First Contact

Static release. My fingers flexed against the composite frame in my grip. Joint resistance faded into deliberate movement. I surveyed the immediate perimeter. The terrain beneath my boots was rough, littered with pale fractured stone. Shifting my weight carefully, I nudged a loose pebble with my right boot toe. It tumbled forward and settled against a rock fragment. Tactile feedback confirmed. Equilibrium stable. Senses fully operational. I secured my grip and maintained a steady watch over the open terrain.