Chapter 544: His Real Intent
They sat down and drank, all of them, in silence. Laz wasn’t trying to make a huge point or pretend to be something he wasn’t, but he felt like he came off that way.
Leo and Lessa were shocked by how much Laz had changed. They had heard the news and seen the updates and warnings about him, but they just didn’t connect him as the same person being talked about until this very moment. He was no longer the young man they had met years ago.
As for Brittany, she was honestly touched and more than a little impressed. She knew more about Laz than any of them, knew of his strength and the fights he had been in. Her thoughts about him had been that he was, for lack of a better phrase, a criminal. As such, while she was desperate, she had only thought about ’buying’ his help and never really considered him to be worth more than that. Yet now, she knew, beyond a doubt, that he was nothing like what she thought he was or what they had made him out to be. It shouldn’t have when one considered her sexual orientation, but she couldn’t help but be attracted by it.
’Maybe I really do swing both ways?’
As for Amira, she was star stuck. Growing up as she had, she had never come into contact with these types of people before. Leo was her obsession, Lessa looked glamours and Brittany was... something else she couldn’t explain. But Laz was something more than all of them, something that touched her deeply. He was human, she had seen that in the time she spent with him. But he was also incredible beyond words and she knew sticking to him was the right choice. He would go places she could never have dreamed about and she would do anything to follow him there. He was her escape from her life.
But more than just wanting something from him, she wanted to follow him, she felt like she needed to.
"So long time no see?" Laz say, seeing everyone staying quiet. After a few moments, Leo laughed and began chatting with Laz until Lessa joined in, talking about things in general about their lives. Brittany finally opened up after a while too and with her caving, so did Amira, not wanting to feel like the odd one out.
While they didn’t talk about things too serious, it eventually got on that topic, if only because Laz was who he was.
"You know bud, I knew you were running and hiding from things... But what the hell did you get up to in these last few years that makes you..."
"The most wanted criminal in the country?" Laz added.
"Yes. It seems... strange. You just don’t seem the type," Lessa said, thinking about all of the reports she read.
"How so?" Laz asked, curious. After all, even he wasn’t totally sure of all the crimes that were pinned on him and he never cared to find out until now.
"Uh... rape, murder, arson, terrorism, insurrection..." Lessa said, using her fingers to count as she added things up.
"Really? Hmm..." Laz wondered just how many crimes could be pinned to him before it sounded made up. Even this was so close to the line that it caused doubt.
"Yeah bro so like...?"
"Have I killed people before? Yeah. Not really sure how many... but it’s probably not more than a hundred. And honestly, it could have been in the thousands by now but I’m not too keen on killing. Rape? No. I pretty sure I’ve known every women I’ve slept with and I don’t think any of them would have claimed that... even if it did get a little kinky and freaky. Or a lot of freaky. Arson? Yeah. Pretty sure I’ve destroyed quite a few military vehicles... couple of buildings back in New Orleans... not sure that counts as arson though. As for everything else? So are just labels to make me sound worse. DO I want to overthrow the government? It’s not like i have a better plan to run this country. I’m just looking to stop this whole bullshit against the people like me. But since that goes against their agenda, then yeah I guess it could be called insurrection..." Laz sat back and thought that maybe the charges weren’t exactly far fetched in the first place.
Not like he would ever give a shit about clearing his name however.
The more Laz talked the wider the shock on everyone’s faces became. Compared to the things Laz had been involved in and the experiences he had been through, they were like toddlers just taking their first steps. Some of them weren’t even that far. As such, Laz’s views and opinions were far outside of the realm of what they knew and therefore shocking.
"Alright. Maybe that’s enough about that. What did you say you were actually in town for again?" Lessa asked, changing the subject. While she had positive feelings towards Laz, she also knew her brother was a trouble maker and hearing everything Laz was saying with such a devil may care attitude would definitely have a negative effect on him.
"Not sure really. Up north, in the desert, there is this real weird oasis that seemed to pop out of nowhere. I was told to look into it... err asked. But I only know a little about it thanks to my contacts and thanks to Amira here," Laz said, pointing her out.
"Oh right, we forgot to introduce ourselves," Lessa said before getting up to shake both Brittany and Amira’s hands. Leo then did the same as the all endured a round of greetings. Leo wanted to keep getting to know these two attractive women, but his sister cut him off again.
"So, up north?"
"Yeah. You mentioned the pyramid and the cult? I only know a little about both of them since I’ve only heard about the cult and seen a picture of the pyramid..."
"You’ve seen it? Damn... even the organization that collects information around here has only gotten a description, but there were no pictures to be had, at least none that could be bought. Believe me, a lot of people tried," Lessa said, lost in thought knowing that someone had seen it.
"Well, the people I know are rather good at finding things out. Of course the reason why your source probably couldn’t help you is that there is a large, demon like creature the size of a dinosaur hanging around the pyramid. I can only assume it uh... takes care of anyone who gets too close," Laz said, wanting to warn Lessa about trying anything stupid.
"As far as I know, there is no information of it on my end, at least not something someone at my level could get a look at," Brittany offered, making Lessa and Leo raise an eyebrow.
’Her end?’
"I don’t think this is... something caused by anyone in particular... If I had to guess, it would probably involve a god," Laz said after some thought.
"A god?" Was the universal response.
"Yeah. God’s exist. Maybe not in the same context you are familiar with... but there are quite a few of them in every country of this world. And they are waking up."
"Have you...?"
"Encountered them before? Yes. Some are neutral, some are hostile..." Laz said.
’Some want to fuck your brains out,’ he thought to himself.
"So my question though is what is known about the cult?" Laz said, asking those around him while thinking to himself.
’Another cult huh? I’m.... eh..... I’m kind of getting sick of running into these things. At least this one doesn’t worship me... I wonder what ever happened to those women anyway...’
They all shared what they knew, including Brittany. Since the group members seemed like normal humans, the church of the chosen ignored them. If they weren’t infected, they weren’t their problem.
After everyone had said their piece, there wasn’t much added on to what Laz knew.
"So they are recruiting people, a lot of people, but for what we don’t know. Following them is next to impossible since they seem to have a lot of financial backing and have tricked curious eyes before, evading capture and pursuit which also seems weird since I know infected had gone after them before, something a normal human wouldn’t be able to escape."
While lost in thought, more drinks were served as the young bartender brought over drinks due to his boss and his boss’s brother being there.
"So you’re going there?" Lessa asked, seemingly wanting to confirm something.
"I have to..."
"Why? Just cause someone asked you to?"
"Not just that, although that is part of the reason."
"Then just why do you do it? They are recruiting normal humans and maybe a few really weak infected. So why risk your life for some people you don’t know, most of which would wish you harm?" Lessa said, drilling the questions on to Laz as though needing to hear his straight answer.
"Cause someone has to? Right? Look, I’m not god... nor even a god. While there is some nasty shit going down, it’s not like I can turn a blind eye to it. It’s just not who I am. I decided a long while back that I wouldn’t just ignore someone or something needing my help when they were right in front of me. I mean... fuck.... how many times in my life would I have liked someone to offer a helping hand every now and then? But it hasn’t happened. So the least I can do is offer my hand. And besides, maybe if I offer enough hands, people won’t believe all the bullshit about us anymore? Stupid, I know. But we’ve got to start somewhere. We’ve got an entire government against us in the end and the only way to change the will of the government is to first change the will of the people."
Laz wasn’t trying to be sappy or cringe, it was just his honest thought. Ever since he saved Jill, he knew he wouldn’t just sit around and do nothing anymore. People didn’t need to suffer just because they were weak. Or at least he thought so.
Laz was so stuck in his own head he never would have guessed that Lessa had been recording the whole thing.
