Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 112 – A night to myself.
Raptor's POV.
I stepped out of the kitchen to be stared at by Zeta and Raze who sat at the main table. Zeta stood up as it was clear I was in deep thought.
"You okay Raptor?" She asked as I nodded.
"Yeah. Where's Juper?"
"He's out checking out that spot you told Pierce about. Should be back soon. Just sit and relax."
Approaching the two, I sat myself down next to Zeta. Her eyes watched me closely as I began to tap my fingers on the table.
"Your tense. Why?" Wondered Zeta as I tried my best to relax.
"I'm just trying to figure things out. Scrotus told me a lot. I might not be there but I still need to let someone know about the attacks."
"Okay so call your friend Archer."
Shaking my head I replied.
"I don't want to. I need someone I can trust. Archer is mad at me it's clear. I'm worried if I hand him the information he might ignore it just out of spite. But I know someone I think. Depends if he's there yet."
"Give him a call then." She urged as I nodded and reached for my phone.
"I haven't talked to this guy for years." I stated as Zeta just watched as I pulled up Hoffer's number. Hitting dial I now waited.
Hoffer's POV.
Sitting in the war room with Archer and the other men like myself was nothing but stressful. Archer was clearly more concerned with killing G.U.N then protecting our borders. He was prepared to push after we repeal the first wave. Thanks to a few of us we managed to talk him down from it. We would need time to prepare if we were to aim for that kind of move.
With Archer concerned over attack formations, I looked to my side as my cellphone went off. With wide eyes I saw it was Raptor's number.
Standing up from my spot among the table I said with serenity.
"I have to take this commander. Be back in a few."
Archer nodded as I made my way out back to the main hall. Heading for the main office, I shut the door and answered the call.
"Hoffer speaking."
His voice came through clear but it was clear his overall tone had changed from what I once remembered.
"Hoffer it's Raptor. You in a safe place to listen for a second?" He asked as I smiled and sat down in Archer's seat.
"I'm safe commander. But to be honest I'm surprised to hear from you. It's been a few years."
"Yeah I know. Listen I don't have long to talk. I still need to contact Mason. You got a pen and paper ready?" He asked as I grabbed some from one of the draws to reply.
"Got it."
"I have good information that will help in the attacks. So write this all down."
"Yes sir." I replied as he started.
Five minutes later.
"You got all that Hoffer?" He asked as I was now blessed to have this written down. Nodding my head I replied.
"Yeah I got it all. Can't begin to tell you the lives this will save commander. But can I ask you a question before you go?"
"Yeah go ahead." He urged me as I asked.
"Why not call Archer about this?"
Silence came from his end, but in seconds he replied.
"Archer is probably still steaming about me leaving the way I did. If I called him after all this he probably wouldn't trust the information. I need someone neutral. So I came to you."
"You coming back?" I then asked as he quickly replied.
"Not till this is done."
"Understood." I replied as he then urged.
"I'm okay. Don't you begin to worry about me. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Yes sir." I replied as I then asked.
"You want me to contact Char?"
"Why?" He then questioned as I calmly replied.
"He's in charge of Zulu 2-7 now. Him and the others are out there right now providing reconnaissance."
"He's leading my men?"
"Carver, Dom and John are in Afghanistan with Mason. But the others are here. They needed a leader Raptor. Char wanted to take the mantle."
"Archer couldn't have authorized that." He stated as I nodded to myself.
"He was against it. I was the one to authorize it."
"You trust him?" He then asked as I quickly replied.
"I figured if you gave him Wreak's job he must be a damn good guy. So yeah I'll trust him. The men he is with won't let him fall Raptor. You know that."
Raptor went silent but in time he said.
"I'll call him."
"I'll make sure they stay safe Raptor. Just focus on what your doing over there."
"I will Hoffer. But do me a favor. Not a word about this to Archer. Don't need any more bad blood till I get back."
"Yes sir." I replied as he hung up leaving me with a ton to do.
Char's POV.
Night was coming. Everyone was still wide awake, but it was getting cold. Laying next to Diz still, I widened my eyes as my phone went off in my vest. Taking it out I saw it was Raptor. In confusion I answered.
"Commander?" Diz looked to me in confusion as well as Roz and the others who started to look our way.
"Put me on speaker Char." He ordered as I pulled my phone back to hit the button.
"You hear me?" He asked as everyone knew the voice.
"We hear you commander." I stated as he then said.
"I heard you are in charge of my men now Lieutenant. Are they treating you well?"
Roz instantly replied.
"Haven't hurt him yet Commander."
"Good. Listen...all of you." He urged us as we went silent.
"As you know I'm busy handling some business away from you guys. Meaning I'm killing the men who killed my family. It's selfish but I don't care."
"No one is mad at you boss." Stated Diz as Roz added.
"We would all be in your position if that happened to us commander. You just make sure to give them hell."
"I already got one of them. He spoke to me a lot before I killed him. Much of what he said I already relayed to General Hoffer, and I told him I'd tell you this myself."
Everyone looked concerned as he then said.
"You have a G.U.N recon team inbound to your position. South eighty seven, east forty two. They are few hours out but they will be coming."
Everyone widened their eyes as I asked.
"Reason?"
"Just to provide recon for the upcoming attack. They are just grunts from what I've been told but don't let them get the advantage."
"Yes sir." I replied as he then said.
"Char. Don't you dare let my men down. You hear me?" He asked as I felt the pressure.
As I struggled to reply Roz stepped in to say.
"He won't commander. You handle those fucks who touched Alicia and the kids. You don't come back till you kill them. Let me worry about the Lieutenant. He won't fuck up."
Raptor let out a chuckle and replied.
"I'll hold you to that Roz. Don't forget you owe me a drink. So don't you dare die before I get the chance to cash in."
Roz began to laugh as Raptor hung up the line. Looking to me Diz asked.
"What now Lieutenant?"
"We get in position. We get this team before they get to their position. If we do this now we can be back to this spot before the morning comes. You guys ready?"
Nodding Roz replied.
"Yes sir. Let's go guys."
Raptor's POV.
Letting out a sigh as I got off the phone, Zeta asked.
"Go well?"
Nodding I replied.
"So far. Just got Mason to call."
Dialing his number, I started the wait for him to answer. In seconds he did.
"This must be important." He stated with a laugh as I calmly replied.
"I got information for you. You need to know this. Trust me the source is solid."
"Yeah I bet. I heard you left Iraq. Where are you?"
"Dealing with things."
"You're after Gorgon right?"
I went silent as he then asked.
"Whats the info?"
Five minutes later.
Mason hung up the line as I let him go with what I had. He was honest with me. That's one thing I could count on from him. Before he hung up he tried to apologize for what happened to me. He feels it's his fault Gorgon got that close. I didn't respond. I didn't know how. It was my fault they even got involved. Not his. He tried his best. I failed to keep them alive. That's on me. I told him I would be back. I just don't know when. Depends on what happens.
With Zeta watching me from a few feet away at the table, I put away my phone and looked to Raze who held onto the intel we got from Scrotus. Standing up from the table I listened as Zeta asked.
"Where you going?"
"I wanted to go out for a bit."
"Go out?" She questioned as I nodded and grabbed onto my duster.
"Let me go with you. Just in case." She then urged as I shook my head.
"I'm just going out for a drink. I'll be back soon."
"Even more of a reason for me to go with you." Zeta was determined as I got my duster on.
"I'll only be an hour. I'll bring you something back."
The wolf now gave me a glare as I looked back to her.
"At least take a gun with you." She urged me as I smiled and questioned.
"What kind of trouble do you think I'll get into? It's just a drink."
Handing me her M9 she ordered.
"Take it."
Pushing her hand away and back into her chest I replied.
"I'll be okay."
"I don't trust you for one second. Raptor your too important to lose."
"You won't lose me. I'll be right back. Tell Juper to handle the body when he gets back."
Zeta growled softly. It caught my ear and upon looking back the Russian said my name.
"Raptor?"
I kept silent and gave her a small glare as she handed me her vest.
"At least wear this."
I took a second but with a smile I grabbed it from her hand to ask.
"Will this even fit me?"
"Shut up." She ordered me as I undid my duster to try it on. God was it tight.
"It even smells." I stated as Raze began to laugh. Zeta on the other hand continued to growl softly as I just smiled and asked.
"Happy now?"
"Slightly. I'll kick your ass after you get back. But you better bring me something."
"I will." I replied as she again urged.
"Don't do anything stupid. Remember where we are."
"Yes mom." I replied as I turned to leave. Zeta let out a sigh as I left.
Once back outside, I breathed in the cold air and proceeded to head down the street. It's been years but I knew a place nearby I could score a drink. Hopefully at this hour no one would be around to bother me.
It took a few minutes but the place was still standing. Only a few people inside, but it was good enough. Upon walking inside, I was immediately spotted by the bartender who looked no older then me. Young enough looking hedgehog to say the least. As I approached the counter he stated.
"Never seen you before. You visiting?"
Nodding I replied.
"Just for a drink. You got anything good?"
Smiling he replied.
"Depends. Pick the poison."
After picking out a strong bottle of whiskey I asked the man.
"Any chance I can buy a bottle of this to go?"
Nodding he replied.
"Yeah no issue there. Just going cost you forty bucks."
Handing him the money, I watched as he got me a glass and left me to myself. This was all I really wanted. Just a moment to myself. As much as I love her company Zeta would try to out drink me again. I'm not sure I can handle that for a few more nights.
Pouring myself a glass, I did my best to relax. Hopefully get a few minutes out of this.
Thirty minutes later.
Two glasses down and I got what I wanted for the most part. But part of me was wondering about what Zeta said about taking a gun. Besides what Juper was doing for me I had one other place left to check. I had to be sure of something. Problem was I said I would be back in a bit. Going there would extend my small trip at least an hour. But I think it was worth it.
Taking my time to finish my last glass, I looked to my side as a G.U.N patrol was coming in. Four younger guys but the man in charge was clearly the veteran among them. His eyes caught mine as I looked away as calmly as I could. But just like my luck he came out from his small group to sit down next to me. The bartender came with a smile and asked.
"The usual Kurt?"
This guy was a wolf. Much taller then me by at least four inches. But he was more or less a twig. White fur gave him some personality as he replied.
"Yeah thanks Hogan."
Continuing to finish my drink, I noticed he was looking me over. Without looking to him I heard.
"You a merc? That vest is different."
I ignored his comment and question with ease as he clearly caught on to the fact that I didn't care to talk to him. Nodding his head he went on to say.
"You part of GenSec?"
Again I ignored him, but this time he said with a tad more force.
"Hey? Buddy? You hear me? I asked you a question. At least pretend like I'm here."
Putting down my glass I replied.
"I hear ya."
Smiling he then asked again.
"So you a merc? PMC? GenSec? You look like you've been around. That duster has some tear to it."
"Nah. Just a wanderer. I don't even have a gun. See?" I replied as I showed him the inside of my duster.
His eyes took notice and calmly replied as his drink came.
"Then why the vest? And pardon me noticing but that vest has a Russian tag on it. You don't sound Russian. Haha."
Nodding I replied.
"Belonged to a friend. Can't be too safe these days with you guys and the rebellion tossing bullets."
The wolf nodded and went silent as I finished my drink.
"Listen I got to go. Nice talking to you."
The wolf just watched as I left the bar with my bottle. Placing it in a pocket the vest had inside it, I decided to go where I needed to. Zeta would kill me, but I'll take the chance.
All I could do was go back the way we came in from. It's the only way I knew of getting outside the city.
Marcus's POV, 1 hour later.
"What does this matter?" I asked as Raptor was clearly opening old wounds for himself.
Digging through the sand he replied.
"It's just for me. My old man has nothing to do with this."
Marking my foot in the sand next to him I said.
"This is where it happened right?"
Raptor went silent as I looked around.
The place was nothing more then a fancy hilltop overlooking the stars. Not that far from us was a broken down building. In confusion I asked.
"What that place over there?"
Taking a glance at it for a second, Raptor soon went back to digging to reply.
"Use to be a home. An old guy I knew a long time back use to live there. Guess the sandstorms over the years just were too much for him."
"He never questioned you just shooting your dad out on his front lawn?" I then wondered as he quickly replied.
"He moved in after the fact. Probably long gone now considering the shape it's in."
Looking back to building, I just watched as it was clear he was right. After a few minutes Raptor pulled up an old box from under his feet. My eyes widened as he said to himself.
"Can't actually believe it's still here."
I kept to myself as he opened the small box to reveal a glock that rested inside. Taking out the gun he tossed the box aside and began to check the weapon.
"What's so special about it?" I wondered as he then muttered.
"I haven't touched this since I killed Abbey. Its the same weapon her and my dad have in common. I shot them both. With this." He stated as he showed it to me.
All I could see was that it had a chrome slide and a suppressor attached to the barrel. But both were drenched in sand as Raptor began to clean it off and check the magazine. There were bullets inside but he asked to himself.
"Wonder if these still work? It's been at least fourteen years."
"Your first?" I wondered as he nodded.
"It was given to me by G.U.N. It's custom but I added all this. Regardless this gun was a memory."
"Why now then?" I asked as he calmly replied while putting it behind his back.
"I just wanted to see if it was here."
"Yet your taking it." I stated as he stood back up to reply.
"Yeah. I am."
I just let out a sigh as he looked back to me.
We stared at each other for a second when all the sudden we could hear the soft sound of a bark coming from the destroyed building.
mT Shadow.