Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 196 - Papa bear.

Hunter's POV, Later that night.

Word was passing around that one of the old female Lieutenants killed a bunch of rebellion soldiers earlier in the night. I don't know what her plan was but she was going to die. Just like all the others who joined up to fight Archer. I was in no position to question leadership anymore. Not after what he told us about Raptor. Running with some girl and working with G.U.N to save his own skin. Archer told Black and I what really happened. Why he really left. Got offered a way out and ran with some bitch he barely knew to make sure he could get out before the riots could happen.

What happened? Why did he give up and just leave us!? He knows we're weak without him and he knows we can't do this with Archer! Archer may act high and mighty now that he's the Commander, but you can see it. Anyone with a brain can see it. He's getting the country killed one person at a time and I'm smart enough to know we'll get fucked because of it. There was a reason he wasn't chosen to lead after Raptor was hurt and this is it right fucking here. I told myself as I tried to relax for a minute in checkpoint twelve.

The hardest part was convincing myself that there was a reason to want to keep going. Why stay in the rebellion at this point? Why stay in the country when it's bound to get bombed and rebuilt by G.U.N? What's the fucking point? I wondered as I heard from the close right.

"Hey."

My eyes widened as I was maybe two inches apart from this tall human male dressed in a Ying PMC uniform. He had this fake smile on as I broke from my train of thought to hear him wonder.

"What's wrong girly? You seem…..?!"

Using all my strength I got up as fast as I could and sent my arm right behind his head slamming him as hard as I could into the table I was benched on. I heard his nose shatter and without another word he crumbled to the floor with blood shooting down from his nostrils. Maybe a foot or two away was the rest of his friends who all had their hands up in defense as I asked in anger.

"Can't you fuckers just leave me alone!?"

The man whose nose I caved in quickly replied.

"Damn! I was just gonna ask if you were okay!? Go ahead and do something like that!? You fucking…..!?" As his head turned to face me I snapped and pulled out my desert eagle. The dude's eyes opened so wide I thought they were gonna pop out of his skull. Before I knew it he was shouting along with his friends who began to back away.

"Whooooo! Whhooooo!"

"Get out of here!" I ordered them as the guy got off the ground to reply.

"Crazy fucking sand monkey! Let's go before she shoots me! Pray I never see you alone honey!"

Doing my best to restrain myself from killing him I replied as I heard someone coming up behind me.

"I see you alone and I'll knock the rest of your teeth in you racist asshole!"

I was on fire from this. Then all the sudden I heard from behind me in a softer but deep voice.

"You know, that's one way to get rid of an admirer."

Looking back to see the big man Gabe there smiling over me. I put away my gun to reply.

"Fucking Ying assholes. All of them. Sand monkey!? What the fuck even is that Gabe!?"

Placing his big hand around my back and walking me away from the scene he replied.

"Classic racism at it's finest I'm afraid Hunter. Come on."

Walking with the big black bear I grumbled.

"Should have killed him there to make a point."

Reaching a much safer end of the checkpoint Gabe replied.

"Oh come on now. You're starting to sound like Archer and that's not you Hunter. By the way, let me ask you something."

With the bear getting a seat on top of a nearby sandbag, he looked down to me to wonder.

"You ever leave the middle east? Go more west into G.U.N's land?"

"No." I replied in some confusion as he nodded and explained.

"Well, then you don't know. The other half of the world that doesn't know shit about this place or the people who live here are all racist assholes like Ying. G.U.N propaganda is made to make every G.U.N citizen feel a type of way towards you guys. In lack of better terms Hunter; everyone or at least mostly everyone outside of the middle east or its allies. Think everyone over here is a terrorist. Part of some group dead set on killing people or blowing shit up. But more commonly enough they know you hate them and that makes it easier to label you. It's a sad fact about the world we live in, so don't take it too personally."

Smiling slightly I asked the big guy.

"You always this enlightening?"

Chuckling he replied.

"Nahhhhh. Just don't know what else to be with all this shit going on. I'm here for Black and that's the plan to keep positive."

"Do you really like him?"

Giving me this playful grin he replied.

"Not in any sort of way you may be thinking Hunter. I respect the shit out of him. Always have; and before this op I never would have taken him for being as great as he really is. Fighting a war against his own people. Just because one guy said so."

"I don't think Raptor had a hand in why he's still here now Gabe. I admitted as he then asked in confusion."

"That's why you're still here though right? 'Cause of him?"

Biting my tongue at the question, I listened as he then said.

"You're all still fighting for what he believed in. Just 'cause shits rough now doesn't mean it won't flatten out later."

Growing lost I questioned back.

"You think that asshole is gonna come back?"

Gabe nodded and calmly replied.

"You're a young squirt. You don't see what a real leader is. You simply follow what you are told and because you can't see the facts you just answer to the explanation. That shit Archer said to you and the Major is bullshit. Everyone knows it. You really think Raptor left to go hide with G.U.N? And even if he did; do you really think he won't come back when he finds out just what shit is happening now?"

Gabe had me questioning myself. I began to scratch my ear as he added on to his reasoning.

"Archer is scared and he's scrambling to find a way to convince you his way is right. You really trust a guy who's killed more of his comrades in the last two weeks, then his enemies in the last ten years? Hunter come on. I'm just a grunt who's defected from G.U.N, but even I can see the shit behind the wall."

I couldn't do anything to respond at this point. Gabe had a huge point made there. One I never really tried to think about. Reaching out he urged me.

"Come here."

In confusion, I stepped forward into his one big arm. Bringing me into his close side, he smiled and whispered to my face from nearly a foot up.

"You don't know enough. Your too young and no offense but you're gullible as all hell. I bet if I told you I was eighteen you'd believe me."

Letting out a small chuckle I replied feeling slightly offended.

"I'm not that dumb. You got to be at least in your thirties."

Nodding he replied while tightening his grip slightly.

"I'm thirty eight. Papa bear doesn't have much longer to go till he's done with this kind of work. So yeah I'm at least thirty. But my point is Hunter you can't take anyone's word as god. Especially not when there is this kind of shit going down. Killing innocents isn't right and it never will be."

Looking back up to the big bear I then asked in concern.

"Haven't you killed anyone yet?"

Giving me this big smile he replied.

"Hell no. I don't care what Archer says. I'm not breaking rule number one for anyone for any reason. Nor would Black, or Tap, or that little runt Leo. In fact Hunter I know without a doubt that even they haven't killed anyone yet and they aren't about to start now."

"Black doesn't have much of a choice Gabe." I tried to tell him as he brushed it off to state.

"Black isn't going to kill anyone himself and he told us back when this all started he wasn't about to start. Anyone that he's had to deal with he's let go. But of course he can't stop the others from abusing their power. I can't tell you how many rebellion soldiers I've seen kill over stuipd reasons that wouldn't support even a slap on the wrist. Ying and his men are a perfect example."

"What are we going to do?" I then asked him while looking down to my feet. Keeping me close he replied.

"Right now?"

I nodded as he gave the question some time to sink in. After maybe a minute of just sitting there he replied.

"I don't know yet to be honest. But the best thing to do right now is avoid the capital and Archer. Avoid killing people and just do your best to remain strong. But above all else Hunter you can't listen to people. You can't listen to Archer or anyone that doesn't have morals. They are trying to piss you off and mislead you from what's really going on. Raptor won't let this shit slide. The man went out on the frontlines to fight alongside his men. To push G.U.N back and he went out there risking everything to kill Hannon. Why would he do all that and risk so much knowing what would happen if he died? Why would he turn his back? For money? To save his own life?"

My eyes looked back up to him as he smiled on and said.

"The man lost everything. All he has left is the middle east. All he has left is you and the people who fight for him. He's smart enough to know what he's doing. This shit with Archer is a plan he set in motion days, weeks, maybe months or even years ago. He knew this would happen and I bet you with all my heart he's just waiting for a good time to come back. If a man like him showed up right now promising people their freedom and promising them the end to a ruler like Archer. Wouldn't you jump at the chance to make things right?"

I didn't know what I was thinking up till now. But things were becoming more open as I replied.

"I don't know. Maybe. This isn't what I wanted for the middle east. Archer could have made something work. He could have helped people. Instead of hurting them."

"A scared man demonstrates his power to people under him. A real man knows he doesn't have too. That's the difference Hunter. Raptor is coming back and we need to be there for him when he does. No matter what happens."

"But what if he's working with G.U.N Gabe? Isn't that going against the rebellion ideals and what we stand for?"

Shaking his head once, he replied while letting me go a little.

"Not if the ideals are clouded. Which some of them are. The middle east can't fix itself. It needs help. Raptor knows that and thinks about it this way Hunter. G.U.N was here years ago and I do mean years ago. Before the first war even started and mind you this was before President Moore was President Moore. Back when G.U.N was solely focused on world domination. The idea then was to rule the middle east and use it as a way to control most of the world's oil. As you know the middle east is the main source of oil."

"I never thought about that." I admitted as he nodded and went on to say.

"Once the oil was transferred to Iran, which is a neutral country among this chaos. G.U.N focused on simply running the land to make trade easier. But with that came a lot of strict rules people had to follow. G.U.N law isn't for everyone but it does work in the correct hands. Regardless Hunter, once Hecan was made President of G.U.N; that guy single handedly turned the old ideals of the government and threw them out the window. You might not know this but Hecan Moore is much like Raptor Voltz. Even Shadow Robotnik. He wants nothing more than world peace. Because he truly believes it's the right way to run the world. We can't advance as enemies; so since his term, he's made every effort to fight for freedom. Now don't get me wrong he's had to do some bad things to get where he is now. Take China for example. He had to nuke the place with gas before the government was willing to listen to him and that was no more than a year or so ago. Look at China now. One of the biggest countries out there and everyone is working together. G.U.N came in and helped them figure out what to do to get their shit together. Now the world is blowing up with technical advancements and that's all because Hecan put his foot down and told everyone to get along. There are still G.U.N rules in place but since leaving the country China has runned itself freely since and it's a perfect example of what can happen if a country is given it's free will but at the very least guided. The middle east had its moment in time. After Shadow signed the treaty this place became a million times better. For both the people and the government. That's what Raptor is focused now on bringing back. But with his intent unclear to a lot of people he's making Archer take the heat."

Widening my eyes I then questioned.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Raptor knows there are a select few people in the rebellion that will battle him. Take Mason for example. Or better yet let's stick to Archer. You think Archer would be willing to work with G.U.N?"

"No." I replied as he then asked.

"Why is that?"

"I don't know." I replied back as he then said with a calm voice to my ears.

"Because Archer grew up hating G.U.N. A lot of the older dogs in the rebellion have been here since the beginning. They only see the past. Not the present or the future. Set in their beliefs and their old ways of thinking. Anyone that grew up like that who is that closed minded won't change because someone tries to tell them too. They will fight tooth and nail to keep things the way they see it. Shadow was a success because he wasn't from here. He had the right frame of mind to see working with G.U.N was what the country needed to rebuild. Raptor on the other hand has always been a firm believer in world peace. Apart from his beginning anyway."

"What do you mean his beginning?" I asked in confusion as he let out a sigh to ask.

"Do you know where he started in his military life Hunter?"

"No." I replied as he nodded and stated to me directly.

"Of course you don't. It's classified."

"What are you talking about Gabe? Classified what?"

"I shouldn't be the one to tell you. Black should. He's better at breaking news to people."

"Just tell me." I urged him as he let out another sigh to reply.

"Raptor grew up hating his father for being a rebellion leader. His dad put every fiber of his being into it and in return ignored his duties as a father. Raptor couldn't understand why because he was so young. So when he turned of age he made a choice. Ether join up with his dad and help him with the war effort, or stand against him because he resented him for never being there for him growing up. I mean what would you do in his shoes?" He asked me as I carefully replied.

"I…..I don't know. Probably keep hating him."

Smiling Gabe replied back with a happy tone.

"Yeah your right. Kept on hating him. So that's what he did."

"So what happened?" I asked the bear as he released my side to reply.

"He joined up with the enemy to his father. In this case it was G.U.N."

My whole body froze as he went on to say.

"He joined up back before the first war when G.U.N had a pretty heavy presence in the country."

"What?" I questioned in shock as he nodded.

"He became an officer early on. Took after his dad in his ability to run a team. But to be expected, G.U.N found out who he was and put him in a tough place as a son."

My mouth was wide open as I stared at him. Unaware of how to react as he groaned while standing up off the crate.

"Raptor was given a choice. Help the old G.U.N by putting an end to his dad. Or die there and then."

I was stuck. I had no idea about any of this. Gabe sensed that and finished.

"Raptor hated his father for not being there and he didn't want to die. So he killed him. Didn't end a fucking thing if you ask me or him. But not soon after he defected and started working with his people. People who had his dad's memories. Those people showed him what his dad really wanted and in time he learned why it played out the way it did. So knowing what Raptor is and what he did; drives me to think Hunter he's not stuck in the old ways. He's a visionary and thanks to his dad and the people around him. I'm willing to bet he's looking both ways. He sees what will happen if he follows the same path like Archer is. He sees a future much like his dad did. But for that future to come, he knows Archer and a few others need to be dealt with. Coming back one day when things are ready; he'll fight alongside the others who believe in him and show everyone there isn't a point in being stuck in the past. If I know anything about Hecan and how he helped Shadow. I'd be correct in thinking he's doing the same thing with Raptor. But with the way politics are Hunter, they can't afford to be caught holding hands. Not right now. There is a plan in motion and you need to trust what Raptor is doing. No matter what he says or does. It's for a better middle east and a better world in general. Think for yourself squirt. I can't hold your hand. Haha."

A smile came to my face as he then asked.

"You really think he left to save his own ass?"

"Not anymore Gabe." I told him as he smiled and opened back up his arms to urge.

"That's my girl. Come on. Bring it in for papa bear."

Chuckling to myself I came forward to give him the hug he wanted. It felt good as he whispered.

"Don't be blind squirt. Be open minded."

Slowly letting me go I asked out of curiosity.

"Do you have any cubs back home Gabe?"

Now I got a big laugh out of the guy who immediately questioned.

"Cubs? Hahahah…...yeah two of them. Rocky and Aurora."

"Well, they're lucky they have you."

I couldn't help but hug him one more time. This time for much longer and with a smile on his face we just stood there. For once I had an idea of what was really going on. It just took someone else to show me just how dumb I really was being.

mT Shadow.