Electric Apocalypse
They were becoming a much rarer sight nowadays…the sounds, that familiar smell. Everything that he stood for slowly turned into an exotic sight on the freeway. It didn't bother him when pedestrians looked his way and made a scene about him as much as it did that he wasn't blending in as well as he used to. Michael would for sure have thought it peculiar that for once…he wasn't the embodiment of discretion.
Although —
It didn't matter anymore.
That life had been behind him for some time now…not that he terribly missed it…but…it was something he naturally knew he could never say farewell to completely.
He'd been around long enough that he'd come to understand the meaning of exhaustion and consequently could now experience said sensation. It wasn't pleasant but the computer now better understood those long nights when Michael would turn to look at the side mirrors and wonder about yesterday…and where he might find himself the next day. When his next rest would be…when his next stop would be.
Kitt found himself doing it often now as well…Wondered what was around the next bend and if at all he could withstand the test of time much longer.
Kitt's frame shuddered slightly as the next client climbed into his passenger seat and gaped at his old-fashioned retro-looking dash. The comment always led to run-on-the-hill conversations…which was the reason why Kitt often diverted his occupant's attention to other matters that were worth discussing.
Today he decided to speak of the weather…he was simply just feeling a tick miserable that the mundane had become a sanctuary to fall back on when he simply wanted to keep his memory modules at rest.
"You talk like your old of people." The woman grinned over at the peculiar voice modulator lighting up smoothly despite the obvious wear on the surface. Kitt noted pleasantly that she was holding onto her grocery bag containing 20 lbs worth of greased chicken in a tight grip. He wanted none of that on his upholstery at all if he could help it!
"Perhaps I am…" Kitt teased, flashing his blinker as he exited the traffic lane and parked along a curb leading to an apartment building. "Have a pleasant rest of your day." Kitt chimed out of habit, finding himself relieved he'd filled his quota and could return to the parking depot to rest up and charge his power packs.
He returned without trouble, squeezing between the other cars off duty resting up for tomorrow's shift, while sleek and elegant cars whizzed by silently say for the crackle of stray gravel that'd been carried into the large depot being crushed underfoot. These cars eagerly headed out the entrance for the late evening shift toward the more classy areas where the tips were fatter and the people much touchy about what they rode.
— Along with this…they were all-electric.
Kitt could care less… "Tips" didn't really matter to him at the end of the day…they weren't his anyway. The majority of the money was invested in the cab company and a lesser part was invested into keeping the cars in good shape…or in Kitt's case adequate shape.
He grumbled his engine out of annoyance as an incoming automated vehicle brake checked an unsuspecting "land yacht'' that'd been called in for a yearly brake fluid change. The nearby EVs slumbering in utter silence…peeking over and batting "an eye" at Kitt for making a scene about said matter…
Kitt understood the competition was fierce around here…all the automated automobiles competing for positions and shifts involving transporting people of higher class…he understood they were programmed that way…but then there was Kitt…The car didn't give a cent when it came to serving the upper class.
"You should all feel ashamed," Kitt uttered into the air, reproaching the other AI's actions. His crimson scanner tracked tiredly.
How could they be so senseless enough to want to hurt another vehicle in order to gain ground on the never-ending "escalator" of position scaling?
Kitt only heard the mutterings against him…calling him names as the other vehicles ranted about how in the world he'd been allowed to serve alongside them when clearly he was an old-timer that belonged in the junkyard. Kitt was thick-skinned — literally. So of course these comments didn't bother him — anymore.
Considering, unlike the other cars in the garage, he was invulnerable to damage…The MBS had come a long way. So at the end of things…who was really laughing?! The other cars that ventured dangerously into the dense traffic ways and streets for a quick buck often came back with dings that made the company mechanic groan and loudly complain about their negligence. Simply put…Kitt had no such weakness and because of this, he'd gained just enough to be one of the company's "favorites' '. Kitt served the suburbs mostly, being able to maneuver and withstand the elements that came with driving around crowded neighborhoods.
"Jalopy."
Kitt internally jumped as one of those "good" looking "special edition" sedans whizzed by a thread past him…Despite the invulnerability that the MBS provided, Kitt valued the privilege of personal space. Which within the confined interior parking depot — could simply not exist.
Kitt internally sighed, letting his worn scanner fade to black as he settled inside his housing and got comfortable.
"Good grief…if only you could see me now Michael."
Certainly, the man would have never believed him.
Kitt knew it was a good day…
There was a certain ring to good days. First off…cab #2056 had blown a battery and was out for maintenance…which meant — cab #3408 would be taking its place!
There were just some vehicles Kitt preferred really. Cab #3408 often stayed out of Kitt's grill so to speak and was characterized by muteness. A "feature" that had never been removed…or mended, as Kitt often thought about it. Whatever the case…Cab #3408 did its job without purposely looking out to "bite" Kitt when he least expected it which in turn made his routes run smoother.
This meant – he could fiddle with time.
He'd been sitting on a curb for a while that morning. The crowds downtown looked rather thin from the rain and the need for transportation just on the edge of being needed.
He'd calculated the best times and places to fill his quota…and from his calculations…he could tell that he'd have enough time to rest out by the curb before attending his job.
He was just about to roll into sleep mode when a woman with a baby carrier entered the wet sidewalk and attempted to flag down a cab. Sadly the other cabs dispatched in the area from his company and competing companies all kept their way, ignoring the woman entirely.
'Programming' – Kitt could only think. Infants were considered a liability that could provoke pricey lawsuits if anything went wrong…therefore infants were the last choice for a cab to fill their quotas with.
Kitt on the other hand…
He rumbled his engine to life, swatting the rain off his windshield as he crawled slowly up the partially empty curb towards the woman and popped the trunk and door open. She stared, setting her hand slowly down and glancing over the company logo imprinted onto the strange car's side.
"Good morning, Ma'am. May I be of assistance?" Kitt asked kindly.
The woman smiled faintly as she gently placed her car-seated child into the back seat and secured it in. The woman then stuck the remaining luggage she was hauling in the back. She eventually took a seat, gently letting raindrops trickle down Kitt's upholstery.
"Why do you sound different?" The woman finally asked after giving the AI her destination.
"Pardon?" Kitt asked, sounding somewhat concerned.
"Not your voice but your uh…engine. Your interior?" She pointed at the surrounding dash on the driver's side. Several buttons having their labels etched out and simply glowing faintly or not at all.
"I'm not electric." Kitt "smiled". " – Nor am I the standard-issued car." He replied proudly.
The woman nodded, frowning. Turning in her seat as her baby daughter cooed in the back seat. Kitt was driving much more carefully than usual, understanding the special bond between the two. As he drove the woman and her daughter uptown toward the higher class areas… Kitt thought about…those annoying SUVs that'd be roaming the streets and would inevitably spot him.
He could care less but he still didn't like it when those spoiled pair of wheels decided to roll up next to him with some awful things to say…
In the more trafficked areas of the higher-class neighborhoods, Kitt could see the elegant suited men exiting their luxury condos and apartments pridefully as they flagged a luxury cab. Even in the rain, those things were pristine…Kitt thought it ridiculous that the company could someday be desperate enough just to make one of their "land yachts" straight up out of gold.
"Do you live here?" Kitt asked suddenly, noting the woman didn't seem to be from high class…analyzing her luggage contents and cross-checking the brands she was wearing.
The woman, who'd been quietly staring out the window and listening to the rain beat gently off of Kitt's t-top, replied meekly.
"Yes, I do…my parents they…do…"
Kitt felt his RAM shudder…he shouldn't have asked.
"We have an ETA of 3.4 minutes…" Kitt interrupted abruptly.
The woman nodded before staring out the window, Kitt catching the sight of small bead-sized tears catching on her eyelashes as her eyes became pink.
"I'm sorry…" Kitt apologized, taking vital readings on both passengers out of habit.
The woman jerked startled in her seat toward the voice modulator.
" — look I…"
"I won't say anything, I'm a car…what do I know?" Kitt replied gingerly.
The woman nodded shyly.
"I was born into riches…it isn't cut out to be what everyone else dreams of."
"I can imagine," Kitt remarked.
" — my husband passed away and I have nowhere else to go…so this is all I have." The woman choked on her words, glancing down at her hands clasped in her lap.
"Your parents won't be happy?"
The woman shook her head biting down on her lips…Kitt dismissed the conversation as the woman shut down within herself.
Kitt parked along a curb, noting the tenants nearby giving him a side glance…he was aware his design was old-ish… if not, classical…always catching the eyes of everyone wherever he went. He'd imagine FLAG would have fitted him with a much more updated chassis…but the AI wouldn't have had it either way. His look was his and his forevermore.
The woman paid for the ride, adding a small tip before lifting her daughter's seat out and taking her luggage. Thankfully the attendant by the door helped her unload Kitt's trunk before walking her inside.
The woman left without another word and Kitt sighed about missing someone to turn to when he encountered tragedies on the job. He gunned the engine and darted into traffic, not standing the electronic chatter in the comms channels brewing wildly already…the chatter involving his presence in the high end of the city.
"For the record, I don't care about serving this area…you can keep your turf…" Kitt counteracted in the links.
"Extinct Pontiac don't be sly…we know your intentions…gas-o-coholic."
Kitt growled within the comms as the other vehicles tried to sound threatening as they drove by…their electric engines however failed to hold their ground as Kitt roared his V8 making the ground shake as he bolted out of the area in a mad dash.
It silenced them for a little while…just enough to get out of Kitt's head.