Katie Kennedy

By Michael Field

Katie never wanted to be a superhero.

 

It's the Spring of 1985 and Katie is making it up as she goes. Following the death of her parents, Katie left college to take care of her younger sister. She took a job at Brookville's premier employer, Epsen Pharmaceuticals, where she endures office life filled with men in positions of power and unchecked behavior.

 

The daily harassment at work, the stress of struggling to make ends meet, and battling with her adolescent sister defeats Katie on a daily basis. But Katie's life changes the night she sees a light in the sky...

 

The meteor crashes into the woods outside Brookville, carrying with it an unknown passenger, an alien life form, a symbiote. When Katie approaches it, the symbiote and her merge together, granting Katie superpowers. Separate they are ordinary, but together they are something magnificent!

 

Unfortunately for Katie, dark forces exist in and around Brookville and they want these powers for their own evil purposes, putting her, her friends, and her sister in danger.

 

Katie Kennedy never wanted to be a superhero. Now she has no choice. Just don't call her Supergirl.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Field
• Release date: May 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224329373

Michael Field

I directed a feature I penned in 2005 titled, "Save the Forest", which enjoyed a small run on Netflix as well as being released internationally through Echelon Entertainment. I created the short film, "The Hero", which was a finalist for TriggerStreet.com's annual festival in 2005. and developed two successful web series, The Puzzle Maker's Son and Scenes from the Movies From there, I published my two novels Adam Parker and the Radioactive Scout and Adam Parker and the High School Bully. In 2015, my script Kiddo was a quarterfinalist for the Nicholl Fellowship and in 2017, I was nominated for a Writer's Guild Award for Outstanding Writing in New Media for my short Life Ends @ 30. Recently, I've published a novella, Paradoxed, and a YA-Adventure novella called All Things Weird: The Jar of Pandora. I also have a short film, that I wrote and directed, on the festival circuit, Noppera-bō You can find me here: michaeldfield.com and Forgotten Cinema Podcast.

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Up on the Roof publishing

Monroe, CT

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher.

Katie Kennedy

All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2024 Michael Field

V1.0

ISBN-13: 9798389766105

Edited by Sarah Litt

All rights reserved – Used with permission.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without expressed written consent of the publisher/author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

More Stories by Michael Field

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"The hours we spend talking about writing is time we don’t spend actually doing it."­ – Stephen King, On Writing

There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges. – Ernest Hemingway

Prologue

Earth

Cold. Dark. No sound. No light. The dangers of space are well known, yet not well known enough. Death can come for you in an instant. You could cease to exist without so much as a whimper. Exposure would cause the oxygen inside your lungs to crystallize. The fluid in your eyes would ice over, with no time for a single blink. No last words. No cries. Space can end you without much fanfare at all.

There is also much beauty in space despite all that darkness and death. The wonders of the unknown, of the universe, are limitless. Our species is one of the oldest in the universe. We have lived many different lives, adapting from generation to generation with one purpose. To survive. And survive is what we have done. But we are simple. We may survive, but we cannot thrive. Not without the help of others. Much of our lives are spent searching for a vessel, a being to co-exist with and live a long and fruitful life. We provide a balance in both our vessel’s life and our own life. Unfortunately, this fruitful life, a choice for balance between species, is not shared by some of my kind.

I speak of things well beyond the imagination of the beings living on the large blue rock that circles the giant star. A planet full of life, possibilities, and perhaps, the key to my survival. I didn’t know my ultimate destination would be this planet the inhabitants call Earth, but it quickly became my only chance to live.

I’m fully prepared for the force of impact once my traveling vehicle hits the atmosphere. The heat is intense, but I’m safely tucked away from the edges. The sound of punching through the atmosphere is deafening. Fire surrounds the entire outside of my vehicle. The heat teeters on the unbearable. Not sure where I’m headed. Not sure where I’ll land. Not sure of anything except that I must find my vessel. I must find my purpose.

Chapter 1

Katie

Katie Kennedy furiously wiped the fog clear from the mirror. She forgot to crack open the window in the bathroom again to prevent such an event. It was useless. As soon as she wiped a clear spot on the mirror, the condensation returned just as fast. She cursed at herself. Katie couldn’t see a thing. If she weren’t already late for work, this wouldn’t have been a big deal. But she was late. She had been late quite often lately.

Her boss, Ethan, didn’t like it when she was late. He never really came down on Katie for her tardiness, but still, Katie felt bad for always putting him behind schedule. The job was full of stress at times, and a happy boss meant a happy day at work for Katie. It made the day that much more enjoyable.

Her new favorite song came on the Wet Tunes shower radio she got as a gift for her birthday from her friend and partner in crime at work, Connie. Connie claimed it was invented by some guy in Stamford, so of course, she had to buy it. Something about supporting Connecticut. Brookville was around a forty-five-minute drive from Stamford, so it kind of made sense to Katie when Connie talked about supporting neighboring towns. Then again, Brookville was a forty-five-minute drive from any location in Connecticut.

Katie attacked her hair with a fresh can of Aqua Net as the soothing vocals of Howard Jones serenaded her. Things Can Only Get Better was becoming her theme at work. Not even a happy Ethan could curtail the unpleasantness of the workplace. The job itself was relatively easy, with scheduling meetings, ordering office supplies, and helping Ethan with whatever he needed to succeed. The drawback was the consistent need to fend off the chauvinistic advances of men for eight hours a day. Katie didn’t think of herself as someone who would cause a scene. A Norma Rae, as Connie would tell her. A movie that Katie never saw, which was one of many movies that Katie missed, much to the chagrin of Connie, who enjoyed catching the latest flick at the local movie theater.

Katie never complained about the catcalls or the rude comments. It was a part of the workplace that she had to accept, or that’s what Connie always told her. She still hated it, and that hate was turning into dread. The dread of going to work and having to battle with the idiotic, sophomoric behavior of men who would be lost without the help of people like Katie.

One thing she refused to let it affect was her upcoming summer plans. The Summer of Fun was fast approaching, and Katie and Connie had major plans. Hit the shores over in South Haven on the weekends and head to downtown New Haven for the nightclubs. This summer was going to be fun, even if Katie had to force it to happen. The last few years had been tough, especially for Katie’s little sister, Sara, who was currently banging on the bathroom door.

How long are you going to be?

Katie screamed over the radio, I’m almost done. Hold your horses.

Is that the only song you know? Sara called back, her voice fading as she returned to the kitchen.

Katie ignored her. Sara always liked getting the last word. Usually, some sort of dig at Katie’s expense. Katie let her have it most of the time. It was the least she could do. A few years ago, they lost their parents in an accident. Drunk driving. That left Katie as Sara’s guardian, which meant Katie had to drop out of college and enter the workforce in order to take care of Sara. She was twenty at the time and about to enter her junior year working toward a degree in Economics, but none of that mattered anymore. Katie and Sara were alone and left to their own devices.

Luckily, Katie’s high school friend, Connie Renton, worked as a secretary for Epsen Pharmaceutical. Connie was able to get Katie into the secretarial pool, which was where she met and ultimately started working for her current boss, Ethan Gossamer, a real player in the Epsen executive core. That’s how he was introduced to Katie, anyway. The money was good, and the proximity to her home was even better. She earned enough to cover their expenses, with some frugal cost-cutting, but after a few years, Katie had rebuilt a life for herself and Sara. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Katie and Sara against the world.

Of course, getting along with Sara wasn’t easy. Especially in the beginning. She was always angry and sad, as was Katie, and since there was nowhere to vent their mutual pain and anger, they took it out on each other. Countless nights of shouting and throwing things peppered the past year, but they eventually found footing on neutral ground. They may not have truly faced their feelings with each other, but they managed to find a way to co-exist without blowing up at each other…at least, not as much as they used to. They were trying to survive. That’s all. But the summer of 1985 was when Katie was determined to turn it all around. To go from just getting by to killing it.

Katie blasted her hair with another dose of the Aqua Net can. Giving up on repeatedly wiping the mirror clear, Katie opened the small window in the bathroom to allow the fresh air to clear up the haze. The result was the fog finally lifting, allowing Katie to see the finishing touches of her aerosol assault.

Sara’s footsteps approached the bathroom door. They were heavy and fast. Katie beat her to the knock as she ripped open the door and greeted her sister with a smile and a plume of hairspray. Sara choked on the fumes and the pleasantness of the smile.

Sorry. Bathroom’s all yours, Katie scooted by to exit the bathroom.

Sara responded with an eyeroll and immediately turned off the radio.

Did you eat? Katie asked.

Sara shut the door without an answer. But Katie knew that meant Sara didn’t eat.

Katie was still late but not in a hurry. The phrase leaning into the skid reverberated inside her head. It was something she had heard before. Katie figured if she was going to be late, there was no reason to rush in. Late is late. Katie couldn’t remember where she originally heard that saying. Probably someone at the Epsen office. That’s where she spent most of her days.

Katie stared out the kitchen window overlooking the backyard. She zoned out, trying to think about where she heard the phrase, but the stress of work and lack of sleep was wreaking havoc with her memory. Katie must’ve lost track of time thinking about the words because she didn’t hear Sara return from the bathroom until she plopped down on the chair at the kitchen table with a loud thud.

Katie jumped in her shoes. Startled. She spun around to see her sister’s feet on the table, comic book in her hands. She was reading. The little television in the kitchen, something they bought on sale at the mall, was playing a news report. A reporter, standing in one of the parks in Brookville, was pointing to the sky. He was talking about a meteor shower tonight. Katie paid it no mind.

What’re you reading now? Katie asked. Extending a small olive branch in the form of interest in Sara’s hobby since Katie took up a chunk of the bathroom time this morning.

Something you wouldn’t like. Sara didn’t bother to look up from the pages.

Try me.

She sighed. It’s about a disco singer who comes out as a mutant and has to face the scrutiny of people who don’t like anything different or anything that challenges their idea of normalcy.

Hmm, Katie forced an interesting tone, That sounds like an interesting comic book.

More of a graphic novel, really.

What’s the difference? Katie asked.

You don’t have to pretend to be interested.

I am interested. Don’t say that.

Maybe if it was about flirting at work and drinking with the girls, you’d be all about it.

Ouch. That’s not fair.

Call it like I see it. Sara was in a mood this morning.

Well, you don’t see everything. We do a lot of good things at Epsen. While Katie didn’t enjoy the frat-boy atmosphere, she still considered the company a decent one to work for. They created and designed medication to cure illnesses around the world. She always rationalized it was God’s work they were doing.

Sara shot right back at me. You’re a secretary. You make copies and answer phones.

You’re just full of nice things to say about me today.

Katie turned her back, hiding how she felt. Like crap. She poured herself a cup of coffee. Then remembered she was still late. A cup of coffee might be pushing it.

I didn’t mean it that way. Sara backtracked, showing a tinge of remorse. I’m just saying that they don’t care about you the way you care about them.

Ethan does. Katie blurted out.

Ethan?

Mr. Gossamer. He cares.

Sara stifled a laugh. Is that really his name?

Ha. Ha. Yeah, I know. Like the children’s show guy. But he cares. I know he does.

Sara stared at her older sister. Dumbfounded. Katie. C’mon. Your boss doesn’t care about you. At least, not the way you want him to.

Again, Katie blurted out like she was on the defensive. You don’t know that. And besides, don’t poo on my life because you have all the answers. She felt her anger grow.

Poo? Really? Sara laughed.

I know what I said, Katie replied. Standing firm on her choice of word.

And I don’t have all the answers. Trust me.

Well, you certainly judge me enough like you do. I’m doing the best I can. I help Ethan – Mr. Gossamer – with his work. And he appreciates me for it. He’s always saying how I’m invaluable and how I make him a better executive.

I don’t doubt that he says that. But does he believe it? You told me that he ignored you all last week. That he was curt with you. Giving you one-word answers to questions. Not including you in meetings. Pretending he didn’t see you when you would leave for the day. If this wasn’t the magical Ethan Gossamer, would you still be defending him?

Everything Sara brought up was true, and it stung Katie, but that didn’t stop her from making an excuse for him. He’s preparing for a big presentation, which happens to be today. It’s understandable. He’s under a lot of stress.

Don’t you want to be doing something for yourself? Don’t you want a job where you’re not carrying a coffee cup for a man?

There’s nothing wrong with being a secretary.

I disagree. I wouldn’t do it.

Some people don’t have the luxury of being able to choose their own path, Sara. Sometimes sacrifices must be made in order to put food on the table and a roof over your head. Katie sounded like every adult she grew up knowing, her parents included, and instantly hated it, but she was angry and embarrassed and couldn’t stop. Not everything is like your comic books or your graphic novels. Everyone doesn’t have superpowers. Everything doesn’t always work out. Sometimes, life just sucks.

Sara’s face held firm, but she was hurt. They both knew it. One of their classic fights from the past rearing its ugly head. Sara stood up. She slapped the comic book against Katie’s chest. You know what? You should read this. You’ll see how wrong you are.

Sara grabbed her bookbag on her way out the back door. She shoved open the door, not caring if it broke. Katie called out. I can take you to school.

The bus is fine, Sara yelled. She ran to the bus stop. Hiding her tears from her older sister.

Katie glanced at the comic book in her hands. Big red letters on the top. Dazzler: The Movie. She tried to understand why a book would have the movie in its title. Maybe it was a comic book thing, she thought.

The front cover had a woman wearing a bikini, legs spread out. The way their mother taught Katie how not to sit. A bleeding heart. An award of some kind. Of course, a man holding a gun. A bald man that Katie thought looked like several executives working at Epsen. The cover was a lot to take in, but Katie’s interest was piqued. After their fight, Katie felt she owed it to her little sister to at least check it out.

She noticed her watch. Shit!

Katie was really late now.

Chapter 2

The Office

She flashed her badge at the two security guards sitting on duty at the front desk. They smiled and waved Katie through the turnstile. She always thought it was odd that Epsen had a turnstile, but Ethan once told her it was to protect Epsen and its employees. Exactly how and why were beyond Katie’s understanding. The explanation still made no sense to her. She pressed the elevator’s up-arrow button and waited. And waited.

The security guards glanced back her way. She caught their glances. They smiled again. Another set of waves. Katie waved back, knowing full well they were probably talking about her in terms she cared not to think about.

The elevator dinged. The doors opened. She quickly stepped inside to avoid the leers. She pushed the button on the inside panel for her floor. Some days, Katie was able to ignore it. Other days, most days, not so much. The glances, the smirks, the hushed whispers, and the giggling. The giggling was the worst. Grown men acting like little schoolboys. It was incessant. It was unpleasant. It had become the norm, and if someone complained, the behavior was chalked up to innocent misunderstandings. It was the way things were done now. Despite the sensitivity conferences and proper workplace behavior seminars, even though there were lectures on improper customs, regardless of national admonishments from corporations about inappropriate employee relations, nothing ever changed. At least, not at Epsen Pharmaceutical.

The elevator door opened, and instantly Katie was thrust into the busyness of the office. The phones were ringing, voices chattering about, and the faint sounds of the printer room could be heard. The printer room consisted of ten machines running all at once. The sound was deafening inside the printer room, which is why the door was kept shut. But today, as Katie worked her way to her cubicle, the printer room door was open, and the noise was taking over the main sales floor.

More waves, these being the friendly kind, from her fellow administrative assistants. None were surprised by Katie’s lateness. She returned their smiles with one of her own. Katie made it to her cubicle, dropping her purse on the desk with a thud. She grabbed a steno notebook and a pen as she made her way to the opened office door of Ethan Gossamer.

Before Katie could get through the doorway, Ethan popped his head out, almost knowing Katie was approaching. His slicked-back, jet-black hair didn’t hide the fact that he needed a haircut. Not one pockmark or scar on his clean-shaven face. Most of the salesmen and their managers kept their faces free from facial hair. Anyone with a beard was usually labeled as someone stuck in the 70s, an insult amongst the preppy men in the office.

Today, Ethan wore a bright white, clean, pressed dress shirt and a blue-green tie. If anyone knew Ethan as well as Katie did, they’d know he had a big presentation to deliver. The blue-green tie was a gift from Katie last Christmas. Seeing it brought a smile to Katie’s face. Ethan was ten years older than her. He was married with kids. He was on the fast track to a top position in the company, and even though Katie consistently denied it, she had a massive crush on him. Despite her feelings, Katie never acted on them. She wouldn’t be the reason for Ethan’s marriage falling apart. She wasn’t that type of person, at least, that’s what she told herself every time the thought of kissing Ethan popped into her head. She hoped the feelings would go away. But they never did.

Ethan wasn’t smiling when he saw Katie. He was stressed. Katie. Finally. Where have you been? He waved off any reply. Forget it; there’s no time. I need you desperately. In my rush to get to work early this morning, I forgot my presentation notes at home. Please, be a doll and run to my house and grab them for me. I can’t do the presentation without them. Thanks!

He didn’t wait for an answer as he returned to his office, shutting the door behind him. Katie stood there, not sure what to do next. The conversation happened so fast that she didn’t have time to react. In fact, it really wasn’t a conversation at all. More of a command. She ignored the feeling of annoyance the conversation had induced within her. Katie knew it was a stressful presentation. He was nervous. She excused it. Again. They were a team, and she had her marching orders. She needed to get his notes from his house. She wouldn’t let him down.

Connie caught the conversation and slid into Katie’s view. She leaned against the wall, blocking the view of Ethan’s door. Connie’s blonde hair was tinged with the perfect amount of brown. Katie was always jealous of her for that. Being a redhead, Katie was always told that her hair color was unique and exciting, but she never understood the excitement. Not the way everyone else talked about it.

He’s pleasant, Connie said.

He’s under a lot of stress. It’s a big presentation.

Katie headed back to her cubicle. Her purse had everything she needed to make the trip. She was in a rush. She had to make it back in time for the presentation. Connie followed right behind her.

He doesn’t have to be mean about it, Connie offered.

He knows I understand, Katie said.

Hold up. Connie jumped in front of her, blocking the way to the cubicle. I know you don’t like being called those names. Doll. Sugar. Honey.

Babe, yeah, I know. He doesn’t mean it like most guys mean it.

Full of excuses, you are. Connie saw right through her.

Katie pushed on, They’re not excuses. Obviously, I don’t love it. I don’t like any of it. It’s just… She motioned toward Ethan’s office door. Ethan is different. He’s not like the others.

He’s a guy, Katie. Believe me, he’s like all of them.

Ethan may call me those pet names, but he’s not making lewd comments about what I wear or what he wants to do with me.

Connie flashed a devilish smirk. And if he did, you might like it.

Katie smacked her friend across the arm, You’re not helping.

I never claimed to be, Connie held up her hands, giving up. All I’m saying is that Ethan, while the handsome man you admire, is still a member of the knuckle draggers, and you should be careful how high the pedestal is that you place him upon.

I really have to go. Katie didn’t want to argue.

Connie left it alone. She had said her peace. Something else caught her eye. Speaking of knuckle draggers…

Katie followed Connie’s gaze. She turned to catch a look at a group of salesmen coming around the corner of the hallway.They were laughing and joking, probably on their way to a meeting because they had to do everything together. They were led by a cocky, smarmy, overall scumbag, Steve Poulter.

Poulter was always smiling. Always laughing. It felt like every minute of his time at work was spent cracking rude jokes. Jokes that he was the first to laugh at as if to cue his followers to laugh right alongside him. Always about himself. Quick to get his way. Never concerned about anything he says and how it affects others around him. A bully in school who grew up to become the same bully, but older and in the workplace. He oozed scum-baggery.

He immediately spotted Katie. Poulter always seemed to locate Katie in the crowd. He took a quick turn out of the hallway. His crew of salesmen followed. They surrounded Katie’s cubicle.

Poulter licked his lips and smiled. The cutest girl in the office. Katie Kennedy. How are you?

On my way out. Ethan needs his presentation notes from home. Katie wanted to get away from Poulter.

Well, don’t let me stop you.

Katie anticipated a smart-ass comment. When none came, she turned around to grab her purse from the desk. Immediately, she knew that was a mistake. Poulter slapped her backside, and instantly a shiver of anger and embarrassment ran through Katie. The slap wasn’t the worst part; it was how long Steve held his hand on her backside.

Get along now, little lady, Poulter cackled. Licking his lips again.

Katie whipped around to face him, but Poulter had already left the scene of the crime. He was still laughing while his flock of promising young douchebags giggled and high-fived each other. That damn schoolboy giggling. Katie seethed. She felt Connie over her shoulder.

He’s a piece of work, Connie said.

They all are.

But not your Ethan, Connie said.

Not like Steve, no. Steve and his gaggle of salesmen are a different breed.

I love you, Katie. But when push comes to shove, you’ll see that Ethan is just like that idiot boss of mine, she motioned to Poulter. Katie knew Connie had to put up with his nonsense more than all of them. She was Poulter’s assistant.

I have to go.

Katie headed for the elevators. She was forced to wait again for the doors to open. That gave her time to consider Connie’s warnings about Ethan. Katie knew she had blinders on when it came to all things Ethan Gossamer. As much as Katie wished it wasn’t so, her feelings for Ethan wouldn’t go away. There are some women that she worked with who would have no problem breaking up a marriage, but not Katie. She couldn’t do that. She resigned herself to the crush, hoping it would fade, and unconsciously selected a life of pining for someone who she couldn’t have.

The elevator doors opened. She had to get those notes.

Chapter 3

A Glimpse of Reality

Even though it was spring, today felt like summer. Like the season was giving everyone a sneak peek at what was in store in the coming months. When Katie was in high school, she loved a day like today. It excited her for the possibility of what the upcoming summer could be. Hanging with friends at the bowling alley. Drinking at their favorite spot in the woods, away from the prying eyes of parents. Catching a movie downtown. Even doing nothing but laying out in her backyard was better than having to do anything that remotely resembled responsibility.

How times and circumstances have changed, Katie thought. This summer day preview only bummed her out. There were no summer vacations for Katie anymore. Her summer months would probably consist of Katie shuffling papers, complaining about her day with Connie, and hating anyone who was having fun. Growing up sucked.

Then again, it was a nice day. Katie rolled down the car window, which proved troublesome as the window was loose on its track. Sometimes it worked, but other times she had to push down on the top of the window with one hand as she turned the crank with the other. This was one of those times.

This was her mother’s car, and it was the Kennedy sisters' only mode of transportation. Katie remembered when her father brought it home from the dealership. It was sleek. Silver and black. Her father told them facts he