Chapter 1305
For A Reason
Hanna took the sweaters for Jan and Summer from Jim. She headed back up to the buffet. She hung back a little to see what was going on when she arrived. She was still a little worried about CamNet 'commenting' through Jim on her conversation with Sheila and Ally about being 'detained' in the stairwell.
She spotted Jan and Summer at a table. It looked like they'd split a few of the desserts. They were smiling and laughing at times.
Jan and Summer just finished up a couple of shared desserts when Hanna arrived at the table.
Hanna walked up with each of their sweaters.
Summer took hers.
"Thank you." Summer said.
Jan reached over and took hers.
"Thanks." Jan said.
Hanna was pleased she could assist them. She looked at the plates. They were almost empty. It didn't look like the girls had taken very much. She was glad they'd showed restraint.
"You're welcome." Hanna said. "It looks like everyone's just about finished up. Are you ready to play some miniature golf?"
Jan was very excited about it. It sounded like a lot of fun to her.
"I am. I am." Jan said. "I never get to do fun things."
Summer looked at Jan. She was aware Cameron made sure Young Allison and her always went out to do things and have fun. There were always plenty of Terminators around too.
It was a result of Savannah pushing Cameron to make sure the Young girls were given a broader experience in life and weren't as restricted as she was when she was younger. She needed to remember she'd been targeted for termination by Skynet. Mr. Ellison spun the story she'd been killed when the 'small aircraft' accidentally hit the building. Sarah didn't listen to her when she told her Jan should get out more. Sarah was always worried 'Skynet' would find them like they'd always done before.
Hanna could see Gail looked very content.
"What are you so happy about?" Hanna asked Gail.
Summer asked Gail to try a taste of each of the items they'd selected.
"I tried some of each dessert." Gail said. "They set off multiple warnings in my HUD but tasted 'good'. I know what 'good' tastes like now. The girls told and showed me what was 'good'. I liked them."
Hanna went through similar experiences with Claire on multiple subjects. They weren't just regulated to food. She wanted to see the world as Claire saw it. She thought it could be a very beautiful world if everyone would leave it alone.
Summer could see they were done and Jan was antsy.
"I think we're ready for some miniature golf." Summer said.
Hanna looked at the front exit of the buffet.
"Follow me." Hanna said. "We need to go up one deck and part of another."
Gail received word from Jim they would have company. Bob would be waiting there for them.
"Bob will meet us there." Gail said.
Jan liked the close association Bob shared with the Reese clan.
"Can he play too?" Jan asked.
Summer would like it as well but knew Bob was 'on duty'.
"He needs to act as part of the crew while he is on the ship." Summer said. "We need to remember to treat him like a crew member if anyone is around to observe us. We don't want to do anything that will blow his cover. Remember this is like a deep infiltration mission. We're all part of it, even if it's in different ways."
Hanna made sure both of the girls put their sweater on once they left the buffet. They passed by the pool again and went up a flight of stairs. Hanna and Gail didn't have a problem with their long dresses or high heels on the stairs.
Summer felt the cold wind once they were up one deck. She looked at Jan.
"Are you warm enough?" Summer asked.
Jan wanted to play miniature golf. She didn't care if she was freezing right now. She wanted to have some fun.
"I'm OK." Jan said. "I'm ready to play."
Hanna wanted to reassure the girls it was warmer where they were going. The deck they were currently on was the deck above the pool deck. It was the most open deck from side to side. Because it was above and around the pools, there was no superstructure in the way to block the wind.
"It's sheltered from the wind more on the next deck." Hanna said. "It won't be this cold once we're out of the wind."
Hanna went up the half flight of stairs and exited onto the level with the miniature golf course. Bob was already on station. It was what they'd planned.
"I've been waiting for you." Bob said.
Bob was there with four sets of clubs and four balls for them.
"Hi, Bob." Summer said.
She wanted to give him a hug but thought better of it. She'd just 'warned' Jan about such behavior.
The rest of them exchanged pleasantries.
"I don't think anyone else will come up because of the cold wind." Bob said.
Jan hoped to get Bob to stay.
"Are you going to stay and watch us?" Jan asked.
Bob wanted to do a roving patrol around the area and check on some of the ship's security and other functions.
"I'm on duty. I'll be close by." Bob said. "I'll be back."
Bob left.
Hanna went over the rules of the game.
It was decided since Hanna already played, she should go first. Jan would go next, then Gail. Summer would bring up the rear.
Sheila and Ally went down the stairs and into the rear lounge on the Promenade Deck. They hoped to intercept Mary and Laura and see what happened. They were still a little concerned as to the information they viewed and how much of it was controlled or fabricated for them to view. It did leave them with something to think about. Right now they wanted to think about the girls.
"What if they 'pick up' someone else?" Ally asked.
Sheila thought of the extra rings she'd tossed in the bag. Maybe she could get a few more recruits.
"If they are all females, we can follow them and see where they go." Sheila said. "It could produce some targets of opportunity."
Ally carefully looked around the room.
"I don't see them." Ally said.
Sheila knew they'd spent too much time in the stairwell. She didn't see it as a lasting problem.
"Maybe they left." Sheila said. "Let me call Jim."
Ally knew CamNet would be all over the call.
"Is it a good idea?" Ally asked.
Sheila remembered her earlier speculation about the medical records.
"Maybe it's not." Sheila said.
Ally was sure they weren't in the lounge.
"Let me look in the restroom." Ally said.
It sounded like a plan to Sheila.
"I don't mind doing it." Sheila said.
Ally didn't find the setting pleasant. It was a biological function she didn't like to think about. Every part of it seemed very inconvenient.
"I said restroom, not locker room." Ally said.
Sheila liked anywhere females removed their clothing.
"It's the same thing." Sheila said.
Ally didn't think so. She didn't think anything was ready for action, even after they were done. She spotted Mary near the restroom door. She was relieved they didn't need to go in.
"Hey, there's Mary." Ally said.
It was Sheila's target.
"She's all I need." Sheila said.
Ally saw the excitement level in Sheila pick up. She was sure she was going to need to keep Sheila in check.
"Don't get carried away and don't overdo it." Ally said. "Remember to play it cool."
Sheila looked at Ally and then back at Mary.
"'Cool' is my middle name." Sheila said.
Ally shook her head from side to side.
"Oh, brother." Ally said.
Sheila headed straight for Mary.
"Hi, Mary." Sheila said.
Mary looked a little surprised to see them.
"Hello." Mary said.
Ally looked around some more.
"Where's Laura?" Ally asked.
Mary looked around too.
"I'm not sure." Mary said. "She was talking to someone."
Sheila was ready to get a 'close up' and get to work. She showed Mary her bag.
"I brought everything, if you're still up to it." Sheila said.
Mary looked around.
"I am." Mary said. "Laura isn't so sure. She wants me to think about it some more."
Ally wondered what there was to think about. Either she wanted it, or she didn't. The images and videos should have answered all their questions. It was really all pretty straight forward.
"Did you look at the pictures on the internet?" Ally asked.
Mary looked at hundreds of photos. She saw everything from a single ring placed in various places to some with a dozen rings. Some of those were intertwined creating a woven metal 'barrier'. She saw a lot of weird stuff too. None of those appeal to her. She thought simple was better.
"I did." Mary said. "I watched some of the videos as well. Some women seemed to really feel it pain wise. For others it was a second or two of pain, it didn't last long."
Sheila didn't want to lose her.
"I have the pain medication if you want it." Sheila said. "I personally liked the sudden 'jolt' feeling. It reminded me I was alive."
Ally glanced over at Sheila when she said it reminded her she was 'alive'. She knew this is where she was going to need to keep Sheila from going too far. She'd watch Sheila do many things. Most people would consider them obscene or even vulgar. For Sheila it was all fun. She knew for a lot of other people it wouldn't be.
Mary wanted to see how one went first. She liked the 'jolt' feeling too. If the pain was too intense she would take the pain medication in the area for the second ring first. The first piercing could also be numbed after the fact.
"I'll try one side without it first." Mary said. "It was like you said when I did my nipples. It was an exhilarating feeling. I felt so 'alive'. It's an eye opener to say the least."
Sheila knew Mary was about to know she was 'alive'. She held up the bag.
"I'm ready when you are." Sheila said.
Mary looked around again for Laura.
"I need to tell Laura where we're going." Mary said.
Ally spotted Laura outside the window on the open deck.
"I see her." Ally said. "She's outside."
Mary looked.
"I can't see anything but a reflection." Mary said.
Ally used a different vision spectrum scan to locate Laura. There was no way to explain what happened to Mary. She quickly thought of another explanation.
"Let me go check." Ally said. "Maybe I just saw what I thought I wanted to see."
Sheila wanted to keep everyone together. She didn't want Mary to get away from her.
"We can all go check." Sheila said.
The four male Terminators who'd been with them in San Diego were now headed back to the Resistance base. They needed to be in Catalina tomorrow. They were going to take the Blackhawk. They needed to do a little work first.
It was decided they would pick up the three shot up vehicles from the industrial area and dump them at sea past Catalina Island. They would then land at the Catalina airport. There would be transportation waiting for them there. They would make the short drive into Avalon and be waiting for the team to come ashore on the ships tenders. The cruise ship was too large to dock in Avalon Harbor.
They decided it was going to be a heavy lift with the Blackhawk and the three vehicles. They were also aware of the pending operation Savannah was on with the rest of the Terminators. It was something that weighed heavily on all of them. The operation Cam conducted the night before was fresh in everyone's mind.
"I think we should go there and back them up." Dan said.
Frank wanted to help them too.
"They would come for us." Frank said.
Ken drove the van.
"We still need to get the three vehicles ready for transport." Ken said.
Lou wanted to play it safe.
"Maybe we should pick up a UH-1 from Van Nuys Airport." Lou said. "It will give us some extra lift and spread the load. It will increase the safety factor and give us some additional flexibility when the group that returns goes back.
Dan wanted to help Savannah first. They wanted to make their wishes known as well as the supplemental plan.
"We can worry about it later." Dan said. "Let me contact John Henry."
John Henry tracked the team in the van. They shadowed the cruise ship. It was their job to be ready to respond to any emergency when the ship was in port.
They needed to be at Catalina before the passengers started to arrive in Avalon on the ship's tenders tomorrow. They were also going to dump the three vehicles they'd ambushed earlier into the 'Deep Blue'. It wasn't the first time they'd used the same technique. It had been mainly used against their encounters with the Syndicate. The Syndicate was after a group of Gray's. They took care of both groups.
He was surprised when Dan contacted him and requested to back up the operation Savannah was on since they would be back in the area soon. He was contacted by CamNet almost immediately to split them into two teams and send them to the location.
John Henry could tell CamNet was worried about Savannah and the rest of the team. Some of the operations took on a life of their own. Others almost got away from them. They always pulled it back in the end. It didn't mean they'd always be able to do so.
Young Allison and Anna tracked the team in the van as it drove from San Diego. She knew what their mission would be for tomorrow. Currently it was a long way from tomorrow.
"We'll have four more Terminators available soon." Young Allison said.
Anna knew they were assigned other duties.
"There are several other tasks they need to perform." Anna said.
Young Allison was aware of them.
"They should have plenty of time to do everything." Young Allison said. "I'm worried about Cammy's team."
Anna wanted to see what she would do. It would give Young Allison the chance to expand a little on her decision making.
"You can make a decision for them." Anna said.
Young Allison didn't think it would cause a problem with anyone but it might. She knew of their assignments and the importance of them. She decided to send them. She was surprised when Dan contacted John Henry to do the same thing on their own accord just a few seconds later. She immediately jumped at the opportunity.
"Have CamNet inform John Henry they're needed to assist Cammy's team." Young Allison said. "They have plenty of weaponry with them for any contingency."
Anna contacted CamNet. She was informed by CamNet that she'd already acted as soon as Young Allison requested assistance.
"The team from the van will be split into two teams and head to the location." Anna said.
Young Allison wondered about the timing of it all. It seemed very coincidental. She wondered if the request actually came in earlier but was only broadcast when she checked the progress of the team herself. She would worry about it another time. Right now she needed to worry about the team in the building.
"I see it as a good thing because Cammy's team is about to find out what's going on inside the building." Young Allison said.
Every operation was an unknown. This one seemed even more so since they knew someone went into the building. There was no apparent current location for them either. It meant they were hiding or they'd found another way out. It meant there was another way in as well. It could lead to more trouble at an unexpected time. The situation seemed very fluid.
Young Allison wanted to send out additional warnings to Cammy's team. She felt she'd already sent enough of them. She knew the girls understood the danger they faced. She wondered if she felt as worried as Savannah did. She wondered how Savannah must feel being there in the middle of it. She really wanted to be able to share the burden with Savannah. She believed the day was coming soon when she would be there with Savannah.
Samantha was pleased with all the attention Allison gave her. She returned the same sensations to Allison soon afterwards. Allison rested now. She wondered exactly what the girls were going to do tomorrow. She knew Riley, Derek and Jesse would be back. She wasn't sure about the others.
"Are you going to Catalina with Vanna and go on the ship tomorrow?" Samantha asked.
Allison paused before she answered. She needed to think about more than just herself. The idea of going on the cruise ship seemed very exciting to her. She'd watched some of the videos circulated among the Resistance group. It looked like a lot of fun and it was a chance to do something different.
She was aware life at the base was very repetitive. It was one of the factors which allowed her to make the decision to go live with her family in Palmdale. She regretted one thing more than anything with her choice. It was leaving Vanna behind.
"I really don't know." Allison said. "I'm going to stay with Vanna and do whatever she does."
Samantha knew Vanna wouldn't leave unless Jesse was back to tend to Precious.
"Riley should come back tomorrow." Samantha said. "I'm sure Jesse will too."
Allison wondered if her mother would come back with Jesse.
"I really don't know what will happen." Allison said.
Samantha thought Vanna and Allison should talk it over and make some decisions. She was aware her sexual freedom would end tomorrow when Riley and Derek returned.
She thought previously she should have Resequenced her DNA to Riley's DNA but decided Claire's DNA was a bigger hit and more desired among the females at the base. She enjoyed all the attention she drew as her sheath took on Claire's appearance.
The idea was floated at one point to copy her program and create two Terminators based on Claire and Riley with the 'Neural Interface' with each of the girls to go along with it. It seemed the real issue was with Cameron.
Samantha listened and heard Vanna was moving around next door.
"Vanna is up if you want to speak with her now." Samantha said.
Allison thought they should at least talk about it. She didn't like to do last minute planning. She needed to do enough of it in the future. Almost everything needed to be done at the last minute because nobody knew what was going to happen the next day let alone the next hour. It was a terrible way to live.
"Let's go see her." Allison said.
Samantha watched as Allison headed for the door naked.
"Don't you want some clothes?" Samantha asked.
Allison looked back and smiled at her.
"What for?" Allison asked. "They'd just be coming off again soon. Maybe we can pull a 'three way' if you're up to it."
Samantha hurried after Allison. She was naked as well. It sounded like a good idea to her. She remembered something she'd heard Sheila say more than a few times.
"I'm in." Samantha said. "A 'three way' is my way."
Allison giggled. She tried to remember what the most number of females she was together with at the same time was. She thought it was five or six. In a situation as involved as it was. It was hard to keep track of everything and who you were actually with at any particular moment.
Life was good in Paradise.
Jim was in the Control Center. He tracked Ally and Sheila.
He looked over at the door into the Owner's Suite. He knew what was happening inside. He decided to make sure everything was OK in there. At least, it was what he told himself. He turned up his hearing. He was surprised at what he heard.
Cammy and Cam were ready to enter the main workroom area of the target building.
Cammy looked back at Savannah.
"Let us go in first." Cammy said.
Savannah decided she would follow them in.
"I'll be behind both of you." Savannah said. "Check the door before we open it."
Cammy didn't want to argue about it. She was aware Savannah was used to going in with Cameron. She understood why Cameron wanted Savannah with her. It was for multiple reasons. She thought they made a good team. She felt she could make as good a team as Cameron could with Savannah.
Cam looked at the door before they opened it. She checked to see if it was wired in any visible way they could detect. It wasn't. It didn't mean the door couldn't be wired with a hidden sensor.
"The door looks clear to me." Cam said.
Cammy looked at Cam and then at Savannah.
Savannah and Cam both nodded at her. It was a go.
Cammy opened the door.
Cam went in followed by Cammy.
Savannah checked behind them and followed them in.
The team entered silently. They spotted the SUV. It was the one at the location the nurse was held at previously. It was parked right inside the rear roll up door. It had been parked there since it entered the building.
Cam led the team around the interior. Cam watched the front and right side. Cammy watched the front and left side. Savannah kept a watch to the rear.
They moved to the SUV. The bodies were still in the back of it.
Cam and Cammy checked each side of it and underneath it. There was still no sign of anyone.
Savannah looked around. It looked like a plain building with not much inside of it. There was no sign of anything capable of using a lot of power. Her feeling something was off compounded even more as she looked around. Something was definitely off about the building and the power usage.
"What is this place?" Savannah whispered. "There's no electrical equipment turned on."
Cammy moved back closer to Savannah.
"I don't know." Cammy said. "I don't see where the power is going either."
They fell in back of Cam again as she continued to move around the interior. No one was spotted.
Cammy started to look in boxes and underneath boxes.
"We know someone entered this place." Cam said. "We also know we never saw them leave either."
Savannah pulled out a Thermite grenade and pulled the pin. She still held the spoon.
Cammy and Cam became alarmed.
"What is it?" Cammy asked.
Cammy and Cam searched for a target.
"The individual we're looking for avoided detection at the first location." Savannah said. "They've also avoided detection here."
Cammy understood. She'd personally searched the other location. She'd never spotted them.
"It can only mean one thing." Cammy said.
Cam and Cammy both armed Thermite grenades as well.
"Liquid Metal…." Savannah said.
Cam and Cammy looked intently around them. They both checked their current visual scans of the interior with those of the visual scans when they first entered the work area.
"Nothing has moved." Cam said.
Cammy handed her Thermite grenade to Cam to hold. She knelt down and laid her head on the cement floor. She stretched her hands and fingers out and put her ear to the concrete.
"I don't hear or feel anything underneath us." Cammy said.
Savannah was unsure what they faced. She wondered if they'd follow the 'Pied Piper'.
"We're missing something." Savannah said. "If we were led here, it was for a reason."
Maybe they were in a trap right now. They'd followed a Gray to the building and there was no one there now except them. Maybe it was a 'killing field'.
Young Allison and Anna listened to Cammy's team.
The more they heard about what the girls observed, the more concerned Anna became.
"I think they should withdraw." Anna said. "Something is way off there."
Young Allison thought so too. It was too spooky. There must be an explanation of some kind. The more they uncovered, the more it looked like a setup. They still didn't know any more than they did before they'd entered the building.
"They know they can pull out at any time." Young Allison said. "Savannah can order them out if she feels it's necessary."
Anna thought Young Allison could play it safer.
"You can order them out too." Anna said. "At least you can order out Cam and Cammy. Savannah will go with them."
Young Allison didn't want to do it. Not yet anyway. She still thought about what Savannah said: 'If we were led here, it was for a reason.'
The longer it went on, the more it seemed like a bad reason.
Young Allison didn't want to lose focus on the entire operational theater.
"What's happening in the sky and on the ground in the expanded search area?" Young Allison asked.
Anna checked continuously. John Henry and CamNet were all over it.
"Nothing has changed or presented itself as a threat." Anna said.
Young Allison was going to try and provoke a reaction. She knew it was a bold move. Whenever she made a bold move, it always seemed to cause a problem with others.
"Notify Cammy's team a drone is going to come in low right on top of the building." Young Allison said.
Anna wondered what for. There was a chance it would be spotted by someone.
"Why would you need to do something so risky?" Anna asked.
Young Allison thought it would be psychological more than anything. There was also a tactical advantage.
"The drone has more powerful scanners than Cam and Cammy do." Young Allison said. "It may be able to detect something they can't. It should also cause a fear factor to anyone from the future. They'll know what it is. They know a drone means death. They'll know what they're up against."
Anna didn't know if a drone could detect Liquid Metal, even if it was in close. The enhanced scans might turn something up.
"The drone may be able to spot something which looks 'different'." Anna said. "It may or may not actually detect Liquid Metal."
It was an edge Young Allison wanted. She knew the girls were ready to act.
"Have them prepare to throw the Thermite grenades at any spot that shows up 'different'." Young Allison said. "Do it. Make sure the girls don't hesitate to act instantly."
Young Allison didn't want to see the girls end up in an ambush of any type. They needed to be a little proactive here. It was always better to get the first blow in before they were 'hit'.
Cammy's team received the message a drone would come down right on top of the building.
They were still together as they looked around them. They were ready to throw the Thermite grenades in any direction. They were advised to act instantly if they were told to do so and not hesitate.
Savannah began to wonder if they were pushing things too much.
"I'm not so sure about this." Savannah said. "Something is really off here."
Cammy wanted them to get their directions affirmed.
"The roll up door is the twelve o'clock position." Cammy said. "The door we entered from is at five o'clock. The door on the other side is at seven o'clock. If we're told to react, we all know where to respond instantly."
The whine of a drone could be heard coming closer. In fact it sounded like two of them. It was louder than one of their quiet drones.
Savannah thought 'Cherry Bomb' and 'Coltan Overcast' were the two drones who'd responded. She couldn't hear everything clearly now over the whine of the drones.
Cammy received new information.
"Steve and Tom are in the front of the building." Cammy said. "They're ready to follow the route we took."
Savannah wanted them to hold.
"Have them cover the front but hold at a safe distance in case the building blows up." Savannah said. "I don't like the feeling I have right now."
Cammy relayed the message.
Savannah felt there was one drone directly over them and the other one scanned around the building.
Cam and Cammy were ready to throw the Thermite grenades. Savannah was ready too. She would hold and watch from the opposite direction Cammy or Cam called. She remembered the 'eel' in her mother's, well, Mrs. Weaver's, 'fish tank'. A portion of the Liquid Metal Terminator may try to draw them off to look one way while the main part attacked them from behind, if it was even what they faced. It was a possibility.
They still hadn't searched the other side of the building in the front. Nothing showed up as a 'hit'.
The sound from the drones was overpowering. She was sure the drones were running at a higher output level than they normally operated. If they were being used as a diversion, it made sense. She understood they were being used as a threat also.
Everything was reported as 'all clear'.
Cammy and Cam put the pin back in their Thermite grenades.
Savannah looked at her hand holding the Thermite grenade. Her knuckles were white from holding the spoon tight for so long. She'd really thought she was going to need to use it.
Cammy reached out and took the Thermite grenade from Savannah. There was a little shake to Savannah's hand as she handed the pin to Cammy. Cammy secured the grenade and handed it back to Savannah. The two drones could be heard departing.
It seemed totally quiet without the drones overhead.
Cam and Cammy searched the other side of the front of the building while Savannah remained at the door to the workroom floor.
"There's nothing here." Cammy said.
Savannah wasn't convinced.
"Where is all the power going?" Savannah asked.
Cammy felt very frustrated by their inability to find anything out of the ordinary or where the power was going. It reminded her of her failure to find the 'sixth man' in the other building when she'd searched it. They'd just searched the building here as well and found nothing. The elusive 'sixth man' wasn't there.
"I don't know." Cammy said. "I want to find out now, before we find out the hard way."
They were right there and there was nothing visible. There needed to be something hidden. They hadn't found anything yet. Was it something new?
Savannah couldn't shake the feeling she wasn't leaving there by the same way she'd arrived. She didn't know if she should mention it to Cammy or not. She knew it would cause her to worry. Maybe it was because she wasn't sure she would be leaving the building at all. It wasn't a good feeling. It wasn't the first time she felt it either. In the other situations, it had been touching go. Right now there was nothing to base anything on.
Young Allison wanted Anna, John Henry and CamNet to go over the drone scans.
"There's something in those scans." Young Allison said. "They have to have picked something up."
Anna didn't see anything detected.
"Maybe further analysis will show something." Anna said. "We're all going over the data. There's no conventional threat detected."
Young Allison hoped the low flying drone appearance didn't cause a problem.
"Has anyone reported the drones?" Young Allison asked.
Anna checked with John Henry.
"No." Anna said. "There's been nothing to 911 or any internet traffic."
Young Allison felt the answer was right in front of them. If it was, where was it at?
"I think we are looking for something that's shielded and it's masked it's shielded." Young Allison said. "Whatever is there is hidden on purpose."
Anna soon received some feedback from CamNet and John Henry.
"I think you're on to something." Anna said.
Young Allison wanted to cut the power and see what happened. The trouble with the other giant power cells exploding when the power was cut, kept her from doing it. She wanted some input from Cammy's team.
"Have John Henry ask Cammy's team if they want the power cut." Young Allison said.
There was no solid indication there was a giant power cell there or even a series of smaller ones. There was actually no indication of anything.
The drones scanned the surrounding buildings. They needed to worry about another ambush. Nothing showed up around them. The other teams were ready to enter and tear the building apart. Maybe they would find something. Maybe it would be enough personal for the enemy to trigger a bomb. Maybe there was nothing there to be found.
The Gray headed to the next location he was given by the two men. He hoped he wasn't on a wild goose chase. He tried his phone again as he drove. It still didn't function. He really wondered about why it didn't. He tried to look at some of the other vehicles he passed along the way. He wanted to see if anyone was using their phone. He didn't see anyone with one up to their ear. He was aware there were laws about such use. It seemed few followed them.
He neared the next shopping center. He made the same cautious approach as he'd done on the previous one. He looked for any police cars or any blue and red flashing lights around the area. He didn't spot any.
It was possible, since the men had been gone for more than an hour and a half at this point, they could have already been arrested and taken down to the precinct. He knew it would take them longer to impound the van after the initial arrest. He didn't spot the van but he kept a lookout for it. He pulled into the parking lot and drove once around the perimeter up the location. He didn't spot anything out of the ordinary. There was no yellow police tape or little yellow markers on the ground to indicate where shell casings were at. He hadn't seen anything of that nature at the first location either.
He looked around and let out a long sigh. He was sure this was all a big waste of time. He figured he'd be better off heading over to the homeless camp and putting the grab on the two females he'd been with earlier. As long as they thought they were going to get a payday, they would be very compliant. His pockets were stuffed with the cash he taken off of all of his fallen comrades. He'd taken it when he removed any identifying information and their phones. It was when he checked on them after they were dead.
The skinny female always popped back into his mind. It was the first time he'd actually ever seen a female 'make it'. He knew it was the other female who finished her off, but he thought he got her started. It was probably because he'd needed to work with her a little longer since he'd been with the first girl only a short time earlier.
He'd passed a couple of steakhouses along the way. He wondered how she would like to be taken to one of those on the way to the base. He was sure any apprehension she had about going would be pushed to the back of her mind with the fancy treatment. He knew he was old enough to be her father. He didn't think anyone would question any type of relationship anymore anyway. It seemed whatever people wanted to think they were, is what they said they were and everybody was supposed to go along with it. He didn't think those individuals would last very long in the future.
There was a siren in the distance. He quickly checked his mirrors. It wasn't behind him. He looked left and right. He saw a police car coming off the side street. He pulled over to the side of the road with a few of the other cars. Some people kept driving as if nothing were happening. He really wondered how ignorant some people were.
The police car turned in the direction he was headed. It wasn't what he wanted to see. Once the police car was a block away, he started out after it. He could see the sign for the supermarket up ahead. He felt a little rush of adrenaline as he neared the location. He was relieved to see the police car continue on past the supermarket. He took a quick look around the parking lot before he pulled in. He didn't spot any other police vehicles.
He looked over at where the donation bin for clothing was at. It was much smaller than the other two he'd seen. He didn't see the van parked anywhere near. There was no indication the authorities had been there. He did a once around the property in back of the store. Nothing seemed amiss. He paused before he pulled back out on the street. He checked his phone again to see if there was anything. It was highly irritating he couldn't communicate with anyone.
There was something about the first location which still bothered him. He didn't know if it was all of the clothing around the little shed or the one vehicle he spotted parked near it.
The Gray let out another long sigh and pulled back out onto the street. He headed back towards the first store where he'd started. He would check around the location one more time and then head back to Tango.
The female Fanatic wanted to make sure she wasn't being watched by anyone as she drove. She kept track of the time on the timer. There were only nineteen minutes left. She knew it was more than enough time to reach the new Skynet related location she'd discovered.
She figured the rest of the group who'd sent the van out probably wondered what happened to it. She looked over at the box next to her. It contained their phones, any personal items and weapons. So far none of the phones had received a call. She would go through them later on after she delivered the van back to its original owners. She doubted they were going to like the modifications she'd made to it.
Once she'd bailed out of the van and sent it on its way, she was going to need some other type of transportation. She could take a new vehicle from somewhere along the way or return to the supermarket and take her previous vehicle. She would be able to leave the box with the phones and the weapons there and not need to worry about them when she sent the van to it's doom. She wasn't sure what happened to the other box of items she'd collected. She'd lost it somewhere along the way. She really didn't remember when.
She took out the little box of the anti-drowsy medication. She took the last four tablets. She was going to procure another box of them, along with some food after she got her new ride. She could really use something to drink right now. She'd found a few empty water bottles in the van. She was able to dump the residue of the containers into one so she had one mouthful of water available. She used it now. The tablets went down hard. They went down though. She was sure she could almost feel the jolt of alertness hit her in just seconds. Maybe it was just her imagination.
She headed back towards the location where she'd taken the van from. It was on the way back to the Skynet base. She would leave the box off in the trunk of the car she'd driven there. It would keep everything safeguarded. If someone stole the car, they would be in for a surprise at some point when they found the weapons.
She drove past the location one time on the main street without slowing. She looked to see if there'd been any type of emergency response. There didn't appear to be. She didn't see any police cars, ambulances, fire trucks or emergency tape up anywhere.
The female Fanatic checked the time on her phone. She still had almost ten minutes until the bomb would go off. She could always move the sacks of ammonia nitrate around and reset the timer. It seemed like a hassle. She would just drop off the box and head for the enemy base.
CamNet's two Terminators watched the Gray and the female Fanatic through the drone footage. They were both on the road again and headed towards their next destination. They knew what the female Fanatic's destination was going to be. They didn't know what the Gray's destination was going to be.
They watched the Gray drive to two other supermarkets. He did a once around in the parking lot and left.
"Do you think he'll go back to the base?" The first Terminator asked.
The second Terminator thought it was too early to determine where he would go.
"He's headed back in the direction of it." The second Terminator said. "He may go by the other two stores on the way back to see if he missed anything."
They watched the female Fanatic head back towards the base.
"She will need to drive by the first store location to get back to the base." The first Terminator said.
The second Terminator thought it was a bad idea.
"She should avoid the location. The van was already parked there for a period of time." The second Terminator said. "Someone could find the bodies at any time."
The first Terminator watched the drone footage.
"The Gray just passed the second supermarket without slowing down." The first Terminator said. "He still headed in the direction of the base."
The second Terminator thought he should have made the next turn if he wanted to get back to the base as quickly as possible.
"I'm not sure he's headed directly back to the base." The second Terminator said.
The first Terminator thought about what his options might be.
"He must be headed for the homeless encampment." The first Terminator said. "He's most likely going to abduct one or both of the females he was with earlier."
The second Terminator wasn't so sure.
"He might be going back to the first supermarket." The second Terminator said.
CamNet's Terminators watch as the Gray and the female Fanatic seemed to be headed towards the same area. It might even be the same location.
For A Reason
Why do people do
Some of the things they do
Maybe it's all because
They received a miscue
It takes effort to take action
It's easier to do nothing
To sit back and watch
Leaves one with their hands to wring
Things don't get done
By thinking about them
They want to hear praise
While others they want to condemn
Some are willing to work hard
Others want everything to be easy
They do things that are sleazy
Leaving them to feel somewhat queasy
No one wants to be dominated
Or take another's poison
Everyone has the right to choose
It is for a reason
Nobody