Chapter 571

Genetic Defects

Savannah wanted her team to advance. Every minute not knowing about Cameron seemed like an hour. She knew they needed to recon the structure and enter it, if it seemed deserted. It would be full of bodies and wrecked equipment in reality. What would they find there? Would Cameron be among the fallen?

She and her team moved down the gully. They should be in position before 'whatever' was coming their way arrived. They needed to be ready in case it was a hostile Terminator. They didn't think it was but time would tell. Someone used the cover the gully afforded to move towards them. They knew what they were doing.

They moved closer to the area Savannah wanted to spring the ambush from. She indicated that there was a shallow divergent branch that joined the gully. Cammy should go on ahead and try to conceal herself among the debris there and let the person pass. It would also serve to indicate to them if there was more than one of them. Cammy was to let them pass before rejoining the main channel of the gully. That would put her behind the unknown individual.

Cammy moved on ahead. Gail watched the gully in the direction Cammy went as she took point. Savannah moved back slightly to watch their six. They didn't want anyone to slip in behind them either. They waited.

Cammy was out of view of the main part of the gully. She could hear the person approach. She knew it was a human or there was a human with them. It was a male and it sounded like he talked incoherently to himself. His breathing was labored as well. She waited until he passed. She saw he wore a uniform. She pulled back some and waited some more. There didn't appear to be anyone else behind him. She crept up and checked. The gully was clear. She moved into the gully and closed up on the man. She should be right behind him before he reached Savannah's position.

Gail was in front of Savannah. She looked back and raised one finger.

Savannah knew that meant the target was one minute out. She waited and listened. She heard movement from the direction Cammy went. She checked behind them again.

There was labored breathing and some gasping sounds.

Gail was against the side if the gully, she stepped out to face the target.

"Nice day for a walk." Gail said.

There was a man in a security guard uniform. He staggered and fell over backwards. He was bloody and appeared stunned. He carried no visible weapon. It appeared his pants were 'soiled'. There was a crazed look on his face.

"You have to run." He told Gail. "There are these – machines. They killed everyone. We need to notify the authorities."

Cammy soon appeared behind him. She helped the man stand and then backed away from him. She's wanted to verify he was human. She put her Taser away.

Savannah watched the 'check' Cammy made. She understood it was a human male when Cammy put her Taser away.

"Tell us about it." Savannah said. "We're from the government and we're here to help…."

The man told them of a new shipment of 'equipment' that was delayed a few days in arriving. There was trouble reported at some of their related installations. There were some new 'security experts' brought in. They were some big tough looking guys. There were three of them. They were all business. If you joked with them they looked like they wanted to kill you.

It looked like the man was having trouble formulating words.

Savannah smiled at him.

"Relax." Savannah said. "Your safe now. Go on."

The man looked at Cammy and Gail. He thought they looked like the 'security experts'. They were both pretty though and that one chick packed a set of jugs that didn't quit. He thought the redhead looked young. Maybe it was just good genetics. They were all armored up and packed a lot of firepower, especially the two stone faces Hot chicks.

"I watched as they unloaded the truck. There was a whole row of these new machines already there." He said. "It seemed like a few minutes after the truck was unloaded that the last group they brought in went berserk."

Savannah wanted to keep the man talking.

"How so, what happened?" Savannah asked. "Was anyone controlling them?"

The man's mouth moved a few times before there was any sound. He looked traumatized as he relived the event.

"No. The machines just started shooting at everything." The man said. "It was total chaos. Some of them went after people and some of them attacked the parked machines already there. There were people screaming and dying all around me and then stuff started to blow up."

Gail didn't like the man. It was clear he was a coward. She wanted to make sure.

"Did you stay to help and fight with your associates?" Gail asked.

The man seemed to have regained some of his composure at this point. He began to look at the three females. He thought the broad with the giant knockers looked aggressive. He figured she was the type that liked to be on top in bed. That was OK with him too.

"Hell no, I ran." The man said. "I think I blacked out along the way. I woke up in this gully after some kind of 'electric sound'. I think I heard it twice. I've been trying to get away. We need to go before they follow us."

Gail looked at the man with contempt.

"You didn't go back to help your friends?" Gail asked.

The man looked like he almost laughed. It was clear he didn't care about anyone but himself.

"Screw them." The man said. "I just wanted to get away. We need to leave."

Savannah could see the man's cowardliness agitated Gail. She knew it was about the trauma Gail recently suffered. Gail didn't run when she was confronted by two Terminators. She chose to stay and fight to protect Jesse and her. Gail did that with the knowledge she may be terminated as she bought Jesse and her time. Gail stayed to do her duty and was nearly terminated doing it.

She didn't know Gail wanted to rupture her power cell to try and stop the Terminators that attacked her. The explosion would have severely damaged the two Terminators and warned the girls of impending danger. Gail would have been vaporized.

Cammy was unsure what was happening. She knew there was more to the story of the earlier events and neither Gail nor Savannah talked about them.

Savannah wanted to know more about the building.

"Were there any other survivors?" Savannah asked.

The man thought about if for a few seconds.

"No, everyone was down when I looked back." The man said. "One of the 'new guys' looked like he was still moving. There was a lot more firing as I ran. The screams slowly faded. I didn't like any of them anyway. I'm done with those losers."

Gail heard enough. She reached out and grabbed his throat as she lifted him off the ground and squeezed.

The man thrashed around violently for a few seconds.

Cammy hoped to get some better information.

"Let him go." Cammy said.

Gail thought of the footage she viewed where Savannah faced off with three Terminators. That was one more than she'd faced. Savannah didn't run. She stayed to fight. Those were long odds but Savannah didn't buckle.

"He's a coward, he ran. He didn't help his friends. He left them to die." Gail said. "He didn't go back to help. He didn't care."

Cammy went to stop Gail but Savannah stopped Cammy.

"She needs this." Savannah whispered to Cammy.

They could hear the bones in his neck break as Gail squeezed her hand slowly. It wasn't a fast death. It was a painful one.

Gail dropped him to the ground. She looked at Cammy and Savannah.

"He didn't help his friends. He left them all to die." Gail said. "He ran. He has no honor. He didn't care."

Gail looked away then back at Savannah.

Savannah wanted to show her support for Gail. Savannah removed her silenced pistol and shot the man once in the head, he was already dead. She went to Gail.

"I 'killed' him too. It's over Gail." Savannah said. "We need to find Cameron."

Cammy was unsure of all that just happened. Savannah looked at her and she moved on with her statement.

"It sounds as if at least one Terminator may still be active." Cammy said. "That's going to be a threat."

Savannah saw the threat a survivor posed. They may have been able to call for help. That's where the real trouble would be.

"I'm worried about some of their HK drones showing up." Savannah said. "We may have to face HK Tracks, HK drones and Terminators."

They didn't know what awaited them or where Cameron was at. They really didn't know anymore than they did when they'd arrived.

Savannah looked back at the dead man as they moved through the gully. There was something he said that bothered her.

"What do you think the 'electric sound' was?" Savannah asked.

Cammy wondered about that herself.

"Maybe it was a Taser." Cammy said. "Cameron took hers with her."

That thought worried Gail some.

"Cameron would only have used it on a Terminator." Gail said. "Humans are not a threat to us."

Gail looked back at the dead man.

Savannah wondered if they would come across a deactivated Terminator. The chip should be pulled. She hoped it wasn't Cameron. There was another fear that stalked her. The 'electric sound' could have been an energy bubble. The man said he heard it twice. If it was an extraction why would it happen twice? Maybe there were two Terminators that Cameron Tasered.

They listened to the reports in the Command Center. It was clear that great danger awaited the girls.

"This looks worse by the second." John said. "Cameron has endangered the others by her actions."

John Henry didn't think the evidence supported that conclusion. There appeared to be danger but Cameron wasn't the cause of it.

"We don't know that." John Henry said. "You're worried about Savannah."

John was worried about all of them. He did understand that Cameron would try to take the threat of danger on herself first.

"I'm worried about Cameron too." John said. "I know Cameron is trying to take the brunt of action to protect everyone else."

John Henry checked the status of where everyone was at. Things were better now for their team.

"The Blackhawk will be there in fifteen minutes." John Henry said. "Sheila is already there. She's holding five miles out with the two drones."

John wanted additional assistance for the girls.

"Send two more." John said.

John Henry wanted to make sure the 'MIKE Force' was protected when they left.

"I sent two with the Blackhawk." John Henry said. "It was to give them top cover."

John was pleased to hear that. He wanted the reserves sent as well.

"Send another two." John said. "That will give us six on station, plus the manned drone. I'll inform Savannah and Cammy."

John Henry already did that too. He could see that John was nervous. He wanted to offer him a suggestion. He needed to frame it correctly so John wouldn't take it the wrong way. He needed to make it sound like it was the opposite of what it was.

"I already have." John Henry said. He could see John wanted to tell them. "You can mention it again to them. Savannah would like to hear your voice."

John Henry thought John wanted to hear Savannah's voice. It seemed he was the one that needed the reassurance. Savannah was ready for combat.

Cammy didn't care for the threat of there being at least one Terminator active. She knew the layout of the landscape. The gully was much deeper and narrower than the dry wash. The dry wash was shallow and wide. The gully would afford Savannah better protection as they advanced forward. If she moved to the dry wash she would be much more exposed. If there was someone watching they would pick her up first and they should concentrate their attack on her. Savannah should be able to use the distraction to move forward through the gully. It was already clear that Savannah wouldn't retreat.

"Do you want me to go through the dry wash to advance on the target?" Cammy asked. "You and Gail can continue through this gully. We can make a two pronged attack."

Savannah looked at the satellite photos. It was clear Cammy would be a target.

"No, Cammy, it's too exposed." Savannah said.

Gail thought Savannah was worried about her Metal lover. She was there to protect Savannah herself.

"I can go, Savannah." Gail said. "The enemy should focus on me."

Savannah could see what Cammy and Gail both were willing to do for her. They wanted to make themselves targets. She was informed by John Henry of the status of the drones and helicopter. That update gave her a few ideas.

"No. We'll proceed together." Savannah said. "John, have the Blackhawk fly on the deck to five miles from our location. The team of Terminators can reach our vehicles very quickly on foot and advance trough the dry wash to the target area. There are a couple of 'packages' by our vehicles."

John Henry understood the warning about the mines. The 'MIKE Force' could get to the vehicles and then drive to the building with them once the girls were in place. They could act as a diversion too if one was needed.

"I have your location." John Henry said. "The 'packages' have been noted."

Savannah needed some better recon at the location they were headed for. She wanted the drones closer but protected. The risk would fall on Sheila. She wanted the flexibility of the manned drone to check things out.

"I want the two drones that came with the Blackhawk to orbit five miles out on the deck." Savannah said. "Sheila, I want you to make a pass near the target at high altitude off to the east side and then orbit five miles north of the target area. You will remain at altitude and look down on the target area from the side. Your two drones will orbit on the deck below you."

Sheila started to gain altitude. The drones with her dropped down to the ground.

"Roger, love." Sheila said.

John Henry made sure things were exactly as Savannah requested.

"I have control of everything as you want it." John Henry said.

John wanted to add his two cents.

"I've dispatched two more drones as well." John said.

Savannah was glad for the additional support. She wanted a wider look around them.

"Thanks, John." Savannah said. "Have them approach at high altitude and recon the perimeter. I want one seven miles out and one twelve miles out in opposite concentric circles."

John Henry liked the coverage that would offer the team. He was able to give Savannah a time line on her reinforcements. They should also have some fresh intel.

"Sheila's making her pass now." John Henry said. "The 'Mike Force' should arrive in fifteen minutes at the target area."

Savannah was satisfied they were covered as best as they could be. She needed to find Cameron and she didn't want to delay any longer. The teams would be in position soon enough.

"We're moving out." Savannah said.

John went over everything with John Henry when he noticed his mother standing in back of him.

Sarah watched John work. She'd listened to the conversations from the target area as well. She wanted to do more.

"Is there anything I can do?" Sarah asked.

John tried to ignore her. He didn't needed any second guessing as he worked. His mother certainly didn't need to be put in harms way either.

"No." John said. "Thanks for asking."

Sarah felt she needed to say something to John. She believed it was important.

"That's one Hell of a woman, John." Sarah said. "I hope you know that. She'll make you a better man."

John would have preferred that Cameron waited and took some additional help with her.

"Cameron will be OK." John said.

Sarah didn't know about that. That wasn't her point.

"I wasn't talking about Cameron." Sarah said.

John stopped and looked at her. He didn't need to hear this now. He didn't agree with much of what was done in the background. He saw it for what it was. It was the theft of the lives of the girls to do Cameron's bidding.

"You should be pleased then." John said. "Cameron's making two more like her and probably their younger sisters as well. What a life…."

Sarah saw it for what it was. The truth was ugly. There was no beauty in truth. She never faced what the girls from the future faced. She'd needed to do things she didn't want to and wasn't proud of. She did them to protect John. Those girls didn't have a choice and they weren't equipped to protect themselves.

"It's about the future, John. It's about surviving and defeating Skynet." Sarah said. "You go ask Vanna and Jesse how they liked their lives in the future you went to. I want you to then come back and tell me which life you would offer them if you could."

John already knew the answer. That was what they tried to prevent going forward. Maybe his sister was in for the same stolen life. He knew that Kyle was against it.

"What's next? Are you going to start Jan on the same training?" John asked.

Sarah and Kyle butted heads over that issue. He wanted Jan to have a 'real life' and be able to do the things girls did. Sarah wanted Jan protected. She didn't care much for the life of a teenage female. She was painfully aware how those all played out. The girls all got used and passed around. She wanted Jan to stand tall and be able to back it up.

"I've started her myself. I've also asked Cameron to assist me with that. I want the same things for Jan." Sarah said. "That's everything except Jan warming your bed and having your children."

John waited to see if that was a joke. He wasn't sure.

Sarah could see she'd made her point.

"Watch out for both of them, John." Sarah said and left.

It was clear John Henry wanted to say something.

"Don't say anything." John said to John Henry.

"I was only going to point out that would avoid genetic defects by not having your sister - warm your bed." John Henry said. "You could use some form of birth control though. Jan is very beautiful. I'm sure she would perform quite well."

John waited to see if that was a joke. He wasn't sure.

He was sure that there was something wrong will all of these people. He needed to focus on the operation. Cameron was missing and Savannah and her team were about to enter the battlefield.

John checked again to see if John Henry cracked a smile or not..

Dragons

For you I must fight
Together we will fight
We must overcome the dragons
The Princess and the Knight

You are worthy
You deserve salvation
Not pain and anguish
Or dying frustration

Into the flames you may reach
I am not trying to preach
Lessons of the past can still teach
Your trust I will not breech

I know how life overpowers
I know the want and lust
The pure beauty
Of that first thrust

I only warn of the danger
Things you already KNOW can go wrong
But the pain of love lingers
For a LOVING touch I long

Nobody