DISCLAIMER: Big O and all related characters are property of Sunrise, Inc. This original story is property of me.

The Handmaiden

By The Lady Razorsharp

Lyrics: "Beyond the Invisible" by Enigma

Part 1: Katherine

I look into the mirror
See myself, I'm over me
I need space for my desires
I have to dive into my fantasies

"On your mark!"

The young women fit their toes into the starting blocks, their smiles and laughter dying away as conversation gave way to concentration.

"Get set!"

Lithe bodies curved like longbows, the women tipped themselves forward to rest on splayed fingertips.

A single gunshot echoed against the domed gymnasium roof, and the four young women launched themselves forward like gazelles eluding a prowling lion.

With their teammates cheering from the sidelines, the four young women took flight over the hurdles in their paths. The racers turned the corner and hurdled the obstacles on the back straight-away, the team's cheers singling out the dark-haired racer that had pulled slightly in front of the other three.

"Go Kitty!"

"Move it, girl! Come on, move it!"

"She's gaining on you, Kat!"

"Go, Kitty, go!"

The team went wild as Kitty dashed across the finish line with the three others hot on her heels. All the racers slowed to a stop, panting with exertion. A blonde girl a head shorter than Kitty handed her a pale yellow towel as the team called their congratulations.

"I think that's your best time this season," the blonde remarked, pushing her glasses up on her nose.

Kitty rubbed her damp face with the towel, then draped the terrycloth around her slender neck. "Thanks, Ames," she smiled, her smooth alto voice a little breathless still from the race. "I just hope that's a good omen for my final exams."

The pair moved off the track to the sidelines as another group of young women dashed down the track. "What are you nervous for? You always get good grades," the blonde grinned at her dark-haired companion. "What's more, you barely crack a book, from what I see."

Kitty grinned again as she bent to unlace her track shoes. "Are you kidding? I lost count of how many hours I've studied till the words were just little black dots on the page." She dug her stocking feet into a pair of slip-on sandals and picked up her gym bag. "I'm just glad it's almost over," Kitty sighed as they left the pavilion to enter the school building across the courtyard.

"Yeah, graduation at last!" the blonde giggled. "Who'd have thought we would be college graduates someday." She put her hands behind her head, her expression dreamy. "Hey, what are you doing after graduation, Kitty?"

When her friend didn't respond, Amelia turned her blue eyes in the direction of whatever was holding Kitty's onyx gaze. Far across the school grounds, Amelia could make out a man standing at the fence. Two other men in suits stood close beside a long, low car parked at the curb, and a sudden finger of chill went down Amelia's back.

"Who are they?" Amelia ventured, lowering her arms. "They were here the last time your team practiced."

"I don't know who they are," Kitty murmured, "but I wish they wouldn't stare like that. It makes me feel strange."

"Me too," Amelia agreed, seizing her friend by the bicep and leading her toward the locker room. "Let's get out of here."

~*******~

I know as soon as I'll arrive
Everything is possible
Cause no one has to hide
Beyond the invisible

"We are the first generation of Paradigm," Kitty said with conviction, her voice ringing out over the Graduation Day crowd seated in the stadium. "We are the generation who will bring the world back to its true form, the shining tomorrow visualized by the brave souls who arose from the ashes twenty years ago."

Glancing down, Kitty could see her parents seated to one side of the graduating class, their beatific smiles telegraphing their pride. Her parents were the generation she spoke of, she mused, and she too was proud of them--proud of them for rebuilding a world for her to flourish in after the devastation and horror of the past. "We must move into the future," she continued. "We must keep building Paradigm, expanding it to enfold those still lost in the darkness of terror and fear. We will use the knowledge we have gleaned from our years here at Paradigm University to do that--and we are grateful that we were able to study and learn and absorb the precious knowledge that was saved from cataclysm. For without knowledge, we perish."

Kitty stepped away from the microphone as the entire stadium rose to its feet amongst a cacophony of applause. Her black eyes bright with tears, she scanned the crowd of her beloved classmates and friends, wondering what the future held for all of them beyond this day.

A familiar face caught her attention at the bottom of the bleachers--a darkly handsome face wearing a smug smile, as if to mock her stirring speech. Kitty narrowed her eyes, not able to recognize the face at this distance, but remembering the shape of the shoulders, the gloved hands applauding with the rest of the crowd. This was the man who had lingered at the fence after track practice, with his big fancy car and muscled goons standing guard on either side. She looked away, willing him to leave her alone, and was relieved to find them gone the next time she looked in that direction.

Close your eyes
Just feel and realize
It is real and not a dream
I'm in you and you're in me

The graduates and their families milled about on the front steps of the University, exchanging hugs and tearful smiles. Kitty clutched her diploma, looking for Amelia in the crowd of white-gowned girls clustered near the entrance to the Rose Garden. A tall, dark figure stepped in her way, and she brushed past it with a barely breathed "Excuse me."

"Miss Katherine Smith?"

Kitty glanced up to see not one of the black-gowned male graduates, but a man in a finely tailored black suit. His sharp, intelligent gaze settled on her face, and he smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Congratulations on your graduation, Miss Smith," the man said in a smooth, deep voice. "These are for you." He produced a huge bouquet of yellow roses from behind his back and laid them in her arms.

"They're beautiful," Kitty breathed, blushing despite herself. "Have we met before, Mister---?"

"Rosewater," the man said, taking Kitty's smooth hand in his. "Gordon Rosewater." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "You must know I've been keeping an eye on you for a while now. I apologize if I've caused you any distress."

Shifting the bouquet with a rustle of tissue paper, Kitty gave her admirer an uneasy smile. "And just what have I done to deserve this attention?"

"You've gotten high marks in all your classes, you're an excellent athlete---" Rosewater traced the curve of Kitty's chin with gentle fingers. "--and you're a very beautiful girl--no, a beautiful woman." When Kitty frowned, he dropped his hand. "You tell me why you've captured my attention."

"I'm flattered, Mr. Rosewater," Kitty said in a tight voice, "but forgive me if I don't understand." She glanced behind her as her parents called her name. "If you'll excuse me." She turned to leave, then stopped and turned back for an instant. "Thank you again for the flowers."

Rosewater smiled. "It was my pleasure, Miss Smith."

Kitty nodded, then turned and joined her parents. "Who is that handsome man you were talking to?" her mother whispered excitedly. "Is he your sweetheart?"

"No, Mother, he's not." Kitty glanced back to see Rosewater standing in the same place, and to her surprise, he raised a hand to wave farewell. "I've only just met him this afternoon," Kitty murmured, turning back to her parents.

"He seems to like you," her father rumbled, "and he's obviously quite well off. Those roses are grown in East Town, where they've got enough light to do it."

"Well then that settles it," Kitty said breezily, trying to shrug off the strange feeling Rosewater's smile gave her. "Rich guys aren't my type. Look, there's Amelia and her family. We're going to be late to the reception if we stay around here."

With Rosewater forgotten, the Smiths called congratulations to Amelia, and the two families walked with the graduates to the University hall.

It is time
To break the chains of life
If you follow you will see
What's beyond reality

Three days later, Kitty was coming down the stairs, her hat and gloves in her hand. She stopped three steps from the bottom, hearing another male voice coming from the living room--a voice that was not her father's. Clutching her tan leather gloves tightly, Kitty listened for a moment, trying to see if she could pick out what they were saying.

"--a special girl," said her father. "She was the anchor in our lives when she was born, tying us together after all the confusion." There was a clink of teacups, and then her father spoke again. "My wife and I--well--"

"I understand, Mr. Smith. She gave you a reason to go on after what seemed like the end of the world." There was a sigh, and a slight change in volume let Kitty know the stranger had stood and walked to the bank of windows at the opposite end of the living room. "I don't remember my parents. I don't know how old I was--twelve, thirteen, maybe--when I fell in with a work crew trying to rebuild the city. Eventually I became the foreman of that crew, and then I managed the entire construction operation. I'm a self-made man, Mr. Smith, a true son of Paradigm. I was even on the committee that renamed the city, giving the people who live here a touchstone, a strong pillar of surety in the sea of chaos." The cushions of the couch rustled, and Kitty knew the stranger had resumed his seat. "I see that same spirit in your daughter. That's why I've chosen her out of all the women in this city to court--and, when and the time is right--make her my wife. With your permission, of course."

Kitty had heard enough. Marching down the stairs, she stalked into the living room, her lined plaid pencil-slim skirt rustling. "What's going on here?" she demanded.

"Forgive me for surprising you again, Miss Smith," said a familiar voice, and Kitty turned to look up into the darkly handsome face of Gordon Rosewater. "I hope you don't mind that I asked your father not to tell you I was here. I had some things to discuss with him first."

"Like deciding my future without me?" Kitty snapped. "Mr. Rosewater, I think you'd better leave."

"Katherine!" her father said sternly. "Be polite. Mr. Rosewater," he nodded, turning back to the man in the crisp khaki pants and navy polo shirt, "please pardon my daughter's rudeness, but I have to agree with her. This is a bit premature, since you were only introduced three days ago."

"I understand your concern," Rosewater nodded. "Though I won't lie to you both; I hope Katherine and I do get a chance to know each other better, and I hope it will someday lead to a…lasting partnership." He smiled at Kitty. "You look beautiful as usual, Katherine. Yellow does indeed suit you," he nodded, indicating her fine-gauge sweater, and she blushed.

"I was just going out to do some shopping," Kitty heard herself say. "Good afternoon."

"I was going downtown myself; can I give you a ride?" Rosewater offered.

Kitty glanced at her father over Rosewater's shoulder, sighing as her father mouthed, Go on. "I won't be taking you out of your way, will I?"

"Not at all. My car's just outside." He smiled at her father. "Don't worry, I'll have her back before midnight," he joked as Kitty went to the mirror to settle a yellow beret on her dark hair.

"I know she's in good hands," her father laughed. "Kitty, behave yourself."

"I'm sure she will," Rosewater mused, coming up behind Kitty to rest his hands on her shoulders. He smiled at the picture they made in the mirror. "We look good together, eh?"

Kitty blushed again. "I--I guess we do."