During the ride, Melissa was a little less withdrawn than she had been. Michael did most of the talking, but she was at least responding with more than just a nod or shake of her head.
"Michael, we are approaching our destination."
"Okay, Melissa. Time for you to learn what that does." And he pointed at a button on Kitt's console.
"Turbo Boost," she read. "Um, it makes Kitt go faster?"
"Not exactly. Ready, pal?"
"Of course, Michael."
Kitt took control of the car, speeding up and turning off the road into the desert. He was heading directly for a gully. Melissa spotted it and turned to Michael. But before she could speak, he pressed the button. Kitt sailed over the gully while Michael whooped loudly.
Kitt landed on the other side and then came to a stop. Melissa twisted and turned, looking back at the gully, then at Michael, then at Kitt's console, then at the desert in front of them before looking back at the gully again to repeat the sequence a couple more times. A smile slowly spread across her face.
"Wow! That was . . . I mean . . ." Melissa was speechless but clearly delighted.
"Like I said, Turbo Boost is not exactly for making Kitt go faster."
"Michael? I suggest you exit the vehicle for the next demonstration."
"Next demo?" Michael was confused until Kitt opened the roof. "Oh, right."
He got out, a broad grin on his face. Kitt drove a few feet away.
"Miss Knight, you will be perfectly safe."
"I trust you, Kitt. And Michael."
"And now, a demonstration of the ejection seat."
"Wait, what?"
Kitt didn't answer. Instead, he activated the passenger side ejection seat. Melissa flew through the air toward Michael. Kitt had accurately calculated the amount of force required. She dropped – neatly – into Michael's waiting arms. He didn't even need to take a single step from where he had been standing.
Breathlessly, Melissa said, "That was –"
"A lot of fun," said Michael, as he carried her back to where Kitt was waiting for them.
"Oh, my God, yes! But what do you use it for?"
"Evicting people I do not like," replied Kitt primly.
Michael put Melissa back in the passenger seat. "Or in place of a ladder."
"A ladder?"
"Yeah. If I need to get over a wall. Or up to an upper floor or roof of a building."
"I calculate the amount of force needed based on the required height," explained Kitt. "Speaking of calculations, we will need to leave soon if we are to get Miss Knight home in time for her afternoon physical therapy session."
Michael made a big show of checking his watch. "Long way to go before we find a bridge. And Melissa and I haven't had lunch yet."
"Yes, Michael. You are correct."
"Guess we'll have to go back the way we came, then."
"Can I press the Turbo Boost button this time?" Melissa asked excitedly.
"Yes, Miss Knight, you may." Kitt stressed the correct verb.
Michael drove at the gully. He nodded at Melissa, who pushed the button. They jumped back across, Michael and Melissa both whooping joyfully.
They drove to a burger joint Michael liked. Kitt made it clear that he would not let them eat in the car. And reminded them about the ejection seats. As in both front seats. Taking the hint, Michael and Melissa got takeout but sat at one of the picnic tables. Michael carried Melissa there, leaving her leg brace and crutch in the back seat.
After she finished eating, Melissa looked at Kitt speculatively and then asked, "Kitt, how far can you throw Michael? Using the ejection seat."
"Upwards of 30 feet."
"No, I meant laterally."
"It would depend on several factors: how much force I use, the angle of ascent. How recently he has eaten."
"Hey, now," Michael said, as he took a large bite of his second cheeseburger.
"But approximately how far?'
"About 10 or 15 feet."
"And me? How far could you throw me?"
"About 20 feet or perhaps slightly more." Kitt then stated firmly, "But not here, Miss Knight."
"You'd need somewhere safe to land," added Michael.
"How about a swimming pool?"
Kitt was curious. "Why a swimming pool?"
"When I was younger, I like to use the diving board. But I can't anymore. Because of my hip," was the frank answer.
"I doubt the gardeners would appreciate me getting as close to the pool as I would need to be."
"I may be able to talk Mr. C into it. Once."
"Once is all you'd get," said Michael.
"Why only once?"
Michael laughed. "Kitt wouldn't let us eat burgers in the car. You think he'd let you back in soaking wet from the pool?"
"Once would be enough," she said wistfully.
"We can probably work something out. Right, pal?" asked Michael.
"I will consider it," replied Kitt. "But now, we do need to leave, or Miss Knight will be late for her afternoon session with Emily.
They threw away their trash, and then Michael carried Melissa back to the car. Melissa was much improved on the ride home: talking, laughing. Kitt was pleased his plan had worked.
As they got close, Michael said, "We'll drop you off at the house. When you're finished with your session, meet us in the garage."
"The garage?"
"April's gonna want to check Kitt over. And that will likely take her a while."
"Especially my suspension."
Melissa was contrite. "Oh, Kitt, I'm sorry. Those landings must have done a number on you."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Miss Knight. Michael and I did promise you a demonstration of my capabilities."
"Yes, we did," said Michael, with a slight glower at Kitt's console.
"Though . . ."
"Spit it out."
"Spitting is not one of my capabilities. Not to mention, spitting is a highly unsanitary habit. However, I was going to propose that Miss Knight assist in tuning up my suspension. Since she has proven her automotive mechanics expertise to my satisfaction."
"Oh, may I," she asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Sure," replied Michael. "I'll let April know to hold off on the suspension work until you show up. The three of us will have you right as rain in no time, buddy."
When they arrived at the house, Kitt pulled up to the door nearest where Melissa had her physical therapy sessions. Melissa put on her leg brace, then Michael helped her out of the car and handed her the crutch. She went inside, and Michael and Kitt headed for the garage.
April was on the phone. She waved at Michael, who exited the car and came over. April pressed a button on the console and hung up the handset.
"Devon, Michael just arrived. I've put you on speaker phone."
"Yo, Devon! How's your trip going?"
"Quite well, Michael. I had several productive meetings in DC and New York. I was supposed to head to Chicago next. However, April has informed me about the situation with Melissa –"
"Already dealt with. No need to change your plans, Devon."
"You've learned what happened?"
"Brockmore."
"Dale Brockmore?" Devon sounded confused.
"Yeah. Dropped by for a visit, with his new wife. Melissa described her as half the age, a third the brains, and a quarter the social skills as the first wife. Though it was his social skills that were the problem."
"Oh?"
"He said Garthe should have been here to take care of Melissa after Wilton died," said Michael blandly.
"Take care of?" April, who had suffered at Garthe's hands, was outraged by the idea. "Did he ever meet that man?"
"Garthe could be charming, when he chose to be." Devon sighed, then asked, "How is Melissa?"
"Like I said, no need to cut your trip short. Kitt and I took her out for a drive. And now she's fine."
April looked at the monitor with the download from Kitt systems. "That drive involved the Turbo Boost, apparently." She sighed. "I'll work on your suspension first, Kitt."
"Turbo Boost, Michael?" Devon said disapprovingly.
"Kitt and I showed Melissa what is, so she stops worrying about how bad it could have been."
Kitt chimed in to the conversation. "Miss Knight has unpleasant memories of life with Garthe, which Michael and I have replaced."
"Human brains don't work like that, Kitt," said April with a fond smile.
"Miss Knight experienced the Turbo Boost – a feature her father designed – with Michael – the man her father designated as her legal guardian. She then had a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake at a drive-through restaurant with Michael, something Garthe would never have done with her."
"No," murmured Devon. "He most certainly would not have done."
"Working on my suspension – with Michael – will continue to create pleasant memories. And those will replace the unpleasant ones, as they are the memories Miss Knight will choose to relive."
Michael looked surprised, then nodded as he realized why Kitt brought up the suspension earlier. It wasn't to make Melissa feel guilty but to give her something to do with Michael. To build pleasant memories from a shared pleasant experience.
April said, "Well, I guess you were right after all, Kitt."
"Enjoy the rest of your meetings, Devon. See you in a couple of days."
"Thank you, Michael, for dealing with this."
"As Kitt said, Wilton made me Melissa's legal guardian."
"Wilton always did know how to pick the right person for the job." And with that, Devon hung up
As she began gathering the tools she would need, April asked, "I'll leave the suspension for last, so Melissa can help. What else do you two have planned to do with her?"
Michael gave Kitt a sidelong glance, before grinning at April and saying, "Oh, just going to the pool."