Chapter 1351

Red Bull

Savannah moved towards the location where she saw what she was sure was Young Allison scurry to. She watched the opening with the spiral staircase and watched the front and side as she moved in a low crouch. She thought she was getting close to where Young Allison was but she could not see her. She wondered if she could sneak up on young Allison this time.

"Red." The voice said.

Savannah jumped a little.

"Bull." Savannah answered.

That was the second time in a combat situation that Young Allison was able get behind her when she was watching for threats. She was right by to her again too. She was able to move silently and quickly. Young Allison was next to her in a second. She knew Young Allison was 'good'. She did not know how 'good' until the last few minutes. Not only was she good, she was 'hard' too.

"Someone is coming up the stairs." Young Allison said. "I want to take them with my silenced M9. I want to wait until they move away from the opening in case there is anyone else behind them. I want them to come out too. The room with the energy bubble is rigged with a trip wire and a Thermite grenade just inside the door."

Savannah didn't even have time to tell Young Allison she startled her. She'd gone right into the situation and what was necessary.

"OK." Savannah said. "If they make it towards the room with the energy field we need to move out the front as fast as we can. It may bring down the whole building."

Savannah was aware it could bring down the whole block.

Young Allison went to move away but paused.

"What about the prisoner?" Young Allison asked.

Savannah did not want to be associated with her termination or at least the way she terminated.

"She was dead." Savannah said.

Young Allison wondered if Savannah killed her. It didn't matter. The prisoner was most likely the enemy. Either way she was dead. There was not much else they could do.

Young Allison was glad she did not need to kill her. It would have been a test for her to shoot her in the face as she was tied there helpless. She trained for that too. Maybe she should have done it just to do it and move on. She needed to refocus.

"Back me up with your M4 in case there is a group that emerges." Young Allison said.

Young Allison was gone again as quickly and silently as she'd appeared.

Savannah remained where she was so she could provide flanking firepower if it was needed.

Young Allison moved back to her previous position just as the man walked out.

He held a glow stick in his hand but realized the room was lit.

He looked at the room with the glow.

"Oh, crap." He said.

Young Allison fired one shot at his head and three more into his upper torso. He was killed instantly. He landed in a heap outside the room with the energy ball.

Savannah watched Young Allison kill again. She was sure she would have killed the female too if she'd gone back instead of her. She was just glad Young Allison did not needed to see how badly she'd been savaged. Wait, Young Allison did see her. She needed to refocus.

Savannah held her M4 ready if more targets came out of the door with the stairway.

Young Allison moved closer to the door with stairway to listen better. It was silent. She motioned for Savannah to move up to her position.

Savannah checked the front and the far side for any movement. There was none. She moved up to where Young Allison was.

"I'm going down the stairs to take a look at what is down there or where it goes." Young Allison said.

Savannah wondered if maybe they should withdraw at this point and flatten the place with a drone strike.

"I think we should withdraw." Savannah said.

The group they were currently dealing with appeared to be from a further future. Young Allison wanted to see if they could glean any future technology or at least see what they were up to. After that 'portal thing', it seemed anything was possible.

"Not yet." Young Allison said. "I want to know what was happening here and why. These people are a threat to any future. We need to know how to fight them."

Young Allison motioned for Savannah to cover her while she looked for any intel on the man she'd just killed. She did not find anything useful. She went over and removed the booby trap from the electrical room. Then energy ball was still the same size but even brighter. The hum was low and deep sounding.

She rejoined Savannah.

"Why did you remove the booby trap?" Savannah asked.

Young Allison felt there may be others from their team arriving soon. She did not want them to trip it.

"I have a feeling Derek and Kyle are on their way here." Young Allison said. "The Terminators are probably on their way back with them. They are all going to be itching to come back here."

Savannah figured Cammy was for sure. She knew John Henry and CamNet would do everything they could to help. She thought she would come too. It was clear that was what Young Allison already did. She still wondered how that was going to go over. Once they found out Young Allison was here. They were all going to come.

"That may be true." Savannah said. "I hope not but it is what they would all do. Jesse and Sarah may be with them as well."

Young Allison thought about that for a second. She figured Riley would turn Precious over to Jesse and come herself at some point. Jesse could take care of Precious and was a skilled fighter. It was the best option for Precious.

"Jesse will stay with Precious." Young Allison said. "She knows her function and responsibility."

That statement made Savannah think about something. It was a function that Cameron provided Jesse and Vanna with. She also wanted to get them ready for what Claire and her carried inside them.

Young Allison moved the dead man's arm that was pointed at the room with the energy ball to now point at the door with the stairway.

"Let's go." Young Allison said.

Young Allison carefully entered the door with the spiral stairway.

"Wait." Savannah said.

Anna searched for a target with the M82A1 in the back of the SUV.

She spotted something move.

"I have a movement." Anna said.

Mel was ready too.

"What is it?" Mel asked.

Anna zoomed in with her vision.

She relaxed her finger on the trigger.

She wondered if this was a 'bad omen'. There was a black cat. It slowed and stopped as it neared the area between the two buildings. It suddenly turned around and ran off.

"It was a feline that detected the energy field." Anna said. "It retreated."

Anna realized she was a little sluggish again.

"I think the field is intensifying." Anna said. "I feel some drag."

Mel checked himself.

"I do too." Mel said. "It is very slight. I did not realize it until you said something."

Anna knew they would need to pull back soon. There was no telling how big it would get.

"I don't think it's anywhere near its full power yet." Anna said.

Anna kept her eyesight on the space between the buildings during the entire conversation.

She received an update from CamNet. She was informed the others were on their way from both the Resistance base and Cameron's base. Mel received the transmission as well.

"Everyone is coming." Mel said.

Anna did not think that was a good thing.

"Let's hope this is over before they get here." Anna said.

Anna did not think sending more people into the unknown and into the target area basically blind was a good idea.

After the second song finished, Allison and Vanna switched places.

Allison held John's hand until she was far enough away that they slipped apart.

Vanna watched and waited for them to stop looking at each other.

"My turn." Vanna said.

John smiled at Vanna and she smiled back.

Vanna felt a rush inside her. She wanted this. She could feel her body respond to her desire.

"I'll stop anytime you want." John whispered. "You are the decider."

Vanna appreciated hearing that. She was not sure if that was in reference to the dancing or a possible sexual encounter. Either way she appreciated that level of concern and understanding. It showed that John cared about her and would look out for her and respect her. That thoughtfulness only made her want him more. The only thing a male ever thought about her was which part of her body to abuse next. The thought of now and what was to come buried the bad memories for awhile. Thoughts of sharing with John were much more pleasant to think about.

It was clear her body now responded in a different way than it did when she was with the girls. She knew what her body was telling her. It was the first time she'd felt it respond like this since back when Cameron used to put her in John's bed naked before. This time it was what she wanted. Her body was ready to receive John.

Allison moved away from John and only gave Vanna a quick glance. She received the same in return. She moved over and faced Cameron. The two of them together drew some looks. It was quickly viewed as two twin sisters having a good time and enjoying the music and dancing.

Cameron noticed and she saw the females looked more than the males did. They knew there was beauty there that they could not match. She smiled.

Allison watched Cameron smile. She noticed the other females check them out.

"I know why you're smiling." Allison said.

Cameron looked into Allison's eyes.

"Your beauty is next to none." Cameron said.

Allison liked to hear that but she did not think it applied to her most of the time.

"I guess we don't need to have breasts the size of basketballs and blue eyes for our beauty to be noticed." Allison said.

Cameron looked serious for a moment.

"My beauty is your beauty, Allison." Cameron said. "I owe it all to you."

Allison felt differently about that. Cameron was always beautiful. Even when she was damaged she was still beautiful.

"Tonight my beauty really is your beauty, Cameron." Allison said. "I never look this good on my own."

The next song started and Allison and Cameron danced together.

Allison decided she was not going to say anything about her desire to be with John. She wanted that decision to come from Cameron and John. She wondered when Cameron was going to push a little harder on her. It did not take long.

Cameron moved them away from John and Vanna as they danced. They were off to the side and away from Holly and Gail-Cam.

Cameron moved Allison off the dance floor. She'd scanned her as they danced and saw that she was in a high state of arousal. Vanna had been the same way.

There was a serious look on her face.

"Would you like to be with John tonight?" Cameron asked.

Allison swallowed hard.

Cameron noticed. Maybe she was too direct.

"It can be just for a short time too." Cameron quickly said. "You can leave at any time. You can say 'stop' and John will. You know that. If you don't want him to do something, he won't. You know he will respect your wishes."

Allison wanted this for such a long time. She would stay at least until John finished inside of her one time. She wanted that because she already carried his child. It would make it all the more real this time for her. She was not so sure that Cameron would not fold.

"I don't know." Allison said. "Is that what you really want?"

Cameron wanted John protected.

"It is what is necessary for his protection." Cameron said. "I think we are all at the point where we can share with each other. It is really no different than what you and the girls do. It really is not that big of a deal. We all know who we 'belong to' and we should be able to share freely."

At this point in time it was not that big of a deal for Cameron anymore. They were well past the 'seven year itch' anyway. That was part of the purpose to borrow the chassis of the Metal girls. She also wanted to deliver their virginity to John herself. It was five down and one to go. There was still Bob and Jim too. Maybe Allison and Vanna would take their places. Maybe they wouldn't.

Allison really wanted this. She did not want to make a long term commitment before she tried it. She was not sure she would like it and she was even less sure Vanna would.

"Can I try it one time first?" Allison said. "I don't know after that."

Cameron smiled.

"Vanna said the same thing." Cameron said. "I understand why."

Allison really thought Cameron should ask Savannah to do this first.

"What about Savannah?" Allison asked. "It is her place."

Cameron frowned.

"She has been reluctant to help me in this matter." Cameron said. "I understand and accept the true nature of every 'Savannah Weaver'. Her desires are different."

Allison knew Savannah was close several times to being with John. They'd talked about it several times when they made love. Savannah said she wanted to try it at least one time anyway.

"She is willing to try it at least once." Allison said. "If John is threatened specifically she will be by his side and in his bed every night."

There was a faint smile on Cameron's face.

"She knows her duty." Cameron said. "I want it to be more than duty for her. I want her to be happy."

Allison was very aware Savannah would be happy to be with Cameron.

She could see that Young Allison was chomping at the bit for more from Savannah or John. She decided not to bring that up. She'd even discussed it with her mother. Claire told her she would rather see Young Allison pregnant and taking care of babies than fighting for her life like Savannah was forced to do. As her parent and legal guardian she would sign any legal paperwork to that effect if they wanted to get married for real. They'd even searched at a library one time for the states where that would be legal. Utah and New Hampshire both had the lowest age. She decided not to bring that up either. They gone to the library so they would not alert anyone what they were really doing. They'd only looked at paper documents or books so they could not be tracked as to what their inquiries were. If they'd looked online Cameron would have found out and Young Allison and John would be on the next plane to Utah or New Hampshire.

"Let's see what happens." Allison said. "I don't want John pressured about it either. None of us want it to seem like it's a 'job' or a 'function'. We all have feelings too. You can't forget that, Cameron. We all matter too."

Cameron was a little taken aback by Allison's statement. She knew what her feelings and emotions did to her for both good and bad. The human girls all possessed superior and stronger feelings and emotions. She was very aware that people self terminated over emotional matters and love.

"I'll think about it." Cameron said.

"You think about it really good and all its implications." Allison said. "You think about yourself too. You need to remember once it happens, it has happened forever. There is no going back."

Allison glanced over at John and Vanna dancing. Vanna looked totally in love right now.

"Just keep in mind that you might damage some relationships in the process of all of this including your own." Allison said. "We all matter too. We all have feelings. Things happen and people change. Be warned."

Cameron wondered if maybe she was thinking properly. Allison was sending her all kinds of warnings. Why wasn't she thinking about this herself? Right now it did not seem to matter to her. Protecting John was what mattered. That was her mission.

Holly and Gail-Cam listened from the back of the room as they danced with each other.

"Cameron needs to listen to Allison." Holly said.

Gail-Cam thought Cameron was too selfish.

"She needs to understand how people feel, not just how machines feel." Gail-Cam said. "She also needs to understand how John will feel."

Holly did not think it was all fun and games.

"Cameron will need to use herself as bait to get any of the girls to stay with John all the time." Holly said. "She seems reluctant to do that."

Gail-Cam moved up and touched Holly's hand.

"That is because she does not know what she's missing." Gail-Cam said.

Holly looked at Gail-Cam with anticipation.

"We know." Holly said.

Ally and Sheila joined the ongoing party in the sky lounge that never seemed to end. There was a lot of dancing and drinking going on. It seemed as if some of the passengers consumed hundreds of dollars of alcohol a day. There was always a large group of passengers whose bar tab exceeded the cruise fare by two or three times the dollar amount.

Sheila always tried to liven things up and tease both men and women.

Ally was a little more reserved, especially tonight. She was looking forward to Cameron using her chassis later on with John.

Sheila would just as soon have went back to one of the rooms and pick up wherever she left off last time with whatever girls she'd been with. That way she could create one continuous file with that female.

She could see that Ally was not quite herself. The incident with Mary and Laura didn't help any. She decided to play it cool tonight for Ally's sake. She was apprehensive enough.

They just blended in and went with the flow.

Cam-Gail and Hanna were both content to play the roles of the human females or other Metal girls that they 'looked like' in the Honeymoon Suite. They'd just about run through all the combinations.

"What's next?" Hanna asked.

Cam-Gail could only think of one thing. It seemed like a good idea too.

"I guess we could start over again." Cam-Gail said.

Hanna looked around and smiled.

"We haven't done the bunker yet." Hanna said.

Gail-Cam and Hanna looked at each other's sheath.

"It's close enough." Cam-Gail said. "Just don't touch as much. We can make that simulation."

They 'attacked' each other with a new sexual ferocity.

Jim kept a watchful eye on Sheila and Ally. He did not want them in any trouble. Maybe that should be any more trouble.

Hanna and Cam-Gail were staying out of the way. It would be easier for him if Ally did too. Then Sheila might go on some wild spree throughout the ship. Ally usually kept her in check.

He tried to update with John Henry and CamNet again but received nothing in response other than 'all is as it was'. He strongly doubted that.

John Henry thought more about what Summer said about turning the power back on. He was aware that the girl's night vision equipment would not function in the conditions the girls faced currently. Neither would flashlights of any kind. He wondered how they were able to see even.

He sent the warning out to the teams approaching about the same thing. It was doubtful their electric devices would work. They would literally be in the dark without a clue where anything was.

He was going to advise them not to enter until something could be worked out.

Steve and Tom reported what may have been a fire but it never seemed to manifest itself. There was no smoke or anything openly burning. Maybe it was out.

The troops that approached the location needed to put the brakes on things. If it was a world of darkness, there was no way for them to function. Everything would be a target and a threat, even each other.

Summer spent all her time keeping Jan occupied so she did not worry as much about her parents being out. She was worried about Savannah too. None of them knew Young Allison was there with her.

Jesse and Claire kept Riley calm as well.

Samantha went to the infirmary and made sure everything was in order and all the supplies were there. Everything was ready to go.

She plugged into the server there and checked the medical data base. There was information on every type of surgery. She preselected a number of procedures and watched actual operations take place. She was amazed how much punishment the human body could take and recover from. She continued to watch more and more procedures. She felt confidant she could do any of them, especially with John Henry's help.

Jesse suggested that Samantha slip out and not tell anyone where she was going before she left.

Riley finally noticed that Samantha was gone at one point.

"Where did Samantha go?" Riley asked.

Jesse did not want Riley to know the exact location. It would only cause her more grief and worry.

"She went on an inspection of the base." Jesse said. "It's no big deal. She will be back."

Riley was afraid she went to join the potential combat that might erupt. She did not think Jesse told her the truth.

"Be honest with me, please. Did she go with the others?" Riley asked.

Jesse did not want Riley to get wound up again.

"No." Jesse said. "She will be back soon. She's inspecting the base."

Riley did not look convinced. Maybe Jesse did not know for sure. Samantha may not have told Jesse where she was really going.

Cammy thought about telling Sarah that Young Allison was with Savannah. She decided against it when John Henry sent the reminder that none of humans were going to be able to see in the darkness of the buildings.

Sarah heard the news and was upset.

"I could always carry a torch like they did in medieval times." Sarah said.

Cammy wasn't so sure about that.

"That could also make you a target." Cammy said.

Sarah wondered about the conditions that Savannah.

"What about Savannah?" Sarah asked. "How is she getting around or is she tied to a desk right now or dead?"

Cammy felt her hand glitch.

If that happened she was going to personally run a time mission to prevent Savannah from entering the building in the first place.

Derek's team and Kyle's team did not take the news any better than Sarah and Cammy did. Their options were limited.

"Let's go." Young Allison said.

She carefully entered the door with the spiral stairway.

"Wait." Savannah said.

Young Allison was ready to go down the spiral stairs. Savannah was still hesitant.

"I want to shut the electric ball off in the next room." Young Allison said. "Maybe we can find a breaker or something to throw and shut it down. I can still put the Thermite grenade back in there and pull the pin."

Savannah was sure that was a bad idea based on all her other encounters with future energy sources. Maybe finding the power source for it specifically was a better idea. It was probably the power cell from the captured Terminator.

"Maybe we can take a quick look down there." Savannah said. "It will be dark at some point and we will need to use the glow sticks. You know what that means."

Young Allison did know what it meant. It meant they would be a target. The glow sticks would light them up as well as light the way. If anyone was waiting for them, they would be ambushed.

"I'll use the glow stick. You can follow behind me." Young Allison said. "I'm a slightly smaller target."

Savannah could not allow Young Allison to risk herself like that.

"I will lead and you will follow. That is final." Savannah said. "We will take one quick look around and if we do not see what we are looking for we will pull out and call in the drone strike. We don't want the others coming in here after us."

Young Allison yielded the lead to Savannah.

"Don't use your glow stick until you need it to continue." Young Allison said.

Savannah took one last look around the area.

"Follow me and keep some distance." Savannah said. "It may be tight quarters below."

Savannah slung her M4 on her back and drew her silenced M9. It would be better if she could soundlessly eliminate any threat or target without giving away their position.

Young Allison held her M4 for now but would trade it for the M9 if the space was tight. She would have the additional firepower if they needed it for now.

Both girls were filled with apprehension and indecision. They still needed to get the job done and learn what they were up against.

Into the unknown they descended.