Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 271 - Hands together.
Vacus's POV.
He was in so much pain. You could see it in his face as Dom walked in to see the body of the man I just killed. His smile left him as Raptor managed to say through all his agony.
"I know. I didn't want it to come to this."
"John?" Dom asked him next as he just simply nodded and watched as Dom proceeded to sigh and approach my side.
Once there, he looked over Raptor's arm to tell him.
"You're hurt."
"What are you guys doing here?" Raptor's question ignored that of Dom's concern. Sensing it was more important to Raptor; he saw past that and replied.
"Believe it or not, Marhick was planning to make a move on the capital tonight. He had us all around the block keeping tabs on things. We saw how they changed routine once Hecan and Linnen were brought there. We were stacking out our chance to make a move but before that could happen the whole place was up in smoke. I assume you had something to do with that, considering how fast you were running out of the perimeter."
Nodding Raptor went on to admit.
"How ironic? G.U.N and I planned to attack tomorrow. But when things went south with Hecan and Linnen….the plan got pushed up. I have an army headed right here and now. Should be here in about an hour. Plan would be to clean up the mess and secure what remained, but I can't hang around for long. Archer ran the second the building was lost. I shot him once, but he escaped. I'm assuming he's camping out at the munitions depot. My next stop."
"In this shape?" Dom questioned as the hedgehog began to shut his eyes and breathe. From there, Dom and I watched as the hole in his arm sealed. Along with some thin cuts he had across his face from various sources. I had no idea what I was watching. It was still the same shock I had back when he stabbed himself for training. Was he really a god? I wondered as he was soon finished and breathing heavily to himself. Dom was the only one of us capable of questioning.
"What the fuck did you just do man?"
Raptor kept his mouth shut as it was clear his focus was on his breathing. Dom however was willing to offer him every physical second. Thankfully the hedgehog recovered in a few seconds and once there he looked back at us to reply.
"That doesn't matter right now Dom. I need to get to Archer."
Dom agreed above all else; about that need he wanted. Raptor waited after saying it, giving Dom enough time to question.
"You plan on doing that alone? That depot is gonna be locked down. Like it always has been. Getting inside, especially now, is a sucide run solo."
"Can the anti-rebellion help?" He then asked as Dom calmly replied.
"I'll call Marhick and see where he's at. He should be close by. The men outside are dead and that should give us time to relocate from here. We should go now. Can you walk?" He asked Raptor who nodded his head back. Dom smiled and began to step away. His hand went to his radio as he left Raptor and I alone. Just before leaving he urged us.
"Meet me outside when you're ready. I'll get on the horn."
I was nothing but focused on Raptor. The man was really something else. I wanted to ask him so many questions, but my disability cut all that hope in half as his eyes looked at me to say.
"Thank you. I owe you one. I still don't know if I could have done it myself. Even with a gun pointed in my face."
So many things I wanted to say. So many things I wanted him to understand and feel. Yet I kept my frown on and waited as he slowly bent down to rip the M4 off the dead soldier's back.
Once in his hands, he reloaded a fresh clip and let the gun hang just below his stomach by it's sling. His eyes shifted right back to mine as he for a moment, just stared at me. I was utterly at a loss for what to do. My whole life was racing by me as his right hand came up to meet my height. At first I was confused. Very lost as he saw that clear as day and urged me quietly so not to draw attention from Dom.
"Relax for a few seconds. I promise I'm not going to hurt you Vacus. Trust me."
I never didn't not trust him to begin with. His hand however went down a few inches till it leveled out with my neck. Then all he did was grab me by it. He wasn't pulling or squeezing. He was very gentle and with it came an even softer voice and an even warmer touch to my skin. With our eyes locked, he said to me next.
"I'm so sorry about Incus. She was a good person. She didn't deserve a thing that happened to her."
I felt myself about to cry as his touch began to lower in temperature after a few more seconds of holding me in place. Yet when it was over, he lowered his hand and said to me.
"I'm sorry. It's my fault you lost her. It's my fault you lost yourself. Can you ever forgive me for what I've done?"
It was almost instinct at this point. My mind wanted to scream it at him, but all the sudden everything changed all the same. In my head I replied to him, but out of habit I still tried to speak. That exact moment I felt my heart stop when I actually heard my own voice respond to the man.
"I forgive you…...I…..?!"
I couldn't have been more stumped. More shocked at hearing my vocals again all the sudden. I lost my ability of speech yet again once that all set back in. My heart racing a million paces a second and the hedgehog now smiling at me said.
"We should get going. We don't have long. Okay?"
I couldn't move, speak, or let alone think. Raptor knew that too as he just kept smiling and took his first step by me and towards the exit of the flower shop.
Reaching up to my neck to feel my throat for myself with my own hands, it took every ounce I had to act like that didn't just happen. I was still unsure if it was real and proceeded to fire off any words I knew. My voice behind each one of them as I looked back after a minute to find him now gone.
Raptor's POV.
Dom was off his radio by the time I got out here. His smile on me as he informed me swiftly.
"Marhick is on his way here with a few of the boys. Together we can figure out a way in there."
"Okay." I replied as Vacus managed to get back outside. When she did Dom looked at her and asked.
"You good?"
She nodded, but kept her mouth shut. I knew why. Just looking at her move told you she was stunned. Her body was still shaking as Dom urged us both next.
"Let's meet them halfway while the rest of the rebellion is distracted."
"You think after all that noise we just made there aren't going to be any responders?" I asked him as he quickly began to guide us down the street. With Vacus right next to my side he replied.
"No. We have access to the radios. Archer just called whoever he had left to meet him at the depot. Everyone else is either running or fighting that fire back at home. We're square to get a move on commander."
From there we regrouped with Marhick who had five other fighters to his name. He looked a lot different then when I last saw him. He looked beaten down and outright tired. Yet when he saw me his eyes lit up like a christmas tree. We shook hands and I listened close as he informed me.
"Fucking happy as hell to see you here sir. The uniform is a bit…...off putting. But that's a mute point right now. You really kicked a nest back at the capital. Your a fucking absoulte psycho going in there alone. How did you even do it?"
"Airdrop." I replied as I smiled and looked at his men. Some faces I remembered from training. Once Marhick took my answer in I asked him.
"I assume Dom told you about Archer. He ran to the depot. I need to get in there and finish this. Any idea how?"
Nodding he replied while looking back to a few trucks he had waiting for us.
"We drive right through the goddamn gate."
At first I laughed at the idea of it. Going right in was insane. Looking over the man closely I asked him.
"You know you might be the psycho here?"
Laughing at my statement, he dragged our small group over to the trucks to reply.
"Would you rather sneak in again? It's not an option. The fences are electrified all the way around. There aren't any buildings nearby to swing in from otherwise I'd have ordered a zipline. And there isn't any drainage under that we can crawl through. Oh and last thing I checked, I don't think we have a plane around to airdrop in either. So this is the only way through."
"It's nuts." I told him honestly as he nodded and got the truck started. Once he was done he looked back at me to reply.
"Well I've been told I needed to nut up. Stop the peaceful protest shit and make a move. I was saving that for tomorrow, but seeing as you have an army on the way…...well let's make due and make sure this son of a bitch leaves here in a bag."
"Agreed." Dom said as he passed me by to hop in the back of the truck. Marhick patted my shoulder and from there proceeded to drive. I took a moment to collect my thoughts. During which Vacus came to me. Looking over to the cat I asked her.
"You ready to go avenge your sister?"
She looked over her weapon for a moment and I waited as Dom patted the back of the truck bed shouting at us.
"Let's get rolling!"
Putting my M4 up till it was resting on my right shoulder, the cat slowly smiled and replied.
"Yes sir."
She was ready and had a small fire burning in her eyes. I wanted to warn her about the risk we were taking by driving right at this final battle, but I had no intention of beating her confidence away. So with that said, we hopped into the truck and Marhick got us on our way. The trip there was one of legend. At least to me. I never would have pictured myself going to war against my own people. Yet they were protecting Archer and that alone would be enough to make me okay with taking their lives along with his.
The depot wasn't far. It was a matter of minutes. Once within sight, Marhick shouted back at us from the front of the truck.
"Hold onto something!"
Looking to Vacus, I grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned our bodies as close to the base of the truck as we could get. Dom held onto the top of the roof and like a wrecking ball we plowed right through the depot's main gate. Almost instantly getting shot at as Marhick managed to keep driving.
"Stop the truck!" Dom ordered as Marhick swung us through the parking lot where Archer's convoy waited. All the vehicles were there, but Archer of course was missing. Along with most of his men who I assumed would be inside the large depot. Vacus kept herself down as I looked up to get an assessment on just how bad of a pickle we were in now that we were here.
I counted twenty guys between us and the depot which looked locked down now that we were present. Archer was surely getting himself ready, but right now what mattered most was fighting to the entrance. Dom, Marhick and his few men were piling out of the truck and taking up cover near anything they could use. Vacus stayed with me as I went off to the far left to get a flank.
Archer's POV.
"Defend that fucking door! You don't let any of them through!" I shouted over my men who were all panicking to get weapons and positions. I was busy strapping up and with a few of my men coming to my aid, one informed me.
"The building is secure commander. Only way in is through the front."
"How many are out there?" I asked next as the same soldier replied.
"No clue. It was one truck that breached the gate. Could only be a handful of people."
"Anti-rebellion?" Another man wondered as I loaded up an M4 to reply.
"I don't fucking care who it is. They aren't getting through us. Use whatever you have to, but make sure those fuckers are dead by the end of it."
"Yes sir."
As I was left to finish up my kit, I grabbed onto a vest and pushed for the entrance to have a look. I couldn't see what was going on out there. Smoke had been popped and the parking lot was soon engulfed in a cloud. Yet gunfire was raging on as I decided to back up and make haste for the nearest piece of solid cover I could find. During which my eyes locked onto a large directory. One direction pointed towards the back entrance which I knew was locked and inaccessible from the front side where we were being attacked from. But that wasn't my concern. My concern was getting out of here if for some reason all my men failed at stopping these pricks.
I took that as my reason for going right there and looking for myself. The door was locked but it would be easy enough to open from my side. What laid out back was a pair of attack helicopters and a few humvees. A couple sand drifters and cargo crates. For a moment I looked at the bikes and thought over my exit. I had no idea where to go if I fled this building. Maybe Iran? I…..?
My attention darted back at the main entrance as bullets came flying through the glass windows at me and my men. One of which died to a headshot almost instantly as return fire followed. This was it. The line had to be held.
Raptor's POV.
Two less men to our name after that brash entrance. Vacus was barely able to keep up with me as I pushed the building with Marhick and Dom who was currently doing his best to flank the right side using Archer's convoy as cover. By the time I had reached Marhick I caught that he had taken a round or two and was bleeding pretty good down his right arm and stomach. The man wasn't phased it seemed though as I took cover behind a truck he was using. Once there I looked at him to ask.
"How many left?!"
While waiting for his answer I changed magazines. By the time I was loaded up he ducked back down to reply.
"I count at least ten, but there's more coming out from inside! We're outgunned!"
That much was clear to me. Marhick took a second to change out a clip of his own but once done he said to me.
"No question about it! He's in there! You sure you can handle him!?"
Nodding my head as Vacus scrambled to our position at last, Marhick looked at us to state.
"Then we need to make a play! A big one if we want to get you in there! Take Vacus and push up with Dom once I make the move!"
"You can't do whatever you're thinking about Captain!" I told him as he looked down to his wounds. He gave them a good look and very slowly looked back at me to reply.
"Not much of an option commander! It's either me or all of us! Rather it be me!"
Vacus wanted to shout at him, but with bullets starting to pelt the truck Marhick reached for his belt which had a few grenades on it. I kept my eyes on him as Vacus began to return fire.
"It's been an honor commander! I'll give you your hole! Just make sure you finish this when I do! Okay?!"
Tossing the belt in the seat across from the drivers side, Marhick went to start the engine. It took a few seconds and during which a round came through the window and struck Marhick in the upper chest. The wolf fumbled backwards and tripped down to the ground. Vacus was stunned as it happened and I watched from where I was as the wolf barely was able to move anymore. His hand was up covering the spot where he got hit and out of fear for his life I ordered Vacus.
"Return fire!"
The cat dumped her clip as I got down to grab Marhick by the feet. Once I had him in my grip, I dragged him back to cover and asked as his eyes were closed.
"Marhick!? Are you with me!?"
His eyes reopened but once he was there looking back at me he muttered through bloody teeth.
"I…...I need…..I need to…?"
Getting down on the ground next to him, I put my hand over his chest and focused what I could on keeping him alive, but it was bad. Archer's men were pushing up and Dom was barely able to help due to him being suppressed. Marhick was right. We were outnumbered. I couldn't keep him alive at this pace. I'd have to make a choice.
With Vacus emptying another clip at our attackers, I watched on as a round caught her in the right arm.
"Aghhh!" She instantly let out a yelp of pain and got back behind the truck as the time had come. Looking Marhick right in the eyes I went to say.
"I'm sorry….?!"
It was like destiny. Just as I went to say it three more trucks came rolling in through the front gate. All packed with armed responders. None of which resembled the rebellion. In fact I widened my eyes when Captain Freemen could be seen jumping out from the lead truck's driver side door. The men who were pushing us all began to retake positions as it was clear these men weren't on their side. From where we were, I listened as Freemen shouted out.
"Secure the courtyard!"
Vacus's was nothing but smiles as she continued to bleed out. With her hand covering her arm, she stated out in happiness.
"Freemen! Thank god! Marhick look!" She urged the big wolf who was at this point nearly out cold. With the zebra colored hedgehog running for our position, she soon reached my side stating.
"Fucking glad to see you're all still breathing! We came as fast as we could! How is he!?"
Her hands went to the wolf's chest as I replied.
"He needs medical attention!"
Nodding her head she quickly called over a medic and looked back at me to shout.
"My people have your back commander! Get in there and end this! For all of us!"
My eyes darted back to Vacus. Locked onto one another I asked her.
"Can you still fight!?"
Nodding she replied.
"I'm good! I'll be right behind you!"
Freemen for a second was stunned; she even heard an answer back, but that wasn't the important part right now. We had to get inside and thanks to this we had our chance.
Grabbing my M4 back I looked back to the entrance to then say.
"Alright then! Let's do this! Dom!"
The man immediately started to lay down suppressive fire once he heard his name. With the rebellion backing down into cover, I made a break for it around the hood of the truck, head first into the enemy that was only feet away.
mT Shadow.