Chapter 82 Proving Worth

Chapter 82 Proving Worth

After the meeting with the Boss, Graves was escorted to the basement where the non-operational generator was located. The journey there was quick, and he was being watched by armed guards. He looked around and saw the generator.

Based on its appearance alone, it seemed to be a new model, probably ten to five years of age. Though, appearance can be deceiving and the fact that he was not really an electrical engineer made the task ahead more daunting. Graves knew that he had to reach out to Blackwatch for an instruction.

But he couldn't do that when someone behind was watching.

Graves glanced over his shoulder and spoke. "Uhm, it's okay now. I'll take care of the generator, you can wait outside."

"The Boss said that I have to keep an eye on you," the armed guard replied sternly, his gaze unwavering.

Graves cleared his throat, trying to sound as professional as possible. "I understand your orders, but I need some space to work effectively. If I'm to fix this generator, I need to concentrate. Every piece of equipment, especially ones as technical as this, requires a specific atmosphere to work on."

Graves continued, "Besides, I'm in a basement with one exit. Where could I possibly go? If I try anything suspicious, you'll be right outside to stop me. And, if I fail to get this generator working, I'm aware of the consequences. Trust me, it's in my best interest to fix it."

He paused, hoping his words had the desired effect, then added, "Your presence is a distraction, and it won't help if the generator remains non-operational. Let me do my job, and I assure you, the Boss will be pleased with the results."

The guard hesitated, pondering Graves' words. After what felt like an eternity, he gave a curt nod, "Fine. I'll be right outside. Call when you're done. And remember, no tricks."

Graves nodded, feeling a small surge of relief as the guard exited the room. He waited for a moment, ensuring he was truly alone, before reaching for his hidden communication device to contact Blackwatch.

"This is Specter-1, I'm at Whiskey Romeo Mike, I need guidance to fix a broken generator in order to get admitted to the camp, over," Graves said in a whisper, not wanting to be heard by the

"Specter-1, this is Blackwatch, we hear you loud and clear. We are fetching an electrical engineer to the command center, standby."

While waiting, Graves tried starting it but there was no luck.

Five minutes later, Graves's radio crackled to life.

"Specter-1, we have an electrical engineer here who has experience in fixing generators. Connecting him to you now," Blackwatch said.

"Hello, Specter-1, this is Engineer Daniels," a new voice cut through. "I need to understand the exact issues with the generator. Can you describe the symptoms?"

Graves relayed the information he had, explaining the generator's silent, non-operational state. Daniels responded with technical questions. "Do you know the model of the generator? And have you noticed if there's any damage or unusual noise when you try to start it?"

"It's silent, no response at all when I attempt to start it, and I can't identify the model yet. But it looks fairly new, probably not more than ten years old," Graves replied, his eyes scanning the generator for any identifying marks or labels.

"Alright. Let's start simple. Have you checked if there's fuel and if the battery is working?" Daniels asked.

"Not yet," Graves responded, swiftly moving to inspect these basic aspects. n.-O(.v-(e)/l(-B(-I(/n

"Okay, do that first. Check the fuel levels and if possible, test the battery's voltage. If the battery is below 12 volts, it's likely dead and you'll need to replace it or charge it," Daniels instructed.

Graves followed the instructions, finding the fuel tank was almost full and the battery dead. "The fuel is there, but the battery is dead," he reported.

"You'll need a new battery or charge that one. But let's move on. Once you have power, check the control panel. Look for any warning lights or error codes. Also, inspect the wiring for any visible damage or loose connections," Daniels continued.

As Graves listened and worked simultaneously, he was careful and thorough

Daniels's instructions were clear, and Graves was able to follow them despite his limited knowledge in this field.

He relayed the information back to Daniels as he went, detailing the condition of the wiring and any visible issues he came across. The communication was straightforward and focused solely on the task at hand – getting the generator operational.

Twenty minutes later, Graves followed the final steps Daniels provided, tightening the last few bolts and ensuring all connections were secure. His hands were greasy, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

"Okay, I think it should work right now," Daniels said. "Turn on the generator and see if it starts."

Graves, with his hands still grimy, moved towards the generator's switch. He hesitated for a moment, then flipped it. The room filled with a momentary silence before the generator rumbled to life.

"Engine's running, Daniels. It's operational," Graves communicated back, relief in his voice.

"Great work, Specter-1. Stay safe," Daniels responded before signing off.

Graves then shut the generator down. It was protocol to test it, but using it continuously would wait until the official command from the Boss. He wiped his hands clean and walked towards the exit to call in the guard.

"What happened, I heard a sound inside."

"That's the generator working," Graves simply replied. "Now, what to do next?"

"Follow me," the armed guard ordered in a gruff voice, his expression unchanged despite the evident success. Graves didn't waste any time and promptly followed him out of the basement.

They made their way back to the office of the Boss, who was still having his way with his women.

"So, is the job done?" The Boss asked, shooting a glance at Graves. "What's the problem with it?"

"The main issue was the dead battery. It had no charge, which is why the generator wouldn't start. Once I identified that, I replaced it. After that, I inspected the control panel and found some warning lights, indicating issues with the wiring. There were a few loose connections, but nothing that couldn't be managed. I tightened them and ensured everything was secure. Finally, after making all necessary adjustments, the generator started smoothly," Graves detailed the steps he took, ensuring he sounded like someone who genuinely knew what he was talking about.

The Boss raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "It's good to have someone like you on our side. Well, since you have proved your worth, you have earned a spot in my camp."

The Boss rose to his feet and walked over towards Graves. Once he was in front of Graves, he looked down on him and extended his hand.

"Welcome to paradise," The Boss said.

Graves shook The Boss's hand. "My pleasure."

"Now show Mr. Jenkins here the fun things we do in the camp."