Liam walked through the offices, fingering the passcode into the keypad before entering the sterilized room. He sighed, getting a glimpse of professor Hasson cheerfully commanding the engineers from one side of the room to another. Busily working away in beehive fashion over the cloaked chassis before them.
His face was getting red from the embarrassment. He'd been in charge of Oriel in the past year and nothing of this magnitude had ever occurred to them. Well, there'd been that small incident where he'd forgotten where he'd parked her alongside the mall parking lot and his comlink's battery had died. Oriel however had gotten the feeling that something was wrong and had rounded the lot until she'd found him panicking about the sidewalk asking if anyone had seen his car getting stolen.
That had been a small taste of what could occur in the case of miscommunication.
At the moment he was getting the full weight of what that looked like when the other party didn't want to listen.
He clasped his hands and moseyed down to the main floor allowing for the engineers to notice him. He glanced over the white clean drapery over the new chassis of the upcoming vehicle with dozens of wires spiraling out from beneath it winding their way to nearby machinery like a network of veins. His face filled with slight curiosity looking over the pulsing neon lights coming from the wires before his spine trembled at the call of his name.
"Liam," Hasson greeted. "Oh, forgive me but you shouldn't be here without sterilized garments." The older man put it kindly.
"Oh right," Liam looked down over his pant legs that were lightly stained in mud.
"So…" Hasson nervously motioned for the engineers to give him a minute. "Karr nailed successfully?"
Liam crossed his arms and glared at the floor.
"No…"
"I see," Hasson quickly assumed –. "Missing the shot shouldn't worry you. I'll ask that a new batch of rods be made quickly, in addition, I've modified the air-tight compartment carriers to extend the rod's chemical activity, should there be any other delays between shots."
Liam traced gently around the covered chassis. Noting the wedge-like appearance. Fearing what Hasson would think when he told him –
"I lost Oriel." He slowed his pace and covered his face. This was too painful.
Hasson stood quietly with his face slowly drooping.
"She's…"
" – She just left after Karr, and not to catch him mind you, but to speak to him. She doesn't agree with his termination. Hasson this is an absolute disaster! Something's wrong, she's never disobeyed before!" Liam panicked waving his hands in complete terror. "Is it possible Karr hacked her? Is that a possibility!?" The concern growing evermore.
Hasson gently folded his glasses after slipping them off his paling face.
"There isn't a high possibility of that happening. Hacking I mean, but there is a possibility that a hiccup we were unaware of has surfaced in her programming." The man sounded distraught.
Liam slumped against the spotless chassis of the vehicle beneath the thick sheets.
"So what do we do? Our "anti-molecular Bonded marksmen" are already assuming that we need to put her down! That's unacceptable! Who do they think they are!?" Liam protested, shedding light on the situation.
Hasson let out a deep breath, pulling a nearby chair and sitting down.
"Liam, there's something I need to tell you."
Liam raised a brow, hunching over and letting out a pained groan.
"This is bad isn't it?" He nervously responded.
Hasson nodded.
"I'm afraid, my dear friend. Oriel was euthanized last year."
"What!?" The man jumped from his spot approaching Hasson, pointing with an accusing finger. "What!?" He couldn't breathe, choking up on saliva as the unimaginable hit him, he stood frozen just in front of the older man awaiting an explanation.
Hasson brushed a hand over his wrinkled face.
"Too many errors, too unstable...too...free." The man shrugged. "The board wouldn't have approved of something so self-sufficient, like her."
Liam closed his eyes, rubbing his temples with his shaking hands.
"So who –?" He began, dreading to ask who the machine he'd been friends with for that past year was actually. He'd been there when Oriel had been put online and the two had enjoyed each other's company in the short time that Liam ever came to visit the labs. When the car had been completed he had always noticed something a little different about her but he'd assumed it was the telltale sign of heavy modifications over the stay in the labs.
"Her name is Kipp, we used the same voiceprint from Oriel to keep it secret, and well...she's just an improved version of the Operating Redundancy Intelligent Enhanced Logic-board, or Oriel as you know." Hasson stood up as Liam pulled away from the man in utter astoundment.
"So, that's why…"
Hasson frowned.
"Pardon?"
Liam looked up from the pristine floor beneath them in shock.
"She didn't want Karr to die because of that...she knows how it is to be destroyed…"
Hasson brushed his hand over the little hair he had, suppressing a disturbed gasp.
"She wasn't supposed to know – "
Liam laughed in mockery, making the old man stamper.
"You build an enhanced logic board and you don't suspect it to figure out the truth?! This is ridiculous…" The man paced angrily. "So now what? Do we destroy Oriel again? Huh? Is that all NAG is capable of?! Hasson, come on! We destroyed the Knight 2000's chassis! We destroyed an agency that was by far superior to ours! What in the world is wrong with this agency!?"
" 'We' didn't do anything...Fredrick did... He's…"
"Well sure." Liam shrugged fuming. " – but we're just silent accomplices so aren't we going to pay for all this?" Pounding his chest in agitation.
Hasson shook his head grunting in disfavor.
"I thought you said we weren't the villains." The man raised his voice. "I told you I'm the least adequate to be taking the head of NAG! Do you hear me!? I didn't want to destroy Oriel but she was a complete dreamer and by fact, something like that can't exist in our profession!"
Liam tossed his hands in complete dismay.
"You killed her!" The man shouted in accusation.
"I did not!" The man stomped his foot. "We simply remade her." He put it firmly.
Liam rolled his eyes.
"She loved to listen to ball games with me when she was still stuck in the computer housing. Now, whenever I tune in I see something else there, pain...and I never understood why...now I know…" Liam looked away from Hasson's pinning eyes.
"Liam...it was for the best…"
"Well look what it got us!" Liam laughed. "Now Kipp is going to die…" The man lowered his head covering his face with his hands. "Hasson, I can't allow that." He hesitantly put it.
Hasson bit his lip coming forward.
"I won't allow it either…"
"I find that hard to believe…" The younger man mocked.
Hasson sighed.
"Kipp's only looking out for everyone's best interest. She simply cares too much."
Liam shook his head.
"No, that's not it."
"No?" Hasson remarked, surprised.
"We simply don't care enough," Liam emphasized leaving the room. "I'm going to gather some people and see if we can find her." He explained to Hasson, bothered.
"What about Karr?" The older man was quick to inquire.
Liam faced him with scorn.
"Oriel said Kitt wouldn't allow him to ever hurt someone, Oriel wouldn't either. I want her back, as for Karr…" The man shook his head unsure what to say. "Perhaps we re-evaluate our options?"
Hasson rolled his eyes with a heavy head shake.
"We can't do that."
"Why not!?" Liam protested loudly, marching up to the older man wanting an explanation.
"The board is aware we're missing one of the Knight cars, they aren't aware we have two." Hasson put diplomatically however awful this situation looked.
Liam's jaw dropped.
"That's what you meant by a Karr for a car."
"Yes, If Karr is recovered Kitt can return to his home."
Liam began to think about what Kipp had said earlier.
"Doesn't Karr have a home too?" Liam asked, meekly.
"No, he doesn't," Hasson remarked with raised brows, starting to exit the room. Leaving the draped silent vehicle alone in the lab. Murmurs echoing softly somewhere within it.
"So we don't have any more options…" Liam trailed after.
"No." Hasson sternly put, as they walked into the hall. The older man headed to his office.
"Hasson," Liam muttered, making the man stop and turn to face him one last time. "I quit."
The old man tried to silence his hurt, the going of his trusty friend, his face contorting. Liam could see the injury he'd just about given the old man.
"I'm leaving and I'm recovering Oriel, taking her from this rat-infested dump," Liam grumbled, clenching his fist as he walked away from Hasson and strolled down the hall to his office to pick up his things.
Hasson stood in the hall motionless, unaware of what to do. Oriel would need to be recovered by the agency at all costs. This case had turned for the worst and had proved the prototype was indeed not effective in field-related operations, he had no choice but to dispose of her CPU and start from scratch instead of recycling…It hurt to do this, he had lots of hopes in her. – The computer however displayed too many complexities to remain working.
He sighed, hoping the third would be everything they imagined it to be. He rubbed his aching head as he took a single step towards Liam's office. They couldn't afford to hire another driver, he needed Liam to stay.
Step after step he made it absentmindedly to Liam's office taking in the disheveled young man's frustrated appearance shoving his things into a plastic bag unceremoniously.
"Liam…" The man called, receiving a resentful frown.
"What do you want now?" Liam answered under his breath.
"Look," Hasson took a deep breath. "If you destroy Karr, I'll release Oriel from the agency and repurpose her as a recreational vehicle. Of course, the majority of her functions would be disassembled and you'd be taking full responsibility for her behavior." The man paused. "Would this arrangement allow you to stay with NAG and become Kett's new driver?" The man asked hopefully.
Liam turned to the older man, looking stoic.
"I can't be a driver for two cars, Hasson." The man sounded critical.
"Sure you can!" Hasson coaxed.
"Oriel is my car." The man retorted. "Also another thing, I'm not going to destroy Karr. Oriel thinks there is another way then well…we gotta try something else." He set his hands to his side, longing for his friend to agree with him. To see that loyal and understanding part of him take action for the injustices that they were creating.
Hasson leaned against the wall, looking to the ceiling in a daze. Trying to convince himself this was the right decision.
"Liam, we won't destroy Karr." He let out a deep breath. Would Liam believe that? "However, we can't let him loose if that makes at all any sense to you. I suppose we can consider re-capture." The man held himself from shivering. Hasson's hands became sweaty almost instantly.
Liam liked the sound of this reasoning much better than what they'd been up to before. A faint grin formed on his face, the image wounding Hasson's heart. Why did it have to come down to this?
"How would we do so without hurting him?"
Hasson raised an eyebrow, in quiet anxious thought.
"We've been working on things in the labs. I suppose I should have something that could come in handy. In the meantime find Oriel, I'm sure I and the others can handle this situation."
Liam nodded suspiciously towards Hasson. The man only returned a friendly smile, a chill going down his back as he quietly approved and signed his deception. He hoped this would suffice, and that indeed he was doing the right thing.
The wind gently lapped a nearby puddle...brushing the siding of an old cottage soaked in light rain sitting quietly alongside a dense grove running next to the river. The river extended down to an area of backed-up water lined in thickets forming a tranquil lake, where an old car was parked just along a dirt road. The speckled paint on the old vehicle parked silently no longer held a sheen of any sort, the dark rusting spots coloring the car in copper streaks.
Very few people knew of this tranquil lake and even fewer visited, furthermore allowing those who visited to leave things that otherwise one wouldn't leave unattended.
An old rotting boat, forgotten after several sunsets, cast odd shadows into the depths of the swaying waters, caught on the sandy bank. Chunks that had broken off over the years drifted into the water, providing hiding spots and refuge for the nocturnal crayfish…Bluegills inspecting the site with curiosity and pulling playfully at an old bait secured tightly to a pole rotting to the side of the prow of the craft. It had waited for a great deal for its owners to return but these had failed to reappear and after several passed moons the boat had gone unremembered.
The sun was gloomy….vanishing and reappearing behind the drifting clouds...varnishing the old house in yellows and shades of faded gray. The cycle repeated for several hours on this cool secluded morning. The house behaving chameleon-like with its change in hue under the presence or lack of sun, to itself retelling stories of things long and forgotten. Of people here and absent.
The whispers of the wind gently rocked a gold chain necklace hung high over a rusty nail just to the side of the screen door sagging in front of the entrance unevenly secured to the frame. The entrance was tucked under the cool shade of a wooden porch that was begging for repainting and more or fewer repairs. Old burnt vegetation dragged downward from above the porch roof creating organic curtains concealing the house's face. Along the edge where the porch met the house was a single chair, presumably for whoever dared sit under the rotting porch on cool summer evenings to sip lemonade or eat a delicious burger. Swinging gently, the necklace taped rhythmically to itself against the mossy walls.
Tap. Tip. Tap.
It continued to swing...the round golden coin hanging from the chain colliding faintly with the wall, hiding a silent but distinct secret. Calling out over a dense and invisible gap to the only creature that could read its calls…its words…
Tip. Tap. Tap.
A small rabbit hopped onto the front steps, one of the few visitors this place ever received. Crawling gingerly over the porch, the rabbit sniffed the area cautiously. Standing on its hind legs, it caught sight of the golden necklace with curiosity. It leaned forward a little staring over the metallic object with glee until the critter scurried suddenly away as the old home creaked from inside. The necklace continued to swing in the breeze absentmindedly awaiting yet another odd visitor...
The sun rose once more out from the blanket of scattered clouds. Rays catching dust drifting by the old window panes, soaking past the curtains and illuminating the old hardwood floors brilliantly. The crevices of the floor showed dark against the marks of dragged furniture.
The smell of fish and dampness hung low in the lonely house. The kitchen window filtered the vibrant sun, porcelain plates shimmering bright pearl white against the dark metallic silver sink. An old sponge curling upward flatly from overuse, torn at the edges. A crisp reminder that it needed to be replaced...
The faint echo of a respire bobbed from the compact living quarters. The house, despite its worn exterior appearance, retaining the warmth from the sun holding a cozy tenderness that the occupant could appreciate.
The house sang lightly the familiar silence of solitary confinement against the howls of the shallow breeze. Yet sung the chores of yesterday…of what's over and done.
Kitt shivered internally...the program pulling tightly around him and urging him yet to follow suit. Despite the need to do as told, at the moment he found himself following Kipp who was stuttering her engine under a faint smoke cloud towards a secluded gas station.
His mind instinctively pulled concern over Michael. He missed the man dearly. He'd never been separated from the man long enough to cause him severe anxiety. Whenever a mission had required he stay behind Kitt had always felt a glint of panic floor his processor, dreading the next call with terror afraid it could be the paramedics or the hospital rather than Michael's voice letting him know it was time for him to intervene.
'Kitt, I need you.'
The old familiar words echoed somewhere in the haze, these had always given him the cool of relief, gently sliding across his systems refreshing them. Aware there was something he could do to help Michael and at the same time keep him from harm's way.
Despite the connection to the comlink being severed Kitt found himself checking the dead connection for an instant. Seeking to heal his need to hear the man's guiding voice. Although he appreciated the presence of Bonnie and RC in his cool cabin, he found himself flinching internally whenever RC pulled harshly on the yoke of the Trans-Am or whenever he pressed the pedals a little inconsistently not being familiarized with the maneuverability of the vehicle. What's more…whenever Kitt corrected the vehicle RC would frown back in return…finding the computer's silent aid rather peculiar. Despite the AUTO Cruise not being engaged Kitt always maintained a level of control over the vehicle when Michael just leisurely cruised or when Kitt found that aiding faintly was necessary just like he did now.
The moment the three pulled into an old gas station the congestion of vehicles crowding behind them was released wildly onto the rest of the highway. Motorists honked in utter irritation as they ran by. The loud sounds did not face Kitt the slightest as he mindlessly followed behind Kipp. His CPU was occupied with his thoughts to take much notice of the angry mob of cars.
'I cease to see the practicality in making a pointless racket!' Karr loudly muttered into the private channel just as a grumpy silver Subaru driver tossed his agitation in a loud honking manner towards the three black vehicles parking quietly in the gas station lot. The lines marking the spaces deeply faded away; it was hard to distinguish where one could park.
Karr was rather annoyed with the erratic behavior they'd encountered on the highway ever since Kipp's suspension had gotten worse enough to deplete her speed. Resenting not having been allowed to micro-jam the honks of countless vehicles, Karr parked alongside Kipp protectively causing Kitt to grumble his engine slowly as he steadily caught the quiet gesture. He was hesitant to park on her other side but did so in a gentle manner, putting his internal turmoil on pause.
He internally shook his "head" as his two passengers protested about what to do with the wounded newcomer. Still undecided if it was alright to welcome her with open arms or not to the group.
Kitt ran scans over her quicker than Karr could at the moment, hence being preoccupied discussing why people liked to make a fuss of everything making Kipp giggle at the irony of the statement.
With a gentle sway of Kitt's crimson scanner, he noted with worry the consequences of her hurt suspension. These had caused significant strain to her engine as the penetrating rods had sunk deep into her hull. It was of concern to have Kipp's mobility compromised, and Kitt wasn't too sure Bonnie wanted to help her all too much even though he was confident in her abilities.
Currently, Bonnie and RC were still squabbling quietly with one another about whether to call Devon or not and inform him of the latest development. The two of them also took a moment to discuss a very important topic: what they would be having for breakfast. Sadly...it seemed a convenient store meal would have to do for today.
Kitt felt a shudder run through his frame as Bonnie and RC excused themselves politely and entered the gas station in search of energizing beverages (most likely coffee) and a light meal, Bonnie motioning to the back of the building where it seemed there was enough space to conceal the two Trans-Ams and Corvette from incoming traffic. The three vehicles obediently obliged.
Kitt's dash steadily flickered as he ran scans over Kipp once more, tailing her lightly as she dragged herself to the back of the building eventually slumping down under the cool shade of an old tree and deflating her tires in distress…
'Kipp?' He asked her in the shared channel currently at use by the three computers. Kitt taking a spot just next to old crates scattered in the dusty lot.
'I'll be alright, I just hope we can form our next plan before Liam comes looking for me…' Kipp replied pensively.
'Who is Liam?' Karr was the first to interject, driving over an old soda pop unknowingly, causing it to explode. The AI let out a distasteful hiss as thick sugar-coated the bottom of his tires. Karr shook his yoke wildly, making his tire move side to side scraping the demeaning stuff off.
Kipp lightly smiled into the channel.
'My driver, why of course.' She added proudly.
Kitt felt his electronic heart sink below his fenders and to the bottom of his treads. Kipp had a driver too? He wasn't aware of said fact but did feel the sting of jealousy spiral down his circuitry. He didn't like the feeling of being 'driverless', sure he had RC manding the wheel but it wasn't the same as having Michael in command. The man knew the vehicle like the palm of his hand. At the beginning of their partnership, Kitt hadn't expected the man to become so familiarized with the small gestures the computer used to show his mood, but in no time the two had become fondly attached and Michael could tell apart a gleeful whir of Kitt's engine to the indignant expressions of the dash. Even though RC had known Kitt for a long time, the man still couldn't fully "read" the computer. Not even Bonnie, well actually…she'd worked so much time under his hood the woman had caught on to a thing or two that could easily give away the computer's feelings. Kitt appreciated this…the computer slightly smiled back to Kipp as he was reminded of just how much they cared and loved him.
'Kitt you alright? You haven't said much.'
Kitt nearly leaped out from his CPU in embarrassment…he'd been mindlessly smiling back through the link. His scanner was rapidly beating in bright and dense strokes, he'd been thinking about the past before the crisis he was going through now. He was quick to submit his scanner to darkness seeking some privacy from Kipp as she was very good at gauging his mood no doubt.
'Not something the two of you should worry about.' Kitt insisted, noting Karr's wordless concern by the brightness of his scanner. 'My mind is just preoccupied with Michael at the moment, that's all.'
'You mentioned the program that has been pestering you this whole time finally pinpointed Michael's location. Where is that?' Karr interrupted, sounding a little skeptical. Taking an long time to back up next to a space. He wasn't sure he wanted to stand in this spot, given it looked dirty and had an awful smell of sweltering garbage nearby. Karr scolded Bonnie's suggestion of ever sending the three to the back of the filthy building without considering their opinions. Oh, he'd never thought he'd see the day…
Kitt looked over his navigational system, dismissing Karr's disgust momentarily even though he found it most amusing.
The location on his map was less than a hundred miles away, if planned correctly they could visit the site the same day. However, Kitt had a feeling that Bonnie would have a say against it, given that hiding was their priority.
'You'll have to give me a moment Karr,' Kitt remarked, noting the headache had come back and was playing havoc over his motherboard again.
'Very well…I hope you aren't planning my demise again…" Karr humored, earning himself a light static chuckle from Kitt and a lively one from Kipp.
He internally jolted just then, missing Karr's remark entirely as his systems rapidly picked up on an outgoing call (a force of habit he'd developed over the years). The AI took on a more serious tone, setting aside the conversation, he cautiously decrypted the signal and apprehensively listened to the steady voice of his mechanic.
"Bonnie, where in the world are you?"
"Devon, I have bad news…" The woman let out a faint breath that Kitt quickly discerned as tension. " – there is another car."
"What?! That's –"
"That's beside the point Devon, we need to hide Kitt and Karr. It's wild but an agency by the name of NAG is looking for them."
"Oh…I see." Devon replied, pensive. The man's voice gave relief to Kitt if only for a moment taken back to former years when the man had bounced clever ideas with Michael and even Kitt at times in the privacy of the t-tops cabin. "Come back to the mansion I might have some friends that could provide us with backup until we come up with something more permanent."
"That's the problem Devon, Kitt wants to continue looking for Michael…"
"Did he finally come to the conclusion that…?"
"No, he's insisting that a mysterious program is leading him to Michael…"
Kitt felt a ping of insult and hurt wound his electronic soul. Bonnie sounded deeply assertive that the computer was beyond mad and illogical. This didn't sit well with him. Didn't Bonnie want to find Michael just as much as he did? Did she doubt the program was correct, or that Michael was indeed alive? Sure the implications of how this had all come to be were complicated and sounded up right ludicrous, but that didn't mean it wasn't correct. In the past, he'd had his share of crazy ideas from Michael and had learned that sometimes you simply had to take a chance and trial a crazy idea because there was always that small possibility that you were correct. At the moment the computer found itself with an idea that most would see as unrealistic but Kitt was convinced that he was very right.
The black t-top flung himself out from the dusty parking space, darting past RC coming out the side entrance carrying a bag of snacks. The man shouted over his shoulder coughing up dust, watching in surprise as Kitt merged with traffic in a wild rage that made Karr instinctively trail behind. Fortunately, Kipp reacted just in time to stop Karr from bolting any further.
"Where's he going?!" RC exclaimed running up to Kipp who'd lowered the driver's window.
"I have no idea, – Karr?" Kipp remarked dazed.
"Something is wrong," Karr muttered under the howl of his engine, attempting to make contact with Kitt who was being stubborn to reply. "Kipp move aside…" He insisted, bashful to push her.
"Karr, under the circumstances I'm not sure it would be wise to give chase. Kitt wasn't acting too receptive just now." She asked, sounding a little concerned the older AI would've blanked out like that. That wasn't like him, at least not based on the archives of his former history.
"I'm not sure he was listening to us," Karr lowered his voice as RC jogged around Kipp and attempted to gain entry to Karr. "Reginald?" Karr asked, suspicious.
"If we're going to chase him, I trust you over Miss. C4 over there." He blurted out loud motioning to Kipp's wandering scanner. " – No offense…"
Kipp replied with a sharp chirp of her scanner.
"None taken."
Karr hmphed to himself.
"I don't take passengers, so you'll have to be content with 'Miss C4' for transport." Karr interrupted, noting with panic that Kitt was rapidly leaving scanner range. "I must go after him and check what's the matter…" Karr explained, letting a short whirr of his turbine in gentle warning towards Kipp. "Please, move."
"Very well, but you'll both return?" Kipp asked, fearful. Karr noted with fondness the gentle pulsing of her green scanner.
"There is no time to discuss, protect the humans. I shall keep in touch." Karr gunned the engine, Kipp instantly backing up and allowing for him to rush by but not before remarking: "Take care, Karr." And sending a light farewell gesture through the private channel that made Karr internally blush as he raced unhindered into the highway attempting to catch up to Kitt.
RC ran across the lot, dropping his snacks entirely onto the ground and even kicking them on accident as he tried to flag Karr down and stop him from pursuing Kitt without him, but it was too late as the t-toned vehicle fishtailed into the highway and sped hurriedly away under the blazing sun.
"Karr!" RC shouted, catching the attention of a few customers who were just strolling out from the convenience store gazing over the sweating man shouting at the wind, among them Bonnie. She ran tiredly across the cracked concrete lot blanketed in weeds perturbing from ugly potholes that looked rather worn from the years of neglect and spun RC around by the arm to face her, demanding an explanation.
"They're gone…" RC gasped, out of breath. Bonnie examined his face intently.
"RC what happened?!" Bonnie inquired in a panic, squeezing the man's shoulders lightly.
"I don't know, Kitt just left and Karr went after and — and…"
"Pardon, but It seems the Knight 2000 is having some sort of trouble." Kipp interrupted thoughtfully as she quietly parked behind Bonnie. Gingerly swaying her green scanner as Bonnie shot her a distrusting frown.
"Where are they going?" She sternly asked, making the AI shiver lightly.
"I'm not sure, Kitt mentioned something about a program pinpointing Michael Knights' location. I have a question, however, is Michael Knight not indeed deceased?" Kipp asked innocently.
Bonnie ran a tired hand through her hair, taking a step away from RC and Kipp as she gathered the fallen snacks in her arms and placed them onto Kipp's hood. RC and Kipp remained silent as the woman finished her task and watched helplessly as she scurried back inside the building without a word.
RC shook his head, unsure what to do next. He turned to Kipp for guidance, if not reluctantly.
"Now what?"
"Karr promised he'd return." Kipp put it comfortingly. "I believe he has given me his word."
RC tossed his arms towards the sky in agitation glowering at the C4.
"This is Karr we're talking about!"
Kipp did not reply, simply humming her scanner as she popped the driver's door open kindly for RC who was looking a little parched in the noon sun. The man shrugged, taking in the dark-colored seats and clean interior. The dash echoing Kitt's design elegantly. Kipp quietly remarked.
"I don't bite RC. Please take a seat while we wait for Karr and Kitt."
The man let out a deep breath, swinging one leg forward before taking a compliant step into the car's air-conditioned cab. He hoped Kitt had simply gone to catch his bearings and would soon come back as he didn't like the idea of hanging out with a prototype imposter for too long.
"What!" Hasson shouted over the shoulder of the techie. "How does the Knight 2000 know?" He pondered loudly in the enclosed room as he paced madly around the desks. "I thought all the data involving the AI's stay at the facility was erased!?" The man hollered back at the woman sitting wordlessly listening intently to the conversation unfolding between the two callers.
The woman sighed, shrugging.
"It was —"
"Then how does the Knight 2000 know about Michael Knight!?" He questioned loudly.
The woman rolled her eyes bringing her attention back to the tapped-in phone call, quietly taking notes of what was being said between Doctor Barstow and Devon Miles.
Hasson shook his head turning to the others in the room still formulating a plan of what to do next.
"For sure he won't stop until he's found Michael Knight but if that happens…" Hasson rubbed his eyes. Their future was hanging from a thread…Fredrick had left him just the staggering form of an organization that otherwise would have been something proud and fulfilling to be directing…but rather he was holding onto the bear shreds of something that could at any moment rip wide open and expose the terrible things they'd done in the past…and Michael Knight was one of them!
Hasson turned to several field agents awaiting instructions.
"Send Liam to retrieve Kipp, disable Karr, and —" The man's lips trembled…how could he ever come to harm Kitt? The AI and him had hit it off well when he'd built him back and the man had grown attached rather quickly…however…if the computer found the truth…NAG's regimen would fall. The agency counted with governmental funds and interest. They'd done many accomplishments worth honoring and yet enough errors to earn them scoldings from the president himself. The man couldn't help and feel protective of the agency's figure, he would not allow…however much it hurt…for the Knight 2000 to open their biggest secret of them all…
Kitt barked his engine in bitterness as he passed several slow-moving vehicles down the highway. He was going to find Michael on his own if it really came down to it, it was the best way. Bonnie and RC simply didn't understand, and Karr…well perhaps he did…but he didn't want to give him any more burdens to deal with…Kitt jerked sideways, flinching slightly as the program pulled on his figurative "ear" guiding him ever closer to Michael. Although, Kitt had to admit the program was starting to nauseate him. He couldn't help and feel numbness sheathing his systems, slowly being dominated by the program. As he continued to drive, his priorities were slowly starting to slip, the computer becoming tired unexpectedly from the shift in parameters…he could feel the program crawling around adjusting his speed to compensate for the lost time. He was alright with it, however…yearning to be reunited with Michael once more.
Kitt was starting to regret having stalled his search for the man, and not having listened to the program sooner as he looked over his ETA…
"Kitt!" Karr shouted as he screeched his tires on the scorching highway pavement, slowing down just enough to drive next to Kitt. "Where are you going!?" He shouted, in utter alarm.
"I'm going to find Michael," Kitt replied anxiously, turning to the private communications channel not wanting to yell over the traffic noise. "You're welcome to join."
Karr beat his scanner in complete bewilderment.
"Kitt! You've gone mad!? There is an APB set out for us! Don't you see now is not the time to —"
"He's alive, Karr and I need to find him." Kitt spat back. "Please understand that I am not abandoning you, I simply have to carry out this objective first." He clarified apologetically.
Karr switched lanes behind Kitt on the highway as other vehicles began to pester him for slowing down the flow of traffic. Karr grumbled under his breath.
"Kitt, I insist we go back. Doctor Barstow and Reginald are very worried and we can always continue the search at a better time –"
"I can't." Kitt interrupted
"That's absolutely absurd, sure you can!" Karr insisted. "Let's go back…"
"Listen, Karr, I…" Kitt was hesitant to share. Would Karr understand? "I have a feeling Michael needs me…It's just…Instinct…"
Karr remained silent for a moment, the only sound the hum of their turbines as the two t-tops continued to journey across the desert. The sound of the uneven and bumpy ground shuddered the pair of robust Trans-Ams as they followed the highway obediently.
Karr wasn't sure why Kitt would assume he would not understand "instinct", Karr understood perfectly. It was by "instinct" that he often operated. It had been simpler that way for him anyways…For the longest time there hadn't been a guiding hand or friend when he'd been on his own and instinct had been a much better companion than faulty programming, but sometimes…for a computer…programming won over instinct…always…sometimes…won.
"Kitt, what is the program telling you?" Karr asked quietly into the channel feeling somewhat nervous. Kitt's changed behavior was troubling.
"It knows where I can find Michael," Kitt answered bluntly. "Karr if you're trying to stop me —"
"I'm not, I simply want to accompany you to ensure everything is alright…I don't trust the program." Karr explained, frankly.
Kitt thought this over, he had no real reasons to trust the program completely but it was the best shot he had at finding Michael. April had made the program long ago and obviously, Kitt had modified it at some point or another, but was the program still a reliable source? Given Kitt had been in the hands of NAG? Kitt looked over the program feeling green around his exhaust…sick…The program was banging against his mind to hurry it up…He had taken too long…but…how and why? What was this haste for?
Kitt turned his emergency lights, needing to pull over and think things over for a while. He wanted to find Michael…but Karr was right in a sense…could the program be trusted?
Kitt came to a gentle stop and silenced the engine, taking a moment to admire the desert fauna along the highway shoulder. Dry tall grasses waving in elegant motions fingering towards the sky.
'Kitt? Why are you stopping?' Karr asked, puzzled as he pulled behind, choosing to keep his engine idling just in case they needed to make a quick retreat.
'I need a little quiet time I suppose…think things over.' Kitt replied, shoving the program aside for a moment. A lot had happened in the last hours and he needed time to collect himself.
'Oh,' Karr responded. 'Should I let Doctor Barstow and Reginald know you are only taking some…quiet time?'
Kitt thought it over.
'I think that would be most adequate, thank you, Karr.'
Karr looked over at Kitt a little disorientated. Kitt picked up visuals on Karr's scanner rippling into two streams of amber light.
'Karr?'
'Yes?' Karr answered somewhat unsure.
'That was a compliment.'
'Yes, I understand…I'm simply not accustomed exactly to compliments.' Karr admitted meekly into the channel while sending a message forward to Kipp who was relieved to know both Trans-Am's were alright. Karr had noticed that lately, he'd been getting compliments from everyone, and in all seriousness…he really liked it. Sure perhaps he'd gotten somewhat compliments by Rev and Tony but it'd been for their benefit…While with Kitt and his friends they did not ask for anything in return when they gave a compliment.
'Kitt, we should head back with Doctor Barstow and Reginald…' Karr quietly recalled. He understood that Kitt wanted to find Michael but…still finding the man after being declared dead legally sounded too…impossible.
'Karr, please return with Bonnie and RC. Remember, NAG is not after me…but rather you and Kipp. Head home —"
Karr shuddered under the brightly burning sun, for the first time the image of Devon's garage came to mind as home. He finally had a home?! It was Mr. Miles' garage sure…but give or take he had a home!
"I have a home!?" Karr couldn't help and shouted out loud, revving the engine in excitement before honking in bewilderment making a ruckus about the news. Mr. Miles' garage had been very cozy and more than ever he wanted to return to that garage that he could call his own!
Kitt felt content for Karr, watching the t-tone t-top whirl with excitement…and all a little sad…shouldn't he be going home too? But how could he without Michael? A piece of the AI was missing and he desperately needed to recover it… Could Michael have indeed died? Kitt thought this possibility over in agony…
"let's go home…" Karr invitingly answered Kitt in the broiling air while tractor-trailers sped by with gusts of air tossing desert sand over both Trans-Am's.
'The Phoenix lives.'
Kitt beat his scanner a little slower as he processed what to do next. Taking in Karr's excitement of being part of a family and finally having a place to call his own. He felt sick to his processor, looked to the pale blue cloudless sky, observing the birds hovering patiently in the heated breeze. Climbing up columns of invisible air pushing them effortlessly upward.
"Karr, I want to…but you see Michael is…he's my driver and friend and I would do anything to find him —" Kitt whispered into the blinding rays of the sun.
Karr silenced his engine in disappointment…
"Kitt, aren't I a friend too?" Karr muttered letting out an inaudible welp as he awaited Kitt's answer, his voice modulator flickering weakly against the brightness of noon. He wished he'd been obedient from the start when he'd been released by Rev and Tony; he wished his ties with Kitt could be stronger so as to convince him to come along. He didn't wish to part ways even if it was temporary…
Kitt knew it would be unwise of him to bring Karr with him on the journey, aware that the vehicle was in severe danger. In a sense, it was also unwise to venture alone. Karr needed him right now but so did Michael…he was sure…and yet he was divided…
"Karr, you are my brother! Of course, you are…but I need you to go home! I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to you —"
"I won't hold you back then…" Karr interrupted Kitt letting the hurt flood his words as he floored the pedal turning back towards the gas station where he was sure Kipp was waiting for them…
'I'm not mad…' Karr answered through the communications link once more as he sped down the highway resenting Kitt's silence. 'I understand you need Michael Knight, but…please come home soon. I need you. Safe journey.' Within the next few minutes, an unbearable silence settled in the link, Kitt being hesitant to respond as he gently pushed forward and merged with traffic heading towards the beacon pulling him towards the wilderness…the opposite direction.
'I'll see you soon, stay safe brother...'
Karr sent a quiet smile back through the link finding comfort that Kitt would return soon and simply needed time to resolve his setback…
Authors Note: I'm still heavily working on Obscure Knight, simply put my new job is taking up lots of my time but I do plan on finishing this story among others. (Disclaimer: There is a short chance I will come back to add to this chapter if I see it necessary but until then) Happy reading and writing!