Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 44 – Maybe One Day Everyone Will See Like I Do.
Hunter's POV, Rebellion HQ.
Waking up midway through my nap, I stared towards the ceiling to feel a bit worried. Raptor was still gone. I know he said he would be back tonight, but that doesn't mean he's safe. I do understand how Marx feels though. I don't think Raptor knows what he is to the Rebellion yet. He's the Commander. Losing him is the end of us. Does he know that? I wondered as I turned over to my side.
With my head on the pillow and my eyes drifting back to sleep. I could only hope he knew what he was doing. I hope he's not in over his head. I don't want to imagine what would happen if we lost him right now.
Raptor's POV, A few miles outside Pakistan.
With Black finishing his bottle placement, I kept my eyes and my faint smile on his comrades. They stared right back as I asked the fox named Leo.
"You think Linnen is all he's cracked up to be kid? I may be anti-G.U.N, but even a state citizen who lives under their rule can see he's not all who he appears."
"Shut up." He muttered as I added on.
"Linnen worked his way through the chain. I respect that. But to get there you have to step on so many. And you're Captain is one of them."
"I said shut up Rebellion!" He ordered through slight anger as I chuckled and replied calmly.
"I can't wait till your eyes open."
"They are." He stated as I shook my head.
"If you only knew."
As the words came through to his ears, the wolf by the name of Vector asked.
"What do you mean?"
Looking into his eyes I wondered.
"What?"
Taking a step forward he replied.
"About G.U.N. About Linnen."
Lowering my gaze, I mumbled.
"I know all too much son. And if I told you even one, you may just believe I'm making it up because I'm Rebellion. Like you're friend here." I stated as I looked to Leo who continued to glare at me.
"Convince me then." Urged Vector as Leo widened his eyes to question.
"You can't believe a word he says Vector. This is the man who has already killed over a dozen of our comrades!"
Smiling under my gaze, I corrected.
"Make that a hundred."
With Leo even more convinced I was just a terrorist, he begged Vector.
"Don't bother with him Vector. We're here to protect the states."
With Black approaching, I asked the kid.
"You think I care at all about the states? About you're affairs over the sea?"
Looking to me in confusion, I said to Leo directly.
"I could care less about the states. G.U.N can do whatever they want outside my boarders. And like you I care only about my people and the people who put their faith in me as a leader to their undoings. I am not just their voice, I'm their actions. And because of all the voices I've heard kid I can say without a doubt I'm here on this earth to protect them and the families who starve under your rule! I fight to protect them and this country! So don't accuse me of wanting something as dumb as to take on your homeland. What do I have to gain from such suicidal actions? You tell me."
Leo went silent as Black now stood before me listening.
"My sole reason for living is to protect this."
Grabbing a handful of sand I continued.
"And all the people who walk it. If I live past today and I somehow accomplish that goal, I'll make you a promise I've made others who saw me as more then I say I am."
"What?" Wondered Leo as I looked him in the eye.
"I'll personally let you be the one to end my life."
Leo gulped as I stood up to Black's height to look him in the eye.
"I may be Rebellion. But just like you, I'm a man and a soldier who fights for my people. No one else in this country can do it. All the burden is on me. And I won't let all that burden and hope go to waste sitting around. I don't enjoy the killing. I don't enjoy the pain and suffering. But it's something every leader must withstand in this position. Maybe that's why even if you don't kill me today, I'll want to die later in my life. Hell you might be doing me a favor. But we'll find out after I save my country and my people from this hell you created."
With Black staring me in the eyes along with Vector, I looked to Leo to state.
"You're young. If I was in your position I'd be the same way. You ready?" I asked Black as he nodded with the rifle in his hand.
"Then let's start." I urged as I looked back into his eyes.
All I saw was discontinuation.
Twelve years ago, Capital Building, Afghanistan.
I couldn't believe it. Afghanistan was free. The war with G.U.N was over and it was thanks to the man I never had the pleasure of knowing up till now.
Sitting at the long table in the conference room, I looked among my men and many friends.
Starting to my right was General Hoffer and his friend Archer. A man I heard of for his leadership, but never met till now. He lead Shadow's men in combat. As for Archer, he's a dedicated soldier and one of Shadow's best men. Born leader from my knowledge and one of the main reasons for Afghanistan's success. I was looking forward to working with him.
Next to Archer, sat Marx, and alongside him was Dove. Both loyal people to the cause.
Now towards the end of the table sat Ghost. I've heard too much about him. Shadow's right hand man and best friend. I've heard rumors they were said to be brothers. Or close too it. He had a dark look about him though. One that said he had a rough past. One look I knew all too well.
Taking my eyes away from him I glanced to my left to see my men. Frost, Carver, and Dom. Each wore smiles as I focused my attention towards the head of the table. Commander Shadow Robotnik sat there. I could see something deep in his posture. He looked lost; yet scared. Even in a way he looked dark like Ghost. I think I knew why. I heard some bad things happened before the war was ended on his end. Like his love dying giving birth, and his son being murdered a few hours later. I never took G.U.N to be that cold. But I can understand his emotions towards it. I'm still getting over my wife and...daughter.
With everything silent, I was soon asked the question that everyone had on their minds.
"So will you do it Major?"
With eyes on me, every one of my men thought they knew my response.
"No." I replied.
The room went silent and Frost immediately questioned.
"What!? Why!?"
Shadow kept his head on. I swear he didn't move a muscle. As if he knew it was coming already.
Looking to Shadow, I replied.
"I'm not fit for it. I'm a soldier."
"But so is Shadow Major. You both have a similar background." Stated Hoffer as I shook my head to reply.
"I took command once in my life before. With people I dared to love. I will not do it again and suffer that fate. I can handle my men. I can handle my country. I can handle war. But I will not be the one to lead it. Not this time. I'm sorry Shadow."
"I understand." He replied as I looked to Ghost who asked.
"So you're going to do this? You already did more then enough. Hoffer could take the lead if we had too. You don't need to go through this again Shadow."
"I want too. I have nothing else now. I'll command the Rebellion in Pakistan. And you have my word Raptor we will win."
"I have no doubts. But I want full control over my men. Frost, Dom, Carver and others on my list."
"Deal." Replied Shadow as I nodded.
It all happened so fast. No one knew what to do after that. We sat there for a time...thinking of what to do and say next. Between all that, I stared with Shadow. Our eyes met as if together. I had a feeling we were going to get along well. And he earned more then my respect just now. He earned my life.
Black's POV.
"BANG!"
Spotting the first bottle in seconds, I popped one round through it's case to hear the shatter of the glass beyond the barrel. My men gave a small smile as I looked to Voltz who seemed to be out of it a little.
"You're up." I stated as he took the rifle from me.
Expecting him to get lost where he stood, I widened my eyes as he quickly scoped in to aim at my first hidden bottle.
"BANG!"
Shattering the bottle with ease, I gulped as Leo mumbled.
"Wow that was fast."
"Here." Urged Raptor as he passed back the gun.
Watching as he looked away, I grew confused as his attitude changed in a quick pace from when he last spook. He appeared dark but a little confused. As if he was trying to figure something out. I had no idea what but it wasn't going to stop me.
"Go." I ordered Vector as he counted out loud.
Raising the gun, I scanned for the second bottle to find it resting on the dune ahead covered halfway by sand. Seems he tried to really hide this one. Taking aim I fired as Vector hit five out loud.
"BANG!"
With glass spraying the sand, I looked over to Voltz to state.
"Nice try, but you should know better."
"I should." Replied Raptor as he reached for the gun in my hand.
Taking it from me slowly, our eyes locked. I kept my face straight as he still looked like he was not there.
"Count." He ordered Vector as he took aim to look around.
With a smile coming to my face, I knew he would have trouble finding this one. Like him I hid mine deep in the sand.
"One...Two...BANG!" Cutting Vector off with a round sent downrange, my eyes widened and followed as my bottle broke to pieces.
Letting out a sigh, Raptor mumbled.
"Nice try. You should know better."
Walking back to his chair, I watched with a sarcastic chuckle as he took a seat.
With Vector and Leo silent, I heard from comm.
"Can I just shoot him already boss? End all these dumb games now."
"No." I replied as I took the rifle back into my shoulder to take aim.
"I'm gonna win this." I stated as I nodded to Vector who began to count.
"One...Two...?"
Looking everywhere for the smallest glimpse of the bottle, I soon began to feel panicked as I was not seeing anything in sight.
"Five...Six...Seven?"
Taking my eyes off the scope, I began to look around for myself. It had to be somewhere. But where? I wondered as Vector said.
"Nine...Ten."
Lowering the rifle I asked.
"Where is it?"
Getting up from his seat, Raptor replied.
"Placed behind your eyes Black. I guess you can't believe you see the whole picture. Which must also mean I win our little bet."
Letting out a sigh I heard from Leo.
"You win if you find his!"
Nodding Raptor took the rifle to reply.
"Okay. Count son."
"One...Two...BANG!"
With all of us looking down the course I widened my eyes completely as he found my third bottle in an instant. I cheated too. I hide the whole thing in the sand. Everything but the top of it. How did he see it?
Putting down the gun, Raptor stated.
"I win. Fair and square. Don't you agree with me Captain?"
My whole body wanted to hit him, but I knew I was beaten fair. This son of a bitch played me.
Going back to his seat, Raptor ordered me.
"Call the other two over here. They should be here for you when you find out."
With my mind at a stand still, Vector went to comm.
"Gabe, Tap? Fall in on our position now."
"Roger that." Replied Tap as Gabe came next to reply.
"Be right there Vector."
Taking a seat Raptor waited as Gabe and Tap came from our sides in time to ask.
"What's going on boss?"
"Be ready." Urged Raptor as he looked into my eyes.
With the file still in the sand between us, he ordered.
"Take it Black. But before you open it, let me ask. Do we still have a deal?"
With myself taking a step forward I replied in confusion of what was going to happen when I open this file.
"Yes."
"Cap!" Shouted Leo as Tap and Gabe widened their eyes in loss. Vector was the only one who didn't have a problem with it.
"Okay. Then take it. "
Reaching down to take the file off the sand, I looked to him as he slowly looked away to state.
"I'm sorry for your loss Black."
With my mind feeling lost, I opened the file to take out the papers within. My eyes immediately widened as the first one was a picture of her. She was sitting next to...Commander Robotnik...Shadow. She was smiling. Happy. And older then I knew. She had to be my age by now. And her tummy...it's...?
Folding his chair and placing the rifle away, Raptor packed up his thing to head for his car that was a few meters away.
With everything in focus of the pictures, I flipped to the next one as my men grouped around to see a tear come from my right eye.
In utter shock I witness Shadow Robotnik with a baby to match my sister. I knew what was going on, but I didn't know all this happened while I thought she was dead years ago. Linnen...he...?
Slowly flipping to the next picture I felt my heart snap as I saw her laying down, eyes shut, in a...coffin.
I almost felt my legs give way but Leo and Tap where there to catch me as I now began to cry almost freely.
With Raptor now in his car, I looked behind the pictures to see one of him and others. A group photo where he held my sister tight along with Shadow. He really knew her. He...he didn't lie.
"Black!" I heard him shout as I looked to him in utter loss of what to say.
"If you want to know more, come find me tomorrow after everything is done! You'll know where by then!"
Nodding slowly, I watched as he looked to his side in the car to throw out a black trash bag.
"Oh and here! A gift!"
Handing the file to Vector as Raptor now drove off and away, I approached the bag to look inside.
My eyes widened as I pulled out a glass bottle. His third bottle.
Looking to his car as it drove down the road, I noticed he gave me a thumbs up.
"That asshole." I mumbled as I let out a small chuckle.
"Hehehe...AGHHHHHHHHHHH!"
I know this is late, but I'll keep updating as promised. Please let me know what you think as always. Thanks again guys. I love you all.
mT Shadow.