Chapter 276

Where Are They

Derek and Bob were on a recon involving a future Gray. They ran into some type of 'enforcement' action with a loan shark's 'collection crew'. There was a Skynet Terminator babysitting the target, a future Gray. The Terminator took out three of the 'collection crew' before he was involved in a physical battle with Bob. Derek managed to Taser the Terminator. As Bob deactivated the Terminator, Derek took down their target, the future Gray, and the rest of the 'collection crew'. They torched the location and left with the deactivated Terminator. The Metal girls arrived as they left the location to collect the Terminator's chassis.

Bob and Derek drove away from the target location.

Smoke began to rise noticeably into the air.

Bob was a little concerned about his battle with the Skynet Terminator. He did have a few seconds of advanced warning there was one inside of the building. He was caught a little off guard when the enemy Terminator crashed through the door of the house and grabbed him. He lost his Taser in the initial contact. Derek's quick action took the Terminator offline.

"Thank you for assisting me." Bob said. "It made my fight easier."

Derek almost laughed. He really didn't think he did much. He knew Bob could defeat the enemy Terminator. He just saved Bob a little time. Bob was always there for him if he ever needed assistance. It seemed he needed it a lot.

"It's the least I could do." Derek said. "You've saved me dozens of times."

Bob nodded. He saw it as part of his job.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

Derek thought about the entire situation. Things happened rather swiftly.

"We were in and out of there in under two minutes." Derek said. "We didn't expect to run into a Terminator, or some loan shark's crew."

Bob considered the timing. Under normal circumstances they wouldn't have taken any action until later. They may or may not have been able to identify the hostile Terminator ahead of time.

"We wouldn't even have approached the house if we didn't spot the crew, at not least when we did." Bob said. "It may have prevented us from being made since we didn't know about the Skynet Terminator."

Bob was now two blocks from the burning house. They could see the smoke behind them as they cut over two streets.

Derek already considered Bob's statement. There was something else on his mind in regards to it.

"Let's come back around the next street and drive by within a block of the house." Derek said.

Bob looked at Derek. He immediately looked around him. He checked all of his mirrors.

"What for?" Bob asked. "Do you think there's more?"

Derek wanted to tie up a few loose ends.

"I want to see if we can spot the car the crew used." Derek said.

Bob immediately understood the reason.

"Do you think there are more thugs?" Bob asked.

Derek thought it was more of a 'feeling' right now.

"I don't know what I think." Derek said. "There might be something additional."

The thugs weren't the only thing on Derek's mind. It was how quickly they were able to receive assistance. The Metal girls were able to arrive on the scene incredibly quickly. They needed to be right in the vicinity to do so. They were most likely conducting an operation of their own.

Bob thought they should leave the area since the target was identified and taken down. He tried to figure Derek's angle.

Derek turned off his com.

Bob did too.

"Do you think the Metal girls were on to the crew?" Bob asked.

Derek didn't know exactly what to think. There were some basic facts they could deal with. There was past practice to go by.

"I know Cameron has the Metal girls operate outside and separate from the Resistance. I know she takes down drug and sex trafficking operations. I know there are millions of dollars stacked up in the storerooms. It's evident there's quite a bit of activity which occurs behind the scenes."

Bob nodded. It was definitely a possibility.

"The Metal girls were probably going after the 'collection crew' when our paths crossed." Bob said.

Derek wanted to find out a little bit more. They didn't have all the pieces.

"It could be one explanation." Derek said. "Since the crew has been taken out, they will probably need to assault the main objective they were after. A missing crew is going to raise more than a few eyebrows. I know they like to operate during the hours of darkness. It increases their advantage. It's still daylight. It will increase their risk."

Bob thought it was a 'non starter'.

"I don't think John Henry will approve it." Bob said.

Derek was fairly certain the Metal girls would operate on their own. Their coms were currently off so their conversation wasn't monitored. No one should know what they were up to yet.

"It's why I want to see if we can spot the car the crew came in." Derek said. "We can follow it back to where it came from. Once the driver figures out what happened, they're going to run for home."

Bob was already headed there to check.

As they neared the intersection they saw a car 'punch the light'. It ran through the red light. It wasn't really speeding. It just didn't want to stop.

Bob was about to go after it.

Derek wanted to play a hunch. He figured they weren't the only ones who were interested.

"Wait." Derek said.

They waited twenty seconds. They saw the same blue SUV which picked up the Terminator drive by. It was the Metal girls.

Derek spotted a familiar face. He couldn't help but refer to the past when he spoke.

"I saw Jesse, I mean Sheila, and Ally in the front." Derek said. "Let's go. They were there to back us up. We can do the same."

Bob figured they were in it deep already by taking down the target, a 'crew', and a Terminator. He understood the Metal girls were on their way to assist them when they actually arrived. If the situation would have worsened for them, there would have been three Terminators to help them.

They turned and followed the blue SUV.

Bob thought of a saying he heard before.

"In for a penny…." Bob said.

Derek nodded.

"In for a pound…." Derek said.

The Metal girls must have a tracker on the car, if not. they knew where it was going. They weren't in a big hurry and obeyed most of the traffic lights.

Bob followed behind them by about a quarter of a mile. He wanted to keep plenty of distance so they didn't attract attention to themselves. He also wanted to be close enough to respond in a timely manner if it became necessary. What occurred next was rather surprising.

Two dark sedans pulled out between them and the blue SUV.

Derek immediately recognized the threat for what it was. It appeared there was another crew. They were either there to go after the crew which was terminated, or they were after the vehicle they thought was responsible. It looked like it was time to become directly involved.

"Turn your com back on. Have John Henry warn the Metal girls they picked up a tail." Derek said. "It looks like a hit."

Bob sent out the warning while Derek reached behind the seat. They previously staged some weapons there on the floor before they left the base.

Derek armed an M4 with an M203 mounted on it and handed it to Bob.

"You have an HE round in the launcher." Derek said. "Everything is hot."

Bob visually verified everything Derek did. He knew everything would be solid.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

Derek armed another M4 the same way for himself. He thought of the best way to contain the threat so it could be neutralized.

"Have the girls slow up and turn down an alley between some industrial buildings." Derek said. "We can minimize the collateral damage."

Bob knew they packed a heavy punch.

"They have a LAW with them." Bob said. "I saw it in the back when I loaded the Terminator."

Derek was pleased to hear it. They would definitely possess superior firepower. it would make a difference in the initial engagement.

"Have them use it against the lead car when we enter the alley. We will take the rear one." Derek said.

Derek wanted to provide maximum firepower with minimal risk. He put down his side window and climbed in the rear seat and put down the side window as well. They would pull up to the alley, but remain on the street. Bob would fire through the passenger's side window and Derek would fire out the rear seat side window.

Sheila received the warning and spotted the tail. It wasn't unusual to encounter such obstacles. It was a little surprising because of the time and the timing.

Hanna handed an M4 to Sheila and Ally in the front and armed the LAW rocket. Ally would fire her M4 from the passenger's side and Hanna would fire the LAW from the driver's side.

Sheila slowed.

The tail cars did as well. As everyone slowed, the distances closed up with each of the vehicles.

It allowed Bob and Derek to close up as if they were going to pass the two sedans on the far side.

Sheila turned into the alley and punched it as soon as she went around the corner. She shot ahead of the two tail cars. They both turned into the alley behind her.

The two cars saw the SUV sitting at the end of the alley. They were a little surprised at the increased distance from before they made the turn. The lead car picked up its pace. The car behind it did as well. The initial surprise was immediately followed by an even bigger surprise. The lead car saw an M4 and LAW rocket pointed at them. The driver hit the brakes. The second car rear ended them. The driver of the second car was still on the gas because they thought they needed to catch up. They didn't see the threat which awaited them.

The collision caused gasoline to leak from the lead car. The men in both cars were stunned. Before they could even react, a LAW rocket tore into the lead car and it exploded. The rear car was hit with two HE rounds from the M203 grenade launchers. They both penetrated the rear window and exploded in the interior. Both of the cars were flaming wrecks. No one emerged from either of the destroyed vehicles. No rounds from the rifles were necessary.

Bob and Sheila both drove away from the scene.

The Metal girls thanked them.

John Henry was more than a little concerned with the expanding nature of the operation. He recalled Bob and Derek at this point. CamNet informed him she would deal with the current situation. She planned to send a message.

CamNet dispatched another group of Terminators to finish the job at the building where the Metal girls were headed.

Derek thought about the extent of everything which occurred in the last ten minutes.

"I bet most of this won't make it into the report either." Derek said.

Bob smiled. The facts seemed rather straightforward to him.

"We took down the target." Bob said. "The objective was accomplished."

Derek thought it went straight to the point.

"I like short reports." Derek said. "The future Gray it was."

They headed back to the base.

Jim and Gail made their approach towards the ventilation shaft. They continuously monitored everything around them as well as the path they selected. They were wary of an ambush or booby traps. Very little smoke drifted from the opening. Whatever was on fire earlier must have burnt itself out.

"Let me move above the opening." Jim said. "I want you to remain here until I'm in position."

Gail didn't think Jim needed to take all of the risk.

"I can move towards the opening from below, as you move towards it from above." Gail said. "We both need to look closely for any type of booby traps."

Jim could see Gail was going to do it anyway. He nodded at her and moved away from her. He moved off to the side of where the faint wisps of smoke drifted out of. He would soon be beyond it and above it on the hillside. He figured he made himself the primary target if there was an ambush. So far there was no indication of anything of a hostile nature. He made his way down towards the ventilation shaft.

Gail saw Jim was on the move. She moved up the hillside towards the ventilation shaft as well. There was no sign of surveillance devices or anything which would create a problem for Jim or her.

They both reached the opening. There was almost no smoke coming out. There were even periods of time when nothing came out.

"I think we can both fit through the opening." Jim said. "I'll go first."

Gail wondered how the ventilation system actually worked when it was built.

"Was there some type of fan to draw air in when this was constructed?" Gail asked. "I don't know how it would be powered if there was. If there was one, it will be in our way as we attempt to go down and enter the passageway system."

Jim was unaware of the details. There were no records which indicated anything about what originally went on there.

"I think the only thing we know for sure is someone needed to construct the ventilation shaft. It was done using hand tools so it needed to be big enough for someone to move through the rock and soil. We can only hope it wasn't a small person. There's a good chance it could have been. We don't want to get stuck in the shaft."

There was a vibration both of them felt through the rock at the same time as they heard a muffled explosion. They both search the area around them to make sure they weren't under attack. There were several more vibrations and muffled explosions from inside the hill. Thick black smoke started to come out of the opening.

"I detect chemical residue." Gail said. "The smoke is extremely toxic."

There was a much stronger vibration and louder explosion. It produced a loud 'crack' noise above them.

"There's going to be a rock slide." Jim said. "Quickly, move off to the side. Don't go up or down."

Jim and Gail moved in the same direction off to the side where the least amount of small rocks were moving.

They were both several hundred feet away from the ventilation shaft when there was an explosion which was barely muffled. The ground shook and nearly knocked both of them off of their feet. They continued to move off to the side as a large quantity of rock near the ventilation shaft moved with a small landslide.

"Do you think the last explosion was some type of power cell?" Gail asked. "It was very powerful."

Jim didn't see any high tension power lines anywhere near where they were located.

"If Skynet was up to something inside, they would have needed a power source to make it all work." Jim said.

They took a moment to look around them. There was still no sign of anyone. Where the ventilation shaft was, there was nothing but dirt and rock. There were no more vibrations or muffled explosions. There was no more smoke. The location was buried.

They reported everything to John Henry. It was decided they should leave the area and switch vehicles at least twice on their way back to the Resistance base. Later on when it was dark, during the 'Witching Hour', one of their drones would return to the area and further destroy the remains of the main opening, and the area above where the ventilation shaft was. More rock would cover it.

They didn't leave any additional surveillance equipment around the area because of the impending drone attack later on.

John Henry would monitor the area for additional seismic activity or signs of smoke after the drone strike. Whatever Skynet was up to inside of the hill appeared to be destroyed.

Jim and Gail returned to the 4x4 truck and headed back to the base. They switched vehicles several times on the way back. They passed through an ambush site which was set up to make sure no one followed them. The location would be one which they would monitor going forward for any additional activity. They didn't know anymore at the end of the operation than they did in the beginning when it was discovered.

Order was restored and things went back to normal, or as normal as they could be. Cameron didn't even know what normal was anymore. Was there ever a normal? Since she entered John's life, what was normal? Maybe normal was her causing some kind of a problem. Maybe it's why Future John sent her away. It was to banish her from creating problems for him….

It wasn't a comfortable feeling to think about. It was something she thought about often enough. She remembered the time Sarah pointed it out to her as well. It only further increased her anxiety about it. If she was a threat to Future John on a personal level, she highly doubted he would have him endanger his younger self in the past. It probably all went back to the anti-Metal faction. She disliked them even more as she thought about it. Her life was upended because of them.

Cameron wanted to search for any more traces of Skynet or any offshoots or upstarts. She was more determined than ever to stop Skynet. If Skynet never took control, then John wouldn't face assassination at the hands of disgruntled Resistance fighters. There wouldn't be any unless they returned from the future. The girls could live their own lives and John wouldn't need them for 'protection'.

She was worried about her separating Allison and Vanna. It was her intervention and manipulation which allowed Allison and Holly to become 'partners'. She felt she did it to better protect Allison for John. No matter what she did, she was going to hurt someone. It seemed to be the story of her life, hurting those she loved.

Cameron realized it was why Future John pushed everyone away. It was to stop feeling the pain of their deaths. They were deaths he felt responsible for. She knew the guilt she felt over the Duplicate's demise. She even created Terminator versions of the girls. She made copies of their programs. Her Metal girls would never die. Even if they were destroyed, she would re-body them. She would find them a new chassis, even if she needed to go into the future to do it.

She wanted to increase her anti drug campaign. It wasn't only to help finance her projects but because she liked the ability to terminate scum. They would all be future Grays or Scavengers anyway. She realized she was doing it as some strange need inside of her to take the risk and meet the challenge. It became an obsession to take her mind off John and what she felt she couldn't fix. Her urge to terminate grew very strong. To end a life of the enemy used to mean nothing to her, now it gave her 'pleasure'.

She wasn't sure if pleasure was the right word. It gave her satisfaction. She was pretty sure when she watched Sheila terminate Grays, and sex traffickers, Sheila took pleasure in what she did to them and the way she did it. They could simply have been terminated like she did. She knew it was the 'darkness' from Jesse which caused Sheila to respond in such a manner. It made her think about the root cause of those feelings in Jesse which were transferred to Sheila.

Cameron wanted to put the blame where it belonged. It was Skynet's fault. She realized if they could prevent Skynet from taking over, there was no need to 'fix' anything. The girls could still be with each other and need not be in John's bed. If things actually played out in such a manner, it would seem she altered everyone's life for nothing. Not altered, but 'ruined' their lives for nothing.

Allison was ready to become a mother. Cameron wanted Vanna to be at Allison's side with her. It would increase the chance of Vanna also wanting a child.

Cameron didn't want to hurt Holly. Holly was always faithfully there for her and John as needed. Holly never took or used what wasn't hers. She didn't know how to fix things. She also knew Jesse would be hurt as well now. She noticed her left hand started to glitch wildly.

How can she 'fix' everything? She didn't think she could. She needed to concentrate her thoughts. She needed to 'hunt'. It always calmed her. It forced her to concentrate on what she was doing. If she became careless there was usually a price to pay with sheath damage. She would strike often tonight. The thought already calmed her. Someone would pay for her mistakes. Someone NEEDED to pay for her mistakes….

Cameron looked forward to the 'hunt'.

Sarah was busy with Jan most of the time. John, and later Cameron, tried to keep her out of all combat operations since Jan was born. She wanted to do her part. She wanted to be a mother too. Jan would be able to have a little bit more of a stable life growing up at the Resistance base. There wouldn't be a 'normal' life for her. She tried it with John multiple times and it never worked out as she wanted it to. He would have been better protected if he was isolated. She didn't feel it would be fair to him to isolate him. It would be something he would need to face in the future anyway. It was what Future John faced.

The fact she was with Kyle again, even if it was a different version of him, meant everything to her. It was still the same Kyle, only with a slightly different upbringing. What worried her the most was John and Cameron. She was able to see the relationship was strained but it seemed to be from self inflicted wounds. It was obvious Cameron wanted to be with John. Whatever programming was inside of her caused her internal conflicts and problems.

Sarah really wondered what Future John did to her.

She could take some solace in the fact there were some things which couldn't be pinned on her. At least in the future Cameron was sent from, it wasn't her doing or fault. She was dead then.

Savannah felt different needs and wants as time passed. Cameron and Vanna told her it was her hormones changing as her body started to produce them. She already knew all the scientific events which were occurring, or would occur in her body. She was doing college level studies. It wasn't the problem. It was dealing with them which seemed to cause her frustration.

She watched more and more videos on the internet and began to 'experiment' on herself. Cameron expressed some concern at some of the things she viewed. Cameron didn't stop her or restrict her, but suggested she spend more time doing other things.

Cameron would take her out by herself sometimes, and other times with Vanna to interact with others her age. She didn't feel comfortable around them. Cameron, and especially Vanna, made sure no boys ever got near her. It was fine with her as she preferred the company of other females more anyway.

She would see herself and Vanna 'check out', and look at the same females when they were out. Vanna never said anything to her about it, but she knew they were the 'same'.

Holly was with Allison. She knew it was falling apart. If Allison wouldn't be her wife, it wasn't going to last. How could it? She was unsure if she was 'not good enough', or if it was because she was a machine why she was 'not good enough'. Either way she was hurting.

"I'll do whatever you want or play whatever part you want me to as long as you don't throw me away." Holly said. "I know of Cameron's pain of being replaced. I also know self termination is a better option than facing it. Cameron has shared the pain with me and I can't face it on my own."

It was all very complicated to Allison at this point.

"I don't want to throw you away or replace you, Holly." Allison said. "I want what would be best for my child, our child. You know I love Vanna, and I love you. I'm afraid I won't make a good mother. Vanna and I have talked about children for years. I know Duplicate Allison was pregnant and Duplicate Vanna wasn't. It's possible she's barren because of damage from our future. It would only be right and fair for us to raise the child or children together. How do WE still maintain our relationship and move forward together as well? I don't know. It's all so confusing. I don't know what to do. I really don't."

Allison's words did little to comfort Holly. The nagging fear was still there.

"I don't either." Holly said. "Please, Allison, don't throw me away."

Holly knew the best she could hope for was to be able to see Allison every now and then and still maintain her duties. The duties she was constructed for. They were to aid and protect the Resistance. She noted her hand glitched worse now as well. She really wondered how Cameron dealt with everything.

Holly knew Allison was going to replace her, or send her away. She needed Cameron right now. Cameron would understand. Only Cameron could understand….

Cameron was worried about the Duplicate Future Cameron which must exist 'In Some Future'. Where was she at? Were the Duplicate girls and her safe? Were they in HER Future or elsewhere? Where was Mrs. Weaver at? Were they together? Were they fighting together or against each other?

Would they show back up there at some point? Cameron prepared herself for the day when she would walk around a corner at the base and Duplicate 'In Some Future' Cameron would want to know who the Hell she was….

Cameron informed River there was most likely a Duplicate copy of herself 'In Some Future'. If River ever was able to contact them and try to help them get back to her time, now. She would have to share 'herself' with John. She didn't know what would happen with the Duplicate girls. It was a whole new problem. She couldn't help but blame herself for all the problems. She believed she was responsible for ALL of them.

Where was the other Duplicate Cameron?

Why didn't anyone ever listen to her?

Did EVERYONE think so little of her?

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Cameron Prime Timeline:

Events Continue In Chapter 287

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Closing monologue by Cameron:

Endeavor

Was it not yesterday
Maybe it was never
The feelings we created
Will last forever

I want you to want me
Not whomever
Our love spawned is real
Not just whatever

Tomorrow may come
Or it may not
What you have
Is what you have already got

It is to you
Hope that I bring
To comfort your soul
To take away hurt's sting

I'm here now
I know it's not much
We're ready to share
Love's sweet tender touch

So lovely and pure
Love's true endeavor
Beyond distance and time
Nothing can change or sever

Nobody