Chapter 317

Noticed

The three Terminators were still in the hall outside of Vanna's room. They all heard everything which was discussed and knew what was happening.

Cam and Holly looked at each other. They were painfully aware of what was occurring in the room. The long term love of Vanna and Allison was still strong. They needed each other. They would always need each other. They belonged to each other. It was the 'Natural Order'.

Sheila saw the looks of concern on their faces. It seemed some type of action needed to be taken.

"You need to do something or you'll lose them." Sheila said.

Cam didn't think it was their place. She needed to heed Cameron's advice. Cameron already told her how it was going to be. What occurred right now was a perfect example of it. It was supposed to be about the girls, not them.

"They're not ours to lose." Cam said. "It is the 'Natural Order' for them."

Sheila didn't like the stress Cam, and especially Holly, exhibited. She didn't want to see them further distressed by what they could hear.

"I'll remain here. You two need to go elsewhere and not listen to what happens." Sheila said. "I'll call you if you're needed."

Holly was hesitant to leave Allison.

"I don't know." Holly said.

Cam could see Holly needed a little more help.

"I do. Come with me." Cam said to Holly as she physically led her away.

Holly followed her. The tears flowed down her face. She needed to remind herself it was the 'Natural Order'.

Cam noticed and tried to soothe Holly. It was time to play the trump card. She held up a chip. It was Cameron's spare chip. It was 'Cameron' for all practical purposes.

"I have what you really want." Cam said. "It was updated a few hours ago. This is Cameron."

Holly stared at it and then at Cam. She knew what it was and meant. She was sure it was for the human females.

"Is it for Vanna or Allison?" Holly asked.

Cam wanted Holly to understand it was for her. Cameron was very specific about it and why.

"Cameron said this was for you more than Vanna if it's needed." Cam said. "Is it needed?"

Holly looked back at the room with Vanna and Allison. She paused and listened. She knew exactly what was going on. It was all she needed to hear to make up her mind. She wanted to be with Cameron.

"Yes. It's what I really want…." Holly said. "It is what I've always wanted…."

Cam held 'Cameron', a 'Cameron', in her hand. Cameron knew what would happen and wanted to make Holly know she cared about HER as well. Cameron always tried to help everyone else the best or only ways she could. As Allison served as Cameron's surrogate for Holly before, Cam would be now as well….

Cameron wanted to check the lower level of the building. The ground floor they just left didn't seem to offer much.

What they were looking for, besides the female Terminator, could be downstairs. They still thought the location was connected to the HK drone.

Cameron moved down the stairs.

There was also an elevator. So far it hadn't moved.

Cameron entered through a door into the lower level, Gail and Bob were behind her.

Bob moved to Cameron's right and Gail to her left, everyone scanned for targets as they waited….

They heard more gunfire upstairs and then silence. Evidently there were a few unseen threats which still remained.

There was machinery all around them and what looked like an assembly line being set up. There was also a half built HK drone near one corner. There were a number of parts scattered around it.

Cameron heard some noise, they all did. The enemy was near.

"Get ready." Cameron said. "Here they come…."

Savannah asked John to help her with some of her studies. She also brought him to where she wanted him. Now was the time to test her training Cameron taught her…. Cameron encouraged her to try it out, so she could learn and improve.

She felt a few butterflies but they passed quickly. She took a deep breath. She saw it as a mission.

Savannah excused herself for a few minutes, she soon returned.

John looked up, Savannah looked stunning. He couldn't help but moisten his lips slightly as he looked at her.

"Did you change?" John asked.

Savannah noted John swallowed hard. She was sure there would be other things to notice soon enough. She knew she scored a hit.

"It's hot out." Savannah said.

Savannah made sure John got a good look at her. The outfit revealed a lot. She made sure he saw it all too.

John was taken a little aback with Savannah's outfit. He was fairly certain where it came from. He didn't think it would be Savannah's choice on her own. He wanted to make sure.

"Did Cameron pick those clothes out for you?" John asked.

John looked around. He felt a little uncomfortable. He wondered if Cameron was around somewhere watching him. He didn't think so.

'Actually she picked them for you.' Savannah thought.

Savannah looked at John and frowned slightly.

"I can change back." Savannah said.

She started to unbutton her top. One breast almost popped completely out. It wasn't an accident. She actually tried to make it pop out. She would need to practice the maneuver more. Jesse and Sheila seemed to have the technique down quite well. She always liked to see it when it happened.

John wanted to leave things like they were before it got 'worse'. He tried to ignore her new outfit. It was impossible. He KNEW Cameron was behind it. Savannah was ravishing.

"NO! Let's just concentrate on the school work." John said.

Savannah looked at John. She was pleased at his uneasiness. She wanted to give him something to think about.

"What else would we be doing?" Savannah asked.

John looked even more uneasy now.

Savannah was very pleased with the way events played out. She couldn't wait to tell Cameron. Cameron was right. John did 'notice' her. Cameron gave her 'infiltration' training also as part of her 'instruction'. Cameron instructed her on many things, some of them were eye opening for her. Some of them she wanted to actually try. There were a lot of things she wanted to try. She didn't think it could hurt anything to at least try them one time each.

She could see John turned 'red' as he tried NOT to look. He needed to adjust his pants, without appearing to do so. It was the 'reaction' she expected to see.

Savannah knew she scored another hit. It was clear John wanted her.

Now she really wanted to try out some more things.

Savannah knew she was Hot and READY.

Cameron picked out a target and fired. She heard the Pig open up and the Thumper cap off a round. She actually saw the HE round impact a Terminator. It blew him in two when it exploded as it embedded in his abdomen.

She was aware all of them took a few hits. They were all still in the game as they returned fire. They all wore their protective vests. It was to minimize the damage.

Gail spotted the female Terminator.

"There she is." Gail said.

Cameron drew her custom fabricated Taser.

"Cover me. Try not to damage her too much." Cameron said as she moved forward.

A Gray approached Cameron on her left side. She saw the Pig shred his torso. Bob took him down.

A Terminator was on her right. The Coltan rounds from the Pig hit him and spun him around where he advanced from.

The damaged Terminator stumbled into Cameron and knocked her off balance.

Cameron was grabbed by a female Terminator from the other side when she was unstable, and flung across the aisle.

Cameron rolled and came up as she fired her Taser.

"Bitch Whore!" Cameron said as the female Terminator went down and offline.

Cameron resisted the urge to kick her in the face. She didn't want to create any more damage than was already inflicted on what would soon be her clone.

She was aware the firing increased around her. She needed to use her M4. She fired and reloaded. She noticed the 'Bitch Whore' started to reboot. She fired and hit her again with her Taser.

The firing stopped. Silence filled the room. It was deafening.

Cameron quickly removed the chip from the female Terminator.

Jim and both of her Terminators were there as well now. There was one more round of sporadic firing. The Thumper ended the threat. The Resistance team came out on top.

Cameron took in the scene. All the Terminators on her team were damaged. She knew how angry John was going to be about all of it. Right now she needed to deal with the current situation.

"Make sure all the enemy Terminators are deactivated. Let's collect the Terminators and get out of here." Cameron said. "I want both drones to hit this place hard as soon as we're out."

Gail came and picked up the female Terminator. She was aware she was holding 'herself', or what soon would be her clone anyway. It would be Cameron and her together.

Bob checked around the machinery. He spotted something of interest.

"Cameron…." Bob said. "Over here. You better take a look at this."

Cameron went and looked. In the group Bob dropped, there was another female Terminator. She was pleased to see it. The second female Terminator would need heavy repairs. It wasn't a problem. She knew where to find all the parts in her stockpile. It turned out to be a good raid after all.

The damage to Cameron mattered a little less now. Her plans were more important. Things worked out much better than she anticipated.

Holly was just 'given' the chance to be with Cameron, a 'Cameron'. It was her dream and greatest desire.

Holly stopped. She needed to think about the implications. She looked at Cam.

"I can't." Holly said. "I love Allison."

Cam smiled.

"Cameron said it's what you would do." Cam said. "She said your love for Allison was greater than your own desires."

Holly wanted to go back to where Allison was at.

"Let's go back and wait. I knew what I was getting into by choice." Holly said. "Cameron never had a choice."

Cam felt certain responsibilities. They may not be written down, but they were just as real.

"It's our part in the Resistance." Cam said. "We will both be stronger by accepting the 'Natural Order'."

Holly sacrificed her personal desires in her love for Allison.

"Allison's happiness is what is most important to me. Her long time lover needs her." Holly said. "Allison comes before me. I love her."

Cam liked Holly's decision.

"That's true love." Cam said. "Sacrifice is the true test of love."

Holly understood things even better now.

"I will protect the 'Natural Order' for the future, and for Cameron." Holly said. "She is correct. She's always correct. I'm sorry I ever doubted her."

Cam smiled to herself.

Al and Ed went over the side fence to the next building. John Henry made them aware of Cameron's operation. They were ready to leave and go assist her and the rest of the troops. It looked like the operation concluded almost as soon as it started.

"John wanted the operation set up as surveillance." Al said.

Ed figured Cameron was after another goal. It was doubtful John would know what it was specifically.

"It appears Cameron wanted a little more." Ed said.

It seemed Cameron always wanted a little more.

Al wasn't sure what their disposition would be.

"Will Bob and Jim take back over this operation?" Al asked.

The reports indicated some Terminators were damaged.

"So far there's been no indication we'll be replaced." Ed said. "We will stick with it until we're relieved."

They moved up to the side of the building and listened. It was quiet inside but there was a light on somewhere inside. They checked both sides and the back. Everything was secure.

They checked the satellite image.

"This building has four skylights." Al said.

They moved around to the back and the rear loading dock area.

They were about to go up the roof access ladder. They could hear a vehicle in the alley. They paused and waited on the side of the building as it passed.

It was an old pickup truck with scrap metal in the back.

"It looks like a junk collector." Ed said.

Al looked at a more positive interpretation.

"They could be looked at as someone who recycles." Al said.

Ed looked at the sinister side of it.

"It could also be a good way to scout around and remain undetected." Ed said.

Al nodded. He could see no one would pay them any serious attention.

"It's an effective strategy." Al said.

They contacted John Henry for any updates around them or the old pickup truck. Nothing new was noted other than the truck.

Al and Ed turned their attention back to the building. There was a metal cover over the first eight feet of the ladder which went up to the roof. They decided not to break the lock on it. They wanted their actions to remain undetected if they left the area without having to administer corrective action anywhere. They knew it could all change in an instant if they made contact with the enemy. The enemy came in many forms.

Ed jumped up and caught the first rung above the metal cover. He pulled himself up and went up the ladder.

AL took one more look around them to make sure they hadn't attracted any attention. None was spotted. He repeated the same procedure and went up the ladder.

They made their way onto the roof. They did the same procedure where they each looked in the side of the same skylight to see what was under each other from across the roof.

The building contained various types machinery. The only light on was from an open restroom door. There was no one visible or any movement inside. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary or sinister.

They made their way back to the ladder in the rear.

"Let's take a good look from up here at where we've been, and where we're going." Al said.

The two Terminators scanned everything around them from the top of the building. They both used various vision spectrums. They're diligence bore some fruit.

"Look over at the second building where we're headed." Ed said.

Al looked over and spotted a faint red arc come up and glow brighter for a few seconds and then arc back down again. It was repeated twice more.

"Someone is smoking." Al said.

It was a possibility there were more of them.

"Let's watch for a minute." Ed said.

After five minutes, it appeared to be only one individual.

They were about to start down the ladder when there were some angry feline sounds from the property they just came from. There were two cats facing off with each other.

"It's probably an altercation over food." Al said.

Ed was aware animals reacted on their instincts.

"It could be an issue over a female too." Ed said.

Al wasn't sure what it was.

"It could be two female cats as well." Al said.

The altercation grew quite loud. They looked over to where they wanted to go and the person with the cigarette. They were no longer visible.

They decided it was too risky to come down the rear ladder at this point. They moved to the side of the building. It was closer to the cats. They held onto the parapet, extended their arms, and dropped over the side. They landed on the pavement with two dull 'thud' sounds.

The two Terminators stood and looked around.

"I hear something." Al said.

He spoke in a decimal level only another Terminator could hear.

Ed looked towards the building they just came down off of the top of.

"I heard it as well." Ed said.

A door in the side of the building they thought was unoccupied opened.

The two Terminators were up against the wall in a shadow.

"Who's out there?" A male voice asked.

The two Terminators remained silent and unmoving.

"It's a good way to end up shot." A male voice said.

Al and Ed glanced at each other. If either one of them were shot, it would only do some sheath damage to them. What it would do is alert the figures at the other buildings. It would blow any chance of them making a stealthy approach.

They saw an arm with a firearm protrude out from the door.

"I know you're out there." A male voice said. "I heard you when you were on the roof too."

The two Terminators shared another quick glance. They thought they were very quiet. They weren't sure how anyone heard them on the roof or on the ground.

There was some more noise from inside the doorway.

"What's going on?" A female voice asked.

The firearm in the man's hand was moved back inside the door.

"I told you to lay low." A male voice said.

"I got worried when I saw you pick up the gun." A female voice said.

The gun protruded from the doorway again.

"I know it's one of you freaks from a couple buildings down." A male voice said. "If you come around here again, I'm not going to be so nice. Keep all your crazy stuff in your own building. There's nothing to see here."

The arm with the gun withdrew back inside of the building. They heard the door close. They could hear the sound of several bolts being thrown.

"I didn't think we made much noise when we were on the roof." Ed said.

Al didn't either.

"It may have been a lucky guess." Al said.

Ed thought about what the man indicated.

"It appears he has suspicions about the other building as well." Ed said.

Al didn't think there was much left for them to do other than to check it out themselves.

"I think we need to get away from here." Al said.

Ed pointed towards the front.

"Let's go out this way." Ed said.

They moved out to the front to go to the next property. They tried to bypass the fronts of the buildings to avoid detection from across the street. They didn't know if there were any security cameras on any of them. They would have to take a chance so they could get to the next building.

They didn't see anyone out on the street when they made their move. They didn't spot any surveillance cameras on the building across the street either. They believed they remained undetected.

They quickly moved to the next building and went along the side.

It was dark and lifeless. They still wanted a look inside. The building next to them was the one with the man who was smoking.

They decided to use the 'snap gun' again and enter the building through a door.

The building was vacant. It contained heavy dust build up like the earlier building. They didn't spot anything out of the ordinary for an abandoned building. They exited through the side door they entered from.

They went to move over to the fence with the man who was smoking. Much to their surprise, the scrap metal collector in the old pickup truck was back. They were in the back of the building they were alongside now.

They could hear talking next to them.

"Who are they?" The first man asked.

"I don't know." The second man said. "They drove by earlier. It's just some junk collectors."

"I don't want this operation blown." The first man said. "Take care of it."

"How do I do that?" The second man asked. "Do you want me to kill them?"

"No, stupid." The first man said. "I don't want any gunfire."

"They'll probably leave in a few minutes." The second man said.

"If they end up in back our place, run them off." The first man said.

Al and Ed took the opportunity of the two men conversing and watching the junk collectors, to enter their side of the property. There was something going on there someone thought they might need to kill over.

They watched the first man go inside the building and the second man move down to the alley.

They moved up and tried the door. It wasn't locked. Al watched the man at the alley and Ed opened the door a crack soundlessly.

Ed could hear several men talking inside. It sounded like they were packing something up. Maybe they were unpacking it too.

The old truck moved up in back of the building where they were at.

"This is private property." The man said.

The truck drove off.

Ed saw it was clear and went inside. Al followed him in.

They moved around the interior walls and stayed away from the center of the building. It was where the activity occurred.

There were large machines. Two of them were CNC mills. They were very expensive machines. There was an assortment of lathes and drill presses. They were older machines.

"Someone is about to set up a full on machine shop here." Al said.

Ed wanted to know what the group was up to.

"The next question is what for?" Ed asked. "Why do they need a guard and are willing to kill?"

The door they entered from opened. The man who was outside entered. He tossed his cigarette back outside before the door closed. They could clearly see the barcode on his left arm.

"These are Grays." Al said.

If they found any Coltan, they decided to take the operation down right now.

The first man came over to the second man who'd just entered.

"Get back outside and stay at your post." The first man said.

"I need to use the can." The second man said.

"Tie it in a knot." The first man said.

"There is nothing to tie." The second man said. "I need to take a dump."

"TMI, dude." The first man said. "Rathbone, get outside and keep watch."

"Sure thing." Rathbone said.

He looked upset because he needed to replace the other man. He headed outside. He carried a Beretta 92 of some variant.

Al and Ed looked around where they could. There was no Coltan or other metal present yet. They also needed to be concerned about a hostile Terminator.

It appeared as if there was a location missing between the mine and what was about to happen there.

"We need to find where the truck stops at between here and the mine." Ed said.

Al felt they were a little short on personnel to do a proper job.

"We may need additional assistance to catch all of this group." Al said.

They placed two surveillance cameras and quietly pulled out. They went out the front door. They made sure the door wasn't wired before they opened it.

They were surprised to see the junk collector moving in their direction on the main street. It looked like something was off. They moved rapidly to the next property and took cover.

The old pickup passed slowly down the street.

"It looks like trouble." Ed said.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Noticed

Is it better to stand out
Or to be part of the crowd
Maybe it all depends
On how well one is endowed

Beauty is transitory
It can come and go
On some it disappears quick
On others it fades rather slow

Is beauty really only skin deep
It seems it is to many a person
They are blinded to what's truly within
It always seems to make things worsen

Time seems to erode beauty
It is usually a negative effect
To those who truly love
It does not really affect

It makes a big difference
If one fails to be noticed
By the one they desire
They might as well be the remotest

Nobody