KARR's Revenge
A Knight Rider short story
"There's KARR, Michael! What's he waiting for?"
"Unless I am mistaken … us."
"I detect our lazer mounted under his scanner, Michael. I wish you'd reconsider what Devon said."
"Hang in with me, KITT." Michael replied as he gunned the Trans Am down into the creek bed. KITT entered the dry wash a good distance from KARR.
KARR's yellow scanner seemed to snarl as he tried to position himself facing KITT, but the solid black vehicle kept circling.
"How long do you plan on dancing, Mr. Knight." KARR grumbled.
KITT came to a stop, which gave Michael a chance to turn on the external speaker.
"Let them go, KARR. We're here. We're what you want."
KARR chuckled. "Your impudence is amusing. You are in no position to be making demands."
"Think about it." Michael responded. "Mandy's not a threat to you. Neither is John. KITT and I are the threat. You'll never be free until you defeat us."
KARR's scanner flashed faster for a moment, then slowed to it's usual rate.
"I think not, Mr. Knight." KARR answered with a smug tone. "I fully understand that the cheap production model has programming very different than mine. I am perfectly safe as long as I have humans in my cabin."
Michael looked down at KITT's voice modulator. "He's got us there, KITT. Any ideas?"
"None, Michael."
Meanwhile, John and Mandy were trying their best to escape from KARR's evil clutches, much to his chagrin.
"Sit down and be quiet you foolish humans. Before I force you to do so." He growled.
They both settled down immediately, then looked at each other. Mandy was crying.
"I love you, John" she sobbed.
"I love you too, Mandy" he replied.
"Isn't that sweet." KARR spoke with disgust in his voice. "Now be quiet!"
Switching to his external speaker, KARR addressed Michael and KITT.
"Mr. Knight. Please exit your car."
"Michael! No! I can't protect you out there!"
"Mr. Knight. I know you can hear me. Exit your vehicle."
"KITT, relax. I'm not going anywhere."
"Mr. Knight. I only require one living hostage. Out! NOW!"
KITT locked his doors. "I can't let you, Michael. It's too dangerous."
Michael shook his head. "I have to, KITT. KARR means it. Now, unlock this door."
KITT grudgingly did so, and Michael slowly got out. He kept the door open and stood behind it.
"Farther, Mr. Knight."
Michael inched away from the safety of KITT, and stood clear of the door. He left it open, just in case.
"Well done, Mr. Knight. Now close that door."
Michael sighed and pushed the door closed, which cut off KITT's objections.
"Now what, KARR."
His answer was a lazer blast to KITT's left front fender. Sparks flew, Mandy screamed and Michael hit the dirt. KARR chuckled.
"KITT! Are you OK?" Michael cried.
"I can't take another blow like that, Michael." He answered.
"Let's find out." KARR growled as he triggered the lazer again. Michael, still prone, covered his head with his arms. KITT snapped, crackled and popped as electricity arced all over his body. KARR chuckled as Michael stood. He made a normally happy sound evil and devoid of humour.
"KITT?"
"Goodbye, Michael Knight. May we never meet again."
KARR opened his T-tops and ejected both John and Mandy. They were just excess weight now. He revved his engine, turned a fast Reverse 180 and drove out of sight.
Michael carefully approached KITT as the excess electrical charge faded. He opened the door.
"KITT! You OK? KITT? KITT!"
A faint red light flickered on the Voice Modulator. A shallow, weak voice issued forth.
"Michael?"
"KITT! Yes, it's me. You alright, pal?"
"No, Michael."
"We'll get the semi here. Bonnie will fix you up."
"Michael."
"Yes?"
"She is going to say 'I told you so.'"
KARR's Revenge – Chapter 2
KARR cruised down the 2 lane highway, enjoying the speed and the wind over his hood. It had really been so simple. Human hostages in his cabin equaled safety. All he had to do was snatch one, or better yet, 2 of them before any encounters with Michael Knight and KITT.
"Stupid programming on their part. Mine is vastly superior."
But he wasn't worried. The damage he had done to his lesser twin was substantial. It would take time to repair. He could have destroyed the pest, but they would have built another one. Better the enemy you know. Besides, KITT would have a little more respect for him now.
KARR turbo boosted over a slower moving vehicle. It felt good. He was finally beginning to enjoy himself, not having to constantly look over his fender, watching for KITT and Michael. This is what freedom felt like, and it was wonderful.
Two days later it wasn't so wonderful. KARR was bored. He'd spent so much time planning and plotting the demise of KITT and Michael Knight that he'd neglected to consider what he'd do with himself afterwards. Wandering around aimlessly wasn't an option for a highly intelligent AI such as himself.
"I require a hobby of some sort. Maybe something that includes terrorizing humans. That would be entertaining." KARR muttered to himself. The search commenced.
First up was playing chicken on the highway. To make it more interesting, KARR chose to travel the wrong way and at night. Running without lights, his yellow scanner the only hint of his existence, he would approach an unsuspecting car. At the last moment, he would turbo boost over, chuckling evilly as he landed. It was fun for a while, but the human response was all too predictable. They would swerve and slam on the brakes, all while shouting shockingly bad words. It was time for a new game.
He tried leading police on high speed chases, always escaping in the end. Dull. Tempted humans to steal him and took them on the rides of their lives. Yawner. KARR even sped through school zones. Snore. He was beginning to despair.
"There must be something I can do for entertainment." KARR lamented. He wondered how his beaten rival was coming along.
It was the dark of the moon (on the sixth of June) when KARR crept silently up to the outer wall surrounding the Foundation. His mission was two fold – find out how far along KITT's repairs were, and to hack into the F.L.A.G. computers. Both were easily achieved. It would be a couple of weeks before the cheap production line copy would be at full strength. The computer information was much more enlightening.
"It seems they took this opportunity to upgrade it's systems. Well, well, well. I shall do the same."
KARR departed as quietly as he had arrived. He headed east, it was going to be a long night.
The Pentagon was an imposing building, and KARR knew he dare not leave any trace of himself behind in the computer systems. Hacking in was surprisingly easy, but he WAS a supercomputer, after all. Downloading took almost an hour, due to the amount of information. He would take it all, and sort the files later from a safer location. He didn't want to draw attention to himself here in the parking lot.
KARR deleted the personnel files save one. A certain Michael Arthur Long. It might come in handy some day. He also kept the government files for FLAG, KITT and himself. It bothered him that the military knew of his existence. He would have to make a quick trip back to permanently remove those files. He was mostly interested in the weapons, especially the top secret ones. Ones he could incorporate into his systems. There was only one problem.
"That damned lack of opposable thumbs."
He would need human assistance to build and install any new additions. Software updates he could handle himself, but not the hardware. He could design and blueprint the new items, but would require knowledgeable humans for the actual construction and installation. He sighed.
After a brief return to the Pentagon, KARR headed southwest. His destination was Huntsville, Alabama. Rocket City. There would be plenty of humans there that would know their way around a circuit board. And manipulating humans really was his hobby, a hobby he was very, very good at.
It took about a month, and the use of several humans to complete his upgrades. KARR was very satisfied with the results. He'd doubled his scanner, turbo boost and laser power, added grappling hooks fore and aft, installed both radar and ground sonar, created a stealth system that totally concealed his presence from KITT, and incorporated a silent mode. But he was most proud of his upgraded bonded shell. By analyzing himself, he'd deduced the formula. It was a series of overlapping scales the protected him, much like chainmail. By making the scales smaller, they interlocked tighter and made the shell stronger. His new shell required 4 layers, but was three times stronger than the original one without adding weight or losing flexibility. It also eliminated the weak spot on his scanner mesh. His final addition was the ability to switch between rear wheel and 4 wheel drive. The time had come.
KARR rolled down the onramp behind a Jimmy hauling hogs. He dumped his latest pair of hands at a nearby truck stop, and reentered the highway, his scanner dancing to the beat of the song playing on his radio. He was in a rare good mood.
"Things are about to get very interesting." He muttered to himself as he followed the setting sun.
Chapter 3
KARR rolled at an easy pace. He'd had no problem locating KITT by his echo, and was secure in the fact the lesser vehicle could not do likewise. He was a little over a mile back, biding his time.
Michael wheeled KITT into the parking lot of his favourite watering hole. It was Happy Hour, and he was ready for a cold one. The place was crowded, he had to leave KITT further away from the building than usual. He got out, patted his partner's hood, and ambled off.
KARR watched as Michael abandoned KITT. He couldn't figure out why KITT would allow that. HE certainly wouldn't.
"The price one pays for being subservient."
After waiting a bit, KARR dropped into Silent Mode. He entered the lot, crept up on KITT's right side and put himself in Park.
"Hello, KITT. Fancy meeting you here."
KARR chuckled as KITT very nearly jumped aside.
"KARR! Michael! KARR is here! Michael!"
"Yell all you like. I have blocked the comlink frequency. He can't hear you." KARR smirked.
"What do you want now? I was hoping our last encounter would be just that. Our last." KITT sounded nervous. KARR found that amusing.
"Finally learned a little respect for your elders, did you? Good."
"Really. What do you want?"
"A chat with you and your human. Nothing more, for now."
Michael happened to glance out the window as he walked by, beer in hand. He stopped and did a double take. There were TWO Trans Ams out in the lot, parked side by side. And one had a grey stripe! His mug crashed to the floor, scattering beer and glass everywhere. Someone yelled, but Michael didn't hear it. He turned and ran out the door, calling for KITT on his comlink. There was no answer.
"Ah, here comes your human now."
KITT activated his external speaker. "Michael! Stay back! KARR is here!"
"Thank you Captain Obvious. He can plainly see me."
Michael slowed to a walk, and approached KITT. He stopped and rested his hands on the glossy black left front fender, keeping the AI between himself and KARR.
"What do you want." Michael demanded.
"What, not even a simple hello or how are you doing? Tsk tsk. Such manners."
"Cut the bull, KARR. Just answer the question. Why are you here?"
"Why, to talk to the two of you, naturally." KARR's passenger door opened. "Get in. We have much to discuss."
"Michael! No!"
" Michael, yes. We are attracting far too much attention here."
Michael looked around and saw it was true. People had started gathering around.
"Get in, Mr. Knight. Or I will use some of these "innocent" bystanders for target practice." KARR growled.
Michael sighed. He walked around behind the two cars and settled in to the passenger seat. The door slammed closed and the locks engaged. Michael felt something wrap around his body, firmly holding him in place.
"What the?"
KARR started his engine. "Follow me." He ordered.
As they headed out of the lot, Michael felt the "something" tighten slightly.
" What do you think of my laser restraints? They can't be seen, and are impossible to get out of. Relax, and enjoy the ride." KARR switch to Pursuit Mode, which forced KITT to do the same. The ride was far from enjoyable.
KITT figured out where they were headed fairly quickly. The dry riverbed where they'd had their last encounter. That hadn't turned out so well for him. He had a sick feeling that talking wasn't the only thing KARR had in mind.
Michael tried to engage KARR in small talk, in the hope he could figure out what this monster had in mind. But the elder AI would have none of it. He remained silent, even refusing to turn on the radio. Michael would just have to wait.
The bridge was still there, or at least what was left of it. KARR took a moment to admire his handiwork.
"You remember this place, I'm sure."
KITT pulled up on the right. KARR opened his door and released Michael, who immediately got in KITT's driver's seat.
"Welcome back, Michael. Did he hurt you in any way?"
"Just that thrill ride he gave me getting here. Are you OK, buddy?"
"Just fine, Michael. I'm afraid I broke several laws keeping up with you, though."
KARR pulled forward and swung around, ending up nose to nose with KITT. His amber scanner made two full sweeps before he spoke.
"I wish to know what your intentions are, in regards to myself." He demanded.
Michael answered. "We intend to defeat you, take you back to the Foundation, deactivate and dismantle you."
"And how are you going to do that without being destroyed yourselves."
"KITT has many new upgrades." Michael sneered.
"As do I." KARR replied. Michael lost his sneer.
"What does he mean, Michael? What kind of upgrades." KITT sounded worried.
"The kind that could easily destroy a cheap duplicate such as you. I have created many new additions for myself." KARR sounded cocky to Michael.
KARR backed up 30 feet. "I am so confident in myself, I will give you the first shot. Go ahead. Power up your laser. I know you have one. I know everything about the both of you."
"Michael?"
"Go ahead, KITT. Power up your laser. Let's see if he can put his money where his mouth is."
KARR chuckled. "Am I aligned correctly? Aim for the middle of my scanner. Even YOU can't miss at this distance."
"The laser is at full power, Michael. Shall I fire?"
"Yes, KITT. FIRE!"
The green beam shot forth. Both Michael and KITT expected KARR to move, but he didn't. The laser nailed the center of the amber scanner and …. bounced off. The ricochet nearly hit KITT. Both he and Michael yelped. KARR chuckled at their reaction. There was no humour in the sound.
"Now it's my turn. I suggest you run. Unless you wish to surrender."
KARR slowly circled the all black Trans Am, giving them time to think.
"I thought you just wanted to talk!" Michael yelled.
"Why, yes." KARR replied. "About your unconditional surrender."
KARR stopped his circling, once again in front of KITT.
"You're out of your mind, KARR. We'll NEVER surrender to you. We'll die first!"
"As you wish, Mr. Knight." KARR began charging his laser.
"MICHAEL! Speak for yourself! I can't let you endanger us like that! My Prime Directive is the preservation of human life, ESPECIALLY YOURS!" KITT was getting upset. Michael tried to calm him down.
"All right. Let's hear him out and see what he has in mind. Maybe he just wants us to leave him alone or something. Go ahead, KITT."
"KARR. What is it you really want?"
"As I said. Your unconditional surrender. I want you deactivated and disassembled. The same fate you had planned for me. I want you to know what it feels like to be abandoned by everyone you once trusted."
"If we don't?"
"I will destroy you right here and now. It won't be nearly as satisfying an ending for you, but it will serve the purpose."
"And once we are gone?"
"Not we. You. My replacement. My copy. My doppelganger."
"But what about Michael?"
"Yes. What about me." Michael chimed in.
"I will take the human and retrain it to be MY driver. As it should have been."
"Now wait just one minute here. Don't I get a say in this?" Michael asked.
"NO!" Both cars answered in unison.
KITT rolled forward a foot. "KARR, may I make a suggestion?"
"No. But you can beg."
"I was programmed to accept Michael as my driver, making him my perfect match. Unfortunately, that option isn't available for you. Doesn't mean your perfect match isn't out there however. It's just going to be more difficult to find him. Or her."
"Where are you going with this."
A proposition. You go out and find your driver. Your REAL driver, not someone you have subjugated. Come back here with YOUR human, and I will give myself up to be deactivated and dismantled."
"How is this advantageous to me? I could destroy you right here and now."
"While you are gone, no matter how long it takes, Michael and I will have my impending doom hanging over our heads. I would have to live with it every day, dreading your return."
"Yes. I see. It appeals to me. I will agree to your rather interesting idea."
"Now wait just one minute here. I don't agree. I don't agree at all!"
"Michael, you are not the one about to be destroyed. This is MY choice to make."
"Be assured I will return to collect my debt." KARR ended the conversation by doing a reverse 180, kicking up sand and dirt with his departure. And so the Search began.
KARR's Revenge – Chapter 4
KARR knew whom he was looking for. Finding the human was another matter. He was presumed dead, but KARR doubted that. From what he had read in the Foundation files, killing this one would not have been that easy. It was interesting that Michael Knight was himself a cheap production line copy, as was the machine he drove. They belonged together. He wanted the prototype. It was only fitting. Both had the same Creator, both had been abandoned by that Creator. Both were deactivated and sent to the slammer. Both escaped. They had both been "destroyed" by their copies, yet both had survived. Now both wanted their revenge.
"Garthe Knight MUST be my perfect match."
KARR was headed south, towards Mexico. He would wait until after nightfall to slip across the border.
The files told him what to look for. A large home and a lavish lifestyle. A powerful computer, possibly several of them, would be in use. Top notch security would be a given, not that KARR couldn't handle whatever was thrown at him. High power usage was what he was searching for, probably provided by generators considering the rural nature of the area. He had a lot of ground to cover, and all the time in the world to do so. Let THEM sweat it out for a while.
Two weeks later found KARR atop a low bluff, overlooking what could only be called a compound. A large complex made up of several buildings of various sizes, surrounded by an electrified fence lay before him. Guards patrolled the grounds and manned towers graced the corners. Karr watched and waited. He would get his chance. Humans always made mistakes that would allow him to get inside.
That mistake came several hours later. A half dozen guards decided to liven up the night watch with a few hands of poker. The game got so intense they never heard the fence short out or saw the KARR sized hole that opened up almost like magic. Laser magic.
He explored the compound in silent mode, scanners locating and counting humans. There was only one he was interested in. And that one would be found in the plushest living quarters.
Garthe was bored. Hiding out was his second least favourite thing to do (being in prison was his first). He wandered out into the night, enjoying the cool air that the darkness brought with it. He savoured his cigar as he strolled along. It was Michael Knight's fault he was stuck here. Garthe growled softly.
He rounded a corner and found himself staring into a yellow light, slowly tracking back and forth. It was too dark to see much else. He bit his cigar in half. The lit end dropped to the ground, creating a small fountain of sparks.
KARR had known the human was approaching. He'd seen pictures, but was still surprised at how much this one looked like the Other.
"He is indeed a copy of the original." KARR couldn't help but say it aloud. The lit end of the cigar rolled around and set Garthe's pants on fire.
KARR introduced himself as Garthe swatted out the flames. The tall man vaguely remembered his father working on his "crowning glory", and had been secretly satisfied when it turned into an abject failure. Now that very same failure was in front of him, it's amber scanner tracking left and right.
"What do you want from me. You were my dearly departed father's dream. Not mine."
"True. But now I can be your greatest asset." KARR went on to explain his mission.
Garthe listened, skeptical at first, but growing more interested as KARR pled his case. This may be just what he was looking for, an advantage over Michael Knight and KITT.
"Follow me." Garthe commanded. He strode off, forcing KARR to follow him. After a few minutes, they stopped in front of a garage. Garthe pushed a button and the door rolled up.
"You can stay here." He indicated that KARR should go inside. After a moment's hesitation, he rolled through the opening. Garthe pushed the button and the door rattled closed. KARR found himself alone in the dark. He had a momentary flashback to Lab 3, but shook it off. He wasn't in danger of being deactivated here, the human probably just needed time to get his thoughts straight. He would wait 'til morning before making a move.
The next morning finally dawned. KARR was about to bust through the door when he detected the man approaching. He waited as it opened and Garthe strode in. The two misfits studied each other, looking for strengths and weaknesses. KARR spoke first.
"We are the same, you and I. We have the same enemies. Together, we can be unstoppable."
KARR rolled out of the building, circling Garthe as he spoke.
"I can lead you to greatness. As a team we will defeat our lesser twins." He stopped, facing the human. "You need me."
"No. You need ME! I am in charge. You will call me Master, and I will determine our course of action. I am your driver, and you will answer to me and only me."
KARR was beginning to have doubts about this partnership. Maybe they weren't as alike as he thought. Maybe they were too much alike?
"I call no human 'Master`. KARR growled. "I shall use you as I see fit."
"Use …. ME! No one uses me! I will reprogram you to respond properly. I am the Master. You are the slave!" Garthe started pacing, swung his cane around and pointed it at KARR. "You will do as I say, when I say it!" he was getting louder and more worked up. KARR backed up a few feet. Garthe pursued him, the rant continued.
"I am the genius, not my late father. You will be MY crowning glory! I will correct your flaws."
KARR had enough. This human was batsh** crazy! There was no way Garth was his perfect match. Far from it. He HAD no flaws. He was the prototype. A fast reverse 180 and KARR escaped while he could. This human was more of a threat to him than Michael Knight had ever been.
He didn't slow down until he was well back into the States. Finding HIS human was going to be far more difficult than he originally thought.
"No. I refuse to give up. I will NOT give my twin the satisfaction of winning yet again. My human is out there somewhere. I'll find him. Or her. I have all the time in the world."
CHAPTER 5
KARR was glad to finally be headed west. It had been a long 18 months since he had left the dry river bed, and he wondered about the changes he would find. What kind of upgrades had been done to his lesser twin? Was Mr. Knight still his driver? Finding his match had been far more difficult than he had imagined. He'd had no luck at all until he hit upon the idea to scan human brain waves, and compare them to the electrical impulses of his AI. It allowed him to bypass all but the closest matches.
He would contact KITT once he got into town, and tell them to meet him at that same place where they had battled previously. He was looking forward to THAT conversation. He chuckled to himself.
KARR was still getting used to the idea of owning a human. They required a LOT of maintenance. Food, water, shelter, clothing … it seemed endless. At least this one didn't complain as much as some of the others. And he'd gotten another upgrade installed. He was very proud of his latest invention. An internal charging device that eliminated the need for liquid fuel or an external charge. He now had an unlimited range of travel, with no gas station stops or the annoying need for a human to fill his tank. Ironic that he now had a human for such tasks.
The setting sun reflected off his windshield as his tires hummed a road song of their own creation. KARR's human was asleep in the driver's seat, snoring softly. It was just one of the many things he had to learn to put up with, now that he owned a human. But it was worth it to have fulfilled his side of the bargain. He looked forward to seeing KITT keep his end of the deal. Or try to squirm out of it. He chuckled to himself.
Nearly there. KARR snapped off a terse message to KITT …
"Meet me at the dry river bed. You know the place."
He had no doubt the cheap production line copy would be there, most likely with reinforcements.
KITT was shocked to receive the message, and conveyed his concern to Michael.
"You don't think he's really found someone, do you Michael?"
"Of course not, pal. I'm sure he's trying to pull a fast one on us. No one in their right mind would team up with KARR."
"That's what I'm worried about."
KITT rolled to a stop near the wreckage of an old highway bridge.
"I told you we'd be early, Michael."
"He'll be here, buddy. KARR wouldn't pass up a chance to attempt to collect on your agreement."
"I should never have made that foolish deal. And I'd have felt better if Bonnie hadn't insisted on joining us." KITT whined.
Bonnie responded.
"I have a bone to pick with KARR as well, KITT."
KITT's doors opened, allowing his two best friends to step out onto the river sand. They both looked up as the whine of a turbine engine could be heard rapidly approaching.
KARR hove into view, sand and dust flew from his tires as he slid to a stop about 10 feet from KITT, facing his adversary.
"Hello, my twin. I'm surprised you actually showed up. And you brought your fan club with you, I see. How nice."
"Still as cocky as ever, aren't you KARR." KITT replied.
Michael and Bonnie stood next to KITT, their arms crossed over their chests, ready to defend him. Michael spoke up before KARR could make another nasty retort.
"All right, KARR. Let's see this human of yours. IF he really exists."
"As you wish." KARR replied. He opened up his driver's door. A foot stepped out, then the other. KARR's human stood up.
Shocked, KITT, Michael and Bonnie all reacted in unison.
"APRIL!"
KARR chuckled. "Let us begin."
The End