by Gary Starta
“That is how this is going to go down.” Miranda chimed in. She stood with perfect posture with an arm around her mother in solidarity wearing a polite smile.
Normand watched the mother and daughter as if he were at the movies. They both stood there larger than life like regal chess pieces but in the flesh.
“I want you to agree that I will be a chaperone to Earth Cat as his rightful owner. I do want you to find an answer to our problem – and as much as I am desperate to get my Joule back – I do not want Earth Cat to suffer any mistreatment in this endeavor.” Miranda nodded standing tall and straight with her mother.
Normand gasped. So…they’re planning checkmate against the director.
Schultz nodded. “I understand. We want the same thing. We must respect the animal’s rights – now more than ever with the disappearance of the planet’s cat population.” Max grabbed at his tie. “I will not pretend to know what actions will be necessary to make this right again, but I will make it my mission, I promise you.”
Miranda tilted her head and her pink bangs jangled out of place. “Hmm. Very gracious, sir. But what if making things right changes how Earth Cat exists?”
Normand tapped fingers on his knee. The girl was right to posit such a theory; it seemed this strange blue and green cat only winked into appearance at the very same time the existing world’s cat population disappeared. What if it would cease to exist when all the cats were returned?
Catalina chuckled. “That’s a great question, young lady. I know everyone here at Brookhaven is all about speculation. But what we need right now, to help Joule – I hope I got that right – and all the cats, is facts. Please start at the beginning and walk us through what happened after your cat ran away.”
Miranda nodded and Normand suspected the girl was learning how to play the game by at least pretending to have patience.
“I had opened the door without realizing the cat was standing right at my feet. She got out, and in an instant, she was down the street. We had her tagged with a SMART collar and a silver name tag with all her vitals.”
Schultz raised a hand. “Uh, vitals. Yes, that’s a great idea. Anything else we should know about Joule?”
Caron intervened. “She had a chip which played a soothing vibrational harmonic called the Solfeggio Frequency.”
Normand repeated the name underneath his breath. “Solfeggio, yes, that was what my ex used to play religiously before bedtime. She said it was so soothing it carried her away.” He laughed and so did Caron, apparently amused by his reminiscing.
“Yes, I understand the value of fond memories, Mr. Toews.”
Normand bowed his head. “Call me, Normand. Only, they weren’t so fond memories, Mrs. Ellis. We’re divorced now.”
“But Mr. Toews, at one time or another you had loving experiences, things that make recollection a sweet thing?”
Normand nodded.
“That is our task. Everyone in this world is missing their pets fiercely. They have a lot of good and loving memories. We must restore what has been taken.”
Miranda cleared her throat. “What if what I allowed to happen caused this?”
Caron hugged her child and they retreated to the comfort of a light blue loveseat.
“Please, Mrs. Ellis,” Catalina paused. “I know how difficult this is. But is there anything else you can tell us? You are certain the GPS led you to Deer Park?”
“Yes, I am. But we never saw Joule physically. We did see a freshly dug hole. It stands to reason she came there to deliver her kittens. That is not such an odd thing. It’s just nesting. But what was odd, was that Earth Cat appeared instantaneously at my feet.”
“Anything else you can recall?” Catalina asked.
Miranda answered. “Yes, it was storming by the time we found the coordinates where Joule should have been. We would have searched for her…but…”
“Thank you, Miranda. But why did Joule head to Brookhaven specifically?” Schultz asked fiddling with his tie. “I think your cat was drawn there. We must investigate every angle and that is why we are requesting to bring Earth Cat to visit our lab. We’ll take good care of him.”
“Again, Mr. Schultz. We request a written agreement.” Caron’s blue eyes seemed to pierce a laser right through the director, maybe just as eerily as the cat was able to seemingly walk straight through Brookhaven’s walls, Normand thought.
“Then we will draw one up and return. But I will not mince words. We will need to have that cat examined sooner rather than later. I will make no guarantees. I just want to be open with you.”
Caron gazed at Miranda until both nodded. “We can live with that, Mr. Schultz.”
Catalina peered to gaze at Earth Cat. “Why other than the blue and green coloring he seems like any other ordinary pet. But…I can see how you already love him.”
“Cat lover, Mr. Catalina?”
Catalina smirked. “Well, you would think so what with a last name like mine; but to be honest it’s my youngest who made me the softie I am today. We will do our best to keep Earth Cat safe.”
Normand could hear Schultz whisper in the captain’s ear: “Good rebound.”
Miranda scooted to retrieve Earth Cat from his cage, scooping the feline into her arms. “Hear that Earth Cat? They made a promise.” She kissed the cat Eskimo style.
Once outside, Schultz consulted with Catalina. “I hope you really do have a cat. You had me convinced in there.” The men chuckled.
“But seriously, we need to look into that SMART collar, the tag, even that music chip as all anomalies or factors for what Mrs. Ellis so bluntly labeled as an ‘event’.” He made quotation marks with his hands.
Catalina nodded making notes in his phone. “I think they are telling the truth. And if they aren’t, we can always do…”
Schultz grimaced to Normand’s chagrin. Great. They must mean eavesdropping. Normand realized bugging was so easy what with SMART devices in almost every home.
“I hope it doesn’t come down to that.”
Once inside the sedan, Schultz nearly leapt from his seat as a phone rang through the car’s console. “Excuse me gentlemen.” The director read the caller ID, but it was only four asterisk symbols followed by the word UNKNOWN. A tap to the onscreen connected the call.
“We are aware of your visit to the Ellis residence today. I would be disappointed if you did not retrieve the subject.”
“Excuse me? Do I know you?”
“All you need to know is that we are in charge and have a vested interest in the nation’s security, Mr. Schultz. You will secure the animal and bring him to your laboratory…”
Schultz interrupted with a shaky voice. “Who is this? I report to a private firm. I don’t have to take orders, especially from someone who is not properly identifying themselves.”
Normand, seated in the back, was now sure he was watching a movie playout.
“You answer to the DOE, don’t you?”
“Well, yes.”
“Think of us as another three-letter agency. We would prefer to keep things private though as you like.”
“I will be taking the cat back to our lab for study. So…is that what this is about?”
“Partly. You will also need to give the animal to a man we would call a specialist. But don’t worry, he’s involved in the sciences as much as you are.”
Schultz scoffed. “I don’t think…”
The phone disconnected and Schultz turned to Catalina. “We are in charge of what happens to this animal. I want to make this clear. We will honor our agreement to Mrs. Ellis. We will not take the animal by force or allow anyone else to do that.”
Catalina retrieved his cap from the glove compartment. “Normally I would disagree, sir. But this one is all about public relations and media spin. We need to play nice – I’m afraid.”
Schultz fiddled with his tie, his voice still trembling. “That call goes no further than this car.”
Normand nodded, gazing at Schultz via the rearview mirror. “I respect your decision, sir.”
While Normand believed his director handled the anonymous call as best as he could, he realized a governmental agency would take the animal by force if necessary; but even more unsettling was that the animal was going to be given to some specialist. For what purpose?
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Normand returned home that evening fighting a compulsion to contact Caron Ellis.
Chapter Four
Dr. Albrecht Brands was taking a midday breather, feet propped on desk, hands clasped behind his head as he chatted with his office companion. “What in this world is going on? Hmm…Science always seems to be one step ahead of us. Eh, Red?”
Red answered noncommittally. “I’ve seen the world from different perspectives, two perspectives. I would be inclined to credit nature rather than science with any changes, especially radical ones.”
The doctor snapped fingers. “Every cat just gone in a blink.” Albrecht’s companion called him Al.
“Al, it’s not the first time that species have disappeared; well, maybe not in a blink.”
“I do understand what happened to your relatives, Red. I just hope this loss will not have the same finality.”
Red tilted his head. “That’s kind of offensive, Al. I am a survivor of my ancestry.”
“So sorry, you are right about survivors; maybe nothing is ever really final. Maybe it’s more about exchanges. In this case, my employers tell me a single blue and green feline has appeared as sort of a cosmic tradeoff.”
“Aren’t you concerned, Al? What if this cosmic tradeoff could involve your kind?”
“Ha, ha, ha. Very clever. You’ve learned to think like us, and…in such a short span of time.
“But seriously Red, I am not inconsiderate of other species – like the dinosaurs -and their fates. It’s why I volunteered for such experimentation myself. If we are to be a part of the leading edge, risks must be taken.”
“You and your employers should weigh those risks. And you volunteered for your part. Just saying.”
Albrecht Brands sighed. “I know, Red. Yet you’ve turned out fine. Any regrets?”
“I regret that the gift of human speech came with a price tag.”
“What’s that?”
“Conversing with humans leads to listening to humans and their twisted views of the world all based on their unique situations. You aren’t seeing the world from every perspective or every reality. I don’t even know how you can even muster any empathy for the missing felines. You are all so self-involved. Sheesh.”
“If you wanted me to shut my mouth you could have just said so.” The doctor blinked rapidly. “I understand felines are a touchy subject with your kind. It’s great you can feel for them.” Brands felt shame for his mild outburst laced with mild sarcasm. He supposed it was the after effect of sharing intelligence with his enigmatic uncle, Claude.
Red bowed as if he were a Zen master. “It’s also good for you that my enhancements came with empathy skills I didn’t mean to offend you personally, Al. I’m sorry.”
Dr. Brands munched on sugar coated pecans. “I’m glad you got some healthy benefits. My enhancements came with an addiction, I’m afraid.” The doctor finished chewing and then sighed. “You know Red, I’ve got the fat gene in the family.”
“It’s a good thing you don’t eat your body weight in…”
A phone chime knocked Brands out of his self-pity party and into an all-out panic. The man on the other end just started talking without introduction.
“We’re working out details on our subject, Dr. Brands. I sure could use your assistance.”
Brands fiddled with a pecan and it flitted out of his hands toward the floor, spinning before it stopped. It reminded the doctor how easily his control of any situation could get away from him.
“Uh, sure. I can help but remember I’m a doctor…”
“We just need you to assure the subject’s family that things are going to be okay.”
“I will. I can. I mean, they will be okay, won’t they?”
“We – you in particular – are going to acclimate the subject to our world so to speak, just like you’ve done with others. It can only help answer this puzzle. I’m certain the family will understand, if not the subject.”
“Yes, I’ve got the number. I’ll make the call. You can depend on me.” The call disconnected.
“Al, if I didn’t know any better you sounded like what you humans call a ‘yes’ man.”
“You would be correct, Red. I needed to be tactful; I can’t put that poor family in harm’s way. It seems they’ve gotten mixed up with that strange cat. An entanglement that might be better left alone.”
“Entanglement. A cat. Sounds like a job for a ball of string.”
“Funny, Red.”
“Why are you so tough on your people?” Major Adam Gould reprimanded his subordinate, Colonel Sam Shea.
Shea mustered a smirk. “I need results, sir. It’s easier to get those results when people fear what you will be asking them will be the ultimate sacrifice. Then, when it isn’t, their minds allow them to concede to your wishes without much resistance.”
Gould tapped at his notepad. “I see. Well, you probably scared the bejeezus out of that Brookhaven director.”
“I imagine I did. But now whatever I’ll ask of him next won’t so sound so prodigious. Besides, I won’t be doing the talking. I’ve delegated that task to our doctor.”
Caron stirred Stevia into her vanilla bean tea, keeping an eye on her teen. “It’s okay to feel.”
“I feel a big hole in my heart. I miss playing poker face. I miss Joule.” Miranda’s face was resting in the palms of her hands.
“It’s only natural. Even though what happened isn’t so natural.” Caron tapped the spoon against her teacup. “I am wondering what part vibration plays in all this.”
“I hope your colleagues can figure that out.”
“If anybody can, they will; it’s a good thing they’re better at physics than people skills. Anyway, sweetheart, don’t look so glum. Be the confident young woman who stood before Brookhaven’s finest.”
Miranda laughed softly. “I wish I could. I guess it was all part of acting grown up. Besides, I was doing it for Earth Cat. He gave me the strength.”
Caron raised her teacup and clinked it in a toast with Miranda’s juice glass. “We did put the fear of a few god particles into those men.”
“All except that odd one, I believe his name was Normand.”
“Hmm. Yes. Strange name but a compassionate soul.”
Miranda smiled. “Any other observations you care to make about him?”
The phone interrupted.
“Yes, this is Caron Ellis.”
The man on the other end fumbled. “I am with – I mean that’s not important. I’m a doctor. I want to help you with your cat. I know this is a touchy situation, but my only concern is finding answers and as a scientist, I hope you can understand.”
“Hmm. You aren’t really identifying yourself, Mister…” The man wasn’t even coming close to Brookhaven’s poor attempt at tactfulness.
“Sorry. Dr. Albrecht Brands. I do work with the government. I am afraid I’m not allowed to say more.”
“Well, then I’m not allowing myself to give you help. And what kind of doctor works with cats? Shouldn’t you be a veterinarian?”
“Good question. The thing is your animal’s health is not a concern. I mean – I mean it is. I am an animal lover myself. I promise you I won’t harm your…”
“I see. You’ll just be experimenting on him. I already made myself pretty clear with Director Schultz.”
“I see your point as well but there are bigger players at work, Mrs. Ellis. I think we need to talk about this in person so you might see the larger picture. What we’ll be doing won’t be so experimental…”
�
��You can tell your superiors to get in touch with Director Schultz. Then, maybe we’ll talk.”
Caron disconnected.
“Good poker face, Mom.”
“Miranda, that wasn’t my poker face.”
Max Schultz tapped at his keyboard drawing up a contract. What kind of precedent am I setting here? What is legal even going to do with this?
Rattled by a phone call from Caron Ellis - who insisted a call from some doctor was now his concern – Schultz pushed through his anxiety. I can’t let Brookhaven see this side of me. Even under these circumstances, they probably wouldn’t understand. And now I’ve got to tell my boss that some unidentified government agency is demanding our cat…
Schultz caught himself. He was speaking about the cat – this Earth Cat – as if it was the labs. Maybe it was. The photo seemed to confirm Earth Cat’s origin as Brookhaven. I know how that family feels. Getting in touch with that feeling helped ease Schultz’s conscience. I need to play this so all sides win. I need to see this as the family. I need to see this as the cat.
As part of the agreement, Brookhaven would name Miranda Ellis as Earth Cat’s chaperone. The teen’s insistence on keeping watch on the cat was brilliant, a public relations angle he couldn’t have thought up. We’ll tell the public the cat is under the watchful eye of a loving teenager. This should ease the ethical concerns.
As for the mother, Schultz stated the contract would name her as public relations spokesperson. A loving mother feeling heartbreak for her child. Who could resist? He hoped making the Ellis’s overseers would make the idea of giving Earth Cat over to study more palatable.
The director also hoped these allowances (which anyone else might call manipulations) would be sufficient to ease any abrupt behavior on the part of the government – which Schultz suspected was the Department of Defense.
Finalization of the contract left the biggest concern to be the doctor. Just who is this doctor?
Two coffee breaks later, Schultz was still struggling as to how to include the doctor into the agreement. He decided that the physician slash scientist should visit Brookhaven and the family to ease everyone’s minds – his included.
