The aftermath of the battle was chaotic, the smoke and debris making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. Jack coughed, his throat raw from the smoke, as he looked around for his comrades. He found Maria and Chris first, both of them battered but still standing. Maria's mecha suit was dented and scorched, evidence of the fierce battle they had just fought. Chris was bleeding from a gash on his forehead, but he still held himself with the same quiet confidence that Jack had come to admire.
"Are you two okay?" Jack asked, his voice hoarse.
"We're fine," Maria replied, her voice slightly distorted by the speaker in her suit. "What about you?"
"I'm good," Jack said, nodding towards Chris. "But Chris needs medical attention."
Chris waved him off. "I'll be fine," he said, his voice steady despite the blood running down his face.
