Earth Cat Zero: Last Cat Meowing

by Gary Starta

  The door clacked shut again within the span of fifteen nerve wracking seconds, but Brands waited approximately another thirty seconds before opening his eyes. When he did, he confirmed his abductor was gone from the room. Also gone was his high-tech watch. Brands gasped in frustration at how he might initiate contact with anyone who could help him. But the reality of being held hostage on a space station didn’t provide many promising options until Brands recalled the qubit-relay system he shared with Earth Cat Zero. The doctor felt his body was constricted by the sedative which made movement impossible, and it was probably why he hadn’t been strapped to the bed. But the doctor still had use of his mind. He used all his might to concentrate on sending a signal via chip but concluded that his sedative might be inhibiting him. With a sigh, Brands resigned to rest and wait for his opportunity, still sealed in his white prison.

  With tears in her eyes, Caron Ellis held hands with Normand Toews. The man’s grip was so strong she felt as if blood had stopped circulating in her arms. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m hurting you.” Normand reacted to Caron’s contorted face. “No worries, Normand. Sometimes pain is pleasure.” She laughed but her cheer wasn’t very convincing to even herself. The last thing Caron wanted to do was play a slight of hand with the engineer she had grown to like and trust – maybe even love. Caron had not discussed the depth of her feelings with Normand being too engulfed with worry about accelerations, cats and Miranda during the past days. Normand’s attentive personality reflected in the white kitchen table they sat at. Although Normand’s eyebrows were raised with concern, the man’s posture was solid and strong. “Just know I’m here for you.”

  Caron blinked a few times. “That’s just it. I need you to be here in Brookhaven…while I…”

  Normand resumed his grip, each hand encompassing Caron’s. “While you what…?”

  “While I go to Chicago. I need to be at my daughter’s side, Normand. I’ve been separated from her long enough.”

  “I do understand. But you must consider the nefarious man who threatened you. You were easily abducted. Whomever the bastard is, he has a long reach. I must ask you to consider these concerns. Because….”

  “Because what…Normand?” Caron’s eyes narrowed.

  “Because I love you.”

  Caron laughed revealing crow’s feet about her eyes. “I do too. I do too.” But the joy evaporated from the scientist’s face within seconds. “I’ve spoken to Director Schultz. He has agreed to fly me in a DOE private shuttle. Part of that agreement means I convince you to stay here. We need you in the bunker for the next acceleration.”

  “Hmm. It’s that obvious, huh?” Normand laughed softly. “I was trying to keep things professional – but it seems everyone who knows me knows how that works out.”

  This time, Caron squeezed Normand’s hands. “I am ready to declare my love for you, Normand. I’ll be back, don’t worry. I just feel my daughter needs me.” She nodded several times as if trying to convince herself of her plan.

  Normand scowled. “I know. I get it. The acceleration was another failure. The cats haven’t returned…we didn’t contain our quantum feline. Ah. Dr. Brands must feel terrible.” What Normand and Caron didn’t know was that Dr. Brands was AWOL. A call from a frantic and sobbing Miranda followed to alert them of the missing doctor. Caron utilized the opportunity to announce her Chicago flight to her daughter while Normand looked on in the background with raised eyebrows and glassy eyes.

  “It’s going to be okay.” Dr. Claude Brahms wore an expression of a knowing father, helping Miranda to regain control of her erratic breathing. “Come. Let’s get back to my nephew’s lab. There is a small chance he’s there.” Miranda had just disconnected the call with Caron. She had told her mother that Dr. Brands had disappeared but left out the part of the appearance of his odd uncle.

  Miranda nodded absently, sunlight glinting off her pink hair while standing on a sidewalk in direct view of the Bean on East Randolph Street. Felicity had agreed to remain at the site to dismantle the projectors and deal with inquisitive police officers. She waved to Felicity before turning to Brahms. “I think you know he isn’t there. Dr. Brands is gone because” – she gasped – “you’re here.” Her eyelids fluttered with resignation.

  “I just know he’s gone, doctor…doctor…?” She couldn’t recall the man’s name.

  “Dr. Brahms.” The strange man’s tone was clipped but Miranda continued. Anger had trumped any of her fears.

  “Your nephew hasn’t really told me much about you. Other than you are gone most of the time.” Miranda perused the man up and down with teary eyes. He looked like a mad scientist with uncombed hair and a rumpled lab coat. The teen hugged Earth Cat Zero to her chest promising herself in silence that whoever this man was, he wasn’t going to hurt a hair on her precious blue and green feline.

  “I’m certain he told you of my gift.” Brahms did not break eye contact with Miranda. “This is very important, Miranda. It’s something my nephew hasn’t even shared with the DOD. I trust you’ll keep this secret between us.”

  “I – I can’t make any promises. And I’ll tell you this – I don’t think Dr. Brands sees your brain transfer – or whatever you call it – as a gift. It certainly isn’t the kind of gift relatives give to loved ones. He feels you just dumped it onto him as a safe repository to store your precious science advancements. I’m sorry if that’s rude, Dr. Brahms, but I’ve learned a lot about how observation makes up our reality.” She cleared her throat. “Personally, I would think you’d want a better reality with your nephew…I am just glad my mom is coming – I know we argue at times – but I’ve come to realize the importance of family.” Miranda hugged the cat already wrapped in her arms even tighter while Brahms looked on with knitted eyebrows.

  Miranda bit her lower lip. “Look, I know I’m venting and dumping my universe on you. I don’t mean to offend you. It’s just that…” The teen gently rocked the cat as if it would summon strength. “I know I should be stronger – it was my responsibility to look after Earth Cat.”

  “And you have.” Brahms nodded. “You aren’t responsible for losing Dr. Brands. Besides, wherever he is – we’ll find him. That’ll be child’s play in comparison to whatever you’ve got going on here.”

  Miranda explained a collider acceleration had resulted displacing all domesticated cats from the planet. She explained how they met Felicity and how the cat got its name. She gazed into Brahms’s eyes as she spoke not quite believing there was anyone on the planet who didn’t share this common knowledge.

  “Ah. I see. The wave displaced the cats and put a new set of principles into place because of the unexpected contributions.” He rocked on his heels reminding Miranda of Brands. “Well, if you know why I pursue science so doggedly, there’s your answer.” He pointed at Earth Cat Zero. “Science never fails to impress.” The fact that he spoke with a raised index finger wasn’t exactly making Miranda’s heart beat any steadier. But the cat saw the man differently, maybe through quantum eyes.

  Earth Cat Zero mewed and bowed his head so Brahms could pet him.

  Miranda sighed. “Okay, I guess Earth Cat is a good judge of character. But if I’m expected to level with you and keep your family mindshare a secret, you’ve got to level with me.” Miranda tapped a foot on the pavement for emphasis.

  Brahms held up hands, lines contorting his face. “I can only tell you I was…off world. There is a doorway…” The doctor gritted his teeth. “I can’t – I can’t tell you more. You’ve got to be satisfied with that. I haven’t even shared this with my nephew. It’s not because I’m some bureaucrat withholding secrets for power, Miranda. It’s just that these are concerns the masses are better off not knowing about. But do know I work hard to keep us all safe.”

  Miranda nodded half-heartedly. “If I agree not to press you, can you tell me something?”

  Brahms returned the nod slowly as if apprehensive as well.

  “Do you like cats?
”

  The doctor roared with a laugh so loud Earth Cat’s ears folded downward, and it drew the attention of a few officers. Bent over with hands on his thighs, the doctor had to catch his breath before he could resume. “Of course. I love cats. There’s one in particular I am very fond of. She’s white with big blue eyes and…” Miranda held up a hand disrupting the doctor.

  “Let’s check the Rat’s Deck in any case like you said. If there’s anything I’ve learned from this is that the quantum world presents us with some unbelievable possibilities.”

  “You are a quick study, Miranda.” The doctor dug into his lab coat to retrieve a stick of chewing gum. When he offered a piece to Miranda, she couldn’t help but to gaze into the man’s eyes trying to see if insanity was lurking behind them. “No, Doctor. I’m good.”

  A bio scanner had granted Miranda access to the Union Center, but Dr. Brands was nowhere to be found – not in the lab nor on the downstairs skating rink. She sighed. “His skates are still in the closet.” She sighed again.

  Brahms scowled. “Why on earth would the man go skating at a time like this?’

  “He says skating allows him to decompress. Ah. I don’t want to think where he is…and if he…”

  Brahms clasped a hand on Miranda’s shoulder which caused the teen to jerk and Earth Cat Zero to hiss. “Oh. Sorry. Just trying to comfort. I haven’t been around too many people in the last years. My only friend has been an FBI agent if you must know…”

  Miranda observed how quickly the man became crestfallen. “Did you have other family…I mean children?”

  “Oh. Well. That’s something I’ve never shared with Albrecht.”

  “Albrecht?”

  “He didn’t give his first name to you, did he?” Brahms laughed knowingly. “It’s a strong name. I don’t know why he feels embarrassed by it.

  “I even changed my last name to protect my family and - I must admit – my work. There is some truth to the stereotype. I am obsessed with my science, but I wouldn’t call myself a madman.”

  Miranda nodded wearing a facetious grin. “Oh, well, that’s good. I mean – if you say you aren’t crazy – then…”

  Brahms snickered. “I never used the word ‘crazy’, young woman.”

  Miranda twisted her lips in contemplation for a moment. “Is that what you called your daughter – ‘young woman’?”

  “Ah. I see I can’t get anything past you. At this point, I suppose it wouldn’t cause much harm. It seems…the worst of it is over. Yes, Miranda. I do have a daughter.”

  Miranda felt her chest constrict. Just what the hell had this man been through and why did Brands feel the man was not only emotionally unavailable but emotionally unstable? She decided in a nanosecond that she really didn’t want to know. Miranda reasoned the bigger picture was still paramount – it was the only logic which would keep her sane right now. This man can help get the cats back. This man can help get Brands back. That’s all I need to know about him.

  Nevertheless, if Brahms should ever be reunited with Brands, Miranda felt it was her duty to help instill some advice. It was apparent both men lacked people skills.

  “Dr. Brahms, you have given your nephew the keys to the universe – and believe me – I do appreciate your help. But didn’t you ever consider sharing even confidential details with Albrecht? This is what families do. When everything is gone – when everything doesn’t make sense in the universe – it seems the one remaining construct is love.”

  “It would seem it is a constant, isn’t it?” Brahms smiled sadly and stroked the cat’s back. “But we are in need of energy even more than love right now. It fuels everything and everyone in the universe – plus - there is a lot to discuss and a lot to plan, Miranda.” The doctor’s eyes were shifting in their sockets testing Miranda’s patience.

  “Okay. Okay, Dr. Brahms. I’ll do anything to help. Now what were you saying about energy?”

  “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, can you point me to the best steakhouse in the Magnificent Mile?”

  An Internet search informed Miranda one of the best five-star eateries in near proximity was Flemings Prime Steakhouse. I just need to appease him. Brands wasn’t kidding about sharing this man’s weakness for food. I just hope it keeps him balanced – if he ever was.

  The teen stifled a few urges to discourage the doctor from ordering additional sides, but Brahms would have none of it. “If I’m to save the world, I’ll need a full array of vitamins and minerals. Ah, yes.” He rubbed hands together. “Spinach with a cream sauce and a red vegetable should do.”

  Miranda traded glances with Earth Cat Zero each mouthing the words: Red vegetable?

  “Doctor, in the interest of time, wouldn’t an energy drink suffice?”

  “No. No. No. I need the tactile experience as well. My body must feel it’s getting nourished.”

  Earth Cat Zero moaned. “I’d like a side too – if it’s not too much bother.”

  Miranda watched in horror as Brahms assaulted his first course of crispy cauliflower with heavy dashes of salt.

  “Uh, Doctor. When’s the last time you had your blood pressure checked?”

  The man mused. “I know this looks bad. I know I look old.” He pointed to his silver hair. “But you’ve got to understand I’m like a race car that needs its engine to run hot. It’s like I need to rev myself into gear. It’s all part of my vibrational mechanics…” The doctor continued explaining but his mouthful of cauliflower prevented Miranda from understanding him.

  Resigned to wait, Miranda wondered if Felicity would keep their secret. As far as she knew, no one – not even the police – was aware Brands had gone AWOL and that some stranger - who talked about doorways to the universe - was now standing in his place.

  This would make a good thriller or science fiction story – if I liked science fiction or thrillers. Miranda felt she would give anything for her current reality to become boring and normal again even if meant hanging out incessantly with her bestie Leesa wondering about how many more classes of history she could endure or if any of the cute sophomores would ask her to the junior prom. She also missed petting Joule. But nevertheless, she still considered physics as a very real and tangible career even if the subject itself was often undefinable. I just need to learn from this. Miranda gritted her teeth in frustration at her eccentric dinner companion. He must be here to learn something as well. If the universe is conscious, it is our teacher.

  Miranda reflected on yesterday’s broadcast. Maybe Earth Cat Zero needed to be here as well. She shook her head in frustration at her conflict, but Brahms didn’t notice with his head bent mere inches from his dinnerplate.

  Earth Cat quipped. “He eats like me.”

  “Doctor. What do we do first?” Miranda twirled a spoon in her free hand.

  “I think we need another acceleration.”

  “But” – the teen groaned – “that hasn’t gotten us very far.”

  “It will. I just need to know the location.” The doctor raised his head from his plate.

  “Location?”

  “Of the people responsible for sabotaging my nephew’s work. I don’t blame Albrecht. He must have reasoned a heated atomic state would normally have pulled the wave cat into the particle realm. I suppose he even got it from my database. But…he couldn’t account for someone redirecting…”

  “Redirecting…” Miranda chewed on the word. “Sounds like magic.”

  “It is trickery no matter how you label it.”

  “Would the last acceleration have worked – to bring the cats back – without the interference?”

  “Most likely.” Brahms wiped his hands on a napkin.

  “Most likely?” Miranda grunted in frustration. Earth Cat Zero pawed at a stray piece of cauliflower.

  “With superposition one can never tell, Miranda. That means one object can exist in two states. For example, the qubits – a two-state quantum mechanical system – are now
infused with the collider itself.”

  “Uh. I’m still wrangling with superposition, Dr. Brahms.”

  “Think of two states existing at once. Imagine you really loved both vanilla and chocolate ice cream but were forced to choose one. Well, with quantum physics, you don’t have to. Both can exist at the same time.”

  “Like a particle and wave state?”

  “Yes. Delicious, isn’t it?” The doctor’s eyes grew wide.

  Miranda grumbled to herself. This Science 101 lesson is so not comforting me. I’ve got to keep this man on track and away from sugar.

  “Given we were sabotaged. Whom would stand to gain from a super…position?”

  “They might use it to move things. Be in two places at once.”

  “Okay, I understand that concept. But the collider is also switching things – people.”

  “That’s because of the instructions its following. The collider is conscious no doubt about it. The qubits have given it sentience. Qubits communicate with each other and other like machinery. They can make things exist in two states. It would seem to me we’ve instructed the collider to behave as a teleportation device.”

  “Is that what the saboteur is doing?”

  “It would seem so.”

  “Couldn’t we instruct the qubits to work for our side?”

  “Great idea. But we need to find the whom…or more importantly, the ‘where’. I would need their coordinates.”

  Miranda ran a straw along the table to play with Earth Cat Zero and also to keep her patience. If this man doesn’t come up with a plan that isn’t just theory I’m going to blow.

  “We still have an advantage, Miranda. Because whomever is pulling the cosmic strings can’t be entirely sure of outcomes.”