Could something similar be at work here, like a gravity field, perhaps?

Why did lower gravity fields always seem to take more effort to move around in?

From the energy point of view, therefore, it was outside the Earth's gravity field.

"Even if it has to be in a gravity field, there's one thing I want to experience again before possible death."

Some of our people think it can create gravity fields.

"Fine, the further we are from the gravity field the better."

This can measure changes in the gravity field over time.

It stores up the power I need for running the thing in a type of gravity field.

If I'm not outside to meet them, cut the gravity fields and break in.

The gravity field hit him then, and he didn't fight it.