A/N: Of course I do NOT own any of the falling characters or franchises mentioned, each is Copyright their respective owners. I only own my OCs, and the following idea-story.
Knight Rider, KI2T, KI3T, KIFT, KARR, FLAG, SSC, Knight Industries, Goliath, Juggernaut, Michael Knight, Garthe Knight, Bonnie Barstow, RC3, etc © Universal, Glen A. Larson.
Transformers, Bumblebee, Barricade, Sideways, Sideswipe, Frenzy, Jazz, Galvatron, Brawl, Blackout, Starscream, etc. D&D The Forgotten Realms & Baldur's Gate; + © Hasbro
Command and Conquer + Mass Effect © EA/Electronic Arts
EDI (Stealth movie; pronounced Eddie), separate from Mass Effect's EDI (pronounced Ee-dee)!
Will add to as necessary. I am simply just a fan and not affiliated in any form with those mentioned.
A black Trans Am save for it's amber scanner nearly camouflaged within the night, turning onto the tarmac of a supposedly abandoned airport suddenly without warning found itself immobilized although his wheels span and sensors indicated his tires were still on the ground, they also told him it was some sort of magnetism. Underground was some sort of old refinery with various explosive fuels and chemicals, noting that the magnetism had disabled access to most of his weapons save for his rockets.
A flat-nosed semi drove up close along with two other long-nosed semis.
"Hello, KARR" a dark voice said darkly.
"Goliath" KARR snarled, aware that the truck had had an artificial intelligence installed some time ago loosely based on his own processor yet there was something different about him now, "What do you want?"
"Oh. Nothing," Goliath said innocently before continuing much more darkly, "You see, it's not for me but the one to my right. We require your cooperation, as bait for KITT – the one you know well, which in turn will lure his 'son' Knight Industries Three Thousand here"
"And if I should refuse?" KARR said with a hint of annoyance.
Goliath chuckled amusedly, "You won't if you wish to live." As he said that KARR took notice of the black semi to Goliath's left, noting that indeed it genuinely was the FLAG Mobile Unit which often was KITT's mobile garage. "Should you use your only weapons currently at your exposure, we would no doubt survive the impending explosion whereas you on the other hand..." It; rather the FLAG truck had within a fraction of a second fired an EMP pulse at KARR effectively disabling his Molecular Bonded Shell, causing him to let out a growl.
Before KARR could let out a threat or retort, the darkened windows of the very recently lead-lined cab of the FLAG semi brightened revealed his driver and mechanic, who was alive although frightened evident on her facial expression.
"She will not be harmed so long as you cooperate, however should you try to stray off-course or alert them to our trap," Goliath paused as the black semi shocked the girl which in turn caused KARR to be shocked, though the strength wasn't great it was enough to cause his CPU to fluctuate. Great, KARR thought, they know of my Self-Preservation programming and have found a way to use it against me. That was only one problem about being linked together, neither could essentially live without the other.
He knew that once KITT found out, and due to his programming to protect human life would likely protest any mentions for KARR's deactivation. KARR smiled inwardly to himself, having rather unintentionally found a way to use KITT's own programming against him.
"THAT was just a warning," Goliath said smugly as all three semis then left the area to who-knows-where leaving KARR alone to his thoughts.
KARR sighed on getting an untraceable text from Goliath for the trap's destination and plans, he knew he needed to find KITT, and fast.
Meanwhile elsewhere KITT was headed to their mission's destination which was still quite a drive away, and Michael had unintentionally fallen asleep. He decided to let him rest.
Unknown to KITT, Micheal's dream took a turn for the worst.
Michael found himself in some sort of empty hangar or warehouse, with no obvious exits or even windows. A dim light flickered weakly barely illuminating the room. The room was completely empty save for a shape off in the left corner, that of a Trans Am.
"KITT?" Michael cautiously approached, knowing that KARR once was in appearance an exact twin of KITT. The red scanner came on, yet on getting no response on calling his friend's name a second time he realized something was wrong, very wrong. KITT's engine revved, then flipping on the bright headlights temporarily blinded him as the car sped towards him at an alarming pace. Michael barely got out of the way in time, "Snap out of it, Buddy! Your acting like... KARR, KITT!" Michael tried getting through to his best friend somehow, unfortunately the only response Michael got was that of an angrier engine rev and squealing tires as KITT ran towards him, Michael took a glance around him noting he would not be able to dodge this time. Just before the point of impact, Michael awoke.
Michael woke with a start, looking at the dash of his companion, "KITT?"
"Is there something wrong, Michael?" The car asked slightly concerned, already having detected his elevated heart-rate.
"Just a bad dream; a nightmare more like. You were there, but you weren't you," Michael answered
"What do you mean?" KITT asked, now intrigued.
"You were trying to kill me" Michael answered, surprising KITT
"But, you know that goes against my core programming" KITT explained, trying to process certain situations that might cause such a concern, "Are you sure it wasn't KARR?"
"I'm not so sure it wasn't you, remember Marco?"
"Ugh, don't remind me. But you know I didn't remember any of what happened save for apparently attacking you. What was I like then?" KITT asked curiously.
"For the most part, not much different from KARR. Hell, you even sounded like him which in itself was surprising"
KITT remained silent, then braked hard. "Michael, look to your left"
He did so, "Speak of the devil" a black Trans Am sat on the shoulder of the empty road, amber scanner fluctuating various speeds. On looking closer it appeared as if the car was shivering, "Is it just me or is KARR" Michael didn't need to finish.
"No, it's not you. KARR is genuinely afraid of something." KITT informed.
"What could spook KARR like that?"
"Whatever it was, it must have been bad to have shook him up this bad. My scans indicate his MBS is down, also..." KITT suddenly went silent as KARR turned to show his driver side which was crumpled inwards from a truck-like indention. Wait, truck-like. That means...
"Goliath!" They both exclaimed at once, "But how?" Michael asked, "And any news or mentions of Garthe?"
KARR had visibly calmed some at both realizing that Goliath still existed somehow, yet still shivered.
"Nothing, other than Garthe Knight is officially dead and has been for quite some time"
"KITT, contact Devon with the situation and tell him we need to speak to Bonnie ASAP"
"Done." Within moments Bonnie appeared on KITT's monitor.
"Hi Bonnie, what could genuinely frighten KITT... Or KARR, for that matter? Besides flying." Michael questioned.
"Why do you ask?" Bonnie asked unsure she had heard Michael right.
Both remained silent, then KITT angled himself just enough so that KARR was in view visibly still shaking. Bonnie had taken notice of the damage on KARR, "This is bad... Has he said anything, KITT?"
"He refuses to acknowledge any form of communications, which is either due to his sustained damage or, more likely, he's being tracked by someone. And no I cannot get a lock on it" KITT responded.
"I'll be there in approximately 30 minutes or so," Bonnie said starting to pack her things she would need. Devon appeared on the monitor at that moment, "Please be careful, Michael. Something isn't right here, on top of news of Goliath's return which is disturbing in and of itself"
"Noted," Michael said then the connection was cut.
Well, this would be interesting at least. As they figured out what to do and say, they decided that neither one of them would leave KARR alone until Bonnie showed up, and even then still.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the California state in a completely walled off parking lot underground multiple cars with Artificial Intelligences waited rather impatiently in their... Cages.
"What is taking SO Long; she should have been back by now!" The AI taking on a silver with blue racing stripes wide-bodied 2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, much based on the hero car of the Need for Speed movie with the only difference really being the purple scanner on his grille said irritably.
"Oh, shut up EDI" said a female voice which came from a 2015 Dodge SRT Charger Hellcat, with an identical red scanner to KITT on her grille and a small purplish-pinkish scanner pulsing on her hood.
"ARIA, that was quite rude" Said a male voice which came from an import Nissan Skyline R34, silver with blue racing stripes and blue neon under-glow, obviously based on the one from a Fast and Furious movie; though his scanner was green
"What do you care, CABAL" ARIA quipped.
"Children, please. Calm down. Unfortunately she got caught up in some sort of situation with KARR, though as soon as she's able to she'll likely come straight here for us. Meanwhile, shall we play a game to pass the time?" Said a motherly voice coming from a Buick Riveria Concept who appeared not to have a scanner, it wasn't like she needed it really with a blue light rim of sorts along her body, thicker above the headlights..
"Since we're all A.I., EVA; who's going to keep any one of us from cheating?" A red with white racing stripes Ferrari Enzo known simply as Clyde asked. He also had a scanner, though it was orange colored.
"Fine, I Will. I Do not care to partake in the game anyhow" Said in annoyance the 2015 Ford Mustang F-35 Lightning II. CARTER?" He addressed the white with red racing stripes Lamborghini Sesto Elemento which had a light bright blue scanner.
"We might as well, Hal. it will at least pass the time while we wait." The Lambo suggested and soon a mockup RTS game of Command and Conquer appeared on the large computer, though of course hacked to allow features and factions from other RTS franchises not found in the original game even with the fan modifications available. Of course they were quite limited from their cages on what they could access.
Back at the site of KITT's location Bonnie looked over KARR, first was to assess the damage to the engine compartment.
"I can't believe I am doing this," Bonnie said, more to herself than anyone else as she calmly yet cautiously walked in front of KARR, kneeling to his scanner level, "KARR," She spoke soothingly as if she was talking with a frightened child instead of an extremely dangerous AI that could kill her right now if he so wanted, "May I at least have permission to check the potential damage to your engine? I promise not to change anything lest you want me to" She paused, eying the scanner's pattern. Which paced nervously.
KARR could not speak as the impact from Goliath had cracked his voice modulator and lights, he desperately wanted to tell them somehow what he knew. Unfortunately, there was only one way. Despite his own programming literally screaming at him not to do it, he took the risk using a hologram projector to show them his earlier encounter and quickly sending KITT a scrambled text. Less than a moment later an electrical surge shocked KARR, causing even KITT to cringe despite their connection having been cut. Michael had let out an involuntary "Whoa!" on seeing the strength of the surge. KITT would decode the text later, right now he was immediately on top of KARR who's CPU was struggling to stay online nearly causing him a panic attack. Luckily for him, KITT had given him a "Jumpstart" of sorts to keep his CPU online countering the danger KARR's panic attack would have put Bonnie in.
KITT had only cringed on remembering the time just before he had amnesia from live wires of a power-lines having crashed down upon him due to an explosion caused by their suspect at the time.
Bonnie looked between both cars now, obviously concerned about both now. Killer or no, she placed her palm gently over KARR's violently shaking frame, only when fingertips grazed the edge of KARR's hood did he calm considerably. With an audible click, his hood opened revealing the damage in the engine compartment. Bonnie sighed, carefully feeling for loose parts and debris, and untangling certain wires. She had to give him credit on the amount of restraint he was showing despite her work obviously causing him pain.
"KITT, th-" Michael started but was quickly cut off by KITT surprising him.
"Don't. Michael, I should confess" KITT had interrupted and with a sigh, aware Bonnie could hear him as well while she worked, "I didn't do it for Bonnie, or you, but rather, for KARR himself. Truthfully, I had always cared and all those times we had to defeat him I silently wished he hadn't been left alone. Some five or so years back during that time with Garthe's rocket I had wished my grappling hook to have been made of stronger material then I might have had been able to at the least save KARR, by getting him to safety with us"
KITT's revelation had shocked them all, but KARR most of all. Bonnie had just a moment ago found a way for him to vocally communicate.
"KITT," KARR's pained, distorted voice came through a speaker, "Is that... True?"
"Check your voice analyzers, you know it to be true" KITT stated.
Indeed, KITT had been truthful. KARR processed the information, "I am,... surprised to say the least... I have a driver, unfortunately she has been kidnapped by the truck-trio. I will explain more thoroughly once she is safe, though you all saw what happened when I alerted 'that' to you. Distance doesn't matter, as we are linked we both experience what the other is going through. If I am deactivated, she dies. If there had been another option at the time, I would have considered it. However, there wasn't and this was the only way to save her. Oh, and Michael, she is DNA-wise part of your family" This time it was KARR who had shocked both KITT and Michael.
To Be Continued...