Knight Moves: Pawns

Location: NorthernNew York

Mike and KI3T had left the other two in Albany and were now driving up Interstate 87 North. The scenery rolled by, making Mike yawn, so he decided to contact Billy and Zoe, who were with semi.

"How's it going you two?" he asked, noticing that Billy was rubbing his left arm.

"It would be better if I stopped making bets with her," Billy sighed.

"It's not my fault you keep losing," Zoe smiled back.

"Okay you two, you're supposed to be working, not goofing off. That's the whole purpose of being in the field. Not to mention, Wil is in a mood. And not a good one," Mike informed them.

"I suggest that you make yourselves busy with work, as KARR has informed me that Wil is trying to get in touch with you," KI3T broke in.

"What's going on?" Wil asked grumpily.

"Not much," Billy replied. "We've been scanning the border along Canada, while heading to Maine. Everything is coming in clean."

"Hey Wil! KI3T and I have been scanning since we left you guys in Albany as well. Nothing yet," Mike told him.

"I've heard from your dad as well, he reports a negative on any findings. I'm at a standstill as well," Wil reported.

"Wil, we've only been in the area for less than twenty-four hours. Lets give it some more time," Zoe said quietly.

"That's something we don't have much of!" Wil snapped. "Report back when you have something." With that, he cut the transmission.

"Wow, what's eating him?" Billy asked.

"I wonder if he's suffering from a concussion? He was just in a blast two days ago," KI3T stated.

"Whatever is going on, make sure KARR keeps in touch with us. And let him know to keep a close eye on Wil," Mike told his car. "Let's get back at it gang. We have four people who are counting on us to find them."

Location: Somewhere in New England Area

"We're going as fast as we can Garthe."

"Dr. Barstowe, please do not insult my intelligence." He paused. "Or try my patience."

"It's not like I have the state of the art lab or equipment. We're confined to a barn, for heavens sake!" She glared at him. "On top of that, we are constantly being watched by guards, have no room to move and are expected to cough up results with little to no sleep! And I haven't seen or heard from Devon in two days." Her eyes flashed angrily.

"Those are convenient excuses. I want to see results-"

"If we don't see Devon and get more than four hours of sleep, you'll get a set of results that you won't like," she told him flatly. She blew out a huge breath. Setting her gaze on the man before her, she spoke. "What's it going to be?"

"I feel that you're stalling. But," he paused, "I'll concede. For now." Turning to a guard he said, "Take them back to their rooms. Then have lunch served in two hours. Make sure Mr. Miles is there to join us." Turning back to Bonnie, he eyed her coldly. "Dr. Barstowe, please be aware that this is not a win. I will have that formula if it kills you. One by one." With that he turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.

Bonnie sighed. She turned to Sarah and April. Speaking softly, she said, "That bought us some time. Not enough, but some. We are really going to have to work at this." Turning away, she spoke out loud, "Let's go ladies. We get to have a nap and lunch today."

Devon had been locked into his room for the last two days. Having little to no food or water, he knew Garthe was trying to break him. They were locking horns on that. He knew he was only alive as long as the girls kept playing the game. He could only hope that the team was doing everything to locate them. He paced slowly the length of the room. And back to the other side. The door opened. Garthe strode in.

"I see that you're well, Devon. I just wanted you to know, you've been cordially invited to lunch. Its in two hours. You should get some rest, you look tired."

"Thank you for your hospitality. And a nap sounds wonderful! I do want to be refreshed for lunch." With that he moved to the bed and stretched out. Garthe moved to the door.

"Don't get too comfortable. You're days are numbered." Turning back to the doorway, and heading out, he threw over his shoulder, "And they're in the single digits."

Location: Lower Vermont

KARR drove in silence. He did not understand what was going on inside Wil's head. That conversation with the other team members had gone a little hostile. He was trying to think of a way to start the conversation when he received and incoming message from KI3T.

KARR, is everything okay with Wil?

I am not sure. I will run a full body scan and let you know.

Please keep in touch via this link.

Don't push me KI3T. I will be in touch.

No need to be touchy. Everyone is just concerned about Wil. I am concerned about his behavior affecting you.

You need not be concerned. I am more than capable of taking care of myself and Wil. I will be in touch.

It's just that he was in a bomb blast two days ago, and could be suffering from a concussion.

I am capable of taking care of my driver. Do not forget, I have been in existence longer than you! He broke the connection. He activated a full body scan on his driver.

Blood Pressure: high

Heart Rate: above normal

Muscles: extremely tense

"Wil, are you feeling alright?"

"Not you too KARR!" Wil snapped.

"We are partners. Are we not supposed to watch out for each other?"

"Touche. I'm a little stressed out, that's all."

"I would say more than a little, according to my readings."

Wil bristled. "I don't need you telling me..." he stopped. What am I doing? he asked himself. "You're right KARR. I feel responsible for whats happened to Devon, Bonnie, April and Sarah. I'll never forgive myself if anything happens..."

"How is it your fault?"

"Garthe is directly related to me. He's doing this to draw me out into the open. But why? Why go to such elaborate lengths?"

"Because he blames you for everything. The death of his mother, the loss of Knight Industries and pretty much for everything his father stood for," KARR replied.

"I know that. They were rhetorical questions. There's something more, but I don't know what." Wil paused. "What could he be interested in? Any thoughts KARR?"

"Knight Industries. If he gets that and strips it down... Or maybe he wants it to be able to build his army of talking, indestructible vehicles?"

"Maybe. But it seems to me that he's after something more. I just can't put my finger on it," Wil sighed. He was tired. Exhausted was more like it. He really never let himself recover from the bomb blast. He was looking pretty ragged. Dark circles had formed under his eyes. He had barely slept the two days it had taken the team to get from out west to the east coast. Now, here they were searching for a needle in a haystack. He and KARR had covered the bottom left side of the state of Vermont. They were headed up Route 7, to Burlington. From there he would formulate a plan on where to search next. "When will we arrive in Burlington?"

"Exactly twenty-eight minutes and forty-three seconds," came the reply.

Location: Northern New Hampshire

"Michael, you are awfully quiet. What's on your mind?"

"Sorry KI2T. Just preoccupied." He paused. "Did Wil sound different to you?"

"As a matter-of-fact, I have been in contact with the other KI3T. He relayed to me that KARR is monitoring Wil. And that Wil snapped at the team. That sounds like stress to me," his vehicle replied.

"We both know the stress this kind of situation puts on a person, don't we?"

"I wouldn't know. I'm not the one who walked away from the Foundation. They owned me," came the sour answer. "I was deactivated and put into that oversized underground storage facility, waiting for someone to come along and reactivate me." Michael raised his eyebrows in surprise. Sitting up fully in the driver seat, he looked at the dashboard. He focused his gaze on the voice box.

"KI2T, I'm sorry I left you. But I'm not sorry I left the Foundation back then. I was burned out. I couldn't stay. I hope you can understand that," Michael said softly.

"Michael, I'm not angry with you. I understand why you did it. I just wish I had been allowed to go with you. Without you, there was no need for me. Devon fought hard to keep me out of mothballs. But he lost. It was his idea to put me in that secret underground lab. He told me it was the only way to keep me safe. I can't imagine what he and the ladies are going through."

"I can," Michael said quietly. God help them, he thought. God help us all.