Chen Hao lay on the ground, his legs aching so much he didn't want to speak. Carl squatted beside him, his hands still trembling. Susan was placed on a waterproof sheet, her face as white as paper. Nana stood nearby, her mechanical eyes flashing blue as she scanned.

“Susan has cervical spine compression and cannot move,” she said. “Chen Hao has severe calf muscle damage and needs immediate treatment.”

"Then what are you still standing there for?" Chen Hao snorted. "Hurry up and get treatment."

Nana didn't reply, but turned around and removed her back brace. The metal casing clicked open, and she pulled out an adjustable support, attached it to the edge of the waterproof fabric, and gently supported Susan's neck.

"This thing can be used like this?" Karl stared in disbelief.

"As long as it works," Nana said. "Now we need a stable platform. Go and drag over that plastic board over there and put it underneath."

Carl responded and crawled over to move the things. Chen Hao tried to sit up, but as soon as he moved, he gasped.

"Don't move." Nana glanced back at him. "The nerve reflexes in your legs are weakened. If you exert any more force, it will worsen the injury."

"I'm just worried about wasting time," Chen Hao grinned. "If it collapses again, all four of us will be compressed into biscuits."

“Whether it collapses or not is not something you can decide,” Nana said, as she rummaged through her toolbox and pulled out bandages and a bottle of saline solution. “Let’s reduce the swelling first.”

She poured saline solution onto a clean cloth and applied it to Chen Hao's calf. The cool sensation made him flinch.

"Bear with it," Nana said. "You need to reduce the inflammation to recover."

"You make it sound so easy," Chen Hao muttered. "You won't feel any pain."

“I’ll overheat.” Nana said without looking up. “You’re bleeding and inflamed right now, and I need to cool down too. We’re in the same boat.”

Carl laid out the plastic sheet, ran back, and asked, "What's next?"

"You stay with Susan and don't let her turn over," Nana said. "I'll apply pressure bandages to Chen Hao."

She picked up the bandage and wrapped it around Chen Hao's leg, one loop at a time. Her movements were steady, and her pressure was even.

"Have you done this before?" Chen Hao asked.

“There are 372 battlefield first aid protocols in the database,” Nana said. “I just chose the simplest one.”

"Then you should use it sooner rather than later."

“You weren’t injured before.” Nana tightened the last loop. “Now you’re using it.”

Chen Hao was speechless. Indeed, he had been shouting slogans with great enthusiasm when they were digging people up, but as soon as he pulled his leg out, he collapsed.

Susan suddenly snorted and twitched her fingers.

"Is she waking up?" Karl asked anxiously as he leaned closer.

“Maybe.” Nana reached out and checked her pulse. “But we can’t let her move around too much.”

"What if she insists on moving it herself?"

“Then hold her down,” Nana said. “I’d rather she yell at me than let her be paralyzed.”

Carl nodded and placed his hand lightly on Susan's shoulder. Chen Hao watched this scene and sighed.

"Are we saving ourselves or harming ourselves?"

“You’re weighed down by a stone, not stumped by philosophical questions,” Nana said. “Talk less and rest more.”

"I just said it offhand."

“Even casual conversation takes energy.” Nana turned to check the medicine bag. “We have an even bigger problem now.”

She took out a small box and opened the lid. It was more than half empty.

"We don't have any painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, or sedatives," she said. "We only have these few fever reducers."

Carl rummaged through the lining of his backpack: "I slipped and fell while crossing the river, that's probably when it fell out."

"Who even remembered the medicine back then?" Chen Hao said. "Saving lives was the priority."

"The person has been rescued now," Nana said, closing her medical kit. "But there's no cure."

The air suddenly became quiet.

Chen Hao stared at the sky for a long time before finally speaking: "So all that hard work we put into digging them out was just to let them slowly rot here?"

“It’s not a gradual process,” Nana said. “Without medication, Chen Hao’s nerve damage could worsen within twelve hours, affecting his long-term mobility. If Susan regains consciousness and struggles during the process, the risk of cervical spine dislocation exceeds sixty percent.”

“That’s what crippling is,” Karl said in a low voice.

“To be precise, it’s a functional impairment,” Nana corrected, “but you’re misunderstanding the direction.”

Chen Hao raised his hand and touched his leg. It was a little numb, like the feeling of walking on your feet for too long, but deeper and heavier.

"Then what should we do?" he asked.

"Go back to base to get the medicine," Nana said. "Someone has to go back."

“Can you walk now?” Carl looked at her. “Your back is all cracked.”

“I can fix it,” Nana said. “The outer shell doesn’t affect the core system.”

"Then you go?" Chen Hao narrowed his eyes. "If you leave, the three of us will wait here?"

“I’ll take one person with me,” Nana said. “The other two will stay behind to look after the wounded.”

"Who will go with you?" Carl asked.

No one spoke.

Chen Hao looked at his legs, then at Susan's pale face.

"It's fine if either of you goes," he said. "I'm not going anywhere."

“I’ll go,” Carl said. “You’re more useful staying here.”

Nana nodded: "We'll be back as soon as possible."

"Be careful on the road," Chen Hao said. "Don't encounter any new terrain."

“I will avoid dangerous areas,” Nana said. “The round trip is expected to take eight hours.”

"Eight hours?" Chen Hao frowned. "Can Susan handle it?"

"Her vital signs are stable at the moment," Nana said. "As long as there is no second shock, there should be no problem."

"Should?" Chen Hao laughed. "Why are you robots starting to leave trails when you talk?"

“Because there are always variables in reality,” Nana said. “For example, you may be laughing very easily now, but you are actually pinching your left arm with your right hand in pain.”

Chen Hao looked down and, sure enough, there was a red mark on his hand. He let go of his hand.

“You saw right through me,” he said. “But I can still hold on.”

“I don’t doubt your willpower,” Nana said, “but the body isn’t built on words.”

She turned to Carl: "Ready to go."

Carl stood up and dusted off his trousers. He walked over to Nana and slung a lightweight bag over his shoulder.

"Did you remember the route?" Nana asked.

“I’ve got it,” Carl said. “Go up the valley, around the cliff, and through the woods.”

“Yes,” Nana said, “Don’t take shortcuts.”

“Understood.” Carl glanced back at Chen Hao and Susan. “Wait for us to come back.”

"Go and come back quickly." Chen Hao waved his hand. "Otherwise, I'll have to take fever reducers as painkillers."

Nana gave the makeshift medical station one last check. The tarpaulin was secured, the support frame was stable, and the wounded were in a safe position. She walked to the edge, then paused.

“If there’s anything unusual, call them using the communicator,” she said. “Don’t move them without permission.”

"I know," Chen Hao said. "And you two shouldn't fall down on the road."

Nana didn't respond, and turned to leave with Karl. Their figures quickly disappeared behind the pile of rubble.

Only Chen Hao and Susan remained in the recessed area of ​​the rock wall. A breeze blew down from above, carrying a faint smell of dust.

Chen Hao looked up at the sky through the crack. It was gray and hazy, and the time was impossible to tell.

He tried to move his leg, and gritted his teeth in pain.

"Do you think she'll be able to get the medicine?" he muttered to himself. "What if the base is gone too?"

Susan didn't answer. Her chest rose and fell slightly, and her eyes were closed.

Chen Hao sighed and leaned against the plastic board.

"Forget it, there's no point in thinking about it so much," he said. "Anyway, I can't run away now."

He reached into his pocket, pulled out half a flattened compressed biscuit, looked at it, and then put it back.

"Keep it," he said. "You never know, you might need it to stay alive someday."

A slight noise came from outside, like a stone rolling down. Chen Hao looked up but didn't move.

He knew that place wouldn't collapse again. At least not in the short term.

But he also knew that some things were more troublesome than a landslide.

For example, the medicine is not on hand.