Prototypes

The mall was loud and crowded, but that didn't stop the girls. Fresh paychecks opened worlds of possibilities, especially with no bills to pay. Raven had driven them to the mall, while Jess and Heather toyed with both the comm. link and Heather's cell phone. The end result was a new line in the cell, one that allowed them to use the phone instead of the comm. link to talk to KITT. Jess was still wearing the watch, but that was more for show. As they checked out the list of movies playing, the cell phone beeped at them.

"Why is it so noisy?" KITT demanded. Heather laughed.

"It's the mall on a Saturday, KITT." she said. "It's always noisy." KITT made a sound of disbelief, which just made Heather laugh again. "What? Didn't Michael ever take you to the mall?"

"He spared me that indignity." KITT said dryly. "I don't think any of his girlfriends ever managed to drag him shopping."

"Guys have an amazing knack for avoiding that." Heather agreed, pleased to not the odd tone that usually accompanied mention of Michael was mostly gone. KITT was learning to live with the loss.

"Where are Raven and Jess?"

"Currently walking about two feet in front of me, arguing over which is better – anime or romance movies." Heather said with a grin. "Hence why I'm standing behind them."

KITT laughed. "I can understand that." A brief pause. "I must say, Borden is a wonderful mechanic."

Heather chuckled. "Told you he was good. What do you think of Drake?"

"If he would stop referring to me as 'the car' we'd do fine." KITT commented. "I think he's still getting used to me."

"Give him a few days and he won't stop asking you questions." Heather said. Jess and Raven fell back to stand on either side of her.

"Who you talking to?" Jess teased in a sing-song voice.

"My Latin lover." Heather shot back. "We're planning on a hot date for tonight. Guess I'll have to leave you guys here."

"You do realize we can hear your conversation though Jess's comm. link, right?" Raven pointed out.

"Then why ask?"

"To embarrass you by pointing out that Craig is not Latin." Jess smirked. Heather Gibbs-slapped her, laughing. Craig was just a friend, but Jess enjoyed reading into things. KITT's voice crackled over the comm. link, interrupting the conversation.

"I don't understand how you guys argue so much and still stay friends." he said with some amusement. "And if Jess has the comm. link, how is Heather talking to me?"

"Jess and Heather were playing with the link and the cell phone on the way here." Raven explained. "They managed to hook up the link with the phone. I don't know how, but they did."

"By pure accident." Jess put in, while Heather nodded in agreement.

"And to answer your first question," Raven continued, talking over Jess, "stick with us long enough, and you'll join in the arguments as well." Jess and Heather laughed at that.

The conversation lasted through the brief walk to the food court and the girls' half-hour long diversion at Hot Topic. Heather came out of the deal with a new shirt and pants, Jess with a necklace, and Raven with a fresh sketchbook. There was a brief pause during which the girls got some food and KITT updated Drake and Borden on his weapons systems. He had to know they were listening in, but he never said anything and neither did they. KITT was hoping he would never have to use his weapons again. The girls' were hoping for a demonstration.

"So," Raven said, leaning back in her chair, "where to next?"

"Bookstore." Heather said. "The new Nightside novel is out." Jess grinned appreciatively.

"All right! I've been dying to know what happens next."

"You might want to consider coming back soon." KITT advised. "We're almost done here."

"Is everything good?" Jess asked.

"Satisfactory." KITT agreed. "We can start repairs at some other time."

"When that happens, I suggest bringing a book." Borden's voice came over the comm. link. "KITT has been spazzing out with you guys on the edge of his sensors."

"Not for long." KITT said cheerfully. "That will be fixed by the time they get back, right?"

"Right." Drake said, his voice muted by distance. "They're going to lend me that book, right?"

"Only after we read it." Heather said sweetly. Drake muttered under his breath. KITT laughed.

"I'm learning new words!"

Heather rolled her eyes. "We'll head out as soon as we get some books."

/--/

Travis watched them from new vehicle. The scanner gave them a very accurate view of where the girls' were and what they were doing. "I never pegged Heather to be a cell phone junkie." he muttered. KARR made a noncommittal sound.

"They have Knight 2000's comm. link." he mused. "He'll be able to track them through that."

"Do we want Knight 2000 to track us?" Travis asked doubtfully. "From what I understand, he wasn't rebuilt by a couple of teenagers who didn't know what they were doing."

KARR made a sound of disbelief. "You are an exceptional mechanic." he said, his dark voice smooth and soothing. "And Knight 2000 has never been up to my standards."

Travis refrained from any smart remarks about that. He may have been stupid enough to re-activate an AI he knew nothing about, but he wasn't dumb enough to antagonize the thing. Besides, KARR was a bit touchy about that particular subject. "So now what?"

"They're splitting up." KARR said, sounding excited. "Pick them off, one by one. I don't care if you hurt them, but don't kill them." Travis nodded and got out, closing the door behind him. KARR watched him go, thoughts going through his mind. Finally, he spoke again, mostly to himself.

"I want to give KITT a reason to fight."

/--/

AN: I think I'll cut it off there. I promised Jess I'd have this chapter up days ago, but I think I'm trying to get sick, so I've been taking my time. Maybe with enough rest and relaxation I won't actually get sick. Or I'll finally catch a fever and get the darn thing done and over with. Who knows? Review, please!