Chapter I: Luck Plays With Loaded Dice.
It had been nearly fifteen years since Katherine had come to the orphanage, bundled in a rough blanket with nothing but her name and age. And it been nearly three since she had failed to be adopted. When she had failed to be adopted, she had been informed that she was pretty much stuck in the system until eighteen, when she would be given the average chance at life that every child got.
But for now, she was still in the orphanage, with the less than pleasant Matrons, the icy Mistress, and dozen or so kids her age. All of whom tended to ignore one another.
Most of the teen aged kids tended to focus on preparing for their eighteenth birthday, studying, researching colleges, and working odd jobs to earn credits. Those that didn't were the ones that were going south.
And all of them had to help by the Matrons by either caring for the younger children or doing chores, depending on what the general attitude of the first Matron who saw you was. Fortunately for her, Katherine smart enough to figure out how to stay good side of the Matrons, she would usually end up working with the kids, which she preferred.
Katherine was studying in her bedroom, having just finished a session with the youngest children, when her wrist port chimed, indicating that that the Orphanage's owner wished to come in.
Keying the door open in response to the virtual 'knock', Katherine called out, "Come…in?"
Mistress Turner knocking at her door was unusual in and of itself, but was even stranger was the person standing behind her.
Most people who came to adopt a child were usually easily placed into a stereotype: Old people, usually couples who were terrible empty-nesters, young married couples who for some reason couldn't have children, a housekeeper trying to find a maid, or some charity nut. The man behind Mistress Turner fit none of these.
Tall, dark haired, pale skin with a slight grey tint that Katherine was pretty sure didn't come from the light streaming through the window, with nose like a hawk's and an intimidating aura.
And Katherine was pretty sure she could recognize him.
"So, this is the girl?" Asked the man.
"Yes," Mistress Turner replied. She had her fingers crossed that this man would choose to adopt the girl. Not out of any preference to the girl, but because if this man were to adopt any child from the orphanage, the people who would decide to adopt would have this orphanage as number one on the list of places to go. And honestly, the orphanage could really use less children. "This is Katherine."
"Hmm," the man hummed absently, before coming over to speak to Katherine, who had stood up, abandoning her Robotics essay.
"Do you know who I am, Katherine?"
Hesitating, Katherine answered,
"You're Pitch Black, owner of Black Industries, the leading company in what's left of the world."
With a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Pitch Black, for it really was him, replied, "Correct. And you are Katherine, a foundling orphan, sixteen years old, with a high intelligence level but low chance in the world once you leave the system." Mentally, Katherine bristled at his last comment, everyone knew she had hardly any chance after she hit the adult world to do much more then survive, there was no need to point it out. Outside of her head, Katherine made no sign that his comment had hit a nerve. No need for weakness.
Abruptly, Pitch changed subject, "Do you know why I'm here?"
Katherine shook her head, "No…"
"But you have an idea, correct?"
"Yes."
"Let's hear it then."
Taking a deep breath, Katherine began to explain her reasoning. "It's pretty common knowledge that you don't have any relatives, or children. And despite all attempts, the secret to immortality still hasn't been figured out. Scientist's have figured out how to increase immune systems for longer life-spans, but after about a hundred and twenty years, the body will start shutting down. Everyone in the seventh year and up learns this. So, if you want to keep from chaos ensuing after your…" here Katherine stopped, thinking that it would be best not to mention the inevitable fact that eventually everyone, including Pitch, would die, and decided to create a quick edit. "Retirement, you need an heir. And since you don't have any kids, your best bet would be to find a ward."
Pitch Black looked mildly impressed, while Mistress Turner was just staring. How in the world had the child figured out what was going on? "How do you know this child!?" She asked, half in shock.
Katherine shrugged, "I just listened during the World Social studies classes, and net-pictured Mr. Black when he came in to confirm." Katherine held out her wrist-port as confirmation.
The look on Mistress Turner's face was absolutely priceless. Unfortunately, it lasted for only three seconds. And Katherine's wrist-port wasn't a good thing to use to take embarrassing photos with.
Pulling herself together, Mistress Turner turned over to Pitch. "So, do think you'll be willing to adopt her?"
Looking straight at her, Pitch nodded, "Yes, I think that she's who I've been looking for."
And if the small smile he wore, and Katherine couldn't see, seemed oddly sinister to her, Turner never mentioned it.
A/N: Oh wow, this took a while to get out. I'm so sorry guys, I've been busy with life, (meh), and got distracted. I am going to be traveling next week, going out to Kansas City to see my new baby cousin, so I'll either write a ton on my computer before I leave, or leave you all hanging for about two weeks and return with handwritten stories to copy. Probably a mix of the two. And I currently have my baby sister climbing on me while I type. And now she's hanging on the back of the chair. Joy. Excuse me. Also, pay attention to the fact that Pitch said that Katherine is who he's been looking for, it's important.