Homecoming
by Tomy

    "Michael are you alright?" The soft voice pulled him out of his reverie.
    "Yeah Kitt."  The sigh came automatically with the answer.
    "And you call me a fibber." Kitt prodded.
    Michael couldn't help himself as he began laughing.  "Okay, Okay, I'm a
nervous wreck.  I admit it."  Michael turned serious again, "I've lied to
them Kitt.  For five years."
    "It was for their own safety....even if they didn't realize it."
    "I know." Michael adjusted his position in Kitt's cab before continuing.
    "I've fantasized about this moment for so long, now that it's about to
happen.... I don't know"
    "They are your parents Michael.  I'm not sure I understand your
trepidation."
    "Kitt, do you remember when I lost my memory?"
    "Unfortunately, yes." came the dry answer.  "What does that have to do
with our current situation?"
    "I remember looking in the mirror, seeing this face.  The shock of it.
How is my mother going to feel seeing me like this?"
    "Are you afraid she won't like your appearance?  Because I'm rather fond
of it."  Kitt admitted.  Michael, touched by Kitt's words glanced from the
road to the voice box.  "Plus it seems to entice enough women."
    "Thanks a lot!  You know Kitt, sarcasm becomes you."
    "Somehow, I don't believe that was meant as a compliment."

    During the silence that ensued, Michael's mind drifted back to before
the shooting, when life seemed much simpler.  He enjoyed being a cop.  His
parents had been proud of him.  But they had expressed time and time again,
their concerns over the dangers of his job and his foolhardy approach to it.
How could they possibly accept his life now?  If only he hadn't run into
Michael Long's best friend, then this whole chain of events would not have
begun.  How the hell John had recognized him?  John had been so happy to see
him, it had taken a few minutes and a quick explanation for him to get used
to Michael's new appearance.  John's astonishment lead him to a thousand
questions.  He wanted to know everything, from the day Michael left for the
assignment in Nevada, right through to present day.  And of course, why
Michael hadn't let anyone know he was still alive.  The answer of it being
too dangerous was not acceptable.  Michael's parents had been devastated.
Now his parents would be so happy to learn their youngest son was alive and
well.  There was no convincing John to keep his mouth shut.
    So here he was, driving to the once very familiar home of his parents.
    Trying to explain this to Devon had been another matter altogether.  He
had known what Devon's reaction would be, he was furious.  Michael wasn't
sure at who though.
    Kitt was scared.  No matter what facade Kitt was projecting, his silence
and forced attempts at banter were a sure sign.  His partner couldn't help
but remember the outcome of his last dose of Michael Long.
    In the end, there was little Devon or Kitt could do, but support
Michael's decision to go through with this.
    John had happily set it up.  Breaking the news to the Longs and
finalizing a date between Michael's assignments.  Fortunately all John knew
was that he was working for FLAG as a Freelance Investigator.  Michael had
given him little to no details.  His parents deserved to know more. To know
about his new family, he prayed they'd understand.
    He looked at Kitt's dark voice panel, something he'd been doing often
since this began.  He would never leave FLAG.  This was too ingrained in him
now.  Kitt, Kitt was his lifeline.  The innocent  partnership had grown too
far to leave behind.  He still mentally shied away from the deep feelings
Kitt brought forth.
    "Here goes nothing."  Michael said to no one in particular as he pulled
into the driveway.  He took a deep calming breath before getting out.
    "I'll be right here."  Kitt's insecure voice tore at him as he reached
for his jacket.
    "Michael?"
    He turned slowly to face his mother.  "Hi mom." His voice gave out as
emotions over whelmed him.
    "It is you," wide eyed, she reached up to touch his cheek.
    "Yeah, it is," was all he could manage before being engulfed in a hug.
He fought the tears as his mother cried in his arms.
    "Michael?"  He lifted his head to see the tall pudgy form of his father
walking from  the house.  "I guess somethings never change?"  He motioned to
the Trans Am.
    "I guess I have some explaining to do."  Michael detangled himself from
his mother.
    "It would be nice."  The relief and amusement could clearly be heard in
his father's voice.
    'They've aged' Michael thought to himself as he sat in his favorite
wooden chair in the living room.  His mother passed mugs of coffee around as
Michael took in the room.  It was exactly as he remembered.  When he looked
back at his parents, they were sitting, staring at him expectantly.  He took
a deep breath and began.
    "Two days into the assignment in Nevada, I was shot.  Tanya shot me in
the face and left me for dead."  Staring at his mug of coffee made this a
little easier.  "Wilton Knight picked me off the highway that night.  They
did the reconstructive surgery and a few weeks later, I woke up.  I remember
the old man telling me to keep fighting, I couldn't see anything because of
the bandages, and the pain.." He shook his head, risking a glance at up.
They were perched together, supporting each other.  It was a comforting
sight.  "The bandages came off a few days later and I couldn't look at this
face.  I remember saying ' it isn't me'.  Months later I was still surprised
when I looked in the mirror.
    "I was determined to make the ones behind the shooting pay for what they
had done to me, but I figured there was no way I could touch people like
that.  Wilton disagreed and explained his idea.  He told me that Michael
Long was legally dead and he gave me my new name.  He told me on his
deathbed that one man can make a difference.  I didn't believe him at the
time.  I was still having flashbacks and nightmares."
    "New name?" Michael's father interrupted.
    "Knight, my name is now Michael Knight."
    His mother gasped, they both looked mildly shocked.
    "I understood his reasoning.  Devon once said to me 'you have too many
enemies in the real world.'  This face, the new name and Kitt, gave me a way
in.
    "I spoke to Tanya a number of times before she realized who I was.  It
took two years for the man who originally ordered my death to find me.  And
he discovered me in the same manner John did.  My height and voice.  I think
the Trans Am helped."  He was smiling despite himself.  The backdoors the
foundation offered him, he took for granted too often.
    "Who's Kitt?" His father prodded, trying to be patient as his son's life
was unfolded for him.
    "Kitt," Michael nodded towards the car parked outside the bay window.
    "Kitt?" Both parents asked in unison.
    "The Knight Industries Two Thousand.  The safest, fastest and most
expensive car in existence.  He's an AI.   Artificial Intelligence." Michael
explained noting the blank expressions.  "He has a mind of his own."
    "He?" This one came from his mother.
    "Yes, he."
    "John mentioned you work for the Foundation For Law And Government?"
    Michael laughed to himself, his father had just tactfully changed
subject.
    "FLAG is a non-profit division of Knight Industries.  It's funded by
Knight Industries and in return Kitt and I help people who have no where
else to turn."
    "For example?"
    Michael thought for a moment, "Stevie called me up a few years ago.  The
lead singer of their band had died.  It looked like a drug overdose, but
Stevie insisted he'd never used drugs.  I went undercover as the new lead
for the band.  We discovered that Craig had been murdered.  He stumbled onto
the production company's use of video tapes to relay drug deliveries."
    "Stevie knew?" Michael nodded his response to his father's question,
feeling the guilt return.  "Where is she now?"  Obviously he didn't see
Michael's expression.
    "She's dead.  She put herself between me and an assassin."  Michael
couldn't stop the few tears this time.
    "My God, you have been through a great deal."
    "I've had help."  Michael began composing himself again.
    "What exactly is it you do now?"  His mother asked tentatively
    "I'm a freelance investigator."
    "Which does what?  Do you function like the FBI?"
    He wasn't getting out of this one. "No, it's more complicated, more
intense."
    "Intense? You mean dangerous."  Michael only nodded.  "And who backs you
up?"
    "Kitt mostly.  The police are familiar with us and so are certain
members of the FBI."  Why was he feeling like  a kid caught with his hand in
the cookie jar?  No, he felt something much stronger and he didn't like it.
Neither Devon or Bonnie made  him feel like this, not even in the beginning.
    "So a computer backs you up?" The condescending tone caused a defiant
streak in Michael.
    "Kitt is *not* just a computer.  I used to think so, but he's the best
friend and partner I could ask for."  Seeing the disbelieving eyes, he tried
another avenue, "come out and meet him, then judge for yourself."
    "Calm down please." His father interjected recognizing the tone and
stance of his son.  "We are just trying to understand why you never
contacted us."
    Michael sighed, realizing just how difficult this was on all sides.
"These people, the organizations FLAG protects people from, are those with
ties in high places or money.  Ones Devon likes to call 'above the law'.
People who have checked my background, tailed me, done anything they could
to try and gain any information that could be used against me.  I am well
known in the underground world.  As it stands there are two people who are
close to me and they were both a part of FLAG before I was.  There is just
too much at stake here."
    "Does this mean this will be your only visit?"  The question was voiced
by his father, but came from the expression on his mother's face.
    "I hope not." The simple reply won him a relieved smile from his mother.
    Michael's comlink beeped twice.  "Yeah Kitt?" Michael chuckled quietly
in response to the statled faces in front of him.
    "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we are expected to rendez-vous with the
semi in one hour."
    "I hadn't forgotten."  He turned to stand, "I need you both to
understand that I need to be where I am.  I can't explain my partnership
with Kitt, but we have a bond.  It goes past his programming and anything
I've ever felt for a partner."  He stopped, noting the expressions before
him. 'maybe they won't understand.'
    "We'll see you out." Was the best Michael was going to get today.

    Just as Michael was approaching Kitt, another car drove up and a
familiar tall figure, dressed in a police uniform, stepped out.  "Well if it
ain't my long lost brother?"
    "I didn't expect to see you." Michael admitted as they embraced for a
moment.
    "Hmm, different face, same eyes.  Tell me did that come with any
warranties?  Then again they probably broke the mold.  Wouldn't want to
repeat that mistake."
    Michael rolled his eyes at his brother's teasing. "You haven't changed a
bit Jay.  Still trying to get a rise out of me?"
    "It's just *so* worth it.  Plus I have a few years to make up for.  Nice
car, you steal it?"
    "You have no idea." Michael sat on Kitt's hood.  Then to Kitt,
"introduce yourself."
    "Mr. and Mrs. Long, I am the Knight Industries Two Thousand."  Michael
laughed as three jaws hit the ground.  "You never mentioned you have a
brother Michael?"
    "I think I was trying to forget.  Jay, Kitt is my partner, the best
anyone could have."
    "Thank you,"  Kitt piped up, feeling better about the whole situation.
    "How the hell can a talking car be a partner?" His brother still hadn't
recovered his composure.
    "Kitt is and AI.  As far as we know the most advanced."
    "So he has programmed responses?"
    "Originally, just as he was configured to compliment me."  There was no
mistaking the rude noise that came from Kitt.  Michael booted a tire in
response.  "But he learned through time and experience to make his own
decisions and react as he feels appropriate.  Shall I begin listing
capabilities?"
    Jay leaned in through Kitt's open window. "Holy shit!  Look at this
dash.  Start listing.  Do all these buttons have a function?"
    "Of course." came the terse reply from Kitt.
    "Kitt is capable of speeds exceeding 200 mph with ease.  He is coated
with a shell that makes him practically invulnerable."
    "Bullet proof?"
    "Bullet, bomb, missile,laser,heat and cold and a few other things Bonnie
will never know about.  He has scanning and tracking apabilities, blood and
chemical analyzer."
    "Is there a coffee pot too?" Michael's father asked as he leaned into
the passenger window.
    "I beg your pardon?  Well Michael, at least I know you come by your
attributes honestly."
    "Sarcasm being one of his greatest accomplishments."
    "So how about a test drive?" Jason asked walking around the car.
    "I'm sure Kitt would love to show off, but we have to be on our way."
    "Will you be back?"  The fear was still apparent in his mother's face.
    Michael walked up to her and kissed her cheek. "bet on it."  His
emotions reflected hers.  Happy to be back, longing to reacquaint himself,
but still believing that would never truly understand his lifestyle. And his
partner, especially his feelings for his partner.
 

part two