Chapter 645

Irradiated

John Henry sent out an urgent warning.

"There are several hostile HK drones that have been detected." John Henry said. "John, have your team get ready."

John thought his team was all set to go.

"We're all ready." John said. "How many HK drones are there? Are they headed for us?"

John Henry was a little surprised. They weren't headed for John's location. They were headed for where Cameron was at.

"There are two of them. They'll pass by you in the distance. They're headed for the other location." John Henry said.

John wasn't sure why it would be there. The team was all at this location.

"Why there?" John asked.

John Henry knew this was going to come out soon enough. He might just as well say it now.

"Cameron is currently involved in a combat operation. It originally started as a recon." John Henry said.

John was upset that once again Cameron was fighting the war alone. He knew not to show his anger in front of the troops. He suddenly was aware why Cameron was alone. It made him feel sick.

"No wonder she's been so quiet." John said. "She sent all her help to protect me. Is she alone?"

John Henry was glad to report that she wasn't.

"She was. She engaged thirteen assailants alone. Cammy and Savannah have since joined her." John Henry said. "They've taken down thirteen hostiles so far."

John was visibly agitated. Not only was Cameron alone. Now she'd drug Savannah into it. He thought that was just like her. There was nothing happening where they were at. He thought he could send some of the Terminators to help her.

"I need to send some of the troops from here to there." John said. "They need the help more than I do."

John Henry knew that wasn't what Cameron wanted.

"Negative." John Henry said. "The battle has commenced. They must remain to protect you, those are Cameron's orders."

It's slowly dawned on John that Cameron was all alone because of him. She was more worried about his safety than her own. He wondered if she thought about Savannah.

"We have the Stingers here." John said. "I've endangered Cameron by being out here again."

John Henry thought Cameron was covered with the assistance of Savannah and Cammy.

"Yes." John Henry said. "Savannah has entered the battle to assist her with Cammy. They'll fight with her."

John wasn't happy with the situation. There wasn't a whole lot he could do about it.

"Keep me posted." John said.

John turned to the back seat. He thought the Metal girls owed him a better explanation.

"What do you two have to say about this?" John asked.

Ally didn't think this was on them. It certainly wasn't on her.

"Cameron wants you protected." Ally said. "What else is there to say?"

Sheila wanted John to know what Cameron's plan originally was. He wasn't part of it.

"Cameron could have used our help and the heavy weapons Bob brought." Sheila said. "That was her plan. You being out in the field changed everything."

Ally thought John should've figured this out a long time ago. It happened every time he came out in the field. This was nothing new.

"John, you have to understand she's doing this to protect you." Ally said. "You know you shouldn't have come out on this one."

John wanted to do more to take some of the burden off of Cameron. He thought he should be out in the field instead of Savannah.

"I wanted to help." John said.

Sheila spotted a new development. It wasn't a good one either.

"It looks like you are going to get your chance." Sheila said. "Look over there…."

Cameron went over everything she knew with Savannah and Cammy. She wanted to shield Savannah from any heavy action.

"I know there's going to be at least one Terminator here." Cameron said. "Only Cammy and I will engage them."

Savannah didn't think she took any unnecessary chances. She'd only done what needed to be done when it needed to be done.

"I've only ever engaged a Terminator when I've needed to." Savannah said. "I don't go looking for them."

Savannah knew whenever there was a Terminator it needed to be brought down. She never went searching for Metal but did she didn't run from it when she found it.

Cameron still worried about Savannah nonetheless.

"I know, Savannah." Cameron said. "You know I'm worried about you."

Cameron was worried about the precious 'cargo' Savannah now carried for Vanna. It still marveled her some how humans could create life. She'd needed to be constructed.

Savannah didn't want Cameron to worry needlessly. They were there to do a job. Everybody needed to play a part.

"I feel safe and protected with Cammy and you here." Savannah said. "You'll have some more Terminators to back you up soon. The drones are coming."

Cameron was informed by CamNet what to expect. It seemed some extra help was a good idea at this point.

"I was notified by CamNet that you requested it." Cameron said. "Thank You."

Savannah wanted Cameron protected.

"I want you to use all the help we can get." Savannah said.

Cameron received a disturbing update from John Henry.

"John Henry also reported two HK drones passed by John's area. They didn't stop to engage them. They're headed here." Cameron said. "John Henry also sent two more drones to assist the first two you requested, Savannah."

Cammy saw a new threat with the report of the two HK drones.

"That means we still have another location to find and destroy." Cammy said. "The HK drones that are approaching aren't from either of the two areas we're watching."

Cameron frowned. It seemed there was always something more.

"Apparently…." Cameron said.

The trio took a full range of weapons and armaments from Cammy's SUV. They were on foot now as they approached the target area from the rear. They were now almost exactly opposite of where Cameron was nearly trapped. They came in from the property on the backside.

Cameron wanted to take some preemptive action. She didn't want to deal with hostile HK drones.

"I'll have John Henry's two drones go after the two hostile HK drones that are approaching." Cameron said. "They'll be stopped before they get closer."

Savannah didn't want to take any chances. She also didn't want to get caught in a sucker play.

"Since they're the biggest threat, I'd like one of yours to go as well just to make sure." Savannah said. "They can all be back here in no time if we need them. Watch out for them to lure our drones away from here."

It appeared they had a guardian angel again.

"Cameron, I'm coming to assist." Gail said. "I'm in the manned drone at altitude. If the two approaching HK drones run, send only two of ours after them. I'll stay here to assist with the other two of your drones."

Cameron was a little surprised that Gail was there but not really. She knew she was sweet on Savannah. They could use the extra help in this case

"I've got it." Cameron said.

Savannah smiled. Gail was here to look after her again.

"Thank You, Gail." Savannah said.

It appeared there was a new threat.

"Listen." Cameron said.

There was the unmistakable sound of a tracked vehicle moving.

It sounded as if things were going from bad to worse. That seemed to be pretty much on par for the course.

John thought things were bad enough already. He looked over to where Sheila pointed.

"Beautiful…." John said.

There was the whine of an HK drone starting up.

John wanted to strike first. He hoped to draw first blood.

"John Henry, target the HK drone getting ready to take off." John said. "Hit it now if you can."

There was a streak of light across the sky and an explosion where the HK drone powered up at.

John Henry watched the drone camera and saw he scored a hit.

"It's been hit." John Henry reported.

John was still worried about the HK drones that we're already in the air.

"What is the status of the HK drones headed for Cameron?" John asked.

John Henry was a little surprised when the two HK drones that approached Cameron's team turned tail and ran. He hadn't expected that.

"The two HK drones we spotted earlier have retreated." John Henry said.

John didn't want to lose them. They were still a threat as long as they existed. They could return at any time. They could even head for his team. He wanted that threat ended.

"Bring them down." John said. "Do you know where they came from?"

John Henry only saw them 'pop up' a short time ago.

"Not yet. I'll try to triangulate where they came from." John Henry said. "Cameron has dispatched two drones to intercept each one."

John was afraid that would leave Cameron under gunned.

"That leaves her without any." John said. "What about them? They're already in combat. Cameron needs help too."

"Gail's arrived with the manned drone." John Henry said. "Cameron's team has encountered tracked vehicles and Metal as well."

John knew Cameron's team was in for a rough go. That was his fault too.

"I'm drawing off all Cameron's resources." John said.

John Henry spotted something from the drone camera.

"It seems like you need them." John Henry said.

John hadn't seen any new development.

"We haven't encountered any Terminators yet." John said.

Sheila looked over at the building they'd just attacked.

"It looks like you spoke too soon, love." Sheila said.

She pointed again.

Cameron was worried about the tracked vehicle. It was moving but they couldn't see it yet.

Savannah noticed right away the sound wasn't the same as what she'd previously encountered with HK Tracks and HK Treads.

"That sounds different to me." Savannah said. "Is this a new threat?"

Cammy knew of several different types of armored vehicles. It was an older version of one.

"It's different." Cammy said. "That sounds like an M113 APC."

Cameron wasn't sure if Savannah would know what it was.

"That is an armored personnel carrier." Cameron said.

Cammy knew that the M113 carried a wide assortment of weapons. There were many different variations of it.

"They can carry a range of heavy weapons or even TOW missiles." Cammy said. "Those weapons can damage or disable Cameron and me. They will be fatal to you, Savannah."

Savannah knew Cameron would want to take the risk first. This wasn't the time. She didn't want to fool around.

"Gail if you have a shot. I want you to take it." Savannah said. "Strike it now."

That was good enough for Gail to hear. She'd already targeted it as soon as it exited the building.

"One missile is away." Gail said. "Its track is good."

Cameron would've waited but it was probably better to eliminate the threat first. They didn't know how many threats they would face. It could be the first of many.

There was an explosion and then a series of secondary ones. It sounded like munitions being set off by the first explosion. There was ammunition 'cooking off' in the destroyed APC.

Savannah didn't want Gail to become a target.

"Gail, watch for an attack aimed at you." Savannah said. "You're now known to be up there."

CamNet informed Cameron that the two HK drones had broken off their approach. That surprised her somewhat. She hadn't expected that.

"CamNet has reported the two hostile HK drones are running." Cameron said. "They've split up."

Savannah questioned the information. She was afraid they were headed elsewhere.

"Are they running or do they have new targets?" Savannah asked. "John…."

Cammy was updated by John Henry. John seemed to be covered for now.

"John has four drones on station." Cammy said.

Cameron wanted to make sure that the two HK drones didn't elude them.

"I'm sending two drones after each one of the hostile HK drones." Cameron said.

Savannah was worried that that would cut their strike capability down.

"That leaves us with only Gail." Savannah said.

Cameron planned for two of the drones to fire their ordinance before they left.

"My two drones will be traveling a little lighter. They have a few presents to deliver as they go." Cameron said.

Four missiles streaked down. They hit all sections of the structure. It was soon a flaming mass with multiple explosions emanating from within the burning rubble. It appeared that they'd caused a lot of damage.

Gale spotted a breakaway of troops from the burning structure.

"There is a group of figures headed your way, Cameron." Gail said. "Missile away…."

Savannah wasn't sure how the enemy was able to always know where they were at.

"How are they tracking us?" Savannah asked.

Cameron wondered if it wasn't her specifically that they were able to track.

"They might be tracking me." Cameron said. "I was 'painted' by something earlier when I did the recon. I might be irradiated in some way."

Cammy did several different visual spectrum scans of Cameron.

"I detect nothing." Cammy said.

Gail saw that all the figures were down from the missile strike. The trouble was a couple of them didn't stay down.

"Two of the figures have risen from the missile strike." Gail reported.

Savannah knew what that meant.

"Metal…." Savannah said as she checked her Taser.

Cameron and Cammy were ready to take them down. It appeared that they may have to go one on one with the two Terminators.

John's teams all emerged from their vehicles. Al and Dan reported they'd targeted the Terminator and they were zeroed. There was a very loud 'boom'.

"The Terminator is down." Al reported.

Dan carried an M82A1 with him. There was one in Bob's van as well.

Bob was still at the van with the two Stingers. He wanted to be ready in case any of the hostile HK drones got through.

John wanted the two Metal girls to take over the Stingers.

"Ally, Sheila, you two can go relieve Bob and each have a Stinger ready." John said. "Bob can join Jim and me."

Ally wanted to make sure that John had plenty of protection.

"Only one of us needs to go." Ally said. "Sheila, you go, then we can switch."

Sheila wanted to stay and assist John. She wanted to razz Ally some.

"Last time we 'switched', you wouldn't give my chassis back." Sheila said.

Ally didn't like the 'modification' that Sheila made to her sheath. She wanted to see if it was permanent or not before she returned Sheila's chassis to her.

"I liked it." Ally said. "You damaged mine."

Sheila didn't think it was a big deal.

"People pay good money to have that done…." Sheila said. "Everything regenerated."

Ally thought that Sheila should've experimented on herself first.

"Not how you did it." Ally said. "If things wouldn't have regenerated, I would've done that to your sheath before we traded back. That's if we would've traded back. I like how things are."

John wasn't sure what they referred to and then it dawned on him. For some reason it did sound like something Sheila would do. He didn't want them to get side tracked.

"Let's stick with the operation." John said.

John wasn't sure what they talked about but he seemed to have a good idea. He'd looked at quite a few pictures on the internet about the procedure. They could be joking too, to lighten the mood. Something told him there weren't. He could picture Sheila doing something like that. He wondered about the pain. He knew the Metal girls thought if they felt pain that they knew they were alive. That was a bad trait that they'd picked up from Cameron.

John hoped Young Allison wasn't monitoring them.

"Remember that there are other people that can hear this." John said.

Ally realized what he'd meant. She hoped they hadn't overstepped their bounds. She didn't want to have a confrontation later on with Cameron about it.

"We were just trying to ease the tension." Ally said.

John wanted to drop the whole matter. It was their protection he was worried about right now.

"OK, one of you go and one of you stay." John said. "Bob has a Stinger hot, keep it that way."

Sheila headed back to the van.

"I'm on my way." Sheila said. "Bob, come on down."

In a few minutes Bob was with John.

John had expected Bob to remain with Cameron earlier. He was a little upset that he hadn't.

"You should have stayed with Cameron." John said.

Ally spoke up in Bob's defense. That was all Cameron's doing not theirs.

"She ordered us to come to you." Ally said. "She's replaceable, you're not."

John didn't want to get into that conversation.

"I get it." John said. "Let's move in and see what we find."

John Henry didn't want John to step from the frying pan into the fire.

"John, maybe a drone strike would be the best option." John Henry said.

John was a little irritated at the suggestion. He didn't want everybody to baby him.

"So I'm not put in more danger?" John asked.

John Henry was a little surprised at what happened next.

"Hold your position, John." John Henry said. "CamNet has ordered a drone strike."

John didn't like his orders countermanded.

"It's like Skynet around here." John said. "I need to talk to Cameron."

John Henry was able to view the battlefield where Cameron was at from Gail's drone. He knew she was engaged.

"She's currently fighting Terminators." John Henry said. "It should wait."

John knew sometimes that a Terminator would take him literally.

"It was a figure of speech." John said.

Sheila was at the van with an armed Stinger.

"Targets…." Sheila said.

None of this looked good.

No Pain – No Gain

Everyone is damaged
Even those who do
The damage to others
To us, to me, to you

The damage occurs most
When we think we have value
That we matter in some way
The remittance is to belittle and argue

Would living have a point
If nothing was a challenge in life
Or is the real question
What is the point of life

In my time of – existence
I've come to question everything
While seeking something in return
The smallest scrap - anything

I've sadly learned
What I want the most
What I can't stop from feeling
Is what has hurt me the most

So to feel, want, express and share
Actually fills my heart and brain with pain
I must rethink the misguided saying
No Pain – No Gain

Nobody