Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 144 – Let's talk.
Raptor's POV.
My men were confused by the request to see Blitz, but regardless they let me through. The wolf was laying down but quickly sat up as I walked in to shut the giant steel door. Blitz who instantly noticed the changes to my body asked in a careful tone.
"What happened to you?"
With our eyes locked, I ignored his question to ask.
"What's your answer?"
His eyes widened and immediately he looked back towards the ground away from me. I knew his emotion. He had given it thought. Looking back to me after some time he replied.
"What happens to me after? If I say yes."
Approaching the wolf I replied.
"I'll talk with Hecan. Give you back your freedom. Convince him to pardon you. You have my word you'll be unharmed by me or any of my men. You'll strap on new gear and do whatever I say. Is that clear?"
Blitz again looked down as I waited for his answer. Keeping his eyes away he then asked.
"Did Tusk say yes?"
"I haven't spoke to him yet. He's still resting."
"And Gorgon?"
The question loomed in my own head as he asked it. Unsure now I replied.
"I might have an idea. But it all depends on what you decide to do. Rot here in this room. Or fight for your freedom."
Blitz's eyes looked right back to mine. We just stared at one another and after maybe ten seconds he replied.
"I'll do it. Okay? I'll do it."
I just nodded my head as he then wondered.
"So what do I have to do?"
Pulling out my phone I replied.
"I need to make a call. But for right now come with me. Be warned though Blitz. I will not tolerate anything other then your help from here on out. Are we clear?" I asked him as I offered him my hand.
The wolf stared at it, but slowly he took it and I helped him up off his cot. After which he replied.
"Yes sir. Crystal."
Smiling slightly I then ordered.
"Stay close. Don't look or talk to anyone."
"Okay." He replied as I opened the cell door to start guiding him towards the main entrance. All the guards looked at him as we walked outside. Once there I guided him to the armory. The arms master who was busy checking on his armor saw us instantly as we entered to ask.
"What's up Commander? Who's this big guy?"
Looking to Blitz I replied.
"Personal guard. I need him dressed the part. I need something that will fit him."
"Easy enough. You know your size Texas?"
Blitz who was still lost by all this soon replied.
"Thirty three waist. Twenty eight vest."
"Sounds good. Give me a second." With that the arms master made his way off into the wardrobes. Blitz who just slowly looked around soon asked.
"Do they know who I am?"
Looking to him I replied.
"Just myself and Mason. Alongside the people I came in with. You'll meet them all soon enough. For now we just need you combat ready."
"Is there something going on?" He then asked as I remained still to reply.
"I'll fill you in later. For now just be quiet."
"Yes sir." He replied as it was clear he was uncomfortable. With the arms master coming back in a matter of minutes he had a vest and a belt for the big guy. Blitz took it all and got it on as the arms master soon asked me.
"Need a gun?"
Nodding I replied.
"Standard kit. But throw in something more for his size."
Smiling the guy replied while grabbing a M249 from off of one of the stands.
"There you have it then. Just take one of these too." He urged as he offered Blitz a knife and an M9. The wolf quickly got everything together as I looked to the arms master to say.
"Thank you. We'll get out of your hair."
"Anytime Commander. You know where to find me."
With Blitz following me as we left the armory, I glanced back at him to say with a darker tone.
"You try anything with those guns and you'll be regretting that before you can even pull the trigger."
Blitz kept quiet as I guided him to the main building. Once inside I walked us to my room to order.
"Stay in here for now. Lock the door till I come back. I'll knock twice so you know it's me."
"For how long?" He questioned as he got close to my bed. Keeping my eyes on him I replied.
"For however long it takes me to get things together. But like I said. Don't try a fucking thing. I'm putting a lot of trust in you with that weapon. Don't make me regret it. Cause I'm your only way out alive."
Blitz gulped but took a seat calmly as I turned to shut the door. Locking it with my key, I refocused and made my way back down the main stairs. Once there in the main lobby I went into medical to find Zeta. I could sense her a mile away and as I found her with Raze and Tusk who was sleeping, I ordered while walking in.
"Get up." Zeta was caught off guard and so was Raze as I had my focus on Zeta who was clearly still shaken up.
"What's going on?" Questioned Raze as I waited for Zeta to come over to my side. Once there I replied to the Fox.
"Watch him till we get back. That's an order doctor."
Raze was stunned as it was clear I was not going to answer her question. Zeta on the other hand seemed worried as I started walking out of medical. As we walked, I took notice to Zeta's condition. She was fucked up. Recovering was what she was doing, but this was more important. Sticking close as we left the building, we made our way back to the jail. Zeta was now lost as I ordered one of the guards as we entered.
"Give me the keys to that room again."
The kid tossed them to me as it was clear I was in a hurry. Zeta followed and as we reached the same cell Blitz was once in; I stopped to look at her and order.
"Get in."
Instantly she chuckled and replied.
"What? Are you serious?"
Just staring right at her I replied.
"Dead serious."
The wolf was clearly now concerned, but trusting me she walked right into the cell. I got in behind her and shut the door as she sat down on the cot. With my phone still in my right hand I made sure we were locked in and refocused fully on her as she asked with a confused tone.
"What's going on Raptor?"
Holding by the door I replied directly.
"Business. Do me a favor and just listen." Her eyes went soft like a puppy.
"I don't want to hear shit about what happened back in the office. I don't care. I get it. You hit me cause you were pissed off. It's fine. But back on that field I thought I knew you. Why didn't you tell me you were a perfect user? Scared?"
Staying soft Zeta replied.
"No. I mean I figured it didn't really matter. You already knew I used venom."
"But you lost your shit back there. I could have killed you."
Zeta lowered her eyes as I went on to say.
"I'm not asking for an explanation here. Raze already told me."
"Shit." She mumbled as I kept my eyes right on her. Looking back to me she said with a careful voice.
"I wasn't thinking. Shit has been rough these last few months Raptor. Are you mad I do coke or something?"
"No. But if you can't control your power you'll get someone killed. I just want to be sure you know what your doing before we go further."
"Further?" She asked in a mix of confusion and interest as I nodded.
"Tomorrow I'm resigning. This way I can help you fully. I don't want you dying before I can make things better. You understand what I'm saying Zeta?"
The wolf was shaken up by the response as I directed her attention to my phone.
"Like I already told you Pepper is in Syria. She's running out of time. If you want her back we need to get moving soon. Last night while you were asleep I made contact with my old buddy Watts." Zeta matched my eyes again as I went on.
"He got me a way to get in contact with her. Problem is, she might not want to be on the line long."
Instantly standing up the wolf questioned.
"You can talk to her!?"
I nodded once and replied.
"Yeah. But do us both a favor and relax before you decide to lose your shit one more time."
Zeta's eyes went soft again as she knew I was right. She wouldn't sit back down however. With her gaze slowly shifting away I stated.
"I want to do this just as much as you do. Trust me. But right now I need to make something clear to you. So look at me." I ordered her as her eyes came back to me.
"I'm risking everything. I'm going against my promise to help this country. I'm putting everything on Mason and Archer here. That's no guarantee Zeta."
"So why then? Why are you doing this then?" She questioned as I kept calm.
"How long have we known each other Raptor? A week? And that's enough for you to do this? I understand that you care but I can do this myself. Just give me her number and I'll go get her right now. You have my word."
"I can't do that." I replied as she gave me a puzzled glare to question.
"Why not?"
"Cause you going alone is a sure fire way to getting you both captured or killed."
"I can handle some mercs Raptor." She replied as I shook my head.
"It's not that simple." I stated as she then shouted.
"Why not!?"
Snapping a bit I replied while jumping in her face.
"Cause your sister just went up in price! Ying isn't the only one after her now!"
Zeta immediately pulled her tone away as I shouted.
"Her contract just jumped to yours! Six dead and seven alive!"
Zeta had widened her eyes as I said the price. Nodding my head I added on.
"That's why back in the office I tried to tell you we had a bigger problem! Both you and her are now worth a small fortune! Do you get that?!" I asked her as she was clearly retreating back into her normal frame of mind.
"The only reason your as safe as you are is because your with me! Over there Zeta?! She's has no one covering her! She's alone and they know it! That's why the price bar got raised if I had to guess! She's easier to get to! So beyond Ying and Maxwell contractors your sister has Fort Drake and Shader Industries gunning for her now! You going alone will just make their jobs easier! Do you get that one fucking bit!?" I asked her as she was shuttering in her stance. Sensing I was getting too worked up, I took a breath and backed up to the door. I had to relax. Zeta slowly looked back up at me as it was clear I was calmer now to ask.
"Then what do I do?"
Locking eyes I replied.
"You are going to trust me. I have a plan. But this revolves all on you. I need you to trust me Zeta." I stated as I approached her. Her hand reached for mine as she replied.
"I do trust you. I just don't want you getting killed for me. I can do this."
"You can't." I replied as she just frowned.
"The guys after Pepper are serious shit according to Watts. You'll need me. Together we can get her to safety."
With her hand just wrapping my fingers she asked.
"Raptor I...I don't...?" Taking her hand completely I pulled her close and said directly to her face.
"I'm not going to die. And nether will you or Pepper. You have my word Zeta."
It was clear to me Zeta wanted to say something. But she kept it back as I released her hand. After a few seconds she questioned.
"What happens after this? Let's just say we get Pepper and all is good. What then Raptor? Can you come back here?"
"I don't know. But that doesn't matter. If we get your sister we can worry about that then. For now I need you to listen." Her eyes opened up as I said.
"Tomorrow I put everything aside to make this happen. I'm going to talk to Watts and see if he can find us a plane."
"What about the one in Pakistan we tucked away?" She then asked as I quickly replied back.
"It'll be more then just us two going. Blitz is coming with us."
In utter confusion Zeta questioned.
"Blitz? The same guy who we just went through all the trouble in getting here? What the fuck are you doing Raptor?"
"I'm getting a plan together. Like I said you need to trust me. I'm not about to do anything that I know for sure won't work out. Blitz is coming."
Her face said it all as I then added with a much more serious tone.
"And so is Gorgon."
At that moment I felt everything go off in her mind. She just had her two wide eyes staring right at me. Her mouth slowly opened but nothing came out. Taking a chance, I said to her as she struggled to comprehend.
"Ether way we look at it Zeta this is a rescue mission. We will have many enemies gunning for us the second they find out we are there to help Pepper. I need people at my side that I know can handle a gun."
"But Gorgon?" She questioned as I nodded.
"Would you believe me if I said that I felt like this was all for nothing if you didn't kill him? She wondered as I shut my eyes.
"Raptor he killed your family. Made you shoot your kids. You only days ago wanted nothing but his death. You sat with me at that table and said it yourself!" She shouted as I just listened.
"You're going to trust that same man to have your back in combat? Your going to trust him with me and my sister!?"
Opening my eyes I looked right back at her. Zeta was mad. Understandably so. What I was thinking went not only against my promise to this country, but went against my plan to kill Gorgon after all he did to me. Keeping calm, I said with a softer tone to my voice.
"I need people that are expendable. Going to Syria and starting a war is something that not only could affect our future, but the middle east as a whole if someone was to get captured. It could effect the treaty I signed with Hecan. This is the only way I see getting this done."
Zeta came right up to me to beg.
"Don't fucking do this Raptor. You're smarter then this. Your better then this."
I looked away as she instantly brought her hand up to my face to guide my turning head back to her view. Her face was full of emotion as I tried to keep myself together.
"We can think of something. I don't fucking care if it's just me and you. But listen to me for a second you fucking idiot. Gorgon is not coming. He's not. I shouldn't have to tell you this, but he can't be trusted. Leave him here with Mason and let's go get my sister together. Then after she's safe we can come back and you can finish this shit! But right now he's not leaving that cell Raptor! He's not!"
Zeta was serious about this. More so then anything else up to this point together. I was running out of things to say as she begged again with her eyes following mine as they began to look around the room.
"Don't. Please. You're better then this. Let's talk to Pierce and Juper. They can help."
Shaking my head I replied.
"I'm not getting them involved. G.U.N can not be traced back to this."
Zeta just kept staring right at me as I went silent after the statement. But after some time she whispered.
"Raptor?" I lowered my eyes to the ground between us as she grabbed my hand again. This time she took both. With her body stepping a foot closer, she whispered to my face.
"Raptor? Look at me. Please."
Very slowly I looked back at her. She suddenly smiled as I just stared right at her eyes. Gripping my hands she said with a soft voice.
"I don't know what the fuck you are. Hedgehog? Sure. God? Demon? Sure. What you can do doesn't make sense. Healing yourself. Healing others. The quills. Your eyes. None of it makes sense. This world has changed you. It has. Probably more then it should. But it did. Look at yourself. Answer me this Raptor. If you let Gorgon come with us; isn't that the start of heading down the same bad road your friend Shadow went down?"
My eyes opened slightly as she asked that. Sensing my reaction Zeta pressed on to say.
"I've never had a person close enough to care about other then Raze in my life. Never had someone to hold like this." She stated as she looked to our hands. My eyes went down with hers as she then said while looking back at me.
"I've seen you. I know even under all this mess your a great man. A great leader and someone who can change everything. That's why I want to help you. That's why I want to be here right now. Not just because of Pepper. At first I had no fucking idea we would get this far. But now that we are I know what I can lose if you go down this road. You think Shadow is dead because you didn't listen? I'm standing here right now telling you right to your face that I am listening. I'll walk through fire for you right now and when we save my sister I'll do even more if you want. You'll have earned it. But I need you to trust me when I say this. I don't want to lose you now. So don't...don't you dare do this. There is always another way." She said to me as she released my hands to place them both on my face. Our eyes were pinned together as she gently pressed her lips to mine. I kissed back but I was still utterly lost. She knew it too as she pulled away maybe an inch to ask.
"Do you trust me?"
I nodded my head slowly as she smiled and whispered.
"Then please. Listen to me and what I am saying. We can figure this out. Let's go back to Raze and the others and talk this over. Maybe tell Mason what's going on."
Shaking my head I replied.
"Mason isn't an option anymore."
"Why?" She asked in confusion as I replied while grabbing her hands again. This time for myself.
"After the fighting I showed everyone just what I could do." Zeta widened her eyes as I muttered.
"I scared the shit out of them. Not a single person out there has come near me since. Nor said a fucking word. Mason saw it too."
"What did he say?" She then asked as I looked away to reply.
"We argued. He wanted answers. He saw what happened to you too. He knows you're a user and he thinks I'm doing the same shit to get these powers. But above all, he wants to know what's going on between us. I still haven't said shit. But he is piecing it all together slowly I am sure. He knows your wanted. For what? He's still in the dark. But regardless we aren't speaking anymore. It's best if we just leave him out of this. At least till I close your contract with Ying."
"How?" She then asked as I looked back to my phone.
"Watts got me the number to contact the unit that's in charge of locating you here in the middle east. All I have to do is call them up."
"And say what?" She then wondered as I looked back to her eyes.
"This is what I need your trust for Zeta. Ying will not close the contract till they get you. So I need to hand you over. One way or the other."
Her eyes instantly widened as she stepped back to reply.
"What?"
"Ying doesn't know I'm helping you. They are keeping their business off of rebellion radar and for good reason. If I call them and tell them I know about their actions in my country they will be forced to do what I say. Or risk a war themselves. So the idea is to play the part. I'll make pretend like I only found out through you. You came to me and begged for safe haven and I said no and had you taken in."
Zeta seemed to understand and relax as it was clear what I was saying would involve her getting handed over to the enemy that has been hunting her for months. Sensing her mood shift I went on to say.
"Like I said I'm resigning tomorrow. I'll call today and tell them the same thing. But before that; I want to leave the rebellion with a good chunk of money. Money I can't steal legally. So after maybe a few pictures of you in this cell they might be willing to get together and give me a going away present in return for handing you over and providing them safe escort out of country. You following me?"
Zeta for some reason began to smile and sensing she was getting excited I listened as she asked.
"You're planning to rob them blind. Aren't you?"
Nodding I replied.
"They see you in this cell. I promise safe escort. We meet and they give me the seven million and I give them you. Everyone walks away happy."
"And me?" She then asked as I smiled.
"We get Pierce and his men to set up the safe escort. Once far enough away that they won't be heard or seen, we jumped them and get you back and kill them all before they can call for help. Everything works out alright and Ying won't know what happened to their men and you'll be scott free. I'm sure once they have you the contract will close. As most transactions go."
"What about the money?" She then asked keeping her smile as I just let out a sigh to reply.
"If for some reason I can't come back here after saving your sister. We can at least go somewhere with that much cash and enjoy things for a change. Maybe somewhere with a view? How's that sound?"
The wolf seemed down with the idea, and in less then a moment after her smile went away she replied while getting close to me again.
"I can live with that. But hey?"
"Yeah?" With our eyes on one another she asked with a careful chime to her voice.
"What else were you going to say at the cemetery? After what happened with Julie and your daughter? After you killed them? The demon you said speaks to you, what happened next?"
My mouth opened up in utter loss for words. I was finally open to saying it. Who would have guessed it would only take half my soul and a soundproof cell to admit the truth to someone. But this someone was about to listen to me. Her eyes waiting for the rest of the tale as her hands found mine one last time.
mT Shadow.