A/N: So here's Part 1 of that series I was talking about. Ya know that one I said would have up sooner rather than later, but then proceeded to do neither for WEEKS which then turned to MONTHS? Yeah. That one. Yes, I know a lot of people have already tried their hand at this concept, but what the hell? The plot bunnies held me at gun point until I promised to write it down. Aaand... I miss a good KarrxOC fic sooo... Yeah. That's that.
Anyway, if you like what you see, you know what to do. Otherwise, just enjoy ;)
Also, warning for attempted rape later on and language bc ya know... Plot bunnies and things *grins*
Red Rose
The mansion was alive on this particular warm summer day. Birds sang their joyous songs as they flew from tree to tree, and bugs hopped from bush to bush enjoying the bloomed flowers. You could even spot a rabbit or two taking refuge under the gorgeous green hedges lining the vast expanse of the property. The breeze carried with it the pleasant smell of freshly cut grass and all the respective scents of each individual flower from the neighboring garden.
Bailey smiled. It was a beautiful day indeed.
... Much too pretty to waste it away by staying out here on the back patio reading a book she's already read a hundred times over.
With an idea forming in her mind, the teen dog-eared her book and unfolded from the lounger she had been laying on. Bailey took the time to properly place the pillows and the lounger back in their respective positions so the maintenance team wouldn't have to. Satisfied with her work, she hurried inside to be greeted by the sight of her mother and Devon in the kitchen. They smiled at her entry and she returned the gesture. Glancing around, she noted her father still wasn't back yet.
"Hey guys! Dad still out at the meeting?" She peered curiously over the ingredients laid out across the large counter tops. Bonnie squeezed some sort of green sauce into the blender plugged in behind her.
"He is." Devon informed her. "Should be back within the hour, I presume."
Bailey nodded. "What are you making?"
"Smoothies!" Her mother replied. Bailey mock-gagged making Devon laugh.
"Ohh no thanks then. You always make them with too many veggies so it comes out tasting like V8."
"They really don't taste that horrible though, my dear." Devon said, fighting back an amused grin. Bonnie gave the older man a nod of appreciation. "You should give it another try." He turned to Bonnie. "Those files will be making their way over soon, so I must be getting back to my office now. Thank you for this." The man held up his salmon-colored smoothie and retreated out of the kitchen. Her mother than offered her a smaller cup of the same colored smoothie Devon had.
Bailey grimaced and declined the offer with a hand. "No, I'm good thanks. Trying to lay off the rabbit food diet."
Bonnie scoffed in an attempt to hide her chuckle, placing the glass back down. "You are too much like your father, Bails. Protein isn't everything."
"But it can be." She retorted. Bonnie just sighed and proceeded to blend up her concoction further than it already was. The teen waited until the blender was done before asking her question she'd been cooking up. "Say, is it okay if I go the beach?"
"By yourself?" Bonnie quirked an incredulous brow at her only daughter. "Uh, no. You're nuts child."
"But Mo-om! It'll only be for a few hours! I won't go anywhere I'm not supposed to!"
"Bailey," Bonnie paused in her butchering of fruit to look her daughter in the eye. "I'm fairly sure it's supposed to rain here in another hour or two. I really don't think this is a good idea. Besides," the woman went back to cutting some strawberries. "Kat's still undergoing repairs, so she won't be able to accompany you."
"Okay, than what about Kitt?"
"He's running routine checks with the techs right now."
"Mom," Bailey tilted her head, giving her mom a look of exasperation. "I've been there while that was being done before. I know it's not an all day thing."
Bonnie rubbed her face tiredly. "You just won't quit, will you?"
"Nope." She popped the 'P'. "Learned from the best actually. You should be quite proud."
Bonnie just glowered.
"C'mon mom! Pllleeeease?"
Bonnie gave Bailey a look that clearly said she was pushing it. Bailey just smiled sweetly and laid on the doe eyes thick, batting her lashes and all. Eventually, the brunette gave a sigh of defeat and blessed the decision with a nod. Bailey squealed and wrapped her mom up in a quick hug before darting off towards the stairs to get ready.
"Bailey." Her mother called just as she began ascending the stairs.
"Yes mom?"
"You listen to Kitt and keep that comlink on your wrist at all times. At no point once so ever is that device to leave your wrist. Am I clear?"
Bailey gave a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am! Wouldn't dream of it anyway. Dad would sooo kill me." And turned to fly back up the stairs.
Bonnie just shook her head smiling to herself. Teenagers.
"O-kay. Let's hit the road!" Bailey enthused after double checking all her supplies were packed and ready to go. She started the ignition a moment later and gracefully drove the Trans Am down the driveway to the main gate, then out towards the main road. Once free from the watchful eyes of FLAG personnel, she pressed the pedal down harder only to realize the thing must have grown a stubborn mindset in the last five minutes...
"Ah, ah, ah, young lady." Kitt's voice box lit up in time to his words. "No joyriding. I just had all my sensors and circuits recalibrated after your father's stunt. I do not wish to have to go through it again so soon, mind you."
"Aw, c'mon, Kitt! Don't be like that!"
The 'Auto Cruise' button flashed threateningly. Bailey held up a hand.
"Okay, okay! Sorry, I get it. No joyriding."
"Good." The triumphant smile was easy to hear in the AI's voice.
"What's our ETA?" She asked instead once they were on the freeway.
"Twenty minutes exactly at our current rate of speed." Kitt replied dutifully. "Can I ask you something?" Bailey put the car in Auto Cruise so she could search her bag, succeeding in finding a hair tie.
A curious look was aimed Kitt's way as she wrangled her long hair together in a pony tail. "Shoot."
"You are aware that it will begin raining not long after our arrival, correct?"
Damn. Her mother's words rang true. She groaned in exasperation. "Yes, I'm well aware of the fact, Kitt. But based off of what the skies are telling me, I don't think it's going to happen. "'Sides," a spirited grin was aimed the AI's way. "I like a good challenge of the odds potentially playing out in our favor."
"Mhm. So what you mean to say, is that you're doubting my abilities to read the precipitation in the air, correct?" Kitt playfully challenged.
She feigned hurt. "Oh I would never! It's just a simple observation is all."
"I see..." Kitt mused, a happy smile in his voice.
Companionable silence descended over the pair. Bailey's eyes strayed over to the little comlink sitting innocently on top of her beach bag in the passenger seat. She grabbed the simple black watch and ran a finger over the surface of it. After verifying everything was indeed working and responding appropriately, the teen fastened it to her wrist.
Kitt gradually slowed and exited off the freeway onto the neighboring service road. They entered the mildly busy parking lot two minutes later.
"...Miranda watched as the thin arm, pocked and dotted with needle points, snaked under the dirt-grummed bars of the pawn shop. Swan dance, like a prima ballerina. Except the finger nails were chipped and filthy, the muscle wasted from too much hop. She nodded to the pawnbroker, his chubby stomach still quaking, eyes darting from her to the arm. The Chinese was as rapid as his breath. Hand froze, jade necklace still dancing in it's grip-"
"Bailey?"
"Gah!" The teen jumped out of her trance at the tiny voice coming from the wrist watch. Her grip on the book slipped and the novel fell to the sandy floor below her chair. She muttered a curse and raised her wrist to answer her guardian's call.
"I'm here, Kitt. What's up?"
"I apologize for startling you, but I would suggest making your way back to me. It's going to start raining soon."
Bailey bit back an annoyed groan. At least she got to spend a good solid hour and a half before the weather finally took a turn for the worst.
"Understood. I'll be up in a minute."
With that, Bailey signed off and began packing up her meager belongings; namely her chair and swimsuit coverings. Once everything was put away, she donned her long sleeved shirt and pulled a pair of loose shorts on over her bathing suit. Looking around, she noticed that the place was pretty much deserted except for a couple people daring to challenge Mother Nature's warning of an incoming storm. She again cursed the huge rain storm that was preparing to wreak havoc on the town.
And right as I was getting to the good part too! Well, not that I don't already know what's going to happen next but still...
The path leading up to the parking lot was just in her sights when the first faint drops began falling. Within seconds the drops turned heavier and it began to pour.
"Shit." The teen muttered as she hightailed it to a small shelter off to the side to escape the rain. She raised the comlink to her mouth. "Kitt, can you hear me?"
Static. Great. Looks like the incoming weather was reeking havoc on the comlink signal now. Just. Great.
Keeping her head down to not attract any attention, the girl decided to hold out for a bit as the front of the storm blew through. The nasty winds started blasting sand and salt water all around. Bailey turned to the side to help shield her face. Angry clouds were gathering in the distance over the choppy sea. Hopefully it would calm down soon and she could book it back to Kitt.
Suddenly, a strong scent of alcohol and cigarettes assaults her nose. Bailey's nose wrinkled. A weirdo in a dark green, unzipped hoodie passes by the shelter, snapping her back to reality. The big man settles into the opposite corner of hers, watching the storm. Bailey glanced over to him. She can't really make out his face due to the angle of which he's turned. However, the guy set off alarm bells. Instincts her father took great care in nurturing when she was very young sent shivers down her spine.
Her heart started pounding.
She exhaled and forced herself to calm down. There was nothing to worry about right now. He was just a regular dude who just so happened to get caught up in the storm as well. There was no sense in allowing her brain to run away with her about scenarios that have yet to prove true. She just needed to focus on getting back to Kitt and heading home.
Relax, Bailey. You're just worked up is all.
The well worn paths have grown wet with the recent down pour. The sky had let up a teeny bit, but nothing substantial yet. She could just start to make her way back anyway and hope for the best. But she also didn't want to risk getting her valuables soaked either. Sticky, humid air filled her lungs as she calmly took another deep breath. The man standing across from her finally turned and gave a small nod in greeting. It was hard for Bailey to return the gesture.
He was a tall man, probably in his late forties. Well muscled. Sun-tanned skin that had suffered damage over the years. His face was hardened into a permanent frown, a greying goatee doing nothing to hide the numerous wrinkles adorning the man's face. She could easily make out the man was blind in his right eye and a horrible looming scar ran down the side of his neck and trailed down below the dirty white tank top.
She fought back a gulp.
"Gotta love when weather like this whips up outta nowhere, eh?" The man chuckled. He now turned to face her fully and Bailey noticed how a large yellow stain ran down the entire front of his shirt.
"Y-yeah." She fought to keep the nervousness from her voice. Her throat felt so dry. "Really puts a dampener on things."
The guy belly laughed, revealing rotten looking teeth. He had come a few steps closer. "I'll say! 'Was looking forward to having some fun in the sand today. Heh." The man's eyes glanced off into the distance. His voice dropped an octave and became malevolent. "But I guess my plans have changed."
Bailey frowned at the sudden change in tone. A pit began to form in her stomach. What was this guy on? "Yeah, it's a bummer." She faked checking down at her watch. The storm had finally calmed enough as well. "Well, I've gotta get going. Hope your day is better!"
An iron grip on her right bicep stopped her cold.
"Now just where do you think you're going, eh? Pretty little thing like you out here all alone."
Her honey eyes widened in fright as a boulder settled in her stomach.
No.
Nonononono!
"What the fuck are you doing? Let me go!" She tried to pull away, frantically smacking the calloused hand wrapped around her arm. He jerked her hard enough to make her yelp, causing her to drop the bag in the process.
"Now quit yer cryin'!" He barked harshly in her face as he pulled her along to the wall. Bailey pulled back, fighting to hold in her tears.
"Please! Just let me go!" She tried to plead with him. She aimed a desperate cry in the direction of the parking lot. "KITT!"
"Shut up!" He slammed the teen against the wall hard enough to stun her a little. Stars danced in her eyes but sharpened once more at the feeling of foreign hands attempting to pin her down. Bailey went to scream but his meaty hand slapped over her mouth before she could make a sound.
Bailey started kicking wildly. Her first strike hit its mark and the man doubled over in pain, groaning on the ground. Not wasting another second, Bailey bolted down the opposite direction, ignoring the dust of wet sand spraying up on her legs in time with her foot fall.
She just had to get away.
A rough hand shot out and grabbed her leg. Bailey landed hard down on the sand, breath whooshing out of her lungs. The teen twisted in the man's grip so she was laying on her back. Her legs bunched up to deliver another powerful kick to the man's groin, but his booted foot came down hard at her knee, kicking it away. Bailey screamed, all thoughts of getting away temporarily forgotten as her world became consumed with pain. Above her the man laughed with a creepy grin on his face. She flinched back as he lowered his face to hers, his horrid breath making the teen's eyes water.
"Oh, I'm going to enjoy you." He purred as he reached for his belt buckle. "The fighters always make it worth my while, after all."
Bailey couldn't hold back a helpless sob as the man's zipper came down. Bailey squeezed her eyes shut before she could see anything more. The teen refused to give the creep the satisfaction.
Just as the guy's hands dove for her shirt, a new sound pierced the otherwise deserted beach. A powerful roar that died down to a dangerous growl as it grew closer. The guy blocked her view with his bulk, so she couldn't see who was coming. It wasn't until the man's hands stopped their expedition that she recognized the sound for what it was: an engine.
Oh thank God! Kitt!
"Get away from the girl now." A new voice demanded.
Wait, what? Bailey strained to see who had spoken. The tone was icy. Deadly. Only a fool would dismiss the warning. She squinted as bright flood lights pierced the ever growing darkness from the approaching storm. Strong winds began to stir up the sand around them. Her attempted rapist got off of her and faced Bailey's savior. The girl took her chance and scrambled away from the guy, watching fearfully.
The man scoffed. "This ain't none of your business, boy. I suggest you take your fancy car and keep on going." He warned. The strange newcomer held his ground.
"Do not make me have to act irrationally." A yellow scanner lit up on the car's darkened prow, pacing leisurely like a sly cat. "Unlike most I will not hesitate to do so."
The man outright belly laughed a drunken guffaw. "You've got some balls to be saying that shit! Say, why don't you stop hiding and come on out and say it to my face!"
"I'm afraid that won't be an option." The driver door clicked open. Bailey blinked. Was that smugness in this guy's voice?
The cryptic reply had it's desired effect and the creeper approached the car. His face contorted from agitation to down right horror. He hastily backed away, his face pasty white.
"Who-who's driving that thing?!" He stuttered out, his wide eyes glued to the now apparent two-tone T-top before them. Bailey gave the vehicle a surprised look as she stood up, edging along the wall to get a better look at the inside without being near the creep. She was amazed to see it looked like a carbon copy of Kitt's own interior. Then a frown crossed her features. Why was she never told of another car like Kitt being out there?
Beside her, the car's engine turned over and the Trans Am crept forward threateningly, slowly closing the distance between the man and the outer wall of the shelter. The yellow scanner brightened, illuminating the man's terrified expression. Her would've-been rapist let loose a pained gasp as the car's prow pinned his knees against the unforgiving surface and crushed them cleanly. The movement was so fast and swift, the guy didn't even have the chance to scream as his lungs seized. The car pulled back, allowing the man to crumple pathetically to the sandy floor. The car then turned and came around to her side. It's passenger side door opened in invitation.
"Unless you wish to stay, I suggest you come with me." He said evenly. Bailey looked at the pained man laying on the floor clutching his busted knees, and the darkened cabin of the car. All the blinking lights on the dash reminded her so much of Kitt. Everything looked the same except for the fact that this car's cabin looked a little less... lived in.
And the voice. This car's very presence. So cold and devoid of the warmth Kitt's whole persona did.
The door wiggled as an unspoken reminder to her unanswered decision.
A shot of black darted in front of them then. Bailey quickly recognized the newcomer as none other than Kitt. His ruby red scanner danced wildly on his prow, indicating the AI was more than stressed.
"Bailey, get away from him!" Was the first thing out of Kitt's voice box. The hard order surprised her and she instinctively backed away from the two-tone Trans Am and closer to Kitt, allowing the younger AI to place himself as a barrier between his charge and the rogue AI. The stranger car backed away a few paces, oddly enough.
"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" The AI continued once Bailey was safely at his side. The teen shook her head, her tears from earlier making a reappearance.
"No, I'm fine. He never hurt me. He saved me." The teen directed her gaze at the silent two-tone Trans Am in front of them.
"Saved you?" Kitt glared across at the other AI. Karr scoffed softly.
"She was attacked by that piece of tar over there." Karr gestured with his wheels to man keening in pain, rolling around on the floor in agony. Kitt cringed at what his scans revealed. "I had heard her cries and came to her aid." Karr retold what had happened. Kitt bristled.
"Then what? Were you planning on taking her away from here? Holding her hostage?" Kitt's voice held an edge to it. His scanner a bright red frenzy.
"What benefit would that bring me?" The other car snarled. Thunder rumbled overhead. "I know I'm on a tight leash, as do you. What could I have possibly wanted with her?"
Kitt growled, reminding Bailey of a German Shepherd preparing to attack an intruder. But whatever reply he was about to make was drowned out at the sound of a purring engine of a modified sports car. Kitt threw a quick scan behind him and felt immense relief course through his CPU at his findings.
An aqua metallic blue, 84' Corvette C4 came to a halt beside Kitt, kicking up a small billow of sand. Michael Knight exited from the driver's seat, quickly coming to his daughter's side and enveloping her in a bear hug.
"Oh God, Bailey." The worried father cupped his daughter's face in his hands, looking straight into her eyes. "Sweetie, are you okay? Really?"
"Yes," the teen sniffed. "My knee hurts, but I'm okay otherwise."
Michael released a pent up breath and glared murderous daggers at the crumpled man still whimpering pathetically. Strangely enough, he felt satisfied the current torrent of pain the man was obviously going through and didn't feel it required an extra punch to the face, or a solid kick to the gut.
He'd suffer more than enough abuse once he was behind bars.
"What's the ETA on the police?" He demanded, not taking his eyes off the waste of space.
"Five minutes, Michael." Kat answered helpfully. The FLAG agent nodded and that's when he seemed to finally notice the third AI present. Bailey noticed the look on her father's face and didn't like what it showed.
"What are you doing here?" Michael took a threatening step toward the two-tone car. Karr's scanner panned back and forth a notch faster.
"Dad!" Bailey cried. She hastily stepped between her father and Karr, surprising them both. "Stop! Please! He had nothing to do with it. He saved me. If it weren't for him..."
Michael appeared surprised and cast his gaze to the silent AI. "Is that true, Karr?"
The eldest AI rolled forward a few inches. Both Kitt and Kat pulled closer as well, their matching death glares could be felt plainly. Their scanners running on high for the slightest change in demeanor from Karr.
"It is. I never intended to harm your daughter in any way, Knight." A sneer flavored his deep voice next he spoke. "My feud was never with her, after all."
Fat rain drops began to dot the ground. Rolling thunder could be heard over the crashing sound of the waves. Bailey tucked herself close to her father's side, taking refuge to shield herself from the growing cold. Sirens could be heard over the sound of crashing waves. Police cruisers pulled up a moment later and officers bagged the creep in hand cuffs. The drunk shouted obscenities at him, yelling crazed things about demon cars with killer instincts.
Bailey had retreated to her partner's warm cabin while her father dealt with the authorities. Kat's worry was practically a living being. The teen gazed at the darkened teal voice box.
"Kat, I'm fine. Really."
"I'm so sorry that you were attacked like that." Kat whispered. "I should've been there."
"Hey, no. None of that. There's no way you could've predicted that, Kat. Don't blame yourself."
Kat grew quiet, not quite accepting the response, but knowing it was only going to go around in circles. Bailey knew this conversation was far from over, but for now it was going to be shelved. The teen's tired gaze strayed to the silent two-tone vehicle. Karr had yet to leave and sat vigil over the area while her father finished up with the authorities. Beside them, Kitt was visibly tense at having the other AI so close to his family. He looked like he was one flinch away from plowing the other Trans Am into the ocean.
"I still can't believe he's real."
Bailey frowned at the mystified tone in Kat's voice. She sounded like the other car was a local legend. "What do you mean? You... heard of him?"
"Well, yes and no." Kat sounded apologetic. "I was told of certain past individuals as per my development and such, is what I was told. Karr being one of those topics."
"Who is he exactly?" She couldn't quite help the stem of anger blossoming at the now confirmed knowledge; she really had never been told of Karr.
Kat sighed, sounding a little depressed. "His name as you heard is Karr - the Knight Automated Roving Robot. He was the original prototype before Kitt was born. Some things went bad in his programming. He... hurt people. Badly. It ended up costing him his life and Karr was shut down not long after his birth. He's dangerous, Bailey. You can't trust him."
Bailey's eyes scanned over the silent Trans Am. Karr had yet to make a move. He just... sat there. Like a prisoner ready for his charges to be dealt out. It saddened her to see. So much potential just... thrown away. All because of a simple programming issue.
"He mentioned something of a tight leash when he and Kitt were talking. What was he referencing?"
"FLAG enabled Karr's freedom so long as he abided by their rules, which were agreed upon by both parties. The main one being he essentially keep to himself, which is easy enough considering Karr was programmed to have a loner personality anyway." The Corvette's screen came to life in the dash. A series of dates, times and locations scrolled down a long list. "What I'm confused about is his latest logs say he's supposed to be in New Mexico. No where in here does he report being back in southern California."
A thoughtful crease lined her brow at the numerous tracking reports listed. Some of these dates were listed way before Kat was even born. "Interesting." She commented, leaning back in the warm leather seat. "Looks like mom and dad have a bit of explaining to do."
The police cruisers finally pulled away. Michael came around to Kitt's driver side door and sat down, no doubt reporting back the latest events. Kat's engine purred to life. "Don't be too hard on them, Bailey. They thought what they were doing was right. Like I said, he's dangerous. They most likely never thought you'd ever cross paths, so there was no reason to mention him."
"Well that royally blew up, didn't it?" Bailey scoffed, her eyes landing on her father as he approached. Her beach bag was in his hands. The teen opened the door and stood up.
"You ready to go?" Her father asked as he handed over her belongings.
"Yes. What's going to happen to him?" Bailey gestured to Karr, who has remained completely silent so far. Michael didn't look too pleased at the prospect of having the rogue AI around still.
"Nothing. He's free to go."
"Can... can I at least tell him thanks?"
Michael clearly wasn't happy about it, but allowed his daughter to give her thanks under all their watchful eyes. Bailey smiled slightly and quietly walked up to Karr. His scanner light blinked on and resumed it's calming swishing motion when the teen came within arm's reach.
"Hey." She greeted him softly. "I... just wanted to say thanks for the save."
A quiet hum emitted from the Trans Am. "I'm glad I could help, Bailey."
Bailey smiled warmly at the earnest response. Karr drove off a minute later, leaving not a trace of him behind aside from the wet tire tracks in the sand.
Okay! So that's the end of Part Uno. Not quite sure when I'll have the second part up, as there still needs to be a TON of editing done and the likes. Hopefully before Christmas lmao ;P. In the meantime, I plan - emphasis on 'plan' - to post some smaller unrelated works while I'm working on this series to keep y'all entertained and my muse going. (RL has a reealll funny way of just throwing a wrench in my plans, you see.)
Anyways, if you enjoyed, please leave a review with your thoughts and I'll see y'all in the next one! Byyyee.
