Chapter 775

Good Riddance

Cammy and Sheila concealed themselves from the helicopter that neared their location. They hoped they wouldn't be spotted. They stayed low as the helicopter made a slow lazy circle. It didn't appear to be searching for them.

"The helicopter is flying around the perimeter." Cammy said. "They may not be searching for us specifically. It doesn't look like it."

John Henry currently had the helicopter locked up with one of their drones at altitude.

"Say the word." John Henry said. "The missile will be there in less than two seconds."

The helicopter headed for the center of the quarry and the Grays that waited down below.

Cammy was convinced they hadn't been detected.

"Hold your fire." Cammy said. "They didn't spot us."

Sheila armed the LAW rocket. It extended to its full length.

She aimed it at the descending helicopter. She'd already worked out a plan for what she wanted to do. She quickly checked her calculations and targeting information.

"I'm going to flame it if it overflies the people on the ground." Sheila said. "I have him zeroed."

Cammy raised her M4.

"As soon as you fire the LAW, I'll start in on the Grays with my M4." Cammy said.

Cammy aimed her M4. She started to pick out targets and locations. She wanted everything preselected for quicker shots. She'd already done this procedure several times.

Sheila was ready to act.

"I'm going to fire." Sheila said.

Cammy was ready to fire. Her finger tightened on the trigger.

"I'll start shooting as soon as the rocket is away." Cammy said.

The helicopter slowly made a lazy circle to land. As soon as it was over the Grays on the ground, there was a 'whoosh' as the LAW rocket streaked down from the rim of the quarry. Before the rocket even hit, two of the Grays were down from Cammy's M4.

The LAW rocket impacted the engine compartment of the helicopter. It was a Jet Ranger. It immediately went out of control as the engine area was blown apart, fuel and flames spread as it fell. It tipped over on its left side. Two more Grays were hit and went down from Cammy's M4. The last one standing was cut in half by the now nearly inverted helicopter rotor on its final rotation. The rotor then impacted the rock and shattered. Pieces of it flew in all directions.

The burning helicopter erupted in a fireball as it landed on the five bodies below. None of the figures on the ground were still alive.

There was a smaller secondary explosion in the burning wreckage.

A human torch climbed out of the burning inferno. Its limbs flayed in all directions. A final suppressed round ended the screams.

Sheila dumped the empty LAW tube as soon as she'd fired it. She picked up her M4. Both of the Metal girls searched for additional targets. There were none apparent.

"Are there any HK drones?" Cammy asked as she searched the burning wreckage and surrounding area.

Sheila switched from watching the flaming inferno to check the area around them and the rest of the quarry.

John Henry kept a careful watch on the area. He didn't like how the helicopter wasn't detected until it was fifteen miles out. He didn't want a repeat performance with any HK drones.

"Nothing's been detected." John Henry said. "You have one of our drones over you, the other has moved to seven miles out."

Bob followed the situation as it developed in the granite quarry from the back of the big rig. The HK drones that were powered up now shut down. He thought that was a good thing if they weren't needed.

"The HK drones in the back of the truck have powered down." Bob said.

John Henry decided to shut them down when it became apparent that they wouldn't be needed. He would still like to have a team go through them first and make sure there were no hidden surprises in any of them before they were actually launched.

"They will not be needed." John Henry said. "At least they won't be needed yet."

Sheila and Cammy viewed the wreckage and carnage below them in the granite quarry.

"I'll go down and check on the wreckage." Cammy said.

John wasn't so sure that was a good idea. It sounded like the goal was accomplished to terminate the Skynet forces. He would rather have them withdraw and go to reinforce Bob. He wanted to make sure the load in the back of the big rig was protected. He didn't want to lose that load of HK drones again.

"I think we should pull out at this juncture." John said. "If they're all dead and burning, what's the point?"

Cammy didn't want to leave any unknowns behind. They were already there at the scene so they might as well do a complete search and evaluation.

"One of the vehicles is undamaged." Cammy said. "I'll search it for any intel. I want to look for any Terminators in the wreckage. Maybe there'll be a clue as to the location of the last big rig."

John didn't want them to waste any more time at that location. If Skynet knew where to send the helicopter, it also knew where to send HK drones. The helicopter wasn't detected until after John Henry cut communications. That meant that Skynet already knew where the two cars on the ground were headed.

"Cammy, let it go." John said. "I want to pack it in."

Cammy looked at Sheila. Wordlessly she started a descent down into the canyon on foot.

"It's too late, love." Sheila said. "She's already started down the canyon side into the quarry. I'll drive down there and pick her up."

John was irritated to hear that information. Since it was going to happen anyway, he still wanted them to use maximum caution.

"Be careful of your earlier suspicions that this was a 'set up'." John said. "We don't want anyone damaged."

Sheila knew John really meant terminated.

Sheila thought it was a better approach with Cammy going down on the inside of the quarry from the rim, while she approached from the gravel road at the entrance. Her approach should draw the attention of anyone they'd missed or that was hiding. She really didn't care to be bait but this seemed somewhat low risk at this point. Either way, Cammy would have her back. She looked forward to when this was over and Cammy could have her 'front'.

Anna kept track of the events that occurred at the granite quarry.

Both John Henry and CamNet kept her updated with everything as it occurred.

Anna called the Metal girls down into the bunker to monitor what happened. They all followed the events.

Gail verified where Savannah was at. She wanted to make sure Cameron hadn't clandestinely taken her to the scene of the current activity. She was satisfied that it was just Sheila, Cammy and Bob that were there.

"We should be there with them." Gail said. "They could use additional help."

It appeared to Hanna that everything was concluded for now.

"They seem to be doing OK on their own." Hanna said.

Holly wouldn't mind doing a little more. She was almost always at the Young residence in Palmdale.

"We don't get out much." Holly said. "Maybe we should be there."

Cam glanced up towards Allison's bedroom. Vanna was currently in there with Jesse and Allison.

"We all have other functions." Cam said. "ALL of us."

Gail was dissatisfied that Savannah needed to go on so many missions. There were plenty of other Terminators available to do that. It didn't always need to be Savannah.

"We should do more." Gail said.

Hanna didn't go out on any operations any longer that we're related to the Resistance. She did go out with Cameron, Sheila and Ally on some 'off the books' operations at times. She understood what Gail's real concern was.

"Relax." Hanna said. "Savannah isn't out there."

Gail didn't like that answer. There was a sad reality to all of it that concerned Savannah. She wanted to make sure that they all understood it too.

"Maybe this time she isn't." Gail said. "Savannah has seen more combat than most of you. She's certainly faced and taken down more Terminators than any of you. I want you all to think about that fact. It isn't fair."

Hanna could see that Gail was wound too tight. There was nothing they could do about the current operation. As far as any future operations went, that was mostly out of their hands too.

"It sounds like you could use a 'finish'. I'll 'take care' of you myself." Hanna said. "We can use one of the back rooms. You need to wind down a little."

That response seemed to anger Gail even more.

"It isn't a joke." Gail said. "Besides, if I wanted a Metal Savannah, there already is one, not a 'has been'."

Anna understood that Gail just referenced her. She looked down at the front of her sheath. She hoped to get everyone to take a step back. She now regretted calling them down into the bunker.

"I'm sorry." Anna said as she tried to lighten the toxic mood. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm 'under age' at this point, at least in appearance."

Gail was still wound up. She was still angry Savannah was out in the field so often. She personally tried to make sure she was there to back Savannah up whenever she could, if she knew about an operation she was involved with. She didn't care for any of the comments the others made when she did that either. It was about protecting Savannah. It was something that all of them should be doing. It was more than just about being 'sweet' on someone. It was the principle of the entire matter and the reality of the situation. She felt the easy life that all of them currently lived was part of the problem. It was because Cameron took on the burden of fighting the war herself that allowed all of them to live the easy life. She wondered how many of them actually remembered they were really Terminators not mechanical love dolls. That last definition seems to be accurate for most of them.

"You're a machine." Gail said. "YOU all are. WE ALL are. We can get a new chassis or a replacement sheath. Savannah can do neither."

It was clear Gail was very upset at the constant danger Savannah was in, even if she wasn't in any right now. Her words resonated with the other Metal girls. They knew what she said was true.

Holly and Hanna both knew that description was accurate for them. That was all they ever did anymore was switch back and forth between Claire and Allison and provide them with endless sexual gratification. It seemed to be more than Cameron's plan to make sure Allison and Claire remained happy and passive. When they were both of those things they didn't ask questions or confront Cameron as she stole Young Allison's life right in front of them.

Summer heard the argument going on in the bunker. She looked down and saw what was happening. She knew that she could diffuse the situation almost instantly. She went down and walked up to Gail and took her hand. She knew there were various ways that she could cause or create an attitude adjustment with not only humans but also with the Metal girls.

Gail picked Summer up and held her. Gail's mood softened at once.

Gail's face brightened as she held Summer.

"You're getting big." Gail said.

Summer touched Gail's cheek. She wanted to give Gail something to think about.

"We're all growing." Summer said. "In many ways, the journey has really only just started for all of us."

The rest of the Metal girls dispersed. Gail carried Summer back upstairs and set her down. Summer took Gail's hand and led her to the piano and wanted her to sit next to her. Summer played while Gail watched….

The real beauty of what Gail saw, rather than heard, was to watch Summer play. It was like she was 'one' with the piano. She could see the music flowed out of Summer herself and into the piano. It was beautiful. It was a perfect combination of a human and a machine, Summer and the piano.

Claire watched what Summer did. She did nothing to stop her. She saw it was what Summer wanted to do and she knew how to fix the developing problem. It was all done with such grace. There was no animosity or hard feelings after Summer 'touched' all of the Metal girls in her own special way. There was no sexual aspect to it as there would have been if Allison or her would have intervened.

She decided she would need to look into having an additional baby for herself after she was done allowing Cameron the use of her body for breeding. She thought about what Summer told her earlier. It was clear Summer belonged to the future.

She was aware of Summer's unique abilities. She never discussed them with anybody. She was aware of only one other individual who possessed any abilities like that. She was half of the century in the future. It made her wonder if the future didn't belong to Summer.

Cammy made her way down the hillside into the quarry. She was on the lookout for anything out of place. She still was unsure if the Grays were in the process of laying a trap. They may have hit first before the Grays were ready to spring their trap. Cammy saw that Sheila moved the SUV down from the top of the quarry rim to join her.

She should have stayed concealed until Sheila entered but she didn't wait. She wasn't about to use Sheila as bait. They shared a very special bond now. She wasn't going to risk damage to anyone else, especially Sheila.

The wreckage of the helicopter was still a burning inferno. Cammy needed to keep the car between her and the flaming mass. She didn't want any sheath damage from the excessive heat.

Cammy approached the Gray's vehicle. The paint was blistered on the right fender and hood, from the heat of the burning helicopter and the other Gray vehicle.

She carefully checked the vehicle over and opened the door to look inside. She went through the belongings there and the car itself. Nothing of significance was found. She started the car and put it in gear and let it idle along into the flaming inferno.

Sheila drove through the entrance and entered the quarry.

Cammy took one last look around and got into the SUV. She still thought something was off. It didn't seem quite right to her. This is where she would have liked to have Savannah with her. She valued her input. It seemed that humans were better able to 'read' a situation like this. As a Terminator she looked at everything logically. The human mind seemed much more chaotic and unorganized. Somehow all that disorder allowed them to 'see' things a Terminator couldn't.

"Let's get Bob." Cammy said.

Sheila could see Cammy was disturbed.

"Are you still bothered?" Sheila asked.

Cammy looked around again.

"Yes." Cammy said.

Sheila reached over and touched Cammy's thigh. She knew how to redirect her thoughts.

"When this is finished, I'll make it all better." Sheila said.

Cammy reached over and touched her cheek. Her previous worry was filled with a sense of anticipation.

"You always do…." Cammy said.

Cammy and Sheila formed a dependency on each other. To be in the past for so long together and alone, they both could tell when the other one needed them the most. There was more than one way to keep a Terminator from experiencing a glitch episode. Experience proved 'something' was the best way to do that.

John Henry watched the sky. He thought there should be more. More of what, he wasn't sure. This just seemed like it wasn't over yet. His biggest worry right now was the truckload full of HK drones Bob currently oversaw.

"Our drones show nothing around you, Bob." John Henry said.

Bob didn't want to end up a target. He figured it was only a matter of time until someone came to look for the helicopter and the Grays that they'd lost contact with. In the search for them, they were more than likely to find the big truck along with the Metal girls and him.

"I see the girls coming now." Bob said. "I think you should take the drones away. We can get them out of here and dump this truck."

John was worried that the drones would be spotted but two of theirs already currently operated in the area. He wanted to deny Skynet the use of those HK drones that they'd captured. Bob and the girls we're still in a very remote area. He thought it was time to act.

"Maybe you're right." John said. "This is all too risky now. We've experienced too many close ones."

Bob wanted to know if any additional information was obtained about the third big truck that they've been searching for.

"What is the status on the last truck?" Bob asked.

John really wanted to locate that truck. All the other teams in the area searched for it.

"We now have four teams on it." John said.

Once the HK drones were away from the big truck, Bob wanted to leave it behind. That would free him and the Metal girls up.

"Do you want Cammy, Sheila and me to go and assist as well?" Bob asked.

John felt that they'd done more than their share already.

"Not at this time." John said.

Bob was a little confused. They were Terminators. They didn't need to rest.

"We don't need to 'stand down'." Bob said.

The SUV pulled up.

"Are there any changes around us?" Cammy asked.

John Henry checked the radar screens as well as the images from the drones on patrol around them.

"There are none." John Henry said. "We're going to take the drones from your location now."

After the last three incidents with the Grays that they've been involved with, Sheila thought it was about time.

"Good riddance…." Sheila said.

They saw the first drone power up as John Henry sent it commands.

They watched the drones fly off, one by one. Bob and Cammy closed the back doors of the truck and Bob got into the driver's seat of the SUV.

Bob looked at Cammy and Sheila. They both seemed a little off. Maybe he could suggest something to take their mind off of things.

"You two can ride in the back." Bob said.

Sheila looked at Cammy and winked.

"I wish we still had the van." Sheila said.

Cammy tilted her head slightly. She'd been with Cameron and Savannah during the time period the Metal girls drove the van.

"What happened there?" Cammy asked.

"A lot…." Sheila said.

Bob headed out on the road back toward where the last big truck may be located. He'd adjusted the rear view mirror and kept one eye on that and one on the road.

He found the drive fascinating as well as educational. He better understood why John Henry spent a lot of time to 'research' females. It didn't matter if they were human or Terminators. Bob carefully and clandestinely reached down and adjusted the front of his pants.

Cameron monitored the events as they unfolded through CamNet. She tried to do it discreetly. She didn't want to spoil the joyful mood the girls were in. They all shared a really great time together. The way Savannah and Young Allison got along was beautiful. They were truly meant for each other. Cameron wondered if maybe she was the interloper. She figured that she might be the 'glue' that held the four of them together in the future. It was clear to her right now that Savannah and Young Allison didn't need anyone to hold them together.

The waitress wore a period outfit and she provided good service to the three of them.

She looked at Young Allison and then at Cameron. She appeared to do several double and triple takes.

"Your younger sister really looks like you." The waitress said. "I mean just like you."

Cameron spoke without really thinking about what she actually said. It was because what she said was factual.

"We get that a lot." Cameron said. "We share the same DNA."

The waitress thought they were both so beautiful that they could be actresses. She honestly believed that.

"You both have wonderful genetics." The waitress said. "Your beauty is beyond comparison. You should think about acting."

Cameron tilted her head slightly. She thought that might be an option if they stayed in the past. They could be anybody they wanted in the Sixties and nobody would know who they really were. She would want very specific parts to play to better represent females in the film industry. She was aware that was the time period when female nudity seemed to get its foothold and take off from there going forward.

"Maybe…." Cameron said. "It would have to be parts that don't degrade females. There is too much of that already."

The waitress knew that the malt shop tended to be a magnet for some of the studio types. They always seem to be on the lookout for a pretty face. She didn't realize they were actually looking for someone to audition on the casting couch.

"I'm always on the look out for a very pretty face. Some of the studio folks come around here." The waitress said.

Savannah returned from the restroom.

The waitress looked at Savannah.

"You're as pretty as your friends." The waitress said.

Savannah appreciated the comment but to her there was no person more beautiful on the planet than Cameron. She'd felt that way since she was first taken in by the Resistance.

"Thank you but she's prettier." Savannah said. "Nobody looks as Tight as her."

The waitress looked back at Cameron. She'd watch them whenever she could as she did her duties.

"I noticed you are very 'protective' of your friend and your sister." The waitress said.

Cameron was a little concerned at the waitress's statement. She quickly deduced that there was no foul intent behind it.

"There are a lot of bad people out there." Cameron said. "We don't want any trouble."

The waitress nodded her head up and down several times. She thought about some of the previous bad experiences in her life. She briefly thought about what she believed was her first boyfriend. He actually didn't care about her at all. He wanted one thing from her. He made sure that he gave her enough alcohol to lower her inhibitions and he took what he wanted from her. After that she never saw him again. He moved on the next young innocent victim.

She didn't know it but she was his twelfth conquest. He would eventually go on to deflower twenty three young teenagers. As he got older his victims didn't. He was eventually arrested for pedophilia and was currently in prison. When word leaked out that he was a 'child molester' the other prisoners 'took care of him'. Some of them had young daughters too. He was now physically unable to ever be with a female again as a 'male'.

Young Allison wanted to bring home some treats for her mother and Summer as well as the girls. She ordered what she thought they would like and Cameron paid the bill.

Young Allison played one more song as they waited for the things they ordered 'to go' to arrive along with the change. Cameron gave the waitress a big tip before they left. She seemed very pleased.

'Jailhouse Rock' by 'Elvis Presley', played as they departed.

We Know Where

This is my heart
You know it's there
You've decided
To have an affair

On what you're doing
We'll never agree
Press the button
Please set me free

It is with me
You were suppose to share
I think it's time
Someone else beware

I wish I was blind
So I couldn't see
What you are doing
Right in front of me

Carbon chain C24
I see you don't care
Lanolin and red dye number 27
We Know Where

Nobody