Ch. 4 - Sleep_has_stopped_responding
Like a lone cat amongst the streets looking for companionship was the way Michael Knight moved through the mansion grounds during the thin hours of early morning (exaggeratingly early)…Kitt had often found it quite peculiar behavior. Something he hadn't been warned about or had ever guessed would have been the case of this "newly-born" driver.
Michael's late-night outings of walking to no avail often "awoke" Kitt in the middle of the night when the comlink's location updated automatically, Kitt found that Michael was much of a night owl as he was a morning person.
Spending endless hours wandering through the night in search of…
Frankly, Kitt did not know —
And on a serious note, he rather not ask. The less he was involved with one of Micheal's mischievous schemes, the better.
However, he'd taken the liberty to inquire Bonnie about the man's odd late-night walks but as the computer hinted to joining at the man's heels as a precaution; she strongly disapproved. Making it clear he was NOT to leave the bay when duty did not call. That included following Michael on a personal "tootle" through the night.
Kitt could only make of this "rule" as some rueful jealousy on behalf of his beloved mechanic hiding beneath the surface of her quiet nature. Michael often spoke to Kitt in a playful teasing manner — Often making the woman look at him funny. And Kitt could easily pick up on the woman's boiling impatience right beneath her jumpsuit.
Kitt silently grumbled beneath his "breath", noting it was 2:45 in the morning already and Michael was on the 18th lap of his nocturnal walk around the mansion grounds.
Unfortunately, he could not join him — even if his better judgment let him know that he should be closer. Ensure nothing happened to the man — after all, there were people out there that did not wish to see him smiling from ear to ear — People who'd rather attend his funeral than say…his retirement party (which was several, several years away…).
Kitt sighed, deflating his tires somewhat while he listened to the coo of his maintenance computers idling nearby. Taking readings and monitoring him closely.
Bonnie wasn't due in a few hours, and Devon was tucked in bed — Not sleeping exactly but rather reading a book that, given his pace, he would complete in the next hour.
Ever since he'd had that incident with a corrupted police department and sent to jail the man had been rather restless, nostalgic, and weary — The effect on Michael was immediate, his nocturnal walks had gotten longer. Keeping excessive tabs on Devon.
"Pal, you there?"
"Yes, and Devon is still safe Michael," Kitt reported, aware of the silent inquiry that'd been sitting at the edge of the communications channel for the last hours. "He's awake, reading poetry. Might you want to hear some?"
"No — spare me the literature, Kitt. — And Bonnie?" He asked shifting to a sweet tone, just enough it half startled the computer. It made Kitt wonder what was the matter with the man, why he still hadn't gotten over his "infection". An infection that Kitt had concluded had no cure and had been rounding the very moment the man had met her, but she had not responded well. Unfortunately, probably wouldn't for a long time to come.
" — Asleep, already on her second sleeping cycle…You should be sleeping too Michael." Kitt pointed out helpfully. Hoping he'd not be running any more favors for the man, his system was having a rough time adjusting and adapting to these endless lists of "favors". — All with time, however, he figured he'd soon learn enough that he'd be able to get Michael to do some "favors" on his behalf instead!
The man chuckled.
"Can't."
"What might you be up to then?" Kitt asked. A little curiosity pricked his motherboard. "What's so important out there?" Kitt felt his turbine flutter under his hood. Antsy to get out of his "stable" and get a whiff of the fresh air outside, but again…he wasn't allowed to.
"Why don't you come and I show you?"
The invitation was very tempting, the car wanting nothing more than to break loose from the garage and prance under the moonbeams along his driver. Travel, see and experience all the things that he'd yearned for when he'd been strapped under the restraints of life as a mainframe but Kitt knew better than to disobey a direct order from Bonnie.
"Very unorthodox hour to be up Michael," Kitt replied, attempting to…as Michael often did…change the subject.
The man chaffed.
"So, you can't come? Is it because you don't want to? — Or because your mother won't let you?"
Kitt felt something ignite — It wasn't anger, He didn't think so. It was far too mild for that. — but it was lingering, cold. Making his scanner blush and emit a shallow chirp… Could it be, embarrassment?
"Automobiles do not have mothers," Kitt responded gravely.
" — But you do. This reminds me," The man sucked air through his greeted teeth while the sounds of crunching leaves were picked up by the comlink; as far as Kitt could hear, the man was raking? Why was he gardening? And why ever would he do it at night? " — why didn't you rat me out to your mum yesterday?"
Kitt thought it over for a moment, dismissing all his theories as to why the man would find nocturnal gardening ideal or even necessary, flashing his scanner bright crimson as all his systems came online. The conversation had taken quite an interesting turn.
"I don't understand."
" — The stoplights, I had you micro jam them all so a red one wouldn't catch up to us while we drove downtown. Isn't that something your "mother" would disapprove of?"
"In layman's terms, yes."
" — Then why?"
"Just for the kicks." Kitt's obvious grin was evident. He felt so sneaky, teeming with the electronic equivalent of adrenaline. It was nice for once to…wait… "Oh, my word!" He blurted unintentionally into the comlink. Probably making Michael wince. Goodness! No! Michael's unruly behavior WAS rubbing on. Bonnie was right!
Michael laughed.
"Kitt, you alright?" He asked between gasps of air, unable to hold his chuckle.
"No! I'm not alright! Go to bed, Michael." Kitt hissed, jabbing his diagnostic system to life. All desire to leave the garage evaporated to thin air.
"I think I'll call it a night then." Michael yawned, something metallic dropping to the ground somewhere in the dark. "You might be right. Keep an eye on ol'Devon for me, will ya?"
" — Course…" Kitt lamented. Suddenly, Dawning on him why Michael walked so much at night. "You know, Michael. We dispose of various patrols in that area, if you think it's so under-protected then maybe —"
"Nah, I think my system will work just fine. It's fine-tuned and ready to catch an uninvited guest. Follows a very simple principle." The man's smile traveled across the connection making Kitt internally grin.
"If making a giant hole is your definition of a fine-tuned system, then I suppose so," Kitt answered somewhat bewildered. "Michael, why do you worry about Devon so much?"
"Same reason you worry about me."