italics = thoughts
{FB} = start and end of flashbacks
The Return Of Karr
By KT
Crash! Reacting to the sound, Karen Rider slammed on the brakes of her black Trans Am convertible. She swung her head around, her shoulder length brown hair bouncing off the side of her face.
What was that? Karen wondered as she quickly unbuckled her seat belt and leaped over the door of her convertible, not bothering to open it. She ran back toward the bridge. Karen was almost in front of the bridge when there was another crash. Another part of it had collapsed. She skidded to a halt at the edge of the cliff. Karen looked down and saw two cars, one black and the other black and silver.
"Let them go Karr. We're here. We're what you want!" shouted the man in the black car with a red light pacing across the front.
"Your impudence is amusing. You're in no position to make demands," answered a deep voice, who Karen assumed was Karr.
"Think about it. Mandy's not your enemy, neither is John. I am," The man paused "You'll never be free until you defeat us."
"I accept your challenge," answered Karr. The car doors popped open, a man and a woman scrambled out of the car. Suddenly a white laser shot out toward the other car.
The car did that without anyone operating it. Karen thought. How did it do that?
"Good-bye, Michael Knight." said Karr, drawing Karen out of her thoughts. Karen saw another laser fire at Michael Knight. Just as the laser hit the window, it lit up and the laser bounced back at Karr, hitting the front of the gliding yellow beam.
Michael Knight turned his black Trans Am to face Karr. "If I am destroyed, so shall you be!" shouted Karr as they raced toward each other. The two cars leaped into the air and smashed into each other.
Karen saw a big explosion raining car parts everywhere. Michael Knight's car glided through the smoke and landed on the ground, intact.
Karen waited until everyone had left the area to climb down the cliff, to look at what was left of Karr. As she looked at the debris, she saw a black box with blinking lights. Is this Karr? Karen thought. Looking around, she saw a smaller black box with blinking yellow lights.
If so, I have got to take a look at it. Picking them both up, she slowly climbed back up the cliff and walked back to her car.
Wow was the damage extensive! Karen thought, as she looked at the slightly charred pile of damaged chips, that she had replaced. Let's see if this thing still works. she thought while she connected the larger box to the smaller one.
"Where am I? Who are you?" Karr asked apprehensively. The smaller box's lights lit up in sync with Karr's voice.
"I'm Karen Rider. You are in my lab at Rider Tech," Karen answered.
"Rider Tech? According to my data banks Rider Tech specializes in computers," Karr replied. "Is that why Rider Tech has me? Because I am a computer?"
"Actually Karr, they don't even know about you." Karen answered, as she pulled up a chair to sit near where Karr was on her desk.
"Then why am I here?" Karr asked suspiciously.
"I saw what I suppose can be called a battle...," she trailed off. "Anyway, my curiosity got the better of me when I heard you talk, so after Mr. Knight left I brought what was left of the CPU to my lab and repaired it."
"What are you going to do with me?" Karr asked cautiously.
"Well, that kind of depends on you," Karen replied.
"On me?" Karr asked, surprise evident in his voice.
"Yes, when I first saw you, you were trying to kill someone," Karen paused "I will attempt to put you back into a car, but if you harm anyone, and I mean anyone, I will pull your plug." Karen answered, her voice deadly serious.
Karr sighed, after he had given her the specs for the car, Karen had left for the night, telling him that she would look them over. He partly understood why Karen didn't want him to hurt anyone. He knew what it felt like to be hurt, and did not like that feeling one bit.
Karr would admit that when Kitt and his partner had tried to deactivate him a second time he had gone a bit crazy. What he could not understand is why they wouldn't leave him alone. I have as much right to live as Kitt does! Karr cried out to himself.
The soft sound of someone slowly walking into the room drew Karr out of his thoughts. Although he did have a scanner connected to his CPU, it was not as powerful as the one on the car, so he could not see clearly in the darkness. He could make out the shape of a fairly tall man with a long coat and a wide brim hat. The man walked over to the computer on the other side of the room and turned it on. While it was turning on, the man pulled out a disk and put it into the computer.
Karr watched as the man typed on the keyboard. "The password is incorrect. Please try again" came a sound of a computer generated female voice. The man paused and then started typing again. "Download will take approximately four minutes and twenty seconds" the computer said flatly.
The sound of the guard's shoes running toward the room drifted into the lab. The man quickly glanced up and started to pull the disk out.
"Hey you! What do you think your doing!" the guard shouted, pulling out a gun. "Back away from the computer and put your hands in the air were I can see them!"
Backing away from the computer the man quickly put the disk in the pocket of his coat and then lifted his hands in the air. Just as the guard started walking toward the man, the man quickly spun around, hitting the guard knocking him unconscious.
As the guard hit the floor, a voice came out of his walkie-talkie saying, "David, your replacement is on his way. David? David please respond!"
The sound of an alarm rang through building. Glancing quickly back at the computer, the man ran silently out of the room.
Karr looked at the computer and it showed that there was still two minutes and seven seconds left to the download.
"Hey Kitt, what do you say to a drive down to the beach?" Michael asked as they drove down a quiet street in California.
"That would be fine Michael" Kitt answered after a pause. Turning down a short path that led to a private beach near one of the Foundation's houses, Michael pulled Kitt to a stop.
"Kitt, what's wrong, ever since we left John's you've been very quiet," Michael asked slowly.
"I'm fine Michael. I've just been thinking." Kitt answered softly.
"About what?" Michael asked.
"Karr. I wish we did not have to destroy him," Kitt said sadly.
"Well Kitt, I'm not sure what else we could have done," Michael said gently.
"I know, I just wish that we could have done something..." Kitt answered.
"Michael, Devon is calling." Kitt said, a couple of minutes later.
Michael sighed, "put him through." Devon's face appeared on Kitt's screen. "Hi Devon." Michael said unenthusiastically.
"Michael, please report to the semi immediately," Devon said looking up from a piece of paper on his desk.
"Right now? We just got off the case with Karr and we were hoping to spend some time relaxing." Michael said quickly.
"Think of it as repaying the five thousand dollars you owe me," Devon said, cutting the connection.
"I wonder what Devon wants us for?" Michael said, driving into the back of the semi.
"I suppose we have to wait and see," Kitt answered him, as he pulled to a stop in the semi.
"I guess so," Michael said, while he climbed out of Kitt. "So, what is so important that you dragged Kitt and me away from a relaxing afternoon?" Michael asked as he sat down on Kitt's hood.
"Well Michael, an old friend of the Foundation's, by the name of George Rider, contacted me this morning regarding a couple of recent break-ins." Devon answered.
"George Rider? Is he the one who helped design some of my microchips?" Kitt asked.
"Yes Kitt that is correct," Devon answered.
"Why did he contact you?" Michael asked.
"He wants us to help him find out who is trying to steal the AirGlider and why," Devon replied.
"What exactly is AirGlider?" Michael asked uncertainly.
"AirGlider is a device that allows a car to fly. It was invented by Karen Rider. I believe she is George Rider's daughter?" Bonnie asked turning to Devon.
He nodded "yes."
"It's a pretty interesting device from what is written about it." Bonnie answered, clearly impressed.
"You said break-ins, exactly how many have there been?" Michael questioned, leaning forward slightly.
"There have been two, one last week and one last night." Devon answered.
"Did anyone get hurt?" Kitt asked, concerned.
"One of the guards went to the hospital last night. He is fine, just a bump on the head. You can find him at the hospital. The doctor wanted to keep him there for observation." Devon replied.
"Is there anything else we need to know?" Michael asked, getting up and walking over to Kitt's door.
"That's all we know," Devon replied.
"Ok, I'll let you know what I find out," Michael said, climbing into Kitt.
Those schematics Karr gave me are remarkable! Karen thought as she drove into a parking space in front of Rider Tec. She got out of her car and walked into the building.
"Karen!" George Rider yelled. "Come here please."
Karen walked over to her father. "What is it Dad?" Karen asked.
"Karen, someone broke-in to your lab last night," George answered.
"What! Was anything taken?" Karen asked cautiously. I wonder if Karr is alright?
"They started to download the schematics for the AirGlider, but only got about half of it." George replied regretfully.
"Was anyone hurt?" Karen asked.
"No, thankfully," George said relieved.
"Good. Have the police been here yet?" Karen asked.
"Yes, they have." George replied.
"Ok, I'm going to go get some stuff from my lab then," Karen said, as she started to walk toward her lab.
"Wait, Karen! There is someone coming over to help with the investigation so, don't touch the computer!" George yelled to her.
"Ok! Who is coming over anyway?" Karen asked, pausing at the entrance to the hall.
"A man by the name of Michael Knight, He works for the Foundation for Law and Government." George answered.
Michael Knight??!!! I'd better get Karr out here then!! Karen thought."Didn't you do some work for them a few years ago?""Yes, I did." George replied.
"Ok," Karen said as she walked down the hall to her lab.
"Hi Karr." Karen said, walking into the room and over to her desk.
"Good Morning," Karr replied. "Did you look at the schematics?"
"Yes I did, They are very interesting." Karen answered. "Karr, I am going to move you to my house, ok?"
"Why, is there a problem?" Karr asked, relieved that he would not have to stay in this room after what had happened last night.
"Well, you probably know about the break-in last night." Karen said pausing. "My father has gotten some help in finding out who broke in here. He got Michael Knight," Karen said gently.
"Michael Knight!! You've got to get me out of here!" Karr said anxiously, the robbery slipping from his mind. Not again! They are going to try to destroy me, and this time they might succeed. Why can't I find somewhere that I can live without the Foundation finding me?
"George Rider?" Michael asked as he walked into the main lab. "I'm Michael Knight. Devon sent me."
George Rider looked up from his desk. "Hi. I've been expecting you. I'm so glad you could come."
"Would it be alright if I look at the computer that was used?" Michael, asked, glancing around the room.
"Yes of course, but the computer is not in here. If you will follow me?" George said walking out of the room.
Michael nodded and followed him to Karen's lab.
"Michael, my scans indicate that not half of the program was downloaded, but all of it." Kitt said, his voice coming out of Michael's watch.
"All of it? But the police report said..." Michael replied, confusion in his voice.
"I know, that is what is so puzzling," Kitt answered. "I will look into some more."
Michael turned to George, who was standing behind him. "I% 27d like to talk to some of the guards that were there last night, can you point me to them?" Michael asked, wanting to get some answers, no t more questions.% 0D
"David Rennab? I'd like to ask you a few questions about the robbery" Michael asked as he walked into the hospitable room.
"I've already talked to the police." David answered.
"I'm not with the police. I work for the Foundation for Law and Government." Michael answered.
"Oh, ok. They told me you were coming. Well it was almost 10: 15 when it happened. I know that because my shift ends at 10:15. I was walking down the hall toward the lab when I heard the computer. After I ran into the lab, I saw a man leaning over the computer. Now I knew that the man didn't work there. I mean who wears a trench coat and a hat that looks like it came out of a cowboy movie to work? Anyway, I pulled my gun out and told him to step away from the computer. He started to and then he did this fancy spin kick thing that knocked me out. Boy, I wish I could do that!" David said wistfully.
"Do you remember anything else? What he looked like?" Michael asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see what he looked like. It was too dark the only light came from the hall and the computer."
"Ok, thanks," Michael said as he started to walk out.
"Wait! There is something. I mean, I don't know if it would help," David started then stopped.
"What? Anything could help," Michael said turning back toward David.
"Well you see no one was supposed to even be in that hall for another 15 minutes if we had went according to schedule," David paused. "About a half a hour before the robbery, one of the other guards got very sick and his replacement could not get there for about a hour. So I had to do his shift and mine, which made me behind schedule and that threw the whole rotation off,"
"So that would mean that the robber could have known the schedule. Tell me who knew the schedule?" Michael asked.
"Peter Blake, he is head of security," David answered and then added, "and any of the other guards on duty at the time."
"Would you happen to know the name of the guard that got sick?" Michael asked.
"Cessmen, Cassman, something like that. I really did not know him," David answered.
"Karr, why do you hate the Foundation so much?" Karen asked, setting Karr on the table at her lab/garage.
"I don't hate them, but I don't like them either," Karr said trying to explain how he felt.
"Why don't you like them? They were the ones who built you. They gave you life," Karen said, a little confused.
"Well to sum it all up, my driver and technician set me up and betrayed me! When I tried to explain, the Foundation didn't listen to a word I said and then they deactivated me! When I was accidentally reactivated, they chased me down and tried to destroy me! In two separate instances! Don't you think that is enough cause to not like them?!" Karr said, starting to get apprehensive.
"Did you get the schematics?"
"No, I only got a part of it."
"Do I have to remind you what will happen if you do not get the rest?"
"No! I will get it. Just give me some time! There will be heavier security now."
"That is your problem, not mine. You have one week. If you go over..."
"I will get it, don't worry!"
"I'm not."
The click of a phone hanging up rang through the bedroom. A man slowly walked over to a dresser filled with pictures. He slowly picked up a picture of a woman dressed in a wedding gown.
"I'm sorry I got you into this," the man said a tear rolling down his cheek.
"Karr, maybe you had better tell me the whole story," Karen said, sitting down on a bench in front of the table.
"I don't know if I should," Karr said starting to regret his outburst.
"Karr, I know you don't trust me and you probably think I don't have any right to hear this story. You'd be right of course. I just thought that if I could understand what happened, I might be able to help make things right between you and the Foundation," Karen said, wanting to help Karr.
"How would you do that?" Karr said not believing it was possible.
"I'm not sure," Karen answered. "Maybe if I heard the story....?"
Karr, after giving it some thought, started his account. "Well, it was about four years ago, a few weeks after I had been activated. I had just returned from a solo test run and was looking forward to that afternoon when I was scheduled to perform a test run for the Board, the people in charge of Foundation. Upon entering my garage, I found my driver and technician talking. Although that in its self was not unusual, what happened after was," Karr said softly, becoming lost in the memory.
{FB}
Karr drove silently into his garage. His scanner happily came to a rest on a fairly tall man, his wavy dark brown hair falling freely onto his forehead. Karr's driver, C-man, as he had finally convinced Karr to call him, was talking quietly with Karr's technician, Herbert Turner. Turner was slightly shorter than C-man, with graying brown hair and auburn eyes. C-man's gray eyes glanced at Karr. He quickly ended his conversation with Turner and they both walked over to Karr.
"Karr, I'm going to run some tests on your micro chips," Turner said glancing nervously at C-man.
"Why? They are running perfectly," Karr said, unlocking his hood for Turner.
"I just want to make sure every thing is running ok for this afternoon," Turner answered, pulling out a computer disk and quickly shoving it into Karr's hard drive.
"Turner, What was th..." Karr cut short. He could feel the program that Turner downloaded starting to take over his systems. He was fighting to keep in control but the program just pushed him back. In a few seconds the program would control all of his functions. Including speech and the ability to drive the car!
"Are you sure that bringing out the aggressive tendencies in Karr is such a good idea?" Turner said nervously, stepping out from under the hood of the Trans Am. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his brow.
"Yes, I'm sure! By making Karr more aggressive, that will make him a danger to people.
As a result, the Foundation will have to either take him offline or decommission him," C-man answered, wrapping his arm around Turner, and leading him toward the door. "You know that when the Foundation does that, we can grab the car and be long gone before they realize."
"I don't know, what if something goes wrong?" Turner said, stopping in front of the door.
"Everything will be fine, besides we both stand to make a lot of money from this transaction," C-man replied, shoving Turner out of the garage.
"So Karr, are you ready for your debut?" C-man said smugly, getting in the black Trans Am and driving out, onto the track.
The track was a series of different obstacles in the center of a large oval race course. Off to the side of the track were bleachers, and sitting there were the Board, Wilton Knight, and Devon Miles.
{FB}
"It was really scary, for the first time, not being able to control the Trans Am. But, it was even scarier when the things the program did, I got blamed and punished for," Karr said, pausing for a moment.
"I'm sure it was," Karen said, sympathetically. "But what happened to get you shut down?"
"Well, it didn't happen till later that afternoon, after the test run for the Board," Karr said, continuing his story.
{FB}
"I don't know what is so special about that car. All it does is perform a few measly tricks. Why should we pay millions of dollars for that?" screeched one of the Board members.
As he continued to rant, no one except Turner paid much attention to Karr, who was starting to race toward the Board member, in a fury. When Karr was almost on top of the Board member, Turner pushed him out of the way to safety. Everyone watched in horror, including Karr, as the Trans Am, at full force, slammed into Turner killing him instantly.
{FB}
"After I hit Turner, C-man jumped in the car, and quickly shut me down. By shutting me down, he effectively erased the program, which had been set to remove itself upon shut-down. The next thing I knew, Wilton Knight and Devon Miles were telling me that they were shutting me down. I tried to explain what happened, but they believed C-man over me. Plus there was the fact that there was no evidence to support what I said," Karr finished, his voice laced with sorrow.
"Why didn't C-man go through with his plan?" Karen asked curiously.
"I don't know, because I wasn't reactivated until months later," Karr replied. "And by then the Foundation had built the Knight 2000."
"Why did they reactivate you?" Karen asked.
"They didn't. It was an accident made by two men breaking into the warehouse where I was stored," Karr said, picking up the story where he left off.
"Have you found anything?" Devon asked Michael, after he got out of Kitt.
"Not much. Although I think it might have been an inside job," Michael said, sinking into one of the sofas in the semi.
"What makes you think that?" Devon questioned, looking at Michael.
"For one thing, he knew where and when the security guards were supposed to be. He knew how to get around the alarms and also evaded all the cameras," Michael answered.
"Michael, he didn't get around all the guards. One of them found him," Bonnie said, sitting down across from Michael.
"Yes, but he was behind schedule," Michael replied. "We also think that he went back a couple of hours later."
"What brought you to that conclusion?" Devon asked.
"I took a look at the computer and found that it had been accessed twice. Once before the police arrived and once after. The second time they got the whole download," Kitt answered.
"Next thing I knew, I was in your lab," Karr finished.
Just as Karen was about to say something the doorbell rang. Karen looked sharply to the door. "Oh! I forgot! That would be some of the things I ordered for the car last night. I'll be right back. Karen got up from the bench and went to answer the door. She and the delivery man went back and forth carrying a lot of large boxes. Karen after signing for the boxes came back and set some smaller boxes on the bench.
"Karr, your looking at what will be the upgrades for your new body!" Karen said, waving her hand across the pile of boxes.
"How did you get them here so fast? You only looked at the schematics last night," Karr said in awe.
"Well it helps when your father owns the largest computer company in the state," Karen said vaguely, excitedly opening one of the many boxes.
"Karen?" Karr asked.
"Um?" Karen asked, still sifting through the box.
"C-man was in the lab last night," Karr said, making Karen stop and look at him.
"What?" Karen shouted.Why was he there. What was he doing?"
"He came in after the police had left. He downloaded something off your computer," Karr replied.
"Was he the same person who tried to download it before?" Karen asked.
"I don't know. The first time, who ever it was, was dressed in a strange outfit, making it hard to identify him," Karr answered. "When C-man came in, he was dressed in a security outfit. They did have the same build however."