The requirements were vague, just perfect for finding the solution easily. Once his supplies came in next week he planned to fix it using the correct materials, yet for a quick test all he needed was for it to work for a few minutes, nothing more. Yet after digging through his drawers, the catfolk failed to find anything that could fit. With a rumbling tummy, he chose to think it over a fresh sandwich.
Humming a jolly tune, Quinn strode into the kitchen to fetch his lunch, his mind stuck on the snag of how to replicate the 16 gauge wire he needed to complete his latest masterpiece. Gathering the supplies for the sandwich, he barely noticed Karreo at the dining room table. The demonkin hunched over a pile of papers, concentrating hard on whatever he must be working on.
“Greetings!” Quinn announced with a toothy smile, loudly banging the cupboards open and closed as he picked out his bread, ham, lettuce, tomato, ranch, and sunflower seeds.
Without glancing up, Karreo responded with a tired groan. “Can you please stop slamming everything? I’m trying to concentrate…”
“Certainly! I shall be quick,” the catfolk beamed, dropping the ingredients with a clatter on the island counter. His companion winced at the noise. “Whatcha doing?” he asked curiously, cutting the bread with a knife.
“Finding holes in the security routes at the McDonnel residence,” Karreo replied with a sigh. Leaning back in his chair, he tapped his pen against the multitude of maps and lists before him. “They recently doubled the guard, and I don’t know any of the new recruits. Can’t count on bribing my way in, so have to find a weak point.”
Nodding casually, Quinn thought a moment as he finished cutting the pieces of bread and finally asked, “What about a distraction? Even new guards get distracted!”
“No happening,” Karreo frowned. “Protocol dictates all guards must lock down their current positions rather than run to help. It’d just tip them off rather than opening anything up.”
“Sounds like a tough nut to crack,” the catfolk conceded with a frown of his own. “I’m sure you’ll think of som—”
The blade of the knife he held shimmered in the light, catching his eye. ‘Maybe this could work?!’ Holding it up before him, he closed one eye to better concentrate on the curve, measuring the thickness and width in his head. ‘Hmm…certainly would hold a charge, easy enough to rig into the device…’
“…what’re you doing?” Karreo questioned, raising his eyebrow.
“Just maybe…” Slipping a caliper from his back pocket, the catfolk measured the thickest part of the blade. “Drats! Off by half a millimeter!”
“Nevermind,” he said, blinking slowly and shaking his head. The demonkin went back to his papers, continuing to tap his pen slowly.
“I need a strip of metal to connect the resistors in order to test the electro-magnetic stabilizing device,” Quinn replied anyway, frowning at the knife. “I was hoping this would work, yet it will not fit through the couplings. I was hoping to not take apart your alarm clock…”
“Don’t touch it!” Karreo warned, pointing his pen at him. “The last time you messed with any of my electronics my laptop was sending E.M.P. bursts…”
Quinn chuckled, remembering how easy the laptop had taken to his experiment. In only a matter of minutes and a mini generator attached, it did wonders on the lighting of the whole city block! It worked splendidly!
Karreo looked less than amused, a sideways frown covering his features.
“Fine, fine…” Quinn surrendered, grinning. “I only need one little part from it, I promise to put it back!”
“No. That’s final. What even happened to your own alarm clock, anyway?” Karreo wondered aloud.
“Well…” Quinn looked to the ceiling, recalling where each piece had gone. “The cord was used for my waffle machine, the circuit board worked well as the timer for the automatic opening window blinds upstairs, the faceplate fit on my—”
Karreo shook his head dismissively. “I should not have asked… Anyway, please don’t touch it. Can’t you take Rorrik’s or something?”
The catfolk laughed. “I would, were it still…in one piece. The other night, Valen and him—”
“Stop. I’ve heard enough.” The demonkin waved his hand in front of him as if the mental images were smoke he could so easily dissipate. Tossing his pen on the maps, he leaned back in his chair and sighed.
“That’s it!” Quinn nearly shouted, his eyes dilating as he focused on his prize. Pouncing at Karreo’s workspace, he grabbed the thin, metal pen.
“Hey, wait! I need that!” came the protest, to no avail.
“Perfect!” Whipping out his caliper, he measured the width, a wonderful 6.35mm! “Oh, this is great! Thank you!”
“No,” Karreo continued to protest. “It only has one use, and that’s for my writing! Give it back!”
Quinn bounded out of the dining room, a wide grin on his face. “I’ll buy you a new pack once I’m done, I promise!” he called over his shoulder, rushing to place it within his new machine. How could he not have seen it sooner?!
Adrenaline and excitement fueled his legs as he sprinted down the hall towards completion.
