Chapter 608

That's A Good Question

Savannah was a little concerned with whatever Cameron and Cammy were really up to. It seemed to be more than they'd alluded to. That wouldn't be anything new.

It was time to get started.

The girls departed for Palmdale.

Savannah promised Claire she would personally bring Young Allison back to her. Cammy would meet them on the way and then bring her back.

Hanna drove, Anna was in the front next to her. Savannah and Young Allison sat in the back.

Savannah and Young Allison played a game as they drove along. They looked for 'out of state' license plates. Young Allison then added in a specific type of car with extra points for a silver one. Savannah upped the ante and added another specific car and color.

The game was simple but it forced the girls to look and concentrate. Anna and Hanna were both disqualified from playing once they both identified vehicles that were too far away for Savannah and Young Allison to see and make out the details or license plates.

That act of disqualification left both of the Metal girls miffed. They said they'd only used their natural ability. It didn't seem unfair to them.

Savannah was aware that Cameron got into more than a few scrapes with people, usually men, when she beat them soundly at something. It was usually sports related. The defeated person would say it was impossible. Cameron then asked them, 'If it's impossible, how did I just do it?' That usually set them off. That would result in some further Terminator activity of some sort. A few actually ended in terminations when someone wouldn't let it go or they wanted 'teach' Cameron a lesson.

Anna watched the girls. She could tell that they were having a good time and fun. The 'Savannah' in her knew Savannah was deprived of many things growing up. The 'Savannah' in her tried to make sure Young Allison experienced more of the things that Savannah didn't have. The 'Savannah' in her also knew, Savannah missed her parents, both of them, actually all THREE of them. At least Young Allison's parents were still alive and around for her. She did understand Savannah's concern about not letting Claire know they were going to the Resistance base in the middle of the night. Originally Holly was going to go with them but Hanna was substituted at the last minute. Hanna would've made sure every time that Claire woke up she'd be pleasured and soon fell back asleep.

Young Allison saw where they were at on the 14 freeway. They could've gotten off the freeway at Sierra Highway or Placerita Canyon Road to get to the old road since they were 'old roads' themselves. Placerita Canyon was just a few miles away from where they were now. That was where gold was first discovered in California in 1842. The first successful oil refinery in California, that was built in 1876, was only a few miles away to the west of them. There was a lot of history around them. There been mines of various types scattered throughout the foothills. It seemed the landscape was able to offer a lot of resources over the years.

"Can we take the old road?" Young Allison asked.

Hanna was reluctant to take what was basically a two lane road. There were a lot of curves. Many of them were blind curves.

"It's more susceptible to an ambush." Hanna said. "It's better if we stay on the freeway where I have room to maneuver. I can always drive back through oncoming traffic to evade a pursuer."

That pretty much sounded like a nightmare to Savannah.

Young Allison knew how to play the 'game'. She'd been around Terminators enough to know how they operated and what they responded to.

"There are three females here with me that almost all look the same so I don't think it will be a problem." Young Allison said. "Maybe we should wait for Cammy then. She won't be afraid."

Young Allison looked and Savannah and winked at her.

Savannah knew what Young Allison just did. She wanted to see if they would take the bait.

Hanna didn't need to look at the road sign to know where they were at.

"The turnoff is in a few miles." Hanna said. "I'll take it."

Savannah also learned at an early age how to 'prompt' Terminators to get them to react in a manner they otherwise wouldn't have. It was a subtle way to 'motivate' them to change their original plan without asking them to do so. It appeared Young Allison learned the same thing. Then again, she may have mentioned it to her a few times. She always tried to give Young Allison advice and pointers to make her life easier.

Anna looked back at Savannah and then at Young Allison. She knew what Young Allison was doing.

"Cammy's not here yet." Anna said.

It seemed to Young Allison that she should be by now.

"Where is Cammy anyway?" Young Allison asked.

Savannah was concerned about that as well. She checked her phone.

"That's a good question." Savannah said. "We should've heard from her again by now."

Savannah still felt there was more going on than she knew. Cameron wasn't as forthcoming with the facts as she should be sometimes. If she pressed her, Cameron wouldn't lie to her. Cammy was the same way, she was 'Cameron' by extension. Cammy was 'a Cameron'.

Anna took her phone out. She was concerned now as well.

Savannah didn't have any luck to reach Cammy. She doubted Anna would either.

"I already tried that." Savannah said.

Hanna tilted her head slightly. She didn't like the uncertainty of any of it.

"John Henry will know." Hanna said.

Young Allison was aware of how Cameron and her clones operated.

"He'll only know what Cameron or Cammy wants him to know." Young Allison said. "I follow the operations too."

Anna reminded Young Allison of another choice.

"You can obtain information from CamNet." Anna said.

Savannah already started a call to CamNet.

"I do too." Savannah said. "I'm going to get some information now."

Hanna and Anna looked at each other. They both knew anything from Savannah, like a command or an order, was the same as if it was from Cameron. They were aware that applied to Young Allison as well be extension.

Savannah contacted CamNet to find out what was really going on. This was a 'privilege' that she never abused nor would she.

She saw it as her function to help protect Cameron and 'her clones' from themselves. Protecting Cameron from harm protected John and all of them, as well as the future. She knew her duties and responsibilities. She also knew she also needed to honor her promises. She intended to do that for all of them.

Savannah wasn't too happy about the result.

"CamNet's reported that Cammy is out of contact." Savannah said.

CamNet sent the information to Anna and Hanna as well as Cameron.

Savannah got a call from Cameron seconds later. She knew Anna and Hanna could hear the conversation. She put it on speaker phone anyway for Young Allison's benefit.

"Hello, Cameron. Where's Cammy and what's she doing?" Savannah asked. "Allison is here with us too. We're on speaker phone."

Cameron filled them in on what was happening and what she'd asked Cammy to do on her way to meet up with them.

It seemed fairly straight forward to Savannah.

"That doesn't sound high risk." Savannah said.

Cameron was a little worried as to why Cammy was unreachable now as well. She wanted to investigate it herself.

"No, it shouldn't have been. It was a small lead I wanted her to run down." Cameron said. "I'm headed there now. It's going to take me a little time."

Hanna was worried about Cammy. They weren't that far away.

"We're much closer." Hanna said. "I can be there in eleven minutes if I turn around now."

Savannah was worried about Cammy but she needed to think of Young Allison as well.

"We have Allison with us." Savannah said. "Her safety is paramount. It comes before mine."

Young Allison was a team player. Everything wasn't about her. There were several options she could see right now.

"We need to help Cammy." Young Allison said. "Hanna and Anna can be let off to help and Savannah can always drive me away. I can drive too if I need to."

Savannah wanted to help Cammy but not endanger Young Allison.

"How serious is this?" Savannah asked. "I need a straight answer. I need to think about Allison and Cammy."

They all knew Cameron liked to cover all the bases for Young Allison.

"CamNet hasn't reported any gunfire or explosions in the area. There's been no 911 activity." Cameron said. "The risk is minimal. The area is remote and isolated."

Savannah needed to make a choice. She wanted to cover both options. She was worried that she wouldn't keep her promise to Claire. She also needed to worry about Cammy. No contact for an extended period of time seemed to indicate trouble.

"Hanna and I will go in and take a look. You can pick us up later, Cameron." Savannah said. "Anna will drive Allison home."

Cameron hoped she could do more sooner. She couldn't.

"I'll see you soon. I'm already on my way." Cameron said and hung up.

Savannah reached into the back and started to pull out vests. She wanted to make sure Young Allison was protected.

"Allison, I want you to put yours on right now." Savannah said. "It's a precaution."

Young Allison took it and slipped it on.

Savannah put hers on also and double checked Young Allison's.

Young Allison noted it wasn't a tight fit.

"This is a little bigger than the special ones Cameron made for Summer and me." Young Allison said. "I'll grow into this size soon."

Savannah handed vests up to Anna and Hanna. An M4 went up front for each of them as well.

Savannah looked at Young Allison.

"I know you've been trained, Allison." Savannah said. "I can't allow you in harms way. I promised your mother I would get you home the same way you left, including condition and age."

Anna shot Savannah a questioning look. She wasn't sure she liked the implications of that statement.

Young Allison was aware that Savannah reloaded for Gail yesterday since Gail could engage two separate areas at the same time. She could do the same for Anna. She could do more too.

"I can reload for Anna if she needs help if we run into any trouble." Young Allison said. "I can shoot too if it's necessary."

Anna felt a glitch impulse. She suppressed it. She didn't want to drag Young Allison into any combat.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Anna said. "This could be nothing."

Savannah and Young Allison looked at each other. They both knew that wasn't going to be the case. The atmosphere in the SUV reeked of impending combat. None of them knew what they were about to face.

Savannah felt Cammy was in danger. She also didn't want to endanger Young Allison. She knew if she needed to make a choice, it would have to be Young Allison. There was a copy of Cammy's program….

Young Allison gave Savannah's hand a reassuring squeeze. They'd get through everything somehow.

Hanna got off the freeway and headed for one of the remote roads in the foothills. The remoteness of it spelled trouble. There were plenty of canyon and mountain roads that existed in the foothills. There'd been different types of mining for years. That was all pretty much abandoned. There'd even been times when the tailings were worked a second or third time over the years. Everything was pretty much played out at this point.

Savannah tried to see what the best way in would be. They needed another vehicle so Anna and Young Allison could leave. Unless they stopped someone and carjacked them, it seemed like a remote possibility at this point. There wasn't any other traffic at all.

Hanna rapidly but cautiously approached the area where Cammy should be.

"We're a half mile from Cammy's last known position." Hanna said.

Savannah looked up at the sky. It was still in the morning.

"I would say we hike in but it's broad daylight." Savannah said. "If we start walking around with all our gear and weapons showing, someone may spot us. It will start a panic. This road is remote and seldom used but all it takes is one 'busybody'."

Savannah knew the other option was to leave the gear and only carry a pistol and a Taser and look like day hikers. That might draw another type of attention to them as 'prey'. More than one 'Family' was known to have roamed the remote hills.

Young Allison could see that everyone was worried about her. She felt Cammy should be the issue. She didn't need any special consideration. She was trained too.

"Cammy comes first. We do what we need to do without hesitation." Young Allison said. "CamNet and John Henry can 'fix' everything else, they always do."

Savannah didn't like Young Allison to spend all of her alone time on Resistance matters.

"Don't you have 'girl things' you would rather do than monitor all our feeds?" Savannah asked.

Young Allison looked quickly at Savannah. She didn't feel she'd done anything 'wrong'. It was her life she needed to prepare for.

"No. I know my future and my destiny." Young Allison said. "I'm part of the 'Natural Order'. I'll need to fight at some point. We all know it. You're all here to help me now."

Savannah knew Cameron pounded that into Young Allison's head since she could talk. She was sure of the things Cameron made Young Allison promise as well. It was clear that Young Allison thought about them when she'd looked at the wedding dress. That was a lot to lay on a young person.

"Anna, I want more 'girl things' for Allison." Savannah said.

Anna doubted that would happen.

"Is that an 'order'?" Anna asked.

Savannah frowned slightly.

"No. It's a request." Savannah said.

Young Allison looked upset. She frowned at Savannah.

"Oh, brother…." Young Allison said. "Now, you sound like my – mother."

Anna thought that Young Allison needed to be reminded why people worried and cared about her.

"Or someone who loves you and cares about you very much." Anna said.

Young Allison quickly looked at Savannah with that last statement. It was how she felt too….

"I'm sorry." Young Allison said.

Savannah looked at Young Allison.

"You know I love you and I care about you." Savannah said.

Young Allison hugged Savannah.

"I love you too." Young Allison said.

Hanna didn't care for the open terrain. It was mostly dried scrub brush, dirt and rocks. There were a few scattered trees, very few. She didn't want to attract any unnecessary attention by looking around or driving too slow.

"I'm going to drive through the area at road speed. I want it to look like we're passing through." Hanna said. "Everyone keep their eyes open."

They started their drive through the area.

In just a few minutes Anna noted a change. She'd been receiving information from CamNet. It faded and ended abruptly.

"I've lost contact with CamNet." Anna said. "It was rather sudden."

Savannah checked her phone.

"I can't reach anyone either." Savannah said. "Our communications aren't normally blocked. We've only ever encountered that at Skynet related facilities."

Hanna thought this new event was a lot like a Skynet jamming field.

"That means something is happening here." Hanna said.

Savannah saw it for what it was. This area reeked of Skynet and all the danger that went with it.

"I want Allison out of here, now." Savannah said. "Drive away from here, Hanna."

Young Allison didn't want that. One of the team must be in a jam. They couldn't just turn and run.

"What about Cammy?" Young Allison asked. "She may need our help."

Hanna told it like it was.

"You're part of the 'Natural Order'." Hanna said. "Cammy isn't."

It was the same thing Savannah already thought. It didn't need to be spoken.

"Hanna!" Savannah said. "Don't, please."

Hanna didn't mean to be cruel or insensitive.

"I'm sorry." Hanna said.

Young Allison reached over and gave Savannah's hand a gentle squeeze to reassure her.

"We don't run." Young Allison said.

Savannah needed more options. They were literally in the dark right now.

"Get out from this communication blocking zone and we will call everyone in on this." Savannah said.

That sounded like a lot of resources to Anna.

"Everyone?" Anna asked.

"Everyone!" Savannah said.

Young Allison didn't want to abandon anyone.

"We need to find Cammy." Young Allison said. "We can't leave her here alone."

Savannah knew things at a deeper level. They all knew it but she decided to spell it out. It mattered.

"Cammy has almost all the same information on her chip as Cameron does." Savannah said. "Everything about everything is on it.

Hanna continued through the area at higher rate of speed. She hoped to clear the jamming field. It would also narrow down the area they would need to search.

"Communications are back up." Hanna said.

Savannah wanted everyone notified in case they lost communications again.

"Hanna, call John Henry. Anna, call CamNet. Fill both of them in." Savannah said. "I'll call Cameron. We have a specific area now."

Young Allison wondered how this was going to go over at her house.

"Is anyone going to call my mom?" Young Allison asked.

Savannah looked at Young Allison.

"I will." Savannah said. "YOU are my responsibility."

Savannah started to take off her vest.

"What are you doing?" Young Allison asked.

There was some sadness in Savannah's eyes.

"I'm making sure you're better protected." Savannah said. Two vests will shield more of your body."

Everyone in the SUV knew how much Savannah cared for Young Allison.

"Stop." Anna said. "I'll give her mine. You must wear yours Savannah. Cameron has a copy of my program – OUR program…."

There was a very ominous feeling in the air.

They needed to protect Young Allison and they needed to act to find Cammy. It didn't appear that all would end well for everyone.

That's A Good Question

Do they love me
Do they love me not
Or is it an obsession
That's a good question

What is inside
Does anyone know
That drives one's soul
What will make them whole

Is each new day
Really different from the last
It doesn't seem that way
No matter what people say

When one reaches out
Will another reach back
Will it fade to black
Or seem like an attack

Is there really a light
At the end of the tunnel
Or only endless depression
That's a good question

Nobody