Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 105 – You need to understand.
Raptor's POV.
"I want this conversation to start by saying what I say here doesn't leave this room. I also want it to be clear I fully respected Shadow Robotnik. I know you two were very close up till the end of his death. What I say should not be taken as me trying to be disrespectful. Just like Shadow was a symbol for his country, I am to mine. As you are to yours. Is that clear?" Asked Hecan as I just remained silent. After a second of him just staring at me I replied.
"Yes sir. I understand."
Nodding Hecan then went on to say.
"Shadow lead this place. This country. In fact he profoundly ran and united Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Something no one has been able to do for a long time. Before him came Logan who turned out to be a turn coat. Before him was I believe your father. If I am not mistaken his name was Bishop correct?"
Zeta with wide eyes asked in confusion.
"Wait. Your father was a leader Raptor?"
I nodded my head as Hecan then replied.
"And a decent one from what I remember. A lot has happened since then. But Shadow was the first to successfully unite everyone together. Logan was stuck in Afghanistan and your father Raptor was trying to unite his home of Pakistan with Iraq during his reign."
"Wait I didn't know Raptor's dad led the rebellion. When was this?" Asked Zeta in curiousness as Hecan looked to me to see I was clearly uncomfortable talking about it, and for good reason.
"Now this was years ago. I wasn't even in office myself yet. I believe I was still in congress for the most part. So as you can imagine this was right in the beginning when the rebellion wasn't even an army. It was more of a group of people who believed in free rule over the region. At the time the man running my outfit out here was Commander Lehigh. He was here for most; if not all the wars that came. Up till Shadow killed him in Afghanistan thirteen years ago." Stated Hecan as he took a sip of his drink. Once done he went on to say.
"Logan, who was around when Shadow first joined his cause, also died by his hand. Then did Lehigh's replacement Commander Reacher. After of course this happened, Shadow and I drew up the first treaty as we all know."
"Wait what happened to your father then?" Questioned Zeta as Hecan sat back to look at me.
Zeta then went from him to me. With all eyes on me, I said with anger behind my words.
"I killed him."
Zeta went silent in what I could imagine be shock. Hecan just sat where he was. Not a movement from him as I said again.
"I killed my father. For good reasons and for my own selfish ones."
"Why?" Asked Zeta as I just went on to add.
"I also killed my mother and my sister in the process. It's not something I wish to remember nor talk about."
"But...?" Zeta didn't know what to say as she tried to comprehend the truth. Hecan on the other hand said with a lower tone, almost sounding understanding to my words.
"I wasn't there for the deal Raptor. But I know the story. I know how my government treated you. Made you do it."
"I didn't have to be forced. Despite the choices I had at the time. When Lehigh came to me I was willing to work with him in fact. And I did." I stated as Hecan sat up to ask.
"So what really happened then Raptor? This is all in the past and it will stay there. But for my sake I would like to understand." He stated as he handed me my glass from off the counter in front of us.
Zeta was shocked to say the least now. She just stared right at me as I sat up to take the glass from his hand. After taking the drink down in a single gulp I replied.
"My father had the hopes of convincing all three countries to stand up and fight against G.U.N's rule. I was but eighteen when it really started to hit home that this dream of his was actually more then just a smoke trail. He started not coming home. Ignoring my mother. Yelling at my sister. He was focused. Focused on fighting. Sometimes he would try to convince me to help him since I was of age. But I never did."
"Why?" Asked Hecan as I calmly replied back.
"Because I was pissed. I never wanted to be a killer. I never wanted to be in this position. When I was younger I wanted to be an artist. You know? Paint and draw. Maybe be the next Michelangelo. Focusing on that kept my head above the waters my dad was raising as I got older. When it started getting bad I grew to hate him. I'd go off on him every time I would get the chance. Just to tell him how much he was ruining the family he made."
A tear broke from my eye as my voice began to crack from emotion alone.
"My mother did all she could to keep us two from killing each other. She even went as far as to deny the damage he was causing. All I wanted was a dad! But I never got that!" I shouted as Hecan was just watching me break.
Catching the tears that ran down my eyes I went on to say.
"When I turned eighteen my dad wanted me to join up with the rebellion. To train. He said all my anger would turn me into a great soldier. I mean he was right about that at least. But I didn't join the rebellion." I stated as Zeta was now just concerned for me mentally. Looking to her I said directly.
"I went to Lehigh. They had room to take in locals who wanted to move out of country. But as war was nearing thanks to my dad, everyone who signed up stayed. We had to fight. I joined G.U.N and they taught me the basics. Which I excelled at. I was so good I even got placed with special forces."
Looking back to Hecan I then said.
"Of course I didn't tell anyone. Being the son to the rebellion Commander would ruin his career. So I kept it a secret. When things started to get real bad and Lehigh found out who I really was I was pulled aside. The conversation went like this. Kill your father. End this senseless bloodbath. Be a hero. Have things be placed right in the world again." I stated as Hecan then said.
"But that didn't turn out the way you wanted it to right?"
Nodding I replied.
"Lehigh's top brass had me by the balls. Said if I didn't they would just kill me. I didn't want to die and I was already mad enough to consider the option of murdering that old man of mine. So despite it all I agreed. Later that week I got my dad to come out with me alone for a drive. We went outside the city to talk. There is a place I really loved out there that I wanted to always show him. The stars were beautiful back then. Of course he agreed. Probably thought I wanted to finally help him. But...?"
I couldn't keep it all in anymore. Hecan nodded and urged.
"Take your time. Juper?"
Juper nodded and carefully handed me a handkerchief from his side. Using it wipe my face, I took a moment to try and calm down. Zeta didn't know how to act right now. She was caught in the middle of all this. If I knew this was going to be brought up, I would have just told her to stay in the car after all.
After sometime, I took a breath and said in a mixture of anger and sadness.
"When we got out there I told him everything. Told him about me and G.U.N. He lost his shit hehe! I can still hear his voice yelling at me. Asking me how I could join such a cause. Asking me where he went wrong. Where he went wrong!" I shouted as Zeta now was seeing a side of me that I tried to forget.
Laying back in the chair I was in, I was almost out of breath. But I finally said it.
"When he began to cry to me about how sorry he was, I shot him. Bang. Right in the chest."
Zeta had her eyes wide open to the truth. Hecan remained silent as I went on to say.
"It felt so good to finally do it. To do what I contemplated countless times in my head. When he hit the ground I just stared at him. Blood left his mouth as he tried to say something to me. At that point I just aimed the gun at him again and said. It could've been different. His eyes just stared at me as I shot him in the head."
"Did you go to Lehigh after?" Wondered Hecan as I shook my head.
"I called him first. I couldn't move from that spot for a while. So when I told him he said there was one last thing to do. I told him I already knew. He promised no harm would come to me after it was done. So I went home and killed my mother and sister as they slept. After that it was over." I stated as I ran out of words to really say. Zeta couldn't say anything as Hecan took another sip from his glass to let me try and take a breath.
"Now from what I know. After Bishop was killed. You went on to work with Lehigh for a few years right?"
"Just one." I replied as he nodded.
"I worked with him doing mostly wet work. There were still plenty of people fighting in the name of my father. In fact it got even bigger once Logan took control in Afghanistan. Then a fairly big group got together here in Pakistan."
"That's when you turned tail and joined the rebellion am I correct?" Questioned Hecan as I nodded.
"I was the only survivor from my family's slaughter. The public was told my father died in a house fire along with my mother and sister. Truth was I just lit the house up when I left. They never found my dad's body though. Even when I went back to that spot myself I couldn't find it. I'm pretty sure some wild dogs might have found him that night. Cause not a single thing was left of him."
Hecan again just nodded as I went on to say.
"People saw me as a faint hope that my dad's dream could come true still. I couldn't see it myself. Not till I met my first wife Julie. Only after I met her was when it really all started to make sense. I understood why my dad had to do what he did. I was just too stubborn to see it before it was too late."
Lowering my head. I tried to keep up with my face. Tears still managed to come forth as Hecan then asked.
"That's when Lehigh had your wife and daughter killed right?"
Zeta widened her eyes again as I didn't look up. I just mumbled.
"Yeah. That's when it all happened."
Putting his glass down, Hecan sat back up to say.
"Now the rest is pretty straight forward from my knowledge. You went on to lead rebellion special forces teams for the next five years. Up till the point where Lehigh died and Shadow took control of Afghanistan. You then denied leading the Pakistan rebellion and instead gave it to Shadow who quickly agreed. You then lead his guard and his special forces teams in the war to follow up till his victory and unfortunate death. Correct?"
Looking back up at him I replied.
"Correct."
"Now I'm confident you believe in what your father believed in. Yes?"
"Yeah." I replied as he nodded and reached down to his side to show me a mailing tube. Placing it on the table he went on to say.
"What happened can't be undone. And I do not blame you. Growing up in your position couldn't have been easy. And you were put in a lot of tough spots. I can't undo what Lehigh did to you Raptor I just can't and I'm sorry. If it were up to me none of that would have happened. Your family...both of your families may still be alive."
With Juper handing me another glass, I said thanks and took it down quickly. Zeta hadn't touched hers, as I put down the glass to look back at Hecan who had undid the cap off the mailing tube.
"All I can do now is try to make things better. Just like Shadow had tried to do. Just like your trying to do. Now this is a treaty." He stated as he pulled out a long slip of paper. My eyes went wide in loss as Zeta even dragged her attention away from me to look at it.
"This is not the one Linnen and whoever leads your rebellion right now will sign tomorrow. This is an actual treaty. The same one Shadow signed twelve years ago. Right now this is top secret. Only known to me and the people in this room. I know you have the first one back in Iraq somewhere in the capital. After this is signed Raptor that won't be nothing more then a history document for future generations to awe at behind a locked cabinet."
"What?" I questioned as he handed me the paper.
"I don't want war. I try my best to avoid senseless death. But I have little to no control over my Commanders. I hold a desk in the safest place in the world. They hold guns in the most dangerous places of the world. I can't see everything that happens. I can merely try to listen and act before it gets worse. Now as I said nobody knows about this document in you're hands. And nobody will know till Linnen has been dealt with."
"This contract is a perfect copy of the one Shadow died for." I stated as Hecan nodded and replied.
"It's better. In that contract it offers all three countries everything you could ever want from a free government. But it also allows my nation to offer trade and things you're country can't find out here. In order to have a peaceful world Raptor we need to work this out together. No fighting. Just working alongside each other. It will allow all three countries to open trade routes with the west and once it is signed I will be more then happy to set down the exact routes."
My eyes went from him back down to the contract. What he claimed was all true.
"It also states that no matter what happens, even if you die the day after its signed. You will remain a free country and appoint a leader as seen fit. There will be no voiding this treaty. It will be a fact forever that the middle east is it's own free nation. I wanted to offer it to Shadow but I merely couldn't back then. Now I can. All I need you to do is sign this now. After the war is fought. After Linnen is dead. Me and you will meet again, and we will make it official. This way after you deal with Gorgon all you need to do is focus on the present. There will be no need for you to worry about my offer. You can just focus. Which is what this nation needs. Look it over good. If there is anything you don't agree with say so now and I will have it changed." Stated Hecan as I just looked right back at him in loss. With a smile he said.
"I'm a leader for world peace. Your a leader for world peace. Starting with us. Me and you. We can make this happen globally. It all starts with trust between you and I. What do you say?" He asked as I looked back to the contract.
Zeta got up to stand alongside me. She was just as interested as I was in reading this whole contract. This was crazy. Everything I was fighting for was in my hands, and no one was allowed to know about it. Not till the end. The contract was perfect. It gave the middle east everything I wanted and more. Every bit of freedom we had would be returned to us and we would be able to rebuild with G.U.N's help. They wouldn't place any military in our borders and we would be free to run our own official government. Have our own military. Not just a rebellion. Zeta was in awe of it as well and with a smile she said to me.
"This is what you wanted right? This is what everyone wants Raptor."
"I know." I replied in absolute astonishment.
With my eyes nearing the end of the treaty, I looked up as Hecan had his hand out offering me a pen. Very slowly I took it from his hand to place the contract down on the table. I almost couldn't keep still as I tried to level myself with the tip of the pen.
Hecan noticed I was hesitating, and with a smile he said.
"I'm a man of my word Raptor. There is no games here being played. Having the middle east become the first free nation will show the world and others in my government that we can do better then just force control and regulations. And once time has passed and your nation grows to rival mine? That's when the whole world will see the potential this kind of leadership has and not just one country but all of them will beg to join you. Everyone will work together and once that happens this world will be something to behold. We will have one hell of a future. Hahaha!" He laughed as I smiled back to his joy.
With all eyes on me, I signed my name to the paper. Hecan immediately offered me his hand and standing up I took it and he brought me in for a hug.
"Now we can get the ball rolling!" He shouted as he offered me another glass and even passed one to Juper and Zeta who both took it in hand.
After clinking glasses and the four of us downing a shot, Hecan sat back down to say.
"Thank you Raptor for coming here. I know right now your focus is not only on the future."
Nodding to his statement I replied.
"Yes sir. And since I'm here can I ask you something?"
In an instant he replied.
"Of course. Go ahead."
Retaking my seat along with Zeta, I then asked.
"How do I get to Gorgon?"
Looking to Juper he replied.
"As you know Gorgon will be with me and Linnen tomorrow at the signing. Alongside Gorgon and Linnen's men will be my own. Juper here will be your way in. Right Lieutenant?"
Juper soon nodded and replied while looking to me.
"Tonight I ask that you stay the night Commander, because tomorrow we will be leaving to go to the signing with Hecan. I have a uniform made to match my own. I ask that you adorn it and that way you can have free roam of the capital with myself and the Captain. We will be alongside Hecan during the signing and if all goes well, you'll be with us when we leave with Gorgon and his men for the airport to see Hecan off after."
"But that's not all Raptor." Stated Hecan as I looked from him back to Juper who smiled.
"Hecan has talked it out with me and the Captain. We have decided if you accept us of course. Myself and the other men would like to join up to your cause."
With wide eyes I questioned.
"But aren't these your personal guards? What of you then?"
Hecan chuckled to my concern then replied.
"I have more then enough protection trust me Commander. I've gone over with each of the men here what kind of man you are. No matter what you decide to do during this war. During this march against Gorgon. They will follow you."
"We want to be here for this Commander." Stated Juper as I didn't know what to say.
"Everyone who is assigned to my guard is a firm believer and fighter in world peace. No matter what must be done that is our goal. Even if sacrifices must be made. You follow the same basic rule in the rebellion correct?" Asked Hecan as I nodded.
"Despite it all Raptor you will need the help. I know your alone here in Pakistan taking this fight with Gorgon. My men know just about everything there is to know about this city. They will help you secure this war. And even though they wear different uniforms they all share your same beliefs. Same as I do." Stated Hecan as I looked to Juper one more time to ask.
"Are you sure about this?"
With a smile he replied.
"Yes sir. We all are."
Looking back to Hecan I then said.
"Okay. Then it's official."
Zeta smiled as Hecan offered me his hand again. This time we gripped one another with such power it was clear this meant more then anything before. Looking me right in the eyes he said.
"I hope when this is all over we can have another drink Commander."
"Same here." I replied as we both smiled and began to laugh.
After our handshake, Hecan then urged.
"I have a room reserved next door for you two. The uniform Commander is already in there. If you need anything you come find me or Captain Pierce."
"Yes sir. Thank you sir." I replied as he smiled and looked back to Zeta. Zeta also shook his hand but with a strong grasp he didn't let her go. Both her and him locked eyes and sensing something was wrong Zeta asked.
"What is it?"
Hecan who held his glass still, took a sip to reply.
"I know who sold you out."
Zeta widened her eyes as I just remained silent. This wasn't my concern now. This was for her.
With Juper at my side, he urged me to head for the exit. Taking my leave, I left her alone with Hecan. I had a feeling this was personal and after all this I wasn't ready to get involved. Hecan would tell her and I know if she needs it she will ask for my help. That I can offer after all this.
Heading back down towards the door leaving the room, I reentered the main hallway to be stopped by Pierce.
"So how did it go?" He asked with a smile as I just couldn't help but be happy right now. Sensing my emotion Pierce said.
"Congratulations. And since there is no better time then now I guess I should say it will be good to finally work with someone who isn't afraid to get dirty Commander. I've gone over you case files. You have quite the record."
"Thank you Captain." I replied as he smiled and said back.
"Don't be. Hecan and myself believe in this deal and all of us are willing to risk our necks for it, and for you. Cause hey like it or not...your technically a president now. Just consider us your personal secret service. Or guards. Or whatever you want really. All that matters is that you see the end of this war. Cause without you being here to lead the middle east, I'm pretty confident there isn't many other people who can stand in the spotlight as a world leader. I'm just saying it will be a lot easier to achieve world peace with you on the mantle." Stated Pierce as I chuckled and replied.
"I understand. But don't you dare think I'm sitting out on this. Unlike the men before me, I bleed on the battlefield with my men. But above all else I need to know one thing."
Pierce stared right at me as I asked.
"No matter what happens. No matter what we gotta do. No matter what. You'll stand by me until the end? All of you."
Offering me his hand, Pierce replied.
"Like I said before Commander. This is bigger then just us. We do whatever we gotta do to end this slaughter. If it means innocents get hurt. Or people die. Then so be it. No one here is afraid to get dirty. This is for the future, and sacrifices will be made to ensure it is a bright one."
Taking his hand, I shook it with a hard grasp. Pierce then said.
"We don't have to be at the signing till late tomorrow. You go get some rest. I know it's been a long time since you've seen a good nights rest. And don't worry about your friend. I'll have Juper escort her to your room when she's done in there with Hecan."
"Thank you." I replied as I turned to head for the next room down the hall. Once inside, I shut the door to fall to my knees. Tears began to form again as I couldn't explain what I was going through. I did it.
"Alicia I did it."
mT Shadow.