Authors note: I wrote this fic out of thin air. Being currently sick and with little to do my mind sketched this together over the course of a day. I plan to come back and polish the first chapter where it's due. I hope the story is enjoyable to some. It sort of echoes themes from Obscure Knight I suppose...but really stands alone as its own piece. I intended it to be a lone story about Karr at first but then Kitt wiggled his way through...Hope some of you find this fic enjoyable. Happy writing and reading!


Filtering the sun-beat air and the salt spray of the ocean breeze through his intake system was the closest he'd get to breathing those refreshing winds that swept from one world to another. World's he couldn't entirely cross... aware of their existence, aware that what lies beyond the glittering sparkle of the blue oceanic mass was someone else perhaps - wondering and fantasizing about his end of the world just as he was doing now.

The sun was up to its highest, and crowds were crowding the beachside like all the other days before and probably all the days after. He couldn't mind that much...crowds worked best at cleverly masking his trace, you couldn't change his mind. Out here he was just regarded as the most average and laid back Trans-Am you could find. So long as he kept his scanner dim, nobody thought too much of him along the coastal highways. Whether these be by day or night.

Being showered and basked in sun was usually what he relished most. What he loved most...although the tilt of the Earth bringing winter was fairly due, he wasn't in any hurry to scurry yet across the country.

The seasons of sun and moon had changed him over the years and although he probably would never be tamed, he'd come to learn tranquility.

– to an extent that is.

Friendship however was a more selective matter with which his heart had always been afflicted. Affection and fondness simply didn't compute well after heartbreaking traumatic events where he'd been used and regrettably forgotten.

He grumbled quietly to himself as he sat half-buried in the sand in a burrow-like indent along the beach. People gazed and chatted about his silly display as they walked past.

They would all have been very surprised if he'd explained to them he was simply mirroring what he'd seen countless children do along the beach on summer days. At first, he'd failed to understand, but now it seemed there was a certain appeal to sitting thoughtfully in the sand. Years ago the thought of sitting like this would have sent his circuitry into an angry rage, now long passage of time had soothed some of his past. He didn't like to muse deeply about things that had come and gone whenever he had the option.

Kitt.

Karr thought over that if only briefly.

Things like FLAG don't exist forever if anything at all. Only the sun and ocean could last anyone a lifetime, he knew that.

He watched the waves come and go beating the shore and the gulls madly running along in search of food. It was a humorous display, a short window into another world existing right next to his. He jerked the chassis a little in his little indent in the sand, turning his tires gently. Letting his systems uncoil and loosen up as he occupied himself with the noon breeze.

Kitt.

That thought again. That annoying and disturbing thought!

"How are you feeling?... Today?" Karr asked, ensuring only his voice echoed softly in the cool cabin. Hiding his anxiety.

He picked up on visuals on the small black rectangular case blinking shyly in the passenger seat.

"Tired." Came the distinct Boston accent followed by rising and falling bars of crimson glow Karr had come to trust.

Kitt always felt tired, Karr couldn't bring himself to ask why but he had a feeling that the reason was rather obvious.

"Perhaps a drag race alongside the highway tonight will make for a better mood," Karr remarked.

The box remained quiet, only the dim flicker of Kitt's voice modulator going on and off in hesitant reply.

"I need to charge." Came his dry reply.

Karr internally sighed, allowing his t-top to open, letting smooth rays enter the cabin and smolder Kitt's housing in sunlight. The gleam of the upper half of the casing twinkled brightly as it absorbed light and energy for the AI.

Karr brought his attention back to the sea, keeping a close eye on the surf and surfers by extension. Keeping count of their wins and failures along the Florida coast. Sometimes he too would join in the fun, entering aquatic mode and bewildering the locals with his display of superiority. However, deep down he always did it for Kitt who for the past years had always seemed gloomy and utterly afraid.

Karr had always noted that their travels across the country however seemed to cheer Kitt up if only for moments at a time. Now that the Earth's tilt was starting to take place once more they would be heading north to enjoy a little of the winter season. They'd missed the fall, Kitt having insisted to stay longer along the coast...but Karr would not let his desire to visit the snow and challenge the snowmobiles to be silenced.

"You can close the t-top now," Kitt remarked politely.

Karr did as told scanning over Kitt as he did on a regular basis. Everything seemed to be functioning properly, other than the fact that Kitt's chassis was...gone.

He shuddered a little in place, feeling Kitt's gaze noting his unease so expertly.

Some failures were difficult to overtake and Kitt's was one of them.

"The boys will be back at the shop, should we hop over and check the local gossip?" Karr insisted, starting his startup sequence tentatively.

Kitt mused over the subject quietly.

"I would rather not today, thank you."

Karr thought it over.

"I should have made myself clearer, they are expecting me," Karr confessed. Most of the local boys were fond of Karr, everybody thinking him a legendary hotshot that managed to travel the entire country "with his sleek black car" without ever wasting time on work or a job. Although the first was true, the latter was rather difficult to produce without hands or trustworthy humans. Although Karr found some joy with the local boys he'd never intended to let them in on his secret of actually being an automobile.

Fuel and maintenance we're scarce. Although Karr had gotten around the fuel predicament having made connections with people who were known for being delirious or just enough oblivious to not care about a talking car.

And when fuel was absolutely scarce? He could run off his power cells to provide extra mileage in an emergency, although not as effective as gasoline. He always tried to keep on top of gasoline anyhow, he didn't like it when his V8 was silenced to just a murmur.

Maintenance however was never an option to refuse. Every few months they'd join Dr. Barstow in California who'd kept the whereabouts of two In secret. By far the most trustworthy person Karr knew for the time being although the two of them didn't entirely get along. He did owe her his life though.

"If you insist," Kitt replied meekly pulling Karr out of his wandering mind.

Karr internally sighed. It was one of Kitts gloomy days….strange because there was no rain in sight.

Karr gunned the engine and pulled out of his indent in the sand. Registering the cool breeze run under his warm undercarriage. He drove gently over the uneven ground, maintaining his laser restraints concentrated solely on Kitt's housing. He'd never forgive himself if the other AI got crushed or killed while in his care.

The moment Karr's tires touched the pavement he rushed across and fishtailed into the highway. Earning him scolds from other vehicles approaching. He laughed in utter glee, causing trouble was in his nature. He glanced over to Kitt's slumbering housing, the computer uttering not a word. Yet Karr was aware of that quiet and inaudible glare the AI was directing at his dash.

Karr slowed down as he pulled along a highway shoulder and parked alongside sleek and muscular cars in a parking lot beside a small shack-looking shop.

"Yo! Carter?! What's cooking?" Came Mach's, a local youth of the town, joyful voice as he beat over Karr's hood rhythmically with two drum sticks.

"Where are the others?" Kare inquired, double-checking his tinted windows. Knowing full well Kitt was to remain in secret.

"Picking up Sue, we'll be busting over to the hills for some drift. Wanna hang?" Mach continued to beat over Karr's warm hood. "I know em'horses under the hood got no lose!" The young lad suddenly folded his arms, giving Karr a thoughtful glance. "It's been almost two years and we ain't got a clue what you look like Carter. For all I know you might be an ol'man."

Karr internally smirked, he liked to confuse the lads.

"Where's your car? Thought you'd said that old Ferrari could not stand to lose too…" Karr intentionally changed the subject.

Mach chuckled and gave Karr a sly grin.

"I've been prepping her for our final confrontation. You smoked my Nissan but you don't my Ferrari!"

"We'll see." Karr internally laughed.

Karr had always enjoyed drifting along the sunbathed hills although...he turned to Kitt's quiet form…

"Doesn't drift sound…?"

"I plan to finish reading a book this evening, I have no complaints at this time," Kitt replied bashfully.

"How about the drift?" Karr yet again prompted a reply about the subject.

Kitt took a moment to process his question.

"I'm not opposed to the matter, aside from pedestrian and driver safety. Have you scanned the area for particularly deficient road conditions?" Kitt asked matter-of-factly.

"No," Karr answered boldly. "The road up there isn't usually busy."

"I'd rather you reassessed that inference." Kitt went on Insolently.

Karr thought it over, his modulator fluctuating greatly as he tried to drown his anger.

"I enjoy drifting and –!"

"Argumenting the reason is unnecessary…" Kitt went on. "...furthermore I volunteer to do some of the scannings myself if you don't mind." Kitt's voice returned to normal. "After all you do have a point about enjoying drifting and I apologize for my disdainful behavior." He trailed off.

Karr internally sighed. There was something Kitt was holding on to. There was always something the AI was holding onto when he started to sound like that. When his mood swung from one end to the other.

"Anything else?"

"I don't want to go…" Kitt responded bluntly.

There it was.

"Wouldn't a quiet reading session suffice?" Kitt asked innocently. "Perhaps we can have a chat instead? Chess? Tetris?"

Karr looked over Mach who was readily distracted, talking nonstop to the shop owner…their stay was coming to an end and Karr knew the last drift would be a great wrap-up for the season.

Karr grumbled.

"It will be my last drift for a while…"

Not entirely true...he had some drift coming up in the snow-covered hills...but that was a different type of drift and he wanted to dismiss himself on a good note from the local boys.

There was silence in the cab as Kitt quietly pondered over the statement.

"Very well…" Came his defeated reply. "You are the driver after all."

"Kitt please don't…"

"I still insist on doing some scanning of my own! Though my capabilities are quite limited at the moment, it's important to maintain safe practices in activities that are otherwise dangerous!"

Welp. There was no escaping this sermon. Although quite frankly it was a lot better than missing out on the evening drift.


Karr was aware that every turn he expertly executed, Kitt was "looking up" from his book.

Karr was playing soft music over his speakers in an attempt to mask his otherwise squealing tires but to no avail. The pull and tug of his drifting were exhilarating, and Karr could tell that Kitt who otherwise rebuked this activity most of the time was also getting a kick out of it. Remembering past drag races perhaps?

Karr came to a squealing stop as he made it to the bottom of the hill blanketed in dust and grim but otherwise content. His engine still warm and loud from the exercise. He'd won again, as always an undefeated king of the asphalt.

Karr glanced over to Kitt's housing noting the AI's sustained silence.

"So that book session we spoke about earlier…" Kitt excitedly interrupted.

Oh brother. Perhaps it wouldn't have hurt to lose.


The moonlight danced over the waves in the hushed wind. Karr was yet again standing in his little indent in the sand while Kitt explained for the forty-fifth time the meaning of the said poem or said book or whatever the subject was at the moment. Karr had lost count.

His mind was drifting in itself as he re-lived that evening's exciting event. The lads had given their goodbyes and would be waiting anxiously for Karr's return next year.

He had always thought that was welcoming of them. He wished however that the lad's trust was better based than simply founded on admiration for his skill and accuracy. Perhaps something along the lines of...

" 'Some kind voice has murmured, "I wish he were here!"

Let Fate do her worst, there are relics of joy,

Bright dreams of the past, which she cannot destroy;

Which come in the night-time of sorrow and care,

And bring back the features which joy used to wear.

Long, long be my heart with such memories filled!

Like the vase in which roses have once been distilled—

You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you will,

But the scent of the roses will hang round it still.' " Kitt's voice modulator leaping and falling as he put great emotion into the poem he was reading from what Karr could only guess was by memory and not by his data banks anymore.

As Kitt finished, a somber silence filled the cabin, Karr thinking of what he'd say next knowing Kitt expected some form of reaction as he always did when he read this poem.

"Wish you'd consider the line "-bring back the features which joy used to wear." More closely." Karr groaned. "Then you wouldn't be sitting in a box all the time." Karr let out a static cough, speaking his mind out of mere frustration. Karr silenced himself instantly, as he scanned over Kitt, knowing full well the scab he'd about stripped open.

"It wouldn't change anything...dull box or not I'd still be…"

"Depressed?" Karr asked, deciding he'd endure whatever consequences this conversation would lead up to. Anyways it was time they'd addressed this subject once more, as they rarely ever did.

"Karr, I can't be depressed if I have no feeling, to begin with."

"You'd be happier in a chassis."

"I don't think I would…" Kitt continued, Karr internally grinning as Kitt had silently confessed to having feelings. "It'd remind me too much of…"

"Then perhaps another model would do."

"No, that's not it. I'm either a Trans-Am or not at all."

"Then be a Trans-Am for the hundredth time!" Karr shouted, almost knowing where this would all lead up to. Where it always leads up to anyways. He gazed over the white-streaked sand, the moon rising from the depths of the sea. A beauty he'd never get enough of.

"It wouldn't make right what happened…" Kitt murmured quietly.

"His injury isn't your fault." Karr sighed. "Just as you insist any of yours are his!"

"- Karr mind tuning to your preferred station and opening the window. It's getting a little heated here."

"Tormenting yourself out of guilt isn't viable."

Kitt let out a static shriek.

"Karr, I beg you we stop this conversation right now! Please?" The AI's modulator dimming.

Karr tuned to his favorite station as per usual whenever things got difficult between them. The soft stringed beats of the electric guitar chords rocking Kitt to another time where things perhaps were...better...it would just take Kitt a while to finally accept what had happened so many moons ago and Karr would be there to let out a relieved laugh and poke innocent fun the moment the broken AI regripped his life. He always painted this image for himself hoping Kitt wasn't going to wallow in sorrow forever because Karr knew he couldn't endure something as tragic as that…or forgive himself if Kitt decided to simply fade away.

The two listened to the hit beats of classic rock pensively as the sun slowly ascended over the sea marking their journey inland.


"Karr what in the world was that!?" Kitt yapped as Karr floored the pedal and honked annoyed at a slow tractor-trailer he'd just zipped past.

"I wouldn't worry about it." Karr redirected his attention to the road and a fraction of it to the chess game the two had been playing wirelessly. As expected Karr was displaying the game on his screens despite the lack of an audience. The two AI's could have done well without the use of the screens as it wasn't necessary to "see" it that way, but Karr always displayed it, if only to give Kitt a little sense of home.

"This game is dragging on more than necessary." Kitt pondered as he tried to figure out the best placement of a pawn.

"Do you accept defeat?" Karr teased as he turned on his right blinker and merged with traffic.

"I beg your pardon!"

"I don't see you trying," Karr explained.

"I am trying! You've simply have….walked right into my trap! Checkmate." The smile in Kitt's voice was completely audible.

"What the – ?!" Karr "loomed" over the results. "I have a feeling that you've somehow tampered with the software." Karr accused under his breath.

"I oblige to sportsmanship," Kitt remarked proudly. "Cheating is by far a disgrace."

Karr "rolled his eyes".

"Shall we play again?"

Kitt thought it over as he stared out the window catching the bare branches of trees touching the ice-blue sky as they whizzed by.

"What's our ETA to Chicago?"

Karr internally raised a brow as the yoke firmly turned, as the vehicle merged into another lane. Karr scanned over Kitt's housing with worry.

"Wouldn't you know by now?"

"I do." Kitt embarrassingly admitted. " -but given you're driving you might have some detours in mind."

Karr thought it over.

"Not at the moment, no."

'Well, that was most unusual coming from Karr.' Kitt thought. He usually had detours of some kind. Whether that be a random drag race he'd picked up on. Or maybe teasing the local fisherman about a lake monster as Karr "drove" along the bottom, half scaring everyone to death. Visiting old "friends" or anything really that Karr could come up with to spend the time.

"Devon Miles has a presentation in Chicago, I'd thought we'd join." Karr proposed his hidden agenda.

"I don't want to go."

Karr pulled over the chassis to the side of the road abruptly other drivers honking their horns in irritation, turning on his emergency lights, and internally grumbling about Kitt's insecurities. Once he was parked he looked over Kitt's pathetic shell.

"Dr. Barstow will be there and my circuitry needs realignment." Karr put gravely. "Let me remind you that you also require some form of maintenance," Karr added.

Kitt remained silent. Karr knew full well what he was thinking.

"Weren't we going to the countryside?"

"We will," Karr insisted. "However, it is vital that we…"

"I don't want to go."

"Kitt! Do you expect me to dump you alongside the highway for crying out loud!" Karr shouted, revving the engine in frustration. When would the AI get past these ridiculous fears!?

"Would you…?"

"I would most certainly not! But I can't help it if my circuitry requires a highly trained professional!" Karr internally screamed.

"Karr, I'm sorry...but I...I can't go…" Kitt begged. "Please don't make me."

Karr glimpsed over Kitt's rectangular form, resenting having brought the topic up at all. He shouldn't have let him know, it'd have been a lot easier to drag him into the convention if he wasn't aware of it in the first place.

"Karr, someone's approaching." Kitt interrupted politely.

"Ugh. Now, what is it!?"

There was a knock on the driver's window.

"Sir, car registration and insurance, please. That maneuver into the emergency lane was unaccounted for!" A deep and grim voice hollered.

Karr lowered the window unwillingly, the officer taking in utter astonishment the empty cab.

"What seems to be the problem officer?" Karr demanded impatiently. Glancing over Kitt who was being a coward inside his case.

The officer looked over the dash in bewilderment.

"What!? What in tarnation is this?! Some kind of prank?!"

"Officer, I don't have all day. I'm in the middle of serious…"

"Where in the world are you!? Come back to your car! Is this a two-way receiving radio?!" The officer knocked on top of Karr's modulator.

Okay, this was enough for one day.

"Don't touch the dash!" Karr growled the officer who quickly pulled his hand out of the car as Karr pulled away from the roadside merging with traffic reaching incredible speeds in a blink of an eye.

"Karr, I'm…" Kitt finally piped up.

"Kitt...not, not now. Rest, please." He begged. At the moment he was evading capture, something he wasn't all too fond of but it would do to keep himself occupied until a solution could be found about Kitt's willful nature. How frustrating it all was when Kitt decided on things he'd rather not do! Karr knew it was due to his hurt confidence…the AI having withdrawn into his shell and rejecting anything beyond the thin lines of comfort he'd drawn for himself. Karr knew it'd probably take years if not another strong-willed individual to get Kitt out from this vicious circle of self-pity!

He spent the entirety of the later noon hours chased by the officers. At some point simply messing with them and sending them on this wild goose chase out of mere fun. Kitt made no petty remarks on the matter...nor did he make any unnecessary comments. Every so often making Karr cautious of the time. Karr had the hard dug habit of disregarding time, unlike Kitt. This force of habit having been gained while he'd dwelled several years under a sandy shore. What use was it to keep track of time when you were stuck in place anyway?

Karr found it most courteous of Kitt to let him know the late hour though. Although, the chase of cat and mouse was of much entertainment to the brilliantly fast Karr, not to mention the endless strings of turbo boost he did over the sick-faced officers every few instances. He knew it was time to start heading north. Don't get him wrong. It was great fun! And Karr wished Kitt could be capable of joining in on the fun, but the other computer had taken his recommendation of rest seriously and Karr was aware Kitt was needed downtime to soothe his nerves.

Eventually, Karr drove off a small bridge and ducked under the cool waters of a small river. Sinking to the bottom and settling in place content with a day worth of amusement.

The officer's cars roared ahead as they continued pursuit into the night.

"Suppose we'll spend the night here?" Kitt inquired from Karr who was trembling from the excitement.

"Perhaps Devon's presentation can wait," Karr mused. "A couple of days messing with the officials here would be very…worthwhile…" Yes, the officers would never forget about the two-toned that go away!

"I've taken some consideration over that matter, actually." Kitt timidly replied.

Karr put aside his distractions, silencing the engine. 'This ought to be good.' He thought.

"As you know, and I want to be clear...I don't want to go. However, regarding mechanical assistance, I'm aware my systems do need a little bit of….for lack of a better phrase...love and care."

"In other words, you miss Dr. Barstow."

"I certainly do not!" Kitt snapped.

Karr shuddered a little. From all the people who he could have taken on his wild crusade, he'd taken the most stubborn AI.

"Whatever you say." He let out a hopeful hum of his scanner. "Goodnight."

"Yes, uh, goodnight." Kitt toned down his voice, the flickering lights inside his casing slowing down.

Karr internally pondered the situation.

He silently pinged Dr. Barstow, encrypting the message in a troublesome code he hoped the Feds wouldn't bother decoding, letting her know that the two would be joining them at the convention. Karr wasn't really into speeches and conventions if he was being truthful, but Kitt really needed some sort of emotional support even if briefly by Dr. Barstow. It was hard to find a suitable engineer when you were tech on the run. The woman was priceless.

Karr internally smiled and relaxed as the woman debriefed his new instructions, his scanner pacing slowly from side to side as the moonlight bent under the slow flow of the cool waters around them. Karr waved his windshield wipers at passing fish in content.


"Well, my heart went "boom"

When I crossed that room

And I held her hand in mineeeeeeeeee!

Whoah, we danced through the night

And we held each other tight

And before too long I fell in love with her

Now I'll never dance with another (Whooh)

Since I saw her standing there..."

Karr rumbled his engine to the tune, as he jerked suddenly into an exit ramp. His yoke wildly turned to the sounds. Listening simultaneously to the music and Kitt's never-ending complaints.

"Karr! Karr! It's too loud! Lower It down! Karrrr!"

Karr disregarded the other computer's complaints, letting his dash flicker in tune with the music. Just marginally bumping into another car's fender. The traffic was an utter headache, with little less to do he'd turned to music. Micro Jamming nearby radios and feeding his tunes to the other drivers, keeping their radios hostage no matter how many times they tried to turn them off. It was utterly comical.

"Karrrr! Can you even hear me!? Hmph!" Kitt shouted above the racket making the car chassis and even Kitt's housing vibrate as Karr paced slowly along the stretch of highway at 5 miles per hour behind a never-ending line of automobiles.

Unexpectedly he killed off the music.

"Karrrr!- oh, thank goodness." Kitt visibly relaxed. "Karr you have to warn me or something next time. Must you play that music that loud!?"

Karr thought it over as he applied the brakes and honked at the vehicle before them.

"Yes, it mitigates my boredom."

"Obviously...but Karr, isn't there another way to spend the time, as they say?" Kitt inquired, feeling a little "lightheaded" as his auditory system had been loudly assaulted by the airway-shattering bass.

"Perhaps…" Karr playfully cooed. " – a shortcut will enable us to abandon boredom at this stop."

Kitt's voice modulator lit up immediately.

"No, you don't! We agreed shortcuts would be my specialization!"

"I'm afraid...dire circumstances have hit our fleet." Karr proudly expressed, pulling off the road and turbo-boosting into the forest under the shocked eyes of bystanders.

"Karrrr!" Kitt hollered over the trees being split in two as Karr sliced them like butter with the bonded shell. Leaving a shredded path behind them. Kitt's position sensors getting disoriented from all the vibrations hitting the chassis. Taking back the loud music remark entirely! He'd take loud music any day over whatever was happening now! Naturally, if he'd been in control of the chassis these vibrations would be no trouble...but sadly his current housing lacked suspension and shock absorption.

"Karr! Can we slow down!? Please!" Kitt begged from the passenger side watching Karr's dash glimmer under the dim light of day.

"Maybe...maybe not!" He floored the pedal leaping in a single leap over a huge moving train and shuddering violently as he landed. He made sure to keep the laser restraints all collected over Kitt's housing. Aware the travel was ever more uncomfortable in that state.


Several days later –

The city of Chicago...a rather windy place. Karr felt rather content as he cautiously drove over into traffic-packed streets. Ever so closer to their destination. He hoped he would get a well-deserved washing if they had the time. Not to mention perhaps a few new gadgets, those were always exciting to receive not to mention infinitely helpful. He was honored that Bonnie would have taken the time to create functions the Knight 2000 had never received although…he was sure to keep this fact to himself. Knowing Kitt's ego was easily bruised.

"Honda…"

"Pontiac." Karr reciprocated, as he internally glowered at the state of the honda that had just passed them.

"Karr…" Kitt groaned. "You can't do that unless there really is…"

"It's right there…" Karr nonchalantly replied, displaying a blue Pontiac Fiero on screen just a little ways ahead of them.

"Ah, yes, so it seems you were correct," Kitt admitted defeat, receiving the image through their private link.

"Chevy." Kitt nonchalantly replied, pressed to do well in this otherwise basic game.

"Bentley."

"Karr there isn't...oh…"

Karr let out a static laugh.

"Listen, Karr. It's difficult to sense nearby things with the lack of a full working scanner, much less see them when I'm so...short." Kitt remarked bitterly.

"Sore loser."

"I am not!"

Karr let out another static laugh. He just couldn't help teasing his younger brother. He was of great company really, even given his current state of mind. Guilt was a relentless foe but he knew with time Kitt would turbo-boost this obstacle, he could only hope so.


Bonnie paced around the convention hall.

The convention wouldn't start for another day, so she still had time to run through her presentation, however…She was more concerned over the two runaways that she would be meeting up with real soon. She greatly missed Kitt and felt awful how things had winded up. 'Poor Kitt,' she thought. The computer had gone through a great deal of injustice in the past years. Having risked his life and ultimately destroyed himself to save Michael who at the moment…was still fighting for his life.

The catastrophe had been too big to prevent and Kitt had resolved himself to save Michael and a few others at least, these had been the few sole survivors of the tragic event. Few had survived, including Kitt and Michael. Kitt had done the best that he could given the dire circumstances of the time. He had managed to save 16 others as for the rest it had not been possible.

Sadly, everyone else didn't see it like Devon, RC or Bonnie did.

The board and government concluded that it be best if they condemned Kitt to a degaussing, permanent deletion of all his being. The computer was at fault for having taken an indecisive decision that had taken many lives. When the count could have been limited to one. Bonnie thought said notion was insensitive.

Calculations and simulations had been done thoroughly. Kitt was at fault, having neglected the one other option that would have allowed everyone else to live but would have otherwise taken…Michael's life. Something Kitt did not allow to happen and who had done everything within his reach to simply get as many people out of the blast radius as possible.

Of course, while Michael was still in a heavy coma and unaware of the occurrences,

Bonnie had stepped up and done her bit to secure the man's best friend, reaching out to the best individual she knew that could keep himself in concealment without needing much backup.

Karr.

She had corrected his irregularities and fixed his core programming secretly taking him out of storage. She had meant for Kitt to follow Karr alongside in his own Chassis but the AI's remorse had been so great Kitt had rejected his restored form and asked he be sentenced to life inside his portable unit. For his mistake was unforgivable, and although he had no intention of being deleted he would not allow for his mistake to go unpunished. Bonnie just greatly wished she could gather Kitt in a tight hug and let him know that somehow things would be alright even though she knew…that was far from the truth. She hardly had spoken to him in the past years and she hoped Karr was keeping Kitt's guilty mind sane. The manhunt had dragged on far longer than anyone had expected and the government wanted answers…wanted Kitt.

Bonnie let out a sharp yelp as someone tapped her shoulder, bringing her out of her disorganized daze. She faced the stranger, sealing her lips as she caught sight of a federal insignia just on the side of his jacket.

"Doctor Barstow," The man flashed a smile full of teeth at her.

"Phineas Roth," Bonnie uttered, fuming. "It's been a long while. What do you want?"

The man put his hands up briefly in a quiet chuckle.

"You tell me."

Bonnie glared back at the man.

"The vehicle miss Barstow? The Knight Industries Two Thousand?" The man slipped his hands into his pockets. Giving her a thoughtful smile. "I know you're not the kind of person who would be involved in criminal activity." The man went on as Bonnie trembled a little in place. "We have evidence that you service the Knight Automated Roving Robot on a regular basis." The man glanced over her head to another man standing behind her. Bonnie not batting an eye. "We also know that said vehicle has been carrying the Knight Industries Two Thousand for quite a while now." The man paused a gave her a stoic glance. "Dr. Barstow, hand over the computer, it's dangerous and unstable. You saw how that computer turned on everybody!"

"That isn't true! I know Kitt better than what the board or even you would know!" Bonnie stomped her foot. "He was just trying to save Michael! He tried to save everyone and it wasn't possible!" Bonnie shouted, exasperated. "What happened was beyond their control!"

The man didn't coward down as Bonnie glared gravely into his eyes.

The man motioned to the man behind Bonnie and she had no option but to comply. The man led her out back of the building, Bonnie shunning out every gaping gaze she received from a shocked coworker or gossip lover. They eventually made it to an armored van parked out in the back lot. They sat her down in a small chair as several technicians madly typed over on their computers. One of the people there handed her a memo encrypted in something only her eyes could read.

"What's it say, Dr. Barstow?" Mr. Roth towered over her as she held tight to the paper.

She blankly stared at it. She couldn't lie, but that didn't include denying to answer. She remained silent, blinking back a tear or two. She should have been more careful.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

Everyone turned to face Devon who had barged out of the building in a quicken march, followed by several other Federal agents wanting answers from the older gentlemen.

"Mr. Miles, join us. Please, take a seat." Mr. Roth motioned authoritatively.

Devon shook his head but was quickly pulled up by one of the field agents gingerly by the arm into the back of the van. He was led to a chair which he took a seat.

"I demand –!"

"Our research shows Dr. Barstow was the one to let the Knight Automated Roving Robot lose. We've looked into it, she's the one who's kept the vehicle in tip-top shape."

Devon's eyes widened as his jaw dropped.

"Bonnie?! How…"

Bonnie turned to face him, her face bright red. Perhaps she'd made a mistake…But she'd had no other choice! FLAG was losing the rights to Kitt! The board had decided his termination final! She couldn't allow Kitt's life to be taken in this way! It was unfair. She couldn't think of telling Michael after he woke up about how Kitt had saved his life only to be euthanized.

The men grabbed her wrist as they tried to lead her away, but Devon stepped forward.

"Gentlemen let me talk to her, please." Devon respectfully spoke.

The federal agents complied, everyone, leaving the van and sealing it as only Bonnie and Devon stood quietly in the almost too quiet van. Devon took a seat, clasping his hands together. Gazing over to the towering monitors set on makeshift desks.

"Bonnie that wasn't…" His gaze was distant, lost.

"I had to," She croaked.

"Bonnie, Karr is…" He glanced over her with a singular tear of his own, sliding down his cheek.

" – Reprogrammed," She ran her hand over a strand of hair.

Devon's eyes widened.

"I did it so he would protect Kitt," The woman sobbed. "Devon you heard what they were going to do to him!"

Devon nodded standing and collecting the crying woman in a tight hug. Thinking of what had come of Wilton Knight's dream. He had to do something, he wished with all his heart that Michael was here now. The brunette had always seemed like a relentless force that could even dare challenge the wind and win.

"Yes, but I'm afraid…we are out of options…We're between a hard place and a rock."


Karr stood at the rendezvous point, watching intently as people came and went into the convention hall. He had wandered the streets with Kitt on the look for trouble the day before to spend the time, well…mostly Karr. Kitt had occupied himself with crossword puzzles and goodness what other literature-related games that computer had stocked piled inside it!

Karr was now scanning the area, trying to figure out what was taking Dr. Barstow a long while to give the signal.

"Something wrong?" Kitt asked, keeping himself composed even though he had the urge to break down into static cries. He couldn't bear looking into Bonnie's eyes, feeling as if he'd failed her…as if he'd failed Michael and everyone else he deeply cared about.

Karr internally shrugged as his scanner paced from side to side.

"A delay could only mean a limited amount of things," Karr spoke to himself out loud.

Kitt thought it over, that was true.

"Perhaps send another message Karr?" Kitt offered, then…"Check the security cameras."

Karr smiled to himself, two computers were better than one.

He quickly complied, hacking his way into the system and taking a peek at all the traffic of people entering the convention hall in a hurry. It was going to soon begin, Bonnie had relied on the thick crowd, to gain access to them unnoticed. Hoping this would supply enough time to conceal their presence.

Karr grimaced as he caught sight of that no-good Mr. Roth. Bonnie had supplied him with governmental information and other key access to several other computers. The fact this man was here meant trouble. Karr idled his engine before carefully slipping into traffic, killing his scanner entirely. He was sure someone was watching them…waiting…Dr. Barstow would not delay her meeting with them without having sent a notification of why.

"Karr, what's happened?" Kitt implored as the vehicle began to move.

"It's an ambush." Karr gunned the engine at the last moment avoiding the electronic disabling device that'd been camouflaged on the street. He turbo boosted over one of the armored vans that quickly came into view, landing he sped down the street narrowly avoiding collision with other vehicles and pedestrians.

"Karr! Slow down…the chances of hitting someone –!"

Karr took off into a nearby ally.

"I know Kitt!" He muttered under his breath as his tires squealed and his engine roared. He needed to disappear!

He destroyed a chain-linked fence as he swerved into another alley but this one was…

"Bother!" He shouted, making Kitt jump in his CPU. There was a building between them and freedom.

"Karr, turn around perhaps we can…"

"Too late." Karr wailed as the vehicles started to block off the passageway. "We have too few options," Karr began. "We either blow through this building or risk turbo-boosting over them and accidentally injuring someone. What do you decide?" Karr revved his engine as several armed agents started to exit the van pointing their useless weapons at them. Shouting commands with roaring lungs.

Kitt panicked, naturally reaching for Michael's comlink but receiving no reply.

"Karr! Why would you lay it on me that way!? I'm in no condition to make decisions of serious – !"

"Kitt!" Karr gunned the engine, jolting forward. Persuading the Federal agents to maintain a distance. "I need an answer!"

Kitt ran through the options carefully, turbo-boosting was far too risky and he couldn't…wouldn't ever….lose…FOCUS! Kitt drew all his power to his CPU as he came to the final resolution.

"Karr! Into the building!"

Karr reversed, flooring the pedal and disintegrating the bricks behind him. He continued this way until he got a chance to do a quick 180 to turn and face the street before him once again. He darted into the traffic, wincing over the shouts of angry people. Over Kitt's yelp as he took a sharp turn and headed for the waterfront.

He drove right into a pier, honking his horn as People all made way for the fleeing car.

Then with a single and elegant button push, Karr leaped into the air, making a spectacular splash as he hit the water and sunk to the bottom. He tried his best to do a show of it all, letting go just a squirt of the oil slick to slow down the Feds. As far as he was concerned, his subaquatic ability was yet to be discovered by them.

Once at the bottom Karr routed a course to exit the city using only waterways for now. In his silent concentration, he heard Kitt let out a loud lament.

"It's all my fault…it's all my fault…" Kitt shouted inside the cabin, in utter irrationality as the sounds from the terrible accident echoed inside his processor.

Karr sighed.

"It isn't."

"We could have hurt the people living inside that abandoned building, Karr!" Kitt whimpered.

" – But we didn't," Karr replied as he began to head towards the nearest water channel, kicking up dust as they traveled over the murky bottom. "You choose correctly."

Kitt silenced himself as he tried to reassure himself with that comforting thought.

Listening to the humble sounds of Karr's engine as he drove along the lake bed towards the shore. Now disconnected from Bonnie there was only limited help at their disposal. If they trusted the incorrect person then they would end up as Karr often described, the slammer. If they choose correctly, however, then they would be able to wait it out until Devon got a fix on this distressing situation.

How Kitt wished to be by Michael's side again…how he missed his dear driver. He hoped the man would awaken soon from his deep coma…How he hoped he wouldn't perish because then his efforts would have been in slight vain. He wouldn't forgive himself…


Bonnie jolted in her seat as the federal agents came shouting down the hall. She glanced over to Devon who'd been trying to come to an agreement with one of the Federal authorities.

The Englishman now directed his attention to Mr. Roth who was angrily curling his fist and striking the air.

"It escaped!" He shouted turning to Bonnie. " – And you let them know we were coming!"

Bonnie turned pale in her seat.

"I –" Her voice collapsed in her throat.

"Leave her out of this." Devon stepped forward. "The car might have easily known it was a setup."

The other man wrung his hands taking a set and striking the table before him.

"Devon, look. Your foundation is in a bad spot. If you hand over the Knight Industries Two Thousand's CPU for termination then perhaps we can work out a deal and let the foundation keep running. I know the government has had a tight grip on you ever since this accident occurred." The man slyly put.

Devon let out a low breath.

"I'm aware of that," The man put tiredly. " – but…" The man shook his head and glanced over to Bonnie whose pale perplexion had gotten slightly worse.

" – But what? You believe the Knight Industries Two Thousand deserves a second chance, huh? Do you really think that? It's a machine that failed this government and failed you! Don't you think there should be justice?! People are blaming the Knight 2000 for the death of their loved ones. They want action and so do I!" The man stood up from the table. "I won't rest until I bring the computer to justice. You all claim its sentience, if so then it will have to take the heat of its actions!"

Mr. Roth struck the table once more turning abruptly out the door taking to a fearless stride down the hall leaving Devon with his heart in his throat.

FLAG stood for justice, so how could they fight a corrupt battle? How could they defend Kitt when this could so happen to be the wrong choice?! No. Devon thought. They are simply trying to gaslight us, we know what happened on that day… Devon reassured himself as he took a seat next to Bonnie and patted her shoulder. Giving a suspicious look at the guards in the room.

"Everything is going to be alright."

He hope that Kitt and Karr would formulate a winning plan.


Karr had driven over the country taking only backroads, driving through protected woodland, and diving into waterways as last resorts. The government had no leads to where he might go, but he was aware it was only a matter of time before they'd figure out their plan.

Kitt had maintained silent through the majority of the journey back to California. Requesting the occasional rock and roll song here and there to allow for his mind to relax, Karr was always obliged to keep the music low and quiet. With the music playing in the background Kitt allowed his mind to roll back in time to pleasanter times when Michael had taken the wheel, so to speak, and had helped him keep ahead of their enemies. Kitt continued to think in the past to the point he wasn't sure he wanted to remain in the present anymore. He had lost so much, there was nowhere left for him to go anymore…

They had taken several pitstops along the way to LA, Karr being careful to only use the places he best trusted. At the moment they were at a tight schedule and it was vital they kept the gasoline tank at its fullest for any unforeseen obstacles.

He'd stopped outside the outskirts of Las Angles at an old trashed gasoline station where an old man complained about the most ironic of conspiracies. The man was…strange, by all definitions…Karr had to admit however that the man's known crazed reputation allowed for him to get gasoline without a hiccup. Allowed him to coexist with humanity if only for a few sane seconds.

"I'm telling you! There are people living up on the moon now! They've got a civilization and everything up there! You ought to believe me!" The man explained. "I've seen the photos and the….the….what are they called skema-ticks."

"Schematics." Karr corrected, internally sighing. This would be a long discussion at best. "Harold, mind filing up my tank while we consider space exploration?"

The old man grinned pointing a bony finger at the shiny t-top.

"You've got it, Carter." The man reached for the pump and placed the nozzle into Karr's filler letting out a high chuckle. "Now, you're going to love this! I saw another talking car once!"

"Splendid," Karr answered, with a little hint of sarcasm. Taking quick notice of Kitt's wavering voice modulator as the black box sat quietly in the passenger side. He recognized that gesture.

'What's on your mind?' Karr asked, wishing ever more to hit pursuit and get out of Harold's station.

'I've had a thought.'

'Which is?'

'What if the comlink isn't sufficient to check on Michael? What if they've taken it off his wrist? What then?' Kitt asked pensively.

Karr thought over the matter. It was a good question. The two of them were incapable of reaching Michael up on the twelfth floor if indeed the comlink was malfunctioning or simply gone. Couldn't they always just call up the nurses and have them place a phone by the man's ear? Perhaps he had awakened from that awful two-year nap he'd been stuck in.

'I think–'

Karr flinched as Harold strolled towards his prow hollering loudly as he tried to showcase the secret language the "moonlings" or whatever they were called had invented. Karr internally groaned, letting out a yelp from his scanner when he heard the unmistaken static chuckle of Kitt. Catching the other AI's drift he knew very well where this was all going, as he took a last glimpse at the old skinny and bony man in tattered clothing.

'No! No! No! I will not agree with the idea you're formulating! I will not agree! I am the car of the future! Therefore a problem like that is but a mere jump away from a solution! There must be a better way!'


Karr grumbled intensely as he drove up to the hospital's main entrance. Letting his chassis vibrate with disgust as Harold staggered out of the driver's seat and into the cool night. Opening the door roughly for the man and letting a loud snort from his scanner above the ear-piercing cries of ambulances. This was most humiliating.

"Carter, you should have told me about Crick sooner, he's a nice feller." The old man waved over to Kitt's dark housing.

"The pleasure was all mine, now, by all means. Would you care to do us the favor?" Kitt remarked politely.

The man brushed his chapped lips with his fingers.

"Yeah, could you run me through that one, one more…" The man yawned.

"For crying out loud!" Karr shouted making the man jump aside from the vehicle. "Are you such an airhead!? Just walk in there and ask about Michael Knight, You are a close relative remember? Remember to use the comlink!"

"About that," Harold hunched down gazing over at Kitt's housing. "Did you guys steal this watch from area 51?" The old man ran a stubby finger over the watches smooth surface making Karr wish he could just drive away right now and leave the man eternally stumped because this wasn't going to work!

Karr and Kitt glanced at each other in worry over their electronic link.

"We'd gladly tell you more Harold, if only you carried out this part of the favor first. After all, I'm sure me and Ka– I mean Carter can share some governmental secrets with you." kitt's soothing voice rose and fell steadily on his voice modulator.

Harold grinned.

"Oh, you pair of comps sure make me happy!" The man marched over to the main door in a content manner, waving to the two as he performed this important duty. Karr watched painfully as the man hollered and laughed playfully telling every bystander that he was here to see Michael Knight for two 'comp' friends.

The indignity, Karr thought.

Karr started his engine and headed for a concealed spot in the lot, choosing a place where dense trees and bushes were outgrowing their space. Fortunately, it was dark enough that he would be most undetectable so long as nobody caught a glimpse of his scanner.

"Governmental secrets…pfft…" Karr protested as he silenced the engine. "Perhaps we should throw you in the mix!"

Kitt internally rolled his eyes.

"I'm sure we can think of something, also…what was it with the name Crick! Who in the world would be named Crick!?" Kitt added to the protest party.

"You, obviously." Karr let out a static chuckle.

"Well, I don't see what's funny." Kitt sulked. "Why fake names to begin with? It's not like they could confuse us for somebody else, can't we just use our real names?"

Karr thought it over.

"Silence, Kitt, I can hardly hear Harold over your bickering."

"Oh, NOW you want to hear Harold," Kitt argued.


The old man moseyed right up to the receptionist giving the receptionist a huge smile. The nurse politely returned the smile, her nose twitching ever so slightly to the strong smell of gasoline and petroleum.

"May I help you?" She asked, gesturing to the man.

Harold looked around the lobby taking in the spectacle of the paintings hung up on the wall.

"Uh, Yes I'm checking up on a man…uh….his name…ugh I forgot his name." Harold patted his head trying to think. "Uh, Crick!"

"Oh, let me search the records for a…" the woman frowned. "A Crick?"

The old man nodded giving her a small smile.

The woman turned around to search on her computer records on file, meanwhile, Harold shuffled from one leg to another.

"Psst…psst…Harold you fool! It's Michael Knight, not Crick!" Karr whispered over the comlink, the man instantly jerking up and shouting. The action caught the woman at the desk off guard, swirling in her chair facing the man.

"What's wrong?!" She asked in utter alarm.

Harold immediately slipped off the wristwatch handing it to the bewildered woman.

"Here dear hold this…" With that Harold vanished, strolling to the men's room to catch his bearings. Leaving Kitt and Karr arguing about what they would do next! Kitt collected himself quickly first disclosing to Karr about the desperate plea for help he'd have to make.


"Listen." The woman jerked letting go of the watch as it bounced off her desk and slid to the floor.

"Oh my –!" The woman put her hands up in utter fear. "What was that!?"

"Listen, girl…don't be alarmed we simply need help." The voice begged, sounding a touch bothered.

The woman blinked rubbing her temples.

"Oh, goodness they told me the night shift was bad, but I didn't think it was this bad!"

"Get a hold of yourself!" Karr grumbled. "We need Michael Knight, we need you to take us to Michael knight."

The woman thought it over.

"A watch is asking me too…"

"This is a matter of life or death so if you could PLEASE cooperate. Take this watch to Michael Knight we would be most grateful."

The woman shrugged.

"They don't pay me enough for this." She shook her head, entered the name Michael Knight into the computer got a number, and headed to the elevator. All the while Kitt and Karr anxiously waited.

The woman took a long while to get to Michael's room and Karr was noting that the woman seemed to be having…some sort of mental breakdown as she repeatedly continued to bump into other staff members. The woman's vitals also falling and rising. Karr could only hope the woman would make it quick enough to Michael just before she'd….

THUNK!

The woman fell just a few meters away from Michael's hospital bed the watch having left her hand in time landing conveniently on a countertop nearby.

"Michael!?" Kitt was the first to inquire the man's attention. Wincing internally at how pale Michael looked and how disheveled too. He'd been kept in bed for over two years now, great was his mistake.

Kitt recalled the moment he'd tried to make it out of the tunnel before the blast.


"Kitt! Hit the SPM!" Michael had yelled over the whirr of his turbines.

"If we do! They will never make it, they'll leave scanner range, I won't be able to accelerate their cars!"

Michael gripped the steering wheel, gritting his teeth. Glancing over the other terrified drivers racing their ordinary cars to the exit as the fireball wreaked havoc behind them.

"If we die…"

Kitt's CPU jolted over the words uttered into the frigid air. It was a possibility the AI would and never could process through his mind.

"Michael!" Kitt screamed as the ceiling collapsed into itself before them. The tunnel folded down on them. Michael steered the vehicle away barely avoiding impact with a huge steel pipe that'd been torn apart. The man oversteered over the uneven ground causing Kitt to skid, impacting with a boulder and rolling over. Kitt tried his best to brace Michael but as he continued to roll, the intense heat and the impacts debilitated his rather more sensitive systems. He hardly could speak as they rolled over the 12th time, Kitt registering Michael's passed-out form only seconds before the darkness settled for what Kitt believed would be forever.

His chronometer read…8 hours had passed since he'd blacked out. Kitt called into the still air, noting the dense presence of carbon and smoke. His CPU stuttering as it tried to roll out from downtime.

"Michael?" Kitt asked, internally jumping as desperate voices spoke around him amongst the rubble. Kitt hushed himself finding comfort in his memory banks, as the agonized voices began to plead…fading into darkness at the lack of an answer.

Kitt attempted to get a reading on his driver silently frightened over the hopeless environment around him but it seemed his system was malfunctioning greatly. Painful notifications gripped tightly to him as he finally caught sight of Michael slumped over on the yoke his blurry vision settling finally over the man's sleeping form.

"Michael," Kitt whispered hushed, registering the faintest of heartbeats from the man. He could only hope help was on its way and that it wasn't too late.


Kitt scanned over Michael's vitals once more, given the watch's limited range he could do little else. It was heartbreaking to see him so…vulnerable and immobile.

Kitt sighed, "swallowing" his sorrow. His system tore apart within him at the thought that the board had expected him to willingly allow Michael to be lost.


"He's still in a coma Karr," Kitt sadly remarked. Karr looked over the other computer sympathetically. "It really is my fault. There isn't anything we can do to prevent the government from taking me away….from…destroying me…" Kitt let out a low sob breaking into incoherent static.

Karr thought it over, taking in Michael's slumbering vitals.

"Well, if this plan isn't good…"

Kitt glanced up to Karr in question.

" – I should give myself in."

"What!? No!" Karr shouted down at the dispaired AI. "We will NEVER do that!"

"Then what else is there to do?" Kitt asked, in a tired squeak. "My will to live is simply just fading…Without Michael, I'm not…"

"No, you're not!" Karr clamored. "WE are simply going to wait it out until Michael Knight awakens. The man is a brilliant genius, by all means, he will know what to do."

"Karr, this is unrealistic. Michael could well slumber into the next decade and We'd be helplessly on the run." Kitt curled down in his CPU feeling hopeless. "Let me get this over with Karr."

"If we leave the country…"

Kitt jumped inside of his CPU pulling at his auditory sensors unable to believe what he'd just heard.

"If we what!?"

"If we leave the country I don't think they could reach us, It will give us some time," Karr murmured.

Kitt thought it over, running the numbers, the odds.

"Karr but we're…"

"We will find someone….I'm sure we can find someone to help us…"

They had no choice, they were on their own.

Kitt had no driver to find guidance in, no technician to repair him…and no friendly director to defend him. Not even a pleasant Semi driver to keep him company. FLAG was under careful observation, even if they came remotely near the HQ the two would be captured and Kitt would most definitely be destroyed. Although, his programming dictated going home was the better option deep down he knew that he'd only return to his unceremonious death bed and have magnets pulled over his CPU, his motherboard, his memory banks. Wiped clean of what made him…well, him. He'd simply cease to exist. He didn't want that…not if it meant never saying goodbye to Michael or ever seeing him either.

With that last note between them, the two fell to silence as Karr pulled the trans-am out of the lot heading for the south under the glow of a starless night. Neither AI daring thinking over how long it would take until Michael Knight awoke from his dreamless sleep to help them put things right.

Karr dashed madly over the sunburnt hills in search of refuge in a world the two hardly knew anymore.


Version 1.0.0 [future polish edit in progress][second chapter on the drawing board]