Chapter 759

Electrical Surge

Savannah and Cammy moved through the bunker as they tried to get outside. They knew Cameron and Tom were behind them. Time seemed to be their biggest enemy.

They hoped there were no Grays between them. It was still possible there were some Grays they hadn't found yet. Grays were cowards by definition. There was a good chance there was one or two who were still hiding. They may have hid and didn't help their comrades. They now would try to save themselves. They would still be as big of a threat.

Savannah really felt the heat now. It was oppressive to her. She sweated profusely. She felt a little foggy in her mind as she hurried. She wasn't doing well at keeping track of the distance or time any longer.

"How much further is it?" Savannah asked.

Cammy was ready to carry Savannah. The temperature was excessive. She knew Savannah needed assistance.

"We're almost there." Cammy said. "It is now one hundred and twenty eight degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature is unsafe for you."

Savannah looked back. It seemed like Cameron and Tom should have caught up a long time ago. Maybe she needed to go back for them.

"What about Cameron and Tom?" Savannah asked. "How far back are they? Can you hear them?"

Cammy didn't want Savannah to stop. She detected a new threat. It was the same threat as it was in the mine. It was a deadly threat. It was soon going to make the threat of the heat seem insignificant as it continued to build. She didn't know where Cameron and Tom were at. She could only speculate.

"They should catch up to us before we get out." Cammy said. "I'm detecting smoke now as well."

Savannah could faintly detect it. She didn't have any breathing gear. It felt so hot. She needed to push on through. She hoped it was behind them. She couldn't quite tell where it came from.

"Is it in front of us?" Savannah asked. "It will be harder for me if it is."

Cammy was thankful it wasn't. Not yet anyway.

"It's in back of us." Cammy said. "It's coming our way."

Savannah looked back again. Where was Cameron?

"Cameron, you need to hurry." Savannah said quietly.

Savannah knew this was what happened in the mine. It was all happening again. She wondered how soon until the smoke became deadly or the explosions started. She didn't think it would be long at this point. Maybe some new threat would emerge.

Cameron and Tom were aware there was smoke now. They both understood what it meant and what the final result was going to be. The question now was, where were they going to be at when it exploded? The time was running out. It was running out quicker than they liked. There was nothing they could do about it at this point.

Tom could see the parallels to the mine everywhere. The bunker seemed to be a little more stable than the century old mine did. For how long would it remain so? The degradation of the mine seemed to happen in stages. It didn't happen all at once. If it would have, they never would have made it out. Maybe it was going to be different here. Maybe they weren't going to make it out.

"There's a fire somewhere below us now." Tom said. "The smoke is drifting up. It's going to become very toxic in a short amount of time."

Cameron wondered how long it would be before it became thicker or worse, if it became toxic. She was sure she delayed too long. She didn't want her quest to destroy Skynet to be what terminated her. Tom tried to warn her repeatedly. The first time she heard Cammy 'communicate' with the pattern of shots should have been her cue to turn around. it wasn't. She needed to pursue her vendetta against Skynet. It drew Cammy and Savannah further into the complex. It was a mistake. She seemed to be good at making those.

It was said hindsight was always 20/20. Was it though? She didn't think so. Sometimes she needed to act. This probably wasn't one of them. If she would have been certain there was a giant power cell which was going to blow up, she should have turned around earlier. She got greedy. She wanted to find Skynet. She wanted to find the giant power cell so she could copy its design. She wanted to know if there was an advanced TDE there. She bit off more than she could chew. If Savannah hadn't come for her, she would have continued her quest to find the other two things.

Now it was a race against time.

"We need to get out." Cameron said. "I need to protect Savannah and Vanna's baby."

Tom and Cameron moved at a fast speed. They still needed to worry about any Grays who they may have missed the first time around. If anyone was still hiding inside of the bunker, they knew they needed to get out soon once the smoke started to show up

There was the sound of a muffled explosion behind them. They both felt a slight 'tingle' through their chassis. They didn't know what it was. It wasn't the concussion from a shock wave. It was something much deeper. It was a new problem.

Cameron saw it for the bad news it was. The clock would run down even faster now.

"It's the first of many." Cameron said. "They will only get worse until something big explodes."

Tom was worried about the explosions and the smoke. He was also worried about whatever it was they 'felt'.

"I think whatever electrical discharge the explosion created is going to affect us." Tom said. "We need to consider the possibility whatever energy discharge we experienced at the beginning of the operation could very well happen again."

Cameron already considered the possibility. If they were hit with a big blast again, they probably weren't going to make it. If they didn't make it, Savannah wouldn't either. She knew she wouldn't leave them. She berated herself for not turning back earlier.

"We need to move now." Cameron said. "We're in a termination trap."

Tom and Cameron now ran. They both remembered how it ended in the mine. They needed to get out and bring Savannah with them.

Cammy and Savannah heard the explosion as well.

"I don't think I like where this is going." Savannah said.

Cammy felt a slight 'tingle' sensation pass through her sheath. She didn't know what it was. It was gone as quickly as it came. It seemed to pass through her entire chassis. She didn't tell Savannah. She knew whatever it was, it was bad news. It most likely was only going to get worse.

"I don't either." Cammy said. "We need to hurry."

Savannah started to slow as she looked back.

"I think I need to wait for Cameron." Savannah said. "I feel like it's something I need to do."

Cammy urged her along. She knew Savannah felt some confusion because of the heat, and now the smoke. They couldn't afford to wait for Cameron to catch up. She would catch up with them along the way out. The temperature was very high.

"We're almost out." Cammy said. "It is now one hundred and thirty four degrees Fahrenheit. You must keep going."

Savannah looked behind her still. There was something about the temperature. It was around the hottest temperature ever recorded on earth in recent history. It was in a place known for excessive heat. It was a place where people could see snow on the mountains in front of them as they died from thirst. It was Death Valley. It's where they were right now. They were in 'Death Valley'. No. They were in a Skynet bunker and they needed to get out. They went after Cameron and Tom. So far they hadn't located them.

"We'll make it." Savannah said. "It's Cameron I'm worried about. We should have found Tom and her before we turned around. It was a mistake on our part not to make sure they were going to get out with us."

Cammy moved Savannah along. There was the sound of running from in back of them. It sounded like Terminators. She was sure it was Cameron and Tom.

"Hurry…." Cammy said. "We were able to communicate through the gunfire pattern. We know they are coming. They're running behind us. I can hear them. They're going to catch up with us very soon. You can't slow down or stop, Savannah."

They were moving through the area now where the fighting occurred earlier. Everything was a mess.

Savannah needed to watch her step. The battery powered lighting was very dim now. It was hard for her to see. She was sure she was going to catch her foot and twist her ankle.

"We are coming into a lot of debris." Savannah said.

There was another explosion somewhere below them in the distance. It sounded louder.

Cammy felt a slight 'tingle' sensation again. She was sure it was worse this time. Somehow it must be tied to the explosions. She brushed it off. She was appalled at Savannah's condition. She reached for her.

"Stay with me." Cammy said. "I should carry you."

Savannah pulled away from Cammy. There could be unknown danger. Cammy needed to engage any threats they encountered. There was no way for them to know what happened outside of the bunker. They didn't have any communications with anyone.

"No! Keep your guard up." Savannah said. "We don't know what happened while we were inside. There could be anything at this point. You need to be combat ready. I can hack it."

Savannah would go until she dropped.

Cammy was worried about Savannah's concerns. There could be ten HK drones out there and a dozen Grays for all they knew at this point. She did need to keep her guard up. Maybe they should have allowed one more Terminator to stay to make sure the way out would be clear the same way they did for Cameron's team.

The drone picked up two vehicles approaching rapidly. They were headed towards the location where the captured big rig was now hidden. It seemed to spell trouble.

John hoped it was two kids out having a good time as they raced along a back rural road, but he doubted it. There was too much coincidence involved. It was most likely Grays or Terminators. Maybe it was both. John knew the biggest threat would be hostile HK drones showing up.

"What is the status of the fast approaching vehicles?" John asked.

John Henry placed a drone on them. They never changed position. They kept the same fast speed in trail of each other. The rear one never tried to pass the front one. They weren't racing. It looked like a mini convoy.

"They're still coming." John Henry said. "They've never slowed."

John doubted they were alone.

"Are there any others following them or coming from the other direction?" John asked.

John Henry was sure vehicles wouldn't be the only problem.

"Not yet." John Henry said. "No hostile HK drones have been spotted."

John thought HK drones would be the last thing they needed. They were another one of many worries. If they started to scan the area in a grid pattern, it was only a matter of time until they would be detected. Their drones would need to engage them first. They didn't know how many HK drones the enemy would send. The current situation wasn't his only worry.

"Is there anything on Cameron's team?" John asked.

John Henry could only go by what the drones on station could detect. They were ordered to operate further away.

"There's smoke coming out of the opening with very hot air. Several explosions have been detected." John Henry said. "The drones made a few low passes on their own. There were electrical surges detected as well. The electrical surges affected their performance. Every time they detect an explosion, the electrical surge is a little stronger. I don't think they should go lower, or in close again to the opening."

John figured it was the 'Cameron' in the drone's programming. He didn't want them damaged or destroyed. He still needed intel and the area around the bunker watched. Anything could happen around there. Whatever the 'electrical surge' was concerned him.

"Move the drones to a safe distance, but where they can still observe." John said. "If the mountain blows up, we can still see what happened and not lose the drones in the process. Cameron's team may exit from another location. There may be more than one way out of there. It was our earlier speculation anyway. Make sure no enemy forces approach the area from the ground or from the air."

John doubted there was another way out, but it was always a possibility. Where they exited the mine from wasn't where they went in at. It was mainly luck and circumstance. The current location might have a similar outcome. There was still the possibility of some other way out of the bunker complex where the Grays could exit from as well. Everything was an unknown to them. So far no Grays were detected fleeing the area from any direction.

John Henry didn't like the vibe of the bunker. The internal explosions and smoke didn't give him anything positive. The unknown 'electrical surges' might continue to get worse.

"I'm searching the surrounding area." John Henry said. "I'm worried about another EMP type blast occurring, or worse, a series of them. We still don't know what caused the initial blast. If another one happens, it's going to spell serious trouble for those still in the bunker."

John wondered if it was related to the unknown blast at the start of the operation. They still didn't know what it was about, or what actually caused it.

"What makes you think there may be a repeat?" John asked.

John Henry didn't like the low altitude scans from earlier. They picked up some unusual energy readings.

"There may be arcing on the power lines and inside the bunker." John Henry said. "If something like it occurs, all the Terminators will be offline."

John felt like he was punched in the gut. He didn't like the implications.

"It will leave Savannah alone again." John said.

John Henry was aware what it meant. Savannah would stay to help them.

"You know Savannah won't abandon them." John Henry said. "If the Terminators don't make it out, Savannah won't either."

John needed to get the team out of there.

"Send the third drone back." John said. "Forget the wide recon for now and the other team of Terminators. They're currently out of the danger zone. They're going to need to manage on their own. "

John Henry was able to recall the drone.

"It's on its way." John Henry said. "The other teams are out of the area now. It was Cameron's specific order. She wanted them away from there."

John thought maybe he could send them back in. It sounded like they were needed. All those inside the bunker were in danger.

"I can countermand it." John said. "I can send them back."

John Henry doubted it. Savannah told them to leave as well. It would be the 'order' they would follow. Cameron already told all of them, it was Savannah who would know best. There was a very cold reality to what was about to happen.

"Send them back into what?" John Henry asked. "Their doom as well? This is why Cameron sent them away. Savannah reinforced it. Anyone not out of the bunker in the next few minutes is never coming out. It will apply to anyone else who attempts to go there."

Ally wanted John to know everything was done with the HK drones they reprogrammed. They were Resistance drones now. She didn't like to disturb him but felt it was important. They should move the drones soon.

"John, our new drones are ready to go." Ally said. "I know there are several timetables in play here."

John wasn't sure if the drones would be a problem or an asset.

"Will we be able to trust them?" John asked.

Sheila was a little offended at the question. It was their personal programming now in the drones.

"It depends on if you trust us." Sheila said. "One is the same as the other."

John trusted all of the Resistance Terminators, especially the Metal girls. He didn't want it viewed as an issue.

"You're all trusted." John said. "You know you are."

John Henry observed more bad news.

"The speeding vehicles are nearing your location. They've slowed." John Henry said. "It's not advisable to launch the captured HK drones yet. They will be spotted. The drone I have over them can hit them at any time."

John was worried something like this was going to happen when the big truck paused. The fact Skynet couldn't communicate with the truck, or the chase SUV didn't help any. If the two vehicles 'disappeared' at the same spot, they would be sure to draw some HK drones to check it out. He hoped to avoid a fight, but wanted to be ready for one.

"Don't use the drone yet. Bob, Al, get ready for combat." John said as he picked up his M4.

Gail stepped forward. Ally and Sheila were with her.

"We're ready as well." Gail said. "Bob should remain here with you. The girls and I have it covered. Al can rejoin Steve so he's better supported. "

John knew the Terminators were Terminators. It didn't matter if they were 'male' or 'female'. They were all the same 'very scary robot from the future' inside. He'd like Steve to have some additional support.

"Do it." John said. "We don't know what we're about to face. My goal is to avoid a confrontation in this vicinity. If we can remain undetected, the enemy should lead us somewhere. We still need to find out where the other two big rigs are at."

The three Metal girls exited the old barn after they collected their weapons. They were Terminators now and some targets were about to present themselves.

Al took off running to reinforce Steve.

Bob and John were inside the barn ready to reinforce the Metal girls if necessary. Now it was a waiting game. They hoped the vehicles didn't stop where they were. The fact they already slowed was not a good indication.

The heat was near the point of disabling Savannah, especially since the volume of smoke increased rapidly.

She knew she may collapse soon. She still wanted Cammy to be combat ready. She wasn't sure what the delay with Cameron was.

"How far back is Cameron?" Savannah asked.

Cammy looked back and then at Savannah.

"They're getting closer." Cammy said. "I can carry you."

Savannah didn't want to walk into an ambush.

"I'm good." Savannah said. "Keep going, stay alert for danger. I may need to go back for them."

Cameron and Tom ran to get out. They heard Savannah and Cammy ahead of them. They didn't want them to delay. She was worried about the electric 'tingle' she experienced several times. It was worse each time.

"Savannah, Cammy, we're coming." Cameron shouted from behind them. "Keep moving. We need to get out fast. There's going to be a big electrical discharge. We need to be out before then. I feel like I'm being affected by some type of energy draw."

Savannah was elated to hear Cameron's voice. She felt a sense of rejuvenation. New energy surged through her. Cameron was close. It was one less thing for her to worry about. Now all she needed to worry about was the exit. She didn't know where it was at. She continued to follow Cammy.

Cammy was elated too. She hadn't known for sure the running footsteps behind them were actually Cameron and Tom. She never told Savannah it could be the enemy. She was sure Savannah would want to stop and set up an ambush. She knew they didn't have time. They needed to keep moving.

"We're almost out, Cameron." Cammy shouted back.

There was another series of small explosions in the distance behind them. The 'tingle' sensation was more pronounced. The smoke built up quicker as well.

Cammy shoved debris out of the way so it was easier for Savannah to pass. She looked towards the bunker wall. She could see the moon in the night sky through the smoke.

"I can see the outside." Cammy said. "We're almost there. Nothing can stop us now."

Savannah found new strength. She was far from finished. There was a strange sound, it rapidly grew in intensity.

"I can make it." Savannah said. "What's the hum sound? Where did it come from?"

Cammy began to slow. She was a little sluggish. She knew something was wrong. It was something new. There was a 'pull' which felt like a lead weight everywhere on her chassis. It was hard to move.

"It can't be anything good." Cammy said. "There's a lot of energy building up around us. I can feel it. It is starting to affect me. Something's wrong. I feel like I'm becoming very slow. "

There was some arcing of electricity between some of the metal objects around them. It was very intense in some areas. A few small fires started at those spots.

Savannah didn't feel any different, at least not yet. She wondered if she could be 'zapped' by the arcing electricity. Maybe it would kill her. Right now it seemed to like anything made from metal. It was good for her but bad for the Terminators. She wanted Cammy to make a break for it.

"Cammy, go outside now." Savannah said. "I won't be affected as bad as you will be. I won't be able to carry you. I can't drag you through all the debris either. I don't feel anything different right now."

Savannah wanted Cammy out. She wasn't sure about her statement. On the initial electrical blast she was seemingly unaffected. She hoped this one would be the same. It may kill her being so close to it. She doubted she would ever know what happened.

Tom was right behind Savannah now. He seemed sluggish too. She knew where they needed to go. It seemed like a good place for all of them.

"Tom, keep going. You need to get outside, now." Savannah said. "Make sure Cammy gets out. Get away from the bunker. There's a ditch off to the left side. It won't shield you from the energy, but it will from the shrapnel if the bunker explodes."

Tom wanted Savannah to know how bad his condition was.

"The electrical build up has started to affect us." Tom said. "I've become sluggish. I may be non responsive soon. Cameron took a small jolt already. She was caught near an electrical arc. She's still moving, but slow."

Savannah looked back. There was arcing all around Cameron. It was everywhere and on every metal surface. It looked like Cameron attracted the arcing.

"I'm right here, Savannah, don't stop." Cameron said. "We need to get outside, all of us."

There was a bigger explosion in the background.

More thick black smoke began to fill the air.

Cameron was next to Savannah now.

Savannah could see the seriousness of the situation getting even worse. She was pumped full of adrenaline now.

"I can make it." Savannah said. "Get outside. I can see the opening. Don't get stuck in here, Cameron. I won't leave you if you do. I swear it. Keep going. I can make it. I'm good now."

There was arcing between some of the metal pieces of equipment right next to them.

Savannah could see Cammy and Tom make it out.

Cameron slowed. She didn't look in good shape at all.

Savannah didn't think Cameron could make it.

Cameron was a little disoriented.

Savannah came up alongside of her and urged her along as she helped her. She kept Cameron moving. She knew if Cameron stopped, it would be her final resting place. It would be hers too.

Cameron clearly had trouble moving. She was very sluggish.

Savannah supported her and urged her along.

They made it outside into the fresh air. Savannah was still helping Cameron.

Cammy, Tom, and Cameron were all moving very slow. They seemed to be operating in slow motion. It was very unnerving to witness. They moved about fifty feet from the building when it happened.

There was a brilliant flash of energy, Cameron, Cammy, and Tom all went down and offline.

The surge of the energy shock wave knocked Savannah down as well, but she was still able to move. She got back up and checked on Cameron, she looked lifeless as did Cammy and Tom. They were all offline.

There were another series of explosions from inside the bunker. Thick black smoke billowed out of the opening.

Savannah knew there were only minutes to act before things got worse….

It looked like it was going to end soon, and not end well for all of them.

Savannah was going to try and drag them towards the ditch. She knew she didn't have the strength for it right now. She was still struggling to breathe from all the smoke earlier.

She realized she was still coughing and wheezing. Maybe the smoke was a little thicker than she thought. Maybe the electrical discharge which knocked her down did something else to her. It certainly did something to the three Terminators. Maybe when Cameron went down, it was what caused her to fall as well.

Savannah looked at the ditch and the three fallen Terminators. She wasn't about to leave any of them to seek cover for herself. There was no choice. She went back to Cameron.

Seconds ago:

John Henry informed John of some disturbing images he just started to receive.

John watched the feed as Cameron, or maybe it was Cammy, came out followed by Tom. There was no sign of Savannah or Cameron. Something looked off about them. Their movements were erratic.

"I see them, they're coming out." John said. "It looks like something's wrong."

John Henry was able to make the correct identification.

"It's Tom and Cammy." John Henry said. "Wait, here comes Cameron and Savannah now."

John could see Savannah was in bad shape. Cameron clung to her. They both staggered. Cammy and Tom looked like they moved in slow motion. It seemed to be getting worse.

"Cameron is helping Savannah." John said.

John Henry could see it for what it was. They were under some type of 'electrical attack'. He expected an energy blast any second.

"No, Savannah is helping Cameron. Cameron is about to collapse. The Terminators are all about to shut down from the energy build up." John Henry said. "Look, everything metal is arcing. I'm pulling the drones away. There's going to be an EMP like blast."

They could see the Terminators sluggish movement. They looked like they were in pain and barely able to move.

As John watched, there was a massive flash of energy. All four of the figures went down. In seconds one figure was up and moving. They checked on the rest. Savannah was still in the game.

John wondered if the drones were all far enough away.

"Did the drones make it?" John asked.

John Henry couldn't get the drones to respond.

"Yes, but I no longer have control of them." John Henry said.

John wondered how they were still transmitting any images.

"What happened?" John asked. "Are they going to crash?"

John Henry was reassured things were under control.

"CamNet has taken control of them." John Henry said. "It's a highly unusual move."

John wanted Savannah to run. He knew she wouldn't.

"Beautiful…." John said. "Now what's going on?"

Savannah was next to Cameron when she heard them. The three drones were coming.

One landed near Cammy and the second one landed near Tom.

The third hovered over Cammy and its claw came out. Savannah sat Cammy up and the claw lifted Cammy by her vest and set her on the parked drone. The first drone took off with Cammy. The third drone then moved to Tom and the same procedure was repeated. The second drone took off with Tom.

Savannah repeated the procedure for Cameron. The third drone lifted Cameron so Savannah was able to get her over her shoulder. In the physical state she was in now, she didn't think she could have lifted Cameron like she did in the mine. The drone helped her. The drone landed and Savannah deposited Cameron on top of it.

There was another electrical charge building. Savannah could see the drone was being affected. She climbed on it, on top of Cameron. The drone started to lift off but experienced trouble. It skipped along the ground. It was being affected with the same sluggish behavior. The extra weight was too much for it in its current condition.

It was time to make a hard choice.

There was no choice really. She needed to lighten the load.

Savannah hopped off.

"Go NOW." Savannah said.

The drone hesitated.

"It's an ORDER." Savannah said. "I'm ordering you to take Cameron to safety away from here."

The drone limped away with Cameron on it as Savannah headed for the ditch. She waved her hand at the drone as it disappeared around the back of another hill. She wondered if she would see them again, or anyone for that matter.

Savannah was alone.

Another energy burst, even greater than the last, one blanked the area. Savannah ran and made it into the ditch as it discharged. Dirt rained into the ditch as the ground vibrated. She was aware she was out of options….

The next one would probably be the final explosion.

Savannah knew it was the end of the line.

She wasn't going to go down without fighting for her life. The only trouble was, there was nowhere to go. She would try to run out. She wasn't going to roll over. She needed to fight. The enemy was the unknown. The enemy was time.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

I Need To Find Out

You think you know someone
You think you know who they are
You turn around for a moment
They're lost and have drifted far

What's happened
What's going on
In the blink of an eye
They're gone

What went wrong
Did I not do enough
I crashed and burned
I lack the Right Stuff

I haven't changed
I'm still the same
For what you've done
You give me the blame

I don't know who you are anymore
You've filled me with doubt
Who do you now belong to
I need to find out

Nobody