Chapter 1340
Renewed Vigor
The female Fanatic quickly ran back to the stake side truck and started it. She put it in reverse and started to back up. She didn't want the other truck to spot it. The damaged truck might also turn in her direction in hopes of acquiring her vehicle. At some point they might recognize it was actually their vehicle.
She looked behind her as she backed up. She could see the sun was just about to set. She thought under other circumstances, it might be beautiful to watch. Right now she needed to get the truck out of view for when the box truck passed by. She saw there was a gap between two buildings on her side of the street. She'd looked down it earlier to see if the missing female was hiding there. She didn't see her then.
The seconds were counting down. She cranked the front end of the stake side truck hard to the right. The front of the truck swung out into the street further, as the rear end went up the driveway. As soon as she was lined up straight with the driveway, she straightened the wheel and went all the way back. She knew she needed to take it easy with the two drums. They'd already shifted once in the radical driving from before.
The stake side truck easily fit in between the gap of the two buildings. As soon as the front end was several feet behind the building on her right, she put it in neutral and set the parking brake. She left it running when she hopped out. She moved around the front of the truck and looked along the side of the wall of the building on the right. She hoped the box truck continued straight. If it turned down her street, it was going to be a problem. She touched the Beretta in her waistband. If she needed to fight, she would fight.
The box truck came into view. It continued straight. There was a drift of steam coming out from the front end. It seemed larger than when she'd first viewed the truck come out alongside the building. As soon as it went past the building on the other side of the street, she ran back to the cab of the stake side truck and hopped in. She released the parking brake and put it into gear. She immediately pulled out and turned to the right. She checked all around her for any threats, and the missing female. She noted the sun was just going down behind the hills in the background.
She crept up to the street and paused before pulling all the way out. She put the truck back in neutral and set the parking brake. She hopped out and moved up to the street to look down it. The truck was two blocks down and continuing. It was moving at a very modest pace. She watched it for a few more moments. It continued straight.
It was time to get moving. She ran back to the stake side truck and climbed in. She released the parking brake and put it in gear. She moved up to the side street and looked both ways. She made her turn to follow the box truck. It was now about five small streets ahead of her.
The brake lights came on in the truck. She could see it stop. She saw the backup lights come on. The truck moved backwards slightly and made a right hand turn. She figured the driver must have spotted something of interest. It was probably another vehicle. She closed up rapidly on the street where the turn was made. As she neared the side street, she pulled to the side of the road and parked. She left the vehicle in neutral again and set the parking brake.
She hopped out and approached the side of the building on foot. She peeked around the corner to see what she could see. She saw the box truck halfway down the block. She looked around for the driver or another vehicle. She didn't spot one right away. She didn't think he could have acquired one already and driven off, unless he'd carjack someone.
The next street down in the direction she'd been traveling was a larger street. She wondered if maybe it was the reason he'd turned off. Maybe the truck was more damaged than the driver had originally thought. Perhaps he didn't want to get stuck on the main street.
She thought about going down to investigate on foot. She didn't want to lose the stake side truck with the two drums of chemicals. She carried the Beretta and the Thermite grenade with her. She wasn't about to lose the Thermite grenade. For whatever type of bomb she would need to construct, even if she lost the two drums of chemicals, the Thermite grenade would be instrumental in detonating them.
She saw a brown van pull out from in front of the box truck.
The box truck was directly behind it and blocked it from her view earlier. She watched the brown van go down to the next street and make a left. It was headed towards the main street. She ran back to the stake side truck and released the parking brake. She put it into gear and moved up to the main street. She didn't have time to check the box truck right now. She didn't know if there's anything in the back of it or not. She knew where it was at. She wanted to see where the van went.
The stake side truck pulled up to the main street. She looked down to the right. She saw the van nose out and make a right. There was other traffic on the road. She let a motorcycle and an SUV pass by. Both of them had their headlights on. She turned behind the SUV. She turned her lights on as well. She hoped it would help block the identity of her vehicle if the driver of the van looked back.
The female Fanatic stayed behind the van. From her elevated height, she had a good view of the traffic ahead of her. She tried to keep the van within one or two signals. She didn't want it to get more than two signals ahead of her or she didn't want to get closer than one signal to it. She knew there were a few more locations she wanted to visit. She didn't know what was at any of them. So far every location she knew about from her early intelligence gathering had proven to be Skynet related.
CamNet's Terminators were both informed there was additional assistance on the way. CamNet wanted whatever was in the back of the box truck.
They needed to pull between two buildings since the box truck and stake side truck were both going to pass in their direction.
From the drone footage, they watched the box truck and the stake side truck both pass by the street. They pulled back out onto the street and moved down. They continue to watch the progress of both vehicles from the drone footage.
"I see a van parked on the side street before the main street." The first Terminator said.
The second Terminator wondered if the Gray would abandon the box truck.
"If he dumps the box truck, it will make it easier for us to see what the cargo is." The second Terminator said.
They watched the drone footage as the box truck stopped, backed up, and pulled up behind the van. It was exactly what they thought was going to happen. They noted the driver didn't even look in the back of the truck before he left it. They observed the actions of the female Fanatic as well.
"Do you think she will check the truck, or go after the van?" The first Terminator asked.
The second Terminator wasn't sure.
"We'll need to wait and see." The second Terminator said. "I don't think she wants to lose the Gray in the van."
CamNet's Terminators were informed their assistance was almost to the area. It was Hank and Larry. They watched the van drive off and the female Fanatic continue after in the stake side truck.
"What type of vehicle do they have?" The first Terminator asked.
They were informed it was another box truck. It was clear CamNet wanted whatever was in the back of the disabled truck.
The second Terminator wanted to make sure things were done expediently as possible.
"Have them come from the direction facing away from where the disabled box truck is at." The second Terminator said "They can pull alongside of it and then back right up to it. Whatever is in the back, we can transfer over."
CamNet's two Terminators hurried to where the abandoned box truck was at. They parked on the other side of the street directly alongside it. They hurried over to inspect it. There was a lot of steam coming from the front end. It actually appeared some of it might be smoke.
The first Terminator inspected the cab.
The second Terminator immediately moved around to the back. She opened the roll up door and looked inside.
"I don't think this is something the Gray should have left unattended." The second Terminator said.
The first Terminator found nothing of significance in the cab. She hurried to the back of the box truck and looked inside of it.
"I agree." The first Terminator said. "This is technology which should fall into the wrong hands."
They climbed up into the back of it.
They could hear the other box truck approach. It pulled past them, and backed up towards them. Larry hopped out of the passenger side and ran to the back. He opened the rear roll up door.
"We need to hurry." Larry said. "The front end of the truck you're in is smoking. I believe it's about to catch on fire."
Larry climbed up in the back of the box truck the two female Terminators were in.
The first Terminator was aware Savannah wanted all of them to treat each other cordially.
"Hi, Larry." The first Terminator said.
Larry told Hank to back up so the backs of both trucks were touching. He looked at the two female Terminators for a long moment.
"Hello." Larry said. "Do you two have names, or at least designations?"
The two female Terminators looked at each other.
"I will use the designation, Lena." The first Terminator said.
The second Terminator tilted her head slightly.
"I can use either the designation Alice or Tina." The second Terminator said.
Larry tilted his head slightly. He offered his opinion.
"I think Tina rhymes with Lena." Larry said. "Is this thing able to power up?"
The three Terminators moved to the object in the back of the truck. It was some type of drone. It was different in construction from any of the ones they currently knew about.
"I don't see a power source on it." Lena said.
Tina looked over it further.
"I don't see any weapons on it either." Tina said.
Lena climbed over the top of it.
Hank was outside between the two trucks. There was no room for him to come up inside to join them. He'd heard everything they'd discussed; including the female Terminators give themselves designations.
"The engine compartment on the truck you're in has just started to burn." Hank said. "Do you want me to pull forward so you can get out or can you move the drone? I can put the fire out with the fire extinguisher inside of the truck."
CamNet instructed them to let the truck continue to burn. The fire in the engine compartment was just starting. It would help mask the damage to the truck and that it may have been at the building which was now a smoking hole in the ground back down the street.
The three Terminators in the back of the box truck lifted the drone up.
"We have control of the drone." Larry said. "We're moving it into the back of our box truck now."
The three Terminators transferred the drone to the other box truck. There was nothing else in the back of the other box truck. It was now burning a little more ferociously in the front. The flames hadn't reached the fuel tank yet.
Hank climbed into the cab of his box truck and pulled it forward as soon as they told him they were clear. He stopped about fifty feet away from the burning truck. The three Terminators exited the back and pulled down the roll up door.
"Are you going to take this to a secure location?" Lena asked.
Hank and Larry needed to make another rendezvous.
"We will hand it off somewhere along the way to another Terminator." Larry said.
Hank wanted to give them a better explanation.
"We need to meet up with Steve's team." Hank said. "Richard and Michael are on their way there as well."
Tina looked at Lena.
"One of us can drive it." Tina said.
Lena didn't want to put any of the other operations at risk.
"You can take our SUV and go now." Lena said. "We can drive the box truck until the other Terminator arrives to relieve us of it. The drone it still tracking our two targets."
CamNet approved of the new plan. It would speed things up and provide help to Steve's team earlier. The two female Terminators would be able to pursue the female Fanatic and the Gray with the box truck for now. The drone would be able to give them precise tracking information.
Lena gave Hank the keys for the SUV.
Hank and Larry started towards the SUV.
Tina and Lena turn to get in the truck.
Lena looked back at the SUV.
"I need to get something out of the SUV." Lena said.
Lena went over to the SUV with Hank and Larry. She opened the rear door and pulled out the female.
Hank and Larry looked at each other.
"Is she terminated?" Hank asked.
Lena scanned her as she held her.
"Not yet." Lena said.
Lena collected a bottle of water and an energy bar as well.
Hank and Larry drove away in the SUV.
Lena carried the female to the box truck."
Tina would just as soon terminate the female and toss her in a dumpster.
"Do you want to put her in the cab or put her in the back?" Tina asked.
Lena wanted to drop her off at a medical facility or a homeless camp. In her latest scan of the female, as she carried her, she detected higher than normal levels of radiation. She thought it might need some additional investigation.
"I think she's going to come around soon." Lena said. "I think we'll go in the back of the truck where it's nice and dark. I want to ask her a few questions."
Tina opened the back door of the box truck up again.
Lena placed the female in the back and climbed up inside. She pulled down the door and Tina latched it.
"We need to get moving." Tina said. "The Gray and the female Fanatic are already a few miles away from here."
Tina climbed behind the wheel of the box truck and started it. She headed in the direction of the two individuals the drone currently tracked.
Lena sat on the floor of the truck between the drone and the rear door. The female's head rested on her lap. She planned to scan her as she questioned her. She wanted to know the truth. The female soon awoke.
Cameron didn't like the 'cold war' she saw brewing between Vanna and Allison. As much as she wanted to push Future John's agenda, she'd agreed not to push anyone. The current situation seemed organic. She wanted the girls to think of each other as well. She wanted them to work together and not against each other.
"Will you ladies join me at the window?" Cameron asked.
Vanna and Allison looked at each other and then at Holly and Gail-Cam. They didn't look like they were going to get up.
Vanna and Allison got up and followed Cameron to the window in the corner.
The view was spectacular from where they were. They were closer to the water at the level of the dining room. It was two decks lower than the Promenade deck.
Cameron didn't want to make a big deal about the girl's behavior. She wanted to get straight to the point. She wanted their focus on each other first.
"I want both of you to be with each other and share your love." Cameron said. "This trip is about both of you. I want you to have a good time with each other first before anything else."
Vanna knew she'd been a little aggressive. She looked at Cameron and then at Allison.
"I think I may have overstepped." Vanna said. "I'm sorry."
Allison knew it was her fault. She could have said something to John earlier to stop him but didn't. She liked what he did. It was something she'd wanted for years.
"I think I could have acted a little differently too." Allison said. "I apologize."
Cameron didn't want to lay blame.
"If anything else is supposed to happen, it will happen on its own." Cameron said. "I'm not going to push it. Neither of you two needs to do it either. I told Savannah and Young Allison I would 'take it easy' as a condition of having everyone on board. If something happens, it happens. I want to remind both of you that your love for each other comes first."
Vanna wasn't sure what Cameron was actually telling them. She wanted to try to clarify things. She didn't want to send mixed signals to anyone.
"Are you saying if something happens with John, it will just happen on its own?" Vanna asked.
Allison knew it was true based on what happened earlier. She was aware John thought she was Cameron. She didn't think he would have touched her otherwise. John was never disrespectful to her.
"What if it does happen?" Allison asked.
Cameron looked at both of them.
"Your love for each other comes first." Cameron said. "Anything else is fate. John needs protection. You both know what I want for the three of you. I don't have a problem with it. John needs to be protected. You both know it. "
Vanna wanted to make sure there wouldn't be a problem.
"So this may or may not be 'The Love Boat'." Vanna said.
Cameron thought it was the way it seemed. She wanted to remind them what she'd told all of the others.
"Whatever happens on the ship, stays on the ship." Cameron said. "I want everyone to have a good time. There's no reason everyone can't try something new."
Vanna and Allison were both still confused. What did Cameron want them to do?
"I don't want to overstep." Allison said.
Vanna didn't either.
"Nor do I." Vanna said.
Cameron smiled at both of them.
"You only need to be Vanna and Allison and who you truly are." Cameron said. "This can be your honeymoon cruise as well with each other. If anything else happens on its own, I'm fine with it. I really am. I understand how everything works now."
Cameron turned around and walked back.
Vanna and Allison looked at each other.
"Truce." They both said.
They both reached for the other's hand and walked back to the table. They each wondered if it wasn't also a way to take some of the pressure off of Savannah and Young Allison. It might give them a few months, if not years, reprieve to 'step up'. They also knew there were other players on the field, even if they hadn't had a chance to bat.
When they reached the table, the seating arrangement was different. They would now be sitting side by side.
What were they thinking? This was John and Cameron's honeymoon. It could be theirs too.
The appetizers arrived soon after they sat down.
John watched Cameron take Allison and Vanna away. He looked at Holly and Gail-Cam.
"I think this is my fault." John said.
Holly wanted to know more. She figured something must have happened.
"Why is that?" Holly asked.
John didn't want to say what happened specifically. He still thought it was an honest mistake.
"I thought Allison was Cameron earlier." John said. "They look a lot alike tonight."
Holly and Gail-Cam waited for a further explanation but there was none.
"Allison is beautiful all of the time." Holly said.
John was afraid he was going to create a new problem.
"I agree." John said. "I've always thought so."
Gail-Cam didn't like Vanna being excluded.
"So is Vanna." Gail-Cam said.
John hoped they would come back soon. He was afraid he was about to cause an even bigger problem. The Metal girls were very defensive of their human lovers. He witnessed it right now.
"Yes she is." John said. "I have always found both of the girls beautiful."
Holly and Gail-Cam listened to Cameron by the window.
"I think we need to redo the seating arrangements." Gail-Cam said.
John wasn't going to stop them. He would rather have them make the decision when it came to personal matters.
"Do what you think will be best." John said. "I want everyone to have a good time."
Holly looked at John.
"I think some will have a better time than others." Holly said.
Holly winked at him.
"I agree." Gail-Cam said. "We're available at any time."
John watched as Holly and Gail-Cam both seemed to make their breasts more prominent. There was no way he could view any of the Metal girls as machines. They were so much like the human girls anymore. Now that Cameron had used all of their chassis. They seemed even more so.
Holly and Gail-Cam quickly rearranged where everyone was except for Cameron and him. Vanna and Allison would now sit together.
John was very pleased with the decision.
Cameron was on her way back to the table. Allison and Vanna followed her hand in hand.
The appetizers arrived soon after they sat down.
They didn't notice it, but the ship turned ever so slightly so they could easily watch the sunset.
They all finished their appetizers.
"The sun will set in three minutes." Cameron said.
They all watched.
Vanna and Allison held hands again as it did.
John reached over and took Cameron's hand.
It was a way to express closeness, while keeping it simple.
Cameron spotted the Blackhawk fly between them and the sunset. It left Catalina to fly to its next destination. Frank would be let off to join Dan in the van while Ken and Lou would fly to Santa Barbara. Once the ship was about to pass Vandenberg Air Force Base, they would fly to San Luis Obispo. They would have time to join up with Dan and Frank and take a look around Avila Beach. It never hurt to look around the location of an old operation to see what was new.
Bob was sent to the casino by Jim. He figured he'd better get there right away. He didn't know why until he saw Sheila and Ally were there.
He didn't anticipate any trouble. He thought a silent message was already sent to Sheila to take it easy. He really didn't think he needed to be there.
Sheila thought about the poker game Ally pointed out earlier.
"Maybe I will join the poker game." Sheila said. "Will you join it with me?"
Ally knew poker could take a long time. It would also turn into a game of Sheila against her. All the other players were going to lose, one way or another.
"I don't know." Ally said.
Sheila would offer her some other alternatives.
"We can always look up Mary and Laura." Sheila said.
Ally thought poker would be a better choice. She didn't want Sheila to get carried away with the two girls on the ship. She would let Sheila make the choice.
"We can do what you want." Ally said. "I want you to have a good time."
Sheila figured the best time was back in the bedroom. She wanted Ally to loosen up some. Her pending encounter with Cameron and John later on seemed to weigh on Ally.
"You pick it." Sheila said. "We can go anywhere else you want too. I'm easy."
Ally managed not to laugh. No one was 'easier' than Sheila.
"Don't tell me, 'easy' is your middle name." Ally said.
Sheila smiled.
"You said it, not me." Sheila said.
Cam-Gail and Hanna stopped at a small lounge. There was a single female singer who played a guitar for some songs and a piano for others.
"Her voice is beautiful." Cam-Gail said. "I like how talented humans are at so many things. It's all things they need to learn and then do."
Hanna thought so too.
"I enjoy being around humans, at least the ones in the Resistance." Hanna said. "I'm talking about more than just the sex and love we share."
Cam-Gail knew Claire was very talented in the arts and domestic functions.
"Claire is very dynamic." Cam-Gail said. "She has much to offer you in many areas."
The fact made Hanna wonder about Jesse and Gail. She was sure Gail's slower social development was because she was with Jesse and not another female. She was so different when she was around Savannah.
"Jesse has much to offer." Hanna said. "You two go out every now and then."
Cam-Gail thought about it. When she went out with Jesse, they never did much of anything. They never did much of anything for themselves.
"We don't do much." Cam-Gail said.
Hanna hoped to find out some more. Everyone wondered what they did. They speculated it was anything from the nude beach to hunting down future Scavengers.
"What do you do?" Hanna asked.
Cam-Gail frowned. She always did what Jesse wanted. She always backed her play.
"It's private." Cam-Gail said. "Jesse has asked for privacy."
Hanna understood the concept. It only made her wonder even more why.
"It sounds intriguing." Hanna said.
Cam-Gail looked at her. She would rather change the subject.
"It's not." Cam-Gail said. "Let's listen to the singer. I can learn some new songs. I like her style."
Hanna wasn't sure if Cam-Gail really meant it or not. Either way, it was clear the previous discussion was over. Maybe Jesse made Gail kill when they went out. If it was something she needed to do all the time, it would have a negative effect on her well being and development.
Maybe Hanna should have been more worried about Jesse's well being and development. If someone stayed in the weeds, then the weeds were all they ever saw. They never saw the flowers.
Jim was back in the Control Center. He was appreciative Hanna and Cam-Gail helped him get the rooms in order earlier.
He monitored where everyone was at on the ship. The three groups of Metal girls were all on different decks right now.
He searched around for Mary and Laura. They were at dinner in the Italian restaurant on deck seven. Leticia was in the 'anytime dining room' on deck six. It was the same deck the casino was on. She was with her roommate.
He would need to alert either group of Metal girls if any of the females headed in their direction. He was unsure as to the full extent of Sheila's interaction with the human females. He was sure it was excessive whatever it was.
Maybe he would check her room and see what he could find there.
Summer went to the rec room. Jan already set the keyboard up and was playing on it a little. She stopped and listened. There was something there but it was going to need some work. She came over and sat down next to Jan.
"You're off to a good start." Summer said.
Jan frowned.
"It doesn't seem like it." Jan said.
Summer smiled at her.
"It is." Summer said. "Let's work on it a little."
Jan was discouraged.
"I'll never be good at this." Jan said.
Summer reached around Jan and showed her what to do.
"If you ever want to be good at anything, you need to practice everyday." Summer said.
Jan tried it again. Under Summer's guidance she started to improve and her attitude improved as well. Soon she was happy and the music came a little easier.
Summer wanted her to get past the mechanical aspects of it and try to be organic and spontaneous. It was where the real music flowed.
Claire and Jesse were in Jesse's room. They didn't want to bother Summer when she returned to her room.
Jesse and Claire both finished up their recent love making session. Claire moved off of Jesse and rotated back around. They were now side by side on the bed. Claire kissed Jesse and started down her neck until she reached her left breast.
"Remember, I'm the only one for Precious." Jesse said.
Claire paused.
"I'm sorry." Claire said. "I get caught up in the moment sometimes."
Jesse didn't want her to stop.
"You can keep going." Jesse said. "I think I'm full up."
Claire didn't want to get carried away.
"Maybe we should call Samantha and see what's happening." Claire said.
Jesse thought it was a good idea.
"Will you call her for me, love?" Jesse asked.
Claire smiled and searched around in the pile of her clothes on the floor next to the bed. She found her phone and called Samantha.
Samantha informed her, based on her calculations, Precious should be good for another forty five minutes to an hour. She also added the caveat Precious didn't always follow a logical timetable. She actually believed it applied to all humans, not just infants.
Claire thanked Samantha and hung up. She recalculated the time based on motherly experience. She thought humans, either small or big, didn't always do a lot of logical things either.
"It sounds like Precious will need you in the next half hour to forty five minutes." Claire said.
Jesse wanted to play it safe. She would rather be there when she was needed and not have to hurry.
"I think I should go there soon then." Jesse said.
Claire wanted to be with Jesse one more time before she left.
"Can we knock off a quickie?" Claire asked.
Jesse kissed her long and deep.
"I always have time for one of those." Jesse said. "I'm on top this time."
Jesse quickly rotated around and moved into position. They both went to work with a renewed vigor.
They wanted to make things happen. Jesse was known for making them happen. She was very much like the Metal girls in that regard.
Young Allison, who was on horseback, led the group out of the depression they were in. She went back up the first hill they'd gone up when they'd entered the area.
Cammy wanted to make the girls aware of the time.
"The sun will go behind the hills to the west in a few minutes." Cammy said.
Young Allison slowed and stopped at the top of the first hill.
Savannah wanted to make sure there was enough time for everything. She didn't want to put the group into a bind.
"We can watch it from here if it is OK with Robyn." Savannah said. "We don't want to cause any problems for anyone."
Robyn nodded. She thought it was an excellent idea.
"It's fine." Robyn said. "We're good on daylight."
The low jagged rocky mountains would give them a 'false sunset'. They would still have plenty of light before the real sunset. They wouldn't be able to see the real sunset because of the mountains.
Savannah rode up next to Young Allison. Anna was on the other side of Young Allison and Cammy moved up next to Savannah.
Robyn watched them. She hung a little off to the side to give them some space. She thought they were a wonderful group of girls. They were well mannered and polite and they cared about the animals. Not all young people were as thoughtful. She could see they appreciated nature.
What Robyn didn't know was what a Skynet future held for everyone. The girls had knowledge of all the things which would be changed or different when Skynet took over. They needed to appreciate them now while they still existed. In a Skynet future, many of them were no more.
The girls watched the sun disappear. Young Allison moved out to lead the group down the hill to the street. She paused in the dirt area next to the street. There was very little traffic. Robyn moved up to the front and blocked the street. She motioned for Young Allison to lead them across. They came across in pairs to speed the crossing time.
"Take the trail that parallels the street south." Robyn said.
Young Allison did. They would head down Canoga Avenue until they reached Chatsworth Street. They would be on a dedicated and fenced in horse trail the whole way. They needed to cross several small streets along the way. There was no vehicle traffic on the small side streets.
Savannah enjoyed the horseback ride. It was very peaceful for her. She appreciated a break from all the Resistance activity. They would be back at the horse ranch in fifteen minutes or less. Young Allison kept it to a sedate walking pace for the horses.
When they reached the wash again, Robyn moved up and led them across the 'horse crossing' to the other side of the bigger street. They crossed over the bridge and were back at the Equestrian Extravaganza Ranch in a few minutes.
Lobo came up to greet them as they entered the property. They passed by the goat, Billy, and the two sheep. Billy was a little pushy with the sheep as they passed. Lobo stopped and looked at Billy, he settled down.
The group returned to the area where they'd started. They dismounted and two other 'ranch hands' led the horses back to the barn.
They thanked Robyn for the good time.
Savannah gave her a hundred dollar bill as an additional tip.
Robyn didn't want to take it but Savannah insisted.
Young Allison watched it all.
Robyn thanked them.
Young Allison hoped for more of a challenge when they returned another time.
"When we come back next time, we can ride in the hills to the north of the freeway." Young Allison said.
Robyn thought they were good enough riders to do it. As long as they stayed on the trails, everything should go smoothly.
"I think we can work it in without a problem." Robyn said.
They stopped by and looked at Billy and the two sheep. They all gave Lobo a pat on the head when they left.
Brian, Randy and Mel let off Cammy's SUV and returned to their original one.
Young Allison looked at the fading glow to the sky in the west. She still wanted to do more things.
"The evening is still young." Young Allison said.
Savannah looked at Young Allison. She could see the good time she was having being away from the house in Palmdale and the bunker underneath it. She did want her to enjoy more things in life. The operation currently under surveillance hadn't progressed any further.
"Where would you like to go next?" Savannah asked. "We can grab a bite to eat."
Young Allison remembered a cool vintage looking fast food place. It looked like it'd been around forever. Cameron had taken her there previously. Cameron had taken her to a lot of older and historical locations over the years.
"We're near the railroad tracks. I remember the cool looking yellow hamburger stand." Young Allison said. "It looks like it is right out of the Fifties."
Cammy knew the one. They were only about a mile away from it.
"It's the 'Munch Box'. It is right out of the mid Fifties." Cammy said. "We're only a few minutes from there."
She'd only been there once before. Young Allison liked one thing there. Actually there were a few things she liked there. One was more so than the others.
"Do they still have those frosty mugs for the 'root beer floats'?" Young Allison asked.
Savannah previously ate there a few times with Cameron.
"I think so." Savannah said. "There's only one way to find out."
Anna took out her phone. She was going to call them.
Savannah quickly realized there was actually more than one way to find out. She wanted to do it her way.
"It's not what I had in mind since we're this close." Savannah said.
Anna put her phone away. She could have called them or looked it up online.
"I guess there are a few ways to find out." Anna said.
Savannah nodded.
"We're going to use the old fashion way then." Savannah said. "We're going to go there and ask."
It was clear Young Allison was thrilled. So was Savannah.
The Munch Box was a step back in time.
Young Allison knew when they went to the past, the Munch Box would be there waiting for them, just like it waited for them right now. Some things changed and some things didn't. She knew in the past, many other locations around where they were would be undeveloped. Even if the building was already there, it would most likely be under a different owner. There weren't too many locations that remain the same for a half of a century or longer.
John Henry wanted full darkness to come so he could bring the drones in lower for some scans. It was still about an hour away. If they were the anti-Metal faction, they needed to be dealt with.
There was one recent event which troubled him. He'd worked with CamNet to try and determine what the 'dimensional portal' was and how it could even exist. It was only a short time since they'd encountered it. The lack of any visible activity at the current location, made him wonder if there was one there. There was no detectable hint of any massive energy uses there.
If he could get some solid information, he would like to have Summer look at it. They needed to find a way to go into 'that future' and use River's encryption on whatever device they'd used to make it work. There was a good chance whoever they sent on the mission, would be trapped there once the portal generator was encrypted.
The dimensional portal presented a threat to the present, the past and the future.
Steve and his teams waited on the highest alert. They'd moved back twice from the immediate area where they'd first encountered the four people with what appeared to be a deactivated Terminator.
Steve was with Tom, they were on one side. Al and Ed were on another side. Hank and Larry were on the way there. They would arrive shortly. They would take up a position on the side opposite Al and Ed. Richard and Michael were on the side opposite Steve and Tom. They'd arrived only a few minutes ago. They were all ready to respond to anyone leaving the two buildings or ready to move in for an assault if necessary.
Savannah decided to drive. Young Allison sat next to her. Cammy and Anna sat behind the human their sheath was patterned after. They could watch their 'charge' easier and all the time.
It wasn't so much because anything was going to happen. It was because they liked to look at the human female they loved.
Savannah turned left off of Chatsworth Street onto Canoga Avenue. She headed south to the next signal, it was Devonshire Street. She made a right hand turn and headed west.
Young Allison looked anxiously towards the west as they made their turn.
"I see it." Young Allison said.
It was hard to miss. It was just west of the railroad tracks and a very bright yellow color. It was lit up now because of the nearing darkness. It seemed to accent the bright yellow color even more.
As they neared the railroad tracks, Savannah looked over to the left and saw the Chatsworth railroad 'station'. The current building was actually a location for several retail businesses. It was built with the appearance of a traditional railroad station. The covered platform was really the only 'station'.
Young Allison noticed where Savannah looked.
Her research of the past showed the original Southern Pacific Chatsworth station was on the west side of the tracks.
"The original station was on the other side of the tracks." Young Allison said. "It was featured in several movies."
Anna specifically watched the movies it was in. It was most prominently displayed in the original movie, 'Invasion Of The Body Snatchers'. It was renamed 'Santa Mira' for the movie.
Savannah crossed over the railroad tracks and past the Munch Box, which was on the south side of the street.
"We're on the west side now as well." Savannah said.
Savannah pulled into the center divider between the double set of yellow lines. She waited until it was clear and made a U-turn. It put them almost in front of the Munch Box.
Young Allison spotted the Chatsworth Post Office when Savannah made her U-turn. She also saw her Detail park their SUV in back of them by a couple of hundred feet.
There were two people in the outdoor line ahead of them. There was no drive thru. Everything was done at a walk up counter. It gave them some time to look at the menu. It wasn't a big menu. They already had a pretty good idea of what they wanted. It was mainly a hamburger stand but they did have a few other selections.
Cammy looked at the seating arrangement. It was all outdoors.
"Do you want to sit at a table or on one of the red stools in the front or side?" Cammy asked.
It was a 'no brainer' for Young Allison.
"I want to sit on the cool stools." Young Allison said.
Anna and Cammy sat down on two of them and saved the other two. It wasn't like there would be any competition for them currently. The Metal girls liked to keep control of the situation.
Savannah and Young Allison each ordered a cheeseburger and would split an order of chili cheese fries. They also ordered two 'root beer floats' in the frosty mugs. They wanted Anna and Cammy to try some first and they would finish off the rest.
They sat down and waited for their order to come up. They were able to get the four seats that were together on the west side of the front of the building. There were only two on the east side in the front. The ones that used to be around the corner were no longer there. There was a red awning on each side with a picnic type table there.
In the distance they could hear an air horn sound off, two long, one short and one long. It was an approaching train. It was either at Chatsworth Street or Lassen Avenue. The sound was hard to place from the echo of the surrounding buildings.
The bells on the crossing gates started to ring as the lights flashed. The crossing gates came down and blocked the road.
They could soon hear the 'muscle car' throb of the four cycle General Electric locomotives. It was the Coast Starlight on its way down the coast and back to Los Angeles and Union Station.
Their ears were blasted by the four very loud air horn blasts as the Coast Starlight crossed Devonshire Street at speed. They got a quick look at the double deck passenger cars. The Coast Starlight didn't stop at the Chatsworth station as part of its schedule. It was gone as quickly as it came.
Their number was called to pick up their order at the window, it was ready.
Before they could collect the order, there was another series of four very loud air horn blasts. It was backed by the milder throb of a two cycle EMD locomotive as it headed northbound out of Chatsworth with the Surfliner. The Surfliner did make the stop in Chatsworth. They'd waited there 'in the hole' for the Coast Starlight to pass.
It was on the same section of track, where it went from double track to single track, less than a mile to the north. It was where a Metrolink commuter train ran into a freight train head on coming out of the tunnel. It was on a curve. It was a messy 'corn field meet' with numerous casualties.
Skynet wasn't the only thing to cause death. Life itself was risky.
Renewed Vigor
There's more than one way
To be left feeling hungry
The emotional starvation
Can sap one of all energy
The void that's created
Can be vast and immense
The pent up feelings inside
Can grow quite intense
With nowhere to go
There can be some panic
One can't always see
They can be quite dynamic
It's best when there's no sarcasm
It can create quite a chasm
It warps the soul and mind
It robs one of all enthusiasm
There's a force to reckon with
When one pulls love's trigger
It lights an inner fire
If fills one with renewed vigor
Nobody