Chapter 598

What Is That

Everyone in the Command Center was relieved to get the news. Cameron, Savannah and the rest of the Metal girls were alright.

Vanna and Jesse feared the worst as did everyone else.

Somehow the girls pulled another victory off against long odds.

Cameron fed John Henry a running commentary of what was happening. She also verified their exact location. She wanted to cover all the bases in case a time bubble would be necessary….

The Young bunker was on edge. Good news arrived.

"They're all OK and no one is injured." Anna said.

That was mainly for Claire's benefit. She'd been the one most visibly traumatized.

Claire was relieved. Everything just seemed to fall apart in a second. She knew that Allison faced danger like that in the future she came from.

"I was so worried about them." Claire said. "A lot can happen or go wrong in just a short time."

Claire wondered how soon it would be until Her Allison faced these same dangers and threats. It left her feeling empty and sick. She was aware she would face them as well as would Summer if Judgment Day came.

She thought maybe it would be better for her daughters to face the future as teenagers and not children. They would be better protected as trained Resistance fighters and not helpless schoolgirls…. She knew what happened to the girls from the future - ALL of them. Those things happened to her daughter Allison. It didn't matter if it was from a different future or not. It still happened to her.

Cameron said she would leave with a 'girl' and bring back a refined 'young woman' and trained Resistance fighter. Cameron told her each girl would be a 'weapon' when they returned to her minutes later.

Claire knew Her Allison needed to do this. She would wait and see what the results were and maybe send Summer as well. She knew Cameron didn't want her to get any older yet. Cameron wanted to use her body's ability to reproduce. She would remind Cameron that if she was allowed to go with her daughters, they would be 'productive' when they returned. This would make her less important at that point. There were so many options and none of them seemed good.

"…Mom…?" Young Allison asked.

Claire was aware she'd been lost in thought.

"I'm sorry, Allison." Claire said. "I'm worried about so many things, my mind drifted."

Young Allison was a little worried about her mother. She seemed 'out of it' right now. She wanted her mother to know that a lot more could happen.

"They're OK for now but it's not over yet." Young Allison said. "This could be just the start of a bigger and continuous operation."

The sick feeling returned to Claire. Why would Her Allison tell this to her now? That seemed to indicate only one thing.

"So, they're not safe yet?" Claire asked.

Young Allison wanted to remind her mother how things were. She wasn't the only one.

Allison had been fairly quiet as the events unfolded. She knew how things worked. She was glad that Summer went to their mother and calmed her earlier. She wanted to remind her mother that danger was always somewhere close. She wasn't the only one.

"No one is ever safe." Allison and Young Allison said at the same time.

Allison and Young Allison quickly looked at each other with that exchange.

Claire looked at Allison and remembered what the future did to her. It left her savaged and sterile. She'd been abused more than a few times but not as bad as Jesse and Vanna. She didn't know if that was why she was attracted to Vanna and Jesse. Maybe she wanted to make it up to them somehow. She wanted to share more than her body with them. She wanted to share herself with them.

It was all upsetting to her. It didn't really matter in the end. One assault was one too many. Sure it was the fault of Scavengers but Skynet was responsible for them coming into prominence. THAT wasn't going to happen to HER Allison.

Her daughters needed protection.

Claire needed to talk to Cameron.

She knew that protection would come at a price. She was willing to 'pay' it.

Cameron wanted to check out the load the truck carried. There were wooden crates in the back of it. Skynet thought it was valuable enough to send two Terminators along with it.

She climbed up into the back of the big rig. She shoved the deactivated Terminator out of the back of the truck. He landed with a thud next to the other one. She reached down and pulled Savannah up with her into the back of the truck.

Behind her, Savannah heard Cammy pick up one Terminator to place in her SUV. With new chips they could be put back into service in short order. The Resequencing would take a little longer.

Cameron looked at two elongated crates that the tops were off of. They reminded her somewhat of coffins. Maybe all these crates had been in long term storage. Maybe they were headed for long term storage. She didn't know. It was all very unusual.

"It looks like two of these crates held the two Terminators. They were probably in 'Standby'." Cameron said.

Savannah looked at the other crates there. Anything could be in them. She immediately pulled Cammy's Taser. She'd given Cameron back her own before she went up in the back of the truck. She took a few steps back. She aimed her Taser at the closest crate.

"Open it up." Savannah said.

Cameron reached down and lifted the top off the crate. There was 'screech' sound as the nails pulled free.

Savannah and Cameron looked at what was inside the crate.

"What is that?" Savannah asked.

Bob and his crew finished up. Everyone pulled out. John sent an SUV from the surveillance detail to pick up some of them. The rest rode in the back of the box truck. Mel climbed into the cab as they paused at the guard shack.

The facility was cleaned out of anything the Resistance could use and all the people who were previously inside were gone. The ones they dealt with were all terminated.

Bob was now in the SUV.

"That will leave a mystery as to what happened at that facility." Bob said.

John liked they hadn't needed to use any firepower. There'd only been about four or five shots fired. The bodies were all taken away and disposed of.

"Yes, everyone is gone and there is no trace of a large shootout." John said.

Bob was glad to be away from there. He felt they'd left a tidy battle zone. He was still troubled by the deceased female he'd found. He wanted to know more about where the girls were at. That was his concern now.

"We policed the brass from the few shots that were fired." Bob said. "Fill me in on Cameron's situation."

John and John Henry gave him all the details. He didn't like the close one that Savannah faced against those two Terminators. He believed that one or both of them was responsible for brutalizing the deceased female he'd found. There could be more Terminators too. He wanted to do more.

"That situation still seems fluid." Bob said. "There are four heavily armed Terminators in this SUV. I want to back them up."

John liked that idea. He wanted Cameron to pull out for now. Unfortunately that didn't look like it was going to happen.

"I'll run it by Cameron." John said.

Bob didn't think that was necessary to do. He did want to phrase his statement to make Cameron and CamNet think about what he implied.

"Don't bother CamNet will have already notified her of our conversation." Bob said. "If she doesn't want us, she can tell us to stand down. I'm sure Savannah would appreciate our company."

Bob figured that statement would make Cameron think twice about sending them away. He knew Cameron was reluctant to endanger others, even if they were Terminators. He knew that Savannah needed protection too. He hoped his words sent that message out as a warning to Cameron.

There were no protests so Bob asked John Henry to direct him to where Cameron was at.

Bob with his heavily armed team headed in that direction.

He was aware that some type of distress signal could have been sent out by the two Terminators. It could be remote or automatic. Either way there could be ground troops on the way or even HK drones. He would rather face the ground troops.

Savannah held her Taser ready as Cameron removed the top from a crate.

"What is that?" Savannah asked.

Cameron looked at the computer gear. She'd seen other versions just like it. They were in 'clean rooms'.

"I think it's - Skynet." Cameron said. "It's an uninstalled version of it or maybe one of its offshoots."

Savannah stood ready with her Taser. There was no way to know what was in each of the crates until the top was off.

Cameron proceeded to open the rest of the crates. She was surprised to see all to components were there to make something really big.

"We have the makings of a super computer here." Cameron said.

John Henry listened to Cameron's observations.

"It sounds like a real version of Skynet." John Henry said.

Cameron was aware of the offshoots they'd dealt with. They were all Skynet by another name in reality

"Yes or some version of it." Cameron said.

Cameron captured an 'infant' version of Skynet recently. If that infant was installed in all the computer gear they looked at, it would become a giant threat in a very short time. This wasn't a good development.

John wanted them away from there even more at this point. They possessed Thermite grenades. They should burn it and go.

"I think that means more Skynet Metal will be involved in this." John said. "I want everyone on alert still. You should torch everything and leave."

Savannah listened to John. She wondered if Cameron did. It seemed there was something else on Cameron's mind.

"Cammy." Cameron called out.

Cammy loaded both deactivated Terminators in the back of her SUV. She checked around the building again and checked with Cam and Gail. Cammy noticed Gail was in a much better mood and more like her old self. Cammy knew something 'happened' to Gail not too long ago and it involved Savannah in some way. She didn't have a clue it was what Savannah just did for her and Cameron.

John didn't think Cameron would listen to him. He was glad that Bob was on the way with a team of Terminators.

"Bob and a crew are on the way there." John said.

Cammy thought about what she wanted to do. It troubled her with what Savannah went through.

"We could have used them earlier." Cammy said. "I didn't like Savannah having to face off with two Terminators alone."

John thought that was more of an unforeseen event. He wanted them away from there. They'd taken precautions but there was always something that could slip through.

"I want you out of that location as soon as possible. It may be compromised." John said. "John Henry made sure all communications were blocked but you never know. We hit these people real hard today."

Cammy knew Cameron would want to confiscate the computer gear. She didn't want to drive around in the big rig they'd captured it in. With some more assistance on the way if could give them a few options.

"Maybe Bob can 'borrow' a box truck on his way here. We can get everything transferred to a different truck and get away from here. If anyone comes looking all they will find is an empty big rig." Cammy said. "Let me check with Cameron and see what she wants to do."

"Cammy." Cameron called out.

Cammy headed for the truck. She jumped up and walked up next to Savannah.

"I asked for Bob to bring a box truck." Cammy said. "I think this one is too hot."

Cameron liked that idea. There was one thing she wanted to know. She didn't want to think they'd jumped the gun but that truck was going to what would have been Skynet's home. She wanted that to be her next target.

"I agree." Cameron said. "This was headed for some place. I want to know where."

Cammy knew that Sheila and Ally took five Grays into custody. They should have some info by now.

"Sheila has a few 'live ones'. I'm sure she's already anticipated some questions." Cammy said. "I'll call her and tell her what to push for."

Cammy wondered if Savannah would protest Sheila's brutal treatment. Not a word was said.

Savannah knew the ugliness of the future, two of them, she understood now. Answers meant lives were saved. Not knowing or ignorance meant people were injured or killed. She didn't care so much about the future Scavengers that Sheila removed from the future. That would prevent the abuse of more females going forward.

Cameron wanted some backup and she wanted what was in the truck.

"As soon as it gets dark enough, I want some drone support." Cameron said. "I don't know if this operation is winding down or just getting started. We need to get out of here."

Savannah looked at the inside of the trailer they were in. it appeared to have some type of interior lining.

"What is that material?" Savannah asked.

Cameron looked at it and touched it.

"It's some type of shielding. That's why we were unable to detect the Terminators." Cameron said.

Savannah was a little worried about a Skynet mainframe. They all seemed to have a few tricks up their sleeve. They were able to communicate about Cameron, even if they were destroyed. Maybe there was more than met the eye.

"What happens if we move this equipment out of this trailer and it is able to broadcast somehow?" Savannah asked. "With the door open we're able to communicate, maybe it can too."

Cameron and Cammy looked at each other. There could be a battery back up of some type or a power cell. This future version of Skynet could be calling for help in some manner as they spoke. If that were the case, most likely that event already occurred.

Savannah wanted some additional help that would be better qualified and more efficient than her for the search.

"Cam, come here." Savannah called. "I'll take your place. Help Cameron and Cammy search this equipment."

Savannah jumped down and took Cam's M4 as she passed her.

Cam jumped up into the back of the trailer and pulled the door down behind her, she'd heard the conversation. If Skynet was communicating, it needed to stop.

Savannah knew with the door closed that Cammy couldn't call Sheila. She didn't want to encourage Sheila to torture people even if she understood it. Maybe it was because Sheila took pleasure in her 'work'. Maybe she would call Ally.

Ally returned from the building next door. She'd needed to terminate a couple of future Scavengers who'd tried to jump her.

She watched Sheila 'work' on the three surviving Grays. The delay bothered her.

Her phone rang. She was surprised to see it was Savannah.

Savannah gave her a quick run down of what happened so far. Savannah told her that Cameron wanted to know where the crates came from and where they were going. It should also be checked to see if there were more setups like the one they captured.

There was a muffled noise in the background.

Sheila could be heard taunting her 'students'.

Ally wondered if Savannah would say anything or not. She didn't.

She told her she'd relay the message to Sheila.

Ally looked at her phone for a moment. It was clear that Savannah knew exactly what was going on there.

She shrugged her shoulders and headed over to Sheila.

Savannah looked at her phone for a few seconds. It was clear what was going on there.

She shrugged her shoulders. It didn't matter they needed answers.

Savannah took up station with Gail.

Gail was very pleased with Savannah.

"Thank You." Gail said.

Savannah didn't see it as anything more than the job, their Job.

"I told you before that all I did was what anyone would have done." Savannah said. "We're all a team."

Gail looked at Savannah and her feelings continued to expand. The more she looked at Savannah, the more her feelings grew. She was hopelessly in love.

It just slipped out from Gail.

"Savannah, I love you." Gail said.

Savannah loved all the girls, human or Metal.

"I love you too, Gail." Savannah said.

Gail wanted to let Savannah know it was more and very specific.

"I love – love you." Gail said.

Savannah already knew this. She didn't want to encourage or discourage Gail. She wanted to be realistic and truthful.

"We all have commitments but anything is possible." Savannah said. "I have many obligations to fill but I also have free choice."

Cameron stressed that Savannah should never be 'tied down' and be able to express herself and share as she desired. She didn't want Savannah to feel 'confined' and 'restricted' like she felt. Maybe some of that was programmed into her.

Gail did understand Savannah's obligations. She wanted to make her position crystal clear.

"Savannah, I want to be with…." Gail started.

Savannah looked out the door at the direction they'd arrived from. She knew a threat when she saw one.

"Trouble…." Savannah said cutting her off.

There were two vans approaching.

Gail earlier moved all of their vehicles into the building and pulled the large door down. They watched from a small side door now.

Gail scanned the vans in detail. They were a match to the one she'd helped take down earlier.

"Those vans are like the other van we took down." Gail said. "It's the same group."

Savannah needed to warn Cameron, Cammy and Cam.

"Stay here." Savannah said.

Savannah ran to the truck and told everyone the bad news.

All three of the Metal girls jumped down. They all took extra arms from Cam's SUV.

Savannah didn't think the building was defendable. It was a fixed target.

"I don't think we should stay to defend this place until a drone or Bob's team gets here." Savannah said.

Cameron looked at Savannah. She wanted to hear her say what she believed.

"Do we run?" Cameron asked.

Cameron already knew what the response would be. She wanted the others to hear it from Savannah herself. They always accused her of endangering Savannah. She didn't feel that she did. Savannah was with her by choice.

Savannah reached in the back of Cam's SUV and took some extra weapons for Gail.

"We attack." Savannah said. "We're not in the city any more."

Cammy and Cam looked at each other. It was clear to them that Cameron must have corrupted Savannah.

What Am I

Since this isn't going anywhere
You are like gum stuck on my shoe
I can no longer reach you
No matter what I say or do

Our wheels keep spinning
We are going nowhere fast
Out of that endless morass
There is nothing to last

You had it all
Right before your eyes
The choice you made
Was not very wise

So from there to now
There is nothing more
I can't see an encore
There is the door

I think with each other
All we will do is cry
Making me wonder
What am I

Nobody