by Gary Starta
“A burger place isn’t exactly the type of place for a serious meeting, Doctor Brands. My mother always stresses dressing for the occasion and choosing appropriate surroundings. We need to make an impression with this person. We need to be professional.”
Brands stopped chewing his gum. “We need to make friends with them first and foremost. I need to judge this person. I need to see beyond the veneer of title and status. I need to see the real person beneath their shell.”
Miranda grunted. “I see. You want to know if they have a heart.”
Brands smiled. “We need to see if they are down-to-earth.”
“And just who are we meeting? What’s his name?”
“Oh, it’s a woman. Felicity Mandabelle.”
“That’s quite a name for a scientist, sounds like they’d be a musician. If I’m correct, the word felicity means ‘joy’.”
“You would be correct. But remember observation is key. We need to see beyond pretenses like names and fashion.”
“I hope people see beyond my blue and green - not to mention - my black whiskers. I know I am not the kind of cat people are accustomed to seeing.” Earth Cat Zero’s comment surprised Miranda. I am too absorbed. I am still making this about me. I need to get my head together. The poor cat is worried about how he’ll be judged.
The cat turned its head to gaze at Miranda as if for a moment he had heard her thoughts.
The teen became self-conscious and attempted her best neutral expression.
“Something wrong?” Brands asked.
“Well, I am concerned I haven’t been able to reach my mom.”
“She’s probably too busy with meetings, dear.”
“It isn’t like her to not pick up or return a call.”
“Maybe she can’t. If she’s in a meeting, I’m certain all phones would be turned off. Try email.”
Miranda swiped screens with her thumb. “Ah, you’re right. Here it is.”
Scrolling the message, Miranda’s eyebrows knitted with concern. “Something’s not right. These words. This isn’t how my mother speaks, Doctor Brands. She’s telling me I should obey you and encourage the public to remain open to any further experimentation no matter how unethical or theoretical it may sound.”
“Odd. I must admit. She seemed doubtful about me in particular. Well, maybe she’s trying to send a positive vibe, Miranda. You should obey your mother.”
“She didn’t even ask me how I was doing?”
“Maybe she saw your videocast, Miranda. There wasn’t a need. You were broadcast globally.”
Miranda bit at her lower lip. She wanted to believe the doctor’s assessment. “You are right, Doctor. I am sorry for behaving like a scared child.” Miranda thought it would be best not to argue the point further. If she was now a global celebrity, the chances were high that anything she vocalized was susceptible to scrutiny. Now I know why mom was against virtual assistants. My god. I can’t just speak without over thinking things. It seems Earth Cat Zero is better at handling this notoriety than I am.
Inside Shake Shack, Miranda began to feel more like the carefree teen she had been just a week earlier. The aroma of hot dogs, burgers and fries permeated her senses. Even during the worst times, when mom and dad were embroiled in arguments, it seemed the comfort of food was the bond that glued the family together.
“I like how you are playing this, Doctor.”
Brands smiled. “I will order for us. What will it be for you: double cheeseburger or perhaps a dog dragged through the garden?”
“You pick, Doctor. I’m not quite up on Chicago lingo.”
“You’re going to love the crinkle cut fries.” Brands dashed off to order as if he was more concerned about food than Mandabelle’s arrival. She is already five minutes late. But maybe that’s a good thing.
From a booth in the back, Miranda spied a woman with black framed glasses enter. Earth Cat Zero strutted on the table oblivious to the importance of the meeting or the laughter of the patrons.
Miranda’s heart raced as she scanned the crowd for Brands who was not visible. The bespectacled woman was approaching the table hastily, pointing a finger. “I’m so sorry, I am late.” Miranda raised her hand slowly in response to Mandabelle’s outstretched hand. Taking advantage of the attention, Earth Cat Zero smelled the woman’s fingers before rubbing against them.
“And this must be the famous kittycat.”
“And you are?” Miranda attempted to keep her tone even and confident.
“Oh, call me Felicity.” The woman pulled an ID from her black suitcoat. A coral shirt accentuated.
Appearances. Appearances. Miranda grumbled internally at her casual fashion choice: a pink top with faded jeans. At least this woman seems personable.
“I’m so sorry…Felicity. I am Miranda Ellis.”
“No need. Your kisser has been splashed all over the news. By the way, nice touch with the crocodile tears. My son keeps playing that GIF over and over. He thinks you’re hot, by the way.”
Miranda’s mouth fell open. If this woman’s attire wasn’t casual, her speech certainly was.
“I am waiting for Dr. Brands. Ooh, I should have thought to order for you.”
“No worries. I like the place but I’m watching the waistline. I can’t eat like a teen anymore.”
Miranda wondered if the woman’s attempt to appear genuine were real. Maybe this is an act. She’s appearing to let down her guard with hopes that I will.
Brands’s arrival interrupted any further attempt at a mental game plan.
“I am glad to make your acquaintance.”
The woman practically sneered. “No. I don’t think you are. I wouldn’t be. I wouldn’t want a third wheel overseeing my projects.”
“I admire your candor.” Brands motioned with his hand for her to be seated and she scooted into the booth. “I love his colors.” She folded hands and seemed to drink in the cat’s beauty with her eyes.
Brands seemed to be at a loss from the woman’s candor. “I – I can order for you.”
“No thanks.” She waved a hand. “I’m dieting. But I commend the menu choice. I mean, this is real grub not the kind of restaurant where you get a piece of lettuce or kale at a hundred bucks a plate.”
Brands nodded. “I am excited to hear your ideas.”
The woman seemed absorbed with the cat, playfully waving fingers. “Aren’t you going to speak?” The cat rubbed his head against the woman’s shirt, possibly confused as to whom she was addressing.
Brands also misinterpreted the scientist. “I thought I already was speaking…”
Felicity raised an eyebrow. “I meant the cat.”
Earth Cat Zero ceased rubbing against the woman. “I can speak more effectively without you waggling fingers in my face. I am not a kitten. I find that kind of stimuli to be banal.” Earth Cat Zero tilted his head as if were assessing the scientist.
“Nice to meet you too, Earth Cat Zero.” The woman laughed from her diaphragm.
“I must tell you that I have engineered quite a communication system for you. It will be far superior to any of these phones the humans use, Mr. Kittycat.”
“Hmm.” Brands intervened. “You mean the quantum loop?”
“I do.”
“Excuse me, I’ll get our food.”
With the absence of the doctor, Miranda felt compelled to fill airtime. “I really like Earth Cat’s coloring as well.”
“It might not seem very natural to us but then again, your pink hair isn’t exactly a work of nature either, Miranda. Wait until you meet my son. He’s a mirror of his generation as well, always begging for money to get a tattoo.”
Miranda smiled tenuously. “Ah. Yeah, that’s kind of a frivolous need.”
“Really? If I could roll up my sleeve, I’d show you mine.”
“So sorry, I didn’t mean to offend, Mrs. Mandabelle.”
“Just stop calling me by my last name. It’
s Felicity. Think of me when you feel joy.” The woman laughed at her own joke, batting eyes in jest.
“I will. I mean, I would be glad to.”
“You remind me of myself at your age, Miranda. You won’t want to behave so guardedly though; it won’t help you when you start a career, especially as a woman. Take it from me.” The woman waved a hand as Brands returned.
Scooping a fry from the tray into her mouth, Felicity bit into it and savored the flavored. “Mm. What I wouldn’t do for a calorie free fry.” Brands flushed red. The doctor is offended. You’d think the fry was made of gold. Miranda began to feel less anxious now that the two adult professionals were behaving as juveniles.
Earth Cat Zero pranced on the table as if he were relieved as well.
After discussing the quantum loop and how it might be used to connect Earth Cat Zero with his supposed atomic doppelganger, the team strolled along East Ohio Street.
“I say we walk awhile. Let’s allow the universe guide us or at least help us walk off some of those calories.” Brands peered upwards at the skyscrapers. “I’ve always felt a vibrational energy exists among this architecture. I wonder how it will impact Earth Cat Zero.”
“Not much, Doctor. Remember, I still primarily go by my sense of smell.”
“I don’t mean the visual stimuli in particular, Earth Cat. You exist because of a field. There are fields of energy emanating all around us. I was wondering…”
“You were wondering if I can see them?” Earth Cat Zero sat on his haunches and gazed upwards. “No. I do not see it. Sorry to disappoint.”
“I think we should stroll towards Navy Pier.” Brands said hoping to deflect the awkward conversation with the cat.
“I would love to see it.” Miranda added.
“Hmm. I thought it would be great to see Millennium Park. Talk about energy vibes.” The DOE scientist seemed adamant as if no amount of talking would change her mind. Miranda recalled a website depicting the park which featured a waterfall encased between two amazingly tall video screens which displayed people’s faces.
“Well, we can. But we may need an Uber. It’s a 45-minute walk to Randolph.”
“Consider it on the dime of the DOE.” Felicity said as she flipped screens on her phone.
Felicity Mandebelle gushed over the park’s attractions on the ride. “Miranda, I realize you might enjoy the company of someone like my son rather than us.”
“Oh, I believe we are in the best of company.” Miranda pointed a finger at Earth Cat Zero who was pacing across the trio’s laps as they rode in the backseat of a Chevy minivan. “See, Earth Cat Zero’s tail tells me that, without any words.”
The cat paused to glare at Miranda. “Hey, that’s not fair. You don’t have a tail to betray your emotions.”
The trio laughed as Felicity rambled on about the park. “I know the waterfall is techno eye candy. But we’ve got to see the Bean first.”
Miranda googled. ‘The Bean is officially known as the Cloud Gate which was created by computer technology to cut 168 massive stainless-steel plates into precise shapes.’ An article detailed how the 33-foot-high marvel allows visitors to view a distorted image of themselves through the Bean’s mirror-like finish.
“But Felicity, it says here that the Bean was created by computer technology. Perhaps its tech even rivals the waterfall.”
Felicity smiled with a closed mouth. How can this woman not be aware of how the Bean was made as both a scientist and resident of Chicago?
The woman grabbed Earth Cat Zero’s leash before asking Miranda permission. “Is it okay if I walk Earth Cat Zero for a while?”
Miranda found herself mumbling, unprepared as to how to politely answer Felicity’s question. “Uh, yeah, sure. Go ahead.”
Brands turned to gaze at Miranda as if questioning the woman’s intentions. Both remained silent as they could only concentrate on how to catch up with the DOE scientist who had already encouraged a parade of onlookers to follow her hasty saunter as well. Miranda and the doctor pushed their way around children and adults to keep pace. Something feels off.
Miranda fought an inner dread and forced a smile as she continued to dodge the crowd all eager to point fingers and take photos of the infamous cat. Everything’s okay. This is just excitement. Nothing nefarious. Nothing to worry over.
Brands motioned with his hand for Miranda to keep the woman in sight.
“Uh,” Miranda shouted. “Wouldn’t it be best if we stopped so we can take a picture?”
Felicity finally stopped and turned around. “I agree. Let’s all get a photo at how we appear in the distortion.”
Miranda fumbled with her phone, almost forgetting how to put it into camera mode as her fingers shook. “Yes, you go ahead first.”
Felicity smiled as she peered into the sculpture, but her grin appeared lopsided to Miranda in the mirror reflection.
“Great. Now you go ahead, Doctor Brands.” Felicity motioned a hand for the doctor to move up to the Bean which was now surrounded with onlookers.
“Yes, let’s just get this over with.” Brands grumbled.
“Something the matter, Doctor?”
“I just hate pictures. That’s all.”
Miranda’s gaze fell upon Earth Cat Zero. He looks okay. Probably must be an overactive imagination.
But as Miranda observed the cat, she noticed its black whiskers were rotating just like they did at the house. It was as if they were antennae attempting to tune into a certain frequency.
What’s going on here?
Returning her gaze to the doctor, Miranda noticed his hands were shaking and his face was pale in the reflection. “Oh, my. I do feel dizzy.” Brands mumbled.
“Uh, wait. Doctor! I need you to turn away from the reflection!”
But whatever was transpiring had already completed unbeknown to Miranda. Miranda knelt down to scoop up the feline into her arms. “There, there. It’s okay. It’s just a reflection in the mirror. Don’t be afraid.”
Felicity was suddenly out of view and lost in the crowd. Returning her attention to the doctor, Miranda observed the man wobble on shaky legs and then tumble to his knees.
“What’s wrong, Doctor?”
“I am not myself.” The doctor’s face was bathed in sweat.
“What do you mean?”
The cat spoke but it projected Brands’s voice. “I think we’ve been played, Miranda. You’ve got to get the cat away from this structure!”
Meanwhile, Brands’s body was now on all fours and he was beginning to rub his shoulders along any and all available legs in the crowd.
Miranda shouted for help while distorted images danced above her in a kaleidoscope of confusion.
Chapter Fifteen
Three hours earlier…
Caron Ellis couldn’t recall a single thing since the chauffer had offered her a bottled water. She remembered welcoming the liquid as her mouth had become quite parched rehearsing her speech. The sudden realization caused her hands to fly up to each side of her face. “Oh my God! The speech!” She looked around, realizing she must have dozed off. She couldn’t fathom how. She had drunk at least a few cups of Director Schultz’s power roast. Her vision was fuzzy, she blinked to clear her eyes.
She was no longer in the car; but in a small, enclosed room where she sat in a metal chair before a metallic table. She reached around her and felt a pillow which was cushioning her back. Peering around, she noticed a steel door with a rectangular window just above its door handle. A vent blew air conditioning directly above.
A booming voice startled her. “I’ll be in to join you in a moment.”
“What? Who is this?”
“I’ll be right in. Don’t be alarmed.”
She didn’t recognize the voice and her eyes began to scan the room for a speaker. Feeling underneath the table, she found something that resembled an Echo device. It was mounted underneath the table.
Had she been b
rought back to Brookhaven? Was this some kind of reprimand? Did I simply faint from all the worry and pressure?
A man in a navy blazer accentuated with a blue-collared shirt walked in without saying a word. He approached the desk and Caron found herself instinctively scrabbling backwards. The chair creaked in protest.
The man bent downwards, holding up a hand like he was motioning for her to stop while the other hand fumbled beneath the desk to retrieve the device. After a few tugs, the puck shaped device came loose and then the man proceeded to chuck it against the wall where it shattered.
Caron gasped. “Oh!”
“Hmm. I don’t like those things either. Don’t know who’s listening. But it was a necessary evil. We wanted to monitor you. I’m glad you had a good sleep. Probably the first good one you’ve had since this ordeal happened. Am I right?” A chain dangled about the man’s neck and on it hung some V-shaped emblem. It had words running across it, but Caron’s eyesight was too unfocused to read any of its inscription.
The dark-haired man smiled and retreated from the desk to lean against a corner wall. His white teeth contrasted against his black beard stubble. “What? You’ve never seen frustration before? I bet if I gave you one of those devices to smash, you’d feel a whole lot better.” The man waggled a finger.
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.” Caron noticed a bitter taste welling in her mouth and felt like spitting. Her mouth puckered. “What did you do to me?” She waited a moment for her anger to simmer just as it did with her ex when he hesitated to answer her. It produced the same result. Caron bashed her fist on the table.
“No need for aggression. Your speech went off without a hitch.”
“How-how-could that be?” Caron’s eyes darted left to right. “I don’t recall anything since the limo ride.”
“We did give you a sedative; but it’s FDA approved. Nothing you couldn’t get over the counter. We needed to talk to you, Caron. And we will talk - if you allow.” The man held raised palms upward as if he wanted to appear peaceful.