CHAPTER 31
Later that day Carter had a plan laid out. So far it only included the SG-1 team. Hammond suspended their off world work for the moment to get this issue resolved.
"Okay. I found that large semi."
"Goliath Sam."
"Right. Anyway, it's in a warehouse guarded by F.L.A.G. personal. It wasn't dismantled because of reasons I never really looked into. It's still in the same condition that it was left in when the Knight Industries Two Thousand…"
"K.I.T.T. Sam. His name is K.I.T.T." Ford said interrupting her.
He was tapping the table in her lab, their lab, where everyone was sitting. Not enough to annoy but enough everyone noticed. He wasn't looking at anyone either. Just gazing at the table.
"Are you actually here?"
"Yes Colonel." Ford said with the same tone, but didn't look up. He sounded distant. "Continue please Sam."
"As I was saying. K.I.T.T. destroyed him or at least rendered it inactive enough that the driver wasn't able to use it anymore. I talked to several higher ups along with Hammond's help and the truck is being sent here. A tank was a idea, but it's to slow to keep up much less avoid laser fire. In many ways, the next thing up from a Hummer is a semi truck. Hopefully it will arrive soon."
"How soon Major?"
"Later this afternoon if things work out sir."
"Good. I need to brush up on my double clutching skills anyway." Ford said sitting up straighter.
"You're going to drive?" Daniel asked.
Had Jack asked, Ford would have given him a sarcastic remark, being Daniel he didn't.
"As far as I know I'm the only one here with that sort of experience, unless you all have not told me? With the exception of Teal'c though who I know can't."
They all shook their heads.
"Didn't think so."
"This MBS system? What is it exactly…no wait. What is it in my terms?" Jack asked.
"A highly guarded government secret sir. It's an almost indestructible shell that is bonded at the molecular level. Hence the saying Molecularly Bonded Shell. It's capable of blocking up to a Tomahawk missile. And before you ask sir, no it won't help us in our fight with the Goa'uld. It's not capable of withstanding a zat blast or staff blast. Energy attacks go through it."
Jack nodded to her and sat back happy that he finally got an answer he could understand.
"So…once this Goliath, why is it called Goliath?"
"The guy who built it named it that. You'll see what I mean when it shows up. It's dangerous looking and has the capacity to break into Fort Knox given enough speed." Ford said. "K.I.T.T. is afraid of it. Kinda understandable."
"The car is afraid?" Jack said like it was a stupid idea.
"The car as you put it, has emotions Jack. It's an electronic life form. Think like the Replicators you encountered that looked human. In this case, his body is a Trans-Am." Ford said glaring at him. "Nice car too."
"Emotions?" Daniel said.
Ford sighed audible and looked at the two of them like why am I even bothering.
"The ca…K.I.T.T. has been around since the 1980's. His program has expanded to understand and even show some emotions. Anger, fear, jealousy, happiness. Those are just a few I found out in his file and saw. He's just about as alive as us. With certain exceptions." he said making a point.
"Okay can we stop talking about K.I.T.T. since he's not involved anymore. Carter, what are we doing with the semi, specifically?" Jack asked.
"Well once we access how badly damaged it is, we'll work on that, then get on doing some better upgrades, if possible."
"Wait a minute! That Hummer has that MBS system right, so why didn't the zat's work?" Jack said.
"He should have been completely vaporized. As for why they didn't work when he attacked earlier, I don't know. Possibly he was built with a energy shield of some sort that was found off world."
"He's been rebuilt to kill me by Kinsey. Well under Kinsey's orders anyway, or at least his money. I wouldn't be surprised if several components from Area 51 were missing. You better have Hammond call and find out Jack."
"Good idea." he said stepping over to the wall and grabbing the phone.
"Once this semi is rebuilt, you're just going to go and what, run him down?" Daniel asked.
"Really, I have no idea, but that truck was built to withstand severe impacts. Personally, I'm going to run K.A.R.R. down then proceed to do everything I can to rip him apart. The shell can't keep me from doing that. If he had a built in self-destruct, he wouldn't use it. Unless…."
"Unless what?" Carter asked.
"Unless someone is watching and makes him explode or he's been reprogrammed to explode….no that wouldn't be right. Ah….I have no idea. Won't know till we find him. Where is he?"
"We're still looking." Carter said.
"Hammond said he'd get right on it and wants us back on regular duty work as soon as we get this finished. Apparently we're not really suppose to be dealing with this. He's keeping it quiet though."
"Does the President know?" Daniel asked.
"No. Other than informing him of the incident up top, Hammond didn't tell him about it having a personal vendetta against Ford here. Kinsey was nearby in the room with the President."
"Great. Kinsey wanted to know if it worked. Glad to know I can disappoint him." Ford said sarcastically.
"Are we done then?"
"We're finished here until the semi arrives sir."
"Good. Until then people let's get back to work." Jack said.
Later the large black semi was unveiled upstairs. Carter and a few others who were repair crews for mechanical work got ready for a long shift. The cover over the semi was removed and then was slowly pushed and pulled off the trailer. The semi was pretty trashed underneath and the trailer was not with it. Just the rig was there.
"So this is the semi." Jack said as it was placed into the air on a couple ramps. "Nice, big and fierce looking."
"Damn! The whole engine is gone!!! No wonder this was all they had in the warehouse! There's nothing here!!!" Ford yelled from underneath the rig.
He got up and got inside. It was worse in it. Everything was removed. Other than the chasse, tires and frame, the important parts were gone. The steering wheel was there though. On top where there was suppose to be an massive amount of mini missile pods, 24 pods in four launchers. None of them were there.
"That don't surprise me." he muttered.
"How bad is it?" Carter asked.
"Total rebuild. What you see is what you get."
"You're kidding?" she said pushing past him and looking inside.
"Carter?" Jack asked as Ford paced around beside the vehicle. She was still halfway in the cab section.
"It's bad sir. This could take weeks."
"Not on my watch. Okay! Somebody got pen and paper handy."
A couple of the guys with them nodded. Ford motioned them over and proceeded to rattle off things he would need. They took down the requested items without question. Carter couldn't keep up with everything he was saying and Daniel was lost before he even started. Jack raised and eyebrow as did Teal'c.
"What is Ford Primus doing O'Neill?"
"Uh…..he's asking for things he needs to fix that thing." Jack said waving a hand at the semi. "And upgrade its capabilities, I think."
"That's all I need. You get all those things as quickly as you can, the sooner the better. I'll pay for it all myself." Ford said shooing them away. "The sooner it is here, the bigger the bonus."
They others went back inside seeing as they couldn't do anything as Ford and Carter started looking it over.
"I'll show Kinsey what he's up against." Carter heard him say sounding evil like.
"You're not going to do something stupid are you?"
"No. I would like to, but no. Despite my…gift." he said with a snort. It sounded like he didn't want his immortality.
"You don't like being immortal." she asked.
No one was around them but she was being quiet.
"I look at it as a gift only when I'm protecting you and the rest of SG-1. And others. Otherwise, I don't like knowing the fact that you all are going to die eventually and I'll still be around." he said sadly looking at the ground. "If not my gift, gift huh? Now I really understand what O'Conner said. Anyway if not for that then Hercules will be keeping me alive for almost two hundred years, maybe more."
"I know that. I still want to be there with you as long as I can." she said slipping an arm around him.
"Thanks Sam. Let's get on this."
"You know, this is the longest I've actually ever had a relationship with anyone. Everyone else had either died, or left me or I left them."
"That doesn't surprise me. Any other job and I might be curious." Ford said as they walked back into the base. "I won't leave."
"I believe that with all my heart." she said smiling as she held onto him.
Two days later, Ford was underneath the truck putting on finishing touches as Carter came up. He'd been on it ever since it had been brought in and hadn't really quit. A couple hours of sleep, but that was it. Other mechanicals were brought in and they helped as well.
"My plants are probably all dead. My house still needs repairs and probably has who know how many animals and bugs inside now."
"Sorry Sam. I didn't mean for this to happen." he said turning a bolt. He was on his fifth socket. He broke the others.
"I know, but doesn't help that much."
"I got a green thumb Sam so I'll do everything I can to help plant more or whatever you want done after we get this over with. Though your house should be repaired by now seeing as Hammond had crews go out."
"You have a green thumb?" she asked sliding under the truck next to him.
"Yeah. I have plants at my house too. And I talk to them as well, just like you." he said breaking the socket.
"Not another one." he moaned as he tossed it aside.
"You've got be more careful otherwise you might break something important." she said handing him another one.
As he reached for it she leaned over as did he. They started kissing when Ford turned his head slightly.
"What?"
"Thought I heard a gun shot. Never mind."
They started kissing again when they both heard gun shots and the alarm.
"We've got to get some personal time." Carter said quite displeased.
"I know. I had plans to take you to a nice dinner, walk under the stars and so far that hasn't became possible…..you hear that." he said quickly rolling out. She came rolling out quickly after.
A black car raced in and stopped just short of hitting Ford who was still getting off the sliding sled.
"Whoa!" he said covering his face as the car stopped inches from him. He could make out the detail in the lights.
"K.I.T.T.?" Carter said confused as she stood up.
"K.I.T.T.! What the hell are you doing here?!! What's going on?" Ford said getting up quickly. Guards came rushing in with their weapons ready. "Stand down!!! Turn off the alarm and go back to your post."
They looked at Carter who nodded sending them and the other guards that showed up from below back inside.
"That's not….." K.I.T.T. said backing up slowly.
"Goliath is gone K.I.T.T. This can't hurt you." Ford said kneeling down and putting his hands on the hood gently.
"It's him though. I thought he was destroyed."
"He is dead. Garth is not here so you won't be hurt again. This isn't going to be used against you. I'm rebuilding him to destroy K.A.R.R. Where's Michael?"
FLASHBACK……….
Michael was getting ready to take K.I.T.T. out to see if he was working in top notch condition again. After a rebuild and the new installed system that Ford guy had given Devon, the semi was brought to a not so really used road, but still in Colorado. It was parked on the side of the road with the back part down.
"Everything ready Bonnie?" Devon asked.
"Just about. Hopefully nothing like that ever happens again. We've worked around the clock to get K.I.T.T. working since K.A.R.R. could show up at anytime." she said from under the hood. She closed it and wiped her hands.
"Okay K.I.T.T., feel better."
"Everything feels back to normal Bonnie. Thanks. I can't wait to try this new system." K.I.T.T. said.
"I'm ready to go." Michael said coming from the front of the trailer.
"Ah Michael. You look like you're doing better. Are you sure you want to do this right now?"
"I'm fine Devon. Whatever they did to me back there sure worked. I feel the aches, but other than that I'm fine." he said putting on his leather jacket.
"Be careful out there Michael. We don't need to have that incident all over again. I've installed the laser system again and managed to upgrade K.I.T.T.'s power systems. He can fire maybe four to five shots before he'll be in trouble. I don't know if it will do any good, but it's the best we got. I also installed those reflectors in the windows just in case."
"Thanks Bonnie. I hope this works out. Any idea where K.A.R.R. is?"
"No. He's turned off his signal beacon. He could be anywhere."
"Alright then. I'm off." Michael said getting in the driver seat.
He started K.I.T.T. and was backing out when the entire trailer shifted badly. K.I.T.T. took over and backed out as the trailer came off the semi and fell onto the ground. He didn't want to be in the trailer still since he would have just slid forward into Bonnie and Devon along with all the equipment. As he backed away the trailer fell onto its side after being stuck by K.A.R.R.
"K.A.R.R's here?! Bonnie! Devon!!! K.I.T.T. are they alright?!"
"They are alive, but need medical attention Michael." K.I.T.T. said backing up further as K.A.R.R. turned and drove up to K.I.T.T.'s bumper. "Get an ambulance out here K.I.T.T."
"I'm already on it Michael."
"K.I.T.T. Such an interesting pleasure to see you. Fortunately for you, you are not my primary target, yet. Unless you wish to see your friends destroyed." K.A.R.R. said backing up and popping out the missile panel on his driver side. Both missiles were pointed at the overturned trailer. "You will exit that inferior model Michael and come with me. I will send you the information of where to meet me K.I.T.T. along with Ford Primus. If I detect any other forms of police or government help coming to my location, Michael will die. You have 6 hours to get to the location I will specify. You have one minute to come here Michael or else your friends die."
"Michael he might kill you anyway."
"That's a chance I have to take K.I.T.T. Bonnie and Devon's life depend on it." he said opening the door. "Do what he says and good luck buddy."
"In case this doesn't work out Michael, it was an pleasure working with you."
"Same here buddy." he said patting the hood as he walked away.
K.A.R.R.'s door opened and Michael got in. K.A.R.R. gave over the location and took off. K.I.T.T. waited till an ambulance came then took off himself. As he passed by the semi itself, he took notice seeing it was never going to run again. The entire engine compartment was shoved into the cab. Basically the section behind the cab was all that wasn't damaged.
"And that's what happened. I came here and forced my way in. I didn't know if you would be here but it was the only place I knew to look for your help." K.I.T.T. said.
"Ah…yeah. Give me a moment." he said removing his overalls off. He had standard issue SGC clothing on.
"Carter! What's happening?" Jack asked running up and carrying a rocket launcher.
Teal'c had the larger version of a staff weapon that hooked to his waist. Daniel was carrying a zat gun. A couple airmen behind them was carrying an ammo crate with special rockets Sam and Ford made.
"I'm going with K.I.T.T. to save Michael. If I don't, he dies as does several other people. K.A.R.R. specifically said I had to come or else." Ford said grabbing his coat off a table. "He'll come here if I don't go, and he'll take a lot of lives."
"I'm going with sir. We'll be….where was the location?" she said halfway in the passenger side.
K.I.T.T. rattled off the location as Ford went to get in. He had K.I.T.T. pop his trunk as he rushed over to Jack.
"Thanks Jack. This might come in handy." Ford said taking the rocket launcher. "Airman, come with me."
"Okay." Jack said stupefied.
Ford set it in the trunk section along with the ammo crate and got in. He activated the pursuit mode and took off surprising K.I.T.T. Carter put her seat belt on as they did a 180 and peeled out leaving a nice black mark on the pavement. They passed the guards outside who could only look at each other.
"Ford. I know we are in a hurry but doing near a hundred in a fifty is pushing it you think?" Carter said as they made a tight turn after coming off the road to the Mountain Complex.
"A hundred. This is nothing." he said as they started coming up behind several cars. "K.I.T.T.'s top speed is somewhere over 400, or was it 500."
A couple of cars were playing a game apparently since they were driving side by side hogging the road making other vehicles have to go around them on the dirt sections.
"I'm betting a Turbo Boost is s bad idea K.I.T.T."
"At this point, yes." K.I.T.T. said.
"Hang on Sam. We're going skiing."
"Say what?" K.I.T.T. and Carter said as he pressed on the accelerator.
"Mr. Primus. I don't think this…"
A small whooshing sound was heard as the car tilted onto its left side. Ford drove quickly between the four cars in front of them. Carter had to push on his arm to keep from sliding over into him. He dropped K.I.T.T. back on four wheels as they got a few feet away.
"That was fun." Ford said impressed.
"That was….interesting. How did you do that?" she asked looking at the buttons.
"That was as good as Michael. I'm impressed."
"Thanks K.I.T.T. Fun times over though. How much time is left?"
"Two hours Mr. Primus."
"Great. How are we going to get there in time? That's almost a hundred miles away." Carter exclaimed.
"Easy." he said pushing the Auto button. K.I.T.T. took over driving then. "Can we get their at conventional speeds?"
"No. I will half to employ my special speed boost system."
"Okay, activate the Passive Laser Restraint system. Hang on Sam." he said grabbing her hand.
"Hang on? What for?"
"Ready K.I.T.T.?" Ford asked.
"Yes. Do not worry about anything Major Carter. I have done this before." K.I.T.T. said.
With the other hand Ford pushed a special button marked Super Pursuit Mode.
On the outside of KITT, several area's popped open on the sides, front and back. With a burst of acceleration Carter had never experienced before, K.I.T.T. went from just over a hundred to three hundred miles an hour in less than thirty seconds. With the impressive speed they managed to get to the location within twenty minutes. Also hitting nothing along the way, surprising the hell out of Carter. K.I.T.T. leveled off shutting down the SPM system giving them a mile left to go.
"You okay Sam?" Ford said taking control.
She hadn't let go of his hand and he didn't try taking it back.
"That….was incredible! How did he do that?!"
"Very interesting experience huh? My first too. You injured at all K.I.T.T.?"
"No. All systems fully functional."
"Good. I didn't know if something might have happened. There's K.A.R.R." he said pulling off the road.
They were all near a large open area with a cliff. No water below.
"Ironic. This looks a lot like the same place that you and K.A.R.R. fought the first time." he said darkening the windows. As soon as the car stopped he sneezed.
"It's not…"
"Damn it. There's one here. Figures. Okay Sam, stay in the car and wait till I give the signal. I assume you can use this?" he said handing over the golden Desert Eagle. "I'm going to go for K.A.R.R. Shoot whoever it is dead on, got it. But don't shoot Michael."
She nodded and said she knew who Michael was as he got out. As he closed the door he told K.I.T.T. to make sure she didn't leave.
"Hello Mr. Primus. So nice of you to come. Before we do our transaction, lose the weapons."
"Let me see Michael, outside the vehicle and let your other companion out as well." he said walking to K.I.T.T.'s trunk. He rapped on it lightly and K.I.T.T opened up.
K.A.R.R. opened his driver door letting a man out. He was definitely Japanese and carrying a Katana across his back. He was dressed in jeans and white shirt with a leather jacket that was zipped closed. Michael got out on the other side looking okay.
"Get in the car Michael." he said dropping all his weapons and ammo in the trunk. He was acting like having trouble getting the shotgun out. "Damn strap is stuck."
"Enough stalling Mr. Primus. Get away from that inferior model." K.A.R.R said as he revved his engine.
"Fine." he said as Michael got close enough to break into a run.
"Now Sam!!" Ford yelled grabbing the rocket launcher as he dropped his shotgun in the trunk.
The Japanese guy pulled his sword as K.A.R.R. popped out a side panel. Michael broke into that run heading for the open driver door as Ford brought the launcher up and fired. Carter fired off several rounds hitting the guy in the chest. He dropped as the rocket landed underneath the Hummer. K.A.R.R. was lifted into the air and dropped on his side as the two missiles fired heading over K.I.T.T and hitting the road. He reloaded the rocket launcher with another rocket and fired. It detonated on KARR, but did no visible damage. Ford started to go and get in K.I.T.T. when a knife hit his coat.
"Wait here K.I.T.T." Ford said walking over to Japanese guy.
He had recovered from his injuries and had the sword drawn. Carter didn't kill him as the two thought. Not surprising seeing as the man had a bullet proof vest on.
"Leave now. I have no quarrel with you."
"You will not leave here without fighting me. If you do, I will kill everyone you come in contact with until we fight." he said pointing the sword at him. "I am Akira Yamati. I have been around for more than 500 years. Believe me when I say I will not yield."
Ford slowly circled as did this Akira guy keeping just out of swords reach. K.A.R.R. was pissed off to say the least and was spinning his wheels. Ford moved close enough he put his hand out and shoved K.A.R.R. onto his top.
"Someone will be along shortly to get you K.A.R.R. and finish what K.I.T.T. started. Your destruction."
"I will destroy you Primus. When I get free I will kill everyone in my path. The mountain complex will fall as well."
Ford jumped back as Akira took a swing. The sword clanged after hitting K.A.R.R.'s undercarriage and actually cut the metal.
"You have no way to defeat me. No sword, no gun. Nothing!" he said lunging at him.
Ford sidestepped and hit him in the back of the head. Akira went face first into the sand. A clicking sound made Ford turn. K.A.R.R. had opened the other panel and had his missiles aimed at K.I.T.T.
"NO!!!"
"Goodbye K.I.T.T." K.A.R.R. said when he was suddenly hit making the whole Hummer skid a good foot across the ground.
He tried firing the missiles only to have them explode without leaving the panel. Ford covered his face as the sand and dirt was blown around. He lowered them hoping to see a destroyed K.A.R.R., instead he saw Akira.
K.I.T.T. and his occupants watched the battle play out. Ford slammed the guy in the back of the head sending him into the dirt. K.I.T.T. informed them K.A.R.R. was trying to get a missile lock and when he succeeded, Ford ran over smashing the panel back into its side. The missiles went off soon after that leaving dust and dirt flying. The next thing they saw was Ford with a sword stuck through him.
Ford cried out as the blade went through his chest and out his back. Having the coat open again turned against him like last time.
"I win as I said."
"No. You lose." Ford said flashing his eyes in anger. "Idiot."
He grabbed the guys hand with his left hand before the guy could pull the sword out. He lifted his right arm and a two foot blade shot out of the coat sleeve. With a quick swipe Akira's head fell from his body. Ford pulled the sword out and threw it towards K.I.T.T.
"Michael he is yelling for us to leave."
"Go quick!" Carter yelled.
"Why? We can't help…"
"Michael I'm picking up an unusual electrical disturbance."
"K.I.T.T. move or your CPU will be destroyed." Carter yelled.
K.I.T.T. backed up quickly as they continued to watch.
Ford fell to the ground shouting for K.I.T.T. to leave. He stopped as his body seized up. Electrical currents appeared visible in the air as it raced across the ground and ran across K.A.R.R. Small fires broke out on the bushes around him as he screamed. Visible blue electrical currents hit him from several directions and coming from the other body. Something on K.A.R.R.'s side that was on the dirt exploded knocking him into the air and landing him back on his wheels. He didn't move though as the currents continued to flow for another ten to twenty seconds. Suddenly as though nothing happened, the air changed back to normal, the wind quit moving and he dropped to his knees, smoking slightly.
"Now we get him." Carter said opening the door.
K.I.T.T. tried to lock it but he was astonished as Michael was and was too late to stop her.
"What the hell just happened?" Michael asked. K.I.T.T. was so stunned at the occurrence that he didn't have an answer.
She rushed over as Ford dropped to the ground face first. She turned him over and got an angry look.
"Dammit Sam. You're suppose to stay put." he said groaning as he tried to get up. He couldn't move well though. "That hurts."
"Shut up Ford." she said hauling him to his feet.
They walked over to K.I.T.T. as he drove up quickly. K.A.R.R. was sputtering and moving back and forth a few inches at a time.
She climbed into the back seat as Ford took the passenger.
"Let's go buddy!!" Michael said as they speed off.
K.I.T.T. turned around heading back to the Cheyenne Complex.
"What was that…"
"Don't ask. It's too complicated to explain and too classified to even tell about. Forget you both ever saw anything if you want to keep living." Ford muttered.
He felt different, but in a bad way. Seeing as he'd never had the quickening before, something either went wrong or this is how it always felt. Less than a minute later he was feeling normal and knew how to use a sword better and knew a few other things, some he didn't need to know.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. I think. I don't ever want to do that again."
"Michael. I'm detecting a very large object coming this way. I believe it is Goliath."
"Goliath! Not again! Are you sure?"
"Positive Michael."
"Stop K.I.T.T. I'm getting out."
K.I.T.T. stopped dead in the road as the large black semi came over the sloped road.
"Do you think you can take…."
"K.I.T.T. doesn't have to worry about that." Ford said getting out. "Stay this time."
"Where is he…"
K.I.T.T. and Carter did a brief explanation of what the plan was with the rebuilt Goliath. Ford planned to use it to total K.A.R.R. once and for all making sure he didn't survive this time. Carter did try to get out, but K.I.T.T. kept her in. She didn't like it, but couldn't do anything about it as she hit the window.
Ford waved his hands as the driver stopped in the road. He got out and got into the military hummer brought by the SGC guards men. Ford got in quickly and took off with K.I.T.T. following.
"Where's K.A.R.R. at?"
"I'm detecting him headed this way Mr. Primus. He seems to be fully functional." K.I.T.T. said back through the CB unit.
"K.I.T.T. what are those tanks attached to the back of the cab?"
"Nitro Michael. Mr. Primus has converted the engine to run on unleaded."
"Nitro! How much power we talking here?"
"Enough to burned out the engine but not before reaching almost two hundred miles an hour."
It took a couple of miles but Ford got the large truck up above 95 miles an hour and was still making it climb. K.A.R.R. came over the rise in the road and stopped.
"So, you wish to play chicken. This time I will not move like before. I am invincible!!!!" his voice coming through K.I.T.T.'s radio and Ford's.
He took off quickly headed straight at the incoming semi. Michael stopped at the side of the road watching them continue to close.
"Michael at those speeds if they have a head on collision, survival of either vehicle and Ford is not possible."
"I know K.I.T.T. He'll probably jump at the last second."
"He better." Carter said trying the door. It opened and she got out.
"Time to die." K.A.R.R. said firing missiles that came from underneath him and from a launcher than arose from his aft compartment.
They impacted on the front of the truck doing little if any visible damage other than catching the front on fire. Ford continued to keep it on the road despite the fractured window. K.A.R.R. started firing his laser causing significant damage. Smoke filled the cab and poured out as the engine got hit as did several sections of the cab. Ford gunned the engine and activated the booster system. The nitro hit the engine quickly forcing Ford back into the seat. K.A.R.R. continued to fire doing little as the space between them closed.
"This is for you K.I.T.T. Getting rid of two evil's in your life with one blast. See ya later. Love you Sam." he said over the CB then shut it off.
"Wait! Ford!!! Ford!!!" she yelled into K.I.T.T.
She didn't know where the com line he had was, but figured it had to be a speaker unit.
"He's not jumping out." K.I.T.T. said horrified.
"Can we get there in time K.I.T.T.?!!"
"I'm afraid not Michael. And he's too far away to use the Microwave Jammer."
Both vehicles impacted moments later sending out an explosive wave that even from their distance they felt. Even with the fire and flying parts they could see the bulk of both vehicles rolling away from them toward the cliff edge. They didn't stop and went over bouncing off the walls sending parts everywhere on every impact. The road had a large crater in it where the impact took place. K.I.T.T. informed them that a F.L.A.G. clean up crew was on their way and that he contacted them shortly after meeting with Ford at the mountain.
Carter didn't think about it much figuring he'd be along shortly and decided to give him a couple of days. She stayed quiet the entire trip back home and stayed quiet even after being dropped off. A couple of airmen took Ford's arsenal from the trunk and took it to his room. Michael offered his condolences and left quietly saying he understood the need for secrecy after getting a lecture from Colonel O'Neill and signing a non disclosure form. Carter gave them her report on the events that took place and said she felt he would be back. If not in a week, then he didn't make it. Hammond said he'd wait a week before submitting his report about the incident then and dismissed them for the night. Crew's from F.L.A.G. and the SGC were cleaning up the area where it happened. The orders for the SGC crew were to keep a look out for Ford, but to help with the clean up.
On the second day of the incident, nothing of Ford was found and he hadn't showed up. No special metal's were found at the scene or at the bottom of the cliff. Nothing on the cliff wall either. The Hummer was totally destroyed. CPU, laser system, armor, tires, everything. He was finally dead. Goliath, was easier to find since some of him was intact, but the cab section was completely gone as was the tires and everything behind the cab section. Most of all the metal had either melted on impacts from the collision or was mangled and torn apart from the fall. All that identified the former semi was the engine that hadn't been blown or torn apart completely and some of the chasse section still around it. Carter was losing hope quickly until the third day.
She was working on a computer program when she was called to the surface. When she asked why.
"He's back Carter. Gotta be just for you." Jack said seeing her brighten up as she ran past him.
"A thank you would have been nice." he yelled to her.
"Thank you sir!" he heard as he followed walking.
Up on top they came out of the tunnel seeing him walking up the road slowly. He looked okay, except for his clothes which looked, ironically like he rolled down a cliff face. He was missing a boot, had only part of his shirt left, left side almost completely gone except near the neck still holding it. His pants were ripped and shredded in most places. If you looked hard enough you'd see his underwear. The coat looked worse, still intact due to all the different padding and Kevlar and such, but shredded badly and torn and melted in places. She ran up to him and grabbed him in a bear hug.
"Nice to see you to Sam." he said hugging her back. He dropped the coat he was carrying as he embraced her.
"Welcome back Ford. So Oma didn't come to you did she?" Daniel asked as they walked.
"Was that a joke Daniel?" Jack asked. Jack could swear it was which was strange since Daniel made little if any jokes.
"Maybe. But no, I'm being serious."
"Welcome back Ford Primus."
Ford nodded to him then answered Daniel's question.
"If she did, I don't know it. I never saw anything after the impact. I remember waking up on a pile of rocks with some buried on me. I had to spend a couple of hours looking around for the missing pieces of my coat and found them all. After that I had to climb out, which was not easy, but before that I found a nice stream which helped me clean up first. Once I got out of that damned canyon I walked here. So much closer than home and I didn't have my keys anyway. Didn't have anything actually."
"Lost it in the wreck?" Jack asked as they started walking into the mountain.
"No, I left everything I had in K.I.T.T.'s trunk."
"Which is all in your room." Carter said.
"Good. Key replacements are expensive."
"Wait a minute! You just spent over a hundred thousand dollars on rebuilding that truck which I might add has been completely destroyed and you think keys are expensive?!" Jack exclaimed.
"Jack. A key at over five dollars to replace is a rip off." Ford said as the entered the elevator to go below.
As they got off the elevator several people walking by said hello, welcome back and gave him a strange stare.
"You're a little more happy than usual."
"I got to drive the car of my dream, I'm with great friends." Ford said wrapping an arm around Jack since he was the closest. His other arm was holding Carter around the waist. She was on his left. "Going out with the woman I've always wanted to. What's not to be happy about? And I'm still alive."
"Here, here." Daniel said.
"Thanks Daniel. It's good to be home."
"Indeed."
"Why did it take three days to get here?"
"Probably because I was lost in that canyon and it took two days to actually get out of it. I realized I was going the wrong direction after a couple of hours."
"Well, I can see where that would be a problem."
"Why didn't you jump out?" she asked.
"That was the plan, but one of his lasers hit the door making it so it wouldn't open. I didn't have much choice or time to come up with anything else. And I couldn't jump out the front window so…"
"Oh, hey now that you're back, I wanted to know if you got that thing?" Jack said scratching his nose and tapping one of the fingers with his thumb.
His other hand was in his pocket. Ford at first didn't noticed him tapping the finger.
"Thing? What thing? Oh that!"
"What is he talking about?" Sam asked as she unhooked from Ford.
"Ah, this." Ford said pulling one of the sleeves of his jacket up. "Hmm."
He tried the other one and a blade came out only a few inches.
"Nice. That's not as far as it goes is it?" Jack asked humorously.
"Funny. No they got damaged. They're suppose to come out just at over a foot. I'll have to get them fixed."
"That's it?"
"Yeah Sam. Can't carry a sword around the SGC or off world. Would look funny."
She sighed and said she had work to do and she'd catch him later after he got cleaned up. After she was out of view.
"Geez Jack, why didn't you just say, hey Ford you get a ring yet?" Ford said mockingly along with a strange voice.
"I was trying to be discreet about it." Jack said shrugging.
"Did you get one though?" Daniel said.
"Not yet. I've been looking though. Can't seem to find one that would really work."
"Need any help?" Jack asked.
"Thanks but I've got a few phone calls in. I'll know something in a few days. Maybe sooner."
"We'll you better go get a change of clothes then report to Hammond. He wanted to see you as soon as you returned."
After the change of clothes and talking to Hammond he was told to report to the infirmary. He met Jack on the way and told him where he was headed.
"Why do you need to see Janet the needle pusher? You can't be hurt."
"Protocol Jack. I'll see you later. Besides, I don't mind getting a check up, unlike you. What to come watch me get poked?"
"Hell no!"
