Chapter 860

Drop Back

Savannah didn't like the unknown man to be so close to her but she knew Cameron was nearby. She was armed if she needed to defend herself and she wouldn't hesitate to do so. John Henry would cover up whatever happened as she'd make her escape.

She watched the man look around and then back in her direction. She checked her time and got up when he turned away. She decided to head for the area of the side door and wait there. She wanted to move there ahead of him and not after him.

She moved away without looking back at the man.

"John Henry, keep me posted." Savannah said.

Savannah was near the side entrance now.

John Henry watched Savannah move away on the security cameras. He also focused on the man to see what he did next. When the man turned around he saw that Savannah was gone. He looked around to see where she went and didn't spot her. He went over to where she'd been sitting and looked around. He wanted to update Savannah on the man's curiosity.

"The man looked back at where you were playing on the machine." John Henry said. "He then looked around to see where you went. I don't believe he spotted you."

Savannah was away from everyone at her new location. She checked her weapons. She originally thought she'd use her Taser on the man. Now she decided something a little more terminal might be in order. She touched her pistol. If he approached her or even came too close. She decided she was going to take him down.

"I'll stay alert." Savannah said. "I'll shoot him if it becomes necessary."

Savannah felt there was something off about this whole thing. It just didn't add up.

Cameron watched as the man looked around in Savannah's direction. She wanted to terminate him even more. She saw Savannah get up and head for the side entrance when the man looked away. It looked like she got away clean.

The man looked back for Savannah and when he saw she was gone he looked around to see where she went. She thought that he'd been a little too interested in Savannah. Based on his earlier actions that irritated her, his new interest in Savannah sealed his fate as far as she was concerned.

Cameron advanced towards the man. Now she really wanted to terminate him.

John watched both Cameron and Savannah through the monitor. He thought Savannah made the right move to move away when the man was distracted. His attention now focused on Cameron. It appeared she was about to make the wrong move. Maybe it was the right move but it was the wrong time and the wrong place.

"Cameron, take it easy." John said. "Don't make a scene unless it's necessary."

Cameron thought about earlier when Savannah and her almost 'shared'…. She wasn't about to let anything happen to Savannah. She wanted to complete that experience. She knew it was going to be something beautiful and it was interrupted and taken from her. That was the fault of the Grays. The unknown group only compounded things. She was very dissatisfied about that. That too was the fault of all of these people. They all needed to be terminated.

She really didn't need any feedback from the Command Center whether it was at the Resistance base or in the casino in Las Vegas. She was the one on the ground and she was the one who was responsible for Savannah. It wasn't anybody else, it was her.

"I need to protect Savannah." Cameron said. "The unknown man is a threat. I don't like all the attention that he's paid to Savannah. She's done nothing to draw that type of scrutiny from him yet. I think that he's a predator."

Cameron moved closer to the man.

The fact she didn't know who this man was and all the cloak and dagger routine irritated her. She wanted to know who these men were and what they were up to. She was sure they would need termination. She was ready to hand out that sentence. If he made any move to get closer to Savannah, that would be his last move. She would end his existence and terminate him with extreme prejudice.

Cameron smiled to herself. She looked forward to that.

John was worried about Cameron. She seemed a little off and predetermined to terminate the man she was supposed to observe. They needed to find out who they were and what they were up to. It was clear by this point that there was a lot more going on that they didn't know about. Whatever the two mystery men were up to, might be the real issue in Las Vegas. It probably wouldn't be the Grays. Based on the last thing that he heard from where the two Grays were at, it sounded like their time was limited anyway.

He really didn't want to make an issue about it but he thought for the safety of the team that he needed to look into it. He collected his thoughts for a moment before he looked at John Henry

"Do you think Cameron is having a problem?" John asked.

John Henry quickly looked at John when he asked the question and just as quickly returned his attention back to his monitor. He didn't want to be the one who made that determination. He could only comment on what he could observe.

"It's possible." John Henry said. "I don't see her hand glitching yet. I don't think it's a personal problem. I really don't know."

John kept an eye on Cameron and Savannah in the casino. He worried about everyone else too. He didn't have eyes on the other Metal girls. That bothered him some because he couldn't follow what was happening with them a little closer.

"I'm worried about Ally as well." John said. "I'm worried about Cammy and Gail too. Everyone is isolated and the help is in short supply."

John Henry hadn't detected any shooting where the Metal girls were at.

"It appears that Cammy and Gail have everything under control." John Henry said. "At least it seems that way."

John wanted to scoff a little bit. He strongly doubted that.

"Do they?" John asked. "Is anything ever under control?"

John doubted that everything was ever under control. Every time things seemed under control, they ended up meeting a new challenge.

Now the Metal girls and Savannah were at three different locations. Everyone was spread out. If things went hot at any of the locations with a larger group of individuals, each of the groups would be in serious trouble. He didn't doubt the ability of his troops, he didn't want any of them to get shot up. The cover up might be problematic as well.

Sheila was unable to join Dan and Frank and not be spotted by the man driving the blue sedan. She needed to acquire some transportation.

Sheila went back into the parking structure and watched. She waited for someone to arrive that looked like they were going to stay for a while in the hotel and not just visit the casino.

A new Escalade pulled into the lot. A man and a woman exited. They each carried an overnight bag. They both talked on their phones as they walked inside. She waited until they were completely inside before she made her move. She went to the Escalade and disabled the alarm and started it. She backed out of the parking spot and headed out after Dan and Frank. She was a few minutes behind them but she knew right where they were at, as well as the destination of the blue sedan.

"John Henry, let Cameron and Savannah know I have a ride for them." Sheila said. "I'm three minutes behind the blue sedan if I make the signal on to the main street, if not, then it will be four minutes."

Sheila gave John Henry a description of the Escalade. She gave him the information on the vehicle so that it wouldn't be reported as stolen even if the people found it was missing and attempted to report it stolen. It was standard practice for any vehicles they needed to appropriate to complete their tasks. She also asked to be filled in on what was happening with Cammy, Gail and Ally. She was worried about them and didn't like Ally being on her own. She wanted to be with Ally so she wasn't alone in the middle of nowhere.

She would never admit it to anyone but she loved Ally dearly. She was also heavily involved with Cammy due to their eight years in the past together. Eight years alone with someone is a long time. A lot can happen and does. Right now it was Ally that was her concern.

Frank and Dan stayed ahead of the blue sedan. They headed for the casino where Cameron and Savannah were. The blue sedan fell back one signal and then another.

The two Terminators noticed the change in driving habits immediately. The change in driving habits seemed to indicate that another 'fast one' was about to be pulled.

"This doesn't look good." Frank said. "I think he's going to bolt."

Dan watched the blue sedan through the mirror on his door.

"You're right. This guy might try to pull a fast one." Dan said.

Frank watched him through the rear view mirror. Neither one of them wanted to physically turn around and look. He might be on the watch for someone to do that very thing. If they used the mirrors, he wouldn't be able to tell that he was under observation by them.

"It looks like it." Frank said.

Frank and Dan were both aware Sheila was behind them by three minutes.

Dan wanted to give them some additional options. Because the unknown men were very erratic, they would need some more flexibility to tail them properly.

"We may need additional vehicles." Dan said. "If we get one more light ahead of him, I'm going to get out and obtain one."

Frank kept his eye on the blue sedan through his rear-view mirror.

"I agree." Frank said. "This guy is super paranoid."

It was evident by the man's actions he was experienced in ways to draw out anyone trying to track him. They knew where he was headed and they knew where the other man was at that he was supposed to pick up. It still looked like he was going to take some convoluted route to get there. It really didn't make much sense.

Cammy and Gail wanted justice for the dead girl in the other room and for the 'young redhead' that one man assaulted in the future and bragged about. That was what did it for Cammy. It was him bragging about what he'd done. He seemed very proud about it, even years later.

John Henry contacted them once to find out what exactly was going on. Cammy simply informed him that they were going to question the men 'Terminator style'.

Cammy and Gail worked the men over until they were almost dead. They obtained the information 'Terminator style'. It was the use of brute force with a lot of choking. That would all escalate soon.

Cammy looked at the battered and bloodied men. They were at a point now where they didn't get very much new information. It didn't appear that they would get anymore either.

"This is going nowhere." Cammy said. "I've grown tired of doing this. I'm tired of doing it this way."

Gail understood what Cammy meant. They already learned anything of value from the two men. Their usefulness was now over.

"Is it time to go 'Sheila' on them?" Gail asked.

Cammy looked at the two battered forms with contempt.

"That's going to happen anyway." Cammy said. "Especially the one who talked about assaulting the 'young redhead'. That alone is his death sentence."

"Which one was that?" Gail asked.

Cammy decided to step it up. She glanced at Gail and then at one of the men.

So far they'd found out that these Grays arrived in the last days of Skynet from Cameron's future. They were battling what they believed was another Skynet related group of Fanatics. The Fanatics seemed to be the ones that killed themselves rather than talk. The Fanatics 'worshiped' SkyMaster as their 'god'. Each version of Skynet wanted to be the only version of Skynet.

Cammy and Gail were aware they encountered some of this faction before as well as the Fanatics.

Cammy made a report to John.

"They have a Terminator working with them." Cammy said. "They are reluctant to divulge information. I believe there are more."

John hadn't heard very much of the interrogation. It appeared that they'd turned off any of their devices that would pick up what the conversation was about. It was either that or CamNet decided to filter what they would be able to hear in the casino Command Center. Somehow that seemed like a more likely scenario. They weren't the only ones that CamNet needed to filter things for.

"Gail, what's the condition of the men?" John asked.

Gail knew that the condition of the men didn't matter in the slightest. They both already given themselves a death sentence.

"Neither will survive." Gail said.

John hoped they would be able to get a heads up on the HK equipment that they were in search of. Since these men physically changed the reporting marks they should have a good idea how many different sets were still out there.

"Did we at least find out how many boxcars we're looking for?" John asked.

That was some of the first information the Cammy and Gail were able to beat out of the men.

"They reported three sets are still roving the western US." Cammy said. "There appears to have been more sets that have gone into storage around the area. They weren't aware of the ones we'd taken down."

John actually found that last part to be a little strange. It appeared that Skynet or its handlers tried to cover up whatever losses they suffered. It was probably to keep any of the Grays from attempting to leave. If the Grays knew that their forces were being decimated on a regular basis, it was doubtful that most of them would want to continue to stay around. He wanted to know the million dollar question.

"What about Skynet?" John asked.

Cammy was very dissatisfied with what little information she could find out about Skynet.

"They're establishing one somewhere." Cammy said. "They don't know. It might be in the desert."

John and John Henry quickly glanced at each other. They both knew that was the direction that Ally was headed. They might already be on to something.

John thought the Grays should know a little bit more.

"Maybe they don't want to say." John said.

Cammy was offended by John's question. She'd done a thorough interrogation.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cammy asked. "We've beaten them senseless."

John could tell that he'd hit a nerve and that Cammy was agitated.

"…OK…." John said.

Cammy was further dissatisfied by John's response.

"OK – what?" Cammy asked.

John didn't want to get into it with Cammy. He did want to know about the female that was a captive there.

"Where's the female they abused and killed?" John asked.

Cammy didn't need to be reminded about the abused female.

"Don't forget she was mutilated as well." Gail said. "They abused a 'young redhead' in the future too…."

John looked over at John Henry when he received that last bit of information. It didn't sit well with him either. John Henry gave him a slight nod.

"I understand now." John said. "Finish up as you see fit and let me know if you come up with a location for anything else."

Cammy smiled to herself. It appeared that John was now culpable in anything that happened going forward.

"Will do, we're on it." Cammy said.

Cammy and Gail cut their coms again.

Gail hoped for something a little more definitive out of the conversation. That wasn't the case.

"John didn't give us specific instructions on what to do or not to do." Gail said. "Is that the 'green light' we both want?"

Cammy believed it was based on John's response. He didn't tell them to take it easy. He told them to finish up as they saw fit. If that wasn't a green light, what was?

"It is for me." Cammy said. "What happens next can never be divulged to anyone. This must stay with us."

Gail nodded. She didn't think it would be a problem. She'd already heard the saying.

"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Gail said.

Cammy wanted to make herself clear.

"I don't want this ever discussed." Cammy said.

Gail understood what Cammy didn't want known and why.

"You don't want Savannah to know." Gail said. "I don't either."

Cammy looked at the two battered forms sprawled on the floor of the building.

"I'm going to HURT them now." Cammy said.

Gail planned to be a part of everything going forward.

"That could have been Future Savannah they were talking about." Gail said. "I'm going to hurt them even more."

Cammy and Gail checked around both the front and back of the building. They'd done that several times to make sure they weren't exposed and no one else showed up in the front or back. They'd even barricaded the door that Cammy knocked off its hinges. They didn't want any surprise guests either.

Cammy returned with the dead female and gently set her down between the men.

"They're going to receive everything that they did to her." Cammy said.

Gail looked at the deceased female with some sadness. Justice needed to be served.

"I agree." Gail said.

Gail and Cammy stripped and tied the men.

Cammy was aware that Gail's eyes glowed red ever since she'd entered the building.

"This is for 'Savannah'." Gail said. "All of them, in whatever future."

"Payback is a Bitch." Cammy said.

Gail couldn't agree more.

"Metal Bitches in this case." Gail said.

Ally shadowed the box truck on her own. She didn't have any more side roads to parallel the box truck on. They were about to head into the open desert.

"I'm going to be on the same road as them in the next turn." Ally said. "There are no other roads."

John Henry didn't want Ally to get in too close.

"You will need to drop back." John Henry said.

Ally already contemplated her options. They weren't good. She needed to keep some kind of a visual on the box truck.

"If I drop back too far, I may miss where they turn off." Ally said.

John wanted Ally to play it safe. Even if the truck turned off, they would be able to search for it over a wide area very soon.

"Ally, we have two drones on the way." John said. "Keep the truck in your Terminator eyesight for now. Don't let them lead you into an ambush."

Ally was a little surprised at the daylight drones. She figured the Nevada desert was a pretty good place for them. After all, they weren't too far away from Groom Lake and Area 51.

"What is the ETA on the drones?" Ally asked.

John Henry tracked their progress on a regular basis.

"It will be in approximately seventeen minutes." John Henry said. "They'll be at fifty thousand feet."

Ally quickly calculated the travel time of a missile from fifty thousand feet. It shouldn't be a problem.

"That will only slow the arrival of a missile by seconds." Ally said. "That works for me."

John wanted her to know that she would be protected. If any of their drones were needed at a lower altitude he'd already instructed John Henry to violate the hard deck and give support where it was needed.

"The drones will also search for hostile HK drones." John said. "If you feel you need close support or the 'gun', ask for it. Don't hesitate."

John Henry wanted her to know that he wouldn't let her down.

"Once you start across the desert you'll be isolated much of the time." John Henry said. "I'll bring the drones right down on top of them if it's needed."

Ally kept a Terminator eye on the truck ahead.

"I watched them make their turn three minutes ago." Ally said. "I'm now three minutes behind them. I can still see them ahead."

John checked on the arrival time of some of the other teams that were on the way.

"I have more teams headed your way." John said.

Ally knew that she was the Lone Ranger in the middle of nowhere with no backup or support, yet.

"Right now, I'm it." Ally said.

John felt a little guilty. He'd always berated Cameron for operating alone. He was the one who sent Ally out alone.

"Yes." John said. "I'm sorry."

Ally didn't want him to feel bad. She was a Terminator after all.

"John, this is what we do." Ally said.

Ally wasn't afraid but she would be cautious.

Allison opened her eyes.

Savannah looked into her eyes.

Wait.

That was Vanna who looked at her. She must have been dreaming. She didn't feel bad being with Vanna and dreaming about Savannah. It was really the same thing, more or less.

"Hi, Allison." Vanna said with a smile.

"Hi, Vanna." Allison said. "I think I drifted off for a while. I don't sleep."

Vanna knew it was Terminators who didn't sleep.

"What?" Vanna asked.

Allison quickly understood the error in her statement.

"I mean, I don't sleep much anymore." Allison said.

Vanna still smiled at Allison. She was very pleased that they were here together.

"We can wake up like this everyday again." Vanna said. "At least for three or four days a week."

Vanna moved on top of Allison as she gave her a kiss and then a deeper one.

"You're firm again." Allison said as she reached up and touched Vanna's breasts.

Vanna already knew that before Allison woke up.

"You know what that means…." Vanna said.

"I think it means that we call Riley and see if she needs 'help' first." Allison said.

Vanna looked disappointed. She quickly remembered the mission.

"You're right." Vanna said. "That is what this was supposed to be about in the first place."

Vanna made the call. After some small talk, the subject came up.

"How's the feeding going?" Vanna asked.

Allison listened.

There was a pause.

"No." Vanna said. "Really?"

Allison sat up. She could see Vanna was concerned.

There was a pause.

"You should have called me." Vanna said. "We'll be right there."

There was a pause.

"Not Jesse, it's Allison." Vanna said.

There was a pause.

"No. But I'll check with Jesse too." Vanna said. "She hadn't started to produce much yet."

There was a pause.

"We will take care of Precious." Vanna said.

There was a pause.

"There are three Metal girls who can 'plug in' and check you out." Vanna said. "We'll be there in sixty seconds."

Allison threw on a top and some shorts, they were Vanna's.

"Go get Jesse and meet me at Riley's room." Vanna said.

Allison took off.

Vanna grabbed a pair of pants and a top, they were Allison's.

The girls didn't care, they shared everything.

Life was good in Paradise. They wanted to keep it that way for Riley and Precious too.

Drop Back

It seems they lose focus
When they stare at the rack
Everyone already knows
They really want the crack

It's their own moral fortitude
In which they fail and lack
They really don't understand
They act like a raving quack

What belongs to another
They will gladly hijack
If the road gets bumpy
They know where to fallback

Is what they really desire
Little more than an attack
It's more like who's available
That they will gladly shack

Any love that they feel
Is only an unwanted setback
To get what they want
The deck they will stack

To stay on their track
They dodge the flak
When the day turns black
They just drop back

Nobody