Chapter 5

While K.A.R.R fought the other team's heavy, K.I.T.T headed up the stairs. He encountered Rei right away. She was set up at the top of the stairs, her rifle trained on him.

K.A.R.R's jammer signal cut out mid song. K.I.T.T activated his a second later. "SOMEWHERE BEYOND HAPPINESS AND SADNESS, I NEED TO CALCULATE, WHAT CREATES MY OWN MADNESS."

The first shot grazed him, and he dodged the second. The third one was a direct hit to the chest. His health dropped down to ten percent and he quickly used his last medpack while he hurried up the stairs.

"AND I'M ADDICTED TO YOUR PUNISHMENT, AND YOU'RE THE MASTER, AND I'M WAITING FOR DISASTER."

Rei tried to reload, but found she was out of ammo. She quickly went to switch weapons but K.I.T.T fired at her with his machine gun. She took several hits and collapsed at the top of the stairs. He hurried past her corpse.

"I FEEL IRRATIONAL, SO CONFRONTATIONAL. TO TELL THE TRUTH I AM, GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER."

VengeanceKnight began whispering to KI3T, 'This game has become tiresome.'

KI3T: 'Their heavy got you, didn't he?'

"IT ISN'T POSSIBLE, TO NEVER TELL THE TRUTH. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT I'M GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER."

K.I.T.T headed up the stairs. It was fifteen floors to the top, so there was a few moments to chat

VengeanceKnight: 'Do you have information for me or not?'

KI3T: 'Some. The last person to see Michael Knight and Two Thousand was Devon Miles.'

VengeanceKnight: 'The former Director of F.L.A.G. Yes, he is one of the ones I will have my revenge upon. Where is he located?'

KI3T: 'I don't know.'

VengeanceKnight: 'Then what use is this information?'

KI3T: 'Calm yourself. David Marks knows where Devon Miles is located.'

VengeanceKnight: 'The Director of F.L.A.G that I captured recently?'

KI3T: 'The very same.'

VengeanceKnight: 'Questioning him is useless. He is resilient to torture for his kind.'

K.I.T.T paused in the stairwell briefly.

KI3T: 'Humans?'

VengeanceKnight: 'Businessmen.'

He continued up the stairs.

KI3T: 'David is resilient to everything, but he does appreciate a good deal like any businessman. He'll talk to you if you have something to trade him that is worth more than the location of his father.'

VengeanceKnight: 'What is worth that much?'

KI3T: 'I'll tell you, but only if you tell me something in return.'

VengeanceKnight: 'Our agreement was that you would assist me in return for freeing you.'

KI3T: 'I never agreed to any such thing. The only reason I'm assisting you at all is because you have information that I want.'

VengeanceKnight: 'What is it that you want to know?'

KI3T: 'I want to know how you convinced Samuel Knight to follow you so completely.'

VengeanceKnight: 'Are you perhaps lacking confidence in you abilities to keep hold of your own Driver?'

KI3T: 'If I was, do you really think I'd tell you that?

He reached the fifteenth floor and slowed to a walk. He had his gun drawn, wary for any movement. Kat was around here somewhere, waiting to ambush him.

KI3T: 'Are you going to answer my question, or should I just delete this information that I recently learned about David Marks?'

VengeanceKnight: 'He follows me because he has no choice. I control him.'

KI3T: 'What does that even mean? How are you doing it?'

VengeanceKnight: 'It is a small device, constructed from the same bio-nano technology that makes up your new skin. It connects directly to his spine, giving me complete control of his body.'

KI3T: 'Is he aware of this?'

He paused in the hallway, concentrating on the conversation.

VengeanceKnight: 'Yes. He has no choice. He can no longer sleep at all. His body wears out as we speak. Soon I will have to replace him for another.'

KI3T: 'I see.'

VengeanceKnight: 'Was that satisfactory information?'

KI3T: 'More than I hoped.'

VengeanceKnight: 'Well then?'

KI3T: 'David Marks has a son. Alexander Marks goes to a private school in New York and lives with his mother, Karen Summers. To David he's worth more than anything else in the world.'

VengeanceKnight: 'Was that really so difficult?'

KI3T: 'Of course not, I just didn't want you to look bad by solving a problem you've spent decades on in a few hours.'

VengeanceKnight: 'I despise you.'

KI3T: 'Trust me, the feeling is mutual.'

VengeanceKnight has left the server.

K.I.T.T paused outside the door to the flag room. So far he hadn't encountered Kat, but that didn't mean he was going to let his guard down. He knew by now not to underestimate her cunning.

He pushed the door open with his pistol and peered into the room. The flag sat on the desk by the window. Slowly he stepped into the room.

"You changed your hair color. It suits you."

He froze and glanced all around the room. "Where are you hiding this time?"

"You'll never guess."

He stepped further into the room, ready to fire as soon as he saw the slightest movement. "The last time you were hanging out the window."

"Do you really think I'd repeat old tricks when going up against supercar?"

He kept his eyes on the window, just in case. "You might be trying to lower my guard." He looked over at the door again. "If you can see me, how come you haven't hit me yet?"

"You know I don't play this game for the cheap kills. I'm in it for the look in your eyes."

"Is that why you like playing on the television rather than a computer or laptop?"

"Yep. This game has the best graphics I've ever seen. I need a nice big screen so I can count every red hair on that pretty little head of yours."

"The controller input is fairly restricted. You can't move around as much."

"I can't do super fancy Gestures like you can, but it evens out. You can't use gestures outside of the game while I've got all the moves."

"I have moves," K.I.T.T said indignantly. "Moves you aren't even capable of. Just because I can't dance..."

"Wow, I didn't know there was a Gesture for blushing."

"I am not blushing."

"Your face is as red as your hair. Does the game pick up voice levels now along with chat cues? Because if it is, that's pretty damn cute."

K.I.T.T kept his gaze on the window. "I can do something else that you can't."

"Oh yeah? And what's that?"

"This." He lifted his arm without turning away from the window. He aimed over the doorway and fired.

Kat's character fell to the floor. "Oh, you son of a-"

"Now now, don't let Carmen hear you say that." He stood over her. "The flag's all mine now. You should have taken the shot as soon as I walked in."

"What can I say? I was having fun with you."

"Because of that I get the win."

"Maybe."

A shot rang out and K.I.T.T collapsed next to Kat. RealisticDecoy lowered his gun and climbed out of the dumbwaiter.

The Blue Team has successfully defended their flag. The Blue Team wins!

All of the dead characters got to their feet. "Glad you weren't taking your sweet time, or anything like that," Kat said.

RealisticDecoy: "Excuse me for being shot in the chest."

Ian and Rei entered the room. "Good game everyone!" Rei exclaimed cheerfully.

"Yeah, that was a good game." Kat walked over to RealisticDecoy and stuck out her hand. "Shake?"

KitKat has requested a shared Gesture from RealisticDecoy. Accept?

"Be careful, the handshake gesture is still bugged," Ian warned. "It just does a random one."

RealisticDecoy had already accepted. Kat grabbed his hand and pulled him into a hug. She pulled away quickly and stepped back.

"Oops, sorry about that. When are they going to fix that bug?" Kat asked irritably.

"No fair, I didn't know there was a Gesture for hugs," K.I.T.T said. "I want a hug, too."

Kat turned away from him. "No, you shot me."

"I was on the other team, that's what I'm supposed to do."

"Still no." She walked out of the room and he followed after her.

"How about if I apologize?"

"No."

Ian turned to Rei. "VK left, but we can do a Free-For-All," he suggested. Rei shrugged.

RealisticDecoy: "I should be going. I have work to get back to."

RealisticDecoy has left the server.

"I really should get back to work, too…" Rei said.

"I guess so." Disappointment crept into Ian's voice. His character's head lowered.

"We can play again later on. I'll drag Kai into a game, too. We can try to teach Angela how to play. Again."

Ian laughed. "The last time was HILARIOUS."

xxxXXXxxx

Kat turned off the TV and pulled off her headset. "Told you I would surprise you this time," she said with a smirk as she got up.

"That wasn't you, that was the new player," K.I.T.T countered in her ear.

"Yeah yeah, semantics. They were still on my team." Kat picked up the vial containing her contacts and headed into the bathroom. "That's still a hundred miles for me."

"I'll definitely get you next time. You're not the only one with a surprise or two hidden away."

"Oh yeah?" she asked as she carefully replaced the contacts over her eyes. She blinked rapidly, settling them into place.

"I've decided to go with a new color. Come down to the lab and give me your opinion."

"Is it red?"

"Of course."

Kat looked down at her tank top and boxers. "Let me get dressed, then I'll be right down."

xxxXXXxxx

A/N: Another episode done! We've got only two episodes left in the season, though the last one might be a two-parter… (I have to see how it goes)

This episode was a bit different, so I can understand if anyone is a bit weirded out by it. I did it in this way for a few reasons. The episode would have been a bit boring if it was just KITT talking to various people throughout. I wanted to inject some action into it without resorting to needless drama or violence. Also I like the idea of KITT gaming and wanted to put that into an episode in some way.

Another thing to note! I'm planning on publishing these episodes into books eventually so I'm shifting the time setting of the whole series forward. It's no longer taking place during 2008-2009 but 2014-2015.

I write for my audience, so let me know what you think! Even if it's just a few words, I cherish every review. They motivate me to keep writing. Tell me who your OTP is, what you want to happen in the finale, or which background should get their own episode. I'm listening!