Kitt's recovery was slow. Painstakingly so. Every progressive step forwards was met with a multitude of other problems which needed to be addressed. If there was no factor of sentimentality involved, then they would have given up days ago. Fortunately for Kitt, each and every person there cared for him, and was willing to do anything to improve his current state.
"How is he?" Michael questioned for the millionth time that day. Kitt was grateful for his concern, however Bonnie found it distracting.
"He's exactly as I said earlier. He's improving slowly, but still has a long way to go, now if you'll excuse me, I'm needed elsewhere." She walked off and set to work on Kitt, effectively preventing Michael from pestering her anymore.
Michael was frustrated with his lack of ability to help. He truly wanted to help the AI he had come to consider a friend, but had completely insufficient knowledge of computer systems, preventing him from being of any help towards the recovery effort. He knew his constant inquiries to Bonnie were more of a hindrance than anything, but he couldn't bring himself to stop. He needed to feel as though he was in some way helping.
"Kitt? How's it going buddy?" Michael asked.
"My systems are gradually being repaired, and I will soon be fully functional," Kitt replied, answering the question with almost the same way that Bonnie had. Michael paused for a moment to think. Kitt had only talked about the car. Michael had gradually come to realise the distinction that Kitt often refused to admit, but it was there. Kitt had a personality, and the last comment didn't even portray a hint of his personality.
Michael walked over to Kitt, and climbed inside the Trans-Am, closing the door behind him. He addressed his next question to the voice modulator. "How's it really going?"
"As I said, my systems are gradually being repaired," Kitt replied monotonously.
"You know that's not what I meant," Michael said simply. He knew that something was wrong and was not about to give up on finding out what it was. He knew that the best solution would be for Kitt to talk, but that was the problem. For Kitt, talking about emotions would be the last thing that he would openly express, often being in favour of informing anyone who asked that he was a computer, and couldn't have emotions.
"Well, what did you mean?" Kitt replied after a moment.
"How are you doing? Not the car, not your systems… How are you?" Michael questioned.
"Michael, I'm a computer. How I'm doing is defined by the functionality of my systems.
"You know you're not just a computer…" Michael began.
"I am a computer. You're giving me human attributes, but at the end of the day, I'm the Knight Industries Two Thousand. I'm just a fancy computer that controls the car."
The conversation continued like this for the next few hours, until eventually, Michael fell asleep. Bonnie smiled to herself. Michael was one of the closest people to Kitt and was helping Kitt's recovery in his own way. Unlike the technician busily working on repairs, Michael was Kitt's emotional support, not that Kitt would ever admit it.
AN: What do you think? What can I improve? Let me know by writing a review. :-)
