My Dear Readers,
I have to confess something, put it out into cyberspace, I, am a closet "Knight Rider" fan. I loved the original. William Daniels' KITT was just THE car I grew up wanting. When the new version with Justin Bruenig and Val Kilmer's KITT (damn, what a voice) came out, I had to watch. After this past episode where Sarah, Mike, Zoë, and Billy decide to reinstitute FLAG, something just planted in my brain and wouldn't let go. Here is what popped out.
As always, I own nothing except the original character, Dr. Rebecca "Cat" Barstow (which was not named after me…she will be explained in later chapters), but I am willing to arrange play dates for her with just a simple e-mail. Reviews are welcome and I hope you enjoy!
Cat
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It was a cold winter day in Massachusetts. The start of the spring semester always was at MIT. Cat looked out over the sea of new engineering students filing into her lecture hall. Each year, she noticed how those faces kept getting younger and after ten years, those faces started blurring together. Her courses were always well attended given her notoriety on the subject and the fact that she was only five years older than most of her graduate students. It didn't hurt that the subject was something fun and different, 'The Car of the Future: Designing an Accident-Free World'. Yet, the class didn't interest her anymore. It was getting old.
Sarah Graiman sat in her office in the newly repaired SSC and stared at the paperwork, the sound of her lawyer's voice droning on in her ear. Who knew that restarting FLAG, the Foundation for Law And Government, would be so difficult? All she wanted to do was continue her father's work, not try to establish world peace. Though, according to the lawyer, establishing world peace might be easier considering FLAG couldn't be reestablished without the signature and approval of one important person.
The phone Cat's office was ringing as she entered after class and she ran to grab it. "This is Cat."
"Oh, um," Sarah stammered, "I'm sorry. I'm looking for Dr. Rebecca Barstow."
"You've reached her. What can I do you for?" She flopped down in her desk chair and began going through her phone messages. She would have to talk to the department secretary about her penmanship.
"My name is Sarah Graiman."
"You're Charles Graiman's daughter." Suddenly the scribbled messages were forgotten. "I'm so sorry for your loss. Your father was a great man."
"Thank you. I'm actually trying to continue his work by reestablishing the Foundation for Law and Government."
"Ah, good ole FLAG. Good for you. I'm guessing you're calling because you need me to approve this massive undertaking."
"Yes, Ma'am, I am. I can assure you that I will be respectful of the organization and the groundwork that was laid by Wilton Knight,"
"Ms. Graiman, I'm sure you will. If you are anything like your father, you are very grounded, forward thinking, and intelligent. I have no concerns over that. I just have one question. Have your assembled KITT?"
"Um," how did this woman know about classified information and did she really want to give that sort of thing away over the phone?
Cat laughed. "I get it. Unsecured phone line and all. You need me to sign the papers anyway, so why don't I just fly to wherever you are and you can decide then if you want to tell me?"
"Yeah, OK, sure." Sarah was beginning to feel as though her head was spinning, but she gave the other woman the location and her contact numbers. "Just let me know your flight information and I'll send someone to pick you up."
"Great! I'm dying to get out of these freezing temperatures."
Dr. Rebecca Barstow was nothing like how Sarah had expected when she saw her get off the plane the next day. A woman with two Ph.D.s, one in mechanical engineering and one in computer science, and a tenured professor at MIT, Sarah expected someone who was a little more of a nerd than the beautiful brunette who walked off the private jet. Though, she thought to herself, she shouldn't have been too surprised given that she was the daughter of Bonnie Barstow. "Cat?"
"Sarah." She smiled and shook Sarah's outstretched hand. "It is good to finally meet you. I met your father at a conference back when I was writing my thesis and he did nothing but rave about what you were doing."
"I've read a few of your papers and I have to say the honor is mine. Thank you for coming. I have to say I was a little surprised to see your name come up in connection with the foundation. I didn't think there was anyone still running it."
"Oh, I don't run it. Devon and my mother were very close and, before he passed, he purposely divided the shares into four equal pieces so there was always someone who would continue Wilton Knight's vision. When Devon passed, his 25% went to my mother and when she passed, her share passed to me hence how I now have a 50% stake. My guess is your father had Michael Knight sign over his 25% share so he was able to pass you 50%. Smart parents we had, huh?" She laughed. "So, now that there is no longer 3000 miles and a phone line between us, care to answer my question? Is KITT still around?"
"A newer version." There was something about the other woman in the limo that Sarah trusted. Even the lawyer handling the foundation had said that Dr. Barstow was not a threat, rather an ally, and Sarah believed that now that she'd met her. Telling her about KITT suddenly didn't seem so risky.
Cat looked in awe at the Ford Mustang. It was a work of art, able to resemble the regular showroom model even though it was really just a shell with all of the advanced engineering underneath the skin. Her mother would have been proud. "Oh my God. KITT you are beautiful." She went to touch the chassis, but pulled away. "KITT, would you mind if I touched you?"
"Not at all, Doctor." The smooth baritone voice responded from the car. "Sarah told me you were coming. I have to say, it is an honor to meet you."
"The honor is truly mine." Running her hand from the right rear quarter panel, up the rear post, and then along the roof to the front of the car, Cat shook her head. "A work of art. He looks and feels like a real car, but you were telling me it's a nanoskin. Am I correct, Sarah?"
"That is correct, Doctor." KITT responded.
"My apologies, KITT. Please, call me Cat, everyone does. I would love to look under your hood, but I will not presume to be so forward and bold on our first meeting."
"I would not mind, Cat."
"Thank you, KITT. I would love to, but I do believe that Sarah and I need to have a chat first. I promise, I will take you up on that offer before the end of today." Sarah escorted her to a futuristic office on the upper floor of the SSC and, as soon as the door was closed, Cat couldn't contain herself. "I'm not signing. That machine down there on the floor is just too amazing."
"Cat, the only way that KITT goes back into service is if FLAG is reestablished."
"I know. I'm not saying that I won't consent to FLAG being reestablished. I'm saying you have yourself your new mechanic."
"We can't afford to pay you what you command." Sarah was in shock.
"I didn't hear me mention salary. I'll work for room and board. You can keep your paycheck and I'll take the tax deduction as a charitable donation. I just want the opportunity to work with KITT."
"What about MIT?"
"My TA can finish this semester and then I'll take a sabbatical. Imagine the papers I could write about just his de-classified mechanics. Don't worry about MIT. It'll still be the same institution whether I'm there or not." Cat crossed her legs. "Sarah, this isn't up for negotiation. Either this comes to be or FLAG doesn't exist."
"Then I don't really have a choice, but I just want to make sure that you aren't going to leave after a few months when you become bored."
"Trust me, Sarah. MIT is boring, not KITT."
Two hours later, Cat couldn't wipe the grin from her face as she poured over KITT's belts and bolts. Life was exciting again. Things were new. "How's that, KITT?" She questioned after finishing a full tune-up, replacing most everything that even looked worn.
"I feel good."
"Good." She smiled, pulled off her gloves, and kissed his roof. "Thank you for allowing me to work on you and when you and Mike get back, I promise to give you the best detailing job you've ever had."
"Careful. That might just be construed as sexual harassment." Mike smirked as he walked up. "Michael Knight." Her eyes questioned him as they shook hands. "He was my father."
"I didn't think you looked old enough to be the man my mother used to talk about. I'm Cat. I'll be KITT's new mechanic."
"You are much too beautiful to be a mechanic."
"You are much too intelligent to think I'd fall for a god awful line like that." She laughed. "But, I'll give you an A for effort."
"Thanks, Professor." He winked. "We'll see you later."
"Not a good idea to be flirting with the boss' man, New Girl." Zoë said with obvious distain. Who was this woman to come in and start working with KITT? Sarah had said something about her being Bonnie Barstow's daughter, like that meant anything. Bonnie may have worked on the original KITT, but that was then and the current inclination of KITT was much more sophisticated.
"My apologies. Thank you for telling me, Zoë. I'll be more careful from now on." Cat knew there would be hostility. She was an outsider coming into a group that had become a family through major trials and upheavals. Zoë's dislike was not something she was going to concern herself with. She never really concerned herself with others' opinions of her. Life was too short to try to attain something that was unattainable. Abraham Lincoln was right, one could never please all of the people all of the time.
Billy followed the stunning leggy brunette into the hallway before lightly touching her shoulder. "Dr. Barstow?"
"Cat." She corrected the lanky man who was about her age.
"Cat." He smiled. "I just wanted you to know that not all of us feel the way Zoë does. I'm actually glad to have you here and I think KITT is too."
"Thank you, Billy, but I know where Zoë is coming from and she is entitled to her opinion. If her opinion of me changes, then fine, but if it doesn't, then that is fine too. You are really sweet to worry about me, though." She smiled and touched his arm before entering her pod.