Much like the agricultural units, the infirmary had their own sterile tanks for their needs. What those needs were, Soraya never was quite sure. She just new the amount of water varied depending on the week. If there was some attack or danger, then maybe she had to fill more. This week had been remarkable quiet, so she expected to top off the tanks and be done with it.

  “I should warn you that we used up a bit more preemptively since you were coming,” Chloe said, a brief shadow of shame crossing her face. “It won’t be as bad, maybe half a tank, but I’ll be monitoring you to make sure you don’t push yourself too hard.”

  “Half a tank is alright.” Soraya pushed open the doors to the infirmary tanks. These were slightly smaller than the ones for the agricultural unit, except this was all the water they had access to outside of general reserves. The agricultural tanks were supplement and for emergency purposes only (which bothered her more than she wanted to let her niblings or her mother know).

  “Those are new.” Instead of the ladder she expected to see, someone installed a stairway that circled the tanks.

  Chloe shrugged her shoulders and glanced down at the tablet that appeared in her hands. “Someone had them installed this week. We don’t want you fainting into the tanks or coming down from them.”

  Soraya glanced at them and then at her, not sure how to respond. Her mother chimed in before she could say anything. “Let me know who did - if you’re going to be helping the agricultural units so much, then the least they can do is make some too.” Chloe nodded and moved to talk with Maya. They huddled together just at the entrance, leaving Soraya to complete her task.

  She walked up the stairs, with Francis on her heals. She glanced down at her little duckling. The stairs twisted around the tank, stopping so they would be opposite the room entrance. “Want to watch me fill it?”

  “Duh,” Francis said. He clutched her jacket tighter to his chest.

  “Well, then don’t complain about the splashes,” she said when they reached the top of the stairs. She pushed the lid open, the top revealing the half-filled tank. “Ready?” Francis nodded, leaning forward to watch more magic.

  Soraya gathered the energy swirling in her core. The steady thrum in her chest released once more. It pulled deep from the well. Not from her outstretched hand, but not outside of it, the water unleashed in a focused stream. The contact with the water in the tanks splashed backward at them. Francis’ giggle grounded her from getting lost in the sensations.

  Unlike the two tanks before where she felt exhaustion pushing its way through every pulse of energy that created the water, the green motes of light circled her core. Not physical, of course. No one else could see it, but she felt it all the same. Whatever magic Chloe created with her card, her core refined it into something more potent, clearer, cleaner even - and that transferred into the water her Wellspring created.

  Even before it was released, there was a crystal clarity to the anima. She watched it swirl into the tank only to completely disappear. The water was purified now, and probably completely sterile. She wondered if it carried the same energizing properties Chloe imbued in the saline. The water continued to fill the tank, almost silently gaining the ground left to it. Her chest only warmed from the exertion, and by the time the summoned water crested just over the top of the tank, there was only the pleasant exertion she associated with exercise.

  “Awesome,” Francis said, leaning forward to peer into the tank.She shook her hand a few times, droplets flickered outward with small plops into the tank. “I want to do that.”

  “Well, you’ll get your first card in a few years,” Soraya said. “Maybe you’ll get lucky.”

  “That would be awesome,” Francis said, still looking into the tank.

  “All done?” Chloe asked from across the room.

  Soraya nodded as she fixed her sleeve. She nudged Francis away from the tank and let him go down the stairs first. She closed the lid, the thud now muffled by the water in the tank. “Yeah, much easier.”

  “Any fatigue? Nausea? Migraine?” Chloe asked. She moved across the room and immediately began to check her over. A hand went to her forehead while the other went to her neck to check her pulse.

  Soraya laughed, but let her invite her space. She stiffened momentarily before relaxing under her touch. She offered a weak smile, ignoring how her pulse started to race. “I’m fine. That saline did it. Or whatever your card was did.”

  “Earned my second one last week,” Chloe said. She kept her focus on her work, though her eyes flickered to Soraya’s. They were in each other’s space, but neither said anything as Chloe checked her over. “I don’t know how you keep doing it, but you’re okay. Again.”

  “Its annoying,” Maya said. “Just once, I’d like her to slow down.”

  “I’m still trying to figure that out myself,” Chloe said. She glanced down at her tablet, holding onto her wrist. “Your anima is recovering remarkably fast.”

  “Anima?” Fiona asked.

  “It’s what the scientists are classifying the weird energy as,” Chloe said, glancing up to look at her and giving her a smile. “I bet they’ll talk about it in school this week.”

  “Really?” Fiona’s gaze shifted between her and Chloe. “They told us about cards last week.”

  “Really,” she said. She finally let go of her wrist but remained right in front of her. She started tapping away on the tablet, passing through screens. “It is remarkable - likely due to your circuit-card, but I also think it has something to do with how you use your rune-card.”

  “Just lucky I guess,” Soraya said. She held out her hand to Francis. Her nephew slowly handed back her jacket, holding onto it when she tried to pick it up. She did not glare at him but held his gaze. He finally let go, looking away. She wrapped it around itself, giving him a smile as she kept it off. “Not heading out quite yet. We still need to finish our trade.”

  “I think Doctor Cordon was preparing your usual compensation, but we can go check,” Chloe said, still looking down at her tablet. Soraya waited, for her to move but she remained within a hair’s breadth.

  “Doctor?” Soraya said, her voice almost a whisper. Chloe finally looked up at her, their eyes locked before she jumped backwards.

  “Sorry,” she said, blushing widely and refusing now to look at anyone. “Umm....Cordon is probably ready. You can head back out and I’ll meet you in a few minutes. With the pack. I’ll be back with the trade stuff.” Chloe glanced up, her dark hair fell over her face, obscuring her green eyes for a moment before she spun and walked out of the room.

  “Please do not say anything,” Soraya said to her mother, who held up her hands adn smiled at her.

  “I won’t, except that she is very nice.” Maya motioned toward the door. “Let’s go, children.”

  “Nothing’s wrong with Auntie?” Fiona asked.

  “No, I am as good as I was this morning,” Soraya said. She walked slowly over to her supply pack and picked it back up. She carried her jacket but slung her pack over one shoulder. “If I was not ready for the field, Chloe would not let me go.”

  “I like her,” Fiona said.

  “Me too,” Soraya admitted.

  Chloe was good people. Someone that she relied upon when back at the compound. She had an idea of what it was like out in the field, and as much as Soraya could relate to the other rangers, they tended to be too insular for her tastes. She enjoyed her family, and the time spent with them - the rangers congregate together at every given chance. It left her on the outside looking in at times, but only slightly. She was hardly the only ranger with a family to visit when they had their week off.

  And Chloe wasn’t always someone that Soraya could go to. Their discussions were usually on theory, which she admitted to not caring much about, but listened for Chloe’s sake. She knew her powercore was a source of intrigue and fascination, and although not a scientist (at least under the operations purview), Chloe probably tested her abilities more than anything not out in the field.

  Sorarya’s medical file was thick from injuries and from tests. Almost everyone’s file was after they received their cards: Tests for physical and mental changes, stability, responsiveness, even emotional attachments had been recorded to change. When she received her second card, there was another battery of tests. It was repeat of the first series, along with new ones to determine how her cards interacted. She suspected there were more tests the second go around because she spent nearly the entire day in the infirmary after receiving the rune-card.

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  The injuries lists were just an occupational hazard. Nothing that was probably important in the moment.

  “Let’s not keep her waiting,” Soraya said with a wave toward the door. Maya nodded and seemed to understand as she took Fiona by the hand and led her out. Francis grasped her own and she followed.

  The infirmary was slowly being filled. Mostly with check-ins from various staff that would be rotating that day. Rangers were not the only ones on schedules, but the business of the day was why Soraya liked to accomplish her tasks before mid-morning bells. Those had long since passed, and now it was looking like they were approaching the launch time.

  Soraya spotted Chloe over by one of the cabinets. Her hushed conversation with another doctor was not going well, given her harsh hand gestures. As they moved through the beds, Soraya nodded at some people but kept focused on the walk. She could not afford to get waylaid again.

  “-not what we agreed upon,” Chloe spat in a harsh whisper.

  “Doctor Navarro rewrote the order,” the young man said. He must have been new, which was not a surprise given Navarro’s reputation to run through nurses and doctors.

  “Then go tell him we’ll discuss this later, but it is not with what we received from supply,” Chloe waved the man off. He scurried off, giving Soraya a wide berth as he passed. “Sorry about that. And this.”

  “What are you sorry for?” Soraya asked. She slipped her pack off her shoulder and onto an open spot on the table.

  Laid out were a plethora of supplies, more than she thought was worth her time. Three sets of infirmary emergency kits, along with a box of infused wraps, two boxes of protein bars, and a bag. The first three she understood, but the bag was new.

  “You were supposed to receive a few healing vials. They work even better than the emergency kits in a pinch and can be applied directly to the wounds. Not quite as good as us - or you even - but good in a pinch.” Chloe tapped the emergency kits with a trimmed fingernail. “The wraps will help reduce swelling and any joint aches. You know that, because I’ve seen you walking with them.”

  “Guilty as charged,” Soraya said. Those would probably be used up in a day.

  “Of course, these wonderful meal replacements,” Chloe said, tapping a protein bar box. There were a dozen bars to a box, which would be more than enough for the field. “We may have worked the recipe to increase the nutritional benefits.”

  “And the taste?”

  “We’re not miracle workers,” Chloe gave her a weak smile. Soraya barked out a laugh, and the smile bloomed to fill her face.

  “And this, well, there was supposed to be more supplies and a larger one, but at least I can give you this,” Chloe continued, her cheeks now dusted with a light blush as she tapped the bag. “This is probably the newest thing out of the science wing. Or maybe I should call it the magic wing.”

  “Its a bag,” Francis said. He had stepped up to the table to look over everything.

  “Yes, you have your interface with you? Of course you do,” Chloe said. “Anyway, this bag is bigger on the inside.”

  “Really?” Soraya moved beside Francis and picked up the bag. Immediately, she felt a zap of energy connecting the bag with her powercore.

  “You’ll be able to track the supplies through your interface, but anything you put in there, up to a limit, will be held in stasis and weighless.” The bag opened slightly, and Soraya could see only darkness in it. “With the bag now aligned with you - you probably got a shock, that meant it worked - you should be able to put anything up to fifty kilos in it without any adverse effects.”

  “Wow,” Francis pulled on her arm to try and peek inside.

  “Chloe,” Soraya drew out her name, “this is...”

  “Perfect,” Maya said. Her mother had moved behind her and placed a hand on the small of her back. “She means to say it is perfect.”

  “Its not worth the number of points she’s saved us, but it did put a substantial dent in it.” Chloe said, blushing even more now. “You’ve helped us out. This was the least we could do.”

  “I - thank you,” Soraya managed. An urge to hug rose, but she clamped it down. Instead, she reached over the table and grabbed one of Chloe’s gesticulating hands. She gave it a strong squeeze, the slightly calloused hands warm in her own. “Thank you. This...this will be perfect out in the field.”

  “Brand new. And it’s registered to you, and only you. Can’t even trade it if you wanted to.” Chloe moved to tie it to her waist. “Supposedly it is indestructible. I would avoid testing it though.”

  “No promises,” Soraya grunted as Chloe tightened her belt. She blushed as fingers brushed her stomach and her pulse quickened just enough that her powercore felt off track. It righted itself, after a disorienting moment, but it followed her pulse, not the other way around.

  “Bring it back to me in one piece,” Chloe said, glaring at her. “And if you can manage it, get back too. Okay?”

  “Yeah,” Soraya said, “yeah, I can do that.”

  “Glad you listen to someone,” Maya said. She snapped her head over to her mother.

  “Not really, otherwise I wouldn’t have to keep telling her,” Chloe said, stepping back. “Now, you need to get going. And I need to get back to work.”

  “Thank you,” Soraya said. She reached out and grabbed Chloe’s hand. “And thank you.” The words bared repeating over, and over again. Why the good doctor gave her so much attention, she was not sure. Or maybe she did not want to think about it too much. Soraya glanced at her mother who nodded encouragingly. “Maybe we could talk when I get back.”

  “You already promised to stop back in with the bag,” Chloe said, blushing now. “But yes, we can talk. And now I’m really sorry, but I have to go.”

  Chloe gave her a gentle smile, a nod, and let go of her hand. She quickly headed back into the infirmary where other doctors and support staff were weaving through the bed.

  Soraya watched her go before she turned back to the table. “Let’s see how this works. Can you hand me a box Francis?” Her nephew grabbed one of the protein boxes and handed it to her. She gave it back and held open the bag. “Go on.” He pushed the protein box into the opening. The bag slowly widened the opening as the darkness swallowed the protein box whole. Francis let go of the end, and it completely disappeared.

  “Wow,” he stared at the bag. She agreed, that was probably the coolest things she had seen all day.

  “Do you want to try Fiona?” Her niece immediately grabbed another box and repeated they slowly worked their way through all of the items. It probably took longer than if she had done it herself, but letting them help was a way to keep them with her a little longer. They even put the two remaining apples along with the raqina, leaving the rest with her mother.

  “You’re about ready then, aren’t you?” Soraya looked over at her mother and then back down at her niblings.

  “Yeah, unfortunately,” Soraya said. She spotted Chloe leaning over a bed, checking on a patient. There was no time for a proper goodbye. There never seemed to be. “Let’s head to the staging area. The transpos should be out there by now.”

  “You don’t have to get them?” Francis asked.

  “I drive, they prepare them,” Soraya said, “That’s the deal.”

  The hour they spent in the infirmary meant the compound was now completely away. Automules lugged their cargo across the compound. Various supplies and other base materials to be transformed into something useful. Or were cast off by the scientists trying to do whatever they did.

  They walked in a comfortable silence. The morning sun pushed back the chill in the air and it had settled into the warmth she expected from the autumnal months. Only a few more weeks until the winter storms came in off the coast. She stared up at the cloudless sky and took a deep breath.

  The sun was high, the air was clean, and there was the chatter of life around them. “It may not be glamorous or wonderful, but it is ours.”

  “What is?” Fiona asked, but Maya answered for her.

  “This life. It is hard, and it is complicated, but so is life.” Maya squeezed both of her niblings’ shoulders. “We all have a part in this.”

  “That’s why you have to go?” Fiona asked.

  “Yeah, and I always come back. You know this.” Soraya stopped walking when she saw the transpos in a line pointed to the gate. They were just outside the supply depot, forcing the automules to move around them.

  “But what if you don’t?” She knelt in front of Fiona and lifted her chin so she could see her niece’s wet eyes.

  “I’m here,” she tapped Fiona’a chest, “like you are here.” She lifted Fiona’s hand and placed it over her powercore. She forced a pulse of anima through it, and did her best not to grimace at the unexpended power. It backfired within her, the shock painful and disruptive, but she wanted Fiona to feel it, even for a moment.

  “That’s feels funny,” she pulled her hand back, waving it around. “It tingles.”

  “Yeah, it does,” Soraya said. Tingle was putting it mildly, at least for her, but worth it to see her smile again. “And it keeps you and me safe.”

  “You’ll be careful?” Fiona asked.

  Soraya nodded. “As much as I can be.” Tiny arms wrapped around her neck in a tight hug. “Love you more.” She let go of Fiona back to the ground and turned slightly to catch Francis with his own bear hug. The little boy had some of his father’s strength. “Take care of them,” she said, repeating the dance she always did when she left. He was too young for burden, but they all were. He nodded into her neck then let go. He bit his lip to not cry, but she wiped an errant tear anyway. “You always do. Thank you.”

  She stood up and turned toward her mother. “Thank you. Today was a good day.”

  “I hate that you are out there,” Maya said, wrapping her up in her own version of a bear hug. She felt her trying to take some of the burden, some of her weight, but it never worked. It had not worked for years, not even when she first started as a ranger. “Love you more.”

  “Thanks mom,” she whispered back. She gave her a squeeze, stealing some of her strength, and trying to share the little bit of her own before she had to leave.

  “Enough of the goodbyes.” Soraya stepped away from her mother and turned slightly to see one of the rangers standing on the door of the transpos. She rolled her eyes at Kasim. The man had no patience, and less intelligence . “Get a move on Ghosen.”

  “I’ve got to go,” Soraya said softly to her family. Maya took both of her niblings hands in her own to prevent them from running after her. She hefted her bag a little higher on her back and gave them a short wave before walking over to the other rangers.

  Time to clock in.