Chapter 1570
Vibrating Finger
Ajax, a Skynet Terminator, attempted to contact the building they'd left a short time ago. There was no answer. He was sure it was because the two men probably led someone back to their building. He told them to search the building they were in and remain there. He took one of the cars which was inside of the building and left in it. He hurried back towards the building he was stationed at.
CamNet's Terminator was aware of what was happening. Not only was he able to view some of it on the surveillance cameras he'd installed, the drone overhead also picked up the sedan leave the building. The box truck remained where it was at. So did two of the men.
He contacted CamNet and asked if she wanted him to attack the building now before the Skynet Terminator returned, or interdict and stop him before he arrived.
CamNet wanted him to return back to the building where the two men were and terminate them. She also wanted him to take the box truck from there and move it near to where the other one was currently parked with the other terminated men in the back of it.
The drone over the location where Ajax left from followed him to make sure there was no deviation on his route back to his building. The surveillance cameras inside of the other building kept track of where the two men were at. They'd started a systematic search of the building.
The first man was a little concerned as they moved from room to room.
"You know Ajax is going to blame us if anything goes wrong." The first man said.
The second man was actually a little relieved when Ajax left.
"I was pretty sure he was going to dust us when he decided to leave." The second man said.
The man moved between the boxes and crates on the workroom floor.
The first man thought it would depend upon what happened if Ajax snapped their necks or not.
"I'm pretty sure if anything goes wrong at the other place, we'll be the next one on his list to 'take for a ride'." The first man said.
The second man wondered if maybe now was the time for them to make a break for it.
"If we're going to get smoked, maybe we should try to get away first." The second man said. "At least we'd have a chance. We could put the grab on some homeless chick and head for the hills."
The first man considered the possibilities.
"If Ajax wasn't going to punch our ticket before, you certainly know he's going to if we do anything like that." The first man said. "I think we're safer where we're at. If the other place is under attack, maybe it's better if we're not there. it looks like everything which was done here is over."
The second man wasn't so sure.
"What happens if the Terminator, or whatever team was here, returns?" The second man asked. "It's something to think about anyway."
The first man scoffed a little.
"Everything here is already gone." The first man said. "Whoever was here, knew everyone was dead."
The second man didn't think so.
"If they were here when we were, they knew we left." The second man said. "It doesn't appear they actually followed us since the bodies and the third guy along with the truck are missing. I think we both know he didn't make it. Whoever did this might have this location under surveillance to see who comes looking for the others."
The first man knew it was a strong possibility.
"If it's actually the case, they should have seen Ajax leave in the sedan a few minutes ago." The first man said. "They should follow him to see where he goes."
The second man really didn't know. It seemed like they were flirting with danger to him.
The two men continued to search the building with their weapons out. Neither one of them attempted to contact Ajax with their speculation. They didn't want him to return to their location.
CamNet's Terminator was already on his way back towards the location where the two men were at.
The female Fanatic and Jill quietly slipped away from the area. They moved in the direction where the three men first accosted them at.
"Do you know what those keys are for?" Jill asked.
The female Fanatic looked at the keys. There were three different types of car keys on them. They were from three different manufacturers. One of them appeared to be a very old key.
"I'm sure one of them belongs to the lowered Impala parked along the side of the road." The female Fanatic said.
Jill heard some sporadic gunfire down in the trench where the train was currently stopped. She thought about the neighborhood they were in.
"If we take it, we're going to stand out like a sore thumb." Jill said. "It doesn't sound like the gangs are done with each other yet either."
The female Fanatic was sure both of the gangs would be after them if they took the lowered Impala.
"I think we should keep moving on foot." The female Fanatic said.
When they passed by the lowered Impala, the female Fanatic tossed the set of keys over towards it. They landed right outside of the driver's door. She hoped someone else would see them and take the car. It would make them the target.
They moved away from the direction of the railroad tracks and the sporadic gunfire. So far they hadn't spotted any police in the area.
Jill spotted something up ahead.
"I see a thrift shop across the street." Jill said.
The female Fanatic understood her meaning. It would probably be a good idea to pick up a different set of clothes. If they purchase them from a thrift store, they would appear to be used and not new. They shouldn't stand out.
"Let's make a quick detour and pick up a few items." The female Fanatic said. "We should enter separately. Go in first and only purchase a couple of things."
Jill carried several hundred dollars in cash which Jackie gave her earlier.
They crossed the street separately. The female Fanatic waited until Jill entered the thrift store before she crossed over to the other side. She waited near an alley.
Jill entered the thrift store and selected a dark hoodie. She also picked up a pair of dark gray pants. She passed by some wigs. She took a blonde one with curly hair. She looked around and didn't see anyone watching her. She stuffed it down the front of her pants. She went up to the register and paid. She gave the clerk an extra five dollars. She said the last time she was in, they didn't charge her for an item she'd purchased. The clerk said it was unnecessary. She insisted they take the money. They did. They put the items in a bag and she left the building. She was glad she'd paid for the wig clandestinely.
She saw Jackie down a couple of buildings by an alley. She motioned to her and they passed each other on the street. She told Jackie what she'd purchased and about the blonde wig.
The female Fanatic entered the thrift shop and procured a dark gray sweatshirt along with some dark pants. She also took a red wig and did the same thing Jill had done. The clerk rang up the tab. She reached the money out to the clerk and purposely dropped it onto the floor. The clerk bent down to pick it up. She put a ten dollar bill on the cash register before the clerk stood back up. She apologized for being clumsy. She took her items and left. She met up with Jill in the alley.
She was a little surprised to see Jill already changed her clothes. She wore the blonde wig along with the hoodie.
"I bought everything a larger size and put it on top of what I was already wearing." Jill said.
The female Fanatic had done the same thing. She quickly put the new clothes over her old ones. She put on the red wig. She put her hoodie up.
"We don't look like anyone who was near the railroad tracks earlier." The female Fanatic said.
They could hear a few sirens now. They saw two police cars pass by a few streets down. There was some type of armored car which followed them. It was probably a SWAT team.
They decided to go up the alley and come out on a different street.
The female Fanatic and Jill headed up the alley.
The drone, which checked the destroyed cement factory, picked up the railroad tracks and started in the opposite direction the female Fanatic and her accomplice went. It would search the right of way for twenty miles. It would make its way back soon enough and go in the other direction.
Lena and Tina continued their journey towards the warehouse at the end of a dirt road. The white van was still at the location. The drone over the location showed two men inspect the area. They went through the remains of the building several times.
The two female Terminators were still more than a few miles away from the location. They currently drove a box truck which had been appropriated earlier by some of the Resistance Terminators to remove equipment from another building which was taken down.
CamNet directed them to a location where they were to leave the box truck. There was an SUV close by they could pick up and 'borrow'. They did everything as instructed and headed for the warehouse at the end of a dirt road.
"This is the second crew with a white van to visit the building." Lena said.
Tina thought about the earlier encounter.
"There's not much for them there to find." Tina said. "We've been through the building ourselves."
Lena knew they were dealing with several different groups of Grays.
"There seems to be more than one group which wants to know what happened there." Lena said.
Tina was aware there were multiple locations which had been affected over the last few days by the Resistance, the female Fanatic and them.
"It's not the only place." Tina said.
Lena wondered if they should wait until the white van left and went to the next place. It's what they'd done before.
"We should intercept them when they go to a different location." Lena said.
The drone following the railroad tracks near the cement factory made a pass by the mine storage facility as well as the other warehouse which the female Fanatic attacked. There were no signs of activity in any of those locations.
The incident with the biker gang was reported as a 'traffic accident' when the tanker truck jackknifed and 'struck' the group of motorcycle riders.
The drone went by the destroyed cement facility one more time. The vehicles which the female Fanatic and her accomplice arrived in, as well as the one Lena and Tina arrived in, were still there. It picked up the railroad tracks and headed in the other direction.
Lena and Tina were alerted to what the drone discovered as they drove the SUV towards their new target.
Young Allison felt like she was finished. She thought she was about to die, or if she was a Terminator – terminate.
A voice reached out to her. It was a voice she trusted. It sounded like Savannah. She wanted Savannah so very much….
"…Allison… It's OK, I'm here…."
Young Allison's eyes opened. Her heart raced wildly. It was pounding.
She saw Anna's smiling face. It was right in front of hers. It wasn't Savannah.
"Everything is fine." Anna said. "We're together…."
Young Allison looked around. She was in her bed. She was in her room. She touched herself. There was skin on her bones. She was still human. She was also still clothed.
"I must have had a bad dream." Young Allison said.
Anna could tell something was 'wrong'.
"You're fine now." Anna said. "Everything is fine."
Anna touched Young Allison's forehead to check for a fever. There was none.
The dream was very fresh in Young Allison's mind. She wondered exactly what she may have said. She certainly thought of a number of different things.
"Did I say anything?" Young Allison asked.
Anna still kept her down on the bed and gently restrained her.
"There was some noise." Anna said. "It was no big deal. What happened?"
Anna didn't tell Young Allison she thrashed about wildly and tried to scream. She didn't want to traumatize her further.
Young Allison tried to remember it all.
"How long has it been?" Young Allison asked.
Anna was aware of Young Allison nightly ritual.
"It's been just over an hour since you fell asleep." Anna said. "I should've joined you later on so you could 'release' the tension first like you usually do."
Young Allison was a little embarrassed. She usually always sought a 'finish' before she slept. Sometimes it was more than one. Sometimes it was a lot.
"It's a bad habit I picked up from Allison." Young Allison said. "I watched her do it many times. It seemed to help her rest."
She didn't mention she'd watched her mother do the same thing as well.
When she first started out, it was just a mild sensation which was pleasurable. She would do it for hours at a time. She always paused and stopped when it started to feel 'different'. She didn't know it, but she was 'edging'. She always stopped right before the finish. It was one day when she was stressed out. She reached the 'different' feeling, she kept going. In just seconds it hit her, 'WHAM'. She was flooded with a new sensation like she'd never imagined. It was wonderful. She quickly did it again. She learned to 'follow the feeling' and then it would happen. Sometimes it took her less than two minutes to make it.
Anna smiled and touched her cheek.
"It's not a bad habit." Anna said. "All humans do it. It's normal and it's safe."
Young Allison was aware everyone knew she did it. It still seemed to be something no one liked to talk about. She could understand why, it was rather personal.
"It's nothing to brag about." Young Allison said.
Anna wanted Young Allison to rest a little more.
"I'll go out for a few minutes." Anna said. "You can 'take care of business'. I'll rejoin you afterwards and be here for the rest of your sleep like I promised."
Young Allison didn't know Anna often touched herself at the same time she did. She was usually down the hall or in another room. More than once she was under her bed as they did the same things. Sometimes when Anna 'conditioned' her at night, she would wake up. There was nowhere for Anna to go but under the bed. Young Allison would usually knock off a finish to fall back asleep faster. Anna did the same thing under the bed while she waited for her to fall asleep again so the 'conditioning' could resume.
Maybe she would just do it with Anna there. It wasn't a secret.
"You don't need to leave." Young Allison said. "I'd really like it if you did it for me."
Anna's eyes widened.
Young Allison could see she said more than she'd intended.
"Did I say the last part out loud?" Young Allison quickly asked.
Anna smiled.
"Yes." Anna said. "It's fine. I'll come back. I do it too sometimes."
Young Allison suspected she did. She'd seen Holly and Hanna do it as well.
"Really?" Young Allison asked.
Anna shrugged her shoulders some.
"It's the 'Cameron' in me. Future Allison makes up a part of her, and me by extension." Anna said. "I have the 'Neural Interface' from Savannah. We update at least once a week, if not more. Savannah is very active and promiscuous. I have all those traits too, both good and 'bad'."
Young Allison wanted to see more.
"I don't mind if you watch." Young Allison said. "I know you have anyway. I'd like to see how you do it."
Anna continued to scan Young Allison. The terror was gone from her now. She'd been in utter fear during her dream. She was back to 'normal' now. It seemed the conversation subject redirected her mind. It was good.
"I do what you do and the other girls do too." Anna said. "It's a method which works. It takes longer than it does 'Terminator Style'."
Young Allison was surprised to hear it.
"What's 'Terminator Style'?" Young Allison asked.
Anna held up her index finger and it began a rapidly back and forth motion. It began to vibrate.
Young Allison reached out and touched it.
"It feels intense." Young Allison said. "Can I see what it's like?"
Anna quickly stopped.
"You know we can't do it." Anna said.
Young Allison wanted more.
"We won't do anything else." Young Allison said. "I won't even look at you. I'll put the pillow over my face."
Anna didn't want to cross that bridge yet.
"No." Anna said. "It's forbidden."
Young Allison was determined to see what it was like. She might as well offer up something in return. It wouldn't be a big deal anyway. She felt she could use it too.
"I'll sleep for an extra hour if you do." Young Allison said. "I don't want to have a bad dream again."
Anna wanted Young Allison to have a peaceful sleep. She didn't want things to get out of hand either.
"I'll do it for a minute only." Anna said. "Nothing else is to happen or be said. You will then sleep for two more hours afterwards. We'll never discuss this again either. It will be as if it never occurred. Those are the conditions."
Anna wondered if she should erase the files as well. Maybe she would see how it went first before she did.
Young Allison was ready for more. She would take anything. She quickly went over the rules.
"One minute, nothing else, it's never talked about again." Young Allison said. "Oh, and two more hours of sleep."
Anna knew it was a bad idea. She also didn't want Young Allison to scream in her sleep again.
Young Allison closed her eyes and waited.
All of a sudden it started. It was slow at first and then intensified. She sucked in her breath and gasped. The feeling intensified more. It was hard to breathe. She stiffened some and sucked in more air. It seemed the air inside her lungs couldn't get out. The sensation rapidly grew and then it happened. It happened again and then again. The feeling slowed and stopped. She sucked in more air.
"Breathe." Anna whispered. "You need to breathe."
Young Allison's eyes were wide and her mouth was open. She managed to get a few breaths in. She could speak now.
"Oh - my - God." Young Allison said. "I've never felt anything like it before. It was the best time ever."
Anna didn't want Young Allison to get carried away.
"It will be the one time only." Anna said. "Now rest."
Young Allison was jacked with endorphins.
"How long was it for?" Young Allison asked. "I lost track of time. I lost track of everything."
Anna didn't overdo it.
"It was one minute like I said. It was exactly sixty seconds." Anna said. "Sometimes I'll do it longer. I need to stop before I overload and shut down."
Young Allison realized she'd 'overloaded' in the first fifteen seconds. She forgot how to breathe even. The feeling was intense. The finishes were to the point of almost being continuous.
"Thank you." Young Allison said. "I'll cherish this experience forever. I love you, Anna."
Anna felt Young Allison take her hand again. She was asleep in no time. It was peaceful this time. Anna skipped the condition as she'd skipped it earlier. She was content just to watch Young Allison sleep.
"I love you too, Allison." Anna whispered. "I always have and I always will…."
Summer rested peacefully now as the 'voices' comforted her. They worked through several complex mathematical problems. She was able to visualize them as they were worked.
'You need to go to the commissary right now.'
Summer opened her eyes and got up.
She needed to leave. She only wore her nightgown. She was barefoot as she left. She quickly began to sense things. It was her mother and Sarah. John was in her head too. He was thinking about her mother, as he wondered about his mother.
She ran silently.
Claire returned Sarah's kiss. They briefly fondled each other. She really wanted to do the mother-son thing….
John excused himself from the Command Center and headed for the commissary. He saw his mother enter right as he turned the corner. He slowed and moved up carefully and looked in the other door. He was surprised to see Claire and his mother kiss openly. They fondled each other too. Was it for real?
He dropped back from the doorway.
'Who are you to judge?'
John was surprised.
'I know everything….'
John was a little worried.
'Everyone is busy….'
John was really worried now. He forgot all about his mother and Claire. He looked back and Summer was there. He was sure she didn't actually speak to him. He watched her walk away. She paused at the corner and faced him
'You know where my room is….'
Summer disappeared around the corner. The only thing there now was her nightgown as it slowly drifted down to the floor.
John stood there for a long moment. He tried to remember what he was about to do. He was going to go to the commissary. He must have drawn a blank. He looked back. There was nothing on the floor. What did he think he saw? What did he think happened?
He really wasn't sure. He didn't remember what he'd seen with his mother and Claire. The memory was gone. He could smell the food. It smelled good. He entered the commissary. He was surprised to see his mother there.
Sarah was pleased to see John.
"Hi, John." Sarah said.
John was a little surprised to see her.
"Hi, Mom." John said. "I don't know you were up."
Sarah smiled.
"I'm full of surprises." Sarah said.
Claire and Sarah exchanged a quick glance.
John wanted to help.
"What can I do?" John asked.
Claire turned the steak over. She didn't want John to do anything.
"Sit back and relax." Claire said.
Claire brought him over a large glass of orange juice.
John was very pleased to receive it.
"Thanks." John said as he took a sip.
Claire smiled. There was one thing John could do to help her.
"Would you go check on Summer for me?" Claire asked. "You know where her room is."
John started coughing. Some orange juice must have gone down the 'wrong pipe'.
Claire patted him on the back.
John composed himself.
He was a little uneasy about doing it. He wasn't sure why. He could see Claire and Sarah were busy.
"I'll check on her." John said.
He excused himself and headed for Summer's room.
John felt a sudden sense of anticipation as he neared Summer's room.
He began to think of the movie.
No. Claire would kill him.
Wait.
His mother would kill him first. It wouldn't be done quickly either.
Savannah was pleased Cameron was still naked. She'd put an apron on at one point. It was just too cute to see her wearing only the apron while she was naked.
Cameron planned to have Savannah as dessert.
It was the same thing Savannah planned for Cameron.
Savannah ate her food. She asked Cameron to try a taste of everything.
Cameron agreed so she could know what was 'good'. Much like a dog smelled the ingredients in food, she tasted the ingredients.
The sun was fully up now.
Cameron began to collect the dishes.
Savannah wasn't having any of it. She wanted to make her responsibilities clear.
"I'm cleaning up." Savannah said. "I appreciate what you've done so far, but I need to contribute too. It's a two way street with me, everything is."
Cameron did know Savannah always pulled her weight. Cammy tried to do everything for her, but Savannah wouldn't let her. Savannah believed they were all equal. It didn't matter if the cyborgs didn't need to sleep and could use the extra time to do more things. It was one of the things which made Savannah special. There was no need to argue the point. It would actually create a bigger problem if she did.
"Sure, Savannah." Cameron said. "We'll do it together."
Savannah smiled.
"It's the way I like it." Savannah said. "I like to do things together."
Cameron and Savannah exchange a quick glance. It was how most of the love making was during the night. They did work on each other alone at one point in the beginning. It was special too. It was a time to express their love, before the love was shared.
They did the dishes and cleaned up the galley.
Savannah went to use the restroom in the lounge area.
Cameron wanted to remind her of a better choice.
"The one in our suite is nicer." Cameron said.
Savannah had her eye on the hot tub on the aft deck. It was steaming pretty good in the cool air off of the lake. It 'called' to her. She wanted to joke around with Cameron.
"Do you just want me back in the bedroom?" Savannah asked.
Cameron did want it. The bathroom in the Master Suite was very fancy. She wanted Savannah to have the best.
"I'd like it too, but it really is a fancy bathroom." Cameron said.
Savannah looked back at the hot tub again.
"I can do it." Savannah said.
Cameron noticed Savannah looked back at the hot tub on the aft deck for the third time. She wanted to give Savannah more options.
"You can use the one here first and we can try the hot tub before we go back upstairs for dessert." Cameron said.
Savannah smiled. She knew what dessert would be. She didn't have the opportunity to use a hot tub very often. She only ever been in one a few times
"Is it OK with you?" Savannah asked. "I could really use it to soothe my body some. We have the rest of our lives to share. We won't always have a hot tub. It won't be for long, I promise."
Cameron already considered adding a hot tub to the Resistance base. It was because of the ones in the bathrooms in the suites on the ship. They seemed to be a big hit with everyone.
Savannah took care of business while Cameron put a few more things away.
"Let's go out." Savannah said.
Her bathrobe hung open.
Cameron took off her apron and was naked again. She headed for the rear glass doors.
Savannah was worried about Cameron walking around the outer deck naked. She picked up the other robe off the chair. It was in the back by the sliding doors.
"Maybe you should wear the robe when you're outside in the open." Savannah said.
Cameron took it, but only held it.
"Nudity doesn't bother me." Cameron said.
Cameron thought the female body should be celebrated, if not worshiped.
Savannah didn't want any incidents.
"It's not you I'm worried about." Savannah said.
CamNet controlled the houseboat. She'd started it on a journey around the lake about a thousand feet from the shore. It gave them a good overview of everything. There were scattered dwellings here and there. There were also some other small boats on the lake now.
Cameron understood some people could get uptight about nudity. It was their hang-up, not hers. She wanted to let Savannah know how she felt.
"I only want you to see me." Cameron said and slipped the robe on. "My body belongs to you now."
Savannah wanted to keep Cameron in check. She wanted to remind her of the 'Natural Order' in Cameron's future.
"It belongs to the four of us." Savannah said. "Each of our bodies belongs to the other three and ourselves too."
Cameron smiled. She opened the rear sliding glass door. She wore the robe. It hung open like Savannah's did. It covered most of her.
It seemed colder outside to Savannah now than before. She pulled her robe closed. She didn't know Cameron cranked up the heat for breakfast because she'd felt cold earlier. They looked around as they headed for the hot tub. It was recessed into the aft deck. The railings around the stern were steel framed glass with polished wood tops. They would have an unobstructed view all around them except for where the forward superstructure was at.
Savannah and Cameron both hiked their robes up and stepped down onto the step which was also the seat. They slipped their robes off and the water rose up to just a few inches below their necks as they sat down. The water was very warm which felt nice after the cool lake air.
The hydro jets came on once they were seated.
Savannah quickly looked around. She hadn't noticed anything was activated.
"Was it you or CamNet who started the jets?" Savannah asked.
Cameron pointed at a control panel.
"It was me." Cameron said. "CamNet is just to drive the boat and respect our privacy for our honeymoon."
Savannah didn't want to comment on the honeymoon part. She remembered Nevada was a place for quickie marriages. She didn't want Cameron to get carried away. She wanted to redirect Cameron.
"I found a water jet. It feels nice." Savannah said.
Cameron saw Savannah reposition herself. She knew there were other more efficient ways to accomplish 'things'.
"I have something nicer." Cameron said. "Let the jets work on your back. I'll take care of the front…."
Cameron held up her index finger. It began to vibrate. It disappeared under the water.
Savannah felt an 'electrical surge', but it wasn't electricity. Her head snapped back and she gasped.
Cameron moved closer and began to kiss her as her as the feeling continued.
Savannah squirmed as Cameron took care of her.
Cameron had two index fingers. She put the other one to work on herself. The kissing intensified…. Everyone was happy very frequently, as well as multiple times.
Leticia was in heaven. She hadn't been with anyone Young Jesse's age in a long time. Most of her 'masters' were much older than her. They usually took good care of her at first. It didn't take long for the abuse to start. They would slap her around and usually make her be with an older man who couldn't keep it up long enough to even get started, let alone do anything else. Most were just like a wet noodle.
The 'special girls' were different. They wanted her to stand up for herself. She'd watched them kill. She'd watched Sheila kill. Not only did she kill, she killed violently and would even torture someone first. Sheila even wanted her to try it!
Sheila could tell Leticia thought about her previous life experiences. She wanted to let her know things were different now. They were going to be different going forward as well.
"Look, love, you're free now." Sheila said. "No one owns you now or ever will again."
Leticia thought she must have drifted some. She couldn't help but think about some of the past events. They often had a way to creep up on her.
"I'm sorry." Leticia said.
Sheila wanted Leticia to be strong. She knew there was a strong female in there. She didn't want anyone to walk on Leticia again. She didn't feel it was right. She wouldn't want to be treated in such a manner. She didn't think anyone else should be either.
"The people I'm around all need to fight." Sheila said.
They watched as Jesse and Young Jesse shared with each other right now.
Leticia was fascinated with the concept. She really wondered what it would be like to be with 'herself'. She'd watched some videos on the internet of females who were flexible enough to actually service themselves. She didn't possess the same amount of flexibility. She'd tried.
"Just think about it, they're actually doing it with 'themselves'." Leticia said. "I've always dreamt about doing it to myself."
Sheila knew once the new Terminator that Young Jesse captured was Resequenced, Leticia would be able to get about as close to her wish as possible. She didn't want to take her into any of the futures to try and find 'herself'. It was too risky.
"I'm going to give you a treat." Sheila said.
Sheila held up her index finger. It began to vibrate.
Leticia's eyes widened. She was given the same treat in the van when they'd done the city tour of San Francisco the first time. She was ready for more of the same. The feeling could be concentrated very specifically.
"I like what you did before." Leticia said. "It was a very amazing and unique experience."
Sheila started in on her as she kissed her. She kept reminding her to breathe.
There was such an intense feeling, it was hard for Leticia to think even. She wondered what else Sheila could do. She decided not to ask. She'd like it to be a surprise . Somehow it would make it even better.
Mary and Laura ended up together at one point. They were lovers before everything started on the ship. Now they'd both found much better things. They both knew they couldn't 'have' them all the time.
"I want to pair the girls up when we take a break." Mary said.
Laura thought they'd done it already, more or less.
"How?" Laura asked.
Mary thought it would just be a simple visual comparison.
"I want to see them stand side by side together." Mary said.
Laura already knew they were identical 'everywhere', for the ones who looked the same. Experience taught her no two females were the same everywhere. Even identical twins were slightly different. These girls were identical. Every crease, fold, or mole was identical. She didn't want Mary to overstep their bounds and offend anyone. It could end very tragically for them.
"Don't push them too far." Laura whispered. "They're all battle hardened killers, even the human girls."
Mary did know it. Somehow it made them more appealing. They were 'bad girls' in a different sense. She really wanted to know what the 'special girls' actually were. How could they be some kind of a robot? It was impossible, yet somehow it was true. They'd seen things which didn't exist now, but they were there nonetheless. They were things from the future. All the reports indicated everyone who spoke about things from the future, ended up in an insane asylum or dead.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Temporal Mission:
Past Timeline:
November 26 1963
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Young Allison could clearly see the 'light at the end of the tunnel'. She could see out the eastward facing portal of Tunnel 26.
"We're almost halfway through." Cameron said.
After a few more minutes Cameron paused.
"This is the apex of the tunnel." Cameron said. "Both sides are downhill from this point."
Young Alison spotted the larger depression in the side of the tunnel wall.
Cameron noted where Young Allison shined her powerful flashlight.
"This is the spot where a speeder can be moved off the tracks and out of the way." Cameron said.
Young Allison thought it would be a good place to be if a train went by. They would really be out of the way. Maybe it was time to have Cameron check.
"Do you feel any vibrations yet?" Young Allison asked.
Cameron not only felt some vibrations, she'd also heard the sound of an air horn twice already. It was a few miles away.
"I think there will be a train soon. It's coming from the Santa Susana side." Cameron said. "I believe I heard it cross Tapo Street where the Santa Susana station is located. There's a lumber yard just on the north side of the tracks near the same location."
Young Allison listened but she couldn't hear anything.
"I'd like to wait in this location for the train to pass." Young Allison said.
Cameron heard the air horn again. She made a few quick calculations.
"I heard it blow for the Los Angeles Street crossing." Cameron said. "It's approximately three miles from this location. Based on the amount of time between the two streets It crossed, I believe it's traveling approximately forty three miles an hour. It will probably slow some as it approaches the tunnel. It should be by our location in less than five minutes."
Young Allison thought it was a pretty accurate assessment for something she couldn't even hear. She wanted to remain where they were at. She looked at the tunnel around them. She could see the cement was poured using individual boards for the framework. It was obviously before the days of plywood forms.
"How did they make this tunnel?" Young Allison asked. "I know it took some time for them to complete it."
Cameron checked her files on what records she possessed.
"Excavation started on July 16 1900." Cameron said. "Work was started at both ends of the tunnel simultaneously."
Young Allison thought about how difficult it must have been without any type of GPS positioning, to align two halves of a tunnel a mile and a half long, with an uphill grade, and have them line up.
"I think a lot of the work needed to be done by hand." Young Allison said. "How did they keep everything straight? I can't imagine everything would have lined up when they met in the middle."
Cameron possessed the information.
"The two headings met on August 18 1903." Cameron said. "It was just the initial bore. You were correct in your assumption the two halves didn't line up. After approximately three-quarters of a mile on each half, they were four inches off dead center."
Young Allison was surprised to hear it was so accurate during the time period.
"I think that's a pretty amazing feat." Young Allison said.
Cameron assessed the equipment used during the construction.
"There was a power generation station set up to provide electricity for lighting of the tunnel, as well as to power air pumps which were used for various types of pneumatic equipment, mainly air chisels. There was a lot of pick and shovel work as well."
Young Allison figured it was a little bit better than what they'd faced when the Central Pacific constructed the line over Donner Pass. There were no power tools whatsoever. It was all done the hard way, by hand. She'd read the granite was so hard, the black powder would simply blow out of the holes drilled into the rock with a manual drill and sledgehammer. They switched to a more powerful explosive. It was nitroglycerin. It was very unstable and contact sensitive. There were a lot of deaths involved in its usage.
"I still think it's really amazing." Young Allison said. "I think in my studies of this area, I saw a picture of some type of working platform which was used in at least part of the tunnel we're in."
Cameron viewed the picture as well.
"The conveyance was known as 'Jumbo'." Cameron said. "It was a movable structure made of timber. It was three levels in height. It allowed the crews to work on the entire digging face from multiple levels simultaneously. It's sped up the process greatly. Jumbo was moved along on its own set of rails against the sides of the tunnel. There were two narrow gauge tracks in between. Animal drawn equipment was used to bring and remove small cars for the excavated material. Shoring was used extensively along the way to prevent cave-ins. No serious ones occurred because of the care involved."
Cameron knew it was a different story when Tunnel 25, now Tunnel 20, was constructed. There was a lot of loss of life involved with the construction of it. The actual death toll was kept hidden and never officially released. A lot of those who ended up terminated were Chinese construction workers who'd worked on the Transcontinental Mainline. It was easier to hide the records of those who came to do the work from another country across the Pacific Ocean. The death toll had been heavy on the Donner Pass line as well. It was where the saying came from that someone 'didn't have a Chinaman's chance'. She didn't want to bring it up right now to Young Allison. Maybe later on would be better.
Young Allison was impressed on how people always found some way to accomplish a task. She believed it was just about time for the train to arrive.
"I don't think it's going to be much longer." Young Allison said.
Cameron reached down and touched the rail with her hand.
"I think we'll see the headlight very soon." Cameron said.
As soon as Cameron finished her sentence, they heard a single short blast of an air horn. Not all of the engineers would do it when they entered the long tunnel. Those who did figured it would give fair warning to anyone who was inside to get out of the way.
Young Allison looked around the corner of the safety alcove. She could see the bright headlight as well as the oscillating light as the locomotive entered into the tunnel. In just a few seconds, she could feel the pressure change around her. She wasn't sure if it was because of the air being displaced as the train entered the tunnel, it seemed like it was.
In just seconds she could hear the rumble of the locomotives. It appeared to her the locomotive was an 'F unit', most likely it was an F7A. It felt like there was a mild breeze inside of the tunnel. The locomotives and the freight cars behind them, displaced the volume of air in the tunnel and forced it forward. The sound took on a more ominous tone. The exhaust from the top of the locomotives reverberated off of the arch of the tunnel. Normally it would be directed into the atmosphere. Inside of the tunnel, it was directed back downward.
Young Allison took a step back. She could see the locomotive would be there in a very short time. She didn't want the engineer or fireman to spot her. She didn't want them to radio the dispatcher they spotted 'trespassers' in the tunnel. Technically it's what they were right now. In the past, they didn't have the ability of John Henry or CamNet to redirect any type of communications like they could in the time period she'd left from.
Cameron stood in back of Young Allison as the locomotives approached. When Young Allison took a step back she did as well.
Finger
Who is behind the wheel
There needs to be a driver
Who is in control
There's most likely a passenger
With every type of journey
There is a certain amount of danger
The threat can increase dramatically
If one stops for a stranger
Some journeys are very short
Others can be much longer
Every encounter which is survived
Doesn't always make one stronger
The path isn't always clear
Events can culminate in a cliffhanger
Help may not always arrive in time
There could even be a challenger
A message will be conveyed
By those who've survived the dagger
Even if the response is nothing more
Than giving one the finger
Nobody