Bonnie, what do you think about Wilton Knight's hypothesis about Karr?" Kitt was with Bonnie in the garage.
"I'm not sure," replied Bonnie. She paused, then looked up from her paperwork. "His behavior since being reactivated by those two thieves has been . . . dangerous."
"Karr was aware."
"Aware of what?"
"Just aware. When Wilton Knight deactivated Karr, he was only cut off from external input. Karr remained aware of the passage of time."
Bonnie said softly, "I hadn't realized that. But it does explain some of his behavior. Aggression as a defense mechanism." Her tone turned thoughtful.
"And his behavior since Melissa brought him here to the Foundation has not been dangerous."
"No. Though as a CPU with limited sensor range, no outside access except through you, and no mobility . . . well, how dangerous could KARR be?"
"Do you believe Karr would be dangerous if he were given greater sensor range or direct outside access?"
Bonnie paused to consider the question. "I'm . . . not sure.
Kitt decided to count that as a win (as Michael would say), and he changed the subject. "I am, however, surprised by Melissa going off on her own like that."
"I'm not," said Bonnie with a laugh.
"You don't find her behavior atypical?"
"Kitt, how long did Melissa live with a fractured hip?"
"Garthe threw her through a window when she was 10. She had her first surgery shortly before her 17th birthday."
"So she is mobile and without pain for the first time in nearly seven years."
"She has been mobile all along, Bonnie," Kitt pointed out.
"Really? She could go wherever she wanted whenever she wanted?"
Kitt thought it over, though now that Bonnie had said it, there was only one rational response. "No, Bonnie, she could not."
"So . . . she can go places and do things she couldn't do before."
"Which is why she collapsed," Kitt realized. "She doesn't yet know what her limits are."
"Yup. And so she's testing them." Bonnie paused, then added, "I'm surprised Michael grounded her."
"Michael is Melissa's legal guardian, Bonnie."
"More like her goofball older brother."
"Melissa calls me the older brother she isn't afraid of," said Michael with quiet amusement right behind Bonnie.
Bonnie was startled. She hadn't heard him come into the garage. "Po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe. So what brings you here?"
"Well, Bon-Bon –"
"Michael!" Bonnie pinned him with a glare. "You only call me by that ridiculous nickname when you want something."
He grinned at her, and then got right to the point. "Melissa hasn't apologized for going after KARR on her own. Devon said you've got a good rapport with her. And might be able to –"
"Get her to apologize?"
"Not exactly. Devon could make her apologize. So could I, for that matter. But it wouldn't be a meaningful one."
"Why does she need to apologize?"
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Look at it from her standpoint, Michael. All she did was go and collect her property. What's wrong with that?"
"She didn't ask –"
"Permission? Would you have said no?"
"Initially," said Kitt. "But Melissa would have worn you down with her persistence."
"We'll never know, will we?" Michael asked softly.
"What's really bothering you, Michael. If I'm going to convince Melissa she owes you an apology, I need to understand what she's apologizing for."
Michael mulled it over, clearly trying to put it into words. "The . . . well . . . underhanded way she went about it. It's just not something I would have expected from her."
"So more the fact that she went off without even mentioning to anyone what she was up to than the fact she went after KARR?"
"Well, yes. I mean, I'm not thrilled about her retrieving KARR. But as Kitt said, she probably could have made her case to me. Eventually."
"Okay, I'll talk with her." Bonnie checked her watch. "I've got a few things I need to wrap up here. Then I'll go have lunch with Melissa."
"Thanks, Bon-Bon. I guess I'll go write up my case report. Since I won't have my assistant back for a week. Doubt Devon will wait that long."
Michael smiled, then sauntered out of the garage. Bonnie took a few more readings from Kitt and noted them down. She then filed some paperwork.
"Bonnie?" said Kitt. "I believe Michael is more hurt by Melissa's behavior than he is letting on."
"I can see that, Kitt."
