Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 137 – Embracing. Intimidating.
Raptor's POV, Six hours later.
The sun was rising and I had nothing more to ask myself. What happened is what I had expected. My body didn't have new limits. It had none. Hours had passed since I started this and since then I haven't left this bar. The playlist on my ipod had run time after time over on itself as I didn't stop once. Sweat rolled down my body at a slow rate but I felt no pain in my muscles and no chance of wanting to stop. By now the men who had been watching since the beginning were starting to gather in disbelief to what they were seeing. But none of them dared to stop me. None dared to even get close. Most who pushed the limits themselves only got close enough to watch at a comfortable level near the very edges of the grounds. It didn't bother me one bit to show off. This wasn't about that. This was about what I wanted to do. For myself. In my head I was keeping count. Before this war I could only muster maybe thirty pullups. With god as my witness and countless others watching I was nearing two thousand.
By no means was I going fast. This whole time I kept it a steady and slow pace. Taking small breaths in between each one as I did it. As I kept going I could sense the majority of the base getting into action. With training teams soon to join in a matter of minutes I would believe. Regardless I didn't plan to stop for anyone.
With soon another twenty minutes passing and attention on me growing to an almost unbearable level. I hit my two thousand mark and with that final pull I released the bar to land directly on my feet. Everyone who watched now stared at me in the utter need to know what I was going to do next. Reaching down for one of the water bottles, I cracked it open and took one sip. The second it went down I realized it made no difference. I almost couldn't feel the need to want to drink. Even eat as the thought came to mind. Simply putting the bottle back down, I turned my attention to pushups. Getting down to the ground to start going at it, I kept my eyes open as sweat dripped down to my nose and slowly off to the concrete below. This however was proving too easy. I turned up my speed and in a matter of seconds I was beating my old record of sixty two. My ear buds managed to barely stay in as I kept pushing the button. After about a hundred did I begin to sense someone. Closing my eyes to focus as I kept pushing, I quickly found out it was Dom. He was making his way out of the barracks.
Dom's POV.
"I want everyone out on that field giving it their all! It's early but that's not a reason to slack! You hear me!?" I asked all my men as they each jogged by me and towards the training grounds.
Smiling as each passed, I looked out towards the field to see someone already out there. In confusion I then saw not only me staring, but it had to be most of the guards from the perimeter too. Quickly walking towards the field with my men who all soon stopped to watch as well. I knew very fast who it was training. It was Raptor.
"What the fuck?" I asked myself as I watched him go at it with push up after push up. He wasn't fucking stopping though. I counted thirty go by in a matter of a minute and in utter loss for words I watched with my men. Not soon after focusing was I approached by the next squad coming from the barracks. Lieutenant Cortz came right to me as his men had stopped to watch to ask.
"What's going on? Why is everyone stopped?"
Using my head to urge his gaze onto the field, he slowly picked up on what we all were watching. Raptor was well into his thirties. Has taken more damage then any man I ever had the pleasure in working with during this war. And right now he was going at it like he had no lack of energy or fear of hurting himself further. In utter confusion Cortz whispered from behind.
"How the fuck is he doing that in his condition Dom? Last night he...?" Cortz went silent as I nodded once. I knew what he was trying to say. Last night Raptor barely managed to stand on his own two feet. He had to be dragged to medical. And now he's out on the fields doing more pushups then I've ever seen any man do in one sitting. I counted well over sixty as I tried to refocus on the men. Doing my best I shouted.
"Get moving! Stop gawking and get your asses out on that field! Take notes from the commander out there and get working! Formation in twenty seconds!"
Even with my orders the men struggled to take their eyes off Raptor who was still going strong. Cortz and I continued to watch as it was clear Raptor was on something. He had to be. There is no physical way he can keep that up. There just isn't.
"Let's get these guys back into action Cortz." I said as I did my best to move out in front of my men.
With only a few of them moving I yelled.
"I said twenty seconds! Move! Move! Come on!" Clapping my hands as I did it I soon had everyone moving into formation. Cortz had his men following along as well as we still had others to wait for. Looking back to my men I ordered.
"Get stretching! We got a long day ahead of us ladies! When echo and foxtrot get here we'll get this party started! Now focus!"
Eyes were still on the commander it seemed, but at least they could stretch as they did it. In time I looked back to the barracks to see Captain Marhick and his team coming. Then soon followed Lieutenant Gardner and the rest of foxtrot. Even with now well over two hundred of us on the field eyes were still shifting to Raptor who I looked back at to see back on a pullup bar. Taking my time to notice he was still pushing strong, I was soon approached by Marhick and Gardner. Markick who was also there last night asked quietly.
"What the hell is he doing?"
"Training." I replied as Gardner then wondered.
"Has anyone talked to him yet?"
Cortz who now regrouped with us all shook our heads to the question. Gardner then urged.
"Should one of us see what's going on?"
Immediately I replied.
"We have training to do ourselves Gardner. Plus the way I see it the commander is making everyone look bad out here. Might give us a reason to bust some balls in these kids and get them moving. Lets leave him alone for now. If something happens we can step in."
Marhick nodded as Cortz then stated.
"I just asked a few of the guys manning the night shift. They all said he's been out here doing this since three o'clock this morning Dom."
We all now widened our eyes in utter loss for words as Cortz nodded to our reactions.
"He hasn't left the field since Dom. Just constantly training and listening to music or something. The guys even said he hasn't taken more then a sip of water since he's started. Something ain't right man."
Turning my gaze off of Raptor I replied.
"Let's give him some time. Focus on our teams for now."
Cortz and Marhick seemed to agree as Gardner asked.
"We want to wait for the ladies?"
"Yeah." I replied as Marhick added.
"Here they come now."
Looking back to Raptor's side of the training grounds, I nodded as I saw Lieutenant Incus and her women coming our way. Behind her was Lieutenant Vacus and Captain Freemen. I couldn't help but watch now. This was going to be interesting.
Raptor's POV.
This was proving to be too easy. At this point I was nothing more then a sweaty mess. Regardless of all the sweat I still wasn't tired. But at the least I was getting rid of the urge to fight someone or something and on top of that I was being left alone. I was figuring Dom would say something at least but he was keeping to his duty to train his men with the other officers. Guess they figured if there was a problem I'd show it. For now I was just happy they were keeping distance. God knows how much longer I'd get before Raze or Gord would come running. Even with that on my mind I had a feeling I wouldn't budge. I was content with just working out and for once I had nothing to worry about. For now things were pretty good.
As I continued to perform pullups, I soon sensed something coming my way. Opening my eyes as I reached the top of the bar, I held myself up and looked right to see at the least a hundred or so of our female soldiers coming my way. All in a large formation with their officers at their sides. Pulling myself down and off the bar, I reached down for my bottle of water again. This time however I took more then one gulp. I still couldn't pretend like this was helping me. I wasn't thirsty one bit. So soon putting the bottle back down, I refocused and got back on the bar. At this point however the large platoon was closing in. All eyes on me as I pulled myself up and down at my normal rate. The second the first group neared was the same second I connected eyes to them all. Every one of them getting a good look as I kept moving. Some almost tripped as I crossed paths with their eyes and others just gave me sinister smiles and small waves of their hands. With the officer who manned the front walking by, she smiled with them to state.
"Looking good commander."
I heard more then a few flirty laughs among the others as they kept walking. And soon the next set came along to do the same thing. Only this time the one in charge just kept walking. A smile on her face however as I just stared back.
With time going by soon did the last team. At this point I knew they were watching and to be honest I didn't really care. Dropping off the bar as they reached me, I cracked my neck by turning it to each side and waited for them to pass. The officer in charge was again smiling at me. I just nodded my head to her as I heard one of the women in the formation ask.
"Who is that?"
As I turned to walk towards the weightlifting section of the training fields, I heard a verbal response from the officer.
"Commander Voltz."
The girls all widened their eyes as they watched me walk off towards the nearest bench press. The second I sat down, I looked over to the main field where everyone was gathering. Dom and the men helped get the women into ranks and by the time I was setting up plates they were starting their warmups. Taking a deep breath and then exhaling. I laid back and got the bar down to start lifting. I was starting off with only two hundred. Which up till now was my normal lift. And to no surprise when I gave it a try with the first rep; I understood this was not going to be enough. But regardless I figured I'd just keep going for a few minutes. I had a feeling in due time I was going to have my hands full.
Raze's POV.
Gord and I managed to wake up around the same time. Thankfully for once I had a reason to get up early. Walking our way down the halls, Gord who was still shaking off a yawn asked.
"What do you think we should do if he's up?"
Nearing the room where we left Raptor and Juper last night, I waited as he went to unlock the door with his key.
"We just start by calmly...?" Gord and I widened our eyes as the door was unlocked. Pulling out his key Gord looked back to me. In a second he opened the door and we both entered to find Raptor and Juper both gone.
"Where are they?!" Asked Gord in utter confusion as I looked back in the hallway to see the head nurse making her way towards us after hearing the commotion from Gord who ran around the room looking for anything.
"What's wrong?" The girl soon asked as she stopped her way in the door between both me and Gord who quickly asked.
"Where is the commander Bella?! He should be in this room!"
The nurse was clearly unaware of what was happening and replied.
"I don't know doctor. Everyone went to bed after you guys got finished. Was the room locked?"
Gord immediately replied.
"Yes!" Sensing Gord was in a panic I quickly stepped in to say.
"He couldn't have gone far Gord. Let's fan out and find him. If he left the men at the front door should have seen him. For now just relax. Juper was with him as well so I'm sure he's okay."
Gord was a lost cause and to be honest so was I a little. It was too early for problems like this. Leading the way with Gord on my side, we approached the main door to see the guards all standing by casually talking with one another. The officer on duty quickly noticeed us and asked as we approached.
"Something wrong doc?"
"Have any of you seen Commander Voltz?" Asked Gord as the officer nodded near immediately to the question.
"Where?" I then asked as he calmly replied.
"Well last we saw him he went outside. Had some headphones and a pretty serious look on his face. If I had to guess I'd bet he's on the training fields. But that was at least six hours or so ago."
"So he left that early." Stated Gord as I nodded and walked my way towards the door to say.
"Thank you."
Gord kept himself with me as we walked outside. I had no idea where the fields were and sensing that Gord pointed left to state.
"Training grounds are just west of the entrance Raze. Let's go." Nodding my head as we started our walk, we soon turned a corner and instantly I knew he was right. There had to be half the rebellion out on those fields. All doing things from pushups to close combat practice with one another. Letting out a sigh I asked.
"How the hell are we going to find him?"
Gord didn't respond and slowly looking to the doctor I saw he was looking towards the far left of the grounds. With my eyes going along with his line of sight, I soon noticed there were more then a handful of men and women gathering on the very edge of the fields. They seemed to all be watching something and with that Gord and myself made our way there. Coming from behind the small group, I soon noticed what was going on.
"What the hell?" Muttered Gord as I just smiled. Raptor was out there by himself. This small group was just a bunch of spectators it seemed. Guess they wanted to watch the commander of the rebellion lift some weights. But I knew better and so did Gord as he made his way out onto the field. I followed behind and as we approached it was clear something was off. Soon within feet Gord and myself stopped right alongside the man. Gord had his eyes glued on Raptor as his eyes were shut and he continued to bench press the bar in his hands.
"Commander." Gord said as Raptor had his headphones in. I could hear the music playing it was that loud, but Raptor didn't seem to care. With Gord about to say his name again I urged.
"Hold on Gord." Gord looked right to me as I got a better look at Raptor's body. By no means was I surprised he was out here doing this. I stopped considering him normal the second he saved Zeta. Now I just wanted answers and the more I watched the more questions amassed. Raptor's body was in mint shape. God he was an old hog but was he built like a twenty year old kid. Part of me was trying to be a doctor and another part of me was trying to not get overwhelmed by how god damn good looking he was. With his shirt off and sweat covering his body in a thin film, I leaned in to see something on his chest. It was right alongside his heart but his wet fur was keeping me from getting a good look at what it was. But I swear it was something. Maybe a tattoo? I asked myself as Gord urged.
"Look at the weights Raze."
Turning my attention to the weight he was lifting on the bar, I widened my eyes to see three one hundred pound plates on each side. This man was lifting six hundred pounds. Easily three times or maybe four his own weight. Last night he couldn't stand by himself, let alone now be doing this. Something was for sure wrong. No human can lift that much. Even being as built as he is that's a world record easy. It has to be.
With Gord at a loss for how to proceed, I took the initiative and went behind Raptor's head. Knelling down alongside him, I stared right at his face and slowly went to raise my arm. I was going to poke him, but as my finger came close his voice came through like a crack of thunder in a quiet storm.
"Give me a second Raze."
I felt my heart jump as he never even opened his eyes once. How the hell did he know it was me? There was no way he heard me over that music in his ears. Gord with wide eyes coughed over himself as Raptor did one more rep and put the bar back up on the holder. Standing back up myself, I watched in silence as he sat up to run his hand over the back of his head. Sweat dripped off his hand as he carefully cracked his back and gently pulled out his headphones. Coming around slowly, I soon had my eyes widened when his looked right to me.
Raptor's POV.
"I...ahhhh...How are you...how are you feeling Raptor?" Raze asked me as she clearly saw my eyes. Her tail went absolutely still as Gord came to her side to see for himself. With his eyes opening in near shock of what he saw I replied while leaning into my lap.
"I'm fine. Sorry about leaving the room. I couldn't stay asleep. Had to get moving."
"Ahhhhh...Raptor...are you...?"
"Juper had nothing to do with it. When I woke up he was there and I told him to catch some sleep. It's not his fault I escaped." I told them as they were both caught on their own tongues.
With my eyes locked on the young fox's, I asked.
"You can go back inside. I'm good. I promise. Just releasing some energy."
In an instant Gord asked.
"What happened to your eyes commander? And your body? You should not be out doing this in your condition."
Nodding I replied.
"Like I said doc I feel fine. Just pent up is all. Can't feel a thing."
Ignoring his first question, Raze soon asked.
"Can you stand up please?"
Clearly I was going to have to say or do something to get these two under control. Raze who was clearly shaking from her emotion widened her eyes even further as I stood up to her. Very slowly she came in to put her hand on my forehead and ask.
"Are you feeling anything? Sore? Tired? Lightheaded? Even hungry Raptor?"
Shaking my head once I replied.
"I'm fine. I don't know what happened last night, but I'm sure Zeta said her fill."
"She said you're eyes went black. That you couldn't see anything. You were also bleeding. What exactly happened?" She asked as Gord came in close to look me over.
Wiping my forehead I replied.
"We went to the cemetery so I could see my old comrades from back before this war. Shadow included."
Raze nodded quickly as I went on to say.
"We were talking and all the sudden I went down in a heap of pain coming from my head. It felt like a fire behind my eyes was lit. I couldn't see a thing and only realized I was bleeding when we got to the truck. I don't know what happened Raze. But when I woke up in medical I could see again."
"Commander; myself and Raze included, confirmed you had passed away last night on that floor. We shocked you twice and still got nothing."
I kept my head still cause I had no memory of that.
"All I remember is sitting on my bed and then nothing. Well up till I woke up." I told him as he looked right at my eyes to ask.
"When you woke up did you look at yourself commander?"
I nodded my head slowly as he then asked.
"You're eyes are completely different now. They were what before? Hazel?" He wondered as I replied.
"Yeah."
"You don't feel any pain? Nothing at all?"
"Nothing." I replied as he then said.
"We need to run some tests commander. What you are going through is something undocumented in medical history. With your permission, I would like if you came back inside with us for a little bit. Please." Begged Gord as I looked to Raze who gave me a worried look. Carefully Gord added on.
"I don't want to startle you commander, but you've been out here for how long?"
"Six or so hours." I replied as he nodded to then ask.
"Have you felt your heart?"
In confusion I replied while looking to Raze.
"What?"
Gord calmly then urged.
"Take a moment and feel for me. Please commander."
Very slowly I put my hand over my heart. Up till now I knew something was different. My body was something else. But I never once thought about my heart. In seconds I knew what the issue was. I wasn't feeling anything. Gord with his eyes on me directly watched as I pulled my hand off to feel for my pulse on my wrist. Again I soon felt nothing as Raze whispered.
"While you were asleep Raptor we checked. You're...?" Instantly I sat back down on the bench as Gord quickly said with a concerned voice.
"Something is wrong Raptor. Something with your body. Like I said this is something in all my years of medical I've never seen or heard about. What's happening to you is new and as a doctor asking you for help. I would like you to let me and Raze look you over for today. We don't have to say anything to Mason or even Zeta if you don't want too. But this needs to be a priority. You must understand."
Quickly bringing my hand up to my mouth, I placed the knuckle of my thumb between my teeth and began to gently bite down. Raze and Gord who stood above me both went silent as I questioned what was happening. Marcus must have known this was going to happen. That had to be what he meant when he said I didn't have to worry. Looking up to Raze I questioned.
"Am I dead?"
Raze with wide eyes instantly replied.
"Clearly not!"
"Then how?" I asked to them as they both had no answer. Looking back down at the ground, I let out a deep breath and listened as Gord then urged.
"Please commander. Come inside."
Immediately I looked back up at them to shake my head and reply.
"Hell no. Why? So you two can use me as a test bed and cut me open?! Figure out why I'm the way I am?!"
Immediately Gord looked to Raze who also broke into a panicked state as I kept shaking my head.
"Fuck that! If I'm alive now I want to keep living! I'm not about to be ripped open by you two!"
"Raptor we would never do that!" Stated Raze in utter disbelief as Gord went to say.
"We just want to run some tests! Take some blood and see where that gets us!"
"Then what?! Huh!?" Standing up to face the doctor I yelled.
"Answer me!"
Gord took a step back as Dom came running up behind me. Getting between me and Gord he asked.
"What's going on?!"
I kept quiet and just stared at Raze and Gord as Dom waited for an answer from any of us. Sensing I was dead serious Gord replied.
"Just a misunderstanding. Come on Raze." Grabbing Raze by the wrist, she pulled off him to beg to me.
"Raptor please. Don't you trust me?" Her words just hit me like a stone to the foot. With our eyes locked, I looked to Dom to see he was now focused on me. His eyes quickly took notice to mine as I looked back to Raze to reply.
"Right now I'm taking time to better myself. You want to see me that bad then wait till tonight after I finish what I have to do."
"Okay commander." Replied Gord as Dom relaxed and watched as him and Raze slowly backed away. The fox kept her eyes on me before she turned around. I knew she wanted to say something. But instead she didn't. For the life of me I had no clue if that was good or bad at this point. Something was very wrong with me. With Dom putting his full attention on me he asked.
"What was that all about?"
Retaking my seat at the bench, I replied with some sarcasm.
"You couldn't figure that out yourself? Look at me." I ordered him as he just smiled and replied.
"Yeah you're a mess. But what else is new? What happened to your eyes?"
"I don't know. That's part of the reason they wanted to talk." I told him as he just calmly stared at me now. After a few seconds I urged.
"It's nothing to worry about Dom. You should get back to your men."
Patting my shoulder Dom replied.
"Yo I know it's not my place to say shit to you commander, but if there is something going on you should get it looked at. Just to be safe. You got to have something if you're normal coat didn't grow back. Not to mention those eyes. I don't know the first thing about being a doctor, but that shit isn't normal."
"Thanks for telling me." I replied again with some snark as he just kept smiling.
"How you feeling otherwise?" He then asked as I let out a sigh to reply.
"I'm fine. Dom get back to your men. I'm just going to pick up where I left off. If you need me I'm here. Okay?"
Slowly walking backwards Dom replied.
"Just trying to look out for you boss. Last night was scary shit. Miracle or not, lightening doesn't strike the same spot twice. Just remember that."
Dom had a point. Watching as he left and went back to his team, I refocused as best as I could. For a minute or two I sat here just thinking. The pressure was mounting. I was going to have to say something soon. Or at the very least just try my best not to cause anymore trouble.
mT Shadow.