Knight Rider 2008 Alternate Storyline – Episode 7 – Nightmares
Chapter 5
Charles loved tinkering. You couldn't put him in a room by himself without having him trying to dismantle your radio or toaster, or if he was really bored, your refrigerator. When he was idle, he moved from project to project rather randomly, leaving some things half finished while moving on to something new.
After he had retired from Knight Industries, they had allowed him to stay at the FLAG1 site. FLAG1 was supposed to have been the headquarters for F.L.A.G many years ago, directly underground from where the Knight Industries Two Thousand had been developed. It had been an ambitious project, but sadly it was unfinished. Costs for the underground complex and the ten mile long tunnel connecting to it had been grossly underestimated. After a tunnel collapse had killed three workers, the project had been abandoned.
It was then decided to continue the project on a smaller scale. Less people involved, a looser mission structure. It had worked extremely well at the time. FLAG1 had been all but forgotten.
Charles had gone on to other projects at Knight Industries, working up till his fiftieth birthday, when he announced his retirement. But someone like Charles could never stop working, even when retired.
Knight Industries had let him use the lab above FLAG1 for his own tinkerings, a forgotten ghost dwelling in a graveyard.
Charles had found it very peaceful these past few years.
Until that day after Christmas...
********
Charles studied the piece of microcircuitry under the huge, standing magnifying glass, the base of which was set into the desk. “Here's the problem...” He said to himself.
Something on his computer monitor flashed. He turned his eyes to it.
A black dialog box was open on the screen. White type scrolled across it:
There is movement outside.
Charles stood up. He walked past a row of monitors. Each of their screens were black. More white letters and numbers scrolled up the screens. “Hold your horses, I'm going.” Charles said. “I can't remember the last time you were this excited.”
He made his way over to the wall, a large flat screen monitor was mounted here, showing the outside camera feeds. He frowned at the monitor. There was movement outside, lots of it. Some pretty heavy machinery was present as well. “What's going on out there?” He muttered.
He grabbed his cane and went downstairs. He stepped outside into the bright sunlight. The noise of engines and the rumbling of backhoes and bulldozers was nearly deafening.
One man in a black suit seemed to be directing everyone else. Charles limped heavily over to him, supporting most of his weight on his cane. He pushed his reading glasses up his nose. “What's going on here?” He asked once he was right next to the man.
The man turned and looked at him in surprise. “Dr. Graiman? Charles Graiman?” He asked.
“The one and only.” Charles said wearily.
“My name is David Marks, former Vice President of Knight Industries.” The man introduced himself. “I must say that I am a little shocked to find you here.”
Charles frowned. “I live here. Did no one at Knight Industries tell you that?” He had to speak loudly over the din.
“Yes, they informed me of that before I left. But I didn't actually expect for you to still be alive.” He looked around. “Kind of an out-of-the-way place for an old man to live all by himself, don't you think?” He looked pointedly at the cane.
“I prefer being on my own.” Charles said. He turned away from David. “You might as well come inside, so we don't have to shout. Then you can tell me why you are disturbing my peace and quiet.”
David followed the man into the building. He looked around at the various monitors, piles of machinery and bits of circuitry. “You've been keeping yourself busy I see.” He commented.
“As best as I can.” Charles said. He limped past David so he could stand in the middle of the room.
“Does this building have a basement?” David asked, pulling out his Blackberry.
“No.” Charles replied shortly.
“We'll have to add one.” David said to himself, entering information into the Blackberry. “Four levels should do.” He looked around. “We can call this Building B.”
“What are you doing here, at the graveyard?” Charles asked, feeling a bit irritable.
“I've been assigned to head the FLAG1 project.” David replied.
“The FLAG1 project?” Charles asked in disbelief. “That project was abandoned over twenty years ago.”
“Not abandoned.” David replied. “Just... delayed.”
“That's a hell of a delay.”
David's phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and flipped it open. “Yes?” He listened for a moment. “Send the drills down the tunnel, I want it cleared out in two days.” He hung up the phone.
“You're excavating the tunnel as well?” Charles asked.
“It'll be needed.” David answered.
“It's a death trap. The last time someone tried to dig it out, three men died.”
“It's been twenty years, Dr. Graiman. I'm sure tunnel building techniques have improved since then.” David said dryly. “We have a great deal more funding at our disposal as well.”
“Does this mean that you are also rebuilding FLAG?” Charles asked.
“Indeed. I'm the new Director.”
Charles looked amazed. “After all this time...” He looked at David sharply. “Why?”
David gave him a long look. “Why not?” He asked evasively.
“What's the purpose of this?” Charles was feeling suspicious now. Knight Industries had changed since Wilton Knight had died. Charles had learned to distrust the higher-ups.
“We are approaching 2008.” David said. “Technology is advancing at lightning speed. Knight Industries has to keep up. New technologies are in development now, and they need testing. Practical, real world testing.”
“So, FLAG has become just another outlet for Knight Industries' military contracts.” Charles guessed. He shook his head sadly. “I should have known.” He began to get angry. “How are you going to convince those two to come back?” He asked. “I can already tell you that they would never be a part of this FLAG.”
David looked confused. “Those two? Oh, you mean Michael Knight and Two Thousand.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Michael Knight went rogue years ago, Knight Industries is no longer interested in him, or his obsolete AI. We wouldn't have him back even if he begged us.”
Charles narrowed his eyes. “Then what AI are you going to use?”
David looked around at the computers. The monitors were all black, white type scrolling up the screens. “I was thinking... You've been idle for four years now. Surely you haven't given up on building AI's.” He walked forward, staring at the monitors.
“You would be right.” Charles grudgingly admitted. “I've been attempting to build a learning AI.”
“Attempting?” David asked. He walked down the row of computers, his eyes on the screens.
Charles grimaced. “My resources here are limited. It takes a dozen computers just to get it running. Short term memory is feeble at best. And there is no long term memory to speak of.” The monitors all flickered, then went blank. Charles sighed. “It also keeps crashing.”
“Still...” David mused. “Our scientists are the best. I'm sure they could go a long way with this. Better resources, more stable software... Would I be able to convince you to sell it?”
He heard a loud click behind him. “I'll take that as a 'no'.”
David turned slowly. Charles stood straight and tall, his cane leaning against a desk. He held a revolver pointed at David in one steady hand.
David gave him a deadpan look. “You're not going to shoot me.”
“Are you certain about that?” Charles asked. “You're here, about to steal my work for what I feel are rather selfish ends. I've been misused by Knight Industries in the past, my work used in ways that I did not intend. I don't belong to Knight Industries any longer. I'm certainly not going to let them do this to me again.”
“I can understand that your bitter.” David said. “But you're a pacifist, Dr. Graiman. So, please, drop the act.” He took a slow step toward the older man.
Charles blue-gray eyes were as hard as steel. “I wouldn't step any closer.” He warned.
David moved forward deliberately. He was right in front of Charles now, the gun just a foot away from his face. Charles pulled the trigger.
There was another loud click as the hammer came down. There was no other sound. Charles lowered the gun with a heavy sigh.
David hadn't even flinched. He continued to stare at Charles, his dark eyes were thoughtful. He reached into his jacket and pulled out his Chief's Special. “Mine is loaded.” He said quietly, pointing the gun at Charles.
Charles didn't back down. He stood with his back straight. “Killing me is the only way you'll get the AI.” He said softly.
“No.” David said, that thoughtful look in his eyes much more pronounced now. “This could go another way. You're more useful alive.”
“Why would I work for you?” Charles asked.
“How about you work with me?” David offered. “Keep FLAG on the straight and narrow. I don't care what kind of mission we do, as long as we get our contracts and as long as the technology is tested. Go ahead, try to save the world. Or at least keep me in check.”
Charles raised one white eyebrow. “Partners, then?”
David shook his head. “I don't make a good partner. But you can leave certain things to me, and I can leave certain things to you, and we'll stay out of each other's way.” He lowered the gun and spread out his hands.
Charles gave the younger man a long, calculating look. “You'll do anything to get what you want, won't you?” He asked.
“That's right. I'll even compromise.” David said.
“Show me what kind of team you can put together, and I'll consider it.” Charles said.
“Then, I'll make sure I get the best.”
