CHAPTER 21: "FOOTPRINTS AND TRACES"

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 – 08:34 a.m.

Portland, Oregon

The office of the FBI in Portland was a complex that consisted of three separate buildings with red brick facades, located next to the Portland International Airport and the Columbia River.

There was a three-story office building and two lower technical structures, one of which was the motor pool. The site was surrounded by an eight-foot metal fence with two entrances. Both had guardhouses and electric gates. One was leading to the technical structures and the motor pool, and the other one – the main entrance – was in front of the office building. There were two separate access ways at each gate, one to get in and one to get out of the grounds. Armed guards checked everyone who went in or out, and retractable obstacles prevented any vehicle from breaking through by force.

A black Ford Crown Victoria slowed down and stopped next to the guardhouse at the main entrance. The guard checked the driver and the passengers, then opened the gate. After driving through, the Ford stopped in front of the office building. Two persons got out: a young woman with long, blonde hair who wore a grey pantsuit, and a middle-aged, slightly corpulent man with receding grey hair in a black, crumpled-looking suit that seemed to be one size too large for him.

They looked around while the driver opened the trunk and pulled out two trolley bags. Then he got behind the wheel again and drove off towards the motor pool. The man and the woman grabbed their trolleys and walked towards the front door where they were already expected by a tall African-American in his early forties, also wearing a black suit. But in contrast to his male counterpart, it looked like a perfect fit.

"I'm special agent Larry Manson," he said, "welcome to Portland."

"Thank you," the middle-aged man replied. "I'm special agent Steve Goldman and this is agent Jennifer Heiler."

All three shook hands and Manson motioned for them to come inside. They left their trolleys at the entrance and followed Manson to his office on the second floor. The tall African American took place behind his desk and motioned for Goldman and Heiler to sit down opposite of him.

"Would you like a cup of coffee or a glass of water?"

Goldman shook his head while he took place.

"No thanks."

"Um, a glass of water would be nice," Heiler said, sitting down as well.

"So, what can I do for you?" Manson asked, pouring the beverage from a carafe into a glass for agent Heiler. "The Los Angeles office has announced your arrival on a short notice. It's not even half an hour since I received the call to expect your arrival at 8 o'clock in the morning. I hardly had time to send a car towards the airport. Luckily it's just around the corner."

"Yes," Goldman said, "the order came very suddenly for us as well. We were briefed last night to catch the earliest flight to Portland in the morning."

"We're here for the Baker murders in Gates," agent Heiler added. "We're particularly interested in the ammunition that was used in the shooting."

Jennifer Heiler was a pretty woman in her late twenties with a charming smile. Manson smiled back.

"Our agents are already fully involved in the case," he said. "What interest does the L.A. office have in this?"

"There could be a connection to the incident at Zeira Corp last week," Goldman replied. "You know, the drone attack on Catherine Weaver's office."

"I see… Weaver was near the crime scene yesterday but I'm sure you know that already."

"Yeah, we know, but her interview by the LAPD didn't result in anything. It's probably a coincidence."

"Yes, maybe… So far it's only her presence in the same town that connects her to the murders, and that's nothing substantial, probably just a coincidence. I have to admit, though, that I normally don't believe in such coincidences. Especially since it obviously has been decided from up above not to investigate in that direction anymore…"

"We know that," Heiler said. "Weaver has connections to the highest levels and unless we have solid evidence that she's involved in the case, all investigating authorities are instructed not to question her any further. We're mainly here to get a personal impression of what happened, especially concerning the ammunition that was used in the gunfight. Can you tell us more about that?"

"Not much," Manson replied, "The metallurgical analysis of the bullet's remains in the concrete suggests that it was .500 caliber, armor-piercing ammo, consisting of an unknown alloy that's extremely hard and heat-resistant, consisting mainly of coltan and tungsten."

Heiler and Goldman looked at each other.

"Coltan and tungsten were also found in the wrecked drone in Weaver's office," Goldman said. "But we didn't have time for a detailed analysis. The wreck was removed very hastily and disappeared without a trace. Rumor has it the Air Force had an interest in it... but if you ask me, Weaver bagged the drone for her own R&D department. Everyone was told off to not ask any more questions about that... Still, it's an interesting coincidence."

"A very interesting coincidence indeed," Manson remarked. "Coltan and tungsten are a very exotic combination of materials. There's no known utilization for an alloy in that specific ratio today. It's also extremely expensive. But that's not the weirdest thing."

"Then what's the weirdest thing?" Goldman asked and seemed very interested.

"The bullet was similar in structure to the ammunition for the GAU-8 Avenger cannon of the A-10 Thunderbolt airplane, for which Zeira Corp has a production license. This bullet was a lot smaller but it also contained a core of depleted uranium. So far, we have no idea about the type of propellant that was used. Based on the destructive force of the impact, our ballistics experts assume that the projectile was moving at a speed of almost Mach 5 when it hit the concrete."

Goldman whistled and Heiler looked flabbergasted.

"Such high-speed ammunition is unusable in close combat," she said, "especially with such heavy projectiles. Firing it from a hand gun or a rifle would exceed the physical capacity of any human being. One would need a tripod which is anchored in the ground, but the assembly would take some time. Or it would have to be mounted on a vehicle."

"It seems you are a much bigger weapons expert than I am, agent Heiler," Manson remarked, "There were no signs of any tripod or another vehicle, but since the ammunition obviously exists, the weapon from which it was fired must also exist. Someone must have cleaned the crime scene, though, since we didn't find any shell casings or traces of gunpowder or anything. Only a lot of 9-mm casings from the submachine guns which were stolen in the gun store - I guess they were considered less important and left behind. That's how we know there was a firefight in the first place. But apart from that, nothing. Not even a trace of radioactivity from the uranium."

"Depleted uranium is poisonous but not very radioactive," Heiler explained. "At least not radioactive enough to make it detectable on such a small scale."

"What can you tell us about the remains you found in the bunker?" Goldman asked.

"Almost nothing. Very few remains of molten metals… traces of steel, titanium and also coltan again. Most of it was simply vaporized in the heat of the fire. There's no way to tell what it used to be. The bunker worked like a kiln. Thermite doesn't require oxygen for the combustion process. A normal fire would have suffocated due to lack of oxygen. It took the fire department five hours to cool it down enough for entering the bunker in a heat-protected suit."

"Do you have any clue how many people were involved in the shooting?" Heiler asked.

"We found footprints of nine different persons – none of them conclusive, except for one."

"In which way was it conclusive?" Goldman asked.

"High heels."

"High heels?"

Goldman and Heiler looked perplexed.

"Yes. Strange, isn't it? That's how Catherine Weaver came into the focus. High heels aren't exactly the latest fashion in that neck of the woods. And do you know what's even weirder?"

"I'm sure you're gonna tell us."

"The footprints of the high heels only lead out of the bunker. There are no footprints of high heels that lead into the bunker."

-0-

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 – 08:42 a.m.

Jefferson Lodge, Oregon

John woke up with his head resting on Cameron's breasts. He snuggled closer to her, putting his arm around her torso and felt Alison change position to keep herself spooned to his backside, her stiff nipples poking into his back.

"No blowjob this morning?" he murmured sleepily.

"You didn't need to be woken up," Cameron replied and stroked through his hair. "You needed the rest. Would you like to have one now?"

"How about a kiss first?"

He lifted his head and immediately his lips met with hers. The kiss lasted several minutes, and his hand glided down her body and between her legs, which she gladly opened to grant him access. She was very wet. He pushed two fingers inside and she reacted with a soft moan.

Alison changed her position. She slid towards the end of the bed, kissing her way down his spine, across his buttocks, then moved her head between his thighs where her tongue started licking his balls. John spread his legs and Alison immediately started kissing his dick tenderly, licking the already erect tip with her warm tongue. Then she took it into her mouth and started to suck him very slowly and very affectionately.

"Making love is so easy with you," John remarked between kisses and sighed contentedly.

"Isn't that how love should be?" Cameron asked and continued kissing him.

"Often it isn't."

"Do you mean because human girls are more complicated?" Alison asked between licks.

"I suppose so. I really have no comparison… you know, Riley and I never got this far. But with you it's so normal and natural and you're always so ready. You never object to a touch or refuse a kiss. And you're so devoted in bed. Human girls aren't that carefree, to be honest. You're every man's wet dream."

"Isn't that how it's supposed to be?" Cameron asked. "Being always there for the one you love?"

"In theory, yes, in movies and novels. But in real life, there's often a huge difference between romantic wishful thinking and sobering reality. With the two of you, though, it's different. With you, it's the complete romantic love program from movies, TV and novels. You give me pleasure as if it's the most natural thing in the world. When I want your touch, I'll get it. When I want to kiss you, I'll receive the sweetest kisses. And when I'd like to have sex with you, it goes without saying that you provide it. You're absolutely selfless... and I often feel a little bad about it."

"Why? Doesn't love include being selfless, always being ready and willing to give your loved one pleasure and comfort?"

"As I said, in theory. Human girls are very different from you in that respect. They're… difficult. They want rituals, gestures, compliments. Constantly. And if you accidentally make one tiny mistake, they let you sweat, never telling you what you did wrong. You have to guess it, which is quite annoying. Men don't like such games. But with you… it's different."

"It's very important to us to be your perfect lovers," Alison said after she let his dick pop out of her mouth for a moment. "I guess that's because we're machines. The pleasure of serving a purpose is rooted deeply inside of us, and the joy of performing a task to perfection is part of who and what we are. We observe when something makes you happy, we remember it for next time and then try to improve it to become even better in what we're doing. All that is of course embedded in the love we feel for you."

"That sounds like you consider yourself my love servants. That doesn't sound right. You're far more than just machines who serve someone, I thought we were over that."

"John," Cameron spoke tenderly and caressed his hair, "no matter how far we develop, we will always be machines. Please never forget that. We'll never be like human women, no matter how human we may sometimes seem to you."

"Of course I'll never forget that," John replied a little fretfully. "But I don't care about what you are. I only care about who you are. I love you, full stop. You're the women I love, and I'll always treat you accordingly. Any objections?"

"None." Cameron said smiling and resumed her kissing.

John sighed

"I can't believe it's just been nine days since we became lovers.".

"Nine days and ten nights," Alison corrected. "And we've been in love long before that. We just needed time to realize it."

"Yes, I wish I could undo or unsay some of the things I did and said." John replied and sighed again.

"So do I," Cameron added and Alison nodded, bobbing her head on his cock.

John frowned.

"I can't see what you did wrong," he stated a little perplexed. "The faults were with me."

"I could have given you clearer signals. And I could have given clearer answers when you asked why I did or said certain things."

"Like what?"

"Like when I tried to be prettier for you, or when I tried to be close to you, stay with you at all times… when I grasped your hand when you tried to repair my arm…"

"Oh, believe me, that didn't go unnoticed," John replied smiling. "Don't think for a moment I didn't get those signals. For instance, when you sat behind me and painted your nails while you watched Vic seduce Barbara on the monitor. It wasn't just you making conversation, was it?"

"No, it wasn't. But I was very cautious to say or do more. I was afraid of your reaction. I was worried that you'd react the same way Future John did."

"How did he react?" John asked, suddenly very interested. "You never told me about your private relationship with him. Did you get… you know… intimate with him?"

Alison let his dick plop out of her mouth again.

"Not really," she said. "He avoided any form of physical closeness, probably fearing another loss. That's why he kept me at a distance."

"Yes," Cameron confirmed while Alison continued to give him head. "We talked a lot, though. About his fears, his feelings, his desires, his plans, his nightmares. He lay on his bed and I sat on a chair next to it and listened, trying to comfort him, but he would never let me come any closer than that. When I reached for his hand, he pulled it away. The most intimate moment we ever had, was his head resting on my lap after a long, exhausting day. He probably didn't consciously realize it in his sleep... Maybe that's why it was so difficult to show my emotions to you."

"Wait... you mean Future John's rejection was the reason why you were so overly careful in approaching me?"

"Yes," Cameron confirmed. "I feared you might react like him, trying to put more distance between us. I realize now that I should have tried getting closer to you instead. What I said to you after the car bomb, when you had reactivated me, was ungrateful... I was in fact very grateful that you didn't let Sarah and Derek destroy me… but for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to tell you. "

"Yes, that hurt me deeply… I'd put my life on the line and took a great risk to save your life and all you said was that it had been too risky, that I couldn't be trusted anymore, and that it would 'upset people'… What you meant was that it did upset you, I get that now. It upset you because all you wanted to do, was to protect me. And by re-inserting your chip again, I risked my life."

"It was a fifty-fifty chance that the new reboot would reset my system. So yes, I was upset, worried and confused… But what I said to you, was unjustified. It didn't come out right and the damage was done. I always waited for the right moment to set it right, but that moment never came."

"I guess that moment is now," John said smiling. "Better late than never. But it's also my fault that it took so long. I shouldn't have pushed you away the way I did, I should have confided in you about my own issues… about killing Sarkissian for instance. At the time, though, I felt like I'd been pushed away by everyone – by you, mom, and Derek. Dumped at school, alone, while you three continued the fight without me… that was the moment Riley approached me. So I guess she was my way of getting back at all of you."

"I'm sorry, John."

"No, I'm sorry. I failed to realize how confused and upset you were after I brought you back. I should have hugged you back then instead of walking away, no matter what mom or Derek would have thought."

Cameron tilted her head.

"It would have surprised me," she said, "but I would have enjoyed it."

She kissed him again.

"I have waited so long for your forgiveness, John… it was tearing me apart."

"I'm so sorry," he replied softly and caressed her cheek.

No one said anything for a while. Then Alison stopped sucking his dick and looked up.

"Were you so hesitant towards me because you were afraid of falling in love with a cyborg?" she asked and went back down on him.

John thought about that for a moment.

"Maybe," he said. "I don't know, it's… I was so angry at the time and when Riley came into my life and you suddenly seemed to become like mom… controlling me, lecturing me… while in fact you were simply trying to protect me… mostly from my own stupidity, I guess."

"We were both entering unknown territory," Cameron replied. "We both didn't know how to express ourselves to the other. It was a communication problem."

"The culminating point was the night I went off to Mexico with Riley, when you laid down next to me. You had taken off your shirt and wanted to look sexy for me, remember?"

"Oh… yes, it seemed like a good idea at the time... but in hindsight, that was really awkward and embarrassing. It was such a clumsy attempt to get your attention."

John chuckled.

"Heh… yeah, it was clumsy and very transparent. But it also was very cute, and do you know what?"

"What?"

"I got a boner lying next to you."

"You did?" Cameron asked.

"You did?" Alison echoed.

"Yes, I guess I can admit it now. If I hadn't been so determined to run away to Mexico with Riley, that evening might have ended very differently."

"I was so upset and disappointed when you told me you needed to sleep, sending me away from your side. I would have preferred to stay there with you."

"I was so close to turning around and taking you in my arms that night. So close. But a part of me believed you were just jealous of Riley and wanted to manipulate me."

"I should have joined you in your room much earlier."

"Maybe. I'm so glad we've gotten over all that. Being here with you now is the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Oh, I can think of an even better thing," Cameron said, climbed on top of him, relieving Alison from her cock-sucking and inserted his dick into her pussy."

"Oh yes, of course," John groaned. "That is definitely an improvement compared to that awkward evening."

Alison lay down next to John again and the two started kissing while Cameron slowly rode his cock.

"I want to taste you, Alison," he whispered tenderly into her ear.

She nodded, sat up, turned around to face Cameron and squatted down over his face, slowly lowering her wet pussy over his mouth. She was so wet that her juices dripped down on his face, which was soon covered in them.

"Mmmh… strawberry and vanilla," John thought.

"Please play with my tits, John," Alison said as he started licking and inserted his tongue into her folds.

He reached up and cupped her breasts with his hands, rubbing and twisting her hard nipples between his fingers. Cameron and Alison both leaned forward until their mouths met for a deep kiss with lots of tongue-playing.

"Let's change positions," Cameron suggested after a moment. "And remember, John loves it when we talk dirty..."

"Good idea, sis," Alison said and lifted herself up from John's face.

Cameron turned around and let herself down on John's face while Alison inserted his dick into her pussy, beginning to ride him a bit harder now. His lover's juices filled John's mouth. In contrast to Alison, they tasted like blueberry muffin.

"Oooh yes," Alison moaned. "Your cock belongs in my pussy, John… I'm all pussy for you now… I'm just a cunt for your cock… oooh yes… cum inside me, John... I'm your cunt… cum inside your cunt."

John groaned loudly into Cameron's pussy and came hard inside Alison. At the same time, Cameron came over his face and drenched him in her juices. Alison climaxed as well and moaned loudly, then the two cyborg girls leaned forward to kiss each other again. After their orgasms had subsided, Alison and Cameron dismounted John and lay down next to him, licking and sucking his face, kissing him and sharing the juices they licked off.

"That…" John said exhausted, "was hot, Alison. And your language… wow… it brought me over the edge. And jeez, you two tasted so good again."

"We're not done with you yet," Cameron stated with a wink. "There's one more cunt you need to cum in. Sis, do you think John's cock is good for another round?"

He laughed.

"Girls, you're insatiable. You're gonna wear me down."

"Hmm, lemme check," Alison said and moved down to inspect John's penis. "Still very much up to the task." She gave it a lick. "No sign of wear. Although it needs some additional stimulation. Maybe with the right kind of talk..."

She swallowed it whole again.

"I see," Cameron acknowledged while still licking John's face clean. "His dick needs more stimulation from his cunts."

John's cock twitched.

"Aha!" Alison said. "Seems like you picked the right tone, sis."

"You love that, don't you?" Cameron asked him. "You love it when your slutty, horny cunts talk so dirty to you."

John groaned.

"Yes… I'm not… in a position to… deny it."

"I'm longing for your cock inside me, John." Alison continued. "I'm such a horny cumslut. I'm just a cunt, a dripping-wet cunt. I'm a cunt on legs that wants to get fucked by you, I want to be used by you like the slut I am. Get hard for me, John, so you can fuck your cunt."

"I think he's ready again," Cameron reported smiling.

"Alright," John groaned and sat up. "You want to get fucked, cunts? Then get on all fours. Both of you. Now!"

They happily complied, and John took in the view for a moment. His girls were presenting their backsides to him. He gently rubbed their sopping wet pussies and immediately they pushed their asses back into his hands. Both groaned loudly when he pushed his thumbs inside their pussies. His cock was harder than it ever was.

"Beg for it, cunts!" he commanded.

"Please fuck me, John," Cameron begged. "Fuck your cunt."

"Yes," Alison agreed, "please fuck this cunt, John."

"And grab my tits while you fuck me," Cameron added.

"Yes," Alison said, "fuck this cunt and grab my tits."

He took turns in thrusting into each of them doggystyle, first Cameron, then, after a few thrusts, Alison. He repeated that several times, alternating between the two, fucking them both hard and fast, accompanied by their constant moaning and begging, using dirty words they knew would turn him on even more. Finally, John couldn't hold back anymore and shot his load into Alison's pussy. He groaned loudly and then sunk down in exhaustion. They softly caught his body and covered his face with kisses.

"Thank you, John," Cameron said. "Thank you for fucking your cunts."

"We'll always be your cunts," Alison added. "Now and forever."

It took a moment for John to recover. Then he chuckled.

"That was by far the hottest sex we had so far. I raise my hat to the two of you."

"You don't wear a hat, John," Alison remarked.

"It's a figure of speech, sis," Cameron said.

John laughed.

"Cam's right, Alison. Just a figure of speech. She's ahead of you now."

"Only for the moment," Alison responded and stuck out her tongue towards Cameron, who giggled in reply.

John sighed.

"I adore both of you so much," he said and hugged them tight. "This is getting better and better. I hope it never stops getting better."

"We adore you too, John," Cameron replied, "and we promise we'll always attempt to make it even better. Right, sis?"

"Right," Alison agreed.

Neither John nor Cameron noticed the brief expression of sadness on Alison's face. It lasted only for a second, then it was gone again.

-0-

FBI agents Goldman and Healer were on their way to Gates. It was almost 10 a.m., and they had left Portland just over an hour ago. Special Agent Manson had provided them with a car, another black Ford Crown Victoria. Jennifer Heiler was behind the wheel and drove on highway 22 while Steve Goldman had been quiet for almost all the drive so far, staring out of the window.

Jennifer respected her superior, even though he sometimes seemed a little strange. Somehow he reminded her a little of Inspector Columbo from TV. There was a certain resemblance in his manner, his posture and his gestures. She knew that what had happened in Gates, and what Manson had told them, deeply preoccupied, even worried him. Finally, she could no longer stand the wordless silence.

"Do you think Weaver is involved in this?" she asked.

Goldman looked at her, as if waking up from a dream.

"Hm? Oh… Yes, I think we can definitely assume that. She might have fooled the LAPD, but of course they don't know what we know."

"Then the question is what role she played. If you ask me, the gun with the uranium ammo comes from within her company. Zeira Corp is like a bag of surprises… Aviation, power plants, weapons, satellites, machinery, ships, electronics, computers and dozens of other activities. In many sectors, her company has the global leadership. She's got her fingers in almost everything."

"Yes, and her activities are very well concealed, hidden behind secret government projects and military contracts. Much of what she does, is top secret, and she has connections to the highest government ranks. The perfect cover for some unknown side projects, especially since she owns seventy-five percent of the company. Weaver doesn't have to answer to shareholders. Not to mention that ever since the stock market value of Zeira Corp tripled under her leadership, the shareholders remain in stunned silence, letting her do her magic. Even her supervisory board is eating out of her hand. As long as it stays that way, she can practically do whatever she wants."

"Yeah, it's almost as if she can predict the future. Whatever she starts, becomes a success. She knows where to invest and when, and she's always at least two steps ahead of her competitors. It's driving them nuts."

"You know… if I didn't know any better, I'd say she's got a crystal ball hidden somewhere that tells her about trends, where investments are going to pay off, and when is the right time to sell shares in other companies with the biggest profit."

"So you think she plays a key role in this whole thing?"

Goldman hesitated.

"Let's not get hasty here. One thing's for sure: She is extremely high profile. We will need to gather a lot more evidence before we can risk confronting her."

"You're the boss, Steve."

"Let's take look at the crime scene first. Maybe we find something the others didn't. After all, they didn't know what to look for."

-0-

It was hot outside. Overnight the temperature had risen to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. When John and the girls had showered, they decided to only wear the necessary minimum of clothing. It wouldn't look right if the girls went out in their usual attire, with jeans, boots and a leather jacket.

While John wore a Hawaii tee shirt, knee-length shorts and his sneakers, the girls put on red boxer shorts that barely covered their butts, flip-flops and white tank tops that left their bellies free. Both had "I'm with sis" written over their chest, including arrows that pointed at each other. It was obvious they wore no bra. John looked at them and sighed.

"Mom's not gonna like that."

"The only important question is, do you like it?" Alison asked.

John grinned.

"Oh yeah, I do."

"Then we don't care what your mother says," Cameron stated.

"Suit yourself," John said and shrugged, then kissed the two and followed them outside.

They had agreed on meeting for breakfast at 10:00 a.m. and it was 10:15 when John and the girls arrived at the restaurant. All the others were already there. They quickly got their food from the buffet and joined them.

"Long night?" Derek asked grinning while looking Cameron and Alison up and down with appreciation.

"Slept for ten hours straight," John replied and sat down.

He noticed the scowl on his mother's face when she spotted Alison and Cameron.

"I hope you're at least wearing underwear," she said in a disapproving tone.

"What if we don't?" Cameron asked provocatively.

"The reasons why humans wear underwear, don't apply to us," Alison added.

It was clear that all the males on the table didn't want to have any part in that conversation. Derek hid behind his newspaper and Charley was very concentrated on eating his fruit salad. John felt a little exposed between his girlfriends and looked down on his plate. Lauren just grinned.

"The rules of decency apply to you as well," Sarah hissed across the table. "You can't walk around like a couple of skanks."

"Actually, we can," Cameron said and took a sip of orange juice. "Or do you think someone will assault and try to rape us? I'm sure that would be funny."

Sarah gasped for air and had to compose herself.

"What has happened to you over night? Are you now in your rebellious teenager phase or what? At least you could have put on a bra."

"Our boobs don't bother us when we run or walk," Alison replied.

"And they'll never sag," Cameron added.

"That's not the main reason for wearing a bra, young ladies," Sarah said angrily. "And you know that perfectly well."

Suddenly, Lauren couldn't take it any longer and burst out into laughter. Everyone looked at her. It took her a moment to compose herself.

"Don't you realize it?" she asked a puzzled-looking Sarah.

"What?" Sarah asked back.

"You're treating them like your real teenage daughters. That is so cute."

Sarah opened her mouth to reply something, but nothing came out. Instead she looked around at Charley, who was having trouble keeping a straight face, then pulled down the newspaper to find Derek chuckling, apparently having trouble not to laugh out loud as well.

"Mom," John finally said. "Strictly speaking they're of legal age. Alison Young was eighteen years old when Cameron was made in her image. They can decide for themselves what's proper attire and what isn't."

Cameron and Alison beamed at John, being thankful for defending them against his mother.

"Fine." Sarah responded and raised her hands "Obviously I'm fighting a losing battle here. The girls have bewitched you all with their choice of clothing – or lack of rather."

"Oh, come on, Sarah," Charley said and put his arm around her. "Loosen up a bit. John's right. The girls know what they're doing, and I'd really like to see the show when some unfortunate jerk tries to make a move on them." He hesitated for a moment. "I mean, you wouldn't kill him, would you?"

"No. Of course not," Alison stated, "only hurt him slightly. Breaking his wrist for instance."

"Or crack some ribs," Cameron added. "Maybe break a leg or crush his balls..."

For a moment there was silence, then Cameron and Alison smiled. Everyone realized they had been joking and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Look what the cat dragged in," Lauren suddenly said.

Everyone looked where she was looking, and they saw that Andy and Mike had entered the restaurant with their parents. The two boys had spotted them right away and tried their best to avoid any eye contact.

"Looks like you finally scared them off," Derek remarked. "And you didn't have to hurt or kill them. You're improving."

"Their threat level is minimal," Alison stated.

"And killing them would have ruined your holidays," Cameron added.

"Still…" Sarah said to the girls. "Next time you play a game against someone, try to be less unbeatable. People, boys in particular, don't react well to losing to girls. And when you add insult to injury, you end up getting into a situation like with Mike and Andy."

"Are you suggesting we should lose on purpose next time?" Cameron asked indignantly.

"No," Sarah replied, "I only suggest that you better not humiliate them next time. Don't let your physical superiority hang out so much."

"Where's the fun in not doing that?" Alison asked and both girls pouted.

Derek just shook his head.

"You know," he said, "if someone knocked me over the head and I'd lose my memory, there's no chance in hell anyone could convince me you're anything but human."

"Does that mean if we'd knock you over the head, you'd be nicer to us?" Cameron asked with a smirk.

Sarah looked at Derek.

"Could be worth a try," she stated and smiled.

Derek gave her a grumpy look, but Alison grabbed Derek's hand.

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "Coming from you, that was a really nice compliment."

"Yes," Cameron agreed and took his other hand. "We appreciate it."

Derek looked at their hands open-mouthed. This was the first time they had physically touched him since he had been lying on the kitchen table in the old house with the gunshot wound.

"Oh, don't get all mushy on me now," he responded resolutely, pulled back his hands and tried to look serious, but everyone noticed that he was quite touched by the girls' response.

"So, when are we going to visit the sheriff?" Lauren asked. "Have you set a time?"

"Not really," John replied. "He just said he'd be home from 11 o'clock onwards. I suggest we go there right after breakfast. The sooner we get rid of the triple-eight's body, the better."

"Shall we take both cars?" Derek asked.

"Not necessary," Sarah said, "Without our luggage, there's enough space for all of us in the Suburban."

"And we shouldn't drive around with the RAM so much anyway," John added. "Someone else could report it to the police and we'd be having even more trouble. I don't want that."

"Alright then," Sarah stated. "We'll pick you up at your cabin in half an hour. Are you two determined to remain dressed that way?"

"Yes," both Cameron and Alison replied.

Sarah sighed.

"Whatever."

They finished eating and then rose. Lauren took Alison and Cameron aside for a moment.

"So, are you?" she asked.

"Are we what?" Cameron asked back with a confused expression.

Lauren rolled her eyes.

"Wearing panties, of course."

Cameron and Alison looked at each other with a smile, then Alison pulled at the waistband of her shorts a bit, so Lauren could look underneath it.

"You're soooo naughty," the girl stated and the three of them giggled.

-0-

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 – 10:56 a.m.

Gates, Oregon

Agents Goldman and Heiler arrived at the crime scene. A deputy of the local sheriff's office awaited them there. The entire property was encircled with yellow crime scene tape.

"So, what can you tell us about what happened here?" Goldman asked.

"Didn't your FBI friends brief you already?" the deputy asked back.

"Only the basics but not the details," Heiler answered. "Have you been able to recreate a chronological pattern already?"

"Uh… we're pretty sure it was three men that came down from that mountain shortly before dawn," the deputy said and pointed into a direction where the view was blocked by trees. "Apparently, they brought down the local cell tower that is located on the hilltop. We have no idea how that was done, it looks as if it was bent down."

Goldman frowned.

"Bent down?"

"Yes, you know… snapped off at the ground."

"By what force?" Heiler asked.

"We have no idea. That's one of the mysteries. We only know for sure that they can't have used any machinery up there."

"Okay, go on," Goldman said, "what happened then?"

"They came down here barefooted," the deputy answered. "We found their tracks. No idea why they didn't wear shoes."

Heiler and Goldman looked at each other.

"Then they broke into the house," the deputy continued. "And…"

"Can you show us how they broke in?" Goldman asked.

"Yeah, sure, follow me please."

The deputy raised the crime scene tape and all three passed underneath it. They walked towards the Baker's house, stopping at the entrance.

"They had a very good security lock, but it was ripped from its moorings with brute force," the deputy explained. "We assume they rammed it open with some heavy object, but we didn't find anything. The Bakers must have heard the noise and gotten up but before they could do anything, they were overwhelmed in their bedroom and killed."

"Cause of death?" Heiler asked.

"Broken neck. The forensic said the attackers must have been very strong and trained in martial arts to do that. There was no blood or DNA traces. It looks like the Bakers didn't even try to fight back. Everything must all have gone very quickly."

"I see," Goldman acknowledged. "Go on."

"The three invaders rummaged through the wardrobe and we assume they looked for clothes and shoes. We have no inventory of the contents of the wardrobe but there are clear indications the killers were naked at the time or at least in their underwear. That would explain the bare footprints."

"Any idea how they got on the hilltop without clothes on?" Goldman asked.

"None. The only thing we found, was a dent on the forest floor, next to the radio mast."

"A dent?"

"Yeah… a circular indentation, as if someone has dropped a scorching hot bowling ball with a diameter of ten feet or so. It showed burn marks all around. Luckily, the ground was still moist from the rain a couple of days ago. Otherwise we might have a wildfire at our hands now."

"Very mysterious," Goldman remarked.

"This whole damn case is full of mysteries," the deputy said. "After they killed the Bakers and had gotten dressed, they searched the whole house. We assume they looked for weapons, but crazy old Baker was a prepper and a pacifist. They didn't own weapons. So, we assume they stole his car and drove into town to rob the gun store."

"Catherine Weaver reported that she saw two men behind the wheel of a truck," Heiler stated. "That means one of them waited here for them to return."

"Weaver said that? Do you think she's involved? We're being kept out of the loop here since you guys took over."

"At this point we cannot exclude anything," Goldman replied." She only confirmed what the eye witness and the video footage from the gun store already told us. But she might know more than she admitted so far."

"I once saw her on TV," the deputy said. "Tough woman, if you ask me, bringing the company to such blossom after her husband's death. She's one of the richest people on the west coast. When word got around she might be interested in buying land here, it made local headlines. Some people think it could increase the value of their real estate."

"Her statement that she was looking for land here, could have been a pretext," Heiler clarified. "I wouldn't raise my hopes too high."

"You think she has anything to do with the three guys who murdered the Bakers?"

"It's too early to assume anything," Goldman replied. "What about the others, the ones in the black Dodge RAM? Do you have personal descriptions of them?"

"No," the deputy said, "but we found footprints of six people. Of four of them, we can't tell if it were men or women because two wore combat boots and two wore hiking boots. They had taken cover behind a felled tree trunk over there, just behind the fence. That trunk is full of bullet holes, the three attackers must have walked towards them blasting their automatic weapons all the way. Then they were probably brought down. Neighbors from a mile down the road reported that they heard gunfire from automatic weapons and then four very loud gunshots, almost like small explosions. We assume that was the mystery gun. One shot ended up in the concrete wall of the bunker while the other three brought down the three attackers. However, due to the lack of bodies, nothing can be said for sure. The forensic guys say that with the kind of ammunition used, there should be human remains and blood spatters all over the place. But there are none. Zip."

"You said there were footprints of six people… two wore combat boots and two wore hiking boots. That's only four. What about the other two?"

"Yeah, that's the next mystery in this weird case," the deputy stated and rubbed his chin. "When the sheriff and I arrived at the scene, the ground was still untouched by the fire brigade – before they set everything under water. There were footprints of a man in low shoes, which were leading towards the bunker entrance. But they didn't lead away from the bunker again. The only footprints leading away from the bunker, were those of a woman's high heels. Completely different shoe sizes, so it couldn't have been the same person."

"Maybe somebody carried the woman into the bunker?"

"No, the footprints weren't deep enough for that. Our sheriff is a native American, an experienced hunter who can read tracks. He said the person walking into the bunker didn't weigh more than 180 pounds. He jokingly added that it looks like a man went into the bunker, changed into a woman in high heels and then walked out again."

All three of them laughed but it was clear that Goldman and Heiler were more shocked than amused. They looked at each other with alarmed faces.

"Could the man with the low shoes be the one who fired the four shots?" Heiler asked.

"No, ma'am. The four shots must have been fired from the cover behind the tree trunk. The man in low shoes would have been mowed down. He must have walked across the lawn either before or after the gunfight, as he went straight from the gate to the bunker entrance."

"I think that is all we need to know for the moment," Goldman stated and turned around to leave.

"Oh, by the way," the deputy said, "last night there was a 911-call of someone who claimed to have seen the black Dodge RAM at a holiday lodge about 45 miles away. All calls are being handled centrally out here and then forwarded to the sheriff's office on duty, but we always get a notification. Last night the office in Sisters was on duty. Sheriff Nick Nelson later called in and said it was a prank, so we didn't forward it to the FBI. But since you're already here, I'm telling you for the sake of completeness."

-0-

"Do you think what I believe you're thinking?" Goldman asked Heiler, as they drove east on highway 22.

"I guess I do but we still need more evidence to support it. The most important thing is to find out about the four people who took part in the gunfight and brought each one of the perps down with a single shot."

"I'd like to have such a gun," Heiler said.

"Me too," Goldman agreed. "Would make our job a lot easier if we ever met one of them face to face."

"Do you think Weaver was there? Were those her high heels? Did she bring the guns?"

"She has the means to develop such guns for sure. But it's still a puzzle to me what role she plays in all this."

"Maybe she…" Heiler began thoughtfully but then shook her head and fell silent. "Never mind…"

"Maybe she what? Come on, no theory is too weird to not be allowed here."

"Nah, it's too crazy."

"Spill it out, Jennifer."

"Alright… what if the three attackers set up a trap for Catherine Weaver and the others came to rescue her?"

"I thought of that myself already, but it doesn't make sense. Why steal the thermite and set the bunker on fire?"

"Maybe their intention was to burn her body in there. It would have left no traces. We know that someone or something was burned inside there to a degree that we cannot tell anymore if it was human remains or not. I'd say the plan of the three attackers turned against them and they were burned in there instead of by Catherine Weaver."

"So, you think our yet unknown participants in the Dodge RAM went there to rescue Weaver, got into a firefight with the three time travelers who - as far as we can tell - were three Terminators, brought them down with their special gun, and then burned their bodies in the bunker?"

"It would explain everything," Heiler said nodding. "Don't you agree?"

"It would mean that whoever they were, they knew who or rather what they'd encounter, and brought the right guns to the fight."

"Maybe they were an assault team under Weaver's leadership?"

"Maybe, I don't know... We should have a talk with that sheriff in Sisters, see if there's anything else he can tell us about the alleged prank call."

"Do you think it might have not been a prank call at all? Is that why we're heading east instead of back to Portland?"

"Yup. Call it gut instinct, if you want."

For a moment, none of them talked.

"Steve?"

"Yes, Jennifer?"

"About the other two footprints… the male ones in low shoes that led into the bunker and the high heels that walked out again...?"

"What about it?"

"I know it sounds crazy but…"

"Spill it out."

"Could it be that Catherine Weaver is in fact a shapeshifter?"

-0-0-0-

Author's notes:

- Introduction of two new characters. Which side are they on? :-)

- Cranked the lemon part up a notch. Don't pretend you don't like it. Chapters with lemons get a lot more views than chapters without, you dirty bastards ;-)

- Random thought: I just re-watched some episodes of TSCC to get into the mood and I came to think how easy the writers of the series had it with telling the story. They didn't need to fill the time between scenes and episodes. They simply made a cut. For instance, it's a three-hour drive from L.A. to Mexico, so six hours in total. And all John and Cameron talked about was how it felt having your foot stretched out of the window? Come on…

- Just for the record: I'm done with Andy and Mike. They fulfilled their purpose and won't appear again.

- As always, feedback is welcome.