Chapter 428

Both Of Them

Kyle was out with Jim and Al. They were doing reconnaissance on some possible 'super computer' locations. The target looked straightforward but they'd been on enough of these strikes to know nothing was simple. It could turn to crap real fast, which was something that it seemed to do more often than not.

He knew both Cameron and Sarah didn't like him being out and risking his life. They just couldn't understand this was how he grew up. It was doing this very thing. It was a part of his life. He wanted to help and protect his family. He wanted to prevent his daughter and son from ever living in a Skynet decimated world. It wasn't a world for anyone to grow up in, especially a female.

The thought of what happened to every female in the future troubled him. He feared for his daughter more than he did for Sarah. Once Skynet blew everything up, there was no longer a moral compass for humanity. Society devolved into a crude state of affairs about one step above that of a caveman. That was how it was in the Wastelands anyway.

He was aware that Cameron conducted 'off the books' operations against future Scavengers. He supported her efforts one hundred percent. The more of that evil scum that was eradicated before Judgment Day, the better it was going forward for every female and male too for that matter.

Kyle didn't want to get sidetracked. This operation was all very concise. It was easy to lose focus when the objective seemed so clear cut. The intel they'd received seemed too good, too precise. He felt exposed and out in the open. This all felt wrong. They'd just started the recon. Something seemed off to him almost immediately.

"I don't like this." Kyle said. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Jim and Al looked at each other. Cameron told them before to listen to the warnings from the humans with them. Humans saw things differently than Terminators did on several levels.

"Drive away, now." Kyle said as he looked around.

Kyle hoped they hadn't been 'made'.

Jim hit the gas and drove away rapidly.

"What is it?" Jim asked.

John Henry picked up on the apprehension earlier. He'd taken preemptive action.

"I've dispatched a drone." John Henry came over the com. "There'll be one for each team. They are enroute."

Kyle looked up and around at the sky.

"Something seems off." Kyle said. "It doesn't feel right."

Al took it at face value. He was concerned now as well.

"Is that human intuition?" Al asked. "I know it has proven valuable before."

John was out with Bob and Steve. They were part of the same recon group but as a separate team. They were in the vicinity of Kyle's team.

"Kyle, we're moving to intercept." John said.

Kyle didn't want John to walk into whatever they just did.

"Stay alert." Kyle said. "I think we're being played."

John Henry thought it was time to play the 'Cameron card'. She'd dispatched Terminators from her base to silently shadow the two groups for support. It looked like that support was needed right now.

"Cameron has Terminators ready to cover both of your teams." John Henry said.

John was insulted as much as he was glad to hear the news. He didn't like Cameron to 'baby' him.

"What a vote of confidence." John said.

John Henry didn't like John's rebuke. There were bigger issues at play other than someone's ego.

"It's for situations just like this." John Henry said.

John knew he let his 'feelings' get the best of him.

"You're right. I'm sorry everyone." John said. "Do you have anything else, Kyle?"

Kyle looked all around him and up at the sky as well. He was sure they'd been clocked.

"Not yet." Kyle said. "I just got a bad feeling."

John knew it must be pretty bad to spook Kyle like that. He was very worried now. He regretted his earlier comment.

"Derek and a team are headed to the Blackhawk now." John Henry said. "They're gathering their gear. We weren't expecting this to go hot, at least not this soon on a recon."

Jim pointed to the sky in the distance.

"We have a HK drone inbound." Jim said. "I see it closing."

John Henry checked on the two drones he'd sent. They were not near either team yet.

"It's not ours." John Henry said. "They're both still out of range."

John knew an HK drone was a death sentence to a vehicle out in the open.

"Beautiful." John said. "Can you find cover?"

Kyle spotted the drone now himself. It took him longer than it did for Jim and Al. It was just over half a mile away.

"No." Kyle said. "It looks like we're screwed."

John knew their best hope was to split up and run. The HK drone wouldn't be able to get all of them on the first pass.

"How long is it until you get hit?" John asked. "Dump the SUV and make a run for it. Use the storm drains."

Jim already slowed the SUV to do just that.

"It's too late. It's making its run." Jim said.

Kyle and Al bailed out first before the SUV even stopped. They took off in different directions. Maybe only one of them would be killed before their drone got there to help them….

Sarah never considered sending Jan to school when it was time. She always planned to home school Jan. She was able to watch and assist with Savannah's upbringing. Savannah was clearly advanced beyond her physical years in her learning almost from the start. She did college level work when she was middle school age. A lot of that progress rested with Cameron. Cameron worked with Savannah both day and night in every subject and in her training to become a resistance fighter. It always seemed that Cameron wanted Savannah to be the 'human version' of her. It was said it would be even more so with the younger version of Allison. Cameron couldn't become human but she could create humans that were just like her.

She was in the middle of a lesson with Jan when the alert came across. It was a positive Skynet HK drone encounter. She didn't have the details. Kyle was out. A sick feeling came over her. She already knew what was about to happen, even if she didn't know for sure. She put Jan in the 'safe room' where they used to send Savannah. She called for Riley to watch her. She rushed to where John Henry was at.

John Henry and Sarah developed a bond slowly over the years. She, like Cameron with THIS Riley, came to accept they were different from the others that 'looked like' them. They were different individuals from the ones that caused the 'problems'.

Sarah reached the Command Center and John Henry filled her in. Now she was aware Kyle was running for his life.

It looked like one or all of them on this mission were going to be terminated….

It looked like someone needed to pull an ace out of their sleeve. She was fresh out of cards to play.

Nobody possessed one.

Holly induced John's genetic material into Allison earlier. She used the most proven technique to deliver the 'goods'. There were hundreds of millions of 'John's little soldiers' who all sought out one thing inside of Allison. One of them made it. She scanned Allison and was aware of the 'change'. She informed Allison of the news.

It was done.

Holly looked into Allison's eyes.

"Congratulations." Holly whispered.

Allison's mouth dropped open slightly.

"Do you mean…." Allison started.

Holly kissed Allison softly on the cheek.

"Yes." Holly said.

Claire just 'happened' to pass by the room. She'd actually been pacing back and forth waiting to see what happened. She knew it was very personal to Allison.

Allison saw Claire go by.

"Mom…." Allison called out.

Claire returned to the doorway of Allison's room.

"Yes?" Claire asked.

Allison took Holly's hand. She looked very serious.

"Mom, I'm pregnant." Allison said.

Claire was overjoyed to get the conformation. She tried to make light of the situation.

"That's just what every mother wants to hear from their unmarried daughter." Claire said jokingly. "I'd ask who the father is but it is the same guy who got me pregnant as well…."

Claire touched her belly. She carried Allison's embryo inside of her. It was 'insurance'.

Allison smiled. She looked a little less serious now.

"I've heard of those 'mother - daughter' things." Allison said.

They both laughed. Claire was actually open to that idea if the opportunity ever arose.

Claire gave Allison a hug.

Allison was aware of the grim realities of the future, her future anyway.

"I wouldn't worry too much." Allison said. "We both know you'll be the one having my baby. Mine don't seem to 'stick' for very long."

Claire wasn't so sure. The possibility of both Allison and her having one of Allison's babies was an interesting concept.

"They would almost be 'twins' if you were successful. They would only be a few months apart." Claire said. "I'd let you explain that one to everybody."

Holly tilted her head slightly. She thought that was an excellent way to produce 'twins'. It would be easier to take care of them each in the first few months that way.

Claire broke the news to Hanna.

Hanna sought out Holly. This was an issue that needed good planning and coordination.

Holly and Hanna discussed the same thing later on. The issue of Allison having another 'failure' came up. It wasn't a pleasant subject.

"Cameron keeps making her try." Hanna said. "It has to be hurting Allison."

Holly knew how hard Allison took each 'failure' even if Allison tried to hide her pain from everyone else.

"It was our choice." Holly said. "We want to start a family. I don't think Allison will try again herself if this one fails. Claire can help her out again."

Hanna calculated the fertile years for Claire with six months between pregnancies. She was aware that child birth taxed the mother's body.

"Claire can have a dozen more." Hanna said. "But I won't let her. It's hard on her body."

Holly didn't see there was a problem. All creatures were born, matured, mated and then died.

"That's the design and function of the human body." Holly said. "That's the sole purpose of it. It's to propagate the species. It's the same with all animals and creatures. They only exist to reproduce."

Hanna saw it on a more personal level.

"I scan Claire all the time. I see how it drains her inside." Hanna said. "It takes a toll."

Holly's concern was Allison, not Claire.

"I'll let YOU argue it with Cameron." Holly said. "Claire will have as many children as Cameron wants her to have. Get over it."

Hanna frowned at Holly. She knew Holly was right. There was no need to start an argument. She wanted Holly's assistance later on.

"Young Allison wants to train at the park later." Hanna said. "Will you take her?"

Holly was sure Hanna would push for a 'little more' in her absence.

"Yes. I'll make sure the Detail follows us as usual." Holly said. "That means you need to stay on alert here and no 'hanky panky'."

Hanna wanted a little 'hanky panky'. That wasn't the issue right now.

"Claire feels a little off today." Hanna said. "I'm very worried about her."

Holly gave Hanna's hand a squeeze. It was a trait she'd picked up from Allison.

"I'm sorry. I know you care about her." Holly said. "You watch My Allison too then, scan her as well."

Hanna looked at Holly but said nothing.

Holly picked up on the silence right away.

"You'd better only scan her." Holly said. "None of that 'mother – daughter' thing I've heard about."

Hanna needed to 'battle' with what was on her chip.

"I have two people on my chip that love her, Vanna and you." Hanna said. "It's easy to 'wander' sometimes."

Holly was very possessive of Allison. That possessiveness slowly spread to 'every Allison'. They were all the same person.

"Not on my watch." Holly said. "Allison belongs to me – BOTH of them…."

Hanna wondered if Holly just 'claimed' Young Allison as well. That wasn't going to go over well with Savannah and Cameron if that was the case. She thought Holly better 'watch it'. Claire probably was another one who wouldn't tolerate that either.

Jim slowed enough for Kyle to slide out at the nearest storm drain entrance, while Al ran the opposite way. Jim continued on for another hundred yards and exited the vehicle as well in a different direction. He left it in 'neutral' so it would continue on for a short distance before it stopped. The idea was to give the HK drone four targets now instead of one. Logic dictated that the HK drone should attack the vehicle first since it was the largest and there could be others inside.

Kyle hit the ground and rolled right up to the storm drain opening in the curb. He slid beneath the grate of the storm drain and dropped down into the muck. He headed immediately through the small drainage tunnel underneath and across to the other side of the street. They were usually connected like that to one central pipe beneath the street or actually on one side of the street. He was almost across when he heard the explosion. He was instantly afraid that Jim or Al was just terminated. He'd expected it to be louder being this close. He'd spent plenty of time in these storm drains. He hoped the ones in this timeline were less toxic than the ones in his future. It didn't really matter. One faced a slow death form the contaminants or a quick death at the hands of Skynet machines. Either way Skynet still won in the end.

He popped up to look from the drain across the street. He looked out from the slot in the curb, where the gutter drained. Their SUV was still there. That was a surprise.

Suddenly the manhole cover was lifted off. It startled him. Jim stood there and reached down to help him. Al approached the SUV. They'd all made it. The HK drone was gone. Some smoke drifted up nearby. There wasn't too much either.

Kyle wondered what happened.

Seconds ago:

As the HK drone closed in for an attack, a small missile streaked up and hit it. The missile disabled the HK drone. It crash landed seconds later. It didn't explode.

Cameron climbed back in her SUV and headed towards John's team.

Word quickly spread. Kyle and his team were OK.

Soon after that, their drones arrived over John's and Kyle's teams.

Standard procedure was to dump any vehicle used in a Skynet encounter. It was always assumed the vehicle was a target after that. The vehicle from this near HK drone encounter was especially tagged.

"Make sure Jim leaves the SUV with the keys in it on the East Side tonight. That vehicle has been 'made'." Cameron said. "Let some gang member get killed driving it. It will be one less Scavenger we'll have to deal with later."

Word arrived in the Command Center as the events unfolded.

There was still an ace to be played and Cameron was the one who played it.

Sarah felt such relief. Cameron saved Kyle, again. She owed Cameron another one. Maybe they should all start listening to Cameron about things and only send Metal out on operations. She knew Cameron was right. Kyle wouldn't be going out any time soon after this. That's unless he liked using his hand – only. There was more than one way to make and enforce a point.

She knew there was positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. She planed to use what God gave her to help enact her will. It was another advantage of being a female. Someone always wanted what nature provided them with.

Derek arrived with his team and the Blackhawk a little later on. Jim disarmed and disabled the fallen HK drone. The copter hoisted the HK drone underneath it and flew away with it.

They would take it to a safe location for its disassembly. It would be checked for any Skynet tracking devices, its chip would be inspected and downloaded. They wanted to know where it came from. All useable parts would be salvaged for the maintenance and upkeep of their drones.

Derek would return with Kyle, Al already appropriated another vehicle and Jim left with the 'made' SUV.

"That was close, brother." Derek said.

"Too close." Kyle said. "We were zeroed."

"Cameron brought it down." Derek said.

"I owe her again." Kyle said. "Sarah is going to kill me when she hears about this."

"I already know, Mister." Sarah's voice came over his com.

Derek and Kyle looked at each other.

"Great." Kyle said. "It's starting already and I'm not even back yet."

"You better believe it is just starting…." Sarah said. "I'm glad you're safe Kyle, we both owe Cameron."

"She's the greatest." Kyle said.

"Yes she is." Sarah said.

Cameron smiled as she listened to the exchange.

Cameron made sure all her teams that were out kept their 'Stingers' hot. They probably weren't done yet.

She didn't have a good feeling about this operation either.

Both Of Them

One plus one equals two
Isn't the real goal to make
One plus one equal ONE
Or it will be more heartache

The destination for two
Is to grow and share
The sum is greater than the parts
For those who are willing to dare

Heads will butt
Wills will bend
To think it won't happen
One must pretend

To keep things smooth
Everyone must compromise
Those willing to adapt
Are the ones that are wise

Not everyone has the same goals
Maybe that's from where problems stem
To make it all work requires effort
From both of them

Nobody