Botanicaust

hostage. She set him free. ”
    “ You have no proof of that. Until things are proven otherwise, we will proceed with caution. ”
    “ The storm is blocking the tracking signal in the skimmer, ” the head of Burn Ops said. “ We have to wait until the blowout subsides to launch an air search. ”
    The muscles in Vitus ’ s jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. “ How far could they get in this weather? ”
    “ No telling. They have quite a head start on us. ”
    “ They can ’ t be far. Which way did they go? Send skimmers. We can ’ t let her get away. ”
    “ Losing more equipment or men in this storm would be a waste of resources, Dr. Dedecus. They ’ re several hours ahead of us and could be turned around in the storm themselves. ”
    Vitus refused to back down. “ What do you mean several hours? ” He turned his attention to the weed who claimed to be Tula ’ s man. “ Why didn ’ t you report it sooner? ”
    Mo stood firm, his mongrel-eyed gaze rejecting Vitus ’ s accusation. “ I wasn ’ t sure of what I saw. It wasn ’ t until about twenty minutes ago I thought to call and make sure nothing was amiss. ” He turned to his supervisor. “ Sir, that ’ s my lady out there. I ’ d like to be on the first duster cleared for takeoff. ”
    “ Of course, ” the other man agreed.
    “ Hold on! This man failed to report a crime for hours, and you ’ re going to give him a lead in the investigation? ”
    Head of Burn Ops turned a calm stare in Vitus ’ s direction. “ I ’ ve heard my man ’ s side of the story. It ’ s my decision how I arrange my teams. ”
    The Councilwoman stepped in before things turned any hotter. “ Has anyone attempted to contact the skimmer by com ? ”
    Vitus gave the head of Burn Ops one last narrow-eyed glare, then spoke. “ I ’ m her supervisor. I ’ ll make the call. ”
    Vitus retreated to his office. He ’ d hoped to make the call alone, so he could let Tula know what he had planned for her, but Arnica and the head of Burn Ops followed. Mo stood outside the doorframe. Vitus shot him a sneer as he punched in com codes. The mongrel had probably helped Tula all along.
    “ Dr. Sertularia Macoby, this is headquarters calling. Please respond. ” He waited, half hoping she wouldn ’ t answer, yet disappointed when she didn ’ t. “ Dr. Macoby, this is Dr. Vitus Dedecus. Please respond immediately. ”
    “ Reassure her we have rescue units standing by. Help is on the way. ”
    Let her know we ’ re onto her, is more likely. But he did as Arnica asked. The weed couldn ’ t hide for long.

    The Reaches
    Tula tried to start the skimmer again with no success. The dash lights worked, but the engine only sputtered after they ’ d bounced and rolled across the bottom of the gully. Thankfully, they ’ d landed right side up. Outside the nuvoplast windows, drifting sand settled over the skimmer as the storm howled above the ravine. Worried they might end up buried, Tula opened the door, allowing a mist of silt to eddy through the car. And with the door open, the debris couldn ’ t block it shut.
    She sat back in the seat and looked at Levi. “ No good. ”
    He shook his head, his face grim in the feeble light from the dash.
    Something skittered into the skimmer and Tula stiffened before batting it away. A leaf — that meant they were close to the Reaches, where Levi might find shelter from Protectorate aircraft. She had to get him out and away as soon as possible, but with the storm raging above them, it was too dangerous right now. The skimmer beacon would get her rescued, but Levi had to be in full hiding, preferably a few hours walk away.
    A sudden crackle from the dash caused Tula to jump as the com came to life. Levi ’ s attention turned toward the noise.
    “ Dr. Sertularia Macoby, this is headquarters calling. Please respond. ” Static overrode the voice, the signal likely affected by the storm and the ravine walls.
    Levi glanced at her. “ Vitus. Bad. ”
    She nodded mutely. They knew she was gone. She ’ d hoped for a few more hours, until the scheduled euthanization.
    “ Dr. Macoby, this is Dr. Vitus Dedecus. Please respond immediately. ”
    Poking her head out the open door, she squinted at the sky against the falling silt. Still too stormy to go anywhere.
    “ Tula, be assured we have rescue teams standing by. We have a lock on your location, and as soon as the storm clears, we will come to your aid. ” The last word was a sneer.
    She