Chapter 671

Double Tap

Gail and Savannah headed out on an intercept course ahead of the Gray Patrol. They would take the Grays a mile from their bunker. Bob and Steve gave the position reports as the Grays departed. The Grays stuck to the trail as they anticipated. They hoped the Grays would be lazy and sloppy. It was exactly what they were. They were ahead of the Grays and it is where they would set their ambush up for them.

The two Resistance fighters made their way along one of the routes which were made by Steve and Bob earlier. It was off of the main trail to the south side. It made their job much easier because they knew exactly where the Grays would be. They didn't know if the four men were all from the future or not. Almost from the beginning they found there were 'contract employees' who would throw their lot in with the Skynet forces because of the money paid to them. They could be viewed as mercenaries. They could also be viewed as collaborators. Either way, they were on the wrong team. Many of them started out as street punks or thugs anyway.

Gail kept Savannah and herself just ahead of the Grays as far as she could hear them. As long as she knew they were coming, they could stop at any point and set up an ambush. They reached the location which would provide them with some cover on the main trail. They moved over to the main trail and Savannah was given a place of cover.

It was decided Gail would cross the trail and Savannah would stay on the other side of the trail. They would let the Grays pass and engage them from behind. Savannah would take the closest target to her, while Gail would start with the one furthest away. If anyone else showed up behind them on the trail, Savannah would engage them. They would use the silenced weapons.

Gail and Savannah hustled and were soon in position….

It was time to bring the fight to the enemy.

Based on the fact they knew at least two of the Grays recently abused the female hostage, it would make their termination all the more justified. The enemy was the enemy and they needed to be treated as such. They needed to atone for their actions. They got away with a lot in the future, but they were about to pay the bill in the past. There was no free ride. At some point the toll needed to be paid.

It was collection time.

Young Allison was very concerned for Cameron and Cammy, as well as Savannah and Gail. Both groups were in the process of dealing with hostile forces on the side of the mountain. Both of the areas where there was contact weren't part of any plan. They were both situations which developed on their own. They knew Cameron was often criticized by the Command Center, meaning John, about engaging in unplanned combat. Cameron always stipulated things happen.

Right now, Young Allison could use a little more information. She felt they were operating with one arm tied behind their back.

"We know where our people are." Young Allison said. "We don't know where the hostiles are."

Anna was aware the battlefield was fluid. Seldom did one side have all the answers over the other side. Even if both sides knew the exact position of the other, there was no way to predict what either side would do at any given point in time.

"This is how a battle unfolds most of the time." Anna said. "As you've seen, there are many unknowns and everything can rapidly change. The troops need to be able to respond in any manner from offense, to defense, in an instant."

Young Allison wanted better information for the girls on the mountain. She thought of something which might help identify some of the hostiles. She wasn't sure if it would work or not, but she thought some creative thinking might help out. She wanted to make sure it wouldn't benefit the enemy more than it would benefit them.

"What happens if John Henry unblocks the jamming on the mountain for a few seconds?" Young Allison asked. "Will any phones of those there ping on a tower showing their location?"

Anna tilted her head slightly. She began to run different scenarios as well as calculations.

Young Allison thought the Grays would all have tried to use their phones but couldn't because of the communications blackout John Henry put into effect. Most of them were probably still on while they waited for a signal. She wanted to explain her idea a little further.

"Maybe Cameron and Cammy can get a better idea of how many they're facing and where they're at. Maybe John Henry could overload their phones like he did the other two earlier. It would physically give away the enemy's position." Young Allison said. "It would certainly disrupt whatever the individual with a burning phone in their pocket was doing. It would help out Cameron and Cammy."

CamNet monitored Young Allison and Anna. Even before Anna could contact John Henry, CamNet relayed the information and request from Young Allison. It was a sound idea and would become standard practice in all future operations. They would use the enemy's equipment against them in more ways than one.

It wasn't often they came up with a new way to confront the enemy on the battlefield.

CamNet immediately sent feedback to Anna. She wanted to inform her Young Allison's contribution was specifically noted. It would be carried out in seconds.

"John Henry has initiated the procedure." Anna said. "John has been made aware of your input on this matter. It was a very good one. Your earlier recommendations were not specifically noted. It was what you requested."

Young Allison didn't want to become involved directly. She didn't think any of them understood her and her development. It was all the training from Cameron and the Metal girls. They always instructed her and taught her. They wanted her to think outside of the box. They showed her how to push herself and rethink everything if necessary. It was something she knew Savannah tried to do with every operation, even if it was in hindsight. Hindsight could often be turned into foresight.

"I need to help Savannah and Cameron." Young Allison said. "Anna, I NEED to start going with Cameron so Savannah can get a rest. Cameron will listen to me once she allows me to spend some time in the past and trains me for a little longer. I'll be able to help her like Savannah does. I can do it. It's what I need to do. It's the 'Call Of The Future'."

Anna I felt another glitch impulse. It sounded more like 'The Call Of The Wild' to her. She was pretty sure Cameron would use Young Allison for more than just going on missions. She believed Cameron wanted to use the ability of Young Alison's body for her own personal benefit to produce a child for John and her. Everyone knew the child Cameron really wanted as her own would be a child from Young Allison. Nobody thought there would be too many scruples to stand in Cameron's way to do as she wanted in that regard. The biggest opposition was sure to come from Savannah. She didn't want Young Allison to 'jump the gun' by any means.

"It should be longer. You should wait longer." Anna said. "Reproduction shouldn't be attempted earlier by any method."

Young Allison was a little surprised at Anna's response. She wanted to say Savannah didn't wait as long. It wasn't the time for an argument on the subject. The girls were all about to be in combat.

"It wasn't what I was thinking, at least not for now." Young Allison said. "I've promised Cameron I will do it for her, but I want to help in the fight first. I intend to keep my promise in the manner of Cameron's choosing to initiate it."

Anna was well aware of the promises Young Allison made to Cameron. They were all the same promises Savannah made. Both of the girls promised the use of their bodies to give Cameron and John a child of their 'own'. She didn't want to say the girls were brainwashed, but the nightly 'conditioning' was pretty close to it. When the person continued to hear the same thing over and over every night as they slept, the thought seemed to be their own. it wasn't Cameron couldn't be human, but she figured out a way to steal the body from a human female.

Young Allison looked at the security camera. She wanted to make a plea directly to Cameron through CamNet.

"I know Cameron will see and hear this and no one else will." Young Allison said.

Anna looked away. She knew Young Allison was about to make some type of commitment she would prefer she didn't. She really didn't have a say in the matter other than what little she could try to influence Young Allison. Young Allison still held her hand.

"Cameron's trying to protect the future and protect John." Anna said. "It's not her intention to 'push you' too fast."

Young Allison saw things a little differently. She felt she indicated on multiple occasions what she wanted to happen. So far nothing happened. She thought everyone needed a little prompting. She was more than willing to do it, so she did.

"I understand." Young Allison said. "I'm officially asking to 'step up'."

Anna was aware Young Allison could 'order' Cameron or CamNet to make it happen. She didn't do it. She wanted to make sure. She thought it was better to know, one way or the other.

"You're not going to order them?" Anna asked.

Young Allison took her ability to 'order' any of the Terminators, or super computers, to do her personal bidding very seriously. Savannah talked with her at length about the ability Cameron gave to them and reminded her, with great power, there was great responsibility.

"No." Young Allison said. "I'll never make anyone do anything they don't want to do, or aren't yet ready for. It's how I would want to be treated. I also don't want to be babied or held back, especially if the reasons are not valid."

Anna knew as a future leader, Young Allison would need to make decisions and some of them may prove fatal for those she needed to direct. It was the nature of warfare. There would always be casualties on the battlefield.

"You may have to make people 'do things' at some point." Anna said. "What about school if you're in the past? You know it was something Sarah tried very hard to provide John with. She wanted him to have a normal upbringing."

Young Allison didn't believe she would fit in anywhere in the regular social norms. It was OK with her anyway because she pretty much grew up outside of them. Allison tried to keep her from interacting with males as much as possible whenever they went out. If she was in a school setting it would be pretty hard to control, unless she went to an all girls school.

She was pretty sure what would happen there sooner, rather than later, as she pursued her desires. She would be provided with a smorgasbord of females wishing to explore their sexuality. She planned to offer them an avenue to do so. It would probably cause a problem at the school when things came out into the open at some point in time, as they were sure to do. Things were a little bit different in the Sixties and many people needed to hide their true selves. There seemed to be a lot of discrimination until more recent times about the true nature of some people.

"I don't think I'll fit in at a high school either. I'm beyond any school in my studies. It would only be for social interaction." Young Allison said. "I'll stand out at a college if I go because I'm young. I'll be younger than the other students anyway."

Anna knew it would most likely lead to Young Allison being 'soiled'. She knew a female as beautiful as Young Allison would be highly desirable among males and many females, regardless of the time period. There would have to be some safeguards put into place to protect Young Allison from 'herself'.

"You would need to attend an 'all girl's school' if you did." Anna said. "Cameron doesn't want you 'defiled'."

Anna thought along the same lines as Young Allison did. She didn't think it would be such a bad thing in one regard. She was aware things could still happen at an 'all girl's school', but none should lead to an unnecessary pregnancy. The female 'interaction' would most likely not be totally forbidden as long as no males were involved.

Young Alison found it somewhat amusing Anna said what she just thought a few seconds prior to her statement. She hadn't really thought of the pregnancy aspect though.

"Cameron doesn't trust me already?" Young Allison asked.

Anna thought Cameron based her decisions on what she witnessed with her own eyes, and what previously occurred. Cameron attended High School. She actually attended two of them. Her stay at one of them was very brief. Even in her short stay at the first high school, she saw enough to know how things were going to play out. She watched them play out in detail at the second high school in North Hollywood.

"After John's 'involvement' with Riley, the dead one, Nobody can be trusted." Anna said. "Your hormones will drive you. Things can happen and they can happen fast."

Anna knew the pain Cameron felt the morning she caught John after he was with Future Riley. She replayed those files again. Her base program was Cameron's program so she could see Cameron's pain at any time. She can also feel Cameron's pain at any point in time.

Young Allison could feel Anna's hand start to glitch again. She gave it a gentle squeeze and it stopped.

Anna was aware how Young Allison could soothe her as Savannah did Cameron. Because she ran Cameron's program, with the 'Neural Interface' from Savannah, she couldn't help but love Young Allison. She also knew she couldn't act on those feelings or she would be terminated by Cameron, and probably Savannah. She was painfully aware how protective both of them were of Young Allison.

They needed to stay with the current operation. It wasn't long after Young Allison's suggestion when the tracking information showed up on their satellite map as she thought it would.

"There, our map shows some of the hostiles, along with our people." Anna said. "Cameron and Cammy have been given the information."

Young Allison was pleased to see how well her idea worked. She was still worried about Savannah. It looked like the Grays they were about to ambush split up.

"We must warn Savannah and Gail." Young Allison said. "I guess John Henry already has."

Anna saw John Henry already took care of it. She was also pleased to note the MST was almost in position.

"He has. There's more good news as well. The Metal Strike Team will reinforce Steve and Bob soon." Anna said. "Jesse is still with them. She's right where Savannah and Gail want her to be."

Young Alison was pretty sure she knew what was going to happen once the MST arrived. It was obvious Jesse cared deeply about Savannah and she would act to protect her on her own.

"Jesse will take Bob and go to help Savannah and Gail." Young Allison said. "It will be right after the Metal Strike Team arrives."

Anna didn't think Jesse should needlessly endanger herself.

"It's illogical." Anna said.

Young Allison knew how she would act under similar circumstances. Jesse was no different than she was in the same regard and for the same reasons.

"No, it's love." Young Allison said. "Jesse loves Gail and Savannah. She loves Cameron too."

They listened to the girls as they moved into action. They monitored their positions as well.

"Cameron and Cammy are engaging…." Anna said.

Young Allison thought it all seemed to go down at once.

"So are Savannah and Gail." Young Allison said.

Cameron was pleased with the new information she received on the two attackers. They were twelve degrees off to her left side. She already flanked them. She was also aware there could be more than the two which were 'pinged'. The information was an assist, but it wasn't an absolute. If anything, she learned to expect the unexpected because more often than not, it was the case.

Cameron carried her M4 up and ready with her Taser in her left hand which supported the hand guard of the weapon. She was ready to fire either weapon or both at the same time. She didn't know if any were Terminators but she was ready, just in case.

She closed in on her targets. A few seconds later there were some thrashing sounds which came from their location. Their cell phone was smoking. John Henry was able to overload the batteries in them.

Cameron knew right where they were now. It appeared Young Allison's plan worked perfectly as she intended it to. She was very proud of Young Allison and her suggestion.

John Henry sent word to Gail and Savannah about a new development. The Grays broke into two groups and split up. It seemed they anticipated trouble. He wasn't sure if it was a precaution, or something tipped them off they may have unwanted 'visitors'.

One group stayed on the trail. The other moved into the trees on Savannah's side. It wasn't a good development for Savannah.

Savannah knew they would find her tracks. It was impossible to avoid all the patches of snow. She didn't plan to stay where she was at and wait for them to arrive. It was time to take some offensive action. She motioned for Gail to stay where she was and took off. She wanted to come up in back of the Grays along the way they came to try to flank the Grays, as they followed Gail's and her original trail. She was fairly certain they would stay on the new trail they discovered in the hopes it would lead them to whomever it was they were pursuing. It would have been her if John Henry wouldn't have alerted her to what was on the way headed directly for her current position.

She quickly went over what would be the best course of action for her. If she was able to get two clean shots at them, she would use the silenced pistol, if not, she would use her M4. She figured the Metal Strike Team should have arrived by now and reinforced Steve and Bob, it was their last report anyway. If she needed to use her M4, it was bound to alert the rest of the Skynet group.

Savannah found a spot of good concealment and waited. She could hear the crackling of the frozen brush and two men grumbling. They both carried their weapons in front of them. They followed her earlier trail. They barely glanced from side to side but focused on the footprints ahead of them.

"I think we're onto something." The first Gray said.

"We were on something." The second Gray said. "I preferred what I was on a few minutes ago better."

"I know what you mean." The first Gray said. "The new Bitch is sweet. She's used to it. She doesn't whimper or cry and beg to be let go. It will probably happen soon enough. Every time it's my turn, she does everything I ask for."

"It looks like the 'Bucket Brain' finally picked someone worthwhile." The second Gray said. "The homeless broads are all nothing more than street trash."

"She's a keeper." The first Gray said. "At least for a few days."

Both of the Grays laughed.

Savannah listened as the two men came closer. They may be ready for action, but they were certainly distracted with their own conversation.

"I don't know how long she'll last." The second Gray said. "You know Ramos and Butler both like to collect 'souvenirs'."

"Those guys are messed up in the head." The first Gray said. "They could at least wait until the sluts were dead. Things are already a big enough mess."

"You know Butler gets off doing it to them while they're alive." The second Gray said. "He has a whole pocket full of stuff. From what he showed me there were at least ten different females and one male. The guy was a Scavenger. No one likes him around. The 'Bolt Heads' put up with him because he likes to do all the 'dirty work', what a nut job."

Savannah was very disgusted with the Gray's conversation. She wanted to kill both of them for what they did to the female captive already. She sighted on the first man and was ready to fire.

She heard the staccato 'cough' of a silenced MP5.

Both of the men looked off to the side.

"They must have got them." The first Gray said. "It was one of our weapons."

The two Grays were more alert. They looked in the direction away from where Savannah waited for them.

"Let's get back to the main trail and see what they got." The second Gray said.

Savannah aimed and fired four shots in 'double tap' fashion with her silenced pistol. Both men fell. She moved forward and fired twice more, once into each of their heads. It was the only way to be sure they stayed down.

She quickly went through their pockets for any information. She collected their weapons and moved to reinforce Gail.

She wanted to make sure Gail was undamaged. She headed for the prearranged rendezvous site they agreed upon.

Seconds ago:

Gail could hear two men coming.

"I don't know why we have to do this." The first Gray said. "It's nothing but a waste of time. It was going to be my turn to be with the new Bitch again after two other guys. I really dislike being out here in the cold when I could be on top of a warm body."

"I don't like it either." The second Gray said. "The 'Metal Bitch' sent us out here to look for those losers who don't know how to follow a trail. I don't like the fact half our team went off of the trail to look for anything off to the side."

"Maybe we should do the same thing." The first Gray said.

"I'm not going to waste my time looking for the Boogie Man." The second Gray said. "All it's going to do when we find those other losers is make the line longer for some sack time."

Gail waited for the two men to pass. They held their weapons, but weren't really ready for any encounter, unless it was coming up the trail at them. They were sloppy and only seemed to worry about what was in front of them. They seemed more worried about having to wait for a longer period of time before they could abuse the female captive again themselves. She wouldn't have minded if Jesse was with her. It would be even better if Sheila was there. It was time to enact some retribution.

She checked the trail the way the Grays came from to make sure it was clear. She emptied half the magazine of the captured silenced MP5 into their backs. Both men instantly fell to the ground. She moved up and snapped both of their necks as they lay dead on the ground. She wanted to be sure they stayed down. She quickly drug them off the trail. She heard Savannah's silenced pistol 'double tap' twice with two more single shots a few seconds later. Gail gathered the weapons and went back to the men. She retrieved anything they carried of value about the operation.

Gail took the weapons and information and went to rejoin Savannah at the spot they last were together. She stayed one hundred feet off to the side as a precaution.

Cammy moved in on her target, but it moved with her. She was sure she was going to have a Terminator to contend with. She held her Taser in her left hand and her M4 in her right hand. She didn't receive any information from John Henry as to the exact location of her target. They moved about in the 'dark'.

She heard Cameron, Gail, and Savannah all get information. She would wait until Cameron signaled her threats were neutralized and try to lead the Terminator to a position where Cameron would be waiting for them. It was what she hoped to do anyway. She knew things didn't always work out as anticipated.

The Metal Strike Team arrived. Two Terminators went to Steve's position and two joined Bob and Jesse. They were all filled in with the necessary details about the bunker and the area surrounding it.

Jesse was glad the reinforcements arrived. She wanted to take action immediately. Savannah and Gail were out there along with Cameron and Cammy. She wanted to reinforce them.

"I want one of you to go with me." Jesse said. "Bob already knows the layout of the land. I'd like him to come with me."

Bob filled Al and Dan in on what they were doing. They didn't plan to take any action until Cammy and Cameron arrived. He said they were just watching the bunker for now. They already knew about the 'Metal Bitch'.

Bob and Jesse needed to make a choice. They headed off after Gail and Savannah. They knew the Grays in the patrol split up.

Jesse sent a quiet message out through her com to Savannah and Gail.

"We're coming, Savannah." Jesse said. "We're coming, Gail."

Bob led and Jesse followed. She watched their backs.

Jesse really wanted to see the Grays dead for what she knew they did to the female hostage. She briefly hoped they would be able to take them alive. She absentmindedly reached down and touched her knife as they moved along. She was supposed to be 'reformed'. Not all things were as they seemed. It was also very easy to revert back to the 'old ways'. She really wanted to slit their throats. Her knife always made it personal. It was personal to her. She would like to do a few 'other things' to them first. She didn't think it would be a good idea to do them in front of Savannah.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

One On One

When a creature is bitten
It's going to bite back
That's the way of nature
To defend against an attack

The words come easy
When I must fly through flak
When the rainbow of life
Is turned into black

I'm trying to do more
Than the SAME as other's yak
It's not right to try
Another's dreams to hijack

I don't need to be treated
Like a mindless hack
Unless you really think
I'm an insane quack

Please have the decency
Before you snipe or smack
Face me here alone - one on one
Or PLEASE cut me some slack

Nobody