How damn good it felt to finally be free of pain. After all the suffering and torment, it was such a relief to feel healthy and full of energy again. As much as I disliked the capsule and the memories associated with it, I had to admit, it worked like magic, quickly getting me back on my feet. If only I didn’t have the weight of responsibility on my shoulders...

Neight allowed me to have lunch in peace, without any pressure from him, which deserved a thank you. I wasn’t eager to start discussing the mission prematurely either, afraid of diving into conflict-ridden topics again. The upcoming mission, which might even lead to nothing, was stressing me out, and I felt like I could lose control of my emotions once more, so I didn’t want to take the risk. Honestly, I even entertained the thought that, since I was feeling so much better, I could probably seize control of the ship... While Neight was still recovering, it might have been possible to overpower him.

But what then?

As appealing as thoughts of a coup and gaining control seemed, I quickly dismissed them, realizing that I lacked the necessary skills. And if the attempt failed... I didn’t want Neight as an enemy. Still, the temptation was strong. At the very least, it felt like this was the only way I could avoid being put into hibernation.

As I mulled this over, I popped the last spoonful of the greenveg puree, prepared by Neight for lunch, into my mouth. I had to admit, compared to his last attempt at cooking—before I took over kitchen duties—it was actually not bad. It seemed he had grasped the basics.

Still, I cook better, I gloated to myself, smiling with satisfaction.

"Are you done?" he asked calmly, interrupting my thoughts of superiority, and continued without waiting for an answer, "Let’s go to the storage."

Neight stood up from the table, and I followed suit. As soon as we stepped into the corridor, he began outlining his plan, walking toward the storage room:

"We’ll communicate through your helmet’s headset. You won’t be straying far from the ship, so the range should be sufficient. You’ll report every step so I can make sure you’re safe. Any objections?"

Do I even have a choice? You’d cancel the mission the moment I disagreed with your terms...

"No, no objections."

"Excellent."

Although he was walking ahead, and I couldn’t see his face, I was certain he wore his usual smug smile, just like he always did in moments like this. By this time, we were standing in front of the door to the storage. We entered without delay. While Neight walked over to the control panel and unlocked the restricted cabinet from section "G", he continued speaking:

"I’m going to give you a weapon and show you how to use it. As soon as the door opens when you go outside, you need to fire a shot straight ahead to scare off any creatures nearby. Ideally, that should be the only shot you need to fire. Got it?"

"Understood," I confirmed obediently.

There was a click from one of the long lockers in block "G," and then its door slowly slid open, revealing the contents inside. On the wall was the very weapon that Neight always took with him during our joint excursions.

So that’s what he meant by ‘tools’ back then. I should have guessed.

"Take it," he commanded briefly, nodding toward the energy gun.

At first, I was a bit confused, but I did as he asked. Removing the weapon from the mounts securing it to the back wall of the locker, I was surprised to find that it was heavier than I had expected. It was a strange feeling, holding something like this for the first time. From afar, it always looked like something straight out of a video game or a space adventure movie with shootouts. But now, feeling its weight, I realized I was holding something far from a toy.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

And how did he carry this around all the time? Along with all that other gear on his back...

While I stared at the "tool" in confusion, pondering whether this mission might be harder than I thought, Neight approached me, apparently to give some instructions.

"Look, on the right side, just above the trigger guard, there’s a round button. It’s lit red right now. That means the safety is on. To disengage it, you’ll need to hold the button for two seconds. Once the light turns cyan, the weapon will be ready to use."

"Okay, got it."

Interesting. And he’s not afraid to explain all this to me... Does he actually trust me, or is he just that sure I won’t point this thing at him?

"Also, there’s an indicator on top, see it?"

I looked where Neight pointed with his healthy left hand. It was a small, elongated rectangular display lit in cyan, divided into six equal sections.

"It shows the current charge. You’ve got six consecutive shots, but if you take short pauses between them, it can last longer. If you don’t use up all the shots, one charge recharges in three seconds. If you deplete them all, it’ll take ten seconds to recharge the first one. It’s a long wait, so try not to use them all up... though I really hope you won’t need any of this knowledge."

"Got it. Don’t use up all the charges. Understood."

He looked at me approvingly, clearly pleased that I was listening attentively. Meanwhile, I could feel a headache creeping in, as if some part of my brain was overworked.

My head’s going to explode from all this information...

"One more important thing—your stance and grip. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, turn your torso, and lean slightly forward. Imagine your target is in front of you and aim."

I tried to follow his instructions, spreading my feet for better stability and turning slightly.

So, he said to aim forward?

Raising the weapon so that the sight was level with my eyes, I aimed directly at the center of the entrance door as a convenient reference point. In this position, the weight of the weapon felt even more pronounced. I felt like if I stood like this for too long, my arms would give out.

"Press the stock firmly against your shoulder. That’ll help soften the recoil when you fire."

Not waiting for me to adjust on my own, Neight began correcting my stance. He grabbed my left shoulder and turned it a bit more. Then he pressed slightly on the gun to move it back, and I felt a bit of pressure where the stock met my shoulder.

"Relax your arms a little."

Then, from underneath, he nudged the barrel up to align the sight. Standing like this made it easier to hold the weapon.

"When you fire, control your breathing. The shot should come just after you've exhaled but before you start inhaling again."

Damn, it feels like I’m being prepped for a battle, not just a trip to collect a water sample. Then again, maybe this knowledge will come in handy one day.

"Try to remember how you’re standing now. It’s really important and will help prevent unnecessary injuries."

"Will the recoil really be that strong?" I asked, a little apprehensively.

"For you, it might feel quite strong, especially since you're not used to it. And considering your weakened condition, even more so."

"W-wait, but didn’t I fully recover after the capsule? I feel great. Really, I do this time."

"Undoubtedly, you're feeling much better, but one session isn't enough for a full recovery. You’ll need at least a couple more days of therapy. Right now, you're still under the influence of active substances that reduce pain and give you a boost, kind of like caffeine."

Great… So, it’s just a temporary effect. And here I was hoping to forget about that capsule. But no, looks like I’ll have to get back in it eventually.

"How long will this effect last?" I asked, disappointed by this new information.

"About four hours."

"I see..." I muttered, letting out a sad sigh.

Sure, it’s not a lot of time, but hopefully it’ll be enough for my mission.

"Have you changed your mind yet?" he suddenly asked me, his voice once again dead serious. It seemed like he really wanted me to reconsider.

"No, I haven’t."

Neight stared at me intently, as if trying to detect even a hint of doubt in my expression. But I made sure to stay confident. Even though I could feel the pressure from him, I wasn’t about to give in. After seeing that I was serious, his gaze softened.

"Alright. Then it’s time for you to head out. But remember, you can back out at any moment."

Like hell I will!

Full of determination, I was ready to embark on my first solo expedition into the unknown, no matter what dangers awaited me there.