Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 225 - An inside raid.

Zeta's POV.

Pepper and a few others kept up behind me as I tried to direct myself back to the main lobby of the building. As we ran around we passed over a few dead rebellion soldiers and innocent bystanders who once worked here. No one stopped to ask what happened. We knew this was an attack of some sort and we could guess why it was happening now. With Raptor all over my mind, I panicked and stopped when I came in direct contact with a rebellion trooper who was armed with an M4 and a suppressor. At first I didn't know what to say or do. He looked just like all the others in terms of his uniform, but when our eyes locked he shouted.

"What the fuck?!"

Raising his rifle at me, I jumped forward and got in his way. Forcing the gun out of his hands and tackling him to the ground. Pepper and the others took aim at us, but as I did my best to hold him down I panicked and yelped when a series of rounds hit me in the side of my arm and chest.

Pepper was the first to start returning fire at what I soon found out came from the top of the stairs. More rebellion troops were up there and each of them had rifles with silenced barrels. What the fuck is going on? I asked myself as I rolled out of the way leaving the guy who I had down on his own. Thankfully one of the soldiers we came in with shot him the second he made a move for his gun.

"We got contact inside the building!" Someone shouted as I was now completely under the stairs holding my arm.

With Pepper and the others working on cover and return fire, I checked myself to see my armor held. The microfibers I upgraded to did their job and I was left with just having to catch my breath and some welts. Grabbing my M4 back, I stood up and began to move out to take shots at the hostiles up the stairs. There were at least four of them up there and I was without a clue as to what to really do in terms of clearing them out. I managed to get one down with two well placed head shots but the others had dug in using the railings as cover from our rounds.

As I tried to get a grasp on what to do, we all felt the ground shake from what sounded like a blast coming from the other side of the building.

Pepper on the other hand was the closest to the main door at that point and I saw it was locked by a steel padlock. Aiming my rifle at it, I fired off a few rounds and of course she panicked thinking it was meant for her. Giving me a quick look, she flicked her head back hearing the lock snap and sent her whole body into kicking open the front door. When it opened the soldiers from outside came pouring in, but it turned into a firing line real fast as the men from upstairs started to empty everything they had into the oncoming fighters. Taking my chance to move while not being shot at, I moved for the stairs and began to head up. One of the men saw me coming and fired down, hitting me with another set of rounds. I stumbled on a step, but managed to return the favor by hitting him in the neck and chin. As he fell, I made a break for the top.

"I'm reloading!" I heard one of them announce as I turned the corner to spot the three remaining targets all lined up.

"Toof! Toof! Toof! Toof! Toof! Toof!"

I gunned the closest man down in half a second and when I went to move on to the second, I caught him running out to tackle me across the gap between the open and the other side of the stairs. His buddy finished reloading and went back to shooting the people downstairs as I now had this hedgehog no bigger than myself raining down hits with the buttstock of his M4. He managed to hit me once in the mask and that on it's own hurt like hell, but I had to fight back. Sending my body over and rolling onto my back I began to get hit in the back of the head now with the rifle. Each time he hit me, I fell back down and in time I was going to be dead taking this kind of abuse.

Reaching to my belt, I pulled on my knife and spun back with all I had sending the blade through his cheek. It was so graphic; I saw the blade come out his mouth as I tore it clean through his face. The rifle he held dropped as he went to scream into his hands at the damage I did. From there I freed my leg and kicked him onto his back. Jumping for the chance, I got on top and slammed my knife in his chest twisting it to the right as I did.

He screamed till it had reached his heart and when he died I looked up to hear from the last soldier.

"You motherfucker!"

Out of ammo, the kid switched to his sidearm and I widened my eyes as he raised it in time to meet my head.

"BANG!"

Pepper's POV.

"BANG!"

I had reached the stairs just in time to watch as the last guy shot Zeta right in the head. The sound her mask made stopped me in my tracks as I watched her fall backwards and land motionless on the floor.

I couldn't move from where I was. The soldier saw me there at the bottom of the steps and went to aim. I lowered my AK as he gripped the trigger.

"BANG!"

My body jumped as the round hit the ceiling. Cody came sprinting from down the hall just in time to tackle the guy into next week. From there he wrestled the gun free and pinned him down shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Stay the fuck down! You hear me!?"

I was still unable to react. Cody got him down and in seconds had his hands zip tied. Looking down at me as he stood there on top of the man he shouted.

"Get up here! Come on!"

Everything came back to me after that and I ran up the stairs to where she was. Zeta was still not moving and just under her head was blood. I got down to look at her and her mask was still together by some miracle.

"Is she alive!?" Cody asked me as I was unsure. The shot to her head had left me questioning everything right now.

"Medic! Get a goddamn medic up here!" Cody ordered down at the crowd as he saw I wasn't going to be able to check by myself in this condition.

Cody's POV.

Thank god they got that fucking door open when they did. A medic came running up the steps as I requested and got to work looking at Zeta who was not moving a single bit. My heart was beating out of my chest as the guy under me shouted at the medic.

"Fuck you! He deserved that! I hope to god you... ?"

Smashing the ass end of my MP7 into the back of his head and knocking him out on the spot, I urged him.

"Shut the fuck up!"

He went right to sleep after that and I roughly got off him and went over to where they were to look at Zeta's condition. There was a good amount of blood behind her head that was staining the carpet and by the looks of things she was dead by all accounts. Her sister had me there feeling lost as she did nothing but watch. She couldn't fucking speak looking at this. Using what I had, I knelt down and asked the medic who was feeling for a pulse under her neck.

"Is she alive?!"

After a moment he nodded and replied.

"I got her pulse, but we need to do something or she isn't gonna last long! The mask stopped the bullet, but the force she absorbed cracked the back of her skull wide open! I need to transfer her to the ER right away!"

"I need to find the commander! Pep you need to do this!"

Pepper was just sitting there in silence. Getting angry I pushed her shoulder to ask.

"Do you want her to die!?" Pepper now broke out of her trance to look at me. Unsure if she was listening however I told her.

"Do you?! Because right not if you don't help her she's going to fucking die! Do you hear me Pep!?"

"Yeah…..yeah I hear you." She replied as I then ordered her while heading back down the stairs.

"Get a fucking move on then! She doesn't have long! I need to go find Raptor!"

Leaving it at that, I ran down the stairs to see the crowd inside the building getting bigger. General Hoffer was in a panic trying to figure out what was going on and as he saw me he caught me by the arm to ask in anger.

"What the hell is going on!? Why do I have so many dead soldiers!?"

In confusion I replied while dragging myself forward.

"I don't fucking know old man! I need to find Raptor! This attack had to be meant for him!"

Hoffer widened his eyes as he realized I had to be right. Looking around, he let me go and ordered anyone who would listen.

"Somebody go with him and find Raptor and make sure he's safe!"

More than a couple hands followed me down the hall. I knew where the conference was being held so I didn't waste any time guessing. However when I did reach the room itself I found more than a few bodies waiting for me. All of those G.U.N soldiers that Linnen had brought with him were dead and they were just scattered on the ground. With rebellion soldiers behind me, I ordered as I saw the conference room door was kicked down.

"Stack up."

I kept my voice down just in case and upon entering the room I found it was empty. No signs of struggle. Just a burnt out flashbang on the table and the back door wide open. The men with me knew well enough that the fighting had to have gone through there if not here. So I was accompanied through the set of glass doors where I stopped to find more dead bodies then what was in the lobby.

"Holy shit." I whispered as I began to look through the bodies. More rebellion soldiers with no way to tell if they were friendly like the ones with me right now, or bad like the one who blew Zeta's head off. However as I rounded one of the corners I found out part of the room was destroyed beyond a shadow of a doubt. It had to be ground zero for the tremor I felt a while back cause there was a hole in the floor and shrapnel stuck into everything apart from the bodies. Stepping over one of them and looking to my right where the back door was, I widened my eyes when I found Raptor sat up agonist the wall.

Commander! I shouted as he looked up to smile. I got to his side to see he was bleeding out pretty bad from a gash the size of maybe two inches above his right eye. Not to mention he had a round in his shoulder and a few in his vest that I was unsure of if the were bleeding as well.

Good to see you kid. He told me as I smiled and told him back.

Good to see you. Thought I lost out on my contract for a minute there. Hahah.

Raptor was in good spirits at least as I got to work on his shoulder. Tearing off part of my sleeve I pressed it to the wound and asked him.

You handle these?

Shaking his head he replied.

No. I didn't have the time. It wasn't important enough.

Holding his wound I questioned.

Where's Linnen?

Looking over my side I saw the wolf in question laying down. He was out cold it seemed and in just as bad shape as Raptor was in. I nodded my head and asked.

Is he alive?

Yeah. He replied as I was shortly joined by a pair of medics who asked him immediately seeing the wounds.

Where were you hit sir?

Just my shoulder. I'm okay.

They got to work on his arm and that left me with questions as I checked on Linnen. Raptor watched me and asked.

What happened? How did they get in?

In confusion I replied.

No clue but their rebellion same as you. Could be those guys Char was tracking down.

He took a moment to think and shortly after he asked.

Was anyone else hurt?

Standing up I replied.

Plenty. By the time I got here most of the security was dead.

Shit. He then grunted as I let out a sigh and went on to tell him.

Zeta's not in good shape either.

His eyes widened as he looked back at me to question.

What happened? Where is she?

She's heading to medical now. She got shot right in the face man. I'm sorry. It doesn't look good.

Raptor had it. I saw it in his eyes as he looked down and went back to letting the medics continue their work on his wounds. However once his shoulder was wrapped up and they went to work on his head he stopped them in their tracks by ordering calmly.

Let me get up.

Careful commander. You lost a lost of blood.

I know. He replied as he stood up and looked back at me to say.

Help me over to him.

My eyes looked back down to Drake but I didn't bother asking why. I just moved forward and help Raptor get on back over to his side. Once there he knelt down and felt for his pulse. I'm sure he was okay cause I saw the guy breathing. Once he figured that part out he began to pat his face. Linnen took some time to get together but after a few smacks his eyes opened and he saw Raptor just hovering there looking at him.

What happened? He asked him as I kept quiet for the conversation.

The capital was attacked by rebellion troops from Afghanistan. Archer probably knew this was his best chance to make a statement out of us. I recognize some of these men. They were being trained by him before I left.

Linnen went to raise his head and during which he let out this sore growl.

Ohhhhhh…...am I in one piece?

Yeah your all good. Raptor replied as he smiled and offered the wolf a hand. Linnen took it and together they helped each other stand up. I made sure to keep Raptor from falling over by standing by his side and as Linnen looked around at the bodies he asked while feeling his neck.

What did you do to me before I passed out?

Raptor went silent as the question was asked and Linnen just waited as he had me help him towards the door. Once there he replied.

Nothing. You coming?

I stopped to look at Linnen and I knew from experience he was questioning things. The things Raptor does. Something happened and I'm willing to bet he saved his life. Hell judging by the looks of Raptor himself I'd be willing to bet they both saved each other at least once or twice before this conversation. In time Linnen nodded his head and knelt down to pick up a chrome M1911. My eyes stared at it in silence as he replied.

Yeah. I'm coming. Fuck.

We waited till he was back with us and together we walked into the hallway just beyond. With the medics following close Raptor ordered the other men who were in the room.

Strip the gear and burn the bodies out back under a tarp. All of them.

No one said anything as we soon returned to the hall where all of Linnen's guys were. We stopped to give him a minute to take it in and after letting out a painful groan he told us.

God damn it. Now I have more people to send back home thanks to all this bullshit.

I'm sorry. Raptor told him as he shook his head and replied.

Don't be. It's not your fault. How were we to know this would happen? Come on.

Linnen took the lead and in time he was a few feet ahead of us. With Raptor on my shoulder I opened my ears as he ordered with a low voice so not to draw attention.

Go find out where Blitz and Tusk are and make sure they stay put till he leaves.

You gonna be okay? I asked to be sure. Nodding his head and leaning off me he replied.

I'll survive. Go.

Gotcha. I then said back as I made my way forward just passing Linnen as we neared the end of the hall.

Leaving Raptor to handle the rest, I ran back upstairs to find Zeta and the others gone. The blood still remained on the floor as I gave it a good look before passing on by. I knew where Blitz and Tusk were told to be so I went right to their room and opened it up to find them holding angles on the door with loaded weapons. Widening my eyes as I halted all movement I shouted at them.

Hey there! Whooo! You guys can lower the guns! Friendly here!

Tusk let out a sigh and stood up from behind the bed as Blitz asked while lowering his weapon.

What happened out there?

Feeling my heart go back to normal I replied.

A rebellion strike team attacked the capital. They were here to get Raptor if I had to guess. Killed a lot of the security on their way to doing it too.

Approaching me Tusk stated in concern.

Rebellion fighting the rebellion? Shit is fucking crazy around here now that this has gotten this bad. Is he okay?

Nodding I replied.

He's…...well he's alive. So is Linnen.

He's here? Tusk questioned as Blitz asked.

We got to stay here right? Can't let him see us?

I nodded and replied.

Raptor's orders. You guys need to stay put.

The two of them understood why very well and with tension going back down I asked sensing something was off putting.

Where's Raze?

Tusk widened his eyes and replied in confusion.

She left just before we heard all the shooting. She was on her way to medical. You haven't seen her? He asked as I began to worry. Turning back for the hallway I ordered them.

Stay here!

Slamming the door behind me I began to run back to the main stairs. Looking at Raptor's office I peeked inside to find it open but empty. By this time the lobby was packed with people and I was starting to panic.

Only reason I managed to get in before the girls got the door opened, was because I climbed in through the second floor balcony using one of th drainage pipes outside. I saw that they had to break in through the first floor windows and decided I was better off going in somewhere else. No point in all of us going in through the same door, but I recalled that the men were clearing rooms on their way to the stairs. I passed by a bunch of kicked down or open doors on my way over and if timing wasn't on my side they might have bumped right into her on her way down.

With my MP7 down in my right hand I began to look in to each room. Some held bodies of other people. Just common workers and other staff who were unlucky enough to be caught sleeping. I ran probably halfway down the hall to stop at a small closet. After seeing so many people I didn't know, I almost just kept looking by habit. But everything stopped when I found Raze laid out on the floor. Three holes in her back and another two exiting through the back of her skull. Blood all over her and the ground and I could tell the work this was they did. They shot her while they were clearing rooms and I guess she just stumbled in at the worst possible time. They didn't want to leave the body in the open so they just tossed her in here and left.

Lowering my gun and just taking a second to look away and breathe. I stomped my feet and grunted out loud.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Punching the wall I decided to shut the door and walk away. I had no idea how to tell Raptor. Even worse I had no clue what to say to Pepper. Zeta could be dead and the last thing she wants is to hear Raze joined her.

mT Shadow.