Botanicaust

her system.
    “ Your friend has taken the beacon and will lead us to his settlement. Our agreement still stands. I ’ m simply assuring there will be no legal complications if I ever need to present my findings to your Board. Dr. Dedecus has been a fine subject, but his autoimmune disease is rejecting the symbiosis. ”
    “ Vitus Dedecus? ” She gasped, overcome by tremors.
    “ I ’ ll be inserting symbiotic fungi into your bio system which will self replicate telomerase and make the need for drip treatment a thing of the past. Until now, the fungi have been unable to function in ultraviolet exposed individuals. I ’ ve developed a new resistant strain. Quite revolutionary. You will be an excellent test subject for extreme solar exposure. ”
    “ You ’ re making me immortal? ”
    “ Oh, no! You will live longer under full exposure than you would otherwise, but like I explained before, the telomerase alone is not a cure for mortality. I ’ d hoped Dr. Dedecus ’ s ripening would act as a natural immunoreactive, but his T-cells have become non-selective. ” He calibrated the machine next to her. “ Ah, well. At any rate, the fungi should reduce the cost of our steroid production one hundred fold. One step closer! ”
    A cold horror settled below her breastbone. “ You ’ re harvesting Haldanians. ”
    “ It is so nice to have a patient who understands the science behind my experiments. ” He patted her arm. “ These others are no more than cannibals. ”
    “ So are you! ” She struggled harder against her bonds. The straps dug into her skin, rubbing it raw.
    He glanced down at her with disdain through the visor of his suit. “ We are nothing of the sort. We are scientists. Would it be better to waste your prisoners? We are developing technology that will allow humanity to live forever. A few Haldanians who were scheduled to die anyway is a small price to pay. ”
    “ Tell that to your test subjects. ”
    He bent low and looked directly into her eyes. “ I just did. ”

T hey stood before a door with a placard that read “ Phytogenics. ” The soft wail of a siren filled the empty hallways. Illuminated only by widely spaced emergency lights, Michael stood in the narrow corridor, stroking repeatedly at the center of his chest, and tried the door again.
    Levi ’ s heart beat so hard he felt the pressure in his eyes. Tula must be behind that door. “ Who has a key? ” Levi nudged.
    Michael twisted his fingers until his enormous knuckles grew painfully white. Turning first one direction, then another, he seemed to consider. Finally, he turned and rushed down the hall in the direction they ’ d come from. Glad for his experience hiding from cannibals in the tunnels as a child, Levi made note of how to return to this door.
    Dr. Kaneka ’ s voice erupted over the sound of the siren. Michael stopped at a door with only a number and pounded on it. Almost immediately, a Down ’ s Syndrome woman looked up at the big man, then at Levi.
    Michael made a hand motion and the woman stepped aside. Entering behind Michael, Levi again halted in shock. At a small table with an open book before her sat Rosalee.
    She blinked at the newcomers. “ Michael? ” She formed another question Levi didn ’ t understand.
    Moving quicker than usual, the big man plucked a gamma pad from a bedside table. Tip of his tongue protruding from his mouth, he slowly scrawled on the surface. He handed the pad to Rosalee.
    She scanned the screen, then considered Levi and nodded, rising to her feet. She went to a shelf holding double rows of worn books and removed one. Opening the book, she retrieved a card and held it out to Michael. The big man hugged her, snatched the card, and offered it to Levi in triumph.
    Levi accepted the card and shot a look to Rosalee. “ What is going on? ”
    “ No time to explain. Save her. This is the key. Go, now. ”
    Over the loudspeaker, Dr. Kaneka ’ s voice pierced the air. Rosalee ’ s already pale face drained of remaining color. “ He ’ s given orders to stop you. In any way necessary. Go! ” She pushed both men out the door ahead of her. The three of them rushed toward Phytogenics.
    The light tubes in the once darkened hallway flickered on. Down the corridor, a guard stood at their destination.
    Before Levi could react, Rosalee launched forward, screeching and clawing at the man. The guard threw up his hands to ward her off, stepping backward down the corridor. Michael moved in,