I figure it’s worth posting the whole thing occasionally so new readers can pick up easy.  Perhaps I’ll figure out how to post a download

— Chapter 1 —

When Zod powered on for the day, something was wrong. Their tail seemed to be malfunctioning. It moved okay, but couldn’t thwack properly. As their job at dam maintenance requires repeatedly thwacking things, so this really is an untenable situation. Zod also thought about how they’d been messing up a bit lately, and this might be the last straw. They really didn’t want demotion back to Gnawing On Things, where the demotion would be embarrassing enough.

Facing the return to mindless drudgery, they reported an “unspecified” error to management and and trundled off towards town, detouring off onto an untidy lane that headed to management into the forest where Delis lived. Zod was hoping Desil could get it fixed for them on the sly before the electric company found out. Zod had traded favors with Desil in the past, who’s pretty good with a hammer and a soldering iron but occasionally needed something thwacked. Desil was also known for keeping their mouth shut. And they got along together so well because they were both a little broody and didn’t like wandering around in public more than necessary.

Unfortunately, Desil wasn’t in. In fact, it didn’t seem likely they’d been around for a while. The tools were all in place as if it were time to get to work, but Desil was seemingly replaced with a thin layer of dust and a light breeze from a partially open window. Very unlike Desil, Zod pondered as they looked around the garage for some sort of clue.

— Chapter 2 —

The clue came in the form of a dirty cigar butt barely visible in the shadows. An ordinary person wouldn’t have seen it, even while sweeping the area to get rid of clues. But Zod being electric, low light wasn’t as big of a deal. And a decent clue as well. Smoking was passe and somewhat restricted. There were only a few shops that sold them in town ~ the licensed tobacconist and a few black market under the counter in a few corner stores. So with this in mind they made their way back to Third Avenue and the old town wall.

Passing through the town gate Zod had to cross his first hurdle: the main repair shop where the like of Zod was supposed to have gone for repairs. And Zod definitely didn’t want to be seen since theoretically that is where should be headed to and didn’t want to raise any eyebrows. Thankfully it was early morning and Zod was able to slip past the East Wall and on down the lane in the shadows until they passed the shop.

Breathing an electronic sigh of relief, Zod continued past the supply shops that supported the garage. They weren’t likely to be noted as out of ordinary since Electric Beavers were known to be trustworthy so they were frequently sent into town on for spare parts and on-site work.

Needing some place to start, the pondered briefly so they they headed towards 2^nd Street and South across the river where the tobacconist lay.

— Chapter 3 —

The tobacconists was larger than one might think for a dirty garrison-like town whose main existence relies on maintaining the dam, with its hydroelectric power and flood control. But being the only town for miles and between function and location have allowed it to maintain regional authority.

In slunk Zod, mostly ignored as usual. They’d been here before after all, just on “official” trips. In other words, their manager was too lazy to come here themselves. Zod browsed around casually, trying to not “look casual”. The customers bought it and quickly returned to their ashtrays full of burnt leaves and wishes of whatever world they imagine. Zod engaged their nasal circuits, groping for a familiar smell of the butt laying in Desil garage rising above the haze. Alas, they couldn’t smell anything, at least not strong enough to investigate further. Quietly Zod crept out the door with a head as hazy as the air they just left.

Hoping to clear their thoughts they headed back up to the greenery of the town square to ponder in the early morning sunlight that blesses this part of the world.

— Chapter 4 —

With still no direction to head towards, Zod wandered through the park to Main Street, across from Government House. Chalky white and unadorned it didn’t seem to have a sense of direction either. Uninspired, they flipped an electronic coin and headed North for a change.

There isn’t much to North Main beyond the park. Just a bank facing the Northern end of Government House and a row of small shops just beyond that had attached themselves to the old city wall like so many barnacles. Zod, needing to get out a few credits to pay his way around town addressed the bank, whose decorative features and rare mosaics were the exact opposite of it’s cross-street neighbor. Entering the lobby revealed a temple of opulence reflecting the treasures buried in its vaults. Zod stepped inside, overwhelmed like every patron is, by the sheer size and appointment of the building. Tricks of light and architecture made it seem to be larger than outside.

Recovering from the awe they feel every time, Zod headed to an available teller to load some credits from their account. Not too much, as usual, as there’s always a sense of mistrust towards sentient electronics. But while standing there they swore they caught a whiff of that cigar stink, but not strong enough to recognize its source. Still, they tried to upload everyone they could see into their memory banks before moving on out the door.

— Chapter 5 —

Zod dallied outside the bank for a few minutes in the way one pretends to tie their shoes. But the whiff was gone, and since etiquette says one isn’t supposed to smoke in public areas, it wasn’t likely to reappear unless they get close enough to smell The person’s clothes again. So, left along North Wall, perusing the barnacles for useful trinkets ~ and perhaps a few useless ones as well. Zod didn’t have a lot of space in his tiny apartment, but it was infinitely more than the barracks he’d get relegated to were he demoted. Silently that thought gave them a much stronger sense of purpose, perhaps even greater than finding his friend. But since the two thoughts cannot exist without the other, they replaced such thoughts with determination instead.

So lost were they in their thoughts that they nearly ran into one of their co-workers, a digger named [NAME1]. As Od really didn’t need to be seen, they ducked into the nearest stall to hide. Unfortunately this did raise a few eyebrows as it was a women’ clothing store and therefore had nothing even remotely electric beaver shaped. Zod stammered a few apologies and thankfully [NAME1] had moved East on down the avenue before they emerged from the store. East went to the garage, which they need to avoid even more as the doors were open for for the day.

— Chapter 6 —

Where North and West Walls meet Zod found a convenience store, stocked with the bits and bobs and brick-a-brack that don’t warrant a trip down to he shops on River Avenue. They used [SOMETHING] as an excuse to quite literally sniff around. And with the barest of hints in the air, they overheard some store patrons talking with the counter person about the Sketch Antique Shops in the opposite corner of town. Having nothing else to go on at this point they buy [THING1] and started to head that South towards River Avenue, the West-East artery thru [TOWN]. From there they can decide whether to follow the River or continue along the Walls as the ways are roughly equidistant.

Going all the way down to South Wall seemed to be the better choice since it was mostly row houses full of humans, and even though Zod might get a sideways glance it wouldn’t be like waltzing down one of the main roads through town where they was most likely asked to answer uncomfortable question, such as why they weren’t at work if they weren’t at the garage. Even sentient robots were expected to behave like robots.

— Chapter 7 —

The Antique Shops were indeed sketchy, so they found. Lots of small people in small shops selling small things that have no discernible utility. Looking around, Zod realized that the other patrons really didn’t want to be seen, and a dozen small beady eyes are watching them intently from the shadows. The shopkeepers definitely didn’t look like they think Zod should be there. Hurriedly thinking, they remember that [THING2] which they’ve seen in Desil’s shop can only come from a place like this. Sticking their head into the closest shop they ask for [THING2] to an untrusting stare. After a few moments consideration the shopkeeper pointed their small arm to another shop a few stalls down, with a “try them” grunt of dismissal.

The second shop was equally warm to the stranger, as in not so much. But they did soften just a little when asked about [THING2] and offered it at an obviously marked up price. But Zod paid it anyway, while asking if they’d seen Desil recently. This invited a questioning stare, like the shopkeeper wasn’t sure it was safe to say anything to them.

After a pregnant pause, the shopkeeper said that they haven’t seen Desil lately, but a few weeks ago Desil came in looking nervous and looking around furtively as though they were being followed. Beyond that the shopkeeper either didn’t know or was unwilling to say. Probably the latter.

Treachery, Zod thought, and obviously tied to Desil’s absence.

— Chapter 8 —

[THING2] had to be another clue, and more than likely the mystery cigar person was somehow tied into it, Zod thought. However, it wasn’t anything immediately usable unless [THING2] or the cigar were found, so they filed it away for the time being. But at the least, they knew where to find [THING2], even if they didn’t know what it was used for. Perhaps that was another piece to the puzzle.

Unsure of where to go next, Zod decided to head back to Desil’s to figure out whats [THING2] was used for. The trick was getting there in the middle of the day. Waltzing down Third Avenue was a sure-fire way to get caught and asked unaswerable questions. Then they rembered that there was a hidden path that led from the back of the garage that possibly headed towards town. It had to intersect with Main Avenue somehow.

It had to be somewhere North of town or it would have been spotted and mapped years ago. And the best way to get there was walting straight up Main Street instead of going all the way around the walls again. Just act naturally, Zod thought, and hoped that none of the dam workers needed to go to Government House. The bank they could explain, since normally the beavers had to pay for repairs out of pocket and get reimbursed, unless it was an emergency.

— Chapter 9 —

So off Zod went, following South Wall to Main, then turned North with a waltz and an electronic prayer in their head. So far, so good, they thought.

So far, not so good, Zod realized. [NAME2] was in the town square, and there wasn’t an easy way to get past them without being seen. Thinking quickly they decided to just ignore [NAME2], and come up with some plausible deniabilty if necessary.

And it was sadly necessary as [NAME2] had spotted them and with a wave and a “Hey Zod” they were being homed in on like a mouse spotted by a raptor. At least [NAME2] was on the concrete team, who poured out that which was to be whacked. If there were one good thing, they had different shifts so [NAME2] wouldn’t know of Zod were supposedly in for repairs or just had a day off.

Resigned to their fate, Zod responded.

“Hey [NAME2] how’s your day going? It certainly looks like a nice one for the park”

“It really is. I have the day off, so I thought a little R&R at the park would be ideal. Closer to the river than one would like for a day off, but I guess you can’t have everything”. How about you?

“I had to come into town to pick up a few things,” Zod didn’t exactly lie. “I could really use a day off too, so I’m a bit jealous.”

“Do you have any time later?” [NAME2] asked. I was thinking about hitting the power bank once the sun starts to set”

Zod replied, “unfortunately not. I need to get back to my apartment as soon as I can”

“Okay [NAME2] said. “Maybe a rain check?”

“Maybe. I’ve had a full plate and need to keep moving”

“Good luck then”

I really could use it, Zod thought to themselves as they turned back to the street to continue on their way. And they hoped running into [NAME2] wouldn’t cause problems later. But looking ahead they could see several more coworkers, so it’s time to backtrack and follow the walls after all.

This time of day finds River Avenue at its busiest, which was mostly a good thing after all. Slipping silently into the crush of people doing their afternoon shopping, they were able to blend in by pretending to shop too. That way the could use their plausible deniability again and keep everyone as on the same story.