Learning a bit about Leah

Leah has a foul mouth and something of an intimidating manner. But she’s also a fantastic teacher. After just a few minutes of training you were reliably putting shots downrange and reloading at a good pace. You silently hoped that you’d never have to use a gun on anyone though. The range itself was a dark and dingy place, with low hanging lights illuminating a long white corridor with targets hung from the ceiling. The booths were small, and Leah stuck close, so you had a few brushes with **** when you accidentally touched her. She didn’t say anything about it though.

“Empty that magazine and let’s stop for today.” You fire off the last few rounds until there’s nothing left. Double check the chamber, eject the magazine and engage the safety. “I’m glad that you’re a fast learner. Some of the folks that Carmine hires don’t have nothin’ up there,” she taps her forehead with a finger.

“What did you used to do before you came here?”

“Army.”

“That’s all?”

“I’m not giving you my life story. I was nearly out on the street after my discharge, and Carmine offered me the right amount of cash. There’s nothing special about it.”

“Right. I guess I’m the least interesting guy here.”

Leah shakes her head, “Nah, there’s something wrong with everyone down here. There has to be. As much as I act like a basic bitch – I saw some shit that fucked me up. Keeps me awake sometimes. If there’s nothin’ like that for you, there will be soon. Carmine has a way of picking out people like us. It’s just like I said, magic. Or maybe that oversized brain of hers lets her read our minds or something…”

“We’re in a bad place.”

Leah shrugs, “Carmine always says that we’re only as evil as the end goal. And what she wants is something amazing, it feels like a fantasy. Put a bullet into a few policemen, or the occasional secret agent – but we’ll be vindicated if she manages to do it.”

“And what does she want?”

“Didn’t she say? For everyone to recognize her. She peddles a lot of fancy stories and reasons, but for real – she’s every bit as smart as she says she is. The reason I got discharged. Fucked up my leg bad, didn’t think I’d be able to walk again. She jabs me with one of her needles and suddenly it’s like I never took that bullet at all!”

“Jesus.”

“Imagine if she brings that kinda’ thing to the whole world. Say goodbye to illness.”

“So why can’t she?”

“I never said she was ethical. They’d have her ass down in the Hague for some of the things she’s done. Bitch is crazy. She knows how I feel about it already, so don’t worry. That ship is long gone. She doesn’t just want to release her research; she wants everyone to know about it. And in her mind, she’s the best person to be in charge.”

“…World domination?”

“Uh-huh. And she’s serious too.”

You look down at the floor. This has been the wildest twenty-four hours of your entire life. “Fuck me.”

“Ain’t you got Carmine for that?” she slaps your shoulder, “Don’t go thinking about it too much. That’s her job. We’re just here to do what she says.” The irony of her statement is not lost on you. No, you do not have Carmine for that at the moment. She threw her assistant on you instead.

“She wants to do that magic bullshit to me.”

“Yeah, everyone who’s gonna’ be with her gets it done. I got it, Chun got it, some of the other folks you ain’t seen yet got it. But damn, I ain’t had to work out a day since. I’ve got too much time on my hands!”

“So what, it exercises for you?”

“That’s what she told me. You’ll be hurting the first few days, but then you can run three marathons back to back. It’s crazy.”

“Nothing seems crazy to me anymore.”

“True. Come on, she’s probably wondering where her main man is.” Leah leads you out of the range and through the base to another set of wooden doors. You’re starting to become familiar with it’s layout. “Go in without me, she’s waiting.”