Chapter 699

Molten Metal

The alert went out through the Resistance base. They were low on Terminators, but not on Resistance fighters. Everyone knew they needed to play their part. They drilled for events like this.

Vanna, Jesse, and Riley all arrived at the Command Center with vests and weapons.

"Jesse will look after Riley. I'll look after John and John Henry." Vanna said.

Riley didn't think she needed to be looked after.

"We'll all look out for everyone." Riley said.

John and John Henry looked at each other. It was clear all the girls were serious. They knew it was better to be safe than sorry.

John Henry wasn't so sure they were in danger. He quickly checked with CamNet. He looked at the three girls and then focused his attention on John. There was new information he received. He was reluctant to divulge it. He knew he needed to because it was going to come out sooner rather than later.

"I have news you're going to like even less than Derek and Kyle being out in the field." John Henry said.

John was afraid John Henry was going to tell him it was Young Allison. He figured he better hear it anyway. He used a figure of speech to show his disapproval for whatever he was going to hear.

"Don't tell me." John said.

John Henry remained silent. He would actually rather not tell him. He was sure it was going to produce an extremely negative reaction.

Vanna, Riley, and Jesse all looked at each other. They wanted to know what the news was.

"Spill it." Vanna said.

It was clear John Henry wasn't going to say anything.

The three girls looked at each other again and giggled.

John looked over at them and frowned. He turned his attention back to John Henry.

"Tell me." John said. "You know it's just an expression."

John Henry kept a straight face. He knew what John wanted. He just didn't want to have to be the one to say it. He figured he needed to look serious with the news he was about to tell John.

"Sarah is with a team of Terminators who went to reinforce Cameron." John Henry said.

At first John thought he was joking. His mother went to Palmdale earlier with his sister Jan to see Claire and Summer. There was a new knot in his gut when he briefly wondered if Jan was still with her. He was sure Sarah wouldn't do anything so reckless. He needed to know.

"You're right, it's even worse, and I like it even less." John said. "Who has Jan?"

John Henry was already assured Jan was in good hands.

"Allison does, both of them." John Henry said. "Young Allison sent all the Metal girls in Palmdale to help Cameron and Savannah."

John was as pleased as he was displeased. Cameron and Savannah could use the help. He felt it was the same type of action Cameron would have taken. It was clear Young Allison followed her training. She was willing to take the risk, like Cameron. She was willing to push it to achieve victory. She also sent away all of their personal protection. The only positive thing he saw about it was the fact both Allison and Young Allison, along with Claire, were still at the Young residence. It could have been worse, they all could have gone. It all added up to one thing for him.

"This is getting better by the minute." John said.

John Henry wanted to reassure John the girls weren't totally vulnerable. They already took precautions of the highest caliber.

"They have the Terminators in the Detail house to watch over them." John Henry said. "They've all retreated into the bunker and closed the blast door."

John was concerned about his sister's protection.

"Do they have enough of the smaller size vests?" John asked.

John Henry was already notified as to what Young Allison did by CamNet. She was very specific about it.

"No." John Henry said. "Young Allison gave hers to Jan. She said it was too tight for her anyway. She needs a full size one now in order to fit comfortably."

The three girls looked at each other, but didn't say anything. They all knew Young Allison looked almost like Cameron in every detail.

Riley wondered about all of the details as to what exactly was going on in Palmdale.

"Who's in charge there?" Riley asked. "Is it Allison's mother?"

John Henry didn't want to get too specific. He knew exactly who was the one calling the shots. It was Young Allison. He gave her the safer answer.

"CamNet is working with both Allisons." John Henry said. "Claire is in charge of Summer and Jan. There are multiple rooms associated with the bunker. It's really a miniature version of our base. It's constructed under the Young residence and the surrounding houses on each side. They are all controlled by Cameron."

John Henry was aware Cameron controlled many of the properties around the Young residence. He wouldn't be surprised if she controlled everything there in a matter of time.

John knew Young Allison would call the shots. He also knew CamNet would back her play. He figured it was a safe bet Young Allison would act on her own with CamNet if she thought the situation warranted it. It was exactly what she did so far by sending all the Metal girls away. It was probably one of the reasons why his mother was allowed to go. He still found it highly disturbing. Both of his parents were out there, along with his uncle, and he was sitting on his rear end in a fortified bunker. It just left him with an uneasy feeling. He was sure his mother would push his sister a little harder now going forward. Once Young Allison entered combat, he was sure his mother would push Jan as well. He knew Kyle was totally against it in every way. He heard some vicious arguments between them about it.

He hoped Young Allison would go through John Henry and him first. He was pretty sure if he became too involved with what was going on at the Young residence, he would get the same treatment he received from Cameron earlier. He needed to remember Cameron did the 'Neural Interface' with Future Allison before Skynet sent her out to infiltrate the Resistance. He was sure a lot of the same personality would be evident in Young Allison. She was the one they all started from. In other words, it's where Cameron got her 'mean streak'. He didn't want to butt heads with Young Allison and CamNet. He already knew the outcome before anything would even start.

He remembered Jesse referred to Allison as a firecracker when she first left the future and returned to the past, the present. He actually wondered how Young Allison was going to rate on the same scale. He actually served with Allison and she was extremely proficient at everything she did. She was highly respected among her peers both male and female for her efforts. From what he heard, Young Allison was going to be about ten times better trained and aggressive in combat matters. He didn't think a firecracker would be enough to cover it. He figured dynamite or nitroglycerin might be more appropriate.

He should have actually thought a little further. Young Allison was more like a nuclear weapon than any of the smaller explosives, especially a firecracker.

The Metal girls arrived at the local airport. The UH-1 was rented and ready. Cammy used the paperwork Cam used. Since they looked identical, no one at the airport would know the difference. Hanna was already in the system. At least CamNet put her back in for now. She knew the files would appear when necessary and disappear the rest of the time.

Two of Cameron's Terminators arrived right before they departed. They brought additional munitions with them in discreet carrying cases. Sarah, Holly and Anna all strapped in for the ride.

Hanna looked over the two Terminators. She saw them at the temporary desert base in the desert on the last operation and when they retrieved the three drones from the old packing house. She knew how Sheila and Ally referred to them.

"It's 'Pete and RePete'." Hanna said.

The two male Terminators didn't look pleased.

'Pete and RePete' looked at each other.

Cammy and Hanna went over the helicopter with a quick inspection. They made sure the governor was disconnected on the turbine. They never knew when they would need a little extra speed or lift. The equipment could take a little punishment every now and then. They fired the turbine and took off.

Sarah looked around a little nervously as the helicopter took off.

"This thing is loud." Sarah said through her headset.

Anna normally didn't go out on any missions. She was out a few times with Cameron, specifically when she did some of her 'off the books' activities. She knew they were just at the start of the operation. There was bound to be a lot more go down as the day progressed into the evening.

"I have a feeling it's going to be louder before we're done." Anna said.

Sarah remembered Anna's base program was 'Cameron', with the 'Neural Interface' with 'Savannah'.

"I just want to make sure about something." Sarah said. "You're 'Cameron' right?"

Anna wasn't sure why she asked the question. She thought Sarah already knew. She wondered if something else was going to be tied into it or not. She thought the answer would need to come with a qualifier. It wasn't exactly the same thing, even if it was. It wasn't.

"I'm, 'a Cameron'. I share her program along with the 'Neural Interface' from Savannah." Anna said.

Sarah smiled and nodded.

"It sounds like a 'double bill'. It's good enough for me." Sarah said. "I'll follow 'Cameron' into battle anytime."

Sarah knew the 'Savannah' in Anna would always use good judgment and watch out for everyone and herself. She decided not to mention it. She knew Cammy was there as well. Cammy lacked any moderation Anna might have because she was a clone of Cameron, with only a few modifications.

Anna was very pleased to go into battle with Sarah. She also knew she needed to make sure she was protected. She tried to prevent her from going with them, but Sarah insisted on going because Cameron and Savannah were in danger. She wanted to give her a little reassurance.

"Then I'll lead you and watch over you." Anna said.

Sarah hoped she wasn't too rusty. Cameron and John pretty much kept her out of any combat. They tried real hard to keep Derek and Kyle out of it too, but they managed to snag Jim and go out anyway.

"I can hardly wait." Sarah said. "I haven't needed to get my hands dirty in awhile."

Anna was surprised when Sarah said she was going to go with them. She was going to protest, but Sarah gave her a stern look and said she was going and it was final. She wanted to know a little bit more.

"Why did you insist on coming?" Anna asked. "It's not something you needed to do."

Sarah felt she didn't do enough. She didn't like it because Savannah was always out there risking her life. She thought the burden should be shared. She knew her son would need both of them. It was her duty as his mother to make sure he stayed protected. Cameron and Savannah would protect him.

"I did it for John." Sarah said. "Cameron and Savannah are out there. I think they can use all the support we can gather."

Anna wanted to point out the inevitable. She decided to leave Young Allison's name out of it, this time. It wasn't one she liked to see included, even if she knew it would be.

"It's the 'Natural Order'." Anna said.

Sarah never liked to hear it. She also noticed Anna didn't mention Young Allison. She wondered if it was for personal reasons. She saw how Anna and Young Allison interacted with each other. There was a lot there, even if nothing was concrete.

"I'm starting to believe it more and more." Sarah said. "I understand now. They all need to be together, the four of them."

Sarah really did believe it. She saw enough to know they all needed each other to function to their fullest, without anyone getting terminated. It was something she asked Claire about since she was in Cameron's future for months. She wanted a fresh perspective of what exactly was going on and how everything worked. It was pretty much as Cameron indicated all along.

Holly could attest to having viewed the 'Natural Order' firsthand in Cameron's future.

"It is the 'Natural Order'." Holly said. "I've lived it as well."

During the flight Holly and Cammy told stories of what they witnessed in Cameron's future. They both told the same story with added details each of them possessed. By the time they were done, there was no doubt whatsoever the 'Natural Order' was a necessary reality. It was fact beyond doubt.

Sarah wondered if John was going to be a lucky man, or get nagged to death by three strong minded and strong willed females. She knew he was going to have to play his card straight, otherwise he was going to be in a jam. She heard how the three females in the future all stuck together whenever one of them was afflicted by some type of issue in a negative way. She figured it would be a wild ride whatever it was.

Cam was still inside the crate. She advised Al and Steve to hold at the north end of the old newspaper plant on the east side for now. If they moved up, they risked being detected. She wasn't in danger now as long as she stayed put.

She peeked out from time to time to see if anything changed, it hadn't. She wanted to see what they loaded into the boxcars, as they did with the other two which recently departed.

Where her crate was situated, she was unable to view the loading process. She could hear clanking every now and then. She figured it must be an HK Track on the move. It wasn't a good sign either. She didn't know if it was being tested, or if it was on some type of security duty.

She assumed they would load the crates of toys back into the boxcar when they were finished loading the 'real goods' in it. They would be the first thing anyone would see when they opened the boxcar and any of the crates they could get to.

She knew she needed to get ready for action. There was bound to be an alert soon from one of the other locations. If they realized the communications were jammed, it would cause some type of alert as well.

Cam knew everything was on a timer. They didn't know when it would go off. The best case scenario would be when the box truck full of Resistance Terminators was backed up to the dock. She sent all the information she could gather to the Command Center. The one thing she did know for sure was she needed to be out of the crate before it was loaded back into a boxcar.

Cameron and Savannah returned to the SUV. They looked around. Gail wasn't there. They both felt some worry.

"I'm over here." Gail said as she emerged from behind some rocks.

Savannah glanced over and realized Gail took up a firing position to cover the SUV in case anybody came to investigate it. She would have been able to ambush them. If Gail remained by the SUV, someone could have ambushed her, or got the drop on her instead.

"It was a good firing position." Savannah said.

Gail wanted to be able to assist Cameron and Savannah and not be a 'sitting duck' in the SUV.

"It seemed like I was less of a target if I was away from the SUV." Gail said. "I figured if an HK drone showed up, the SUV would draw its attention first. I hoped to be able to avoid it in the initial contact."

Gail watched Savannah toss her undergarments in the back.

Savannah knew there were two stories behind her underwear now. One was at the pier, and one at the outpost they just left. She could see Gail was curious about them again.

"Don't even ask." Savannah said. "They're dirty now."

Cameron motioned for all three of them to get into the SUV. She wanted to breach the complex undetected. She wanted to get in before anyone found the terminated guard. She figured security would increase dramatically when they did. If anything was detected from the other locations, they would most likely go on some type of 'lock down'.

"We need to find another way in." Cameron said as she took the wheel of the SUV.

Savannah sat next to Cameron.

Gail got in the back.

Savannah still wanted to offer a safer option to Cameron. It was a viable option.

"We can wait for dark and call in a drone strike." Savannah said.

Cameron knew they could destroy everything. It wasn't what she wanted. It would most likely involve a bigger and more elaborate clean up if they used the drone strike. She wanted to know what they possessed.

"I need to know what they've done. I want to see what they have." Cameron said. "I want to see what we can take. They are all valuable resources whether it's parts, sub-assemblies, or the finished product."

Savannah wanted to remind Cameron they were a little short handed for a big operation.

"We need more personnel for anything other than a recon." Savannah said. "If some type of fighting breaks out with just a few of us, it's going to be a problem for us."

CamNet contacted Cameron directly and updated her with the latest developments. She also informed her with the action Young Allison took to get them additional help. She couldn't say she was pleased about what Young Allison did on several levels, but she did understand why Young Allison did it. It was as much about protecting Savannah and her, as it was about conducting the operation so it could have a more successful outcome. She was a little concerned about one of the team members. She didn't question her ability, she only was concerned about her safety.

"There are four other operations happening now." Cameron said. "Cammy, Holly, Hanna, and Anna are on their way here now with Sarah."

Savannah immediately looked over at Cameron when she mentioned Sarah's name. It was a surprise to her. She felt as much alarm as she did concern.

"Sarah?" Savannah asked. "Who is watching the girls?"

Cameron didn't see it as a problem currently. She trusted Young Allison's judgment and response. She taught her to think and act boldly to do what needed to be done, when it needed to be done.

"Nobody…." Cameron said. "CamNet has control. Allison and Young Allison are in charge. The Detail house is on alert. The girls all moved into the bunker and closed the blast door. Claire is with them."

Savannah knew it was a major precaution. She wondered how Claire and Allison were going to like taking 'orders' from Young Allison. It was clear who would be the one in charge there.

She knew Sarah being with them was going to cause a problem with John and Cameron. She doubted either of them would challenge her on it directly.

"What's their ETA?" Savannah asked.

Cameron knew they needed additional vehicles.

"Fifty minutes from now." Cameron said. "We need to procure more ground transportation. Two of my Terminators are with them as well."

Gail quickly calculated the size of the group.

"Two more vehicles should do it." Gail said. "Savannah and I can each commandeer one."

Cameron drove back out along the utility line access road. She reentered the street in a cloud of dust.

Savannah was worried about the outposts up on the hill.

"We may be spotted when we approach later on." Savannah said.

Cameron already considered it and asked CamNet to come up with a better solution.

"We need a better way in." Cameron said. "I have CamNet on it."

Savannah knew CamNet could exert extreme pressure and influence to make things happen. There are also unlimited funds available for her to influence anyone with vast amounts of money. Millions of dollars were just a number to CamNet. She could add zeros to bank accounts, as easily as she could remove them.

"I'm sure it will be something creative." Savannah said.

Cameron was updated as Savannah spoke. She was surprised at the solution. It was certainly an original approach.

"Because of county budget cutbacks, it will be." Cameron said. "CamNet just gave me a lead. We can even land the helicopter near there."

Savannah hoped CamNet would be able to buy them some time with the hillside outpost.

"I can hardly wait." Savannah said. "Will CamNet monitor the radio frequency the guards were using?"

Cameron already informed CamNet what she wanted.

"Yes." Cameron said. "CamNet can even give another message like the last one. It should buy us more time. She can emulate the terminated guard's voice as necessary to respond to the radio communication."

Savannah would prefer it if the girls didn't run into a welcoming committee.

"Cool…." Savannah said. "We don't want things to go hot before they need to."

Cameron looked over at Savannah and flashed her sly smile.

"Let's get some wheels." Cameron said. "Do you like red?"

Savannah thought it depended upon what it was.

"As long as it's not blood I'm good with it." Savannah said.

Cameron's face returned to a sterner expression.

"I was thinking of something else. It will probably be 'Candy Apple Red'." Cameron said. "If it is blood, it won't be ours."

Savannah hoped not. They were about to face the unknown.

Sheila and Ally were ready to act at the small foundry. They went in the front door. The other two teams of Terminators went in the two rear entrances.

There was a man standing in the front area. He wondered what they were doing there. Sheila drove the butt of her M4 against his head with a loud 'crack'. He went down unmoving. Ally opened the door to the back with a splintering of wood, as the locked door gave way.

There was some muffled shooting from somewhere they couldn't see. They knew it was one of their team. It was followed by more suppressed gunfire. They moved deeper into the interior.

There was a vat of molten metal. It was located further in as they moved along. Ally and Sheila each shot one man apiece. There were some screams and some more suppressed gunfire from in the back.

"Watch out above you." Ally said as she fired a suppressed burst from her M4.

Sheila dodged back as a man fell into the vat of molten metal. It produced a reaction to the molten mass. Molten metal shot out of the container in all directions. His screams died as quickly as he did.

Ally wondered if the heat terminated him before the molten metal filled his lungs. It didn't really matter, terminated was terminated.

"I have to say his termination showed a certain sense of style." Ally said.

Sheila looked at a splash drop of molten metal which landed on the floor in front of her after the man's screaming high dive. She touched a small splash piece which quickly solidified. It was still very warm.

"It's not Coltan." Sheila said.

Ally was glad to hear it. Since John wanted all the Coltan, she wondered what they were going to do with a giant molten vat of it if it was. It would need to be poured into ingots and cooled somewhat before they could transport it.

They met up with the other team members and decided to toss the bodies into the molten metal. Each one produced a hiss as it entered the molten steel. More molten metal splashed out as the liquid in the bodies was released.

Two of the team already started to load the box truck with pallets of Coltan.

They heard another truck approach in the rear. Ally and Sheila headed in the direction of the sound. They wanted to make sure who it actually was.

"We have visitors." Ally said as she saw who was in the truck. "It's another box truck. It's some of Cameron's Terminators."

Sheila looked over what else they would need to take which was Coltan related.

"We need to get these castings and forgings loaded." Sheila said.

The first box truck left with a heavy load, the second one already backed up.

Ally wanted to check the security in the front.

"I'll watch the front for now." Ally said.

Sheila wanted one final look around. She wasn't sure they terminated everybody. She wanted to make sure no one missed the party.

"I'll make a final sweep as the boys finish loading the goods." Sheila said. "I want to make sure we don't miss anything or anyone."

Ally watched Sheila walk away. It seemed she was focused on something.

About forty seconds later, there was a loud scream.

Ally rushed back with her M4 up as she searched for a target. She was a little surprised at what she saw.

Sheila stood on the back of a woman. She bent both of the woman's arms in back of her.

As Ally watched, both of the woman's arms were broken.

The woman screamed as she thrashed about.

Sheila noticed Ally was there now.

"The Bitch cut me." Sheila said. "She damaged my face."

Ally saw a cut along Sheila's cheek. It was a big one.

The woman with the thrashing body still admitted a gurgling muffled scream.

Sheila's eyes glowed bright red now.

"I want to get her into the molten metal while she's still alive." Sheila said. "I want to make sure she suffers for what she did to me."

Sheila picked up the withering woman and tossed her in the molten metal. She was still alive. The muffled gurgling screams grew in intensity for a few seconds as the women's flesh burnt away.

"She's lucky I don't have more time." Sheila said. "I would've carved her up good. It wouldn't have been quick either."

Ally was a little shocked at the brutality Sheila just displayed but impressed with the speed and efficiency she did it with. It was all actually quite creative. Everything she witnessed happened in about fifteen seconds. Ally wondered if Sheila did this same thing before. If she did, it may have been in the past. She checked around them to make sure it was clear and then reached up to touch Sheila's cheek.

"Let me see your face." Ally said.

Sheila touched her cheek and looked at Ally.

"The Bitch got me good." Sheila said.

Ally could see it was a deep cut.

"I'll need to put a few sutures in it for you." Ally said. "It should heal in a day. It's a clean cut. You'll be as good as new in no time."

It appeared things were wrapped up.

"We're finished here." One of Cameron's Terminators said.

Sheila and Ally placed Thermite grenades on the large machinery and pulled the pins.

In a few minutes the fire spread around the area.

Ally wanted to make sure the fire got a good hold on the building.

"John Henry, have you suppressed all 911 calls?" Ally asked.

It was standard procedure for John Henry.

"Yes." John Henry said.

Sheila looked back at the burning building with contempt.

"Good, this place will burn to the ground then." Sheila said.

John was able to determine Sheila was injured somehow during the operation from the com traffic. He was a little concerned about exactly what it was. He hadn't heard any other gunfire other than the suppressed gunfire from their team.

"Sheila, how badly are you damaged?" John asked.

Sheila already regained her composure. She wanted to mess with John.

"I'll be fine tomorrow." Sheila said. "Ally will stitch me up. It was just a little cut. Everything else is in top shape, in case you want to give it a whirl. None of the goods were damaged and it's all good to go right now. Remember, all you need to do is ask."

Sheila was always the kidder, even after some damage and a display of savage brutality.

Ally tried not to laugh. She thought about what Cameron did. Cameron programmed all of them so if John asked them to be with him, none of them could say 'No'. She wasn't sure if it was fair or not, but it seemed something no one would want to miss anyway. Cameron didn't want John to be lonely, and all of them were there for him. They were forbidden from any type of sexual relations with a male, until John was with them first. It was something they all wanted to try at least one time anyway to see how it compared to being with a female.

She was aware the improved 'Neural Interface' Cameron perfected, gave them almost human characteristics, especially when it came to brutality. Humans were the most brutal, savage and cruel creatures on Earth. They were also the most loving and caring too. It all depended on the person. She took one look back and determined it was time to go to the old newspaper plant. It seemed everything was already underway at the other satellite locations without too much difficulty. There was still one big building to take down. They would need to deal with Cameron's location as well.

"We'll move with the rest of the team to Cam's location." Ally said.

Sheila looked back and spoke softly to Ally.

"I want some payback." Sheila said.

Ally knew if any Grays were captured alive at the next location, they were going to have a really bad day if Sheila got a hold of them.

"I'm sure you'll get it." Ally said.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Raging Fire

Thoughts running through the streams of a mind
Thoughts running through the streams of time

Emotions and feeling together cascading
From our very selves we try evading

What is love, where's it at, does it even exist
Our very selves dissolve in life's fuzzy blinding mist

We are who we are but who are we
We see what we see but what do we see

We want to live and we want to feel
We want to give and we what's real

What's happening around us happens to us
It's influencing us what it will do to us

Untamed libido grows building higher and higher
Like a burning lit fuse it snowballs into a raging fire

We let the lips touch the hands will grope
When the secret spot is shared we fulfill our hope

The bridge has been burnt there's no turning back
Was this the main course or just another snack

Now it's really the mind from which the heart felt
How do we play the cards that to ourselves we've dealt

Nobody