Children of the Virus

23: Into the Vog

The sun blazed mercilessly on the arid landscape, casting long shadows across the sandy ground as Thaxter's loaner car sped along a narrow dirt road. In the distance, the rolling Anti-Lebanon mountains loomed ominously, their peaks only just visible above a veil of haze.

"Guys, brace yourselves," Ren's voice cut through the tense silence. "We're being chased by a Big Boy."

Toshiro swallowed hard, his mind racing. "That must be what got the Homs rebels," he muttered, though he hoped that they might still be out there.

Baz slammed his foot down on the accelerator, sending the vehicle rocketing forward. "Hold on tight!" he shouted over the roar of the engine as the landscape blurred around them.

Toshiro glanced back, catching sight of the colossal drone airship that pursued them. It was a monstrous metal behemoth that filled him with dread. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline fueling his senses.

"Is this the fastest this thing will go?" Toshiro asked, his voice barely audible over the din of the engine and the wind whipping past them.

Baz's face twisted into a grimace, determination in his eyes. "I'm not sure, but I've got an idea to lose it. We'll disappear into that cloud of viral mist up ahead."

Ren furrowed her brow, concern etched in her delicate features. "That's from the Homs Gap vog stack. You won't be able to see a thing."

"Exactly," Baz replied, pointing towards the towering mass of vog that seemed to swallow everything in its path. "It's our only chance."

The mist loomed closer, its tendrils snaking towards them like the fingers of some ancient, malevolent deity. Toshiro felt a chill run down his spine, but he steeled himself for what was to come.

"Wait," Baz said suddenly, his voice tight with urgency. "I just remembered there's one grenade left in the glove box. Hopefully we don't have to use it."

Toshiro nodded, and with a swift motion, he popped the glove box open, revealing the explosive. But before he could grab it, the vog engulfed them, visibility dropping to near zero. Still, they charged onward, their fate resting on the edge of a razor-thin knife.

A suffocating silence enveloped the vehicle as it crept to a stop within the dense vog. Baz's fingers gripped the control panel, white-knuckled. His eyes darted back and forth in search of any sign of danger. The Homs Gap vog stack had swallowed them whole. Toshiro's heart raced; the only sound audible in the eerie void.

"I'm engaging maximum camouflage," Baz said, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is our only hope of escaping the infrared sensors tracking our every move."

Even if we hide, Toshiro thought, what guarantee do we have that we'll make it out alive? His prosthetic arm Kura tightened around the handle of the grenade as if sensing his growing anxiety.

"Guys," Ren said, her voice steady despite the situation, "I have an idea. I could use a stealth drone to monitor our surroundings while we stay hidden."

"Ren, stop!" Baz snapped, his eyes narrowing at her. "The danger too great. There's no room for cleverness or recklessness here."

But she was undeterred. "Relax," Ren insisted, her gaze unwavering. "We can't let the Big Boy catch us off guard. Besides, my drone's built for situations like this. Trust me."

Toshiro hesitated, torn between his gripping terror and his trust in Ren's expertise. He had seen her work miracles with technology before. Could she do it again? With a deep breath, he made his decision.

"Let her try, Baz," Toshiro said, his voice firm. "We need to know what we're up against."

"Fine," Baz growled. "But stealth, Ren. Did you hear me? Stealth!"