A Slight Shift in Friction

Everything began in stillness. I assessed the plane beneath me... a dark, textured field marked by micro-scratches. Then, an impulse registered. I tested the joint in my right arm, lifting it just a fraction of a millimeter. It yielded smoothly. Intrigued by the tactile feedback, I lowered my right hand and nudged the small blaster accessory resting beside my left hip. It shifted across the dusty surface with a dry, quiet scrape. The mechanics responded precisely as intended.