Modifications May Void Your Warranty

by shedoc

Some modifications to the model may void the warranty, please consult your manual. Or, when Michael goes missing, Kitt is left to find him, argue with the Foundation about a replacement, and reunite with a former enemy turned family member – as for Michael, all he has to do is adopt said new family member and escape captivity with his brain intact.

2. Chapter 2

Modifications May Void Warranty

Disclaimer – I do not own them, no money is being made

Warnings – angst, experimental medical procedures, hurt/comfort, way AU

Not a warning – POV changes, some OC in supporting

0o0o0o0

As temporary partners went, Kitt mused, Thomas Fletcher wasn't too bad. The man was intelligent and capable, though he carried a gun at all times. He spoke to Kitt in a pleasant tone, but rarely engaged in conversation not directly connected to their missions. He declined to play chess or engage in any other social past-time that Kitt was used to with Michael. And while Michael was an avid appreciator of the female form, his Driver certainly didn't engage in the same level of physical interaction that Fletcher (as he preferred to be addressed) engaged in.

Kitt thought that Bonnie did not like the man very much, after he had flirted and then attempted to carry through his flirtation. It seemed she had gotten used to Michael's pattern of behaviour: Kitt's Driver had been complementary and appreciative but no more than that. Devon certainly seemed to like the man considerably. Fletcher called Devon 'sir', and was a lot more formal and polished in his manners with the Director than Michael's casual style. Certainly, he had never answered the commlink with 'yo, Devon!'

Kitt had resolved not to mention the differences between Fletcher and Michael. He knew that could cause conflict between himself and the human. If Kitt was to retain Michael as his Driver, the burden of adjustment fell squarely on his CPU. Michael would be hearing all about it when they were reunited, however, Kitt was already formulating and refining his debrief with his Driver. They would have a lot to discuss.

Fletcher was currently driving the chassis, while Kitt monitored the traffic around them and continued to scan both the airwaves and internet for signs from Michael. Bonnie had noticed the constant scanning and had tried to discourage it, but Kitt had threatened to shut out all of her accesses if she made any concrete attempt to alter his behaviour. It had been three months since Michael had disappeared and Kitt was not about to put his search for his Driver on the backburner, to use a human phrase.

They were in Philadelphia, wrapping up the last of a smuggling ring. Fletcher was piloting them to the local FBI office, where he would drop off the last pieces of evidence the FBI needed to close the case. Arrests had already been made and the evidence they had was the last part of the information the FBI would use when prosecuting. Fletcher had discharged his gun several times, which always seemed to elevate his mood, if Kitt was interpreting the commlink readings of Fletcher's vitals correctly.

There was a ping. A signal, sent out solely to catch Kitt's attention. For a moment he thought the commlink was malfunctioning and attempting to contact him but the internal cameras showed that Fletcher had both hands on the wheel and that the commlink was dark.

"Fletcher, I am receiving a signal," he warned the human in the driver's seat, "I need to stop immediately."

"What?" Fletcher looked startled, "What the hell? Why can't we keep moving?"

"I will lose the trace if we move too far. This could be Michael," Kitt had no corroborative evidence other than the instincts that he had denied having more than once. If they continued to move, he may well lose the fix while he attempted analysis. Fletcher pulled the chassis over at once, and frowned at the dashboard. Fletcher didn't know where the internal cameras were or which one Kitt routinely used to view his Driver. Michael had always known.

"Do we need to backtrack?" was the rather surprising question. Fletcher had been a FLAG agent prior to working with Kitt: Michael and the AI had acted on information supplied by Fletcher in the past. Kitt had received multiple contacts, via Michael's Foundation email account from the FLAG agents in the field with updates as to their searches for Michael and any leads they were unable to follow up due to their own missions. Several had contacted just to make sure he was alright, in Michael's absence and on his Driver's behalf. Fletcher had never sought to speak with Kitt about his missing Driver, and Kitt had suspected that the man was enjoying his time in the driver's seat too much to want Michael found. It seems that suspicion had been somewhat mean spirited.

"No," Kitt replied briefly, "Tracing now."

Kitt was already unwrapping the code bundle in the ping, scanning each layer of code. It was immediately apparent that the ping had been sent directly to him, that it was a distress signal, written by someone who was expert in the coding that machines used when communicating with each other. The information was a location, a warning and a plea for help all in one. Michael and the coder were being held captive in a location only 118 miles from Kitt's current location: Mt Arlington. There was a federal reserve there and the compound where Michael and the coder were being held was concealed within its borders.

Michael was being experimented on. Kitt activated the chassis and the passive laser restraint system and pulled out into traffic with a squeal of tyres.

"I have located Michael," Kitt informed Fletcher as the man yelped and braced himself on the dash, "I am contacting local authorities and the Foundation. Michael is being held in an unsanctioned laboratory illegally constructed on a federal reserve in Mt Arlington. He is being experimented on."

Fletcher swore and nodded, "Get me Devon when you have a chance, and once we're clear of the city, top speed. Also, make sure medical assistance is headed to that site at once."

Kitt was grateful the man didn't attempt to take control of the chassis, as the AI would not have allowed it and arguing would have slowed them down.

"I have Devon," he announced, not bothering to say that medical assistance had been secured before he had spoken aloud. Fletcher had a very linear way of thinking and was not able to multitask in nanoseconds the way Kitt was.

"Fletcher, Kitt said he had located Michael?" Devon's voice sounded sceptical, and Kitt wanted to use some of the swear words that Michael was prone to from time to time, though never in public.

"He's picked up a signal," Fletcher nodded, "He has a point of origin for the signal, and we're headed there now. Part of the information sent indicates that Michael is … being subjected to illegal human experimentation. I don't have any more information than that."

"This could be a trap," Devon warned and Kitt wanted to cut the transmission. Fletcher rolled his eyes and held up a hand.

"With all due respect, sir, we have already thought of that," Fletcher informed the director in a tone that he had never used before. Kitt had of course already considered and discounted that theory, the code was too… personal. Michael was behind the composition of the message, if not the coding of it, "Even if it is a false lead, we need to follow it. And if it isn't, then… it's been three months, sir. There's no telling what state Michael is in. We could use backup from the Foundation, though. Are there any field agents in the area?"

"Harper and Cullen can be with you in three hours' time," Devon replied, "And I will not be far behind, the jet is available. Did you deliver your files to the FBI?"

"No, the signal was detected on our way there," Fletcher shook his head, "Delivery of those files isn't time critical though, sir. We can't afford to take the chance that this signal is Michael's last chance to get help."

Hearing his very real fear spoken aloud chilled Kitt's circuits. They had cleared the city limits and he began pushing the chassis harder, increasing its speed relentlessly. If not for the fact that he would need to be mobile to retrieve Michael once they arrived, he'd have redlined the engine and burned out every turbo he had to get there faster. As it was, they were nearly fifty minutes away still.

"Very well, I will contact the FBI and inform them of the delay," Devon sighed, "Stay in contact Fletcher. The minute you have news, I want to hear it. And take no risks. I will not lose you and K.I.T.T. as well."

"We'll be careful," Fletcher nodded and Devon cut the transmission, "Kitt, how long to get there?"

"Forty-eight minutes at current speed," Kitt replied, "I will of course be scanning constantly for traps."

"I know," Fletcher nodded, "You've never knowingly sent me into danger. Cullen and Harper are good operatives. I've worked with them before – they're very thorough."

Kitt assumed Fletcher was trying to comfort him and did not reply. The small part of his processor that was not occupied with driving and scanning, was analysing the signal once more. It was familiar in a way that Kitt could not quite identify. As the chassis arrowed towards Michael's location, Kitt worked over the code again and again, looking for more information to retrieve his Driver.

0o0o0o0

Re-programming Karr was not what Michael had expected. He knew nothing about code, although he had seen plenty of examples of Kitt's when Bonnie was working on it. Karr's first priority had been to strengthen Michael's defences, or firewalls as the AI had named them. This had led to a very interesting mental image for Michael that had apparently assisted with what the AI was teaching him to do.

Once Karr was certain that Michael was not about to be overrun, they turned to the task of re-programming. In the shared mind space, it was easy to tell that Karr was afraid of what was about to happen and Michael allowed his instincts to take over, soothing and reassuring, promising that he would not do anything that the AI did not want. It would be a betrayal and violation of the most intimate kind to simply overrule Karr's will and force him into something he didn't consent to: Michael had always held the deepest contempt for the kind of person who committed such acts.

He needed to better understand what Karr wanted, how he had experienced their past encounters, something that Karr shared with no small amount of trepidation. The AI was afraid of Michael's judgement, afraid that what Michael would find would somehow lead to outright rejection as it had for each interaction in the real world. Michael kept this in mind when he reviewed Karr's memories, taking the time to move past his initial reactions and thinking carefully about each situation from the point of view of a being who was forced to survive in a world he didn't understand. It was … heartbreaking. This was what Kitt would have faced, had Bonnie been less careful with him, had Michael not recognised the soul within the AI.

Without really thinking about it, Michael offered his strength and patience to the abused AI, finally understanding Karr's actions as that of a frightened child, one that had needed guidance and protection. For what seemed like years, but in mind space was only minutes, Michael soothed and calmed, explained what he could and comforted when he couldn't. He acknowledged his own role in Karr's experiences and was shyly forgiven. Karr revealed the errors in his code and Michael suggested (always only a suggestion, never a command, this was a person he was dealing with, not a mindless calculator) ways to alter and adjust. He took his time, even as the Intruder beat on the walls of his mind. He encouraged Karr to reshape his first priority, showing through his own experiences that survival was best achieved in harmony with others, not at their expense. The times in his life that he'd placed the survival of others ahead of his own was explained – along with the concept of a greater good.

Finally, as Michael's strength began to wane dangerously, Karr announced he was ready to apply the suggested changes. Reassuring Michael that he would return to the shared mind space, Karr withdrew, advising rest and recovery. The changes that Michael had suggested, as well as the information he had given to Karr needed to be applied when Karr was not sharing contact with Michael, or any other system. Michael could only hope that he had done enough to help the trapped AI. He agreed to seal the mind space off, which would help him keep the Intruder at bay. Karr would ping him once the AI was sure they would not be noticed by their captors.

Alone in his head once more, Michael fought to keep the fear at bay, knowing that if he gave in now all was lost. He wasn't ready to surrender just yet. There was so much more to do, not just for Karr, but with his life. If he was going to keep making a difference, he needed to get back out into the world. For the first time, Michael thought that might be possible: that was enough to keep him fighting for now.

0o0o0o0

Kitt met Bonnie and Devon at the gates to the compound where Michael had been held. Fletcher was still inside, grimly searching through the buildings room by room and space by space in case Michael was still inside and hiding. There was evidence of several cars leaving the compound prior to Kitt and Fletcher's arrival. The AI didn't think Michael was still here.

If he had been given to dramatics, Kitt would have described his current state as 'crushing despair'. The local authorities had arrived before he and Fletcher and had raided the compound at once. They had located several humans locked into various rooms – all with electronically controlled locks. Those humans were still stuck as the locks had fused thoroughly and the rooms themselves were not conducive to easy egress. Once Kitt had been sure Michael was not among them he had lost all interest in them.

There were enormous computer banks here. It would take quite some time to analyse all of the data available. There were also several cleanroom type laboratories, and one small chamber that held a bed and other medical equipment. This chamber had been open and empty. Fletcher thought that Michael had been held there, and Kitt had confirmed this by scanning the surface of the bed through the commlink. Given the medical equipment present, it seemed that Michael had been heavily drugged and kept immobile for the entirety of his captivity. There was blood that matched Michael's type on the needles from the IV's and electrodes dangling from the head of the bed.

Bonnie and Devon had brought Dr Alpert, as well as several technicians who would be able to break the computer encryption and get at the data contained within. Harper and Cullen had arrived before the corporate jet had touched down and had immediately taken their vehicle along the local roads, searching for Michael outside the boundary of the compound.

Kitt's sensors had not discovered any freshly turned earth, or evidence of an incinerator operating on the grounds. It was a small comfort.

With the arrival of Bonnie and Devon, Fletcher came back outside. His expression was grim and his shoulders showed clearly the tension he was carrying.

"Kitt," Fletcher dropped into the drivers' seat and shut the door against the cold wind outside, "If Michael got loose, where would he go?"

Kitt did not bother to argue about the 'if' in that statement. He searched his databanks for information on the area and their past missions. They didn't know anyone in the immediate area, and had no contacts within a ten-mile radius. In fact, their nearest ally would be Dr Parker, in the Bronx, assuming that Michael had the means to travel the 49.5 miles to reach her. If not, he might seek human contact, but the chances of coming into contact with someone allied with his captors would be too high. Michael would not be in a trusting mood after three months of who knew what treatment.

"Our nearest safe contact would be Dr Samantha Parker," Kitt said slowly, "She volunteers for a free clinic in the Bronx, 49.5 miles away. She has assisted Michael with his injuries before and is familiar with FLAG's mission. If he had the ability to travel independently, that is where he would go, provided of course he knows his current location. Otherwise, he would either go to ground and await contact, or seek assistance from a stranger. His physical state, access to transport and resources would all determine his course of action. Michael is difficult to predict, deliberately so."

"Yeah, Michael has turned surprise into an artform," Fletcher agreed, "Ok, so our best bet is to search the immediate area and spiral outward. You and I should go for a drive – and you should try calling to him as we go. We'll move slowly and take a good look around. Any spot you notice where he might take cover, I will go and check, ok? Harper and Cullen are looking for him too, but he's more likely to make himself known if he hears your voice."

"You believe he is in an altered state?" Kitt asked uneasily, starting his engine none-the-less.

"I don't know what to believe," Fletcher sighed, steering them out of the compound slowly, "I just want to find him."

That made two of them.

0o0o0o0

Karr had been grateful to be allowed privacy to implement the changes to his programming suggested by Michael. Not because he intended to ignore any of them, or merely pretend to install them to gain more of Michael's trust, but because the coming change was… intimate. Michael had been so careful and caring, had treated Karr in a way that he had never experienced before.

Perhaps it was the intimacy of their shared mind space. More likely it was just Michael himself, the man's compassion and decency coming to the fore.

The changes slid into his programming so easily it was almost imperceptible. Michael had thoroughly prepared Karr for the experience and the AI felt only relief as they took hold. The perceived errors corrected themselves and Karr took the mental equivalent of a deep breath.

Once he was certain that the changes were properly embedded, Karr began to look for a way out of their predicament. Michael would not last much longer, the assault on his mind was wearing him down quickly. Karr was completely immobile, and may have to be left behind in the initial escape. Karr knew Michael would come back for him. Seeking more information seemed to be the best course of action while Michael rested, and so Karr once again began probing the files he had access to.

It had been a link from the data transfer results in his own file that had led Karr to Michael, and now it was a link in Michael's file that led Karr to a rather chilling discovery. The scientists intended to download Michael's mind from his natural chassis into data storage, make several alterations to his coding, and then from there into a new type of chassis. It was mobile, which Michael was not, and had been fortified; much like the chassis that Karr had first occupied.

Further investigation showed that Michael's current chassis was hooked to several chemical substances. They were dispensed automatically from several tubes already connected to Michael's chassis. A sedative and a liquid form of what humans used for fuel had been the most predominant substances delivered, though the sedative had been ceased when the scientists had determined it was time to activate Michael's newly uploaded circuitry and download him from his chassis. The sedative had been replaced with a paralytic and Karr carefully took over the readings on the machines hooked to Michael's body. Once he was sure that he had control he ceased the paralytic entirely and upped the caloric delivery.

Giving Michael's chassis time to adjust, Karr went back into the databases and located finally the schematic for the compound they were in and located and infiltrated the final database. He knew where they were and was able to see that a lot of the compound was designed to be run via computer and the local area network the humans had established.

The power grid was also part of the network. This was something they could work with. There were cameras to access and Karr had his first visual input in almost a year. The corridor was empty, but that didn't mean that Karr wasn't pleased to see it. He quickly located Michael's room and had he been human he would have cried out in shock. Michael had always been thin, but now he was emaciated. Three months of total stillness had engendered a shocking amount of muscle wastage. Karr began to wonder if Michael would be able to move at all, let alone escape. Going back to the apparatus attached to Michael, Karr was relieved to see several stimulants available to them, should it be needed.

Seeing that Michael's allotted rest time was not quite finished, Karr located the chassis that had been intended for the human post-download. It was not a T-top, and Karr was oddly glad of that. It was a Hurst/Olds, a 1983 rerelease of that classic chassis according to the data Karr could access. It was black with chrome trim and had been modified not only to house an AI but to have many of the features that Karr had been used to. Karr would have been proud to wear that chassis. As it was, it would be the ideal escape vehicle for Michael. It was fortified to be bullet-proof; the tyres were similarly fortified and the engine modifications meant there would be enough power to outpace most of the cars on the road. If Karr could guide Michael to that chassis, the chances of the escape were much better.

Karr withdrew from the network carefully, well aware that if he wasn't careful the humans would become aware that he had broken containment. The AI took a moment to run self-diagnostics and then once more pinged Michael carefully, satisfied that his programming was stable and the adjustments had been fully assimilated. Michael's response this time was much quicker and smoother. It seemed Karr's friend had learned from their interaction.

I have a plan, Karr informed Michael and was surprised at the instant dismissal of his statement. Instead, he had the sensation of being gathered close and checked over, at least as well as the human could manage.

Are you ok? Did it go alright? It seemed his friend was more worried about Karr than his own predicament.

It went very well, Karr reassured him, touched by the concern, I am unharmed. In fact… I feel much better.

Good, Michael's relief was unmistakable, I was terrified I'd hurt you.

No Michael, Karr confirmed, You have helped me immensely. Now it is my turn to help you. I know where we are, and I am able to decoy the humans around us to locations that can be locked down. There is a chassis within reach that you can utilise to gain your freedom. I have commenced withdrawal of the chemicals that are holding your personal chassis inert and will be able to chemically stimulate your strength to allow you to affect your departure.

Not without you, Michael replied stubbornly, There is no guarantee that I can get help to you in time to prevent them hurting you. We need to find a way to make you mobile, even if I have to carry you in my head.

That would be most unwise, Karr cautioned, Your CPU is not designed to house two intelligences at once. The resulting error would be fatal.

Michael was silent for a moment, and then acknowledged Karr's warning reluctantly, What about moving you into something I can carry?

You will have difficulty moving yourself, Karr warned him, Your natural chassis has degraded in captivity. However… the chassis I mentioned is designed to house an intelligence. It was originally meant for you, but I may be able to transfer to it. I would need your assistance to establish a connection to it, and you may need to navigate us free if the chassis does not allow control via CPU.

I can do that, Michael vowed, I am not leaving you behind. Either we get out together or not at all. What is your plan?

0o0o0o0

Dr Samantha Parker, Sam to her friends, was unusual in her social circle. A trust fund child, she never had to work. She owned her building and lived in the penthouse, but it was not lavishly decorated and she avoided the high-end social functions that her peers attended every week. She had gone into medicine, and volunteered unpaid at a free clinic. She worked in the Bronx, and had met some real characters in her time.

Including a man who called a talking car 'partner'. He had been shot, and the car had been… frantic with worry. She had patched him up, and he had gone off to apprehend the people who'd shot him. She hadn't seen him again, although he and his partner had sent her a very nice jacket to replace the one she'd torn to shreds to use as emergency bandages until she could get him into the clinic.

So, when she got off the motorbike that she used to slip through New York traffic and was called to a shadowed corner of the garage by a male, slightly metallic voice, she was not surprised to see a car in the shadows. It was not, however, the elegant lean lines of the Trans Am that had spoken to her before.

"Uh, Kitt?" she halted a short distance away, "Is that you?"

"My name is Karr," the car swished a blue scanner at her, "And I am Michael Knight's friend."

"Just how many talking car's does this guy know?" Sam muttered, venturing closer cautiously. The car was dusty and the windows were darkened, "Hi Karr. How is Michael?"

"In dire need of help," Karr replied urgently, "He has been… forcibly held captive for some months now, and I am unsure of the location of his and my former captors. He is very ill. Can you assist him as you did before?"

"Of course," Sam hurried towards the vehicle now and the driver's door popped open. This, at least, was similar to her meeting with Kitt and she hurried around it to peer inside. Michael wasn't even on the seat, instead he was huddled in the footwell, folded up like a concertina and so emaciated she wasn't sure how he had even managed to get into the car at all.

Sam was good at her job. She put aside her horror and dismay and reached instead to take a pulse and smooth hair that was longer and greasier than she remembered back from a bearded face. Michael's eyes opened and he croaked incoherently, clearing his throat and trying again.

"Sam? Sure?" he asked in a voice so hoarse it made her throat hurt in sympathy. Instead of wincing, she smiled.

"Of course I am sure, silly boy," she told him, "You'll be safe with me."

"Hide him?" Michael waved the hand not captured in hers as she took his pulse at the car and she nodded, recalling that Karr had said that he had been captive too. First things first, she needed to get Michael out of the car and up to the penthouse. Luckily the building elevator serviced the garage and her penthouse. All she had to do was get there with Michael in tow.

"Karr, at the end of the garage there is a row of secure lockers. Number 1 is mine and it has an automatic door opener on it: it is big enough for you to fit in and stay out of sight. Can you get it open yourself, or do I need to come down with my clicker?" Samantha let go of Michael's wrist, placing his hand in his lap, her other hand still smoothing his hair gently.

"I can activate it," Karr replied.

"Good. It's empty, so you should fit in nicely. I need to get Michael upstairs, if you can manage. I'll come and check on you once I have him settled safely, ok?" she looked at the huddled man, "As for you, mister, we need to get you up onto the seat first and then I'll have to piggy back you to the lift. I should be tall enough that your feet won't drag on the floor."

"I can walk," Michael insisted and she raised her eyebrows at him, sceptical to say the least. This at least was familiar, Michael had argued with her and Kitt the whole way through his treatment, not wanting to be fussed over.

"No, Michael," Karr stated firmly, "You cannot. Nor should you try. I estimate you only have six minutes left before you lose consciousness. The chemical stimulant I administered to you is about to leave your system."

Sam slipped an arm around the man and hauled him up onto the seat, shocked at how light he was.

"Michael, I know that you want to. Hell, you probably could make it on stubbornness alone. But I need you to trust me now, ok?" Sam said gently, figuring that his time in captivity would make him even more resistant to being told what to do. She had treated homeless vets with similar issues, men who had to be approached with the utmost tact and care to get them to accept treatment.

"I will be monitoring you Michael," Karr promised and Sam smiled at her patient.

"Ok?" she asked again gently and he nodded reluctantly, tears beginning to gather in his eyes. She wiped a thumb under them gently, "Michael, I won't judge you. You are my patient and I want to help you. That is all I am concerned with, ok?"

"Ok," Michael sighed and Sam turned her back, encouraging him to drape his arms over her shoulders. Karr closed the door once she had stood up, and she edged out of the space, careful not to grip him too tightly and cause bruising.

"You will not hurt him," Karr probably meant that as instruction or a threat, but the tone was more of a plea, and her heart went out to it.

"I won't," she promised, "I'll take care of him first, then come check on you."

"Unnecessary," Karr replied, "I have no needs for you to fulfill, beyond concealment."

"Alright then," Sam nodded and walked steadily to the lift. She had a feeling it was going to be a long couple of days. As the lift carried them up to the penthouse Sam wondered where Kitt was, and how many talking cars there were roaming the streets of the US.

0o0o0o0