Night Patrol

I slipped back inside through the lower door seam as the streetlights hummed on outside. The living room lay in near darkness, save for the green standby diode of the automated robotic vacuum docked beside the baseboard. Its dust bin housing was slightly ajar, misaligned by two millimeters. I stepped onto the bumper casing, braced my boots against the edge, and applied deliberate downward pressure with both gloves until the plastic clip locked with an audible snap. The diagnostic indicator flashed once, confirming full contact. Perimeter maintenance complete.