Chapter 500

Hornet's Nest

John was more than a little worried at how events unfolded so far. He wanted everyone to use caution. It was clear there was a group out looking for them. He didn't like being the ones that were hunted. They'd tried to cover their tracks and remain as invisible as possible. Cameron was the only one to make her presence known to Skynet.

John Henry processed all the information and gave his findings to Cameron. She was out in the field still. She wanted to put a plan into action as soon as possible. There were teams of Terminators headed to he position. The operation would start at the target location.

John Henry and Cameron went over everything they wanted to do on the upcoming assault.

Hanna joined up with Cameron. Ally and Sheila were there as well. The four female Terminators all shared a nice reunion.

Ally, Sheila and Hanna were originally created to work specifically for Cameron. They were created to 'replace' Allison, Jesse and Vanna in the field. Cameron wanted the human girls protected. She didn't know at the time none of them could reproduce. That sad revelation was made clear over time as every pregnancy terminated on its own.

Cameron and the Metal girls conducted a lot of 'off the books' operations together outside the scope of the Resistance. Most of those operations were against future Scavengers and assured the financial independence of the Resistance away from Mrs. Weaver's holdings. She was able to take control of millions of dollars from the drug trade. The sex trade was often associated with it. She made that personal. She always looked the other way as Sheila went to 'work' on the sex slavers and traders. Payback was a Bitch.

The whole purpose of Cameron's base was as a 'back up' for the Resistance and freedom from the influence of Mrs. Weaver.

Cameron left to talk with Cammy about her plans while the Metal girls caught up and talked about 'old times' with just the three of them.

The Metal girls were happy to be in the company of each other. They looked forward to a joint operation again with the three of them together. They liked to refer to themselves as 'The Three Musketeers'.

Cameron and Cammy wanted the Metal girls to strengthen and reaffirm their bond. It was important to Cameron they all kept and shared a 'closeness'. She never wanted anyone to feel lonely or unloved. She'd encouraged their sharing with each other whenever there was down time. Sheila and Ally shared a lot. Hanna was usually with Claire. She shared with Holly and Allison too.

John Henry directed Cam where to go with the manned drone.

Cam scouted out the new target location that was gleaned from the information the Gray provided to them along with the phone data from the other terminated Grays.

She remained high and off to the sides of the target area. She was well out of hearing range of any Terminators. John Henry made sure she didn't show up on radar anywhere

Cam gave her report. It didn't look like a simple in and out at this point. It seemed larger than they'd anticipated.

"This looks like a fresh operation but it's extensive. These may be from the time transfers Skynet did before Cameron terminated it." Cam reported. "I've kept maximum distance in case there is Metal on the ground."

John listened to the report and knew that things were going to get worse before they got better. There was still one question he wanted an answer for, it nagged at him.

"How could they know to look for Cameron and Savannah?" John asked. "Or was it just 'Cameron' they saw when they spotted Cammy?"

John Henry couldn't find any records on the Gray's phones. Someone went to a lot of effort to keep things off of the 'net'. CamNet or his server should have detected something. They hadn't.

"That's still unknown, John." John Henry answered. "So much of what we deal with is unknown until we know. You heard the reports. The Grays were terrified of Savannah. They thought she was Mrs. Weaver. I don't know how else to interpret it."

Steve and Dan were sent to get a visual of the area and take a closer look on the ground. They'd done their recon and it made things sound worse.

"I have a visual on the location." Dan reported. "Steve is on the other side. There's enemy Metal present, both male and female."

John was now worried for Cameron's safety. He knew that she was obsessed with capturing female Terminators. What she did with them was 'secret'. That bothered him too. He didn't know if she used them as 'replacement' chassis for herself or not.

"How much Metal is there?" John asked.

Dan was able to get a good look at them from his position.

"There's one male and two females that have been spotted on the west side." Dan reported. "None are visible on the north side."

Steve double checked everything in his visual range.

"There's no Metal on my side." Steve reported. "The east and south sides are only Grays."

John looked over the images from Cam, Steve and Dan. They gave a good picture of what was outside. What was inside the building was yet to be determined.

"So we have three Terminators and half a dozen Grays milling about that we don't know where they came from or what they're doing." John said. "We also killed several Grays earlier that tried to 'hit' Savannah and Cammy. They apparently thought that they were Mrs. Weaver and Cameron."

John Henry was glad that John understood everything.

"That's correct." John Henry said.

John raised his hands up in the air in frustration. They didn't have any specifics.

"That doesn't tell us anything." John said. "We still don't know anything."

Cameron knew all she needed to know the moment that Cammy and Savannah were attacked. The Grays sealed their fate in that moment.

"We know they tried to hurt Cammy and Savannah." Cameron said. "What else is there to know? I'm going to terminate all of them."

John Henry took the lull time in the planning to bring the drones in one by one that needed to be rearmed. That task was complete.

"I've rotated the drones in for rearming that used ordnance. All four are fully armed as is the manned drone." John Henry said. "I think we will need most of their support soon."

Sarah returned after Jan was secured. The base was still on lock-down. She silently observed the operations of the Command Center. She'd remained quite for most of the evening as she watched her son operate and direct. The initial response seemed clear to her.

"We can flatten the area and look though the rubble later." Sarah said.

John looked at his mother.

"You mean kill them all and let God sort it out." John said.

John Henry turned his head slightly.

"John, there'll be no deity involved in our operation." John Henry said.

John and Sarah looked at each other but didn't comment further.

Sarah could tell that John wanted to be out in the field to lead his troops. She also felt he needed to be protected. She knew Cameron did that. She was glad that Cameron kept Kyle and Derek out of combat. That was something she was personally grateful for.

"An aerial barrage is an option." John said. "Cameron may wish for a direct approach. I think she wants better answers."

Cameron already made some preliminary plans based on the information they'd gathered so far. She was ready to go.

"I do want some answers." Cameron said. "I may decide to have two of the drones hit one side of the compound to flush out whatever is inside. Cammy can hit targets of opportunity if anyone tries to make a break for it. The last two drones will be held in reserve in case I need them."

Sarah knew she didn't have much religious faith but she did have faith in their team.

"John was right." Sarah said. "Kill them all and let God sort it out."

Cameron thought John Henry straighten out John and Sarah earlier. Maybe she needed to make her plan clearer to them.

"There's no deity involved." Cameron said. "It will be me on the ground. I'll approach the compound in the vehicle we captured from the last Gray along with Hanna. Sheila and Ally will be on the ground nearby to assist. I'll have them pre-positioned where I want them. They will work their way toward the compound and be ready to strike. They'll be ready to back our play."

John saw a big red flag with Cameron's plans. It looked too risky from the start.

"Why will only Hanna and you go in alone?" John asked. "I don't like it."

Sarah could picture the danger in that move.

"I don't like it either." Sarah said. "Where are the rest of our Terminators?"

Cameron sent John Henry her plan before they'd even had eyes on the compound. It appeared she was correct in her early assessment.

"They'll be in predetermined locations that Cameron has selected." John Henry said. "She's already gone over the satellite photos along with the updated drone images."

Sarah thought there needed to be more to the plan. It appeared the current plan was little more than a direct assault on a fortified position.

"So Cameron and Hanna will enter a hornet's nest full of Grays and Terminators that's then going to get hit on one side with missiles that in turn will drive everyone towards them?" Sarah asked. "I really don't like it."

Cameron was glad Sarah understood the plan. What was inside was unknown as well.

"We also know that at least three Terminators are present. There may be more as well." Cameron added. "We don't know what's inside yet."

Sarah silently looked at John. She wanted him to do more to help Cameron.

John shrugged his shoulders. He understood why Cameron often operated alone. She didn't like anyone to second guess her. Everything she did was dangerous.

"Cameron knows what she's doing with these assaults." John said. "We all know that."

They all knew Cameron would face the threat alone if she thought she needed to. At least tonight she was able to have more help and the full backing of the Resistance.

Cameron tried to put it all together. There were too many blank spots. The attack was targeted and the Grays thought they were after specific targets.

"I think these are some of the people that tried to kill John, Sarah and Mrs. Weaver in her office at her building." Cameron said. "They can't know about Mrs. Weaver any other way. She hides who she is in the futures she's been too. She usually assumes Allison's appearance."

Everyone knew Mrs. Weaver really assumed Cameron's appearance when she was 'Allison'.

John Henry didn't want to get ahead of the game.

"We don't know what they know." John Henry said.

Cameron felt the Gray possessed enough to target them.

"They only must have a description of Mrs. Weaver to think Savannah was her as her 'mother'." Cameron said. "I'm going to let Hanna play 'Mrs. Weaver' and see what we can find out."

None of this sat well with Cameron. How they knew that Mrs. Weaver was a Terminator, a Liquid Metal Terminator at that, was beyond her. She knew Mrs. Weaver kept that a closely guarded secret. These could be Grays and Terminators from a different future as well. They wouldn't know it.

Cameron always made a point of letting the different Skynets she'd terminated see her. It deflected attention away from John and his family and centered it on her. The downside of that was it also put a target on Allison – ALL of them.

She didn't want anyone target or sacrificed because of her. Savannah and Young Allison were to be kept secure. They were to be protected as much as John was.

Savannah arrived back at the Resistance base with Jesse and Gail. She'd monitored all of the developments and Cameron's plans. She headed for the Control Center.

Jesse could see that Savannah was upset she was sidelined. She didn't realize that Savannah returned just to get her out of danger.

"Look, love." Jesse said. "Cameron knows what she's doing. Don't second guess her in front of everyone. Let her do her thing."

Savannah knew what Jesse meant. It was different to say something to Cameron alone as to it being broadcast over the coms. There were ways around that even if they were complicated. CamNet would assist her.

"I'm worried about her." Savannah said.

Jesse could see how much Cameron and Savannah loved each other. There was no physical aspect yet. That made the love pure and true. It was the most beautiful type of love.

"She's worried about you." Jesse said. "We can all see it…."

Gail wanted Jesse safe too. She was secure at the base now. It was time she returned to her duties as a Terminator.

"I'll go to assist Cameron." Gail said and turned to leave.

Savannah reached out and took her hand.

"No. Please stay with Jesse." Savannah said. "That's what Cameron wants."

Gail knew the other Metal girls were out in the danger zone. She should be too.

"Cam and Cammy are out there." Gail said. "They're not 'protecting' Vanna and you."

Savannah didn't like to see Gail conflicted. She smiled at her.

"That's what you're to do for Vanna and me." Savannah said.

Savannah could tell Gail wasn't happy about being left behind with everyone else out in the field. She took Gail's hand and led her off to where Vanna was with Jan, Jesse followed along.

"Now you can watch over all of us." Savannah said.

Savannah touched Gail's cheek with her hand. She let it linger for a moment before she removed it.

Gail reached up and touched her cheek where Savannah touched it.

Jesse saw the effect it seemed to have to calm Gail.

Savannah noticed and smiled at Jesse.

Jesse noted Savannah was good at reaching out and Hot.

Gail relaxed and everyone was happy.

Savannah slipped out to go back to the Control Center….

The night was far from over.

Cameron went over everything again with Hanna, Ally and Sheila.

They all knew the plan.

Cameron double checked with John, John Henry, Cammy and Cam.

They reaffirmed everything again.

Cameron double checked with each team of Metal.

Everyone reported back to her.

John Henry still blocked all communications in the area. The Gray compound couldn't receive any information from the outside. They wouldn't know where their teams were or what happened to them. They didn't have any idea. All they knew was that three vehicles ventured out and none returned so far.

The sucker play was that one known vehicle would be back soon.

Savannah used a secure com link that was only for Cameron. She went through CamNet.

CamNet was very responsive to Savannah. Because CamNet was created from Cameron's program it felt everything that Cameron did. Only Cameron's feelings for John were blocked.

Savannah stepped outside the operations center to speak privately with Cameron. She wanted Cameron to listen to her.

"Cameron, I want you to be careful and cautious." Savannah said. "Otherwise, I'm coming there to be with you."

Cameron didn't want that. She wanted Savannah out of danger.

"Please don't worry." Cameron said.

Savannah already communicated with CamNet about what was to be done if there was a 'problem'.

"If anything happens and you see the time bubble appear, take Hanna and yourself into it." Savannah said. "I don't want to have to use it…."

Cameron wasn't sure if that meant Savannah would come for her. It was too risky.

"Savannah, I'm trying to keep you safe." Cameron said. "I already have enough worries. I'm counting on you…."

Savannah wanted to make her position clear. She wasn't about to let anything happen to Cameron.

"You think of ME before you do anything foolish or take too big of a chance." Savannah said. "I'm asking you this for me. I'll come there if I have to. I want you to remember that."

Cameron was constructed to terminate. That was what she was about to do. It was personal to her this time. She would be more ruthless than usual.

"Savannah, please let me do what I was built for." Cameron said.

Savannah and Cameron shared a long silence.

"Cameron…." Savannah said.

"Yes?" Cameron asked.

"I love you." Savannah said.

There was another long silence.

"I love you too, Savannah." Cameron said.

Cameron broke the link. She touched Hanna to have her turn her audio back on. She'd made Hanna turn it off because she knew what Savannah was going to say. It was what she wanted to say back to Savannah as well. It was time to act.

"Are you ready?" Cameron asked.

Hanna knew the plan.

"Yes." Hanna said.

"We're rolling. Have the drones start their run in two minutes." Cameron said. "It's Showtime."

Hornet's Nest

The journey through life itself
Is more than a quest
It is a bumpy path
That is more of a contest

Everyone must choose carefully
In what they will invest
Because everything in itself
Is really just another test

Few are content with less
They want to achieve what is best
That requires work and effort
It often means there is no rest

No one wants to end up as 'friends'
Or treated as a passing guest
When that eventually happens
It does no good to protest

Two can reach out
Even share with zest
No one wants rejection
Even if it's in jest

Feelings are directed
One hopes the other's heart they'll infest
If that's not the case
One usually becomes a pest

It is hoped love's stinger
Will penetrate the chest or breast
More often that not
It just stirs up a hornet's nest

Nobody