The night was cool and very quiet, other than the scattered sharp chirps of crickets in the overgrowth. A silence had befallen both AI's as they hurriedly navigated out of the desert. After several hours, they were relieved at the glimpse of lights out in the distance. Their first view of civilization since they'd been awakened. As they approached the lights, a large establishment became distinguishable over the darkness, most likely a truck rest stop just to the side of a lonely highway. Kitt and Karr were very pleased to get their tires off the back dirt roads and onto the welcoming payment once more. Without even having a word between themselves, both AI's drove into the parking lot making themselves at home in one of the empty spaces as several semis departed towards the highway, no one taking into notice the fact both vehicles had materialized from the overgrowth on the side of the highway.
Kitt was the first to power down his engine, taking in the sounds of buzzing flies and mosquitos swarming a nearby overhead lot lamp. It had been a while since he last visited one of these stops with Michael. In all honesty, they'd been too noisy for his liking. Loud whirrs and roars of semi coming and going at odd hours of the night. Of course, the two had always preferred to travel under the cover of night, saving themselves the frustrating yawns and shouts of grumpy grown men complaining about wages and delayed delivery dates. Not to mention, the faint memories Kitt relived when an occasional large semi came to noisily rest just next to him. It was unsettling to think one of these machines had once shared his indestructible bonded shell and had at some point, nearly killed him.
"I detect some tension on your behalf, why is that?" Karr wondered. "You wouldn't be planning my demise would you?"
Karr's voice shook Kitt from his thoughts, his scanner going dark.
"No, Karr. I'm trying to see where we are exactly."
"We're out in the middle of nowhere," Karr noted.
"-obviously…" Kitt added, annoyed.
"You have been quiet. Why?" Karr dared to ask again. Kitt internally sighed.
"I'm trying to get a fix on this program that has been bothering me for the past four hours, Karr. Care to put the topic in question aside?" Kitt grumbled softly.
Karr's scanner flickered to life, whirring loudly as his attention quickly followed behind a group of men chuckling outside a dining restaurant at the back of the parking lot. He eyed them closely as the men took out a crowbar, pointing and uncontrollably laughing in the direction of both cars. They continued to laugh, leaning back against their vehicles painted bright lively colors, muscle cars he'd never seen before.
"I'm afraid...we have company," Karr replied, watching suspiciously over the men entering what he presumed was a newer modeled mustang, driving it in their direction. Both vehicles were quick to tint their windows dark, wanting to keep a low profile. The bright headlights of the mustang washed over both Kitt's and Karr's dusty chassis as it approached. Kitt could tell Karr was nervous, his scanner swooshing from side to side uncontrollably. Kitt himself didn't mind that this brawny vehicle was coming their way, surely these men didn't think they could harm them, did they?
"Where do you dudes get these cars? Your grandma?!" Shouted one of the men through an open window, tossing an empty soda can at Kitt's windshield, noisily bouncing off and hitting the pavement. Both cars remained silent, only the angry hum of their scanners working as much as an answer above the clatter of stopping and vibrating motors refueling at the gas pumps.
"Ah come on! You're gonna cry about it?" Said another.
As Kitt's analysis could tell, the men weren't exactly all there, so to speak. Also, it looked like they were all heavily sleep-deprived, which in any case didn't help at all.
The men continued to ridicule both vehicles for another couple of minutes, their offenses falling on deaf ears. Eventually, presumably bored, they drove off entering the highway disappearing into the dark under the loud clatter of maddening laughter.
"Some people." Kitt finally remarked, over the trumpeting of an arriving tractor-trailer.
"Tell me about it." Karr sighed.
"Get some rest Karr," Kitt added. "Uh, goodnight." Kitt awkwardly waited for Karr's reply until shortly entering sleep mode himself when there wasn't one.
Karr watched Kitt go quiet, listening to the shallow hum of the overhead post lamps and insects before he finally answered.
"Goodnight." He remarked before rolling into sleep mode.
The lot had gotten a whole lot livelier. People coming and going, buying snacks and all kinds of multicolored beverages that weren't probably even that healthy. Kitt was coming out of sleep, noting these things quickly as he put himself into surveillance mode. It was about 7 in the morning, the air very refreshing. Lots of people were gathered inside the dining restaurant at the end of the lot, some drinking coffee and most often than not dragging their unwilling sleep-deprived toddlers to a table. Lots of people, Kitt re-noted. He brought his attention back to himself, taking one last glimpse of the bussy lot before panicking at the lack of Karr.
"Karr?!" Kitt shouted a little too loud for comfort, making several pedestrians look his way puzzled. It had been a tiring night, they'd been going over potholes and uneven dirt roads for hours, only for their first greeting from civilization being some very inconsiderate fellows. Hadn't been the best night for sure but at least they had continued to keep a low profile and kept out of trouble, but now Karr was gone!
'Karr? Do you read me, Karr?' Kitt asked into the private channel.
'What seems to be the problem, Kitt?' Karr spat back almost immediately.
'Where are you?' Kitt demanded.
'What do you mean?' Karr added, dismissing the question as he gently pulled up to the truck stop coming in from the highway and made his way to the empty parking space he'd inhabited the night before.
Kitt quietly watched as Karr came to a steady stop next to him, his orange scanner gently beating from side to side. Kitt was quick to note how dirty Karr was, his nice silver half splashed in mud and leaves.
'Karr where were you?' Kitt inquired.
'Greeting some old friends.' Karr added a hint of malice in his voice.
'Friends? You don't have any...Karrrrrrrr!' Kitt shouted in the private channel. 'What have you been up to!?' Kitt accused.
'Dare I say?' Karr mocked.
'Yes!' Kitt replied, clearly upset.
Karr internally chuckled, enjoying the trouble he was causing Kitt at the moment. He had to admit he preferred the younger AI's company over the cynical beings that plagued every corner. Kitt hadn't asked much from him on the last day and what was more, seemed respectful of him even to a certain extent, but what had Karr in an optimistic mood was that Kitt hadn't abandoned him. He hadn't turned his back on him, which he was aware Kitt could have done several times ago. He could have just left him back in the slammer or could have parted ways out in the desert. He hadn't, what was even more...he seemed worried about him. Strange. It was strange to suddenly have someone sincerely worried about his well-being, and not out of self-interest. The humans who'd awaken him at the museum had surely taken his befriending as just that. A means to an end, a tool - not a friend. Kitt however seemed to be taking him into account as this journey dragged on. He was very grateful for that, despite the fact that he didn't want to admit it.
'Karr, are you going to tell me?' Kitt interrupted, sounding more at ease now that he was back, his scanner quietly humming.
'You will see.' Karr replied, eagerly. Knowing it was best to show him his surprise later in the day.
They watched in silence as several pedestrians walked by, some taking in the spectacle of the two firebirds standing side by side taking in the warm rays of light as the day began to brighten. A young woman among the pedestrians broke away from the crowd, pulling out a foldable device and snapping quick photos of Kitt and Karr. Kitt watched over the behavior curiously, scanning over the peculiar device in the woman's grip. She smiled down at both cars, coming in to get a better look. She gently patted Kitt's hood before her face broke into pure awe.
"Oh my goodness, this paint job! It's so smooth." The woman marveled in wonder, taking her hand back and dusting it off. It made Kitt cringe, he didn't like to be dirty...especially in public.
Karr couldn't help and felt jealous. Why had the woman come to marvel Kitt first? His sense of competition was kicking in and without thinking it twice, he remarked.
"Observe." He replied strongly, making the woman jump and turn to him as he gunned his engine and pulled out of the parking space. He did a quick 180, squealing his tires loudly, catching all the observer's attention in the vicinity. He gunned his engine a little more, growing the suspense as multiple people began to eagerly watch him. Even the people in the diner restaurant were pressing their faces against the windows to see what all the fuss was about. He internally smiled before picking up speed and in record time entered ski mode. He went around the entire complex, taking in the gaping audience gratifyingly. He eventually slowed down, jolting back on all four wheels before doing one more 180 and squealing to an impressive halt. The audience he'd collected broke into applause, and heartwarming chatter at the dazzling presentation they'd just witnessed.
Karr slowly made his way back to Kitt, several onlookers jogging towards him and patting his top wildly, clearly wanting more show.
'Well?' Karr inquired from Kitt, who'd been very quiet during the whole ordeal. His scanner slowly hummed.
'It was unnecessary Karr.' Kitt replied, slowly. '-But I can't say I didn't enjoy it.' Kitt awkwardly added. Oddly enough it had been a satisfying spectacle and had given Kitt something else to put his attention to on this warm morning. The mysterious program had started to kick in once again, giving Kitt the equivalent of a headache.
Karr was very surprised with Kitt's response, he had expected the AI to be in protest over said spectacle. He also picked up on some distress in Kitt's voice. Was something wrong?
The audience was starting to dissipate as no sign of a second go was obvious. Karr watched the audience thin, waiting on Kitt's next reaction. He parked gently next to Kitt in anticipation as the lot began to get noisier.
Kitt just wasn't feeling that good anymore. He was worried sick, homesick overall. He yearned for his garage and the friendly handling of his technician. The amusing conversations and the company of his driver, and the gentle voice of their boss. Goodness, he missed the rumble of the mobile HQ too! Kitt continued to think in silence, his scanner suddenly blinking in response to his miserable state. The program was still pulling and yanking at him urgently, rippling over several of his functions like a slight shiver. He wanted to do something about it, no doubt, but he wanted to go home most of all. The program's destination was far away and in the opposite direction of the foundation headquarters. Some part of him yearned to do like the program dictated, the codes of familiarity coaxing him to carry on after it. The other part of him just wanted to go home.
"I want to go home," Kitt replied into the air, taking Karr by surprise.
"We don't have a home," Karr answered, bluntly. "They will dismantle us."
Kitt stood quiet, his scanner still blinking wildly in affliction.
"I have a home." Kitt squeaked, his voice modulator dimming inside the driving compartment.
Karr felt a rift in his circuitry. He wanted to journey around without a human say, he really wanted to. It was his opportunity to vanish and never be caught, be wild and forever free. Kitt, on the other hand, had become the equivalent of a domestic appliance. Karr secretly wanted Kitt to come with him too, to join him in their revolt against their captors. To join him on their solo adventure where they could do as they pleased without having to worry about any secondary tasks and goals put forth by those cynical creatures. He knew deep down they had more in common than they thought.
"The foundation put us in the slammer, and you choose to go back? Ridiculous." Karr replied, taking by surprise a man hauling a large toolbox nearby.
"Karr, how can you be sure they put us there? I doubt the foundation could do such a thing without being strongly consulted by Michael." Kitt hankered. "-Knowing them, they're probably looking for us now."
"Looking for you. Not me." Karr added, unsettled. "They wish to destroy me. I have no intentions of returning."
"Karr, now you don't know that. Why else might they have rebuilt you?" Kitt added. Although, he wasn't sure where he was going with the thought himself. In all honesty, Kitt was curious as to why they'd rebuilt Karr in the first place, especially with his "Interesting" background.
Karr gunned his engine madly, making Kitt flinch as the two-toned T-top unexpectedly drove out towards the highway at full speed, squealing his tires wildly. A large number of people gazed over the sudden reaction with curiosity. Kitt bid his engine forward following after Karr in a more settled manner. He slowly made himself reach speed, keeping a safe distance from him and Karr.
'Karr? Where are you going?' He asked, gently.
'Anywhere but the foundation.' Karr hissed over the private channel.
'-But Karr…'
'If you wish to go, that is your choice. Not mine.' Karr boldly replied, shutting out Kitt's link to his and entering pursuit mode, leaving him behind. Kitt came to a slow stop on the side of the road, feeling torn. He was so confused, and his scanner wouldn't stop flickering. The mysterious program briefly going quiet but the headache was ever so present.
He came to a subtle stop. What was going on? Why was he depending on Karr so much? Was it because he feared being alone? He was after all, with no connection to the foundation whatsoever. He hadn't a clue how long he'd been inactive or when that had occurred too. For all he knew, several years had lapsed by and FLAG could have ceased to exist, and his friends...He stood quiet dismissing that disturbing thought, trying to pry from his memory the last he'd been active but strange enough it seemed to have been removed. He had a feeling...despite he didn't want to admit it...that something was missing...there was something he knew but he just couldn't pull it out. Kitt suddenly had the horrid feeling of helplessness flooding through his mind, there was nothing he could do now if something had indeed occurred to Michael, which was impossible to put to words!... He needed to know what had happened when he'd been deactivated and if it involved Michael, and or if he'd left him on a good note. He just couldn't pull out what he needed to know from his memory banks and it was so frustrating! He knew there was something there...there had to be...as he frustratingly looked over his memory banks meticulously he came to the realization that he needed to go home. He just had to. He needed to find Michael, he'd know what to do. So would Bonnie. There was something greatly wrong here, how could it be possible that he had no memory of his last activity and of his last deactivation? Or of Michael, Bonnie, RC, and Devon?
"Michael help!" Kitt shouted into the silent comlink channel, feeling so vulnerable and so out of place out in the middle of nowhere. He couldn't help himself and started heavily wishing that Michael or Bonnie would come and save him from this ill-feeling forming somewhere deep within his CPU. While he was trying desperately to figure something out and create some kind of plan, Kitt heard a silent pop and crackle somewhere below his hood. 'SYSTEM MALFUNCTION' flickered on his dash as Kitt jolted internally, feeling the pain of loss and helplessness slowly dissipate and soon after his consciousness.
Karr roared on, letting it be known to the entire town that he'd just arrived. He, of course, did slow down, he was still pressed to keep a low profile. He drove by the local businesses all along the main road, taking in the sight he'd left ready for when he'd bring Kitt to admire his work. A lot of people were already admiring it, of course, they didn't understand the main composition but Karr was convinced it brought more excitement and personality to the town.
He turned into a small residential area, quietly driving through the back streets to listen in on what the crowd thought of his latest masterpiece.
"What happened to this thing?" Gasped a woman who had just gotten her first glimpse of the entanglement of machinery. A police officer not far away, running his hands through his hair as a small group of young men argued about the meaning of this "craftsmanship". Other officers had driven up to the site, pushing people aside while they inspected the completely wrecked mustang. Some components were completely pressed and melted against the pavement, some parts of the shell showing huge holes burnt into it violently by an unknown means. Engine parts scattered and ripped in two. It was an absolute mess, well to the untrained eye.
To Karr, his handiwork had made a statement. The composition holding on to his code and perception. He hadn't appreciated these young men insulting him and Kitt, it had made his circuits boil when they'd thrown trash onto both vehicles. So….he'd awoken early in the morning and tracked down the individuals and fouled up their car. It was the least he could do...to well...return the favor.
Karr watched amused from the alley as a tow truck was called to the scene, the man in charge of the vehicle jumping out astonished and so perplexed on how on earth they were going to clean up the mess. The young men were still wildly shouting now, speaking to the sheriff to find the responsible one for destroying their once beautiful car. They were emoting profusely making an extravagant display in the center of town, drawing more people to admire Karr's composition.
Too bad Kitt wasn't here to see this. Karr quietly groaned. He wasn't sure if Kitt would have appreciated the artwork as much as Karr did, but he knew they'd have a lot to talk about after that. In addition, he'd have someone to discuss the masterpiece with even if it was some severe criticism on behalf of the other AI. Would have made for an interesting conversation for sure.
Karr quietly slipped away from the alley, too many people were flocking in to see, increasing the chances of being spotted. He backed up into a little warehouse, turning off his engine and listening from the safety of the building to all the lucid talk of the crowd on what had occurred to the dismantled car.
It was very fun, but he couldn't help the lonely feeling he had now. He wondered if Kitt was still nearby, maybe he could flag him down and get him to see the genius he'd carefully crafted. Karr was quick to survey his surroundings, checking in to see if he could pick up on Kitt's location with his radar. If he wasn't that far, it was possible for him to pinpoint. To his surprise, Kitt was very close, but also alarmingly still. He was quick to notice Kitt was in the same spot where he'd chased after him, had something happened to him?
Karr tried to settle down his worries...so strange...to worry about someone...other than himself...he was worried about...about….his brother….
Karr tried to drown his notion, turning on the engine and darting out to the highway to check out what problems Kitt had gotten himself into.
Kitt was completely dead…
Or he looked to be. He hadn't responded to Karr's voice at all, he seemed to be completely shut off, his scanner however was flickering and blinking uncontrollably. Which was a problem since Karr wasn't aware of how to turn him on or how to fix him. Without a pair of hands, they were completely stumped. Karr parked just behind him on the side of the highway, waiting to see if Kitt had just decided to take a leisure restart, or if he'd come out of the malfunction himself.
Several minutes later, Kitt had begun to stir which earned him a huge scolding from Karr.
"You could have been killed." Karr blared. "This is no place to take a rest." He noted snarkily.
It took a while for Kitt to realize who was talking to him. All his systems felt sluggish to get moving, oh and the headache...oh the terrible headache….had worsened.
"Not now Karr, I have a headache," Kitt remarked, lazily going over his self-diagnostics.
"A headache? Care to explain." Karr commented, not ever having heard such a phrase come from an AI before.
Kitt continued to be quiet, the scanner pulsing gentler now but still flickering as a whole, indicating something wasn't quite right.
"Is it a malfunction you are experiencing?" Karr inquired.
"Yes," Kitt replied, bluntly.
"Very well. Repairs are what you need." Karr took a moment to think over the situation. They needed a technician but how to get one? Especially one who would know how to handle sophisticated technology like himself and Kitt? Karr still remembered how his old human 'friends' had obtained one. Through kidnapping...but...Kitt wasn't for that kind of stuff and he didn't particularly want to deal with a very ill and damaged Kitt who would be sure to protest very loudly about it. How about money? Large sums of money could basically buy anything right? So why not a technician?
Karr had seen several ATMs scattered around the small town, maybe he could make use of those? But...there was still the question of hands...he couldn't pick up the money so...that was useless.
What if he contacted a technician for some advice? Then somehow managed to get someone to do the repairs by instructing them on what to do?
He wondered if he could get in contact with Doctor Barstow. Karr looked over Kitt once more.
"Can you drive?"
"Yes, Karr, somewhere particularly in mind?" Kitt replied, hoping Karr had an idea because, in all honesty, he was out of them.
"Yes, there are several abandoned warehouses just ahead. Follow me, I will drop you off and I will look for a technician."
"Without kidnapping them?" Kitt remarked, with a slight unease to his voice.
"Yes…" Karr mumbled.
Kitt nodded internally.
"Lead the way, Karr." He replied, his engine whirring to life as Karr swiftly drove before him.
"Follow me."
Kitt had been amused at the scene set before him as they'd drove past the "composition" Karr had clearly set up during the night, swarmed by dozens of onlookers blocking traffic, gazing at the unusual sight. Kitt was clearly amused at how he'd done it but also awfully unsettled. It bothered him to see cars be destroyed, and unfortunately, didn't really have the energy to protest against it with Karr. They had a very interesting conversation, however, although as Karr had predicted Kitt hadn't agreed too much with the way the "composition" had been put together. He did much agree that those young men had been very ill-mannered though.
Karr led Kitt to the abandoned warehouses just on the outskirts of town. There was little activity here, giving them the chance to relax while Karr tried to find a solution. Both vehicles stood quietly in the cool warehouse, taking in the chatter of birds and a slow breeze blowing through broken windows followed by the gentle hum of Karr's scanner as he tried to figure out how to contact Doctor Barstow. He figured she'd know what to do, the only problem being how was he to get her to give him information without ratting out their location? He didn't want them to come looking for Kitt nor himself, that was clear, but he also didn't wish for Kitt to go on damaged, being so complicated everything.
"I'll be back," Karr remarked, taking his leave to do his work elsewhere without gaining Kitt's suspicion.
"Where are you going, Karr?" Kitt squeaked, his fans sounding real loud under his hood.
"To find a technician," Karr replied before hurrying out the huge gap on the side of the warehouse, avoiding any more unnecessary questions from Kitt.
He parked alongside another nearby warehouse, taking in the sunshine and warm air. His slow drive picked up dirt in the breeze. He promptly accessed a phone number database, looking for Dr. Barstow's number carefully, not wanting to raise an alarm for whoever was overlooking the system. He could tell based on how the system reacted that it had been changed over the passage of time, and was very surprised that he happened to still be even remotely compatible. He eventually found Barstow's number, relieved that it hadn't taken too long. He dialed the number listening to it ring quietly as several birds flew overhead, casting playful reflections on Karr's dusty hood.
"Hello? Bonnie speaking." Came over a quiet voice. Karr felt his circuits tremble, what would she do if she figured it was him?
"Is this Doctor Barstow?" He inquired, using a different voice avoiding detection. He'd selected that of a young man, maybe that would allow her to empathize with a young technological enthusiast a bit more.
"Yes, speaking." She replied, sounding concerned.
"My friend requires heavy repairs," Karr explained.
"Your friend?"
"Yes, my friend has acquired a heavy headache, most likely caused by a corrupt program. What do you suggest?"
Karr listened to the woman's worried voice.
"I...ahh...what exactly is your friend?"
"A computer."
"Oh, I see…" She mumbled. "Excuse me, who gave you my number?" She sounded irritated. Had he said something wrong?
"I found your number," Karr explained, annoyed.
"Oh, well...but who told you I knew about computers?"
"My friend happens to be close friends with…" Karr stuttered. "...Use to be former friends with Michael Knight."
"You know Michael Knight?" She sounded awfully surprised.
"No!" Karr spat, why was she questioning him so much?!
"My friend is heavily damaged, what must I do to repair him?" Karr tried to pull her back to the task at hand.
"Well, you said it yourself I'd assume the corrupt program. You'd have to correct it."
"How do I do that?" Karr replied.
"Look over the coding of the program and take it from there...Excuse me but I really can't be of help...It would be better if I saw your "friend" in person. Do you happen to be in the LA area?"
"No."
"That case..." The woman sighed, "I believe you'd have to get some in-person help from someone locally. Sorry. Anyways I have to go-"
"No, you don't Doctor Barstow!" Shouted Karr giving up the charade by impulse.
There was a long pause.
"Who is this?!" Shouted the woman into the receiver.
Karr scowled himself...how could he have done such a thing?
"How do I fix a corrupt program!?" Karr shouted back, he wanted answers...not some useless conversation.
"Karr?!" The woman shouted bewildered.
Too late, he'd blown his cover. He sighed, putting an end to the call entirely. He'd have to figure something else out.
Bonnie was standing bewildered in her kitchen, taking in the blaring of the cut call. Had that really been who she thought it was? She set the receiver down, choosing to pull a chair from a nearby table, and sat down, running her hands through her hair. Maybe it was just her imagination, was it really something to be alarmed about?
'My friend requires heavy repairs,' Vibrated the response in her head loudly…
'My friend happens to be close friends with…' The voice stuttered. '...Use to be former friends with Michael Knight.'
Bonnie, massaged her forehead. Their friend was a computer, they'd mention...their friend was also a former friend of Michael…
She stood up, slapping her hand down on the kitchen table. The call had to be some kind of sick joke. Some former FLAG employee holding a grudge against her. None of this could be correct. It was impossible.
She walked over to the receiver once more, close to grasping it, should she call someone? Would someone else calm her thoughts and agree that yes, this was in fact some kind of sick joke and not at all what she was fearing right now? Or...what she was hopeful about? What if Kitt and Michael hadn't actually...No impossible, she dismissed the thought. She very well knew both their terrible fates. What if she called the number back? No, they'd probably not answer…
She bit her bottom lip. What if the call was important? Couldn't it?
She shook her head walking out of the kitchen, maybe a nap would do.
Kitt's system was a hot mess. Quite literally. His fans had been loudly whirring throughout the night, greatly irritating Karr who very well knew the dangers of prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
Kitt had tried to slip into sleep mode multiple times but something very chilling happened each time.
Nightmares.
Kitt's agitated shouting was sure to get them discovered. Each time it happened Karr had to awaken the terrorized AI. It was awful. Kitt's scanner was also on the fritz, widely blazing in the dark warehouse casting eerie shadows against the walls. The scanner was completely un-operational and with it many of Kitt's functions were offline. More trouble to add to the heap.
Karr had to fight off the thought of abandoning Kitt several times during the night too. It would have been easier if he did, but not for Kitt. Each time the thought came to mind he dismissed it remembering the times he was abandoned and how he felt under said circumstances. He wouldn't allow himself to be what he greatly detested if he could at all help it.
"Kitt?" He murmured from his little corner in the warehouse, where he'd seek comfort every time Kitt fell into a lapse.
"Yes, Karr," Kitt replied, sounding weak and oddly tired.
"We need to head to the foundation," Karr remarked bluntly. He absolutely hated the idea, but he didn't like the sounds of Kitt's nightmare. From what Karr could understand, from each little fragment he picked up, Kitt was under attack of some sort and heavily injured...and Michael Knight was nowhere to be seen until...Kitt found him...at the end of the dream. This is where Kitt completely lost it. Whatever he found at the end of the dream was truly unsettling for the young AI, Karr could tell. Every time Kitt ended winding down a road of shouts and a complete mess of incomprehensible articulation. It was heartwrenching to hear Kitt sound so...so lost...so hopeless...Karr had to admit he had never heard Kitt sound that way ever before, or anyone else for that matter and that was saying a lot from him. Kitt had always sounded sure of himself and confident...not whatever despairing thing he turned to every time he figuratively closed his eyes. When he'd awaken though, Karr could see through Kitt's chipped facade, he'd always awaken disoriented no matter how hard he tried to appear untouched by what he'd seen or partially experienced. Although, it appeared Kitt didn't seem fully aware of what he had experienced or seen for that matter. The thing that bothered Kitt the most was….was it just all a nightmare or had it actually occurred?
The "dream" seemed so real, and if Kitt recalled correctly, he didn't dream...so logically it couldn't actually be a dream...
Kitt continued in silence, trying to piece together the "dream" slowly going over this bewildering data. Kitt gently unfolded the "dream", finally giving way and slowly slipping out from the haze he'd been trying to pull it out from earlier.
He could clearly make out Michael beneath a heap of scrap, illuminated brightly by his single working headlight. He was very relieved that he'd managed to find him on time, it had taken him an awful lot of effort to navigate under his shaky wheels. Michael was Injured and gasping for help, he was tossed up in some overgrowth at the side of the burning building in the heart of the night and Kitt couldn't do anything. Kitt was torn apart encircled by a pool of fluids that were alarmingly his own trailing behind him, one side of his chassis completely missing. Whatever had hit him had wreaked havoc on his system too, he couldn't call anyone. It all fell on deaf ears. He desperately tried limping slowly towards his partner's side, the only voice of reason telling him to protect Michael, a pool of warm chemicals streaming beneath him as the engine wheezed below the hood. He didn't know what he would do to help when he reached Michael or if there was anything he could do for that matter, but he was pressed to be by his driver's side no matter what happened. The AI could tell the agony Michael was going through he didn't need his sensors to tell him that, but he surely wouldn't leave him go through it alone.
"Michael...Mmmmm...CoMiNg..." He weakly called comfortingly to Michael, staggering his way towards him but never reaching him, not on time that is. The damaged Trans Am was abruptly yanked away as Michael turned his head in horror and called to Kitt who could no longer reach him.
"Leave him alone!" Michael shouted, catching glimpse of dark-dressed people cruelly tugging Kitt away. Kitt's voice modulator choked on gibberish attempting to call out to his partner to remain still, to remain safe, while he tried to nudge forward away from his captors. Michael winced at the loud anguished howl of Kitt's damaged engine bellowing into the night.
They were dragging him away...people in dark coats were hauling him away and completely ignoring Michael just on the side of the lot in need of immediate medical attention! How could they not help him?! Why wouldn't they allow him to help him?! He was so so close and yet he'd failed! He'd failed to help Michael!
"MiChaEl! PlEAsE! HeLp MicHaEL!" Kitt shouted, his voice distorted and barely audible as it frizzled away, swallowed by static. He watched terrified as Michael tried to stand up under the blinding blaze of his only headlight, Michael grimacing as he collapsed back down under the rubble and making no attempt to stand again. "kitt!" Michael called, pained. "NoooOOoOooOo!" Kitt shouted once more as everything came to a complete and jolting dark stop.
The two vehicles remained quiet between themselves. Karr finally starting his engine after a long while, headed out the huge gap, deciding that going to the foundation was the best call. He would remain beneath the radar and let Kitt have contact with his friends but if anything got threatening he would be sure to help him escape. He was resolved to.
Kitt whirred his engine painfully on. The warehouse had started to get awfully warm, some fresh air would do him some good. He was content that Karr was helping him go home finally, but worried about what he'd just seen, what he'd just found discarded in his memory banks.
Karr stood still for a moment, his scanner humming from side to side brightly orange against the darkened sky, as he plotted the best course to the foundation, making sure they took the quickest and safest route possible. Once plotted, Kitt followed closely behind him until they'd meet the road again and both headed off into the darkness. Towards home.
For those who read the first version of this chapter...yes, I changed some things and might actually implement a couple more in the near future. I plan to add more chapters to this story over time, just hope I don't leave time slip by too much. Anyways, Happy reading!