Humans don't know it but they acutely have a small connection to the 4th dimension.
Whenever a human gets a 'gut feeling' or 'deja vu' that's when they do it. -- Chara Dreemur
Three dimensions, all beings can navigate: length, depth, and width. The fourth, time, is something that moves us, and can be sensed by most[1]. What surprises many is the occasional ability to navigate the fourth dimension... partially. This ability inevitably turns up in Humans, but those infected with Human insanity have shown promise in being able to pick up the skill.
That being said, nobody has been able to navigate through time without significant assistance. What actually happens in the case of temporally adept Humans is... familiarity. Humans call it a 'gut feeling' or 'deja vu' or 'the colliwobbles'. Some investigation into the phenomenon has revealed that Humans can sense ahead of themselves on the time stream. It is, for the record, a rather vague sense and not always accurate.
Some have attempted to enhance these senses over generations, encouraging those who saw the future coming to both improve their own abilities and seek to breed with others who had similar success. Over generations, some could have accurate and semi-accurate visions. Some could avoid their own futures, but it always gave them a headache if they tried. Unfortunately, the temporally adept gene is unreliable in its manifestation.
Those with the extra sense - ESPers - found their way into Security, when they weren't snapped up by the military for that extra edge on the other guy. There was nothing that the Security section liked better than an improved chance to capture criminals[2]. No matter how vague the sense, there was a use for them in any Security corps, anywhere.
Human Thom, for example, could sense anyone 'hinky' in a five SDU radius and mark them for discrete observation. Security put them on foot traffic patrol and gave them an app so they could mark 'hinky' travellers for the attention of the teams watching the securicams and those whose job it is to maintain law and order. Their success rate is at 87%, and that only because some impending crimes would be happening at their next stop.
Officer Lyr Marken, on the other hand, needs a personal connection to people in order for her gift to work with any accuracy. Which is why Security placed her with a neighbourhood full of the sort of people who blithely wander backwards into accidents of their own making, and then need to check their notes as to what went wrong. Lyr has the least problems with changing futures and, in fact, prefers to do so.
Which was why she was at the corner of Left Wing Avenue and Concourse Way with a rather sturdier ladder than the step-stool in Raven Ashenbrooke's arms.
"Oh," said Raven. "One of those, is it?"
"Two broken limbs and a major concussion," said Lyr. "Please let me confiscate that thing. It's a hazard to everyone's health."
"In trade for that? Sure but..."
Here it comes, thought Lyr.
"I'm... sort of emotionally bonded with it? Please tell me it's going to be loved?"
"I know exactly who's going to love it," said Lyr in all honesty. As decorative furniture and never again climbed upon at hazard to the climber and their surrounding environment.
Nevertheless, Raven still kissed it goodbye.
Lyr sighed as the trade completed, and immediately went off to deliver Myrissin's fab new 'grunge chic' shelving. By the time it was due to be passed on again, it could peacefully pass into the recycling centre with no injury to anyone's emotional stability. This, she knew, was a headache worth having.
[1] Ask this author about their personal status as temporally challenged.
[2] There was a brief industry in attempting to end a crime before it began, but the full legal implications of arresting someone before they became guilty bordered on fascism.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / rookman48]
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