Chapter 859

Stay Focused

Savannah asked for John Henry to keep her informed on what the unknown man might do next. She wanted the possible choices. She didn't want to look at the man directly. John Henry could do it for her through the surveillance cameras and determine what his next actions might be, based on where the unknown man looked. She also wanted to make sure the man didn't make any move towards her or Cameron which might be threatening.

Since they didn't know what future the man was from, they didn't know how much he would know about any Terminators specifically. They actually didn't know if either man they were currently after was from the future. It was just speculation on their part because they spied on the Grays at the rail yard. Until they were able to question the men 'Terminator Style', they wouldn't know for sure.

John Henry and his server both kept careful track of where the man was in relation to Savannah. He wasn't as worried about what the other Terminators were doing because they were built for combat. Savannah wasn't. The human body was designed to reproduce, not to be in combat. He planned to look out for Savannah extra special.

He didn't need to think about cyborgs versus humans. He just needed to keep an eye on the unknown man. He saw him pick up his winnings and casually look around from side to side. It was a good indication he was done at the table he was at.

"Savannah, the man is about to move." John Henry said.

Savannah looked up from the machine where she sat. She didn't look directly at where the man was, but viewed him through her peripheral vision. She tried to place herself in the direction the man would need to pass to go to the outside to get his ride from the other man let off at the previous casino tram station.

"I see him." Savannah said. "I'm still between him and the side door."

Savannah looked around for Cameron. She didn't see her. She knew Cameron would be close by. She didn't think it would be too close. She knew Cameron would be able to reach her in a matter of seconds if there was a problem. Cameron would simply knock and shove everyone out of her way to get to her. It would probably apply to anything in the casino, including gambling machines and gambling tables.

John Henry noticed Savannah look around. He figured she wanted to see where Cameron was at. Cameron was close by but concealed.

"Cameron is near you." John Henry said. "Don't worry. She probably doesn't want the man to see her if he paid any attention to her on the tram."

John Henry didn't think it would be a good idea to point out Cameron was still on the tram car after the man got off and the door closed. She shouldn't be at the same Casino he was.

Savannah was concerned with the other operations and not just what she was involved with. She wasn't the only one who could face some type of damage if things went 'south'.

"I am worried." Savannah said. "There are other members of our team out as well. I don't even know everything happening right now. I'm worried about all of them."

John hoped to give Savannah some reassurance. None of the other Terminators who were out were in imminent danger. The situations they were in could always turn dangerous, but none of them were currently threatened.

"We have it covered, Savannah. There are no problems anywhere." John said. "Stay focused."

Savannah watched as the man moved across the room. He was now near the video poker game she played earlier. The fact he did it disturbed her some. She was glad she spent all the money into the machine and didn't leave it with a positive balance sitting on it. She considered doing it at one point. She wondered if he was trying to get closer to her without seeming to do so. Maybe he was trying to move further away from Cameron.

He took out his phone. Maybe he just tried to get some better reception for his phone, and remain on the gambling floor, rather than go outside where he would be alone.

She was directly in back of him, over one row and two machines. He was close enough to her now she could hear him speak when he used his phone.

Savannah watched him talk into his phone and listened.

"Where are you?" The man asked.

There was a pause.

"I want to go." The man said.

There was a pause.

"There was no one else after you left." The man said.

There was a pause.

"I don't know what was wrong with it." The man said.

There was a pause.

"It didn't happen again." The man said.

There was a pause.

"Hurry up." The man said.

There was a pause.

"I don't care." The man said.

There was a pause.

"Just do it." The man said.

There was a pause.

"Are you sure?" The man asked.

There was a pause.

"Just hurry up." The man said.

There was a pause.

"I need to get back." The man said. "Goodbye."

The man put his phone away with a disgusted look on his face.

Savannah figured John Henry monitored both sides of the call.

There was just something about the man which made Savannah feel uneasy. She was unsure if it was the behavior or the look, maybe it was both. He was definitely an individual she wouldn't want to be alone with under any circumstances. The fact he was so near to her right now caused her a great amount of concern. She determined if he made any move to get closer to her she would use her Taser on him. She also thought Cameron might make a move on the man if he got any nearer to her anyway.

Cameron carefully watched the unknown man. She didn't like when he moved closer to Savannah. He was too close to Savannah for her comfort. She thought she witnessed enough. He was a threat to Savannah so close in to her. It was time to act. She decided she was going to snap his neck. She didn't care if they were in the casino or not. His earlier behavior irritated her and his current behavior threatened Savannah. It was enough. It was time to bring him down. She decided to let the Control Center know what was about to happen. She was sure it would cause them a great amount of concern if she acted before they were notified.

"I'm going to take him out." Cameron said.

John watched all the security feeds of the man. He was surprised by Cameron's comment. He didn't see anything to indicate there was an imminent threat.

"What?" John asked. "Why?"

Cameron looked around to make sure there weren't any additional threats. She was aware the man may try to draw attention to himself to see who else paid attention to him. There could be others in the casino who specifically watched for it. She didn't want to get caught in a sucker play.

"He's too close to Savannah." Cameron said. "He's a threat."

John tried to look at the bigger picture. He wanted Cameron to think it through before she acted. The location where she was at wasn't the place to take action from. Even with a large percentage of people consuming alcohol, there were still enough who weren't who would be able to give some type of testimony as to what they witnessed.

"Don't make a scene inside the casino. There are too many witnesses." John said. "You'll start a stampede and people will get hurt. It will lead to some big investigation. You need to use discretion. If Savannah or you are directly threatened, you can take whatever action is necessary to protect yourselves. I just want you to make sure there's no other choice available first. Don't hesitate if there isn't."

John remembered the 'casino incident' Cameron went through before. They didn't need a repeat of it. John Henry was able to quash most of the investigation. The main reason why the investigation didn't go anywhere was because all the surveillance footage was blank. The same thing would happen here, but there were a lot more people inside of the Las Vegas casino than there were in the other one.

Cameron wasn't worried about the other people. They were gamblers. It made them a lower class of people to her. She felt Savannah's life was more important and valuable than the other people. It made her think of her earlier disgust of insects, especially the ones with too many legs. Their termination meant nothing to her. The termination of the individuals inside the casino didn't either.

"I need to protect Savannah." Cameron said.

Cameron moved closer to Savannah and the man. She tried to keep as many machines between them and her as she progressed. Most of the video poker games weren't very tall, unlike the slot machines.

John Henry felt he needed to point out something important to Cameron.

"Remember, he's seen you." John Henry reminded Cameron. "He last saw you on the tram, after he exited from it as the door closed behind him. You were still inside the tram car. He watched the tram depart with an empty platform.

Cameron wasn't worried about details. She wanted to protect Savannah. The man was a threat.

"He will be the one to remember my face as he dies then." Cameron said.

John didn't want Cameron to terminate the man inside of the casino.

"Look, don't blow this.' John said. "We already compromised one of the aspects of the mission."

Cameron didn't see it as a big deal. If someone was in combat as often as she was, they would know things just happen sometimes. Not everything could be helped or prevented.

"It happens." Cameron said. "Deal with it. It's what I do."

John didn't want to make an issue of it because he felt Cameron could play things differently in the current situation rather than going on the attack. He saw from the earlier incidents some things just unfolded without time for any planning. All they could do is react. If the unknown man did make a move on Savannah, he knew Cameron would take him down.

He didn't want to create any incidents they would need to cover up. He didn't want any of his people to be damaged or worse either. It didn't matter if they were a cyborg or a human.

Sheila saw the blue sedan speed away and make the turn to go down to the ground level and exit the casino parking lot. She was a little miffed she was unable to tag the car before it pulled out. She attempted several times, but the man always seemed to look in her direction before she could make a move. She didn't think he spotted her, but there was no way to know for sure.

She moved down from the third level to the second level and tried again. She went to the ground level in the stairwell. She thought she could make better time in the stairwell than she could try and run down the ramp in the parking structure. To go down one level took two circuits of the parking structure the way it was constructed. It was why she hoped she would be able to tag the vehicle on one of the circuits. She wanted to meet up with Frank and Dan before the blue sedan made the turn onto the first level.

In the stairwell Sheila hurried down the flights of stairs, a few steps at a time. There were other people in the stairwell so she needed to play it cool. She was to the bottom in a short while. It took longer than she anticipated. She burst out of the stairwell door and was headed for Frank and Dan.

The blue car was almost to where Frank and Dan were. She was too late. They needed to leave now. There is only one choice to make. She needed to send them on their way immediately.

"Go, Frank." Sheila said. "He'll see me now if I get in. I don't want to be a distraction and get noticed, or the SUV 'made'. Hopefully he'll still be looking behind him for anyone following him."

Sheila watched Frank pull out ahead of the blue sedan. There were three cars between them at this point.

There were other choices available to her for transportation. She would just need to make them herself. It wouldn't be too hard.

Sheila moved back towards the parking structure to acquire another vehicle. She was going to take a motorcycle, but figured Cameron and Savannah would need a lift as well. She knew in some countries it wasn't uncommon to have two, three, or even four individuals on a motorbike. They weren't in one of those countries, nor did it seem very safe regardless of where it was at.

She looked back out to the street and saw Frank and Dan turn left, with another car in between them and the blue sedan. The blue sedan followed them after a long pause before he turned when the light turned red. It was clear the blue sedan wanted to make sure that no one followed him out of the parking lot. It was why he purposely waited until the signal turned red before he made his turn, even after a long pause.

Sheila looked for a nice ride….

She thought about going back and selecting the vehicle which almost hit her. It was when it pulled into the slot the blue sedan vacated. There would be some poetic justice to it. If there was more time, she would tear the hood open and rip everything off of the engine except the block, the heads and the manifold. If the space was open on either side of it, she might even flip the car over onto its side.

She figured it was one way to make a statement.

Seconds ago:

Frank and Dan received Sheila's message to go without her. They saw the blue sedan approach from behind, and pulled out in front of it. There were several vehicles between them. They looked over and spotted Sheila by the stairwell. She told them to go and why. They watched her retreat back inside of the parking structure. She would be out of view before the blue sedan passed. There is no way for the individual to spot her.

They already knew the direction he was going to go and moved into the left hand turn lane. Two cars behind them turned right. One other car was left between them and the blue sedan. They turned with the green arrow as did the car behind them. The blue sedan didn't turn. It caused a little concern. He sat at the intersection with a green light in the driveway of the casino. They could hear the car behind the blue sedan honking.

"He's not turning." Frank said.

Dan looked back and saw the blue car turn after the light turned red. It was so no one behind him could follow him. If they did, they would stand out. He thought it was some very unsafe driving practice. Some of the vehicles which traveled straight started to move since the light turned green for them, before he was fully out of the way. It almost caused an accident.

"These people are paranoid about being followed." Dan said.

Frank tilted his head slightly. He thought it was a justifiable concern.

"They should be." Frank said. "We're following them. They just don't know it yet."

Dan looked at Frank and nodded his head.

"Affirmative…." Dan said. "The best part is, they're actually following us."

Gail and Cammy were inside the Gray's building. The HK Track was deactivated.

Cammy previously forcefully subdued the two Grays. She gave them some very rough treatment. She hurt them some but not enough to kill them.

Gail and Cammy were going to terminate the two Grays. It was a given. It was simply a matter of how at this point.

Cammy was still very upset about what the Gray said about the 'redhead' he abused in the future.

"I want them to suffer." Cammy said.

Cammy was still in a rage. It wasn't Savannah the Gray referred to, but it could have been.

Gail was as enraged as Cammy was.

"I heard what they said." Gail said "I want them to suffer as well. I found the dead female too. I saw what they did to her."

Cammy watched Sheila 'operate' on more than one 'off the books' excursion. She didn't relish and enjoy what needed to be done. To her it was justice. It didn't sexually stimulate her like it did Sheila. It really made her wonder sometimes how messed up Jesse must have been at one point. It was obvious the violence was much more than just punishment or retribution when she dished it out in her future. Sheila inherited the trait through the 'Neural Interface' with Jesse.

"Maybe we've been around Sheila too much." Cammy said. "I don't partake in her 'excitement'. I see it as part of the job, not as sexual stimulation."

Gail was aware Sheila was much more extreme than Jesse was. Jesse would still hand out 'punishment', but she was much more subdued in the way it was done. Usually death was good enough for her at this point in time. There were still times when they witnessed something so severe, a more thorough punishment was needed before termination.

"I haven't been with Sheila enough." Gail said.

Cammy wanted justice and she wanted to make a statement.

"I have." Cammy said. "Here's what we're going to do…."

The Metal girls knew 'payback' was a Bitch, and right now there were two of them. A simple termination was out of the question. There needed to be suffering first.

Ally tailed the box truck. She was still several streets over. She didn't like tailing them without being able to see them. There was no tracker on the truck. The roads thinned out the farther they went from the city. Soon there would be only one road if they kept going.

Ally felt she should be closer.

"I feel like I'm going to lose them." Ally said.

John Henry didn't see anything as a problem. They clearly had the situation under control and were able to avoid detection more than once.

"You're doing fine." John Henry said. "They've doubled back twice to look for a tail. If we weren't doing it this way, they would've spotted you…."

John didn't want Ally to over think it.

"Everything's working out fine the way it is." John said. "They don't know your vehicle. They haven't seen it before. There's nothing to worry about."

Ally was still upset because she was spotted at the location where the Grays went to. It seemed like John alluded to the fact.

"I know you want to say it." Ally said. "I was too close earlier."

John didn't see it as a big deal. Everything worked out OK. No one was terminated or captured. No one was even shot at.

"It all worked out." John said. "Don't worry about it, Ally."

Ally hoped they were able to determine a destination by now. It seemed like if they checked the satellite maps they might be able to tell where the truck was headed. It was clear the area was becoming much more rural and would be desert and rocks very soon.

"Can you tell where they're going?" Ally asked. "The roads are starting to thin out. I'm going to be in back of them sooner rather than later the way things are playing out."

John Henry attempted to establish some type of destination based upon where they were. So far every possibility turned out to be negative. There was only one choice left.

"It looks like they are headed out into the desert." John Henry said.

Ally wasn't so sure she liked a destination as remote as the desert was. It put her out in the middle of nowhere. She would be alone and by herself. As far as she knew, they would lead her into an ambush. There needed to be some type of end point.

"Then where?" Ally asked. "There are a lot of old silver mines here. Is it some place we really want to go?"

John Henry was aware of Ally's implication. There were gold mines in California, silver mines in Nevada, and copper mines in Arizona. It was strange how there were three valuable resources so close together, yet so concentrated in certain states.

John sat up in his chair at the mention of a mine. He didn't want Cameron or Savannah anywhere near a mine. He didn't want any of his troops anywhere near a mine. He wanted to make it clear from the beginning.

"We're not doing any mines." John said. "Nobody is."

Ally didn't want to seem too sarcastic but she felt she needed to say something to clue John in on it. If Cameron knew there was a version of Skynet inside of a mine, she was going in after it.

"Good luck with your ultimatum." Ally said. "It's all going to depend on what is in the mine. There's only one way to determine what is in it."

Ally was aware Skynet liked to be buried deep to avoid 'bunker buster' bombs. Cameron was able to get around the problem by bringing a nuke down to Skynet. She did it twice. One of them was done by Duplicate Cameron. Because it was two different versions of Cameron which did the same thing, there was a pretty good guarantee Cameron wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

She wondered if John was the only one who thought she wouldn't. She was aware Savannah or Young Allison could stop her, but she didn't think they would. Savannah elected to stay with Cameron in her future when it looked like Cameron was trapped with Skynet and a nuclear weapon about to explode. Savannah chose to stay with Cameron as everything would end for them. She didn't think anything would be different if the events were repeated again. Nobody thought they would.

John was worried and frustrated by what Ally pointed out. He thought maybe it was time to take a little bit more drastic action. Maybe they needed a little more firepower in the area. It was still daytime but he wanted to act.

"I want some of our drones up." John said. "I want to be able to hit a little harder if we need to, especially if it's a remote area. I know it's daylight, but we can count on the remoteness to assist us."

John Henry looked over at John. He didn't think it was the right decision at the current time. He would still need to use some safeguards.

"I'll have to keep them at altitude." John Henry said.

Two things currently ate away at John as he thought about them. He was ready to change the rules. He wanted his people protected.

"Change whatever air traffic you need to change and do it." John said. "I don't like Ally out by herself in the desert with so many unknowns. I also don't want Cameron near any mines."

Cameron being in a mine again wasn't what John wanted to see. The events always seemed to end badly. If a mine was identified, he thought it would be best to do a drone strike against the opening. It would prevent any of their personnel from entering.

John Henry didn't think John would have much control over Cameron if she found Skynet. She would do whatever was necessary to terminate it.

"If she thinks Skynet is in one, she'll go." John Henry said. "I think you have to know it by now."

John did know it. He also didn't feel he would be able to do much to change it or prevent it either. He would need to have it destroyed before she could enter it.

"It's why I'm risking the drones for a daylight raid." John said. "I want to hit any suspected site first."

John Henry didn't believe John could hide anything from Cameron, especially with CamNet feeding Cameron information continuously.

"Cameron will find out." John Henry said.

John still hoped to be able to launch a drone strike before Cameron could arrive at the location. He knew how things were going to play out, even if he didn't. It seemed to be the nature of the beast as to how they did on multiple occasions.

"Then all she'll find will be a pile of rubble." John said. "I forbid Cameron to enter a mine to go after Skynet."

John Henry didn't want to argue the point with John. He could only offer him some advice.

"Good luck." John Henry said.

John Henry was aware John wouldn't be able to stop Cameron if it's where she wanted to go. The main trouble with it was, Savannah would be with her. An even worse idea crossed his mind. It might be Young Allison as well. He decided it was best not to say anything so he didn't give anyone any ideas. He was sure they would have enough of them on their own.

Allison was excited with what Vanna and her were doing. She did the same thing with Savannah. It was one of the things which made her love Savannah even more.

Vanna was on her back still. Allison lifted her head from Vanna's left breast and looked up at her face.

"It stopped." Allison said. "There's no more."

Vanna was aware it was how it started out. Cam already told her there would be more each time they did it. It was the whole purpose of doing it. The more her body needed to produce, the more it would produce.

"There will be." Vanna said. "Jesse is just starting too."

Allison looked over towards the door of the room. She remembered where her mother was.

"I'm sure my mom will be thrilled." Allison said.

Vanna didn't like how Allison looked down on her mother for seeking comfort and companionship. She didn't think there was anything wrong with it. If they were still in the future, it wouldn't be a big deal or an issue at all. It would just be the way things were.

"I'm older than your mother…." Vanna said. "She's not much older than you. Everyone needs someone, some comfort, and a friend."

Allison didn't mean to sound sarcastic. She did understand her mother was a person and deserved comfort too. It was no longer an issue with her.

"I didn't mean it like that." Allison said. "I know they do. It's just 'different' for me because she's my mother."

Vanna didn't want to dwell on the issue. She felt she made herself clear. She wanted Allison to know she didn't feel worthless anymore. She felt she actually had a purpose in life now. Her body belonged to her now. It wasn't just for other people to use for their own sexual gratification. Her body could now sustain life.

"I want my body to be able to help Precious." Vanna said. "For once some of my female parts can do what they were designed for. Even if I can't have a child, I can still nurture one. This is really special to me."

Allison knew it meant a lot to Vanna.

"That's beautiful, Vanna." Allison said.

Vanna looked Allison in the eyes. She reached out and she touched her lower belly.

"I can help you too." Vanna said. "I want to help you."

Allison felt fear. She didn't think it was going to work.

"I don't know…." Allison said.

Allison was sure she would lose the baby. Every other attempt failed. Her only baby was the one her mother delivered for Future Allison in Cameron's future. The baby was supposed to be for her. It was from her body. Cameron made her mother give it to Future Allison instead of her. It was why she wanted to go to Cameron's future so she could be with her baby.

Vanna could see Allison's apprehension. She understood the issues which bothered her. She could also see a future for them. It was a future they often talked about when they were in the past, the future. It was what they wanted. They would be able to have their own family.

"I want us to move back in together." Vanna said. "It can be the three of us…."

Allison didn't think there would be three of them. The baby wasn't going to happen. She knew being around Vanna made her feel happy. She also knew being around Savannah made her happier…. She looked at Vanna and looked away.

They'd been together long enough to know what the other one was thinking.

The look of joy on Vanna's face began to fade away. She was pretty sure where Allison's mind drifted.

"I AM her." Vanna said. "I was her first."

Allison felt a little guilty but not much.

"I didn't say anything." Allison said.

Vanna wanted Allison to remember the past.

"I KNOW you." Vanna said. "WE belong together."

Allison felt they'd been down the same street too many times.

"We've talked about this before…." Allison said.

Vanna looked a little desperate.

"You can still be with whoever you want." Vanna said. "I want to wake up to your beautiful face every morning again. You can have as much 'dessert' as you desire. I know you need more. I understand. I've always accepted it. We love each other. Our relationship has always been open. We have always been there for each other at the end of the day or any fling. People come and go, but we're forever. We are forever, Allison."

Allison knew the past wasn't the future anymore. It was the present.

"I know we love each other." Allison said. "So much has changed."

The look in Vanna's eyes pleaded with Allison.

"WE belong together." Vanna said.

Allison shrugged her shoulders slightly. There were a lot of thoughts in her mind.

"I know, Vanna, I know…." Allison said.

Young Allison watched the monitors.

Anna felt Young Allison did enough for today. There were other obligations she needed to fulfill. There were other things she needed to do.

"You need to study." Anna said.

Young Allison looked away from the monitors and at Anna. She wondered if she was serious. There were currently three different operations underway. He was actually four if each of the two secretive men were counted separately, since they were separate currently.

"I can't right now." Young Allison said. "There is too much happening."

Anna could see Young Allison grew increasingly frustrated. She didn't think it was a good thing for her. There was no need to build her stress level up.

"You're upset some things are being blocked from you." Anna said.

Young Allison didn't see what the big deal was. It wasn't too hard to put it together.

"I'm pretty sure I know what's happening." Young Allison said.

Anna wanted Young Allison to understand why things were the way they were.

"Savannah asked for this for you." Anna said. "She wants to protect you."

Young Allison frowned and slowly let out a long breath. She wondered what there was to protect. If she could figure it out, what was the difference?

"I know." Young Allison said. "I know what's occurring anyway."

Anna could see that there were other issues.

"You look more worried than usual." Anna said.

Young Allison was concerned for Savannah's well being.

"It's been a long day and Savannah is still out in it." Young Allison said. "Cameron is pushing her too hard. She was supposed to go flying today. Look at everything that's happened so far. It doesn't look like it's anywhere near done either. I'm worried it might not even have actually started yet."

Anna wanted to know what Young Allison would do about it.

"Will you say something to Cameron?" Anna asked.

Young Allison felt she had a little bit more leeway than anybody else to raise an issue.

"I will." Young Allison said. "She won't deactivate me."

Young Allison thought about it for a minute.

"Will she?" Young Allison asked.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

If You Don't

Sometimes we say we will
And then we won't
Sometimes we say we do
And then we don't

Life is full of promises
Many are left unfulfilled
Fallacious, empty and hollow
Leaving a warm heart chilled

Who will say what they mean
Who will mean what they say
Are they not just worthless words
As meaningless as a donkey's bray

It appears one's actions
Speak louder than their words
Or is it all noise and chatter
Fodder for the birds

I want the truth not lies
Don't say you won't
I'll know
If you don't

Nobody