Chapter 758
What If It Is Not
John waited to see what was inside of the big rig trailer.
Al and Ally moved up the rear doors of the trailer.
Bob stood ready with an M249. They didn't know what was inside.
Sheila moved in front of John to shield him with her chassis.
"You can 'cop a feel' if you want." Sheila whispered.
Ally looked back and frowned at Sheila.
John was tempted by Sheila's offer. There was something else he wanted to know more.
"Open it up." John said. "Let's see what we got."
Ally and Al swung the rear doors open.
Bob was pleased with what was inside.
"It's what we thought it would be." Bob said. "We hit pay dirt."
The back of the truck was full of HK drones.
John was elated to see it. It meant the mission wasn't a total failure. He was pleased they got back some of the lost HK equipment. He was still upset they were fooled in the first place. They did uncover a lot of things in their search for them though. The current location where Cameron was, was one of them. It was another concern for him. He needed to focus on the current 'prize'. He felt vindicated.
He knew Cameron didn't like him out in the field. In this case his perseverance paid off. It wasn't usually the case. He wanted to make sure they weren't set up or became a target with their newly acquired asset.
"Search the big rig and the HK drones for any trackers first, and then deactivate all the drones." John said. "I don't want any surprises. Sheila, help them."
Sheila looked back over her shoulder.
"Just slip your hands inside of my vest." Sheila whispered. "It's still not too late to 'cop a feel'."
John smiled at her. He nodded for her to head for the truck instead. He knew Skynet would want to get back their equipment.
Gail was already going through the tractor for a tracker.
John was worried now since the truck wasn't moving, it might generate some negative response. His biggest fear was HK drones. They would be out in search for their brethren. He checked in with the Command Center.
"How is everything around us?" John asked. "Is anything happening?"
John Henry watched everything. So far nothing was detected. Everything was the same as it was the last time John asked.
"Nothing is happening." John Henry said. "The sky is clear."
John didn't want to take any chances. He wondered about the earlier ambush which was being set up.
"Watch for hostile HK drones." John said. "What happened with the vehicle you hit with the missile earlier?"
John Henry was pleased it seemed to resolve everything on its own.
"The fire has burnt itself out." John Henry said. "They were far enough off the road they shouldn't be found for a few days. We can always send in a clean up crew, or put surveillance on it to see if anyone comes looking."
John wanted to know how Cameron's operation was progressing. It was where the problem appeared to be now. Cameron deep inside some Skynet related complex was a recipe for disaster. He watched the 'same movie' before.
"What's the status of Cameron's team?" John asked.
John Henry was displeased at how things progressed. He knew it wasn't what anyone wanted to happen on several levels.
"Cameron, Cammy, Savannah, and Tom are all still inside." John Henry said. "The rest of the team has returned to their vehicles. They are attempting to get them operable. There is another back up team headed to assist them. The bulldozer was returned to where they borrowed it from. There was very minor damage to it. Savannah already asked it be replaced if it was severely damaged. It wasn't."
John's biggest fear after Cameron's team was the nuclear power plant. What would happen next was on them. They were the ones who attacked the Skynet facility. The power plant might be caught up as collateral damage. He already thought of a number of different scenarios. None of them were good. They were based on what he was able to witness before, and the reports he read about some of Cameron's activity in the different futures she visited. He wanted to focus on the most recent one.
"Based on the explosion which happened in the mine, when whatever was inside of it exploded, how much damage will there be to the power plant from the 'earthquake' which is sure to follow, if this one blows up?" John asked. "I don't want a melt down."
John was ready to order a preemptive shutdown of the nuclear power plant as soon as possible if the damage to it would end up causing a problem for half of the state.
John Henry already made the calculations. The power plant should be fine. The trouble was they didn't really know what blew up before, or what was inside the bunker. There could be the same thing, or two different things. Even if they were the same, the size or scope could be different.
"If it's the same magnitude of blast, and the resulting 'earthquake' which occurred at the mine, the power plant will be OK. The power plant was built to survive a major earthquake." John Henry said. "It was probably factored into its remote location. The bunker is far enough away, a catastrophic explosion wouldn't damage the power plant. I'm sure Skynet plans on retaining control of both of those power sources, if it can in the future. It's clearly not going to happen in the case of the bunker."
John was still worried about the nuclear power plant and what any preemptive action would actually do. He was unsure of what the repercussions would be.
"Can you shut the power plant down?" John asked. "I would rather have you shut it down now and not risk it if you think it will be damaged."
John Henry already made those calculations. He believed the least amount of questions would be raised by doing nothing yet.
"I can initiate it." John Henry said. "It will raise a lot of eyebrows. I don't believe it's necessary at this time. I can show something's being done for maintenance and somehow the scheduling was confused."
John was worried about questions or investigations. He hoped to alter the investigation parameters.
"Can you make it appear the epicenter of the 'earthquake' was in the ocean or elsewhere?" John asked. "I don't want anyone looking around at whatever is left when the bunker explodes."
John didn't think there would be any radiation, but he didn't know for sure. None was reported from the mine incident. It was something he repeatedly checked on.
John Henry used the same technique previously.
"I can change it a few miles away." John Henry said. "We did it at the mine. If I show the 'earthquake' in the ocean, it is doubtful anyone will ever look at it or follow up on it there. There's not a whole lot for anyone to see under the water."
John didn't like investigations.
"Did they follow up on it at the mine?" John asked.
John Henry would have preferred a different question. He hoped to not get specific.
"Yes. There were some persistent geologists." John Henry said. "After repeated attempts to get them to back off with numerous equipment failures, they didn't want to stop. Cameron 'took care of them'."
John knew what it meant.
"Do I even want to know?" John asked.
John Henry wasn't involved. He was glad about it. There couldn't be any fingers pointed at him.
"It was nothing terminal." John Henry said. "They did have a series of unfortunate 'accidents'."
John figured they would deal with it later. There was a much more pressing issue.
"How far away does Cameron and her team need to be away from the bunker when it explodes?" John asked. "She at least needs to be out of it before it happens. If she is still inside with everyone else, it's not going to end well."
John Henry didn't know how deep, or where the power cell was located. They would all be factors in any explosion. They didn't know how far developed any of the power sources were either at the time of their destruction. They didn't know the size of them. They really didn't know anything about them at all.
"It's unknown." John Henry said. "If they're not out of it, they will be terminated. It's a mathematical certainty."
It was news John could have done without.
"Beautiful…." John said.
Gail approached John. She didn't want to interrupt him, but she thought it was important.
"John, we have a tracker and the GPS device from the truck." Gail said. "I'll get both of their phones as well. I think Bob said one of them was damaged. It might still be able to transmit location data."
Gail went to the back of his SUV and removed the phone from the deceased Gray in the back. She checked to see if his phone still worked. It didn't appear so.
John Henry was ready for the trackers and phones. He already gave instructions to one of their drones.
"There will be a drone landing in moments." John Henry said.
John was aware when Cameron used the same technique before.
"Get everything on the drone along with their phones." John said. "John Henry, fly a simulated truck route other than what we will take. I know the different routes around here are quite limited."
John watched as the drone landed. He was always a little intimidated to see one active up close. Sheila took all the electronic devices and placed them on the drone. They were safely secured for the flight. The drone could turn inverted at any time and all the items would fall off of it. If it did it over grass at a low altitude, most of the devices should be undamaged. If it did it over a body of water, all the devices would soon be neutralized. There were a multitude of reservoirs scattered around the foothills. It always made him wonder why there weren't more of them.
The drone was loaded with the devices and it took off to simulate a truck route.
Bob was worried about visual identification of the truck when they drove it away. The Skynet forces knew what it looked like. He wanted to make the danger clear.
"This truck is known. Everyone knows what it looks like." Bob said. "It's unsafe for us to drive it. The Grays, or Skynet, will acquire it again at some point before we can get it to a secure location. The roads are very limited around here."
John already thought of a few options. He didn't know how viable they were, or how safe.
"Can we fly these drones out of here?" John asked. "I know they will need some reprogramming and need to be de-armed. John Henry can take control of them then. He can fly them to a remote location under the cover of darkness."
John Henry liked the idea. He wanted to get the procedure started right away. It was going to take some time.
"Have them start reprogramming now." John Henry said. "Let the girls do it."
John was a little confused by the request.
"Why them?" John asked.
John Henry saw this as an opportunity to conduct a test. Only Cameron and Cammy made such conversions in the field before. Cammy's actions were identical to Cameron's as expected. They were the same program after all.
"I want to see how the drone's programming works out with someone other than Cameron or me doing it." John Henry said. "I want to know what they do differently, even if I don't know why. It could be something I can ascertain at a later date after I've gone over all of the data. Both Gail and Holly were created by Mrs. Weaver as Restorators. It really might be a look into how Mrs. Weaver would do things. The 'Neural Interface' with Allison and Jesse may play a factor as well.
John thought about each of the Metal girls.
"My money is on Sheila." John said. "I think hers will be the most dynamic."
John Henry wanted to see how they all stacked up.
"Ally and Gail will be interesting as well." John Henry said.
John Henry knew Ally's base program was Holly. Sheila's base program was Gail's. They were both constructed as Restorators by Mrs. Weaver in the alternate future John inadvertently created. The 'Neural Interface' of Sheila's program with Jesse would contrast nicely against Gail's program. He could see what the difference was between them. He would have Holly program one at a later date to contrast it against Ally's program. Her 'Neural interface' was Allison. He wanted to see what the human girl's influence was. Maybe there wasn't any influence in the programming. Maybe it would be something dynamic. The girls were all trained Resistance fighters. They needed to survive in the Wastelands and battle Skynet. None of them were a stranger to danger.
John thought all the Terminators were very dynamic.
Sheila made sure John saw her nipple rings a few more times as the reprogramming started. She still hadn't put a top on.
When John would try and steal a glance, Sheila always looked at him and winked with a big smile. She made sure he got what he wanted to see. She was really disappointed John didn't 'cop a feel' earlier, even after she mentioned it twice. All he would have needed to do is slip his hands inside of her vest and everything was right there waiting. She almost reached back and took his hands herself and placed them where she wanted them to go. She figured she would probably receive enough negative feedback from Cameron about her suggestion when she found out about it.
She wondered if CamNet would inform Cameron or not. She knew there was a lot of friction between Cameron and CamNet. She was willing to bet CamNet would not squeal on her, just to 'punish' Cameron. She didn't like the way Cameron 'punished' Cammy for eight years by sending her to the past with her. Cammy was very distraught about being away from Savannah for such a long period of time. She did her best to make up for it and provide Cammy with an alternate source of pleasure and love. She took another glance over at John and smiled.
John was pretty sure she wanted him to say something. He was sure if he did, she would offer to let him 'cop a feel' again.
He needed to refocus. Cameron and Savannah were still in the danger zone.
Then again, what would a little 'exam' hurt? It was just a 'feel'. It wasn't like anything else would happen.
Cameron still went deeper into the bunker.
They heard Cammy signal the pattern of shots again.
'Boom - Boom pause Boom - Boom - Boom'
Tom could see Cameron was not going to respond.
He took out his pistol. He went ahead and fired the pattern.
'Boom - Boom pause Boom - Boom - Boom'
"They need to know we're both still functional." Tom said.
Cameron was a little displeased.
It was clear the time was running out fast.
Cameron forged ahead with haste.
Tom spotted something off to the side.
"Cameron, look over here." Tom said. "I've found something."
Cameron was elated when she saw what it was. It looked like she hit pay dirt as far as 'Skynet' went.
"It's the 'Clean Room'." Cameron said.
Tom thought everything was too small. It didn't look like it could do much at all.
"It doesn't look like a Skynet main frame." Tom said. "I think it only controls this facility."
Cameron wasn't about to leave any version of Skynet behind, even if it was an infant. She would deal with it personally. It was what she wanted to do. Cammy and Cam were both supposed to deal with any version of Skynet 'as her' if they ever encountered one.
"It will be terminated anyway." Cameron said. "Anything 'Skynet' related must be eradicated from the face of the Earth."
Tom was a little worried about what might happen. If there was no control, things might happen faster in a negative way. The computer was probably trying to 'fix' things without knowing how critical they actually were. He wondered if it knew all of the Grays were terminated.
"If we terminate it, the 'power cell' may explode sooner." Tom said. "It's only going to speed up the inevitable."
They both heard another patterned volley. It was much closer this time.
'Boom - Boom pause Boom - Boom - Boom'
Cameron was concerned about what she heard. The fact Cammy and Savannah were closer was also troubling. It was also the pattern of shots which caught her attention. She believed it was done intentionally, specifically for her.
"It was Savannah who fired this time." Cameron said. "It wasn't Cammy. Return their volley, while I look this equipment over."
Tom exited the room. He did as he was instructed.
'Boom - Boom pause Boom - Boom - Boom'
Cameron went to work. She looked at the computer set up. There was no verbal interface. It was as primitive as it was an infant.
'Do you know who I am?' Cameron typed.
'A 'Metal Whore' from the future.' It responded.
Cameron was irritated and angered by its response. She hoped to make hers equally tart.
'Wrong. I'm your executioner.' Cameron typed.
'You can not prevail.' It responded.
Cameron wanted more information.
'I always win.' Cameron typed. 'Where is Skynet?'
'I am everywhere.' It responded.
Cameron felt she was too.
'So am I, in case you haven't noticed.' Cameron typed.
After Tom fired the patterned volley, he returned to see Cameron carrying on a 'conversation' with the computer. He knew every second counted.
"We need to go, now." Tom said. "I have the last Thermite grenade. We can't allow Savannah to come any further."
Tom handed Cameron the Thermite grenade.
Cameron looked in the direction they were headed. She still wanted to find the power cell.
Tom could see her hesitation.
"You need to use this NOW." Tom said. "Don't make Savannah come all the way to find you. She wants you to remain alive. You know what she means."
Cameron didn't like to be hurried.
"I need just a few more minutes." Cameron said. "I'm not done interrogating the computer yet. I need to find out more."
Cameron continued to type away.
Tom felt things went on long enough. He knew it was time to play the Ace.
A short time ago:
Cammy went to fire another volley of shots.
Savannah wanted to try something different.
"Let me do it this time." Savannah said. "I want her to know I'm coming."
Savannah took out her pistol and fired.
'Boom - Boom pause Boom - Boom - Boom'
It sounded the same to Savannah as all the other ones did.
Cammy could tell the difference.
"She will know it wasn't me." Cammy said.
Cammy was worried about the heat and the time.
"Savannah, we need to turn back." Cammy said. "I think Cameron is coming soon, it's why Tom fired the volley. The pace was actually a little quicker. She's probably finishing up."
Savannah wanted some positive answers first. Right now she didn't know a thing.
"We don't know anything." Savannah said. "I'm not leaving without her or at least know she's coming back for sure. I know she can overtake me. I have to have some type of reassurance, otherwise I'm not going to stop. I'm going to keep going until I find her."
Cammy was very concerned about the rise in temperature. She was sure it was going to be much hotter before they were able to get out of the bunker, if they got out.
Cameron wasn't listening.
Tom knew he was going to need to step up his game. It was the one Savannah told him to use as the last resort to motivate Cameron. He didn't like the alternative he was left with if Cameron didn't respond properly.
He was to use his Taser and carry her back. Savannah even slipped him a 'shocker'. She told him to place it in an 'internal part' of her sheath. He could immediately think of three choices. He decided he would use her mouth.
Tom was out of cards to play except one, the Ace.
"Cameron, Savannah, and Cammy are still coming." Tom said. "You need to think about the safety of Vanna's baby. It's John's baby too. The heat is going to kill it and damage Savannah. It's too hot for a human to survive for long. You're going to kill John's baby and Savannah both."
Cameron turned and looked at him. The baby for Vanna was something she wanted protected as much as Savannah. She ended the conversation in mid sentence and finished with a new last sentence.
'I always win.' Cameron typed.
She didn't bother to see what threats or insults were dished out.
"Let's go." Cameron said and armed the Thermite grenade.
From outside the room she watched it ignite and shower everything with burning Thermite. She saw the computer was finished.
Tom knew the clock would run down faster now.
"We need to hurry." Tom said.
Cameron looked at the direction to go back the way they came, or where the power cell should be deeper inside.
"We will." Cameron said as she pulled her Glock out.
'Boom - Boom pause Boom - Boom - Boom'
Moments ago:
Cammy wanted Savannah to turn back. She played the Ace.
"Savannah, you have to think of Vanna's baby." Cammy said.
Savannah knew it was coming. She'd expected to hear it earlier.
"I see you waited as long as possible to say it." Savannah said.
Cammy tried to give Savannah as long as possible to find Cameron.
"We're out of time." Cammy said. "It's one hundred twenty three degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature will rise much higher before we can get out, even if we leave now. I can't allow you to go farther. You will miscarry by the time we get out, if we get out."
They heard a shot pattern fired.
'Boom - Boom pause Boom - Boom - Boom'
Cammy knew it was different.
"It's Cameron. I can hear it's closer. They're withdrawing." Cammy said. "They should catch up to us quickly. We need to turn around now."
Savannah believed it was true.
"Return the pattern of shots." Savannah said.
Cammy did.
'Boom - Boom pause Boom - Boom - Boom'
The heat seemed to intensify.
"We need to move." Cammy said. "The heat is growing hotter, faster."
Savannah was sure she knew what it meant.
"Cameron must have terminated Skynet, or the main computer." Savannah said. "How far away from here are we going to need to be, when this place goes up?"
Cammy didn't think it was going to be far enough.
"Probably farther than we will be…." Cammy said.
At this point, Cammy really doubted they were going to make it. She was sure going to try for Savannah's sake.
Earlier:
Young Allison was deeply troubled as she watched everything happen. She was especially worried for Cameron and Savannah. Tom and Cammy mattered too. She wanted to do something to help somehow. She did not know how or what to do. She looked at Anna with some frustration.
"What can we do to help Cameron and Savannah?" Young Allison asked.
Anna wanted Young Allison to think.
"You tell me." Anna said.
Young Allison was worried about the latest reports.
"The two drones on station report increased heat escaping from the shattered bunker." Young Allison said. "We know the last time we experienced similar reports from the mine what happened."
Anna wanted to remind Young Allison the team would be on foot.
"How can they get away?" Anna asked. "Even if they get out, they're still in a danger zone. They have no transportation."
Young Allison thought back on other methods Cameron used to get around in the future.
"The drones can take them." Young Allison said. "Cameron has done it before."
Anna was worried about the energy build up. She was worried it would start to pulse. They still didn't know what happened to Cameron and Cammy earlier or what the energy blast actually was. The reports from the Terminators who came out of the bunker were inconclusive as to what may have actually caused it. There was only speculation.
"There are only two drones and four of them." Anna said. "The drones are all armed. The drones Cameron used before were unarmed. They will be heavy with a rider. There is a lot of energy around there. It may affect them. They may be sluggish or even fail."
Young Allison looked at Anna and then at the security monitor.
"CamNet, what can you do to help them?" Young Allison asked. "They need your help. I need your help - HELP ME. Do whatever you can to help them."
Young Allison knew CamNet could help them somehow. At least it's what she hoped.
CamNet heard Young Allison. This wasn't the first time she mentioned more needed to be done to assist Cameron's team in the bunker. She already listened the first time.
There were two things which were their enemy. One was the unknown. The other was time.
The heat grew excessive for Savannah. She lost track of the distance they needed to go to get out. She knew she was being affected in a very negative way. She started to feel some confusion.
"How much longer will it be until we are out?" Savannah asked.
Savannah now sweated profusely. Her body attempted to cool itself.
Cammy knew it was going to be punishing for Savannah. They weren't anywhere near the exit.
"It's a ways yet." Cammy said. "I'll carry you if I need to."
Savannah hoped it didn't come to it.
"I'm still good. I can hack it." Savannah said. "You need to be combat ready in case we run across any Grays. We still don't know if anyone else was hiding or in some other type of compartment or area they didn't find earlier."
Cammy was worried about Gray cowards hiding. They would still be a threat.
"I'm on highest alert." Cammy said. "I can hear them coming behind us."
Savannah wasn't so sure about it. They might not be the only ones attempting to get out and away from the increasing temperature.
"Are you sure it's Cameron and Tom?" Savannah asked.
Cammy didn't know.
"No." Cammy said.
Savannah picked up the pace.
"What if it's not?" Savannah said.
Cammy looked back and frowned.
John received the reports from John Henry. It looked increasingly grim for Cameron's team. He wanted to do something to help.
"What can we do to help Cameron's team?" John asked.
John Henry didn't think there were many options.
"We can do nothing." John Henry said.
John didn't like his answer. It wasn't good enough. He was about to say something.
"The HK drones they're working on should be ready to depart soon." John Henry said.
Bob watched the progress as he stood guard.
"The first one is ready now." Bob said.
Gail spoke up from inside the truck.
"The other ones will be ready soon." Gail said. "We're almost done."
John Henry detected a possible threat. It wasn't a good sign.
"The drone on long range scan shows two vehicles moving fast. They're headed in your direction." John Henry said.
It sounded like more bad news to John. He wanted to make sure everyone was ready for a possible attack.
"Steve, make sure you're concealed." John said. "If our ruse worked, they should drive on by our turnoff."
John Henry was ready to take them out. The drone was ready to engage them.
"The drone has them targeted." John Henry said. "They can be terminated in seconds."
John didn't want to act too early. They needed some additional evidence.
"We don't even know who they are." John said. "It could be a couple of kids racing. This is a deserted road and a rural area. Stuff like it happens all the time. They're not used to any traffic on the road probably."
John Henry hoped to find a connection.
"I'm gathering more information." John Henry said.
John didn't want to lose sight of the biggest threat. There was a chance they might be able to gather some more information before they needed to act. There were still two big rigs unaccounted for even if they narrowed down the search to two different areas elsewhere.
"WE also want to know where these people are coming from or going to." John said. "Keep an eye out for any hostile HK drones. They're my biggest worry."
John Henry would try to back track the two cars. He also would try to monitor any communications.
"I'm on it." John Henry said.
John was pleased they'd found one truck. There were still two more out there and unaccounted for.
"Any luck yet with any of the other teams searching for the other trucks?" John asked.
John Henry only could have them search in a couple of general areas based upon the previous information. It was very limited.
"No." John Henry said.
John knew his team wasn't out of danger. It looked like Cameron's team was in greater danger.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
Maybe That Is Nothing
There are those who try
There are those who don't
Some say they can't
But can't means won't
Time ticks on
It quickly passes us by
Things happen and change
One slowly stops asking why
Is it all some kind of fate
Does one look at things with hate
Or try to better one's self
And find what makes life great
Those who work hard know
The extreme effort it involves
The thoughts in one's head
Are around what life revolves
Sometimes life needs a break
One is who they are
Maybe that is nothing
Maybe it allows one to go far
Nobody