KARR came charging at KITT full speed and with full intent of destruction. Modo charged KITT in the opposite direction of the Police vans to lead KARR away from them.
Modo: *looks into rear view mirror* he's gaining on us. Can you detect to see if your new jammer will cause his engine to slow down?
KITT: I can try. But given the lack of testing from Sally and Maria I cannot guarantee any success.
Modo: Alright, pal. Let's do our best. How do you think your shell will hold up?
KITT: My shell is definitely much stronger than before; but I cannot say for sure that there won't be a repeat of what happened in our last encounter.
Modo: Well; one way or another we are going to find out.
KITT: *scans* I just made a scan of Karr's system; unfortunately my jammer won't be able to over-ride him.
Modo: Nuts!
KARR: Give up this futile running from me. We all know that you two will not make it out unscratched.
KITT: That is a matter of opinion, Karr. Modo, at the rate he is chasing us; he will strike us within 30 seconds. I truly hope you have a plan to counter act his attack.
Modo: I do have one in mind, buddy. But it may require some dangerous evasive manoeuvres.
KITT: Why did I get the feeling you would say that.
Modo: Just wait until we get to the last moment; and turn as fast and as hard as you can and then we'll hit him with the laser. It probably won't immobilise him; but it may buy us some time whilst he gets repaired.
KITT: And then what?
Modo: That; I will leave to the girls. I like gadgetry and technology as much as the next person, But I'm not a scientist, pal. I leave that to people who have more time to understand it.
KITT: A fair answer. I do predict that a strong laser blast may cause some of his circuits to shift out of phase. Unfortunately; we cannot penetrate his scanner grill. Robotnik seems to have built a more complicated safe guard.
Modo: Oh that's just perfect.
KITT: I know what you mean.
KARR was just about to strike his twin when he pulled away at the last second avoiding disaster. Modo turned KITT back towards KARR and prepared the laser to be as strong as it could be.
KITT: I have to warn you, Modo; we've never fired the laser as powerful as this before; there could be severe consequences for this one use.
Modo: I don't like it any more than you do, pal. But if this can buy us some time; then it'll be worth it.
KARR turned and headed to KITT head on.
Modo: NOW! *fires the laser*
The laser blast hit KARR's hood with full force and disabled some of his functions and from what KITT could detect; knocked the hardness of his shell down by at least 11%.
KITT: *scans* Modo, it worked! Some of Karr's functions have been knocked out and his shell's hardness has decreased a little.
Modo: But he's still coming at us!
KITT turbo boosted over the renegade vehicle just before he could attempt another collision.
KARR had realised that he had taken some damage and chose to retreat.
KARR: The next time we meet; it will be the last time. Count on it!
The sinister car turned and headed back to his hideout.
Modo: We have an edge. But, let's go home for now.
KITT: And just in the nick of time. I need a little TLC from Sally and Maria, Modo.
Modo: For you, pal; not a problem.
He turns his partner around and drives back to the Foundation.
20 minutes later; KITT pulls back into the garage where they were waiting for them.
Michael: How did it go?
Modo: *gets out* we saved the Uni' kids and we sent Karr away with something to think about.
Sonic: Like what?
KITT: Although the laser was at full power; it didn't do enough damage to him as we would have liked it to have done. However; it did disable some of his functions and took the hardness of his shell down a notch.
Maria: It looks as though we have more work on our hands, Sally.
Sally: It appears so. Mind you; we weren't sure if the new laser would be powerful enough to take Karr out anyway.
Michael: If Robotnik is pulling the kind of moves like he did today; then we'll have no choice but to send Delia out into battle as well.
Modo: Michael, I know Delia's just amazing as Kitt. But; is she ready to face a foe with the animalistic nature of Karr?
DELIA: Modo, you are just as much of a friend to me as my Amelia is. I know you care and worry for me just as you do for Kitt. But; I must do what I have to for the protection and preservation of human life. If I must face Karr; then so be it.
Amelia: You've certainly got more bravery than me, my friend.
DELIA: Nonsense, Amelia. You have more courage than you know.
Sally: Well; let's give you a diagnostic check, Kitt. The sooner we know what needs re-aligning, the better.
Maria and Sally start checking KITT over whilst everyone else walks out to leave them to it.
An hour later, In Michael's Office; Modo explains in more detail what happened.
Modo: The second convoy ship had a small lead compartment installed. Presumably Robotnik built it in specifically to hold Karr.
Michael: He's not stupid, the Doc. He's using basic moves, yet they're proving to be effective.
Tails: He can act childish occasionally, but he has an IQ of 300.
Michael: That's worrying. He could make numerous upgrades to Karr.
Tails: What we've seen so far with what Robotnik's made to him may only be the beginning.
Modo: Anything new on the bug?
Michael: Maria could only make out that he's planning some sort of mass operation for a later date and that he's only been toying with us so far.
Sonic: Wouldn't it just be easier for me to go in and there and storm the place.
Modo: Although I appreciate your intentions, Sonic; I don't think that'll do us any good.
Sonic: Mo! I just want to help! I have not done a thing to help since we got here and I feel so useless!
Michael: Take it easy, Sonic. We all want to get rid of this guy as much as you do.
Sonic: You have no idea how badly I've wanted to nail him! He took away my family, enslaved my friends and made my life an uphill fight.
Tails: Sonic, I know how you feel, but Michael is right; going in all guns blazing will solve nothing.
Sonic: I'm going out for some air!
The young hedgehog stormed out of Michael's office where he went out to sit on the bench in the garden.
Amelia: We obviously struck a nerve with him.
Tails: Sonic will be ok, Amelia. He gets like this sometimes when he hasn't got anything to do. He hates boredom.
Michael: That explains why he can't sit still for more than 2 minutes.
Modo: Let me go talk to him.
Modo walks out into the garden and sits by his pal.
Modo: Nice day, isn't it?
Sonic: Savour the pretty sky; you won't see much of it if Robotnik has his way.
Modo: If the skyline around Robotropolis is anything to go by; then I think I know what you mean.
Sonic: I was only 6 years old when he took over and I've spent my entire childhood fighting him and he still comes back for more.
Modo: I'll say this for you my friend; you're a stronger kid than I was at your age.
Sonic: What do you mean by that?
Modo: I wasn't nearly as strong as you are mentally. As a teenager; I was pretty much the average shy-guy; minded my own business and kept out of harms way, and whenever fights broke out in the neighbourhoods that I lived in; I just kept out of the way.
Sonic: How did you get stronger then?
Modo: One girl, Sonic, one girl; Mara.
Sonic: Really?
Modo: Yeah; before Amelia and Sally; she was my precious star that I felt at ease with. I met her when I first moved into Chicago when I was 16 years old. And we gelled together so quickly that we were best buds. We did everything; movies, bowling, cycling, driver's Ed.
Sonic: What?
Modo: That's just a term to learn how to drive.
Sonic: ok.
Modo: It wasn't too long before we became a couple; I accidentally kissed after she had won me a baseball jacket at a fair. I thought I had jumped the gun and I tried to appologise. The next thing I knew; she kissed me right back.
Sonic: Sounds like you had something really special with her.
Modo: I did. And then you know what happened on that fateful night in Chicago six years ago. One selfish, unlawful and heinous human being took her away from me. It was as she died that I promised her that I would strive to make a difference to help the innocent and the powerless. Something she knew that I could do.
Sonic looks over to him.
Sonic: How do you do it, Mo?
Modo: What do you mean?
Sonic: Rebuild your life when something like that has happened to you?
Modo: It took time, Sonic. It didn't happen over night. It was only when I got the call that I was waiting for that I began to really make a difference.
Sonic: And what you did before that wasn't?
Modo: I wouldn't say that my work before being assigned to Kitt didn't mean anything; it's just that I was dealing with local criminals who were operating small time scams and drug schemes that were nothing compared to the things I have accomplished with Kitt on a national level.
Sonic: What kind of things?
Modo: Anything from Arms dealers selling fire arms and weaponry to unfriendly nations, doing drug busts like I did in the other day against the Stork. He was the type of dealer that would sell to buyers who sold drugs nationally and internationally. So, when you cut off the dealer; the rest of the drug chain brakes apart.
Sonic: Sounds like a nasty business.
Sally had been listening as she was walking out from the garage making adjustments to KITT.
Sally: It is, Sonic. The kind of people that Modo deals against is simply unthinkable. The affects that these drugs have on people is horrible.
Modo: I did tell, ya; didn't I? How's Kitt?
Sally: He's fine; we had to give the laser a lot of work, but other than that; all is well. Why are you two out here anyway?
Modo: Sonic was feeling upset that he hadn't done anything since he got here. I just came out here just to mellow him out a little.
Sally: That was good of you.
Modo: Ah, don't worry about it. I don't like to see my friends getting upset, so I figured a little chat would calm him down.
Sally: Normally anything I say to re-assure him just goes over his head.
Modo: Let's just say; sometimes guys only respond well to advice from other guys. I don't why it is like that; it's just how it is.
Sonic: So; what's our next move?
Modo: We just play things cool; Robotnik is trying to get under our skin by pulling moves like that to get under our skin. The plan is; whilst he is recuperating; we just relax and have some fun.
Sally: Is that a way of saying to him that we won't let him scare us?
Modo: In a manner of speaking; yes. *com-link beeps* what is it, Kitt?
KITT: I've just been monitoring the Police frequency, Modo; 3 industrial warehouses were robbed last night.
Modo: Why have they only been reported now? And what was taken?
KITT: The owners only reported the break-ins within the last hour. And here's the alarming part; amongst the thefts micro-electronics and robotic parts were stolen.
Sally: A co-incidence?
Sonic: Let's hope so.
Modo: Do you know how they broke in?
KITT: Unfortunately no. The alarms sent signals to their head office and they contacted the Police after investigating the alarms themselves.
Modo: Silent alarms?
KITT: Yes.
Modo: I smell a rat. Are the Cops there?
KITT: They've only sealed off the first 2 warehouses on the Main Warehouse Estate. The third warehouse is at the docks on Water Front View 4 miles from the other 2; and the Police will begin searching there within the next 2 hours. The third warehouse is property of Lab Industries and their head office reported the Break in to the Police.
Modo: I think we'll search that place first. Let's roll, partner.
KITT's engine starts and he rolls out to his partner by the bench.
Modo: If Robotnik was responsible for those thefts; then we need to know about it first. *gets in*
Sonic: I'm going with you; I am aching to do something. *gets in the back*
Sally: *gets in the front passenger seat* Nicole can do some analysing as well as Kitt. Plus, it would be nice to see more of San Diego than just what we've seen so far.
Modo: Good. Ok, pal; plot me the fastest route to Water Front View. *pushes Normal and drives out of the Grounds*
KITT: Right away, Modo. I'll keep an eye out on the Police frequency if there are any similar incidents.
Modo: Thanks, pal.
Sally: What do you think we'll find?
Modo: I could hazard a guess; we'll find boxes everywhere, maybe some windows smashed, and hopefully find clues as to who did, and maybe who didn't do it.
Sonic: What do you mean?
Modo: I'm hoping that it wasn't Robotnik. I'm hoping for our sakes that it was just your average tech thieves. That's why we're going to investigate.
KITT: And if it is?
Modo: We'll report them all the same, Kitt. However; if it is Robotnik; let's just say we will report it as well, but not with that name.
Sally: Because people won't believe it, right?
Modo: *sighs* 'Fraid so.
Sonic: What will the Cops do when they get there?
Modo: Do forensic tests and dust for fingerprints; All standard stuff for any Police Department investigating thefts, raids and burglaries.
Sonic: Well how long will that take?
Modo: It can take Hours. Depending on how much evidence they would need to gather.
Sonic: And that's why we're going to the warehouse before they do just to do what they're going to do?
Modo: yeah.
Sonic: A tad stupid, don't you think?
Sally: Don't the Police work with the Foundation, Modo?
Modo: Not in ways we would like to. The Foundation is for want of a better expression; a freelance law enforcement. We're not funded by the Government and we don't take a profit.
Sally: So how do you continue to operate?
Modo: Everything that was built by the Knight Foundation; from FLAG, to Karr, Kitt and Delia was all from the funding of Wilton Knight. He created the Foundation. Devon Miles continued that legacy before Michael took over running it.
Sally: I see.
Sonic: That sounds a little confusing to me.
Sally: Maybe if you used your head for once; it wouldn't.
KITT: Modo.
Modo: I know, pal; some music please.
KITT: I thought so. How about 'seven days in sunny June'?
Modo: Perfect.
*Jamiroquai's seven days in sunny June plays*
They drive on to the warehouse.
