Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 86 – You All Are People I Trust.
Gorgon's POV, Pakistan Dunes.
"Gorgon!" I heard through the ringing in my ears as I nearly passed out.
Opening my eyes I found myself about twenty feet from where I once stood. Rolling over to my side I gagged.
"Ughhhh...fuck!"
Looking around my general area, I found the men from Gen Sec dead and the bodies of Ruby and Jagger tossed to two complete different locations from where they once were laying. My men on the other hand were laying among the outside of the blast radius. Scrotus was the first to come too and in a panic he shouted again.
"Gorgon!"
I wanted to speak but I couldn't. Looking down to my legs I widened my eyes in fear as I found both of them torn to shreds from the explosion. I could barely move them. Along with that I felt some shrapnel in my stomach and hip.
With blood spilling out from my legs, I tried my best to crawl out of the small crater I had landed in. It took all my power, but as I got out I let out another thick gag. This time my own blood came up from my mouth and I watched as it covered the sand in front of me. In pain I laid back down and began to breath calmly.
"Fucking Voltz. I should have known he would have rigged the bodies." I said to myself as I looked back at my legs.
"I've never been touched. Not one injury on my record. Not a single soldier lost under my command. Voltz single handily took both of those accolades away from me just now. And he's nothing more then an old rebellion soldier. Hehehe fucking guy got me though. I respect that. He doesn't play by the rules and I like that. This might be the first time I have to kill someone who stands a chance. But for now I'm giving him too much credit. I need to get up." I told myself as I felt around my belt for my silver case.
Soon pulling out one of my special syringes, I lifted it to my eyes to look at the goo resting inside. I haven't used this once in the field before all this mess happened. Let's see if Hecan really did give me the good stuff just in case I got hurt.
Jabbing the shot into my right leg, I let out a gasp. It felt like I couldn't breath.
Shutting my eyes and exposing my teeth in pain, I forced myself to look as my legs and all the cuts resealed themselves. My skin was still burned but the pain was going away. That's all that mattered.
In moments I felt my legs come back to me.
"Ughhhh!" Groaning, I gently sat up to start picking the shards out of my hip and stomach. As each came out; the cuts healed and I felt closer and closer to being able to move again.
This whole time however I didn't notice my head was slashed open. Blood started to ooze down my right eye as the venom went to work sealing it back up. Feeling as if my brain was on fire, I suddenly felt a feeling of relief come over me. The venom must have finished.
"Come on." I urged myself as I tried to carefully stand up.
Putting pressure on my legs, I let out a thick breath as I felt a sharp pain still in the bones themselves. It felt like at any moment I was going to snap in two just walking out of this crater.
Scrotus's POV.
"What the fuck was that?" Asked Tusk as he helped me up from the ground.
"I don't know. Gorgon!" I shouted as I was worried he was hurt. He was right next to the blast when it went off.
With Tusk and myself looking around for our Captain, we both panicked as Blitz popped his head out from the sand.
"Can I get some help guys?" He asked.
With both Tusk and I finding our largest comrade completely buried, we approached and began to dig him out.
"You hurt?" I asked as he shook his head.
"I'm good. That was one hell of a blast. It took out those mercs real quick. You find the Captain yet?"
Taking my hand, Blitz got out of his hole and began to dust himself off.
"I haven't seen him. He has to be close by. Gorgon! Where are you!?" I shouted as I looked to the crater to see him coming up from the hole slowly.
In a rush, the three of us ran for him; to widen our eyes as he reached the top.
"Oh fuck." Mumbled Tusk as Gorgon was torn to shreds. The three of us knew this was bad. His legs looked broken in half and he had large amounts of blood running down his face, stomach, and legs. This was the first time he's ever truly been hurt. After everything we've been through, this was the one to get him. And almost kill him by the looks of it.
"You guys okay?" He asked with blood covered teeth as I saw he had an empty syringe in his hand.
"You really did have to use it." I stated as he tossed the empty syringe into the crater behind him.
Walking up to us and heading to the nearby Humvee, he ordered.
"Let's get heading back. I need to see Linnen."
"Is that the best idea Captain? What about Voltz?" I asked as Blitz got under his shoulder to help him walk easier.
Looking back at me he replied.
"We will get him. Trust me on that. Voltz won't get away with what he did to Ruby and Jagger. But first we need to see Drake. He has to answer for all this. I told him to just let me handle Voltz. Now Ruby and Jagger are dead and I'm in no mood for any more of his bullshit. We're taking charge of the situation and doing this our way. Fuck what he has to say about any of this. We all know he's just in it for himself. Which reminds me, Tusk? Go retrieve our comrades. I'm not leaving them to rot out here in this hell."
Nodding, Tusk made his way back towards the crater. With Gorgon getting in the back of the Humvee with Blitz's help, I approached to wonder.
"What about Lore?"
Looking me in the eyes Gorgon replied.
"Leave that to me. Linnen knows he needs us right now. He won't sell us out. He can't afford it right now. Trust me. Now get in."
"You okay Cap?" Asked Blitz as I took the driver's seat.
Nodding Gorgon replied.
"I'm okay. The venom I had took care of everything. I just need some time to collect my bearings. Don't worry about me big guy."
Smiling Blitz replied.
"I'm never worried. I know who you are boss."
Chuckling Gorgon replied.
"Damn right."
"I'm surprised your not going berserk Cap." I stated as Gorgon looked back at me to reply.
"Oh trust me, I'm mad. Voltz will not get away with all he's done. You know just as well as me that I will not stand for what he did to Ruby and Jagger. Fuck what he did to me, it just makes me want to taste his blood more now that's he's the first to hurt me like this. I never had to touch the venom till now. But I respect a prey who makes the hunt worth while. By the end of this war the four of us will drive the rebellion to their knees and Voltz's head will be my new memento."
"You got that right." I replied as I started the engine.
With Gorgon relaxing and Blitz now getting out to help Tusk with the bodies of our comrades. We all soon regrouped and proceeded back to the main gate leading into the city. Inside I trusted no one more then Gorgon. I just hope he knows what he's doing with Linnen. Like it or not, he can fuck up our lives with one phone call.
Hunter's POV, Later that night, Iraq capital, Raptor's office.
I still couldn't believe what I witnessed. It was borderline sadistic. Did Jagger and Ruby really deserve that? I wondered as I sat in Raptor's office with Marx, Mason and Archer. We all awaited Raptor's return. And as things around the room seemed quiet, we all looked to the door as he came in with Black behind him. Immediately everyone stood up as Raptor glanced to me then back to Mason.
"How'd it go?" Asked Archer as Raptor stayed where he was to reply.
"It went well. If anything the message was sent and Gorgon now knows who he is messing with."
"Good." Replied Archer as Raptor looked back to Mason to ask.
"When you heading back?"
"After this conversation. I'll have Char flown down in the morning. After he arrives just give me a call and I'll make sure you get to Afghanistan safely this time."
"He has me Mason. You have nothing to concern yourself with when it comes to the Commander's safety." Stated Black as Archer immediately jumped in to urge.
"You and your men are still trouble in my eyes Black. I thank you for getting Raptor back but leave his safety to me."
With tensions rising between those two already, Raptor grew tired and took command to shout.
"Shut the fuck up! Both of you!"
Archer and Black now stared at Raptor as he focused on Archer first.
"Archer I understand why you don't trust Black or his men. I'm fully aware of it in fact. I respect you and you know that. You of all people are one of the few guys I have left in this world to call family. So please do me a favor and don't get mad when I tell you this. But as of tonight Black and his men are my protection. They will do nothing more then stay by my side till the end of this war, or the end of me. Whichever comes first. That's final on that subject. And Black?"
"Yes Commander?" He replied as Archer listened closely.
"I know how Archer is. I know for a fact he can get on your nerves. But regardless I need you two to get along. We will not get anywhere just fighting with one another. I need both of you to put aside your petty differences and work together. Do you two understand?"
"Yes sir." Replied Black as Raptor looked to Archer for his response.
Letting out a sigh Archer replied.
"I got it."
Nodding Raptor replied back.
"Good. Now on to more urgent matters. Wreak is dead."
Everyone went silent as Raptor said that so bluntly.
"This means I'm down a leader. I need another man who can lead the men into battle. I know he's young but he is the only reason you guys knew I was captured in the first place. Because of that effort, I am giving Char the rank of Lieutenant and Wreak's position. He will train the troops and mold them into brothers. I have no one better and I have no worries in his ability to do this. Does anyone disagree?"
No one said a word. I was honestly scared to talk. Raptor was someone different right now. He seemed so in control of himself. It was like he wasn't worried at all.
"Then it's settled. Now with that out of the way, I need one last thing from all of you."
"Was is it?" Wondered Archer as Raptor replied.
"Tomorrow morning we find this spy. I want all the men gathered outside. We will root out the culprit. Once he is found I want to make an example of him. With a spy in our ranks, no one is safe. I will not sleep well at night till I know my home is really my safe haven. Is this clear to everyone?"
Everyone nodded and with a slow turn Raptor looked to me to say.
"We have an idea of who the spy may already be. Hunter I need you to keep watching Shadow. I have a feeling Linnen will contact the spy soon if he already hasn't and tell him to ditch the phone. If that's the case and he already has I still want him monitored for his next move. We want him to feel safe. Can you do this for me?"
"Yes Raptor. I can." I replied in a shook up tone as he noticed my voice cracking to him.
Ignoring it however, Raptor looked back to Archer to order.
"We both know when someone is lying Archer. If we find this guy and he doesn't check out, we'll know for a fact the spy is still loose. In that case I want you to help with the questioning."
"Yes sir." Replied Archer as Raptor now looked around to us all.
"Everyone is free to go rest up. Tomorrow is a busy day and I want everyone at one hundred percent. Understood?"
"Yes sir." Everyone now replied as Raptor then shouted.
"Dismissed!"
With Black remaining in the room as everyone else left one after the other, I was caught off guard as Raptor shouted.
"Hunter!?"
Looking back to him I replied.
"Yes?"
"Come here." He urged me as I approached his desk. Black watched closely as Raptor stood up to get even with me. Our eyes locked once more, but this time I saw concern in his eyes as he let out a sigh to state.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" I asked in confusion as he quickly glanced to Black then back at me.
"You know what. I told you I wasn't going to be the man you know me to be during the interrogations. I know everything we did seemed sadistic and to a point I will agree with you. I can't deny that I am a monster Hunter."
"I just...I just didn't expect you to take charge like that Raptor." I replied as he grabbed my shoulder with his one hand to state.
"All I cared about was getting revenge for Wreak. Archer was the same way and Black...well he has his own reasons I'm sure." Gently I looked to see Black staring at me. With a single nod he said.
"The Commander is right Hunter. We all had our reasons to act that way. But I can assure you if we didn't do the things we did then Jagger and Ruby would have both stayed quiet. When it comes to Users, there is no playing around. It's war and bad things happen. You witnessed it first hand. Sometimes it's just something you have to do. And part of me was acting out for revenge as well. Wreak was a great man I could tell. Losing him puts us in a deep spot. And now that we got the info we needed we can go back to our daily lives and keep building this rebellion." Stated Black as Raptor refocused me on him to add.
"I just don't want you being upset with me. Your one of the few good things I have left in my life and I can't imagine losing you because I scared you away. But I need you to understand that if you feel the same way what so ever, that kind of thing is just something you need to expect to see from now on from me. Cause I promise it won't be the last time."
"This is all new to me Raptor. You can't expect me to get used to it like it was nothing in a matter of seconds."
Shaking his head Raptor replied.
"I don't expect you to. That's why I want to help you along the way. If you expect to live till the end you got to do what is necessary Hunter. Even if it makes you seem evil to those you care about. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" He asked as I nodded my head to urge.
"Just give me time Raptor."
Pulling away from him and heading to the door to his office, I was stopped in my tracks as he asked.
"Are you upset with me?"
Looking back at him I smiled.
Raptor's POV.
"No. I'm not. Goodnight Commander." She replied with a bright smile as she left my office. Feeling some relief in my heart, I looked to Black as he stated.
"You did the right thing. What we did to Jagger and Ruby wasn't wrong. It was necessary. Soon she'll understand that fully."
"I know she will." I replied as I reached into my desk to pull out a small white folder. Black watched closely as I lifted up the fold to expose what was inside. His eyes widened as I went for my office door.
"Take care of them. It's all I have left of her. Close the door when you leave. I'll see you in the morning...Captain."
Black's POV.
With my heart racing and my hands shaking, I slowly picked up the pictures from the folder Raptor left for me. It was nothing more then pictures of Amy. Pictures I never saw before. With tears coming to my eyes, I picked them up and put them under my vest.
"God damn it." I mumbled to myself as I wiped my face and turned for the exit.
Holding my chest with my right hand as I left the office, I proceeded outside the Capital. I needed time to look at these. I needed to truly see my sister for who she was.
With my mind racing at the event, I smiled slightly and headed off for any dark corner where I would be left alone. Once there I planned to stare at these for a long time. A very long time.
mT Shadow.