Post by elphie on Mar 15, 2009 21:07:23 GMT -5
As previously posted in Matt's thread:
INSTALLEMENT 1: UNTITLED
“Michael, are you awake?”
Mike Knight pulled the blankets over his head. “No”
“Yes, you are. You do not talk in your sleep.”
“Leave me alone.”
“Please wake up,” KITT said. “I have some information for you.”
“KITT, it’s three in the morning.” Mike sat up, shirtless and wrapped in the blankets. “What now?”
“It’s about your father.” KITT paused. “It would be better if you could come here. Then we could speak in private.”
Mike pulled a sweatshirt on over his pajama bottoms and stalked barefoot out to the SSC. KITT, who sat silently in the gimbal, opened his driver-side door.
“I heated the seats for you.”
“Thanks.” Mike climbed in. “Now why did you wake me up?”
“It is about your father,” KITT repeated. “I have just received information that Michael Knight was arrested.”
“When?”
“Around midnight.” KITT pulled up a picture of Mike’s father on his screen. “He was in a drinking establishment and became involved in a physical altercation.”
“It’s called a bar fight, KITT,” Mike said, yawning. “So you got me up to tell me that my dad was in a fight?”
“That is not all, Michael. He used his one phone call the contact you.” KITT paused, but Mike was silent, so he continued, “Dr. Graiman had given your father an emergency number for him to call. He left a message for you.”
Mike sighed. “Play it.”
Michael Knight’s voice emanated from KITT’s sound system. “Mike, it’s me. Your father. I know I don’t have a right to ask this of you, but I need some help. I’m in jail…”
There was more to the message, but Mike tuned it out. “He wants me to help him?”
“It appears so.”
“Why?”
“I do not know,” KITT admitted. “But, judging by his voice patterns, I do not believe he is lying.”
“Why would he call me?” Mike asked sleepily, leaning his head against the back of the seat.
After a moment, KITT replied, “That is a rhetorical question, Michael. But you should talk to Sarah before you decide anything.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” he muttered.
“Shall I wake her for you?”
“Nah, let her sleep.” Mike yawned again. “You know how bitchy she can get.”
“No, Michael, I do not. She is always quite pleasant to me.”
But Mike was already asleep in the driver’s seat. KITT went silent and darkened his interior lights.
Mike jerked awake as Sarah Graiman flipped on the SSC lights. “What the hell?”
“She wants you to wake up,” KITT told him unnecessarily.
“Yeah, I got that part.”
“KITT, open the door,” Sarah called.
“KITT,” Mike said, closing his eyes again, “don’t open the door.”
“Per Sarah’s programming, I have to.” He popped the door open. “I am sorry.”
Sarah grabbed Mike and hauled him to his feet. “What did I say about passing out in the talking car?”
“I didn’t pass out,” Mike said grumpily. “KITT woke me up.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Sarah, I did,” KITT informed her. “I received a message from Michael's father.”
“What?” She looked from Mike to KITT and back again. “Explain.”
KITT began his explanation. Mike tried to sneak away only to be grabbed by Sarah again.
“Get back here.”
Zoe sauntered in with a cup of coffee. “Oooh, Mike, did you and KITT go out clubbing again?”
“Stuff it, Zoë,” Mike grumbled.
Zoë rolled her eyes and began booting up computers. KITT finished speaking and waited, but no one said a word. Mike took the opportunity to extricate himself from Sarah’s grip. “I’m gonna get dressed. You two can talk it out.”
KITT projected his voice into Mike’s sleeping pod. “Michael?”
“Dude, we’ve been apart for like, five minutes!”
“Michael, Sarah believes that you should go help your father.” KITT looked at Mike through the wallscreen. “She wanted me to tell you immediately.”
“Great,” Mike snapped. He flipped off the screen. “Does she want to go, too? Make it a happy family?”
“There is no reason to turn your screen off. I was not going to watch you disrobe.” KITT turned the screen back on despite Mike’s mumblings. “No, Sarah does not wish to go. But she wants me to.”
Mike snorted. “I’m not going and neither are you.”
Two hours later, they pulled into the parking lot. Mike shut off the engine and didn’t move.
“Michael, you must go in,” KITT urged.
“KITT, I haven’t seen him since my mom’s funeral.” Mike stared out the windshield at the long, low building that was the Hastings County Jail. “I’m a little freaked out.”
“Sarah has uploaded the police report on your father’s arrest.” KITT displayed the file on his screen. “It appears that Michael Knight was arrested at midnight this morning for disorderly conduct and being drunk in public. Three other men were arrested and posted bail several hours later. Michael Knight did not. I tapped into the closed-circuit surveillance cameras. He is in cell 3A.”
“Okay,” Mike said, resigned to the fact now. “I’m goin’ in. Try to act like a normal car, okay?”
KITT opened his door. “I will be watching.”
Mike went in and approached the guard station. “I’m here to post bail for Michael Arthur Knight.”
“Sign the logbook, and I’ll need a driver’s license,” the guard said in a monotone. “I’ll get Mr. Knight.”
“KITT, how is he?” Mike muttered as the guard walked away.
“He appears to be sober,” KITT said through the earwig, “but his blood alcohol level was very high last night. It is unlikely that it has left his system entirely.”
“So he’s still drunk?”
“Most likely.”
“Great.”
A different guard brought out Michael Knight, who was haggard and smelled of stale beer. He stumbled right up to Mike and gave him a bear hug. “Knew you’d come if I called.”
“All right, let’s go,” Mike said, returning the hug with a grimace. “Bar fight, huh?”
“Yeah. Some stupid thing.” Michael squinted as they stepped out into the sunlight. “Thanks for springin’ me, kid. But I’ve got to go. My car’s in the city impound and I’ve got to get it out.
“Whoa.” Mike stopped short. “I just bailed your ass out of jail, and you’re walking away? I don’t think so.”
“I thought that’s what you wanted,” Michael replied, perplexed. “You weren’t exactly warm and welcoming last time I saw you.”
“If I never wanted to see you again, why do you think I’m here?” Mike demanded. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride to the impound, if you’re sober enough to drive whatever bucket of rust got taken away.”
“Okay.” Michael slung an arm over his son’s shoulder. “I’ll let you. And trust me, I’m more than sober enough to drive.”
KITT’s voice came through the earwig again. “Do you still want me to behave like a normal car?”
“Yep.” Mike pointed at the black Mustang a few spaces away. “That’s my ride.”
“Nice,” Michael said as he pulled open the passenger door.
They pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road. KITT had shut of his screens, but his voice modulator was still glowing, and staring at Michael Knight.
“So,” Mike began awkwardly, “how’s it going?”
“Oh, not too bad. I’m still livin’ off the money from my time at the Foundation.” He looked out the window. “I take an odd security job when I get bored, but mostly I relax. A lot of fishing, a bit of rock climbing.
“Is getting arrested one of your hobbies?”
“Watch it,” Michael said sharply.
“No, you watch it,” Mike snapped back, shooting a glare at his father. “I know you’re not stupid, so you’ve got no excuse for running around getting the crap knocked out of you.”
“Who says I lost the d**n fight?”
“The shiner on your left eye.”
“You’re too much like your mother,” Michael muttered “Turn right up here. That’ll take you to the city impound.
They rode in total silence for around ten minutes.
When they arrived at their destination, Mike pulled into the lot and turned off the engine. “Look, man, you asked me for help, and you’re gonna get it, whether you like it or not.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Well, if you’re so insistent, help me get my car out, huh?”
The black Trans-Am was sitting under an awning with a boot on its front tired. An attendant removed the boot and set the keys on the hood.
“You have got to be joking,” Mike said loudly.
“I’m afraid not, Mr. Knight,” said the Knight Industries Two Thousand. “And I must say, I am glad you’ve come to get me. Michael knows how much I hate being impounded.
“Michael!” KITT’s voice was urgent in the earwig. “I’m picking up a very strange reading. It appears to be another vehicle. What is going on?”
Mike didn’t respond. “Dad, I think it’s time for your car to meet my car.”
INSTALLEMENT 1: UNTITLED
“Michael, are you awake?”
Mike Knight pulled the blankets over his head. “No”
“Yes, you are. You do not talk in your sleep.”
“Leave me alone.”
“Please wake up,” KITT said. “I have some information for you.”
“KITT, it’s three in the morning.” Mike sat up, shirtless and wrapped in the blankets. “What now?”
“It’s about your father.” KITT paused. “It would be better if you could come here. Then we could speak in private.”
Mike pulled a sweatshirt on over his pajama bottoms and stalked barefoot out to the SSC. KITT, who sat silently in the gimbal, opened his driver-side door.
“I heated the seats for you.”
“Thanks.” Mike climbed in. “Now why did you wake me up?”
“It is about your father,” KITT repeated. “I have just received information that Michael Knight was arrested.”
“When?”
“Around midnight.” KITT pulled up a picture of Mike’s father on his screen. “He was in a drinking establishment and became involved in a physical altercation.”
“It’s called a bar fight, KITT,” Mike said, yawning. “So you got me up to tell me that my dad was in a fight?”
“That is not all, Michael. He used his one phone call the contact you.” KITT paused, but Mike was silent, so he continued, “Dr. Graiman had given your father an emergency number for him to call. He left a message for you.”
Mike sighed. “Play it.”
Michael Knight’s voice emanated from KITT’s sound system. “Mike, it’s me. Your father. I know I don’t have a right to ask this of you, but I need some help. I’m in jail…”
There was more to the message, but Mike tuned it out. “He wants me to help him?”
“It appears so.”
“Why?”
“I do not know,” KITT admitted. “But, judging by his voice patterns, I do not believe he is lying.”
“Why would he call me?” Mike asked sleepily, leaning his head against the back of the seat.
After a moment, KITT replied, “That is a rhetorical question, Michael. But you should talk to Sarah before you decide anything.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” he muttered.
“Shall I wake her for you?”
“Nah, let her sleep.” Mike yawned again. “You know how bitchy she can get.”
“No, Michael, I do not. She is always quite pleasant to me.”
But Mike was already asleep in the driver’s seat. KITT went silent and darkened his interior lights.
Mike jerked awake as Sarah Graiman flipped on the SSC lights. “What the hell?”
“She wants you to wake up,” KITT told him unnecessarily.
“Yeah, I got that part.”
“KITT, open the door,” Sarah called.
“KITT,” Mike said, closing his eyes again, “don’t open the door.”
“Per Sarah’s programming, I have to.” He popped the door open. “I am sorry.”
Sarah grabbed Mike and hauled him to his feet. “What did I say about passing out in the talking car?”
“I didn’t pass out,” Mike said grumpily. “KITT woke me up.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Sarah, I did,” KITT informed her. “I received a message from Michael's father.”
“What?” She looked from Mike to KITT and back again. “Explain.”
KITT began his explanation. Mike tried to sneak away only to be grabbed by Sarah again.
“Get back here.”
Zoe sauntered in with a cup of coffee. “Oooh, Mike, did you and KITT go out clubbing again?”
“Stuff it, Zoë,” Mike grumbled.
Zoë rolled her eyes and began booting up computers. KITT finished speaking and waited, but no one said a word. Mike took the opportunity to extricate himself from Sarah’s grip. “I’m gonna get dressed. You two can talk it out.”
KITT projected his voice into Mike’s sleeping pod. “Michael?”
“Dude, we’ve been apart for like, five minutes!”
“Michael, Sarah believes that you should go help your father.” KITT looked at Mike through the wallscreen. “She wanted me to tell you immediately.”
“Great,” Mike snapped. He flipped off the screen. “Does she want to go, too? Make it a happy family?”
“There is no reason to turn your screen off. I was not going to watch you disrobe.” KITT turned the screen back on despite Mike’s mumblings. “No, Sarah does not wish to go. But she wants me to.”
Mike snorted. “I’m not going and neither are you.”
Two hours later, they pulled into the parking lot. Mike shut off the engine and didn’t move.
“Michael, you must go in,” KITT urged.
“KITT, I haven’t seen him since my mom’s funeral.” Mike stared out the windshield at the long, low building that was the Hastings County Jail. “I’m a little freaked out.”
“Sarah has uploaded the police report on your father’s arrest.” KITT displayed the file on his screen. “It appears that Michael Knight was arrested at midnight this morning for disorderly conduct and being drunk in public. Three other men were arrested and posted bail several hours later. Michael Knight did not. I tapped into the closed-circuit surveillance cameras. He is in cell 3A.”
“Okay,” Mike said, resigned to the fact now. “I’m goin’ in. Try to act like a normal car, okay?”
KITT opened his door. “I will be watching.”
Mike went in and approached the guard station. “I’m here to post bail for Michael Arthur Knight.”
“Sign the logbook, and I’ll need a driver’s license,” the guard said in a monotone. “I’ll get Mr. Knight.”
“KITT, how is he?” Mike muttered as the guard walked away.
“He appears to be sober,” KITT said through the earwig, “but his blood alcohol level was very high last night. It is unlikely that it has left his system entirely.”
“So he’s still drunk?”
“Most likely.”
“Great.”
A different guard brought out Michael Knight, who was haggard and smelled of stale beer. He stumbled right up to Mike and gave him a bear hug. “Knew you’d come if I called.”
“All right, let’s go,” Mike said, returning the hug with a grimace. “Bar fight, huh?”
“Yeah. Some stupid thing.” Michael squinted as they stepped out into the sunlight. “Thanks for springin’ me, kid. But I’ve got to go. My car’s in the city impound and I’ve got to get it out.
“Whoa.” Mike stopped short. “I just bailed your ass out of jail, and you’re walking away? I don’t think so.”
“I thought that’s what you wanted,” Michael replied, perplexed. “You weren’t exactly warm and welcoming last time I saw you.”
“If I never wanted to see you again, why do you think I’m here?” Mike demanded. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride to the impound, if you’re sober enough to drive whatever bucket of rust got taken away.”
“Okay.” Michael slung an arm over his son’s shoulder. “I’ll let you. And trust me, I’m more than sober enough to drive.”
KITT’s voice came through the earwig again. “Do you still want me to behave like a normal car?”
“Yep.” Mike pointed at the black Mustang a few spaces away. “That’s my ride.”
“Nice,” Michael said as he pulled open the passenger door.
They pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road. KITT had shut of his screens, but his voice modulator was still glowing, and staring at Michael Knight.
“So,” Mike began awkwardly, “how’s it going?”
“Oh, not too bad. I’m still livin’ off the money from my time at the Foundation.” He looked out the window. “I take an odd security job when I get bored, but mostly I relax. A lot of fishing, a bit of rock climbing.
“Is getting arrested one of your hobbies?”
“Watch it,” Michael said sharply.
“No, you watch it,” Mike snapped back, shooting a glare at his father. “I know you’re not stupid, so you’ve got no excuse for running around getting the crap knocked out of you.”
“Who says I lost the d**n fight?”
“The shiner on your left eye.”
“You’re too much like your mother,” Michael muttered “Turn right up here. That’ll take you to the city impound.
They rode in total silence for around ten minutes.
When they arrived at their destination, Mike pulled into the lot and turned off the engine. “Look, man, you asked me for help, and you’re gonna get it, whether you like it or not.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Well, if you’re so insistent, help me get my car out, huh?”
The black Trans-Am was sitting under an awning with a boot on its front tired. An attendant removed the boot and set the keys on the hood.
“You have got to be joking,” Mike said loudly.
“I’m afraid not, Mr. Knight,” said the Knight Industries Two Thousand. “And I must say, I am glad you’ve come to get me. Michael knows how much I hate being impounded.
“Michael!” KITT’s voice was urgent in the earwig. “I’m picking up a very strange reading. It appears to be another vehicle. What is going on?”
Mike didn’t respond. “Dad, I think it’s time for your car to meet my car.”