O is for Ocular Migraine
Superintendent Jammer knew something was wrong the moment he rolled up on the Piston Peaks Air Attack Base. Normally the base was practically bursting at the seams with life. Even when the team had a chance to properly stand down there was always the sound of music on the PA and various vehicles tinkering away at projects. Right now, all of that was missing.
"Anyone here!" Jammer hollered in order to get someone's, anyone's attention. Out of the corner of his eye Jammer spotted a streak of yellow coming towards him at without sound and at a surprising speed for a vehicle of that size.
"What…?" Jammer tried started only to find Avalanche's blade pressed against Jammer's lips to get the ranger to stop talking and a frustrated smokejumper looking up at him. The two vehicles sat still on the tarmac for a few long rotor beats, finally the dozer was convinced that Jammer was going to be quiet and he ushered the older vehicle towards Maru's hanger. When Jammer opened his mouth once again the moment that he spotted the mechanic, but another stinging look from Avalanche caused the superintendent to quiet until hanger door was completely shut.
"Sorry about that." Maru said, his voice barely more than a whisper once all the doors were closed. "Cabbie's down with a beast of an ocular migraine and the stuff I dosed him with barely made a dent in his pain, so we are all doing our best stay quiet."
"Ah…" Jammer breathed as he glanced between Avalanche and Maru. "Well, I think I might be able to help with that. I came up here because the conservation team needs some extra horsepower finish up repairing the dug in amphitheater before tomorrow's concert. Would any of the smokejumpers be willing to lend a blade?"
Avalanche looked absolutely thrilled at the suggestion. The dozer instantly opened his mouth, then instantly remembered what was going on and slammed it shut and looked sheepishly in Maru's direction. That actually got the mechanic to chuckle softly under his breath.
"Looks like you got yourself a team of smokejumpers at your disposal. I will relay the message to the kids and Avalanche will make sure they are at the worksite within the next hour or so."
"That would be perfect." Jammer smiled at his subordinates that moved exit the hanger. Once he reached the door he paused before opening it. "Oh, and let Cabbie know that everyone at the head offices is hoping he feels better soon."
Maru of course indicated he would, and Avalanche gingerly escorted him across the tarmac and back to the access road. As Superintendent Jammer headed down the steep slope, he couldn't help but smile. Working in a National Park was hard, often lonely, and sometime dangerous work. Jammer often found himself worrying about his people, but he never worried about the Air Attack Team even though they had some of the most dangerous jobs in the park because he knew that every vehicle on that team would look out for each other.
Term- Ocular Migraine- Ocular migraines are defined by two symptoms. The first is a significant drop in vision acuity and sometimes complete blindness in one eye. The effects on vision last for up to an hour. The second symptom is a severe headache. These headaches last between 4 hours to 72 hours. While all migraine headaches are usually accompanied by some level of nausea and sensitivity to light/sound, ocular migraine sufferers are particularly prone to severe reactions to both light and sound. High temperatures and dehydration are common triggers for this rare type of migraine which often means ocular migraines are most likely to during summer months.