Chapter 308

Her Own Self

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In Some Future:

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Cameron and her three clones left the main captured Skynet facility. She was worried most about allowing the Liquid Metal being to escape. She couldn't term it as a Terminator. There was never a distinctive shape to it other than the moving liquid mass.

One of the clones wished to increase their ability to check things on their way back.

"Do you want to remain together, or split into teams?" One clone asked.

Cameron thought they could check out more things as two separate teams. There seemed to be plenty which needed to be checked out too. It looked like they were going to need to spend a lot of time there. There were a lot of things which clearly needed to be addressed. Those were just the things visible on the surface. It would probably be ten times worse once they actually started to look into things.

She would really like to find the Liquid Metal being and see how it escaped into the past. The prospect seemed slim at this point. They must not have been able to follow it, otherwise they would have arrived when it did. They didn't. They were still stuck there.

Cameron split the teams. She and one clone would explore a new area and the other team would pass back through the area they traversed to get to where they were at. They were to avoid the troublesome checkpoint. There was a chance the men there would panic about the earlier events and try to cover their tracks.

It was possible there could be a different group there now. They might try and pull the same thing the first group did. It was definitely something which would change under her involvement. No female would need to pay a 'pole tax' while she was around.

Cameron and one clone returned through a different area. They noted the usual irregularities and sloppiness as they did elsewhere. There was something else they encountered. It didn't look like it was going to be anything good either. There was some weapon's fire up ahead. It wasn't directed at them. She and her clone looked for cover in case they might need it.

They took some additional weapons from the facility when they left. They also found the area where the Grays were once housed. The most disturbing thing they found there was one of the bunks contained rope on all four corners. It appeared the bunk was used by the Grays to 'acclimate' any of the female prisoners who were rounded up, before they were sent to a work camp and certain death at some point. It appeared Skynet liked to keep the troops content. She understood they were also known as 'comfort bunks'. She didn't think anyone who was tied to one of them would experience any type of 'comfort' whatsoever. She believed they should be called what they were. It appeared some of the females died rather than 'serve' the Grays. It seemed like an honorable death given the choices.

They readied the newly appropriated gear and moved towards where the weapons fire was. They didn't know what was about to happen. They didn't know who engaged who. It could be two groups of Resistance fighters shooting at each other, or even two groups of Grays shooting at each other. There could be Scavengers involved for all they knew. One thing was for sure, they didn't know enough.

They needed to make sure they didn't become a target. Based on what occurred at the checkpoint, it seemed some individuals thought they were entitled to a little more from some individuals for no apparent reason, other than they were in a position of power.

Soon there was the unmistakable sound of an HK drone. She figured Skynet was doing reconnaissance. They probably attempted to locate the transport they stole. The HK drone seemed low and well into Resistance held territory. It could be damaged.

There was another round of weapons fire.

Cameron and her clone spotted the HK drone. It was low and right on the deck. It was smoking as it tried to make a run for it.

The two of them quickly spread out and opened fire on it. They both hit it in a power plant. It lost power. It impacted the ground and skidded across the dirt tearing a small furrow. It was mostly intact and suffered little crash damage. It was only about ten feet off of the ground when they took it down.

They closed in on it quickly.

Cameron knew HK drones often operated in pairs. They didn't want the second HK drone to find them before they were ready for it.

"Keep a look out for a second one." Cameron said.

She approached the HK drone and disconnected the power source. She pulled the chip out of it. It appeared the communications center was damaged. She removed the power cell as well.

She wasn't sure what the HK drone was able to transmit earlier, but it was out of communication with anyone when she brought it down with her clone. Any information gathered on the Resistance was probably a bad thing for them based upon what she saw. Skynet would be able to identify weak points to launch probes or even attacks.

The clone could hear some noise headed in their direction. It was on the ground. It was a group of men. They didn't know if it would be Skynet or Resistance forces. It could be Scavengers too. She was able to zoom in and spot what it was.

"There's a squad coming." The clone said. "They're dressed in Resistance uniforms."

Cameron felt a little relief. She also knew it didn't mean whoever was inside of the uniforms, were actually the original owners. The most likely culprits would be Scavengers. It was doubtful they would actually be Skynet forces. It would be best for them to remain undetected until they knew more. They looked around, there weren't a whole lot of places they could go for cover. They could end up in a firefight for all they knew.

They moved off into a dry gulch to see what unfolded. They weren't sure who the men were. They were very loud and seemed undisciplined.

Five men arrived on foot. They didn't establish any type of perimeter or post any type of guard. If there was a second HK drone, they would have little time to react.

There was a giant smile on the first trooper's face.

"See, I told you I hit it." The first trooper said.

The second trooper didn't seem impressed.

"It was already damaged." The second trooper said. "I think it just lost altitude and crashed. It looks like it 'belly landed'."

The first trooper seemed upset at the response. He kicked the side of the HK drone. There was a metallic noise.

"I still hit it." The first trooper said. "Here's the proof."

The third trooper looked at the downed HK drone.

"What should we do now?" The third trooper asked.

The fourth trooper carried some communication device.

"I tried to call HQ but never received a response." The fourth trooper said. "You know this gear doesn't work half the time. What would happen if we needed to call for assistance?"

There was still some residual smoke which drifted from a hole in the side of one of the power plants.

"Can this thing blow up?" The fifth trooper asked.

The other four men started laughing.

The fifth trooper seemed as concerned, as he was upset with their response.

"No, really…." The fifth trooper said. "It might be booby trapped in case it's shot down or crashes. They wouldn't want us to get a hold of it if it contained any type of valuable information. We would be able to find out where it came from and what its mission was."

The laughter quickly died off.

"Maybe he's right." The second trooper said.

The five men quickly moved away from the downed HK drone.

"Let's get a perimeter set up and guard this thing until we can get some of the people from Tech-Com here." The first trooper said. "Try and make a connection again."

Cameron decided to take off. She and her clone continued through the dry gulch and away from the poorly disciplined squad of men. They were the ones who possessed the chip. They went back the way they came. They chose not to interact with the squad. She didn't think it would be safe to be in the vicinity of them for several reasons. The main one was being shot at.

"There is probably going to be a lot of activity from where this squad came from." Cameron said. "I don't want to deal with more of these people yet. They're probably 'trigger happy' to boot."

The dry gulch soon was too shallow to offer any cover so they moved back alongside the dirt road.

They picked up the pace and were soon on the trail of her other two clones. They spotted them at one point and then lost them. They quickly deduced what was about to happen.

"They're setting up an ambush." Cameron said.

The clone nodded in agreement.

"It's what I would do too." The clone said.

Cameron wasn't about to take any chances. She knew what she would do if someone was following them.

"Black." Cameron called out.

There was a slight pause.

"Sheep." A clone answered.

The Metal girls rejoined and headed back to Mrs. Weaver's headquarters. They hoped they wouldn't encounter any other trouble or obstacles along the way.

Cameron and her clones returned after the meeting was finished. She went over some of the details with the girls. It wasn't a productive trip in the sense of anything new. Some of her goals were accomplished.

There was no TDE, or any indication this version of Skynet ever constructed one. Since Skynet was winning the war before Mrs. Weaver and the Restorators showed up, there was no need to change the past. There was no specific target. There was no John Connor to hunt down and terminate. It seemed the first organized Resistance the current version of Skynet met, was when Mrs. Weaver arrived with her force of Restorators.

Cameron informed the girl's they each now could have a 'copy' of her who was identical to her. She said they were all free to do as they chose to. It thrilled the girls to no end. The fact the clones would all soon look like Cameron pleased them even more.

She did ask if she was terminated, for one of the Resequenced clones to be returned to John in her place, but ONLY if she were terminated. The clone would revert back to the programming from this day. Anything after it was to be erased. She said the 'personal information' from the clone could be transferred to one of the other clones. John was never to know it wasn't actually her. Everyone agreed, Allison and Vanna said they would 'share' one clone between them if such an event occurred.

The girls now all obtained what they wanted most, 'a Cameron'. There was a 'Cameron' for them as a lover and mate forever. They all knew forever was a long time. They didn't realize it was done because Cameron thought they would be trapped in the current timeline forever, and none of them would ever return to the past. She didn't want to tell them she may have marooned them forever 'in some future' no one knew about. They couldn't go anywhere. Nobody would find them.

Cameron wanted to make their lives safe and as full of love and joy as possible. It was really a symbol of sadness which could now be expressed as joy. It still caused her a lot of personal grief to know it was all her fault. There was something else she was going to need to take the blame for. She wasn't going to put it on one of the clones. The clones were her.

Cameron didn't look forward to the next event. She needed to face Mrs. Weaver and tell her the 'bad' news. She approached the General's headquarters area.

She wasn't really sure where to start. She decided to just say it.

"General, I have some difficult news to report." Cameron said. "There was an incident. The Liquid Metal being escaped."

Mrs. Weaver needed a few seconds to think about what Cameron said, and what the implications of it were. None of them were good. She wanted a little further clarification as to exactly what occurred.

"What do you mean it 'escaped'?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Cameron was worried what happened would be viewed as being done on purpose. She was responsible for the Liquid Metal being's escape. It may have been her clone, but her clone was still her. She needed to take the heat.

"When I inspected the facility, it got out and disappeared. We couldn't find it or track it." Cameron said. "It was an accident. I apologize for my carelessness. It wasn't an intentional act."

Mrs. Weaver was worried about how she treated the Liquid Metal being. It wasn't in the most favorable way. She might have to fight it now. It was very disorganized and uncooperative from its creation.

"The creature is unstable and unpredictable." Mrs. Weaver said. "We didn't have any control over it. It lacked purpose and wasn't programmable. It refused to accept any programming and tried to act on its own."

Cameron stood humbly before Mrs. Weaver.

"I'm sorry, General." Cameron said. "If there's anything I can do to help capture it or restrain it in some way, I'll do what I can. I know it was a very careless act on my part."

Mrs. Weaver was very upset. She went on to berate Cameron.

Cameron really could offer nothing to say in her defense. She explained to Mrs. Weaver what they suspected happened to it. They didn't know for sure if it was the same creature or not. Somehow it would find its way back to John, and end up being destroyed. She told her about what happened to John and the events at the park. It was when she already went into Her Future. She decided not to mention it specifically. She asked the girls not to mention it either, about her actually rescuing Future Allison.

It didn't seem it would do any good to dwell on what already happened.

"General, what's done is done. Please, let's move forward and work together on defeating Skynet." Cameron said. "I'll be less careless in the future. It was an accident."

Mrs. Weaver questioned her on how the Liquid Metal being got back to the past where Savannah was at. Cameron told her John Henry was experimenting with the TDE and must have 'picked it up' somehow. The event already happened in the past. It showed some hope there may be a way back home, at least to the past. It was unknown if the method used was what really occurred. It was also unknown if humans, or even an endoskeleton Terminator, would be able to survive the transfer.

There were a lot of unknowns involved in all of it. Cameron didn't have many concrete answers.

Mrs. Weaver wanted to find out how or when it left so she could get back as well. She said she and the girls could 'take over' this future, and she could return to the past, and then maybe back to Her Future. She would take Savannah with her this time.

Cameron wouldn't allow Savannah to be taken from her. Savannah was very important to her, REAL important. She would now need to watch out for any underhanded activity from Mrs. Weaver in such a regard. She didn't plan to allow Mrs. Weaver to go by herself into either the past or her future. What she said about Savannah, made it very personal to her.

She could see Mrs. Weaver calculated and planned, but she said nothing. She decided unless they could ALL return to her past, it was better if everyone stayed where they were.

Cameron would sacrifice her love for John to protect him and the future. She was afraid it was her fate. It was all her fault, and she brought her three friends with her. The only consolation she could find was to know Savannah and Young Allison would grow up and take their rightful places at John's side. The 'Natural Order' would be restored.

She was sure Riley wouldn't stop Savannah from keeping her promises. John Henry and Bob would see Savannah and Young Allison were given the chance to 'bond' as each grew older. She hoped Holly stepped up and guided the girls into their proper future. Their proper future was the 'Natural Order' of time. She made sure Savannah understood her place in time, the future, and with John. She believed Savannah would 'take' what was rightfully hers.

Cameron would pursue the war there with a vengeance. She inadvertently 'gave' John to Riley. It was all her fault. She didn't have any idea what actually happened and there was no way for her to know 'she' was still at John's side. The original version of her, Cameron Prime, was there with John now. She didn't know she was a Duplicate.

She reached up and pushed in on her sheath. She could feel the locket inside of her. She was a Terminator and it was time she started to act like one. To keep an eye on Mrs. Weaver was now her mission to protect John. It only further reinforced her belief she would never see John again. They hadn't even been there very long. It still seemed there were many things which continued to work against them.

'Everyone sacrifices for John Connor.' Cameron thought. 'It's my function to protect John Connor.'

Cameron insisted on a new battle strategy. It was based on her experiences from Her Future. She wanted the Resistance losses to be kept at a minimum. The Restorators should be used as much as possible. She was aware of the planned assassination attempts by some disgruntled Resistance fighters against Future John and made sure Mrs. Weaver understood it.

The implication was an anti-Metal faction might try to assassinate Mrs. Weaver. While she might survive the attack, there was a good chance Vanna, Allison, and Jesse might not. She needed to think about more than herself

Cameron was willing to take much of the risk herself going forward. With three clones, she felt confident one of them would survive. It was doubtful they all would. There was still a sizable Skynet force which needed to be defeated. She knew it needed to be done. She wasn't sure how things would play out going forward. She wanted Mrs. Weaver to know she was going to do her part to defeat the enemy. There were also other things she wanted to rectify with the Resistance.

"I'll lead any assault myself to further our cause, General." Cameron said. "I want the girls kept safe no matter what. They each have a 'bodyguard' who will become their confidant and 'partner'. I also don't want them to face the threat of assassination."

Mrs. Weaver was very perceptive. She was pretty sure why Cameron really visited her facility. From her observation, she suspected they all ran Cameron's program as well.

"I believe the 'bodyguards' will all soon take on your appearance." Mrs. Weaver said. "I'm sure it's not the only thing they will have of yours. It's an effective strategy."

Cameron wasn't proud of what she got everyone into. It was a mess she was responsible for. She wanted to make sure Mrs. Weaver understood what the girls wanted. It was her duty to provide for them.

"It's what the girls asked for." Cameron said. "It was the least I could do for them. I'm ashamed I've marooned them here. I will protect them until I can return them home, ALL of us."

Mrs. Weaver assumed Cameron's appearance.

Cameron became agitated. She wasn't really sure what Mrs. Weaver wanted to prove. Maybe it was to indicate she could 'replace' her. There was one issue she didn't want repeated. It was something which always bothered her.

"I know you tried to fool John as 'Allison' once." Cameron said. "General, I ask you to respect my husband and our marriage. Please respect your 'daughter' and her lovers as well. As individuals we all matter. Please just be yourself."

Mrs. Weaver seemed to want to make some point.

"What if I choose to be with one of the girls, or as them, with one of your clones?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

She changed from girl to girl and then back into Cameron.

Cameron didn't think deceit was the way to find acceptance. Once it was discovered it would have the opposite effect. She really didn't know how to make Mrs. Weaver understand it.

"I would prefer you be yourself to the girls and the clones." Cameron said. "In the end, the only person you fool is yourself. Whatever isn't real, isn't real no matter what. You will know what love is, when you find it yourself, as yourself."

Mrs. Weaver noticed how everyone looked at Cameron. She never saw anyone look at her the same way. They looked at Cameron with love and they looked at her with contempt.

"Everyone loves you." Mrs. Weaver said.

It took Cameron a long time to figure some things out. There were still a lot of things she needed to figure out. She did know to be true to yourself was important to everyone.

"They love more than my appearance." Cameron said. "General, Savannah, and Vanna love you how you are. To know love, you need to be yourself, and you will find real love."

Mrs. Weaver assumed the form of John.

"And if I choose you?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Cameron controlled her anger. She wasn't sure what the end game was. Maybe it was to make her lose her cool. It seemed pretty close to it right now.

"I'm married." Cameron said. "If you choose me, perhaps we can make a copy of my program and Resequence the sheath of another female Restorator if it's what you desire. I will make a clone of myself for you and be with you that way if it is what you truly want. It will still not be 'earned' love for you, but 'forced' love. She will be a 'Metal Whore'."

Mrs. Weaver heard everything Cameron said. She disregarded most of it. She liked to do things her way. She liked to achieve her goals. She didn't really think about the methods required to do so. She wasn't done experimenting with her Liquid Metal project.

"If I can make a workable Liquid Metal Terminator next time, I think it's what I'll do. Then both of us can be anyone, anytime." Mrs. Weaver said. "That way I won't disturb your 'marriage'."

It was then when Cameron was sure Mrs. Weaver would find a way to be with each of the girls. She didn't know if it would do any good to warn the girls or not. She didn't think Mrs. Weaver would hurt them, but she was sure she would 'experiment'. She could see Mrs. Weaver wanted what she 'shared'.

Cameron was very disturbed by everything. She was sure Mrs. Weaver tried to get under her skin and keep her off balance. She wasn't really sure why.

She doubted Mrs. Weaver needed or could love anyone but her own self, Mrs. Weaver.

Cameron wished she could love herself as much as Mrs. Weaver loved herself.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Unrequited Love

It's a natural desire to love and seek love
Hearts and minds cry for requited affection
Most only want to use others for their personal pleasure
Subjecting hearts and minds to bloody dissection

It's their uncaring greed, lust and selfishness
It's the only motive of the masses so lecherous
Who the person is inside means nothing at all to them
Soon against their thrall they become treacherous

They can never comprehend or empathize
The honest pure affection there is to offer
To truly love, honor, respect, worship and adoration
Tenderness and emotions are soon confined to a coffer

Should one just play their cruel meaningless game
Throw meaningful true sweet love away
Submit feelings to destruction, dismay and decay
Or try to tell them there's a better meaningful way

Everyone must do what they believe in their heart
Shower them with bountiful eternal love
Even as one is scorned, spit upon and rejected
To survive one MUST send their endless unrequited love

Nobody

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In Some Future:

Events Continue In Chapter 331

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