Chapter 482

Temporal Team

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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The HK drone with the 'Package' and its armed escort moved ahead. The lead HK drone fired two missiles at the blind wall and blew it open. The two HK drones continued inside the new opening. Their targets and destination were already programmed into them. There were headed to where Cameron waited for them to arrive at the head of the shaft. She was to have that area secure before their arrival.

Bob and Rob on their drone followed the first two drones inside and stopped. Savannah was right behind them on 'HK One' as it continued after the other HK drones.

Rob was to hold their position against anyone who tried to follow Cameron at the opening they'd blasted through the wall to get the 'Package' inside. One HK drone would remain with Rob for fire support. Bob was to continue on foot to assist Cameron. He was to be the last line of defense to protect Cameron once she went down the shaft on what was most likely to be a one way trip. That same ticket applied to all of them. It bothered both of them that Cameron copied their programs but not hers.

Savannah followed them in on 'HK One' and halted when they did. She could see what Rob's job was going to be. She knew he could only last so long even with the HK drone to back him up. She saw no reason for Bob to run to where Cameron was at. She didn't know how far it was but knew she could get him there sooner.

She reached out and touched Rob on the cheek.

Rob experienced a rush that was like an 'electrical' feeling. He felt new resolve. He was sure he knew who this young human female was now. He now believed that Cameron wouldn't perish with this girl at her side. He'd heard the prophecies. He now knew they were true.

"Thank you, Ron." Savannah said. "For everything…."

Savannah smiled at Ron and then turned to Bob.

"Hop on." Savannah said to Bob.

Bob did. 'HK One' strained slightly but continued on.

Soon they could hear firing behind them. Rob and the HK drone were giving them Hell….

Savannah knew Rob and the HK drone needed to hold that position. She also knew she needed to make sure Cameron was protected. It bothered her to leave Rob behind.

Bob noticed that it bothered the girl that Rob as left to defend the position alone with the HK drone.

"Cameron has copied our programs." Bob said. "We will continue on without these last few days of our existence. Cameron did not copy her chip."

Savannah swallowed hard. That wasn't good.

"I have her spare chip." Savannah said. "I will assure her existence."

Bob knew this girl was special. He was sure he knew who she was.

"Thank you." Bob said. "That gives me peace of mind."

Cameron could hear the HK drones coming. There were only supposed to be two of them. Bob was supposed to come on foot and protect the shaft. There were three HK drones coming. She gripped her plasma rifle as she waited for the unknown. She hoped it hadn't fallen apart this fast. If they were Skynet HK drones she was in for some trouble.

The armed HK drone was right on time. The HK drone with the 'Package' was right behind it. That was all she'd planned. There was a third drone as well. Seconds later Cameron saw Bob and Savannah arrive on another HK drone. The HK drone lit the area.

Cameron felt a sense of dread when she spotted Savannah. Savannah couldn't be here. She knew how this was going to end. Savannah needed to leave with Cammy to insure her survival. That was not the case.

"No, Savannah, you can't be here." Cameron said with anguish and grief in her voice.

Savannah knew the odds were against her. It didn't matter. She was here now and it was too late to go back. She wasn't going to leave Cameron. That's why she was back in this future in the first place. She'd always promised Cameron she would never abandon her or send her away. She knew Cameron's only chance to survive was if she was with her. She was willing to sacrifice her life to save Cameron's life.

Savannah hopped off of 'HK One' with her plasma rifle along with Bob.

"I AM here, Cameron. It is the two of us - again." Savannah said. "I have faith in you and Cammy."

Cameron knew she was going to die with Skynet. She was sure Skynet was really her. Something so evil needed to be terminated. That included her.

"No, Savannah. NO." Cameron said.

Savannah touched Cameron's arm and looked at her in the gloom of light from 'HK One'. The 'look' said it all. She was there because she loved Cameron.

"It's happening, Cameron." Savannah said. "Let's go. We're doing this together right until the end. I'm here to help you finish this."

Cameron didn't want to argue. She couldn't be upset at Savannah. She loved her more. Savannah just didn't need to die here. Now it was too late. Only Cammy might be able to save Savannah now. Cammy still needed to make it away in order to do that.

Bob helped Cameron with the 'Package'. It was now strapped to her back.

Cameron was pleased there was an extra HK drone here now. It gave them additional fire support. She turned to the one with her programming on its chip.

"Go help Rob." Cameron said to the armed HK drone escort. "Thank you for you service and sacrifice."

The HK drone departed back to Rob. It wagged back and forth twice. It also contained Cameron's programming. It would fight until it was destroyed. It would go out with a 'bang' as well.

Cameron was startled when Savannah fired her plasma rifle. She scored a hit on a Terminator that appeared from another direction. 'HK One' still lit the area. That allowed Savannah to spot him. He may have approached unnoticed otherwise.

Bob fired in the opposite direction. 'HK One' opened up as well.

Now Cameron was really glad there was another HK drone here with them.

There were Skynet Terminators down to the shaft quicker than Cameron anticipated. There must have been another way in here for just such an occasion. The mission was in jeopardy now.

Cameron and Bob were a little surprised to hear Savannah give 'HK One' orders. It was essentially a termination order.

"Search for targets around this area." Savannah said to 'HK One'. "When you run out of targets or ammunition, wedge yourself into this shaft at full speed once we are down. I want it blocked. No one is to pass."

Bob and Cameron noticed Savannah touch 'HK One' as she spoke to it. It was a loving touch. They'd never seen anyone treat an HK drone like that. It was a show of respect and honor.

Cameron watched 'HK One' set off on its mission. She needed to get started on hers.

"Hang on to me." Cameron said to Savannah.

Bob moved forward to assist Savannah. He lifted her across to Cameron. Her hand reached up and touch his cheek in a gently way. It sent a surge of something that was like 'electricity' through him. No one ever touched him like that. No human ever cared about him before.

"Thank you, Bob." Savannah said. "For everything…."

Savannah hopped on top of the warhead as Cameron started on down the cable.

Bob felt new resolve. He was sure he knew who this girl was now. He now believed that Cameron wouldn't perish with this girl at her side. He'd heard the prophecies. He now knew they were true.

"I will hold this position." Bob said. "Good luck."

Cameron looked back at Bob and smiled faintly. She knew it was the end of the line for him.

"Thank You, Bob." Cameron said as she disappeared down the shaft.

Savannah and Cameron both knew that Rob, Bob and the HK drones were all going to be terminated. There was no other way. This is what needed to be done and this is what they had to do it with.

'HK One' fired in all directions as did Bob. The battle raged at the entrance to the tunnel in the distance. Rob and the two HK drones were able the hold that position as well for now. There were under a ferocious assault by Skynet forces.

The unarmed HK drone, now devoid of the 'Package', went to full power and slammed into another group of Terminators that approached from the other side. It knocked them down like bowling pins. It shoved them back up the tunnel they'd appeared from and exploded its power cell which collapsed and sealed that tunnel.

Cameron rapidly headed down the cable in the shaft. The 'Package' was strapped to her back. Savannah sat on top of the warhead as she held both of their plasma rifles.

Cameron knew that Savannah's presence already saved this part of the mission. It would have been compromised otherwise.

Rob was at the entrance to the tunnel. He held his position. He took multiple hits already but was still in the fight. He was damaged severely. The HK drone that remained with him was out of ammunition. It had been damaged as well. It went to full power back the way they'd originally come from. It slammed into the Terminators that advanced on his position and exploded. He didn't expect to last long. The young human female had given him new purpose. The second HK drone arrived next to him and continued the fight. He knew Cameron gave him all the help she could. That meant something to him. That wasn't part of the original plan. It was because the human girl came to help on her own. He'd seen grown men run from battle before. He'd never seen a young girl run towards it. He'd heard Cameron speak of the 'Chosen One' before. He knew it was that girl. She was there to fight with Cameron and most likely die with her. He was sure if anyone could save Cameron it was that young girl. He knew who she was now.

Rob resolved to make his termination count. He would buy Cameron and the 'Chosen One' every second he could. He reached up and touched his cheek and resumed firing as new targets presented themselves.

Bob and 'HK One' took more than a few hits. There were no other targets once they'd knocked the last Terminators down. He communicated with 'HK One'. He could tell Cameron was off the cable now below.

He ripped the cable loose from the hoist mechanism and it disappeared down the shaft like an insane metal snake as it swirled around and struck the sides of the shaft.

Bob backed away from the shaft. 'HK One' moved away and came back at speed. In a shriek of twisted metal it wedged itself into the shaft and blocked it. It would remain jammed there until they overran him and tried to pull it back up. At that point it would overload its power cell and explode. Hopefully that final act would collapse the shaft and destroying the Terminators trying to get down to where Cameron was.

He could still hear the battle raging from the direction they'd come. Shortly thereafter there was a massive explosion, as the second HK drone detonated its power cell into the advancing Terminators. There was still firing going on. Rob was still in the fight.

Bob gripped his plasma rifle and waited. He never looked once at the parts of his sheath that were burnt away by plasma hits. Cameron made it clear this was a one way trip for all of them. They'd all volunteered including the HK drones.

He hadn't anticipated or counted on the beautiful and young human female to assist them. She wasn't part of the plan. She'd come here from the past before. Now she was back again. He saw she was given the chance to escape but chose to join the fight with Cameron. He'd been around a lot of humans and he'd never seen one so brave about to face certain doom. The extra HK drone now wedged in the shaft right now made the difference in them not being overrun. Now it would serve as one extra layer of deterrence. Cameron hadn't calculated there would be this much opposition early on. The young attractive redheaded human female helped them get this far with the extra assistance. She'd also scored the first kill on Terminators advancing on their position.

The gorgeous young redhead's actions ensured the mission would succeed. He'd heard Cameron speak of the 'Chosen One' before. He knew it was that beautiful girl. He patted 'HK One' on it's flank as they waited. The firing at the end of the tunnel ended. Rob was down.

Bob gave 'HK One' a final pat and gripped his plasma rifle….

He reached up and touched his cheek. The human female cared about him. He was more than a machine to her. He would buy Cameron and the 'Chosen One' every second he could.

Seconds ago:

Cameron descended down the cable. She saw the area below was now illuminated by the three burning Terminators. The one at the bottom of the shaft was crushed by the boulder as well.

Savannah hopped off of the warhead and handed Cameron her plasma rifle. The area looked deserted. She was surprised to see the three burning Terminators.

Cameron was ahead of schedule. She was also aware of what Savannah's actions did. They'd made the mission succeed so far. They may have been stopped at the top without the extra firepower and Savannah's help. If Savannah hadn't come, she may have been forced to detonate the warhead at the top of the shaft. That's if she wouldn't have been disabled already with the rapid appearance of the Skynet Terminators. Bob's early arrival with Savannah and the extra HK drone provided the fire support she needed. She was also aware Savannah drew first blood. Without that extra help she never would have gotten as far as she did. She still feared Skynet forces coming after her.

"Cover the shaft." Cameron said as she removed the warhead off of her back.

Cameron set the warhead down.

Savannah moved next to it. She would help protect it with her body until Cameron returned. She knew it couldn't be damaged.

"I'll be right back." Cameron said.

Cameron moved into the chamber with the giant power cell. She took her plasma rifle and set it to overload. That would happen in a few minutes. She placed it at the junction box of the power source and the cables that ran in all directions. It would be a back up explosion in case the warhead didn't detonate, the power source would.

Savannah covered the shaft and looked at the warhead next to her. She knew what it was. It was the end of the line. It didn't matter at this point. They were here to stop Skynet once and for all. It was their job. It was their mission. It was their destiny.

She looked away from the shaft when she heard footsteps.

Cameron was on her way back.

Savannah saw Cameron dodge behind a metal support beam. She detected movement behind her and turned to fire. In the corner of her eye she saw a Terminator emerged from inside the 'Clean Room'. She was down on her knees to shield the warhead. He didn't see her. He fired at Cameron. The plasma blast hit the beam with Cameron behind it. The Terminator still didn't spot her guarding the shaft. She hadn't expected a threat from behind her. Cameron told her they were alone. She fired a second after he did at Cameron. She lit him up as she fired several bursts. She moved closer and fired one into his head.

She looked back over at Cameron. She was on fire!

Cameron stripped her burning shirt off. Her back was to Savannah. She'd taken a residual hit from the plasma burst that hit the support she'd taken cover behind. She was still one hundred percent operational.

"Savannah, make sure there's no one else in the 'Clean Room'. Be careful. I didn't know there was a Terminator in there." Cameron said. "I'm arming the bomb now. I'll be right in. I need to be able to manually detonate it if we're attacked again."

Savannah knew things were serious now. Cameron was about to be a walking nuclear bomb. The fact her shirt had caught on fire bothered her. She thought maybe Cameron was damaged.

"Are you OK, Cameron?" Savannah asked.

Cameron didn't need to look down at the front of her sheath. She was here to do a job and this sealed her fate. There was no need to alarm or worry Savannah.

"I'm fine. I'm arming the bomb and going to bring it in." Cameron said. "If we run into any more surprises it is still going to explode. I want Skynet terminated. Between this warhead and the exploding power source in the next chamber, this whole mountain is going to be rubble."

Savannah knew time was rapidly running out. She was with Cameron and they were about to face Skynet together. To see that Cameron was able to bring a nuclear weapon here didn't surprise her. She knew Cameron would do something like this.

Things looked grim….

Savannah needed to protect the mission. She needed to protect Cameron. If this was where she died, then this was where she died. Cameron's life mattered more to her than her own did. Love was about sacrifice.

"Be careful, Savannah." Cameron called out.

Savannah approached the 'Clean Room' with her plasma rifle raised and ready. She needed to make sure Cameron was protected.

Team

Are we stronger as one
Or are we stronger as a team
We can all work together
For a shared goal or a common theme

Alone is very lonely
Just as it would seem
One is still only one
No matter how hard you scheme

The company of others
Can make your soul gleam
It radiates from within
It lets a smile beam

The darkness is dark
In it you can dream
You can seek what you want
Maybe even gain some esteem

In the emptiness of nothingness
Nobody can hear you scream
There is hope and reassurance
If we form into a united team

Nobody