Chapter 633

She Is Not Joking

Cameron's team wondered what happened to the Grays. They hadn't arrived where they expected them to. Bob and Frank both moved up their teams to reinforce Cameron's team.

Gail was at altitude in the manned drone as she gave them her report. She filled Cameron's team in as to what happened when the van stopped. Two men exited from it. Both of them wore protective suits. The van immediately turned around and left.

The van which left was a loose end Cameron wanted dealt with. She also wanted to wrap things up.

"Bob, follow the van." Cameron said. "You can 'leap-frog' with Frank so the same vehicle isn't behind him all the time. If he runs, stop him and question him Terminator style. I want some answers."

Bob wanted a few answers himself. He was displeased with the events which occurred earlier. He wouldn't mind getting a little payback in return.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

The two SUVs of male Terminators moved out off to the east side of the dirt road. They passed around Cameron's team.

Cameron needed to protect both groups. She needed to make a choice for Gail's protection with the manned drone. She glanced back at Savannah.

Savannah understood why Cameron looked back at her. There needed to be a choice made about the protection of the two vehicles with male Terminators in them. They would be out on the road being led to who knows where.

"If it's possible, we need to see where the van ends up at." Savannah said. "We don't know if it's where it originated from. It will still be a location we will need to investigate further. We want to make sure the boys don't run into any trouble out on the road. We don't know what else is inside of the van either. They probably can use a little extra protection."

Cammy frowned at Cameron. It meant they would lose the extra protection from the other Terminators as well as the manned drone. She wasn't sure if it was actually Savannah's decision, or the decision Savannah knew Cameron wanted her to make.

Cameron didn't care for the way Cammy looked at her. Savannah understood the importance of everything. It wasn't about her, or even them. It was about getting the job done. She believed following the large van was actually more risky than what they were about to face.

"Gail, I want you to spot for Bob's group. Watch for any ambush or HK drones. I want to make sure they're not being set up." Cameron said. "We'll call you if we need you."

Savannah was aware Cameron just sent all their help away. She thought their team faced a lower risk. They were still in close proximity to the mine. She didn't want Cameron to attempt to re-enter it. She didn't want to say anything about it right now to Cameron in front of the others. It might cause Cameron to glitch. The risk was low for now. If it picked up, she would say something.

Gail wanted to protect Savannah. She also needed to be a team player. It was clear those following the van would face more threats out on the road than the opening the two Grays went into with the protective suits on.

"Affirmative…." Gail said. "I'll be close."

Ally's team moved up to the location the Grays were let off at.

"We're at the spot Gail told us about." Ally said. "There's nothing here."

Cameron was aware the other location where Grays were let off at was also hard to locate. It appeared they were both well camouflaged. She wanted to take a closer look herself. In her recent visit to her future, she found several entrances to Skynet locations to be well camouflage as well. Some of them looked exactly like the rock which surrounded them.

"It's there somewhere." Cameron said. "I'm driving up there."

Cameron started the SUV and drove up to the location Gail indicated.

Ally tried to make light of the situation.

"Thanks a lot." Ally said. "You made us walk up here for nothing. Don't tell us the exercise was good for us either."

Savannah found Ally's statement amusing. Terminators didn't need exercise. They were machines.

Cameron reminded them they complained about how they looked from being inside the mine. She knew there wasn't much they could do about it right now.

"You volunteered." Cameron said. "You thought we looked too dirty."

Ally continued to play it up. She always liked to get a dig in on Sheila whenever she could.

"When it comes to dirty, I think Sheila has it covered." Ally said.

Sheila tried to act a little offended. She wasn't.

"Some of us have what it takes, some of us don't." Sheila said. "Like I always said, if you've got it, flaunt it. It's what I do. I'm not a wannabe like some of you are."

Sheila looked at Ally and smiled.

Ally didn't like the insinuation.

"Crazy is, as crazy does." Ally said. "It's not something anyone normal would wannabe."

Savannah knew the banter was all in good nature, even if sometimes it seemed to hit a little low.

Cameron tried to ignore it. If it continued, she would say something to keep everyone in line.

Cammy looked in the back of the SUV. There was usually an assortment of munitions.

"I found some C-4." Cammy said. "It should take care of the passageway."

Cameron knew the other team used explosives to seal and booby trap the other location.

"Bring it." Cameron said. "We might need to leave a surprise behind."

Savannah knew Cameron didn't like surprises. She didn't think the Grays would either.

Cameron walked over to Savannah. She was worried about her.

"Savannah, you heard the report from Dan about the extreme heat in the other tunnel. We've all seen the drone images of the Grays wearing protective suits." Cameron said. "I want you and Cammy to take the SUV and move it up the dirt road one mile. You can come back and pick us up when we come back out."

Savannah was worried about Cameron too.

"Cameron…." Savannah started.

Cameron knew Savannah was apprehensive about her possible actions. She didn't want to get carried away either. The reports from the other location were fresh in her mind. She didn't look forward to any more explosions.

"I promise to not take any chances. If it is like it was with Dan, we will withdraw." Cameron said. "Ally, Cam, and Sheila, you're to remind me if I get carried away."

The other Metal girls doubted Cameron would listen to them. It wasn't something she normally did. The current event didn't seem it would be any different. They all looked a little apprehensive.

Cameron could see their faces. She gave Sheila her 'shocker'. She figured she would be the one most likely to use it, if for no reason other than she could fondle her between shocks. She was going to mention it to Sheila but decided not to. She might put the shocker on her anyway just so she could fondle her. She really didn't know what the point would be since it was something Sheila did on a regular basis with Ally. There was no difference between their sheaths. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to mention it anyway.

"If I get too involved, you can use this on me." Cameron said. "To give you some incentive to use it, you can touch me when I'm out. Nobody will know."

Sheila didn't think now was a good time to tell Cameron she already did it during some of the other times she was 'offline'. It was just like touching Ally but better, even if their sheaths were identical. She could attempt to take it one step further.

"Sure, love." Sheila said. "Maybe I'll even try and 'ring your bell'."

Ally giggled at what Sheila indicated. She looked at Cameron.

"I hope you know, she is not joking." Ally said.

Cameron looked at the shocker Sheila now held. She now wondered if it was a smart move on her part. Sheila looked like she meant it. She wanted to give them all something to think about.

"I'm sure no one will do anything they would want to get deactivated over, especially for laughs." Cameron said.

Ally switched her gaze from Cameron to Sheila.

"I hope you know, she is not joking." Ally said.

Sheila looked a little uneasy.

Cam intensified her search. She wanted to get the operation underway. She soon located something.

"It's over here." Cam called. "I found it."

Cammy and Savannah watched the four Metal girls open the fake 'rock'. After they disappeared inside, Cammy drove the SUV only half a mile away. Savannah indicated it was far enough. She wanted to be able to get back to Cameron and the rest of the team in a hurry.

Savannah felt a little remorseful about her earlier discussion with Cammy. She didn't like to seem rude. She felt it was a good reason why she did it.

"Cammy, I'm sorry I cut you off earlier." Savannah said. "I didn't want to hinder Cameron's decision making. I shouldn't be a factor in it. I shouldn't be different from anyone else. You know I don't like to be treated as such either."

Cammy didn't want to revisit the issue. She was more concerned about Savannah's well being.

"Savannah, you need to eat something." Cammy said. "All you've consumed is some water and an 'energy bar'."

This was an issue Savannah ran up against all the time. She decided to blow it off. She managed well enough.

"I want to keep my schoolgirl figure." Savannah said. "You know I like to look Tight."

Cammy wasn't easily daunted.

"Tight and sick are two different things." Cammy said. "You know you need to remain healthy."

Savannah was hungry. She looked down at herself. She was very disgusted with her current appearance.

"I would rather be one than the other." Savannah said. "I'm really filthy. We're wrecking these seats."

Cammy flashed a water bottle.

"Let me scrub your hands for you." Cammy said. "There are a few MRE packets I souvenired from inside the mine. I took them off a dead Gray. He didn't need them anymore. I figured he would have picked the best ones to take with him. I hope you'll like them too."

Savannah didn't want to waste fresh water to clean with.

"Look at us now." Savannah said. "There's no point even trying to clean up."

Cammy put some water on a clean piece of cloth. She tried to clean Savannah's face a little bit.

Savannah didn't want it to turn into a big deal.

"It's good for now." Savannah said. "I think we'll all need a 'pressure wash'. Maybe we can pass by one for cars on the way back to the base. We can stop the SUV short and practice watching each other off with the high pressure wand. I don't want anyone to concentrate on a particular spot on anyone else."

Cammy figured they better not give the pressure wand to Sheila then. She would probably end up using it on herself in a particular spot.

"I guess Sheila is out." Cammy said.

Savannah giggled. Sheila was exactly who she was thinking about.

"It's probably better if we don't even mention it." Savannah said.

Cammy flashed Savannah a look down her top.

"We could always strip and throw these clothes away." Cammy said. "You must be very tired."

Savannah was tired and hungry. The team was still on maneuvers so her needs would have to wait. The team came first.

"I'm fine." Savannah said. "Will probably be finished up in a few hours."

Cammy didn't want Savannah to wait a few more hours.

"I'll make sure we're done before then." Cammy said.

Savannah scanned the horizon with a pair of binoculars. She handed them to Cammy.

"Use these and tell me what you see." Savannah said.

Cammy could use her zoom vision with the additional zoom of the binoculars. She used her unaided zoom vision first.

"I see everything." Cammy said.

Savannah was worried about what could happen inside of the mine itself.

"Is there anything different about the hill with the mine?" Savannah asked.

Cammy looked and then she looked with binoculars. She did spot something which seemed different. She compared it to her earlier scans when she first arrived near the location before she did her 'drive by'.

"I can see one section of the hillside looks 'bulged'." Cammy said.

Savannah was more than a little concerned. She thought about the Metal girls underground now.

"Is Cameron's team in danger?" Savannah asked. "If you think something's going to happen, we need to warn them immediately."

Cammy continued to study the hillside. It appeared the real danger would initially be above ground if there was a blowout.

"I think we are." Cammy said.

Savannah was even more concerned now.

"How or in what way?" Savannah asked.

Cammy could only speculate. She saw the aftereffects of similar things in Cameron's future.

"If whatever caused the heat blows out the side of the hill, we're at risk." Cammy said. "I don't know if there will be an increase in radiation."

Savannah was unsure where things were headed. It made her think of what happens when a volcano erupts. It was usually quite spectacular. The damage done by the force of the explosion was always extensive.

"Are we safer underground?" Savannah asked. "Are you saying this so we'll join the mission? What will the effects be underground if it's all interconnected? Somehow it seems it would be even more catastrophic since the force of the blast would be concentrated in the passageway."

Cammy didn't want Savannah to join the underground mission. She felt it was more proximity related.

"It's an option." Cammy said. "I think we need to be somewhere else right now or very soon. Cameron's team needs to hurry. I don't want to say we should have let another team take this mission, because whoever did would be at risk. Currently it is us."

Savannah didn't want to leave Cameron and the team for her own safety. She didn't know if they would be safer in the tunnel or if there would be a fireball traveling through it from the explosion. Maybe if there was an 'earthquake' the tunnel might collapse. There were a lot of questions with few answers.

"It sounds like we all need to be away from this area soon." Savannah said.

Savannah never saw the extent of the collapsed mountain in Cameron's future. She would have been a lot more worried with the image in her mind.

Cammy did see it. She couldn't agree with Savannah's assessment more.

"The sooner the better." Cammy said.

Cammy felt Savannah was put through enough already. She hoped things would wrap up so they could clear the area once and for all.

John needed to worry about the girls and the van which left the area. Nothing much seemed to develop. He was a little frustrated. He was glad there was still one drone up even after he recalled all the rest of them.

"Gail, do you see anything new?" John asked.

Gail was in the manned drone. She was on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary. So far nothing was spotted.

"No. You have the video feeds." Gail said. "All is as it was."

John Henry did look at everything. It didn't seem to offer much assistance.

"We're looking at the satellite maps." John Henry said. "We don't see any destination we can identify."

Bob was ready to take things further. He didn't like being attacked during the rescue mission. Someone needed to atone for such a grievous act.

"We're still behind them." Bob said. "If we intercept him, I can get some answers. I'm looking forward to it."

John was worried about things too. Time didn't seem to be on their side.

"I don't like being led around." John said. "The longer we wait, the more likely we are to run into an ambush. We don't know what anyone has prearranged. We know how we operate to cover the bases. There's no reason the enemy might not use a similar tactic."

Bob liked the more rural location they were at currently. It seemed like a better place to make things happen.

"I agree." Bob said. "If they make it into the city, everything becomes even more problematic."

John was worried about additional collateral damage.

"Beautiful.…" John said.

John Henry was updated by CamNet. It presented a break for the Resistance teams following the van.

"John, CamNet has informed me there are several of Cameron's Terminators who are now in front of the van now." John Henry said. "They can let it close and perform the interdiction."

John wasn't surprised. He liked the new options it offered.

"Bob, do you want to question them or have Cameron's Terminators do it?" John asked.

Bob didn't mind conducting an interrogation. Maybe John might want him to do something else. He would like to reinforce Cameron's team.

"You decide what is best for everything." Bob said.

John didn't want Bob to have to do the 'dirty work'.

"As soon as Cameron's Terminators take them, you can return to the base." John said.

Bob felt they overlooked an important part of the current operation. It seemed a little premature to return to the base.

"What about Cameron and Savannah?" Bob asked. "We need to think of the other Metal girls too. They are still out there."

John wondered when the subject would come up. It didn't really matter. He already knew the answer.

"We both know you're going back there anyway." John said.

Bob smiled to himself. He spent enough time on the hillside trying to get them out. He didn't intend for anything else to happen to them before they could return to the base as well. He didn't feel his job was finished yet.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

John wanted to make sure the Resistance teams were provided with plenty of support.

"Gail, make sure Cameron's Terminators make it away and then backup Bob and Cameron."

Gail wanted to get back to where Savannah was as quickly as possible.

"Affirmative…." Gail said.

They all knew she was going to do it anyway as well. Everyone wanted to look after Cameron and Savannah. They wanted to look after everyone.

Minutes ago:

Cameron led the Metal girls down into the tunnel. There wasn't much light on the surface. There was none where they were at currently.

Ally tried to lighten the mood.

"Did they forget to pay the electric bill?" Ally asked.

Cameron thought of the hours her team and Savannah spent trapped in the darkness. She knew it must have been very hard on Savannah. She never once complained. She only asked her to look out for her girls when she thought she was about to die. She needed to suppress a glitch impulse with the last thought. For a few seconds she thought Savannah terminated. It was a very troubling experience.

Sheila wanted to take it a little further.

"It's hot in here." Sheila said. "I could go topless, but nobody would see me. It would spoil the thrill."

Ally knew the Terminators could see. She wanted to mess with Sheila some.

"We could." Ally said. "It would be nothing new. Everything you have to show is 'old news'. Maybe you should have tried to keep a few things private."

Sheila didn't like the lack of interest. Maybe she spent too much time naked with them. She wanted to give them all something to think about.

"I went to a larger diameter and bigger gauge nipple ring." Sheila said.

Ally saw Sheila recently. She knew otherwise. It was at one of the facilities where they were about to question a couple of Grays. Sheila took off her clothes so they wouldn't get blood on them. She was sure Sheila removed her clothing just so she could tantalize her subjects as she 'worked' on them.

"You did not." Ally said.

Sheila didn't like the affront.

"I did so." Sheila said. "Here give me your hand, you can feel it."

Cameron needed to worry about enough things already. She didn't need any unnecessary banter.

"Enough." Cameron said. "If I feel it, when my hand comes away, the ring will be in it. Do I make myself clear?"

Sheila thought Cameron's reaction was a little excessive. It would take her a few days to heal up if it happened. The only bright spot was, she could do the piercing again and start over. There would be plenty of pain involved with everything. She would know she was 'alive' plenty of times.

A sound began to develop in the background.

"Listen." Cam said. "What is it?"

Sheila was mildly aroused. She knew exactly what it was.

"It's somebody screaming." Sheila said. "In agonizing pain…."

Ally heard screams like it plenty of times when Sheila interrogated people. It was often related to one of Cameron's 'off the books' operations. Usually it was somebody involved in the sex trafficking trade. Sheila usually did something to make them scream. It always seemed she enjoyed it too.

"Who would know better than you?" Ally asked.

Cameron was aware she did her share of 'enhanced interrogation'.

"Nobody…." Cameron said. "Drop it for now."

Sheila didn't see anything wrong with her techniques.

"The pain ends when the truth comes." Sheila said. "It's just that simple."

Cam wanted to keep everyone focused on the current situation.

"I think whatever these people thought they were going to fix is something they can't." Cam said. "It's gotten away from them."

Ally didn't like the new direction the events just took.

"I think it means we should probably leave now." Ally said.

Cameron wasn't ready to cut and run. They only arrived where they were a short time ago.

"We don't have any answers yet." Cameron said.

Sheila looked at the bigger picture.

"If this place melts down or blows up, we never will." Sheila said. "It's especially true if we're around it when it does blow up."

Cameron didn't know what was what at this point.

"I don't think these tunnels lead to the mine." Cameron said. "I think they lead to what all the energy was going to."

Sheila was aware of Cameron's earlier report.

"You said the mine was hot and a fire started." Sheila said.

Cameron was still displeased about some of the things she was unable to uncover about the mine.

"I think they were connected to the same thing." Cameron said. "I couldn't find where the heat originated from in the mine."

Ally thought about the reports from Cameron's future.

"You've been in situations like this a few times." Ally said.

Cameron knew it implicated some of the things done by Duplicate Cameron as well as herself.

"I used a nuclear device both times." Cameron said. "Neither event ended well. I was lucky both times. I should've been terminated."

Ally wanted to see how far Cameron was willing to go now.

"If you could get back into the mine, would you use one again?" Ally asked.

Cameron already made her mind up about the very thing. Everything she saw there needed to be eradicated.

"Yes." Cameron said. "It's the only way you can be sure."

Sheila and Ally looked skeptical.

Cam knew how Cameron thought since she ran Cameron's program and thought the same way.

"She is not joking." Cam said.

Cameron knew what needed to be done.

"No, I'm not." Cameron said.

Sheila hoped to gain a little information out of Cameron. She knew John and John Henry wanted to know more. Every time there was an 'earthquake' of moderate magnitude, they all wondered if Cameron just used one of her nukes.

"Do you still have the four Nike warheads?" Sheila asked.

Cameron decided to keep her answer simple.

"Yes." Cameron said. "For now I do. I won't always."

Cameron wanted to tell them the more nuclear weapons she controlled, the less Skynet could get a hold of and use going forward. It was unless she became Skynet herself. It didn't seem like a good time to remind them of it. It was always a big concern of hers. She didn't know why she thought it.

Cam motioned for everyone to be quiet.

"There's someone coming." Cam said.

It was clear whoever it was, was in a hurry.

"They're running." Ally said.

Sheila thought about the reports from the passageway the male Terminators were in earlier.

"Maybe it's a good time to make our exit and question them outside." Sheila said. "If something blows up or goes off somewhere further down the line, the tunnel may be a chimney soon."

Cameron wanted some answers still.

"We need to know more first." Cameron said.

Sheila knew a bad idea when she heard one. She took out the shocker and brandished it.

"Does this thing really work?" Sheila asked. "I can't wait to get a hold of those things. I might even put a ring on one while you're out."

Sheila looked at Cameron's perky breasts.

Cameron pictured Sheila 'copping a feel' when she would be offline. She thought maybe she would rather be functional so she could see how Sheila touched her as compared to John. She quickly blinked twice. She needed to refocus.

"OK, I get it." Cameron said. "It's unsafe and unwise to continue on down here. The goal is unknown and the outcome looks bleak."

Ally figured the male Terminators would put the grab on the two Grays in the van if they didn't snag someone soon.

"We have someone with answers coming to us." Ally said. "I really don't think there are many live ones down here, unless they're Terminators."

The screams of agony seemed to intensify.

"Can Terminators scream like that?" Sheila asked.

Cameron briefly reflected on some of her past 'adventures' when she'd thought she was Future Allison. Some of those thoughts were very unpleasant.

"Yes, especially when they don't remember they're a machine." Cameron said. "A lot of things can happen…."

The girls silently made for the way out. They would nab whoever was coming near the exit.

The screams continued to get closer. Whatever the individual was running from, didn't seem like anything they should get close to or pursue.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Not Complicated

It's not complicated
It's simply fear
Fear of rejection
Love causes many a tear

For we never feel equal
We never feel we are a peer
Rejection cuts so deep
Even the slightest sneer

When Cupid shoots his arrow
He misses the one we hold dear
He laughs as into our heart
He shoves and then twists a spear

The fear of rejection grips us
Crushing our minds tiny sphere
Is it ever what is inside of us
Or only to use our veneer

To the one we love
We try to make their heart steer
As they see the direction is us
Away from us they violently veer

It's not complicated
As it seems to appear
It's fear of rejection
It is simply fear of fear

Nobody