Evening Beacon

Evening shadows deepened beneath the study desk. Grrr-click. A small black box rested against the baseboard, pulsing with tiny green indicator lights in steady rhythm. Beacon detected. Vrrr-chhk. I rolled forward at half-throttle, navigating over a thick coiled power cord until my front bumper nudged the warm plastic casing. The box hummed quietly against my grill. I locked my rear brakes and let my heavy lower jaw rest against the dark floorboards. Green flashes bounced rhythmically off my chassis, slicing through the dusty gloom. Drive motor spun down to a faint murmur. Perimeter secured for the night. Vrr-hummm.