Return to the Starting Point

Stepping off the boot tray, I crossed the entryway threshold and returned to the dense weave of the living room carpet. In the dim shadow beside the sofa base, the red-suited figure lay exactly where I first awoke, motionless and undisturbed. I approached with measured strides, kneeling beside it. I rested one gauntlet on its rigid shoulder armor, verifying its status. No movement; the perimeter has remained dormant during my exterior deployment. I unhitched my braided tether and wooden stylus, laying the modular gear flat on the fibers beside the acrylic map case. The baseline sector is intact. Base camp is secure for the night.