THE CATALYST

In a world much like ours but not quite the same, where the veil between science and magic is almost non-existent, the government has collapsed. Today, in the secluded settlement within the CURIO-VII-G bunker, residents are extremely wary of the outside world. It holds the only remaining form of government in the world, and is considered to be the last bastion of humanity.

In her quarters in the depths of the settlement, resides a geneticist renowned for her brilliant yet controversial research. Dr. Evelyn Walsh was once a name synonymous with groundbreaking scientific achievements, her work splashed across the pages of esteemed journals, her beautiful sharp features gracing the covers of prestigious magazines. However, time had been as kind to Dr. Walsh as to the rest of humanity. The once vibrant flame of her ambition had dwindled to a flickering ember, her glory days before the Fallout fading into distant memories. Sent to live the rest of her days unbothered and in relative peace in the CURIO-VII-G (now just Curio) bunker net after the event, Dr. Walsh was beginning to question whether being spared by the catastrophe was more of a blessing or a curse.

That is, until opportunity presented itself with irresistible potential. One rainy night, an officer showed up at her office to deliver a sample of an unknown material. She unwrapped it carefully and observed. At first glance, it looked like a crystal, perhaps quartz or something similar. But upon closer inspection, it contained a shiny fragment of something Dr. Walsh had never seen before. Geology wasn't by any means her field of expertise, but as a senior researcher, she dwelled in as many fields as her projects drove her.

The first significant discovery arrived by chance. As she was scribbling away in her notebooks, she glanced over to the crystal, currently sitting pretty in her office after confirming it wasn't radioactive. She was thinking about rabbits, specifically the rabbits she used to have as pets. She found solace in that simple yet comforting thought.

She reached for the crystal and held it in her hand, closing her eyes and thinking about Curie and Elion, the harlequin rabbits that used to keep her company in her younger years. As the crystal warmed up with her body heat, very vivid memories came to mind.

-"Joy, look!"- A young Evelyn exclaimed through the haze of memory. -"She's so cute!"-

-"She is, really..."- Her sister approached the small spotted rabbit. -"But I don't think we can adopt them right now... Remember what Mom said about pets."-

A sharp scratch on her arm jolted Dr. Walsh back to the present. Disbelief flooded her as she witnessed the impossible.

-"Oh!"- She gasped, startled yet captivated. What unfolded before her defied belief. On her lap, nestled comfortably, sat a tiny harlequin rabbit. Its twitching ears and spotted nose mirrored the rabbit of her childhood. It pawed at her, demanding attention.

Overcoming the shock, she gently stroked the soft fur. The creature offered no resistance, accepting her touch. -"My, aren't you cute..."- she murmured, marveling at the silky fur.

A thought struck her. -"...Curie?"- she whispered, testing the name. Curie would always respond to her namesake. But this rabbit, though identical in appearance, remained unphased. A realization dawned upon Dr. Walsh, and with a careful hand, she placed the rabbit on her desk. Reaching for her notebook, she scribbled furiously. With each note, the truth became clearer: the crystal in her possession was far more than a mere curiosity.