Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 38 – In A World of Sin.
Raptor's POV, Rebellion HQ.
Everyone gathered around as I prepared to reveal the treaty.
With Archer to my right and Marx to my left, they watched eagerly as I undid the lid to the case.
My heart raced as I reached in to take hold of the old paper of war. Gently pulling it out, I laid it along the cleared table for everyone to see.
"Wow." Stated Char and Hunter as Wreak looked to see my expression.
Wreak's POV.
Everyone was fazed by the treaty, even myself. But as I looked to Raptor I saw his face.
He was thinking. Not of the accomplished mission, but of the treaty itself. And something else told me he knew something was wrong. I've worked with him long enough to know that by now.
"It's amazing." Stated Hunter as she ran her fingers over Commander Shadow Robotnik's signature.
"Brings back old times. Right Marx?"
With a nod, the cat replied.
"More then old times. I remember Shadow signing that thing. This is history we hold now. The Rebellion holds now."
With spirits high and beyond, I knew I had to be the one to see through it and ask the Commander.
"What's wrong Commander? I know that look." I stated as everyone looked to Raptor who glanced at me. He knew I read him.
"We can't hide this treaty."
In confusion, Archer questioned.
"What? Why? Wasn't that the plan?"
"G.U.N will do everything to put this on us. And they will find a way to twist our intentions. If that happens the people may go against us. We need to use this as a leverage."
"A leverage for what?" Wondered Hunter as he felt the treaty for himself to reply.
"We need to gain our place. This treaty will do that. We can't hide anymore. We need to go public. Go to war."
"You have any idea what your saying Raptor?" Questioned Marx as he nodded.
"G.U.N doesn't know there's only a few of us. For all they know everyone is a rebel. We can use this opportunity to mass recruit."
"We don't have the resources to do that Commander." Stated Misty as he gently looked to us all now.
"Do you remember where we live? This is Iraq. Weapons are a dime a dozen around here. Hell almost every household has a gun thanks to the last war."
"He's right." I stated as everyone now listened to the Commander.
"If there is one thing we can agree on, it's that the people of this country know what is right. I say we take this public. And let the true patriots raise. Once the main bulk shows, even the cowards will find the will to fight. Then we go after the General."
"What do you mean by that? Start a riot?" Wondered Archer as he nodded.
"Not a riot. More like a rebellion. We have the power now to turn everyone against General Monroe. We already took out his main fuel depot. His escapes are limited now due to less armor transports running around. All we really need to do is take control of the border."
Widening her eyes, Hunter stated.
"The border is a fortress Raptor. Taking that would be impossible."
Shaking his head he replied.
"Nothing is impossible Hunter. And I bet someone here knows how to do it. Doesn't he?" Urged Raptor as his focus was now on me.
With a smile coming to me, I replied.
"I have a few ideas, yeah."
"Then get them down on paper and ready me a plan. Cause after we control the border, we go live with the treaty. Then we take over Iraq."
"And General Monroe?" Wondered Archer as Raptor looked to us all to reply.
"I'm going to kill him myself."
With everyone now silent, Raptor ordered.
"You all did a great job today. But we all know it isn't near being over yet for us. Go get some sleep and in the morning we'll be moving out for separate tasks. Char, you're in charge of finding more support. Understood?" He asked in a serious tone as the young wolf nodded.
"Yes sir, Commander."
Nodding, Raptor looked to Hunter.
"You're going to help Archer. The two of you are to kidnap me an officer in charge of border duties. I want this done before the sun breaks."
"We can do that Raptor. I know one of the officers. And I know where to find him."
"You bring him back here. Wreak, you'll get to work him over. I need all the intel on that security setup they got down there."
"Not a problem Commander." I replied as he nodded and looked to the other recruits.
"The rest of you are to team up with Char and his men. Getting anyone and everyone to join the cause. And if they have any resources to aid in our efforts you tell them to bring it to the table. Do you all understand your orders?"
"Sir yes sir!" They replied as he nodded and refocused on the treaty to mumble.
"Dismissed."
With the crowd breaking off, I was left with the Marx, Archer, and Hunter.
"You think this is the right call?" Wondered Archer as Raptor nodded to reply.
"I know it is. Just trust me."
"I do trust you Raptor. I just want to be sure."
"I'm taking that border Archer. But for that to happen I need everyone to trust me and do their jobs."
Archer took that as his queue to nod and proceed to his room, leaving Hunter to ask.
"How are you going to public? G.U.N will be watching and they'll take that as their chance to find you."
"Let them find me. By the time they do all of Iraq will be standing by my side. Waiting. Ready to kill. Ready to earn back their homes."
Hunter slowly went to grab his hand. Taking it gently, Raptor looked into her eyes to urge.
"I know what I'm doing now. Let me be a man for once. A man you don't have to worry about losing just yet."
With Hunters eyes showing sadness, she slowly nodded and pulled back her emotions.
Now looking back to me, Raptor ordered.
"You make sure when you're roughing this guy up you save the last hit for me. Understood?"
With a grin I replied.
"Be my pleasure Commander."
"Good." He replied as Marx wondered.
"Do you really have a plan for this level of crazy?"
With everyone looking to the cat, Raptor replied.
"We do."
Raptor's POV, Two hours later, Personal quarters.
Staring at the treaty, I lost myself in it's text. To believe how many people died for this. How many of my friends met their fate because of this? It's unreal.
"Not too unreal Raptor."
Looking to my side, I rested my eyes on Shadow who sat beside me. His eyes looked to his signature.
"Looking back on this makes me regret my handwriting. I was never good at that sort of thing." He stated as I asked.
"Do you remember what this did for us? How much joy it brought for the country? That to me is exactly what makes me want to keep doing this. I want this to keep on living. For all of us. For you."
Watching as a smile came to his face, he replied.
"And you can do that. But don't do it for me. You'll only find ways to regret it. You need to do this for yourself."
"What if I can't?" I asked of him as he thought over the question.
"You can. I know you Raptor. You just have to believe in yourself a little more."
Nodding my head as I look back to the treaty, I stated out loud.
"I do believe in myself."
With a thin breeze going over my shoulder, I heard from above.
"Good. Then you don't need me."
Looking to my side, Shadow was gone and soon his voice left my head. With my vision going blurry, I soon heard a knock on my door.
"Raptor?" It was Hunter.
"Can I come in?" She asked as she opened the door to look at me on the bed.
"You had me worried. Something wrong?"
Hunter's POV.
Slowly wrapping back up the treaty, Raptor put the case around his back to say.
"G.U.N will be sending someone to find this. And whoever it is will be good."
"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion as he looked to me directly.
"Monroe. He'll want this back without public attention. I can guarantee even the news tomorrow will not have a single mention of what was stolen from their hands."
"It would look bad." I stated as he stood up to reply.
"That's why for now this treaty stays with me and me only. Monroe will use the time he has bought to send someone after us."
"Any idea who?" I wondered as he shook his head.
"No clue. What I do know is he won't be alone. And when he knows where the treaty is...he won't give up. Not till ether he or myself is dead."
"I think you're over thinking this Raptor." I admitted to him as he ignored me to order.
"I don't want you getting hurt. When I find out who it is coming after us I want you to find us a new HQ. We'll be dug out sooner or later. We need a place to hide when that happens. Can you do that for me after you're done with Archer?" He wondered as I nodded slowly to reply.
"Yeah. No problem. But what are you going to do till then?"
Going to his bedside to pick up his rifle and gear, he replied.
"I need to set up. I'm going out for the night. Don't worry about me. I'll be back in time for the meeting."
"When will that be?" I asked as he went for the door. Stopping in it's frame, he replied.
"Nightfall. Nine. Okay?"
"Okay." I replied gently with a nod as he urged.
"I'll be fine. I promise."
"Be careful." I replied as he nodded and shut the door. Left in the darkness, I looked to his bed. Beside it stood a strong chill.
That's it for this chapter. Leave a review if you have any thoughts to share. Thanks again for sticking with me this long.
mT Shadow.