AN: I used Karr in the narrative. Other than Melissa (who uses Karr from the start), characters use KARR at first and eventually change over to Karr. These are deliberate editorial decisions to reflect each person's attitude towards the Knight Automated Roving Robot, not inconsistencies or mistakes.

Michael laughed. He and Bonnie were with Devon, in Devon's office. Michael and Kitt had just returned from their latest case, well after dinner. To Bonnie's surprise, Kitt wasn't even scratched. To Devon's delight, neither was Michael.

"Michael, Devon, Bonnie," said Kitt via the video monitor.

"I'm sorry, Kitt, pal," answered Michael contritely. "We should have called you ourselves. Or come down to the garage to hang out, so you would be part of the group."

"This is not a social call, Michael."

"You told me nothing needed my attention."

"And that is still the case, Bonnie. However, I have just been contacted by KARR –"

"What?!" Devon was shocked.

Michael immediately sobered up. "Do you know where KARR is?"

"According to KARR , he is in Melissa's room."

Bonnie was closest to the door, and she was the last one out of the room. She sometimes forgot that Michael and Devon were both over six feet. They could both move quickly, too. She ran flat out and could barely keep with the two men.

Michael burst into Melissa's room, with Devon right behind him. There was no sign of Melissa. Karr – or at least his CPU – was sitting on the desk.

"Michael Knight, Devon Miles," said Karr urgently, "Miss Knight is running a fever. She has collapsed and requires assistance I cannot provide in my current configuration."

Devon spotted Melissa first. His goddaughter was laying on the floor. He gently picked her up and placed her on the bed. Her eyes were closed, but they fluttered open when she felt Devon's lips on her forehead.

"Uncle Devon?" she said weakly. "I feel awful. The room keeps spinning. And I'm so cold."

"Hush, my dear. Michael, could you –"

Michael was coming out of the bathroom, having already gotten a glass of water and two Tylenol. Devon sat next to Melissa and got her upright, leaning against him. Michael helped her take the two pills.

"How'd you know to come?" Melissa asked, as she closed her eyes again and sagged against Devon.

"KARR contacted Kitt." Michael kept his voice as neutral as he could, though he desperately wanted to know how Karr had ended up on Melissa's desk . . . in working condition.

"Karr?"

"Yes, Miss Knight?"

"I thought I gave you until morning to think everything over."

"You did, Miss Knight. However, I have already confirmed your hypothesis as valid, based on the available data."

"Not mine," said Melissa faintly. "Dad's It's why he didn't decommission you."

Devon, Michael, and Bonnie exchanged glances. None of them were following the conversation. Though clearly Melissa and Karr had reached some sort of understanding.

"Then Wilton Knight was correct, Miss Knight."

"Never doubted it," mumbled Melissa.

Bonnie asked the obvious question. "What hypothesis?"

"That I had failed to comply with my core directive, Bonnie Barstow."

"Your core directive, KARR, is self-preservation," Kitt pointed out – rather acerbically – via Michael's commlink.

"I am well aware, KITT. However, my actions to date have been in direct violation of that core directive."

"How so?"

"Take our two in-person encounters, Bonnie Barstow. For our first one, I had you kidnapped, to make much needed repairs. You made the requested repairs, but you did not identify additional repairs nor offer any preventative maintenance. And as soon as the opportunity arose, you escaped."

Michael thought Karr's voice sounded odd, though he wasn't sure what was different. He made a mental note to ask Kitt about it. When they were in-person. Just in case Karr could listen in over the commlink.

"At our second in-person encounter, Bonnie Barstow, I threatened to kill Devon Miles, to force you to make needed repairs and also to install the laser you had intended for KITT. Again, you made only the repairs I requested without identifying additional repairs I needed. Further, you did not inform me of the power requirements or other limitations of the laser. And by threatening the life of Devon Miles, I all but ensured Michael Knight and KITT would be sent to destroy me. Thus, in both instances, my actions complied with my core directive in the short term but violated it in the long term."

"And you have finally realized this because . . .?"

"Because, Michael Knight, Miss Knight shared Wilton Knight's hypothesis. I have reviewed all my actions – and the resulting outcomes – against that hypothesis and found it sound. I will, based on Miss Knight's feedback, change my behavior to consider the likely outcome of my actions, both in the short term and the long term."

"The classic definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over but hoping for different results."

"You are correct, Devon Miles. Also, Miss Knight is asleep. I shall continue to monitor her condition and will notify you immediately of any changes."

Michael suddenly realized what was different about Karr's voice: it was less harsh and abrasive. As if Karr were modulating it to make it more . . . pleasant.