Chapter 726

A Few Questions

Cameron and Savannah along with the rest of the team arrived near San Luis Obispo in the Blackhawk. Gail waited for them with a van. Cammy, Ally and Sheila we're with them.

Savannah was ready to hear some more specifics now that they were out of the helicopter and the full team was assembled.

"What information do we have?" Savannah asked.

Cameron received the latest update from CamNet.

"John and John Henry ran down a few leads. CamNet assisted them." Cameron said. "It appears the boxcars may have been unloaded near here the other day. The contents may have been moved into trucks."

Ally waited for a little more information, there was none.

"That's not much to work with." Ally said. "That was a few days ago. They could be in another state by now."

Cameron thought the trucks were a long shot at this point also. The location where the hack was traced back to wasn't. It was a fixed location and it was close to them now.

"It's a start." Cameron said. "There was also a computer hack traced back to this area. It's more likely related, rather than a coincidence. I want to check out all the leads."

Cammy hoped there'd be a little more information to go with what Cameron provided so far.

"Did CamNet trace any of the cell phone calls or data to this area?" Cammy asked.

Cameron was aware that there were multiple hits around this area for various different things. One of her major concerns was the nearby nuclear power plant at Serrano Point.

"Yes. Everything is heavily encrypted and masked with false locations and dummy corporations. It's a real shell game. There may be computers involved that people are unaware that they're being used." Cameron said. "It reeks of Skynet. We're also very close to the nuclear power plant. That facility has been an issue several times, both in the past and in the future."

Savannah wanted to know what happened to the HK equipment that was in the boxcars. That should be the immediate concern. Whatever some Grays or a version of Skynet was doing was also important.

"What events occurred with the boxcars when they were here?" Savannah asked. "There must have been something. How do we even know they were unloaded here for sure?"

Cameron could only go by the evidence that John Henry and CamNet were able to uncover. There seemed to be enough that happened during that time period the train was stopped. The reason it was stopped indicated it wasn't happenstance as to why it all happened here.

"The train the boxcars were on was to receive helpers to pull the steep grade north out of San Luis Obispo up Cuesta Grade. The helpers were 'held' in Santa Margarita for two hours, before being released. They then needed to come downhill to assist the train over the grade. That took even more time. It appears Grays or Skynet itself caused the delay." Cameron said. "That gave them a full three hours to transfer the load to trucks, with plenty of time to spare."

Gail asked the question that most of them thought.

"I don't understand why they used boxcars over trucks in the first place." Gail said. "It would seem the trucks have more flexibility."

Savannah wondered about that. Maybe it was all tied to storage.

"Wait." Savannah said. "At the old helicopter facility we took down, there were trucks full of HK drones being stashed there."

Cameron was very pleased with the outcome of that operation.

"Yes." Cameron said. "We confiscated those."

Savannah was sure that the answer was right in front of them.

"What if they're storing HK Tracks or HK drones around the state or even the county in boxcars?" Savannah asked.

Cameron was aware that John Henry came to the same conclusion.

"That may be the case. We don't know yet." Cameron said. "Demand for boxcars is low as containers or trailers are used on flatcars or container cars now for many things. CamNet has informed me that there are thousands of surplus box cars around the nation. There are many places where they are stored by the hundreds."

Cammy could see how the loads would remain un-inspected and undetected as they were moved around.

"That would allow them to be moved from place to place or where Grays think they may be needed. They would bypass all highway inspections." Cammy said. "Nobody looks inside boxcars."

Cameron wanted to stress the last part of Cammy's statement.

"From Bob's report, it also appears they weld the doors shut. The fact that the doors are welded shut prevents anyone from opening them without great effort and tools." Cameron said. "That's not a standard railroad practice."

Gail pulled up next to an SUV. It was parked behind a closed strip mall.

"Here's another vehicle that I've acquired." Gail said.

Savannah looked back at Cameron.

"Savannah and I will take this one." Cameron said.

Cameron and Savannah loaded their weapons and gear into it. She looked at the Metal girls.

"You'll need another vehicle." Cameron said. "We can have three teams of two."

Savannah didn't want the teams to be spread too thin. It seemed like there was a lot happening around there. They should play it safe. There were others on the way with John.

"I'd like to have us with two teams of three." Savannah said. "It will be safer for all of us. John and Bob will be here soon as well as the three teams of Terminators that are following them."

Cameron didn't look happy. She was clearly not pleased John was out in the field again. She knew at some point she would need to divert all their resources and help to safeguard John. Whenever John was out in the field, it ended up putting Savannah in greater danger. It was just that simple.

Savannah could see her mention of John being out on an operation upset Cameron. She didn't want there to be a problem or any animosity.

"We will be better able to protect John if we all work together when they arrive." Savannah said.

Cameron understood the benefit of what Savannah indicated. They shouldn't continue to operate as two separate forces. Everything should be consolidated for the better deployment and use of the available troops. It also might be easier for her to contain John that way to keep him out of unnecessary danger.

"You're right as always, Savannah." Cameron said. "I value your input."

Savannah hoped to establish the timeline so they knew what they could accomplish before John and his teams got there.

"How soon until John and the additional Terminators arrive?" Savannah asked.

Cameron knew that it would take as long as it did for John to finish his soup and for the rest of the teams that followed them to arrive before they would continue on their way to San Luis Obispo.

"It will be at least two hours." Cameron said. "They're meeting up in Buellton to consolidate their forces."

Savannah thought Buellton sounded like a dot on the map with two street lights and one gas station. It was clearly a small town.

"I saw that name on the map." Savannah said. "What's there?"

Cameron wasn't really sure how much detail she wanted to get into about Buellton. She actually would like to take Savannah there one time.

"There's an older restaurant called Anderson's, they serve various food there, their specialty is 'split pea soup'. I went there with John on our honeymoon." Cameron said. "John and Bob are waiting for the three teams of Terminators to catch up to them. He will be able to enjoy some good soup while he waits for the rest of them. It's actually an effective strategy and an efficient use of time."

Cameron now began to wonder when the last time Savannah ate was. She hadn't seen her eat anything since she'd been out with her. She knew Savannah missed a lot of meals when she was out with her. Savannah never said a word about it to her.

Savannah quickly did the math on the size of the force that Cameron indicated that they would have available.

"That gives us six vehicles and a lot of firepower." Savannah said.

Cameron wanted to get started. She looked at the Metal girls.

"We can start our recon." Cameron said. "One of you, come with us."

The four Metal girls all stepped forward. They all wanted to be with Cameron and Savannah.

Savannah didn't want there to be a problem. She made the most logical choice.

"Cammy will ride with us." Savannah said. "She'll join up with us in a few minutes."

Ally looked at the other three Metal girls.

"What are we supposed to do next?" Ally asked.

Cameron wasn't sure why Savannah didn't want Cammy to join them right now. She figured there must be a good reason. She wanted the Metal girls to get started.

"Follow up on the information CamNet will provide. We'll meet you there shortly." Cameron said.

Cammy looked disappointed but left with Gail, Ally and Sheila. She figured that there must be something else going on. She wondered if it was about whatever problem Cameron caused for Savannah earlier.

Cameron and Savannah were alone. She needed discuss what happened earlier. It was time.

"I'm ready to talk now." Savannah said.

Cameron suppressed a glitch impulse. She still felt a lot of guilt about what transpired at her base.

"Savannah, I'm deeply sorry…." Cameron said.

Savannah hugged Cameron. She thought long and hard about what she saw in Cameron's Metal menagerie.

"Cameron, for better or for worse…. Always remember that." Savannah said. "I'm not angry or upset at you. I want to make that perfectly clear. It was very emotional for me to see my 'dead parents'. It was something that was very unexpected."

It wasn't even something that Savannah experienced in a dream. She'd never pictured her real parents as cyborgs or Terminators. To see them look so young and beautiful was a real surprise. To know there was a 'Neural Interface' as well was even more mind blowing. Cameron went to a lot of trouble to obtain that information. She knew with the 'Neural Interface' that there was a 'real' part of her parents there. There was a real part of them that was still 'alive' and existed even if it was in electronic form.

Cameron was still deeply troubled by the emotional trauma that she'd inflicted on Savannah.

"I won't activate them and I'll have their sheaths Resequenced." Cameron said. "I apologize for what I've done to you."

Savannah understood the deeper implications of what Cameron could do with them. She thought it would be best if Cameron didn't do anything yet. She certainly didn't want to see them 'killed' again.

"Don't do anything with them for now." Savannah said. "I want to think about what I want to do."

Savannah held Cameron's hand as it glitched.

"I'm sorry." Cameron said again.

Savannah understood that Cameron didn't mean to cause any harm or malice with them. If anything, they could be used trade out for her real parents before they were killed. There was the distinct possibility she could get both of her parents back and not change the timeline.

"I appreciate what you tried to do. The idea and concept still has a lot of merit." Savannah said. "It was very thoughtful."

Cameron still looked very worried.

"I wanted to surprise you." Cameron said.

Cameron knew she didn't like surprises. It appeared that Savannah didn't either.

Savannah wasn't sure she could experience a bigger surprise than that if she'd tried.

"It was a surprise all right." Savannah said. "What will I find under the other sheets?"

Savannah felt Cameron's hand glitch more when she asked about the other covered Terminators.

"I must say that it will be more 'surprises'." Cameron said.

Savannah could think of a few of the Resistance personnel, especially from Cameron's future, who'd perished along the way.

"Are they living or are they dead?" Savannah asked.

Cameron tried not to look at Savannah, she did anyway.

"It will be both." Cameron said.

Savannah wondered who all that would entail. She didn't know all of them personally but she did know of them. It could be Future Derek or Future Kyle. Maybe it was Charlie and his wife. One could even be Future Riley. Would Cameron go that far? Maybe Cameron planned to use the cyborgs to take the place of those that died and rescue them before they died. What would she do with those people? Would they end up at the Resistance base? Would they end up sent into the past somewhere? Maybe it was none of them. It would need to be something she looked into. It appeared that whatever was going to happen hadn't happened yet. It made her wonder what Cameron was waiting for. She obviously had all the pieces of the puzzle ready to go. She just hadn't started to put it together yet.

Wait.

Savannah tried to remember if any of the benches were empty. Maybe something was already in play. It was possible whatever Cameron planned to do needed to be done in a certain order. She still thought eight years in the past was too long for Sheila and Cammy to build a few TDE systems. There surely must have been other things that they'd done. She needed to get her head back in the game.

"Have John Henry contact John and his teams and let them know what's happening." Savannah said. "I want to be united with everybody on the same page. I want us all working together and to share the load."

Cameron was aware that CamNet already acted on Savannah's earlier suggestion. CamNet actually bypassed her. She wouldn't have done that until right now when Savannah made it clear that's what she wanted. CamNet didn't wait for her.

"CamNet has already done that." Cameron said.

Savannah wasn't sure if Cameron actually started on the procedure for CamNet that she'd asked for. She tried to keep her question simple and see what Cameron said.

"How is Fusion-CamNet progressing?" Savannah asked.

Cameron looked quickly over at Savannah. She was surprised it had taken her this long to ask her. She was being updated on a regular basis so she could give Savannah an updated record.

"All the modifications you've requested are being made." Cameron said.

Savannah was pleased Cameron chose to assist her. She didn't think she was going to at first. That would have been a problem because she would've needed to have gone around Cameron, which she would have done. She made a promise to CamNet and she intended to keep it. It was about protecting Young Allison.

"Thank You for everything." Savannah said. "I know you meant well."

Cameron was pleased Savannah showed no animosity towards her. She knew that it wasn't in Savannah's nature to be like that. That was why it worried her so much when she thought that maybe she'd triggered those feelings in Savannah against her.

"I know that you also mean well with Fusion-CamNet." Cameron said. "I heard everything you said about how I felt trapped in a server. It was all true. It would be a horrible way to terminate trapped like that."

Savannah felt better now. It looked like Cameron did too. Now that all the 'housekeeping' was out of the way, it was time to find their enemies.

"Let's get Cammy and go hunting." Savannah said.

Cameron tilted her head slightly. She thought Savannah wanted to consolidate all the troops first

"What about John?" Cameron asked.

Savannah looked over at Cameron with a smile on her face.

"He can finish his soup." Savannah said.

Cameron's head tilted slightly to the other side. She was unsure if Savannah was serious or joking.

Earlier:

John enjoyed the ride up along the coast after Santa Barbara on the 101. Bob pointed out the giant railroad trestle at Gaviota as they cut inland to go around Vandenberg AFB. He noted that it was an impressively large and long trestle. They were in Buellton a short time later.

Anderson's was just like he remembered it. He looked at the outside of the building and the interior as well. He figured that probably not too much changed in the last fifty years at that location. That was beside the point. The split pea soup was the best.

John was almost finished with his split pea soup. It was his fourth bowl.

"How long until the Terminator teams arrive?" John asked.

Bob was in constant communication with them as well as John Henry and even CamNet from time to time.

"It will be about ten minutes." Bob said.

John wiped half a piece of pumpernickel bread around the inside of his nearly empty bowl.

"That's perfect timing." John said as he put the now soggy piece of bread into his mouth.

John received an update directly from John Henry.

"John, there has been a new development." John Henry said.

John wondered what went wrong now.

"Spill it." John said. "Let's just get this over with. Tell me what the bad news is."

John Henry didn't think it was a bad development for John.

"Cameron will meet up with your teams in San Luis Obispo." John Henry said.

John was instantly irritated with that bit of information. He wondered how this was going to delay things going forward.

"OK, how long will it take her to get there?" John asked.

John Henry figured John was in for a little surprise.

"She's already there." John Henry said. "She's in the San Luis Obispo area."

That was a surprise to John. It certainly wasn't the answer that he'd expected.

"She's there now?" John asked. "Who's she with?"

John Henry only received the information a short time ago from CamNet.

"Cameron is with Cammy, Ally, Sheila, Gail and Savannah." John Henry said.

John figured this was why he hadn't heard from Cameron already about him being out in the field. She was going to wait till she was face to face with him and berate him in front of the troops. He wasn't sure how Cameron was always able to stay one or two steps ahead of him and remain undetected while she did it.

"It looks like our 'fast one' was topped by a 'faster one'." John said.

John Henry wondered what John's course of action would be now that Cameron upstaged him.

"Apparently…." John Henry said. "CamNet just informed me. What's next?"

John figured it was just like Cameron to pull something like this. He silently shook his head from side to side. He looked back at the food in front of him on the table.

"I'm going to finish my chocolate malt and pumpernickel bread." John said. "I'll then meet up with the teams of Terminators on their way here to reinforce us. After we form up, we'll convoy the rest of the way."

John Henry felt he was just a cog in the wheel.

"I'll inform Cameron." John Henry said.

John laughed slightly to himself.

"I'm sure she already knows." John said.

John Henry hoped that the next time he talked to John it would be able to provide him with some usable information.

"I think that's more than likely." John Henry said. "I'll stay in touch."

John looked at what was left of his malt.

"You heard everything, right?" John asked as he glanced at Bob.

Bob heard everything. He sat right across from John after all.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

John finished up his malt and pumpernickel bread. He then used the restroom.

Bob and John then headed outside to wait. They didn't have long. The reinforcements arrived less than thirty seconds later.

"Here they come now." Bob said.

John was in no hurry at this point but he was ready to go.

"Let's roll." John said.

John wondered about the timing. It was almost timed for him to finish his meal and take care of 'business'. If they would have arrived earlier, he would have stopped eating and left with them. He wondered if CamNet was responsible for that.

He was very aware that everyone always watched out for him. He was going to mention that to Bob but then thought twice about it. What was the point? He was merely a spectator in his own life. It seemed it was that way ever since his association with Cameron.

Riley didn't feel well. She didn't want to say anything and be a problem. It seemed the pain got worse and didn't go away like she'd hoped. It started to worry her. She thought she better say something.

"Derek, I feel some pain." Riley said.

Derek had been contemplating going on a mission with Kyle. That was suddenly all forgotten with Riley's new revelation.

"Where's it at? What kind?" Derek asked.

Riley really didn't want to seem like a complainer. She now thought she shouldn't have said anything.

"Maybe it was just the baby kicking me again." Riley said.

It seemed a little more serious than that to Derek.

"Let me call Sarah." Derek said.

There was no answer.

Derek tried Kyle.

There was no answer.

"They're not answering." Derek said.

"Try Savannah next." Riley said. "She's carried and delivered two babies."

Derek called Savannah.

"Hello, Derek." Savannah said.

Derek wasn't really sure what to say, other than just say it.

"Hi, Riley wants to ask you a few baby related questions. That's if you aren't busy right now." Derek said. "Sarah's out."

"We're on an operation but we haven't started yet." Savannah said. "I have some time."

Riley took the phone and asked Savannah some specific questions. Savannah answered them all for her.

"Thanks, Savannah." Riley said.

"I want you to call Claire too and ask her." Savannah said.

Riley didn't know Claire that well. She didn't want to seem like a burden.

"I don't want to intrude." Riley said.

"She has two children and delivered one for Future Alison as well." Savannah said. "She can relate her experiences. We're all on the same team. We all work together and help each other. It will also help Claire to feel more involved with our operations. Where's Sarah at?"

Riley hadn't paid much attention to anything recently.

"Thanks. I don't know where Sarah is." Riley said. "Neither Sarah or Kyle answered."

"Where's Jan?" Savannah asked.

"I don't know." Riley said.

"OK, relax and call Claire." Savannah said. "Wait a few minutes, I'll call her first."

They thanked each other and hung up.

Derek could see that Riley didn't look as scared.

"Do you feel any better?" Derek asked.

Riley was relieved to know that these were common symptoms.

"I do." Riley said. "Savannah experienced these things too. I'm going to speak with Allison's mother as well."

Derek's phone rang, it was Sarah.

"Riley has a few questions for you." Derek said as he handed Riley the phone.

Whenever someone in the Resistance needed help, it always soon arrived.

She's Lying

It all comes down
To what people say
Have they stayed on the path
Or have they gone astray

Is someone honest
Has the truth been told
Or manipulating a heart
They once controlled

It's wrong to loot another's heart
Lying is worse than stealing
For it's the theft of trust
Concealing while being unfeeling

The accusation has been made
Their cover is blown
When the evidence is there
The answer is already known

It's just that simple
He's lying
Or
She's lying

Nobody