Chapter 471

Temporal Task

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Future Timeline - Undetermined Error:

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Cammy and Savannah broke camp and headed out into the unknown. They decided to see what the new Skynet target actually was, if it was one. They would seek Cameron out later. They didn't even know if they were in the same future as Cameron.

Savannah urged Cammy to strike a blow at whatever Skynet activity or facility they uncovered. Whatever future they were in, Skynet posed a threat to all humans. It was their moral obligation to destroy whatever they could. They wanted to see if there was a TDE there. They needed to know if they could return home if they weren't in Cameron's future. They hoped it was Cameron's timeline, even though they didn't know for sure. Skynet was the enemy in any timeline.

Cammy led Savannah for several hours. They were clothed and Savannah's feet were protected, they were both armed, even if it was with primitive weapons. They could still kill with them. Their garments were just as primitive, if even not more so, than their weapons.

Savannah hoped they could arrive at the location unchallenged. She didn't like it because they were under armed. Right now they didn't have much of a choice.

Cammy constantly scanned Savannah. She was concerned for her health. The lack of clean water was a problem. The lack of any water was an even bigger problem. She knew Savannah could only push herself so far before it became a problem. It would be a big one too.

"Savannah, you need water or some type of liquid." Cammy said. "You're dehydrating. You will overheat and get sick. I need to find you some water."

Cammy knew when she did, it may not be drinkable for Savannah. She didn't want Savannah to be damaged by toxins. Skynet unleashed both chemical and biological warfare on humans early in the conflict. The after effects of it were still being felt years later. She worried about what the future did to most of the females there. In most cases it severely affected their fertility.

Savannah didn't want Cammy to stress out on the issue. There was nothing they could do about it right now. She considered the fact if there were Grays at the Skynet facility, there should be some type of consumable water which should have less pollutants than any water they might find where they were at.

"I know, Cammy." Savannah said. "There isn't any. I hardly have any pressure build up now. I think I've drained myself dry."

Savannah knew her body would start to shut down functions to survive. All she could do was go on. It was very bleak where they were they were, there was nothing. It was probably one of the reasons why Skynet chose the location to set up operations. The landscape was inhospitable to humans.

Cammy knew Savannah was a trooper. She never complained or thought only of herself.

"I need to get you liquid or at least moisture of some kind." Cammy said. "I know you haven't complained or said a word, Savannah."

Savannah knew she could push herself for several days without water but it would take its toll. She planned to continue on. To stay out in the wilderness of the Wastelands and do nothing, would be a sure death sentence. Her body could provide a certain amount of fluids, even if she didn't want to think about them.

"I can function for a few days. It should be at least an extra day from consuming my own secretions." Savannah said. "How much longer until we get to where we need to go?"

Cammy wanted to make contact with anyone at this point. They were bound to have water. She would kill them and take their resources for Savannah. She wasn't going to be too picky about who they were either. Savannah was her top priority. She would hope they would be Grays or Scavengers if she was going to take what they carried. She would take what she needed from the Resistance if they ran into them. She didn't think she should mention her last thought to Savannah. She would take what she needed first, and ask questions later.

"We'll be there soon." Cammy said. "We'll be in the area anyway. I expect to make contact with a Skynet patrol soon. We should be able to get everything we need from the Grays."

Savannah wasn't so sure. There would probably be Terminators with them, if it wasn't an all Terminator patrol to begin with. If they ran into a group of Terminators, they wouldn't be able to fight all of them. Cammy would be outnumbered and overpowered if she wasn't destroyed outright. She didn't want to worry about what they didn't have any control over. They would need to cross the bridge when they came to it.

Cammy looked at Savannah, she was in her prime. The lack of water was going to tax her body very soon. Savannah wasn't going to ask for her help no matter how tired or dehydrated she was. She offered to carry Savannah several times. She would try again. She would try to use reasoning. She doubted it would do any good.

"Savannah, if I carry you, it will help conserve your body fluids longer." Cammy said. "It's a very important consideration."

Savannah didn't want to be a problem. Cammy needed to remain alert. Cammy would need to engage any threat first. She needed to pick up the pace. She felt bad she was slowing Cammy down. Her footwear was adequate to walk in. She could still only go so fast compared to a Terminator.

"I don't want to distract you and get us in a fight with a Terminator." Savannah said. "I can push harder. I can keep up."

Cammy loved Savannah even more. She knew others would have buckled long ago. Cammy vowed Savannah would not get sick or die out there no matter what she needed to do to prevent it. Savannah was truly the 'Chosen One' and she carried the standard well. She would attempt to use whatever temporal manipulation she needed to correct anything which affected Savannah negatively. She needed to know where they were. She also needed to survive herself to do it.

Savannah noticed something. It was something she hadn't seen since they went back to the future.

"Cammy, there are some birds arriving over there." Savannah said as she pointed. "There may be something there."

Cammy saw them too. She was actually worried about what they were doing. They might be feasting on something which terminated. It was most likely the case. It would probably pose extreme danger for Savannah to get near it was. Whatever was dead terminated from something. Whatever the something was could still be there.

"I'll look into it." Cammy said.

Savannah could feel the cumulative effect the environment was having on her. The lack of any resources only seemed to compound it. She was pretty sure she wasn't going to make it. There was something else more important there at stake. She wanted to make her position clear. The enemy would need to be dealt with.

"Cammy, if you can destroy anything which belongs to Skynet, you must do it. Don't worry about me." Savannah said. "Stopping Skynet is more important than one person. Protecting the future comes before me or protecting the past at this point."

Cammy wouldn't let Savannah die. They were near the birds now. She was pretty sure what they were after. She was sure it spelled additional danger for Savannah.

"NO. Savannah, I won't let anything happen to you." Cammy said. "Wait here in the shade while I check out the birds. Hold onto your spear and have your rock knife ready. I'll be back."

Cammy's warning alarmed Savannah. Maybe it was the wrong thing to look into. She hoped Cammy wasn't about to risk herself for her.

"If you see any type of problem or threat I want you to return from the area immediately." Savannah said.

It was time for a closer look. Cammy took her bow and a few arrows, along with a spear. She held a baseball sized rock in her hand as well. She could rapidly switch to whatever weapon she might need, based upon the uncertain circumstances.

Savannah watched Cammy take off. Her speed was incredible. Cammy ran rapidly. Cammy used whatever she could for cover as she moved. She was tired, she was thirsty. She wasn't going to say a word to Cammy. Cammy scanned her continuously. She knew the condition she was in. If Cammy asked to carry her again she was going to say 'yes', but only just for an hour or two…. No, she better not. She didn't want to endanger Cammy. She would push on. She would force herself to 'hack it'. She wasn't going to ask for help.

Cammy closed in on the location the birds were in. She wasn't sure what she was going to find. The birds were pecking at something. She looked for the biggest bird. She took her bow and aimed an arrow. The shot was true. The largest bird fell. There was an arrow through its neck. The other birds fluttered for a few seconds, but didn't fly away. They were hungry. They went on as if nothing happened. She took aim and shot a second time, another bird fell. The birds reacted the same way they did the first time she shot an arrow. They were unable to comprehend what happened to the other birds. They were still there, even if they didn't move.

As Cammy moved closer, the birds panicked. They picked up her predator pheromones. There was some loud squawking and screeching and they flew off. Now she was able to get a good look at what the birds feasted on. Their meal was what appeared to be a dead human. It was most likely a Scavenger. The dead Scavenger was in an advanced state of decomposition. His clothes were rotted through. They were little more than rags at this point. They were useless for Savannah. She removed the arrows from the two birds and cleaned them off. She decided not to take the birds. They looked sick. She didn't think their choice of a meal did anything to help them either. The site was contaminated.

She turned her attention to the terminated Scavenger. She could see there were a few items around him and on him. The birds scattered some of the items as they looked for something to eat. She would take anything of value or usefulness from him. She was a little dismayed at the dead Scavengers footwear. Strangely enough, he wore two different types of shoes, both of them were for the left foot. Both of them were badly worn out. Based upon the level of rotting flesh inside of them, she decided Savannah was better off with the sandals she fabricated for her. She collected what she could and headed back. She didn't want to leave Savannah alone for too long.

Savannah grasped her spear as she heard a noise. It was Cammy returning. It was a relief. It looked like she found several items. She carried more things now than she left with earlier.

Cammy held a canteen. It contained a small amount of water in it. She'd checked the water. It was drinkable, but not the best. She also retrieved a firearm. It was a revolver.

Savannah eyes widened some at the sight of the canteen.

"I found some water." Cammy said. "It's not very much, maybe one or two mouthfuls. The revolver only has two rounds left. They both look water damaged and corroded. I don't know if they will even fire at this point."

Savannah took the canteen. She looked at the water in it. There wasn't very much in it at all. She desperately wanted to drink it. Instead she put the cap back on. She thought she may be in worse condition later.

"I'll save this for later, Cammy, when I really need it." Savannah said. "You can hang onto the weapon for now. You're a better shot than me right now, or anytime."

Cammy frowned. She didn't do enough for Savannah. She really wanted to carry her.

"Sure, Savannah, it's fine." Cammy said. "Can I carry you for a while?"

Savannah stood. She wanted it very much. She decided to decline.

"I'm good for now, Cammy. I can hack it." Savannah said. "Let's go."

Cammy knew Savannah would go until she dropped. She couldn't allow it. She handed Savannah her spear. She stowed the rest of the items and her weapons as best as she could upon herself so they would be out of the way, but she could still reach them. She would need to do like she did earlier when she wanted to protect Savannah's feet. She wordlessly picked Savannah up in her arms and moved out. She decided she was going to carry Savannah anyway. She knew Savannah was NEVER going to ask. She needed to have Savannah able to function if the situation became more critical.

Savannah didn't want to argue about it. She didn't want to end up a bigger burden than she already was. She gave Cammy a kiss on the cheek….

"It's just for a little bit." Savannah said. "I know you want to make up some time. If you even think there's going to be a problem or any type of situation, you need to immediately put me down and arm yourself."

They headed out toward the new objective.

Cammy's bow and arrows were on her back. Savannah held their spears. The revolver was tucked into Cammy grass skirt.

They didn't seem like a good match for Skynet.

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Resistance Base - Current Timeline:

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Since there was temporal activity detected, Gail thought maybe they should get a few more teams of Terminators out. John Henry said he'd take care of it. They were fortunate they were able to locate the Gray when they did. They still didn't know if there could be other temporal activity which may not have been detected.

Jesse and Gail started out on a different mission before they found the Gray. They wanted to get back to it. They told John Henry to contact them if their services might become necessary again.

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

Gail looked at the dead Gray.

"What about this guy?" Gail asked.

Jesse looked at the Gray with disgust. She knew if the situation was reversed, things would have played out a lot differently for her if she was alone.

"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.

The next location they were after ran drugs and some girls. They moved up on it. A teenage male and female hurried away from the location. They just made a purchase.

Gail wondered why they did it. Why did people want to buy and use the poison?

"What's the motivation?" Gail asked. "The very substances they seek can terminate them."

Jesse knew what 'no hope' was like.

"It's an escape from reality." Jesse said. "Many start out for a thrill, or to make their problems go away."

Gail only could see it as illogical.

"The reality stays the same." Gail said. "It's a flaw in their mind."

It seemed to Gail mental illness must be involved with drug use.

They closed up on the building.

"The drugs allow them to 'forget' about it for a time." Jesse said. "I think the female who was just here should be more worried about being 'invited inside' than purchasing her personal poison."

Gail understood what she meant. She could be pulled off of the street and pressed into 'bed duty' in one of the cribs. It didn't matter if she was overweight, or if her appearance wasn't considered pretty. For what the traffickers wanted, she would work out just fine. Most of the clients would only spend a few minutes with her anyway.

There were two 'enforcers'. There was one on each side of the doorway.

Gail took the lead and headed straight for the opening. She listened to their conversation.

"Do you think they're here to buy or trade?" The first enforcer asked.

"I hope they're here to trade." The second enforcer said. "I like the one with the jugs."

"I like the other one." The first enforcer said. "Look at her full lips. I know what I'll have her do."

"It's fine with me." The second enforcer said. "We'll switch for the second round."

Both of the enforcers laughed.

Gail didn't care for the way the men looked at Jesse and her as they approached. She didn't care for their conversation either. She decided to take a direct approach. Conversation would be unnecessary.

The first enforcer held up his hand to stop them.

"This is a private club." The first enforcer said.

Gail continued forward. She punched both men in the chest at the same time as she passed. Both of their hearts and lungs were collapsed by the blow. They both slammed into the wall on either side of the doorway and then fell to the ground. They were terminated.

They entered the building. There was another 'enforcer' inside. Gail gave him the same treatment.

There was a security door. There were cameras which covered it. It meant someone would see them coming. They wouldn't see them for very long.

Gail continued forward. She slammed into the door. The door was knocked in and flew from its hinges. It slid across the floor.

They both carried an M9 and a Taser. Their guns were out now. The location was mostly a drug operation. The girls who were there, were all there to 'pay' for the drugs they wanted to buy. Without any cash, there was only one thing to 'sell'. It was themselves.

It disgusted Jesse to think about it. It was one thing to use 'Nature's Treasury' for food to survive. It was another thing to pump their body full of poison they didn't need. If anything, it threatened their survival to use it.

Two men came out of the back. There was another one from first room to the side. Jesse shot the man on the side. He held a pistol. Gail engaged the two men further away. They both carried an 'assault weapon'. They both went down with a shot to the head.

They passed two rooms. There was a female in each one. Jesse shot the man in the second room. She already killed the man in the first room. There was no visible weapon, but he was there. She was sure it wasn't for dancing lessons.

Another man looked out from the room the two armed men came out of. Gail fired again and scored. The man fell with a shot to the face.

Gail pulled the door open and stepped over the man she just terminated. Jesse moved alongside of her. She shot two more men. Gail grabbed a third unarmed man. She searched him and left him with Jesse. She went back out and checked all the rooms in the building again. Everything was secure.

Jesse questioned the man. He was a 'runner'. He would take the drug orders to the front once they were placed in the outer area. It turned out the location they were at was just a satellite operation. The man began to feel emboldened and started to mouth off. She was in no mood for insults. She wanted to make her response personal. She pulled her knife out and stabbed him in the throat. He fell holding his throat, gurgling blood.

They tossed a few Thermite grenades. One was placed on the drug stash. They left with a new address. They collected the two girls as they exited. Another Thermite grenade was tossed inside. Gail paused and pulled the bodies of the two men she terminated earlier inside as well. There was no need for anyone to miss the party.

Jesse sent the girls on their way with some cash. They could divide it up. She gave them a warning about the direction their lives were headed if they didn't clean their act up. She doubted it would do any good.

Based on the information they were able to get out of the runner, their work for the evening was far from over.

"It looks like we have a bigger target." Jesse said.

Gail didn't think they needed to hurry.

"We can go there anytime." Gail said. "The building isn't going anywhere."

Jesse felt it was more than just about the location itself.

"It's the poison they pump out I'm worried about." Jesse said.

Jesse was worried about the poison which was pumped into the females in the most invasive way possible.

They headed back to their SUV. The building they just left was a roaring inferno behind them.

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Cameron's Future Timeline:

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Cameron slipped out of the base and away from everything and everyone. She knew it was a mistake, but it was what needed to be done. There could be no turning back. She was on a timetable now to her termination. She forged ahead.

Of the Resistance drones that fell during the last battle, two were able to be repaired. Two more were still being refurbished. Cameron went to the location they were moved to. The first two which were repaired were both there and ready to fly. The armament was removed from one. She was involved with the repair of them and installed some of her programming in both of them. They both now shared parts of HER program. In reality they were both an extension of her.

Cameron powered both of them up and entered the coordinates she wanted. She climbed on top of the unarmed one and it lifted off. The second armed drone followed her, it mimicked her every maneuver. She did the same thing in the timeline Mrs. Weaver was in when she was with Savannah. It would save her a day or more of travel. It would also put her further away from her past quicker. The second drone was a spare in case she needed it. If not, it was armed and ready for combat.

She communicated securely with Bob and Rob to move the 'package' closer to where she was headed. They were to stay low and fast. It was the same thing she would do. They were to avoid all confrontations with everyone and all contact if possible. She sent squads of Terminators in all directions to search locations and areas for Skynet. She might have some Resistance Terminators close enough to help her at some point. It would all come down to what she found and when, if anything. It looked as if she would be on her own.

At some point to avoid detection she was going to need to land the drones and go in on foot. They would be on standby and await her call. Everything was still an unknown. Even if she found Skynet there was still no guarantee it was the parent one. She would hold the 'package' until she was sure.

Future Allison woke up. Right away she 'felt' something was wrong. She frantically searched around. Her 'gut' told her what it was. It wasn't what she wanted it to be.

"Where's Cameron?" Future Allison asked.

Nobody knew.

Future Allison was so close to having Cameron take her away from there and start a new life. She was sure Cameron was going to do it. She knew if Cameron went with her, it would save Cameron's life. SHE could save Cameron's life. She was willing to give up EVERYTHING to save Cameron's life.

Her worry and anxiety grew. She already knew what she was going to find, or actually not find. She didn't want to admit it yet.

"'Cameron', where's Cameron?" Future Allison asked Duplicate Cameron.

Duplicate Cameron watched Cameron slip away from the camp earlier. She didn't say anything to her. What was there to say when someone was on their way to face their destiny? She was sure at some point she would need to make the same choice. Things were different now. It was time to help Future Allison understand.

"I'm 'Cameron' now, Allison." Duplicate Cameron said.

It wasn't what Future Allison wanted to hear. It meant a death sentence for Cameron.

"No! Where is she?" Future Allison asked. "I need her."

Duplicate Cameron could see it was going to be a problem. She still needed to explain the new reality.

"Cameron updated with me before she left, Allison. I have every file. I have everything she possessed." Duplicate Cameron said. "I'm to carry out her plan and a clone will be sent here for John and Savannah."

Future Allison was angry. How could she do nothing while Cameron went off to certain termination?

"You let her go?" Future Allison asked. "You let her go off to die?"

Duplicate Cameron didn't see it as her doing. She'd asked to go in Cameron's place when the file transfer occurred. Cameron told her it was 'personal'.

"It was her choice, Allison. It was something she needed to do alone." Duplicate Cameron said. "She must terminate her 'Father'."

Future Allison didn't want to hear it. She started to cry. How could Cameron do this to her and to herself?

Future Savannah heard the crying and hurried to see what was wrong. It bothered her to see her beloved so devastated. Duplicate Cameron and her tried to calm her. It didn't work.

Future John watched from his doorway, the tears streamed down his cheeks. He came over and joined them. It was the four of them, their family, the 'Natural Order'. The very thing Cameron sacrificed to create. They all cried together.

Duplicate Cameron didn't have all of Cameron's files unlocked. Cameron blocked what she was about to do and the information on the warheads she controlled. The information would 'unlock' once the reports of Skynet's termination came in. How everything was accomplished would then be known. It would also indicate the finality of it.

Cameron didn't want anyone to come after her again. She covered every track of hers she could. The 'Day Of Loss' wouldn't be repeated again. No one would needlessly die because of her.

Some of the Resistance Terminators who participated in the 'Cameron Maneuver' would fly decoy missions around the area with the captured Skynet HK drones from the facility Cameron conquered. This would throw off anyone pinpointing only her doing it, flying on a drone. She didn't want anyone she loved to die again because of her. She looked in disgust as her hand started to glitch.

Nobody's life was worth hers….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Task

To make things work smoothly
There needs to be give and take
Sometimes things reach a point
Where they just crumble and break

Few seldom grow together
The direction is usually apart
It doesn't take too long
Before each wants a fresh start

They go through the motions
It is little more than toleration
They hope it might work
There's a lot of hesitation

The rude comments flow freely
The arguments are more frequent
They widen the divided daily
There's no bottom to the descent

There always comes an event
When someone will honestly ask
Is the time and effort worth
The hassle and trouble of the task

Nobody