Knight Rider: "Rusted Trust" --- Prologue
M9J14C7
I am pleased with the reponse from people on my new story. This story
takes place now, in 1996, nothing that takes place right when the show
ended, and nothing in a fake future. It happens now. The Prologue is
nothing more than flashbacks, and is told pretty much from KARR's point of
view. The only thing won't be familiar to you is the first section. Let me
know what you think. Chapter One is currently in progress. I write this
in Word 7.0, and then try to save it in Text with formatting format, so, I
hope it's not hard to read, if it is, I'll post it another way. Enjoy!
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KNIGHT RIDER
Rusted Trust
Prologue
January 1982
"...And now, it is my pleasure to introduce to you the
creator and chief adviser of the Foundation for Law and
Government. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Wilton Knight."
The crowd applauded as the old man walked up to the
podium. They all sat in chairs on the back lawn of Wilton
Knight's estate. The audience was mostly composed of gov
ernment officials and leaders of law enforcement and
detective agencies.
"Thank you, Mr. Miles," Wilton said. He turned to the
crowd of about a hundred, "As you and I are all aware the
world is filled with criminals who operate above the law.
For many years it had seemed that nobody could touch them. I
felt as we all do that these men and women that continue to
do wrong against us need to put behind bars. It wasn't until
my very own son and my wife turned against me and the world
and began committing crimes that I decided to take a stand.
I promised myself that not only would I have a experienced
man to fight these crimes, but I would give him a weapon
that these criminals do not have.
"It has taken millions of dollars and many man hours to
research and develop this weapon. Today, ladies and
gentlemen, is the day that I present to you this weapon. It
is time. What you are about to see will blow you away."
Wilton turned around to Devon Miles and nodded. Devon
got up from his chair, and nodded to the men who were
standing on the lawn by the great weapon.' They removed the
cloth covering that was over the weapon.
"May I present to you," Wilton said, "the Knight
Automated Roving Robot.
K-A-R-R. We like to call it KARR. KARR does a lot more than
just look good. It is the fastest, safest, most expensive
automobile in the world. Not only that, but this vehicle is
completely run by a system of microprocessors. These
microprocessors are capable of thinking. I'm not just
talking about programmed logic, I'm talking about real
deduction. For example, if KARR were to be in danger of
being damaged in a collision or by being fired at he would
simply take over and prevent himself from being damaged or
destroyed.
Wilton went on for a while about KARR and his many
capabilities. After about fifteen minutes he ended the
speech, and decided to move on, "We will be allowing KARR
for a test run of his abilities at the test track nearby. If
anyone is interested in seeing how this car can handle
itself, your welcome to come."
The black sports car raced around the test track at
speeds of over 230 miles per hour. Those who had decided to
come out and watch were absolutely amazed. Wilton was very
pleased. They watched as the car leaped over a twelve foot
tall obstacle.
"Devon," Wilton said turning to him, "I really must
thank you. You have out done yourself this time."
"Me?" Devon asked in his British accent. "Really,
Wilton, you were the one who designed his main programming."
"That's all true, Devon. But, you were the one that set
this project in motion from the very start. If it weren't
for you we wouldn't be sitting out here now."
"Thank you, Wilton," Devon said.
Wilton stood up and spoke to the people around him. "As
you can see, KARR has been designed for virtually every
situation. As every second goes by his microprocessors are
calculating the probability of every possible event that
might occur, such as, a collision or a child running out
into the road."
"Mr. Knight," a man asked from the group. "What would
the car do if something like that were to happen."
"He would avoid the obstacle. That's his main program,
to prevent a collision or other harm that might be done to
the car," Wilton answered. "But you don't have to take my
word for it. We will be putting that to the test very soon."
After a few moments, Wilton nodded to one of the
technicians that were standing at computer terminals in a
booth. One of them pressed a button and a mechanical child
started moving out on to the track. The robot ran directly
in the path of the car. The group of people that had come
out to watch car were curious about how KARR would handle
this situation; but, they all trusted what Wilton had told
them. Wilton knew nothing would happen, KARR would simply
avoid the child. Devon, Wilton's assistant knew what had
been programmed but as KARR drew closer to the robotic child
he realized something. It was something that he should have
realized when car was nothing but a drawing on a piece of
paper. "Oh my God," Devon said.
Wilton turned around and looked at Devon for a moment,
"What?" He turned back around and looked at the track. KARR
was only a few yards from the child. The display on the
booth said that KARR was moving at about seventy miles per
hour. Wilton was becoming concerned. It's probably nothing,
Wilton thought, KARR is probably just going to Turbo....
Wilton stopped thinking to himself and watched in horror as
KARR plowed straight through the path of the child. The
mechanical child was thrown dozens of feet into the air and,
for what seemed to be an eternity later, it landed in
shattered pieces on the ground.
Wilton was having trouble breathing. He could feel his
invited guests staring at him, waiting for some explanation.
The only trouble was, he didn't have an explanation. "I
don't understand," he said. "I just don't understand. KARR
should have . He should have swerved around the child. I
don't understand"
Devon looked his devastated friend, "I do." He looked
back at the track as KARR continued to go through the
obstacle section of the course. He turned to the technician
who was standing next to him. "Have one of the technicians
in the booth get on the comlink and have KARR return to us."
"Yes, sir," the young man said.
In a few minutes KARR pulled up to the small audience
that had been watching. A deep voice suddenly spoke, "I am
the Knight Automated Roving Robot. KARR if you prefer. I am
the prototype of the future. I am ready and willing to
answer any of your questions."
Wilton looked at the car. It's front scanner whirring
back and forth, red lights chasing each other. He walked
forward. "Why did you hit that child?" Wilton asked.
"It was not a child. It was a mechanical
representation."
Wilton seemed relieved. "So, if it were a child, what
would you have done?"
"I would have done the same," KARR answered.
Wilton felt a chill go up his spine. He could feel all
of the guests staring at him again.
"The child and the mechanical robot pose no threat to
me. Therefore there is no reason for me to make a strategic
change in my course."
Wilton Knight's mouth went dry. His face went pale. He
nodded his head a little and said, "Yes, KARR, of course."
He turned around to the group of people who had been waiting
for an answer. He looked at them and said nothing for a long
time. "I'm sorry I have wasted your time today. Thank you
for coming."
There was a knock at Wilton's door. He didn't want to
see anyone. The person knocked again. Wilton knew that if he
didn't answer the person knocking would probably continue.
"Who is it?" Wilton asked.
"It's Devon."
"The door's open."
Devon walked into Wilton's office. Wilton was sitting at
his desk, with a drink in his hand. He sat at his desk,
pushing around a model of the new Pontiac Trans-AM. "What
can I do for you, Devon?"
Wilton knew that Devon would not back off. So, he didn't
say anything else. Just as Wilton knew he would Devon began.
"Wilton, you've been here for days now. You can't
continue to just sit around in here."
"What would like me to do?" Wilton snapped back.
"Look, Wilton. You made a mistake. We all make mistakes.
It slipped by me too."
"Devon. Devon. There is no such thing as six and a half
million dollar mistake. KARR is a disaster."
"He can be reprogrammed, Wilton. He's still a fabulous
piece of machinery."
"There are literally hundreds of thousands of lines of
code with that one line of programming rewritten all over
again. Avoid harm at all costs.' What kind of a fool am I?"
"So that's it? You're just going to quit. It's all
over."
Wilton made no comment.
"What ever happened to One man can make a difference?'
What happening to the righting of wrongs. Catching the
criminals who operate above the law. Was everything you made
in that speech only a few days ago a lie? I don't think any
one of those people think any less of you. And if they do,
we'll show them that they're wrong."
Wilton still said nothing. Devon could tell that he was
thinking about something--something else.
"Wilton," Devon said, "what is it?"
There was silence for a few moments, and then Wilton
answered. "The doctor visited me today."
"Yes," Devon remembered. "How did it go?"
Wilton took a sip of his drink. "I'm very ill Devon. He
says I only have about six months to live. Maybe less, maybe
more."
Devon's face went pale. He suddenly imagined a
Foundation without Wilton. Someone else would be in charge.
They would be doing things in a completely different way.
"That's why I'm ordering that KARR be deactivated. He'll
be placed in Laboratory 3, in the old museum. He will be
dismantled and scrapped. Six and a half million dollars is a
lot money. But, there's still plenty more where it came
from. That's why I want you to begin work in the morning on
a new car. It's main programming will be to protect human
life, and to ensure the safety of the driver. Nothing else
matters. I'd like the Knight Industries Two Thousand to be
ready before I go. I've also begun searching for a permanent
driver and agent."
"I promise to have it done as soon as possible."
"Good morning, Dr. Clarke."
"Good morning, KARR," the engineer said walking up to
the car.
"Will we be running more tests today? I am beginning to
feel bored after being in this lab for days."
"No more tests KARR," Dr. Clarke said. "Would mind
opening your power port please?" A small slot opened in the
back of the car.
"Does that mean that we will begin missions today."
"No, it doesn't KARR," he said. He picked up a wire of
the ground and plugged it into KARR's power port.
"I notice that you are changing my power supply back to
the laboratory's power supply. Is there something wrong with
my electrical system?" KARR asked. "My self-diagnostics
indicate that all systems are functional."
"There's nothing wrong with your electrical system."
"Then why have you changed my power supply?"
Dr. Clarke opening the car door and sat inside. He
looked across the dashboard. The lights were bright and new.
Everything about KARR was new. He had only been active for a
week. "KARR," Dr. Clarke said, "I'm sorry." Dr. Clarke put
his arm out of the window and waved to a technician that had
been standing by the door. The technician turned around and
pulled down the lever that was on the power box marked
LABORATORY 3.
The lights on KARR's dashboard dimmed slowly, as well as
his scanner. "I have been betrayed," KARR said, his speech
slowing and slurred. "I will get my revenge, Dr. Clarke. One
day, I will be reactivated and you will...." The dashboard
went dark.
November 1982
KARR's microprocessors deduced a strategy. He wasn't
sure whether it would work, there was no time to run
simulations, but it was worth a shot. He needed to create a
distraction. It only took three hundredths of a second for
his microprocessors to come up with a solution. The
passenger in the right seat.
"I must eliminate excess weight," the voice of the
KARR's microprocessor said. He quickly activated the EJECT
RIGHT sequence. His passenger, "Tony," he called himself was
flown from his seat out of the car. His microprocessors paid
no attention to where he went, the only thing he cared about
was taking advantage of his strategy.
Damn! His microprocessors found another problem. The
inferior line production model was heading for him. An
analysis of it's movement and electrical distribution
indicated that a weapon of some kind was in place. KARR
quickly took a risk in analyzing this. It was too late, but
he detected a tracking mechanism on his scanner. It was the
only spot that he was vulnerable at. His strategic
microprocessors worked on a solution, and automatically
bypassed the main system activating KARR's ski mode.
He turned around for another shot at his original
strategic plan. But his sensors again detected the locking
mechanism. The strategic microprocessors again initiated an
emergency plan, and KARR leapt over the inferior line
production model and then, finally initiated his plan. He
built up enough speed and leapt over the police barricade.
He was sure that the inferior line production copy would
follow. He took Coastal Road north and continued tracking
the following car. It was not following, it was moving to I-
90 north. KARR accessed the map and realized that the
inferior line production model was on a collision course.
KARR increased his speed, he would end this once and for
all.
After a few minutes the inferior copy was in site. KARR
activated his voice projection system, "KITT, I am warning
you, change course at once."
"I am not in control, KARR," the inferior copy said in
its cheap and weak voice.
"Then tell the human to turn away. This is folly, KITT."
There was no response.
KARR's microprocessors were working almost overloaded.
They were doing enormous calculations. What would happen
when an immovable object met and unstoppable force? The
answer had never been found by humans, and his highly
advanced computer systems were having trouble finding the
answer. What would happen? The other car was drawing closer.
There was not much more time.
"Your lives mean nothing to me," KARR warned. There were
only a few seconds left. Every microprocessor was
contributing to the enormous calculation needed to find the
answer to his situation. There was no time. His strategic
programming took over.
"Turn away, turn away," KARR said.
The line production model continued moving toward him.
KARR suddenly turned away, the line copy would have posed a
potential threat to him if they were to collide. But, his
microprocessors had been too busy to realize that there was
cliff only a few yards away from where he turned, and he
went over. "No! No!"
KARR's microprocessors were working faster than they had
ever worked before. He needed to know if he would survive
the collision with the rocks in the ocean below. He was only
mere seconds away from the answer when everything went
black.
A rocket from his rocket boosters was accidentally set
off and there was an explosion.
September 1984
It was two years until KARR was reactivated. His
intentions were the same as ever. He needed to find KITT,
the inferior line production copy of himself, and destroy
him. KITT was the only thing capable of stopping him from
carrying out his main programming.
Now he was here, only minutes from the destruction of
KITT. KARR waited, his plan had been working so far. An
armored car with men on board, stuck on the last standing
piece of the bridge. His passengers were his insurance.' He
knew that KITT's inferior programming would not allow him to
harm a human being's life. KITT would not try anything to
harm KARR as long as those two people were on board.
Besides, KARR was the one with the laser, not KITT. This
would be too easy. KARR ran one more check of his systems to
make sure he was in full condition. Everything checked out.
It was time.
KITT and his human companion, Michael Knight, had just
arrived as KARR had planned.
"KARR," Michael Knight said, "let em go. We're here,
we're what you want."
"Your impudence is amusing. You're in no position to
make demands," KARR answered. His passengers were his
insurance, letting them go would put him in a more
vulnerable position.
"Think about it, huh? Mandy's not what you want, neither
is John. I am. You're never gonna be free until you defeat
us," Michael said.
KARR calculated this over. The human was right, letting
Mandy and John go would give him a three percent increase in
maneuverability. Besides, he still had the people in the
armored car that could be used as an insurance policy. He
activated his auto door system and let them go.
"I accept your challenge," KARR said. He fired a laser
shot that flew right over the line copy's hood. It was a
warning, the next shot wouldn't be.
Michael Knight moved the car straight ahead, and KARR
moved forward as well. There were heading straight on. KARR
fired his laser again, only the human had anticipated his
shot, and the laser shot had missed.
KARR no longer wished to waste his time playing strategy
games. "Very well," KARR said, "if you insist on a game of
dodging, perhaps this will change your mind." KARR fired his
laser at one of the weak support columns for the bridge. The
bridge shook with the armored car on top. KARR hadn't put
much voltage into the beam, it was only a bit of bait for
Michael Knight. It worked of course.
Michael Knight drove his line copy towards the bridge.
Now it was KARR's time to make his shot. This time it would
not be a warning. The laser fired and hit the car directly
in the windshield. Another shot like that and KITT and his
human driver Michael Knight would be gone.
"Goodbye, Michael Knight," KARR said. He fired his
laser again, it went directly to the driver's window. KARR
detected something that was activated only a brief moment
before the laser was fired. It was some kind of high-tensile
reflector. The shot bounced off of the window and hit KARR
directly in his scanner. His scanner was his only vulnerable
spot. If it did have a high amount of armor its scanning
capabilities would be useless. Now because of that circuits
and microprocessors shorted. KARR was nearly finished.
KITT began moving forward, and KARR decided to finish
them off, once and for all, even if it meant destroying
himself. "If I am destroyed," KARR said, "so shall you be."
KARR could tell that Michael Knight was planning to leap
over. KITT soared through the air, and KARR did the same.
They flew towards each other, moving closer. KARR's
microprocessors were once again working as fast as they ever
had, trying to calculate the answer to his immovable object
problem. What would happen when an immovable object met an
unstoppable force. But, that's when KARR realized he no
longer was an unstoppable force. He was no longer being
protected by his molecular bonded shell. KITT was, but he
wasn't. It was over. The collided and everything went dark,
once again. It may have been dark, but KARR was still
conscious, he could still do calculations, but he "felt"
nothing. He couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't hear.
KARR couldn't do anything but think. KARR was now nothing
but an invalid.
The organization which had originally created KARR--the
one where KITT was now the car of the future, the bold new
experiment--picked up that one conscious piece of KARR, and
put him in a box, and taped it shut.
----------------------------------------------------
Chapter One is currently in production. Suggestions, comments, questions
are welcome and encouraged.
Wes Knight
I LOVE it! Please write more.
Wes Knight
NFunaro92
I love it too!!!!
Catherine Glass
I like it too. Keep writing, Knight Rider was one of my favorite shows,
and I too would like to see it come back.
Katey
Greg Baynes
I didn't see this, can you repost it? thanks!
GREG