Chapter 679

I Forbid This

It looked like there was the potential for two different enemy groups to be involved at the mine. Maybe there were more from the group they took down at the old packing sheds and from the mountain top. It was a pretty good bet there were others associated with the group who weren't at either location, or in one of the white vans they took down.

John didn't like the way things developed. There were a lot of unknowns in play. It seemed even if they launched a drone strike against the opening in the mine, there were still other groups to deal with. They also didn't know if there was another way out of the mine. There was often more than one entrance or air shaft vents which could appear anywhere. They could be overgrown with brush and not show up in satellite photos or drone scans.

"What do we have happening?" John asked. "It doesn't look like this is going to be wrapped up as neat as we thought it was going to be."

John Henry didn't know for sure but all the indications pointed to a fight between two of their enemies. It was better if they wouldn't be in the middle of it. He liked Cameron's philosophy on dealing with gangs. She would set them up to battle each other. When one group emerged as the victor, she would go in and 'clean up' the area. She would terminate all of the survivors which were usually reduced by at least fifty percent. It made her work much easier.

"It looks like we are in the middle of a Gray and anti-Metal fight." John Henry said. "I still have communications blacked out in the area. No messages are going in or coming out."

John wondered how well they were able to cover their tracks from the last operation. They always tried to deflect any involvement of the Resistance away from their activities. They tried to make it look like it was another group of Grays or the anti-Metal group.

He was most concerned about their involvement at both the base station, and the header station of the cable car. There were a few things done which were going to raise more than a few eyebrows.

"What's the word from the tramway or from the mountain?" John asked.

John Henry was able to keep the lid on the damage to the railing at the upper station, and someone who jumped out of the cable car right before it docked. There were only a few other patrons in the cable car at the time and none of them really knew anything about what actually happened. Some of them identified the person who fell or jumped out as a female. Others thought it was a male. It happened so fast, most of them didn't know. There was even some speculation the door opened on its own and one of the patrons fell out. A search of the area turned up nothing. There were no bodies to be found.

"The incident was reported as vandals fooling around." John Henry said. "I've suppressed the reports. Any surveillance footage has been erased from yesterday. I also put in an internal report the door may have opened on its own and someone fell out. I figured it would keep them from looking too deep into it so they weren't accused of anything or any potential liability."

John hoped they could catch a break on some of the past video files.

"What about their old footage?" John asked. "Can you get anything useful?"

John Henry was able to establish video images of all the Grays and Terminators on the mountain during the last raid. He hoped to be able to identify any other individuals who were seen in the company of the ones they knew were terminated. Some of the other individuals would turn out to be Grays who were in the white vans and at the old packing house.

"They store two weeks worth of video images on site." John Henry said. "I'm going through it now. I'm trying to identify Grays or any Terminators who may have been active in the last two weeks."

John hoped it would give them a good indication of how many people they may have missed when they took down the two locations and the white vans. There was another loose end he was a little worried about.

"What about the girl we released?" John asked. "I didn't care for her name."

John Henry was a little more worried about her. He didn't know how well she would stick to the plan which was laid out for her or not. They placed a tracker on the vehicle to monitor its progress before she left.

"Candy is on her way to Arizona." John Henry said. "She hasn't stopped."

John was worried she might be a little too 'independent'. He wasn't sure if 'independent' was the right word. She was used to selling herself for money. She could sell information the same way, for money. She only saw everyone in their group in the dark. He didn't think she could give very accurate descriptions. It was still a potential problem going forward.

"I don't know how much slack we should cut her. What do you think?" John asked.

John Henry would have preferred if she was terminated. It would be the end of the story.

"I really don't know." John Henry said. "Savannah was the one who insisted Candy be given a chance. Jesse agreed with her one hundred percent. She said the female's 'profession' shouldn't be held against her. Jesse said sometimes things got a little sketchy when a person needed to eat."

John was a little bothered about the ending of John Henry's statement. What does a person do when they need to eat? He knew there were plenty of times the people from the future didn't have anything to eat. They were lucky to find garbage to eat. It was something to think about anyway.

He figured he needed to trust Savannah's and Jesse's judgment. Savannah made it clear Candy needed to stay out of California. He didn't know what would happen if she returned. Cameron would probably deal with the issue then and make a determination as to what the circumstances were, and what needed to be done. He turned his attention back to the current operation. He checked the drone images but everything looked pretty much the same.

"Has the truck moved?" John asked. "Where's Gail's team at?"

John Henry saw Gail's team was secure. As far as the truck went, it was a mystery in itself.

"Gail's team is still in place but concealed currently. As far as the truck, they seem to be waiting for something." John Henry said. "Even if they could contact someone, we probably have their phone and they're dead."

John knew they collected most of the phones. They would be processed and gleaned for any information they could provide. There was no guarantee everyone involved in the operation was dead.

"What if we don't?" John asked. "There could be others out there still. We know we don't always get everyone."

John Henry had a few options available to him but he was hesitant to use them. They could produce a lead they could follow up on, or they could spark an attack.

"I can let the call go through." John Henry said. "You know the Grays are in possession of HK drones. Because we captured three, and destroyed a few others earlier, doesn't mean we've depleted their inventory. What if we end up with an HK drone strike against us? There could be code words or phrases to trigger something."

John felt it was covered. They fielded their own airborne security force at the location. Their drones were equipped with air to air capability. So far all the HK drones they encountered, including the newest ones which were captured, were only equipped with air to ground missiles. He didn't need to keep in mind, things could always change.

"We still have two of our drones on station." John said. "They should be able to handle a few HK drones."

John Henry was worried about the difficulty they experienced tracking the HK drones before which were associated with this group. He did need to keep in mind, things could always change. They were sure they experienced the HK drones when they were on a reconnaissance mission. They didn't think they spied on them so much as they did on a different group of Grays. Either way, they didn't want to be identified. They brought down two of the HK drones on separate occasions and followed one back to the location of the packing house. It was now in their custody. He really didn't want to take any chances.

"We've experienced trouble tracking the drones we've encountered with this group." John Henry said. "One could slip through."

John knew it would endanger Cameron, Savannah, and the entire team. Maybe some of the recently captured HK equipment would yield some answers. He would like to find out what their capability actually was.

"Has the evaluation started on what we've captured?" John asked.

John Henry knew the process was underway. It was far from being completed. The equipment was dispersed at several locations so there couldn't be any type of attack to destroy it or recover it if somehow they could be tracked.

"All three drones have been deposited at three separate secure locations." John Henry said. "The machinery is still on its way."

John reflected on the airborne versatility they were able to use on the mountain top, and the assistance with the HK drones they needed to collect from the old packing house.

"Do you think we need more helicopters?" John asked. "It seemed we needed all three for this operation. One of those was a bonus we didn't add on our own, at least not from the Command Center."

John Henry was aware the Young bunker sent one of those helicopters on their own initiative, along with a crew. It was because their Blackhawk was capable of a much heavier lift than a standard Iroquois was able to do. Two Iroquois solved the problem. In hindsight he realized he should have done it on his own prior to them doing it. It wasn't the first time Young Allison was one step ahead of him. Anna normally sent the request or advice through CamNet to him.

"If we have time to actually plan an attack, I would say 'yes'." John Henry said. "We usually have equipment or material to confiscate after a battle now. Much of it we can move by trucks. Those are normally appropriated at the scene or located nearby."

John knew it meant they stole what they wanted, when they needed it. Most of it was returned. Not all of it was. Savannah was very adamant if the equipment or vehicles they needed to use couldn't be returned, the owners would be compensated, as long as they weren't associated with the perpetrators.

"I don't like leaving loose ends." John said.

John Henry knew Cameron didn't like to wait once a target was identified.

"Time isn't always in our favor." John Henry said.

John would prefer when they did, there was some type of planning first. If there was, they could get more of their troops into position. He did like the cover story Sheila and Ally used for their helicopter rental.

"We usually only have a few hours before one of these operations goes hot." John said. "Maybe we can put some additional helicopters on retainer for 'movie' work."

John Henry knew it was a good idea. He immediately took action to cover all the bases.

"I've just filed electronic paperwork for both of the helicopters we used yesterday and today." John Henry said. "I've also done the same for the S-64 'Skycrane' we used before. If there's no current brush fire, we have priority status on its use."

John was a little worried about them needing to use some equipment if there was a brush fire. He could only hope they weren't responsible for the brush fire being started when they attacked the enemy. He remembered the unusual design of the 'Skycrane' and how big it was.

"I think it can lift just about anything." John said.

John Henry could agree with his assessment.

"It's very robust." John Henry said.

John Henry looked at a few screens. It looked like they picked up some movement.

"John, the truck's moving." John Henry said.

John sat up in his chair

"I don't want it to enter the canyon." John said. "I don't want it to leave."

There was a long pause.

"It won't be a problem." John Henry said. "It's not going anywhere."

John Henry was aware of what was about to happen. Someone was in for a surprise.

Cameron approached the remaining man who was inside the mine. She hoped there weren't any others. There was a strong possibility there could be deeper inside.

The man she currently confronted was unwilling to cooperate. He was belligerent right from the start.

"You're the 'Metal Bitch' we've heard about." The man said. "You're Connor's 'Metal Whore'."

His statement seemed to anger Cammy as much as it did Cameron.

Cammy stepped forward and acted. She brought the butt or her M4 stock up against the man's mouth in a rapid strike motion. He flew backwards with a scream. He looked up from the ground, both his lips were split open and all of his front teeth were missing. He spit out the broken remains. She reversed her M4 and pointed it at his head.

"Talk or die." Cammy said.

The man looked at her with contempt and hatred in his eyes.

"You're going to kill me anyway." The man said with a mouthful of blood and broken teeth.

Cameron was dissatisfied with his attitude as well.

"You're right." Cameron said. "I don't like your tongue."

The man started on another string of profanities.

Cammy stepped forward again. She kicked the man in the crotch with more bone breaking sounds. Everything between her foot and the broken bones was crushed flat by the force of the impact. Some of the soft tissue structures were split apart and ruptured as they were crushed, releasing a large amount of blood from the man's body. The man passed out immediately and died soon after.

Cameron would have liked to attempt to question him a little further. It was useless now.

"He got off easy." Cameron said.

Cameron didn't think he suffered enough for the way he disrespected her. She was very pleased with the way Cammy responded.

Bob watched Cammy and Cameron in action and witnessed the entire event. He thought it was a little extreme, but effective. He believed it would play out better with additional prisoners to question. Once they saw what happened to someone who didn't cooperate, they might be a little more talkative in the hope their termination would be a little more swift and much less painful.

"These people are as big a threat to us as the Grays." Bob said.

Cameron felt they were a bigger threat at times. They could infiltrate the Resistance and get close to John.

"We need to apprehend another one and find out which timeline they're from and when." Cameron said. "These people pose a threat to John in every timeline."

It was clear to Bob the man indicated Cameron was at wherever location and timeline he originated from. It could have been one of the Duplicates, or one of her clones too. Without knowing where and when he was from, there was no way to be sure. It was clear to him Cameron was as much of a target as any version of John was.

"And you…." Bob said as he looked at Cameron. "You must be there too."

Cameron was sure she would need to conduct some type of remedial corrective action in the future, every future. Some 'temporal management' might be necessary.

"I need to go on some 'time missions'." Cameron said.

Cammy was still upset over the entire episode. She wanted retribution as well.

"You can use my chassis with your spare chip." Cammy said. "It's for any or all of the timelines to eliminate these people."

Cameron would prefer to clean things up herself. She did appreciate Cammy's offer however. It would allow there to be two of her with her current program. Cammy's program was out of date and would remain so.

"Thank you." Cameron said. "Let's go see what else we find in here."

Bob hoped to encounter any threats first. He wanted to keep his promise to Savannah.

"Affirmative…." Bob said as he took the lead.

Bob saw the anger Cameron experienced and the cruelty which followed. He saw Cammy respond to them in the same way. They both ran the same program. He knew the issues were very personal to Cameron. He knew she was capable of love and hate. He was aware at this point in his development, he started to experience some of those emotions as well. He was just glad he didn't have the advanced programming like the female Terminators shared. It seemed life was complicated enough without the added complications of advanced feelings and emotions which seemed impossible to control.

He really wondered why Cameron and Cammy didn't fight with each other even more than some of the verbal sparring he heard from time to time. Even though they shared almost everything in common, there was still the potential for a lot of friction between them over what they didn't share.

Gail kept a watchful eye on the suspect's vehicle.

"The truck's starting to move." Gail said.

Savannah looked over at the truck. The movement Gail indicated was a little bit different than what she expected to see. As she watched, the truck was flipped over on its side. It was then flipped onto its roof, which collapsed. It all happened in a matter of seconds.

There was one of Cameron's Terminators on each side of the flipped over truck. One of them reached down and pulled the man out as he fumbled for a pistol. The closest Terminator grabbed it from him. The other Terminator rolled the truck twice more and sent it over the embankment. It disappeared with a crunching sound and breaking glass. There was no explosion or fire.

The first Terminator held the man. He carried him by his neck. He brought him over and dumped him in front of the girls. The captured man unleashed a string of curses, insults and 'promises' of what he was going to do to them.

Gail disliked the rudeness in front of Jesse and Savannah. She wanted to snap his neck, but she knew they needed some answers first.

"We need information." Gail said. "I can try and beat it out of him. He may not talk."

Jesse didn't care for the man's foul mouth either. She dealt with more than a few individuals just like him. She pulled out her knife.

"I can make him talk." Jesse said.

Savannah looked at Jesse, and up to the hillside where Cameron was at. It was time for answers. She was tired of dealing with the Grays and all of the crap they were responsible for. She thought about getting her hands dirty earlier up on the mountain side. It didn't happen. She was ready to make a statement. It was time.

John Henry monitored the events with the man from the truck. He didn't approve of what Jesse was about to 'teach' Savannah.

John saw the truck was flipped over and the driver pulled out. The video feed after it switched back to the mine. He was a little confused. It seemed like he missed something.

"What happened to the driver?" John asked.

John Henry knew what was actually occurring. He didn't wish to elaborate.

"He was terminated." John Henry said.

John Henry knew he would be soon enough. If he wasn't killed outright, blood loss would end his life.

Since it didn't appear to be a Skynet facility, John wanted to conclude the operation. There was no Skynet computer to look for. There was no version of Skynet to destroy. There was no need for Cameron to use a nuke.

"I want Cameron to withdraw if there's nothing in the hillside. Have them deposit the bodies in the opening and we will blow it closed." John said. "I want the operation wrapped up and everyone back."

John Henry observed the process was already in progress.

"I've sent word." John Henry said. "They're moving the bodies now and word will be relayed to Cameron inside."

John was afraid if Cameron was deep inside the mine, she wasn't going to want to come out. He knew his request, or even 'order', wouldn't do it. He hoped Savannah would do it. He didn't know what she was currently involved with and was about to expand her knowledge of 'enhanced interrogation'. He would have been appalled if he knew how 'enhanced' it actually was.

Word from the Command Center was relayed to Cameron. A 'runner' from outside was sent in.

Cameron was displeased with the message.

"I'm not ready to withdraw." Cameron said. "I want answers."

The Terminator who relayed the message thought it was quite clear. Since it didn't appear Cameron was going to comply with it, he wanted to reiterate his understanding of the order so there were no reproductions directed back at him later on.

"It's an 'order' from the General." Lou said. "He wanted me to make it clear."

Cameron knew John couldn't control her. She didn't want Lou to worry about it.

"The message is understood." Cameron said. "Thank you for your concern."

She didn't want to make a big deal about it in front of the other Terminators.

Cammy looked at Cameron for a moment but didn't say anything

"Pass the word back we're working on it." Cameron said.

Lou departed with the new message to relay back to the Command Center.

Cameron didn't intend to leave the mine until she found some answers and checked everything inside of there. She took some time to look things over at what the men were working on when they arrived. She could soon hear the sound of running footsteps again. She hoped it wasn't another 'order'.

Lou ran back with a new report. It was a confidential report for Cameron. Her mind changed instantly.

Cameron received word Jesse wanted to conduct an 'enhanced interrogation' and would 'instruct' Savannah on the best ways to do it for the maximum impact and shock value. It was very disturbing to her. She didn't want Savannah to do it or learn it. It was clear someone else didn't want Savannah to learn it either and it was why Lou was sent back in with a personal message for her.

A sense of fear and panic gripped Cameron. She no longer cared about what was in the mine. She cared about what would be in the mind of Savannah going forward.

"Cammy, finish up in here and blow this place." Cameron said as she ran from the opening toward the interrogation area.

She wanted answers but she didn't want Savannah to obtain them Jesse's way. The operation was over to her now as she ran to stop Savannah. Some things were more important than others.

Earlier:

Savannah asked Gail to start on the man 'Terminator style'.

Gail beat the man with no apparent effect. There were multiple broken bones.

Savannah thought it was a very violent experience to watch up close. She knew she needed to cross a line. She was hesitant to do so. The violence would only get worse when the interrogation methods did as well.

Jesse did the type of interrogation to more than a few men.

There was the sound of someone running towards them. Someone running seemed like a problem. Gail rose up to meet the threat.

"Stop!" Cameron said as she ran to the scene which began to unfold.

Jesse was more than a little surprised at Cameron's arrival. She wanted to get the information. She didn't care how she got it.

"We need the information." Jesse said. "He needs a little motivation."

Cameron didn't want Savannah to partake in such activity. She didn't want the images in her mind.

"I don't want Savannah to do it." Cameron said.

Savannah watched as Gail beat the man earlier. She knew the man needed further motivation or he wouldn't talk.

"We've tried everything else." Savannah said.

Cameron didn't want her girls to act like this. They were both above this type of behavior.

"No. I forbid this." Cameron said. "Neither of you will do it."

Savannah felt she needed to prepare herself for the future. There were times when she probably wouldn't have any type of Terminator support. She thought it would be better to be prepared now, than to wait until the future to start.

"Cameron, I need to learn to do whatever it takes to protect the future, John, Allison, and YOU." Savannah said. "I don't WANT to do this, but it must be done."

Gail didn't want to see Savannah go down the same road Jesse traveled many times. It was a road she didn't need to go down, but often reverted back to it when they dealt with future Scavengers.

The man mumbled a few words.

Gail moved closer and listened.

"Wait." Gail said. "He's ready to talk now."

The man talked and talked until Cameron swiftly terminated him.

Cameron prevented Savannah from 'going there', this time. She knew next time Savannah would do what she thought needed to be done to protect the group. It was clear Savannah was ready to cross the line. She knew if she hadn't been there, Savannah may have acted.

She knew what Savannah wanted to do now. It appeared it was still going to happen anyway.

Cameron looked silently at both of them for a long moment. She turned her back and walked away.

Bob and Cammy both looked at each other when Cameron ran out earlier. They both looked at Lou for a further explanation. He didn't give one. It was clearly some type of 'personal message' for Cameron.

The area of the mine was searched. Cammy and Bob found nothing further inside the mine. The interior was already blasted closed further in. It apparently happened years ago. I could see there was an attempt at some point to remove some of the blockage. Didn't appear to go very far before whoever tried it gave up. They decided to pull out after Cameron took off. They placed some charges and left. All the bodies were placed inside before the entrance was sealed. All the vehicles were inspected and driven away.

From deep in the canyon there was a series of explosions, all of them were muted except the last one.

The operation was over.

Cameron didn't want Savannah to find the darkness. She didn't want the darkness to find Savannah.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

I'm Not Going To Let You

Many things to me have been said
Nobody knows how they can hurt
Nobody understands my feelings
I'm treated very rude and curt

I may know a lot of things
I lack experience in others
I want to learn and understand
If I'm given my druthers

Someone may be different
Not everyone is the same
That's no reason to blame
Or make them feel any shame

When someone reaches out
Don't be so quick to bite
They are who they are
Try not to treat them contrite

Only those who you really love
Can ever truly hurt you
You're never going to do it again
I'm not going to let you

Nobody