Chapter 552

Showtime

Cammy wanted a closer look at the old helicopter base. It was time to get some answers. There was nothing visible but there were vibrations and sounds detected. Gail gave her a rundown on everything she'd noticed so far. There were several buildings and several large hangers.

Cammy and Gail moved down to the fence that surrounded the old helicopter base. The fence looked old and rusty. It was straight and neat without any sag or erosion problems evident. That seemed strange for an 'old' fence.

Gail started to reach for the fence. She was going to rip it open. It would offer her little in the way of resistance.

Cammy saw a 'red flag' with the fence. It was too perfect even if it looked old. It might be an 'electric fence'.

"Careful, I think it's 'hot'." Cammy said.

Cammy and Gail took a closer look at the fence.

"Thanks. I see it now, it's electrified." Gail said. "This is a new fence painted to look old."

That new revelation set off even more 'warnings' about where they were at. This old base was much more than it looked. There was a natural drainage ditch along the outside of the fence.

"The fence is probably tied in with some warning sensors if the electrical field is disrupted. Let's follow this gully around the fence and see if we can find a better approach." Cammy said. "This will keep us low to the ground and harder to spot as well."

They heard Cameron speak.

"The truck is slowing." Cameron said. "I think I'll head back outside. It looks like it's close to 'Showtime'…."

All the pieces fit together.

"It looks like this is the right place." Gail said.

Cammy kept a careful watch. She was sure they were all in danger.

"Things should start to happen soon." Cammy said

Cammy and Gail found a spot in the soil eroded from heavy runoff. They needed to scoop out some more dirt to pass underneath the fence. They slipped under the fence there. They ripped a bush loose and placed it in front of the spot they'd entered. They headed for the hanger area. So far they didn't think they'd tripped any sensors and didn't disturb the electric fence. They were inside the base perimeter and no apparent alarms were sounded.

There was a lot of ground to cover and everything around the runway was wide open and flat. The old hangers and other buildings were on the far side of the runway.

After they let Cammy off, Bob sped through the darkness without his headlights on.

Savannah would need to put her night vision on to see clearly in the darkness.

"Can you see?" Savannah asked.

Bob looked over at her.

"I see everything." Bob said.

Savannah looked down the dark road. The speed was too unsafe for her to try and drive like that.

"I can't see much." Savannah said.

Bob soon detected another vehicle.

"Up ahead, I see a truck." Bob said.

Savannah looked but didn't see anything.

"Do we know if that is the truck Cameron is on?" Savannah asked.

Bob was closer now. He zoomed his vision in.

"I don't know." Bob said. "The rear doors are painted a light yellow color."

Cameron was over the rear axles on the big rig again. She could see behind her if she leaned her head down closer to the road and looked under the rear axles.

"That's the truck." Cameron said. "You were hard for me to spot without your lights on at first. Stay back and don't come too close. The truck is turning."

John Henry followed everything on the satellite overlay map. It showed where all the 'players' were at on the field.

"Our trackers indicate Jesse's vehicle is a half mile into the hills to the east across from your location and one mile south from the helicopter base." John Henry said.

Bob slowed.

Savannah thought about their proximity to Jesse. She knew Jesse was all alone. She asked Bob to stop. He stopped.

"Maybe, I should join Jesse." Savannah said. "She's all alone. It's a short hike."

Cameron didn't want Savannah to go there on foot.

"No." Cameron said. "You'll remain with Bob."

Savannah saw it differently.

"Jesse is all alone." Savannah repeated. "We can team up. She has the SUV and additional weapons."

Jesse would like that but she could see it would cause a 'problem' for Cameron. She'd been alone a lot in the past – the future.

"I'm fine, love." Jesse said. "Thanks for caring."

Cammy and Gail were already deep inside the perimeter of the old helicopter base. They'd stayed in the shallow drainage ditch that caused the erosion at the fence. The action was going to be at the base, not back where Jesse remained.

"Since we've entered the perimeter it's doubtful we will return to the SUV Jesse is at." Cammy said. "We will join up with Cameron and come out in the big rig if we need to."

Jesse could drive away but what if the Metal girls needed to retreat or follow someone? There were still a lot of variables.

"I don't like closing your back door." Jesse said. "I can still hold here."

They really didn't know anything yet. The only thing everyone was sure of was that they knew there was more than met the eye where everyone was headed. The area radiated danger.

Savannah was dissatisfied with that solution and to leave Jesse alone. She cut her com. Cameron wasn't the only one that could act on her own.

"Bob, I don't like Jesse out there alone and isolated." Savannah said. "She doesn't have a Terminator to back her up."

Bob could see the potential for a lot of scenarios. If Cameron couldn't take the truck she would need to get out somehow. Cammy and Gail were there now as well in the base itself.

"What do you want to do?" Bob asked. "We may have to make a dash into the old base for Cameron, Cammy and Gail."

Savannah looked into the darkness where Jesse's approximate location was at. She checked her phone image of the location. She wasn't that far away from Jesse.

"Ask yourself this, if you were me or in my place." Savannah asked. "What would you do?"

Bob tilted his head slightly.

The thought briefly popped into his head that he could be like 'Savannah'. He could have his chip installed in Hanna's chassis. He could know what it was like to be 'Savannah'. He also knew that wasn't what she meant. It was still an intriguing idea.

Bob quickly readjusted his pants when Savannah looked into the darkness to the right side of the SUV.

He knew that Sheila tried to 'borrow' a male chassis before. She wanted to 'break in' all of the Metal girls herself with it. Cameron got wind of what she was up to and threatened her with deactivation if she did that. Cameron wanted all the Metal girls to remain 'unsoiled' for John if he ever 'needed' them. She said that the male chassis would be emasculated as well and the sheath burnt with plasma to prevent regeneration in that area. None of the male Terminators listened to Sheila after that. Sheila didn't ask anymore either.

Sheila and Ally arrived at the facility that Cameron originally was to recon. They decided to go in separately. They still needed to worry if Cameron was compromised earlier. The surveillance never show an alarm was raised. They both entered the HK drone factory perimeter from different spots. Neither of which Cameron used.

They formed up at the rear of the parking lot. There were only a half dozen cars parked there.

Ally was pleased she arrived first. She watched as Sheila approached.

"I beat you." Ally said.

Sheila looked a little indignant.

"I needed to go nearly twice as far." Sheila said. "That means I won."

Ally didn't want to push it.

"Cameron said a Terminator was outside when a truck arrived." Ally said.

Sheila hoped they hadn't stepped up security. The surveillance cameras didn't indicate that.

"What if they're actually on patrol?" Sheila asked. "I saw one big truck backed up to the dock and a smaller one further down."

Ally looked for anyone on her approach.

"I've seen no one outside." Ally said.

Sheila ducked down a little more and pulled Ally with her as she pointed.

"There is now…." Sheila said. "Look."

Gail and Cammy tried to take in everything as they approached the buildings through the ever more shallow drainage ditch. They were mostly exposed at this point.

Cammy filled John Henry in on her observations and Gail added a few details.

They could hear the truck as it approached now. They knew that Cameron was on the truck over the rear axles.

It was clear there was a coordinated effort involved with the base personnel.

"The hanger door on the third hanger from the east is opening." Cammy reported. "I can see several big rigs parked inside."

John knew the chances of any of his troops being detected was about to increase dramatically. There was going to be some activity with the new arrival.

"Do you want to hold or advance, Cammy?" John asked.

Cammy looked at Gail who nodded. She wanted to know what all was there. She was sure it was more than they thought.

"We'll advance." Cammy said. "I want to know what's in the other hangers. We need to make sure Cameron gets out."

Cameron wanted Cammy to know where she was currently.

"I'm back underneath the trailer." Cameron reported.

Gail saw light flash on the control tower off to the side.

"We can see the headlights dancing on the old control tower." Gail said. "The truck should turn right in a short while."

It looked like it would all come together soon.

Jesse sat waiting. The concern of Savannah for her touched her deeply and also made her wonder. What if there was a patrol out? She exited the SUV with her M4 and checked her silenced pistol. She moved forward for twenty yards then to her right for thirty yards and then back for fifty yards. She was now behind the SUV by about fifteen yards and off to the side with a good view of it.

She kept watch on the SUV. She thought if anyone was out looking, that the SUV would be the target. She figured it would draw the patrol to it first, if there was even one.

Jesse already picked out a secondary location to move to if she needed to use one of her weapons. She knew the first location would draw fire. She waited in silence and still didn't see anything around her.

"Do you see them?" Savannah asked softly.

Jesse thought her com experienced a volume malfunction. The voice sounded so clear.

She felt something near her. She hoped it wasn't a snake.

"There are three of them." Savannah said softly.

Jesse looked around. When she looked back Savannah was next to her. She jumped a little. She hadn't expected to see Savannah there. She hadn't seen any movement at all. She was afraid she'd gone soft.

"You scared me." Jesse whispered.

Savannah didn't want to alarm Jesse.

"I've been here for almost two minutes." Savannah whispered. "There were five of them before…."

Savannah alerted Cammy and Gail there was a patrol out. That meant possibly more.

Jesse saw Savannah carried her M4 slung and held her silenced pistol in her hand.

"They haven't spotted the SUV yet." Savannah whispered. "If they do, they'll try to radio it in. John Henry should have communications blocked."

Jesse wanted to take the initiative and make the first move. Well, the second move anyway. It was apparent that Savannah already made the first move.

"That means we need to take them now." Jesse whispered.

After moving away from the drainage ditch, Cammy and Gail made it over to the hangers.

Cammy and Gail were alongside the first hanger. There was a door in the side of it.

Cammy reached for the door handle

"They may have an alarm." Gail said.

Cammy paused but tried it anyway. It was locked.

Savannah sent out the warning about the patrol she'd encountered. It was a good bet there were more.

"There is a five man patrol out by the SUV that Gail and Cammy arrived in." Savannah said. "I'm at Jesse's SUV now."

Cammy was surprised that Savannah was in that area.

"That was Savannah." Cammy said to Gail.

Cammy was now worried about Savannah. That meant Savannah was out alone in hostile territory, unless Jesse was still there.

Gail was worried as well now.

"Where's Jesse?" Gail asked.

Jesse and Savannah held the upper hand right now. They didn't want the Metal girls to worry.

"I'm busy, love, relax." Jesse whispered. "It's only a three man patrol now."

The fact there were patrols out didn't go over well in the Command Center. The fact that Savannah was apparently no longer with Bob didn't sit well either.

John was worried about the patrols and really wasn't surprised that Savannah was now there with Jesse. It looked like the right call based on the current situation.

"Great, there are patrols out and around the parameter." John said.

John Henry worried about what else was out there. He was sure there were more as well.

"It makes sense." John Henry said. "It's a good thing that Cammy and Gail have successfully avoided them."

John wasn't as worried about the Metal girls as he was about the human girls.

"Now it's Savannah and Jesse out there." John said.

John Henry wasn't sure how all of this was going to fly with Cameron.

"I can't believe Bob let her go on her own to help Jesse." John Henry said. "Cameron is going to be angry."

John figured Cameron wouldn't be the only one.

"So is Cammy." John said.

They received a report from Sheila and Ally.

It didn't sound good.

Ally and Sheila moved towards a door on the side of the building. They wanted to stay out of view of the gate guard and the loading dock area.

"We need to get closer." Ally said.

Sheila moved in front of Ally.

"That's what we're doing." Sheila said. "You're too slow."

They paused as they heard some angry words from inside.

"It sounds like there is an argument going on in there." Ally said.

"It's probably the Terminator getting on someone's nerves." Sheila said. "That's kind of like you do to mine."

Ally looked a little upset.

"You like the attention." Ally said. "Let's listen."

Cameron felt the truck come to a stop outside the open hangar door. She peered out from underneath the trailer. She could see four other big rigs backed in, side by side. There were no HK drones apparent that she could see. There was only a row of cars on the far side.

The truck shuddered and shook and started to back in next to the other parked rigs. At this point she didn't think they were going to unload the trailer. The truck stopped with a loud hiss as the air was set.

Someone moved up along the side of the trailer.

Cameron hadn't spotted them earlier. She did now. It was a Terminator.

There was Metal inside the hanger! She was ready to jump out and fight them if necessary. They didn't appear to be looking for her.

Cameron could hear the hangar doors start to close. They stopped about ten feet apart. They left an opening big enough for a car to exit.

The Terminator talked to the man she saw that drove the truck. The Terminator gave him an envelope and a set of keys. There was a row of parked cars along the far side of the hanger. The truck driver got in the first one and drove out. The hanger doors closed and the Terminator went on patrol inside the hanger.

Cameron could see that this was going to be a new problem. She was on the ground now as she followed him from beneath the trucks. He looked around, turned off the lights and went out a side door.

She paused and waited a few moments to see if he would reenter and try and spot someone. That didn't happen. It was time to take a better look around.

Cameron swiftly moved around the hangar and inspected it. She went from truck to truck and checked the insides of the trailers. There were five loaded trailers including the one she'd arrived on. All to them were full with HK drones in them. That was a lot of HK drones all neatly packed and ready to go. She hoped to put the grab on all of them.

Cameron reported her findings to John and John Henry.

John scrambled the "MIKE Force' once he'd found out that Savannah and Jesse were on the ground together without any Terminator support. The fact there was an enemy patrol near them only sealed the deal in his book.

"The Blackhawk is already en-route with Derek, Kyle and four of our Terminators on it." John said.

Cameron didn't want to trigger anything before it needed to happen.

"Make sure they don't come in until Cammy and I give the all clear." Cameron said. "I've spotted enemy Terminators on patrol here."

John was worried they were overextended everywhere.

"Beautiful…." John said.

Cameron ignored John. Cammy was outside one of the hangers. She wanted to know what she'd found so far.

"Cammy, what do you have?" Cameron asked.

"Trouble…." Cammy said.

Showtime

Everyone thinks they know it all
Few know much if anything
They act like a Joker
But think they're a King

People can be stubborn
They don't want to listen much
That's why they flounder
They don't stay in touch

Is it really that hard
To listen when they hear
There's a difference
To the one they hold dear

Sooner rather than later
It all comes to a head
When that doesn't pan out
Some wish they were dead

Life itself is an uphill climb
It can be covered with grime
One needs to pull it together
When it's Showtime

Nobody