The rod was hot in her hand. Her mana was nearly gone again as the last spell ebbed, the damage to the spine encouraged to heal enough that more traditional medicine and supportive care would see the unconscious woman fully recovered. Jessica swooned slightly, steadying herself against the patients cot.

“You’ve overdone it.” Max said as he came up behind her and put his hand on her back to steady her. She swooned again, and he grabbed her more firmly. “Doc!” A doctor in blue scrubs came up to them. “She’s about to pass out. She needs a place to lie down.”

The doctor put a stethoscope to Jessica’s heart and heard the rapid beating. “Exhaustion, both physical and mana related. Dehydration more than likely.” He touched her wrist for a few seconds. “Nurse!” Two nurses appeared as if out of nowhere.

“Get me a clean cot, water, and some of the new rejuvenating food. The lieutenant needs to recuperate before she can see any more patients.” The two ran off and in what felt to Max like an impossibly short time, returned with everything the doctor had asked for.

Max helped Jessica down to the cot. “You’ll be okay. The doc’s will look after you.” Jessica smiled and closed her eyes before stretching out on the cot and going still. “Uh, Jessica? Girl you better not be fooling.”

A nurse put a firm hand on his shoulder and pushed him back slightly. “You can’t be here, sir. You’ll only get in the way.” Max grunted and took a few steps back and out of the square triage area filled with cots. But he kept his niece in his line of sight. He would keep his promise. He’d be with her, for her entire enlistment.

It was well past noon, and the heat was pouring down. The two nurses coaxed Jessica to drink and eat small bits of bread. Except for the magically infused food that aided in mana regeneration, it was standard heat stroke procedure. They put soft cool compresses on her hands and head, and opened her combat jacket so she could cool off more easily. It wasn’t the heat that had done her in, but it definitely had contributed to her state.

Funny, it’s nearly the same thing you do with drunks. Max cracked a smirk at the thought of his niece being too drunk to stand. It kept him from thinking about how he had failed her. He had let her overextend herself, and now she paid the price.

A tall, skinny nurse in blue and white scrubs came up to him and took off her cloth mask. She was Hispanic, Max thought, though he was terrible at guessing that kind of thing. “She’ll be okay. Just needs some rest. We’re putting up some shade polls, and could use your help.” She was trying to give him something to do. It was a kind gesture, and he nodded in agreement.

The nurses brought the tall shade granting tent like structure out to him, and he helped them set it up. As he finished placing it down among the injured, the sound of helicopter blades spinning up hit his ears. He stopped, walked out a few feet, and found them on the other end of the triage.

Transport helicopters took off with another load of civilians, heading back towards the fort. There were dead, but against all odds, most had survived the crash. Max had heard the doctors, nurses, and other response personnel talking about how eerie it was. To Max’s mind, you didn’t look that kind of gift horse in the mouth until everyone was out of harm’s way. Then you investigated. But he wasn’t the disaster relief expert, so he just shrugged and watched the cargo helicopters take off, his own bout of exhaustion hitting him. If he didn’t get some sleep soon himself, he’d end up just like Jessica.

Max looked up just in time to see half a dozen helicopters streaking overhead. They were loaded for bear and ready for a fight. Sleek hulled, and bristling with weapons, looking for all the world like predators on the hunt. Whatever their mission was, it certainly wasn’t patrol or guard duty. They moved with a purpose and radiated hate. Max took his hat off and wiped at the sweet that had been building up. The attack helicopters sped away into the distance, and Max whispered to himself. “Give em hell, boys.”