"The Beginning is the End is the Beginning"

by: Allie Cholt

A tall seventeen year old girl took one last puff of her DuMarier smoke and passed it to her friend, Judy. Chrystal Haynes turned towards her street and called over her shoulder, "Call me tomorrow before school, Jude." She continued walking as her friend said something that Chrys didn't understand. She merely shrugged and went on her way.

As she got to her driveway, she noticed the black Camaro parked crookedly in the driveway. Chrys pulled back her foot and kicked a nearby rock. It bounced off the tire and continued skipping down the slightly slanted driveway.

"Damnit!" she cried. She knew, from common knowledge and the way the car was parked, that her father had come home drunk yet again. Her pace became quicker as she made it to the front door and opened it, slamming it against the wall. She pulled off her black and white sneakers and dropped them loudly on the floor.

"Chrys, come here." her father's slurred voice came from the living room. Chrys turned around and shut the door with more force then she had opened it with. The glass window at the stop shaked threatenly and she wondered if it would break. It didn't and she walked into the living room over the plush carpet.

"What?" she asked shortly.

Her father stood up, a little uneasily and came towards her. He just missed stepping on a picture of her family that had obviously fallen off the nearby end table when he had gotten home.

"Where were you? Getting some action, you little wench?" he asked with a sick grin on his face. The mixed scent of rum and beer settled over her face in a wave and she felt like throwing up. Instead, she held her ground.

"No, but I can tell that you weren't at an AA Meeting." Chrys had never spoken to her father like that before and was surprised at the comment that came from her.

Quickly, without her seeing it, her father's left fist came up ad hit her squarely beside the eye. Blood escaped from the small cut his wedding ring had left. She clutched the already bruising part of her face and tears sprung to her eyes. Not tears of pain, but tears of disbelief.

"You hit me." she whispered the phrase and started to run up the stairs to her bedroom.

"And if you ever speak to me like that again, I'll hit you harder!" his voice bellowed as her door was shut quietly and the sound of it being locked filled the upstairs level.

Chrystal's mother, who stood in the kitchen and saw what happened felt tears of her own coursing down her cheeks. She had already had a small fight with her husband and the result was a fat lip and a black eye.

As quietly as possible, her mother took the flight of stairs that led to the upstairs level and went into her room. She closed the door and reached for a little black book that she kept under the matress, her book from the past. She leafed through it and stopped at a page. She picked up the phone with trembling hands and dialed.

**********************

When Chrys opened her eyes, she knew that she wouldn't be going to school. The left side of her face was sore and her head was pounding from crying last night. She also knew that her mother figured out what happened. Before falling asleep last night, she had unlocked her door and her mother must have come in and turned off the alarm clock and unplugged her private phone line. There was also an envelope stuck in the upper right corner of her vanity mirror with her mother's handwriting on the side.

Chrys sat up in bed and reached beside her, where she kept a bottle of asprin and a glass of water. She downed two quickly and stood up, grabbing at the envelope. She opened it with shaking hands, wondering what it said.

'Chrys, I saw what happened last night and I'm afraid. I'm afraid of what he could do to you next. His drinking has gotten out of control. I called a friend of mine, and he's going to take you away from here. I know his phone number and will call her later tonight, as he is coming for you at 11 am. You don't have to pack everything. Just a few changes of clothes and whatever else you need. Downstairs in the kitchen, beside the toaster, I left the money I withdrew from your bank account and half of what I had in my savings. That will be enough for now. I love you and you know, no matter what, I always have and always will. Love, Mom.'

The blonde haired girl shook her head sadly, not wanting to admit that she was crying. She was afraid if one day her father could kill her but she didn't want to leave her mom alone with him.

A look at her alarm clock told her that she only had an hour before her mother's friend came by to get her. She jumped into the shower and dried of as fast as possible. At random, she threw clothes into her suitcase and pulled on a pair of jeans and a tank top. Looking outside, she saw that it was rather cold and put her blue fleece sweater over top. Running around her room, she tossed everything that had importance to her, including her diary, a few novels and pictures of her friends. She picked up her backpack from where it was left yesterday after school and tossed her make-up bag and managed to shove her laptop computer into it. Chrys put in a few CD's and flew downstairs, to grab the cash that was left for her.

In the stack, there had to be over a thousand dollars. She had been saving since she was eight and there was quite a bit from her mother as well. She put that into her purse and pulled on the shoes she had left at the door and yanked on her jacket. She went back upstairs to get her backpack and suitcase. Chrys went outside and saw that a black Trans-Am was pulling into her driveway. A rather tall man with brown curly hair stepped out from the driver's seat.

"Chrystal?" he asked.

"Chrys, please, and you are-?" she put the suitcase down on the ground and he grabbed it, tossing the forest green suitcase into the backseat.

"Call me Michael. I'm an old friend of your mom's." she nodded her head and looked at the car, inspecting it.

"Nice wheels." she said with a nod to the Trans-Am.

"Just wait." he said with a smile. The door on the passenger side but she swore that she never saw Michael go to open it. Nevertheless, she went to the door and sat down in the plush seat. The door shut on it's own and Michael stepped back into the driver's seat. That's when Chrys noticed it.

"Cool set-up you have in here. What is it, an office on the go?" she gaped at the buttons and screens around her.

"Sort of." was the only reply she would get. 'What a deal. I man of a few words', she thought. Suddenly, a slightly british voice came from all around her.

"Aren't you going to introduce me, Michael? Isn't that kind of rude?" it asked. Chrys looked around and saw no-one else in the car. Her eyes widened but right away went back to the normal size when she felt the pain. Michael grinned at her and patted the dashboard.

"And this is Knight Industries Two Thousand, otherwise knows as KITT." he said, obviously proud of his car.

Chrys managed a shaky, "Hi." as the voice spoke again.

"You must be Chrystal Haynes." she nodded and turned back to Michael.

"I don't suppose you have a cigarette, do you?" she asked as they pulled away from the beautiful house that she would probably never see again.

*************************

It was at least 6 hours from when Chrys, Michael and KITT had left the house when her father drove into the driveway and let himself in. "Chrys?" he called, wanting to apologize for last night. No response came from her and he figured that she was in her room, giving him the silent treatment. He went up the stairs, ignoring the fact that he was still wearing his shoes and knocked on her bedroom door. Still, no sign from her came so he opened the door. Inside, he saw clothes thrown all over the floor and the suitcase she kept in the corner of the room was gone, as well as half her clothes and pictures. After a quick inspection, he noticed that Chrystal's favorite novels were gone and her lap top computer from her desk was missing too. He went back downstairs and sat down in the living room, a drink in one hand. A half hour later, her mother came home, already knowing what her father had found out.

"I'm home!" her voice rang out. Her black eye was covered with make-up and her fat lip had disappeared after holding an ice pack on it for half the night.

"Come here." the starngly calm voice said. Chrystal's mother took a shaky breath and walked into the living room, taking off her high heels as she went. She stood in front of him and her face seemed to have a guarded look on it.

"She's gone and you made her leave. I heard you on the phone last night." he said, still eerily calm.

"what are you-" she was cut off as Chrystal's father took the gun he kept hidden under the chair cushion and pointed it at her.

"You sent her away." he said one more time and pulled the trigger twice. Mrs. Haynes was dead before she hit the ground. The neighbor called the cops at the sound of the gun being fired but it was too late. Her father pointed the gun to his head and pulled it once. The sirens came closer as he hit the ground. Chrys was now known as an orphan, even if she didn't know it.

**************************

Chrys smeared some lime flavored lip gloss on and stepped out of KITT to have a smoke. She lit it and inhaled deeply. The car spoke to her again as she took her second puff.

"You know, one day, that stuff is going to kill you." he said, with the slightest edge of concern in his computer generated voice.

"So be it." she leaned up against KITT and finished her smoke quickly. She got back in the car and closed her eyes. "Where to next?" she murmured, hoping that Michael wouldn't talk about the small fight they had, that Chrys won. It was hard to get the smoke from him, but she had.

"To a hotel. I don't plan in sleeping in KITT again." he said, pressing the ignition button. She had already observered that this car didn't have any key holes, everything was done by buttons or computer panels.

Quickly, the duo, as well as the beautiful car had arrived at a hotel.Chrys grabbed all her bags and Michael grabbed a suitcase of his own and the two walked in to the large lobby.

Michael requested a room with two beds in it and soon, Chrys had changed into a pair of boxers and a fresh tank-top and Michael was wearing a pair of old sweatpants and a faded t-shirt. Chrys noted that he never took off the black watch he wore on his right wrist even though she could never sleep with her navy blue and silver watch on. It beeped and he pressed a button. 'Must be one of those damn watches with alarms on them' she thought as sleepiness started to overcome her.

"What is it, KITT?" he spoke into it. Right away, Chrys sat up, interested. 'It's a communicator. I should have guessed that much'.

"i just wanted to say goodnight to Chrystal." KITT said and Chrys smiled from across the room. She called out to him.

"Good night, KITT. See you in the morning."

"Good night, Chrystal. Good night, Michael."

"Good night, KITT." Michael ended the transmission and turned off the lamp beside his bed. The room was enveloped in darkness as Chrys laid back down on her bed.

"Goodnight, Michael."

"Night." The two fell asleep around the same time.

*****************************

Michael was up first in the morning and he turned on the small color TV set. Chrys woke up moments later, looking at him with sleepy eyes.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" he asked.

"Nah, it's alright. I always get up at-" she glanced at her watch on the night-table and groaned, "Six-thrity every morning."

He chuckled slightly and tossed her his communicator/watch. "I'm going for a shower. Be sure not to lose that." she grinned at him as he went into the small bathroom.

She looked at what he was watching and changed the channel, searching for MTV. She found it and settled down to watch an Aerosmith video. The watch she was holding beeped and she pressed a random button, hoping it was the right one.

"Chrystal, go to channel 12, quickly." she did and a news show jumped out at her. She leaned forward as the special reporter came onto the screen, standing in front of a familiar looking house.

"Thank you, David. Last night, around five o'clock, shots rang out from this neighborhood. A nearby friend called the police but already they found Mr. Scott Haynes and Mrs. Louise Haynes dead. Police have called this a murder/suicide." her green eyes widened and she turned up the volume. The anchor man, obviously named David, came back on the screen. "Now, don't they have a daughter?"

The female reporter came back. "Yes, police have found a note that her mother had left, sending the girl, seventeen year old Chrystal Haynes, to stay with a friend of her mothers. Everyone, the police, neighbors and friends are all glad that the girl was gone before this happened. The police are trying to track her down right now." Chrys turned off the TV and closed her eyes, wishing away the hot tears that were threatening to fall.

Michael came back into the room, his hair plastered down with water and slightly wet.

"What's wrong?" he asked and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"My dad...he...killed my mom and then him. I'm alone." she managed to say. Michael eyes' lowered and then he looked at her and he began to speak.

"No, you're not. I'm here and KITT's here. Always." Chrys sprang up in a fury of anger.

"Shut up! I don't even know you!" After screaming, she ran out of the room and continuned outside. She ran past KITT and out of the parking lot. Fifteen minutes later, she had to stop. Chrys panted, sweat streaking down her back and a pebble lodged into her heel. She grunted in pain ad she stepped off of it and saw KITT coming down the road. She groaned, knowing that she could have gotten further if she hadn't been smoking so much lately.

Chrys waited and stood, tapping her bare foot impatiently. She looked down and realized she must have looked rather foolish, running around a strange town in her daisy covered boxers.

KITT pulled up beside her and she turned her head. The door opened automatically and she got in, expecting a lecture from Michael about running off. Instead, the drivers seat looked empty.

"KITT, where's Michael?" she asked, trying to catch her breath.

"He asked me to come and get you. I don't suppose you have your licence, do you?" he asked.

Chrys became very suspicious. "not with me, but yes, I do have a licence."

"Get in the driver's seat then. You seem like you need to drive fast, anywhere." Chrys smiled slightly as she slipped behind the wheel and took the round device in her hands.

"Where shall we go?" she asked.

**************************************

Garth Knight stood, thinking, infront of the large, plate glass window. He had followed Michael, to see where he was going in such a hurry and in the middle of the night.

The girl he had picked up was no more then a beautiful teenager, no more then eighteen.

A new thought came into his mind. Although he did not have Goliath, since he was destroyed, he had a different, sper charged truck with the AI chip in it. It could easily take out KITT but that wasn't what he wanted.

If anf only if, he could kidnap that girl, he was sure that he could get KITT in return for her safety. Of course, who says she would get back safely. There was no doubt that he also planned to take out Michael but he would use KITT for that.

Garth started to form the plan.

*****************************

It had been three days since Chrys had run off. She had her first experience at driving KITT and used the queerest button that made them go over three hundred miles an hour. It was incredible and by the time she got back, her problems seemed clearer. She supposed what had happened with her parents was for the best. At least her mother wouldn't have to deal with her father ever again and her father could never hit anyone again.

The car pulled into a parking garage in a high rise building. Chrys looked around at the massive size and let out a small sound. "You work here? This place is wicked."

"yeah, this is Knight Industries." he said and the two people left KITT.

"See you in a bit, KITT." she said to the Trans-Am as her and Michael walked into a massive room that was heavily guarded. Michael walked her to the elevator and the guard smiled.

"Hello, Mr. Knight."

"Hi, is Devon Miles in his office?"

"Yes sir, go right up." Chrys and Michael stepped into the elevator and Michael pressed the button for the top floor. Chrys stood silently, thinking.

"Wait, your last name is Knight, that guy down there just said so and this is Knight Industries so.... you own this?" she exclaimed.

Michael shook his head. "Not exactly. I'll explain later." Chrys shrugged and watched the elevator stop at the top floor. They got out, walking side by side until they got to a large oak door with the name, "Devon Miles" on it.

"Sit here." Michael pointed to a chair. "This'll only take a second." she nodded and sat, glad for the rest for her feet. A few minutes later, she saw Michael come from a different direction. 'The office must have another door in there' she thought.

"Let's go." he said gruffly. Chrys followed, thinking about the change in his voice. As they stepped back into the elevator, Garth Knight smiled at his reflection in the steel doors. He wasn't too happy about shaving off his moustache but it must have wroked. The girl believed him.

They rode in silence and as they got out, Chrys said goodbye to the guard and wondered why Michael didn't say anything. He was just friendly to the man less then ten minutes ago.

They continued on to the garage but did not go near KITT. Instead, they went to a regular red Firebird. "Why aren't we taking KITT with us?" she asked.

"Shut up, you stupid girl." Garth growled at her.

"Michael, what's..." she stopped and her eyes became rather large. "You're not Michael! Who are you? Where are you taking me? Let me-" a sharp prick went into her arm and soon, she was passed out in the passenger seat. Garth floored the gas pedal as they left the parking garage and continued onto his hide-out.

***************************

Meanwhile, the real Michael Knight came out of Devon Miles office and looked around for Chrys. When he couldn't find her, he brought the communicator/watch up to his mouth. "KITT, do you know where Chrys is?" he asked.

KITT did a quick scan around him and came back quickly. "Michael! Garth has taken her." Michael simply ran down the nearby flight of stairs, not wanting to wait for the elevator. Running over twenty flights of stairs wasn't his idea of fun and soon he let himself jump from flight to flight. Soon, although he was breathing heavily, he slipped into KITT's driver's seat and they went away, searching for her.

Michael's train of thought went back to yesterday, when he gave her a small silver locket. She didn't know that it was actually a homing device. He was worried that someday, Garth would come after him or someone that was wit him. He had a gut feeling that he never died in the last confrontation. He knew that she had put it on this morning. He only hoped that Garth wouldn't figure out what the necklace really was.

*************************

Chrys woke up a few hours later, on a thin cot. Her sweater was slightly rumpled and her necklace from Michael was twisted uncomfortably around her neck. She turned it around, straitening out the silver chain. As she did tis, Chrys discovered that it was slightly warm. She opened it and saw the smallest bump in it. She smiled. If only that necklace was what she thought it was, then Michael knew where to find her.

Chrys sat up and rubbed her left arm, where the needle had been pushed in as the door opened. Garth Knight stood there. "Come on." he said, with an edge of hate in his voice. She obliged and followed him to a rather expensive computer set-up.

He instructed her to sit at the computer while he booted up his Video Phone and dialed the number that was connected to KITT. Chrys quickly memorized the number. After that, he shoved a piece of paper towards her. "Read that when he picks up."

Soon, the screen was filled with Michael's face. "Crys?" he asked. She looked down and began to read.

"Michael, don't worry, I'm fine. Garth wants me to tell you that he wants you to meet him at this location and bring KITT. You're going to have the final battle, he said. Hurry. He's leaving right now." she stopped reading what was written and looked into his concerened eyes. "Please hurry and get me out of here. Michael, KITT, please-" she was about to continue when Garth reached over and terminated the connection. Then he sent the co-ordinates of where he wanted Michael to be and smiled.

"Good job. I liked that extra touch you put in there. Now, for being such a good girl, here, have a cigarette." Garth pushed an orange colored filter smoke towards her but she looked up and sneered.

"What do you think I am? Stupid? What did you lace this one with? Some mind-altering drug? Maybe you want to make me pass out again?" she narrowed her bright green eyes. Garth shrugged.

"Fine. Here." he passed her a brand new, unwraped package of Marlboro towards her. She opened one and took it out, allowing him to light a match and place it to the tip. She took a drag and grimaced at the taste. She never liked Marlboro.

"Come on. Let's go." he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out to a black car. He pushed her into the passenger side and locked the door. She noticed that her side didn't have any handles on it, but his did. The inside looked almost exactly like KITT's. He got in and roared down the road to meet Michael, where, Chrys knew one of them would die. She looked upward after stubbing out her cigarette. 'Please God, don't let Michael get hurt. Garth is the one that deserves to die.'

***********************

It wasn't long before the two cars appeared at the same time. They both stopped, almost nose to nose. Garth flipped a switch and over what was almost a bullhorn, he spoke. "My dear brother, if you want the girl back safely, give me KITT and his override codes." Michael sighed and opened the door to his car. He stepped out and yelled.

"The code is Alpha Tango 735." he walked slightly away from the car and waited. Garth got out of his own car and looked at Michael. He walked close to him and they two, were almost nose to nose.

"I'm not your brother, either." and he spat on the ground, right in front of his double.

"if you say so, Michael." Garth pulled back with his fist but Michael expected it and ducked. Next, a black jean clad leg came flying up and hit Garth squarely in the face. He hit the ground and screamed at KITT.

"KITT, override code Alpha Tango 735. Now destroy him!"

KITT's red scanner light went back and forth before replying. "Yes, sir." His weapons locked. Chrys reached across the car she was in and opened hte driver's side door. "No, KITT!" she yelled as two missles went off. One was coming right for her so she quickly dived to the ground as she dimly heard Michael call out her name. The other missle went towards Garth and hit him, dead on. It exploded, scattering his remains in a million pieces. There was no way he would ever survive that. The other one hit the car and Chrys realized that it wasn't meant for her. Michael must have given Garth the wrong code. Then, she passed out.

*****************************

It had been two weeks later and Chrys, Michael and KITT were fine. She had been adopted, even though she was turning eighteen in a few months and would be a legal adult. The three of them stood in a rather large airplane, surrounded by people and other cars. Michael had already explained that he and KITT would only be used for emergencies, but they weren't fully retireing. When Michael did retire, KITT would be left for her to drive. She hoped that day would never come. They worked so well together.

"I suppose your new team should introduce itself." Michael said and Chrys smiled slightly. She had hoped that this would take place later in the month because she knew her face was still covered with purple and yellow bruises that were healing and a few deep cuts. She would have one small scar on her right arm from a piece of the exploded car hitting her when she had passed out.

Her thoughts were interupted as a tall, brown haired man came forward. He had steely blue eyes, unlike the one's that she perfered, Michael's eyes. He reached out his hand and she shook it. "Kyle, Stewert, leader of Team Knight Rider. Nice to meet you, Chrystal." she offered him another small smile but this time, let it hit her eyes. Next, Kyle guestered towards an exotic looking female that had dark hair hanging down her back. "Jenny Andrews, my second in command." She also shook her hand but Chrys could feel Michael's body tense up when he said her name. 'Hmm...something for me to look into' she said to herself.

"Duke, DePalma, our ex-cop." A tall heavily-built, african american man came forward and shook her hand. That's when she noticed the eyes. They were a deeper brown then Michael's but the same warmth was there.

"Erica West, our con-artist." Erica, a not quite tall, fashionable, short haired blonde, glanced at Kyle with a rather hurt expression and waved, rather then shaking Chrytal's hand.

"And lastly, our resident genius, Kevin "Trek" Sanders." A short, twenty something year old with long brown hair and crystalline blue eyes looked at her. Chrys laughed to herself when she saw he was wearing a Woody Woodpecker shirt.

"Nice to meet you in person. Nice article about you in people last year. Kind of dry but, cool." Chrys said as she shook his hand.

Trek smiled at her. "Thanks. I heard about your last mission, Chrystal. I'm sure you're okay by now, right?' he asked. The two of them started to engage a conversation on their favorite t-shows, especially the old ones and where they've hacked into. Chrys beat him by saying that she had hacked into not only the FBI, but CIA, WhiteHouse and even FLAG.

A little while later, she was introduced to Dante, a silver SUV that had the same accent as KITT, Domino, a beautiful red and white mustang that was flirting with Michael, Attack Beast, a large black truck that was in a bad mood, except when he saw Jenny there, Kat, Erica's motorcycle that is strictly "by-the-book" and Plato, Trek's motorcycle that she related to instantly. She surprised everyone, Trek mostly, that she could decipher his messages that easily.

After that, Michael and KITT had to go. Chrys ran to Michael and enveloped him into a large hug. She held back her tears and she felt his hand pat her on the back. "Keep in touch, huh, Michael?"

He laughed softly. "You too." Then Chrys ran over to KITT.

"I'll never forget you KITT." she leaned down and kissed the black hood of the Trans-Am.

"I won't either. Chrys...where's your locket?" Her hand reached to her neck where it usually hung.

"michael?" she asked him as she turned. He held it in his hand, dangling on it's silver chain. She took it and opened the silver heart. Inside, on the left, was a picture of Michael and on the right, there was a picture of KITT. She smiled greatfully at him and watched as he got into KITT and began to drive away. Chrys stood there, waving until they were out of sight.

Kyle came up to her. "You hungry? I was just heading to the cafeteria."

Chrys grinned up at him. "Do they serve a good burger and fries here?" Everyone around her laughed, for what reason she didn't know but she would find out soon. She would find out quite a few things and this was her life. Not the life of Chrystal Haynes but the life of Chrystal Knight. She was ready to take on anything that came her way.

~The End~