Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 136 – Showdown.
Raptor's POV.
Juper didn't question anything I was doing. By now we had a car and we were on the road. With him sitting next to me as I drove deep into the city, I remained silent as time passed. As I drove I could feel every single person as we passed by. To be even more surprised, I was kinda shocked my head wasn't getting overloaded. It just felt natural. Like I had done this before and for a long time. And for some crazy reason it wasn't distracting as I still had focus on my task at hand. Soon pulling us over into a small lot, Juper turned his gaze to see me pull out my cellphone.
"What are we doing?" He wondered as I began to flip threw my contacts. Once finding the number I replied to the young hedgehog.
"As you already know Zeta is a wanted woman. I promised her I would make her troubles go away some day. Starting off by finding her sister."
"She has a sister?" He then asked as I nodded.
"Her name is Pepper. According to Zeta she's been missing for well over a year. Thought to be dead, but Hecan back when I first met you said that she might be alive. Probably being hunted down same as her. Regardless of if it is true or not doesn't concern me. What does is finding her and clearing their contracts."
"How are you going to do that? The contract is global."
"Again I don't fucking care. I'll find a way. And right now I need to start by getting information. The brother to my first wife Julie is still alive and in the city. I know he probably has the means of getting me a rough location. Problem is getting him to help."
"Is he an enemy?" He then wondered as I hit the dial button to place my phone along my ear. Looking back to him I replied calmly.
"We'll soon see."
Juper gulped as I soon had the phone ringing off the hook. But to no surprise I got an answer in near seconds. Molly who sat in my lap had her eyes looking up at me as I heard soon a very old and very angry voice.
"You have some fucking nerve calling me. You know that?" He stated as I kept quiet.
"What the fuck do you want Raptor? You took everything from me once already. What more could there be for you to ruin."
"I need to talk with you. Now."
"You don't say a fucking word for going on twenty plus years and all the sudden you call wanting to see me? I know it's not because you miss me. What the hell is this about?"
Watts was pissed. I didn't need these senses to feel that much. After all I got his sister killed. Regardless of how I felt I replied.
"It's personal. You want more information you give me your location. In return we can work something out for payment. I assume your still working right?"
The snark came through just as fast as my sentence ended.
"You of all people shouldn't have to ask. You grow retarded in your old age?"
"We're the same age."
Hearing a growl from his end he replied.
"Park avenue. Ten minutes. Don't keep me waiting." With that he hung up. Juper watched as I put my phone away to restart the engine. Pulling us back onto the road I ordered.
"Lose the gear. Now."
Juper was instantly sent off guard, but as we started the drive he asked while taking off his vest.
"You sure about this?"
"Absolutely. Lose it."
Juper soon had his vest down next to his feet as I could feel his sidearm leaving it's holster. Placing it down with the armor, he soon said.
"Clean."
"Good. When we get there don't say a word. This is between me and him."
"Yes sir." He replied as we were soon at the location. Pulling the truck over, I saw the hedgehog in question waiting for us. Coming to a stop I lowered my window and said.
"Get in."
Quickly Watts approached. He came equipped with a pistol at his hip. But not wasting time he got in back to order.
"Drive."
Juper couldn't help but stare as he got comfortable in the backseat. I soon had us driving around the park. Watts who took his time to stare at me using the front mirror soon asked.
"What is this about?"
Watts was the same kid I grew up knowing. Still an asshole and still covered with a mix of brown and blue quills. His eyes however were deep red as it was clear he had no interest in taking a long look at me. Keeping the car going I replied.
"I need help finding someone. Figured you're still in the loop of what and who to follow these days. Am I wrong?" I asked as he quickly replied.
"Depends on the what and the who. But yeah I keep an ear to the ground. Who is it?"
"Pepper Diskov. Bomb expert who helped G.U.N make the nuke they used in China a few years back. Ring a bell?"
Watts knew everyone with a price and instantly he replied.
"Yeah I know her. What's the point? You a bounty hunter now? Grow tired of being a rebellion lapdog?" Molly kept herself quiet as she knew well to hide between my legs as I drove. But avoiding his question I said directly.
"I need a location. I need to find her."
"You after her?" He then asked as I shook my head.
"Just have some questions. Where is she?"
Smiling Watts replied.
"I'm not saying shit till I get a deal out of this."
"How much is she going for?" I then asked as he quickly said.
"Two million dead. Three alive. Money is being pushed with help from more then a few PMC's working around the globe. Including Russia, China, The States, South Africa, and even Canada."
"You help me locate her and I'll cut you in on the reward. Thirty percent." I told him as he instantly replied.
"Forty five."
"Thirty five." I said back as he then said.
"Forty. That's as low as I'll go for you. You're lucky I can't kill you. Cause I would."
Juper who listened was feeling alone in all this as I replied back with a straight face.
"I'd end you before you could even reach that gun of yours. So cut the threats. I'll do forty. That's it though."
Watts had a look on him that showed no concern. He really did believe he could kill me. To bad he doesn't understand even half of how wrong he was in thinking that. But with seconds passing as I kept driving he soon said.
"Last thing I heard she was in Syria. Hiding underground. Currently Maxwell Contractors are on the clock searching for her ever since she left Russia months back. I give her another week or so before ether they find her or she runs again. Ether way she's running out of time."
Now knowing something useful, I asked.
"She has a sister right? Same boat? She still kicking?"
Calm now Watts replied.
"Zeta has been running just as much as she's been these past few months. Only difference is she got away. Ying's PMC had her in Iraq about over a week ago. Since then no one has found her. But give it time someone will soon enough. Ying is a tough PMC. They have more men and more balls then anyone going after her head. Mixed with the fact that she masterminded the bomb makes her a top target. Not to mention Ying is a PMC based out of China. I'm sure they want blood for all the men they lost."
"How much?" I then wondered as he said back with a look out the window.
"Price just went up after her last move. Seven million alive. Six dead. Not like it's my concern what your after here Raptor, but be straight with me since I'm giving you all this. What the fuck do you care about two rouge bomb developers? There something going on between you and China? It would make sense since Zeta might even be in this city right now. They probably would think you know something. Seems about right ether way I look at it." He then stated with a sure tone as Juper looked back to me. Keeping my eyes on the road I replied.
"Classified information Watts. Even to you. All I can say is that I'm after both of them. Dead or alive. And right now so long as you keep your mouth shut and help me figure out a way to get to Pepper before she's killed, I'll make sure you get your forty percent of the price she's worth."
"What about her sister?" He then asked as I replied.
"If she's in the city I have faith you can find her. Regardless the focus is on Pepper for now. Who issued the contracts? Any names?"
Nodding Watts replied.
"Both contracts are owned by Ying PMC. They just want the people who were responsible brought to justice one way or the other."
"You think they would let me help them?" Juper widened his eyes as Watts replied.
"From what I understand Raptor aren't you the head of the rebellion? You got a war to fight."
"At the moment Watts I've stepped down. I'm no longer the person in power. Those rights were passed on to others more fitting to being a leader."
"Couldn't agree more with that statement. You were always an asshole. Tell you what, I'm surprised you ever got as far as you did in that army. Nice to know you stopped yourself from ruining anymore lives." Stated Watts with a smile as I kept calm to his statement.
"Well if you aren't connected to the rebellion I can assume Ying would be willing to accept the help. So long as you kept quiet about them even being in country. Even though they are military their op over here is classified."
"We're both after the same thing. They want Zeta and Pepper dealt with and I need money. Even though I'm not connected with the rebellion anymore Watts I can still offer them more help then they could ever need in locating Zeta."
"And what about Pepper?" He then asked as I said while turning down another side street.
"That's your job in all this. After you give me ether a location or a number to call to get in contact with Ying about Zeta. I need you to focus on finding me a way to locate her sister. She might be in Syria like you said but if I can talk to her I'm sure she'll come running if I tell her I got Zeta by the throat. Even with contractors on her tail."
Watts looked out the window as he thought. Pulling the car over I waited for an answer. Slowly he said.
"So the plan is what exactly?"
Looking out the front window I replied.
"I get into contact with Ying PMC. Offer to help them locate Zeta without the fear of running into any rebellion resistance. I'll find her and keeping her alive I'll have you get me Pepper's number and from there I'll tell Ying using some good old family blood we can use Zeta to get her sister to turn herself in for her safety. Of course it would end up with both of them being probably killed but regardless I'll get paid...and so will you."
Watts was now nodding to himself as I said.
"Four million dollars you make off this. All you need to do is get me in contact with Ying and find me a way to talk to Pepper before she ether gets killed or captured. Like you said however...you only got about a week till she's one or the other. What's it going to be?"
Time passed slowly as he was thinking this over. I could sense he was really thinking all his angles over. One of them was even about me. He was going to try and cross me in the end. I had faith in that much. But for now I needed him to say yes and help. It was his only choice. With seconds turning into minutes, Watts soon looked up to the mirror to stare into my eyes. Calmly he said.
"I can do it. Give me a day. Locating Ying won't be hard. I'll call you when I got ether their number, location, or both."
"And Pepper?" I wondered as he replied.
"I'll get her too, don't worry." Watts wasn't bullshitting me. I knew for a fact he was skilled enough to do what he was saying. Smiling slightly I then said with force behind my tone.
"This stays between us. I have ears everywhere. Same as you. I find out even for a second that you talked about any of this to anyone I'll come kill you."
"Just like my sister." He then said with anger holding his voice together as I turned in my seat to stare at him directly. Watts held his stance in his seat as we just stared at each other. In time he said.
"Change your color. Change your eyes. Change your face Raptor. You can hide from G.U.N and the rebellion, but don't think for a second you can hide from me. I'm not afraid of you. When this is all over and I get my money I expect you to never see me again. Are we clear?"
Juper who was now gulping down some of his nervousness to the situation, listened closely as I replied.
"Crystal. Now get out of my car."
With that Watts opened up the back door and left. Slamming the door behind him and making his way back down the street as I turned back to get us onto the main road. Juper kept quiet as I soon said.
"What I said to him goes for you as well. Not a word of this to anyone Juper."
"What about Pierce?" He then asked as I looked over at him to reply.
"I'll talk to him. For now just shut your mouth."
"Are you really going to sell Zeta out to Ying?"
With that question coming to my ears, I hit the break and got us to an instant and hard stop. Juper widened his eyes as I shifted my complete focus on him now. He was showing fear. His eyes couldn't keep on me as I replied.
"Not a god damn chance in hell I'll ever do that to her. When Watts gets me in contact with Ying, I'll have a word with her about it."
Carefully Juper then asked.
"How does this close their contracts?"
Smiling I replied.
"You heard him yourself. Ying issued the contracts. As long as everything goes as planned, Juper by the time I'm done Ying will close them both. You have my word."
Juper had no idea what I had planned. All he knew was I planned on using Zeta to get Ying's attention. Her sister was another problem. One I was ready to tackle. But with more then some repercussions. Ether way this would end only one way. My way."
Driving us back to the capital after some time. I pulled us back in the main courtyard and up to the vehicle depot. As we stopped Juper asked.
"What now?"
Picking Molly up in my hands, I replied while opening my door.
"You do what I tell you to do. Shut up and let me worry about Pierce and the others. When the time comes and I got a lead I'll come find you. But you better keep your mouth shut. This isn't just about me or Zeta. You got that?"
Juper nodded as I then ordered.
"Now go get some rest."
"What about you?" He then asked as he got out with me. Following me to the back of the car, I kept walking but replied.
"I need time to think."
Juper who stood in place watched as I took myself and Molly back inside the capital. Everyone but the main door guards were asleep at this hour. None of them dared to stop me as I entered to go right upstairs. Stopping at Zeta's door, I opened the door quietly and looked in to see her asleep in her bed. Putting down Molly I urged.
"Go lay down with her. Get some sleep."
Molly was confused as I pushed her gently in the room. Shutting the door in time, I made my way over to my room. Inside was nothing different. Just an empty room and a destroyed bed. Blood stains from ether myself or the lives that have been lost; were still covering the wood floor as I walked over to my duffel which had remained on the other side of my bed tucked under the nightstand. Pulling it out and opening the bag, I reached inside to grab onto my vest. I took one long look and pushed it to the side as I reached in to grab onto a pair of ear buds and my old ipod. With that I stood back up and made my way back out into the hall.
Looking to my watch I saw it was well into the night. Going on three in the morning I made my way back down the stairs and passed the guards again. They all watched as I left the building. Then I walked my way over to the training grounds. No one was out training at this hour. Which meant I could be left alone. It's been years since I've actively wanted to do this. But right now I had no intention of sleep. My mind couldn't even fathom the idea of what the feeling was in the first place. Ever since I woke up I have felt nothing but awake. Inside I knew something had changed. My body had new limits. I could feel it deep down. I wanted to train. See how much I could handle. And for some reason I had this feeling it would take a long time for me to find out just how much that was. But with no one around to stop me, I entered the training yards to stop by one of the field tents we had for when the men or women who trained grew tired and needed a moment to rest. It was nothing more then four poles holding up a tent roof. Inside however were a few benches and a couple fridges. Opening one up and grabbing onto two water bottles, I quickly made haste to the nearest training pad. With some of the men who manned the walls and just guarding the grounds watching from their posts. I took off my shirt and knelt down to place down the water bottles. After which I got on my headphones and stood back up. Breaking into a slow but gentle set of stretches, I got a feel for my body. Even as I stretched I could barely feel my muscles straining. This power was inhuman. I felt intense and in a way invincible all at once.
Cracking my neck as I turned on my music, I looked up and approached the first test. A sturdy set of pullup bars. Simple really. But this would get me a better understanding of just what my body could do.
With the moon looming over above and a gentle breeze coming in hitting the back of my head, I jumped up and got to work. It was at that moment I felt something new. Something I've never felt before. For once in my life I felt confident. No worries about what could or would happen next. This was my moment to push my limits, and with the world as my playground I knew there was no better time then now to embrace what I was. What I figured I would always wind up being. Someone less the human.
mT Shadow.