Chapter 1246
Climb In The Back
Cam was in the cab of the big rig with the truck driver. He attempted to lure her into the back part with the sleeper bed. She wanted to see if he would turn over the drugs or money first, as he promised. The females they apprehended earlier said he didn't deliver. At that point, it turned from a shady 'business transaction' into 'full blown' abuse.
The truck driver's eyes roamed wildly over Cam's figure.
"Climb in the back." The truck driver said.
Cam hesitated. She wanted to see how much he was going to push before it became abuse.
"I'm having second thoughts." Cam said. "I feel like I'm about to become a whore. I don't think I can do it. My body, or parts of it, aren't for sale."
The truck driver was afraid he was about to lose her. He never was with anyone as pretty as the female in his truck was. He was with a female yesterday. She was just a trashy slut. The one there now was ten times better looking. She wasn't 'trash'. She was down on her luck and maybe went through a couple of abusive relationships.
He felt some people didn't know when they were in a good relationship. He didn't like to get tied down because he was on the road a lot. He tried it before and it never worked out. The Bitch always got 'hot pants' and picked up someone, or two, on the side when he was away on a long haul. Out here he was free to roam. A few of the females were decent, like this one. It was very few.
The truck driver wanted to calm her mind.
"This is party time. You got it all wrong." The truck driver said. "The money and drugs are a 'gift'. Nothing is actually for 'sale'. I could buy you flowers or candy or something along those lines as a 'gift'. I know you need food instead. I don't have food to give you. I'll give you money to buy some food. This is more like a 'date'. If I give you some money for food, it's like I took you out for dinner. It's all the same thing for the same reasons. It's more a matter of perception. I'm not buying anything from you, but actually buying things for you. You get to pick what they are this way. It seems like a 'win - win' for everyone. It gives you better control of what you actually need and want. Let's get started. Climb in the back."
It seemed the whole convoluted process the truck driver indicated was like something 'normal' to him. He really believed it would be better for her to pick what she wanted, not what someone thought she wanted.
Cam tilted her head slightly. The truck driver just basically turned the whole dating system into 'whoring' on a different level. In the end, it came down to one person 'buying things' for the other one, with the reward being the use of the other's body. There were things the other one 'expected' as part of the 'deal'. It actually was what dating was about. The things purchased by one for the other only reinforced the reality. There was no free ride. Sooner or later there was some price to be paid. It could be given, shared, or taken.
She remembered reading when one partner 'held out' on the other one for something they 'wanted', or even to 'get their way', it was a form of 'prostitution'. As soon as they got it and then 'rewarded' the other one with sex, at that point, they just sold themselves and were now a 'whore'. It didn't matter if they were married or not. Sex was exchanged for something of value to one or both of the parties. She didn't think too many people actually understood it. In a way, marriage was a form of legalized prostitution.
Cam was losing focus. She could see the truck driver was trying to put her at ease.
"I need the money for food. I need the pills for my leg." Cam said. "I can't 'sell' myself to obtain those things. I'm not going to do it. I'll starve first. I think I should go. I'm sorry I troubled you. Thank you for the offer. I need to go."
The truck driver wasn't about to give up at this point. He wanted her so bad he could almost 'taste' her. In fact, he planned to do so anyway. It wasn't something he normally did with street trash. Something about the female was different. He couldn't place his finger on it exactly. She was very alluring. He decided on a new approach. He really wanted to do it with her as 'part of it', even if she was passive and not a participant.
He thought about asking her about her leg and as to why or how it was injured. He really didn't care at this point, but it did intrigue him. Maybe trying to soothe her leg was the way to go. If he could touch her leg, he wasn't going to stop there. He planned to work his way up. He was going for the 'gold'.
"Do you need me to massage your leg?" The truck driver asked. "Take your pants off and I'll take a look at it. I can make it feel better. Let me help you out. Climb in the back."
At this point, he wondered what the parts of her he couldn't see looked like. He planned to find out. He knew there was no way to tell what it was going to look like 'down there' until he actually looked. It never ceased to amaze him how every single person was different, even with sisters. He actually tried a few of those. He always wanted to try a set of identical twins to see if there was a difference or not. Maybe he eventually would. He always kept his eye open for the opportunity.
Cam wasn't about to take her pants off for any male except John. If John ever asked her, she couldn't say 'no'. Cameron programmed it into her and all the Metal girls. It was incorporated into all of their programming because of the long dry spell John needed to endure after Duplicate Cameron and the Duplicate girls all were 'terminated'. Well, they were thought to be terminated at the time. Cameron launched a temporal rescue mission and was able to save all of them. They were all currently in River's future.
She understood Cameron's reasoning. She believed it was an effective strategy for the purpose of making sure John could always have 'comfort'. Cameron never wanted John to go without sexual comfort again. She still maintained some kind of 'control' since the Metal girls were programmed by her to comply with John's wishes. It wouldn't be their choice. It would be her choice for them to comply with.
Cam was very displeased by the current conditions. She didn't like where she was at. She disliked who she was with even more. It seemed as if everything was about to rapidly deteriorate.
The truck driver moved closer.
Cam could see a set of handcuffs behind him. They were within easy reach by his door. There was a Ka-Bar knife by it. It was clear what could happen very quickly if things continued to sour.
She decided to add a new dimension to the encounter.
"Give me the money and pills first." Cam said. "I don't want to end up pregnant and not have a thing to show for it."
The truck driver never thought about it. This girl was filthy, but her skin was flawless and unblemished. It was evident she would probably produce beautiful children under different circumstances. There were other states he visited where pretty girls were bred and their children sold. This girl would bring top dollar there. He wondered how much he would be able to get for her at a 'breeding farm'.
He bet there wasn't a blister on her. It made him feel a little bad there might be when he was done. He hadn't experienced a flare up recently. She might get lucky. At least it wouldn't be HIV if she caught something. His last test was a few months ago. He thought he might need to get checked out after the last little tramp he used. Her and her friend, who he didn't get to use, both looked like street trash. Those broads were whores. He didn't even like to think how many men used them already. This chick was different. She didn't belong on the street.
The more he thought about it, the more he wanted her.
He needed to have her now. He was tired of the 'games'.
"Climb in the back." The truck driver said.
Cam wanted to see if he would honor the deal.
"I want the money and drugs first." Cam said. "It was the agreement we made. I expect you to honor it."
The truck driver was getting a little anxious at the delay. He was ready right now and he was going to take what he wanted.
"Climb in the back." The truck driver said.
Cam closed her top back up. Her breasts were no longer visible. She wanted to make it clear things wouldn't progress any further. Well, at least until the drugs and money were given to her.
"No." Cam said.
The truck driver moved closer to her.
"Climb in the back - now." The truck driver said.
Cam held out her hand. She wanted the goods first.
The truck driver wanted her more, the more she resisted. He could tell he was going to be her first 'trick'. He was going to take it if he needed to. He wanted her to cooperate. He was going to have her one way or another. It actually excited him a little more than normal when he needed to use a little more force on a female. The more force he used seemed to make them resist more. The more they resisted, the more it excited him to know he was going to have them anyway, even if it was the last thing they wanted.
Cam wanted to make her point.
"You know the deal." Cam said. "Give them to me - now." Cam said.
Cam snapped her fingers twice.
The truck driver was a little irritated with her insistence. He tossed the bag with the pills into the back. She would have to get on the bed to get to them.
"There they. Climb in the back." The truck driver said. "Take as many as you need or want."
Cam decided she was going to terminate him anyway for his act of disrespect. She still needed to see if the girls told the truth.
"What you just did was very rude." Cam said.
The truck driver flashed the hundred dollar bill again.
"I'll give you the cash once you're naked." The truck driver said. "There's one spot you won't be able to put it. Well, maybe it will be two. Climb in the back."
Cam was further irritated by the man's attitude. She could tell he was on the edge. She knew what he was going to do, she really wondered what he was waiting for.
The truck driver decided maybe he would gag her and keep her chained up in his sleeper cab for a few days. He did it before. It always made him smile when he passed the spots where they were buried. He couldn't risk them going to the police later on. He knew it would be a bigger deal about the 'kidnapping' charge rather than the act of sexual abuse.
If it wouldn't be for the kidnapping charges, he probably would have let them go. He doubted the police would even act on their claim about what he did to them. It would be evident what they really were, as well as what their profession was. He could always claim it was a deal gone bad and they tried to shake him down. No. It was just easier to take care of things permanently. He always heard the pirate's motto about, 'dead men tell no tales'. Well, dead females didn't either.
Cam climbed in the back. She saw the truck driver put the cash away in the front of the cab. He wasn't going to bring it with him. He picked up the handcuffs and Ka-Bar as he followed her into the back. She knew where things were headed. He just signed his own death warrant.
She picked up the pills. He reached over and took them from her. He tossed them back into the front.
Cam made a move as if she were going to leave. She was sure he was going to attempt to detain her.
The truck driver blocked her escape with his body. He still hadn't pulled the knife on her as a threat yet. It was coming. There was a look of satisfaction on the truck driver's face. It was clear she was right where he wanted her to be.
"You're going to bolt." The truck driver said. "We both knew what was going to happen, one way or another, when you got in the truck. As soon as you closed the door, the deal was sealed. It's going to happen now."
Cam struggled slightly, but no more than a human female could.
"I want to get out." Cam said. "This isn't what I want."
He rolled Cam over and handcuffed her. He rolled her back with her hands handcuffed behind her. The look of excitement on his face grew.
"It's what I want. Now it won't cost me anything." The truck driver said. "I plan to take plenty too."
The truck driver decided he was definitely going to keep her. He would get her strung out on drugs to make her more compliant. Once she was hooked, he could even pimp her out to other truckers. He might even be able to sell her. He would need to see what he could get for her at a 'breeding farm'. He planned to have her pregnant by then anyway. He figured he would 'hit' it a few times a day. He smiled at the thought of knocking her up. Some stranger would end up with a kid he fathered.
Cam didn't put up much of a fight. It was clear the girls told the truth. She remembered his earlier hesitation. She was fairly certain it was long gone. She would give him one more chance to redeem himself.
"Let me go now or I'll scream." Cam said. "I don't want to do this. Let me walk away now, and it will be as if none of this ever occurred."
The truck driver produced the Ka-Bar and held it up to her neck. The time for games was over.
"I'll cut your throat." The truck driver said. "If you do everything we agreed upon, I may let you go. Things can get a lot worse fast. It's something to think about first."
Cam doubted he would let her go. She wanted to see if he would honor any part of the deal since he already threatened to kill her.
"What about the drugs and money?" Cam asked.
The truck driver already thought of the cash he would rake in pimping her out at truck stops. He would allow them ten minutes for fifty bucks. He might be able to bring in five hundred dollars a night off of her. It would at least be a few hundred dollars a night. He wouldn't have to look as hard for work for spending cash.
"They sound like a fair trade for your life." The truck driver said.
The truck driver just dug his own grave a little deeper.
Cam wanted to make it clear and allow the truck driver to further seal his own fate.
"So if I don't do this, you'll kill me. If I do it, I get nothing?" Cam asked. "You indicated I might be lucky if I get to live. If you think you're going to kill me for any reason, it means you're going to kill me anyway."
The truck driver had no intention of letting her go unless she was sold or dead.
"You might get to live." The truck driver said.
He actually doubted it. The only way would be if she ended up in a stable, or breeding farm. They were usually associated with each other.
Cam decided it was time to carry out the death sentence he just gave himself. His actions dictated his punishment. She was simply the executioner. Justice was about to be served. She was a minister of death.
There was a metal snapping sound.
"What was that?" The truck driver asked.
He looked around in the back with chick, then in the front. It sounded like something broke. He never heard the noise before.
When he turned around Cam's top was buttoned back up, all the way. He knew he could see a lot more before he turned around.
The truck driver wondered how it was possible.
"What the Hell?" The truck driver asked.
Cam played with him a little.
"I forgot to tell you." Cam said. "I don't smoke - anything."
Truck driver was confused.
"What?" The truck driver asked.
Cam was ready for action.
"Have you ever met a Terminator before?" Cam asked.
The truck driver seemed even more confused.
"What?" The truck driver asked. "What is it? I don't think so."
Cam smiled.
"Let me introduce you to one." Cam said.
In a quick motion, she reached out and crushed his wrist which held the knife and grabbed his throat.
The truck driver couldn't breathe or even scream. He attempted to do both.
"You're lucky I'm not my friend." Cam said.
Cam picked up the Ka-Bar. She still held his throat firmly. He was about to black out.
"She'd 'work' on you before she killed you." Cam said. "She likes them to know what she's done to them before she terminates them. I think I understand her better now. The look on their faces is priceless."
The man's eyes started to glaze as he thrashed around uselessly.
"The females you abused yesterday send their regards." Cam said. "It's time to pay the piper."
She held up the knife.
"I'll give them a present." Cam said. "You could say justice will be 'served'."
The truck driver blacked out believing he was in for a fate worse than death.
Cam snapped his neck.
"Steve or Tom can come get the truck." Cam said. "It no longer has a driver."
She looked around in the compartment she was in. She wondered how many females were abused where she was at right now. She wondered how many of them were terminated. She wished all of them could see what happened to their abuser.
Seconds ago:
Cammy and Savannah listened to Cam and the truck driver. It was clear it was about to conclude.
"This is what the females said it was." Cammy said.
Savannah didn't want Cam to get carried away. She could see how it would be easy to do so. If she knew what the truck driver planned to do with Cam by pimping her out, and then selling her, she may have encouraged some additional 'punishment' first. If it would have been a sale for 'breeding stock', She probably would have done more than look the other way, again. She would have encouraged some type of 'punishment' before his death. Jesse and Sheila both told her of the look on the individual's face when something was held up in front of them which was attached to their body only seconds ago. She didn't want her mind to go there right now.
"I want Cam to finish it and get out." Savannah said.
They could hear Cam's words.
"The females you abused yesterday send their regards." Cam said. "It's time to pay the piper."
It sounded like things were about to go to the next level.
"I'll give them a present." Cam said. "You could say justice will be 'served'."
They weren't sure exactly what happened. CamNet may have restricted some of the conversation from others' hearing.
They heard Cam snap his neck.
Savannah wanted Cam out of there. She looked over at Cammy.
"Drive up in front of the truck so we can pick her up." Savannah said.
They knew Cam was ready to get out.
"Steve or Tom can come get the truck." Cam said. "It no longer has a driver.
Tom quickly responded.
"I'm on my way." Tom said. "Steve will follow me."
Cammy drove up to the cab of the truck.
Cam was already out of the cab as Cammy stopped. She hopped in the back with Savannah.
They saw Tom approach the truck.
Savannah tried to give Cam a hug once she was inside with her.
Cam stopped her.
"We can hug later." Cam said.
Savannah wasn't exactly sure why.
"I didn't like what happened or could have happened." Savannah said. "He deserved to die."
Savannah actually would have liked for Sheila to have been with them so a more just 'punishment' could have been administered first before his execution.
Wait.
Savannah knew she shouldn't even think such thoughts. She would never allow it to happen in front of Young Allison, at any age. She needed to look for the light, not the darkness. She could see how Jesse followed the path of darkness after all the things done to her. Sheila picked up on those very things. She seemed to relish them. At this point, she wondered if she would do the same.
She really didn't know.
She thought back to the female Gray she'd needed to kill at Avila Beach. She strangled her with her hands. She could have stopped. She didn't. Cameron's hands were over hers. They didn't apply any pressure. She was the one who applied the pressure until the 'light' faded out of the female Gray's eyes. She could see those eyes right now. She needed to clear her head. They were in the middle of an operation, even if part of it was concluded.
Savannah physically checked Cam for any wounds. She also looked for any additional blood on her clothing. She knew it wouldn't be from Cam if there was.
Cam seemed a little irritated by all the attention. Even if she were damaged in combat, she could withstand quite a bit of sheath damage without diminishing her ability to function.
"I'm fine." Cam said.
Savannah wanted to tell Cam now she knew how she felt when they all did it to her. She did understand the reasoning though. Not everyone was forthcoming about their injuries.
"I want to make sure." Savannah said.
Cam looked at Savannah. She wanted to remind her how ugly the future could be.
"Aren't you glad we switched clothes?" Cam asked. "You wanted to do it yourself."
It was Young Allison who insisted Savannah change clothes with Cam. She wanted Cam to carry out the infiltration mission instead of Savannah.
Savannah thought about some of the things the truck driver said. It seemed somehow he believed what he actually said, as if it was 'normal'. Maybe he got away with his manipulation and abuse for so long, it was 'normal' for him. The thought of being in close proximity to him where he could actually touch her, repulsed her. She really couldn't imagine what Vanna needed to go through. It was still different when it actually would happen, as opposed to being told about it, even in detail. She only needed to remind herself, Vanna was her.
"Yes. I did think about doing it. I'm glad I didn't. Things went further and happened faster than I thought. It got ugly fast." Savannah said. "We can switch clothes back if you want. You don't need to wear my dirty clothes."
Cammy didn't want Savannah back in those clothes, especially since they were in the sleeper bed of the truck. It was clear from the conversation a lot of abuse happened in the back of the cab there.
"Cam will wear those clothes for now." Cammy said. "I'll change with her if she wants to get out of them. I don't like where those clothes have been at this point."
Cammy decided She would actually drive with just her underwear on instead of putting on the contaminated clothing. She didn't think it would be any different than driving in a bikini. There was actually more material to underwear than there was to a bikini. Well, at least the ones she wore.
Cam glanced at Cammy and understood. Many of the females in the same 'situation' were diseased. It didn't take long when multiple partners were involved. Each of those multiple partners was involved with others involved with multiple partners. It produced a snowball effect for the transmission of disease. They were all the individuals who would terminate after Skynet unleashes biological warfare to wipe out humans. It only killed humans with pre-existing conditions of any type. The strongest of the strong survived.
"Take me back to my SUV." Cam said.
Savannah could tell they were far from through for the day.
"Then what will we do?" Savannah asked. "Which target is next?"
Cammy wanted to do several things. She was just glad the episode with the trucker was over. The whole nature of the conversation was disturbing the more she thought about it. It really made her wonder about what some of the females from the alternate future needed to go through. It was actually all of the females from every future. It just seemed to vary by degree, or circumstance. She thought about the two females they left off at the rehab facility. The events didn't even have to be the future. It happened in the present. She just was a witness to some of it.
She was aware there was no end to Cameron's 'off the books' operations. Maybe she should be a little more supportive of them. She usually turned a cold shoulder towards them. There was a demand for illegal narcotics and the sex trade. It didn't seem people could get enough of either.
She didn't want to embrace the dark side. Cameron tried to isolate her from it. She wasn't sure Cameron was going to do the same thing with Young Allison when she became more involved in Resistance matters. She was sure Young Allison would be involved in Cameron's 'off the books' operations as well. She didn't want Young Allison to pick up the bad habits of Jesse and Sheila. She wasn't really sure she'd be able to prevent it. After what she just heard with the truck driver and Cam, she wasn't sure it should be prevented. The laws were never enforced. Someone needed to take a stand and make sure justice was served.
There was no way to know for sure, but the truck driver's death protected a lot of females going forward. He clearly would have been a Scavenger in the future if he survived.
Young Allison was disgusted with everything she heard. She studied past events and knew what happened or could happen. Somehow actually hearing it in real time was revolting. There were similar things actually happening all over the world right now in some similar manner. They always had. It seemed they forever would. They weren't limited to females either. She tried to push the thoughts from her mind. It was very hard to do.
She was pretty sure how everything was going to end from the moment she heard the story from the two females. Maybe they went through a little more procedure than they needed to. They knew the truck driver was dirty. He proved it beyond a doubt. Maybe if the females didn't look like they could have come out of a Skynet future, things could have been wrapped up a little more expeditiously. It should be the way to do things going forward.
Young Allison wanted to stay focused.
"Next time we have a suspect like him, I want him taken down immediately." Young Allison said. "I don't care how it's done, as long as it's done immediately. He would have abused one or more females before the day was done. It was quite evident. Remind me never to go out on a 'date' either. I don't plan to 'trade' something for something else, especially if it's 'me'."
Young Allison was aware some of the things the man said were actually true about the dating process. It was always someone, providing someone else with something. It was done with the expectation, something else would be given in return at a later date. It didn't matter if it was flowers, chocolates, a fancy meal, jewelry, or basically whatever. It all amounted to the same thing. Someone paid indirectly for the use of another's body. The other individual was willing to trade for the items or influence they desired. There was no free ride.
Anna didn't want Young Allison to get sidetracked. She felt the 'interrogation' was justified.
"We needed to determine guilt in this case to see if the female's story checked out." Anna said. "It was only a minor delay and he's the one who signed his own death warrant. It wasn't Cam or us."
Young Allison was disgusted with the female's behavior and lifestyle. She wanted to give her a chance to change her ways. She wanted to give both of them a chance. They should be on their own now. She really wondered how far someone went when they were under those conditions. She thought about Jesse. She didn't think anyone could go much further than Jesse went. Jesse wasn't the monster she once was in the future. She knew everyone in the Resistance helped to change her. Jesse just needed love, not abuse, to see the light.
She knew it was more than it too. Jesse is the one who needed to change herself. She knew the old saying, 'you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink'.
Young Allison knew she was drifting. She wanted more backup for Savannah.
"It does look like the female's story checked out." Young Allison said. "We can pull Al and Ed off of the rehab facility to reinforce Savannah and Cammy."
Anna wanted to see how far Young Allison would go to help them.
"What about the females?" Anna asked. "What's next for them?"
Young Allison knew their future was up to them. They were given help and options. Life was about choices.
"They'll stay where they are for a few days. They may or may not leave after then." Young Allison said. "We can only help them if they want to help themselves."
Anna questioned Young Allison further. Things could get worse for them again.
"Do you think they'll end up back on the street or as sex slaves again?" Anna asked.
It was actually something Young Allison pondered. It wasn't something pleasant to think about. She already ran dozens of scenarios. She didn't like the way most of them played out.
"Yes. At least one of them will end back up on the street." Young Allison said. "Our team has rescued them twice already. Make sure they get the best treatment and the rest will be up to them. We can only do so much."
Anna received an update from CamNet.
"CamNet just informed me everything will be taken care of." Anna said. "CamNet sent a Terminator to collect the truck from Tom. Steve will pick Tom up when it happens and rejoin Cammy and Savannah."
Young Allison was pleased with the extra help she could provide for Cam, Cammy, and Savannah.
"In that case Al and Ed will back up Cam when she returns to her SUV." Young Allison said.
Young Allison checked the drone footage. She hoped there would be some type of development. There wasn't. Well, there wasn't anything they could observe visually.
"I don't see anything happening at the old newspaper plant." Young Allison said.
Anna wanted to know what the primary target was going to be.
"Is it where you want them to go back to, or the other building now targeted?" Anna asked.
The building contacted by the dead Gray or Fanatic was in question with Young Allison. She didn't want to endanger any of their troops unnecessarily.
"There might be SkyMaster Fanatics in the building." Young Allison said. "It puts our troops in grave danger."
Anna reminded Young Allison of the other current dangers.
"What about the van?" Anna asked. "It belonged to another group of Grays."
Young Allison was sure it would produce more follow up. At this time they didn't know who it belonged to. There were other threats out there as well.
"It may have belonged to the anti-Metal faction." Young Allison said. "We don't know. Someone may come looking for them."
Anna checked the drone footage.
"The drones you have on station should spot anyone who looks suspicious around those three areas." Anna said.
Young Allison wanted some input or feedback from John Henry.
"Consult John Henry and see what he thinks about all this." Young Allison said. "I don't want to get too far ahead of him."
Anna was pleased Young Allison tried to be a team player.
"I'm in communication with both CamNet and John Henry." Anna said.
Young Allison was ready for some action once they determined what they were going to do first.
"Let's hear it then." Young Allison said. "It doesn't get done thinking about it."
Young Allison wanted some action. It would take her mind off of the two females and what Cam encountered. The convoluted words which came out of the man's mouth still bothered her.
Was everyone waiting to be 'bought' or 'traded' by someone else? She never saw Savannah do anything like it to her. If anything, Savannah resisted all of her advances. She believed Savannah truly loved her and tried to put her best interest before her own desires. She really questions herself if she would be able to do the same thing if the roles were reversed. She was sure Savannah was a much better person than she was. Maybe she needed to be more like Savannah, and less like Cameron.
John Henry was usually not privy to the side operations Cameron ran. She wanted those activities kept separated from the Resistance operations. She didn't want John or the Resistance tainted by 'dead justice'.
The whole affair came about because the escaped trafficked females showed up at a location they previously took down. He didn't like how Cam was treated by the truck driver, even if it was an infiltration mission. He was very relieved Savannah didn't go in herself as she planned to do. He was very pleased Young Allison was adamant Savannah not be the one to conduct the infiltration mission.
He worked with CamNet and Anna along with Young Allison on evaluating the risks associated with the other targets.
Anna said Young Allison wanted a missile strike on the targeted building, while Cam explored the drainage tunnels under the old newspaper plant to see why someone was there in the first place.
Young Allison said they surely weren't out for a walk. Whatever they were up to, it was nothing good.
Hank and Larry checked on where the female Fanatic was at. They waited for their new targets to leave the area.
"We keep getting additional variables." Hank said.
Larry thought it was one way to look at it.
"The variables are all targets." Larry said.
They would both welcome a few more drones to help keep track of everyone if they split up. They may not split up.
They both knew CamNet wanted the hard drives and other electrical equipment they collected for processing. They needed to make sure they didn't get into a situation which could become 'iffy'. They would most likely be able to survive. They didn't want the electrical equipment damaged. The information on the electrical equipment needed to be processed for additional targeting information.
The drone images showed there were apparently three survivors from the collapse of the two buildings after the bomb went off inside of the complex and collapsed it. It also brought down part of the hill.
The three survivors looked around the immediate area. They could see the entrance into the complex was gone. Both of the buildings they were in were collapsed and partially buried. They took an additional look at one section of one of the buildings. They begin to move some of the debris out of the way. It was possible they found another survivor or wanted to retrieve something specific.
The drone image zoomed in where the three men worked. One of the men wasn't able to do as much as the other two. He must have been injured in the collapse of the buildings.
Larry looked at the zoomed in image as Hank drove.
"I can't quite tell what they're after yet". Larry said.
Hank drove the SUV towards an intercept location.
"We'll find out soon enough." Hank said.
Larry watched what the female Fanatic was up to.
"We have two more potential targets as well." Larry said.
Hank glanced over toward Larry.
"It seems all we ever have are targets." Hank said.
Larry needed to agree. There was a lot of work to do to make the world a safer place from Skynet. Then there were all of the other problems.
"You can say that again." Larry said.
Hank tilted his head slightly.
"It seems all we ever have are targets." Hank said.
Larry tilted his head slightly.
The female Fanatic waited until the target vehicle was two blocks away. She decided not to make a U-turn. She turned into a parking lot and then came back out through their other driveway. She thought it would attract less attention if anyone was watching. It wouldn't look as if she purposely followed the other vehicle.
It didn't seem as if the vehicle she tailed was aware the building they left earlier was now smoldering rubble. She figured if he was going to pick up the man they let off earlier, it should happen very soon based on the amount of time they were gone.
She didn't have any accurate way to track time currently. There was a radio in the van. It didn't work. There was most likely a clock on the front face of it. It didn't work either. Maybe she was in some of the locations longer than she thought. Maybe it was less time than she thought. There was really no way to tell. There were times on the battlefield when there didn't seem to be any actual relevance to the passage of time and it could be viewed as either too fast, or too slow. The reality was, it was always the same.
She realized she was rapidly gaining on the target vehicle. It seemed to have slowed. Two of the vehicles in front of her needed to go around it because of its slow speed. She wasn't sure if she was made are not. She would need to do the same thing or slow down and match its speed.
The vehicle turned right at the next street. She wondered if they were near a homeless encampment. She expected to see the man who was left behind before, waiting nearby with a female. She knew what was going to happen to her if it was the case.
She crept slowly up to the corner so she could look around it without turning. There was no sign of the vehicle.
"Damn!" The female Fanatic said.
She wasn't sure if she was 'clocked' or not. She looked all around her to see if the vehicle tried to maneuver into a position to ambush her or take her by surprise. If they were there waiting to see if they attracted a tail, she was the prime candidate.
Hank and Larry were now parked in an intercept location. There was a better than even chance if a vehicle left the rubble of the two collapsed buildings, it would need to pass by them.
There appeared to be three survivors at the location. One of them seemed to be injured to a certain degree. It didn't appear he could assist the others in their current task. The two who were able bodied, sent him off to retrieve a vehicle.
They watch the drone image of whatever the men were after in the wreckage of one of the buildings. They didn't know if it was a person or an object. They found out soon enough. They watched as one of the men moved a piece of broken drywall. It was the last piece after they'd moved both wood and metal framing out of the way
Larry glanced over at Hank.
"It's what we suspected." Larry said.
Hank was aware of how Grays normally operated.
"We both knew they wouldn't go to so much effort for an individual." Hank said.
The third man looked at three of the vehicles which weren't covered with dirt or debris. He tried two of them first. He was now at the third vehicle. It was a truck. The truck began to move once he was inside of it. He pulled it closer to the location where the other two men worked to retrieve their prize.
Larry looked at the zoomed in image of what the men retrieved. There appeared to be a small safe and what looked like more computer gear.
"It looks like our job will be easier since they only have one vehicle." Larry said.
Hank watched the other two men move the items they removed from the collapsed building into the truck they were able to start. The truck drove away from the location. They'd anticipated it would come in the direction where they waited. It did.
"I wonder where they're going to take us?" Hank asked.
From the Grays they were able to interrogate, there was another more elaborate location being constructed. None of them seemed to know its exact location. It was possible one of the three survivors might know. They hoped the men would lead them to where it was at.
The female Fanatic had several options available to her. She could take off and run right now. She could wait where she was at and see what happened. She could make a right turn and see if she could tell where the Gray was at.
She didn't think the Gray had any reason to suspect anything was wrong since he didn't appear to even know the building was destroyed. If he was in search of female companionship, he would be even more careless.
She decided to see if she could spot the vehicle. It appeared to be a street lined with a number of small businesses. There wasn't too much vehicle traffic on the street, but there was some. She turned right and proceeded down the street. Her speed was slow, but not too slow. She needed to consider the possibility the man could be backed into a driveway and waiting to ram her vehicle to incapacitate it. She didn't think it would set the bomb off in the back of the van. She didn't really want to find out.
When she went by the fourth business, she spotted the vehicle on the left side. It was between two buildings. There were two men standing beside it. One of them was the driver. The other one was the man who left earlier. It was obviously an alternate location. She could see the man who was let off earlier wanted the other man to come inside of the building.
She thought the new building could become her target with the bomb in her van. She still wanted to blow up one of the buildings outside of where she was taken captive. She didn't know both of the buildings were now collapsed. They were reduced to nothing but rubble.
The female Fanatic wanted to know what was happening inside of the building. She knew there were at least two Grays inside of it. She didn't see anything of significance in the building she just blew up. She also didn't go to the location where the two men were conversing either. There could have been a number of electronic events occurring.
Right now she didn't think about the other force she believed was inside of the building she escaped from. Maybe she was too caught up in the moment. Maybe it was just a careless oversight.
Hank and Larry trailed the truck as it left the remains of the complex behind. Two of the drones tracked the truck from altitude. They followed the truck based on the drone images. They didn't want to be spotted by it. They hoped the truck would lead them to the new location. They really didn't know.
The drone that remained with them, would orbit on a wider patrol every few minutes. It returned to the site of the complex every few minutes. The goal was to see if anyone else would make it out of the wreckage or if anyone else would show up. On its third orbit back to the location after the truck departed, there was now a change.
Larry looked at the image.
"I don't think we'll be going back there for a while." Larry said.
The rubble of one of the buildings was now smoking. It was clear there was a fire burning inside of it somewhere.
CamNet informed them there would be no emergency response to the location. There wasn't any to the other location yet either. They didn't want anyone to put out a fire too quickly and inspect what was inside of the building. If the buildings were allowed to burn to the ground, whatever was inside of them would most likely be destroyed.
The truck continued on its journey.
Hank wanted to know what CamNet was able to determine.
"Has there been any phone traffic from either of the vehicles which left the two different locations?" Hank asked.
CamNet reported there hadn't been.
Larry felt it seemed somewhat unusual in regards to the three men in the truck.
"I don't think those three men are going to the other location." Larry said.
Hank understood what he meant.
"You think they're running." Hank said. "It would make sense after what they just experienced. We know from previous experience any Grays who try to run from a Skynet operation are tracked down by one of the Terminators associated with it. It never ends well for them. All of the Grays know what will happen if they run."
Larry wondered if the three men were the ones who actually started the fire.
"Once the building burns up, there won't be any way for anyone to tell who made it out of the complex or the buildings." Larry said.
Hank and Larry weren't sure where the men would lead them at this point. They did know they retrieved something. If it looked like they weren't going to go any place specific, they would need to take them down so they could deal with the female Fanatic and the location she was at.
Closing monologue by Cameron:
Climb In The Back
There are always a few
On whom one can fallback
They won't whitewash things
Or gloss them up with shellac
Sometimes one needs
To take the flack
When it's the truth
It's not an attack
One can only cut someone
So much space or slack
Otherwise it's the truth
They'll eventually ransack
No one wants to be seen
As some kind of quack
If they get carried away
They may seem like a maniac
If everyone's on the right track
It may be time for the sack
Everyone's ready for a snack
So climb in the back
Nobody