Chapter 554

Practice

Cameron was satisfied the HK drones wouldn't leave on their own. There were more of their Terminators on the way so they would have enough drivers. That was IF they could commandeer the big rigs. She really wanted this HK equipment. This was a rare find and an almost 'gift wrapped' package for them.

She knew they'd almost been attacked before by 'Skynet associated' groups of some type with HK drones. If they weren't located here, then they were kept somewhere else and posed a threat. There were still two hangers here to check. She needed to remember they'd dealt with more than one version of Skynet from different futures.

The HK drones that came to attack them yesterday came from someplace. She hoped it was this place. If it wasn't, she still needed to track down where that other location was at. It seemed no matter how much she destroyed that there was always more.

Cameron went over the details as to where they were now as a group. Cammy reported seeing a Terminator and then went 'silent'. Bob was 'silent' as well. Gail was sent after a group of Grays who went to search for another group of Grays. The other group of Grays was in the area where Jesse and Savannah were. The last reports from them were that they'd engaged several targets. Ally and Sheila silently entered the HK drone facility that she'd failed to breach earlier and they reported there was a Terminator outside and about to return. She hadn't received any further update from them after that.

'Great job - Cameron….' Cameron thought sarcastically to herself.

Cameron saw this as how all the operations seemed. Everything was disjointed and fluid with repeated unknowns thrown in. It often reminded her how little control any of them actually had. Her main concern was for Savannah and Jesse right now. They were seldom without a Terminator near them or at their side. They were usually never 'alone' in a combat situation.

It did cause her some grief to remember that when she was incapacitated yesterday that Savannah was shot three times in her vest and needed to fight three Terminators by herself. That was a remarkable feat no matter how it was looked at. Savannah never ceased to amaze her. She loved Savannah dearly.

John Henry and John thought about the great discovery that Cameron came across. They decided to stop talking about it and move the discussion forward.

"That's a great find by Cameron." John said.

John Henry knew the value of such a find. They didn't need to set up their own production line if they could take the finished product from Skynet and then destroy their manufacturing capability. There was still a lot up in the air on this operation.

"If we can get those trucks out, we'll deny Skynet the use of the HK drones and hopefully gain the future use of them by us." John Henry said.

John was more worried about his troops than capturing HK equipment. Sure that was a bonus but his troops were in four locations or unaccounted for. That was the most worrisome part.

"I would rather blow all three places and get our people out – ALL of them." John said.

John Henry knew there were a few solutions available to them. Cameron made a point of reminding everyone.

"We have copies of all their programs…." John Henry said.

John was irritated whenever he was reminded of that, especially when Cameron reminded him. There was one thing he always needed to remind them about. Humans didn't have that luxury.

"Is there a copy of Savannah's and Jesse's 'program' too?" John asked.

John Henry could see he'd hit a 'sore spot' with John. John was correct too to remind him humans were irreplaceable. There was no need to get into it with John.

"No…." John Henry said.

So far the only reported armed contact was with Jesse and Savannah…. That bothered John too.

"Savannah and Jesse are my main worry." John said. "That's where the heat is right now."

John still couldn't get the images of Savannah taking down three Terminators on her own out of his head. Savannah was the greatest. He loved her more than ever.

John Henry wondered what else John thought about when he thought of the human girls.

Cammy was worried about what she couldn't see. She changed her position.

The Terminator crashed through the hanger wall. He was surprised that he was unable to grab the female. It looked like a human female to him too. It should have been an easy catch. He spotted her as she moved towards the next hanger and went after her.

Cammy faced the new threat. She could run or fight. It was a big brute of a Terminator. It actually appeared to be an older model. It could also be an upgrade of an older model. Either way it was a powerful Terminator. One on one she would not fare well in a fight. It was time to lure him closer so she could use her Taser on him. She was ready to give him a 'sucker punch'.

She went to move and grabbed her leg and drug it behind her some. She took several steps and fell. She looked back as the Terminator slowed and approached her. He didn't need to use his weapon. He was ready to reach for her.

He was about to grab her….

Gail already took down two men and moved up on the third man.

She saw that he didn't look from side to side but he didn't look behind him either. The men were all complacent that they'd just left a secure area. They already knew what was behind them. They were all wrong.

The third man paused for some reason. He turned around and froze.

Gail was right behind him. His eyes went wide as he saw her reach for him.

The Gray 'felt' something and decided to turn around. He wasn't sure why. What he saw as he turned around were two red eyes. They were right behind him. He opened his mouth to scream in terror but something clamped around his neck. His world went dark at that moment. He found peace in the nothingness of darkness.

Gail already started to reach for the Gray when he'd suddenly turned. She wondered if she'd been careless. She didn't think so. She'd been worried about Jesse and the 'Day Of Loss'.

She grabbed his neck and flipped her wrist. His neck snapped like a rotten twig. The scream died along with him. She tossed him off of the trail. There were two more Grays left to go.

Gail closed up on the next Gray. She moved closer to him but was still a ways behind him. She was ready to take down the fourth man when she heard something behind her. She'd already added the third man to the bushes. She knew it wasn't him. She'd been worried about Jesse being hurt or killed again. She'd been as careless as the Grays were.

She saw something move behind her. The speed at which it moved and the stealth indicated it was another Terminator. It was stalking her!

She'd been focused on her targets. Now there was Metal stalking her. She hadn't been careful. Now she would have to fight or evade. There was an even bigger threat to Jesse now. She was afraid she'd led the hostile Terminator right to Jesse and Savannah.

Gail knew Jesse was going to die because of her – again.…

Ally and Sheila stayed together as they entered the facility. They both knew they could fight the Terminator on their own but what if there were more Terminators inside? Cammy reported the other facility was being run by a 'Metal Bitch', maybe this one was too. The male Terminator may have only been the 'troubleshooter' or something. They didn't know. Their primary function was to gather intelligence as to what was happening inside of this facility.

Both of them carried Thermite grenades in case they needed to cause a distraction to get out. Once those were thrown they would start a fire inside the structure that no one would be able to put out easily.

They rapidly moved away from the door as they knew the Terminator would return soon. It was clear he dumped the body in the box truck. There was more activity happening on the other side of the building. They spotted the big rig that was backed up at the dock being unloaded. It looked like it brought some sub assemblies. It appeared they'd just finished. There was also a row of HK drones ready to be loaded onto it. There were eight that were complete. As they watched a forklift brought over another one.

They moved further into the building. They heard the Terminator return and lock the door. The forklift that just set down the new HK drone started a new task. It then moved to the closest HK drone to the truck. It picked it up and drove into the back of the trailer with it.

The Terminator moved to that location to observe the loading.

Ally and Sheila took some photos to transmit to John Henry. They found out what Cammy did at the other location. There was an electronic dampening field in effect.

"I don't have any reception here." Sheila said.

Ally checked her equipment.

"I don't either." Ally said. "I bet it is to keep the workers off their phones. Cammy indicated the same thing where she was at."

Sheila knew that Skynet ruled with an iron fist, so to speak. That seemed to apply both literally and figuratively.

"We saw what happened to the last guy that didn't do a good job." Sheila said.

Sheila looked Ally over from head to toe and back again when she said that.

Ally didn't see the need to look Tight. Her 'Neural Interface' was with Allison. Allison didn't like to be 'noticed'. Bad things happened when she was 'noticed'.

"Why are you looking at me?" Ally said. "Are you going to start in too?"

Sheila suppressed a smile.

"I didn't say anything." Sheila said.

Ally made a face.

"Maybe you don't like how I look elsewhere." Ally said.

That was what Sheila liked the best about Ally. She did like Hanna more though. There was no pigment variation at all on Hanna.

"That's the best part about you, love." Sheila said. "You give me something to do in my spare time."

Ally looked insulted.

"Maybe you need a little more spare time now then." Ally said.

Sheila smiled.

"There's nothing private about your parts, love." Sheila said.

Ally frowned.

"Look who's talking now." Ally said. "You don't even wear clothes half of the time."

Sheila shrugged her shoulders.

"I just need to take them off again." Sheila said.

Ally suppressed a snicker.

"Oh, brother…." Ally said. "Maybe you should try a short skirt instead."

Sheila did that sometimes when she was out. She never wore underwear either. It excited her to have people notice her.

"If you got it, flaunt it." Sheila said.

They moved through the building to scope everything out.

Ally touched Sheila's shoulder to stop her.

"Look." Ally whispered and pointed. "There's a 'Metal Bitch'."

Sheila looked the 'Metal Bitch' over. She checked her Taser. She liked what she saw. The sheath was Hot looking. She thought a closer 'exam' was in order once they brought her down. She liked how every female was 'different'.

"I hope we can take her into custody." Sheila said.

Ally knew that Sheila always 'examined' all the females that were captured, that was Metal or human. If the human female was an enabler for the sex trade Sheila 'worked' on her first before termination. Maybe it was the way Sheila laughed and taunted them as she did it that was the most disturbing part. They all knew that was behavior she'd 'inherited' from Jesse through the 'Neural Interface'. Jesse did warn Cameron that there was a lot of darkness in her. It was very prevalent in Sheila. She didn't want Sheila to get side tracked.

"Oh, brother…." Ally said. "Here 'feel me out' for now and get over it."

Sheila didn't see what the big deal was. It was just part of her 'job' more or less.

"What?" Sheila asked. "You know Cameron wants every 'Metal Bitch' she can get a hold of."

Ally knew how Sheila 'rolled'.

"She's not the only one…." Ally said.

Sheila ignored Ally and pointed. The male Terminator approached the HK drones.

"Look, the Terminator's inspecting one of the drones to be loaded." Sheila said. "He doesn't look very content."

The forklift exited the truck. The Terminator went over to it and yanked the driver off of it and drug him over to one of the HK drones and pointed. It appeared the HK drone was slightly damaged by the forklift when it was transported.

It seemed the Terminator was about to kill the man. The 'Metal Bitch' hurried over and stopped him. She talked to the forklift driver and he got back on the forklift and took the damaged HK drone away.

Maybe there was some other part of the building they hadn't seen yet.

"Let's see where he goes." Sheila said.

Ally thought they'd pushed their luck already. With two Terminators around, one of them might notice them.

"No, we've seen enough." Ally said. "Let's get out of here. Our drones need to flatten this place."

Sheila realized they'd been distracted. Now she was worried.

"Where did the Terminator go?" Sheila asked. "I only see the 'Metal Bitch'."

Ally quickly looked around too.

"Beautiful…." Ally said.

Ally took out her Taser and readied a Thermite grenade. Sheila checked her M4….

They were afraid they may have been spotted and were about to get jumped. They both blamed the other one for being careless.

Jesse was secure behind a tree with a bigger tree behind her. Savannah thought that looked like the safest place for her. The trees should be fairly bullet proof because of their size and there shouldn't be any ricochets.

Savannah looked at the approaches to where they were at again. She was still sure the Grays would come up the trail because there hadn't been shooting yet, that is shooting they could hear.

The new group didn't know the first group were all terminated.

Savannah moved down the slope parallel to the trail. She watched both sides of her. She paused often and waited. She moved like a deer, move, pause, listen, observe - move…. She was aware that humans moved in a very rhythmic pattern.

She listened as she paused again. She heard a crackle in the brush right along the trail. There was a thud and a soft curse.

"Get up and shut up." Someone said quietly.

"Where are the others?" One asked.

"They were behind us a few minutes ago." Someone said.

Savannah knew Gail followed the squad up. She figured they were dead.

There was no sign of Gail. That wasn't good. Savannah went on the alert even more. She quickly warned Jesse.

"Jesse, I think we have a hostile Terminator up here with us." Savannah whispered.

"Let's wait here for a few minutes." One man said. "They should catch up. We went right up the trail. I don't see how those clowns could get lost."

"No, you wait here and don't go anywhere." The other man said. "I want to look ahead then come right back, don't go anywhere."

"Maybe we should stick together." One man said.

"Relax, you know this is nothing." The other man said.

One man continued up the trail. The other man waited. He looked around nervously as he did.

"Jesse, you have one moving toward you. Try to take him with your pistol. Anything else after that, consider it Metal." Savannah whispered.

Savannah moved closer to the remaining man. He kept looking up the trail and back down the trail. He never looked to either side of the trail. Savannah advanced with her silenced pistol out….

Jesse waited. Nothing happened yet. She wanted to change her position but Savannah was adamant she not move from that position until she needed to use one of her weapons.

Now Savannah reported a possible Metal threat. Maybe that is what happened to Gail. The Terminator may have taken her down. Gail could be lying alongside the trail with her head ripped off.

Jesse's M4 was ready but she now held her silenced pistol and her Taser in her hands. She wondered why she was even out here. Cameron and Sarah kept her in training along with Gail. She was in shape but hadn't been in the field that much.

She now began to question her ability and fitness. Maybe she was soft now. Paradise took the killer instinct out of her.

Jesse looked down and touched her knife. If anyone hurt Gail or Savannah she was going to carve them up. That was the only thing she was out of practice on….

She looked back up and seemingly from nowhere, there was a figure moving towards her….

Where did they come from?

Practice

If someone wants to be good at something
They need to practice everyday
There are no shortcuts to this rule
No matter what people may say

Many people want to take a shortcut
That doesn't serve them well
When things don't workout
Upon their failures they dwell

Nothing in life comes easy
There is no free ride
There are rules and restrictions
By which all must abide

Life is often easier
When one has a goal
To accomplish what's desired
Can leave one complete and whole

Not all in life is fair
It is full of injustice
Do the right things
Lead by practice

Nobody