35 Traitor or savior? (1/2)

”I regret the loss of your comrades.” And that was really the case for Lazar... In a way. If, like them, all the military units in Boston had already lost half of their soldiers in such a short time, then what he had planned was in jeopardy. Either way, he didn't bother to pretend he particularly regretted Slawn's death to gain the sympathy of the soldiers, his hypocrisy had a limit.

Speaking of soldiers, a few of those who were in the street gradually came to surround them and listen at what was saying the small group of Lazar, Amandla and the Major, 'It looks like he's not unanimous as a leader.' Thought Lazar quite surprised by the behavior of the soldiers as well as the Major's inaction.

Command of what was left of the unit was automatically given to the Major as Slawn's second, by coming to listen to his personal conversations without being invited, something they wouldn't have done in the first place before he became leader of the unit, his men showed him the extent of the respect they still had for him, namely, not much.

The soldiers didn't bother to greet him, beyond ignoring him, they seemed to despise him. A completely contradictory behavior compared to the one they had with the woman who had attacked one of their camarade as well as their deceased Colonel and the man who had threatened to kill them if they approached his house not even a day ago.

They had no problem smiling and waving at them, so Amandla and Lazar immediately realized that the Major must have screwed up something. The atmosphere was growing heavy, at least for the Major who was still trying to put on a good face despite the obvious fact that he was no longer in control of his unit, because if the twenty men around them were an exception he would dare to reframe them.

Amandla nudged Lazar lightly, for her it was more in their interest to come to the Major's aid than to let him fend for himself as Lazar seemed to want to. She could take the initiative to do it herself but after what had happened with the Alpha she was going to give only her opinion from now on when a decision will have to be made and that until she leaves Boston with Lazar.

”I hurt my knees in a fight, could we continue this conversation at my place so I can sit down?” Having the Major on his side was essential for the following of Lazar's plan, he intended to help him anyway but not yet until Amandla suggests him to do it now. He didn't want to do it too fast before just to see how the Major was going to react, to see what kind of person he was.

”Yes, lead the way.” The Major accepted the help given to him and the soldiers didn't object to their leaving. At the mere mention of Lazar being hurt those of them standing in their way stepped aside.

”What is your name?” Amandla thought it was surprisingly courteous for something Lazar was saying to a stranger, for one time she could even say that he was normal.

”…” The Major was still thinking about the fact that he didn't understand how Amandla could claim that they could speak freely and didn't pay attention to what Lazar had told her.

”What is your name?” Repeated Lazar annoyed.

”Sorry Logan, my name is Sullyvan Dawson.” Addressing Lazar by his first name was a little too familiar for him, even if it was his false first name, but at least Sullyvan had understood that he didn't want them to mention their ranks everytime they speak to each other.

”Okay, Sullyvan, why are your soldiers looking at you like you are the cause of this failure?” Lazar didn't intend to waste his time in unnecessary words and by asking him this question he showed him that he expected precise answers.

'Diplomacy isn't always his thing. I'll have to get used to it... ' Amandla suspected Lazar was going to get to the heart of the matter very quickly, but she thought he was at least going to ask other questions than 'What's your name?' before.

Surprisingly, Sullyvan didn't take offense at hearing what Lazar had said, he had already justified what he had done to his superiors one time and that was way more stressful than now, ”Our losses are due in large part to the bad decisions Slawn made, he didn't do anything you had advised him out of pride. If some of my men are mad at me and challenge my authority, it's because I killed him in front of them.”

In Lazar's plan, Slawn's death was the most favorable scenario for the future, especially if it had been caused by the Major. Amandla couldn't help but look at Lazar in awe, so far everything he had planned had succeeded or was even above his expectations.

When they got to his front door, Lazar threatened everyone not to let them in if they didn't take their shoes off first. Sullyvan then had the opportunity to see the inventory system when Amandla used it to store her sneakers.