Knight Rider 2008 Alternate Storyline – Episode 3 – The Knight Before Christmas
Chapter 2
“I think that went well.” K.I.T.T told her. They were heading back to the compound. Kat was driving. She took things slow, going at a sedate 60mph, which was practically old lady speed for K.I.T.T.
They were moving through Missouri now, heading back to New Mexico. The road they were on was enclosed on both sides by tall, snow-covered trees.
“I know I messed up on a few things.” Kat said ruefully.
“You're being too hard on yourself.” K.I.T.T told her. “You'll see when you get your results.”
“Maybe.” Kat consented, though she had never been one for looking on the brighter side of things.
“By the way, I think those deer just passed us.” K.I.T.T told her.
Kat rolled her eyes. “We can't try to break the sound barrier every time we drive.” She told him.
“No, but that is more fun.” K.I.T.T replied.
“I am having fun not having a heart attack. You had your fun through Indiana and Illinois.” Kat said.
“Fine, but I take over again in Oklahoma.” K.I.T.T said.
“Nuh uh, you got two states, so I get two states.” Kat argued.
“Indiana and Illinois were very small states.” K.I.T.T countered.
“Only at the speed you were going. You're a highway cop's nightmare.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn't a compliment.”
Suddenly the windshield turned bright red and the steering wheel locked in her hands. A warning siren sounded inside of the cab. 'Incoming Attack' flashed across the windshield.
Before Kat could react, something hit them from the side. Whatever it was exploded on collision, becoming a huge fireball that threw the car up into the air like a toy. K.I.T.T flipped over twice before coming down on his front bumper. Then he flipped onto his side and slid across the blacktop with an earsplitting screech for about a hundred feet before finally settling back onto his wheels.
The car had completely turned around, so Kat could see the raging inferno in the middle of the road where they were attacked. She was very shaken, but unhurt. The trip through the air hadn't been fun for either the car or it's occupant.
“Are you all right?” They asked each other at the same time. Kat's voice was high with panic, K.I.T.T's was merely concerned.
He turned away from the fire and sped down the road. “Initiating evasive programming. Buckle up.” Suddenly there were a lot more loose straps to her already buckled seatbelt. She busied herself with buckling them all, until she was in a kind of harness.
“What the hell was that?” Kat demanded.
“We were struck by a tactical missile of unknown make. Possibly custom in design. I didn't have enough time to run a complete scan.” K.I.T.T told her quickly. “It originated from approximately three miles north-northwest of here.”
“Why is someone attacking us?” Kat asked, more calmly. Her training was taking over. She put her hands back on the wheel as they shot down the road. Her reflexes still weren't fast enough to handle anything complicated, like turns, but as she drove more and more with K.I.T.T, they were developing a way to drive together, with her controlling for the most part, and he correcting her as needed.
“Again, that is unknown. They obviously know who we are, and what I am capable of.”
Kat had to agree with that. People didn't normally shoot missiles at Camaros they didn't like. “Geez, who did we piss off?” She wondered.
“Whoever it was, they are very angry with us.” K.I.T.T told her. “They've set up a roadblock up ahead.”
The windshield zoomed in on the road ahead. About half a mile away there were two black vans turned to the side, blocking the entire road. Three men waited in front, rocket launchers at the ready.
Kat calculated the situation carefully. Trees were still crowded thick on both sides, and a sharp incline dropped off away from the road on the right. “No way to off-road it.” She said. “We'll have to jump.” She hit the Turbo Boost button. Blue fire erupted from Kit's rear bumper and the trees blurred.
The men on the left and the right both fired their rockets. The man in the middle stayed his hand. He watched them from behind dark glasses. K.I.T.T zoomed in on all three faces, committing them to his memory.
K.I.T.T dodged the two rockets. They exploded on either side of him and something clear splattered on the side windows and the hood. The force of the twin blasts nearly pushed them into the trees. They managed to get control just in time to make the jump. K.I.T.T angled the blue fire downward, and he shot into the air. They cleared the vans easily.
As they passed overhead, the man who had withheld his fire took action now. He fired his rocket right into K.I.T.T's underside. The explosion that followed completely engulfed the car in flames. They were pushed even higher into the air, flipping out of control. They fell back onto the road with an almighty crash.
K.I.T.T had managed to land on all four wheels. He drove away from the vans at max speed, swerving slightly in the beginning. Kat couldn't really see where they were going though, as every inch of the car's exterior seemed to be on fire. Though Kat supposed that the top could be clear, but she had no way to check.
“What was that they shot us with?” Kat asked.
“Those rockets were carrying a highly-concentrated combustible accelerant. It sprayed all over my exterior.”
“Can you put it out?” Kat asked in concern. “Drive fast enough to smother it?”
“Negative. Depriving it of oxygen will not put it out. As the fuel burns, it produces it's own oxygen. We will just have to wait until it's fuel runs out.”
“How long are we going to be on fire?” Kat asked, her eyebrows shooting up. “That's going to cause attention.”
“I am using my GPS to stay on the back roads for now. This shouldn't last for more than half an hour.” He told her. The concern in his voice was fading.
“Just stay out of the trees, we don't need to start a forest fire.” Kat still felt uneasy, the interior of the car was lit bright orange by the fire that was just outside of the windows. One of which was only inches away from her. “Am I going to be okay in the meantime?” She asked. “I don't want to bake in here.”
“My Molecular-Bonded Shell can withstand temperatures much higher than this.” He assured her. “Though if you feel a little warm, I won't be offended if you remove your clothing.”
Kat eyed his modulator. Had he been watching cheesy nighttime television behind her back? “No thank you, I'll just put up the AC.” She assured him.
“There is that as well.” K.I.T.T agreed. “I've informed Charles about the attack. He wants us back at the compound as soon as possible. He's taking a chopper and meeting us there.”
“Fine, you can drive the rest of the way back.” Kat granted him.
“He's also sent me your test results.” K.I.T.T displayed them on the windshield.
For just a second the recent attack, and the fact that they were currently on fire, flew out of her mind. She took one look at her score and her heart plummeted.
********
Hours later, Kat sat at one of the empty desks in the main lab. She had her arms folded in front of her and her head buried in them. She moaned dejectedly.
"You did very well, all things considered.” K.I.T.T told her.
“I failed miserably, how is that doing 'very well'?” She asked, her voice muffled by her arms.
“I have a lot of complicated programs and systems.” K.I.T.T replied. “You've only had a couple of weeks to try and learn them all. I think you've done extremely well under the circumstances.”
“Stop trying to make me feel better.” Kat muttered.
K.I.T.T was silent. The light on his hood flowed back and forth irritably.
Angela leaned over the railing on the walkway above them, a mug with a snowman on it in her hand. She sipped at it as she spotted Kat below. She went down the stairs and looked K.I.T.T over. The glossy black Camaro was now matte black with ash. “You get into a fight?”
“You should see the other guy.” K.I.T.T told her.
Angela's eyebrows raised, but she didn't comment. She prodded Kat's shoulder. “Are you okay?” She asked.
“Charles sent us her test scores.” K.I.T.T explained.
Angela took another sip of her cocoa. “That bad?”
“She got a 62.” K.I.T.T answered.
“KITT!” Kat wailed, lifting her head up and glaring at the Camaro.
But Angela was ecstatic. “Really? That's great!”
“That's what I told her.” K.I.T.T said.
Angela leaned down so she could look at Kat's face. “Wanna know a secret?” She asked. Kat nodded. “Sam got a 54 on his first test.”
Kat's eyebrows raised. “He did?”
Angela nodded. “He told me himself.”
Kat straightened up. Her expression was wondering. “Sam, a 54? Sam?”
Angela nodded again. She put a hand on Kat's shoulder. “Sweetie, you've done really well in just a few weeks. No one is expecting you to know and remember all of KITT's functions right away. I bet Pierce doesn't even remember them all.” She looked into Kat's face. “You're doing a good job, really.”
Kat's troubled expression cleared. She looked immensely relieved. “I guess you're right. Thank you, Angela.” She said weakly.
“How is it that when you tell her that, she believes you immediately, but when I do, she tells me to shut up?” K.I.T.T asked irritably.
Angela turned to him. “You're a guy. That automatically makes you untrustworthy.” She answered.
“Technically, I don't have a gender.” He countered.
Angela shook her head. “You're still a guy where it counts.”
K.I.T.T was silent for a moment. “...I'm confused.”
But Kat was nodding. “No, she's right.”
Angela smiled and took another sip of her cocoa. She passed the mug to Kat. “Here, this'll perk you up.” She said.
Kat took a sip. “That's good.” She said, brightening. “What's in it?”
“Scotch.”
Kat passed the mug back to her. “Thanks.”
Angela grinned. “Anytime.”
Kat gave her a questioning look. “What are you doing down here anyway?”
“I came to annoy Pierce.” She looked over at his empty desk. “Where is he?”
“David punished him for disobeying orders on the last mission.” Kat told her. “It was all moot anyway, since the FBI was standing by, but he's still being punished.”
Angela's eyebrows raised. “Punished? How?” She asked.
Kat scowled. “David put him on vacation for a week, effective immediately.”
Angela cringed. “Pierce, not working? Ouch.” Kat nodded. “He'll be up in his room then. I'll go wish him a Happy Hanukkah.” She turned to go.
“Pierce is Jewish?” Kat asked.
“I have no idea.” Angela answered as she headed for the metal staircase. “He told me he didn't celebrate Christmas, so I have been trying to guess since then.”
Charles came down the stairs after Angela had left. “Yes, KITT? I got your email.”
“Angela and Kat are confusing me.” K.I.T.T told him irritably.
Charles nodded. “Women are often a confusing species.” He turned to Kat and smiled. “They do tend to use that to their advantage.”
If that had come from David, Kat would have been angry. But Charles had a healthy dose of respect in his voice, so she let it slide. “I have no idea what you are talking about.” She said innocently, but ruined the facade when she grinned.
“Right now, we have a very grave matter to discuss.” Charles reminded them. “That being: the identity of those who attacked you and KITT this morning.”
K.I.T.T 's hood and windshield covered with soot, so he couldn't display anything. He sent the pictures of the three men up onto the big screen. The team had been working on discovering who the men were since they got back.
Kat stared up at the three men intently. “Do you recognize any of them?” Charles asked her.
“No, not really.” Kat shook her head.
“You don't sound so sure.” Charles said.
Kat's expression was puzzled. “It's strange... I feel like the middle one is familiar to me, but I know I have never seen that face before in my life.” She studied his black hair and thin face closely. His black sunglasses hid his eyes completely. She shook her head again. “Nope, I don't know him.”
Kai and Rei walked up then. “K.I.T.T's scan showed that there is a possibility that this man has had reconstructive surgery.” Rei said.
“It could be possible that this man's target was not KITT, but Katherine.” Kai added.
Kat shivered. “I don't have any enemies.” She said, rubbing her upper arms with her hands.
“That you know of.” K.I.T.T pointed out.
“No.” Kat shook her head. “I would know if someone out there hated me this much. Trust me. They have to be after KITT, for whatever reasons.” She turned to Kai and Rei. “Have you found anything out on who they are?”
“The men to the left and right are well known mercenaries.” Kai said.
“Well known in more underground circles, of course.” Rei added.
Kat nodded. “And the man in the middle?”
The twins shook their heads at the same time. “Nothing.” They said together.
Charles mused worriedly. “I dislike this situation more and more.” He looked at K.I.T.T. “I want you to be very careful from now on. With your weapon's systems disabled, you are vulnerable.”
“Oh, I am not going to run away like that again.” Kat's hands clenched into fists. There was fire and venom in her voice. “The next time someone attacks us, we'll be ready. I'll learn Attack Mode if it kills me.”
“I'll try very hard not to let it.” K.I.T.T assured her.
But Kat was staring at Charles determinedly. Charles smiled wryly. He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a thick book. “Then you had better start as soon as possible.”
Kat took the book grimly. “More reading. Yay.”
“Merry Christmas.” Charles said sadly.
