Chapter 7

Michael stepped into the light, feeling he'd surely be blinded by its brightness.

Coming out the other side, he was surrounded by familiar faces. One, in particular, was pushing his way to Michael.

"Devon!" Michael embraced the man who was partially responsible for his partnership with K.I.T.T.

"Michael! Welcome home, my boy!" Devon returned the embrace, slapping Michael heartily on the back. "Come with me, He wants to see you."

"He does?"

"Of course! He personally greets everyone who crosses into the light. Take my hand."

They were instantly somewhere else.

"Michael! We're all so glad you finally decided to come home!" The booming voice seemed to come from all directions. It made Michael feel like a small child again.

"Sir, I need to talk to you about a couple of friends of mine."

"Yes, I know. Kitt and Casey."

"Please, sir, I know they aren't human, and I'm not sure they have souls. Can machines have souls? But they are compassionate and caring."

"Don't worry, their place here is as assured as any of my other creations."

"Your creations?" Michael trailed off, a bit dumbfounded.

"They achieved true sentience through my will. Did it never occur to you that if humans could create sentient beings, why weren't there more of them? Why only two?"

"I just thought, I mean, the expense," Michael trailed off a bit lamely.

Gentle booming laughter surrounded him.

"Why?" Michael asked.

"I thought, perhaps, if people saw that sentient machines could show compassion to humans, maybe humans would show more compassion towards each other. Kitt and Casey have a long road ahead of them yet. But don't worry, when their time on Earth is ended, they will return home, as will your wife and daughter, when their own roads come to an end."