Chapter 600

Pick A Side

Cameron moved swiftly around the back of the building and down along the side of the next one. She spotted two figures moving. They were both armed. She knew she could take these two if they weren't Terminators. It didn't matter if they were, she would need to stop them anyway. Savannah was in danger.

She was ready to make her move when she spotted two more. Now her initial attack plan needed to change. She didn't want to get tangled in a cross fire, especially if any of them were Terminators.

Bob pulled the SUV ahead of the box truck. He wanted to arrive before it did to make sure the way was clear. There were two Terminators with him. There was another driving the box truck. They were all armed and armored up. Bob called in his update.

In the Command Center the reports of the teams came in and were relayed.

"I'm two minutes out." Bob said.

Cameron decided it was clear to break her silence.

"I have four spotted in two groups of two. They're about to move in on the building the big truck is in. There two on the south side and two on the east side." Cameron said. "Are there any hostile drones approaching?"

John Henry and CamNet both were all over every radar in the area.

"None have been detected." John Henry reported. "I've sent four of ours to your location and two more on wide recon. If anything is moving low to the ground they may be able to spot it."

Cam and the team decided not to try to hold the building. Their position was known. They left behind a few surprises and were ready to move to another location.

"We're holding at the rear of the structure." Cam reported. "We're outside ready to move if a hostile drone arrives."

Cammy felt their biggest concern was an HK drone. Anything short of that and she wanted to engage the enemy.

"We're also ready to move back into the building if the Grays try to breach without drone support." Cammy said. "We're staying together unless Cameron needs assistance."

Savannah wanted some more backup. She didn't like Cameron to be off alone either.

"What is the ETA on our drones?" Savannah asked.

John Henry pushed the drones to their limit and beyond.

"Four minutes." John Henry said.

Savannah was most worried about Cameron right now.

"Cameron, do you need assistance?" Savannah asked.

There was no answer, only silence.

John was upset that Cameron was alone. He figured she did that to lead the enemy away from the others. She would bring the heat down on herself.

"I want Cam and Cammy to go to Cameron's last position." John said.

Cammy didn't want to leave Savannah and Gail to defend the building alone.

"That only leaves Savannah and Gail here." Cammy said. "What about them?"

Savannah didn't want Cameron to get shot up because of her.

"We can hold this position." Savannah said. "Go to Cameron – now."

John Henry looked at a satellite map and calculated everyone's position.

"Cam and Cammy can take the targets on the south side. Cameron was closest to the ones on the east side from her last report." John Henry said. "Bob will be closest to the ones on the east side as well when his team arrives."

Vanna and Jesse stood together. It seemed like they didn't actually know much about what was around them in the combat zone.

"There's a lot happening." Vanna said. "They still don't know how many are on the ground or if any hostile HK drones are approaching."

Jesse didn't like Gail and Savannah being left alone to defend the building. It seemed like they should pull out.

"I'm worried about Gail and Savannah." Jesse said.

John Henry didn't see a problem yet. Only Grays had been encountered so far.

"Everyone has their training or programming to rely on." John Henry said.

John expressed confidence in his troops. They were ready for action.

"They've all faced things like this before." John said. "Our teams are better trained and motivated."

John was aware this all started out as a recon and now escalated into a battle. What was worse, it seemed to be an ongoing battle that kept getting bigger. The Skynet forces were able to call for reinforcement somehow. The threat of Skynet HK drones arriving was the biggest threat to the girls.

They all knew the danger and risks to the girls right now.

Savannah watched Cam and Cammy head away from the back of the building toward the south side. She was worried about being spotted by a Terminator.

"If there are no hostile drones we should go back inside." Savannah said. "Two of the three doors to enter this building are booby trapped and we have control of this one."

Gail didn't want to be in the building if there was an HK drone strike. The building was a sitting duck.

"We're in good shape as long as no hostile drones approach." Gail said. "If we get word of any HK drones in the area, we need to get away from here fast."

Savannah knew that Cameron wanted the future version of Skynet. She didn't know what she intended to do with it. They still needed to see if they could find out where it came from and where it was headed to. Those were both future target locations.

"We need to secure the cargo if we can." Savannah said.

Savannah understood the importance of being able to dissect the version of Skynet they now possessed. She knew Cameron really wanted to do that.

Gail motioned for silence. She detected some sounds.

"There's someone at the west door." Gail said.

Savannah wanted to keep their exit open. It was also the most likely spot for Cameron, Cammy and Cam to return to.

"I'll hold this door." Savannah said. "Move to a defensible firing position and cover that door. The booby trap should stop some of them. Make sure you have some cover."

Gail appreciated Savannah's concern for her. She already picked out a spot. She didn't intend to let anyone past her. She planned to protect Savannah at any cost.

"I can also cover the large door from that position over there as well." Gail said as she pointed.

Gail advanced with an HE round ready to go in the Thumper in one hand and her M4 in her other hand.

"I'll hold here and watch your back." Savannah said.

Gail moved into position and three seconds later there was an explosion.

Someone tripped the booby trap on the side door.

Cameron heard the explosion. She knew that the Metal girls rigged some booby traps. It appeared some Grays just tripped one. She opened up on two of the Grays that were closest to her on the east side. They both went down. Cameron fired a second time into their fallen bodies but neither moved.

There was a second explosion. Cameron knew it was an HE round from Gail's M79. Cameron was aware Savannah and Gail were alone. She didn't like that but her hands were full right now.

Cameron moved to intercept the other two Grays she'd seen earlier. They were around the corner and out of sight.

She could also hear gunfire now from the building the big truck was in. That meant Savannah and Gail were now fighting for their lives.

Cameron was about to come around the corner when a burst of gunfire hit the wall right in front of her. She dodged and fired at where she calculated the gunfire came from. She could also hear firing from where the other two Grays went. She hoped it was Cammy and Cam….

Cammy and Cam found the two Grays on the south side. As soon as they heard the explosion and Cameron firing on the east side, they opened up on them. Both targets went down. Cammy reloaded and fired into them again, no one moved.

"I don't think any were Terminators." Cam said.

"We need to check and be sure." Cammy said. "I don't like surprises."

They heard the location Cameron was in take new fire. It wasn't one of their weapons. Cameron must be under attack.

They could also hear Gail and Savannah firing at their location.

"Damn." Cammy said. "Check the Grays and go help Cameron. I need to get back to Savannah."

Cammy knew there were three entrances to the building Savannah and Gail were in. Depending on the size of the attacking force, the girls may not be able to hold all three entrances.

She hoped that Cam and Cameron would be OK on their end. She didn't think Savannah and Gail would be for much longer.

Cameron began to take fire now, a lot of it. There were at least three people firing at her. They were using some variant of an AK-47. The sound of it firing was distinctly different than their weapons. She also viewed it as an inferior weapon that lacked accuracy. That was good for her right now.

"I'm pinned down in back of a block wall on the East side." Cameron said.

Bob was in an SUV. They'd just entered the industrial tract. They knew the general layout but not specifically where everyone was at.

"We're approaching fast." Bob said. "We can hear you but not see you yet."

Cam checked the two men they took down. Neither were Terminators. She was able to come up on the side of Cameron's current location.

"I'm moving into a flanking position, Cameron." Cam said. "Bob should arrive on the other side and in back of them as well. Cammy has gone back to help Savannah and Gail."

Cameron could hear the firing intensifying where the big truck was parked. There was another explosion. It was a big one. That meant they were being breached in two locations, at least.

She was willing to take the heat herself right now. She wanted Bob to reinforce Savannah as soon as possible.

"Bob, accelerate to full speed and drive past the targets Cam and I are engaging. Open up on them as you pass and proceed to the second building." Cameron said. "Savannah is under attack. Gail and Cammy are with her."

The SUV came around a corner and the enemy was spotted.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "We have your targets in sight. There are three of them."

Cameron wanted to end the threat where they were. Bob's team would be able to reach Savannah's team before they could on foot anyway.

"Cam, when Bob opens up, we move. We don't stop until we finish it." Cameron said.

Cam could see the SUV moving fast.

"I'm ready." Cam said.

Cameron heard another explosion from the area where Savannah was at. There seemed to be even more gunfire now. That caused her a lot of worry.

She saw Bob's SUV approach and his team opened up on the targets engaging her as they sped by.

"Get to Savannah." Cameron said.

Seconds ago:

Savannah covered the rear door.

Gail engaged the attackers who attempt to breach the side door. She repulsed them with the Thumper and drove them back with her M4.

Savannah could hear the gunfire in the distance as Cameron, Cammy and Cam entered the fight. She knew Bob's team was about to arrive and that and Cameron directed them to head for her position.

The large door was forced open. The second booby trap exploded. It was a big one.

Savannah immediately began to fire on targets that started to to enter. She saw Gail was still tied up at the side door.

She hit one target several times with no apparent effect. It must be a Terminator. She flipped her selector to 'auto' and emptied her magazine into his legs. He went down. The Coltan rounds did their job. He'd still be in the fight but his mobility was severely hampered at this point. He was still a threat.

Savannah changed her magazine and hit the bolt release. No sooner than she finished that then there was movement behind her now at the rear door. She didn't think it was anyone from their team.

She rolled away from where she was and fired at the rear door. Bullets impacted where she'd been a second ago. She saw they were coming from the area of the large door and the rear door. They were about to get her position zeroed in. She was about to be in a crossfire directed at her.

Savannah drove back the attackers at the rear door. She armed a Thermite grenade, counted a few seconds and threw it. She changed her position again. Bullets struck where she'd been a second ago. She knew the Terminator was still functional, even if disabled.

There was a fiery explosion and agonizing screams. The rear door was now quiet.

Savannah saw Gail pull her Glock as well. She was firing on targets at both the large door and side door.

She ran low and slid across the smooth cement of the building's floor. She arrived next to Gail. She could get a better shot at the large door from there. They were in danger of being overrun.

Cameron rose from her cover as Bob's team passed by. They'd done a 'drive by' on the attackers.

She could see Cam moving as well.

It was time for the cat to pounce….

Sheila and Ally were outside the building. There were four Grays in there looking for them and their now deceased comrades. They'd gone to the wrong building. The Grays found a homeless female in there and taken her captive. They planned to abuse her.

Ally and Sheila carefully entered the building through the window. They hoped to take a couple of the Grays alive. They needed some answers. They would try to free the female if they could.

"Get your hands off of me." The female said.

There was a loud 'smack'.

"Shut up bitch." The first Gray said.

The female issued a series of cuss words.

There was another loud 'smack'.

"Let's bust her up." The fourth Gray said. "That's what I did to mouthy people before. She will listen better."

"This bitch has Davy's phone." The first Gray said.

"Make sure she's not that 'Metal Bitch'." The second Gray said.

"She's street trash." The third Gray said. "The 'Metal Bitch' is a myth."

There was a loud 'smack'.

"Where did you get the phone, slut?" The first Gray asked.

There was sobbing from the female.

"I found it." The female said.

"Where are the other men?" The third Gray asked.

"There were only those two men, the dead ones." The female sobbed.

There was a loud 'smack'.

"Who killed them?" The third Gray asked. "Was it a group of men?"

"A teenager killed them." The female sobbed. "She was really pretty and she was really strong. She threw the men around like rag dolls. She didn't even mess up her hair. I think she dropped the phone."

"It's the 'Metal Bitch'." The second Gray said.

"Maybe she didn't drop it and this is a sucker play." The fourth Gray said. "Let's grab this slut and go."

"Everyone look around." The third Gray said. "Search around here again. We need to find our men."

Ally and Sheila separated. They would try to take two of the Grays alive they didn't care which two.

"Let's just go, man." The first Gray said. "Let's kill this slut and make sure she's not the 'Metal Bitch'."

"I'll kill her." The fourth Gray said. "She's street trash. Nobody will care."

Sheila waited behind a burnt wall. A Gray was right on the other side. She watched his pistol come around the corner. She waited and when his head started around, she grabbed his throat and squeezed. She flicked her wrist and snapped his neck. She laid his body around the corner.

"You're lucky." Sheila whispered to his corpse.

Ally was by the far side at this point. She knew the layout. She didn't spot the female earlier. She could hear a Gray near her. She paused and backed up. She moved into a closet without a door. She saw the pistol first. She knew the Gray was about to look in.

"Let's hear some reports." The third Gray said.

"There's nothing on the west side." The first Gray said.

"I haven't found anything on the east side." The fourth Gray said.

Ally reached out and snapped his neck. She drug him into the closet.

"You're lucky." Ally whispered.

She really wanted Sheila to question the fourth Gray because he'd been a Scavenger at one point.

Sheila decided to use the second Gray's voice.

"It's cool in the front but I need some help to move something" Sheila said in the second Gray's voice. "It'd heavy."

"I'll watch the street trash." The third Gray said. "Go help him."

Ally moved back to where Sheila was at. They worked out a plan.

The Gray came around the corner and stopped in his tracks as he spotted Ally. It was clear the Gray knew who she was. He thought she looked beautiful. Just like the rumors said and the slut confirmed.

Sheila was behind him at this point. She rabbit punched him and snapped his neck.

It was three Grays down and one the go. The last man was the leader of the group of Grays that arrived.

"You're lucky." Sheila whispered to the dead body.

She set the dead Gray down to the floor.

Ally and Sheila worked out another plan. They wanted it to look like they'd found something of importance.

"Are you kidding me?" Ally asked in the third Gray's voice.

"I don't believe this." Sheila said in the second Gray's voice.

"Bring that slut and come check this out." Ally said in the fourth Gray's voice.

"Now what is it?" The third Gray asked. "Do I have to do everything?"

The third Gray walked around the corner with the female in tow. She was bound gagged and blindfolded. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Ally. He tried to bring his pistol up but Sheila was behind him. She knocked it out of his and forced him to his knees.

"You're real." The third Gray said.

There was a look of astonishment on his face as Sheila choked him out.

Ally looked the female over. She didn't look hurt.

"Sit here." Ally said in the third Gray's voice.

She set the female down in a dusty chair.

Ally and Sheila went through the men's belonging. They collected their phones and took all the cash they carried. It was almost a thousand dollars.

The female was led to the front door. Ally opened it. She removed the girl's bonds.

"Hold out your right hand." Ally said in the third Gray's voice.

Ally placed the cash into it.

"Don't turn around." Ally said in the third Gray's voice.

Ally removed the blindfold.

The female looked at the cash in her hand.

"I don't agree with what those other men said." Ally said in the third Gray's voice. "I want you to take the money and go. Forget you were ever here."

Ally took off the gag.

The female stood there for a few seconds. She started to walk out to the street. She expected to be shot or something. She looked back once and nobody was there. She took off running and never looked back.

Sheila and Ally left with the leader of the Grays out the back.

Pick One

The desire is to have many
Reality dictates otherwise
Which seems to be the root
For frustration and cries

Sometimes there must be a choice
It is not always easy to make
It soon becomes evident that some
Are little more than a fake

Often moments of greed
Blind what is the real goal
Events that soon follow
Don't leave anyone whole

Should one give or take
Few are on the same page
It seems the end result
Are grief, anger and rage

Some set out with no direction
They want to play games and have fun
Love finds a way to creep in
Forcing them to only pick one

Nobody