Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 139 – Two sisters.

Raptor's POV, Thirty minutes later.

"Click!" Pulling down my rifle, I looked downrange to see every target shredded. Gently smiling at my work, I lowered the rifle down to the nearby table that held my ammo and reached up to pull down the bandana covering my face. Carefully cleaning the gun as I took time to relax a little, I sensed I was drawing more attention then ever now. Looking to my left just to see what I sensed, I widened my eyes as at least fifty people were watching all from the sidelines. All young kids or some older veterans. Each of them cheering at my performance. Can't say I disagree. Alongside everything else that was happening to me I could feel right then and there my reflexes were sharper then every. Probably even better then when I was at my prime. I felt like I had laser beam accuracy just then. Mixed with my own reloads which I had always used; I knew for a fact I was better then ever. But ten clips down and wanting to give the gun a rest, I just calmly focused on cleaning the chamber.

"Commander?" Looking left again I stared at a small fox. He couldn't be any older then twenty. But he was a combat trooper. Had the patch and all. Kid was standing there shaking. Staring at me with a pair of blue eyes and a coat of yellow fur that looked so fresh I would bet a drink he kept it trimmed daily. But regardless he was here now. Turning to face him I listened as he said with a careful voice.

"I'm sorry sir. But I just had to tell you how grateful I am. Watching that was truly something special."

Smiling now I replied.

"I'm the one who should be grateful son. Having men like you makes this army strong."

"Thank you sir." He replied as I then asked.

"You need something?"

Widening his eyes, he replied almost caught off guard by the question.

"Oh! My bad sir! I was just wondering...could you maybe show me a thing or two with how you handle a rifle so well? I've been trying my ass off and during the battle I almost died cause I couldn't reload my rifle."

"You don't know how to reload?" I asked with a chuckle as he shook his head to reply.

"I know how to reload sir! I mean...I was under pressure. One soldier during the fighting got close to my position and when I ran out of ammo he pushed me. I knew he was coming and I tried to reload but I couldn't get the clip in fast enough."

"So how are you alive then?" I asked him as I now had my full attention on him.

"One of my teammates got a shot on him before he got too close. If it wasn't for him I would be dead sir."

Nodding my head I then listened as he begged.

"Can you just give me a tip or two about how to reload faster? Just in case I ever end up in that kind of spot again."

The kid was intimidated by me. That much was clear. But he still had the guts to come talk to me. Back during the war with Shadow no one dared to speak to me unless they knew me. Which came down to my men and Shadow of course. Guess times are changing. Or people are just getting more bold. Regardless this kid needed to hear the truth.

"Come here." I urged him as he took a step forward to see me grab the rifle from off the counter. Showing him the gun, I went on to say directly.

"The issue you have kid is a simple one. Unfortunately it's not easy to fix. So listen close you hear?"

Nodding he replied.

"Yes sir."

Keeping my straight face I went on to explain.

"The problem isn't in your ability to reload a firearm. It's your ability to remain calm when you know you are facing a life or death moment. Here." Handing him my gun, I ordered.

"Reload now. Clip is empty so just drop and switch mags. Take your time to position yourself as if you were in a firing line."

Obeying my orders the kid took aim. I watched closely as he used his free hand to pull out the empty clip. Putting the mag in his vest and pulling out a fresh one, I watched on as he reloaded the weapon and looked back at me to wonder.

"How was that?"

"It was fine. But two things I need to ask you."

"Yes sir?" He replied as I reached for the empty clip in his vest. Pulling it out and showing it to him, I asked.

"Why did you feel the need to store an empty mag in your vest?"

The fox went silent as I said with force behind my tone.

"In war and in life if you ever find yourself out of ammo and needing to reload. You need to understand every second counts. One extra second could be your death. Or it could save your life. When the clip is dry you need to just disregard it and toss it away. We aren't cops. We don't give two shits if you litter on the field son. You hear me?"

The fox just stared at me in absolute silence as I tossed the clip to the dirt below my feet.

"Lastly are you counting rounds while your shooting?"

Shaking his head he replied.

"No sir. Should I?"

Nodding I replied.

"Always. You need to know when your running empty. That way you already have your mind set that your going to be ready to reload. If you only figure out your empty when you hear the gun run dry, then that's another second you waste. Watch." I ordered him as I turned to aim down range.

"BANG! BANG! BANG!"

I started out in full auto and soon turned it down into bursts. But keeping the bullet count in my head; the second my gun was about to run dry I used my free hand to reach into my vest and grab onto a fresh mag. So when I heard the click, I simply flicked my rifle to the right side sending the empty back out and flicking back left just in time to meet the chamber with the fresh clip. The fox just had his eyes opened in shear shock at the speed at which I did it. Turning back to face him I asked.

"Did I waste any time?"

Without another move he replied.

"Not a second sir. How the hell do you do it that fast? That was barely even two seconds."

Smiling I then replied.

"Cause I follow the simple rules of war kid. Step one is to count your rounds as you fire. Step two is to have your offhand ready to acquire a fresh mag; so when you hear the click you already have it out and ready to go. Lastly when you do run empty, you just need to disregard the trash. I flick right so that way the empty clip has enough force behind it to leave the chamber without me having to pull it out with my offhand. You have to use force kid. Cause that offhand is going to be holding your other clip. You understand me?" I asked again as he nodded and asked.

"Can I try again sir?"

Smiling I replied.

"I wouldn't allow you to walk away if you didn't. So yeah show me your capable of learning. Cause when my time comes and goes you'll be one of the people who stands up to take over. So prove to me you can."

The fox was pumped to try again. Handing him back the gun, I watched as he took aim downrange.

Zeta's POV.

Molly was walking different now. She looked sad. Tucked between my feet as I walked through medical to find Raze in the room with Tusk. Both of them looked to me as I entered with Molly.

"Morning Zeta." She said as Tusk just waved from his position. I smiled and replied.

"Morning." Raze wasn't dumb. She knew something was wrong just in my tone as she put down a clipboard she was holding to start approaching. As she got near she asked.

"What's wrong?"

Widening my eyes I questioned.

"Nothing? Why does everyone think something is wrong with me today?"

Shooting me a soft smile Raze replied while looked at my eyes.

"Cause I know you. Wana talk outside?"

Looking to Tusk who just watched, he urged.

"Don't let me keep you. I'm not running anytime soon."

Raze just chuckled as I smiled back at the echidna. Grabbing my arm, Raze dragged me back out into the hallway to ask.

"What did you do?"

Again growing defensive I replied.

"Nothing."

Placing both hands on her hips Raze then stated.

"Your not a good liar. I know you did something. Look at her." She urged me as she looked down to Molly who just calmly watched us from between our legs.

I frowned as Raze then looked back at me. Her eyes widened slightly to ask.

"Are you doing it again?"

Immediately I replied.

"I only did one Raze. It wasn't anything crazy."

Rolling her eyes and letting out a sigh the fox then urged.

"Come with me."

Pulling me by my arm, Raze lead me into an empty room. Pushing me into a chair she got close to start looking me over. Without even having to think too hard she stated.

"You're eyes are dilated. Your nose is red. Lift up." She ordered me as I looked up at the ceiling. Taking a few good looks at my nose Raze then said.

"Bet you can't breathe through it am I right?" She asked as I again shot her a small frown. Just smiling the fox went on to say.

"You know what venom does to you. Right?"

I just kept silent as she was soon to be scolding me.

"You know you shouldn't be taking it. Especially not with cocaine Zeta. How many tablets did you burn? One? Two?"

Not wanting to look at her I replied.

"One. Plus I used one of the injections Raptor had taken from one of those guys we killed back in Pakistan."

Widening her eyes immediately Raze pinched my arm to shout.

"Are you fucking crazy?!"

"Owww!" I replied as she twisted it. Slapping her hand off me I went quiet as she said with force.

"Zeta doing that much can kill you. You're body is not adapted to take large doses of venom. Not like others in G.U.N. I know you like the thrill and all but I don't want you overdosing. You're the only one I got and I want to keep it that way."

"What about Raptor?" I then asked as she turned her her gaze away to reply.

"I'm pretty sure he's not too fond of me or Gord right now."

"Why?" I then wondered as she rested her arms on my legs to reply.

"Gord wants to examine Raptor's body. Document what is happening to him. He doesn't know what we know. All he knows is what he saw. Which isn't far from the truth. It's a medical discovery and he wants to be the person who writes about it. Raptor on the other hand thinks if he lets him we'll wind up cutting him open like some sick test bunny."

Widening my eyes I replied.

"You guys wouldn't do that. Would you?"

Shaking her head instantly Raze replied.

"We just want to take some blood and see where that gets us. Ask him some questions maybe, but that's it. He wasn't having it ether way so we had to leave before things got ugly."

"So what now then?" I asked her as she then leaned into my legs to rest her head along my thighs.

"Raptor said he had things to do today. He told us he would come by tonight after it was all done. So until then I'm watching over Tusk and waiting. Gord is probably doing something else till then too."

Putting my hand on top of her head, I began to pet Raze gently behind her ears. Her eyes shut instantly as I then stated.

"Well if it makes you feel any better. Raptor probably wants to kill me now."

Immediately Raze shot her head up to question.

"What? Why?"

Looking away slightly I replied.

"We tried to talk not that long ago. Maybe ten or so minutes. We went to the office and there we started to talk about my sister."

"Pepper? She's alive?" She asked in near shock as I smiled slightly to reply.

"Yeah. Raptor found her."

"Well where is she? What the hell has she been doing this whole time? I thought she was dead." Stated Raze as I nodded.

"I don't know much. Raptor does though."

"He didn't tell you?" She questioned as I looked back into her eyes to reply.

"I didn't really let him talk Raze."

In confusion now she asked.

"What do you mean?"

Keeping our eyes locked I replied.

"The second he brought up Pepper, I lost it. I've been waiting so long to hear anything about her. It was killing me to know if she was safe. If she was alive. If I could help her. Raptor knew where she was and he knew what was going on. I got loud with him. Demanded answers and Raptor wasn't going to tell me cause he was worried someone would hear me screaming."

"He was trying to protect you. That's a hard thing to do though Zeta. You were overwhelmed. He has to know that." She stated back as I nodded.

"I'm sure he did. I'm sure he understood why I was yelling. Why I was so emotional. But him not answering me made me mad and I...?"

Raze with wide eyes just looked right at me as I felt a small tear leave my eyes.

"I hit him so fucking hard Raze!"

"You hit him?" She questioned in disbelief as I nodded.

"I gave him the hardest hook I ever threw. I thought I was going to take his head off it was that hard Raze. But he just stayed on his feet. He was bleeding and when he looked back at me I was scared. I was scared the second I hit him. I knew I fucked up. But the eyes he had scared me more then anything else. I thought he was going to kill me right there and then."

"He wouldn't do that." Replied Raze as I shook my head.

"I don't know. I tried to apologize. I tried to reach for him and instead he told me to not touch him again. He told me Pepper was in Syria being hunted by a band of contractors there. She has maybe another week before she runs or gets killed."

With wide eyes Raze then asked.

"What else did he say?"

"He just said he was waiting to get in contact with her. He has a friend who knows people. Knows how to get things. He thinks he'll be able to contact her. But before I could do anything else Raze he pushed me to the side and left. Grabbed his vest and walked back outside. He didn't even look at me when he came back. It's like I was dead to him."

Grabbing my head Raze replied.

"That's not true. Raptor likes you. He's probably pissed you rung his bell after going through all this though."

"What do I do? Look at her. Molly was even scared. She hasn't left my side since." I told her as we both looked to Molly who was no more then a few feet away watching our interaction.

Still holding my hand, Raze replied without leaving my eyes.

"Just let him blow off some steam for today. He has to come see me tonight. So why don't you just stay here with me and relax? By the time he comes we can talk things out. Plus if he finds a way to contact Pepper you'll have to be the first person he tells. It's just logic at this point." She stated as her smile made me smile.

Wiping my eyes with my other hand, I nodded and replied.

"Okay. Okay. Let's do that then. Your right."

Keeping herself stationary, the fox then looked to Molly to urge.

"While your waiting you should go get something to eat. For her too."

Keeping my smile I looked at Molly who replied.

"Braf!"

Letting out a small chuckle, I said with a somewhat happier tone.

"I can do that. You want anything?"

Shaking her head Raze replied.

"I'm fine. All I want is for you to not kill yourself. I know things are hard right now, but abusing your body won't get you anywhere. You hear me?"

I nodded as she then said.

"I don't care if you snort a little coke once in a while Zeta. That's your business. But don't go mixing drugs like that with venom. You're not going to survive if you do."

"I can handle it." I told her as she immediately slapped me across the face. My eyes were wide open in shock as she just gave me a look that bred she was pissed I gave her that kind of answer. Giving me a growl she replied.

"I don't give two fucks if you can handle it Zeta! Just cause you can jump off a cliff doesn't mean you should go doing it! For once in your god damn life think about someone other then yourself! I won't always be around for these kind of moments! And if you go overdosing after putting me through all this torment I'll find a way down into hell and come kill you myself! You hear me!?" She asked as I was actually shocked she was screaming at me. In the moments that followed she started to cry. My heart was breaking as she cried out.

"I love you! I don't want you dying over something so fucking stupid! I can't afford to lose anyone else I care about! Not my patients! Not Raptor! And sure as fuck not you!"

Placing her finger right on my chest we now just locked wet eyes as it was clear to me now she was invested in this feeling of hers. Still...I could only feel my heart shattering as she lowered her head and shut her eyes to whisper.

"I love you Zeta."

mT Shadow.