Chapter 585

Her Choice

Jim, Bob, and Derek left the target location once more of their Terminators arrived. They were to find the trash truck Cammy informed them about. It was still in the area.

Derek wanted to make sure everyone was still on board for the task. It would deliver them to the very heart of the enemy's operation.

"Are we sure we want to do this?" Derek asked.

Bob knew he was in for a messy ride. It still needed to be done. They needed to penetrate the enemy's defenses and not be detected. A little personal discomfort wouldn't be a problem for him.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

Jim was OK with his part. He would be the driver. He wouldn't mind seeing a little more action if it became available during the probe.

"I can always switch with either one of you." Jim said. "I have the easy role."

They planned it all out already. Everyone already knew what their specific job would be. They knew when it would need to be played as well.

John didn't want any last minute changes. He knew no one would get 'cold feet'. He just didn't see the need to change anything. He was aware there were always variables. It was actually one of the things Cameron always claimed happened to her. Things always changed at some point, which forced her to change her actions. When she changed her actions, it went from a recon, or surveillance, directly to combat. He would like to be able to maintain some type of control.

"Let's stick with the plan." John said. "If things look like they need to be different, we can make changes at the time."

Jim, Bob, and Derek found the trash truck near where Cammy reported seeing it. They were about to do a 'hard stop' to take control of it. They hoped to avoid terminating the driver. Derek told them it was just some guy trying to make a living. He wasn't a combatant in the war with Skynet. If the person became a 'problem', they might be terminated anyway. There were always variables.

The driver pulled up and stopped alongside a restaurant. They were a little surprised to see him get out and enter the establishment. He stopped to eat and probably use the restroom. It looked like a lucky break for them. It was a lucky break for the driver of the vehicle as well.

Jim, Bob, and Derek commandeered the trash truck. When the driver finished and came out of the restaurant, he would be in for a real surprise. Who would steal a grubby trash truck? It most likely would be reported as some type of a prank to the police department. When he made his 911 call, John Henry would take care of it and tell him help was on the way. There wouldn't be any help until they were done with their operation and the truck. Hopefully it wouldn't be shot up or destroyed.

Bob was now in the back of the trash truck. Jim would drive it into the compound and lift the large dumpsters at the location with the forks on the front of the truck. Bob would climb into the upside down trash bin after it was empty and hang on as it was turned right side up and cover himself with some cardboard. He would wait for any trouble. Derek would try to slip out of the cab and make his way inside the building.

They were about to face a lot of unknowns.

Derek spotted a painter's truck up ahead. An idea popped into his mind. He saw an item he wanted to 'borrow'. He knew it was more like appropriate it.

"Stop next to the truck." Derek said. "I see something we can use."

Jim did. He took a quick look around to make sure no one paid them any attention. They didn't.

Derek hopped out and took an item off the back of the painter's truck. He got back in the cab of the garbage truck.

"Let's roll". Derek said.

Jim drove away.

No one paid any attention to the rubbish truck.

John Henry was a little worried about John allowing Derek to go. Another Terminator could have gone in his place. He wanted John to rethink Derek's part of the operation. It wouldn't be hard to change it. It wouldn't affect anything already underway.

"You can still have Derek drive the trash truck." John Henry said. "Bob or Jim can go inside."

John was a little more worried now than he was before. He knew Derek possessed a lot of experience and was a fast thinker on his feet. He also figured the operation was less likely to turn into an assault from the beginning if Derek was the one inside. He still thought caution was in order.

"Be careful, Derek." John said.

Derek believed he was the best choice if he was around Grays. His goal was not to be noticed. If he was, he wouldn't be made as a Terminator almost instantly. Grays were familiar with Terminators and would be more likely to spot one. He also needed to think about his family.

"You know I will be." Derek said. "I have a baby on the way. I know help is nearby."

Bob figured he should be able to enter the building in seconds from the dumpster if it became necessary.

"I'll be by his side if he needs me." Bob said.

John really hoped it didn't come down to it. It was always a possibility. The goal was to conduct a Recon to know exactly what was inside the building. If they could learn the enemy's strength it would be even better. If they knew there were any Terminators present, it would aid them later on. He knew nothing would stop Bob if Derek needed him.

"I know you will." John said. "Let's hope this stays as a recon."

John began to wonder if he should have let Cameron go in herself. Derek wouldn't be in danger now like he was about to be. Where was Cameron anyway? He hadn't heard from any of the girls for a while. He wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. No. It was probably a bad thing.

"John Henry, where's Cameron at?" John asked.

John Henry didn't know. All he could go by was what he last witnessed.

"She's tracking the unknown man who left the facility with Savannah and Cammy." John Henry said. "It was my last report before they went silent."

John wondered why they would go silent. Maybe they were after a Terminator. It would explain more than a few things if it was the case. It would also indicate an elevated danger level, especially for Savannah.

"Silent?" John asked. "Are they in close to the target?"

John Henry figured he could attempt to contact them. CamNet should pick up on what he was doing and assist either Cameron or him somehow.

"It would seem it may be the case." John Henry said. "Do you want me to contact them? Cameron said she would get back to us soon."

John figured it would cause a problem with Cameron. Derek was his current worry.

"No." John said. "She knows what to do. It's Derek I'm worried about right now."

John Henry showed John the surveillance footage. There were two things to check out.

"Jim's entering the complex as we speak. They waved the trash truck through. They didn't stop it." John Henry said. "Surveillance shows an eighteen wheeler approaching. We don't know its destination. It should arrive in the area in a few minutes."

John didn't know if it would go to the same location or not. The way things worked for them it probably would. There were numerous other businesses around the area. They would just have to wait and see.

"Great." John said. "It's going to cause some extra activity if it goes to our target location."

John Henry sent out the alert to everyone a big rig looked like it was about to arrive in the area.

"I've already informed Jim." John Henry said.

John Henry was contacted by Young Allison a few seconds later. It surprised him greatly. He looked over at John and decided to do what Young Allison asked. He didn't need to see John meltdown right now. They were at a crucial point in the original operation.

He was very surprised by the direct contact by the 'Chosen One', the other one. He knew from the encounter it was just the start. He hoped she would continue to work with the Command Center. He was sure her main source of contact would be with the CamNet.

He wondered if it would present a new level of scrutiny over John's decisions in the command center, or a new level of cooperation. He knew the goal was the same. At least he hoped it was.

Moments ago:

Jim drove up to the gate. It was opened for him. He only needed to slow down, he didn't need to stop. The guard looked up from his cell phone for a second and waved him inside. The guard never even moved from his chair. It was leaned back at an angle. It was clear the guard didn't take his position seriously. He probably saw it as a relief to get out of a work detail. It was a place where he could use his phone without someone looking over his shoulder.

The 'Trojan Horse' entered the compound unopposed.

Jim drove up to the first dumpster and lifted it up. No one appeared to watch him. He dumped it in the back of the truck. Bob climbed inside of it. He needed to hold on good since it was upside down at this point.

He lowered it back down into place. He backed the truck up and lifted the second dumpster. After he dumped it he lowered it back into place. He left a space between them. Derek slipped out of the cab of the truck and moved in between the two empty dumpsters.

A big rig entered the complex. The trash truck was in its way for him to make the turn and back up to the loading dock. He honked his air horn. There was still one more dumpster to empty.

Someone ran over from the dock to the trash truck.

"Hey, we need to load this truck right away." The man said. "Can you come back later?"

Jim didn't want to leave Bob and Derek alone.

"I'm on a schedule." Jim said.

The man reached in his pocket and handed Jim a twenty dollar bill.

Jim knew if he stayed now it would cause a problem.

"Come back in an hour." The man said.

Derek and Bob both assured him they were good for now.

"I'll be back." Jim said and moved the trash truck out of the way.

The big rig driver waved at him. Jim nodded and drove out. The guard still leaned back in his chair. He hadn't challenged the big rig either.

Jim stopped at the guard booth to see what weapons were inside of it. He didn't spot any.

"They told me to come back in an hour." Jim said to the guard.

"Yeah, dude, whatever." The guard said. He never looked up from his phone. "I got the message."

Jim drove out. He could see security was lax. He wondered what was so important with the big truck. He hoped to be the one to terminate the guard at the gate when they moved in for the assault. He was sure there would be one at this point.

Derek watched Jim drive away and leave one dumpster un-emptied. He saw the exchange between the man from inside the building and Jim. Now Derek too wondered what was so important about the big rig.

"Bob, did you catch everything?" Derek asked.

Bob thought he was in better places before.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

Derek dropped an old rolled up tarp in with Bob. He 'borrowed' it from a painter's truck. Bob was completely covered now and somewhat protected from any slop which might end up in the dumpster on top of him.

The big rig backed into position at the dock. Derek saw it as a good opportunity to slip inside the building.

Derek came up from in between the two empty dumpsters. He spotted the custodian about to enter the building from the side he was on. There was some kind of a wheeled cart he was about to push. He pulled his Taser and made his move.

He waited until the custodian reached down to pick up something. He zapped him with his Taser. He looked around to make sure it was clear. He dumped the custodian inside the wheeled cart after he took his overalls and cap. As long as he kept his face down, he felt he could pass as the custodian.

Bob waited in the dumpster. A few minutes later he heard some type of wheeled cart moving closer. It stopped above him.

"Bob, I have the janitor tied up and unconscious for now." Derek said. "I'm dumping him out of his trash collection cart and in with you."

Bob was ready to snap the custodian's neck.

"Do you want him terminated?" Bob asked.

Derek figured few people paid the janitor any attention. They were usually the low man on the 'totem pole'.

"Not yet." Derek said. "I borrowed his overalls and cap. I'll collect the trash from inside and look around. I don't think anyone will notice."

Bob would put up with the janitor for now. He was a little worried if anyone inside the building might spot Derek as an imposter, it would most likely be a Terminator.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "Keep your Taser ready if anyone starts to pay attention to you. You may need to use it and run."

Derek understood the implication. His biggest threat would be one he could incapacitate to get away, electronically. It worked just as well as humans too. The custodian in the dumpster with Bob was proof of it. He was aware of the communications blocks at some of the facilities associated with this group. He was concerned he might get caught up in one.

"I may lose my com once I'm inside the building." Derek said. "I know some of the other facilities we hit emitted some kind of damping or jamming field in them. If you hear shooting, follow the sound, you'll find me there."

Bob hoped it didn't come to it.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

There was a loud thud as the custodian landed next to Bob. He unrolled some more of the tarp and covered the man as well. It seemed like he better stay alert. If the man came around, he would render him unconscious again. He may try to question him as well. If he determined he was a Gray, he would need to be terminated.

Cameron, Savannah, and Cammy were now at the other location where there was no reported activity.

Savannah knew they were 'off the reservation'. She wondered where some of the Metal girls were at. She didn't think a little extra help for them might be a good idea. She wanted to prompt Cameron if possible.

"Are Sheila and Ally going to back us up?" Savannah asked.

Cameron wanted them to finish up on the operation they came up empty on previously. She decided to keep her answer simple.

"They're working for CamNet right now." Cameron said.

Savannah knew it meant an 'off the books' operation. They needed to focus on what they were about to do where they were at now.

"How do you want to play this?" Savannah asked.

Cameron wanted to see if anything changed.

"Let's see what we have." Cameron said.

Cameron checked the surveillance cameras their group previously set up at the 'inactive site'.

"I've asked CamNet to loop the feeds outside until we get inside." Cameron said. "Then they'll go live again. I don't want any surprises while we're inside. I'll have CamNet jam all communications but ours going in or out of the building and the surrounding area."

Savannah was a little tense right now. They didn't know what was inside.

"What do you think we will find?" Savannah asked.

Cameron usually found trouble. She would lead. Savannah and Cammy should remain together.

"In these situations you never know." Cameron said. "Stay close to Cammy."

The girls armored up before they started their trek into the unknown.

As they moved closer, Cameron pointed at a surveillance camera. It watched the vehicle entrance.

"There will be more." Cammy whispered.

Savannah looked around. She spotted another one. It was much lower than the other one.

"I see one over there." Savannah whispered back and pointed.

Cameron reached up and attached something to the camera.

"This will allow CamNet access to their network." Cameron said. "CamNet will loop their feeds and be able to tell us where the others are at."

The three girls all picked up a transmission from CamNet. Young Allison wanted to warn them to watch out for booby traps, trip wires, or electronic beams.

They were all good ideas.

"It's excellent thinking by Young Allison." Cameron said.

Cammy thought it was based on what the Metal girls did with her.

"We've taught her well." Cammy said.

Cameron nodded. Young Allison was years ahead of schedule. She excelled in everything. There were still a few more things which needed to be accomplished.

"She's ready to move to the next phase." Cameron said.

Savannah didn't think she liked the 'next phase' very much. She was aware Young Allison was a young woman now. She understood everything it represented to Cameron. It was the use of her reproductive tract.

Cammy noticed the concerned look on Savannah's face.

"It's the 'Natural Order'." Cammy said.

Savannah wanted to make her position clear. She didn't want any pressure on Young Allison, especially in some regards. She looked at Cameron.

"Don't push her." Savannah said. "She's still young, Cameron."

Cameron frowned a little. It was a 'problem' she wanted to take care of years ago. She wanted Savannah and Young Allison to be together already. It would keep both of them occupied and happy. She wouldn't need to worry about anything with them. It would have also allowed her to repurpose Cammy for other duties long ago.

"For now…." Cameron said.

Savannah knew Cameron was going to take Young Allison into the past for a few years and return her as a late-teenager. They would be the same age then, well almost, she lived twenty extra months in two different futures. It made her almost two years older than she was. She didn't want to keep getting older than Young Allison. She didn't want Young Allison's life disrupted either.

"It HAS to be her choice…." Savannah said. "HER mother must also agree. It can't be done under duress either. You know what I mean."

Cameron wanted to ignore Savannah. It would be HER choice. The decision was made years ago by her. Since none of the girls 'stepped up', the duty would fall to Young Allison now as a young teenager. Young Allison was conditioned at night to want to be with John. Young Allison knew what was required and what her duties would be. Young Allison's internet usage showed she checked on everything. She also knew what Young Allison's preference was. It was the same as Allison's preference. She hoped it wouldn't expand and become like Future Allison's preference.

She gave the girls all plenty of chances. No one listened to her. Savannah almost mated with John, but it never happened. She wasn't really sure if she wanted Savannah to be touched by John at this point. She wanted Savannah for herself. She knew if she continued to 'groom' Young Allison for a few more years alone with her in the past, Young Allison wouldn't hesitate to fulfill her wishes. It was the 'Natural Order' and she was going to MAKE it happen. She was going to MAKE this 'Allison' fulfill her destiny. Somebody was going to listen to her and do what she wanted. She wanted John protected. She suppressed a glitch impulse. Everyone sacrificed for John Connor, including her.

"Savannah, I don't want to talk about this now." Cameron said. "If you want her to remain how things are, you know what HAS to happen."

Savannah wasn't happy Cameron blew her off about Young Allison. She didn't care much for the 'threat' either. She knew how Cameron operated. She wasn't usually so forward about it.

"Cameron, you know I'll do as I've promised." Savannah said. "You KNOW it."

Cammy could see Savannah 'redden' some. It meant she was upset or angry. She noticed Cameron suppress a glitch impulse. They all needed to focus. They didn't know what they were about to face. Things could take a turn for the worse very quickly. She also knew if Cameron pushed things too hard too fast, Savannah was going to give her an 'order' to stop. She believed it would cause even further conflict within Cameron if Savannah gave her a hard 'order'.

"This isn't the place for this conversation." Cammy said. "We all need to be alert and not distracted or angry."

Savannah didn't think it would do any good to argue with Cameron about it anyway. She didn't want to have to issue an 'order' either. She would see how things continue to play out.

"You're right, Cammy." Savannah said. "Everyone needs to remain focused."

The three girls made it inside the building.

Cameron stopped and listened. There was a vibration with the floor. It seemed to increase.

"Do you feel it?" Cameron asked.

Cammy looked where Cameron looked.

"I do." Cammy said. "I hear it too."

It took Savannah a few seconds longer. She could see Cameron and Cammy look for a different spot to move to.

"I feel it now." Savannah said. "I can hear something now. What is it?"

"Trouble…." Cammy and Cameron both said at the same time.

Sheila and Ally went back to the last location where they ran into the sex traffickers. They waited for someone to show up who looked like they were involved.

Sheila watched a fancy sports car pull up.

"That's a nice ride." Sheila said. "Let's talk to the bloke driving it. I'm going to take it when we leave."

Ally looked it over.

"He may not want us to have it." Ally said.

Sheila smiled.

"I don't think he'll still be alive." Sheila said. "He won't complain."

Ally wanted to use some caution.

"He might have some muscle with him." Ally said.

Sheila considered he may have gotten ahead of his security team. It wouldn't surprise her if he ran a couple of red lights along the way. Anyone with him was simply another target to her.

"It's too bad for them if he has any." Sheila said. "It's just more dead Scavengers."

Ally noticed Sheila held her knife now. It usually indicated she would take things a couple of steps beyond where they needed to go.

"Do you always have to abuse them?" Ally asked. "I know it gets you off."

Sheila smiled. She saw it as justice for the individual's past offenses.

"It does get me off." Sheila said. "I make it every time I do something."

Ally knew what Sheila usually did to future Scavengers. She actually thought they got what they deserved, even if she didn't condone Sheila's behavior. She wanted to rib her a little bit while they waited

"It's because you're insane." Ally said.

Sheila was instantly offended.

"I'm not insane." Sheila said. "You're insane."

Ally frowned.

"Insane is, as insane does." Ally said. "I'm not the one who gets off hurting people."

Sheila didn't care. The 'Jesse' in her from the 'Neural Interface' demanded justice. She knew one way to deliver it. She believed the perpetrators brought their punishment upon themselves by their actions. Someone needed to hold them accountable. Someone needed to stop them. The perpetrators would never stop on their own.

"Justice must be served." Sheila said. "I enjoy my work."

Ally shrugged her shoulders.

"It's because only insane people would do it." Ally said.

Sheila was angry now. The 'darkness' was strong in her from Jesse.

"You don't know what was done to me, to Jesse." Sheila said.

Ally knew enough.

"All the females suffered." Ally said. "Allison experienced her moments too."

Sheila was very upset.

"It wasn't the same thing Jesse and Vanna went through and you know it." Sheila said. "Don't try to make it sound like it was. Allison was never in a Scavenger camp."

They watched the man exit his fancy sports car and head for the building.

Ally did know Allison suffered less.

"Let's go protect some females in the present and the future then." Ally said.

They exited their SUV. The area was clear around them.

Sheila only carried her knife openly. She tucked her M9 and Taser away.

"You watch out for the muscle." Sheila said. "This bloke is mine."

Ally noted the dull red glow to Sheila's eyes. He was sure whatever happened next was going to be extremely personal to Sheila. She knew the thug was in for a rough go. It actually didn't bother her much at all.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Hear

I want to touch your heart
So very hard I've tried
I have felt all of your pain
With you I have bled and cried

An infatuation can occur in seconds
It is the physical attraction
It's never anything lasting
Just an unsustainable distraction

I know you resist the thought
That real beauty flows deep within
As time erases physical beauty
All that's left is wrinkled withered skin

The love trapped in your heart
Seeks the same returned reaching out
Burnt stung abused used stolen by some
Fills you with trepidation and doubt

Love is there, you know it is
Without direction or reciprocation
It can bleed your soul, stab your mind
Bestowed genuinely leads to emancipation

I am far yet so near but real
To share I am always here
When your mind needs someone to listen
I open my heart and mind and hear

Nobody