Chapter 1098
Witching Hour
Savannah piloted the UH-1. She neared the local airport near Palmdale. It was almost dark. She felt a little fatigued again. The adrenalin rush of the 'redline' flight seemed to have dissipated in her system.
Cameron was in the pilot's seat. She glanced over at Savannah to see if she wanted anything.
Savannah knew that she needed to 'tough things out'.
"I'm good." Savannah said.
Pushing the 'redline' got them back with enough light for Savannah to see everything unassisted. She set the Iroquois down smoothly on the tarmac.
She went over all the instruments with Young Allison as she leaned over her shoulder and shut the helicopter down.
Technically they were done and could walk away from the helicopter. Savannah liked to take it one step further.
"I always like to check everything." Savannah said. "In case we need to leave in a hurry, I like to know everything is good and there are no obvious leaks or anything that looks loose. I want to make sure that things are good for the next person as well. I don't know if they'll be as thorough when they make their inspection."
She exited with Young Allison and they gave the UH-1 a 'once over'.
Young Allison was well acquainted with the policy. Even if it was a rental aircraft, which technically the Huey was, it was still a good habit to keep.
"Cameron taught me that too." Young Allison said. "Sometimes it's nice to have help."
Savannah felt tired. She didn't usually feel this beat. She was a little worried that something might be wrong with her. She was at least a little 'off'. She didn't want to say anything in front of the Metal girls because that would cause a mild panic amongst them. She decided to suck it up and drive through the feeling. She looked at Young Allison and smiled.
"That was a full day of flying." Savannah said.
Young Allison felt Savannah did an outstanding job. She really wanted to get some more time in on a helicopter. She really liked Savannah's ability.
"You did excellent." Young Allison said. "Someday I hope to be as good as you are."
Savannah felt it was Young Allison that was remarkable.
"I think you already are. You'll be better too." Savannah said. "Your flying was perfect. You flew the Mitchell like a pro with limited flight time in twin engine aircraft. You were extremely proficient with the Iroquois as well on your first try."
Young Allison was ready for more. She thought that she'd done very well with the fixed wing aircraft. She was ready to expand herself with the rotary wing aircraft.
"I'll need to work on the takeoffs and landings on the helicopter." Young Allison said. "I really appreciate you giving me the opportunity to fly the Huey."
The Detail was waiting for them with two SUVs.
Cameron wanted all the girls to ride together.
The Detail transferred to one SUV. That left the other one for Cameron and the girls.
Young Allison wondered about the vehicle seating arrangements. She felt a mild sense of déjà vu.
"I feel like we just did this." Young Allison said.
Savannah had to agree with her. everything was pretty much the same as when they'd returned to Cameron's private airstrip in the B-25. Now they were at the local airport and had just returned the UH-1 that they'd rented.
"That's because we did." Savannah said.
Young Allison wanted some more 'wheel time' on the SUV. She thought things had gone pretty smoothly for the entire day. She wanted a little bit more before she returned home. She thought now was a good time to ask.
"It's pretty dark now." Young Allison said. "Can I drive back?"
Cameron didn't have a problem with that. She thought that Young Allison could use the experience. She reached out to hand the keys to Young Allison but stopped short as she noticed Savannah look at her. She didn't want to create a problem.
Savannah knew if she wasn't there that Cameron would have allowed Young Allison to drive home. It was really no different than what she'd allowed the other night with Young Allison. It was obvious Young Allison really wanted to drive. She didn't want to seem like a killjoy but she did want to lay down a few rules.
"As long as CamNet clears the route home, I don't have a problem with it." Savannah said.
Young Allison smiled at Savannah and Cameron. It was a smile that could always melt a heart.
"Thank you." Young Allison said as she took the keys.
When she got in the SUV the seat was already adjusted for her. It was a fact noted by Savannah and Young Allison.
It appeared the Detail knew Young Allison was going to drive home all along. Setting the SUV up for her to drive was routine for them.
Savannah understood it for what it was.
"I have a feeling this has happened a few more times than I was led to believe." Savannah said.
Cameron decided to take the heat. It was her doing anyway. She didn't want any negative feedback directed at Young Allison.
"You're absolutely correct. Allison didn't want you to be angry at me." Cameron said. "I asked her not to be specific."
Savannah was aware that Young Allison was doing everything at an accelerated pace and at a much younger age than she did.
That made Savannah worried now. She'd once told Cameron she regretted she didn't become pregnant and have a child as soon as she was physically able to have one. She would have 'given' that child to Cameron as her own. She was sure that was the path Young Allison was headed for. She would need to talk to Cameron alone about it. She sure didn't want to give Young Allison any ideas. Young Allison was at that age now.
Cammy and Anna remained as much in the background as possible during the helicopter flight and the visit to the hidden hangers. They were aware Cameron wanted to share the time with the girls. They felt that they were lucky just to be able to go along. They knew their place when they were with Cameron. It was last place.
Anna didn't want Young Allison's nutritional needs neglected. She was very aware that Savannah's often were. That was Cameron's updated the 'Neural Interface' with her a few times a month. She was very aware of what happened in Savannah's life, for better or for worse. A lot of it was Cameron's fault as well.
"The girls need proper nutrition too." Anna said. "They need to eat."
Young Allison didn't like the close supervision. She didn't like it to seem like things needed to be done just for her. She was well acquainted with the fact that Savannah missed a lot of meals.
"It's nice to know I have a lot of 'mothers'." Young Allison said.
Savannah wanted to point out it was actually a good thing.
"It's just people that love you, Allison." Savannah said.
Cammy looked at Savannah. She wanted to make her love known as well.
"It's people who care about both of you." Cammy said.
Young Allison glanced over at Savannah. She was aware of all the sacrifice that Savannah needed to endure and how her real family was all taken from her. Everything was taken from her. She felt Savannah really got a bad deal. None of it was her fault.
Savannah reminded her on more than one occasion that family was very important. Savannah told her it was something good if people cared about you and loved you. She wanted to let everyone know that she appreciated their concern about her and for her well being.
"Thank you. I know it's a good thing." Young Allison said. "I appreciate it from everyone."
Young Allison started the SUV and headed out of the airport.
It gave Young Allison some pause to remember Allison didn't have a mother, HER mother, growing up most of her life. Whenever she thought about that it bothered her greatly. That meant her mother was dead. Right now because Judgment Day had been delayed, she still had a mother. She hadn't been held down and forced to become a woman against her will. It was a good thing to have a mother or even a few of them. She remembered her earlier thought that sometimes it was nice to have help.
Young Allison looked over at Savannah and smiled.
Sheila and Ally checked things out at Cameron's base. They could only find out that the female prisoner had been dealt with already. It didn't seem like anything else important was happening there. They decided to leave. They headed out from Cameron's base.
"Are we going back to the Resistance base?" Ally asked.
Sheila quickly glanced over at Ally.
"If we do, you know what we're going to do." Sheila said.
Ally thought that was what they did all the time. She didn't have a problem with that.
"How's that any different than normal?" Ally asked.
Sheila wanted a little more.
"Maybe we can put the grab on Hanna after Claire falls asleep." Sheila said.
Ally liked that idea. The three of them always shared together before Hanna was 'reassigned'. It always bothered her that she wasn't picked to be Claire's protector. She figured that Claire would have picked her and pretended she was 'Cameron' all of the time. Maybe if she didn't look like her daughter things could have been different.
"It will be just like old times." Ally said.
Sheila wanted what Hanna shared. She always felt a little left out because Claire hadn't picked her. It was even more puzzling to her now since Claire seemed to have developed quite an attachment to Jesse. They were identical. Well, almost. Jesse had nursing breasts and she had nipple rings.
"I want to ask Hanna if we can trade." Sheila said.
Ally wasn't sure what Sheila meant.
"Do you mean chassis?" Ally asked.
Sheila didn't think that was anything new. They'd done that before. She wanted a little bit more.
"That too sometimes, like we did before." Sheila said. "I meant duty assignments."
Ally knew it wasn't a duty assignment anymore. There was a love relationship there.
"It's well beyond an assignment at this point." Ally said. "You know that. What do you really want?"
Sheila wanted Claire. She was infatuated with her. She thought it was more than just the 'Jesse' in her that wanted Claire.
"I want to spend more time with Claire." Sheila said.
It made Ally think about what she'd just thought about.
"Everyone wants that, even me." Ally said. "I look like her daughter, both of them."
Sheila liked the way Claire responded to her. It was different from the way the girls from the future did. Claire was like Savannah did but different.
"I find her very satisfying." Sheila said.
Ally thought that Claire would become a 'regular'.
"If Claire stays at the base, she'll be available a lot of the time." Ally said. "Jesse and Claire really hit it off too."
Sheila wondered if that was part of the lust she felt. She'd already thought about that earlier. It could be from the 'Jesse' in her.
"Maybe that's the drive I feel." Sheila said.
Ally wondered if Jesse and Claire would get serious.
"Do you think they'll pair up?" Ally asked.
There were some other long standing desires Sheila wanted to fulfill. She'd made the rounds with all the girls multiple times. She wanted to make the rounds with them again a little differently one time.
"Around here, anything is possible." Sheila said. "I still want to switch chassis with one of the males. I can be with everybody that way as well."
Ally wasn't so sure about that. It wasn't something she normally thought about but she was open to give it a try. She liked Sheila the way she was.
"You just want to 'try it out'." Ally said. "Not to keep, I hope."
Sheila looked at Ally. She wanted the new experience. She wasn't sure how things would work out. She felt Ally was the best choice to try it out on. They tried out everything else. Why not try this out too? If it didn't work out as planned, it wouldn't be a big deal.
"If I do switch, I want you to be my 'first'." Sheila said.
Ally was surprised and very pleased to hear that. She figured Sheila would want Cammy before her. She wanted to make sure.
"Don't you want to be with Cammy first?" Ally asked.
Sheila loved both Ally and Cammy. She'd loved Ally first.
"I want to be with you 'first'." Sheila said. "It shouldn't be too different for you than the 'strap-on' I used with you."
Ally was Sheila's first for that 'experiment' too.
"I don't know." Ally said. "I have no desire to be with a male."
The 'marital aid' that Sheila used on Ally only reinforced her decision. It wasn't a pleasant experience. The location it was used may have had something to do with that assessment.
Sheila was ready for more.
"It will be ME. It will be my program." Sheila said. "I want to try something different."
Ally was very aware that Sheila became aggressive when she used the 'marital aid'. She worried that if Sheila received actual stimulation in the form of 'feedback' from a 'male chassis' that it may make her become even more aggressive and violent. She wasn't looking to have that private area torn up with violent sexual aggression.
"I'll think about it." Ally said.
Ally was aware of Allison's forced encounters. It wasn't something she looked forward to. There was never a tad of pleasure in any of Allison's encounters with a male. The attempts at breeding sex were no better. She understood why Allison sought comfort in Vanna and other females. It was what she preferred as well. Females were more willing to share. They knew what it took to be satisfied.
Later:
John was back in the Command Center. He'd gone to his room earlier and watched his favorite scenes. He tried to rest a little but it seemed impossible right now. He was worried about Cameron. He was still worried about the operation and didn't stay in his room long.
He was pretty sure Cameron would be back during the 'Witching Hour' to oversee the operation. He wondered if she would drag Savannah along. Savannah needed her rest.
John Henry was a little surprised when John returned a while ago. He thought he'd heard him say something.
"What was that?" John Henry asked.
John's head bobbed up. He wasn't sure if he dozed off or not.
"What?" John asked. "Did I say something?"
John Henry didn't want to create any issues.
"It was about rest." John Henry said.
John Henry heard John say, 'Savannah needed her rest'. He didn't want John to know that part. It was Cameron's wish that John care about Savannah and Young Allison. It was clearly the case with both of them. It was more than 'fatherly' concern for Savannah. Cameron made sure the relationship never took on that aspect for both girls. They were always presented as viable mates for John, not wards. Cameron gave her wedding dress to Savannah as a girl to reaffirm that idea for everyone.
John had a hard time not to think of the image of the auto body shop exploding as Cameron and Cammy rode on top of the SUV that Savannah drove away from the location just seconds before the detonation.
"I was thinking about tonight." John said. "I don't want to take any chances. We already know what happened at the last place like this."
John Henry didn't want John to get ahead of himself. They still needed to finish the recon.
"We'll do a close in drone scan and see if it warrants further investigation." John Henry said. "That seems to be the least risky way to handle it."
John just knew Cameron was going to show up there. He was sure that she would see it as a tempting target. He didn't think she would listen to anyone when she reached the same spot Cam had earlier.
"I want to know where Cameron is as soon as you find out." John said.
John Henry wondered why he just didn't call her. He thought John looked very tired.
"I'll let you know." John Henry said. "Go get some rest."
John Henry figured Cameron would be there as well. She would want to protect the others and take the risk herself. That meant she would also take the damage if it was to occur. He really didn't have any idea when he would be able to track Cameron again.
Young Allison thought about driving to the Fifties and Sixties diner but decided against that. She wanted Savannah to have a meal high in protein. She drove them to a local barbecue joint.
"I'd like to split a steak dinner with Savannah." Young Allison said.
Cameron thought they should each have a steak dinner.
"You can try two different cuts of meat and have half of each one for both of you." Cameron said.
Young Alison smiled.
"That's what I meant." Young Allison said. "I should have been a little clearer. "
Savannah hoped the high protein meal would help pick her up a little bit. She thought it was a good plan.
"That sounds good to me." Savannah said. "I'll even let Allison pick both of the cuts."
The girls ordered and the meal arrived in no time. They didn't spend a lot of time talking. They were done in short order and ready to go.
Cameron wanted to get the girls home after dinner and head back to the Resistance Base. She wanted to be there for the 'Witching Hour'. She thought Cam backed off too easily when she was so close to going in. She wouldn't have backed down if she'd been there. She thought about that a little more. If Savannah was with her, she would need to be more cautious.
She decided she would go there on her own and send Mel and Al away. She would check it out herself.
As soon as they returned to the Young Residence, Young Allison headed for the bunker.
Savannah wasn't pleased with that development. She wanted Young Allison to get some rest. She wanted to say something but didn't want to seem too motherly. She wanted to treat Young Allison as her equal. She didn't want to seem like the dominant partner either. She'd observe that with Vanna and Allison on numerous occasions. She really didn't want Young Allison to get involved in anything at this point in time.
"The operations are very light tonight." Savannah said.
Young Allison wanted to personally check everything out and see if any changes were necessary.
"I still need to check them over." Young Allison said.
Anna sat next to Young Allison as she always did.
Young Allison wanted Savannah to join them. She wasn't sure what Cameron and Cammy were going to do.
"You can join us." Young Allison said.
Cameron and Cammy watched. After a few minutes of watching and getting 'caught up', Cameron spoke.
"I'm going to go back and see John tonight." Cameron said.
Savannah knew she promised Young Allison she would spend the night. She also knew she needed to go back with Cameron.
She wasn't convinced John was all Cameron was going to see. She was sure she was headed for the 'cleaned out location'. She didn't want her to go to that location on her own.
Savannah looked at Young Allison and gently squeezed her shoulder. They shared a strained moment of silent communication and understanding.
She returned her gaze back to Cameron. She wanted to let Cameron know that she thought there was going to be a little more involved than just seeing John.
"I'll need to go with you, Cameron." Savannah said.
Young Allison looked hurt but she understood where Savannah was headed. She wanted Cameron 'protected' too. Only Savannah could do that. She knew she could too if they would allow her to go. She would go in an instant if she was given the chance.
Cameron wanted Savannah to fulfill her obligation to Young Allison. She also didn't want Savannah endangered.
"Allison and you need to spend some time together." Cameron said.
It wasn't a decision that Savannah made lightly.
Savannah wanted to spell it out clearly for Cameron.
"I know that." Savannah said. "I promised her. I also need to make sure you remain safe."
Cameron wanted to downplay everything.
"I'm going to see John." Cameron said.
Savannah believed there would be a little more added to that. She felt she needed to address the issue directly.
"You probably will." Savannah said. "I think we all know what else you're going to do."
Young Allison decided to lay it out. She wanted Cameron to commit to only seeing John and not going to the target location. Somehow she thought that was better if she did it than if Savannah needed to do it.
"Can you promise us you will only go see John and not to the abandoned building?" Young Allison asked. "I'm worried about that as well, Cameron. It matters to me too."
Cameron looked at Savannah and Young Allison. She didn't want to lie to either of them.
"No." Cameron said. "I can't promise that."
That made Savannah's decision easier.
"Then I'll go with you." Savannah said.
Cameron didn't want this to become an issue.
Young Allison could see that Cameron was very disturbed about the recent turn of events. She thought that she could help Cameron make a little bit better decision. She decided to throw her hat into the ring.
"I'm going as well." Young Allison said. "Let me get my vest and gear."
Cameron was aware that Savannah or Young Allison could 'order' her not to go there but they didn't do that. They were going to go with her instead. If they were there with her, then she would need to be extra careful for their safety. They all knew what happened at the last place like it. They were about to force her to make a choice instead of them making one for her.
"Well played." Cameron said.
Young Allison wanted to make her position clear.
"Cameron, nothing has been played." Young Allison said. "I'm going to go."
Later:
John was back in the Command Center. He'd taken a short nap. He didn't watch any of his favorite scenes this time. He was too worried about Cameron.
He was even more surprised when Cameron walked in.
Cameron gave John a kiss.
John couldn't help but say exactly what he thought. It just sort of slipped out.
"Hello, Cameron!" John said. "This is the last place I expected to see you right now."
Cameron smiled at John. She wanted him to know where she went first when she'd returned to the base.
"I went to our room but you'd already left." Cameron said. "I thought maybe you would want to get lucky."
That surprised John even more. He did want to get lucky. He realized now that he probably shouldn't have watched his favorite scenes from 'Pretty Baby' earlier. He wasn't going to mention that to Cameron.
"Actually, that's the last place I would've expected to see you right now." John said.
It was the 'Witching Hour'. They looked at drone footage of the location. The drone dropped down to do a 'close in' scan.
They received the readings. Nothing showed up.
John Henry reviewed all the information.
"It's vacant." John Henry said.
Cameron already observed all the data as well.
"Apparently…." Cameron said.
They watched drone footage from the drone that oversaw Mel and Al. They were well clear of the structure. There was nothing around them or the area they were in. They didn't appear to be targeted by anyone.
"Now what's next?" John asked.
Cameron knew Young Allison was going to force the issue.
"Someone is about to act." Cameron said.
John was sure who that would be.
"Do you mean Young Allison?" John asked.
Cameron wanted to double check to make sure everyone was clear.
"Yes." Cameron said. "Are all personnel accounted for and no one is near that building?"
John Henry took it one step further than tracking their vehicles, coms and phones.
"Yes." John Henry said. "CamNet asked me to track everyone visually to make sure of their whereabouts."
John was a little confused. He wondered why that was necessary.
"What's going on?" John asked.
Cameron smiled at John. It was apparent to her that Young Allison was going to step up a little earlier than expected. She actually hoped that would apply to several other things as well. She wanted to keep it simple for John.
"The 'future' is what is about to happen." Cameron said. "It's someone who acts decisively and hits hard."
They now began to receive drone footage from four additional drones all in the area.
They watched as the drone that did the low scan went back to a slightly higher altitude.
As they observed the surveillance footage of the building and from views from several drones, a single missile streaked down from the sky and impacted the back door of the building. There was an explosion. A second later another missile went into the back of the building through the blown open rear door. There was another explosion inside the center of the building. They watched the building start to burn. Three seconds later there was a massive explosion and the entire building blew up.
The drone attack triggered the massive booby trap that the building was.
John could picture Cam or Cameron being in the center of that blast. It was the very thing that had bothered him and prevented him from getting any sleep.
"That would have been one of you inside there." John said. "She made the right call, again. I want to know for sure."
Cameron didn't think that knowledge was necessary.
"What's done is done." Cameron said.
She was glad that she hadn't gone to the target area now. She better comprehended what Savannah and Young Allison wanted her to understand.
John Henry attempted to follow up on John's inquiry.
"I was informed by CamNet what was about to happen as it was happening." John Henry said. "She said she enacted the strike."
The wording of that statement said a lot.
John wanted a little better answer than that.
"Did CamNet say she originated it?" John asked.
John Henry didn't like the line of questioning. He was worried it was going to produce a negative result. It most likely would be directed at him.
"No." John Henry said. "Only that she enacted it."
John didn't want to press the issue. It seemed like it was time to get some sleep.
John Henry could handle the spin on the incident.
"I think you can take care of the reports of a 'gas leak' in the area." John said. "I guess that wraps it up for tonight."
Cameron wasn't back there to listen to John snore.
"Hardly…." Cameron said. "We're still working on a private countdown. I expect you to hold up your end of the deal."
That sounded even better to John.
"In that case, I guess things are just getting started." John said. "I guess I'm not as tired as I thought."
Cameron wanted to remind him where he'd been a couple of times earlier.
"You did take a nap and get some rest, right?" Cameron asked.
John looked at John Henry
"You knew this was going down like this all along." John said to John Henry.
John Henry calculated all the scenarios once Young Allison became directly involved. He knew that if it was necessary it would be concluded with an 'order' from one of the girls.
"I figured it would be like this as soon as Young Allison asked Cam to stand down." John Henry said.
John Henry didn't know Savannah and Young Allison forced Cameron's hand about not going to the target building.
Cameron led John away.
"We need to get warmed up for our cruise." Cameron said.
John was already filled with anticipation.
"I'm in." John said.
Cameron flashed John her sly smile.
"You will be…." Cameron said. "Let me give you a taste of your future…."
For some reason John felt she referred to Young Allison with that statement.
Maybe Cameron wanted him to think about it.
Cameron thought John was tired but that she'd just given him sufficient motivation to get down to business.
She decided to increase John's desire and pleasure.
"She will be just like this." Cameron whispered in John's ear.
She thought a little of that might be due to his 'conditioning' as he slept. She may have made that suggestion more than a few times. She always believed John seemed a little more motivated when he woke up in the morning and started in on her.
Witching Hour
Things happen in places
Things happen here too
They only seem to matter
When they happen to you
Things don't happen on their own
They are the result
Of one's own actions
They are their fault
Is everyone to blame
For everything that goes wrong
Do the things that happen
Make us weak or strong
Perhaps they're nothing more
Than dreams or nightmares
Maybe they're the root
Of all one's internal fears
Don't let the inner worries
Make one dread and cower
Don't give fate that kind of power
Learn to master the Witching Hour
Nobody