The Night of the Nazgul Ring
Miguelito Loveless had spent days studying the Nazgul ring that he had retained after Dumbledore had stolen the One Ring i_am_shiny away from him. Indignation over that incident still burned him, but Loveless was a patient man. He would have his revenge, even if it took weeks, months, or even years. In fact, through his decades' long study of alchemy,
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*is using the Ring to lull KITT into a complacent mood* Ever since I first saw you, I've been consumed with curiousity about your makeup, KITT. I pride myself on being a great inventor, but I must admit that your construction and artificial intelligence unit surpassed anything that I created in the past.
However, since I created this new dimesion -- you do know that I created this entire new dimension, don't you KITT -- I've been exposed to scientific and mechanical advances from every point in the space time continuum! I have been studying it all very carefully...to catch up... you may say. I recently had quite an interesting chat with an extremely advanced mechanical man, during which I stole a tiny sample of his biomechanical outer skin when I shook hands with him! He has no idea, of course. I replicated that structure and expanded upon it. He was kind enough to tell me who made him, and using my teleportation technology and a bit of time-related research, I was able to locate the factory where he was made ( ... )
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*as he is working to copy the AI programming, Loveless asks KITT*
Are you really interested in having me modify your outer shell with my new bio-chemical compound? It will make your car unit far more sensitive. I haven't fully tested it yet though.
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Are you really interested in having me modify your outer shell with my new bio-chemical compound? It will make your car unit far more sensitive. I haven't fully tested it yet though.
Indeed, I am very much interested. I offer myself as your willing experimental subject.
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*over his shoulder to artemus_gordon You see, Mr. Gordon? If you and Mr. West had only been this agreeable, we could have been much better friends. But once I have had a chance to attend to you properly, Mr. Gordon, we shall be friends.*
And he'll like it, too, won't he KITT?
*to his assistant* Voltaire, while I'm readying the AI unit, would you be so kind as to apply some of the bio-chem compound to KITT's outer-body? Yes, yes...that's the correct jar. Only a little, Voltaire! I haven't tested that yet! We don't want to make KITT too sensitive! *watches Voltaire for a few seconds and then returns his attention to the AI*
I'm curious, KITT? Can you feel your mental processes being copied into my computer system?
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Dr. Loveless! You flatter me!
But once I have had a chance to attend to you properly, Mr. Gordon, we shall be friends.*
And he'll like it, too, won't he KITT?
How could he help but like it? You are a man of wit, intellect, and passion. People can't help but be drawn to you!
I'm curious, KITT? Can you feel your mental processes being copied into my computer system?
It tickles marvelously, I can assure you.
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*sighs again and shakes off the melancholy that had taken hold of him* But now I shall achieve immortality of a sort! When I copy my own mind into the computer, I shall be able to copy it into the duplicate unit and then into anything I chose.
Ah, finished! *unhooks KITT's AI from his computer system*
Let me put you back in the car engine, and then I'll begin the creation of the duplicate AI unit!
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*sympathetic*
Oh, when you put it that way... I suppose I never really thought about that before... What a terrible thing, to grow old before you die!
I envy you, KITT. It is terrible to be human! How I wish that I could separate the mental from the physical. I have lived so long with pain that I no longer feel it.
Oh my. I am sorry for you, Doctor! Would that there was a way I could help you further, to take some of that pain that you no longer feel away from you!
The idea of death itself holds no fear for me other than for the waste of it. We reach maturity and finally begin to get a glimpse of understanding of the universe, and then we die.
*sighs*
Yes, this I do understand, sadly. It does seem like some sort of cosmic joke, does it not?
But now I shall achieve immortality of a sort! When I copy my own mind ( ... )
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*takes the AI over to KITT, climbs the step ladder, and replaces the AI into its compartment*
There now. *hooks the AI back up* You're all back together.
*Loveless walks back over to the computer bank on the far side of the garage. He climbs into what looks like a techno-throne and starts to hook up electrodes to a slim metal band.*
This will copy my thought patterns and merge them into the copies of KITT's AI programming. *He smiles.* Yes, I said copies. If the experiment goes smoothly, then I shall begin to create more duplicates immediately! If something goes wrong here, then I shall have backups to work with ( ... )
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//Now or never, Artemus old boy//
Bending forward, he carefully slipped the metal band off his ankle and laid it on the floor, doing his best not to rattle a single chain. His leg free, he got on his knees and began to work at the bars loosened by his chemical virus. They were stiff but bendable. He pushed firmly on the first one and watched it snap free of its moring, bending outward. Artie did the same with two adjoining bars, giving him just enough room to slip through on all fours. In less than four minutes he was crouching outside of the cage, free ( ... )
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*loudly*
I can hear you. Who are you? Does Dr. Loveless know that you are no longer within the confines of the accommodations which he has so graciously provided for you?
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*quietly* That's exactly what I'd rather he not know just now, thank you.
How to convince this KITT thing that he was the good guy? Artie fished in his vest pocket and removed a thin leather wallet. Not quite knowing if the car could see him, he scoots around to the front where a red light moves back and forth -- the only thing that looks like it might actually be alive. He opens the wallet, showing an official badge and ID card.
My name is Artemus Gordon. I'm an agent for the U.S. Secret Service. I want to help you!
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Oh? Why? Do you have something to hide?
My name is Artemus Gordon. I'm an agent for the U.S. Secret Service. I want to help you!
Something about the badge flips a switch in KITT's mind... a badge... law enforcement officers carried badges... right? And weren't law enforcement officers generally dedicated to - upholding the law? If Artie was in a cage, and he was a law enforcement officer, did that mean...? No. Not Loveless. Loveless would never do anything like that, would he? KITT was suddenly very confused, and he felt as though a haze was being lifted from his CPU. He scanned Artie again. The man's vitals were slightly elevated, but not abnormally so, and he appeared calm. There was nothing to indicate that he was not telling the truth. He radiated sincerity. If this man was saying that he wanted to help KITT... did that mean that he was in trouble?? Suddenly distressed, he once again spoke to the man standing before him, much more softly now.You're a ( ... )
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I want to help you because I believe you're just as much a prisoner as I am. I don't know how you got here, or what Loveless has done to make you cooperate with him, but I can tell you from experience - he does not have the best of intentions.
He's planning to create an army -- an army of YOU, only with his insane mind imprinted on each and every one. There isn't much time. Voltaire could come back at any minute and we have to get out of here. But first . . . I have to stop Loveless from completing his plan.
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An army??? Of me? Me? With his mind? On my personality engrams? Oh my! What? How? Did I... Did I help him? I can't remember... everything is so... fuzzy... The last thing I remember is being at Draco's party, and... OH!! Draco! Where is Draco?!? Is he all right???
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I've fallen victim to a few of the good Doctor's drugs myself in the past. Sounds to me as if he found a way to drug you as well. I'm sorry, I don't know about Draco. When I woke up in the cage I was alone. I suspect Loveless only took you and not your friend. He's nothing if not efficient.
Artie looks anxiously toward the door. He thinks he hears the distant sound of footsteps.
I promise to help you look for your friend once we're out of here. But we're running out of time. I'm going to try to upset Loveless' applecart.
He pivots to look at the bank of machinery and wires along the wall. That looks like a good enough place to start.
Artie makes his way along KITT and picks up a heavy mechanics wrench off the floor as he goes, fully intent on smashing as much equipment as he can.
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*almost to himself*
The Ring...! If I could be assured that Loveless only took me, that would at least be some small comfort. *scans* I'm only picking up three humans - you, Loveless, and one other, not Draco. *sounds slightly relieved* Thank you for offering to help find him, but if he's not here, I will assume for the time being that he is safely at the estate.
*dryly*
Yes. Loveless is efficient indeed.
...we're running out of time. I'm going to try to upset Loveless' applecart... That looks like a good enough place to start.
Do you need any help?
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