Episode 9 - Natalia
Natalia Bremmer waved from a table near the front window. It was early for the normal crowd and the brewpub was nearly empty. Only a few murmurs of quiet conversation made its way to the isolated table.
Natalia set her Blackberry aside as I came to the table and gave her a kiss. The table was set for two and a couple of dewy glasses had been delivered. “They have a new red, so I ordered one for you. Mine’s an IPA,” she said, raising her glass.
The malty Irish red was smooth and refreshing. “I like this one. Good choice.”
“I didn’t think you’d want a hoppy, bitter brew right now,” Natalia said.
She was correct as usual.
We held hands across the table and I knew she could feel my quickening pulse and the mixture of endorphins and hormones that telegraphed my state of mind. Natalia and I have been an item since high school and she is still as exciting as the day we met.
Natalia was the rarest of the Catalysts, a Zyme who could manipulate biological material with a touch and a thought. Mamma Leonie, our mentor, told us that there were perhaps four or five high level Zymes in the entire world. Natalia was one of them but we are the only people who knew that. The Catalyst organization rated us as low-level talents, useful but uninteresting. We worked hard to foster that fiction.
“Colin, what’s going on?” she asked.
“Someone tried to break into my place on Friday. I caught them on tape and notified the police. One of the guys tried to breach the back door with a shotgun and the back-splatter tore him up pretty badly. I didn’t tell the cops about the shotgun incident.”
Natalia nodded.
This morning, I found two unidentified packages under the truck. The packages contained sophisticated surveillance devices wrapped in an unusual material that was extremely difficult for me to see through.”
Natalia’s eyebrows rose as she processed that information. “Do you think the slavers found someone from our class?”
Catalyst training classes were deliberately kept small and they were organized much like spy cells. If one member of the class was turned or captured, they could only betray their classmates. The rest of the Catalyst community was protected.
“Could be. I posted a message to let the group know we may have slaver problems.”
“What did you do about the devices?” Natalia asked.
I smiled ruefully at the question. “I did what any normal citizen would do, I called the police. They brought in the bomb squad and a forensic team. It caused a big stir. You’ll probably see something about it on the evening news. The forensic guys found the blood and the gunpowder residue. They also have photos of the guys who vandalized the station.”
Natalia was angry and she frowned as she considered the consequences of my actions. “And you didn't think to talk to me about this before you jumped off a cliff? What you do affects me and you’re not exactly following the established security protocols, are you? "
Natalia could feel the constitutional changes that telegraphed my dismay and defensiveness..
"My communications were being monitored and I didn't want to provide a direct link to you. The snoopers had WiFi capabilities so they knew I found the packages. If they suspect or know I am a Catalyst, they would expect me to scoop you up and head for the hills. They could have gotten both of us at the same time. I decided to change the plan, act like a Normal, and stay away from you."
Natalia considered me thoughtfully, gagging my biological and physical responses. The woman was a virtual lie detector. “I know you believe those statements but are you correct?”
I shrugged. "Time will tell."
Natalia nodded and looked out the window. "Maybe I should go for that interview at Hopkins." She turned her attention back to me as she felt my alarm at her casual statement.
“Did you apply for the job or were you recruited?” I asked.
“I was contacted by a headhunter. They’re looking for diagnosticians to staff a new Special Pediatrics unit. It comes with research space and modest startup funding for two years. I sent them my credentials and they want to arrange an interview.”
“Did you tell them you graduated from Emmerson?”
“It’s no secret,” she said. “The same information is in my undergrad and Medical School applications.”
“Please don’t go for the interview. It’s too convenient and it would be easy to snatch you along the way.”
I could tell that Natalia was peeved by my reaction. “Are you saying this because of your personal feelings or something else?”
I looked directly into her eyes. “I love you, so yes, my personal feelings are involved. That said, I really think this is a plan to capture you. Besides, if you left Ann Arbor, they could still follow and we would have little time to take security preparations.”
Natalia considered me thoughtfully, gauging the truthfulness of my words.
“Think about it. Is it worth the risk?” I asked quietly.
“What’s to keep them from trying something here?”
“They probably will, but they don’t know about our preparations or our true capabilities. Natalia, I’m tired of being pushed around and I’m tired of hiding. If we change identities, how will you ever re-establish your physician's credentials? I can't see you working as a faith healer in some third-world country. I want to have a family and I don’t want to worry about slavers and what they might do to you or me or our kids. I want a better future. I want a world where Catalysts can be safe.”
Natalia stiffened and gripped my hand strongly.
“But more importantly, I continued, “I don’t want to lose you. If you really want to relocate, I’ll go wherever you go.”
Natalia looked away as the enormity of the situation washed over her. When she looked back at me, there was fire in her eyes. “I’m not sure what the right path is. Until today, Slavers were an academic threat--bogeymen who dictate how we live and what we do. Now you're telling me the danger is real. I will not allow Slavers to hunt me and my family. We will not be collared like and we will not hide like timid mice. Colin, I am going to protect us and our future by any means necessary. This Zyme is going to war.”
I couldn’t help but shiver at Natalia’s fierceness and implacable resolve. Mamma Leonie once told us that a powerful Zyme was the most dangerous person on earth. “One deranged Zyme can destroy us all.”
“Count me in,” I told her. “Let’s build ourselves a better world.”
I moved around the table and sat beside her. “I need to update your Blackberry.”
“She handed me the device. I picked up a metal spoon and used the energy to update the secure communications protocols.
“Your communications should now be untraceable. If you feel you’re in danger, press and hold the 1 key for five seconds.”
“What will happen?” she inquired.
“I’d rather not say.”
Natalia smiled grimly. I could tell the she was remembering a summer evening in Gary, when I nearly killed two young toughs who attacked us we walked home. Buttons hurled at supersonic speeds can make a real mess when they impact flesh and bone. Natalia had to stabilize their injuries and erase their memory to protect our secrets. No one, Catalyst or Normal, suspected the extent of our abilities or our level of control.
Natalia smiled and pointed to my T-shirt. It looks like your wardrobe choice was prophetic.
I looked down at the Machine Head “War” tee shirt and nodded.
Natalia set her Blackberry aside as I came to the table and gave her a kiss. The table was set for two and a couple of dewy glasses had been delivered. “They have a new red, so I ordered one for you. Mine’s an IPA,” she said, raising her glass.
The malty Irish red was smooth and refreshing. “I like this one. Good choice.”
“I didn’t think you’d want a hoppy, bitter brew right now,” Natalia said.
She was correct as usual.
We held hands across the table and I knew she could feel my quickening pulse and the mixture of endorphins and hormones that telegraphed my state of mind. Natalia and I have been an item since high school and she is still as exciting as the day we met.
Natalia was the rarest of the Catalysts, a Zyme who could manipulate biological material with a touch and a thought. Mamma Leonie, our mentor, told us that there were perhaps four or five high level Zymes in the entire world. Natalia was one of them but we are the only people who knew that. The Catalyst organization rated us as low-level talents, useful but uninteresting. We worked hard to foster that fiction.
“Colin, what’s going on?” she asked.
“Someone tried to break into my place on Friday. I caught them on tape and notified the police. One of the guys tried to breach the back door with a shotgun and the back-splatter tore him up pretty badly. I didn’t tell the cops about the shotgun incident.”
Natalia nodded.
This morning, I found two unidentified packages under the truck. The packages contained sophisticated surveillance devices wrapped in an unusual material that was extremely difficult for me to see through.”
Natalia’s eyebrows rose as she processed that information. “Do you think the slavers found someone from our class?”
Catalyst training classes were deliberately kept small and they were organized much like spy cells. If one member of the class was turned or captured, they could only betray their classmates. The rest of the Catalyst community was protected.
“Could be. I posted a message to let the group know we may have slaver problems.”
“What did you do about the devices?” Natalia asked.
I smiled ruefully at the question. “I did what any normal citizen would do, I called the police. They brought in the bomb squad and a forensic team. It caused a big stir. You’ll probably see something about it on the evening news. The forensic guys found the blood and the gunpowder residue. They also have photos of the guys who vandalized the station.”
Natalia was angry and she frowned as she considered the consequences of my actions. “And you didn't think to talk to me about this before you jumped off a cliff? What you do affects me and you’re not exactly following the established security protocols, are you? "
Natalia could feel the constitutional changes that telegraphed my dismay and defensiveness..
"My communications were being monitored and I didn't want to provide a direct link to you. The snoopers had WiFi capabilities so they knew I found the packages. If they suspect or know I am a Catalyst, they would expect me to scoop you up and head for the hills. They could have gotten both of us at the same time. I decided to change the plan, act like a Normal, and stay away from you."
Natalia considered me thoughtfully, gagging my biological and physical responses. The woman was a virtual lie detector. “I know you believe those statements but are you correct?”
I shrugged. "Time will tell."
Natalia nodded and looked out the window. "Maybe I should go for that interview at Hopkins." She turned her attention back to me as she felt my alarm at her casual statement.
“Did you apply for the job or were you recruited?” I asked.
“I was contacted by a headhunter. They’re looking for diagnosticians to staff a new Special Pediatrics unit. It comes with research space and modest startup funding for two years. I sent them my credentials and they want to arrange an interview.”
“Did you tell them you graduated from Emmerson?”
“It’s no secret,” she said. “The same information is in my undergrad and Medical School applications.”
“Please don’t go for the interview. It’s too convenient and it would be easy to snatch you along the way.”
I could tell that Natalia was peeved by my reaction. “Are you saying this because of your personal feelings or something else?”
I looked directly into her eyes. “I love you, so yes, my personal feelings are involved. That said, I really think this is a plan to capture you. Besides, if you left Ann Arbor, they could still follow and we would have little time to take security preparations.”
Natalia considered me thoughtfully, gauging the truthfulness of my words.
“Think about it. Is it worth the risk?” I asked quietly.
“What’s to keep them from trying something here?”
“They probably will, but they don’t know about our preparations or our true capabilities. Natalia, I’m tired of being pushed around and I’m tired of hiding. If we change identities, how will you ever re-establish your physician's credentials? I can't see you working as a faith healer in some third-world country. I want to have a family and I don’t want to worry about slavers and what they might do to you or me or our kids. I want a better future. I want a world where Catalysts can be safe.”
Natalia stiffened and gripped my hand strongly.
“But more importantly, I continued, “I don’t want to lose you. If you really want to relocate, I’ll go wherever you go.”
Natalia looked away as the enormity of the situation washed over her. When she looked back at me, there was fire in her eyes. “I’m not sure what the right path is. Until today, Slavers were an academic threat--bogeymen who dictate how we live and what we do. Now you're telling me the danger is real. I will not allow Slavers to hunt me and my family. We will not be collared like and we will not hide like timid mice. Colin, I am going to protect us and our future by any means necessary. This Zyme is going to war.”
I couldn’t help but shiver at Natalia’s fierceness and implacable resolve. Mamma Leonie once told us that a powerful Zyme was the most dangerous person on earth. “One deranged Zyme can destroy us all.”
“Count me in,” I told her. “Let’s build ourselves a better world.”
I moved around the table and sat beside her. “I need to update your Blackberry.”
“She handed me the device. I picked up a metal spoon and used the energy to update the secure communications protocols.
“Your communications should now be untraceable. If you feel you’re in danger, press and hold the 1 key for five seconds.”
“What will happen?” she inquired.
“I’d rather not say.”
Natalia smiled grimly. I could tell the she was remembering a summer evening in Gary, when I nearly killed two young toughs who attacked us we walked home. Buttons hurled at supersonic speeds can make a real mess when they impact flesh and bone. Natalia had to stabilize their injuries and erase their memory to protect our secrets. No one, Catalyst or Normal, suspected the extent of our abilities or our level of control.
Natalia smiled and pointed to my T-shirt. It looks like your wardrobe choice was prophetic.
I looked down at the Machine Head “War” tee shirt and nodded.