Chapter 666

Mark Of The Beast

Savannah, Jesse and Gail rode up the mountain in the cable car. The view was spectacular. The valley floor expanded before them with every foot in elevation they gained. They could see for miles and take in all the arid land below them.

Savannah was aware of the situation Cameron was in. She knew she should've gone to Cameron earlier like she wanted to do. She knew she was also a team member and needed to follow orders as well. She didn't have the same influence with the 'General' that Cameron did, not yet. Cameron already told her how it was possible to 'influence' their mate. John could be 'cut off' as 'punishment'. In that case the girls would always need to stick together. Cameron and her both saw how it worked in the future. Future Allison made it a point to tell them too. That was mainly to make sure Future John didn't try and make a move on Claire or her.

They neared the top after all the 'oohs and aahs'. The cable car slowed and very slowly stopped. It docked with a slight jolt and thud. There was a pause before the door opened and they all started to get out.

As they exited the station area, there was some commotion by the eating area. It seemed a cell phone experienced a battery overload which caused a fire and mini explosion. The workers were talking about how it was the second one of the day. They all commented on how they'd never seen one before, let alone two on the same day only hours apart.

They passed by two men who were talking.

"Now, no one is ever going to believe us." One backpacker said.

"Knowing us, they will say it was the 'herb' that made us think we saw what we did." The other backpacker said. "Maybe it made us think we saw more than we did."

"What proof we did manage to record is gone." One backpacker said. "Well, one thing is for sure. I'm never coming back here."

"Ten four to that, bro…." The other backpacker said. "I'm also cutting back on the herb."

The girls passed by the two men and exited the lodge to the rear and where the hiking trails were. They were aware of what John Henry or CamNet did to make those two phone 'episodes' happen. Savannah wanted to look once around the outside of the structure for anything suspicious. She could only pause briefly to take in the view. She wished Cameron was there to see it with her. Right now, they needed to reinforce their team. The girls headed up the trail toward the summit. Savannah saw it was a long distance and up a lot more in elevation. It was quite a bit more up.

It was clear that Jesse and Savannah we're in for a long hard slog to get up to the top of the mountain. If they've been under any illusions that it wasn't going to be that tough to go up, those illusions were long gone at this point.

Cameron was unsure what was happening. So much of this operation made no sense. Was this van a trap or was there something around here? Maybe it was something else.

She backed her SUV further away until she found a clump of bushes large enough to conceal it from the road. She hopped out. She'd only brought her Glock and Taser with her. She needed to travel light as part of her cover. She left her vest behind. She wanted to look like a hiker if she encountered anyone. She was sure that anyone would try to hit on her before they attacked her.

Cameron crossed the road and disappeared into the dry wash. It was shallow but wide. It was several hundred feet across. She knew these washes turned into raging torrents several times of the year. It could rain miles away and a wall of water would appear from out of nowhere. That initial wall of water was always full of debris picked up along the way. People camping would never even know it rained miles away until the flood waters overtook them. As fast as the water came, it would be gone. It only left the dead and debris behind. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence in the arid landscape.

The wash got shallower and wider but narrowed up and deepened as she got closer to the van. She paused and looked at some plants along the bank of the dry river bed as she contacted John Henry.

"Has there been any change in the status of the van?" Cameron asked.

John Henry kept an eye on the tracker that Cammy placed on it.

"Negative." John Henry said. "It hasn't moved."

Cameron was aware that two of her Terminators were on the way to back her up. It was possible the Grays might have someone on the way to back them up.

"Is there anything else we tagged around here?" Cameron asked. "I want to know if there's anything that's even close."

John Henry checked all the tracking devices. Unless someone found one of the tracking devices and removed it, none of the other vans were anywhere near Cameron.

"Negative…." John Henry said.

John could sense Cameron's apprehension. He figured for her to be this leery that they should all be just as leery to.

"Cameron, use caution." John said.

Cameron didn't need any Monday morning quarterbacks for advice.

"I am." Cameron said.

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"I hear a noise." Cameron said.

John figured it was going to be more bad news.

"What is it?" John asked.

There was a mild amount of alarm in her voice.

"I think it's a drone…." Cameron said.

Cameron looked around her. There was no place to hide.

The two helicopters flew in perfect formation for the rest of the journey. Cam let Sheila lead and didn't 'show off' again.

Sheila and Ally were a little surprised. They figured that she'd made her point, she did.

Cam was contacted by CamNet. She was made aware of the concerns and suggestions from the Young bunker. She wanted Sheila to land first since her Iroquois contained several wiring harnesses that they might be able to fix the Blackhawk with.

"Sheila, go on ahead and get the crew for the mountain. I'll check out Cameron's location and return and land after you've departed." Cam said.

Sheila was already briefed on what she would do upon their arrival.

"We'll let off the wiring and pick up half the team for re-positioning." Sheila said.

Cam wasn't sure to what extent they would actually be needed if the repairs could be made in a timely manner.

"Before you return, check to see how the repairs are coming on the Blackhawk." Cam said. "If it looks like they can get it fixed, then we both become redundant."

Ally was aware that problems seem to run in groups as opposed to happen in singular events.

"Or we can hang around as some additional assistance." Ally said. "That's in case the problem redevelops."

"Or as back up." Sheila said.

Sheila peeled off and headed for the desert base.

Cam double checked with John Henry about where Cameron was. She wanted to know the status of what else was happening around where Cameron was at currently.

"I'm still five minutes out." Cam said. "Where are her Terminators at now?"

John Henry passed along some more information. It was disturbing.

"Cameron has just issued a warning." John Henry said. "Watch for any drones…."

Cam looked over at Hanna as they flew towards Cameron's last reported location. They both felt like they were one big giant flying target at this point.

Cammy moved back down the mountain to try to catch the Grays that Bob followed between the two of them. They wanted to engage them and terminate them silently if it was possible.

"Bob, where are you?" Cammy asked.

Bob followed the instructions that Cammy gave him earlier about where to go.

"I'm almost to the big rock with a split face. I'm near where you told me to meet you." Bob said. "I haven't caught up to them yet."

Cammy was already in position. The Grays should be between Bob and her. It didn't appear that they were. That was very odd and something was definitely off.

"I'm already at the rock across the trail from it." Cammy said. "I haven't encountered them."

Bob was nearly at the location that Cammy indicated she was at.

"I'm coming across the trail." Bob said.

In twenty seconds, Bob met up with Cammy.

Cammy checked all around them.

"Where did they go?" Cammy asked.

Bob looked around them in three hundred and sixty degree circle as well.

"I don't know." Bob said.

Cammy was afraid that the Grays pulled a fast one. She knew Savannah's team was already at the upper station and headed up the trail. There was a chance that the Grays 'made' some of them and might be in the process of setting up an ambush somewhere along the way.

"Savannah is up to the top at the header station now with Jesse and Gail." Cammy said. "They're moving up the trail leading here."

Bob wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Maybe somehow they got past you." Bob said.

Cammy didn't think that was possible unless she hadn't paid good enough attention. There'd been a lot on her mind as she made her way back down alongside the trail. It was her responsibility if they've gotten by her unnoticed. She needed to go return to where she'd left from.

"I'll go back to check on Steve." Cammy said.

Bob thought that he could take care of things himself and help Cammy out as well.

"Maybe I should go to check out the area with Steve myself." Bob said. "That way I'll know what's happening."

Cammy knew Bob wanted to give her the opportunity to be with Savannah. She was grateful for the offer. She flashed him a big smile.

"Thank you, Bob." Cammy said.

Bob thought they could make three separate teams that way.

"It's a sound tactical decision." Bob said. "You and Savannah can be one team. Gail and Jesse can be the other team. You're all comfortable 'working' together. I can team up with Steve."

Cammy knew Bob and Savannah could be a team as well. Since they'd arrived together, that actually would have been the logical choice. She appreciated Bob's concern for Savannah and her.

Bob gave Cammy the description of the three men. Savannah and her team all heard it as well. Cammy reached up and touched Bob's cheek and smiled. Cammy silently disappeared down the trail.

Bob watched her go. He moved off of the trail and back alongside of it as he headed towards Steve's position. He made sure that Steve knew that he was coming.

So far in the Command Center they come up with a bunch of pieces of a puzzle and none of them fit together.

John looked over all the information that they gathered so far.

"I'm not even sure what this operation was about." John said.

John Henry pointed out the starting point. Everything else that happened was based on follow up of that initial encounter.

"This segment of the operation started from the drone that ran away at our last battle site." John Henry said. "This is all follow up that's rapidly expanding."

John could see that it was expanding. The trouble was he couldn't tell what it was expanding into. It didn't seem anybody knew that answer.

"It appears Skynet is more widespread than we'd imagined." John said. "It seems like we never really get ahead of them, even when we think we are."

Based on the unusual drone activity, John Henry was pretty sure that there was more than one Skynet that they were dealing with at this point in time. He was sure that they were at least two different groups, if not more, that were all involved around the area where they were currently at

"I think we have elements of different Skynets here now." John Henry said.

John was aware that was always speculation, he would like to see a little proof.

"We've thought that before." John said.

John Henry read the reports from Cameron that involved some of her Skynet terminations.

"Cameron said some of them have communicated with each other somehow, even when it should have been impossible." John Henry said.

John was worried that it would all go back to temporal malpractice or manipulation based on Cameron's past, present or future activities.

"Depending on how many timelines Cameron has been to, if she is reliving her life over and over, it could be dozens." John said.

John wondered how many of those divergent timelines were ones that Cameron may have created herself. He decided to keep that thought to himself.

John Henry independently made the same speculation that John did. He didn't say anything either.

"I don't know." John Henry said.

John looked at where the trackers were at for the different Terminators.

"Nobody does…." John said.

Anna could see that Young Allison intently looked over all the information on her monitors.

"How do you read the battlefield?" Anna asked.

Young Allison was as confused as anyone else but she was glad that Cameron took a less aggressive approach to the white van.

"Cameron made a wise choice to back off." Young Allison said.

They soon received the information Cameron reported about hearing a drone.

"With this new development, Cameron is exposed and under-armed." Anna said.

Young Allison thought that would depend on how aggressive that the drone was. Based on Cameron's current appearance, she should look like a hiker.

"She would be a target in the SUV as well." Young Allison said. "She can still pass for a hiker if she does nothing to give herself away. She's not carrying visible weapons and not wearing any combat gear. It was a wise decision to do the recon that way."

Anna checked with CamNet and John Henry for further information about the drone. Nothing showed up from either one of them.

"I don't think this is an HK drone." Anna said. "John Henry would have picked something up."

Young Allison knew not every drone needed to be an HK drone.

"Do you think it's a small drone?" Young Allison asked.

Anna thought that a small drone would be less of a problem than an HK drone but it could still be a threat. They didn't know where it came from or what its intent was.

"Yes." Anna said. "It still poses danger and can be used to carry a small explosive."

Young Allison communicated to CamNet what she wanted Cam to do with her UH-1.

"Cam is on her way." Young Allison said. "She can help check things out. She can do a 'flyby' and repeat it if necessary."

Anna knew why Young Allison wanted it done. She thought it was still a risk to the Metal girls She wanted Young Allison to remember that her actions affected other people as well.

"This will expose Cam and Hanna to danger also." Anna said. "There are people that love both of them. They are worried about them as well."

Young Allison looked at the bunker entrance and thought of her mother and Vanna. She didn't feel guilty about her decision but she wanted everybody to use an extra measure of caution anyway.

"Have CamNet inform them they are not to take any risky chances." Young Allison said. "Remind Cameron of that as well. Remind all of them why too."

Cammy moved back down the trail. She was no longer off to the side. She'd encountered a few people but moved off the trail when she did. She wanted to see Savannah. She decided to move off the trail again for the seclusion of the rocks and trees.

This whole operation was 'off', Cammy thought.

Cammy nearly tripped over something that hadn't been there before. It was a body. She drew her Glock as she searched for a target. Someone was dead and she'd walked right into the middle of it.

The body was located off the intersection of a divergent trail. The man was killed with a knife. Cammy went through his pockets but there was nothing of value. She found no weapons.

Savannah's team still moved up the trail and followed the directions that Cammy provided her with previously.

"We're approaching the divergent trail you mentioned." Savannah reported.

Cammy reported what she'd just come across in the last thirty seconds. She figured whoever used a knife would probably try to attack from the rear. She wanted them to take the appropriate precautions.

"Take it and be on the highest alert. I have one unknown down and terminated. They were knifed." Cammy said. "You lead and have Gail cover the rear."

Savannah glanced at Jesse who was between Gail and her. She knew that Jesse liked to use a knife and so did Sheila.

"Do you think it was a Terminator?" Savannah asked.

It looked like the work of a human to Cammy. She also knew of the other dangers that were actually there.

"No. There's at least one Terminator here." Cammy said.

Cammy informed Steve and Bob to be on the lookout as well. It appeared they were a few more players on the field and they didn't any idea who any of them were.

As soon as Savannah's team got the word from Cammy, Gail moved in a circle and scanned all around them. She hoped to detect a threat if it was close by them.

Jesse drew her silenced pistol and held it in her hand. Savannah drew her Taser. Her pistol was ready as well.

"I don't detect anyone around us." Gail said when she returned.

Her M4 was visible inside her now open coat. She would be able to bring it up and fire in less than a second.

Savannah expected to see Cammy any second.

"Cammy should be near this trail in three hundred feet." Savannah said.

Savannah led the team and headed off onto the snow covered ground, rocks and bushes.

Cammy appeared off to her side. Gail made a sweep of the area again.

Savannah checked around her and moved up to Cammy.

Cammy gave Savannah a quick hug.

"This is what I found." Cammy said as she showed the girls the dead man. "This happened in the last thirty minutes."

Jesse looked at the dead man. It disturbed her the way that he looked. She'd seen that look before many times.

"He looks sickly…." Jesse said.

It was a look Jesse knew well.

Cammy pulled up the sleeve of his coat.

Jessie already knew what she was going to see.

"It's the mark of the beast…." Jesse said.

Mark Of The Beast

What makes up the fabric
Of anyone's mind
When one looks inside of it
What is it they will find

Maybe deep down in everyone
There's a dark secret inside
The cause or the results
Are what they must hide

Everyone starts out the same
Time and events change them
Not everyone's troubles
From the same place stem

By nature people are good
Some become cruel and evil
The answer to that enigma
May be purely primeval

Each individual is different
Everyone can agree at least
That some people carry
The mark of the beast

Nobody