Katy's History

[somerandomhippie]

((Ooh, look, a metaphorical band-wagon! Let's jump on it!))

Delta Prime
24 June, 2449

"Hey, wait up!" Katy laughed after her brother, sprinting down an alleyway after her brother. "You know I can't run as fast as you, stop showing off!"

Kevin shook his head, waiting at the end of a brick wall for his baby sister to catch up. "It's not my fault you're such a little skinny-mini," he teased, his pant less pronounced than Katy's dog-tongue. "You should eat more, maybe." There was only a two-year gap between them, but it was big for two years-- Kevin was hitting the end of his boyish lank, muscle building up, whist Katy was stuck in adolescence. He would still wait for her, though. He always did.

Katy adjusted the position of her tongue so it went from hanging limply to pointing at her role model. "I don't want to get as fat as you, that's why," she retorted. Kevin scoffed, and grabbed her in a quick headlock. Katy booted at his knees as he ruffled her already-mussed hair, laughter and exclamations of pain pealing from them both. They were used to this, yet it somehow never grew old.

Gruff voices came from behind the wall, and scuffing. Kevin immediately stopped, and peeked around the wall. Katy nudged herself under his shoulder, curious as he was. Two policemen emerged, taking an elder man by his shoulders. He protested, trying to shake them off feebly, as they put him in the back of a speeder and drove away. The siblings exchanged glances, and emerged, wandering over to the rather rusted doorway.

A policeman blocked their entrance. "No unauthorized personnel allowed in," he stated firmly, barring their way with a thick arm. "Shouldn't you kids be at home?"

"What happened to him?" Kevin asked, undeterred.

"He's been arrested for bodily assault," the officer sighed. He obviously didn't want to deal with them at the moment.

Katy furrowed her brow. "Bodily assault?" she clarified uncertainly. "That old geezer couldn't hurt a fly if he wanted to. Besides, who would come to the police about that? Everyone knows the police never bother with boring crimes like that." Katy prided herself on her knowledge of the security sector of the government, gleaned from innocent chats with neighbours and friends and a dictionary. "What evidence do you have?" She crossed her arms stubbornly.

"Beat it, kids," the officer snapped, obviously insulted. "Before I turn you into foster care." Taking the hint, she and Kevin spun and raced back down the alleyway. Police officers weren't known for being very nice to citizens.

--Later--

"What do you think happened to him, Dad? she asked her father over supper. Mum was taking Kevin to football practice, and Katy wanted to ask him about the old man and the police. Her dad knew everything.

Her father shrugged, munching on his spaghetti thoughtfully. "I'm not sure, sweetheart," he told her truthfully. Her dad never lied to her, even if it might have been better. He was tough, but she loved him, and he loved her. "Maybe they did have evidence for something, you never know.

"But they were so mean," she insisted, after she finished slurping her noodle up. "What if he was innocent? How do they know? Why didn't they give him a chance?"

"I guess they don't see it that way," he sighed. "They think he's guilty, so that's that for them. They aren't looking at it that way."

"Well, they should," she insisted stubbornly, picking at her peas half-heartedly.

"I know, Kate," he nodded. "But, neither you or I are police officers. There's not much we can do about it."

"I will," Katy told him defiantly. "When I grow up, I'm gonna make sure the police are nice to everyone, even the bad guys. 'Cause they're still people too."

A knowing smile crossed her father's face, covering ill-disguised pride. "I don't doubt it, my girl," he chuckled. "Now, eat your peas. You're going to need to have lots of strength to change the world."

[/b]

Katy nodded, digging in obediently. She would show them. One day.[/center][/color]

[somerandomhippie]

((Seems my metaphorical band-wagon has a bit less doom and gloom... Odd.))

Earth
January 3, 2460

Katy wrung her hands, slightly nervous. She was in a small, bleak room, waiting as she heard simulated gunfire behind the door. This was her entrance exam into UGAP, and a hell of an entrance exam it was. One of the toughest in the Alliance, you had to be one heck of an officer to pass this. After only a few years of college, she wasn't quite sure if she was ready. Her professor was, though. He was confident she would be one of the few youngsters to ever complete the exam. Comforting thought. Sort of.

A buff man, probably in his forties, came out of the room and headed for the exit. He was sweating, and looked slightly beat. Oh, great. Bodily harm in the entrance exam. That never boded well. Through the panel of glass, a few feet from the door, one of the adjudicators tapped on the pane, signaling for her to go through. She took a deep breath, and walked in.

She was hit with a sudden familiarity as she stepped into the simulated room. The brick, the chain-link fence, the worn concrete beneath her feet... It was so much like home. Of course, the layout was entirely different, she could see that, but the details were immaculate. Oh, she loved having an advantage. To whatever she was supposed to be doing.

She heard a shot. Something whacked near her feet. She looked up, and saw a doppelganger perched on a holographic building. She spotted a ladder, and sprinted towards him. He gave chase.

Roof-hopping was one of her favorite things to do as a teenager. The feeling of soaring through the air, propelled by only herself, gave her shivers. It was just as fun here as in the real world, it seemed. She leapt across the short gaps in the buildings, watching the man grow closer and closer.

Then he slipped.

Katy's heard jumped in her mouth. Holograms didn't just fall, they weren't programmed to. She leapt out on her stomach, grabbing the man's wrist. It was warm and soft, just like a person's. She grunted as gravity took a hold of him, ramming her diaphragm into the roof ledge. She held on tight, and he managed to get a purchase with his feet, grabbing her wrist to scrabble up. His mop-head was even scrabbling around.

"Thanks," he said once he had gotten back on the roof, his voice a little gruff. "Guess I mis-judged that. Thanks for saving me."

Katy smiled. "Any time," she insisted. "It's not all that fun to hit the ground after."

The man chuckled. "Glad I didn't have to experience that first-hand. It's Tom, by the way." He extended a large, paw-like hand.

Katy smiled. "I'm Katherine," she replied, shaking the hand. It was callused, yet gentle, and the handshake was ever-so-firm.

Tom grinned. "Nice to meet you, Katherine," he grinned. "Here--" He fished in his jacket pocket for a while, and finally drew out an already-opened package of jellybeans. "Want one?

"Love one." Katy reached in, and found a yellow one. "My favorite," she explained with a grin. The man's smile broadened, and he got himself a green one, so they could munch down together.

A cough came over a PA system. "Um... Excuse me, Miss Tyler... You do realize you're still in the middle of the assessment?" a voice crackled.

Katy flushed slightly, making a face at the man. He chuckled, his amusement distracting him enough for Katy to whip out a pair of cuffs and slap them on. He raised a brow at her.

"I normally don't cuff my jellybean buddies, but I would like the job," she sighed. "Not that it clears my conscience much." She stuffed his gun in her back pocket.

Tom nodded understandingly. "It's fine," he brushed it off. "Been happening all day. Shall we continue our banquet outside, Miss Tyler?" His eyebrow went up playfully as he held out a cuffed arm.

Katy couldn't hold back a giggle as she slipped her arm in his. "It would be my pleasure," she laughed, escorting him out of the hologram and to the adjudicators.

--Later--

"I must say, that was a rather unorthodox performance back there, Miss Tyler," the Brigadier commented, shuffling the papers on his desk. He was looking rather strict in his immaculate uniform, and for some reason, the Gandalf-style beard did nothing to off-set it. "Eating jellybeans with your assailant usually isn't standard conduct." His gaze was intense.

Katy managed to stand her ground. "He did offer them, I didn't want to seem rude," she mumbled. She hesitantly brought her gaze up to his, and stopped inspecting her chair. "Besides, I couldn't let him fall, assailant or no." She sighed internally. Worst job interview ever.

To her amazement, a small smile twitched behind his facial hair. "No," he agreed. "On a slightly different note, you are the only person during the course of these interviews who didn't attempt to shoot at Tom, which I am sure he is grateful for. As well as our insurance company covering him." He rose from his seat, and offered Katy a hand. She took it, suppressing a disbelieving grin.

"Thank you, Miss Tyler," the Brigadier told her formally. "Strictly off the record, I have a feeling you should expect to be hearing from us very soon."

Katy smiled broadly. "Thank you, Brigadier," she grinned, stepping out of the office. Now she was on her way.