Chapter 1444
Anything But That
Cammy didn't want Savannah to be involved in another operation. She felt she'd been in too many already this last week. She knew it didn't do any good to argue with Savannah.
Savannah noticed Cammy glanced at her from time to time. She wanted to back up Sheila and Ally. She felt it was the right thing to do. The man they were after visited the anti-Metal bunker they'd taken down with the underground nuclear explosion.
"How long will it be until we get close?" Savannah asked.
Cammy hoped to get Savannah to rest for a little bit.
"It will be about an hour." Cammy said. "Close your eyes for a while."
Savannah looked over at her.
"I'm fine." Savannah said.
Savannah's answer made Cammy think about Cameron. It was what she always said when she was anything but fine. It upset her even more.
The man with the blue car was very cautious as he left the area of the port. The drone images showed he tried to use his phone a few times but it didn't function. He didn't know it was jammed by the Resistance.
He'd doubled back several times as he looked for a tail. He didn't know the Resistance drones currently tracked him.
Frank and Dan, along with Michael and Richard, both shadowed him. They wanted to see where he ended up at. They were pretty sure he would bolt at some point or try to get lost in a crowd.
Al and Ed followed far behind them with the box truck. It contained the weapons they'd taken on the ship, along with all of the electronic gear. They decided to have the extra weapons available, just in case they were needed. The full extent of either threat wasn't yet known.
Cameron and John Henry talked with Summer in the Command Center.
Summer could see everything as it happened inside the base. Cameron and John Henry seemed oblivious to it. She was really unsure why they didn't seem to notice. She figured CamNet must be influencing events. They were currently both plugged in.
She went over her personal involvement in the events she'd participated in. John Henry made sure Cameron understood the full impact of what Summer did. She was responsible for many targets being taken down, even if CamNet and him did the killing indirectly themselves.
Cameron was aware Claire didn't want Summer 'taken from her' like Young Allison was by her and the Resistance. She didn't feel it was a fair assessment of actual events since Young Allison was always at home. Well, except when she was out training or doing field exercises.
Summer told them she looked at the data which was available and made calculations based on what was there. She said she didn't really need to think about them as the 'solution' seemed to always come easily.
It all further reinforced Cameron's belief Summer was 'River' in some way. She could be her clone, or her sibling, or perhaps even her offspring. She knew she didn't do anything like that, yet. She was very aware there were a lot of variations of 'her' which might have. Most of those variations were of her own doing directly or inadvertently. Either way, they all ran her program in some variation or form.
Cameron planned to ask Summer some other questions when they were alone together at some point. She did want to ask about the encryption and about any deep feelings inside her about the deaths she was responsible for.
She'd trained Young Allison to view dealing with the enemy as no differently than dealing with insects. They were the enemy by choice. They were responsible for what befell them by their own choice. It especially applied to Grays who came back in time to do Skynet's bidding. It appeared Young Allison instilled those same beliefs in Summer when she clandestinely trained Summer on her own.
Cameron was aware almost from the start when Young Allison started the procedure with Summer. As soon as she'd found out, she instructed the Metal girls to supplement Summer as she slept with the same nightly 'conditioning' Young Allison received. Summer seemed to absorb anything they conditioned her with. They increased their efforts with even more information. She was able to absorb it all.
The main thing which bothered her about it all was why it was done. Young Allison started the process because she believed she would be killed in combat before she could assume her position in the 'Natural Order'. It was a heavy trip to make a young girl believe what could happen to her by the nature of her training. It also involved what she'd witnessed with Savannah and the past events of the Resistance. She reviewed and studied every operation. It included the operations from Cameron's future as well.
John escorted Jesse to her room. It was what they both wanted. It was time.
Since John was with Young Jesse several times on the ship, he was ready for Jesse. He thought she would be wild. He'd heard Derek and Jesse together before when they'd first arrived from the future. It did sound wild with the two of them. He tried to picture what they were actually doing.
John stopped at the door to Jesse's room. She opened it up and waited. He looked at her and knew what she wanted. He picked her up in his arms and carried her through the doorway. It was the symbolic gesture of carrying her across the 'threshold'.
He expected Jesse to be more aggressive but she looked at him with wide eyes. He could see a hint of tears in them. He stopped alongside the bed and set her down.
They stared into each other's eyes. They moved close together and kissed. It was very soft and gentle. They kissed again just as softly. It was deeper and longer. It was a very warm loving kiss. It wasn't the kiss of sex. It was the kiss of love.
John wasn't sure what he'd expected, but it wasn't this. He thought Jesse would be forward and aggressive. She was neither of those things.
She waited for him to undress her. They started to undress each other.
John was deeply moved by everything she'd done so far. He realized she wasn't there just to share sex with him. She wanted to share herself with him. It was the deep inner Jesse which was inside of her. It was the Jesse which existed before the assaults and all of the trauma. It was the Jesse to love and be loved by. It was the real Jesse.
Jesse looked into John's eyes as she lifted his hands to her breasts. He picked her up again and laid her on the bed. He moved next to her and the slow loving touches continued.
What was happening now was what she always wanted to happen. It was how she always wanted her 'first time' to be. She wanted to offer John more than just her body. She wanted to offer him everything.
"No man has ever seen the 'real me' before." Jesse whispered in his ear. "You're the first."
John was thrilled and honored to hear it. It really made him wonder about the internal Hell the girls from the future dealt with everyday of their lives. He'd been able to see them as he never thought possible. It saddened him to know what Skynet was responsible for.
They kissed and touched and John made his way down a little lower. He started slowly and gently on her. He could see everything was ready now but he wanted her to feel nice first for as long as possible.
Jesse always wanted to 'make love' to a man, and not just have sex, or be 'taken' by force. She knew it would be John when Cameron reached out to her and 'saved' her. It seemed like so long ago. Cameron was able to see something in her which she couldn't see in herself. It was very touching to her whenever she thought about it.
Cameron had often pressured her to be with John. She made herself available numerous times. John wouldn't have her. She understood it was because he didn't think Cameron would be able to handle it. Things were different now. Cameron had been able to broaden her horizons.
She'd been with plenty of men, but it was just sex. Even with Derek, it was about the sex. It was a little deeper, but it always reverted back to sex. It was very rewarding physically, even if it was lacking emotionally.
John was amazed at how much Jesse and Young Jesse were alike when they made love. Then again, he shouldn't be. They were the same person….
It was a very beautiful experience for both of them.
Claire experienced much the same thing with Young Jesse as John did with Jesse.
They started out slow and gentle as they undressed each other. There was none of the explosiveness with Young Jesse which Jesse usually exhibited. It was all learned behavior and years of experience.
Claire felt it was like being with Savannah most of the time. She did note Savannah was a little more aggressive now, than she was in the future when they'd first shared. She gave Young Jesse all the love and passion she could as they shared. She didn't know when things were going to happen again.
Young Jesse was very excited to be with Claire. She was very different than being with Vanna and Allison. She knew Allison was Claire's daughter, but it just didn't seem like it. They were almost the same age. It was just a strange concept to deal with. She'd read about those 'mother-daughter' events. One of those with Claire and Allison would be really Hot.
Earlier when she shared with Jesse, she'd asked Jesse to reach down inside of herself and find the version of her in there. They'd shared sex before several times. This time they shared love too. It was the love inside both of them. She was able to show Jesse a path for it to reach out.
Young Jesse didn't have any idea Jesse and John were together right now. She didn't know Jesse shared with John what she'd helped Jesse to find in herself earlier. It was the person who'd existed inside Jesse before the first group of men pulled her out of her hiding place screaming, as they held her down while they took turns….
Now she was with Claire and it was beautiful.
Sheila and Ally closed up on the car they tracked via a side route. Their drones stayed with it, but remained at fifty thousand feet. They stayed out of commercial airspace and John Henry made sure no other flights got anywhere near them.
Ally drove which was unusual, normally Sheila did.
Sheila was still upset about Leticia because she needed to 'let her go'. She was able to hold everything together and felt pretty much her old self right now.
"I can drive if you want me to." Sheila said.
Ally wasn't having any of it.
"You hog all the 'wheel time' as it is." Ally said. "You get to be my sidekick today."
Sheila was known for her antics.
"I'll give you a kick in the side." Sheila said. "It will feel like a horse kicked you."
Ally didn't like the challenge.
"What do you know about horses?" Ally said.
Sheila found out Cammy and Anna rode some with Savannah and Young Allison. She didn't know much. She wanted to learn more.
"I want to ride one. I want to ride a horse." Sheila said. "Cammy and Anna did. They were with Savannah and Young Allison. It sounded like they experienced a really good time. They were around a lot of different animals as well. The animals all liked them."
Ally didn't like to hear about Cammy and Sheila. She was aware she was the one who should have gone back with Sheila into the past for eight years, not Cammy. Cameron did it to 'punish' Cammy and keep her away from Savannah for such a long time period. It was only a short time for Savannah. It was still eight long years for Cammy.
"Maybe we can do it together sometime." Ally said. "I'd like to be around the horses and the other animals too."
Sheila wanted to do it with Leticia. It was one of the things they'd talked about. Leticia had been around horses for many years. She didn't want Ally to feel left out.
"Sure, love, we can do it sometime." Sheila said.
Ally smiled at her.
Sheila followed the drone footage on her phone and the updates from John Henry and CamNet.
The diver stopped at one point but resumed his travels later on. They never determined why he stopped. They didn't know if it was a signal for something to happen or not.
After she left Claire's room, Hanna found Jan practicing. She watched her for a while. She was used to doing it with Summer and Young Allison. She offered positive encouragement.
She stayed with her until Summer returned.
"I'm back." Summer said. "Hi, Hanna."
Hanna stayed a little longer before she went to leave.
Summer knew what was about to happen.
"Where are you headed?" Summer asked.
Hanna wanted to pick up where she'd left off earlier.
"I was going to hang out with Jesse." Hanna said.
Summer didn't want Jesse and John disturbed.
"I think Camille could use a friend right now." Summer said.
Hanna knew her human lover was with someone else right now, just like Camille's was.
"Thanks." Hanna said and left.
Hanna learned a long time ago at the Young residence to follow Summer's 'advice'. It was always spot on. She always knew a lot of 'behind the scenes' details somehow.
Cameron and John Henry followed up on the two operations currently underway.
"What's around where the car stopped?" Cameron asked.
John Henry wasn't sure of the specific vehicle she referred to. They'd both stopped several times.
"Which one?" John Henry asked.
Cameron thought the blue car was covered well enough. There weren't a whole lot of choices available to him.
"The one Ally and Sheila are tracking." Cameron said.
John Henry was aware from his server it was the third time he'd stopped the same way. There was no apparent reason any of the times.
"It's most likely he's checking for a tail." John Henry said. "He could also have someone else check for him. I'm checking now to see what other vehicles are in play."
Cameron wondered if there was more happening than they could see. Maybe he was waiting for an ambush to be set up.
"It could be traffic cams or prearranged surveillance cameras too." Cameron said.
John Henry could see Cameron communicating with CamNet. He wondered what it was about. He knew better than to ask or try and check. Cameron and CamNet liked to play their own game by their own set of rules.
Young Allison and Anna asked the same questions Cameron did about the same car. The stops for no apparent reason made no sense.
"It has to be for a reason." Young Allison said.
Anna was in contact with JH, John Henry's server and CamNet, as they looked for the answers.
"Everyone is checking." Anna said.
Young Allison checked to see how far out Cammy and Savannah were.
"It looks like Cammy's group will arrive where Sheila and Ally are soon." Young Allison said.
Steve and Tom, along with Bob and Jim, went along to back the operation up.
Anna checked for anything else.
"'Coltan Overcast' and 'Cherry Bomb' are both with Cammy and Savannah." Anna said. "They're fully resupplied with ordnance."
Young Allison hoped they weren't overusing the equipment. She knew she was responsible for a lot of it. She wanted to make sure all of the operations were adequately covered. She felt it was something John didn't do enough of. She hoped the after incident reports would show John it was better planning to have more help available. She understood he was worried about exposure. She'd pioneered the high altitude gravity attacks. They'd proven quite useful on numerous occasions.
"What about the rest of the drones?" Young Allison asked. "I want to make sure all of them are taken care of. Maybe it's something I should become more involved with."
Anna didn't want her to worry about it.
"Everything is being cycled through." Anna said. "Everyone is covered."
Young Allison wanted to get everything resolved. It didn't look like it was going to happen anytime soon.
"Now comes the hard part." Young Allison said. "It's the waiting."
Anna could see Young Allison looked tired.
"Maybe you can rest for a bit." Anna said. "I'll get you if anything develops."
Young Allison wasn't going to rest until Savannah could.
"I'm fine." Young Allison said.
Anna looked at her but didn't comment. She knew Cameron was never 'fine' when she said she was. It may be something which had been transferred with the 'Neural Interface' from Future Allison. It probably originated with Young Allison.
Riley was very pleased to see Vanna and Allison were back. They stayed and talked a long time after Vanna was done nursing Precious.
Allison kept looking at Samantha. She really looked like her mother at this point. She couldn't tell the difference as far as looks went.
When Vanna and Riley were talking and holding Precious, Allison went over to Samantha as she remade Precious crib.
"I noticed you keep looking at me." Samantha said.
Allison looked at her right now.
"I can't help it." Allison said. "You look so much like my mother now as compared to a few days ago."
Samantha was very pleased with her new appearance. She did like her former appearance as well. It was a liability for the Resistance to have her remain in her original sheath's appearance.
"The Resequencing is almost complete." Samantha said.
Allison looked around. She wanted to make sure her offer was clear.
"I'm available anytime you want to get away from it all for a while." Allison said. "So is Vanna."
Samantha frowned.
"I need to be very careful." Samantha said. "I don't want to cause any problems, especially for me."
Allison was sure Samantha loved Riley after working so closely with her for so long. She believed she could help both of them out.
"Let me talk to Cameron." Allison said.
Samantha smiled.
"Do you mean about her using my chassis to be with John?" Samantha asked. "It seems to have been a positive experience for everyone. I look forward to it. It may be the last action I get, even if Cameron is the one who does it."
Allison smiled. She felt there'd been a lot of wasted years. She really wished John would have taken her in the future when she first wanted him too. She knew everything would have been different if he had. It's not how the cards played out.
"It was positive for me." Allison said. "It was something I really wanted for a long time. I needed to wait a lot of years for it. It was worth the wait."
Samantha believed she would be a stepping stone for Claire.
"Once Cameron breaks in my chassis for me, she will most likely want Claire to 'step up'." Samantha said. "I know she's more than ready."
Allison really didn't want to think about it. She couldn't deny the same happiness she'd experienced to her mother. It was just a little unsettling to think about. She was sure in a contest between them, her mother would win.
"As long as everyone is on the same page before something happens, I don't think it's a problem." Allison said.
Samantha was unsure what restrictions were going to be placed on her since Cameron returned from her honeymoon. She wanted more of everything. She was ready to expand as well. She looked forward to John breaking it in her chassis with Cameron in control. She would ask for the same thing all the other Metal girls asked for. She would ask for her 'one time' alone with John as well. It seemed like a small price for Cameron to pay for what was given in return.
"I'm ready." Samantha said. "You can tell Cameron for me."
Allison was OK with it. There was a different issue.
"I'll ask her about you and Riley as well. I know it's something you want." Allison said. "She'll be worried you'll take Riley away from Derek."
Samantha knew it was the main reason Cameron placed restrictions on her. She thought there were several solutions any issues.
"I know it's her major concern." Samantha said. "I would need to be with both of them to make it work. I would like to be with John first. If I allow Cameron my 'first time' with a male, I should get 'one time' with John on my own."
Allison didn't know how it would actually pan out for the Metal girls. She wasn't sure Cameron was ready to honor her promise. Maybe she was. She'd allowed and encouraged Vanna, Young Jesse and her be with John. So far there hadn't been any ill repercussions. She reached up and absent mindedly touched her neck. Her neck hadn't been snapped yet either. She was unaware Cameron actually observed John and her together for a short period of time on the ship.
Vanna could see Samantha and Allison carrying on their private conversation. She handed Precious to Riley and excused herself. She went over to the crib.
"What are you two whispering about?" Vanna asked.
Allison looked guilty.
"Nothing." Allison and Samantha both said at the same time.
Vanna frowned and then smiled.
"Now I know you were with an answer like that." Vanna said.
Allison thought it was more of a private matter for Samantha. It wasn't anything new.
"It's no big deal." Allison said. "I just mentioned to her what we discussed."
Vanna looked around. She was ready for a little more with Samantha. She wanted to make it clear.
"You tell either of us where and when, and we'll be there." Vanna whispered.
Allison and Vanna were both hungry for more with Samantha. The more they were around her, the more they wanted her.
John was very excited to be with Jesse. She seemed even more excited. She'd already finished six times. He'd held back to give her a longer experience.
Jesse wanted to make everything a shared experience.
"I want you to finish now." Jesse whispered. "I know you've held back to make me feel special and I do. No one has ever been so considerate to me."
Jesse was very pleased John thought about her before himself.
John knew Vanna and Allison both wanted to be on top for their 'first time'. Jesse seemed to want him on top when he finished. He wanted to make sure. He didn't want to unleash any negative experiences from the past, the future.
"Where do you want me to be?" John asked.
Jesse smiled. Beauty radiated from her face. She thought there was love in some traditional things.
"I want you on top." Jesse said. "It's what I want. I want you to hold me and I want to hold you. I want it to be like it's supposed to be."
John started out again just like he did from the start. Everything on Jesse was aroused at this point. He was actually a little surprised at how engorged everything was. He worked slowly and deliberately. It was something he'd wanted for years too. He worked on Jesse until he could feel she was close. Her breathing and responses all indicated it. He picked up the pace and delivered for both of them at the same time.
It felt like they melted into each other at that point. It was what he'd experienced on the ship with Young Jesse. She held him tight but as delicately as he held her. It was a moment of true beauty.
They shared a long slow deep kiss.
Jesse believed it completed the act. Even though there was a third person involved, it didn't seem like it in her head. She saw what happened now as the act of conception for her child. Young Jesse is the one who would actually deliver it for her. It pleased her the most to know the baby wouldn't be from her body, even if it was indirectly. She didn't want her child to be tainted by her. She didn't want her child to be associated with her past.
"What we just shared here makes it real." Jesse whispered. "Thank you for what you've done and allowed. It means everything to me now."
In Jesse's mind this was the point where life was created for her, even though it was Young Jesse who was the one pregnant. She didn't really know if she could make John understand.
John thought they should all thank Cameron for everything. She was the one who set everything up.
Jesse finally moved her arms off of his back and he rolled off to the side.
They talked for a little bit longer.
Jesse I was a little concerned about the way she'd 'put the grab' on John. It wasn't pre-planned or anything. It was purely spontaneous. Somehow it made it even more special. It wasn't like a 'job' or an 'appointment'. It was real.
"Do you need to get back to operations?" Jesse asked.
John felt a little guilty. When he thought about what just happened, he didn't feel guilty about it.
"It's where I was headed earlier." John said. "What we just shared was more important."
He was sure it was a little more rewarding too.
Jesse smiled. Her lips were so full. She looked so playful.
"Thank you for sharing with me." Jesse said. "I'm available anytime you want or need me. You can have as much as you want of whenever you want."
It seemed to be what John heard from everyone.
John gathered his clothes and dressed. Jesse still lay naked on the bed. There were so many times when he saw her the same way and never touched her before. He'd really wanted to. That was then. This is now. It appeared everything had taken a turn for the better.
The look of love radiated from Jesse as she lay on the bed.
John leaned down to give Jesse a kiss. She brought her hand up and held his face close to her when they finished the kiss.
There were a lot of things on Jesse's mind. She felt the need to express them.
"I don't want to ask which of us was 'better'. I hope between my younger self and I, you'll know me better and who I really am deep inside." Jesse said. "Even if it never happens again, it will always be special to me. When I hold my baby, I'll always think of this special moment with its father. Right here, right now with you is where it was created for me in my mind."
She kissed him softly again and released him.
It gave John a lot to think about. He was aware what Cameron and all the girls wanted. So far all the children he fathered were in different futures. He wondered how he would do when he was a real father. Jesse and Claire wanted to be the parents of Jesse's baby. Vanna and Allison wanted to be the parents of Allison's baby. When one of the girls gave their baby to Cameron, he believed it was the point where it would be their baby for Cameron and him. When Cameron was given her own child, it would be his baby.
John headed for the door.
Jesse could feel her emotions expand within her. She needed to say something. She needed to say what she felt.
"I love you, John." Jesse said.
John looked back at Jesse.
"I love you too, Jesse." John said. "I always have."
John left.
Jesse looked at the closed door as tears welled in her eyes. It was her best day ever of being alive. Everything in her life to get to this point was worth the suffering. With John's, and Young Jesse's, help she was finally complete. She no longer wanted to die. She wanted to live. She wanted a future. Tomorrow now mattered. It didn't used to before. That was then. This is now.
When John left Jesse's room, it never showed up on the monitors. It was only when he passed his room when he did. The restrictive action indicated CamNet was involved for some reason and was doing something on her own.
When John was outside of their room, it was when Cameron spotted him.
"John will be here soon." Cameron said. "He looked very refreshed. I hope he had a good rest."
John Henry was pleased to see things were about to return to 'normal'. It was still worrisome because everything wasn't concluded.
"I hoped the two issues would have been resolved before he came on duty." John Henry said.
Cameron considered having a drone fire a missile at each of the cars before John arrived. Everything currently happening would be concluded the moment the missiles struck their targets. She resisted the urge.
John entered the Command Center with a smile on his face.
"I'm back." John said. "Hello, John Henry. It's time to get up to speed."
Cameron didn't want the honeymoon to be over yet or ever but duty called. All good things came to an end. She actually liked the double meaning at the end of it.
"John Henry will fill you in." Cameron said. "I'll add or suppress what's necessary."
John looked at Cameron. He wondered what needed to be suppressed. Now he wondered if she'd said 'address' instead of 'suppress'.
He was happy and content right now. Cameron looked the same way. He would let it slide for now and not spoil anyone's mood.
John Henry glanced at Cameron for a moment and then turned his attention to John. It was time to get started.
"This is where we are now…." John Henry started out.
Anna felt it was time for Young Allison to take a step back. Her services were no longer directly required.
"John's back. You can take it easy now." Anna said.
Young Allison didn't want to drop the ball. She would have like four things to have been wrapped up before John returned. They weren't. They could be.
"Maybe once the last two operations are concluded I can." Young Allison said. "I'm ready to fire two missiles and call it a day."
CamNet sent Anna a request for confirmation on a missile strike mission.
"I take it you're actually not going to do it." Anna said.
Young Allison let out a soft sigh as she watched her monitors.
"No." Young Allison said. "The easy way out is never the right way out."
Anna was glad they'd established a few safeguards with CamNet.
"I just wanted to make sure." Anna said.
Anna stood CamNet down, for now.
Young Allison was tired but knew Savannah was even more beat than her. Something caught her eye. She sat up in her chair.
"The target is taking a back road." Young Allison said.
Anna worried about it. It was repetitive behavior from the previous experience.
"It was the tactic used by the anti-Metal group to lure us out into an ambush before." Anna said.
Young Allison knew what was available. She felt they had a very good footprint. She just needed to be careful where they stepped.
"Have the teams sit tight but keep each other in sight." Young Allison said. "We have four teams there now."
Cammy's group arrived a few minutes ago.
"Let's see what develops." Anna said.
Claire and Young Jesse finished up for about the tenth time.
They were both thrilled to be with each other.
Young Jesse hoped things were going to go a little further.
"I thought Jesse was going to come back." Young Jesse said.
An idea which popped into Claire's head thrilled her immensely. She didn't think it was too forward to ask.
"I know you two share with each other sometimes." Claire said. "Can I just watch both of you together for a few minutes before I join in? It just seems like something really special."
Young Jesse knew it was something special. There was nothing you couldn't do, say, or try, with 'yourself'. Any 'crazy' desire could be acted out.
"Do you wish you could share with yourself?" Young Jesse asked.
It seemed pretty impossible for Claire to do so. She didn't think there were any other of 'her' alive in any of the other futures.
"I'd like to try it once if possible." Claire said. "I know Samantha looks like me, but it's still not me."
Young Jesse already explored several of the options available to her.
"I thought about it before too for myself." Young Jesse said. "I mean more than just being with Jesse or Sheila. I mean with 'myself'."
Claire wondered if there were other possibilities available to her.
"Is there a Duplicate version of you anywhere?" Claire asked.
Young Jesse thought about the different reports she read and studied over the years. It seemed just about anything was possible, in any combination.
"I don't know." Young Jesse said. "I'm sure with all the changes we've made; there are probably a lot of everyone by now. What I meant was to use the TDE. I would plan now to be with myself at a specific time and place. From the future, I would use the TDE and return to the specific time and place for a set duration and then return back to where I left from."
Claire liked the idea. There was one big worry.
"Cameron warned me about 'temporal errors' happening." Claire said. "What would happen if we did it and came back to now from the future, say two hours from now? Would it change anything or in two hours from now would there be two of each of us?"
Young Jesse thought it sounded like a bad idea.
"One of us would have to still go forward two hours ahead with the TDE at some point to fill the void in the timeline." Young Jesse said. "It can get complicated and there is always the risk of getting lost in time somewhere."
Claire thought about some of the places where Cameron and the girls ended up before. Not only were there temporal displacements, there were geographic displacements as well.
"It sounds too risky for the goal." Claire said.
Young Jesse checked the time.
"Maybe Jesse hooked up with someone else." Young Jesse said. "I really thought she would come back by now. I wanted the three of us to be together."
Claire wanted it too. She didn't want to spoil a finish for someone with a phone call. There were other things they could do to find out. New opportunities might be presented as well.
"If you want to throw on some clothes we can go look for her." Claire said.
Young Jesse didn't feel like getting dressed again. She was tired.
"I think I'm still fighting some jet lag." Young Jesse said.
Claire really wanted it to happen. There was no reason she couldn't do things on her own.
"I can go look." Claire said. "I think you should rest up a little."
She looked around in the clothes hamper and found a pair of shorts and a top.
"I'll keep it simple." Claire said. "If we return and you're asleep, what do you want us to do?"
It was a no brainer for Young Jesse.
"Start right in on me." Young Jesse said. "Can you think of a better way to wake up?"
Claire thought about it.
"Nope." Claire said.
A lot of her days actually started with some type of stimulation.
Leticia returned back to where Mary and Laura were. There'd been a lot on her mind going there and coming back. She didn't think she was going to be able to do as well as she'd done on her own. 'Sue' told her she needed to stand tall. 'Sue' told her she needed to help herself. She understood it all better now.
Mary was actually surprised Leticia returned so quickly.
"You got done pretty fast." Mary said. "I'm glad there weren't any problems. Were there any?"
Laura felt Leticia's future was a little uncertain.
"I hope not." Laura said.
Leticia set her box down.
"It went a lot smoother than I'd anticipated." Leticia said. "I almost had the feeling Sue visited her before I arrived. I didn't see her. Tracy didn't say anything about it."
Laura looked in the box.
"You didn't pick much up." Laura said.
Leticia couldn't help but feel a little guilty about how everything played out. She didn't think any of it was her fault though. She thought the root of any problems all went back to Tracy. They weren't from her. She hadn't quite ended a relationship in such a way before. Usually she was 'traded' for someone else.
"I didn't want to be a problem." Leticia said. "I let her keep anything of mine I knew she liked."
Mary felt it was a good move on Leticia's part. It could serve a purpose.
"It will give her something to think about." Mary said.
Leticia believed it gave her something to think about as well.
"Sue wants me to stand tall and speak up for myself." Leticia said.
Laura felt it was a little deeper for all of them. She believed it was for a good cause and reason.
"She wants all of us to do the same thing and watch out for each other to do it as well." Laura said.
Mary knew there were a lot of unanswered questions about the mysterious group. She didn't believe they knew who any of them really were. They never said exactly what it was they did. She didn't believe the names they were given were their real names. She didn't think anything was being done dishonestly or in a sinister manner. It seemed to be more of a necessity to her.
"I wonder who they really were." Mary said. "I think they were secret agents of some kind. They always knew what was happening around them. They clearly knew what was happening on the ship."
Laura thought it played out in her favor because they did.
Leticia reached up and touched her cheek. Her hand slowly moved down and touched above her heart.
"I miss them." Leticia said.
Mary looked at the clock on the wall.
"It's only been a few hours since we last saw them." Mary said.
Laura milled it all over in her mind. It seemed as unreal as it did real.
"I really don't think we've seen the last of them." Laura said.
Mary tended to agree.
"I don't either." Mary said.
Laura felt the adventure wasn't over.
"I hope we see them again." Laura said.
Leticia was very much in love with 'Sue'. She just knew if she got in a jam again, 'Sue' would arrive in the nick of time and save her.
"We will." Leticia said. "I know we will."
Leticia couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. It was more than the loss of her old Master and place to live. It was the loss of something which could have been very beautiful. The seeds were planted. They just hadn't been given time to grow. She knew their love would always bind them.
The Gray decided to head for the front again. He noticed his progress had slowed down quite a bit. His back seemed to hurt a lot. He wasn't really sure why. He wondered if it was when he was knocked off of the forklift when it turned. He'd hit the ground pretty hard. He hadn't thought a lot about it at the time. He reached back and touched himself. He winced in pain. He looked at his hand in the dim light. It was bloody.
He didn't think the blood was from a fall. He remembered one of the HK Tracks actually fired at him. He must have caught a ricochet or something. He didn't remember being shot. Maybe he was so scared and pumped full of adrenaline, it had taken a while for it to register.
He could hear the HK Track in the distance. He couldn't see it. He didn't want to stick around and wait for it to find him. He ducked into the next cavern. He slowed as soon as he was inside. There were two HK drones inside. They were inactive. He hoped they stayed inactive.
The Gray reached around and touched his back again. It really started to hurt. He just needed to rest for a few minutes. He wondered if he could get one of the HK drones to go after the rogue HK Track. He wasn't sure why it was on a rampage.
He sat down on the HK drone. He took out his phone and shined it around the cavern. There were crates inside of it on either side. The two HK drones were side by side. There was no indication either one of them was about to power up.
He didn't want to stick around to find out. He got back up on his feet and started back towards the main passageway. There were some medical supplies in the sleeping quarters. He could treat his wound once he got there. There was probably someone there who would be able to help him.
The Gray went back out to the main passageway. He could still hear the HK Track moving around in the distance. He wasn't sure what was going on. He continued his journey towards the front.
The female Fanatic directed the HK Track to move slowly forward. It was to remain on guard for any threats. She made sure the rope didn't bind up on anything. Jill was on her way up. She just hoped the rope would hold. She used the phone she still had to shine some light on where the rope contacted the edge of the wooden framework where the shaft was at. She could see the rope fray as it was pulled upward.
"Hang on, Jill." The female Fanatic said.
Earlier:
Jill affixed the rope to her body the way Jackie instructed her. She was ready when it started upward. She swung back and forth as soon as her feet came off of the disabled HK Track. She'd turned on the light on one of the phones Jackie gave her. It was currently in her shirt pocket. Both of her hands were on the rope and it was around her waist as well.
She could see where the shaft entered the cavern. She needed to make sure she pulled herself into the shaft and not get stuck on the lip of the cavern roof where the shaft came through.
She was a little worried about the condition of the rope. It appeared to be extremely old. The surface of it was very frayed. The little frayed pieces would crumble off. As she started up, small pieces of debris began to drop down on her. She didn't want to look up and get anything in her eyes. She could feel the bits of debris bounce off of her hair and shoulders. So far they'd all been small pieces. If she got hit by a big one, it could incapacitate her. She wouldn't fall off the rope because it was tied around her, but she wouldn't have any control as she would continue to be pulled up.
She was a little concerned about the mechanical noise. It sounded like one of the HK Tracks. It could be some other type of machine. She didn't know what else was up in the cavern above the shaft. She heard some positive encouragement as she continued her upward journey.
"Hang on, Jill." Jackie said.
She could see a very heavy layer of dust coming down in the light of her phone against the shaft side. She realized it was actually bits of the rope. She used her feet to keep herself from coming in contact with the side of the shaft. Parts of it were still covered with wood. Other parts were rock. The other side was the one which Jill climbed up on. It had collapsed into the cavern she'd been in.
There was a loud 'snap' noise when she used one of her feet to push herself away from the side again. The board she touched fell away from the side of the shaft. Several others below it followed it.
"How much farther is it?" Jill asked. "I'm OK. I don't want to look up. There's a lot of dust and debris falling down on top of me."
The female Fanatic was very concerned about the rope. She'd watched several strands of it break away from the main body of the rope as it came up over the edge of the shaft opening. She was worried if two or three of them happened at the same time, in the same area, the entire rope might fail.
"It's not too much further." The female Fanatic said. "Just hang on and keep away from the side. I'll help you over the top when you get here. It'll just be a few more minutes."
The female Fanatic was accurate in her statement. Jill was soon right below her. The HK Track continued to pull at a slow speed. She looked behind her at the rope. She became a little more concerned. It appeared it was about to break.
The two men continued their journey up the mountain side. They were both a little winded. The climb was a little more difficult than they'd anticipated.
The trees around the men begin to thin out a little bit. They could see a little deeper into the woods around them.
The first man paused and the second man almost bumped into him.
"There's someone up ahead of us off to the right side." The first man whispered.
The second man was a little upset he almost bumped into the first man because of his abrupt stop. If there was danger though, he understood. He tried to see where they were at.
"How many of them are there?" The second man asked.
The first man moved off the trail. He moved to the left side. There were some rocks they could get behind. The second man followed him.
"I can see two of them." The first man said. "I don't think it's a threat."
The second man knew nothing was a threat, until it was. Things could happen in an instant.
"I think it's just some overnight backpackers." The second man said.
The two men continued to move up the mountain but off of the trail for right now. After they'd gone several hundred feet they moved back over to the trail. It was much easier going on the trail than it was between the trees.
"I really don't know what we're going to find." The first man said.
The two men continued their journey up the mountain side.
Tina and Lena were satisfied there'd be no negative interaction with the other hikers on the hill. They quickly moved away from the two men but remained closer than they'd been previously.
The drone picked up more hikers ahead of the men. There were some on the right side in the trees and some had come over the top of the hill. They were on a trail off to the side.
They watched as the two men moved off of the trail behind the rocks to assess the threat. They quickly moved on.
Lena wanted to avoid the backpackers as well. She could either go further around them to the right or move onto the trail. She decided to move to the left side of the trail and continue out through the trees.
Tina could see Lena was closer to her. She was in the same terrain she was in, but further behind her. She remained ahead of the two men.
The drone continued to zoom in on the two people who'd come around the top of the mountain from the side. They didn't look like backpackers.
CamNet issued them an advisory.
Tina was the closest one to the array. She picked up her speed and moved further away from the trail. She was between the two which headed for the top.
"We may have a threat near the communications array." Tina said. "I'm going in for a closer look."
Lena moved back across the trail to the right side of the men. She picked up her speed as well. She was soon past them and moved further ahead. She wanted to give Tina some assistance. The drone overhead was primed for a gravity minigun shot or a missile strike.
"Don't engage them unless you need to." Lena said. "I'll be able to back you up in a few minutes."
Lena and Tina were unsure what the new threat would present. The drone kept track of everyone around their immediate area. There were the two new targets as well as the two men from the white van to keep track of.
Anything But That
The feelings of two can bloom
They will expand beyond chat
There needs to be some spice
To keep things from falling flat
As time rapidly passes by
It becomes easier to have a spat
Everyone needs to think twice
They need to turn down the thermostat
Neither should treat the other
Like a used doormat
Harsh words and anger will flourish
There will be verbal combat
Things will escalate out of control
When everything is tit for tat
There will need to be an intervention
By a trusted neutral diplomat
They will try to create
A peaceful and open habitat
Things will have slipped too far
When each thinks anything but that
Nobody