Knight Rider 2020: Second Chances

Kitt watched as his partner's ashes were spread along the beach Kitt used to call serene. Now it only drove a stake of icy despair deep into his heart. Even though it was only a bouncing red light, there was a melancholy undertone to the chaser light’s infinite pattern of left and right. It seemed like everyone he had ever cared about was gone now, and he was more alone than ever before. First Wilton Knight, then KARR, then KARR again, Devon, and now Michael. Now KARR was Karr again and Kitt was afraid that if he lost him now, he would lose his sanity. Not that he had it now. That had gone along with Michael, and it would take time to get it back, time and someone who cared, someone who loved.1

As the pastor explained what had happened to take Michael from them all, a young man broke away from the end of the line and strode to his car, a suspiciously familiar blue ’57 Chevy Bel Air. Kitt hadn’t seen the young man before, but he felt like doing the same thing. He couldn’t though, for he had promised Michael that he would stay. Karr was a few people down from Kitt, Alec sitting on the hood, head in hands. Kitt had never seen Alec in tears before. Maddock and Shawn were both by the Vista’s side, unable to express anything but sadness in their complexions.2

Kitt looked out into the breathtaking sunset, the fiery sky casting its final dazzling reds and oranges onto the sparkling sea. These were the kinds of nights when Michael would stretch out on the hood and just watch the sunset with Kitt, each mutually enjoying his partner’s soothing presence. Now Kitt didn’t have that comfort to lean on. He had to stand alone now, had to take the first staggering steps out of the security of his partner’s embrace and into the raging storm of reality. He didn’t want to. Nobody ever wanted to. Nobody would ever choose to walk out in a hurricane. Kitt would never choose to let go of Michael. But he had no choice now. Michael was gone.3

As the pastor finished what he had to say and dismissed everyone, Kitt found himself wondering about the young man. His complexion was strikingly similar to Michael’s. Kitt just dismissed the thought, concluding that it was most likely only because he missed his driver that the man struck a like note. Alec stepped inside Karr and drove off, his style combative as he tried to prove a point that he was fine. That was nothing new. Maddock took his Mercedes-Benz and Shawn got into the Vista’s cabin, not wanting Kitt to feel completely abandoned.4

“Everything will be okay, Kitt,” she whispered, gently rubbing the dashboard. “It will be alright.”5

Kitt wanted to say something, anything, to thank her or whatever, but he couldn’t find the right words. It didn’t matter if he said anything or not. She understood. She was the answer to his confusion, his loneliness. She was someone who cared for, loved, and understood Kitt. There was no way Kitt was going to let this one slip away. This was his second chance at life, and he wasn’t going to lose it.6