"You can analyze the information within me, and then drive your motorcycle back to the mansion. It is safe there." She said these words with the obvious underlineing -- home. K.A.T.I. had been activated there, given life, and it was her place to stay. To Kati, it was home.

"Oookaaaay..."

Kai hesitantly opened the talking car's door and got inside, sitting with her legs hanging out of the car in case it was a trap. Her gaze swept over all the buttons and lights. They all had to do something... and she would make sure she found out what each button did, when she got the chance...

"So what information did you want to give me?" she asked.

Outside the car, the pink motorcycle's engine grumbled softly.

"Just watch the screen." Kati instructed the other, playing valuble information across the orange screen. All information on the F.L.A.G. foundation, what it stood for, and how it offered her a home and good pay. It might almost seem that they wer ethe ones getting ripped off, but Waltin Knight had been a kind soul. Or that was what most wanted to believe -- he had ordered the deactivation of K.A.R.R. after all. Since K.A.T.I. had never known K.A.R.R. in his violent years, she found it awful to de-activate someone. Even if that someone deserved her, she was programmed not to like the thought of taking life -- whether it be human, Artificial intelligence, or other wise.

"If you still are not convinced, I can contact Devon Miles."

Kai whistled quietly.

"No, it's alright. I'm convinced."

She grinned wryly. "Maybe it's high time that I quit roaming around and settled down with a job. Never thought it would be something as dramatic as this, though... Think I can fit my motorcycle in you?"

Now that last sentence sounded funny...

"Modifications have been altered from the vehicle's main form to suit new up-grades. Yes, your motorcycle should be able to fit." K.A.T.I. told the female, with a moderate cheerful tone. The young A.I. was very proud to have her rider accept the proposal. It was the first mission she had completed on her own!

"Alright, then."

Kai got out and spent a few minutes staring at her motorcycle and the talking car's trunk space... with some difficulty, she eased the Hayabusa in sideways, trying not to dent anything. Her hand passed over the gouge in the motorcycle's front, reminding her of its presence again.

She re-entered the car, sitting down behind the wheel and resting her hands in her lap. "You sure it won't pop out or anything?"

Slightly insulted my the question, K.A.T.I. responded; "I am more advance than your average car. I can keep locks secured firmly."

The car shifted on her tires, getting accustomed to the new weight. After the adjustments were made, the young A.I. turned her engine off. The keys were already in the ignition -- now that she had a driver, she was no longer allowed to drive herself while Kairyn was in the driver's seat (and conscious).

"Good to know," Kai answered.

She turned the keys carefully, listening to the engine ignite. It had been quite a while since she had driven a car...

"Where should we go now?" she asked, and chuckled. "This is kind of strange. I'm asking my... the car... for directions."

(( I know next to nothing about driving cars. XD ))

"Heheh...let's clarify, who's doing the stalking, who's doing the confronting?" the French-Italian woman said, smiling widely as a show of thanks.

--

Meanwhile, Achromine felt chills race up her spine. She bit her lip and looked around, her eyes glowing faintly before pulling the two males along. Something was going to happen, she just knew it.

"Split it?" Jazz suggested, turning to see what the teenagers were up. She smirked silently, just imagining what fun this could be.

--

(LOL -- they're fun to drive. Only have a few times, since Ma is teachin' me. But I bet motorcycle's are funner. But damn, a high tech car like KA.R.R., K.I.T.T., and K.A.T.I.? I'd never take it off Auto-pilot! ...Or they'd always be nagging at me like a back seat driver. )

"You are asking me -- Knight Automotive Tactical Intelligence. The car, as you put it, is just my current body. But I do suggest to F.L.A.G. is a good place to start. I shall put up a Gallactic Positioning System on my scanner. Just follow it to the right place." The orange screen that flashed with her words suddenly turned blank. And then for the second time that night information appeared on the screen.

"Hmm...I'll go stalk them first, you confront them. I've always wanted to stalk," Frances said, even though she'd stalked plenty of times -- but still, stalking was excellent fun, all things considered. She grinned brilliantly, cracking her elbows next. The teenagers were walking down the street a bit faster, the silver-eyed one's expression that of mortification at the rudeness they were displaying.

"Want me to let you have the fun first, before confronting?" Jasmine asked her friend, peering out after the loose group. She could almost sense some sort of aurora from them, she knew it.

"Yeah."

Frankie's only warning that she was about to leave was the final cracking of her toes. Then she leapt from her place by Jasmine's side, landing on top of a building on the other side of the street. Due to some fancy handling, nobody noticed the brunetted, and continued on their way. The light blue eyes focused on her targets, and then she poofed herself down from the building and quickly blended in with the crowd, still looking at them.

Her appearance would change every time they looked her way. The streets were busy enough (read: can't move without bumping into someone busy) so it wouldn't be hard at all.

If they kids were smart, they'd start feeling a sense of paranoia soon.

Frankie smiled.

"Right..." Kai muttered, carefully easing KATI into the stream of traffic. "So I just follow that route, eh..."

As she drove, she wondered something, and finally voiced her concerns.

"What happens if someone's about to crash into us?" she asked, mostly out of curiousity.

Jazz laughed faintly, blending in with the crowd as she stuck far enough behind, yet close enough to be observent of Frankie's shadow. When the elder woman was ready, she would make sure knew.

But for now, the Japanese women was all for watching the scenes unfold.

----

"I shall remove us from it's path, turbo-boost over it, or just let it hit if there is no other option. Do not worry -- no damage shall ever come to you." K.A.T.I. confirmed, wondering know if this was like to her brothers when they had riders. Why they were always so eager to go out on missions...it was a straneg feeling. Almost of rightious acts, but mainly, the youne A.I. thought, of belonging.

"Turbo boost... over... it?" Kai asked nervously. "So you're not only a sentient car - you're a sentient, flying car?"

She winced inwardly, easing up on the gas pedal a bit. Flying wasn't something high on her list of favorite pasttimes... especially in a sentient car.

"Incorrect. I can not 'fly' in the sense you are thinking. It accelerates me to that of ultra-high speeds, and if I manage it right, I can leap. Lunge, in essence." K.A.T.I. corrected the other, letting the other control of primary funcations. Having someone else control, the A.I. thought, was actullay kind of...enjoyable.

"I wish I could fly though." She added on, as though an after thought.

"I'm sure every land-bound creature - or car - wishes they could fly," Kai commented, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. "Without having to be loaded into airplanes and such."

Something caught her eye, somewhere near the casinos. It didn't quite look like it was a tourist... it looked more like a giant insect of sorts.

"What do you think that is?" Kai asked, pointing towards it. "That, over there. See it?"

"I think there's someone following us," Tiziano grumbled, his eyes looking around everywhere. He knew that there was something out there that was freaking both himself and Fuzzy out, he just didn't know what that something consisted of.

Beside him, Akahana nodded. "Yeah, I feel it too, Cy. Checks, be on alert."

The shy male's ears quickly turned into that of a well-trained cat's, and he could literally hear everything around him. It had long since passed that he even cared about his brain's health, considering he gained a major headache whenever he changed his ears. Especially since the change could not be seen outwardly, as it all occurred inside.

Checker shook his head when he heard nothing unusual. There was talking, and then skaters zooming past, but there was nothing overly suspicious.

--

Frankie continued to stalk them. They were getting jumpy, she could tell, because the hotheaded male's eyes were in a little frenzy of their own. A grin spread across her face again. She ran a hand through her auburn hair, cracking her neck while doing so and then popping a bubble she blew from a wad of gum.

The car stiffened at the prospect of planes. Flying oneself was different than letting someone, or something fly you around. She hated planes with a passion, and had always downright refused to go in the foul things. Suddenly what Kairyn was saying was catching up with her.

"Yes, I do..." Kati stated, trailing off.

"Either his ship came early, or we have an illegal. Are you ready for your first mission, or shall I call in C.H.A.S.E. to either handle it, or be back up?" The young Artifical Intelligence stated, letting herself wheel forwards. Excitement was starting to affect her, and it was now the second time she was able to experience it.

Kai's eyebrows vanished behind her unruly bangs.

"Sure, I'm ready. After all, who doesn't want to meet a giant insect man? It's like walking into a sci-fi movie or something like that."

She paused.

"...His ship?"

K.A.T.I. was a bit unsettled by the fact that Kairyn was using Sci-Fi movies as a guide to this all. For this was no movie, it was real life. And in real life, every action, every re-action, every wound, was just as deadly. There wouldn't be any heroic rescue if there was a fault, no last minute save, no stunt doubles to take on the daring tasks.

It made Kati respect and hate real life all the more.

"Judging by recorded information, this one is most like Earth males. According to scanners he is unarmed, but he could have a dis-balaner on him. If he is an illegal, he will most likely be willing to leave quietly. If that is the case, we must make as little an up-roar as possible. Also, there is a gun in my glovebox. Take it."

K.A.T.I. then went into a strange silence, debating as to how to explain 'ship'. She herself was not that clear on the meaning, having picked it up from the others at F.L.A.G. In the end, the young A.I. decided to go with the meaning she had come upon herself.

"Ship, as in the space craft he used to come to this planet. There are some vessels that go from planet to planet, like galactic buses. Others have their own, like cars. It's a bit complicated."

As the silence continued, Kati's prgramed in human emotion swere starting to act up. Strangely, she felt excited and nervous, not for herself, but for her partern. She would contact one of the mechanics when she got back, that couldn't be right...

"I am not at ease with sending you out, on your own with no training against one of the extratrestrials. I wsould feel safer if we contacted C.H.A.S.E., at least for back up."

Avensis continued to look at the map, now he was sure he was lost, not only that, he started to get a niggle that he was being watched. He shrugged and wandered around in circles, he now had passed the irritable stage he was at his wits end with the stupid map.Maybe comming to earth was a stupid idea after all. He couldn't distinguish north from south. The busy Vegas streets are not helping at all.

"At least have a big billbord saying; 'Welcome to flag'." he grouched to himself, this day was a bad one.

"Sounds wonderful," Kai remarked dryly, searching through the glovebox for the gun. It felt cold and harsh in her hands... an excellent method of self-defence, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to actually shoot someone, even if she wasn't shooting for the kill.

"Maybe we should call for backup," she agreed halfheartedly. "I don't think I'm ready to be kidnapped by aliens, even if they are as peaceful as you say."

K.A.T.I. was glad there was no reluctance from the other, and opened up her communication network with the other andriod. Where it flashed orange now showed the face of an elder man, looking down. It was most likely his communicator was a watch, and judging by the night sky above him, he was close.

"Well howdy Kati, wha' can ah do fer ya?" The thick Texan accent drawled across the speakers, along with a friendly wave.

"Chase, we require your services."

"We? Shoot, ya finally meet tha' girl you was supposed ta par'ner up with?"

"Yes. But right now is not the time for talking. We have another one of the giant Mantis religiosa loose, and Kairyn has agreed for back up. Your services are required."

"So ya've said. Okay, I'll be there ta help ya with that Mantis soon enough. Already have tha cooridenates. Chase out."

The man's face disappeared from the screen, being replaced by the silent motion of orange that lit up when Kati 'spoke'. She remained silent, keeping sharp scanners out for the alien life.

Kai listened to the exchange impassively, not taking her eyes off the road.

"So how long do you think he'll take to get here?"

"According to scanners he is not that far away. Judging by his speed, and traffic condition, he could be here in persicely --"

"Now." A deep voice interupted from behind, patting the top of the car. The tension and annoyance was almost tangable from Kati, and just made the man laugh. Chase leaned over to look within the car, and tilted his hat in greeting.

"Well howdy ma'am."

----

Kracken shifted uncomfortabely in the human body she resided in. The once pale blue scales were now replaced with pale, smooth white skin, lining her hole human body. The only place it did not acure was the deep circles mark undernether her hazel eyes. Ginger snap hair flowed shimmeringly to her shoulders, much to her own digust. Kracken didn't like looking pretty, she wanted to look tough.

There were up-sides to this planet though. Gambling was a high interest in this city, and by Gorgen she saw many suckers. Instint of street play took effect, and it was boudn that someone had to keep the now human on a short leash or else who knew what would happen.

"Ronnie, remind me again why we can't go into those Casino's?"

"'Cause if you do you might not come back out. You don't know how people are in there," Rondana said with hands on her hips. She caught Kracken's uncomfertable tone and laughed. "As for the human thing, I think you look pretty, so chill out," she coaxed. "And besides, you could still kick anyone's butt if you wanted to."

Kracken stuck her tonue at Rondana mockingly, but laughed non-the-less, clinging to the other's side like teenagers do.

"But imagine the hussling! So many suckers not expecting us kids to now how to cheat -- how to cheat and not get caught! We can make some big bucks."

Rondanas eyes lit up at the possibility. She cast a glance at the rest of the squadron to make sure they weren't listening.

"Hmm... that does sound sort of like a good idea... but, then again, if we hussle them, they could get pissed and try to attack us. People who benchpress- or whatever the term is- plus 300 pounds trying to kick our butt? Crystals and martial arts probably won't help. Think a bunch of angry Snipes." she added with a hint of concern.

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