Chapter 11: Pieces of the Future
The work at the shop was brutal. Sadd and the other workers moved back and forth from the truck to the warehouse for hours. The new equipment was heavy and delicate, requiring everyone to move with extreme care despite the rush. By the time the last crate was set down, everyone was drenched in sweat.
The Boss walked through the warehouse, checking the stacks. He looked pleased. "Good work, everyone. You did this neatly and, most importantly, without any accidents. If we had broken anything before the inspection, it would have been my neck." He handed out a small tip to everyone. "Take this. You earned it for the extra hustle today."
As the others left to rest, Sadd hurried to the corner where the old tech was piled. He spent the next hour carefully packing the best pieces into a large sack—batteries, screens, and internal chips. "I'm taking these to study, repair, and recreate," he whispered.
Sadd received his daily pay and his tip, but tonight, he didn't head to the library. He had a mission at home. He arrived at the abandoned house early, while the sun was still setting in deep oranges and purples. The girls weren't back yet.
"I didn't go to the library this time," he said softly, looking at a broken laptop. "Because I have something much better to do."
He sat cross-legged on the floor and began to clear a small area in the corner of their hideout. "This will be my research spot," he decided. He wanted to give the girls a big surprise: electricity.
Suddenly, a new message appeared in his mind.
(The Path of Technology has been unlocked)
(You have gained Beginner's Level Achievement)
"Wow," Sadd smiled. "This will make fixing things even easier."
Bringing the Light
He gathered his tools and climbed to the top of the house where the main electrical connections were. He worked carefully, removing the destroyed wires and broken gadgets. He replaced them with the old parts he had just repaired. After a while, he stepped back and wiped his brow. "A task well done," he praised himself.
With the power back on, the room was no longer dark and scary. Now that there was light, he could work through the night. He tried to fix the first laptop, but it was too damaged. He realized he had to disassemble all of them to make one good one. His goal was to repair at least three, so each of them could have their own.
Later that evening, Doah and Tersa returned from school. Sadd took them out to a local street joint nearby for dinner. They ate until they were completely satisfied and then walked back together.
On the way, Doah looked at him curiously. "Sadd, why don't you consider attending school with us?"
"I am doing something very necessary right now," Sadd told her kindly. "I will consider it once I am done with my project."
When they arrived home, the girls gasped. The house was glowing with light! Sadd proudly introduced them to his new workshop and the first working laptop. Their eyes went wide with wonder.
"Can you teach us how to use it?" Tersa asked eagerly.
Sadd agreed immediately. He spent the whole night teaching them how to navigate the system. Even though it was his first time using this specific machine, his Academic Genius made it feel like he had been using it for a thousand years. He explained everything simply, feeling a deep joy as he shared his knowledge with his new sisters.