Will leaned back in the passenger seat as Jocelyn drove. "KARR? Legally speaking they've given all claim over you, so long as I don't try to sell or gift you to someone else."

"Joy." KARR's voice was an unamused deadpan.

"Which was kind of where my mind went when they claimed security through corporate ownership as to why you nor any of the other Knight AIs have personhood."

Will's eyes closed as he focused on the sensation of movement. Around him, the world moved. Music played softly. He focused on breathing. Relax. Everything is OK. Deep breaths.

"So that's the rest of what Hazard Motor is attached to" KARR asked before adding, seemingly to sound diplomatic, "It looks. Fine."

KARR circled the core of what had been a thriving mall twenty years ago. Going by the sparse amount of parking there was still an amount of traffic. Going by the temporary plastic fencing strung up at one end of the longer axis of the building there would be new construction soon.

"Well the anchor stores got torn down, with Bo and Luke getting their dads to loan the pair money to get the lease to the Sears building before it got tor out we're lucky they didn't start with the center cluster," Jocelyn explained as they drove. "With Knight moving in there are these plans for a lot of additional building around and shrinking the parking lot to make manicured green spaces and walkable paths between the mall complex and neighboring tenants."

This earned a derisive blurt of electronic noise from KARR. "Seems a rather lot of money to invest in an atrophied setup. Better to demolish and build fresh on the lot."

"It's about sending a message," Will said as he continued to lean back in his seat determined to not look at anything but his eyelids. "Something about restoring what's there instead of replacing an existing community."

His tone said he doubted the sincerity of the statement.

"At the very least they do have charging facilities while the two of you go in to do whatever it is humans do when not eating or reproducing."

That caused Will to sit upright and look directly at KARR's voice modulator. "KARR. I'll have you know humans do a lot more than eat and make more of ourselves."

KARR again made an electronic fractive noise. "Then tell me why so much of your advertising hinges on either food or other base desires?"

"OK that's a lot of what motivates us, but there is more." He patted the car's dash as Jocelyn searched for a good parking spot. Considering how few were taken up this wasn't exactly difficult.

Will made a show of taking his phone out. "I've got my phone on me. Call if you need anything buddy."

KARR responded by causing both doors to open and turning music on. Fortunately for both Will and Jocelyn, it was at a sensible volume. "I will be here taking in the local culture."

Once Will plugged KARR in he patted the roof. "Don't let the Teslas make you feel bad if any show up."

"Bah," KARR sounded dismissive. "I am far and away the better vehicle."

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

"So what's on the do list?" Will asked as he held the door open.

Once inside Jocelyn shrugged. "Check to make sure the donated items are up to display standards then go for a walk. Maybe hit Three Rings."

Will made a dismissive gesture. "Still mad at them for discontinuing the Flying Pig."

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Jocelyn's shoulders slumped and she gave him a flat look. "Really? It's just a sandwich, dude."

"Yea, I know but..." He huffed. "One of those things I and grandad did."

"Ah." She gave a small sigh before continuing on through the mall. their footfalls rang across the tilework meant to mimic a series of rock layers. Something about taking inspiration from the open pit mines and banded rock formations, Neither of them cared about the tiling, though if either bothered to look up they would be happy to see the exposed wood cladding over the metal skeleton was holding up well.

Their first stop was at the end of the central spine of the building that had opened into a Dillard's. Now it had a large wall proclaiming 'KNIGHT INDUSTRIES THANKS YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BRUT MEMORIAL MALL ENTRANCE IS UNDERWAY.'

A central island kiosk, the kind that had a doughnut countertop with salespeople in the middle currently had a pair of bored workers inside of a faux wooden structure with signage proclaiming 'BRUT MEMORIAL WELCOMES KNIGHT INDUSTRIES.'

"Hey, Jeff." Will waved to Jeff. The same Jeff that played referee for their faux sword fight.

Jeff looked somewhere between bored and annoyed until he heard Will's voice. The large blonde-haired man grinned at the couple as they approached. "Eeeey how's it going?"

Jocelyn smiled back, "Going pretty good. Just kinda checking in, fly the colors, and all that before Will has to hunker down for next weekend."

"Oooh right, The Dukes keeping you busy?" Jeff glanced over to his coworker, who was busy browsing on his tablet.

"Sorta kinda. Got that rush order done, but a couple guys are coming over to have their cars checked out." Will sounded enthusiastic about these developments.

This enthusiasm caused Jeff to raise an eyebrow in confusion, "Wait, the guys you're racing against is trusting the garage you work for to not monkey with things?"

"Well, yea. Word gets out Hazard's playing favorites their business dries up real fast." Will grinned. "Plus I plan on showcasing a few new things this weekend."

"Ooooh?" Jeff leaned across the counter towards the pair. "I heard Luke managed to get Mera up to One Fifty."

"Actually that was before. It's even better now." Will continued grinning. "That auction? Had a lot more than FLAG clothes. I've got a prototype of what's in the KI-Six's as Mera's new brain."

"....Wait. As in. That thing can go full autopilot? How's she compared to the coup?" Jeff positively bounced with excitement at the revelation.

"Eeeh. Legally speaking because of some programming quirks of the prototype they can't easily fix as of right now the self-driving is an absolute no-go if I want to not get arrested and Hazard loses its authorized repair status for the KIS cars."

"Ouch." Jeff's attention turned to Jocelyn. "You've driven it though, right? Just because it can't autopilot doesn't mean it hasn't done anything for the Mera otherwise."

"like an absolute dream," Jocelyn smirked. "He's got a ton of personality and we're still working out how to integrate a few things but the cornering is effortless. There's no off-the-line spinout. Smooth ramp-up."

There was a pause before she added. "Radio seems to have a mind of its own. Keeps switching to hard rock, metal, and those weird house mixes you're into."

Will stiffened at that and scowled at Jocelyn in mock outrage. "I'll have you know that's solid driving music."

"Yea if you want to be deaf to the world you're driving in." Jocelyn reached over to poke Will in the chest before the pair grinned and turned back to Jeff.

"Just wanted to check on things. Mark still bringing his Tesla next weekend?" Will asked as he swatted away Jocelyn play-jabbing at his shoulder.

Jeff nodded. "I know it's going to be a blow to you since I know you've put your heart into Mera, but Jeff's been tweaking the tesla and ... considering what you're up against you do pretty good, but the middle of the pack isn't going to cut it against him."

Jocelyn grinned as she and Will walked away, elaborating no further on the matter.

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

"No." KARR caused both doors to lock when he saw Will and Jocelyn approach with take-out bags in hand. "I am not going to suffer having debris in my nice clean interior."

Will gave a theatrical sigh. "Will it make you feel any better if we promise not to eat any of it til we get home?"

Jocelyn meanwhile just stared at KARR and tapped the unlock button on the key fob.

KARR again locked the doors. "The agreement I am under is that I will not drive on open roads. Nothing says that i can't refuse to let you drive."

Now both humans stood there arms crossed.

Then KARR saw the logo on the take-out bags. "Three Rings is still open?"

"Yea...?" Will sounded more curious and questioning with that word. "Brought back that creepy ringmaster mascot."

Then he muttered.

Jocelyn lightly punched Will in the shoulder. "Don't mind him KARR, he's just aggravated they got rid of some dumb pressed pork sandwich now c'mon. Please?"

"Only if I get to go out on the track for proper inspection of where I will race tomorrow." KARR offered.

Will chuckled, "Alright fine. It'll be a bit tight but I think Bo and Luke will want to see what you can do on a proper run anyway so I should be able to work laps in assuming nobody's using it. If we can't get there I'll see where else we can go so you can open everything up."

The doors unlocked and opened.

"thanks buddy." Will said as he got in the passenger seat.