Suzuki Pittmore's Arc

Chapter 2 of 6

Suzuki studied the fountain's control box, running her paw along the metal casing. Water repair wasn't her strongest skill yet. She needed to start with the basics—understanding how each system connected. Her claws clicked against the panel as she removed the screws. Inside, wires tangled around a rusted pump motor. She traced each connection with her finger, noting which ones carried power and which controlled flow. The rust had eaten through a connector clip. She pulled out her toolkit and selected a replacement from her spare parts pouch. Ten minutes of careful work, and the fountain gurgled back to life. Water splashed into the basin. She smiled and closed the panel. Every repair taught her something new about how machines worked. But she couldn't learn everything from field repairs alone. The modern building with red, white, and black trim stood three blocks away. Light blue letters spelled out Compu Electronics & Computer Technology School across the front. Real instructors taught there. They could show her the complex skills she needed for harder jobs. She walked toward it, her boots clicking on the pavement. Professional training would make her faster, better, more reliable. Back at her workspace, she installed the red and black generator outside. The Leopard 8500 Watt model could handle serious power demands. When electrical outages hit, her tools would keep running. She connected the fuel line and tested the switch. The engine roared to life, then settled into a steady hum. Next, she assembled the storage rack with the shade roof and cooling fans. Devices that overheated during repairs needed a safe place to cool down. The fans whirred softly as she tested them. She stepped back and looked at her setup. Generator for power. Rack for cooling. Training starting next week. Each piece brought her closer to becoming the region's essential equipment specialist. People would trust her with their most important machines. She picked up her toolkit and headed toward the square. More practice meant more skills, and more skills meant more customers.