Surrounded by men's voices, Jamie laid on the rough carpet brushed against her fingers and face. The pain erupted, making her muscles tighten, she longed to move but remained still while the men chatted. They hadn't bound her and presumed that she would remain unconscious until they arrived at the location after being tasered.
Wade knew about her unique abilities; the drug, Enhance Adrenaline Surge that once flowed through her veins, causing a surge of adrenaline resulted in super strength and enhancing the five senses; she was the ideal soldier of the future. The drug had one drawback, a volt of electricity could override her abilities, making her susceptible to being captured or drugged.
The drug had been eradicated from her system, but as a lasting side effect, her adrenaline had been altered. In high-stress situations, Jamie could still produce enough adrenaline giving her super strength, and a bolt of electricity still made her vulnerable.
The floor jerked, sending a shock wave of pain-causing her muscles to retract, she carefully opened her eyes staring at a spare tire secure to a rack beside her.
The tire iron reflected a bright red light underneath the spare tire. The wristwatch on Jamie's left arm was sending out a signal. Michael was coming. Clicking from a briefcase, she slowed her breathing and listened. Fingers tapped against the glass, longing to peek, she laid there.
"Give this to her, I want her quiet and manageable," Wade said.
"What is it?" the man asked.
"A drug to make Ms. White more agreeable to my wishes. Give it to her quickly before she wakes up."
The floor vibrated as the man approached; it was time. From behind her, cool air rushed over her legs the rear van door was ajarred, providing an escape route for her.
The man stopped kicking her back; pain shot through her spine, biting her lip, she suppressed the scream.
"There ain't nothing special about you," the man mumbled underneath his breath.
"Are you willing to place a bet on the wager?"
Snatching the tire iron, she summoned her remaining strength by leaping onto her feet and struck the syringe. The vile crashed into the vehicle's wall, shattering into tiny pieces that scattered on the floor.
The man charged. She slammed the tire iron at his head, but he ducked. She propelled her weapon, striking at his knees. He collapsed onto the floor, colliding with Wade.
Jamie darted to the rear of the van in the confusion and rammed the rear doors until they swung open. The guard yanked her back into the van; she used the tire iron, striking his shoulders until he released her. She bolted and leaped out, colliding with the asphalt, rolling into a ditch as Wade stared at her.
"She is dead or will be. Knight can discover her dead body. So much for the great Ms. White. Let's go." Wade ordered.
Closing her eyes, Jamie hoped Michael was searching for her.
Lightning lit up the night sky and thunder roared in the distance. The thunder bellowed again, reminding Michael of the urgency to locate Jamie. He allowed Wade to take her. Not realizing Wade was prepared, Michael didn't understand why a Taser was used on her, and It knocked Jamie out.
The Taser made Jamie helpless. That decision haunted him. He hoped he could find Wade soon and rescue her.
Nothing on the desert road. Not a dead carcass, no hitchhikers, and no vehicles in sight. The van had vanished into thin air. He knew it wasn't possible. Wade could have taken Jamie anywhere.
"Michael," KITT said.
He released a slight breath. "What is it, buddy?"
"I have been reviewing Jamie's files that Bonnie released to me before I left the Foundation. She's quite a remarkable young woman."
"Yet," He squeezed the steering wheel. "I allowed Wade to take her thinking I could stop him from leaving with her."
"It seems by my data, Wade has a better understanding of her abilities and weaknesses, and used her fundamental weakness against her. Wade knows if he has someone close to you that you will be more manageable and won't pose a threat to his operation."
"Right now, it is working. I don't have the Foundation providing backup and Jamie is in Wade's clutches."
"True. Wade doesn't know you as I do. When you focus on a task, you complete it. When someone you love is in danger you come three times stronger than normal and that is your advantage."
"Thank you, buddy."
"You're welcome. If I may add my own observation from what I've been reading about Jamie. Her cover name is the White Tiger because of her fierceness and tenacity. And like you, she's walked away from dangerous situations hould have killed her, but it didn't."
"I know what you're trying to do, pal. But you weren't the one staring into her fearful eyes once I gave her to Wade."
"Perhaps, she had a flashback to Garth?"
"I'm not Garth," he stated sternly.
"At that moment, in Jamie's perspective you must've been."
"KITT, are you suggesting Garth could behind this?"
"In your past dealings with Garth Knight, he loves to see you dangle your words before striking. It could be someone worked with closely Garth is behind this Master plan, making it appear to be Garth. I just hope Goliath doesn't appear anytime soon."
"It would make sense. I've been playing from the very beginning on defense. I need to be on offense making the bold moves and shaking the tree to see how many monkeys fall. I can't do that until I locate Jamie." He paused. "Are you picking up anything from the second com-link?"
The monitor lit up in a red dot began to blink. "I dectected Jamie's signal from the second like she's about 18 miles ahead, she appears to be walking."
Micheal pressed on the gas pedal and within a few moments, he saw her slowly walking and listening until she stopped, watching him and KITT appear.
Jamie had escaped from Wade's men, laying on her side in the ditch. The raindrops landed on her face. Thunder clashed. She was alive. The recent events flashed quickly with the lightning. Micheal was the prize in Wade's eyes, not her. It didn't make sense. Something else, she was missing an important piece, as pain radiated throughout her body, she crawled.
Her muscles cried out in pain, she stood and forced herself to climb out of the ditch. Right now, she needed to start walking, hoping Michael would find her soon. She couldn't take a chance Wade would return. If Wade did, she didn't have enough strength to fight, her body needed sleep and pain medicine, she needed Michael.
More raindrops reached the ground, soon the downpour of rain would arrive. Jamie needed to find a dry place, she didn't need a severe cold fleeing from the authorities. The only thing she did, continue to walk and hoped she wasn't stopped by law enforcement. If it happened, she would deal with it then.
With each passing step, moving became difficult, she walked on the lonely road. Another clap of thunder surrounded her. She looked up, hoping Michael would arrive before it rained. Her sore muscles ached, she pushed herself to keep moving. Wanting this to be an awful dream, the pain made it clear, it wasn't. Reality had a habit of changing into a nightmare on her rapidly.
Thunder roared all around her, hurting her ears. She wanted to hide underneath a rock from the storm. A distance hum echoed, during the breaks of thunder, Jamie stopped, listening, it sounded like a jet engine coming. Out of the darkness was a red light moving back and forth.
The black Trans Am stopped and the door swing wide opened as Michael jumped out.
"I was so worried about you," Michael said, ran to her.
She noticed the makeshift bandage on his arm. "You're hurt!"
"Jamie, it is just a scratch." His hand touched her face. "I'm more concerned about you," he said softly.
"Just exhaustion and sore muscles," she replied, staring into his eyes as his touch was gentle and comforting. Her fingers grassed his leather jacket, her eyes closed, and he scooped her up in his arms.
He carried her to the passenger side of KITT; she sat in the seat, as Michael shut the door. The heat blasted out from the vents, Jamie opened her eyes and realized how cold she was, she shook. Michael sat down, and KITT closed the door. He reached in the backseat, grabbing a thick blanket as he covered her with it.
"Try to relax, I know a place where we can rest and get some food."
Jamie nodded and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.