Chapter 14
The following week, General Davies paid a visit to the Foundation mansion.
Scott was in Jason's office, doing his best to pester the man he thought of as his grandfather as he had when he was a child. He could tell he was coming pretty close.
K.A.R.R. was in Luke's office, having some routine maintenance performed on his CPU and nanites.
There was a knock at the door, and General Davies walked in after Jason called out, "Come."
Scott jumped to his feet, saluting smartly.
"At ease, son," the General said, as he tucked his hat beneath his arm.
"General, sir! I thought I'd been given a month's leave. I'm not AWOL, am I?"
"Your leave is fine. I actually came to talk to your friend, K.A.R.R."
Glancing nervously from Jason to the General, Scott said, "Oh? Why?"
"I have a job offer for him. And you, if you're up for it."
Scott turned an alarmed gaze on Jason.
"Easy, son," the General soothed, "Jason didn't tell me anything I didn't already suspect. You see, I've known of your family for a long time. Ever since a black T-top Trans Am survived a mad dash through the Englehart Army Base's munitions test range in 1982."
At Scott's confused look, Jason cut in, "That was your grandfather, Michael Knight's, second case with K.I.T.T."
"Yes, K.I.T.T. I had to dive under the M198 gun-howitzer we'd been test firing to avoid being run over by him. I was fascinated at how that car had managed to survive the bombardment we were raining down on it. Later, rumors spread like wildfire around the base about Michael Knight, the car, and the Foundation for Law and Government.
"On my rise through the ranks, I've quietly kept tabs on F.L.A.G.: asking a few questions, hearing more rumors. Then, your name crosses my desk as an M.I.A./P.O.W. A few days after I'd dispatched the chaplain to give your family notification, Jason called. That's when I finally got the full story."
"What do you want with K.A.R.R.?"
"Why don't you call him in, so we can all talk about that."
Scott shot a pained, accusing look at Jason – who just shrugged – while he said through the link, K.A.R.R., please come to Jason's office.
K.A.R.R. nudged Scott through the link, alarmed at the unease Scott was feeling.
Just get here!
K.A.R.R. burst through the office door a moment later, sending pieces of wooden door jam flying, and scanned the office for any threats. His eyes settled on the General, as K.A.R.R. strode over to Scott to stand beside him possessively.
Jason rolled his eyes at the prospect of having to replace yet another door frame.
"I'd like the two of you to work Black Ops missions together," the General said without further preamble.
"You are both brutally efficient, and being linked as you are, you are connected as no other black ops team has ever been." The General stood looking at Scott, waiting for an answer.
"I'm not the one you have to ask. You could order me to, and I'd have to do it. It's K.A.R.R. you have to ask. He doesn't belong to me, or the Foundation." Scott paused for a moment, as if he thought Jason might object. Jason's eyes widened, but that was about it.
"K.A.R.R. has earned his freedom along with the redemption he has sought all of these years," Scott continued, as he reached over to twine his fingers through K.A.R.R.'s in a brotherly way.
Pride and love washed over Scott through the link, along with the familiar, growled, Mine!
Always! Was Scott's instant reply.
"I'll do it, but keep in mind, I only take orders from Scott," was K.A.R.R.'s response to General Davies.