by Gary Starta
“No. You and I are wave versions of each other, so is the collider. Destroying the neutrino star will free us from its quantum hi jinx – if you will. Everything will be set back to what it was supposed to be.” Miranda strained to keep emotion off her face. You’ve beaten mom at keeping a straight face before; you can do it now. “You’ll get your shiny new weapon, just back on particle Earth.” The teen blinked a few times but kept her gaze locked with the general.
“What about the neutrino star in this constellation – and those damn twins – Pollux and Castor?” The general’s eyebrows rose in confusion.
Miranda grinned. “Those are mythical creatures. Don’t mind Earth Cat, General. Sometimes he gets caught up in fantasy.”
“Like those huge green and blue cats walking our streets and highways, huh? You know, I don’t recall how they got here but I can’t seem to remember a time when they weren’t here.” The general scratched his head. “Something is off here but don’t quote me on that.”
“I won’t, General. I think this is all part of the Quantum Zeno Effect.”
The general scratched his head again in wonder. “Ah, uh, right.”
He doesn’t want to admit he doesn’t know what it means. Funny thing is, I don’t either.
“If this gets us back to normal then we’ll blast that neutrino star into smithereens. Don’t worry, Miranda, I’ll get Space Force right on this.” The general sighed. “Those guys and gals have been itching for something to do anyway.”
Miranda sobbed holding Earth Cat Zero as tight as possible. “I have a feeling this is going to work. I think you know what that means.”
“I am not quite sure, Miranda. The destruction of the neutrino star might spell the end of us all; including my heritage – the Gemini twins.”
Earth Cat took delight at his master’s loss for words.
“Got you.” Earth Cat Zero laughed gruffly. “I will miss humor. It seems to be one of the best parts of being human. I actually think me, and my fellow Earth cats will be sent home – to wherever that might be in this galaxy. You’ve done well, Miranda Ellis.”
A shadow of one of the blue and green cats momentarily blocked sunlight. The giant cat sniffed the air while Earth Cat Zero sniffed back. “He somehow knows me. He knows you are my ally. He won’t hurt us, Miranda.”
“And I’m going to miss not having your feline insights, friend.” Miranda stroked the cat’s head and sang a lullaby Caron used to sing to her as a child.
“I love you too, Miranda and I won’t be far – not when galaxies can be traveled via teleportation. I have a feeling we ‘Earth Cats’ live virtually – without the need for flesh and bones. If so, I’ll find my way back to you someday.” Miranda scooped up the cat who licked her face until she was forced to giggle.
Brahms paced the room. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Caron harrumphed. “Apparently, I do.” She rested a hand on the elder doctor’s shoulder. “I needed – we needed you – to get us this far.” Brands smiled knowingly seated at a console.
Brahms grinned and popped a stick of gum into his mouth. “I don’t know how this will affect our timeline. If I don’t see you again, Caron; it’s been grand.”
“I have a feeling you will. But if not, make sure you credit me in your paper.”
Brahms sniffed the air as if offended. “Well. I suppose so. I guess it was your genius that figured out we won’t really be destroying the real neutrino star – but its wave counterpart.”
“Oh, I’ve got to credit Felicity with that too.” Caron laughed. “She realized that the wave Earth had somehow become entangled with the wave neutrino star – even though neither were connected prior. It’s going to be a breakthrough. Non-local quantum entanglement of two items that were never connected prior. It’s going to be the rage of the 20’s.”
Dr. Brands thrummed fingers on his console. “If we all live to tell about it.”
A blinding searing light and its impending explosion would have deafened all of the wave versions of the humans – including Miranda – and her beloved Earth Cats which now numbered in the plural – somewhere – somehow – in some distant part of a never-ending universe of possibilities. But the change had come in a nanosecond. Back in her kitchen on a summer day, Miranda Ellis stroked Joule’s orange-colored back while her mother fashioned a grocery list.
“Don’t let that cat out of your sight.”
“I won’t, Mom.” Miranda didn’t know why she was sure of this, but she was.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
One week later…
Miranda laughed at a joke Leesa was telling about how time seemed to pass more quickly on summer vacation. “All good things come to end but I think we still have time for a few more beach parties on Smith Point – if the rain will hold off.” Miranda replied from her usual spot – the barstool seat at the kitchen island.
“Are you going to stay on the phone all day? You could actually go and see Leesa.” Caron Ellis said while walking by with a load of laundry in arms. “Orange cat hair everywhere! It seems Joule sheds year-round. If you’ve got any tops that need washing – like the ones strewn on your bed – how about giving me a hand and grabbing them for me.”
“Sure, Mom.” Miranda scooted off the seat, phone still in hand. When she believed she was out of earshot she confided in Leesa. “I’ve got to help mom out more, Leesa. She’s been here for me the past few months. If it wasn’t for you, mom and Joule…”
Miranda stopped in midsentence. She had been multitasking and scrolling through news headlines when she came upon a picture that made her feel lightheaded. “I – I’ve got to call you back, Leesa.”
After handing Caron her laundry, Miranda retreated to her bedroom and closed the door so even Joule couldn’t follow her.
She kept reading the headline over and over: Mystery Painting of Cat Intrigues Curator. Skimming the first few paragraphs of the article did not quell the uneasy feeling building at the pit of Miranda’s gut.
‘Cindy Zeigler, curator of the Art Institute of Chicago, says she’s been literally scratching her head these days wondering how an abstract piece of art has found itself a home in contemporary wing of the historic museum. “I normally would be most concerned about a missing piece but this work depicting a blue and green cat defies logic.” Zeigler explains a name plate underneath the painting has only deepened the mystery. “A girl named Amanda Armstrong was awarded first prize in something called the Earth Cat Zero painting contest. But we’ve contacted all families who have children with that name, and no one claims to be the artist. I’ve also got to wonder who this Earth Cat Zero is.” The painting depicts a cat’s head with black whiskers, a tongue lolling out of its mouth and dazed - but intense - midnight blue eyes. Its fur is green and blue and reminds this reporter of our planet. Behind the cat are tall buildings – likely mimicked from Chicago’s skyline. Odd bolts of what could be lightning graze a white sky. “It certainly appears abstract and the work of an imaginative child.” Zeigler says, wearing a mischievous smile. “I usually find mysteries about art go back centuries but this one is only weeks old according to a forensic analysis.” For now, visitors are enjoying the work of the mystery artist named Amanda Armstrong as they take in other contemporary art classics from the likes of Andy Warhol and Cy Twombly.’
Miranda palmed her hand against her forehead. Why do I feel like I know the answer? Why is that cat so familiar? Why do I feel like I’ve been to Chicago before?
An odd phone call from a man named Dr. Brands from Chicago interrupted dinner later that night.
“I was there?” Miranda asked the man who sounded as if he was distracted by a woman in the background. An odd chirping sound could be heard as well. This can’t be a telemarketer. Unless he’s working remotely…
“You were both there. You and your mother. I don’t want to explain this over a phone line.” The dead air that followed on the line aroused Miranda’s suspici
ons. “This sounds like it was some high level, top secret agenda, Dr. Brands – if that’s your real name.” Miranda laughed as if her response was facetious, sarcastic and conspiratorial but the man on the other end remained silent. A woman’s voice startled Miranda a few seconds later. “Miranda, I know you will begin to recall more and more of what happened to us. What happened to Earth Cat Zero. We want to be there for you when you and mother experience full recall. I am Felicity. We were friends. I will look forward to seeing you again.”
Miranda squinted feeling a flush of heat on her face. She knew her mother was observing the call with impatience. “Miranda, tell them you’ve got to go. Your food will get cold.”
“I will, Mom. But some agency called the DOD has already booked us first class tickets to Chicago. It’s about a mishap involving the particle collider at Brookhaven – something that did happen – or could happen again. I – uh – don’t know. Whatever it is – this man says it’s a quantum matter.”
Caron Ellis’s face paled. “Oh. I see. Okay. Tell them we’ll be there.” Caron scooped up her dish and wrapped it in foil. Before she could get to Miranda’s plate, Joule had begun licking it. “Who knew Joule likes zucchini?” Miranda asked attempting to create normalcy in the surreal moment. Caron did not respond but stood still as a statue. “Mom, why are you believing me? You never believe me.”
Caron rested her hands on the table with her body bent forward. Her reflection shimmered on the surface, ripple like and wavy. “It is a quantum matter. I’ve had dreams over the last few nights but dismissed them. I was with a good man. He worked at Brookhaven, but I had never met him when I worked there. When you mentioned the collider, Miranda. I-I had a strong flashback of him. I know it must be real. It’s some kind of paradox.” Caron’s breath was ragged.
Miranda jumped out of her seat to comfort her mother with a hug. “We will face this together, Mom.”
Caron smiled with a strange knowingness. “I think we already have but I wouldn’t mind seconds.”
“I can’t believe that painting really exists.” Miranda mumbled incongruently playing with a slice of her deep-dish pizza.
Dr. Brands batted concerned lashes from across the table. “Please, Miranda. Dig in. You don’t get to eat at Giordano’s every day.”
Felicity Mandabelle sat next to Brands, both seated opposite of Caron and Miranda Ellis at one of Chicago’s most famous pizza makers.
“Mm. This cola is good.” Felicity remarked with pursed lips. “But it could use a stronger component in the mix – if you get what I’m talking about.”
Miranda smiled. “I do feel like I’ve been here – with you – before…but…”
Brands pointed a finger. “You’ve seen the painting of Earth Cat Zero. What more do you need?”
“I can’t see all memories that are coming back to me, Dr. Brands. Did we really live in the Union Center with a red bird and robotic doctors named Andy and Andrea?”
“We did. I can show you the Rat’s Deck if needed.”
Miranda bashed a fist on the table and tears filled her eyes. “But other than a painting, you can’t show me Earth Cat Zero. Can you?”
The doctor fell silent and stared into his plate. “I cannot, Miranda. I didn’t know if I wanted to share this with you – I didn’t know if it would make things harder for you…”
Caron joined hands with her daughter. “She’s upset, Dr. Brands. I’d appreciate full disclosure. We came here on a whim, on some dreams, on the belief that quantum paradoxes can exist…”
“Ah.” Dr. Brands waggled a finger. “But you do believe in them now, don’t you? In your soul even?”
Miranda cupped hands about her face and grumbled. “I should be happy that Joule’s back. But there’s something missing.”
“Right you are.” Brands waited a moment before daring to continue with both Ellis’s gazing intently on him. “Your – our – mission was a success. We brought the cat’s home. We also proved quantum entanglement among other things. Your courage Miranda was essential to get things back to normal. You didn’t flinch even when it came to ordering that general to blow up the neutrino star. You grew into a woman and a scientist before my eyes. It doesn’t matter if you can’t see it now – what I’m trying to say – is that you’ve got to take comfort that you took on what most adults could not. I don’t have to see it physically to believe it, Miranda. I know you’re a special kind of person because I can still feel it here.” Brands pointed at his chest.
“We are still waiting for you to share, Doctor.” Caron’s fingers thrummed on the table.
“Well, I have had contact with Earth Cat Zero since we talked last. He contacted me via chip with the help of Felicity’s ingenious quantum relay system. He is all right but a bit sad that he can’t see us. But he feels reunited with his kind, he feels he is at home in the Cygnus Constellation. He even says he’s teaching astrology to his family.”
Miranda smiled and bit at her lower lip. “Like you say, Doctor. It’s bittersweet. But that is only if I believe in your science. What if you had only experienced a dream, Doctor? Could you tell the difference?”
The doctor blushed. “No. I am afraid I could not. Miranda, you – and all of us at this table – we have to take a leap and have faith in science.”
Miranda clasped hands over her heart. “I think I can. In time. So, these memories of Earth Cat Zero’s time with us – it’s all a secret between us?”
“It is. I don’t know where my Uncle Brahms sauntered off to.” Brands sniffed indignantly before taking a sip of his cola.
“He was there for you, Albrecht.” Felicity smiled. “When it counted.”
“I suppose so.”
Caron fiddled with her slice. “I suppose it’s all understandable and explainable. What I don’t get is that Miranda, Felicity and myself were not chipped prior to Earth Cat’s arrival. How are we remembering any of this if time was reset with the explosion of the wave neutrino star?”
Miranda crumpled a napkin in her hands and feigned an explosion sound. “And Mom, do you believe I ordered its explosion? I guess I learned something from playing poker face.”
“It was a sound choice, Miranda.” Dr. Brands said. “There was no one on the neutrino star to harm. As for the recall, blame it on the qubits. Even though we’ve been reset – it seems – and the Earth Cat Zero wave was obliterated from the explosion – we weren’t able to combat every ripple effect from the original particle collision. In simpler terms – the qubits created a quantum consciousness in our brains which does not obey any linear directions of time.”
“Does that mean we are part machine, Doctor?” Miranda asked finally taking a bite of her pizza.
“It does in a quantum sense. I know that doesn’t have the ring of tangibility you were looking for.”
“It does.” Miranda chewed reflecting on her memories. “I did become quite an apprentice of sorts. I will follow this calling. Earth Cat Zero came here for a reason. I am meant to follow in my mother’s footsteps.”
Caron smiled. “I am proud of you Miranda. I must return to Brookhaven. The universe has also called me back to my purpose.” She stuttered trying to find words.
“Mom, is it about that man in your dreams? Normand?”
“Yes. I just know he was the right man for me. I hope this all doesn’t sound so codependent if not maniacal.”
Felicity smiled. “The incident brought me and Albrecht together as well. I’ll give Director Schultz a call and explain this all to him.” She batted eyes. “I’ve been known to be quite the matchmaker so don’t worry, Caron. I’m sure Normand – once he meets you again – will feel you are the right woman for him as well.”
Caron smiled attempting to hide blushed cheeks behind a napkin. “I would appreciate that, Felicity.”
“I do recall talking to Earth Cat.” Miranda mumbled. “I recall that we talked about how important love was no matter what the universe threw your way.”
“I am glad for this reunion.” Brands nodded. “But there is a more serious reason I called you here.”
“Oh.” Felicity scoffed. “Is this about singing Earth Cat’s song? I couldn’t carry a tune with a wheelbarrow.”
“In a way. It is.” Brands smiled and placed a hand on Felicity’s arm. “We must make sure this does not happen again. We must remember Earth Cat Zero’s sacrifices along with his achievements. We can’t let the teleportation weapon to be recreated.”
“But the DOD is already apprised of what happened. You told them, Brands, didn’t you?” Miranda’s voice grew higher in pitch. “Won’t they try to recreate the collision to get the teleporter?”
“They may but I didn’t give them full disclosure on the electrostatic contribution or the Solfeggio Frequency. They may try to recreate this incident for military gain, but they’ll likely fail. What I’m most concerned with – or whom I’m most concerned with – is Declan Adams – or someone just like his wormy character.”
“I agree.” Caron shuddered at his memory.
Dr. Brands twirled his hand. “I will need you both – as civilians – to sign documents confirming your experiences. We must convince the military to keep close watch on Adams – if he should still exist here - and all privatized space operations.”
“Of course, we both will.” Caron consented. “You sound as if this were to happen again, it might not be the doing of a Declan Adams?”
“That is right.” Brands nodded. “In the quantum world, we cannot predict whom might try to use teleportation for superposition again. It is the double-edged sword of physics. There are just as many undesirable outcomes as there are desirable ones. And each player may behave as if a particle. I do understand this is utterly mindboggling.”
Miranda held a hand over her chest. “Then I will keep memories of Earth Cat Zero close to my heart. Whatever peril his particular wave put us in, he gave us the insight to appreciate the desirable moments.” She cried softly. “In time, I will tell his story. The rest of the world needs to hear his tale – again – even if it is only from a standpoint of faith.”
