Installing electronics

After loading everything we need into the back of the pickup trucks and driving to the local shopping centre, we unload the trucks and head back to the electrical store to pick up our cars.

We stop for a quick snack and a drink along the way back before we arrive at the shops where we dumped everything.

As Hailey and I approach the pile of solar panels and other electrical equipment, it occurs to me that I’m not entirely sure how to put these up. ‘How much do you know about solar panels?’ I ask. ‘I built one to see if I could. It worked decently, but these ones are already built, so all we should have to do is prop the solar panels up, solder the output wires together, fiddle with the central junction boxes for the shops we want power in, and we should be good to go.’

I nod, taking it all in. ‘I know my way around a junction box, I should be able to connect them all.’ I reply.

‘I’ll need my tools though.’ Hailey says. ‘You drive back to your house and grab them, I’ll set up a sound system so we can listen to music while we work.’ I say, grinning at the thought.

‘Sounds fucking perfect, see you soon.’ She says, starting her car remotely and getting inside. Her engine roars, the tires spin and her car takes off in a whirlwind of smoke.

I turn back and walk inside the shopping centre. The sliding doors open as I approach.

Inside, it's dark as none of the morning workers have come in to turn any of the lights on. The skylights open to allow some sunlight through, giving the small shopping complex, an eerie, rundown and abandoned feel, despite the fact that the complex is in near perfect condition.

I walk down to one end of the complex, towards Big W. I take a moment to figure out how to unlatch the folding doors to get inside. For some reason, it hasn't been locked up. I wonder why for a moment, then dismiss the thought, realising that it isn't important.

I head to the back of the store, where the electronics are kept. I look for the biggest speakers I can find, hefting them up on my shoulders and carrying them out of the store one by one.

I figure that the complex must have some reserves of power, and we can use those to power the freezers in the supermarket as well as the speakers, while we set up the solar panels.

It'd need a lot of power after all, to power all the lights and things in here, therefore if it does have power in reserve, it stands to reason that it has a lot of power in reserve. And considering we'll only need a fraction of what the complex normally uses to power the freezers and speakers, I reason we should be fine.

I find a few outlets and plug the speakers in, drawing on my sound engineering experience to create a simple audio setup.

I'm just plugging in the last speaker to the setup when I hear the roar of an engine outside. I walk outside and see Hailey shutting the door of her car.

She hefts a huge toolbox out of the boot. I take a step to help her, but notice she's handling it with ease.

She sets the toolbox down next to the pile of electrical equipment. 'Want to choose the first song?' I ask her. She nods, grinning.

I lead her inside to the laptop I hooked up to the system. Hailey thinks for a moment before putting on Flying Whales, by Gojira. 'Nice.' I say. 'Classic.' She replies, cranking up the volume.