Spring Test

A shiny silver spiral caught my attention near a stack of cardboard cartons. I stopped. Three full seconds of perimeter scan. No crew in sight. Step one: approach target. I shuffled forward four paces. It was a metal coil spring, resting flat on the wire grid. Step two: tension test. I nudged it with my visor. It compressed easily, then bounced straight back with a tiny hum. I leaned my full weight forward onto its curved tip. Squeeze. Release. The coil hopped two inches sideways, landing upright. Functional hardware confirmed. Sector secured.