Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 210 - Time to face the music.

Aiden's POV, Iraq Capital, the next morning.

This was a mess. The rebellion had gone from a decent army to a brutal police force in weeks time. Thankfully no one knew who I was before this all happened and I was put on the communications team. All I had to do was make sure everyone was okay every few hours and monitor incoming distress and or status reports, but there were a lot of them so I was always busy. This isn't a bad deal getting to do this. It's better than fighting against my own people. I wanted to go home to the states at some point but with Raptor gone I had no idea when or if that was even going to be an option. I had no idea what was going on but I knew he left the rebellion with that nut job Archer. Everyone saw that speech he gave yesterday on that rouge interview. But no one knew where he was or what he was doing. Every fiber of my being was praying he would come back soon. I'd do anything for…..?

In confusion I felt my phone go off. I saw it was a private number but regardless I answered to feel my heart nearly stop in place to his voice.

"Aiden, you there bud?"

It was Raptor and if that wasn't the most ironic thing to happen to me; I wouldn't know what else could happen if it wasn't. My tongue was caught as I replied.

"Ahhh yeah…..I mean yes sir. It's me. What the hell are you calling me for? How did you even get my number?"

"Long story kid, but I promise I'll tell you some other time. Are you alone?"

Looking around to see no one in my small section of the communications room I replied with a softer tone.

"Yes sir."

"Okay I need you to do something for me. You run the communications going in and out of the capital correct?"

I was stumped how he even knew that to begin with, but I replied.

"Yes sir."

Keeping his sentences short he urged me.

"I need you to relay a message to bravo 4-2. Can you do that for me?"

Scrambling for a pen and a piece of paper I replied.

"Yes sir I can. What's the message?"

"Right down these coordinates. Eighty seven, forty six, and twelve. The message is this. Suspicious activity has been reported at these coordinates. Passerby saw strange activity. Quite possibly terrorist. Command is requesting an investigation and apprehension of suspects. Cleared hot. Any questions?"

I wrote that all down and replied.

"What's this about?"

Serious as always he replied.

"None of your business Aiden. You want to get back home someday right? Then do this for me and go back to business as usual. No checkup calls on the team and not a word to anyone else about this. My deal with you stands and I told you I'd expect something out of you by saving your life. So make this happen and I promise it will happen. You will go home. Clean slate and everything. Am I clear?"

Nodding to myself I replied.

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now get a move. I'll see you as soon as I can."

Raptor hung up and left me with the slip of paper and the orders. I wasn't about to sell him out. He was my only way home and I planned to keep to my word that I would have his back through this if he promised not to throw me to the wolves. So going to my radio I called it in.

Shadow's POV.

Linnen has gone dark with me since the power left Pakistan. I've been left to fend for myself and in my opinion my job now was to keep quiet and gather whatever intel I could. Issue was I'm pretty sure I've been made. The team I've been with this last month has been ordered to be outside the city limits and on patrol in the desert itself. It was grunt work and this was strange. The rebellion had a million teams who could do this kind of stuff. Why has it been a month since we've even been able to get a drink inside the city for more than an hour? Why are they keeping me away from the capital? It was too ironic, but I had no idea who could know I was really G.U.N. I'm sure Archer could know but that man is too busy killing his own people to worry about me. I was almost ready to defect at this rate and no one would blame me.

We were at this point just a small eight man team and regardless of how I viewed it we were doing nothing this whole day. We were just patrolling the outskirts. Very close to the border but at the least inside the city this time. Four of us were on foot and the others got to drive alongside us in the humvees. I was sweating and starting to get bored. No one would be caught dead outside. Even in the morning people hid in their homes. Busiest place would be the supermarkets and even then it was simple trips to get food and go back to hiding. Not like I could blame them. Everyone was abusing power. Two of our own already took it upon themselves to kill just cause they wanted too. I wasn't there thankfully but I heard the story and no one was going to do anything about it. Rockwell who still kept us together wouldn't even say anything. I knew how he felt though. He couldn't prevent the abuse. So he just turned his back to it. I questioned leadership at all and who could claim otherwise? Not a damn person.

Wiping my forehead off of sweat, I turned around to look at the humvee as Rockwell shouted out the passenger seat.

"Pile in! We got a call!"

My other teammates ran for the chance to get on board and as I did the same I asked Rockwell as I got in his truck.

"What's the call about?"

Rockwell was just as sweaty as all of us as he replied.

"Command just called to radio in some coordinates. They think some of the locals identified anti rebellion activity. Might be dangerous so they want us to go clear the location and apprehend anyone we may find. But we're cleared hot so no one is to think twice about opening fire if you start getting shot at. Understood?"

"Yes sir." I replied as I checked my rifle to let out a sigh. With Rockwell giving the orders we soon just focused on getting to those coordinates he mentioned. It was still out in the sticks and this looked more or less like slums. No surprise there would be terrorists here. Perfect place to operate if you ask me. No rebellion out this far and I'm sure no one would bother coming by. Looked more or less like a ghost town as we drove passed more than a few torn down houses and barely standing buildings. As we drove Rockwell stated.

"This area was always a shithole thanks to all the wars. Was a big area for the first few battles that took place in the very beginning. Never recovered and that probably will never change."

Minutes passed but soon we found ourselves on a sidestreet. It had more than a few of those same broken down homes all spread around it's glory. But Rockwell quickly pointed ahead and to the left side of the street about three houses down to order.

"That's the place. Pull us over. We'll get out here and hoof it the rest of the way."

"Yes sir." Our driver replied as we came to a stop. Falling out of the trucks Rockwell calmly ordered the eight of us.

"Two teams. You know your spots. Bravo team, you go around the back and radio in once you're in the perimeter. Alpha is with me. We're going in the front. Clear the yard carefully and keep your heads down and quiet. No clue who could be inside."

Everyone knew what to do and four of us broke off to get heading around back. With Rockwell and the others with me we slowly approached the front of the house. Not like there was much cover to use. Everything was scrap or just old beaten down cars thrown to the side where a lawn could be imagined. As we neared I stated while looking at the front windows.

"There's a light inside the first floor sarge."

Rockwell nodded as we used the cars for cover. We huddled together seeing there wasn't much else to hide behind. I spotted a small garage with a tin roof around the back where bravo was and that looked more or less empty. No car in there from what I could see from the small broken windows it had lined around the front door. Just right of us however was another broken down truck. It was hanging out there with no wheels and looked like the only other thing to use as cover if a firefight was to break out.

"We're in position. We can see someone upstairs sarge. Maybe two or three judging by the shadows from down here."

Going to his comm Rockwell replied.

"We got light on the first floor bravo. Could be more on that floor; we don't know. Can you find an entry from your side?"

With Rockwell waiting for an answer I took another look around. I felt like we were being watched but I had no clue from where. This street was a maze of nothing but scary looking houses and regardless of how good my eyes were I wasn't about to see anyone.

"There is a backdoor, but it looks barred off. We can hit the windows though. There are two of them around the back and we can see the light. We can breach there."

Nodding Rockwell replied.

"Get in position then. We're gonna hit the front. Breach on my count and use your flashbangs. We're gonna try and make this fast. No shots unless you see a weapon. Take everyone you down and restrain them for questioning. Once we're in and the first floor is cleared I want you Shadow to go upstairs and secure the rest of the house with alpha. Understood?"

"Yes sir." I replied as I readied myself for this.

"Move." He then whispered as we moved for the door. Stacking up on each side Rockwell pulled and held a flashbang in his right hand. With my M4 ready to go I looked for the order from my wingman and jumped as soon as Rockwell ordered.

"Do it."

Feeling the tap on my shoulder I used all my strength to kick in the door. It was so old it came off its hinges without any issue. Pulling back Rockwell tossed the flash and you could hear Bravo hitting the back windows. We waited two seconds and then you heard maybe three flashbangs all go off at once.

"Go! Go! Go!" Rockwell ordered as I swung into the house to start clearing. At first I was expecting someone to be right in my face but quickly panicked as I saw no one in the living room. Bravo came flying in through the back and together we spotted the light that was being made. It was just a shadeless lamp hanging from the ceiling. Remembering my role I quickly checked the stairs and reached to my belt for another flash. With two of my friends right on my tail, I pulled the pin and tossed it up the stairs. It hit a wall and went right and once it was off I pushed up. There wasn't much to this. Just three bedrooms and a small bathroom. We cleared each in a matter of seconds to hear from downstairs from Rockwell.

"Clear!"

Lowering my rifle in confusion I replied.

"We're clear here too!"

Looking back to one of my buddies I questioned.

"I thought they saw people up here?"

I got just as confused looks back from them as I began to look around. Everything was clear and nothing but us remained in the house. In confusion I began to walk to the door that led back into the hallway. All of a sudden however I heard something click. Looking back into the room as my teammates raised their guns as a reaction to the sound. I widened my eyes as I looked down at the ground near the back wall. I saw what looked like wire being fed all along its length. Slowly walking around the bed I felt my heart jump when I saw a smoke grenade hiding under some old papers. In an instant I shouted.

"It's a trap!"

The second the words left my mouth it went off and so had to have at least eight more. Because in a matter of a second the whole second floor was filled with it. I couldn't see a thing and as I covered my mouth with my offhand I panicked when I heard a loud thud from where the door once was. Then a round went off and I heard from one of my teammates.

"Aghhhhhhh!"

I couldn't see shit and now with my focus back on the doorway, I heard from Rockwell who sounded just as distressed from downstairs.

"We have contact!"

Unable to see anything I felt a surge of fear hit me when out of nowhere I was ran at by someone through the smoke. It was so fast I couldn't react and it tackled me with so much force I was slammed back first out the second floor window with the person still holding my waist. I lost my rifle in the process of falling at least twenty feet and with my back hitting the ground, I cleared my vision and found a masked figure on top of me recovering much faster from the damage we just took. Swinging down at me with a heavy right hand, I turned on my venom and moved my head just in time to the side. Using all I had I quickly kicked the attacker off me and a good five feet away. Scrambling to my feet I rested my eyes on a full clothes wolf. It had to be a wolf because the mask he had on was nothing but that. It was painted with an orange tint to it and this dude was fully prepared to fight me despite the kick I just hit him with. Going for my sidearm I shouted as he came sprinting forward.

"Stand down!"

He didn't stop running and I wasn't able to pull the trigger as he quickly smashed my wrist that held the weapon. With my M9 hitting the ground under my feet I was quickly ambushed by two quick jabs and then a hook that sent me to a knee. With my venom in full force I dodged an incoming kick and tackled the wolf back down into the side of the house.

"Ahhhh!" Slamming me in the back with heavy elbows, I widened my eyes when all the sudden I felt someone grab me from behind. With just as much force I was tossed back down a few feet from the original wolf to be caught between what appeared to be an exact replica of the first. Only difference was the mask was blue and from where I was standing these two were not rebellion whatsoever.

Quickly going in to attack the blue wolf, I managed to slip under his guard and connect a heavy right hook to the side of their head, but by then the other wolf jumped in to begin restraining my left arm. Losing balance because I was also forced into a trip, I hit the ground with this wolf getting a hold over my whole left arm.

"Fuck!" I shouted as I tried to get up. But with my arm basically being held back I felt a spike of pain hit me when I felt a boot kick me square in the lower back. I slammed down just enough for the blue wolf to get in and take a hold over my other arms. Together they restrained me and kept me down and from there I felt a zip tie cuff my hands together.

They loosed up once that was on me, so my reaction was to try and get back up as fast as I could to try and run, but I was quickly drilled in the back of my skull by what felt like a gun. Everything went dark after that as I heard the screaming from inside the house stop.

Zeta's POV.

Pepper knocked this kid's lights out with that amount of force she used to hit him with, but I understood why. He was a user like Raptor thought he would be. He had power but he wasn't ready for two of us to take him on after that kind of fall from the second floor. Looking up to her I ordered.

"Get him inside and hurry. I'll move the trucks."

She nodded as I ran for the humvees that were clearly parked outside.

Raptor's POV.

Exiting the attic from the small hidden staircase that came down from the ceiling, I took a look around to see Juper and his men already halfway down the main stairs with two of the rebellion soldiers at their grasp. Once they were down the stairs I looked into one of the bedrooms to see the broken window. Walking over to it I looked outside to see Zeta running for the trucks. Pepper was already heading back inside with my target and so I turned to get heading back. I took my time to walk down the stairs and as I reached the halfway point I heard from one of the captives.

"What the fuck is going on!?"

"Shut up." Urged Juper as I looked over the railing to lay eyes on the man asking the question. His eyes looked to me in confusion and all the sudden shock as I walked a few feet behind Juper and his friends. I kept my hands behind my back as one of them got a chair ready for me. Placing it right behind me, I sat down and let out a sigh as it became clear I was instantly recognized by the squad leader. With Juper keeping his focus on the eight of them, I crossed my eyes with Shadow who was out cold on the very end. Pepper hung out right behind him as I looked back to the man in charge. Stunned and confused he questioned.

"Commander Voltz? What the hell is this about? I didn't even know you were in Iraq. What the hell is going on? Who are these people?"

I remained silent and just stared at him as Juper came to my side to whisper.

"Pierce is on his way."

I didn't respond. Juper went back to his spot as I continued to listen to the captive who asked.

"What the fuck are you doing!?" His voice was raised now as his men were scared to death by the situation. I couldn't blame them as he went on to question.

"We're on the same team here Commander! What's this about!? Answer me damn it!"

With my hands now on my legs I began to tap on my knees with my fingers. The man was losing his figure as it was clear I wasn't going to answer him anytime soon.

With him going silent after a few more seconds passed by. I heard the front door open and in came Zeta. The hostages looked to her in a loss for words. She was scary looking in all that armor she made. The cloak added a sense of fear and with the door now shut behind her I asked the man who was once yelling at me.

"What's your name?"

"Rockwell." He replied as I took a moment to look around at his men. Some were shaking and some were just doing their best to hold onto a sense of calm and collected as I soon told Rockwell.

"Well Rockwell this isn't really about you or your men."

"What?" He replied in confusion as I looked to the out cold hedgehog near the end to state.

"It's about him. You know he's a G.U.N spy put in place by Linnen right? I assume you remember."

"Yes sir." He replied as he then added.

"Before everything went to shit and you left for Afghanistan, the Major told me about the situation. I've been ordered to keep my mouth shut and have the team out on missions outside the main city and capital. I've been doing my job sir. What the fuck is this about?!"

His tone was now getting scared as I replied.

"I just told you. It's about him. So do me a favor and just relax. If I wanted you dead I'd have my friends here kill you. Not take you hostage. You understand?"

Rockwell slowly looked to his men and then back to me to nod very slowly. Looking to Pepper I then said while pointing to Shadow.

"Sit him up."

She obeyed and got the kid up on his ass. He was still out of it and she held him there with her right hand on his head as Rockwell had to ask.

"What are you going to do?"

"Just setting a record straight. We'll get this done with; once our guest arrives. So till then I need you to shut up Rockwell. Am I clear? Cause I'm in no mood to hear anymore bullshit from you."

Rockwell quickly got a hold over his tongue. By then Juper got the front door for Pierce who came walking in with Gorgon who was handcuffed and forced to his knees as he was quickly transferred to Zeta who slammed her M4's butt into his stomach. On the way down he coughed up some blood and grunted over in pain.

"You motherfuckers!"

Gorgon was unaware of what was going on and once he looked up to see me sitting there; did I see his whole face change it's look. Giving him a small smile I wondered.

"Didn't I say we'd see each other again?"

Gorgon was now full of fear as he replied.

"You motherfucker. What the hell are you doing now?"

Keeping myself in my chair I replied.

"Settling what I said I'd finish. Take a look Gorgon. You see anyone you know here?"

His eyes went over everyone and once he reached Shadow did I feel everything change. He jumped for the chance to run for him and Zeta quickly got a hold over his neck with a strong chokehold. The man was using all he had to move but he was starved at this point and much weaker without his venom. Flopping around with Zeta he begged while looking as best as he could in my direction.

"Raptor don't do this! I'm begging you! Leave my boy alone!"

Rockwell and the others were just as lost. Even my own. I told them we were going to ambush these guys but never said why. In fact I told them it was for intel, but I was really going to tie up some loose ends. One which I should have done a long time ago. With Pierce walking over to me I listened as Gorgon begged some more.

"He didn't do anything! He's just doing what he's told Raptor! I killed them so hurt me! Not my son! For the love of god please Raptor!"

With Pierce leaning down into my right ear I listened as he whispered.

"What's going on Commander?"

I wasn't about to explain this so I replied while standing up.

"Nothing you need to worry about. Now go stand back. This is between him and I."

Gorgon who was still being held in place by Zeta widened his eyes as Blitz came walking in from the front door.

mT Shadow.