Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 168 – Darkened skies.
Zeta's POV.
The drive back was mostly silent between us. Raptor wasn't saying much of anything and that worried me as I noticed he had his eyes closed and his head tucked down into his chest. For some reason he looked dead. Like that old man he really was. Reaching over to place my hand on his leg, I quickly notice a change. He turned and looked right at me and I swear for a second his eyes were black. I jumped silently as Pepper immediately looked over in confusion. Doing my best to react fast so she wouldn't notice my surprise, I asked Raptor.
"Are you okay?"
His eyes however were still that bright shade of purple. I found myself relaxed as he replied.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just thinking is all."
"About anything good?" I asked back as he looked passed me and towards my sister. Just hesitating, Raptor went silent. Then all the sudden the car came to a stop. Quickly getting out alongside Pepper, I found we were back at the airfield and in front of our plane. With Raptor soon getting out behind me, I watched from there as he was quickly escorted on with the guards. Of course we followed and once on the plane we were greeted by who I assume could only be the pilot. Younger guy from what I could tell. This guy was however a nice shade for a fox. A gentle dark gray with stripes of neon gold fur going around his body like an ice cream swirl and two brown eyes. Pretty tall too for a fox. Had to be an inch under my sister who was five foot nine and to be honest I noticed her checking him out. I could understand why. He was dressed in a uniform apart from these G.U.N guys we've seen. Black camouflage combat BDU's and a straight up tactical rig up top. Skin tight black sleeve under armor shirt under a lightweight vest and an ammo strap on top. But if not to make him stand out more was the uniform, from the vest to the pants were lined with bright neon blue stitching going up and down his whole rig. Smiling at us as we took notice. The fox wearing a backwards black hat asked.
"Commander Voltz?"
Both Pepper and I widened our eyes as he was clear as day Irish. More so not even the more alpha type we expected with that accent alone. He was almost pitched with Raptor but somehow appeared more high energy and higher pitched. Like a teenage boy just going through puberty. Not girly at all. It was cute somehow as Raptor replied while asked as well.
"That's me. I assume your Hecan's man?"
Pepper appeared okay with this boy, I could tell cause she wasn't giving him any death glares. In fact she really was looking him up and down. Her eyes soon noticed mine and snapped back to me as it was clear I caught her looking. Fucking bitch has a heart after all. I thought to myself as the cat quickly replied back with an offer of his hand.
"You'd be right. My name is Cody. I'm your pilot for this flight and I'd be glad to get you up to date on the situation."
"Situation?" Raptor replied in loss as the fox immediately corrected himself.
"Not a situation. More like I meant a summary of what has been going on during your drive over here. My bad."
Pepper chuckled as Raptor nodded and replied.
"It's fine. You want to talk? Then let's talk. But how about we get in the air first? That sound good Cody?"
Walking passed the fox, he replied in an almost laughing voice.
"Oh! Ahahah! Okay I understand where your coming from! Then please go take a seat and I'll come find you when I get this baby in autopilot?"
"Sounds good!" Raptor replied as he was already halfway down the tube. With the kid just laughing, he soon looked back at me and my sister who were still standing idly by. Still with that smile he said to us.
"Two wolves? Great if this was nature I'd be in trouble. Name is Cody. Nice to meet you two."
"Zeta." I replied as my sister soon followed up.
"Pepper."
With wide eyes he questioned.
"And their both Russians. What the hell are you doing so far from home?"
With a teeth grinning smile Pepper replied.
"We're the security for that old man you just met."
"Old man? Looks to me like he's in his mid twenties at best." He then stated slightly confused as I smiled and replied.
"He's thirty eight believe it or not."
With wide eyes Cody spun his head back to stare at Raptor now. In utter confusion he questioned to himself.
"Thirty eight? What kind of vitamins his he on?"
My sister chuckled as I began to make my way towards Cody. Once a foot away, his eyes looked back to me to ask.
"Security huh? You two just a couple of mercs like me?"
Giving him an interested look back I replied.
"We're no longer really in that business, but yeah you could say that. We both served in the Russian military. Then broke off to do our own thing. Ran into him and now we're here."
It was crazy actually. This kid just gave me no reaction. Instead his eyes began to look me from top to bottom. As his eyes reached my feet and came back up to my face he replied.
"Just a pair of badasses then. Mind me asking, but why you mixed up with the middle east's greatest leader alongside that Robotnik guy of course?"
With my sister getting right up behind me she replied.
"Consider it his charm. Won her over and I can't help but want to keep by her side. A guy like him though is in for a lot right now. Keeping him alive and breathing became our new job. He doesn't pay well at fuck all, but you get the point. That old man Hecan tell you what's going on between them?"
With his smile coming back the fox replied.
"I like you Pepper. You're...pretty straight forward."
With my eyes going wide in concern for his life now. I watched with a muttered laugh as Pepper struggled to say just about anything back. Soon Cody went on to say with a jolly pep.
"Yeah I was briefed about the situation up to a tee. No need to worry about me. I just wasn't informed of his security before accepting the contract. I would have brought a bottle if I'd known two Russian girls were joining the flight."
"You drink?" Pepper quickly asked as Cody nodded and replied.
"Like a horse."
With smiles exchanging between the two I soon urged.
"We should get seated Pep. We can talk more in the sky." Grabbing her by the hand, I pulled her passed Cody and up to the front of the tube. Glancing back at me Pepper whispered.
"You notice that?"
"Notice what? You jumping down his throat? You can at least try to make it hard for him."
Giving me a wide eyed stare, Pepper replied with a defensive voice.
"I didn't jump down his throat. And that's not what I meant."
Stopping for a moment to take our seats across from Raptor who had his eyes closed. I soon asked my sister who was again looking at Cody who was busy chatting to Blitz who was left behind.
"What did you mean then?"
Looking back to me she whispered.
"His uniform? That's not G.U.N."
"He did say he was a merc Pep. And that this was a contract for him. Doubt Hecan wants anyone getting close to Raptor that isn't already expendable like us."
With her focus looking back at Cody again Pepper replied.
"Again I understand that much sis, but I know I've seen that gear before."
"Issue?" I then wondered as she looked back at me to reply.
"It's an issue when a guy just like him almost killed me hours ago before you contacted me with all this bullshit."
Widening my eyes I questioned with concern.
"Are you serious?"
Nodding quickly, she replied with her tone still whispered.
"A few hours before you called I was on the road driving out of Syria. When all the sudden I got shot by a rifle. The round went through the backseat and through my chest. Quickly showing me her vest that was underneath her cloak Pepper went on to say.
"I ditched my ride to heal and found myself ambushed by those Maxwell guys who have been after me since I left Russia. They chased me down into a farm that was in a clearing and I had no choice but to reside in the home for cover."
"Was anyone there?" I asked in utter loss for words as she replied.
"Yeah this wolf and...and his two grandsons." Pepper shut her eyes all the sudden as I could guess what happened just by the way she looked now thinking back to it. Slowly looking back at me Pepper mumbled.
"After the Maxwell guys were dead I went to leave the farm to be greeted by a guy; I swear to you Zeta was wearing that exact set of colors. He wasn't Maxwell, but he wasn't much better then all the others that came before to kill me. And after what Hecan said about Fort Drake being these god tier soldiers, that has to mean he has to be with that other group after me."
Looking back at Cody who was starting to make his way towards us, I wondered to Pepper who slowly turned to look at him as well.
"Shader Industries?"
"Yeah." Pepper whispered as Cody soon saw our stares to urge.
"You can relax now. Greetings are down and it's time we got airborne. What you think to that?"
"The sooner the better." Raptor replied as he opened his eyes to look up at the ceiling.
With Cody laughing at the response, he walked right on by us and into the cockpit to get seated. Once there he shouted.
"Everyone get buckled in!"
With Pepper looking right back to me, I urged her to do what he said by starting to grab my own seat belt. Pepper was slow to do anything as it was clear something wasn't right. After getting buckled in Pepper whispered to me.
"This is an issue."
Keeping calm I replied.
"We don't know anything yet. Let's just relax for now and figure this out when we're in the air."
Softly growling under her breath, Pepper questioned.
"One of his friends tries to kill me and now he's in charge of the flight? That can't be a fucking coincidence."
Reaching over for her arm, I grabbed her and replied.
"Just chill for now. He said this was a contract. He might not even know about us?"
"We just told the kid our names Zeta. If he's with Shader then he knows about our contracts. That means if he says a word to anyone outside this plane we're fucked. Your contract comes back and we'll have nothing but ourselves to watch out for."
Pepper was onto something with that, and now I was concerned with us both.
"I need to tell Raptor."
"He's got a phone right? Text him with that burner Hecan gave you. Ain't nobody watching those lines so it'll be the safest way of doing it." Stated Pepper as I nodded and pulled out the phone from my front pant pocket. Turning it on, I went to my real phone to get Raptor's number and enter it into the burner. Once done, I began to text him. After I was done I sent it and both Pepper and I turned to look at the hedgey who was just lost in his own world a few feet away as the plane began to move.
Raptor's POV.
With my pocket rumbling, I reopened my eyes and reached down into my pocket to pull out my cell. Looking at the screen I saw it was a message starting with the first sentence being.
"Raptor it's Zeta."
In confusion I turned my head to widen my eyes. Both of the girls were staring right at me as I questioned what was going on. Sensing my concern, Pepper made a hand motion towards her hand. Pointing at it with her other hand, I looked back down at my phone. Opening the message it read.
"Raptor it's Zeta. Pepper and I just got done talking to that Cody guy. He's a merc that Hecan hired and Pepper thinks that uniform he is wearing is from Shader Industries. One of the companies who already tried to kill her today. You know what that means right?"
Looking back to the wolves; they both nodded their heads as I looked towards the cockpit. I didn't know the uniform of those Shader guys but if Pepper thinks he's with them that could be a huge problem. And why would Hecan hire a guy from the same PMC that's after these girls? He had to know something I didn't. Which made me question his intentions. Looking back down to my lap I began to text her back.
"Are you sure?" Sending the message I watched as Zeta and her sister both looked to what I assume to be the burner Hecan gave us. Looking back to me after reading the short text, I widened my eyes as Pepper replied openly.
"One hundred percent."
"Shit." I muttered as Blitz who sat next to me questioned.
"What?"
"Our pilot might be a problem." I whispered as he widened his eyes and looked up at the fox who began to turn us onto the runway. Feeling the plane begin to pick up speed, I looked back to my lap to text Zeta.
"We'll handle this when he gets us airborne. No where for him to go if he's trouble. Just let me do the talking first."
With the girls reading my message. They both soon looked back at me. Zeta gave me a thumbs up as Pepper whispered across the lane.
"You better not fuck this up."
Sensing this became a test now for me to gain some ground, I nodded my head and watched as she slowly looked away with that menacing grin of hers. Maybe after half a minute we soon lifted off and began to ascend. With my head back in the seat, I looked left at Blitz to order.
"We're doing this when he levels us out. Just have my back."
"You got it." He replied as it took maybe five minutes for us to get up and leveled out. After another two or three; everything smoothed out and we heard a snapping sound come from the cockpit. Then Cody who turned in his seat to say with a happy tone.
"And that's it. Lined up and on course. We got approximately six hours till we get there. Feel free to get comfortable cause it's gonna be a while. Hahaha."
Undoing my seat belt I stood up slowly. Cody widened his eyes as he now had his focus on me fully in concern. I saw his eyes change their stance and his mind and whole body went stiff. I was even more convinced he was lost to my sudden posture change when he mumbled in utter confusion.
"Ahhhh...is something wrong sir? You look a little...tense?"
Getting a foot from him I replied.
"I am a little...tense Cody. You want to know why?"
My voice was dark all the sudden. Pepper and Zeta both undid their seat belts to stand up as well. Cody switched his gaze as Pepper had her hand going under her cloak. Raising his voice Cody urged.
"Hey! Hey! Chill! Whatever you're thinking you need to stop thinking cause it's wrong!"
"You work for a company who is after my fucking head you little Irish bastard! You expect me to chill!?" Pepper shouted as a gun came up. Jumping in front of the girl, I ordered with a commanding tone to her snout which was raised to expose her teeth as she growled under her breath.
"Stand down!"
I watched as the look of rage left her eyes as my tone was piercing enough to be felt hitting her very core. Pepper actually jumped as Zeta had her eyes widened at my dominance over her. Lowering her weapon and staring into my eyes; Pepper soon huffed and replied.
"Fine. But not till I get answers from this little...!?"
"I can explain!" Shouted Cody as he poked out from behind me.
"You better have a good one." Zeta stated back with concern as Cody replied while keeping behind me.
"It is a good one! Just everyone relax a minute!"
Turning around to face the fox I urged.
"Go on then kid. Cause it seems like a really weird coincidence if you ask me or them."
Nodding Cody lowered his voice to reply.
"Yes I'm with Shader Industries and yes I know who they are of course. Pepper and Zeta Diskov. Twin sisters who up till recently both held contracts. Zeta's surprising getting cashed in by an unknown third party. Which I assume to be you sir." He directed towards me as I just stared at him.
"Whatever you did to keep her alive and still get the money must have pissed Ying off since they have the cash. And regardless of why you decided to fuck with them is no concern of mine. I could care less about saying shit about it. Cause I have a contract of my own that prohibits me from saying anything. Even to my bosses."
"And if that barrier wasn't there? You'd be only a short call away from turning us in. Wouldn't you?" Pepper wondered with a sinister voice as Cody kept calm to reply with a smile.
"I'm getting paid well enough to guarantee you after this business with Commander Voltz here. I wouldn't have any urge to go on another contract. There would be no point to it."
Zeta grew lost as Pepper just growled at him softly. Looking to Cody, I watched as he kept his cool to whisper to the angry girl only feet away.
"And I already said it once Pepper. I like you."
Instantly Pepper stopped everything. Her growl and her presence both went to the ground as Cody must have stunned her just as much as I had with my commanding voice. After a second of staring at one another Cody stated.
"I don't turn on the people I like. Just a moral law for me girly. Not about to break it for anyone. Even someone as wanted as you two."
With a chuckle just washing over him I listened as Zeta asked.
"How much is Hecan paying you for this?"
Looking over to her Cody replied.
"Twenty mill. Ten up front and ten when it's done."
The wolves and myself both got shocked by the amount he was getting. In utter shock Zeta questioned.
"Twenty million for guard duty!?"
"Ten up front?" I questioned back as Cody looked right back to me as I clearly got his attention with the question itself. Nodding his head the kid replied.
"Shader Industries for starters isn't a fuck up company. We have never failed a contract. Even the hardest ones. That kind of statistic offers security to the people who hire us. Which in return raises our price. We don't take shit pay jobs. It's how we maintain one of the most advanced research and military grade combat tested contracts there is to offer to PMC's. Doing things the right way has earned us as a company; public attention and even more offers. We don't hide like those Fort Drake guys who are also after your two "security" guards commander."
"That's still a lot of money. Especially if it's just you Irish." Stated Pepper as Cody looked back at her to reply with a calm and controlled tone.
"You also pay for the soldiers you want. The better contractors are worth a lot"
"How much better is twenty million?" Wondered Zeta back as Cody all the sudden changed.
His eyes went from brown to red in almost an instant. I kept my calm stance held, but the girls both fell utterly silent in shock to what was happening before their eyes, and I knew why. This little Irish kid was a user. But a perfect user. But there was more to it. There was no tone change in his voice and no change to his color from the venom which must be in his blood. He just seemed normal like he was seconds ago. Only his eyes gave it away as he replied to Zeta's hanging question.
"That much better."
The girls were at a loss for words as I asked the man.
"You're a user?"
Refocusing back on me, his eyes went back to being brown in an instant as he replied.
"Yes sir. Perfect if you couldn't tell."
"That makes you expensive." I then stated as he chuckled and turned away from the girls. Pepper was struggling to move as she was shell shocked at what this kid younger then her was. Zeta however got closer as Cody then said back to me.
"The way you get picked out to be a user is different over at the PMC. Yes you need badass talent and all that, but you need to have a body capable of surviving the surge you get when they first inject you with the stuff. It has a ninety five percent kill rate. Which means those of us that it doesn't kill ninety five percent of the time get to have a pretty good life running contracts. And we have to pay less to the company itself after we're done."
"How much less?" Asked Zeta as he quickly replied.
"If I wasn't what I am; I'd have to give up eighty percent of my earnings. Being a user turns the tables. I only pay twenty."
"That's a great fucking rate." She replied as Pepper broke from her spot to question.
"Why didn't I sign up?"
Widening his eyes Cody questioned.
"You a user too Pep?"
"Yeah...?" This was nuts. Pepper did the same fucking thing he just did. Eyes went red and all and Cody just stared at it in shock as Zeta stated for her.
"She's a perfect user too. We both are. That's fucking insane your one too. We both lived through our tests back in Russia, but only one percent out of the five turn out to be perfect."
Looking to Zeta Cody again asked.
"Your one too? Holy shit the luck on that."
With Pepper turning off her talent. She replied now for her sister as she did for her.
"She's not controlled though. Her venom has a higher potency in her blood and it turns her feral after too much use. That's why she has to take tablets of the shit over a normal dosage you'd normally get after expending." With Cody letting out a small chuckle; Blitz who stood behind me added.
"I'm a user as well. But not perfect like you guys"
With the small group all in awe of one another, I interfered to state deeply from my chest.
"So Hecan hired you why then? To keep your friends off us and in the dark?"
Just smiling the fox replied without missing a beat.
"No. He hired me because I can kill anyone that tries to get in the middle of this world changing deal you two have brokering. He pays me to guarantee your safety on top of theirs, and keep this little op under wraps. No one leaks anything and no one dies. That's my contract. Keep you commander Voltz alive. But now seeing as I have two perfect users and another here to help. I should have packed less ammo and just planned on an easy retirement contract. Cause I'd be impressed if even a rabbit got close to you after we land for this little retreat into the mountains."
"Can I trust you?" I then asked him as he laughed and replied.
"No matter what I say to that question sir; we both know in the end that answer is all on you. I'm getting paid to do this. That's enough for me to have your back. On top of the fact that this contract you have with Hecan is good for everyone around the world. My bosses want that to happen and so do I. If I have to prove my loyalty I will. Just give me time. But you have my word my lips are sealed. I don't get paid otherwise if something happens that exposes any of this. Even you two." He directed towards the wolves as I just stared right on at the fox as he fixed his hat. Once realigned with his forehead he asked.
"Now can we all just relax a little? You need more questions answered? Then go ahead and ask them. I'll answer them all if I can. But please don't point another gun at me. Deal?"
With Zeta and Pepper both smiling Pepper herself replied.
"Deal."
mT Shadow.