X. Chilling Situation

The bark of the dried out pine bit into Carrie's arm as she wrapped her arm around it to brace her binoculars. She looked down into the long river valley and smiled grimly at her view. A large, flat building sat at the end of the valley, dwarfed by the large hydroelectric dam that towered above it. She panned around the bottom of the valley floor, then along the ridgeline and counted seven Hunter Killers, their spotlights roaming along the ridgeline and the river bottom. She caught the gleam of silver of several patrols in the hills as well.

She pocketed the field glasses into her jacket and slowly made the descent to the ground, sliding down the last few feet. She met Wall at the foot of the tree, sitting on her heels and leaning close to the trunk, she pointed to the sky silently as one of the HKs made its way over their heads. Its spotlight barely penetrated the tight canopy above, but they stayed silent until the dappled light left the area.

"It's like we thought," Carrie started. "It had to be close with all this activity. There's a dam at the north-west end of the valley. And, some sort of Skynet facility sitting right at the bottom of it."

"What about getting closer? To figure out what type of facility." Wall looked over his shoulder, spying an HK hovering over the far ridge.

"If we stick up on the hills, we might get closer, but I don't know that we can tell what's going on inside. We can at least get some numbers for the Captain, and see what we're up against here." She then added, "And, he'll be interested. That dam was busted according to the last report. So, Skynet's been busy. The Captain was right, there's lots of activity that's not being noted up here."

"Did you see any Ogres? Foot patrols? We can follow some of the game trials around the hillsides." Collin scratched at the stubble on his jaw.

"They're out there, but the moon's bright. They'll be easy to spot." Carrie agreed, "The Ogres will have to stick to the river bottom; we don't want to be there anyway. Looks like when the dam burst it tore out a good part of the tree cover. But, I saw a couple of groups on the far side, so I'd figure there'd be the same this side as well."

"Alright," Collin rocked on his heels, starting to stand, "Sounds like a plan." Carrie grinned at his use of her familiar phrase and took the hand he offered to pull her up.

The game trail was thin, but easy to follow as it meandered up and down the hill. Their footsteps were muffled by a thick carpet of pine needles, but sometimes Carrie winced if they had to cross the underbrush to keep out of open areas. The trainees still needed a lot of practice to move silently in the bushes.

"Hell," She thought, "Even Symms and Crowe are making more noise than a cow in a corn field." They were used to walking on rubble and hiding in the concrete junkyards, not in the woods. She had grown up in the pine forests of rural Tennessee; her father had taught her to hunt deer. He never knew how well his training had benefitted her.

They were back on the trail after cutting back up through the trees after the previous one had skirted too close to the thinning edge near the river. She breathed a little easier as their noise quieted and they made quicker progress. They had avoided only one patrol, lying low and silent under the ferns and prickly bushes.

She had carefully watched Aral with one eye as the machines had passed close. She was beginning to feel deep concern for him, as he shivered like a rabbit whenever metal was close. Trainees didn't show their true colors until under fire, but she wasn't sure if he were ready for it. Not all of them were, and they ended up doing base work. More likely they ended up dead.

Wall was point man as they tread along an even path. Carrie was preparing to admonish the trainees for bunching up when the pine covered forest to both sides of the trail sprang up; ten rifles were trained on them in an instant. Carrie's Desert Eagle was in her hand, and she held the heavy pistol steadily at the target closest to her. Confusion emanated from the trainees, but everyone was lucky they had not fired in panic.

"Drop your weapons and identify" One of the dark figures ordered.

Wall's rifle remained trained on the man who'd barked at him. His calm, steady voice replied, "We might ask the same of you."

Carrie's eyes scanned the men in front of her carefully. She sensed a bit of relief that they were men and not machines, however that did not necessarily mean that they were comrades. There were elements out in the world that eschewed the military and its confines; preferring to live off the land, or more often, on people who lived off the land. They sometimes called themselves Freeholders, or Free Men, and often did just as much damage to the world as Skynet did. They could be less human to their fellow survivors than the machines were.

These men seemed much more precise and better armed than most that she had come in contact with. But, many of the Freeholders were people who'd given up on the military; often secreting away with stores meant for their brothers in arms.

The standoff lasted only a moment more before the man answered, "1st Infantry, under John Connor," Then he added sarcastically, "You do know who he is, right?"

Carrie looked to Wall, still distrustful, however he slowly lowered his weapon, and she followed, holstering her firearm.

"40th Infantry, out of Omaha base." He finally relinquished their identity, but giving up no more than he had to.

In return, the men of the 1st Division lowered their rifles, but still held them at ready, and stepped out of the brush. Carrie couldn't help but notice how they eyed the small team with unhidden suspicion, as well as a bit of disdain.

"Barber?" The unnamed leader of the group sniffed, "It figures. Come with us to base, we'll check your credentials there." He ordered and turned to walk down the trail.

Collin bristled at his tone and his demeanor, "Base? Here?" He asked incredulously, "You're just sitting in a base within walking distance of Skynet?"

"Shut up and follow, unless you'd rather be left here with a hole in your head." The man replied coldly.

Wall turned and motioned them to follow. He found Carrie's frowning and concerned face, and felt the same unease she was surely experiencing. They followed reluctantly, flanked on either side by menacing men. Carrie could not make out details, but there was something strange about their uniform appearance, and the way they moved with precision. She'd seen well trained people, but the guerilla nature of the war against Skynet didn't foster such regimentation.

Wall began to realize that they must have been right upon the base entrance, and that he would never have found it had he not been led there. He had expected a small warren, possibly a bunker, but they found as they entered the well concealed hatch that they'd entered a large, fully functioning and well manned base, complete with a command center.

So much was unclear about the situation, but he felt slightly appeased that they'd left behind a majority of their escort at the hatch entrance. There was something that tickled the back of his mind; something very wrong about those men. Maybe it was the arrogance they seemed to display, or was it the apparent lack of some quality that made them appear arrogant? Arrogance he could understand, and the man who led them had that in spades.

At least they now had his name, Lieutenant Tully, and he had theirs as they recited names and ID numbers to the sentry, who duly wrote them down. A smug smile played across the soldier's face as he led them past the sentry at the hatch and into the base armory.

"Turn over your weapons here," Tully ordered. Knowing they would protest, he continued, "You can keep your sidearms," he turned to Carrie, "but there's no need for that cannon in here."

Collin could not argue as he followed the order, and motioned everyone else to follow suit. He certainly felt apprehension as they were ordered to relinquish their rifles at the armory. However, there was no argument to be made that they required rifles and grenade launchers in the facility; at least they were keeping their pistols. It also assured him that they weren't to be taken into confinement.

As Carrie placed her rifle up on the counter, Tully stepped in close, a bit too close she felt.

"You like big guns?" He leaned into her as if he were sharing a private joke, his gaze going from her rifle, to the Desert Eagle on her thigh, then his eyes travelled up her body. Carrie straightened and tried to step away, but the counter blocked her in.

"I find they're most effective," She replied stiffly, her eyes were steely as they met the gaze that finally reached her face.

"You should show me how effective you are with weapons," His tone expressing more than a desire to see her marksmanship, either unaware, or uncaring at Carrie's cool response.

Her face grew red and her jaw clenched, but before she could form a retaliation inappropriate towards an officer, Collin placed his hand on her elbow and pulled her away.

"Ah," Tully smirked, giving Collin's grasp on Carrie's arm a knowing look, "I see." He turned without further comment, forestalling any denial and ignoring the glare from Collin's narrowed eyes and Carrie's tight lips.

As Collin released Carrie's arm and turned to follow Tully out the door he caught Symms and Crowe amused eyes. He gave them a withering glance as Symms passed by him grinning from ear to ear.

"Don't like competition, do you, Sarge?" Symms quipped in a stage whisper.

"Move out!" Collin spat between clenched teeth, and gave a Carrie an apologetic glance. Carrie met his gaze, her mouth opening and closing, unsure of what to say. She rubbed her creased forehead as she went around him out the door.

He felt a sense of dislocation as they were led down the wide, well lit tunnel. Questions turned in his mind about the base, and its personnel that he wasn't sure he answered. Carrie strode at his side with the same look of wariness as she peered into the intersecting tunnels they passed.

Their bafflement continued to grow as soldiers passed by. Often the team's curious glances were returned with impassive faces, if they were returned at all. Carrie had never been at a base where a new face wasn't at least met with some inquisitiveness.

They were led deep into the hillside, where they were finally stopped in front of a hatch. Collin froze at the entrance, beginning to worry again that they had actually been led to a brig; however he found the door led into what appeared to be an empty mess hall.

Unused tables and chairs stacked against the wall gave Collin an idea of what the contingent presence could be. He estimated up to four hundred troops could be seated, and based on what he'd seen of the size of the facility, it could probably house a few times that. However, only two tables appeared to be in use, even though he knew they'd passed many more soldiers on their way.

"Just stow your packs here." He gestured towards a wall, "Waldo here will keep you company." Waldo stood so still against the wall that the team was almost startled when he was mentioned. He turned an impassive gaze towards them, but did not acknowledge them or speak.

Collin threw his pack down next to the immobile soldier, then turned and took a seat placing a table between them. He felt some unknown threat coming from the man that he couldn't place his finger upon. Carrie settled herself next to him, giving Waldo the same perplexing inspection.

Carrie felt Aral slide into the chair next to her, and then shifted his seat as close as he could get to her. She looked over to him and inwardly shook her head, sighing softly. His skinny body seemed to tremble, and his eyes were so big that she pictured him as a nervous whippet puppy.

Tully let them arrange themselves. It wasn't until then that it dawned on Carrie that he was the only one who'd said a word to them, and that regarded them with any kind of interest. He seemed slightly amused at their guarded expressions, like he was enjoying a joke. He rested his hands on the table, leaning over a bit.

"Alright, I'm off to see the head honcho, we'll see what she says to do with you. Fair warning… she's a cold bitch. Cold as metal." He turned to look over his shoulder. "Like Waldo, there." The team's entire attention focused on Waldo, his head turned and his eyes flashed red.

"Metal!" Collin's voice filled the room.