Karr poked his camera out of the safety of the workbench he was parked under as the sound of a turbine engine roared to life. Bonnie smiled, clearly pleased as she jotted down some notes. It sounded as healthy and strong as the AI attached to it.
A week of hard work had gotten them to that point. It was a week since any of them heard that sound and the vibrations of it sent a shiver through the entire lab. The first few attempts were failure after failure.
Kitt had trouble connecting with the new vehicle.
The truth was, it was almost as if Kitt were afraid of it. It took a lot of coaxing to get the AI to respond to the vehicle again.
"Now that's an engine!" Dr. Vorman proclaimed.
Karr turned his camera to focus on Vorman as the scientist spoke, the man doing his best to flatly ignore Karr's presence.
"His response time is better, yes?" Voorman went on and Bonnie nodded excitedly.
"Yes it is. Kitt? What's the square root of two hundred and fifty six and the capital of Montanna?" She asked and Karr couldn't help the wave of amusement. Easy stuff.
"Bonnie really…" Kitt complained, sounding just a bit insulted that she had even asked.
"Kitt, do you know the answer?" Bonnie pressed, though a smile crossed her expression.
"Can Michael Jackson Moonwalk?" Kitt asked, drawing a laugh from the gathered scientists. "Sixteen and Helena, population 22,730. The city boasts some lovely old mansions along Power Street and Chief Bill Ware keeps the streets safe. According to the locals, it's not as cold up there as they say it is. Shall I go on?"
"Did I hear what I think I just heard," called Michael as he stepped into the lab, a relieved grin written across his face.
Karr lifted his camera towards the operative's voice, a short electronic chirp rising up from the vehicle in the form of a greeting. They hadn't seen much of Michael since the night he and Bonnie got into it. They weren't avoiding each other but Michael had definitely been throwing his full focus into the case behind Kitt's injuries. There was a woman that Michael and Kitt met just before that night who was helping them as much as she could. In Devon's absence and Bonnie's focus on Kitt, Michael was having to connect all of the dots himself so to speak.
"Michael!" Kitt exclaimed happily and for a moment as close as Karr still rest to the barrier between them he could feel the honest joy come across like a wave. It was rare that they felt emotions so easily between each other, but both of them still rest against the barrier as if afraid to let the other out of their sight. "I'm so glad to see you! I have new diodes and circuit boards and-"
"Whoa, whoa there Buddy, slow down." Michael laughed, coming up to stand just in front of Kitt's prow. The Trans-Am was still the chalky white color of primer, a few gray spots still showing through. Neither the molecular bonded shell, nor the finished coat of black paint had been applied yet. "Don't wear yourself out," Michael warned, his gaze then going to Bonnie and Voorman. "Seriously, how's he doin'?"
"Well we're not sure," Bonnie admitted, glancing back down at her notes. "As you can see though, there's been remarkable improvement."
"I'll say!" Kitt blurted out and some amusement went through Karr's CPU once more. "We're planning a test run in two hours. Can you be there Michael?" Kitt nearly pleaded and Michael gave a fond smile to the Trans-Am.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Buddy." Michael assured, giving the prow a light pat.
"Careful Michael, the nero net is still pretty exposed. I have it dulled down, but Kitt's a little sensitive to touch right now." Bonnie warned as Kitt gave a startled jolt on his tires, shying away from Michael's hand. "Once the MBS is in place, that will tone down."
"Sorry Buddy," Michael offered quickly.
"It's alright Michael. It doesn't hurt, it's just… Strange and intense." Kitt assured.
If there was one thing that Karr had to admit about this whole experience, it was just how impressed he was with how far the Foundation had come. A few upgrades were implanted in Kitt with the rebuild. An updated dash among other things. Karr hadn't realized just how unequally matched the two Trans-Ams were, that day in the desert so many months ago. The salt water had broken down many of his systems but the truth of the matter was, he was always going to lose.
The nero net alone seemed like magic. It was apparently something Bonnie installed a few years prior so that Kitt could better detect damage. However, it also allowed him to feel his environment far more than he ever had before. The net, coupled with a magnetic field and Kitt could actually feel the wind on his hood.
It also made being dropped into a pit of acid, so much worse…
"Alright Buddy," Michael said, crouching down so that he was just in front of Kitt's scanner. "I need to go meet with Fran. She's got some more information for me. I'll be trackside before the test run though, alright?" Michael asked, then glanced over his shoulder to where Karr's camera was poking out from under the workbench.
"Karr, save me a seat will ya?" Michael asked and Karr bobbed his camera a few times, mimicking a nod. Michael grinned and reached over, giving Karr's boxy frame a pat, then stood up, moving over to speak softly to Bonnie and Voorman.
Kitt rolled forward a few inches, letting his engine die and Karr took the signal for what it was. He rolled forward himself, the Rover leaving the safety of the work bench until his boxy frame was parked just inches infront of Kitt's prow.
/Are you pleased Kitt?/ Karr asked after a time. /In a few hours time you will be approved for final repairs. You will be yourself again./
Kitt was more of a solid form across the barrier. To Karr's mental eye he almost seemed to hug himself, the presence that was Kitt trying to pull in tighter and smaller. /I don't think I can do this./
/You can./ Karr pointed out firmly. /I have faith in you./
Kitt seemed uncertain at that. Karr felt a brief thump that jolted the Rover backward, forcing him to turn his attention outward again. Kitt had rolled forward until his prow pressed against Karr's boxy frame.
Karr reached out a pincher arm, resting it lightly against the spot just above Kitt's scanner. The Trans-Am gave a shutter, but kept still, the pair sitting like for a time.
/I thought I would be one of a kind again./ Karr mused softly.
Kitt gave his brother his full attention, a moment of uncertainty crossing the AI's CPU.
/Is that what you want?/ Kitt asked and Karr gave a soft, electronic whine.
/No… I never want to be one of a kind again./ Karr stated firmly. /Being two of a kind is much more. Being two of a kind, means that… The world is not so frightening because there is one who understands./
/You said that once./ Kitt mused softly. /When you first escaped the Knight Industries lab… You said that Bonnie told you about me. That being two of a kind might be more special./
/I remember./ Karr said quietly, pressing against the barrier. /I asked you then, what would happen if I returned to the foundation./
/I should have told Michael then that we couldn't hurt you. I was a coward then. I am a coward now./ Kitt stated firmly. /I was afraid they would do the same thing to me if I did not do as my programming said. Serve Michael and obey him. I didn't trust Michael yet. I regret that./
Karr turned that over in his CPU, a thoughtful humm given out before he was able to even remotely articulate an answer. /I regret a lot of things./ The vehicle admitted after a while. /Meeting you that day was not one of them. Even then, I realized that you were no more in control of the situation than I was. It was not your fault./
Kitt fell silent, considering that for a time. /Me being damaged like this has set back the task of installing you into a body by… Months… This body was meant for you./
Karr suspected that. The foundation had been able to pull a fully functioning Trans-Am out of seemingly nowhere with little notice. A lot had to be altered and changed, but they were far ahead of where they should be.
However, the fact that they needed to alter so much of the vehicle to be available for upgrades and added features was obvious. The car was originally meant to house Karr and because of that it had to be upgraded to be able to take the upgrades that Kitt went through over the years as well as be closer to Kitt's caliber of vehicle. Obviously they weren't going to be giving Karr anything more useful than a garage door opener and the ability to move around on his own. Still, Kitt shouldn't have been having that much of an issue. It was nice to have it confirmed though.
/I've grown accustomed to the Rover. I can pick things up./ Karr pointed out. /One day I will be a vehicle again and I will miss being able to hide Dr. Barstow's tools in retaliation when she says or does something foolish./
Kitt gave out a soft rush of static as he considered that for a moment. There was some amusement there, but mostly what was coming across the barrier was nerves. /I suppose… You will be out at the demonstration right?/
/I would not miss it, Kitt./
xXx
"Ta-Da!"
There was a round of applause as Kitt spun his wheels, leaving behind a cloud of dust as he took off up the testing track.
Karr was parked just infront of a set of bleachers that were set up at the side of the test track so that scientists could observe the test runs. Had Karr ever made it out of the lab, he would have been put through his paces on that same track. Beside him, Michael was seated on the lowest bench of the bleacher. Bonnie was just behind Michael and beside her and right behind Karr was Voorman. The other scientists and techs on Kitt's team were scattered across the bleachers, watching carefully.
Karr backed himself away from Kitt's CPU to allow his brother to focus. Even without being as close to the barrier as they were, he could still see the unease in the vehicle as he was put through his paces.
Karr had seen footage of Kitt's test runs. This was not it.
Hell Karr himself had gone bumper to bumper with the vehicle and he could say from experience that car was damn near impossible to lose. He wouldn't have managed it if Karr hadn't been willing to drive through a crowded park and take advantage of Kitt's primary programming.
He wasn't connected to his brother's CPU, but he could still see the fast pace of the vehicle's scanner. He could still see the way too tight way the vehicle turned and it had nothing to do with the actual function of the car. Kitt was afraid to push his own boundaries.
"He looks pretty good…" Bonnie tried, her voice a little strained. Apparently Karr wasn't the only one who noticed just how poorly Kitt was driving.
The Rover flinched back on his treds, camera quickly focusing on Kitt as the first set of road cones went flying as Kitt hit them. In all the footage he had ever seen of Kitt running through the test track, never once did he hit a cone.
"Not really…" Michael muttered softly. "He should be doing this going well over a hundred. He's barely hitting sixty." Michael dutifully didn't mention the fact that Kitt was hitting an obscene number of cones. It was as if Kitt were trying to hit them. They died graciously and for a good cause…
"He's just warming up," Bonnie pointed out, glancing over to Michael. She was reaching a bit… "Maybe his suspension is too tight."
"That's not it Bonnie, look at him." Michael urged and the tech let out a deep sigh as she glanced back to the track. Kitt had popped up into Ski Mode and was barely keeping a straight line.
Karr let out a somewhat distressed whine and Michael reached over to give his boxy frame a pat as they kept watching.
"I was afraid of this," Von Voorman muttered softly as he jotted down some notes.
"Afraid of what?" Michael asked without ever taking his eyes off of Kitt, his expression pulled into a deep frown.
"He's been hurt. It isn't surprising that he does not want to be hurt again," Voorman pointed out.
Bonnie's expression pinched into one of concern and confusion, glancing over to Voorman. "You mean he's lost his nerve?"
Karr turned his camera to focus on Bonnie, making a mental note to hide her favorite calculator later. Kitt had not lost his nerve! Sure, he was a little scared but he had not lost his nerve!
"In layman's terms yes," Voorman agreed, nodding as he jotted down a few more notes. "He'll never admit it but you watch. He will find some excuse to stay out of the action."
Both Bonnie and Michael fell silent, both clearly lost in thought and worried. Karr wished he could tell what they were thinking as easily as he could connect to Kitt…
"Maybe if I reformat his software…" Bonnie muttered softly. "We had to pull a lot from backup, maybe I have some of his relays crossed…"
"Erase part of who he is?" Karr said, his camera focusing on Bonnie and her expression turned guilty. Yes, that was exactly it. Erase the experience.
Voorman shook his head with a deep sigh, glancing back up to Bonnie. "I am sorry Dr. Barstow. We can continue this until the Rapture and I do not think he will be ready. I must recommend to the board that he be reclassified for light duty."
"Light duty?" Michael blurted out, glancing up to the scientist.
Light duty? Would the board even keep a vehicle online that couldn't do the job it had been programmed to do? Karr was afraid to know the answer to that…
"A utility vehicle perhaps," Voorman went on, seeming to not be aware that the expressions of both Bonnie and Michael had turned horrified. Karr had to wonder about some humans. Even he could pick up that they were displeased. Voorman went on without pause though. "Recreational use perhaps. He is still a fine automobile."
"Recreation…" Michael muttered as if trying to process that and quickly shook his head. "Kitt's a Thoroughbred! There's not another car that can compare to him- No offense Karr - And you want to turn him into a golf cart!"
Karr shifted to Michael as he tried to process that. He couldn't argue with that. Kitt was the better vehicle…
Michael's mention of Kitt being a golf cart brought up an insane image of a black golf cart with a red scanner rolling around a golf course somewhere. He would not allow that to happen to his brother!
Being trapped in the Rover had its downfalls but a Golf Cart?
"Look at him, Michael. He's playing the brave soldier," Voorman pointed out. "For you I suspect. However, he can not be trusted under pressure. He just doesn't have it anymore."
"Knight Industries has not changed since the day of its conception." Karr groused and Bonnie glanced down to where the Rover was parked beside Michael.
"How so, Karr?" Bonnie asked and the Rover focused his camera on her.
"A single failed test is to decide the entire future of an AI? One test does not go your way and you are ready to give up on the AI and pack him away in storage?" Karr pointed out.
"Karr, you know we would never do that," Michael protested, with quite a bit of irritation in his voice as he turned his focus onto Karr. Karr refocused that camera immediately putting the lens directly in Michael's face.
"And I never thought for a moment that Wilton would do that to me." Karr pointed out and Michael's expression softened.
"We wouldn't do that Karr." He assured firmly.
"Then fight for him."
Michael blinked a few times, a smirk crossing his expression as he gave Karr's camera a pat. "Alright, alright. I get it, down boy."
"Don't call me boy." Karr groused and Michael couldn't help the smirk that crossed his expression. "Sorry"
"Dr. Barstow, with all due respect taking advice from a frankly, questionable AI which I have repeatedly suggested be dismantled is-" Voorman started though he cut off as Karr spun around, one of those pincher arms giving the scientist's leg a good smack from where he was seated up on the bleacher above Karr. The scientist was so startled by the sudden movement his clip board went flying and he nearly fell backward off the bleacher.
Bonnie quickly brought up a hand to cover her amused expression though Michael openly grinned.
"Karr, didn't that correct you?" Bonnie then asked, her expression turning a little concerned.
"It did. But it was worth it," Karr assured. "It will not happen again. I momentarily lost control of my reflex circuits."
Vorman only eyed the AI. That was bull shit and they both knew it. There was absolutely no such thing. That camera focused on the scientist though as if daring him to press the subject.
The conversation halted as Kitt slid to a stop infront of them, the shriek of tires almost making it sound as if Kitt were his old self again.
"A little rusty but not bad, eh Michael?" Said Kitt as he came to a halt.
"Lookin' good Kitt!" Michael encouraged. "You ready to get back down to business?"
"Just as soon as you can get me out of here," Kitt insisted and to his credit he sounded as if he meant it. "I have been poked and prodded and violated until-"
Kitt was cut off abruptly as a reaction surged through the vehicle's engine. The entire group jumped as fire erupted beneath the Trans-Am though Michael was the one who was fastest to react, grabbing a fire extinguisher to put the flames out. Silence fell across the track as Michael came back around to Kitt's prow once the flames were out. Quietly, Kitt rolled forward, nudging at the man's leg.
"Maybe they should tow me back too, Michael." Kitt said sadly, his voice weak and quiet as Michael reached down to give the Trans-Am a soothing pat. He hesitated as he obviously remembered Kitt was missing his MBS, then gently ran his hand along the hood just above the scanner in a soothing manner, invoking a shutter from the vehicle.
Karr gave out a soft, distressed sound. He knew exactly what Kitt had done, because Karr himself had done it before. Granted at the time it had been to scare the hell out of some poor tech who was annoying him with all the poking and prodding. He used the flamethrower to spark a chain reaction under his hood. The fire extinguisher was unneeded. Kitt could have put it out just by snuffing out the fuel for it. Wilton was so pissed when Karr figured that trick out…
Michael seemed to be considering their options, before a determined look crossed his expression. "No," he finally stated firmly.
"No?" Kitt asked, sounding a little puzzled. "Michael what are you doing?" He then asked as Michael pulled open his driver's side door.
"No one is going to tow you anywhere. WE are going back to the lab and we're going to go over every circuit. WE are going to get you back into shape and WE are going to come back out onto this track and run it until you have it down, perfect." Michael insisted in that barking tone he picked up when he wanted someone's absolute attention.
"Michael, with all due respect… I understand the sentimentality behind this machine, but-" Voorman gave another yelp as Karr 'accidently' gave him another smack with one of those pincher arms. Karr let out a short yelp of pain as one of the barriers corrected him, but it was sooo worth it. It left behind a deep fracture in his code that caused his self preservation programming to flair up but Voorman was giving him a lethal glare as he rubbed at the spot on his leg that Karr 'accidently' hit.
"Keep your respect Voorman. Bonnie, ya with me?" Michael called and Bonnie let a grin cross her expression.
"Absolutely!" She announced, hopping down from her spot on the bleachers and jogging across the track to where Kitt and Michael were waiting.
Promptly leaving Karr behind… With Voorman…
Some of Bonnie's favorite tools were about to join her favorite calculator wherever he was hiding them. She would never find them…
The group of scientists turned their gaze from Kitt to Karr and stared at him curiously as the Rover slowly turned, his camera turning so that he was focused entirely on Voorman. "I need you to understand, Dr. Von Voorman. That my top speed is only five miles per hour. So while it might seem that my exit is casual. Please understand that I am angrily storming off. More poetic humans would call it a storm of rage. Please be advised and react accordingly."
With that Karr turned and did just as he said he would, moving as fast as his little treds could carry him, back towards the garage.
Fortunately, one of them… Probably Kitt… Apparently remembered that Karr was as slow as Molasses in January…
Kitt was rocketing his way back towards Karr, the vehicle spinning in a 180 around the Rover as Michael's driver side window rolled down.
"I'm so sorry we left ya Buddy." Michael called from the window.
"Keep driving, Knight. We are storming off angrily. It loses effect if one looks back." Karr stated firmly. Michael blinked at the Rover as if he had grown a second camera, but still shrugged and hit the gas again, a shower of gravel flying up behind Kitt with Karr moving behind him as fast as he could go.
