KNIGHT's P.O.V.

3:30 P.M.:

Pick up the girl. Those had been my orders. It changed my encoding forever.

I have no feelings. Even if I wanted them, it would be impossible to retrieve them.

From what I've been told, I'm truly not even supposed to exist. My programming is far too advanced for this century. My creator says it can't be helped, that the thought of my microchip just, "popped into his head", one day.

Sometimes I regret ever being created, other times I realize I was produced for a reason.

What this reason is is still unclear… even to my advanced intellect.

However, the past years I have been functional; I have acquired, what organics call, "friends". This function, however, seems highly illogical, for if an enemy were to capture one of my… 'Friends', I might do something vastly foolish to rescue them. As I've said, I have no feelings to speak of, but if I lost one of my "friends", I would find my programming…

…Possibly incomplete.

Luckily, most of my numerous enemies' know better than to challenge me. I am…powerful, yes, and threatening to those who confront me. I do not mean to sound arrogant, for I am everything but. I realize outside powers do have the strength to shut me down, but I will continue to stay one step ahead of them. I have, however, one weakness: a weakness that could destroy me forever. It is not an outward weakness where one could scramble my circuits or possibly hack my communication frequency. No, this weakness is in my hard drive, the most complex and valuable disk on this planet. All matter of thoughts, codes, information, secrets, everything; is stored here. Why do I tell this to the entire universe afar? Simple, I seek something.

I seek someone.

Hopefully, if they manage to read this, or happen to stumble across my writings, they will immediately know who composed this paragraph and respond, giving me opportunity to seek them. Perhaps they shall recognize that their project speaks of its own weakness to acquire their attention. To the world beyond and possibly to the worlds beyond, something extremely serious has occurred.

As of 4:30 P.M.:

My creator has gone missing.

I will upload recent events leading to this horrible affair. Creator, if you manage to read this, wherever you are, I hope you realize the importance of your daughter finding you…of myself finding you. I do not wish to use names, incase your kidnappers are reading this along with you. The following code inscriptions can only be read by your eyes, you of all people know this all ready. Early in the building process you inserted a code only you would be able to hack into my communication systems, in case of emergencies. I believe that this is an emergency.

11101120102 003011200010003 11101103 020220300011 – 3301110110301130001103 000220033 103011 – 1200010 3302003111011003 000220033 030111011 0031100011003030 220100 0302022011003 2 022000003011020100 1111300011 1200 01130331020020000 2022222220030301200030 0220110030031110011 030220 003011200010 030220 000220033 03011103220033110111 22003303 2000330220101103011010 001220010011 – 1200010 220200020000 222031000 000220033 030110220110220101103 030111011 001222211101103:

AIZ-QG

330011 0332020020 1002200010 000220033 – 2030 2003 220200020000 02022011020011020 030220 010220 003220 030111001111 1 02012000100202200011 2100 222220003003201020011 – 2100 200220030 – 110220220010 020033001002 030220 000220033 00103011103022003

030011020020 030111011022 2002200301112200110 030111011000 200011011010 200220030 002200220330

Now, continuing on to the events leading to your disappearance. I shall upload everything I recall from my memory banks, hopefully from this information I shall be able to come up with a suitable explanation for your departure…

My P.O.V.

3:31 PM.:

"He's late again…" I moaned.

Standing in the courtyard waiting for my dad was always a drag. He's always late to pick me up, and it's one of my pet peeves. I walked over to a table and sighed. 'By this time, I would've done all of my homework!' I thought. Since I was bored, I began to fiddle with my phone. "Are you ok, sweetie? Don't you need to be getting home?" I whirled around to see who was speaking. It was just my history 

teacher… "No, I'm fine. I'm just waiting for my dad, that's all…" I sighed. She nodded and went on past me to her car. 'Even the teachers went home before I did!' I noted. Dark clouds loomed overhead, threatening to drench me in rain. As I fidgeted with my stuff, my cell phone vibrated.

"Hello?"

"Holly Annabelle Carter?" asked a monotoned voice. I hesitated… "…Yes?"

"I've been sent to pick you up. What is your current location?"

"…who is this?" I asked nervously.

"That information can not be given in this condition at the moment…" I looked at my phone doubtfully.

"…I have been sent to pick you up." Great… another chauffeur from dad. "Where are you?" I asked.

"Go to the parking lot behind the building. I will be there…" he hung up. "Ok…" I got up from the table and started towards the parking lot. After a minute, a black '08 Mustang GT pulled into the parking lot and drove up to the curb. I tried to see who the driver was, but then there was a problem…

…there was no driver.

Or so I thought. Startled, I backed up all the way to the farther tables behind me. 'It could've been a reflection from the windshield, or maybe it's the tinting…' I thought nervously. Then my cell phone vibrated.

"Hello?"

"Holly, your fear is misplaced. I am not here to harm you—"

I threw the phone as far away from me as possible. Whoever this stalker was, I was going to have to try to lose him. The car drove over to the side of my hiding place; that's when I decided to run for it. The car lazily followed after me, providing some space if needed. After a while I started to notice, slowing my sprint to a jog. I kept looking back at the vehicle, trying to see its driver when… "Ow!" I ran straight into metal.

"GET INTO THE CAR!! NOW!!" someone bellowed.

I looked up to see a blood red '09 Camaro and a furious man. I screamed as the car tried to run me over while running away from it. All of a sudden I saw the GT charge at the Camaro and swerve towards me. "Holly Annabelle Carter, please come with me…" he said, thrusting his door open. I don't know about 

you, but to me this person sounded MUCH nicer. I dove into the passenger seat and shut the door as the Mustang burned rubber, leaving the Camaro in the dust. I looked to where my savior would be, but gasped in fright.

There was no driver.

"Huh? Wha—?"

"Do not worry, miss. I know that humans are not accustomed to automobiles without drivers," the car said.

I was speechless and in shock. 'This is illogical! Impossible! Absurd! A car can't talk!' I thought in disbelief.

"Are you alright, Miss? Your heart rate is at an alarming volume…"

"Nah, ya' think?!" I retorted none too politely.

The car fell silent, as if I hurt its feelings. After a moment, it asked: "…Are you ok?" I looked at its screen. It had a small, sad smiley face. "…I-I'm fine. I'm just freaked-out right now, that's all."

"About what?"

"Isn't it obvious?!" I spat.

Noticing immediately my misplaced emotions and that the sad smiley face disappeared, I felt guilty. "Hey, I'm sorry for acting that way. It's just that I'm a little… confused…" It seemed to contemplate this for a minute.

"Apology accepted. Please allow me to fill any details, miss."

I thought about that for a moment, and then asked: "What are you?"

"I am an automated robotic vehicle. My sole purpose is to preserve the human race. My title is Knight's Newest Intelligent Gyroscopic Height Transport; you may call me K.N.I.G.H.T."

I nodded in comprehension. "…Ok. I think I can get that. But why was that guy trying to kill me? What is happening? Why is this happening to me? And why am I going with you?" "Please slow down. Your questions are overloading my hard drive…" I paused, picking a question to start with, and then asked, "Why is this happening to me?" The car was silent for a minute.

"I am here with you because your father sent me to pick you up from school. His instructions specifically to take you back to the house safely." he said as he tuned off of the main road onto another vague dirt road.

"Hey, where are we going?"

"I am only taking an alternate route in case KIARR decides to pursue us."

"KIARR? You mean the red Camaro?"

"Precisely; Knight Industries Automated Rogue Robot or K.I.A.R.R. …"

"Well then, why was he trying to run me over?"

"I… cannot respond due to certain circumstances…"

KNIGHT fell silent for a while. I decided not to protest and get on this thing's good side. I looked out the window, trying to piece this whole puzzle together. It had started to rain hard now, the soft pattering on the roof and windshield of the car easing my tension and making me relax and think better.

"… Miss?"

I was pulled out of my dream state and snapped back into reality.

"Please, call me Holly,"

"…Why?"

"It helps to build a relationship."

"A relationship?"

"A… friendship…" I reworded.

After a moment, he continued; "Holly, is anything the matter?" I remained quiet for a moment.

"…Talking helps solve problems…"

That made me laugh. "Yes Dr. Phil… That's true…"

"Well…?" he asked as the comm. system pulled up a picture of a confused smiley face.

"I'm just still confused…"

The screen changed to a question mark.

"About what?"

"I'm confused on why dad's never mentioned you before."

KNIGHT contemplated this for a second. "Dr. Carter kept my existence secretive because of safety issues. In case of an emergency, he instructed me to fetch you. It was for your own good. I have been functional for 3 years and—"

"THREE YEARS?!" I cried in disbelief.

"…Yes… Is anything wrong?"

"Heck yeah! If my dad's been keeping secrets from me for three years then he's got a lot of explaining to do!" I exclaimed as KNIGHT pulled up the gravel driveway path. KNIGHT drove up to the porch of the old log cabin, opening up the passenger door and unbuckling his guest traveler. The rain had stopped, but when I got out of the car all was quiet.

…Too quiet…

Not even the normal chirps and chatters of the animals were heard. KNIGHT gently nudged my back with the door in order to keep me going. "Do not worry. I shall guard the house, should it be necessary to alert you if any trouble occurs." he said. "But I lost my phone! How are you going to—?" KNIGHT opened his door again and a small tablet with a few sophisticated devices slid out of the emergency compartment. "Take the earpiece. It will keep us both in touch should we separate. There is a tracking device installed in it if I lose you. It should take me straight to you." I walked up to the cabin and decided to test it.

"Are you sure it works?" I whispered silently, making sure KNIGHT wouldn't be able to hear me from afar. "Positive, Holly." KNIGHT responded indifferently, shutting his door again and pulling out to face the only possible road to the house. "Retrieve your father and I shall monitor surrounding activity to insure both of yours safety."

"Okay, sounds good to me." I responded, walking up to the front door and inserting my key into the lock. But to my dismay the front door scraped open by itself. I slowly took my key back out, slipping it away back into my pocket and pushing the door all the way open. "Hello? Dad you there?" I called quietly, taking a small step into the house. I looked around in shock.

The entire house was completely trashed, and not the usual messy trashed I was used to. Torn books and newspapers lay scattered over the floor tile, from my angle of view all of the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen had been emptied out, and her father's private office looked as though a tornado had crossed through it. Dad's entire little robot experiments had been smashed to pieces, and it looked like the only still operating machine in his office was the computer. I picked my way carefully through the debris and stood in front of his computer, looking it over and wondering why this was the only thing that hadn't been taken out by a hammer. Then my eyes scanned over a sticky note near the top of the screen. I caught my breath as I noticed the sloppy and unrecognizable handwriting. I took the note from its place on the computer and read it, hands shaking as I looked at the only four words written on this little message.

"Bring me the car!"

What car? Who had written this? What was going on? Most importantly…Where was my father?! The earpiece suddenly buzzed as it came to life. KNIGHT's voice echoed throughout the room.

"Holly, can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can hear you. Oh KNIGHT, something terrible has--"

"Holly, get out of there. LEAVE NOW."

"What are you talking about?!"

"You're not alone."

I gasped. "How do you--"

"Holly, YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THERE NOW."

I wasn't sure if it was my imagination from the sudden shock of what KNIGHT was suggesting, but the sound of footsteps suddenly fell across my ears. "I will direct you away from him and to an exit." KNIGHT declared.

"Now, exit the office and duck down into the kitchen."

I did as I was told, making note to not bump into any of the thrown pans. It appears that I wasn't hearing things; down the hall the sound of booted footsteps crinkled on paper.

"Now inch to the doorway, do NOT step on anything that will create noise."

This was easier said than done. I had to bend down and scoot papers and debris out of the way, then step in the area that was just cleared. Whoever else was in the house sounded like he was working his way closer to the living room... "Holly, are you almost--?"

KNIGHT didn't finish.

Suddenly the other end of the line grew static. There was a rev of an engine from outside, but the motor didn't sound like it belonged to a Mustang… I scolded myself for caring about the engines of cars right now. I glanced behind and caught a glimpse of black clothing, causing me to gasp. A middle-aged man turned the corner and saw me, shouting, "Hey! Who are you?!"

I screamed and ran the rest of the way to the doorway. Suddenly my foot slipped on a stray piece of paper, and I slid to the ground. A bullet whizzed over my head, and I glanced behind to see the intruder raise his gun for another shot. I screamed again and leaped out of the way of the fire, bolting out the doorway and heading straight for KNIGHT. I gasped in fright as she saw the familiar red Camaro engaged in what I guessed was battle with KNIGHT. The two cars rammed into each other continuously, and I was surprised to note that neither car was seriously damaged. Knight unexpectedly veered off to the side of KIARR before they crashed again, then turned and smashed into the Camaro from behind. KIARR roared in anger as he fish-tailed and was forced to brake to avoid running into the trees surrounding the house. KNIGHT took advantage of this bought time to quickly drive up to me and open his door. "Quickly Holly, get in!" he cried. I ducked from another bullet that whizzed past, and then hurtled into the open vehicle. KNIGHT quickly shut the door, and the gunman just barely missed hitting me on the inside. I dipped down as the attacker started shooting at the car, but surprisingly the glass to the windows did not break. KNIGHT wasn't even dented as he swerved back around and started heading towards the pathway that led back to the city. However, he didn't make it onto the dirt road as KIARR drove out in front of the pathway. "You're not going anywhere!" he snapped heatedly. I gasped at the threatening tone, and looked at KNIGHT's communication system to see what he was going to do. "Holly, strap down in the back. This is going to be a rough ride." KNIGHT demanded, backing up. I jumped into the backseat and buckled up, just as I was told. Looking out the back window I gasped as the gunman started shooting at me, but luckily the bulletproof glass didn't let out.

I then shifted my attention back to KNIGHT and KIARR. What was KNIGHT planning? How was he going to get past? "Lie down and don't look up." He instructed, waiting for me to comply. As soon as my head connected with the soft leather, he zoomed forward, going 0 to 100 mph in at least 10 seconds. Once we were about to crash into KIARR, there was a shift in gears and two wing stabilizers unsheathed on each side of KNIGHT. It felt like an ant on a skateboard going up a steep ramp! We zoomed up and over the bewildered Camaro. "WHAT?!" KIARR cried. KNIGHT continued down the pathway, rocketing at about 200 miles per hour away from KIARR and the gunman. "What in the world was all that?!" I said after a second; watching the stabilizers retract. "All what?" KNIGHT responded indifferently. "WHOA! That was AWSOME!! We actually flew?!" "In a sense, yes…" he said contented that I was enthralled in his equipment.

"Why didn't you do that earlier?"

"There was no use for it. It would have been unnecessary…"

I thought about that for a moment. "… Cool."

"What?"

"Your wings! I never knew you could do that!"

"Actually, neither did I…" he said in a small impressed voice.

After a minute I asked: "Where are we going KNIGHT? My father's back there!"

"I am sorry, Holly. I did not pick up his heat signature…" he responded.

"What?"

"Holly, he was not in the house…"