Emily watched in amazement as the bug scuttled across the floor and into the crude model of the weapon it would need to disable. Tom had given Joseph a basic description of what the bug would need to deal with so they could run some trials to test the bugs ability to operate in a small space, monitor its surroundings, and Tom's ability to control it with only the information the bug would be sending back.
Besides being mobile, the bug had very basic functions considering it was essentially a collection of radio parts and various scraps. Lacking a way of broadcasting a visual signal, Tom had contrived a method of controlling it via radio signals. The bug collected basic information about its surroundings by emitting a sound wave not audible to the human ear through a modified speaker and analyzing the way it bounced back, much like a bat's echolocation. This information was radioed back to Tom in the form of a code that no one else really understood nor bothered asking about after Tom's first attempt at explaining it. Essentially the bug was telling Tom the location of various objects by relating their location to its as if it stood on a grid. Using that information Tom sent signals back to the bug directing it's movements using bits of computer his uncle had removed from remote control toys that were nonexistent here. His aunt had sewn them into the lining of a pair of gloves and mailed them to him to escape Wolv's notice. In addition to all this the bug was equipped with wire cutters, a screw driver , and a short pole for pushing things out of its way.
At first it had been difficult for Tom to even navigate around the kitchen based on the information the bug relayed back, but as he'd become accustomed to the code the bug spoke and creating a picture of the bugs surroundings without having to draw it out he'd mastered getting the bug in and out of the model of both the weapons Joseph wanted to disable and the security and communications systems in the Capitol.
Emily glanced at the clock, timing how long it took Tom to get the bug into the model, cut the string representing the wire they knew would render the weapon useless, and get the bug back out of the model.
"Five minutes seventeen seconds,"she told him as he came out of the bedroom and put the bug away.
He nodded, "That's better. I think we'll be ready to go tomorrow."
Emily nodded quietly as all the possible outcomes of tomorrow ran through her head.
"Do you know where Al is going to be tomorrow?" she asked quietly, saying his name for the first time in weeks.
"With Joseph I believe." Tom said sitting down on the small couch in the corner of the kitchen, thoroughly exhausted. It had been a long week of working to perfect his control of the bug and coordinating plans for the next day.
"And you'll be safe here," she said quietly joining him.
"Al knows how to take care of himself Em, he'll be fine wherever Joseph puts him."
"They'll be in the Capitol itself correct?"
Tom nodded.
"Then he'd better be able to take care of himself."
Tom shrugged. "You can only worry about so many things. I'll concentrate on the bug and hope everything else works out."
They sat quietly for a while both knowing that, despite Tom's words, they'd worry about the outcome until whatever happened tomorrow was over.
"Do we have any idea what we're getting ourselves into Tom?" Emily asked as she leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Probably not, but we can't really change our minds now." They sat, thinking about the next day, until Emily stood to make dinner and life went on.