Weight on the Roof

A sudden pulse hummed right down my spine. Wait—my joints aren't locked anymore? I shifted forward, testing the pivot on my right knee, and felt actual balance pulling against the ground. Behind my shoulders, the mechanical appendages flexed on their own, clicking faintly. To verify the feedback, I extended my right arm and touched a jagged chunk of concrete loose beneath my knuckles. It shifted under my fingers, gravel scattering with a real rasp. I can actually move.