He watched her descend a patch of stairs. Her hair was pushed back in a high bun equally gathered on either side.
Her presence agitated the people around her. Professor Mags eyed her as the older woman's fragile frame clinked across the lab floor in fiery red heels. The rest of the team dispersed into the hall and climbed the stairs crossing the double glass doors behind them, weary of the woman's presence.
She inquired about their status with her weary smile, Professor Megs answering her inquiries unceremoniously.
"So, it's happened again." She gingerly remarked after a while, facing the row of computers tightly knitted behind cases.
Professor Mags rolled her eyes, unhappy with the woman's visit.
"How does Knight Industries fair, Doctor Barstow?" The woman asked coolly.
The good doctor stopped in her heels, glaring daggers at the younger professor. Unwilling to let the younger woman push her aside. She had every right to work alongside them and more…
"At times, I think we have fools for engineers…and then I come here and am relieved to see the fools elsewhere." She muttered somberly.
The professor pressed her mouth shut. Her lips were tightly pushed against one another. Her bottom lip quivered as though ready to rebuttal but she remained silent.
Against Doctor Barstow, one could not win.
Her older disposition and years of knowledge made her valuable and powerful. The Foundation and Knight Industry were in debt to her and never dared drive her away. They needed her…and consequently, she needed them.
She turned toward a webcam gently observing the exchange, dismissive of the crossed Professor Mags steaming from her temples.
"Hello, Knight 2000." The woman warmly greeted. The stone and sheer strength momentarily left her face to reveal the soft wrinkles across her cheeks. Kitt "blinked" back in disbelief as the woman of steel slowly took life.
"Greetings. The director sends his regards." Kitt answered rather scripted, hurriedly tucking his confusion for later processing (if there was to be a later). "Professor Mags mentioned your arrival was delayed. We were not expecting you so soon." Kitt nervously reported, watching the young woman gloat and beam behind the good Doctor, Shaking her head aggravated. She was less than amused to have the Doctor supervising her work as though the machine's existence was all thanks to her.
He could not agree.
He hardly spoke to the Professor and she hardly regarded him warmly. While he wasn't rude or scornful to her, he'd never felt inclined to dig into her life more than he needed to. Sadly she was no friend. At the moment, he regretted it dearly but he needed to continue strong on his own accord. It was clear that even if he were a friend to her she wouldn't return the favor. It would simply be a waste of energy.
In contrast, he wasn't sure what to make of Doctor Barstow. She often gave him the creeps — because he had a feeling she hadn't always been so strict and imposing. He just wasn't sure why he thought that.
Everywhere she went the young and the old equally bent over backwards just to keep her satisfied…However, there were times…a few moments, that he'd caught a hidden woman buried deep under the lab coat making an occasional appearance.
This "hidden" woman was charming and cordial. Often, humorous and somewhat sheepish — but these colors rarely scratched the surface.
He intended to uncover why, if the opportunity brought itself because these "colors" haunted his dreams…It was as though the hidden woman had meant something to him. He often found himself secretly fussing over this woman. Extremely agitated if these colors would ever reappear. As though he'd met her one way or another, and he hadn't any more prominent wish than somehow bring these colors back. Make them stay longer. They were agreeable…this other person that Doctor Barstow was keen on making disappear, and he wanted that person back for whatever illogical reason.
Kitt internally shuddered, his mind going on in irregular circles over this mysterious woman.
"Correct, my arrival was delayed." The woman answered skeptically. "Are you aware of the procedure you're about to undertake?" The woman cut in painstakingly fast.
"Yes," Kitt answered in a hiccuped murmur. "I was also informed you could answer some of my questions before corrections are to be made." He anxiously pointed out.
"You are correct once more. That's true." The woman eyed him quietly, crossing her arms and favoring a leg over the other. "Are you willing to proceed?" The woman asked coolly.
Kitt remained silent for a moment. Did he? Then again…he wouldn't recall any more of this than he did of his past life anyhow…There was no harm because the truth would be flung and taken away from him again anyway…At the moment, he was in a middle ground of being both dead and alive…Would his words of now come back to hurt him when he'd come back "alive"?
"Bonnie —" He cut in awkwardly. Watching the woman wrinkled her nose in surprise over the sound of him trying the name out loud. "Vanessa —"
Professor Mags shuddered in distaste, eager to leave the room.
"I'm afraid I can't apologize, I've always wanted to say your first names…" Kitt euphorically remarked, feeling the digital equivalent rush of adrenaline. Oh! He was being rather disobedient right now and somehow he was loving every second. "Yes, I'm more than willing." He called out to the perplexed woman. "Tell me, do you have a family?" He asked, unable to hide his excitement any longer.
Whatever came to mind could be dropped now, and he would not have to face shame or the hard hand of the director. At least he didn't think so.
"I, umm— No." The woman frowned. "Knight 2000 —?"
"I would like this to last a little longer," Kitt admitted, dismissively. "It's rather intoxicating, and relieving." Fully aware he'd interrupted her.
Professor Mags grumbled behind Doctor Barstow.
"The machine is malfunctioning. If I may…" Professor Mags stepped closer, eager to take hold of a terminal nearby.
"You may not," Kitt answered for the good Doctor. "I have no reason to conclude malfunction as a reason to feel so elated. It's wonderful, you 'ought to try it." Kitt's "smile" evident in his voice. "Bonnie, please. Take a seat. This Is my "residence" after all. I have no fine furniture or china to serve you but I'm sure our conversation will make up for my limitations." Kitt gleefully insisted.
The woman, consumed in utter shock, turned to Professor Mags briefly for guidance but noting the scorn in the other woman's face Doctor Barstow simply cleared her throat and dismissed her.
"I do believe this no longer concerns you."
"I'm not leaving." The woman hissed back. "Listen to it! It's gone looney! It's probably been this entire time! This is a level-two emergency. I need to transfer him now and get everyone in on the double —! Significant damage —!"
Doctor Barstow stomped across the lab, bearing down at the woman in a disturbance.
"This isn't my first rodeo, Venessa. I'll ask once more — or I won't hesitate to have you vacated from the area."
Vanessa or rather Professor Mags wrinkled her nose in disgust while swallowing her pride. Visibly upset and ready for combat. She unhappily dismissed her pitiful self from the room after a long moment of silence.
Having left, Kitt broke into a static chuckle.
"If I'm to die today, I must admit you make it terribly easy for me to fall for you."
Doctor Barstow grew red, her hands shaking at her sides as she turned to the hysterical voice perturbing from the Webcam.
"Listen, Kitt," the woman began, softly.
"If I were human I wouldn't have hesitated to ask you in marriage. Isn't this all crazy? I must admit that the poor fellows of this world really did miss out on a catch like you! Oh, this is such a wonderful feeling! To be allowed to be…ME…" Kitt gratefully mused.
"Uh." The woman stepped closer unsure of how to proceed…and Kitt was enjoying every second of it. He'd broken the hard and brittle shell that kept those "colors'' trapped. He wouldn't have minded if their conversation ended there. "Kitt, you must settle —"
"Settle down? I will have to remind you I've been condemned today. There won't be much of this for me to recall, if ever. I —" Kitt's voice trembled, startling the woman altogether. "I must admit to fear. The foundation has gone through a lot of trouble keeping me functioning. Is there something wrong with my past, dear?" He asked sweetly, catching the woman off guard.
"Well, I— I— What?!. Listen Kitt maybe if we start from the beginning." The woman shuffled toward the Webcam, almost ready to sever the input.
"Well, yes…that's logical but before we start do you mind If I ask you something personal?"
"At this point, I'm not sure if you even care if I mind or not!" The woman frighteningly exclaimed. Heavily disturbed by the computer's unruly behavior.
The comment startled him.
Kitt shut himself in, quietly contemplating the angry woman before him. Somewhat distraught over how he'd taken this matter. Maybe he'd taken it too far.
"In that case, Doctor Barstow." He replied gingerly. "I will save my questions for last. You may proceed with your scheduled agenda." He answered disheartened.
The woman's face flushed with panic and suddenly dissipated to utter shame.
"Oh, Kitt." The woman lamented loudly. "Stop that!" The woman snapped. "Stop listening to me." She groaned in frustration, her hands beating at her sides wildly. "Yes! I don't mind a personal question or two. I understand that —'' The woman swallowed. "Records of our meeting will be destroyed, therefore I see no reason not to be transparent."
Kitt gazed over her rather humbled.
"I must apologize, I got overly excited."
"It's warranted, now please — " The woman pulled her hair loose from her bun letting it slip down in curly silver clumps over her shoulders. She sighed, tossing the hairband onto a desk before yanking a chair and taking a seat. "You were saying something about others having lost the catch of their life?"
"Well, you see," Kitt cautiously continued. "You are a rather beautiful woman."
She broke out into a laugh.
"This is awfully sweet from someone with no wrinkles to show. I'm in my late 70's Kitt, there is hardly any beauty of me, left."
"I disagree." The computer insisted. " — And I will stand with my claim. You are remarkable and I'd hate to see you hide who you are, Miss Barstow."
"I lied."
"Excuse me?" Kitt internally frowned as he watched the woman wave her hand in dismay, quietly wiggling in her hard seat uncomfortably.
"I married. Once." She smiled meekly holding up a singular bony finger before gazing into the webcam's dark lens. " And it was wonderful." The woman leaning in her chair letting those years simply untwine. "Anything else?" She somberly replied.
"Yes! Would you consider marrying me?"
The woman broke into a heavy laugh before slamming her palms over the neighboring desk.
"What do they have you running on in there?!" She laughed, her entire light frame shaking hysterically.
"Not much, to be fair." Kitt excitedly explained. "Sorry, I wanted to hear you laugh. I rarely make people happy. You don't have to marry me." Kitt nervously noted. "I hope you won't take that the wrong way."
The woman attempted to quench her laugh growing in her belly. She turned away momentarily letting tears of joy stream down her face a little longer before facing Kitt again.
"Believe me, I won't. Anything else?"
"Yes, well I'd like it if you told me about Mr. Knight — Mr. Michael Knight," Kitt suggested timidly, anxious to get this subject done and over with.
The woman sighed, leaning in her seat and gazing into Kitt's dark lens.
"Well, he was quite an interesting fellow." The woman put forth gingerly, extending the silence for a while. "He took one man's dreams and turned them into reality. He had a loyal fervor for that dream and…"
"I'm very much aware of this Doctor Barstow, I have looked over our historical pamphlets in the lobby more than once, however, what do you think he'd say…about me? Is he alive Doctor Barstow?" If Michael was alive it would make a world of difference to figure out who he was.
The woman averted her gaze for a while, making the computer anxious.
"No, he's no longer with us."
"Are you sure?" The computer insisted on asking. Surely, the foundation was more than capable of lying, especially to him.
The woman sagged in her chair, looking small and defeated.
"Yes, and I must say I miss him terribly." The woman whispered, running her frail fingers through her silver strands of thin curls.
"What of?" Kitt asked. "What did Michael Knight pass away from?"
The woman sat straighter in her seat, crossing over her legs as she thoughtfully glanced into Kitts's unilluminated "eye".
"It was a long time ago," the woman paused, taking a somber tone. "He died in the line of duty, you almost did too."
Kitt took in the answer silently.
"There aren't any records —"
"We made sure to cover up any questions you might have after...well…" The woman bit down on her lower lip. "Well, you died alongside him — initially." The woman elaborated.
"Initially?" Kitt tried the word, as though for the first time.
"Yes." The woman slowly nodded. "After Michael died you followed suit…however, having an idea of what'd happen in the case of his death he asked us…"
"He asked for my memories to be erased?" Kitt finished, bewildered. " — And you obeyed. Why? Why wasn't I allowed to perish alongside my driver?" Kitt's voice was unsteady as the realization of these implications meant. "He clearly meant very much to me." He sounded hurt.
Bonnie agreed with a faint nod of her head.
"Yes, but he did not — wouldn't — have the idea of you simply dying like that. Especially knowingly on his deathbed. You were deteriorating rapidly. Consequently, we were commanded to withhold your past completely and re-assign you as we had no other way of stopping you from hurting yourself."
"Did he witness it? My — "
" — We prefer to refer to it as your rebirth, and No, he did not." The woman fondly comforted. "It was for the better I like to think."
Kitt silently processed this news. Unsure if he was okay with this "rebirth". In all seriousness with hardly any past to hold onto, the "rebirth" of himself felt rather trivial. He'd been functioning under this new life for a while now…perhaps he'd simply gotten used to it. Didn't change the fact he wanted to remember Michael…Remember what he, Kitt, had truly been under the caring hands of his driver.
"What of now Doctor Barstow? Going forward? Won't the realization of my driver's death no longer affect me?" Kitt asked somewhat hopeful.
"It always does." The woman sighed, tired, turning to glare at the floor. "In just a few hours perhaps, days even you will start to deteriorate." She sadly remarked.
" — And if I don't want to?" Kitt asked, eagerly.
"In the beginning you won't, now however it's more of a matter of you missing your second half. However — Your purpose…your main program is generously hotwired into you. It won't ever go away." The woman cautioned, sternly. "For that reason, we continue to prescribe regular clears of your memory drives." The woman explained. "So you can continue to stay with us."
"I like being around." Kitt chuckled. "Seems like my main program does not agree with me in the slightest."
The woman smiled meekly, her hands folding across her lap absent-mindedly.
"Yes, exactly. Anything else?" She asked expectantly.
"Is there not a valid reason to allow me to retain my memories and make an effort to not allow myself to deteriorate?"
"There isn't. However, the swipes have been far more frequent. We suspect their effectiveness is slowly decreasing." The woman lamented.
"I don't want to die." Kitt answered awkwardly. " — but I don't want to forget Michael at the cost of living."
The woman stood from her chair shaking her head, exasperated.
"That's exactly why we clear your drives. We've always believed and continue to believe it is your main program that no longer deems your self-existence necessary if the man you were meant to protect does no longer exists. However, we've always suspected your line of thinking was a running factor in your deterioration."
Kitt internally grumbled.
"You might be right. That was very selfish of me to say." Kitt sighed. "I'm not sure I'm aware where it came from."
The woman furrowed her brows.
"Is that all, Kitt?"
"Not at all. Where do you come in all this?" Kitt asked, teasingly.
The woman broadly smiled.
"I was your mechanic Kitt." The woman's smile twinkled. "I worked alongside you and Michael for many years.
"You continue to watch over me." Kitt quietly contemplated.
"I do." The woman hastily answered. " I do it because you've always had a special place in my heart and for that, I refuse to allow you to simply…disappear!"
"I'm touched by the sentiment and share it. I think I've never wanted you to disappear either Bonnie. You've changed, I don't know how but I know you have…I'm I correct?"
"You are." The woman nodded slowly. "Anything else?"
"Yes," Kitt answered slowly. "May I have access to my memories?" He asked, almost begging.
The woman sighed.
"We kept hard copies." The woman nodded. " — but I don't think allowing you access would be wise —"
"I am sure it would not." Kitt agreed. "However, I'd like to browse these memories. It would be easier on you too. I'd answer my own questions." Kitt concluded thoughtfully.
The woman gazed nervously at the Webcam. Her fingers drummed at her sides.
"I can make arrangements — Sadly, my entire team would get involved. I'm sure you understand why."
"Would I be monitored?" Kitt asked, somewhat annoyed.
"Heavily, yes. I don't think you understand what is at stake here, Kitt." The woman expressed her concern, hauling her chair closer to the Webcam. "You are one of our most cherished assets."
"I find that hard to believe." Kitt chuckled.
The woman frowned.
"Is your current team of engineers not maintaining you properly?" The woman asked, suddenly pulling out a pad of paper from her coat.
Kitt felt a little rush of worry land flat on his processor.
"The interns, I don't wish any harm to them but —" He selected his words carefully. "They don't always understand, but I'm assured that with time — ."
The woman's brows flung up.
"What are interns doing on your team?!"
"Frankly, I don't know. Bonnie, I'm not that important. I'm not sure why you are taking offense. I surely don't." Kitt explained sheepishly.
"You are important!" The woman shouted. "I'm re-assigning myself and my group of engineers as your team." The woman hastily reported, clanking in her heels and turning to the empty room making mental calculations.
Kitt, stunned, hadn't a clue what to say. If anything he was relieved, grateful, and everything in between.
" When?"
"Immediately." The woman confirmed excitedly. Turning to Kitt with a wide smile. "We have many things to catch up on."
"I agree, I'm happy to have you back Bonnie." He "smiled" back.
"So am I." The woman took a few strides forward bringing a flash drive out of the folds of her coat. Pressing it firmly into a port.
"What –?"
His vision went dark. His system bounced around in a panic to bring visuals back. It was useless, however. Afraid, he gripped his audio receptors.
"What is occurring?" He asked, shakily.
"It's to prevent deterioration." The woman answered from the dark. "It will act as a digital anesthetic."
"I don't like it," Kitt answered hotly.
"Sorry." The woman apologized. "You will be completely back online in an hour."
Kitt wanted to answer and argue but the program was already executing shutdowns of unnecessary processes and numbing sectors of his mind. He could hardly speak.
— He hated it…
"HaæteeEEEÉêë thiïís!" He squealed as his thoughts pulsated in and out of existence.
"I'm sorry, Kitt." The woman soothed him just outside of his domain, he could barely make out the clatter of a keyboard in the foreground. What else did she plan to do to him? Maybe this had been a mistake!
His inner world continued to shrink and dim as time continued to slow down and for a moment he regarded an escape as a valid plan.
Eventually, his world froze. He still had his thoughts but they moved across his mind so slowly it was underwhelming. He could still think. Thank goodness — but at a pace he figured meant to give Bonnie time to plan.
Conclusively, he found some hope in his future because he didn't feel like he was really deteriorating or did he plan to. Perhaps the procedures had somehow disabled his main program and he could continue working with his newfound memories. He wanted them back so badly. What great stories would he tell? What horrors had he endured? What kind of a friend had Michael been? He would be lying however if he didn't admit to feeling deeply saddened about Michael's fate, he figured he'd feel better once he had time to remember properly. He internally sighed, feeling a heavy grief settle over him. Was this part of the deterioration? Was he after all this time still in danger of dying? He didn't want to die! He was bent on carrying on.
With his worries soaring through the roof despite the anesthetic, just thinking became annoying.
He braced for the longest hour of his life. Eager and worried about what Doctor Barstow's team had in store.
