Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 193 - Clear the air.
Raptor's POV.
With the network gone and the room left to us, I switched my focus to Hecan who chuckled and said to me softly.
"That was….unexpected Voltz. I've seen people try to negotiate upwards. Never down. Hahahaha."
Closing my eyes I took a moment to breathe. After which I looked back to Hecan to reply.
"Yeah. Can't say it was going to fail offering him a better deal."
"You know I'll be honest that's probably the most I've seen that guy smile. Not to mention he's not usually that understanding. Good work Voltz."
"Thanks." I replied back as I sat back down. Once comfortable I asked Hecan.
"So now what?"
I could sense Zeta and Pepper were both boiling. I was ignoring them and the fact I just destroyed their world. What would the two sisters do now that they didn't have to worry ever again? I wondered as Hecan replied to my question.
"On to the middle east and you're return. I need to ask you to do something for me."
"What is it?" I wondered as he replied calmly.
"We both know what the badger said was true. Archer runs everything now. It's getting really bad. So bad in fact I have requests from my allies to step in and end this senseless slaughter before we're left with another genoicide. Doing that however will negate the treaty we signed. That must not happen. If I'm forced to step in my government will go all out to see a G.U.N official is left in charge of the country and we don't want that. We want you. But for that to happen you need to make a move sooner rather than later. I can not delay congress for more than a few days. Now we need to play our cards right. Taking your time is out of the question. You need to work with me to cement your place as a proper leader to your part of the world."
"How would I begin to go about doing that Hecan? Getting into the country will be hard enough and if things are as bad as I think they are then operating will be even worse and chew up even more of my time."
Nodding Hecan then stated.
"That's why you need to make a move and rally the people. They are still bleeding for you. Begging you to come back and set things right between them and the rebellion. So far none of them know you are even gone from the country. In fact more than a few news networks have been shut down preaching for you to come back to public light. Archer controls most of the airwaves now."
"Then do you have a plan?" I asked as he nodded and replied while leaning up to meet me face to face.
"I still can't be traced back to doing business with you. The treaty signing is between us and us only. So what I'm thinking is this. My country and its allies will be willing to help someone who knows what's best for world peace. Someone like you. A figure your people admire and damn well die for daily. You find a way to get on the airwaves. Broadcast an interview. During which you state your willingness if not begging for G.U.N intervention. I know Pierce has camera footage of the executions Archer has committed. He has a lot of footage showing a lot of bad things that have been done by his hands. When you get back to him I need that footage aired. Potentially sent to my people. Pierce will know what I mean, but with indisputable evidence against the rebellion I know I can make people see reason and the willingness to aid you."
"Then what? I just sit back and wait for your men to roll in? That's not how I want this to end Hecan."
Shaking his head he replied back carefully.
"Your people will rise to aid you if you convince them you had no intention for any of this to happen. Play the victim and do what you do best and raise morale and hope. Tell them you're going to fix things right and with their help you can retake the middle east. We both know this ends when Archer is dead."
"Stop the rebellion with a rebellion? That's fucking wild." Cody stated as Hecan nodded and replied.
"It's the only chance we got. You said it yourself Commander. Your plan from the start was to put faith in everyone. Everyone who followed you. By doing this we will see just how far that faith reaches. If the people bleed your name you'll have both cities willing to fight for you by sundown."
Hecan was right. I knew he was and I understood why it had to be this way. We can't just all the sudden tell the world we were working together all along. The plan is to get me into office. No questions asked and nothing to come after it happens. This country won't live without me and despite my best efforts there are a few in rebellion high command who must be dealt with. Mason was supposed to be the first but Archer handled that before I could even dream of doing it myself. Now all that was left was him and any other rebellion forces who'd stand in my way. Even Hecan knew this. Friendships need to be cut and lines need to be drawn. Archer going this deep down the rabbithole will saltify my position among the public and after his death there will be no questions as to who will lead this country. No uprisings and no more rebellions. I'm ending the wars and starting over. Making this land my own and turning it into what I always saw it as. A land that deserved peace among the world. WIth Hecan at my side that will actually happen. But first like he said I need to play the victim and tell them all that I'm willing to work with the enemy and no longer fight. But there was one thing left on my mind that ruined any idea of holding hands once I returned. Looking to Hecan I asked.
"What of Linnen?"
Hecan fell silent as I gave him this serious glare now. Looking right at me he replied.
"You'd have to be willing to work with him for the time being. He runs the operations there and without his help you…?" Standing up out of my seat I shouted at the man.
"Work with him!?"
Cody instantly got out of his chair to come around and reach for my shoulder from behind. Feeling his hand rest on me I said to Hecan now in a more then mad tone.
"That son of a bitch had my family killed. Working with him is out of the question and that's final Hecan."
Hecan had wide eyes on me as Cody whispered to my ear from behind.
"Relax Raptor….?!" Pushing him back I replied.
"No! Fuck that shit Cody! I'm not working with Linnen! Not working with the man who murdered my family and killed my best friend Wreak! Not ever going to fucking happen Hecan!"
"Raptor I….?" Hecan tried to say something but I continued on by stating.
"My people will die for me! Every last one of them! I'll kill Archer and him if I have too!"
"I can't let you do that Raptor." Replied Hecan as I questioned.
"Why not!?"
"WIth things going this way Drake is in a position to help your people. Hell ever since Pakistan lost its power he's been doing everything to shelter your people. Every last one of them. Him and all the troops there. If you follow the plan set in place and decide to kill him it won't look good. You'll be back at square one. You can't play the victim like this and kill the help that comes. And we both know this but everyone over there is blind to the fact Drake had your family killed. And it's going to sound rough but there isn't proof to back you up."
"I went on live TV weeks ago and told the world he had my family murdered Hecan!" I shouted as he finally stood up to reply.
"And G.U.N has been investigating him for that claim but so far have found nothing to back it up!"
"I have their fucking bodies!" I screamed as Zeta and Pepper finally decided to get up from their seats to get between this. With Zeta coming in front of me and Pepper in front of him I listened as Hecan replied.
"I believe you! Fuck Raptor, but without proof or him coming clean he can't be touched! And I can't just have him killed! Not till this mess is cleaned up!"
"Calm down please." Zeta begged into my eyes as Pepper watched my reaction rage on.
"There are no files. No recorded calls. No witnesses left Raptor."
"I have Gorgon and two of his men. They can testify." I told him directly as he then asked.
"Do you want him dead or sent away to a military prison Raptor? Cause that's what happens if you do that. There are no executions in my government. That's where he will end up if you go down that path and you won't get him if that happens. I swear to you."
I started to growl as Hecan said with more care than anything he's ever said to me before.
"Gorgon was your target. You have him so kill him and get your revenge. Anything else is going to ruin the treaty we need to make your country a free land. What's more important to you? One guy or the future of the world?"
Losing my growl I felt as Zeta moved me a step back and towards my chair. Softly she whispered.
"Sit down. Raptor please."
My legs gave out and I fell back down into the seat as Hecan took a second to think. He had to have known I would be like this. But how could I be this blind? I should have known this would happen.
"I should have killed him at that meeting." I mumbled to myself as Zeta was knelt down in front of me begging.
"Don't say that Raptor."
I felt tears coming and with two leaving my eyes Zeta lost her calm face and just broke at the sight. Pepper even gave off this frown as Hecan said with care.
"I'm sorry Raptor. If there was another way of doing this I'd see it done and I'd have Drake sent to your doorstep. But I can't risk this blowing up in our faces this deep in."
"What about Lore?" I questioned as he replied.
"I don't have proof. Just my word and that's not enough."
"So after all this he just walks?" I asked as Zeta looked back to Hecan.
"As of right now….yes."
With that I just looked right up at the ceiling. My mouth agape as I tried to think. But nothing was coming to me. Zeta looked back to me as Hecan knew what he just did. It wasn't his fault. This was mine. I should have seen this coming. I think so far ahead and yet I didn't see this happening. With Zeta reaching for my hand which was resting between my leg, I looked back to Hecan to beg.
"Give me a few minutes. Please."
Standing up from this seat made me feel broken. Zeta who was just as worried for me muttered through a sad voice.
"Raptor wait."
Hecan just watched as I made haste for the hallway.
Hecan's POV.
I knew this was going to be an issue from the start. Lore wasn't the reason Linnen would get in trouble. It was this shit with Raptor and his family getting murdered on his orders. But he has to see the bigger picture here. This can't be about him anymore.
"Hecan can't you do something about this?" Zeta questioned as she stood back up to face me.
Letting out a heavy sigh I replied.
"I can't Zeta. The way things work right now I can't just say Linnen committed war crimes. I can't just convince congress and the military to take my word. The government is runned by evidence. Raptor can have Gorgon or his men say it was Linnen's idea to kill his wife and kids, but that won't solve Raptor's issue. He wants him dead. Not rotting in jail. If he wants him dead he's going to have to risk the treaty and that's not something I can allow him to do. Even you must understand why."
The wolf just looked back towards where the Commander went and replied.
"It's not right. Not to him. But I understand where you are Hecan in this. The treaty is more important. But there isn't anything he can do to make this work another way? What about after the war?"
Sitting back down in my chair I gave the matter some thought. Zeta and the others were now focused on me as I contemplated an answer. Giving Zeta my eyes after some time I replied.
"I don't know. Maybe but right now I don't have an answer for you or him. I'm sorry."
Zeta's face said it all. She was trying to figure out a way to do crowd control. Raptor wasn't going to just accept this matter. Things were going to be rough and I had no idea just how hard this would be for him here on out. But as things settled down he came back out from the hallway. His head down slightly as he wiped his mouth and rounded the table. At which point Pepper asked.
"You okay?"
Raptor nodded and with Zeta in his way he urged her while focusing on his seat.
"Excuse me."
Zeta was concerned. Even I heard it in his voice now. He was trying his hardest to refocus and just talk to me. I wasn't going to fuck him over now. He's going through this like a man and it takes more then a set of big balls to swallow the pill I just fed him.
"Raptor….?" Zeta tried to say something but he quickly nodded and gently moved her aside.
"I'm okay." He told her as I waited till he was looking back at me to say.
"Again I'm sorry."
Raptor who sounded lost replied after hearing my apology.
"It's fine. Thank you."
I felt every fiber of his being holding back his true emotions as I nodded and continued onward with the conversation from prior.
"You still have business I know with Gorgon and I'm aware Pierce and the others are in Iraq waiting for you. So here's what I suggest."
Raptor had his eyes right on me. I questioned the purple orbs he wore but regardless I went on to say.
"Go back home. Rebellion forces are more manageable there than they are in Afghanistan currently. Handle whatever business you have there and think about going to Pakistan to aid Linnen. It's safer there for you and if you agree I'll personally do the introductions and make sure things stay tame between the two of you. But I need willingness from you to work with me and my people."
Raptor was just staring at me as I waited for anything to leave his mouth. After a moment he replied.
"How can I lead my people with G.U.N guarding my every move? I can't lead a rebellion by sitting in the capital. That's not how I do business Hecan."
Nodding I then said.
"By the time this has to happen you'll already be in charge of a rebellion. Your people will follow you and Linnen can't stop that from happening. You'd just have to convince them to work with G.U.N and not fight us. Help Pakistan back on its feet. You'll have the time to make bonds and earn trust. Archer won't lead an assault on the city for a good while. He has too much heat right now and once this happens he'll have to consider his options."
"Which is to either surrender or kill me and Drake together." Raptor stated to himself out loud as I nodded and admitted.
"If you and Drake fall somehow I don't really know what will become of the middle east. Iran will be in a shit place being neutral to all this and if Archer carries on killing people my next move might have to be a full scale war and bombing of the major cities. Which is something I do not ever want to see happen. Not again." Zeta and Pepper both caught my eyes as the statement was meant to harkon back to them and their deeds in China's takeover.
"Give it some thought Raptor. Call me when you're ready to leave and let me know what you decide. There are lots of ways to work this out. Killing Drake is not one of them. Not yet." Raptor's eyes followed me as I stood up from my seat. Offering him my hand I waited as he took it and stood back up to face me. Shaking and soon bringing him in for a small hug, I whispered into his ear.
"Think of the bigger picture. Everything happens for a reason and together we'll make this work. For both of us. You have my word this isn't over. I'll do good by you. I swear. Just trust me."
Raptor remained silent as I pulled back and looked towards my guards. Fixing my suit I ordered.
"Let's get going boys. The rest of you stay safe."
Raptor was holding his breath as Cody replied.
"Take care sir."
mT Shadow.