraft. The HK drone was a type of aircraft, even if it wasn't. There was always more than met the eye. There was no need to argue with Cameron.
"Indeed." Bob said.
John watched Bob make a quick right hand turn. He wondered if there was a problem at first.
Three was a little confused by the deviation of the route as well.
"Now where are they going?" Three asked.
John spotted the sign with the airplane on it, and the arrow pointing east. He remembered Derek talking to him about some rare aircraft there before.
"It appears they're going to the airport." John said. "Maybe Cameron thinks there's something here linked to the HK drone. There's a lot of research and testing done there. It's possible someone might know something. There could be people who have seen things or heard other people talk about things."
Three wasn't so sure Skynet would be so careless. Then again, he did need to remember the HK Drone was spotted during daylight. It was certainly a reckless move on someone's part.
In the distance around the airport were parked dozens and dozens and dozens of aircraft, most of them were airliners. They sat lonely in the desert as they waited for the scrapper's torch, or a reprieve on life, and a chance, a small one, to return to service. Most would be broken up and scrapped.
A few would be lucky and selected to be converted into 'fire retardant bombers'. There was no shortage of wildfires any more. They would live out a few more years as their air frames were stressed out doing low altitude water and retardant drops. They would eventually need to be grounded for good before they suffered from metal fatigue and crashed.
Cameron looked at all the parked aircraft and felt sorry for them. They were machines waiting for a reprieve which would never come. The only thing that would come for them was the scrapper's torch. It seemed to be the fate of all machines. It didn't matter if they could still do the job or not. Once someone deemed them as 'obsolete', they no longer were wanted. Maybe it was what would happen to her fellow Terminators. Liquid Metal Terminators would make models like her obsolete. The next stop for them was the scrapper's torch, or the junk pile.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
I Thought People Cried
People feel happy
People feel sad
People feel sorrow
People feel glad
One is afflicted
By their own emotions
Usually the result of where
They have put their devotions
So is it to ourselves
To whom we do it to
Or is it what another
Has done unto you
It's amazing how one
Can hurt another so much
Without ever laying a hand
Without ever even a touch
With no where left to hide
I thought people cried
I have seen them devastated
Some have even died
Nobody
When They Were Sad
Stay away from me
Leave me alone
I don't want to talk to you
Into the trash I'm thrown
This isn't how you treat
The one you love inside
Pretend they don't exist
Dodge, run, avoid, and hide
How can you do this to
The one in your heart so true
I know you love me
And you know I love you
Cast me aside
Send me adrift
One day you will recognize
True love is a gift
You wonder why my tears flow
You think I should be glad
I thought people cried
When they were sad
Nobody