Part V:

 

            It was two weeks and one day since Kitt had his surgery.  It would normally seem like a long time, but after he regained his consciousness, the time flew by like the wind.

            All the doctors, nurses, and the people associated with FLAG that knew of Kitt’s procedure were not only proud of his accomplishments, but extremely impressed as well.  They were able to take him off of all oxygen uses after a week and a half of recovery, which was wonderful news, considering that Kitt’s body had been in a coma for over two years.  Not only that, but he had been able to build his muscles back up just enough to allow him to walk short distances. 

            No one, however, could be prouder of Kitt than Michael.  He was extremely blissful to know that his worst fears weren’t recognized and Kitt had pulled through even better than everyone expected.

            On the fifteenth day of his recovery, Kitt got word that he was being released.

            “Mr. Miles has informed the hospital that he’s arranging a visiting nurse to see you every day, along with a private physical therapist,” one of the nurses told him as they begun to take out his IV’s.

            “Do you know when they’ll be here?” Kitt asked as he rubbed his arm where the needle had been.  It almost surprised him to see a small trickle of blood oozing out of the microscopic hole the needle had created. 

            “Anytime now,” she told him as she handed him gauze to hold to his arm to stop the bleeding.

            It wasn’t surprising to Kitt when Michael was late.  Without Kitt there to force him to be on time, it was actually expected.  According to Devon, Michael Knight’s middle name was late.

            It wasn’t until the nurse brought a clipboard with a release form that Kitt began to worry.  He was embarrassed beyond belief to have to tell her that he was unfamiliar with the art of writing.

            “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of that,” a voice said at the door.

            Kitt let out a sigh of relief when he saw Michael standing there. 

            “A little late, are we Mr. Knight?  Your poor brother was getting nervous,” the nurse said with a small smile, as she looked Michael up and down.

            “Well, my brother will need to learn some patience,” Michael joked, giving Kitt a quick wink with his eye.

            After that was said and done, Michael led Kitt down to the first floor and to the entrance.  Kitt was almost expecting to have to walk to the parking garage, but as he soon found out the car was already parked in the drop-off bay. 

            “Devon let me borrow it,” Michael said as he opened the door and watched as Kitt slowly made his way into the passenger seat.

            Kitt looked around the Mercedes’ interior, never having seen a car from the inside before.  It was one of the weirdest things he experienced by this point. 

            Michael quickly went to the driver’s side and took his place at the wheel.  “Ready?” he asked while he started the engine.  Kitt nodded and quickly figured out how to buckle the seatbelt, just in case Michael decided to have his idea of fun.

 

            It was only a twenty-minute ride to the Foundation.  Kitt sat mostly in silence as Michael talked and pointed out different things.  Kitt knew he was trying, but his friend must have forgotten that Kitt had lived in this town his entire life.  In fact, the road they were presently on was the first road Kitt drove on during his test drive after being completed in the lab.

            The gates to the Knight Mansion were already open and Michael pulled in to drive down the long driveway.  Kitt knew this driveway better than anything.  He tried to take the scenery in all at once, now seeing his home from a different perspective.

            “Looks like Devon gathered up a small welcoming committee,” Michael said as he entered the circular drop off section. He parked the car in front of the staircase where a few people Kitt would know were waiting for his arrival.

            “Welcome home, Kitt,” Devon said as Kitt stepped out of the car with Michael’s help.

            “Thank you, Devon,” Kitt said.  He could begin to feel his cheeks get warm.

            The moment turned out to be extremely awkward for not only Kitt, but his friends as well.  Finally, Bonnie gently cleared her throat.  “Well, I’m sure Kitt is very tired.  We can all talk to him later.”

            Everyone agreed and started to turn back inside.  Kitt gave Bonnie a small smile of appreciation when no one was looking and he proceeded to follow her and Michael inside.

            “Well, Kitt,” Devon started, “Michael and Bonnie will show you to your room.  I wish I could tag along, but I’ve got yet another meeting to attend.”

            When Devon had departed from the main entrance of the hall, Kitt followed Bonnie up the stairs, Michael behind them.  His room turned out to be the first door on the right, which was right across the hall from Michael’s old room. 

            Kitt wondered a bit further into the room.  It was an average bedroom in the mansion, consisting of a double bed with two nightstands on either side, a dresser and armoire against the door wall, a desk between the two far windows, and a small square table accompanied by two chairs stood opposite the bed.  There were four separate doors; two being closets and one being a full bathroom, and the fourth was a set of French doors that led to a small balcony.  For all Kitt knew at the moment, the room was nice. 

            Bonnie walked over to one of the closets and opened the door to reveal several hangers of clothes.  “With Michael’s help, much to Devon’s displeasure, you already have a small wardrobe of clothes.  Of course you’re allowed to return whatever you don’t want.”

            Kitt nodded in agreement.  He really didn’t know what he was going to do with himself now.  He was sure he’d find some hobby that would keep him busy, but until then life would be slowly paced.

            “And if you’re feeling up to it,” Michael said, “I’ll take you out to the best restaurant this side of the state.”

            “Sounds good,” Kitt said, wondering which ‘best restaurant’ Michael referred to.

            “Hm, but don’t get him drunk or anything,” Bonnie warned.

            “Please Bonnie,” Kitt assured her, “I’ve done a great deal of research in the past to know what alcoholic beverages can do the human body.”

            “The only thing I’ll be doing to him is trying to get him out of computer mode,” Michael said with a small glint in his eye.

 

            Kitt was impressed that night.  Michael had chosen a good place to eat, although it did take a long time before it they had a chance to sit down and actually eat the food.  After having desert, Michael and Kitt headed off.

            They engaged in several topics of conversation during the night so far, but none was as entertaining as Michael’s driving skills.

            “Honestly Michael, you would drive so quickly when there wasn’t any need,” Kitt told him.

            “Kitt, there was always a method behind my madness,” Michael said in his down-to-earth tone.

            “Yes, and that mostly included a nice looking girl in a cute skirt.”

            Michael slowly nodded his head with reasoning.  “Sometimes that became a factor…but you can’t compare to me anymore.”

            “Oh, I’m sure I’d still be a better driver.  I might not be a car in body anymore, but I did spend a good deal of time living in one to know the ins and outs of techniques.”

            Michael suddenly pulled over to the side of the road and put the vehicle into park.  “Alright, mister wise guy, how about you show me those wonderful skills of yours?”

            “Without a driver’s license, Michael?” Kitt asked appalled. 

            “But you already have all of that, remember Kitt?  Devon’s arrangements?”

            Kitt remembered and smiled.  He opened the passenger door and traded spots with the original driver.  He had to adjust the position of the seat, being only a mere five foot nine inches compared to Michael’s six foot four.  After that was straightened out, Kitt pulled back the shift lever and hit the gas with his foot—although it was a little harder than he wanted.  His only reaction was to immediately slam his foot on the brakes.

            Michael had put his hand on the dashboard as if to stop himself from flying forward.  “That was smooth.”

            “Never mind,” Kitt snapped and made a second attempt, this time doing it perfectly.  They were only three miles from the house, so it wasn’t a long time for Kitt to be driving, but he parked the car in the back garage just the same.

            “Well?” he asked once they shut both doors of the car.

            Michael shrugged his shoulders.  “That’s good for a beginner.”

            “I’ll have you know that I was never pulled over for speeding, traffic violations, or any other misdemeanor when I drove solo during our missions,” Kitt recapped.  Michael could only make faces at the other man as they walked down the dimly lit path back to the house.

            “Michael?” Kitt asked suddenly, almost sounding too shy to say anything more.

            “Yeah?”

            Kitt thought how ridiculous this would sound if he did ask.  “Where is it?”

            “Where’s what, Kitt?”

            “My old body?”

            Michael stopped and looked at the younger person before him.  He just realized that he had never looked over the final product of his friend since that day when they tried to teach him how to walk.  Kitt was much healthier looking that he had been even a few days before.  His hair was neatly styled now, compared to back then.  He was wearing a plain red button-down shirt and blue jeans and white tennis shoes.  He was the average size of most American males, being 5’9”, and a 145 pounds.  His face was slim enough, his nose was only slightly rounded, and his eyebrows were perfect.  They had chosen a good candidate for Kitt to become, in Michael’s opinion.  Who knows…maybe there would be some competition now.

            “Do you want to see it?” Michael asked finally.  

            “Would it hurt to try?”

            Michael laughed and motioned for Kitt to follow him back down the path and to the laboratory.  There was a single spot light on that illuminated the side door that Michael opened cautiously, hoping the alarm wasn’t on.  He was relieved it wasn’t. 

            Kitt kept his fingers in his side pockets as he followed Michael into the warehouse.  After a switch was flipped on, Kitt saw all the high-tech equipment that was used to bring him to life.  But it wasn’t long before he spotted the very thing that he had almost been scared of to see.

            He passed Michael slowly to the covered form of a car.  Michael took the liberty of grabbing a corner of the tarp and yanked it over the hood, causing the air to lift the remainders off to the trunk.

            Kitt started at the front end of the car for the longest time.  He had been out of his body a few times in the past, but he never looked at it from the outside knowing quite well that he would never be going back in.         

            “You alright?” Michael asked, noting his companion’s silence.

            Kitt didn’t answer.  Michael’s two words only snapped him out of his trance and he continued to inspect the black t-top.  He went to the driver’s side and looked in on the dash.  The one thing he did know, he had never seen what the inside of the car looked like.  Now he understood what Michael had meant by “Darth Vader’s bathroom” ten years ago.  Kitt was familiar with the movie Star Wars, but never did grasp the concept. 

            A hand slipped between Kitt and the car door and pulled on the handle.  A small click was heard and the door opened.  Kitt didn’t look at Michael, but moved aside to have the interior fully revealed to him. 

            Kitt took a step back after noticing something that started to bother him.  “The voice panel is missing.”

            Michael remembered that Kitt had known where all of the buttons and gadgets were on the dashboard, so it was only fitting he would notice something was missing—especially when that something was the three-columned panel that sat above the steering wheel.

            “Bonnie didn’t replace it yet, I guess,” Michael said looking over to the table where Bonnie had done most of her work.

            Kitt nodded and moved past Michael to the table.  His hands slowly left his pockets and extended to the small black box that was nestled in a shoebox on the table.  He held the small box in one hand and gently pulled out the voice panel that was still wired to it.

            Kitt gently turned the panel over in his hands, wondering what it looked like to see those lights flashing whenever he spoke. 

            Michael came up next to him and watched.  He didn’t know what he should say, if there even was anything to say. 

            Fortunately, Kitt helped him with that decision.  “Its strange now to think that this was me,” he said calmly.  “I was born in this very room.  I first saw you in this room.  And the old me died in this room.”

            “You didn’t die, Kitt.  Just reborn.”

            “I understand that, Michael.  But everyone knows me as KITT—the Knight Industries Two Thousand.  To many I was nothing but a talking car that could do tremendous things.”  He paused for the longest moment.  “Did I do the right thing?”

            Michael was glad he asked that this time.  With a warm smile and his hand resting on Kitt’s shoulder he said, “Yes.”

            The side of Kitt’s mouth curled into a smile and he settled the CPU back into the box and put the lid on it.  “I just hope you don’t forget that I’m still more intelligent.”

            “We’ll put that to the test,” Michael said as his hand was replaced by his entire arm that wrapped itself around Kitt’s shoulders. 

 

            Michael and Kitt returned to the mansion and sat out on the patio with a cold glass of lemonade.

            “I’ll never forget that look on Devon’s face when I said I had lost you to a woman whose car broke down,” Michael said after taking a sip of his drink.

            “We had some good times, although a great many of them was after something tragic,” Kitt recalled.  “But if there’s one thing that’ll stick in my mind for the rest of my life is you first sitting down in that driver’s seat.”

            “I honestly thought Devon was crazy when he told me the car could think.”

            “I should have counted the number of times you lectured me on our first mission,” Kitt said picking up his glass from the table.  “You even told me I was worse than a divorce.”

            “And you wanted custody of yourself.”

            “But of course.”  They both laughed.

            “That was the good ol’ days,” Michael said leaning back in the chair and resting his foot on his opposite leg.

            They sat in silence for a long time after that, and finally Kitt decided he needed rest.  Michael sat outside by himself for yet another hour after that, thinking about the past, present, and wondered what the future could possibly bring.

 

ßßß

 

            Kitt took the next day to do his own exploration of the Knight Mansion.  He knew the layout quite well from when the blue prints had been downloaded into his memory when he first came into being, but now it was time to see what those places really looked like.

            Kitt wondered idly around the house, looking at various things that sat around for decoration, observed several rooms, and met familiar faces that greeted him when he passed.

            Afterwards, he had the urge to see what nature had to offer outdoors.  He headed down the stairs and went around the corner, having no idea that there would be someone coming from the opposite end.

            “I’m so sorry!” Kitt said after he bumped into a girl carrying a folder full of papers that now were sprawled on the floor.

            “Its alright,” she said kneeling down in her skirt to pick them up.

            Kitt gathered as many as he could and stood up at the same time she did.  He handed them to her and received a shy thank you.  “I don’t believe we’ve ever met,” he said as he studied her features of curly blonde hair and green eyes.”

            Her cheeks turned a shade of crimson red.  “I actually just started here a few months ago,” she told him, hugging the folder to her chest.

            “Well then, I should introduce myself,” Kitt said extending his hand.  “I’m Kitt.”

            The younger girl’s eyes quickly widened.  “Kitt?  I’ve heard so much about you.”

            “Really?” Kitt said, almost not surprised. 

            “You were that car,” she stated.  “Sorry,” she said once noticing that she must have been the hundredth person who referred to him as the car.  “I didn’t mean to be so rude.  I’m Rachael.”  She shook Kitt’s hand.

            “It’s a pleasure,” Kitt said.

 

            For the next couple of days Kitt noticed that every time he saw Rachael he couldn’t help but stare at her.  And what made him feel even stranger was be when she would give him a shy smile back.  Being a car for ten years never gave him a chance to completely interact with humans for a long period of time, (except Michael, Bonnie, Devon, and RC3).

            Another thing that didn’t help him figure this ordeal out was his pride to ask Michael or Bonnie what he was feeling.  He felt ridiculous and helpless when he had to ask them for advice because most of the time it would involve something that was every day happenings to most people.

            However, finally he couldn’t help it.  After his last day of therapy, Kitt sought Michael out.  He was lucky enough to find him sitting by himself outside on the patio reading a book.

            Kitt took a seat across the table from Michael and folded his hands on the table.  “How are you Michael?”

            Michael held up his index finger to indicate to Kitt to hold on a second.  Once he finished his paragraph he replaced the bookmark and shut the covers closed.  “You look distressed.”

            “You could put it that way,” Kitt replied.  “Michael, I’m confused.  I’m feeling something that I’ve never experienced before.”

            “You mean about Rachael?  That new receptionist that works a few days a week?”  Kitt’s mouth opened slightly completely stunned that Michael knew something about this already.

            After a moment, Kitt sat back in his chair with a smile.  “So how long have you known?”
            Michael chuckled.  “Only a few days.  I saw you say hi to her.”

            “I greet everyone I know if I see them and if they see me,” Kitt pointed out.

            “Ah, but this was different, Kitt,” Michael said.  “That was the kind of smile someone would give if they were shy around another person.”

            “Michael, I’ve never been known to be shy,” added Kitt.

            “Exactly.  Which means there’s something there.”  Michael sat on the edge of his seat and softened his voice.  “Alright, every day you see her.  And everyday you say hi, but can’t seem to say anything more, right?”

            “I suppose that’s the way of it.  But what is that all supposed to mean?”

            “You like her!”

            Kitt’s eyes widened.  “Me?  But how would I know for sure…”

            “Kitt, if you feel all funny inside whenever you see her, then you feel something for her.  Trust me, pal.”

            Kitt thought for a moment.  “Alright.  I understand what you’re telling me.  What I don’t understand is what do I do about it?”

            “Ask her out,” Michael said simply.

            “Easier said than done,” Kitt said.  “I’ve never done that before.  I don’t have the experience like you do, Michael.”

            Michael’s faced turned a little red from embarrassment.  Then after clearing his throat he said, “Just get to know her first.  Look, if I saw Devon’s calendar right then you’ll have your chance.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “There’s some kind of 20^th Anniversary Banquet coming up at the end of the month.  You can ask her to go with you,” Michael said clearly.

            Kitt pondered the idea for a moment.  “I guess so,” he said finally. 

 

            “Oh hi Kitt,” Rachael said one afternoon when Kitt walked by.  “Where are you off to today?”

            “I’m not sure,” he said honestly.  “I’m actually thinking of taking the Knight Two Thousand for a ride, but I can’t seem to find anyone to accompany me.”

            “I see,” she replied.  “Well, I get off in an hour…and my car happens to be in the shop…”

            “Would you like me to take you home?” Kitt asked after taking her hint.

            “I’d be delighted,” Rachael said, showing off her pearly white teeth. 

            “Good,” Kitt said putting his hands in his pockets.  “I’ll see you in an hour.”

            Kitt turned on his heels and walked down the hall and into a side room where Michael waited on a sofa. “So?” he asked when the younger man walked in.

            “It’s arranged for me to take her home,” Kitt said.  “Michael, now what?  I did what you said, but I’m nervous now.  What if I make a fool of myself?”

            “Kitt, I’m sure she understands.  From what I’ve heard from Bonnie, Rachael’s a really nice girl trying to get on her own two feet herself.  She’s single, lives in a small house on the other side of town, and pretty.  What more could you ask for?”

            “But will Devon allow me to take the car?” Kitt added.

            Michael waved his hand.  “I’m sure Devon trusts you more than anyone around here…”

            “You want to take the Knight Two Thousand to bring some girl home?” Devon asked when Kitt asked for permission, Michael standing next to him.

            “Devon, I’m sure Kitt would take good care of it,” Michael said before Kitt could defend himself.  “Besides, if anyone’s familiar with that car its him!”

            “Yes, I’m aware of that Michael, but can Kitt handle it as a human being?” Devon inquired looking at Kitt.

            “I simply put it auto cruise mode and keep all other functions off,” Kitt told him.  “And you have my assurance that no harm will come to the car.”

 

            Kitt paced the main entrance of the mansion as he waited for Rachael.  He could feel the palms of his hands getting sweaty and he tried over and over what he would say to her for the time they were in the car. 

            “Are you alright?” asked a gentle voice.

            Kitt looked over his shoulder to see Rachael standing behind him holding her purse and a jacket.  “I’m fine,” he said casually.  “Ready?”

            Her answer was a nod and he opened the front door for her.  The black t-top Trans Am was parked in front waiting patiently for them. 

            “We’re taking that car?” She asked in surprise.

            “Is that okay?” Kitt asked quickly, afraid that would displease her.

            “Kitt, I think that’s the greatest thing in the world!  I’ve never even seen the inside of that car before,” she replied with delight.

            Kitt took a sigh of relief as he opened the passenger door and she promptly got in.  He went to the other side and took a deep breath before getting in the driver’s seat. 

            Once inside, Kitt had that strange feeling again about being the driver instead of the vehicle itself.  Thankfully, he already drove it from the garage to the front driveway, which gave him a chance to see what it felt like to actually drive it before letting Rachael see him make a fool of himself.

            Switching the start button, the engine of the Knight Two Thousand roared.  Kitt turned to Rachael.  “Ready?”

            “Am I ever,” she said holding onto the door handle.

            Kitt pulled the shift lever back to “D” and gripped both ends of the steering wheel and then let his foot press on the accelerator.  It was easy enough getting onto the street, but Kitt was not only nervous about having Rachael in the car, but doing something that would hurt someone else, seeing that the car they were driving couldn’t get a dent in the fender even if he rammed a wall.

            “So, where do you live?” Kitt asked.

            “Do you know where Pilot Drive is?” she asked.

            “Off of West Main Street?”

            “Yeah.”

            “I know where it is.”  He thought to himself after that, trying to think of something he could say to her.  “Are you hungry or anything?  I’d be glad to get you something to eat.”

            “I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you,” she said quickly.

            “You wouldn’t be.  I’ve been bored silly since I’ve completed all of my physical therapy,” he answered.

            “Then whatever you’d like to do, I’d be willing to tag along,” she said with a cheerful smile.

            Kitt found a small pizza place that Michael would always go to on a Friday night when they were home.  He knew that it was easy and cheap, so they could walk in and walk out.

            “Is this okay?”

            “I love pizza.”

            They both got out of the car at the same time and went inside.  Thankfully the restaurant was fairly empty.  It was more like a fast food restaurant, although you could stay in and eat there.

            Rachael was intrigued through the meal with Kitt’s stories about what it was like to be born a computer and end up where he is now.  She couldn’t help laughing when he told her that he used to think Michael was crazy for eating such things like pizza.

            It wasn’t long after that Kitt found himself back inside his old body driving the younger girl home.  She pointed out her street and house and Kitt pulled in, putting the car in park.

            “Thanks for everything, Kitt,” she said shyly.  “You really didn’t have to go through all of that trouble.”

            Kitt smiled, knowing that his face must be red as a cherry at that moment.  “No,” he said gently.  “I didn’t mind it at all.  We should do it again sometime.”

            “I’d like that,” she replied and opened the passenger door.

            Kitt watched her until she unlocked the door, waved good-bye, and was inside.  He smiled to himself internally as he put the car in reverse and drove home.