"You are not serious," Vinh said, staring at Randi severely from over his dismantled computer. "Cars don't talk."

"This one did!" Randi protested. "Like I said, his name's KITT. He thinks I accidentally reactivated him the last time I snuck into the warehouse. He's been shut off for close to twenty years, near as we can figure."

"'He'?"

Randi shrugged, shifting uncertainly. "It sounded like a he. Seems way more advanced than an it. He seemed pretty pleasant, too."

"Pleasant-- Randi, cars do not talk!"

"KITT talks! He told me he was stolen from some foundation or something. He isn't sure what the Black Rings wants with him, but I told him what I know and he's evaluating the information now. He said to come back tonight and maybe he'll have something. Come see for yourself!"

"Me? Sneak into that warehouse? Not a chance," Vinh protested. "And how do you know this isn't a trap or a trick?"

"KITT seemed pretty honest to me," Randi said. "Besides, can machines lie?"

Vinh sighed, putting down his sautering iron and rubbing his forehead. "If this is an artificial intelligence--which is a big 'if,' by the way--but if this is, anything is possible."

Randi chewed her lower lip, considering their options. "What if...we could set something up so you could talk to KITT yourself? Think you could make something like that?"

Vinh gave her a hard look. "You doubt my capabilities?"

"No! Not at all!" Randi quickly interjected. "But if you're not coming to the warehouse, then how would that work?"

"Very carefully." Vinh paused. "I will need this...KITT's assistance, and you will have to run messages until we get this figured out. Is that what you want to do?"

Randi grinned. Giving Vinh a technological challenge was always productive. "Sure. I'll tell him tonight."

* * *

The day went by in a blur of anticipation, and she had a hard time focusing. She tried to cover it up, but a number of people noticed and asked if she was all right--well, most of the instructors asked, and two other trainees. The rest had some sharp comment about needing to get her head straight.

It was hard not to think about KITT, though. A talking car! And one that was so polite, too. This was amazing. No, it was beyond amazing. It was impossible, and wonderful...and who knew what else it was! A talking car!

That night, Randi made it to the warehouse and KITT in record time, hardly waiting until the door was closed before telling him their idea. "Do you think it will work?"

"I see no reason why it should not," KITT responded. "In fact, there is a particular frequency that I am attuned to. My partner, Michael Knight, had a two-way radio watch we could communicate through. If I provide you with that frequency, it should not be too difficult for Mr. Quong to manufacture a communications device."

"Sounds good to me," Randi said.

There was a sound like a whirring, and then a paper slid out of a slit in KITT's dashboard. "Not all of my functions are active," he explained, "but my printer is among the ones that are. Mr. Quong should find this useful."

Randi had no clue what the letters and symbols and, well, geekspeak, said, but she folded the paper and slid it into her pocket. "Did you figure out anything about the Black Rings?"

"Indeed I did," KITT answered. "I have succeeded in connecting to their computer mainframe, and the information they have is quite fascinating. If Mr. Quong makes the communication device and connects it to a computer, I can send all the information to you through it."

"Wow," was all Randi could say.

"However, you are quite correct in your suspicions about the Black Rings, which has connections to several terrorist organizations." Randi's jaw dropped, but she could say nothing before KITT continued, "In fact, Julian Rodolf, the Black Rings' leader, is wanted in numerous countries, including the United States, for espionage and terrorism. You are in a very dangerous situation, Miss Pryors."

"Oh...wow." Randi tried to think. "We should tell someone, shouldn't we? Like the FBI."

"There is only so much they can do," KITT said. "They could arrest Rodolf, provided they could reach him, but the Black Rings extends far beyond the main organization. They have many connections that work above and beyond the law, and are all but untouchable."

"Well, how do we stop them?"

"I wish I knew," KITT admitted. "The organization I worked for, the Foundation for Law and Government--FLAG, for short--specialized in situations like this. However, I do not know if they are still active, and my homing device seems to be damaged."

"Hm." Randi drew up her legs and rested her chin on her knees. "We need to do something. We'll figure something out, KITT. Together."

"Your optimism and enthusiasm are encouraging, Miss Pryors."

Randi grinned. "Call me Randi."