Knight Rider 2008 Alternate Storyline – Episode 2
Chapter 2
F.L.A.G Underground Facility
Kat went back to her room to pick up her books. She still had a long day of reading ahead of her. She talked to Angela for a bit while she was there, thanking her again for the gifts.
She returned to K.I.T.T about half an hour later. She was met by a different scene than was usual. K.I.T.T stood on a heavy white tarp that covered his circle. A white plastic mask covered the lower half of Carmen's face, and she wore goggles and heavy gloves. She had a large air-powered sprayer in one hand. With the other hand she held a long hose that was connected to it, keeping it out of her way so she wouldn't step on it.
“What's going on?” Kat asked. The noise of the sprayer was too loud, so no one heard her but K.I.T.T.
“Carmen is reapplying my nano skin.” K.I.T.T answered.
“She can just spray it on?” Kat asked. “I thought it was a lot thicker than that.”
“Technically, it is thick. Amino acids are microscopic. Right now, she is applying many layers over what is still left. The circuits do regenerate themselves, but the rate of decay surpasses it slightly. So once a month, Carmen applies another coat.”
Kat watched as Carmen worked. She was spraying K.I.T.T all over. Not just the body, but the windshield, windows, and lights too. She had K.I.T.T roll back so she could get all sides of the tires as well.
Kat flipped through the book Carmen had given her. “All that's probably in here somewhere, isn't it?”
“Page 675.” K.I.T.T answered promptly.
Kat turned to the page. There was a diagram of the two types of circuit that the amino acids made up. She skimmed through the pages and came to the next chapter. “What's a 'Molecular-Bonded Shell'?” She asked.
“That's what's under my nano-skin.” K.I.T.T replied. “That's only ever applied to a part once. It never erodes or decays on it's own. Only certain acids are able to eat through it.”
Kat's eyebrows shot up as she read. “It says here, and I quote, 'This shell provides a frame tolerance of 223,000 lb (111.5 tons) and a front and rear axle suspension load of 57,000 lb (28.5 tons)'.” She snapped the book shut. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“No, it's completely true.” K.I.T.T told her.
“That's insane. If you have that, why are they bothering with the nano-skin?” She asked.
“Like I said, certain acids will wear through the shell, my nano-skin protects it against that. It can also do things that the Molecular-Bonded Shell cannot, like change license plates, and color. Finally, my nano-skin has it's own vulnerabilities. Those are classified, of course.”
“Of course. So... if one fails, the other one backs it up?” Kat asked, understanding.
“Precisely, you can never be too safe.”
“I guess that's true.” Kat mused. “Talk about overkill, though. If someone put you in one of those car compactors, you would break it.”
“It would have to depend on the compactor. I'm not eager to test it out.”
Kat laughed. “Neither am I.”
The loud noise from the sprayer ceased. Carmen pulled off her mask. “Okay, KITT, test it out. I want to see if I missed a spot.”
K.I.T.T changed through several colors. Liquid silver, hunter green, bright red, midnight blue, and finally, hot pink. “KITT, you look fabulous.” Kat teased him, walking over.
K.I.T.T changed quickly back to glossy black. Kat and Carmen laughed. “The rojo is my favorite. It's so sexy.” Carmen grinned. “But he just stays black.” She waved a hand at him and sighed.
“The red was pretty hot.” Kat said, suppressing a smirk. She hadn't seen Carmen in such a good mood before. She wanted to keep it going.
K.I.T.T changed back to the red. Carmen snickered as she walked around him, looking for bare spots. “He's blushing.” She joked. Kat put a hand over her mouth, trying to hold in her laughter.
“You said you preferred the red.” K.I.T.T said to Carmen, his tone slightly accusatory.
“I always tell you that, you never listen to me.” Carmen told him. “But when Katherine says something...” She trailed off.
“Kat's my Driver.” K.I.T.T said defensively. “I have to listen to her.”
“Oh, so it's Kat now...” Carmen teased.
Kat shook with silent laughter. She decided to give the poor car a break and changed the subject. “So, what do you think of my presents?” She asked.
“That was very nice of Angela.” K.I.T.T answered.
“Do they suit me though? I've never thought of myself as the leather type.” Kat said.
K.I.T.T paused. “I'm not certain.” He said. “I have no frame of reference for something like that.”
“He's dodging.” Carmen said knowingly. “All men are like that.”
“Pierce, help me.” K.I.T.T pleaded.
Pierce rose from his desk. “Okay Carmen, knock it off, you're confusing him.” He frowned at her. Carmen stuck her tongue out at him.
He sighed heavily at the childish display. “If you'll excuse me.” Pierce said to the three of them. “I have to go upstairs and greet my new intern. Or, as I like to call him...” Pierce's lips pulled back over his teeth. “Fresh meat.”
Carmen rolled her eyes. Kat looked interested. “Intern? I didn't think of this place as a learning environment.” She said.
“It is not, as such.” Pierce said. “Everyone on my team is at the top of their particular field.” He gestured around. “The twins I am especially fond of.”
Kat followed his glance, spying a pair working at desks whose fronts were pushed together. They were a male and a female. Kat hazarded a guess at their nationality, settling on Chinese as her best bet. They had the same raven-black hair. Even being different genders, their faces were eerily similar. They wore identical expressions of determination as they worked.
“Kai.” The female called to her brother. He was at her side at once. She pointed at something on her monitor.
“What about-” The male, Kai, began.
“Of course, I've overlooked-” The female said.
“-and over five degrees, Rei.” Kai finished.
Kat arched a brow at Pierce. Pierce looked smug. “Eerie, isn't it? I've never heard them say a complete sentence to each other.” He paused. “All of my technicians are the best, as I have said. That has a drawback though. They are less eager to learn. They have already decided on how they think and act. I need someone who is fresh, unshaped.”
“Someone you can brainwash into thinking exactly like you do.” Carmen muttered. She slid under K.I.T.T, checking the layering of the nano-skin underneath.
Pierce's smile was pleased. “Exactly. Now, if you will excuse me.” He headed up the metal staircase.
Kat looked back at K.I.T.T. “How long until you are dry? I still have to familiarize myself with your overly complicated dashboard.”
“I've been dry this whole time. The nano-skin adheres on contact.” K.I.T.T informed her.
“Stuff is impossible to get off.” Carmen said ruefully as she slid out from under K.I.T.T. “That's why I have the gloves and mask.”
“Okay then.” Kat placed her hand on the door handle. The door unlocked automatically and she stepped inside. She shut the door and went back to her reading.
Carmen glanced at Kat through the window. She was absorbed in her studying. She sat down next to K.I.T.T's hood. “KITT, let me give you some advice about Katherine.”
“What kind of advice?” K.I.T.T asked. He used his outer speaker only. His interior was sound-proof, so Kat could not hear them.
“Next time she asks you anything, anything, about how she looks, you compliment her, comprende?” Carmen told him firmly.
“How would I compliment her?” K.I.T.T asked.
“Tell her she looks nice, or beautiful, muy bella.” Carmen said. “Or whatever. You're the one with the built in thesaurus. Be creative.”
“I don't have an opinion on Kat's appearance though.” K.I.T.T said.
“You don't ever tell her that, do you hear me?” Carmen was dead serious. “You want to start a fight?”
“I do wish to avoid future arguments.” K.I.T.T mused.
“Good, then listen to Mami.” Carmen patted his hood and walked back to her station.
********
Kat sighed heavily, closing the book. Her neck and shoulders ached from being bent over it the past two hours. She was only halfway through both of the books Pierce and Carmen had given her. She didn't think she would ever finish them.
She had a funny feeling Pierce was going to spring a test on her soon. She rubbed the sore muscles in her neck and wondered if she should use K.I.T.T to cheat. Pierce would prepare for that though.
“Kat, David wants-” K.I.T.T began, but was interrupted by David's face appearing on the windshield just then.
He spoke immediately. “The FBI has just contacted me. They've sent the details of their trial mission.”
“Am I leaving now?” Kat asked at once.
“We have a bit more time to prepare this time around.” David answered. “The details of the mission are as follows: Surveillance of a known hideout of weapons dealers Kevin Andrews, Carol Levins, and Cory Mitchell.” David spoke like he was reading off of a piece of paper. As he said each of the suspect's names a dossier for them appeared on the windshield next to his face.
Kat put a fingertip to the windshield, scrolling through the lists of arrests for Kevin Andrews. There were many arrests over the years, but little jail time served. “This guy must have one hell of a lawyer.” Kat muttered.
Andrews represents himself, as well as his two accomplices.” David told her. “The FBI has tried to nail him for years, but he always gets away on a technicality, or lack of evidence. He uses the law to help himself.”
“So... the FBI wants someone who works outside of the law to find the evidence they need to shut him down for good?” Kat guessed.
David smiled. It wasn't a happy, cheerful smile. It was a smile that belonged on a shark. “Exactly. The FBI knows where his base of operations is, they just can't seem to get a warrant to raid it.”
“Oh, let me guess why.” Kat offered. “Andrews is paying off a judge?” She thought for a moment. “Or judges?”
One of David's eyebrows twitched, but the rest of his face remained a mask of professionalism. “That could very well be true. Be that as it may, the FBI can't touch him. They've decided to let us try our hand.” He went back to his reading. “Once you have gathered evidence of illegal weapons dealing and/or storing, contact FBI liaison Karen Summers.”
“So, we go there, find the goods, then let the FBI take over?” Kat asked. “That doesn't sound too bad.”
“Do not let your guard down.” David warned her. “Infiltration of the premises will be required, the FBI won't accept X-Rays. There is a very real danger here.”
Kat nodded. “When do we leave?”
“In a few hours. Pierce will outfit you before you leave. That is all.” David's face disappeared.
Kat looked over at K.I.T.T's voice modulator. “You've been awful quiet.” She said.
“David doesn't like it when I talk.” K.I.T.T explained.
Kat frowned deeply. “Has he said that?”
“I'm not allowed tell you any information about David.” K.I.T.T answered.
“Another block?” Kat asked.
“Yes. I can see now when I am approaching one. I don't think you will get any more surprises.”
Kat nodded. “We'll just avoid those touchy subjects.”
“That would be for the best.”
“Okay then. I will go see what Pierce is going to 'outfit' me with.” She opened the door and stepped out.
She walked over to Pierce's desk. He was waiting for her. His desktop was cleared, and a few items were laid out on it. “Are you ready for your second mission?” He asked.
“Ready as I'll ever be.” Kat answered. The idea of tracking down dangerous criminals still didn't appeal to her all that much.
“I have a few presents for you.” He said, an amused glint in his blue eyes.
“Oh, you too?” Kat teased.
“These have a practical purpose.” He explained. “Not just aesthetic.” He handed her the first object off of the desk.
She held it in her hand. It was a blank key with a black rubber top. “A key?” She asked.
“Not just any key.” He corrected. “Every key.”
Kat's eyebrows raised. “How does it work?”
Pierce took the key from her hand. “Insert it into the lock.” He said, miming the motion. “Press the button on the top. Pull out the key. You will then be able to unlock the door with it.”
“Sounds pretty useful.” Kat praised. She remembered that she needed Pierce's help to find out more about Sam. A little ego boost couldn't hurt her chances of getting information.
Pierce smiled. He handed her a covered vial. “Extra contacts.” He told her. Then he gave her a large, folded square of cloth.
Kat unfolded the shirt. It was a sleeveless turtleneck. It was dark red and sheer. She couldn't tell what it was made of. It felt strange in her hands. Too smooth, almost slippery.
Her expression was confused. “Thank you, Pierce. This is really nice.” It did look rather nice, but... “What does it do?” She asked.
Pierce chuckled. “Every Knight needs their armor.” He joked.
Kat's eyebrows shot up. “Armor, this thing? You're kidding.”
His smile was bordering on devious. “Would you like a demonstration?” He asked.
“Please.” Kat told him.
Pierce rose out of his chair. He was a good half a head taller than Kat, one of the few people on the compound that were taller than her. Kat was taller than all the other women, and half of the men.
Pierce led her off into a side room. It was long, rectangular and painted white, the floor and ceiling too. It was far from pristine though. The back wall looked very much abused. Kat thought she recognized bullet holes riddling the plaster. The other end was divided from the rest by a clear, thick wall. “Plexi-glass.” Pierce explained, indicating the wall. Kat nodded.
In the larger portion of the room, a stand was already set up. Draped over it was a large square of material similar to what her new shirt was made of. Pierce walked over to it. He lifted up the corner. “Weightless, thin, just like your shirt.” He said.
Then he lead her behind the plexi-glass divider. There were cabinets placed along the wall here. Pierce pulled out a set of keys, selected one and unlocked a cabinet. He pulled out a handgun and began screwing on a silencer. Kat's eyes widened.
Pierce smiled. “I was prepared for you to be skeptical.” He told her. He loaded the gun and held it out to her, handle first. “Would you like to do the honors?” He asked. “My marksmanship is admittedly poor.”
“I'm not too bad.” Kat placed the shirt on a convenient table and took the gun from him. “You want me to shoot the cloth.” She guessed.
He nodded. “One shot will do.” He indicated a hole cut into the plexi-glass.
Kat slipped the gun through the hole. She aimed carefully and fired. The bullet went right through the cloth like it wasn't there, and embedded into the wall behind it. “Okay, the cloth has a hole in it now.” She informed him, handing back the gun.
“Hold onto that for a second.” He told her. He walked around the plexi-glass wall and over to the cloth. He touched a corner. Kat frowned. The cloth looked different now. It's didn't move when Pierce brushed it with his hand as he turned back to her. “Try it again.” He said, walking back over to her.
Kat put the gun through the hole again. “Wait until I am behind the glass.” Pierce quickened his pace, half running.
Once he was behind the plexi-glass barrier, Kat shot the cloth again. There was the sharp sound of ricochet across the room, then again against the plexi-glass. The second sound was much louder and startled her. The cloth rocked rigidly on it's stand, not losing it's shape.
Her eyes went very wide. She looked at Pierce, lowering the gun. “What was that?” She asked.
Pierce smirked, his blue eyes positively danced. He lifted up her shirt off of the table. He pinched a spot on the collar and the whole thing went stiff in his hands. He pinched the same spot again and it went loose.
A spark of understanding flared in her mind. “Don't tell me that stuff is coated with-”
“Bio-nanos.” Pierce finished for her, nodding.
Kat folded her arms over her chest and arched a brow at him. That explained the shirt's strange texture. “You could have just told me what it was in the beginning, and skipped the demonstration.” She said coyly.
Pierce's smile widened. “The demonstration was more fun.” He handed her the shirt. “It's a very light coating. K.I.T.T can stand up to missiles, he also has his Molecular-Bonded Shell to back him up. You can stand up to a few bullets.” His face turned serious. “Just remember that you are still flesh and blood underneath. The bullet won't pierce the shirt, but you'll still feel it.”
“Not indestructible. I think I can handle that.” Kat smiled.
Pierce smiled back at her. His gaze was suddenly much more intent. “You should get changed.” He said as he continued to stare at her.
“Can I do it somewhere private?” Kat asked, keeping her voice light.
Pierce blinked at her. “Oh, of course.” He said swiftly. He stepped aside and she walked past him, around the barrier. “The bathroom is on the other side of the main lab.” He said.
“I know.” She said as she walked out of the door.
Pierce watched her go, then exhaled slowly. He pushed his glasses up his nose and frowned.
