Chapter 849

Maybe Later

Cameron, Savannah, and Sheila were concealed inside a building awaiting the arrival of the train with the boxcars they confiscated the HK equipment from. There was a lot going on around them. There were Grays on one side, and an unknown force on the other side of them. The unknown group was the real question. It could be another group of Grays, the Fanatics, or the anti-Metal faction.

Cameron felt the unknown group was the biggest threat, since they were unknown. She wanted to see what they were up to. She didn't like them being in such close proximity, and not know exactly what they were about to do. She was sure she heard their car start. She was just about to open the door and peek out.

Dan and Frank were in another vehicle behind some container chassis. They recently arrived after riding shotgun on the train as it made its way into Las Vegas. They weren't in close proximity to the rest of the group. They were still able to obtain a visual on the Grays and the unknown vehicle.

"The vehicle near the building Cameron is in has started to show some activity." Dan said. "Both occupants are back inside. So far no weapons have been spotted. It's unknown if they are going to attack or not. It doesn't appear so. It has started to move and is about to turn around."

It wasn't the activity Cameron thought would occur. She was sure there would be some type of confrontation. She figured it would have been with the Grays, or possibly even them if they were discovered. She hoped to learn a little bit more. She would need to use caution.

"Was there any indication they placed some type of surveillance device in their vicinity before they left?" Cameron asked.

Dan and Frank watched all of their movements very carefully.

"Nothing was spotted." Frank said. "One of us can go there on foot and search the area. We will need to make a wider approach from the other side so we aren't spotted by the Grays."

Cameron didn't want them to leave their vehicle.

"I need both of you to remain where you are for now." Cameron said. "I can check it out on foot myself if I need to."

She opened the door a little bit and watched the unknown vehicle drive off as slowly as they arrived. She wasn't sure why they didn't watch the train arrive, or do further recon on the Grays they saw waiting there. Were they only there to confirm the arrival of the boxcars because the Grays were waiting there? What were they really doing?

There was something about their behavior Cameron didn't like. So far none of it made any sense. She wanted to follow them herself. The trouble was, they stashed their SUV away in the distance so the Grays wouldn't spot it. It was parked away from where they were at so no group would spot it, not just the Grays. She didn't want to lose them. She didn't like taking away some of the potential help for Savannah, but they needed to find out who the unknown group was, and what they were up to. Sheila was able to place a tracker on the Grays vehicle when she joined them in the building they were currently in. They were never presented with an opportunity to place a tracker on the unknown vehicle because the occupants never left it, or the vicinity of it.

"Frank, try to follow them." Cameron said. "We aren't parked close or I would go myself. Try to tag them. We need to know who these people are. I want Dan and you to be very careful around them. There's definitely something up with them. They may not have shown any aggressive behavior now, I'm sure they will going forward, or if they think they're being followed, or confronted."

Frank hoped to get an opportunity to put a tracer on their vehicle. There were other things they could do as well. It would be a way to end the threat permanently.

"Affirmative…." Frank said. "Dan will tag them if they get out. We can terminate them as well."

John listened from the casino Control Center. He didn't want things to start to escalate yet. He hoped they would be able to gather some additional intel first.

"I don't want any unnecessary terminations yet." John said through their coms. "Let's see what we can find out first or where they lead us. The behavior of the second group sounds very suspicious. Their actions may be unpredictable if they feel threatened."

Ally carefully made her way back to her previous position. She wanted to let everyone know she arrived. She hadn't spotted any other hidden groups on her trek to her temporary observation post and back.

"The train is half a mile away." Ally said. "I'm back with Gail. I didn't detect anyone, not even any hobos."

The air horn on the locomotive could be heard as it sounded for a street crossing.

Cameron wanted to watch the train come in herself. She was still worried the unknown vehicle could return. She didn't want any surprises behind them.

"Sheila, take the door." Cameron said. "Watch for the unknown vehicle to come back. They may come back at high speed and start shooting, at any point in time. Whoever they are, they're up to no good."

Sheila didn't think Cameron was too far off the mark. She also wondered if the unknown vehicle would return with guns blazing. There was really no way to know yet. It might not happen on their side where they spotted the vehicle earlier. It could happen on the other side where the Gray's SUV was parked.

"I'm on it." Sheila said. "Gail and Ally need to make sure they don't show up on their side either."

Cameron headed back to where Savannah was. The next action which occurred was going to happen there in front of Savannah's observation point.

Sheila moved back to the door and looked out. The unknown vehicle was gone. There was no sign of Dan or Frank either.

Savannah watched the two Grays. They were getting things ready in the back of their SUV. As the sound of the approaching train drew closer, the men ducked out of view of the head end crew on the train. It seemed to be something they were used to.

The fact they didn't want to be spotted was interesting. It was doubtful the same railroad crew would see the Grays twice, but maybe they were there more often than they thought. It also seemed to indicate it was probably a good thing Cameron hadn't terminated any of the train crew previously when the train was stopped in the desert. They most likely weren't associated with the Grays. It was her original assessment because of the extreme interest the crewman showed in the two boxcars which contained the HK equipment. It was probably due to the sounds of the doors opening and closing which attracted his attention. Her own actions could have caused his termination.

The sound of the locomotives increased. The throaty throb of the diesel engines was very distinct. They should be in her field of view any second. There was some noise behind her and Savannah glanced back. It was Cameron.

Cameron climbed up next to Savannah on the crate. Savannah smiled at her. She looked out through the screen covered slotted vent with Savannah.

The locomotives rumbled into view. The 'muscle car' sound from the giant exhaust reverberated through the area. The locomotives could be heard throttling back even more. There was a series of loud 'clangs' as the slack ran in.

Cameron listened to the impact of the freight cars with disgust. It was clear the engineer should have used more train break and a little less locomotive break as he slowed.

"I think you handled the train better than the engineer." Cameron said. "I don't know if he's just lazy, or just bad."

Cameron figured the engineer was actually both. She didn't believe he possessed the proper skill level to operate the railroad equipment in a proficient manner.

Savannah was able to adapt very easily to the operation of the locomotives.

"It's all in the 'feel'." Savannah said. "It's the same as when I fly."

Cameron watched Savannah fly 'by the seat of her pants'. It was the purest form of flying where a human and machine operated as one. It seemed to be the same for Savannah's handling of the train. She was very proud of her 'girls'.

"You're a natural at everything." Cameron said. "Young Allison is too."

The locomotives passed in front of the Gray's vehicle and blocked it from their view. The train continued to slow. It moved along until the boxcars they emptied out were almost even with the position the Gray's vehicle was parked. They seemed to have the procedure down to a science. They obviously possessed a manifest and knew the approximate location the boxcars they were going to inspect or manipulate would be in. It could also be the Skynet forces always tried to get them into the same approximate location on a train. It would require much more effort in the makeup of the train if they did. It would be something for them to look into.

Cameron was really unsure where everything was headed at this point. Now with the unknown group involved, the threat level went up dramatically. It was bad enough the danger to Savannah increased. She still needed to worry about John in the casino Control Center they established. She really wished he would have stayed in the Resistance bunker where things were a little bit safer for him, and it was one less headache for her.

Gail and Ally were both out of their SUV. They weren't sure where the train would stop. They remained out of sight of the Grays and the head end crew of the train. They technically weren't inside of the small rail yard there, but they were near several of the throat tracks which led into it. At the point where they were at, there was the main line track with two sidings on each side of it.

"He's on the third siding." Ally said.

Gail understood why the train was no longer on the mainline.

"It's so he can cut part of the train off and leave it here." Gail said.

John's Henry still had access to the CTC system as well as the dispatch information. CamNet took direct control of both of those from his server, JH.

"After the crew change, they'll have another string of cars to add on as they head for Salt Lake City and beyond." John Henry said.

John Henry informed them earlier, from Salt Lake City the rail cars could travel in multiple different directions or even return back to Barstow.

The train came to a stop short of where the Grays waited at. There were some angry cuss words uttered. They got back in their SUV and drove right up to the two boxcars. They looked them over quickly and took some supplies out of the back of their SUV along with a small folding ladder.

The Grays were very close to Ally and Gail at this point. They almost moved directly in front of them. If any terminations were necessary, they were in a prime location.

"Now we know why they haven't pulled into the yard. It means someone besides us is influencing the signaling system." Ally said. "They're changing the reporting marks on the boxcars. They're changing the automatic car identification devices as well."

Gail and Ally watched them for a few minutes. The Grays worked with practiced efficiency. It was clear they were very experienced at what they did. It indicated they did it quite often.

"They're almost done with this side." Gail said. "One is going underneath a boxcar to the other side."

Going underneath railroad equipment, especially on an active train, was against all railroad protocols and safety measures.

Cameron and Savannah watched the boxcars from their side.

"It seems like they have a lot of practice doing it." Savannah said.

Cameron wanted to see what all they would check and do. It would give them an indication of what else to look for on other altered railroad equipment going forward.

"I see the one Gray coming underneath a boxcar." Cameron said. "He's about to check the doors to make sure they weren't opened."

The one Gray checked both boxcars to make sure they hadn't been tampered with. He went back to inspect the first boxcar again. He seemed to notice something was different. It was one of the 'welds' they simulated with some molten steel. They improvised simulated 'welds' by using Thermite to melt some steel.

Savannah was a little concerned about the re-inspection. Maybe they hadn't pulled it off after all.

"He went back and checked one weld a second time." Savannah said.

The other Gray came underneath the boxcar. He brought the short folding ladder with him and joined the first man.

The first Gray pointed at the door. The other Gray looked at it. He looked at the other 'welds' and shrugged his shoulders. They went to work and changed the reporting marks on the side they were on now.

Cameron thought their ruse may have work after all. It also indicated to her if they wouldn't have simulated the welds, the fact the doors on the boxcars were opened would have been discovered. It was what the individuals in the four by four pickup attempted to do before they foolishly tried to cross the bridge in the manner they chose. Their own stupidity and impatience contributed greatly to their termination.

"It's what we expected." Cameron said. "We knew they were doing this, and now we've seen it. It looks like they think the boxcars are untouched. It's good for us. When they do find out the load is missing, it's doubtful they will know where it occurred."

"It seems one Gray questioned it a little." Savannah said. "He still may report he thought there was something up with one of the welds on the door of the first boxcar."

If the Grays suspected something significant, it wasn't evident. They went back to work.

Cameron thought about it as well.

"I'm sure if they really thought there was a problem, they would have checked." Cameron said. "They obviously have tools in the SUV. A hammer and a chisel would make short work of all of the spot welds if they wanted to open the door and take a look inside."

The Grays quickly finished up and went back under the boxcar to return to their SUV.

Savannah wanted to make sure the team on the other side was ready so they were hidden.

"Ally, Gail, the Grays are going back to your side." Savannah said.

Ally was down low next to the ground. She tried to keep track of the Grays legs as they moved on the far side of the boxcars.

"We see them." Ally said.

Cameron looked back toward Sheila.

"Is there anything happening out there?" Cameron asked.

Sheila opened the door a little wider so she could look a little further. There was no sign of the other vehicle or anyone on foot in the vicinity.

"Nothing…." Sheila said.

Cameron couldn't see anything on the other side of the stopped train.

"Gail, what's happening on your side?" Cameron asked.

Gail kept a careful watch on the two Grays to see if they did anything else before they left. They didn't.

"They're getting in their SUV and about to leave." Gail said. "Sheila tagged them already."

Cameron wanted to make sure they didn't lose contact with the Grays.

"Follow them from a safe distance. Keep an eye out for the other vehicle which was here, or any other one for that matter." Cameron said. "Do you want Sheila back?"

Gail would have liked to have traded assignments with Sheila. She still didn't care for the comment Ally made about her appearance. If anyone had a problem with her appearance, and thought she looked like a Terminator, she would be more than glad to oblige them and show them she was. She needed to be a team player. Savannah could still get extra protection, even if it wasn't from her.

"Sheila can stay with Savannah and you for now." Gail said. "It will give your team additional protection and greater flexibility if necessary."

Savannah understood Gail would like to be with them. She wanted to issue her own warning to Gail and Ally. The nature of the other vehicle and its occupants bothered her greatly.

"Stay extra alert for the black car which was on our side. We don't know how they factor in all of this. They could be with the Grays too and watching for a tail." Savannah said. "Cameron will send you a photo. Frank and Dan will follow them."

Ally looked at the photo on her phone she just received.

"I got it." Ally said. "We're off."

Gail waited a few moments to make sure the tracker functioned as intended. It did. She started out after the Grays. It should be easier for them to track the Grays than it would be for Dan and Frank to track the unknown vehicle without a tracker.

"We're following the Grays." Gail said. "We're just out of visual range until we get out on some of the main streets. We can close up a little then. We still have to consider the possibility one of the occupants might get out of the SUV and go somewhere else, or to a different vehicle."

Cameron and Savannah climbed down from the crate.

"It looks like we're finished with this location for now." Savannah.

Cameron thought Savannah might need to use the restroom before they left.

"It appears so. If you visit the restroom before we go, be careful." Cameron said. "Neither one of the Grays washed their hands after they took care of business. It is most likely a germ rich environment inside the restroom."

Savannah witnessed plenty of people in the present with poor hygiene after using the restroom facilities. Her personal observation was about one quarter of the females walked out of the restroom without washing their hands after leaving the stall. As far as the Grays went, it was no surprise. If they were from the future, they spent most of their lives with very poor sanitary systems.

"I'll keep it in mind." Savannah said. "I know what the future was like…."

There were certain amenities in the past, the present, which weren't available in the future she found very beneficial, as well as convenient.

Cammy decided to leave John and John Henry to brainstorm what was happening. She could listen and hear them anyway. She was basically there for muscle. It certainly didn't seem like any was going to be necessary anytime soon. Being on the top floor of a casino hotel in the Honeymoon Suite, didn't seem like much of a danger zone.

She entered the bedroom and looked back. John and John Henry were busy with the laptops.

Cammy moved over and examined the bed. She wanted to know what happened. She witnessed Savannah at times experience different physical reactions to stimulation. It happened very infrequently. If Savannah was with Cameron, it may have happened this time. She was aware Savannah would have been highly excited if she was with her. Her stimulation level most likely would have been extreme.

All she found were several strands of Savannah's hair on the pillow. It meant Cameron must have 'worked' on her. There was no dried fluid of any type on the sheets. She wasn't sure what may have occurred. The only thing she knew for sure is they were both on the bed. What she didn't know was how much time they were together in the bedroom after their shower. She couldn't begrudge Cameron a shower after being on top, underneath, and in front of the boxcars. She figured it was probably a bad hair day in addition to it all. Hair was always the hardest thing to get right.

Cammy headed for the bathroom. She looked over to see what John and John Henry were doing. They still seemed to be concentrated on the laptops. She wasn't sure exactly what for, since nothing was actually happening right now, other than two vehicles were being tailed. There were a few other things on her mind which seemed a little more important right now. She looked back in the room at the bed with its messed up sheets. She felt a slight glitch impulse. There was more than one way to make things happen. If Cameron wanted to play games, she was in.

John was worried about the second vehicle which showed up and left without doing anything. It made no sense. They hadn't even stayed for the arrival of the train. They didn't watch what the Grays did, or even verify which boxcars they worked on. It all seemed very irregular and highly unusual. There was no indication they left any type of surveillance equipment behind either.

"Have you been able to backtrack them at all?" John asked. "I mean the second vehicle which showed up."

John Henry hadn't been able to uncover a lot yet. He could only speculate on what they witnessed. It wasn't very much, even if it was highly irregular.

"I'm working on it." John Henry said. "They may have checked to see if the Grays would actually be at the location. If it was the case, then they knew why the Grays were there. It all indicates someone from the future, checking on someone else from the future. We know there are several choices as to who they could be."

John heard some noise come from the bathroom area of the suite. John Henry and John looked at each other.

What the Hell?

"Stay with this…." John said.

John got up and went to look. He paused once he entered the bathroom and spotted something very familiar.

'Cameron' stood there naked. She was about to enter the giant 'heart shaped' bathtub. It was full of bubbles. It was a gigantic 'bubble bath'. She turned on some 'water jets' for a whirlpool effect. As soon as she did, the bubbles seemed to increase in volume.

Wait.

It's Cammy, John remembered, not Cameron. They looked identical to him. To see Cammy naked right in front of him like she was only would further his confusion. Naked she looked even more like Cameron than she did when she was clothed. He was sure there was absolutely nothing different about them in any way. He didn't understand how some of the girls could tell who was who. He really wondered how she would be in bed. Her earlier offer resonated heavily within his head. She offered him everything just a short time ago. He needed to physically get up and 'run' from the room for all practical purposes to prevent it from happening.

Cammy looked over at John and flashed her sly smile. She didn't think a display of everything would be differential to anything. Nudity didn't bother her. She really didn't understand why some people got uptight about it. It was their hang up, not hers.

"Would you care to join me?" Cammy asked. "There's plenty of room in here for both of us."

Cammy stood there naked as she faced him. She looked exactly like Cameron. If he didn't know it was Cammy, he would be sure it was Cameron. He watched as she widened her stance some. It increased her thigh gap slightly so there was a perfect view of everything. Everything was right there, high and tight. He always thought how smooth everything looked every time he viewed it. It was until he went in for a close up and went to 'work'. He was sure there was no way to tell them apart. He really wondered how Savannah could do it.

John didn't turn away or leave. Right now he couldn't. He liked what he saw. What he saw stimulated him greatly. Cammy indicated she was ready for more. He actually believed he was too. Would it really matter? What would it hurt? No really, what would it actually hurt? He knew the first round would be over fast.

"Maybe later…." John said. "I have a feeling the heart shaped tub is going to see a lot of use before this excursion is over."

Cammy looked through the dressing room into the bedroom.

"I bet the heart shaped bed will see a lot more use." Cammy said. "Did you see those mirrors on the ceiling and walls?"

John did notice them earlier. He specifically didn't say anything about them because he knew it would only lead to some type of further suggestive comments by Cammy. It wasn't because he didn't want her. He just didn't want to encourage her. He didn't want to make her feel obligated to do anything. Based on what he witnessed so far, she didn't seem obligated to do anything, but rather desired to do so instead on her own. He heard what Cameron said about the availability of other individuals. He knew Cammy heard it as well

"I did." John said. "It seems as if two individuals would just about be able to see what was going on from every different angle with whatever position they were in."

Cammy's naked figure stepped into the whirling mass of bubbles. Soon only her head was above the foaming mass.

"It might be more than just two individuals." Cammy said. "It's a very large bed."

John looked at her for a very long moment. He wanted to jump in there and touch her all over. He needed to 'check' himself. He knew if he didn't leave right now, 'Little Willie' would head straight for Cammy. It would be over in two or three minutes, right in the tub. If it even took that long.

"I'd better go." John said and left.

John reluctantly left the bathroom. He returned to John Henry

"It was Cammy, she…." John started.

John Henry didn't need an explanation. He interrupted John.

"I heard everything." John Henry said.

John nodded his head several times up and down.

"I'm sure you did." John said.

John wondered 'who else' heard everything as well. He hadn't noticed, but he wondered if Cammy's phone was set up to record what may have happened in the whirlpool tub. He was sure if nothing else, her com was on so there was a record of what occurred. So far it wasn't too much other than a few sexual innuendos. He really wondered at what point it would change to something a little more substantial. If Cammy really wanted to get 'busted', why shouldn't he be the one to do it? She already indicated multiple times she wanted to be with him, and it would be her first experience.

Young Allison and Anna were alone. There was currently a lull in the operations.

"I'm really worried about Allison." Young Allison said. "She seems so depressed."

Anna recently saw Allison when she wasn't depressed.

"She looked happy when Precious was born." Anna said.

Young Allison was pretty sure the experience only seemed to make things worse for Allison. She hadn't said anything at the time because she was sure it would provoke some type of negative reaction. She wanted Anna to know what her observation was.

"She was. Then she looked even worse later on when we came home." Young Allison said. "I know she's really worried."

Anna knew there was a solution in the works.

"It's understandable." Anna said. "Trust in Cameron. She'll fix everything."

Young Allison gave it a lot of thought. She knew all the girls from the future were childless. It was every future they knew about. It was until Cameron's intervention. The intervention was through professional help as well. It was people who were experienced with dealing with similar problems.

"Maybe some things aren't supposed to be fixed." Young Allison said.

Anna tilted her head slightly.

"It may be true." Anna said. "But not in this case."

Anna believed they shouldn't have been 'broken' in the first place so they didn't need to be 'fixed'. It was the goal of the Resistance in the current time line to prevent Skynet from ever destroying the world in the first place.

Young Allison was prepared to step up herself. She wasn't much younger than Savannah was when she first became pregnant.

"I know what Cameron will do again." Young Allison said. "If I was a little older, I would do it myself for Allison, so my mother won't have too. I know it is hard on her physically and has to have an emotional cost as well."

Anna suppressed a glitch impulse. Those weren't the words she wanted to hear from Young Allison or the ideas she wanted in her head.

"I don't want you to worry about it." Anna said. "Your time will come, when it's the right time. The time isn't now."

Young Allison checked her monitors.

"I see Cameron's team is on the move." Young Allison said. "They're going after their SUV. I'm glad Sheila is with them now. I feel Sheila will add additional protection."

Anna wasn't so sure it was actually a benefit to Savannah. It could turn into a detriment.

"They're tracking two vehicles." Anna said. "One of them is of unknown origin and intent. Having Sheila with them now also creates a side effect. It allows Cameron to go off on her own mission. If she does, she may become reckless."

Young Allison took it as a warning. She understood exactly what Anna wanted her to deal with. She knew it was an issue she needed to deal with specifically.

'CamNet, please get me a secure channel to Savannah.' Young Allison typed. 'I mean only Savannah and Nobody else.'

'You have it.' CamNet responded.

'Thank You.' Young Allison typed.

Allison hoped to put a few safeguards in place.

Savannah was a little surprised when she received the message.

"Savannah, this is a secure line to my bunker." Young Allison said. "I'm sorry to bother you. Only you can hear me. Just listen. With Sheila there now, Cameron may become more reckless. There is a new level of danger with the unknown group. I know you already know this. I felt I needed to say something. I want both of you protected. Please be careful for both of you and John too. Good luck."

Savannah smiled to herself. She was a little worried about what Young Allison implied. She wondered if there was something they may have missed.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Maybe Later

There are some people
Who are happy to be a hater
They treat the ones they want
Like their own personal waiter

It seems no matter how much
The other will serve and cater
They still act indifferent and smug
They want control like a dictator

Over all others they bully
They think they're greater
They only seem to destroy
They're not a builder or creator

No one can make them understand
It's like they need a translator
Everything is a shortcut or only halfway
Through life they've always been a skater

They can't see true love
In a heart they leave a crater
They're soon seen as
Nothing but a traitor

One only takes so much
From a perpetual violator
When they walk out the door
Will they return - maybe later

Nobody