Chapter 982

Ruthless

The brown sedan was an unknown. They hadn't spotted it earlier. They thought maybe the brown sedan might have a tracker on the truck to see where it went. They might not track the truck all the time but in stages. It was an indication that it wasn't the first time that they'd tracked the truck. They didn't think that the brown sedan went to the old Supermarket when the truck stopped there. There was no indication of the brown sedan there at all.

John was sure that the brown sedan had some way to track the truck. He wanted to find out what it was.

"Have you located any signal on the truck to see if it has a tracker on it?" John asked.

John Henry hadn't found the frequency yet. He thought the tracker may work intermittently.

"I'm going through all the frequencies to see if I get a hit." John Henry said. "I should have it soon."

John wanted to know where that brown sedan came from. It most likely represented a different group. He wanted to know where they were at. Their location of origination was another potential target that they would need to deal with.

"I want one of the Metal girls to get a tracker of our own on that brown sedan." John said. "I need to know who they are."

John thought about it for a while longer. There was something about the brown sedan that bothered him.

He looked at the image of the car. It reminded him of the vehicle that Cameron, Cammy and Savannah needed to deal with in the Nevada desert. They were thugs from the casino. They were Syndicate soldiers. They didn't need the kind of trouble there that the Syndicate represented.

"Do you think they're from the Syndicate?" John asked. "The car makes me wonder about that."

John Henry tilted his head slightly. The Syndicate was a group that he hadn't factored in yet. Somehow it all made sense.

"That's one possibility." John Henry said. "If the Terminator at the old supermarket looks like 'The Enforcer', it may have drawn the Syndicate's attention. They lost millions over that whole deal and more than a few 'soldiers'. They didn't part on good terms with the Skynet forces. That was mostly thanks to us."

John didn't know all the details as to exactly what went on specifically with the Metal girls and the Syndicate, both inside and outside of the casino. He did know it was personal to them and that was one of the reasons why he didn't know all of the details. They handled most of the interaction as they would an off the books operation which is what it more or less became anyway.

"The Syndicate is looking for some payback." John said. "Alert the Metal girls that the occupants of the sedan could be from the Syndicate as well."

John Henry sent out the message. This was a new and additional threat. They already seemed to have enough of those. Cameron filled him in on most of what occurred with her interaction at the Syndicate casino.

It was clear that the girls robbed the Syndicate casino and sent a personal message to its bosses. They understood the Syndicate cared about one thing. It was money. Money purchased control and power. What couldn't be controlled through money was eliminated by the Syndicate thugs. No obstacles stood in their way. They made people compliant and terminated those who weren't.

Anna received the notification about possible Syndicate involvement from John Henry. She looked at Young Allison.

"I see John eventually reached the same conclusion that you did." Anna said. "It took him a little longer."

Young Allison showed a brief smile. It wasn't long after the brown sedan was identified as possibly following Hanna and Holly that she made the connection based upon the type of the vehicle it was. It was nearly identical to the vehicle Cameron and her team dealt with in the Nevada desert. She actually reviewed the image of the ravine that the car had been pushed into. It was still there. It didn't appear that anyone had discovered it yet.

One thing that she knew for sure is that there were a lot more Syndicate soldiers and operatives than there were Grays in this timeline. The Syndicate also had a lot of connections for its criminal activities. There were numerous law enforcement officials that were compromised throughout various agencies. Some of them worked through blackmail, others worked because of greed for the Syndicate's money.

"It's one possibility." Young Allison said. "We know from past incidents that Terminators have been tracked by appearance. I've studied the incidents with Isabel and Isabel-Cameron."

Anna was aware that Young Allison viewed images of Isabel-Cameron without her clothes on. Especially the ones when she was nude with her nipple rings. It seemed like an appropriate time to bring that subject up.

"I've noticed you review the images of Isabel-Cameron quite frequently." Anna said.

Young Allison wasn't ashamed that she did. She thought Isabel-Cameron was beautiful. When she was younger, that version of Isabel lived in her house and helped take care of her. It was only later on that she found out Isabel was actually Isabel-Cameron because she ran Cameron's program. After she learned that, she understood why Isabel-Cameron took such good care of her.

"I have. I find her extremely beautiful. Any female would like to look like she did." Young Allison said. "Images like that are available on the internet to anyone who wants to look and 'click the box' that says they are allowed to look at them. It is no big deal."

Anna wanted to question Young Allison a little further about the subject. She was curious as to what Young Allison would say since Cameron is actually based on her DNA.

"Do you like the appearance of that sheath more than Cameron's?" Anna asked. "Was Isabel more beautiful than Cameron?"

Young Allison looked over at Anna for a few moments. She was pretty sure that was a loaded question. She was actually glad Anna hadn't mentioned anything about Metal Summer. She thought if anybody could challenge Cameron's beauty, it was Metal Summer.

"I think Isabel was beautiful." Young Allison said. "I still think Cameron is the most beautiful. When I see Cameron I don't see myself in any way. I certainly don't look like her now."

Young Allison made a point to look down the front of her body.

Anna suppressed a smile as Young Allison indicated the size of her breasts as compared to Cameron's breasts. She was self-conscious about her own appearance at this point in time anyway. She would be happy when she would be allowed to resume her former appearance and look the same as Savannah again. She wanted to remind Young Allison that Cameron's beauty was actually her beauty.

"That's what you will look like one day." Anna said. "It was unsafe to continue to use Isabel's sheath. You know how things almost turned bad in the desert that one time."

Young Allison didn't want to dwell on the issue. It upset her greatly when Isabel couldn't be there anymore. That was when Cameron told her that she was Isabel as well as herself. It was all a little confusing to her at the time.

"Let's stick with the operation and get back to 'The Enforcer'. The Syndicate may be tracking facial recognition the same way that Skynet or some Grays did." Young Allison said. "We know they have access to a lot of places that they shouldn't."

Anna was aware of all the effort Cameron, John Henry and CamNet went to so that they would be protected. What the two supercomputers couldn't take care of electronically, Cameron physically visited any location that may have any files regarding them and made sure that they were destroyed. If any individual was a little too noisy, they were dealt with accordingly.

"CamNet and John Henry have scrubbed everything with any of the Resistance members on it." Anna said.

Young Allison noted Anna didn't mention Cameron. She was concerned about the distant past as well.

"What about in the past?" Young Allison asked. "That's when Cammy and Sheila were there in the Sixties. I mean from when I was there, even though I haven't gone yet. That would all be on film or photos."

Anna checked her screens.

"CamNet is going through all Syndicate computers now." Anna said.

The Syndicate didn't sit well with Young Allison from what it tried to do to Cammy, Sheila and Ally. She decided to send them a message from the future. She wanted to turn CamNet loose on them. She knew it was a bold move and it was an aggressive move. She didn't like when anyone messed with their group. There needed to be retribution.

"I want all Syndicate computers copied and then crashed or erased." Young Allison said.

Anna looked at Young Allison. That would be a major blow to the Syndicate. She wondered if maybe Young Allison should discuss it with Cameron or Savannah first.

"That will cause them a major disruption." Anna said. "Do you want to talk that over with anyone?"

Young Allison thought if the Syndicate was busy worrying about billions of dollars, they wouldn't have time to worry about the few million that they'd lost when the Syndicate casino was cleaned out by the Metal girls. Previously she'd created some bad blood between several of the different families with CamNet's assistance. She didn't think she was done with that endeavor yet. If she was going to hit, she wanted to hit hard.

"That's a good thing for us. They will be too busy with that and not worried about any of this." Young Allison said. "They want money and the power that goes with it. They don't need to worry about losing a few million with what we did when billions are suddenly at stake."

Anna could see the Young Allison knew where to hit the Syndicate to make it feel pain. It was in its pocket book.

"You are very far thinking and ruthless." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted to hit hard and low. She didn't care for any of the groups that preyed upon the little guy. She didn't like how they enforced their unfair rules when it came to money. She believed that the majority of people who were involved with organized crime were usually partly responsible for their own predicament. She was aware that the Syndicate wasn't the only player in town or worldwide. There was another organized group of thugs that was just as bad if not even worse than the Syndicate.

"CamNet can do the same thing with the Cartels too." Young Allison said. "She can clean out every cent she can take from both of them. I want all of it taken. I want their records and files erased and I want them to think the other group did it to them. I want to hit them where they will feel it the most."

Anna was silent for a short time as she calculated the repercussions of Young Allison's plan to go after the Syndicate and the Cartels. This was a far reaching plan that could end up with global implications and fighting. If each group thought the other group was responsible for their problems, there would be serious measures taken by both groups. She wanted to clarify exactly what was supposed to happen.

"You are going to pit the Syndicate against the Cartels?" Anna asked. "Do you want it to be an all out war?"

Young Allison believed once both organizations needed to fight to survive, they would be out of their hair.

"That will keep the Syndicate out of our way." Young Allison said.

Anna wanted to point out they didn't have all the details yet as to who exactly was in the brown sedan.

"We don't even know if it is the Syndicate." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted to do this on the first day she found out about Syndicate involvement with the Grays. She'd set a little of it in motion then but everyone wanted her to use restraint. She listened to the others then because the events seemed rather localized and appeared to end once they were out of the Las Vegas area.

"They tried to hurt some of our people once." Young Allison said. "That's all the motivation I need to seek retribution. I've been thinking what to do to punish them. This is what I have decided upon. Only you and CamNet will know of this."

Anna thought of the billions at stake and in play with this action. There would be many deaths that would mount world wide as the Syndicate and the Cartels were made to believe they were being 'attacked' by each other.

"What about Cameron and Savannah?" Anna asked. "They should know about this."

Young Allison was aware they may try to stop her. She wanted to hit low and hard now. She wanted her decision to stand.

"I will inform them myself." Young Allison said. "I'll do it when I feel the time is right."

Anna wanted to remind Young Allison this would spread everywhere the Syndicate and Cartels existed.

"You are about to send hundreds, maybe thousands of people to their deaths as fighting breaks out between the groups." Anna said.

Fighting Skynet was bad enough. They didn't need other players on the field. The Syndicate was a new player and would be going after the Grays and sooner or later they would tangle with the Resistance. She didn't believe there were any honest people involved with either the Syndicate or the Cartels. It was clear to her that anyone involved with either of those groups knew exactly who they were involved with and what those groups did to people. She didn't see a downside to her plan.

"I'm aware of the implications and deaths that will result." Young Allison said. "They're all future Scavengers and Grays. Those are the people who will make the survivors of Judgment Day suffer needlessly when they don't need to."

Anna wasn't sure why Young Allison wanted to act now. She wondered if it all went back to the report they initially received from Susan about what she found in the trash.

"Is this all because they may have someone your age in the old supermarket?" Anna asked.

That was another issue that didn't sit well with Young Allison. She'd already contemplated a whole list of possibilities as to what could have happened to the owners of those petite undergarments.

"It could have been me under different circumstances." Young Allison said. "She's going to be dead when they find her. I know what they will have done to her. I know what happened to Vanna and Jesse when they were younger than me. Allison suffered as well but to a much lesser degree."

Anna wasn't surprised that CamNet asked for additional input before acting.

"CamNet has asked for Cameron or Savannah to review this with you first. I believe this is a suggestion from CamNet." Anna said. "If not, CamNet will implement it at once."

Young Allison didn't want there to be a problem. She was still going to do what she wanted to do anyway. She believed her decisions were correct and for the correct reasons. She wondered if CamNet was worried that someone would point the finger at her. She didn't want to get CamNet in 'trouble'.

"I trust CamNet's judgment. Have her get everything set up first. I want everything ready to go and for them to blame each other. We will delay implementation until I speak with Cameron or Savannah." Young Allison said. "Thank you for the check on my actions. I've asked to be told if I am about to 'blow it'."

Anna felt that this was an operation outside the scope of the Resistance. This was equivalent to Cameron's off the books operations but at a much larger scale. It would be at a worldwide scale.

"It's not a critical issue and to get additional advice is a good thing." Anna said. "The plan is sound and sends a message."

Anna realized that when Young Allison acted. She hit hard. Her responses over the last few days were that way too. It was obvious that when Young Allison 'played the game', she played to win. This was the same base programming that Cameron shared from Future Allison - Young Allison in reality. Anna knew it was never over until Cameron won. It was going to be the same with Young Allison.

She looked over at Young Allison as she went over the operation. It was clear that thousands would die with the fighting between the Syndicate and the Cartels and it didn't bother her at all. Young Allison was a very determined and ruthless individual. Anyone who crossed her path was going to have a problem. It was going to be a big problem.

Savannah convinced Cameron she would be fine. She wanted a maximum response in the back for the assault. She would cover the front.

Cameron left to put things into motion in the back. She wanted to breach the old supermarket by having the Grays open the door themselves.

Savannah quickly checked her gear again. She was going in the front when Cameron launched the operation in the back. She didn't want anyone use a secret door or to crash through a wall and get away.

She waited for the darkness to grow around her as the day faded into night. She kept a constant watch around her. She searched for any threats or targets. She didn't want to get target fixation and have someone ambush her.

She could get to her Taser or silenced M9 in a second. Her M4 was ready. It was on the floor within easy reach. Her vest was on and she carried two Thermite grenades.

Now it was time for waiting.

Savannah used a pair of binoculars to study the old supermarket and surrounding closed buildings that adjoined it. She took in all the details in case she needed to do any building to building fighting. It wasn't something she looked forward to but it was something she needed to be prepared for. The more she could know about her surroundings if she was out on foot, the better her chances of survival would be.

She continued the watch around her as well. She wanted to make sure that no one approached her or snuck up on her.

Cameron coordinated with Cam and Gail. Sheila and her stripped the dead men of their outer garments. They seemed to have quite a few layers.

"How many clothes do these blokes have on?" Sheila asked.

Cameron dealt with homeless individuals previously. She was aware of some of their practices.

"They wear most of what they own to keep others from stealing them." Cameron said.

Sheila looked at the garments that they'd just remove from the two deceased men.

"We have all the clothes we need and they're both still fully dressed." Sheila said.

Cameron went over her plan with Sheila off the record and with their coms off. She didn't think the others would approve of her plan. She wanted to make sure the Grays opened the door.

She worried about Savannah alone in the front. Savannah was trained, experienced and was ready for any action.

The quicker Cameron got the ball rolling in the back, the sooner the threat would be neutralized and the immediate danger to Savannah would be over.

She didn't know exactly what they would face. She knew that there was a Terminator involved as well. She hoped there wasn't a Liquid Metal Terminator involved.

Cammy wanted to get both of the men out of the sedan so a tracker could be placed on it. She wanted to let the Command Center know what was about to happen. She knew that there would be a drone image of her in action. She didn't want them to worry about what they saw.

"I'm going to walk by the brown sedan and see if I can get the two men to follow me on foot." Cammy said. "Ally will plant a tracker on it then."

John wondered exactly what was going to happen.

"What's the plan on that?" John asked. "How does it work? Why would they follow you? Are you going to use yourself as bait?"

Cammy knew what she wanted to do. She just didn't know how she was going to do it yet.

"I'm not sure." Cammy said. "I'm thinking about it."

John wanted to remind her they didn't know exactly who the men were or what group they were from.

"If they're from the Syndicate, they may take the bait." John Henry said. "If they're the Fanatics, they won't."

Cammy believed it was all about motivation. Different things would motivate different people.

"What if they think I'm one of their 'gods'?" Cammy asked.

John thought that might be an even worse idea. That might work for the Fanatics but there were other groups they needed to deal with as well. They didn't know who was in the brown sedan.

"Don't risk it." John said. "If it's the anti-Metal faction you will be at instant risk and they may have weapons that can incapacitate you or destroy you."

Cammy wanted to make things happen.

"I guess we'll find out." Cammy said.

Cammy knew it didn't get done thinking about it. It was time for action.

John Henry noticed two drones were posturing for combat. It wasn't his doing.

"John, two of the drones over where Cammy is at have dropped in altitude. They both have the missiles and the guns hot." John Henry said.

John looked over his monitors and then at John Henry.

"I thought you were in control of everything." John said.

John Henry thought he was too. That evidently wasn't the case.

"I was until Cammy announced this plan." John Henry said. "I believe CamNet has standing orders to protect everyone in our group."

John wanted the Command Center to have control during the operation.

"They need to be protected within reason." John said. "This is risking an 'incident'."

John Henry watched as the events continued to progress. Nothing had changed.

"What do you want to do?" John Henry asked.

John believed the best course of action was to be honest and diplomatic. This was a Resistance operation and control should happen from the Command Center.

"I want you to tell CamNet I've asked for you to be in control of this operation for now." John said.

After a few seconds John Henry looked back at John. He hadn't actually communicated with CamNet yet. The two drones broke off from their attack mode. He was sure there was a third party involved.

"I have control again." John Henry said.

John was surprised everything changed that quickly. He wanted to be prepared just in case.

"Keep everything where CamNet put it for now." John said.

John Henry wanted to point out to John that he cared as much about the people and their troops as CamNet did.

"You want to keep our people safe too." John Henry said. "We all do."

John wanted to use moderation and discretion when possible. If one of the team members was in a dire situation, then all bets were off because anything could happen. That wasn't the case yet.

"I do." John said. "I want to control the response to the bare minimum in the city if it is needed. It is good planning to be ready for a maximum response to keep everyone safe. I want to broaden our thinking on all future operations. I don't disagree with any of the actions CamNet has taken based on the results. She has out thought all of us. She has protected our team members from disaster more than once. She is remarkable…."

It was clear to everyone that she was Young Allison.

Ruthless

There are very few people
That are always kind
Someone like that
Is difficult to find

Most people seem to be
Little more than fake
They're going to give less
Than they're willing to take

It doesn't take long
For one to feel used
They wonder what happen
They don't like being abused

What someone once was
Is bound to change
It's more common than not
Don't think that it's strange

They may feel stress
Without much happiness
When they feel in distress
They can become quite ruthless

Nobody