Chapter 1066

Easy

Earlier:

Jesse was a little worried Gail needed to go out and face potential combat. She was all alone right now and she wanted the comfort of one of the girls. She didn't really care which one. It actually didn't really even matter. The end result was going to be the same regardless of who it was. All of the girls were good, some of them were just better. She smiled at the thought.

She did want to be with Claire if she could. She would check there first, and then go check with Vanna, and then check with Allison to see who was available. It was the order she would prefer to be with them in.

It was still her secret desire to be with both Claire and Allison at the same time. She didn't know if they would be together with each other or not, but she wanted both of them to 'work' on her at the same time. There were a multitude of different things they could do to share with each other. She was pretty sure at some point during the process Allison and Claire would only see themselves as females and want what a female could provide to another female. It was satisfaction. Females could always please females better than males could. None of the males understood the female body and all of its capabilities. She wanted to watch them take each other right in front of her. Maybe it was just a fantasy. If it was, it was a pretty good one.

She thought the true fantasy was for someone to be with themselves. It was something she could literally do with Young Jesse. It wasn't a clone, or cyborg. It was the younger version of her from earlier in the timeline. It was the one thing she always wanted to do. She wanted to know what it was like to share with herself. It was still different with Sheila because she was a cyborg. She never got to meet any version of herself as 'Duplicate Jesse'. There were two of them. They were her as well. They were actually her, as who she currently was, at least until the point of the TDE incident.

There was one thing she wanted. It was for Young Jesse never to be her. She didn't want Young Jesse to be the person she was in her future. She was once Young Jesse, she just wanted to make sure Young Jesse never became her. She felt she was tainted, flawed, damaged, and not good enough.

She knew Cameron and the girls did a lot to change her for the better. She believed Precious even did more to bring her back to a more human status. When she was in the past, her future, she wasn't sure what she was anymore. She felt she was more like some kind of an animal at times. She did things to hurt people before in her future, just to hurt them. Somehow she thought it would make the pain go away. It never did. It just made things worse. She tried to push the thoughts from her mind.

She neared Claire's room. She saw Hanna hurriedly exit out of the door. She was still in the process of dressing. Hanna went in the opposite direction she was going. She was pretty sure Hanna was called up for duty as well. If Claire knew it, she was going to be worried. She knew what it was like to worry. She was experienced in dealing with the same type of things, Claire wasn't. No matter how many times they happened, it was something they didn't get used to. The worry never went away. It only seemed to increase. There were ways to deflect it.

She approached the door. It hadn't closed tight. It was a good thing. She looked inside as much as she could. She didn't see Claire on the bed. She thought maybe she was in the restroom. She took a moment to listen further to see what she could detect. It was possible there was someone else in the room. She actually heard something she didn't want to hear. She heard some sobbing and decided to enter the room.

Claire was seated on the side of the bed, but she couldn't see her until the door opened all of the way. Claire looked up as she entered.

"Hanna!" Claire said.

Jesse knew exactly how she felt. She hoped her cyborg lover disregarded her instructions and returned to her instead. It never happened. It never happened because it couldn't happen.

"No, love, it's just me." Jesse said. "Gail was called away as well. It's just how it is sometimes. I figured I would come by and see you since we both feel the same way right now."

Claire stood and hurried over to embrace Jesse. She was very glad to see her. She needed to be in the presence of another person right now. She was glad it was a human, but a cyborg would have worked. A human would know how she felt right now, especially one who went through a similar experience.

Claire was very upset because of the reason Hanna needed to leave. It was because she needed to enter the danger zone. She wondered if she was being selfish. It was the same thing which occurred all the time at the Resistance base. She knew it was part of their job. It was their duty.

"I didn't want her to go." Claire said.

Jesse held Claire's naked body tight in her arms.

"No one wants them to go, but it's their function. It's their job." Jesse said. "They know if they don't go, we will. It's just that simple. I still don't like it either. If someone needed help, I would go in an instant. You've seen the others. Savannah, Vanna, Allison, Riley, Derek, Kyle, and Sarah would all go if they were needed and not think twice because it's how it was in the future for all of them except Savannah. She is the future. For Sarah, it's her life."

Jesse didn't think it would be prudent to mention Young Allison would do the same thing soon enough. She didn't want to traumatize Claire further. She knew how to reach her on a deeper level. She knew where escape from pain could be found.

Claire and Jesse could now find comfort in each other. Even if they didn't do anything sexually, they would be together. They could draw strength from each other. The strengths of each one of them were different from the other. Maybe it's why the attraction was so strong. Each one of them lacked what the other one possessed. Maybe it was a way to feel whole. When a loved one was called away for duty, it always created a hole in someone's heart.

Jesse tried many things over the years to fill those holes. Nothing could ever do it. Maybe it could keep them from getting bigger, but they never went away. Things were different now. Genuine love and caring could fill the holes. Precious helped her find herself again.

John watched the drone footage as everything happened. There were the individual body cams also. There were four drones on station and four more on the way to the area. Hanna was in the manned drone.

He was aware it was way more of everything than he would have out on a recon mission. Young Allison's caution and concern prompted him to commit more resources. Her involvement through CamNet was usually in the background. It only became evident when things started to fall apart. Her actions saved the team more than once. He figured he didn't even know about what else she may have available if it wasn't needed.

John watched Young Allison grow from a small child. He did the same with Savannah. She was a little older at the time. He remembered when he first met her in Dr Sherman's office. He carried her away from her home when the Terminator came to kill her. It was where Debbie, her nanny, and Future Derek both died. Now Savannah was a beautiful teenager and Young Allison was too. She wanted to do everything a lot quicker than she should. He couldn't blame her because it's exactly what he wanted to do when he was a teenager as well. It's what teenagers did.

He knew Cameron was going to create and establish the 'Natural Order' in this timeline no matter what. It was his fault as Future John. The lives of the two beautiful girls were determined for them by others, mainly himself as Future John.

He didn't feel he should need to take the blame for what a future version of him did, or wanted done. It's not how he felt about things. He tried his hardest to put the brakes on to keep things from getting out of control multiple times. It just didn't seem worth it to keep doing it. Maybe he was ready to buckle and cave in.

Right now Cameron and Cammy were in danger if the building was wired to explode. It looked like a dead end. He didn't want it to be it in the literal sense either as far as the Resistance team went.

What was troubling was who killed the people inside, and who took the computers? What were the people doing before they were killed? They must have been doing something to be there in the first place. It certainly couldn't have been anything good.

Was it another Skynet faction? Maybe the anti-Metal group penetrated one of the other groups. They did it in the past. All three groups were a threat to them. They purposely never recruited anyone to join the Resistance. It was too risky to do so. In fact, they tried to distance themselves from anyone involved with them.

John was painfully aware many of the people who assisted them in the past, or even associated with them met an untimely demise. He didn't like their blood on his hands. The two which bothered him the most were Future Riley and Charlie. He really liked Charlie and thought he was a good guy. He remembered how it was as he cast off with the boat at the lighthouse. He left Charlie behind to die. There was no way out for both of them. Charlie told him to cast off and go while he held the dock from being overrun.

Both Charlie and Future Riley died specifically because of him. Future Derek's death was indirect, as was Charlie's wife Michelle. Todd and Janelle simply died because they tried to provide him with a home when his mother was in the mental institution. Future Kyle died protecting his mother, who was pregnant with him. They were all his fault. It just seemed some were more so than others. He didn't want to think about the fallen right now.

They were able to capture enough Terminators to meet their needs. Between John Henry and CamNet they took control of many things. They remained in the background, waiting.

John watched as Cameron and Cammy were about to make entry into the building. Everything could all go bad in a second. He was unsure if their method of entry was even a good one. Anything on or with the building could be wired to explode if it was tampered with.

Cameron checked the roof for any entry points. The housing for the air conditioning unit itself didn't lead inside of the building. There weren't any openings other than the ducting for the forced air. They would rip it apart to get in rather than smash through the roof. It would cause less damage to the roof. It should involve less shaking, and less debris falling to the floor. They didn't want to trigger a booby trap connected to a motion detector of some type.

Cammy looked around. She felt uneasy. She felt very exposed where they were. There was no sign of anyone around the area.

"Maybe we should just torch the building." Cammy said. "Everything of value will have been taken from this place based upon what you witnessed through the transom window. Anything left is just to draw us into the interior."

Cameron looked at her and frowned. There might be something useful inside. She wanted to know who the dead people were. She wanted to know if they were Grays, Fanatics, or from the anti-Metal faction.

"I want to know more." Cameron said. "I want to know which enemy we're facing."

Cammy didn't like the frown she received. She felt she expressed a legitimate concern. She wanted to repeat to Cameron what she said earlier.

"What if there isn't any more to know?" Cammy asked. "You said it yourself, the place looked cleaned out. Whoever took the computers most likely took anything else of value or relevance. They've probably only left a trap. They know the only other individuals who would enter the building were their enemies."

Cameron was sure there was more to be learned.

"We need to know who the dead are." Cameron said.

Cammy wondered what for. She didn't understand the importance of knowing which group it might be, it was going to be hard to prove if they couldn't interrogate anyone.

"How do we tell who they are, if they're already dead?" Cammy asked. "They are all from the future no matter which group they're from. If they're not from the future, they're 'contract employees' working for someone from the future. They know whatever they're involved with isn't above board or legal."

Cameron wanted to do a scan of the deceased individuals.

"The Grays we encountered before showed faint traces of Cobalt radiation." Cameron said.

Cammy didn't see how it helped with anything. The mine in the Nevada desert was now nothing but a collapsed mountain. Anyone who was in it was terminated.

"I thought we solved the problem." Cammy said.

Cameron was aware Skynet or SkyMaster would keep trying until it achieved what it wanted to do. She knew it was how the machines worked, all of them. Once they were given a goal to achieve, nothing else mattered until the goal was achieved. They would simply try over and over and over until they completed their mission. She knew it was part of her problem as well. It was her mission to establish the 'Natural Order' in the current timeline. It wasn't what she wanted to do by choice, but what she needed to do by compulsion. It was hardwired into her system. She couldn't get around it.

She looked around the roof of the building they were on top of. She looked over towards the surrounding buildings. She knew things didn't get done thinking about them. She was tired of waiting.

"We stopped someone for accelerating the problem." Cameron said. "Let's remove the ducting and try to get inside. We need to complete the recon. If it's nothing, then it's nothing. If it's something, then we have a clue. Someone wanted what was inside the building, or they wanted whatever was being done inside the building to stop. I want to know what it was. It was important to two different groups, therefore it should be important to us."

Cammy didn't like the odds of success. She wanted to make her position clear to everyone.

"I think we should leave and torch this place instead." Cammy said. "This is a risk for nothing. This mission has less than a thirty percent chance of success with no discernible goal. You're putting yourself and the team at risk for virtually nothing, other than your ego."

Cameron didn't like Cammy's negativity. She didn't like the fact Savannah was near where she was at if the building was wired to explode. Sheila and Ally were in danger too. Tom, Steve, and Gail were all nearby as well. There could still be some threat which would approach them in a vehicle, or on foot.

Savannah headed along the side of the building to the front in the SUV. She turned it around so it now faced back in the direction she came from.

Ally climbed in the SUV with Savannah when she arrived in the front. She was a little concerned about the location. There were too many things which just didn't add up.

"This operation seems very risky for a group of dead people." Ally said. "I would rather deal with live ones and make them dead myself."

Savannah liked the idea too. They would at least have some control. Right now they didn't have much control over anything.

"I'm worried about Cameron and Cammy." Savannah said.

Ally reached over and touched Savannah's hand. She wanted to give her a little reassurance.

"Cammy will use caution and try to make sure Cameron does." Ally said.

Savannah still felt uneasy about their surroundings.

"We don't know what will happen." Savannah said. "Help me look around for anything hidden which could be watching this place. It's dark now and I want you to look carefully at the other buildings around here. Maybe there's a security camera pointed at the 'wrong angle' watching here. Look for anything in alcoves or eaves. I don't think we're alone."

Savannah didn't know what to look for, but she was sure there was something. Their recent encounter with the Fanatics in Las Vegas didn't sit well with her.

CamNet fed Savannah's conversation with Ally to Young Allison. She relayed it to Gail, Sheila, Tom, and Steve. She made sure John Henry received it also.

Young Allison expressed Savannah's concern to John.

John understood Savannah's worries.

"I don't normally get all the transmissions." John said. "John Henry feeds me what's relevant."

Anna did much of the same thing for Young Allison.

"CamNet will do the same with Allison and me." Anna said. "The girls will have private conversations sometimes. Right now Savannah is concerned, but not ready to issue an alert. She wants more proof. She doesn't want to spoil Cameron's investigation. She clearly feels something is off about the location and what might happen."

Young Allison perceived a bigger threat.

"If Savannah has a 'gut feeling' something is off, we all need to worry." Young Allison said. "Remember, Cameron wanted to go there by herself. She wouldn't have any of this assistance if we weren't doing this."

They all knew it meant Cameron most likely would have forced a door and already entered the structure, or would have triggered an explosion since the place was wired and booby trapped. They also knew things were the way they were right now because of the actions taken by Young Allison. It was done pretty much on her own through CamNet. The Command Center was along for the ride.

John always seemed to react to a situation.

Young Allison liked to get ahead of the situation.

Hanna approached the auto body shop in the manned drone. She was outside the range of the drones on recon. She spotted what looked like a threat. There were two vehicles headed for the area of operation. They followed each other and traveled at a high rate of speed. She relayed the information.

"I have two 'private security' vehicles approaching in the direction of the body shop. They're in a big hurry and look fishy." Hanna said. "I'm sending you footage."

John Henry immediately began a search for the security company. If it was legitimate, he would redirect the vehicles. If it wasn't, the teams on the ground would deal with them. They could always use a drone strike if necessary. He knew it would be something John would be hesitant to do. He also knew it wouldn't be something Young Allison would hesitate to do.

"Thank you." John Henry said. "I'm checking it now."

Savannah didn't like the news from Hanna. She started the SUV and placed it in 'Neutral'. She would be able to go forward or rearward in a moment's notice.

Ally could see Savannah became alarmed.

"Easy." Ally said.

Savannah was sure this operation was about to take a turn for the worse.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Savannah said. "I want to be ready to move."

Savannah wanted to be able to extricate Cameron and Cammy as quickly as possible if the need arose. She probably wouldn't have very much time to do it. She realized it was going to put her in the danger zone as well. So be it. The team came first.

Ally knew humans were able to develop 'feelings' about certain situations. Everything could look right to a Terminator, but a human might perceive it a different way. It was totally illogical, but it proved beneficial on multiple occasions. It was one of the reasons why Derek and Kyle were allowed to go on recons. Sometimes they could 'see' what a Terminator couldn't. They both possessed extensive experience from the past, the future in dealing with things which were hidden in plain sight.

John wondered where the 'security vehicles' came from and how they were tipped off. All of the communications around the area were blocked.

"Have we been made?" John asked. "How were they notified?"

It became apparent to John Henry they probably were 'blown'.

"I believe so. I'm trying to divert the 'security patrol'." John Henry said. "I can't. There's no data on the company. It's some kind of a front and it doesn't seem legitimate."

Anna confirmed what John Henry said.

"CamNet says there's no such company." Anna said. "It's most likely a cover for someone. It could be anything from someone associated with the Syndicate, to any of the groups from the future."

It was all Young Allison needed to hear. It appeared the enemy reinforcements were on the way. If they weren't reinforcements, they were an attack force. Whatever they were, they were a threat. They were also now an active target.

"I want CamNet to prepare for a drone strike against the two vehicles." Young Allison said.

John Henry noted the immediate response.

"Two drones have moved to lock up the targets." John Henry said. "They are locked and hot."

John was worried about collateral damage.

"I don't want a missile strike in the city if it can be avoided." John said.

Young Allison looked at John. She wasn't going to back down.

"It's a precaution." Young Allison said. "I want our people safe, no matter what it takes."

John Henry was aware CamNet would follow Young Allison's directive.

"The targets are still locked." John Henry said. "The drones are closing."

John wanted the troops safe as well.

"Engage the targets if it becomes necessary." John said. "Our people come first."

Young Allison and John shared a look of understanding about the severity of the situation and how things might play out.

Gail listened to the new development from Hanna. She didn't like what she heard.

She was at the back of the structure along the side where Cameron and Cammy went up on the roof at. She carefully looked around after hearing Savannah's specific concerns. She looked for anything out of place.

If whoever killed the people inside did lay a trap, they were all in danger.

Gail looked at the small drain pipe which led from the roof. What she saw alarmed her. It was what they suspected.

"Cameron, get off the building NOW." Gail nearly shouted. "All units pull back. It's hardwired."

Moments ago:

Cameron looked at the forced air unit. She was about to tear it apart and remove it.

The report from Hanna was disturbing. All communications should be blocked. Now it looked like someone was coming. They were notified somehow. It made her wonder again if someone had 'eyes on them'.

Cameron thought it was possible she was 'made' the moment she arrived. Now there were multiple team members there with her.

She was just about to touch the forced air unit.

"Cameron, get off the building NOW." Gail nearly shouted. "All units pull back. It's hardwired."

Cammy and Cameron heard Gail's report.

They turned to move away from the forced air unit.

Savannah heard enough. This was a threat like the old day care center building in Las Vegas. If the building was hardwired, someone planned to blow it up. They probably had all of them under surveillance. There were no two ways about it. She didn't even need to think about it. It was time to act.

"EVERYONE move away NOW." Savannah said. "It's an ORDER, fall back NOW."

Savannah was far enough away from the building in the SUV she would probably survive the blast. She didn't think Cameron and Cammy would be as fortunate. They needed to be away from the building immediately. She looked over at Ally. She wanted her safe.

"Ally, get out." Savannah said. "Go with Sheila. Do it - NOW."

Ally was going to ask what about her, but did as Savannah told her.

Savannah threw up the RPM as soon Ally hopped out. She stayed on the gas and dropped the SUV into Drive. The SUV shot forward. The tires squealed as she accelerated toward the building. She headed into the danger zone to get Cammy and Cameron out and away.

Savannah issued a new set of commands. Everyone needed to listen and act immediately.

"Cameron, Cammy, come over to the side where you went up. I'm coming with the SUV." Savannah said. "I want one of you to land on the hood and the other on the roof. I'll duck down and slow down. Gail, take off NOW."

John was confused. Things were occurring and they didn't have any specific information yet.

"What's happening?" John asked.

John Henry figured based on past Fanatic experience, an explosion was likely.

"It must be a bomb." John Henry said. "Gail said the building was hardwired. It most likely means the enemy has a spotter."

John viewed everything from a drone overhead.

He heard Savannah 'order' everyone away and watched as she approached the danger area in an SUV. He was more than a little appalled at what he witnessed. Savannah didn't move away from the building and the potential bomb blast. She headed towards it.

"Savannah's going back into the danger zone." John said.

Young Allison watched it play out. Savannah risked herself again to get Cameron and Cammy away. It bothered her greatly, but it was necessary. It was the best option for both Cameron and Cammy to escape. It was the worst option for Savannah. The risk was necessary. She hoped she would be able to do the same thing under the same circumstances. She knew when she faced a crisis like this she would need to master her fears. She would need to remind herself the others came before her. The mission came before her. If she was there to do a job, she needed to do a job. It was a sobering thought.

"She's coming for Cameron and Cammy." Young Allison said. "It may be their only hope."

They all knew it could be the end too.

Gail looked at the wiring. She needed to make a decision. Since the building hadn't blown up yet, maybe a signal hadn't been sent.

She heard Savannah's order to evacuate. She made a calculated risk. If the building hadn't exploded by now, maybe she could prevent it. She reached down and ripped the wires in half. She severed whatever connection they made. It could end the threat, or trigger it. Either way she changed someone's plans. She headed for her SUV to get out of Savannah's way and evacuate.

As she climbed back in her SUV, she saw Ally hop out of Savannah's SUV. Savannah was behind the wheel of the SUV as it sped back towards the building.

Gail moved away. If she knew what Savannah was going to do, she would have done it herself. Now she needed to follow Savannah's 'order' to pull back. It moved her deeply to watch Savannah in action. Savannah once again risked her life to save machines from destruction. She also might be destroyed along with them if things didn't work out as planned. They still didn't know what the enemy might be able to do.

Young Allison watched everything from the drone footage.

Ally exited Savannah's SUV. Savannah raced forward to pick up Cameron and Cammy.

It pained her to watch Savannah head back into the danger zone. She knew it was Savannah's love which drove her to risk herself for the ones she loved. She briefly thought about it a little bit more. She realized Savannah would have done it for any of the Resistance members. Savannah clearly possessed the 'right stuff'. Savannah had what it took. She was going to need to 'up her game' and try to be more like Savannah.

Young Allison quickly looked around the Command Center and everyone watched the scene unfold on different monitors. She wanted more to happen. She wanted action and help for the girls. She unleashed CamNet to act.

"CamNet, help them." Young Allison said. "Do whatever it takes. Only our people matter. The usual rules do not apply."

John looked over at Young Allison. He knew CamNet would do ANYTHING she was capable of now to assist them. He wanted the team safe. He hoped to avoid some catastrophic incident. Young Allison made the call he wouldn't have. He briefly thought about trying to countermand it. He knew it would do no good. No one there would listen to him.

Cameron and Cammy both headed for the side of the building they came up on. They could hear tires squealing and a vehicle approaching. They reached the edge and saw Savannah would coming up below them in the SUV. She hit the brakes hard to slow down.

"You take the hood." Cameron said.

Both Cammy and Cameron went over the side of the building at the same time. They both hoped to land on top of the moving SUV and not fall off. Cameron remembered Savannah said she was going to duck. More than likely the top of the SUV would be slightly caved in from her impact on top of it. It was less than a fifteen foot drop.

Savannah rapidly approached the spot where Cameron and Cammy went up the side of the building at. She saw both of them in the moonlight appear at the edge of the roof as she stood on the brakes to slow down some.

She watched both of them leave the roof as she approached. She ducked her head down in anticipation of the roof of the SUV being crushed somewhat from one of them. It looked like Cammy was going to land on the hood and Cameron was going for the roof. It was hard to tell in the darkness. She could only go by the clothing they wore. It was hard to see.

There were two loud 'clangs' and a crushing of metal noise.

Savannah saw Cammy was holding on to the rear of the hood next to the windshield. There was a lip the windshield wipers went down below. It appeared Cammy was able to achieve a good hand hold. She didn't plan to do any maneuvering if it could be avoided which could throw everyone off balance.

The roof buckled some, but not as much as she thought it would. There was a tearing of metal noise and Cameron's hand tore through the roof of the SUV for a hand hold.

Savannah was on the gas as soon as Cameron's hand was through the roof. She sped away from the building at full throttle. There was the sound of a drone approaching. She knew there were at least two hostile vehicles on the way. It was possible they may have HK drone support backing them up. It kept getting louder. She sure hoped it was one of theirs. It sounded like it was right on top of them.

Moments ago:

Hanna followed the order to pull back. She chose to gain altitude to do it as she moved off to the side at the same time as she climbed.

She watched the scene unfold below in the moonlight and surrounding street lights.

One of the drones with her peeled off and headed back down to where Savannah's SUV sped away. She watched it close in on the SUV when the building exploded. She was afraid Savannah's SUV wasn't far enough away.

Her view of the drone was lost in the fireball of the building.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Easy

If someone wants to be good at something
They need to practice every day
There's no magic or trick involved
There are no shortcuts along the way

Things don't get done by thinking about them
Someone needs to do the work
It usually requires a lot of effort
Few things happen like clockwork

Often every step forward
Seems like two steps backwards
Not much actually happens
There are no rewards

If at first one doesn't succeed
They must try and try again
Once can always seek help
They can listen to the wise men

It is best to do what's right
Not something that is sleazy
One must do what is hard
Not because it's easy

Nobody