Part VI:

 

            After a few weeks had gone by, Kitt found his life changed drastically before him.  He would find himself offering to drive Rachael home quite frequently, although she told him that she had her car back.  But that didn’t stop him from eating lunch with her out on the patio almost every day.

            And although Kitt was very happy with his life, he received some news that broke the joys of laughter whenever he thought about it.  His young friend, Keith, which he had met in the hospital, wasn’t doing so well.

            For days Kitt contemplated what he could do, but he would return the to same result; there was nothing he could do to help the boy’s condition.  Kitt had contacted his mother and explained to her who he was and asked if there was anything he could do.  “Just seeing you would be helpful,” she had told him.  “He talked about you for days after he came home.”

            “Devon,” Kitt asked as he knocked on the door to Devon Miles’ office. 

            “Ah, Kitt!” Devon said cheerfully.  “What can I do for you?”

            Kitt sauntered in and held his hands behind his back.  “Would you mind if I borrowed the Knight Two Thousand for the afternoon?”

            “Bringing Rachael home again?” Devon asked with amusement twinkling in his eye.

            “No, actually,” Kitt responded.  “The young boy I know from the hospital is very sick.  I wanted to show him the car and take him for a ride before he got worse.”

            Devon smiled.  “Kitt, you never cease to amaze me.  You’re the kindest person I know.  Of course, the car is yours for today.”

            Kitt thanked him humbly and retreated to the garage.  He was used to getting in the black t-top now.  He knew the interior by heart and could find the buttons blindfolded.

            When Kitt arrived at the hospital, he found Keith’s mother waiting for him at the front desk.  “You must be Kitt,” she said with a forced smile.  Kitt figured from her expression that she was very tired.

            “How did you guess?”

            “I saw the car,” she said pointing outside the front window.

            “I see.  You wouldn’t mind if I took Keith for a short ride, would you?”

            She shook her head.  “He needs something to keep that smile on his face.”

            Kitt found Keith on the second floor, sitting in a bed wearing dinosaur pajamas.  It almost brought tears to his eyes to know his condition.  But thankfully, he wasn’t wired up to any machines this time.  The only reason they were keeping him there was if he became extremely week and needed immediate medical attention like he did only a week before.

            “Hello, Keith,” Kitt said from the doorway.

            “Kitt!” Keith exclaimed when he looked up.  “Did you come to see me?”

            “You didn’t think I’ve forgotten you?” Kitt asked, receiving a smile in return.  “I have a surprise for you, actually.  Thought it might cheer you up.”

            “Where?  What is it?”

            “Well, you’ll have to come with me.”

            “But the doctors said I can’t leave the room,” Keith said sadly, his shoulders lowering.

            “They said it would be alright; just this once.”

            Kitt brought Keith downstairs in a wheelchair, his mother following close behind.  At first, Keith didn’t understand why Kitt brought him outside and stopped at the wheelchair ramp.  But when Kitt spoke to his wristwatch he immediately understood and it was nothing but pure delight that filled his heart.

            “Wow…” Keith said when a shiny black t-top Trans Am stopped in front of them, with a red scanner beaming back and forth on the front bumper.  He stared in awe when he noticed there was no one inside.

Kitt kneeled down next to him.  “Would you like to go for a quick ride?” he asked.

            “Would I!” Keith exclaimed.

            Kitt opened the passenger door, lifted the young boy, and placed him in the seat.  He assured his mother that they wouldn’t be long and he got into the car as well.

            “Welcome aboard the Knight Two Thousand,” Kitt reiterated the very words Devon spoke to Michael ten years ago.

            “Kitt…is this?”

            “The car that you heard about from your mother’s friend?  Yes Keith, this is the very one.”

            “But…where did you get it?” Keith said reaching out to touch the closest TV monitor in front of him.

            Kitt put the car in drive and they started for the exit of the parking lot.  “Lets just say I have my connections,” he told him.

            Keith was thrilled to no end to be riding in the car of his dreams.  It was the smoothest ride he ever had in a car.  The body was awesome, but the dashboard was something else.  It was everything he imagined. 

            “Can you make it talk?” he asked, remembering the most important part of the machine.

            “You’re talking to it already,” Kitt said.

            Keith tilted his head.  “I am?  But why isn’t it talking back?”

            “It is.  It’s sitting next to you.”  Kitt noticed that the boy was still quite confused.  “Keith, I am the computer of this car.”

            “No way,” Keith said.  “But you’re a grown-up!”

            “I’m sure it’s hard to believe, but its true.  Keith, do you know why I was in the hospital with you?”  Keith shook his head.  “It was because my memory board, the very one that was lodged inside this car, was transferred to a human body.  After my partner left the Foundation, there was nothing for me to do anymore.  I decided to have the surgery to lead a new life.”

            “So…if you were still inside the car, I’d be hearing the same voice?”
            Kitt laughed.  “Yes.”

            “Awesome…”

            It didn’t seem like a long ride, but Kitt knew they were out longer than they should have been.  He wanted to bring Keith across country if he could.  But he tried his best to let Keith share the experience his dreams had; from a small turbo boost, to reaching one hundred miles per hour, Keith would never forget this day for the rest of his life.

            When they were back in the parking lot, Keith noticed his mother waiting patiently on a side bench.  He frowned when the engine shut off, but he was still the happiest person in the world.  “Thanks a lot, Kitt.  You’re the coolest person I know.”

            “Thank you, Keith,” Kitt said.  “But I have something for you to keep.”  Keith’s eyes got wide as Kitt reached behind into the back seat and pulled out a small box and placed it in the small hands of the boy.

            “Cool!” He said as he held the box up to see a small model of the Trans Am. 

            “Open it,” Kitt told him.

            Keith pulled open the side and picked the car up.  A large smile spread across his face when he turned the car over to see white writing reading “KITT” on the flat bottom.  “Thanks a lot.”

            Keith finished his wonderful time by sitting on the hood of the car while his mother took a picture.  Unfortunately, he started to become very tired and needed a long rest.  He couldn’t thank Kitt enough as he returned to his room on the second floor. 

            Keith’s mother, however, was probably even more thankful.  “You made his life,” she said. 

            “I couldn’t possibly have done that much,” Kitt replied.

            “But you did,” she said.  “You gave him something that no one else could give him.  To see him act like a ten-year-old is a blessing.”

           

ßßß

 

            Later that week Kitt was informed by Devon that the Foundation’s yearly banquet wouldn’t be complete without him.  Michael laughed at the statement, but wasn’t too happy when he was told he should be there as well.  Especially when Kitt told him that it wouldn’t be complete without him either.

            If there was one thing Kitt was very aware of, it was Michael’s strong distaste for any sort of formal affairs that the Foundation was involved with.  He knew that if Michael wasn’t there, there was no chance that he would enjoy himself.

            “You’re going with Bonnie?” Kitt asked suddenly when he heard the news.

            “As friends,” Michael stressed.  “I figured that if I was going, I might as well drag someone along to dance with me.  Otherwise I’d be bored to death.”

            Kitt thought for a moment.  “Then where does that leave me?”

            “Find someone for yourself,” Michael suggested.  “C’mon, pal.  Don’t tell me there isn’t one person that you can’t think of to ask.”

            “Well…”

            “That’s the spirit.  She’ll be bound to say yes,” Michael assured him.

            Kitt shook his head at Michael’s certainty.  It wasn’t that he was scared of rejection…he just didn’t know how to go about anything like that.

            The night before the banquet, Kitt had to push himself to make his decision.  He wanted to ask Rachael, but he was afraid that she would take it the wrong way and tell him they’re only friends.

“Rachael!” Kitt called as he spotted her heading for the door at the end of her work day.  “I know you’re on your way out, but can you spare a short moment?”

            Rachael laughed.  “What can I do for ya, Kitt?”

            Kitt’s head was spinning with thoughts.  There was no way out of it now.  “I know this is very short notice, but…” he paused for a moment.  “Would you accompany me to the banquet tomorrow night?”

            Rachael stared at him.  For a second Kitt was sure she was thinking what he feared.  But to his pleasant surprise her answer was, “I’d love to.  When should I be ready?”

            “I can pick you up at 5:30?”

            “See you tomorrow then,” she said and continued her way out the door.

            “Well?” a voice said from behind Kitt once Rachael was out of range. 

            Kitt sighed.  “Michael, you really must stop spying on me every minute of the day.”

            “Just making up for old times, buddy.  So what did she say?”

            “If you were listening properly you would have heard that she agreed.”

 

            5:30 quickly rolled around on Saturday night.  Kitt arrived in Rachael’s driveway exactly on time.  He felt extremely stiff in his black tuxedo.  He had told Michael before he left that he looked like an idiot, but Bonnie assured him that he looked great.

            Kitt adjusted his jacket as he stepped up to the front door and proceeded to ring the doorbell.  He could hear scurrying around inside and suddenly the door opened. 

            Kitt’s eyes grew slightly wider as he surveyed the beautiful girl before him.  Her blonde hair was pulled back into a French twist, and she displayed a simple, sparkling black dress. 

            “Is there something on my face?” She asked with a slight laugh.

            Kitt snapped out of his trance and shook his head.  “You look stunning.”

            Rachael took his offered arm and followed his lead to the car. 

 

            The large banquet hall in the Knight Mansion was decorated with chandeliers and large bouquets of flowers.  There was only one long rectangular table, which was situated at the front of the room.  The rest of the tables were round, able to hold eight people and were scattered around an open dance floor. 

            Kitt entered the hall with Rachael at his side.  This would be the first banquet for both of them, and neither was quite sure on what to do.  Thankfully Michael was already there and quickly approached them.

            “My, you look splendid, Rachael,” he complimented. 

            “Thank you, Mr. Knight,” she replied, her cheeks hinting a small blush.

            “Michael,” he corrected her.  “I’m not into this whole fancy dinner thing.  Usually I would get Kitt to back me up with an excuse and we’d get out of them.  But seeing I’m not technically working for FLAG anymore, I don’t have any work to contend with.”

            “Which is impressive to say the least,” Kitt commented.  “The first time you’ll be staying is the first party after you retired, so to speak.”

            “Wise mouth,” Michael said as he turned to look for Bonnie.  “I’ll catch you guys later.”

            The dinner went fairly well.  Although Michael complained that his steak wasn’t nearly the size it should have been, Kitt and Rachael were plenty satisfied.

            After the courses had been served, the small orchestral quartet began to play.  Bonnie insisted that if Michael was her date, he was going to dance with her.  Unfortunately for Kitt, he and Michael had made a deal before that if one had to dance the other would as well.

            “You’re a very good dancer,” Rachael said softly as they circled their area. 

            “Not as good as you,” he replied.  “You’re practically an expert.”

            “Only because I’ve been to a lot of weddings,” she laughed. 

            After almost half an hour of dancing, Kitt decided that it was time for a change of scenery.  Although he liked the classical choice of music, he needed some fresh air.  And what would be a better way than to spend some quality time with his date?

            Rachael agreed to a short walk around the mansion’s grounds.  She only had been past the main house once, and she heard that the garden was beautifully kept.

            It couldn’t have been a more perfect night.  The half moon was just enough to illuminate the sidewalk and the bushes as the two walked hand in hand.  Only the sounds of Rachael’s shoes clunking against the cement echoed into the air.

            They stopped at the border of the pool area and faced one another.  “I can’t begin to tell you how I enjoy the time we spend together,” Kitt stated, his voice soft and smooth.

            “Kitt…” Rachael started.

            Kitt released her hand.  “I know,” he said looking down at his feet and putting his hands in is pockets.  “You like me as a friend.”

            “Of course I do,” she told him.  “Kitt, you’re the nicest person I’ve ever met.  You’re kind, thoughtful, handsome…but I know about your past and I’m sure you’re not ready for any sort of commitments.”

            “I don’t understand…”

            “Kitt, I like you more than you think I do.”

            “How much?” Kitt asked getting closer, and his voice going down to almost a whisper.

            “Very much,” came the answer.

            “More than friends?”

            “I wouldn’t mind.”

            Kitt and Rachael’s noses were practically touching.  Kitt had never felt anything like this before.  He wasn’t sure what was supposed to happen next.  Should he do what Michael would always do whenever he was about to leave some girl they helped in the past?  Kitt leaned close enough to give Rachael the clue on what he was trying to gather the courage to do.  Fortunately for him, Rachael finished the thought when her lips gently met his.

            A surge of energy swept through Kitt’s body almost at once.  It was the most amazing thing he had ever felt before.  Even more so than when he was in the Knight Two Thousand and Michael would press the gas petal down to the floor and the car would reach up to 120 mph in ten seconds.

            Rachael backed away slowly and looked deeply into his blue eyes.  “Was that okay?”

            “Even more than expected,” Kitt replied in a whisper. 

            Rachael smiled and returned to her previous position, reaching up only slightly to kiss him again.  This time Kitt tried for himself.  He moved his mouth along with hers and fulfilled his desire to learn why Michael always kissed girls he liked.

 

ßßß

 

            Michael was very impressed to find out how Kitt’s night really went.  He knew that Kitt and Rachael had left the party early, and the next morning he was determined to find out why.  Kitt of course, not being able to stand Michael’s constant harassment told him in layman’s terms what happened, but he wasn’t going to find out anything more.

            Kitt’s goal in life right now was to keep Michael guessing what was going on between he and Rachael.  He knew Michael’s mind would wonder further than it needed to, but Kitt knew the real truth.  The time by the pool area didn’t last long, but it was memorable.  And it was the reason why he was having dinner with her the following night.

            “All set?” Michael asked as he stepped into Kitt’s open doorway.

            Kitt held up two shirts.  “Which one?”

            Michael shook his head with an entertained laugh.  “Either one would be fine.”

            Kitt automatically released the one in his left hand and put on the blue shirt that was clenched in his right fist.  “I’m not nervous, just to let you know.”

            “I can see that,” Michael said.

            “Michael, I’m running a little late.  I told her I’d meet her at the restaurant by six,” he responded.

            Michael looked at his watch.  “Six?  Kitt…it’s only 5:15.  You’ve got plenty of time.”

            Kitt finished dressing, grabbed his wallet off the dresser and put it in his pocket.  “Okay.  I’m all set.  I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

            “Maybe if you get lucky not until tomorrow morning,” Michael winked at him.

            “Michael, please.  I’m much more professional than that.  It’d only be our second official date.”  Kitt walked by him and down the hall to the staircase. 

            Kitt was glad he left earlier than Michael said was necessary.  Traffic was slow in the center of town and it caused him to drive into the parking lot of Luigi’s Italian Hideout at precisely 6:00. 

            It wasn’t unusual for the parking lot to be filled; this restaurant was one of the best in town, according to Michael.  Kitt parked the t-top in the far corner of the lot and went inside the building.  He settled down once he saw that Rachael was nowhere in sight.  The waiter brought him to a table for two and Kitt told him that he was waiting for someone. 

            After half an hour, Kitt began to worry.  He didn’t think that Rachael would be the type to stand him up.  They had such a wonderful time at the banquet and she said she was looking forward to their dinner that night.

            Kitt looked at his watch for the hundredth time.  He sighed and shifted his position, hoping that when he looked up at the door he would see her walk in.  Instead, he noticed a tall brunette heading his way.

            She sat at the table in front of him, but sat so she would face his direction.  Kitt turned his vision back to the glass of water that sat still before him.  He was starting to fear the worst.  What if she had a car accident?  What if she was robbed?

            “How long have you been waiting?”

            Kitt looked up after being knocked out of his daze.  “Excuse me?” He asked when he noticed the brunette staring at him.

            “I gather you’ve been sitting there waiting for someone,” she said. 

            “Perhaps,” Kitt replied. 

            The woman stood up with her purse in her hands and moved to Kitt’s table.  She sat down across from him and placed her purse on the floor.

            “I don’t mean to be rude, but she should be here at any moment,” Kitt told her, feeling a little uncomfortable.

            “I’ll leave as soon as she comes.  I usually sit alone on Sunday nights.”  Kitt noticed that she had a seductive look to her expression.  Her dark brown eyes seemed to be taking him apart piece by piece, wondering who he was.  “How rude of me!”  She exclaimed.  “I’m Tina Sampson.”

            “Kitt Knight,” Kitt introduced himself as he shook her extended hand.  “Why do you come here by yourself?”

            “I love this place.  My boyfriend and I would come here every Sunday night.  He died about a year ago,” she finished, although Kitt didn’t think she sounded as mournful as she could have been about the subject.

            “I’m sorry,” he said. 

            “So what kind of work do you do, Kitt?  You don’t mind if I call you by your first name?” she asked, placing her chin on top of her folded hands, her elbows almost touching the other on the table.

            “Right now I don’t have an exact profession,” Kitt admitted.  “I guess you could say I’m a free lance.”

            “I see,” she said. 

            Kitt spent a good hour or more talking to Tina.  They had ordered dinner, although Kitt hoped that he wouldn’t be caught eating with another woman if Rachael decided to finally walk in.  He had never met such an intriguing woman before.  She reminded him of someone he and Michael met years ago, but he wasn’t so sure of whom.

            After having desert and a glass of wine, Kitt and Tina exited the restaurant and walked together to the parking lot.  Unfortunately they found disaster had struck when Tina found her front right tire had been slashed and she didn’t have a spare.

            “Wonderful,” she said placing her hands on her hips.  “And I don’t have a towing service, either.”

            “I’d be happy to drive you home,” Kitt offered.

            “Oh, I couldn’t let you go out of your way,” she told him.

            “Where do you live?”

            “Park Center Lane.”

            Kitt smiled.  “Its on my way.”

            Tina followed him to the back of the lot where the Trans Am sat waiting.  “Beautiful car,” she said.

            “Well, its not exactly mine,” he said as he opened the door.  “I’m boring it for a little while.”

            Once situated inside, Kitt started the engine with the push of a button.  Tina looked around the interior with deep interest.  “Miraculous,” she said.  “I’ve never seen such a machine.”

            “Neither have I,” Kitt said as he pulled out of the spot and proceeded towards the road.

            It wasn’t a long drive to Tina’s house; they arrived only ten minutes after leaving the restaurant.  Tina offered for him to come inside, and although Kitt refused at first, he followed her into her large house. 

            “Make yourself at home,” she said as she pointed to a room to the right.

            Kitt watched her walk into another room, which he thought must be the kitchen.  The room he was in served as the living room; drastically furnished with oriental type furniture and deep rich colors.  Kitt noticed that the only pictures on the wall were single Japanese symbols that meant nothing to him. 

            Kitt was startled by Tina’s return. She held two martini glasses in her hands and let her long brown hair down to hang over her shoulders.  “Sit,” she said kindly, taking a seat herself.

            Kitt sat down on the edge of a sofa cushion and folded his hands, although he had to separate them to take the glass from Tina when she held it out to him.  He had never had alcohol before and was afraid that he would start to act abnormally, although he doubted that would happen with one little drink.

            “So tell me,” Tina started.  “Where did the name Kitt come from?”

            Kitt didn’t expect such a question.  He had no idea how to answer it without telling her his entire past.  “I’m not quite sure,” he told her.  Obviously it was a lie, which wasn’t like him to tell one.

            “I see,” she said seductively.  She crossed her legs and leaned towards him from the other sofa.  “Where are you staying, since you don’t really have a job.”

            “The Knight Mansion, actually,” he said before he thought over his answer.  He inwardly shrugged and took a sip of his drink.

            Tina shifted in her seat at his answer.  It was the answer she had hoped for.  “So, that would explain your last name.  Were you related to Wilson Knight?”

            Kitt looked at her unknowingly.  “Not exactly.  Its more of a coincidence that our last names are the same.” 

            Out of nowhere Tina leaned over to the coffee table and picked up a small compact and opened it.  “Cigarette?”

            Kitt looked at her surprised.  “I don’t smoke,” he informed her.

            She laughed. “Neither do I, but I like to offer them anyway.”  She snapped the lid shut and it seemed as if dust blew out of it and into Kitt’s face.

            Kitt coughed a bit, but didn’t think anything of her slight rudeness to shut the case directly in front of his face.  He took another sip of his martini and placed the near empty glass on the coffee table.  When he sat back his head felt extremely heavy and dizzy.

            Tina smiled and placed her glass next to Kitt’s.  She slyly stood up and sat down next to him, wrapping one arm around his neck and placing the other on his chest.

            Kitt shuddered under her touch and attempted to move away, but was stopped when the woman aggressively turned his head to hers and started to intensely kiss him.  Kitt’s body began to relax, although his head was still spinning.  He had to admit that Tina’s performance was pleasurable.

            Tina’s fingers traced an imaginary outline on his chest and undid the first two buttons of his shirt.  Kitt moaned as she did this and her mouth moved to his ear.  “Do you remember anything about FLAG’s computer system,” she asked in a whisper. 

            “A little…” Kitt tried to get out as he began to squirm under her adding weight. 

            “Do you know the code?”

            Kitt moaned out a yes as she pressed her lips against his once again.  But when she moved to sit on his lap, his mind came back into focus.  He pulled his head away and pushed her body off of his, immediately standing up. 

            “Kitt?” Tina asked as she adjusted her blouse and sat upright on the sofa.

            “Its been charming, but I really must be on my way,” Kitt told her politely.  He turned and stumbled out of the room and to the car that waited for him out front.  He felt so dizzy that he had to put the Knight Two Thousand on Auto Cruise so he could get home in one piece.

            Tina watched Kitt depart from the driveway in his fancy car.  She knew what that car was and that Kitt was the CPU that used to control it.  However, her plan didn’t go the way she had hoped.  She touched her lips before turning around to sit down next to a telephone.  After dialing a number and waiting a few rings someone finally picked up.

            “I didn’t get it,” she said on one end.  “It wasn’t enough powder to keep him under control.  We’ll have to try something else.”  She paused as she listened to the other person.  “Yes, I know exactly what would get his attention.”