Chapter 412

Warhead

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In Some Future: Duplicate Cameron

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Duplicate Cameron and Mrs. Weaver worked to make sure everything was organized. Reports came in from all around the area. The Skynet outposts all fell one after another. The Skynet forces all seemed to be in total disarray and confused without leadership or coordination. All of the operations turned into a total victory for the Resistance.

News quickly traveled of General Weaver and Commander Connor personally smashing Skynet Central. Word spread of the Commander's sister, Allison, and the General's younger daughter, Savannah, played an important part in the victory.

Rumor soon developed how Allison and Savannah infiltrated Skynet Central to help with its destruction from the inside. Duplicate Cameron and Mrs. Weaver decided to let the rumor expand as it would give more respect to Allison and Savannah.

Duplicate Cameron was glad she started the rumor. She knew the threat always loomed of more anti-Metal haters 'coming out'. If more people thought Allison and Savannah risked everything for the Resistance, maybe it would keep a target off of their backs.

There were soon Resistance celebrations everywhere.

Vanna and Jesse urged Mrs. Weaver to push one issue a little further. It was something very personal to them. They wanted all Scavengers exterminated.

The General issued a directive for the Resistance to find all pockets of Scavengers, and any others who refused to join the Resistance. They were to be terminated to make the entire area safe again. There was no room for dissidents to 'dog' the back side of the Resistance and create unnecessary trouble.

Units of Restorators took control of all Skynet facilities. General Weaver issued orders to reprogram all serviceable Skynet Terminators with new Restorator chips and programming. There were to be no traces of Skynet in their systems. There would be nothing for them to revert to if some issue developed. It was something she was very aware of which occurred in the future she came from.

It also raised another issue. Cameron, Duplicate Cameron, and her two surviving clones, used Skynet chips which were reprogrammed. Every Restorator, even if they used a Skynet chassis, used a clean chip.

Duplicate Cameron was still very upset about the incident which occurred at headquarters when she was at Skynet Central with Mrs. Weaver. It was more than just the anti-Metal faction they needed to worry about. There were always behind the scenes power struggles to contend with.

They were always individuals who felt they were unjustly passed over when it was time for a higher rank, or a different assignment. Most of the time the lack of a promotion or upgrade were justified due to an individual's lackluster performance. It was something the individual couldn't see. It created animosity and hard feelings. Those two things left to fester could end up producing negative results in a very physical manner.

There were also domestic disputes which could turn violent and even deadly. Some individuals couldn't take 'no' for an answer. Even though females suffered a high attrition rate because of the Wastelands and Scavengers, the proportion to males was about equal due to the fact more males were usually killed combating Skynet.

There were always different groups who felt they were above the rest of society for whatever reason which formed inside of their heads. There were always those with an 'ax to grind' which were often based on personal issues.

"General, we will need to watch the Resistance for those who wish to take control and seize power." Duplicate Cameron said. "There was some trouble here while we were out. Cam took care of it."

Cam joined the briefing and filled them in on all the details. Those who assisted them were noted. She also raised an issue Vanna brought up about things going forward. The issue of leadership and government needed to be addressed. There needed to be order and some type of power structure, other than just military rule. Until the people felt they possessed a voice, discontent would exist. It would be easy for anyone to point the finger and blame those who they held grievances against.

It wasn't something Mrs. Weaver thought should be an issue. She was in charge now. She didn't plan to stay there much longer if possible. So far she didn't have a way out. Maybe there should be something worked out going forward. She didn't want chaos before she left. She wanted the people to be responsible for their own actions going forward. Until they were, they would always have someone else to blame for their own shortcomings or whatever went wrong.

"Once it's determined Skynet has fallen everywhere, we will let the people decide what they want." Mrs. Weaver said. "I would like to return to my future once we get a working TDE. I'll send my Restorators to my future and make sure the version of Skynet there is terminated as well."

Duplicate Cameron was a little stunned to hear Mrs. Weaver suggest conducting some type of an 'election'. Maybe it was only because Mrs. Weaver wanted to leave the current future. There was also no guarantee anyone was going anywhere yet.

"What if we can't get a functioning TDE?" Duplicate Cameron asked.

Mrs. Weaver saw a sore spot developing around all of those issues. The biggest one was Savannah going forward. She believed it was powerful motivation on Cameron's part to make sure there was one.

"I'm willing to bet Cameron will come up with something. I know she's determined to take Savannah from me." Mrs. Weaver said.

Duplicate Cameron didn't see it as Cameron trying to 'take' Savannah from Mrs. Weaver. She believed it was more a situation where Mrs. Weaver wanted to take Savannah from Cameron. She knew it was an issue Cameron wouldn't budge on. The 'Natural Order' was something Cameron would strive to maintain. She wanted Savannah out of the current timeline for multiple reasons.

"Cameron has raised Savannah for all these years in their timeline. It's what Savannah's grown up in. It's her home" Duplicate Cameron said. "Cameron has taken care of Savannah far longer than you actually did. She's shaped her into the young woman she's become. She's prepared Savannah for her duty to protect the future and serve alongside John Connor."

Mrs. Weaver was proud of Savannah. She previously just started to form a real bond with Savannah when she needed to leave. It made her wonder how Savannah would have turned out under her 'parenting'. It was clear those who stepped up did a fine job. The most important factor was they prevented her termination. She was also highly trained to become a Resistance fighter. It was something which would ensure her survival and the survival of those around her.

"Cameron, the girls and Sarah Connor have all done a fine job with her." Mrs. Weaver said. "They may possibly have done a better job than I could've done myself. They've certainly turned her into a dynamic individual. I'm so proud of Savannah. She helped rescue me. She risked herself to save me. I watched her do it. She could've sought safety, but she didn't. She put herself between the danger and me. She was the one who terminated the threat."

Duplicate Cameron KNEW they all did a better job with Savannah than Mrs. Weaver ever could have. It was clear Savannah was molded in Cameron's image. There was still some worry about Mrs. Weaver. She wanted to try and hold her to her word.

"Please remember your promise to me." Duplicate Cameron said.

Mrs. Weaver remembered the 'deal'. Her recent association and dealings with Allison made her want a little extra now. There was no reason there couldn't be a little additional barter involved.

"I remember. I may want a little 'more'." Mrs. Weaver said. "I want Allison."

Duplicate Cameron didn't like the inference. She tried to point out what would actually happen. Vanna and Allison belonged together. They didn't need any outside interference.

"Allison will follow Vanna." Duplicate Cameron said. "They are a couple."

Mrs. Weaver was ready to 'expand'. She watched the girls together and with Cameron's clones. She wanted some of the same personal interaction. She wanted to touch and be touched. She wanted someone to love her.

"I want Allison for myself." Mrs. Weaver said.

Duplicate Cameron wasn't pleased where the conversation was headed. She tried to sidestep and bypass the issue. It looked like it would become another problem. She didn't think Mrs. Weaver understood the importance of a relationship to humans. It was a personal choice. It was more than just about the sex in a relationship.

"Allison belongs with Vanna." Duplicate Cameron said. "You can't make the choice for someone."

Mrs. Weaver felt there were many things she could offer and bring to the table. She did possess certain 'capabilities' after all.

"I can make myself more attractive to her." Mrs. Weaver said.

As Duplicate Cameron watched, Mrs. Weaver turned into a younger late teenage version of herself as Catherine Weaver. She actually looked quite attractive. She looked like she could be Savannah's older sister. She needed to remind Mrs. Weaver of the true base for a working relationship. It was more than skin deep. She knew what Mrs. Weaver really wanted.

"Real love is based on more than appearance." Duplicate Cameron said. "What you really seek is Cameron and it's more than her appearance. It's the presence she radiates."

Mrs. Weaver saw it more as a challenge, maybe even a contest. The winner of the contest received a big prize. It was the same thing to her, sort of.

"Isn't it the prize everyone wants?" Mrs. Weaver asked.

Duplicate Cameron knew the train of thought wasn't going to fly. Cameron herself would be just as upset and angry as she was. It was bound to develop into something much more serious, in a very negative way.

"I AM 'Cameron'. Cameron isn't a prize and neither am I." Duplicate Cameron said. "I'll speak to Cam and Cammy to see if they're willing to 'accommodate' you. They're both Cameron clones."

Mrs. Weaver reflected on what she observed again. She watched the girls 'together' whenever she could. It was so beautiful to see them together. She wanted to be treated the same way out of pure feeling and love. She wanted to be with each of them alone, even Vanna. She was determined to feel the love of the girls. No one ever showed her any kind of love the same way physically. The only 'love' she ever received was from Vanna and Savannah. It was only because she LOOKED like their mother. If she took a different appearance, she wouldn't even have what little she was able to experience. She would have nothing.

The more she thought about it, the more she wanted all of it. She would be glad to see Cameron gone when it happened. She would make a trade and they would all need to go along with it. She believed it was something valuable enough to all of them. They wouldn't have much of a choice to refuse her. She was sure they were all willing to sacrifice for one they all cared about and loved.

"I want more. I want the girls, all of them, and a Cameron clone in trade for Savannah." Mrs. Weaver said. "I'll allow Cameron, Savannah, and you to go where each of you chooses. I'm going to keep the rest for myself."

Mrs. Weaver really wanted any 'Cameron' out of the way. She didn't want them terminated. She may still have a use for them in the future. They seemed to prove quite valuable at times. She knew both of them helped her achieve the victories against Skynet.

Duplicate Cameron knew a disaster in the making when she heard it. Cameron would view nothing differently than she did. They were the same individual. She felt Mrs Weaver missed the whole point of what a love based relationship was about. Sex based relationships weren't true relationships. They were only based around what one individual could offer the other in a physical sense.

"I can guarantee the last part of your statement will happen anyway. I'll advise Cameron of your personal desires." Duplicate Cameron said. "I don't think she's going to be impressed with your 'request'."

Mrs. Weaver turned into John Connor.

"I can be what each of them desires the most, especially MY Cameron." Mrs. Weaver said. "I can be anything, for anyone. It's what I can bring to the table as myself. It's what I am."

Mrs. Weaver was aware there was a greater prize out there as well. She questioned Savannah about it in detail. It was the girl from the further future who looked like Allison, but was more like Cameron, yet human. She was an advanced and superior human. She thought it sounded more like what all humans should be made into.

The majority of humans she dealt with left a lot to be desired on just about every level. Few of them were well educated, especially in a practical sense. She learned early on someone could be book smart, but ignorant in a practical sense. There was no need to argue the issue. What she wanted was going to happen.

Mrs. Weaver left and sought out Savannah. She wanted to hear more about the special girl. The best part was, there was a set of Duplicate girls, and a Duplicate Cameron with her….

This information suggested maybe the 'new' future may be a place worth visiting. The prospect of multiple planets and livable moons seemed to offer more than just one planet. She knew it wouldn't take her long to replace and become the top leader of it all. Once she was at the top, she could start with the upgrade of the humans. There was no reason why they couldn't create millions more like the special girl.

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In Some Future: Cameron Prime

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Cameron double checked again with everything in the battle zone before she left. She was satisfied everything was under control.

There was one thing she found appealing. The material Mrs. Weaver provided to her was bullet proof. When she removed her Skynet uniform and replaced it with a Resistance uniform, she also obtained some body armor. The body armor covered her torso. She took several bullets into the body armor during the battle. When several of the bullets struck, they moved up towards her neck. She was worried they were going to strike her neck. It wasn't protected by the body armor. Much to her surprise the Liquid Metal patch moved up to her neck and deflected the two bullets which impacted there. It then returned back to its previous location.

Cammy would send troops to occupy Skynet Central after Cameron and Bob performed whatever task they were to do there. She took over as 'Commander Connor' as soon as Cameron left. It was the role she played earlier on the battlefield with the anti-Metal faction.

She issued orders for all Skynet Work Camps to be liberated by Restorators. She wanted the humans held there to know who it was who freed them. It was machines. They were forced to work under Skynet machines as prisoners. They were returned back into free individuals by Resistance machines, the Restorators. The goal was for the detainees to have a more favorable opinion of machines. Whether it would work or not was yet to be seen.

All Grays and Scavengers were to be terminated upon sight. She made sure Duplicate Cameron and Mrs. Weaver issued the same orders. She wanted to make sure Mrs. Weaver got as much 'credit' as possible. 'Commander Connor' would as well from those who fought with her. Her bravery and leadership on multiple battlefields became legend. She was everywhere leading the troops herself. They created a rumor to elevate Allison and Savannah in the parts they played.

Cameron wanted to give the Resistance someone to believe in and want to follow. She wanted it to be the 'General'. One of her clones could become 'Commander Connor' when she and Duplicate Cameron left.

She wanted to give Mrs. Weaver a reason to stay in the current future as someone who was admired, wanted, respected, and hopefully 'loved'. She noticed the way Mrs. Weaver looked at Allison. It left her with an uneasy feeling. There was going to be trouble with it, she was sure of it.

Bob and Cameron returned to Skynet Central. Most of the fires already burnt themselves out. All the power was destroyed in the battle. She checked it before they left. She double checked the computer area again. Nothing remained but burnt and melted metal. Skynet was thoroughly destroyed.

The Skynet there was trapped and terminated. She was unsure, but it seemed every Skynet knew what happened in the end. Some of the Skynet computers told her as much. What she witnessed earlier was what one version of Skynet previously told her. It told her at the time she was human, Liquid Metal, and a cyborg, all at the same time. It didn't make any sense to her then but it did now. There was no way they could communicate with each other in different timelines. How could they know? How many timelines were there? How many more Skynets would she need to face and terminate?

The smoke was still thick in the lower part of the building Cameron and Bob entered. It didn't hinder them in any way.

"It's over here." Cameron said as she showed Bob the vault.

They removed the crates and forced the door open. Everything was as she left it. She was sure Skynet tried to detonate the weapon when she blew the door off of the clean room. There was no way to know for sure. If she hadn't found the warhead first, the story could have concluded with a different ending…. It would be an ending none of them would have been aware of. Their existence would have been vaporized in a millisecond so close to the proximity of the nuclear device.

Bob looked at the warhead. He wasn't impressed. He didn't think anything so ancient as far as nuclear weapons went still existed. He was a little concerned about how they would move it.

"This is very old and unstable. We should detonate it here and let this area remain a wasteland forever." Bob said.

It was about the last thing Cameron wanted to do. There was always the risk it could happen anyway.

"No." Cameron said. "I don't want the environment damaged any more. It will be one of the first things the Restorators will work on. It will be to assist with the clean up of the pollutants. I will need the cleanest food and water possible for Savannah Weaver."

Cameron explained the situation to Bob about how everyone was there from the past. It was a long story. It all revolved around her and her actions. It was all her 'fault'.

The concept of 'Duplicates' was new to Bob. He didn't think it was possible. Then again there were a lot of things which didn't seem possible. He wanted to make sure he understood everything.

"I know the other 'Cameron' - Commander Connor. She's a 'Duplicate' of you, not a copy or clone. You're both the same exact individual." Bob said. "You are identical in most respects but not all of them. Your sheath is heavily damaged."

Cameron could have done without the reminder. Nevertheless it was a fact which needed to be dealt with. She was sure the real damage was more than sheath deep.

"I've been in multiple battles in four different timelines which I know of. It may be more. It may happen more than once in every conflict. My sheath can no longer regenerate to one hundred percent." Cameron said. "I believe my chip is damaged beyond repair also with the information on it, not just physically damaged."

Bob wasn't sure what the last part actually meant. Did Cameron indicate she was mentally unstable? Was she insane? He didn't see how she could be with everything ALL the 'Camerons' pulled off. It was like Cameron was an army of 'one'. With her Duplicates and clones, it was even more accurate of a thought.

Cameron looked at the warhead. All she needed to do was detonate it. In an instant all her problems would be over…. She briefly calculated what to do to make it explode….

She needed to 'check' herself. She remembered her responsibilities. It wasn't about her. It never was. There was something more important now. Savannah with John's baby growing inside her was all THAT really mattered. It was her mission now. It needed to be her mission to move forward. She would make it the top priority for every Restorator as well.

"It's imperative I return Savannah back to her timeline. It's to be the goal of every Restorator who feels allegiance to 'Commander Connor'. I want the word spread. I'll return Duplicate Cameron in my place to the past and my husband. I need to do it because this sheath is permanently disfigured. I want him to only have the best. It's no longer me."

Cameron still wanted the girls to step up. She was more than glad to have Claire assist her going forward. She would know how to make John happy and feel loved. She believed Savannah would be a quick learner, even if her desire wasn't being with a male. She would still do her duty. She believed it would be best if Savannah expanded her desires to all of the willing females. The more females who were around Savannah, the more choice John would have available to him. It was something for her to think about anyway.

Bob worked in the restoration unit. He 'patched' Terminators together. Some were rebuilt with three or four different sheath and chassis parts. It was quite a patchwork in some cases. Once they were Resequenced, the sheath should regenerate to their appearance. He didn't see why it couldn't apply to Cameron.

"Your sheath can be repaired." Bob said. "Sections can be replaced."

Cameron wondered what the point was. Maybe she just needed to accept her fate and live with it. Even if she received replacement sections, they would soon be damaged as well.

"Perhaps they can be." Cameron said and then added. "Maybe they shouldn't be."

Cameron felt she needed to own up to her transgressions and her past. She needed to be held accountable for her actions. A damaged and disfigured sheath would serve as a reminder to her to think before she acted.

Bob could see Cameron actually possessed more than any other Terminator in reality. They were things any Terminator would desire. He was sure they were things many humans would desire.

"You have a life, a family and husband to return to." Bob said. "It all means something. There are people who really love you. How many others have the same thing?"

Cameron just couldn't see it the same way. She never could. Maybe it was the problem. It all fell back on her doorstep.

"I have nothing. I'm in the way." Cameron said. "I am Nobody."

Bob knew he needed to talk to Duplicate Cameron and the girls about Cameron's point of view. It disturbed him so.

Cameron and Bob removed the warhead. She loaded it onto the HK drone she arrived on with Savannah and flew away with it. She wouldn't need to have anyone else know where it ended up at, and then need to delete those files. She would simply take care of it herself.

Bob remained at Skynet Central and took over its occupation and control when the Restorators returned. Cameron directed him to obtain more supplies for a TDE before she left.

Cameron wanted to store the warhead where she stored 'hers' in her past timeline. It was if the location was still there or even there to begin with in this timeline. She was unsure where the current timeline diverged from hers at. If it was one of 'her' warheads, did it mean she became Skynet? What if there were no warheads? Did it mean there were more versions of Skynet who were really her? It all disturbed her so.

There were a lot of unknowns. Cameron wanted to have an Ace to play, even if it was up her sleeve. It was about winning. She knew if she didn't win, she lost.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

How Do You Know It's Not Real

What is reality
What is a dream
What is a nightmare
What makes you scream

Isn't the Hell of reality
Worse than a dream gone bad
At least from a nightmare
You can wake up, even if sad

Being pushed away
Being thrown out
Being rejected for another
Causes self loathing and doubt

It means who you are
Is not good enough
Your existence is meaningless
Continuing on gets rough

Is it all in your mind you hope
How do you know it's not real
When you see the blood flow
It is real you painfully reveal

Stuck in a living nightmare
From which you can never awake
Turns horrific agonizing heartache
Into catastrophic terminal heartbreak

Nobody