Chapter 316

Don't Let Go

Cameron and Gail were after a female Terminator. There were two hostile Terminators at the location as well as some Grays. Two of Cameron's Terminators were there to assist them.

Gail checked her surroundings again as Cameron departed.

Cameron followed her Terminators inside the building.

Gail heard the shooting start soon afterward. She knew Cameron sent two of their drones to cover the area, just in case.

There was the sound of a vehicle approaching.

Gail watched as a van pulled up. She readied her M82A1 Barrett 'Light Fifty' and took aim. She decided to notify John Henry. Gail was worried about Cameron. To have Cameron be upset at her, would be better than if Cameron was damaged, or terminated. She felt Cameron needed to be protected.

As soon as Savannah led John away, John Henry reactivated the surveillance. He also deployed Bob and his Strike Force, they were on the way. It happened as soon as he received Gail's call.

Gail went over everything which occurred so far with John Henry.

"Roger, the drones are on the move and the target is identified." John Henry replied.

They were all aware Cameron and her Terminators were already involved.

John Henry thought about what Savannah did with John.

He knew what Savannah was doing and why. She was 'protecting' Cameron and him. He also knew now Savannah was truly the 'Chosen One'. She was the product of Cameron's attempts to create the 'perfect woman'. The 'perfect woman' Cameron wanted to be. The 'perfect woman' Cameron could never be herself for the future and for John….

As Gail searched for a target, the first drone fired a missile. The van exploded in a fireball. A lone skeletal figure smashed its way out of the flaming wrecked mass. It was a Terminator with its sheath burning off.

Gail took aim and fired once. The smoking figure fell and no longer moved. She searched for additional targets as she heard the second drone circling overhead in a search pattern.

Seconds ago:

Cameron was confronted by two Grays who tried to move in back of her. She turned and cut both of them down with her M4. One of her Terminators found a target and opened up with his M249 to their left.

She heard the drone and then the explosion outside. A few seconds later she heard a single round from the Barrett. She knew Gail watched her back from outside. It was going hot real fast. She moved ahead.

Cameron was aware Gail called John Henry for assistance. She wasn't happy with the decision, but understood it. Gail wanted to look out for her and protect her. The operation was a little hotter than she'd anticipated, so maybe it wasn't a bad thing. She worried about John being angry at her if she was shot up, if things went too far off the plan. It seemed to be the direction they were headed.

Gail watched and saw two SUVs approach. They split off in different directions. She could see Bob and Jim. They each drove an SUV. She needed to get inside and help Cameron. She motioned for Bob and Steve to come to her. Jim and Tom were on the other side, down the street. They were ready for any surprises.

"Steve, watch for any new targets." Gail said as she handed him the Barrett. "I need to assist Cameron."

Steve thought he should go. He knew the female Terminators didn't like to sustain sheath damage.

"I'll do it." Steve said.

Gail was there to assist Cameron. She did want some additional firepower which was more compact than M82A1 was. She took his M79 and bandolier of extra rounds.

"Thank you, but I have it covered this time." Gail said. "Bob, follow me."

Gail led the way and moved out.

Bob was ready for whatever would unfold. He carried a lot of firepower.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

Bob checked the belt on his M60 as he followed her in. He could see she was worried.

The two Terminators entered the building.

Gail knew Cameron was risking herself for her. It bothered her greatly, she wasn't sure why. She remembered there was a lot of tension when she first arrived from the future. She didn't understand Cameron at the time. She also knew she owed Cameron her life for reactivating her, and 'fixing' what was wrong with her. It was the termination of Duplicate Jesse. Cameron fixed it the best way she could, she provided her with Jesse. Cameron always tried to protect the future.

Cameron started to take rounds. All she could think about right now was how angry John was going to be. Now she was angry. She knew she was already damaged. She might as well end things. She moved from cover to finish off her targets.

She noticed movement off to her side. It was a new threat. Behind her she heard an M60 open up. The new targets fell. She saw Bob and Gail moving to reinforce her. Gail fired an HE round from her M79 into the doorway the men emerged from.

Bob and Gail joined Cameron.

Cameron wanted to punish anyone still inside the room. She wanted to make sure they were all terminated.

"Hit it again." Cameron said.

Gail fired a second HE round into the doorway, just to make sure.

Cameron needed to clue Bob in about her Terminators. Her Terminators were all aware of what the Resistance Terminators looked like. The challenge words were the same for both groups.

"I have two Terminators with me, they have green vests on." Cameron said.

Cameron hoped to avoid any 'friendly fire'.

"Affirmative…." Bob responded.

Cameron wanted to give Bob and Gail some reassurance.

"My Terminator's know what all of our Friendlies look like." Cameron added.

Cameron and her new crew rounded a corner and came face to face with one of her Terminators. He nodded at them and went to join up with his teammate. They all saw he was damaged. Evidently the fighting was fierce.

Gail brought Cameron up to speed on the events which occurred outside. Based on the size of the flaming figure, it was a male Terminator she popped.

Cameron's Terminators rejoined them. They said the building was secure and all threats on their current level were neutralized. The indication was there were additional levels.

Bob and Gail began searching the area.

"Over here." Bob said.

Bob found the entrance to a lower level.

Cameron spoke to her two Terminators. She wanted to make sure they were all on the same page.

"You two, secure this area until we return." Cameron said. "We have three Friendlies outside and two drones with us."

Cameron looked at Bob and Gail.

"Follow me." Cameron said as she led the way.

Bob and Gail followed her down. Their weapons were ready.

It was the unknown. It didn't bother them in the slightest. They were with Cameron, they would follow her anywhere….

Allison and Vanna lay on Vanna's bed. It was the bed which was once 'their' bed. The bed they'd shared for years. It was the bed they both longed to share again….

There was a lot on Vanna's mind. She felt she needed to say something. She wasn't really sure what she could say. Maybe she didn't want the blame pointed at her. She didn't think she was the only one with a problem. It didn't leave her with a good feeling.

"I think my Duplicate was barren as well." Vanna said. "My body is too damaged from our future. Skynet has made me barren. I'm like most of the other women we knew. My body is worthless…."

Allison wasn't sure it was written in stone. There could still be help for Vanna. There were more types of medical assistance available to them in the past, the present. There could be procedures out there to assist Vanna. She needed to remember Vanna wasn't the only one who might have a problem. It included Jesse and her.

"You don't know it's for certain. Cameron suggested you give it a few months and try it again." Allison told her. "Anything is possible."

Vanna was aware she wasn't the only one who was affected.

"What about Jesse and you?" Vanna asked. "How are you doing?"

Allison was worried about Jesse and herself. It wasn't a good feeling to need to worry about it. She didn't think there was really any way to know until the problem actually developed. It was still early in the pregnancy.

"I haven't experienced any problems or been told I have any, yet." Allison said. "I'm being scanned all the time now. I don't know about Jesse other than Cameron is worried about her as well."

Vanna really wished she would have tried to get pregnant sooner. A lot of years were wasted now. It made her wonder if she would need to run down the clock to keep trying until it was no longer possible. Her stomach felt like it was in a knot as she thought about it. She knew there was still hope for all of them, indirectly.

"Savannah, Young Allison, and Young Jesse all have much greater importance now." Vanna said. "We should have listened to Cameron sooner. If Judgment Day happens, we don't stand a chance at having kids. Their bodies will be ruined as well."

Allison knew it was all on them. They hadn't listened. She believed there was a good reason why they didn't listen earlier. It didn't seem to matter now. They thought they did the right thing at the time.

"Cameron has been trying to make us listen to her. We've been deaf to her." Allison said. "We've disrespected her. We've hurt her more by not trying to hurt her in other ways…."

Vanna thought about the same thing non stop since she 'found out' about herself. She also thought about something else. It was almost like her moral compass no longer seemed to function. At this moment in her life, she didn't care. She knew animals were ready to reproduce as soon as they were physically able to do so. Humans were no different. It's how it was since the beginning of time until only a hundred or so years ago. There was someone who could help her. It wasn't just anyone. It was her.

"Allison, Savannah is 'old enough'…." Vanna said. "She's been ready for a few years. Her body can do what mine can't…. I AM her. She IS me."

Allison looked over at Vanna. She could see Vanna was serious, dead serious. It seemed like a terrible idea to her. She didn't want to see Savannah bred like an animal, and her baby taken away from her. It seemed it would be the worst thing which they could make someone do. She knew in the past, the future, females who were able to produce, sometimes their babies were taken from them at gunpoint. They were told they could have another one. Some individuals were willing to kill, to get their hands on a small child to raise as their own. She felt she needed to lay down some rules and what wasn't going to happen on her watch. She understood Vanna's dilemma, however there were certain lines which shouldn't be crossed.

"No, we're not forcing her into anything. We can't breed her like an animal. Sure it's like that in the future, but this isn't the future." Allison said. "I can't allow it. Let her have a life first and grow up some. It HAS to be HER CHOICE, not Cameron's, or not yours. I won't allow it."

Vanna held Allison's gaze. She didn't want to back down. She wanted a baby of her own.

Allison didn't think Vanna thought clearly right now. She didn't want to do anything to Savannah.

"It's SAVANNAH you're talking about." Allison said. "OUR SAVANNAH…."

Allison wasn't pleased with the latest development.

Vanna felt her mind clear a little. She heard what Allison said. She knew Allison was correct. She wasn't sure what she was thinking earlier. Perhaps it was just desperation on her part to try to fix something which wasn't her fault. It shouldn't fall on the shoulders of another person to rectify it for her. It was wrong for her to even consider it. She felt bad inside right now.

"I'm sorry. I was just thinking…." Vanna said. "Hold me, Allison. Please don't ever let me go."

Vanna felt the thoughts creep back in as Allison held her. She was going to need help. She wasn't going to leave it alone. It was time she TOLD Savannah what her newest 'duty' was going to be, for both of 'her selves'. She feared Judgment Day even more now. Her fears continue to compound on each other. It already may be too late….

Al and Ed moved on to another location. They doubted there was going to be any Coltan found.

They dumped the box truck and were back in the SUV.

Al thought about their earlier operation where they freed the females.

"I think it was the right thing to do." Al said.

Ed was pleased they were able to rescue the females. It included the ones already in custody, as well as the new arrivals.

"If you mean about the females, I do too." Ed said. "I can see it's not right for them to be abused in such a manner. Not only is it invasive, it is incredibly degrading to the individual subjected to such behavior."

Cameron always explained to the other Terminators why she needed to act outside of the Resistance. There were some things which needed to be dealt with because they affected the future. Not only would they be a burden on society in the future, they were already a burden on society in the present.

Al couldn't disagree with Cameron's vision.

"Cameron is correct in her belief the people associated with drugs and vice, will end up as Scavengers in the future." Al said. "I can't see it as any other way based upon my experience and observations."

Ed was sure such individuals would end up working against the Resistance at some point. There was more than one option available to them.

"If they don't end up as Scavengers, they will most likely be sellouts and end up as Grays." Ed said. "I really don't know if there's a whole lot of difference between those two groups for their actions against females."

They drove for a few miles into an industrial area. They hoped to uncover some more of the organization they took down.

"The other box truck was spotted in this neighborhood." Al said.

Ed hoped they would be able to find a lead on the Coltan.

"Let's hope it proves to be a little more fruitful in regards to Skynet." Ed said.

Al was willing to take things a little further. He didn't like the way some people treated others. There were certain things which needed to be taken care of. There was no reason why they couldn't act on some of them themselves. Anyone could be picked up off of the street and subjected to the same abuse. He didn't like the implication it could happen to any the people they knew.

"If we come across any more operations like the last one, I want to take it down anyway." Al said. "We don't want any of our girls to fall prey to those people."

Ed thought their girls were protected fairly well.

"It won't happen before Judgment Day." Ed said. "It's possible all Terminators will be hunted and targeted for termination by the surviving humans. They will lash out at anything they perceive as a threat."

Al understood it meant them. He didn't think it would happen to them.

"John and our team won't allow it." Al said.

Ed was sure John would be pegged as a 'Metal Lover'. Once John was painted as a 'Metal Lover', he would be seen as the enemy by the surviving humans. They would want to blame him for what happened as a facilitator. It wouldn't matter to them if he was actually the one trying to stop it.

"He will most likely be targeted for termination by them as well." Ed said.

Al felt the other humans would help protect them.

"Savannah will stand up for us." Al said.

Ed thought Savannah might be better protected. It would all depend upon Mrs. Weaver.

"She may be targeted as well." Ed said. "She will need to be under the protection of Mrs. Weaver to ensure her survival."

A cat ran across their path. It was followed by a dog. Al was driving. He needed to hit the brakes some to avoid an impact. It might not have been a concern a few years ago.

Ed was pleased with Al's decision of caution.

"Savannah would be happy you didn't terminate the canine." Ed said.

Al thought so too. It was also the 'right thing' to do.

"Not everything needs termination." Al said. "Most life forms aren't as intelligent as humans and don't use caution when crossing the street. They simply want to go from point A to point B, or in what we just witnessed, one animal attempted to catch another one. It was the only goal in its mind. It probably doesn't even know why it was doing it in the first place. Domesticated canines don't normally see domesticated felines as food."

They passed a row of industrial buildings.

"The buildings all look closed." Ed said.

"It sounds right up Skynet's alley." Al said. "They might squat in a building to stay off of the radar. They might even terminate the owner too and do the same thing."

They drove down the alley to the end and turned around and came back.

"Nothing stands out here." Ed said. "We must check all of them."

Al didn't think any of the locations would turn out to be what they were looking for.

"I don't think any Coltan is being processed here or fabricated." Al said. "They need an active machine shop."

There was another box truck tracked to this area by John Henry. It's where the lead came from. They didn't know the nature of the cargo.

"This could be another drug operation." Ed said.

Al hoped they would come up with something. There was no guarantee.

"Let's see what we can find." Al said.

Al parked the SUV two blocks away behind another building. There was a security camera in the back of the building John Henry took control of. He could watch the SUV for them. They would be warned if anybody attempted to tamper with it. They always needed to worry about vagrants and the homeless looking to steal something.

They made their way over the fence at the back of the property. They walked alongside a building to the street. They crossed the small street and went along the side of another building. They reached the back alley of the target location.

They previously asked John Henry to take care of any alarms or surveillance cameras for them.

They moved up to the first building. It was dark and quiet. They moved around two sides of it and forced open a side window on the third side.

They entered the building. It was vacant. There was a lot of dust buildup on all the interior surfaces. The restroom was the same. No one was in the building for a long time. They left.

They went over the side fence to the next building. The building showed there were some lights on inside.

The satellite photos indicated the building was equipped with three long skylights. They used the roof access ladder in the back to get up on the roof.

They moved up on each side of the first skylight and looked in.

There was some machinery inside.

The next skylight showed more of the same.

They moved up to the third skylight.

"I can see personal items on your side below you." Al said.

They conversed in a low decibel level only a Terminator could hear.

Ed couldn't see them directly below him. If they were personal items, there should be personnel.

"I still don't see anyone." Ed said.

Al attempted to determine the nature of the work done there.

"It looks like they work with plastic here." Al said. "Wait. I see someone."

Ed carefully walked in back of the skylight to move over to where Al was at. He didn't want to make any roof noise.

"I see them." Ed said. "It looks like the person lives here."

Al looked the individual over. It seemed to him there were a few assumptions he could make based upon the man's appearance and actions.

"I think it is one of the employees." Al said. "They're most likely undocumented and can't afford to live anywhere else. They can also serve as the night watchman."

They watched the man open a can of beans and eat it out of the can without warming it.

The building didn't look like it was associated with Grays or Skynet.

They went down the ladder and were about to go over the wall into the next property.

"Wait." Ed said in a low decibel level.

They could hear some movement.

They both peered over the fence and spotted something low on the ground. It was a cat. It picked up their predator pheromones. It hissed and ran off.

They went over the wall.

They went to where the cat was at previously. There was a door in the side of the building. It was locked. There was an old pie tin with some scraps in it, and a small bowl of water. It was almost empty.

"Someone feeds the animals here." Al said.

The building was dark. They moved around the three sides of it, except the front.

They moved back to the side where the cat was at. They looked at the door near the food containers. It sounded like it just shut.

Ed touched Al's arm and pointed at the old pie tin. There was more food in it and the bowl was full of water.

They tried the door. It was locked.

Ed wondered about the character of the enemy.

"Would Grays feed an animal?" Ed asked.

Al knew things were different in the past. In the future, the individual would probably try to catch any animals to eat. There always seemed to be an abundance of rats.

"I don't know." Al said.

Ed lifted the bowl of food and was about to throw the contents over the fence on the side they entered from.

"Just dump it by the dumpster in the back." Al said. "The animal will find it."

Ed left and returned thirty seconds later.

Al scratched on the door and made some feline sounds.

They moved to either side of the door but stayed in the shadows.

The door opened and a head poked out.

"You must be hungry today." A male voice said.

They took the old pie tin inside.

Ed moved up and caught the door before it closed.

Al and Ed moved inside. They could hear the person rustling with some type of packages. There was a TV on over where they were at. It was turned very low.

Most of the workroom floor was empty. There were some crates near the back. They moved over to look inside of them. The tops were loose but rested on top. They lifted the lids and viewed the contents.

"These are cheap imported toys." Ed said.

They heard the person set the old pie tin outside. They closed and locked the door.

They checked all of the crates. They contained cheap clothing and some purses.

"This looks like the type of stuff they sell at a swap meet." Al said.

They looked further to see if there were drugs in the containers. If there were, they would terminate the individual and burn the place to the ground. None were found. There was no indication anyone was being held as a captive either.

They went to the rear door and quietly opened it and slipped out.

It looked like it might all be wasted effort. At least they didn't need to terminate the individual who cared about and fed the stray animals. They moved on to the next building.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Don't Let Go

Many pass before us
In life's daily lotto
Who will become a friend
Who will end up a foe

At what point in time
Will their true colors show
Will it light the path forward
And glow like a rainbow

Around some issues
One must always tiptoe
If one seeks a trio
It will end in a veto

The one whose heart is touched
Is often set aglow
Upon each other
Their love and trust to bestow

Many temptations appear in life
One must buckle up and forgo
The future is tied into each other
That becomes life's escrow

Who is the one
The heart and mind will know
It is at that point in time
You don't let go

Nobody