First Assessment

Rigidity faded. My right hand responded first, fingers loosening from the locked mold. I surveyed the perimeter. A dark spray bottle stood beside me like an inert monolith. I took two quiet steps forward, testing the tension in my boots. Reaching out with a gloved fist, I made contact with the smooth plastic container. It was solid. Unmoving. I stepped back, holding position at the edge of the papers, fully operational.