Chapter 848
Plenty For Both
Cameron and Savannah were inside of a building near the railroad tracks. They took two Grays under observation. They were concealed on top of a large crate and looked out through a slotted vent in the wall.
Both of the Grays crossed over the railroad tracks to enter the building they were in. They were distracted and inattentive and missed what was about to happen until the Grays were ready to enter the building.
Cameron dropped down off the top of the large crate and went to flank the two Grays and make sure Savannah was safe.
Savannah stayed on top of a large crate lying prone. She watched the activity of the Gray's after they entered the building. One of the two Grays needed to use the restroom.
She watched the other Gray who was inside check to make sure all the doors were secure. It would be about half a minute until he reached the door they forced open when they arrived. She could see Cameron stalk him as he moved through the building. It was clear Cameron would need to terminate him before he raised the alarm to indicate the building was compromised once he found the breached door.
It was something she hoped to avoid. It would compromise the mission going forward. Their goal was to see exactly what the Grays did with the boxcars. They hope to discover what any follow up activity would involve as well. If one Gray needed to be terminated, most likely the other one would need to be as well.
Savannah glanced out the screen covered slotted vent and spotted Sheila run towards the building. She wanted Sheila to try and hold the door closed. It was on the other side of the building. She was afraid she would put Sheila in danger if the Gray found the open door and spotted Sheila running towards it. If he did, Cameron would need to act and take the Gray down. It was something they needed to try to prevent to keep the entire operation from being blown or going hot.
"Sheila, run to the south side and hold the door closed, quickly." Savannah whispered. "There will be a Gray who will try to open it. Be alert in case he gets there before you do."
Sheila was almost at the building when she received Savannah's call. Her original plan was to enter the building through the same door the Grays used. She now changed directions to go to the side where the door was at Savannah indicated.
"Will do, love. I'm headed there now." Sheila said.
Savannah watched as Sheila increased her speed and disappeared around the corner. She then returned her attention to the Gray who checked the doors.
About twenty seconds after Savannah spoke with Sheila, the Gray grasped the door handle of the door Cameron forced open earlier and tried it, nothing moved. He moved on.
Savannah was glad things worked out. She didn't know if Sheila would make it in time, but she did. If not, Cameron would have needed to terminate the Gray she stalked to prevent him from raising the alarm.
They hoped to see things play out a little bit before they were discovered. They wanted to see exactly what the Grays were up to and how they did, whatever they did, when the boxcars arrived. They seemed to be masters at masking the identity of the boxcars at every major terminal.
Seconds ago:
Cameron heard the request by Savannah to Sheila. She closed the distance between the Gray and herself. She was prepared to reach out and choke the Gray out, or terminate him. Sheila made it to the door in time and held it firm. The Gray checked it and moved on.
She continued to follow him through the dimly lit structure. He headed back towards the restroom.
He seemed impatient because the other Gray took so long.
"Hurry up." The second Gray said.
"I'm almost done." The first Gray said.
Cameron heard the toilet flush and the other Gray exited the bathroom. She noted he didn't wash his hands.
"I thought you died in there at first." The second Gray said.
The Gray she followed entered the bathroom.
"A couple of times, it felt like I did." The first Gray said.
The first Gray casually looked at a few crates and then went back to the door they entered from and looked out. He looked bored and tired.
She heard the toilet flush again. The second Gray exited. He exhibited the same poor hygiene as the first Gray. She would need to alert Savannah to use extreme caution if she were to use the restroom before they left. It was clearly a germ rich environment.
"Let's go." The second Gray said as both men left the warehouse.
They locked the door behind them. They could hear them check to make sure it was secured.
Cameron moved back over to the door Sheila held closed.
"Sheila, they're gone." Cameron said. "Come inside."
Sheila opened the door and entered.
Savannah was able to observe the Grays as soon as they walked away from the building.
"They're headed to their vehicle." Savannah said as she watched them through the screen covered slotted vent.
Gail was ready to advance on the structure if any shooting started inside. She would have headed inside to make sure Savannah was safe. She was relieved when she saw both of the Grays exit the building and make sure the door was locked.
"We have them in sight." Gail said as her voice came in over their coms.
Cameron hoped to not have any more surprise visitors at their stakeout location.
"Keep us posted if they move or you spot any other activity around this building." Cameron said. "There's probably more going on around here than we know. The two Grays may not be the only thing for us to worry about."
Savannah hopped off the crate and joined Cameron and Sheila.
Cameron looked around the room. It was a large storage room. It was connected to others. There were a lot of crates in it. She wanted to make sure they weren't surprised by anyone else again. The arrival of the train was still more than a few minutes away. She wanted to make productive use of the time.
"We need to search some of these crates to see what's in them." Cameron said. "Savannah, I want you to watch the door we came in from and make sure no one moves up on us from the other side. Gail and Ally can watch the other side from across the tracks."
Savannah headed for the door and peeked out.
Cameron and Sheila started to look in the crates. It appeared it was going to take a while. They needed to find out more about what the nature of the building they were in was, and how it figured into the overall scope of things.
Cammy, John Henry, and John followed what happened in the building Cameron and Savannah were in from the mini Control Center they quickly established in the Honeymoon Suite at the Casino Hotel.
John was worried Cameron or Savannah would be discovered when the Grays entered the building. They weren't, at least not yet anyway. There was always the risk the Grays did detect somebody was in there and acted as if they didn't until they could get more reinforcements to support them.
"It sounded like a close one." John said.
Cammy saw things a little differently. Humans weren't 'hard targets' to take down for a Terminator.
"It was a close one for the two Grays." Cammy said. "Cameron and Savannah were in no real danger from them."
John didn't think the two Grays were the only worry. They may have played it coy and then set additional plans into motion.
"What if they call in a drone strike?" John asked. "We don't know what will happen. Maybe they tripped some type of motion detector, even if the door they entered from wasn't wired. It may have been what the one Gray looked for."
John Henry monitored all the communications in the area. Nothing out of the ordinary was detected.
"They haven't made any phone calls." John Henry said. "I haven't detected any phone activity in the vicinity. It includes incoming as well as outgoing."
Cammy looked at the food cart. It upset her a little to see everything was still covered or wrapped. She saw everything was untouched. It more than likely indicated Savannah went without another meal. She thought John should at least try some of it so it didn't all go to waste.
"You should eat, John." Cammy said as she looked at the food.
John looked over at the food cart. He was still surprised how quickly they were able to get it up to the room before they arrived.
"The food got to the room before we did." John said.
Cammy looked the cart over when they arrived.
"The food arrived when Cameron and Savannah were in the room." Cammy said.
John looked at the cart. Everything looked untouched.
"It doesn't look like Savannah tried anything." John said.
Cammy glanced at the food card and returned her gaze back to John.
"Savannah didn't have time to eat." Cammy said. "I mean food that is…."
John looked at Cammy with her statement. It was the second reference she made regarding Cameron and Savannah being 'together'. It was time for a reference back.
His eyes slowly looked Cammy over from head to toe and back again.
"Maybe I will." John said. "I haven't eaten in a while. I might try to make up for lost time."
Cammy quickly picked up on the sexual innuendo.
"There's plenty for both of you." Cammy said. "For the food too, that is."
John Henry could see the sexual tension build up in the room. Cammy was pushing it. John started to answer back in kind. There was no doubt as to what they discussed without discussing it directly. He was concerned for their troops out in the field.
"Maybe we should focus on what is happening with the operation." John Henry said.
Cammy and John continued to steal quick glances back and forth between them.
John remembered Cameron mentioned there were 'others' who were 'available'. There was one there right now who was very available, and apparently very ready.
Cammy wasn't exactly sure what else she was going to need to do to wake John up and get his attention. She was there and ready to be 'taken'. She really wasn't sure how to make everything clearer. Maybe she should just take her clothes off and stand there naked.
Cameron and Sheila opened several of the crates. They didn't find anything which seemed Skynet related. It didn't mean there was something there they hadn't found. They would literally need to go through every crate in order to make a final determination.
Savannah glanced back at Cameron. She currently took up a position at the door Cameron forced open when they entered the building initially. It was a way from the spot where Gail and Ally could keep an eye on it. It was the other side of the building from their location. She was there to make sure they didn't have any more uninvited guests. She would have hoped for a more positive discovery which would indicate further Skynet involvement than they were able to uncover so far.
"It doesn't look like anything connected to this operation." Savannah said. "I don't think you've checked all of the building out yet. What about the north side?"
Sheila glanced at Cameron and Savannah. She didn't know what happened earlier. She thought they might have something private to discuss. It seemed like a good point to make an exit, without making it an issue.
"I'll check it out." Sheila said. "I'll be back."
Savannah wondered about the crates. They must have come from somewhere. They must be destined to go somewhere else unless the building they were in was the final destination. She thought maybe there was some information on each crate. She was aware a number of crates arrived at the old newspaper plant by boxcar. Cam's report indicated the initial crates located inside each boxcar contained 'toys'. Some of the crates actually contained toys. The HK sub assemblies were packed in the ends of each boxcar to conceal them from a casual inspection.
"Do any of the crates have shipping information on them?" Savannah asked. "Either where they're from or if there is another destination?"
Cameron hadn't noticed anything in her initial inspection. She went back and specifically looked at a few more and checked all six sides.
"No, there's nothing on them." Cameron said.
Savannah wondered a little further about where the crates came from or where they were supposed to go. She figured the Skynet forces needed to get their hands on some boxcars to start with. Since they changed the reporting marks multiple times those original boxcars essentially disappeared.
"Maybe these were crates already in some of the boxcars they're using." Savannah said.
Cameron tilted her head slightly. She looked around the interior of the building again. If the Skynet forces were to commandeer a series of boxcars out on the road, there was a good chance some of them would be loaded. They would need to dispose of the contents without creating another issue. If they were aware of empty warehouse space, they could use it to their advantage. So far there was no indication it was what occurred.
"I don't think so." Cameron said. "Since we don't actually know, it remains a possibility."
Savannah knew boxcars weren't the only thing the Skynet forces used to transport their deadly cargo. There were other sources where the cargo could have originated.
"They could be from some trailers or containers they appropriated." Savannah said.
Cameron wasn't too sure how big of a footprint the Skynet forces wanted to leave behind. Everything Savannah indicated was a strong possibility. There were other factors which needed to be considered as well.
"They may just have keys to this place or rent a small portion of it." Cameron said.
Savannah still felt a little uneasy about their location. There needed to be more to the story, other than the chance encounter they experienced. She continued her lookout from the side door to the outside. She hadn't been focused on what was outside while she spoke to Cameron. It appeared she should have been. There was something not too far away from her position. She wasn't exactly sure where it came from either.
"I wonder…." Savannah started and stopped. "Wait, here comes a vehicle…."
Cameron was alarmed by the revelation. Maybe they did trip some type of hidden sensor or surveillance device they didn't know about. The Skynet forces could be in the process of boxing them in right now. She needed to find out more. She quickly moved to the door to look out. She watched the vehicle slowly traverse the parking area.
There was an unknown vehicle outside the door. They didn't seem to be headed specifically in their direction, even if the movement of the vehicle was very slow.
"I don't think they're headed here." Cameron said.
Savannah figured they must be up to something. They didn't seem to be in any hurry, but it appeared they wanted to be where they were. There was no way to know if they were connected with the group of Grays on the other side of the building they were in. The slow movement the vehicle continued to exhibit bothered her.
"They're going really slow." Savannah said. "It seemed like something more should happen, than is happening."
Cameron began to wonder about the vehicle as well. There didn't seem to be a set destination. Through the crack in the door she watched the vehicle stop. It paused before it went around the corner. If it continued around the corner, it would be in the view of the Grays from their vehicle if they looked back from their position.
Earlier:
Sheila left Cameron and Savannah in the south section of the building. She wanted to explore the crates and what else was in the rest of the building on the north side. She too wondered where the crates came from and where they were supposed to go. There wasn't very much information on any of the crates themselves.
Where the crates were stacked, she couldn't access them easily unless she were to use a forklift. It wasn't something she thought was a good idea to use under the current conditions. There was a good chance the Grays would hear it moving. She wanted things to remain as undetected as possible. Every wooden crate she opened, she pried the lid off carefully. There was nothing which appeared to be Skynet related in any of them.
She returned down the other aisle and checked the crates there as well. There was only random merchandise. Many of the crates on the other aisle were empty. The empty crates didn't make much sense either, unless someone intended to put something in them.
Sheila returned from the north side of the building.
"Nothing was any different in the other area." Sheila said.
Cameron hoped for something a little more positive. It wasn't the case. The behavior of the other vehicle is what concerned her the most. She didn't like where the other vehicle stopped, or the behavior of the occupants inside of it. The lack of movement of the vehicle became worrisome.
"Gail, what are the Grays doing?" Cameron asked. "Does it appear they're waiting for someone else to show up?"
Savannah hurried over to get back up on the large crate to observe the Grays. Maybe it's where she should have gone earlier.
"Let me check to see what I can from our original spot." Savannah said.
Gail hadn't detected any change in the Grays behavior since they returned from the building. It seemed their goal was very focused. It was the arrival of the train. There was no indication they expected, nor waited for anyone else.
"They're just sitting in the vehicle." Gail said. "One may be about to fall asleep. There's no indication anything is about to happen where they would be involved."
As Cameron watched the newly arrived vehicle, a man got out of the car and carefully moved towards the corner of the building. He looked back in the direction of the door she peeked out of. She quietly and quickly closed the door all the way and held it firm in case he tried to open it. She still wasn't sure he was headed for the door she held.
Savannah climbed up on the crate to look out of the vent at where the Grays returned to. She was able to spot Ally.
"I see Ally moving in the distance." Savannah said quietly. "She's trying to see what the new vehicle is up to."
Cameron wanted to know where the vehicle was at. She couldn't chance opening the door to peek out again. She was worried if she did there would be a gun barrel pointed at the spot where her eye would need to look out between the gap of the door and the door frame. She was unable to detect anything conclusive with her hearing. She didn't know if anyone was outside the door or not.
"We're blind right now." Cameron said.
Ally moved her position further south from where Gail and the Grays were located. She wanted to see where and why the other vehicle was stopped and hadn't come around the corner. The behavior of the new arrivals seems rather unusual. She spotted something in the distance on the railroad tracks.
"I see the headlight of the train approaching." Ally said. "I can't see anyone looking around the end of the building. I don't know where the occupants of the vehicle are at."
Cameron didn't hear them drive away. She decided to chance it and see where they were or what they were doing. There was something going on. Even if they were related, they didn't seem to be directly related.
She came to the conclusion the new arrivals weren't connected with the Grays who waited for the train to arrive. It was something different than the Grays they were watching by the railroad tracks. Based upon what happened so far, and the clandestine movement of the vehicle, it was something just as sinister. It seemed to be someone watching the Grays, and they knew the Grays would be there at this time. It would indicate they also knew the train was about to arrive. He would further indicate they knew about the boxcars, and what was in them. The new threat was probably just as deadly as the one they uncovered so far.
"The second group knows why the first group is there." Cameron said.
It appeared things became even more complicated now. This was another group of Grays, or the Fanatical Grays, or even the anti-Metal faction. It was clear no matter what group they were associated with, every one of those groups represented the same thing. They all represent trouble.
John looked to see what he could see on the few laptops John Henry brought with him.
The arrival of the unknown vehicle looked like a new problem.
John didn't like the way things developed. Cameron previously told him on her various operations she conducted solo, things like this 'just happened'. He could see what she said was true based on his involvement with the current operation. There seemed to be quite a few things which 'just happened' without any warning. It seemed to be a series of events which they stumbled into. They continued to unfold in multiple directions.
Cammy walked around and looked at some of the items in the room. Her presence distracted him.
It wasn't so much what she was doing, as it was her just being there. She seemed to be very bored being there and not able to do anything. It appeared she looked at him an awful lot. Then again it's exactly what he was doing with her. He attempted to refocus his attention on the operation. With the train in sight, things were bound to happen soon.
There was one team of Terminators in front of the train. He hoped to get them into a better position to determine what was going on on the south side of the building Cameron's team was in, and the Grays were on the west side of it.
"How long will it take until Dan and Frank can get to where Cameron is at?" John asked.
John Henry tracked their position on the satellite overlay map. He already informed them of the situation where they were going.
"They're headed there now." John Henry said. "It looks like about three minutes maybe."
John wanted to make sure their forces didn't get caught in the middle of a fight between what appeared to be two different groups who waited for the train to arrive. As far as they knew, there could be some type of gun battle erupt at any point.
"Have them use caution. I don't want a firefight out in the open like this." John said. "We have Grays on one side and an unknown group on the side Cameron is on."
John didn't like Cameron, Savannah, and Sheila in a possible crossfire between the two groups. There was no apparent way to have them withdraw either. If they went out on either side, they were bound to be spotted by one of the two groups.
It was their objective to remain unobserved so they could see what the Grays did and where they went. If the other group didn't attack the Grays, maybe they wanted to remain unobserved as well. They didn't know they were currently being observed by the Resistance forces.
Cammy felt John was a dud right now. She didn't like Savannah being in the danger zone either. She would rather go there and become part of the operation than have John continuously eyeball her. She tried to serve herself up on a 'silver platter' to him earlier. He literally ran away from her. She also needed to personally worry about his safety since she was technically in charge of him.
"I can go there myself if you want." Cammy said. "If I do, you'll need to remain here with John Henry and not leave this room. If you do, I'll need to return. It appears I might be more useful where the action is about to take place."
John believed he could be a useful asset to the operation if more firepower was needed. He would like to go with Cammy as well.
"What if you need more help?" John asked. "I think I should go with you. John Henry can remain here and monitor events as they unfold. He can keep his us advised to what's happening, and if there are any additional threats."
Cammy was sure by this point in time John definitely was afflicted with some type of learning disability.
"You being out there will only drain the help away." Cammy said. "Surely you must understand it by now. Cameron will redirect everybody to protect you. She'll give up all of her help except for Savannah. If you leave this room you'll personally endanger Savannah and Cameron."
John was there. He wanted to be useful. He just didn't see it the same way. He could fight just like anyone else in the Resistance could. He didn't need any type of special protection. He didn't need a babysitter.
"I know it's what Cameron thinks." John said. "I don't. We need to use our resources effectively and not concentrate on one individual."
Cammy was irritated at John now. She really didn't know how to spell things out more clearly. Past practice indicated how events would unfold going forward in relation to John.
"More help for you, means less help for Savannah." Cammy said and as an afterthought added. "And Cameron…."
Cammy wanted John to remain in the room. If he went out for anything, Cameron would start to send all her help away to come and watch him. It in turn would endanger Savannah even more. She really wasn't sure if she was going to be able to keep him in the room unless she physically restrained him. John Henry and her both held the keys to their SUV. It didn't mean he wouldn't be able to acquire transportation on his own.
Currently she was the one responsible for him. Now there was a 'half baked' idea in John's head about him assisting the others. She knew it would be anything but assistance for them. She might have to come up with something inventive to make sure he stayed in the room.
Bob was in the Young bunker. He watched the events unfold. He didn't like John being out in the field without him. John was in a local Control Center they established, but for how long?
"I should be with John." Bob said.
Young Allison didn't want Bob to stress out on something he couldn't control.
"You're not, Bob." Young Allison said. "He shouldn't even be there in the first place. John being there serves no purpose."
Young Allison saw the danger John put Cameron and Savannah into every time he went out on a field operation. It appeared the same thing was about to happen again.
She looked up at the stairway to the bunker, there was some movement.
It was Allison. She came down to thank Young Allison for her earlier assistance.
"I appreciate how you straightened everything out for me." Allison said. "We're all headed out now."
Young Allison didn't see it as a big deal. In reality, all she did is help 'herself'.
"I did what you would do for me." Young Allison said. "Is everyone going?"
Allison frowned some. She would like Young Allison to go with them.
"Yes." Allison said. "Everyone is leaving except for you and Anna."
Young Allison wanted to make sure everyone was protected.
"You're light on Terminators." Young Allison said. "I've asked Bob to go with you."
Allison wasn't sure if it was necessary or not.
"Half of the Detail will follow us." Allison said. "They always do."
Bob didn't look too excited about the new 'mission'. He was clearly upset he wasn't able to back John up in Las Vegas.
Young Allison wanted to relieve Bob's anxiety. She knew exactly how to do it.
"Bob will watch over Summer on the way there and at the Resistance base." Young Allison said.
The three girls in the bunker saw Bob perk up. He liked to spend time with Summer. It seemed Summer really took a liking to Bob also. It was a strange match up how the biggest and the smallest hit it off.
Young Allison winked at Allison.
"Keep me posted on how Riley and Precious are doing as well." Young Allison said. "I want your personal observation. I don't want you to go by what you're told, or what someone else says. We all know how things really work."
Allison wondered when Young Allison became so dominant. She was more and more like Cameron every day. It was very apparent Young Allison was very dynamic in everything she did.
Anna didn't want them to delay things further. There was already a big enough delay with the lack of activity at the rail yard.
"You should see them off." Anna said. "This operation isn't progressing very rapidly, you have time."
Young Allison was a little worried about the car with the new arrivals. Currently they seemed like they were just going to wait for the train as well.
"You're right." Young Allison said. "Let's go up…."
Young Allison led Allison and Bob upstairs.
Frank and Dan notified Cameron they were nearby. They told her they would arrive in thirty seconds. They were warned of the location of the Grays and the unknown vehicle.
Cameron was about to open the door slightly. She needed to take a chance to see what the occupants of the second vehicle were up to.
Dan and Frank found a good observation point.
"We have the second vehicle under observation." Dan said. "It's just sitting there. Both of the men are back inside of it."
Cameron peeked out the door.
"Can they see you?" Cameron asked.
Dan thought his place of concealment was sufficient.
"We're behind a row of container chassis." Dan said. "I can also see the Grays, Ally, and Gail from our location."
Cameron wanted Ally and Gail together. Since Dan and Frank had eyes on the unknown vehicle, Ally could rejoin Gail.
"Ally, go back to Gail and use caution." Cameron said. "Things should start to happen as soon as the train arrives. We don't know if there will be more players on the field or not at this point. We don't know what one group will do to the other."
Ally took one more look in the direction the train would arrive from. She quickly calculated its distance.
"The train is less than a mile out." Ally said. "I'll return to Gail's position. When the train stops, we'll be able to see what the Gray's do on our side and if they become alarmed."
Savannah was in her perch on top of the crate as she looked out the slotted vent at where the Grays were.
"I'll observe the Grays from the other side." Savannah said. "I want Sheila to remain with Cameron in case the new vehicle becomes a threat, or the occupants try to breach the building we're in."
Cameron was sure they were more interested in the Grays, or the cargo.
"They may try to attack the Grays or check on the cargo themselves." Cameron said.
Like always, there were a lot of unknowns.
It was just another day at the 'office'.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
It Seems Unlikely
Some things are meant to be
Other events are unlikely to occur
What was once black and white
Has suddenly become a blur
It was known by both
Left to a matter of time
The path now a steep climb
Current events seem like a crime
The destination was a certainly
How does inevitability
In the blink of an eye
Turn to hopeless futility
I've been caught off guard
Overwhelmed with surprise
Joy turned to cries
As I prepare for the lies
What was preordained destiny
It seemed very likely
Now with what has happened
It seems unlikely
Nobody