Chapter 784
Scratch One
Minutes ago:
Sheila knew the HK drone was about to close in on her. She was ready to make her move. She knew she needed to get away from where she currently was.
She still kept an eye on the building. She saw and then heard the building erupt into an inferno. There were two explosions a short time apart. It was what she'd planned. She was pretty sure that any of the Grays that entered the building would have died in there. She also knew if there were any Terminators with them that they would be severely damaged. Even damaged they would still be a major threat.
She also heard another drone approach at high speed. There was a very short burst from a minigun. She turned her attention to that. She wasn't exactly sure what just happened. At least a minigun fire wasn't directed at her.
The sound of the new drone grew intense. It sounded like the manned drone. From the earlier com traffic, she knew that should be Ally.
The HK drone that was about to light her up broke off its attack run. She witnessed the manned drone perform a wild maneuver around the HK drone that was about to attack her. That stunt looked like something Cameron would do. It worked to get the HK drone off of its attack run on her. She saw the HK drone was now in pursuit of the manned drone. She lost sight of them in seconds. A few seconds later there was another short burst of minigun fire. She wasn't sure if that was the manned drone firing again or the HK drone that was in pursuit of the manned drone.
Sheila quickly moved from her position. If there was somebody with eyes on her right now, she was going to find them. She was pretty sure she'd been targeted from the ground. It was time to return the favor. She would really like to get a little one on one time with them.
A few seconds later, two missiles streaked down from the sky and struck the burning building that was already a raging Inferno. It appeared the rest of the roof collapsed inward on top of the flaming mass.
Bob witnessed the building explode. It was actually two explosions. It was one that was followed seconds later by the other one which was much larger. It was powerful enough to make part of the building collapse in on itself. Seconds after that he heard a short burst of minigun fire over by where Sheila was at. It didn't sound like a ground attack on her position. No missile was fired either.
He now heard a second drone approach at high speed and another short burst from a minigun.
The HK drone that currently closed on his position was suddenly hit with a short burst of minigun fire. He watched the manned drone perform a wild maneuver around the HK drone that was about to attack him. The HK drone that closed on him broke off. There was another HK drone in pursuit of the manned drone. That wild maneuver looked like something Cameron would do. It ended the immediate threat to him and he was grateful for that. He figured the manned drone must have done the same thing over Sheila's position. Now the manned drone was the target of the two HK drones.
Bob saw both HK drones were in hot pursuit of the manned drone as it sped away. It 'jinked' wildly as it flew. The manned drone was able to throw off a gun attack by the two pursuing HK drones. The HK drones didn't have air to air missiles.
A few seconds later two missiles streaked down from the sky and impacted the burning building. The entire roof collapsed into the flaming mass. He doubted there would be any survivors out of that inferno. He was sure if there was a Terminator inside the building it would be severely damaged. It could still pose a threat though.
He moved from his position and went in search of Cammy and whatever stalked her. He was pretty sure it was a Terminator. It was probably the same Terminator that must have alerted the HK drone to target him. He hoped he was able to find him before Cammy did. He wanted to show his displeasure personally to the Terminator. He remembered what Sheila wanted to do to the Terminator near Avila Beach. Maybe he would let her do that to this one if they were able to capture him. He was very upset he'd almost been lit up by the HK drone.
John Henry checked the images from the drones overhead. He was also in communication with Bob and Sheila. He still hadn't heard from Cammy yet.
"Bob and Sheila are both clear." John Henry said. "I have nothing on Cammy."
John was very relieved Bob and Sheila hadn't suffered an HK drone attack.
"That was a close one." John said.
John Henry felt a little restricted by John's request to limit collateral damage.
"The HK drones were targeted. I was ready to flame them." John Henry said. "I tried to use the caution and restraint you requested."
John did feel a little conflicted because he needed to think about innocent people on the ground.
"It was still close." John said. "Everyone did an excellent job."
John Henry checked the position of Bob's and Sheila's movements.
"Bob went to search for Cammy." John Henry said. "He's on his way to her last known position."
John checked over the drone images. It appeared that there was no movement by any of the Grays on the ground near the burning building. He wanted to make sure that the captured HK drones in the back of the truck we're protected. He wanted to get those launched as soon as possible. He was sure that there would be more Skynet forces arriving soon. Whether that would be ground troops or more HK drones he didn't know.
"Send Sheila to where the HK drones that we captured are at. Let's get them launched." John said. "I want to make sure Skynet can't get its hands back on them."
John Henry sent the message.
John wanted to make sure it was clear around his troops on the ground.
"Are there any other HK drones approaching or vehicles on the ground?" John asked. "I want to know if anything looks suspicious at all."
John Henry didn't spot anything.
"Negative…." John Henry said.
John looked at the image of the burning building.
"Did anyone make it out of the building that blew up?" John asked.
John Henry previously directed one of their drones to orbit the area around the burning building. The drone was there to ensure but there would be no survivors. So far it hadn't needed to take action. His main worry was that a damaged Terminator could exit the building. Even if it was damaged, it would still pose a threat.
"There were no survivors apparent." John Henry said. "The building is still burning and has collapsed in on itself. Everyone there must be dead. It doesn't look like anyone could survive those explosions and the resulting fire. The smoke would have quickly overcome any survivors from the explosions and the collapse. It looks like the flames would have taken care of everything after that."
John didn't like how the HK drones seem to come out of nowhere. He wanted to find out what happened and take care of that problem.
"Is there any way you can determine where the HK drones came from?" John asked.
John Henry used triangulation from their drones that were in the area to come up with a possible location.
"I've tracked their origination point to a building across town." John Henry said.
John wanted some payback and he wanted it now. He wasn't going to fool around and watch the building. He wanted any more threats ended before they could happen.
"Get a drone over there and flatten it now." John said. "I don't want any more surprises."
John Henry set everything into motion, including the cover story.
"I've reported more natural gas detected in that area." John Henry said. "A drone is on the way. I've dispatched one more to assist."
John wanted to make sure that their drones were protected.
"Have them fire from as far away as they can in case they have Stingers on the ground." John said. "They may be expecting an attack."
John Henry hadn't considered that possibility. He knew it was sound advice.
"I'll do that." John Henry said.
John was worried about Ally. He was still awed by her earlier action.
"Ally, how are you doing?" John asked.
Ally needed to make sure she didn't lose the HK drones. It was a challenge to make sure that she didn't inadvertently pull away from them. She didn't want to call it a game but that was what it almost seemed like to keep them in pursuit.
"I'm just like the Pied Piper." Ally said. "One drone tried to break off and return but I went to full throttle, looped around, and gave it another burst from the minigun. It seemed to upset both of them. They're both still following me. I slow down every now and then so they can start to overtake me. It gives them the false hope that they can catch me."
John hoped that she stayed focused.
"How far from the quarry are you?" John asked.
Ally checked to make sure the drones were still on her six.
"It should be just under one minute." Ally said. "All my weapons are hot. I was able to get a good look at the quarry on my way to the target location. I have a good overview of its layout"
John wanted to make sure that she took care of business as soon as possible. He didn't want her to be like a cat that played with its prey before it finally killed it.
"Flame them as soon as you are over the target area." John said. "Don't play with them."
Ally didn't need John to tell her how to handle the situation.
"Killjoy…." Ally said.
John wanted to remind her of their other priorities.
"We still have Cammy to worry about." John said.
Ally wanted to make sure they were able to give Cammy maximum protection.
"I'll return as soon as possible." Ally said somberly. "I won't worry about the wreckage of the HK drones that I leave behind at this time."
John Henry already directed the helicopters to deal with the remains of the HK drones. Ally still needed to flame them first.
"The Blackhawk and Iroquois have been directed to head for the old quarry when they arrive." John Henry said. "You need to take care of their destruction as soon as possible."
John hadn't thought about the helicopters in a while.
"How far out are they?" John asked.
John Henry was aware of both of their positions.
"They're just over a half hour away." John Henry said.
John hoped that all of their 'business' would be concluded by then. His main concern was Cammy and her current whereabouts.
"This will be all over by then." John said.
John Henry was worried that Skynet would offer a further response, especially since it came out on the short end during the latest encounter.
"Will it?" John Henry asked.
John could have done without that reminder.
"You did have to say that didn't you." John said.
They still didn't know what else was going to happen. Cammy was the immediate concern now.
The building the HK drones came from was the next worry.
Ally still needed to flame the two HK drones that pursued her.
Anything that happened after that was a total unknown.
Minutes ago:
Cammy saw the Terminator took the bait and hurried to follow her. It was what she wanted to happen. She didn't want him to use caution.
She moved quickly into position and held her Taser ready.
There was an explosion outside somewhere. It was followed by a second one that was much larger. There was the sound of a minigun that fired twice, in two short bursts.
Cammy heard several drones pass overhead at a high rate of speed and two more explosions almost simultaneously in the distance again. They sounded like missile strikes. She was unsure what the extent of the air activity was.
She knew Bob and Sheila must be in danger. It sounded like whatever was going to happen out there, already did. She hoped they were OK. As soon as she dealt with this threat that stalked her, she would go to see how she could help everyone else.
There was no more gunfire outside or any more explosions. The sound of the drones was gone too. Those all sounded like good things but she wouldn't know for sure until she was done there.
She watched the doorway she'd entered from. There was the hint of a shadow from a light on the street on the open door. The shadow moved.
Cammy saw the Terminator carefully look in the doorway. When he saw it was clear, he slipped inside. He entered crouched down low apparently to avoid any gunfire. She didn't think she needed to worry about a drone now. They'd either been shot down or driven off. She doubted they would risk a shot into the building with their Terminator inside.
There was a metal ingot on the workbench she was crouched under. She reached up and took it. It was heavy but not for her. If she threw it right, it wouldn't bounce much once it hit the ground.
Cammy saw the Terminator look at the X-ray room. When he looked away, she threw the ingot into the doorway of the X-ray room. It landed with a loud clang and the sound of a tray of parts waiting to be X-rayed spill to the floor. There was a loud clattering of metallic parts across the floor inside the X-ray booth.
The Terminator turned and fired half a dozen shots into the doorway of the X-ray room. The Terminator didn't have a target but fired at where he'd heard the sound.
He carefully moved in that direction. He looked back twice and then he continued forward.
Cammy saw he was going to be where she wanted him.
So far everything seemed to go as planned.
She began to think this might work….
Seconds ago:
Bob moved back towards where the SUV was parked earlier in the day. He saw a shadow move inside the building. It wasn't Cammy or Sheila. He cautiously approached.
As he neared the door, there was a clang of metal inside. He paused as he heard six shots fired. It wasn't a 9MM, so it wasn't Cammy who fired.
He was on the tail of whoever was after Cammy.
Bob was at the doorway now. He was about to look inside.
Sheila carefully moved away from the stand of trees where she'd been hiding. She didn't go anywhere near the SUV. She figured that it was still targeted. Even though the threat from the air was neutralized currently, it didn't mean there wasn't someone on the ground with a LAW rocket. They could lay in wait until she entered the SUV and then fire the rocket.
She moved toward the building they'd moved the truck into. She continuously looked and checked around her to see if anyone followed her. She still felt she'd been specifically targeted by someone. If they did it once, they could do it again. She hoped to spot them before they spotted her again.
Sheila looked back without appearing to look back. She thought she saw movement in the shadows alongside one of the buildings. She was almost at the building she wanted to enter. She passed by it without looking at it and moved on.
She didn't want to lead whoever pursued her to where the truck with the captured HK drones was. She wanted to try and turn the tables if she could. She wanted some payback for what almost happened. She was still highly agitated that she was almost lit up by the HK drone just minutes ago. She really hoped to spend some time with them alone if she didn't need to terminate them outright.
John Henry was surprised by the sudden turn of events.
"Sheila just went dark." John Henry said. "So has Bob."
John understood exactly what that meant. The trouble was, he didn't know who stalked who at this point.
"Beautiful…." John said. "We just wiped out a group of Grays and all three of our people on the ground are stalking or being stalked."
John Henry tried to make sure that everything was covered as best as possible with the current equipment that was available to him.
"I have one of the drones following Ally in case one of the HK drones breaks off again." John Henry said. "I sent two to where we thought the HK drones originated from. One is on wide recon and the last one is waiting to see if any Grays or Terminators come out of the wreckage of the building the big truck was originally in."
John's biggest concern was his three Terminators on the ground.
"So we don't have eyes on Bob, Sheila or Cammy." John said.
John Henry hoped to free up several of their drones once they finished their assigned tasks. He still needed to make sure that the area was protected from any further HK drones or vehicles approaching.
"No." John Henry said.
John really wished he would have sent more troops and drones earlier.
"Beautiful…." John said.
John Henry had confidence in their troops.
"We're all doing what we can." John Henry said. "This isn't their first rodeo."
John knew his Terminators on the ground would be able to handle any threat. He just hoped they weren't damaged too badly doing it. He was worried about Ally too. He didn't want her to get too overconfident about what she was doing.
"Ally, what's your story?" John asked.
Ally didn't think she needed any oversight from the Command Center. She decided to mess with John a little bit first.
"It's the story of a lovely lady. Who was bringing up…." Ally said.
John immediately understood the reference to a TV program. He wasn't amused. It did remind him though that one of the teenage stars on the TV show did look a little bit like Cameron. At least she did in that time period.
"Funny…." John said.
Ally could see the quarry up ahead. She looked back and the two HK drones both closed in on her. She'd slowed a little more to keep them hooked. She thought of the best plan to insure that the wreckage of the HK drones landed within the confines of the old granite quarry.
"John Henry, do you have the HK drones targeted?" Ally asked.
John Henry made sure that their drone that followed the two HK drones kept a continuous lock on both of them.
"Both of them are locked up." John Henry said.
Ally wanted to lay out her plan.
"I'm going to overfly the quarry and then climb. The HK drones should do the same. They will be right over the quarry if they do." Ally said. "I've slowed down so they will close up on me. I'm going to full power and climbing now. Get ready. Fire…."
Ally looked back down at the drones from her maximum performance climb. Both of the HK drones fired their miniguns at her. She was now out of range. She could see two flaming streaks as they closed in on the HK drones. One HK drone dove into the quarry as the other continued after her. That one was hit by both missiles and fell straight down into the quarry. The flaming wreckage just missed the other HK drone that dove into the quarry to seek cover from the missiles.
She was a little disappointed that one of the drones survived her attack plan. That was OK too. She decided the other HK drone could use her personal touch.
"Scratch one." Ally said. "I'll have to go down and take the other one myself. It sought cover inside the quarry."
John was aware that HK drones were programmed to survive as well as attack.
"Be careful, Ally." John said. "The HK drone wants to terminate you as much as you want to terminate it."
John Henry wanted to remind her that their drone that helped her could only offer the use of its gun.
"Our drone assisting you is out of air to air missiles." John Henry said. "I can have it close into gun range."
Ally wanted a crack at the HK drone herself. She also felt they should have a contingency plan in case things didn't work out. It was always a possibility.
"Keep it out a ways but ready. It may have to go to guns if I don't make it." Ally said. "It's now a fight with me against 'Skynet'."
John reminded her that she carried a full complement of weapons.
"You still have air to air missiles." John said.
Ally laughed.
"I never said it would be a fair fight…." Ally said.
It's Not Enough
One reaches out
To seek even more
Without realizing it
They've just closed a door
Something new happens
They're quick to grab
Do they even ever think
Whose heart they might stab
Have a good time
Go ahead and take your fill
Was the love you destroyed
Worth the short thrill
When you wake up
You'll see I've evolved
You were the only purpose
Around which my life revolved
I've grown beyond this
Don't think it's a bluff
What we have now
It's not enough
Nobody