A moment after
A missing scene
By Gumnut
12 Aug 2008

"Michael?"

He rubbed at his chin, his eyes tracking across the lake and losing themselves in the reeds. Regret for times lost and roads not taken fought for dominance over his grief for the woman he had loved buried behind him.

His dress shoes sank into the grass as he made his way back to the car.

"Michael?"

The familiar voice danced in his eardrum. "Yes, Kitt?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You're lying again. Your vital signs tell me so."

"Then why did you ask?" He stretched out his arms in an attempt to ease out the knots in his shoulders, swinging them back forth in feigned nonchalance for an absent audience.

"I'm concerned."

Michael sighed. "I'm fine, Kitt, I promise."

"Very well." Kitt's tone said loud and clear that although he had stopped talking, the matter was far from resolved. Michael fought the urge to sigh again.

After a moment of piqued silence, Kitt spoke up again. "Do you think he'll take the job?"

Distracted, his foot slipped as he stepped on to the gravel road, and he stumbled a step. His wet shoes caught the dust and dulled almost immediately. "I don't know, Kitt. I honestly don't know." Part of him wanted the man to do it, wanted him to carry on the legacy, but another part, the shrivelled remains of the parent he could never be, wanted to warn him off. Tell him to run away before it is too late.

He grabbed the doorhandle of the beaten up Toyota and slid into the driver's seat. "What about you? What do you think?"

"I think he comes uniquely qualified."

"I know you do. I read your report to Charles, remember?" He frowned, staring at a fresh deposit of bird droppings on the windshield.

"I feel much happier having him under the protection of KITT. Now you no longer need to worry about him being vulnerable."

"No, now I have to worry about him being in the line of fire."

"You're alive, aren't you? I can't see him being more accident prone than you. You are the leader in that field, as far as I'm concerned."

"Gee, thanks."

"You're welcome. And besides, KITT has all the scenarios you have so thoroughly demonstrated to me over the years. Mr Traceur will be lucky if my son even lets him out of the car."

"Your confidence is overwhelming, Kitt." He shifted, strapping himself in. "Do you have that list of contacts from those dealers in Dubai yet?"

"They are in your inbox."

"Thankyou. Any leads?"

"None so far."

"Damn."

"I agree."

"Okay, then lets hit the road. We have to be in Washington by Tuesday."

He started the car and was surprised when it backfired, the hood vibrating over a stuttering engine.

"Kitt?"

"Yes, Michael?"

"Kill the special effects." The engine noise quietened to a purr. "And what's with the birdshit on the windshield?"

"Artistic flare?"

"Can it, Kitt."

The AI didn't answer, but as they tore off down the road, the old and battered white Toyota became a black blur.

One of which legends had been born.

-o-o-o-