Earth Cat Zero: Last Cat Meowing

by Gary Starta

  “But you – we are changing – the animal’s makeup, its physiology.”

  “We are enhancing it. The particular energy fields that make a bird behave as a bird will remain intact. I think the alteration of a particular field changed the laws of how a cat exists in our world, but in the end, the field will still yield a cat, whether blue/green or lemon yellow.”

  “Hmm. I never thought about these fields in that respect. So, if Earth Cat Zero is green and blue - like the planet - may he be comprised of some sort of genetic similarity like the Earth itself?”

  Brands clasped his hands in consideration. “A great question, Miranda. We will need to study this. You are going to make a great scientist.”

  Miranda smiled. “I hadn’t been certain I would follow in my mother’s footsteps…but now…”

  “You are in for the best hands-on education one could only dream about.”

  “I will be assisting you…?”

  A chime interrupted.

  “Miranda, it’s time. The conference will begin soon. We must be on standby. Just remember, limit discussion about procedures and operations; instead, focus on the human part of the equation - in other words - don’t be afraid to be emotional.”

  Miranda felt her skin tingle and her heart race. I don’t think that will be an issue.

  Surprised at her mother’s poise, Miranda stood at the ready in front of a cam which Brands had explained would include her in the live feed when called upon.

  I need to make my mother proud. I need to be confident like her. I guess those games of poker face really paid off. Miranda was glad she had brought a suit with dress slacks which would mirror her mother’s attire. Mother and daughter wore charcoal colored attire with Miranda wearing a pink shirt and her mother in blue. Maybe looking educated or official might appease the masses. One can only guess.

  The conference began with Caron Ellis illuminated by flashes of white light. Seated to her right was Director Schultz; other people flanked Caron, but Miranda had not met them.

  The other people didn’t seem to matter. Miranda could see the way the cameras were angled that the questions would be directed toward her mother. Their PR game seems to be working. Play the family angle.

  After the third question, which seemed only conversational in nature and designed to give the press an idea of her function in the process; the real game of cat and mouse began.

  “How can the world trust your judgment in this case which could result in changing or even decimating the human population itself? Do you see your past involvement with the lab as a conflict of interest?” The question was phrased by a reporter of CNN.

  Caron coughed into her hand while Schultz pushed a glass of water toward her. “I will answer the second question, first. No. I don’t see that. I see that as an advantage to understanding how quantum mechanics operates. I trust that all the parents, children and animal lovers will see that my decision is not only humane but educated. There is no evidence to substantiate that further accelerations will put anyone else in danger.”

  Another reporter from FOX NEWS countered. “How can you speak about being humane? I understand that cat will undergo some very strange and unnatural procedures. How long has the capability of giving a cat speech been possible? What evidence can you give to assure us that further accelerations won’t make matters worse?”

  Schultz raised a hand. “Ladies and gentlemen, please limit your questions to one at a time.”

  “Why so she can consult her script?” The same reporter charged wearing a scowl.

  Miranda pressed a control in her right hand which would voluntarily shift the cameras toward her. I’ve got to help, Mom.

  “I am Miranda Ellis, and I will be responsible for Earth Cat Zero’s safety. I didn’t even think I’d be speaking today so I can assure you I have no canned responses.” She shook pink bangs out of her face. “As you can see, I am just an ordinary citizen, a cat lover, a daughter of a very smart mother. I hope science will continue to remain wondrous and exciting, even in times of uncertainty. In the end, it will explain where we’ve been and where we’re headed.”

  Miranda cleared her throat. “I went through the difficulty of losing my precious pet and I have reason to believe my particular experience might give us insight into why the acceleration affected the cats.” She reached down to scoop Earth Cat Zero into her arms. “I am in charge of this cat’s welfare. I will look out for him - for all of us.” The cat stared deadpan into the camera with protruded tongue.

  Another reporter countered. “That’s all very sweet but it seems you seem to be taking responsibility for the occurrence. Weren’t you and your mother in direct vicinity of the lab when the incident occurred? It seems quite a coincidence that your mother worked for the lab.”

  Schultz intervened again. “One question at a time.”

  “We ask you allow us time to study the occurrence.” Miranda cleared her dry throat.

  The reporter charged. “But we were promised answers.”

  Brands clicked his remote. “I am Dr. Brands. I can assure that the procedure has been in the realm of possibility for quite some time. We – and I mean my employers – weren’t certain when would be a good time to implement this undertaking but with the dire circumstances we feel the time has come and I can say I am glad we were in preparation.”

  The reporters began shouting over one another.

  “You are admitting secret programs have been in place, Dr. Brands. I am curious to know whom your employers are, and do we pay their salaries?” From a monitor, Miranda observed the woman in the mint green dress phrasing the question, hands on hips, agitated. She supposed the woman had every right to be outraged. The camera panned back to Caron who had begun to visibly sweat. Oh no, Mom. I should have known you weren’t ready for the public just yet. Miranda bit at her trembling lower lip filled with regret and guilt over allowing Joule to escape.

  Pressing her remote, Miranda panned attention back on herself where a flood of tears had made her mascara run. Although the makeup made her appear as if some kind of impressionist’s painting, her tears made her look vulnerable and childlike just as the billions of viewers must have felt.

  Miranda could hear Brands in the background. “That’s it dear. That’s it. A picture paints a thousand words.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Skylight beams of luminescence invaded Miranda’s new living quarters, the sheen of light confronting dark shadows over a purple battlefield. At least that’s what the night felt like to Miranda who spent it tossing and turning. Earth Cat Zero, still asleep at the foot of her bed, seemed oblivious to any conspiracies, controversial surgeries or the fact that he now resided in a Chicago sports arena.

  The teen yawned and stretched. “Guess you slept soundly. It’s probably because you have no idea what the day holds for you.”

  Doors slid open. “Good Morning.” Brands was already in an all-out hustle, shuffling in with a glass of juice. “It was actually refreshing to sleep on the couch. Maybe some kind of energy shifting, fengshui style!”

  “Oh, thank you. It’s purple.” Miranda swished the juice in the glass as if to make sure nothing solid was awaiting her in the murkiness.

  “Ah, it’s pulpy but it’s nutritious and a great energy boost.” Brands dashed back out of the room and reappeared with a glass of the purple goo juice in hand. “See.” He tipped his head back and proceeded to drain his cup. “Ahh!”

  Miranda giggled and situated a hand in a strategic position behind one of Earth Cat Zero’s ears. A steady hum signaled success.

  “Very good. We want Earth Cat in the best of moods today for his historic change!”

  Miranda feared the man was a bit over optimistic or possibly jacked up on another one of his sugar highs. She wondered how he could be so confident despite the thrashing they took at the press conference. Even though they had only virtually attended it, Miranda felt psychologically scarred.

  “I
am concerned about yesterday, Dr. Brands. I thought I could convince everyone that this was for the best. But it didn’t appear to go that way. I mean, words came out of my mouth, but after that I was a deer in headlights.”

  “I think you played it brilliantly.” Brands aimed a finger at the kitchen, prompting Miranda and Earth Cat Zero to follow his lead. “You know I’d ask you to call me by my first name but its dreadful and barely pronounceable.” Miranda barely heard the man’s reply, caught up in teenage angst over her social media meltdown.

  Sliding a tablet off the kitchen counter, Brands swiped his hand over its faceplate a few times. “Yes, here it is. Look.”

  Miranda’s mouth fell open. A picture of her breakdown filled the screen. There were so many tears on her face she thought they might drip off the screen. “Oh great! My vulnerability has been splashed all over the Internet in dazzling high-def resolution.” Mascara holocaust!

  Brands pursed lips. “Some of the media managed to capture a clip of the piece. You might be pleased to know several of the major social media sites have it available as a GIF in their emoji section.”

  Miranda tore the tablet out of the doctor’s hands. “Pleased?!”

  “Doesn’t your generation revel in likes, attention and notoriety?”

  “It does, when it’s just kicking back and chilling with friends or looking hot.”

  “Oh. Well, now you have notoriety for substance.” Brands placed a hand on Miranda’s shoulder. For a second, she was tempted to bite his hand or at least command Earth Cat Zero to do it for her. “Miranda, you did salvage the situation. The media is not running with headlines screaming about animal rights violations or hoopla about particle colliders wiping humans off the face of the planet. What they are focusing on is, humanity itself. They see you are real. They will now listen. Perhaps the toughest part of the fight may be behind us. Besides, the president is enforcing laws not only to make resistance against further accelerations an act of treason but also to beef up the existing animal extinction laws.”

  “Good.” Miranda gazed at her juice with a wary eye. “I hope you are right that we have passed through the eye of the storm - or the darkest hour - or whatever literary phrase might be apropos. English is so not my strong suit.”

  “But maybe solving science problems is. And for us, that’s a good thing.” Brands smiled, and after a few seconds, Miranda mirrored.

  “But what about Earth Cat?” The feline was sniffing the flooring, twisting and twining his way through their legs.

  “I am sorry. I can’t feed him.” He peered at his watch. “Surgery will begin shortly.”

  “I understand, Doctor. But I was referring to his continued safety. Even though committing an act of violence against any animal is a felony, it may not be a strong enough deterrent. People who are normally balanced might do desperate things and the ones who are already on the brink of lunacy, well this might be the final push they need.”

  Brands nodded. “I know all about lunacy. Don’t you worry, I’ll devise a system to protect our friend. As far as our time in the Rat’s Deck…excuse me, that’s my pet name for this place…we are safe as broccoli in a bakery.”

  The doctor scooped up Earth Cat Zero who chose to drape paws over Brands’s shoulders and peer at Red. “Now. The show is about to begin.” Brands stated flatly: “Open Rat’s Deck.”

  The bed began to twist and turn sideways.

  “Oh, but my stuff!” Miranda raised hands over her head in panic.

  “No worries, what magnetization won’t secure, inertial dampening will.”

  “You mean like Star Trek?”

  Brands smiled and made cooing noises at Earth Cat who had now turned to face him with a protruding tongue. “Essentially, yes. It’s all about manipulating fields. And I bet Earth Cat Zero here is already the grand master of manipulation.”

  Miranda joked. “Aren’t all cats born that way?” She reflected on Joule and her lower lip trembled. She’d give anything to see her orange ball of fur lick cheese off her fingers again.

  When the bed finished its rotation, in its place were steel tables, cabinets and some other cutting-edge computer equipment which beeped and chirped spurring Red to mimic.

  “I think such an important operation should be beheld in the glorious rays of light, not some dank basement.”

  Light cascaded from the sky, rays rippled in beams over the equipment making it appear majestic, magical and maybe even heaven sent. The imagery caused Miranda to doubt their actions. “What if we aren’t to interfere, Doctor?”

  “Meaning?” Brands scoffed. “I think we already have intervened, if not interfered. Whatever happened on the lab grounds that day may have been caused by Joule’s presence, your presence, your mother’s presence and even Normand’s presence. Observation plays a big part in defining reality.”

  “Oh…” Miranda felt another worry niggle at the back of her mind. What about Normand?

  “Well, it’s good you are not judgmental, Doctor.” Miranda attempted a rebound with the joke, but her laughter was tinged with regret and sarcasm.

  “So, can you tell me something good? If we are subjecting poor Earth Cat to perhaps an unwanted change, what will we be creating here besides a talking cat?”

  “Earth Cat Zero will prove animal intelligence.”

  Red chirped. “I already have. It’s just that humans seem to be a lot less caring about birds. I mean, look at your human sayings. It’s for the birds, for example. Not kind. Not too kind at all.”

  Miranda felt her heartbeat quicken. I am barely used to a speaking bird. How will I react to Earth Cat Zero? The teen arched her back and inhaled deeply as if preparing herself. I’ve got to be strong for Earth Cat. I can’t show disgust, be overly amazed or insensitive…

  As if Brands heard her thoughts, he commented. “Don’t worry, first impressions aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. I hated Uncle Claude initially but then grew to admire him something fiercely. I am sure Earth Cat Zero will allow or tolerate our behaviors after we all acclimate to each other.”

  Miranda felt another rush of panic and wanted to shout: Stop! Am I concerned about my feelings here? Am I making this about me? Angered at her self-involvement, Miranda blurted. “Just tell me how I can assist. How can we make this a success?”

  “That’s what Earth Cat Zero wants to hear, my dear. But we must allow some time as I am growing brain matter as we speak via incubation.” Brands pointed at a jar contained in what looked like a high-end microwave sitting on the kitchen table. “Well, on second thought, that’s not quite true.” The doctor scampered toward the Rat’s Deck with purpose in his stride. Earth Cat Zero twisted his head back and forth to drink in the scenery. At least that’s what Miranda imagined he was doing. This is going to be healing for Earth Cat. He will be able to tell me what he’s thinking. I won’t have to guess anymore. This can be justified…

  “I know you will be brave.” Miranda kneaded a finger on top of the cat’s skull as if massaging him.

  “Here it is.” Brands held up what resembled a laser scalpel.

  “Hmm. Does Earth Cat need anesthesia for that?”

  Brands allowed the feline to pop off his shoulder and onto one of the surgery tables. By the time Miranda asked the question for a second time, Brands sighed as if he was relieved.

  “Oh, no. He will not.”

  “Okay….?” Miranda twirled an index finger to encourage the doctor to explain.

  “It’s already done. I tweaked his coding essentially turning on instructions which will allow for speech.”

  “It’s done?”

  “Yes, grand, isn’t it? I bet our furry friend didn’t even know what happened.” Earth Cat Zero produced a mewling sound.

  “Now after we introduce the brain matter, I will insert a chip. That would be the universal dictionary I had spoken about; finally, we will make a few adjustments on his lips and tongue and voila we will be taking the first huge st
ep to understanding Earth Cat Zero and what he’s experienced.”

  “Uh, that’s great. But what about the part of proving intelligence? And do you plan on having me watch this?”

  “Watch this? You are funny. You will be my right hand, ma’am.” He chuckled.

  “Wait. I don’t know how to operate or assist…”

  Brands waved a hand and spindly steel appendages descended from the ceiling. “I would like you to meet Andy and Andrea. They are my bot’s and will ensure everything goes as planned, even if human error should rear its ugly head.”

  “Oh. Hello?”

  The appendages spoke like the AI virtual assistants currently used in cars and homes. “We love the view of the Rat’s Deck.” Miranda believed the voice was female and belonged to Andrea. “Pleased to meet you, Miranda.” They said in unison.

  “They can see? How?”

  “Sensors.”

  “So, all of this tech is the military’s? Were they ever going to share?”

  “They have already shared the ability to make a bird talk, Miranda. This was to be a strategic weapon for war and espionage.”

  “Oh, great. Then they’ll probably want something in return” Miranda licked her lips. “Oh, damn! What about Earth Cat Zero?”

  “I cannot guarantee what might happen. I can say you are his rightful owner at the moment. Regarding the surgery, I thought you wanted to be on hand, to observe and oversee everything I do to Earth Cat, per the contract?”

  “I do. I do.” Miranda licked dry lips again. Be careful what you wish for.

  “Tell me why we never believed animals to be intelligent as us.” Miranda was ready for any deflection to mask her guilt for being afraid to assist the doctor. If I’m going to be there for Earth Cat Zero, I need to be there for him all the way. Two feet in.

  “I can explain it in a way that you and your mother might be more familiar with physics. You see, we had only believed our advanced central nervous systems gave spark and rise to higher intelligence. But it’s not all in the neurons, not all of it - as consciousness plays a big part.”