Michael had come into Melissa's room in the medical wing and invited her to watch some video with him and Kitt. She had agreed, to have something to do but also to be with Michael and Kitt. To be safe, with Michael and Kitt. He carried her into Kitt's garage. April and Bonnie were there, too.
"Hello," said April. "What brings you two here?"
"Movie night. Well, more like movie mid-afternoon. And what are you two ladies doing?"
"We've been discussing the results of the computer system shutdown. We found no evidence of any hacks, by Garthe or anyone else."
"We also took the opportunity to install some new monitoring protocols, to make the system more secure," added Bonnie.
"Great," said Michael. "And Carlos has finished vetting everyone. No moles."
"Then how –" April started to ask.
Michael interrupted with a snort. "The oh-so-helpful switchboard. Garthe called and asked for me and was told I was out on assignment and wouldn't be back until the next day. He then asked for Melissa and was told she was at a friend's house until late. The operator even gave him the name of the friend."
"Carlos can't have been pleased."
"Well, at least it was an innocent mistake rather than someone working with Garthe. He and Devon are working on new guidance for the switchboard." Michael placed Melissa on the hood of the car. "Kitt's being a spoilsport."
"Michael, I fail to see how not wanting you to eat popcorn in my interior is being a spoilsport."
"What's a movie without popcorn?" asked Michael, walking over to the microwave.
April and Bonnie looked at Melissa, who shrugged to indicate she had no clue what her guardian was up to. Michael and Kitt continued their discussion while Michael made popcorn. Michael's position was that Kitt – who couldn't small, taste, or touch – had nothing to complain about. Kitt's position was that he didn't want popcorn kernels in the seat cushions. And he controlled the locks on the door.
Michael brough the bag of popcorn over to Melissa. "It's the kind with extra butter. Just wipe your hands on the hood. Serves him right. Spoilsport."
"Miss Knight, Michael's sense of humor is, at best, questionable. I would suggest you not seek to emulate his behavior."
Michael stage whispered, "Just ignore him." Then louder, he added, "April, Bonnie, care to join us?"
They came over and joined Melissa on the hood. April was in the middle; Bonnie was on the driver side. Melissa was on the passenger side, Michael standing next to her, leaning on the roof.
When everyone was in place, Michael said, "Roll tape, Kitt."
Kitt projected footage on the garage wall. Melissa shrank back away, as she recognized Garthe. He was in a Foundation conference room with Uncle Devon. She couldn't focus on their conversation. All she could focus on was Garthe, looking as arrogant and overbearing as always. And how old and frail Uncle Devon looked.
The door to the conference room open and Michael entered. Garthe turned towards him, smugly. "Oh," he smirked, "how nice of you to join us, Michael. You made excellent time. We weren't expecting you for another half-hour."
"How could you? Melissa is your sister."
"Yes, she is my little sister, not yours."
Michael's response was to punch Garthe, hard enough to knock him off his feet.
Melissa leaned forward and remained that way until the end. She watched Michael punch Garthe a second time, sending him flying across the room. The video ended with Michael handcuffing Garthe and leaving the room with Uncle Devon.
Melissa turned to Michael. "That was . . . you were . . . I . . ." She flung her arms around him.
"Oof. Seems a little unfair here. With your cracked ribs, I can't bear hug you back. Besides, I was just living up to my part of the deal." Melissa pulled back slightly so she could see his face but before she could say anything, he explained. "I told you if Garthe were alive, I would punch him for you . . . twice." Michael held up two fingers.
"The other part of the deal, Miss Knight, is that you get to tell Michael 'I told you so'. I suggest you do so as often as possible."
That reminded Melissa. "Kitt?"
"Yes, Miss Knight?"
"I think I asked you this, when we were . . . at the house. Why do you call me Miss Knight when you call everyone else by their first name?"
"Yes, you did ask me that."
"And did you give me an answer? I'm . . . some of the details are a bit hazy."
"Understandable. However, I did not give you an answer. I said we would discuss it later, when we were home. I am to understand that you would like to have that discussion now?"
"Yes, please. Why don't you call me by my first name?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"A sign of respect?" guessed Bonnie. "Because she's the daughter of Wilton Knight, who created you?"
"No, Bonnie."
"Because we're colleagues and so your peers?"
"No, April."
"Because you've known them longer than you've known me?"
"No, Miss Knight."
"Then why?" asked Michael, sounding a bit suspicious.
"Because I have not been given permission to do so."
"Well, that's an oversight I can rectify. Kitt, please call me Melissa."
"Unfortunately, Miss Knight, it is not that simple."
"Why not?"
"I have it on good authority that one cannot make a binding contract with a minor."
"And you claim Michael's sense of humor is questionable?" asked Melissa with a laugh.
"You see what I have to deal with? However, this is something I can easily handle. Kitt, you have my permission to call Melissa by her first name. After all, I am her legal guardian and an adult."
Kitt's response to that was a 'hah', a sound echoed by Bonnie and April, who were still sitting on his hood with Melissa. Michael ignored them all.
"And now, Melissa, what would you like to do next?" asked Kitt.
"Can we watch the video again?"
"Of course."
"In fact," added Michael, holding up two fingers, "you can even watch it twice more."
Michael slid Melissa towards the front of the hood. Then, he sat behind her, sandwiching her between his legs. Melissa stared intently at the video, savoring every moment of Garthe's downfall. Though by the end of the second viewing, all that kept her upright was Michael's legs on either side of her.
"Okay, young lady. Time for you to take a nap."
"Do I have to go back to medical?" she protested sleepily.
Michael considered her question. "Would you prefer to nap in Kitt's front seat?
"Yes, please. I mean, if that's okay with Kitt."
"Of course, Melissa," said Kitt, as he opened the passenger door and reclined the passenger seat.
Michael gently moved Melissa from the hood to the passenger seat and closed the car door. Kitt had darkened the windows and was playing relaxing music. Melissa smiled as she settled into the warm car and closed her eyes. She was lucky to have Michael and Kitt in her life.
