Knight of Redemption (Pt 1)
Michael was laying face down on the floor. He could feel the blood pounding through his veins. He knew he was bleeding, he could smell it. He opened his eyes slowly. His body hurt. He could feel the bruises forming on his face and upper body. Garthe was in better shape, and he had proved it. His only saving grace had been Elizabeth stopping her son. He put a hand to his face. He had a cracked lip covered with dry blood. His vision out of his left eye was blurry. He hoped someone was left to come after him. Until then, he knew he was on his own. He needed to figure out where he was and how he could get out. Sleep, his body begged. He didn't resist the overwhelming urge.
The new KITT cave looked almost like the one at the SSC. With two exceptions. There were two extra cradles. Everyone was speechless.
"How did you know?" Sarah asked.
"I've known for awhile. I had the plans two months before work was started on it. Everything here is top notch and produced through Knight Industries," Wil told them.
"Why are there two extra cradles?" Mike asked. "I mean, I know one for each KITT, but why the third?" Wil remained silent, looking down at the floor. Bonnie gasped.
"You couldn't possibly be thinking..." she whispered softly, trailing off.
"Couldn't possibly what?" Mike prodded. She walked over to Wil. Standing in front of him she reached out and pulled his face up. She searched his face, looking in his eyes.
"He wants it for KARR," she stated. "It's dangerous. Not to mention that its a foolish idea to think you can -"
"I know I can." Wil looked around at all of them. "He was my grandfather's first creation. In his journal, he was devastated at having to deactivate him. But he hoped to rewrite his program." He paused. "In fact, he had already started making notations for one. After a year of non stop work on it, it has been completed and is ready to be installed. I hope to give KARR a fresh start with it."
Everyone looked at him, stunned at what they just heard. The silence was interrupted by the arrival of KI2T.
"What is this?" April said in awe. Zoe struggled to get out. Once out she walked over to the sofa and sat down.
"Am I dreaming? Or am I really back at the SSC?" Her words had a slight slur to them. April smiled.
"Doc gave her something to help with the pain and to help her sleep," she told them. She stopped in her tracks, noticing the strained looks on the faces around her. "What's going on?"
"Wil wants to rescue KARR," Mike told her.
"What?" she asked, turning to Wil.
"KI2T, will you help move KI3T into his bay please?" Wil said looking at the car, not wanting to get into an argument.
"Certainly. April provided me with more information to other questions. Then will someone take the pizza out of my backseat?" he begged.
It was almost 2 am by the time everything was functional for KI3T to be fixed. Sarah had also brought Bonnie up to speed on the workings of the KITT cave. KI2T had taken bay 3 as his own. His scanner never shutting off as he watched what was going on. They had gotten KI3T into his cradle and had eaten pizza in silence. Since then, only Sarah and Bonnie's voices could be heard. Zoe was asleep on the couch. Billy was hovering around Sarah and Bonnie. Mike had sat down at one of the work stations, put his feet up and, after awhile, fallen asleep. Wil was on the far side, in the empty area of lab five. He had just finished downloading files to a flash drive. He then accessed a program that would send out a return signal. All of the AI's CPU had one. He sat for a moment thinking about what he was about to do. Then he hit the enter button and stood up. He quietly left by the side door, knowing that everyone was busy. Except for KI2T. He would be monitoring his escape. He had gotten only fifty feet when he recognized the soft crunch on the gravel of car tires. He stopped, sighing, and turned to see KI2T behind him.
"Wilton," he asked, "where are you going?"
"KI2T, please go back to your cradle. And don't tell anyone that you saw me leave," he instructed.
"I can be beneficial in helping you track down KARR," the vehicle replied.
"How did -" he started. It was KI2T's turn to cut him off.
"I recognized the return to base signal. I know what you intend to do. I do not believe you will be successful, but I will assist you, as you seem stubborn about what you have planned," he told Wil matter-of-factly. Wil sighed. On one hand, KI2T was right. His first hand knowledge could not be replaced by anything he had read or viewed. On the other hand, he was not sure what exactly to expect from this AI.
"Okay, you may accompany me. But I forbid you from telling anyone what you see or hear," he told KI2T. "At least for now."
"Agreed." Wil walked over to the already open driver side door, and climbed in. He gave KI2T the coordinates and the car moved off, quickly and quietly.
It took thirty minutes for the super car to reach the coordinates. They only waited for ten minutes before KARR arrived. Wil got out and walked towards him.
"Hello KARR," Wil said.
"Who are you and how did you signal me to come here?" KARR asked, perturbed.
"I am Wilton Knight the second. The grandson of the man who created you. You remember KI2T." He gestured to the other vehicle.
"It has been a long time," KARR growled, revving his engine.
"We're not here to fight you!" Wil shouted. "We just want to talk."
"And why should I listen?" he retorted.
"Because once Garthe no longer needs you, he will deactivate you and sell you for scrap metal. You are a product of Wilton Knight. And that leaves a bad taste in my uncle's mouth," Wil retorted.
"Go on," KARR replied, "I'm listening."
"Here on this flash drive are pages of my grandfather's journal. I want you to download them and keep in your CPU what I am about to tell you. I can give you a program that will let you be you but not allow you to hurt anyone," Wil explained.
"And why should I believe for a second that you will not deactivate me?" KARR asked harshly.
"As long as I live and breathe, I promise you will never be deactivated KARR," Wil replied forcefully. "And you can take that to the bank." He paused. "Will you accept the flash drive?"
"Yes. You may put it on my hood. Mind you, if there is anything on there other than what you say there is, I will kill you," KARR said menacingly. Wil set the flash drive on the hood and walked back to KI2T.
"Mark my words KARR, Garthe will turn on you. I just want you to know you can rely on me," Wil said quietly. And then he and KI2T were gone, leaving KARR to read the journal of his long dead creator.
"Remember KI2T, tell no one about any of this," Wil said tiredly, as they drove away.
"I promise," he responded. "Do you think you can really help him Wilton?"
"Yes, I do KI2T." At least he hoped he could.
It was almost four thirty am when they pulled into the driveway and headed for the KITT cave.
"Switch to silent mode KI2T," Wil said softly. The car complied. Pulling into his slot in the bay, Wil exited and started out towards the mansion. He didn't get far. Bonnie stepped out of the shadows, right in front of him.
"Well, did you get what you were after?" she asked.
"No, but I planted a seed. If anything happens KARR knows he can at least turn to me, without retaliation," Wil replied.
Bonnie shook her head. "I only hope it doesn't blow up in your face."