Chapter 988

Attentive

John was pleased that all the material in the vats was destroyed. He didn't want any Liquid Metal at either base or around their operation at all. It didn't matter if it was test material or a Liquid Metal infant of some type.

Liquid Metal wasn't something that he cared for at all. He did appreciate the help and assistance he received from Mrs. Weaver in the alternate future that he'd created. He remembered at one time Cameron had aspirations to see if she could transfer her program into a Liquid Metal Terminator. That prospect offered a lot of possibilities based upon all the different individuals Cameron could be at that point. That would offer him some variety in the bedroom. He was sure that would open a new can of worms. Hopefully the issue of Cameron changing her chassis was put to rest and he wasn't going to bring it up. He wanted to stick with the current situation.

"That went better than expected." John said. "I'm sure that there would have been a little more feedback if I'd been the one who made the suggestion to destroy everything."

They both were aware that Savannah was the one that made sure the Liquid Metal material was destroyed.

John Henry agreed with John's assessment that if he would have been the one who suggested the destruction of the Liquid Metal material to Cameron, it wouldn't have gone over as well. He thought the best thing to do was drop the issue. Their goal was to make sure that everything in the freezer at the old supermarket was destroyed. It was.

"All the material in the vats was terminated." John Henry said.

John certainly didn't want to have to worry about things that went 'bump in the night'. The fewer things that Skynet had its fingerprints on around the base, the better off they were. As far as Terminators and captured HK equipment went, they had pretty good control over their reprogramming. If something was made out of Liquid Metal he didn't know what they would be able to reprogram on it. There could be parts of the program that hid anywhere.

"I think that was a good thing." John said. "We don't want Skynet technology we can't control or reprogram."

That last statement made John think of Future John and the reprogramming that was done to Cameron. Not to mention all the problems it created. Cameron indicated that Future John messed with her programming several times. She always believed it was a way for Future John to cover up the sexual activity that occurred between her and him. John needed to ask himself what he would do if that was him in the future and he was going to send Cameron back to protect a younger version of himself. He was pretty sure that he would make sure that all sexual activity between them was erased. He figured it would cause her too much trauma to have that knowledge and be trapped in the past. More than likely that was the same summation that Future John made.

John Henry thought the girls would accomplish one last task as they left the old supermarket. It didn't happen.

"Are you sure you don't want the building burnt?" John Henry asked.

John discussed a few things with Savannah.

"No, not yet I don't." John said.

John Henry thought John would have wanted the structure burnt down when they pulled out. It would prevent its future use by Skynet.

"You don't want any of the buildings burnt down?" John Henry asked.

John thought about that. Savannah discussed it with him.

"I want to see if anyone comes back." John said. "I know Cameron and Cammy wanted to torch them. I know that means we're going to have to do some cleanup around the locations."

John Henry knew that wasn't Cameron's plan.

"Yes, they did want both of them burnt." John Henry said. "We have a crew cleaning up the bodies and we are going to put some surveillance in. The girls are off to the port."

That was the newest problem they faced, the port location.

"What is the current status there?" John asked.

John Henry checked the trackers and the surveillance from the two drones. He was sure things were about to wrap up.

"The brown sedan has dropped further back and the truck appears to be near its destination." John Henry said.

John was a little worried that they'd acted at the old supermarket and the cryogenics facility before the truck reached its destination. He didn't know if anyone in the truck would attempt to communicate with anyone at those other two locations. If they'd tried and couldn't reach anyone, they more than likely wouldn't go to their final destination. They would figure something was up and that their cover was blown. They'd probably dump the truck and make a run for it.

"Have you picked up any communications from either vehicle?" John asked.

John Henry kept constant track of where the vehicles were at it on all portions of their journey. He wasn't able to detect anything either cell phone wise or any radio traffic.

"No. There's been nothing other than the trackers that are on each one." John Henry said. "If we wait for the girls to arrive, we will have plenty of Terminators."

John didn't know if they should wait. He was aware of what Cameron and Savannah both wanted. It wasn't his first priority but he understood it was a priority to them. If the girl that was a hostage was spotted and it looked like she could be rescued, maybe they should strike. To get her out alive was the goal at this point. Dealing with Skynet and the Grays was secondary. The building wasn't going to go anywhere. He knew that he was going to be 'odd man out' if he opposed what they wanted to do at this point in time. He decided to sign on board with them.

"I don't know if I want to wait." John said. "If the female hostage is spotted I want them to move ASAP."

John Henry didn't see the need to rush things. That seemed unusually impulsive for John. It was clear that Cameron was a bad influence on him. He wondered if John let the little head make the decision for the big head on that one. He was sure that Cameron would 'punish' John if they could have gotten the girl out and didn't let anything happen to her.

"What's done is done." John Henry said. "Nothing short of a temporal mission can change that. Since we didn't encounter that, it wasn't used."

John felt there was a lot of truth in that. If they could prevent further abuse, that would be a plus, even if it was minor. He tried to tell himself that the girls from the future all survived their sexual abuse. He was sure that the girl would be able to as well.

"I don't want it done anymore." John said. "I hope she and her father are still alive even."

John Henry felt the father was a collaborator at this point, even if his daughter was being used against him for his cooperation. It was clear that termination would solve the problem of his further use by Skynet. Just the fact that the father dealt with Skynet operatives was a big negative factor going forward. He was obviously educated and skilled in his field whatever it was. His testimony to the media or a court was bound to carry a lot of weight.

"What do you want done with the scientist?" John Henry asked. "He should be terminated to prevent additional collaboration with Skynet. We don't want him to talk either."

John saw this specific instance as something different. It was a situation where he was aware he would buckle too under similar circumstances. He didn't feel the majority of parents would 'sacrifice' a child if they didn't have to. He was pretty sure that most people would do anything they were told to do to spare their child. He didn't think he would do any different.

"It sounds like he didn't have a choice." John said. "He was trying to protect his daughter. Any parent would do that. I would."

John Henry still believed that the scientist was a 'loose cannon'. There needed to be something done about him one way or the other. He was pretty sure Cameron would solve the problem herself.

"We'll see." John Henry said. "Cameron will do what she thinks is necessary."

John felt there was an additional option open to him. It was the teams of Terminator that were sent after the truck and the brown sedan. He would rather see them engage the enemy and remove the girl if they had that option. He wanted to make it known that he wanted them to act if they could.

"I know Cameron will." John said. "That's why if the teams that are following the truck have an 'eyes on' situation, I want them to move in if they see the girl."

There was another option open to them. John Henry thought John should at least consider it. The location near the port concerned him. It would be a limiting factor in their response. There were still other ways to deal with the problem.

"They have drone support." John Henry said. "We can flatten the place. None of our troops risks damage or termination that way."

John wanted to give it a little time to play out. He felt it was a little too early for anything that extreme yet. He also needed to consider the fact of additional Liquid Metal in whatever form it was in was there as well. A conventional drone strike wouldn't terminate anything that was Liquid Metal. Even if it was blown apart, it would reconstitute itself.

"Let's get some more information first, as Cameron and her team's head down that way." John said.

Their teams were headed off to the unknown. They wanted to free a female hostage and her scientist father. They also wanted to destroy whatever testing that occurred there.

Savannah thanked Bob and Jim for coming to assist her. She conferred with Cameron and decided they should return to the base for John's protection. It was for more 'peace of mind' for Cameron than anything. She would have preferred if they would have stayed with the teams of female Terminators to reinforce them.

CamNet wanted to make sure Savannah was protected. Cameron agreed that one female Terminator would be with Savannah at all times for the duration of the operation, besides Cameron. This would allow them to have three teams of three.

Cameron, Gail and Savannah would be Team One.

Cammy, Holly and Hanna would be Team Two.

Cam, Ally and Sheila would be Team Three.

Cammy wanted to be on the team with Savannah but Cameron asked her to be a team leader. This way there were three 'Camerons'. Each of 'her' was in charge of a team. Each team would have drone support. There were two drones with the brown sedan and the truck. There was one for each of them as well.

Cameron spoke with Cammy and said they were getting the girl out if she was still alive. Cam was there too. They all understood the mission.

The three teams decided to caravan to the port together. They were already on their way.

CamNet kept the drones with them on patrol around them as they drove towards the port. She made sure that all air traffic was out of the way. There were multiple municipal airports along the way as well as LAX and Long Beach Airport.

Young Allison didn't like Savannah's decision to send Bob and Jim back to the Resistance base. It was at her suggestion that they were sent to back up Savannah in the first place.

"I don't like Savannah sending her help away." Young Allison said. "I wanted them there to help protect her."

Anna wanted Young Allison to think about everything for a few moments.

"Does that remind you of Cameron?" Anna asked.

Young Alison didn't think so in this case. She was aware of the specific reason why it was done. She didn't agree with that. She'd made provisions to make sure that the Resistance base was covered. There were two drones on station now.

"She did it for Cameron." Young Allison said. "Cameron was very worried about John."

Anna didn't see anything wrong with that reasoning. John was very important. He wasn't the only one at the Resistance base either. Everyone mattered and everyone was important.

"We should all be worried about John and the girls at the base." Anna said. "Your mother and Summer are there as well."

Young Alison didn't like to have to explain herself. She'd already taken care of that problem. Actually there was no problem.

"I am worried about John." Young Allison said. "I assigned two drones to watch the area around the Resistance base. They would be as effective in engaging an enemy force if not more so. They would be able to engage the threat before it actually attacked the Resistance base. Bob and Jim would only be able to react if the Resistance base was assaulted. I still believe my plan was superior. I still believe it is superior."

Anna thought it would be best if Young Allison dropped the issue.

"Bob and Jim accomplished their initial task." Anna said. "What you wanted done was done. You should take the 'win' and leave it at that."

Young Allison didn't care for that explanation.

"I didn't want Savannah to be alone at the old supermarket." Young Allison said. "I knew that she was going to enter inside of it when Cameron and her team breached the rear entrance."

There was a harsh reality that Anna decided to point out.

"There may be times when Savannah needs to operate alone." Anna said. "She has in the past."

Young Allison was well aware of those times and how close to death Savannah almost was on each of them. Those were all a reminder that she could have done without.

"Every one of those times was nearly a fatal experience for her." Young Allison said.

Anna wanted to remind Young Allison that life was about choices. Some choices are easy, other choices are not. Savannah always acted boldly when she made the hard choice.

"She did what was necessary, when it was necessary." Anna said. "I believe if you're ever faced with similar circumstances, you would do the exact same things."

Young Allison was aware that Savannah carried out specific tasks to further the mission, even at the risk of her own peril. She didn't shy away from combat or dangerous duty. Savannah met the challenge and didn't falter.

It really made Young Allison wonder how she would perform under the same conditions. She'd been trained to operate under all conditions with multiple variables. She excelled at her training. She also knew that she wouldn't die during her training either. Well, there was always the risk that something could go wrong or an accident would happen but that wasn't the point. She feared she may buckle under the pressure.

"I don't know if I can be as brave as Savannah." Young Allison said. "Savannah is an exceptional individual no matter how you look at it."

Anna thought Young Allison could and would prevail.

"You've received superior training and instruction." Anna said. "You will be able to do whatever Savannah has been able to do. You should be able to do more."

Young Allison was aware experience mattered. She would need to review all past combat operations again. She believed that training and actual experience were very different things.

"Savannah has actually DONE these things." Young Allison said. "There's no substitute for experience."

Anna wanted to point out that some of that experience may have been put into play.

"Then maybe some of the decisions Cameron and Savannah make are based on that experience." Anna said. "Maybe sending Bob and Jim back is because of that experience."

Young Allison still felt uneasy and unsure. It still wasn't a decision that she would have enacted.

"It's hard to watch, while others fight." Young Allison said.

Young Allison wanted to issue a string of 'desires' to CamNet for the impending mission. She decided to play 'hard ball'. She knew CamNet would back her play. She didn't think the others would be willing to hit hard at the port. She wanted to have that support available to them at a moment's notice. She may not have experience on the ground in an actual combat operation but she did know how to read a battlefield from drone footage.

Jim and Bob were very concerned that they were being sent back to the Resistance base. They feared it was for being 'terminated' by Savannah.

Jim was a little more worried about it than Bob appeared to be.

"I think we're being sidelined." Jim said. "That's probably because Savannah could have terminated us."

Bob felt they were a victim of circumstances. They knew who they were 'after' and because of that they were careless. He should have remained alert for any other threats that may have arisen. That wasn't the case. They'd come up short.

"We were careless because we knew who we were following." Bob said. "We should have stayed more alert."

Jim wondered if his overall proficiency wasn't what it should be. He spent a lot of time watching over the Reese clan. He hadn't been in too much combat recently. He felt that showed.

"We were overconfident." Jim said. "I need to be in the field more."

Bob understood that John wanted Jim and him to watch over his family. It was a task that Cameron could seldom do because she was always busy out in the field. That responsibility fell to them. It was an important responsibility too.

"You are to protect John and his family when I'm not around." Bob said. "You know Sarah, Kyle and Jan love you."

Jim liked working protection duty. Everyone was very nice to him.

"I'm very fond of them as well." Jim said.

Bob also received a request directly from Savannah. It wasn't for her protection.

"You know Savannah wants them protected." Bob said. "She wants me to watch over John when Cameron isn't around."

Jim frowned slightly. He didn't always approve of Cameron's actions. He thought she should pay better attention to her own safety. It seemed to be something that she disregarded quite often.

"Cameron is seldom around." Jim said. "She's trying to fight the war on her own to protect all of us."

Bob thought about some of the terrible damage Cameron received. He understood that appearance was very important to the female Terminators. He actually felt that way himself now as well. He was aware his sheath was part of who he was.

"She's paid the price for that many times too." Bob said.

Jim was aware Cameron was saved from termination more than a few times by Savannah.

"Savannah will protect Cameron." Jim said. "We've seen it many times."

Bob knew that Savannah was committed to Cameron in every way possible. She would take any risk that was necessary to protect Cameron. Cameron wasn't the only one he needed to worry about.

"Who will protect Savannah?" Bob asked.

Jim looked at Bob for a moment before he spoke. He shrugged his shoulders.

'Nobody…." Jim said.

Samantha checked in with Derek and Kyle as they were on heightened alert. It was only a precaution. Sarah, Allison and Vanna were aware of the stepped up alert status as well.

Derek wanted to ask Samantha a few questions about Riley. He asked Kyle to give him some personal space for a short time. This gave Derek the opportunity to speak with Samantha when Riley wasn't present or close by. He hoped he would get some straight answers. He didn't want to feel like he was talking about Riley behind her back. He was worried about her and he wanted someone to tell him the truth. He was worried about Riley and he was worried about Precious.

"Is there anything 'wrong' with Riley?" Derek asked. "Please, give it to me straight."

Samantha tilted her head slightly. It wasn't the question that she'd expected.

"No." Samantha said. "She will adapt and adjust."

Derek wasn't sure that was going to be possible in her case. He'd noticed some improvement since Samantha was there to assist her. He still needed to worry about what he'd experienced so far.

"She seems overwhelmed at times." Derek said. "I don't want her to go off the edge."

Samantha tried to put it in perspective. There was a difference between the future and the present. It was a big difference.

"If Riley was still in the Wastelands, I don't think Precious would do well." Samantha said. "Riley isn't in the Wastelands. Everyone here will help her. She understands that better now. She's been improving every hour."

Derek felt that Samantha was honest with him. If Riley was improving, that was all that mattered.

"Thank you." Derek said.

Samantha left.

Derek moved off and rejoined Kyle.

Samantha headed for the 'nursery'. That was where Jesse was at. Claire was still with Summer and instructing her. Jan watched too, she wanted to learn more. She wanted to be 'smart' like Summer.

She knocked and entered.

Jesse wasn't in the room.

The door to Riley's room was open.

Samantha looked and softly knocked as she entered. She went to check on Precious first.

Jesse sat next to her crib as she watched Precious .

Samantha wasn't sure exactly what was going on.

Jesse got up when she saw Samantha and exited so they could talk.

Samantha checked on Precious and followed Jesse out.

"I need to check on Riley." Samantha said.

Jesse didn't think that was necessary, she knew where Riley was at.

"She's asleep." Jesse said.

Samantha was a little disturbed by the news. It appeared there'd been some regression. She didn't feel that she'd even been gone that long.

"It's still early." Samantha said. "I think that will mess up her sleep pattern."

Jesse felt she was responsible. She'd encouraged Riley to lay down.

"She looked exhausted." Jesse said. "I told her I would take over for now. It's my fault that she's in bed. I don't think she would be otherwise if I hadn't told her to do that. I thought it would help her."

Samantha soundlessly moved and looked in the bedroom at Riley. She was asleep. She came back out and joined Jesse. She wanted to give a few suggestions.

"If Precious cries, I want you to wait a little bit before going to her." Samantha said.

Jesse understood it for what it was.

"You want Riley to hear her and come to see her. You want Riley to check on Precious herself first." Jesse said.

Samantha felt it was important.

"Riley must learn to be attentive." Samantha said.

Jesse didn't want to see Riley become overburdened.

"She'll adapt." Jesse said. "Derek will help her, we all will."

Samantha continued to have her patrol schedule interrupted by additional delays. She wanted to get her timing back on track.

"I need to go back on patrol." Samantha said. "Derek and Kyle are as well."

Jesse wanted to do more to help.

"When Riley wakes up, I can patrol with you." Jesse said.

Samantha appreciated Jesse's desire to help. She looked back towards Riley's quarters. Riley and Precious were in there. She felt Jesse was needed more where she was at now than if she was on patrol.

"Your function is here." Samantha said. "I'll be back."

Samantha would have more than a few things to worry about as she continued her patrol schedule.

Vanna and Allison checked on Summer and Jan and then they headed for the Command Center.

They decided they were going to do more.

They entered the Command Center and greeted John and John Henry.

John figured what they were going to say before they said it.

Allison wanted to get straight to the point.

"We can take over for Derek." Allison said.

Vanna wanted to justify their response.

"He should be with Riley and Precious." Vanna said.

John understood the reasoning. He wasn't sure he wanted to implement it.

"We'll see." John said.

The girls were caught up on all the current status of the operation by John Henry.

Vanna was a little irritated that Savannah was still in the middle of it. It seemed to her there were enough Terminators there that should be able to handle whatever needed to be done.

"So, Savannah is still in it." Vanna said.

John Henry wanted her to understand there were other troops there as well.

"We have five teams responding." John Henry said.

Allison was worried about Savannah as well. Savannah wasn't known for holding back in a combat situation.

"We all know she'll be in the thick of it." Allison said.

John didn't want any of them to worry. Things would stabilize.

"Bob and Jim will be back soon." John said. "Things should return to normal."

Allison looked at Vanna and then looked at John.

"What is normal anymore?" Allison asked.

John wasn't sure that there was a normal anymore. Maybe there never had been. Maybe just surviving was what was normal for them.

"I don't know." John said. "We're staying ahead of Skynet. I guess that's normal."

Maybe normal was surviving at this point.

Young Allison and Anna watched as the truck approached the port area. It appeared it had reached its destination. It seems to be exactly what Savannah predicted.

"I see the truck has stopped." Young Allison said. "Savannah was right."

Anna was pleased with Savannah's prediction.

"Yes." Anna said. "John and John Henry can see it too."

Young Allison thought about some of the HK equipment that the current group of Grays possessed.

"There is a good chance there are HK Tracks inside of there and maybe HK drones." Young Allison said. "Make sure CamNet keeps ours at altitude for now. We don't want to tip our hand."

Anna was aware of what CamNet was up to.

"She is." Anna said. "Do you want more drones there?"

Young Allison didn't know what they would need or even what was going to happen.

"We will have eight with the others I… - CamNet sent." Young Allison said. "I want all of them 'hot' for an instant response. I think we need to watch for HK drones from now on during this operation."

Anna was aware that Young Allison liked to cover all of the bases.

"I will relay the information to John Henry." Anna said.

Young Allison studied the drone images that came back from the target location. The drone images showed some things that weren't in the satellite photos. There were a number of containers on the property. It appeared that some of them were stacked on top of each other.

"I want to know what's in those containers around the building too." Young Allison said. "I want to know where they came from."

Anna felt they'd know soon enough once some of the teams entered the compound.

"CamNet and John Henry will tell us as soon as we have teams get the information and trace it back." Anna said.

Young Allison felt they would be given the run around again. She was sure there would be a big cover up the same way there was with the boxcars. Skynet liked to hide its activity.

"I bet it's going to be like tracking the boxcars. Someone will have fudged the records." Young Allison said. "CamNet and John Henry can go through satellite images to see if we can tell what ship they came in on."

Young Allison considered having CamNet send a drone to sink the ship the containers arrived on. That would be when it was back out at sea but said nothing. She would only think about it for now. She decided if the shipping company was involved in any of the cover up, that the ship was headed for 'Davy Jones' Locker'.

"Everyone's been notified." Anna said.

Young Allison checked her monitors and some of the drone images. She looked at the satellite overlay map to see where the teams of girls were at. It was still going to take them some time to reach the port area.

"Now we wait." Young Allison said.

Anna believed that was part of the job at this point.

"It seems we need to do that a lot." Anna said.

Attentive

People can look
But do they see
That's the question
Of you and me

People can hear
But do they listen
Do the words harden
Or do they soften

People say they care
But do they for real
It matters if they don't
It's actually a big deal

People say they feel
But is it the same
Maybe it's just a phase
In life's cruel game

People want to share
What's the incentive
Maybe it's as simple
As just being attentive

Nobody