Chapter Twenty One
Five hours later, around 9 PM; KITT had arrived in Oklahoma City heading in the direction of the Penitentiary.
KITT: *beep* Michael's calling.
Modo: What's up, Michael?
Michael: *on screen* It's been a stretch, Mo, but I managed to convince the warden to let you see Lamont. Where are you right now?
Modo: We've just pulled into Oklahoma City; we'll be at the Prison in 10 minutes.
Michael: You'll have a limited amount of time, Modo. Don't waste it.
Modo: I won't. I'll have Kitt record everything.
Michael: Alright. We're currently heading over to Houston to where you were originally heading.
Modo: If all goes according to plan; Kitt and I will be there in the early hours of the morning.
Michael: Let's hope it does. Sally wants to talk to you by the way.
Sally: *on screen* how are you right now?
Modo: *smiles* Feeling a little better for seeing your face. I'm just trying to mentally prepare myself to remain calm when I meet him face-to-face. I don't mind telling you, Sally, I don't think I can trust myself to keep cool with him.
Sally: I know it's difficult to look at the man that killed Mara in the eye, but you said it yourself; he may have the key to taking Karr down.
Modo: Let's hope so. Otherwise we are going to be up a creek without a paddle.
This expression was foreign to her – as were many of other quips and catchphrases she had heard from him and others since coming to Earth in the last few days.
Sally: I beg your pardon.
KITT: He means; we would be in a situation that would seem impossible, Sally.
Sally: Now I get it. Just get back here soon, dear. I worry about you.
Modo: The feeling is more than mutual, Sally. I'll see you soon.
Sally: Bye, you two.
KITT: Good night, Sally. *call ends*
KITT pulls into the prison parking Lott. Modo gets out.
Modo: When you hear Lamont's voice; start recording, buddy. Listen to every detail no matter how irrelevant it may appear.
KITT: Count on it, Modo.
He walks into the prison; after stating his business with the reception area he is taken to the warden who shows him to where Lamont had been waiting for 5 minutes in a visiting room.
Lamont: *Modo walks in* what on earth are you doing here? Did you want to reminisce about earlier this year? *KITT starts recording through the com-link*
Modo: Don't flatter yourself, Lamont! I'm not here on a social call. I'm here to talk about one thing; Karr.
Lamont: What about him?
Already he was testing the Knight's patience and Lamont knew this.
Modo: Don't play games with me. I know that you studied electronics in-between your crime projects and that you orchestrated the reconstruction of that evil mechanised monster. Someone far worse than you has acquired him and my partner's car and mine are no match for it and the only person that knows his weaknesses…is you. *folds arms* and I am not going anywhere until I get what I want to know on how I can take that machine down.
Considering the way that Modo had been a thorn in his side in the last 2 years he could not believe to him, the asinine suggestion that he should help him.
Lamont: And what makes you think I'll talk, Jeda? You seem to forget; you and I are natural enemies. You went foiling my operations in late 2005 and caused me to lose profit. Why on earth should I do you a favour?
Modo: I know that there's a Bounty on your head in San Diego prison; I can call my boss and find ways to inform your ex-employees in San Diego know where you are. Believe me; they'll want a Prison transfer.
The imprisoned crime lord realised that he had his back against the wall in regards to what he said.
Lamont: alright. What do you want to know?
Modo: Tell me how I can shut him down.
Lamont: Karr has a flaw in his safe-guard system; if your cars have micro-jammers powerful enough to exceed his barrier's defences, which is level 5; you can take full control of his functions and even shut his CPU down without the need of those CPU modules that you used to shut him and Delia down before.
Modo: What else?
Lamont: A direct attack on his exhaust with a laser will damage him enough for him to be out of commission. That is it.
Modo: Thank you. *into com-link* did you get that, Kitt?
KITT: Every word, Modo.
To the jailed-crime lord he could not believe the audacity that he was being recorded without his knowledge.
Lamont: You were taping me?
Modo: Seems only fair. I recall reading that you did the same to one of your accountants in New York in '95. Turnabout is fair play; as they say.
Lamont: He was going to snitch me up to the Fed's.
Modo: And that made it ok to kill a husband and father of 3, did it? I'm going now. GUARD; I'm done talking to him.
The guard opens the door and allows Modo to leave.
Lamont: Hey, Jeda! See ya around.
The Knight stopped. Clenching his fists he despised the very notion of possibly seeing him again given the history between the 2.
Modo: Don't count on it, you scum-sucking weasel! *stops and turns* I got what I came for; and I never want to see you again!
He walked out of the visiting room. After walking out of the prison; he walks over to his partner and gets back in. Once in the driver seat he lets out a sigh of relief.
KITT: I get the impression that you're somewhat releaved to be out of there.
Modo: More than releaved, pal. I'm just glad that I didn't do what I hoped I didn't do.
KITT: Losing your temper?
Modo: You got it. What does your analysis say of what he said about Karr's weaknesses?
KITT: 100% accurate, Modo. I had Maria program in data of Karr's functions and capabilities along with his software; and Lamont's answer bears fruit. A powerful micro-jam will enable us to take control of him. But in order for that to happen; I will need either Maria or Sally to make adjustments to the microwave-jammer.
Modo: That will be our next point of business once we get back to the flying garage. *starts his engine* let's go, pal.
KITT: The sooner we get back, the better.
He steers KITT out of the prison parking Lott and zooms back out towards the highway in a Southern direction towards Houston, Texas.
KITT: I wonder how everyone is aboard the garage.
Modo: Not feeling too good in regards to what is out there in the Desert; 50 miles west of Houston, pal.
KITT: I know what you mean. At least we have the information that we required.
Modo: Ok; get me Michael. *calls*
Michael: *on screen* Modo, I was just about to call you. What have you got to report?
Modo: The very answer we need, Michael. Lamont spilled the beans when I threatened to have some of his ex-buddies transferred to his prison. Karr's weakness is in his safe-guard barriers. A powerful micro-jam will allow us to take control of him, even shutting down his CPU.
Michael: Excellent, Modo. I presume you're heading back now?
Modo: Absolutely. I'm just waiting till we're out of Oklahoma City so we can zoom down to Houston.
Michael: Well we've just touched down outside of Houston. Maria will transmit our location to Kitt's homing radar once you're within a 100 mile range.
Modo: Thanks, Michael. We'll see you around 2 AM. Give my love to Sally will ya.
Michael: I will. Look after him, Kitt.
KITT: You can count on me, Michael.
Michael: Good night, guys. *call ends*
Modo: Just you and I now, pal.
KITT: Not that I dislike the company of Sonic and Sally, but it's nice sometimes just to be by ourselves.
Modo: I couldn't agree more. You're the best partner and travel-buddy that a guy could ask for.
KITT: Thank you, Modo. The feeling is more than mutual.
The Trans Am continues southwards.
Back at the flying garage;
Sally: Michael, what did Modo find out?
Michael: Lamont told him that Karr's vulnerability is in his safe-guard system. A strong micro-jam will penetrate it and allow us to gain control of him.
Sally: That's excellent. Where are they now?
Michael: They've just left the Penitentiary and are heading down the highway into Texas. They'll be at the rendezvous point around 2 AM.
Sally: Did he keep his temper with Lamont?
Although the former field agent did question as to whether his star agent would keep his composure – he trusted him that he would.
Michael: I didn't ask. But knowing Modo, I think he probably did.
Sally: I hope so. I know the man is bad news, but he would have just made him as bad as Lamont if he did something he would regret.
Michael: I think he knows that. Anyway; why don't you get some rest? He's gonna be a while getting here.
She didn't want to. Sally was just keen to be back in his presence as having being separated from him for 2 months made her appreciate the company they did get when they were together.
Sally: That's ok, Michael. I want to wait up for him.
Michael: Alright. We're going to get some rest. Sonic's been telling Tails ghost stories for a while and I think it's creeping Amelia out.
Sally: That doesn't surprise me.
Michael: Oh, I nearly forgot; Modo sends his love.
Sally: *smiles* I knew he would.
Over in Oklahoma; KITT had left Oklahoma City and was now out on the highway.
Modo: Alright, Kitt, let's do it. *pushes Pursuit*
His speed increases from 34-178 MPH.
KITT: We'll be in Houston in less than 4 hours at this rate.
Modo: Good. Take over; *pushes Automatic* I'm going to have a little rest.
KITT: It has been a long day for you.
Modo: No kidding. Wake me up if something happens, ok, pal?
KITT: Sure.
Modo makes himself comfortable in his seat and falls asleep.
An hour later; whilst everyone else was asleep in the lounge area of the flying garage; Sally got to the telecom monitor and called KITT.
Somewhere in the North of Texas; KITT was racing down the highway at 200 MPH taking himself and Modo back to the flying garage as fast as possible.
KITT: *beep* Modo, Modo? Are you awake?
Modo: *yawns* what is it, Kitt? *stirs*
KITT: Sally's calling.
Modo: *sits up straight* patch her through.
Sally: *on screen* how are you, sweet-heart?
He was pleased to see her given what he had to endure this evening. It almost felt like a reward for being tested by his enemy's presence.
Modo: I suppose; tired would be one way to put it. But otherwise; fine.
Sally: How did it go with Lamont?
He paused for a moment as having to remember having the discussion with him got him slightly bemused. But for the sake of his Girlfriend he would bare it.
Modo: Well, I did not care too much for his company, but I stomached him long enough to get the info we needed. What are you doing up anyway? You need your sleep.
Sally: You know I can't sleep too well when I'm worried about you. Where are you right now?
Modo: Kitt?
KITT: North Texas. Our ETA for Houston is 3 hours and 34 minutes.
Sally: That should put you in for around near 2 AM.
KITT: That was my estimation as well, Sally. How is your Father right now?
Sally: He's just fine, Kitt. We've done a lot of catching up this afternoon; reminiscing about my childhood and how he felt when I was born. *sheds a tear* it's been quite an emotional day for me.
Modo: I can't say I'm surprised, Sal, you've been reunited with him for the first time in 13 years. I would feel exactly the same way if I was in your shoes.
Sally: Thank you, dear. I'll be waiting in the car bay for you.
Modo: Sally, just go and get some sleep, ok? I don't want you waiting up for us unnecessarily.
Sally: What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't wait up for you?
Modo: *smiles* it's just as well you're a good one. I was just thinking of you, that's all.
Sally: I know you were. Anyway, I'll see you two when you get back.
Modo: See you later, Angel.
She was very touched by that pet-name. It was something that the Knight felt was appropriate to describe her as.
Sally: *blushes* that's the nicest thing you've ever called me.
Modo: After everything you've done for me on Mobius and here; it seems only fitting.
Sally: Thank you.
Modo: De nada.
KITT: Bye for now, Sally.
Sally: You too, Kitt. *call ends*
KITT: Why an Angel, Modo?
Jeda understood his confusion. But he knew that Angel could also be used for someone that had the characteristics of someone that would be the kindest and most helpful person.
Modo: Consider all the facts of what she's done for me, pal; she rescued me from drowning, helped me to deal with Mara's passing at last, which lead to me finding some inner peace and most of all; she made me feel a kind of happiness that I've never experienced before. She is my guardian angel, Kitt.
KITT: oh…now I see.
Modo: Changing the subject now; can you pull through to an open drive-thru at some stage? I am getting hungry right about now.
KITT: There's an all-night diner that has a drive-thru 5 miles down the road. We can get your dinner there.
Modo: Thanks, buddy.
KITT: You're welcome.
The Trans Am heads to the diner.