On the way to capturing the semi and finding out what happened, Michael's head was full of thoughts he couldn't chase away. His mind only started to actually comprehend that Foundation he's been working for in the last four years – more than four years, actually – might be over for good. No, not for good, thought Michael, it's not possible. The Foundation is not only Devon, Bonnie, RC3, KITT and him. There are other employees, and the Board of Directors, other good people who can continue fighting for the cause and funding the chasing of criminal activities the government or the police wouldn't find worth chasing, or doing things the authorities wouldn't have the authority to do in public. And why is he thinking about this anyway? Nobody said Devon is dead, or even that he was hurt. He might as well be alive and kicking on the semi, they will just get a warm welcome and Devon will explain everything, tell them that it's just a cover-up and everything is all right. Everything is all right.
„Michael, while you were driving, I took the liberty of analysing the recordings I collected from the Foundation mansion", KITT broke the silence.
„Did you find anything interesting, pal?", asked Michael, thrilled.
„Not that much actually. Sergeant Rendine was right, from the thirteen casualties, three were FLAG employees", the names appeared on the screen and KITT also said the names out loud, „Moguy, Jonathan L., lawyer, Johansen, Valerie, a technology researcher and Hegdahl, Harrison D., a computer specialist." KITT fell silent at this point. He could see the emotions on Michael and RC3's faces. Their colleagues, even though they didn't know them very well, were now dead. Michael was thinking. Could they have helped them if they stayed in the city, rather than going on vacation? Probably not. It was not wise to blame himself, or themselves anyway.
„Please, go on", said Michael.
„All right. The other ten, as the officer said before, were commandos. I couldn't identify their faces in police criminal databases, they wore no insignia, no ranks, no identification, and almost identical uniforms", continued KITT.
„Almost identical?"
„Yes, Michael. Four of them wore BDUs correspondent with current US Army design, M81 General Purpose Pattern, also known as Woodland. The other six had uniforms of older camouflage design, called an ERDL pattern."
KITT put the pictures of the two for comparison on his screen.
„They look pretty much the same to me, buddy", said Michael, trying to find the differences.
„I agree, Michael, however, the two patterns are still different. The edges were redrawn to make them look less regular, and the whole pattern was magnified. It might be hidden to the untrained eye, but it is obvious to a professional like me." Michael laughed a bit at KITT's teasing. RC3 interrupted:
„So what does this prove? They are probably not military anyway, so I guess they just used what they found on the shelf." Michael disapprovingly shook his head.
„My instincts say that they weren't the same group. Any ideas, KITT?"
„Sorry Michael, even though I found both M16 rifles and AK-47s at the site, it is impossible to say which ones were used by which people; I could only tell more if I analyzed the bullets in their bodies or the fingerprints on the weapons; however, at this point, I believe this is impossible."
„Thought so, pal", accepted Michael, but one of KITT's systems immediately started beeping, indicating an incoming call.
„I'm receiving a call from the FLAG Mobile Unit, Michael."
„Let's hear it!"
A little white rectangle appeared in the middle of KITT's screen, expanding and growing into a picture of Devon, seemingly alive and well!
„Hello Mike!", said the Englishman, with an obviously forced smile.
„Yo Devon, what's up? What happened? We could use an explanation here", answered Michael.
„I'm sorry Mike, there's no time to explain it right here and right now. Please join us in the semi and I'll tell you everything you want to know."
Michael nodded, instantly recognizing something's not right. First of all, the fake smile was too obvious not to notice. On the other hand, there was Devon calling him „Mike" all the time; the Englishman never does that. And on top of everything: where was Bonnie? Michael thought it would be wiser not to ask that question; maybe Devon is in a situation where he cannot speak openly. It would be risky to let Devon fall out of character and maybe get hurt or punished. Michael couldn't really imagine a situation where Devon would cooperate with terrorists, except one: where human lives are at stake.
„All right Devon, we'll be there in... how much time, KITT?"
„Two minutes, Michael. If I might add, it is a pleasure to see you alive and well, Mr. Miles."
„Thank you, KITT! Devon out." The transmission ended.
„Are you two thinking what I'm thinking?", asked Michael, turning to RC3.
„He seemed all right", said RC3, „though something was odd."
„Michael, he never calls you Mike", added KITT.
„I know. What should we do now?"
„I say let's go and see what's up", suggested RC.
„Are there any other options, really?", asked Michael, resigned. Nobody answered.
A few minutes later, they approached the semi; the ramp slowly opened until it hit the ground. At around 60 mph, Michael took a deep breath and accelerated, driving KITT into the mobile unit. They rolled in as usual, then reached a full stop. The ramp then closed behind them, eventually locking in its normal position, meaning that there is no way out: since KARR turboboosted through the rear ramp to get some spare parts for himself, the ramp has been reinforced with the molecular bonded shell, the same that's used for KITT's unpenetrable body. In the interior of the semi, Devon or Bonnie were nowhere to be seen. Michael and RC3 looked at each other in the awkward silence, then decided to get out of KITT.
„Devon, hello! Hey!", shouted Michael, as he slammed the driver side door closed. As they looked around, in a sudden moment, the sleeping area's door was kicked open, and two machine guns were pointed at Michael and RC3's directions, respectively.
„FREEZE!", one of the terrorists shouted. These guys didn't wear BDUs; they had nicely tailored, expensive suits, with white shirts, neat ties and mirrored aviator sunglasses. They both put their hands in the air.
„We are unarmed! What do you want?", asked Michael. One of the suits gestured to someone in the back, and two other, likely dressed gentlemen came in with Devon and Bonnie; instead of machine guns, they had hunting knifes pressed to the necks of their hostages. Devon looked at Michael and RC3 with shame and sorrow, and it was visible that Bonnie had been crying.
„Michael, Reginald, I am so sorry", said Devon. Another man, in not a black, but a grey suit, and without shades, stepped forward and addressed them.
„Mr. Knight, we are aware of your vehicle's capabilities. The Knight 2000 might use Microlock on our machine guns, but I'm sure as hell he can't do it to these pretty knifes. And... well, well... RC, what are you doing with these people?" RC3 looked confused.
„I don't know who you are or what you're talking about, mister."
„What do you want from us?", asked Michael, his hands still above his head.
„You have already brought us what we actually want. Peterson, Miller, bring the capacitor."
„Yes, sir", said the two suit with the machine guns, lowered their weapons and went back to the sleeping compartment.
„I suggest, Mr. Knight and Mr. Cornelius, to join your dear colleagues if you want to see them alive at the end of the day." All of them gathered in a corner, and the men with the huge knifes drew their pistols, too, to make sure they all comply with their orders.
„What's up, Devon?", asked Michael silently.
„I'm sorry, Michael, they..."
„I know, I know, stop blaming yourself."
Meanwhile, KITT analysed the situation but reached the conclusion that any sign of movement or action would threaten the lives of Michael, Devon, Bonnie and RC3. However hard it was, the best option was, logically, to do nothing. If KITT had feelings – or had he? - it all would have felt wrenching. It almost caused a logical loop in his processor: is there a situation, when not to do anything to save someone's life is actually the best thing to save that life? The dilemma ended as the two suited gentlemen, namely Peterson and Miller, returned back from the sleeping compartment, with a heavy and dreadful-looking device. KITT's sensors received some data on it, but not nearly enough to determine its function. However, the man in the grey suit didn't waste any time explaining it:
„Peterson, Miller, activate the capacitor."
They nodded and put the device on KITT's hood. It looked like its pads, in something like a magnetic way, connected themselves to the MBS and almost fused with it. The suits flipped a switch on each sides of the device, and an electric humming noise started to get louder.
„It's active, get away from the car!", shouted the man named Miller. While Bonnie was still in a silent shock, Devon looked at KITT in disbelief, and Michael looked rather angry.
„WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Michael was enraged, but one of the men hit him in the stomach with the butt of a machine gun. Soon, the device got fully charged and started glowing.
„MICHAEL!", KITT exclaimed in horror. The device discharged, sending an extreme high voltage current through the car body and the Knight 2000's circuits. It resulted in random activation of some systems, one of the T-tops flipped open, and for a moment, rock music sounded from the voice synthesizers, then in a matter of seconds, everything fell silent. Michael just regained his full consciousness:
„KITT! KITT!"
„I'm afraid he is not available right now", said the grey-suit man, laughing. „Miss Barstow, Mr. Miles, Mr. Knight and you, prodigal son, are not parts of the solution anymore, which means you are parts of the problem. And, as such, you are unnecessary to me. Peterson, Miller, get rid of them."
Devon tried to stop the inevitable:
„Wait! I can..."
But there was nothing that could have stopped what was happening: four gunshots, sounding like fired from a silenced handgun, exactly hitting their targets and the last thing Michael heard before everything in his world went dark:
„When we have all we need, jettison the car."