Knight Of The Falcons
Chapter Six
KITT ploughed through the base entrance at full speed. They had finally made it after a frustrating trip over the harsh desert terrain. Once they bypassed the main gate, KITT skidded to a halt and began to scan the thieves.
Michael flipped a few buttons. "Okay scan the area. Where are they?"
KITT scanned the base. Multiple blips appeared on the screen. "I've found them. They are outside what appears to be a south hangar yard."
"The XK-8's!" Janice yelled.
Time was running out which meant that Michael had to pull out his tricks. He accelerated onwards. KITT streaked through the empty base grounds, hitting smaller structures as they went.
"We've got make out little entrance!" He said. "Any minute now, he's going to get into that truck and drive out of here lugging millions of dollars of hardware."
Suddenly, KITT alerted them again. "Michael, I'm detecting two computerised defence turrets. They have spotted us. Typically with you, a job is never that easy."
Michael rolled his eyes up at the remark. "Yeah, yeah you can blame me later. There's the barrier fence. Let's hit the Turbo boost!"
The inner perimeter fence was in their sights. KITT accelerates just as Michael hits the Turbo Boost. He launched upwards at a steep angle, over the high rise fence. They landed heavily on the tarmac strip, alerting the thieves and the two rocket turrets. Dallas hassles his men to hurry up the job. He couldn't understand how they found him and he wasn't going to let them stop him.
"It's Knight! Quick, let's go!"
"But what about that car of his?" the driver stuttered.
Dallas had faith in one thing. "The rocket launchers will take of him."
The men scrambled into the truck. They sped off out of the facility, hauling the jets away. Michael tried to assess the situation, but he didn't get the opportunity too. Up ahead, One of the automated rocket launchers set it's target on KITT. It opens fire, sending a stinger missile hurtling straight for them.
"Michael! Incoming missile!" KITT screamed.
Michael instantly reacted. "KITT, do you remember how to waltz with death?"
"Do I? I still have the nightmares! I don't want to be a junk yard pile of scrap again!"
"The We've got to time things right to out manoeuvre these things otherwise all this effort would have been for nothing."
Janice cowered behind the dash. She had never been so frightened in her life. One minute she was working behind a desk. The next she was looking a missile in the eye.
"We're going to die aren't we!" She screamed.
"Don't give up on me, Janice." Michael snapped, Pulling her together. "We still have KITT. Okay buddy. Let's go!"
KITT sped towards the hurtling missile. Within a split of a second, Michael hit the Ski mode button. KITT propped up onto his two right wheels. The Missile barely missed them. It spirals out of control towards a parked helicopter, exploding it on impact. They felt the heat from the fireball that erupted seconds later. It was intense. Michael braced for the second missile. He swerved again to avoid it. The second missile hit the ground, rocking the cabin violently. They were able to catch their breaths when a third missile appeared. Michael performed a 360 degree turn, forcing Janice to hold onto the dash for dear life. The Missile whizzes part KITT's hood just inches away from total destruction. It whizzes out of control and destroys a hangar. The hangar erupts into flames. Enough was enough. Michael had to do something.
"KITT, how many missiles does that launcher fire?"
A diagram appeared on the monitor. "This class of launcher fires six missiles." KITT explained. "I don't intend to keep up this dance much longer."
"Can't we de-activate them or something?" Janice wondered.
"If we can get close to it maybe, but what about the second one?"
Janice knew the operations. "Usually the launchers run on the same automated circuit. I know this through a set of blueprints I drew up once. If you take out one launcher, it trips a fail safe circuit, shutting the other one down."
"Well we can't destroy it with KITT's laser pack." Suggested Michael. He had to lay all of their cards on the table. "Which means we only have the micro jammer. We can go up and over it."
KITT couldn't believe his plan. "Michael, are you suggesting that we turbo boost over that explosive monstrosity?"
"You said it."
"Well considering the circumstances, there really isn't much choice in the matter." KITT added.
KITT raced towards the Missile launcher at over 100 miles per hour. calculating their distance for a jump, Michael hit the turbo boost. KITT leaped upwards and over the top of the Missile launcher at an impressive speed. They were going so incredibly fast that the computerised weapon couldn't keep up. At that split second, Michael activated the micro jammer. A Dozen microwaves emitted from a hidden sensor. The Jammer penetrated the Launcher's shell like it were made of paper. Everything was going to plan. The launcher's motors eventually seized up, It forced all the systems to shut down it a matter of seconds. KITT returned to the ground, skidding to a stop. They watched on as the both launchers fizzed away. Smoke poured out of the second launcher, which eventually caught fire. They had done it. For Janice, she had just witnessed the impossible. The adrenaline coursed through her veins. Michael got a kick out of it all the time.
"Michael you did it!" she screamed. "That was amazing!"
"I know I am." KITT interrupted before Michael could respond. "Thanks for pointing that out."
Janice laughed. "KITT you were wonderful too. All that's left now Dallas and my father in law's peace of mind."
Michael smiled. "Then what are we waiting for."
Cruising at their top speed, Michael, KITT and Janice returned to the desert. They were now hot on Dallas's tail. Their experience had heightened their senses. They were ready for anything. As they cut through the desert, they calmly prepared for their final skirmish.
Dallas had reached the end of his long return trip. Success was the only thing on his mind. He could smell that money. He could picture the Koreans faces in his mind. He had convinced himself that it was over and that he had won. They parked the truck up against the first XK-8 where men dispersed to unload their stolen cargo. As he got out of the cab, a certain caught caught his attention, stopping him in his tracks. His ears tuned into the deadly quiet that Nevada had to offer. His eyes widened when his ears picked out the distinct screaming sound of KITT's engines. Then, those reoccurring questions entered his conscience. How is the possible? Why won't he die?
"He's coming back. He's coming back!" he screamed as he loaded his machine gun.
Suddenly, KITT appeared through the dry desert heat waves. His molecular bonded shell had now been covered in dust which had been collected from the road. Michael sat firmly behind the wheel. His eyes narrowed when he spotted Dallas.
"KITT, I want you to round up the rest of those guys." he said. "I'll handle Dallas."
"My pleasure." KITT complied.
Michael looked over at Janice. "Janice I want you to stay with KITT."
Janice was lost for words. As Michael opened the door, She leant forward and Kissed him passionately. Time slowed down for a brief few seconds as they had their moment.
"Be careful." she said softly, as Michael stepped out.
Dallas made a slow walk out onto the strip. Michael made a slow advance at the same time. towards him. Michael then launched himself and planted a punch to Dallas's stomach, forcing him to drop the gun. Dallas countered his second punch, grabbing his arm and throwing him to the ground. He leaped onto Michael and threw a series of repeated punches into his face in an attempt to subdue him. Michael rolled in the dust, pushing Dallas off of him with his legs. He quickly jumped to his feet, smacking Dallas right in the jaw. It was a definite knock out punch. Dallas suddenly lost consciousness. He hit the dry desert ground with a thunk, kicking up a plume of dust. As for the other men, they headed for the main hangar in a desperate attempt to get away. KITT sped up and over took them. He skidded and swung round, pinning the men up against the wall.
KITT decided to treat the even with humour. "I should have been a sheep dog. Michael are you alright?
"Never better." Michael panted, as he picked up Dallas by the scruff of the neck. "As for you, your little fantasy is over."
Janice was excited. She dived out of KITT. Michael caught her in his arms and held her tight.
"We did it." he said. They both smiled at each other. "We did it."
The next day, Michael and KITT arrived back in town to drop Janice off at her hotel room. It had been one joyous trip home with nothing but the wind on the backs, and the sound of relaxing driving music on KITT's radio. For Janice, it was goodbye. She had to head home at some point. There was a job waiting for her. However, she hoped to them both again. It had been a hell of an adventure.
"I really don't know how I can thank you after all of this." She said. "I know if Joel was here he would reward you with something."
"Trust me, you don't have to thank me." Michael smiled as he escorted her to the door. "Besides I think a cold beer and some sleep would be a suitable reward for the both of us."
Janice laughed. "So what happens now?"
"Well, The state police will return the XK-8's to their rightful place including the one that was taken from San Francisco. As for Dallas, well I'm assuming he'll be under close psychiatric treatments again before the judge sentences him."
"So much for his big Korean meet and to think that we were so close to the start of a national security crisis."
Michael didn't want to think about the what ifs.
"It wasn't your job in the first place to worry about that sort of thing." he said. "I take it that you'll stick to blueprints now?"
"Yes I think I will." Janice replied.
She leaned forward. She kissed Michael softly on the lips once more. This time the moment lasted longer than before.
"Goodbye." She whispered.
"I'll see you around." Michael replied as he waved her goodbye.
After saying their goodbyes, Michael and KITT returned to the empty road. They were heading home to California. Michael hoped that he could now finish a fishing trip that he had once started. Before he could switch into his zone, KITT had something to say.
"I suppose I'm your sheep dog now?"
Michael was puzzled. "What's that KITT?"
"KITT round up those men?" Really Michael, how demeaning. I'm a state of the art super car not a Farmer's dog.
Michael smiled, but he couldn't believe it. How did his car become so sensitive? "KITT, Do you always find one negative thing to say after a job? I think Bonnie's made you too sentient."
"On the contrary, I think Bonnie has done a great job taking care of me."
"Then why do you get so touchy?"
KITT paused for moment.
"Michael."
"Yeah KITT?"
"Shut up."
Michael laughed as they drove off into the deep countryside. They eventually disappeared over the horizon. It wouldn't be the last time they would see the Nevada desert. Their next adventure was waiting around the corner.
The End
