by Gary Starta
“But we never believed animals possessed consciousness, either. Right?”
“True and because they do, it allows for them to overcome lesser developed nervous systems or even challenged brain size. It is verifiable that we do have thicker tissue in our cerebral cortex. Nevertheless, complex calculations are possible in all species. Birds and mammals can navigate great distances with pinpoint precision. You might ask how?” Brands locked his gaze with hers as if confirming her interest. She found one part of it creepy but the other part of it to be intriguing, like hearing a scary ghost story. He continued.
“Even an individual neuron can give rise to great intelligence. We used to think a complex array or neural network was responsible; but this can be achieved piecemeal if you like. This is all about electricity. If humans can modulate electricity so can animals. Modulating the amplitude of electricity gives a neuron additional life to perform a calculation, for example.”
“Aha. Well, what about the lightning and the Solfeggio Frequency? Is this all connected?”
“Perhaps, and maybe this gave additional charge or life to neurons that came into existence within Earth Cat Zero. Perhaps, he is even smarter than the average cat – or average bear as the saying goes.”
“Then we must speak to him. We must!” Miranda found herself rocking on her heels and swaying to some unheard beat. She hadn’t recalled being this energized or confident since the cat population had disappeared.
“I know! Isn’t science exciting!” Brands mimicked Miranda’s dance for a few seconds before the teen reprimanded with a scolding stare.
“Okay, I’ll leave the partying to the young and coordinated. But you see, we may even have discounted how animals perceive our universe, their universe. Think of the color: blue, for example. We all may perceive it in a slightly different way based on subjective observation. But what if this was shared? Researchers are asking if there is a holographic entanglement which allows us to experience consciousness outside of our own stimuli, possibly in league with a space/memory network. If so, experiences may be collectively shared.”
“Then Earth Cat Zero will be able to share not only physical experiences, but maybe…” Miranda’s sapphire eyes widened, “his experiences at a subatomic level.”
“Ah! I didn’t think of that! I was thinking more of his experiences with things we see such as the sky, I was limiting not only myself but Earth Cat Zero as well!”
“Wait a minute!” Miranda clasped hands in excitement. “Our limited perception of animal consciousness not only limits them but ourselves. Is that what you’re saying?!”
Brands held a hand to his head. “Perhaps I shouldn’t get so excited before surgery. In essence there is a problem with the subjective/objective dichotomy. In essence, we all can feel what it means to experience the color: blue.”
“And if so, that affects how we observe. I mean, you said my mother, Normand and myself were the key observers to Earth Cat Zero’s newfound reality. Yet, in a way, the whole universe may have been witness to the observation.”
Brands nodded. “Oh, the time!” A chime dinged. “Our brain matter is ready.”
Miranda was surprised to discover that her stomach did not flip at that notion.
And so are we.
The next few hours passed surrealistically for Miranda; the light from the Chicago summer sky mixed with the enlightenment of leading-edge medical tech made the teen feel as if her very mind was expanding within her. Yet, the feeling was not confined to her head, at least she did not believe it to be. In essence, she felt a charge encompass her entire body. It was invisible yet palpable.
Brands smiled at her a few times knowingly and she didn’t have to verbally ask what the doctor was feeling as well. But despite the power of creating something wondrous, Miranda did not feel entitled or godlike. It was more like an experience she should have been having all of her life but had somehow missed. Was this destiny meant for her? Was this why she was born to a mother who studied physics? Greater and greater questions loomed for philosophic self-debate in Miranda’s mind as she observed the surgery which had not been as grotesque as she imagined. The infusion of grey brain matter to other matter was more fascinating than nauseating. Although the final leg of surgery, the tweaking of Earth Cat Zero’s lips and tongue produced precarious moments of imbalance for the teen - who, for at least a few times, felt her legs were about to give out from underneath her – the experience felt shared, desired and expanding.
As time passed, Miranda’s perception shifted from a shared mind with Brands to a shared mind with the feline.
“He is okay. I feel he is okay. He’s telling me, Doctor. He’s telling me!”
Brands tilted his head, a brilliant cascade of sun blinding him. “I don’t know, I can’t say. But the important thing is we are daring to ask the unasked questions.”
Miranda felt like scooping the feline into her arms, but Brands warned they must allow Earth Cat Zero to come out of anesthesia.
Why was the doctor doubtful? Why was he cautious? A part of Miranda felt like screaming their victory out of the strangely windowed walls of the Rat’s Deck.
A logical side of her brain, one more attuned to self-preservation thought: Maybe I’m just too inexperienced. Maybe it is better to keep a poker face even when the universe appears to have dealt you the winning hand.
The elevated rise of neurochemicals within Miranda began to subside, allowing some of her giddiness to wear away.
“Dr. Brands, I am sorry. I kind of feel ashamed.”
Brands washed his hands in a sonic sink. “No apologies needed. I nearly danced a jig when I found I was sharing not only information but experiences and preferences with my uncle. Although I don’t know what he sees in licorice-flavored candy.”
The realization of how much Brands had blurred the confines of ethics further grounded Miranda with memories of how simpler she had lived life just weeks ago: finding joy in Leesa’s juvenile humor or even unbridled comfort in a pint of ice cream. Right and wrong were a lot easier to judge. It was wrong to take her mother’s ice cream without asking. But what about gifting a cat with speech? How exponentially wrong might that be?
“How will the universe judge us?” The words fell in a hushed whisper from Miranda’s lips.
Moments later, the feline patient began to stir. He swatted paws as if battling demons in some kind of nocturnal slumber.
“OMG. Is he all right, Doctor?”
“Just waking up, Miranda.”
I wonder where he’s been.
The cat mewled, hissed and meowed a few times. His speech was stuttered and slurred but in between the cat language were actual words. Miranda swore she heard ‘I’ – ‘am’ – ‘feeling’.
Miranda, overlooking Earth Cat - now nestled in a cat bed replete with sheets and pillow – began to bounce on her toes.
“What Earth Cat, what do you feel?”
“Over-whelm-ed. Mm. Me-o-ow. How do – you – humans – stand this?”
Chapter Twelve
Words whirred buzz saw style in Earth Cat Zero’s brain. Everything before had been images and feelings. Now there was a way to express every nuance of emotion with precise clarity. But using the universal dictionary which appeared as some distant mirror in the back of the cat’s mind was like an invasion. Earth Cat Zero scratched behind his ear as if he might dislodge it.
“What is it, Earth Cat?” Miranda hunched over, slapped hands on her thighs in frustration. “Doctor, is he hurt?”
“Ah, probably just adjusting. I may have to resort to one of those protective blowup collars. He mustn’t break the stitches.”
“I can understand you, Doctor.” The cat stated.
The room fell silent for a moment until Red chirped.
Earth Cat Zero fell back on his haunches with blue/green fur standing on end along his spine. Baring fangs, he released a combative hiss.
Miranda forged her body in between the
cat’s line of sight and the bird. “It’s okay. Ah, Earth Cat Zero, this is Red…”
“You chose my name, didn’t you?” Earth Cat came down to rest with all four paws perched upon a pillow on the white couch.
“Uh, that’s right. I – hope you like it.”
“You are my master then. This is some kind of subservient…uh meow, – role…”
Earth Cat Zero resumed prancing, attempting to get a look at Red now fluttering around his cage, possibly agitated, disturbed or both.
“What is my function here?” Earth Cat Zero tilted his head, waved a paw in the air and sniffed. “It was a lot easier before. There were no what you call ‘big’ questions.”
“I’m so sorry. We thought – I thought – you were in need of help. We wanted to allow you a way to talk to us.” Miranda kneeled and offered her hand for the cat to smell. “See you can still use your natural detection system. You are still you. I made sure of it. And to answer your question, I am not your master, I am your guardian. Your protector.”
“Even against birds? Ah. I think I am on sensory overload. In addition to my olfactory senses, I can now see – I mean I could see before – but it’s more vivid as if it means more.” The cat took a few more sniffs of Miranda’s hand before falling back and coming to a rest against the back of the couch. “It’s like the world has opened up to me. Before it seemed very, very small. Meow.”
“Earth Cat Zero. I am Miranda Ellis. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am so sorry if we were rude or inconsiderate. Can we start again?” The teen offered her hand but quickly retracted it as if realizing Earth Cat – despite his language capabilities – was in no more position to shake a hand than a few hours ago.
“Start…oh, I think I know what you mean. Sure. I seem to already know some things…like the fact I was aware of when you altered my genetic coding, Doctor Brands.”
“You didn’t seem to be.”
“We as cats have learned to play it nonchalant. It often goes better for us - for my kind. I – really – meow – don’t know what my experiences were before. It is like a collective reel of memories. I seem to know we existed, what we did. Meow.” The cat stared into blank space with its tongue protruded.
“It may be instinct, Earth Cat Zero.” Brands kept his hands stuffed inside his lab coat. “It may be something genetically instilled in you to help you with behaviors and actions. If this is so, Earth Cat, do you recall any connection to other felines like yourself?”
“I don’t know. It’s like an echo. Something in the back of my mind like these words. It’s there but I can’t grab a hold of it.” The cat raised its forepaw as if it were wrestling with a mouse. “We need things to be tangible. We need to sense them in order to react to them.”
“This is all fascinating. I am pleased that you have proven animal intelligence. The very fact that you have easily integrated words into complete sentences is amazing and you’ll find you have access to expressions, idioms and axioms we use as what is referred to as figure of speech.”
“Dr. Brands, we are dealing with a living, feeling being here. He is not your experiment or subject for a medical journal.” Miranda huffed and the air blew her bangs away from her face.
“I know. I know.” The doctor pulled hands from his pockets and raised them palms outward. “So sorry. Earth Cat Zero, my apologies.”
Earth Cat Zero gazed a moment at the doctor and then produced a gurgling sound.
“OMG.” Miranda raised her hands to her cheeks. “Are you okay?”
“Ah, meow. I can’t – meow – get used to using these long strings of words in place of simple mewls. It will take some getting used to.” The cat gurgled again.
“I believe Earth Cat Zero is experiencing laughter.” Brands pushed a few buttons on his pad. “I hope you don’t mind; I need to film this historic occasion.”
“I’ll excuse it because you made me laugh. Ah, we sometimes feel this emotion when we are pleased. But I can’t say I ever laughed at someone before. The way you flailed your hands, Doctor, it was like you were trying to knead the air. I think laugher might be a fair trade for my changes.” The cat grew somber with his tongue protruded. “I – meow – still feel overwhelmed.”
“I know. It is a lot of sensory input. I mean, you are beginning to understand what emotions are. It’s got to be hard.”
“Crying? I remember you were crying the other day. You were…sad, Miranda?”
“I was. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to help you.”
“I think you were worried because you needed me to help you.” The cat crossed paws and bent its head to lick its chest.
“You are a wise being.” Miranda clasped hands together. “I won’t deceive you. We need you to help us find the lost cats. Don’t you remember them?”
Brands cleared his throat. “Miranda, at best he may remember his particular kind of cats. Can you think back, Earth Cat? Did you have a family? Were they blue and green like yourself?”
The cat shook his head from side-to-side. “Again, it’s vague. An echo.”
“That is a start. It does seem you came from somewhere else, Earth Cat Zero. You seem to have existed there and we want to help you find a way back, help you with lost memories.”
“But you are devastated. I can feel it. Meow.” The cat’s face seemed filled with remorse and sadness for Miranda.
“We are.” Miranda knelt on her knees before the cat. “We are missing millions of cats. Mine was called Joule. We need to find them and make sure they are all right.”
Earth Cat Zero pushed his front paws forward and stretched. “Oh, so this is what stress must feel like. I can live without this sensation. I wish I couldn’t label this – this - sensation. It is unsettling.”
Miranda dared to pat the cat’s head. “You have ways to deal.”
“I know I do. You might want to rub your hands along my face.”
“Ah!” Dr. Brands exclaimed. “You are so smart, kitty. Yes, your glands will produce pheromones which will be conducive to your pleasure center.”
“I never had to explain it before or could explain it before. As I said, how do you humans stand this?”
“I know you feel accountable. I get stressed out in school. There are a lot of expectations. My friend Leesa helps me though. Earth Cat, I will be your friend.”
“Friend sounds better than master.” The cat tilted its head as if wrangling with all the words available to him and their meanings. “Are words always accurate? I remember I could look at another cat, or I know I could look at another cat, and we would communicate without words. We possibly communicated a lot more than your words can convey.”
“This will take some time…”
A chime interrupted. “I am sorry, I have to take this.” Brands glanced at his watch. “It seems we’re going to have company and soon. Ugh. I so don’t need interruptions now.” Brands spent another few moments glancing at his watch where a video streamed.
“Earth Cat, you must be famished.” Brands strutted to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. From his vantage point, Earth Cat Zero could not only see but sense and detect disarray.
Miranda held up an index finger to the cat. “One moment. I’ll be right back with nourishment.” But Earth Cat Zero realized the two humans weren’t as concerned with food as with what had occurred with the instrument banded on the doctor’s wrist. The blue and green cat tilted its head allowing its ears to twitch back and forth.
“What is going on?” Miranda placed a hand on Brands’s back as the man rummaged through refrigerator compartments. “I will feed Earth Cat and then introduce the safety device I have been working on.”
Miranda whisper screamed. “OMG. Who is coming here? I thought your employers don’t micromanage.”
Brands turned and spat his words out as if hissing them. “They don’t. The Department of Defense was giving me a heads up. It seems their competition, the Department of Energy, which funds
Brookhaven has filed a suit with the Supreme Court. It wants to share in all experimentation involving Earth Cat. I was told to play nice with them for the time being until things get sorted out. I am afraid that’s what we will have to do, Miranda.”
“So? What does this really mean?”
“It means a representative of the DOE is coming over. They’ve already received all clearance to access the arena, my very lab if they want. This is something we can’t fight right now.”
“We so don’t need to get Earth Cat Zero upset. I mean he’s just acclimating to his surgery.”
“I will make that clear to this figurehead they will be sending. Don’t you worry, my dear.”
The cat digested the words which spoken at an incredibly low volume were still audible to his ears. “Don’t worry about me. I control what you call the ball.”
Brands shook what resembled a baby’s bottle filled with liquid. “Here this will refresh and restore you.” Brands tapped the bottle and filled a small bowl.
Earth Cat Zero pounced off the couch onto the floor and the waiting bowl. “Pink? It’s pink. I don’t recall ever drinking anything pink in any time or place. Really?” Blue cat eyes traded glances between Miranda and the pink pool.
Miranda stared at Brands with crossed arms. “I know, Earth Cat. He gave me something purplish, but I have to admit I feel energized.”
“Hmm.” The cat waved a paw over the liquid and sniffed before drinking. “I trust you, Miranda. I will drink it.”
The next hour passed quickly, Miranda spent it cuddling with Earth Cat Zero on the couch, each of them taking turns to gaze at one another. Speech was limited. Miranda felt it was better to allow Earth Cat Zero to exist and behave like a cat again.
As a chime alerted Brands of his visitor, the doctor hustled toward the cat with a collar and leash. “Here, put this on him, Miranda. It appears to be a simple collar and leash, but our guest won’t know any better unless he dares to test my patience.”
