Chapter 470

Temporal Trail

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Future Timeline - Undetermined Error:

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Savannah was sure she was about to be discovered by Scavengers.

There was a 'snap' in the brush right next to her.

They found her!

This was it!

The time for thinking was over. She needed to buy Cammy time to escape.

"Run, Cammy, run." Savannah shouted as she sprang to her feet.

She searched for the threat.

The fear was gone.

It was time to FIGHT.

Savannah was a weapon….

She was ready. The sharpened stone was like a rock knife. She looked for a target with it.

There was a loud 'thud' near her. She glanced back.

Cammy now stood next to her. She searched for a target as well.

"What is it?" Cammy asked.

Savannah was still pumped full of adrenaline. She was sure there would be targets in front of her. There weren't any.

"I heard something." Savannah said. "I felt something."

Cammy looked around. She moved off to the side a little and quickly reached down. She came up with a snake in her hand. It moved and thrashed around.

Savannah looked at it for a long moment. She felt foolish. She let her imagination and fears get the best of her, but she overcame them. Her training took over. She chose to fight when she thought it was needed. She hadn't run or 'rolled over', figuratively or literally. She knew the next time she faced the same fear or situation, she would fight. She was happy to know when push came to shove, she was ready to fight.

Cammy wasn't sure of exactly what happened. She did see Savannah stand to fight, while she tried to buy time for her to escape. It was bravery and love joined together. It made her love Savannah even more. She saw Savannah was willing to sacrifice for her. She remembered Savannah said she would die before she 'killed' her. She knew sacrifice was the true test of love. There was no doubt in her mind she would do the same for Savannah.

Savannah never thought she would be so relieved to see a snake. It almost made her want to laugh, but she didn't. She was still pumped full of adrenaline. She really thought she would be in a fight for Cammy's life, and her own. It was time to make the best of the situation. It wasn't all a bust.

"You can start a fire. I'll make a meal for us." Savannah said.

Savannah moved over and took the live snake from Cammy. Cameron and Sarah taught her how to survive. It was something she did more than a few times during her 'camping trips'. None of them were actually 'camping trips'. It was all survival training. Referring to it by a different name, somehow made it seem like it should be 'fun' instead of boring survival training. She killed and prepared the snake.

Cammy even tried a small bite. She really didn't care for the looks of the animal. She didn't think it accomplished any useful purpose. Maybe it would catch rodents or other small animals, including other snakes. She didn't think any of them were very useful, other than for food for other animals. She made sure the fire was out, and the area was made to look like the surrounding area.

"I want to take one last look around us." Cammy said.

Cammy went back up in the tree one more time. She was back down in less than three minutes.

Savannah was ready to move out.

"Did you get the location information on the HK drone?" Savannah asked.

Cammy was able to see where the HK drone went earlier. She wanted to check to see if anything was different. It wasn't. She wanted to take a closer look at what she observed. It was quite some distance away, but what she believed she saw was significant.

"I saw where the HK drone went." Cammy said. "I watched it until it disappeared into the side of a hill. I think it needs closer inspection to make sure it didn't go between two small hills. Either way, I never saw it leave the area once it was down low."

Savannah figured if they were close to some Skynet operation, there probably wouldn't be too many Scavengers around, even in such a remote location. There wouldn't be the presence of the Resistance either. There probably wouldn't be much of anything.

"Was there any sign of Terminators or Grays?" Savannah asked.

Cammy felt the need to check further on the Skynet operation, it seemed like too great of a risk to Savannah. She didn't want to take her close to a Skynet operation, especially with their lack of any attire.

"No." Cammy said. "I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to leave you alone. It's too dangerous. A million things could go wrong or happen."

Savannah reflected on what she just experienced and knew it was true. She returned back to Cameron's future to go with Cameron as she fought Skynet. She might as well do the same thing with Cammy. The enemy was still the enemy. They were there and they would need to be dealt with.

"It looks like it's going to need further investigation." Savannah said. "I'll go with you. It could pose a serious threat to the Resistance, even if we're in a different future."

Cammy didn't want to, but it might be safer to bring Savannah along with her, at least most of the way there. The closer they were to a Skynet base, the less likely there would be Scavengers. Then again, Grays were almost as bad. There could be patrols. She would need to check for surveillance devices as well the closer they got.

Savannah coughed a few times.

Cammy looked for a possible water source when she was up in the tree.

"I need to find you clean water." Cammy said.

Cammy looked at Savannah's bare breasts. There was only one thing which was 'safe' right now.

"Are you ready to wash it down yet?" Cammy asked.

Savannah was ready, in more ways than one.

"I thought you would never ask." Savannah said. "I'm more than ready…."

Cammy and Savannah shared some alone time together.

Savannah was still a little unsteady from the bumpy time transfer. There were still a lot of unanswered questions about what exactly happened or went wrong. She wondered if she set the time too close to Cameron's arrival in her future. She wondered if the energy bubbles could collide with each other and knock both of them off their intended target. It was possible Cameron ended up in a different future, as well as Cammy and her. Neither one of them might be in Cameron's future currently. It was just speculation on her part. She didn't want to worry Cammy with the prospect since there was nothing they could do about it currently, one way or the other.

Cammy asked Savannah to get some rest. She could see she wasn't quite at one hundred percent. There was a long march ahead of them. They needed to travel many miles. There was shade where they were to keep the sun off of Savannah while she rested. Savannah said she was fine, but quickly dozed off. It looked like an uneasy rest. She kept her rock knife next to her with her hand on it.

She spotted several different types of vegetation and foliage when she was up in the tree. She determined she could do a number of things with what was available, even if they would be rather crude. She went to work with the tall grass. She made good use of the natural resources currently at her disposal.

When Savannah awoke, Cammy wore a grass skirt, and cropped halter type top. It was made of loosely woven grass as well. She looked totally Hot wearing it. Cammy made a set for her too. She put it on. She was very pleased to be able to cover the private parts of her body. It wasn't so much about being naked, it was about being naked where they were at. At least with some type of clothing on, she would feel a little more confident with any strangers they encountered, especially if they were the enemy.

"You look like a 'Cave Women', a very HOT 'Cave Women'." Savannah said. "You look really sexy dressed like you are, Cammy."

Cammy was aware the most primitive societies were the least affected by Skynet. Their isolation helped as well. They didn't have as much to lose as most of the others in the world who were tied to electricity, fossil fuels, and running water.

"There are places in the world where people still live like this." Cammy said. "Life changed little for those people when Skynet destroyed the world."

Cammy handed Savannah a wooden spear she made. She even 'fire hardened' the point. It was very sharp.

Savannah was unsure with how much force she would be able to generate to throw the spear. She might be able to make better use of it as a lance. She could use it as a longer range stabbing implement. She wouldn't have to get as close to her adversary as she would with her rock knife. She could also use the backside of it as a 'walking stick' if she needed it.

She noted Cammy made several spears. She also constructed a bow with a few arrows. The weapons may look 'old' and 'dated' and considered 'obsolete' by some, but they were still weapons. The bottom line was they could still kill, the same way they did from the beginning of mankind. She thought about the baseball size stones Cammy carried earlier, and the crude rock knife Cammy constructed for her.

"Some things change and some things don't." Savannah said. "I guess these things worked for thousands of years. I think it's safe to say thousands and thousands of people were killed by the same type of implements throughout time."

Cammy was aware how to use the primitive weapons to their fullest ability. She would have preferred some better materials though. Clothing and weapons were covered for now with what was available. There was still one thing Savannah was going to need. Water was her biggest worry.

"The same types of weapons did, and still do kill. There are places in the world where all these items are still used, just like they have been for thousands of years. They are deadly when used properly." Cammy said. "I need to find you clean water."

Savannah really appreciated how Cammy looked after her. She just hoped Cammy didn't ask her to 'kill' her again. She wouldn't do it no matter what. She didn't want to bring it up if the issue could be avoided.

"Thank you for everything, Cammy." Savannah said. "You still look Tight and Hot dressed like you are."

Cammy was pretty sure between Savannah and her, they looked like two characters she saw on TV reruns. Well, Cameron watched them actually. She possessed those files too now. She thought Savannah and her looked like 'Xena and Gabrielle'. What made it seem even more so, was Savannah's hair was the same color as one of the females. She believed their ability was also much the same as the two TV characters.

"So do you. Your red hair is ravishing with your outfit. You look like a Warrior Princess." Cammy said. "We'll move out when you're done."

Savannah was dressed and wore sandals. She carried a spear. She looked around to see if she missed something. She still had her rock knife.

"Done?" Savannah asked.

Cammy looked off to the side. Savannah followed her gaze. Behind a tree was a fallen log with some soft grass laid on top of it. There was a small pit behind it and some soft broad leaves sitting next to it. It seemed nicer than some 'Andy Dump' portable restrooms she used before. She remembered the terrible smell inside of them.

"Cammy, you're the greatest." Savannah said. "I love you."

Cammy wanted to give Savannah some privacy. She also wanted to make sure it was clear around them.

"I'll make a quick patrol and then gather our weapons while you finish up." Cammy said.

She left Savannah alone to 'take care of business'.

When Cammy returned, she methodically erased all traces they ever were there. The small pit was covered and the soft grass was pushed on top of everything. She didn't think any human could detect anything different from the surrounding area. There was no need to have anyone 'look' for them because they knew where they were at previously.

Savannah knew if she was going to die, there was no one she would rather die with. Cammy was 'Cameron', HER Cameron.

She knew she would follow Cammy-Cameron to any-where, any-when, any-how, or any-way.

There was a better than even chance things weren't going to end well. She never thought it would. She did hope her presence would help 'save' Cameron. Now it looked like it was just Cammy and her. They found some version of Skynet. or at least something related to it. As Resistance fighters, it was their job to destroy it. They had a 'date' with Skynet. It was probably a date with destiny too.

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Resistance Base - Current Timeline:

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Jesse and Gail captured a man they suspected arrived from the future.

John Henry asked them about the man.

Jesse wanted to keep it simple. They didn't always like the way she did things.

"He died when we apprehended him." Jesse said.

The bound and gagged man looked up with wide eyes. He wasn't dead. He wasn't even hurt very bad. He was only a prisoner.

Gail looked over at Jesse. She knew the man was still alive.

Jesse looked at Gail and smiled. She looked back at the man. She took out her knife. The bound man could see there was fresh blood on it.

"We'll get rid of the body…." Jesse said. "Call us again if you need us. We're back to our private time for now. If you get any more leads, let us know. We'll respond immediately."

John Henry told them Steve and Tom would see if anything else turned up near where the temporal incursion occurred.

Jesse and Gail shut their coms off and went back off of the grid. They were back on their 'own time'. There were some other places where illicit activity was conducted.

"What about the other location we were going to 'visit'? Gail asked. "It's on your list."

Jesse didn't think a few more hours would matter. The girls might all have to turn a few more tricks. It didn't really matter at this point. It was going to happen anyway, especially if they didn't arrive at all. There was someone from the future they needed to find more out about.

"This is more important." Jesse said. "I'll have a talk with my new friend here. It will be up to him what happens."

Gail looked back at the bound naked man.

"He doesn't look like much." Gail said.

Jesse smiled.

"My knife is sharp." Jesse said. "Looks don't really matter."

Gail drove away from the area where they picked the man up. They checked for any other suspicious individuals moving around. They went to a location near the next sex trafficking operation they planned to take down. There was a 'safe house' near it. It was just a vacant building. It would serve well for her interrogation.

Jesse watched the man they apprehended. She wanted to make sure he didn't try to pull any fast ones before she was ready to conduct her 'personal interview'.

Gail pulled up at a roll up door. Jesse hopped out and opened it. She drove inside and parked. It was where they planned to leave the SUV when they went after the next group of sex traffickers.

Jesse opened up the back door and pulled the man out. He landed hard on the ground. She kicked him several times. She wanted to lay down some ground rules. She intended to enforce them once they were given.

"If you call out or mouth off, I'll cut your tongue out before I kill you." Jesse said.

Gail stood in back of him. She was ready to break bones as Jesse needed it done. It was a standard procedure they used. She pulled his gag off.

The man immediately started to curse.

Jesse kicked him hard in the face. Several teeth came out. It was time to administer the punishment she told him he would receive. It was something she was familiar with. It included its use on both males and females in her future. It happened when she was associated with various Scavenger groups.

"Hold his mouth open." Jesse said. "I'm going to cut his tongue off."

Gail reached down and held the man's mouth open as she held him to the ground.

"Do you want me to break his lower jaw so I can open his mouth wider?" Gail asked. "You'll be able to cut his tongue of all the way back. He'll bleed to death sooner. I don't want to hear his gurgling screams."

Jesse moved up with the knife.

"If he doesn't start talking in the next three seconds, go ahead and do it." Jesse said. "Snap it all the way down."

The man saw it was for 'real'.

"Wait!" The man gasped.

Jesse looked at him.

"One wrong word and I'll cut you up one piece at a time." Jesse said. "I've already killed three future Scavengers tonight myself. They were all punished for their crimes against females first. You can imagine how they were dealt with before they died."

Jesse showed the man her bloody knife.

They proceeded to interrogate him. She punched him every now and then when an answer was too slow. Gail scanned him so they knew when he was less than truthful.

It turned out he was a Gray sent out on an assassination mission. He said Skynet was almost defeated and sent Terminators and Grays out on missions to all time periods in an attempt to save itself.

It turned out he was to kill a female who would develop a computer virus in the future which plagued Skynet for years. They were able to determine which future he was from. Most of the evidence pointed to Cameron's future. They were aware Cameron, Cammy, and Savannah were all there. He didn't seem to have knowledge of any of them other than John Connor. He was under the impression John Conner was terminated in the past. They didn't tell him otherwise. They only told him there were plenty of others to pick up the mantle and carry it.

It seemed they needed to alert John Henry to the new threat. They were a little worried about the man's intended target. They only knew she was a female. It made them think of one individual in particular, based upon his description of the problem created for Skynet.

Jesse didn't think the Gray could offer them any more information. There was no need to keep him around.

"Well, love, you get to die with honor." Jesse said.

Jesse decided not to do anything else to him before termination. His cooperation in the end justified a swift termination. He wouldn't have been so lucky in the past, the future.

Gail snapped his neck.

They notified John Henry of the new development.

John Henry was a little puzzled by the timing of their report. It seemed to him the matter was already concluded.

"I thought you said he was dead." John Henry said.

Gail sent him a photo.

"He is." Jesse said.

Gail gave John Henry all the information in detail.

John Henry thought about it.

"I think we've previously encountered some of the Grays and Terminators in the past already from this latest attempt of Skynet to save itself." John Henry said. "I don't think we're done either."

Jesse pointed out the obvious.

"It looks like there are going to be more sent until Skynet is smashed by Cameron." Jesse said.

John Henry was aware how events normally played out.

"I'm sure it will get worse before it gets better." John Henry said.

Jesse thought it was standard fare.

"It usually does." Jesse said "Call us if you need us."

Gail thought maybe they should get a few more teams of Terminators out. John Henry said he would take care of it.

"We have a date to keep." Jesse said.

Gail looked at the dead Gray.

"What about this guy?" Gail asked.

Jesse felt he got off easy. She did know where he should go.

"Throw him in the trash dumpster, where he belongs." Jesse said.

Gail did. They collected their weapons and set out again. The night was far from over. They would need to monitor all the Resistance com traffic in case further threats developed in their vicinity.

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Cameron knew the 'brass ring' was in sight, her hand was on it. It was RIGHT there in front of her. All she needed to do was 'take it'. She really wanted to take it. She knew if she didn't do it NOW, she would regret it for the rest of her existence. If she went off to fight Skynet alone, she knew she wouldn't have to regret it for very long. Her hours left on Earth would be numbered.

Cameron knew life was about choices. She was extremely conflicted as she needed to make one. Everything she wanted was available right now. It was all there and ready. She was unable to explain her actions. She wanted to run as fast as she could and never look back with the two women she loved the most. The three of them all wanted the same thing. They all wanted each other.

It stabbed her heart to do what she must do. She knew it was the wrong choice for her, but it was the right choice to protect everyone else. She needed to think about more than herself. She needed to think about everyone else first.

Cameron decided to slip out of the camp. It was best if she did it this way. She wouldn't return. It would avoid a lot of unnecessary crying and begging. She didn't need those images to torment her further when she faced down Skynet. Her date with Skynet was terminal. She didn't want to hurt anyone else emotionally. She felt she already did way too much of it, even without trying.

Her Terminator operatives tracked down the information she wanted. They found a possible Skynet location, or at least the general area. It wasn't specific, but it was a start. She knew where to look. On her own, she stood a better chance of reaching the target. No one else would be endangered during the process. She knew it would end. Everything would end one way or another.

Cameron set off on her own and told no one. She communicated with Bob and Rob. She told them to make ready the 'package'. They told her they were ready and waiting for further instructions.

She paused before she left the compound. It was a mistake. She should have kept going. She couldn't say 'goodbye' to anyone. They all would have tried to stop her. She wouldn't be able to leave with Future Allison and Future John begging her to stay. It would be too traumatic for her. She knew they would physically hang on to her because they understood how her mission would end. It would cause her to glitch or shut down. They might even try to shut her down. She knew she would break their hearts. She updated Duplicate Cameron with all of her files and interactions with Future Allison. Duplicate Cameron was to inform Future Allison she was now 'Cameron' in every way. She replaced herself, with 'herself', by updating Duplicate Cameron to be HER.

Future Allison and Duplicate Cameron could still leave and go off together. Cameron knew there were two female Terminator chassis ready to Resequence and a copy of her chip. There would be plenty of 'Camerons' to go around for Future John. Duplicate Cameron was to see if any of the Allisons wanted to go to her future to be with Future John if Duplicate Cameron and Future Allison left. She figured Allison might want to go be with her baby. It really was her baby. She also suggested one of the Jesses might want to go, but not Young Jesse. She wanted Young Jesse for John.

Cameron went over all the things she set in motion. It all seemed good to her. She thought everything was covered. When Duplicate Cameron as 'Cameron' took Savannah and Future Allison with her, Cammy would use her spare chip and become Cameron Prime. She was sure everything was taken care of. She instructed Duplicate Cameron to have Hanna or Holly take the Young sisters into the past for enough years to get them to an age acceptable for John. An age similar to Young Jesse would be the best. They would all be together with John. She was sure Claire would understand. Duplicate Cameron was instructed to assist Claire in any way so she did understand.

She didn't see anything wrong with what she was doing. She was sacrificing herself. The sacrifices of the others were nothing major compared to her sacrifice. It should all work out. Only she would perish. Why would anyone miss her anyway? She was only a walking pile of junk. She was just scrap metal.

Cameron looked at her hand as she moved. It glitched wildly.

'Damn.' Cameron thought.

It ALL bothered her. It shouldn't. She fixed everything. It should all happen. Everyone should be happy. She kept telling herself they would. She almost believed it herself now, almost.

The glitching continued and so did she. What needed to be done, needed to be done. The enemy needed to be stopped. Skynet was the enemy. She was sure who the real enemy would be when she faced it. She needed to keep her date with destiny.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Trail

It seems the true nature
Of all relationships is frail
It doesn't take long
Before they go stale

They may start out
With the force of a gale
It's usually fairly quick
When they start to fail

What was once sharp and clear
Slowly begins to dull and pale
The more it begins to sink
The faster one tries to bail

The train of love is shaky
Is bound to bounce and derail
What's broken is unfixable
Its end will surely prevail

The product of destruction
Will cause one to wail
Into the relationship's coffin
Time and space drive another nail

Into each other's heart
Resignation does impale
Soon the only results
Are each other to assail

Redemption or thought
Won't help to avail
Such is life's journey
Down love's rocky trail

Nobody