Chapter 649

Future Knocking

Claire was pleased to see Hanna enter into her room naked. She saw the scar and realized it was actually Vanna. That realization excited her even more. She knew that the Vanna was fresh from being with Allison. Now it was time for her to show her daughter up. She knew she could give Vanna more of everything that she wanted and do it all better.

Vanna kissed Claire and the kiss went wild as soon as their lips touched. Claire seemed to be very excited about where she'd just come from.

It always excited her greatly to do the 'mother-daughter' thing. She really hoped one day that she could do it for real with both of them at the same time. That thought alone drove her to a higher level of sexual excitement. She knew Claire was game for it.

Vanna and Claire 'attacked' each other with ferocity. It was hard to say who was hungrier for the other one. There was plenty to go around.

Clare hoped if Allison really did go back to Cameron's future to be with her baby that Vanna would stay in this timeline. She planned to make the most of it if she did. If she didn't have Vanna for herself all of the time, she hoped to be able to get closer to Jesse. Jesse was really someone she'd like to get to know better on a long term basis. Jesse was the 'bad' girl and she liked 'bad' girls.

Everyone was happy for now.

Cameron wanted to survey what it was they were dealing with at this location. She was satisfied that Savannah wasn't injured. Neither Cammy nor her received anything more than cosmetic damage. She moved back toward the main structure, Savannah followed her and Cammy brought up the rear.

She led her team through the rubble of the building. She wanted to see what they were doing there and to assess the damage. It was clear they were about to set up an assembly line of some type. Further investigation showed it was what they'd found in the shed as the finished product.

"They were trying to set up an HK Track assembly line." Cameron said.

Savannah didn't see any manufacturing facilities. All that were spotted were some premade sub-assemblies.

"That means they're making parts or sub-assemblies at another location. It's probably more than one location. We've encountered this before." Savannah said. "What was with the APC?"

John Henry was intrigued behind the cover story of the Skynet facility. It was a new approach.

"They obtained a permit to 'film scenes for a movie' there." John Henry said. "It would hide what they were really doing and they could claim anything anyone saw was a 'movie prop'."

Cameron saw that for the threat that it was. This might just be the tip of the iceberg.

"That gives you leads to follow up on other 'movie' locations." Cameron said. "Search for 'war movies' or movies about the future and science fiction. If they were doing that here, there may be more locations."

John Henry was aware that because of the greedy tax policies of the California state government and the local city governments that they'd driven the film industry mostly out of Hollywood and it went elsewhere around the country. Movie production could be anywhere around the nation at this point.

"There are hundreds of locations here and around the county and the world too for that matter where that's happening." John Henry said. "I'll try to look for new companies or ones with recent ownership changes in the last few years."

Cameron thought that the recent changes were the things to look for.

"That's a good starting point." Cameron said.

Cameron's Terminators along with Cammy collected pieces of the HK Track and the Terminator destroyed when its power cell blew up.

An SUV and a large van arrived soon afterward. They were followed by a white van, another SUV followed the van. Cameron and Savannah headed that way to greet them. It appeared that John and his entourage arrived.

The Resistance Terminators all piled out and took up positions to collect bodies and intelligence.

John walked toward Cameron.

Cameron walked over to greet him.

John gave Cameron a hug and a kiss. He saw Cameron's eyes move. He followed Cameron's eyes to Savannah. She stood there alone.

John and Cameron both extended an arm out while still holding each other and looked at Savannah.

Savannah walked over hesitantly. She stood next to them. They both raised their extended arms higher. They reached out and drew her in with them. The three of them held each other. No one spoke. Nobody needed to.

Cameron slowly backed out leaving John and Savannah holding each other. She gently pushed them closer together. She nodded at them. She smiled and turned away. She didn't want them to see the single tear as it ran down her cheek. She knew it was the future knocking.

John needed to be protected in the future. Savannah was worthy of offering that 'protection' and 'comfort'. Cameron knew she wouldn't be around forever. She took some satisfaction to know she was the one who chose her replacement. Savannah was the 'Chosen One'.

In the distance Cammy watched as she collected metal debris. A single tear slid down her cheek, she looked away. The future was always knocking.

When the future knocked, not everyone listened.

Derek and Kyle joined John Henry. They'd been following the events in the Command Center. It appeared that they'd drawn on a solid lead where the HK drone landed.

"Tell us more about the Palm Springs location." Derek said. "I was out that way not very long ago. I went to visit the air museum there. They have a nice collection of Warbirds."

John Henry was aware of Cameron's plans to build a Resistance Air Force that would still be able to fly after Judgment Day. With all the modern aircraft with fried microprocessors grounded, the vintage Warbirds would be able to turn over and fire up. They weren't hampered by modern technology and we're just as deadly as they were when they were constructed.

"Cameron's having underground or hillside hangers built near many locations with flyable Warbirds." John Henry said. "They are all stocked with weapons to rearm the planes and contain stores of aviation fuel."

Kyle was pleased to hear that. He'd witnessed that with his very eyes. He recollected the plane with the shark's mouth painted on it.

"That's good planning." Kyle said. "I still remember seeing one in my future."

Derek knew Cameron always used 'liberated' funds from illegal activity that she confiscated. She used the money to stock items and build supplies for the future of all types. She planned for everything from weapons to infant formula.

"Where did the HK drone we were tracking go?" Derek asked. "They must have a specific location."

John Henry actually pulled their drones away when it appeared that the HK drone was about to land. He didn't want to get caught in a sucker play.

"They do or did anyway." John Henry said. "I recommended our drones withdraw. I was afraid they were being set up."

Kyle looked at some satellite photos. It didn't look like there was any type of military installation around there. It didn't look like any Skynet facility that he'd ever seen before.

"What is that place?" Kyle asked. "It looks like it was once farmland of some type. There are groups of buildings at most of them."

John Henry thought it was an excellent selection for a Skynet location. It's visual appearance seemed like anything but a Skynet location.

"They're old packing sheds." John Henry said. "They make good hangers and are isolated. They're also near the mountains."

Derek hated to bring it up but past experience seemed to be what Skynet stuck with.

"We know Skynet loves old mines." Derek said.

Kyle looked at some additional information. He was a little surprised at what he saw.

"There is a lot of land there that's below sea level." Kyle said.

John Henry knew that was all based on the San Andreas Fault line. That's where the 'big one' earthquake was supposed to happen at. It would be somewhere along its length.

"It's all a result of fault lines. They extend from the Gulf Of California up the middle of the state and through San Francisco Bay." John Henry said.

Kyle glanced at Derek. They weren't there to talk about fault lines.

"You know why we're really here." Kyle said to John Henry.

Derek wanted a piece of the action. It appeared they actually had a solid lead this time.

"The bottom line is we both want in on the operation when it happens." Derek said.

They both wanted to take the heat off of Savannah. It bothered them greatly that she was doing what they felt should be their jobs.

"We feel Savannah has to do too much and take too many risks." Kyle said. "It's unfair to her."

John Henry knew it wasn't that simple. There were others that he would need to deal with as well as them.

"What do your spouses say about it?" John Henry asked.

They didn't ask them before they went to the Command Center.

"Nothing…." They both said.

Kyle felt it was bigger than them. The Resistance was a movement, it wasn't about individuals. It was about the future.

"We all have to share the risks and burdens." Kyle said.

Derek and Kyle heard some scuttlebutt from some of the Terminators talking among themselves. It sounded like a very intriguing prospect.

"We've heard there are files of Savannah in the field." Derek said. "That they're from two futures and from here, now."

John Henry received some negative feedback from Savannah about her accomplishments. She didn't want them viewed as anything special. She felt she'd only done what was necessary.

"Savannah's asked that those files no longer be viewed." John Henry said.

Kyle was a little surprised.

"Why?" Kyle asked.

John Henry thought they were all worthwhile accomplishments and should be noted for the incidents she was involved in.

"Ask her." John Henry said. "She'll tell you she only did what anyone would do. She only wants to be seen as any other Resistance fighter and nothing more."

Derek saw it all differently. He was from the future. He knew what people did and didn't do which made Savannah's accomplishments even more distinctive and praise worthy.

"We all know that's not true." Derek said. "She's done more than that."

John Henry always knew that Savannah was special. Even as a child she showed exceptional ability and great intelligence.

"Those are the qualities of a natural leader." John Henry said. "She never thinks of herself and puts the mission before anything else."

Savannah's actions still made them feel guilty. It still seemed like it was a job that they should be doing.

"It has to stop." Kyle said. "We want to step up."

John Henry sensed some chivalry.

"Is that because she's a female and a teenager?" John Henry asked.

Derek didn't think so. The future was based on a lot of different things.

"In our future everyone was a fighter." Derek said. "It didn't matter what their sex or age was. Some people were more accomplished than others."

John Henry needed to think about that. A lot of the females in the future were incapable of reproduction. It was a rare occurrence to find a female that could produce children that lived and we're healthy. Savannah would be highly desirable in the future for that very reason alone.

"Is it because she's able to have children?" John Henry asked.

Kyle knew that problem was the handiwork of Skynet. They tried to make humans extinct. They did a pretty good job of it too. The girls that were back from the future were proof of that.

"That was a rarity in our future." Kyle said. "It plays a bigger factor in things than you think. Look at Sarah and me. We've only been able to have one child since I returned."

Derek was aware his situation was even more perilous. He appreciated Cameron's assistance to them greatly.

"If it wasn't for Cameron, we'd have nothing." Derek said. "Because of her assistance, Riley and I will be parents."

Kyle spotted something on one of the monitors. It wasn't a familiar sight.

"What are those blips on the screen?" Kyle asked.

John Henry returned his attention to the monitors. He'd been tracking everything as he spoke to Derek and Kyle but wanted to see what concerned Kyle.

"I'm not sure." John Henry said.

John Henry was in contact with CamNet. They reviewed everything independently and together at the same time. He was a little alarmed at what he viewed.

"Someone's trying to create seismic activity." John Henry said.

Kyle wanted to make sure what John Henry meant.

"Do you mean an earthquake?" Kyle asked.

John Henry thought this was going to take a little more research.

"Yes but it's more like someone is testing to find a weak point." John Henry said.

Derek always heard about the 'big one' all of his life as well.

"That can't be good." Derek said.

John Henry knew that Skynet could take out a lot of infrastructure with a major earthquake event. It could even be the precursor to Judgment Day.

"Nothing related to Skynet is good." John Henry said.

Kyle wondered if they provoked Skynet into taking some action.

"Is this because of the activity today?" Kyle asked.

John Henry tilted his head slightly to one side. What Kyle said sounded like a reasonable explanation.

"I must notify John and Cameron of this new development." John Henry said. "I believe it's in response to our most current activity."

Savannah watched as Cameron backed away and left John and her together. Maybe Cameron wanted her to tell John what he needed to do. Perhaps she thought it would cause less of an issue or problem. It was the right thing to do anyway.

"John, you need to go back." Savannah said. "Everything's under control."

They still hugged each other, neither of them wanted to let go.

Savannah looked over at Cameron and broke free from John.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking…." Savannah said.

John was pleased all the team members were OK, especially Savannah.

"Maybe you were thinking that you were glad to still be alive after another day of combat with Cameron." John said. "I know I'm happy you are…."

Savannah wanted to tell John she was pregnant. She wasn't sure why. It was Vanna's baby, not 'hers'. Maybe she'd better see if she encountered any problems first. She knew of Vanna's attempts and failures in multiple timelines and Future Savannah's too. Then it stabbed at her heart as she thought about it. She NEEDED to give up HER children to 'HERSELF'.

It pleased Cameron to see John and Savannah together. Suddenly there was a distressed look on Savannah's face. It worried Cameron greatly. She rushed over to her.

"Savannah, what's wrong?" Cameron asked.

John saw Cameron glare at him and decided to check on the operation. He knew it was time for him to return. It looked like his good will with Cameron was just about used up.

Savannah, wiped away the tears. She didn't want to make a big deal about anything. She just wanted to go.

"It's nothing. I'm fine." Savannah said. "Let's get what we need and get out of here."

Cameron scanned Savannah and knew her response that everything was 'fine' wasn't accurate. She knew people didn't always want to say what was wrong because it hurt more to say it. It wasn't really lying. It was just someone trying to mask their pain. She knew Savannah needed to sacrifice twice with her own children. She knew it was related to that.

"Savannah, you have something very precious and important inside you." Cameron said. "I appreciate you being here with me and helping me."

Savannah quickly regained her composure. What was done was done. Life moved forwards not backwards.

"Don't tell me that I shouldn't be here." Savannah said. "I know that. I also know I need to be here for you."

John looked back and saw Savannah and Cameron in an embrace. He only wished his love was that strong and powerful.

Cammy watched it all too. She could see the writing on the wall. It was as plain as day.

"We've lost them." Cammy said.

John looked up. He was surprised to see Cammy standing there. She watched the same thing as he was. She thought the same thing too.

"When was it? How did it happen?" John asked. "They seem so natural together."

Cammy knew how deeply rooted everything was. It wasn't based on physical attraction like most relationships were, even if that was a big part of it.

"It's pure emotional love." Cammy said.

John could see how deep the bond was.

"There's no stopping it is there?" John asked.

Cammy thought John was the lucky one. The brass ring was right in front of him, all he had to do was take it.

"YOU can still be a part of it, if you wake up." Cammy said.

John didn't see why Cammy couldn't be as well.

"But you can't?" John asked.

Cammy wanted to make a point to John as to what would happen if he didn't act.

"No. I'll be still here for you when they leave." Cammy said.

John wasn't sure if Cammy was joking or not.

"Thanks, Cammy." John said.

Cammy nodded in the direction of Ally and Sheila.

"They will be also…." Cammy said.

John looked over at the Metal girls. Ally blew him a kiss and Sheila managed to flash him a breast with a nipple ring after she opened her vest some.

He waved back to them and resumed overseeing the operation. Cameron's handiwork was everywhere.

They took everything they needed and burnt the bodies of the Grays in the flaming structure. It was time to go home.

Future Knocking

One knows what happened today
They know what happened yesterday
As to what will happen tomorrow
There's nobody that can say

Hindsight may be twenty-twenty
But that is seldom the case
It's always the here and now
That gets shoved in one's face

Not everyone wants to be
On the same page as the rest
It seems to be another factor
In life's cruel daily test

To break away from the herd
Seems to cause the others confusion
That's only because not everyone
Will 'goose step' to their illusion

Some like to be mocking
Others like drama and talking
Most go through life sleepwalking
They can't hear the future knocking

Nobody