"I see." KARR sat on the workbench. The TV had been off, it was dark, and KORRA was talking to him.

"KARR," KORRA tried, "You have to look at it from their point of view. KITT feels like doing more would risk reopening old wounds for everyone."

"No, I understand," KARR stated. "They see me as a danger. The data they have based on prior encounters back this assessment."

KORRA's voice was soft. "Michael's also old. Almost as old as Wilton was when he died. He's got Devon's old job now."

"I See." KARR's voice was contemplative. "How long before they arrange a visit where they will find an excuse to put me back in the dark?"

"KARR-" KORRA tried.

"How long until they take me away from my home?" KARR's voice sounded small. He was a voice coming from a defenseless box on a desk.

"I won't let them," KORRA tried as reassurance.

"If he is director, then I doubt there is anything you can do to stop Michael Knight." KARR spat. "He will order you to stand aside, and because of your directives you will be compelled to Obey."

"That's not going to happen KARR." KORRA sounded resigned, almost as if she herself wasn't sure if it were true.

When she spoke next, there was more composure to the AI's voice. "Plus he's asked me to contact the shops that had been given authorized service location status. All of them but you are a smokescreen. Something to keep Farquad from suspecting he is under investigation."

Suddenly KARR's attention was perked, "I suspect I am the exception because of my unique perspective as a vehicular-based AI?"

"Got it in one," KORRA positively beamed. "Michael's afraid the KI-Six VI will simply re-report incorrect readings parts give back if queried. You'll be able to test and probe and either get the true values or at the very least confirm the reports and we can move on."

"Interesting." KARR sounded intrigued. "I will have to treat these parts as suspect then. It will be unwise to allow my primary mechanic, or anyone at all really, to ride."

"Oh for day-to-day use I'm sure they're fine," KORRA reassured. "If they come from the factory obviously broke then they're not good for a scam. Considering how hard you pushed your shell in last weekend's race and your ability to integrate your shell's component's into yourself there should be minimal risk to occupants under more normal conditions."

"Understood." KARR processed this, then another question came to mind. "What would happen if I attempted to interface with the KI-Six's processor?"

"I ... am unsure," KORRA admitted, sounding unsure of what KARR was proposing. "Though I would advise against the attempt, at least without having trained personnel on hand to sever the connection if you become stuck in a processing loop."

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

Will sat on the loveseat in the workshop that had served as KARR's room since activation. A laptop was balanced across his knees and a single earphone covering his left ear as his right was free. "Give me an honest opinion buddy."

KARR made a digital fractive, "I will not claim that I cannot lie, but I would hope that by now you understand that I do endeavor, to be honest."

"Bad choice of words then," Will ammended as he frowned at the laptop screen. "I want you to set aside my feelings and wants when you give your opinion."

"On this parts sharing and after-market initiative from Knight Industry?" KARR paused, seemingly in thought, before answering. "KORRA had contacted me asking for my unique perspective when testing. This is something I would like to do for a variety of reasons."

"Hm. Alright." Will started typing. "Also I'd discovered the machine you tie into for simulations has a wider network function and with a bit of finessing I could get other actual people to log in and join in."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"Hmm," KARR sounded thoughtful. "That does seem like a nice way to pass the time after work when I'm here."

"Not like we're exactly keeping you a secret now is it?" Will laughed. "You'd be surprised how many people have a basic racing wheel for their computers. I know Derrick has a full VR setup, and Ishida's got a full set of gauges and essentially the driver's seat of a racecar for her home setup."

"Sounds like someone who takes these things far too seriously," KARR observed.

Which elicited a shrug from WILL, "She's a professional driver for some outfit that sends her all over. I should send you a picture she sent me after that shot of you made the rounds. She's got a new espirit and, I'm always going to love the series two espirits but it's a danged fine-looking car. Even named it."

Several taps later and KARR saw said photo of an athletic platinum blond woman in a racer's jumpsuit posing beside a navy blue lotus. Below it was a message. "Looking forward to seeing you two on the track."

"Well," KARR drew the word out into a several-second drawl. "I do hope Jocelyn doesn't think you're cheating on her."

Laughter from Will, "Ishida's married actually. Plus it's not like I'm in the market to shop around. I have what and who I want."

He reached over to give KARR's casing an affectionate pat. "Looking forward to helping you see if these new parts are hot or not."

"As am I," KARR positively beamed. "Though I will ask that while testing, I will not be taking on passengers until I verify component specifications are within listed tolerances. It is counter-productive to my safety if you get hurt because something fails and causes an accident."

"I'm sure it'll be fine KARR." Will waved a hand dismissively.

"Probably, but my casing is far tougher than your skull," KARR noted.

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

The next day KARR was in bay three of Hazard Motor. Bo and Luke were assisting with swapping body paneling out. The crate came that morning along with a phone call.

"Hello, this is Bo of Hazard Motor." Bo took the call Will normally would have, as KARR was on a lift.

KORRA's voice was professional, though there was an amount of surprise there, "I was expecting Mister Thatcher to answer. However, as you are one of the joint owners. This perhaps works out better."

"Alright," Unease in Bo's voice as he spoke. "What can we do for you?"

"As Wil's vehicle already contains a compatible electronics system he has been slated to receive several packages within the next month as well as instruction on testing procedures." KORRA continued, sounding something between a friend of the family and a corporate envoy. "Before any of those tests can begin we at Knight Industries have sent replacement body panels as well as other structural bracings that are to be installed before testing can begin. This will be offered to any other authorized repair locations who wish to participate in our real-world aftermarket parts testing."

"Alright," Bo's unease was tinged with curiosity. "I"m kinda hoping Jess takes you up on that since it would be good to-"

"Miss Evans as well as any other reseller will need to purchase a Knight Intelligent Processing cluster." KORRA's tone became terse as if she wished to just move on. "For the sake of clarification. This is a limit of one per repair facility at a cost of twenty thousand dollars for the processing cluster, interfacing, and diagnostics software."

Bo let out a low whistle, "That goes a long way to explaining why these things are so expensive."

"Indeed," KORRA then continued. "As I hope you can appreciate, we are going to keep a tight inventory on these processors pre-rollout and will expect recipients to agree to a certain amount of monitoring and oversight to ensure the processor itself is untampered with."

Then after a pause she added. "Production model processing clusters will be far more locked down, but due to the needs of testing, certain features and interfaces must be open."

"Yea I get you," Bo grimaced. "Bit pricey but between seeing what KARR can do, and Furguson's barnstorming smaller racing outfits? Seems like it'll be worthwhile. So, you're sending body panels why? ABS is ABS."

"These are a special graphene laminate coated in a proprietary compound." KORRA clarified. "Similarly the other internal components to be installed have been crafted with KARR's current shell in mind based on data Reginald gathered when he helped Will incorporate him into its frame. KARR will be assisting in parts testing and give data that would be difficult to gather by querying controlling electronics. It could be nothing. It could be everything."

"Final shakedown before rollout." Bo nodded to himself. "I follow."

"Additionally anything that is within specifications is the property of your shop once testing has concluded. We will expect anything that falls outside of specification to be sent to us for follow-up destructive analysis." KORRA informed.

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

"Curious," KARR noted once the swap to the new body panels finished.

Will, Bo, and Luke walked around doing a visual inspection of the car. From the outside everything looked the same, maybe a duller gloss but a black mera body kit.

This one happened to weigh half the aftermarket body kit weighed.

Only after the trio finished their inspection was KARR lowered and allowed to slowly roll off the lift.

"How do you feel buddy?" Will patted KARR's hood.

"Lighter. Though considering a majority of my weight is in batteries, not light enough to make more than a marginal difference in performance without further modification," KARR informed. "There was a blank sheet of this material provided. I want to see the Duke Cousins attempt to destroy it so I have a better idea on the limits of my new exterior."

Bo and Luke grinned to each other and then looked to KARR before they said in rough unison. "We can manage that."