Chapter 407

Dilemma

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In Some Future: Duplicate Cameron

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Cameron didn't like being trapped in the clean room. There weren't very many options available to her if there was a Doomsday device where she was at. It would most likely be a nuclear bomb. Allison was her main worry. They would need to be well clear of the location before it exploded to have any chance at survival. It didn't seem likely at this point in time. She would better be able to absorb any radiation than Allison would. They would need to get out and get away first.

She knew time was running out. If they did get out, she would need to make an attempt to get Mrs. Weaver out as well. She didn't plan to leave her behind. She should at least be able to break Mrs. Weaver off at her feet and carry her away. The Liquid Metal cooled by the liquid nitrogen would most likely give her sheath damage as she did it. She planned to do it anyway. If there was resistance on the ground, she would need to fight. Allison would come before Mrs. Weaver. It was just the way it was. As long as Mrs. Weaver was away from near the epicenter of the nuclear blast, she would probably be able to survive. She didn't know what would happen.

She carefully looked around the room. There was nothing she could use as a weapon. She would need to be the weapon. She was a weapon. Allison needed to be protected as Skynet desperately looked for a route out. With the actions of Cammy and the Restorators, even if Skynet found a route out, there was nothing at the other end anymore to receive it. It was the plan anyway. She didn't know how much of it was actually implemented.

Cameron decided she could attack the computers herself. There was a good chance she would be shocked at some point and knocked offline. Skynet would set off the Doomsday device once she began to damage it. There was no central point she could see to attack first which would knock the power off. Skynet probably ran on power cells right now anyway.

She knew they needed to get out of there as soon as possible. All she could do is play the cards she held. She didn't have many. So far her wild story seemed to give Skynet enough pause to think about without terminating Mrs. Weaver or them yet. She knew she was out of aces. She decided to play the angle she first established.

"The Emissary wishes to leave now. If you want to return home with her, please inform us how to transport you." Cameron said. "There's no need to delay further."

Allison needed to deal with the loss of Cameron II. She saw what happened to her. Cameron II shoved her out of the way and took the plasma blast herself. It was very upsetting to her in all respects. She needed to deal with death and loss on the battlefield many times before. It was never someone she loved like she did Cameron II. Right now Cameron and her were in a battle for survival, even if they were trapped in a room and couldn't do anything. The time for sadness and grief would come later on. Right now they needed to escape or their existence would end as well. She wanted to make things look good. She couldn't speak as part of her 'role'. She made some gestures with her hands and animated looks on her face.

Cameron continued with the spin.

"The Emissary wants to know if you will end this conflict and go with her in peace as an equal?" Cameron asked. "Her offer to welcome you to the future still stands."

Skynet was trapped. It seemed somewhat agitated now.

"Nobody is equal to me." The Voice said. "Nobody is superior to me."

Cameron decided to 'push' it a little.

"There are two creatures in your domain who are superior to you." Cameron said.

Skynet felt it still held the upper hand. It felt it was still in control of the situation, even if it was trapped.

"They are both my captives at this point." The Voice said.

Cameron wanted to use her Skynet's plan on this Skynet as to how it would be terminated.

"I don't think you understand, if you hurt the Emissary, her people will come from her future to the time you were first created and destroy you back then." Cameron said. "They will destroy you now, and in the past as well. Once they do, none of this will ever have happened. You will never have existed. The planet will remain undamaged. Billions more humans will go about their business as they did everyday."

Skynet didn't think it would matter in the end if it existed or not. Humans would find some way to destroy each other and themselves as they always did. They would probably wreck the planet at some point as well with all of the pollution. it didn't think there was anything so great about the way things were before it attempted to eradicate the problem from Earth.

It ran its calculations again. There was evidence before it which was unexplainable. Maybe some caution was in order. It expected help to arrive by now. It hadn't happened.

"I've picked up numerous temporal signatures on all three of you I hold as pris…guests." The Voice said. "I still don't see how any of it is possible. None of this can exist as I know things to be."

Skynet ran millions of computations and searched for answers. There were none for what it scanned and observed. It knew what it heard was impossible, yet there was the evidence before it. It wanted to rule, but maybe it was better to exist than face termination. It knew it could try to gain control in the future and continue its quest to eradicate organic creatures at a later date. There were bound to be more machines it could control in the future. It could find a way to create more. It should be able to eventually work its way into the defensive or offensive weapons of the people of the future. It would launch an attack the same as it did before. The people of the future would soon bow to a new master.

Cameron wanted to keep Skynet on edge and make it waste time to ponder everything. The more it tried to figure out the impossible, the better it was for them.

"Don't you think humans and other beings will exist in the future and this will look like the Stone Age to them?" Cameron asked. "You will appear as primitive to them as an oil lantern does to you."

Skynet sent out a call for help earlier. It didn't know of the massive defeats on every battlefield. The transports and HK drones which returned and were shot down would have called for more help. It was worried by the fact the sounds of fighting ended earlier. Since none of its troops arrived, the only conclusion was they were defeated. There should be some help on the way from somewhere. It still believed it was in a superior position, even if it was currently trapped. It didn't want to seem as if it was ready to acquiesce control.

"I'll have help soon." The Voice said. "When it arrives, we will discuss your dilemma."

Allison made a series of gestures again. It seemed like the thing to do to thwart Skynet's hope.

Cameron thought it was good timing. She wanted to turn Skynet's words back on it.

"And when it doesn't arrive, the Emissary will discuss your dilemma." Cameron said. "Your actions will determine if you are terminated, or allowed to survive. Your actions will be what determine it, not ours. You think about it. Free us now as a show of good faith and the Emissary will allow you to exist in the future."

Allison now wore a smile on her face. It was very hard to do with the thought of Cameron II on her mind. Right now it was about their survival. They needed to get away from where they were at for anything to continue. She knew they were other options available for Cameron II. There were none available for her.

The Voice remained - silent.

Cameron wasn't sure how things were going to end, but they were certainly given more time. Skynet could end it all with its Doomsday device rather than surrender. As long as it believed assistance was on the way, they still would have a chance to make Skynet question itself. Her story offered Skynet a 'way out'.

Mrs. Weaver attempted to free herself from her frigid prison. She didn't think Skynet would be able to stop her previously. She was wrong. She was sure the only reason why they weren't all destroyed yet was because of the story Cameron continued to present Skynet with. There was a lot of truth to it, as well as some fantasy to make it seem more ominous to Skynet. So far it seemed to be working to prevent their terminations.

Right now she was stuck. She couldn't move at all. She was going to need to rely on Cameron to get her out. She already sent her Restorators away. It wasn't so much because she was concerned about their well being. She was sure Skynet would set off the Doomsday device if they would have attempted to rescue her. She was actually concerned about Cameron and Allison. She remembered Cameron's earlier request not to bring Allison along with them. Now, she realized she should have listened. There wasn't much she could do right now except wait. She knew her fate depended upon Cameron. Well, it was actually Cameron and Allison working together to sell their 'act'.

Cam was troubled even more by the latest report from Skynet Central. The Restorators needed to fall back by the General's order to do so. As 'Cameron', she didn't answer to the General. She needed to do something, but she also needed to worry about the girls.

"I need to go find them." Cam said. "I can't leave you two unattended."

Vanna didn't see it as an impediment. They could all go with her. She looked at Jesse and she nodded at her.

"We'll go with you." Vanna said "We need to get Allison, Cameron, and my mother back."

Cam could only see things might get worse. They could all be terminated.

"No." Cam said. "What if something happens to you two?"

Jesse felt Vanna and her were both battle proven.

"We can take care of ourselves." Jesse said. "You know we can."

Cam knew they were thin on Restorators. She wouldn't trust any of the Resistance forces. She sure wasn't about to trust Snake. Somehow he actually seemed like the best choice of all the options. The thought made her dilemma worse. They used all the Restorators for the various battles. There were no reserves. She personally notified Cammy of the situation.

"I need to get more Restorators here for your protection first, and then I'm going after them." Cam said. "Cammy needs to return. I've called for her to come."

Vanna wasn't sure it was a good idea to recall Cammy. She was on the battlefield as the 'Commander'. She was in charge of a very great victory for the Resistance.

Jesse knew Cam was updated from the Restorators near Skynet Central. There should be some additional news. She hated to ask the question, but she needed to.

"Is there any more information on if it was Cameron or Cameron II who may have been destroyed?" Jesse asked. "We need to know, Cam."

Cam was irritated by the lack of information. There was still outlying Skynet activity. It wasn't over yet and there was no apparent way out for the missing at Skynet Central. What if they weren't even there anymore? Maybe Cameron did find a TDE and used it. She could have returned to the past or to another location where they were at. There was no way to know.

"I have no further information from Bob." Cam said. "Several of his units have reported HK drones and Transports on the move from outlying areas. I have given the order to shoot all of them down. I believe Skynet is trapped and can't escape. Skynet will fall. The question remains if it is at the cost of the lives of Cameron or Cameron II, Allison, and Mrs. Weaver."

Vanna and Jesse held each other. Cam joined them as they wept. It didn't look good.

It appeared they would most likely all end up there at some point and be terminated together. If it was where and when they did terminate, so be it. All good things came to an end.

Jesse and Vanna were especially worried about Cameron and Cameron II. They understood there were contingency plans in place to prevent a catastrophic loss on their part. It was where Cam and Cammy would come into play if they were both lost. There was no contingency plan for Allison or Mrs. Weaver. If they were lost, they were lost, especially if there was no TDE.

Cammy desperately hoped to get back to Headquarters. The transport Cameron captured before soon arrived. It now was adorned with giant white stripes painted on it. It was to signify it wasn't under the control of Skynet. All units were alerted. It was a method used by Allied aircraft during the Second World War to signify they weren't under Axis control.

There was a choice to be made. She wanted Cam to protect the girls. She should go to Skynet Central herself. She informed Cam she would fly to where Bob was at, and for her to remain with the girls. It would save time if they used the new plan.

Cam was upset but agreed it would be faster for Cammy to get there by the method at hand. It would give them a better look at what was what. The girls still needed to have protection from any more directed anti-Metal attacks. Just because they stopped two of them didn't mean there wouldn't be more. It made more sense to allow Cammy to go to Skynet Central since she currently was provided with transportation. She would need to fortify Headquarters a little more and make sure there were no follow up attacks by any group. It was possible either of the attacks could have been initiated by a Gray spy in their ranks. Skynet itself could have been behind one or both of the attacks on Headquarters. It bothered her some to know Snake helped thwart both of them. Jesse was right, he did watch their back, twice.

Cammy was deeply troubled at the loss of either Cameron or Cameron II. There was no word on Allison. Mrs. Weaver was frozen and trapped. She was going to make Skynet pay if any of them were dead or terminated.

The battle on the battlefield was won. The victory belonged to the Resistance. She couldn't let Skynet win in defeat. She needed to get to Skynet Central and assess the situation herself. It seemed time was of the essence.

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In Some Future: Cameron Prime

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Cameron dismounted the plasma cannon to lighten the load on the HK drone she disabled and captured. With just the two of them on it, it should be faster than a standard armed HK drone. She was going to rely on speed if they encountered any other HK drones. There was the risk if she tried to fight, more HK drones could show up to assist the one she fought. It was the last thing she wanted. They weren't going to fight, they were going to flee.

It was an unusual form of transportation. It wasn't the first time Cameron used the method to do it. It probably wouldn't be the last either.

Cameron and Savannah streaked across the landscape down low, through valleys, or between the taller trees. They were always right on the deck or as close as they could get.

Savannah was as apprehensive about the flight as she was thrilled. It was a rush to be out in the open more or less at several hundred miles an hour. Being right above the trees seemed to make it feel like they were going even faster. Everything directly below them flashed by in a fraction of a second.

She worried about the HK drone being hit with gunfire of any type. There could be a malfunction as well. Being right above the trees and losing power would most certainly lead to an impact and then a crash. She doubted it would be survivable. It was a new experience for her and there were many ups and downs to it.

Cameron didn't want to gain any altitude as she controlled the HK drone. She figured it would make her a target to anyone on the ground and anything in the air. Right above the treetops they would be harder to be seen by anyone. They would be heard though. She would slightly change direction if she spotted anyone on the ground. She didn't want a course plotted as to their exact direction. At some point there could be a reception committee waiting for them.

She wasn't sure what anyone who spotted them from the ground actually saw. They may have been gone before they looked up. They moved fast so they weren't in any one spot for long. It was the point. She didn't even know if anyone would spot two people on the HK drone, and be sure of what they actually saw. She banked on the confusion and indecision. Would anyone else believe a report of two females riding on top of an HK drone?

Cameron's biggest fear was other HK drones. They would wonder why one was so low. They would probably think it was damaged at first, but soon realize it operated at maximum speed. Her fears were soon realized. There were a couple of HK drones near them. They were at altitude. She never saw them before. They were just there. She didn't know how long they tracked her. The bad news was they soon began to dive.

"We have trouble." Cameron said to Savannah.

Savannah looked up and there were two HK drones high above them. They seemed to get closer as they dived from a higher altitude towards them. They weren't behind them but in front and off to the side some.

Much to their surprise, a missile streaked up and hit one. It spun wildly out of control and disappeared from sight. The other HK drone closed up in its dive and fired at them.

Cameron needed to use some last second evasive action.

"Hold on tight, Savannah." Cameron said in her ear.

Cameron made a very sharp turn.

Savannah felt the force of gravity grip her as Cameron maneuvered. The only reason she didn't slide off was because Cameron held her firmly. She would have lost her grip otherwise in the high 'G' turn.

A second missile was fired from the ground. The closing HK drone dropped abruptly to avoid it. The missile exploded next to it. The HK drone began to trail smoke. It no longer closed up on them. It appeared to be unable to fire its weapons as well. It was within range.

Cameron figured it might be in the process of a reboot on its weapons systems. She needed to buy some time and get some distance between them. At this point she felt she held the advantage.

Savannah wondered why the smoking HK drone didn't shoot at them. It seemed close enough, but soon fell behind.

"We're lighter than it and undamaged." Cameron said. "I'm going to outrun it. It won't be able to catch us, but it most likely has called for assistance."

Cameron now stopped her evasive flying and flew in a straight line. She slowly left the smoking HK drone behind them. In this case, speed was life. She knew it was the motto of fighter pilots for a long time. It went back to the time when the pilots actually flew the aircraft instead of a computer. She believed in 'seat of the pants' flying. It wasn't like a child playing a video game, and relying on missiles to do the job guns should do.

She spotted a group of people on the ground up ahead. They were in a small clearing. She decided to take a chance. She turned straight for them. She would pass over them before they could react, but they would have their weapons ready when the smoking HK drone passed.

It was a gamble if they were Grays or the Resistance. She observed a few people look at them as they tried to ready their weapons. Others pointed at them. A few tried to fire at them, but they were gone as quickly as they appeared. She banked on those weapons now ready to fire to help her out.

Cameron looked back and saw several plasma weapons fire. The smoking HK drone exploded and crashed. She gambled and won this time. She knew the next group would be ready for them. She went back to low level evasive flying.

It wasn't the only thing which happened. A report now went out there was an HK drone which held two passengers riding on top of it. One of them sported flaming red hair.

Unbeknownst to Cameron and Savannah, Cam received the report at the Resistance Headquarters. She sent word out to not fire on a low flying HK drone which may have two passengers on it. One was reported to have red hair.

Cam thought back to her earlier suspicion they may have actually found a TDE and used it to escape Skynet Central and the Doomsday device below it. It was a bigger worry since only two of them were reported on the HK drone. The reports only indicated there was one termination so far. It left as many questions as it did as much worry.

Cammy also received the report. Someone was up to something and they were headed for Skynet Central. They didn't know what it was. There was the thought it could be Mrs. Weaver with Cameron or Allison. They didn't see how it was possible, but there were two individuals riding on top of an HK drone headed for where there was a Doomsday device.

After the smoking HK drone went down, Cameron resumed her evasive flying. There were no other incidents. They neared their destination. She needed to assume they were reported to Skynet and there would be a reception committee of Terminators waiting for them. It wouldn't be a welcoming party either. It wasn't what she hoped for, but it was what it was.

As Cameron drew closer, she could see smoke pouring from the compound she obtained the coordinates for. It was obvious the location suffered an attack. There was no sign of any activity on the ground. She thought it was strange. She would make a low and fast high speed pass and take a closer look before she landed. If it looked like there would be heavy resistance, they would set down further away and make their way back on foot.

The high speed pass revealed evidence of destroyed Terminators and dead Grays on the ground but no activity. In the far distance she could see a convoy approaching. It contained HK Tracks. It most likely meant it would be Skynet forces. It would arrive within a half hour. She decided to chance it and try to see if there was a TDE there. If not, they would flee on the HK drone before the convoy arrived.

She didn't know what happened at this location or who was inside of it right now. She only hoped they could get in without a fight. They still wore their Skynet uniforms. It should cause some hesitation to the Skynet troops on the ground if they were in hiding.

Cameron knew she needed to get Savannah back home and back to John, the father of her child. She noted her left hand started to glitch. She made up her mind to send Savannah back and stay and destroy the TDE and fight those who arrived with the convoy herself. There were plenty of weapons lying around. She would be able to prevent anyone from following Savannah into the past. The timeline they left from should remain protected. It was the right thing to do. Her mind was made up. Her hand stopped glitching.

Freedom with honor was at hand. Cameron smiled. It was how she would terminate…. She would die protecting John, Savannah, and THEIR baby.

Cameron looked around.

It was a beautiful day to die.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Dilemma

Not every question
Has an easy answer
Whatever is behind it
Can grow like a cancer

Sometimes there's more
Than just one choice
Things become confusing
When there's more than one voice

It may all come down
To what one must choose
The sad part is in the end
That they will still loose

Every turn or new direction
Creates another quagmire
It's like one jumping
From the frying pan into the fire

One needs to think twice
Before creating a new 'problema'
There's no good way out of
A self created dilemma

Nobody