Chapter 1543
Ultimate Climax
FIVE MILLION WORDS
John Henry monitored all internet traffic and other communications which arrived and departed the building they'd started to watch. Soon everything dried up and it appeared they went on a lock down.
It didn't look like anything was going to happen anytime soon. Claire wanted to check on Summer. Jesse went with her. They left the Command Center.
Jesse wanted to tell John Henry something in private.
"I'll meet you at your room." Jesse said. "I wanted to ask John Henry something."
Claire nodded and continued on towards Summer's room.
Jesse went back to the Command Center.
John Henry looked up when she returned.
Jesse was very concerned about Young Jesse. She understood Young Jesse's desire to take some of the heat off Cameron and Savannah. It also put her in the firing line to do so.
"I want you to watch over Jesse." Jesse said.
John Henry didn't intend on sending her into combat.
"I will try to keep her on the sidelines or with the helicopter." John Henry said.
It wasn't good enough for Jesse. She was going to take it one step further. She wanted to take some personal pre-emptive action.
"Let me speak with Gail privately." Jesse said.
Jesse wanted Gail to personally watch over Young Jesse.
John Henry made the connection.
Jesse and Gail exchanged pleasantries.
"Gail, I want you to stay as safe as you can." Jesse said. "I saw some of what went down in the mine. It looked like touch and go."
Gail was a little concerned about some of the events which occurred. She did need to battle two Terminators. Luckily it wasn't at the same time, even if it was seconds apart.
"It was wild at times." Gail said. "We always seemed to have the upper hand."
Jesse thought her point was debatable. There'd been more than a few close ones. It wasn't the main issue right now.
"You know why else I'm calling." Jesse said. "It's personal to me."
Gail understood exactly why Jesse called her.
"I will protect her as I would you." Gail said. "She is you."
Jesse felt she was the one who should be in the potential combat situation, not Young Jesse.
"I don't want either of you to push it." Jesse said. "Maybe I should go there myself."
Gail knew most of the Terminators were tied up elsewhere. The base was rather unprotected. At some point, they might need 'all hands on deck'.
"I think you're a little short on Terminators at the base." Gail said. "One of them would need to accompany you. You need to be able to watch over those there."
Jesse knew it was true.
"There's only Holly and John Henry here right now." Jesse said. "I'll assist as necessary."
They ended the call.
Jesse's phone vibrated.
"Excuse me." Jesse said and stepped out of the Command Center.
There was a message. It said there were four Terminators available from Cameron's base if they were needed. She thought the message was from CamNet and done around John Henry's back so he wouldn't know. It seemed to be if she wanted to go herself. She quickly responded they should be ready to go anyway without her. The response came back they were ready. They'd been held in reserve for a 'temporal mission'. So far a mission hadn't been necessary. The day wasn't finished yet.
Jesse thought about it. It sounded like a mission to go back in time to 'fix' something. She wondered how many of those there were which occurred, which no one knew about. She was ready to bet it was more than a few.
John Henry tried to see who called Jesse. He thought maybe it was Young Jesse. It wasn't. It was clear Young Jesse wanted to go out on her own. He was a little concerned Jesse might try to join her.
Claire went and checked on Summer.
Summer was in the process of getting ready for bed. She'd just brushed her teeth.
Claire was satisfied Summer was about ready to turn in. She gave her a kiss on the cheek and went back out into the hall. She didn't see Jesse. She went back to look for her.
Jesse was outside the Command Center with her phone. When she saw Claire headed towards her, she finished up and put her phone away.
"Is everything alright?" Claire asked.
Jesse didn't want to lie to Claire.
"I'm just a little worried about Jesse." Jesse said.
She gave Claire some of the details about what was going on.
Claire could see Jesse wanted to go where Young Jesse was at. She understood it was all about Savannah and everyone wanting to do more.
"I can go with you." Claire said. "I've been trained some."
It sounded like a really bad idea to Jesse.
"It can get really messy out there." Jesse said. "Gail and Samantha are both there to watch over her."
Jesse's phone vibrated again. It was Holly this time.
"I think Precious could use you soon." Holly said.
Jesse wondered about the timing of the call.
"I'm on my way." Jesse said.
Claire looked worried.
"It was Holly." Jesse said. "I'm needed."
Claire took Jesse's hand.
"Let's go." Claire said.
The simple touch greatly reduced Jesse's anxiety. It was the touch of someone who really cared about her. Most of her life no one cared about her. They only wanted whatever pleasure they could derive from her body, whether she was a participant or not.
Summer listened from around the corner. She waited until Jesse and her mother headed for Riley's room and went back to the Command Center.
John Henry looked up when she entered.
"I'm already updated." Summer said.
John Henry filled her in on some additional information he'd just received from the Young bunker.
Moments ago:
Young Allison and Anna went over the data from the building.
"They're trying to lock the building down." Young Allison said.
Anna knew why.
"They can't reach anyone." Anna said. "They've lost contact with the mine, two helicopters, and two vehicles full of Grays. They all went out. Contact was lost soon afterward."
Young Allison saw the Skynet location as a death trap at this point.
"They have nowhere to go if they hunker down at the base." Young Allison said. "That's unless they have a TDE there or something."
Anna quickly checked on power usage.
"There hasn't been a draw on the energy grid, yet." Anna said.
Young Allison wanted to run a few things by Anna, CamNet and John Henry. She thought of one other person too.
"I want to speak with Summer." Young Allison said.
Anna knew Claire was nearby.
"Your mother is there." Anna said.
Young Allison looked up at the security camera. She saw Jesse was with her. She thought of a plausible distraction. There were a few cards she could play. She decided to give Holly a call.
"I have a feeling she won't be for long." Young Allison said.
Young Jesse could see the Terminators planned to go out in two vehicles. They were going for a ground assault.
"I want to go along." Young Jesse said. "I'm ready for this."
Gail and Samantha were both alarmed. Gail was outside earlier when she'd received the call from Jesse.
"It will be better if we remain with the Blackhawk." Samantha said.
Cam didn't want things to get away from them.
"It's sound advice." Cam said.
Young Jesse didn't think the Blackhawk was going to leave the ground until the operation was over.
"No." Young Jesse said. "I'm going with Samantha and Gail."
Cam already divided her force into two teams. She was going to lead one and Bob was going to lead one. Young Jesse and Samantha were to remain with the helicopter.
"It's not the plan." Cam said.
Young Jesse thought it was going to be. Both teams could be strengthened if she went. There were still a lot of unknowns.
"A drone can watch over the Blackhawk." Young Jesse said. "We can go with Cam and the boys can make up the second team."
Young Jesse laid out her plan.
Bob's team would have Jim, Al and Ed.
Cam's team would have Samantha, Gail and Young Jesse.
John Henry rejected the idea but CamNet overruled him. She said this was a good opportunity for Young Jesse to get more experience and she'd already proven herself with the helicopter maneuver earlier in the evening. She also reminded him she was probably going to do it anyway. It was better she was with three Terminators rather than only one.
The group left the Blackhawk behind and 'borrowed' two of the vehicles from their earlier scouting mission. Borrowed vehicles weren't often returned. Many were in less than pristine condition when they were. Savannah previously told them whatever they 'borrowed' something; it was to be paid for in some fashion. There was plenty of money appropriated from the Syndicate and the Cartel to cover everything as necessary.
Cam thought it over. She believed it was something Young Jesse was ready for. She operated as 'Cameron' herself right now. She would guide Young Jesse. Gail and Samantha would provide cover for them at all times. 'Coltan Overcast' and 'Cherry Bomb' would stay with Young Jesse and not operate as part of the drone fleet.
The two vehicles left the airport and headed off.
Young Allison and Summer devised a plan to drive the Grays out of the building. Since they'd shut off all communications, there was no need for them to have power any more. It was shut off after a power surge was sent through the electrical lines. It was to destroy as much electrical equipment inside the building as possible. Every phone was overloaded as well. It was a procedure John Henry used before. It would cause the phone to overheat, catch on fire, or explode.
Both of the girls were wary of Young Jesse being a part of the operation but the risks seemed somewhat contained.
There was never a specific call for help sent out from the building. It didn't mean there wasn't one triggered by something else.
Young Allison was adamant they keep a watch out for any HK drones which tried to slip into the area. Not only did they need to watch the sky, they needed to watch the deck as well. They'd encountered HK drones flying through flood control channels to avoid radar before.
The drones over the target location were able to capture some surprising images.
One vehicle left from inside the building. It looked like it crashed through the roll up door. It was followed by a second one. It went in the opposite direction. There were two drones sent with each vehicle. They remained at fifty thousand feet.
A drone moved directly over the top of the building and fired a missile. It streaked down to ten thousand feet before the rocket propulsion was extinguished. Its momentum carried it silently and unseen to its target.
The drone itself dropped down to twenty thousand feet and prepared for a 'fire mission'. A second one was soon to follow it.
A few minutes ago:
The Grays inside the building were put on alert. They'd lost contact with everyone. There was a lot of grumbling and complaining. Everything was locked down.
It was a few minutes afterwards when there was a massive power surge. The lights and electrical equipment which was still on, overloaded and blew out. There were several small fires started. They were quickly addressed with fire extinguishers.
It was during the fire fighting procedure when the phones all began to heat up and overload. Those fighting the fires didn't recognize the threat right away. Their phones exploded in their pockets.
It quickly became clear to the Grays what they faced.
"We're under attack." One Gray said.
Another Gray quickly recognized the situation for what it appeared to be.
"This is a 'Skynet type' attack." Another Gray said.
They'd all heard stories of a Resistance computer system which was superior to Skynet in their future, which existed in the past. No one believed it. They believed it now. It also 'explained' everything which happened so far during the night as well. What else could take control of everything?
There was one Terminator present. He tried to organize the Grays. Panic set in once the Grays figured out they were dealing with something more powerful than Skynet. He tried to tell them it was a rumor but they wouldn't listen.
There were two vehicles inside the building. Groups of Grays ran for each one as they panicked. The Terminator couldn't stop them. He drew his weapon to stop the Grays from running as they piled into the vehicles.
The Terminator began to shoot at the Grays who tried to run. He'd shot four of them in the second vehicle as the first one pulled away. He went to turn his attention to the first vehicle when it swerved and headed towards him. He attempted to dodge out of the way. The rear quarter panel of the vehicle managed to hit him. It sent him sprawling. He was knocked offline.
More Grays entered the car where he'd shot the four Grays. They tossed their dead bodies out first. The second car took off before the Terminator could reboot. The two cars crashed through the roll up door and out onto the street. They went in separate directions.
The Grays left inside the building weren't sure what to do. There was an explosion in the front corner of the building by the roll up door which was knocked down. The area was pelted with shrapnel and several fires started. Everyone who was able to move away from there did. They all moved back deeper into the building.
The Terminator rebooted right before the explosion. He was close to the center of the explosion. He was knocked back offline. Shrapnel tore through his body. Smoke began to pour through some of the holes in his back. None of the Grays went to assist him. They wanted to find a different way out of the building.
There was no exit in the direction the Grays went. They didn't realize they'd been 'herded' there.
"This is a dead end." One Gray shouted.
Another Gray recognized their peril.
"We need to go out from the front." Another Gray said.
There was a noise which sounded like 'hail' at the front of the building where the fires burnt. It grew louder and louder. It seemed to come towards them.
Several Grays broke away from the group. No sooner than they'd started for the burning opening to get out, than sparks began to fly up around them from the cement floor. The sound of 'hail' grew louder. The Grays were felled by the silent projectiles.
The Terminator started to reboot again when the sparking 'hail' moved through the building towards him. His body was struck by the 'metal hail' numerous times. He managed to stagger closer to the group of Grays who cowered in the corner. He was once again knocked offline. More smoke poured from his body at this point through the numerous holes. He was in the center of the building.
The building was thrust into silence. There was only the crackle of the fires by the door and the sound of several men dying.
The sound of 'hail' began again. This time it was directly over the small group of Grays. They panicked as the 'hail' made its way through the roof and began to strike the ground with a shower of sparks. Men began to scream as the 'hail' found them. None of this made any sense to them. There was no sound of gunfire.
The last group of Grays made a desperate attempt to run out the burning front of the building. They needed to pass by the Terminator who was down. None of them planned to assist him.
The group was almost to him when the noise of the 'hail' stopped.
There was a sizzling and popping sound coming from somewhere. It was the Terminator they were about to pass by. Sparks and smoke emanated from his chassis. It was evident his power cell was compromised.
There was a brilliant soundless white flash which engulfed the Grays. It was followed by blackness.
It was a blackness from which there was no escape.
John Henry and Summer watched the building and the two vehicles which fled.
They followed a plan by Young Allison and Summer.
The building was hit by a missile they'd dropped as a bomb. It was followed by several 'metal hail' attacks. Two drones unloaded their miniguns with directed 'gravity fire'. The projectiles fell at terminal velocity, with terminal results.
There was a blinding flash from the center of the building and the entire structure seemed to come apart.
John Henry recognized the explosive force for what it was.
"It's an explosion from a ruptured power cell." John Henry said.
Summer took in the devastation. The building was finished.
"Let's concentrate on the two cars." Summer said. "The job isn't done yet. Let's see where they run."
The two teams from the Blackhawk were assigned specific targets.
Bob's team went after one of the vehicles.
Cam's team was headed for the building.
They watched the drone images. They knew what the attacks were as they happened. They were a little surprised at the end result.
"That was quite spectacular." Young Jesse said.
Cam knew what the massive explosion was.
"It was a power cell from a Terminator. It ruptured and went critical." Cam said.
Young Jesse tried to lighten the mood. She felt all the Terminators knew it could happen to them.
"Remind me not to push a 'finish' on one of you too far, or for too long." Young Jesse said.
Gail thought of all the times she needed to 'revive' Jesse when she'd pushed her too far. It was always at Jesse's own urging.
"It would be a beautiful way to go…." Gail said.
Cam thought it would be the ultimate climax. She needed to refocus. Their target no longer existed. They were assigned a new one.
"Our new target is the second vehicle." Cam said.
Young Allison and Anna watched the drone footage. The explosive finish was an added plus to the plan. It would solve most of their problems.
"I can say it was quite climatic." Young Allison said.
Anna nodded.
"I wouldn't call it the ultimate climax." Anna said. "There are still two active targets."
Young Allison hoped it was all there was.
"Keep watching for any HK drones hugging the ground or in the flood control channels." Young Allison said. "Watch all of the sky."
Cammy still cuddled with John when he realized there was a third person on the bed with them. It was Sheila.
Sheila looked at John.
"Hello, love." Sheila said. "You get to take a break for a few minutes and 'recharge'. I'm next."
John was a little embarrassed but quickly recovered. It was something he looked forward to with anticipation.
"I'm good with it." John said.
Sheila looked at his waist.
"Just be good with something else when it's time." Sheila said. "Enjoy the show."
John moved over as Sheila went to 'work' on Cammy. They were right next to him. He could see everything up close in detail. He could hear every sound they made. They bumped into him at times.
Cammy rotated around and was on top of Sheila now. It seemed to be what Sheila liked.
John took it all in. He hoped it would evolve into a three way, but it didn't. He knew he was going to be ready a lot sooner than he would have been otherwise. They both made it a final time.
Cammy knew Sheila wanted to be alone with John. She moved back up and gave John a kiss.
"I'm yours anytime you want it or me." Cammy said. "I'm her anyway, even if I'm not."
She picked a robe up off of the floor and left.
John looked over. Sheila stared at him with wide eyes. She blinked once. He swallowed hard.
"It's going to be a hard act to follow." John said.
Sheila giggled.
"It's what I'm hoping for." Sheila said. "I want it to be a 'hard act'."
Sheila sat up and stood. She put on a robe and looked at John. She walked to the door of the Master Suite.
John thought maybe he should have done something. It looked like she was about to leave. He watched as she opened the door. She put the little wedge stop in at the bottom to hold it open. She went outside and looked back. She gave him a wink.
He remembered what Jesse and Young Jesse both liked. Jesse told him it was what she always wanted. He jumped up and grabbed a robe from the floor and put it on. He quickly went outside the Master Suite. Sheila stood there. He thought she looked shy and apprehensive.
"Would you like to join me Miss – Sheila?" John asked.
He wondered if any of the Terminators ever felt they had a 'last name'. Someone told him once they considered it 'Connor' since they were part of the 'Connor Clan'.
"Yes." Sheila said and faced him.
Her eyes looked exactly like Jesse's and Young Jesse's eyes looked. He swallowed hard. She looked so innocent. He figured all her programming and past experiences were 'firewalled' right now. It was what Cameron always did to relive her 'wedding night' with him over and over.
He felt guilty about Cameron 'giving' him Sheila's chassis first experience. This would still Sheila's first experience with a male.
John looked at Sheila and knew what she wanted. He picked her up in his arms and carried her through the doorway. It was the symbolic gesture of carrying her across the 'threshold'. He could feel her cling to him. He kicked out the little wedge and the door swung closed.
He expected Sheila to be more aggressive but she looked at him with wide eyes. He could see a hint of tears in them. He stopped alongside the bed and set her down.
They stared into each others eyes. They moved close together and kissed. It was very soft and gentle. They kissed again just as softly but it was deeper and longer. It was a very warm loving kiss.
John wasn't sure what he'd expected. It wasn't this. He thought Sheila would be forward and aggressive. She was anything but either.
She waited for him to undress her. He slipped off her robe and she slipped off his.
John was deeply moved by everything she'd done so far. He realized she wasn't there just to share sex with him. She wanted to share herself with him. This was the deep inner Sheila which was inside of her. This was the real Sheila. She was just like Jesse, both of them.
Sheila looked into John's eyes as she lifted his hands to her breasts. The rings excited him. He picked her up again and laid her on the bed. He moved next to her as the slow loving touches continued.
"No one has ever seen the 'real me' before." Sheila whispered in his ear. "You're the first."
John was thrilled and honored to hear it.
They kissed and touched. John made his way down a little lower. He started in slow and gentle on her. He could see everything was ready now but he wanted her to feel nice first for as long as possible.
This was a very beautiful experience for both of them
Sheila smiled and the beauty radiated from her face.
"I want you on top." Sheila whispered. "It's what I want. I want you to hold me. I want to hold you. I want it to be like it's supposed to be."
John moved into position.
He felt Sheila stiffen some.
"Go slow." Sheila whispered. "I've never done this before."
John was always excited to hear it.
It felt like they melted into each other at that point. This was what he'd experienced with both Jesses. She held him tight but as delicately as he held her.
It was a moment of true beauty.
The Terminator would deal with those in the basement when he was done with the crew up on top. Two men were still in the building. Two more were about to exit.
Two of the men came out of the building and looked around. They didn't see anyone. The first man was more irritated than alarmed.
"Where's everyone at?" The first man asked.
The second man looked around.
"It's impossible to get good help anymore." The second man said. "I think it's time for another 'house cleaning'."
The Terminator knew just how to deal with them. He would use some of the voices of the dead men.
"You guys better take a look at this." The Terminator said in the voice of the new arrival.
The two men looked over in the direction of the one outbuilding.
"What do you have?" The first man asked.
The drone image indicated the men hadn't moved.
"We've got a situation." The Terminator said in another one of the men's voices.
"I don't think it's a good one either." The Terminator said in the new arrivals voice.
The two men didn't like it because there was no one else around.
"I'm on my way." The first man said.
He pulled out his pistol.
"Go check on the outposts." The first man whispered. "I'll deal with whatever is happening in there."
The second man nodded.
"Rodger…." The second man whispered.
The Terminator could see the first man approached the outbuilding with his weapon out. It wouldn't matter. He decided to play things up a little more.
"Grab them." The Terminator said in the new arrivals voice. "They're going to get away."
"We have them cornered." The Terminator said in another one of the men's voices.
The first man picked up his pace. He still advanced with his firearm ready. He paused when he reached the door and looked in. He didn't see anyone. It didn't look like he was going to fully enter.
"Where are you guys at?" The first man asked.
The Terminator was near the door. He fired three times through the wall at the man. There was a dull thud as the man fell into the outbuilding. He was terminated. He picked up his body and added it to the pile.
The drone image showed the second man approached the closest outpost. He paused about twenty feet away from it when he saw the body of one of the men laying there. Before he could do anything, the ground around him began to spray dirt in the air. His body fell where it was. He'd just received a dose of 'metal hail'. It hit in a ten foot circle around him. Since he was moving, it was impossible to tell when he would actually stop when the 'metal hail' was fired. There was a time lag before the projectiles could reach their target.
The drone on patrol picked up two vehicles approaching the area. It was clear they were headed to the same location. They would be there near the location in approximately four more minutes.
The Terminator wanted to deal with the two men inside of the building before he opened up the basement in the outbuilding. He exited the outbuilding and headed for the main building. A low drone scan showed the two men were still in the same location. He entered through the door the last two men came out of. He could hear their conversation.
"We have to respond with a strike of our own." The first man said.
"We're not even sure which gang it was." The second man said.
"It means we need to hit them all." The first man said.
"If they don't know it was us, they'll all start fighting each other." The second man said.
"What's taking those clowns so long?" The first man asked. "I told them I wanted two of those broads up in here now."
"It's one for each of us." The second man said.
"The guys can all have some fun after we're done." The first man said. "We're going to have to smoke everyone. We've been compromised somehow. Joey took care of the people who we had doubts about before he left the warehouse."
"Let me go see what's taking so long." The second man said. "I sure hope they didn't let any of them escape. It will create an even bigger problem."
The Terminator could hear one of the men coming. He backed up slightly and waited for him to walk out. He snapped his neck as soon as he did. He left the body where it was after he carefully lowered it to the ground.
He walked into the room with the remaining man. There were stacks of cash on the table in front of him.
The man heard someone enter.
"You're sure back quick." The first man said.
The first man looked up. He was a little surprised to see the Terminator standing there. Everything clicked in his mind in an instant. He realized they'd been played all along. His body didn't have time to react.
The Terminator fired his silenced M9. The first man fell with a bullet wound in his forehead. He checked the drone image. The two vehicles were at the front gate. The first one crashed through it without slowing. The people in 'the hole' would need to wait.
The security chief headed for the back of the HK Track. He would see if he could at least shut it down. He cautiously moved up behind it. There was a lot of electrical noise coming from the spatial portal. He wasn't even sure it was a good idea to remain in the building.
The HK Track attempted to move as he approached it. It was aware of his presence. He started to turn away from it when he realized it couldn't move enough to turn around. He could hear noises happening inside of the HK Track. At one point, the minigun started to spin, but it didn't fire. He figured it was because it was out of ammunition.
He could see there was a loose access panel on the back of it. He was sure someone must have tampered with it. It must have been one of the females he spotted.
There was a scream in the distance off to the side. He heard a burst of minigun fire. It was followed by a second one a few seconds later.
The security chief could hear the other HK Track approaching. Maybe it was a good time to take off before it arrived.
The female Fanatic quickly moved back from the opening. She figured the HK Track was about to fire at the man. She looked over and checked Jill's position. She quickly turned her attention back to the man on the ladder. It appeared he might regain his footing.
Jill was in a hurry to reach the area where the other man would come up the ladder at. She needed to get there before he did. If she couldn't make it, she at least needed to be ready to shoot when he came up. He shouldn't expect anyone to be up there. Then again, maybe he did and it was why he was headed up there. He might have spotted them when the lights came back on.
The female Fanatic stabbed the man in the neck. His scream attracted the specific attention of the HK Track.
Jill glanced back at Jackie to see how things were going. She could see the man hung by one arm as he tried to fend off the knife. Jackie was able to get a solid blow in. The man screamed and fell off at the same time the HK Track turned and fired at him.
She saw the other man on the ladder pause for a moment as it happened. He frantically increased his efforts to get up onto the catwalk. There was a loud metallic 'clang' from something he dropped. It was probably his firearm. It attracted the attention of the HK Track as well.
Jill stopped moving where she was at and remained still. The man continued his desperate climb. The HK Track fired again and hit him. His body fell off of the ladder. The HK Track moved on the continued back towards the location where they'd entered.
The female Fanatic and Jill both remained where they were at. The minigun fire was bound to attract anyone's attention up to where both of the men had been. It was also where they were already at.
Lena and Tina continued to move away from the spatial portal. Their com gear and phones were being affected. Every time there was another discharge of energy. It affected them as well. They continued to move further away.
"I think we're going to need to call in a drone strike." Lena said. "We know exactly where the HK Track is stuck at."
Tina thought it was a good idea at this point.
"If the HK Track power cell explodes, it should close the spatial portal." Tina said.
Lena hoped the same thing. There was also another possibility.
"It might open it bigger as well." Lena said. "There might not be any way to close it."
They moved further away from the anomaly. CamNet was able to communicate with them. They ran everything by her. She informed them they were going to use a nuclear weapon against the other spatial portal before. They were going to send it through armed. They didn't know where it would explode at. They didn't know if it went to a further future like some advanced TDE. It could even be from a parallel dimension separate from the parallel timeline.
Either way, as long as it continued to pulsate an energy field, there was no way they could approach it.
They heard a man scream and then the other HK Track fired its minigun. It fired again a few seconds later. They spotted a man fall off a ladder on his way up to the catwalk overhead.
"Do you think they were going up or down?" Lena asked.
Tina looked at the catwalk system above them.
"I think they were trying to go up to get away from the HK Track." Tina said. "They didn't make it."
Lena and Tina both took a good look at the catwalk to see if there was anyone else up there. If there was, they were a threat to them.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Temporal Mission:
Past Timeline:
November 25 1963
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Cameron and Young Allison left the basement shooting area behind. The sun was just about to set. They entered the Bear Pit. The receptionist greeted them and asked if they wanted to be seated. They informed her they just wanted to look at the menu for something to take home with them.
Young Allison spotted a 'moving picture' which was actually an advertisement for Hamm's beer. It was of a river type location and the picture rotated through a circle so it appeared as if the water was moving. There was a campfire too. It proclaimed their product was 'From the land of sky blue waters'. She'd viewed a similar item at the Bear Pit in Mission Hills. It didn't function any longer. She wondered if it was the same one.
"I think the revolving picture is cool." Young Allison said.
Cameron looked at it. She knew it was a 'Scene-o-Rama'. She figured if there was something similar in modern times; it would be on a flat screen instead of an actual mechanical device with a moving scroll.
"Pick out what you want." Cameron said. "I hope to be out of here in under a half hour. I have a surprise for you if we are."
Young Allison selected some barbecued beef as well as pork. It came with several sides. They waited about twenty minutes for the food to be ready. The receptionist put the containers into a large paper sack for them. They paid for it and gave the receptionist a tip. She was very pleased with the tip, normally only the waitresses received a tip. She thanked them and told them to come again.
They returned to the panel truck. Cameron checked on the M1 Carbine. It was almost completely cooled down. It was barely warm to the touch. She wrapped the paper sack back around the barrel to protect it.
It was past sunset now. It was starting to get dark.
"You can drive." Young Allison said. "I'll load the magazines for the M1 Carbine."
Cameron checked the time. She glanced over at the basement shooting location. It was dark now. Dave must have gone home. She started the panel truck and drove through the driveway to Roscoe Boulevard. She paused for a moment and then made a right when it was clear. She crossed over the railroad tracks and made a right on Canoga Avenue and headed north.
Young Allison moved the backpack up to the front seat when she got in. She held a fifteen round magazine in her hand. She began to load the rounds into it. She thought the magazine was incredibly easy to load. It made her think of the amount of tension on the magazine spring for the Parabellum. Did it really need to be so hard?
She spotted the giant sign for the 'Big A'. It was impossible to miss since it was lit up in bright red now.
"Look at that thing." Young Allison said. "I think it's really good advertising."
Cameron needed to agree. It was impossible to miss.
"I looked to the east when we pulled out of the parking lot." Cameron said. "I could see the big red 'T' for Thriftimart lit up as well. It's not quite as impressive as the Big A."
Young Allison noticed there were still a few scattered orange groves on the east side of the railroad tracks as they parallel them on Canoga Avenue. She continued to load the magazines.
"What's the surprise?" Young Allison asked.
Cameron increased her speed. She made a right hand turn at Parthenia Street and headed east.
"Since it's a surprise, I can't tell you." Cameron said.
Young Allison already loaded the four fifteen round magazines. She started on the two thirty round magazines.
Cameron could see a big dip in the road as they approached Browns Canyon Wash. There was no bridge at this crossing.
Young Allison noticed Cameron slow down some. She saw they were about to go down into the wash to cross over it.
"It'll be almost a decade before they cement this section of it and build a bridge over it." Cameron said.
Young Allison spotted something which she thought was rather strange.
"I see there's a pedestrian bridge which goes across above it." Young Allison said.
Cameron noted there were some pipes associated with it.
"It looks like there are a few utility lines which run underneath it." Cameron said.
Cameron picked up the RPM a little bit as they went up to slightly incline to get back up to ground level.
"You said every year there's always one or two people who get killed trying to cross it when it's full of water. I can't even imagine why they would try." Young Allison said. "I know it only takes a few feet of water to carry a car away."
Cameron knew how impatient humans could be.
"Some people just can't wait." Cameron said. "It would only take them five extra minutes to go north to Nordhoff Street, or south to Roscoe Boulevard and cross over the wooden bridges there."
Cameron reached DeSoto Avenue. She made a left hand turn and headed north. As they neared the next cross street she pointed something out to Young Allison.
"On the east side of De Soto is Atomics International." Cameron said. "It's associated with Rocketdyne and North American Aviation as well. They're responsible for some of the nuclear reactor testing which goes on at the Rocketdyne test facility."
Young Allison wondered how safe it was for anyone to test a nuclear reactor, no matter how small it was, in an area which was rapidly growing in population. Her studies indicated they would do it for a few more years. They'd already experienced one accident which was covered up very well by everyone.
She noticed something else as they neared Nordhoff Street.
"I see a lot of big trees on the east side." Young Allison said. "Those look like they were probably windbreaks at one time or something for some of the orchards."
Cameron glanced over. She wasn't sure what their original purpose was. It could have been as Young Allison suggested. It would make sense. There were strong Santa Ana winds which blow through the area several times a year.
"You may be right." Cameron said. "They're Eucalyptus Trees."
Young Allison knew they weren't a native species. Then again neither were the citrus groves.
"Did they bring over any Koala Bears along with them?" Young Allison asked.
Cameron figured if they did, they wouldn't have lived very long.
"I don't think so." Cameron said. "The eucalyptus tree leaves are their main source of nourishment. It's toxic to most other animals. Their bodies are uniquely adapted to flush out the toxins. They also derive most of their water intake from the leaves."
Young Allison spotted a gas station on both the northwest corner and southwest corner of the intersection of Nordhoff Street and DeSoto Avenue. What caught her attention was the restaurant on the northeast corner.
"Harvey's restaurant looks a little lonely all by itself." Young Allison said. "I can see it's still under construction."
"It will open next year. It was around for a long time. It eventually became the Lamplighter Family Restaurant." Cameron said. "There's now a gas station in its spot. It's actually one of the few to go up in a location where there never was one previously. The gas station directly across the street from it is now a fast food sandwich location."
Young Alison spotted a lit up sign on the west side of the street as they approached the railroad tracks. She wondered if it was the surprise. They already passed a similar place before on Canoga Avenue.
"Are we going to the Rocket Bowl?" Young Allison asked.
Cameron looked over at the Rocket Bowl. It was a bowling alley. It was relatively new. The sign was a rocket. It was a nod to the testing at the top of the hill.
"We could stop there if you want." Cameron said. "It's not what the surprise is though."
Cameron made a turn on the street before the railroad tracks. It was Knapp Street. It was on the north side of the Rocket Bowl.
Young Allison spotted a building right up against the railroad tracks on the north side of the street. It was hard to read the sign in the dark.
"What's the building over here?" Young Allison asked.
Cameron looked over and spotted the sign.
"It's Deluxe Check Printers." Cameron said. "It will be one of the largest check printing companies in the world for a number of years. Needless to say, time will pass them by. A decade from now, they will have several of those locations in the Valley. They'll be close by."
Cameron pulled up in the dirt lot next to Deluxe Checks Printers and DeSoto Avenue.
The bells on the crossing gates began to ring. The gates lower down. They watched one car go through and almost get hit by the cross arm.
"Do people know when it's a tie with a train they lose?" Young Allison asked. "They never learn either."
Cameron didn't think they did.
"When they learn the hard way, it's too late." Cameron said. "They're dead."
Young Allison and Cameron could both hear the loud blast of a melodic five chime air horn.
Ultimate Climax
One should be defined
By their own actions and acts
It will keep them trying
Without growing weak or lax
When the going gets rough
There will start to be cracks
It will show what one has
As things are pushed to the max
Personal derailments are most likely
When one tries to switch tracks
Feelings are easy to bruise
Leaving one to grind an ax
It doesn't take very long
To find out what one lacks
With every form of interaction
There's some kind of tax
Play the cards straight
There's no time to relax
It takes more than effort
To achieve the ultimate climax
Nobody