Chapter 476

Temporal Tart

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Cameron, Savannah and Cammy were in small cave like area. They'd gone in there to avoid a couple HK drones that they heard. They closed the entrance up most of the way to keep the Skynet troops that they saw coming to search for them from finding them.

The Terminator that they'd taken down was damaged. His power cell ruptured. The explosion closed up the rest of the opening from the shock wave. They listened for awhile to see if anyone started to dig outside or tried to follow them. There was no indication anyone attempted to do so. That didn't mean they wouldn't.

Savannah turned on her light. She watched the dust settle. She looked at the entrance they'd come through. It was completely sealed.

"Am I going to have enough air?" Savannah asked.

Cammy noted now because the entrance was sealed the airflow that was present earlier was no longer there. She calculated the area she could see around them for air volume.

"There is plenty of air for now." Cammy said.

Savannah felt a little better. She knew that Cammy and Cameron would look out for her.

"That's good to know." Savannah said.

Cameron quickly refocused. She began to check the area in deeper behind them. It was narrow but it might lead somewhere. It looked like there may be a way forward through the narrow tunnel that led deeper into the hill.

They were in the unknown now. If Savannah's light wasn't on, they would be in the dark in more ways that one. They didn't know where they were or where they were going. There was only one way to find out. If the passageway didn't lead anywhere, they would come back later on and reopen the entrance. They didn't think the Skynet troops would stay out long.

Cameron led the group through the narrow tunnel. There was a group of boulders in her path. It blocked the way forward. She could still feel the airflow a little bit as it passed through them. The rocks may have just fallen in the recent explosion.

"Savannah, back up a little bit and watch out for your head." Cameron said. "Cammy and I need to move these rocks without causing a further cave in or blockage. I don't want any of us buried under rocks."

Savannah took a few steps back and shined her light on the area where Cameron and Cammy went to work. She knew they could see in the dark but she figured a little light wouldn't hurt.

Cameron and Cammy started to carefully move the boulders. At one point it seemed more rocks were going to start to fall but didn't. They soon made an opening large enough to pass through. Cammy went through first. She was followed by Savannah and then Cameron.

Cammy looked up at the rock ceiling of the tunnel they were now in. The opening expanded more as they passed the boulders they'd moved.

"This appears to have been a mine entrance at one time." Cammy said. "This is where the shaft was blocked off long ago. Where we entered from was for ventilation."

They knew they were inside some part of the complex but they didn't have any idea where to go or what they would face.

Savannah was a little worried this might be a dead end.

"Where do we go from here?" Savannah asked. "How long will they look for us outside?"

Cameron wasn't sure that anyone would actually look for them. She doubted they knew what to look for.

"Since the Terminator's power cell exploded, they'll have a mystery on their hands." Cameron said. "All they'll find is a smoking crater and a few body parts, if even that."

Cammy was careful when she joined them in the opening with the water from the Grays. She made sure their footprints around to the opening weren't visible.

"I covered our tracks that led to where we entered this rock opening." Cammy said. "If anything, they will find my tracks leading to the entrance and the broken latch on the hillside. They'd already started down the hill when the power cell exploded. I don't even know if they know what they're looking for."

Savannah remembered the HK drone that Cammy and her hid from earlier. There was more than one out now.

"What about the HK drones?" Savannah asked. "How far will they look?"

Cameron made a few quick calculations based on Skynet operation principles.

"I doubt the HK drones will venture out more than a ten mile radius, double that at the most." Cameron said. "There wasn't time for us to move out farther than that if we were running on foot. They won't have detected anything flying. They really don't know what they're searching for."

Cammy was worried if they looked they would find the different sets of footprints from the other areas. There was still a plausible explanation.

"The best case scenario is they will think everyone perished in the blast of the power cell." Cammy said. "They could back track us for a ways. They will find nothing but a deceased Scavenger."

Cameron came across that same area earlier.

"I found a dead Scavenger out a ways from here. I see you bagged two birds but left them." Cameron said.

Cammy thought back on the scene. She was glad that Savannah didn't need to witness it close up.

"That area looked contaminated." Cammy said. "The Scavenger was rotting. I didn't want those tainted clothes off of him either."

Cameron actually liked the outfits that Cammy made for Savannah and herself. It still reminded her of Xena and Gabrielle. The archery was excellent as well.

"That was some very precise shooting with those arrows." Cameron said. "It was impressive."

Cammy didn't see it as anything more than any other Terminator couldn't have done.

"You would have done the same, maybe better." Cammy said.

Cammy and Cameron knew they were 'identical' or nearly identical anyway. Cammy experienced something Cameron hadn't. Not yet anyway. That was Savannah and her physical love.

They both knew Cammy's 'function' was for 'Cameron' to be with Savannah in the only way she could, as a clone.

Cameron allowed both Cam and Cammy to run 'her program' only. It was because of her love for both Vanna and Savannah that she allowed it. Cam and Cammy were allowed to be with any of the girls they chose and any of the Metal girls as well.

It was the same thing that Cameron encouraged Savannah to do. It was to learn and share her love and be loved in return. It was what she wanted for her. She never wanted Savannah to feel unwanted, lonely, rejected or worse - replaced. She showered Savannah with love from every direction.

Savannah glanced back. The dim backwash of the light she spotted something that troubled her.

"Cameron, are you OK?" Savannah asked.

Cameron noted her hand started to glitch as the demons from the past crept in. The very things she would never allow Savannah to suffer from. Savannah would only know love, caring and sharing. She knew she needed to hold it together. She needed to get Savannah out of here and returned to the past where she belonged.

"I'm fine." Cameron said.

Savannah dropped back and took Cameron's hand. The glitch stopped. It always did when she took Cameron's hand.

Cameron knew it always felt so right when Savannah touched her, even the simple gesture of holding her hand. Cameron knew she wanted 'more'. It drove her to try to survive this mission. It was incentive to 'live'.

Cammy and Cameron both planned to get Savannah out of the future and back home. They both knew they may need to sacrifice themselves to do it. Neither one of them said that but everyone knew it.

Savannah knew it too. She wanted to set some rules.

"I'm telling each of you now that I'm not leaving here or this timeline without both of you." Savannah said. "You both know that too. If you fall I'll be standing next to you. We'll all fall together. I won't abandon you – ever."

They did both know that. They both knew Savannah loved Cameron, both of 'her' - them. Cameron knew she loved Savannah too, both of 'her' – them, did.

It was a somber thought as they moved on. Cammy stayed in the lead. Savannah moved behind her again and Cameron brought up the rear.

The trio moved along in the near darkness. It was dimly lit by the light Savannah carried. Cameron decided to take point. Cammy wanted to protest but she didn't want to make a scene in front of Savannah. She silently moved to the rear.

Cameron was in front of Savannah and Cammy was behind her.

Cameron and Cammy checked for any sensors as they moved along. None were found. They all knew that didn't mean there weren't any.

Cammy ran her theory on how their time transfer seemed to be drawn here and what she'd suspected caused it. Cameron agreed the activity at this base must have been a factor.

Savannah wondered what they'd stumbled across. It seemed hard to believe it wasn't detected before.

"Do we even know what this place is?" Savannah asked.

Cameron gained some intel with the connection she'd set up at the other Skynet facility before she took it down. All the evidence and communication activity pointed to this area.

"There is a major Skynet related hub here, maybe even the parent Skynet itself." Cameron said. "I'm going to find out."

Moments later they heard what sounded like a TDE power up.

It was what Cammy suspected earlier. They were certain now.

"We're going to smash that TDE too." Cammy said. "Who knows what or when they're doing things? Every time that thing runs, it causes a problem somewhere."

Cameron wondered if maybe they may have already faced some of those threats in the past. There was also the possibility that Skynet did something to create another or even more than one timeline.

She glanced back at Cammy and then looked down at herself.

"We'll need better uniforms to move around inside of here." Cameron said. "I only have the Skynet pants off the Terminator we destroyed and Cammy's shirt looks like crap with blood stains on both sides."

Savannah already thought about that since she'd been behind both Cammy and Cameron. It seemed like a 'different' approach to the problem.

"I have an idea." Savannah said. "Why don't you two take the shirts off for now? I'll see what I can find. Being topless will at least make people NOT look at your faces for a few seconds. They'll be distracted."

Cameron thought that was actually a good idea. Whoever they encountered would be drawn to look at their breasts first. That would give them the advantage if they needed to jump someone.

"You can pass us off for 'Metal Whores' getting ready for a temporal mission." Cameron said. "We may end up as that anyway if we get apprehended. You can be our handler."

Cammy feared the same thing herself. It was why she'd wanted Savannah to destroy her chip before that happened to her.

"What an unpleasant thought." Cammy said.

Cameron could never face John again if that happened to her. She would rather terminate.

"I'll rupture my power cell first." Cameron said. "I'll continue to lead for now. Cammy will bring up the rear."

Savannah wondered how she could play out a scenario. There were a few ideas that she'd come up with.

"If it looks appropriate, I'll step in." Savannah said. "If I do, I want the blank face 'scary robot look' on both of you."

"Affirmative…." Cameron and Cammy both said at the same time.

Savannah suppressed a laugh.

They soon arrived at another blockage. This one appeared to be man made. It was made from old timbers.

Cameron paused and listened for a few minutes. She didn't detect any sounds or movement on the other side. She carefully pried one of the timbers loose. She paused and waited. She stuck her hear through the opening. She removed a second timber and everyone squeezed through.

Cammy and Cameron placed the timbers back like they were. More than likely no one knew about the passageway they'd just traversed. Nothing there looked like it was disturbed in decades.

The rocky shaft was still dark but it looked like there was some light up ahead.

Savannah wondered if that was the proverbial 'light at the end of the tunnel'. She also knew it could represent the light some people saw and followed at 'death'.

The trio moved down the rocky shaft and soon entered some type of storage area. At least there was plenty of light now.

There was a door at the far end of the cavern.

They spent a few minutes to look over the crates. Most of them were empty. Some of them did contain small electrical components. Those looked newer and as if someone looked in them often.

They were near the door now.

"I'll look out first." Cameron said. "If it looks clear I'll go out and see what's in either direction if there's a choice. I'll come back as soon as possible for you."

Savannah didn't like that idea.

"I want us to stay together." Savannah said.

Cameron knew Savannah was worried she would go off on her own.

Savannah would take off her shirt and give it to Cameron if she insisted to go out alone first. Maybe she should take a look herself.

Cameron was about to reach for the door when they heard it start to open. Everyone backed up into the shadows. If it was Metal, they were going to have a fight on their hands.

The door opened. It was a portly middle aged Gray.

"Do this. Do that…." He complained. "I'm tired of following orders…."

He began to look at some of the electrical components. He didn't carry a weapon. At least one that was visible.

Savannah handed her M4 to Cameron.

"I have an idea." Savannah whispered. "You two need to play along."

Savannah straightened her uniform. It was the only one of the three that was complete. She stepped out from in between two crates.

"Hey." Savannah said.

The man jumped. He'd never seen anyone else in this area ever.

"What are you doing here?" The man asked. "You know this area is off limits."

Savannah looked around like she had a secret. The man noticed.

"I was looking to make a little extra." Savannah said.

The man looked her over. She didn't like how he looked at her.

"How?" The man asked.

Savannah moved a little closer. The man didn't seem too alarmed.

"I have a 'Metal Whore' about to go on a temporal mission." Savannah said. "I'm marketing her around for the not so privileged Grays."

The man looked interested and excited.

"Is she here?" The man asked.

Savannah smiled at the man.

"Nobody, show yourself." Savannah said.

Cameron set down her plasma rifle and Savannah's M4 earlier. She quickly stripped off her top and walked out topless.

The Grays eyes widened considerably.

"Damn, that's the best looking Terminator I've ever seen." The man said. "She's a 'Metal Whore'?"

Savannah could see the man was completely off guard now. His earlier concerns seemed forgotten. She decided to play it up a little.

"She was one. She works for me now." Savannah said. "You want a crack at her? She's very skillful. I programmed several things into her myself."

The man lightly licked his lips. He couldn't take his eyes of Cameron's breasts.

"What will she do?" The man asked.

Savannah smiled.

"Everything." Savannah said.

The man reached down and adjusted his pants.

"Everything?" The man asked.

Cameron looked at him with a blank face.

"Everything you want." Cameron said. "I will do whatever you desire."

The man went to step forward. Savannah blocked his path.

The man frowned. He didn't like the rebuke.

"How many credits will it cost me?" The man asked.

Savannah didn't know what the credit system consisted of or any of the values.

"What are you willing to pay?" Savannah asked.

The man reached out to fondle Cameron's breasts. Savannah gently but forcefully pushed his hand down.

"Nothing is free." Savannah said.

That move seemed to upset the man. He took a step back. He now looked Savannah over in detail.

"I don't know you - Red." The man said. "Something isn't right here."

Cammy decided to work her way around the crates. She was now behind the man. The man never heard her move up right in back of him.

Savannah watched it all and knew they held all the cards now. She didn't like the way the man looked at Cameron or at her. She wanted to rub his 'punishment' in his face.

"Don't you want to know the price?" Savannah asked.

Cameron cupped her breasts as she stood there. That drew the man's attention back to her. He was interested again.

"What is it?" The man asked.

Cammy was right behind the man.

"Your life." Savannah said. "The peep show cost you your life."

The man looked scared.

"What?" The man asked.

Cammy snapped the Gray's neck. They stripped him and removed his clothing. Cameron now wore his uniform shirt and Cammy put his undershirt on.

They stuffed his body in a corner and placed a large box in front of it. Cameron looked out into the corridor. It was empty.

Savannah wanted them to stay together.

"We'll all go." Savannah said.

Cameron and Savannah wore complete uniforms now.

"It will be the same thing. I'll lead." Cameron said. "Cammy will bring up the rear."

They started down the corridor in single file.

Tart

Sometimes things are off
They just don't smell right
When one looks further
They might end up in a fight

There are many things
That can go wrong fast
It's often better
To not finish last

A bad aftertaste is left
In one's mouth
When things don't work out
And they go 'south'

When it comes to a challenge
Victory is supposed to be sweet
That's only if everything
Turns out tidy and neat

Try to avoid a deadly dart
It can find its way into a heart
Everything goes off the chart
Life often turns sour and tart

Nobody