Page 29 of Galactic Search and Rescue
He snorted. “Only if Po is blind to an owl flying past him.”
“Good point. Okay, new gambit. I’ll cover our retreat while you jet out with our prize.”
Hatya’s tone sounded in her earwire. “You GSAR people sure have interesting conversations. If Po needs to hear an explosion, we can give him one.”
Taz had forgotten Rylando’s earwire was on broadcast. She hoped she hadn’t said anything that required an apology later. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Out of time,” said Rylando. “Stramlo’s opening his bag.”
This would probably top her list of career-ending maneuvers, but she had to try. “Green go.” As she walked, she deployed her suit’s helmet. Better a communication barrier than a beamer to the face.
She rounded the corner into a long hallway that her scanner told her made a U-turn at the end. Deliberately clomping so her footsteps would echo, she let her suit amplify her voice. “Hello. Galactic Search and Rescue. Do you need assistance?”
“Yeah, sure. This building stinks.” shouted Po. Her suit’s audio easily picked up his hissed whisper to Stramlo. “Send the code now or I’m telling them you self-terminated.”
Taz increased her volume. “How about you, Engineer Stramlo?”
In her earwire, she heard Rylando tell Hatya to ready her explosion.
“Er,” replied Stramlo. “Yes. I’d very much like to leave.”
“Now,” said Rylando.
A second later, the floor vibrated with a satisfying whump. Taz eyed the ceiling, hoping her scans were right about it holding in this part of the building.
She added concern to her voice. “Might be an aftershock. Everyone all right?”
“Help! Get us out of here.” Stramlo sounded panicked.
“Almost there.” With one backward glance to make sure Rylando and the animals were ready, she turned the corner at the end of the hall. “There you are. No need for the weapon, sir. The path is clear from here to the exit.”
“Of course.” Po looked considerably more relaxed than before as he pocketed the beamer. “Let’s go.”
Stramlo, clutching a thick, dull-gray tablet to his chest. He lurched forward and picked up speed, almost running toward her.
Po scooped up Stramlo’s fallen bag and followed at a more leisurely pace.
Taz fired up her sifter talent and tried to get a reading on Po. No violence haze for now. She really needed to learn how to use her talent better.
Stramlo rounded the corner, then stumbled to a halt when he saw Rylando and the dogs. “Where is my daughter?”
Rylando motioned him forward. “I’ll take you to her.” He turned to lead with a brisk walk that Stramlo emulated.
Taz tracked Po, timing her move so she stepped in front of him at the last second. He bounced back off her suit. “Sorry, sir.” She grabbed both of his upper arms to steady him, then let go. She started a countdown on her display.15, 14...
“Ow!” He grabbed his left arm and rubbed it. “What was that?”
She stepped back. “My apologies, sir. I must have grabbed you too hard. It’s sometimes a problem with mechanized suits.”...9, 8...
“Something poked me!” He glared suspiciously at her hand. The activation of his ramper talent felt like pinpricks on her sifter senses.
She raised her hands in front of her chest, one slightly higher and in front of the other, facing her gloved palms toward him. “Do you see anything that could have done that?”...6, 5, 4...
He looked, then shook his head, then again. His ramper talent blazed as his hands reached for his pockets.
Taz grabbed his arms, harder this time, pinching into his biceps. “Careful, there, sir. Looks like you’re feeling dizzy.” With the drug she gave him, he should have been halfway to oblivion by now, not still standing. Damnit.
He snarled and pulled back with a jerk, freeing his arms. Before she could react, he jumped and launched himself off her chest, sending her back a step as he flipped in the air. By the time he landed, his hand held the beamer. “Step out of your suit or you’re dead. And so are those stinking animals on your fucking back.” A cruel smile played across his lips. “Maybe I’ll shoot them first.”
