[Boat — Open Ocean — Week 2 — 4:50 AM]
Dawn had not yet arrived when Seraph took Alex out on deck.
It was already routine. Five days in a row of the same thing — the cold ocean air, the boat moving underfoot, F1 waiting as it always waited.
"Second phase," said Seraph.
"What changed?"
"Everything." Seraph looked at him. "Activate F1 at thirty percent."
Alex activated it. The pressure behind his sternum. The familiar pain at the exact point where the channel tensed.
"Now walk."
---
He walked across the deck.
F1 at thirty percent while his feet found the boat's balance. The movement of the water below transmitted through the hull, through the deck, through his feet — a new variable that land had never had.
F1 pushed.
Alex held it.
"Faster," said Seraph.
He sped up. The boat tilted slightly to starboard. Alex compensated for the balance.
F1 took advantage of the half‑second of divided attention and pushed harder.
Alex held it again. It cost more.
