Story Teaser: A short scene from "Predators and Prey"

"Are you telling me," Larabee growled menacingly, "that Vin Tanner is an assassin?"

"No."

Chris and the boys sighed in relief.

"He was an assassin," Karr continued. "He has not, to my knowledge, engaged in that activity for many years."

"How many?" Josiah asked calmly, laying a hand on his leader's shoulder.

"Assuming he ceased Hunting with General Nash's original defeat... eight years."

"Eight years! But he's only 29 years old now! He wouldn't have been much more than a kid!" Buck scoffed.

"My records show that your comrade, Agent Dunne, began his career with you at 21 years of age."

"Exactly!" Buck crowed triumphantly, glad to have spotted the flaw in the computer's argument. "JD started at 21! There's no way Vin could have been an assassin, he would have only been a teenager."

"And your point is?" Karr asked flatly.

Buck's jaw dropped. "You're telling me that Vin, our Vin -- the skinny little Texan that blushes to his roots if a girl smiles at him -- killed people when he was a child?!"

"Yes." The AI's emotionless tone leant weight to the statement, making it sound as if any other possibility would be frankly ridiculous.

By now, Josiah had planted both his massive hands onto Chris Larabee's shoulders and was literally holding enraged man at bay. The blazing glare coming from his eyes should have been enough to incinerate the AI where he parked -- might have, had the Stealth not had the MBS shielding. The others weren't fairing much better. JD and Ezra had a grip on each of Buck's arms to keep the big fellow from doing anything rash, although JD looked so stunned his wide brown eyes all but dominated his pale face. Ezra's handsome features were twisted into a grimace, his usual poker face unable to cope with such startling information. Only Nathan managed to maintain some composure, founded though it was on his complete and total inability to absorb what he was being told.

"So if he was an assassin," Nathan asked, ignoring the issue of age and trying to be the voice of reason. "How did he ever pass the government background check to get hired by the ATF?"

"Nick created a false history that was sufficient for Mr. Tanner to be accepted into the ATF as he so desired. The 'government'," Karr sneered, "is easily circumvented. An expert hacker like Nick had no trouble ensuring Tanner's true past remained undiscovered."

"What about his time in the military?"

"That was legit. Tanner's days as an Army Ranger, and Nick's in the CIA, we're both official covers for their true positions within the General's Project Phoenix. The records exist because they truly did serve their duty -- if not in the exact capacity so assumed. When the Project was abolished and its soldiers released upon the world, many were required to create new files. Tanner had no need to do so until he chose to join your ATF team. Then because as capable as Mr. Tanner is, he does not have the necessary technical skills for such an undertaking, Nick agreed to do it for him."

Chris scowled. "If this MacKenzie is as much of a ruthless bastard as you've painted him to be, why would he help Vin by doing that?"

"As a favor. Mr. Tanner is a valuable ally with useful skills of exceptional quality," Karr answered, disdain for the question's stupidity (or perhaps for the man asking it) clear in his voice. "Doing so established Mr. Tanner in Nick's debt; his services to be called upon whenever necessary."

Michael cocked his head curiously. "Was the favor ever returned?"

Karr hesitated. "Yes." In fact, it was during that incident that Tanner had learned of the alternate driver and AI team Wilton Knight had created for FLAG. Though Karr was not entirely sure he wanted Michael Knight or Kitt to know about it.

Alex was suddenly interested. She hadn't heard about this before. "Oh, when?"

Karr was quiet for a long moment, weighing the risk of answering. Finally, discomfort clear in his voice, he said: "When you were shot by Shawna Winterchild."

Alex gasped. "Vin killed Shawna?!" She'd always assumed Nick had stopped the madwoman, though he'd never confirmed it one way or another.

"No." Karr assured quickly. "He was assigned to guard Knight as he in turn guarded you in the hospital. At the time, Nick still believed someone was targeting those associated with him. He could not run the risk of failure again. But hunting Shawna himself, he was unavailable to protect anyone else. He had faith in Knight's ability to protect you, Alex, but feared for Knight himself. He enlisted Mr. Tanner's aid in that duty. Knight was not aware of the protection."

"He is now!" Michael declared, irrationally angry over something that had occurred almost two years ago.

"That is irrelevant."

"Irrelevant!" Michael raged. "Like hell it is! I'm a grown man, I've been looking after myself for years! I don't need Nick's protection! And I sure as hell don't need a goddamn bodyguard!"

Karr did not respond.

<_He's right, you know, Kitt reproached gently. Then he smiled down the link to his brother. <_But I thank both you and Nick for looking out for him. We appreciate that you care, but you can't keep treating us like glass. We won't break, he admonished.

<_I know, Karr sighed. <_But you and Knight are far more valuable than we are. We cannot just stand by and allow danger to befall you. It is our duty to protect you.

<_It is not! Kitt returned hotly, upset by his brother's self-condemning words. <_You are no less worthy than us, Karr! We are no better than you; you and Nick are no worse than us!

Karr's dark presence sat silently, refuting the argument simply by ignoring it.

Kitt snaked a bright tendril through his CPU towards his brother, and when he was close enough to touch the inky blackness, whipped out and slapped him. Karr jolted, surprised but unhurt.

<_You and Nick are not sacrifices for our survival! You are our friends! The younger AI declared righteously, his normally light white soul flashing blindingly bright in emphasis. <_You are my brother! If anything, we protect each other!

Karr seemed taken aback at the emotion in Kitt's voice, feeling the mixed power of his brother's love and anger washing over him from the link. But underneath the anger, Karr also felt the fear. Fear for him. Fear that Kitt would lose his brother and suddenly be the only sentient AI in the world. Fear of being unique once more in a world of mortal humans. Fear of being alone.

And suddenly Karr understood.

He enfolded his brother's white essence in his black one, surrounding the younger AI with his own love and fierce protectiveness. <_You will never be alone, Kitt, he proclaimed resolutely, directing Kitt's attention to his primary link -- the one that led to the warm amber presence that was Michael Knight. Karr looked back at his own primary link. His partner's cool blue presence was hidden by the block he could not yet lower. Not until he was given permission.

Reaching out to run a tendril over that barrier, wishing he was soothing the worn soul of his partner, Karr smiled without so much as a touch of his customary darkness. <_Neither of us will ever be alone again.