Chapter 600

Pick A Side

Cameron left the two vans behind. There were no survivors. By the lack of any return fire, she wasn't sure if there was anyone more than a driver in either one of them. She moved swiftly around the back of the building and down along the side of the next one. Her worries were confirmed. She spotted two figures moving. They were both armed. She knew she could take these two if they weren't Terminators. It didn't matter if they were, she would need to stop them anyway. Savannah was in danger.

She was ready to make her move when she spotted two more. Now her initial attack plan needed to change. She didn't want to get tangled in a crossfire, especially if any of them were Terminators. She was unable to make the determination.

Bob was aware the attack was underway where Cameron's team was located. He wanted to get there as soon as possible. He pulled the SUV ahead of the box truck. He wanted to arrive before it did to make sure the way was clear. There were two Terminators with him. There was another driving the box truck. They were all armed and armored up. Bob called in his update.

In the Command Center the reports of the teams came in and were relayed.

"I'm two minutes out." Bob said.

Cameron could use a little extra firepower. It might help prevent her from receiving too much damage when she dealt with the four individuals she spotted. She decided it was clear to break her silence.

"I have four armed men spotted in two groups of two. They're about to move in on the building the big truck is in. There are two on the south side and two on the east side." Cameron said. "Are there any hostile HK drones approaching?"

John Henry and CamNet both were all over every radar in the area.

"None have been detected." John Henry reported. "I've sent four of ours to your location. They won't be there for a few minutes yet. Two more are on wide recon. If anything is moving low to the ground, they may be able to spot it."

Cam and the team decided not to try to hold the building. They were still concerned about an HK drone attack. Their position was known. They left behind a few surprises and were ready to move to another location.

"We're holding at the rear of the structure." Cam reported. "We're outside ready to move if a hostile HK drone arrives."

Cammy felt their biggest concern was an HK drone. Anything short of it, she wanted to engage the enemy. She would rather be the hunter than the hunted.

"We're also ready to move back into the building if the Grays try to breach without HK drone support." Cammy said. "We're staying together unless Cameron needs assistance."

Savannah wanted some more backup. She didn't like Cameron to be off alone either. She wanted Cammy or Cam to assist Cameron. She knew Cameron wanted them to stay with her.

"What is the ETA on our drones?" Savannah asked.

John Henry pushed the drones to their limit and beyond.

"Four minutes." John Henry said. "They are all red lined."

Savannah was most worried about Cameron right now.

"Cameron, do you need assistance?" Savannah asked.

There was no answer, only silence.

John was upset because Cameron was alone. He figured she did it to lead the enemy away from the others. She would bring the heat down on herself. If she presented some type of moving target, they were bound to send someone after her.

"I want Cam and Cammy to go to Cameron's last position." John said.

Cammy didn't want to leave Savannah and Gail to defend the building alone. She wanted to point out how risky their situation would be.

"It only leaves Savannah and Gail here." Cammy said. "What about them?"

Savannah didn't want Cameron to get shot up because of her. It was her earlier thought as well to send Cam and Cammy. She was glad John mentioned it.

"We can hold this position." Savannah said. "I want both of you to help Cameron."

John Henry looked at a satellite map and calculated everyone's position.

"Cam and Cammy can take the targets on the south side. Cameron was closest to the ones on the east side from her last report." John Henry said. "Bob will be closest to the ones on the east side as well when his team arrives."

Vanna and Jesse stood together. It seemed like the team didn't actually know much about what was around them in the combat zone.

"There's a lot happening." Vanna said. "They still don't know how many are on the ground or if any hostile HK drones are approaching."

Jesse didn't like Gail and Savannah being left alone to defend the building. It seemed like they should pull out. Even if the enemy were to gain control of what was in the big rig, they could always take it back from them later on.

"I'm worried about Gail and Savannah." Jesse said. "They don't know the number of attackers. The building's been made. They are going to be in a bad spot."

John Henry didn't see a problem, yet. Only Grays were encountered so far.

"Everyone has their training or programming to rely on." John Henry said.

John expressed confidence in his troops. They were ready for action.

"They've all faced things like this before." John said. "Our teams are better trained and motivated."

John was aware this all started out as a recon and now escalated into a battle. What was worse, it seemed to be an ongoing battle which kept getting bigger. The Skynet forces were able to call for reinforcement somehow. The threat of Skynet HK drones arriving was the biggest threat to the girls.

They all knew the danger and risks to the girls right now.

Savannah watched Cam and Cammy head away from the back of the building toward the south side. She was worried about being spotted by a Terminator.

"If there are no hostile HK drones we should go back inside." Savannah said. "Two of the three doors to enter this building are booby trapped and we have control of this one."

Gail didn't want to be in the building if there was an HK drone strike. The building was a sitting duck.

"We're in good shape as long as no hostile HK drones approach." Gail said. "If we get word of any HK drones in the area, we need to get away from here fast."

Savannah knew Cameron wanted the future version of Skynet. She didn't know what she intended to do with it. They still needed to see if they could find out where it came from, and where it was headed to. Those were both future target locations.

"We need to secure the cargo if we can." Savannah said.

Savannah understood the importance of being able to dissect the version of Skynet they now possessed. She knew Cameron really wanted to do it.

Gail motioned for silence. She detected some sounds.

"There's someone at the west door." Gail said. "They are on the outside attempting to open it."

Savannah wanted to keep their exit open. It was also the most likely spot for Cameron, Cammy, and Cam to return to.

"I'll hold this door." Savannah said. "Move to a defensible firing position and cover the door. The booby trap should stop some of them. Make sure you have some cover. You are to remain as protected as possible at all times. I don't want you to sustain any unnecessary sheath damage."

Gail appreciated Savannah's concern for her. She already picked out a spot. She didn't intend to let anyone past her. She planned to protect Savannah at any cost.

"I can also cover the large door from the position over there as well." Gail said as she pointed.

Gail advanced with an HE round ready to go in the Thumper in one hand, and her M4 in her other hand.

Savannah watched her go. She wanted to reassure her about a couple of things.

"I'll hold here and watch your back." Savannah said. "I want you to remain protected."

Gail moved into position. Three seconds later there was an explosion.

Someone tripped the booby trap on the side door.

Gail was ready for the survivors to attempt to enter. She knew they wouldn't be survivors very long.

Cameron heard the explosion. She knew the Metal girls rigged some booby traps. It appeared some Grays just tripped one. She opened up on two of the Grays who were closest to her on the east side. They both went down. She wanted to make sure there were no surprises later on. She fired a second time into their fallen bodies, neither moved.

There was a second explosion. Cameron knew it was an HE round from Gail's M79. She was aware Cam and Cammy were out of the building now, so Savannah and Gail were alone. She didn't like it, but her hands were full right now.

She moved to intercept the other two Grays she spotted earlier. They were around the corner and out of sight. She could also hear gunfire now from the building the big truck was in. It meant Savannah and Gail were now fighting for their lives. The enemy was determined to enter the building. It seemed they wanted to get a hold of what was in the truck, rather than destroy it.

Cameron was about to come around the corner when a burst of gunfire hit the wall right in front of her. She dodged and fired at where she calculated the gunfire came from. She could also hear firing from where the other two Grays went. She hoped it was Cammy and Cam….

Seconds ago:

Cammy and Cam were out of the building. They went in search of targets. They found the two Grays on the south side. As soon as they heard the explosion, and Cameron firing on the east side, they opened up on them. Both targets went down. Cammy reloaded and fired into them again, no one moved.

It appeared to Cam as if both targets were neutralized.

"I don't think any were Terminators." Cam said.

Cammy was sure there were at least a couple of them out there.

"We need to check and be sure." Cammy said. "I don't like surprises."

They heard the location Cameron was in take new fire. It wasn't one of their weapons. Cameron must be under attack.

They could also hear Gail and Savannah firing at their location.

Cammy recognized it for the bad news it was.

"Damn." Cammy said. "Check the Grays and go help Cameron. I need to get back to Savannah."

Cammy knew there were three entrances to the building Savannah and Gail were in. Depending on the size of the attacking force, the girls may not be able to hold all three entrances.

She hoped Cam and Cameron would be OK on their end. She didn't think Savannah and Gail would be for much longer.

Cameron began to take fire now, a lot of it. There were at least three people firing at her. They were using some variant of an AK-47. The sound of it firing was distinctly different from their weapons. She also viewed it as an inferior weapon which lacked accuracy. By professionals it was viewed as a 'spray and pray' firearm. It was good for her right now. There was less chance of her being hit.

She was aware Cam and Cammy were on their way to assist her earlier. Now it was only Cam. She wanted to let her know what her current situation was and where the enemy was.

"I'm pinned down in back of a block wall on the East side." Cameron said. "The Grays are across from me."

Bob was in an SUV. They just entered the industrial tract. He viewed satellite images of the location where the girls were at. He knew the general layout, but not specifically where everyone was at. John Henry tried to clarify the girl's positions in relation to what he knew. He wanted Cameron to know they were going to assist her.

"We're approaching fast." Bob said. "We can hear you, but not see you yet."

Cam checked the two men they took down. Neither were Terminators. She was able to come up on the side of Cameron's current location. She wanted to make sure Cameron and Bob knew where she was at.

"I'm moving into a flanking position, Cameron." Cam said. "Bob should arrive on the other side behind them as well. Cammy has gone back to help Savannah and Gail."

Cameron could hear the firing intensifying where the big truck was parked. There was another explosion. It was a big one. It meant they were being breached in two locations, at least.

She was willing to take the heat herself right now. She wanted Bob to reinforce Savannah as soon as possible. Once he passed her position, he would be able to reach the building the girls were in in a matter of seconds.

"Bob, accelerate to full speed and drive past the targets Cam and I are engaging. Open up on them as you pass and proceed to the second building." Cameron said. "Savannah is under attack. Gail is with her. Cammy is headed there now. The enemy may already be inside of the building."

The SUV came around a corner. The enemy was spotted. The side windows were down as the speeding vehicle approached them.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "We have your targets in sight. There are three of them."

Cameron wanted to end the threat where they were. Bob's team would be able to reach Savannah's team before they could on foot anyway.

"Cam, when Bob opens up, we move. We don't stop until we finish it." Cameron said.

Cam could see the SUV moving fast.

"I'm ready." Cam said.

Cameron heard another explosion from the area where Savannah was at. There seemed to be even more gunfire now. It caused her a lot of worry.

She saw Bob's SUV approach and his team opened up on the targets engaging her as they sped by. She wanted them to hurry to the second building.

"Get to Savannah." Cameron said.

Seconds ago:

Savannah covered the rear door.

Gail engaged the attackers who attempted to breach the side door. She repulsed them with the Thumper and drove them back with her M4.

Savannah could hear the gunfire in the distance as Cameron, Cammy, and Cam entered the fight. She knew Bob's team was about to arrive. Cameron directed them to head for her position.

The large door was forced open. The second booby trap exploded. It was a big one.

Savannah immediately began to fire on targets which started to enter. She saw Gail was still tied up at the side door.

She hit one target several times with no apparent effect. It must be a Terminator. She flipped her selector to 'auto' and emptied her magazine into his legs. He went down. The Coltan rounds did their job. He would still be in the fight, but his mobility was severely hampered at this point. He was still a threat.

Savannah changed her magazine and hit the bolt release. No sooner than she finished, when there was movement behind her now at the rear door. She didn't think it was anyone from their team.

She rolled away from where she was and fired at the rear door. Bullets impacted where she was a second ago. She saw they were coming from the area of the large door and the rear door. They were about to get her position zeroed in. She was about to be in a crossfire directed at her.

Savannah drove back the attackers at the rear door. She armed a Thermite grenade, counted a few seconds, and threw it. She changed her position again. Bullets struck where she was a second ago. She knew the Terminator was still functional, even if disabled.

There was a fiery explosion and agonizing screams. The rear door was now quiet.

Savannah saw Gail pull her Glock as well. She was firing on targets at both the large door and side door.

She ran low and slid across the smooth cement of the building's floor. She skidded to a stop next to Gail. She knocked a pile of fired brass out of her way when she arrived. She could get a better shot at the large door from her new position. She could see the enemy was determined to enter the building. They were in danger of being overrun.

Cameron rose from her cover as Bob's team passed by. They did a 'drive by' on the attackers.

She could see Cam moving as well.

It was time for the cat to pounce….

Sheila and Ally were outside the building. There were four Grays in there looking for them and their now deceased comrades. They went to the wrong building. The Grays found a homeless female in there and took her captive. They planned to abuse her.

Ally and Sheila carefully entered the building through the window. They hoped to take a couple of the Grays alive. They needed some answers. They would try to free the female if they could.

"Let's see what you got, sweetheart." The first Gray said.

"Get your hands off of me." The female said.

There was a loud 'smack'.

"Shut up, Bitch." The first Gray said.

The female issued a series of cuss words.

There was another loud 'smack'.

"Let's bust her up." The fourth Gray said. "It's what I did to mouthy people before. She will listen better. I won't mind cutting her up when we're done with her. I'll do it before we kill her. She needs to be fully aware of who's in charge of the situation. It isn't her. It's us."

"I told you morons to quit fooling around." The third Gray said. "We need to search her first. We know our people are here. I want to find out where."

There was the sound of a struggle.

"Stop touching my breasts." The female said. "Get your hand away from there. There's nothing in there."

There was another loud 'smack'.

"It's called a search, Bitch." The first Gray said. "It's how we check to see what you have hidden."

"Homeless looking trash like her might have things hidden in a few places." The second Gray said. "We won't know until we check. She obviously knows more than she's let on."

"I'll find out soon enough in both of them." The fourth Gray said.

There was some laughter among the Grays.

"I can hardly wait." The first Gray said.

"Get in line." The fourth Gray said.

"Isn't it how it always is?" The second Gray asked.

"Stop copping a feel. Finish the search." The third Gray said. "See if there's anything hidden in her shoes."

The second Gray found something stuck in her shoe. It was a cell phone. He held it up.

"I found something." The second Gray said. "I knew this piece of trash was guilty."

"This Bitch has Davey's phone." The first Gray said.

"I told you it was the right building." The third Gray said.

"Make sure she's not the 'Metal Bitch'." The second Gray said.

"She's street trash. Look at her." The third Gray said. "The 'Metal Bitch' is a myth."

"Davey was my friend." The first Gray said. "I want some answers. You're going to give them to me, Bitch."

There was a loud 'smack'.

"Where did you get the phone, slut?" The first Gray asked. "Did you kill someone and take it from them? Where are your weapons at?"

There was sobbing from the female.

"I found it." The female said. "It was on the ground. I didn't hurt anyone. I'm the only one who always gets hurt."

"Where are the other men?" The third Gray asked.

"There were only those two men, the dead ones." The female sobbed. "I swear it."

There was a loud 'smack'.

"Who killed them?" The third Gray asked. "Was it a group of men?"

"I now you won't believe me. It was hard to believe myself, even when I saw it. A teenager killed them." The female sobbed. "She was really pretty and she was really strong. She tossed the men around like rag dolls. She threw one completely through a wall. She didn't even mess up her hair. I think she dropped the phone. I was scared of her. I stayed hidden."

"It's the 'Metal Bitch'." The second Gray said. "I told you so."

"We're all going to die." The fourth Gray said.

"Maybe she didn't drop it and this is a sucker play." The second Gray said.

"Let's grab this slut and go. I don't like where we are right now." The first Gray said.

"Everyone look around." The third Gray said. "Search around here again. We need to find our men. I think they're here somewhere. Even if the trashy slut didn't kill them, the other two men may have."

Ally and Sheila separated. They would try to take two of the Grays alive. They didn't care which two. They appeared to operate together and should know the same things.

"Let's just go, man." The first Gray said. "Let's kill this slut and make sure she's not the 'Metal Bitch'. She might be playing us right now."

"I'll kill her." The fourth Gray said. "She's street trash. Nobody will care. I can use the practice anyway. I haven't 'dusted' a broad in a while."

Sheila waited behind a burnt wall. A Gray was right on the other side. She watched his pistol come around the corner. She waited until his head started around, she grabbed his throat and squeezed. His pistol fell to the floor with a metallic sound. She flicked her wrist and snapped his neck. She laid his body around the corner.

"You're lucky." Sheila whispered to his corpse.

Ally was by the far side at this point. She knew the layout. She didn't spot the female earlier. She could hear a Gray near her. She paused and backed up. She moved into a closet without a door. She saw the pistol first. She knew the Gray was about to look in.

"Let's hear some reports." The third Gray said.

"There's nothing on the west side." The first Gray said.

"I haven't found anything on the east side." The fourth Gray said.

Ally reached out and snapped his neck. She drug him into the closet.

"You're lucky." Ally whispered.

Ally really wanted Sheila to question the fourth Gray because he sounded like he was a Scavenger at one point.

Sheila decided to use the second Gray's voice.

"It's cool in the front, but I need some help to move something." Sheila said in the second Gray's voice. "It's heavy."

"I'll watch the street trash." The third Gray said. "Go help him."

Ally moved back to where Sheila was at. They worked out a plan.

The Gray came around the corner and stopped in his tracks as he spotted Ally. It was clear the Gray knew who she was. He thought she looked beautiful. Just like the rumors said, and the slut confirmed.

Sheila was behind him at this point. She rabbit punched him and snapped his neck.

It was three Grays down and one the go. The last man was the leader of the group of Grays which arrived. He would have more answers than the rest of them anyway.

"You're lucky." Sheila whispered to the dead body.

She set the dead Gray down on the floor.

Ally and Sheila worked out another plan. They wanted it to look like they found something of importance.

"Are you kidding me?" Ally asked in the first Gray's voice.

"I don't believe this." Sheila said in the second Gray's voice. "The homeless Bitch did this."

"Bring the slut and come check this out." Ally said in the fourth Gray's voice. "I think she has some explaining to do about what we found."

"Now what is it?" The third Gray asked. "Do I have to do everything? I doubt you could even tell your head from your rear end in a dark room."

The third Gray walked around the corner with the female in tow. She was bound, gagged, and blindfolded. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Ally. He tried to bring his pistol up, but Sheila was behind him. She knocked it out of his hand and forced him to his knees.

There was a look of bewilderment in the third Gray's eyes. He knew it was his worst nightmare, especially since they didn't kill him right away. He knew he was in for a rough go.

"You're real." The third Gray said.

There was a look of astonishment on his face as Sheila choked him out.

Ally looked the female over. She didn't look hurt.

"Sit here." Ally said in the third Gray's voice.

She set the female down in a dusty chair.

Ally and Sheila went through the men's belongings. They collected their phones and took all the cash they carried. It was almost a thousand dollars.

The female was led to the front door. Ally opened it. She removed the girl's bonds.

"Hold out your right hand." Ally said in the third Gray's voice.

The female reluctantly held her hand out.

Ally placed the cash into it.

"Don't turn around." Ally said in the third Gray's voice.

Ally removed the blindfold.

The female looked at the cash in her hand.

"I don't agree with what those other men said." Ally said in the third Gray's voice. "I want you to take the money and go. Forget you were ever here. I'll tell them you escaped when I wasn't looking. I know what they do to females. I'm not going to watch it again. Try to restart your life if you can. Go home if you have a family. You need to help yourself. Go now. Go."

Ally took off the gag.

The female stood there for a few seconds. She started to walk out toward the street. She expected to be shot or something. She looked back once and nobody was there. She took off running and never looked back.

Sheila and Ally left with the leader of the Grays out the back.

They would take him to the other building for questioning.

Sheila looked forward to the process.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Pick One

The desire is to have many
Reality dictates otherwise
Which seems to be the root
For frustration and cries

Sometimes there must be a choice
It is not always easy to make
It soon becomes evident that some
Are little more than a fake

Often moments of greed
Blind what is the real goal
Events that soon follow
Don't leave anyone whole

Should one give or take
Few are on the same page
It seems the end result
Are grief, anger and rage

Some set out with no direction
They want to play games and have fun
Love finds a way to creep in
Forcing them to only pick one

Nobody