yay another chapter...and a long one at that, sorry for the wait but i was out on vacations. as a reward for your patience here is one darn long chapter, enjoy

CHAPTER THREE

FIRST MISSION

Two days had passed since KITT had finally given Katie and KIRA the authorization to go out on missions on their own and both where just getting ready to go, it was a relatively easy case, Katie would need to gather evidence to take down a supposed mafia group. Their base of operations was set in New York so they where going to use their recently acquired C-17 to get there, it was going to take them about two hours to get there, for now Katie was finishing with getting her things ready and KITT was having a talk with KIRA.

"Do you already have all the files on the mission?" KITT asked his daughter

"Yes and i have gone trough them with Katie"

"Systems checked?"

"Self diagnostic complete and all systems working under optimum standards"

"Weapons and defenses?"

"Fully operable...Dad, aren't you worrying too much?"

"When we talk about you going on your first mission and that far away i have my reasons to worry"

"Is not a particularly difficult mission, and Katie is the one doing most of the work actually"

"The fact of you going to New York alone is what worries me"

"Why?"

...silence

"Dad?" She said just as Katherine entered the kittcave

"Okay KIRA the plane is ready and waiting on the runway are you ready?" She said walking towards her

KIRA looked at KITT for a few seconds before answering "more than ever" she answered opening her door for Katie to get in as the gimble started turning, then she left leaving KITT alone in the SSC

KIRA got out to be received by both Matt and Kate's parents as well as Zoe, Billy, Alex and Matt

"You two ready?" Matt asked as Katie got out from KIRA

"I think so"

"Nervous?"

"Should i be?"

"First mission alone, what do you think?"

"I am a bit nervous..."

"A bit?"

"...okay very nervous"

"Everything is going to be fine, you just need to get some information and voila, you're done"

"Maybe you are right"

"Hey Katie!" Danny called out from the cargo door of the plane "time to go!"

She turned to look at Matt "well...guess I'll see you in a few days"

"Don't be so sure, I'll be working with Billy, Zoe and Alex in the main room"

"In that case I'll see you later" Katie said as she got back inside KIRA

"Guess you will. Good luck"

"Thanks" then she took off

Danny gave his daughter a few instructions before also saying his farewell and getting down. The plane's engines started and the cargo door started to close, once KIRA was safely secured the plane began taking off as both car and driver watched the screen with the rearview camera, looking at their friends getting smaller by the second, the last thing KIRA saw was her father rolling out of the SSC and parking behind everyone else watching the plane taking off...

The flight was relatively short, or at least it felt like it for Katie, for most of the flight KIRA was giving Katie the mission briefing and by the time they where done reviewing what was going to be Katie's cover identity they where just under five minutes of touching down. Once they where on the ground KIRA was quick to descend and in no time was lost in the city, it had been easy for her to locate where the gang was staying. Now she was parked a few blocks away from the location

"Do you know exactly what you are going to do?"

"Well i go, get in and say that I'm there looking for a job and from then on is just improvise...right?"

"Yes, do you have your cover ready?"

"Of course, do you?"

"Ready..."

"Oh come on, is not that bad is it?"

"It would be okay if it was at least a good car..."

"What do you have?"

KIRA then displayed on her windshield an image of what was going to be her alt mode for the mission

"That is...not so bad!" Katie said suppressing her laugh

"It's horrible!"

"Come on KIRA, it will only be for a while"

"I don't even want to look at it much less transform into it..."

"It's getting late we have to do this now" Katie said before getting out

"...fine...initiating transformation"

Hiding on the shadows of an alley KIRA started to transform...she became taller, longer and wider. Her trunk's door disappeared leaving it open as it grew in every direction, her headlights became bigger and her black stripes disappeared, her tires got bigger by the second as her rims too folded back revealing bigger chrome ones. Katie was now standing in front of an old pick-up truck

"...you know KIRA the picture you showed me was a bit different"

"Do i really have to?"

"Is part of your cover"

"It's humiliating enough to have to be this truck..."

"KIRA..."

The young AI sank on her tires in defeat and with a sigh started to work on he details of her transformation. From certain areas of her box and on her fenders and doors as well as a few spots on her hood and bumpers some of her paint started to peal off exposing rusted metal, then she forced herself to create dents on various places

"Happy?" She asked

"Very much so, thanks"

"Why must i be like this?"

"They must think that i am joining in because i need money, i can't show up on a brand new Mustang"

"You do have a point"

"See"

"Not worth the conditions I'm in..."

"You are such a baby!" Kate started walking to the front of the truck looking at the scanner behind the grille

"Okay, we must start moving then"

"Let's go" Katie said getting back up and starting the engine

It was sundown, two people where innocently standing next to a huge warehouse on the docks of NY. Minding their own business when an old white pick-up truck pulled up in front of them, a young woman came out of it and started walking towards them

"Who are you?" One of them asked

"my name is Tessa Johns, i came here for the job"

The two guards shared a glance before nodding and opening the door letting her in, one of them came in with her while the other stayed out. It was well lit, from the outside it looked like an old building that would probably fall apart in any second...but on the inside...it was a whole different story.

There where some nice furniture decorating each section of the building, fancy paintings hung from the walls and some areas where lined with fine carpets. At the very back of the building was another door which the guard opened for her. Before leaving, Katie didn't really expected it to be that easy, was she in?

Kate was left to wander in the room alone, it was quite big and well decorated, at the back of it was a neat desk with some papers on it

"KIRA?" She asked trough the earwig

"Yes?"

"Are there any cameras or sensors in this room?"

"Only one. I need you to sit on the couch and act natural for a minute"

"What?, why?"

"To create a loop"

"Oh okay" she did as instructed. After a minute KIRA was ready with the loop

"The loop is ready, you may now to what you need"

"Okay i have something here, i need you to check if anyone comes, tell me if they do"

"Okay"

Katie started to look trough the papers that laid on the desk, they where mostly small bills and payments, nothing of interest, there was a locked cabinet on one side of the desk "hello"

"Did you find anything?"

"There is a locked cabinet on the desk, i think this might have what we need"

"Do you have the key?"

"No, and i think we-"

"Katie" KIRA interrupted "someone is approaching the room"

"Thanks KIRA" she then quickly placed the stack of papers as it was and went to sit at the couch just as the door opened. A well trimmed, tall, slim man walked in, he was wearing a black suit and red tie. He kept walking until he reached the desk and sat down, gesturing for Katie to take one of the chairs in front of him. he was playing with a small keychain between his fingers and Katie could clearly see a key that ,judging by it's size, it would fit perfectly into the cabinet.

"So...why do you want this job?" he asked

"i heard i can get loads of money in a very short period of time, is it true"

"indeed, but d you know what that implies?"

"i do"

"and yet you are still willing to take the job?"

"if i wasn't i wouldn't even be here to begin with"

"well in that case Tessa Johns, you are part of this little show"

"when do i start?"

"later tonight. i want to see what you are made of"

"what do i have to do?"

"I'll send someone to tell you when the time is close, for now, choose a room and make yourself comfortable" he said before getting up and walking towards the door, he held it open until she was out. she was smart enough to take one of the empty rooms that where relatively close to the main office, she needed to find that key, fast

once she was in the room she locked the door and started to look around looking for any cameras, luckily she didn't saw any but just to be sure...

"KIRA i need you to scan the room, check if there are any microphones or hidden cameras"

"already doing so...it looks like you are clear. there was however a camera in the main office, did you saw the keychain he was carrying?"

"yeah, it had the key to the cabinet i told you about. do you know where he is now?"

"he went back to his room and there are no cameras there"

"so we practically reached a dead end?"

"if you want to call it like that"

"great, what now?"

"the only thing we can do is wait until they give you an assignment"

"or i could walk around the building and see if i can find anything else"

"i wouldn't recommend that"

"why?"

"you just arrived, if you get caught who knows what they'll do"

"is worth taking the risk, i really don't want to end up doing the mafia's dirty work"

"there is nothing else you can do at the moment but wait and follow orders"

"...are there any cameras around the building?"

"one on each hall and at least one on each room other than the living area"

"well keep an eye on me and ell me if anything is out of the ordinary I'm going out to take a look"

"Katie i don't think-"

"do you trust me?"

"yes but-"

"then trust me when i tell you that everything is going to be fine"

"but-"

"trust me"

"...i trust you Katie"

"thanks, where are you?"

"parked on one side of the building"

"okay keep your scanners up and link to the cameras you need I'm moving in"

"okay, be careful Katherine"

Katie started to walk around the building, taking in everything considerably important, she hadn't yet met with any of the other people in the building and shewas actually glad for that, when walking around she found a particularly mysterious door at the end of a hallway, curious, she went towards it and surprised to find it open. she was surprised to find that it led outside and she was about to go back in when she heard something. she followed the noise and around a corner she saw quite a large group of men unloading a small truck that was full to the top with al kinds of weapons and ammo. "so that's why i didn't saw anyone inside" she said to herself, she took out her phone and took a few pictures of some of the men so she could use the recognition software in KIRA later on, just as she pulled her phone away she felt something cold and hard on her shoulder followed by the voice of a man

"put your hands up" Katie slowly stood up and turned around to face one of the guards she met at the door pointing a gun at her "what do you think you are doing"

"taking in some fresh air"

"really?" he chuckled "give me the phone"

"what?"

"phone"

she started to pull her phone out but just when she was about to give it the man fell limp to the ground, behind him, an old white truck

"i think i told you to be careful"

"why didn't you warned me about him?!" she said pointing to the sleeping man

"if i had you would probably try to get away but he had already seen you and it would only made things worst"

"don't do any plans without telling me first, scared the hell out of me" a sigh "and what did you do to the poor man anyways?" she asked now looking at the man again

"i simply used a very strong sedative"

"you know is not polite to shoot people with elephant tranquilizer" she added with a smile

"he was not polite with you, why should i be polite with him?"

"point taken. well enough fooling around, what do we do with him?, he is going to wake up eventually"

"good question"

both stood thinking for a few minutes

"i got it" Katie said with a smile

an hour had passed since Kate's little incident and now she was entering her room again talking to KIRA

"now please record it when it happened okay?, i want to have something to laugh at back in the SSC"

"I'll be sure to do so, how did you came up with that idea?"

"it just came to me, he smelled like alcohols already so i guess that had something to do"

"oh. from now on please promise me you'll be more careful"

"i will i will...or I'll try at least"

"i warned you about going out"

"yeah" she said as she laid down on the bed "but you know i never listen"

"Katie, a group of men is heading in your direction"

a sigh "then i guess it's time to receive my assignment" she said sitting back up as someone knocked on the door

"come in" five men dressed all in black entered the room, behind them was the boss

"are you read to go Jones?"

"you haven't yet told me what i have to do"

"take this" he threw a small gun at her "use your imagination, go to the main entrance in ten minutes" then he left followed by all the others

"what did he said?" KIRA asked

"i-i think i know what my mission is..."

"what do you have to do?"

"i have to kill someone..."

"are you sure?"

"he just threw a gun at me and told me to use my imagination and i don't think he is taking me to do some target practice, it's the mafia what else could it be?"

"what else did he told you?"

"nothing else, just to meet him at the entrance in ten minutes"

"go, I'll be monitoring you with a camera"

"okay"

Kate did as instructed and went to the entrance where the boss was already waiting for her

"okay what exactly do i have to do?"

he handed her a small file with a picture and some general info of a man "this guy refuses to pay a loan he took from us, finish it" she nodded and went to her truck once she was out of the property she started to work on a plan with KIRA

"okay so what can we do?"

"i have a special gun you can use, it contains the same tranquilizer i used on that guy earlier and i think you'll be glad to know that your plan worked"

"did he woke up already?"

"yes, would you like to see the footage?"

"no I'll save it for later"

"take the gun" she said opening her glove compartment revealing the gun

"do we at least know where he is?"

"fifteen minutes away from our current location"

"well at least he is close"

"did you fin anything else?"

"not really, how about you?"

"i got the identifications of the pictures you took, they all have an extensive criminal record that goes from robbery of a mini-mart to murder"

"then why are all of them still out if they have the record?"

"remember who they are working for, the mafia has a lot of money and resources to keep a man out of jail"

"right...we have to take this guy down. do we at least have a name for him?"

"his name is Markus Florence, also known as the ghost, a very renown Mafia leader, he was part of a street gang here in New York when he was ten years old and from then on everything started escalating until he reached this point"

"any evidence of him?"

"no, the few times he is the one committing the crimes there are no traces of him ever being there tat is why they call him the ghost"

"so we actually got a hard one didn't we?"

"i think we did"

"how are we supposed to take him down then?"

"he keeps track of the crimes he has done we know that for a fact, maybe the files are in that drawer you saw"

"i bet they are. how close are we?"

"his car is parked just up ahead" KIRA said as she parked in an alley in front of the car

"what now?"

"we wait until he comes out of the store then do the job"

luckily they didn't have to wait long, in under held how Jake Lewis was trying to open the door of his car, he was quite thin for his age and his clothes where far from any good condition, to make matters worst he couldn't get the car's door to open

"just feel bad for him"

"we have to get this don" KIRA said lowering her window so Katie could point the gun

"i don't want to do this" she said as she aimed, finger on the trigger

"remember that you are not going to kill him"

"i know but...i don't like shooting at people, even if it is with a super tranquilized"

"you have to do this"

a sigh "will he be okay?"

"he will probably receive a good hit when he falls to the floor but other than that he will be fine"

"are you sure?"

"I'm i ever wrong?"

"no" she said just as she pulled the trigger and just as it had happened before the man fell and laid motionlessly on the floor

"done" she said placing the gun back into the glove compartment "wait but how will these guys know that the job is done?"

"a car just took off from one block away driving on the warehouse's general direction"

"they where watching us?"

"they always send someone else to watch over their job"

"talk about stalking people"

"they send someone from the outside to supervise each hit they make to make sure it's done as instructed"

"won't they realize that we didn't actually kill him?"

"since they had already seen the shot, they would probabbly think that he is actually dead"

"maybe you're right...let's go back before something else happens"

"wait"

"what is it?"

"you need to take out one of the bullets from the gun Markus gave you"

"what for?"

"if he checks the gun and finds it fully loaded you could rise suspicion"

"right" she said opening the gun and taking out a bullet and placing it in het pocket "can we go now?"

"yes" she said driving away from the place.

they arrived at the warehouse to be met by Markus and some of the other workers outside. she parked her truck in front of the building and got out, walking towards everyone

"how did it go?" Markus asked

"not a single inconvenience" Katie said handing back the gun and just as KIRA had said the first thing he did was check the gun effectively finding that one bullet was missing "you only used one?"

"i have a good aim" she added walking past him and into the building and into her room.

as the night wore on people went back to their rooms to sleep, by the early hours of the morning almost everyone was asleep except three guards at the main entrance...and Katie

"KIRA you there?"

"always"

"okay i need you to create a loop on all cameras that can get me all the way from the exit of my room to the main office"

"the camera inside too i suppose"

"of course"

a minute later "you may move now"

"okay thanks" Katie ran trough the hallways being careful of not being seen by anyone, looking to both sides before every turn and carefully listening for any noise as her training kicked in. she kept moving that way until she finally saw the office, she had seen Markus leave the key in the office and KIRA had confirmed that it was still there, the question now was, where?

she opened the door silently and closed it behind her, there where many placed to hide a key, it could be either on the desk or on the small wardrobe or even inside one of the tiny decorative boxes that stood on a shelf next to the door

"okay KIRA i ned some help"

"what for?"

"there are three possible places in which the key may be hidden and i don't have time to go trough all thoroughly"

"what can i do?"

"can't you scan them?"

"not from my current position"

"you think that if you get closer you might be able?"

"maybe, but i have three guards behind me standing on the door"

"great...okay super car go ahead"

"pardon me?"

"where should i start searching?"

"i already told you i cannot scan that far for objects like that"

"i know i got you the first time"

"then why do you still-"

"a hunch...what's your hunch where should i start"

"a hunch...i can't give you my hunch but i can tell you the]at there is a higher probability it is in one of the boxes on the shelf"

"there, was it that hard?"

"i would suggest for you hurry up, more people are starting to wake up"

"are they heading here?"

"no, but the chances that they discover my loop and eventually find you increase"

"okay"

Katherine quickly started to open each of the tiny boxes until she found the key. quickly she ran towards the desk and opened the cabinet, it was indeed filled to the top with papers, she took a stack out and started to look trough the files.

"KIRA we got what we where looking for"

"did we?"

"yeah, this are orders he filled out for some of his 'jobs' ...murder, kidnapping, bribing everything we need is here"

"then i would suggest you would go back to your room quick before someone notices"

"right" She folded the files and hid them in her jacket, carefully she opened the door and got out. she started to work on her way back to her room, in just under two minutes she had made it. she entered her room and quickly turned around to lock the door with a sigh, she had made it...she had actually made it!

"everything okay there Tessa?" a male voice asked. Katie froze...she turned around to Face Markus and three of his men "you look pretty agitated"

"just went out for a walk around the place"

"Did you really. i hope you had some fun, why don't you come with me for another walk"

"I'm pretty tired right now maybe later?"

"nah come on, it will be fun" he grabbed Kate by the arm and took her out of the room with him. all five of them walked trough the building and exited trough the back door that led to one of the small piers. seeing where the situation was leading and taking advantage of the background noise of the sea and the passing boats she took the chance to call KIRA

"KIRA they got me, we need a plan" she whispered

"i am already working on it. i still have eight tranquilizer darts, do you want me to use them?"

"no, you can't shoot them all at once they will realize something's wrong"

"i have another plan then. but you have to do exactly as i say"

"go ahead"

"I'm going to drive directly towards you scaring the men off, i will turn just in time to avoid hitting you so you can get in quick. it is very important for you not to move"

"okay"

by the time she finished making up a plan with KIRA she found herself at the edge of the pier

"you shouldn't never mess up the mafia you know?, it will never end well"

"really?"

"that's our strongest characteristics. we get rid of things that didn't worked out"

"like you've been doing for years"

"and you just go yourself a ticket to be the next one"

a screech of tires was heard making everyone turn to find some sort of modified Mustang, it stopped some distance away from them and revved it's engine before speeding straight towards them. Markus stepped back quickly but his men remained until the car was just a meter away, it suddenly turned nearly missing them as it opened it's door, in a second Katie disappeared inside the car as it peeled off

"you nearly ran me over!"

"you're welcome"

"you nearly ran me over!"

"i told you it was going to be close"

"You said you where to turn in the last minute not that you where going to come so close that i felt the vibrations of your engine as it moved at like a hundred kph a millimeter away from me!"

"are you injured?"

"no but-"

"then don't complain. do you have the files?"

"yeah" she pulled them out of her jacket and placed them on the passenger seat "can we go back now?"

"i don't see why not" KIRA then went back to her normal mode and headed for the air port as she informed the SSC that they had completed the mission successfully

please tell me what you think about the story so far and if you have any suggestions please tell