Athena Lee Chronicles 8: Infiltration by T S Paul Read Free Book Online Page B

rolled her eyes. Why is it she had to always speak to the nerds? “Please explain.”
     
    “What you have there is a Counterspy Anti-Terror Termination unit or CATT. Mr. Theai dreamed it up and brought it to our attention. We’re his partners in its development. When he first suggested it, we thought it was some kind of toy for rich people. But then he mentioned using it for counter-intelligence we became interested. A new Navy contract would be nice. You would have to speak to his programmers to get all the details we really only do hardware. However from what he told the board of directors it is supposed to track down spy units, bugging equipment, secret cameras, and intrusion devices. If it ate something you may be bugged. Do you want our tech team to sent you an operating manual for the CATT unit?”
     
    “Thank you Mr. Stevens. If I need further help, I will be in touch.” Minerva looked at Merlin, the robot was purring and pretending to clean itself. “You can cut the act, I know you’re smarter than a real cat.”
     
    The copper colored robotic cat continued to pretend to clean itself. Very slowly it raised its head and winked at her. Damn that Wilson!
     
    Minerva watched the cat all morning. During breakfast it hung out with the other farm cats and patrolled the kitchen looking for scraps, now and then the CATT would stop and study a kitchen appliance or electrical outlet. Just as Minerva finished her food and was about to set the plate aside, the robot lightly jumped up on the table. It walked over to her and nudged the salt and pepper shakers. She just stared at it. The cat looked over at her and shook its head. Taking the pepper shaker in its mouth it bit down on it. This got a reaction from Min.
     
    “Hey! Put that down. It belonged to my mother!” Min stood to grab the shaker from the cat just as it dropped into two pieces on the table. Inside was a small electronic listening device.
     
    The cat sat staring at her as if to say ‘I found it for you.’ Min picked up the device and dropped it into her glass of water.
     
    “Good kitty.” She stroked the robot who reacted like a real cat would. It arched its back and began purring. She scooped the cat up off the table and carried it up to her home office.
     
    Switching on the light Minerva set the cat down and looked at it. “Fetch.” The cat just stared at her. “Seek.” More stares. “Go.” Now the cat was pretending to sleep.
     
    Min swore to herself. She was beginning to see why her sister got a little crazy sometimes. Imagine having this all the time in your head? OK, time to try again. “Here kitty kitty. I have treats!” She held up a small bag of nuts and bolts.
     
    The Cat looked up from its nap at the bag of metal. It shrugged and began to patrol the room, sniffing everything. The cat began pawing at her bookcase. It knocked a shelf of very rare and expensive Old Earth paper-bound books onto the floor. Using its claws it began tearing at one of them. Cursing, Min ran to save her treasure from the cat.
     
    “Shoo! Cat get away from those. They cost me more than you did!” Minerva picked up the now tattered remains of the book and noticed that it was not one she was familiar with. Since when has she ever owned ‘War of the World's?’
     
    She was about to yell at the cat when she noticed the faint wisps of smoke coming from the spine. Merlin’s claws had shorted the listening device out. Minerva looked around the room and the cat, Merlin, was sitting on the console licking its paws.
     
    Shaking her head Minerva sat in her chair and looked at Merlin. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I’m guessing that Wilson designed you to seek out bugs and destroy them.”
     
    Merlin the CATT glanced in her direction and meowed at her, then went back to cleaning its paws.
     
    “If I give you free rein to go wherever, will you get rid of any threats on the property? I will assign a disposal tech to you. He can set up in one of the unused