Amber and KARR arrived home about ten minutes later to find Ashley sitting in the living room just finishing her homework. She looked up when she heard the door open and grinned at Amber.

'Hi!' She then moved slightly to look past the woman toward where she knew the garage to be. 'Is he ok?'

'No, not really. There's only so much I can do.' The young woman answered, 'Like his brother there is only one place he can refill a certain fuel, so he unfortunately cannot go too far from FLAG headquarters. Both cars can and would be essentially mobile time bombs should they not get their refills when required.'

'Would you like to see him?' Amber asked the young girl. She nodded eager to see her friend's brother.

'Yes please.'

Amber lead her guest into the garage to meet him. 'Might want to keep this quiet when you're around KITT's driver...'

She really didn't know what to expect, but she was surprised when she walked and saw what was sitting in the middle of the garage: it was a very KITT-like trans-am, right down to the tires and rims. The only noticeable differences were the amber scanner and the car's bottom half silver which also trailed over the wheel wells.

'Surprised?' It asked.

'Y-You're like KITT...'

'I am the Knight Automated Roving Robot, KARR if you prefer.'

'So you're the one I was talking to through the computer.' She realised admiring the car.

'Yes.'

The young girl cautiously walked over to the car, her eyes scoured his body, taking in his smooth silver and black paintwork and looking at his Amber scanner. She almost wanted to reach out and touch it, in fact...

'Careful. My molecular bondage isn't functional.' KARR sighed, she pulled her hand back, unlike her he knew he was a mess currently. 'I don't understand. Why try to kill me? I never intentionally hurt anyone. I admit I did help two petty thieves with robberies but they did essentially save me from being abandoned, upon reactivating me. I was indebted to both of them.'

'Kill you? Who would want to kill you?' Ashley asked confused, before glancing at Amber who continued to watch her pal as he talked, not really listening to the girl as she tried to comprehend what he was talking about.

'Bonnie... mother. I do regret having to had kidnap her, but consider the circumstances. I needed repairs, Michael with KITT after me to destroy me and my core-programming being Self-Preservation...' KARR seemed both rather upset and frustrated. 'I know I've caused the death of some technicians, though much of that was in panic due to my programming. Essentially like the Fight-or-Flight instinct that you organic beings have. In the end I payed my time in that empty laboratory which ended up being jail for me. I believe I was to have been bailed earlier, however it seems as if FLAG had forgotten me. Still, hadn't I have already served my time? So why the attempted murder?'

'A-Attempted murder?! Kidnapping Bonnie?! What are you talking about?!' She stared at him in utter confusion.

'That wasn't the first time they left me to die, they don't realize however that my brother and I are linked. If one of us dies, the other would soon follow.' KARR stated, "Perhaps you should ask them whether they've ever wondered why KITT had been easily brought back from the times he was nearly destroyed?'

'I heard KITT was nearly destroyed, but wait a second what do you mean they left you to die? I know KITT wouldn't allow that and neither would his driver! I-'

'I need to rest now if you don't mind.' He went into recharge mode.

Ashley once again looked at Amber, anger, confusion, shock and outrage written clearly across her face. Without a word she pushed past Amber and headed out to the door into the living room where she grabbed her school back then walked to the front door.

'Get me out of here. I want to go home! Now!'

Amber took her back to the Riders, 'I suspect you need some time to go over what her told you, take care. And remember, keep quiet whenever Michael's with KITT. By the way, my shopping offer still stands.'

'Thanks, I'll think about it.' She replied getting out of the car and going inside, slamming the door behind her.

She then went straight to her room where she shut the door, threw her bag across the room and flopped on to her bed. She had told her that she wanted to go home, this wasn't home. This... Well she didn't really know what it was, but it wasn't home and it never would be.

She had still gone to dinner that night, but she wasn't as talkative as normal. In fact she said nothing at all. Any questions she was asked she merely replied with either a nod or a shake of the head and when asked why she wouldn't talk she didn't give her "parents" any kind of response.

That night when she went to bed she decided to call KITT, she needed someone to talk to and she wanted reassurance that the KITT she knew and loved wasn't one that would leave his brother somewhere to die. Of course he would never do something like that, KARR, or whatever he called himself, had to be lying. He just had to be.

Two days later Michael and KITT weren't having any luck in their investigation and had so far come up with nothing when Bonnie called to tell them about a strange problem she had noticed.

'Michael, can talk to you and KITT for a moment?' She asked appearing on KITT's monitor.

'Sure Bons, what's up?' Michael replied from behind the wheel of KITT.

'Well, you and KITT weren't taking extra fuel before you left, were you?'

'What? No, why?'

'Because some of it is missing.'

'How much?'

'Enough for a full tank.'

'Someone else must have taken it.' The man reasoned.

'But Michael, why would someone else steal fuel? It can only be used by me.' The AI pointed out.

'That's not quite true KITT.' Bonnie shook her head. 'I've heard the rumours and if you recall KITT, KARR also used the same type of fuel.'

'That's true... But how could he be back? We destroyed him! I saw him explode! You saw him explode, Michael!'

'Michael that's true, pal, but what if there is a way he did manage to survive.'

'I suppose it could be possible... But highly unlikely.'

'I don't know pal, it's looking more and more likely as this mystery goes on.'

'I agree, it has to be KARR, it all fits!' Bonnie exclaimed.

'KARR or not I think it's safe to say we need to find the answer to all this and fast.' Michael nodded determined.

When the time came Ashley didn't want to go to martial arts, she didn't want to see her teacher again, nor her lying friend. However Teagan and Jackson made it painfully clear that she didn't have a choice.

'Ashley you have to go, there's no one else who can look after you.' Teagan said.

'Then why can't I just stay here?' She asked.

'Because we don't want you stay home on your own.' Jackson replied.

'But-'

'No but's young lady, now go and get your things ready for school.' Jackson instructed and Ashley sighed before begrudgingly going and doing as she was told. However as she put her books together she heard a knock on her door.

'Come in.' She murmured grumbling.

'Hey, you ok?' It was Mathew.

'Yes, I'm fine.'

'You sure? You don't seem like it.' He said sceptical and walked into her room.

'Well things are always as they seem.'

'True, but I think they are in this case.' He put his hand on her shoulder. 'You've been upset ever since Monday when you came home from your teachers house... Did she do something to make you angry?'

'No.' She shook her head before pushing her foster brother back away from her and picking up her books. 'Come on, let's just get to school.'

Mathew sighed and walked out, he didn't like seeing Ashley upset and the fact that she wouldn't tell him what was wrong worried him. He had thought that she liked going over to her teachers house up until Monday when she came home grumpy and now he wondered if she had done something mean.

School went alright, though Mr Cole was a little concerned when she didn't seem like her normal happy self. Still she didn't really mind, she just focused on getting through the day and when it came to martial arts she did what any girl that hates her teacher would do; she skipped it.

Instead of going to class she went to the park instead and decided to stay there until she knew she could go back to the Riders where she planned to hide in her room for the rest of the evening until she was forced to go to dinner. She had a feeling that Amber would probably call the Riders and tell them, then she would get into trouble, but to be perfectly honest she didn't care. She didn't want to hear anymore lies about her best friend and brother.

Amber gave the children that were in class a quick lesson then some fun homework, promising that she would make it up to them at a later date on having to close up early. Then headed to the park, on finding the young girl she scanned the park for any signs of trouble. Ashley sighed as she saw her.

'Why can't you just leave me alone?'

'It's my job as a police officer.' Amber stated. 'So, did you happen to get any answers from KITT?'

'What does it matter? It's hardly your concern anyway, it's not like you really know KITT, or me, or anyone in my family so stop pretending you do! Ok?!' She demanded fuming before she angrily kicked a nearby soda can.

'Nobody's pretending,' Amber sighed, on detecting nothing out of the ordinary including possible eavesdroppers decided to tell the young girl one of her secrets, 'I do also happen to work for Knight Industries. The higher-up authority and parent company to FLAG; the Foundation for Law and Government.'

'I've heard of Knight Industries, it was created by Wilton Knight, they're the ones who built KITT and KARR before they, or rather KITT, was given to FLAG... And some of the higher up people in that company are members of that stinking board.' She growled.

'I may not have yet met KITT but I do go over his and FLAG's reports that get sent.'

'That proves nothing, it's not like KITT puts any of his personality into his reports.' The young girl rolled her eyes.

'Come along, I'll take you shopping and we could get ice cream if you'd like.' Amber suggested, then mentioned '...Although, I would like to meet KITT personally.'

Ashley nearly chocked on her own saliva! Amber meet KITT?! Was she crazy?! Michael had already come to see her this month and as if he would ever actually introduce her to KITT, her dad didn't even know she did martial arts much less trust her teacher! No matter what other job she had!

'Fine, I'll go with you, but trust me the chances that you actually get to meet KITT are...' She shut her mouth upon seeing an all too familiar black trans-am! Immediately she brought her comlink to her mouth. 'KITT?!'

'Ashley what are you doing here?' Her "brothers" voice came back to her.

'I would ask you the same question!'

'Devon sent us here to check some stuff out.' Michael joined the conversation, making Ashley's heart sing as she heard her fathers voice.

'Hey Michael! I've mi-'

'Who were you standing with when we drove past?' He asked, cutting her off.

'No one.' She replied looking at Amber while keeping her voice steady to make out she wasn't lying.

'Oh come on Ashley, KITT and I saw you standing and talking with a woman now who is she?'

'No one, I just accidentally bumped into her and I was apologising alright? Anyway I have things to do so I'll see you around Michael, bye KITT.' She said then turned off her comlink.

Amber smiled on watching the custom trans am drive by, continuing on with her patrol duties for any suspicious activity. She then went up to Ash, 'Would you still like to go shopping?'

'Sure, why not?' She replied shrugging. 'Let's just get going.' The two of them went to the mall and started looking around, Ashley knew exactly where to go for what she needed to fix or at least stabilise her relationship with her foster family. So she made a "b-line" for a shop that sells school uniforms. 'So, Hailey needs a black skirt, size 13. Mathew told me since when I asked Hailey she refused to even acknowledge my existence.' She said bitterly and rolled her eyes. 'Think you can help me find one?'

'Of course.'

'Then let's do this.' She said and they walked around the store.

'Feel free to get yourself something as well.' Amber treated the child and herself with buying clothing and finding a couple black skirts in the correct size though made in different fabrics, with slightly different styles.

'Thank you.' Ashley gave the woman a small smile as she payed for the clothes. 'I appreciate this.'

Soon after Amber had helped wrap the "present" they headed to the mall's food court and got something, amongst ice creams. Despite the relatively calm atmosphere the young girl could sense that the woman was always alert and watching everything that was going on around them. In someways it was comforting to know she was keeping an eye out for trouble, but in others it was beginning to unnerve her.

'You know out of all the weird stuff that has happened to me over that past few months meeting you and going through all this has to be the weirdest. No offence.' Ash said in between licking her strawberry flavoured ice cream.

Amber smiled, checking her watch. 'It's no trouble. We still have some time left, anything you'd like to do here? After I could introduce you some other pets of mine and animals I foster.'

'You foster animals?! That's so cool I have to meet them! But now that you mention it there is one thing I'd like to do first...'

-/-/-

Hmmm... I wonder what Ashley wants to do? Come back and find out next time! Where we will continue with the story and discover more about what is going on in my land of Knight Rider! Btw I am loving all of the positive reviews, thanks guys! Bye!