Knight Rider 2008 Alternate Storyline – Episode 10 – Knight's Valentine
Chapter 3
The Next Morning...
“I think it's best to come up with a plan for shutting DiAngelo down permanently.” Kat said. “Or else, he'll just keep running his illegal races.”
“Agreed.” K.I.T.T said in her ear. “I've been looking into his background and the FBI has been trying to convict him since 1998.”
“Hmmm.” Kat mused. “If we can dig up some evidence on him, then we can pass it on to Karen.”
“What kind of evidence are we looking for?”
“Do a scan of the bar. He probably has a computer. Hopefully it'll have records for the races and any other illegal activities he's in on.”
“The computer will have to be on and have a way for me to access it.” K.I.T.T told her.
“Then we'll have to come up with a plan to get me inside the bar when no one else is around.”
“More 'Breaking and Entering'?”
“Yep.”
“Just don't get caught.”
“That's what I have you for.” Kat headed down to Angela's Studio. She wasn't sure what to expect there, but how bad could it be to let Angela have her fun? “When is David expected back?” She asked K.I.T.T
“Not until tonight.”
“Good, I don't want to have to explain to him where I'm taking you. I already know that he won't approve. What did Charles say?”
“Charles has no issues with us being good Samaritans.” K.I.T.T told her. “He said that whenever we have an opportunity to help others, we should take it.”
“I knew I could count on Charles. I will need him as a buffer if David comes back before we do. Seriously though, can we go anywhere without getting into trouble?”
“It does seem to follow us, doesn't it?”
Kat reached the door to Angela's Studio. “I'll see you in a bit. I'm going to go do something nice for Angela.”
“You mean letting her dress you up?”
Kat sighed. “Yeah. It's just so hard to say no to someone so cheerful.” She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Angela smiled brightly when she saw Kat. “Good, you came down on your own. I was going to send Security after you if you didn't.”
“I told you I would be here at nine.” Kat said defensively.
“I was hoping I didn't scare you off yesterday. Some people say I can be pushy.”
“You, pushy? Perish the thought.” Kat scoffed. “So, what do you have for me?”
Angela handed her a neat pile. “You can get changed in there.” She pointed to a door.
Kat looked over the pile. “More leather?” She asked. “How many cows are you personally responsible for slaughtering?”
“It's a good look for you.” Angela said. “It's not for everyone though. Carmen for instance, would totally rock velvet. It's a shame she never wears anything but those awful coveralls.”
“I see your Master Plan.” Kat said as she opened the door to the tiny changing room. “You're going to turn every member of the Team into a fashion plate.”
“Hey, I'm more than just the Disguise Artist.” Angela said. “I'm the only one authorized to order clothing. I get a shipment once a month that that I have to divide amongst the Team. It cuts down on the number of individual packages that get sent to the Facility.”
“Yeah, that whole 'secret underground base' thing is such a bother.” Kat closed the door.
“Do you know that I'm the only one around here that knows how to cut hair?” Angela said, raising her voice so Kat could hear her. “Whenever someone needs a trim, they come here.”
“Well, the nearest town is fifty miles away.” Kat called back to her. “You're more conveniently located.”
“I do good work, too.” Angela said. “With what I have to work with anyway. Pierce's hair is just hopeless, and he never lets me do anything interesting with it. Not like David. Now that man has nice hair.”
Kat shook her head in amusement. She stepped out of the changing room and walked over to the mirror. “What do you think?” Angela asked.
“That these pants are more skintight on me than the animal they came from.” Kat remarked as she inspected her reflection.
“Good. They're supposed to be.” Angela looked her over critically. “You should gain some weight.”
“If I did in these clothes, I wouldn't be able to breathe.”
“Breathing's for wusses.” Angela said. “Not the fashion conscious.”
“Good thing I'm not fashion conscious.” Kat said. “I like breathing.”
“Try the boots.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because the heels are too high. I won't be able to drive.” Kat chose a pair of boots with a shorter heel.
“KITT can do the driving.” Angela said dismissively.
“And what am I supposed to do? Sit there and bat my eyelashes?”
“Do that in this outfit, and you'll cause car accidents.”
Kat zipped up the boots and checked her reflection again. “I will admit I don't look half bad. Though I still don't see the point in getting dressed up to race.”
Angela smiled. “We wear special clothes when we do special things.”
“Too bad you don't have anything in here that'll make me invisible.” Kat said. “I need to sneak into a bar.”
“You just need something more distracting than you are.” Angela said. “Though with what your wearing, that'll be hard to do. Too bad their's not two of you, then you could be your own distraction.”
Kat looked over at Angela. “You're a genius.” She said.
Angela looked confused. “What did I say?”
“That I need to be in two places at once.” Kat told her.
Angela's confusion deepened. “No one can be in two places at once.”
Kat grinned. “I can.”
Just then, K.I.T.T spoke in her ear. “Carmen has completed my modifications.” He informed her. “Come to the Main Lab so she can give you the full details.”
“Looks like it's time for me to go.” Kat said.
They both headed for the door. “I want to gauge the reaction to my handiwork.” Angela said.
********
As Kat walked down the metal staircase, the Main Lab fell silent. Several pairs of eyes stared at her. “What?” Kat asked, feeling a little self-conscious.
Ian walked over to her. “Kat, will you marry me?” He asked her, looking a little dazed. “I'd be a good husband, honest.”
Kat gave him a sympathetic look. “Don't you think you're a little young to settle down?” She asked as she walked past him.
“I'm only six years younger than you.” Ian paused. “I'll settle for a date instead.” He drifted after her.
Kat walked over to Pierce, who was hard at work at his desk. He didn't even look up as she approached him. “Pierce, just in case a computer doesn't have a network or Internet connection, how would KITT connect to it?” She asked.
“That's easy.” Pierce said. He opened his desk drawer and tossed something to her. “Just hook this up to it.”
Kat caught the item. She inspected it closely. It appeared to be a black USB thumb drive. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Pierce glanced up at her before turning back to his work. Kat walked over to K.I.T.T. Pierce paused his work, then looked back over at Kat. His mouth fell open just a little.
Angela walked over to him. “You may praise me.” She said with a smile.
“Angela, you're a genius.” Pierce breathed, not taking his eyes off of Kat.
“I'm hearing that a lot today.” Angela said. “I could get used to it.” She thought for a moment. “Maybe next time I will put her in a mini skirt.”
Pierce dragged his eyes away from Kat and looked at Angela. “You're trying to kill me, aren't you?” He accused.
Angela ruffled his hair. “It's my job to torture you.”
Pierce frowned. “Why is that anyway?” He asked.
“I would tell you, but I'm sworn to secrecy.”
At Carmen's workstation, Enrique walked over to his aunt. “Tia,” He said. “You know how I always say how jealous I am of Katherine, because she gets to drive KITT?”
“Yeah...” Carmen answered.
“Today I find myself envying the car...” He nodded in Kat's direction.
Carmen looked over at Kat. “She's alright, I guess.” She said coolly. “If you like that sort of thing.” She glanced at Pierce, who was staring at Kat again, and frowned.
“Can I brief her this time? Por favor?” Enrique begged.
Carmen sighed. “Fine, go.”
“Gracias, Tia.” Enrique kissed her cheek, then walked over to Kat.
Kat leaned her hip against K.I.T.T's hood as Enrique approached her. “Run the details by me.” She said.
“We've managed to make KITT lighter by replacing some of the exterior parts that have the Molecular-Bonded Shell.” Enrique told her. “It's still on the windows and doors. We've kept the kickplate off, so he is vulnerable there.” He grinned. “You should have no problem winning the race. The engine isn't as fast as his old one, but KITT's a better driver than a human could ever be. The nano-skin will be doing most of the shielding, but defense is only one of it's secondary functions. Just try not to get shot at too much.”
“Let's hope we win, then.” Kat said, placing her hand on K.I.T.T's hood.
“That shouldn't be a problem.” K.I.T.T told her smugly.
“Looks like I'm all set.” Kat walked over to the Driver's side door. K.I.T.T opened it for her. She slid into the seat.
“You should have Angela dress you more often.” K.I.T.T told her once they were in the Tunnel. “It plays havoc on the male members of the Team.”
Kat laughed. “Are you getting enjoyment out of other's torture?”
“Quite possibly. At least it would be a positive emotion for a change.”
“You okay?” Kat asked.
“I've been going over the past two months I have spent with you. While I may not have the ability to feel emotions, I think that I understand them better.” K.I.T.T explained. “Confusion, anger, fear. I understand what kinds of situations cause these feelings. And, they've all been negative feelings.”
“The negative feelings are usually the easier ones to identify.” Kat agreed. “You're thinking so morbidly after what happened at the factory. Once Carmen gets you into a Camaro body again, you'll feel better.”
“But it won't be my old body.” K.I.T.T told her. “It'll just look like it.”
“I know.” Kat said softly. “I'm sorry.”
“You did the best you could, Kat.” K.I.T.T told her.
Kat frowned. “It's too depressing in here. Let's change the subject. I have a plan on how I am going to sneak into the bar.”
“This is a more cheerful subject?” K.I.T.T asked.
“Yes, now shut up and listen.” Kat began outlining her plan.
********
DiAngelo's Bar, New Mexico
DiAngelo checked his watch. It was five minutes to noon. “I don't think she's coming.” He grinned at Scott. They were both standing outside of the bar.
Scott was looking pale. “There's still some time.”
“Honestly, I don't see why she would bother. Who would put themselves on the line for a complete stranger? She probably cut and run when she had the chance. It works out for me, though. She doesn't show, I kill you and harvest your organs.” DiAngelo looked him over. “You look fairly healthy, I bet I can get fifty grand out of you.”
Scott swallowed hard. “She'll be here.” He said shakily.
“You don't look so sure.”
Scott smiled weakly. “I'm betting my life on it, aren't I?”
DiAngelo laughed loudly. “Yeah... you are.”
The race was already set up. Kat's opponent waited in his Porsche 911 Turbo. The sun beat down strongly from directly overhead.
Scott looked down the road, in one direction, then the other. There was a cloud of dust in the distance. He stared down the the road, squinting. He could just make out the black Corvette, it's windows tinted to the point of being opaque. “There she is.” He said, in relief.
“I was hoping for a race.” DiAngelo said. “Hopefully it's a good one, for your sake.”
The Corvette pulled up next to the Porsche, it's engine idling. “Are we racing, or what?” Kat's voice came from the Corvette.
“We almost started without you.” DiAngelo walked over to the Corvette. He frowned at the black tinting. “Is someone feeling anti-social today?”
“Would you be feeling very social if you were in my position?” Kat's voice came from the car again. It sounded highly annoyed. “Let's just get this over with so I can get out of here.”
“All right then.” DiAngelo said. He nodded to two of his men, then looked over at Scott. “Remember, stay out of the way.” Scott nodded. The two men escorted him away.
A young woman walked between the two cars, she stopped in front of them, holding a white and black handkerchief in one hand. She raised it up over her head.
Both cars' engines revved as they got ready. The woman waited a second, then another, looking back and forth between them. She took a deep breath and dropped the handkerchief.
Both cars pealed off, kicking up clouds of desert dust. The woman turned and watched them go.
DiAngelo hopped into the back of his Mercedes. “Eddie will catch the winner.” He said to his remaining lackeys. “Let's go see who it'll be.”
********
K.I.T.T was ahead of the Porsche right from the start. He carefully calculated the texture of the road ahead of him with his cameras. He moved side to side marginally, picking the easiest path.
He couldn't out pace the Porsche by too much, though. He had to make the race last as long as possible, to give Kat time to do her work.
Kat, meanwhile, was behind the bar, lasering through the bars covering the bathroom window. There were only three bars, and the window was fairly low to the ground. She soon had it opened and was climbing through.
She pushed open the bathroom door quietly, looking all around. The bar was deserted. Everyone was at the finish line.
Kat made her way to the back room. She was surprised to find it unlocked. She was even more surprised to find it occupied.
Scott sat in a chair in front of the desk. His shoulders were slumped. He turned when she entered the room. “Katherine.” He said in surprise. “I thought you were racing.”
“I found a proxy.” Kat said easily. “He's keeping everyone distracted while I find some dirt on DiAngelo.”
Scott rose from his chair, shaking his head. “I can't let you do that, Katherine.” He said sadly. There was a gun in his hand. He pulled it up, pointing it at her.
