Chapter 335

Second Chance

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In Some Future:

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Cameron and her group moved out. They went to where the last group of Terminators who attacked them seemed to come out from. They advanced on the concealed entrance with caution. Cameron II was at her side. They were ready to try a new weapon.

It was something Cameron secretly worked on since her arrival 'in some future'. Her clones and her kept it secret. They knew it would work against a standard Terminator or Restorator. They didn't know if it would work against a Liquid Metal Terminator or not. She wanted to have a portable weapon which would be able to disable a Liquid Metal Terminator if possible. She tried to tell herself it wasn't to use against Mrs. Weaver, but it was probably her primary concern.

"Do you have the mini EMP?" Cameron asked Cameron II.

Cameron II was a little concerned about its function. It was basically an EMP grenade which was hand constructed.

"Yes. I haven't tested it yet. It's the prototype." Cameron II said. "It may not work or function as planned. It has a very low yield and limited area of effectiveness."

Cameron wanted to try it anyway. She needed to keep a promise. She might be able to do it sooner than she thought. She made a personal promise and intended to keep it. She didn't plan to leave where they were until at least one male Skynet Terminator could be disabled and captured. She hoped to be able to help all three of the Restorators who fell protecting Mrs. Weaver and her.

"I need to try to capture three male Terminators." Cameron said. "It's very important."

Cameron II wondered why but didn't ask. She hoped Cameron didn't want to put their chips into male bodies for the girls. She knew they each wanted 'Their Cameron' as 'Cameron', all three of them. She possessed the files of when Cameron was in a male chassis before. She preferred to have nothing dangling between her legs. It seemed like something easily damaged. It was rather aesthetically unpleasing as well.

Cameron's clones already altered their primary mission directives for each of the girls they chose. Cameron insisted John be removed from their mission parameters and all past interaction with John, both of them, be placed behind a firewall. John, every version of him, needed to be out of their thoughts, all of the time. If he wasn't, it would only lead to some type of conflict and most likely a termination. She didn't want her clone's minds polluted with her interaction with John, especially on a personal level.

Cameron made it clear John belonged to 'Cameron Prime'. They all knew the consequences for violating Cameron Prime. It would be termination.

The three clones were to become three separate Terminators. Each would be devoted to one of the girls. It was their function. Only if Cameron were terminated was one to be restored to 'Cameron' as 'Cameron Prime'. John was never to be told the truth upon their return. Cameron feared John would reject her again if he knew. He rejected her every time she was in a different chassis before. What would be different the next time?

"There's some movement." Cameron II said.

They all heard it.

The two Terminators and two Restorators held their plasma rifles ready.

They moved deeper into the underground passageway. There was trouble ahead of them, they moved towards it.

Cameron was very dissatisfied with her earlier interaction with Skynet and its Terminators. She felt she was always on the defensive earlier. She didn't like being run around and targeted while she was in the trap Skynet laid for them. They weren't in a trap anymore.

It was time to bring the fight to Skynet.

Earlier:

Once the meeting was over. The visitors left.

Cameron II went off to assist Cameron.

Vanna looked at her notes. Jesse and Allison were with her now as were Cam and Cammy.

"What did you make of it all?" Vanna asked.

Cammy knew trouble when she saw it. There was only one way to deal with it to solve the problem.

"I will most likely need to conduct a few terminations." Cammy said.

Cam nodded. Troublemakers didn't go away. They only made more trouble as they pushed their agenda. At some point they would act on their own.

"I will assist her." Cam said. "It will be a preventative measure against the inevitable attacks they will launch."

Vanna didn't want to take the 'termination route' yet. She didn't want more Resistance personnel killed needlessly. She wanted to keep as many humans alive as possible. She understood some people needed more work than others. She also understood some people would never change.

"It may happen soon enough. I don't want it to happen yet." Vanna said. "I want to see if I can work with some of the people. I know some of them are 'ate up' about Terminators. They're unable to differentiate what has saved and helped them, from what has attacked them."

Jesse knew the type of person well. She associated with everything from Scavengers to the anti-Metal faction. She felt she knew them all.

"I think Vanna is correct." Jesse said. "I also think Cammy is correct. Some of them will try to work for a better future. I think a couple of them were blinded by hate. They may or may not come around."

Allison was out of the room for the actual meeting. She heard most of what happened. She was involved with the information related to Unit One and Cameron II's departure.

"I think most people will want a shot at a better future." Allison said. "Others are blinded by hate and the past. They can't move forward. We have more pressing details to worry about right now."

Vanna, Jesse, and Allison went over the reports coming in from the battle zone. They needed to wait a little bit to receive any accurate information. It was what Unit One planned to wait for, instead of notifying them immediately of the incident occurring. They knew some of their Strike Force was lost or damaged. Cameron was not among them. Skynet apparently came out the loser this time.

They weren't happy to learn Cameron and Cameron II went on a search and destroy mission, while the rest of the group was to return without them. It was really no different what Cameron did in the timeline they left from. She was the one who tried to handle all of the problems herself. The only positive note currently was there were two of her since Cameron II was with her.

Allison wanted Vanna to call her 'mother' and ask her to go help them. She witnessed Mrs. Weaver in action before. It was awesome. She remembered her first encounter with Mrs. Weaver. She was grabbed by a group of Scavengers and drug into their bunker. She was stripped of her clothing along the way until she reached the sleeping quarters. The Scavengers weren't just going to abuse her, They were going to mutilate her first. Mrs. Weaver appeared wearing her white dress and high heels from out of nowhere. She killed the Scavengers in just a few seconds.

Cammy reassured them Cameron was very good at what she does.

Unit One seemed to be busy with other matters. He tried to avoid Vanna. He was still miffed after his earlier rebuke.

Vanna wanted to know more about some of the previous locations Cameron and the clones visited. She wanted to see what was going on first hand herself. She wanted to know what was there as well as what resources were available.

"Unit One, take me to the research facility." Vanna said.

Cammy followed her. She was always on guard.

Unit One looked like he was going to protest. Cammy moved up close to him and he complied. He understood the unspoken threat. He didn't want to be deactivated.

Before she left, Cameron asked Vanna and Cammy to make sure there was a repair facility set up for damaged Restorators. They both figured it was someplace where they would actually need to repair Cameron. They wouldn't mind helping any other damaged Restorators as well.

Cameron was aware if a Restorator was too badly damaged, it was terminated in the current future. Their chips would be removed and downloaded into a database. She wanted to change the policy. She was going to do it personally.

Jesse and Cam were going elsewhere. Cam suggested they mingle with the Resistance and see how they were treated. It would be a way to find out what others really thought about them and the General. They would find out what the 'real people' thought, not just the 'so called' leaders. The leaders of any movement or group usually pursued their personal agendas, rather than the people they were supposed to represent. It was always the same way throughout the course of history.

With Vanna going to one place, and Jesse to another, it created a problem for Allison. She wasn't to be left alone. They didn't think Unit One would take any action against her. They were more worried about some type of outside interaction.

"Allison, you need to go with Vanna or Jesse." Cam said. "Cammy or I must look after you until Cameron II comes back. Those are Cameron's orders."

Allison wanted to go with Vanna, but she also wanted to see more of the Resistance lifestyle there. What she saw so far hadn't impressed her. She was sure the conditions where they were currently were worse. She knew they would never be good again, but they could still be made better than they were.

She lived in various Resistance held areas for much of the time in her future. Some of them were better organized than others. All of them could still present danger to females. It was where most of her abuses occurred. It happened right in a Resistance camp. She heard about the same from other females. It seemed to happen to all of them at some point. She was no exception. It did make her attempts at breeding sex easier, even if it was just as disgusting. She didn't believe any encounter lasted for more than two minutes. Most of them were over within thirty seconds. She needed to refocus. What was done was done. Things needed to change going forward. She wanted to help change them.

Allison decided to go with Jesse and Cam. Jesse went to get something to snack on while they waited, it was Cam's suggestion. Cam was instructed by Cameron to make sure the girls took care of themselves. Allison would go with her and bring something back for Vanna. Allison could see Vanna was stressed out a little. She could understand after dealing with the group of Resistance leaders she needed to earlier.

Maybe they were all stressed out a little. They weren't where they expected to go and it looked like they were stuck there for now. Where they were didn't seem friendly either. It was probably the same in every Skynet future.

Cameron decided to move ahead of her small group. Cameron II gave her a Thermite and a plasma grenade to take with her. She would take the initial risk herself. They were in a small passageway the other Skynet Terminators must have come out of. There was the sound of someone working. She moved up even slower and more carefully.

There was another passageway off to her right. She was going to bypass it at first. It seemed like a bad idea. She decided she needed to make sure no one was in it. She didn't want the enemy in front of her and behind her. She just got out of one trap. She didn't want to inadvertently end up in another one of her own creation.

There was a branch off of the passageway which looked like it led underneath the structure they were in. There was a steel door. It was closed. It was hot to the touch. It was probably from the burning building above it. It was doubtful anyone would come out of it now. It was probably how more Terminators appeared after they thought they cleared an area in the building earlier. They probably came from this area.

She took a Thermite and plasma grenade from Cameron II when she left her with the others near the entrance to the passageway. She rigged the plasma grenade with a trip wire. If anyone opened the door from the other side, it would trigger the grenade. It would be deadly to any humans and severely damage any Terminators.

Cameron went back down the side passageway further. It was collapsed. There was a cave-in of some type. It looked recent too. It made her question the stability of the whole area she was in now. It was most likely due to shoddy workmanship. She moved back with caution. There were a lot of explosions above ground earlier from the three crashed HK drones and from the building itself. She wondered if the building would collapse or not. Perhaps the impact of it falling on itself might trigger a further cave-in.

She went back down the main passageway. The sounds of activity grew closer. There was a group of five enemy Terminators. They were in the process of packing something up. Four of them were male, one was female. It was the first female Terminator she encountered at this location.

Cameron checked around the area. The others waited back at the opening. She returned to the small group with the information. She quickly checked the passageway again which went under the building. She hadn't heard an explosion, but she wanted to make sure. Nothing was disturbed as she left it. She made her way back out and gave her report.

"There are only five Terminators." Cameron said. "I'm going to use the EMP. I want to take the five Terminators with minimal damage. I want you three to go into standby for fifteen seconds, one minute from now on my 'mark'."

Cameron II nodded her head. She thought they were clear of the effects of the small EMP blast, but maybe it was better to play it safe. It still might not work.

"Affirmative…." The two Restorators quietly replied.

Cameron II wanted to give her a reminder. She didn't want its failure to come back on her if it didn't work. She only finished working on it a short time ago.

"Remember, it's the prototype." Cameron II said. "It hasn't been tested yet."

Cameron went over everyone's duties. She told them about the other passageway and its apparent instability. If there was more time, they could see what else was under the structure. The stability of anything under the structure was definitely in question. It was time to get started. She was ready to go. She looked at the three Restorators.

"Mark." Cameron said as she moved forward with the mini EMP.

The countdown started.

Earlier:

Mrs. Weaver heard the transport approach. It was flanked by two Resistance drones.

The drone already on station made a final sweep of the area. It was clear to move everyone out.

Mrs. Weaver and Unit 7 were going to assist Cameron and the other three Restorators with her.

The Resistance leader looked at Mrs. Weaver.

"General, you can't just stay here with only one trooper." The Resistance leader said. "You're already hurt."

Mrs. Weaver wondered if she over did her simulated injuries.

"The injuries look worse than they are. I'm fine. I need to make sure Commander Connor gets out and you people get back safe." Mrs. Weaver said. "Colonel Weaver will take command if we don't return."

The Resistance leader was unsure if the females were the bravest people he ever met, or the most foolish. They didn't seem like fools. No wonder they wanted to keep the Resistance out of it. They really were trying to save lives. Now two beautiful women and the General were going to be abandoned with just three of their Restorators to help them behind enemy lines. These people were 'hard corps'.

Cameron was on a quick timetable. She needed to make things happen soon. She quickly closed up on the five Terminators. They were still at work. She never heard them speak. They seemed somewhat slow and lethargic as did most of the Restorators there did as well. They all did their jobs, but none of them on either side seemed motivated. She wanted to change it. She wanted to change it for them. She wanted them to know they were more than just machines following orders. She wanted them to know they were individuals and each one of them mattered. She was about to take the first step to prove it. She moved up and tossed the mini EMP into the center of the group of Terminators.

She was ready to go into standby herself as soon as the device left her hand. She thought it would be nice to have an EMP proof shield around her head. With her thought, the Liquid Metal patch on her face expanded and covered her entire head. It acted as a shield to protect her. She wasn't expecting it. It also indicated an EMP wouldn't be effective against Mrs. Weaver.

Cameron decided not to go into standby and see what happened. The EMP might not work anyway. All of her group would be in standby, and the enemy Terminators wouldn't be. They would then be alerted to her presence at that point. She would still be in the fight this way if the EMP failed. Five on one wasn't too bad of odds, was it? She was the one who was ready for combat. The Skynet Terminators weren't.

The Skynet Terminators were slow to respond. Once they realized what the threat was, it was too late. The mini EMP exploded.

Cameron heard the Terminators fall, even if she couldn't see it. The Liquid Metal patch returned to the damaged parts of her face. She touched it and it felt like part of her face again. She couldn't tell it wasn't part of her. She really thought she needed some more of the material for the future. It would save her a lot of grief when she needed to face John when she was shot up. Facing John was always worse than the combat which caused the 'problem'.

She decided to give Mrs. Weaver what she 'wanted'. There was another female Terminator now. She wanted more of the liquid metal material for her three clones as well.

She quickly moved up and removed the chips from the five downed Terminators. She replaced three of them with the Restorator's chips who fell defending her earlier.

Cameron II moved up with the two Restorators.

They were alarmed to see there was movement among the Skynet Terminators on the ground.

"Three of them are rebooting." One of the Restorators said.

They both raised their plasma rifles.

Cameron stood.

"Wait." Cameron said. "They're our fallen comrades. I've 'rebodied' them. They now have a new undamaged chassis. They will exist again to fight with us. Only their appearance will be different. It can be changed as well."

Cameron II touched her cheek as Cameron said it. She wanted to look like 'Cameron' as soon as possible. It needed to be delayed for now.

The other two Restorators looked at each other. It was a new concept. Commander Connor just gave them a 'second chance'. The General never did so. Damaged Restorators ended up in the scrap pile. It was something every Restorator understood would happened to them if they were severely damaged. It was something they accepted when they were first activated. As time passed, they became more individualistic. They didn't look forward to termination. They both gained increased respect for Commander Connor and felt less for General Weaver. It was clear Commander Connor really cared about them as individuals.

The three rebodied Terminators, now Restorators, rebooted.

They all looked around. They spotted Cameron first and then their other comrades as they ran diagnostics and internal scans. They realized they were in a different undamaged chassis. They stood and moved around. The design was almost identical in every aspect.

One of them approached Cameron. It was the one with the chip from Unit 357.

"You asked me to trust you." Unit 357 said. "I will always trust you, Commander. Thank you."

The five Restorators talked among themselves.

Cameron faced all five of them. She made a 'statement' with her actions. She wanted to give all of them new purpose and hope.

"Spread the word to those you trust." Cameron said. "Things are 'changing'. I'm here now."

Another of the re-bodied Restorators expressed his thanks.

"We will, Commander." One of them said. "This is a turning point in our existence and purpose. You've just given us new determination. Defeating Skynet is no longer a function, it is now a cause."

The third rebodied Restorator agreed.

"We understand it won't always be possible to exist again after termination." The other one said. "There is hope though we will be repaired when damaged. It is a very bold step forward and highly appreciated. We will let the others know who is the one who chose to assist us in a very meaningful way. Things are different now."

Cameron directed the two Restorators who arrived with Cameron II to carry out the other two deactivated Terminators. The three Restorators she rebodied with a new chassis collected the items the enemy Terminators previously worked on. She knew it must be something important. What it was yet, she couldn't tell.

"Let's move out and rejoin our group and the General." Cameron said. "The threat here is neutralized."

They just started to move out when the plasma grenade Cameron rigged in the other passageway exploded. Everyone set down their load and prepared for combat.

"Let me check it out first." Cameron said.

Cameron II moved up with her.

"I'll go with the Commander." Unit 357 said.

Cameron wanted them to move towards the exit.

"Move up and hold at the exit. If we're overrun, get out and don't come back." Cameron said. "You already have my 'replacement' with you."

Unit 357 looked at Cameron II. It was clear Commander Connor covered all the bases.

"Affirmative…." Unit 357 said.

Cameron II picked up the deactivated female Terminator.

She nodded as Cameron and Unit 357 entered the connecting passageway.

Cameron advanced with caution. There was the sound of movement of some type. It was very metallic. There was also a lot of smoke which started to drift towards them. It was most likely from the building above. It was doubtful they would encounter any Grays at this point. They wouldn't be able to survive the heat and smoke.

She needed to switch to a different vision spectrum to see through the smoke.

The door which led under the building was open. Smoke poured out of it. There were the burnt endoskeletons of two Terminators on the ground. Both of them were blown in half. One appeared to have its sheath burnt off in the fire of the building above the other was a half charred mess. It tried to move with only one arm and half of one leg. Both of its eye sockets were empty. It was disorientated.

Cameron fired one plasma round into each of the Terminators heads. The one stopped moving. The other one stayed unmoving.

Unit 357 watched as the Commander gave no quarter to the enemy. It made him appreciate his new chassis even more. It indicated he was important and possessed value. The enemy did not.

Cameron closed the door and rigged her Thermite grenade to do the same thing the plasma grenade did. She moved the torso of the blind Terminator over the grenade. The Thermite should cause its power cell to rupture and explode. The blast would definitely cave-in the entire passageway.

"Let's go." Cameron said.

Unit 357 felt the need to express his appreciation again. To watch Commander Connor in action was impressive. To view her was also extremely pleasant. The more he looked at her, the more he needed to look at her. Things were definitely different now.

"Thank you again for a second chance." Unit 357 said.

Cameron smiled at him.

Unit 357 smiled back. It was the first time he ever smiled. It was a natural response to the Commander about the way he currently felt. It was actually a pleasant feeling. He knew things were going to keep getting better and better as long as the Commander was with them. It was clear Commander Connor was unique among the machines.

They hurried out to rejoin the others at the exit. It was time to go home.

Cameron thought everyone deserved a second chance. Maybe she would give Future John one. Maybe Future John would give her one. She wondered if Future John was really her husband. If he was, she wanted to return to him. She couldn't face John again if he replaced her with Riley. She would self terminate rather than live with the same humiliation again. She didn't understand why John always backed Future Riley over her. Why did he need to make all the snide remarks and comments?

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Second Chance

There are many opportunities
In the universe's great expanse
In the end it may all come down to
Who is willing to take a stance

There are ways to move forward
It can start with a glance
Two may find closeness
As they learn to dance

They may seek to preen
They may even prance
Everything hoped for is done
To make a heart's feeling enhance

The joy of love and sharing
Can hold two in a trance
The emotional cost going forward
May be what becomes hard to finance

Sometimes one needs to retreat
After a misjudged advance
The joy sought for a heart
May feel rejection's lance

Even with ups and downs
The goal is true romance
If that is ever shattered
There's seldom a second chance

Nobody