Security

"What's up with RIC?" Z asks Bridge.

"I don't know," Bridge seems befuddled, as the one who usually knows what's up with the canine robo–companion.

The machine in question paces the floor in front of the doorway, impatiently, as if his time is being taken up horribly by whomever is not there yet.

"What's wrong, boy?" Z asks as she pets the cool, rigid edges of their pal.

"He's on an alert mode, but I don't recognize the coding,"Bridge mutters.

"Doggie, it's not necessary!"

"I think I have a clue," Z gets out before they jump away from the door. In come Kat and Commander Cruger, followed closely by RIC.

"Kat, I want you to be careful, but because you never are I have RIC here as a backup," Doggie sighs.

"Anubis, I do not need a robotic guard dog following my every move," Kat crosses her arms and cocks her hip. When RIC tilts his head she smiles, "no offense, boy."

"Katherine, I want you to be properly protected," Doggie presses, leaning in a little closer. "You mean too much to me to be put in danger, Kat. I need to be able to protect you."

"Doggie, I will be fine," she whispers, easily matching his proximity (no matter how invigorating and dizzying it is). "You are such a worrywart about me. You're too protective for your own good."

"I have never been too protective of you," he protests.

"Besides, what if I just deprogram RIC?" she smirks.

"You can't, I made Boom make sure of it," Doggie stands to his full height and crosses his arms in victory. He can see Kat trying to find a loophole, searching desperately.

"Seriously?—I have a guard dog?" she looks at him with big, green eyes.

"Yes," he blinks.

"Well, if I need a guard dog, does it have to be RIC?" she pouts a little.

"Where are you going with this, Kat?" Cruger frowns.

"What if you were my guard dog?" she asks oh–so innocently.

"Katherine," Doggie begins but he's already drowned in the green of her irises, "fine."

"Good boy!" she laughs heartily at his displeasure. "Now, heel, I have to go downtown."

"This is not what I had in mind, Kat," Doggie growls, though he follows her nonetheless.

"I am well aware of that, now, who's a good boy?" Kat is only encouraged by the genuinely scary sounding growl he emits. "Aw, do you want a treat?"

"Let's be off, Doctor Manx," Doggie growls, holding out a paw.

"Okay, Doggie, lets go for a walk," Kat all but skips out with Doggie following obediently. It's a weird sight. "Do you have your collar on?"

"Enough, Katherine!" he barks.

"Bad dog!" Kat swats his nose and he becomes comically silent.

"Okay," Z leans back with Bridge, who both stroke their invisible beards. "That might be one of the oddest things I've ever seen. Of all the things we've witnessed...this—this is up there."

"Yes, yes, it is," Bridge agrees as he makes the transition from sitting to head standing.

Z is further intrigued by something else: "DC has a collar?"

Bridge falls over in surprise.