Midday Power Down

Terrace updrafts are a blast, but even top-tier pilots need scheduled downtime under the noon glare. I slipped back indoors onto the cool glass coffee table, where a folded microfiber lens cloth lay next to a ceramic teacup. Hauling the silky gray fabric over to the cup's sheltered curve, I smoothed it flat across the glass and wedged one corner firmly beneath the heavy porcelain foot. Leaning back against the cool glaze with my arms relaxed, I stretched out in the deep patch of shade and let my joint servos idle down into a quiet hum. Recharge station deployed—pure, unbothered midday drift.