Chapter 21

-------

The next morning, Jonathan stormed into Michael's office. He walked over to his desk. "Okay, where the hell is she?"

"Who?"

"You know who. Carrie. I haven't seen her this morning."

"Well," said Michael, "maybe she didn't want to take you up on your little offer from yesterday."

"Hold on, Michael." Bonnie said. "He's right. I haven't seen Cara this morning either."

Michael stood up. "What? Bonnie, go check her room." He pointed to Jonathan. "You, come on." They searched all over the mansion, but Cara was nowhere to be found. The three of them then ran outside and over to Kitt who was parked out front.

"Kitt, scan the area. Is Cara nearby?" asked Michael.

Kitt went over the grounds. "No, Michael. She's not within my range. Oh no." he said.

"Oh no, what?" Jonathan asked.

"I'm not picking up any of Star's reading either. Michael, they're gone!"

"Gone?" said Michael. "What do you mean they're gone!"

"She must have gone back." said Jonathan.

A few moments later, Star raced up to the house. She came to a screeching halt. "Star!" Jonathan called. "Where's Carrie?"

"They've got her! Cara's in trouble!"

"What kind of trouble?" Michael asked her.

"Alex found out it was a trick to get the formula back. The guards caught her and took her back into the building. She's in real danger, Michael!"

Kitt had been taking it all in. 'Cara, no. I'm not going to let him hurt you again.' He did a 180 and stopped. "Michael, get in!"

"I'm coming with you." said Jonathan.

"No, stay here." said Michael, getting in. "Bonnie, get a hold of the authorities. I want everyone on this when it's over with."

"Right." She ran inside.

"Well then, I'm coming." said Star.

"Forget it." Kitt said.

"What?"

"How can we trust you? You knowingly put Cara in danger. And you just left her there!" Even Michael was shocked at his tone.

"But, Kitt, I…"

"Look, we can sort this out later." Michael interrupted. "Right now we gotta save Cara." He took off and drove the car as fast as he could.

Jonathan and Star just stood there. "Let's go." said Jonathan.

"No, Jonathan. You're still recovering from your injuries. Stay here. I'll go with them."

Jonathan removed the formula and the necklace. "Be careful, Star. Bring them back safe."

"I will." She took off after the others, putting some distance between them until Kitt cooled off.

--------

It had been a long night for Cara. Harrison had his guards put her in the interrogation room and tie her hands behind a chair with sharp wires. It was very uncomfortable, and Alex hadn't allowed her any rest.

Alex paced the room. "All that hard work, all that training, gone! I fed you, gave you shelter, trusted you, and now you've betrayed me."

"You're one to talk about betrayal." muttered Cara.

"Quiet." he snapped. "You're just like S. I'll have to start from scratch and 'reprogram' you." He smiled. "Yes. Retrain, relearn everything I've ever taught you." He shined the bright light in her face. "Let's start with the basics, shall we? What is your name?"

"Cara Bennett." she replied.

"Wrong." he said, yanking on the wires that held her. "What is your name?"

She wouldn't give in. Her name was the only other thing of 'real value' that Devon had ever given her. She wasn't about to give that up as well. "Cara Bennett."

"Wrong." Alex yanked the wires again. Cara could feel the material cutting into her wrist. "Stop making this so difficult." He stood before her, taking her chin into his hand and lifting her head back as far as it would go. Cara thought her neck would snap.

He brought his face close to hers. "I'll ask you one more time. What's…your…name?"

She gave him an ice cold stare. He was no longer the man she once loved. "I'll tell you who I'm not. I'm not an Anderson, or a Long."

"Don't Carrie." Alex warned.

"And I'm sure as hell not a Harrison."

"Carrie…"

"I'm a KNIGHT, through and through!" He slapped her hard across the face. But instead of cowering in fear, she turned and faced him, almost daring him to hit her again. She didn't even notice the small amount of blood forming on her lip.

He almost did hit her again. Instead, he walked behind her and yanked her hair, pulling her head back. "Then, you can 'die' a Knight." He let go of her and stormed out. Cara didn't want to think of what he had in store for her next.

--------

It was taking longer than expected for Michael and Kitt to reach CompuTech. The long drive was being complicated by drizzle and road construction.

"Ya know, times like this, I wish Bonnie hadn't removed super pursuit mode." Michael said. He was getting frustrated with every passing minute.

"She had to Michael." replied Kitt. "It was becoming a safety issue to pedestrians." He didn't want to think about he time he and another partner were out on a case and nearly hit a child while in SPM. After that, no one even thought twice about having the feature removed.

Right now, their thoughts were on someone else.

"I can't help but feel this is partially my fault."

Michael looked at the voice box. "Now why do you say that, Kitt?"

"I knew she was planning something. I could feel it. I should have watched her more closely, Michael. I'm sorry."

"Well, don't blame yourself, pal." said Michael. "I was too hard on her. Devon was right. She is a lot like me. I probably would have done the same thing if I was her."

"I'm positive you would have."

"But you know, Kitt," he continued, "you 'were' a little hard on Star back there. I've never known you to loose your head like that before."

"Yes, Michael. I'm afraid I was hard on her. Do you think she'll forgive me?"

"I'm sure of it, pal. If she's anything like Cara, I'm sure of it. What's our ETA?"

"At our current speed, roughly forty-five minutes." Kitt answered.

"Every second counts." Michael pressed pursuit, hoping they'd get there in time.

--------

Cara moved her arms and wrists the best she could. It wasn't easy. The more she moved, the more the wire cut into her. There was no way out of it. She took a deep breath. With one hard yank, she broke the wire. It cut her, but least she was free. Maybe she could steal one of the cars from the lot and go back to the Foundation.

She stood and removed the rest of the wire. She didn't notice someone enter the room.

"Going somewhere?"

Cara froze. She remembered that voice. It haunted her dreams at night. It never left her mind. 'No.' she thought as she turned around. 'It couldn't be.'

"Hello…Carrie." Dedra said. She walked in and closed the door behind her.

-------