"Allow me to introduce ourselves. My name's Devon Myles and this is Bonnie Barstow. Over there is KITT, but I'm sure you already know him. We're the heads of the Knight Foundation for Law and Government, here on business I'm afraid."
The Dukes exchanged glances, tensions flickering between them.
Luke stepped forward. "Ain't never heard of it."
"Just what exactly does your foundation do?" Jesse asked Devon.
Devon smiled. "A number of things really. Our branches range from lawyers and attorneys to technological engineering and science. Our founder, Wilton Knight-rest his soul-built the Foundation from the ground up. His main focus was helping the less fortunate. We've worked before with people such as yourselves to keep developers away from much-needed farms."
"Saved a ranch from losing its cattle to drought," KITT added.
"In other words, no, we're not here for your farm, or anybody's farm for that matter. We came to get KITT and to talk with the county commissioner," Bonnie explained.
Luke scoffed. "Yeah, good luck, that ol' JD Hogg ain't exactly the easiest person to get through to, if you know what I mean."
"Mind yourself, Luke," Jesse warned, stepping between his oldest and the businessman. "And you, Mr. Myles, JD Hogg ain't no one to tassel with, even with a bribe. So if you want my advice, I'd pack up and run if I were you."
Devon smiled and nodded. "Well, that's very kind of you, Mr. Duke, but I'm afraid a corrupt conman is nothing new to us," Devon nodded again, "and good day to you all."
That said, Devon turned on his heel and walked back to the semi. Bonnie did the same, gesturing for KITT to follow her. KITT turned to the Army and the Dukes.
"Thanks for everything you guys!" he exclaimed, red scanning light flushing and moving back and forth quickly.
General, Christine, and Thunder exchanged glances.
"Uhh… yeah, see you around… I guess," General rumbled despondently.
"KITT, you're sure… this is what you want, right?" Christine asked.
KITT shifted on his suspension. "Of course this's what I want, I'm with my family again! Why do you ask?"
They exchanged glances once more and Thunder rolled forward. "We just wanna be sure that this's what you truly want, and if it is, we're willin' to respect that."
KITT scoffed. "Guys, seriously, all I want right now is to go home, to be with my family."
General nodded and they each backed up a little. "Then don't let us stand it your way."
KITT nodded as well and flashed his lights, turning to follow Bonnie into the trailer. The back of the truck closed as he drove up into it, the engine starting up with a shake of the machine's frame. The engine revved to life and soon, not ten minutes since it'd arrived, it was gone. The Dukes and the Defects all watched it go off towards the rising sun. Luke crossed his arms, sighing and shaking his head.
"Bye, KITT," Bo mumbled, inaudible to the others' ears.
Just then, Rig appeared from behind the barn.
"Hey, Rig, you missed it!" Christine exclaimed.
"What exactly did I miss?" the semi asked.
"KITT left, his people came to get him," Thunder explained.
"Oh…"
Jesse nudged Luke with his arm. "What're they sayin'?"
Luke nodded to the cars. "They're all just tryna wrap their heads around the fact that he's gone."
Jesse nodded and turned to the cars. "Ah, General," Jesse nodded to Rig, "big guy, you two follow 'em, make sure they make it to the county line."
General nodded and Rig revved his engine, before driving off after the Knight semi.
"So, you deny knowing anything of the Acid Corporation?" Devon asked.
Boss Hogg looked at him, then at the young woman at his side. "They make cigars, don't they?"
"N-no, that's Acid Cigars International, I'm talking about the Acid Corporation, a leading business in the technological industry, such as our Knight Foundation and countless others."
Boss Hogg scratched his chin. "Technology you say? Heh, well there's gotta be some money in that. Say, ah, what would you say about a little investment in your Foundation? You know, favors for favors?"
"I'm sorry, but the Foundation for Law and Government is a privately funded organization. We do charity work and peace gatherings. We're focused as much on law and order as we are on technological advances."
"So… no investment?"
"No."
"Hmph."
Bonnie rolled her eyes.
"Mr. Hogg, the Acid Corporation?" Devon mused.
Boss Hogg sighed and grabbed a binder from his desk. "Here," he set the binder on the desk and opened it, "says here they make car parts for sports cars, exotic cars that is. They're based out in Savannah. As far as I know, take you a couple hours to get out there. I couldn't tell ya anythin' else, don't know much about 'em. The only time I done business with 'em was when we sold a Jaguar at the police auction, they were the first in line to bid," Boss Hogg explained.
Devon nodded. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Hogg." He took a business card out of his wallet and slipped it onto Boss Hogg's desk. "We'll be in touch."
That said, he turned and followed Bonnie out of the office.
Rig pulled up behind the black semi, studying it. "So this's the thing that was in front of the barn this mornin'?"
General nodded, driving around him. "Yeah, me and the others had a hard time gettin' outta the door, it was almost blockin' it."
Rig scoffed, still looking at the truck. "Idjits."
General looked around the deserted town square. It was still early, the morning dew still not off the grass. It was expected to warm up though, according to Thunder's forecast. However, as he looked around, something caught his eye. He started wandering towards it, across the street from the courthouse. It looked to be a small car, covered with a sheet. General drove over cautiously, looking around to see if anyone may be watching. The streets were deserted and Rig was still distracted by the other semi.
He pulled the sheet off, finding a small Porsche underneath. The car revved its engine at him, struggling against its booted tire.
"Are you crazy? Get out of here! Now!" the Porsche exclaimed.
"Wh-what? Why?" General asked worriedly.
"He will be back, hurry now, put ze sheet back. Put ze sheet back!"
"Wh- I don't-"
Just then, a large shadow crossed them, and General felt the heat of a mighty engine. General turned to see a Hearse on a monster truck frame standing over him. He backed up slowly, glancing towards the Porsche.
"Don't look at me, I vwarned you to leave!" the Porsche argued.
"Look, ah-"
"Toby."
"Toby, look, I'm gonna knock that boot off and the moment I do, run like hell, you got that?"
"And vwhat about you?"
"Don't worry about it," General pushed down the lever of the boot with his tire, "just go."
From that point on, it was all a blur. Before the boot even hit the ground, Toby was flying out of there, up the hill, and around the corner. The massive Hearse lunged at General, but he dodged it, throwing some dust up to try and cloud his vision but he was too high up. The Hearse growled at General and swung at him with his tire. It caught General's fender, sending him spinning into a wall.
General sank on his suspension, shaking himself. He looked up at the Hearse, only in time to see him raising another tire to hit him again. However, just as he was about to bring it down, Rig came out of nowhere, plowing into him and throwing him up the street. The Hearse shook itself, roaring.
"You ain't got any business here, so I suggest you leave, now," Rig growled.
The Hearse said nothing in reply but simply roared again and charged towards Rig. Rig growled back at him and revved his engine, standing between him and General.
The Hearse broke his gaze with Rig and glanced at General. General shook as he tried to pull himself back up but failed. Rig glanced at him, his expression softening.
"It's alright, I can take him," Rig rumbled reassuringly.
The Hearse chuckled, an electrical aura sparking around him. Rig's sunvisor angled downwards with a groan. Furthermore, without saying a word, the Hearse projected a bolt of electricity right towards Rig's grill. He tried to dodge it but it hit him, sending waves of it through his body. He coughed out smoke as he began to fry from the inside out.
"How-" he coughed, "how're you doin' that?"
The Hearse didn't say anything and rolled over towards General, and the last thing either of them saw was the Hearse raising his tire.
