Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 262 - On the trail.

Pepper's POV, Thirty minutes later.

Zeta and I have been on Hunter's trail for nearly half an hour now. From where she exited the capital; she left behind a trail of blood. No idea where she was losing it all from, but it's been a steady drip for going on three miles now. She cut through the majority of side streets and less dense areas of the city. Assuming not to draw attention. But she couldn't keep going. Not if she was still bleeding this bad. She'll pass out.

I was leading the presuit. Zeta was more than accepting of this order Raptor gave us. I knew the second I laid eyes on Hunter that she would be in trouble if Zeta ever got permission to fight her. Now her life was forfeit according to Raptor after what she did to his friend. My concern was why? She had to be overwhelmed by the emotion of losing Black and those G.U.N turncoats. But overwhelmed enough to try and kill Raptor and his friends? Enough was enough I suppose and thankfully Raptor had informed the rest of the patrols of the situation after we left the capital. No one was interfering and the trail was leading into an apartment complex on forty eighth street. Zeta and I were ready to take this inside. So pulling up my armband and turning on the motion tracker, I urged my sister who was getting the door open.

"Keep your eyes open when we go inside. She could be anywhere and she's not going to be alone. So check fire before engaging."

"Mhmm. She replied as I followed her in.

The second we entered the building we found the trail leading to an elevator. Just before reception, and there was already a man behind it. A small echidna who shouted.

"She went up! Floor twelve!"

Zeta and I went off that information. Looking at her I stated.

"I'll take the stairs. Make sure she can't slip out. You take the elevator up and I'll meet you."

Zeta's POV.

Pepper ran for the stairs and began her climb. Leaving me to take the elevator up. When I got in I found more of Hunter's blood covering the buttons. She did indeed click the twelfth floor and as I did the same, I readied my rifle in anticipation for what was to come. I knew for a fact I could be heading into a trap. If she had any idea we were on her tail this could end badly being trapped in a small box. Yet I had no choice now as the doors closed and began to lift me up.

I kept to myself and waited the whole time. Once the doors reached that floor, I took aim and waited as they slowly opened. For a moment I looked down the hallway to see the blood going further down. Yet as I saw that I panicked when I heard and caught an incoming round. The shot echoed the hallway itself, but that was of little concern to me when I felt the monster of a bullet collide with my vest and bump me a foot back in time to hear another get rattled off.

"BANG!"

Thankfully I had enough room to corner myself in the elevator. I needed this time more than anything to recover my breath and chest. Both of which were shaking from the impact.

When a third bullet hit the wall behind me, I took my chance and crouched out in the open to begin firing back. I couldn't see her but when my rounds hit the wall I managed to see her body slip around the corner. Using all I had, I ran out of the elevator and booked it right down the hallway, grabbing a flashbang from off my belt and pulling the pin.

Giving myself the needed moment, I chucked the flash around the corner as I charged and when it went off; I spun around the bend and found Hunter stumbling her way into one of the rooms. I managed to open fire and I widened my eyes when I saw one of my rounds connect to her left shoulder, splatting the door with blood as she yelped and went inside to shut it behind her.

"Shit!" I mumbled as I heard Pepper just make it up the stairs to ask.

"Where?"

"Inside. I hit her."

Pepper nodded and checked her wristband to confirm she was inside the room. Once at the door she urged me.

"Stack up. I'm gonna kick it down. You watch….?!"

Hunter's POV.

I had to cover up when the blast went off by the front door. In my hand were three pins to grenades I had stowed away with what remained of my rebellion combat gear here in my room. The whole room went down, but the most important thing was that the front door and the walls next to it were taken off by the power of the shrapnel. I didn't hear anything come after that from those two wolves who've been chasing me these last few minutes.

Doing my best to recover my breath, I looked down to my backpack and got it over my back. Then picked up my rifle and made haste for the entrance where I found the orange wolf crawling away. She heard me turn the safety off my rifle and when I went to aim at her she kicked her legs into full gear and slid around a corner into a nearby room.

"What's wrong huh?! I thought you wanted this!" I shouted at her as I turned around to find the other wolf counterpart pinned under a large portion of the collapsed wall. She was struggling to move as I power walked my way right on over to aim at her head. Till then she was trying to shake her way out from under the rubble, but the second my sights landed on her face she stopped to stare up at me.

"You brought this on yourself." I told her as I went to squeeze down on the trigger.

"BANG! BANG!"

My whole body jittered when two rounds came landing right at my side hitting what remained of the rubble. Instantly I turned around to see that other wolf shooting at me from down the hallway with her sidearm. I aimed back at her as fast as I could to lay down on the trigger. I saw sparks leave her chest and face as I clipped her on her vest and mask. Her body went back around the corner leaving me to look back at the other wolf who was just starting to get free from her pinning.

With probably three rounds left in my clip, I aimed down and sent them into her back. The cloak she was wearing covered the holes I put in her and with my clip empty, I dumped the rifle and ran for the elevator. I had to get out of here.

I was bleeding out at this rate. Everything in my head was light as I hit the first floor button. As the door began to shut, I widened my eyes when I saw that orange wolf appear back around from the bend to fire off a series of rounds at me. Thankfully the door closed in time and I was left with a breath of fresh air. From there I left the building again and this time took my car. By the time I got on the road I was seeing rebellion trucks pull up to the apartment complex I called my home till now.

Pepper's POV.

I never cursed so much in one sentence when I saw that bitch escape. My rifle ran dry of ammo and I was left with more injuries then I could count. That blast sent me into the wall so hard I felt it break ribs. Not to mention the bits of shrapnel I had in my legs and arms from it. But along with that I got shot. My vest took the damage but the one that hit my mask nearly knocked me out. Thankfully the bullet redirected itself off the metal thanks to the angle it came in on and I was left with nothing but a sore face and I think a nasty gash from the impact. Blood was slowly coming down from under the mask and I could feel it running under my shirt.

"Zeta!" I shouted as I couldn't feel my legs at first. It took a few moments, but I managed to get up on both feet. Running to where I saw Zeta go down. When I got there I found her laying down on her stomach not moving. At first I thought she was dead but thankfully when I got down; she coughed getting me to ask as I checked her back.

"Where?! Don't move!"

I saw the holes in her cloak. That bitch shot her good before she ran like that. Thankfully she was alive and her armor took most of the impact. Yet it was direct. Those rounds still went through at that extreme close distance.

As I went over the injuries I ordered her.

"Use your venom! Come on!"

She was listening; thank the lord. I saw the wounds sealing, but that didn't superseed the rest of the damage she took. She was hurt by that blast too. Judging from where I was sitting, I saw she had a broken arm. It was her left arm. It was snapped by the elbow and hanging out inside the flesh like a loose stick on a tree branch.

"Stop moving!" I ordered her again as she was struggling to get out from under the rubble she was covered by. As she focused on her venom, I got that off her and widened my eyes when the elevator was seen coming back up. I waited to find it held some of Raptor's soldiers. More rebellion security and at first they had no idea who we were. When they took aim at us I shouted at them.

"We're friendly you fucking assholes! Get over here and help me!"

Zeta began to groan as I told her calmly.

"We're okay. Stop moving. Your arm is broken."

In anger Zeta ripped off her mask exposing her face which was covered in sweat. Blood was leaving her mouth and her eyes were red from the venom. I quickly got her mask back in my hands as she begged me.

"Go after that bitch!"

"I'm fucked up too Zeta! I can't feel my fucking chest let alone chase that girl down! Calm down and let's get back to the capital! Raptor can figure out what to do from there, but this isn't worth dying for!"

She was so pissed. Growling as a medic came to our side to point out.

"Her ankle is broken. Jesus christ."

"Can we move her?" I asked as he nodded and replied.

"Yeah but carefully. We have a truck outside that can get you guys back to the capital safely from here. Hold up for a second though. Fuck…...you'll need help lifting her out. She can't walk on that leg."

Nodding my head I replied.

"Get her other side. We'll get her down there together."

The medic nodded back and together we managed to get Zeta and myself back to a truck where we began our trip home. The whole time I was in agony. My venom couldn't fix broken bones. Not to the extent I wanted it to. Zeta couldn't even sit. They had her laid back in the back of the truck and once we got to the capital we had her carried into the main building towards medical. Cody was standing there with Peek and as we came inside Cody asked us in concern.

"What happened!?"

He watched as Zeta got carried off and to my surprise he came to my side to get under my arm and help me walk to the stairs. During our time together I replied while gripping my sides in pain.

"We gave chase to the girl who attacked Raptor's second in command. Had her cornered before she set off some grenades. I think I broke some ribs, but Zeta got hit with most of the punishment. Shot her three times before she ran. Thankfully her venom handled all that."

Cody kept me afloat and once at the top of the stairs, Raptor saw me and got back up from his seat with that other wolf Vetra. Giving him a nasty glare, I listened as he asked me.

"What happened? Where's Hunter?"

"Fuck if I know where that bitch ran too. We had her cornered at her apartment but she managed to get away."

Raptor came in close to take over for holding me up. As he did I told him patently so not to seem annoyed.

"Zeta's heading to medical."

"Is she okay?" He asked me as he guided me to a chair. As I sat down I replied.

"She's alive, but the damage was done. Hunter set off some grenades when we had her pinned and the blast took us down. I think I have some busted up ribs but Zeta broke her left arm and the medic said she also broke her ankle. She can't walk right now."

"Shit." Raptor mumbled as he put his hands around my chest. Vetra was watching close as I calmly held my breath as he did his thing. It felt just as bad as last time, but while my ribs were being put back together, Raptor ordered me.

"Take a break. I'm gonna handle the rest from here. Vetra?"

My eyes looked up to the girl as she was very focused on Raptor. With his attention leaving me, Raptor said to her calmly.

"Do it. I'll inform your boss after I get done handling things here."

"Be my pleasure." She replied as she picked up her bag from the desk and began to make her way out. Once she was gone Raptor told me.

"She's gonna take over things with Hunter. You just rest up. I'll go patch up you sister and get to work on helping Char."

"Wait What do you want me to do then? I can't just sit here."

"You can and you will. Just watch out for her for a little Cody. You understand?"

"I got it." He replied as Raptor pulled off me to go for the exit. Once he was heading down the stairs, I stopped to look back at the fox standing beside me. Seeing he was more stressed than me, I said to him as a joke.

"So I hear you and Peek have a little fun once in a while."

The look on his face was priceless once the words were out there for him to hear. I couldn't help but laugh in pain as he questioned in a frenzy.

"How the fuck do you know anything about that!?"

I kept my mouth shut and in anger he leaned in to grab me by the shoulders. At the same time demanding of me.

"Answer me! Did you ask him!? What did he tell you!?"

Very slowly I took off my mask and looked him right in the eyes. He was still overwhelmed by the fact I knew his business. So as he waited very patiently, I decided to lean in and press my lips to his. And just like a lightswitch he turned off and relaxed like a loose noodle. It took him a few seconds to start kissing back but to my surprise he was really good at it. In maybe five more seconds I pulled away to urge him.

"You would do well to remember who you're talking to little guy. Lower the voice a few notches and do us both a favor. Take a seat while I sweat this one out."

Cody was red. He was slightly shaky but mainly red. As I sat back and pretended like nothing happened between us, I heard him question.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" I replied with a smile. Cody suddenly broke his confusion to chuckle to himself. Seeing that he was catching on, I urged him next with a stretch of my arms.

"You heard the man Irish. You're not off duty. Better keep your eyes on me. Make sure I don't go anywhere."

"You're a fucking bitch Pep." He told me back as I proceeded to laugh and quickly regret it. Cody widened his eyes as I curled in pain. The bones in my chest were back together, but Raptor left me with nothing but bruises and a sore everything to follow getting your ribs snapped. As I let out a low growl, I felt Cody put his hand on my back. As I looked up to see him making sure I was okay, I smiled and mumbled.

"I'm okay. I just need to rest. Let what venom I got left take over the healing process."

Blood was still leaving the gash under my eye and in seconds I found my place and remained still as I felt the venom burn it shut. Then all I did was curl down into my legs as I knew the rest of my body was to follow. Cody comforted me as I had enough faith to believe things would be okay.

Raptor would handle Zeta. Vetra? I could care less what happens to that bitch. Yet I hoped if and when she found Hunter, she would make her hurt.

Raptor's POV.

Marx was breathing over my shoulder as I finished doing all I could for Zeta. She was awake but barely. Thankfully I had enough in my tank to fix what was broken. Much like her sister, she needed to now rest. My focus went on to Char but before I could leave the room, I ordered Marx who was still at a loss for my powers.

"Give her something for the pain. I need to go see the Major."

Marx nodded and back out into the medical hall I went to immediately stop in my tracks from a past pain that defeated me once before. My head jolted forward, my legs buckled and I had just enough time to catch myself onto a nearby chair. I got the attention of a few nurses but was ultimately approached by Misty. A face I hadn't seen in such a long time I almost forgot it. She came right on over to me and judging by her uniform she was still busy saving lives from all the post fighting from the riots. Her pants stained in blood and her hands dawned a new pair of medical gloves. Blue pressed to my shoulder as she gently begged me where I stood.

"Take a seat commander! Woooooh!"

For a moment I listened and leaned into the chair that held me up. Misty got a good look at my eyes as I grunted to her in hopes she would help me get closer to Char.

"I'm okay! Just…...just tired! I need to get to the Major!"

"Just give it a minute! What's wrong? You looked like you just got hit with lightning. Talk to me commander. Don't you dare lie cause I saw it!"

Letting out a sigh as I felt my head thumping in pain, I replied.

"I don't know. I'm just wearing myself down to the point of collapse doc. If I push through it I get to a point where it feels like someone took a metal bat to the back of my head. I lose all feeling for a split second and….and you saw."

Misty got right up next to my face. She was looking into my eyes with a small flashlight and her face looked more than concerned as she whispered to me.

"I know what you are. Marx told me. Don't be upset with him."

I let out a slow growl as she begged instantly.

"Don't be mad! I asked! I saw what you did when you first got here. What you did for Zeta? I can't believe it to be the truth…...it's such a crazy concept to wrap your head around. But please be honest with me when I ask you this commander. You're using your gifts too much. Too much at one time. You're still mortal and because of that your body is straining probably muscles I don't even know exist. I know you want to help him, but after seeing that, I worry for your health. Char is stable thanks to you already. His body can recover naturally in time. Or at the very least you can give it a day or two and rest and try again once you're recovered. But pushing right now isn't smart. It's dumb and your not dumb. You listen to reason still and because of that you're going to listen to me right? You…..need…..to…..rest."

I knew she was right, but I hated knowing he was in pain and I could help him now. I don't care about my life. I can survive. Looking back up to her eyes, I asked her in a sad tone.

"How can I rest when I know I could save him from feeling so much pain right now?"

Looking me down she replied.

"By trusting him. He's strong. Stronger than most. And Marx has him on a heavy dose of sedatives. He's asleep and I promise you he's not feeling any pain. Just resting. The same thing you need to be doing right now. Stop pushing. Listen for once and trust that as people we know what we're doing. It's hard, but it's what needs to happen. Okay?"

Fucking bitch was right about this. More than anyone ever, she pushed me to my breaking point and I replied with an answer unlike my normal self. Nodding my head I said.

"Your right. I need to rest."

Misty widened her eyes but nodded her head back as she realized I actually listened to what she said. Helping me onto my feet, she asked me while getting under my shoulder.

"You want to go back to your room?"

Nodding I whispered.

"Yes."

"Okay. Thank you." She replied back as she began to help me travel back to my senses. When we got to the top of the stairs Pepper and Cody came out of my office to ask me.

"Is everything okay? How's Zeta?"

Misty stopped my movement so I could look back at them to reply.

"She's okay. Resting peacefully."

"I'm helping him back to his room. He's going to rest for now. Right Raptor?"

Nodding, I replied with a small but exhausted smile.

"Right."

Pepper and Cody seemed kinda confused why I replied that way with the tone of voice I used, but in the end Cody and her followed us till we were back to my quarters. When I got in bed, Misty told me as she ran for my air conditioner.

"I'm going to put this on energy saver and leave you to rest. I'll even close your blinds so you can get some shade from all this sun. Just try to sleep and relax. I'll check back in a few hours to see if you're awake."

I couldn't hope to pretend like that didn't sound nice. All I could do was get my vest off and my belt tossed to the floor. Pepper came around my side of the bed to wonder.

"What do you want us to do?"

Handing her my phone I replied.

"Keep your ears out to see if that call I've been expecting decides to come in while I close my eyes for a bit. If it does you just tell whoever it is that I'm sorry I couldn't answer personally. I'll call them back later tonight. Cody? Do me a favor and set an alarm for ten. Wake me up then."

"No problem man." He replied as I shut my eyes to sleep. Hoping that for once the advice I just took wouldn't backfire.

mT Shadow.