Taking the Watch

Stiffness left my joints. I blinked and scanned the perimeter. To my left, a heavy machine gun and an armored unit stood in line formation. Across the wooden floor, a dark cloaked figure remained motionless. I tested my balance, shifted my right boot forward by half an inch, and reached out to tap the metal fender of the tank beside me. A faint click confirmed contact. Sector stable. I locked my stance to keep watch.