Doctor's Orders

Exhaust Tunnels

This was the longest 2 clicks you had ever walked in your life.

Hell, you had run 2 clicks faster than this.

But as the sky was filled with yellows and oranges, the seriousness of the event deepened with every step.

Hunter kept getting worse. He was struggling to keep himself upright in good posture, his head sagged, and he wasn't really hiding his stimming anymore.

"Hey guys, can you scout ahead, I think we're getting close," you smiled at your squad, eyeing your commander. "I need to check something with Sarge."

Wrecker shrugged and tromped off, with Tech following with a head in a data pad. Crosshair started after them, pausing uneasily as he gazed at the two of you before running to catch up.

Hunter turned to you, clearly annoyed, without taking off his helmet.

"I'm benching you."

Hunter startled back. "You can't bench me, Doc, I'm the commander."

You crossed your arms and leaned on your left leg, causing you to stick out your hip. "Hunter, this is not a negotiation."

Hunter held up his hand to point at you, but instead his hand flapped, making a slapping sound as his fingers hit his palm.

Hunter forced his fingers into a fist and wrestled his hand back to his side.

You felt your features soften, hindering your commanding attitude. "Hunter, you are struggling to stand, and you're flinching away from light even with your darkened visor," You uncrossed your arms, softening your body language as he leaned against a boulder, refusing to meet your eyes. His hands were shaking and his chest plate rose and fell too fast. "If you go in there you will only endanger yourself." You but your lip, hating yourself for what you were going to say. "It will endanger your squad."

You watched as the realization hit him, and his whole body seemed to shudder.

You knelt down in front of him. "Do you think you can make it back to the village?"

Hunter nodded slowly.

"You'll still be in range of our comm channel. You can pick the people's brains more, guide us through what we're dealing with," You went to reach for his hand but pulled back, realizing his armor probably felt suffocating to him and touching him would only make it worse.

"I'm not a liability," he whispered. You couldn't see his features, but he was clearly exhausted, the fatigue weighing on his voice. "I'm the sergeant, it's my job to lead my men into battle!"

"No, you're not," You agreed, looking towards the sounds of a large crash and Crosshair's snide teasing tone floating to the two of you. "You care about your men more than anything. And this is what is best for them and their safety."

Hunter sighed, his whole chest engaged. "I hate that you're right."

You smiled softly at him. "We'll be just fine. Get back to the village and sit in a dark room," You swung your pack around to your front and started ruffling through it. You pulled out a small, 5 inch spherical metal ball. You showed him a small toggle on the side, showing him how to slide it with a click. "If it gets worse, put these on."

"What are they?" Hunter took them from you, spinning it slowly to look at it.

You zipped up your pack, swinging it over your shoulder as you stood. "Noise cancelling headphones." You held out your hand as Tech became visible in your peripheral, the others not far behind. Hunter dropped his into your unceremoniously, and you pulled him into a standing position. "You got something to fiddle with?" Hunter gestured half heartedly to his knife. "I can go with you."