Ada Catalana

Ada Catalana and Rylla. Image by Leonardo.

  Below on this page is Chapter 10 of the science fiction story "The Hierozyme Intervention", in which Marda and Systolina are trying to discover how to make use of the Reality Viewer that is hidden inside Eddy's computer. 

 Swap. After many years of stability, a major change at Casanay that Eddy suddenly has to contend with is the unanticipated loss of Anthony and his replacement by Ada B. Catalana. How Ada is able to position herself inside Casanay is a rather contorted tale (see Chapter 10, below). 

 Who is ABC? Ada received a Masters Degree in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology in 2008 and in 2011 her company, AdaGen, was making use of a 5500xl sequencing system for odd jobs like sequencing Tyhry's DNA sample, which had been collected by Marda. The origin of Ada's interest in DNA sequencing technology is explained in Chapter 10, below.

 By Any Other Name. After Ada begins working at Casanay, Eddy invariable calls her 'ABC' while Tyhry calls her either 'Ada cat' or 'granny' and Marda usually calls her 'Ada' but shifts to 'banana' when communicating telepathically with Tyhry; 'Banana' being what Marda feels is the logical choice for Ada's middle name. Suspecting that Ada is Manny the bumpha in disguise, Systolina refers to Ada as 'MG' (mystery girl).

Ada and Rylla. Image by Leonardo.

 Employee #1. After seeing Tyhry's DNA sequencing results, Ada decided to visit the Henrito site in Arizona and that is where she meets Zeta (who is now disguised as Rylla Onway). Zeta offers Ada a deal: the opportunity to become director of the Henrito Research Institute's DNA Sequencing Core Facility in exchange for not publicizing Tyhry's unusual genome. Zeta tries to buy out AdaGen and tells Ada that there will be laboratory space available in six months at Ranch1. However, Ada and her husband have no intention of being put out of the DNA sequencing business for six months.

 Ada and Tynyo. With her large number of Ek'col gene patterns, Ada has some access to the Sedron Time Stream which helped her find her husband, Tynyo. Tynyo is the only other employee of AdaGen and he also has Ek'col gene patterns and a telepathic mind that resonates with that of Ada. Unable to restrain her curiosity about Tyhry, Ada begins work at Casanay as Anthony's replacement. Systolina knows that Ada is trying to investigate Tyhry, so she and Zeta agree that it might be best to "keep Ada close" and make sure she does not try to publish any reports on Tyhry's unusual gene patterns, including the rare NOTCH2NLC sequence that is shared by Marda. Once Ada is working at Casanay, Ada and Tynyo secretly try to sequence the genomes of both Eddy and Zeta. However, Zeta is now Systolina in disguise and Systolina must decide what DNA sequencing results Ada will be able to obtain. 

The Hierozyme Intervention Chapter 10 - Ada Core (Ch. 1)(Ch. 2)(Ch. 3)(Ch. 4)(Ch. 5)(Ch. 6)(Ch. 7)(Ch. 8)(Ch. 9)  

Ada and Rylla. Image by Leonardo.

There were few things that Zeta enjoyed more than solving a good mystery. The Ada B. Catalana mystery walked into Zeta's life on the day of her second marriage. That day was already surreal, with the marriage ceremony taking place at Casanay and attended by Zeta herself (disguised as Rylla Onway) Eddy (Zeta's first husband), Tyhry, Marda, Anthony (Rylla's new husband), Anthony's aunt, Beryl, Systolina (disguised as Zeta) and six cats. Aunt Beryl, claiming to have once served as a justice of the peace, conducted a brief and humorous ceremony that contained several anecdotes and 'in jokes' that seemed to have special meaning for Anthony and his aunt.

Returning to the Henrito site after the wedding, Zeta (disguised as Rylla) found Ada asleep in a rental car that was parked in front of the Ranch0 construction site. Anthony seemed intent on carrying Zeta into the guest house, but Zeta went over and tapped on the window of Ada's car and said, "Hello?" Ada's eyes opened and she looked first at Zeta then at Marda and Anthony who were watching from not very far away. 

Ada opened the car door and stepped out, stretching her long cramped limbs. She said, "I'm looking for Marda Onway."

Hearing what she was pretending was her name, Tyhry stepped forward and looked up at the startlingly tall Ada. "I'm Marda."

Ada seemed surprised to see a twelve-year-old claiming to be the one who had paid for an expensive DNA sequencing job. "Can you show me some form of identification?"

Tyhry was trying to imagine why anyone would be looking for Marda and sleeping in a car at the Henrito site. She asked, "Who are you?"

Growing uncomfortable under Anthony's wooden gaze, Ada imagined that her telepathic mind was sensing a signal emanating from Anthony. Assuming that she was speaking to Marda, Ada told Tyhry, "I work for AdaGen. I have the gene sequencing results you requested."

Ada and Rylla. Image by Leonardo.

Tyhry reached into her skirt and pulled out of the inner pocket a slim wallet. She showed Ada the credit card that Marda had used to pay AdaGen and since it was right there and had a photo, also Marda's passport card.  

"Wow. I had no idea I was dealing with a kid." Ada turned, reached into the car and pulled out of a compartment in the door a file folder which she handed to Tyhry. 

Tyhry was sputtering, "Listen granny, I'm not a 'kid'. I paid for your services and I expect to be treated..." Tyhry fell silent when she saw "AdaGen - confidential report" on the folder. She opened the folder and saw that it contained a report on Tyhry's gene sequencing results. Scanning down the page, she noticed that the first paragraph included: 'As you predicted, the unusual Notch gene sequence is present.' Tyhry looked up and asked, "Who are you, and how did you get your hands on this report?"

Ada replied, "I'm sorry, but my contract with Marda Onway specified confidentiality." Ada glanced at Zeta and Anthony. "I'm Ada. You paid me to perform this sequencing job." Ada pointed at the folder in Tyhry's hands.

Tyhry looked at Zeta then at Anthony. Zeta said to Ada, "I actually paid for the sequencing. Marda has permission to use my credit account, but due to Marda's age, I'm the legal entity resposible for the contract." Zeta turned to Anthony and said, "Please take Marda inside. I need to speak to... 'Ada'." Tyhry turned and walked off with Anthony.

Zeta said, "I'm Rylla Onway, Marda's mother." She looked into Ada's car. "I hope you have not been waiting long."

Ada shrugged, "I have only myself to blame. I was foolish to show up here unannounced, but given the nature of my findings, I could not resist the temptation to investigate... personally."

Ada and Rylla. Image by Leonardo.

Zeta was giving Ada a careful visual inspection from her feet to her glorious crown of curly red hair that that topped out six inches above the top of Zeta's head. Zeta said, "Sorry, but I need to ask you for identification."

Ada shrugged, reached into her pocket and handed Zeta her wallet. "If you paid for this job, I need to thank you. This is my most lucrative contract ever and the closest I've come to generating a complete genome sequence." 

Zeta examined the photo IDs in Ada's wallet and kept glancing up and watched Anthony and Tyhry until they entered the guest house and were out of sight then she handed the wallet back to Ada and asked, "What's in the report you gave to Marda?"

"I was instructed to look for some particular gene sequences in a DNA sample and I found them." Looking at Zeta's blond hair, Ada asked, "Did your daughter go behind your back to sequence your genes?"

Zeta laughed. "You will have to ask Marda about the source of the DNA you sequenced. I stay out of her business. She has made claim to being an adult and I try to treat her like one, even if the silly laws we are forced to contend with insist that she is only a child."

Only growing increasingly perplexed, Ada pointed at the Rnach0 construction site and asked Zeta, "What is this place?"

Zeta laughed, waved a hand towards the surrounding valley and explained, "This wasteland will soon become the Henrito Research Institute."

Ada asked skeptically, "In the middle of the Arizona desert?" 

 Zeta replied, "Exactly. Ada, you caught me at a bad time. I just got married today and you interrupted my new husband just as he was going to carry me across the threshold." She gestured towards the guest house."

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I was idiotic to just show up here today."

Ada and Rylla. Image by Leonardo.

"Actually, I'm very glad you are here." Zeta tucked a hundred dollar bill into Ada's wallet, handed the wallet back to Ada and said, "Drive into town and get diner for yourself. Come back here in two hours and I'll be able to speak with you at that time." 

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Ada and her husband Tynyo met at the Q Diner. Tyhyo was waiting in the parking lot, leaning against their car when Ada arrived from the Henrito site in the rental car. As soon as Ada got out of the rental car, Tynyo established a telepathic link and told her: I have a surprise for you.

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Ada could see in her husbands mind that he had found a candidate Ek'col. She pointed towards the diner and asked, "Here?"

Tyhyo nodded, took Ada's arm and led her towards the door of the diner. "It seems like an amazing coincidence." Ada and Tynyo had spent the past two years traveling around the North America in their Apex mobile laboratory looking for tall individuals who might have Ek'col genes, but they had found no other telepaths. Inside the diner, Tyhyo showed Ada a very tall waitress named Naseh. Tynyo told Ada: We need to sequence her genome, but I bet she's Ek'col.

 Ada shook her head. I don't feel any telepathic connection to her.

Nor do I, but just look at her. 

Ada had to agree that Naseh appeared to be a good candidate for gene sequencing. She told Tynyo: You can try to find a way to get a sample of her DNA, but I need to stay focused on finding the source of the DNA that Marda had me sequence. 

Tynyo began learning from Ada what she had seen at the Henrito site. Ada and Tyhyo ordered food and drink and were eating when Anthony walked into the Q Diner and sat down beside Ada at the counter. The Q Diner was one of the local businesses that Anthony constantly monitored via femtobot monitor probes and occasionally visited. A waitress recognized Anthony and asked, "What can I get you?" He shook his head and waved off her attention.

Recognizing Anthony, Ada asked, "Are you Mr. Onway?" 

Anthony replied, "Just call me Anthony. Why are you here?" Anthony's eyes flicked past Ada and on to Tynyo.

Ada returned her attention to her plate and tried to imagine what was going on. After swallowing a bite of food and taking a drink of water, Ada said, "Well, Anthony, I don't know what to say... or why I should tell you anything. You better explain what you want."

Anthony sighed. "Nothing complicated. You show up, trespassing on land owned by the woman I just married today. You must have seen the 'No Trespassing' sign when you came up the driveway."

"I had business to conduct with a paying client. I was not trespassing."

"Business that should have been conducted by mail."

"My professional judgement was that my business should be conducted in person."

Image by Leonardo.

"Explain."

"I'm under contract to maintain confidentiality."

Having had a chance to place his best femtobot probes inside both Ada and Tynyo and also having a few moments to use his telepathic abilities to probe her mind wile speaking to her, Anthony felt confident that Ada believed what she was saying. However, it was obvious to Anthony the Ada and Tynyo both had large numbers of Ek'col gene patterns and Anthony would have to report to Nyrtia that Ada might be an agent for Manny the bumpha. The worst case scenario was that Ada might be one of Manny's fake persona's on Earth. The surest way to test that possibility was to deploy some of his memory editing femtobots. Anthony said, "I won't be taking the name 'Onway'. I'm Anthony Kasty. Rylla and I were married today, and I feel protective towards Rylla and her daughter." While talking about himself, both Tynyo's and Ada's neurons that were forming memories related to Anthony had lit up and were easy for his memory-editing femtobots to silence. He told Ada, "Pardon me. I mistook you for someone else." Anthony walked away and exited from the diner and soon teleported back to the Henrito site.

Ada watched Anthony walk away. She felt slightly dizzy and more than slightly silly for having come to Arizona and driven out into the desert in search for Marda Onway. However, she and Tynyo were intent on finding others who might share their unusual gene patterns and telepathic ability. Watching his back as he walked away, Ada felt like she knew Anthony, but then she returned to her interrupted conversation with Tynyo. "Just wait for me in the Apex, I can't imagine that Rylla will keep me long... not on her wedding night."

Tynyo was still telepathically reviewing Ada's recent memories of her interactions with Marda and Rylla and also trying to make sense of Ada's plans that were blossoming in her mind. "You are going to keep using the rental car for now?"

Image by Leonardo.

"For a while," Ada nodded. "I think I fooled Rylla into imagining that I just flew into Arizona today. I don't think she could ever imagine that we travel around the country in the Apex, using it as the mobile laboratory of AdaGen."

Tynyo chuckled. "Only Uncle Sam knows the truth. It is registered under my name as a recreational vehicle with no paper trail linking it to AdaGen." Tynyo squeezed Ada's hand and asked, "Do you know what you are doing, my love?"

"No, but we will sort this out. I'll have my phone on when I talk to Rylla, so listen carefully."

"I'll listen, but I don't know what to listen for."

"I just need to know that you have my back."

Tynyo did not sense in Ada's telepathic mind pattern any fear, only intense excitement. "If you are sensing danger, don't do this."

"I'm just worried that I'll miss something. When I'm with Rylla I can't think straight." 

"She's a telepath?"

"I did not sense that. However, she's beautiful and has a strong sexy body. I'd probably agree to anything she suggests."

Tynyo laughed. "Now I'd like to meet her. Are you sure I can't go with you?"

"No, I'm not going to mention you. You really are my backup." 

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Image by Leonardo.

An hour later and back at the Henrito site, Ada did not have a chance to ring the doorbell of the guest house. Zeta stepped through the front door just as Ada approached. Zeta was naked and carrying two towels. "Let's talk in the hot tub." Zeta led the way to the hot tub. Gesturing towards the Ranch0 building, Rylla told Ada, "The Henrito Institute is dedicated to solving Earth's global warming problem, but I love these warm Arizona evenings."

Ada found it impossible to stop looking at Zeta's lovely body. "Mrs. Onway, I came here because I'm intrigued by the gene sequencing results. I don't know anything about climate science. It seems odd to build a research facility out here in the desert."

"It was as good a place as any and the land was cheap." Zeta climbed into the hot tub. "Come on in" She turned on the massaging water jets. "This tub is the place to pound out sore muscles and tensions."

Ada laughed and started taking off her clothes while enjoying the sight of Zeta's erect nipples that bobbed at the surface of the bubbling water in the tub. "You are already glowing. I trust your husband already pounded out all of your tensions."

"Most of them, but you are providing me with a fresh batch." Zeta smiled broadly and admitted, "Anthony always gets a 'A' in pounding and he certainly tried to make my wedding night special." As Ada settled into the tub, Zeta was enjoying the sight of Ada's long lean body and said, "Ada! I knew it would be rewarding to get you naked. You are an astonishingly beautiful work of art, my dear!"

Image by Leonardo.

Ada giggled. "Most men find me rather repulsive... too tall and skinny."

Zeta was glad that Ada was so tall that her breasts were above the water level of the hot tub. Zeta reached out and touched Ada's amazing hair and 'accidentally' bumped her hand against one of Ada's cute breasts. "Is this real... color and curls and all?"

Ada admitted, "I have fun enhancing the color and curl. You seem to be naturally blond."

Zeta shook her head. "What if I told you the blood hair was made to order for the benefit of my first husband?"

"I'm afraid I'd start to wonder just how many husbands you intend to have."

Zeta shrugged. "Sometimes husbands just happen." Zeta finally got her eyes off of Ada's cute breasts and pointy nipples. "But let's get down to business. I've spoken to my daughter and she is pleased with the skill and speed with which you completed her sequencing job."

Image by Leonardo.

"Actually, if you look at that report, you'll see it is labeled "Phase 1". There is still more sequencing to do."

"But the Notch gene result was the key finding. Anyhow, I want to offer you a job: I want you to direct one of the molecular biology core facilities of the Henrito Research Institute. The Institute is going to specialize in synthetic life, designer microbes, and there will be need for efficient in-house DNA sequencing."

"Director? An impressive job title. I trust the position commands an impressive salary."

"Ada, I want you. Since there is nobody else competing with you for the position, you can name your own salary. And also... please tell me how much it will cost me to buy you out of your current enterprise, AdaGen." 

Ada asked, "What's going on?"

Zeta laughed. "I was going to ask you the same thing. I tried searching into your background and could not find much. Are you really the adoptive child of an adoptive child?"

Ada shrugged, "It sounds like you may know more about my adoptive parents than I do. I don't know anything about my biological parents. Look at me Rylla. It is obvious that I have some interesting gene patterns... that is what motivated me to get into the DNA sequencing business."

Image by Leonardo.

Zeta giggled. "I love looking at you. I hope you don't mind if I stare at your beautiful features."

"Right back at you, Rylla. You make my heart flutter." Ada positioned one of her feet between Rylla's legs. "When I saw you naked, I knew this was my lucky day. But my lack of family to the side, I'd sell off AdaGen for a million dollars and if you really want to hire me as your Director of the core facility then I want a quarter million a year."

Zeta said, "That is fine; your starting annual salary will be $250,000 with a $1,000 raise every week for as long as you care to stay in my employ." She took hold of Ada's incredibly long leg and pressed her genitals against the bottom of Ada's foot. "However, I want to add one additional clause to the deal. I'll pay you a five million dollar bonus five years from now if you keep secret the sequencing work that you did for my daughter."

Ada asked, "So, those weird gene sequences are yours?"

"I did not say that. Let me be clear. If you let me buy you on these terms then five years from now I will have paid you about $8,000,000. Do we have a deal?"

 Ada replied, "Assuming you are not just joking about this incredible offer, I only have one reservation."

"I'm very serious. I'll draw up the contract and we can sign it in the morning."

"Then I only need to know what you mean when you say you are buying me."

Zeta was grinding the stiff glans of her clitoris into the soft skin of Ada's foot. "Sorry, my heart is bouncing in my chest. I spoke rather ambiguously. Let me be transparent. I'm fantasizing that I might be able to entice you into becoming my lover."

Image by Leonardo.

Ada giggled and reached out to fondle one of Zeta's cute breasts. "You have an amazing body. It would be a delight to make love with you, but I suspect your husband would object."

"Anthony? Don't worry about him. He would never stand in the way of my happiness."

"So you say. I need to be clear. If I let you buy me for eight million, I'd do so hoping that I will have the opportunity to play with your sexy body, Rylla. That does not mean that either you or your husband should imagine that you own me or that you can treat me as your sex toy."

"I understand you and you can write that into the contract if you like. I'd be honored anytime you want to share your sexy body with me. You don't have to worry about Anthony... he does not really like girls."

"Are you serious? Then why did you marry him?"

"Some marriages are for convenience. Anthony is more interested in my money and the Research Institute than he is in me." Zeta moved close to Ada and put her arms around Ada. "My word you are tall!" She kissed one of Ada's perky breasts. "Now, with the business settled, I very much want to find out just how much you will let me celebrate our deal here tonight in this tub." Ada reached our and put her arms around Zeta and their celebration began. Ada knew that her phone was still sending Tynyo the sound of their conversation and she hoped he was enjoying the entertainment. 

Image by Leonardo.

Ada relaxed and enjoyed the savagery with which the woman she believed to be Rylla Onway made use of Ada's long lean body for the sexual gratification of both herself and Ada. Ada was reminded of the erotic explosion that had engulfed bother her and Tynyo when they first met four years previously. They had quickly devoted endless pleasure-filled hours to an attempt to impregnate Ada and pass on their special gene combinations to their children. However, after Tynyo learned how to perform egg extractions from Ada's ovaries, their laboratory experiments revealed that Ada's egg cells seemed to lack functional sperm receptors. 

Ada and Tynyo had then learned how to perform injections of sperm into Ada's egg cells, but a series of thirty injections resulted in no viable embryos. Ada and Tynyo were now focused on finding others who shared their unusual NOTCH2NLB gene variant. Ada and Tynyo were both orphans and had been unable to identify their biological parents and other relatives. Ada was intent on finding the individual whose genome she and Tynyo were now sequencing. The trail had led to Ranch0 Henrito, and when Zeta provided Ada with her second orgasm in the hot tub, Ada happily told herself that she was "hot on the trail" of finding the person with the unusual NOTCH2NLB gene variant. Her prime suspect was Rylla.

END CHAPTER 10 of "The Hierozyme Intervention".    Jump to: Chapter 11. 

Next: a nomination for the 2026 SIHA award.

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