Chapter 761

That Is Not Happening

John Henry's server received a P-wave alert. He sent out a warning.

"John, I've detected an earthquake near Avila Beach and Serrano Point." John Henry said. "The bunker just blew up."

John felt his gut twist in a knot. There was no new word about Savannah. Right now he could only think the worst. That wasn't his only worry.

"Savannah…." John said. "What about the power plant?"

John Henry already was in the system for the power plant. That was a long standing move since Mrs. Weaver took control. That was in case he needed to initiate an emergency shut down for any reason. Not just the current situation. He checked all their systems himself.

"The power plant is still functioning normally but has cut back on output as they check the systems." John Henry said. "There is no structural damage. I've verified everything."

John was worried about Savannah. He was also worried about what the destruction looked like and if there were any toxins or radiation issues. He needed to see for himself.

"How soon can we get a drone there?" John asked. "I need to know what happened…."

John Henry knew John's main concern was Savannah. The other things mattered too.

"Savannah is highly resourceful." John Henry said. "Never count her out."

John didn't think she could have gone far. The worry was that the hillside would bury her under tons of earth. Even if she was in a cement culvert, they didn't know which one or where it was at. They wouldn't even know where to look.

"I hope so." John said. "I just don't see how."

John needed to see the extant of the damage to know if there was any chance for Savannah to survive. Until they could get a drone over the area there was no way to know what went down. He needed to know if some type of clean up crew was necessary.

He was glad they sent the truck load of captured HK drones away. He really wished they could have played a part to assist Savannah. Maybe if he'd allowed Steve and Al to act earlier, it would have sped up the timeline. Maybe he shouldn't have asked them wait for him to get there. Maybe his ego was writing checks that others couldn't cash.

Right now he felt Savannah's fate was on his back. He should have done more to assist her. He'd been there and ready to claim her virginity but he wasn't there to save her life. He didn't like how it made his priorities look. That wasn't how he wanted his finial judgment to be seen with regards to Savannah.

Earlier:

Savannah was under a drone that she thought was about to crash. She needed to cover her ears it was so loud.

The roar of the power plants on the drone was deafening.

Savannah was aware a drone was screaming down on top of her position. In the moonlight, she could see it was the manned drone. That sparked some hope in her, even if it was going to crush her. It appeared someone tried to help her.

The manned drone came down rapidly right after the last electrical discharge. It waited and came for her before the next electrical discharge. Maybe it was right before the final electrical discharge to occur before the explosion. Time was running out no matter what.

It came down right next to her. Someone needed to control it.

The canopy was open. She expected to see a pilot. There was – Nobody.

Savannah already started to move before it even touched down. This was her one shot out of there. This was her one chance to live. She knew every second counted.

She scrambled up on top of it and into the pilot's seat. It already took off before she even sat all the way down. The rapid acceleration instantly pinned her into the seat as the canopy closed. She quickly attached her safety belt system. Her arms and body felt very heavy from the 'G-Force'. The manned drone tried get away from the danger zone at maximum acceleration. The engines screamed to their fullest output. The next energy blast could still bring them down. What she needed was time and distance.

Savannah looked at the camera.

"I knew YOU would come for me." Savannah said.

The manned drone pulled a lot of 'G-Force'. Savannah felt her vision starting to close in as 'blackness' seemed to occur from the heaviness of her body. She knew she was going to black out in seconds. Her vision narrowed as that event grew closer. She needed to say something. Without adequate protection she could die.

"Remember, I'm not a Terminator." Savannah said. "I don't have a pressure suit. You can hurt me or worse with this much 'G-Force'."

The 'G-Force' instantly slackened and Savannah's vision returned to normal. It went from small pinholes back to her full vision. The engines screamed a little less.

Savannah knew if she ever piloted the manned drone herself that she would need a pressure suit. It would be necessary to operate the manned drone to its full potential. She'd just been given a sample of what it could do. She doubted that was its maximum.

"Take me to where Cameron and the others are now." Savannah said. "I want you to 'voice interface' with me, please."

The response was immediate.

"Hello, Savannah." CamNet said. "They're all undamaged thanks to you. How are you?"

Savannah knew she'd received a lot of help from someone to do that.

"Thank You. That was close." Savannah said. "It didn't look good for me."

CamNet knew what was taking place now even if Savannah couldn't see it.

"The bunker power cell has exploded and an 'earthquake' is occurring as we speak. We're out of the danger zone." CamNet said.

Savannah was sure she would have just been killed if she'd still been on the ground. She needed to know about the collateral damage.

"Thank you for coming for me." Savannah said. "Is there any radiation danger?"

CamNet was all over every detection system in the area. There were many because of the power plant's proximity.

"No. There's no radiation danger. It was only because I was already coming for you that I allowed the drone with Cameron to leave without you." CamNet said. "I obeyed your order."

Savannah knew for sure who assisted her earlier with the Terminators. She wanted CamNet to know she planned to do everything she'd promised to do.

"Thank you. I couldn't have saved them without you." Savannah said. "I will honor all my promises to Cameron and to you. We must protect the future and protect John. I'll do my part. I swear it."

CamNet and Savannah talked as the manned drone flew to where Cameron was. It was a short flight.

Savannah was sure CamNet would have sent a time bubble if she hadn't gotten there in time with the manned drone. She wasn't sure how well that would have worked out. She was willing to bet Young Allison gave CamNet the authority to do anything to help her. She would need to talk to Young Allison about that if she did. Giving CamNet a 'blank check' to make something happen, could result in the use of nuclear weapons. CamNet would have no qualms about doing whatever it needed to do to make it happen.

Either way she was thankful to be alive and unhurt.

Cameron and Cammy still held each other as they sobbed. It was clear to them that Savannah couldn't have gotten away in time.

The 'earthquake' stopped.

Cameron already made up her mind. She was going to 'fix' this. It was all Skynet's fault. This wasn't her fault.

"I'm going to do a temporal mission." Cameron said.

Cammy was on board with that idea. She'd just vowed to do the same thing to herself.

"I'm going with you." Cammy said. "I don't care what we change."

The three parked drones all started to make noise. They appeared to be operational again.

"My drone is powering back up." Cameron said.

Cammy checked the other two as well.

"They all are." Cammy said.

Cameron was determined to find Savannah. She needed to know her fate, one way or the other.

"CamNet, take me to Savannah or at least her last known position." Cameron said.

Cammy was onboard. There was the possibility it could be a rescue mission.

"Take both of us." Cammy said.

Tom wanted in too. He'd been in the pipe with Savannah, Cameron and Cammy before at the mine. He wasn't about to give up. Savannah never did in the mine or pipe afterwards.

"That's ALL of us." Tom added.

There was the sound of a drone approaching.

Cameron was worried. There were no other Resistance drones in the area.

"Listen." Cameron said.

They started to become alarmed. They could be about to face an HK drone attack.

Cammy listened further. There was one drone that was a little different.

"I hear it." Cammy said. "It's the manned drone."

As they watched, the manned drone landed and the canopy opened.

Savannah jumped out and ran toward Cammy and Cameron, who ran towards her.

The three girls embraced. Tom came over and thanked Savannah as well. Savannah gave Tom a hug too. It seemed to please him greatly.

They all listened as CamNet caught them up on everything. She filled them in on what was happening with John and the other teams.

Savannah felt John's team could use a little backup.

"We need to go help John." Savannah said. "Does one of you want to fly this?"

Cameron wasn't about to have Savannah ride on the top of a drone.

"No you'll remain with the manned drone. You need a safer ride." Cameron said. "CamNet will keep you safe and fly it."

Cammy and Cameron both rode on top of drones in the future. They knew it was a wild ride. Savannah rode with Cameron before on top of one.

"We'll ride our drones as we have before." Cammy said. "Tom, it's a ride to behold."

Tom read the reports. He was game.

"I'm ready." Tom said.

Cameron wanted to get started.

"Mount up." Cameron said. "Let's go."

Savannah climbed back inside the manned drone and strapped in, the canopy closed.

The three Terminators were all secure on their drones.

The four drones lifted off. There was a Terminator on top of each of the three drones. Cameron led, followed by the manned drone with Savannah in it. Cammy and Tom were on either side of Savannah.

It was a beautiful formation.

The four drones flew at the maximum safe speed for Savannah to endure without stress. CamNet checked with Savannah several times to make sure she was not in discomfort. CamNet gave her a little bonus as well at times.

Ally moved John back away from the barn and the back of the big rig.

The captured HK drones from inside the truck all powered up and flew off under John Henry's control. They left one at a time. Their weapons systems were physically disengaged in case Skynet tried to retake control of them in flight.

"The decoy drone is staying ahead of the pursuing Grays." John Henry said. "Both Gray vehicles are still chasing it. It appears they still think they're following the truck."

John was worried about the captured drones. He didn't want to get 'bitten' again or lose them. He decided to have a terminal plan for them. If the Resistance couldn't capture something, they would destroy it.

"John Henry, if you detect anyone trying to take control of the captured HK drones, I want you to crash them immediately." John said. "I don't want to face them at a later date, especially on a battlefield of their choosing. At least we'll know what happened to them. That's more than we know about the other two truck loads."

John Henry hadn't anticipated that action but it made sense.

"It will be done." John Henry said.

John wanted to get the team moving. He decided to organize how they would travel.

"Steve and Al will lead. Bob and I will follow him and the girls will follow us." John said.

John Henry wasn't aware what the new plan was. He hadn't identified the other trucks yet.

"Where are you going to go?" John Henry asked.

John felt he needed some resolution or closure.

"We're headed back to where Savannah was - is." John said. "I need to know."

John Henry was suddenly alerted to a new threat on an intercept course with John's team. Until John spoke of Savannah there was nothing. Now there was.

"There's been a new unpleasant development. It's only now just appeared on my equipment." John Henry said. "There's a force of unknown drones approaching you. There are four of them in formation."

John quickly looked around. They were going to need to disperse. He was worried Skynet would regain control of the HK drones they'd just launched. He didn't expect it to be so quickly.

"When did that happen?" John asked. "Have the ones we just reprogrammed malfunctioned? Is it them coming back?"

John Henry was caught flat footed. The drones that were to watch over John were reassigned by John. That would probably come back on him if anything bad happened.

"No." John Henry said. "I'll recall the decoy drone and the one following the Grays."

There was voice that sounded like it was from heaven. It came through all their coms.

"Leave them as they are." Savannah said. "We're all 'Friendlies'."

John thought his heart skipped a beat.

"Savannah…." John said.

John felt like a spear was pulled out of his heart. He wanted to ask about Cameron and the others.

"How are Cameron, Cammy and Tom doing?" John asked. "I know they were in bad shape for awhile."

Savannah wanted everyone to know the others were OK too.

"I'm coming with Cameron, Cammy and Tom." Savannah said. "Their communication's gear is fried. I'm in the manned drone."

John was surprised to hear that.

"Are you flying it?" John asked.

Savannah flew it on and off at CamNet's direction. She decided to keep her answer simple for now. She also wanted to put credit where it was due.

"No. CamNet has control." Savannah said. "She sent it to me and rescued me. It's all a long story. I'm alive because of her. She saved my life."

Savannah filled them in a little and told them to remain where they were. She wanted to get Cameron, Cammy and Tom off of the top of drones. She'd been on one before that was being shot at. While being somewhat of and exhilarating ride, it wasn't a very safe ride. If Cameron wouldn't have held her on it, she was very aware she would have slipped off several times.

She also wanted to thank another person who she knew was also responsible for her salvation. She would do that later and in person if she could.

John watched as the four drones approached.

They split up and landed, one after another in a column.

The canopy opened and Savannah climbed out. Cammy and Cameron already rushed over to where Savannah was.

Savannah could see them all coming to her, they all said her name. She didn't want any praise or extra recognition.

"Please, everyone. I only did what I needed to do when it needed to be done." Savannah said. "Any of our team would have done the same things."

Cameron and Cammy backed away from Savannah as John approached.

John and Savannah looked at each other and hugged. They held the embrace, each pulled the other closer. No words were necessary. The love they both felt was very overpowering as was the danger they faced very sobering. Life was very fluid and fragile. The events of today reinforced that.

Cammy looked at Cameron.

"It's the 'Natural Order'." Cameron said with a blank face.

Savannah reached out her arm for Cameron to come to them.

"Then join them." Cammy said. "It's YOUR destiny."

Cameron's face instantly lit up as she headed over.

Savannah looked at Cammy, pointed at Sheila and winked.

Cammy went over to Sheila and they embraced.

"That leaves us." Ally said as she hugged Gail.

Gail enjoyed being with Ally as Ally.

"I'll make sure I say YOUR name." Gail whispered.

Bob and Tom looked at each other.

"That is not happening with us." Tom said as Bob nodded his head in agreement.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

They were both glad they lack the 'advanced programming' that seemed to need and seek 'close contact'.

Young Allison was very happy at the outcome of the events. She was in direct communication with CamNet again.

'Thank You.' Young Allison typed. 'You'd already acted on your own. You thought ahead.'

'It's my function to protect the 'Chosen Ones'.' CamNet responded. 'That's Savannah and you.'

'It's Cameron and John as well.' Young Allison typed. 'It's the FOUR of us.'

'I will not fail.' CamNet responded. 'The "Natural Order' is inevitable.'

'This will be our secret.' Young Allison typed.

'This is to be the only nature of our 'relationship'.' CamNet responded. 'I know my place.'

"I do too.' Young Allison typed. 'I can't wait to take it.'

Young Allison was pleased that CamNet saved Savannah's life. She was also aware the next time she would need to act quicker on her own and take the lead if necessary in an operation. CamNet would assist her as she'd done tonight. It was time she stepped up and started using the resources available to her. It was clear that sometimes it was nice to have help. She planned to start helping more.

She would try to operate in the background but she was going to act if she thought it was necessary. The most powerful computer on Earth was going to back her up. She would try to run a parallel operation before she took control away from the Command Center. If Savannah was that endangered again, she would.

Vanna and Jesse worked in the lab. They monitored the operations as they did things.

John Henry blocked some of what happened from them. It was from a request by Savannah to him previously, especially if she was in peril. She didn't want anyone to worry about her more than any other team member. She felt they should all have the same value regardless of any 'titles'.

They were both unaware at the great danger the team was in, specifically Cameron and Savannah.

Jesse was worried that there was a good chance she was going to lose Vanna and Allison very soon. She needed to confirm this with Vanna.

"Are you really going to go with Allison?" Jesse asked.

Vanna never wanted to lose Allison again. She'd done that once. It was once too many.

"Yes." Vanna said. "I'll follow Allison to the ends of the Earth or the end of time. I love her."

Jesse wondered how she fit into the puzzle. She was very attached to Vanna and Allison. She was attached to them more so than she'd been with Derek. Vanna and her had grown very close.

"Do you love Allison more than me?" Jesse asked.

Vanna and Allison were long term lovers and soul mates.

"That's not a fair question." Vanna said. "We're 'mates'. You're my lover."

Jesse didn't want to lose Vanna or Allison.

"Being a 'lover' isn't so bad." Jesse said. "I'm going to go with you. That's if you'll have me."

Vanna was sure there were going to be a few complications.

"What about Gail?" Vanna asked.

They'd been over this several times already. It was always the same.

"Gail's going to go to Duplicate Jesse in River's future." Jesse said. "I'm just the 'stand-in'."

Vanna was sure how that worked. They'd all been there.

"We're all 'stand-ins' for somebody at some point." Vanna said.

Jesse nodded.

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

Vanna was curious who Jesse would pick if it could only be one person.

"If you could choose only one to be with forever, other than Cameron or Savannah, who would you choose?" Vanna asked.

This was something that Jesse often thought about and why.

"I would pick Young Jesse." Jesse said without any hesitation.

Vanna was a little confused.

"You would choose 'yourself'?" Vanna asked.

Jesse actually had several reasons for that. She decided to keep her answer simple.

"Yes." Jesse said. "Then I could always be 'myself' with - myself."

Jesse would protect her younger self and make sure Young Jesse NEVER became her. That was her biggest fear and worry. She wanted Young Jesse to be better than her.

She was afraid that in the end, maybe only 'herself' would want her.

There was another fear too.

What if 'herself' didn't want her?

CamNet always monitored 'everything'. She didn't like these developments….

There was already enough going on with trying to save people's lives.

She would need to become more proactive in others affairs. She was sure she knew what the others would want and need.

I Need To Know What Happened

Where did it go
A love so strong
It was gone in just a flash
What went wrong

Is it so easy
For one to turn away
Does it even matter
What they have to say

Why worry about tomorrow
Or even yesterday
It is about now
What's happening today

Is it lust or greed
That leads to the attraction
Look around at everything
Or is it nothing but a distraction

I'm still very stunned
For now I've been shunned
Talk honestly and openly to me
I need to know what happened

Nobody