Scavenging A KARR - Chapter 4: Ample Trunk Space

"A door was not opened." The snide car alarm jabbed. "A hatch was released."

"Excuse me?" You giggle confused. "A hatch?"

Jokingly, you inspect the top of the beautiful black sports car for a submarine style flip up hatch. Playfully, you pat the smooth surface and laugh. "I don't see no hatch."

"Your tentative access," the computer continues while fully ignoring you. "Is contingent on how well you complete the next protocol."

"Excuse Me?!" You yell while waving you hand like a student in a crowded classroom. "I have a question?"

"Please state your question." The irritated car alarm finally recognized you.

"What...Hatch?" You articulate slowly.

"The back end hatch has been released." The high tech car alarm reluctantly pointed out. "Any other questions before we continue?"

"I have a million questions." You gleefully bounce. "What are-"

"The questions may only pertain to the protocols at hand." The deep voice cut in before you could finish. Like Always.

You sigh but only for a second. Bouncing, you skip over to the back of the dark beauty. "Can you standby while I inspect my newly approved access?"

But before you even touch the trunk lid...

"HEY!" "Hey!" "Found It!" A young guy in his 20's hollered excitedly.

You whip around pissed and scared.

"I was here first!" you yell defensively.

"And you will be here last." The young guy scoffed at you as he reached for the door handle.

BbbbbzzzzzzzTTTTttttttt

You and the whole crowd laugh your collective butts off as you watch the cocky brat get zapped and land on his tiny hiney. It's so much funnier watching someone else get shocked.

While the snotty guy was still trying to shake the ringing out of his ears, you carefully sneak the rest of the way to the back of the hot muscle car. Your time for games has ended. The competition is arriving.

Carefully, and still with your rubber gloves on, you try to open the glossy and slick trunk. But, the trunk handle is thin and your gloves are fat and bulky. Your first two tries are futile. You can't get theses big fat gloves to fit the flush flip-up latch. 'Where are those yellow clip clamps again?' You think to yourself.

"You have been granted access." The sexy car alarm points out emotionlessly. "There is no electrical charge for you."

Now if that ain't a win, you don't know what winning is. You excitedly peel off you hot and sweaty gloves by the rubber fingertips. Carefully, you put them in your handy dandy fanny pack. Quickly, you wipe the hot sweat off of your hands onto your khakis. No way are you going to try to open the fancy trunk lid with slippery fingers.

Cautiously, you lightly pat the trunk lid handle with just the slightest light fingertip touch. No zap. With still a little over abundance of caution, you try again a little harder. As promised, you receive no shock.

Emboldened, you whip open the large trunk lid as fast as you can. The competition is arriving in groups now. You have no time left.

Inside the spacious trunk space, you find about 10 duffel bags. All of them are identical. Quickly, you pull the middle one closer to you. Embroidered on the side is a bright yellow Knight chess piece helmet accompanied by the words Knight Automated Roving Robot K.A.R.R. You don't think too much of it. The Knight Foundation is holding this event. Attached to the front of the bag next to the yellow helmet is a two-way radio and a C-shaped cuff earpiece. A note stuck to the radio reads, "Please use earpiece for all further communication."

After fumbling a few times, you manage to settle the C-shaped ear cuff precariously on your right earlobe. It's hard. It pinches. And it's already fallen off twice.

"Testing," you try in a soft whisper.

"Hey Look!" One of the guys yells from behind you. "The trunk is OPEN!"

Without even looking back, you slam it shut.

With you inside it.

Good thing this baby is a Luxury car. Though now you are curled up in the fetal position and hugging luggage.

You hear a muffled, "Hey!" coming from the outside. You can't help but evil laugh. Though now, it getting pretty hot in here.

Oddly enough, the fancy schmancy car starts itself right up and turns on the air conditioning. In your ear, you hear, "Occupant Detection System has been alerted. Temperature Control Protocols have been activated. Air Conditioning systems are activated."

You sigh relieved as you feel a gentle cool breeze waft over you. You could almost take a nap in here. You reach out and scoop up one of the duffels and snuggle it sweetly with a light contented sigh. You feel nice and safe in here.

"I have detected a presence within my trunk space." The car alarm rumbled irritably in your ear.

"Well," you mumble half asleep. "Where was I supposed to go?"

"Are you asking me a question?" The car asked sarcastically.

"As a matter of fact," you chuckle into your duffel pillow. "I will ask you. What should I do now? I'm locked in the ample trunk space of a fancy but oddly childlike sports car."

"Option One:" the helpful car alarm began with an authoritative tone. "You could attempt to crawl through the backseat pass through space. Option Two: You ask for an egress point. Option Three: You wait for another participant to gain hatch access."

You snicker when you hear Option Three. No way did you work this hard to lose. "Can you tell more more about Option One?"

"There is a pass through space for easy access from the backseat to the trunk space. It was designed to help prevent entrapment within the cargo space. As well as, it also provides easy access to the cargo compartment without having to exit the vehicle." The car alarm described in a bored monotone. "Do you wish to access the pass through?"

Thoroughly excited about getting a chance at the real interior of this big beautiful sports car, you exclaim a little too loud, "Yeah!"

Bbbbzzzzzttttttttt

You hear what sounds like a bug zapper doing its job. It made you jump and bump your head on the trunk lid. ""Hey," you complain while wiping the sore spot on your head. "What was that?"

"Someone," the deep voice seemed to laugh evilly in your ear. "Has tried to gain unauthorized access. They will recover momentarily."

At the same time, you can hear the whole crowd outside laughing. It is so loud, you can hear it through the trunk lid.

"Oh," you snicker as well. "They have to learn the hard way, huh?"

You stretch out a little bit more and ask carefully, "So, where is this pass through?"

"That portal requires an access authorization. Do you wish to access the pass through portal?"

"Duh!" You scoff as you shove all of the duffels as far back as possible.

"Response Unknown." The deep car alarm voice pushes unneeded. "Please restate your response."

"You know what I said, you big brat." You laugh as you start pushing hard on the back of the bench seat. "Where is that pass through?"