Chapter 334

Blitzkrieg

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In Some Future:

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Mrs. Weaver and Cameron moved to the side of the building away from the 'entrapment room', the mouse trap. Unit 357 covered the rear. He received significant damage, but was still in the fight.

Cameron heard him fire and turned to face the new threat from behind them.

Mrs. Weaver continued ahead to where Cameron soon heard a struggle and a series of slashing and breaking metal noises. She couldn't turn to look as she fired at a group of Terminators coming up from behind them. She would have to trust Mrs. Weaver to hold the side and not abandon them.

Cameron armed and threw her last plasma grenade. She only brought one Thermite grenade. She used it earlier to free Mrs. Weaver.

The shooting around Cameron increased in volume and accuracy. Unit 357 went down next to her. He took several plasma rifle blasts. So far she only received small arms fire hits. The latest round hit her in the head. She reached down and picked up the plasma rifle dropped by Unit 357. Hers was damaged by gunfire, the same gunfire which damaged her face. Now she was angry.

Cameron boldly advanced forward and finished off the attacking Skynet Terminators. Once the threat was naturalized, she returned to Unit 357. He was still moving his head as she approached him. She could see his chassis was totaled. He wouldn't be leaving the spot where he fell.

She touched his damaged cheek.

"Trust me." Cameron said to him. "I'll fix you."

Unit 357 was never been shown any compassion before. It was a new concept to him, especially from another machine. Trust was another concept which wasn't usually in play with machines. From what he observed from Commander Connor, he trusted her completely. He could only hope she would survive. He was sure the General would. She always did.

"I will." Unit 357 said. "Watch yourself. Be careful."

Cameron was a little concerned at his final statement. Was it in reference to Mrs. Weaver? She removed his chip. She placed it with the two she removed from the other fallen Restorators. She hoped to 're-body' or 're-chassis' all three of them. She hoped she survived to be able to do it. She remembered what Unit 357's last words were. She didn't think she was capable of being careful. When the job needed to be done, it needed to be done.

She rejoined Mrs. Weaver. There was a pile of Terminator parts lying around her. She counted seven heads. She was able to get some more weapons from the fallen Skynet Terminators. It gave her some pause to see what Mrs. Weaver just accomplished on her own. She saw her decimate Scavengers and Grays before, but never So many Terminators all at the same time. It was a grim reminder of what Mrs. Weaver could do to her in a relatively short amount of time. She would need to make sure she stayed on the good side of the General. She wasn't quite ready for the scrap pile yet. She gave Mrs. Weaver her report.

"We've lost all three Restorators." Cameron said. "It's just us."

Mrs. Weaver didn't seem too concerned. Her worry was when she was trapped in the 'mouse trap'. It was in the past now. She knew more machines could be built.

"Isn't it always?" Mrs. Weaver asked with a smirk.

Cameron didn't like her attitude. They still needed to use caution. She thought they were still in extreme danger until they were away from the location.

"We need to get out of here." Cameron said. "I don't think Skynet is done with us yet."

The Strike Force was ready to pull out. Unit 7 gave the order. It was because of the specific instructions Commander Connor gave him. She didn't want the main body of troops endangered. If there were going to be casualties, she wanted it kept to a minimum. More than likely the five who went in may not return. Well, the General probably would. She always did.

Several Skynet HK drones arrived and began to sweep the outside of the building. It was on fire on one side now. The fire rapidly spread. It appeared the HK drones wanted to make sure no survivors were able to get out of the structure. It didn't appear to be a spur of the moment occasion. It seemed pre-planned on someone's part.

Unit 7 saw the threat of the HK drones for what it was. It wasn't a good development. His orders were to pull out. He was worried about the General and the Commander as well. He still needed to follow his orders. He would give the General and Commander some breathing room.

"We need to bring the HK drones down." Unit 7 said. "The General and the Commander are still trapped inside of there. The drones are there to prevent their escape. Open fire."

Several Restorators each took one HK drone as a target and fired simultaneously. All three HK drones fell at the same time. It should cause a lot of confusion as to what actually happened. One crashed into the side of the structure. There was a massive explosion. It blew a large section out of the wall.

The Resistance leader was very worried about the Commander. He didn't know she was a Terminator. He could see there was a way into the building now.

"We need to move up and see if we can get inside." The Resistance leader said. "We need to find them."

Unit 7 needed to follow his orders. He may have skirted them already by staying long enough to bring down the HK drones. It would also give any observers they're exact location. It wasn't what Commander Connor wanted.

"Negative. If they are able to exit, they will come out. I'm not endangering anyone unnecessarily." Unit 7 said. "Those are the Commander's specific orders to me. She told me we need to trust her judgment no matter how illogical it seems."

They all heard another drone approaching from behind them. It came from the direction of the Resistance held territory.

Everyone took cover.

Unit 7 expected the drone to arrive. He didn't expect it so soon.

"Wait." Unit 7 said. "It's one of ours. I was notified it was coming."

The drone approached their position. It hovered a few feet off the ground. Cameron II jumped off of it. A scarf covered her face.

Cameron II was armed and immediately ready to fight.

Everyone looked on in awe at the unconventional arrival.

Cameron II pointed at the first two Restorators she saw.

"You two, come with me." Cameron II said. "Unit 7, have everyone else fall back. I'm going after the General and the Commander."

The Resistance leader was still trying to process everything which just occurred with the arrival of someone on top of a drone. Now they were about to face the enemy with only two Restorators as backup.

"You can't go in there with just two Metal troopers." The Resistance leader said.

Cameron II didn't need an argument right now. She wasn't really sure she liked his reference to the Restorators as Metal troopers. Technically it was factually accurate. Now wasn't the time to question her actions.

"Obey orders and fall back." Cameron II said. "Things may get out of hand here. It's probably going to happen very soon."

The drone was airborne again. It was stripped of all of its armament except the mini gun. It was so it could carry Cameron II and make good time. It worked very well.

Cameron II and two of the Restorators moved forward, one flanked her on each side. The Resistance drone began to circle the building. It searched for any targets of opportunity. The three of them were going to get Cameron back. They would get Mrs. Weaver too if they could. Somehow they figured they really didn't need to worry about her. She seemed to survive every encounter she was involved with.

Moments ago:

Cameron and Mrs. Weaver heard the firing outside and then the earth shaking thud which rocked the building. It was followed by a massive explosion. It blew a chunk out of the side of the structure. A section of the wall collapsed inward. They could see there was a way out now. They moved towards the direction since there was daylight showing.

It first appeared they were going to have some trouble to get out of the structure. It was clearly modified to prevent them from doing so. Skynet appeared to have gone to great lengths to capture or terminate General Weaver. She could hear its surprise at its inability to do so. Mrs. Weaver dealt Skynet yet another blow, right under its nose. It was clearly a slap in the face for a well orchestrated plan.

Cameron heard a new drone approach and then land. She thought she knew who it was. In a few seconds the drone was airborne and circled the structure. She discussed the plan and method of arrival with Cameron II before she left. The drone was on standby. The modified drone was ready to go at a moment's notice for Cameron II.

Cameron II moved forward with the two Restorators. They wouldn't be able to use much cover to reach the building. She wanted to get there as quickly as possible. Some caution would need to be thrown to the wind. The drone she arrived on was already on patrol around the building. Her biggest concern was if more HK drones would arrive. Their drone would only be able to do so much if it was outnumbered.

She spotted a group of three Terminators come around the corner from around the backside of the burning building. Their sheaths were on fire, but they were still in the fight. She fired as did her two Restorators. Their plasma rifles did the job. The flaming masses went down and stayed down.

Cameron neared the smoking hole in the wall. The flames died down. She heard the firing going on outside. She stopped Mrs. Weaver.

"Let me check first, General." Cameron said.

Mrs. Weaver was surprised by Cameron's concern, it seemed genuine. She also needed to remember Cameron didn't hesitate to free her from the makeshift prison she was in. It was a prison she would have experienced trouble getting out on her own. She was sure she could eventually have done it. She didn't need to think about it, Cameron did it for her.

Cameron moved towards the opening to see what was going on outside. She didn't know if there was another group of Terminators or Grays waiting for them.

Mrs. Weaver detected another threat.

"There's someone behind us." Mrs. Weaver said.

Cameron backed away from the opening and the freedom of going outside. The more of Skynet's ability they took down now, meant it would be less they would need to deal with later on. She moved back in to attack the threat.

So far she hadn't encountered any Grays. Maybe it was a group of them. It made her wonder where they were or where they just came from. Maybe there was more going on than they knew about.

Mrs. Weaver looked like she was about to take action.

Cameron took her arm.

"Let's see what they're up to first." Cameron whispered. "They don't know we're here."

Mrs. Weaver and Cameron crouched down some. It didn't look like they'd been spotted yet.

The first Gray looked around where the hole in the wall was at.

"I don't see anything." The first Gray said.

The second Gray looked like they wanted to get things over with.

"Just keep moving." The second Gray said. "We know there were five of them."

The first Gray continued to look around in all directions.

"We don't know for sure." The first Gray said. "The Metal maniac told us the information. It doesn't mean they were correct. Look around you. Does this look like the work of five individuals?"

The two Grays paused.

"No." The second Gray said. "We're just technicians, not combat troopers."

The first Gray turned away from the hole in the wall.

"I think they are gone." The first Gray said. "There was shooting outside."

The second Gray looked around. He moved a little closer to the first Gray.

"Let's face it. We're both out here because we know one of them is a female." The second Gray said. "Let's see if we can find her body. If she's still warm, it will be just like she is alive but drugged."

Both of the Grays laughed. The indication was, it was most likely something they experienced before, probably more than a few times.

The first Gray looked excited with the thought. He wanted to provide some additional desire to the scenario.

"Or beat up and unconscious." The first Gray said. "I get to go first this time."

The second grade didn't seem too concerned.

"Whatever, dude." The second Gray said. "You know I like to bring up the rear anyway."

The first Gray looked a little disgusted.

"I thought it was just because there were all men here." The first Gray said.

The second Gray shrugged his shoulders as he looked around.

"There's that too." The second Gray said. "You've all gotten used to it."

The first Gray looked over some fallen Terminators.

"It's only because the pickings are pretty slim around here." The first Gray said.

Cameron and Mrs. Weaver looked at each other. The two Grays were either deviants, or it was a ploy to get them to show themselves for an 'easy' kill for some Skynet Terminators. The men were too careless, unless they weren't sacrificial lambs. They were probably actually Terminators. The conversation they currently conducted was probably heard directly from Grays discussing similar events.

They didn't take the bait. They waited. They didn't want to get popped in the back as they made their way outside. There was additional trouble soon enough.

There was a scrape of metal from the other direction. There was a threat on both sides of them right now. The other side of the building was on fire and the air was thick with smoke.

Cameron and Mrs. Weaver conversed at a very low decibel level. It was so low they could barely hear. They needed to use caution because they suspected there were Skynet Terminators nearby.

"I haven't heard anyone cough." Cameron said. "The smoke is thick. It's a trick. They're Terminators. They didn't factor in the current environmental conditions when they attempted their ploy. Humans would be coughing and gasping for air by now."

Cameron held a plasma rifle in each hand. She was ready to act.

There was another sound from the other side again.

"I'll take the other threat." Mrs. Weaver said as she moved in the direction of the latest sound.

Cameron listened for the 'Grays' again. They were quiet right now. She caught a glimpse of some movement. There were four figures. She figured they were Terminators. She heard Mrs. Weaver act behind her. The four figures looked past where she was concealed. She fired both plasma rifles and three of the figures fell. The fourth one backed away, but was hit. She moved into the aisle and fired again. She was surprised to see there were two other Terminators further back.

There was more metal shearing noise behind her. It sounded like Mrs. Weaver engaged multiple targets as well. She heard two plasma rifles fire at the same time behind her. She needed to take care of the current threat. There was a good chance there would be more very soon. She fired on the three remaining Terminators.

Mrs. Weaver left Cameron behind. They both could have gone outside and left the threat behind them. She didn't like to leave loose ends either.

She spotted a damaged Terminator moving toward their position. She shot her hands forward as blades. They impacted in the center of his face. They punched through his Coltan skull. She spread the blades slightly. She split his head in two. He fell silently. There were two more further in back of him. It looked like they sent him ahead to identify the threat.

They both raise plasma rifles at her. She let her arms divide so there was one spike for each of them. Right before it impacted their face, each spike split into two and punched through their eyes and blinded them. She moved from her position at the same time. They would still possess the targeting information.

They both fired at where she was as she pulled both of them together. Her split spikes turned back into blades. The top half of each of their heads were sliced off where their eyes once were. All three terminations happened in just a few seconds.

Cameron moved to assist Mrs. Weaver, but she was on her way back. She didn't think Skynet was done sending troops against them.

"We need to get out." Cameron said.

There was some more firing outside and some heavy smoke.

When the smoke drifted away Cameron saw it was Cameron II and two Restorators who approached to assist them.

Mrs. Weaver re-assumed her form as General Weaver.

Cameron wanted her to play it up for the troops. They didn't know how many more would arrive. She knew she looked a little worse for the wear.

"Make your uniform look like my clothes." Cameron said.

Mrs. Weaver's uniform showed some small burn marks and tears. She looked at Cameron and added some cuts and a few minor blood stains.

Cameron touched her face. She knew the Resistance would soon know she was a Terminator. It showed on her face.

Mrs. Weaver noticed it too. Her look matched Cameron's look except for the exposed metal showing. She wanted to help Cameron protect her image.

"Commander, you have metal showing." Mrs. Weaver said. "Let me help you."

Mrs. Weaver reached for Cameron's face.

Cameron backed away. She wanted to raise her plasma rifle but refrained.

Mrs. Weaver noticed Cameron's apprehension. She didn't like it because she made Cameron feel she was a threat. Cameron got her out of the 'mouse trap'.

"Let me give you a 'patch'." Mrs. Weaver said. "I won't hurt you, Cameron. All you need to do is 'think' what you want the patch to do."

Cameron reluctantly let Mrs. Weaver touch her face with her fingertip as Liquid Metal flowed into the facial wounds. In an instant they 'disappeared'. She touched her face. It felt 'normal'. All the sensation was there as well. It was as if there was no damage at all.

It was a new concept for Cameron. She knew where there was more of the material in the other captured Skynet facility. The question was, would there be any side effect to the material and her interacting with it? She was worried it might be a way for Mrs. Weaver to be able to control her.

Mrs. Weaver wanted to put Cameron at ease. She could sense what Cameron was worried about now.

"There will be no lasting effect on you. I'll collect the 'material' after you are healed." Mrs. Weaver said. "It will only be for a couple of days. You told me you wanted to work with me. I want to work with you too. I want to help you, Cameron. Not hurt you."

Cameron felt some remorse over her earlier apprehension.

"Thank you, General." Cameron said.

Mrs. Weaver looked around.

"You can call me Catherine when we're alone." Mrs. Weaver said. "You broke me out of the cell fast. I won't forget it. I didn't like it in there."

Mrs. Weaver briefly wondered if it was how the Liquid Metal creature she attempted to create felt when she locked it away in a small room.

Cameron felt even a little worse now. She did what was necessary to help the Resistance. She wanted to remind Mrs. Weaver what her priorities were.

"We need to defeat Skynet. I need to get back to John." Cameron said. "Savannah is waiting for you and for me. She's waiting for us."

Mrs. Weaver looked back at where she was trapped. A slight smirk appeared on her face.

"It's personal now." Mrs. Weaver said. "I want to be there when this version of Skynet is defeated. I want to see it when it is terminated. I want it to see me."

Cameron felt much the same way with every version of Skynet she terminated. The last thing Skynet always saw was her.

There was no further threat behind them at this point. They were the victors.

Cameron and Mrs. Weaver exchanged a long glance.

"I agree." Cameron said. "Payback is a Bitch."

The smirk on Mrs. Weaver's face turned into a slight smile.

"And there are two of us." Mrs. Weaver said.

Both of the Terminators smiled as they stepped outside to freedom.

Cameron II scanned Cameron and Mrs. Weaver when they came out of the smoke. There was no way for her to know what occurred inside of the structure. She didn't like what she scanned. Cameron seemed to have Liquid Metal on her.

The drone could be heard rapidly approaching and then the mini gun opened up.

From a concealed position, another group of enemy Terminator's emerged. The mini gun stopped their advance. Cameron and Cameron II both fired their plasma weapons. The Two Restorators covered Mrs. Weaver.

It raised a new concern for Cameron. Where were all the reinforcements coming from? They weren't concealed inside of the building. Maybe there was something else hidden there. She wanted to find out what it was.

"I want to know where they came from." Cameron said. "There's more going on here than we know."

Cameron II wondered about it too. The Resistance drone already made several sweeps around the perimeter.

"Let's go find out." Cameron II said.

The two Restorators looked at the General, she nodded and they followed Cameron.

Unit 7 moved up and took Mrs. Weaver back to the Strike Force.

The Resistance leader didn't see how anyone made it out. He did notice the three Restorators who went in with the General and the Commander didn't return.

"General, how did you survive everything inside of there?" The Resistance leader asked.

Mrs. Weaver told one part of the story like it was.

"Commander Connor saved me. She got me out of a trap, a cage." Mrs. Weaver said. "There was a lot of heavy fighting."

Unit 7 wanted the General away from the danger zone.

"I've called for the transport Commander Connor captured." Unit 7 said. "It is on its way here along with two more of our drones."

The Resistance leader could see they were ready to pull out. They were going to do it without the Commander and her small group. He needed to protest.

"What about the Commander?" The Resistance leader asked. "We can't leave without her."

Mrs. Weaver didn't see it as a big deal. They all walked to where they were. Anyone could walk out too.

"If she's back when we are ready to leave, she'll accompany us." Mrs. Weaver said. "If not, she will make her own way back."

The Resistance leader didn't like how the General and her Restorators operated.

"I can't believe you people." The Resistance leader said. "You can't leave anyone behind."

The Resistance leader realized it as soon as he'd said it. Most of the 'people' there weren't people.

Unit 7 moved up to the Resistance leader. He didn't know if he would need to restrain him or not.

"You will follow orders." Unit 7 said as he glared at the Resistance leader.

Mrs. Weaver thought she could make a point and maybe earn a few. It was time to 'act' bold.

"Unit 7 and I will stay to assist her while the rest of you return to safety." Mrs. Weaver said. "I have a war to win and a score to settle."

The Resistance leader and his followers were amazed at the determination of the warriors. No wonder they are in charge, he thought. He didn't know if they were insane, or the bravest people he ever saw. One thing was for sure, they were all determined, and none of them backed away from a fight. They went toward it. The Commander was with three others, and now the General was going to join them with one Restorator. He felt they all had a war to win. They all had a score to settle with Skynet as well. The fact three of them were females wasn't lost on him either.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Blitzkrieg

Most things happen slowly
A few happen very quickly
Those are usually the type
That leave someone feeling sickly

When someone makes a move
It can happen like lightning
It comes with the roar of thunder
It can be quite frightening

It's always best to strike
With overwhelming force
It's often much easier
To bypass the rules than enforce

To touch another's heart
Many push too hard too fast
With an onslaught like that
Nothing will grow or last

Everyone must be warned
They will be quite fatigued
When they pursue another
In the style of a Blitzkrieg

Nobody