Chapter 628

Recovery

Savannah, Cameron, Cammy, and Tom were in a 'fix'. Their world was about to collapse and crush them. They were inside a passageway in a mine. The way out was blocked and there was nowhere to go.

It was clear the area around them was about to collapse or cave-in. There was no other place they could go to at this point. The trestle they crossed earlier was down. They were trapped where they were. There was no way out.

Cameron quickly assessed the situation. She made thousands of calculations in a fraction of a second. She played out every scenario. She determined there was only one survivable option available to them. It stood a less than forty percent chance of success. There was no other choice.

"Tom, Cammy, grab some oxygen tanks and get inside the tube. Get inside of the pipe NOW." Cameron shouted.

Cameron grabbed a couple of air tanks too as she ushered Savannah in front of her. Tom and Cammy were already inside. Cammy pulled Savannah in. Cameron was right behind her.

Dirt and rocks fell all around the area. The rocks could be heard to hit the steel tube with ringing and clanging sounds. Savannah needed to hold her ears. It was like being inside of a drum someone beat on.

There was a terrible rumbling and crashing sound around them. The tube shook like an earthquake. The external noises changed. It probably meant they were completely buried now.

The tube was thirty feet long. It consisted of three sections. Tom and Cammy moved up to the two joints and tried to stabilize the sections. There was nothing but smooth steel to hang on to. The sections of pipe were only forced together with a press fit. It wasn't a permanent bond. They could split apart at any second which would allow dirt to fill the tube. They would be encased in dirt inside of the tube if it did. They would be unable to move.

After about thirty seconds the shaking and noise stopped.

Cameron used her body, which was about three feet inside of the tube to keep any more dirt from entering from her side. The tube was filled with dust and smoke. There was dirt now packed at both ends. They were trapped and buried.

Savannah still carried her lantern. The dust and smoke hung heavy in the air inside the tube. They managed to grab six oxygen bottles for her, plus the one she currently used. Cammy changed it not long ago for her. She knew it was how long her life would last…. It would be seven small tanks of air long. With dirt at each end of the tube There would be no more outside air admitted. Even the dust and smoke filled air would be welcome at this point. It was only a matter of time until it was over.

All of them knew they were in a perilous place.

In the gloom of the circular tomb, they all understood it was how long Savannah's life would last. Then again, if there was additional movement, the tubes could separate and hasten the end. The dirt and rocks could rush in and separate them.

Bob and his team searched for the attackers. One of their drones was able to get them zeroed. It fired a missile and two bodies could be seen to fly into the air from the explosion. One got back up. It was a Terminator.

A second one of their drones opened up with the minigun and the Terminator fell. He's still thrashed around on the ground. The drone fired a sustained burst into him. He no longer moved.

Bob looked back at the area where they were before. The bulldozer was gone. It must be buried. There were now tons of earth and rock many feet deep where they were working. The attack induced landslide was much more severe in the extent of damage it did.

The 'skip-loader' was on its side, but not completely buried. The landslide of earth made its own path and moved things out of its way or buried them.

Bob called for four Terminators to help him. They got the 'skip-loader' back on its wheels. Mel climbed up and started it. It was still functional. He immediately started moving earth where the bulldozer was last seen. It looked like it was going to take awhile. They needed more heavy equipment now. What they did before, was nothing to what they faced now. It was doubtful the tube was still in place where it previously was. It most likely would have separated into sections. Each one of them would have filled with earth and rocks.

The fact the Grays knew their position would add to the urgency. They were under constant threat of HK drone attacks now. They knew the HK drone at altitude would have transmitted what it spotted and found before Gail flamed it. The first landslide would have covered exactly what they were doing. It would still show a force of them on the side of the hill doing something. The only logical choice would be to attempt to enter the mine from a different side since the main entrance was purposely blown closed to seal it.

The Terminators all went back to work. Their weapons were always next to them. The task at hand was monumental if they were to get back to the same point they were at when the first landslide occurred.

John and John Henry coordinated all their forces and drones. Gail was still in pursuit of the chopper with one of their drones. The drone was there to act as a sacrificial lamb if any type of missile, like a SAM or AAM, was fired at the closest target.

Gail stayed on the six of the Iroquois. She didn't like the terrain where they were headed. It seemed like a set up to her. It was most likely a prearranged defensive measure the Grays put into play. It was a method the Resistance often used on operations too. She believed the enemy should be taken down once she obtained a clear shot. They would most likely suspect they were being tailed by a drone.

"The helicopter is flying up a narrow canyon. I have a clear shot." Gail said. "I don't want to wait. They may be leading me into an ambush."

John didn't want to lose anyone else today. The newest attack on Cameron and Savannah angered him. He was done waiting. He wanted someone to 'pay' for what was just done.

"If the area below the target is clear, you may proceed with the interdiction." John said. "Flame it."

There was no hesitation on Gail's part. She chose to keep some distance and not move into gun range. It would have been her choice under normal circumstances. She would prefer to make the termination personal. She didn't want the drone below her to face any unnecessary risk.

The manned drone fired an air to air missile.

"One missile is away." Gail reported. "The target's been hit, scratch one."

Gail watched as the Iroquois was struck with the missile. The main rotor sheared off. The burning fuselage impacted the ground and turned into a fireball. It flipped end over end once. The entire tail housing from the main cockpit area broke off. The flaming wreck rolled over several times before it abruptly stopped. It continued to burn. She thought she spotted some movement inside of the wreckage for a few moments. Nothing emerged from the flaming wreck. It continued to burn.

John wanted blood. He also wanted to make sure there were no survivors.

"Hit it again." John said. "You can return to the rescue operation. Thank you, Gail."

The manned drone fired an air to surface missile at the burning wreckage of the UH-1.

Gail watched the second missile track and explode on target. There was a secondary explosion a few seconds later. It was probably from some type of munitions the Grays carried with them.

"The target's been struck a second time." Gail reported. "There was one more explosion a short time later. There is nothing but burning debris."

John Henry thought about the secondary explosion after the UH-1 was hit with an air to ground missile. Maybe they read everything wrong.

"It's possible what we just witnessed was not an attack force as far as the two vehicles and helicopter went." John Henry said. "It may have been a rescue force. The HK drones may have been to protect them."

John could see it was a possibility. He thought about the attack on the hillside which disrupted the rescue operation.

"We don't know what it was." John said. "It was the enemy. The Grays got what they deserved."

John Henry didn't disagree they were the enemy. He wasn't sure if they were actually all Grays. They encountered other groups of unknowing individuals who were paid by Skynet forces to work with them and do things for them. They were collaborators by definition, even if they didn't know they were collaborating. The episode with John in the back of the truck with the Coltan ingots was proof of how extensive the use of unwitting individuals was. Everyone associated with the Terminator identified as 'Carter' was hired help. None of them knew what was going on.

He could see John was very upset right now. It didn't seem like a good time to bring up the issue. On some of the operations they conducted, he believed the current one was one of them, there were actually non Grays involved. If they did the enemy's bidding, at some point most of them would see they were working with things not available in the present. He doubted any of them would be allowed to walk away if they chose to end their employment. They most likely would end up in a shallow grave. He focused on the rescue operation. It was what mattered.

The Command Center received 'night vision' images and thermal images of the rescue area. It appeared to be obliterated. Everything there before was gone or different now.

John was very discouraged by what he viewed.

"Bob, what's your report? Is there anything left? From what we can see from the drone footage, it looks like a total disaster." John said. "What equipment is left?"

Bob looked at the area where they just cleared it out and set it up. There were tons of dirt and rock there now. There was no way to sugarcoat the results of the natural landslide and the even bigger induced landslide after the attack.

"It is a disaster. A large amount of dirt has covered our excavation area." Bob said. "It will take a long time to get back to where we were."

John could only see the front end loader moving. He couldn't make out where the bulldozer was at. He checked several times.

"Where's the bulldozer?" John asked.

Bob looked over at the mass of dirt and rocks.

"It's gone." Bob said.

"Where did it go?" John asked.

"It's just gone." Bob said.

John wondered if it was pushed off into the gully and buried. Now he questioned his limit of only ten Terminators in the rescue zone. They would need additional security. Al, Ed, and Frank were there now. They could take up security duty. He was unsure of their status.

"If they're all still functional, you have three more Terminators for security." John Henry said. "You will probably be able to get a more accurate account as to their current condition."

Al, Ed, and Frank already told Bob they were now part of the rescue effort and were already digging with hand tools in the area where the metal pipe should be at.

"They're all fully operational. They've asked to be part of the recov… rescue operation instead of security." Bob said. "I understand their position. They're very concerned about their fellow teammates. They expressed extreme doubt about the interior of the mine and the passageway they were in after the attack. It's their opinion the interior of the mine probably collapsed with the latest attack and landslide. They want to find the steel tubing to see if they can re-enter the mine and determine its condition."

John noted Bob almost said recovery operation instead of rescue operation. Maybe he needed to think about the concept some. The concern of the three Terminators who were inside of the mine was noted. They knew better than anyone what the condition of the interior was. The entire inside of the mine could be collapsed now. There may only be crushed and buried bodies inside. He didn't want to address such a negative possibility yet. He could see Al, Ed, and Frank wanted to get their teammates out.

"It's fine." John said. "I do understand. It is very personal to them."

John knew how they must feel. He knew they were machines. He also knew their programming expanded as it was designed to do. Nothing was a simple task anymore. There was always additional thought which went with it. He didn't believe they could feel the same as a human could feel, but he did believe they could feel. They were out and free, and the girls and Tom were trapped with their fate unknown. He wished he was there with them. He knew now if he was, the rescue operation would stop to make sure he was protected from the new Skynet related threat. It would make no sense to have half of the rescue force tied up watching over him when they could be working.

John Henry didn't waste any time searching for replacement equipment. CamNet provided him with a list of equipment for twenty miles around in every direction. He already established a selection of priorities from it. They needed to move a lot of dirt and rock fast.

"The Blackhawk has been sent to acquire more equipment." John Henry said.

Bob stood and looked at the area where the steel pipe was at. The new dirt and rocks all slid down from the side of the mountain. They might catch a lucky break. He wanted John to know there was hope.

"We need to be careful not to disrupt the steel pipes we have in place. They were in solid dirt." Bob said. "They may only be buried and not have moved around…."

Everyone knew if the tubes were moved or crushed, it was no longer a rescue mission but a recovery mission.

Young Allison watched as everything fell apart. Her heart broke and sank. She needed to do more. She needed to go there. She needed to be there. She was very upset when first contact was made because Savannah wasn't able to come out. She knew Savannah went after Cameron, when Cameron went to conduct a dangerous mission. Cammy went after Savannah when she didn't return with Cameron. She figured Tom was helping one of them, if not all three of them. It didn't really matter, all four of them were stuck inside of the mine before the latest disaster. No. There were two disasters. She was very pleased the two vehicles, helicopter, three HK drones, and the Terminator, or Terminators who fired the rockets were all dealt with. They were the enemy. It was how she intended to deal with them herself. The enemy wasn't the issue right now.

She was aware the pipe could be smashed or crushed. It may still have an opening. She was smaller than the Terminators who were there. She might be able to move through close quarters and tight places easier. It was a risk she was willing to take. She didn't know how best to approach it. She didn't want to issue 'orders' to make it happen. It was something she wanted to do voluntarily and have everyone support it, not fight it.

"They may need a smaller body to get into the mine." Young Allison said. "I want you to take me there. I volunteer. I'll do it."

Unbeknownst to Young Allison and Anna, CamNet immediately notified John Henry of the latest development. It was an option to help Cameron and Savannah. John Henry acknowledged the information and indicated the option shouldn't be used yet. He felt they needed to find the steel tubing and assess the condition of it first.

Anna could only picture Young Allison entering the mine and never returning. They could lose Cameron, Savannah, and Young Allison. It was an unacceptable risk. What if she found Cameron and Savannah mangled or terminated?

"I can't allow it." Anna said. "You're not prepared for this. It's all outside the scope of your training and responsibility."

Young Allison wanted a better answer than what she just heard. What was all of her training for if she couldn't use it? If they wanted to play 'hard ball' she was in. They could take her to the past for five years for more training, and return her back to now. How much training did she need to have to help? She felt it was her responsibility. It was her responsibility to protect the 'Natural Order'. Half of it was currently in jeopardy. She needed to do something about it herself.

"I was pretty prepared earlier today. I brought down a Terminator didn't I? THIS is what you ALL have trained me for my entire known life." Young Allison said. "Then let's go to Cameron's TDE and get me READY. I can be 'ready' and at the site in a few hours. I can get all the training in the world and come back to this point in time to use it. I don't care how long it takes while I'm there to do it."

Anna saw it as a workable solution. She didn't want to risk Young Allison's life.

"No." Anna said. "I need Cameron's permission to do it."

Young Allison was angry. What kind of an answer was that? The premise was ridiculous.

"How's it going to happen?" Young Allison asked. "She's trapped. I've got to get her out. I need to help them. Can't you see this?"

Anna was out of excuses. She figured one person could stop Young Allison, maybe.

"I must ask your mother." Anna said.

Young Allison slammed her hand down on the table. What was wrong with these people? They needed to act and act NOW.

"YOU are 'Cameron' AND 'Savannah'." Young Allison said. "What do THEY want? RIGHT NOW, what do they want?"

Young Allison became more and more infuriated.

She was supposed to have the ability to 'order' the machines. Is it what it was going to take? Maybe it was time to push her agenda instead of following the one laid out by everyone else. She mattered too, but Cameron and Savannah mattered more.

Frank, Ed, and Al were all on top of where the tube previously was. There was fifteen feet of loose dirt on top of the area now. It was tons of dirt and rock.

They frantically tried to dig a hole straight down. The loose earth would collapse into the hole almost as fast as they moved it. They made some headway but they managed to clear a depth of only one foot down. They wanted to see if the tube was still there and in the same place. They just wanted to know if the tube was even still there. It was the only way into the mine. If the tube was damaged or gone, those inside we're going to be in trouble, especially Savannah.

Cammy climbed back over Savannah and braced her body against the tube. Cameron put her back to Cammy's back. She used her feet to push and compact the earth which spilled inside the end of the tube during the cave-in.

Cameron was able to compact the dirt to the end of the tube but no further. She hoped to prevent any more from entering the tube. It was very solid now.

Tom worked at the other end to see what was there. Dirt spilled in and was half way down the first pipe. It sloped up to a solid mass at the end.

Cameron came up to Savannah's face mask. She needed to say something. She needed to make Savannah know it wasn't over.

"We're all getting out of here, Savannah." Cameron said. "I promise."

Savannah knew Cameron, Cammy, and Tom were all going to stress out over her. It was what it was. There was nothing anyone could do right now. She would try to put her best face on it. She would need to help them, more than they would need to help her. She knew her life would last as long as the seven small tanks of air would provide. There was no way around it. There was no one to yell at. There was nothing to cry about. It was a fact which couldn't be changed. What could she do about it? What could anyone do about it? She knew it was over for her. She didn't want the Terminators to worry about her. They couldn't change anything either.

"I know we will, Cameron." Savannah said. "You're invincible. You're eternal."

Savannah knew Cameron was. She also knew she herself wasn't.

Cameron smiled at Savannah and moved forward.

She climbed past Tom to the end of dirt in the pipe.

Cameron knew they could start moving the dirt to the other end of the tube but more would collapse inside in its place. She didn't know how deep they were buried but she figured it was extensive. There was no way to support anything they tried to dig out from collapsing. She needed to communicate with the outside world. She needed to let them know Savannah's life was on a timer. The team on the outside didn't have any idea they were in the steel tubing. Most likely they would figure they were still inside of the mine.

"Savannah, open your mouth and plug your ears." Cameron shouted from the far end of the tube. "You're going to feel a concussive effect from five fired bullets in the confined space we're in."

Cameron pulled her Glock and fired five rounds into the dirt.

Boom - - Boom - - - - - Boom - Boom - Boom

The noise was deafening and reverberated through the confined space.

Cameron hoped someone would hear it at some point. She hoped it was soon. Based on the fact they didn't feel any vibrations or hear anything, it wasn't a good sign. There was no indication anyone was actually looking for them.

As far as they knew they could still be fighting a battle. It could have moved to the other side of the hill. It could be back on the road. She hadn't detected the attack was still in progress. She didn't want to think of the possibility their group could have been overrun and terminated. As unlikely as it seemed, it was still something which could occur.

Tom was instructed to repeat the pattern every twenty minutes. He was to do it exactly the same way. Savannah was to be given a warning first.

Cameron and Cammy both came back to where Savannah was.

Cammy recently hooked Savannah up with a new air bottle. She checked to make sure everything was good.

Savannah held out her arms. Cameron and Cammy came close and the three girls huddled together in the cramped space. She looked Cammy and Cameron in the face. She didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. Her love for them said it all. She then turned out the light. They were in absolute darkness and silence.

The two women Savannah loved both held her.

Savannah wondered how long was left for her….

It gave her a lot to think about. Was this really how she would go out? Was she going to die from the thing there was the most of on Earth? What could be simpler than air? She faced all types of danger. She was seconds away from being vaporized by a nuclear bomb. She battled scary robots from the future. It all came down to this. She was going to run out of air to breathe, air of all things. Who dies like that?

Anna wanted to talk Young Allison down. She knew where the conversation was headed. Young Allison would start to issue 'orders' to try and 'fix' things. Maybe some things were unfixable. She didn't think anything needed to be 'fixed' yet.

"The TDE mission is unnecessary at this time." Anna said. "You're nearly the same size as Cameron is right now. There are Terminators her size. It would serve no purpose."

Young Allison wanted to make her point. She felt she just did it. It was what she said all along. She was needed there now, just like she was.

"Then I'll go now." Young Allison said.

CamNet didn't want Young Allison to be terminated along with Cameron and Savannah if there was another attack. Ally and Sheila both offered to go to the rescue zone multiple times. She took Young Allison's request as a suggestion. She wanted Anna to make Young Allison understand.

"Cam, Ally, and Sheila are on the way." Anna said. "Sheila is the smallest of the Terminators we have. She already volunteered to go and assist. She was prevented before by John's rule that only ten Terminators could be at the rescue site."

Young Allison wanted to go there. She wanted to help. She was aware all the Terminators could do a much better job than she could. It wasn't the point. She wanted to help. It was all personal to her.

"I don't like it." Young Allison said.

Anna wanted Young Allison to think about everything. John wanted to be there too. It would only tie up more resources. If Young Allison went, it would do the same thing. Nothing in life was easy. Everything was in a state of flux.

"There will be many things you won't like dealing with in the future." Anna said. "Not all of them will be fixable. When Judgment Day comes there will be no power. Radiation levels will be high. There won't be any clean water, let alone running water. Hot running water will literally become a thing of the past."

Young Allison frowned. She knew what Anna meant, but what she wanted was different. None of it was her fault. She was the one who was supposed to stop it.

"Then we have to work harder to prevent it." Young Allison said.

Anna didn't want Young Allison to act on impulse or emotion. She already called John several times to 'talk him down'. Now she was caught up in it all.

"You must learn to conduct an operation with a level head and sound mind. Sometimes there will be losses." Anna said. "It's inevitable. It's how it's been since the beginning of time. It's how it will be in the present and the future."

Young Allison returned to the monitors.

She wanted to make things clear. It was all a matter of perspective.

"If we're not part of the solution, we're part of the problem." Young Allison said.

Young Allison kept it to herself. If Savannah and Cameron were terminated, she was going back for them herself. She would do it as soon as she was able to have the opportunity and access to a TDE. It didn't matter if it was ten hours or ten years from now. It was going to happen. Nobody was going to take her future from her - NOBODY.

Anna looked over at Young Allison. She knew Young Allison wasn't going to drop it. It was clear to her Young Allison calculated on what she could do and when to 'fix' it.

Young Allison wasn't going to let things stand. Not like this. She glanced up at the security camera. She saw the light blink twice. She nodded slightly. She knew she could count on a very powerful ally.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Remain

My mind has failed
Nothing can protect me
Shattered I have wailed
For any who care to see

Time splits a giant rock
Into tiny grains of sand
Thoughts from my mind to yours
I want you to understand

Much is being said
Without specifically being said
I have much to say
I am afraid where to tread

I have always been afraid
I don't know if you understood
It should be a good thing
Like things for everyone should

You can feel my emotions
I paint them in your brain
When all else has crumbled
As always, I still remain

Nobody