Grip and Balance

Stillness first. My right hand was raised behind my head, gripping a dark hilt. Tension ran through the joint. I paused. Calculated. Then, I eased my fingers, rotating the wrist precisely two millimeters. The plastic clicked—clean, responsive. Next, I tested my stance. Shifting weight from left to right, I pressed my foot into the floor and tapped the edge of the black box beside me. Solid friction. Zero recoil. I am fully operational.