OK...well, this isn't the best piece of work I've ever written, by far, so don't judge my writing on this chapter. But there are a few very important plot twists, so read on! Don't forget to leave a review!

And the same old disclaimer: I don't own Michael, Kitt, Bonnie, Karr, or Knight Rider. Bobby, McKenna and Kiara are mine.

Chapter Nine: Change In Plan

McKenna watched, dumbfounded, as Karr started up and drove away as fast as he could, tires squealing. She pressed Kitt's gas pedal. "Let's go after 'em!"

Kitt charged through the streets after the fleeing Camero. Bobby and Karr led McKenna and Kitt on a twisting course, and McKenna was having a hard time keeping control of the car.

"Why don't you let me drive?" Kitt suggested.

"Thanks," McKenna panted, throwing her hands up in the air as she heard the beep that signified that Kitt had switched into 'Auto Cruise'. Instantly she was propelled to the back of her seat by the sheer force of gravity as Kitt surged faster.

McKenna frowned as they swerved through the roads, breaking every speed limit and running every red light. Bobby was a really good driver, and she was glad that Kitt was experienced at this sort of thing. She told him so. "I'm sure glad you're here."

"Likewise," Kitt sighed as he worked his way through a particularly difficult turn.

McKenna gave the dash a halfhearted glare.

When Bobby finally pulled over, Kitt came to a stop next to him. McKenna got out and stormed over to Bobby, who had also gotten out and was looking as though he were dreading facing her.

"Your car has the MBS!" she exploded as they came face-to-face.

He drew in a deep breath. "Yes," he said slowly and carefully.

She narrowed her eyes. "How?" she asked in a sharp tone.

Bobby didn't bat an eyelash as he replied, "Karr told me where to find it."

Her jaw dropped to the floor. "You stole the formula for the molecular bonded shell?" she asked carefully.

He nodded coolly, his eyes no more than slits.

"Then the Foundation doesn't have the formula right now, after all."

He glared at her, but didn't say another word.

McKenna didn't need him to explain anything. Her mind was whirling with answers to everything. "That's how you know so much about those guys. You're on the run from them, too! And when you met up with Dad that night near the Knight Mansion were you going back for more, or what?" she demanded. "Tell me, Bobby!"

Bobby gave a ghost of an amused smile at the furious teenager who was ordering him around like she was his mother, and then he spoke calmly. "We were going back to the Knight Mansion to replace the stolen formula. We didn't need it anymore. Karr here wanted the MBS for protection."

Karr rumbled. "You agreed, Bobby," he gruffly reminded his driver.

"Shut up."

"So, wait," McKenna said softly. "Ethan Lowry is after you for stealing the MBS. He's after us for stealing Kitt. And we also need the MBS formula." She stared at him, a sparkle lighting in her eyes.

Bobby noticed it, and he immediately looked suspicious. "I'm not sure if I like this," he stated.

"Bobby…" she began sweetly. "Could you do us a favor?"

He rolled his eyes.

McKenna cheerfully rang the doorbell and heard it echo through the house. Normally she would've just taken Bobby through the garage, but she wasn't sure how wise that would be now that Kiara was in there.

Bonnie appeared on the stairs near the large glass window near the door as Leya began to bark. She hesitated when she saw Bobby, and McKenna waved cheerfully at her mother.

Bonnie quickly opened the door for them, and after McKenna had introduced Bobby to her and Leya had given her enthusiastic approval of Bobby with a rather slobbery kiss, McKenna took Bobby downstairs to the basement where Michael was working. "Dad? You in here?"

"Over here, hon."

They tromped over to the back of the basement, where Michael was working on Bonnie's computer.

"What are you doing?" McKenna asked.

"Oh, just something your mother wanted me to work on for a while," he explained, standing up and offering his hand. "Hi, Bobby. How are you?"

"Fine, I think." He glared sidelong at McKenna, giving half a grin. She smiled innocently back.

Michael rolled his eyes. "She's done it again, has she?" he chuckled. "Why don't you take a seat, Bobby? McKenna, could you take these up to your mother's desk?" He handed her two computer chips.

She nodded. "Sure." Quickly she backed away as the men began talking, and then hurried up the stairs. She walked through the kitchen, dropped off the chips on Bonnie's desk, and then wandered back through the kitchen and past the basement door to the attached garage.

McKenna pushed open the door and strolled inside. She glanced around, even though she knew every nook and cranny in the place.

The two-car garage was small, but cozy. A little television set sat on a shelf in the back left corner, and Bonnie's computer equipment lined the left wall. Their fishing and camping gear that usually took up half of the garage had been stuffed in the attic, and Kiara was parked in its' place. Kitt was in the spot where they usually parked their Jeep, which was currently outside in the driveway. Other than the computer equipment and the two high-tech cars sitting in it, it looked like a normal two-car garage.

She walked over to Kiara and opened the door to the Mustang. Kiara let her in, and McKenna lounged across the seats. She beamed. "Sometimes it's still a little hard to believe you're mine," she commented.

"Well, I am an extremely advanced vehicle," Kiara said. "I am six point two years ahead of what the general public is accustomed to."

McKenna laughed. "Well, jeez, don't be too modest about it or anything," she teased.

"I am not being immodest. I am simply stating the facts. There's a difference."

"Some people might say there is."

"They are entitled to their opinion," Kiara said mischievously. "I am entitled to mine. And if that's how they think, I prefer my own beliefs."

She burst into laughter. "Has anyone ever told you that you're arrogant?"

"No."

"You're arrogant."

"Now they have."

McKenna giggled. Then she sighed, still smiling at the dashboard. "Wonder why my parents never told me that they worked with AIs," she murmured, half to herself. "I would've loved to hear all of their stories."

Kitt chimed in from the other side of the garage. "I can tell you," he volunteered.

McKenna brightened. "Could you? Thanks!" She flopped back in the seat, looking expectantly at Kitt. "What was the best, biggest mission you guys went on?"

"Oh, goodness," Kitt laughed. "I'm not sure if there was one 'biggest' mission. They were all important. But I know one that you'll like, since you have a horse. Michael and I once knew a young lady named Maxine. I think you would have liked her, McKenna. She owned a racehorse named King Jack, but Max's partner faked King Jack's death because…"

For an hour, McKenna sat, fascinated, listening to Kitt's stories about times past. She asked some questions here and there, but Kitt was a good storyteller and didn't leave much out.

"…After that, Bonnie found the missing little girl, and she was reunited with her mother," Kitt finished his fourth story. "It was a happy ending, but unfortunately, Chuck Wallyburton didn't leave. He was handling the case for the Feds." A note of disgust entered Kitt's voice. "I hope to never cross paths with him again."

McKenna laughed. "I don't know if I should feel more sorry for you or for Chuck!" she said. "I can't believe you seat ejected him like that." Under her breath, she added, "Little buddy."

"Wouldn't you seat eject a man who wouldn't stop calling you that horrendous nickname?" Kitt countered good-humoredly.

"Absolutely," she said cheerfully.

They were interrupted by a door swinging open and closed. McKenna glanced out the open door to the driveway, and saw Bobby walking down the steps towards where Karr was waiting.

"Hey!" she called, scrambling out after him.

Bobby turned to wait for her. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, and his expression was unreadable.

"So, how'd it go?" she asked, stopping in front of him.

"Fine," he answered, nodding curtly as he pulled open the Camero's door. But before he got in, he paused and eyed Kiara. "Is that the other AI you were talking about?"

McKenna smiled proudly and stood a few inches taller. "Meet Kiara, the Knight Industries Advanced Roving Automation."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Fallon," Kiara said politely.

Bobby gave a hint of a wry grin. "Just Bobby." He shot McKenna a glance. "I'll be back with the MBS formula tomorrow. I'll see you then."

She shrugged and nodded. "Right. See you." She watched Bobby drive away, sighed, and went back to the house. She played Kitt's stories over and over again in her head. They were so full of action, full of danger and adventure and suspense. She loved it! Putting everything at stake for the sake of doing what was right, to make the world a better place. To make a difference in the world. She couldn't think of anything better to do with your life.

She was more determined than ever to do this.

McKenna skipped inside to see her parents at the dining table. Bonnie was sipping a cup of coffee and Michael was staring into space, thinking hard about something.

"So Bobby's coming back tomorrow?" she asked curiously.

Bonnie glanced up. "Mm-hmm. He's willing to give us the MBS formula for Kiara, luckily."

"Awesome!"

Michael spoke up, never taking his eyes off of the imaginary point on the wall behind McKenna. "I still don't know if she should be doing this, Bon," he sighed, as though McKenna wasn't even there. "It could be dangerous."

McKenna forced herself to stay calm. "I can do it," she said evenly. "I'm not a little girl anymore."

"But that's just it." Both Bonnie and McKenna jumped as he rose his voice slightly. "You're too young to do this. I don't know why I agreed to this in the first place." He stood up and began to pace angrily. "Do you have any idea what kind of danger we're putting ourselves into, McKenna?"

She met his angry stare with a hard gaze. "I do," she said firmly. "You aren't working on the Lowry case while you're trying to figure Bobby out. Kiara and I are ready. We have gone over all of the possibilities several times."

"And yet you still want to help."

"Absolutely." She stared at him as he shook his head and turned his back on her. Her jaw dropped and her arms sagged at her sides, but a fire sparked in her clear blue eyes. "You don't think I can do it, do you?" she demanded. "You really don't think I can!"

Michael rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache, not turning to look at his family.

"You've spent your whole life driving across the country to help other people who need help," she continued furiously. "It's all you've ever known and you think you know everything. You know that you belong out there, working for the greater good. So why can't I? I don't belong anywhere. You haven't even thought about finding out what happened to your own partner because you're too caught up in personal problems!" Even she was shocked at her own words, but they came spilling out faster than she could stop them.

Michael suddenly spun to face her, and even McKenna flinched. She'd never seen him look so angry. "Kitt and I are working on it, McKenna," he snapped. "And if you don't belong anywhere, what makes you so certain that you belong here? Maybe you don't, McKenna! It's too dangerous for a girl!" He punctuated each word with a wave of his hand.

McKenna froze, stung deeply. For a moment, all she could do was stare at her father in shock, and for a moment a heavy silence hung over the room. Everyone was too stunned to speak.

Then McKenna turned and fled. Michael and Bonnie listened to her footsteps echoing down the stairs, and then they heard a door slamming.

Michael stared into the doorway where she had disappeared, unable to believe what he had just said. He frowned, silently beating himself up for saying that. He shook his head and closed his eyes for a few moments. "Bonnie, I'm sorry…"

Bonnie stood up, pushing her chair out behind her. He looked up to see her eyes blazing in anger. "Why are you apologizing to me?" she hissed. "Do you have any idea how much you just hurt her?"

Michael blinked. "I –"

She didn't give him a chance to finish. "Since she was a little girl, she's wanted to be like you, Michael," she growled. "But she's sixteen now. She's not helpless anymore. Why is it so hard for you to understand that? Get it through your thick head that McKenna is exactly like you. And don't you dare stop her from living a dream." With that, she spun on her heel and marched down the hallway, towards the bedrooms. In a moment there was, again, the sound of a door slamming. Michael was alone in the room.

Leya had been dozing on the couch a few feet away, but now she scrambled to her feet and nudged her nose under Michael's hand, whining.

Michael crouched down and petted the puppy's ginger neck fur, ducking away from her wet kisses. "What've I done now, Leya?" he murmured.

When McKenna heard the garage door creak open on its' rusty hinges, she buried herself in her face in her arms. She knew who it would be.

Sure enough, Bonnie soon tapped on Kiara's door. Inside, McKenna was curled up against the dashboard, trying to quieten her anger.

"Shall I open the door, McKenna?" Kiara asked softly.

"Sure." She wiped at her eyes.

The door whirred open, and Bonnie leaned into the cabin. She ran a hand through McKenna's long hair. "I'm sorry…"

She swatted Bonnie's hand away angrily. "Who gave him the right to tell me where I do or don't belong?" she growled. "He's always known where he belongs. He doesn't know anything about feeling like you don't fit in anywhere. The girls at school think I'm weird because I like horses and cars. The only people at the barn are grown-ups, and they sure don't seem to think that I belong on a horse. And they're right." She stared angrily out the window. "I'm a total failure."

Bonnie looked at her, studying her carefully as though looking at her for the first time. "You know that isn't true. You're a bright, talented, wonderful young girl and there's so much you can do."

"But not enough."

There was a moment of silence in the garage, and the only sound to be heard was the soft, refined whir of Kiara's scanner. McKenna leaned her head on the modified steering wheel, frowning. "Kiara is the only one who understands me," she muttered. "She's the only one who knows who I am. I'm not a girl anymore. I can stand up for myself."

The scanner made a soft, gentle purring sound, as though Kiara was trying to comfort her unhappy driver.

"He's too busy trying to find out more about Karr to even think about Ethan Lowry," she grumbled.

"Honey, that's not true –"

"Yes it is!" she exploded. "It's like he doesn't even care about Kitt anymore! Kitt was hurt, badly, and he acts like he could care less whether or not we find out what happened to him. Dad's too caught up in his own problems to even care about what happened when Kitt was deactivated!" she shouted. "If he would just give me a chance, I can help! I can find out what happened between them if you'll just let me!"

A heavy silence hung in the garage for a couple moments after McKenna's outburst. Embarrassed, McKenna turned away from Bonnie.

"We've never really told you Michael's story, have we?" Bonnie asked softly.

McKenna wiped at her nose. "He was chosen by Wilton Knight to drive Kitt and fight crimes all over the country. Right?"

She took a deep breath. "I think you're old enough to understand now," she said softly. "It's a bit more complex than that."

Kitt watched quietly from the other side of the garage, waiting and listening. He knew the story by heart.

"You know that before he began working for FLAG, he was a cop," Bonnie began.

She nodded.

"His name wasn't always Michael Knight," she explained. "Back when he worked for the police, he was known as Michael Long."

McKenna's eyes whipped around to stare at her, startled.

"A woman named Tanya Walker shot Michael Long in the face. Lucky for him, Wilton Knight found him unconscious on a lonely desert highway, barely alive." Now Bonnie's words spilled out as though she couldn't stop them. "He gave Michael a new face, a new name, and a new life while Michael Long was declared dead."

"But what about his family?" McKenna blurted. "What about his parents? Did they think he was dead, too?"

"Yes," Bonnie said slowly. "Michael couldn't tell anybody about his former life. Not even his family. Only Devon and I, and of course, Kitt, knew about Michael Long."

"But then how did he become Michael Knight?"

"He took on Wilton's last name after Wilton died." Bonnie sighed deeply. "You can imagine that the transition was extremely difficult for him. In fact, he never would have even survived if it hadn't been for Kitt." A fond smile played across her face. "He saved Michael's life in more way than one. He wouldn't ever admit it, but I believe Kitt gave him someone to hold onto, someone to trust when it seemed to him that nobody could ever be trusted again. Kitt saved him when he brought Michael to a hospital when he nearly bled to death avenging Michael Long. Those two have been in more tight situations than there are hours in a day, but they've been lucky. They've always made it through." She looked McKenna square in the eye. "He just doesn't want you to be hurt, McKenna," she said gently. "He doesn't want anything like that to happen to you, his only daughter. Can't you understand that?"

She frowned and turned away. She crossed her arms on Kiara's dashboard and buried her face in them. "No," she said simply.

Bonnie sighed. For a long moment she rubbed her daughter's back, and then she went inside, leaving her daughter curled up in Kiara's cabin. She waited a few minutes as tears made streaks down her cheeks and down the wheel, where they were falling.

Her mind was whirling. She was angry. Angry at both of her parents for keeping such a secret from her for all of those years. Angry at Michael for not caring more about Kitt and for not letting her be herself. Angry at Bobby and Karr for showing up to distract them from what needed to be done. Angry at the world for throwing her into such a situation.

She took in the slightly futuristic dashboard and the comforting lights. Kiara's dashboard wasn't as fancy as Kitt's, with some of the functions being voice-activated, but it still looked like some sort of spaceship straight out of Star Wars. This was where she needed to be. Suddenly she knew what she needed to do.

"McKenna?" Kiara asked softly. "What are we going to do?"

"Mom gave you the okay," McKenna said, forcing her tone to be level. "We're going in to see what happened to Kitt. If Dad doesn't care enough to get it done, we'll do it for him." While she spoke, she was strapping her seatbelt on. She grabbed the keys from the passenger seat and shoved them in the ignition.

Kiara paused as the engine thrummed to life. "Are you sure that this is a wise choice?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes," McKenna said evenly. Kiara didn't say anything more, and McKenna was grateful for that.

She glanced back at the house one last time. She glared. "I'll show you that I belong," she whispered under her breath.

Then she gunned the engine and she and Kiara tore up the road.