Chapter 411

Single Tear

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Events continue from Chapter 409

In Some Future: Cameron Prime

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Cameron went with Cammy to join the fight near Skynet Central. They were on their way there now.

She explained a few things along the way to Cammy as to why she was there now with Savannah. The information about the girls there being Duplicates was quite astounding.

There were a few things which didn't make sense to Cammy.

"Why did you come with me now to fight instead of Cameron - Duplicate Cameron?" Cammy asked.

Cameron knew her sheath was permanently damaged. She wanted John to have a 'whole' Cameron. Duplicate Cameron wasn't damaged much at all.

It was about the future for the past.

Cameron stripped off her Skynet uniform shirt as soon as she came across a fallen Restorator. She didn't wish to look like the enemy. She was alone with Cammy. She touched her sheath and now held a medium sized ball of Liquid Metal in her hand. Her horrific damage was evident. She briefly let Cammy see the damage to her sheath.

Cammy's eyes widened some as she took in the damage. She saw the bullet wounds in her back first and then the damage to the front of her torso. The rumpled nub of her right breast looked terrible.

"It looks very recent." Cammy said.

Cameron can see the effect It produced on Cammy. She didn't think too much of an explanation was in order.

"It is." Cameron said. "I've only been in this future for a few hours. The damage is permanent. I won't disgust John and further shame myself before him with my damaged sheath."

Cammy knew she was a clone of 'Cameron', but Cameron Prime herself was so dominant. She immediately stepped into the role of 'Commander Connor' and she was only in the timeline for a few hours. She gave Cameron updates on everything and everyone. She explained the large battle she was in not long ago. As of yet, none of the Restorators knew Cameron wasn't actually Duplicate Cameron. She made sure the transition was seamless for her.

There was something else Cammy needed to do.

"You may have my chassis." Cammy said. "Vanna will be much more understanding than John will be. I possess your files. I understand your fear. I believe it's valid."

Cameron looked at Cammy as she placed the ball of Liquid Metal back on her sheath. In an instant, all of the damage disappeared.

"I appreciate the offer." Cameron said. "I would never do this to another female, even if she is a cyborg. I wouldn't do it to Vanna, or to you specifically. I will manage. I always do."

Cameron was aware life went on, even if it passed her by.

Cammy did tell Bob when they linked up about the new 'Commander' there. Cameron was 'Cameron's sister', who would also be called Cameron. They were identical cyborg 'twins'. Cameron was not to be addressed as Cameron II or any other name.

Bob thought it was highly unusual. He wondered why the 'new one' wasn't called Cameron III. He would understand later on once he knew all the details. There were a few other thoughts on his mind about the situation. He would go along with the flow.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

He still carried the chip from Cameron II with him. He touched his pocket and felt the chip there. He wasn't sure what all of the new developments meant. He still needed to give the chip to Allison. He planned to do it personally. He heard Cameron II speak about Allison on multiple occasions. It was clear the two of them cared deeply for each other. He understood what loss was like. He was terminated once. Cameron rebodied him. He still tried to wonder why Cameron and her twin sister would both be referred to by the same name. It seemed Cameron wanted all of them to have individuality. Maybe it was one of the reasons why she wanted them all to have their own name. She needed to share hers with someone else identical to her.

"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance and look forward to serving with you." Bob said. "Your sister has helped me greatly. I'm indebted to her. By extension, I'm indebted to you."

Cameron liked how Bob responded. He was much like Bob from the timeline she left behind. She understood why Duplicate Cameron named him Bob.

"Some things never change." Cameron said. "I like it and I like Bob."

Bob looked very pleased Cameron approved of him. He got them caught up to speed on the battle currently underway. The first part of the Skynet group was already defeated. The second group is the one they currently fought.

Cameron and Cammy joined the battle which raged on. Things seemed to have developed into a stalemate before they arrived. Some of the Skynet Terminators were able to seek cover before the battle began. Things needed to change. They both took groups of Restorators and counter attacked the Skynet Terminators.

With 'Commander Connor' leading them, the Restorators soon smashed all the hostile force and became the victors. It was something to be awed by to see the Commander and her clone Cammy fight. The only direction was forward when they were on the battlefield. They weren't aware it was actually Commander Connor's twin sister who took the fight to the enemy.

Cameron didn't want to cause any confusion on the battlefield. Things could get straightened out later on. She decided to lead by example, rather than by designation. Once everything was cleared up for everyone, they would know of her abilities and determination.

Skynet in the area was totally defeated with the series of battles which occurred. The parent computer was destroyed. It was what they believed anyway. Past experience seemed to indicate Skynet was rather elusive, especially when it came to termination.

Cameron watched a transport arrive. A very attractive Restorator named Ginger spoke with Bob. She joined them.

She knew this was what she told Duplicate Cameron to do. She didn't think she would survive the battle. She did somehow. She wanted the Nike warhead for herself. She doubted there were many nuclear weapons left in the time period. She didn't know how long she would be there. She didn't think it would hurt to have an Ace to play if it became necessary. She needed to find out more about what was going on in the current future she was in before she could make any decisions. Her primary concern was Savannah. She was worried about Duplicate Cameron and the Duplicate set of girls as well. Mrs. Weaver gave her some concern. She would need to see how things developed.

"I will accompany Bob." Cameron told Ginger.

Ginger told her of the 'other' Commander Connor's order to retrieve the damaged Restorators and any salvageable Skynet Terminators.

Cameron liked the idea Duplicate Cameron set up a recovery and repair operation for the Restorators. She hoped there was a female chassis which could be salvaged. She didn't want it to be a Restorator. She didn't view herself as any more important than any other cyborg on their team. It was a different story when it came to taking things from Skynet.

"I need a damaged female Skynet Terminator to repair my sheath." Cameron said.

Ginger tilted her head slightly. She wondered if Cameron's sheath was defective. She looked perfect right now. She wondered if there was some damage she couldn't see. All of Cameron's dimensions scanned back as the same as Commander Connor's dimensions.

"Is there something on yours which won't regenerate?" Ginger asked.

Cameron reached under her shirt and the Liquid Metal formed into a medium sized ball in her fist. She lifted her shirt and showed Ginger the actual damage. It just seemed easier to show her then try to explain it to her.

Ginger felt a stab of 'pain' as she viewed the damage. She could see right away the area wasn't regenerating properly. It seemed odd. She wanted to find out why. She was aware Cameron was a Terminator by original construction.

"Is there anything different about your sheath?" Ginger asked.

Cameron didn't think it would make a difference unless she was constructed from Liquid Metal. It was a combination of the abuse and damage she received over the years. There was a lot of it.

"No." Cameron said. "My sheath has sustained hundreds of gunshot wounds. over half of my sheath has needed to regenerate, most of it was multiple times. My right breast has been blown apart, and even off, too many times. It is now permanently damaged. It never regained its full appearance after its last destruction."

Cameron didn't want to mention the nipple didn't regenerate on its own because of the repeated damage to the same location. She knew after her last reinfusion of DNA from Allison, her right breast did regenerate with everything it was supposed to have. It was still slightly smaller than the original one. It was unnoticeable to a human, but every Resistance Terminator could 'see' it was smaller than it originally was. They all looked at it, but no one ever commented about it.

Ginger felt bad about it for Cameron. She was in charge of the repair operation. She planned to address the situation at immediately. She didn't think Cameron should delay her recovery.

"You will be given first priority once the repairs start." Ginger said.

Cameron didn't want to have priority. Her troops needed to be led by example, not privilege. She would be the last one repaired by her own choice.

"No. You will repair everyone else first. I'll take what's left, if anything. My troops come first." Cameron said. "Everyone comes before me."

Ginger took one more look at Cameron. She remembered what Commander Connor told her before. She wasn't quite sure how the situation actually worked.

"But you have a husband…." Ginger said.

Cameron had two Duplicates and half dozen clones. More could be created….

"I may have a solution to the problem. There's a Duplicate of me." Cameron said. "I will return her in my place. She is identical to me. She is me. Once we update, there will be no difference between us."

Ginger didn't see the need for everything to be lost.

"You're sacrificing too much, Commander." Ginger said.

Cameron tried to control her emotional state. She fought off repeated glitch impulses.

"Everyone sacrifices for John Connor." Cameron said. "It includes me. He deserves the best. It's no longer me."

A single tear slid down Ginger's cheek as Cameron left. Cameron was like no other. She was special, any Cameron was. She resolved herself to the fact she wouldn't let Cameron sacrifice herself for John Connor over her appearance. There were others who could do it as well. She understood what the true test of love was. It was sacrifice.

Cameron wanted to collect the Nike warhead. She turned things over to Cammy.

Cammy took over the battlefield.

Cameron looked at Bob.

"Come on, Bob, let's go." Cameron said. "Cammy can take it from here."

Bob was satisfied everything was in order. He already checked over the damage to those in the special unit. There were only two Restorators who were terminated. It appeared both of them could be rebodied. There was damaged to a dozen more. It was in various stages from mild to moderate. The Commander required his assistance. He wasn't quite sure how the dynamic was going to work between the two 'sister' cyborgs. They were to be treated equally with everything done the same way.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

Cameron looked at Cammy who looked back.

"It never gets old." Cameron said again with a smile on her face.

Bob wasn't sure what they referred to when he said the most appropriate and logical response, 'Affirmative'. He was pleased they were pleased.

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In Some Future: Duplicate Cameron

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Earlier:

Cameron and Cammy left to join the battle. Duplicate Cameron made sure all the wounded and terminated Restorators were loaded onto the transport. They flew safely back with Savannah, Allison, and Mrs. Weaver. Savannah answered all their questions, and asked her own.

Duplicate Cameron made sure the materials which were necessary to construct the TDE were taken with them. It was what the primary role of the mission was, along with the destruction of Skynet.

Everyone tried to get over the fact they were a set of 'Duplicates'. What was even stranger, was there were actually two sets of Duplicates. It was all very mind blowing. They weren't clones or alternate timeline versions either. The fact each version of 'Cameron' carried her locket was all the proof they needed to know they were Duplicates.

The transport arrived at headquarters. Cam was there to greet them.

Cam looked Savannah over from head to toe and back again.

"Savannah, you're beautiful." Cam said. "You're grown now. How long have the girls been gone from your timeline?"

There were a few sensitive things Savannah didn't want to discuss right now.

"For me it's been a few years since the incident." Savannah said. "A lot of things have happened…."

Vanna needed to deal with a few issues but hurried to see Savannah when she arrived in the senior command section of headquarters. She sent Cam ahead of her to meet the transport. Cam was also there alone to make sure everything was what it was supposed to be. She didn't want any more surprises. Cam gave her the OK. She ran up to Savannah and hugged her and then backed up and looked at her.

"You're so beautiful, Savannah." Vanna said. "Look at you."

Vanna wondered if she ever looked as good. She didn't think so. She also knew it was how the 'Savannah' that Allison first knew looked like, but only better. No wonder the Scavenger leader made the deal for her 'services and cooperation' if they were provided willingly. Savannah was Hot.

Jesse looked at Savannah, then at Vanna, and back to Savannah. It was hard to believe. Savannah was younger and smaller when they left. It wasn't too long ago for them.

"You sure are a 'looker' now, love." Jesse said as she gave her a big hug and kiss.

Jesse didn't know about Savannah and Young Jesse yet.

Savannah proceeded to tell them the entire story about everything. She did leave out the parts about the 'terminated' pregnancies with the girls from the future in her timeline, and the fact she was pregnant now. She didn't mention any of the 'splits' or difficulties the girls experienced. Cam listened to everything as well.

Savannah found it somewhat amusing Vanna's cyborg lover was named Cammy and Jesse's was named Cam. It was different from the way things played out in the past she left from. The thing which intrigued her the most about the Duplicate set of girls was they were all younger than the ones from the timeline she left. It made both Allison and Jesse extremely more attractive to her as she looked at them. Maybe she was just home sick. Wait. How could she be home sick? She was only gone from the past for a few hours. It seemed like a lifetime with what happened so far.

Duplicate Cameron and Mrs. Weaver coordinated with Cammy and Cameron as well as Bob on the attack against the Skynet forces. It seemed it was a bigger and more determined threat than it was originally thought to be.

Ginger returned as soon as she could when she heard of the trouble which occurred with Cam and the anti-Metal operatives. Sandy stayed with the group of Restorators who won the battle, and to watch over the anti-Metal group. She also watched over Unit One to make sure he did everything he was supposed to do.

Duplicate Cameron told Ginger to be ready with the transport. She was to pick up any damaged Restorators after the battle going on near Skynet Central.

Mrs. Weaver and Duplicate Cameron directed the troops as they saw needed. It was Cameron who was in control now on the battlefield and she was only in this future for a few hours. They all knew it, including Mrs. Weaver.

Mrs. Weaver wasn't sure about the new development and what new 'problems' it was going to bring. She knew Cameron helped her, as did Savannah. She knew Cameron was going to be different to deal with for some reason. 'Cameron Prime' lived for more years and seemed to have greater knowledge than Duplicate Cameron. It was obvious Cameron Prime was also more experienced and dominant.

Things were different now, even if they weren't really. The fact Savannah was there now changed everything too. The previous 'deals' and arrangements she made with Duplicate Cameron would all need to be renegotiated. It was disturbing enough previously to watch Duplicate Cameron 'take over' the Restorators in a very short time. It appeared Cameron Prime was about to do the same thing in a matter of hours.

Ginger was very surprised to meet a young teenage version of Vanna, who was actually the same person. She was also worried about the battle near Skynet Central. She wondered now if she should have taken some Restorators and gone there herself.

Duplicate Cameron tried to calm her fears.

"They will emerge victorious." Duplicate Cameron said.

Ginger wasn't so sure. They were able to wipe out the Grays and Terminators they fought earlier by always having control of the battlefield. The battle which raged now was in Skynet territory near Skynet Central. There seemed to be a lot of uncertainty involved with the situation.

"How do you know they will win?" Ginger asked.

Duplicate Cameron found her next sentence a little hard to say but Savannah convinced her it was the new reality.

"Cameron is with them." Duplicate Cameron said.

Ginger tilted her head slightly. She knew where the battle was at and she talked to 'Cameron' now.

"But you're Cameron." Ginger said.

Duplicate Cameron was confused a little about everything as well. If Savannah wasn't there to explain things herself, she might not believe it. She scanned Savannah several times and she hadn't deceived any of them.

"It's a long story, Ginger. I just found out I'm a 'Duplicate' version of Cameron. I was created when the TDE malfunctioned. I didn't know I wasn't Cameron Prime and was a Duplicate until a short while ago. Cammy is with Cameron as well."

Duplicate Cameron didn't see the new development as something bad. She was deeply torn over the issue where to go once the TDE was constructed. She didn't know if she wanted to return to John or Future John. It shouldn't have been an issue for her. Why was she conflicted to start with? It was more than what Mrs. Weaver said about Future John and her. It now solved the problem about which John to return to. She would give Cameron Prime first pick, and she would take the other John. It was a win - win for everyone. She would be happy with either John. She secretly hoped she could return to Future John, she already made her mind up about it anyway.

The next problem was what to do about the girls? Cameron was adamant Savannah be returned to her timeline no matter what. As to where to send the girls, it was going to be a problem.

With the destruction of Cameron II, Vanna and Allison agreed Cammy was more than enough for both of them. Allison hadn't really processed the fact Cameron II was terminated with Cameron and Savannah being there. The full impact of it would hit her shortly. Bob would later give her the chip from Cameron II, so it could be consolidated with Cammy, and maybe with Cam too. It actually might be the better option going forward if anything else happened to either Cam or Cammy.

Duplicate Cameron called Ginger aside when Mrs. Weaver was busy going over troop movements. At Skynet Central, Cameron quietly gave her specific instructions about the Nike warhead. It was to remain under wraps and handled with the highest security.

'I have a special mission for you, Ginger." Duplicate Cameron said. "It's of the utmost secrecy."

Ginger casually looked around. They were alone.

"I can be trusted for anything involving any version of Cameron." Ginger said.

Duplicate Cameron decided to lay out the nature of the mission.

"There's a Nike warhead at Skynet Central." Duplicate Cameron said. "You will instruct Bob to remove it to a secure location and tell no one but Cameron or me where it is at. After he's done so, he will erase the data. If Bob is damaged or incapacitated you will retrieve it yourself and do the same thing for me.''

Ginger appreciated the high level of trust 'Cameron' placed in her. She still was upset she hadn't been there for the girls earlier when there was trouble.

"Affirmative….." Ginger said. "It will be done."

Duplicate Cameron returned to Mrs. Weaver and continued coordinating the troop movements. They didn't want some hidden pocket of Skynet to reemerge, or a group of Skynet Terminators to go rogue and try and create a 'new Skynet' in their defeat. It was a real possibility.

There was always the possibility someone could find some version of Skynet later on, and dust it off. It could be a month from now, or a hundred years from now. Depending upon what they found, their interpretation of it could vary greatly. It was why every vestige of Skynet needed to be eradicated, and a new one prevented from emerging.

She went over the entire operation she was involved with at Skynet Central. There were still a lot of questions. The one which bothered her the most was the location of Skynet Central. It was right out there in the open more or less. The second location was set up as an even more thorough trap than the first location was. It seemed both times things were set up to lure them into the trap.

"Do you think we terminated the parent Skynet?" Duplicate Cameron asked. "It seemed like it was the main computer, but the location bothered me."

Mrs. Weaver didn't like being trapped. She was almost severely damaged by the Gray near the end of the episode. If Savannah hadn't been there, she would have been. She would have been frozen solid still as the Gray destroyed her with his plasma rifle. She would have been thoroughly shattered with parts of her destroyed. There was no telling what she would have been able to reassemble herself into later on. It certainly wouldn't be what she currently was. It might not have been anything at all either.

She was sure Cameron and the others at the Resistance base did a better job of raising Savannah than she could have. It bothered her some too. She only needed to remind herself the same three human females which arrived with Duplicate Cameron were with Savannah in the past as well. There were other humans involved too. The Reese brothers and Sarah Connor were all there along with Mr. Ellison. John Connor was also there.

She didn't care much for most humans she interacted with. She did find all of those associated with the Resistance in the past to be of a higher caliber and very dedicated individuals to the cause of protecting the future. She dealt personally with all of them, other than her brief exposure to Sarah Connor. She found all of them honorable. She didn't doubt the 'Mother of the Resistance' was any less.

"I sure hope so." Mrs. Weaver said. "I need to personally thank Cameron for saving both of you and me. I know Savannah, my little angel, helped her. Savannah saved ME. I can hardly believe it. Cameron has turned Savannah into a fine young woman. She's everything I could have hoped to do myself, maybe more."

Based on Mrs. Weaver's statement, Duplicate Cameron sensed a problem was about to manifest itself. She needed to address it before it got out of hand and became an ultimatum of some kind. There were parameters which were established before. Everything was different with the arrival of Cameron. Savannah was there 'in some future' now.

"Cameron said Savannah MUST be returned to her timeline as soon as we get the TDE built." Duplicate Cameron said. "Savannah needs to get out of the current environment."

Mrs. Weaver didn't say anything. The deal was made for her not to take Savannah. She didn't need to take her now. She wanted to keep her. Vanna decided on her own to remain. She thought Savannah should be provided with the same choice.

Duplicate Cameron wanted to remind Mrs. Weaver of the earlier arrangement.

"You promised me before." Duplicate Cameron said. "I took you at your word. I provided you with our full cooperation and assistance without question as my part of the bargain."

Mrs. Weaver wasn't going to relent without some input from Savannah herself.

"We'll let Savannah decide." Mrs. Weaver said. "I think it's only fair."

Duplicate Cameron possessed information from Cameron on the 'condition' of the girls from the future. All of their bodies were 'damaged' in some way for reproduction.

"You don't understand. Savannah NEEDS to go back as soon as possible." Duplicate Cameron said. "This time period can damage her reproductive tract. She's no longer a girl. She must fulfill her destiny."

Mrs. Weaver could see there were few children born in this future. There were a lot of toxins present in the environment. She would need to see to it at once and make sure anything Savannah and the girls consumed going forward would need to be tested.

There was also the issue about there being an 'extra set' of 'Cameron' and the girls.

"What about the fact you four are a set of Duplicates?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Duplicate Cameron discussed the dilemma with the girls already. The girls all agreed they didn't belong in the past, especially a second or third set of them. They knew the conflict it caused Cameron and how it disrupted the 'Natural Order'.

"It's another problem. From what Cameron explained, there's also another set of Duplicates in another future." Duplicate Cameron said. "The girls will need to return to their future or stay here with you. Vanna said as long as Savannah returns to her correct timeline, she will stay with you. Allison will stay as well. They don't want to be a set of actual Duplicates in any timeline they already exist in."

Mrs. Weaver's goal was to return to the timeline she was created in. There was no Vanna or Young Savannah there. There was only Savannah, Future Savannah, who didn't know her. She didn't want to lose the 'love' the girls displayed for her.

"I want to return to my future." Mrs. Weaver said. "There is already a Savannah there. She doesn't know me as her - Mother."

Mrs. Weaver was sure it was going to create a series of complications once she returned to her proper timeline.

Duplicate Cameron was tired of playing games. They were back to square one again and it looked like all the 'deals' were off. The change in status wasn't going to sit well with Cameron. It sure didn't sit well with her. She didn't want to get too specific or indicate Savannah's 'condition'. Mrs. Weaver wasn't equipped with the same sensory levels the cyborgs were.

"Savannah's going back to her proper timeline." Duplicate Cameron said. "It is the one event which is going to happen. Savannah can not remain in the future. It doesn't matter which future it is either. She needs to go back to her proper timeline immediately."

Mrs. Weaver interpreted it as a statement, not a request….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Single Tear

It is only those that are loved
Who can ever truly hurt us
Things that should be a plus
Instead turn into a fuss

A stab to the heart
Is really a stab to the mind
Leaving one to feel resigned
While they remain intertwined

How does one ever win
When they always lose
It matters not the path they choose
Joy and happiness turns into the blues

A flood of tears can say a lot
It's the way of the soul
To make one again whole
There's no pardon or parole

What says more that a lot
Through the psyche it strikes like a spear
It is something that can involuntarily appear
It's the pain contained in a single tear

Nobody