CH 91
Allison pulled on her arms lifting herself up to try and break the chains holding her. These weren't thin chains, the links were fat, so were the cuffs. She managed to wiggled and bounced herself up and down, but the way she was held, she had no solid tension. She tried with her legs, arms and legs. All she did was give herself bloody wrists and ankles.
She let out a scream of frustration. She sorely wished she had a plasma canon to blast these chains apart. The pain in her wrists and ankles was irritating. Joan. Joan knew where they went, Joan would become suspicious when they didn't return. Joan would try to call her and get no answer. Yes, Joan would be coming for her, as would Bob, and as they alerted people, the whole family would be descending on these murderers!
Even as she thought that, she felt the truck moving. They were taking her someplace, and she had no idea where. For the first time in her life, Allison felt helpless.
.
Joan and Bob were in the lounge when they heard the fire sirens go off. It was not unusual to hear that now and then in the city. They weren't concerned until Patty ran in to call out, "Guys! that new store, Happy Fin is burning down!"
Bob and Joan looked at each other. Allie had gone there with Betty and Carla not long ago. They shot up and ran outside. Joan tried to call Allison. No answer. Getting out to the street, they could see the flames and smoke from here. A firetruck screamed by, some were at the scene.
"Oh god," Joan whispered.
"She wasn't in there," Bob said trying to convince himself. "Allie would have fled."
Police were arriving to clear the area of people around the blaze and the fire trucks. Joan and Bob stood on the street with a mass of others watching the firemen fight the blaze. Joan tried to call Carla, Bob tried to call Betty. No answer.
Joan 's face was scrunched up. "No, not Allie," she whispered.
Bob held her as he was desperately hoping Allison had made it out of there. "They got out, they dropped their phones fleeing," he said, speaking his desperate hope. "They HAD to have gotten out of there."
Joan was openly crying now, Bob's mid was numb. All he could do was hold her and search the area for the three who'd gone into that store, trying to find blanket clad figures next to the waiting ambulances.
The firemen got the blaze down, then out. They went into the smoking ruins. Some people drifted away. Joan and the rest of the team came closer, right up to the barrier of police.
Bob asked the cop, "What happened? Who was in there."
"Keep calm, as so as we know, we'll tell you," the cop stated.
They watched a the firemen and some police worked through the wreckage. They heard the cop's radio in front of them. "Building searched, no bodies inside. The place was vacant when it burned."
"Then, where are they?" Joan asked weakly.
.
Allison felt the truck turn then back up. A short while later the roll up door opened and two men with poles came in. They were backed up to a dock. They locked the poles on the bottom of the frame and pulled Allison out of the truck.
The dock floor only had a group of maybe twenty men, standing and watching Allison being rolled out to face them. To the side was a man holding his gun to Betty's head. Horton was there, beaming her a smile. He turned to the men.
"Gentlemen, You have seen on news reports and on the internet, about these mutated machines that duplicate real people. It's always downplayed as they are beneficial, not a concern. Some even doubt they exist. They do." he pointed to Allison. "This is one. You can't tell just by looking, they are made to look exactly like real people for reason, to take us over."
"You lying sack of shit!" Allison spat.
He ignored her. "Of course, they are going to plead and try to convince you they mean no harm. That is what makes them so dangerous. If we let her down, she'd kill everyone here because she's been exposed. Let me show you the truth." He walk around behind Allison.
To the men, Allison said, "He lies! He killed our friend, Carla! Look, they are holding Betty at gunpoint! If he is so friggin righteous, why does he need a hostage?"
She then felt something thin across her forehead. The thin wire tightened and pulled back. With a yelp, she tried to pull her head back and throw it off. It dug into her scalp and moved over her head under her scalp. She screamed as her skin and hair was pulled away. A final hard jerk ripped away the remains of her scalp.
"Look!" Horton barked at the assembly as he pointed to Allison's bare metal skull. He tossed her hair and scalp to one side. "THAT is not human! If you need further proof, watch this." He pulled a gun and shot Allison three times in the chest. "Shot at close range with killing shots, but that doesn't affect them!"
Allison gritted her teeth in agony, Head down, she glared at Horton from under her eyebrows in pure hate as he went on. To the side, Betty was crying.
"I shot one with a high powered .40 caliber rifle," Horton explained to the crowd. "What did it do? It knocked her down. That's it. She's out there right now, pretending to be human. As of now, there aren't than many of them, but more are being made, even born. While they are few in number, they hide, they mix into society pretending to be us. What happens when they gain enough numbers? WE become their slaves. They will take over and there is NOTHING we will be able to do about it unless we start acting NOW. IF humanity is to survive these mutant machines, we need to wipe them out before they gain enough numbers to take us over!"
In a deep, angry voice Allison didn't even know she had, she growled, "Horton lies, he is a sick, perverted man who is using us for his own gain. We don't bother anyone! It's HIM who kills and tortures. If he is truly for humanity as he says, then why is Betty being held with a gun to her head? THINK people! He wants to sell me to the Chinese. It's him who is doing the harm, It's HIM who is the evil one! Not me or anyone like me!"
"Criminals are always innocent," Horton said, "So this mutant want you to believe I am the criminal. No, I am the one who is exposing the truth! Put that thing back on the truck, we have places to go."
Betty stopped crying and yelled, "Allie, Kill that bastard if you can, Don't worry about me, KILL HIM!"
Horton pointed to her. "A misguided girl brainwashed by these things. All you can do is feel sorry for her. Take her away."
.
Allison Young and two girls with here were missing. John Henry was work at trying to put together what happened with electronic data and video camera evidence. John Connor had four terminators go retrieve Jackie and Louise. Delilah and Cameron went to Austin for Joan and Bob, Football was over. The Sheriff also sent Aliana to help guard Joan and Bob, and assist Cameron as well as she could.
Carla's remains and all their guns phones and personal effects were found in the dump. That had police putting up roadblocks and checkpoints out of the area fifty miles out. Homeland Security also helped with these roadblocks. It was now known a truck had been at Happy Fin not long before the big fire, which was determined to be arson. The description of the truck was given out to law enforcement. Every one matching the description was to be stopped and searched.
Two girls were still missing, Pictures of Allison and Betty were displayed on the news, as was the fact they had been kidnapped.
.
In the county office north of Driftwood, Connor and Duncan McLeod stood with the County officials and the reinstated General Watson.
Connor told Duncan, "You are the Sheriff of Driftwood now. I have other things to attend to."
Duncan pleaded, "Connor, I know Horton, I know his tricks, let me go after him."
Connor clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Duncan, I know you are good. You are also too emotional to get involved with what needs to be done. I need you in Driftwood to protect the people there while I'm gone. Please, cousin, take care of Driftwood for me."
Duncan eyed him and said, "You be careful, Connor."
"Aye, lad, and do good, I'll bring you back Horton's head," Connor said with a smirk. "General, shall we?"
.
Not long after she was put back in the truck, the truck moved again, and the door was opened to show they were backed up to a flatbed trailer that had some boxes on it. Allison and her frame were taken off the box truck and onto the flatbed. A fork truck was there. It hooked up to the frame and laid Allison face down on the flatbed. Hurting and becoming tired, Allison noted that next the fork truck picked up a big square metal box with an open bottom. The box was put over her, locking her in darkness.
Horton stood by watching the box get lashed down firmly. The Chinese man beside him said, "We have several guns and canon waiting. We will find out what it takes to kill one of these things."
"Yes, then once we know that, it's all yours."
"The hostage, she's still alive?"
"She will be until that thing is dead. Buried in the open desert, it will be a long time, if ever that her body is found. I take it payment is on the way?"
"Yes, to your Cayman account. Ten million as agreed."
.
Inside the box, Allison laid face down. She tried to reach up but could not reach the top of the box. She did have some traction now, but the wooden floor of the trailer would give before any of this steel did.
Maybe she could use that. Also, now instead of being suspended she had some movement on the floor. By the feel they were moving along on the highway. She could lift her arms and move them to limits. Raising a fist she slammed it into the floor. Another pound and light showed through as the thick boards broke down. Not all the way through, but enough to let light into her space. Enough to see by. On her right on the frame was a switch. Yes, the one they hoisted her up by. She moved to the right and reached for it. Her right arm chain was slack, but the pull on her left arm kept her inches from it. Moving up some, she got closer.
"Come on," she coaxed as she strained to reach the switch. Straining, she jerked and by the skin tearing, she got a bit closer. the heel of her hand an her thumb was keeping her from that last half inch. She folded her hand up and jerked again Pains shot up her arm. Gritting her teeth, she yanked again as hard as she could. Her hand crunched up into the cuff. The middle finger of her right hand was touching the switch.
Willing to rip her hand right off, Allison scrunched back to the left a bit, extended her left hand and yanked back hard in a fast of motion as possible. Her left hand exploded in pain, her arm recoiled free. She lay grimacing and whining out in pain, but her left arm was free.
Allison reached the switch and pushed down. The chains slacked. getting up on her knees. she saw her left hand was bloody, skin was hanging off it. Metal showed. In the dim light she also saw the latches on the cuffs. Working her aching left hand, she unlatched her right hand, then sat up and took the ankle cuffs off.
Allison looked down into the hole she'd made in the floor. Her first impulse was to punch a hole in the floor and drop out, then run away and get help. That wouldn't save Betty. She hit the cracked board again,enough to push it down farther. Getting the hole big enough to put her hand in, she held the board and broke it free, then pulled it inside with her. She didn't want anyone outside seeing what she was doing. Working like this, she made a hole in the floor big enough to look down and out of.
It was afternoon by the long shadows, they were headed west. Inching out pf the hole head first she looked behind to see a van following the trailer. The afternoon sun had the driver in sunglasses, peeking over the visor on the windshield. His visibility was limited. The man beside him had his head turned to the side. In the back seat she saw a shoulder behind the driver. In the middle was a hollow eyed Betty.
Allison remembered what Betty had screamed at her. She wanted Allison to kill them, not matter what happened to her. Every time she saw Betty, there was a gun to her head. After that bastard shot Carla, she knew Betty was also going to die after they managed to kill her. At the moment, there was no gun to Betty's head. Although what she had in mind might kill them both, this was her best chance at keeping Betty alive.
.
The box truck with blood in it was found in a yard. Again, the place was vacant. Since it was, there were tracks in the dirt of the driveway. The captives had been transferred to a tractor-trailer. The police who'd found this radioed the information. They then looked for any witnesses who might have seen this tractor-trailer.
Listening also, Cameron, Delilah and Aliana sat in the coaches' office with Joan and Bob.
"They are headed west, " Cameron stated.
John looked a the map. "The closest roads west from where they were found is 87, heading northwest, and 377, heading southwest. 377 leads to Interstate 10, if I was fleeing, that would be the fastest way to go."
Listening to the police radio, Cameron said, "The police agree, John, they are covering both roads. Helicopters are in the air, trying to find this truck they have yet to discover what type it is."
"I imagine it would be a box truck," Joan said.
"That would be the best assumption. That means it probably isn't," Cameron replied.
.
Allison crawled out under the floor of the trailer, stiffened herself and pushed off hard at the road. She hit the road and the axle passed over her, then the tail of the trailer. The van was coming up fast as she skidded down the road. Just before she raised both legs up to meet the bumper, the driver's face opened up in shock. Hitting the bumper with both feet, she ground herself into the road and kicked the left side of the van up. The front tire hit her in the ass, making her tumble as the van tipped up on it's side.
Tumbling to a stop, metal crashing came to her ears. Allison burned all over. She got up from the long bloody skid mark she left behind. The van was on it's side, the back doors had sprung open, glass was everywhere. Limping and aching in stinging pains, Allison approached the van.
"Betty!" Allison called as she looked in the back. A man inside moaned and tried to move. Allison went in, grabbed his head, twisted and pulled hard, breaking his neck. Betty lay on top of him. The driver and front passenger were still in their seat belts, making motions as they tried to make sense of what happened. Pop, pop, she broke their necks also, picked Betty up and walked out the back to go back they way they came. A look back showed the trailer moving away in the distance. Betty had a heartbeat and she was breathing. Alison carried her, feeling weaker by the step. An SUV coming, slowed down upon seeing her.
Allison let out a weak laugh. She did it, she saved Betty. Dropping to her knees, Allison laid Betty on the ground, then fell down beside her. She could die now, it was OK. She got Betty away from those men.
Allison then heard frantic voices over her, A woman was screaming for an ambulance. A man was over her putting a blanket or something on her. Another older girl was checking over Betty.
"Can you hear me!" the man with a frantic face asked.
Weakly. Allison said, "It's OK, now. We got away." She was so tired, she closed her eyes and passed out.
.
The truck driver had seen the van behind him bounce up in the air on it's side then land in a spectacular crash He'd also see Allison tumbling on the road. He radioed to the vehicle ahead what happened.
"Damn it!" Horton spat, red faced. "Keep going! Take the next turnoff."
The Chinese man beside him scowled at him, "That was our property you lost, go back and get it!"
"Your property will kill us of we go back there," Horton stated. "She's free, and you do not want to face an angry cyborg."
"You will retrieve what we paid for!" the Chinese man stated, "Or you will find yourself buried in the ground!"
Horton shot him. The man cried out, so Horton shot him again. They turned off onto a side road and stopped. The driver got out of the truck, they put the Chinese man in then they drove away. Horton had their money now, he didn't need them any more.
.
Allison awoke in the back of an ambulance, lights on, racing down the road. She gasped, fearing she was still being held by the straps over her.
"Calm down, we're going to the hospital," the woman in white said beside her. "What's your name?"
"Allison Young." she felt something on her head, she was wrapped in bandages and a blanket was over her. She still stung all over. "I feel terrible," she said in a whine.
"You look terrible. You should feel lucky to be alive," the nurse told her.
"Allison," the man seated by her said, "Can you tell me what happened?"
Allison started by explaining they went to go look at mermaid tails to buy. As she explained tears came to her eyes when she told about them killing Carla and threatening to kill Betty so she wouldn't resist. The nurse looked like she was about to be sick as Allison told of Horton cutting her scalp off, then shooting her in front of those men. He wrote everything down, and assured her that Betty was in another ambulance, and they would be guarded. Those men wound not get to them again. Allison wished she could believe that.
.
"I need to become a target," Delilah said firmly. Seeing John and Cameron eye her, she added, "Horton is attacking our kids, and he got away AGAIN!. This is intolerable!" she raged. "That FUCK need to be turned into a pile of ashes, along with anyone with him."
"We need to find him before he finds us this time," Cameron stated. "Putting yourself out as a target he'll see you as bait, and he won't bite. He'll go after someone else who isn't expecting it. Who would have thought he would grab Allison?"
"Hon, Cameron's right," John told a quaking Delilah. "This guy is smart. Twisted, yes, but still very intelligent. He has backing too. I'm pretty sure he knows what we look like. He's not going to come after us, he want the ones who won't be expecting it."
"Then let me go out as bait," Joan said flatly. "I know he'll come after me. He's done it before."
"And he shoots you again from long range. No," Cameron stated.
"If I may make a suggestion?" Aliana asked. "Connor is an immortal, Horton used to be a Watcher, so Horton has to know about him. Connor is going to to try and infiltrate Horton's group. I fear Horton will bring him in then kill him. If I go and watch over Connor, I can find and kill Horton."
John nodded, "And if you just kill another body double, then all that effort is wasted."
"This time I will take the time to ensure it is Horton who dies," Aliana said firmly. "I do not want to lose my master."
Cameron nodded. "Do it, go help Connor and keep a watch over him. Also, keep in mind Horton is smart. Keep us informed."
"I will," Aliana said, and vanished.
"Wish I could do stuff like that," Joan said vacantly. "We should go see Allie."
"Allison will be brought home very soon," Cameron told her. She will want you home with her."
Coach Baker came in. He looked at Joan and Bob and said in a solemn tone, "Our games are suspended until this Horton guy is brought in or verified dead. This is four members of our team that has been attacked by him, and Carla Santos is dead. The manager, and I agree, feel it is too risky to keep going with this season. You can stay here, under our security, or go home if you feel safer there. In any case, no more games until this asshole is caught, and we are assured he's not coming back."
.
Police had the flatbed, but Horton got a spy inside to take pictures of how Allison had escaped. She had gotten to the switch to loosten the chains, unchained herself then made a hole in the floor of the trailer. She then wrecked the van and got away. Lying her down to hide her had been a mistake and it cost him dearly. He would remember that.
His face was all over the news, the 2 million dollar for whoever killed him was run again. He didn't even know of a Dana McGregor, but was credited with her death, along with the football player Carla Santos. He was sure now the Chinese would also be after him. He took their money and killed their agent. He was sure they were not happy about that.
Wasn't it nice to be so popular.
The only bright speck was his New England agent had found Jackie Connor, another who had managed to avoid getting caught or killed. He had men slip into the area to track her normal movements. There were always at least five with her. Four men and a boy her age. She was well guarded. There was a way past guards though. He just had to use intel and figure out what that was.
.
John Henry finally found what he was looking for. The Caymen islands bank account that recently received ten million from China. A video of a recent withdrawal from an ATM showed the face of James Horton. Instead of the 1000 dollars James withdrew John Henry added zeros on the end to make it the full ten million. Electronic money was easy to make or destroy. This would not catch Horton, but it would make it harder for him to operate. The more pressure that was on Horton, the more desperate he would become and the chances of him making a fatal mistake rose.
.
It was finally finished, and it looked good. Plenty of new equipment, some new furnishings and a new paint job, and Jackie's boat looked great. The last thing to do, was to name it. Discussing what to name it, Daniel came up with a fitting name. 'Jackie's surprise'. After all, no one, even Jackie had dreamed someone would give her a boat.
They had passed their final exams and had gotten their State High School diplomas. Now with Jackie's Surprise sitting beside the dock and a test run to be sure everything worked as it should, Both Daniel and Jackie wanted to take a cruise. The 4 terminators guarding Jackie also had to come along. Since they were coming along anyway, they also learned navigation, seamanship and radio coms and became the crew. Louise had gone home, so they took over her bedroom for spending time in shutdown mode.
Mr. Haskel gave them a hand in planning their trip. He plotted out their course and fuel stops and sight seeing trip down to Virginia, then up the Chesapeake bay and Potomac river to Washington DC.
Besides the mandatory life raft, Jackie's tail was considered emergency equipment while they were out. Each terminator was able to morph tails if they had to. If Jackie ended up in the water without her tail, she'd sink to the bottom. On the ocean that was bad news, so if there was a danger of sinking, Jackie had to put her tail on.
Since they were crew, the terminators wanted to look the part. Using the boat's colors, they got white sailor shirts and light blue pants to wear. Everyone had the 'topsider' sneakers to wear out on the water that were made to grip the rough paint of the deck, even when it was wet. Although Jackie was the owner, one Terminator was "Captain', and another was 'first mate'. The terminators took their roles seriously.
With Jackie and Daniel in the wheelhouse, the Captain who was on the dock side of the helmsman said, "Miss Connor, we are ready to depart."
"Depart," Jackie told him with a nod.
The Captain called out the open window, "Cast off all lines!"
"Cast off all lines Aye!" the First replied. Up on the foredeck he Snapped a long hump in the rope. it popped the rope up off the cleat it was on. He then looked back and announced, "All lines cast off!"
"Helm ahead one third," the Captain said.
"Ahead one third, Aye," the helmsman replied and slowly bumped the throttle up. "Captain we are increasing speed to one third."
"Very well," the captain replied and watched them pull away from the dock. The First Mate stored the mooring line as they pulled out.
Once they were clear the Captain looked at the chart table and said, "Helm, steer course 085, increase speed to 8 knots."
"Steer course 085, speed to 8 knots, Aye." The Helm replied.
The captain turned to Jackie. "Miss Connor, we are under way. We will be arriving in Boston Harbor at approximately 9am tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Captain. We will be on the rear deck."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Daniel looked out at the water going by. The boat was running smoothly. Only a smooth, quiet rumble was coming from the engine. He sat down by Jackie on one of the new couches along the side of the rear deck. "I think those guys are having fun with being sailors."
Jackie grinned. "I think they are too. They like having a mission, a purpose. Being the crew of this boat gives them that."
"Long as they're happy. If they do everything though, won't that be a boring trip for us?" he asked.
"Hmmm I think we can keep ourselves occupied," Jackie said in a musing tone. "Watching the scenery as we go out is fun. have you ever seen Collinwood from the water?"
"Good point. No, I haven't." After a moment, Daniel pointed, There's our beach! So the Old house must be up there at the top of the cliff. Wow, I never knew it was that tall."
Figuring the distance and angles, Jackie said, "It looks to be about 180 feet up to the top. Solid granite too."
"Hard to erode," Daniel agreed. He then saw rooftops. "Hey, there's Collinwood!"
"It looks majestic, sitting up there atop the cliffs," Jackie noted.
"It does," Daniel agreed. "I hear the top floor there was a lookout post for British ships during the revolution. That was one of the reasons the new house was built, to watch the bay."
"Makes sense, the only way onto land would be the end where Mr. Hackel's place is." Jackie agreed.
The boat morning caused a light wind to pick up. Looking at Jackie as her hair was dancing in the breeze, Daniel said, "You look pretty majestic yourself."
Jackie laughed. "Majestic?"
"Angelic? Beautific? Awsomerific?"
Jackie fell against him laughing. "You're making up words," she accused.
"Maybe normal words can't properly describe you," he offered.
Jackie' smile faded into a more intense look. She kissed him and said, "Maybe we should go below."
"Oh goodie," he said with a big grin.
.
The departure of Jackie's Surprise had been noticed by one of Horton's men. He reported they were leaving then got on his motorbike and drove to the end of the southern cliff to see which way they went.
Receiving the call, the leader of the group, another non human hater, Edgar, saw a chance here. He knew those cyborgs were heavy and sank in water. If they killed her guards, then got close to sink that boat, Jackie Connor would be on the bottom of the ocean, and Horton would be proud he'd gotten rid of her.
Edgar recalled all his men and contacted the boat Captain and told him they had to intercept the Jackie's Surprise, to give them an important item they had forgotten.
The Captain was sure what their course would be, he agreed to accept payment when the item was delivered. Edgar had his men carry their guns on board in a box, they motored out to find the Jackie's Surprise.
.
This time Daniel and Jackie didn't stop at petting. The had a long loving time on their boat then played and petted and played some more until they were hungry. They got mostly dressed and went out to the kitchen to cook some food.
Up in the wheelhouse the Captain noticed a radar contact that was closing. On the radio, a call came in.
Dayfisher to Jackie's Surprise. Come in please.
This is Jackie's surprise.
We have an important item we are bringing to you. Request you slow and prepare to receive a package.
Acknowledged
Right after he said that, The captain went below to find Jackie and Daniel making food. "Miss Connor, the Dayfisher called, they are coming to us on an intercept course. They have an important package that you forgot."
Jackie eyed him. "Did we forget anything?" she asked Daniel.
The crewman who was the mechanic came down in the cabin and said, "Captain, I have visual on a boat behind us. There are men on deck with guns."
"I don't think this package is one we want," Jackie said. "Captain, try to outrun them. If they shoot, fire back."
"Yes, Miss Collins." The captain then turned to the Mechanic. "Pass the word, man battle stations!"
"Man battle stations, Aye!" The Mechanic and the captain ran up and out.
"I better go see what's happening," Jackie said. She went up topside.
The Captain went into the wheelhouse and barked, "Helm ahead flank!"
"Ahead flank Aye!" the helmsman said and gave the engine full power. The engine roared and the boat picked up speed.
A shot came from the other boat now only a couple hundred yards away zinged by.
"Open fire!" the Captain announced and brought out his plasma canons. Six plasma rounds from the sailors and one from Jackie hit the front of the other boat. The bow was vaporized above the waterline, two men were turned into ash and the wheelhouse took a hit, burning a big hole in it, killing the captain and destroying equipment. The other boat scooped water into the non-existing bow. The boat tipped down sharply, plunging into the water, the wheelhouse went under, then only the stern tipped up. Another rain of plasma shots made the visible stern disappear.
"Cease fire, target destroyed," the Captain announced. "First Mate, Mechanic, inspect the boat for damage."
"Aye!" they chorused.
"Miss Connor, the target has been destroyed we will resume normal operations," the Captain told her.
"Good Job, Captain, carry on," she replied. "We tell no one of this incident."
"As you wish, Miss Connor."
Jackie went back to cooking with Daniel. They slowed back down to their normal speed.
Edgar, who had his armored vest on, and tangled in the strap of his AK 47 has lived through the bombardment, but suffered the fate he had planned for Jackie. His last thought as he sank into the depths was, 'that was a surprise'.
