His eyes roamed over the plaques: Highest Arrest Record for the years 2027, 2030 and 2031; Record Number of Seizures for the years 2026-2034; Teamwork Award 2033; Best Personality 2026-2034.

"To the best partner anyone could ever ask for." Tim said, toasting the awards with the beer bottle in his hand.

The phone rang, interrupting Tim from his thoughts. He watched the phone ring a few time before reaching over and picking up the receiver.

"Officer Tim Grady please," said a heavy voice from the other side of the connection.

"Speaking."

"Officer Grady, this is Captain Harris with DC Metro, K9 corps."

Tim's heart leapt. This might be his chance to get back on K9 patrol.

"Sir."

"Officer Grady, I'd like you to report to the K9 training kennel tomorrow around 8."

"Yes sir. Have you found me another partner?"

"We'll discuss it tomorrow. See you at 8." Harris said abruptly before hanging up.

Tim wondered why Harris seemed so vague. It didn't really matter. He knew he'd never find another partner as good as Sasha, but any canine would do if it got him out of the office and back on patrol.

Tim tried forcing himself to go to bed, but his anticipation prevented him from sleeping soundly. He got up early and arrived at the training grounds earlier than he was told. He was greeted by Captain Harris and another man.

"Officer Grady, this is Dr. Deeks."

"Officer, I think you'll be quite surprised with what we have for you." Deeks said as he shook Grady's hand.

Deeks led Grady and his captain into a small office.

"Tell me, Officer Grady, have you heard of a GESA?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid not very much apart from a seminar," Tim said.

Tim thought back for a moment to an awareness seminar on dealing with GESAs, Genetically Enhanced Service Animals, when encountering them in the field.

By the time the Human Genome was fully mapped in 2002, human cloning had already been declared illegal. Instead, scientists turned to mixing human genes into animal DNA sequences. The first results were the GESAs.

The seminar had described them as an intellectually advanced version of typical canines. Usually, GESAs had the learning ability of a small child, and were capable of parroting simple speech. However, they were designed to never develop beyond that level. They had become quite common out West, mainly kept by institutions to help the disabled. They quickly started to replace standard guide dogs for the blind, or live-in assistants for those with paralyzing disorders. Except for the videos during the seminar, he had never actually seen one in person. Though, what he heard had impressed him.

"Well then Officer Grady, I'd like to introduce you to CAT, your new K9 unit."

Tim laughed openly at the name.

"What the hell kind of name is that?" Tim jeered as he waited for the canine to be led into the room.

"One of the trainers derived it from Canine Assistant Two. Cat is the second of her kind. And you'll be her second officer," said Deeks.

Nothing could have prepared Grady for what he was about to see. His attention was focused down toward the base of the door where he expected to see his new four-legged partner come through at any moment. He saw the bottom half of an urban camouflaged uniform tucked neatly in the tops of freshly shined boots. He expected the officer to be leading his new partner in, but nothing else followed.

The six-foot tall GESA entered the room silently. The patterns of her black and white fur nearly matched the camouflaged pants she wore. In addition, the GESA had on full-torso body armor from which the sleeves of a white t-shirt could be seen peeking out. A radio, collapsable baton and other gear sat in pouches along the sides of the armor. She carried a large duffel bag which she dropped at her feet before coming to attention.

When the bag dropped down, Grady looked up and then lept from his chair in surprise as he got a good look of the creature in front of him.

What he saw was neither canine nor human, but more a combination of the two. Tim watched as the GESA looked carefully at everyone in the room, first to Deeks, and then Captain Harris, before her gaze came to rest on him.

A shiver went down Grady's spine as her ice blue eyes met with his. He could see there was intelligence behind them that seemed, somehow, more dangerous. She didn’t look at people like regular canines. He had the feeling she was evaluating him.

Grady took a step back from his new partner. "What the hell is that? GESAs are supposed to be almost indistinguishable from standard canines. That's not what I saw in training. I don't know how to deal with that thing."

"Cat is a new breed of GESA: stronger, faster, smarter. She has been trained with the same methods, to respond to the same commands from her human officer. She has the same basic purpose of any K9 unit, just like Sasha, to save officers' lives even at the expense of her own. Simply put, you treat her just as you would as any other K9 unit. Though I think you will find her infinitely more reliable and useful."

Tim winced at the mention of Sasha's name.

Cat cocked her head quizzically as she watched Tim's reaction and sudden discomfort.

Deeks moved forward to stand alongside Cat. "I'm sure you'll find her quite useful. Cat has the speed, strength and senses of her canine genes combined with the dexterity, learning ability of a human. She's been trained to detect explosives and narcotics. She can provide evidence that is acceptable in court." explained Deeks.

Grady continued to stare at the GESA until Deeks finished speaking. "Um. You said it was the second of its kind. What happened to the first?"

Deeks gave Grady a smile. "The first assistant proved unsuccessful and was retired. Cat, however, is a greatly refined GESA."

Grady began shaking his head. "No way, sir. No chance. I'll take a regular, old fashioned K9 unit."

"Sorry, Officer, there aren't any others. It's by luck that she became available at this time." said Deeks.

"And there won't be any available in the near future. This is your only chance to remain with the canine unit and avoid going back to regular patrol," warned Harris.

Tim condidered what Harris had said. He didn't want to lose the K9 patrol, but what they were offering wasn't even a real canine. His eyes widened as a thought occurred to him.

"Hey, what did you mean by I'll be her--second--officer?" Grady asked Deeks.

"Cat's last officer was killed in the line of duty," Harris replied for Deeks.

Tim rolled his eyes. "Great. So much for saving officers lives."

Tim noticed the GESA look down at the floor. He wondered if it was sensing his rejection, or was ashamed of it's failure.

"Her first officer had no experience dealing with K9 units. You have the experience. You are missing a partner, and she is missing an officer. We feel that you would make a better team." Deeks said.

"And I have no choice in the matter if I want to remain with AP."

"Correct." Harris replied in unison with Deeks.

Grady forced a smile. "Well then. What's my first assignment?"

"For now, just take her out for a short patrol. You need to familiarize yourself with your new unit. Most of your assignments will involve public exposure," Deeks told him.

"So, this is just a PR job?"

"Not at all. You will be performing regular assignments just as in the past. Though we do wish to have you as visible to the public as possible."

"You'll report here every morning and when your shift is over, return her here to the kennel."

Deeks turned toward the GESA. "Cat, this is Officer Grady. He will be your officer from now on."

"Well then. Let's go," Grady said unenthusiastically.

Cat quietly followed Grady to the patrol cruiser.

Tim opened the back door to his cruiser.

"In back."

Cat silently complied, taking a seat in the back of the cruiser as Tim closed the door behind her.

The silence during the patrol was broken only by the occasional blips on the dispatch computer.

"Officer, may I ask a question?"

Tim looked through the rearview mirror at the GESA, surprised by the sound of her voice. He wasn't surprised that Cat could speak. It was the clarity and softness of her voice that surprised him. He had expected her to have a more coarse, growling tone like the GESAs he had seen in the training video.

"Go on."

"Why are you angry? Have I done something?" Cat asked timidly.

"That's two questions," Tim replied sharply, "I'm angry because I've been given no choice in this situation. And you haven't done anything, you just scare the hell out of me. You're not a dog and you're definitely not human. I don't know how to deal with you."

"My duty is to protect you and aid you in any way I am capable. I obey your commands and yours alone," Cat said, sounding a bit rehearsed. She added softly, "I am not dangerous," almost as if she were trying to reassure herself as much as Grady.

A chirp emanated from the dispatch computer, indicating their unit was called into service.

Grady read the instructions that followed. "AP Unit 17. Store owner reports a lost child. Proceed to 55 E. 22nd. Street."

Grady acknowledged the message and headed off to the address.

"Okay. Wait in the cruiser while I take care of this," Grady said as he pulled into a parking spot in front of a small grocery store.

"No!" Cat cried out, letting her voice trail into a howl, "Please don't make me stay! Not again."

Grady jumped out of the cruiser, partly because Cat had startled him but mostly to escape the volume of her cry.

"Christ! Don't do that again. I can't have you acting this way in public. Just wait here."

"No!" She cried again, this time controlling her loudness. "Please." she pleaded looking Grady in the eye. "It's my duty."

Grady could see she was obviously terrified about being left alone. The lost, scared look in her eyes softened his resolve.

"We don't have time for this. You can come, but keep back, out of the way."

Cat's eyes brightened as she got out of the cruiser and fell in step behind him.

"Thank you, Officer."

As they entered the store, it was quite easy to identify the lost child by the sound of his wailing.

"Thank goodness you're here, Officer." said the store owner. "That's the little boy right there on the bench."

"Have you found any identification? Name tags? Has he told you his name or provided any information?" Grady asked the store owner as they headed towards the child.

"No. All he does is cry that he wants to go home and he want his..."

The store owner became silent at the sight of Cat as she stepped out from behind Grady to stand beside him.

"...momma," said the store owner as he finished his statement.

Grady thought for a moment that the owner sounded as if he were calling for his own mother.

Cat kneeled in front of the child, bringing herself well below his eye level to avoid scaring him further. Her ears pricked forward towards the boy as she gave him a bright, friendly look.

"Hello."

The child's crying began to subside as his fear of being lost was replaced with curiosity toward the talking dog lady in front of him.

Cat cocked her head to one side.

"My name's Cat," She added in an equally cheery and friendly tone.

"You not a cat," the boy said between his ebbing sobs.

"That's right. I'm not a cat," she said happily. "I'm a special police dog. My name is Cat. What's your name?"

"Bobby," the boy said as quickly reached toward Cat's head.

Grady tensed at the boy's sudden movement. He knew police dogs were well trained, but sudden movements could still provoke a dangerous reaction. Though, Cat wasn't your average police dog.

Cat didn't even flinch as the boy's hand shot out to pat her head.

"Nice doggie," giggled the boy as he pulled his hand back.

"Thank you," replied Cat happily. "You're a nice little boy. Can you tell me your last name?"

"Cooke"

Grady keyed the last name into his mobile data pad as it searched and found the address for the boy's family.

"Got it," said Grady.

Cat turned to smile at Grady, proud of her accomplishment. She watched as he looked up from the pad and turned his attention to the store owner, not even glancing toward her. She wasn't looking for a compliment from him, but it would have been nice.

"His home is around the corner at the end of the block."

"Okay, Bobby. We're going to take you to your mother," Cat said as she stood up. "Let's go," she said as she held out her hand and led the boy to the cruiser.

After dropping the boy of to his much relieved mother, Grady's shift was nearly over. It was time to start heading back to the kennel to return Cat.

"How much training have you actually had?" asked Grady, slightly agitated.

"I was given the same training as normal police dogs, though I learn quicker so it was not as long," Cat replied with a hint of lonliness that Grady would have noticed had he not been frustrated with her recent actions.

"Didn't they teach you how to listen?" Grady asked sarcastically.

Cat, unfamiliar with the concept of sarcasm, answered Grady's question unabated.

"Yes. That was one of the first things I learned."

Grady became further annoyed that Cat seemed unable to recognize he was angry with her.

"Then why didn't you listen to me when I told you to stay behind me?"

Cat immediately withered at her officer's displeasure.

"I'm sorry. You were busy with the store owner," she said timidly. "I only wanted to help the boy. I like human children."

Tim knew she had meant well, but her actions left doubts that she would be reliable in a serious situation.

"Do you understand why I'm mad?"

"I disobeyed you."

"It's not so much that you disobeyed. I understand your reason for wanting to help. But, how am I going to be able to trust you to follow important instructions when you can't follow the simple ones?"

Cat flattened her ears as she replied weakly, "I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

Tim decided to change the topic to avoid frustrating himself further. "Why do you like children? Was that built into your instincts?"

Cat looked up at Grady.

Tim watched her in the rearview mirror. Cat seemed to be thinking hard about his question. He didn't think it was that difficult.

"I think my curiosity attracts me to them more than anything else. But, I also think it's instinctual for anyone to care for children. It's right to care for them because they cannot care for themselves."

"What makes you so inquisitive about them?"

Cat's eyebrows furrowed as she thought.

"They are little humans. I see adult humans and wonder what it was like to be little," she looked down to the floor, "I do not remember ever being little."

Tim was surprised by her profound reply. Tim noticed she looked down as she spoke. He knew that GESAs were grown in cloning vats and usually emerged in full grown form. Her posture gave the impression that she was disappointed, almost as if she missed being little.

"How often have you been in public?"

"I was assigned to my first officer less than a week," she answered, sounding even more depressed.

Tim couldn't help think that guy must have had the shortest career out of the academy before Cat got him killed. He wondered how long he would last.

"That was my first time in public that I was not in training. I have trained from my earliest memories. Ever since, I live in the training kennel and learn." Cat paused to take a breath. "Instructors taught me how to speak and how to obey. I learned how to be a police dog and to distinguish scents. I learned how to protect my officer and myself. Then I waited for the chance to show my officer what I've learned." Cat said before taking another breath and letting it out in a soft sigh. "It did not turn out as I hoped."

Cat's somber tone began to effect him. Tim began to feel sorry for her as she finished talking about her life so far.

Tim's thoughts were interrupted as he swerved hard to avoid the man running across the street. He noticed the man had a gun and pulled the cruiser out of traffic. He bailed out and immediately set off after the fleeing criminal.

Cat tried the door and found it locked. She slid over to the other door only to find that it too was locked. She banged her fist against the door panel as she let out a soulful cry.

"No."

Tim followed the suspect into an alley. He drew his weapon as he radioed his location through his headset. He started cautiously down the alley, his eyes darting from sided to side, expecting to find the man hiding in a doorway or behind a dumpster.

The criminal sat huddled behind some boxes near the entrance to the alley. He saw the officer move past him and hesitate as he radioed his location. The cop had his gun out now. He knew he'd never make it out of the alley without the cop seeing him, and he had no intention of going back to prison. But, he was behind the cop; he had the drop on him.

He watched as Grady started heading further into the alley, checking the dumpsters and doorways as he went.

The criminal stood up as he aimed his .357 snub nose revolver at Grady, slowly cocking the hammer back.

Grady froze as the sound of a pistol cocking from behind. He realized his mistake. He had gone too far in the alley before starting to check for the suspect. He closed his eyes as he held his hands up. He knew he was dead.

Grady winced at the sound of the gunshot as it ricocheted down the alley.

He turned to see Cat pinning the man to the wall. He didn't know how she managed to get out of the back of the cruiser, but he was glad.

The man struggled to break free from whoever was holding him, but his attempt at resisting quickly ended as he felt Cat's low, menacing growl reverberating in his chest.

"Oh God," was all the man could say.

Grady ran over, taking the gun from the man's hand and securing the weapon. He pulled out a pair of handcuffs and cuffed one of the man's hands where Cat held it firmly in place.

"Okay, let him go."

Cat's grip remained unyielding. She thought to herself; she would not let him get away. She wouldn't fail her duty again.

Grady remembered what Deeks had said about her being trained with the same commands as a regular K9.

"Out!"

Cat looked quickly toward her officer. Responding to his command, she relaxed her grip and stepped back allowing Grady to pull the man's arm behind him and finish cuffing him.

"I've got him. Go back and wait by the cruiser."

Cat gave him a troubled look, but complied and headed back to the cruiser as backup arrived to take the criminal into custody.

After the other officers left, Grady headed back to his cruiser to resume his patrol. Rounding the corner, he found Cat leaning against the trunk of the cruiser, speaking animatedly with a group of teenagers that had become curious about her. He paused at a distance to listen.

Tim was surprisedby the way she spoke with them. He had not expected her to be so articulate. She talked proudly about being chosen for police work.

He opened the back door for her and she took her seat. As he went to take the driver's seat, he noticed a metal pole extending from the back. It was Cat's collapsible baton. She had jammed it through the screen to reach the lock release for the back doors. Pretty clever, he thought as she retrieved the baton from the screen and compressed it before returning it to her vest.

The remainder of the patrol was uneventful. As Tim headed back to the kennel, he periodically glanced at Cat through the rearview mirror. She sat quietly, her head low as she looked down toward the floor.

Grady called her name carefully. "Cat?"

Surprised that he called her by her name for the first time, she looked up toward him.

"Yes, Officer?"

"Do you mind if I ask you something about your last officer?"

Cat's tone took on a sadness as she looked back down to the floor.

"What would you like to know?"

"I was wondering. did you work well together?"

Cat's looked out the window of the cruiser, her ears lowered as she watched the pavement speeding by.

"My first officer did not like me either. He always made me wait in the cruiser. He never took me with him. That is why I couldn't protect him," she said, her voice becomming barely audible. "When he was in trouble, I couldn't get to him in time."

Tim wasn't expecting such a direct answer, but now it made sense why she reacted that way when he wanted her to stay alone in the cruiser. She wasn't responsible for her officer's death. Her partner did it himself. Regular canines always accompanied their officers wherever they went. He wondered if it shouldn't be any different for Cat. Deeks had said to treat her as if she were a regular canine officer. Tim found that more difficult than it sounded. Cat wasn't human by definition, but he wondered if the scientists that had created her had spliced more human traits then they had intended.

Then Cat's words hit him like a slug in the chest. She had said her first officer did not like her either. He realized that "either" meant "like you." She thought he hated her. Tim suddenly felt especially guilty for not being friendlier. He wasn't happy with his new assignment and had been taking his anger out on Cat all morning. She didn't seem to have had a very pleasant life so far, and she didn't deserve to have him dump on her. He wouldn't have treated Sasha or any other standard canine the way he had been treating Cat. He wondered if he was acting the way he had because she was a GESA.

Tim pulled the cruiser off the main road, bringing it to a stop in the parking lot at the training grounds. He turned sideways to talk to her through the screen separating the front of the cruiser from the back.

Cat looked at him warily, unsure why he was stopping so far from the kennel. She folded her ears down submissively as she expected him to reprimand her again.

"I'm sorry I disobeyed you again," Cat apologized, hoping to lessen her officer's reproach. "I suppose you will report my poor performance."

"No, I'm not going to report you, Cat." Tim paused as he focused on the screen separating them. "Come sit up front."

Cat exited the cruiser and moved to the front passengers seat. Her ears remained flat against her skull as she still expected to be reprimanded.

Tim thought for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry for the way I've acted towards you today. I don't hate you, if that's what you think. Actually, I'm very impressed with you. The way you handled that little boy was great. Back there in the alley, that guy had me. You saved my life."

Cat gave Tim a hopeful look. Her ears stood erect as she listened intently to him.

"I'm sorry for trying to make you stay in the cruiser. It's not your fault what happened to your last partner. I won't make that mistake. From now on, you ride up here with me and you go anywhere I go."

Her alert ears swiveled to focus on Grady as her lips pulled back along her muzzle into her version of a smile.

"Thank you Officer Grrrady."

Tim couldn't help grinning at Cat's excited, almost playful, expression. He imagined if she had a tail, it would be wagging happily. Even the way she had said his name with the hint of a growl amused him. It was the first time since he lost Sasha that he actually felt like smiling.

Tim extended his hand. "Partners?"

Cat looked curiously at his hand. After a moment of thought, she leaned forward to sniff at it.

Tim began to laugh. "No, don't smell it. Haven't you ever shook someone's hand? Hold your hand out like mine."

Cat continued to look confused. "That is how humans greet each other. I am not human." She said while obediently extending her hand.

Tim took her hand in his and shook it. The feeling of her hand in his was odd. Her palms and fingers were textured much like the pads on a dog's paws, except softer.

Tim gave Cat a friendly smile. "There. Partners."

Cat couldn't understand why he was treating her friendlier than before, but it was nice. He said he would let her go anywhere with him. She would be able to do what she had been trained. Cat looked at Grady appreciatively and smiled her version of a smile again.

Grady watched Cat begin to smile again as she squeezed his hand in response. He thought Cat seemed different from when he first saw her. However, he realized it wasn't Cat who had changed, but his perception of her. He recognized that it was determination, not danger, that he had seen in her eyes earlier. She just wanted to serve and protect.

"You know, I think you might be a good partner after all."