{Chapter 13 - Shut Up and Drive}

A deep chuckle sounded from behind him and Michael tried to walk over to Tristan only to have the black bulk of the elder Mustang blocking his path. He looked over to Tristan in a near panic as KARR started to circle him. He watched the black Mustang that was so like KITT but so the opposite of him almost curl his firm body around him. Michael suppressed a shiver, the first image that came into his mind was of a python curling itself around its prey, crushing it to death and he knew that wasn't below KARR. He swallowed and tried to step towards Tristan again but again KARR blocked his path, him and his engine still silent. He looked over to Tristan who mouthed over:

"Stay still, he won't hurt you. I swear."

Michael scowled and backed off a bit. Swearing that if KARR did hurt him, the un speakable would happen to him. He simmered in anger for a while, his shoulders tense and eyes flashing and fixed of Tristan before he was startled out of his fury by another deep chuckle from KARR and he swallowed again, curling his lip at KARR. He was about to speak when KARRs' raspy tones over-rode him.

"I thought you might have changed since last time, Michael Knight. Maybe you are KITT might have got some back-bone, but I see I am to be disappointed once again..."

"Talking for the sake of talking, KARR? That's not like you. You going soft on us?" snapped Michael and there was a tense silence, Tristan went tense and KARR stopped abruptly. Inside his CPU, he was snarling fearfully at Michael's presence.

Michael himself was smiling smugly at the supercar. His teeth showed as he spoke again, words were smooth and dripped with his smugness.

"I think it's me who should be disappointed at what I've found, eh? But then again, I'll bet you were forced to save my life."

"No shit." bit KARR.

Michael laughed and rolled his shoulders, smugness radiating off him in waves. Michael was tactfully keeping off the "You were my original driver, you and I must become one!" line. Michael narrowed his eyes and KARR began to circle him again, the supercars fury coming off him in the waves of heat that hit Mike standing near him. Michael was cautious now, KITT had only done that once and he had almost killed a man. He was watching KARR so closely it surprised him when Tristan appeared and slapped Karr hard on the roof and barked:

"Behave!"

Even more surprised when she turned to him and slapped him as well, just as hard as she had done to KARR.

"You as well, Knight!" before looking at them both. Michael stared at her, with his hand to his cheek and mouth slightly open. That had hurt! He let out a little cough and KARR let out a wounded growl and retreated a little. Tristan smirked at them both and then produced some paper and handed them to Michael who carefully took them and read them over, watching Tristan as she went to lean on the now cooled hood of the furious AI. For a while he just watched her stroking his hood, her fingers running up the contours and aerodynamic slicks put there by the designer and murmuring soft things to the AI underneath. KARRs' voice was nothing but a hum to his ears but he was sure that Tristan could hear him perfectly. It was touching and it made his heart and soul ache for his own, lighter AI.

He sighed and turned his attention to the papers again but before he could get into them properly he was called by Tristan.

Spinning on one foot, he turned to both of them; Tristan was now in the centre of KARR's hood, laying down with one knee brought up and her elbows on his windscreen and watching him. His hazel brown eyes met her liver brown ones and his raised an eyebrow. Tristan made a motion with her head.

"Come and join us." she said softly. Michael gave a quick dubious look but admitted to himself it was a comfort being near another AI, even if it hated him. He nodded and strode over and gently sat on KARRs' hood, his back facing Tristan. He had a feeling that KARR was watching him and he looked through the windscreen to the vocal orb and nodded to it. The intense feeling lessened. He turned back to the papers, tensing as Tristan pulled him closer to her and curled her body around his lower back, coaxing him to lay down next to her. He consented without even thinking. Her touch was a lot like Sarah's' and the similarity was scary and comforting at the same time. His eyes scanned the papers quickly. It said that they knew where KITT was. He took a deep breath as he read the report and summarised it in his own mind.

So, KITT was in a lab that was disguised as a Prison...a prison for the mentally insane. He raised his eyebrows at that and carried on reading. The schematics of the underground lab were waiting for him on the other side of the sheet and it showed where KITT might be. He sighed and read through the rest. Pridmore was hosting a party to celebrate something or another and...suddenly, Michael looked out towards the exit of the hanger as a rumble alerted him to the presence of someone outside. Or something.

An Aston Martin One-77 pulled up outside but all Michael could see of it was the broad silver wheels rims. It slowly dawned on him and he turned round at an even slower pace to face Tristan and froze. She was in short balk dress with sequins and beautiful looking embroidery. The hem just covered her knees and her legs where bare apart from some nicely placed body glitter to bring out the bronze hue of her skin. Impressive. Impressively tempting. He looked to her eyes and mischievous smirk came onto her lips and she made a motion telling him to continue reading. The plan was on the sheet.

He would drive KARR to this Prison at top speed and in Stealth Mode. Both AI's had made a link in the emergency two days ago...two days ago?!

Michael looked up in shock.

"I've been out for two days?!" he almost screamed. Tristan rolled her eyes

"Keep reading, hero." she said. Michael raised an eyebrow but obeyed.

Once there, KARR would disable all electrics and turbo boost over the fence and cause a melee of destruction. At that point, KITT would have broken free and meet them in the centre of the premises. Both cars would make a beeline to where the party was being held and Michael would swap to KITT at this point. Once there, KARR would check with Tristan if she had got Pridmores identity, if so, crash the place, if not wait until told to do so. KITT and Michael would drive to the agreed pick up with KITT in his 4x4 version. Michael would be waiting for Tristan and they would make their escape in KITT. They would drive one way to the hanger and KARR would drive back another way.

Michael gave KARR a sidelong glance and stood up to face Tristan who had slid off him and was dangling the keys in front of his face. Michael held out his hand and the keys dropped into his hand. KARR discontented rumble reached his ears and he felt like reaching out and patting the AI, since when KITT made that noise it sometimes broke his heart but always he reached out the comfort the AI. Tristan sighed and went to KARR's level. The car rolled forward slowly until the bridge of her nose was pushed smugly against the bridge of his sensors. In a way, they were touching noses. Tristan nuzzled him briefly and then stood up, laying her hand on his sensor, passing her hand across it lightly and repeatedly and KARR moved forward, pressing himself into her leg. He was clinging to her. Michael was touched as Tristan brought her hand up, kissed her fingertips and put it back on KARR's hood. KARR made a low keening noise and Michael looked away as Tristan started to walk away. Her voice brought him back to reality.

"Knight! Get in and get on your arse and get KITT! Go! Now!" she snapped at him. Michael nodded and jogged to KARRs' driver door. KARR grudgingly let him in and Michael slid in and put the keys in the ignition. He looked through the windscreen and watching the Aston martin depart and then counted to three, signalled to the technicians to start locking down the place, counted to three again and pressed down on the accelerator. KARR shot forward and sped out of the hanger. Checking the voice modulator to see if KARR was actually active. He was but silent. Locking forward again he took a deep breath and gave a command. It was more of him asking KARR, his voice neutral and face set in a calm yet vengeful mask.

"KARR...Stealth Mode."

KARR responded smoothly and immediately, transforming into the 2010 Pontiac Trans-Am, his engine fell silent and his coat, if possible darkened even more, he become one with the night.

Michael nodded, impressed and checked their speed which was rapidly increasing. 190mph, 200mph, 230mph, 270pmh, 300mph.

"KARR, take control please." Michael asked and felt KARR steady himself and surge forward. He checked the speedometer. 320mph.

He shook his head and started sorting out the head up feeds. A link that said Thowra wanted to contact him started to blink red so he pressed it and Thowra face took up most of the screen.

This was the first time the two men has seen each other and immediately, testosterone was present and Michael was horribly aware of his position as the under-dog in this situation. Grey, almost white eyes met liver brown and tension was high in the air. Michael took in Thowras appearance, the blonde hair, grey, calculating eyes, strong jaw and facial features, all elegant yet rough at the same time. Thowra lifted his jaw and nodded stiffly to Mike. Mike in return dipped his head in submission. That diffused the situation immediately.

This wasn't a time to start a fight. Thowras lips turned up in a slight smile before his expression turned neutral again. Michael returned to normal as well. Thowra spoke first.

"Michael, you'll be reaching this place in three minutes. Everything is set up, just let KARR do this, he will be able to pull it off. I know you know this already, but at no point are you to try and drive him, to try and slow him down because I doubt he will tolerate it. He has a link to KITT and you will be able to talk to your AI as soon as this link is terminated. The windows are blacked out but when this is over, you will return with KITT to our hanger and then you will made to swear never to had any of our information over to F.L.A.G..."

This was when Michael had to interrupt.

"Wait, Thowra. That make so sense, I mean, I am F.L.A.G. The Knight Industries was handed over to Sarah Graiman after the death of Charles. Didn't KARR tell you that?"

"I didn't know that in the absence of my creator, that you had become independent. After all, 24hours after died, so did I." rasped the AI in a voice that could have made thunder sound like a kittens purr. Michael shuddered as a chill ran down his spine. He looked at Thowra with a raised eyebrow. The other man nodded again, his voice seemed to catch.

"Ok then. Well, that makes things a lot easier. Either way, you will be returning with us to the Palomino mustang Hanger afterwards. Also, myself and another member will be at Pridmores' party to make sure nothing happens there. Thowra Out."

The link cut off and Michael sniggered to himself and leant back but was surprised to have a shock of electricity sent down his spine. He sat forward with a sharp hiss.

"Don't get to comfortable on me, Knight." growled KARR. Michael rolled his eyes and leant back more gently and this time KARR left him well alone. He looked to the voice orb worriedly, wondering if he would be able to talk to KITT before they got there. He was about to call for him when KARRs' voice modulator moved as if he was speaking but a totally different voice came out. It was KITTs'.

"Michael?"

"KITT! Buddy, is that you?"

"Yes Michael. Are you alright?"

"You're asking me? Shouldn't I be asking you? I'm fine and you know that."

"But it's my job you to see you are protected and safe, you that." KITT answered with a slight mischievous tone.

Michael laughed and smiled softly even though KITT couldn't see him.

"Of course, KITT. I'm on my way." he said softly. He heard KITTs' engine roar in the background.

"Meet you in one." growled the other mustang and cut off. Before Michael even had a chance to sit back and get his bearings again, KARR announced take off.

"Activating Turbo Boost...KITT, MOVE YOUR ASS!"

Michael was thrown back and pinned against the seat; obviously KARR had emitted the EMP whilst he was talking with KITT. Michael didn't have any more time to think as they came back down to earth with a thud that should have shattered bones. The Pontiac touched down amongst the confused prisoners, scattering them left right and centre, snarling like a demented bear.

Inside, Michael was slightly scared at KARRs' ferocity and then realised that this was KARR, he may not be out of control and uncontrollable, but he was still aggressive and bloody dangerous. Michaels' head snapped round to his left as KARR did a full 360 spin, his rear end taking out three prisoners and flinging them to the side. But that wasn't what had made Michael look round. There had been a faint roar, and now that roar sounded again, a whole lot closer and a whole lot angrier. The side of a wall caved in and KITT came charging out, right over the top of KARR. KARR slid to a stop and KITT spun to face him.

"Michael!"

"KITT!"

KARR snarled at the joyful reunion and set himself up for another jump.

"Come on, let's move." he growled and shot forward with KITT right behind him. KITT pulled alongside the other car and they turbo boosted at the same time. It was a sight to see, a blacker than black 2010 Pontiac with a Mustang GT500KR in Attack Mode at its side. They landed at the same time and sped off into the growing darkness in silence in stealth mode.

888

They reached the party area 30 minutes later and KARR had transformed into his Attack Mode whilst KITT went for the 4x4 look. They were not stop when they approached the car park and that's when they both stopped side by side, KITT towering over KARR who was busy scanning for Tristan. Michael climbed out of KARR and patted him on the Turbo Boost infusers before leaning on KITT.

"Nice ride, KARR. Thank you." he smiled at the supercar who growled in response.

"Don't ever expect that from me again." he replied. Michael shook his head, still smiling then KITT spoke.

"Thank you for this, KARR."

"It was nothing...brother..." then he was gone and Michael was sprinting off to the meeting place.

888

Inside Tristan was glancing around with a delicately shaped glass in her hand. She was wearing contact lenses that identified people around her and at that moment, she was glancing around for John Pridmore. She yawned politely and strode through a group of women who parted then came together, whispering jealously and spitefully about her. Tristan snapped her head around fixed them with an icy glare. Fear and guilt flashed across the faces of her antagonists and then they looked away, scared. Tristan smirked, the light reflecting off her lip gloss. She turned back around and came face to chest with a brown haired mildly muscled male with striking blue eyes. She smiled politely at him and moved out of his way. He nodded back a slight smile of his features before moving on his way.

Tristan took a deep breath and continued to looked around, aware of a man to her left and a woman to her right who never really seemed to leave her alone. They were at the edge of the crowd and seemed to be shadowing her. They were both dressed in black and Tristan knew something was up. She stopped and finished her drink with one go before putting it on a passing waiters' tray and sidestepping into the crowd, losing one of her followers but not the other one.

This was getting tedious and she sighed massaging the back of her neck. She was about to call it a night when she heard a voice, a sickly sweet voice over the rest, cooing to someone.

"Oh, Curtis! Curtis, my love! Over here!"

Her head snapped to its normal position and to her left. In the heat of the moment, she didn't realise her two shadowers where closing in on her position. Her eyes rested on a male, obviously, he was well built and had a good amount of muscle on him, nothing like Michael, his muscle didn't show though, whereas Michaels' did. She smirked and locked on him with her vision, half watching the lines of data. Only when the red circle around him flashed cyan blue did she snap back to the real world...and realise that two people were getting ready to fire at her. She growled and ducked as the shots were fired at exactly the same time. Silenced shots, but the people closest screamed and both gun holders shot each other in the face and fell to the ground in a bloody pool, shaking in pain.

Screams hot her ears like sonic blasts and she scrambled back the way she came and yelled:

"KARR! NOW!"

Tristan leapt clear just as KARR came charging in, smashing through the wall and destroying whatever lay in his path for the first 70 meters, roaring and snarling like a tiger, and that was him and not his engine. He activated smoke screen and started his run of terror. Tristan glanced behind her quickly just to see four people literally incinerated by a plume of white flame. When she looked back again, two bouncers were in front of her, in fighting positions.

They said nothing and Tristan sped up and landed the first bouncer a spinning roundhouse kick to the jaw and elbowed in the other one in the groin as she landed. They crumpled under her assault and then she was running free. She took a sharp left and leapt into a small side garden where she almost collided with Mike. They looked at each other briefly.

"I've been rumbled..." she panted and then they were running again.

"KITT, NOW!!"barked Mike and there was a blaze of headlights as KITT came round the corner Tristan had take moments ago.

Michael and Tristan span and jumped, diving into the back of the pickup truck and they were flipped forward as KITT transformed into his regular mode and sped off the premises.

They were breathing hard and Michael had his head resting on KITTs' wheel as the mustang powered down the highway. Tristan looked out the window, now feeling like the one on the side. Soon they were far enough away to be able to call KARR off.

She spoke into the comlink.

"KARR, baby, come home." she murmured to him gently.

888

Back in the carnage, KARR blasted two people full of bullet holes before replying.

"At once, my love." and he span a full 180 and came out of the hole he had made before and took a different route back to the hanger. Transforming into his Stealth Mode once more. And once again, KARR officially did not exist and whoever was tracking him lost him.

KARR came back covered in blood and dust with shrapnel and bullet scars just healing. He had a nasty scratch right across his bonnet. He passed an electric pulse down his body to get rid of any bug that may have been there. His MBS was partly damaged and he was healing a lot more slowly than he should. He ignored KITT's internal whisper of: "...brother...?" and rolled into his hanger and it rotated so that he was facing the exit of the hanger and the sliding doors closed and the reinforced metal doors on the outside slid down and the lighting on the inside flickered on.

Michael swallowed as he looked at KARR and how Tristan caressed his side and hood, blood getting onto her fingers and nails. KARRs' voice was nothing but a harsh whisper, his systems were so impaired and he pain that coursed through him.

"Tris...Tristan...don't...you'll get blood on you..." he shuddered in pain as parts of him refused to heal. He groaned as her finger traced the healing scratch on his hood. It felt raw and he made a low keening noise and once again moved forward painfully and pressed himself into her leg. Tristan put a hand on his roof and leant on him. He popped the door open and just before Tristan slid in, she turned to Mike.

"Mike, up those stairs are 10 bedrooms, take your pick. The shower is opposite the 6 bedroom on the left and KITT will be perfectly safe here. I'll see you in the morning." she said softly and Mike nodded and started to walk off but then stopped again as he heard his name called again.

"And Mike, thank you." and then she was gone and the windows and windshield were blacked out, KARRs' scanner flickered painfully as it crossed the bars and compared to KITTs smooth sweep, it looked like the car was struggling to breathe and indeed, if KARR was human, his breathing would have been horribly laboured.

KARRs scanner sweep was slowing down to a calmer pace. Michael sighed and hung his head before walking up the stairs.

"Night KITT."

"Goodnight, Michael."