Bonnie was clutching Karr close as the elevator ascended upward…truth be told…his stabilizers weren't really liking this. RC leaned forward tapping Karr's housing gently noting the sudden silence befalling the machine. Karr getting "green around the gills" as his cooling system buzzed loudly out of anxiety.
"I'm alright if that's what you're wondering about," Karr grumbled lowly. "It's just — this form of transportation isn't anything I'm – Use. To."
Bonnie hugged Karr's housing tighter, giving the AI a sense of security. Of course, they wouldn't let harm come to him. They trusted him…despite his questionable past. In turn…they were his humans…and he trusted them — actually…He would do anything to keep them safe. After all, that's what one does for family.
Karr shuddered on that last thought…Yes, Bonnie and RC were…family.
The elevator, fortunately, came to a subtle stop, and with a sharp chime released the passengers into the hall. Here Karr kept his voice strictly to himself…aware that a computer like himself was to remain secret in public places.
Karr scanned the little he could as RC led Bonnie to Michael's room, grasping the door handle and pulling it down releasing the door. Karr internally jumped the moment Devon Miles came into view… 'Rats!' He thought to himself. They didn't expect him to deal with Devon Miles on his own, did they? He figured he could deal with Michael since, well…the man looked reasonable. As for Devon Miles…he wasn't sure.
RC raised a brow at the internally panicking AI, again reaching across and tapping his housing…Karr fighting the urge to tell him to bug off. He prided himself on getting the job done right – but…at the moment…he was aware this was going to be an agonizing problem to handle.
"Bonnie? Reginald? What are you two doing here —?" Devon remarked pleased to see them back so soon, standing from his chair next to Michael's bed. "Thank goodness —" He stopped, his gaze locking onto the familiar television set. "Is that —?!" Devon's excitement began to bubble. It seemed the man was about to jump free of his jacket at any moment. Karr internally let out a deep breath out of pressure. Okay…perhaps this wasn't going to be a conversation he wished to have now, especially not like this. He turned to Michael who was still fast asleep in his hospital bed. He just needed to get over with it and all would be fine.
"I need to speak to Michael Knight, please," Karr announced gently.
Devon froze, the entirety of his excitement evaporating into nothing. Sending a chill down Karr's motherboard. He'd never seen a man change so quickly…it was…disturbing…
Bonnie frowned, feeling awkward as she placed Karr's housing onto a nearby countertop. Keeping her head low as she awaited what was to be expected.
"Bonnie, I thought I gave specific instructions about this." Devon's voice turned stern…hollow. His eyes pinning both RC and Bonnie under his questioning stare. Disappointment radiated off his face.
"Listen, Miles, I know we didn't start on the right spoke…but —" Karr interjected nervously with gentle rising and falling of his light green voice modulator.
"Get him out of here. I want nothing to do with him." Devon gritted his teeth.
Karr choking on his words at the hurtful tone being directed toward him…fought the urge to honk his missing horn.
"Listen, Miles, I'm only trying to help your cause —!"
"Bonnie! RC! Have you lost your better judgment?! He is a peril to all of us!"
RC took a step forward placing a kind hand over Devon's shoulder.
"Look, boss. I think maybe you should listen to what he has to say…its…kind of important."
"Important?"
"Yeah, you see —"
"There is nothing important with conversing with the unhinged psychotic vehicle that tried to smash me against the engine block inside of the mobile HQ!" Devon shouted loud enough to stir Michael, who gently cocked his head…lazily opening his eyes and watching over the strange ordeal unfolding in the hospital room.
"You have a way with words, Miles. Yes…you are. Right. I was being…perhaps…what you could consider — uh…Miscalibration of some sort…" Karr finding himself falling miserably around the edges…why had he agreed to this?
"Miscalibration!?" Devon shouted loudly.
Karr internally snorted, what in the world was wrong with Devon? Did he really detest him that much?
"Mr. Miles I'm sorry." Karr quickly added.
"Sorry does not begin to —"
"What's going on?" Michael interrupted. Evidently, the entire team had ignored the fact that he'd been awakened.
Bonnie and RC gave him a fond smile, the two approaching him affectionately.
RC offered him a warm hug, which he accepted gladly. Bonnie too gathered him in a fond hug…but it seemed something was off with Devon and that strange box that sounded way too much like —
"Devon's right, you're both crazy." He gaped at the two of them. Why in the world would they put Karr back online? That wasn't right! After all the things he had done.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" Karr announced sounding depressed. "I came here to settle things out, to be diplomatic and come to a solution." Karr groaned. "I did not travel in the back seat of a taxi with no A/C and the filthiest back seats I've ever seen in my whole artificial life to be rejected and sent back to the slammer."
"Karr, there is nothing to be spoken concerning you. There is no agreement that we can come to regarding you." Devon stomped his foot, finding it absolutely grotesque that he was speaking to the AI at all. "Bonnie get him out of my presence I won't last another minute in the same room with him."
Bonnie's eyes widened as she watched terrifyingly as Devon approached Karr's housing threateningly.
" — What does that have to do with me?" Karr asked innocently, feeling cornered as the man leered down at him.
Devon gritted his teeth, his hands grasping his little hair left out of anger.
" — Turn him off. He is a shame and…"
"Devon," Michael spoke out loud. "Would you calm down? He's just trying to talk things out." He gave Devon a reassuring smile. "Devon it isn't like he could jump out at us in that." He chuckled trying to play off the tension. RC exchanged looks with Bonnie wondering if now was the time to intervene.
"Michael, you, just like everyone else, knows what Karr is…he is a gun…in the hands of a child! Do not forget that!"
"– A gun?" Karr asked, utterly confused. "In what way am I a gun?" This was new to him.
"Look, maybe this was a bad idea." RC finally gave in, approaching Karr and gathering his housing in his arms. "Have a good day boys, well talk some other time —"
"RC are you mad?!" Karr bickered. "Kitt is in the hands of a monster and you dismiss this important meeting for a later date!? We don't have the time for scheduling a seminar!" Karr howled his fan, wailing at the loss of his glorious v8 and turbine.
"Kitt is where?!" Michael was quick to react. Devon too turned to the AI in worry.
Bonnie, who was bitting down hard against her bottom lip, took a stand in front of the small crowd.
"Karr thinks Kitt was stolen rather than destroyed by Margo Adrianne."
Michael nearly fell out of his hospital bed.
" — What? Look I've been asking for Kitt since early last night and no one has been giving me a single explanation about what's going on until now. Nothing makes sense!" Michael gazed from worried face to angry face, to heartbroken face…not to mention bright lime modulator face.
"Allow me to explain the events of the past two years…" Karr urged.
"Two years?" Michael slumped down on his bedsheets. Turning to Devon in a joking manner…his face took on a more serious tone when Devon did not return the amusement.
"Michael Knight…You've been in a coma for two years…and Kitt and I have been on the run ever since the government issued a warrant to euthanize Kitt. I, of course, have not allowed that to happen until — now. They ambushed us in the desert and despite what everyone thinks in this room…Kitt was not euthanized. I believe strongly that he is being held captive against his will with Margo Adrianne, as you all call her. I'm here today pleading for your help as I will not rest until I've found my brother with or without Devon Miles's approval. Michael Knight, will you help me? " Karr asked getting straight to the point.
Michael's jaw dropped the moment Karr's voice modulator faded to black.
"Eu– euthanize? What in the world is he talking about?!" Michael turned in horror toward Devon for further explanation.
Devon cleared his throat.
"I will explain, but not in his presence." He snapped lowly.
"Cut me some slack, Devon Miles…" Karr muttered. "Bonnie, take me outside…I've done what I can." He remarked defeated.
Bonnie took a step towards RC, who quickly passed Karr's housing to her. Dismissing herself she stepped out with Karr into the hallway.
Michael continued to gape from RC to Devon, feeling somewhat glum about letting Karr get talked harshly down like that.
"What is there to explain, Devon?! Have I really been asleep for two years?!" He asked dumbfounded.
"You have," Devon continued turning to his more executive voice. "After you and Kitt had your incident in the tunnel…"
" — I remember some of it," Michael whispered, eyeing RC carefully noting how uncomfortable he looked.
"You were left in a coma and Kitt was held responsible for the death of several people caused by the accident…"
" — Basically, they wanted Kitt to sacrifice you in turn for those innocent people, but Kitt ran the calculations…you and everyone else would have died anyways…if it wasn't for what Kitt did…you'd be dead right now." RC painfully recalled.
Michael widened his eyes, his mouth going dry.
"Yes, that's true." Devon continued tiredly. "As a result of their research…they concluded Kitt was to be put down…two years ago, but as you know…Bonnie illicitly assigned Karr to keep Kitt away from the authorities. Was very successful at evading capture until now…" Devon scolded himself for saying Karr's name, the man tensing his jaw in dismay. "I don't know what she was thinking…" adding the last part in a quiet murmur.
Michael turned to RC for more details, knowing Devon was still fuming about Karr being left alive.
"Karr is really messed up man. We're trying to fix him so we can start a search for Kitt."
Devon widened his eyes glaring over RC.
"Under what orders are you two doing this? I have not given any permission for Karr's repairs!"
"Devon. Calm down." Michael interrupted the two. "When did this happen? When did Kitt go missing?" Michael turned to RC, feeling his voice sound a little raspy.
"Last night, Michael."
Michael nodded, feeling sick to his stomach at the fact Kitt had ended up kittnapped by a woman who he was sure had died, turning to Devon and clicking his tongue he said:
"Okay, I'm out of here." He tried to get into a sitting position hastily nearly falling over his face the instant he applied pressure onto his feet. Fortunately, RC was able to stop him and able to haul him back onto his bed.
"Michael!" Devon disapproved. "You are in no condition to —"
"I don't care," Michael murmured under his breath. "We're running out of time, as I see it. If we don't start searching for Kitt, it might —" Michael gulped painfully, he couldn't imagine the stress Kitt must have gone through living on the lamb with just Karr for company. "It might be too late Devon, if we wait. We still have a fresh trail. The sooner the better."
"Michael this is foolish!"
Michael shrugged as he motioned RC to bring him a wheelchair, the man stopping in his steps.
"It's alright, just send for the doctors to the mansion. I'm not as unreasonable as you think." Michael mused as he gestured for RC to hurry up the pace and wheel him out of the room quickly. RC continued to stand frozen in place, wringing his hands in discomfort.
Devon crossed his arms.
"Michael you can't leave the hospital until you've fully recovered."
"How long will that take?" Michael asked utterly confused.
"About 8 weeks," RC replied clenching his jaw.
"What!?"
Devon sighed.
"Doctors orders…"
"What do you suspect me to do then in the meantime?"
RC looked from one man to the next.
"I and Bonnie can go after the trail Michael while you get better…" RC excitedly offered.
Michael groaned, leaning his head against the bed's backboard. Though it sounded like a plan…it wasn't a viable option for a somewhat experienced man to be going into the field with a rouge and inexperienced computer. As for Michael, going into the field as is, was also not going to be an option. A "living" option.
"I don't think fixing Karr should be a part of any objective involving FLAG." Devon grimaced. "Sorry Reginald, I won't invest a single dollar on that vehicle. Karr isn't even supposed to be around!" Devon objected.
RC tightened his face shaking his head.
"Devon, remember one man can make a difference. Haven't you realized? Karr's been making a difference by taking care of Kitt for us! Isn't that what FLAG stands for?"
Devon clasped his hands shaking his head slowly.
"I'm afraid…I can't support this endeavor."
RC sadly looked at the tile floor of the hospital room.
"Then — I guess we will be doing this on our own." RC looked back over Devon's bewildered face before walking up to Michael and handing him a comlink. "It's Karr's, we'll keep you updated on Karr's recovery and you keep us updated on yours." RC grinned at Michael, the man quick to offer his hand in a tight handshake of farewell.
"Tell Bonnie I don't plan to spend a month here eating the hospital version of a burger."
RC chuckled.
"You got it." Turning to Devon. "Excuse me." As he left quickly from the room to find Bonnie and Karr to begin repairs.
Devon shook his head taking a seat in resentment.
"I can't believe you all right now."