"Oh, it's a computerized burglar alarm!" Michael quipped. "Just got it the other day." One of these days, he wasn't going to have an answer for that. He'd be too preoccupied with their case or too tired or drunk. He didn't mind people asking about KITT. He got a kick out of their shock and confusion when KITT spoke; he liked letting KITT introduce himself to their passengers. He'd never tell KITT because he didn't want a lecture on what was a potentially slightly perverse enjoyment, but he felt an undeniable thrill when people turned to him in fear and looking for some sort of reassurance that they weren't going to die as KITT rocketed down the road, bullets pinging uselessly off his shell. Some people, like Senator Maggie, absolutely loved the thrill. Michael had wondered for a while there if she was going to call and ask KITT to take her for a joyride, but she'd gotten tangled up in her work and they'd been called off on another assignment.
"You think Maggie's ever gonna make good on her threat to call you for that joyride?" Michael asked as he merged with the slightly quicker traffic in the left lane.
"The senator?" KITT clarified. "She was incredibly busy when we left."
"You didn't see the look in her eyes when she told me she wanted to come with us on our next assignment." The Toyota in front of them stopped abruptly. Michael swore as KITT hit the brakes. "What's going on up there?" A long line of brake lights glared balefully back at him.
"There's a jackknifed semi over that hill," KITT said. "No serious injuries, but it's blocking all three south-bound lanes. It's rather spectacularly stuck." Michael groaned. They were already behind schedule, their previous assignment having dragged on longer than expected.
"Any idea how long before they get that cleared up?"
"Given the engine temperatures and the lack of heavy machinery needed to move a semi? Michael, I'd say that accident happened no more than 15 minutes ago."
"Shitfucking hell!"
"I'm afraid I agree with you."
The guy in the Toyota put his car in park, poked his head out the window, and twisted to look back at Michael, who raised a hand in greeting. The guy returned the gesture, then asked. "You know what's going on up there?"
Michael jogged to the open window so they wouldn't have to yell. "Jackknifed semi's blocking this side of the highway. Happened like 20 minutes ago."
Toyota man's face fell, and he glanced at the towel and other beach-related goodies in the back seat. "You and me both, buddy," Michael sighed.
"Any idea when we're gonna get moving?"
"It's well and truly stuck up there," Michael said, shaking his head. "We'll probably be lucky to get off the highway sometime today. Michael, by the way."
"Chris." Chris looked at Michael, then ahead at the line of cars disappearing over the hill. "How do you know that?"
"Got a police scanner in my car." Not a lie, but definitely not the truth. Chris seemed happy with that.
"Well, keep me posted, will ya?"
"Will do." With that, Michael returned to KITT.
"A police scanner?" KITT greeted Michael as he sat down.
"Would you rather I told him you were psychic?" Michael had come alarmingly close to just deadpanning that when people asked about KITT sometimes. He kicked the seat back to a more comfortable angle and settled in for a long wait. "Might as well get comfy, KITT. We're gonna be here for a while."
