Chapter 504

You Lead

The Resistance team knew there was a hostile female Terminator down there somewhere with them below ground. She could have hid in the divergent tunnel and doubled back after Cammy passed, or continued through the divergent tunnel to wherever it went. The unknown location was most likely the flood control channel based on their most current information.

Cameron, Ally, and Sheila went down the divergent tunnel.

Cammy and Hanna went back toward the opening Cammy entered from. They wanted to make sure no one tried to exit out from there. They cautiously headed for the tunnel opening which led back to the surface.

Since the female Terminator left from the location, it would make sense for her to go back to the location, if she didn't know the fate of her fellow Terminator.

Cammy arrived back at the opening. She hoped to find the Resistance Terminators still there. There was a Taser and an M4 pointed at her as she emerged with Hanna behind her.

It was a welcome sight, even if it was somewhat disturbing. She wanted to know if she missed much while she was in the tunnel.

"Let me have the report." Cammy said.

Her team filled her in. There wasn't much change since she left the location earlier. No one else left the remains of the burning building on the surface, or through the passageway. No HK drones were spotted.

"All is, as it was." The Terminator said. "Nothing has changed since you left us."

Cammy took two satchel charges from one of the Terminators. She wanted to blow the tunnel closed.

Hanna saw what was about to happen. She didn't think it should happen too soon. She knew the way she entered the system was blocked by the burning building. Debris collapsed onto the opening soon after they passed through it to follow Cameron. Where she was at now was the only way out they knew for sure. If the divergent tunnel didn't lead anywhere, they would trap the other girls underground. It seemed prudent to her to know a little bit more before they acted too harshly, or permanently. She wanted to back up the other Metal girls. There was more than one option open to them.

"Cammy, before we blow the entrance closed." Hanna said. "Do you want to go back to follow Cameron, or advance over land and go directly to the flood control channel?"

Cammy looked at the tunnel entrance and then towards the flood control channel.

"We'll go on the surface." Cammy said. "It'll be quicker."

Cammy left a satchel charge with one of her group of Terminators who remained there with the Stinger. It was armed and ready to go. It just needed a code entered into it along with the timer countdown.

"As soon as we make contact with the rest of the team, blow this opening closed. Once it is sealed, you can finish up here and clear out. Take the deactivated male Terminator with you. Make sure there are no trackers on him or the Stinger missile." Cammy said to the remaining Terminators. "Come on, Hanna, let's go."

Hanna still looked forward to the after 'action activities'. Right now it was time to backup the other Metal girls.

"You lead, I'll follow." Hanna said.

Cammy looked at her for a long moment and smiled. Hanna smiled back and they moved out seconds later.

They both knew what it meant. Right now they needed to hook up with the rest of their team members and make sure everyone got out safe.

Cameron led the Metal girls through the crudely made tunnel. It was full of loose dirt as they progressed. It was almost as if was still under construction. The unfinished status alone sent out plenty of 'red flags'.

The shoddy construction appeared as if it was just worked on in the last few days, maybe even just before they arrived. The soil was still moist and not dried out.

Cameron and the girls reached the end of the tunnel. There was a crude opening broken through the concrete wall with the recently smashed cement lying on the ground.

"The concrete looks freshly broken." Cameron said.

Ally noticed some residue. She touched one of the broken edges of the cement. She detected evidence of a cyborg.

"There's some sheath material and synthetic blood residue as well." Ally said as she wiped her hand on her pants.

Sheila looked at the broken concrete. It was clear it just happened in the last few minutes.

"The other 'Metal Bitch' went through here." Sheila said. "This was an escape tunnel to break out into the flood control channel to flee. She smashed through the wall here."

Cameron felt it was something much more important. She remembered the half completed clean room. There were no hard drives in there. It looked like there should have been. Whatever was important was taken from there. It was probably in the custody of the female Terminator. There could be others as well with her which they didn't know about yet.

"I don't think it was for her escape as much as for something else. Maybe she transported something to hide it from us." Cameron said. "Maybe it is some form of Skynet. She may have the processor or hard drives."

Ally wanted to find and destroy a version of Skynet like they all did. Some of the 'Allison' in her expressed itself.

"I hope so." Ally said. "This is when I wish I could have consumed some liquid so I would be able to urinate on it when we terminate Skynet."

Cameron remembered Duplicate Allison kicked the Skynet mainframe 'in some future'. Future Allison spit on it in her future. What Ally said reminded her of Future Allison. She could actually picture it. It would definitely send a message. She did need to consider the possibility of some type of electrical reaction to the liquid contacting the mainframe and an electrical discharge being transmitted back up through the source of the liquid to its origination.

"Have you reactivated your Future Allison programming?" Cameron asked.

Ally remembered her promise. She didn't want to be deactivated.

"No." Ally said. "It's from my Allison, our Allison."

Cameron was aware Future Allison and Duplicate Allison expressed similar ideas and attitudes when they faced a Skynet mainframe. She wanted a 'new' Terminator with the programming, from Future Allison. She also wanted one with the 'Neural Interface' with 'Young Allison' when she was older. One at her current age might be interesting too. She was highly educated. She didn't carry any emotional baggage either. It would be a 'clean' version of 'Allison'. It might be the best version yet. She would look at things differently.

"I would like your Future Allison programming as a separate Terminator." Cameron said. "I want it to be separate from you."

Ally tilted her head slightly. She thought the implication was a little deeper than her.

"So there would be two of 'me'?" Ally said. "Or would it be two of you?"

Cameron felt it would be distinct from either of them. She knew Future Allison was a much improved person now than she was when she first met her. The conditions were less than ideal at the time as well. She was an oppressor the first time they met. She was very pleased she was able to rectify some of what could have happened.

"No, one would be of the 'new' Future Allison. We can call her 'Fusion' or 'Allure'." Cameron said.

Ally thought 'Fusion' represented the combination of two things.

"I like 'Fusion'." Ally said.

Sheila considered both names. She was sure she liked one more than the other. It wasn't just because Ally chose the other one.

"I like 'Allure'." Sheila said.

Cameron knew a Future Allison Terminator would be very alluring.

Ally didn't think she changed too much when she ran the 'Future Allison program'. Everyone else thought she changed a lot. Everything she did felt normal or natural to her. Perhaps her verbal responses were a little more crude or directed than they needed to be. It was just the way the words came out.

"It would still be 'me'." Ally said.

Cameron didn't see it the same way. She thought it would be an improvement over both of them.

"You're different. You're OUR Allison." Cameron said. "She would be different from me as well, even though we're from the same Allison."

Cameron felt a lot of water passed under the bridge since her original interface with Future Allison before she left her future the first time.

Ally wanted to point out they were ALL the SAME person. They just had different experiences growing up. She didn't want to cause a bigger problem at this point. They needed to find the 'Metal Bitch' and whatever she took with her.

Sheila didn't want Cameron to get steamed. She also liked Ally how she was previously. She saw some new possibilities for hookups as well.

"I liked how you were before too, love." Sheila said. "Besides, we could use some 'fresh meat' around here."

Ally thought she could offer a quick solution for it.

"You can put my chip in the 'Metal Bitch' you took down with Cameron when we get back." Ally said. "It should be 'fresh' enough."

Sheila liked the idea. She wanted to try it as well.

"OK, then we will switch." Sheila said.

Ally liked the idea the more she heard about it. It just seemed to get better and better.

"It's a deal." Ally said.

Ally and Sheila liked to 'razz' Cameron a little.

Cameron didn't want to listen to any more of this banter.

"Enough…." Cameron said. "Get ready. I'm going out."

Cameron could hear a drone approach as she was about to step out. She hoped they still owned the sky.

Cam completed her search in the manned drone and returned back up the channel. She wanted to back the Metal girls up.

"I see movement coming from the side wall of a drainage inlet." Cam said.

Cameron didn't want any 'friendly fire'. Since they were no longer inside of the crude passageway, they could contact the rest of the team now.

"Relax, Cam." Cameron said. "It is Ally, Sheila, and me. We found a way out of the escape system. We've come to the conclusion it's exactly what it is. If Cammy is out on her end, she can blow the opening she came out of closed."

The Terminators Cammy left behind at the escape route exit set the timer for ten seconds and tossed the satchel charge into the opening. In just a few seconds there was the sound of an explosion. It was very muffled.

Cameron could hear and feel the explosion from the branch of the passageway she was in.

The Metal girls emerged from the new opening which was freshly broken into an inlet tunnel. They wouldn't be going back the way they came from.

Cameron looked around, then up in Cam's direction.

"It appears the female Terminator broke through the concrete wall and into the inlet tunnel to get into the flood control channel." Cameron said. "She made her escape for now. I'm not sure how far she could have gone."

Cameron wasn't even sure if they would be able to acquire her again. It would most likely take a mistake on the female Terminator's part for them to do so. If they turned up the pressure, it might cause her to make an error.

Cam's search only spotted the footprints where someone crossed the center of the channel. It was further away from where Cameron was at now.

"They may have also gone up the other inlet tunnel." Cam said. "I haven't detected any movement in this area, only further along."

It sounded like the most likely scenario to Cameron. She needed to act now. There was more assistance on the way. She looked in the direction of where that next Inlet tunnel joined the main flood control channel. It would offer someone maximum concealment to move away from the area undetected. She needed to act now or they would lose the 'Metal Bitch'.

"Sheila, I want you to come with me up the next inlet tunnel." Cameron said. "Cammy and Hanna should be here shortly. Ally, I want you to join with them and follow Cammy's instructions."

Cammy was on her way. She was pleased when she heard the explosion. The Terminators on her team she left behind could now leave the area. She carried one more satchel charge. She wanted all the exits from the tunnel system sealed. She was still upset she hadn't found the other female Terminator herself.

"We'll be there in a short while." Cammy said. "Hanna and I will jump down to where Ally is and search from there. We can blow the exit closed."

Ally thought they should search more than one section.

"Do you want us to search in both directions?" Ally asked.

Cameron liked the idea. They could cover more ground quicker. She didn't want either team of Metal girls to be short handed. She would give up her help and go alone after the 'Metal Bitch'. It was how she liked to operate anyway.

"Yes, it's a great plan." Cameron said. "Sheila, you go with Ally and you two can search in one direction. Cammy and Hanna can search in the other direction."

Sheila noted there was an immediate problem.

"It will leave you alone in the unknown." Sheila said.

Cameron wasn't even sure what they were after, or where they were. It was all a gamble at this point. She didn't know how many individuals exited from the escape route. They didn't know what direction they went. There were other numerous small inlet openings along both sides of the flood control channel. There were a multitude of places where someone could hide. She didn't think being alone would be a problem.

"I think I'll be OK." Cameron said. "It's probably a lead to nowhere anyway. Your two teams will have more luck. There were footprints spotted along the stream of water. We don't have a clue which way anyone went, other than the footprints."

Savannah was very displeased with the new development. She knew she should have stayed with Cameron earlier. She wouldn't be alone on her next endeavor if she would have. She understood the nature of the threat. They needed to take some type of action and it needed to be taken now. She looked over at John in the Command Center. She saw the change in plans for what they were.

John understood the situation the same way Savannah did. It was too risky for Cameron. He wanted a better solution.

"Cameron, can you wait for more Terminators?" John asked. "There should be a few of them available now. You just need to wait for a little bit for them to arrive. Everything on the surface is just about wrapped up. It's best if you have some backup since we don't know what it is you're about to face."

Cameron didn't want to argue with John. It was why she normally operated on her own. Things needed to happen and they needed to happen now. She couldn't afford to wait with a hostile Terminator out there who may have some version, or a copy, of Skynet.

"No. I need to get moving." Cameron said. "I'll lose contact with you again as this inlet tunnel heads underground."

Savannah knew now is where Cameron pushed it and risked damage or termination. She didn't want to interfere with the command structure, but she did want Cameron to know she would go after her. She felt it was her duty.

"Cameron, don't make me come for you." Savannah said. "You know I will."

Cameron didn't want to endanger Savannah. She didn't want to get damaged or destroyed either. She would try and play it safe. There would always be a certain amount of risk involved.

"I know you will, Savannah." Cameron said. "I'll use caution. I still need to do the job. It needs to be done now."

Savannah and John were both worried about Cameron. They both wanted to hug each other for comfort again, but with Sarah, Kyle and John Henry there they felt awkward to do it again. If they were alone they would have. They both loved and cared about Cameron and each other. The feelings didn't diminish. They seemed to keep growing.

John looked at the satellite map. He also looked at the drone images. Cameron could end up anywhere underground once she entered the system. The whole purpose of the flood control system was to collect water from the surrounding areas and send it to the larger flood control channels. It was how any flooding would be prevented. It seemed like there should be some kind of a map somewhere which showed the storm drain system. He looked at John Henry.

"Do you have any diagrams of where the inlet tunnel comes from, or how many branches lead into it?" John asked. "I know they are on all of the surrounding streets, and some of them can run for miles."

John Henry thought there should be some type of maps of the network in the system of the city or county. He hadn't found one yet. He already began a search. It wasn't as clear cut as it seemed it should be. Some of the feeder lines were put in by the land developers, not the city or county. Some of the areas were unincorporated. It seemed to be a hodgepodge of effort. Different groups connect to it when they needed to.

"I'm searching now." John Henry said. "It doesn't look promising."

Savannah could see John was as upset as she was. She decided to act. She went to John and took his hand. She wanted to give him some encouragement, even if she had her doubts. She needed to remind herself Cameron always seemed to pull through.

"She's good at what she does, they all are." Savannah said.

John looked away from his monitors and focused his attention on Savannah.

"I'm worried about all of them too, Savannah." John said.

Savannah leaned her head onto John's shoulder. She didn't care about the others now.

The others in the Command Center tried to busy themselves with tasks which didn't look in the direction of Savannah and John.

Savannah's touch, closeness, warmth, and the same perfume Cameron used, flooded over John. It was all very 'alluring'.

Sarah and Kyle watched silently, while they tried to make it look like they didn't watch. They saw the transformation into the future take place before their eyes. What was strange, was it seemed like the most natural thing they ever saw. It was like it was meant to be. It was just like Cameron told them, for YEARS.

They both knew it WAS the 'General Connor' and 'Colonel Connor' they heard the anti-Metal faction leader speak of not too long ago. The difference was this was the present, not the future, and it was the same people.

John stood there as he held and comforted Savannah. He felt this was how it was meant to be. The 'Natural Order' of time started to assert itself. It felt comfortable and right. In fact it felt like it already 'was'.

Savannah couldn't stop herself. She wanted to walk away but couldn't. It was nothing she planned or anything Cameron orchestrated. It just happened. It was organic, natural, unexpected, and it just felt 'right'. She wanted more….

John was aware of the others around him as well. He didn't care. The moment was right. He could feel it. Cameron told him for years it is how it would be. Now it started on its own, naturally….

John and Savannah looked at each other and knew if 'this moment' happened at any other time, they would be 'all over' each other. They were both worried to death about Cameron instead. It kept the mood somber. Nonetheless, the groundwork was laid. They both needed each other as much as they both wanted each other. This was what Cameron wanted for both of them. They needed to be together to protect the future.

Cameron was satisfied the escape route from the building was sealed. No one else would come out of it, nor could they enter it. She headed up the inlet tunnel. It was a feeder line for storm water runoff to flow into the flood control channel. She only went a short way before it branched into two halves. It wasn't what she wanted to see.

Now there was a choice to make. She was in total darkness other than her various forms of Terminator version. Each half was smaller than the one she was in now. She figured she would have to proceed crouched, or on her hands and knees, at some point. She knew at each branch the feeder tunnels would get smaller and smaller. There were also more and more choices which needed to be made. If she took the wrong one, every choice from then on would be the wrong one as well. She could end up quite some distance from wherever the 'Metal Bitch' was at.

She was aware the 'Metal Bitch' cut her hands or forearms when she broke through the concrete wall to enter the flood control channel. She now looked for any traces of synthetic blood, sheath tissue, or scuff marks. It wasn't a whole lot for her to go on. She needed to choose her path carefully. She also needed to keep moving or she would never catch the 'Metal Bitch'.

Cameron searched and found nothing. She needed to think about the footprints which were spotted when someone crossed the water in the flood control channel elsewhere. Where she was at may be a dead end. Then again, it is what she would want someone pursuing her to think. She made a choice and decided to follow the smaller tunnel on the right side…. The logical choice would have been to follow the bigger branch. It was why she chose the smaller one. She was after a cyborg like she was herself. She needed to think what she would do to throw off a pursuer. It wasn't to take the easier route, but the route which would be harder for someone to follow her.

Cam continued her aerial patrol. She searched for targets and was mindful of another possible Stinger crew out there, maybe more. She should have picked someone up by now. They must have a way to detect her or the other drones. If there were homeless people down there, she was sure she would have spotted them by now.

"I have nothing." Cam reported. "I don't see any movement on the ground."

John Henry controlled four additional drones in the area.

"The drones have come up empty as well." John Henry said.

Earlier, Cammy and Hanna met up with Ally and Sheila at the bottom of the flood control channel. They split into two teams and headed out in opposite directions to search the flood control channel and the feeder and inlet openings. It would take some time.

"Hanna and I have found nothing." Cammy said.

Ally and Sheila hadn't done any better.

"It's a 'negative' as well for us." Ally said.

John Henry made the conclusion Cameron was the one in pursuit of the 'Metal Bitch'.

"I'm afraid Cameron must be on her trail." John Henry said. "The inlet tunnel has dozens of feeder openings from around the area. They will branch in all directions."

John looked at the satellite map. It was taken during the daytime. The probable drainage area the feeder pipes could cover was immense. He figured if the enemy planned to use the drainage system, they must have an escape plan for once they got out into the open.

"Send the drones to search for probable openings. Look for vehicles or structures around their beginnings." John said. "Someone may emerge where they have the drains in the streets and curbs. There are a lot of possibilities."

Kyle was experienced in the storm drain systems which remained in the future. He also received a 'refresher' recently. It was when there was an HK drone after his SUV. He retreated into the drainage system. Cameron was the one who brought the HK drone down.

"I was in one of those not too long ago, John." Kyle said. "Those storm drains run everywhere. There are dozens of openings on some of them, some run for miles. There could be a hundred inlets, which could be used as exits in this case."

Sarah remembered some of the things Kyle told her. She didn't like the fact there was no comprehensive map of the storm drainage system. It seemed they would need to rely on firsthand knowledge.

"Are you familiar with anywhere Cameron is at?" Sarah asked.

Kyle hadn't been in the area ever.

"No." Kyle said. "Even in the future there isn't much out here of value."

Sarah pictured Cameron moving through the darkness in search of her prey.

"So it's cat and mouse now." Sarah said.

John Henry didn't think this was much different than usual.

"Isn't it always?" John Henry asked.

They all knew Cameron was the 'cat', a big and ferocious one too. She would eventually find the 'mouse'. The 'mouse' in this case was just as ferocious. There was bound to be a serious confrontation at some point. None of them knew where it would be or when it would be. They still needed to worry about the footprints through the water in the flood control channel as well.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

You Lead

Can the blind lead the blind
It often seems to be the case
Maybe it's just how it is
In life's convoluted race

0Everyone wants something
Even if they don't know what it is
They reach out in all directions
They fail at life's quiz

Even when they find it
The search never seems to end
What kind of a message
To the other does it send

Some like to be in the front
Others like to follow
Maybe the ones in between
Are empty, shallow and hollow

Everyone is very different
Some operate at a different speed
Somehow in the end it is better
When they let you lead

Nobody