Chapter 23

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Both cars stopped just outside the grounds. "Alright, Kitt," Michael said. "Where's Harrison keeping Cara?"

Kitt scanned the area. "They've both moved into that larger building, Michael. There's an enormous underground column inside as well, almost a hundred and eighty feet deep."

"Star, what's in there?"

"Why, nothing's in there except…oh no."

"What?"

"Michael, that's the building's nuclear reactor. You don't think he'd be crazy enough to.."

"I wouldn't put it past him. Let's go!" They broke through the gate.

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"Let me go!" Cara fought to get away from Alex, but his grip was tight. "You won't get away with this!"

He continued to drag her along. "I never did show you what's in here, did I, Carrie?"

"I don't care!"

"Oh, I think you will. Over that ledge is CompuTech's reactor. It holds almost a million gallons of nuclear fluid." He looked at her. "It's a hundred and eighty foot drop."

Cara could see the green glow from the reactor. "You're going to throw me down there?"

"Yes. It'll save me the time of disposing of the body." His tone softened as he pulled her closer. "Unless you can convince me otherwise."

"What do you mean by that?"

"My little offer still stands, Carrie." he said, stroking her cheek. "It's not too late. You and me…"

"Never. I'd sooner die first!" She swung at him.

He used his other hand to catch her wrist. "Fine." said Alex. "Have it your way." He threw her up against a wall.

"No!" she screamed, trying to fight him off.

Just then, they heard a loud noise.

A black car crashed through a wall coming right at them. Several barrels were pushed aside as the Trans Am made it's way through. A silver vehicle followed close behind. They stopped a short distance away.

"Michael! Kitt!" Alex pulled Cara to him. One arm was wrapped around her neck. He held the laser gun up to her head with the other.

"Cara!"

"Don't come any closer!" said Alex.

"Let go of her, Harrison." said Michael, getting out. "It's over. Your men are gone and so are your plans to destroy the Foundation." He took a step forwards.

"I'm not fooling with you, Knight!" He tightened his grip. "If any of you come any closer, I'll take her out."

"He'll do it, Michael." warned Star.

"Damn right I will."

Kitt searched through his processor for any way he could get Cara away from Harrison. But there didn't appear to be any simple solution. This man had cat like reflexes, and any sudden moves Kitt made would get her killed.

"Let her go, Alex." he said. Maybe he could reason with him, if that were even possible.

"Ah! The Knight Industries Two Thousand. At last we meet properly." Harrison said.

"It's not this young lady you're after."

"What are you getting at?"

"I see you have a rather large laser gun attached to your arm." said Kitt. "Release Cara, and I'll let you have what you want. I'll take her place."

"Kitt…" said Michael.

"No, Kitt!" Cara cried.

"Touching." said Harrison. "But I'm afraid it's a bit late for that. For as you can see, Knight's daughter and I have a little 'date' to keep."

"What?" Michael asked. "You know she's my…"

"Of course I know she's your daughter!" snapped Alex. "What better justice than to use the child of the legendary Michael Knight to bring down the Foundation for Law and Government?" He smirked. "Imagine my delight when I convinced that idiot Jonathan to come work for me and bring his precious sister. It took some time to find her, Michael, but it was worth it, don't you agree?"

"Oh and for the record," he continued, "Wilton Knight always knew you had a daughter as well."

Michael's eyes widened. "What?"

"My father found a photograph in your wallet that night you were shot. He did some research and found out one of your former girlfriends had given birth. My father wanted you to go back to your old life so 'I' could be K.I.T.T.'s pilot. But Wilton wanted 'you' to take his place instead."

"Wilton would have never kept that from me."

Harrison tightened his grip. "It's true, Knight! And now…it's payback time."

Cara's eyes met Michael's. He was planning to do something and she had to be ready. 'I trust you.' she thought.

"Now don't be too hasty, Harrison."

"Stay back, all of you!"

"Come on, Alex." Michael said. "Why don't we just calm down, relax," He met Cara's eyes. "And take a …step…BACK!"

Cara grabbed Harrison's arm, and moving her foot backwards, she sent him flying over her shoulder. He landed on his back.

Harrison tried to grab her, but Michael got to him first. "Run, Cara!" She was able to get a safe distance away next to Kitt. Alex pushed Michael off of him. He punched him in the face. Michael hit him back. He tried to kick him, but Alex caught his leg. He spun him and Michael rolled to the floor.

"That all ya got?" asked Alex.

Both men were up on their feet. Michael made a run at him, but Alex hit him twice, then twice again in the ribs. Michael reached up and caught Alex in the stomach, who clutched himself in pain. Michael began to punch him repeatedly, first from one side to the other.

Alex then came back at him. He hit Michael as hard as he could. Michael stumbled to the ground. He yelled out in pain when he tried to get up.

"Michael!" A quick analysis showed Kitt that Michael has sprained his ankle.

Alex turned on the laser gun. "See you in hell, Knight." He pointed it at Michael. Kitt started forwards to shield his friend. Harrison noticed him coming and started to aim the laser at the car.

"No don't!" yelled Cara. She ran over to Harrison.

"Cara! Stay back!" said Kitt, stopping. Cara grabbed onto Harrison's arm. She reached up, trying to divert Alex and to get the gun from him.

"Ahh!" he moaned in pain. "Get off me, you brat!" He shook his large body and threw her to the side with great force. She sailed and then…

CRACK!

Her body slammed against a steel column. She landed with a thud onto the floor, motionless.

"CARA!" Kitt scanned her for any signs of life. There were none.

Michael dove to his daughter's side. "Cara? Come on! Wake up! Is she alright?"

"Michael…I…I'm not picking up anything!" said Star. "Kitt?"

Kitt remained silent.

Alex walked over to Cara, leaning over her body. He clicked his tongue. "Pity. Too bad, Carrie. It could have been fun. Could have been real fun."

Kitt felt anger rush through every circuit in his body. He killed her! The one man Cara had loved and he had killed her. It wasn't fair. Cara deserved better than this monster. She had deserved better than this, period.

His scanner flashed angrily. "You." he seethed. He gunned the engine.

Harrison stood before him, a distance away. He lifted the gun on his arm. "Go ahead and kill me if you want." he said. "You'll be joining her shortly."

When he said that, something snapped inside of Kitt, something which ignored his dominate program to protect human life. All he knew was that Cara was gone. Nothing else mattered.

Kitt started up. He hit the gas as hard as he could. The tires screamed as he rushed forward towards Alex.

"NO! KITT!" Michael screamed, holding Cara. His friend had lost it! Alex aimed the laser at the scanner once again. It would be a direct hit. Michael yelled something else, but neither of them heard. The Trans Am raced closer.

Just as Harrison's finger hit the button, he was knocked to the ground by something. The laser went off, barely missing Kitt.

"Leave him alone, you bastard!" said the young woman on top of Alex. She fought him like a lioness, hitting and scratching at him.

"Cara!" called Kitt. She was alive! He passed them, stopping short of the ledge, then headed back.

Alex and Cara fought each other, violently. He wasn't going to hurt her family. She wasn't going to allow it. And he sure as hell wasn't going to hurt Kitt.

Harrison then started to hit her. Michael pulled him off of Cara. The two men struggled, punching and hitting each other. Soon, the two men were near the ledge of the reactor. Michael hit Harrison one last time. They both lost their footing and slipped.

"Michael!" Cara lunged forward. Michael caught hold of her by one arm. Alex held on to her by the other. Both men were dangling over the reactor. It hurt. Cara could feel the bones in her shoulders popping. "Michael, pull yourself up!"

Michael tried to climp. Harrison pulled on him. Michael punched Alex and climbed up Cara's arm. He finally pulled himself up onto the ledge and tried to get Cara free from Harrison, who was hanging on by one hand.

"Carrie, please. Help me up." He begged.

"Alex!" She tried to pull him upward.

"Please, Carrie. I love you." Cara noticed his other arm. He was warming up the laser gun. She had to end this now. She pulled his head up to her and kissed his cheek, looking him dead in the eyes.

"Pleasant dreams." With one quick movement, she shook him off her arm.

"Noooooooooo!" Alex screamed as he fell into the reactor below.

Michael and Cara watched as Harrison's body was engulfed by the green ooze. Cara felt nothing as she looked on. She slipped the ring he had given her off her finger and dropped it down. It landed on his chest, over his heart, then disappeared, along with the rest of him.

Michael held on to her. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Fine. You?"

Michael tried to walk. "Ow!" He stumbled a bit. "Ah…yeah." He leaned against her for support.

"We better get you to a doctor." She helped Michael back from the ledge. Kitt opened the driver's side and Michael got in. Cara shut the door and made her way to the other side.

"Cara?"

"Yeah, Kitt?"

"Why? You could have been killed."

She rested against him. "I just couldn't let him hurt you, Kitt." She sighed. What did it matter? They were together again.

Kitt didn't know what to say. No human other than Michael had put themselves at risk for him before. She had risked her life for the Foundation, their friends, and now, him. He found it very moving.

"Cara," he said. "I'm glad you're alright."

"Kitt…"

Just then, Star detected something underneath her body. It was the small device Harrison had given her. "Guys, I hate to interrupt your little reunion, but we've got another problem on our hands."

"Now what?" asked Michael.

"It's the new feature Harrison gave me."

"New feature?" Cara asked. "He didn't say anything about a new feature."

Star did a quick diagnostic. "Cara! It's one of those bombs! He put one on me!"

"What? How much time we got until it goes off?"

"Three minutes. And it's too dangerous to micro jam!"

"Then we better hurry." Cara started to maker her way over to the silver car.

"Cara, no!" Michael said.

"Michael, it's okay! Stay here."

"Cara." said Kitt.

"Yes?"

"Be careful." he answered, concerned.

"I will." Cara quickly patted his roof. "Take care of my dad." She ran over and got into Star. "Okay, girl. Let's do it!" Cara stepped on the gas and took off.

Michael struggled to sit up. "Alright, Kitt. Let's go after 'em."

"Michael, you heard Cara."

"I know, partner, but they might need our help." They raced out of the building, hurrying to catch up.

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Cara drove as fast as she could. "Star, where's the nearest place we can work on this thing?"

"Half a mile up ahead." answered Star. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to deactivate it, that's what I'm going to do."

"Cara, no. It's too dangerous."

"I'm not going to leave you, Star. We're in this together."

"We've got company."

Cara looked behind her. She saw the red scanner through the dark. "I figured as much."

"He'll take care of you." said Star.

"What?" asked Cara.

"Don't…forget me."

"What? Star, what are you…"

Star opened up the auto roof and ejected Cara. She was sent to the side of the road and landed safely. Michael pulled up and made his way over to her. "What happened?" Star continued down the road for a few more seconds. Suddenly, the bomb went off. Star exploded into several pieces.

"STAR!" Cara screamed. "No!" She tried to run over, but Michael caught her and held her back.

"Kitt," he said, "get Bonnie out here with the authorities, would ya?"

"Of course, Michael." Kitt was sorry for every bad thing he had ever said to Star. They weren't so different after all.

"Star, no! No!" said Cara. Her friend was gone. She had sacrificed herself for her.

"There now. It's going to be alright." Michael held Cara as they continued to watch the blaze.

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