"Michael? What are we doing here?" The Knight Industries Two Thousand asks as his new partner of two weeks relaxes in his seat. The modified 1982 Pontiac Trans AM and its driver parked on a hilltop facing the sun as it began to set.
The interior of the Trans AM has a myriad of lights and buttons on the dashboard - all designed for a specific function. Michael Knight curiously looks at a square lighting up in the middle of the dashboard known as the voice modulator. There's a smile on his face as he replies, "Kitt, we're watching the sunset. Isn't this your first time seeing one?"
Kitt, curious as to why he and Michael are watching a sunset, replied, "My Anamorphic Equalizer can detect not only visible light - it can also detect x-rays, ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, microwaves, and radio waves. Shall I continue?" He glances briefly at the sun with his optics, then directly at his driver. "I've observed humans looking at sunsets before. I never thought of observing a sunset by myself. Shouldn't we return to the mansion?" He asks, somewhat mystified.
Michael rolls his eyes - luckily, the car doesn't understand what it means yet. Ignoring the technical part of the conversation, he tries to enlighten his mechanical partner, "So this IS your first time. You're missing the point of watching sunsets, Kitt. Try to visualize the different colors of the light from a human's point of view. Look at the sun with the colors changing as it's moving lower on the horizon. There are shades of yellows, oranges, reds, and even purples. It's beautiful, Kitt."
Kitt is busily taking readings of the wavelengths of each color he detects and displays them on his twin monitors, "Michael, I've analyzed each color in nanometers. Here are the results if you wish to review them on the monitors," he said trying to be helpful.
"You're still not getting it, Kitt," Michael replies, somewhat impatiently. Letting out a sigh, he tries to explain again, "Look at the sun. Look at the colors. Don't scan, analyze, or do anything computer-related. Look at the sun as it sets like a human does, for the sheer beauty of it."
Kitt does as suggested, but now the sun has disappeared from the horizon with only a glow left, and the stars are starting to appear. "It's getting late, Michael, and my battery packs need recharging. May we leave now?" He asks, eager to leave this place.
Michael starts the engine and reverses onto the nearby road, "Yeah, but we're coming back here, Kitt. Soon as we finish our next assignment," he answers, disappointed. He wanted Kitt to understand. It's only been two weeks since they met, and Michael already feels attached to the strange, self-aware computer. He drives in silence, starting the trip back to the mansion.
Kitt, meantime, is reviewing the words recorded with his audio receiver in silence. He doesn't understand the concept of beauty. Ten minutes later, while driving toward home, the AI asks, "Michael, what do you consider to be beautiful other than a sunset?"
Michael is surprised at the question. He takes a moment to think of what would be appropriate for the curious computer and finally answers, "My idea of beauty is a pretty woman." He's smiling at the obvious statement. Realizing Kitt's question is important to him, the man continues, "Joking aside, Kitt. My idea of beauty is flowers growing in a garden with many colors, like the roses outside the mansion. The blue sky on a clear day. The ocean waves as they crash onto the sand. The chassis you reside in, Kitt. There are many forms of beauty. I can't explain them all. You need to learn about beauty in your way."
Kitt considers Michael's words and is unsure about them. He decides more input is needed.
The next few weeks were busy for the two. They couldn't return to the same hill to watch the sunset. During assignments, no matter where they are, Kitt observes the sunsets while trying to comprehend what his partner discussed with him the first time.
Learning more about Michael as the weeks continue, Kitt starts to understand humanity. He notes what compels his partner to save lives despite the danger everywhere. "Good mornings" from Michael when reuniting with the car after sleeping in a motel bed. The teasing from his partner when the AI complains about the man's food choices. The little things Michael does, like a smile, a joke, or a comment, Kitt stores each moment into his memory banks.
Kitt's emotions are becoming alive a little bit at a time as each day passes. The compassion and gentleness of his voice when Michael is stressed, the desire to protect his partner no matter the cost, warmth all over his entire person when Michael gives him an affectionate pat on the dash, sadness after witnessing his brother Karr drive off a cliff while confronting him, remorse upon regaining control of himself after reprogramming against his will, fear that he'll be used as a weapon against Michael again and finally relief when Bonnie repairs him after a dangerous assignment. All emotions come into play at one point or another.
There are more Kitt experiences - the thrill of the open road as they speed along the highway. Marvels at children playing while parked at the local playground parking lot. The computer observes an older couple kissing each other tenderly and holding hands as they walk along the beach while gazing from a distance, waiting for a traffic light to turn green.
While Kitt is learning, he begins to appreciate the beauty of classical music - the composer Vivaldi is one of his favorites. Art in the form of paintings and statues, his physical appearance - sleek and black. Everything good that man has done is pleasing to the computer.
Finally, after ten months, Michael and Kitt return to the same hill they were at as the sun is about to set. Michael relaxes in his seat like he did for the first time they were together at this location. Kitt decided to study the sun and photograph it. The sun reveals its brilliant colors as it sets. Speaking in a low voice, the AI comments, "Michael, the sunset is beautiful this evening. The colors are so vibrant."
Michael smiles as he looks at the now segmented lines of the voice modulator, "Buddy, I believe you get it now."
Now, decades later, Kitt still watches the sunsets. A survivor of many attacks against his chassis and the CPU deep within it almost permanently deactivated, he regards each day as a reminder of how precious life is, especially for the man he's known and loved during the many years they've been together. Kitt looks at the sun and appreciates the beauty of the yellows, oranges, reds, and purples as it sets. This day, he's alone. Michael is at their retirement home entertaining some old friends they met long ago while working for FLAG.
Two beeps are heard from within Kitt's interior, "Hey, Pal. You're ok out there?" Michael asks warmly.
Kitt smiles inwardly and replies softly, "I'm fine, Michael. I'm watching the sunset. This one is outstandingly beautiful tonight."
