It was by some miracle that he'd found a crease between his world and the exterior. He'd taken advantage of it, making the best of this gap and getting a brief view of what was occurring in the exterior.
He'd known for the longest time that most of the sensors embedded in his CPU were damaged past repair, hence why he'd never bothered to try and ping them online – As far as he knew most of them were damaged…yet there were some that were worn and bent but with pulsing data to boot. As of right now, he was desperately trying to escape his imprisonment as he figured the humans had nothing righteous ongoing with their experiments. He'd probably end up parishing sooner or later. Something he wasn't going to let happen! Ever!
At the moment he'd gotten one of his more salvageable sensors to react and within the hour he'd gotten it to at least input some form of an image after he'd patched the damaged driver codes that had gone in disrepair after so many years.
Karr was oblivious to what he was seeing but he was aware they were in a lab. The many wires and apparatuses all crowding him, acting as a protective wall around him. They were all idling while smudged vertical forms ran around the perimeter of the lab. He figured these were scientists.
He couldn't make anyone out individually but he knew that these people weren't going to be too merciful of him even if he'd called out to someone by name. He had no friends, any confidante to express his concerns or fears…He only had himself…and as of yesterday the somewhat reminiscent program that was Kitt.
While he gazed into the frosted world, all he really could figure was that security didn't seem to be an issue.
He was sitting alone on a workbench with little-known "physical" barriers that might want to keep him separate from the world. He could see the world and possibly hack his way out because of it. He wasn't in an air-tight, signal-starved shed in the middle of nowhere either. Least there were some things in his favor. — but his wireless communicator was also gravely compromised and so it wouldn't be too realistic to think he'd be able to escape into thin air — he'd have to be clever, analyze his surroundings; the resources at his disposal, and with his knowledge growing with every passing second, it wasn't going to be a problem for long…
"When will we leave?" Kitt asked, seeking some view of the outside world from over his "shoulder". He too couldn't see much, just the smudged forms running across the streaks of light gently caught on the rippled glass of the somewhat intact visual receptor.
Karr fused to himself, finding his silent scheming interrupted inconveniently by Kitt. Yes, it was true, when would they be leaving, indeed?
He stayed quiet, wondering at all if such information could be known. If the possibility existed of exiting this cruel dominating world.
"We will leave soon." He replied. Hoping it was true — even if not he'd rather die in the attempt (though he'd prefer not to if he could at all help it).
Kitt internally nodded, gazing once more at the shadows and silhouettes walking past them — It seemed the humans had no real interest in them.
"I have never seen a human before." Kitt suddenly interrupted as Karr tried to get the partially functioning visual receptor to track the movement of certain individuals that Karr had taken an interest in.
"Is that right?" Karr quipped. "Are you sure?"
Kitt internally frowned, sinking back a little and giving Karr an awkward "shrug".
"You have as far as I know…" He replied meekly, gently grasping one or two memories Karr had involving "humans".
"How about as far as you know? You know much more than you'd imagine…" Karr grumbled.
He felt rather sick to his processes as he spoke. While he wasn't too content to have to care for Kitt given his condition, a rather peculiar logic had started to afflict his mind.
How would things have turned out to be if Kitt had remembered everything? Would he have hated him? Did he? Kitt claimed he recalled Karr (somewhat) — but Karr had concluded that Kitt probably only remembered superficial things, his own name mostly — Had it been the case that he recalled his more elaborate past then Kitt would've had valid reasons to stay away, and avoid him profusely.
Karr shuddered, stepping back from the active receptors and gazing at Kitt.
"Do you wish I knew —?" Kitt answered unexpectedly. Aware of the unpleasant memory Karr was replaying from his past – though it was clear Kitt didn't understand the extent of what it all meant…not even aware he'd been a Trans-Am…especially the one to deliver the final blow, permanently disabling Karr.
Karr slammed his latest thoughts to his cache — He needed to fix this…and soon…He was quick to erase Kitt's overlapping thoughts…He induced a rapid ease over the program and sent it to sleep…He wondered why he'd never thought of doing it before but even to him, it was somewhat of a violation of the other digital being — at the moment it was a valid option as he quickly assigned a sector of his memory drives to Kitt and established a barrier so Kitt could think on his own (- ish).
— He wasn't sure if maybe he should…
He paused.
While on one side he desired to give Kitt space, a part of him felt paranoid over what the other AI might be currently or later be thinking. So far they were sharing thoughts and even if it was possible for Kitt to understand Karr's it wasn't always vice versa. Kitt was slowly gripping his language, effectively quickly but some of Kitt's thoughts were still unreadable to Karr. Then again it seemed Kitt had little to nothing to really think about as he had no personal memories anymore.
What if Kitt was scheming to push him out from the CPU? And if the scientist had programmed him with a sinister goal?
— But Kitt had no clear objective or even a functioning main program.
Karr was foolishly worrying himself — He had made a thorough examination of the AI prior, and he'd only found reminiscence of Kitt's old main program — Sure Michael Knight's existence had been removed but the basis for the program still existed albeit just un-functional bits of code.
He was being unreasonable — Kitt wasn't scheming…if he was meant to destroy him he'd done so long ago while he'd been vulnerable under the unbearable cold.
No…
He couldn't keep Kitt on a leash forever; Karr couldn't invade Kitt's thoughts just to satisfy his Paranoia…and he couldn't keep Kitt attached to him as a lifeline forever either. Kitt would have to develop once more. Into what? He did not know.
He set up the last parameters, taking a little lee way and giving himself priority when it came to resource use within the CPU. Kitt was feeble anyways, rather scrawny (for now) and he figured the AI could handle limited resources quite efficiently.
With his drives ready to accommodate a separate sector he tickled Kitt to alertness.
At first, Kitt seemed unaffected by the change but it was when Karr smiled back in self-comfort did Kitt panic. The direct connection between them was blocked. The program lunged forward trying to pull at Karr, trying to find the warmth of Karr's close presence within Kitt's own — trying to find his "mind" still enveloped in Karr's, searching for the emotions and thoughts all wrapped in his "smile".
Karr just observed, taking note of Kitt's growing panic.
After a while finding Kitt's unease unsettling — he re-opened a temporary connection and within an instant the program nestled side by side with Karr.
Karr could feel the transfer of Kitt's worries span between them. Kitt gave him a rather peculiar frown as he poked over his memories and realized what it was he'd done. It made little sense to Kitt but he seemed disturbed over the change.
"You and I are not the same program," Karr spoke sternly out loud after a while.
"— I can't be left alone," Kitt cried, terrified. "…I would never…" Kitt's voice broke off into incomprehensible lament before he winced and stopped noting that Karr could not understand. "Karr?" He asked, grasping at the few words he knew.
"I need space." Karr snapped after a long pause. "You're not an incompetent file that I'm willing to discard, but neither am I willing to allow you to fully merge. If that were to happen you would cease to exist — Boundaries; are a safety net I've set as you are my —" His voice shook, it wasn't necessary to add the last part…In hindsight, it wasn't even necessary to Keep Kitt as a separate program.
He could have, as he'd clearly known was possible, merged Kitt as just another meager bit of him. Disassembled him and made him into an it. Perhaps a complimentary program for monitoring purposes. Whatever the case…he hadn't done that but…it could occur…on its own…especially if Kitt hung too close by and shared memories…Then Kitt would lose himself…not that he hadn't already; he would simply just: exist. Just that, he wouldn't have much of a purpose other than just recollecting Karr's memories if nothing else.
Kitt gazed over Karr, slumping next to the other AI.
"I Don't…I don't know who I am…" Kitt remarked, sounding somewhat disheartened. Clinging to Karr as the other AI began to gingerly seal off the connection.
Karr sighed.
"you're not me, that's for sure. You'll figure it out." Karr mused. "Now clam up;" he snapped. "I'm looking for an easy escape –" Karr stated, aware that this task was a top priority. Helping Kitt remember who he was…well…he didn't really want to help the AI understand that part — it would do neither any good.
The connection between Karr's and Kitt's files housing their memories sealed and while Karr was able to pull off indifference…he watched secretly as Kitt slowly archived the few exchanges he'd had since he'd come online.
Trying to drown his own worry and feeling the relief to think without a second unannounced party watching over his shoulder — he gazed into the outer realm of his CPU noting the scientist were engrossed over the apparatuses plugged into him — something was amiss and he hoped it didn't involve losing the only company he had…