Chapter 1252
Footprints In The Silt
Cam led Cammy into the drainage system. She'd been in there before and previously shared those files with Cammy. They both possessed the same information now. It would make their exploration of the system much easier.
Cammy spotted something right away. It wasn't good news
"I see footprints in the silt." Cammy said.
They were fresh to Cam.
"Those aren't mine." Cam said. "It's been awhile since I was here. It's rained a few times since then too. Everything we see here should be new. The traces I left here are long gone."
Cammy hoped it would assist them in their search.
"That's good." Cammy said. "It will be easier to track where the Gray went."
Cam remembered Savannah's words to watch out for trip wires and booby traps. The footprints could set them up. They may have been left to lead them into a trap or an ambush.
"Unless it's what they want us to do." Cam said.
Cammy started to look harder and farther ahead.
"Do you mean you think we're being set up?" Cammy asked.
Cam knew first hand there were a lot of places to go within the drainage system. The entire area of the old newspaper plant was huge. The building and parking lot only made up part of it. There were undeveloped areas as well. They all shared the same drainage and irrigation system. The open areas allowed for expansion of the building and parking lot.
"I don't know." Cam said. "As far as we know, there could be Grays or Fanatics living down here."
Cammy wanted to use a new level of caution.
"Maybe we better talk at a level only we can hear for now." Cammy said.
Cam and Cammy both switched to a much lower decibel level. Now only another Terminator could hear them when they spoke. It was a precaution for the unknown.
"There have been drones all around here and over this place since we first arrived." Cam said. "No one else was observed in or around the flood control channel other than the Gray which Savannah took down."
Cammy thought the earlier episode was pretty significant.
"As far as we know that's correct." Cammy said. "There's a lot we don't know."
Everything seemed much the same to Cam where they were at. There were no new added connections into the system.
"Other than the footprints, I haven't seen a single thing different down here." Cam said.
Cammy believed they were dealing with more than chance or coincidence. It was highly unlikely it was any homeless individuals. It was always a possibility.
"It wasn't just chance the Grays or Fanatics or possibly the anti-Metal group were all around here." Cammy said. "There were at least two different groups."
Cam thought about all the events related to the take down of the old newspaper plant. It led to many things they needed to deal with.
"There was a whole chain of events which stemmed from this operation." Cam said. "We've encountered all three groups related to it in some way."
Cammy felt they were all a threat.
"It's all tied together." Cammy said.
Cam wanted to make their check in time with Savannah.
"We're nearing our contact time." Cam said. "I know where there's a feeder pipe that leads to a drain grill by the truck loading dock. A Gray dropped a cigarette butt on my face through it."
Cammy was irritated hearing about it. She found the file. She reached up and touched her cheek in the same spot the cigarette butt hit Cam when it was originally dropped. It angered her now.
"I would have terminated him." Cammy said.
Cam wanted to do the same thing. It didn't matter in the end.
"I was going to." Cam said. "They were all terminated anyway."
They neared a branch line which fed into the main pipe.
"The footprints split at this junction." Cammy said.
Cam wanted Cammy to watch the junction. They didn't know if anyone was currently in the system or not. They didn't know why anyone was in the system in the first place either.
"You wait here while I make contact with the surface." Cam said. "It's just a little further up this way. We don't want anyone slipping behind us."
Cammy noted the pipes were narrower as they went along.
"How much of this place did you need to cover on your hands and knees?" Cammy asked.
Cam looked down at her filthy clothes. Some more dried mud wasn't going to matter.
"It was about a quarter of it." Cam said. "The feeder pipes keep getting smaller."
Cammy looked up the narrower pipe opposite from where Cam was headed.
"I'll wait here." Cammy said.
Cam continued on her way. The footprints still showed in front of her as she moved forward. She used several vision spectrums to check for any recent activity or anything different. Other than the footprints, everything was the same.
She slowed her approach. There was another branch before she arrived at the place where she could communicate with the surface. She checked her time. If she didn't make contact soon, Al and Ed were going to come after them. Steve and Tom would probably be right behind them.
She was going to check the other branch first but decided to make contact instead. She took the branch which led to the opening. It was probably better if they didn't have more people down there. The last thing they needed was to start shooting at each other because they couldn't communicate.
Cam thought back to the earlier incident with Cammy. They'd both Tasered each other because they thought they were the enemy. She didn't want any sheath damage from bullets the next time around, especially if it was friendly fire.
Savannah watched her phone and listened to her com. It was dead silent. The contact time was almost past.
"They have just over a minute to make contact." Savannah said.
Tom reassured her they could move at any time.
"We are ready to go in after them." Tom said.
Savannah wanted to cover the exit point.
"Get ready to call for Al and Ed to come here to take our place." Savannah said.
Savannah checked her gear and her night vision.
"You should remain here for Al and Ed." Steve said.
Savannah felt an obligation to help Cam and Cammy.
"I can't." Savannah said. "I need to go with you."
There was a crackle, followed by a garbled voice transmission.
Savannah sat up straight. She couldn't tell if it was Cam or Cammy.
Tom wanted to give Savannah some reassurance. He could tell the specific voice modulation. It was a Terminator thing.
"It was Cam." Tom said.
The voice came in clear on the next transmission.
"We've only found footprints in the silt so far." Cam said.
Savannah wondered where Cammy was.
"Are you still together?" Savannah asked.
Cam didn't want Savannah to worry.
"No." Cam said. "Cammy's at a junction to make sure no one gets behind us."
Savannah expressed her concern. She knew there was a time frame. Cam responded within it. It still caused a lot of apprehension.
"We were getting worried." Savannah said.
Cam wanted to relax the time interval for the check in.
"We're moving with caution." Cam said. "The next communication will be at a much longer time interval than this one took. I barely made the rendezvous time. We need to watch for booby traps or an ambush."
Savannah didn't want to create an artificial disadvantage for them. There was no need to make them hurry and get sloppy. She wanted them to be careful.
"Keep using caution. We can send additional personnel to assist you." Savannah said. "I'll come as well."
Cam looked down at her clothes. She didn't want Savannah to come there. She doubted Cammy did either. She didn't want to make a big deal about it. She wanted some flexibility and moderation.
"I don't think Cammy wants you down here." Cam said. "I need to check a feeder branch off of where I'm at and get back to Cammy. I didn't have time to check it in order to make the rendezvous. I would've liked to have done it first."
Savannah could see time constraints were a problem. She tried again to send help.
"We have other personnel ready to assist." Savannah said.
Cam didn't want Savannah down there. She was sure she would come with the first group.
"We're good for now." Cam said. "Remember, it will be double the time interval until the next transmission. I'm going back down."
Savannah waited for any further communication. There was none. She wanted more or better information. There weren't too many options available to her. She looked over at Tom.
"I don't like it." Savannah said. "Get ready to move out."
Tom wanted to wait some. He didn't want Savannah to endanger herself needlessly.
"Are you sure you want to go to assist them already?" Tom asked. "There was no indication of a threat."
Savannah thought back to the earlier events of the day. It didn't leave her with any pleasant thoughts.
"I know what it's like to be alone down there fighting for your life." Savannah said.
Tom recollected what Savannah looked like. The section of the drainage system she'd been in was much smaller and more restricted than where the rest of them were at during the incident. She was covered in soot and mud as she searched for a target. She couldn't see and coughed for air with her M9 in her hand. She'd managed to move the heavy manhole cover and came out barely alive ready to fight. The act of bravery wasn't lost on the Terminators. He would follow Savannah anywhere.
"I'll inform John Henry." Tom said.
Vanna and Allison listened in the Command Center. They both looked at each other with a disapproving look. They didn't like what they'd just heard.
"It sounds like Savannah is going to go into the drainage system with Steve and Tom." Allison said.
John Henry wasn't in favor of it. The risk to Savannah was about to go up exponentially.
"It wasn't the plan." John Henry said.
Vanna wanted John Henry to send the other team in before Savannah left with her team.
"Notify Al and Ed to go instead. Send them now. Don't wait." Vanna said. "They were going to back up Savannah's position anyway. They can go after Cam and Cammy now."
Allison watched the tracking indicators on the satellite overlay map.
"They haven't moved yet." Allison said. "The drone footage shows them still holding where they were."
John Henry didn't follow the advice of Vanna. He thought it was a good idea. He thought it was too early to alter the plan further. Cam indicated everything was under control for now.
"The original plan is still in effect." John Henry said. "We need to give it some time."
Vanna wanted a more aggressive approach. She wanted to make her idea known.
"Maybe one of us should speak with Savannah." Vanna said.
Allison thought she had a better idea. She knew where they could get results.
"I think there's someone else who can do it a little more forcefully than us." Allison said. "You know she's all over this operation and probably listening to us right now. I doubt we'll even have to call her. In this situation, we certainly shouldn't have to."
Allison thought she possessed a pretty good idea of what went on in the Young bunker. Young Allison wasn't the only one to spy on others. She'd done her share, plenty. She liked to know what happened and what everyone else did as well. She didn't confine her explorations to sexual activity alone. There were plenty of other things going on around the Young residence.
Young Allison and Anna were all over the operation.
"Savannah seems very worried about Cam and Cammy." Anna said.
Young Allison could tell Savannah was antsy.
"Savannah wants to go after them." Young Allison said.
Anna thought it was because Savannah was alone earlier in the other system.
"She's worried about them." Anna said. "I think it was because Cammy and Cam are split up now."
Young Allison thought it was more about all of the apparent unknown 'traffic' they'd indicated. There was obviously something going on. People were down there for a reason.
"It was because of the footprints in the silt that are all over down there." Young Allison said. "Someone was really looking for something. There may be others in there now."
Anna could see the mystery deepen.
"They may have done something down there or were about to." Anna said.
Young Allison heard the conversation in the Command Center between Vanna, Allison and John Henry. It was much the same decision she'd come to on her own. She wasn't taking any chances. It was time to take some action.
"Have CamNet send Al and Ed down to assist Cam and Cammy." Young Allison said. "This is preemptive. Notify John Henry of the changes."
Young Allison didn't want Savannah down in tight spaces fighting for her life again.
"This may be nothing." Anna said.
It seldom seemed to be the case in their dealings with Grays or Fanatics.
"It may be something too." Young Allison said.
Anna contacted CamNet.
"Al and Ed are on the way." Anna said.
Young Allison debated whether she should call Savannah directly.
"Have John Henry tell Savannah the new plan." Young Allison said.
Anna felt Savannah would know where the decision came from.
"Savannah will still know you were involved." Anna said.
Young Allison watched the drone footage. She wanted to stick with protocol.
"Have John Henry make the call." Young Allison said.
She also didn't want to have it turn into an 'issue' with Savannah. It wasn't her intention to second guess Savannah or 'mother' her. It could even be viewed as a case of who was best qualified for the task. Then again, it could be observed a Terminator was better qualified for almost every task.
Young Allison thought about the times when Savannah was the last one standing when there were Terminators who were incapacitated. It happened more than once. Maybe best qualified wasn't the way to look at it. There were other factors, other than qualification, which played into a battle.
Cameron watched everyone at the dinner table. She was very content they all looked happy and were having a good time. She spent a lot of time watching Jesse and Claire. She watched John too. She could tell he was highly excited at the way Jesse and Claire looked. She was sure she could slip Jesse or even Claire in on him once she was in Sheila's chassis again. Once she brought him to the edge, he would want to finish. Jesse or Claire would make nice 'icing on the cake'.
She monitored the Control Center on the ship for any updates on the anti-Metal faction. Jim was supposed to stay in contact with CamNet and John Henry for the latest developments. There were no updates.
Summer and Jan each only ordered an appetizer for their main course. Because they did, they were able to slip food off of Holly's, Gail's and Hanna's plates with no one the wiser. John took care of Cameron's entrée.
Kyle was able to get plenty to eat and help the Metal girls out along with Derek. He could see the way Riley was 'all over' Derek. He hadn't seen it in years. There was a new spark in her. Then again, it sort of seemed the same way with Sarah too.
Maybe it was the atmosphere of being away from it all. There weren't any recons or surveillance to do. The mood on the ship was very relaxed. Cameron offered to give them all a lifestyle like this everyday, in the past. She wanted all of them away from Skynet and everything it represented. Jan could grow up with a normal life. It was what he wanted most.
It always turned into a problem and became a major issue when he brought it up with Sarah. He thought the safety of their daughter should be paramount. The bottom line was, it was safer in the past for Jan, than what the future offered.
Sarah touched his thigh under the table. She was already knocking on his door. He didn't think he could keep 'up' with her much longer. He wondered how Derek was able to keep going so strong. He'd ask him if they made a restroom stop on the way to the theater. He didn't want the girls to hear, any of them. It included the Metal girls as well.
John watched Cameron. It was when he wasn't staring at Jesse and Claire. He checked out the Metal girls too. They all looked stunning. It was Cameron who worried him. She seemed a little tense. It was never a good sign. He knew she followed the operations, even though she said she'd only do it while he slept. It meant there was something going down or a problem of some type. He would visit the Control Center and ask Jim himself what was happening.
He didn't think there was much Cameron could do from the ship. They were out in the ocean. He worried about how far Cameron would go if she felt she needed to act or respond. He really wouldn't put anything past her.
Ally and Sheila worked on the Honeymoon Suite. It appeared Kyle and Sarah shared with each other a fewer amount of times than Derek and Riley appeared to have done. Then again, Sarah hadn't had a baby recently. Maybe Riley still needed some time for everything to return back to normal. They didn't have any personal experience. The only person who could tell them about Riley's current condition would be Hanna. She was the only Terminator with first hand experience.
It looked messy to Ally. Sometimes the human females might react a little differently than normal. They usually didn't. The Metal girls never made a mess of any kind.
They silently and quickly cleaned and got everything ready in the suite.
"Is Holly going to stay in the room with the girls?" Sheila asked.
Ally knew what the girls all did to 'see' what happened around them. They all liked to know what everyone was up to.
"Do you mean so they don't try to spy on everyone?" Ally asked.
Sheila didn't see it as a big deal.
"Can you honestly say we don't all do it in our own way?" Sheila asked.
Ally always listened to see who was with whom and what they were doing specifically. It helped set up the next encounter. A little insight into who was available was always nice to know.
"I guess we all do." Ally said.
They were in the smaller bedroom of the Honeymoon Suite. It was the room where Jan and Summer would sleep.
The Metal girls weren't big on material things. Sheila could see the beauty in how everyone looked before dinner. She noticed the selection of dresses for Jan and Summer. She touched them and felt the material as well as looked at the design.
"Look at all these dresses for them." Sheila said. "They look beautiful."
Ally looked at them with Sheila.
"As long as none of them are a maid's outfit, I'm happy." Ally said.
The room was almost in perfect order. Holly must have done it when she got Jan ready.
They took one last look around the main suite area and headed for the Owner's Suite.
Ally pushed the service and supply cart up to the door.
Sheila hesitated to open it.
Ally noticed. She knew what Sheila must have thought about. She didn't think it should be a big deal.
"What's done is done." Ally said.
Sheila looked at Ally and smiled as she opened the door. She'd gotten what she wanted, sort of.
"It is." Sheila said. "No worries."
Ally started to straighten the bathroom. It seemed quiet in the main part of the suite.
She quietly looked out to see what Sheila was doing.
Sheila stood at the foot of the bed. She just looked at it.
Ally watched her for a short time. It made her think of Sheila standing naked, except for her high heels and jewelry, on the balcony railing. It was just last night. She wanted to intercede before there was another problem. She didn't want Sheila to slip backwards into what she'd experienced last night.
She walked up next to Sheila and took her hand.
Sheila continued to look at the bed.
"This is where I lost my virginity." Sheila said.
Ally saw it for what it really was. She felt Cameron 'used' Sheila.
"You mean Cameron lost it for you when she took control of your chassis away from you." Ally said.
Sheila looked at Ally. It was true. Cameron shared the file with her. She shared it with her in real time. It was almost like she'd done it herself.
"It was still beautiful." Sheila said. "It was like the first experience for both of us."
Ally didn't want to talk about it. She didn't like how Cameron did it. She knew how traumatized Sheila was yesterday.
"You can always reset yourself so when you really are in control, you can truly have your own first time." Ally said.
Sheila remembered Cameron's promise. She promised her 'one time' with John.
"Cameron promised me it would happen." Sheila said.
Ally doubted it. It wasn't so much she doubted Cameron's word. She doubted Cameron's state of mind. Without any type of time frame established, Cameron could put off the endeavor indefinitely.
"You don't breathe or I'd tell you not to hold your breath." Ally said. "I don't believe she'll let you do it, at least anytime soon."
Sheila wanted what was promised to her.
"Cameron said I could be with John 'one time' if I let her use my chassis first." Sheila said.
Ally wanted to set the promised chronology straight. Cameron changed the rules in how the game was played. It seemed to be a major point to her. It changed it for one thing, into another.
"She also told you it would happen first before she took control." Ally said. "It didn't."
Cameron changed her mind. Sheila still wanted the experience even if it was actually 'Cameron's experience'.
"I agreed to the modified terms." Sheila said. "Ally, it was something special and beautiful."
Ally thought it benefited Cameron the most.
"For Cameron it was." Ally said.
Sheila felt what Cameron did in real time.
"I experienced everything too." Sheila said. "There was a lot of love there."
Ally still felt Cameron 'used' Sheila for her own benefit and cheated her out of several things. She wondered why it took Cameron so long to act.
"I'm really surprised Cameron hadn't done this sooner." Ally said.
Sheila thought about it a lot.
"I think she may have." Sheila said.
Ally wondered if it happened to her. She suddenly felt a lot of apprehension.
"Who did she use?" Ally asked. "Was it me?"
Sheila didn't have any specific facts.
"I don't know." Sheila said. "I would think it was Cam and Cammy. I don't think they knew."
Ally wondered if Cameron would stoop so low. It was what Cameron believed Future John did to her.
"Do you mean she changed their files?" Ally asked.
Sheila didn't have any evidence.
"I think so." Sheila said.
Ally wondered where Sheila's revelation emanated from.
"Have you ever heard this before?" Ally asked. "I haven't."
It was only a thought in Sheila's mind.
"I don't know." Sheila said.
Ally still wondered if Sheila was talking about her.
"Are you hinting Cameron already used my chassis?" Ally asked.
Sheila thought it would have been better if she hadn't said anything. She didn't have anything factual to back up her assumption. She did want Ally to experience the same things she'd enjoyed.
"I don't know." Sheila said. "I really think you should try it the same way I did."
Now Ally felt the same nagging fear Cameron did.
"I want to know if I was already 'used'." Ally said.
Sheila offered up a suggestion.
"She may have done it before your activation." Sheila said. "There is no way John would be able to tell."
Ally knew of Cameron's fixation to relive her wedding night multiple times.
"Now it makes me wonder about her having her 'wedding night' over and over. Maybe she really did on some of those." Ally said. "Maybe my chassis was one of them."
Sheila brought up the fears all the Metal girls felt except Holly and Gail.
"If it was before your activation, it wasn't you." Sheila said. "Remember these are all captured chassis. We could have all been Metal Whores before we were captured and Resequenced. There's no way for any of us to know."
Ally was aware of some of the things Cameron worried about from her future.
"I know it's a fear Cameron has." Ally said. "There is no proof of it for her or any of us."
Sheila didn't want to get sidetracked on speculation. She was pleased with how things turned out. She wanted Ally to try it. There was more than one way to accomplish it as well.
"I don't know." Sheila said. "I still think you should try it at least one time. I'll let you use my chassis, Ally."
Ally appreciated Sheila's willingness to sacrifice. She felt she'd be just as bad as Cameron if she used Sheila's chassis and then allowed Cameron to take control anyway. Sheila would end up on the short end of the stick again.
"I will with my own chassis, if I can be myself first, before she takes control. I might think about it. Like she originally promised you." Ally said. "I don't want her to crawfish on me."
Sheila and Ally had been working while they talked.
The Owner's Suite was all done.
"Now what are we going to do?" Sheila asked.
Ally thought she might have a hunch.
"Let me check the closet." Ally said.
Ally opened the closet door. Both of their dresses from last night were hanging there, along with their high heel shoes.
"Cameron did this for us." Sheila said. "She wants us to join them."
Sheila calculated the time.
"They should still be at dinner." Sheila said.
Ally offered Sheila what she wanted if she used moderation.
"We can hit the casino first before the show." Ally said. "That's if you take it easy."
Sheila liked the idea.
"I'll try." Sheila said. "Let's change here."
Ally and Sheila both stripped off their maid's outfits. They were both naked.
Sheila glanced at the bed.
Ally followed her gaze.
"We can always remake it." Ally said. "We need to make it a short one."
Sheila loved Ally but she felt self conscious about what occurred earlier.
"You don't mind?" Sheila asked.
Ally tilted her head slightly.
"Why would I mind?" Ally asked.
Sheila still felt a little worried.
"I'm different now." Sheila said.
Ally didn't think it mattered at this point.
"It's all in your head." Ally said.
Sheila knew Cameron tried everything in her chassis.
"It was there once too." Sheila said. "You know what I mean."
Ally gave Sheila a sideways glance. She could see Sheila wasn't joking. She did know what she meant.
"TMI…." Ally said.
Ally previously watched a number of videos where different things happened. Things could happen or finish anywhere. Some of the places where they did end up disgusted her. Maybe the less she knew at this point, the better.
Hank and Larry didn't know the building might explode at any second from the natural gas leak the female Fanatic created. They were both halfway down the street. They would reach the building in less than a minute. They were both in communication with each other.
They'd already made a plan on how they would enter. One of them would go in the front door. The other one would go in the back door. They would enter at the same time.
They were still both forty five seconds away from reaching the objective.
They both received an alert from CamNet.
There was a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed in their vicinity. If it made the turn onto their street, it could be trouble.
They both decided to hold their position. They would move off of the street and seek concealment where they could to see how things played out. They didn't want to get caught up in the middle of someone else's 'hit'. There was most certainly more going on than they knew about.
Hank quickly moved across the street. He would be able to conceal himself between two dumpsters along the side of another business.
Larry stayed on the same side of the street. He moved up alongside a bobtail truck at a business down the street.
They both checked their phones to follow the progress of the vehicle. It turned onto the street they were on. They both touched their weapons. It was dark out now. They could see everything very well. They didn't know what the unknown vehicle could see.
The vehicle slowed and pulled up in front of the target building. Three men got out of the four door sedan. The driver remained behind the wheel. The three men rushed up to the front of the building. They smashed open the front door and went inside. Two seconds later, one man came back out the front door coughing. Before he was all the way out, there was a massive explosion. All of the glass on the front of the building blew out. The man who was part way out the door was throwing up against the vehicle he arrived in. He cracked the front windshield. The other two men never made it out of the building.
There were flames coming out all sides of the building at this point. They also came out of the roof. The driver of the vehicle put it into reverse and backed away from the raging inferno. The man on the hood rolled off onto the pavement. He never moved since his initial impact. He didn't move now either.
Larry started towards the raging inferno. He watched the sedan make a U-turn. The street was narrow. It bounced up on top of the curb. It was very near where Hank was at. The driver sped away in the direction he'd come from. He reached the man lying in the street. He looked around and didn't see anyone. He picked the man up and tossed him back inside the raging inferno. He took off running in the direction of Hank.
Hank watched the man roll off the hood of the vehicle as it backed away from the explosion. He remained where he was because he was concealed. The driver made a U-turn and bounced up on the curb almost in front of him. The driver regained control and headed back in the direction he'd come. Hank made sure it was clear and came out from between the two dumpsters. He started back at a run to their SUV. It was clear they had a new target. Since the unknown man in the sedan almost ran into him, he was a new target for more than one reason.
The female Fanatic checked the burner phone for the address she wanted. She pushed the other thoughts out of her mind. She was there to serve SkyMaster. It was what she intended to do. The promise of Ascension is what fueled her.
It wasn't her goal to engage any of the local law enforcement or tangle with any of the authorities in the past. Sometimes a confrontation was inevitable. She figured what occurred earlier was about as close as it comes. She would have done what was necessary to continue her mission.
She'd taken two boxes from the building where she killed the two Grays. She briefly looked at everything as she loaded it into the boxes. She didn't know what intel she'd be able to gather from it. Now she began to wonder if there was anything else in those boxes which might be used to track her.
The female Fanatic needed to look out for the police as she drove now. It was possible the description of her van was radioed in as they'd left the park to go on their other call. She really hoped the address she was headed for would bear fruit. She was going to use her bomb on the location and obtain another vehicle if she survived.
She didn't know what happened at the other building she'd set to blow up with the Natural Gas. The sky was dark now. There was no way to see any smoke in the sky. If there was an explosion, she hadn't heard it. Maybe it didn't work.
She didn't know it had worked as she'd intended.
She didn't know about the added bonus of killing the other crew who'd shown up at the location.
Larry and Hank ran at the same speed. Larry was behind Hank because Hank had a head start in the direction they were going. They conversed with each other and CamNet as they ran.
CamNet sent one drone to stay with the sedan. She attempted to backtrack on where the vehicle originated from. It was more than likely headed back to the same location.
When Larry reached the SUV, Hank was already behind the wheel and it was running. As soon as he entered and closed the door, Hank was on his way. They were approximately a minute and a half behind the speeding vehicle. They didn't need to pursue it directly because one of the drones pursued it for them.
"What was that all about?" Larry asked.
Hank didn't care for the way the driver who made the U-turn almost slammed into the dumpsters where he was at.
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." Hank said.
Larry understood what Hank meant. There were other issues as well.
"It seems every target breeds another target." Larry said.
Hank wanted some more answers.
"We'll track them all down and find out what we need to know." Hank said.
They continued their non-direct pursuit of the sedan. They also checked up on the location of the female Fanatic. Strangely enough, she was in the vicinity of where the fleeing sedan was at.
The female Fanatic had a few targets to check out. She was headed to the closest one currently. According to the directions on her burner phone, she was three blocks away from the first location she wanted to visit.
She noticed a vehicle rapidly approaching behind her. She thought it was the police. She wasn't going to be taken into custody. She touched the remote control for the bomb in her pocket. Her hand dropped down and touched her pistol.
The vehicle continued to close up behind her. It moved over. It was in the other lane next to her now. It looked like it was going to pass her. She watched it approach in her side view mirror. She was relieved to see it wasn't a police car. It appeared the front windshield was broken. It looked like it was cracked. It appeared to her whoever was behind the wheel was running from something. They were probably involved in a hit and run accident. There seemed to be quite a few of those which occurred around the area. She hoped the police would be more concerned about a vehicle involved in an actual crime.
She watched the vehicle speed away from her. It turned two streets in front of her. She let her foot off of the accelerator. It was where she was going. She felt chills run down her spine. She decided to go around the block and not slow as she passed the location.
When she went by the building she wanted to check out, she didn't see the vehicle. There was a driveway alongside of the building. It was standard for the majority of businesses in the area. She figured it could be around in back of the building at this point.
She looked at the satellite map on her phone. She decided to take a closer look. She drove around to the street behind the building she wanted to inspect. He thought about parking further away but decided against it. If something was happening, she wanted to see what it was. The longer she delayed, the more likely whatever it was, would be covered up. She parked on the street two buildings back from the one she wanted to go through to take a look at the target building.
There were only a few cars parked on the street and no one was in sight. It was dark now. She exited the van and made her way towards the property she wanted to traverse. There was a tall closed gate. It blocked the side driveway. She'd noticed the building she'd passed earlier didn't have one. She went back one building and headed for the rear of the property.
She wouldn't be able to get over the fence easily to get in back of the building she wanted to observe. She tried to look from the corner of the property she was on. There was a smaller building in the corner of the target property. It blocked her view. She decided to go over the fence and into the property next to the target property. She should be able to get an even better look at everything from the side angle. It would also put her closer into the danger zone.
She hoped she didn't encounter any dogs along the way. She still carried the knife she'd taken from the Gray. If she saw a dog, she would let it approach her and then stab it when it went to grab her. She wouldn't offer any resistance before it started its attack so it wouldn't be afraid to approach her. It was a technique she'd used before. She might end up with a bite or two, but the dog always did much worse.
The female Fanatic moved up to the side of the fence on the target property. She could hear several angry voices as she approached. She wasn't going to be able to look over the fence unless she had something to stand on. She wasn't going to attempt to pull herself up and hold in that position to see what was happening. It left her too vulnerable. If she could stand on something, she should be able to use her pistol if necessary.
Seconds ago:
Hank and Larry were even more surprised to see the female Fanatic was now on the same street the fleeing vehicle was on. At first they thought it was going to intercept her van. It didn't. It moved into the other lane and passed it at a high rate of speed. Two streets later it made a turn and went into a driveway along the side of the building and into the back.
They watched the drone image as the driver exited the vehicle and ran into the back of the building. The female Fanatic slowed slightly and drove past the location. She turned right on the next street and then right again on the first street after it. It was clear both targets were headed for the same location.
"Somehow she knows about this location." Larry said as he watched the drone images.
Hank wondered about the timing of everything.
"I think she knows a lot more than we think." Hank said. "She may have been able to obtain information when she was inside of the building we watched explode."
Larry quickly checked the drone image of the burning building. It was quite evident no one else made it out of the building. The man he'd tossed back inside of the raging inferno was actually still alive when he picked him up. It was unlikely he would have regained consciousness due to the damage done to his head. He snapped his neck anyway as he made the throw.
The drone over the new target location showed the vehicle parked in the back at an angle with the driver's door open. One man had gone inside and moments later two more men came back out with him. There was a lot of gesturing with their hands at each other.
"It looks like some kind of trouble." Hank said.
Larry was pretty sure he knew what it was.
"I'm sure his associates want to know what happened to their other associates." Larry said.
Hank could understand the concern.
"They probably figured he abandoned them." Hank said.
Larry didn't think it was too far off of the mark.
"He didn't even check the man who landed on the hood and cracked his windshield." Larry said. "He drove off and left him to his fate."
Hank looked back and saw what Larry did with the fallen man as he ran.
"You assisted him with his fate." Hank said.
Larry saw no reason to let the man suffer if he did regain consciousness. He'd work with Savannah enough times to know what she would have wanted him to do.
Hank and Larry watched the drone image of the female Fanatic move into the property along the side of the target location. She was now in a position where she could view what was going on as well as listen.
Footprints In The Silt
When two people split
What is it that's left
Was what happened
Little more than theft
Not everyone wants the same
Each can have different goals
Usually one more than the other
Has their heart drug over hot coals
There always comes a point
When one wants more
They often seek it out
Another they soon adore
Now there's a dilemma
They may soon need to choose
More likely than not
Someone is going to lose
When it all falls apart
Nothing can be rebuilt
Little more is left
Than footprints in the silt
Nobody