Chapter 502

Let's Get Crackin'

John was impressed at Savannah's attention to detail with the multiple screens. She most likely saved them from losing a drone, or worse. It could have been the manned drone with Cam in it. It still could happen if they weren't careful. He knew she wanted to be on the ground with Cameron.

He would prefer if she stayed out of combat. He knew she always watched out for Cameron when they were out together. He hoped with the additional Terminators with her, she would be better protected. There was no doubt in his mind Cameron was able to survive her encounter with Skynet, in her future, because Savannah was with her.

John couldn't help but feel the need to do more. It shouldn't be Savannah out facing death alongside of Cameron. It should be him. Savannah stepped into the role he should possess. It was done at Cameron's urging and guidance. He understood Cameron wanted him protected. He didn't want it done at the expense of someone else. He attempted to address the issue multiple times previously. it always turned into a 'shouting match' of some type. The bottom line was Cameron always held him back whenever she could. It was why he tried to go out on operations when she was away.

He watched Savannah. He saw her deep concern and worry for Cammy, Cam, and Cameron. He knew Savannah loved them all. They were all 'Cameron' to her. He wouldn't mind if they all became 'Cameron' to him. He'd like to spend a little alone time with her clones. Even if they were her program, they would be someone 'new' to him.

John could see the beautiful young woman Savannah was now. He knew of all she did for Cameron. It was almost hard to believe she gave birth to two of HIS children in two different futures. His thoughts were interrupted.

Savannah watched the operation unfold. She also noticed John 'check her out'. She smiled to herself. Cameron told her it would be like this at times. She wanted him to know she paid attention to him as well. She was pleased he was able to see her naked before. It was in the TDE room. The setting wasn't a sexual setting. It made it less awkward.

"You've already seen 'everything', John Connor." Savannah said. "You've seen ALL of me. You don't need to wonder. It's all still here, waiting, ready…."

Sarah and Kyle looked at each other. They weren't quite sure what Savannah referred to. Perhaps more may have 'happened' than they knew about. Everyone was entitled to a private life. They were both aware it was Cameron's desire to have Savannah involved with John in a sexual relationship before Judgment Day. They both understood it was to 'protect' him against assassination from the anti-Metal faction. They figured if Savannah was on board with it, and was free to choose, they were good with it too.

John felt a little embarrassed. He did want to be with Savannah. He wanted her virginity. He wanted to be her 'first'. He was a little afraid it might be anticlimactic to her since she was with most of the girls already. He wasn't really sure what all went on down there when they were together. From what he witnessed or heard, they all seemed to 'make it'. He did want Savannah to know she was special to him.

"I'm sorry." John said. "I just wanted to say what a remarkable person you are, Savannah, truly remarkable. You've contributed immensely not only to the Resistance, but to all of us on a personal level."

Savannah hoped she didn't overstep. She only did the things she thought were 'right'. IT was how she was raised by those in the Resistance. Cameron taught her to both speak up, and stand up, for herself. It didn't matter what the situation was.

"Thanks…. I think." Savannah said.

John smiled at her. He wanted her in more ways than one.

"I know how you 'feel'." John said.

Savannah wondered if maybe she'd been a little harsh earlier. She didn't mean to be. It just came out like it did. Maybe she didn't want her true feelings to show. Maybe by what she said they did.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to 'bite' earlier." Savannah said. "I'm worried about Cameron."

John did know how Savannah felt about Cameron and her clones. He understood her feelings.

'I bet it's all three of them'. John thought.

He glanced over at Sarah and Kyle. There was no need to create any type of issue. He was bound to hear something about it later on from one or both of them. His mother seemed to have a way of getting her point across, one way or another. He might not always agree with her, but he did need to respect her.

"We all are, Savannah." John said. "We all are."

Savannah was worried about the new developments on the ground. She felt an intense obligation to be with Cameron. She thought Cameron took fewer chances when she was with her. Sometimes it felt like she slowed Cameron down. She also believed it protected Cameron to do so. It wasn't so much Cameron needed to be protected. It was more about preventing unnecessary or excess damage to Cameron.

"I need to be there with her, John." Savannah said. "I need to help 'protect' her."

Kyle and Sarah looked at each other. They didn't expect Savannah to say she needed to 'protect' Cameron. They didn't know the full story of her adventures with Cameron and the closeness to death she was at, more than once. The new her exploits were in two different futures, as well as the present. If they were to know the extent Savannah was willing to go to help 'protect' Cameron, they would have been appalled.

John Henry thought he understood. He knew how far Savannah would go to 'protect' Cameron. He viewed Cameron's video files at her insistence. He didn't think it was what Savannah, or any other human, should have done.

"We all understand, Savannah." John Henry said. "We ALL know how you've 'helped' her."

Savannah didn't think there was any way to mince words. It was very specific in what she contributed. She didn't want Cameron to act recklessly. She was able to tone it down some when she was with Cameron.

"She NEEDS me to be with her at these times." Savannah said. "I can't help her see some of the things she doesn't see. I'm not just talking about a visualization either."

John felt something inside of felt he needed to take some action. it was something very simple, but could convey a lot of feeling. He went to Savannah and hugged her. She hugged him back and didn't let go. He pulled her in tighter. They both needed the comfort of each other. They both needed the comfort of another human sometimes. This was one of those times.

Cameron and Cammy could only offer so much as machines. They still lacked the pure human emotion and feeling. The Metal girls didn't need human comfort. They did.

Kyle and Sarah took in the closeness of their son to a human female. They both could see he needed the connection as much as Savannah did.

Nobody said anything. It was the 'future' calling.

John and Savannah both knew holding each other felt so 'right'.

The future appeared to happen 'now'.

The battle still raged on inside the building at the compound. They needed an update from inside the building. They were all pretty much in the dark as to the extent of everything which currently happened. Only Cameron, Cammy and Sheila were unaccounted for. They knew where they went. They just didn't know their status.

Cam went back up to altitude and watched the compound from off to the side. She was out of Stinger range. So far none of those on the ground reported any other danger. No more Stinger teams were apparent. She moved back in for a closer look. She could keep track of everything better if she was over the location, and orbiting around it. She wanted to see if there were any other escape tunnels in the vicinity. She didn't spot anyone fleeing the scene.

"I'm back up." Cam said. "I've searched for anyone else who got away. I don't see any additional targets."

John Henry sent the troops on the perimeter into the compound. They were to search for any more hidden tunnels as they advanced on the compound. He wanted Cam to use extreme caution still. The fact the group possessed one Stinger probably meant they possessed a few more. They might also have some other serious weapons waiting for them. Since none of them were used yet, he wasn't sure if they did have any. It was possible they could have been stored where the drones initially attacked. The weapons would have been destroyed before they could have been deployed and used against them.

"Keep a good watch, Cam." John Henry said. "Our teams have closed in. No more tunnels have been detected. We still don't know if there's anything else hidden. We need to consider the possibility it may be."

Cam felt confident. The manned drone was fully armed. She wanted to bring the rest of the structure down. Three of their team were currently unaccounted for. One of them was underground. The other two were inside the burning building. They didn't need to breathe, so it wasn't as critical for them as it would be for humans. She knew Terminators were durable, but they weren't indestructible.

"As soon as Cameron and Sheila leave the remains of the structure, I'm going to flatten it." Cam said. "I don't know where Cammy is at. I'll have to wait for her as well."

John Henry still worried about Cam being so close to the compound. He was sure the group possessed more. It was doubtful they saw everything the enemy could do. With unaccounted for hostile terminators still in the wind, more surprises were likely.

"Be mindful of another Stinger team." John Henry repeated the earlier warning.

Cammy spotted two hostile Terminators previously. She was able to bring one of them down with some assistance from one of her team. It was a male Terminator. The female Terminator who was with him earlier disappeared from view. She wasn't spotted above ground anywhere in the target area. It only left one choice where she could be. It was inside of the escape tunnel from the building. She wanted to bring her down. She was inside the tunnel. She was in pursuit of the 'Metal Bitch'. The tunnel was a very professional looking construction. It took a lot of effort for someone to do.

She didn't know where the enemy was. There hadn't been any gunfire directed at her since she entered the tunnel. She hadn't detected anyone else as she moved through the dark tunnel. She calculated she was under the main structure at this point. There was a recent, very shoddy looking, crude branch tunnel which headed off to the north. It appeared to be a hurriedly constructed addition to the well constructed tunnel.

The split in the tunnel created a dilemma for her. It left her with a choice. She could go into the structure itself where there was known fighting, or explore the hastily made addition. Either choice would leave the possibility the enemy could end up behind her. It would have been better for her if another Terminator accompanied her. All of those in her group volunteered to do so when she told them she was going after the female Terminator. It helped her better understand how Savannah and Cameron operated together. Right now she could have used Savannah's help herself to watch over the branch in the main tunnel while she forged on ahead.

Cammy decided to continue along the main tunnel towards the inside of the building. It was the most likely choice for any other armed Terminators, or Grays to enter the tunnel complex from. It would be to escape from the fighting above. The battle above could be carried over into the tunnel at any second.

Earlier:

Inside the building, the female Terminator fired at Cameron. A few rounds struck her. Her vest protected her from any sheath damage. The force of the impacts was still felt through her vest. It was very unpleasant. She was glad she didn't have the hole to go along with it in her sheath as she normally would.

Cameron retreated back behind some machinery without returning fire. She hoped to draw the female Terminator closer to Sheila and her waiting Taser.

Sheila moved away from Cameron previously when the shots were fired. It was unknown if the female Terminator knew she faced two targets.

Cameron detected movement off to her side and saw a struggling Gray. He drug his weapon behind him. His lower left leg was missing. The stump was crudely tied off with his belt. He left a crimson streak behind him on the smooth cement floor. It was clear he would bleed out without better medical attention. She didn't fire at him. She quickly moved to where he was at and relieved him of his weapon. He didn't seem to notice.

The female Terminator fired at Cameron again when she saw her move. Her shots were wild and not well aimed. She struck the dying Gray and accelerated the process.

Cameron could see the female Terminator make a sprint to get a better angle to fire on her. It was what she wanted the enemy Terminator to do. As long as all of her attention was focused on her, it was less likely she would detect Sheila as she moved in behind her.

She heard the 'zap' and saw the female Terminator drop to the ground. Sheila was behind the female Terminator. Her Taser was in one hand. Her knife was in the other. She was sure Sheila was going to mutilate the fallen Terminator. She watched Sheila mutilate females before who were involved in the sex trade as handlers or enablers. They were just as responsible for what happened to the captive girls as the men were. It was the fact Sheila enjoyed it so much which bothered her, as opposed to what Sheila actually did to them. She needed to refocus. She quickly headed in the direction of the fallen Terminator.

She needed to keep track of what was happening around her as well. She still didn't know the total number of the enemy they faced. She didn't know how many Terminators there were. The flames were closer to where Sheila and her currently were. The smoke was very dense.

The naked Gray was on his knees as he told Hanna everything he knew. He was from Cameron's future. He was part of the big TDE purge Skynet conducted before Cameron and Savannah destroyed it. He didn't know Skynet was terminated. He confirmed Skynet sent Terminators and Grays into different times in the past. They didn't all come back to the same year.

Ally still held him and scanned him as Hanna questioned him. He was truthful for the most part. She reminded him she knew when he lied.

Hanna was concerned because the Gray indicated there was still a version of Skynet somewhere. It was important they found out where. It needed to be destroyed before it could become more powerful, or attempt to launch some kind of an attack.

"What about Skynet?" Hanna asked. "Where can we find it? I need you to describe the location."

The Gray seemed a little confused. He thought he was clear. He didn't want to get diced.

"Which one do you want?" The Gray asked.

Hanna looked at Ally. It wasn't what they wanted to hear. It was bad news.

"The main Skynet computer, I want the mainframe." Hanna said.

The Gray looked back at Ally for a second and then back at Hanna. He knew 'The Redheaded Witch' was the bigger threat.

"There are several. Connor and the 'Metal Bitch' - HER…." The Gray said as he indicated Ally. "'Connor's Metal Whore' destroyed one."

Ally shook the man violently. She didn't like his terminology.

"I told you it's not me." Ally said angrily. "I don't want you to continue to confuse me with someone else after I told you what the reality was. If you say it was me again, I will bust you up and then turn you over to her."

The Gray in utter fright and terror, experienced an explosive 'bowel ejaculation' as her eyes turned bright red. He was unaware it occurred, and he 'soiled' himself a second time. He didn't think he said anything wrong. It was just part of their normal nomenclature.

"I didn't mean anything." The Gray cried. "It's how we refer to you."

Ally let up some. They still needed more answers.

"I don't like how you talk about me." Ally said. "Don't make me get started on you."

It wasn't actually Ally the Gray spoke about, but Cameron. The fact seemed to make her angrier. She didn't like Cameron defamed. It was the actions of the Grays which perpetuated the fight against Skynet. It also dictated their fate.

Hanna was given some information. The Gray didn't seem to know the exact location. There didn't appear to be any more useful information to be gleaned. The interrogation was over.

"I think we're done with this piece of trash." Hanna said.

The Gray wanted his freedom. He'd told everything he knew and sold out Skynet and his fellow Grays.

"You promised to let me go." The Gray cried.

Hanna couldn't do any more than Ally could to him. She kept her end of the deal. She wouldn't be the one to terminate him.

"I am." Hanna said and walked away.

Ally previously shoved the Gray into the corner to get away from his filth. She didn't want to step in it. She now approached him. The man's earlier words still irritated her.

"Too bad the 'Metal Bitch' didn't make the same promise." Ally said. "Now you have a 'date' with 'Connor's Metal Whore'. You should have thought twice before you insulted me. I told you I wasn't her."

Ally reached for him to snap his neck but he grabbed his chest and fell over. He suffered a heart attack and died.

"Things went easier than planned." Ally said. "I didn't even have to get my hands dirty."

Hanna watched from a few feet away. She was amused by Ally's actions and wording.

"You really are a 'smarty-pants' aren't you." Hanna said as a statement. "I see it in Allison all the time."

Ally realized the 'anger' in her derived from the 'Neural Interface' with Allison.

"Well, Allison is part of me." Ally said.

Hanna was often with Allison as well as Holly and Claire. She missed her alone time with Ally.

"Before I go back I intend to refresh my 'memory'." Hanna said.

Ally smiled. She wanted some 'action'. She wasn't the only one.

"Sheila wants some action too." Ally said.

Hanna looked at the burning building. A lot of smoke poured out of the entrance. No one came out in a while, but there was some gunfire inside. It was very sporadic and intermittent. It seemed to her it was time to wrap things up.

"The quicker we finish up here, the sooner we can 'catch up'." Hanna said.

Ally thought the operation was almost over.

"Let's get crackin'." Ally said. "Let's get Cameron and Sheila and go."

John Henry suppressed most of their exchange from the others. He hoped to monitor the 'encounter' with the Metal girls when it took place. He decided it would be for 'research purposes'. He always found it fascinating to watch the girls 'interact', both human and cyborg. He enjoyed the 'reaction' he experienced each time he did.

He'd 'studied' the human girls as well when they shared. The human girls and the Metal girls all seemed to reach the same destination. The journey for the human girls was filled with much more emotion and feeling as opposed to a sexual act which was done to produce a result. The human girls were able to share love. They also tried to share the same love when they were with the Metal girls. It was just different.

Savannah still held John tightly. Her breasts were firmly pressed against him as she held him close. She knew right then 'it' was going to happen. She could feel it. She wanted it. She could feel her body respond. Her 'lady parts' reacted in anticipation. She could also feel John's body 'respond', well, part of it anyway. They both wanted it.

She needed to refocus. There was an operation under way. Her eyes drifted to something else on it as she held John. Something 'clicked' in an instant.

Savannah suddenly pushed John away and looked at the large satellite photo of the compound John Henry currently displayed on the big screen.

John looked confused. He wondered why Savannah brushed him off so abruptly. He wondered if she was offended by 'Little Willie'. He was at 'full attention' and pressed into Savannah. Maybe it was too much too soon. It wasn't something he could control based upon the circumstances.

Savannah moved past him as she looked at the satellite photo. A feeling of dread and danger washed over her. It was there all along. It should have been addressed earlier.

"Cam, there's a wash to the north. It looks like some kind of flood control channel, overfly it now with caution." Savannah said. "The tunnel bothers me. Maybe there's more than one, or more than one exit. The flood control channel gives them a lot of possibilities. They might have gained access to it."

John Henry looked at the satellite photo. He could see it was an option.

"It's possible they've breached the flood control channel wall and have escaped through it." John Henry said. "I didn't think of it before. They would be out of sight from any of our troops on the ground. It would be harder for a drone to spot them if they were up against one of the walls."

Savannah remembered a movie she watched as a girl. It was on the 'classic movies' channel.

"You need to watch the old black and white movie 'Them', and you'll understand better about the flood control channels. There are dozens of inlet tunnels." Savannah said and then added as an afterthought. "The movie still bothers me."

John Henry began a search and found it. He would have his server review it at once.

"I'll watch it." John Henry said.

Savannah could see the flood control channel offered a number of 'escape' routes with every inlet pipe or feeder branch which led into it. Each one could also serve as an exit for fleeing Grays or Terminators. Some of those inlets could come from a long distance.

"I think the flood control channel warrants an immediate recon. Send one drone the opposite way Cam goes." Savannah said. "Have the two on recon search off to each side of the flood control channel as well. If they were in it before, they might be out as well by now. We may have been looking in the wrong direction for escapes."

John looked on as Savannah continued to amaze him. He realized Cameron created two 'perfect women', Savannah and Future Allison…. Cameron only spent little less than a year, twice, to work on Future Allison. It was over a decade on Savannah plus her two extra years in the two futures.

He believed if Cameron possessed the technology, she would 'modify' Future Allison and Savannah with a refined version of what was 'done' to River. He hoped Cameron didn't. Savannah was amazing how she was, and so beautiful….

John knew she was HIS Savannah based on Cameron's Future. It was the same woman Future John - HIM, was with in the future along with Allison - Young Allison as a teenager.

He really wondered what Young Allison would become. Cameron or her clones 'worked' with her since she was a toddler. He was unaware Cameron wanted to create the 'human version' of herself with Young Allison.

Cameron arrived just as Sheila finished with her knife.

Sheila could see Cameron was worried. She almost laughed but didn't.

"Relax, love." Sheila said. "I know what you want and why."

She handed Cameron the Terminator's chip.

Cameron expected to see Sheila do 'more'. It wasn't the case.

"I'm sorry." Cameron said.

Sheila remembered her conversation earlier with Savannah.

"I promised Savannah I would 'control' myself better." Sheila said. "Savannah is the greatest."

Sheila knew she needed to keep things toned down on a Resistance operation. She doubted she would show as much restraint if it would have been a human female, especially if it was one involved in the sex trade. She didn't see Cameron's 'off the books operations' as anything directly related to the Resistance. It was why they were 'off the books operations' to begin with.

Cameron thought Savannah was too. She did want to see where the 'Metal Bitch' came up from. She was sure there was a little more than what met the eye. She was sure there were more than a few surprises which awaited her. She didn't like surprises.

"Savannah is the 'Chosen One'." Cameron said. "I'm going to check where the 'Metal Bitch' came from. You take her way for me to Ally and Hanna. I don't think there are any Grays left alive in the building."

Sheila could see an opening. She figured it was some type of an escape route. It also indicated Cameron was about to go off on her own. It was the last thing Savannah wanted to happen based on their earlier conversation.

"Where are you going?" Sheila asked.

Cameron wanted to find Cammy and the other female Terminator. She didn't see it as a big deal.

"I'm going into the tunnel." Cameron said. "Cammy is on the other side. We've lost contact with her. I'm going to make sure she's all right. There's still one 'Metal Bitch' unaccounted for."

It sounded like a bad idea to Sheila. She wanted to accompany Cameron. She needed to remove the captured Terminator from the burning building. If she didn't the frontal sheath section would be destroyed, along with everything else.

"Be careful, love." Sheila said. "Maybe I should go with you."

Cameron didn't need a babysitter.

"I'll be fine. Do as I asked." Cameron said and disappeared down the 'rabbit hole'….

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Let's Get Crackin'

Let's cut to the chase
What is a relationship about
It's really all about sex
Few care if it will sprout

There are always the ones
Who foolishly get caught up in love
It seems they've lost track
Of what they were really thinking of

Relationships last only so long
In six months to two years it's over
People have trouble with defeat
It's hard to accept it's time for a turnover

So reach out and grab what's there
It doesn't need to last long
Everyone can take what they want
If two share fairly, there's nothing wrong

As each minute of time passes
It is very nerve racking
It is time forever gone
So let's get crackin'

Nobody