Chapter 571

Genetic Defects

Savannah wanted her team to advance. Every minute not knowing about Cameron seemed like an hour. She knew they needed to do a recon of the structure and enter it, if it seemed deserted. It would be full of bodies and wrecked equipment in reality. What would they find there? What exactly happened inside the building and what was the aftermath? Would Cameron be among the fallen?

They still needed to consider if some type of alarm may have been raised once the internal attack started. There was still a good chance there were reinforcements on the way. They most likely would be heavily armed and ready to attack anything they perceived as a foe. The foe would be them.

She and her team moved down the gully. They should be in position before 'whatever' was coming their way arrived. They needed to be ready in case it was a hostile Terminator. They didn't think it was, but time would tell. Someone used the cover the gully afforded to move towards them. They knew what they were doing. Based upon Gail's observation, they were moving very slowly. They didn't know if it indicated whoever it was expected an ambush in front of them or not.

They moved closer to the area Savannah wanted to spring the ambush from. She indicated there was a shallow divergent branch which joined the gully. Cammy should go on ahead and try to conceal herself among the debris there and let the person pass by her. It would also serve to indicate to them if there was more than one of them. Cammy was to let them pass before rejoining the main channel of the gully. It would put her behind the unknown individual. If there was a group of them, she would be behind them as well. More than likely if they were trying to move clandestinely, their main focus would be what was in front of them, not what was behind them where they just came from. They would think the path behind them was clear.

Savannah thought everything through one more time. The slow pace of what was spotted by Gail troubled her. Why would someone move so slowly away from the target area? Did they expect an external attack to go along with the internal attack? Perhaps it was a survivor. Maybe someone made it out. Why would they move so slowly? She thought about the three purple welts she experienced when she was shot in her vest. A lot of bullets flew around during a battle.

"It might be a Gray who's wounded." Savannah said.

Cammy nodded and moved on ahead. She planned to terminate them anyway. She hoped to get a few answers first.

Gail watched the gully in the direction Cammy went as she took point.

Savannah moved back slightly to watch their six. They didn't want anyone to slip in behind them either. They waited.

Cammy was out of view of the main part of the gully. She could hear the person approach. She knew it was a human or there was a human with them. It was a male. It sounded like he talked incoherently to himself. His breathing was labored as well. She waited until he passed. She saw he wore a uniform. She pulled back some and waited some more. There didn't appear to be anyone else behind him. She crept up and checked. The gully was clear. She moved into the gully and closed up on the man. She should be right behind him before he reached Savannah's position.

Gail was in front of Savannah. She looked back and raised one finger.

Savannah knew it meant the target was one minute out. She waited and listened. She heard movement from the direction Cammy went. She checked behind them again.

There was labored breathing and some gasping sounds.

Gail was against the side of the gully, she stepped out to face the target.

"Nice day for a walk." Gail said.

There was a man in a security guard uniform. He staggered and fell over backwards. He was bloody and appeared stunned. He carried no visible weapon. There was a distinct stench which emanated from him. It appeared his pants were 'soiled'. There was a crazed look on his face. It was clear he was surprised to see someone. It was an even bigger surprise it was a female.

Gail watched as the man's mouth moved in a very erratic and uneven manner.

"Ru… run, Run!" The man managed to say.

Gail waited for Cammy to appear behind him.

"What do I need to run from?" Gail asked.

The man feebly moved his left arm and pointed behind him from the direction he came.

"Those… those things…. You have to run." He told Gail. "There are these machines. They killed everyone. We need to notify the authorities. Ru… run, RUN!"

Cammy soon appeared behind him. She helped the man stand and then backed away from him. She wanted to verify he was human. She put her Taser away. Humans weren't very hard to terminate. It didn't take much effort.

Savannah watched the 'check' Cammy made. She understood it was a human male when Cammy put her Taser away. She took one more look behind her and moved up to where Gail and Cammy were with the man.

"Tell us about it." Savannah said. "We're from the government and we're here to help…."

The man was able to calm down some.

Savannah gave him some of her water to drink.

"Rinse your mouth out and spit out the water before you swallow the next sip." Savannah said.

The man didn't listen. He drank the water and swallowed it. He immediately began coughing. He doubled over in pain. Cammy moved up behind him and stood him back up.

"Next time we tell you something, you need to listen." Cammy said. "You won't be told again."

The man glanced back and saw Cammy for the first time. It seemed he was unaware she was there, even though she helped him stand twice, until she spoke.

Savannah gave the man some more water and he followed her instructions this time. When he took a sip this time he didn't start coughing and double over.

The man told them of a new shipment of 'equipment' which was delayed a few days in arriving. There was trouble reported at some of their related installations. There were some new 'security experts' brought in. They were some big tough looking guys. There were three of them. They were all business. If someone joked with them, they looked like they wanted to kill them. A few of the other people there must have decided to leave, because they never saw them again afterwards.

Savannah gave the man some more water.

The man's face looked blank.

It looked like the man was having trouble formulating words.

Savannah smiled at him. She offered him some more water.

"Relax." Savannah said. "You're safe now. Go on."

Gail and Cammy were disgusted with the man. They wanted to terminate him. If he wasn't a Gray, he was certainly a collaborator. Right now, they both looked like Terminators.

The man looked at Cammy and Gail. He thought they looked like the 'security experts'. They were both pretty though. He could see one chick packed a set of jugs which didn't quit. He thought the redhead looked young. Maybe it was just good genetics. He could see she took an interest in him unlike the other two. They were all armored up and packed a lot of firepower, especially the two stone faced Hot chicks.

Savannah could see the man regained some of his composure. She figured if he was going to lie, it would be soon.

"Tell us more about what happened." Savannah said. "We need all of the information and all of the facts if we're to help you."

The man glanced at Cammy and Gail before he returned his attention back to Savannah.

"I watched as they unloaded the truck. There was a whole row of these new machines already there." He said. "It seemed like a few minutes after the truck was unloaded when the last group they brought in went berserk."

Savannah wanted to keep the man talking.

"How so, what happened?" Savannah asked. "Was anyone controlling them?"

The man's mouth moved a few times before there was any sound. He looked traumatized as he relived the event.

"No. The machines just started shooting at everything." The man said. "It was total chaos. Some of them went after people and some of them attacked the parked machines already there. There were people screaming and dying all around me and then stuff started to blow up."

Gail didn't like the man. It was clear he was a coward. She wanted to make sure.

"Did you stay to help and fight with your associates?" Gail asked. "It sounds as if they needed help. Did you help them?"

The man seemed to have regained even more of his composure at this point. He began to look at the three females. He thought the broad with the giant knockers looked aggressive. He figured she was the type who liked to be on top in bed. It was OK with him too. Chicks like her who could deliver, were hard to come by. He almost laughed at his choice of words. He looked back in the direction he came from. The chick with the pretty face looked like a stone cold killer.

"Hell no, I ran." The man said. "I got out of that place and didn't look back. I think I blacked out along the way. I woke up in this gully after some kind of 'electric sound'. I think I heard it twice. There was a flash of light around the same time. I never heard anything like it before. I've been trying to get away ever since. We need to go before they follow us."

Gail looked at the man with contempt. She was still focused on his cowardice.

"You didn't go back to help your friends and associates?" Gail asked.

The man looked like he almost laughed. It was clear he didn't care about anyone but himself.

"Screw them." The man said. "I just wanted to get away. We need to leave. The machines look like they can go over any type of terrain. We need to keep moving. I need to keep moving. I'm telling you. We need to get away from here. There's no stopping those things."

Savannah could see the man's cowardice agitated Gail. She knew it was about the trauma Gail recently suffered. Gail didn't run when she was confronted by two Terminators. She chose to stay and fight to protect Jesse and her. Gail did it with the knowledge she may be terminated as she bought Jesse and her time. Gail stayed to do her duty and was nearly terminated doing it.

She didn't know Gail wanted to rupture her power cell to try and stop the Terminators who attacked her. The explosion would have severely damaged the two Terminators and warned the girls of impending danger. Gail would have been vaporized. It was the sacrifice she was willing to make to protect the ones she loved.

Cammy was unsure what was happening. She knew there was more to the story of the earlier events and neither Gail nor Savannah talked about them. The story was always the same when she asked Savannah. Savannah finally told her to stop asking about it because nothing was different other than what she told her she saw.

Savannah wanted to know more about the building.

"Were there any other survivors?" Savannah asked. "Did you see anyone else?"

Cammy moved so the man could see her face. The hardness was gone from her face and a more pleasant look was on it now. She hoped it would prompt him to give an accurate answer.

"Did you see anyone who looked like me?" Cammy asked.

The man thought about it for a few seconds.

"No. I didn't see anyone who looked like you. Everyone was down when I looked back." The man said. "One of the 'new guys' looked like he was still moving. He must have been pumped full of adrenaline. I saw him take multiple hits but keep moving. There was a lot more firing as I ran. The screams slowly faded. I didn't like any of them anyway. I'm done with those losers. They got what they deserved as far as I care."

Gail heard enough. She reached out and grabbed his throat as she lifted him off the ground and squeezed.

The man thrashed around violently for a few seconds.

Cammy hoped to get some better information.

"Let him go." Cammy said.

Gail thought of the footage she viewed where Savannah faced off with three Terminators. It was one more than she faced. Savannah didn't run. She stayed to fight. Those were long odds, but Savannah didn't buckle. Savannah came to her aid and faced the two Terminators attacking her.

"He's a coward, he ran. He didn't help his friends. He left them to die." Gail said. "He didn't go back to help. He didn't care."

Cammy went to stop Gail.

Savannah stopped Cammy.

"She needs this." Savannah whispered to Cammy.

They could hear the bones in his neck break as Gail squeezed her hand slowly. It wasn't a fast death. It was a painful one.

Gail dropped him to the ground. She looked at Cammy and Savannah.

"He didn't help his friends. He left them all to die." Gail said. "He ran. He has no honor. He didn't care. He could have helped but he didn't."

Gail looked away, then back at Savannah.

Savannah wanted to show her support for Gail. She removed her silenced pistol. She shot the man once in the head, he was already dead. She went to Gail.

"I 'killed' him too. It's over Gail." Savannah said. "We need to find Cameron."

Cammy was unsure of everything which just happened. Savannah looked at her and she moved on with her statement.

"It sounds as if at least one Terminator may still be active, even if he's damaged." Cammy said. "He's going to be a threat."

Cammy thought about Gail's termination of the man. She wanted to make sure Savannah was protected.

"I'll terminate him when we find him." Cammy said.

Savannah saw the threat a survivor posed. They may already be too late. A survivor may have been able to call for help. It's where the real trouble would be.

"I'm worried about some of their HK drones showing up." Savannah said. "We may have to face HK Tracks, HK drones and Terminators."

They didn't know what awaited them or where Cameron was at. They really didn't know anymore than they did when they arrived. The man only seemed to confirm what they suspected. It was troubling he didn't see Cameron. Then again, if he would have, he would be dead.

Savannah looked back at the dead man as they moved through the gully. There was something he said which bothered her.

"What do you think the 'electric sound' was?" Savannah asked. "There was some 'light' as well. He didn't see what it was. It needed to be something Skynet related."

Cammy wondered about it herself.

"Maybe it was a Taser." Cammy said. "Cameron took hers with her."

The thought worried Gail some.

"Cameron would only have used it on a Terminator." Gail said. "Humans are not a threat to us."

Gail looked back at the dead man. She briefly wondered if she should have terminated him quicker. She was worried Savannah might have disapproved of her actions. When Savannah shot the man in the head with her silenced pistol, it inferred Savannah agreed with what she did.

Savannah wondered if they would come across a deactivated Terminator. The chip should be pulled. She hoped it wasn't Cameron. There was another fear which stalked her. The 'electric sound' and 'light' could have been an energy bubble. The man said he heard it twice. If it was an extraction, why would it happen twice? She didn't want her thoughts to get away from her. The answer was probably simple enough. Maybe there were two Terminators who Cameron Tasered. It could have been her Terminator who used his Taser as well.

They listened to the reports in the Command Center. It was clear great danger awaited the girls.

"This looks worse by the second." John said. "Cameron has endangered the others by her actions."

John Henry didn't think the evidence supported the same conclusion. There appeared to be danger, but Cameron wasn't the cause of it. He figured John was actually worried about something else.

"We don't know what happened yet." John Henry said. "You're worried about Savannah."

John was worried about all of them. He did understand Cameron would try to take the threat of danger on herself first. She would try to prevent Savannah from as much danger as possible.

"I'm worried about Cameron too." John said. "I know Cameron is trying to take the brunt of action to protect everyone else."

John Henry checked the status of where everyone was at. Things were better now for their team.

"The Blackhawk will be there in fifteen minutes." John Henry said. "Sheila is already there. She's holding five miles out with the two drones."

John wanted additional assistance for the girls.

"Send two more." John said.

John Henry wanted to make sure the 'MIKE Force' was protected when they left.

"I sent two with the Blackhawk." John Henry said. "It was to give them top cover."

John was pleased to hear it. He wanted the reserves sent as well.

"Send another two." John said. "That will give us six on station, plus the manned drone. I'll inform Savannah and Cammy."

John Henry previously dispatched them too. He could see John was nervous. He wanted to offer him a suggestion. He needed to frame it correctly so John wouldn't take it the wrong way. He needed to make it sound like it was the opposite of what it was.

"I already have." John Henry said. He could see John wanted to tell them. "You can mention it again to them. Savannah would like to hear your voice."

John Henry thought John wanted to hear Savannah's voice. It seemed he was the one who needed some reassurance. Savannah was ready for combat. He hoped her resolve would give John some comfort.

Cammy didn't care for the threat of there being at least one Terminator active. She knew the layout of the landscape. The gully was much deeper and narrower than the dry wash. The dry wash was shallow and wide. The gully would afford Savannah better protection as they advanced forward. If she moved to the dry wash she would be much more exposed. If there was someone watching, they would pick her up first and they should concentrate their attack on her. Savannah should be able to use the distraction to move forward through the gully. It was already clear Savannah wouldn't retreat. She would stay there until she found Cameron or was terminated.

"Do you want me to go through the dry wash to advance on the target?" Cammy asked. "You and Gail can continue through this gully. We can make a two pronged attack."

Savannah looked at the satellite photos. It was clear Cammy would be a target.

"No, Cammy, it's too exposed." Savannah said. "I won't put you in such danger when we have a better approach in front of us."

Gail thought Savannah was worried about her cyborg lover. She was there to protect Savannah herself. She understood Cammy wanted to offer herself up as bait. She could do the same thing.

"I can go, Savannah." Gail said. "The enemy should focus on me."

Savannah could see what Cammy and Gail both were willing to do for her. They wanted to make themselves targets. She was informed by John Henry of the status of the drones and helicopter. The update gave her a few ideas.

"No. We'll proceed together." Savannah said. "John, have the Blackhawk fly on the deck to five miles from our location. The team of Terminators can reach our vehicles very quickly on foot and advance through the dry wash to the target area. There are a couple of important 'packages' by our vehicles. They are very directed."

John Henry understood the warning about the mines. The 'MIKE Force' could get to the vehicles and then drive to the building with them once the girls were in place. They could act as a diversion too if one was needed.

"I have your location." John Henry said. "The 'packages' have been noted."

Savannah needed some better recon at the location they were headed for. She wanted the drones closer but protected. The risk would fall on Sheila. She wanted the flexibility of the manned drone to check things out.

"I want the two drones which came with the Blackhawk to orbit five miles out on the deck." Savannah said. "Sheila, I want you to make a pass near the target at high altitude off to the east side and then orbit five miles north of the target area. You will remain at altitude and look down on the target area from the side. Your two drones will orbit on the deck below you."

Sheila started to gain altitude. The drones with her dropped down to the ground.

"Roger, love." Sheila said.

John Henry made sure things were exactly as Savannah requested.

"I have control of everything as you want it." John Henry said.

John wanted to add his two cents.

"I've dispatched two more drones as well." John said.

Savannah was glad for the additional support. She wanted a wider look around them.

"Thanks, John." Savannah said. "Have them approach at high altitude and recon the perimeter. I want one seven miles out and one twelve miles out in opposite concentric circles."

John Henry liked the coverage it would offer the team. He was able to give Savannah a timeline on her reinforcements. They should also have some fresh intel.

"Sheila's making her pass now." John Henry said. "The 'MIKE Force' should arrive in fourteen minutes at the target area."

Savannah was satisfied they were covered as best as they could be. She needed to find Cameron and she didn't want to delay any longer. The teams would be in position soon enough.

"We're moving out." Savannah said.

She hoped the 'MIKE Force' didn't need to be what it was intended to be.

John went over everything with John Henry when he noticed his mother standing in back of him. He wasn't sure how long she was there.

Sarah watched John work. She listened to the conversations from the target area as well. She wanted to do more.

"Is there anything I can do?" Sarah asked.

John tried to ignore her. He didn't need any second guessing as he worked. His mother certainly didn't need to be put in harm's way either. He felt she already did more than enough.

"No." John said. "Thanks for asking."

Sarah felt she needed to say something to John. She believed it was important.

"She's one Hell of a woman, John." Sarah said. "I hope you know it. She'll make you a better man."

John would have preferred if Cameron waited and took some additional help with her. She wouldn't be missing right now.

"Cameron will be OK." John said.

Sarah didn't know about it. It wasn't her point. She decided to clarify it for John.

"I wasn't talking about Cameron." Sarah said.

John stopped and looked at her. He didn't need to hear this now. He didn't agree with much of what was done in the background. He saw it for what it was. It was the theft of the lives of the girls to do Cameron's bidding.

"You should be pleased then." John said. "Cameron's making two more like her and probably their younger sisters as well. What a life…."

Sarah saw it for what it was. The truth was ugly. There was no beauty in truth. She never faced what the girls from the future faced. She needed to do things she didn't want to and wasn't proud of. She did them to protect John. The girls from the future didn't have a choice. They weren't equipped to protect themselves.

"It's about the future, John. It's about surviving and defeating Skynet." Sarah said. "You go ask Vanna and Jesse how they liked their lives in the future you went to. I want you to then come back and tell me which life you would offer them if you could."

John already knew the answer. It was what they tried to prevent going forward. Maybe his sister was in for the same stolen life. He knew Kyle was against it. He knew Kyle wanted to take Jan to a safer time.

"What's next? Are you going to start Jan on the same training?" John asked.

Sarah and Kyle butted heads over the issue. He wanted Jan to have a 'real life' and be able to do the things girls did. Sarah wanted Jan protected. She didn't care much for the life of a teenage female. She was painfully aware how those all played out. The girls all got 'used' and passed around. They simply ended up as 'things' for the sexual pleasure of males. She wanted Jan to stand tall and be able to back it up.

"I've started training her myself. I've also asked Cameron to assist me with it. I want the same things for Jan." Sarah said. "I mean everything except Jan warming your bed and having your children."

John waited to see if it was a joke. He wasn't sure.

Sarah could see she'd made her point.

"Watch out for both of them, John." Sarah said as she left. "Look after them."

It was clear John Henry wanted to say something. Whatever it was, he didn't want to hear it.

"Don't say anything." John said to John Henry.

John Henry tilted his head slightly.

"I was only going to point out it would avoid genetic defects by not having your sister 'warm your bed'." John Henry said. "You could use some form of birth control though. Jan is very beautiful. I'm sure she would perform quite well."

John waited to see if it was a joke. He wasn't sure.

He was sure there was something wrong with all of these people. He needed to focus on the operation. Cameron was missing. Savannah and her team were about to enter the battlefield.

John checked again to see if John Henry cracked a smile or not. Maybe he should point out they weren't Hillbillies.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Dragons

For you I must fight
Together we will fight
We must overcome the dragons
The Princess and the Knight

You are worthy
You deserve salvation
Not pain and anguish
Or dying frustration

Into the flames you may reach
I am not trying to preach
Lessons of the past can still teach
Your trust I will not breech

I know how life overpowers
I know the want and lust
The pure beauty
Of that first thrust

I only warn of the danger
Things you already KNOW can go wrong
But the pain of love lingers
For a LOVING touch I long

Nobody