Things were getting better. I was feeling much better. Getting comfortable with the many functions that my former self would have been keen on commanding expertly as the days went by. I was becoming aware of how powerful many of my functions really were.
I had finally gained full access to my engine and was revving it proudly in the presence of my engineers as they gauged my progress. My turbine and V8 roared up a storm in the bay, being the center of attention by many in the room, not that I minded. Taking relief that Bonnie looked very pleased with me. Relishing in her smile, I decided to engrave it deeply into my memory banks. Her eyes took in my restored form warmly.
I floored the pedal continuing to gun the engine under my white bonnet as Van Vorman expertly read my reaction time. He gave me a smile as I held up well to their expectations, my CPU shuddering out of the blue as someone came from behind unexpectedly and closed my trunk with a quick click. I lost focus for just a second. A faint fragment of being built in Wilton's presence startling me…the sounds and smells of my former bay coming to me…the vision of watching Wilton walk around me and smile, waving his cane at me in gleeful greeting whenever he got the chance to stop by. He always seemed content with me…caring, and kind. Proud as he took my elegant design and reassured me my designated driver, Michael Author Long would be arriving soon…then once my scanner had come online for the first time, I'd been startled to pick up on tell-tale signs of a dying man…My dash lit up immediately, I counteracted hurriedly, silencing it back to darkness as I recalled that alarming discovery and the roller coaster of emotions that had almost killed me when I'd learned that he'd passed away.
Successfully, I managed to avoid Bonnie's and Van Vorman's anxious eyes…I came to the end of the exercise expertly hiding my confusion from my engineers. Expertly burying the hints of how I felt at the loss of my creator.
"Response time is better, yes?" Van Vorman remarked, satisfied, jotting down the results onto his clipboard that he'd been carrying around for what had seemed like an eternity.
"Yes." Bonnie replied, still smiling. The excitement made her uneasily shuffle in place, I could tell she was eager to see me leave the bay.
I fought against the urge to ask about my initial construction when I'd been rather young. Wanting to know more about that incomplete past…I put those thoughts aside as I heard Bonnie call my name.
"Kitt, what's the square root of 256 and the capital of Montana?"
I had the answer instantly and wondered why she'd give me such an elementary question. Wishing she'd give me something a little harder and personal, such as 'Who was Michael's former partner? Who was Wilton Knight? When did Devon Miles join the Knight project?' I seriously had no clue about these questions and wanted a desperate answer to all of them…sadly however Bonnie was waiting for my reply and I decided to voice my disappointment just a little.
"Bonnie, really…" I groaned just ever so slightly. This was so basic, surely she knew that.
"Kitt, do you know the answer?" Her smile glittered.
"Can Michael Jackson moonwalk?" I pulled from my organized heap of information at my disposal, all neatly stored in my data banks. I internally smiled and wanted to laugh too. I caught the instant response from Bonnie, her smile growing bigger. She chuckled sweetly as I remember vaguely and it seems I've hit just the spot. I sound like Kitt, my former self…I've actually responded correctly and am holding onto my humor rather well…I just hope I can keep it up.
"16 and Helena." I remark, taking in a more selective tone on the matter. "Population 202,730, the city boasts some lovely old mansions along power street." I watch fondly as Bonnie glances up at the ceiling taking in my energetic response lovingly. I even catch Van Vormans chuckling quietly to himself as it's clear I've made good progress these last few days. I can't help but feel an abrupt feeling form somewhere between my CPU and motherboard, perhaps it's of familiarity and the knowledge of knowing that I'm greatly loved. "Police chief Bill Wears keeps the streets safe and it's not as cold up there as they say it is. Shall I go on?" I remark, excited to see that I'm coming along well…
"You got it." Bonnie beams and Van Vorman exchanges triumphant smiles.
I too feel proud, having had little to no issue forming my own sentences now without heavily relying on past memories. It's exciting that I will be back on the road alongside Michael as I'm — if truth be told…getting a little restless of sitting in place and of course of being prodded like a sick cat…
"Did I hear what I think I heard?" Michael's thrilling voice makes me jump inside the chassis, I'm so happy to see he's come back. Aware that he's been working on his own with no input on my behalf makes me a tab nervous as I've come to acknowledge inevitably that who we're up against is rather a dangerous character.
"…What do you say, pal?" Michael looks through my open t-top taking in the newly restored interior delightedly. My circuitry pulses a little, as I'm embarrassed for him to see all the wires and cabling snaking around me in vibrant colors. Nevertheless, I'm happy to speak back joyfully as I'm aware I've given everyone in the room a hard time these past days.
"Michael! I'm so glad to see you!" I beam, the smile in my voice obvious. I watch Bonnie gaze over in Michael's direction taking in the man's shocked expression. It seems he's as exuberant to see me back to normal as I am to feel that way. "I have new diodes and circuit boards…"
"Whoa! Don't worry yourself out. Sounds great!" He looks over to Bonnie wanting to regard my overall health. "How's he doing?"
Bonnie looks very fervent to let Michael in on my latest development. I couldn't agree more!
"Well we're still not sure but you can see there's improvement." She spreads her lab coat sideways, her hands tucked in her pockets…white earnest wings attentively awaiting the future.
"Improvement? That's an understatement." I remark, aware that soon, and rather soon as I greatly prefer…this will all be behind us and we'll continue to do what we do best. Making a difference…"We're planning a test run on the track in a few minutes Michael. Can you be there?" Hoping fervently he'll say yes!
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
I gun the engine under the hood in response, making some engineers hop away from my prow in surprise. Van Vorman giving me an anxious gaze.
Bonnie laughs and pats Michael on the shoulder.
"You can get going, we just have a few things to wrap up." She grins, perhaps seeing if the man will insist on staying. I have no doubt he will…
"It's fine, do you need any help?" He reaches forward and runs his fingertips across the bumpy texture of a thick cable running just over my open t-top.
Bonnie rolls her eyes.
"Under the circumstances, I'd think it's best if you left this to the professionals." Bonnie laid her hands on her hips looking up at Michael playfully.
The man gave her a smile.
"Okay," he sighs. "See you in a bit, pal." He motions to me.
"Of course Michael! We won't leave you waiting!" I assure him, anxious to get down from this lift very soon. He nods and gives me a bow of his head as he leaves the work bay.
I can already feel the cables and terminals disconnecting from me, while engineers swarm me tenderly…allowing me to take complete control over the chassis without any outside inputs for the first time since that accident. I'm very confident that I won't need these until I realize how…
I feel a little ill as a computer designed to supply me with the equivalent of pain medication is disconnected. The trans-am shudders in response, and my engine lets a low howl letting Bonnie know of my discomfort.
She's quick to address me.
"Kitt I know you've grown a slight reliance on the program but you shouldn't need it anymore." She explains slowly.
I feel a little nauseated…fighting the urge to beg and have the apparatus plugged back into me. For the past few days, the system has helped soothe me when I became all too agitated, mostly during the dark hours of the night when everyone is resting. Now without it, I'm not sure I can deal with my complex emotions on my own.
'Maybe…I'm not ready.' I think to myself as Bonnie gives me an empathetic look while pulling away several more cables from my hood. I watch timidly as the engineers open the bay doors leading to the outside, I'm lowered to the ground and I feel strange standing on my own. All my systems are functioning properly but I feel…out of place…For a moment I stand hesitantly to take my first steps into the outside world since my accident. Taking a silent "breath" of the fresh air running past me.
"Kitt, is something wrong?" Bonnie asks, gently placing my glass panels back over my t-top.
I'm stuck on how to respond. Surely my former self would not have liked to worry her and neither do I now.
"Nothings wrong," I smoothly replied, feeling anxious on my own four wheels. "It's just…" I pull in reverse abruptly applying the brakes too soon and I yelp internally as my suspension jerks awkwardly.
"Kitt?" Bonnie asks, reaching my driver's side ready to take a seat and fix whatever is bothering me.
I can't help and internally blush. I feel clumsy. Surely the Knight 2000 was not as uncoordinated as I am now. Still hesitant to reply, I choose not to worry her and set aside my tension.
"Yes, Bonnie I'm fine," I reply nonchalantly, looking for a logical excuse. "It's just that I've been on the lift for so long…" I explain, partially aware that the lift would not have such an adverse effect on my driving…at least if I was the Kitt everyone expected me to be.
"The test drive should help with that." Bonnie smiles as she motions me to back up further. I do as told, internally shuddering and keyed up about what awaits me on the track. I was supposed to be a super-fast car…but as of late I haven't done much that involves speedily done maneuvers and this scares me. I'm underprepared and deep inside there is something holding me back…something urging me to stop in my tracks and stay put…not move…
Bonnie trusts I will find my way to the foundation's testing track on my own and I insist that I can also perform such an easy task. It isn't hard, though I find myself internally "sneezing" whenever I pick up on something I don't quite remember or understand with my scanner. I stop abruptly again, slamming the brakes too hard, and skid to a halt as a small creature flutters by…whatever is it? My data banks let me know it's a butterfly but I hardly have enough past memory of them to know if they're safe or not and I find myself reversing when the creature dives headfirst towards my prow. I panic and run-off-road into a small pasture of green grass. I don't scream, I still have a reputation to take care of but I do run.
"Shoo! Stay back!" I hiss at the fluttery winged creature, hued in bright yellows, coming straight at me. Its attack is unaccounted for and I try to do a 180, I know what those are now but instead, I turn awkwardly and toss patches of grass up towards the sky instead.
Eventually, the winds carry off the aggressive creature and I'm quick to return to the pavement and hurry along to make it to my destination on time. Thankfully no one has seen me scurrying in retreat from a creature no heavier than a napkin when I myself am a little less than a ton.
I quietly follow the lines dotting the trail towards the track and think fast as I present myself to my awaiting crowd. Michael is there and I feel my CPU internally relax.
Then I feel the squeeze of electricity on my motherboard, the moment Michael's blue eyes brighten at the sight of me. I'm nervous…and…pain shoots up my memory boards and for the first time I think I hear my older self scolding me but I can't tell for sure. There is something more. Something is bothering me and I can't tell exactly what it is.
"Ta-da!" I shout excitedly, hiding my insecurities expertly as I drive just in front of the bleachers where Bonnie, Michael, and the others sit. The warmth of the cool sun is deflected off the white primer that's replaced my black coat for the past few days. It's a little unusual being hued brightly but I find that it fits me very well anyways.
The crowd perks up and I can see they are expecting the best from me.
I start off with a proper 180, this time performing it the way I should have when the murderous butterfly chased me a little while ago.
I run along the pylons, accelerating lightly until —
'I can't do this!' I internally panic. Slowly down unexpectedly, losing coordination and tossing pylons about as I mess up turn after turn. My anxiety peaks and I jolt thinking I've heard the metallic monster chasing me. The rubber cones bounce off of me harmlessly, however, but with every little bump and hic from the sounds…I shudder. The memory of the acid pit comes to corrode my self-esteem. I come close to the end of the track and I fight my urge to stop when it's time to jump. When I do jump, I scrape the bottom of my treads just over the wooden fence. The sound of splintering wood makes me yelp internally, but I push on because…I can see Michael in the far distance watching…I can't let him down.
I do some skiing on my own, standing sideways on just two tires as I've done…well I would suspect ever since I've been with Michael…from my understanding…years.
I jolt as I go back on all fours and return to the audience that's gauging my every move. Michael looks different when I approach…I can tell easily something is on his mind and I fear it's about me.
"Little rusty but not bad huh Michael?" I croak, stopping where I'd started moments prior. I might not remember everything about myself but I do know this…I've failed my test. It's an obvious fact. The Knight 2000 could have easily performed this track with his tires tied behind his axles. Ran twice as fast and with only four cylinders even…but I — I cannot…I sink to the bottom of my CPU letting my subroutines crash all around me in a haze.
"Yeah, you looked great out there pal." Michael agrees gingerly. He's lying through…
" — You ready for business?"
In his voice, I hear the genuine sincerity of wanting me up and running again. I suppose he's missed me just as much as I've missed him. I wonder how it must be out in the field rattling cages without me…
"Just as soon as you can get me out of here. I've been poked, prodded, and violated." I reply with a gleeful sway of my scanner, noting with quite some satisfaction that I'm sounding a lot like myself with every passing hour. Perhaps…my former self isn't all that gone.
My engine rumbles a little and out with a bang my exhaust expels fire. I nearly "jump" out of my "skin" in an instant but having let go of control over the chassis I don't actually do it.
"Oh, oh my." That is all I manage to remark, yearning to go back inside and rest. I don't belong outside yet, I conclude…
"Fire!" Bonnie shouts, Michael taking instant action. Descending the bleachers, yanking a canister of CO2 and blasting it over my tailpipe.
"Maybe they should tow me back too…" I finally spell defeat as the flames dissipate. It's no use…The Kitt I use to be is gone and I won't be able to hang on forever this way. Not without hurting Michael, not without messing up and causing damage to myself or others.
My main program tries to comfort me but I shove it away this time. I don't need help, not now. I'm resolved to let Michael know what's going on…that I'm a lost cause.
'Leave me alone.' I growl at my main program, it pulsates a little frightened, taking a step back its feathers seemingly small now…
"No one's towing you back anywhere…" Michael reproaches determinedly, placing a light hand over my t-top glancing toward my dash through the window. I dim the lights hiding any unwanted gesture that could hint at the anxiety that is broiling within me. "We're going back to bay 3 and we're going to get you in shape, and then we're gonna come out here and we're gonna run this test until you get it perfect. Now you got that straight?" He explains, making me internally shudder. He doesn't actually believe it'll be that simple, does he?
"Mr. Knight!" Mr. Van Vorman shouts. "With all due respect —!"
"I appreciate everything you've done doctor Van Vorman…" Michael interrupts loudly. "— but the ball is in my court now. You with me Bonnie?" Michael turns towards her. She seems hesitant, gazing toward the other engineers who don't agree that I'm ready…I can't blame them, but then…I see that fragile and brave smile.
"You bet!"