What If – Chapter 4
KARR knew whom he was looking for. Finding the human was another matter. He was presumed dead, but KARR doubted that. From what he had read in the Foundation files, killing this one would not have been that easy. It was interesting that Michael Knight was himself a cheap production line copy, as was the machine he drove. They belonged together. He wanted the prototype. It was only fitting. Both had the same Creator, both had been abandoned by that Creator. Both were deactivated and sent to the slammer. Both escaped. They had both been "destroyed" by their copies, yet both had survived. Now both wanted their revenge.
"Garthe Knight MUST be my perfect match."
KARR was headed south, towards Mexico. He would wait until after nightfall to slip across the border.
The files told him what to look for. A large home and a lavish lifestyle. A powerful computer, possibly several of them, would be in use. Top notch security would be a given, not that KARR couldn't handle whatever was thrown at him. High power usage was what he was searching for, probably provided by generators considering the rural nature of the area. He had a lot of ground to cover, and all the time in the world to do so. Let THEM sweat it out for a while.
Two weeks later found KARR atop a low bluff, overlooking what could only be called a compound. A large complex made up of several buildings of various sizes, surrounded by an electrified fence lay before him. Guards patrolled the grounds and manned towers graced the corners. Karr watched and waited. He would get his chance. Humans always made mistakes that would allow him to get inside.
That mistake came several hours later. A half dozen guards decided to liven up the night watch with a few hands of poker. The game got so intense they never heard the fence short out or saw the KARR sized hole that opened up almost like magic. Laser magic.
He explored the compound in silent mode, scanners locating and counting humans. There was only one he was interested in. And that one would be found in the plushest living quarters.
Garthe was bored. Hiding out was his second least favourite thing to do (being in prison was his first). He wandered out into the night, enjoying the cool air that the darkness brought with it. He savoured his cigar as he strolled along. It was Michael Knight's fault he was stuck here. Garthe growled softly.
He rounded a corner and found himself staring into a yellow light, slowly tracking back and forth. It was too dark to see much else. He bit his cigar in half. The lit end dropped to the ground, creating a small fountain of sparks.
KARR had know the human was approaching. He'd seen pictures, but was still surprised at how much this one looked like the Other.
"He is indeed a copy of the original." KARR couldn't help but say it aloud. The lit end of the cigar rolled around and set Garthe's pants on fire.
KARR introduced himself as Garthe swatted out the flames. The tall man vaguely remembered his father working on his "crowning glory", and had been secretly satisfied when it turned into an abject failure. Now that very same failure was in front of him, it's yellow scanner tracking left and right.
"What do you want from me. You were my dearly departed father's dream. Not mine."
"True. But now I can be your greatest asset." KARR went on to explain his mission.
Garthe listened, skeptical at first, but growing more interested as KARR pled his case. This may be just what he was looking for, an advantage over Michael Knight and KITT.
"Follow me." Garthe commanded. He strode off, forcing KARR to follow him. After a few minutes, they stopped in front of a garage. Garthe pushed a button and the door rolled up.
"You can stay here." He indicated that KARR should go inside. After a moment's hesitation, he rolled through the opening. Garthe pushed the button and the door rattled closed. KARR found himself alone in the dark. He had a momentary flashback to Lab 3, but shook it off. He wasn't in danger of being deactivated here, the human probably just needed time to get his thoughts straight. He would wait 'til morning before making a move.
The next morning finally dawned. KARR was about to bust through the door when he detected the man approaching. He waited as it opened and Garthe strode in. The two misfits studied each other, looking for strengths and weaknesses. KARR spoke first.
"We are the same, you and I. We have the same enemies. Together, we can be unstoppable."
KARR rolled out of the building, circling Garthe as he spoke.
"I can lead you to greatness. As a team we will defeat our lesser twins." He stopped, facing the human. "You need me."
"No. You need ME! I am in charge. You will call me Master, and I will determine our course of action. I am your driver, and you will answer to me and only me."
KARR was beginning to have doubts about this partnership. Maybe they weren't as alike as he thought. Maybe they were too much alike?
"I call no human 'Master`. KARR growled. "I shall use you as I see fit."
"Use …. ME! No one uses me! I will reprogram you to respond properly. I am the Master. You are the slave!" Garthe started pacing, swung his cane around and pointed it at KARR. "You will do as I say, when I say it!" he was getting louder and more worked up. KARR backed up a few feet. Garthe pursued him, the rant continued.
"I am the genius, not my late father. You will be MY crowning glory! I will correct your flaws."
KARR had enough. This human was batsh** crazy! There was no way Garth was his perfect match. Far from it. He HAD no flaws. He was the prototype. A fast reverse 180 and KARR escaped while he could. This human was more of a threat to him than Michael Knight had ever been.
He didn't slow down until he was well back into the States. Finding HIS human was going to be far more difficult than he originally thought.
"No. I refuse to give up. I will NOT give my twin the satisfaction of winning yet again. My human is out there somewhere. I'll find him. Or her. I have all the time in the world."