Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 258 - A place of power.
Raptor's POV, two hours later, Saint Andrew's Park.
I've had a good bit of time with Vetra to know she was a sweet person at heart. Just a little confused. She was stuck wondering when her time would come to pass. Thankfully it wasn't my concern. I had enough to bother with. We just entered the park and we kept our pace slow as she took the lead to find her boss Zandro who claimed he was waiting. I picked him out almost immediately. He looked the part for a PMC with his reputation. He was standing next to a memorial the hospital had made to honor the fallen rebellion soldiers from wars past. From the beginning till now the names were still being filled out on nothing more and a large piece of stone that resembled a long wall. Vetra took a moment to breathe as we approached him from behind.
Zandro was a echidna. About six foot tall and a very subtle shade of dark blue. He was wearing what reminded me of the gear Zeta and Pepper had. However he had no mask and his pants were a tan color all the way up to his waist which had a standard combat belt wrapped around it. Holistering what to me looked like a Glock. Then above he was wearing a smaller combat vest. No ammo pouches, tools, or even a knife dressed on it. It was just a plain black vest and nothing more. Once a few feet away Vetra urged me to remain where I was standing and went to tap his arm. The echidna broke out of his train of thought to look to his side and smile slightly at the sight of the wolf. Smiling back she said to him clearly.
"Just like you wanted."
Zandro then turned around to lock eyes with me. I wasn't reading anything in his mind as his smile beamed me in the head like a bullet. Taking in a small breath Zandro extended his hand out towards me to say with a relaxed voice seeing as we were in a peaceful place for the time being.
"Nice to finally meet you in person commander. I take it you took care of Vetra here while I was stuck in the air?"
Nodding I replied while taking his hand.
"We killed some time. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"Good." Zandro said back as we soon let go of one another. Giving me this honest grin he asked me next.
"Would you like to talk here or go somewhere a bit more private?"
"Should I assume the matter you wish to discuss is important?"
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't. There are some things I want to go over with you. Personal matters and a few involving the Fort Drake PMC. I also know you probably wish to ask a few questions of your own. Mainly why I've gone out of my way to hide my actions from you up till now. Including the death of Hai Ying." Zandro said with such calmness it made me comfortable enough to reply.
"You must have had your reasons. Ying was no doubt a problem for my country and the war, but I didn't plan to kill him. He agreed to leave."
Nodding Zandro then stated back as he reached out to grab Vetra by the arm to begin walking us in the direction of the park's exit.
"We both know Ying was going to remain a threat to you. Even if he left unharmed and promised you otherwise. The way I see it I did you a favor, but a favor was not what I aimed to provide. I wished to use it as a chance to show you what my operators could do. Vetra here being the one who pulled the trigger that day."
My eyes looked back at the wolf as she nodded her head to the truth. Zandro however went on to say.
"I need to think ahead. The PMC being my family and being my life's work. We're around the same age you and I so I 'd like to think you know what I mean when I say that. The future is all that matters and the one thing holding me back is our past. Do you know the difference between my PMC and all the others out there?"
Nodding my head I replied.
"You're labeled as terrorists with no home to call your own. G.U.N is where you operate out from, but Hecan Moore himself claims he doesn't own you. Yet he ignores you so long as you play nice and you help him handle some more….private matters from time to time that he can't be seen carrying out himself."
Zandro nodded back very slowly. We were not leaving the park as he went on to state.
"You're exactly right. However let me explain to you my situation in more detail. Vetra?"
I looked over to the wolf as he took that as her queue to stop walking with us. She just stopped moving and waited till Zandro and I were maybe twenty feet or so ahead to begin walking again. She remained that distance as Zandro went on to say in a much more kept to us tone of voice so not to draw attention.
"Fort Drake is my father's company. He retired from the business give or take….three years ago. Didn't have the best reputation for getting things done that needed to get done. He was much more lax with the risk taking then I am. His main focus was getting the company in a place where the people working for us could be safe from the network. He's friends with Hecan Moore which is how we got to stay around as long as we have. He got the company in a very stable spot before handing it off to me."
"If I was in your place Zandro I'd be concerned with expansion and further protecting my operators."
"Exactly my reason for taking these risks. My operators are my family. No matter how crazy they are."
"How many do you have on your payroll?"
Zandro was looking forward at a couple who was walking our way as he replied to my question.
"Twenty five."
To be honest I was expecting a higher number. He's got quite a reputation for being nothing more than a small platoon spanning the whole world. But I know I could assume that's the reason he hasn't branched out much since now. Zandro was quiet as we passed the couple. Then once a few feet away he told me.
"I know that's a low number considering how dangerous everyone claims my PMC is, but I must tell you we supplement our numbers with a few things. Including training, weapons and gear, vehicles, the ability to travel without much trouble from rival nations, and the most expensive things being the bribes I have to pay every month to every person who lets us operate. Now I have a lot of money so that's not an issue, but I can't keep paying everyone. It's taxing and currently the pace we're bringing in successful contracts is at an all time low. Nothing too crazy has come up over the last few years. We've gotten enough to get by and sometimes improve. Yet it's very hard when every person working for me is busy looking over their shoulders wondering when someone is going to come try and cash in their contracts. Hecan pays the network off to keep that from happening, but it's nothing compared to having government immunity."
Instantly I let out a small chuckle. Zandro nodded his head as he had to know that I just came to the conclusion as to why he really wanted to prove a point to me.
"Now I have both the want to expand, but I have more importantly the need to protect my operators. Everyone who works for me is indeed either a terrorist of some degree, or some psycho killer, or even in her case…...a wrongly accused victim of a government coverup." I glanced back at Vetra as Zandro went on to say.
"I can guarantee that everyone who works for me will pay you the utmost respect and I can promise you now there would be zero foul play involved. My operators are as clean as they can get thanks to the safety I provide for them. Not a single one of them will question me or think for themselves selfishly. What I'm here to discuss with you Voltz is this."
He looked right on over to me and together we stopped walking. Vetra did too as he said.
"My people need safety. You're on the verge of forming a government from the ground up and I'd like to think we can help each other. I can offer you many things. The most important being security and people who can get shit done no matter what that is. I want to discuss a partnership and maybe a possible merger between Fort Drake and your soon to be government."
Now that I knew what he wanted, I just had to ask him to be sure.
"You want me to take in your company?"
Nodding he replied.
"We need a home to call our own. A government. I'm open to any ideas and concerns you may have regarding a deal between us. But yes…...I'm offering you everything. My company for the safety of government immunity."
Zandro was looking me over quite closely and after a moment or two I looked away from the man to stomp my right foot gently in confusion for what to do. Sensing my inability to make a choice he asked me respectfully.
"What would it take? What do I have to do to prove my good intentions? You're a war hero and from what I know you're also a man who doesn't pass up an advantage. We're the ultimate advantage Voltz. Together we can do great things. There is a lot of money to be made and I'm sure you could use that money for the betterment of your people and the rebuilding of your territory."
My eyes went back to the man as he was being honest. He felt very convinced this was his move to he knew this was also my decision to make. I could feel the weight on his mind and his hope I'd agree. However unlike him I wasn't convinced yet. This kind of deal could be taken poorly by the people who trust me. Mainly the public. Ying ruined all credibility PMC's had in the middle east. Having another PMC at our side would only spell trouble for me in the future. I had to consider my options. Looking Zandro back in his eyes I replied.
"I have had a lot of issues with PMC's ever since Ying left here in a box. You must understand that housing another would only spell trouble for me in the long run and the way I see it; if I take you in I'd expect a full return on my investment. Yet there is a chance we can do business. I just need some time to go over all the options I have."
Zandro nodded his head and brought his hands up to his hips. Holding himself there he looked on over to Vetra who slowly came back over to us. Once she arrived he said to me.
"That's understandable. Ying left your country on fire when he pulled out. I'm sure there is a lot to consider. For now how about we do this. I plan to remain here in Iraq; with your permission of course, but I can at the very least give you the time you need to go over this. Here's my number."
Reaching under his vest he pulled out a small blue business card and handed it over to me. It had nothing but his name and number on it. Along with the Fort Drake name. As I got around to looking at it he said to me with a smile.
"Call any time. I'll be keeping my nose clean and just awaiting your call. Whether this works out between us Voltz, I want you to know I respect you and what you've done so far. We'd be the best of friends you and I. Think this over carefully. I'm open to any ideas you may have to bring to the table and I'm going to listen and do my best to answer any of your concerns regarding it. Yet where there is a will there is most certainly a way."
"I can't disagree with that statement." I told him as he laughed and looked over to Vetra who he asked.
"Would you prefer to stay with the commander Vetra? Or would you want to come along with me? Either way you'll be of use to at least one of us while we wait this stalemate out. I see you already have a friend in his dog."
Vetra looked over to Molly who this whole time was still on her back. Again she licked her and after giving us both a small laugh back she questioned towards me.
"Would it be a problem if I stayed Commander? Much like my boss I promise to be on my best behavior."
Putting Zandro's card away in my pocket I replied.
"Well I know if I say no she'll kick my ass later. You're free to stay with me till I make my decision Vetra. I have the space to house you at the capital and it would be nice to get an inside look into the life of a Fort Drake operator from a real soldier. I have questions and till we meet again Zandro can I have your word you'll be okay on your own?"
Smiling the echidna replied.
"If I wanted to cause trouble, commander, I'd have already done it. You have my word. I've come too far to throw away an opportunity such as this. But do me a favor if you'd please….I was a soldier before my father passed the torch. I'm real. Trust me."
Vetra nodded as I calmly said back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"It's fine. I was just hoping you'd be willing to hear me out and you did. So for now commander I'll be making my way elsewhere. Hear from you soon?" He asked me as he reached out to offer his hand. Taking it I replied.
"Soon yes. Very soon. I'll look out for Vetra during our small parting."
Zandro again chuckled and warned me back before turning off to head in the other direction.
"Trust me commander. She can handle herself just fine."
I gave him a small smirk as he began to walk off leaving me with my dog and Vetra who were both watching with me as he just walked away like it was nothing. Strolling like he lived here all his life. Waving at people who passed him and taking in the buildings as he did it. Sensing he was something else I asked Vetra without looking at her.
"What's he hiding?"
Giving me a small smile she replied.
"Believe it or not, but not much. He's typically like that. He's always been a nice guy. Don't get me wrong; he can turn real fast and drop a hammer, but Zandro has always been more concerned with his legacy as the company's leader. Outside when he's doing things like this he's usually pretty public and friends with about everyone he meets. He's a people person."
"I can relate to him about the whole legacy thing." I told her back as she noticed I was ready to move on. Looking back to her I asked her.
"I assume you have to go get your gear. Can you find your way to the capital without me? I have to get to work on going over this situation I now find myself in."
"I shouldn't have too much trouble. Photographic memory." She chuckled as I nodded my head and replied.
"Okay then good. I'll meet you back there and show you to a room you can stay in."
"Awesome. You wana take her back with you?" She asked me as I looked over to Molly to reply.
"Yeah hehe. Come on Molly. You'll see her again."
Molly listened without question and got down and next to my legs to begin following me back. Vetra went her own way and from there I began to already go over my next move. Zandro presented me with a lot to think about. Mainly my government that would soon follow Archer's death. I can still make this fit the bill. Zandro might have to work with me to make his wish come true, but I had a good feeling he'd be accepting. I wasn't all too convinced yet. Hopefully Vetra could offer me some clarity the next time I got the chance to sit down with her. I had a lot left to question.
mT Shadow.