Chapter 22

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Dedra walked over. She seemed happy about the fact that once again, Carrie was trapped in a corner with nowhere to hide. "So, we meet again." She looked her up and down. "Well, we've become quite the little beauty, haven't we?"

"What do you want?" asked Cara.

"Alex seems to have washed his hands of you. I knew sooner or later he'd see you for what you are. He could care less what I do to you this time around. Come on." She motioned towards the door.

"I'm not going anywhere with you, Dedra."

Dedra smirked. "Poor, Carrie. I'm afraid you have no choice." She pulled out her gun. "Move." Cara put up her hands. Dedra followed her. She led Cara to a dark room.

Cara stepped in as Dedra turned on the lights. It looked like some kind of operating room, but different. There were machines and medical supplies strung about. Then, Cara saw it. Something which made her heart stop. It was the table she had been strapped to that night. Two wires dangled from the side.

"Get over there." said Dedra.

"Dedra, please. I'm begging you."

"Do it, or I'll blow your brains out now." she said in a low voice.

Cara tried not to shake as she made her way over to the cold slab. She sat down, accepting what was sure to come. Dedra smiled, much like a cat that had caught a bird in its cage. "My, my, Carrie. What fun you and I are going to have."

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Outside, some distance away, CompuTech's security cameras caught sight of something. "Sir," said one of the guards, "I think you should have a look at this." He pointed to the monitor.

Alex looked over the guard's shoulder. A black vehicle was headed towards the premises. "Knight. I was wondering when those two were going to show up." He called his men over to him. "You six, split up and get into the trucks. You three, get in the helicopter and use the laser. Don't let them get past the gates!"

"What about you?" asked one of the men.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be along in a while." Harrison had something more important to see to first. He grabbed a small briefcase and headed down the hall.

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"There it is." said Michael. "Take a look inside, and see if you can find her." He pulled to a stop.

Kitt searched the building. He found what he was looking for. "She's in there, Michael. On the eastern end. It's some sort of examination room. There's also an armed female keeping watch."

"Is she alright?"

"She has a few minor cuts, and her heart rate is extremely high. I suggest we get to her as soon as possible."

"I want her out of there as bad as you do, pal." Michael said. "But something tells me Harrison knows we're here. Check around. See what he's got planned for us."

A layout of the area came up on his monitor. "There are two large trucks headed our way, and a helicopter is being started on the roof."

Michael clutched the steering wheel. "Looks like Harrison's rolled out the welcoming committee, huh? Let's go say hello."

They made their way down. One of the trucks was moving at full speed towards them. Michael swerved off to the side of the road to avoid a collision. The semi turned around and charged after them. It came up from behind Kitt, trying to push him off the road. Michael fought to keep control of the car.

Another semi was making it's way up, ready to ram them. Guards from both trucks hung out of the doors, shooting at them.

"They never learn. Do they, Kitt?"

"I'm afraid not, Michael."

"Then let's show them what turbo boost can do!" The car accelerated, heading straight for the second semi.

"Oh this is too easy." one of the guards laughed. Kitt raced towards the truck. At the last possible second, Michael pressed turbo boost and they went flying overhead. "What the…" said the drivers. "Hey, look out!" screamed one of the other guards. But it was too late. Both vehicles collided, destroyed in a fiery blaze.

"Woo! There's one problem solved!" said Michael, looking over his shoulder.

"Indeed. But how do you propose we deal with that?"

Michael looked up into the night sky. "Holy…that's the biggest helicopter I've ever seen. What's it got on it?"

"A very powerful laser." Kitt felt a strange sensation come over him as the helicopter neared closer. "Michael, that weapon's locked onto my scanner! If I take a direct hit…"

"I hear ya. Can you micro jam it?"

He tried. "No, Michael. I can't seem to get a lock on it."

"What about turbo?"

"We don't have the time to get enough momentum." They both saw the laser on the helicopter calibrating. There was nothing they could do. "Look's like this is the end, Michael." Kitt was preparing to eject his driver when they saw a silver flash and heard the sound of a car turbo boosting.

"Need some help, boys?" Star used her super turbo and sailed over Kitt. She flew up and over to the helicopter, knocking out the laser on it's nose and the propeller. The helicopter crashed. The guards were injured, but not seriously. She landed on the ground with ease.

"I see it, but I don't believe it." said Michael, stunned. "How…how did you do that?"

"Let's just call it a little bit of 'Star' power." she said.

"Star," Kitt began, "I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I'll never doubt you again."

"Ah, it's okay. Now, if you don't mind, don't we have a mad scientist to stop?"

"We're right behind you." Michael said as they headed towards the compound.

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At that moment, Cara's inner senses kicked in. The others were coming for her. She was sure of it. Star, Michael, Kitt.

"What are you smiling about?" snapped Dedra. "Didn't you hear me? Lay back on that table!" Cara did what she was told. Dedra set the gun aside and did her best to strap her down. "This should have been done a long time ago." When she was done, she went to a medicine cabinet and put some fluid into a syringe needle.

"Aren't you going to use the wires?" asked Cara.

"Hmm. Tempting, but I don't think so. Unlike Alex, I don't like to give repeat performances." She turned with the syringe in her hand. "Tell me, Carrie. Do you know what's in here?"

"I haven't a clue."

"Not surprising. It's hydrated carbonite. Known as liquid death in most parts of the world when applied in the right manner. One drop is enough to kill a thousand people. Imagine how quickly it will finish 'you' off." She walked towards her.

The restraints were starting to come loose. Cara had to buy herself some time. "Dedra, why are you doing this? All I ever did was try to be your friend."

Dedra stopped walking. "Friend?" she almost laughed. "You're not my friend. Far from it. Ever since the day you came here, I've had to compete with you. All I ever heard from Alex was Carrie this, and Carrie that. You make me sick. Even after Jonathan took you away, I still had to compete with you in Alex's eyes."

"So that's why you tried to have me killed." said Cara.

"With you out of the way, I was going to have everything, the car, the wealth, even Alex. But no. You just had to live. Even when I set my guard on you. Even after I starved you and used the electroshock treatment. You just wouldn't quit."

Dedra walked over to her. She tilted Cara's head back. "Well, there's no escape this time." Cara saw the wild look in her eyes. Dedra put the needle to her neck. "Goodbye, evil one."

"Evil…" Cara said, shutting her eyes. Yes. She was a murderer. This was her punishment.

She then remembered what Michael had said. "Don't let Harrison take all that from you, Cara. Don't let them win."

"Michael?" said Cara, quietly, as the needle was brought closer.

Her head moved slightly. "Believe me, Cara. She's wrong. Trust me."

"Kitt?" Her eyes opened.

"Goodbye forever, Carrie." said Dedra.

"No!" Cara slipped out of the restraints and rolled off the table just as Dedra was close to pricking her neck.

She hit Dedra and the syringe was sent flying to the ground.

She tried to head for the door, but Dedra grabbed her by the hair and sent her flying into a counter. She came at her, but Cara blocked her shot and hit her again. Dedra saw the gun and tried to get to it. Cara noticed a tray of medical instruments. She snatched it up, hitting Dedra with the tray. Dedra fell and the gun was knocked from her reach.

But she saw something else nearby. A sharp scalpel. She reached up and stabbed Cara in her side. The redhead was sent to the side of the table, clutching her stomach.

Dedra panted heavily. She ran at Cara with the scalpel, ready to stab her with it. Cara saw her coming. She held on to the table with both hands. Using both feet, she went up into the air and kicked Dedra in her front, sending her backwards.

The blonde stumbled back, the instrument above her head. She came to a stop, the scalpel was accidentally inserted into an open fuse box.

"Ahhhhh!" Dedra screamed. Cara looked on as electricity flowed through the other woman's body. The lights throughout the building flickered. Dedra shook violently. Finally, she fell forward. She dropped the instrument and fell to her knees. Cara saw steam come off of her. Her skin and hair were singed.

Shakily, Dedra looked up at her. Her lips quivered as she shook. "Pl…please…help…me."

Cara slowly came towards her. Then, the door opened and she was grabbed by someone. "Alex! Let me go! We have to help Dedra!"

"Leave her." he said.

"What?"

"Al…lex…help…me…" Dedra gurgled.

"Why should I?" spat Alex. "I heard you, Dedra. I heard all of it from the observation room next door. You 'did' try to have Carrie killed. And 'you' were the one who caused her to lose her memory. I would have it all right now if it wasn't for you."

"N…no…he…help."

"Help yourself." Alex said. "You've gotten what you deserve." Cara struggled to get to Dedra, but Alex held her tight. "And as for you, my pet, I have something 'really' special in mind."

She noticed a large instrument strapped to his arm. It was some kind of laser gun. "No, Alex! We can't just leave her like this!" She tried to get out of his grasp, but it was useless. She was dragged from the room.

Dedra let out a horrendous cry, then collapsed.

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