Chapter 670

Patrol Interception

Jesse and Gail were aware that Cameron might be having some trouble. They could tell it bothered Savannah.

Jesse decided to speak with Savannah. There were some things she wanted to say anyway. Now was a good time. She spoke from her heart.

"She'll be OK, love." Jesse said. "You know they're the best."

Jesse moved closer and gently tucked some hair back that'd slipped out from under Savannah's white scarf. She touched Savannah cheek and held her hand there. She wanted to silently give Savannah some support. She'd watched Savannah do that with all the Terminators at various times. It seemed to perk them up.

Savannah did feel depressed until Jesse touched her. It filled her with a sense of exhilaration and desire. It felt just like Young Jesse's touch to her. She reached up and placed her hand over Jesse's hand. She held it in place. She wanted to show her acceptance of Jesse's affection and consideration. She was very concerned about Cameron.

"I worry about her." Savannah said. "She needs me."

Jesse gave Savannah a hug. There were a few personal things that she wanted to say.

"I know I'm not 'Your Jesse' but I am her." Jesse whispered in Savannah's ear. "At least she is me anyway. I've been around the block a few too many times but I was her. I can be her again if you ever want me to be…. Everything's the same, even if it is a little more used. Everything is identical…."

Jessie knew that all of her private parts we're completely identical to Young Jesse. She'd verified that first-hand herself and asked Gail to confirm it with her Terminator abilities. She was very pleased you know that they were identical. They were the same person so they should be anyway. It appeared that the years of abuse and use hadn't changed her physically anywhere. She was very pleased to know that. Gail even told her that she was slightly 'tighter' than Young Jesse after she'd given birth. She was sorry to hear that for Young Jesse but it did secretly please her that if there was one difference between them, it would matter with a male. She was sure that was one of the reasons why she was kept alive in some of the Scavenger camps where she'd been held captive over the years. It seemed it pleased the Scavengers that she was 'tight' no matter how much they'd abused her and they'd abused her a lot.

Savannah could see Jesse drifted off a little in her mind. She figured she knew where she was at right now and it wasn't a good place to be. It was in the past - the future. It didn't matter anymore. Jesse wasn't who she once was. All that mattered is who she was now. She wanted Jesse to know that.

"I know, Jesse." Savannah said. "I know. What was or happened before doesn't matter to me. You know that. I only see anyone as who they are now. That's all that matters anyway. The past is done and over with."

Gail didn't like to watch Jesse touch Savannah but if Jesse could lure Savannah in…. Maybe this was something she needed to encourage. Cameron all but ordered her to facilitate Jesse and Savannah being able to share. Cameron told her that Savannah didn't need to miss Young Jesse. 'She' was really right there at the Resistance base. She was just a little 'older'.

Vanna always seemed to get in the way of that. That was OK too since Vanna would gladly become 'Savannah' for both of them. She knew it was the same thing with Vanna as 'Savannah' as it was with Jesse as 'Young Jesse'. When she was with Vanna, she liked what she saw, nothing else mattered at that moment. She made sure that 'Savannah' received all the pleasure that a Terminator could deliver. Vanna seem to enjoy it immensely. It appeared to be a win-win for everyone. She'd learned quickly that all the girls from the future lived to 'finish'. In the future it was their only 'escape' from the Hell they lived in, even if that escape was just for a moment or two.

They were all brought back to reality from where their wandering thoughts led them as they waited.

Bob spotted a new development and warned the others.

"We have some movement." Bob reported. "The 'Metal Bitch' is out."

Steve was in a flanking position. He spotted the same thing that Bob did.

"I have eyes on her as well." Steve said. "She seems highly agitated."

Savannah quickly gathered her thoughts. She knew there was a force of Terminators on their way to their location from the back way. They should be near their position soon based upon the time.

"How long will it be until the 'MST' gets here?" Savannah asked.

John Henry checked everyone's position on the satellite map overlay. He would have liked to have reported something better than he needed to report based on the current conditions

"The Metal Strike Team is still a half hour out." John Henry reported.

Bob didn't think that they had a half hour before things went ballistic.

"We may have to act sooner." Bob said.

John Henry quickly conferred with John about the next course of action. They were in agreement as to what needed to be done when the troops on the ground wanted it done.

"Do you want me to scramble the choppers?" John Henry asked. "The drones are on standby. They're ready to lift off."

Bob wanted to wait a little longer to try to determine what all was actually happening. It didn't appear that they'd been detected yet so there was no need to escalate the situation needlessly.

"Negative." Bob said. "It is too early to tell what's happening."

Savannah moved up to Bob's position. She'd developed a theory as to what might be about to happen right now.

"I think she's about to send out a patrol." Savannah said. "They're going to see what happened to the three men who never made it. They must know that they were on their way up and already completed the cable car ride."

From the few words that Bob heard exchanged between them, it seemed that Savannah was correct. The Grays didn't know their associates were terminated.

"I think you're right." Bob said.

Savannah thought that the timing of when the Resistance jamming field went into effect was that would determine how events unfolded.

"John Henry, did you have the jamming in effect before the three Grays made contact with the man they killed?" Savannah asked.

"Yes." John Henry said. "I cut the communications as soon as I 'self destructed' the second phone."

Savannah was pleased to know that. That meant that the Gray patrol wouldn't be as alert as they would be if they knew that their other team made enemy contact prior to their disappearance. As far as they knew, they got lost.

"So all the 'Metal Bitch' knows is the men arrived here at the mountain." Savannah said.

John Henry tried to monitor all the communications. He hadn't picked up that contact.

"She may not even know that." John Henry said.

Savannah thought the Grays might have other ways to communicate or check where their people were at around the mountain area. She was worried about Cammy and Cameron.

"Cammy will be with Cameron shortly." Savannah said. "If a patrol goes out before that, I'm going to intercept them. I don't want Cameron and Cammy to get ambushed."

Bob didn't want Savannah to go out on her own alone after an enemy patrol on the mountain.

"I'll go with you." Bob said.

Savannah formulated her own plan of action. There were several reasons behind it.

"No. You'll remain here with Steve and Jesse. Gail will accompany me." Savannah said.

Savannah knew Gail already regained her confidence and this would elevate Gail even more by being 'chosen' by her for the interception mission.

Gail took Jesse to Bob and made sure she was in a secure location. They shared a parting look.

Savannah wanted to make one more quick change before they left. She hoped to take the patrol silently so no one was alerted as to their demise.

"Jesse, trade with Gail, let her have the silenced MP5 and you take her M4." Savannah said. "The M4 will be more effective against the 'Metal Bitch' with the Coltan rounds."

Steve spotted some new movement at the bunker entrance.

"They're sending out four men." Steve said. "All are packing visible weapons. Two of the men are still getting dressed."

Savannah knew the Grays detained at least one female in there. It appeared that she'd been abused. She knew at this point that the female had been there for several hours she'd arrived at that location. She also knew there were several dead females who'd been buried. More than likely, some of these Grays were Scavengers at some point. When it came to the treatment of females there seemed to be very little difference between a Gray and a Scavenger. Females were usable and disposable objects to them. Human life seemed to have little value in the future. This wasn't the future. Not yet anyway.

Savannah was aware that females who were 'rounded up' when the Resistance outposts were overrun didn't always make it to the work camps. Many disappeared at gunpoint with Grays and were never seen again. She couldn't worry about the female at this time. She needed to refocus. What was done was done. Jesse and Vanna made it. One day it would more than likely be her in a situation like that…. She knew it happened to all of the females in the future at some point. The future was an ugly place.

"Gail, you lead. I'll follow." Savannah said. "Steve, if any more of them head out, let us know. Cammy, are you getting all of this?"

There was no answer.

Savannah was worried.

"Cameron?" Savannah asked.

No answer.

Savannah was even more worried.

"John Henry, are you tracking them?" Savannah asked.

John wanted to show the team that he was on the job as well.

"He is." John said. "We show them together and on the move. Wait, they've separated."

Bob was sure that meant trouble.

"They must have targets." Bob said.

Savannah wanted to deal with the known threat as soon as possible.

"That isn't good." Savannah said. "Gail, I want to take the patrol out as soon as they're away from the bunker. We'll use silenced weapons or Tasers if we have to. If Gail can get in close she can give them a Terminator 'welcome'."

Jesse and Savannah exchanged pistols and magazines.

Savannah wanted everyone to know what was happening even if they couldn't respond.

"Cameron, Cammy, if you can hear us, we're coming. We're going to intercept a patrol looking for their missing men." Savannah said. "The 'Metal Bitch' isn't going with them. Bob, stay with Jesse at all times. We're moving out now. Gail, take the lead."

Gail and Savannah departed. Steve and Bob would tell them the path the men started out on once they left. It most likely would be the trail. They hoped the Grays were lazy and not in full combat mode. If the Grays went off of the trail, they would soon come across their tracks. That would instantly alert them that something was amiss.

It looked like things were heating up in the frigid mountain air.

Earlier:

Cammy went down the mountain to find Cameron and show her what they'd found so far. She also knew that Cameron was upset or distracted by something. Whatever it was is probably what caused her to start to glitch. She knew if it got bad enough that Cameron could shut down. That would be about the last thing they needed with this ever developing operation. She hoped to prevent that.

The two Metal girls were in contact and met up in fifteen minutes.

Cammy thought Cameron looked disorientated or maybe just 'out of it'. She didn't appear to be one hundred percent.

"Is anyone following you?" Cammy asked.

Cameron looked around the area.

"Me?" Cameron asked.

Cammy wondered who Cameron thought she was asking.

"Are you having a problem?" Cammy asked.

"Me?" Cameron asked as she looked around again.

Cammy knew that they didn't have time for an 'episode' right now.

"Get it together." Cammy said. "I think you should have a second chip port installed. That way if you have a 'problem' you will have help close by."

Cameron didn't want her chassis physically changed. She needed it to remain as it was originally constructed if she was living her life over and over.

"I mustn't be altered." Cameron said. "I'll need to replace myself in the future, in the past."

Cammy witnessed a lot of repairs to Cameron.

"I've seen about half of your sheath material replaced myself. I know much more of it was replaced before my activation." Cammy said. "Is anything on you even original? That's even if what you think has happened ever really happened. Which I want to point out that there's been no proof of it."

Cameron was aware there were two things that were original on her.

"My chip is original." Cameron said. "And so is my secret spot."

It was Savannah's actions through 'temporal management' that made the 'last part' possible to still be original. The 'material' there was completely blown away by a grenade until Savannah 'fixed it' with a 'temporal switch'.

"You can thank Savannah for that." Cammy said.

Cameron was pleased to hear Savannah's name. It helped calm her

"I plan to…." Cameron said. "We'll share the fruits of her labor…."

Cammy almost said, 'get in line' but refrained since Cameron wasn't at one hundred percent. Cameron didn't seem to care for jokes very much anyway.

Cammy led Cameron to the fallen Grays.

Cameron was a little surprised at the condition the Grays we're in.

"What happened here?" Cameron asked. "It looks like a vicious knife fight. Who did this?"

Cammy figured she might as well spell it out.

"Gail was instructed to do it." Cammy said. "Savannah asked her to do it so Jesse wouldn't have to do it."

There was a new sound near them. There was soon a couple of them.

Cameron and Cammy both looked in different directions.

They'd acquired at least two targets….

It appeared they were both being stalked. It was time to turn the tables.

"Trouble…." They both said and separated.

It looked like the action was about to start now for both of them.

The new development was a surprise in the Young bunker.

"Trouble?" Young Allison asked. "Where did it come from?"

Anna wasn't sure. She could only speculate. It appeared that Cameron must have been careless. There was no way for them to know.

"That's currently unknown." Anna said. "Cameron isn't operating at one hundred percent. She must have picked up a tail from the lodge or header station."

Young Allison wasn't sure how the Grays were able to make that determination.

"All communications are jammed." Young Allison said. "How would they know or identify her?"

Anna was worried about Cameron too. She was aware that Savannah floated the right idea when she wanted to go to Cameron earlier.

"They may have made her as a Terminator if she wasn't operating at one hundred percent." Anna said. "Savannah should be with her."

Young Allison was ready to take some of the risk. She didn't see why she couldn't be there to help as well. It was going to happen soon enough anyway. What was the point in waiting? She didn't know what she needed to wait for anything for.

"Or I could be." Young Allison said. "Savannah's expected to do too much."

Young Allison wanted to step up and share the burden. She wanted Savannah better protected. She wanted to do that herself.

Anna didn't like to need to keep reminding Young Alison about her status.

"You're not going to enter combat." Anna said.

Young Allison was aware of what needed to be done. She tried to make light about it.

"Not with this current body…." Young Allison said. "We all know what needs to happen and happen soon. As a bonus, I want to be able to wear Cameron's outfits."

They both knew Young Allison would be able to have children for Cameron too when the outfits fit her. There were a couple of ways that could happen…. One of the 'outfits' was Cameron's wedding dress.

"NO!" Anna said. "We won't speak about any of this for now."

Young Allison saw Anna hide her hand as it started to glitch.

"I'm sorry, Anna." Young Allison said.

She took Anna's glitching hand. The glitch stopped.

They continued to monitor the operation. They only spoke about what happened on the operation.

Young Allison remained holding Anna's hand. They operated as 'one' with Anna using her right hand and Young Allison her left hand to work their monitors and stations. It was actually a very special moment for the both of them. They were able to share but not in the way that they both really wanted to share.

Cammy saw that she'd identified a target at the same time Cameron did. They were on opposite sides of them. It appeared that someone tried to box them in.

They both took evasive action while they went after the threat.

Cammy heard what happened at the summit bunker and that a patrol was sent out. She wasn't happy to hear Savannah and Gail were going after it.

Whoever was tracking them was the immediate threat. The real threat in that was if it was Metal….

Cameron identified the threat at the same time as Cammy did.

What was disturbing to her was, she must have been the one to lead them up. What or who was it that she'd attracted? Was it Metal, Grays or the anti-Metal group? It could be both groups looking for each other and they got caught up in it. It could be that she just blew it….

Cameron moved wide to try to flank her stalker. She knew Cammy would do the same. The trick would be to try to get the unknown assailants to attack each other. That was the maneuver she attempted with Cammy now. They would move out wide and then head back toward each other.

The news of an approaching patrol with Savannah and Gail going to intercept it wasn't good news. Cameron knew Savannah was coming for her, just like she always said she would.

Once again Cameron knew she put Savannah in danger. She felt another glitch impulse shoot through her left hand.

'Not now.' Cameron thought.

Puppet Master

Who is the captive
Who is the jailer's manipulator
Everyone is still here
So many events later

They think the beast is captive
Contained within its cage
They can torture and hurt it
To hear it cry out in rage

As they pull their puppets strings
They think control is theirs forever
They can't see it is the Puppet Master
Who actually controls their strings however

In a normal relationship ALL others
Would have been long gone
The Puppet Master smiles
Controlling them to hang on

Nobody