Synthetic Intuition

Chapter 12 1/2 - Reconstructing Science | Lazlo

My gaze remained glued to the back of the leading individual's golden head. The end of his blue coat danced in the slight breeze as we arrived at an intersection. I proceeded to rush across the crosswalk pushing Katie along while Trezz held tightly to her arm.

Who was this man? The Cop earlier had referred to him as Apolo but based on experience, names meant nothing. Trezz seemed to trust him but it was hard to be sure whether I should trust her. What she had said in the park had hit me hard.

I had lost everyone at this point so I needed to trust somebody. But something felt wrong about the idea of trusting her out of desperation rather than compassion. I couldn't let my emotions get ahead of me. She was calm, yet assertive, and I couldn't help but feel allured by the pretty face under her silky black hair, shining under the hot sun. However, I needed answers and became anxious as I felt I was getting closer to them.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of kids playing off to our right. They seemed to be playing some sort of ball game in front of one of the smaller apartment buildings.

"Apolo! Apolo!" the kids shouted as a bright orange ball hurtled in his direction to which he kicked it back. Strange, the kids seemed to know him so well.

"Waoh! Heads up red shirt" Clark called out to a kid in a red shirt toward the back of the group of kids. Understanding how the game worked was impossible. I had little understanding of how even simple sports like soccer worked in my time and didn't bother to try and learn how they worked 70 years in the future.

I watched as a smile grew across Trezz's face as she glared out at the joyful group of kids and when she glanced over at me I couldn't help but smile with her.

"Hey, what is your name? I haven't seen you in school" I jumped at the voice of a small kid who was walking past me. He was talking to Katie and seemed to be only slightly younger.

"Hm? Oh, my name is Katie. I—" Katie paused, her drowsiness catching up with her. Trezz looked down at the child. I could almost see a moment of concern cross her face before the orange ball narrowly flew past my head shifting my attention. My eyes followed the ball until it landed in a dimly lit alleyway. A child ran to pick it up and after moving out of the way, revealed a cat in the alleyway. A cold shiver slithered up my spine upon seeing the animal.

"Oh, Katie is homeschooled" Trezz's voice seemed to fade out as I zoned out at the sight of the cat. A sense of unsettling deja vu rose within me that I found impossible to suppress. The sound of clanking metal resonated throughout my mind as I drew a sharp breath. I had lost myself and had dropped the tarp bag from my shoulder.

"Homeschooled by your sister?" more voices called out through the haze of emotion. My focus remained unaltered. The cat's coat was white and gray.

"Lazlo" It simply stood there licking its paws. Each stroke of the tung triggered a painful call from deep inside my brain.

"Lazlo?" Its ruffled fure moved in the steady breeze coming from the alley. It was an unsettling sensation. Thoughts raced through me making it impossible to get a grasp on the sensation. Like I was on the edge of remembering something yet couldn't.

"Lazlo!" I was startled by the feeling of Trezz's left hand on my shoulder enough to bring me back to reality I looked down rubbing my eyes and upon looking up the cat was no longer there.

"Are you ok?" Apolo asked. Katie was still talking with the other kids in the background.

"Yes, I am fine. Sorry to slow you down" Trezz's hand gently slid off my shoulder as she gestured for me to follow. I picked up the bag and moved toward Apolo. I noticed some of the kids were staring in curiosity at the tarp bag causing me to readjust it so it more tightly carried the contents.