Chapter 9

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Michael and Cara began to back away. "Don't make any sudden moves." whispered Michael. "Let's just make our way back to Kitt and get the hell out of here." He started to pull her back.

Just then Alex gave the 'project' it's first command. "S, I want the girl. Bring her to me!"

Two headlights came on as the car started it's engine. It started to drive forward. Cara and Michael then took off for the outside. They jumped inside of Kitt.

"Michael? What is it?" asked Kitt. "I'm getting some strange readings of…" Just as Michael stepped on the gas, the other car appeared behind them. "Michael! What in the world is that!?!" It was close behind them as they raced through the gate.

"I don't know, but I don't like the looks of it." said Michael. "Think you can establish contact? Maybe reason with it?"

"I'll do my best." The other car was following dangerously close. Kitt picked up it's frequency and established a link.

"Who are you?" he asked the car.

"I am the Super Turbo Automotive Robot." came a younger female voice. They both made a sharp turn. "My name is S.T.A.R."

"What do you want?"

"Give me the girl." Cara's eyes widened. What would this car want with her? Why did that voice sound familiar?

"Forget it." Michael said.

"I want Carrie."

"Whose Carrie?" Kitt asked.

"She is. The girl on your passenger side. I won't ask you again."

"I don't think so."

"Fine, have it your way, Knight 2000." The car pulled in closer and bumped into Kitt from behind, almost sending the three into a ravine.

Cara held on as she could see over the guardrail. The ravine was steep. "Get over, Michael! Get over!"

"I'm trying!" yelled Michael. He pressed turbo boost to increase their speed and to put some distance in between them and the other vehicle. But soon it caught up to them.

"Boy, it's fast!" said Cara.

"You can't outrun me. Don't even try." said Star.

"Kitt, scan it and see if you can find a weakness."

"She doesn't have my molecular bonded shell, Michael. That must be what Alex Harrison wanted with the formula."

"That's a pretty big weakness if I ever heard one. Okay, pal. Let's stop this 'train wreak' before it gets started."

Star's voice came over the link. "Carrie, it's me! 'S'! Don't you remember? Don't let them destroy me!" The AI changed it's tone.

Michael looked at Cara. "Does the name Carrie or 'S' mean anything to you?" he asked her, trying to stay on the road.

She saw a series of flashbacks that involved a large computer. "S? Michael, I remember a computer named 'S'!"

"Carrie," said Star, "We're 'Thelma and Louise' remember?"

"But that's…our motto!" said Cara. "Michael, you can't destroy her. She knows who I am. I need her to find out!"

"Cara, that thing's dangerous." he said.

"No, Michael. She isn't! She wouldn't hurt anyone if I told her not to!"

"Cara…"

Cara turned her attention away from Michael. Fine. If he wouldn't listen to her, maybe Kitt would. "Kitt, don't destroy her."

"But, Cara, we don't know what it's purpose is. What if it isn't programmed to protect human life?"

"How will we know if we just destroy her?" came Cara's answer.

Kitt thought it over. This other AI could be as bad as K.A.R.R. had been. And it wanted Cara. He wasn't about to let Star get anywhere near her. Still, he didn't like the thought of destroying yet another car like himself.

"Please, Kitt?"

"Alright, Cara. If that's what you want. Michael, any ideas?"

Michael sighed. "Okay. Can you micro jam it?"

"I'm afraid it's too dangerous on these turns. She'd crash right into us."

"Just give me the girl and you two can go free." Star said.

"Disconnect the frequency. We're not going to be able to reason with her." Michael thought a moment. "Kitt, does the Foundation still have the old semi?"

"Yes, but it's been in storage for ten years now." Kitt answered.

"Great." said Michael. "Get me Devon."

Devon appeared on the videophone. "Michael? Cara? Did you get the formula back?"

"No." said Michael. "Not exactly. We found Harrison's 'project'. It's another car like Kitt. Look, we gotta get away from this thing. Can you have the semi out front in a few minutes with the back end down?" he asked him.

"We'll get right on it. But Michael, another car?"

"Don't have time to explain, Devon. Just tell the guards to keep the gate open, and be up at the semi when we get there."

"Of course, Michael. We'll be ready for your return." The screen faded.

Suddenly, Kitt was pushed forward. Cara screamed. Star again hit Kitt's back fender. "How dare she? How dare she push me!" Kitt fumed. He micro jammed her breaks for a second.

Star slightly lost control. "Hey! Cut it out!" She bumped into Kitt again. He sent a small shock into her systems. "Ouch!"

"Didn't anyone ever teach you to play nice?" he asked her.

"Give me the girl." she said, sounding more angry.

"Stubborn, aren't we?"

"Yes."

Star sped up and the two cars were side by side. She tried ramming herself against Kitt, but Michael was able to dodge her blows. Just then a large truck was approaching them. "Michael! Look out!" said Cara. She grabbed the wheel and the two cars parted on both sides, barely missing the truck.

"Is killing Cara part of your orders, S.T.A.R.?" asked Michael. "Cause that's what's gonna happen if you keep this up." His question sank into her CPU. No, it wasn't helping anyone, especially Carrie. She would never forgive herself if something happened to her friend.

The car slowed down a few notches and fell back behind Kitt. She went silent and decided to hang back to wherever she was being led.

The two cars rushed through the gates of the Foundation. Michael drove up the long drive to where the semi was parked. Star began to pick up speed again.

"Okay, Kitt. Get ready to turbo." said Michael.

"Michael, I'm not sure we can jump the semi."

"No time like the present to find out, pal!" He picked up speed and pressed turbo boost. The black car went flying over the semi and landed barely missing the front.

Star tried to slow down. "No! Wait!" But she couldn't stop in time. She had no choice but to roll into the back of the semi. She came to a stop. Star tried to roll out, but the guards closed the back end on her. "Let me out!" she yelled. "You can't do this!"

Cara and Michael got out of Kitt and ran to the back off the semi where they met up with Devon. "Will it be alright in there?"

"It'll keep 'til morning." said Michael.

"Good. First thing tomorrow, we'll try to find out what it is we're dealing with."

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Alex looked at the readings on his computer. "Where is it? S should've been back by now with her." He typed in several codes.

"Well?" asked Dedra, looking over his shoulder. "Oh don't tell me all the time and money we spent just went down the drain."

"It's either one of two things." said Alex. "Either Star has been destroyed, or they've got it somewhere."

Jonathan stood back and smiled. Good. Now all he had to do was escape Alex Harrison himself, and somehow get Carrie's memory back.

Alex called to him. "You! Get over to the Foundation and see what's going on. I don't care how, just get it done!"

"Yes, sir." Jonathan said. Little did he know, he had no plans to return. He had to get to Carrie before Alex did.

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