Okay, before this chapter begins, there are a few things that I need to mention.
I'm sorry this chapter took awhile, but some things came up, like the fact that I've started recording fanfics out loud for The FicDom on Knight Radio. If all goes well, my first fic will be on the air next week.
I have some news for all of you Knight Rider fanfic readers: In this chapter, you might see some references, vague as well as obvious, references to Gryph's "Fire and Ice" universe and wonder if they're intentional or not. Well, they are. As of this chapter, the "Marissa" series is linked to "Fire and Ice". Most of my "Marissa" universe takes place before even the pilot and eventually, the F&I universe, including the famous link, will come into play.
Also, the events of this chapter originally was not in "Knight of the Children". As a matter of fact, this didn't happen until "Race Against Time", a story that will go up later on. In that story, this took place in Mexico, and none of the adults attended, save Michael.
I have a question for you guys...in the story "Knight of the Children", in order to try to save Devon, an exhausted Marissa has to go to the boundry between life and death. In the original typewritten story, something happens to her as a result and the only possible way to heal her lies within the rising sun. I have been trying to decide as to include what happens to her as a result, or write in something else.
So, I leave it to you, the readers. Shall I include this bit in the next part of the story? or shall I re-write it into something else? When you R&R, please also let me know what you think!
Okay, now for the reviewers:
Macri007: The name is Medina...and you'll find out just who she is in this chapter.
Knightsky: Oh don't worry about Devon...much! Yeah, it does seem a bit chilling, but when you think (and read) about it, the ceremony itself, as well as what it involves, is pretty logical.
Now, onto the fic!
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Chapter 13: Initiation of Line Knight
Michael stared at the woman, his jaw dropping a bit.
"Medina?" he asked, "As in…Line Medina?"
"Yes," she replied.
"Are you some kinda ghost or what?"
"Yes and no…mostly no. What I am is timeless, or in your terms, immortal…although due to incidents 5,000 years ago, I now reside in a plane that is beyond world of Spirits."
"World of Spirits?"
"Where those that die go. You'll understand in a little bit. Unlike spirits, or ghosts, I can be out here much longer…but still not indefinite," she replied.
"Okay, so what are you doing here?"
"There hasn't been an Initiation in 500 years. I need to be here, to oversee it."
He looked from Medina to Laura, Jack, Marissa and Rodrigo, puzzled as well as a small touch suspicious.
"Yes, she's for real," Laura said.
"Are you all ready?" Rodrigo asked.
Michael took a deep breath, closing his eyes, as though searching for the answer within himself. Rodrigo knew it wasn't too late for the operative to back out, but once the ceremony starts, it would be.
"Yes," he replied.
"Yeah, let's get this done," Marissa added, "I want to be up with my father, but I know this is important."
"Michael, stand in front of Riss," Laura stated, "I will face both of you. Papa, Jack, Senora Medina…"
The adults nodded. Rodrigo stood beside Michael, Medina on Laura's right and Jack on her left.
The timeless woman nodded and spoke out loud.
"On this night, under a full moon, we conduct a ceremony that has not been done in 500 years: the Initiation of a guardian of the Lines, a member of Line Knight. Tonight, the Initiate is Michael Knight."
She then nodded to Laura and said, "It is time to ask for the vows. With each one taken, the Initiate takes a step away from the world he knew before, shedding the ignorance from the life he knew."
The Mexican girl then turned her head, making it clear she was looking at the operative.
"Michael, do you vow to protect those of Line Medina, including Devon and Marissa Miles, from those that would seek to terminate them, even if the cost is your own life?"
He replied, solemnly and honestly, "I do."
"Michael, do you vow to protect those of Line Maris, including Rodrigo and Laurine Mariz, from those that seek to terminate them, even if the cost is your own life?" Jack asked.
"I do."
Medina asked, "Do you vow to safeguard past, present and future for the Mystics and humanity, even though the cost may be life and soul?"
That one Michael was not expecting and he paused for a second to think about it.
Even if the cost is my life and soul…? That's a hefty vow…and to safeguard past, present and future…? What does she mean?
"Michael?" Medina asked, concern in her voice.
He blinked and said to her, "I do."
She nodded and said, "With vows taken, it is time to be reborn. Let us move to the glowing flowers."
Michael looked puzzled, but moved closer until he and the girls were standing almost next to the bush.
"Laura…"
The girl nodded and unbuckled an item from the belt, then drew a knife that was as long as the operative's hand.
"Proffer your left hand, please," she said, facing Michael again.
Fighting natural reaction, he nodded and held out the hand, palm up.
The Mexican girl placed the knife against his hand, then swiftly cut across it, from the metacarpal to near the side.
It bled instantly…enough for it to be a bit more than a shallow wound, but not enough for it to be dangerous.
Laura lowered the blade until a drop of blood landed on one of the flowers.
"Marissa, your right hand."
She silently nodded and held her hand in the same way. Laura wiped the blade on some cloth, made an identical cut across it, then let another drop fall onto the plants.
The group had been told as to what to do, Michael on the way over, Marissa earlier.
As such, the little girl took Michael's cut hand in hers, then said, "I add the knowledge and valiance of Line Medina to the Initiate Michael," before giving the hand an extra squeeze.
Her eyes widened as she felt a flash of…something warm yet like lightning, go through her.
"Let go and step back, please," Laura said.
The little girl nodded and did just that, then wiped the blood from her hand.
Just like in the dream, she had a small diagonal scar in the middle of it.
Medina took the knife from Laura, who proffered her own right hand. The woman then cleaned the blade, made an identical cut across it, and let the third drop land.
The Mexican girl then took Michael's hand in hers, saying, "I add the lifepulse of Line Maris to the Initiate Michael."
As she squeezed, Michael suddenly saw a multitude of images before him. He wanted to wince, maybe yell, but his body stayed in place.
A woman with red hair making her living telling fortunes in what looked like the medieval times…real fortunes…
A familiar blonde-haired girl (Marissa, his mind added) standing at a waterfall, talking to Kitt…
Devon on one knee, in a grassy plain with a brunette that was his height. He was asking her something very important…
An older woman that looked a bit like Marissa, grinning like a fool while introducing herself to FLAG's leader…
A car with a human outline changing into a being of pure, brilliant white light…
A small group of people, some familiar, some not, appearing before a mountain that was on fire, then separating into different directions…
Marissa as a little girl, disappearing into the night…
Verona Miles, as a little girl, then marrying a Lieutenant and moving to Canada…
Michael, Laura and Jack racing in Kitt, trying to become as fast as wind while looking for something to fight off a black shadow…
A golden tendril between Michael and Kitt changing color…into pure white…
Two girls, looking exactly alike…One was Marissa, the other emotionless…then one disappearing…
Two of Devon…one before a mirror, distraught and in denial while the other on a bed, lifesigns fading…
Ice encased the brilliant, white being, and the fire enclosed the cold substance. It made him furious for some reason…
Many, many others passed before his eyes, then faded from sight…and within moments, he found himself in the garden of the hospital.
"What you have seen is past, present and future. Momentarily, the ones that foretell the future and some of the past will fade from the conscious mind, and will only be remembered when you need to know," Medina explained.
He blinked and then nodded, looking much more steady now…and they could all tell that he truly did understand now, just from his face and eyes.
"The Initiation is complete," Laura said.
"On this night, you have become Michael of Line Knight. A new protector is born," Rodrigo intoned, looking relieved.
Michael nodded and saw that the others were moving out of position...then turned and saw something that was different.
The flowers that were glowing blue and purple were no longer giving off light…and were withered.
"Sentias flowers," Medina explained, "Sentient. When the Initiation is conducted, they pass on the knowledge, and then die afterwards. It's surprising that there were some on the grounds. Not that I'm ungrateful…"
Michael nodded, then said, "Other than…that rush of…images, I don't feel all that different."
"You thought it would be otherwise?" she asked, bemused, then replied, "Don't answer that." She then looked to the sky for a long moment.
The woman then looked down and saw Marissa staring at the sky too. "Hm…? What is it, little one?"
"Um…I heard Rodrigo talk about looking for father's star…and I was trying to figure that out."
She let out a merry laugh before she replied, "Curious spirit, aren't you? Rodrigo?"
The Mexican man nodded and said, "Marissa, escuchame. The stars you see in the sky are connected to each and every one of us. When a person, Mystic, human or another kind of being, is born, a star appears. Depending on the purity of the soul, the person's destiny and age, it can be brilliant or dim. If the star falls, the person dies."
Marissa nodded.
Medina added, "Marissa, your star is the eye of Ursa Minor, while your father's is the nose of Ursa Major."
The little girl nodded again.
The ancient woman looked to all of them, then said, "I think you should all get back to the hospital room now."
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When Laura, Rodrigo, Jack, Michael and Marissa reached the parking lot, the Mexican man looked at the sky, then frowned.
"Jack, Laurita, we need to get back. I need to pick up some things for tomorrow and visiting hours are over, anyway."
"Huh? What things, papa?"
"You'll see. I have a bad feeling about all this…and I want to be prepared. Now come along."
She nodded and turned to Marissa. "Riss, we'll be here tomorrow."
Jack added, "Keep an eye on your dad, you hear me?"
"Yeah, I will," the little girl replied.
After the trio left in a vehicle, Michael turned to the little girl and said, "We'd better get inside, too."
She shook her head and walked over to Kitt, with Michael following behind her.
"Hey, wait up! What're you doing?"
The little girl touched Kitt's driver's side door and said, "I forgot to do this earlier."
He watched, wondering what she meant.
"Are you awake?"
"I have not gone into recharge yet."
She nodded then said, "Kitt, you've kept your end of the deal. Now I keep mine."
"I was wondering if you remembered. Thank you." He then added, "Welcome back, Michael."
"What deal are you two talking about?"
"The deal for me helping Marissa and the others was that I would obey her commands until the crisis was over."
"In that case, glad to be back, Kitt."
"Michael, are you all right? There seems to be a change to your vitals…and from the indications, these changes are most likely permanent."
"Yeah, I'm okay…and I think you're right on the other part," he replied and looked right at Kitt, almost as if he had never seen the sentient vehicle before. "Marissa and I are going upstairs. Keep an eye out for things, will ya?"
"But of course, Michael."
With that, the older man led Marissa into the hospital and up to Devon's room.
I don't remember how, but I understand a lot more than I did earlier today…I just hope I'm capable—no, I will carry out my new mission. Maybe tonight gave me a new purpose to replace the one I've lost.