General Lee's Revenge--Knightmares

Chapter Eleven: A Man Who Does Not Exist

KITT sat on the hill overlooking the Knight Estate, his red scanning light going back and forth quickly as he battled conflicted thoughts. After his fight with Michael in the garage, he wasn't in much of the mood to be speaking with anyone at the moment, yet the rustle of brush caught his attention. He turned to see Michael's long frame step out of the foliage and to the fallen log at KITT's side.

Michael gestured to the log. "May I?"

KITT didn't answer him and turned back to stare out across the manicured lawns of the property.

Michael sat down anyway, stretching his long legs out in front of him and resting his hands on the log. He folded his legs back up with a sigh, hugging them to his chest. The two of them sat in silence for a moment or two, watching the sun set behind the high peak shadowing the estate.

Finally, Michael summed up the courage to say, "I didn't mean what I said, alright? You are important to me."

Again, KITT didn't reply, trying to make it as though he was ignoring him.

"Look, I get it, you're tired, and... so am I. I've just had a really bad day, that's all."

"That's not an excuse, you've had worse days and have never treated me as such. You should've learned by now, I am not your servant, Michael, I'm your partner," KITT argued, turning to face Michael. "I have been with you since day one with the Foundation. I know you... but it seems clear that you don't know me. So what'll it be?"

Michael grew quiet as he thought, unsure of what to say. "What can I do to make this right?"

"Well," KITT sighed, "a little consideration would be a beginning."

Michael scoffed. "Consideration of feelings you don't have?"

"There you go again. Michael, I assure you, my display of 'human' emotion is anything but malignant."

"No, because you're not human, KITT, and you never will be!" Michael stood up and ran a hand through his hair. "I mean, come on, don't you get it? You're all alone! There aren't any other cars out there with feelings. You were made in a lab, pal, it's... it's completely unnatural.... It's scary."

"That still doesn't give you an excuse to treat me like a slave. You know, you've been really out of it lately and I've just about had it! Don't think I'm not in a position to put in a complaint to Devon!"

"You wouldn't."

"No, I wouldn't, but if you really want me to still be your partner by the time we leave in the morning, you'll tell me what's wrong with you so we can finally put this behind us."

"I can't tell you."

"And why is that?"

"I just can't, KITT." Michael paused for a moment, staring blankly at the ground. "I think... I think this is something I better do on my own, without the Foundation... and without you."

This only caused the tension between them to thicken, however, Michael just stood nonchalantly, nudging a rock with the toe of his shoe. He sighed and turned back the way he'd come. "I'll see you in the morning, pal. You get some rest, alright?" he said, looking back at KITT over his shoulder.

KITT flashed his lights at him. "Yeah, you too."

Michael nodded and picked his way back through the brush and down the hill to the mansion. KITT stayed a while until Michael could no longer be heard. He sat until the sun sank behind the mountain's peak and the estate was blanketed in shadow. After the lamps in the courtyard came on, KITT sighed and began backing down the hill. He drove out to the garage, rolling inside and settling into the place on the concrete that'd become worn from his tires. As the door slowly closed behind him, he could feel the darkness settling in until the garage faded to black.

--------------------

KITT slowly woke to the sound of Bonnie's voice. He looked around groggily, spotting Bonnie standing in the corner of the garage. She had her back to him and was talking on the phone loud and fast. The strained worry in her voice was unmistakable. Confused, KITT quickly assessed the area, soon finding that the trouble was closer to home than he thought. Easily overlooked, KITT found Michael's commlink on the driver's seat, which he must have placed there when he was sleeping.

Bonnie hung up the phone with an exasperated groan. She pinched the bridge of her nose and walked over to KITT, sitting down on his hood.

"Bonnie, what's wrong?" KITT asked her.

"Michael's gone, KITT," Bonnie replied solemnly. "Gone without a trace."

A new feeling washed over KITT, one he wasn't quite familiar with yet. He knew happiness, anger, jealousy. What was this one? Maybe it was worry? Sadness? It was more of a bittersweet feeling than anything really. Melancholy maybe.

"When did you see him last?" Bonnie asked as she got up from KITT's hood and walked to his side, the commlink having caught her attention.

"Last night, on the hill that overlooks the courtyard. I tried to talk to him, but he left for the mansion before I could figure out what's been bothering him," KITT explained.

Bonnie nodded, running her thumb over the face of the device in her hands.

Just then, Devon burst into the garage from the side door, quickly buttoning his overcoat and fixing his cuff. Bonnie looked up at him expectantly.

"Any word?" she asked.

Devon shook his head. "I'm afraid not dear Bonnie. I just don't understand it. Security has no record of him leaving the property last night. He left no note, left all of his belongings in his room..."

Bonnie handed him Michael's commlink. "He left this too."

Devon glanced at it, his fingers closing around it as he sighed.

"I'll find him," KITT butted in suddenly.

They each turned to look at him.

"I beg your pardon?" Devon said.

"Alone?" Bonnie asked.

"I can do it. I know Michael better than anyone, after all," KITT explained.

Bonnie glanced at Devon who never broke his gaze with KITT.

"He's right. No one knows Michael like KITT does... he's the only one who has a chance of finding Michael, even if he doesn't want to be found," Devon said, glancing at the device in his palm once more, he nodded. "Godspeed then, KITT."

With that said, Devon opened KITT's passenger side door, pulling open the glovebox and dropping the comms bracelet inside. When he pulled away, he stepped back, standing closer to Bonnie and giving KITT a small grin.

"Tell Michael to call home as soon as you find him, alright?" Bonnie ordered.

"I will," KITT replied, starting his engine.

"Good luck, KITT," Devon said.

The garage door clanking open diverted KITT's attention to the open courtyard ahead. Beyond that, the security gate, and a country filled with endless roads and towns. It suddenly made KITT wonder: how well would a man fare in these conditions if he did not exist?