Chapter 314

Bad News

Bob and Jim needed to join up with John later on. John Henry came up with a lead about the drone that intercepted them the other day.

They were dissatisfied with having their SUV blown up after they'd dumped it. They planned to deal with Eagle Mountain later on. Right now all their cameras were in place and they would see if anything bore fruit. So far there wasn't much.

Right now they were after another target.

With the information that they gained with the onsite 'inspection of the abandoned mine, they laid out a route for John Henry to check into. They wanted his server to go through all the traffic cams and surveillance cameras along that route and look for a repeat pattern of the same vehicles. It turned out a lot of vehicle made that same journey on a regular basis. There were a few of them that made it into the area where they operated.

"This will probably not pan out." Jim said.

Bob didn't see it as a problem. They didn't sleep.

"We will do like we do with all leads and run them down one at a time." Bob said. "Many lead nowhere."

There were several box trucks that they wanted to track down and see what was at the places that they visited. They were still on the lookout for Coltan.

"Maybe we should let John come along on one of these recons." Jim said.

"He seems to want to come on all of them he knows about." Bob said. "You know Cameron wants us keep as much of this under wraps as possible."

"That outing later on will be more dangerous for him." Jim said.

Bob didn't know what the real danger factor was for anything.

"Anything can go hot or stay cold." Bob said.

They drove to the first location.

"What's this place?" Jim asked.

Bob didn't like the look of it. He been on enough side operations with Cameron to know that this was trouble and probably not Skynet related.

"John Henry identified it as a produce outlet." Bob said.

Jim thought he knew what the 'produce' was. It was drugs.

"This looks like it's connected to a cartel." Jim said. "Look at the security around it."

There were two security guards visible.

"This looks drug related." Bob said. "They're probably funneled up through the Imperial Valley from Mexico."

Jim didn't like dealing with Mexico. Everything they needed to deal with there they always ran into trouble.

"At least we know why the trucks that come here pass by the turnoff for Eagle Mountain." Jim said. "We should go."

Bob looked over at Jim.

"You know as well as I do that Cameron will come here after we make the report." Bob said. "We should deal with this now."

Jim thought if they did that they should wait until darkness.

"Do you mean later on?" Jim asked. "We need to go with John."

Bob didn't see why they couldn't deal with it now. The punks associated with drug operations didn't have a clue what a Terminator was. If they moved fast this would be an easy takedown. They might even be able to grab some cash or other valuables for Cameron out of it.

"Let's just take this place down now." Bob said. "We should be in and out in a few minutes."

Jim thought it was a bad idea but it would be a worse idea if Cameron needed to come and do this by herself later on.

"Let's get it done then." Jim said.

They went to the back of the SUV and gathered what they thought was necessary.

The two thug security guards neared each other.

"Are they going to bring any 'fresh meat' with the next shipment?" The first thug asked.

"I don't know." The second thug said. "You know they try and round up young undocuments from the desert crossing."

"That last batch was used up before they got here." The first thug said. "I picked up a rash from one of them."

The other thug laughed.

"You're new." The second thug said. "You'll pick up everything from them at some point. I have. We just pass it on and so will they."

They spotted a large man on the sidewalk.

"Who's that guy?" The first thug asked.

"He looks like a body builder." The second thug said. "Are they running steroids now too?"

"I don't know." The first thug said.

The big man got closer.

"Should we challenge him?" The second thug asked.

The big man was almost to them but still on the sidewalk.

"Nice day for a walk." The first thug said.

"Nice day for a walk…." Bob said.

Jim moved around off to the side of the building. Both of the security guards were over with Bob. He made his way to a side door after going over the fence. It was locked. He looked around and forced it open. He made his way inside.

Right away he could hear females crying. That wasn't what he expected to hear or find. It was fairly common with operations like this. That was why Cameron liked to deal with these operations herself or with the Metal girls.

He moved through the building and found pallets full of packages of drugs. He took out some Thermite grenades. He armed them and set them off.

Bob moved closer to the two men. As soon as he was close enough he grabbed both of them by the neck and snapped them. He tossed their rag doll bodies behind a parked car.

He headed straight for the building. Jim communicated that he was inside and there were female detainees in the southwest corner.

Bob made his way to the rear loading dock and forced open the back door.

A man looked surprised. He went to cry out when Bob slammed into him and snapped his spine.

Bob heard two Thermite grenades go off.

Two men looked out of a room. He shot both of them with his M9. He shot one more as he passed the room. They'd been playing cards. There was a pile of cash and cards on the table.

There were two more shots from where Jim was. Bob left two Thermite grenades behind him.

Three armed men emerged from the front office area. Jim was on the other side and they took all three down in a crossfire.

They both opened fire on two more men in the room. They were in the counting room. They tried to put cash in a large safe. They both fell.

There were several boxes there. The placed the cash in two of them and exited the room.

"Where are the females?" Bob asked.

They were quiet now.

"Over here." Jim said.

Bob ripped the door off of it's hinges and tossed it aside.

There were three females in the room

"Come with me if you want to leave." Bob said.

The three females warily came forward.

"They don't speak English." Jim said.

Bob smiled.

"No problemo." Bob said.

Bob conversed with the females in Spanish and led them out the front door.

He gave each one of them a stack of cash and they disappeared down the street.

The building behind them was fully engulfed.

They made their way back to their SUV and drove off.

"What do we tell John?" Jim asked.

"We tell him the truth." Bob said. "We didn't find any Skynet activity yet and we have more leads to follow up on. None of them are concrete."

They headed back to the base.

John went out on a recon with Bob and Jim. Steve and Tom acted as the backup. Cameron leaned hard on John about combat. That meant he wasn't supposed to be in combat.

Bob was unsure what they were up against.

"I've reviewed the information from John Henry." Bob said. "I don't see the connection with the HK drone."

It seemed like a stretch to John as well.

"I don't either." John said. "John Henry was sure it came from this location or at least was kept here for a time. It's possible it was fabricated or assembled here."

Jim would rather act from the air. He didn't like unnecessary danger to John.

"We should just hit it with a drone missile strike and be done with it." Jim said. "I don't like the looks of this."

John wanted a simple 'in and out'.

"That's why we're here. We need to determine what this place is or was used for." John said. "We don't take any chances. I need everyone to get the surveillance set up and then we pull out."

Bob wanted a little more decisive action.

"You know that isn't how we operate." Bob said. "If Cameron were here…."

John felt that was the whole point. He wanted some type of order and command.

"I do know that isn't how you operate." John said. "That's why you're here with me instead of Cameron. You'll listen and follow orders. Cameron is reluctant to do that many times."

John often wondered if the real reason that Cameron married him wasn't simply another way to 'control him'. As his wife, he had less control over Cameron instead of more. As a trooper in the Resistance, she NEEDED to follow orders. As his wife she didn't. Things would quickly escalate into a domestic situation. She would also 'hold out' on him to make him more agreeable to her decisions and choices. John knew this was all part of her infiltrator programming. She was doing what she'd been constructed to do. John wondered if Cameron 'made' him love her. He watched her do that with each of the girls and even 'Metal Haters' like Jesse and Derek.

He knew even his mother thought highly of Cameron at this point. Just how high he wasn't sure. It was a turnaround from what it originally was. There was no doubt about that.

Jim would have liked Cameron to go on this mission with them.

"Where is Cameron?" Jim asked.

John wasn't really sure. She just said something came up.

"Cameron has other matters to attend to tonight." John said.

John waited as the surveillance was hooked up. He wanted to get out of there.

Bob hurried back to John.

"There's someone coming." Bob said.

John looked around. He didn't see anyone.

Both Jim and Bob moved closer to shield John.

"It's Metal." Jim whispered. "There are two of them."

This was probably about to go hot and Cameron would be all over him.

'Nice.' John thought.

This was some Skynet offshoot for sure.

"Everyone needs to fallback." John said.

The team immediately did so. The surveillance was in place. That's what they'd come there to accomplish.

"I have two drones ready to move in to attack or cover you." John Henry said over their coms.

John didn't want to tip their hand this early. The whole point why they were there was to gather intel.

"Hold them out a little way unless we are attacked. We need to gather more information first." John said. "I don't want the drones to be detected."

John Henry noted that one of the two Terminators was female from the surveillance feed. John Henry would notify Cameron so she could try to apprehend her. Cameron informed John Henry to keep that information 'off the books'.

Cameron previously asked not to be bothered for a few hours.

John Henry noted Holly and Allison arrived and no one looked happy.

Allison was in tears.

John was still unaware of what Cameron 'did' and to what extent.

Cameron was unsure of what would happen and didn't want to 'hear' any more than she would need to. She knew John and her argued a lot over little things. Sarah told her that is what couples do. That was married or otherwise. Cameron didn't like to fight with John and it was easier for her to be out or busy. It was less painful to avoid him, than fight.

Vanna came into her room. She expected to see Cam.

Cameron was there with Allison.

Vanna felt a sudden 'sick' feeling. She knew it was going to be bad news. A stab of pain shot across her mind. She KNEW what was coming….

Allison walked up and held Vanna for the longest time. This caused both of them to cry. Words were unnecessary.

Cameron didn't know what to say. She needed to say something.

"Vanna, I'm sorry…." Cameron said. "Maybe we can try again in a few months. Let me leave you two alone."

Cameron moved up and kissed Vanna on the cheek.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Cameron said softly.

Cameron left Vanna and Allison alone. The long time lovers would find comfort in each others company.

Cam and Sheila waited outside as well as Holly. Hanna stayed with Young Allison and Summer.

"I want you two to do whatever you can to help her." Cameron said to Cam and Sheila.

She was aware how possessive Holly was of Allison. This was a different situation.

"I need you to understand that Vanna NEEDS Allison right now." Cameron said to Holly.

Holly felt she'd grown and expanded a little. She understood human interaction better now.

"I do understand. I know their bond is strong, even if it's fractured." Holly said as she looked at Cameron. "Allison may need to stay here for awhile. I know 'comfort' is needed in times like these."

Now that Vanna's body terminated her pregnancy, Cameron wondered how long it would be until Jesse and Allison suffered a similar fate.

"What about Allison?" Cameron asked. "I'm worried about her and Jesse as well."

Holly was worried about that herself. Vanna's problem caused her great worry for Allison."

"Everything seems stable and 'normal'." Holly said. "I've checked all the records and my scans from Sarah when she was pregnant. Allison seems to be functioning within normal parameters."

Cameron frowned a little at Holly's use of words. She did understand everyone was on edge.

"Work on that terminology a little bit for next time." Cameron said. "I understand this is a stressful time for ALL of us."

Holly nodded but said nothing further. She didn't like the rebuff but the circumstances seemed to dictate her 'feelings' more so than usual.

Cameron turned her attention to Cam. She wanted to offer hope to Vanna with 'herself'.

"Cam, if Vanna has a 'melt down' or does anything 'foolish' I have my spare chip with me.…" Cameron said. "I will update it and let you hang on to it…."

Cam felt she'd prepared for an eventuality like this.

"I understand. Sheila can help me switch them out if I need to be 'you' for Vanna." Cam said. "I will be your clone if needed. I can also revert back to being 'you' before Ally was added. I will be 'Cameron' but out of date."

Cameron wondered if maybe that wasn't a better option for Cam and Vanna at this point. She didn't want Vanna to suffer from emotion distress. She was well aware what that was like.

Holly wanted to support the girls but her worry over Allison increased.

"I'll wait for Allison however long it takes." Holly said. "Allison is very upset and hurting as well. I will increase my monitoring of her."

Cameron noted the small glitch in Holly's hand.

"Holly, you haven't been replaced or 'sent away' by the one you love. Deal with it. You don't know how bad it can get. She will still love you no matter what. Vanna is her true mate. You know this. It's the 'Natural Order' as in my future. We may alter or change it for a time but the 'Natural Order' will always restore itself."

Holly was aware of that. It was just different when it happened to her.

"I'm sorry, Cameron." Holly said. "I understand."

Cameron thought the scene here was bad enough. There was still another potential problem to deal with. It didn't look like it would end well either.

"I need to go check on Jesse." Cameron said and left.

Savannah watched and saw what was happening. She knew what happened. She would go to Vanna when things calmed down some. She realized her importance just went up. Cameron was unwilling to let her help yet. Vanna would be more inclined now to let her help her. Vanna would understand that her body could do what hers could not. She knew her body was ready. It finally caught up to her mind. She'd been ready for what the future offered for a long time even before her body was. She was ready to step up. Vanna WAS her. She could help 'herself'. She could see others needed help too right now.

Holly felt surprised as Savannah took her hand, the one that was glitching. It stopped glitching instantly. Savannah led her away from Vanna's room.

Savannah knew how to calm Metal down and help them. She wasn't sure how she knew but when any of them seemed distressed she could make them 'feel' better. She wanted Holly to scan her and know she'd increased her 'value' in their operation now.

"Tell me all the new things about Young Allison and Summer…." Savannah said.

Holly smiled at the thought of Young Allison and Summer.

As Holly scanned Savannah and interacted with her, she soon realized that Young Allison would never 'belong' to her. Young Allison already 'belonged' to Savannah. It was a few years away but clearly written in stone. The 'Natural Order' was yet again asserting itself. Cameron was right. Cameron was always right….

Holly felt calmer and relaxed around Savannah. Even Allison couldn't calm her like this. It was clear why Cameron cherished Savannah. There was do doubt about it. Savannah was the 'Chosen One'.

Savannah and Young Allison were the 'Chosen Ones'.

Bad News

Often through life
People try to cruise
They take many shortcuts
Without paying their fair dues

Without much thought
They can often abuse
As long as it isn't them
They don't care who will lose

Some are left behind
To feel and cry the blues
When it's right from wrong
Which path will they choose

One may end up with a bruise
When they miss their warnings cues
Good from evil is easy to confuse
Going forward one may refuse

Many will another often use
Greed will cause them to accuse
Life offers many changing views
Most of them are all bad news

Nobody