The gang was meeting at headquarters for the latest announcements.
“I have a new case for you,” said Crux, the leader of the group.
“What is it, boss?” asked Ariel.
“Some sick bastard named Erwin Schrödinger locked a cat in a steel box with a radioactive substance.”
“It’s only a matter of time before the radioactive atoms decay, explode the bottle of poison, and it dies.”
“What possible scientific merit could that have?” she asked.
“It’s the Schrödinger’s Cat paradox,” said Themis.
“Themis, can you explain?” Crux asked him.
“It has to do with quantum mechanics, or the fundamental building blocks of the universe,” said Themis.
“Atoms are so tiny that it is difficult to know where quantum particles such as electrons are.”
“For decades scientists had to make an educated guess as to the general area.”
“Some theories posit that electrons might be in more than one place at the same time.”
“Essentially if you put a cat in a box with a radioactive substance, it may or may not decay, setting off a chain reaction that kills the cat.”
“It is possible that the cat may be simultaneously alive and dead until the moment that reality coalesces into a state of superposition,” he concluded.
“Well as you know we are Anarchy Animalia, the animal rights extremists that make PETA look like posers. So if this guy is experimenting on cats in his laboratory, we need to go there and get that cat out of the box before it’s too late,” said Crux.
“In this universe that cat lives,” he added.
“Agreed,” said Ariel.
“These evil scientists make me so mad! I could literally kill Schrödinger right now!” she ranted.
“Do whatever you want to him. But make sure the cat stays alive,” Crux told her.
#
Oxford University, England, 1935
Ariel transported to the time and place in question.
She burst in through the doors of the laboratory.
“Alright, Schrödinger, The cat is out of the bag!“ she shouted pointing a handgun in his direction.
“Or in this case a box,” she added.
“What is this? Who are you?” he demanded.
“I’m someone that knows what you have been doing to innocent animals!” she responded.
“Are you nuts?” he asked her. “I haven’t the slightest idea who you are. Get out of my laboratory this instant!”
“Where’s the cat, Schrödinger?” she asked him.
“The cat?” he was baffled.
“The cat you put in a box with radioactive poison!” she yelled at him.
“How did you?”
“Oh, never mind. I was about to check anyway,” said the scientist leading her to a door in the back.
They approached a table that held a metal box.
“Out of my way!” said Ariel rushing to the box.
“Be careful! That’s highly unstable radioactive material!” he warned her.
Paying him no heed Ariel unlatched the lid and opened it.
The cat lay cold and rigid inside.
“Oh no, we’re too late!” cried Ariel.
“What were you thinking putting a cat in a box with uranium and cyanide?” she yelled hitting him over and over again.
“It’s a common stray cat!” he argued holding his arms up to protect himself.
In her rage she was not aware of what happened next.
#
Ariel burst in through the doors of the laboratory.
“Alright, Schrödinger! There’s a dead cat on the line!” she shouted.
“What is this? Who are you?” he demanded.
Ariel ran to the back of the laboratory through the doors where the cat was in a box.
“You are not allowed back there!” Schrödinger called after her.
She unlatched the lid and slid it aside finding a terrified black and white cat with yellow eyes. His hackles were on end and his tail was puffy.
“There you are!” said Ariel with relief.
The cat hissed and growled.
“Be careful, little buddy. You don’t want to trigger the radioactive reaction,” Ariel warned him.
The cat snarled and lunged at her.
She heard the sound of glass breaking and then everything went dark.
#
Ariel burst in through the doors of the laboratory.
“Alright, Schrödinger! This kitten has claws!” she shouted.
“What is this? Who are you?” he demanded.
Ariel ran to the back, passing through the doors to the box. She unlatched the lid and slid it open.
The cat was curled up in the corner opposite of the cyanide.
“Meow,” it said with no comprehension of what happening.
“Don’t worry, cat. I’m getting you out of here,” said Ariel.
“That cat is the property of Oxford University,” Schrödinger informed her from the doorway.
“I am confiscating this cat on behalf of Anarchy Animalia!” said Ariel.
“Shame on you for experimenting on animals such as this defenseless cat!”
“I needed him to prove my theory of quantum mechanics, you stupid girl!” he shouted.
Ariel aimed the gun at him.
“So I’m stupid am I?” she responded.
“Don’t shoot!” he requested. His hands rose to the air.
“Compose yourself! It’s just a cat!”
The cat jumped out of the box and ran to hide.
“Pick up the cyanide!” she shouted.
“If anyone can hear me. I need some assistance!” called out Schrödinger.
“Pick it up, right now!” she shouted.
He bolted for the exit.
Ariel took the shot, which missed and ricocheted off something metallic.
“Where’s the cat?” Ariel asked.
She heard the sound of objects falling over in the closet.
She opened the door to find the feline hiding inside.
He hissed at her.
“We have to go!” said Ariel reaching for the cat.
Triggering her transportation device she crossed through the portal with the animal struggling in her arms.
#
Ariel burst in through the doors of the laboratory.
“Alright, Schrödinger!” she shouted.
<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>
Elizabeth de Moya lives near San Diego, CA. She volunteers for the birds, and she works at the zoo. She is going back to school to study pre veterinary medicine. She has a BA in Linguistics from UC Berkeley.