Brotherhood Of The Wolves

by homel001

Disclaimer: All rights to the show and it's characters belong to the late Glen. A. Larson. This is the second story in the Knight Rider '86 series. Set in a fictional Season Five of the original series.

Chapter Two

The Brotherhood Of The Wolves. It was a name that was rarely uttered by the people of Los Angeles. They were considered to be no more than a bunch of mentally challenged types who preached that they were one with nature. However what the people were unaware of was the fact that they were real. They were also very dangerous. The Brotherhood Of The Wolves were actually a Wilderness Altruist Cult who had spent several years cut off from the civilised word. They had built a small complex for themselves in the Californian Hills where the wild animals roamed. It was what they called "Sanctuary." Although they worshipped the ways of the hunter, their leader had a knack of avoiding the course of justice. His vast knowledge kept his Cult above the law. They had been carrying out dangerous heists and hold ups along the country roads. When each heist was completed, the Law couldn't touch them. Their leader was an intelligent man called name was Donovan Cawley. In his previous life, Cawley had been a computer technician with a huge career record behind him. Now, he was playing the part of an all mighty leader to his private little army of maniacs.

Cawley, stood there on the side of the cliff face, staring out into the endless square miles of wilderness. He often basked in his own defiance. He considered himself undefeated. He used the notions as energy to fuel his relentless leadership. One of his followers approached him and took a stand next to him. He was one of the few people that had been easily manipulated by the ex-technician into living his vision of crime.

"It has been taken care of my brother. There were no witnesses." The follower reported.

"Well done brother. You have done me proud once again." Cawley smiled in response as he placed his hand on the man's shoulder. "I wish we could have recruited that child into our pack, but he knew too much. If we are to maintain a grip on our land then we have to make sure that our complex stays a secret."

"Me and Clyde took a drive out to the city limits." The Follower stated, assuring his leader. "The outsiders don't know anything."

"If they did then our mighty ear would have picked up on their cries of fear." Cawley replied as he Looked up to a giant aerial which sat on top of a hill above the complex. "Go and eat something. You must rest for our next big quest tomorrow. It's time."

"You mean? There's another truck coming?"

Cawley nodded. "That's right. This one will be full of treasures. Treasures that will turn our fellow brethren into mighty warriors. It's finally time."

Back in the city, the store keeper flicked the sign round to it's "closed" status. KITT sat patiently in the parking lot awaiting Michael's return. Michael left the shop shaking the shop keeper by the hand. He sat down behind the dash and presented a receipt.

"How did it go?" KITT asked him.

"Very well KITT. The guy was so helpful that he even gave me a receipt." Michael replied. "See if you can find this name. "Donovan Cawley.""

KITT scanned the police database.

"I have found a match. Donovan Cawley. Thirty Two years old, blonde hair, dark eyes, height 5'10, previous job: Computer Technician."

Michael rubbed the back of his head. "Have you got any idea where we can find him?"

"I'm afraid not." KITT denied. "It says here that he is no longer listed under the city's birth registers. This is very peculiar."

Michael had a hunch. "Does the police files have any information on his activities? You know like, Hobbies, Religion. That kind of thing?"

"I can find no mention of such Religious beliefs, but he did take up hunting. Bear hunting to be exact."

"Hunting huh? I wonder where he went after he quit his job?"

"May I suggest that we check out the crime scene. I could probably detect something there."

"Good thinking partner." Michael smiled as he gently tapped the dash with the palm of his hand.

Stick the gear in reverse, KITT backed out of the parking lot. They headed up into the hills at cruising speed with only the empty roads to accompany them. Michael patched in a call to Devon to fill him in of their discovery.

A few hours later, they arrived at the crime scene where Devon and Bonnie had discovered the body. Michael pulled KITT to the side of the road and activated his surveillance mode. The police had still cordoned the area off from earlier. The yellow police tape flickered in the cool evening wind. Michael pulled the tape over his head before kneeling down to expect the scene. He aimed his watch at the dry cracked ground so KITT could scan for readouts.

Michael frowned. "There's not much left except a few spots of blood. Are you picking anything up on your scanners?"

KITT's red scanner dashed back and forth.

"I am detecting distinctive footprint patterns in the soil behind you, Michael." He replied. "They appear to form from the top of the hill."

"What's at the top of that hill?" Michael asked him.

"There is a small dirt road which heads up into the hills. The entrance is located around the next bend in front of me.

Michael then played a possible scenario in his head.

"Whoever attacked this kid, had been chasing him for a while." He said. "Let's check it out."

"Why? Do you think that the killers are still up there?"

"There's only one way to find out. I have a possible hunch. Let's see if it's right."

Michael left the scene quickly and quietly. Returning to KITT, he activated the Silent Mode function which instantly cut the sound of his motors. They slowly crept around the bend where they stumbled across the entrance to a narrow dirt road. Michael suddenly became hesitant as he hovered his foot above the accelerator. KITT seemed to notice his reaction.

"Michael, your stress levels are sky-rocketing. What are you waiting for?"

"I'm not sure." Michael replied uncomfortably. "I just keep getting the feeling that we're being watched."

"Oh? I have scanned the area. There isn't anyone around." KITT assured him.

Michael swallowed his fears. "Well okay. Let's go."

The dirt road took them deeper into the dangerous Californian wilderness. Before they knew it, they had entered the middle of nowhere. To Michael, it felt like they had driven into an undiscovered part of the country. There was no visual trace of the city behind them. KITT kept his scanners trained on the road. They eventually reached the top of the hill and to a clearing. Parking up on the side, Michael peered out over the dash. A mysterious wooden complex sat directly ahead of them. A huge wooden fence blended in with the landscape. A gate was positioned at the end with two small watch towers located at either side of it. KITT zoomed in on the structure. A few seconds later, Michael the crystal clear images appeared on the monitor.

The location confused KITT. "Michael, what is this place?"

"It looks like a complex for a cult." Michael theorised as he studied the place. "I've heard about these places. There considered to be very dangerous. Mind you I never thought I would be this close to one. Alright Scan the interior. Let's see if there's anyone around."

A 3D image appeared on the screen as KITT displayed his findings.

"I detect fifteen individuals scattered throughout the complex." he said. "There is a smaller wooden structure on the cliff face towards the rest. It has a mounted Military grade radar tower mounted on top if it."

Michael couldn't believe his ears. "A radar tower? KITT I think our victim stumbled upon this place by accident. He must have tried to take some photos when he was caught and chased. Wait a minute. What's that over there on the wall?"

KITT focused his scanners on a mark on the wall. He enlarged the image on the monitor.

"It's a cult symbol." He said. "However I don't have any information regarding cult groups in my data banks."

"That's okay buddy. Let's show this evidence to Devon. Maybe the Foundation computers can help us."

"Agreed."

As silently as they arrived, Michael and KITT left the area without being detected. There was no doubt about it. Their victim had been murdered by a cult. Michael took deep breaths at the gruelling thought. Their investigation had opened a darker page.

The Ariel antenna which sat above the complex housed more than just military equipment. It contained several other units which the group had swiped in the past. One of which was a sophisticated police database that never made it to it's destination. It was Cawley's favourite piece of merchandise. He sat there in the confided space of the wooden station as he searched the database for information on young journalist. A file photo of the boy appeared on the screen along with a list of details. One of which was an address.

"Charlie Denton." He muttered to himself as he read the information. "Such a shame. You would have led such an amazing life."

One of his followers entered the room and stood next to Cawley. He observed the screen with his leader as he awaited his instructions.

"Is this him?" He asked.

"Yes." Cawley confirmed. "I want his house searched for any negatives that he might have hidden. I have a gut feeling that tells me he was up here before. If he has then he must already have evidence of our sanctuary."

"What are my instructions, brother?" The follower asked.

"Go to this address." Cawley commanded. "Ransack it. Turn it upside down. I want make sure that this sanctuary is kept safe. If you come across anything that could jeopardise us then destroy it. Is that understood?"

"Understood my Leader." The follower acknowledged as he turned to leave.

The nervous sensation in Cawley's gut began to subside. With his next big heist on the horizon, he had to expect any kind of trouble in any which way possible. He sat there immersed in his own personal silence. He wanted to be the ultimate man.