Chapter 603

Dust

The team at the Resistance base waited. They were unsure what would unfold. The operation could go in several directions. It was touch and go a little earlier.

A few of the Terminators stopped by the lab and were patched up. It was Cameron's orders they all be inspected when damage occurred. It was a suggestion from Savannah. Savannah didn't make it an 'order', but it was clear she wanted it done. Savannah wanted the Terminators to know everyone cared about them as individuals.

Vanna, Sarah, and Jesse were all ready and waiting. As the Terminators began to filter through, it became apparent there were some missing.

"Where's Cameron?" Vanna asked. "Where are Savannah and Cam at?"

Vanna wanted Cam back for inspection and repair. She knew she was damaged, even if wasn't very severe.

Jesse didn't see Gail either, but didn't mention it. She knew Gail was out because of Savannah. It seemed it was something which needed to play itself out.

Al could provide Vanna with an answer. He wanted to go on the operation with Cameron, but she wanted to keep things simple.

"They're still out. They're transporting something and setting up an ambush." Al said. "Cameron wanted minimal personnel involved. Savannah asked her to double the size of her initial force. Cam is with them."

Sarah didn't like Savannah out in the field still either. It seemed Savannah already saw enough combat for one day. She wondered how protected she was.

"How many are involved?" Sarah asked.

Al thought Cameron knew what she was doing. She always told them she did.

"There are six of them." Al said. "Cammy, Gail, and Bob are with them as well. They have drone support too."

Jesse was worried about all of them. It seemed like a small force. It sounded like the initial size of the force was very small. It made her wonder about the potential opposition. The battle they followed from the Command Center seemed rather extensive.

"Six, is double?" Jesse asked. "Do they even know what size force they might go up against?"

Five Terminators with Savannah sounded a little light to Jesse, especially after the engagement they were just in. Now she was even more worried about Gail.

Al only knew a few of the details. He was unable to provide an answer to Jesse's question. He provided her with the only response he could.

"Negative…." Al said and left.

Vanna was visibly upset. It appeared the team still out was in danger. Cam was among them. She was concerned about Savannah as well.

Jesse could see Vanna was as worried as she was. Both of their Metal lovers were still out in the field.

"Relax, love." Jesse said. "Savannah has three of 'Cameron' with her, as well as Gail and Bob. You know they'll all protect Savannah."

Vanna did know it. They all knew it. There were some other things which started to bother her. They were long range personal issues. She wasn't really sure if she should mention what troubled her or not. She knew Jesse would understand since she faced similar issues.

"It's just the idea…." Vanna said. "I have other troubles on my mind as well. Cameron's taking me for some medical exams to a specialist. It has me upset too. I don't think I want to 'try' anymore."

The grief caused by the repeated pregnancy terminations hurt Vanna deeply inside. It felt as if each new failure hurt her more. She knew the way it should work was every new step would be in a forward direction. It isn't the way events played out. It seemed every step was backwards, not forwards. So far all of the steps were backwards. Somehow it seemed to make things worse. It made her feel worse about everything.

Jesse understood Vanna's apprehension. She didn't see it in the same negative context as Vanna did. She didn't see it as a negative to the same extent anyway.

"Cameron has me scheduled as well." Jesse said. "I'll give it another go. What do we have to lose?"

It wasn't a physical issue to Vanna. It always seemed like more of an emotional one. The emotional ride was like a roller coaster. It wasn't a pleasant one either. It was the dashed hopes which went along with it. It was a reminder of what Skynet did to everyone.

"Our minds are what we have to lose." Vanna said.

Vanna already knew her body was worthless. She didn't need further confirmation. These attempts only seemed to confirm her mind was worthless as well. What fault was any of it of hers? She was in school one day and the entire world was ruined the next. Her parents were gone and she was all alone. It was hard enough to find anything to eat other than garbage. It was a big change from her previous lifestyle.

It wasn't much longer until she found out what she thought was bad, could get worse. It was when she was cornered by a male in an isolated area. As soon as she saw him block her escape route, she knew what was going to happen. The other females told her it already happened to them. The initial abuse was bad enough. She thought she was on fire. Then the other men started to arrive. She felt as if she was ripped to shreds. Everything went on for two days. She was sure she would never walk again.

Jesse could see the look on Vanna's face. She wasn't sure where she was at, but it wasn't a good place.

"Relax, love, we can find other things to pass the time if you want." Jesse said. "I feel the same way too, whatever it is. We can talk about it. I know. I know it all."

Vanna blinked her eyes several times. Jesse did know. It all happened to her too.

Cammy drove the box truck which contained the captured Skynet mainframe. Savannah sat next to her in the cab. Cameron was next to Savannah on the passenger's side. Bob, Cam, and Gail backed them up in a SUV. It was a small force for a high value load. With the ploy of the tracking device attached to a drone, they hoped to stay off everyone's radar.

Cameron hoped to accomplish a series of goals with the things she set into motion. So far it was a little quieter than she thought it would be. She figured there would be some type of shadow force following the trail the drone left as it posed as a truck containing the computer gear.

"John Henry, are there any takers?" Cameron asked. "I would've expected some contact by now."

John Henry sent four drones with Cameron's team. He thought they were covered fairly well. So far the drone with the tracker on it hadn't detected anything else either.

"I have three drones scouting the area and one following you." John Henry said. "Nothing out of the ordinary has been spotted. Everything is negative with the other drone."

Cameron was actually a little worried because of the lack of activity or contact. She wasn't sure if there was a Skynet Terminator concealed somewhere at the location they transferred the computer gear to the box truck they were in. It seemed as if there should be since only one was involved in the actual attack against them.

"We've already passed through two ambush sites." Cameron said. "I was sure we would have at least one hostile Terminator follow us."

John hoped the ploy they set up worked. It was the whole point of doing it in the first place. It was to take the heat off of Savannah and Cameron.

"Maybe they fell for the decoy with the drone and the tracking device they installed." John said. "Everything's been set up for the area it's going to."

John Henry checked over the progress and preparations. He felt they did an adequate job to propagate their ruse.

"The drone emulating a truck should arrive in thirty minutes." John Henry said. "How soon until you reach your destination?"

Cameron wasn't sure what her destination was going to be at this point. She hoped it wasn't to the scrap heap. Without contact with the enemy in some form, there were too many unknowns. She wouldn't go anywhere yet.

"I'll let you know." Cameron said.

Savannah could see Cameron's left hand started to glitch. She silently reached over and took it with her right hand. The glitch stopped. She gave Cameron's hand a gentle squeeze.

Cameron looked at Savannah. Savannah smiled at her. It was very reassuring to her. There was always one person she could count on.

Cammy glanced over. She felt a little jealous. She didn't need to be reminded she was just a 'placeholder'. She lowered her right hand off the steering wheel. She placed it next to Savannah's left hand. She didn't know if Savannah would take it or not.

Savannah felt Cammy's hand touch hers. She smiled at Cammy and took her hand as well.

They were all able to silently support each other and reassure each other this way. Words were unnecessary.

The ride was long and mostly boring. It seemed there were enough things for all of them to think about.

Savannah was tired, a lot happened so far today. It didn't seem like it would be over soon either. They battled HK Tracks and were in a shoot out. Everything seemed like it should be winding down. There was still a nagging feeling it wasn't. She hoped they got everything done without further incident. She felt both Cameron and Cammy gently squeeze both of her hands at the same time. She started to drift off. The 'woman' she loved, BOTH of 'her', sat next to her. There was one on each side. She knew both of them would scan her continuously as long as they held her hand. Her head bobbed a few times, her eyelids felt heavy….

"Cameron!" Savannah nearly shouted as she sat bolt upright.

Cameron and Cammy were both alert. They looked in all directions for danger. They wondered what happened and what they missed. Everything was almost peaceful for a short time. They were both very content scanning Savannah as slumber knocked at her door.

Savannah almost drifted off earlier. The relaxation allowed moments of forced thought to be replaced with subconscious thought. Something nagged at her since they left the location of the battle. It suddenly called out to her. It was something she discovered. It was something she was responsible for if anything went wrong.

"I'm worried about the device which located the tracker. It just came to me it may be a transmitter or receiver too." Savannah said. "Where is it?"

Cameron gave it to Cam earlier

"It's in the SUV Bob's driving." Cameron said.

Savannah looked around. She didn't see the SUV. It wasn't where it was earlier.

"Where are they?" Savannah asked. "They were in front of us."

Cameron looked in the side view mirror on her side of the box truck. The support SUV was right in back of them.

"They're behind us now." Cameron said. "Bob, are you getting this?"

Bob received all the transmissions.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "The device is shut off. Cam is holding it."

Savannah knew there were various degrees of 'off'. A phone was a perfect example. 'Off' didn't always mean a device wasn't capable of doing something else in the background. It could ping off of cell towers and reveal the general location of the individual in possession of it.

"It may be 'off' but it might still broadcast as well." Savannah said. "Or even be able to accept signals."

Cameron understood the full implications of her suggestion. Someone could be tracking them at this very moment. Everything they did to throw the enemy off may have been for nothing. The enemy might know exactly where they were at. They might still be waiting for them to arrive at a destination so they could mount an attack against it. The most likely destination the enemy would figure on would be their base.

"Have you detected anything, John Henry?" Cameron asked. "What Savannah pointed out could have some serious implications in a very negative way."

They started the operation with a five mile communications block. It disrupted a wide area, but it was done to protect their teams. John Henry immediately doubled the size of the jamming zone.

"No, I haven't detected anything. I've increased the jamming of all communications in a ten mile diameter of your position." John Henry said. "CamNet did the same thing. She increased the diameter to fifteen miles. We've double jammed everything."

They knew the equipment they captured also seemed to be able to get a signal out and call for help. It is where the force they faced earlier came from, and they knew where to go.

John understood the threat for what it was. They were complacent they pulled a fast one on Skynet. It may still be the other way around, as it was earlier. It reminded him of the time when they wanted to see what was on Vick's chip. He gave it a little too much 'juice' and it attempted to activate. Maybe what they faced right now was something very similar, even if it was different.

"Destroy the device." John said. "I'd suggest you use Thermite on it to destroy it completely. Do it now."

Cameron worried they were deceived. She wanted to be ready to act on a moment's notice.

"I want the four drones with us hot. Watch the sky as well." Cameron said. "I want to respond to any threat, before it becomes a threat to us."

John didn't want anyone to get 'trigger happy'.

"We also need to verify what we can, if there's time." John said.

Cam took immediate action. She understood the severity of the threat as well. They were most likely targets now.

"I've ripped it in half, Gail and I are crushing the pieces to dust as we speak." Cam said. "I suggest a route change."

Cameron hoped to get a clue as to how the device worked. Perhaps they could see more as it was destroyed.

"Did you see anything when you broke it in two?" Cameron asked.

Gail and Cam used their Terminator strength and speed to crush everything.

"No. It looked like an electrical device." Cam said. "Every component is crushed. It's all almost dust."

The teams decided to take evasive action. They figured they were all 'marked' at this point. They needed to figure their vehicles were clearly identified. If they were identified, it meant they were targets.

Cammy took a right turn. She went two streets over and turned right again. They were now headed back the direction they came from. She checked at the last ambush they ran through. It hadn't packed up yet. She suggested a plan to Cameron. It seemed like a good one.

Cameron was sure they were played at this point.

"We're headed back toward the last ambush site from the opposite direction this time. Have them ready and in place." Cameron said. "There should be a Terminator trying to track us. If they tracked us with the device, I think it may be why they haven't shown themselves."

With the increased jamming zone, John Henry was able to identify a potential threat. With their current actions, it seemed very credible.

"I've detected there are three vehicles which have been playing 'leap frog'. They've slowly gained on your position." John Henry said. "They've now all stopped."

Cameron saw an opportunity.

"I think it's time we act." Cameron said.

Savannah knew Cameron's first instinct would be to hit hard and use every weapon at her disposal. The drones could do it right now. She thought some caution was in order. They didn't need a string of destroyed vehicles pointing in the direction they were going.

"We're still in the city." Savannah said. "We need to take each of the vehicles one at a time. We shouldn't use the drones unless it's an emergency. I think it will cause greater deception and confusion if the vehicles are dealt with separately without the others knowing what happened. They will just disappear, one by one."

Cameron believed using all the tools at her disposal was the best choice. Then again, she didn't want to create an 'incident' which would get authorities involved. It would be more work for her to 'fix' later. She already seemed to have enough 'fixing' to do. There was an elaborate 'fix' set up for the previous action they just left. She knew she needed to listen to Savannah's advice. There were other ways than pure brute force to deal with the enemy.

John much preferred Savannah's plan over Cameron's. He thought it would be best if those in the field made the call. They were the ones most likely to be affected one way or another.

John Henry watched the enemy vehicles split up as they began to search for the Resistance team. The current action seemed to indicate the destruction of the Skynet device prevented the Grays from tracking the team. It probably wouldn't take them too long to figure out the device was destroyed.

"The three vehicles have split up. There's a white van, a black SUV, and a silver sedan." John Henry said. "One is headed the way they were traveling. The other two have taken off to the sides, one to the east and another to the west. They suspect our team may be doing exactly what it is doing now."

It was clear the vehicles were searching for them. They may not think they were headed back the direction they came from at first. With John Henry's jamming field in place, they wouldn't be able to communicate or coordinate their efforts except for face to face talking. They would need to schedule some type of rendezvous point and time to remain in contact with each other.

Cameron wanted to stay away from them. If they remained split up, they could take the vehicles out one by one. It was exactly what Savannah suggested. It seemed the enemy's behavior would play into their plan. They may have a predetermined meeting area too. It appeared for right now, they outmaneuvered the enemy.

"Keep a drone on each of them." Cameron said. "They're all headed away from us now."

Savannah was worried they were in marked vehicles. There could be enemy air activity as well. It seemed they were still in the hot seat. She didn't want them to get target fixation on the ground and miss something in the sky.

"If they have HK drones, they'll be coming soon to search for us." Savannah said. "If we were observed at the location where the attack went down, they have a description of these vehicles."

John thought the best thing for the team was to find overhead cover.

"Maybe you should head for a freeway underpass and wait there. They won't be able to detect you there as easily." John said. "Or maybe wait in another abandoned building for a while."

Cameron didn't want to run or hide from danger or any 'threat'. She wanted to draw them out and terminate them. She wanted a body count. The enemy tracked them to find them. She wanted to make sure they did find her. Now it was personal.

"I want to take down the three vehicles pursuing us." Cameron said.

John reflected Savannah's earlier warning. They needed to use moderation unless it was an emergency.

"I don't want to use the drones in the city." John said. "Unless we HAVE to…."

Cameron wanted to make it personal since they tried to dupe her. She wanted to make sure the Command Center understood exactly what her position was.

"No, I want to take them myself, one at a time." Cameron said.

John didn't want to endanger Savannah further. He thought he would word his question carefully. He wanted it to have a double meaning. Not only was it the computer gear, it was Savannah.

"What about your 'cargo'?" John asked. "I mean all of it."

Cameron heard John's question. She glanced over at Savannah.

"Everything is under control." Cameron said.

John Henry noted an additional threat now. It was a threat identified before.

"The last ambush has identified another white van identical to the others we've encountered." John Henry said. "It's the fourth vehicle identified so far."

Cameron was concerned with the newest threat. She looked over at Savannah. She didn't like the new threat. It seemed there would be additional ones at this point.

"Have the ambush take it down." Cameron said. "Be alert for any Terminators. I don't want things to get away from us."

John Henry was sure Cameron's response was because of John's question about the 'cargo'.

"Roger." John Henry said.

Cameron wanted to thin the enemy herd. She didn't like being tracked.

"I want to go on the offensive." Cameron said. "I don't like being the mouse."

Cammy didn't want to play around. She knew it would take longer since Cameron wanted to make it personal. She just wanted the threat ended.

"Then let's go after one of the vehicles and send the ambush after another one when they finish up with the van." Cammy said. "It will leave only one we haven't engaged."

Savannah wanted to remind them the threats on the ground weren't the only threat.

"We still need to watch for HK drones and keep track of the other van which continued in our original direction." Savannah said.

John Henry watched the drone footage of the other white van as it was stopped and the threat eliminated. It happened very swiftly.

"The ambush team has staged a 'traffic accident' and the second van has been neutralized. There were four Grays in it. All of them were terminated." John Henry said. "They've stashed the van and will reset the ambush."

Cameron could see it was better to make things happen now.

"Have the ambush team go after the vehicle which went to the west." Cameron said. "If there is still no HK drone activity, we're going after the vehicle which went to the east."

John Henry set things in motion. He wanted to make sure they knew who their target was.

"No HK drones have been detected." John Henry reported. "You'll be tracking a black SUV, they've returned to the direction you were originally headed. The ambush crew is after the silver sedan to the west."

Cameron knew there would be one additional threat.

"It leaves the white van on our original route." Cameron said.

John Henry would send the information to their phones.

"Everything is covered. I have a drone tracking each of the vehicles. I'm sending you drone images and locations." John Henry said. "Unless someone gets out of a vehicle, they aren't going anywhere."

Cameron was more than happy to go on the offensive.

"We're on it. Keep us posted on hostile drones and the other white van." Cameron said. "We're closing in on our target."

Cameron wanted to end the known threat of Grays. She didn't want to wait till there was too big of an accumulation of them. She wouldn't hesitate to call for a drone strike if there was. The 'cargo' she carried was very precious to her. She looked over at Savannah and smiled again. Savannah gently squeezed her hand and smiled back.

Sheila previously removed her clothes because it was going to be an extended 'interview'. It meant it would be messy. She didn't want to take the same route she did with future Scavengers. They were on a Resistance operation currently. They needed to respect the General's wishes. If she felt she was onto something valuable, she would do what she needed to do to get answers.

Ally gave the Gray the option to end things swiftly if he cooperated. It didn't appear to be the case. She shrugged her shoulders and looked at Sheila.

"I tried. He's all yours." Ally said to Sheila. "I attempted to show a little humanity. Now he gets to face a little insanity."

Sheila didn't really care for the last part of Ally's statement.

"Some blokes are just slow learners." Sheila said. "Those are the ones I like to work on."

She laughed as she approached the Gray.

"I'll scan him while you question him." Ally said. "I'll let you know every time he lies."

Sheila began to ask questions. She started with her fist. She could hear ribs break with every blow. It appeared the Gray was going to tough it out.

She was dissatisfied with his answers so far. It was time to step things up. She hit him harder. The Gray screamed and issued threats and curses.

"You can say 'goodbye' soon, love." Sheila said.

The Gray blacked out.

"I'm not sure this Gray knows very much." Ally said.

Sheila didn't think he did either.

"I just want a location." Sheila said.

The Gray began to come around. He was in agony.

Ally hoped to speed things up.

"It will only get worse from here." Ally said. "I'll end it swiftly. I'm sure you know by now she's unstable. Look at her. Would any normal person do what she's doing, let alone a cyborg?"

Sheila laughed.

"Just wait until I start to use my knife." Sheila said. "It turns into a real bloodbath. It's why I took my clothes off. I don't want them ruined. There's a lot of blood spray when some things are traumatically amputated. I think you know where such an event will occur first."

To make her point, she took it out and showed it to the Gray. It looked like there were a few small spots of dried blood on it.

The Gray swallowed hard when he saw it.

Ally slowly moved her head from side to side in disgust.

"She actually likes doing this to people." Ally said. "It gets her off. You can tell when you look at her eyes."

Sheila moved closer to the Gray.

The Gray looked over to Ally.

Ally touched the back of the Gray's neck.

"Tell us what we need to know. I'll make it swift." Ally said. "You don't need to suffer."

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Sand In The Wind

The relentless hot blistering sun beats down
Baking the dry thirsty dirt till it cracks
The weight of daily life is a heavy burden
Upon the heart, mind and soul it attacks

Alone in the endless wilderness is deadly
A horse is led to water but does not drink
The seeing are blind, the hearing are deaf
The intelligent are unable to clearly think

Those that are not nurtured, watered or fed
Grow weary and weak are soon left for dead
Confusion and anxiety fills the mind and head
The writing is on the wall, even if it's unsaid

They grovel with uncertainty and fear
Hope, beauty and joy they rescind
Their house of cards collapses into dust
Love and caring fade away, like sand in the wind

Nobody