First Assessment

Silence. A low hum in the dark. I tested my right gauntlet. The joint bent without resistance. I leaned forward, shifting my weight against the folded maroon fabric beneath my boots. Next to me sat another figure in red and blue, completely motionless. I reached out and pressed one gloved knuckle against its shoulder. Solid. Unresponsive. A quiet perimeter. I pulled back, settled against the white baseboard, and continued my watch.