Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 259 - Setting up for the future.
Zeta's POV, some time later.
Raptor came back and much to my surprise that girl wasn't with him. As he entered the office he asked my sister and I.
"Anyone call?"
Shaking my head I replied as he came to his desk where we were sitting.
"No. All quiet since you left. Where did you go? Who was that wolf?"
Kicking me out of his chair he replied as he sat down.
"An operator from Fort Drake."
Pepper and I went silent as he took a moment to look through his desk draws. He pulled out a few folders and after he said to us both.
"Everything is okay. They contacted me earlier today."
"About what?" I questioned as he began to look over something. I couldn't tell with it being upside down but it looked like a lot of numbers. After a few silent seconds he replied without taking his eyes off it.
"They want to make a deal. I met with the man in charge and he confirmed it."
"What kind of deal? Raptor, you know their terrorists right?" Pepper asked as he nodded and replied.
"Not all of them. Vetra isn't. Regardless of what kind of reputation they have Pepper their leader was honest with me about his situation. He's scared about the network. Hecan helps them out and pays them off to make sure everyone working for Fort Drake has their contracts closed. Without that kind of bribe they could be all fair game for any PMC to go after. And since they are a small group of twenty five operators their head wants to take advantage of the situation growing between the middle east and what remains of the war. They know that once Archer is out of the picture I'll be in charge of forming a proper military and government after."
"They want government immunity." Pepper stated as I widened my eyes and asked Raptor who still looked over those papers.
"What did you tell them?"
Looking up at us he replied.
"I told them I needed time to think it over."
"You aren't really considering it are you?" Pepper questioned as he quickly replied back.
"I am."
"Why?" She asked next as I added on before he could respond further.
"That's not smart Raptor."
"Shut it." He ordered us both as we went silent to listen as he calmly explained his actions.
"Fort Drake needs me more than I need them. If I decline their request nothing happens. But I need to look at what I have left after the war to worry about. Mainly the fact that once it's over and I'm left in charge of everything, there will be countless people coming to me asking for permission to hunt down the network's wide array of contracts that have taken shelter in my lands. All that money needs to be claimed by someone and they've offered me all that in return for giving them what they want."
I was starting to understand and Pepper was too. In seconds she replied.
"So let me get this straight. You give the world's most dangerous PMC immunity from being hunted and in return they base themselves out here and get to work on clearing out the network's problems? You also get a cut in the money they rake in?"
Nodding Raptor went on to urge us.
"Look for yourself." Moving the paper around so we could read it, our eyes rested on the facts as he stated.
"I'm out of money. Rebuilding my homeland comes first before anything after the war. Having them pull in countless contracts in my land will aid me greatly in shaping my country and until I know what Hecan plans to do to help me out along the way, this is an opportunity to strike it big. The middle east needs this and I'm willing to take a chance on them. There isn't a way for this to backfire. They need me. They can't heel turn even if I decide to fuck them in the process."
"But after what Ying did there is no way it will blow over good publicly for you."
Shaking his head Raptor corrected me almost instantly.
"The public doesn't have to know. I know a way to make this work without drawing attention. I just need to go over everything if I want this to happen right and I need you two to trust me. I know what I'm doing and for once I'm in a place to make calls. Not obey them."
Raptor was serious about that. Pepper glanced over to me and for once I was silent. I didn't know what to say to him. I just knew he wasn't lying. He was confident in whatever idea he had brewing. Fixing my hair I then asked.
"So how long till you make your choice then?"
"Tomorrow. For now I need to focus on G.U.N."
Letting out a sigh Pepper begged him as he got around to looking back at the papers forming on his desk.
"Just make sure your ass is covered. No matter what happens you need to play it safe Raptor."
"I know." He replied as I had to question out of the blue.
"Where did Vetra go?"
Sitting back he replied.
"She's my medium while I think this all over. She's agreed to stick close and answer any questions I may have about her PMC. Should be here in a little bit. I offered for her to stay at the capital. Her boss is elsewhere. Waiting for my answer."
"And Molly?" Pepper then asked as Raptor calmly replied back.
"She's okay. She's in my room sleeping. She's had a very eventful day."
I chuckled along with Pepper and once things calmed down he ordered us both.
"Just relax too and take a seat while I figure this all out. Everything is okay."
Raptor went on to go through more paperwork. From there I walked around to his side to lean in close to his side. Slowly he took his eyes off the desk and over to mine as I smiled and gave him more than a few signals of what I wanted. Giving me a small laugh he leaned up to kiss me. After which he looked back at his work. Pepper took her care to sit back down as well and after that I just rubbed his shoulder and whispered.
"I love you."
"I love you too." He replied. That was enough to make me smile and relax. I just needed to hear him say it. Just once so I could gauge his state of mind.
Raptor's POV, An hour later.
I had enough facts to back up my choice now. I could make it today, but I still had some concerns. Some questions to ask a certain wolf who I knew was nearing my capital. I could feel her coming from a mile away and with both my friends sitting around patently I focused my attention on getting up. I wanted to meet Vetra face to face before anyone gave her trouble. So as I stood up from my seat I got the attention of both Zeta and Pepper who asked me.
"Where you off to?"
Fixing my shirt I replied.
"She's here."
They widened their eyes and together got up to follow me as I went for the exit to my office. Once down the main stairs we went outside and as expected I was right. She was at the main gate being questioned by the guards. As I got close they stopped talking and with Vetra smiling as she saw me she urged the men in front of her.
"See? I told you."
The officer in charge nodded his head as he saw me coming. Giving him a gentle push aside I told them all as Vetra was awaiting entry.
"She's with me. Everythings cleared. Let her through."
"Yes sir." He replied as he allowed Vetra in. The second she walked towards me I noticed she still had that same backpack around her right side and in her left hand was another duffel. I sensed she was thinking about something. What that was remained unknown to me as she said to me getting close.
"Told you….photographic memory."
Chuckling some I gently put my hand on her back and urged her by me and towards the main building. Zeta and Pepper were both remaining quiet as I said to her back.
"I believed you. You ready to see your room?"
Smiling, she replied.
"Sure. Thank you again by the way."
"It's not a problem. However once you get settled in I'd like to ask you some questions. If you'd be willing to listen."
Fixing her hair she replied as we got back to the front door.
"Of course. I'll answer what I can."
I nodded my head and as we walked to the main stairs I heard from Pepper who questioned.
"You guys work solo at Fort Drake? Pretty dangerous job."
"Well what isn't nowadays?" Vetra replied as we began the climb up. From there I escorted her to the officer's barracks and just picked a random room. There was no use for most of these right now being out a lot of officers to begin with. With Black gone however this left his room to fill. As we entered Vetra informed us as she got off her backpack.
"You two aren't from the middle east either. I assume you work for a PMC too and if that's the case then you should understand why we do it. You're protecting him for fucks sake."
Pepper and Zeta both seemed to be trying to figure her out. I was just waiting till she was done moving around to inform her.
"They're not with any PMC. Their freelance and my two closest friends. If you're going to stay here with us Vetra I need you to understand that I can't have anymore trouble. The three of you play nice and hopefully in time we'll be able to work together."
"I have no issue with your friends commander." Vetra replied as I nodded my head and went on to say.
"Well good. I'd like it to remain that way from here on out. For now though you can take your time to settle in. My office is back the way we came. At the very top of the stairs. Just come find me when you're ready."
"Yes sir." She replied as I turned to leave. Zeta hung back with Pepper as I figured they were not going to let her settle in that easy despite my wishes.
Zeta's POV.
Raptor left us with the other wolf. Her eyes looked to mine as Pepper was looking at her bags. Sensing we had our own series of questions about her she urged us.
"If you have a problem then speak up. I'm not hiding anything."
Keeping myself together and calm I replied.
"What's the deal with you coming here alone? What's the reason for it?"
Taking a seat on the bed she replied.
"Originally? I was sent here to take out Hai Ying. I assume you two can figure out who that was and just how important it meant to have him killed. After I carried out my orders I was told to lay low and wait till my boss made contact with Raptor. Today was the first official meeting he had with him and it went better than I expected. Raptor is very….open minded and that's important seeing as he's about to be the middle east's first real acting president after the war is over."
Pepper was basically on top of the woman and questioned.
"So you guys killed Ying and for what? To prove a point to him?"
Nodding she replied.
"Precisely. And it worked. Raptor was willing to listen to my boss and hopefully if all goes well we can make something better come from it."
"You took a huge risk though." I told her as she quickly followed up by stating.
"We're aware of it, trust me on that."
"All your gear is in this duffel?" My sister questioned as Vetra took her attention off of me to reply.
"Yeah? Leave it alone. I'm not hiding a bomb in there and it's rude as fuck to look through other people's stuff without permission."
Pepper took that as her queue to back off. Once she did Vetra said to us both.
"My business here now is all with him. I have no contracts to hunt and no reason to cause anyone trouble. So please…..back off."
She was very serious about that. Her eyes looked right at me as I got the message and urged my sister who was now looking back at her bags.
"Come on Pep. Let's leave her alone. Let her settle in."
"Thank you Zeta." Vetra said to me next asI took a step back towards the exit. Pepper followed very slowly but took her time. Once I had her back in the hallway I shut the door and grabbed her by the arm to ask.
"What's wrong with you? Real nice of you to be up her ass."
We got walking and as we managed to get back towards Raptor's office she told me quietly.
"She's hiding something. She's unarmed and her duffel can barely make a dent in the bed."
"So?" I questioned as she went on to say.
"She's not carrying. If she's the one who killed Ying then she has to have a weapon somewhere. Cody said he was shot at by a large caliber rifle back when him and Peek got caught in the middle of the assassination. There is no way she has a weapon that size in that bag of hers. And did you look at her backpack? She's what? Our age and carrying a schoolbag around?"
"I think you're judging her a little too hard. A girl can do whatever the fuck she wants. She might not have brought everything with her. What does it matter to you?"
Raptor was focused on us as Pepper replied.
"I wanted to see it. Fort Drake apparently has the best gear out there and I have a small issue with her for the time being. Till she's ready to answer some questions I'm going to keep speculating."
"Well voice your issue then Pepper. I don't want there to be any spoiled air going around once she gets here."
I was confused why Pepper had been acting so strange up till now. I sat down as she remained standing in front of the desk. Her right hand went to her chest as she told us carefully so she would explain it right.
"Before you guys came to rescue me I was being hunted by what remained of Maxwell contractors. I was with a guy. A merc who was different from anyone I ever fought before. He was a user. Perfect but was completely different. The venom was just in his blood and he required nothing to use it. It was instant. Even after I kicked his ass he was okay. He needed to rest sure, but he didn't need to reup on it. No shots, no pills, no nothing."
"He's dead I assume right?" Raptor asked her as she nodded and replied.
"I killed him when I got the right chance. Took a sample of his blood while it was still fresh. I wanted to research it but up till now I haven't had the time. Regardless shortly after that I got ambushed. I had no clue till it happened. A rifle round got sent clean through the back of the car I was in and went through everything including me and out the windshield. The same rounds Cody described that took out Ying and nearly blew the feathers off of Peek."
I widened my eyes as it was clear where she was getting out by now. However Raptor remained silent as she said it bluntly for him to understand.
"Everyone tried to kill me back then. I know it wasn't Maxwell, and I know it wasn't Ying or Shader Industries. Whoever shot me has to be the same person who shot Ying and Peek. That same someone might be unpacking her bags right now."
Raptor just took a moment to sit back in his chair as Pepper knew she was very clear about her issue. She however went silent and just waited for him to respond. In concern I asked Pepper.
"Are you sure?"
Nodding she replied.
"Almost certainly."
Our eyes went to Raptor as he continued to think. In time he sat back up and urged Pepper.
"Take a seat."
My sister slowly obeyed his wishes and once she had he informed her.
"I'm sure she can explain her side of the story if what you're thinking is at all accurate Pepper. Regardless even if she's the one who tried to kill you back then, that doesn't mean she still wants too even now."
Leaning up she replied.
"I don't care what she wants. She's dangerous and she tried to kill me. Sorry but I don't just forgive that kind of thing."
"You don't have to. She's not staying here forever. Just till I get done with her boss. So do me a favor and relax a little. Once she gets here we can discuss it all."
"There's nothing to discuss Raptor." Pepper told him back as I calmly begged her with a soft voice.
"Calm down."
"I am calm." She stated back as we heard the door behind us open up. The three of us looked back to find that wolf making her way in. I began to hear Pepper growling as Raptor sat up to state.
"We got a few questions to ask you Vetra."
"Shoot. I'm all ears. And well…..claws. Hehe." Pepper continued to growl up till I reconnected eyes with Raptor who was fully ready to get this show started.
mT Shadow.