His daughter, Ann, gave me a quick tour of the shop. She’s an inventor too - must run in the family.

They gave me free reign to use their machinery, which is an enormous load off my mind. I was starting to question my ability to reconstruct my lab in the dilapidated quaint cabin the town had allotted me upon my arrival.

Ann gave me a brief tour of the workshop, and I left feeling much more confident with my ability to get my business off the ground. Also, with some of the materials I’ll need to begin work on my storage container.

I met up with the owner of the Junk Shop next door. Turns out he’s my father’s cousin. Small world, hmm? Hopefully it won’t be too much of an issue. I explained to him that I might need some supplies in order to build appropriate accommodations to store the materials I’ll be working with.

He seemed to understand. Sometimes it’s good to have connections.

What is it with these yokels friendly villagers and waking me up at 6AM? Go get some sleep, you loons!

This rather large man greets me at the door. He’s a grocer or a ship captain or something. I can’t make heads or tails of what he’s talking about. It’s far too early and I haven’t even put the coffee pot on yet.

He goes on to tell me that he stopped by because he noticed some odd smells around my storage bin. I’ll have to be more careful about where I store my materials. I make a mental note to run by the tool shop later to get some supplies to build something to store volatile components in, away from the prying eyes of local grocers.

I just got here - I don’t need my cover blown that quickly!

The clinic I passed on my way to the mines. Seems like a quaint little place. Just what I’d expect of a town like this.

I’m greeted by a man who just loves to throw around his title - he insists I call him Doctor, rather than his name. I think I see his doctorate diploma framed in that back room over there - plated with gold, perhaps? He might as well paint arrows on the wall pointing to it.

He’s not too happy with me when I explain about the noxious gases I’ve been inhaling lately. He offers a quick check-up - which I pass with flying colors. Phew. I guess it wasn’t a uranium deposit I’d stumbled across after all.

I don’t have the cash up front to pay this guy, so he names a different price. I suppose it couldn’t hurt to hunt for medicinal herbs. They’d be useful in my experiments.

Even though I’ve got a clean bill of health, I’ll store these in the outside tool shed— just in case. I don’t want to be inhaling this stuff in my sleep in the event of a noxious gas leak.

After a few hours of spelunking, I came across a deposit of what looks to be copper ore. Copper is an excellent conduit for wiring. If there’s more where this came from, this town just might be a veritable goldmine for my inventing. Er— well, copper mine.

I probably should have brought my gas mask with me on this trip. I’m not sure what this is, but the gas and smoke it’s releasing has to be carcinogenic. I pocket it anyway for later research. Any damage is already done - but I should probably stop at that clinic I passed on my way here before going home.

Welp. Couldn’t hurt to head over there now— once I regain feeling in my lower back, that is.

Going back to sleep proved unsuccessful with a brand new dog to look after. So long as I’m awake anyway, I might as well gear up and start acquainting myself with the surrounding area.

Fortunately, the mayor was good enough to provide me with some things that might come in handy. Between this and his assurance that I can do whatever I want on my property, I’m starting to suspect he knows more than he’s letting on. Also, that he endorses my experiments. I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth! 

Mining gear in hand, I decide to venture into this hole in the ground. I’ll need ample supplies if I’m to start building.

I’m woken at the crack of dawn by this bumpkin pleasant local. She apparently thinks I’ve signed on to some “plan” or other. I smile and nod. Don’t draw too much attention to yourself, Louis.

Sudden is right! You couldn’t have waited until normal people hours, either? This doesn’t bode well for you, Ellen.

You seem like an excellent judge of character, Miss. Well, since you’re passing this dog off on a total stranger with no regard for where he’s come from or what entanglements he may or may not have had with the law in prior towns, I might as well give him a name.

Yeah, sure. That’ll do. Let him inside— I’m going back to sleep for a few hours.

Thanks, Teddy. By the way, if you hear any loud explosions over the course of the next few however-long-I-can-get-away-with-its, turn a blind eye would you?

Thanks!

This whole waking up before noon thing has really taken it out of me today. I better not throw off my sleep schedule too dramatically - best to doze for a few hours until it’s not quite so morning-ish.

Tomorrow’s the start of a brand new day!

A fresh-faced aspiring mad scientist comes to Flowerbud - looking to start a new life in a small town, free of the prying eye of the law. His tell-tale explosions have been getting him in the trouble in the city - all he needs is a fresh start.

He is welcomed with fanfare. The locals aren’t on to him yet. Frankly, they’re astounded anyone under the age of 75 wants to live here.

My name?

That’s right. I’m looking to purchase the land right next to the Junk Shop. For reasons.

Really? Anything I want? Excellent, Mayor Theodore. I think you and I are going to get along just fine.