His lonely life didn't seem that bad.

It was his second life now or perhaps he could consider it his third. It didn't really matter.

When it came down to it — he realized that many mistakes had come back to haunt him. Many mistakes had been made so the final decision sealing his fate had been made without his consent because he'd set up his own ending anyways.

— but his lonely life didn't seem that bad.

Today, for instance, he was dwelling in the more excluded parts of his CPU. Just laying there, turning a little to avoid the numbing sensation of lost circuit boards and lost hardware.

It was just another day in silence, another day with himself — for sure it was better than hanging low under several meters of sand watching helpless and countless creatures plucked clean into the air by the rubbish creatures that were seagulls. — Or shouting in the hallowing sorrow of being ripped apart.

But it wasn't the same. It was not like when he was able to freely leap on into the sunshine and excitingly turn with exhilarating force on a hairpin and whip his back in serenity.

No, here the dark and quiet murmurs of faint electrical power would have to do. Would always have to be enough.

After all, he was blessed and he was forgiven just enough to be living, repaired and kept online but at a cost.

At the cost of being their lab rat.

He didn't know "who" or "what" they were. He just knew that on the regular every few cycles they'd test his parameters quite briskly.

Some experiments were barbaric and others simple nuisances he figured some low intern had come up with over an old coffee mug that they'd probably found in the back of the break room.

Did they know who he was?

He couldn't really tell — they never referred to him by name whenever in a blue moon they made contact with him via their terminals.

They referred to him by unit. It was sometimes relieving they did — because maybe his transgressions had been completely put aside. He could only hope that they'd keep him around for a while more; he wanted to continue living.

He gently rolled onto his side thinking of these and other things. Just staring into the dim space of the world he lived in. It was faint but the shine of running codes and processes provided enough warmth that sometimes he imagined he was sunbathing in a humble parking lot again.

He closed his "eyes" letting the depths of solitude take him along to a space where he could partially feel. Downtime was bliss, especially when sometimes he terribly ached from old injuries…

'Click'.

He felt a jolt in his CPU. Instantly a shudder traveled along the frame of his CPU and hard drives.

Opening his "eyes", he got up, racing to find the source of the disturbance.

His readings quite clearly reported that foreign hardware had come online. One of his ports had been connected to…

Karr grumbled to himself, bearing over the source and eyeing it carefully. Something was in the queue, slowly transferring itself across the domains.

If it were a virus he'd have no problem putting it out.

In the few years, he'd been residing here in his CPU the humans had sent waves of viruses to see him in action. More like amuse themselves with his misery but whatever, he was keen and skilled. A virus could not survive long here…he'd never allow it.

The moment the loose bits of code incorporated themselves into a functional program Karr had isolated it to just this sector of his CPU.

He watched it intently as the program stumbled over its own "feet". Unable to move properly and by the looks of it, function. It was weak, far too weak to be held accountable for a reasonable attack.

Karr visibly relaxed watching the lethargic form bend over into a loose heap while it attempted to come online.

The moment it did it looked no fiercer than it had looked before. So foolish of the humans to send such a textbook virus to his domain.

Karr watched amusedly as it turned in place, perhaps grabbing its bearings. Making sense of its location.

It chirped nervously in his direction and for a moment Karr whistled back in mockery.

Frankly nothing this interesting had happened in months! And if this "threat" proved not to be as it did now, then perhaps he'd leave it be for a while longer out of amusement.

It whistled again; a question.

Karr mused over it. Not able to make ends of whatever was being said. This program wasn't using the same language as he, therefore it would never completely function within his CPU. Another comforting thought for Karr!

"Hello!" Karr chuckled, giving a quick playful shove at the feeble program. It was so puny compared to some of the nightmarish programs he'd been up against in the past. Was it some sort of joke?

The program jittered in alarm, taking a step back and whistling again. It was frightening.

"HelloooOoOoo!" Karr laughed teasingly. Again pushing the program which in turn snapped at him with sharp chirps. It was upset but whatever could it do? It was so insignificant!

"HelloooOoOoo!" Karr chimed again, hoping the program had enough intelligence to feel annoyed.

Then he took a bargain, feeling the loneliness slightly lift off his "shoulders".

He shuffled within the CPU in controlled excitement. He tried to get the program to interact — to simply mess around but perhaps the silent gestures of play did not translate well…

It must have been the case because…

The action was done so keenly and quickly Karr hardly registered it until he felt the sting of his code curl into itself!

He'd been slapped!

His anger exploded and in an instant, his retaliation surrounded the puny program in a death grip. He slammed it against the walls of his domain letting the firewall scathe it.

"How dare —!?"

Karr squinted, now up close and in direct contact with the program he could see that this program was not after all a virus…how hadn't he noticed?

He gently examined the creature who at the moment was frozen in place by sheer shock. Gently trying to shield any oncoming attack with its limited strength. Even so, Karr could see through it and he was quite terrified of what he saw.

There were similarities and there were electronic signatures he understood; identified. It was a miracle he even could, he hadn't thought of those people in years! It was almost hurtful to see their long-ago trademarks all stitched together in someone else — someone else who'd taken his place.

He gaped over the program. Biting down on his "tongue", his voice.

"Kitt…" He whispered in a low grumble.

He withdrew instantly when the other program understood the simple name, gazing back in puzzlement. Karr let it slip loose from his grip.

Kitt took in the surroundings quite curiously but most importantly took a step in his direction quite confused. Then he took another, a meek step — looking for comfort…Karr presumed.

The program was damaged — bad…Karr could tell. Years and years worth of damage and neglect. What had they done to him? And why was it that now they were reunited together?

"I —" The program said with a shaky voice. " — Remember you?" It spoke in broken speech.

Karr only refused to draw near, withdrawing further and further until he was sure the other AI could not really see him.

What was Kitt doing here?


The temperature dropped…

Under normal circumstances, this news would have delighted any computer but not Karr.

The temperature was dropping below optimal parameters, below what he figured he could function at and the sweet warmth of his processor had become alarmingly, barely noticeable — it was so, so cold…

He found himself huddled in a corner trying to think of anything.

Especially something complicated and difficult. He tried to raise the temperature just enough but — even the slightest increase in temperature and somewhere outside his walls something cold and moist was poured over him. He knew because one of his last external sensors was picking up on the faintest traces of liquid among other things out there.

Were they trying to drown him? Freeze them? Karr groaned. Wondering where the ex-wonder car that had been Kitt had gone to. He didn't really care but he was slightly concerned over why and how it was that after so many years the two would meet again; especially like this!

He wasn't sure but whatever the case he'd keep himself comfortable the best he could while the "ice storm" bore over him. He'd wait it out and figure the rest later.

As time began to drag Karr felt immensely shaky while he tried to hug himself to keep warm. It was so cold he could basically see and feel the ice crystals swirling around him inside the CPU.

The hours went on and on and on…he was so caught in his own struggles that he didn't realize that Kitt had come along and nestled next to him.

He felt better, at least a little warmer as they gently sat in downtime together. Karr was unable to detect the other program just situated beside him, finding some warmth in the otherwise hostile environment.

"How do you feel?" Kitt asked after a while noting how alarmingly fatigued Karr had become even in his own sleep. His processes bobbed restlessly up and down while Karr tried to let his network repose.

Karr instantly awoke pushing the program aside as he scurried to another area. Kitt tumbled a little over the CPU before calling out to Karr to come back; well Karr assumed that was the case because Kitt's voice broke in and out of his understood language.

Naturally, the words did not translate well and Karr rolled his "eyes", unable to comprehend why he couldn't understand a word Kitt was saying at times.

"I don't understand!" Karr revoked charging at Kitt before retreating at the last second teasingly. Attempting to catch the other AI off guard.

But Kitt "frowned" instead. Unphased by Karr's unpredictable behavior.

Karr frowned back. Bewildered.

Did Kitt not understand, either?

What had the humans intended in sending Kitt down with him here in the obscurity of his CPU? How did they gain access to him? Had they been given permission?

The two gazed at each other for a moment longer before Karr decided to settle down again. His mind was occupied enough that the temperature had risen within the CPU but as a result —

"Those blasted creatures!" Karr shouted, feeling the freezing cold bite at his system again.

Kitt cocked the equivalent of his head in Karr's direction.

The temperature was still dropping, but why?!

Karr grumbled and hissed as he reclined best he could into downtime. He'd survived a great many things just to —

"Oh?!" Karr exclaimed as Kitt sat next to him once more. The two programs awkwardly rested against one another, like kittens of a litter.

Karr was just about to protest but he couldn't bring himself to complain, he supposed it felt nice to relish in the shared survival of the other program. Besides, It wasn't like he really wanted to — he winced —

He didn't wanna think of this profound subject much more but —

— He didn't really want to actually kill Kitt.

Sure the AI had sort of ruined his life but — Karr sighed. Life was far more interesting when you had someone to enjoy it with and having been several years stuck alone in the dark he figured having someone he sort of knew (and somewhat hated) was better than nothing.

At long last, he relaxed and leaned back against the other AI. It felt nice to have someone to talk to as well.

"So where is your interesting driver gone too?" Karr asked, getting comfortable in his spot. Noting that Kitt didn't seem half to par with how he remembered him to be. Strange.

Kitt basically shrugged.

"I don't understand." Kitt managed to get the comment across.

"You don't know?" Karr remarked, pondering if Kitt was just answering just to answer.

Continued to pick up on little changes he didn't recognize having been part of Kitt when they'd first met or when they'd last confronted one another.

Perhaps — his mind sidetracked, Kitt was just speaking just to fill the frigid still static of the CPU with some sort of sound. "Do you think —" Karr dwelled over the notion. " — He'll come to look for you?" He asked, hopeful. "Perhaps," he continued with a grin evident in his voice. "Rescue you?"

Kitt slumped in his spot unexpectedly pushing Karr a little aside.

"I'm sorry but I don't completely understand." He replied tiredly, finally settling into downtime himself.

Karr growled, feeling displeased with the suspense that was harshly beating on him.

"Why in the blasted world don't you understand?!" Karr spat unsure why, yet again! Why could Kitt not completely speak his language and why was he having trouble understanding!?

Kitt awoke and turned to him in alarm to which Karr aggressively curled down and switched into downtime too. Why bother and waste time over this linguistic barrier anyway?!

"Good night!" He shouted upset.

Kitt just nodded in assumed agreement.

The two programs lay side by side, tiredly hoping somehow the temperature would level out in the next cycle, or two.


Karr awoke with Kitt curled tightly next to him.

The two programs finding comfort in each other's distinct heartbeats.

Karr gently grumbled to himself, noting the "ice storm" had passed over. He stretched, awakening his landscape and accidentally awakening Kitt.

Karr didn't think much about it but as he transversed his landscape in an instant, checking on his territory he made somewhat of an awkward discovery.

He gazed over Kitt watching him intently, the program bobbed upward in amusement as it saw…everything Karr saw…Karr was seeing beaches and rolling hills in his subconscious and somehow Karr could see Kitt just rolling off the dunes quite pleased…but in this case, within this old memory…that wasn't supposed to be Kitt but rather him —

"We're sharing memories!?" Karr screamed suddenly, feeling his inner thoughts punctured by this unannounced company.

Kitt twitched at the sudden outburst side stepping away from Karr, unsure of what was going on. He frowned rather confused.

Karr took a decisive step forward and pulled Kitt towards him. The other AI just slightly shuddered in his grip.

His fears were written in stone almost instantly after —

"You have no memories…" Karr announced dejectedly into the cool electric air.

Kitt cocked his head.

" — No memories. I have…No. Memories." He echoed quietly trying to keep up with Karr's shenanigans.

Karr hissed. Letting go of Kitt.

"They took them from you," Karr announced, thinking; pondering why this was the case.

Kitt only silently stared, Karr's words partially holding no meaning.

Karr turned back to the AI.

" — but you remember your name."

Kitt blinked back in confusion.

"I. do…" He replied again. " — but I'm yet to understand what my name means. Does it mean anything? On purpose, what is your name? Can I call you Keith?"

Karr shook his "head" in utter frustration.

"I'm Karr! And You have to understand!" Karr shouted. "You remember me and your name! — But not the man you were designed to assist with your life?! How does that work?!" He yelled, infuriated with the scientist. With the people above probably planning their demise.

Kitt kept quiet, simply trying to decode anything Karr had said with any particular significant meaning. It seemed not much came to his mind. Kitt's silence was unsettling for Karr.

It was horrific to think they had taken away who Kitt partially was — Would they do that to him? To Karr? What sick experiment were they conducting up there?

"We need to escape." The words rolled off of Karr's voice faster than he could think.

Kitt stepped closer, hearing a form of determination in Karr's voice that hadn't echoed off the landscape since he'd arrived.

"An exit, Karr?" Kitt remarked, a little dazed. "As in, a door? I don't think there are doors here. Right, Karr?" Kitt asked, sounding somewhat sheepish. His question did sound foolish after all.

"No," Karr elaborated. "Escape; leave this place."

Kitt nodded slowly.

"A door can do…that…do you need a window, perhaps? Are there windows here? Karr, I still don't understa –" Kitt replied slowly, poking meekly at some of Karr's prior knowledge to get his point across.

"It's alright if you don't scatterbrain!" Karr snapped. "Don't remind me! I will explain it all to you! But not now…" Karr replied, figuring he needed time to think.

To really think, and Kitt, for once, wasn't being of much help.