Knight Rider 2008 Alternate Storyline – Episode 2
Chapter 5
When Kat returned to the compound, Dustin was waiting for her with a wheelchair. Kat narrowed her eyes suspiciously at K.I.T.T's voice modulator. “You told them I was hurt.” She said.
“I might have sent Dustin the medical scans I took of you on the way back, yes.” K.I.T.T answered.
“A wheelchair, KITT?” Kat raised an eyebrow. “I can walk, really.”
“How is the taser burn on your right hip feeling?” K.I.T.T asked.
Kat frowned. She had been trying to ignore that. “I'm not crippled.” She muttered.
KI.T.T popped open the Driver's door and Dustin wheeled the chair over to Kat. “Would you like some help, Captain?” He asked courteously.
“I can get out on my own, thank you.” Kat assured him. “I can walk perfectly fine as well.”
“Of course.” Dustin said, moving the wheelchair to the side. “Right this way please.” He led her past Pierce's workstation and to the Medical Room.
Soon, Dustin had popped her shoulder joint back into place. It hurt like hell, but Kat was practiced at hiding physical pain. Dustin told her that the burn didn't look bad, but gave her a cream for it anyway, and other than a few bruises, she was fine. He told her to be careful with her arm for about a week, just in case.
When she was done, all that was left was to give her report to David, which she was not looking forward to doing. She stalled for a bit in the main lab.
Pierce walked up to her, concern deep in his blue eyes. “Are you all right, Katherine?” He asked. “I- we were all worried when you disappeared.”
“Of course, I'm fine.” Kat assured him. He was giving her with such an intense stare that she was starting to feel uncomfortable. She dropped her eyes. “You should really be worried about the eye-cam and the shirt. I think they're both pretty much dead.” Kat smiled ruefully. “The only thing that survived was the dental implant.”
Pierce's brow furrowed. “The dental implant survived? Then how come you didn't contact KITT?” He asked her. “The warehouse basement was only shielded from X-Ray and Infrared. The signal from the implant still should have gone through.”
“I was being held hostage at the time.” Kat said, looking up at him. “But KITT should have heard me talking. I heard him when he came to get me.”
Pierce turned to K.I.T.T. “I'm not picking up anything from the implant.” K.I.T.T told him.
“It might have been damaged after all. It'll have to be replaced.” Pierce told her.
“Great.” Kat said. The dental implant required oral surgery to place, it wasn't an experience she looked forward to. Thankfully, Dustin was good at what he did.
Pierce was still staring at her. Kat cast her mind around for something else to talk about. She realized that she did have something to ask him. Something to start her on her way to finding out what had happened to her brother.
“Pierce, what's Base2?” She asked. K.I.T.T had mentioned it on her first mission. There was only one thing she knew about it: Her brother had died there.
“Knight Industries Advanced Training and Testing Facility. Base2 is what we call it here.” Pierce answered. “It's where Charles will be testing you on KITT's functions.”
Kat was right about the test then. She had a bad feeling about that. “So, that's where all of KITT's testing takes place?”
“When it's not in the field.” Pierce answered. “All of Knight Industries projects are tested there, actually. Security is not as strict, which is why we only use it occasionally. Like when David needs some results he can show the Board of Directors.”
He was being free with this information. Kat guess that maybe he didn't know Sam had been killed there. David wouldn't stop at just her to hide something.
“When am I going to be tested?” She asked. She would have to see what she could learn at Base2 while she was there, the sooner the better.
“On Wednesday.” Pierce answered.
“Christmas Eve?” Kat asked in surprise.
Pierce shrugged. “Yeah, why not?”
Kat shook her head. It shouldn't surprise her that the team worked every day of the year. She had never seen a group more dedicated to their work. They were more organized than the military. “It's fine, I didn't have plans anyway.”
“Katherine.” Kat looked up at the walkway above them. David was looking down at her. His dark eyes were unreadable. “Your report?” He asked. His voice was cold, professional. She hated it.
“Excuse me.” She said to Pierce, then headed up the stairs. She walked over to David calmly. He held his office door open for her. She stepped inside and he followed, closing the door behind them.
Kat stood in front of his desk. There were two chairs, but Kat was starting to realize that she never wanted to be too relaxed around David. It was like a mouse being at ease while waiting for the python to strike, it was impossible.
David took his seat. He opened his laptop. It was already on, the glow from the screen reflecting off of his nearly black eyes. He looked up at her, his face expressionless. “Proceed.”
Kat wasn't sure what the procedure of her reports was, so she just gave him a rundown of everything that had happened. He asked her about which functions of K.I.T.T's she had used. And about her equipment.
He frowned when she told him that the electric jolt from the taser had shorted out all of the bio-nano equipment she had on her. He seemed pleased when she told him about K.I.T.T's creative use of his grappling hook.
He nodded to himself when she was finished. He had been typing nearly the whole time, barely looking at her. He turned his full attention on her now. “After your test results come in, I will authorize Three Thousand's Attack Mode.”
Kat's eyebrows raised in surprise. “A-attack Mode?” She thought that K.I.T.T had only one mode: Pursuit. She knew from Carmen's book that K.I.T.T could be refitted and thus become another car, but Pursuit Mode he could change into on his own. Was Attack Mode the same?
David nodded. “I decided it was best to disable Three Thousand's rather comprehensive offensive capabilities until it's Driver was a bit more experienced. If you pass Charles' tests, then we can begin the weapons testing.”
Kat felt the blood drain from her face. There was still so much more that she had to learn. So, so much more than she had realized. She had to know it all, everything, in order not to fail miserably. And soon, because the Missions were only going to get more intense. She had only been through 'Trial' Missions so far. Sam had been preparing for months before he died. He had been capable. She had just barely scraped by so far.
“Is there anything else you wish to add to your report?” David asked.
Kat brought her attention back to her boss. “Uh... just that FBI Agent Summers told me to tell you that you two were even.”
David nodded. “I figured as much. Dismissed.”
Kat turned and walked back to the door. She opened it and stepped out. She closed it behind her and leaned against it, sighing heavily.
“I sometimes feel the same way after talking to David.” Charles told her with a smile. He walked over to her. “More often than not, actually.”
Kat smiled weakly. “Attack Mode?” She asked him.
His blue eyes were instantly understanding. “Do not worry, child. It'll be all right.”
Kat covered her eyes with the palms of her hands. “I really hope so.” She said.
********
Charles didn't knock, he just opened the door to David's office and walked in. David looked up from his work and scowled at him. “There is a reason I keep that closed.” He told the older man.
“You like being antisocial?” Charles asked lightly. He was smiling kindly at David.
David frowned and went back to his work. “Is there a point to your little visit?” He asked.
“Actually, there is.” Charles answered. “It's about Katherine.”
“I have nothing to say about her.” David said at once.
“No, of course not.” Charles said quickly. “But you did have your friend in the FBI standing by watching her progress on this mission, didn't you?”
David didn't look up. “I'm not heartless, Charles.” He muttered.
Charles chuckled softly. “Yes you are.” He replied. “But you do recognize Katherine's potential. She has value now. She's not 'dispensable'.”
David turned his attention back on Charles. “She can be replaced.” He assured him.
“Ah, but not easily.” Charles clarified. David scowled as Charles wandered around the room. David gave up all pretense of working and stared at him, his hands folded in front of him on the desk.
Charles stopped in front of a tall wooden cabinet with clear glass doors. It was filled with photographs and other memorabilia. “To think, another Long behind the wheel of K.I.T.T's predecessor...” Charles mused. “There's something almost karmic about it.”
“Hardly.” David scoffed. “The Longs is where I started my search. Katherine is the only one that's left, by the way.”
Charles raised one snowy white eyebrow. “That's a pity. I was hoping to start a tradition.” David snorted.
