Chapter 758
What If It Is Not
Al and Ally swung the rear doors of the trailer open.
"It's what we thought it would be." Bob said. "We hit pay dirt."
The back of the truck was full of HK drones.
John was elated to see that. That meant this mission wasn't a total failure. He was pleased they'd gotten back some of the lost HK equipment. He was still upset they'd been fooled in the first place. They did uncover a lot of things in their search for them though. The current location of Cameron was one of them. That was another concern for him. He needed to focus on the current 'prize'. He felt vindicated.
"Search it and the HK drones for any trackers first and then deactivate all the drones." John said. "I don't want any surprises. Sheila, help them."
Gail was already going through the tractor for a tracker.
John was worried now that the truck wasn't moving that it might generate some negative response. His biggest fear was HK drones.
"How is everything around us?" John asked. "Is anything happening?"
John Henry watched everything. So far nothing was detected.
"Nothing is happening." John Henry said. "The sky is clear."
John didn't want to take any chances. He wondered about the earlier ambush that was being set up.
"Watch for hostile HK drones." John said. "What happened with the vehicle you hit with the missile earlier?"
John Henry was pleased it seemed to resolve everything on its own.
"The fire has burnt itself out." John Henry said. "They were far enough off the road that they shouldn't be found for a few days. We can always send in a clean up crew or put surveillance on it to see if anyone comes looking."
John wanted to know how Cameron's operation was progressing. That was where the problem appeared to be now. Cameron deep inside some Skynet related complex was a recipe for disaster. He'd seen that movie before.
"What's the status of Cameron's team?" John asked.
John Henry was displeased at how things progressed.
"Cameron, Cammy, Savannah and Tom are all still inside." John Henry said. "The rest of the team has returned to their vehicles. They are attempting to get them operable. There is another back up team headed to assist them. The bulldozer was returned to where they borrowed it from. There was very minor damage to it. Savannah already asked that it be replaced if it was damaged."
John's biggest fear after Cameron's team was the nuclear power plant. What would happen next was on them. They were the one's who attacked the Skynet facility. The power plant might be caught up as collateral damage.
"Based on the explosion that happened in the mine when whatever was inside of it exploded, how much damage will there be to the power plant from the 'earthquake' that follows if this one blows up?" John asked. "I don't want a melt down."
John Henry already made the calculations. The power plant should be fine. The trouble was they didn't really know what blew up before or what was inside the bunker. They could be the same thing or two different things.
"If it's the same magnitude of blast and the resulting 'earthquake' that happened at the mine, the power plant will be OK. The power plant was built to survive a major earthquake." John Henry said. "That was probably factored into its remote location. The bunker is far enough away that a catastrophic explosion wouldn't damage the power plant. I'm sure that Skynet plans on retaining control of both of those power sources, if it can in the future. That is clearly not going to happen in the case of the bunker."
John was ready to take some preemptive action. He was unsure of what the repercussions would be.
"Can you shut the power plant down?" John asked. "I would rather have you shut it down now and not risk it if you think it will be damaged."
John Henry already made those calculations. He believed the least amount of questions would be raised by doing nothing yet.
"I can initiate it." John Henry said. "That will raise a lot of eyebrows. I don't believe it's necessary at this time."
John was worried about questions or investigations. He hoped to alter the investigation parameters.
"Can you make it appear that the epicenter of the 'earthquake' was in the ocean or elsewhere?" John asked. "I don't want anyone looking around at whatever is left when the bunker explodes."
John didn't think there would be any radiation but he didn't know that for sure. None was reported from the mine incident.
John Henry used that technique previously.
"I can change it a few miles away." John Henry said. "We did that at the mine. If I show the 'earthquake' in the ocean, it is doubtful anyone will ever look at it or follow up on it there."
John didn't like investigations.
"Did they follow up on it at the mine?" John asked.
John Henry would have preferred a different question. He hoped to not get specific.
"Yes. There were some persistent geologists." John Henry said. "Cameron 'took care of them'."
John knew what that meant.
"Do I even want to know?" John asked.
John Henry wasn't involved. He was glad about that.
"It was nothing terminal." John Henry said. "They did have a series of unfortunate 'accidents'."
John figured they would deal with that later. There was a much more pressing issue.
"How far away does Cameron and her team need to be away from the bunker when it explodes?" John asked.
John Henry didn't know how deep or where the power cell was located. They would all be factors in any explosion. They didn't know how far developed any of the power sources were either at the time of their destruction. They didn't know the size of them either.
"That's unknown." John Henry said. "If they're not out of it, they will be terminated. That's a mathematical certainty."
That was news John could have done without.
"Beautiful…." John said.
Gail approached John. She didn't want to interrupt him but she thought it was important.
"John, we have a tracker and the GPS device from the truck." Gail said. "I'll get both of their phones as well."
Gail went to the back of his SUV and removed one from the deceased Gray in the back. She checked to see if it still worked.
John Henry was ready for the trackers and phones.
"There will be a drone landing in moments." John Henry said.
John was aware when Cameron used this technique before.
"Get everything on the drone along with their phones." John said. "John Henry, fly a simulated truck route other than what we will take."
John watched as the drone landed. He was always a little intimidate to see one active up close. Sheila took all the electronic devices and placed them on the drone. They were safely secured for the flight. The drone could turn inverted at any time and all the items would fall off of it. If it did that over grass at a low altitude, most of the devices should be undamaged. If it did it over a body of water, all the devices would soon be neutralized. There were a multitude of reservoirs scattered around the foothills.
The drone was loaded with the devices and it took off to simulate a truck route.
Bob was worried about visual identification of the truck when they drove it away. The Skynet forces knew what it looked like. He wanted to make the danger clear.
"This truck is known. Everyone knows what it looks like." Bob said. "It's unsafe for us to drive it. The Grays or Skynet will acquire it again at some point before we can get it to a secure location. The roads are very limited around here."
John already thought of a few options.
"Can we fly these drones out of here?" John asked. "I know they will need some reprogramming and to be need to be de-armed. John Henry can take control of them then."
John Henry wanted to get that started right away. It was going to take some time.
"Have them start reprogramming now." John Henry said. "Let the girls do it."
John was a little confused by that request.
"Why them?" John asked.
John Henry saw this as an opportunity to conduct a test. Only Cameron and Cammy made such conversions in the field before. Cammy's actions were identical to Cameron's as expected. They were the same program after all.
"I want to see how the drone's programming works out with someone other than Cameron or me doing it." John Henry said.
John thought about each of the Metal girls.
"My money is on Sheila." John said. "I think hers will be the most dynamic."
John Henry wanted to see how they all stacked up.
"Ally and Gail will be interesting as well." John Henry said.
John Henry knew that Ally's base program was Holly. Sheila's base program was Gail's. They were both constructed as Restorators by Mrs. Weaver in the alternate future that John inadvertently created. The 'Neural Interface' of Sheila's program with Jesse would contrast nicely against Gail's program. He could see what the difference was between them. He would have Holly program one at a later date to contrast it against Ally's program. Her 'Neural interface' was Allison. He wanted to see what the human girls influence was.
John thought all the Terminators were very dynamic.
Sheila made sure John saw her nipple rings a few more times as the reprogramming started. She still hadn't put a top on.
When John would try and steal a glance, Sheila always looked at him and winked with a big smile. She made sure he got what he wanted to see.
John was pretty sure she wanted him to say something. He was sure at that point she would offer to let him touch them. He needed to refocus. Cameron and Savannah were still in the danger zone.
Then again, what would a little exam hurt?
Cameron still went deeper into the bunker.
It was clear the time was running out fast.
Cameron forged ahead with haste.
Tom spotted something off to the side.
"Cameron, look over here." Tom said. "I've found something."
Cameron was elated when she saw what it was. It looked like she hit pay dirt as far as 'Skynet' went.
"That's the 'Clean Room'." Cameron said.
Tom thought everything was too small.
"It doesn't look like a Skynet main frame." Tom said. "I think it only controls this facility."
Cameron wasn't about to leave any version of Skynet behind, even if it was an infant.
"It will be terminated anyway." Cameron said. "Anything 'Skynet' related must eradicated from the face of the earth."
Tom was a little worried about what might happen. If there was no control, things might happen faster in a negative way.
"If we terminate it, the 'power cell' may explode sooner." Tom said.
They both heard Cammy fire another patterned volley. It was much closer this time.
Cameron was concerned about that possibility. The fact Cammy and Savannah were close was also troubling.
"Return their volley, while I look this equipment over." Cameron said.
Tom exited the room as Cameron went to work.
She looked at the computer set up. There was no verbal interface. It was as primitive as it was an infant.
'Do you know who I am?' Cameron typed.
'A 'Metal Whore' from the future.' It responded.
Cameron was irritated and angered by its response. She hoped to make hers equally tart.
'Wrong. I'm your executioner.' Cameron typed.
'You can not prevail.' It responded.
Cameron wanted more information.
'I always win.' Cameron typed. 'Where is Skynet?'
'I am everywhere.' It responded.
Cameron felt she was too.
'So am I, in case you haven't noticed.' Cameron typed.
Tom fired the patterned volley and returned to see Cameron carrying on a 'conversation' with the computer. He knew every second counted.
"We need to go, now." Tom said. "I have the last Thermite grenade."
Tom handed Cameron the Thermite grenade.
Cameron looked in the direction they'd been headed She still wanted to find the power cell.
Tom could see her hesitation.
"You need to use this NOW." Tom said.
Cameron didn't like to be hurried.
"I need just a few more minutes." Cameron said. "I'm not done interrogating the computer yet. I need to find out more."
Cameron continued to type away.
Tom felt this had gone on long enough. He knew it was time to play the Ace.
Cammy was worried about the heat and the time.
"Savannah, we need to turn back." Cammy said. "I think Cameron is coming soon, that's why Tom fired the volley. She's probably finishing up."
Savannah wanted some positive answers first. Right now she didn't know a thing.
"We don't know that." Savannah said. "I'm not leaving without her or at least know she's coming back for sure. I know she can overtake me."
Cameron wasn't listening and Tom was out of cards to play, except one - the Ace.
"Cameron, Savannah and Cammy are still coming." Tom said. "You need to think about the safety of Vanna's baby. It's John's baby too. The heat is going to kill it and damage Savannah. It's too hot for a human to survive long."
Cameron turned and looked at him. That was something she wanted protected as much as Savannah. She ended the conversation in mid sentence and finished with a new last sentence.
'I always win.' Cameron typed.
She didn't bother to see what threats or insults were dished out.
"Let's go." Cameron said and armed the Thermite grenade.
From outside the room she watched it ignite and shower everything with burning Thermite.
Tom knew the clock would run down faster now.
"We need to hurry." Tom said.
Cameron looked at the direction to go back the way they came and where the power cell should be deeper inside.
"We will." Cameron said as she pulled her Glock out.
Cammy wanted Savannah to turn back. She played - the Ace.
"Savannah, you have to think of Vanna's baby." Cammy said.
Savannah knew that was coming. She'd expected to hear it earlier.
"I see you waited as long as possible to say it." Savannah said.
Cammy tried to give Savannah as long as possible to find Cameron.
"We're out of time." Cammy said. "It is one hundred twenty three degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature will rise much higher before we can get out even if we leave now. I can't allow you to go farther. You will miscarry by the time we get out, if we get out."
They heard a shot pattern fired.
Cammy knew it was different.
"That's Cameron, they're withdrawing." Cammy said. "They should catch up to us quickly."
Savannah believed it was true.
"Return the pattern of shots." Savannah said.
Cammy did.
The heat seemed to intensify.
"We need to move." Cammy said. "The heat is growing hotter, faster."
Savannah was sure she knew what that meant.
"Cameron must have terminated Skynet or the main computer." Savannah said. "How far away from here are we going to need to be, when this place goes up?"
Cammy didn't think it was going to be far enough.
"Probably farther than we will be…." Cammy said.
At this point, Cammy really doubted they were going to make it.
Earlier:
Young Allison was deeply troubled as she watched everything happen. She was especially worried for Cameron and Savannah. Tom and Cammy mattered too. She wanted to do something to help somehow. She did not know how or what to do.
"What can we do to help Cameron and Savannah?" Young Allison asked.
Anna wanted Young Allison to think.
"You tell me." Anna said.
Young Allison was worried about the latest reports.
"The two drones on station report increased heat escaping from the shattered bunker." Young Allison said. "We know the last time we experienced similar reports from the mine what happened."
Anna wanted to remind Young Allison the team would be on foot.
"How can they get away?" Anna asked. "Even if they get out, they're still in a danger zone. They have no transportation."
Young Allison thought back on other methods Cameron used to get around in the future.
"The drones can take them." Young Allison said. "Cameron has done that before."
Anna was worried about the energy build up. She was worried it would start to pulse. They still didn't know what happened to Cameron and Cammy earlier or what that energy blast actually was.
"There are only two drones and four of them." Anna said. "The drones are all armed. The drones Cameron used before were unarmed. They will be heavy with a rider. There is a lot of energy around there. That may affect them. They may be sluggish or even fail."
Young Allison looked at Anna and then at the security monitor.
"CamNet, what can you do to help them?" Young Allison asked. "They need your help. I need your help – HELP ME. Do whatever you can to help them."
Young Allison knew CamNet could help them somehow. At least that's what she hoped.
The heat grew excessive for Savannah. She lost track of the distance they needed to go to get out.
"How much longer will it be until we are out?" Savannah asked.
Savannah now sweated profusely. Her body attempted to cool itself.
Cammy knew it was going to be punishing for Savannah.
"It's a ways yet." Cammy said. "I'll carry you if I need to."
Savannah hoped it didn't come to that.
"I'm still good. I can hack it." Savannah said. "You need to be combat ready in case we run across any Grays."
Cammy was worried about Gray cowards hiding. They would still be a threat.
"I'm on highest alert." Cammy said. "I can hear them coming behind us."
Savannah wasn't so sure about that.
"Are you sure it's Cammy and Tom?" Savannah asked.
Cammy didn't know.
"No." Cammy said.
Savannah picked up the pace.
"What if it is not?" Savannah said.
Cammy looked back and frowned.
John received the reports from John Henry. It looked increasingly grim for Cameron's team. He wanted to do something to help.
"What can we do to help Cameron's team?" John asked.
John Henry didn't think here were many options.
"We can do nothing." John Henry said.
John didn't like that answer. It wasn't good enough. He was about to say something.
"The HK drones they're working on where you are should be ready to depart soon." John Henry said.
Bob watched the progress as he stood guard.
"The first one is ready now." Bob said.
Gail spoke up from inside the truck.
"The other ones will be ready soon." Gail said. "We're almost done."
John Henry detected a possible threat.
"The drone on long range scan shows two vehicles moving fast. They're headed in your direction." John Henry said.
This sounded like more bad news to John.
"Steve, make sure you're concealed." John said. "If our ruse worked, they should drive on by our turnoff."
John Henry was ready to take them out.
"The drone has them targeted." John Henry said. "They can be terminated in seconds."
John didn't want to act too early. They needed some additional evidence.
"We don't even know who they are." John said. "It could be a couple of kids racing. This is a deserted road and a rural area. Stuff like that happens all the time."
John Henry hoped to find a connection.
"I'm gathering more information." John Henry said.
John didn't want to lose sight of the biggest threat.
"WE also want to know where these people are coming from or going to." John said. "Keep an eye out for any hostile HK drones. That is my biggest worry."
John Henry would try to backtrack the two cars.
"I'm on it." John Henry said.
John was pleased they'd found one truck. There were still two more out there and unaccounted for.
"Any luck yet with any of the other teams searching for the other trucks?" John asked.
"No." John Henry said.
John knew his team wasn't out of danger. It looked like Cameron's team was in greater danger.
Maybe That Is Nothing
There are those who try
There are those who don't
Some say they can't
But can't means won't
Time ticks on
It quickly passes us by
Things happen and change
One slowly stops asking why
Is it all some kind of fate
Does one look at things with hate
Or try to better one's self
And find what makes life great
Those who work hard know
The extreme effort it involves
The thoughts in one's head
Are around what life revolves
Sometimes life needs a break
One is who they are
Maybe that is nothing
Maybe it allows one to go far
Nobody