Race Through Time

Chapter 2: Ticking Clock

    Thirty minutes later John and Kara were arming up and getting ready to head to DC. From the moment he decided to put faith in his daughter John had been making calls to his contacts in DC, trying to get ahold of General Wisp, but for some reason he had gone underground without telling anyone.

    “Yes, that’s right. Agent Meyer for General Wisp,” Johnathan said into the phone for the fifth time on ten minutes. No one seemed to know where Wisp had disappeared to and John was beginning to become irate and concerned. General Wisp never went off the grid without at least telling someone about it. He was a high profile General and the CIA and U.S. government always kept track of him.

    “Dad?”  Kara walked into the kitchen from her room, “I booked the flight. Any luck on your end?”

    Johnathan shook his head, “No. It’s like he dropped off the face of the planet.”

    “This can’t be happening! He told me he’d be at the Pentagon. We need him to be able to put a stop to this!”

    “Kara! Calm down! We will figure this out and find him.” John placed an arm around Kara and tried to console her. He knew why she was on edge, she was running out of time, but she refused to elaborate on how bad the takeover would become. She was so scared, and Johnathan hated not knowing what was bothering her and what he needed to do. Being in the dark really sucked.

    “You’re right dad. I just need to calm down. It’s just that…”

    Johnathan held up a hand, “I know, I know, we are running on a short timescale.” He put his phone in his pocket and went to grab his weapons. Kara grabbed the keys to the car and pulled it out of the garage. She stopped as Johnathan ran out of the house and jumped in the car, then they were off to the airport. Unfortunately, Johnathan couldn’t get them on a private plane, so they had to fly public airlines.

    Kara wound her way down the backroads until she hit the interstate. She hated being so far out in the open, but it was the quickest route. Is was also the only route.

    “Left up here.” Johnathan navigated for Kara as she weaved in and out of traffic. 

    “We’ve got a tail dad,” Kara noticed as she made the turn onto the off ramp. The black sedan had been following them for the last five miles.

    Johnathan looked in his mirror to identify the car, then he looked straight ahead again. “We’ve also got a front tail. Next time you make a turn, don’t use your blinker. That should get rid of the guy in front of us.”

    “10-4,” Kara saw the light in front of her was about to turn red, so she gunned it and turned at the little side street that was on the left, prior before the light. This enabled her to lose the guy in front of her and another immediate left followed by two rights helped her to lose the guy behind her, or so she thought.

    “Kara, look out!” Johnathan cried out as a car stopped sideways in the street in front of them. Kara stopped, hesitated a single heartbeat and threw the car in reverse. 

    “What the?!” Kara cried out as another car pulled in behind her, blocking their way out.

    Johnathan looked around, “If we can’t drive our way out, then we’ll have to fight out way out!” He reached into the bag he had thrown in and pulled out a lovely assortment of weaponry. Kara reached for the twin .45s and a couple of knives. Kara was just racking one in on both guns when a familiar voice rang out, making her blood run cold. Hawk had followed her through the portal!

    “Kara! Put down the guns and step out of the vehicle!” Jason call out in a sing-sing tone. His voice drove Kara crazy and it made her want to beat him even more.

    “Why should I?” Kara taunted Jason as she opened her mind and began to search for the minds of those around her. It was like searching for the light at the end of the tunnel; Kara could sense every single mind around her, except Jason’s. He had apparently learned how to defend his mind from somewhere. Not that it mattered to Kara, all she needed was to gain control of the minds of Jason’s soldiers then she could turn them against him and use them as a cover for her and Johnathan’s escape.

    “Kara you know why. You’re outnumbered and outgunned.” Jason sneered, “Besides you don’t have enough training to take me on.” Kara choked back a scoff. She needed to stay focused and listening to Jason wasn’t helping with that task.

    “Kara are you almost there?” Johnathan whispered in her ear. She nodded as she made the soldiers driving the vehicles start them and back out of her way. Then she made the two in the same car as Jason turn against him and start beating him up. Kara struggled to maintain control of so many people as she started their car and drove away. Her control wavered and finally faded as she got back on the interstate and headed towards the airport. 

    “Dad, I need you to drive for a bit. Controlling that many people for so long took a lot out of me.” Kara pulled off to the side of the road and they swapped drivers. Kara laid her head against the passenger seat and fell back into the turmoil of her memories.

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    “Who are you?” Kara demanded as she pinned her attacker beneath her. The sound of labored breathing let Kara know that Johnathan had made an appearance and he could provide backup if needed.

    “Not saying anything." The mystery man spoke. He had stopped struggling when Johnathan had appeared over Kara’s shoulder.

    “Son, I suggest you answer this young lady’s question. I know exactly what she’s capable of and if I were you, I’d start talking.” Johnathan spoke, eyes scanning the area for any other possible attacks.

    “Alright, alright, I’ll talk, just get off of me you warrior goddess,” the stranger struggled to push Kara off and she warily let him up. She knew that if her tried anything she and Johnathan could take him out. 

    Impatiently, Kara crossed her arms and cleared her throat, “Well, start talking.” 

    “My name is Adam Demondt and I’m from the future.” 

    His words shook Kara to her core for the third time that day. Again, with this time travel story and Kara was losing her patience at the mention of time travel. Whose bright idea was it to convince and entire group of highly trained military men and apparently this deranged loser that the impossible exists.

    ‘Hmmm, Hawk must really be enjoying their time travel ploy!’ Kara thought as she searched Adam’s face. It was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.

    “So, time travel really does exist?” Johnathan extended a hand to Adam who took and stood up. He took his free hand and brushed his hair out of his face and looked ad Kara.

    “My, beloved.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it. Kara jerked her hand away from him like it was on fire. Then with her other hand she punched him in the nose.

    “What the hell was that?” Kara demanded rearing back for another punch. Adam put one hand over his newly broken nose and raised the other up in surrender.

    “I’m sorry about that, it’s just that, in the future…” Adam began but Johnathan held up a hand to stop him from saying anything.

    “Listen kid, you can’t say anything about the future; you might change the timeline.” Johnathan lowered his hand.

    “Sorry to say this sir, but that’s why I’m here.” Adam turned away from Johnathan and look at Kara.

    “Wait, me? What do you want from me?” Kara took a few steps backwards and Adam followed her a step then stopped. Kara stopped her retreat but remained poised for action.

    Adam stood there looking helpless, it’s like he wanted to tell her something, but he couldn’t. Kara studied him and realized he looked familiar but couldn’t quite place it.

    “Boy, I suggest you say what you have to say and leave. Who knows what kind of damage you are doing to the timeline by being here.” Johnathan stepped up to Kara’s side. 

    “Kara, as you already know I’m from the future. Except the future had changed and I’m guessing that it has something to do with your refusal to believe in time travel.” Adam brushed himself off but made no move to get any closer to Kara or Johnathan. He obviously didn’t want to get his butt kicked again.

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    “Kara! Kara wake up!” Johnathan shook Kara awake. Bringing her out of her memories with force.

    “What’s going on?” Kara sat up straight in her seat and looked around. It looked like they were stuck in traffic and it didn’t look like they were going to move any time soon.

    “We are stuck in traffic. I woke you up because you were crying in your sleep and I was concerned about you. You never cry, at least not around people.” Johnathan placed his hand on Kara’s shoulder and looked at her with a face filled with concern.

    “Nothing dad, I was just thinking of the consequences if I fail,” Kara bowed her head and let a single tear fall.

    “What consequences sweetheart?” Johnathan glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed a strange white sedan that was slowly trying to inch its way through the traffic towards them.

    “I can’t tell you, but from the looks of that car behind us, we need to go!” Kara grabbed the bag from the backseat and shoved open her door. Johnathan did the same with his door and together they ran along the highway. Behind them, the white sedan stopped, and people flooded out. They chased after the Kara and Johnathan, trying to stop them. 

    “They… m-must…be…H-Hawk,” Kara panted as she ran. She tapped Johnathan’s arm and they darted between the stopped cars and to the exit ramp with the men following behind them. Kara knew that if they could make it under the underpass, they stood a chance. Johnathan had a whole bunch of traps in their bag that Kara knew would stop those men in their tracks. Besides the two of them could take on six men, no matter how well trained they were.

    “Almost there!” Johnathan added an extra burst of speed and Kara followed. This allowed them the opportunity to place enough distance between them and the Hawk soldiers to catch their breath and prep for the upcoming fight. Kara grabbed one of the splinter grenades out of the bag and prepared to throw it when the soldiers made it to the underpass. Kara also had a twin pair of daggers hidden up her sleeves for when it came down to the hand to hand combat part of the little skirmish.

    “Dad, we need to finish this as quickly as possible. You know that we are running out of time,” Kara pulled the pin as the first three men appeared in front of her. They had split up and the other half of the men were trying to sneak up on them from behind, but Johnathan was already there covering the rear. Kara threw the grenade at the men in front of her and watched with satisfaction as all three men were torn to pieces. Kara whirled around right as a fist came flying at her face. She ducked and aimed a kick to her attacker’s groin then came up with a left uppercut as he went down. Kara stood up and someone grabbed her by her hair and the cool pressure of a knife at her throat. Johnathan knocked out the man he had been fighting with and turned around. 

    “Don’t do anything stupid big man or the girl dies!” The man behind Kara called.  His hand was shaking, and Kara knew she could use that to her advantage. She locked eyes with Johnathan and an unspoken agreement passed between them, Johnathan stopped in his tracks and waited. Kara took a deep breath and focused, when the hand holding the knife twitched away from her throat Kara moved. She grabbed the hand with the knife a jerked it away from her, then she twisted her hair out of his grip and landed a blow to the man’s temple with her other hand. He recovered quickly and tried to jerk his knife hand out of Kara’s grip, but she was prepared for that, she sent a knee to his groin and slammed his head into her knee breaking his nose. He collapsed to the ground in an unconscious heap and Kara dusted herself off, looking around. A small trickle of blood ran down her throat and she swiped it away, knowing that if Johnathan saw it he’d freak out all over again and become possessive father.

    “Kara! Are you alright?” Johnathan came over and placed a hand on her shoulder. He looker her over and noticed the nick on her neck. Kara noticed his gaze and quickly slapped her hand over it.

    “I’m fine dad. It’s just a little scratch,” Kara turned away from her father and began walking down the street toward town. She knew that every little set back they had would leave her with less time, making her job that much harder. Johnathan jogged a few steps to catch up, then father and daughter walked back toward town in silence. Each lost in their own thoughts.