Chapter 447
Temporal Tiffs
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Cameron's Future Timeline:
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Cameron and Future John beefed up the defenses. They were sure it wasn't the last of Skynet trying to reassert itself. If it could pull an attack this big off, there was bound to be more to come. Everything was hardened even more than it was. Deactivated Resistance Terminators were reactivated to beef up the fighting force.
Future John knew Cameron told him to do it several times since her return. Now he wished he would have listened. Duplicate Cameron previously suggested it as well. There would have been fewer casualties if more Resistance Terminators would have been available. He tried to appease the anti-Metal faction. It was a mistake which caused a few Resistance lives. Everyone knew the Terminators stayed behind after the initial assault and defended the base. By doing so, more lives were saved.
They were able to recover numerous plasma cannons from all the downed HK drones. They were compact but powerful weapons. It would give their defenses a major advantage in the advent of another attack.
Future John and Duplicate Cameron thought they smashed Skynet. They were unaware they hadn't destroyed the master computer. They were led to believe they did. There was evidently a 'Skynet Central' still out there. Was there more than one Skynet location? Based upon their previous encounter, and what they experienced recently, it seemed like it was a more than even chance.
The fact Skynet was able to mount a surprise attack was disturbing in itself. If it wasn't for the 'visitors' from the past, the entire 'event' would have turned out differently. In short, Cameron, a 'Cameron', saved their lives.
Cameron knew Holly-Cameron and Bob saved them a lot of loss. She was grateful for it, but at what price? The loss of Holly was unacceptable to her. She decided she would relinquish her chassis to Holly if nothing else was able to fix what was done. Once she was done with Skynet, she would turn her chassis over to Holly. She hated herself even more for what a version of 'her' did to Holly.
She would ask Duplicate Cameron to allow her to combine their programs. They could become 'one' and would remain in the future. Ally with her spare chip would become 'Cameron Prime' in the past. She would cease to exist. Others would go on in her place. It still didn't seem punishment enough to her.
Punishment was an ongoing issue with her. She believed her actions were sometimes viewed as irrational or questionable. If it was actually the case, what was the punishment for her actions? It didn't seem there were any. Maybe she punished herself instead. Maybe her own mind dished out the punishment she deserved. She really didn't know.
Cameron swore she would 'fix' Holly. She grafted replacement sheath sections onto Holly's chassis herself. They all healed, but only as smooth 'skin'. The female attributes were unable to regenerate from the plasma destruction. Holly's face returned to its former beauty and her sheath was fully covered. All the exposed metal was covered. She would be able to take Holly back with Savannah and her.
So far she was able to keep Holly's condition, and even her presence, from Savannah. She was sure Savannah would be very angry at her when she found out what she did to Holly. Even if it wasn't her, it was still her program. It was still her.
Because she was unable to get replacement female anatomical sheath sections for Holly, she was reluctant to reactivate her. She feared Holly may self terminate over her perceived feelings Allison would have about her. She understood those feelings. Her feelings of inadequacy haunted her daily.
Cameron knew if her chassis was permanently damaged the same way, she would self terminate. She too knew she could never let the one she loved 'see' her in such condition.
She would hide what happened from Allison, and fix it however she could. It needed to be fixed somehow. She didn't know how it would be yet.
She decided to 'share' with Savannah and Future Allison one time each before she was deactivated. She loved Holly. It was her turn to sacrifice. Holly's chip would be installed in her vacated chassis. She noticed her hand glitched wildly.
It may not be what she wanted at this juncture, but it was what needed to be done. It was the right thing to do.
She went over all of the information Bob was able to provide her. She couldn't bring herself to activate Holly's chip for the information on it. She didn't want to deal with the anguish Holly was sure to express. She believed only Holly's specific involvement in the altercation would be known. It wouldn't change the overall picture of the nature of the attack.
There was no other way she could see how things could have been played based upon the surprise nature of the attack. Holly and Bob did what they could to warn the Connor compound as well as engage the enemy. Even with all the damage done to Bob and Holly, it was a miracle neither one of them were totally destroyed. They very well could have been.
One of the Resistance Terminators approached Cameron when she was alone.
Cameron looked around. It looked important.
"What is it, Hal?" Cameron asked.
Hal looked around. He made sure they were alone.
"I've just come across some information you asked for." Hal said.
Cameron looked around again. She didn't want anyone to get in her way.
"Does anyone else know?" Cameron asked.
Hal looked uncomfortable. It was an unusual request based upon standard practice. He understood Cameron's unique place in the Resistance. He watched her defend the base and then bring the fight to the remaining enemy. He heard of her past exploits as well. She was known for her ability and ruthlessness on the battlefield. He didn't doubt her resolve in the slightest.
"No." Hal said. "I've suppressed the information as you requested."
Hal filled her in. The Resistance intelligence came up with a possible location where there might be a Skynet base, and perhaps some version of Skynet itself. A damaged HK drone was tracked to a secluded location.
Cameron saw it as her chance for atonement. There was no need to endanger anyone else. She was sure it would cause a problem once it was known what she was up to. She was more than aware they didn't always like the way she did things. Even if her motivation was personal retribution, she didn't like to needlessly endanger others.
"No one else must know." Cameron said. "I'll take care of this myself. Thank you for your assistance."
Hal remained where he was. Cameron looked at him. She wondered if there was some additional information. She looked around one more time to make sure no one else was near. She was about to ask him what else there was. She was a little surprised when he spoke.
"I desire to accompany you." Hal said. "The mission is too dangerous for one person."
Cameron gave Hal a faint smile and touched his cheek.
"It's why I need to do it alone." Cameron said. "I won't endanger anyone else."
Hal saw Holly when she first arrived with Bob on the battlefield. Damaged Terminators were nothing new. It was what the two Terminators did which made it different. They both inflicted a lot of damage against Skynet on their own. They paid a price for their actions. More than likely the same thing would happen to Cameron if she went alone to face the enemy. They all wanted to share the burden. They all wanted payback.
"All the Terminators want vengeance for what 'happened'." Hal said.
Cameron looked a little worried. It wasn't something she wanted others to talk about. If they did, it needed to be in the most general of terms and never anything specific.
"It is never to be discussed by anyone, ever." Cameron said.
Hal was worried for Cameron. He didn't want her to misunderstand.
"It's not." Hal said. "It's for you all of us are concerned."
Cameron knew the Terminators were loyal to her. She didn't intend to have any of them end up like Holly. It wasn't Holly's doing either. It was her program which did it. It was her who was responsible.
"I appreciate the care and concern." Cameron said. "I alone must personally make Skynet pay for this grievance. After I investigate the lead, you may report your findings as normal. I appreciate your trust and discretion immensely. Thank you."
Hal nodded and left.
Cameron looked around to make sure no one listened to them. Nobody was spotted.
She carefully made some preparations and slipped out of the camp later on. She seemed to remain undetected. She would need to see if she could slip as easily back into the camp when she returned, if she returned. She did know what the defenses were. It worked to her advantage.
Cameron wore body armor. It was one thing Duplicate Cameron insisted on. She reaffirmed the decision upon her arrival. Future John was slow to respond. The situation was rectified now. She carried a plasma rifle, an M9 pistol, four plasma grenades, and four Thermite grenades. There was a satchel charge of four pounds of C-4 carried over her back. She also carried a multi shot Taser. Hal reported there was possibly a female Terminator at the location. It was her main motivation. There might be a version of 'Skynet' there, but she didn't think it was the main computer. She wanted the female Terminator as much as she wanted to destroy Skynet.
She thought about the best way to reach the location. She decided upon what she hoped would be the most clandestine way. It would take longer, but it removed everything else from the equation. She made good time on foot. She knew where the Resistance patrols were scheduled to be so they were easily avoided.
Cameron was soon deep in the Wastelands. Anyone she ran into would be terminated. There was a good chance she would run across some Scavengers. She didn't want to say she hoped she would, but she wouldn't mind removing another threat from the future.
She moved through some small hills. It always would put high ground above her. There were no longer Skynet patrols to hide from or HK drones to dodge. It was a little easier to move around. Everything still seemed like a threat.
She left the Connor Compound as soon as it was dark and most of the people were asleep. She didn't want to answer any question about what she was doing or up to. She was worried some of the Terminators would try and follow her. It didn't seem to be the case. She specifically established going out on night patrols alone. It was to provide her cover for situations like she was currently involved in.
It was past midnight when she approached the area the intelligence alerted her to. It appeared she wasn't the only one who wanted a closer look at the location. There were two men further in front of her. There were probably more. She closed up on them in the darkness. They weren't very quiet. It was a mistake on their part.
"We need to go back." The first man said.
"We just got here." The second man said.
"We can't see anything." The first man said.
"We have night vision equipment." The second man said.
"I'm wearing it and I still can't see anything." The first man said.
The men moved along. They made a lot of noise. She figured they would alert someone they were there. It might work in her favor. They could trip an ambush before she did. She could also eliminate them now and continue a silent approach.
There was a loud 'crack' noise.
"Quiet, stupid…." The second man said.
"Look, we need to lay low for a few hours." The first man said.
"It will need to be more than a few hours." The second man said.
Cameron didn't know who the men were. They could be anybody. There were no Resistance patrols out in this area. She checked on it specifically before she left. She decided to terminate them as they endangered her mission. They were also going to slow her down.
She silently closed up on them.
There was a dull 'thud' sound. One of the men fell. It was followed by a second 'thud'. She would've expected the men to curse or berate each other. There was only silence. She paused and quickly backtracked. It seemed as if the men may have been ambushed. She shouldn't have closed up on them so quickly. She might now be a target as well.
Cameron moved back to a dry wash and went down into a gulch. She soon heard footsteps. She pressed herself into the side of the dirt and waited.
A figure passed by. She took out her Taser, aimed and fired. The figure fell. She reached up and dragged it down into the gulch. It was a Terminator. She took out her knife and removed its chip. She put the chip in her pocket. She pulled the figure further up the gulch and covered it with brush. It was a male Terminator. It wasn't what she wanted.
She moved back onto the trail and found the two men. They were both dead. They were most likely Scavengers as she suspected. She dragged them into the brush on either side of the trail. There was no need to advertise what was going on.
Cameron soon found part of what she was in search of. It wasn't a female Terminator. It was an HK drone. She found it in a small cave. It was more of an overhang of a large rock. It was in the process of being repaired. It must have been what the Terminator worked on when he heard the two men.
She quickly looked around to make sure there were no other Terminators or Grays. None were detected. She reprogrammed the HK drone and completed the repairs. She placed a tracker inside one of the metal parts and then reactivated it. She quickly moved away from it. She heard it reactivate and the engines powered up. It took off and headed away to the north. She wanted to see where it ended up at. It was what the tracker was for.
She went back and collected the male Terminator. She thought about putting Holly's chip in it. It wasn't something she would want. She tossed it over her shoulder and headed back. It was the 'Witching Hour' now. She didn't think much of anything would be out. She arrived back at the base at dawn. She was more annoyed than surprised at what she found waiting for her. She really couldn't expect less.
"Where have you been?" Duplicate Cameron asked.
Cameron dropped the captured Terminator on the ground.
"I collected a new recruit." Cameron said.
Duplicate Cameron knew Cameron left. She didn't know the real reason.
"I watched you go." Duplicate Cameron said.
Cameron wondered if she was followed.
"Did you tag along?" Cameron asked.
Duplicate Cameron indicated the weapons Cameron carried.
"I saw you were adequately armed for a solo patrol." Duplicate Cameron said. "It was a little more than you usually take with you."
Cameron didn't want to get into it. She was glad her tactic of going out alone was already established. Her clandestine departure was different than normal.
"Well, I did find our new friend here." Cameron said.
Duplicate Cameron looked at the open chip port.
"Where's the chip?" Duplicate Cameron asked.
Cameron held it up.
"I was just about to review it." Cameron said.
Duplicate Cameron picked up the deactivated Terminator.
"Let's go." Duplicate Cameron said.
Savannah needed to supplement both Future Savannah and Future Allison for nursing the infants. Often she would nurse both at the same time. She believed she was even larger than her first time for nursing. She seemed to do a lot of the feeding for the two infants.
Previously Duplicate Cameron suggested other young female Resistance fighters be asked to volunteer for hormone treatments to help the girls if their production didn't pick up.
Cameron wanted Savannah out of the future timeline now. Savannah belonged to the past, not the future. Any future would wreck her body over time as it already did to the other females. Future John still controlled two TDEs, but she wanted to wait for their time bubble to appear at the alternate locations Bob and Holly previously established. Savannah said she would stay as long as the infants needed her. It would give Savannah more time to 'help' the future girls out.
The time bubble would appear in a week. Cameron wanted to make sure everyone went back. She was going to send Holly back deactivated separately with Bob. She wasn't going to go back until she smashed the latest version of Skynet herself. She hadn't told the others of her plan. She would instruct Ginger-Cammy to physically hold Savannah in the energy bubble when she stepped out of it. Once they returned, Ginger-Cammy was to remove Allison from the TDE area if she was there, along with everyone else. Sheila would activate the controls for the second location Ginger-Cammy provided her with, and be instructed to leave the area as well. No one was to see Holly except Bob as he moved her to a secure location. He was to make sure her Terminators kept Holly's location private. NO ONE would be allowed to enter or see her. In fact, NO ONE was to know Holly was back, only Bob.
Cameron told Savannah to say her 'goodbyes' to everyone and attend to any other 'personal matters' she wanted to conclude before she left tomorrow. She saw Future Allison and Savannah go off together. She wanted to 'join' them. She wanted their 'love' before her termination or deactivation. Once Savannah returned to the past, it would never happen.
She told Savannah that Bob would return soon after them when he finished a special mission he was assigned.
Cameron went with Ginger-Cammy and Savannah to the scheduled rendezvous point for the time transfer.
They waited….
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Cameron's Base Current Timeline:
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The Metal girls waited in the TDE room at Cameron's base.
It was a short time after Bob returned to the future. It was now the time to bring them back. Thirty days should have passed in the future, even though it was a short time there.
Sheila worked the controls.
The arcing and flashing started.
The energy bubble formed and left.
The arcing and flashing ended.
Sheila worked the controls again.
The arcing and flashing started.
The energy bubble returned empty.
The arcing and flashing ended.
Sally-Ally wanted to act. She knew she should have gone back with Bob.
"They're not in it." Sally-Ally said. "I'm going. Send me back fifteen minutes after Bob arrived in the future."
Sheila didn't want Sally-Ally to jump the gun. There was a contingency plan now.
"Wait, let's try the alternate locations first, love." Sheila said. "It's possible the original transfer location has been compromised, or has a problem. If there is a problem, I don't think you want to end up right in the middle of it."
Sally-Ally knew she needed to think things through. There was a possibility the energy bubble attracted some unwanted attention. When they sent it to the Future and retrieved Bob, it was only a couple minutes time before the energy bubble was sent back with Bob at the location. It is possible it did attract some negative attention. It was a lot of energy to be blasting through time and space.
"Let's try something different." Sally-Ally said. "We also need to consider if there's a problem at one location, there may be at another. Let's see what happens at the next location. I'm not sure if I should have you send me to any of them. If Bob or Holly was captured, Skynet would be able to get the information off of their chip as to the transfer locations, as well as the times."
Sheila didn't like the prospect of any of their Terminators being captured by Skynet. It would be able to glean a lot of information from them.
"If nothing happens on the next transfer, we may need to put the Resistance base on alert as well as Cameron's base." Sheila said. "We could end up with unwanted visitors as well."
Sheila entered the new information and worked the controls.
The arcing and flashing started.
The energy bubble formed and left.
The arcing and flashing ended.
Sheila worked the controls again.
The arcing and flashing started.
The energy bubble began to appear. There were two figures in it. One of them was screaming.
A wave of fear flooded the room to hear it. Something must have gone wrong.
Everyone who was armed clutched their weapons tighter.
The arcing and flashing ended.
"CAMERON!" Savannah screamed.
Savannah looked disoriented.
"Savannah, you're back." Sheila said.
Savannah and Ginger Cammy were all alone. Savannah was more upset and angrier than anyone ever saw her before. She looked like she wanted to kill someone. She pulled away from Ginger-Cammy and faced her. Her eyes were full of hate.
"Let go of me you, BITCH." Savannah screamed at Ginger-Cammy. "I HATE you, Cammy. I HATE YOU."
Savannah shoved Ginger-Cammy aside and tried to take the TDE controls away from Sheila. She was nearly hysterical.
"I have to go back for Cameron." Savannah said.
Sheila and Sally-Ally looked at each other. Savannah's statement indicated there was some type of problem. It sounded like a big one. They weren't sure what all happened. Cameron, Bob, and Holly weren't there.
Ginger-Cammy went to try and soothe Savannah.
"Cameron's coming back later, Savannah." Ginger-Cammy said. "You know she will."
Savannah wanted to believe it, but she didn't know it. Cameron could be back right now with the TDE.
"We left her there to die." Savannah screamed and started crying. "YOU left her there to die. You prevented me from helping her."
Allison and Claire hurried to see what was happening and comfort Savannah.
Right away Allison feared the worst when they heard Savannah screaming. When she looked around, Holly wasn't there. She really feared the worst now.
"Where's Holly?" Allison asked.
Ginger-Cammy didn't want to try and answer a lot of questions right now. She was highly traumatized because Savannah hated her now. She needed to complete the mission Cameron requested. She was only given limited information with her instructions.
"I didn't see Holly. Bob will return soon. He was on a special mission." Ginger-Cammy said. "I need everyone to leave this area now except Sheila."
Savannah and Ginger-Cammy were both still naked. Ginger-Cammy handed Allison the clothes for Savannah and took some for herself. She didn't bother to put them on yet.
Cameron's Terminators arrived and cleared out the protesting crowd.
Ginger-Cammy gave Sheila the new information and left as instructed. She dressed outside.
The arcing and flashing started.
The energy bubble formed and left.
The arcing and flashing ended.
Sheila worked the controls again. Sheila then left as instructed. She saw no need to be deactivated by staying to see what was so 'secret'.
The arcing and flashing started.
The energy bubble appeared. There were two figures in it. Bob and Holly were back.
The arcing and flashing ended.
Bob covered Holly with his body.
He made sure no one was around and moved Holly away. He placed her in a secure location and covered her over. He looked at the featureless sheath. It sickened him. He was the last one to see her with her once perfect and beautiful body. Now, only the beauty of her face remained. He reached out and touched it before he pulled the sheet all the way up.
Bob was overpowered by feelings he didn't know how to deal with. He wondered if he felt this bad, how must Cameron feel?
No wonder she stayed to fight Skynet herself. She was going to seek termination by fighting Skynet alone. It was how she was going to make the pain stop. Maybe he should go back and join her. He wanted the pain to stop as well.
Ginger-Cammy ran Cameron's program. She was appalled to find out they hadn't activated 'Cameron' yet, especially since one was available. It was a little upsetting to know it would be in her chassis. At this point in time, she didn't think it would matter.
"Activate 'Cameron Prime' now." Ginger-Cammy said. "It should have been done already. It was a mistake not to have done it right away. You all know it was."
Sheila could see there was a problem now.
"But it's your chassis, Cammy." Sheila said.
Ginger-Cammy could only hear Savannah's words in her mind right now. She believed her existence was over. She was sure she was going to need to face chip extraction. She hoped it wouldn't be a public event when it was done. It would be the same as a prisoner being executed for their crimes. She shouldn't have listened to Cameron. She knew what Cameron was up to. She believed it amounted to a termination sentence. If she wouldn't have restrained Savannah, it would have resigned her to the same fate. If she needed to trade her existence for Savannah's life, there was no choice.
"It now belongs to the new 'Cameron Prime'." Ginger-Cammy said.
Ginger-Cammy didn't like how no one responded right now. Since she was a clone of Cameron, she was now the ranking 'Cameron' there.
"I want Ally's chip back in her chassis and Ginger's chip back in this chassis." Ginger-Cammy said.
Sheila couldn't understand this. Cammy mattered too.
"What about you?" Sheila asked.
Ginger-Cammy's hand started to glitch. Savannah's words echoed through her mind. The hate in Savannah's eyes was burnt into her mind.
"I wish to remain deactivated since I've made Savannah hate me." Ginger-Cammy said. "Give Savannah my chip and let her decide my fate. I no longer wish to exist. Once my chip is removed from this chassis, it should be considered a 'chip extraction' and the termination which goes along with it."
Ginger-Cammy knew she was going to pay the price for what Cameron did to Savannah by sending her away.
Sheila started the process.
Savannah could still be heard cursing Cammy and crying in the distance….
It was the last thing Cammy ever heard. She knew she deserved to be terminated for making Savannah hate her. She looked forward to nothingness. It would make the pain stop.
Cammy's chip was removed from Ginger's chassis first….
She waited to 'die'. It was nothingness. Nothingness was tranquility.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
Tiff
It's inevitable that sooner or later
Everyone will have some type of spat
It can end up as big as a mountain
Or remain small like a tiny gnat
It all comes down to ego
When it comes to petty quarrels
One can take the high road
As they fall back on their laurels
Things tend to get out of hand
Over an insignificant altercation
It can escalate and expand
Into a major confrontation
No one needs a ruckus
Which grows from dissension
If left unchecked and uncontrolled
It will soon cause a commotion
There's no need to fuss
Or take it to the edge of a cliff
Take some time to discuss
What is nothing more than a tiff
Nobody