Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 57 – It's What We Need Now.
Shadow's POV, Barracks.
"Lieutenant." Rockwell held respect for this man. It was clear why. Judging from my first meet with him he was a straight up dude it seemed like. But I can't be fooled by that now. He's after me.
"Sergeant. I wana get an idea of what talent I have among your team. You ready?"
"Yes sir." He replied as he looked back to me to order.
"Let's get out there boys. Show the Lieutenant what you have."
"Yes sir." My squad was a bunch of fools.
With Wreak leading the way outside, he slowly guided us to a makeshift chalk ring. Other squads were already out here doing this. It looked more like a sparring session. It was a set up by their standards.
As we stopped before the ring; Rockwell wondered.
"How you wana do it sir?"
Wreak looked to him to reply.
"One on one. I wana see who the best hand to hand fighter is here. That person will receive the rank of Corporal and be consider the XO of this team. Do you understand men?"
"Yes sir." I replied with my squad who was clearly excited to fight.
"Who wants to go first?" Asked Rockwell as I thought to myself.
Clearly Wreak wants to see me defend myself. If I jump the gun and go all out, that will be a problem for my cover. They want to see if I'm trained. But bad news for them, is that I'm perfect at acting. Raising my hand I replied.
"I'll go sir."
Giving me a smile and a quick clap, Rockwell replied.
"That's what I want to hear! Who wants to face Verbeck?!"
Looking to the four other men on my team, I watched as a hand raised.
"I'll do it." A firm standing hedgehog much like myself took the offer. However he appeared the most flexible. I bet he's got a quick jab. My best plan is to let him strike first, take a hit, then wait till he goes in for a second. When he does, I'll kick his legs out and palm him. Quick and not too impressive. Common move among soldiers. It won't break my cover by any means. And taking the first blow might make Wreak question my reaction time. Which is a good thing since he thinks I'm more then I lead on to be.
"Okay! Step inside you two! Let's see what you got!" Shouted Rockwell as I walked into the ring with my opponent.
The fighter before me was clearly confident. Cocky even. I hope he enjoys getting the first hit.
"Fight!" Shouted Wreak as he stood beside me outside the ring.
Wreak's POV.
My eyes watched very closely as the fight began. Much to my surprise the first hit landed on Verbeck's nose. I watched as he began to back up and bleed a little.
"Keep that guard up Shadow!" Ordered Rockwell as he nodded and got back in front of the young kid who just gave a quick jab.
Watching as he readied himself once more, I widened my eyes as the kid sent another jab at him. But this time I watched as he was grabbed by the frontal arm and swept out from underneath himself. Verbeck used his left leg to sweep him onto the ground under him. Not only that, but as he pinned him down; he also finished with a strong palm.
His opponent was clearly taken by surprise. Resting under his feet, Shadow stood up after releasing his arm to wipe his nose off of blood.
"Nice counter Shadow! Perfectly demonstrated! Help your comrade up now!"
I watched as he offered his down friend his hand.
"You good?" He asked him as I continued to watch with a slight bit of surprise still.
Shadow's POV.
"I'm okay. Nice move Shadow." Stated my squad mate as he got back on his feet with my help.
After walking out of the ring, I looked back at Wreak to ask.
"Should I still go?"
Nodding he replied.
"Yeah. Who's up next?"
Looking to my team as I still wiped off my nose from the jab, I watched as a slim fox came into the ring to wonder.
"Ready?"
Nodding my head, I readied myself.
Judging from this guy I could see his arms were long. He was capable of reaching me from far out. I would have to duck then take him down.
"Fight!" Shouted Wreak from the sidelines.
Immediately the fox sent a hook at me. Quickly ducking under his arm, I swung up into his stomach.
"Bash! Ugh!"
I used a lot of force and I felt it, but I wanted one good and fast fight. I wasn't going to take another jab just yet.
Falling down slightly before me, I roughly ran a hook into his right cheek.
"Bash!"
I didn't have to use much power to knock him down. As he fell Rockwell ordered.
"That's enough!"
Quickly heading for the downed fox, I stated.
"You need to follow up faster next time. You have reach. Use it."
Taking my hand the fox replied.
"Thanks. Nice job Shadow."
Giving him a smile, I looked to Rockwell as he ordered the next guy into the ring to fight me.
Along came the biggest guy we had. A larger set bear. I believe his name was Kyle. He looked sweet to be honest. I can't imagine him doing anything more then trying to out power me. And after such an easy fight last time I might have to let him do something to me. I already knew how to take him down, it's just a matter of showing I'm not the best fighter to Wreak who was still watching me like a hawk.
"Fight!" He shouted as the bear approached me with a grapple.
Letting him grab me, I was quickly lifted off my feet and thrown to the side. Landing on my back, I looked up to see him coming in with a heavy kick.
Lifting up my arm to absorb the blow, I rolled to the edge of the ring to quickly push up onto my feet.
As I straightened up, I waited for the bear to come in with other attack.
This time swinging his meaty arm, I ducked to the side to take him from the inside. Caught off guard by my sudden grapple, the bear began to shout.
"Ohhhh ohhhhhhhhh!"
Lifting him off his feet with what power I had, I sent him out the ring sideways. My squad on the sidelines began to clap and cheer as I caught my breath.
Approaching me; Wreak stated.
"That's some power there kid. Outstanding."
Nodding my head as I looked up at Rockwell, I locked eyes to state.
"I'm fine. Bring it on."
Giving me a chuckle the Sergeant questioned.
"You sure Verbeck?! You seem tired!"
"I'm good. Trust me."
Nodding, Rockwell looked to our last squad member.
A fairly built wolf. He looked the most capable when it came to this stuff. And against my morals this would be where I would take my fall. I can't win all these fights. It's what Wreak wants to see. I'll fight in the beginning but after that I'll let the guy get one good hit in. After that we'll see what happens.
Readying myself as the wolf entered the ring, I looked over to Wreak himself. He was waiting for it. I hope I don't disappoint.
"Fight!" He shouted as I made the first move this time.
Sending a jab forward I hit the wolf in the chin; pushing him back. Quickly I sent a second on purpose to watch as he countered with a fast strike to my chest.
Taking the hit and pulling back, I immediately sent a hook as he came in for the upper hand attack.
Ducking under my fist, I readied myself as he lifted his right arm back up and under my chin.
"Bash!"
I wasn't use to eating uppercuts, so with a little actual pain, I widened my eyes as the wolf hooked me in the face.
Letting myself fall to the ground and onto my hands and knees, I looked up with blood on my lip to watch as he was about to stomp me down into the dirt.
Raising my hand to attempt to block it, I shut my eyes as it came in fast.
"Stop!"
With no boot hitting me, I looked to the side to see Wreak order.
"Help him up."
Looking back to the wolf, I took his hand as he asked.
"You good man?"
Nodding I replied.
"Yeah I'm fine. Nice punch you got there."
Chuckling under his breath as Wreak approached, he replied.
"Thanks. Not too bad yourself. I only wish I was the first one to go against you. Didn't seem fair."
"I second that." Stated Rockwell as Wreak looked at me to ask.
"You need a minute?"
Shaking my head, I replied.
"No sir. Just a scratch."
Nodding Wreak replied.
"Well good. Cause you earned that promotion fair and square. What you think Rockwell?"
"I couldn't agree more Lieutenant. You did good Shadow. All of you did good. We have some things to cover still for sure, but I liked what I saw today.
With things beginning to shimmer down, I wiped my lip as Wreak asked Rockwell.
"I'm gonna take him off your hands for a minute Rockwell. I'll give him back in a bit."
"Yes sir." Replied Rockwell as Wreak tapped my shoulder to order as he walked by.
"Come on kid. I wana talk for a minute."
Nodding my head, I began to follow him along the outside of the capital gates. This was now a situation I had to be ready for. He was going to try and get me to talk. I know all their games before they even play them with me. As long as they kept things this obvious; I would have the upper hand every time.
Out of site and out of mind, Wreak asked.
"I'm sorry for how the Major treated you earlier. He's not usually that way with new people. You okay from all that?"
Keeping my tone at a calm pace, I replied.
"My neck is a bit sore but I'll live Lt. And don't worry about it. People tend not to like me much anyway."
Looking at me sideways, he questioned.
"Why? You seem to be the more relaxed type."
"Hehe, more like the "leave me alone and I won't fuck with you type." A lot of people think I'm weird and a loner most of the time.
"Yeah, but if they saw what you could do they would say otherwise." Stated Wreak as I quickly replied in my most convincing tone.
"Well to be honest; I didn't get out much up till now. You could call me a social outcast. I haven't really had too much human contact if you know what I mean."
Nodding his head, Wreak asked.
"You always been that way?"
Nodding back, I replied.
"More or less."
"So why change your ways all the sudden then?" He wondered as I looked him in the eyes to reply.
"I've been in the dark for so long. I've had time to see my home go to shit thanks to G.U.N. And to be honest, before the Rebellion, it really felt like no one was doing anything to stop it. I was always afraid to stand up by myself. I knew I wouldn't get far. But after I saw the Commander today give that speech and take care of General Monroe all with the help of just a few guys, I feel like now there is some hope for saving it all. You know what I mean?" I asked with a smile as he smiled back to reply.
"He can be a convincing guy at times; let me tell you. But hey, let me give you some advice. Man to man."
Nodding to show that I wanted to hear it, he stated.
"The Commander is no joke to play around with. You want to stay alive and see the end of this war?You stay on his good side."
"Was he really in charge of Special Forces back when...Commander Robotnik was in charge?"
Wreak caught on to my set tone, to reply.
"He was. Why did you say the Commander's name like that?"
Lowering my eyes I replied.
"I'm not blind to what he was. Commander Robotnik was a great leader I heard. I even heard stories that he basically won the war himself. Everyone admired him. Called him a hero. The savior of the Middle East. And when I heard he had taken his own life, me along with most of the people who followed him lost most of our faith".
Wreak now listened as I went on to say.
"Before all that; people asked if I was him. Cause you know...I look a lot like him. I've seen pictures. It's almost like we were brothers, or he was my dad or something. A lot of people who knew him even said I sounded like him. Hell I'm pretty sure you and the Major thought that as well right?"
Wreak nodded as I finished.
"After he died, people saw me like I was nothing more then walking memory that only brought pain. I'm use to the treatment now, but it still has always been a part of my life. I don't want to be seen as Shadow Robotnik Lieutenant. I just want to be Shadow Verbeck."
Wreak was completely caught off guard by my sudden emotion towards the subject. I think I had him. Slowly resting his hand on my shoulder he replied.
"I can't imagine what that is like. And I'll be honest, when I saw you I immediately thought it was the real deal back from the dead. Most of the veterans I'm sure did too when they saw you. Hell you even had the Major fooled."
"I'm not trying to fool anyone though." I stated back as he nodded to quickly restate.
"I know your not. Sorry. I'm not good with words. What I'm trying to say is that you can think of it this way. You said people always thought of you as a walking memory that only brought pain, right?"
I nodded as he finished.
"Think of it this way. With the Rebellion back in the driver's seat and Iraq starting to blossom once more, it's more like your a symbol of him. Wherever you are, people will now see hope. And with you fighting in the Rebellion alongside us; it only helps your cause. Soon everyone will look at you for what you are. Not just what was."
I knew I had Wreak fooled. He really was meaning what he was saying. I felt almost bad that I was making him do this for me.
Giving him a smile, I said with a slight bit of happiness to my voice.
"Thank you. I hope that comes sooner rather then later."
Letting me go he replied.
"You keep doing your best and excelling at what you do, and it will happen very soon I'm sure. But I need to get back to business here and ask. Do you know what it means to be a leader? Cause with this promotion comes the need to be ready in case anything was to happen to Sergeant Rockwell. All those kids back there will look to you to lead them on that day. Are you prepared for that?"
Nodding I replied.
"I'll never been prepared for something like that in my life. But I promise you lieutenant; when that day comes, I'll stand up for them and keep them safe. Even if it kills me."
Wreak instantly smiled and replied.
"That's what I like to here. Congratulations."
"Thank you sir." I replied as he went to walk away.
"Report back to Rockwell and keep up the good work Corporal. I'm glad we had this talk."
"Me too sir. Bye."
Watching as Wreak made his way back to the Capital building, I let out a breath to say to myself.
"One down. One to go."
There is still time to vote on weather or not Raptor should send Shadow's team out on a combat mission, or if he should assign Hunter to monitor him. Please make sure to leave your vote in review and make sure to let me know what you thought of this chapter. Thank you everyone. I'll have two chapters up tomorrow for you all to read.
mT Shadow.