Traveller Inceptio
21

21

Despite the frustrations surrounding their research, Phil was not alone in the expectation that they would soon complete their Doctorates and then continue in their research of the mystery phenomenon. Communication from Helguard was upbeat and complimentary with great expectations for the demonstration of the scanner array. Peter Conti’s visit was to be a highlight of their two years of hard work, while their PhD documentation was on track to satisfy global academia’s exacting requirements. Though an academic paper was undergoing the lengthy publication process, they were assured by the Dean that the disappearance of the table and target bag had not yet been discussed with Helguard or anyone else outside of the team.

Mel was plainly stressed. “Jeez, Phil, as if I’m not under enough pressure,” she complained loudly as they prepared for the demonstration that would take place the next day. Portable seating was to be set up and anything unnecessary for the event, including notes and surfboards, stored away. “My Mum has planned the usual family gathering for Uncle Peter and it’s going to be bloody huge. Both Mum and Dad have been told that Uncle Peter’s just over for business, but it’s been years since Dad and his brother have been together and Mum looks at it as an excuse to celebrate my years of research and study.”

Phil nodded in admiration. “Sounds good. Yeti and I’ll probably head off for a late surf and then chill with pizza and beer.”

Mel shook her head in annoyance as she slammed one of the chairs they were unstacking to the floor. “No! You’re bloody well not! You and the Yeti had better be there. The others too. I’m just about to shoot off a few text messages to Craig, Allen, and Crowley to let them know. This is our party and God forbid if my Mum catches any of you trying to stay away. Mum and her sisters are planning the Italian feast of the century.”

Phil gave a snort of laughter. “Sure, no worries, Mel. We’ll make an appearance, of course. Anything to help.”

Mel stopped unstacking a moment and looked to Phil hopefully, “Well, there is something you can help with later, if you like. It’s just my bloody luck, but tomorrow I have an inspection of my flat. You know, a six-monthly thing by the real estate agents to make sure I’m being a good girl.”

“Well? Have you been a good girl?”

Mel looked at Phil in exasperation. “That, Phil Walker, is something you’ll never know.”

Phil shrugged. “It was only a joke, Mel. No harm done.”

“Yeah, sorry,” she added as she slammed another chair to the floor. “I’m just trying to get everything done at once and it’s doing my head in.”

Okay.” Phil smiled. “How can I help?”

***

Mel had a cat. A big, blue Persian-blend cat named Felix, of all things. Phil didn’t particularly like cats and definitely didn’t like Felix. Typical to many pets owned by single girls, he was a thoroughly spoiled creature noted for his snooty ways. Phil had seen Mel call Felix repeatedly as the cat sat and ignored her while in plain view on a neighbour’s porch. Phil also knew the cat considered all food to be his own and was known to prowl the kitchen benches to sample whatever food happened to be on it. Mel loved the damn cat, though Phil thought Felix to be a little shit and had told Mel so on more than one occasion. He was certain that to the cat, Mel was merely a servant and was treated as such.

That afternoon they arrived at Mel’s apartment to replace her in a tailspin.

“Oh God, thanks guys!” gushed Mel in relief. Phil had only been to Mel’s once, but could tell she had thoroughly cleaned the place. “I’m not supposed to have any pets, but it’s impossible to get a place that takes cats and I thought, stuff it, I’ll be right. Normally I run Felix to my friend Shaz who lives in Mooloolaba.”

“Shaz,” confirmed Yeti with a smirk.

Mel silenced him with a thunderous look.

Phil screwed up his nose in distaste. “Oh, jeez, Mel, that’s a ways away. Why doesn’t your family look after the shit cat?”

Yeti laughed.

Mel ignored them both. “Oh, Mr Fee, you aren’t a shit, are you?” Mel hugged Felix to her chest and he placed his paws either side of her neck and nestled his face into the crook of her shoulder.

The only other time he had visited, Phil had seen the cat suckle on Mel’s earlobe, which was revolting. Mel, for some reason, thought it endearing. That cat had some real fucking issues.

Mel continued, “Can’t do that, Phil, not with the family all there. Fee will have to go to Shaz’s instead.”

Felix fearlessly gave a big, green-eyed look of mutual loathing at Phil, who glanced to Yeti and shook his head in disbelief. “Jeez, Mel, why do we have to transport your friggin’ cat?” he muttered as he gathered the cat carrier. He thought the cat would be more useful as crab-bait and almost expressed his opinion aloud.

Minutes later, the cat cage, with cat, sat on the back seat of Yeti’s car, along with a shopping bag of cat food and the normal scattering of takeaway food containers, old shoes, and a bewildering assortment of clothes that had remained in situ for months. Phil scowled at having to be the damned courier, though Yeti seemed unconcerned.

They had barely pulled out of Mel’s when Phil gave a sharp laugh.

Yeti asked, “What?”

Phil shook his head, and because Yeti was to take care of their passenger’s welfare and comfort, Phil drove. He eventually took a slight detour and stopped in the carpark behind The Factory. Grabbing the cat cage, he walked purposefully to the rear entrance and keyed in the security code, Yeti in tow.

“What’re you up to, man?” laughed Yeti nervously. “We can’t do anything to that cat. Mel would kill us.”

“Not doing anything bad to the bum-licking cat, Yeti,” explained Phil. “Just making a scientific observation. This is vital to improving the knowledge of the human race.” He chuckled evilly as he walked through the spotless kitchen to the secure area. Once in the main test-area, he placed the cat cage, and Felix, onto the table that was set up in the Area of Convergence. The team had developed a simple means of changing projectors from the industry-sponsored security-based scanner relay to the system that caused the disappearances, and Phil made the change smoothly. It took only moments.

Yeti became a little agitated at his friend’s behaviour. “Oh no, mate, maybe this is going too far, hey? Please don’t do anything stupid,” he exclaimed, panic rising as he watched Phil work. “That’s Mel’s cat, mate. She’ll fucking kill us if she replaces out.” Yeti shook his head at his friend’s stunt. “Mel’s alright. Normally I’d think this is funny but …”

“No worries, mate, no worries,” replied Phil smoothly “We’ve proved this is safe and I’m just testing the system on a subject that is larger than a mouse is all.”

The computers were already on and Phil powered up the equipment. Yeti watched the Area of Convergence, eyes wide, hands on his head. Felix angrily squatted in his cage, looked at Phil and hissed nastily.

With a small smile, Phil activated the system and Felix, the table and his cage vanished. The only sound was the faintest hum from the scanners. Phil muttered, “Take that, shit-head.”

Yeti stood wide-eyed as he exclaimed, “Oh shit! Ohh shit! Ohhh shit!”