A Knight with the Viper Chapter 6 KARR entered the abandoned warehouse that was home to he and Garth Knight. Stopping in the area that was designated for him, KARR opened his passenger door. Detective Westlake exited the vehicle, with Garth behind her, still holding the gun. Garth led Westlake to a chair that he placed in front of a pole. "Welcome to our little hideout Detective Westlake," Garth said as he handcuffed Westlake with her own cuffs. "Not exactly what I would've expected with a man of your supposed wealth," Westlake said. "When one is in my line of work, it is not always wise to have rooms at the Hilton." "What exactly is your line of work?" Westlake asked. "Right now, vengeance," Garth said. "With all that you're capable with that car? I find that a bit hard to believe," Westlake said. "Don't misunderstand Detective. As long as Michael Knight and the Knight Foundation exist, I cannot initiate any of my plans." "And what are these 'plans' of yours? I understand you like selling government secrets to the highest bidder." "I see my brother has been telling you about me. Right now you don't need to know anything of my future plans. Just keep in mind, that you may not live to see the future," Garth looked right into Westlake's eyes as he said this. Westlake felt a chill. She did not respond, but just stared straight ahead. Straight at KARR, who was sitting quietly, not making any sound, except for his scanner bar that moved from side to side. The Defender and the Knight 2000 returned to Viper Complex. When Michael got out of KITT, he could instantly feel the tension that had developed in the room. Frankie came over to him. There was anger in his eyes. "How could you have let this happen?" Frankie said. "Wait a minute," Michael began to say. "I was almost beginning to think that maybe this so called miracle car of yours was superior to the Defender, but Westlake was still taken!" "There wasn't any way for myself or Michael to know that Garth wasn't going to be inside KARR. I'm not a psychic," KITT said. "Let's just focus on the problem here," Michael said, "Westlake has been taken and we have to find her." "Maybe we don't need any more of your help. In fact I think you've done enough!" "That's enough Frankie!" Cole finally broke in, "Now Michael's right, we have to focus on getting Westlake back, and we'll need Michael's help to do it. I need you to go over the Defender." "A lot of help he's been so far," Frankie mumbled as he walked off. "I'm sorry about Frankie," Cole said. "It's alright. He may be right though," Michael said, "We've delt with Garth twice before, we should have been able to figure him out." "There's no point in beating yourself up over it. Besides Frankie's just worried about Westlake." "Well, for what it's worth, so am I." Cole put his hand on Michael shoulder and nodded as if to say he understood. He then went over to Allie and her computers. The next step was to figure out where Garth Knight had gone. Michael stood silently for a moment. "KITT," he finally said, "how are you? Is everything okay?" "None of my systems have been damaged. The crack in my rear glass is the only damage. But, as you would say, all that's been hurt is my pride." Michael laughed at KITT's joke, then looked around at the Viper team. Frankie was running diagnostics on the Viper. Allie and Cole were looking at maps. These people had only been together for a few years. They reminded Michael of how it was when he started at the Foundation. It was he, Devon, and Bonnie. And KITT of course. But now was not the time for nostalgia. "What do you make of this situation KITT?" "Thomas Cole is right Michael. We need to stick together to be able to beat KARR and Garth Knight." Michael nodded in agreement, "Contact the semi and tell them we'll be back soon." "Right away Michael." Michael walked over to Cole and Allie. "But there's nothing out that way," Allie said, "There's no place out there for Garth Knight to hide." "Expand the search pattern then. There's gotta be something we're missing." Cole saw Michael approach. "How's KITT?" "He's fine. What have you found?" "Nothing," Allie said, "There's no place for Garth Knight to be hiding. At least not out this way." She noted on the screen where KARR had driven off. It was 40 miles to the next town, and there was nothing between there and Metro but open fields and wooded area. "We're going to expand the search pattern to look for a possible hiding place." "Okay, I've got to take KITT back to the semi and let Bonnie give him the once over. I'll get back as soon as I can." Cole nodded and he and Allie turned back to the computers. Michael went back to KITT. He glanced over at Frankie who was looking at Michael. Frankie quickly turned back to his work when he saw Michael looking at him. Michael sighed. Frankie was still mad and Michael didn't blame him. But there was nothing to be done about that now. "I've contacted the semi, they're expecting us," KITT said as Michael sat down. Michael didn't say anything. He just started up and drove out of the Complex. Westlake couldn't figure out how she was going to escape. Garth sat at his computer. Westlake couldn't see what was on the screen; she was to far away. KARR sat quietly in his spot. He appeared to have shut down. The scanner lights had stopped moving. The silence bothered Westlake. So much so, that when Garth's cellular phone rang, she almost jumped out of her skin. She shook her head at herself for acting like a scared little schoolgirl. "Hello your highness," Garth said into his phone. "Highness?" Westlake said to herself. "Yes, the merchandise will be ready soon............ First I must obtain the other one and then I will hold the auction." "Merchandise?" Westlake thought, "He's already obtained something to sell? What could it be? If he had stolen something that important we would have known about it. Wouldn't we?" "Certainly your highness. I will contact you when I have set the date." Garth shut the phone off and turned to see that Westlake was listening. He stared right through her and she turned away. Garth laughed. "I guess I should not be surprised. The echoes in these old warehouses do make it difficult for one to have a private conversation. It doesn't matter. You heard nothing that is of any importance." "Except for that little auction you plan to hold. I doubt that was the Queen of England on the phone," Westlake said, "What's going on Garth?" "Very well, since you will be dead soon, why not tell you. You see, I am about to become one of the richest men in the world. That man I just spoke to, and others like him, practice a very special type of...political expression." "Terrorists?" "Some of them are," Garth continued, "I've invited men from Europe, Russia, China, Africa, the Middle East, anyone who could benefit from my merchandise." "What merchandise?" Westlake asked. It almost sounded like she demanded to know. Garth just laughed again. "Believe it or not, Detective, but you already know. Even if you don't know that you know." "What the hell are you talking about?" "You're an intelligent woman of the 90s. You figure it out. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some errands to run. Don't go away," Garth laughed again as he walked off. He went to a dark corner of the warehouse. A light came on revealing another car. A Mercedes this time. Westlake saw this and looked over at KARR. She wondered why he would take this other car. "Of course," she thought, "everyone is looking for KARR." Garth drove away in his second vehicle. Leaving Westlake alone with KARR. KARR still sat there not making any noise at all. The only noise in the place was sound of dripping water. "What the HELL did you do to KITT?!" Bonnie said when Michael returned. She was standing in front of KITT and still saw the cracked glass first. "That wasn't my fault," Michael started to say. "It never is," Bonnie said and turned to KITT, "Are you alright KITT?" "Yes Bonnie," KITT replied, "All my primary system are functioning properly." "What about your shell?" Bonnie asked. "There slight weakness at the crack. It will need to be reinforced." "It needs to be replaced. And we'll have to go back to the Foundation for that," Bonnie said. "We can't leave," Michael chimed in, "The Viper team are no match for Garth Knight on there own." "Simple reinforcement is not going to give 100 percent protection. It'll be to unstable and could break down under the strain putting KITT right back where he is now," Bonnie said slightly agitated. "I'm afraid Michael is correct Bonnie," Devon had just walked in on the conversation, "We cannot back down for a moment, not where Garth Knight is involved." "But Devon," Bonnie started to protest. "If you can find a way to help protect Michael and KITT while we're still here than do so. Otherwise I'm afraid, we'll have to take our chances as things are." Bonnie was about to offer more protest but decided against it. She sat down on her terminal chair and faced Devon and Michael. There was a brief silence until Michael finally spoke. "Have you been able to come up with a location for Garth's hideout?" "Unfortunately the answer is no," Devon said, "Our information on this city is surprisingly limited. The local bureaucracy has been less than helpful with providing us with information on the city and the surrounding area. It would seem they aren't too keen about a freelance operation working in their domain." "So it looks like we'll have to rely on Cole and his people to find hiding places," Michael said. "That is true." "Terrific." "I've got something!" Allie shouted from her station. Cole and Frankie ran over from the Defender to see what Allie had uncovered. "What've you got?" Cole asked. "Since nothing on the newer maps show us anything, I began to access the old map archives to see if they had anything useful." "And?" Frankie impatiently said. "I've found two possible locations for Garth Knight's hideout. One is an old computer warehouse 10 miles north of the city. The other is an old shoe factory 15 miles south east of the city." "Oh jeez I grew up down that way. I should've remembered that shoe place," Frankie said," I had a job there in the mail room when I was 12." "Okay then, First we'll call Michael and you two can check out the factory, while I go up to the warehouse." "Why do I have to go with Knight?" Frankie asked. "Well there's no point in sending us both to the same area," Cole said, "We know this city better than Michael does so at least one of us should be with him. And since your car's in the shop again..." "Alright alright," Frankie said, "I get the idea." "Contact Michael, Allie," Cole said. "You got it." "That was mean using my poor car against me," Frankie said. "Michael, I'm receiving a transmission from the Viper team," KITT said. "Patch it through here," Michael said as he sat at the computer. Devon and Bonnie stood beside him. Cole's image appeared on the screen. "Michael, we think we may have found Garth's location." "That's great," Michael said, "Where is it?" "We've got two possibilities. One is an old shoe factory south east of town. The other is an old computer warehouse that once to belong to some company called Comtron." "Comtron?" Michael almost said in disbelief. "Yeah. You've heard of it?" "It's a long story, remind me to tell it to you sometime." "Okay," Cole said, unsure of what Michael was talking about; "We need you to get back here as soon as you can. You and Frankie can check the old factory and I'll be at the warehouse." "I'm on my way," Michael said. The screen shut down and Michael got up to leave. "Be careful Michael," Devon said. "You know me," Michael said. "Yes we do!" Bonnie said, "If anything else happens to KITT..." Before she could say anything else, Michael quickly got in KITT and left for his rendezvous with Cole. To be continued...