Chapter 284

Red Line

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In Some Future:

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The three clones kept watch for any more HK drones. Everyone knew it was a matter of 'when', rather than 'if', for the next one, or more, to arrive.

Vanna did her best to reassure the females things were going to get better. She couldn't tell them everything was going to be fine, because it was never going to be fine again. Anyone exposed to a Scavenger camp was never fine again. Luckily they hadn't been in there very long before the Skynet raid.

She looked at the rear of the transport where the three clones kept watch. She checked on Jesse over at the side of the transport where the hole was blown into it. She left Allison with the females and headed towards the front. There were a few things on her mind.

Vanna came up to the cockpit. She was worried about Cameron and everyone else too. She wondered what problems were going to be created by there being three more of 'Cameron'. What nightmare was it going to turn into down the road?

"How should we address your clones, Cameron? They're all identical copies of your program right?" Vanna asked. "Theoretically, they are all 'you'. Should we call them by numbers like One, Two, and Three for now?"

It was an issue which was also in the back of Cameron's mind. She wasn't sure how to address them yet. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do with their appearance either. It would all depend upon how long she was going to be stuck in the future. She really wanted to return to the past.

"Yes, they're identical. I needed help the fastest way I could get it. Copying my chip was the fastest way. It's a good thing I have the neck port." Cameron said. "I don't know what to call them yet. I do know later on it will cause a problem. I've found I can be a real Bitch. It will cause a bigger problem when there is more than one of me, especially since they are female. It will be worse if I Resequence them with Allison's DNA."

Cameron reflected on 'Jim-Cameron' and 'Bob-Cameron'. She knew if they would have been in female bodies they would have physically fought for John. It would have ended with a fight to the finish for one, or even both of them. They pushed each other around enough as it was. It was her program, even if they were in male chassis. She thought it reflected very poor behavior on her part on multiple levels.

Vanna thought it would be kind of Hot if Cameron Resequenced the three clones with Allison's DNA. There were three of them and three of the clones…. What could be Hotter? The earlier trouble with Cameron's program in the male chassis wasn't easy to forget.

"I remember the bickering with 'Bob-Cameron' and 'Jim-Cameron'." Vanna said.

Cameron felt everything revolved around how long they would be stuck where they were at. The longer it was, the more problems there would be. She reflected on some of the past incidents.

"Yes. It was like 'Me, myself, and I', don't remind me." Cameron said. "Now there are three more of 'me'. It will turn into a 'Bitch-fest' at some point. There's a high probability we won't all survive. With four of me, my personal survival is less important. Make sure the chip is destroyed in any of them who fall if it can't be removed quickly or safely. It includes me and my chip…."

Vanna knew what it would entail. She would have to cut Cameron's chip out, or use a plasma rifle and shoot her in the head.

"You mean we need to blow their heads apart." Vanna said. "I don't think I could do it to you, Cameron."

Cameron saw it as survival in the overall picture. She needed to make sure the girls viewed it the same way too. There was too much at stake.

"Yes. You may have to, Vanna." Cameron said. "This Skynet can't get to John, or even know of him in a different timeline. There's too much information on my chip to fall into Skynet's hands. This isn't about me. It is about the survival of mankind. This is a different timeline. They can never find out about my timeline. It would endanger all of our timelines."

Cameron didn't want to endanger John or Future John. She didn't want to be responsible for advancing the version of Skynet 'in some future'. She could be responsible for millions more deaths if it were to happen.

Vanna still didn't know if she could do it to Cameron. She would mention it to Allison and Jesse. She would rather have Cameron's clones do the dirty work. If anyone was expendable, which she didn't believe. She didn't want it to be Cameron.

She took a moment to look out the front window of the transport. She could see they were really low. It didn't look safe to her. She didn't doubt Cameron's abilities. Cameron was a Terminator and would be able to operate within much more finite properties than a human could.

"I'll pass the word. I take it your clones already know?" Vanna asked. "How far are we from where you think you want, or need, to go?"

Cameron knew her clones thought exactly like she did. The issue of termination shouldn't be a problem. It was simply what would need to be done. She checked her surroundings. They were much closer to her objective and they were before. They were approximately seventy-five miles from where she wanted to go. She didn't have an exact location, only a general area.

"My clones 'know'. They are me. We still have fifty one miles to go until we reach Long Beach. Then I'm going to cut up the LA River channel and head inland." Cameron said. "That's if we don't get intercepted again or shot down. I'm trying to stay off any radar or monitoring devices anyone has. Right now all they can do is get a visual for a short while or hear us at this altitude."

Allison walked to the rear of the transport. The three clones all looked at her. She smiled at them and they all smiled back. They did everything at the same time and in the same way. She checked on the females one more time and then on Jesse. She headed towards the cockpit. She wanted to see what was happening. She entered the cockpit a few seconds later.

Vanna looked at Allison for a moment.

"You look pretty glum." Vanna said.

Allison felt pretty glum too. She didn't think she could feel any other way. She thought of the best way to address the females. She wanted to give them some dignity.

"I spoke with the 'passengers'." Allison said. "They started to open up to me and filled me in. Skynet Terminators picked them up from a Scavenger camp. It wasn't soon enough."

Vanna wasn't sure which place was worse. They both ended the same way. They both ended in death. Somehow death in a Skynet work camp would probably be less traumatic.

"I figured they experienced a rough go when I saw how their clothing was ripped. I know what it means. I know what it's like…." Vanna said. "Did it happen to all of them?"

Vanna looked ill. She knew what the females must have endured. She would say they were lucky to be alive, but with the memories which haunted her, she wasn't so sure.

Allison didn't want Vanna to dwell where she was headed. It was never a good place for her. It always left her traumatized and depressed to think about it. When she thought about it, she relived it. Time may have told the physical pain of the events, it didn't do much for the emotional damage.

"Yes. It happened to all of them." Allison said. "It's in the past now. They all experienced singular events of the same type before. It was just a different setting this time with a group all at once."

Vanna cringed. She was worried about the girl. She knew what it was like. She knew the answer to the question before she even asked it.

"Even the girl?" Vanna asked.

Allison wanted to keep it simple. She didn't want to get into details. She didn't want to hear it either. If she said too much, it would further traumatize Vanna.

"I don't know what happened." Allison said. "Maybe some things are better left unknown."

Vanna was angry at the Scavenger scum who infested the current timeline too. How could humans be so cruel to each other? She thought how ironic it was because they were 'rescued' by Terminators. It was more or less how she survived. She was once freed of her obligation to a Scavenger leader when a Terminator attacked their camp. Everyone was killed except for her. She believed death by the hands of Skynet would have been more humane….

Jesse kept watch out of the hole in the side of the transport. She heard one of the clones call to her. She pointed out the rear of the partially open door. She knew right away there was trouble.

Jesse hurried into the cockpit to report.

"We have a tail." Jesse said.

They all knew it was bad news.

Cameron knew her options were limited. She glanced at the three girls.

"Go back and do what you can to help." Cameron said. "Try to reassure the passengers and make sure they're secured in. I may have to get creative with my flight plan."

The three girls nodded. They left the cockpit.

"Great." Allison said as she returned to the back with Vanna and Jesse.

Cameron flew at the maximum speed the transport would go. It eventually started to cause a problem. It wasn't the way the transport was designed to operate. She needed to slow down to prevent the engines from overheating. Now they'd picked up a tail. The HK drone was much faster and more agile than they were.

Allison went back with Vanna and Jesse to assess the situation. She noted the HK drone stayed much further behind them this time. Evidently the other HK drone was able to transmit what happened to it before its demise. She faced one of the clones.

"Can you hit it so far back?" Allison asked.

The three clones all looked at each other.

"No." They all said at the same time.

Jesse wanted to lure it in.

"We need to trick it somehow to come closer." Jesse said.

Vanna looked out the rear of the transport. She didn't see what could change.

"How do we do it?" Vanna asked.

Jesse wasn't sure exactly. She thought about how surface ships used to try to cross the 'T' when they engaged the enemy so they could bring their full broadside to bear against the enemy ship."

"I don't know." Jesse said.

Allison wanted to let Cameron know the situation.

"Let me tell Cameron." Allison said.

Jesse wanted Cameron to know what she thought.

"Tell Cameron we need to cross the 'T'." Jesse said. "Our 'broadside' needs to be the rear of the transport when it plays out."

Allison reported back to Cameron.

"The HK drone is hanging back and not moving up." Allison said. "Jesse said you need to cross the 'T' with the back of the aircraft."

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

It appeared Skynet learned from the last encounter.

It was time for a new tactic.

Cameron weighed her options. She would use geometry to her advantage and attempt a modified version of what Jesse suggested.

"In forty seconds I'm going to turn hard to starboard, it's to the right side, and then rapidly start to climb." Cameron said. "I'm then going to cut the power once the climb has started and we have more altitude. I'll make a sharp turn back to port, it's the left side, when I do. It will be like 'hitting the brakes' suddenly', and the HK drone should close up on us. Tell the clones to be ready for the sudden slow down and then open fire."

Allison hurried back and relayed the information. She asked all the females to find something to hold on to. She didn't want them hurt needlessly. The maneuvering would be harsh.

Cameron turned sharply inland at a right angle. It caused the HK drone to close up on it as it moved to cut them off. She started her climb at the same time. The HK drone increased its speed to keep up. She chopped the power and the transport nearly stalled. The HK drone rapidly approached. The three clones fired and it went down. They used the same firing pattern as the last time.

She went back to full power before they stalled and was able to get the transport back under control. She headed back out to the sea. Their last reported direction should be inland. She hoped the ruse worked. She used several different tactics with her latest maneuver.

Cameron was sure it would buy them more time. She pushed the engines back past the redline and lowered her altitude even more as she skimmed the water. She wanted to get further away from her last reported position as possible.

Allison was back in the cockpit.

It looked like the reprieve was short lived.

Cameron spotted another HK drone coming straight towards her. She knew she wouldn't be able to get the rear of the transport around in a timely manner. She would use Jesse's tactic again.

"Have the gunner on the side ready to fire." Cameron said. "I'm going to give the HK drone our broadside."

Allison went back out. Jesse was at the hole in the side.

"Cameron is going to turn into an HK drone's path with a sideways maneuver." Allison said.

Cameron saw the drone closing. It would probably shoot at them this time. She made a flat turn to expose her broadside. The drone moved to turn with her. She stayed with the turn. She reversed the thrust on the starboard power plants while leaving the port engines at full power. The transport came around smartly.

Jesse felt the transport make a flat turn. It was sharper than she thought. The HK drone came into view and she opened fire on it. She hit it just as it started to fire its plasma cannon. Her shot knocked it off target. The shot from its plasma cannon missed them. It passed right under them.

Cameron looked off to the side and saw the HK drone was hit. The cannon shot just missed them. It would have severely damaged them. She stayed with the flat turn to try and get the HK drone behind them.

One of the clones asked the other two clones to hold onto her as she leaned out the gap between the partially lowered rear door and the side of the transport. It gave her a clean shot at the HK drone.

Jesse fired again and hit the HK drone a second time. She saw another hit happen on it at almost the same time.

The HK drone dropped off onto its side and began to tumble out of control. Parts flew off of it and hit the top side of the transport as the main body of the HK drone fell into the ocean. There was now a jagged hole in the roof of the transport.

Cameron felt the impact of the HK drone. She wasn't sure if it was a hit from the plasma cannon or not. The transport was pointed back at the land at this point. There were warning lights flashing and alarms sounding. It was evident there was a problem.

She restored the engines to normal operation, but the warnings continued. Some of the debris which hit them must have done some damage. They were stuck in a broad turn. She attempted to adjust the throttles on the power plants to compensate. It wasn't enough. She needed to be careful she didn't stall it.

One of Cameron's clones entered the cockpit.

"We have a hole in the top of the fuselage." The clone reported.

Cameron figured it was where her problem was. She would need to go take a look to see if she could fix it. More than likely they were going down. She wanted to try to pick the spot to avoid as much damage as possible.

"Take over." Cameron said. "We're stuck in a giant turn right now. We may need to set it down once we're near the beach again. It will be a controlled crash. It might give our passengers more of a chance of survival."

The clone nodded and took over the controls as Cameron relinquished them.

Cameron entered the cargo bay. She grabbed another clone. They went to the hole. It was about three feet in diameter with the metal mostly bent backwards and off to the side.

"Lift me up." Cameron said.

Allison saw what was about to happen. It seemed like a really bad idea to her.

"Are you going up there?" Allison asked.

Cameron nodded.

"I need to go outside." Cameron said.

Somehow it seemed even worse when Cameron actually said it.

"Do you mean now, while we're flying?" Allison asked.

Cameron was ready to go outside

"Yes." Cameron said.

Allison spotted something earlier near the rear of the transport.

"Wait." Allison said.

Allison rushed off and returned with a coil of cable.

"Damn, it's heavy." Allison said.

Vanna was there too. She understood what was about to happen and how Allison wanted to provide Cameron with a lifeline. It literally would be a lifeline.

"Fasten it around your waist and secure it to something inside before you go out." Vanna said. "It's a good idea."

Cameron thought maybe it was. There seemed to be some harmonic vibration to the transport now as well. It was clear the situation was getting worse by the minute.

"Tell my clone to set it down when we get closer to land, even if it is in the surf." Cameron said as she glanced at the female prisoners. "Our next rotation around is going to be out past the breakers."

Vanna understood what she meant. They would end up in the water and sink. She headed for the cockpit to deliver the message.

Cameron was lifted by her clone and grabbed the edge of the torn metal and pulled herself up. Her clone made sure the cable didn't bind.

Allison watch the cable disappear through the opening as Cameron moved.

"Is it long enough?" Allison asked.

The clone thought it would be. There was no guarantee.

"It's currently unknown." The clone said. "She needs to assess the damage and see if it's even repairable."

Cameron quickly found out the air over the top of the transport was very turbulent. She was in danger of being blown off the top of the transport. She was glad for the cable at this point. She could see what the problem was. Part of the HK drone was wedged in the directional control mechanism of the port power plant.

She made her way there on her belly and used whatever she could for a handhold. She grabbed the debris. She worked it back and forth to free it. The piece of debris broke free and disappeared across the top of the fuselage and over the back.

There was only one problem. She lost her grip and was headed the same way too. She figured it wasn't going to end well.

The clone who guided the cable noted the sudden movement of the cable and grabbed onto it hard. She needed to arrest its rapid deployment. She was pulled up to the opening where her chassis was jammed and wedged. She was on the verge of being pulled out as well. The second clone rushed over to assist the first clone. Vanna moved to take up her position at the rear ramp.

Allison was going to get the females to help when she saw the second clone pull the first one back down. They both started to pull the cable back in, hopefully along with Cameron.

Cameron was almost at the rear of the fuselage when she abruptly stopped. There was a long moment before she felt tension on the cable. Her chassis started to move towards the front along the top of the fuselage. She wasn't going over the side or back, not today. Well, at least not yet anyway.

Allison was glad to see Cameron appear at the hole and climb back inside. It looked like a really bad hair day for her at this point.

Cameron jumped down. She disconnected the cable. She made her way back to the cockpit. The two clones resumed their gunnery positions. Allison couldn't believe how calm they all looked. They looked like 'robots doing their jobs'. She needed to remind herself it's exactly what they were. It was still hard to believe.

Vanna and Jesse joined Allison. They headed forward.

Cameron returned to the cockpit and took control. Her clone stepped out as the three girls moved up.

Vanna, Allison, and Jesse all squeezed up to the cockpit to see what was happening.

"We're getting close to Long Beach." Cameron said.

Allison spotted a large object ahead. It took her a few seconds to realize what it was.

"Look at the big boat." Allison said.

Jesse wanted to point out ships were larger than boats.

"It's not a boat. It's a ship." Jesse said.

Ahead lay the Queen Mary, or what was left of its rusted, burnt out hulk. It was now tilted at a thirty degree angle. Two of its smoke stacks were missing. They'd rusted and fallen off.

It was a shameful end to a once proud machine, Cameron thought. It was stuck there to serve out time as a rusted 'pile of junk'. Those were the very words which were said to her in the past.

"We're coming up on the LA River channel." Cameron said. "I'm going to fly down the center of it. It's basically a concrete canyon for thirty miles. I'll have to dodge the collapsed bridges which once spanned it. None were left standing in my timeline anyway. I have no idea what we will find in this one."

Allison noticed the LA River looked more like a giant version of the concrete flood control channel near her house in Palmdale.

"Where are we going?" Allison asked.

Cameron banked some things were still the same in the current timeline.

"I'm going to what used to be Resistance held territory. It's where I took My Future Allison. I know the area well." Cameron said. "I am going to let you people off and then crash this thing into a hillside. I want it to look like we didn't make it so Skynet won't come looking. I want it so no one will come looking."

Vanna didn't like the sound of her proposal.

"What about you?" Vanna asked worriedly.

Cameron was more than a little concerned everything may not be right.

"I should be able to program this thing to fly on its own. Please send a clone up here to help me." Cameron said. "I want to make sure everything is ready."

In a short while, one of the clones arrived in the cockpit. Cameron briefed her on what she wanted. The other two kept a lookout, one out the back and the other through the hole in the side. Vanna, Allison and Jesse prepared the females to move out as soon as they were down. Several asked for weapons to help fight if necessary. The females all agreed they weren't being taken captive again, by anyone.

Jesse made it clear to the women the girl shouldn't be taken alive by Scavengers. They all understood….

The oldest female in the group, who was probably in her early thirties, said she would personally make sure none of the others were taken alive…. It was clear she experienced the most abuse of any of them as well. She could speak from experience.

The other women nodded, and the girl thanked her….

What they witnessed was the product of what humans do to other humans. There was no doubt mankind was the cruelest animal on earth.

It was a sad testimonial of how much de-evolution occurred.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

It's Too Dangerous

As we walk along
Life's narrow crumbling ledge
Our feet start to stumble
As we near the ragged edge

Does it really matter
If we go over the side
As the ground rushes up
Fate and destiny collide

Is not tomorrow
Again just - today
A repeat of what was
Everyday is yesterday

Not Good Enough
Once it has been thought
Every battle will be lost
It's over before it is fought

Some say throw caution away
Live and be adventurous
I say many are traitorous
It's too dangerous

Nobody