Chapter 428

Both Of Them

Kyle was out with Jim and Al. They were doing reconnaissance on some possible 'super computer' locations. The target looked straightforward, but they went on enough of the same type of operations to know nothing was simple. It could turn to crap real fast, which was something it seemed to do more often than not.

He knew both Cameron and Sarah didn't like him being out and risking his life. They just couldn't understand it was how he grew up. It was doing this very thing. It was a part of his life. He was no stranger to danger. He wanted to help and protect his family. He wanted to prevent his daughter and son from ever living in a Skynet decimated world. It wasn't a world for anyone to grow up in, especially a female.

The thought of what happened to every female in the future troubled him. He feared for his daughter more than he did for Sarah. Once Skynet blew everything up, there was no longer a moral compass for humanity. Society devolved into a crude state of affairs about one step above a caveman. It was how it was in the Wastelands anyway.

He was aware Cameron conducted 'off the books' operations against future Scavengers. He supported her efforts one hundred percent. The more of the evil scum which was eradicated before Judgment Day, the better it was going forward for every female, and male too as far as it went.

Kyle didn't want to get sidetracked. The operation was all very concise. It was easy to lose focus when the objective seemed so clear cut. The intel they received seemed too good, too precise. He felt exposed and out in the open. It all felt wrong. They just started the recon. Something seemed off to him almost immediately. He needed to say something.

"I don't like this." Kyle said. "I have a bad feeling about where we are."

Jim and Al looked at each other. Cameron told them before to listen to the warnings from the humans with them. Humans saw things differently than Terminators did on several levels. Even though the data was there, it was how it was interpreted which could make a difference. A glass could be half empty or half full while the amount of liquid inside of it remained the same.

"What is it?" Jim asked. "Did we miss something?"

AI was concerned as well.

"Have we been made?" Al asked.

Kyle couldn't place his finger on what it was exactly. His instincts told him to get away from where they were at immediately.

"Drive away, now." Kyle said as he looked around.

Kyle hoped they hadn't been 'made'.

Jim hit the gas and drove away rapidly.

"What is it?" Jim asked again.

John Henry picked up on the apprehension earlier. He took some preemptive action.

"I've dispatched a drone." John Henry came over the com. "There will be one for each team. They're enroute. They should arrive shortly."

Kyle looked up and around at the sky. He still felt an ominous feeling.

"Something seems off." Kyle said. "It doesn't feel right."

Al took it at face value. He was concerned now as well.

"Is it human intuition?" Al asked. "I know it's proven valuable before."

John was out with Bob and Steve. They were part of the same recon group, but as a separate team. They were in the vicinity of Kyle's team.

"Kyle, we're moving to intercept." John said.

John was very worried about Kyle's concern and warning.

Kyle didn't want John to walk into whatever they just did.

"Stay alert." Kyle said. "I think we're being played. You should probably keep your distance until we know more."

John Henry thought it was time to play the 'Cameron card'. She dispatched Terminators from her base to silently shadow the two groups for support. It looked like the support was needed right now. It wasn't something he was supposed to advertise unless the situation became critical. He wasn't sure if it was critical or not, but there was definitely a major problem.

"Cameron has Terminators In the vicinity who are ready to cover both of your teams." John Henry said.

John was insulted as much as he was glad to hear the news. He didn't like Cameron to 'baby' him. It always made him feel as if Cameron didn't think he could do the job. He let his own anger and pride blind him somewhat. He made a sarcastic remark without really trying to. It just sort of slipped out.

"What a vote of confidence." John said.

John Henry didn't like John's rebuke. There were bigger issues at play other than someone's ego. Kyle seemed to think there was more at play and it wasn't going to be good for his team. He knew Kyle wouldn't have said something unless he was fairly certain about his warning even if he couldn't place the exact cause.

"It's for situations just like this." John Henry said. "We don't know what's going to happen next."

John knew he let his 'feelings' get the best of him. It seemed it didn't take much for him to become angry with Cameron. He knew all help was good when it was available. He also knew it wouldn't always be available, even when they would actually need it. He thought maybe he needed to clear the air to prevent anyone from not making a report they should all hear because of his outburst. He realized his lack of control could further jeopardize what might be an already compromised mission.

"You're right. I'm sorry everyone." John said. "If anyone has anything, we need to know. Do you have anything else, Kyle?"

Kyle looked all around him and up at the sky as well. He was sure they were 'clocked'.

"Not yet." Kyle said. "I just got a bad feeling."

John knew it must be pretty bad to spook Kyle like it did. He was very worried now. He regretted his earlier comment.

John Henry followed protocol on other contingency plans for when an emergency arose. It wasn't an official emergency yet, but there was no reason not to get things ready. To have a Strike Group or Mike Force ready could only benefit their team if the situation deteriorated.

"Derek and a team are headed to the Blackhawk now." John Henry said. "They're gathering their gear. We weren't expecting this to go hot, at least not this soon on a recon. I can have them airborne as soon as they're ready."

John listened to the report. He was a little worried they might be overreacting but he thought it would be better to have everything ready to go and not need it, than need it and not have it ready.

Jim tilted his head slightly. He detected something. He pointed to the sky in the distance. It appeared to be bad news.

"We have a HK drone inbound." Jim said. "I see it closing."

John Henry checked on the two drones he sent. They weren't near either team yet.

"It's not ours." John Henry said. "They're both still out of range."

John knew an HK drone was a death sentence to a vehicle out in the open. The team needed to act.

"Beautiful…." John said. "Can you find cover?"

Kyle spotted the HK drone now himself. It took him longer than it did for Jim and Al. It was just over half a mile away. There was nowhere for them to go.

"No." Kyle said. "It looks like we're screwed."

John knew their best hope was to split up and run. The HK drone wouldn't be able to get all of them on the first pass. If the three of them exited from the vehicle, there would be four targets to deal with instead of one. More than likely the vehicle would remain the primary target on the first pass.

"How long is it until you get hit?" John asked. "Dump the SUV and make a run for it. Use the storm drains."

Jim already slowed the SUV so they could make a break for it. It didn't appear they were going to have enough time to act.

"It's too late. It's making its run." Jim said.

Kyle and Al bailed out first before the SUV even stopped. They took off in different directions. Maybe only one of them would be killed before their drone got there to help them….

Sarah never considered sending Jan to school when it was time. It never worked out for John very well. She did try and give him a 'normal' life. She didn't want Jan to become a Skynet target. She always planned to home school Jan. She was able to watch and assist with Savannah's upbringing. Savannah was clearly advanced beyond her physical years in her learning almost from the start. She did college level work when she was middle school age. A lot of the progress rested with Cameron. Cameron worked with Savannah both day and night in every subject and in her training to become a Resistance fighter. It always seemed Cameron wanted Savannah to be the 'human version' of her. It was said it would be even more so with the younger version of Allison. Cameron couldn't become human, but she could create humans who were more like her.

It concerned her some as to the level of ruthlessness Cameron might push the girls. She didn't think it would be a good thing if Cameron pushed them too far. She also understood the nature of the future. The future was an ugly place, especially if it was decimated by Skynet. The girls would probably fare better the harder they were when it came to dealing with others. It might not always be prudent to ask questions first, before action was taken.

She was in the middle of a lesson with Jan when the alert came across. It was a positive Skynet HK drone encounter. She didn't have the details. Kyle was out. A sick feeling came over her. She already knew what was about to happen, even if she didn't know for sure. She put Jan in the 'safe room' where they used to send Savannah. She called for Riley to watch her.

They always needed to take a credible threat seriously. They never knew when something might be on its way to become a major escalation. She rushed to where John Henry was at. She would be able to get the most accurate and up to date information in the Command Center.

John Henry and Sarah developed a bond slowly over the years. She, like Cameron with THIS Riley, came to accept they were different from the others who 'looked like' them. They were different individuals from the ones who caused the 'problems'.

Sarah reached the Command Center and John Henry filled her in. Now she was aware Kyle was running for his life.

It appeared as if one of them, or even all of them, on the mission were going to be terminated….

It looked like someone needed to pull an ace out of their sleeve. She was fresh out of cards to play.

Nobody possessed one.

Cameron and Ally visited the Young residence earlier. They left something behind before they departed.

Allison was a little wary about what would happen going forward. She didn't think anything would happen in the long term, even if it did in the short term.

Holly induced John's genetic material into Allison at the appropriate time. She used the most proven technique to deliver the 'goods'. There were hundreds of millions of 'John's little soldiers' who all sought out one thing inside of Allison. One of them made it. She scanned Allison and was aware of the 'change'. She informed Allison of the news.

It was done.

Holly looked into Allison's eyes.

"Congratulations." Holly whispered.

Allison's mouth dropped open slightly.

"Do you mean…." Allison started.

Holly kissed Allison softly on the cheek.

"Yes." Holly said.

Claire just 'happened' to pass by the room. She'd actually been pacing back and forth waiting to see what happened. She knew it was very personal to Allison.

Allison saw Claire go by.

"Mom…." Allison called out.

Claire returned to the doorway of Allison's room.

"Yes?" Claire asked.

Allison took Holly's hand. She looked very serious.

"Mom, I'm pregnant." Allison said.

Claire was overjoyed to get the confirmation. She tried to make light of the situation.

"It's just what every mother wants to hear from their unmarried daughter." Claire said jokingly. "I'd ask who the father is, but it is the same guy who got me pregnant as well…."

Claire touched her belly. She carried Allison's embryo inside of her. It was 'insurance'.

Allison smiled. She looked a little less serious now.

"I've heard of those 'mother - daughter' things." Allison said.

They both laughed. Claire was actually open to the idea if the opportunity ever arose.

Claire gave Allison a hug.

Allison was aware of the grim realities of the future, her future anyway.

"I wouldn't worry too much." Allison said. "We both know you'll be the one having my baby. Mine don't seem to 'stick' for very long."

Claire wasn't so sure. The possibility of both Allison and her having one of Allison's babies was an interesting concept.

"They would almost be 'twins' if you were successful. They would only be a few months apart." Claire said. "I'd let you explain it to everybody."

Holly tilted her head slightly. She thought it was an excellent way to produce 'twins'. It would be easier to take care of them each in the first few months with such a superior technique. No one else who saw the 'twins' going forward would need to know they were actually born a few months apart and delivered by the mother, and the mother's mother, with the same genetic origin.

Claire broke the news to Hanna.

Hanna sought out Holly. It was an issue which needed good planning and coordination.

Holly and Hanna discussed the same thing later on. The issue of Allison having another 'failure' came up. It wasn't a pleasant subject.

"Cameron keeps making her try." Hanna said. "It has to be hurting Allison."

Holly knew how hard Allison took each 'failure', even if Allison tried to hide her pain from everyone else.

"It was our choice." Holly said. "We want to start a family. I don't think Allison will try again herself if this one fails. Claire can help her out again."

Hanna calculated the fertile years for Claire with six months between pregnancies. She was aware childbirth taxed the mother's body.

"Claire can have a dozen more." Hanna said. "But I won't let her. It's hard on her body."

Holly didn't see there was a problem. All creatures were born, matured, mated, and then died. It was the cycle of life.

"It's the design and function of the human body." Holly said. "It's the sole purpose of it. It's to propagate the species. It's the same with all animals and creatures. They only exist to reproduce."

Hanna saw it on a more personal level. It wasn't just a simple biological function when it applied to someone they cared about.

"I scan Claire all the time. I see how it drains her inside." Hanna said. "It takes a toll."

Holly's concern was Allison, not Claire. She didn't think Hanna's proclamation would hold very much water once Cameron heard about it.

"I'll let YOU argue it with Cameron." Holly said. "Claire will have as many children as Cameron wants her to have. Get over it."

Hanna frowned at Holly. She knew Holly was right. There was no need to start an argument. She wanted Holly's assistance later on.

"Young Allison wants to train at the park later." Hanna said. "Will you take her?"

Holly was sure Hanna would push for a 'little more' in her absence.

"Yes. I'll make sure the Detail follows us as usual." Holly said. "It means you need to stay on alert here and no 'hanky panky'."

Hanna wanted a little 'hanky panky'. It wasn't the issue right now.

"Claire feels a little off today." Hanna said. "I'm very worried about her."

Holly gave Hanna's hand a squeeze. It was a trait she picked up from Allison.

"I'm sorry. I know you care about her." Holly said. "You watch My Allison too then, scan her as well."

Hanna looked at Holly but said nothing.

Holly picked up on the silence right away.

"You'd better only scan her." Holly said. "I don't want any of the 'mother - daughter' thing I've heard about."

Hanna needed to 'battle' with what was on her chip.

"I have two people on my chip who love her, Vanna and you." Hanna said. "It's easy to 'wander' sometimes."

Holly was very possessive of Allison. Her possessiveness slowly spread to 'every Allison'. They were all the same person.

"Not on my watch." Holly said. "Allison belongs to me, BOTH of them…."

Hanna wondered if Holly just 'claimed' Young Allison as well. It wasn't going to go over well with Savannah and Cameron if it was the case. She thought Holly better 'watch it'. Claire probably was another one who wouldn't tolerate it either.

Jim slowed enough for Kyle to slide out at the nearest storm drain entrance, while Al ran the opposite way. Jim continued on for another hundred yards and exited the vehicle as well in a different direction. He left it in 'neutral' so it would continue on for a short distance before it stopped. The idea was to give the HK drone four targets now instead of one. Logic dictated that the HK drone should attack the vehicle first since it was the largest and there could be others inside.

Kyle exited the SUV. He hit the ground and rolled right up to the storm drain opening in the curb. He was relieved it wasn't one of the ones with a covering over the opening to prevent debris from entering the storm drain system. He slid beneath the grate of the storm drain and dropped down into the muck. He was glad it hadn't rained recently so the material inside was mostly dry. He headed immediately through the small drainage tunnel underneath and across to the other side of the street. They were usually connected to one central pipe beneath the street or actually on one side of the street. He knew there were only a few feet of earth and pavement which separated him from the surface. A missile fired into the street would most likely collapse the tunnel he was in, if not kill him with the initial explosion if it landed near where he was at.

He was almost across when he heard the explosion. He was instantly afraid Jim or Al was just terminated. He expected it to be louder being this close. He would have at least expected the ground to shake some. It didn't really shake it all. He worried a little more about Jim now. Maybe he stayed with the vehicle and attempted to accelerate away from the area to further draw the HK drone away from where he was at.

Kyle continued his journey through the drainage pipe. He spent plenty of time in storm drains. He hoped the ones in this timeline were less toxic than the ones in his future. It didn't really matter. One faced a slow death from the contaminants, or a quick death at the hands of Skynet machines. It might not be a quick death either. A person could end up with limbs blown off and in excruciating pain. Death would come, but it would be slower and much more excruciating. Either way Skynet still won in the end.

He popped up to look from the drain across the street. He looked out from the slot in the curb, where the gutter drained. Their SUV was still there. It was a surprise. It hadn't gotten much further from when he bailed out of it.

Suddenly the manhole cover was lifted off. It startled him.

Jim stood there and reached down to help him.

"If you want to leave, come with me." Jim said.

Kyle was more than ready to leave. He reached his hand up and Jim took it. He pulled him up out of the drainage vault.

Jim pushed the manhole cover back over the opening with his foot

Al approached the SUV. They all made it. The HK drone was gone. Some smoke drifted up nearby. There wasn't too much either.

Kyle wondered what happened.

Seconds ago:

As the HK drone closed in for an attack, a small missile streaked up and hit it. The missile disabled the HK drone. It crash landed seconds later. It didn't explode.

Cameron climbed back in her SUV and headed towards John's team.

Word quickly spread. Kyle and his team were OK.

A short time later their drones arrived over John's and Kyle's teams.

Standard procedure was to dump any vehicle used in a Skynet encounter. It was always assumed the vehicle was a target after anywhere near a Skynet target. The vehicle from the near HK drone encounter was especially tagged.

Cameron always liked there to be a certain amount of 'street justice' whenever she could swing it. If certain individuals were willing to commit crimes, she didn't mind giving them a little additional risk.

"Make sure Jim leaves the SUV with the keys in it on the East Side tonight. The vehicle has been 'made'." Cameron said. "Let some gang member get killed driving it. It will be one less Scavenger we'll have to deal with later."

Word arrived in the Command Center as the events unfolded.

There was an Ace to be played and Cameron was the one who played it.

Sarah felt such relief. Cameron saved Kyle, again. She owed Cameron another one. Maybe they should all start listening to Cameron about things and only send Terminators out on operations. She knew Cameron was right. Kyle wouldn't be going out any time soon after this. She would give him a choice to make. Unless he liked using his hand only, he would need to listen to her. There was more than one way to make and enforce a point.

She knew there was positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. She planned to use what God gave her to help enact her will. It was another advantage of being a female. Someone always wanted what nature provided them with. When it came down to it, it didn't matter too much if it was a male or a female.

Derek arrived with his team and the Blackhawk a little later on. Jim disarmed and disabled the fallen HK drone. The copter hoisted the HK drone underneath it and flew away with it.

They would take it to a safe location for its disassembly. It would be checked for any Skynet tracking devices, its chip would be inspected and downloaded. They wanted to know where it came from. All usable parts would be salvaged for the maintenance and upkeep of their drones.

Derek would return with Kyle, Al already appropriated another vehicle and Jim left with the 'made' SUV.

No additional HK drones were detected in the area.

Derek looked over at Kyle as they left the area.

"It was close, brother." Derek said.

Kyle was sure he was only about twenty seconds away from being killed. The HK drone could have even taken a longer shot and most likely scored. There wouldn't have been any time to react if it would have taken a long shot.

"Too close." Kyle said. "We were zeroed."

Derek was grateful for Cameron's assistance.

"Cameron brought it down." Derek said.

Kyle was glad to be alive. He also knew he was going to need to face the wrath of someone else. It was probably going to become a very heated and ugly conversation when it occurred.

"I owe her again." Kyle said. "Sarah is going to kill me when she hears about this."

They received a transmission from the Command Center.

"I already know, Mister." Sarah's voice came over his com.

Derek and Kyle looked at each other.

"Great." Kyle said. "It's starting already and I'm not even back yet."

Sarah was very relieved Kyle and the others were safe. she wanted to make her disapproval known. She also wanted to express her gratitude to who it belonged to.

"You better believe it is just starting…." Sarah said. "I'm glad you're safe Kyle, we both owe Cameron."

Kyle agreed with her in every regard.

"She's the greatest." Kyle said.

Sarah didn't mind everyone on the com system hearing her praise for Cameron

"Yes she is." Sarah said. "Nobody is as wonderful as Cameron."

Cameron smiled as she listened to the exchange.

Cameron made sure all her teams who were out kept their 'Stingers' hot. They probably weren't done yet. Events might not just have concluded, but only kicked the hornet's nest.

She didn't have a good feeling about the operation either.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Both Of Them

One plus one equals two
Isn't the real goal to make
One plus one equal ONE
Or it will be more heartache

The destination for two
Is to grow and share
The sum is greater than the parts
For those who are willing to dare

Heads will butt
Wills will bend
To think it won't happen
One must pretend

To keep things smooth
Everyone must compromise
Those willing to adapt
Are the ones that are wise

Not everyone has the same goals
Maybe that's from where problems stem
To make it all work requires effort
From both of them

Nobody