Chapter 10
K.I.T.T. thought he finally understood what people meant when they said that time seemed to drag. His processors told him that time was moving forward at exactly the pace it always had, but his anxiety made it seem to move at a snail's pace.
They finally came to a stop several hours later. Carlee had awakened a few minutes before.
"Show time," Carlee said. She climbed into the passenger seat. Carlee knew Dr. Stalov would open the driver's side door to get to the hood release. Reaching into the glove box, Carlee removed her Glock 9mm.
A few minutes later, K.I.T.T. had been lowered from the bed of the two truck.
"Start bringing your systems back on line, K.I.T.T.," Carlee said, sensing the end was near. "I don't think Dr. Stalov will keep us waiting."
Carlee was right, for just then, the driver's side door opened. Dr. Stalov was reaching for the hood release when his mind registered the lack of blood on the upholstery. The next thing his mind registered was Carlee, very much alive, and pointing a gun at him.
"Let's go for a ride, Dr. Stalov," she said, as she motioned for him to get behind the wheel.
Dr. Stalov stepped into the car. K.I.T.T. slammed the door before Dr. Stalov could touch it. He looked at Carlee, his eyes wide with understanding.
"That's right. He's not deactivated, nor did he kill me. Your 'tests' didn't have the affect you desired!"
K.I.T.T.'s engine roared to life and his lighted instrument panel switched from manual mode to auto mode.
"No! Wait, please!" Dr. Stalov began. He reached forward, pushing the manual mode button several times, with no success. K.I.T.T. would never allow this man to have control over him again.
"Sit back and hold on, Dr. Stalov!" K.I.T.T. exclaimed in tightly controlled anger. "You're in for the ride of your life!"
The flat bed tow truck was blocking the garage's exit. "K.I.T.T., give turbo boost everything you've got and set a trajectory that will take us over that truck."
"Gladly!" K.I.T.T. replied, setting a trajectory that would take out part of the garage's wall and roof, and would sail them over the truck.
"Kindly press the turbo boost button," Carlee snarled at Dr. Stalov, motioning with her gun.
The doctor moaned, but did as he was told.
They were both pressed back in their seats as K.I.T.T. catapulted through the wall and cleanly over the tow truck.
Carlee let out a whoop of exultation, while Dr. Stalov let out a scream of terror.
"Great job, K.I.T.T.! Next stop, the nearest police department!" Carlee exclaimed.
K.I.T.T. plotted a course to the nearest police station, shifted into drive, and floored the accelerator.
Dr. Stalov gripped the arm wrest, white knuckled, the whole two hundred mile per hour trip.
When they pulled into the department parking lot, two beat cops were just getting in their cruiser. K.I.T.T. stopped in front of them, which made them get back out of the car and head their way.
The driver's side sun roof popped open, and K.I.T.T. neatly ejected Dr. Stalov onto the hood of the police car.
Carlee put her gun on the floor board, and got slowly out of K.I.T.T.
"I'm Carlee Knight. I work for the Foundation for Law and Government. That man is Gill Stalov and he is wanted for kidnaping and aggravated assault."
The two officers gaped at Carlee for a minute, then cuffed Dr. Stalov and her.
Carlee wasn't worried, she knew she would be released as soon as her story was verified. Dr. Stalov, on the other hand, wouldn't see the light of day for a very long time.
* * *
Several hours later, Carlee had been allowed to leave. She had crawled wearily into K.I.T.T., and they had headed for home.
The day had ended hours ago and the stars punctured the curtain of cold blackness that hung over the dessert.
K.I.T.T. had taken over control when Carlee fell asleep. The sleek car rocketed through the dessert, the whine of the turbine engine breaking the solitude. The stars reflected dully off the shiny black T-top.
Silence returned to the dessert, as the black car disappeared in the distance.