Part II:

 

            The green and white taxi rolled up the driveway of the Knight Mansion and stopped at the front steps where Devon Miles and Bonnie Barstow waited for its arrival.  The backseat door opened and a good-sized man wearing casual attire and holding a briefcase stepped out.

            “Dr. Larson,” Devon greeted with a smile and extended his hand.

            Dr. Larson shook the English man’s hand and the hand of the lady next to him as she greeted him in a similar manner.

            “We’re very pleased you could make the trip on such short notice,” Devon said as he held the front door open for the doctor to enter through.

            “Miss Barstow made this project seem extremely interesting,” Dr. Larson’s deep voice commented as they made their way to a sitting room where they could discuss the matter at hand.

            “Now, tell me about your intentions,” the doctor said while opening the briefcase to pull out a pen and notebook.

            Devon nodded his head to Bonnie, signifying that the ball was in her court.  “Well, we would like to put the memory of our computer, if you will, into a human body.”

            “Yes, that’s what my secretary told me.  At first I thought she got the message wrong, but she said it was urgent.  Of what importance is this computer to go through such a difficult and timely procedure?”

            “His name is KITT.  He’s actually the central processing unit of the Knight Industries Two Thousand, a project that was finished nine years ago,” Bonnie explained.  “To be honest this was his idea.  He’s been extremely lonely since his partner left the Foundation.”

            “Another computer perhaps?” the doctor asked.

            “No, his driver,” Devon added with a smile when he noted the look of curiosity on the doctor’s face.  “Follow me.”

            Devon and Bonnie led the doctor to the back garage where KITT was being held.  When the doors were opened, Bonnie politely asked KITT to come out and meet the doctor.

            Dr. Larson was amazed when a black car emerged from the darkness of the garage.  “Is this the computer you talk of?”

            “KITT, meet Dr. Larson,” Bonnie said folding her hands behind her back.

            “Its nice to meet your acquaintance, Dr. Larson,” KITT greeted politely.

            “Incredible.  A car completely run by artificial intelligence.”  He walked slowly around the vehicle, letting his hand slid across the smooth surface of the t-top.

            “KITT is like a member of our small family, and ever since his partner left, he has been on top of us with this idea of his.”

            Dr. Larson found this entire idea no more than miraculous.  He finished his walk around the car and knelt down at the front, watching the red scanner move from side to side.  “Amazing.  You’re a wonderful piece of machinery, KITT,” he said.

            “Thank you, Dr. Larson,” KITT replied proudly.  “But do you think this is at all possible?”

            “I’d sure dare to hope.  But there is the problem of finding a contributor to your cause.  But I think with some time and effort, we could pull it off.”

            Devon’s eyes became wide with the doctor’s sentences.  He had no idea this would start to roll out.  The board members will slaughter him when they find out how much money will be spent to give KITT a chance at a different life.  But when the doctor stood up, he could only smile and extend his appreciation for making the project seem closer to reality.

 

            A week had passed.  KITT’s project for a new life was slowly but surely piecing itself together.  Medical and scientific doctors were working around the clock to form a procedure that would enable KITT to be able to completely function in a human body.  The only thing that could be a problem was finding a way to lock in KITT’s present memory with the human brain.

            Devon Miles’ nerves continued to soar as he tried to keep the board members under control since they heard about this project.  Bonnie Barstow, on the other hand, lead the research team to transfer KITT’s larger memory boards into a small microchip.  That, and she continued with great effort to find a body donor.  She contacted numerous hospitals in California and none were able to give her a serious answer, which frustrated her beyond belief.

            “I hope you don’t mind, Bonnie, but I’ve been scanning your vitals and you seem to be extremely stressed out,” KITT said to her one day as she looked over documents while sitting in KITT’s driver’s seat.

            “No, I’m not stressed out, just a little tired.”

            KITT remained silent for several moments.  “Its because of me, isn’t it?  This is more of a bother to you and Devon than anything that has happened recently.”

            Bonnie’s gaze fell on the voice columns.  “KITT, you know that’s not true.  We want to help you.  We both understand how important this is to you and I promise you this will happen.”

            “What would Michael say?”

            Bonnie was caught by surprise.  She really hadn’t thought about Michael since this project came up.  She liked to think that Michael would be all for it, but she didn’t know for sure.  “I think he’d be with us on this.”

 

            Bonnie walked into Devon’s office later that afternoon.  He was just finishing up a phone call when she entered.

            “Good news Bonnie,” Devon said with a smile on his face.  “Jennifer Knight has agreed to donate a fund to KITT’s operation.  She says it’s the least she could do for him and Michael saving her life five years ago.”

            “Great,” Bonnie said.  She stopped in front of the desk and placed several loose papers in front of Devon.  “And I’ve got my own good news.  We located the perfect person for KITT.”

            Devon looked over the papers, which seemed to be a report on a twenty-nine year old man living in Frankford, Kentucky.  “Scott Bordeaux?”

            “Twenty-nine years old and would be in perfect health if he wasn’t in a coma.”

            “A coma?  Bonnie…”

            Bonnie held up her hand to silence him.  “He was in a drunk driving accident two years ago and has been in a coma ever since.  According to those, he’s not expected to ever come out of it.”

            Devon read the papers as she said this.  “Well, that’s a relief,” he commented after he read one of the lines.  “At first I thought he was the drunk driver, but it was the other car.  I’d put my foot down if he was the intoxicated one.”

            “I would never let KITT go into someone who’s been ruining their body.  But I certainly think he’s the best one so far that we’ve found.”

            Devon recalled the location.  “Kentucky,” he said.  “That’s across country Bonnie.  They’d have to transport him with portable respirators.  That’s costly.”

            “You yourself said that Jennifer Knight is helping us out on this.”  Devon was speechless.

            Bonnie smiled.  She collected the papers after Devon congratulated her on her work, but stopped short as she was walking out.  “What about Michael?”

            Devon looked up from his desk.  “What about Michael?” He repeated only in a different tone. 

            “Do you think it’s wiser to call him now or be surprised when this is all through,” she asked.  “KITT sounded like he wanted it to be a surprise.”

            “I don’t know Bonnie.  He’d probably be upset if we didn’t let him know that KITT was having this done until after it was finished.  We should probably give him a call.”  He paused for a moment.  “But let it wait until we know for certain.”

 

 

ßßß

 

            “Hello?”

            “Michael?  This is Bonnie.  How are you?”

            Michael smiled to himself when he heard the familiar voice.  “I’m doing great, Bon.  What’s new?”

            “Oh, nothing much.  I’ve been working at the Foundation more than my new job wants me too.”

            “Really?  Wait…don’t tell me you’re finally putting that sound system in KITT that I asked for years ago, are you?”

            Bonnie laughed on the other line.  “No, Michael.”  She thought for a second on how she should approach this.  “But KITT is the reason why I’m calling.”

            Michael didn’t know what to think now.  “What happened?” he asked quickly, a slight hint of panic in his voice.

            “Oh he’s fine.  But we thought we aught to let you know that KITT’s having some major surgery.”  There.  She said it.

            “What do you mean?  What happened to him?” Michael asked, an array of different thoughts charging through his mind.

            “Why not come down for a visit?” She told him.  “That way KITT can tell you himself.”

 

            Michael arrived at the Knight Mansion the next day in his new Ford Explorer.  He parked it away from the sight of the garage, just in case KITT saw it and would immediately feel jealous to have been replaced by a simple SUV.

            “Michael!” came the voice of Devon Miles, who was waiting at the front doors.

            “How are you Devon,” Michael asked extending his hand for a friendly shake. 

            “Well, things have been a bit crazy around here for the past few months, but I’m doing just fine.”

            “Now what’s this thing about KITT?”

            “Ah,” Devon said waving a finger and then motioning Michael to follow him.

            Instead of going to the side garage, they took a golf cart down the back path that led to a warehouse-type building.  The very building Michael first saw KITT in.

            Going through the side door, Michael noticed that there was a great deal of people working at tables or standing at computer-generated machines.  He had never seen so many people working so vigorously when nothing major was taking place.  Not that he knew of, that is.

            “Bonnie,” Devon said tapping the brunette on the shoulder.

            Bonnie turned around with a smile.  “Long time no see, Michael.”

            “Yeah,” he replied looking around, his hands placed firmly on his hips.  “What’s going on?”  But as he said this he noticed the black t-top sitting in the far corner.  Not waiting for any response from the others, he made his way through the technicians and computers to the car.

            “Michael!” came the familiar voice of KITT.

            Michael noticed that the voice seemed almost distant from the car.  That, and the red scanner wasn’t on its usual lookout.  “Hey, buddy.”

            “I’ve missed you,” KITT told him shyly.

            “Me too pal,” Knight responded and went around to the driver’s side and peered through the open window at the dash, waiting to see the red lights of the voice column light up with KITT’s words.  “So, uh, what’s been going on?  Bonnie said you’re gonna have some kind of surgery?”

            “That’s right,” KITT said, but to Michael’s surprise, the column remained unlit.

            “KITT, what happened here?”

            “Michael, I’m over here,” KITT told him.  Michael looked around and noticed a black box about the size of a toaster sitting on a table along with other pieces of equipment.  He knew that it was KITT, in a manner of speaking.  “I’ve already been taken out of the car.  Bonnie did that yesterday.”

            “KITT, what’s going on?” Michael demanded, now being able to see the voice column light up with KITT’s sentences.

            “Perhaps I can explain that,” Devon said.  He and Bonnie had come over after seeing Michael’s confused expression.  “After several months of your absence, KITT has felt completely useless.  And without you, there really isn’t any point of finding someone who could operate him.

            “It was actually KITT’s idea to do this.  He has decided, with the agreement from the Foundation’s board and Jennifer Knight, that KITT be transformed from car to man.”

            “Excuse me?” Michael asked in complete amazement.

            “We’re taking KITT’s memory and placing it into a human body,” Bonnie announced proudly.

            Michael was completely dumbfounded.  He never expected this.  “Is that even possible?”

            “It is Michael,” KITT started.  “Everything’s set to go.  The body I am to be transferred into is on its way here as we speak, and as soon as Bonnie copies my memory onto a small chip, the procedure will be done.”

            Michael rubbed his forehead and turned around to look at the car.  So many memories were connected with this car.  This was the KITT he knew.  But now, every time he would come up to this particular Trans Am, there wouldn’t be any response.  No more ‘Hello Michael’s’ and there would no longer be that familiar charm the car had gained in the past decade.

            “Michael, you could say something,” Bonnie said looking from KITT’s expressionless box to Devon’s worried face.

            Michael turned around quickly and stared at the box and voice column.  Then he looked at Bonnie and Devon.  “How could you let him go through with this?  I mean, there must be a great deal of risks involved—”

            Bonnie rolled her eyes and shook her head.  “Of course there is Michael, but we all have a lot of confidence and work put into this!”

            “And what happens when they say ‘I’m sorry, it didn’t work out?’  What happens if this guy you’re bringing down here rejects this?  What happens if KITT is destroyed?  Then what will you do?  Say, oh well let’s get on with our lives?”  Michael’s face was red with anger and he could feel his body tense from his own words.

            “Now Michael, think about what you’re saying,” Devon said calmly.

            “We’ve been working on this for months,” Bonnie told him.  “You honestly think I would let KITT go through with this if I didn’t think it could work?”

            Michael let out a distressful sigh and walked off.  Devon and Bonnie looked at each other, both amazed that Michael Knight would have given off that sort of reaction. 

            “I’m sorry,” KITT said softly to them.

            “KITT, its not your fault,” Bonnie said sitting down on a nearby chair.

            KITT didn’t respond, but thought to himself that perhaps this wasn’t the best idea in the world.