Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 256 - Personal Involvement.
Raptor's POV, A few hours later, Iraq capital.
"Sit!" Blitz shouted as he decided to show me his success with Molly.
To my surprise she listened and before this Blitz had shown me much more. From tricks, to simple commands like that. Molly was learning fast and as the show ended the big guy asked me.
"So? What do you think?"
We were outside on the training grounds and between myself and Blitz, there was also Tusk watching from alongside me as Blitz waited for my approval. Giving him a small smile I replied.
"I think you have a knack at training dogs."
Blitz instantly began to laugh but quickly corrected me by saying.
"It has more to do with the dog then the person training them. Your girl is smart and she listens. She's unique for her breed and still growing."
"Don't remind me." I urged him back as Tusk tapped my arm to get my attention. As our bodies faced one another he asked me.
"Can I ask you a favor? I wanted to go see my wife and kids for a few hours. They live like ten minutes from here. It's not like I'm going anywhere. She's been worried sick and calling me nonstop about this whole G.U.N ordeal. You know? Telling her I was dead and stuff since Linnen has no other option but to claim that on a missing link."
Nodding my head I replied.
"Yeah, go do what you got to do. I'm not forgetting about you guys. I have a plan to get both of you back on good terms with G.U.N once we finish with Archer and Afghanistan."
Tusk seemed to understand and trust me on that statement. Patting his arm I urged the echidna with a small smile.
"Go. You got a wife and kids. In fact how about this?"
For a moment I pulled Tusk a few feet away to suggest to him quietly.
"How about you just relax and keep your head down? At least till I'm ready. Spend time with your family and stay off of G.U.N radar till it's time. I have no use for you right now and I think it would be a good idea if you take Blitz with you. He's doing a good job and I know you can talk to him more than me. I will get you boys back in line with G.U.N like nothing happened, but I need trust from both of you and this is my way of showing you that I trust you both enough to think rationally about the problems you're facing. Do this for me and I promise you. You have my word I'll fix this."
Tusk had wide eyes as Blitz came over to see what the fuss was about. After a moment Tusk questioned.
"Are you sure? I mean…?"
"Tusk? I'm sure." I replied as he quickly nodded and looked to Blitz.
"Okay. I can make that happen. I'll tell you what's going on later Blitz. For now how about you come visit my wife and kids? They've always wanted to see you."
With Molly still waiting where she was told, I gave her my attention and ordered her to come to my side. Instantly she came to me as the two friends kept on yapping. After some time Tusk looked back to me to say.
"Okay Voltz. I'll get going then. Blitz is coming with me."
Nodding my head as I knelt down, I readied myself as Molly tried to get back up on my back. In seconds she did and I urged both the men who watched.
"Keep yourselves out of trouble and like I said…...no bullshit. From either of you. Stay low and ditch the uniforms. I'll keep you guys up to date when I know what G.U.N plans to do about Archer. Then we'll go over the idea I got. Understood?"
Both nodded and I went on to stand back up. Once there I told them.
"I'm gonna go for a walk. Stay safe."
Leaving both of them to handle their own business, I decided my next move for today was to relax until either Drake or Hecan called. Then work off from there.
"Where do you want to go?" I asked Molly as I proceeded to walk for the main gate. As I did everyone who was around watched and ether laughed or awed at Molly and me together. It was perfectly fine as I told the gate guards I would be going out for a bit. Everything checked out and in time I found myself heading back into the city once more. I think I had an issue. I loved the attention. Even though fame was never my goal it just felt nice knowing everyone cared about me in some way or form. Even if I never met them before or if they hardly knew me at all. Molly was also enjoying the attention. A few people had stopped me to say thank you for my effort and work, but I knew everyone was just trying to see my guard dog. She was starting to feel like a backpack with all her weight now, but it was fine. I was still able to handle this.
As I got done with another group of people and began to walk away, I felt my phone going off. Keeping my pace as I got it out of my pocket, I saw it was an unknown number to me. As I answered the call I said.
"Hello?"
"Is this Raptor Voltz?"
I was fully expecting this to be another call from the network, but to my surprise it wasn't as I replied.
"Only one I know. Who's this?"
"My name is Zandro. I'm the man in charge of Fort Drake. The PMC you may already know about from a mutual friend of ours."
I began to chuckle and after his sentence had ended I replied.
"I don't have to ask who that person could be. It just explains how you got my number."
Keeping this simple Zandro replied.
"I know this may be an informal call, but I called to ask if you'd be willing to speak with me on some important matters. Matters that relate to both of us. Is there any chance we can discuss business?"
I took a moment to breathe, but also began to think about that request. Now that he made contact I was forced to just raise a verdict. I was interested thanks to what Hecan had told me about this man. So keeping that in mind I asked.
"There is a chance for that, but I must ask. When and how would this happen?"
Controlled and very well mannered Zandro replied to my concerns.
"It would happen soon. I can get to Iraq within a few hours being where I am at this moment. I just ask that the meeting could be held somewhere public. Makes things a lot easier for me. I have one of my people in your country at the moment who will also be joining us. I just ask that you tell me where a good place to meet one another would be so I can have my contact on site to confirm it fits my needs."
I knew more than a few good places to do this. Keeping my eyes on the path ahead I wondered.
"There's a park not that far from Saint Andrew's hospital. It's typically flooded with families and bystanders. We can meet there. How does that sound?"
"Sounds perfect. I'll inform my operator and have them check the place out while I get to work on heading to your airspace."
"How will I know what this person looks like?"
"You have no need to worry about such things. Just be at the location and I promise they will find you and introduce themselves properly before I arrive. This will be the first of a few meetings between us I hope Voltz. I'm excited to meet you in person. Till then I'll let you get back to work. Expect me in about three hours from now."
My mind had a quick reset as I realized he had hung up the line shortly after saying that. Putting my phone away I looked over to Molly to ask her.
"You wana go to the park? Get some exercise?"
"Braf!" She replied as I chuckled and changed my direction to get heading to Saint Andrew's.
Thirty minutes later, Saint Andrew's community park.
Molly remained on my back till we made it to the park. For the middle east you would never expect to see grass anywhere, but this was the one spot you could see it. Molly saw it and the second she did she jumped down and began to run around to the feel it gave her paws. Then she began to bark and bark and she might not be able to speak words but I could understand her. She was happy and just being a good girl experiencing something new. There were people of course. Even other dogs. Of course mine was a tad bit more exocitic but she got along just fine as her owners were shocked to see me there at all. I wasn't wearing my normal girl. In fact I looked about as normal as I did before this war started. Shadow's M1911 behind my back tucked in my pants and my personal glock strapped to my hip. I wasn't expecting trouble but it was never a matter of feeling unsafe. It's just a part of me at this point to know I have protection.
"Braf! Braf! Braf!"
Molly was once in a while coming back to see me but she quickly found a friend in this honestly fat bulldog. They were wrestling and thank god my Molly understood just how dangerous her teeth could be if she wanted them to. She was being gentle and I had nothing to worry about happening between them as I found a bench to take a seat on.
Stretching out my arms and legs and looking right up into the blazing sun, I for a second forgot where I was. Then when I got around to looking back straight ahead I widened my eyes as I caught this female wolf slowly walking my way from the hospital. She looked just like girls I have at home. Except she had her hair neatly trimmed and parted to the right side of her head. She was all black fur and wearing what to me was brown cargo pants and a tight gray tank top. She had a backpack around her that was probably the same size as my son's. For a split second we crossed eyes and once she was a few meters out I noticed she was chewing a blue piece of gum and had her right ear pierced with two silver hoops. Then to my surprise she stopped right alongside my bench. For the time being I did my best to ignore her, but Molly came running back over to say hi, which got me to sit up as the girl put her bag down next to me to smile and laugh.
"Oh hey! Who are you!?"
She got down on her knees and with no warning involved Molly began to jump up in hopes she could climb her. I was wondering if she knew this girl wasn't Zeta or Pepper. Or if she was just always this much of a people's dog.
"You're such a cutie baby! I didn't know people had Arabian wolves all the way out here that were domesticated!"
She piqued my interest with that statement. Her voice was very well mannered and from what I could make of it she seemed to be American. Giving the pair of them a smile I said in hopes to spark conversation with who I was already considering to be Zandro's operative.
"Is that what she is? When I rescued her I thought she was a coyote. I've never been the best at remembering my breeds."
Molly was intent on loving this girl. Giving her almost spotless face a few kisses she laughed back.
"Yeah, she's an Arabian wolf! Such a cutie though! How old is she?! She can't be more than a year old!"
"She's a pup, believe it or not. Can't be more than a little over a month or two now."
With wide eyes the girl refocused on Molly to yelp as she finally managed to get a grasp over her right shoulder and fling herself up and over. Sitting up straight as Molly took a second to adjust to the new back, I told the girl feeling a tad bit embarrassed about the behavior my dog had.
"She does that a lot. I'm sorry. Molly, get down." I urged her as the girl quickly replied.
"No it's okay! She's perfect right there! I never in all my life have seen a dog like her do this!"
From where I sat I watched as the girl stood back up with Molly clung to her. All I could do was smile and chuckle as the wolf herself turned to actually face me. For a moment I really did question the looks she had. She looked like she could stand in as a double for Zeta. Or maybe I was a terrible judge of features by this point in my life seeing wolves pass my desk. Her eyes were pure blue. Almost cyan they were so bright. With Molly breathing over her shoulder in a happy form of having a new friend, she asked me kindly.
"Can I sit down?"
Nodding my head I replied.
"Of course. Don't let me stop you."
The girl gave me a small laugh as she managed to get down without bothering my dog. Once seated alongside me I refocused on the area around me. It was going to be a good bit till Zandro got here according to when we spoke. Which left me to wonder how these next few hours would go if this was indeed his operator. Thankfully my suspicions were confirmed when she asked me quietly so not to draw attention to us as we sat together.
"I take it your Raptor Voltz?"
Keeping my eyes off her and looking out at the people walking beyond I replied.
"Depends on who's asking."
With a smile the girl reached back to pet Molly and replied with an answer of her own.
"My name is Vetra. I'm an operator for Fort Drake PMC. I've been instructed to make contact with you ahead of time. My boss Zandro told me where you wanted to meet and like clockwork, you showed without giving me any trouble."
Nodding my head but keeping my eyes away I asked the girl.
"Should that concern me?"
Chuckling she replied.
"Not at all. You would just be surprised how many people waste my time by sending me on a wild goose chase just to find them."
She was very calm. She had no fear or worry in her heart. I could see that and feel that as I had to wonder.
"Any idea when Zandro will be here?"
Letting her hand leave Molly's head she looked at a watch she had on her wrist and replied.
"Knowing him? He'll be here in three or four hours. He'll call ahead of time to let me know he's touched down."
Letting out a small sigh I then said to the wolf who went back to petting my dog.
"Well I'll tell you what then. As much as I love sitting in the blazing sun I'd prefer not to do it for that amount of time. Would you be willing to escort me back to the capital? It's a good distance from here but it would kill some time. Maybe an hour if we walk slow. But at the very least we can get inside a place with cold air and wait out your boss. Once he's arrived we can take a truck back here."
Vetra gave me this humming noise as she contemplated the idea. In moments she replied.
"Cold air would be a welcome addition to my life. Do you guys have any good food there? I haven't eaten much in the last day or two."
Now I laughed and got her attention to raise as I did. Keeping myself honest I told her honestly.
"Good food? No. But I do know a few places we'd be walking by on the way over; where we could pick you up something a bit more authentic. Trust me…...rebellion military rations haven't gotten better over the years and it's the last thing you want to eat when you're starving."
At the very least she had a sense of humor. She began to laugh alongside me and taking a hold back over her backpack she replied.
"Well then it sounds like we have a plan then. Are you ready to move?"
Nodding my head I replied.
"Yes ma'am."
She blew me a bubble with a sharp smile and as I stood up she asked me.
"Does she just stay like this?"
Nodding my head again I replied.
"Like glue. Are you okay carrying the extra weight? We have a good distance ahead of us."
Holding her backpack using her other shoulder she replied as she looked over at Molly who immediately licked her maw.
"I should be fine."
She proceeded to chuckle shortly after and together we began our trip back to the capital. Hopefully we would get back within the hour, but that would all depend on traffic. I'm sure we'd have some.
mT Shadow.