Chapter 21

Girl's Night Out

Vanna and Allison reaffirmed their relationship and it was soon as strong as ever. The two girls really thought they would never see each other again. Now here they both were. They were together again in Paradise. The troubles of the future were in the past, at least their past.

Vanna and Allison wanted to go out for the evening. Vanna wanted to ask Cameron if she would like to go with them. She decided not to. She didn't want to upset Allison and look like she was still actively pursuing Cameron.

The girls hadn't really decided on a specific place to go yet.

Allison was the one who brought up Cameron.

"Cameron suggested that we have a Metal escort when we go out." Allison said.

That was something that Cameron stressed. Usually Bob or Jim went with them. A couple of times John Henry went. He was usually busy.

"We can ask someone." Vanna said. "There are no operations scheduled for tonight."

Allison wondered if Cameron would want to go without John.

"Maybe I'll ask Cameron." Allison said. "We can have a 'girl's night out'."

Vanna liked that idea. She liked it even better when Allison suggested it.

"We could ask her." Vanna said.

Allison nodded.

"I'll do it." Allison said.

That pleased Vanna immensely.

Allison found Cameron and asked her if she wanted to come along with them. She explained that they wanted to have a 'girl's night out'.

Cameron thought about it for a few seconds. She said only if they could take Sarah with them. She was worried about Sarah, she seemed so alone. Even though John was back it seemed there was still a deep emptiness to Sarah. Most of the male figures she cared about were dead.

She tried to interact with Sarah whenever she could. She was very appreciative of the fact that Sarah made sure she was restored and backed her up during her recovery.

Cameron was with John a lot. Vanna and Allison shared each other. Sarah only seemed to have memories. She told Sarah that she would never 'take' John away from her. She explained that there was room for everyone in their tight knit group, together. She didn't wish to subtract anything from Sarah's life but add to it. On her end she made a point to see that John stayed close to his mother.

Sarah was aware that John and Cameron's relationship was 'expanding'. She didn't want to really think about it or know by how much. She knew Cameron was the best person to help and protect John at this point in his life. Previously when she'd ask Vanna about Cameron's 'completeness' as a female, Vanna indicated that Cameron seemed 'fully functional' as a human female. At least all the 'components' were there. She felt what John and Cameron did on their own was their business. She wasn't going to get involved.

Cameron found Sarah and asked her if she wanted to go out with them.

Sarah agreed because she wanted to get a little closer to Vanna and Allison. She spent a lot of nights alone 'polishing her pearl'. Vanna tried to get 'closer' to her before Allison came back. She wouldn't mind that 'adventure' with Allison or Vanna at this point in her life. She'd done some experimentation in high school with some of her female friends. She was ready for that adventure again. She wouldn't say anything to anyone about it but if the opportunity arose, she was going to take it. Her fingers needed a break.

The four 'girls' went out. There was no mission for tonight. Everyone except Cameron needed a rest from the action.

Allison asked Cameron if she ever rested or slept.

"I don't sleep." Cameron said.

Allison could understand that but there must be more to it.

"You don't need to recharge or regenerate or something?" Allison asked.

Cameron tilted her head slightly. She felt her power cell was very efficient and powerful.

"No." Cameron said. "I can operate twenty-four hours a day for years at a time."

Allison liked her sleep but having all that extra time would be interesting, at least for awhile.

"What do you do?" Allison asked.

Cameron thought about it. She did a lot of things.

"Everything." Cameron said.

Allison wasn't sure what that meant. Maybe Cameron could show her sometime. She felt Cameron could improve her training. She was a Resistance fighter but she wanted to improve herself. Cameron would be the perfect one to do that. She would need to ask Cameron later.

"Tonight is 'fun night'. Let's go have some fun." Allison said. "I need a break."

They discussed what they wanted to do. They all agreed on a few things they would try.

The girls caught a movie and dinner. They wanted to have a few drinks, which Sarah needed to purchase. No one would serve Allison or Cameron, even if Cameron didn't order a drink.

Over the last few weeks Vanna and Sarah taught Allison how to drive or attempted to anyway. It was a new skill that she was challenged by. They wanted her to learn in a safer manner than she'd learned in the Wastelands. It was slow going but Allison was a quick learner. Allison said she also wanted to learn to drive a 'stick shift'. She wanted to learn how to drive everything.

Allison wanted to practice driving tonight. Maybe the couple of drinks she tried didn't help her any. She seemed to drive slightly more erratically than usual. She either hit one pot hole too many or one curb too many.

Cameron thought she should take over Allison's driving instruction.

They ended up with a flat tire on some dark side street. Cameron changed the tire without the use of tools. The girls loved it. There was a lot of cheering and clapping from them. It was clear that the human girls all drank one too many.

All of the noise and laughing brought visitors.

Cameron put the flat tire in the back of the SUV. She heard and then spotted the figures as they approached. She warned the others.

"There's trouble coming." Cameron said. "I have it."

One of the figures stepped forward and spoke. It was most likely the leader of the group.

"You chiquitas look like you need some real men to help you out." The leader said.

There were half a dozen members of a local street gang that approached them.

Allison recognized the threat for what it was in the future. She warned the others as she reached for her weapon.

"Scavengers!" Allison said as she gripped the butt of her Model 66. "I'll take the two on the far right."

Sarah didn't want Allison to overreact. She knew Allison was unfamiliar with contemporary society.

"Relax. Don't do anything yet." Sarah said. "They are just a local street gang. They are nothing more than thugs and punks."

The leader and his group heard what Sarah said. They didn't like it.

"Thugs and punks?" The leader asked. "You sluts need to learn some respect, especially when you're on our turf."

Sarah held Cameron and Allison back. She wanted to try a diplomatic approach first.

"Let's hope he comprehends better than he hears." Sarah said. "You punks leave now and no one gets hurt."

There were angry murmurs from the thugs.

"I don't think we're the ones who'll be hurt." The leader said.

Sarah tried to warn them again.

"Just leave now and nothing will happen." Sarah said.

There was muted laughter from the thugs.

"What's gonna happen?" The leader asked.

Sarah nodded her head towards Cameron.

"She happens." Sarah said.

The gang sized up Cameron.

"Are you loco?" The leader asked Sarah.

Sarah smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

"I've spent a few years in the 'nut house'." Sarah said.

The gang heard enough. They felt they were being mocked or taunted.

"You putas are gonna get a real work over by my crew. I'm gonna start with that one." The leader said.

He pointed at Cameron.

"Then I'm gonna do her sister and friend." The leader said. "The mouthy mother will be last. My whole crew will take a turn with each of you."

Allison heard enough. Those were 'killing' words in the future. She was ready to draw her Model 66 and fire. Sarah gently grabbed her to hold her back.

"Cameron has this." Sarah whispered.

Cameron looked at the girls and Sarah.

Sarah nodded.

Cameron faced the leader.

"OK." Cameron said.

Cameron took off her purple coat and handed it to Vanna. She didn't want to get blood on it or worse, a rip.

"Try not to kill anyone." Sarah whispered to Cameron as she reached back and touched her Glock.

The leader didn't like the challenge.

"OK - what?" The leader asked.

Cameron stepped forward.

"You said I was first." Cameron said. "Here I am. Now what?"

Cameron walked up and faced the six punks. That act seemed to unnerve the thugs because she wasn't afraid of them.

She openly challenged them.

"Well?" Cameron asked.

The leader hadn't ever encountered this type behavior before. He felt threatened now.

"What are you looking at?" The leader asked.

Cameron leaned forward slightly.

"I'm looking at you." Cameron stated.

One of the thugs moved around to try and come up on Cameron's side. She reached her leg out and tripped him. She punched him in the back of the neck as he fell. His head hit the pavement with a loud 'crack'. He'd been in the process of pulling out a butterfly knife. It clattered to the pavement unopened. Another punk rushed her from the other side. Cameron grabbed him and brought her foot up from in back of her over her shoulder and slammed it into his head. That produced another loud 'crack' sound. He silently joined his gang buddy on the ground.

She advanced on two more thugs that reached for guns or knives and slammed both of them together. She then threw them to opposite sides of the street like rag dolls. They didn't move after they landed.

Cameron looked around and smiled, four up and four down, two to go.

"Is this how you play the game?" Cameron asked.

Everything happened in just a few seconds so far.

"You're crazy." The leader said in utter fear.

Cameron advanced on him.

"Probably." Cameron said.

She actually felt she was at times.

Cameron snatched the pistol out of the leader's hand that he finally managed to draw and threw it into the face of the remaining man. He went down as blood squirted from his split open forehead. She was sure she saw the bone before the blood gushed out.

Cameron faced the leader. He was all alone.

"I like this game." Cameron said.

The leader pulled a switchblade.

Cameron picked up the butterfly knife from the pavement that the first thug dropped. She expertly opened it in a swift fluid motion. The leader stepped back. He was terrified. The front of his pants rapidly formed a wet spot.

Allison and Vanna watched in awe. It was only about ten seconds since Cameron first said 'OK'.

"She's taking it easy on them." Sarah informed Vanna and Allison. "They are all still alive. I haven't heard her snap any necks yet."

Cameron grabbed the punk's knife hand and crushed his wrist. He screamed in agony. The switchblade fell to the ground. She held her knife to his throat.

"What did you want to start with?" Cameron asked. "I'm here."

The leader whimpered in agony. There was the foul order of human excrement in the air.

"I'm gonna kill you." The punk gasped out.

Cameron's face was blank.

"You can't kill me." Cameron said.

Cameron picked him up by the neck and lifted him off of the ground as she squeezed. He thrashed around wildly for a few seconds before he fell limp. She dropped him to the ground.

Vanna and Allison looked on in awe.

"Wow, you were amazing." Allison said. "Cameron, you're the greatest."

Vanna put her mouth against Allison's ear and whispered as softly as she could.

"Are you still going to try to hit on her boyfriend?" Vanna asked.

Allison swallowed hard.

Sarah thought it was time to move on.

"That's enough 'fun' for tonight." Sarah said. "Let's go."

Allison was pumped full of adrenaline.

"This was fun. I had a really great time. Let's do it again tomorrow." Allison said and meant it.

Cameron looked over at the six fallen figures, there was no movement from any of them. None of them scanned back as deceased.

She faced Allison.

"Most nights are usually like this for me anyway." Cameron said.

That surprised Allison.

"Really?" Allison asked.

"Yes." Cameron said.

Allison wondered if Cameron acted less restricted than what Sarah wanted tonight.

"Do you ever kill anyone?" Allison asked.

Cameron thought it depended on the mission.

"Sometimes." Cameron said. "It happens."

The incident tonight reminded Allison of her past - the future.

"I know things like this happened all the time in our future." Allison said.

"Things happen here too." Cameron said.

Allison really wanted some addition training now.

"Can I go out with you some night?" Allison asked. "I'd like to learn more from you and be more like you. That is if you want to teach me. I'm a quick learner."

Cameron thought about that for a moment.

"Anytime." Cameron said. "Maybe we can learn from each other."

Allison was not sure what that meant.

Cameron knew there were a few things she needed to learn from Allison. The main one being was what happened in the future between Allison and John. There was more to the story than anyone said so far. She wanted answers. She wanted the truth.

Do You Ever Think About Dying

Do you ever think about dying
No need to shed a tear
Death is always near
Its call you can hear

Will it be a new beginning
Or is it really the end
No need to build bridges
Or any fences to mend

You can go out screaming
Paint yourself with disgrace
Or tackle the Grim Reaper
With a smile on your face

We know how the story ends
Do you know where you stand
Will you be the one to give
Or receive the command

If they say that they haven't
You know they are lying
I will ask you once again
Do you ever think about dying

Nobody