Chapter 677

It Is My Function

It appeared events settled down on the mountain. There were still other areas which needed to be dealt with.

Cameron indicated it was time for them to go 'home'.

Savannah didn't think 'home' was anywhere but where Cameron wanted Jesse and her to go. She asked to ride with Cameron.

Cammy wanted to ride with Savannah. She could see Savannah wanted some 'alone time' with Cameron.

There was work to finish up elsewhere.

Cammy, Bob, and Gail with Jesse, all needed to pick up some of their Terminators at the old packing factory. The Resistance teams were able to take down the complex, terminate the Grays and capture three HK drones.

The three helicopters all left with a heavy lift as they flew away with the captured HK drones. The Blackhawk left with the captured Terminators as well.

Cameron's Terminators confiscated the white vans. They would go through them extensively to make sure none of them were tagged.

A couple of box trucks were appropriated and took the crated machinery. Everything would be taken to a secure location and evaluated.

The flow of the operation so far, even if it was a little bit dicey at times, appeared to have been successful in its entirety. Their drones never fired a shot. There was never any non-silenced or non-suppressed gunfire fired outside of the bunker when it was taken down. The explosions used to crush the bunker happened in the ground and were relatively quiet as well. There was no indication on the mountain as to any of the action which took place.

It was hoped they would be able to glean some new technology with the capture of the three HK drones. They were pleased they were able to capture the HK drones intact because they used a new quieter power plant. They wanted to review the improvements and implement them on their fleet. They were much quieter than what they used previously. John Henry already modified those to be quieter than the standard HK drone power plants were when they were initially captured. They would check to see if there were any other improvements which were incorporated elsewhere in them.

Cameron left with Savannah. She knew why Savannah wasn't going back with Cammy.

"I know why you're here." Cameron said.

Savannah was concerned about Cameron's well being. She was aware Cameron wanted to deal with the anti-Metal group. She understood the personal nature of how it affected Cameron.

"I do too." Savannah said. "You're not done yet."

Cameron quickly glanced over at Savannah as they drove. She would have preferred if Cammy would have taken Savannah back to the Resistance base along with Jesse. There was unfinished business, personal business, to deal with.

"No, I'm not." Cameron said. "You know why."

Savannah did know the reason. It was a reason which stung into the very core of Cameron and haunted her every day.

"The anti-Metal faction cost you your future with John - Future John." Savannah said.

Savannah wanted to add some more but didn't.

Cameron was still bothered by it. She was sent away by Future John. It wasn't just being sent away, part of her existence was erased during the procedure. It bothered her greatly not to know everything which occurred before. She blamed it all on the anti-Metal group in their hatred of her, simply because she was a cyborg. Every time she thought about it, it bothered her immensely.

"I can never get any of it back." Cameron said.

Savannah could feel Cameron's pain.

'It also brought you to me. It brought us together. There's always some good mixed in with the bad.' Savannah thought.

Savannah wanted to try to ease some of Cameron's tension. She was aware things could be viewed in a different way. She did play a contributing role in some of those future events.

"You do have it back." Savannah said. "Duplicate Cameron does. Future John has you, his Allison, his Savannah, and he has two beautiful baby girls."

Cameron felt a rush of anger well up inside of her. She wasn't supposed to feel 'anger' because she was a cyborg, but she did anyway. Maybe she should blame Skynet for it too since it was part of her advanced programming to develop more 'human like' emotions and feelings. Sometimes she wished she could turn them off but she couldn't. She understood Savannah's analogy but it just wasn't the same.

"It's STILL not ME." Cameron said. "Even if it is, it isn't."

Savannah knew Cameron said was true. She wanted Cameron to know what Duplicate Cameron currently shared in the future, is what she actually would share in the present.

"Cameron, you have all of it now." Savannah said.

Savannah reached over and took Cameron's hand.

Cameron understood Savannah tried to soothe her and not allow her to slip down a rocky path. She wanted the same future for herself. She wanted Savannah more than anything. No other individual made her feel more comfortable to be around for everything. Savannah understood her. Young Allison understood her as well. She didn't think anyone else did. It upset her some to know John didn't. She didn't think it was so hard for anyone to understand her. Even if she was a cyborg, was she really very much different from anyone else? She didn't think so. Savannah indicated everything Duplicate Cameron shared, in her future, was available to her now. She wasn't incorrect.

"I can." Cameron said. "I think there's going to be some problems when I do."

Savannah indicated multiple times she was 'ready' when Cameron was. She believed Cameron was the one who needed to take the lead when she was ready to. She presented Cameron with plenty of opportunities to 'take' the leap. They were close several times, but nothing ever happened. They both knew it would at some point. She wanted to spell it out clearly for Cameron. There wasn't any guesswork necessary. Not when it came to her.

"All you have to do is TAKE it." Savannah said. "I'm ready. I'm ready for more anytime you're ready to TAKE it."

Cameron moistened her lips lightly and stole a quick glance at Savannah. It was clear she wanted the experience. She needed to get all the players on the field. She didn't want any negative feedback so there was still some manipulation which needed to be done so everybody would accept what was going to happen.

"I need to get Allison - Young Allison ready." Cameron said.

Cameron knew she was ready too and wanted 'her future' back. All the pieces were right in front of her. It was just a matter of her sitting down at the table to play the game.

Savannah knew Young Allison could be older in literally a matter of minutes. It wasn't something she condoned, but it was something Young Allison asked for. She really wondered if it was even necessary at this point. Everyone knew what was going to happen. It already happened in the future. Maybe it was time it just happened. She often wondered if the way she treated Young Allison, wasn't actually any different than the way Cameron treated her. Maybe if she allowed Young Allison to share her love with her, Cameron would share her love with her as well. She was still conflicted over how best to proceed.

"It can all happen in five minutes in the TDE room." Savannah said. "Young Allison asked me to speak with you about it. I don't agree with it, but she asked me several times. I need to be her advocate. It's her desire. I need to look out for her on several levels. I also shouldn't hold her back."

Savannah didn't think Young Allison's life should be altered in this manner at this time. If it was only for Cameron to breed Young Allison, she wouldn't allow it to happen. There were other ways around the issue.

She knew Cameron was afraid of what she might create with Young Allison.

Savannah would want her main relationship to be with Young Allison the same way it was for Vanna and Allison, as well as Future Savannah and Future Allison. She understood Cameron feared John may not want to have a cyborg, when he could have the real thing.

"I don't know." Cameron said.

Cameron always feared it would be her own 'replacement'. If she made Young Allison into 'her', then what would she be needed for?

Savannah was pretty sure how things would go down once Cameron did it. She would be content to be with Cameron or Young Allison. After the 'mess' she saw Candy was in, it gave her no desire to be with a male. She did want to make things clear to Cameron.

"Once you do it, you know John won't be able to turn down a 'teenage Allison'. She'll be like Future Allison, but even better and more alluring. Once they mate, he'll then accept me as well." Savannah said. "It's what you want for him. It's what YOU want for yourself. There will be plenty of opportunities for all of us to share with each other as well as John. There's no way to know what John's focus will actually be. It may very well be Young Allison."

Savannah didn't think it would be her. How could she compete with Young Allison? How could she compete with Cameron?

Cameron frowned slightly. She contemplated and imagined every scenario possible as to what would happen with her various actions or inactions.

"Don't you think I know that?" Cameron asked somewhat angrily.

Cameron seemed more than a little irritated.

Savannah didn't want to cause a problem. She just wanted to remind Cameron people didn't always really want what they thought they wanted. She was reminded of an old saying, it said, 'be careful what you wish for'.

"I do." Savannah said. "I know it scares you."

Savannah believed if John did concentrate on Young Allison, it would actually be a benefit to Cameron and her because they could concentrate more on each other. Somehow it didn't seem like the right time to point it out. Maybe it was for her own selfish reasons. Maybe she wouldn't want to share Young Allison herself.

There was a long pause as Cameron drove. She needed to reflect on what almost happened to her earlier. There were several times recently where she was very close to termination. She managed to pull it off every time. It was still a reminder to her even though she was durable, she wasn't indestructible. The words sort of slipped out of her mouth.

"I was almost terminated today." Cameron said.

Savannah loved Cameron more than anything. She wanted to give her an option to live a life of peace and be free of Skynet. It could be just the two of them to start out with. It would soon enough be three of them. They didn't need anybody else to live a life of joy and happiness together. She didn't want to see Cameron damaged, destroyed, or terminated for any reasons

"I saw. It was very disturbing. Cameron, I'd like you to put your spare chip in Cammy." Savannah said. "I'll go with you into the past, just the two of us. I currently carry John's child, it can be OUR child. We can live a life free of all this. It can be just the two of us and OUR child later on."

Cameron knew she could do exactly what Savannah indicated. She could return back to the point in time when she left with Savannah. She could resume her life, but Savannah would be gone.

Savannah understood the reality. It was Vanna's child, but Vanna was 'her'. She was just from a different future. It would be somewhat ironic she gave two of her children, created from her body, to two other versions of herself in different futures and ended up keeping a child from a different version of herself instead. Technically it was still from her since they were all the same individual, regardless of the timeline or the future they were in.

Cameron knew Savannah would give up her own life and future for her. She felt a glitch impulse as she thought about it. Savannah stayed to die with her when she didn't need to. Savannah promised never to abandon her and she didn't. It moved her deeply. She couldn't keep abusing Savannah like she was. It wasn't intentional. It just happened.

"Savannah, what are you doing?" Cameron asked.

Savannah knew what Cameron really asked her. She didn't see anything was open for discussion. To her it was a matter of fact. It was just how things were. She loved Cameron and would protect her however she could, even if it was with her own life.

"I'm trying to prevent you from being terminated or damaged, Cameron." Savannah said. "It is my function."

Cameron felt another glitch impulse. There were still loose ends to tie up.

"I have to do some things…." Cameron said.

Savannah smiled at Cameron to reassure her.

"I'm here for you." Savannah said.

Cameron heard and saw Savannah struggle in the high altitude on the mountain side.

"I can't keep pushing you." Cameron said. "I saw you suffer earlier."

Savannah thought she did her best to assist the team.

"I'm fine." Savannah said. "It was just some discomfort. I didn't suffer. I did what I needed to do, when I needed to do it. I never stopped."

Cameron frowned slightly.

"That's the problem, you never will stop." Cameron said. "Right up to the point I get you killed."

Cameron was ashamed of the way she abused Savannah both mentally and physically. She felt she was the one who 'made' her give up her children. How could she do it to her?

Savannah felt the SUV swerve and saw Cameron lower her left hand to her side to hide it. Savannah reached over and took Cameron's right hand again. She'd released it a few minutes ago. The act forced Cameron to take the wheel with her left hand. The glitch stopped.

Cameron looked over at her and Savannah smiled at her.

Such simple things showed Cameron the depth of love Savannah felt for her. She headed for the canyon and whatever events which would unfold there.

Cameron drove until she met up with her Terminators who watched the canyon.

Her Terminators weren't surprised to see her. They were surprised to see Savannah.

Cameron and Savannah exited the SUV to speak with them. They were pleased to interact with Savannah.

Savannah greeted them and spent a few moments to share some small talk with them. It was time to get down to business. They filled Cameron in with all the details.

"There have been two people in and one out." The first one said.

Cameron looked around. She didn't see a body. She previously told them she didn't want anyone to leave the area alive.

"Where are they?" Cameron asked.

One of the Terminators led Cameron to a black sedan. There was a body in it.

"Did they have anything to say?" Cameron asked.

The Terminator looked at Savannah. It was clear he was hesitant to speak freely. He chose his words carefully.

"It was nothing I care to repeat in front of a lady." The second Terminator said.

Savannah needed to smile to herself. She just loved all of the Terminators. She appreciated the way they all looked after her and cared for her. She knew Cameron wanted to make sure everyone in the canyon, and in the mine itself were terminated. She wanted to remind Cameron there were other options available to them right now. Most of those options would provide them with less risk and still accomplish the job.

"Cameron, we can still call in the drone strike." Savannah said. "There are two still on station."

Cameron earlier sent everyone else away, including the drones.

"I sent them all back." Cameron said.

Savannah was aware of it and contacted CamNet directly. She still wanted a little firepower to back them up if they needed it. She knew Cameron wasn't done yet. What she didn't know was Young Allison already did the same thing. She asked CamNet to keep it concealed if they weren't necessary. When Savannah asked for the same thing, it was no longer a problem.

"I asked for two drones to stay." Savannah said. "You've experienced enough risk for one day. I wanted there to be some additional assistance so it wouldn't endanger any of our ground personnel as much if a situation developed."

Savannah looked at Cameron's two Terminators and smiled. They both smiled back. It was something they normally wouldn't do to anyone else. Savannah's presence seemed to affect every Terminator's demeanor.

Cameron believed Savannah could read her like a book.

"You knew I'd come here anyway." Cameron said.

Savannah checked her phone. She wanted to hedge her bet some. If she was going to play the game, she liked to play with a loaded deck.

"I did." Savannah said. "I knew I would be with you."

There were three SUVs which approached their location.

"I also asked for some of our 'friends' to stop by when they were done." Savannah said. "There are fourteen Terminators here now, plus Jesse and me. You're not alone. You never need to feel like you are."

Cameron felt some type of 'rush' impulse inside of her. Maybe it was a feeling of elation or joy. It was clear she was never alone, even when she thought she was. She better understood some of the things Savannah told her many times. Even if she tried to tell herself they weren't true, the evidence indicated otherwise.

"My friends…." Cameron said.

Savannah smiled. She was pleased the others were there to assist them. She would have preferred if Jesse wasn't, but Jesse asked her to stay on the operation as long as she did. She felt Jesse earned the right to see the operation through since she was up on the mountain side as well. She was able to help Candy deal with her issues immensely. It was a further reminder Jesse was no stranger to danger.

"The ones who all care about you." Savannah said.

Cameron was very pleased right now, especially with Savannah.

"And you too." Cameron said. "They care about both of us."

Savannah knew it was time to get down to business. There are several ways they could go forward with what needed to be done.

"Do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?" Savannah asked. "We were lucky earlier."

Cameron needed to make a choice.

John waited and listened in the Command Center. It wasn't the news he hoped for. He was a little disappointed as he looked over at John Henry.

"I hoped she would drop it and go for a drone strike." John said.

John Henry figured things would go down the way they were about to go down. It was Cameron standard MO.

"You should know by now she's a 'hands on' person." John Henry said.

The way Cameron operated, especially when she was alone, was a constant source of irritation to John. He wasn't so sure 'hands on' was the proper term to describe it. He thought it was a little more like, 'throw caution to the wind'.

"I do." John said. "After the mountain and cable car adventure, I'd hoped she would be more careful. I guess not."

John Henry wanted to reassure John there was plenty of backup for Cameron currently.

"Cameron sent the drones back to the base as well." John Henry said. "Savannah asked CamNet to keep two of them on station."

John knew Savannah and Young Allison could counter any of Cameron's orders and would do so to protect Cameron. He wanted Savannah and Jesse out of the danger zone. It bothered him both of them were there. It was very unusual to have Jesse out on a field operation, especially of this nature.

"Cameron needs to free Savannah up." John said. "Jesse's there too."

John Henry was aware both Gail and Savannah tried to get Jesse to return to the base. She said she was part of the operation and refused to go back. She said she'd go back when everything was completed. Just like everyone else.

"They all see it as doing their part." John Henry said. "You know Derek and Kyle are itching to 'mix it up' as well."

John wanted to do his part too. He felt left out at times. Cameron was the biggest obstacle and roadblock for it happening for him and the other humans.

"I do." John said. "It was Cameron who stressed all combat operations should be Terminators only."

John Henry noted some movement on his satellite overlay map. It looked like things were about to happen.

"Cameron's moving in." John Henry said.

John was a little surprised. It appeared things were developing quicker than he anticipated.

"Damn…." John said.

He knew it wasn't over yet. He knew it was going to get worse before it was. It was just the way things worked.

Cameron wanted to get everything started. There were several options open to them on how they could enter the target area. It was decided to use the captured sedan to approach the area. It would serve as a 'Trojan Horse' to get them closer to the target area if nothing else. Since it just left the area recently, it shouldn't raise any eyebrows when it returned.

She started up the narrow dirt road in the black sedan. Cammy, Bob, and Al were in the car with her. The former occupant now resided in the trunk. He was deceased.

Earlier Cameron sent two teams of three Terminators up the slopes on each side of the canyon. They were to try to get into position for observation or sniping with one member of each team. The other two from each team were to advance on the objective.

There was a truck parked across the road. When the driver saw the black sedan return, he started the truck and backed up. The others in the car with Cameron ducked down.

Cameron passed the checkpoint unchallenged in the dark. It was routine to the group now. They grew sloppy and lazy as time passed. It played well into Cameron's plan. They literally drove through the front door unopposed. It was just like they walked up to the bunker earlier, and the door opened for them.

There were six dirt bikes parked in a row along with two 4X4 pick-ups, there was also a Jeep and an SUV.

Cameron pulled up to a large trailer. In back of it was an old outbuilding. Behind it was an opening into the hillside. It was the target area. It was the entrance into what used to be a mine.

Dan and Steve appeared from alongside the trailer. Tom was by the outbuilding. Ed was next to the truck which blocked the road. They already made their way into the compound unobserved. They scouted the area out to look for any roving sentries.

The guard stayed in the truck all the time. He listened to the radio or fooled with his phone. It appeared he was often distracted while viewing images on his phone. He was a busy individual, but he was busy with all of the wrong things. He was supposed to be on guard duty as a sentry.

Steve and Tom would cover the opening in the hillside while the rest of the Terminators would enter the trailer. They wanted to neutralize the threat and keep anyone from blocking their exit when they left, or reinforcing the mine behind them.

Two of their SUVs would come up to reinforce the operation, while two would remain below at the entrance. Gail was to remain with Jesse and Savannah at all times with one SUV. They would be held in reserve for now. Mel and Ken would remain in the other SUV in case they needed to pursue anyone who showed up and ran.

Savannah wanted to make sure Cameron covered all of the bases as much as possible before it 'hit the fan'.

Cameron was adamant Savannah not go into the mine. The events of the last time they were in a mine still plagued her mind. It was a close one for Savannah. It was a close one for all of them.

Savannah was still troubled by what Cameron wanted to do on her own.

"I don't like Cameron going in alone." Savannah said.

Gail tilted her head slightly. She knew several Terminators went with Cameron.

"There are others with her." Gail said.

Savannah wasn't consoled.

"It's like going in alone to Cameron." Savannah said. "She'll use less caution. They won't question her. They won't advise her to use more caution."

Gail didn't think they had much control over it at this point in time. She wanted the girls to take it easy. She certainly didn't want them to get involved.

"You and Jesse need to rest." Gail said.

Jesse could see how nervous Savannah was because she wasn't able to go with Cameron. She wanted to reassure her she was still there if Cameron needed her.

"Look, love." Jesse said. "Cameron knows you're here and you'll come for her if she needs you."

Savannah hoped it didn't come to it. The events from the previous mine haunted her as well.

Gail looked in the distance down the road. It appeared they were about to have company.

"There's a vehicle headed this way." Gail said.

One thing was for sure, it wouldn't be anything good.

Cameron stood at the door to the trailer. Bob and Cammy were behind her. Dan and Al were there also. They covered the windows in case anyone tried to escape through one of them. It was time to do what Terminators did best when they entered a building. They went through the front door.

She shoved the door open and entered. It swung open with a 'crack' and splintering of wood sound. Cammy and Bob were on each side of her. There were three people asleep in beds. Another one was just coming out of the bathroom as the other three died in their beds at the hands of Terminators.

The man from the restroom made a break for it. He jumped through the open door. He landed at Dan's feet. Dan picked him up and slammed him against the side of the trailer. The entire trailer shook from the hard impact of his body against it. The force of the blow knocked the wind out of the man.

Ed watched the truck. He waited to move in. When he heard the commotion by the trailer, he acted.

He reached over and pulled the guard through the open window and snapped his neck. He tossed the body in the back. He put the truck in neutral and shoved it back so the two SUVs coming up the narrow road could pass.

Cameron and her team looked for any information in the trailer.

Dan brought the man back inside the trailer who made a break for it. He was still alive, for now. It was doubtful it would be for very long.

Cameron started to question him….

So far it looks like things are off to a good start.

Were they?

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Real World

The walls of a prison
Will never confine me
My body is held captive
But my mind has broken free

Crazy Horse was the first
To know of the 'Real World'
The Matrix showed how it works
Our lives tossed and whirled

Love and emotion are not real
They only exist in our own mind
Animals mate by instinct alone
Humans make everything so unkind

If no one touches you physically
You may love without shame
There are no germs or disease
No 'unexpected' things to 'blame'

Tell me what inside you feel
Love is separate from lust
Tell me feelings are not real
Love works only based on trust

My body may be restrained
So it matters not how it is demolished
But my mind will never be chained
Love from within can't be abolished

Nobody