Chapter 1542


Nothing Can Stop Us Now


Summer checked the monitors in the Command Center.

Everything was put into play.

Jesse watched intently as the Gray's car raced to beat the train. She looked over at Summer. She was still concerned for the homeless girls at the camp.

"Is this something you did?" Jesse asked. "What's going to happen?"

Summer looked indifferent. She may have helped a little.

"We're about to see a car full of Grays be terminated." Summer said.

Jesse knew Summer killed before and even used nuclear weapons through CamNet.

"You're going to kill them." Jesse said.

John Henry noted there was a drone which dropped down to just out of human hearing range. It was right above and in back of the Gray's car. He was unsure what Summer was actually about to do.

Summer checked all the events in play. She only could directly control one of the four variables. It was the drone. On two others, she was able to control the signaling system. She didn't think it was necessary for her to point out she wasn't driving the vehicle. Whatever happened to the men, would be of their own doing.

"Actually they're going to kill themselves." Summer said. "If they fail, I'll do it myself."

Jesse returned her attention back to the scene as it unfolded. She hoped the Grays died. She didn't want them to nab a homeless female and take her back to their base. She knew what it was like. It was always worse when they held her down as they took turns. This was an unpleasant reminder.

John Henry noted the weapons on the drone were hot and the car was locked up. He didn't think the weapons were what the drone was about to use.

Summer glanced at John Henry.

"The drone is a backup in case the car stops." Summer said. "Everything is under control. Their blood will be on my hands, one way or another."

Jesse looked at Summer but didn't comment. She could see Summer was cold and calculating for a young female.

Summer looked at Jesse again.

"No." Summer said. "It's about winning. Only my body is young."

Jesse swallowed hard but didn't comment.


The Grays in the car saw they were about to beat the train. They raced to get around it before the crossing. They were eager to nab a homeless female. They planned to start on her in the back seat as they drove.

They heard the locomotive's air horn was loud and seemed to echo from both sides. It was almost unnerving.

They kept their eyes on the train they'd passed. They were going to beat it. They were about to enter the crossing by going around the gates. They were on the wrong side of the road.

"Nothing can stop us now." The first Gray said.

They heard the unmistakable sound of an HK drone. They all looked up.

From the side of the tracks they weren't watching, a second train approached on the other track going in the opposite direction from the one they'd passed. There was a train going each direction. It was double track.

The Grays all looked up for the HK drone when it happened.

The plow pilot of the locomotive traveling in the other direction slammed into the side of the Gray's car. The coupler crushed the driver as it ripped through the thin sheet metal. The giant wide steel plow crushed the entire driver's side of the car a fraction of a second later. The sudden impact jerked both the first and third Gray's heads sideways as it snapped their spinal cords. They both were quadriplegics for an eighth of a second before their bodies were crushed.

The second Gray survived the initial impact. He was on the passenger's side. He turned his head in the direction of the side of the car being crushed. Actually the impact turned it for him. He hoped the car was flung free from the massive steel plow on the front of the pilot. His hope was rewarded. There was a metal tearing sound as the car was flung forward and off to the side. Its momentum continued its forward direction. He didn't realize under the current conditions, it wasn't a good thing.

The car spun off of the front of the second train. It was knocked right in front of the first train they'd passed on the second track. It was the train they'd hoped to beat. They were well past the crossing from the impact momentum. It looked like a tie after all to the crossing. The second Gray's premonition was fulfilled. When it's a tie, the car loses.

The coupler and plow of the train they'd just passed crushed the second Gray much as the other locomotive did to the first and third Gray.

The car hung up on the plow because the coupler was tangled in the remains of the car. The mangled and crushed car was carried past the crossing for several hundred feet as the train slowed. The car tore free and tumbled once. It then rolled twice before it came to rest upside down on the outskirts of the homeless encampment.

There was a teenage female runaway who was huddled not far away. She would have been the one the Grays put the 'grab' on to take back with them.

The drone already went back up into the dark sky. Its services weren't needed.


Young Allison and Anna watched as the car was impacted by two separate locomotives going in opposite directions. Both trains were still in the process of slowing to a stop. It took a long time to stop a freight train.

"Did you see that?" Young Allison asked. "You know what I mean."

Anna did know.

"It was quite spectacular." Anna said.

Young Allison wasn't sure what role the drone played in the event.

"Why was the drone so close before the impact?" Young Allison asked. "It was too close for a missile shot and well within gun range long before then. Maybe it was a distraction to make them look up."

Anna thought she knew.

"I think if the car would have stopped before the crossing like it should have, the drone was going to move in back of the car and shove it in front of the train anyway." Anna said. "Remember she wanted to make it look like a traffic incident."

Young Allison nodded.

"It was an effective strategy." Young Allison said. "Their termination was about to happen no matter what they did."

Anna thought Young Allison did the same thing. It was the same result anyway.

"Your sister thinks a lot like you do and what you did." Anna said.

Young Allison knew Summer was superior to her in every regard. It was something she'd learned at a young age. Anything she could do, Summer could do better without trying. She was just better at everything, smarter and faster.

"I hope to be half of who and what she will be." Young Allison said. "She's amazing."


Claire left the room in search of Sarah. She hoped Sarah stopped to visit Allison and Vanna again. She peered in their room but they were both asleep. She thought how peaceful they looked together. She resisted the urge to enter. She moved on.

She passed by Riley's room. She thought about stopping in to see how Precious was but moved on.

Claire reached Sarah's room and paused. She listened but it was quiet. She moved on.

When she reached John's room she stopped and touched her hand to the door. She remembered the beautiful times he'd shared with her. She was still very excited about being able to finally make it all the way with a male and finish. It pleased her most to know it wasn't her and she didn't have a problem. It was all the males who'd used her and didn't care if she made it or not. They were the problem, not her. What a bunch of selfish jerks.

She passed by the commissary. She thought about going inside but didn't. It could wait until morning.

Claire headed for the Command Center.


Jesse watched the Gray's car get smashed to less than half its original width by the two impacts. She figured the occupants were crushed into bloody pulp. She wasn't sorry about their termination at all. She suffered at the hands a people just like them.

"That was hard corps." Jesse said. "They got what they deserved."

John Henry was impressed with the timing.

"It was very well orchestrated." John Henry said. "What part did the drone play?"

Summer was satisfied with the results.

"The threat has ended." Summer said. "The drone was only for backup."

She didn't elaborate.

There was a close up image of the final resting place of the car the Gray's were in. It didn't burn. They all noted the teenage female on the outskirts of the homeless camp. They all understood who the Gray's victim would have been. She was isolated and the first one they would have seen.

John Henry and Jesse both turned back to speak with Summer. She was gone.

Jesse looked around. She never saw Summer move or heard a thing.

"Where did Summer go?" Jesse asked.

John Henry quickly checked his monitors. There was no sign of her. It wasn't unusual. CamNet often blocked her movements from him. He did see something else which was a potential 'problem'.

"It's best if we don't mention she was ever here." John Henry said.

Jesse looked as an image popped up on her screen. It was Claire and she was headed their way.

"Mum's the word." Jesse said.

She could understand Summer not wanting her mother to know she'd just killed some Grays. Well, some more Grays…. Claire didn't know about all the other ones either. There were a lot.


Claire hadn't spotted Jesse along the way. She wondered if she was in with Sarah and Kyle. It would be something.

She neared the Command Center.

Claire really wondered what a male Terminator would be like in bed. She knew how good a Metal girl was. She would like to try it sometime just to see. She didn't think there would be a love aspect to it. It would be more like a mechanical sex toy, or maybe even a giant 'Steely Dan' as far as the effect went.

She walked into the Command Center with a single knock. She was surprised to see Jesse was in there. It looked like she was part of whatever was happening right now.

Pleasantries were exchanged all around.

Claire noted the images of something burning and another of what looked like a twisted piece of metal by the railroad tracks.

"What's that?" Claire asked.

Jesse could see which screen she looked at.

"It was a car full of Grays." Jesse said. "So was the one which is burning."

John Henry decided to allow her to see a replay of both incidents.

"You can watch what happened." John Henry said.

Claire watched both violent encounters. The violence didn't bother her much anymore. She'd been a witness to plenty of it by now.

"That was quite spectacular." Claire said. "They were the bad guys."

Jesse nodded.

"They were the bad guys." Jesse said. "They were going to put the grab on a homeless female to take back to their base…."

Claire looked at Jesse and touched her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"It didn't happen." Claire said. "It's thanks to you and John Henry."

Jesse and John Henry looked at each other but didn't say anything. It was her two daughters who'd just done the killing, even if it was done through surrogates.

"What else is happening?" Claire asked.


The Blackhawk was already serviced. The team returned to it. They'd split up and gone on patrol around the area to see what vehicles they could acquire if they switched to a ground operation. There were several which were identified.

Young Jesse was aware a location was detected from a transmission between an individual in one of the vehicles and an individual at the Gray's base. They'd broken protocol and were identified. She watched the take down of the two vehicles.

"That was quite spectacular." Young Jesse said.

Cam thought it was too.

"It's like that sometimes, but not always." Cam said. "People died in both of those vehicle crashes."

Young Jesse knew a lot of people died tonight.

"People died in the mine." Young Jesse said. "More people died in the helicopter which was shot down. There are more people who will need to die at the building that's been identified."

Samantha could tell Young Jesse wanted more.

"The method of the building take down hasn't been established yet." Samantha said.

Cam didn't want Young Jesse to get ahead of herself.

"There will most likely be Terminators there." Cam said.

Young Jesse saw it as more of a reason to get it done on foot. They didn't want to leave parts of a Terminator behind.

"I think we need to take it down by going inside of it." Young Jesse said. "It's the only way to be sure."


Young Allison was fed the conversation which occurred inside the Blackhawk by CamNet.

"Young Jesse wants to go on an assault." Young Allison said.

Anna knew why. They all wanted to take the heat off of Savannah and Cameron.

"She feels she's trained and she wants to do more." Anna said. "It's the same reason why everyone else is there."

Young Allison thought they needed to know more about what was going on.

"What do the records show about how long the building has been with the new owner?" Young Allison asked.

Anna already checked.

"It's been three months." Anna said. "It looks like everyone lived in the mine before. It was probably too crowded. It seems they already experienced one nitro accident at some point."

Young Allison wanted the target eliminated without Young Jesse going there in person as part of the strike team.

"We need to wait and see what happens next." Young Allison said. "They should send more people out at some point."


Cammy asked CamNet to have the jet do another low flyby over Lake Tahoe again before she went in to see John. She wanted to be with John at that point. She wanted Cameron to hear the jet. She wanted to be able to tell Cameron later on she was with John, and it was the moment he'd delivered his essence to her.

She was thrilled to no end to be with John. She'd been close before but this was the real deal. He was on top of her now and she didn't want him to stop.

John thought Camille was more like Cameron on her first time. Cammy started out the same way but she seemed to be more into it and he was sure she enjoyed it more. He didn't know it was because she wanted to rub it in Cameron's face which drove her to a higher level of excitement.

He'd finished once on top of her. After cuddling and fondling, she was now the one in control. He was along for the ride and it was a good one.

John was close a few times but Cammy slowed down and slacked off a little. Now things picked up. Things were about to happen.

Cammy could tell she was pushing it too much. She didn't want John to finish until they were over Lake Tahoe. CamNet kept her updated as to the timing in minutes until their approach and arrival.

They were two minutes out. She picked up the pace. She could read John like a book at this point and knew what she needed to do and when. She went to work.

Her excitement level built quicker than his did. They were thirty seconds out and she finished but didn't stop. The finishes were one after another. Each finish was better than the one before it because she knew Cameron could hear the jet.

John could tell Cammy made it and kept making it. It drove his pleasure too. It was when she lowered her head and kissed him with love and passion he made it. Cammy kept going for another twenty seconds before she slowed and seemed to 'melt' on top of him. She still held the loving kiss until she finally lifted her head.

Cammy heard the engines pick up some power as they climbed above the end of the lake.

'Take that you Bitch.' Cammy thought.

Other than the fact she'd just paid Cameron back, she'd really shared a good time with John and it was a very pleasant experience. She wanted him to know how she felt.

"I love you, John." Cammy whispered. "It was wonderful."

John felt the same way right now too.

"I do too Cam-my." John whispered.

He wondered about when Savannah hooked up with him, if Cammy would be there too. Right now she was the best of the three versions of 'Cameron'. It included the original version too.

"I'm yours whenever you want me." Cammy whispered.

It seemed to answer his question.

They touched each other and held each other for a while longer.

John was very pleased with the events of the evening so far. He wondered if there was any way they could get better. He didn't need to ask.

Cammy looked towards the door of the Master Suite, and then at John.

"Sheila would like to be with you before we get back." Cammy said.

John hoped they could do it again. He was thrilled with the prospect of Sheila visiting him. He also didn't want it to seem like he was pushing Cammy out.

"It's OK with me if you want to stay longer." John said.

He really wanted to be with Sheila too.

Cammy did want to stay longer, but she didn't want to be greedy. She loved Sheila and wanted her to have the same experience as well. Love was about sacrifice. She would sacrifice another time with John right now for Sheila to have her chance.

"I want to be fair to the other girls." Cammy said. "If I had my way, I would stay with you until that Bit… – Cameron returned."

John wasn't sure what she almost said. He wasn't going to ask and spoil the mood.

He did need a little while to rest and looked forward to being with Sheila. He wondered if she would be totally wild and uncontrollable like her reputation was, or if she would be as loving as Jesse and Young Jesse were.

Right now he was very content to hold Cammy in his arms. His body needed to recharge. It was a good way to do it.


Moments ago:

Cameron held Savannah close to her. Savannah was asleep right now. She could hear another jet which seemed to be on a low approach. It was the second time she'd heard what sounded like the same three engine jet.

She looked out the window and spotted it silhouetted by the moon. It was a 727. She went to reach for her phone to check with John Henry or CamNet as to what it was.

Savannah looked at her.

"Is everything OK?" Savannah asked.

Cameron lowered her arm and pulled Savannah in close.

"With you in my arms, nothing else matters." Cameron said.

She forgot about her phone as Savannah moved over the top of her and kissed her soft and tender. She forgot all about the jet and whatever it represented. She was where she wanted to be, and with who she wanted to be with.

Savannah soon moved around. They sent each other to heaven, again and again….


Mary was with Camille and Ally. It worked out fine for her.

She did wonder if Cammy would be back. She was pleased when Sheila and Leticia showed up.

Leticia looked like a 'new person' to her right now. She wondered if she'd looked the same way after she'd been with Tony. She was sure she did.

Laura and Hanna cuddled in the lounge area of the jet up in the front.


Sarah made it back into her room. She entered the door and closed it. She stood there with her back to the door and leaned against it. She reflected on everything she'd done recently, and what she'd just done earlier.

She wouldn't trade any of it.

Sarah went and checked on Jan. She was sound asleep. She pulled the sheet up a little on her and went into the bathroom. She washed her face and hands off and rinsed her mouth. She opened her robe and looked at herself in the mirror. She thought she looked presentable. She didn't notice the name on her robe. It wasn't hers. She slipped it off and hung it on the back of the bathroom door.

She climbed into bed next to Kyle. She thought maybe she'd better get some sleep.

Kyle heard Sarah return to the room. He acted like he was asleep. He'd heard her leave earlier. He got up and checked on Jan. He went to where he'd stashed the pills Derek gave him and took one. He knew he was going to need to up his game some.

The little blue pill should be in full effect right now. Enough time already passed. He waited until Sarah lay down and turned his head and kissed her. He didn't detect anything different this time. His hands were all over her in an instant. He was going to get her ready but she urged him over the top of her. He figured someone else already got her ready. It was OK too. He was ready to get started.

She pulled him down right away on top of her. She was ready. He gave her what he figured the girls couldn't. Then again, who knew what went on behind closed doors or even partially closed doors. He'd done his share of a quick look every now and then too as he passed by over the years….

A little look never hurt much. Did it?


Allison and Vanna rested side by side. They snuggled up and held each other closer. To feel the warmth and softness was all they really needed. Everything else was a bonus along with everyone else.

Life was good in Paradise.


The Terminator checked the drone image again. One of the men from inside of the building was now outside. He talked to the four men by the vehicles. It left the four men inside of the main building. He decided to leave whoever was in the basement there for now.

He'd heard four of the men speak he'd just terminated. He wanted to see if he could draw a few more off. He moved closer to the doorway.

"I need you guys to come here and check this out." The Terminator said in one of the dead men's voices. "You need to hurry."

The new arrival to the group looked over towards the doorway.

"Now what is it?" The new arrival asked. "Am I going to have to do everything myself around here?"

The other four men started to go.

"Three is enough." The new arrival said. "Hurry back and bring the clown with you who called you over. I want to have a discussion with him."

Three of the men continued on. One remained behind.

"Sometimes things happen." The other man said.

The new arrival didn't look very convinced.

"That's why we tie up loose ends when they develop." The new arrival said.

The other man looked a little nervous.

"Aren't those other morons supposed to check in?" The new arrival asked.

The other man tried his radio.

"All I've got is static." The other man said. "It's been like that since right before you guys arrived. None of the phones work either."

The new arrival didn't care for the insinuation.

"Are you saying we brought trouble with us?" The new arrival asked. "We weren't followed. We didn't leave any loose ends either."

The other man wasn't so convinced. He didn't want to push the issue and be considered a loose end by the new arrival. He seemed unstable enough as it was.

"I'll go check on them." The other man said.

The new arrival didn't want to lose control of the situation.

"Be back here in five minutes regardless of what you find or don't find." The new arrival said. "If you encounter any danger, fire two shots from your pistol. I'll send the others to find you. Take off. I'm going to go check on those other morons."

The other man took off.

The new arrival headed towards the building where the other three men went a minute ago.


A minute ago:

The three men hurried towards the building.

"The new guy thinks he's a tough guy." The first man said quietly.

The second man nodded.

"Tell me about it." The second man said. "We get his type all the time."

The third man looked back over his shoulder.

"Guys like him don't last long out here." The third man said.

The second man nodded.

"Tell me about it." The second man said.

The three men entered the building.

"Over here." The Terminator said in one of the dead men's voices.

The first man looked irritated.

"Cut the drama." The first man said.

The Terminator moved around a stack of boxes. He could see the three men pass by through a gap between them. He moved around in back of them. He took one quick look at his phone and then the area behind him. Everything was clear.

He shot all three men with his silenced M9. They fell in a heap.

CamNet alerted him the new arrival was headed towards his location. The other man had gone towards the two outposts. She said she would deal with him when he reached the closest one.

The Terminator quickly moved the bodies around the corner. All five of the men he'd killed in the building were together. He was about to add a sixth one to the collection.

The new arrival entered the doorway.

"You clowns can smoke each other's poles later on." The new arrival said. "I want those people up here now."

The Terminator stepped out behind him and snapped his neck. He picked his body up and added it to the pile.

He checked the drone image. The other man was almost to the closest checkpoint. As soon as he arrived he paused. A fraction of a second later he fell into the same hole as the man already there. He'd just been taken down with a dose of 'metal hail'.

The drone did a scan over the building. It showed two of the men inside where they were earlier. It showed the other two men headed for the outside.

The Terminator would deal with those in the basement when he was done with the crew up on top. Two men were still in the building and two more were about to come outside. He knew just how to deal with them. He would use the new arrivals voice.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Temporal Mission:

Past Timeline:

November 25 1963

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Dave put the 'Closed' sign up on the door and locked it.

Cameron carefully removed the M1 Carbine from its paper wrapper.

Dave's eyes widened some, as he looked at it.

"It's smaller than I thought it would be." Dave said.

Cameron worked the action and manually locked the bolt open.

"You can see it's unloaded." Cameron said.

She handed the M1 Carbine to Dave.

Dave verified the weapon was unloaded. He moved the M1 Carbine up and down several times in his hands to feel the weight.

"It's lighter than I thought it would be." Dave said.

Dave handed the firearm back to Cameron.

"Let me put out a fresh target for you." Dave said.

Cameron looked at the one already there.

"I'll use the one there." Cameron said. "There are only a couple of holes on the fringes of the bullseye. You can put a couple others out as well. I spotted some gun oil on your counter. Is it okay if I borrow it?"

Dave moved behind the counter.

"Yes." Dave said.

He took out some targets. He handed Cameron the small metallic container of gun oil.

Dave went and put a fresh target on all of the positions. He figured the girls paid for them with their generous contribution.

Cameron quickly applied some oil to several spots on the firearm. She worked the action back and forth several times. She manually locked the bolt open again.

Young Allison reached into the backpack and removed the loaded magazines.

Dave looked at the cartridges in the magazine.

"Those are bigger than I thought." Dave said. "They look like big .22 rounds."

Young Allison handed Cameron a fifteen round magazine.

Cameron inserted the magazine into the well and pulled back slightly on the operating handle. She let go of it and the top round was stripped out of the magazine and into the chamber. The weapon was in battery.

"I haven't fired this weapon before." Cameron said. "I may need to adjust the sight before I'm able to score accurately."

Cameron aimed and fired one shot. A hole appeared on the target about a half of an inch high and to the left. She made a quick adjustment of the sight.

She fired a second time. A hole appeared dead center in the bullseye.

"Bullseye." Dave called out.

Cameron and fired a few more times.

The target consisted of a central bullseye with four smaller bullseyes in each of the corners of the square paper target. All of the five targets on the piece of paper now had a hole with a dead center bullseye.

"I'm going to make an 'X' pattern through the central bullseye." Cameron said.

She fired the rest of the magazine and an 'X' appeared on the central bullseye. She'd decided to do it because when she shot through the same hole, anyone who's watching thought she'd missed. It was too complicated to set up a second target behind the first target every time to prove where her bullet went. It was just simply this way to say what she was going to do and do it.

Dave was impressed.

"Wow! That thing is accurate." Dave said. "I've seen a lot of people shoot here, but I've never seen anybody shoot like that. Especially, on the first time they used a particular firearm."

Young Allison wanted to give Dave an explanation.

"She has nerves of steel." Young Allison said. "She's very gifted. I can't shoot as well as her."

Cameron locked the action open and removed the magazine. She handed the empty firearm to Young Allison.

Young Allison moved over to the next target. She inserted another fifteen round magazine. She pulled back slightly on the bolt and released it. The first round was chambered.

"My turn…." Young Allison said.

Young Allison took aim and fired. A hole appeared high and to the left. It was slightly off of dead center. She fired the remaining fourteen rounds. They were all clustered within a three quarter inch group of dead center on the central bullseye. She locked the action open and removed the magazine.

Dave's mouth hung open slightly.

"I can't believe how well both of you can shoot." Dave said. "Nobody shoots like that."

Young Allison thought she should say something before Cameron took his statement the wrong way.

"It's her natural ability." Young Allison said. "I've needed to practice a lot."

Cameron smiled.

"Would you like to try?" Cameron asked.

Dave's eyes widened.

"Can I?" Dave asked. "I'd like to."

Young Allison handed Dave the M1 Carbine.

Cameron held out a fifteen round magazine.

"Insert the magazine straight into the well." Cameron said.

Dave did as instructed. He checked to make sure it was firmly seated.

"Pull back slightly on the operating rod and let go of it." Cameron said.

Dave did as instructed.

"Take your time and aim." Young Allison said. "Don't be in a hurry, don't rush it."

Dave took aim and fired. He missed the bullseye completely. His shot was low and to the left. He fired again. His shot was high and to the left. He fired again. His shot was almost dead center but low.

After the tenth round, Dave was able to score within the bullseye. It wasn't a tight group, but it was within the bullseye on the target. All fifteen rounds were soon fired.

Dave pulled the trigger again.

There was a 'click' noise.

"You're out." Cameron said. "Pull back the operating rod and push down the little button you see on it. It will lock the action open. Go ahead and remove the magazine."

Dave did as he was instructed. He handed the magazine to Young Allison and the M1 Carbine to Cameron.

"Wow!" Dave said. "I have to say it's a really cool firearm. It's light and there's not too much recoil. It's accurate as well."

Cameron thought about his earlier statement where he'd said someone told him a .22 was more powerful. She was sure he'd figured out by this point in time, his earlier statement was incorrect.

"It's not a full power round like the type used in an M1 Rifle." Cameron said. "A lot of people refer to one of those as an M1 Garand, or just Garand. The M1 Carbine is often referred to just as a Carbine."

Dave could see there was power behind the cartridge.

"I can tell it hits a little harder than a .22." Dave said. "How does it compare to some of the other military rounds?"

Cameron was aware there were a multitude of variations of bullet performance based upon the weight of the projectile and the amount, as well as the type, of powder used.

"The muzzle energy is approximately twice that of a .45 ACP fired from a 1911-A1." Cameron said. "The same applies to the different submachine guns which also used the round."

Dave thought about it for a minute.

"So this bullet hits harder than a Thompson or a Grease Gun?" Dave asked.

Cameron decided not to get into the ballistic performance of the .45 ACP round fired through longer barrels than the five inch barrel it was intended to be used out of. Some tests indicated there was very little increase in velocity. Other tests showed there was actually a decrease with a longer barrel. It depended upon the type of ammunition, as well as the projectile.

"Yes it does." Cameron said. "It also delivers approximately three times the energy of a .38 Special carried by most law enforcement officers. The intent of the firearm and cartridge was to give the user a smaller and easier weapon to handle than a full size rifle, while being able to deliver a projectile with greater energy than a pistol. It would also have superior range and accuracy."

Dave was impressed.

"How quickly can you shoot it?" Dave asked.

Cameron could think of several answers to his question.

"The M2 Carbine is capable of fully automatic fire. The M1 Carbine isn't." Cameron said. "You can rapid fire fifteen rounds if you want. All you need to do is pull the trigger as fast as you can."

Dave glanced at the sign on the wall which said: 'No Rapid Fire'.

Young Allison saw where he looked. There was nothing to worry about.

"We're the only ones here." Young Allison said. "The door is locked and it's fairly soundproof down here."

Young Allison handed him another fifteen round magazine.

Dave smiled and took the magazine. He inserted it into M1 Carbine and put it into battery. He aimed at the target and pulled the trigger fast three times.

"Whoa!" Dave said. "That was boss."

Cameron smiled.

"Do the same thing for the rest of the magazine." Cameron said. "You have twelve more rounds in it."

Dave rapid fired the remaining rounds and finished with a 'click' on an empty chamber. The smile on his face was immense.

"This is so cool." Dave said.

He locked the action open and removed the empty magazine. He handed the firearm back to Cameron. He gave the empty magazine to Young Allison.

Cameron wasn't sure 'cool' was the correct term. She could feel there was a lot of heat coming from the firearm. It was about to get a lot warmer.

Young Allison handed Cameron a thirty round magazine.

Cameron inserted the thirty round magazine. She put the M1 Carbine into battery. She looked back at Young Allison and Dave. She smiled.

"My turn…." Cameron said.

Cameron used some 'Terminator ability' as she pulled the trigger. She emptied the thirty round magazine in approximately three seconds. White smoke drifted off of the barrel.

Dave's mouth hung open.

"It sounded like a machine gun." Dave said.

Young Allison didn't want him to get the wrong idea.

"You fired it yourself. You know it's not." Young Allison said. "I told you she was gifted with her natural ability."

Cameron smiled at Young Allison. She always appreciated the girls accepted and respected her for what she actually was. She still thought she liked Savannah's description the best. Savannah said she was a mechanical human. She liked the description.

"I can do it again." Cameron said.

Young Allison didn't want to overstay their welcome. She didn't think they had because they'd allowed Dave to be a participant. He'd seemed very pleased with his involvement.

Dave moved back and looked out the little window in the door. He didn't see anybody near where they were at.

"Okay." Dave said. "Go for it."

Young Allison didn't want Cameron to get carried away.

"I think we should wrap it up after this." Young Allison said.

Cameron nodded. She spotted a piece of cardboard in the corner.

"Go set the piece of cardboard up for me in the central position." Cameron said. "The firearm is currently unloaded and empty."

Dave picked it up.

"I'll do it." Dave said.

Dave went and put the piece of cardboard where Cameron asked. He returned back behind the line.

Cameron flashed him her million dollar smile.

"Thank you." Cameron said.

Young Allison held out the last loaded magazine. She wasn't going to bring out any of the boxes with ammunition in them.

Cameron took the last thirty round magazine and charged the weapon.

"I'm going to do something first." Cameron said. "I'm going to use a third of the magazine to do it. I'll then rapid fire the rest of the rounds."

Cameron fired ten rounds of the magazine at the piece of cardboard. She then fired as fast as she could. She locked the action open and removed the magazine. More white smoke poured off of the barrel.

Dave's mouth hung open again. He looked at the piece of cardboard. He wasn't exactly sure what he looked at because he'd never seen one before.

"You made a face." Dave said. "It's smiling."

Cameron looked at him and smiled.

"Some people call it a happy face." Cameron said. "I call it a 'smiley face'."

Young Allison could feel the heat come off of the M1 Carbine. She felt it needed some time to cool down. She figured they should police the area before they left.

"My sister and I will pick up the fired brass." Young Allison said. "I don't think you want anyone asking questions about it tomorrow. We should probably take the targets as well.

Dave hadn't thought about it. Maybe it was a good idea if nobody knew what happened. He had a blast and was well paid for his involvement.

"I can't thank you enough for allowing me to shoot your firearm." Dave said. "If I ever hear anyone bad mouth .30 Caliber Carbine again, I'll set them straight. I'll collect the targets."

Cameron and Young Allison picked up the rest of the brass.

"Some of these are still pretty warm." Young Allison said.

Cameron tried to pick up the ones she most recently fired. It wasn't a problem for her.

"It happens." Cameron said.

Dave handed them the targets. He held the piece of cardboard in his other hand.

"Can I keep this?" Dave asked. "I'll take it home with me tonight. I won't leave it here."

Young Allison looked at the piece of cardboard. Cameron made a circle with the smiley face in the center of it.

"I think you can." Young Allison said. "You should probably keep the story behind it to yourself. Nobody is going to believe you."

Dave thought she was right. He still wanted to keep it.

"I've never seen anyone as proficient as either of you." Dave said. "We get hot shots in here all the time. None of them can match you."

Cameron smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

"I only used my natural ability." Cameron said. "I guess I'm good for some things."

Cameron was satisfied they had everything. The barrel was still very hot on the M1 Carbine. She didn't put the paper wrapper around the barrel. She only kept it around the back half of the receiver and the stock.

"Thank you again." Young Allison said.

Dave looked very pleased.

"I thank you as well." Dave said. "Maybe I should give this back to you. I did use your ammunition."

He took out the twenty dollar bill Cameron gave him as a tip.

Cameron smiled and closed his hand around the money. She'd learned good will went a long way.

"One hand washes the other." Cameron said. "We may be back another time with some interesting things. This was just a spur of the moment event."

Dave opened the door for them. The exited. He proceeded to finish his clean up inside. Everything needed to be ready to go tomorrow morning when they opened. He'd never cleaned up with such a happy feeling before.

Cameron looked around as she carried the firearm back to the panel truck. Young Allison already opened the rear door. She put everything in the back. She made sure the barrel didn't touch anything before it could cool down.

"We can hit the Bear Pit now." Cameron said.

Young Allison wasn't very hungry after all of the ice cream. She did like the Bear Pit though. They were right there in the parking lot. It's not like they needed to go anywhere.

"We can get some food to go." Young Allison said. "I can eat it at home later on."

Cameron and Young Allison entered the Bear Pit.


Nothing Can Stop Us Now

Some things one may witness
Are bound to raise an eyebrow
Especially when another proclaims
To be holier than thou

Things usually only happen
When it's what the other will allow
Everyone needs to be an equal
No one needs to kowtow

When the sea gets rough
Onward one must plow
Sometimes to get the word out
There needs to be a powwow

When everything is good
It's easy to make a vow
To fix what is broken
Few seem to know how

When the top is reached
It's time to take a bow
We can pat our own backs
Nothing can stop us now

Nobody