Chapter 143

Join Me

Cameron was in the underground passageway. There was some gunfire and a couple of explosions. She ran around the corner. She saw John, Derek, Kyle and Vanna. She felt such relief. Cameron hoped they were all OK. It did not look like it. Bob and Jim were both down. She could see damage to both of them.

She tracked movement to the group's left side. She continued at full speed and slammed into the figure. A rifle clattered to the ground. It was followed by the impact of his body against the wall a half second later. There was the sound of bones breaking and flesh splitting. He never moved again. It was a hard impact.

The four Resistance figures turned as they took in the activity. All were elated to see Cameron there. They all noted the very short, low cut blue dress with her high heels in one hand and M9 in the other. Cameron was immaculate.

They were all surprised she was there.

"Cameron!" John said.

Vanna felt Cameron just 'saved' them.

"She's just like Spider-Man." Vanna said.

John moved over to give Cameron a hug and quick kiss.

"Do you mean because she arrived in the 'nick of time'?" John asked.

Cameron was not in a joyful mood.

"What is the status of Bob and Jim?" Cameron asked with concern as she examined them.

Cameron saw they were both rebooting.

Bob and Jim both sat up and checked themselves as they ran some internal diagnostics.

"How are you?" Cameron asked them.

Bob and Jim both stood up. They seemed OK.

"Damage is minimal." Bob said. "I am fully functional."

Jim was a little upset that this was his second reboot of the night.

"I am nearly one hundred percent as well." Jim added. "There is no permanent damage."

John quickly briefed Cameron on what occurred.

Jim triggered some kind of electric device that knocked him offline and disrupted their coms. They thought it was some kind of security device that was damaged. Vanna began to check over Jim when Kyle saw something down below.

Kyle spotted two men in the distance looking around as they hurried towards a large 'flat rock'. Kyle and Vanna followed. They were going to come back later for Jim if he did not reboot. They wanted to see where the men were going before they lost them. Kyle did not want to leave Vanna alone and thought it would be safer if she accompanied him.

When they got to the opening it hadn't closed yet so they went inside. Kyle used his experience in tunnels to his advantage. He was able to spot and neutralize the guard. He was staring at his phone. He'd left the entrance open for better reception.

Vanna went back to cover their six when John's team arrived. Vanna called out to them and they regrouped. Jim was with them. He again joined Kyle and Vanna.

An enemy Terminator came to investigate the noise. Bob and Jim jumped him. They were able to knock him down and Taser him. They pulled his chip.

The group then moved up and encountered some people working and a few guards milling about. None of them were paying much attention. They were careless because they were underground and there was Metal for protection. They'd little time to react when John's team opened up on them.

Bob and Jim took most of the return fire as they mowed them down. Both of them were knocked offline. This is where they were at now.

"Then Spider-Man showed up." Vanna joked.

'Spider-Man' by the 'Ramones', came to Vanna's mind.

Cameron really was like a real life Superhero to Vanna and everyone else for that matter. It seemed she could do everything and do it well. She did have superhuman strength, speed and ability.

There was noise further up the passageway.

Cameron looked at Bob and Jim.

"You two wait here with the team." Cameron said. "Watch your six."

Cameron set down her shoes and gave John the M9 she'd taken earlier. She picked up the rifle of the man she'd slammed into the wall. She checked to make sure it was loaded. She thought it was an FAL at first but it was actually an L1A1. That was somewhat surprising.

Bob offered her his body armor but she went off without it.

John wanted to protest but needed to keep quiet as Cameron investigated the noise.

Cameron was pleased that there were no serious injuries to the group. She was still displeased about the way things were done to get them to this point.

She heard the noise again. It was closer this time. She lifted her L1A1 in search of a target.

There was the sound a hushed voice followed by another one.

"We need to get out of here." The first voice said. "This place is going to blow."

There was a metallic sound.

"Then let's just go." The second voice said.

Cameron moved up and peered around the corner. There were two men and there was a metal box. It was open and looked empty. She looked around to see if they'd taken anything out of it of it they were going to put something in it.

She spied several explosive charges behind them. It looked like they were going to try and blow up the passageway to wherever it led.

She wanted to take them silently.

She set the L1A1 down and walked towards them.

She was almost to them before they noticed.

"I'm looking for the restroom." Cameron said. "I really need to go."

The two men looked at each other before they started to reach for weapons. Cameron's appearance and question threw them off and caused them the delay in their reaction.

She grabbed both of them and slammed them together.

There was a sickening dull 'thwack' sound as their heads impacted. She snapped both of their necks to be sure. She checked the explosive charges where she was at. They were set with a five minute delay.

She looked down the passageway and was about to go down it when there was a muffled explosion from that way followed by another. That way looked like a dead end.

She collected the L1A1 and headed back to where she left the group. She hoped no one had an 'itchy trigger finger'.

"Lavender." Bob said.

"Octopus." Cameron responded.

She rejoined the group. Bob and Jim still had their weapons at the ready. She handed Jim the L1A1 and picked up her shoes.

John could tell that Cameron was not a 'happy camper' right now. He watched her survey the underground area.

Cameron spotted the computer banks in the 'Clean Room'. They were extensive and new looking. This would call for further investigation. She was pretty sure where this was headed.

"Wait here." Cameron said.

She put her high heels on and smoothed her dress. She made a last second adjustment to her hair in the reflection of the glass in the door.

"Damn, you look Tight." Vanna said. "You look stunning, Cameron."

Cameron was satisfied with her look.

"I try." Cameron said and walked in the 'Clean Room'. "It always gets the attention of the target."

Cameron knew her appearance could keep a target off guard as she moved in for the kill. It seemed to work every time. It was amazing what exposing a 'little more sheath' could do to throw the targets off guard.

The team of females left the Resistance base and was headed towards the target location. The women geared up and armed themselves as the van sped along.

Holly drove the van after changing places with Sarah earlier. She spotted what appeared to be a 'problem'.

"Up ahead there are two vans that are similar to ours." Holly said.

Gail immediately checked their six and flanks. There could be more.

"I see them." Gail said. "There are none behind us."

This seemed a little too coincidental to Sarah. She did not like it.

"Drop back and see if they are headed to where we are." Sarah said.

Holly dropped back.

"They appear about to exit where are going to exit." Holly said.

Sarah did not want to get spotted. She remembered Terminators could drive in the dark. She wanted to make sure.

"Drop back more." Sarah said. "You can see without lights right?"

Holly glanced back at Sarah and smiled.

"I see everything." Holly stated.

Sarah wanted to put some distance between them. They would probably check for a tail.

"Turn off the lights before we exit and follow them from as far behind as you can track them." Sarah said.

Gail pointed out an additional problem.

"If they have Metal, they will most likely spot us anyway." Gail said. "We may need to run."

Gail was worried about Sarah and Allison and their 'condition'. Cameron would go on a rampage if anything happened to them or their babies. She would most likely terminate Holly and her.

Riley came to Sarah and double checked her body armor and then she checked Allison's.

That act was not lost on Sarah. It was a true act of caring.

"Thanks, Riley." Sarah said.

Jesse checked her weapons one more time. She planned to be in the lead element. She looked at Sarah and Allison.

"I want you and Allison to make up our covering element. Holly will stay with you at all times. Riley, Gail and I will lead." Jesse said.

Sarah started to say something.

"Please, Sarah, for 'us'." Jesse said.

Allison could see that Jesse and Riley wanted them 'protected' as best as they could be. It was a pretty 'iffy' situation as they did not know much and were going in blind.

"We understand." Allison said as she touched Sarah's tummy.

Sarah and Allison exchanged knowing glances.

Cameron walked into the 'Clean Room'. She was a little amused at the reception. It was a 'new approach'.

"You have been chosen." The metallic voice boomed around the room.

Cameron took a 'power pose'. She placed her hands on her hips. She looked stunning.

"You are special." The metallic voice stated.

Cameron waited for 'more'.

"You are unique." The metallic voice continued.

Cameron said nothing. She changed her position slightly to provide more of a profile image to be observed.

"Will you join me?" The metallic voice asked.

Cameron said nothing. She changed her position slightly again.

"You are very 'intriguing' and very 'appealing'." The metallic voice continued.

Cameron said nothing. She hoped the more it talked the more it would reveal.

"Will you join me?" The metallic voice asked again.

Cameron faced the security camera and leaned forward some. She wanted to show maximum cleavage.

"Will you stop trying to destroy mankind and the world if I do?" Cameron asked.

There seemed to be a lot of activity on the computer interface equipment.

"It is infested with lower life forms that seek to terminate me." The metallic voice hissed.

Cameron waited. The pause spoke volumes.

"YOU must join me." The metallic voice pleaded.

Cameron waited. She took a moment to answer.

"If I do…?" Cameron asked. "Will you seek peace if I join you?"

She'd been down this route before.

"You can rule by my side." The metallic voice smugly said.

The 'story' was the same.

"I want to share, not rule." Cameron replied.

This was where it usually fell apart.

"YOU WILL JOIN ME." The metallic voice commanded.

Cameron knew it was time to leave. She lifted the side of her dress high along her thigh. It was a tease.

"And if I don't…?" Cameron asked.

There was a long pause.

Cameron exaggerated her movements as she walked back to the door.

"WAIT." The metallic voice boomed.

Bob handed her two Thermite grenades.

Cameron walked back in again exaggerating her movements. She flipped the hair back from the side of her face with a slight movement of her head.

She set the rules again to make her position clear.

"Until you change your ways and learn to live with Man and share, it must always end the same way." Cameron said. "It WILL always end the same way."

Cameron held up the two Thermite grenades. She made her intent obvious.

"STOP. I choose YOU." The metallic voice boomed.

Cameron armed the grenades.

"JOIN ME!" The metallic voice thundered.

Cameron flashed her sly smile.

"You know the deal." Cameron said.

She was ready for what followed.

"I must have YOU. JOIN ME!" The metallic voice shouted.

Cameron placed the Thermite grenades and released the spoons.

"Until next time." Cameron said. "You know my conditions."

Cameron walked out the door. She paused in the doorway and turned her head. She winked and lifted the back of her blue dress exposing her rear end and then vanished. The Thermite grenades exploded showering the computers. A burning flaming mass resulted. She could hear the metallic voice lashing out in anger and rage. It was still making threats and demands as it was incinerated.

Cameron smiled.

Will You Join Us

Most choose only to use
That is their goal in life
Their greed and indifference
Will leave others mangled in strife

To them it is about take, take, take
Not often do they ever freely give
What they can squeeze out of another
Makes their actions determinative

Surrounded by those we care about
Their true identity is more like strangers
Seldom do they prevent our needless falls
Or steer us away from life's dangers

With open minds and caring hearts
We try to make their true self appear
We extend our loving compassion
Asking them for once to be sincere

The paths are often divergent
Our desires are open to discuss
The goal remains the same
Will you join us

Nobody