“So who’s Sea Swirl, Ma’am?” The guardsman says as he pushes forward on the throttles, the twin outboards starting to move the boat through the waves.

Groaning softly, Fleur lay in the bed under the foredeck. The bed actually fills most of the bow of the boat, so there is more than enough room for her with her long legs.

“I don’t want to give you any medicine, I don’t know how you’d react to something like Gravol.” Jenny says, “I’m willing to bet you’re dehydrated though. Think you can keep some of your drink down?”

Fleur nods and sighs softly, “Thanks for the help, Swirl.”

“That’s the second time you’ve called her that.” The guardsman says, looking down as he slides the cooler closer to the door.

Looking in the cooler Jenny giggles, “It could always be the sweets, I don’t know about unicorns, but too many sweets make me queasy also.” She stops and looks at Fleur, “Who’s Swirl?”

“I… I don’t know any Swirl.” Fleur says, blinking and taking a sip of juice.

“You’ve called Jenny Swirl, and Sea Swirl.” The Guardsman says as he turns the boat, trying to ease the motion somewhat.

“I haven’t, have I?” Fleur lifts her head, looking at Jenny, then at the guardsman.

Jenny blinks and holds out a hand, “Hi, Jenny Mathews, CGIS.”

Blinking, Fleur looks at the offered hand, “Am I supposed to sniff it, nuzzle it or lick it?”

“Oh um, right, sorry, how do you greet a pony?” Jenny asks, putting her hands in her lap.

With a weak giggle Fleur looks up, “Some do shake hooves, I was joking. Umm, If I’m calling you the wrong name this could be serious.”

“What do you mean?” The Guardsman says, “Like your having a stroke serious?”

Shaking her head, Fleur lets out a soft sigh, “No, it’s one of the signs that the curse is wearing off on somepony.”

“Curse? Like in magic thingy?” The guardsman says with a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Jenny facepalms, “You’re speaking with a talking unicorn. And magic gives you issues? No, I read about this, I had to pull teeth to get it but, the ponies were sent to Earth by means of a curse.”

“And one of the first signs that we know of, that the curse is wearing off is the real names start coming out. Ponies, especially ponies who knew each other, would start calling each other by their pony names. This happens on, or possibly very, very, close to their twenty-fifth birthday. The next part is their cutie mark appears.” Fleur says.

“Cutie Mark, you seriously call it that?” The guardsman asks with a chuckle.

Fleur blinks and giggles, “No we call it this.” Shifting to Eponese, she says “Cutie Mark” before returning to English, “It just translates to that in human tongue.”

“The Captain took her out today because it was her birthday, sort of a birthday present to get her some sea time for agent afloat status on a cutter.” The Guardsman says with a chuckle, “Be funny if it was her 25th.”

“It… it is.” Jenny says. Looking at Fleur, then down at her hip.

“Umm, as long as you don’t have a mark that’s appeared on your hip you’re fine. If its something like diamonds…” Fleur blinks as Jenny slowly lowers the side of her fatigues, looking at her hip.

Gulping slowly, Jenny looks at the two dolphins on her hip then back at Fleur. “Does this mean…”

“Hi Sea Swirl.”

***

“Mommy, mommy! Can I haz it?”

Looking over I see the girl holding the plush toy up to her mother. Hope in her eyes at the wonder of a stuffed pony. Letting out a sigh, I look at my sides, I’m not really showing but I know.

Turning, I push the cart down the isle, looking at the prices of the food on the shelves I sigh softly. Its funny, walking on my hind legs pushing the cart just feels weird. Its something humans do all the time and I’ve seen ponies do it in the show but…

Picking up a bottle of vitamins, I check the label. Henry says I should start taking these to help with the pregnancy. Putting them in the cart I keep walking. I still keep checking my phone for my bank balance. Maternity leave, no combat pay, taking care of Feather, Candy and Cloudy, I’m down to barely anything in my account until the next paycheck. Living hoof to mouth, check to check can be hard at times, especially when you're raising a family.

I find myself looking at the fresh produce longingly, it’s winter and the prices are all so high these days. I really wish I could afford fresh, but I can’t right now. Lowering my head, I walk down the aisles, just getting the basics, a quart of milk, bread, some cereal, peanut butter. Pasta and canned pasta sauce, it’s cheap, filling, and should do for two or three meals till our paycheck is deposited.

Stopping at the cash register, I find myself looking at the magazines and papers. ‘Real Live Ponies` in the Enquirer, the real media seems to still be ignoring our existence for the most part. Looking at the picture they have a pony painted up like a ‘my little pony’ saying ponies are real and amongst us.

“Miss? Miss?”

Looking up at the cashier, I sigh, “Sorry, lost in thought.” Carefully I unload the items onto the belt then lay my muzzle on the basket handle, watching the price.

“That will be $35.59, would you like to donate five dollars to the children’s help fund?” The teller asks.

Cringing I look back at my phone at the bank account. “Umm.” Looking at what I have, I sigh softly. Well what Henry doesn’t know won’t hurt me. “Could you put this back?” I say, lifting the vitamins out of the bag.

“Not a problem, that will be 25.60.” The teller says with a smile, at least she didn’t ask about the five-dollar donation again.

“Thank you.” I say smiling and put the groceries into my saddle bag. “Gotta keep the foals fed.” I whisper. I put my best smile on my face as I trot out. I need to get lunch on for the herd.

A few shoppers behind me, Helen sighs, picking up the bottle of vitamins and looking at it. Shaking her head slowly she adds it to her own grocery items.

***

“But I can’t be, I can’t be a pony!” Jenny shakes her hands, looking back and forth. “I have human parents, I was born, I grew up.”

“Jenny calm down, breathe.” Fleur says.

“Hold on!” The Guardsman calls out as the boat rolls sideways a little bit, followed by a thud.

“Jenny, relax, remember it’s the curse ending. You were always a pony, just cursed to be human.” Fleur says softly.

Tying off the boat, the guardsman kneels down, looking in the door, “Look maybe there’s some kind of cure.”

Blinking, Fleur looks up, “No… a cure would mean this was some sort of disease, or wrong in some way.”

“Well people have been trying drugs and surgery.” The guardsman says, “Maybe something will work for you Jenny.”

Flattening her ears, Fleur narrows her eyes, her nostrils flaring as she moves, getting up a little bit. “Those tests were criminal. I’ve seen the aftermath of those tests and the lives they have cost.”

“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t know.” Backing up, the guardsman holds both hands up defensively.

Nodding, Fleur turns back, looking at Jenny, “Don’t worry, there are some educational videos we can have you watch. There’s also counselling and support out there for you. I’m not going to say its not going to turn your world upside down. Trust me, it is, but once you get used to it…”

“Used to it?!?!” Jenny looks at her hands, “What about my family, my friends?”

Lighting her horn, Fleur floats her phone over, pulling out the stylus. “Anthony, dear, could you be so kind as to send me anything we have on Sea Swirl, cutie mark is a pair of dolphins in a ying yang formation.”

“What’s going to happen to me?” Jenny says in a panicked toned.

“That will all be covered in the video, don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt at all. And just think, at least your staying female, there are girls that turned into stallions and boys that turned into mares.” Fleur says.

“But…” Jenny starts before getting her head bonked once by Fleur’s horn.

Fleur looks at her sternly, sticking a cellphone in her hands, “Here you go.”

Jenny blinked a few times, holding the cellphone before slowly touching the image, “That’s… me?”

“Yep, Sea Swirl. Unicorn, apparently so woohoo. You get to go to boot camp.” Fleur says with a giggle.

“She’s…” Jenny sits for a long moment looking at the picture.

Fleur blinks, tilting her head, “She’s what?”

“Beautiful…” Jenny says softly.

“Come on, I’m still feeling weak, woozy, and tired, I need to refuel.” Nuzzling and pushing Jenny out the door, “Where’s the closest IHOP?”

Shaking her head vigorously, Jenny blinks, “IHOP? Are you crazy?”

“Crazy nothing, its tradition, unicorns hit the IHOP for energy.” Fleur says, nodding, “You’ll come to understand in a few days.”

“But, but, but…” Jenny protests as she keeps getting pushed by the unicorn towards the rental car.

Looking back, she smiles at the Guardsman, “Thank you for everything, you were a true lifesaver, Ra-Ra.”

Getting into the car, Jenny buckles herself in. Blinking and looking at Fleur, “Wait, did you just call him Ra-ra?”

“Did I?” Fleur asks with feigned innocence, “Find me the nearest IHop.” She says to the cars navigation system.

“Does that mean he’s going to turn…? Jenny blinks looking back at the guardsman who is checking his hip.

“Nope, but after his cure comment, I figured I’d give him something to fret over. You can tell him the truth later.” Fleur says as she starts driving down the street. Pancakes are calling and her stomach can’t wait.

***

“Thanks for coming Moon Shadow.”

Moon Shadow bows her head gently, “Your welcome. I know its hard for some ponies and people to reach out for help like this.”

Ballad lowers her head and sighs, “I don’t know if I’m just dumb, or what, I just can’t remember enough about Equestria, every other pony knows what their special talent, their cutie mark means.”

Eric shakes his head, “You are not dumb, the curse just hit you harder then others, and you haven’t had as much time in familiar situations.”

“He’s likely right about that, most ponies remember what their special talents are because they find themselves doing it again.” Moon Shadow says softly.

“So what’s going to happen?” Ballad asks timidly.

Smiling, Moon Shadow shakes her head, “We are just going to visit your dreams, see if we can find a link back to Equestria and from there see what we can find out about you.”

“Will it… hurt?” Ballad asks, looking at her horn.

“Not in the slightest. Its safe.” Moon Shadow murmurs softly.

“And Eric can come too, to help right?” Ballad says, opening her eyes wide and innocent.

“Yes, Eric can come too.” Moon Shadow laughs, “All we need if for you two to go to sleep and we can start the process.”

***

Helen walks in and sits down on a chair beside Mindy, putting down a bottle of vitamins beside the mare. Propping up her chin with a hand, she looks at the party unicorn. The glow of the computer highlighting her mane and muzzle as the mare turns her head to look back.

“Gee thanks, though I still have over a months supply left.” Mindy says, looking at the bottle, “And yes I’m taking them every day.”

“Twilight Velvet was buying groceries; it looks like she didn’t have enough money to afford them.” Helen huffs, “I don’t like the idea of someone not being able to afford things like this. Any idea what’s going on?”

Mindy blinked, “I hadn’t heard about her having money trouble but she doesn’t talk about it.” Turning, Mindy hums and starts typing on the computer. “Ugh, you don’t make much in the army. Most of it seems to come from benefits and field pay, all of which she loses while on maternity leave.”

“She’s taking care of three foals with no money, and more worried about them than her health. That’s not right.” Hellen huffs again.

Mindy looked up, “She’s a mother.”

“True. But still, we need to get a care package together for her, some way to help without it feeling forced.” Hellen says.

“It’s kind of sad, she spent years in the EUP as a reserve officer, and now she’s doing the same job and can hardly afford to feed all the ponies she’s taken in.” Mindy says, “Lets get a care package together, Gift cards, shopping cards for household goods. But at the same time I want to see if I can figure out how to get her… paid… for all the work she does and has done.” Mindy says.

Mindy’s computer beeps several times, causing Hellen to giggle, “It’s upset with you.”

“Oh just emails, I just got a few messages from my… Oh Celestia…” Mindy blinks reading, following links.

“What’s wrong?” Hellen says, leaning forward, noticing the sudden change in look on Mindy’s face, along with her normally poofy mane flattening out a little bit.

“Lieutenant James Sanders, an officer in the USAF is in critical condition after a plane crash.” Mindy flips links, “He put his plane into a dive to avoid hitting some pegasi and bellied into the runway.” Looking at Helen, “This guy was well known with the ponies, flying what he affectionately called Pony Air Two.”

“Is he going to make it?” Hellen asks, her face showing how worried she is.

“Don’t know, if he does he’s unlikely going to be able to walk let alone fly again, says he’s in full body restraints due to spinal injury. He helped fly hundreds of ponies around the USA and world, for medical treatments, for training, or just to help them get around when conventional airlines would not work.” Mindy blinks, “I spent time with him, he joked around about not getting his mark because he was born to soon.”

“What about the ponies he avoided?” Helen asks.

Mindy shakes her head, “Don’t know, they flew off. No other pegasi were nearby to try and track them down.”

Hellen blinks, “Where did this happen?”

“About… 500 miles from here. I’m going to check with Dr. Ray, see if he can help.” Mindy says.

“I’ll talk with the local pegasi, see if they know anything. I’d hate to think someone here caused that. But first, I’ll throw together a care package for Velvet.” Helen says, standing up and taking the bottle of vitamins.

***

“Don’t forget you have practice with Lyra today at four.” The mare calls out from the kitchen, hearing the hooves clatter down the stairs.

“Moooom…You don’t have to remind me.” The unicorn says as she hits the floor, her horn lit as she runs for the door. In response the door opens for her and her scarf forms a line at neck height in front of the door.

“Did you clean your room?” The mare calls almost with a giggle at the sound of annoyance in the unicorn’s voice.

“Yes mom…” The scarf hits her mid neck, wrapping itself around her, then the door slams behind her. She’s free at last.

It’s a bright sunny day, with only a few clouds in the sky. Light snow had fallen the night before, but the streets are relatively clean. There is only a light chill in the air. Flicking her ear, once she prances down the street, humming to herself.

“Wait up!” Amethyst Star breaks into a full run to catch up to the other unicorn. “What’s got you in such a hurry?”

“The trains coming in!” The unicorn says, laughing and running.

“Oh you just like seeing those big working stallions don’t you.” Amethyst says laughing as she runs beside the other unicorn. “I’m surprised your mom lets you.”

Sticking her tongue out the unicorn laughs, “No silly, the books I ordered are in!”

“Why can’t you just get them from the library?” Amethyst asks.

“Because the library doesn’t have them. I had to special order them.” Laughing, she thumps her body against Amethyst, “Sides, what if I WAS going to look at the stallions?”

“Your mom would have a fit and say you are too young.” Amethyst counters, laughing.

“Oh come on, I’m not much younger than you.” She laughs, “Don’t make me tell your mom on you and your little date.”

“You wouldn’t dare…” Amethyst says, nostrils flaring a bit.

“Nope I wouldn’t.” The unicorn says, sticking her tongue out and flicking her tail as she prances into the station. “Hi, did you get them?”

“Oh hello there, little filly. In for todays order?” The old stallion at the station says, looking down through his glasses.

Puffing out her cheeks she stomps a hoof, “I’m not little, I have my cutie mark, see!” She says as she growls. She turns sideways to show off that mark.

“Yes, I see, it's there as always. But you shouldn’t rush to grow up. You should enjoy your youth while you have it.” Chuckling, he puts three books on the counter. “To many foals these days try and rush to grow up, not realizing what they will lose.”

“I know, I’m sorry sir.” Carefully reaching into her bag, she pulls out some coins and puts them down on the counter. “Here you go.”

“All’s in order just sign here and the books are yours.” The stallion says.

With the glow from her horn and a flourish, she quickly signs her name and runs out, the books are falling into her pack.

“Now where are you off to?” Amethyst says, turning and chasing after the hyper teen.

“To the park! I want to try this.” Laughing, she looks up at the Golden Oak library, “I wish they would get more music books.”

“Why don’t you just ask them to?” Amethyst says, huffing and puffing as she catches up to the teen and runs beside her.

“Wow you are nuts, asking a princess for something so menial?” Slowing to a trot, she looks around the park and smiles.

“True, heck since she came to town I can’t even get an organizer's job.” Amethyst says and sits down on the ground with a huff.

Giggling softly the unicorn climbs up onto the bench, “You don’t think that you were days late completing Winter Wrap-up for three years in a row had anything to do with that?”

“Hey its not my fault, you try telling Rarity to hurry up with anything.” Amethyst grumbles and kicks a rock.

Closing her eyes, the unicorn lights her horn, the magic reaching out and calling her musical instrument to her. It isn’t flashy, it isn’t special, her mom had found it for her used. But it is hers. Most concert lyres were seven string, but this is something special, it is a 23 string solo lyre.

“You still have that old thing? I thought you were going for the concert hall route.” Amethyst says, tilting her head.

“That’s what mom wants, and concert hall is fine for money. But its not me, its not who I am. Consider: As part of an Orchestra, I’m part of a whole, one note in a sea of music. No note is more important than another, but all are needed to bring about harmony. That’s fine and all, but; When I play for my friends or myself, when I play just here, I can bring out the true power of my music. I can make my instrument sing and carry all of my feelings and emotions.” Smiling softly, she looks down at her cutie mark, “I feel like I can live up to my cutie mark, and my name, whenever I play a Ballad.”

***

Humming softly, I add the pasta sauce to the spaghetti, then cover with a little cheese. Smiling, I put a plate in front of each of the foals. “Here you go, dinner time.”

Looking at the bowl, Feather sighs and looks back up at me, “You hate me, don’t you?”

Blinking, I take a step back in shock, “What do you mean?”

“I have YET to figure out how to twirl spaghetti with hooves,” Feather says and giggles, smiling, “Hope you don’t mind slurping.”

“Oh this is going to get messy quick, I can tell. Well, you need a bath anyway.” I smile at the foal.

“Sure thing, mom.” Feather says and gets to work on dinner with the twins.

Hearing a tap at the front door I wash my hooves off, it’s a meaningless gesture, I use my magic for everything, but some how it just feels right. Turning, I trot over and open the door. Strangely, most just walk in, rather than knock, its rare.

“Hello Mrs. I never figured it out, is Twilight your first or last name?” A human woman is standing there, smiling.

“That’s good cuz I haven’t figured out. I actually think it’s the first name which is the family name, like the Apple Family, the Orange family. Meaning you have the Twilight Family and the Rainbow Family.” I say smiling.

“I’m Helen Shaw. Mind if I come in?” she asks politely.

“I remember you, sure thing and feel free to call me Velvet.” I say, moving aside, “I was just putting dinner down for the young ones.”

“Your taking care of three?” Helen says as she sits down on the sofa.

“Well kind of. Candy was a grad student and storm chaser, he never made a lot of money and had student loans. Cloudy worked odd jobs at fairs, seasonal worker, and Feather, well… None of them really had any savings, and their jobs didn’t carry over with the change. Since they are too small to work, and haven’t even found their special talents yet. I’ve sorta adopted them.”

“Some of the stores around here are trying to lure in pony customers. They are trying to build a self sufficient client base and such.” Hellen says, smiling, “Since you’re new here and with a lot of ponies in this house, I’ve gotten together a selection of gift cards and coupons.” Smiling Helen holds out a small basket. “They are all vying for a portion of the pony market around here.”

“Why us?” I say, looking through the basket at the cards, “Oh come on, there must be like 500 dollars worth of stuff in here. Shouldn’t you save this for some pony in need?”

“You mean like the twins? or Feather?” Helen says with a smile, “Since your shopping for them, and likely other ponies here, I figure you’d be able to buy their stuff too.”

“I don’t feel right about this.” I say looking down and sighing.

“Don’t feel right about the stores trying to attract customers? Do you want them to go out of business?” Helen says, feigning shock.

“Not what I meant and you know it.” I say and huff. “I just don’t like the idea of me getting something that should be going to help others.”

“I could have given it direct to the foals but they would be hard pressed to reach the till. The drug stores also got an offer in there, for no name brand vitamins, kids version and adults. I haven’t tried them, but good luck getting foals to take them.” Hellen says with a laugh.

“I don’t know what to say, there’s like a month’s worth of stuff in here.” I say with a sigh.

“Say you’ll support the local shops. And try to settle in a bit.” Helen says as she stands up, “And I have to go, I have to pick some stuff up for my family.”

***

“What am I going to do?”

“Eat banana pancakes.”

“What am I going to tell everyone?”

“That banana pancakes are good… eat banana pancakes.”

“How am I going to survive?”

“On banana pancakes.” Fleur smiled and holds a fork with pancakes dripping in syrup in front of Jenny’s mouth.

“And what is it with you and pancakes?” Jenny says, ignoring the stares of people in the IHOP.

Fleur smiled, “Okay, one of the first things you’re going to learn, before your brains start leaking out of your ears, is that magic takes energy, lots of energy. Now, since us unicorns are veggivores. Ok, so we can have eggs, cheese and milk, we are still veggievores.”

“So, its high protein foods? High sugar foods? Well that explains all the cake and cupcakes in the show.” Jenny says and huffs. A second later she puts her hands up as stars and sparkles fill her eyes. The camera flash had gone of close enough to blind her a moment.

“Is she yours? How did you stick the horn on her?”

Shaking her head vigorously she covers her eyes, “Who… what? No she’s not mine.” Jenny fights to get her sight back, seeing some tourists looking at Fleur.

“Does she do tricks?” One asks.

Fleur looks innocently at Jenny and then whinnies once, followed by a light snort.

“Oh don’t give me that missy.” Jenny says and just starts laughing. “If you were trying to hide, you won’t be in an IHOP.”

Tilting her head, Fleur lets out a cute and innocent squeak, tilting her head, her ears perking.

“Fine…” Huffing, Jenny bites into her pancakes and blinks “These are good.”

With a nicker that almost sounds like a laugh, Fleur looks at her smugly.

***

Hill Air Force base is not equipped for trauma or burn cases. The medics did what they could, to stabilize the Lieutenant, but their first choice is medivac. With Nellis Air Force base being the best choice it takes less than an hour before Lieutenant Sanders is in surgery.

He ends up being in surgery for nearly fourteen hours, though with high percentage of burns on his body, the doctors are not hopeful. His Baux score, a method doctors use to judge the chance of survival of burn patients, show he does not have the best percentage of living through the treatments. Though the world is changing, so they are taking a chance and hoping.

Hoping for a miracle. Stranger things have happened in this day and age. Dragons, unicorns, pegasi, talking horses, magic in the world. So the doctors work for hours to keep him stable and alive.

“This is the place.” Mindy says as she trots up the stairs and looks around. “This is a fair sized hospital.”

“Slow down a bit Mindy, I don’t want you charging in there, hitting waxed floors and taking out half a ward or something.” Dr. Ray says sternly, “I’m not even sure Lightning Electric could afford that kind of repair bill.”

Mindy huff and stomps a hoof, waiting on the doctor. Even through he is a pony he isn’t one for charging around, he prefers to walk at a steady pace. “Argh, fine, I’ll check with reception to find out where he is.”

Turning, Mindy trots inside. While only a fifty bed hospital, it’s very modern. The lobby is wide and well lit with high windows. Though the smell of cleaning fluids and alcohol is the first thing to hit Mindy’s nose. It’s understandable to want to keep the place clean, but Mindy has to wonder, could a pony get drunk off the fumes?

Trotting up to the desk she smiled, “Hi I’m…”

“Second floor waiting room, take elevator at the end of the hall, then hang a left.” The nurse says, turning a page in her book.

“But you didn’t ask…” Mindy blinks, annoyed.

“You’re a pony, second floor waiting room. Have a nice day.”

Looking to her side at Doctor Ray she huffs, “You try. She’s not even letting me talk.”

Putting her book down, the nurse smiles brightly at Dr. Ray, “You’re a unicorn too right?”

“Umm yes, I’m Dr. Ray S…”

“If you’d be so kind, the second floor waiting room, please take the elevator down the hall then hang a left.” The nurse says, smiling.

Mindy blinks and looks at Ray, then at the nurse.

The nurse smiles and points to the elevator.

“And… hang a left on the second floor?” Dr. Ray says slowly.

The nurse nods and smiles, “And have a nice day.”

Walking over to the elevator, Dr. Ray looks back at Mindy, who has her cheeks puffed out in frustration. “Are you coming?”

Walking to the elevator, she doesn’t take her eyes off the nurse until the elevator doors closed.

“What are we doing?” Mindy says, looking at Ray.

“Going to the second floor and hanging a left. We are ponies remember?” Dr. Ray says softly, nuzzling Mindy.

Mindy turns to face him, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means…” The elevator stopped on the second floor with the doors opening. “She’s sending all ponies there.” Ray says, blinking, as he looks at the waiting room.

Stepping out of the elevator, Mindy looks at the waiting room. It had large windows that go nearly to the ceiling, and its white floors and light colors makes the entire room seem bright. Several real plants are in there to cover the scent of the alcohol and cleaning solutions.

On top of the peach colored chairs, white pillows had been set down on the floor. Small “nests” of pillows had been arranged in pockets around the waiting room, with some blankets brought out to help. All of this only serve to amplify the colors of pastel ponies that have been gathered here.

A pair of foals lay asleep on a pile of pillows with a blanket over them. Three pegasi in 520th uniforms lay leaning against each other. An earth pony sits with his tail twitching as he reads a magazine. A pair of unicorns sit in chairs, looking depressed. Three more earth ponies sit looking at the TV which is tuned to the weather channel. An unicorn stallion lay with his head over a unicorn foal.

A nurse at the waiting room desk looks up, “Are you here for Lt Sanders?”