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[ki2k]

[For most people, the pain of feeling like they were being squeezed too tightly into a space too small for them was, while all too real, also somewhat illusory; a transitory feeling accompanying being brought to this place. While horrifying, it would pass. For KITT, the pain was all too real, and seemed to continue long after he'd dropped to his knees, clutching his stomach and squeezing his eyes shut as if to ward off the sensations.

He stayed that way for many long moments, but when his eyes finally opened, he realized several things.

Knees. He had knees. And kneeling on the hard floor was making them hurt with a different kind of pain. Also, he had a stomach, and hands, and eyes. He was seeing his surroundings, not with scanners, but with eyes, recording not with sensors, but with skin. How was this possible?

He sat back on his haunches, raising his hands before his face, his mouth contorting into horror. What had happened to him? What was going on?

There was a woman speaking, but he ignored her, ignored everything but this nightmare he'd awakened into. He'd been re-charging in the back of the semi, and now he was here, and...

The world went black as he passed out, slumping heavily to the floor.]

Comments

[evercyclic]

[Airy sits up a little straighter, her book closing and falling to her lap.]

You're awake, oh. I'm sorry. You're in the hospital wing. When you arrived you had passed out and I didn't know what was wrong. I'm glad to see you're awake. [She pauses, biting her lower lip before continuing.]

You're under New York City in a safe place we call HQ but it probably isn't your New York City... you see... how do I... explain. [She fumbles with the words awkwardly.] Why don't you ask what you really want to know first and then I'll ramble?

[ki2k]

[His eyes focus on her, watching her carefully]

I'm not myself. This isn't what I am. I'm not human. [His eyes were pleading with her now to understand, even as he was trying to swallow down the panic he was beginning to feel again]

Not my New York? [He was frowning without realizing it, trying to understand what was going on]

How did I get here? Why am I human? Where are my friends? [Each word was painful, his throat dry and scratchy]

[evercyclic]

[Airy's lips formed a confused frown. She does understand which is why she suddenly looks very worried.]

Here. [She holds out a glass of water for him and waits until she's sure he has it before passing it over.] It's something that's been happening here. I don't know where your friends are. People have been showing up from all over... well... people and what you are.

I'm sorry, I feel like it's somehow my fault that you've taken this shape. I made the platform you woke up on because people were arriving as energy but then they were going somewhere else and it was dangerous. I made that so that we can transport you safely here. I didn't think that something like this might happen.

[ki2k]

[He takes the glass from her, holding it and looking at it with a frown of his own. He understands how to drink in an abstract sort of way, but he's never had to put knowledge into practice. He'll wait, for now. He feels better just holding it]

I'm a car. I was a car. An artificial intelligence housed within the body of an automobile. I don't understand what's happening.

[He raises his eyes to her, watching her face as he listens to her explanations, risking the tiniest of sips from the glass]

Where were they going? Why were they arriving as energy? Why were they arriving? Where is here, exactly? New York? I was in the back of a semi, traveling through Nevada. I don't understand. Can you bring my friends here? Is it still 1986?

[evercyclic]

Oh...

[Airy has no reason to believe this except that she's seen some pretty weird things around HQ. She just really hopes that this isn't her fault and she's ended up messing everything up somehow.] Cairn tracked it to a forest around Montana I think? But it's shifting and moving a lot. We don't know why yet but giving you guys a place to go is better than staying as energy right?

[That sounds awkward.]

Yes, we are technically beneath New York. Once you get check out... here. You'll be free to go explore and check it out. We have rooms for you here though since this isn't your world we're worried about the impact. Um...

[Now she feels awkward.]

It's 2016... I don't think I'll be able to find your friend... I'm sorry.

[ki2k]

[He closes his eyes, sinking his head into the pillow again as he continues to listen]

Yes. Much more preferable. Not my year, not my world. Is there anything about New York I would recognize? Times Square, Central Park?

[Wait a moment]

We have rooms. Are we prisoners here? What are you planning for us?

[evercyclic]

Both of those are here.

[She quickly answers his second question.]

Not prisoners no but everyone is worried about people from different worlds upsetting time and this world. You guys arriving hadn't been the plan. Giving you a place here is just the best way to do it. You don't have to stay in HQ. You can walk around the city but we'd like you to be safe is all and try not to get into trouble.

[Airy really doesn't want people to think they are prisoners.]