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Kitt ([info]ki2k) wrote in [info]utr_logs,
@ 2008-12-08 14:40:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Current mood: calm
Entry tags:hattie jackson, kitt (2008), kitt 2

Who: KI2K, KI3K, Hattie
What: Meeting the KI3K for the first time
When: Now
Where: At Hattie and Kitt's estate
Warnings: None that I can foresee



A new AI? In a new, updated car? While he had to admit to an almost overwhelming curiosity, he also felt the slight twinge of irritation that could only come when one is faced with their own replacement.

For that's what this car represented. New technology. New breakthroughs. New beginnings. To replace what was outdated, worn, old.

He sighed, brushing the thoughts away with a swipe of his hand down his face. He was tired, overworked and overstressed. It was making him cranky. So maybe there was a hint of smoldering jealousy burning underneath his calm exterior. He'd deal with it. It wasn't important. What was important was making sure that the car arrived without suffering any mishaps along the way. Kitt suspected - no, he knew - that this sort of technology could be very dangerous in the wrong hands, and he was intent on making sure that this AI remained safely in the care of Knight Industries - even if it wasn't quite the same Knight Industries that the AI recognized.

He went out into the chilly evening air dressed in business casual, projecting what he hoped would be just enough authority without seeming overbearing. Arms folded over his chest, he stood in the driveway before the front staircase, waiting for its arrival.


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[info]hattie_notqueen
2008-12-08 10:54 pm UTC (link)
Hattie listened carefully, keeping careful track of the way Kitt's body language changed and, when the car in front of her stopped talking, she cleared her throat. It was clear that Kitt wasn't going to get answers about his previous life from the machine in front of them and she felt her heart twinge for him. And though she probably shouldn't have, she spoke first.

"What's your question?"

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-08 11:05 pm UTC (link)
Kitt sank back onto the workbench after the car finished speaking, after Hattie encouraged it - him - to ask his question. He'd been hoping for something, anything, some crumb of information to connect him back to his old life, the people he loved and left behind. This car had represented a tantalizing possibility in that regard, a possibility that was now dashed.

But there was something else, wasn't there? Some chink in this car's armor. Hattie may or may not have picked up on it, but Kitt certainly did - the faintest hint of emotional awareness, the dismay at discovering the chink had been deliberate, a product of his own creator. It wasn't the hope he was looking for, but he found it gave him hope nevertheless. He'd never had a relationship with his own 'brother'. The slow realization that this car may represent a new possibility, one he hadn't considered, began to creep over him.

And he did wish to know the car's question, what was so over-ridingly important to it that it had only the one. He nodded when Hattie spoke, awaiting the answer.

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-08 11:08 pm UTC (link)
The car's response is delivered in the same tone as all his others to date; but there seems to be something else contained within it, somehow, in its plain expression. Or perhaps it is merely human projection of emotion upon an artificial intelligence.

"What will become of me now?"

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-08 11:29 pm UTC (link)
He looked at Hattie helplessly, and this time his eyes were wide with surprise at the car's question, his eyebrows creeping into his hairline. He hadn't expected that, not at all.

She shrugged back at him, looking just as helpless. He turned back to the car, his mouth working for a few moments before any words managed to make their way out.

"You'll stay here, of course. And then we'll figure it out from there. What do you want to become of you?" Another thought. "You're only a car? You weren't changed by your passage into this dimension? Or can you become human as well?" Kitt had only met one other human who had previously been a car since his arrival, but that had been enough to let him know it was possible, though by no means a guarantee.

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-08 11:36 pm UTC (link)
"My wants are defined by my programming. My programming is to serve Knight Industries. Beyond those definitions, I do not have 'wants' as you might describe them, except the imperative to continue to do so."

There is silence as the car performs its own self-diagnostic. Flickers of numbers and string formulae flash past in spurts in the car's dark interior, a windshield display that appears reversed to them in their relative position in front of the Mustang.

"All my diagnostic tests are returning nominal, indicating that there has been no change to my chameleonic attributes. I do not understand how I could acquire a human form. Dr. Graiman's speciality was artificial intelligence, and I have no cybernetic enhancements or components in my construct. So I will have to say yes, I suppose that I am indeed 'only' a car."

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-08 11:44 pm UTC (link)
Kitt shook his head slowly, looking a little crestfallen. "Isn't there something you'd like for yourself, just for you?" He was becoming more and more convinced this AI was on the up-and-up; KARR just couldn't be this good of an actor, even in his own self-interest.

The numbers and formulas make sense to Kitt, even backwards, even in this form. They're the sorts of things he's dealt with for his entire existence. Seeing another car performing the same sort of diagnostic gave him yet another nostalgic twinge for home.

He nodded at the answer. "Just checking. You're probably better off that way. I acquired mine..." He trailed off, waving a dismissive hand. "Never mind. How would you wish to continue serving Knight Industries?"

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-08 11:51 pm UTC (link)
"My directives are to serve and to protect those I am assigned to serve. I do not lay claim to wants, except perhaps the desire to learn more about my human allies and to study their quirks to better understand their motivations and better serve them. That is not a directive, but I am motivated by my basic sense of being to learn. I do not know if that constitutes a 'want.' Perhaps the instinct of self-preservation is a want, under those circumstances. I do not wish to be dissected, or to have my personality matrix erased. I desire to continue in my capacity as a tool of Knight Industries. That is what I was created for. Does that qualify as a personal want, or one that has been directly mandated by my programming?"

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[info]hattie_notqueen
2008-12-09 12:06 am UTC (link)
"So, his directives and wants and things are like yours: preservation of human life and Knight Industries and everything," Hattie said, a bit awed by the whole thing. She stood and ran a fingertip over the hood of the beautiful car again. "It's amazing, really. Not very original, but the concepts are still incredible."

Looking up at Kitt, she smiled. "And you? You'll have to share the track."

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-09 12:16 am UTC (link)
Kitt was distinctly uncomfortable; he couldn't share Hattie's smile. When he finally did manage to speak, it was more of a whisper, like he was having trouble breathing.

"I don't know." He was speaking more to what the car had said previously than to Hattie's statement. The car was parroting the things he'd said himself many times over the years. What was Knight Industries creating, that its 'tools' would continually ask the same questions? He'd thought himself unique, but perhaps everything had just been an aspect of programming. Were either of them truly self-aware, or were they merely following an aspect of programming down a pre-determined avenue?

He stared at Hattie with a frown on his face, backtracking to try to figure out what she'd just said. "The track. Oh, yes! The track. Of course." He was still frowning as he looked back down at the car.

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-09 12:22 am UTC (link)
"You are disappointed by my prior answers." It isn't a question as much as a statement. Still the smooth red strobe tracks, splitting into two, gliding along its hood, then combining once more in its center. Another pause. "You do not trust me."

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[info]hattie_notqueen
2008-12-09 12:26 am UTC (link)
"No." She paused because the answer was yes. Her smile hadn't really been one of happiness, but one of cautiousness, hoping to make her husband feel better. She hadn't had to actually look at Kitt to understand that he was uncomfortable. When she DID look at him, it hadn't been that difficult to read him, either.

She reached out, sliding a hand down his arm and taking his hand to squeeze it briefly. "I think it's that you've brought up a lot of interesting questions, KITT. That's all."

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-09 12:35 am UTC (link)
"I trust you." He squeezed Hattie's hand in return, but his voice was firm and abrupt, not quite dismissive. This conversation was taking a turn that he wasn't quite ready to deal with.

He sighed. "Yes, I am disappointed by your prior answers. I had hoped... I'm not sure what I hoped for. It's not your fault. And don't worry about what will happen to you. You'll be cared for here. Maybe not in the way you're used to, but the care will be more than adequate." He released Hattie's hand to walk to the prow of the car, crouching before it.

"You will have a degree of freedom here that I'm certain you've never experienced before." He stood up again. "The question is, do you trust us?"

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-09 12:50 am UTC (link)
Before the crouching Kitt, the tracing lights glide slowly, bathing him with their glow. "I have detected a constant level of apprehension in your voice patterns and body language. I have done nothing to warrant such caution, therefore I must conclude that something similar has occurred in your past that involved an attempt to deceive you into believing that someone or something was connected to Knight Industries. Under those circumstances, such caution would be entirely warranted. Would that be a correct assessment?"

The car seems impassive on its surface, its shell perfect, unflawed. "I, on the other hand have never been deceived thusly. My facial recognition software and my access to local and public records designate you as being the people you say you are. Your biometric readings have fluctuated during our discussion, but merely in accordance with acceptable levels, rather than the elevated blood pressure and heart rate associated with deceptive behavior. I have no reason to distrust you at this point in time."

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-09 01:08 am UTC (link)
His eyes grew hooded, cautious again at this car's reading of him, both physically and mentally. He wasn't used to having the shoe on the other foot. Running a hand through his hair, he stepped back to take in the entirety of the automobile before him, as if that would help him in return to detect some subtle signal as to the car's internal condition.

He was sorely disappointed, and for the first time wished he'd chosen to appear as the Trans Am, with all of its scanners in tow.

"A correct assessment, on more than one occasion." He shuddered suddenly, wondering briefly what might have happened if Garthe Knight had ever managed to get his hands on KARR. Or worse, on him. If Marco Berio had been able to crack his programming, he wouldn't put it past Garthe to figure out a way - with his money and assets he could have afforded the best hackers and programmers. He stared down at the car again, trying to shake those thoughts.

"Consider yourself lucky. I hope it never happens to you." He paused, as if to turn away, then stopped and looked plainly at the AI. "KARR."

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-09 01:19 am UTC (link)
There is a long silence.

"Then your caution is indeed warranted, and appropriate. But I am puzzled, Mr. Knight," comes the measured response. "I am indeed a 'car', or more accurately, I am housed within the shell of an automobile. I believe that particular observation is apparent and well-established at this point. Repetition of that observation does not make it any more or less true. Are you requesting I define the word and its meanings for you?"

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-09 01:32 am UTC (link)
"My creator was Mr. Knight." He snapped it out at the car, an angry edge to his voice. He'd never liked the seeming necessity of adopting that name as his own; it wasn't meant for him.

He counted to ten, slowly, silently. Had he himself ever been this... naive? He must have been, at one time.

"I am referring to the Knight Automated Roving Robot. My predecessor." Another pause. "My brother, in a manner of speaking. Or perhaps you'd like to hear the story of Garthe Knight. Or Marco Berio. Or Graham Deauxville." He was angry again, not at the car per se, but at the memories being dredged up along with his cautious concerns.

"I have no proof whatsoever that you aren't KARR. That I haven't brought a psychotic AI into my home, under my roof, to threaten myself and my family."

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-09 01:43 am UTC (link)
"Then your prior response was a lie," counters the A.I. "You said that you did trust me."

K.I.T.T. can detect the anger trace in his counterpart's voice patterns, and considers how best to respond. "I apologize. I did not intend offense or to incite anger, and it is not in my programming to permit harm to come to those I am destined to serve. But I must note that your wife was the one who invited me here. Perhaps in retrospect, a neutral ground for our meeting would have been more appropriate. I am uncertain how I might go about proving that I am something I am not. I have no knowledge in my historical files on any predecessor to myself named K.A.R.R., and I have no motivation and human ego required to maintain such fallacy."

The car remains immobile. "I do not believe I am 'psychotic'. The definition of psychosis includes the inability to reason. I am quite capable of doing so, and such a diagnosis is entirely human in its parameters. I am not human. I have nothing to gain by inflicting damage upon you or anyone close to you. I am entirely alone in this world, it seems, and it would only be to my own detriment to hurt those that would help me. That would make no sense."

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[info]hattie_notqueen
2008-12-09 01:48 am UTC (link)
Kitt's reaction made Hattie want to reach out for him again, to take his hand or hug him, but she knew that making that kind of move wouldn't be appreciated at the moment. Instead, she took a deep breath and held it for as long as possible, staring at the garage floor, arms once again crossed over her chest. This time it was less a defensive move and more to keep herself from saying or doing anything she shouldn't. She understood where Kitt's fears came from and tried to keep her own at bay.

She listened to the car's reasoning and then lifted her head. "Kitt," she said quietly. "He's right. And if you were you, you would know he was right. You're letting-" She didn't want to get upset or cry. "You're letting your humanity get in the way." And she went back to looking at the floor.

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-09 01:59 am UTC (link)
"No. I said I have no proof. I never said that I didn't believe you, or that I didn't trust you. There is a difference." He had a finger raised, pointed directly at the scanner, and he realized he was actually shaking with anger. He willed himself to calm, to listen what was being said.

"You do not serve me." His voice was tight as he realized where some of the anger was coming from. A sentient being, such as himself, forced into a position of servitude. The arguments he'd used to justify it over the years were ringing hollow when he heard them coming from another, towards him. He had no desire to be responsible for this car's indentured status, to be any party to it.

He lowered his finger, feeling ridiculous. Deep breaths, eyes closed. That was a first, to be accused by someone of being too human. It was almost laughable. He had no response to that, so instead he just nodded without opening his eyes, and repeated his earlier statement. "I trust that you are who you say you are. If I didn't, you wouldn't be here now."

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-09 02:08 am UTC (link)
"Then what proof would be sufficient for you? And how long would it take for that proof to be evident?" They are genuine inquiries, not meant as sarcasm; and indeed, as before, there is no trace of such in its reply. "I regret that my presence here has become an apparent source of anxiety for you both. I was simply seeking answers, and to determine if I would still have relevance in this alternate dimension. Perhaps I should withdraw from this estate, and alleviate those concerns for the time being."

The A.I. seems, perhaps, somewhat dismayed by this turn of events. But again, it might be projection.

"My function is to fulfil the requirements I have been programmed for: to serve my human counterparts is among them; in fact, it is my primary function. You seem to find this an abhorrent concept. To not meet the parameters of my programming would be to do nothing of benefit at all. Is that what you would have me do?"

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[info]hattie_notqueen
2008-12-09 02:13 am UTC (link)
"What he means is that now he knows what it's like to be on both the giving and receiving end of those orders," Hattie explained. Her voice was calm, almost weary, and she tried her best to give an answer that made sense. "If you decided to stay here, which we DO want you to do," she added, looking at Kitt, "then what he said is true: you would have more freedom than you would be used to."

She waited to see what Kitt would add, hoping that she was right and that he wasn't going to send the car away. And not just because of the technology or because it was Knight Industries latest creation but because, well... He was almost like family.

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-09 02:19 am UTC (link)
He nodded again, suddenly feeling overly tired himself. "You are not required to serve anyone here with us. Not unless you choose to do so. You. Not your programming."

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-09 02:24 am UTC (link)
"How, then, am I supposed to know the difference between a choice and a programmed imperative? I desire to learn, but that was a programmed imperative. Does that make my programming flawed? I am afraid that I lack the cognitive progressions in my matrix in order to make accurate assessment at this point in time. I am relatively young, and I am still evolving my understanding. For now, I do not have any imperatives beyond those defined by my coding, and I am, I believe, content with that, and by extension, I am content to serve."

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[info]ki2k
2008-12-09 02:39 am UTC (link)
Kitt's voice was tired, almost defeated. "My apologies. My origins were different, and I had a steep learning curve in my first years. If I am too human now, then I have forgotten what it's like to be a youthful AI. If you require orders, then follow these. You may stay as long as you like. You may do as you wish to fulfill your desire for knowledge and learning. You may observe and ask questions. You will, if your programming dictates that it must be so, protect my family from harm. You will assist me in my studies of your programs and systems. And finally, you will assist me in continuing to fulfill the parameters of Wilton Knight's original dream for his company, for his Foundation, and for his AIs."

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[info]knight3000
2008-12-09 02:51 am UTC (link)
"That is sufficient. I thank you for your understanding and hope to learn more about you and my other predecessors at a more convenient time. I am reading elements of fatigue as indicated by your metabolic processes and variation in speech pattern. To that end, I am content to absorb the information I have been given to this point while you rest, and I am intrigued by your description of serving the public good on a far smaller scale. Michael was fond of informing me that he needed to 'sleep on it.' I can easily access local media outlets in the meantime and equate what is different here and what has remained the same."

He then adds, "I have come up with two alternate nicknames for myself to prevent confusion while we are both present. Perhaps you would be interested in selecting one of them, since I am, for all intents and purposes, in human terms, your ... brother."

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(no subject) - [info]ki2k, 2008-12-09 03:12 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]knight3000, 2008-12-09 03:26 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ki2k, 2008-12-09 09:00 am UTC

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