The Gauntlet

by homel001

Disclaimer: All rights to the show and it's characters belong to the late Glen A. Larson. The third tale in the Knight Rider 86' series. Based on a fictional Fifth Season of the original series.

Chapter One

The streets of Detroit were not the ideal place to take a pleasure cruise. The roads were crowded and the people were shady. It lived up to it's reputations as America's most dangerous city. Amongst the constant flow of traffic, KITT cruised down the street within the confines of the official speed limit. He hated bustling streets just as much as Michael. They were on there way to pick up Bonnie, who had been attending a private lecture on advanced computer programs. The field of interest was Michael's taste, but he was really proud of just how far she came. He loved Bonnie as if she was his sibling. He just wished he could support the field of work just that bit better.

"Michael please remind me just how long we're supposed to be in Detroit?" KITT groaned. "My treads were not designed to pick up street garbage."

"Okay so we happen to be in a rough part of town, lighten up. We'll be seeing Bonnie real soon." Michael smiled.

"You seem to be in a good mood this morning." KITT said as he noticed the upbeat expression in Michael's Voice. "Did your stakes in this afternoon's game pay off again?"

"Nope. I am proud of our Bonnie." Michael replied, grinning out of the window. "You know something KITT, she's really making a name for herself these days and all we do is take her for granted. Well not today. Today is all about her."

"That is very thoughtful of you, Michael." KITT approved. "What are we going to do for her?"

Michael ran the plan through his memory. "Well lets see. I want to take her to dinner followed by a trip to the coast where she can relax and clear her head. I've already told Devon and he has no choice but to approve."

"It sounds more like a Date to me." KITT criticized.

"It is not." Michael replied. "Okay so I'm not good with planning celebrations, but it's the thought that counts. Okay this is the place. I'll be back in a few minutes and no bright ideas about telling. This is not a date."

"Understood." KITT acknowledged.

Michael headed on into the centre with out any sense of alarm. The lobby appeared to be empty with only one person manning the reception desk. Approaching the elevators, he was caught off guard by the sound of gun shots followed by a scream. He recognized the vocal tone anywhere.

"Bonnie!"

He raced up the stairwell towards the third floor where young computer technician had held her lecture. Barging through the doors, He spotted Bonnie. She was slumped up the side of the wall, her face was pale due to shock. He ran over to her and held her in his arms.

"Hey Bonnie it's okay it's me. It's Michael." He assured her with concern. "What's happened? What's going on?"

"They...They shot him." Bonnie stuttered unable to reply. "They went through the office window."

Michael stepped into the office. The place had been turned upside down. Amongst the sheets of paper and upturned equipment lay the body of a professor. Michael checked the body for a pulse, but couldn't find one. The only move he could make was to call for help.

"KITT. Call an Ambulance and scan the area." He said through his wrist watch. "Are there any gunmen in the area?"

KITT's voice buzzed through the watch's speaker. "Three men have made off, but I couldn't get a trace on their registration. Is Bonnie alright?"

Michael held Bonnie once again. "She's okay pal. Just a little shaken up. We'll wait until the Paramedics get here."

They waited outside to catch a breath of air when an ambulance pulled up. KITT had called the police as well, alerting the attention of Devon Miles. Three police cars had cordoned off the area to the public. Michael had finished his report with the Police chief when he sat down on the curb next to Bonnie. She sat there shaking with Michaels black leather Jack draped around her. She had witnessed a murder before, but she knew this one was too close for her to handle.

"How are you holding up?" Michael asked her gently.

"I'm okay." Bonnie replied silently as her eyes rolled towards her friend. "I just need to get out of here."

"Sure thing. Come on." Michael smiled as he helped her up off the curb.

Bonnie took a seat in the passenger seat just as Michael sat down behind the wheel. Plotting a course, they headed out of the city. It was a difficult time for her, but Michael needed to know what she saw.

"Look. I know you had quite an experience back there." He said. "I know you're scared, but I need to know what you saw and what happened?"

"I'm not sure. It all happened so fast." Bonnie replied.

"It's okay just take your time." Michael assured her.

Flashbacks started to play over in Bonnie's mind. The flash of the gunshot. The face of the gunman. It all happened right there in front of her.

"I was entering Professor Allen's office to give him my lecture notes when the silent alarms in his office sounded." She began. "The next thing I know, he was yelling at me to get out of there. I got the main hallway when the gunman entered. He pulled out a semi-automatic rifle with a silencer and then he shot him. He smiled as The Professor went down as if he enjoyed what he did."

"Then what happened?" Michael asked.

"He then saw me." Bonnie continued. "I think he wanted to shoot me but he knew that the cops were coming so he left. Then you turned up."

"Can you describe him?"

Bonnie described the assailant with vivid detail. "He was a thin man, blond hair that was slicked back, blue eyes. He had a scar down his left cheek. He dressed in all back with black leather gloves and a white shirt. He must have been about Five Foot Five."

"Okay that will do." Michael said, as he turned to KITT. "KITT use that description and run it through the local police database. I want to see if there is a match?"

The records appeared on the screen as KITT flicked through each individual file. Suddenly, the chills rocked Bonnie's spine. The face appeared on the screen.

"That's him." she jumped.

"Okay, who is he?"

KITT read the record. "His name is Tyson Melly. He was served in the US Military top marksmen for Ten Years. He then left to test new heavy firearms before they were made available to the Military. He was discharged for assault but evaded jail by joining a deadly activist group known as The Silent Serpents."

"Is that all it says?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Okay well contact Devon. See if he can access any more information on this activist group."

Suddenly, Bonnie realized the reality of the situation.

"Michael, he saw me. If he saw me then there's a chance he could come after me." She trembled. "I'm the only witness who could put him away."

"That's not going to happen." Michael assured her again. "I won't let it happen."

"Michael please." Bonnie snapped. She didn't share Michael confidence.

"I mean it." Michael replied adamantly. "You know something. Before all of this, KITT and I were going to take you out for the day to pamper you because of how well you deserve it. We love you so much that I'm determined to make sure you get that day."

Bonnie couldn't argue that point. She smiled as she stroked Michael's hand gently.

"I'm sorry you two. That does sound like fun." She apologized. "So what are we going to do?"

"Well as much as we would get you to a safe house, our best bet is the Foundation." Michael explained. "However saying that, Devon isn't at the Foundation. So until we can get his end on all of this, we'll have to sit tight in your hotel room."

"Are you sure that's wise?"

"KITT's trying to reach him as we speak. Besides we need to stop there so you can pack your things."

The dense traffic cluster began to break up allowing KITT to rush down the main street. Bonnie's hotel was just around the corner. It was a small run down motel that had the cheapest rooms around. It wasn't Bonnie's scene much but it was Michael's. They pulled up in the parking lot and left KITT in Surveillance mode. Michael led the way, keeping Bonnie closely behind him. Bonnie however felt that Michael was more protective than usual. She really appreciated that he cared about her well being. She just wasn't use to it on a high level.

Meanwhile at a disused factory just outside of the city, Tyson Melly stared out of the window as his comrades entered the room. He had been obsessing over the events from earlier. He was worried that Bonnie would ID him to the police. He had spent years living off the grid. He assassinated targets for a living with a policy to leave no evidence behind. So how could he have messed up this time? All of that didn't matter to him. Only thing had needed to be done. He had to kill Bonnie Barstow. His fellow hit-men joined him in the main sitting area. One of the men handed him a computer print out. A file photo of Bonnie's face was on the print out along with her profile ID.

"This is her." Melly sneered. "Bonnie Barstow. Computer Technician. Works for FLAG. The Foundation For Law And Government. Just great! She'll definitely testify when she reaches the courthouse. I can't afford to go away. Not after all we've achieved to get this far."

"She isn't a cop." replied one of the men. "I hacked into FLAG's computers. They are a charity organization that work with the Law. They are the big deal."

"What about the big guy who was with her?" Melly asked as he referred to Michael. "I saw him park up in a black T-Top during the raid."

"His name is Michael Knight. He works with Barstow." The hit-man replied. "They've been working together for Five years. Why they were here, we don't know."

Melly turned on his heel and gazed out of the window. "Well that doesn't matter now. What matters is that she never reaches the Foundation. I'll use all of my contacts to make sure of it."

One of the men knew one of the contacts. "Your not seriously thinking of calling him again are you?"

"He owes me big time after I bailed him out." Melly confirmed. "Besides, he has a collection of Military hardware that's just sitting there rusting away. If he sees sense, he'll lend it all to me. Do we know where she is staying?"

"Yeah at a motel off of Greenhill Village." the hit-man responded. "I bet Knight and the Black T-Top are there now."

"The get going." Melly ordered. "As soon as we take her out the better."

The hit-men loaded their firearms and headed out of the building. Melly was left alone to make the call. He dialled a number that was written on a crumpled paper slip. A deep voice answered the call.

"Hey it's Melly. Listen it's about time you owed me that favour. I want everything you own. That's right everything. I've got one last job to do and it's a biggie. No I can assure that it you won't get involved. I'll be at the scrap yard in an hour."

Melly put the phone down. He placed on his trademark leather cloves and headed out of the building. His rifle was already loaded and ready. He was determined to wipe Bonnie off of the pavement.