Chapter 1637

Wouldn't Be Any Doubt

Derek and Jim couldn't do any more to help the person they checked on.

They headed back towards where they left Kyle.

Derek could hear Kyle speaking with the female. He was a little surprised at her request.

"Can I have this?" the female asked.

Kyle could hear some movement behind him. He was relieved to see it was Jim and Derek. He turned his attention back to the female.

"I need to make sure if you want medical attention or not." Kyle said. "I can also let you off near a police station."

The female looked a little concerned when Jim and Derek arrived back at the van. She didn't see badges on anyone. She did see a lot of weapons.

"What exactly are you?" The female asked. "Who are you?"

Derek thought people asked too many questions. Strangely enough it seemed to be the same questions. It was easy enough to give the same answers. He could understand the people's apprehension after what they were just subjected to. He at least hoped they felt a little safer. He did know there were those in the past, the future, who were part of the Resistance, who did more than they should have. There were always reports from time to time about a female who was abused when she thought she was rescued from Grays or Scavengers. It wasn't the case with them. The female didn't have anything to fear. Well, not from them anyway.

"Were the people who just saved you from what was about to happen to you." Derek said. "There's nothing we can do about what was already done, we did prevent it from getting worse. I don't mean to seem crude but there are plenty of dead people here, some of them appear to be brought in like you were. We saved your life. It's the best we can offer you."

The female thought plenty happened to her on the way there. She didn't want to say she was used to it, but she was. Normally when they were done using her body, they let her go. If they gave her some food when they were done, she didn't mind too much. It's just the way it was. The current group did seem a little different and more aggressive.

"It was nothing I haven't been through before." The female said. "It's the way life is on the street for a female. Thank you for what you did."

Bob made his way back towards the van.

He was a little intrigued with the conversation being conducted. It was an attitude he viewed on previous operations with some of Cameron's 'off the books' operations. The females were often treated as even less than slaves.

"The building is clear." Bob said. "There are currently no threats inside or out."

The female looked a little concerned when Bob walked up. She listened to him speak. You looked over the group in front of her. She could see two of the men looked very battle hardened. The other two looked like they could kill anyone with almost no effort.

"You must be part of an international strike force." The female said.

Kyle didn't want the conversation to get away from them. He was prompted in his com by Sarah. She wanted him to take some decisive action.

"We can't discuss any of our operational procedures." Kyle said. "We can take you to a rehab facility if you want. We can try to get you help, but you will need to help yourself to do it and make it work."

The female scoffed a little. She didn't like the way things happened in them. Since there were others in there with similar problems, sometimes it wasn't too much different than it was on the street.

"I've been in a few of those." The female said. "They didn't help much."

Derek knew it was more than just the facility.

"You have to want to help yourself." Derek said. "The lifestyle you're involved in is non-sustainable. The other people who were brought to this location are all dead, all of them. If we weren't here to rescue you now, you would end up the same way. The facility we can take you to is secure. You can see how we operated here, we can offer you something better, but it's up to you. Your life is on a very downward trajectory. You can change it if you really want to. We can provide you with the assistance to do so."

The female didn't look convinced.

Kyle was about to mention she was still young enough to do something productive with her life. He looked at her closely. She appeared to be in her mid forties. He was sure she was about half of the age. He decided not to say a little more, even as Sarah prompted him to.

The female looked at the four Resistance fighters. She just wanted to go. She figured she already 'paid' for something, so she might as well be able to have it.

"I just want the van and we'll call it even." The female said.

Kyle was prompted again by Sarah to try to offer her help. He figured he better not ignore her this time. He was already getting an earful now. He could imagine what it would be like when he returned to the Resistance base and needed to see Sarah face to face.

"We can take you to one of the best facilities in the area." Kyle said. "We'd like you to at least give it a try. No one there will abuse you in any way."

The female still looked skeptical. She heard the story before.

Derek was tired of fooling around. He took the female by the arm.

"Come with me." Derek said. "I want to show you what happened to the others here."

Jim wasn't so sure it was a good idea.

"Some things are pretty messy." Jim said.

Derek knew they were.

"I want her to understand what would have happened to her here." Derek said. "Seeing is believing."

Jim accompanied Derek, along with the female, as they went on a tour of some of the decedents inside of the building.

Kyle waited until they walked away.

"Bob, go through the van real quick with me." Kyle said. "There must be money or drugs in it. She may have seen them stash them away before the abuse started."

Bob immediately climbed in the back.

"Affirmative…." Bob said.

Kyle moved up to the passenger seat and looked around.

"I'll look up in the front." Kyle said.

Bob lifted his hand up. There was a hypodermic needle stuck in it.

"I think I better do the searching." Bob said. "Most of these people are probably afflicted with several different diseases, including social ones. I don't want you to get into a situation where you would try and explain how you got one."

Bob and Kyle did a detailed search of the van. They were sure there were drugs or money hidden inside of it.

Earlier:

Sarah continued to monitor the operation from the Command Center. Summer provided her with all the information she wanted. Riley was there with her.

"I don't like the way this is going." Sarah said. "The female obviously needs help, even if she can't recognize it. She's been on the street too long and lost track of her life."

Riley wasn't sure everyone could be helped. She saw people kill themselves for no reason in the past, the future. She never could understand it. They survived so much, and then just threw it all away.

"Some people don't have much to live for." Riley said.

Sarah looked at Riley for a long moment. She knew it was how all the girls from the alternate future felt at times. She didn't think the female inside the building felt too much different. She certainly wasn't treated any better by males. It was also the added problem of drugs.

Summer believed there was something of value in the van the female wanted.

"I think there's a little more going on here than meets the eye." Summer said. "Bob and Jim should look a little further."

John and John Henry looked over when Summer spoke. They were both sure Summer was correct. So far they stayed out of any direct involvement with the operation since it was technically an 'off the books' operation run by CamNet.

"I think things need to be wrapped up." John said. "Our people have been there long enough."

John Henry monitored all the emergency channels. So far there was no indication any authorities were involved. He was positive CamNet made sure of it. The drones around the area didn't detect any outside threat either.

"Everything is under control so far." John Henry said.

John looked over at his mother. He could see the frustration on her face. He was glad she normally stayed out of the Command Center. He still wanted to wrap things up. He thought Derek and Kyle should return back to the base.

"Notify CamNet I would like the operation concluded." John said.

John was a little surprised when an image of 'Cameron' appeared on his monitor.

John Henry could see John was a little startled.

"You can tell her yourself." John Henry said. "CamNet is the one on your monitor."

John wasn't sure how much control Cameron had over CamNet any longer. He didn't think it was very much. He glanced over where Sarah and Riley were. They seemed preoccupied. He saw Summer look at him for a moment before he looked away.

"Hello." John said. "I think you heard everything related to my position. I would appreciate your assistance in the matter. Thank you."

He was sure CamNet gave him a dirty look.

"I'll take care of it." CamNet said. "Thank you for allowing them to assist me. You saw what went on there. You know what would have happened to the female. She is alive right now because of you. You know what I mean."

John's about to reply when the screen went blank. The drone images over the area reappeared on his screen. He looked over at John Henry.

John Henry shrugged his shoulders. He really didn't want to get involved.

Sarah, Riley, and Summer continue to follow the operation closely.

John began to wonder if maybe he shouldn't have and stayed in his room.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Temporal Mission:

Past Timeline:

November 26 1963

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The yellow Deuce Coupe passed by Buddy's on the main drag.

Young Allison looked around at the other cars in the parking lot. All the drivers looked in the direction of the 32 Ford.

"It doesn't look like he's going to come in here." Young Allison said.

Cameron didn't think so. There may be another hangout he would go to. He may be looking for the specific car he was told was looking for him. She knew if someone challenged her she would try to find them so everything could be settled.

"I don't think he will either." Cameron said.

Cameron depressed the clutch and started the car. She shifted the transmission into reverse and started to back up.

Young Allison could see the skateboarders all pointing in the direction of the Deuce Coupe. She figured each one of them probably told the others, they were going to get a car just like it once they got their driver's license. She started driving a few years ago as part of her training. Not only did she know how to drive, she knew how to start a car so it could be 'borrowed'. If she needed one, it wasn't like she was going to keep it for herself. She would use it for as long as necessary, and then leave it. She could do the same thing with an aircraft.

Cameron pulled out onto the street. She was one stop light behind the Deuce Coupe.

They watched as another car pulled off of a side street ahead of them.

Young Allison didn't care very much for the way the car looked.

"I hate to say it." Young Allison said. "I just don't care for the body style. The European Sports Car look doesn't do anything for me. Even the XKE leaves more than a little to be desired."

Cameron checked out the convertible.

"It's a 1962 Corvette." Cameron said. "He may have the fuel injected 327, much like the Stingray we raced earlier in the day. The C1 Corvette is slightly lighter than the C2 Corvette. I prefer the C3 body style, but it won't be available for a few more years."

Young Allison thought about all the things they did since she woke up. Unfortunately, it made her think about her last dream as well. She quickly pushed all of the thoughts from her mind. It had been a long day. They were in the car for quite a few hours. She didn't see the need to push anything too much.

"If the Corvette can beat him, we won't need to race him then." Young Allison said. "You already know you can beat a fuel injected Stingray. Its less aesthetic sibling wouldn't be able to do much better. I'm pretty sure the actual horsepower comes out a little short from the advertised."

Cameron hung back a little bit. She watched as the Corvette moved up alongside the Deuce Coupe. She could see the driver's converse.

"We'll see." Cameron said.

Young Allison could hear the two cars rev up their engines. It was clear what was going to happen when the light turned green. She didn't think they were going to have a very clear view of the finish.

"It's going to be hard to tell who wins." Young Allison said.

Cameron didn't think she would have any trouble. She would be able to zoom in with one eye and see exactly how much one car beat the other by. It would give her an indication how she would do with the Galaxie Lightweight.

Much to her surprise, when the light turned green, the driver of the 62 Vette made a right hand turn in front of the Deuce Coupe. It was clear the driver of the Deuce Coupe allowed it. They were probably headed for a more secluded section of roadway to conduct their contest of speed. If it was an area without cross streets, it would be much safer for a very unsafe procedure. She knew it was always a risk. She felt confident in her ability behind the wheel. She couldn't say the same about the other drivers.

Cameron quickly maneuvered around the two vehicles in front of her. She made the right hand turn to follow the 62 Chevrolet and the 32 Ford. They were right in front of her. They were still traveling at the posted speed limit. The Deuce Coupe continued to follow the Corvette.

It made her feel a slight twinge in her left hand. She knew whenever she raced on a city street, there was a possibility of an incident occurring. She felt the conditions had been fairly well controlled when she raced the Stingray. There were no cross streets the length of the airport runway. Her earlier encounter with the 409 Impala and the 413 Dart were on sections of the street with no traffic. The race on La Cienega Boulevard, with the Mark 1 Cobra and the XK Type E was very isolated. The section of the road they built on was actually supposed to be part of the Beverly Hills Freeway which was never completed. It was why it looked like a freeway. It's what it was built as.

It was the earlier race with the 55 Chevy where things had been a little less controlled. They were pretty far to the south on Union Avenue. There was the possibility of cross traffic.

"I think the cars are both going to be moving very fast in their race." Cameron said. "I don't think it's just going to be in a quarter mile either. It's probably going to be more like we saw with the Cobra and the Jaguar. We possessed a superior top speed to both of them. We possess a superior top speed to all of the vehicles. We definitely hold a horsepower advantage over all of them. Remember it all comes down to horsepower to weight."

Young Allison looked over when Cameron pronounced 'Jaguar'. She never heard it pronounced quite like Cameron did. she quickly realized it was the English pronunciation. It made her wonder how Cameron would pronounce 'aluminum' if she asked about the Cobra and the origins of the chassis.

"I'm sure if they're racing for top speed, the Corvette's going to be faster." Young Allison said. "The top speed on a 32 Ford can't be as fast."

Cameron referenced some of her files.

"The original top speed of a 1932 Ford, with a flathead V8, was approximately eighty miles an hour." Cameron said. "A 'hot rod' modification would require a complete change of the suspension and drive train system to handle the horsepower of more modern engines, and be able to put the horsepower to use. There's no way to know what modifications have been made. I wouldn't be surprised if the car is capable of a much faster top speed. Remember, the Deuce Coupe has a reputation for being the fastest car in the Valley, well, the Central Valley anyway. I believe the reputation was earned."

Young Allison remembered Cameron said the stock top speed of the Galaxie Lightweight was 138 miles an hour. It was a higher rated top speed than the other vehicles of the time period. It made her wonder about how fast it would go with the modifications the Metal girls made to it when they procured it. She was pretty sure the best modification was to equip it with four wheel disc brakes. Speed didn't matter if you couldn't stop.

"Do you think you can crack a hundred and fifty miles an hour?" Young Allison asked.

Cameron tilted her head slightly.

"I don't know." Cameron said. "The similarly equipped Ford cars raced in NASCAR, with the same power plant, are capable of speeds faster than that. I don't think Cammy or Sheila actually found out. The fastest production Ford vehicle I'm aware of is the 2006 Ford GT. At the Kennedy Space Center, one was tested at over three hundred and ten miles an hour. The car was completely street legal."

Young Allison remembered Cameron drove a Ford GT, before. It was an improved and modernized version of the GT40. She drove it on a closed off section of Mulholland Highway in the dark. She offered John to witness her drive with her eyes closed, based on calculations she made by driving it in the daylight and programming her system to account for the variables. He declined the offer. She figured any street legal vehicle which could hit 310 miles an hour was moving. She was sure there wouldn't be any doubt what the acronym FORD stood for. It was clearly First On Race Day.

"How fast did you go when you drove one?" Young Allison asked.

Wouldn't Be Any Doubt

In the ring of life
Everyone will face a bout
Sometimes they don't even know
What it was really about

There are always some
Who others will flout
Often it's well deserved
Especially when they're a lout

Some feel they're important
They usually lack any clout
It's mostly gibberish and nonsense
What they profess and spout

The facts always stack up
To give them a stern rout
They seem to never figure out
Their intelligence is in a drought

There shouldn't be a trophy
When someone strikes out
If everyone called it like it was
There wouldn't be any doubt

Nobody