Chapter 1067
For Your Sake
Jesse held Claire's naked body in her arms.
Claire was clearly distraught.
"It's always serious when any of them go out." Jesse said. "You need to learn to deal with it."
Claire just wasn't used to Hanna going out on an operation. Normally they were all in Palmdale and Hanna seldom went out.
"I know I need to toughen up." Claire said.
Jesse knew from experience there was only one way to escape.
"We can go to the Command Center or to the lab if you want to monitor the operation." Jesse said. "All that will do is make you even more nervous and worry even more. There's also nothing you can do about it as you watch it happen. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen and that's just how it is."
Claire had been through this before a few times when Hanna went out. It was never this sudden.
"I know it's all part of what needs to be done." Claire said.
Jesse decided to take Claire's mind off of everything. She quickly stripped her clothes off. She moved Claire onto the bed. They held together for a short time. She started to kiss Claire. It took several attempts before Claire deepened the kiss and was ready for more.
Claire took Jesse's love and let it lead her away from a bad place. She wanted to respond in kind but Jesse gently pressed her against the bed.
Jessie started on her way down Claire's body.
"I got this one, love." Jesse said.
A few seconds later Claire's neck arched backwards and she let out a gasp. In just a few seconds she was lost in a world of pleasure. Nothing else mattered right then.
Jesse looked up across Claire's flat stomach through the valley of her breasts to Claire's face. She could see Claire's troubles were soon forgotten. She intensified her efforts as Claire squirmed around on the bed. Her troubles were forgotten as well at that point. It always excited her greatly to pleasure another female and see the results.
Once the finishes started, she planned to keep them coming.
Seconds ago:
Cammy and Cameron headed for the side of the building that they'd come up on. They saw Savannah rapidly approach their position in the SUV and then slow down slightly so they could jump onto the top of it as it passed by without fully stopping.
Cameron told Cammy to take the hood. She watched Cammy jump and followed right behind her. She tried to land as flat as possible to avoid crushing the roof of the SUV too much. Savannah said she would duck down.
She impacted behind the front seats. The bulk of her chassis landed over the second row seats. She smashed her fist through the roof for a handhold on one side. She gripped the open window sill with the other hand. Savannah apparently rolled all the windows down as she approached before she landed. That was to keep them from blowing out by the impact in case the roof collapsed. She thought that was an effective strategy.
Cameron was aware there was a drone closing on them. She was sure it was their drone. It was almost on top of them. She glanced back as the drone closed behind them and flared up at an angle as the building behind them exploded. She heard a series of shrapnel hits on the drone. She received no damage. She hadn't detected any hits on the SUV either.
A few seconds later the drone increased its power output and quickly rose into the night sky. Cameron spotted the markings that Young Allison and Savannah applied to it when they'd helped repair it previously.
Cameron smiled.
Moments ago:
Savannah was on the accelerator with Cammy on the hood and Cameron on the roof of the SUV. The sound increased as a drone approached them from behind. She didn't know what was happening but hoped the drone was theirs.
She looked in the side view mirror and saw a drone drop down right behind her as the building she drove away from exploded. The drone tried to shield them from shrapnel and debris.
The SUV shook from the blast of the explosion but kept going. The drone absorbed any of the shrapnel.
Savannah saw Gail stopped up ahead of them ready to offer assistance. She wanted to check for any damage to Cameron and the SUV. Cammy looked undamaged on the hood.
The drone screamed overhead and disappeared into the night sky. She thought she caught a glimpse of the marking that Young Allison and her applied to two of the drones they'd repaired before. It might have been 'Coltan Overcast'. It may have been 'Cherry Bomb' as well.
Savannah smiled.
Moments ago:
Cammy headed for the side of the building with Cameron. Cameron told her to take the hood. They both jumped at the same time. She landed on the hood and grabbed onto the rear of the hood where the windshield wipers were located. There was a small lip for her to hold onto. She had a good hold. She faced towards Savannah and could look through the SUV. She watched Cameron's hand come through the roof for a handhold. She was glad the roof hadn't buckled anymore than it did.
She could hear and then see the drone come down right on top of them and in back of them. It flared up at an angle at the same time the building exploded. She turned her face away when the explosion happened in case any shrapnel came through the SUV. The drone appeared to block it all. She heard shrapnel hit it but none of it seemed to hit the SUV. The SUV shook from the explosion but continued along at a rapid pace. She heard the drone power up to back off into the night sky. She turned her head to look forward and saw Gail parked up ahead waiting for them. If the SUV received any damage, they would simply switch to Gail's SUV and continue on their way.
She caught a glimpse of the drone as it passed overhead and disappeared into the night sky. It was one of the ones that Savannah and Young Allison repaired and applied markings to before.
Cammy smiled.
Gail was away from the danger zone. She slowed as Savannah approached. She saw Cammy and Cameron on the outside of the SUV and the drone drop down to shield them. It all seemed rather spectacular.
She stopped to rendezvous with Savannah and make sure there was no damage or injuries to any of them.
Savannah pulled up alongside of her.
They all watched the events unfold in the Command Center. There were several drone angles including some body cam footage of the events as they unfolded.
John was worried stiff and could see that they all were too. He watched Young Allison. She seemed much more calm and collected than he thought she would be. He saw her reach over and take Anna's hand to stop the slight glitch that started. It reminded him that Anna's base program was Cameron's program. He really liked the way that Anna looked right now. He wondered, since she ran Cameron's program, if she would want a little 'one on one time' at some point. Technically she was just another version of Cameron. Then again, she had the 'Neural Interface' with Savannah. Maybe that would put the brakes on everything.
Young Allison was very displeased at the close call that Cameron, Cammy and Savannah just experienced. Someone needed to atone for that grievous event. There was one target that she was currently aware of. Actually there were two of them.
"I want those people in the 'security patrol' cars." Young Allison said. "I want some answers."
John Henry responded to Young Allison's request.
"I'm directing Tom and Steve along with Ally and Sheila to intercept them." John Henry said.
Young Allison laid out some new plans.
"They can always use the damaged SUV to T-Bone one of them." Young Allison said. "I want a Terminator driving it. Savannah needs to ride with Gail in the other SUV. I think that Cameron and Cammy are up for a little payback right now. I know that I am."
John wanted those people too. Cameron and Cammy were almost severely damaged again. Everything related to the Fanatics was explosive and extreme.
John Henry already started to make 'reports' of a natural gas leak. The records would show the 'reports' came in from as early as an hour ago. They tried to cover their tracks.
John talked to Cameron to make sure Cammy, Savannah and her were all OK. He wondered if maybe he shouldn't ask Savannah instead. Cameron might not be as forthcoming with the truth. She knew that she was closest to the blast being on top of the SUV. He thought that was a bold move to bring the drone down right in the middle of a city street to act as a shield for the SUV and its occupants and riders.
John needed to focus on the operation.
"We need to watch for any other suspicious vehicles around the target area." John said.
Young Allison wanted to do several things.
"We need to watch for anyone attempting to leave the target area on foot or by vehicle." Young Allison said. "They're most likely the one who triggered the explosion."
Young Allison quietly checked on the damage done to the drone that shielded Savannah's SUV. It was reported as minor by CamNet. She was also informed the drone volunteered for the mission. Depending upon how close the drone was to the blast would determine whether it would survive or not. The drone knew that going in. She informed CamNet that she would oversee any repairs needed to the drone. She asked CamNet to thank it.
She was sure that there must have been someone else there that knew the people inside the building were dead or what happened there. They were most likely responsible for the bomb. They waited in the hope that more of their team would have entered the building. They wanted to inflict maximum damage. The lucky spot by Gail thwarted that event. It made her wonder if more than one group had rigged the building to explode.
"They all need to be on the lookout for hostile Terminators." Young Allison said. "I want a drone to follow any suspicious vehicles leaving the target area too. One should remain on station at altitude to see what develops later on as well. Someone might want to see who all showed up to look at their handiwork. I want to see myself."
John watched and listened. He wasn't sure if this operation was winding down or just getting started. He was glad Young Allison did what she did again. He would speak to her when the time was right. It was clear that a Terminator upbringing put her ability far beyond her years of age. She was able to do what he did with more options and at a faster speed. The only thing that bothered him was her willingness to go all out and use every tool or resource available to her. It was bound to cause collateral damage at some point and increase the chances of more of what they did becoming known. That might be a disadvantage of a Terminator upbringing. Then again Savannah would be a counteracting influence on her the same way she was on CamNet and Cameron. It really made him wonder if everything was supposed to play out the way Cameron told him for years that it would.
He was troubled more than a little bit when Young Allison told CamNet that, 'the usual rules don't apply'. He didn't know if he should speak with her directly about that or speak with Savannah first. He certainly wasn't going to speak with Cameron first.
Young Allison glanced over at John. She turned and looked at Anna. Anna shrugged her shoulders. It was clear that John was pleased with the outcome of the event but troubled by her actions. She viewed everything as a trade off.
Savannah pulled up next to Gail. Cameron and Cammy hopped off of the top of the SUV.
They were aware of Young Allison's idea to ram one of the 'security patrol' cars that approached their location if necessary. The SUV that Savannah drove was already 'totaled' from the impacts of both Cammy and Cameron landing on top of it. It would need to be dumped anyway.
Cameron wanted to make sure that Savannah wasn't behind the wheel when they needed to ram one of the unknown vehicles.
"Get in Gail's SUV." Cameron said to Savannah.
Cammy knew there was a full complement of weapons in the SUV. She'd taken it from Cameron's base.
"We need to transfer the weapons out of this one." Cammy said.
Savannah knew they could do it quickly.
"Let's do it." Savannah said.
The girls quickly went to work to get everything transferred.
Gail exited her SUV and opened the back. Cammy and Cameron each arrived with an arm full of weapons and gear. Savannah collected whatever they couldn't grab. It wasn't much.
Everything was transferred in less than thirty seconds.
Gail slammed the back doors down on both of the vehicles and headed back to her SUV.
Savannah climbed in next to Gail. She reached over and gave Gail's arm a gentle squeeze. She knew that Gail was there specifically to watch over her. She appreciated the concern but she didn't want it to become a habit.
Gail looked at Savannah and smiled. She was very pleased that she was able to assist Savannah. Her being there right now was proof of that
Cameron and Cammy climbed in the damaged SUV.
Savannah wanted Cameron to use the little moderation.
"We're going to follow you." Savannah said.
Cammy wanted Savannah and Gail to use caution.
"That's fine. Stay back a little bit." Cammy said. "We don't know how this will play out. We don't know what the resistance will be or what will happen. We don't even know what group it is. If they're Fanatics, things could end explosively."
Savannah didn't want to play it safe. She wanted to be able to lend support and firepower if necessary. The reminder about the Fanatics was a little troubling. It still didn't change what needed to be done.
"We'll stay close enough to engage any threat." Savannah said.
John Henry directed the girls where to go. They were on an intercept course with the two 'security vehicles'.
They weren't the only two teams that would be sent that way.
Sheila and Ally were able to witness what happened first hand and through the drone footage.
Ally was aware that Savannah made her get out of the SUV before she took off and entered the danger zone earlier. She knew that she should have been the one driving, not Savannah. Once again Savannah took the risk herself instead of someone else, Terminator or not.
"That looked like one wild ride." Ally said.
Sheila looked at Ally and winked.
"I'm one wild ride." Sheila said.
Ally pointed at her com since they knew Young Allison was in the Command Center. She didn't want Sheila to get in any more trouble.
Sheila wondered what new 'beef' that would create with Cameron by her saying that. What was done was done.
She shrugged her shoulders.
John Henry directed them where to go. Steve and Tom followed Ally and Sheila. They each drove an SUV. Steve now drove the SUV Cameron arrived in. He'd collected it when they arrived.
The Terminators would all be able to shoot and drive at the same time.
John Henry noted a new development with the 'security vehicles'.
"The two target vehicles have split up." John Henry said. "They will lose contact with each other. I have everything but our group jammed. They won't be able to communicate anymore. Their last form of communication was visual communication."
John wondered how they were tipped off. They'd cut communications before Cameron and Cammy went up onto the roof.
"They were alerted somehow." John said.
Young Allison thought John should have acted sooner with some things.
"There probably was someone there who had the building under direct observation. They're most likely still there and will attempt to leave once they think our group has left. In this case, communications should have been blocked when Cameron arrived and the power turned off sooner." Young Allison said. "We knew going in this was sketchy."
John Henry felt justified in not doing those things immediately.
"I don't like to jam and cut too soon." John Henry said. "It can alert someone there that we're about to do something. If nothing else, it alerts them that something is different."
Anna spoke up in agreement with Young Allison. She felt it depended upon the situation going in. They were aware that this situation was 'iffy' from the start.
"In this case, so did not doing it soon enough." Anna said. "That's why there are two fake 'security patrol' vehicles on the way."
John knew Anna was going to stick up for Young Allison but it was evident Young Allison would stick up for herself. It was clear that all of her calls were the right ones, again. He even liked the call that brought the drone down onto the street right in back of the SUV to protect Cameron, Savannah and Cammy. The drone hadn't been there that long but it was still there for a short time.
"I think it is obvious that whoever was the victor of the fight at the body shop, knew someone would come to look for whoever lost." Young Allison said. "It was a set up. I think it was a set up we stumbled into. That means most likely there are still two groups out there that we need to deal with."
John needed to agree to that. Too many things were in play for them just arriving.
"It appears that way." John said.
Young Allison felt there was still a hostile on the ground within eyesight of the building.
"I think someone was on the ground watching either directly or indirectly." Young Allison said. "I want to keep a drone at that location."
Anna asked CamNet to watch for any suspicious people or vehicles leaving the area.
It appeared Young Allison's suspicions were correct. There was activity sooner than they'd anticipated.
"Hanna has reported a motorcycle leaving the area of the explosion." John Henry said.
"Tell her to stay with it." John and Young Allison said at the same time.
Anna and John Henry looked at each other as John and Young Allison looked at each other.
Young Allison acted naturally. She didn't mean to step on John's toes.
"I'm sorry." Young Allison said. "I'm used to working alone with Anna and CamNet."
John liked to watch Young Allison work. He hoped that was all he liked but he could see the future coming.
"We value your input." John said.
Young Allison wanted to be a team player.
"I feel I'm overstepping." Young Allison said. "I still want a drone to remain at the site of the explosion to see what else turns up or leaves."
John Henry observed her actions protecting Cameron's team.
"You're helping." John Henry said.
John saw they now needed to deal with three separate targets.
"Let's get Cameron's and Gail's teams on one of the vehicles and Sheila's team and Tom on the other. Steve can follow the direction the motorcycle goes." John said. "I want Hanna to track them."
Young Allison wanted the motorcycle rider.
"The individual on the motorcycle is most likely responsible for the explosion that almost damaged Cameron, Cammy and Savannah." Young Allison said. "They need to be dealt with in accordance with that act."
Everyone could see that this was now personal to Young Allison. It was clear that she would want vengeance at some point.
Savannah heard all the reports. She knew Cameron would want to go after the motorcycle rider herself as soon as she could. That was most likely the one who either set the trap or called in the reinforcements. She didn't want to split their teams.
"We will stay with Cameron and Cammy." Savannah said.
Gail wanted to say something to Savannah about her earlier actions. She felt she could have done what Savannah did. She didn't like Savannah to risk herself. It was still a courageous and impressive move under the impending conditions. She looked at Savannah.
"That was a bold move you made earlier." Gail said. "I could have gone in from my side just as easily. I saw you made Ally get out too. You protected her and risked yourself."
Savannah wanted to downplay the incident. It was over and they'd prevailed.
"I wanted all our forces protected." Savannah said. "My SUV was already running and ready to go."
Gail knew Savannah protected her and Ally in case the explosion occurred before the rescue could be completed.
She reached up and touched her new heart without thinking as she drove. She knew Savannah belonged in it, next to Jesse.
Savannah saw her reach up but said nothing. She wondered what Gail thought or felt right now.
Gail looked over at Savannah. There was a silent communication with that look for both of them.
Cameron was upset about almost getting damaged by the bomb blast.
"We are taking them out, one way or another." Cameron said.
Cammy wanted Cameron to use good judgment.
"Savannah will be behind us." Cammy said. "Keep that in mind."
Cameron wanted their six covered.
"They'll watch our backs." Cameron said.
Cammy looked at the drone footage of the vehicle they were about to intercept. She held her phone so Cameron could see it if she wanted to.
"They both appear to be approaching the explosion area from different directions." John Henry said. "They've split up."
Cammy spotted the target vehicle.
"There it is." Cammy said.
Cameron stepped on the accelerator.
"We have our target in sight." Cameron said. "We're moving in."
Cameron wanted some payback on about four different levels.
Gail spotted the vehicle they were to intercept.
"I see the target. Cameron is making her move." Gail said.
Savannah checked the weapons again.
"I have our weapons ready." Savannah said. "My Taser is hot."
John Henry sent a drone update.
"You have two drones." John Henry said. "One has a missile lock and the other is low enough to use the gun in seconds if needed."
Savannah wanted to avoid a drone strike if possible.
"We will back Cameron's play." Savannah said. "Keep the drones in reserve and ready."
Gail watched Cameron accelerate.
"Cameron is pulling ahead." Gail said.
Savannah wanted enough room to be able to best position themselves in a firefight.
"Stay with her but keep some distance. We can come up on the side that will need us the most." Savannah said.
Savannah checked her Coltan loaded M4 again.
Sheila and Ally were followed by Tom as they closed in on the intercept point as directed by John Henry.
"I see them." Sheila said.
Ally was concerned that their vehicle may have been 'made' at the body shop.
"Tom should take the lead." Ally said. "His SUV wasn't at the body shop before all communication and power was cut. They won't have a description of it."
Tom felt that was an effective strategy. It would allow him to approach the target vehicle with less suspicion.
"Affirmative…." Tom said as he moved around Sheila and Ally.
Sheila knew Tom would take the main risk now.
"If I didn't have my vest on I'd flash him." Sheila said.
Ally pointed at her com again.
Sheila shrugged her shoulders.
"I hope CamNet is helping me out here." Sheila said.
They were both surprised at what they heard next.
"I'm always watching over Savannah and Young Allison." A voice said in her com.
It sounded like Cameron.
"Was that CamNet?" Sheila asked.
Ally was pretty sure that it wasn't Cameron.
"For your sake I hope so." Ally said.
Sheila hoped so too.
They saw Tom pull ahead.
"Tom is making his move." Sheila said.
Ally made sure her weapons were set.
"Get ready." Ally said.
Sheila looked over at Ally and smiled.
"I'm always ready." Sheila said.
Ally looked at Sheila and shook her head.
Sheila shrugged her shoulders again. She was who she was.
Steve traveled in the direction of the motorcycle but not behind it. Hanna was on it with the manned drone as she directed him. They didn't want to spook the rider. The plan for now was to see where they went. The motorcycle rider represented either Skynet or the Fanatics. There was an outside chance they belonged to the anti-Metal faction. They intended to find out one way or the other.
For Your Sake
There are times in life
When everyone makes a mistake
They wish that they could
Themselves change and remake
They don't want to be seen
As a user or a flake
They want to be real
Not another fake
They would rather
Be bitten by a snake
Than have the one they love
Cast them away and forsake
Soon everyone learns
The pain of heartbreak
It stabs the heart and mind
It cracks the soul like an earthquake
One needs to think
Before they grab and take
Don't leave another in the fog
The vision of their future opaque
I ask that you listen
I hope that you're awake
It's not for me
It's for your sake
Nobody