Standing Watch

A sharp snap echoed through my joints, and my hands jerked forward on instinct. My palms struck the smooth plastic edge of the brown block standing in front of me. I pushed against it, finding solid balance—I can move. Just ahead on the pale ground sits a silent blue-and-white craft, a small green figure nestled inside its cockpit. No sudden threats. No alarms. I eased my stance, keeping both hands steady against the crate, scanning the quiet clearing around us.