Chapter 38 - Under the Lens - Patchwork system: Trash to Greatness

Chapter 88 – Under Scrutiny

The workshop smelled of mineral oil and fresh coffee when Jace slid the last wrench back into his kit. Riley Quinn tapped away at her tablet, finalizing the week's schedule. Their teamwork felt effortless now—a rhythm born from late-night repairs and countless caffeine runs.

Riley's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and her smile faltered.

"We've got a request from CityTech Insider," she said. "Casey Luo wants a day-in-the-life feature. They'll pay a $500 stipend if we let them film a repair demo, an interview—everything."

Jace's heart thumped. "Filming at the workshop?"

"Not here," Riley said. "They booked The Rusty Record café. There's an old jukebox they want you to fix. Then lunch-hour B-roll and an interview. Good exposure—if we control what they see."

Inside Jace's head, Patchwork purred (unheard by Riley): "Exposure, indeed." Only he could see and hear the AI.

---

1. Origins on Camera

By mid-morning, their van was loaded: toolkits, spares, and Patchwork's inconspicuous holo-emitter tucked in Jace's pack. Riley carried her clipboard and phone.

At The Rusty Record, mismatched vinyl chairs sat under a flickering neon sign. Casey Luo and a two-person camera crew waited by the jukebox. Cameras, boom mic, lights—all aimed at the corner where Jace would stand.

Casey rose and extended a hand. "Jace Thorn, Riley Quinn—thanks for doing this. Our readers love how you two work. We'll start with B-roll of the jukebox repair, then sit down for an interview. Sound good?"

Riley shook hands. "Perfect. Let's get started."

---

2. Mechanical Repair Demo (15 RP)

Jace knelt by the jukebox, wiped dust from its coin mechanism, and popped open the side panel. The hopper was jammed with sticky spill residue.

Riley gave him a thumbs-up; the camera's red tally light glowed.

He spoke clearly, step by step: "This guide rail is bent, so coins don't drop into the hopper reliably. I'm realigning the rail, clearing debris, then greasing the moving parts. A quick tune-up like this restores smooth operation."

He handled tools deliberately—real-time explanation, no off-camera trickery. When he closed the panel, he tested it with a coin. The jukebox whirred, lights flickered on, and a track list slid across the screen.

Casey grinned. "That's fantastic. Clear, concise. We'll cut there."

Patchwork in Jace's mind: "Mechanical repair: check."

---

3. Manager Mode, Take One

They moved to a cozy window nook. Stained-glass patterns danced on the floor. Riley sat straight, tablet ready.

Casey signaled the camera. "Tell us how you two met."

Riley smiled. "We were neighbors. I lived next door to Jace's old fixer-upper house. When the plumbing went rogue, I rang his doorbell. He fixed it that afternoon. Over time, we started dating—and I naturally stepped into handling clients, scheduling, and logistics."

Jace added with a grin, "She's the strategist; I'm the mechanic."

Casey nodded. "Great origin story. Now: you're the miracle worker, Jace. How do you balance so many skills?"

Jace exchanged a quick look with Riley, then shrugged. "Experience—and the right manager."

Patchwork: Unseen and unheard by Riley—perfect.

---

4. Emotional Repair in Action (15 RP)

No sooner had their seats cleared than a waitress hurried over. "Sorry, but our credit-card terminal just died. Lines are stretching out the door."

Riley flipped to "Client Response Mode." "Eliza, we've got this. I'll cover the counter—tell customers we'll sort it quickly."

Jace ducked under the boom mic and popped open the terminal. A ribbon cable had loosened. He reseated it and rebooted. The screen blinked back to life.

Behind the scenes—and out of shot—Jace let the echo pulse subtly, calming Eliza's racing pulse and steadying her hands.

Eliza exhaled. "Thank you. I feel… a lot better."

Patchwork: Emotional repair: delivered.

---

5. Electronic Rescue of the Espresso Machine (15 RP)

As Casey reset their shot lists, the café owner beckoned. "Our espresso machine just died. Lines are building again."

Riley turned, cool and collected. "On camera, if you like."

Jace knelt by the stainless-steel giant. Inside, a relay was welded shut and a power board scorched. He swapped in a fresh relay and replaced the damaged module from his kit. He flipped the switch—steam hissed, grinder whirred.

Casey caught every satisfying moment. "Unreal. You cover mechanical and electronic in one go."

Patchwork: Electronic repair: done.

---

6. The Inadvertent Reveal (15 RP)

Riley reached for a rag and cut her finger on a stray spring. A drop of blood welled at the tip.

Jace knelt and took her hand. Before Riley could object, warmth spread from his palm. Cells knitted; the cut sealed in seconds.

Riley's eyes widened. The camera crew caught a faint glow under the overhead lights.

Casey swallowed. "What… was that?"

Riley yanked her hand back. "Just a personal technique. Let's wrap up."

Patchwork: Biological repair: inadvertently on display.

---

7. Exiting While You're Ahead

Casey's crew packed up. Casey shook their hands. "This is gold. I'll send you the draft before it goes live—no weird footage of that last moment, promise."

Riley forced a tight smile. "Thank you. We appreciate it."

In the van, Riley exhaled. "They saw it."

Jace stared ahead. "Just a glimpse. I trust you to negotiate the edit."

Patchwork: Famous now. Welcome to the heat.

---

8. Payment and Numbers

Back at the workshop, Riley updated the ledger:

- Café demo stipend: $300

- Interview fee: $200

Total: $500

Patchwork's disembodied voice notified Jace of the taxes: "$95.00 added to Pending Taxes. Total now $3,645.15."

Riley tapped her tablet:

Wealth: $18,324.88 → 18,824.88

RP Gained:

- Mechanical repair (jukebox) … +15

- Emotional repair (terminal + waitress) … +15

- Electronic repair (espresso machine) … +15

- Biological repair (Riley's cut) … +15

Total RP: +60

RP Total: 418 → 478

---

9. Status Check

Dusk settled as Riley reached over, squeezing Jace's arm. "We did it—and kept the secret safe."

Jace met her gaze. "With you steering, I'm ready for anything."

Only Jace heard the final flutter of Patchwork's holo-voice: "Next Upgrade: ???" beneath which floated his mental status block:

- Technician: Jace Thorn

- RP Total: 478

- Wealth: $18,824.88

- Pending Taxes: $3,645.15

- Monthly Rent: Workshop $1,200 | Apartment $1,400

- Patchwork Capabilities: Mechanical, Electronic, Emotional, Biological

- Next Upgrade: ???

- Taxes due: one month

Riley switched off her tablet. "Get some rest. Tomorrow we handle Casey's edits."

Jace slung his kit over his shoulder. "And tomorrow… we face whatever comes next."

Their workshop dimmed to silence, the echo of their partnership pulsing steady—ready for the next challenge.

The workshop was quiet except for the faint hum of the bench fan. Jace was tightening the last bolt on a refurbished drill press when Riley's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, then at him.

"It's starting," she said.

Jace wiped his hands. "What is?"

Riley turned the tablet so he could see. On the CityTech Insider homepage, a teaser headline read:

"Local Repair Duo Pulls Off Impossible Fixes — See the Footage"

Below it, a still frame from the café shoot — Jace's hand over hers, the faintest halo of light visible if you knew where to look.

Patchwork's voice slid into Jace's mind, dry as ever.

"Congratulations. You're officially a conspiracy theory waiting to happen."

"They didn't run the clip," Riley said, "but the still is enough for people to start asking questions."

Jace exhaled. "Let's just keep our heads down and work."

---

The Call

The phone rang. Riley answered, listened, then covered the receiver. "Downtown community center. Their main elevator is stuck between floors, the security system's glitching, and one of the staff twisted her ankle trying to carry supplies up the stairs."

Patchwork: "Three problems, one location. Déjà vu, anyone?"

Jace grabbed his kit. "Let's go."

---

Arrival

The community center was a squat brick building buzzing with activity. A small crowd had gathered in the lobby, murmuring about the stuck elevator. The director, a wiry man in a polo shirt, hurried over.

"Thank you for coming so fast. We've got seniors stuck between floors, the security cameras keep cutting out, and poor Marlene—" he gestured toward a woman sitting on a folding chair, her ankle propped on another chair "—took a spill on the stairs."

Riley stepped in, voice calm but commanding. "Clear the lobby. Jace will handle the elevator first. I'll coordinate with you on the cameras and check on Marlene."

---

The Work

Jace pried open the elevator's service panel. The motor controller was fine, but the door interlock sensor had failed, tricking the system into thinking the doors were open. He bypassed the faulty sensor long enough to bring the car to the nearest floor, then replaced it with a spare from his kit. The doors slid open, and two relieved seniors stepped out to applause from the lobby.

While Riley guided them to a seating area, Jace followed the director to the security room. The camera feeds were flickering, the DVR rebooting every few minutes. He traced the issue to a failing power supply unit. A quick swap with a compatible spare brought the system back online, feeds steady and clear.

Back in the lobby, a group of parents was arguing with a staff member about the safety of the building. Riley was holding her own, but the tension was high. Jace stepped in, letting the echo pulse subtly through his voice and presence. The parents' shoulders eased, voices softened, and the staff member's breathing steadied. Within minutes, the conversation shifted from complaints to thanks.

Finally, he knelt beside Marlene. Her ankle was swollen, her face tight with pain.

"Mind if I take a look?" he asked.

She nodded. Jace rested his hand lightly over the joint, letting the echo pulse — warmth spreading, swelling easing, pain fading. Marlene blinked in surprise.

"That's… much better," she said, flexing her foot gently.

Riley caught his eye — a silent reminder to keep it subtle.

---

Payment and Numbers

The director handed Riley an envelope. "You saved us a fortune in service calls. Thank you."

Payment: $600

Patchwork: "$102.00 added to Pending Taxes. Current total: $3,747.15."

Wealth: $18,824.88 → $19,424.88

RP Gained: +60 (four distinct repairs)

RP Total: 478 → 538

---

Back at the Workshop

As they unloaded the van, Riley glanced at him. "We need to be careful. If anyone at the center talks about what they saw…"

Jace nodded. "I know. But I'm not going to stop helping people."

Patchwork's voice was a low hum in his mind.

"And that, my friend, is how legends — and trouble — are made."

The echo pulsed once — steady, ready.

---

Status Update

Technician: Jace Thorn

RP Total: 538

Wealth: $19,424.88

Pending Taxes: $3,747.15

Monthly Rent: Workshop – $1,200 | Apartment – $1,400 (covers both Jace & Riley)

Patchwork Capabilities:

- Mechanical Repair

- Electronic Repair

- Emotional Repair

- Biological Repair

Next Upgrade: ???

Taxes due: one month

---

The morning started like any other: coffee, the faint hum of the bench fan, and Riley running through the day's schedule. Jace was halfway through reassembling a stubborn belt sander when the workshop door creaked open.

A man in his late thirties stepped inside. Crisp button‑down, pressed slacks, and a messenger bag slung over one shoulder. He looked around the shop like he was cataloging every detail.

"Can I help you?" Riley asked, her tone polite but edged.

"Name's Daniel Price," the man said. "I've got a piece of equipment that needs attention. Thought I'd bring it here — heard you're the best."

Patchwork's voice slid into Jace's mind.

"He's not here for the equipment. Look at his eyes — he's here for you."

---

The "Repair"

Daniel set a compact, high‑end drone on the counter. "Camera feed keeps cutting out mid‑flight. I've tried firmware updates, new batteries — nothing works."

Jace lifted the drone, turning it over in his hands. The casing was spotless, but the screws showed fresh tool marks. Someone had been inside recently.

"You've already opened it," Jace said.

Daniel smiled faintly. "I like to tinker. But I figured I'd let a professional take a look."

Riley moved to the counter, clipboard in hand. "We'll need you to wait in the seating area while Jace works."

Daniel didn't move. "Mind if I watch? I'm… curious about your process."

Patchwork: "And there it is."

---

Under the Microscope

Jace carried the drone to his bench, aware of Daniel's gaze tracking every move. He popped the casing, exposing the flight controller and video transmitter. The solder joints on the transmitter's power rail were cracked — likely from vibration.

He reflowed the joints, replaced a worn connector, and reseated the antenna lead. All the while, Daniel leaned just close enough to see, but not close enough to be told to back off.

"You work fast," Daniel said.

"Experience," Jace replied without looking up.

---

The Push

As Jace reassembled the drone, Daniel asked, "So… that video from the café. The one on CityTech Insider. That glow — was that some kind of tool? Special light?"

Riley's voice cut in, sharp. "We don't discuss client work outside of the job at hand."

Daniel held up his hands. "Just curious. People talk."

Patchwork: "He's fishing. Don't bite."

---

The Test Flight

Jace powered up the drone, linked it to the controller, and sent it hovering in place. The video feed on the controller's screen was rock‑solid.

"Problem's fixed," Jace said, landing it smoothly.

Daniel studied the feed, then Jace. "Impressive. You've got a gift."

Riley slid the invoice across the counter. "That'll be $180."

Daniel paid in cash, tucking the receipt into his bag. "If I have… other equipment that needs your touch, I'll be back."

Patchwork: "Oh, he'll be back. Count on it."

---

Payment and Numbers

Payment: $180

Patchwork: "$30.60 added to Pending Taxes. Current total: $3,777.75."

Wealth: $19,424.88 → $19,604.88

RP Gained: +15 (electronic repair under observation)

RP Total: 538 → 553

---

Aftermath

When the door closed behind Daniel, Riley turned to Jace. "He wasn't here for the drone."

"I know," Jace said. "He wanted to see if the rumors were true."

Riley crossed her arms. "We need to be ready. If people start showing up just to watch you work, it's only a matter of time before someone sees too much."

Patchwork's voice was a low hum in Jace's mind.

"And that's when things get interesting."

The echo pulsed once — steady, but with an edge.

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