Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 174 – Voiceless.
Vacus's POV, 9:17am, Afghanistan capital.
Opening my eyes I just stared up at a light. I couldn't feel my body as the light was soon focused in on. It was just a dim lamp that hung right behind my head. Blinking a few times, I suddenly felt blood coming to my arms and upper torso. Without even thinking I went to lift my head up and I was scared when I heard from my left.
"Vacus!"
Even if wasn't scared I still tried to scream from being surprised and I was caught off guard when I felt this weird bump in my throat. It felt like I hiccuped for some reason. The air just hit a wall as I soon found my sister clamping on my side.
"Thank god your awake. I was so scared."
She hugged me for a few seconds and I was still a bit wobbly as I went to ask her.
"…..."
My eyes widened as my sister pulled off my neck to just stare at my eyes. Her face was holding nothing but a look of sadness. In confusion I looked at her as a rebellion medic soon arrived at my other side. His face also low to the ground as I was beginning to feel my heart race. Looking back to my sister, I got scared as she shut her eyes all the sudden to the medic's voice.
"Lieutenant Vacus?"
Looking over to the man, I just listened as it was clear something was wrong. Incus then came to put her hand on my leg. Trying to comfort me as the medic went on to say.
"You're back safe at the capital building. You were shot. Do you remember? Just nod if you do."
As fast as I could I nodded as he went on to say.
"You took a shotgun pellet to your trachea. It's one of the main airways in the very front of your throat. You also lost a lot of blood. Myself and Captain Marhick got you here as fast as we could. No one else was hurt apart from Marhick getting clipped with a few of the pellets and me getting shot in my leg to reach you before you bled out. Thankfully I was able to preform my duties and I managed to get that pellet out of your neck and stitch up your throat. But there was damage that couldn't be repaired. Your trachea being the main one. It's shut. Closing all air from leaving that pipe. Which means...I'm sorry Lieutenant but you can't speak anymore."
Widening my eyes in complete shock, I looked over to my sister to see her crying. Flicking my head back to the medic, I went to immediately try to speak to be caught by that of which he just said. The air had no where to go and I was all the sudden attacked by fear and then followed up by complete and utter sadness. Tears began to form as the medic went on to say.
"I'm so sorry but there isn't anything we can do. Your lucky to be alive. But I'm so sorry again for your loss. I tried. I did. But there's more unfortunately." Widening my eyes, I listened very close as he then stated with a sad tone.
"Commander Archer and Mason have both ordered for you to be relieved of duty from this point on."
Archer's POV.
Standing at the door, I had my head and eyes just resting on Lieutenant Vacus as she was being told about her status. I was silent as the tears came to them. But my ears listened close as he gave her my orders. And from that moment on I swear she must have broke in half. Everything about her just disappeared and nothing but silent tears flowed. Taking a step in, I said with a soft tone.
"I'm sorry Lieutenant."
Her eyes immediately turned to stare at me as it was clear I had no other choice.
"You can't preform your duties without your voice. It's not your fault. Marhick wasn't able to do his job and he got you put in this position your in now. I'm sorry but I can't have a mute leading my army."
"You son of a bitch!" Incus screamed as I got shot a look of horror from the medic who stood idly by. Keeping my eyes on Incus now I ordered.
"Watch your tone with me Lieutenant! Or you'll be on the chopping block next!"
The cat shut her mouth as I refocused on Vacus. Pointing at her with my left hand I said it again.
"I'm sorry but I can't. You can't preform the duties you signed on for and I can't have you getting people killed due to your condition. From this moment on you're relieved of command and as soon as your mobile I'm asking you to go home. The rebellion thanks you for your service." Her face turned to anger. I could see it clear as day as I then pointed to her sister with the same hand ordering.
"You can have that one mishap Incus. But don't push your luck...?!"
I was stunned as she slammed me with a heavy slap to my face. Stumbling a little, I turned my gaze back to her to listen as she screamed.
"There is a way to say things you fucking asshole!"
With my hand fixing my jaw, I replied calmly.
"This country is on the brink of burning. I don't have time to be sensitive with every poor fool who gets shot in their back."
Instantly she went to swing and I stepped back as the medic got in between us to order.
"Calm down Lieutenant!"
Incus jumped into the man as I just stood there.
"Who are you!?"
"Your commanding officer Lieutenant!" I replied as she again shut her mouth to my scary tone change.
"Who you just assaulted. So do yourself a favor and show me your hands."
"Excuse me?!" She questioned next as I ordered the man in front of her.
"Arrest her Corporal. That's an order."
"Yes sir." He replied as he grabbed Incus by the hands. She fought almost instantly as I jumped in to get her against the wall. Getting her hands tied, I panicked as Vacus jumped on my back. She had no presence in her condition and with a heavy hand I pushed her to the ground to order.
"Stand down!"
The cat was about to get up again when all the sudden two more soldiers ran in to point their rifles at her. Vacus learned quick as I refocused and finished cuffing her sister. Once she was in our hands, I looked to the men who stood by the door to state.
"Lieutenant Incus is under military arrest. Please escort her to a cell. Lieutenant Vacus you are finished. From this moment on your no longer a rebellion soldier and you will revert back to your normal life."
"Sir?" The medic said out from the side of my view as he awaited further orders.
"Yes Corporal?" I answered as he said very carefully.
"With all due respect sir. Lieutenant Vacus needs time to recover. She's still heavily disoriented from the surgery and even now that little fight could have caused the stitches in place to have moved. She needs to remain under my care for at least another day or two. Then I can take out the stitches."
Nodding my head I replied.
"Then from this moment on she's your problem corporal. She has two days. Then I want her escorted off the property. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir." He replied as I looked back to Vacus to say.
"Your sister will receive the punishment I deem fit after that outburst. She's not the only one to raise a hand at me today. Captains Marhick and Freemen will also be brought in and be presented to the public as an example of what happens to people who disobey my rule now that Raptor is no longer in charge."
Vacus widened her eyes as I said it directly and bluntly for her to hear.
"She along with everyone else who has abandoned their duties will be executed."
Everyone stood in silence as I then stated.
"This city will fear us if they have too. I will do whatever must be done to make them knell. We can not have a war of our own this deep in. Not because one man decided to turn his back on what mattered most. Your sister will be making the country a better place. I'm sorry for your loss Vacus."
She was broke. I could tell instantly as I ordered the corporal who was at her side.
"Get her back in bed. She tries anything you shoot her."
"Yes sir." He replied as he got her by the arm. Gently helping her back into bed, I turned my back and left.
This fucking day sucked and it was just the beginning of it all. I already had people breaking out fights in public and another thousand at my door screaming for answers for every question under the sun. I didn't have time. Not now. Mason was going soft but I wasn't going to have it much longer. This city will be ran with an iron fist and lethal force if need be. And he will follow my commands cause I have Iraq in the same condition and I need to get back to deal with it. Right now both cities were in the same condition and without me there I knew it would get worse. I had to control these people then put out a statement to go over some new rules and give them some answers next. But foot down this will be put under wraps by tonight. I'll make examples of Incus and all the others who go beyond me in this war. This shit was going to drive me insane at this rate and I knew it. One of the biggest concerns I had was Captain Marhick and the people who he stole when he left. Including Freemen and over a third of their troops. This left Afghanistan to be undermanned and it meant he had more then enough people to start causing trouble. Trouble that can't happen. Not now. Not ever. I will not have an anti-rebellion in this war. Not like it was years ago with Logan running the ship.
Walking out into the hallway after giving my jaw a good rub, I let out a heavy sigh and tried to calm down. This anger wasn't new. But I never claimed to lead fairly. At the end of the day this rebellion is now mine to lead. And I'll be the man Raptor failed to be when we needed him most. A leader.
Marhick's POV.
"This is bad." Stated Freemen as we sat inside my house with Jess and an overwhelming amount of others in my living room. With eyes on her she went on to say.
"Archer just put out the word to bring us in. We'll have every one of our friends looking for us Marhick. We can't hide. They'll search this place as soon as things calm down."
"Then let's make it so it doesn't calm down." Replied Jess as I looked over to her as she was stuck in the middle of a few of the bigger guys from my team.
"How?" Freemen asked as she quickly replied.
"We're still armed. We have the ability to fight back. They come and we shoot."
"We aren't killing our own." I stated back as she then went silent.
"Then what do we do Marhick?" Freemen then questioned as I gave it some thought. Everyone was looking to me now as it was clear I was in charge of this little army we had. I wanted to kill Archer that much I knew, but I wasn't about to resort to that kind of thing. I'm not that man and I won't be forced into that man ether. No matter what happens. Looking up to everyone I replied.
"Archer can't bring us in without making a lot of noise. And we aren't the only ones he wants. He wants to bring the people down with a heavy hand. Both here and in Iraq. What we need to do is focus on them. The people. There has to be hundreds, if not thousands of others who want the same thing we do."
Freemen was giving me this look of hope as I said with a commanding voice.
"We want someone in office who isn't a fucking dictator. We want someone who isn't going to abuse their power and we want someone who has more dignity then to order their own people to die. We aren't an army who kills the people we vow to protect. We are a people's army and Archer can go to hell thinking this fight is over today. There are people at the capital right now fighting for our rights as people. Archer and Mason can't force us away from what people like Shadow Robotnik and Raptor Voltz have already fought to put in motion. And that leads me to this. As the people we are, we need to bring that man back."
"But how?" Asked Freemen as I sat up to reply.
"We get the people of this city and the next on our side. This started cause he left. Because those two men told him he was unfit to serve. I might not know the man on a personal level like them, but I know for a god damn fact he was the furthest thing from a bad leader. From a person we didn't want like them. Sure he's something else. We all saw it the day he got us together, but that man is who we need to finish this war. He wouldn't want this for the rebellion and I can't picture him sitting back if everyone calls his name. We get the word out to everyone. The media, the news stations, even our friends who are still there now. There isn't a single person at that capital that believes what Archer and Mason are doing right now is right. We tell every person we can and once we have this city up in arms to get their attention; we focus on Iraq and Pakistan. If everyone does their part we can end this without bloodshed and Raptor might see that they were wrong for doing what they told him to do. I understand there is pressure leading an army, but that man is use to it. He wouldn't turn his back if he didn't have a better reason then Mason told him so."
"What if he won't come back?"
Looking towards the front of the group was Dom. He stood there looking to me for an answer. Standing up I replied.
"He will."
With that everyone just continued to stare at me as I looked back to Jess to order.
"Take everyone out and split into teams. Go to every home. Go to every business. Get everyone. Together we are stronger then the rebellion. We are stronger then Archer and Mason. Today we start a revolution and an effort to change things."
"What do we if they decide to just shoot us Marhick?" Freeman asked with an almost sad voice as I calmly replied.
"We don't do a fucking thing."
With all eyes on me I ordered.
"No one is bringing a gun. No weapons. They want to shoot us? They will have to shoot us unarmed. Pose no threat. If they kill unarmed civilians standing up for their rights, they will lose all creditability as an army who stood to protect us. They kill any of us and the world will know. Even G.U.N won't stand by if that happens."
Freemen sat back down as I looked to Dom to order.
"Get going Dom. Do everything you can."
"You got it." He replied as Jess nodded and shouted.
"Let's go! We get this shit moving now! You all heard the man! Move!"
I smiled as everyone dropped their weapons and began to file out the door. It took some time but I was left with Freemen who just sat there next to me waiting. Once the house was empty I asked with a quiet voice.
"What do you think?"
The woman was strong. She looked right at me to reply.
"Your right. I just don't want anyone to die."
"No one is going...?" Widening my eyes I looked to her legs as her phone which was on her lap went off. In confusion Freemen picked it up to see a message on her screen. In seconds she muttered.
"Oh no."
"What is it?" I asked in concern as she handed me the phone to reply.
"Archer arrested Incus. He's going to kill her."
I read the message to myself and after I was done I looked back to Freemen who lowered her head into her hands.
"He's going to make an example of her. Vacus?"
Keeping her phone in my hand I said with some fear in my voice.
"We need to do something."
"What? What can we do Marhick? We can't get in the capital. We can't." Freemen replied as I knew she was right. Getting mad I shouted to myself.
"Fuck!"
Freemen widened her eyes as I tossed her phone back on the couch next to her. Turning around I tried to think of a way to make this right. Freemen stood back up to approach me as I said to myself in anger.
"I got them into that position. I got Vacus shot and now her sister is going to die because she tried to defend her."
"You can't blame yourself." She told me to my back as I felt her grab me by the arm. Looking to my left I locked eyes with the hedgehog.
"Archer is going to execute her as a message to the people. If he does that...?" Gripping me Freemen whispered.
"If he does that then he'll lose his creditability."
Widening my eyes I questioned.
"Are you serious?"
Nodding she replied.
"We can't do anything Marhick. We can't. You know it too."
Tears began to form as she watched me lose my balance and sit back down on the couch. She was right. But god damn it I wish she wasn't.
"Incus?"
Freemen widened her eyes as I cried to myself.
"I'm so fucking sorry this happened. Vacus? It's my fault. I couldn't protect you. I couldn't do my job. Now...now your paying the price. What do I do?"
Freemen quickly came to my side to pull me into her chest. She gripped me with a tight hug as I felt my body turning into a mess of jelly. Breaking out into more tears I cried aloud.
"I'm sorry!"
mT Shadow.