sixwordstories | (no subject)

Sometimes that's a good thing.

Oh? Would you care to elaborate?

Well sometimes fathers aren't all they're cracked up to be.

... *quiet for a moment* Alright... I don't mean to be rude, so apologies if it comes off that way, but... do cars... have... fathers?

I take it that your father was such as you describe.

A normal car wouldn't. I am anything but normal. However, you are correct - I do not have a father in the traditional sense. However, Wilton Knight provided the funding for my development, so in that sense, he is indeed my 'father'.

Why did you never get to meet him? Did he... die?

Yes. Only a short while before I was brought online.

Oh... I'm sorry to hear that.

Thank you. From what I understand, he was a very good man.

Oh? What have you heard about him?

It was his life's dream to help those less fortunate. Those who could not help themselves, people who were victimized by those more powerful. The Foundation that he created was set up for just that purpose, and I was designed to help make that dream of his a reality.

So what were you designed to do, exactly?

My driver and I were sent on assignments to help individuals or small groups subjected to injustices. Our missions ranged from helping a small group of independent truckers to fend off the advances of a large trucking company to preventing the smuggling of drugs and weapons - and anything in between. My driver was a former police officer, and I was his partner, his backup, his mobile unit. My primary function is the preservation of human life, and I have many features to aid in that function.

Wow *blinks* You're like a superhero in car form. *smiles* Your father was a good man to think of all that and carry through with it.

I'm only as good as the people around me. Without them, I'd be nothing more than a glorified police car.

*his voice softens a bit* Yes. He really was. I wish I'd had the opportunity to know him.

And what about you, young man?

I got the short end of the stick, yeah. But maybe you didn't. Maybe you should look for your father.

*looks at him* I don't think there was ever a police version of the Trans Am.

I wish you had too.

*blinks* Me? *quiet* I'm the only living member of my family, as far as I know. After the bombs... the fallout... they're all gone. *no, he's not quite from this time*

I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could say to make it better for you.

I'm afraid he's passed on.

Probably not, but that is essentially what I am.

Thank you.

I'm very sorry. Are you lonely?

*He'll defer his questions about the bombs and fallout for the moment*

I think you're a lot more than that. I mean, you might be a car, but you can think. You have emotions. That's a hell of a lot better than just some police cruiser.

Of course.

It's alright. ...And... no, I'm not. I mean, everyone I knew before is gone, but I have people that depend on me now. *shakes his head* If someone had told me a year ago that I'd have ended up leading people, I'd have said they were nuts. Now... it's like I was always meant for it.

Thank you again. It is true, there are not many cars out there equipped with AI technology. Still, I rely on my colleagues to keep me performing within optimal parameters.

May I ask what happened? Finding a new purpose - it is something that I admire in humans.

Hey, everyone needs a good pit crew sometimes. *grins*

Well, the long and short of it is the nuclear holocaust happened. World's not... what it used to be. Anyone that didn't die in the blasts or early on in riots or fighting is just surviving now. Most are human still. Some... like me... aren't.

Indeed. *he has a smile in his voice, too*

Well. I don't think I was expecting that answer, Mr...

I'm afraid I haven't gotten your name. Mind my manners. I am KITT.

Now then. I really don't know what to say. A nuclear holocaust? How awful. Humans are such magnificent beings, but equally terrible.

... You're no longer human?

A pleasure to make your acquaintance, KITT. I'm Alexander Marsten.

And yes, a nuclear holocaust - but it wasn't countries bombing eachother. Rogue military commanders got their hands on nuclear weapons and blew away the capitals of just about every nation that had influence. In the U.S. they took out D.C. and all the state capitals, save Hawaii. They're using Pearl as a base, as well as facilities on the other islands, or at least that's what we can skim from radio transmissions we keep picking up on and off.

To think... they justify it by saying they wanted to end wars once and for all. Two wars were fought for that same reason and didn't stop them from happening. It's insanity, but if they actually win in the end... they might end up being right.

And yes, I'm no longer human. I'm... well, strange as this is going to sound, I'm a vampire. I'm not folkloric - no transforming into bats, wolves, or mist for me and my kind. Rather, we're the result of rapid evolution thanks to a mutation caused by exposure to some isotope that was in the fallout. I can actually still eat regular food in small amounts, but instinct makes me want blood. *chuckles* I feel like I stepped out of a 50's sci-fi flick.

And you as well, Alexander.

Oh my. Ending wars by eliminating the human race? That seems rather extreme. And what of the human survivors? Are they now forced to live under dictatorial regimes?

... Not to mention the... other than human survivors. How very interesting. So there are more like you. Are there other sorts of mutations, or only the vampiric one? Are those you lead other vampires as well?

Well, not the human race so much as the governments controlling them. From what I can figure, they planned this out a long time ago to get everything in place. They're still organized, but they aren't moving yet. Probably waiting for the survivors' supplies to dwindle to the point that they can walk in and take over.

What survivors are left are in small factions. In Bakersfield, California, where I'm from, there are three factions of survivors from what we've been able to tell. One of humans, one that's a mix of vamps and humans, and then mine, the Ace's & Eights Coven, all vampires save one. Unit Thirteen, the head of the U.S. faction that took part in this, has a base in the city as well. The old Stockdale Tower; modified to be a fortress.

As for mutations... there's all sorts. One mutation is the stage before vampirism - which... is basically something akin to a zombie; these just aren't actually dead, though they look it. There's also giant, mutated insects - ants, spiders, scorpions; even dragonflies - those things are horrid. Size of a small plane and breath fire. Their name certainly fits now. Not sure what else might be mutated, though sea life I'd guess would be changed as well.

There is one other... mutation... I suppose you could call it. Unit Thirteen wanted super soldiers... so they did some genetic splicing. Ended up making lycanthropes. Faster, stronger, and takes silver bullets to kill them. I wish I could boast about being better... but one of those wolves could probably rip me in half. Good news is that one of them was an unwilling subject. Her name is Patricia, she's a U.S. Marine, and she's with my coven. She's that one I mentioned.

But surely many were killed outside of the government? These people sound very ruthless and cruel. Waiting to march on a defeated people - how crass.

So humans and the newly created vampires get along together?

I don't even think I'd recognize it. California, I mean. I'm from Los Angeles. I shudder to think what it might be like. If those zombie-like people aren't dead, what are they?

My goodness! I don't think even my laser would be able to fight off mutated insects!

And it just gets better. Human experimentation on top of everything else? Is Patricia a full lycanthrope now? Is she in full control of her faculties at all times? Does she go through the change with the phases of the moon, as in the legends? What about the other lycanthropes?

Yes. Millions. Maybe more. The United States was done the worst. Other nations... depends on how dense the population was as to how much it was affected. The Resistance's radio transmissions are sporadic at best right now, so intel on the planet is limited.

Some do; some don't. The St. Joseph's Coven is apparently run by a Catholic Priest that ended up a vampire. Humans and vampires are both welcome there, so long as they remain peaceful. But then... my coven, while mostly peaceful, does have skirmishes with the human group. They call themselves the Hunters. They're under the impression that we're folkloric monsters. I think they're just scared and running on survival instinct. It's why I try to avoid conflict with them. I'd rather not kill anyone I didn't need to.

Actually... scouts that have gone out further... well... L.A. is a hole in the ground surrounded by steel and concrete skeletons. Looks like it might have been been hit too. And the Resistance mentioned something about New York City being obliterated too. Potentially eliminating places that could easily become capitals, I would guess. As for the zombies... they're still human, technically. They just have no higher brain functions and their bodies are... falling apart. The same isotope that caused my kind's evolution effected them, but not enough to change them. Hard to tell yet, but given time... they might end up dropping dead and staying that way as time goes by.

Depending on how strong it is... it might or might not. Takes a twelve gauge shotgun slug to kill an ant. Scorpions... it's better just to turn tail and run. Their bodies alone are the size of... well, you. Not counting those tails of theirs.

She's in control for the most part. She isn't phased by the moon, but she doesn't have control over her ears and tail - she has the wolf versions of those all the time. Apparently it's common for new wolf shifters. As far as others... they're all in Unit Thirteen, so far as I know. Their pack alpha is the unit's executive officer; some Colonel. Patricia says he's an Army Ranger

I’m okay. I accepted the short straw a long time ago. But it’s sad that yours has passed on without you ever knowing anything about him. Do you ever get curious about him?