General Lee's Revenge--Knightmares

Chapter Two: A Goodbye Short-Lived

(Short chapter to bridge the heavy stuff, not a lot of important stuff in here.)

After General didn't come back, Jesse sent the boys into town with the Defects. They pulled up only to see that the Knight Foundation was still there, and Rig and KITT were at Cooter's Garage.

Bo and Luke exchanged glances, driving up to Cooter's Garage and climbing out of Thunder's cab. They walked up, seeing smoke trailing off of Rig's body.

"Hey, what happened?" Bo asked, glancing towards Cooter who shrugged and shook his head.

"We were outside the law office by the Foundation's truck and General wandered off. The next thing I saw was a Porsche haulin' ass outta town, then a hearse tryna level General," Rig explained.

"And where's General now?" Luke asked, crossing his arms.

Rig shook himself. "I don't know, I woke up and he was gone."

"So let me get this straight. You got knocked out by a hearse?" Cooter asked dumbfoundedly.

"A hearse built on a monster truck frame and with Thunder's powers."

"That... shouldn't be possible," Christine argued.

"Yeah, well, that's what happened."

They all looked over at Thunder, who stood quiet.

"Well?" Rig rumbled.

Thunder scoffed. "I don't know, you tell me, I dunno anythin' about this!"

"Somehow I find that hard to believe seeing as that hearse has your powers," KITT argued.

"Alright, KITT, you're the Defect expert, why does he have my powers?" Thunder shot back.

"How should I know? I'm not the one selling supernatural abilities streetside!"

"That ain't how it works dipstick, I can't just give my powers away, I'm stuck with 'em!"

"Then prove it, find General right now!"

Thunder hesitated, flashing a glance toward Christine.

"I... I can't," Thunder replied sheepishly.

"Can't or won't?" KITT growled.

"Alright, alright, alright, break it up now y'all. KITT, quit jumpin' to conclusions; no offense, but you're startin' to sound like my ex-girlfriend. Thunder didn't give away his powers, pretty sure he'd be dead if he didn't have 'em," Cooter interjected.

"And I'm sure he has a good explanation for not being able to find General, right Thunder?" Christine asked.

Thunder sighed and looked at her. "It's simple, really, the more I care about someone the less effect my powers have on them, even if that includes findin' them. Which, if I'm being honest, is probably why I haven't gotten the faintest clue to where Dreamer might be."

They all looked at him, not fully believing it.

"Let me explain: the more I care about somebody, the less effect my powers have on them, such as if I were to shock them, I wouldn't be able to do it very much, because in my subconscious mind, I don't want to hurt them and therefore I hold back without knowing and with no way to stop myself from doing so. Make sense?" he rumbled.

"Which would explain why you were such a lousy shot at Hollow Hill," Christine added.

"Correct."

They were all quiet for a moment until Bo spoke up, "We understand where you're comin' from, Thunder, but we're still at square one. We ain't no closer to findin' General than we were five minutes ago."

Thunder nodded and rolled back away from the inner circle.

Just then, Luke snapped his fingers. "The Porsche! Rig, you said you saw a Porsche just before all this started, correct?"

"Yes, I did, why?" Rig asked.

"We find that Porsche, we might get some answers. What direction you say he was goin'?"

Rig thought for a moment. "He was goin' west, but that was twenty minutes ago. He's gotta be long gone by now."

"KITT can catch him," Cooter said diligently.

"What? No, I have to go back to the Foundation!" KITT argued.

"We'll explain what's going down to your people, maybe they'll be able to help," Christine added.

"And I'll start askin' around to see if I can figure anythin' out about this hearse that gave Rig the beatdown," Thunder chimed in.

KITT nodded and with that, he drove off toward the west. Thunder turned to leave as well, but Christine hit him with her door as she drove past.

"I'm coming with you," she announced.

Thunder didn't say anything in reply, but nodded to her and kept on driving.

Cooter turned to Bo and Luke, tossing them the keys to his spare pick-up truck. Luke caught them and gave him a questioning look.

"I'm gonna get Rig back on his feet, you two get out there and find Autumn, maybe she can help us figure out how to find that hearse," Cooter explained.

They both nodded. "Call us if you turn up anythin'," Bo said.

Cooter nodded and waved as they climbed into the truck and drove off, back up towards Rapahoe.