CHAPTER ONE: Out To Lunch
Mike Knight sat in the driver seat of his Ford Mustang. He loved this car, but it wasn't that stereotypical love men were suppose to share with their wheels. It was a brotherly love...a love born out of the life and death situation the two constantly shared with one another...born out of the time the two shared together--it was quite a lot, mind you--a love born out of understanding.
Because on the outside, it was a Ford Mustang, the newest in the Ford Mustang Shelby line. But on the inside, this car was a sentient being, equipped with the most advanced artificial intelligence known to man, along with a series of high-tech weaponry, nanotechnology that made it invulnerable, and the nifty capability to hack into most any computer system.
He--yes, he--talked for himself, thought for himself, and believe it or not, felt for himself. As soon as Mike had gotten to know this AI, become familiar with its ways of working, functioning and feeling, he immediately knew that the Knight Industries 3000, KITT to his friends and family, he could not be without him. Man and machine had become one. There was no breaking that bond now.
But machine needs others of its kind to remember who and what it is...just as a human needs human contact. KITT had lost his human father abruptly, and unfairly. He had Mike, but Mike was human. He could not know the pain of a machine who lost its creator. That was something completely different all together than the bond he and Mike shared, and perhaps even more special.
There was one machine, however, one like him, who could provide the solace and comfort he needed. The first generation, the Knight Industries 2000, who also went by Kitt. KITT's creator had been his creator as well...they shared a father, and the burden that came with losing him. Surely the Knight 2000 would want to reach out to his 'son' in time such as this?
When he did not, at least, not right away, KITT took the blow with grace and melted back into himself, pulling up the files of the first Foundation for Law and Government, gazing longingly at the photos of his predecessor in-action. Mike knew KITT needed the Knight 2000 more than any of them had figured, and more than KITT would ever acknowledged. Any consolation on Mike's part, that, perhaps, the 2000 couldn't contact him...maybe he had been decommissioned, and they just hadn't heard about it, had no effect.
KITT was adamant: Mike's father, the driver of the 2000 was alive and well. The two shared a bond stronger than Mike and his, forged long ago in the infant days of the first Foundation. The man would never willingly let his friend be shut down and shut up somewhere, ready to be used for scrap metal. Where one was, the other couldn't be too far behind.
So what was the use, then, of Mike trying to console the AI, if he was that bent on believing he had been abandoned? It hurt to do it, but Mike had no choice but to walk away from the situation, and let KITT wallow in the self-pity he had created for himself. Until, that is, one night, very late, a link deep inside the AI suddenly blazed to life. On the other side, sat the Knight 2000. All the pain and agony KITT went through at the thought that he had not only lost his human father, but his machine father as well, were immediately shoved away and forgotten.
The bond the two had forged since that meeting was no doubt second only to the one KITT and Mike shared. But something else began to weigh heavily on KITT as he and his father continued to became acquainted with one another. Mike and his father. His father was the Knight 2000's driver, and a central piece of the first generation of FLAG. Knight and his son were strangers to one another, estranged since Mike's birth.
It didn't seem fair that KITT had his father, and Mike didn't. So, between the two AI's, a plan was hatched that hopefully would bring the two together again. Really, it was KITT's plan, his urgings and proddings to get his father to talk to his driver the force behind the plan.
Despite a vicious battle between the Knight 2000 and his best friend and driver, and the initial unwillingness of both father and son...the plan was a complete success, much to KITT's delight. However, his father, couldn't feel he could say the same. Jealous?, KITT had questioned. Why lie? Yes, jealous. After having Michael Knight to himself for more than two decades without much interruption, to have another intrude was unfair.
But what was he to do or say? KITT was happy because Mike was happy, happy to have his father again. If KITT was happy, than Kitt supposed he should be too. There was no more talk of jealousy between the two AI's. They were one big happy family now, and they had to act like it.
Included in the family, was Sarah Graiman, daughter of the Dr. Charles Graiman, creator of the Knight 2000 and 3000. She was KITT's mechanic now, the closest thing KITT had left to his creator. Also part of the family, although only on Mike and KITT's side, was Billy Morgan and Zoe Chae, computer experts who had worked in the SSC when it had been part of the government-sanctioned project. They had refused to abandon KITT and Mike, let alone Sarah, when they needed help the most. That had long earned them a part in the Knight family.
So, now, as Mike and KITT drove the meet their older counterparts for a lunch date, Mike couldn't help but feel that...now...now he was complete. He had his father, his best friend....what more could he have or want?
"Michael, we are approaching the outdoor cafe your father said to meet him at."
"'Kay, KITT."
Mike sighed and looked out his window, eyes darting around. KITT noticed.
"Anxious, Michael?"
"Huh?-oh. No. M'not. Hungry." He said, grinning wolfishly.
"Yes, of course. Why do I bother to ask." KITT replied dryly.
"Oh, shut up. Can't begrudge a growing boy like me his nourishment, now can ya?"
"My father is signaling me. They are parked in front, and to our right."
Mike sat forward and caught the sun's glint off of The Knight 2000's hood through the windshield. He waved when he saw his father straighten up off Kitt's side panel and turn toward them. The older man waved back. KITT parked next to his father, exchanging a silent greeting.
Mike got out and immediately, the two man grasped hands and clapped each other on the shoulders.
"Hey, Mike. Good to see you."
"Same, dad."
Michael glanced down at KITT, "And hello to you too."
"Greetings, Mr. Knight. Glad to see you again."
Michael moved his gaze to his own AI. "Kitt, think you and yours can stay out of trouble long enough for Mike and I to grab a bite?"
Kitt grinned virtually, "Of course, Michael...I believe we can manage it. What say you, KITT?"
KITT grinned as well. His father answered for him, "Yes, we'll manage. Go on...go gorge yourself on trans-fats and clog your arteries with grease. We'll be here when your finished."
Michael rolled his eyes and took his son by the elbow, "C'mon. Our table's over there."
As the two men walked away, both AI's pinned them in the cross-hairs of their scanners, out of habitat more than necessity. Over the AI's link to one another, Kitt sighed, "These are the times I'm glad I'm not human...I'll never have to worry about stuffing myself full of grease..."
KITT smiled, "I have tried to get Michael to eat more healthy as well, but I seem to be talking to a brick wall."
"Yep. Like father like son. Whelp, guess we're going to be a here a while..." Kitt flipped off his main scanner, and relied on his backups to keep an eye on his driver and the boy. "How's it been since that night?"
"Oh, the night Michael and his father spoke? Well, it has been...more or less the same. Sarah would not speak to Michael for the longest time...after she forced him to tell her what had happened, but she has warmed up to him again. Billy and Zoe seem to be enjoying our newfound relationship...they say the more the merrier. Michael is happier, I noticed that. Does not sulk so much, or take me on the long drives we used to go in-between missions...and I? I have you to talk to and Michael has his father. That is what I wanted. I am happy. And...I like being happy."
Kitt smiled and the link suddenly became warm, like KITT was being hugged by his father, "I'm glad. Very glad."
---
"How've you been? Whenever I've called, Sarah says you aren't there."
Mike screwed up his face and stopped walking to turn to his father, "Huh? No...I haven't been on any mission...I've been at the SSC most of the time. Driving KITT the rest...she could have patched me through, or told me you were calling...if-" Mike stopped talking and blinked"..If...she had wanted to..." He looked to his father again, "Sarah hasn't been open to this...I don't know why. No reason in particular...I'll talk to her about it. Though I thought we had an understanding, but obviously not..."
Michael clapped Mike on the shoulder again, "Don't worry about it. Came today, that's what I wanted. Here's our table."
The two men stopped and pulled their chairs out at their table and sat. A waitress immediately appeared to take their drink orders and hand them a menu to browse.
---
In the parking lot, surprisingly unbeknownst to the AI's, several vehicles, which had pulled in separately over the last couple of minutes, now positioned themselves around the two, corralling them. If KITT and his fathered noticed, it was noted privately between, as they were silent sentinels, watching their drivers as always.
---
"Mmm, their steak looks good..."
"Yeah...Oooh. Their burger is, like-"
"-Amazing?"
"Yeah."
"Hey, if you're going clog your arteries, might as well enjoy it, right?"
Mike smiled. A waiter appeared with their drink orders. He smiled as he set them down on the table before the two men. "Sorry for the delay. We're rather short-handed."
He stood back, "Are you two ready to order?"
---
KITT grimaced, "He ordered the Burger Supreme with an extra large side of fries. Four-thousand calories."
Kitt chuckled, "And Michael ordered the steak with an extra large order of beer-battered onion rings. Oh well. Let them splurge for once without us badgering them. I'm just glad they're together. Forget health woes for now."
KITT turned his sights back to Mike and his father, "Father?"
"What."
"They have a different server. They had a blond, Caucasian, waitress before, now it is a male, black-haired, Hispanic."
"What, so you're profiling now? Jeesh...you heard what the waiter said, they're short-handed. The girl probably had another table to take care of."
"Yes, back if you look, you would see that this girl is not even on the premise any longer."
"Eh? Maybe she's on break...."
KITT sighed heavily, "Maybe...but would have seen her leave, then, correct?"
"Son, there's a back entrance to the place. She could have left through there."
"I have been watching that as well. No person has exited the premises through the back since we arrived."
Kitt swallowed. "Ok..."
"And, as I am sure you have noticed, we are being blocked in...surrounded. These SUVs and vans have steadily arrived separately for the past several minutes, but all have taken a blocking-in stance. Their occupants show they mean ill-intent. While the SUVs are empty, the vans are not. Their back cargo holds have men, all heavily armed, with one waiting behind the drivers seat to move in when the time comes."
Kitt sucked in his breath. "Ok. Ok." he conceded slowly. "I've noticed."
"Why did you not say something about it?"
"Because I've already graduated from high school, junior." Kitt quipped sarcastically. "I know how things work. You're the noob. I was waiting for you to notice before saying anything."
KITT bristled, " Father! While you were playing this silly game, Micheal's life could be in danger!"
"I'm aware, sonny." he replied testily.
KITT snarled and flashed his scanners back to his driver and father. Michael... His scanners danced over their drinks, still untouched... What's this? Strange readings...
"Father, their drinks have been poisoned!"
---
Michael reached for his glass of beer, listening as Mike regaled him with tales of his recent adventures.
"So, anyway....this dude is like, whacked. This shit has turned him into a Hulk-wannabe. KITT wants me to back off. Probably should have...but..."
Michael went to sip, when his ear bud crackled. "Michael, put your glass down."
Michael rolled his eyes and through his teeth, he hissed, "Kitt, let me have a freaking drink. Just one. Without you badgering me. Please."
"Michael, it's been poisoned. So's Mike's. You've been slipped a Mickey."
Micheal's face tightened as he slowly set the glass down, eyeballing it. Mike was still going on about his fight with his Hulk, unaware.
"Are you sure."
"Of course. The scanners don't lie."
"Well, thanks for the heads-up. A little close, but thanks."
"We can't leave, Michael."
"What?"
"We're blocked in."
Michael snorted, "Never stopped you before."
"No, you're not getting it. We're being forcibly detained...men with high-powered weapons in vans...waiting. Surrounding us. You and Mike come out...or we attempt to move...I fear they'll open fire."
Michael paled enough for Mike to notice and stop talking. "Uh, Dad? You ok?"
Michael straightened up in his chair and risked a sweeping glance of the cafe. Other patrons...couples, parents and children...friends...before it had seemed friendly. Not so much now.
"What do you think, Kitt?"
"I think we have a serious problem on our hands."
"I'll tell Mike."
"Ok. You do that. Take care, call me...if you have to. I'll figure out away to get to you."
"Heh. Always do. You be careful too."
Kitt broke the link and Michael set his eyes on Mike's.
"Dad...what is it? Seriously."
"Mike-"
An explosion from the parking lot, accompanied by squealing tires and groaning metal sent many of the patrons running. Both men were on their feet.
"KITT!"
"Kitt!"
Michael stopped moving. Someone was suddenly behind him--jabbing a gun in his back. Mike's eyes widened, and he moved toward his father. A dark-skinned male, with curly black hair, who had been seating at the table next to them--his back to them the entire time--hadn't ran and he now leapt to his feet, restraining Mike and putting a gun to his back.
"Mr. Knight", Michael's man had a thick Latin accent, which he made a note of, "Please. Let us do this the right way. No fast moves. We won't fire. And we won't damage the 2000, or the 3000..., "he said, eyes flickering to Mike, "....too much."
---
"Have you told him?"
"Yes. Michael knows, and he'll tell Mike. What are they up to?"
KITT flashed his scanners over their silent captors. "Nothing as of yet. They appear to be waiting for us to make the first move."
Kitt narrowed his virtual gaze, and if he had lips to chew on thoughtfully, he would be doing so now. "Whelp. If that's what they're waiting for...let's oblige them."
"Excuse me?"
"If we make the first move, we're now the targets, not Michael and Mike. Hopefully, when they hear the ruckus...Michael will have sense enough to get his and Mike's ass out of there..."
"You are setting a lot of hope on Mr. Knight..."
Kitt smirked, "And it's never failed me."
His turbines purred to life. He raised his 'eyebrows', and KITT started his engine, a roar compared to his father's.
"They're reacting!"
Indeed, the suspects in the vans reacted the second KITT's engine had settled down to a dull rumble. The one closets to Kitt had its side door flung open, and a black-masked suspect leaned out, shoulder-mounted missile launcher ready and aimed.
"Oh shit..." Kitt muttered. His molecular-bonded shell could handle many things...but the one thing Kitt never really liked to take on...were rockets or missiles. He had survived hits before...but it hadn't been pretty...
KITT saw the launcher, saw the man's finger go for the trigger, and heard his father's apprehension and immediately reacted. Squealing around his father, he positioned himself between the elder AI and the launcher. KITT had just gotten himself in place, when the rocket impacted.
It was a jolt to be sure. KITT flinched inside himself. On human terms...it was like having a hammer slammed down on your foot. When the smoke cleared, KITT's nanoskin prevailed. Not even a scratch…
"Thanks, kid." Kitt pinned his accelerator to the floor, and tires squealing, he spun around and put himself on a collision course with his attacker. KITT peeled off in the other direction, to take on the others. For intimidation purposes more than fighting, KITT put himself into Attack Mode, spoiler popping up, his skin becoming blacker, his scanner redder...two of his hood-mounted guns appeared and spun to show their range.
The vans within his range were wise to back up. KITT couldn't help but smirk. Charging still, he scattered them, the men in them wheeling to fire on him. Firing several rapid warning shots at the van's noses quelled that. Turning his attention to his father, who he noticed, was running circles around the vans...not even needing any of his weapons. KITT admired him for that.
His scanners danced over Mike and his father...and his central core, his 'heart' dropped. In danger. His scanners read they were surrounded, guns trained on them. He no longer saw the two men's earbuds---which explained why they hadn't called for help---and what was more troubling, was that KITT saw another van barreling toward the back entrance, presumably to pickup the suspects and the two captives.
"FATHER!" KITT yelled later than he had wanted. Kitt looked to him. "MICHAEL!"
That was all Kitt needed, his 'face' clouding over. He stopped his fancy wheelwork around the vans and rounded upon KITT.
"BACK ENTRANCE! NOW!"
"BUT MICHAEL-!"
"SON, DO AS I SAY. GO!"
---
"Who are you working for?"
"Heh. Not important right now."
"Well, when I have a gun in my back, I like to know who I'm dealing with."
Michael flinched as the gun was jabbed hard into the small of his back. Mike grunted angrily and his two men tightened to grip on his arms. Michael flashed him a warning look, and Mike let his tensed muscles relax a little.
The cafe was empty now, save for about twenty would-be patrons, that were actually more henchmen. All had their guns trained on them, faces hidden by black masks. Michael remotely wondered how Kitt and the 3000 could have missed this.
As the sound of tires squealing and metal groaning from the parking lot again reached their ears, Michael and Mike exchanged looks. Their AI's wouldn't let them down, or go down without a fight.
Michael's man chuckled. "Your car is truly amazing, Mr. Knight. It never ceases to amaze us. Of course, "he said, turning to Mike, "I think I like yours better."
Mike snorted, "Gee, thanks." He received a jab in the back with a gun barrel for that. Mike glowered. He really wished his earbud hadn't been taken. He would like nothing more to call KITT and have him come charging in to save the day, scanner flashing...THAT would scare anybody, let allow a bunch of half-wits like these.
Suddenly, the sound of squealing tires came awfully close, and for a brief second, Mike caught a glimpse of KITT running around the back. Mike's heart leaped. KITT was coming.
"KITT!" he cried. "C'MON, KITT!" For that, both of his captors jabbed their guns into him.
"Mike, please!" Michael hissed at him. Mike ignored him. "Heh...you guys...are in so much shit right now...."
Michael's man glowered, and pulled Michael backwards, into the gun barrel. "Shut him up, Mr. Knight. Or we'll do it for you."
Michael swallowed and looked to Mike, "Mike, shut up, alright. Don't make this anymore difficult."
"Pshhh. C'mon, man. These guys aren't going to do anything. We got the upper hand here." He motioned with his head, toward the parking lot.
"Mike...."
"Do you guys know...that all I have to do, is give one command, and my car won't have any qualms about coming in here...and making ya'll just a couple of red streaks on the pavement."
"Mike!"
Michael's man turned toward Mike, one hand still on Michael's arm, squeezing down like a vice grip. "Boy, I do not wish to harm you, not yet anyway. So, if you are smart, you will Shut. Up."
Mike grinned sloppily, "Y'know, that's actually the one thing I'm not." Mike mustered all his strength into his upper body and yanked. His captors grip slipped. Mike spun and sent both flying with one kick. Michael took the opportunity to tear his arm away from his man, and put his elbow into his nose.
The man cried out, his hand cupping his injured nose. Through the tears, he aimed for Michael's chest. Michael spun and knocked the gun away with a kick. Two other men leapt for him. He easily side-stepped them, and even helped them to the ground by grabbing the back of their pants and tossing them farther.
He spun to Mike. He was handling the other gunmen quite well. "MIKE!" He looked up. Michael motioned for the back entrance. Mike looked back at the his gunmen, then nodded. Michael strained to look toward the parking lot. He still hear Kitt fighting. KITT was hopefully around the back to meet them.
Michael, with his back turned, did not see the man who had held him, slowly get to his knees and reach for his gun. Picking it up, he aimed it at Mike. From this angle, it would be a side shot. Hardly worthwhile. He needed the boy to turn toward him. He adjusted his aim to now be on Michael's back.
"BOY!"
Mike, who would never answer to such a title before this, turned and saw the gun aimed for his father. "NO, DAD!"
Michael spun--just in time to see the man adjust his aim again and fire on Mike. As the shot impacted Mike's chest, his eyes widen, mouth opening to cry out, but not cry came. His eyes slowly...closed, his face relaxing. His fall to the ground was anything but graceful. Michael's heart burst.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO! MIIIIIKKKKEEEEE! NO! YOU SON OF A BITCH!" He leapt for Mike, even though he wanted to tear his son's shooter's eyes out. To take the gun away from him and blow his brains out.
Several men intercepted him and wrestled him to the ground. Michael fought back, enraged.
"Cuff him!"
Michael was cuffed.
"What about the boy?"
Michael's face was a mask of fury, his breaths coming fast and heavy, in and out of his nose as one of the gunmen checked Mike's pulse.
"Still alive."
A nod from their leader. "Good. We'll take him with us."
Michael stared at him as a serpentine grin flashed across his face. That grin was wiped from his face when an explosion rocked them, sending fire and smoke through the air just feet away, at the back entrance. KITT.
---
"SON, DO AS I SAY. GO!"
KITT obliged and shot toward the back entrance, scanners flashing still. His path brought him along side the cafe, and through an opening in the hedges that surrounded it, KITT's scanner fell entirely on Mike and he nearly hit the brake. He could stop now and bust his way through the hedges. It wouldn't take much. And it would stop this thing all together. But the sight of the guns trained on his friend and the man's father, stopped him. To risk getting the two shot, wasn't worth it.
"KITT! C'MON, KITT!" he heard Mike's cry through is exterior sensors. Forgive me, Michael. KITT continued on, ignoring him.
Skidding sideways as he came upon the back, he pulled himself forward and halted in front of it. The oncoming van was fast approaching. KITT weighed his options: ram them, fry their engine with a laser blast, or stall them completely with an EMP blast. An EMP blast...yes, that was his best chance.
KITT reached for the EMP system and entered an order for the system to charge. He watched as it steadily rose to full charge, all the while keeping an eye on the van. When the system chimed ready, KITT hovered over the initiate command. The van was not completely in range. To fire now would be a waste.
The van was close. KITT could fire now. He would have fired, had not another van careen in on the right. KITT turned a scanner on them, to see two missiles be fired from shoulder-launchers. KITT swallowed and braced for impact. He would not move, not if it would let them get to Mike.
On impact, KITT stifled a cry and felt himself be shoved roughly to the side. KITT tried to dig in, to find some grip, but there was none. KITT blinked, groggily...the impact's strength surprised him. Through the fog, he thought he heard a gunshot and something in him burned. Wincing, KITT turned himself toward Mike, "...M-Michael...?"
And still, through the fog, he saw the oncoming van blast pass him as if he wasn't even there. His attackers were already gone. KITT reached for his self-diagnostic systems while slowly pulling forward and around, through the back entrance. At first, KITT hoped the sight before him were the after-effects of receiving such a sharp jolt as he just had. But as the fog ebbed away, the sight remained.
Mike on the ground, bleeding from his chest, and Michael being wrestled to his feet and tossed into the back of the van. Mike was picked up with even more brutality, as if it didn't matter how he was treated, as if he was going to die anyways. The van doors were shut and the enemy was leaving.
KITT could not contain himself any longer and shot forward with a wicked yell. Scanner flickering in a frenzy, KITT muttered incoherently under his breath. The two vehicles blew through the center of cafe, with tables flying through the air, over the van and onto KITT's hood, before falling to the side.
Bucking and swerving, KITT chased the van out of the cafe and into the parking lot, barely registering the fact his father, battered and bruised, was chasing his vans out of the parking lot.
"NOOOOOO! MIKE! DAD! THEY HAVE MIKE! THEY HAVE MIIIIKKKE!" KITT fired his laser at the backend of the escaping van. It hit the license plate, searing a hole though it. His guns appearing from his hood, whirled and twirled, firing wildly. Kitt had stopped and now watched his son's meltdown.
'KITT, stop it. Stop it!"
KITT reached for his EMP system again, with nothing in sight that could stop him from firing now. Except his father. Kitt charged in from the right, ramming his son in the right flank, and pushing him to the side. He back up and charged again, smacking him in the same spot.
"STOP IT! GET A FUCKING GRIP, KITT!"
KITT stared at him, scanner still dancing in a crazed motion. "Why'd you stop me. I could have stopped them! We could have Mike and Knight back with us! And you stopped me!" KITT turned on a dime and rammed his father in the nose. Kitt took the blow and delivered another one.
"Goddamnit, boy, THINK! Had you shot at them and hit, had your laser hit the right spot, had you employed your EMP and stopped them, what the hell do you think they'd do them, eh? EH? KILLED THEM! They. Would. Have. Killed. Them. Did you think of that? NO! All you wanted to do was go after them, guns blazing."
KITT looked away, his scanner slowing gently, and dimming, emotion spilling into his voice. "B-but, M-mike....they have him. He's hurt. He needs me. I-I need him...."
Kitt sighed, speaking in a low, gentle tone, "I know...I know...they have Mike and Michael. I know....but we need a plan to get them back. Not go after them willy-nilly. That would only get them killed sooner. C'mon. We have to get out of here. Get back to the SSC and get our heads back on straight."
Kitt winced as he put himself in gear and turned around slowly. "Son?"
KITT gazed down the road his best friend had disappeared down. Michael....
"...KITT?"
He looked away, quietly, "Coming..."
Kitt pulled into the street and KITT followed behind him slowly, blending into traffic as steadily,police appeared at the cafe front, never looking back.