Chapter 391

Off Limits

The girls made their way to the airport. They were all a little apprehensive except Savannah. She was determined in her goals and direction. She knew what she needed to do, as well as what needed to be done, even if no one else did.

Any time 'second thoughts' creeped into her head, she blew them off. It seemed to happen many times. She was focused on the future. It was all about the future and to beat Skynet before it could act.

The jet took off without incident and streaked across the night sky on its way to Australia. She took one look back at the Southland as they gained altitude. She wondered if she was leaving anything behind. If it wasn't for the fact she was going to see Young Jesse, and share with her, she would have liked to have brought Young Allison along. She knew Young Allison lived a restricted lifestyle much like hers. She did have more freedom to move around, even if she never left the state. Young Allison was never targeted for termination. It didn't mean she wouldn't be. She believed the more Cameron made herself a target for Skynet, the more it endangered every version of Allison Young. There were always Terminators with her, just in case Skynet ever made a move.

Savannah was surprised at how quickly everything was put into motion. She wondered if Cameron hadn't planned things in advance for her. The episode with Summer still troubled her some. She doubted Summer would be around when she got back, at least the Summer she Tasered. She was surprised what she did to Summer didn't seem to bother anyone. It hadn't bothered her either, at least not too much. John looked like he was more than glad to get away from the area after the incident. She figured he probably was worried Cameron might blame whatever happened on him. She didn't believe it was his fault.

She went over her actions again. She believed she acted appropriately. Summer malfunctioned and responded in a disrespectful manner. She didn't care for the personal insult either. She tried to tell herself it was when Summer went after John was the reason she 'dropped' her. She already turned her Taser on before they arrived. It was armed and ready to fire. Deep down, she felt it was the personal insult which actually did it. No one ever spoke to her in such a derogatory manner since she was in school. She didn't understand why some people needed to give her a hard time because of her natural hair color, or if she had a few freckles on her face. It was a long time ago. Maybe it all reminded her of the past, her past.

It was a past where she had a mother and a father, her 'real' parents'. All of it was gone. They were dead. It made her start to question everything again. It seemed to be something which could happen daily sometimes. It all still bothered her. Why did it have to happen to her? She was sure it was a question asked by the girls from the future. They all lost their parents soon enough after Judgment Day. Hers happened before Judgment Day.

Maybe there was more at play than she knew. It wouldn't surprise her. Everything seemed too convenient. Maybe this was all a ploy to get her to kill the Gray in cold blood. It was the talk of using the 'Neural Interface' on him which actually did it. It was Ally who mentioned it, not Cameron. Maybe they were all in on it together. She wouldn't put it past any of them.

Savannah didn't want Cameron to ever do what she saw done to the female captive again. She didn't like it any better when it was the male Gray. It was just wrong to her. If she ever SAW it again, she would terminate the 'test subject' immediately. Maybe it's what Cameron wanted from her. She felt no guilt about anything she did tonight, nor did she feel any guilt about what she was about to do. They were all things which needed to be done. Things didn't get done thinking about them. Once something was determined it needed to be accomplished, it needed to be accomplished. Dancing around the issue or unnecessary delay didn't accomplish anything.

It did make her wonder sometimes about some of the things she 'remembered' when she woke up in the morning. They weren't dreams. She was able to differentiate her dreams from what she 'knew'. She didn't know Cameron, or another Terminator, would visit her room at night and whisper information into her ear for hours at a time. It was all part of her 'conditioning' for the future. It was also the reason why she was ready to be with John, if the situation arose, from an early age. It was just 'in her head' it was the 'right thing' to do regardless of her age. It was only her love for Cameron which prevented her from acting on the 'impulse'. She didn't want to 'hurt' Cameron. The compulsion was still there, and evermore so once she was physically able to reproduce offspring. Now there were hormones to fuel the 'desire' which was implanted into her head.

Savannah wanted some answers. She wondered what was really in play there. She was sure it was all her idea, but maybe none of it was. Maybe Cammy would 'come clean'. She needed to remember Cammy ran an outdated version of Cameron's program. There was a good chance she wouldn't know anything recently done by Cameron. She needed to try not to be accusatory with her questioning.

"Cammy, I need to ask you a few questions." Savannah said.

Cammy tilted her head slightly. Savannah asked her questions all the time.

"OK." Cammy said.

Savannah didn't want to see him rude, but she did want to know.

"How was everything ready so fast?" Savannah asked. "There was no pre planning for any of this."

Cammy wasn't about to take the 'rap' for Cameron. She would try to keep everything to generalities. There was a certain amount of truth behind what she knew. She didn't think any of it was done for a harmful purpose.

"Cameron continually updates things to make sure everything is ready." Cammy said. "She's doing a dozen things at once, always."

Savannah frowned slightly. She didn't think the response really answered her question. There was no need to 'push' Cammy and spoil the trip. She didn't think Cammy was directly involved since she was with her the whole time. It was in motion now and there were others with her. Did she put them where they didn't really want to be? She began to wonder how much of it was really Cameron's meddling and manipulation. The more she thought about everything which occurred in the last few hours, the more she wondered. She did know Cameron tried to do what she thought would be best for John and the future. She often believed Cameron needed to do things she didn't agree with, or it hurt her. She didn't want to do things which could hurt Cameron or anyone else.

"Cameron has a way of controlling almost everything the way she wants it to be." Savannah said. "She's always manipulating things."

Cammy was jealous of Cameron. Even if Savannah was her lover, Savannah would always love Cameron more than her. It was a love like no other. It wasn't sexual, well, not yet anyway. It was something everyone could see. It was actually pure unadulterated love of the deepest and truest kind.

"Cameron doesn't hide anything from you." Cammy said. "You should know it. You should appreciate it. You're the only one she does it for. You are very special to her, Savannah. You're the 'Chosen One'."

Savannah really didn't understand what it meant or why. Cameron never really gave her an answer when she asked her several times. She understood her role in the future with Young Allison.

"I don't know about the last part…. I do know Cameron is teaching me what to do for the future." Savannah said. "There's no stopping her is there?"

Cammy knew there was no stopping Cameron. She sure wasn't about to try. It was a guaranteed road to deactivation. She didn't think she could tell Savannah anymore than she already knew. The concepts were all well established and laid out long before her creation.

"Cameron is determined to protect the future." Cammy said. "Protecting the future protects John. It's your function to assist her in every way she 'asks'. You KNOW this."

Savannah was ready for the future when the future was ready for her. There was no need to rush things no matter what thoughts popped into her mind. Cameron came before her or her desires.

"I do and have, BUT I won't hurt her." Savannah said. "I'll take my 'place' when I must, but I refuse to hurt Cameron. I'll never take anything from her. I will try to add to her life, and the others who are involved lives as well. I don't plan to take anything from anyone."

Cammy didn't think the future was changeable in regard to Savannah's place.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Cammy said. "Get some sleep. You're going to be a busy girl when we get there…."

Savannah laid her head on Cammy's lap.

Vanna did the same with Cam.

They both laid and rested the same exact way. Jesse noticed and watched them both end up in the same resting pose with the 'same' Metal girl, even if they were 'different'.

"Look at them." Jesse said to Gail. "They're both exactly the same."

Gail always felt something for Savannah. It was like a feeling she held for no other. Maybe it all stemmed from when the Duplicate set of girls was believed to be terminated. Savannah begged for her not to self Terminate. She told her she needed to believe in Cameron. When Cameron returned, she would 'fix' everything somehow. They pulled her chip before she could self terminate, and Cameron did 'fix' everything. Savannah was correct about all of it. Even the Duplicate set of girls was alive and rescued because of Cameron.

"I'd like to find out…." Gail said as her eyes lingered on Savannah.

Cammy and Cam both shot Gail a dirty look.

Jesse noticed their displeasure. She didn't want any trouble for Gail. She wanted Savannah as much as anyone did. She'd have to settle for her younger self being allowed to have the privilege and the pleasure instead. She wanted it for Young Jesse. She wanted Young Jesse to have the best of everything. It was what she wanted for all of the girls from the present. It included Savannah and Young Allison.

"Sorry, love, you're all mine." Jesse said as she turned Gail's head to face her. "You know what's off limits, unless you want to answer to Cameron. Even I know where the line is…."

Jesse thought of her earlier encounter on multiple occasions with a very hormone laden Savannah chasing her around the Resistance base. It was the hardest thing she ever needed to do, to not accept Savannah's overtures. She even literally needed to run away from Savannah on several occasions. She envied her younger self. It would be so beautiful if they could just trade places for an hour…. She glanced over at Vanna. She needed to smile to herself to know she experienced a version of her anyway. It was an identical version from her timeline.

The jet continued its journey into the night sky. As much of the future was behind them, as it lay ahead of them.

Cameron moved swiftly toward her targets, Summer was right behind her. Ally watched their rear, she also checked behind them as they advanced….

She moved soundlessly, Summer did as well. Ally wasn't as quiet. She motioned for Ally to stop. Cameron indicated for Ally to go check the opening the two Terminators came out of. It was most likely empty since no one else exited from it. There could still be some Grays waiting for an 'all clear' sign.

Cameron and Summer closed in on their targets. She stopped where she was. She could hear a drone. It wasn't either of the two drones she was in control of. There was no indication it was either of their other two drones. It could only be a hostile HK drone.

"John Henry, I have a HK drone approaching." Cameron said. "I'm turning our two drones already on station here, back over to you. Prepare for air to air combat. Check for more hostile HK drones which might be approaching us. It seems late in the game for their arrival. There might be more going on here than we know about."

Cameron hoped to remain undetected for now. She didn't want to face any HK drones.

John Henry spotted the HK drone and tracked it. It was locked up for an air to air missile strike. He wanted to see if there were more before he brought it down. He didn't want to spook them. Cameron's team wasn't in immediate danger. He was a little surprised as he received a close up image of the HK drone.

"I can see the HK drone. No others have been detected yet." John Henry said. "It's the larger Skyshield type. It has a canopy. It can take a pilot. The female Terminator may be in it."

John Henry didn't know Cameron spotted a female Terminator on the ground with the male Terminator once they exited from a hidden opening. She didn't want to rule out the possibility there could be an additional female Terminator sitting in the cockpit of the manned drone.

Cameron wondered if there was another female Terminator…. She needed to focus her attention on the new threat. It didn't appear to be in any type of search mode. She thought it was a good thing. The drone didn't seem to be in an attack posture but more like it was about to touch down.

"I think it's going to land." Cameron said. "I think the pilot isn't in it yet. We're tracking two Terminators now. They both survived the attack and fire."

John Henry was unaware Cameron acquired two targets until he took over control of their two drones. Cameron kept it quiet. He was ready to act. The manned drone was locked up as well as the two Terminators on the ground. He could take a shot at any point in time with missiles.

"Do you want me to strike it now?" John Henry asked. "I have the two hostile Terminators locked up as well. All you need to do is say the word."

Cameron formulated a new plan. It was risky in every way. She wanted to capture both of the Terminators and the manned drone. She also didn't want to get lit up.

"Not yet. I want to see if we can capture it." Cameron said. "I need you to jam all communications as soon as it touches down. If it looks like it is going to attack us, hit it."

John Henry already locked up the two hostile Terminators and the manned drone. He was ready to act on either one.

"It's all targeted." John Henry said. "Everything is targeted."

Cameron faced Summer. She was about to take a risk.

"I want you to take down both of the Terminators." Cameron said. "I'm going to try to capture the HK drone. If the canopy opens, I'm getting in it. It may take off with me in it if I can't control it or John Henry can't jam it."

Cameron handed Summer her Taser. She wanted to make sure she'd be able to bring down the two Terminators. They could be wearing some type of body armor. It seemed unlikely but it was a possibility.

"This is all a big risk." Summer said. "I do understand."

Cameron didn't want Summer damaged before she left.

"If you can't take both of them down with the Tasers, use the Coltan rounds in your weapon." Cameron said. "I don't want you damaged. Destroy them if you need to."

Ally didn't like being separated from Cameron and Summer. She heard Cameron's plan. It was as risky as it seemed fool hearty. She needed to worry about what she might run into. She was worried about getting cut off from the others. She was also worried about what was inside of the opening.

"I'm at the opening." Ally said. "Do you want me to enter or hold?"

Cameron was still worried more Grays could come out of the opening where Ally was at. They might be waiting until the drone arrived and left. She didn't want Ally cut off.

"Hold for now." Cameron said. "We're about to engage. You heard the details. If the drone lands we move. Watch out for reinforcements."

Cameron and Summer were behind cover as they watched and waited. The large drone was about to land. It appeared unoccupied. The canopy began to open. She started to move forward.

"It's Showtime." Cameron said.

She really didn't know how it was all going to play out.

John was a little perplexed at how the HK drone arrived at the location undetected. It wasn't a small one either. There were two of their drones at altitude already there. They should've detected a flying HK drone earlier. Wait. Maybe it didn't go far and was launched locally. There could be a second target close by.

"Where did the HK drone come from?" John asked. "It arrived almost unannounced."

John Henry tried to determine the same information already. Everything he viewed so far was inconclusive. There needed to be a better explanation.

"I don't know." John Henry said. "It hasn't shown up on any of our tracking indicators. I barely have it targeted with both drones."

The new HK drone seemed like a threat in more ways than one.

"Is it an improved version?" John asked.

John Henry figured there must be some new stealth technology involved.

"It sure looks like it." John Henry said.

John was as worried as to where it came from, as he was it was there. Wherever it originated from was a threat. There were sure to be more Grays or Terminators there.

"We need to find out where it came from." John said. "Check for more. I would sure hate to encounter a fleet of them. They might arrive to avenge the loss of their structure and its inhabitants."

Cameron moved closer to the big HK drone. It didn't seem to recognize her as a threat.

"I'm going to try to board it." Cameron said. "I'll attempt to disable it if I can't commandeer it."

John Henry would prefer if Cameron didn't get stuck inside of it. If it gained too much altitude, she wouldn't be able to safely jump from it.

"I have it targeted if it bolts." John Henry said. "Let it go and I'll hit it."

John regretted leaving the area now and not sending back more Terminators sooner. He wanted more help for Cameron and Ally.

"It's just you and Ally out there, Cameron." John said. "You need more help."

Cameron wondered how the next bit of information was about to go over. She wanted to make sure they didn't mistake the third member of her team as the enemy.

"I've reactivated Summer." Cameron said.

Everyone fell silent.

John Henry glanced over at John before he spoke.

"Is it a wise idea?" John Henry asked.

John Henry monitored what happened. He was told by John what he witnessed. It was all very disturbing. Summer sounded unstable and dangerous.

Cameron could sense their apprehension. She wanted to ease their minds somewhat.

"Sumner wanted to have a conversation with Savannah upon reactivation. I don't think it would have been a friendly chat." Cameron said. "I've convinced her it was her fault she was deactivated and why. She now understands Savannah tried to help her. Summer knows the next time she crosses a line she'll be terminated."

Cameron thought it sounded like a good story. She hoped everyone bought it.

John wondered if he canceled the Blackhawk mission too early.

"I have the Blackhawk crew ready to call if you want them." John Henry said. "They've only recently stood down."

Cameron wanted the option. She hadn't planned on the arrival of any HK drones. There was no way to know what was about to happen.

"We may need them if we have to disable or destroy it. They will need to haul it away." Cameron said. "Ally and Summer can handle the Terminators."

John wanted to have a response ready if Cameron needed it.

"I hope you know what you're doing." John said.

Cameron would've liked to give a definitive answer to his statement. She really didn't know. She made light of it instead.

"I always do." Cameron said, and then added. "Well, most of the time anyway."

Summer moved into striking range. The two Terminators were waiting for the large drone to land. Cameron moved off to her side. She was ready to sprint to the HK drone.

Ally made Cameron and Summer aware of a new threat.

"I have movement." Ally said. "I'm about to engage. You need to act now to keep the element of surprise."

Summer acted immediately. She fired one Taser first. She hit the female Terminator. The male Terminator dodged the shots. She fired the second Taser in her other hand. She struck him with it. Both of the enemy Terminators were down.

Cameron made her move with the first Taser shot. Before the male impacted the ground, she was on top of the drone. She tried to climb in it. It immediately began to power up for lift off. The canopy started to close.

Ally's M4 barked to life in the near distance. So far there hadn't been any return fire.

Cameron scrambled into the pilot's seat. She jammed the canopy open with her M4 so it couldn't close. The drone started to lift off.

It was the moment of truth. She either needed to gain control, or get out before the drone was too high. Once it gained altitude, the enemy could crash it with her in it.

Cameron went over the controls quickly. She then started to systematically pull wires out. The drone immediately impacted back to the ground. It spun in a slow circle. She continued to rip wires loose. The drone stopped moving and powered down.

John was worried it may have a self destruct feature.

"Is it booby trapped?" John asked.

Cameron already started to look for one.

"I'm checking." Cameron said.

Nothing was spotted so she got out. She needed to worry about Summer and Ally. She saw the Terminators were down but not deactivated. There was more gunfire where Ally was at.

"I have these two." Cameron said to Summer. "Go help Ally."

Cameron moved to the male Terminator and stuck the shocker on his neck. She then moved to the female and removed her chip, it self-destructed. She waited for the shocker to blast the male again. Once it did, she removed his chip.

The firing in the direction of Summer and Ally increased. She grabbed her M4 from the drone and headed into the mix.

The two deactivated Terminators and the disabled drone weren't going anywhere on their own.

Cameron would be back, once she was finished helping Ally and Summer. She would have preferred to keep this entire operation off of the books. The arrival of the unmanned drone changed everything. She needed to worry about any other surprises arriving like the first one did. It was doubtful they would be very friendly when they did. She figured she got lucky on the first one. It was probably because it was expecting a female Terminator to approach it. It is exactly what happened. It was just the 'wrong' female Terminator.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Off Limits

What is within one's grasp
How far will they reach
Is it an opportunity to take
Or a moment to learn and teach

There are boundaries everywhere
Some are created by one
Most of them are set by others
Many take away life's fun

What all will one seek out
How far are they willing to go
Will they act fast and rash
Or will they think and take it slow

There are things that are forbidden
They somehow fuel an inner desire
How quickly everyone forgets
They get burnt when they play with fire

One takes the blows and hits
Sometimes it's a contest of wits
Beauty and truth are mistaken for glitz
When one won't accept what's off limits

Nobody