Chapter 19
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After she had cleaned herself up, Cara headed downstairs to the kitchen. There, she found Jonathan eating at the small island. "Hey." he said.
"Hey." They were both quiet as she fixed herself some cereal. She ate quietly until Jonathan spoke.
"Carr, the last thing I wanted was for you to get hurt. Guess I made a lousy friend, huh?"
She put her bowl aside. "You just wanted what was best for me. It's okay, Jonathan. All's forgiven on my end."
"Thanks." He reached out and took her hand. "I really missed you."
"I…missed you too. I missed my best friend." Cara said, although part of her felt like she was betraying someone else when she said it.
"You know, I've been thinking what I'm going to do with my life." he said.
"Yeah?" She put their dishes in the sink.
"Well, I'm feeling better. I thought we could get out on the road soon."
Cara suddenly became a little nervous. "Oh, Jonathan. I don't know. I really like it here."
"Carrie, if it's Alex you're worried about, we can just sneak out of here first thing tomorrow morning. FLAG would never miss us."
"Are you sure about that?" Michael appeared in the doorway. He had been listening in. "I don't know what you're up to, but you're not taking my daughter."
"Your daughter?" Jonathan asked. "Excuse me, man. You're not her father. Her father's dead."
"Uh, Jonathan," said Cara, "say hello to Michael Knight. He used to be Michael Long."
Jonathan looked at Michael who was glaring at him. "Oh come on. Tell me it's a joke. It 'is' a joke, right?" She didn't answer. "Right?"
"Nope. No joke. I couldn't believe it either."
"Well I still don't." said Jonathan.
"Well here's something you 'can' believe. You're not taking her anywhere, at least not until we get Harrison." Michael said.
Jonathan stood up to him. "She's an adult. She can go where she wants. And as soon as I'm ready, we're leaving."
"Hey, leave if you want to, pal. You're not taking her."
"Like you ever had any say in what happens to her." Jonathan snapped back. "Tell me, Mr. Knight, just where were 'you' the past twenty-two years of her life? Or even before that, for that matter? Did you even love her mother, or couldn't you wait to move on to her friend? Guess they were right about you. You 'do' get around."
Michael walked over to him in two steps and threw him against the wall.
"Michael! Stop!" Cara called.
He spoke through clenched teeth. "I loved Diane more than life itself. But you wouldn't know a damn thing about love." He shook him. "If you really loved Cara, you wouldn't have let that monster get within a mile of her."
"Please, Michael!" pleaded Cara.
"You're not takin' her anywhere." He repeated.
"She's leaving with me." Jonathan shot back.
"Stop it! Both of you! You're acting just as bad as Alex!" She took off out the back door.
Michael let go of Jonathan and backed away. "I'm watchin' you." he said, pointing a finger at him. Jonathan straightened his shirt as Michael went to check on her.
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Cara walked until she ran into Star. The silver Trans Am was out taking a drive. She pulled up next to her. "Hey, Carrie!"
"Stop calling me that! My name's Cara. I don't want to hear that other name ever again!"
Her outburst caught Star by surprise. "I'm sorry…Cara. I'll go now." She began to back away.
Cara felt guilty. "Wait, Star!" She ran over to the Pontiac. "Sorry. I didn't mean it. I shouldn't talk to you like that."
"It's okay." said Star, feeling a little bit better. "You've been through a traumatic event."
"But that's no reason to take it out on you." She gently patted the hood. "You're my best bud. My girl, remember?"
"You mean, you're starting to remember me?" asked Star.
"Sure am. We're Thelma and Louise right?" said Cara.
"Right."
Michael then made his way over to them. "Cara, I…"
"Michael, look." Cara started. "I know you're worried about me, but Jonathan and I have been friends for a really long time and…"
"I just want you where we can keep an eye on you for now. Remember what I said. You're not safe as long as Harrison's free. Understand?"
"Yes, Michael. I understand. I'm sorry about what Jonathan said."
"It's okay, kiddo." said Michael. "This has been hard on all of us." They hugged.
"Want to walk with us?" asked Cara.
"Sure."
The three made their way back to the garage. It was a nice day, and uneventful. Or so they thought.
Just as they were making their way back, Star stopped. "Hold it, you two."
"Star?"
A layout of the garage came up on her monitor. In one of the back corners, something was flashing. She also saw that Kitt and Bonnie were inside. Something had been planted on the building.
Star projected her voice. "Bonnie! Kitt! Get out of the garage! Now!"
Michael and Cara looked on. Kitt raced ahead as Bonnie ran as fast as she could. Then, an explosion went off, destroying the garage.
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Kitt lunged forward just as the explosion went off. Bonnie was knocked down onto the ground. The others rushed over to them.
"Bonnie!" called Cara.
Michael bent and helped her off the pavement. "Bonnie, are you alright?"
She held her head. "Yeah. I'm fine." She was a little shaken. "Kitt?"
"I find no serious injuries on you, Bonnie." he replied. "My CPU is slightly jarred from the impact, but otherwise, I'm all right."
Other staff members including Jonathan rushed over to put out the flames. He noticed something in the ash, a gray box. He picked it up and ran back to the others. "Guys, I found this." He handed it to Michael.
"What is it?"
Kitt did a quick analysis of the box. "It appears to be some sort of explosive, Michael. But it's highly advanced and there seems to be no record of it in my databanks."
"It's called a Grade A White Bomb." said Star. "I wasn't able to detect the charge myself until a few moments before it detonated."
"Harrison." said Jonathan. "He's been working on that kind of thing for a while now."
"It's almost impossible to detect right before it goes off." said Cara, remembering what Alex had told her about the device.
"I'm picking up something else." interjected Star.
"Another bomb?" asked Michael.
"No. It's some sort of transmission on my video monitor." Michael and the others looked at her screen. There was Alex Harrison, looking rather smug.
"Hello, Mr. Knight. Did you enjoy my 'little present'? I do hope that car and technician of yours didn't get too singed."
He smirked, then grew serious. "Consider that a warning shot. Now, my demands. The girl and 'S' will be returned to me within the next twenty-four hours, or I will blow the Foundation for Law and Government and everyone who resides within it to kingdom come. They're mine, Knight. I'll do whatever it takes to get them back where they belong."
Cara stood back, listening to him. He was willing to destroy her friends, her family, just to get her back.
"Twenty-four hours, Knight. I look forward to your response." And with that the screen faded.
"Star," asked Michael, "can you pick up the frequency and locate the source?"
"I'm not getting any readings."
"Kitt?"
"Sorry, Michael." said Kitt, scanning the area. "That frequency could be coming from anywhere."
Michael turned to Jonathan. "Do you get it now? This guy isn't playing around. It doesn't matter where you run to. He won't stop until he gets what he wants."
"Michael, I…" started Cara.
"No. Now this is the last time I'm gonna say this. You and Star are staying here for now. That's the last I want to hear of it. Jonathan, get Bonnie to the infirmary. I'm going to help the others." He walked off.
"Cara?" asked Jonathan.
"It's okay." she said. "Go take care of Bonnie."
"Alright. Just remember what I said." He helped Bonnie into Star and they took off for the main house.
"What was all that about?" Kitt asked Cara.
"Trust me. You don't want to know."
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A few short hours later, Cara was practicing her moves on a flat wooden platform on the grass. She was lost in what she was doing, spinning, jumping, throwing kicks and punches at an invisible opponent. As she finished a high jump, she became aware of a presence behind her, one that had been watching her for several minutes. She was glad when he finally decided to come out of hiding.
"Hey, Kitt." she said, not turning around.
"How did you know it was me and not Star?" he asked.
"For one, her scanner has a higher pitch than yours, and two," Cara made a kick in the air, "I just had a feeling you were there." She faced him and saw the movement of his scanner. "What's wrong?"
"You're a lot like Michael." Kitt said.
"What do you mean?"
"You're planning something. Aren't you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Kitt." She turned around and continued to train, hoping she could hide what she was planning to do.
"No, I think you 'do' know what I'm talking about. I've known Michael long enough to recognize what that look means." She continued to ignore him and kept at it. Kitt rolled onto the platform and nudged her leg, stopping her. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Whatever it is you're planning to do. Giving in to his demands won't solve anything."
"But if we can't stop him in time…"
"We will, Cara." Kitt interrupted. "Michael has the authorities working around the clock to catch Harrison. He's bound to make a mistake, but you have to be patient."
Cara knelt to one knee and pretended to tie her shoe. She knew FLAG would never be able to catch Alex within the next twenty-four hours. Somehow, someway, he always got what he wanted.
"Promise me something." Kitt said.
"What?" she asked.
"That you will do as your father said and stay here. That you won't do anything foolhardy."
"You know I can't break a promise, Kitt."
"I know. That's why I want you to promise me."
Cara sighed. "Okay. I promise. I'll stay here and I won't do anything crazy." She sat down on the platform. "I'm real sorry about all this, Kitt. Guess life was a lot easier before I came along."
"I must say my back fender has taken quite a beating since you arrived." he replied. "And Star is a very agitating roommate." He rolled forward, resting his prow against her arm. "But I'm certainly glad you're here."
"Thanks, Kitt." She rested her arm against his hood, listening to his scanner, and tracing the light with her other hand. Though they didn't say it, they could feel that something had changed between them at that moment. Realizing that, they both pulled away from each other, slightly.
"Well," Kitt was finally able to say, "I had better go check on the others. I'll…see you later then?"
"Yes."
"Good." Kitt rolled down the platform and took off in search of Michael.
Cara leaned back, watching him drive away. She hated lying. But the moment she and Kitt had just had made up her mind for her. She 'had' to protect him and everyone else she cared about.
And nothing was going to stop her .
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After the sun set that evening, Cara snuck into FLAG's training facility. She walked around until she found a punching bag.
She held it steady and began to hit it, to kick it. She relived the night she was attacked by the guard. "Got orders to get you outta the way." She saw Dedra's lovely, yet hateful face. "Evil. No good. That's what you are. Who'd be crazy enough to love someone like you?" she had told her once.
Devon's words also came back to her. "You've been given a second chance, Cara. The chance to prove that one person can make a difference." She then saw Alex. She heard all his lies, all his empty promises. "Carrie, honest. You're the only one I love. Trust me." Cara jumped high into the air. Her blow was so hard that sand began to pour from the bag.
Cara hurried upstairs and went to the closet. She changed into a blue tank with a black stripe down the middle with black pants and boots. She strapped on her comlink and the star necklace, and looked in the mirror.
She was ready.
She made her way out to the Foundation's front steps without attracting attention and pressed the gem on the pendant.
Star's systems suddenly turned on. She rolled forwards.
"Where are you going?" asked Kitt.
"Just…out for a drive." answered Star. She didn't want to tell him she had been activated without knowing why.
"Just remember what Michael said."
"I will." Star set a course to where the signal had come from. There, she saw her driver. "Cara!" she said. "You look…different."
"Thanks, Star." Cara got in. "That's what I was going for." She started the car and took off. They stopped just as the front gate came into view.
"We need a distraction."
"Coming up." Star used her anharmonic databank to create the sound of something being thrown against the wall. One guard nudged the other, and they walked off to investigate the noise. Cara then put the car in gear. They raced forward. She pressed turbo boost and they went sailing over the gate undetected. They took off down the road.
"Where are we going?" asked Star.
"To CompuTech." Cara replied. "To save the Foundation." Cara turned around one last time. Only one thought entered her mind as she watched the Foundation fall out of sight.
'Please forgive me.'
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