Just who is this Katie Nightfire? Born in the American South, Kathryn Nightfire lived a good life growing up with her relatively normal parents. While in college a few states away, she worked part-time as a barista at the Possibly Good Coffee House. Vendetta, the owner of the coffee shop, offered Katie a full-time manager position when she finished college. Years later, Ms. Nightfire mysteriously raised enough money to purchase the Possibly Good business completely from Vendetta. Katie became increasingly successful due to the sales of her unique-tasting coffee.

Men and women would ask Katie out on dates constantly, only to get rejected every single time. No one had ever really interested her enough. That is, until she met William Aris. She liked that William’s manners reflected genuine consideration of others. He also made no attempt to flirt with her in any way, which was pleasantly unusual. The frustrations over that fact would surface later. Unknown to Katie, William did not even consider for one second that he was good enough for her. She would make little jokes to him when he bought cups of coffee, and once in a while, even managed to get him to have a conversation with her.

In retrospect, Katie wishes she would have told William about her feelings sooner. It finally came out in the open on the day William Aris became Interlock. William was asking people to do ridiculous things to see if he really had persuasive superpowers or if it was his imagination. He asked Katie if she would tell him what she honestly thinks of him. With everyone in the coffee shop expecting her to say something like “You are a pleasant customer”, an unreserved Katie admitted she had a crush on him and was waiting for him to ask her out on a date. 

Anything but William. Katie keeps telling herself to direct her thoughts elsewhere as she is traveling in the desert on the most magnificent custom built motorcycle that observers have typically ever seen. Katie would save or donate any extra money the Possibly Good takes in. In many respects, she was not the type to care about possessions. The motorcycle was the one thing she let herself spend some serious money on. Well that, and first editions of her favorite books. These luxury items cost a tiny fraction of the earnings from Possibly Good Coffee.

Time for a cold drink, Katie thinks to herself. There was a convenience store a few miles away. Pulling up to Jasper’s Which Way Outpost brings back an old memory. Still Jasper himself inside.

Katie: Jasper, glad to see you’re still here.

Jasper: Do I know you?

Katie: No, I just stopped here once many years ago. I’m sure you see lots of customers.

Jasper: Not with a ride like that outside.

Katie: Oh yeah, I get relentless comments on that. I’m used to it.

Jasper was about to say something, but was interrupted by several loud people who rapidly approached the outpost. When they came into view, it was obvious that they were fixated on the bright blue motorcycle.

Jasper: Vile criminal group. Rare to see them out this way. Call themselves Desert Metal. Don’t engage.

Katie: Not an option. I’ll be stranded without my Blue Tornado.

[Katie walks out the door as Jasper watches in horror.]

Katie: I don’t mind you all admiring my bike, but could you please get off of it?

First Unknown Member of Desert Metal: You’ve misunderstood this situation. We’ve already decided it’s ours.

Katie: That’s funny because I have the keys, and you wouldn’t even know how to ride it.

First Unknown Member of Desert Metal: Well then we will just have to take them from you.

All five people on the ground were probably in need of serious medical attention. Katie jumps on the Blue Tornado and speeds off. Two cars chase after. They must have been watching the fistfight from a small distance. 

The cars run her off road, but Katie is fast. They unfortunately know the desert way better and maneuver flawlessly. A few extremely risky turns later, she loses the vehicle that had two more Metal members in it. All that’s left to deal with is Mr. Too Much Hair Product, her mental nickname for the lone driver with brass knuckles on his hands. Eventually, the vehicles collide, sending Katie over the handlebars and through the air until she hit the ground. Mr. Too Much Hair Product was surprised that his car got it even worse, both vehicles clearly damaged beyond repair. Extremely sore, but nothing broken, Katie arises.

[The Leader of Desert Metal stands still in front of Katie.]

Mr. Product: The way you made us look weak. I couldn’t let you live for that.

Katie: Are you all talk, or are you ready to fight?

After about two minutes of going back-and-forth, Katie realizes she is just toying with him like a sparring match against a weaker opponent. She decides it’s time to finish the altercation and hits him so hard he doesn’t get back up.

Katie was a fighter. The patrons of the Possibly Good were unaware of the reputation Katie had in her hometown. From a young age, she has studied with various self-defense, martial arts, and other alternative fight instructors. A disciplined consciousness, she chooses not to showcase these abilities unless it is to save someone or protect herself. The first and only time she ever entered a fighting competition, she embarrassed her opponent so badly that she never wanted to do it again. For her, it was not about demonstration. It was about a sense of self. Occasionally, a coworker would catch a glimpse of Katie’s exceptional skills if a rowdy obnoxious person had to be thrown out of the coffee shop.

Katie lay against a rock, wondering how she can survive this far out in the desert. She is thirsty, hungry, and in pain from the crash (not really much from the six people she had to fight). While believing it could be the end, she loses consciousness.

Eyes open. A desert jeep pulls up, apparently out of nowhere. The driver (with a stereotypical noir-style detective outfit) stands halfway out of the doorway.

Ban: “My name is Ban Smith. Get in! Interlock needs you! The world needs you!”

[Driving off – Katie in the passenger seat]

Katie: Did William send you? How did he possibly know where to find me? How do you know Interlock?

Ban: I’ve never met him. I don’t even exist in this universe. You’re imagining me based on a story you recently read. You’d better take the wheel.