Disclaimer:
Knight Rider was created by Glen A. Larson.
Summary:
FLAG has been sent to protect a man who has a history with KITT.
Rating M
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KNIGHT RIDER
KNIGHT VOICE
"Devon, I feel sorry for the guy, I sure do," Michael said. "But if he borrowed dirty money, it's his problem don't you think?"
"Yes, I agree that it was very foolish of him to do so, but we must see that he comes to no harm. There's more at stake here than you realise, Michael."
"Why? What's so important about him?"
Miles smiled. "You'll see."
Michael sat inside KITT.
"Kitt, punch up anything you can on one Will Donalds."
"Born William Truman Donalds, he lived most of his life in California. He went to school at-"
"Any criminal history?" Michael interrupted.
"Only three traffic violations, nothing serious."
"So what would prompt him to borrow dirty money?"
"I'm not sure, Michael."
"Well it looks like it's up to us to babysit him."
"Affirmative, it's our next mission."
"Kitt aren't you the slightest bit annoyed? I mean he gets himself in trouble and we have to bail him out?"
"I see your point, Michael, but perhaps the point is to nail the lenders of that dirty money as well."
"Ahh, now that's more like it."
"Michael you seem to have an instant disliking for this man and you've not even met him as yet."
"I just like people to sort out their own problems."
"And if they can't, they need help."
Knight sighed. "I guess you're right, Buddy."
"Aren't I always?"
Knight chuckled. "Most of the time."
"What do you mean most?"
Michael patted Kitt's wheel. "Well let's go and get our baby."
"Michael the man is hardly a baby at forty five."
"Kitt, just drive, huh?"
"Yes, Michael."
"He is in his abode," KITT said, "stress levels high."
"I'm willing to wager he just has a visit from his creditors."
"I detect a car speeding from the site."
"Aha. Let's go get our man."
Michael knocked on the door. There was no answer. Michael knocked again. This time the door was answered by a distraught looking man.
"I told you I don't have the mo- Michael..." Will hugged him.
Knight was unprepared for this. "Ya," he said. "Please to meet you too."
"I'm sorry," Will said. "It's just that every visitor I've had wants money from me - legally and illegally and all my bills are due."
Michael sympathised. "Yeah, I know that feeling."
Will looked down the driveway. "Is that Kitt?"
"Sure is," Michael said.
Will ventured down the driveway. "Kitt, it's so wonderful to see you."
The Trans Am wasn't expecting a response and was at a loss for words at first, however he didn't want to hurt the man's feelings. "Pleased to meet you too, Mr Donalds."
"Please, just Will."
"Michael, I'm detecting an automobile approaching at an alarming rate. Its the same one I detected earlier."
"We'd better get inside," Michael said.
"Good idea," KITT said, opening his doors.
The two humans climbed inside.
"Now don't worry, Will," Kitt said. "I'm bullet proof, actually impervious to most weaponry."
"I know, Kitt." Will smiled.
Kitt wondered how he knew, but now they had a chase on their hands as KITT sped off.
"It's that FLAG car!" Howard exclaimed.
"Let's blow it off the road!"
"Good chance Donalds is inside it."
"We'll never get the money or anything out of him now. Shoot it!"
The car caught up to KITT and the thugs began blasting.
"That thing must be bullet proof!"
"Trust FLAG."
KITT expertly lost the other car.
Once they had escaped their pursuants, Will calmed down. He placed his hands onto Kitt's dash. "It's wonderful to see you finally finished, Kitt."
"Am I missing something?" Michael asked.
"Kitt and I go waaay back." Will said.
"We do?" Kitt asked.
Will smiled and turned to Michael. "I'm sure you've noticed a similarity between my voice and Kitt's."
"Come to think of it you do sound alike."
"Yes," Kitt said, "now I am able to run a voice analysis We we sound exactly alike."
"That's because your voice is modelled on mine, Kitt."
"It is?"
"Yes," Will said with a smile. "FLAG hired me to do your voice."
"So that's why Devon wanted me to protect you."
"I daresay these crims are after FLAG secrets well," Kitt said.
"That's what I was afraid of," William said. "They were rather eager to lend me the money, at first, come to think of it."
"What made you borrow dirty money in the first place?" Michael asked.
Will sighed. "Too much debt credit cards, borrowed money legally that is They were threatening to take the house my precious things Howard seemed like an angel at the time."
"An angel of darkness, more like," Michael said.
"I was to discover that later."
"Kitt punch up what you can on Howard Gold."
"Convicted of handling laundered money, released two years ago. Since then, some traffic violations, resisting arrest, profanity toward a police officer ... Michael he's no more than a common two bit thug."
"Who's about to get a whole lot bigger if we don't stop him," Knight said.
"Agreed," Kitt said.
"So what do we do?" William asked.
"I have a plan that I have to run through Devon."
"It involves money, doesnt it?" KITT asked.
"How do you know?"
"Call it a hunch."
Michael patted KITT's dash. "Good 'ol Kitt."
Will smiled.
"So how much do you owe these thugs?" Michael asked.
"Fifteen thousand, but they've now bumped it up to thirty because I couldn't pay."
"Whoh well let's hope Devon agrees to my plan."
"Am I going to like it?" Will asked, guessing.
"Probably not."
Knight pulled over at a hamburger joint.
"Will you want anything? This place has the best hamburgers around and yes, Kitt they're healthy."
"I hear it, but I don't believe it."
Will chuckled. "A vegie burger if they have one and a natural lemonade."
"Don't tell me you're vegetarian."
"All my life."
"Good for you," KITT said. "If I were human that's the way I'd go."
"Speak for yourself," Knight said.
"But I've no money to pay you," Will said.
"Don't worry, it's on the house."
"Thanks."
"You two stay put now," Knight said.
"Yes, Michael," the two said in unison.
Knight shook his head. "Two Kitts "
Will chuckled.
Michael returned with the food and drinks.
"I hope you don't mind us eating inside you, Kitt," Will said.
"Not at all. Michael don't you dare spill that coke."
"When have I ever spilled coke inside you?"
"Need I remind you of the time-"
"KITT we were being chased by bandits."
"Excuses excuses."
Will chuckled. "It's great to see you have such a good relationship with him. I often wondered about Kitt when I left FLAG, what became of him, who his driver would be."
"KITT, how come you didn't know about Will?"
"The all too common problem of-"
"Human error." Michael finished.
"You said it, not me."
Knight smiled.
"And when this is all over," Wills said, "I plan to cut up my credit cards."
"I've heard that before," KITT said.
Will chuckled. "Kitt, you really are a character."
* * *
"Will, it's wonderful to see you again," Devon said, shaking the other man's hand.
"Devon, I'm truly sorry I got you and FLAG into this mess "
"Michael and Kitt will help sort it
out."
"I can't thank you enough."
"Will!"
"Bonnie!"
The two embraced.
"Long time no see."
"I meant to come back, but time got away from me."
"How have you been?"
"Fine, apart from this fiasco I've gotten myself involved in."
Bonnie lead Will away. "Let me show you what FLAG's been up to since you left."
"I'd like that very much."
Michael sat with Devon.
"Thirty thousand." It was a statemenmt, not a question.
"Only to borrow it. If Will agrees to 'pay' off the Howard and his cronies, we might be able to catch them in the act. We can wire Will to get a conviction. I know it's risky, but what else can we do?"
"It sounds like a plan, Michael, but what if they decide to harm Will?"
Michael sighed. "I thought of that." Michael told Devon the rest of his plan.
"Ah, I see."
Will swallowed. "What if the plan backfires?"
"It won't," Michael assured, telling Will what to do.
"I'm not sure I can go through with it. I've never tried my hand at acting before. What of they see through me?"
"I'll be close by and KITT will help you."
"I can't thank you both enough."
* * *
Will drove KITT to Howard's abode.
"I don't believe it. It's that FLAG car. I'll get Knight this time." He grabbed a gun.
"Wait a second," one of his hired thugs said. "Knight's not in the car. It's Donalds."
Howard lowered his gun. "Well I'll be. Perhaps he's finally come to his senses after all."
KITT pulled up.
"Be careful," he told Will.
"Ohh I plan to be," Will said, carrying a briefcase of FLAG money.
Howard opened up the case.
"It's all there," Will promised
"Where'd you get it from?"
Will almost lost it. "It's there isn't it? That's all you need be concerned about."
Howard smiled. "No hard feelings."
Will shook his head. "None."
"You see when you lend drug money you gotta get it back."
"I understand," Will said, glad he had that on tape.
"I'm sorry if my men gave you any trouble, but there's something else we want from you too."
Howard pointed a gun at Will's midsection.
"Information about FLAG. Will you give it to us?"
Will nodded.
"Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Because I like my stomach where it is thank you very much."
Howard smiled. "You know, I like you, Will, I really do."
"Thank you and I do have something for you."
"And what's that?"
"The Knight car. I stole it."
"Will, I never thought you had it in you."
"You'd be surprised. It's all yours."
The four thugs and Will stood outside before KITT.
"This is sure one mean machine," one of them said.
"Ya, I like dem wheels." another said.
KITT remained silent. Will opened his door. "Care for a test drive?"
Three of the thugs climbed into KITT, while one stayed with Will.
"No funny business now," Howard warned.
With distaste, KITT allowed Howard and his cronies to take him for a drive. Howard lit up a cigarette as he drove.
Howard returned shortly after. Kitt lowered his window.
"It runs like a dream," Howard said.
Will nodded. "I know. After all it's worth over eleven million dollars."
Howard raised his eyebrows. "Just think of what we could do with this car."
Suddenly sirens were heard. Kitt rolled back up his window.
"We've been had!" One of the thugs yelled.
Michael approached the thug gripping Will and took him out. Kitt ejected Howard and the remaining thugs onto the police cars. Will retrieved the briefcase of money and handed it back to Devon.
"I can't thank you enough, Mr Miles."
Devon patted Will on the back. "Anything for a friend."
"There should be enough on that tape to convict them," Will said.
"And we have to thank you too," Devon said. "Without you this plan would not have worked."
"Ha hum!"
"Oh and thank you too, Kitt."
"I should say so. It's going to take days for the stench of cigarette to get out of my upholstery."
Knight smiled and patted his buddy.
"Well it looks like we won't be hearing any more from Howard and his cronies."
"Thank goodness for that," Will said.
* * *
"Don't worry about me, Michael," Will said. "I don't plan on borrowing any more money. Legally or illegally."
"Glad to hear it," Kitt said. "Now what about those credit cards?"
"Well I have to keep one for emergencies."
"I've heard that before," Kitt said.
Knight and Will laughed.
Will patted Kitt's hood. "Don't be a stranger, either of you."
"We won't," KITT promised.
"We've had quite an adventure haven't we?" Will said, "but if you don't mind, one I'd rather not have again."
"You're telling me," KITT said. "I still smell of those awful cigarettes."
"Take care, both of you," Will said.
"I will," KITT said, "but I can't vouch for Michael."
"Hey thanks, Buddy."
Will chuckled.
"I've got some stuff to do in town," Michael said. "In other words, I can tell you two have some catching up to do."
"Thanks, Michael," Will said,
"Don't stay up too late."
"We won't," KITT and Will said together.
Knight smiled.
*
Received 1 vote in the 2005 Edward Awards for "Best Old Timer Story"
1 vote for "Best Short Story"
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