Chapter 496

Missile Away

Cam flew the manned drone. She just arrived at the location a few seconds ago. She was ready to take action. She checked to verify the target was locked and the area was clear. She didn't want collateral damage if possible. The center vehicle of the three was targeted. She fired the missile.

"I have one missile away." Cam said. "Its track is straight and true."

Cammy spotted where Cameron waited. She swung her vehicle sideways and Cameron pulled out to join her. The path forward was now blocked. The vehicles which trailed her didn't have anywhere to go.

The second vehicle exploded in a fireball as the missile hit it. The path to retreat was blocked as well with burning debris for the lead vehicle.

Cammy and Cameron blocked the path of the first vehicle. They were at a specific spot for the ambush to be sprung. Sheila and Ally were pre-positioned on each side of it. They calculated where it needed to stop. It did. They were staggered to avoid any crossfire between them.

The occupants of the third vehicle were a little startled at what happened in front of them. A moment ago they were behind the other car. Now they were behind a flaming wreck.

"What just happened?" The first Gray asked.

The trailing vehicle started to move to go around the burning car.

"I don't know. Maybe it was a hit from an RPG." The second Gray said. "Let's get up there."

The Grays saw the interdiction up ahead. The lead vehicle was just blocked by the SUV they were trailing, as well as another one. They didn't want to get caught up in it. It was clear what they were just led into.

The second Gray made a quick change of heart.

"They're screwed, man." The second Gray said. "Hang a U-turn and run. It's an ambush. I don't want to get wasted."

They decided to turn around to leave the area. They didn't want to get stopped in the ambush. They abandoned their associates to their fate.

The first Gray was bothered by their actions. He didn't like leaving others behind. It made him think about how it would be if the roles were reversed. He looked back as they left the area. One of their vehicles was destroyed. The other one appeared to be captured.

"We should've tried to help them." The first Gray said.

The second Gray didn't think so. He knew a lost cause when he saw it. It was all about survival for him. He didn't last this long, risking his life needlessly. He took evasive maneuvers as he hurried away from the ambush site. He didn't want to get shot at or worse. He didn't want to take a hit from an RPG. It was a tactic they attempted to use against the vehicle they wanted to stop. What he witnessed with the car in front of him was absolute total devastation. No. He wasn't going to stop for anyone else.

"We'd be jammed up too if we did." The second Gray said. "We need to blow."

The Resistance crew on the ground made no move to shoot at them. They didn't want to disable their vehicle. They wanted it to lead them back to where it came from. The ambush was a sucker punch. The vehicle allowed to 'escape' was a sucker play.

Cam made sure the lead vehicle was locked up as well, just in case. Once she saw Cammy and Cameron block it, she turned her attention to the third vehicle which decided to run. She locked it up for a missile strike as she tracked it. She also searched for an enemy HK drones which might show up. So far none were spotted. She needed to be mindful of any type of anti-aircraft missile launched from the ground. There were automatic defenses built into the drone. She knew John Henry and CamNet were all over the search for her and the team.

Seconds ago:

Cammy and Cameron blocked the path of the lead vehicle as soon as the middle vehicle was hit with the missile.

John and John Henry watched everything unfold from drone footage in the Command Center.

Cammy and Cameron exited on the side closest to the approaching threat. Savannah exited on the far side of the SUV. She was to keep track of anything which might happen in front of them as well as the action behind them.

The lead vehicle slowed. They could see the threat two identical looking armed females in front of them posed. The vehicle behind them was a flaming wreck. The path in front of them was blocked.

Sheila and Ally opened up on the vehicle. They disabled it and hit the personnel inside as well.

The four female Terminators advanced on the vehicle.

Savannah kept guard at the two SUVs. She watched as the four Metal girls went to 'work'. She knew it was what they were designed for. No matter how beautiful they were on the outside, they were Terminators on the inside. Savannah knew Cameron never wanted her to forget. It was easy to do so to be around Cameron out of the 'work' environment. Her beauty masked her true nature.

She watched their programming kick in and the crude efficiency with which they acted. They were very violent and deadly.

Earlier:

Gail and Jesse waited for the events to unfold. Normally they were out of the action by Cameron's order. It was something they both disagreed with.

None of the Resistance members from the alternate future liked to be sidelined. It especially applied to Derek and Kyle.

They still took the fight to future Scavengers during their free time. It was something Jesse wanted to do. She knew what it was like to grow up in a Skynet future. She knew who would become the real enemy for females. It was Scavengers much more than it was Skynet.

Gail and Jesse closed up on the trio of vehicles which attacked Cammy and Savannah. They watched as the attack went down and the last vehicle turned and ran. The rats left their compatriots behind to face their fate alone.

"We see the third vehicle coming towards us." Gail reported.

They ducked down and let the Gray's vehicle pass them. Gail took a good look at them. She hoped to be able to verify if they were human or not. Her observation would be based on the men's demeanor as they fled the scene. If they looked scared they most likely were not a Terminator.

"There are two Grays inside." Gail said. "No Terminator was apparent."

Jesse could see Gail was ready to act. It was a Terminator thing. She wanted the small fish to lead them to the bigger fish. Even if they captured the two Grays as they fled, it would only be two men. As far as they knew the operation the Grays were involved in could be the six men they encountered, or it could be twenty more at some type of base. Most of their encounters with Grays, with some type of base, involved an industrial building. There were plenty of abandoned ones out there. It didn't take too long for them to tap back into the power system, and reactivate the water supply, if it was even turned off in the first place.

"Fallback and let Cam track them, love." Jesse said. "We don't want to spook them. We want them to go home. We want to find the nest."

Since Jesse was on the scene already, she hoped to be able to interrogate any prisoners if they were captured later on. There was no guarantee they would be. More than likely everyone would be terminated with a drone strike.

John Henry was able to call in other Resistance teams which were out. Everyone came when they learned Savannah was in danger. It's what they would have done anyway for any team member. Somehow it was more personal to all of them because it was Savannah. Savannah always acted in a very kind and loving manner to every Terminator. She always made physical contact with them of some type. It was something no one else did every time they saw them. As they arrived in the area, we were prepositioned along the route they expected the Grays to take.

"There are other teams of Terminators along the route they're going." John Henry reported. "Cam has the Grays locked up as well."

John redeployed their drones. Two were on recon and two were assigned to teams.

"You have a drone at your disposal, Gail." John said. "Cameron does as well."

John didn't expect things to turn out the way they did. It was the nature of the operations. Anything could happen at any time. He needed to make sure his troops were covered.

He also needed to reflect on the fact Cammy and Savannah were ambushed. The Grays who ambushed them needed to identify them and be in place before they arrived. It wasn't something they actually encountered before. Some of the teams may have run into opposition on the ground when they investigated a location. There were others who would be hidden from time to time. There weren't many. They didn't last long either. They never experienced a team ambushed on the street before they even arrived at the location they wanted to surveil.

John was very uncomfortable with what occurred. He kept track of what the Metal girls and Savannah were up to at their ambush site. He also needed to check on the base security and make sure everything was ready in case there was an attack.

Sheila and Ally disabled the Gray's vehicle and wounded the Grays inside. They didn't want to kill them outright. If they did, they simply could have used a second missile on the other vehicle they advanced on the targets. They might be able to get some answers before the men were terminated.

They needed to approach the vehicles with caution in case either of the men tried to put up a fight. They acted swiftly to keep the men off balance.

Sheila ripped the door off the driver's side. Ally did the same thing on the passenger's side. It all happened in a second.

They both pulled the occupants out. Ally snapped the neck of the Gray she grabbed. He was already dead. There was a bullet hole in the side of his head. She just wanted to make sure.

The driver on Sheila's side was still alive. He was shot several times but still moving. Sheila pulled him out and quickly searched him. Ally searched the dead man on the other side. Cammy moved up and searched the vehicle. Nothing of value was obtained.

Cameron called Savannah forward to their position. She knew Savannah needed to see everything and be ready to kill if necessary. She was going to have Savannah execute him. It was clear he would bleed out soon anyway. She wanted Savannah to have the coldness and hardness to do what needed to be done. The enemy they currently faced was on the battlefield he created when he attempted to ambush Savannah and Cammy. His situation was of his own making.

Savannah watched all of the violence as it unfolded. She was a little more acclimated to it after her recent activity in the future. She also needed to remind herself it was the men who acted first and tried to kill them. She hoped to be able to return the favor.

Cammy was angered further when she searched the vehicle. She did find something which bothered her. It was the implement which almost terminated Savannah and her. It made everything even more personal to her.

"I found the RPG launcher and two more rockets in the back." Cammy said. "These are the people who tried to hurt Savannah. They tried to hurt us."

Sheila wanted retribution. She was clearly excited.

"Let me 'work' on him." Sheila said. "I can make him talk."

Cameron brought Savannah over to them.

The man proceeded to call the females foul names and cuss at them. He saw Cameron was in charge and leveled his insults at her. When he saw Savannah, he really went wild with the insults. It was clear the man was afraid because he was wounded and captured. When he saw Savannah, he appeared to be even more terrified.

Everyone wondered what it was all about.

Sheila disliked the way the Gray disrespected them, especially Savannah. She struck out at the man and broke his jaw. It hung down at a crazy angle. In one swift moment, she reached inside of the enlarged cavity and grasped the man's tongue.

A shrill scream filled the night air.

Cameron wanted to stop Sheila, but it was already too late.

Savannah was a little shocked as well. Everything happened so fast. She didn't realize what Sheila actually held at first.

"Why did you do that?" Savannah asked. "We didn't even question him yet."

Sheila looked a little upset because they questioned her actions. She hadn't even gotten any 'enhanced interrogation' in. It was what usually upset the others. Everyone was so willing to talk as her knife orbited over them. It was when the blade touched certain body parts when the information started to flow. When the information stopped, the blood started to flow. It was behavior usually reserved for future Scavengers. She still felt justified for her actions.

"I wanted to hurt him." Sheila said. "I didn't like his language. I didn't like what he said about you. He seemed very unstable when he saw you."

Savannah didn't like it either, but the intel was more important. Someone identified them somehow and tried to take them out. They needed to find out who they were.

The man lay moaning in his own blood.

Savannah was about to draw her pistol. She didn't want to see the man suffer.

Cammy didn't like Savannah to murder. She stepped forward and crushed his neck with her foot.

"Throw him into the burning vehicle, along with the other one." Cameron said.

Cammy and Ally each picked one of the Grays up and did so. It was like throwing a small log on a campfire for them.

Sheila looked at her hand. She still held something.

Cameron didn't want Sheila to restart her bad habits. There were to be no more 'souvenirs'.

"Throw everything into the fire." Cameron said.

Sheila looked a little disappointed. She hoped Cammy wouldn't have finished the survivor off before he was thrown into the fire. Now she wouldn't get to hear his agonizing screams. When people burnt to death their screams were very intense. She noted even if they were shot and near death, the flames seemed to reinvigorate them for a a little longer.

"I acted too soon." Sheila said.

Savannah looked over. She didn't know what Sheila referred to.

"You acted too soon about what?" Savannah asked.

Cameron didn't approve of Sheila's actions with humans.

Sheila stood and looked at Cameron for a long moment. She didn't think Savannah would understand her motivation. She didn't want Savannah to think 'bad' of her.

Cameron was satisfied the initial threat was over. It was time to do the follow up, and get Savannah back to the base. She'd been exposed to enough danger so far.

"Sheila, you ride with Savannah. Cammy will come with Ally and me." Cameron said. "Take Savannah back to the base. The drone will accompany you. Take my SUV."

Sheila said nothing as she and Savannah got into the SUV and drove off. She knew Cameron 'punished' her right now. She didn't see beyond the 'now'.

Cammy was a little worried. She didn't think Sheila would hurt Savannah but she didn't like her 'non Terminator like' behavior.

"Sheila is malfunctioning." Cammy said.

Ally didn't think it was so simple. It was deeper than a mechanical malfunction. It was about the need to seek pleasure from something which wasn't pleasurable. It was about the need to want to inflict pain on others to make herself feel better. It was what Jesse did when she joined with the Scavengers for a while. It was later on after being abused by them. She turned her 'pain' into pain on others.

"No, the 'Dark Jesse' in her has become dominant." Ally said. "She's become sexually aggressive as well. She 'hurt' me on purpose. I asked her why she did it. She said to hear me 'yelp'."

Cameron knew when the pleasure receptors were on, the pain receptors were on as well. She often sought pain along with pleasure herself. She knew if she could feel pain, she was still 'alive'. With all of her combat missions, she felt 'alive' quite often. She knew there were several options open to her. One would be the quickest fix. It would also alter who Sheila was.

"I will reprogram her." Cameron said and then added. "If I have to, I don't think it's gone too far yet."

Ally thought Cameron would see it a little differently if Sheila did what she did to her to Cameron.

"I believe it would depend upon one's personal involvement." Ally said. I think it depends upon what ends up missing on someone, even if it will regenerate."

Cammy was worried by what Ally revealed. She didn't want any harm to come to Savannah.

"Maybe we should follow them." Cammy said. "Is Savannah safe with her?"

Cameron liked to play the 'long game'. It was the way to make things happen and stay that way. She knew what was needed and how. It was the same thing where the source of the problem originated from.

"Yes." Cameron said. "I've been working with Jesse to help her. I know what's wrong with Sheila now. I know what to do to fix her."

Ally remembered what Sheila did to her sheath. She wasn't as confident as Cameron was. Things wouldn't regenerate on Savannah like they would on a Terminator's sheath.

"What about Savannah?" Ally asked. "I think one of us should have gone with them."

Cameron felt she knew who could 'reach' Sheila because they reached Jesse.

"Sheila is in love with Savannah. She won't hurt her." Cameron said. "I know because Jesse is as well."

Cammy was still a little more than nervous about the idea. Sheila wasn't Jesse. She was a cyborg who lacked any type of morals or scruples. She was a cold blooded killer.

Ally knew Sheila was in love with her too, but she still 'hurt' her on purpose. She didn't want to argue with Cameron or make Cammy worry more.

"I hope so." Ally said.

Cammy understood what Cameron was after and how she wanted to achieve it.

"Savannah will talk with Sheila and help her." Cammy said. "It's what you want."

Cameron believed Savannah could 'reach' anyone. It was in her nature and she possessed plenty of love to share.

"Yes." Cameron said. "Sheila is fixable, as is Jesse. It will just take time."

Cammy was aware of what Cameron did for Jesse with Vanna and Savannah. It was really two of the same person. Vanna could relate to what Jesse went through. Savannah could show Jesse a different path.

"I know you have Vanna and Savannah both working with Jesse." Cammy said. "I understand why better now."

Ally wondered how far things progressed with Savannah and Jesse.

"Have Jesse and Savannah become 'active'?" Ally asked.

Cammy didn't want Savannah's sex life discussed when she wasn't around. Savannah became very active, but she always came back to her. She understood Savannah's hunger. It was the same as Vanna's desires were.

"It's unimportant. Savannah is a big girl." Cammy said. "You should not ask those types of questions anyway. What happens in the bedroom, stays in the bedroom."

Ally looked at Cameron and decided she better back off. She understood Cammy's warning. She didn't want Cameron to become directly involved.

Cameron knew Savannah could help all of them. She knew Savannah helped her. No one could help her like Savannah could.

A team of male Terminators arrived on the scene and took control of the target location.

It was time to seek out the enemy.

"Let's go and see where the target takes us." Cameron said.

Cammy quickly inspected her SUV along with Cameron to make sure it wasn't mechanically damaged. There were just dents in the metal and a few scratches. The SUV shouldn't attract any unnecessary attention.

The three look alike Terminators climbed into the SUV and departed on a divergent route after the fleeing vehicle. With the manned drone over it, it wouldn't be able to get away.

Cameron didn't know where the target was headed, but she believed it would be back the way they were originally headed.

"I think we can intercept them returning this way." Cameron said. "Let's go."

Cam was in the manned drone. She communicated with Gail. Gail would come up on the Grays too quickly at her present speed.

"Drop back, Gail." Cam said. "They're slowing down."

Jesse gripped her M4 tightly. She hoped not to have to use it, but looked forward to using it as well. She'd been out of combat operations for a while. She was ready to get her hands dirty again.

Gail could see Jesse's apprehension. She knew what she wanted. She would try and assist her to get that.

"Relax, Jesse." Gail said. "I'll try to take a live Gray for you."

The prospect of a 'live one' a few years ago would have aroused Jesse in anticipation of what she would do to the victim. Their attitude determined where she started. She didn't want them to pass out or die before she got 'personal'. She suppressed the sexual rush any 'personal' torture brought her. She was a better person now. She hoped she was anyway.

"I'm not the same person anymore." Jesse said. "Cameron has helped me."

Gail was a little worried about Savannah and Jesse.

"I've seen Savannah 'help' you as well." Gail said.

Jesse quickly looked at Gail. She didn't want it to become an issue right now.

"It's not what it looks like." Jesse said. "You're not being replaced."

Gail spied on them when they were alone. She scanned Jesse afterwards. She knew what those scans revealed.

"I have good hearing…." Gail said. "I can see your body 'react' to being around her. I've scanned you."

Jesse didn't see it as a big deal. Everyone could see who they wanted. They all knew where they 'belonged' at the end of the day. It was all that should matter in the end.

"We're just 'friends'." Jesse said.

Gail heard the saying about 'friends with benefits'. She knew what the scans revealed. Jesse was all about sex when she was with the other females. It was different when she was around Savannah. She knew everyone loved Savannah, like they did Cameron. She didn't want to read too much into it.

"You love her." Gail said.

Jesse did love Savannah. No one ever treated her so nice before, especially after they knew of her past and everything she did. They were all things done on purpose to others. They were done so the other people would suffer for the rest of their lives. As far as current events went, she didn't think her private feelings should have a restriction on them.

"I can love who I want as can you." Jesse said.

They needed to tone their conversation down some. They were given a crude reminder.

"Maybe now isn't a good time for this conversation." John Henry said over their coms.

Jesse didn't like the intrusions into her 'personal life' She was entitled to some happiness and love.

"I don't care." Jesse said. "I'm not ashamed of anything I do anymore."

John Henry wanted to protect Savannah too. He segregated Gail and Jesse's conversations from everyone else.

"I don't think Savannah wants to be part of any open discussion." John Henry added. "I previously blocked your communications from everyone else. Perhaps the subject matter can be changed to something different."

Gail could see Jesse was upset. She didn't intend to do it. She figured she could throw John Henry a 'bone'.

"Thanks, John Henry." Gail said. "Jesse will show you her nipple rings when we get back to the base in appreciation."

Jesse smiled at Gail's suggestion. She knew it was an attempt to make amends over a nonissue.

"Damn straight I will." Jesse said. "He can touch them as well."

Jesse knew everyone liked to move the ring up and down, and pull on it slightly when they were alone in an intimate setting. It seemed to fascinate everyone. It didn't matter if they were a Terminator or a human.

John Henry would like it very much. He wasn't sure if they were joking or not. He liked to interact with the human girls.

"I now have something to look forward to, however you have targets you are about to engage and you both need to get your head back in the game." John Henry said. "We are all one big happy family anyway."

Gail was aware of everything.

"We're in pursuit." Gail said.

Jesse didn't like to cause anyone to worry.

"I'm sorry, John Henry." Jesse said. "I'm ready to rock."

Jesse reached over and turned on the radio. As soon as she heard the music she immediately cranked the volume all the way up. It seemed like the proper tune for the chase ahead.

'Peter Gunn' by 'The Ventures', played on the radio as they closed on the Grays.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Onward

Onward into battle I go
Rejection to the left of me
Doom to the right
Slaughter in front of me

Onward I go
The letter is my weapon of choice
Backed with my two warriors
The Poem and the Song as my voice

I will NEVER surrender
Nothingness in front of me
Onward I go
Less than nothing behind me

You may FORCE me to withdraw
I'll be back
I only regroup
Then resume the attack

It is what I do
It is all that I know
You should know by now
Who don't think so

Nobody