Chapter 924

We Need A Better Plan

From the drone at altitude, they were able to see the armored car turn off the main highway and onto a dirt road. It wasn't what they expected to see happen. There weren't many options left at this point. They were most likely headed for a mine. The satellite map showed nothing else in the direction they were headed. The road ended up against the mountains.

"They've turned onto a dirt road." John Henry said. "It looks like they're headed towards some type of hidden complex. It is most likely underground or inside of the mountain."

John Henry took a moment to glance at John with the ending of his statement. It was clear what he indicated, without specifically mentioning it.

John caught John Henry's drift. He figured since the armored car was now off the main highway, it would be a good time to hit it with a missile. His main reason for it was to prevent it from reaching the mine. If it was its destination, Cameron would surely try to get inside of the mine. He knew she would take Savannah with her, and probably more of the Metal girls as well. He didn't want a repeat of what occurred at the last mine location. It seemed just about everything which could go wrong, went wrong.

The armored car was no longer on the main highway. He didn't care if the missile would damage the roadway now since it was just dirt. It was time to take care of business.

"I want the drone to hit them with a missile." John said. "Do it."

Cameron wondered what John was doing. He wasn't the one on the ground, she was. She didn't want to use the option yet.

"Belay those orders. It's a negative on the drone strike." Cameron said as she interrupted them.

John decided to spell it out for Cameron.

"Cameron, I don't want you near any mines." John said.

John Henry didn't want John to lose sight of the goal. There were bigger stakes at play as opposed to one individual. Based upon where the road led which the armored car was currently on, there was bound to be more Skynet activity located there. If they blew up the armored car with a missile strike, it would alert the rest of the Skynet group to the fact they might be under attack soon. The location would go on lock down and be much harder to infiltrate if they knew someone was after them.

"John, if there's 'a Skynet' there, it needs to be destroyed." John Henry said. "It's what we're trying to prevent. We need to stop any form of Skynet. It should make the task easier if we allow the armored car to pass. We will also know precisely where it ends up at."

Cameron wasn't in a hurry to go inside of another mine at this point. She needed to track and find any version of Skynet. If there was a version of Skynet in the mine, she would have to go in after it.

"It will be helpful to see where they go." Cameron said. "We have Samantha, she can walk right in."

John highly doubted she could at this point. He was pretty sure Samantha's extended disappearance compromised her effectiveness as an infiltration tool. She would be a suspect immediately. He was pretty sure who else would accompany Samantha on the ill-advised adventure.

"It would be Samantha along with you." John said. "Isn't it right, Cameron?"

Savannah didn't look forward to another mine adventure. If It's what the mission called for, then she would do what was necessary. She wanted to allay John's fears.

"I'll be going as well, John." Savannah said.

John already figured on the last statement. He hoped it wouldn't come, it did. He was the General and it was about time to lay down some rules. He didn't want to ruffle anyone's feathers, but he wasn't sending anyone else into a mine, nothing good ever happened in one of them.

"As soon as we determine the mine's entrance, we're hitting it with a drone strike." John said. "Nobody is going in there."

It wasn't Cameron's desire, but it was a necessity to find out the facts.

"John, I'm going in." Cameron said. "If there is 'a Skynet' there, it will be in there deep. There's only one way to be sure. I must face it."

John Henry knew Skynet would be secure enough to survive 'bunker busting' bombs which would be dropped on its location. A drone strike at the entrance to the mine would be nothing but an inconvenience to Skynet. It would be unaffected. It would remain fully operational.

"She's right, John." John Henry said. "They can use Thermite on it once they locate it. They need to make sure it's destroyed."

John attempted to contain his anger. It was a little easier to do with Allison and Vanna there. He didn't want to have an outburst in front of them. Their presence gave him a little more control. Maybe it's how things would play out in the future as well. He knew what Cameron used in the past to make sure any version of Skynet was destroyed. One of them was Cameron, and one of them was Duplicate Cameron. It was two different versions of her and they both used the same thing.

"We both know what she's going to use." John said. "It's going to burn a lot hotter than Thermite."

It was clear to everyone what weapon Cameron would use if she found a version of Skynet in the mine. She would want to eradicate it from the face of the earth with one of her nukes. It was an isolated location and would be perfect for the type of attack.

It just needed to happen without Cameron or Savannah inside of the mine at the time of the explosion.

There were only so many options available. They all seemed to lead to the same conclusion for the type of location where the suspected Skynet mainframe was at.

Cameron's team talked amongst themselves.

Savannah knew there were going to be some difficulties involved with dealing with the armored car at this point.

"Cameron, we can't follow them in on the dirt road." Savannah said. "We'll be spotted. The area is wide open and the dust trail would give us away. It is the same trouble Ally experienced yesterday."

Ally was unable to follow the box truck when it performed a similar maneuver. It sent her to intercept it on a different path. It was a much longer route, but all of it was on the paved roads. When she needed to pull over and wait to kill time, it led to a 'run in' with a biker gang. Time wasn't the only thing which ended up being killed. Things didn't end well for them.

The biker gang was dealt with by CamNet at Young Allison's direction. It was a ruthless and decisive one sided battle which was literally over in three seconds.

Cammy felt the other option available to them was taken away as well at this point.

"It's the same problem if we use a missile strike now." Cammy said. "We're too close to the mine entrance at this point. The attack would be spotted immediately."

Savannah was sure it would open a new can of worms.

"If there are any HK drones inside of the mine, they would probably be launched immediately." Savannah said. "It's possible they would be sent to attack any vehicles in a ten mile radius around where the drone strike took place. We don't know how many they would launch either."

Cameron actually considered another even more grim possibility. Depending upon the advancement of the Skynet mainframe, it could lead to a bigger problem. What if the Skynet system felt threatened and was in a position to launch Judgment Day? They might be the ones who triggered the event to occur. It certainly wasn't what they wanted to happen. They needed a more clandestine approach. There were few choices available to gain access. They would have to hike in.

"We'll need to go in on foot." Cameron said.

Savannah didn't think it would be a simple hike. Even if the Skynet group didn't expect an attack from another Skynet group, the Fanatics, or the anti-Metal faction, they might expect an attack from the Syndicate. The Syndicate would want to get its money back. It really wouldn't care about anything else.

"They'll have security." Savannah said. "We would need to watch for booby traps and tripwires as we approached the entrance. They'll be on the lookout for at least the Syndicate. We don't know what other illegal trade they may be involved with either. As far as we know, they're in bed with the Cartel as well."

Samantha felt her appearance could still offer them some type of assistance.

"I can drive us in." Samantha said. "They'll recognize me and let me pass. They will at least want to talk to me, if not question me, about what happened."

Savannah remembered things didn't work out so well the last time they tried it.

"What if there is a password or recognition challenge?" Savannah asked. "We failed the recognition code at the warehouse and almost paid the price."

It was another 'save' by Young Allison's 'involvement'. CamNet acted on her planning and direction. The mission was protected on several different levels as well as methods. It proved incredibly beneficial to the team on the ground.

Cameron was sure Samantha's presence was more of a liability with the Grays at this point. She may still have some usefulness with the Syndicate thugs. She wasn't sure they were done at the Syndicate casino yet either. There could be some more things they needed to look into there once the Syndicate thugs reestablish themselves. She didn't think the Skynet group was going to 'buy' anything Samantha tried to do.

"They're also going to wonder where you've been since the early hours of the morning. You didn't contact them and didn't show up." Cameron said. "They must have some type of contingency plans for such an event. It's not like you can tell them you were tied up or anything."

Samantha didn't want to mince words. There were other ways to make entry.

"We can fight our way in." Samantha said.

It wasn't a plan Savannah wanted to follow. It was too risky without knowing what they would face. There were most likely HK Tracks, or even HK Treads, which would be in there to protect Skynet. The group possessed every type of HK equipment.

"We need a better plan." Savannah said. "We need to think about it first before we attempt anything. We know where they're at, there's nowhere for them to go. Time is now on our side for a change. We don't need to rush blind into something. I don't want to see our group endangered needlessly."

Samantha felt she could accomplish it on her own.

"I can do it." Samantha said.

Cameron glared at Samantha. She agreed with Savannah on this one. What almost happened at the warehouse was a grim reminder of what could happen.

"Savannah is correct." Cameron said. "We need a better plan."

Cameron wanted to stop the armored car. At this point it looked as if it was about to lead them to a Skynet controlled mine. The mine itself was in a very isolated location. The area was on the outskirts of where atomic weapons were tested in the past. There was a rather large testing area. The circular depression scars on the surface of the ground were proof of each below ground atomic test. There were plenty of above ground tests as well. There were pictures taken during the Fifties with prominent casinos and mushroom clouds in the distance.

She briefly wondered if Cammy or Sheila knew anything about some of those images, or those tests. Their files were blocked so there was no way to get a definitive answer. They both indicated they wanted to detonate an H-bomb in Las Vegas during the time period to wipe it off the map. Because of where they were now, it seemed like it would have been a good idea. Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference. The gambling mecca would have grown in another location anyway. Greed seemed to be the common factor behind all of it.

Vanna and Allison watched and listened. They knew of the 'Day Of Loss' and what happened to Duplicate Cameron and their own Duplicates on the terrible day. At least what could have happened to them anyway. Cameron launched a temporal rescue mission. She went back in time and saved them.

They both knew it was Cameron's 'mission' to destroy Skynet.

Allison and Vanna sensed the tension build up between John and Cameron.

Vanna caught Allison's eye and looked towards the door.

Allison caught the gesture and nodded. She was sure their presence was going to affect John's decision making.

"Maybe we should go." Allison said. "I don't want to be disruptive."

Vanna needed to agree. The atmosphere was very tense and volatile. Tension and temperaments seemed to be very high. She was worried they might be pulled into something in a very negative way.

"I think so too." Vanna said. "It's not our place to be part of this 'discussion'."

Allison and Vanna both got up to leave.

John could use some 'human comfort' now. He wanted the girls to stay. He appreciated the human touch he was currently able to experience. He felt very apprehensive as to what Cameron was about to do.

"I NEED you two to stay." John said. "Please. I would appreciate it."

Allison and Vanna looked at each other and sat back down.

"John, Cameron's going to do what's necessary to protect all of us." Allison said. "You need to have faith in her."

John did have faith, but he didn't want someone to have to run a temporal rescue mission to pull Cameron out of a situation she determined was worth terminating for.

"I do, but there are other ways." John said.

John Henry knew he could deliver a nuclear punch on his own without anyone needing to get near the entrance of the mine. The nuclear warhead should serve as a 'bunker busting' device.

"I can reprogram a military missile armed with a nuclear warhead to strike the area." John Henry said. "I can have it launched from its silo in seconds."

John quickly looked over and John Henry. It was something he would expect Cameron to come up with. He needed to think about collateral damage and residual effects. He wanted to point out the harsh reality.

"It would be an above the ground nuclear explosion." John said.

John Henry didn't think it was a big deal based upon where the mine was located. It was right on the fringes of the nuclear testing zone which was used for decades. Many of those early tests were above ground. There were over nine hundred tests conducted around the area. He really didn't think one more would matter. It was most likely there would be people able to take pictures of all of the casinos with a mushroom cloud in the background.

"There were plenty 'tested' in Nevada already." John Henry said. "Nine hundred and twenty eight were officially tested near the very area."

John wondered about the terminology John Henry used.

"Were there some unofficial ones?" John asked.

John Henry knew several other clandestine government agencies tested various devices as well. There was no official record of most of those. There were also some tests which turned out to be 'duds'. A few of the tests were abruptly canceled at the last moment. There was no disposition as to what happened to the nuclear weapon after the cancellation of the test. He knew 'official records' of any organization often left out a lot of information.

"Of course there were." John Henry said. "There always are."

John wondered how safe it was for Savannah to be in the location since it was so close to the area of previous testing. Maybe it was safe enough now. People were in and out of the area all the time. He needed to remind himself people currently live in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki as if nothing ever happened there. The idea still bothered him nonetheless. There were no apparent residual radioactive effects left from those small atomic bombs. He still wasn't convinced it was safe. The reminder was always in the back of his head, no place was safe.

Allison and Vanna felt uncomfortable. They didn't want to get involved into the 'discussion'. More than likely Cameron would attempt to use them as allies at some point.

Vanna didn't want to be part of the decision making.

"There's little we can add to your choices." Vanna said.

John looked at both Allison and Vanna. He needed their support more than anything.

"It's not my decisions I'm worried about." John said.

They all needed to worry about what Cameron would do. Savannah would be the check on anything too extreme. It's what they hoped anyway.

One thing was for sure. They all knew Savannah wouldn't leave Cameron's side, no matter what actions were taken.

They all saw the video files of Savannah when she chose to remain with Cameron rather than escape when the end was certain with a nuclear explosion.

Savannah promised never to abandon Cameron. It appeared her actions were as good as her word. It was something for all of them to think about, even if it was something none of them wanted to ever think about.

Gail and her team previously were directed to take another route. They received new orders. It was something they hoped would happen. It did.

"We're being redirected. We've been recalled." Gail said. "We'll be able to back up Savannah now."

Ally heard the earlier proposal to use a nuclear missile against the mine. She understood what one of the possible outcomes could be. She tried to make light of it.

"Cool, we can all get blown up together." Ally said.

Sheila could picture her sheath material being burnt off her Coltan endoskeleton a few milliseconds before it melted and was vaporized as well. She wondered exactly how much she would be able to feel in the short amount of time. It would be her last reminder she was 'alive', before she wasn't.

"We might as well go out in style." Sheila said. "There's no need to do things halfway."

Gail was irritated by their talk of terminations.

"There will be no one blown up." Gail said. "We have plenty of Thermite."

Ally felt Gail missed one critical point.

"We need to get it in there first to use it." Ally said. "It's going to be the hard part."

Sheila felt something 'strange' in her system. a thought suddenly popped into her mind. She didn't know where it came from. It seemed very real to her.

"What if there's a version of Skynet inside the mine? What if it's wired to a 'Doomsday' device?" Sheila asked. "What if this is all bigger than it seems right now?"

Ally and Gail looked at each other. They wondered where her idea came from. It sounded very extreme. They hoped not.

"We'll do our jobs and destroy Skynet." Gail said. "It doesn't matter if we're terminated."

Termination wasn't on Ally's menu.

"I guess there really is one born every minute." Ally said.

Gail was irritated by Ally's inference.

"I wasn't born." Gail said.

Sheila agreed with Ally. She rephrased the statement to make it more appropriate.

"I guess there's one built every minute." Sheila said.

Ally doubted there was any way around it.

"That's us. A sucker is a sucker, wherever they come from." Ally said. "It doesn't really matter in the end."

Sheila was left with a distinct and uncomfortable feeling about the end. She was certain it was a lot closer than any of them thought a few seconds ago.

Savannah noticed Cammy seemed a little on edge or even slightly out of it. There was something off about her. There were times when she looked very uneasy and times when she looked lost deep in thought. She wasn't sure how to read the current situation. She wanted to phrase her terminology carefully and not seem leading with her questions and statements.

"Cammy, you're not saying much." Savannah said.

Cammy looked over at the mountain area where the armored car appeared to be headed. There was a very uneasy feeling about it. It made her very uncomfortable the direction things were headed, quite literally.

"I have nothing to add." Cammy said.

Savannah wanted to explore some ideas. There were a lot of ideas which popped into her head from time to time. For some reason, this was one of those times. She needed to find out a little more, even if it wouldn't be much.

"I think when you were in the past you interacted with us at some point." Savannah said. "I think it happened even though those events haven't occurred for me."

Cammy looked over at the mountain area where the armored car was headed. The feeling of uneasiness grew even more. She wanted to remind Savannah some things weren't possible yet, even if they were the past for her.

"Technically, it hasn't happened yet." Cammy said. "You haven't left yet."

Cameron was very uneasy with the nature of the discussion. She wasn't sure what initiated it. She was sure whatever happened in the past shouldn't be discussed, if somehow Savannah, or anyone from their group who would go into the past, may have interacted with them.

"I think it shouldn't be discussed." Cameron said. "Any knowledge of what happened in the past could change what we do in the present, or when we actually go into the past."

It was all news to Samantha. She wanted to know more.

"I want to hear about it." Samantha said. "I'm going to be deactivated anyway."

Cammy waited until Cameron looked away and winked at Savannah.

Savannah felt something. It was a sense of alarm. Maybe Cammy was sitting on a 'secret' they needed to know. She was sure it was why Cammy seemed 'off'. There was definitely more there than met the eye. She was sure of it. Everything inside of her told her to act on her 'feeling'. It was very strong. She decided to push the issue.

"Cammy, if there's something you or Sheila needs to share with Cameron. I think now is the time." Savannah said. "I can wait away from both of you with Samantha."

Cameron felt a glitch impulse. She didn't believe this was information they should know in the present. She was worried about what could be altered going forward.

"Cammy will say nothing." Cameron said. "I won't allow her to change the past."

Cammy ignored Cameron. She needed to act on what Savannah said. For some reason Savannah's words stirred something inside of her. It was about the location they were in, or at least the area around it. She felt very uneasy once they started in the direction they were headed as they pursued the armored car.

"Maybe I'm supposed to…." Cammy said. "Maybe YOU told us in the past to do 'something'. Maybe you did 'something'."

Cameron strongly doubted it. She would only be on the mission with Young Allison. Savannah and Claire would both be there at times to accelerate their pregnancies in the present. It was mainly to keep any of the girls from leaving for her future. She didn't want to lose Allison, Vanna, and Jesse. She wasn't sure what Cammy actually referred to.

"I haven't gone back on the mission yet." Cameron said.

Things began to click in Savannah's mind. She didn't know why, but they just did. She needed to know more and she needed to know it now. She needed some straight answers.

"Cammy, are you saying you did something related to this operation right now, in the past?" Savannah asked. "If it's related in any way I think we need to know."

Cammy was aware files inside her begin to unlock now because of Savannah's prompting. She was sure it was something which was supposed to happen the way it was unfolding. She was aware she was acting 'different' and Savannah would pick it up. She would then start to question her. She looked over at the mountain area as a sense of urgency flooded her.

"I may have files which were locked, now in the process of unlocking." Cammy said. "I think I need to converse with Cameron. Whatever is happening right now, it's supposed to happen."

The vehicle swerved slightly as Cameron felt another glitch impulse. She didn't want to hear what Cammy felt she needed to say.

"No!" Cameron said. "I don't want to know. I don't want to change anything."

Savannah was sure there was something of importance they needed to explore. If Cameron was supposed to know, she wanted her to listen. Cameron could always block the files herself she heard from Cammy. She was concerned about everyone's safety.

"Cameron, what's unlocked in Cammy may prevent one of us from being terminated." Savannah said. "I think it's what she's getting at. It may be because it's supposed to happen this way. It's my feeling. I don't believe what's happening is unintentional. This may be an attempt to 'fix' something before it happens to one of us. I think it's a strong possibility. You at least need to know more."

Cammy didn't have any specific answers yet. She did have a lot of speculation based upon where they were at. She knew how Cameron would attempt to obliterate this version of Skynet sooner or later. Something told her the option was already taken care of.

"You want to eradicate Skynet, the Skynet we think is here, right?" Cammy asked. "Look what we are near. What was tested here almost a thousand times? Maybe one of those tests was a 'dud'. Maybe something scheduled to be tested 'vanished'. Maybe it didn't go far…."

Cameron's hand began to glitch continuously. It was very mild, but it was non stop.

"Stop…." Cameron said. "I'm going in alone. My decision is final. There's nothing which will change it."

Cammy felt the decision was already changed. She felt it was changed in the past.

"Isn't there?" Cammy asked. "You don't think your decision can be changed? Who's sitting right next to you?"

Cameron began to wonder if there was some retroactive action taken as Cammy indicated. If there was, why didn't they know more? There must be more to it. There was probably a lot more to it. Maybe things needed to play out a little further.

"There's someone who can change my decision. It's Savannah." Cameron said.

Savannah felt something was very important and crucial and it needed to be known. She was going to be at Cameron's side no matter what happened.

"Cammy, what am I supposed to do?" Savannah asked. "I'm going to go with Cameron. You need to tell me, tell us."

Cammy couldn't unlock any more information. She needed Sheila. Maybe Sheila knew what she didn't. Somehow Sheila was important right now. They were both pieces of the puzzle. She didn't believe it was accidental, it was intentional.

"The specific information is still blocked. I only have part of it." Cammy said. "I need to talk to Sheila."

Cameron was able to get the glitch under control. She previously called Gail's team. Now it seemed more important than ever.

"I've recalled them. Gail's team is on the way back." Cameron said.

Savannah didn't want any of their teams scattered around the area. There were too many unknowns all of a sudden. They didn't even know why they were unknowns, other than they were unknowns.

"What about Cam's team?" Savannah asked.

Cameron took the same action when she recalled Gail's team.

"I've recalled them as well." Cameron said.

Savannah felt very uneasy. She needed to know more. She wanted Cammy to tell her more.

"Cammy, what's going to happen?" Savannah asked.

Cammy didn't have the answers. She needed to speak with Sheila. Maybe together they could figure it out.

"I need to talk to Sheila." Cammy said. "I feel it's very important."

Savannah felt as frustrated as Cameron looked uneasy.

"This is getting better by the minute." Savannah said.

Savannah felt a growing sense of doom.

Earlier:

Cam and her team were headed to the area where they were directed. She received a call from Cameron. It changed everything.

"They have a fixed target location or area anyway." Cam said. "We've been recalled."

Cam gave Holly and Hanna a brief rundown of what Cameron told her. It wasn't much.

Hanna knew trouble when she heard it. She'd just heard it.

"I don't think this is a good thing." Hanna said. "The location reeks of trouble."

Cam wanted to reinforce Cameron, and by extension Savannah.

"Nevertheless, we're going back." Cam said.

Holly thought they lacked something very important.

"They don't have a plan." Holly said.

Cam, like Cameron, thought plans were restrictive and overrated. There were often last minute changes which needed to be enacted which rendered the plan useless.

"Plans change." Cam said.

Cam was very aware Cameron seldom followed a plan. She didn't wait long enough to make one. She acted when there was a threat. There was clearly a threat in the situation. It seemed greater than 'The Enforcer'. The location reeked of a Skynet mainframe in a bunker buster proof location.

Vanna and Allison were unsure what John wanted from them.

Allison was willing to help, she didn't know how.

"What can we add, John?" Allison asked.

John didn't have an answer for them. He did have a very unsettling feeling inside of him.

"I don't know yet." John said.

Vanna wondered what happened to all the chatter they could hear previously. Everything was silent now from Cameron's team.

"Why have we lost communication with Cameron's team?" Vanna asked.

It was one question John Henry could answer. It wasn't an infrequent occurrence when it came to Cameron and her team. He didn't even question it anymore when it occurred.

"They've blocked us." John Henry said.

John felt his frustration grow. He was sure he knew what the silence meant. He already attempted to shoot down a proposal by Cameron. She was going to work around him and the Command Center. It was nothing new. It usually wasn't quite as overt.

"They're planning to do something." John said. "There might be a way for us to find out more."

John glanced at Allison for a moment. He could see her face light up.

Allison caught John's drift after a few seconds. She could use some of her influence where it would make a difference to find out more about what was going on. There was one person who could find out anything if they asked for it. It seemed like it was time to ask.

"Let me call Allison." Allison said.

Vanna found Allison's statement somewhat amusing based upon the way it sounded.

"It just sounds weird." Vanna said.

John didn't want Allison to create a problem for herself. It was what he wanted, but he wasn't going to push anybody beyond their comfort zone.

"Is it something you're fine with?" John asked.

Allison was worried about Cameron, Savannah and all of the girls. Cam and Holly were there as well.

"To help Cameron and Savannah it is." Allison said. "Allison can help us."

Vanna thought about everything for a little bit. She thought something different was supposed to happen.

"John, maybe YOU are supposed to call Young Allison." Vanna said. "Based upon all of the uncertainty, this situation seems different, even if we really don't know anything."

John Henry tilted his head slightly. It sounded like the correct call to him as well once Vanna pointed it out.

"She's a sound tactician and has influence you don't possess, John." John Henry said. "It's a good idea. She'll be your most valuable asset, if she isn't already."

John previously thought Young Allison's biggest asset would be in his bed. He felt it was all some part of a big plan unfolding somehow.

"Everything seems as if it's playing out like some grand 'plan'." John said.

Allison couldn't help but point out something they all knew.

"The 'Natural Order' is knocking…." Allison said.

Vanna believed it as well.

"John, we all know what the future is going to be." Vanna said. "All you can do is delay it, you can't change it."

John looked at Vanna and Allison. They were both so beautiful sitting there. THAT was his future, and he was being reminded. By him asking them to stay, it reminded him of the 'Natural Order' and everything at stake. Somehow all of this didn't seem like random chance or coincidence. It was like all of the pieces of the puzzle were there and they were all going to have to work to put it together.

Young Allison felt a sense of deep concern. She knew something was off. As to what it was, she didn't know. She just knew by everyone's actions it was.

"I'm not sure what's happening." Young Allison said. "Something's wrong."

Anna was in the dark like everyone else currently.

"Cameron cut her team's communications." Anna said.

Young Allison needed to know more. She needed to know it now.

"Unless they are personal, I want to hear them." Young Allison said. "I need CamNet's assistance. I'm asking for it right now."

Instantly the discussion about the past came up.

Anna quickly realized why the conversation was blocked from them.

"I don't think we should hear this." Anna said. "We may change something."

Young Allison wanted to know what was going to happen or could happen. She also knew when to use restraint.

"Block any current discussion of the past or future for now." Young Allison said. "I don't want to inadvertently alter anything."

Anna believed there were many variables to the situation.

"We can change the past and the future without knowing it sometimes." Anna said.

Young Allison was ready for her future now. She knew some restraint may be necessary.

"I want what I've promised Cameron." Young Allison said. "I don't want to hurt anyone to achieve it either."

Anna was aware 'hurt' came in many different forms.

"There are different kinds of hurt." Anna said.

Young Allison didn't believe anyone was immune from hurt. She was aware being hurt was part of life.

"I think Cameron knows them all." Young Allison said. "I know I'll experience my share."

Young Allison looked forward to the 'rewards' the future offered her. She was aware there would be pain to go along with many of them. There was no 'free ride'.

At the end of the ride, someone always needed to pay the toll.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

We Need A Better Plan

Of mice and men
Which will it be
It all depends
On what one can see

Is anyone more
Than what they're perceived
It all depends
On what they've achieved

What matters to some
Doesn't matter to all
It all depends
If they hear the call

Does one trudge on blindly
Can they find their way
It all depends
If they command or obey

Do we need a better plan
To move forward in life
It all depends
If one wants less strife

Nobody