Chapter 404

Tranquility

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Events continue from Chapter 402

In Some Future: Duplicate Cameron

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Cameron tried to think on the fly. She needed to spin a 'story' for Skynet. The nature of Mrs. Weaver's construction from Liquid Metal, and the ability to time travel were beyond this version of Skynet's capabilities. Apparently until just a short time ago, it was beyond its comprehension as well. She used ideas from TV shows she watched at night when the others were asleep. It was all done between her patrols. She wanted to see what everyone else watched on TV. She also used events from her future, and the other future she visited. She could think of a lot of events to choose from. She wanted to push it, but not push it too much. She'd knocked Skynet off guard and wanted to keep it the same way.

She needed to make it seem as plausible as possible. The traces of temporal transfers in Allison, Mrs. Weaver, and herself were detectable. They were readings Skynet wouldn't have any idea what they actually were, other than what she told it. The current Skynet didn't possess either Liquid Metal or a TDE. There was no way for it to explain how the readings were possible.

They were all subject to termination since they were detained. She needed to step carefully. She witnessed several versions of Skynet become very unstable when she terminated them. She was sure several of them actually went insane. She didn't want to trigger a similar response where she was now, at least not yet anyway.

Allison knew enough to play along with Cameron. She knew she shouldn't speak, but appear to communicate with Cameron in a nonverbal manner. Their survival depended on whatever story Cameron could spin. She knew she needed to play her part. There hadn't been any preplanning on this aspect of the operation. She knew Cameron wanted to buy time for them. There was more help nearby. It was what she hoped anyway.

Cameron could tell Allison knew to follow her lead. She wanted to empathize their safety more than anything, for Allison's sake.

"I must stress the Emissary not be harmed. Her Council will try to communicate with her." Cameron said. "If the Emissary doesn't return, there will be a warship which will enter this time period, and destroy the entire sector. It will most likely be the 'Tranquility'."

There was a slight pause before Skynet responded.

"Did you say the Tranquility?" The voice asked. "It doesn't seem like a battle craft's name."

Cameron could tell she sunk the hook in deep. She wanted to keep it there. She needed to buy time. The Special Unit's forces were outside. They should be able to defeat the Skynet forces as long as no reinforcements were sent. She hoped the anti-aircraft units would be able to prevent it.

"It's called Tranquility because only 'tranquility' is left after it has destroyed a world or even a sector. With nothingness there is tranquility. It becomes absolute peace." Cameron said. "We're here and you have us captive, please let the Emissary rest and recover. Then we will communicate. I don't think you want to turn our encounter into a negative one. The Council is very protective of the Emissary."

Cameron didn't know how much Skynet would believe, but there was enough evidence to put doubt into its mind. She hoped it would at least think about things before it acted in regards to them.

"I'll think about it…." The voice said. "I have other matters to attend to now, anyway."

Skynet was being overwhelmed in a dozen places all at once. It appeared all of its transports and HK drones were shot down or inoperative. The reports dropped off as the Grays and Terminators were overrun by the Restorators. Now there were no communications of any type. There was no success in its attempts to reestablish any.

There was a lot for it to think about. Not too much of it was positive under the current circumstances. It did hold three individuals which all required further scrutiny. They might even be able to be used as bargaining chips going forward.

Skynet tried to transfer its program, but was unable to do so. It could destroy everyone there and perish, or try to make a deal from a position of strength. It was intrigued with what seemed to be future technology. The time travel aspect was what it most desired. If it really was exterminated in a few years by the pathetic Resistance, it could go back in time and strike earlier, or push harder in the beginning to obliterate humans.

There was also the prospect to get a foothold in the future. It could rule in the future as well. With advanced technology it could rule not only the planet, but the entire universe. Maybe it should tread lightly for now with the captives it held. If there was a spaceship of some kind which could destroy a planet, it needed to have it too. Humans could never beat it if it did. With the advanced technology from the future, it could go back further into the past to destroy humanity. Even if it only went back a hundred years in time, there was no way the humans would be able to defeat it. With the advanced spacecraft it would destroy the surface of the planet first. It would show the humans who was in charge. There would be nothing left to oppose it. It would show humans who was the boss.

Skynet briefly reflected if it were to occur, it would be the boss of nothing….

Bob and the 'Special Unit' slowly gained control of the base. The firing stopped inside the building. It was probably not a good sign. They lost communications with the team inside. It was an even worse sign.

At one point in time, a group of HK drones approached. All of them were shot down. One transport also returned. It was shot down as well. The few Terminators who managed to climb out of the wreckage were soon terminated.

Skynet seemed contained there as was the plan. It must have been able to get some calls for assistance out. The response may have been triggered when he prevented Skynet from communicating with the outside world when he blew the power supply earlier. There was no way to know. It didn't really matter either. They were able to defeat the challenge. The battle Cammy waged elsewhere kept Skynet busy.

The Resistance forces decimated Skynet's forces on the battlefield. The air power was knocked down first, and then the Skynet troops on the ground. The Terminators sacrificed the Grays to draw out the Resistance, but it failed. When they thought the Resistance started to pull out, the Terminators attacked. Cammy's plan worked to destroy them on the battlefield. The Terminators were in retreat mode right now. They literally ran for their lives. The majority of them were damaged. Some of them were missing limbs. A few of them no longer were covered by sheaths either.

Cammy, as 'Commander Connor', led the counter attack. They easily overran the Skynet defenses. The few Terminators left in action were recalled to protect the local Skynet computers. It's where they would be terminated along with the computer equipment. Skynet recalled everyone to try to protect itself and escape. The Resistance blocked it and prevented it from escaping anywhere. Skynet was slow to react because it refused to believe the evidence presented to it about the Resistance's actions. It was defeated on the battlefield.

She assigned Ginger and Sandy to work with Billy and his group. They selected a few other female Restorators to accompany them. It seemed the anti-Metal group felt less threatened by female Restorators. It was amazing what impact a few female anatomical body parts seemed to have.

The Restorators were the ones who took the damage instead of the humans. Several Restorators were destroyed helping the anti-Metal leader and group. They pushed forward in the assault. They encountered a pocket of Grays who the Skynet Terminators abandoned.

Ginger sensed an opportunity to further bring the anti-Metal faction closer. It would allow them to see the face of the real enemy. It was humans just like them who chose to serve Skynet. She wanted to run the proposal by Billy and the leaders of the anti-Metal faction.

"The group which is left to fight are all Grays. They're all humans. Do you wish us to destroy them, or do you wish to fight them yourself? They are very people who have fought and turned against you." Ginger said. "They are people like you. They are your real enemy."

Billy looked around at some of the damaged Restorators. Some of them displayed horrific damage. They were still in the fight. Humans injured the same way would be dead. The Commander showed him the true enemy and who was there to help them.

It made him wonder how he could have become so blind as to the reality of the situation. He figured it stemmed from early in the conflict when the Skynet Terminators were able to unleash such destruction on the humans. Things evolved greatly since then. Their loss of territory and lives actually only stopped when the General arrived with her force of Restorators. He wasn't sure if it was anything but petty jealousy which prevented him and the others from seeing the reality of the situation. It was when the Commander arrived and put a new face on the leadership of the Resistance when it caught his attention. The General's daughter and the others were very genuine in their desire to help and make things better for everyone. What he witnessed today on the battlefield cinched his decision.

"We'll fight alongside you as we destroy them." Billy said. "We don't need any prisoners to deal with. These people's actions have dictated their own fate. We will fight together."

The united Resistance moved forward. They brought the fight to Skynet and eradicated everything in their path. The human losses of the Resistance were very light. The human losses for Skynet were total annihilation. It was most likely any Grays who survived without their master would probably become Scavengers. It was another problem which needed to be dealt with.

Cam was with Jesse and Vanna at the Resistance headquarters. They already encountered and survived one incident involving the anti-Metal faction. There were three dead bodies to show for their efforts to defend themselves. None of those bodies were from their group. They won, the other group lost.

Jesse looked out a window. She was on edge now. Vanna was as well. They didn't know Cam allowed the anti-Metal faction to show themselves earlier. It was still somewhat unnerving, even if Cam always kept everything under control. It appeared a new threat emerged.

"We have an armed group approaching." Jesse said.

Cam looked out the window. She was very displeased at what she saw.

"It's that low life Snake." Cam said. "I knew I should have terminated him."

Cam assumed the appearance of Jesse's 'companion' for the upcoming 'meet'. It was her former appearance. She played 'Allison' up until now. The Liquid Metal 'patch' helped her to switch from 'person' to 'person'. Without using the material, she looked like Cameron.

The current situation seemed to be more of a direct approach. It may be the precursor to a larger assault. Whatever it was didn't look good.

Cam and the two girls bumped up their armament. It looked like things were going to get hot….

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In Some Future: Cameron Prime

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Cameron and Savannah just arrived 'in some future' a short time ago. They arrived on a battlefield. They were off of it now. Cameron sustained some damage. They took some bloody clothes off of the dead and picked up a few battered weapons. They didn't have anything else.

They spotted a crashed Skynet transport not too far away. It looked like something recent. Cameron wanted to establish a more secure perimeter.

Cameron moved off a few times to search around them. She moved Savannah deeper into the trees. She returned with more weapons. They took the best of the lot and They stashed the rest.

Savannah carried a few of the weapons. She wanted to go with Cameron the next time.

Cameron wanted her to stay put. She needed to know where Savannah was at so she didn't need to worry about her as much. She already checked the surrounding area twice for any threats. None were discovered. It didn't mean there weren't any.

"I want to get to the crashed transport." Cameron said. "If there are no active Skynet Terminators still at the location, there should be some supplies for the Grays on it. I can collect them for you."

Savannah didn't want to be babied. She was there. What they currently faced was the new reality. She may be there forever. She may die there. She would most likely be abused there at some point. It would probably be multiple times. It all made sense to her as to what the girls told her, and how Cameron 'trained' her. She understood it all now. It was time to step up and face the future. It arrived a little sooner than she anticipated. She was ready to meet the challenge.

"Cameron, I'm fine. I don't need any food or water for a few days." Savannah said. "I'll go with you. I'd rather stay with you and face the danger together. I'm not comfortable with being left behind here, while you're off on your own. I'm not going to know what's happening and I'm going to become very worried. If we run into Grays, you can say I'm your prisoner and I have some valuable intelligence or something. If we run into Scavengers you can kill them. I'll help you for what they've done to Vanna and the others…. You've hardened me. I understand now why you were doing what you did. I didn't like it at the time, but now I understand it. You did the right thing. I will make sure I personally harden Young Allison and Summer as they mature, I swear it."

Savannah was appalled, and even angry, at Cameron during some of the moments when she needed to act outside of the box and participate in some questionable and immoral behavior. She already crossed the line and was ready to face it again. Now is when it would matter.

Cameron smiled to herself. She tried to harden Savannah. She never imagined they would be there fighting for their lives in the Wastelands of the future. It was sure to be a future with Scavengers and Skynet. She knew she needed to get Savannah out of the current environment before it started to affect Savannah's body and John's baby.

"This is beyond anything I've ever trained you for." Cameron said. "It's the real deal and it's all around us."

Savannah could see Cameron would need as much reassurance as she would. She knew her presence being in the future wasn't something Cameron bargained on. The fact she was currently pregnant with John's baby only compounded the magnitude and stress of the situation. The damage Cameron already received was another negative contributing factor to everything. She didn't want Cameron to worry needlessly.

"We'll deal with everything and face the future together, Cameron." Savannah said. "We're here for each other. I'm here for you. Whatever we need to deal with, we will deal with it when we face it."

Cameron thought maybe it was better to bring Savannah with her than leave her in the current defensive position she was in. There was a lot which could go wrong for either of them if they were separated.

"We'll go together." Cameron said. "I'm going to need you to follow all my instructions when they're given instantly. If you see something you don't think is right, say something immediately. I know human intuition has proven valuable with Derek and Kyle many times in our endeavors against Skynet. Don't be afraid to use it. Sometimes humans can see, or even feel, things aren't right when logically they seem to be."

Savannah would have preferred to have gotten a little more combat experience under her belt before she arrived where she currently was at. It wasn't the case.

"I'll do my best to assist you with everything." Savannah said.

Savannah wanted to tell Cameron not to worry about her appearance. She would love her no matter how she was with or without any damage. She was sure Cameron already knew it but she would like to reaffirm it. Now didn't seem like the right time to do it. She was worried it would only make Cameron worry about her current condition even more. Cameron needed to be a Terminator right now to get both of them through whatever challenges they were about to face.

Cameron would move Savannah up a distance and pause. She would scout around them in a circle, and then scout ahead again in the direction they were headed. She would return to Savannah, and scout again in a circle around them before proceeding. It was slower going than she wanted, but it was the safest way to move Savannah. She needed to worry about the threats in front of them, as well as those which could develop behind them or alongside of them.

She arrived at a small ridge. There was a crashed Skynet transport at the base of the hill. She watched for signs of movement, there didn't appear to be any. She knew the crash site would draw other actors to check it out. It could be the Resistance, Scavengers, or other Skynet forces. It could be any combination of them, or all of them.

Cameron returned to Savannah and moved her up using the same cautious procedure. It wasn't just encountering anyone active in the three groups. Any one of them, or all of them, could have already been there. There was the real possibility of an ambush set up there by Skynet, the Resistance, or Scavengers. The transport would draw all of those groups to check out the wreckage.

"I want to watch this location a little longer." Cameron said. "You will stay concealed and out of sight. Watch for patrols or HK drones."

Savannah knew the HK drones would be the hardest to avoid once they came around. It would be worse if there was a ground patrol with them. She was sure Cameron would hear an HK drone on approach long before she would. There were certain evasion techniques she was already trained on.

"I know to try and keep a tree between the HK drone and myself if possible." Savannah said. "I'll try to remain under cover."

Cameron tucked Savannah away where she wouldn't be easily spotted.

She waited another hour and carefully moved down to the transport. The entire back half was burnt out, the front third wasn't too badly damaged. There were deactivated Terminators everywhere. It appeared any Terminators who were still functional already left. Those incapable of movement were terminated. Their heads blasted apart with plasma weapons. Their power cells were removed. It appeared some were still able to function at the time, even if they couldn't move. Skynet didn't tolerate failure and it didn't take care of its Terminators. They were just tools to get the job done. They didn't matter to Skynet.

Cameron was able to get some better clothing. It was the clothing of Skynet and the Grays. It might turn out to be a problem later on. She needed cleaner clothes for Savannah. It's what was available. She wanted Savannah out of the bloody clothing to prevent any bio-hazards. There were also some emergency rations, a basic medical kit and packed water. She knew the water was the most important thing.

She took the medical kit, water, clothes, and some of the food. She cautiously made her way back to Savannah. She would go back for more water and other supplies later. First she wanted to clean Savannah up.

Savannah removed her top as Cameron took in her perfect figure.

Cameron hesitated at first to touch Savannah's beautiful body.

Savannah noticed Cameron was a little uneasy. There was absolutely no need for her to be. There was nothing new for Cameron to see which she hadn't already seen before.

"It's OK, Cameron." Savannah said and stripped off her bloody pants. "You've seen me before. I've seen you. I don't mind. We're both female. I've repaired you before. Cammy is the same as you…."

She tried to make the point there was nothing 'new' to see. She didn't want Cameron to be self-conscious about herself and her damage.

Cameron pictured a deeper future going forward. Now was not the time to dwell on it. She carefully cleaned the scrapes and cuts Savannah already received. There was some disinfectant she used on her as well. She used everything sparingly. There was no guarantee when additional supplies could be located.

She proceeded to tend any other small wounds. There was one which bothered her greatly.

"This is a bullet graze." Cameron said. "You were almost shot."

Savannah didn't think it was a problem. She wasn't the one who was damaged. Cameron was. She wanted to deal with Cameron's damage as well.

"You were shot. I'm going to clean you up next." Savannah said. "I see sutures in the medical kit. I'll fix you up as well, Cameron. I want to close up what's left of your right breast to help in its regeneration."

Cameron looked down at herself. Her right breast was permanently destroyed. Too much of it was missing. The same area was already severely damaged before, several times. She tried to tell herself it didn't matter, but somehow it did.

Savannah could tell it concerned Cameron. It was understandable. It would concern anyone.

"I don't want you to think about it right now." Savannah said. "I want you to ignore it until we get a better control of the situation. It will reduce your efficiency if you allow your mind to dwell there."

Cameron looked down at the front of her torso again. She looked up and nodded. She made a quick sweep of the area and returned to Savannah. She removed her shredded bloody shirt.

Savannah worked on Terminators before. It was very bad cosmetically, but there was no apparent mechanical damage. She felt a sense of guilt over Cameron's damage. She stitched the remains of the breast closed. It was now about a third of its original size. She at least hoped the suture scars would go away. Based upon Cameron's past trouble, it was doubtful the breast would even return to half of its normal size. It was unlikely there wouldn't be a nipple either. She couldn't help but feel responsible about Cameron's damage.

"I'm really sorry about all this, Cameron." Savannah said. "If I hadn't come, you wouldn't be damaged."

Cameron doubted it. The report Duplicate Cameron gave her said they were in a depression and there was fighting all around them. Plasma weapons were in use too.

"We don't know it for sure, Savannah." Cameron said "The major damaged area was non functional on me anyway. It doesn't matter. I'm a machine."

Savannah wanted to convey her personal feelings to Cameron.

"Oh, Cameron, it's not like that." Savannah said and held her tight. "You know it just isn't true, not anymore."

Cameron attempted to smile but couldn't.

Savannah looked Cameron square in the face. She wanted to spell it out clearly to Cameron how she felt and the way things would happen going forward.

"Cameron, if we're stuck here I'll be your mate. I'll be your lover just how you are. I love you, Cameron. Never forget it. I Love YOU." Savannah said. "It's why I'm here. It's so you'll never be alone, or feel 'not good enough'. I'll always be here with you. It's MY choice too. I'll love you no matter how you are. It's what real love is. You love the person inside the body. It's the real person."

Savannah's words touched Cameron deeply. She knew they were true and sincere. Savannah was the mate she always wanted. Savannah loved her for more than her appearance. Savannah loved her for more than what her female attributes could provide. It was real love.

Cameron loved Savannah also. Savannah sacrificed herself so she wouldn't be alone. That was love. She knew love was about sacrifice. Savannah sacrificed 'everything' to be there with her. She looked down at her damaged torso. A single tear slid down her cheek. John would never want her now anyway. She was ashamed of the way she looked, and would look going forward. She decided once she got Savannah back, if she could, she herself wouldn't return. She put her fresh shirt on and went on another sweep as the tears silently streamed down her face.

She knew she would never let John see her 'look' like this. She couldn't face the rejection which would be sure to follow. Nobody wanted 'damaged goods'.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Tranquility

Everyone would like to live
Life in joy and harmony
Instead some grow cold
They seek out an armory

Most try to avoid strife
To find some contentment
Others may be filled with
Pain, anger and resentment

Everything works smoothly
When it flows with equanimity
Or seclusion with anonymity
It may even turn into a calamity

Don't let the sky turn black
When there can be serenity
There's no need to turn everything
Into some type of obscenity

Cast out the inner demons
Control the simmering hostility
There is still much possibility
When one will embrace tranquility

Nobody