Love Struck
Chapter 6 - A New Partner
Shadow's POV 6:00am
I was having such a nice time sleeping when someone woke me up with a rough push to my shoulder.
I opened my eyes to find Ghost standing over me.
"Come on, get up." Ordered Ghost.
"Why? What time is it anyway?" I asked while sitting up.
"It's six and if me and you are going to be working together I want to show you how things work." Replied Ghost while offering me his hand.
I took his hand kindly and asked.
"I'm not really dressed for this occasion."
"I know. Nexus came by last night and dropped these off. You were knocked out so I had to get the door at two o'clock in the morning." Stated Nexus.
"Sorry." I said sincerely.
"Just get dressed." Ordered Ghost while handing me my new uniform.
I put it on my bed and asked.
"No armor?"
"Logan doesn't allow armor after hours." Replied Ghost while getting his on.
I held up the brown combat BDU and then looked at Ghost.
"How come our uniform looked different then the ones I saw other soldiers wearing?"
Ghost finished getting dressed and looked at me. I could tell he was annoyed by all the questions.
"Logan wants us to meet him at his office right now. Get dressed and I'm sure we'll find out." Replied Ghost.
I nodded and quickly put on my brown tank top and my tan combat boots. Once I was done Ghost went to the door and held it open for me.
I walked by him.
"Thank you." I said.
"For what?" Asked Ghost in confusion.
I was confused by that response.
"For…holding the door open for me." I replied.
"Oh. It's no big deal." Stated Ghost.
We then continued to walk in silence as we made our way to Logan's office.
It was early and everyone on base was sleeping still. We didn't want to wake them up.
"Knock! Knock! Knock!"
Ghost knocked on the door to Logan's office and we waited for response.
In about five seconds Logan came to the door and let us in.
"Sorry to wake you guys so early." Apologized Logan.
"It's ok. What did you want?" Asked Ghost.
"I need to give you boys your ranks and emblem." Replied Logan.
Ghost and me waited as Logan pulled out a file for us.
"Sign this form and you will be officially a part of the rebellion." Said Logan while handing Ghost the pen.
"I thought I was already part of the rebellion." Said Ghost.
"You are, but because your getting a new partner, a new rank, and a new position. I need to have you sign off as well." Replied Logan.
"New rank! I'm being demoted!" Shouted Ghost.
"Promoted." Said Logan while trying to keep Ghost calm.
Ghost chilled out and relaxed in the chair.
"You're going to be captain." Said Logan.
My eyes widened I didn't know Ghost was an officer.
Ghost nodded and signed off on the document then passed it to me.
"Shadow your going to be a lieutenant." Said Logan.
Now my eyes widen in shock.
"A lieutenant?" I questioned.
"Is there a problem?" Asked Logan.
"Not at all. I'm just confused on why? I never went to collage for four years." I stated.
"That's G.U.N's rules to be an officer. I'm the leader and I decide who is what rank." Replied Logan.
I nodded my head and handed him the file once I was done signing myself over to the rebellion once and for all.
"Alright guys. That's part one out of the way. Now I need to give you your patches." Said Logan while handing us our new patches. I took it in my hand and looked it over.
It was a skull and two suppressers crossing over each other. The skull had a bullet in it's forehead and underneath was our unit number. One.
"I take it Logan this is a new type of thing your trying with us." Said Ghost.
"Yes. You two are going to be the first group of ETR's in the rebellion." Replied Logan.
"ETR?" I questioned.
"Elite. Tactical. Recon." Replied Logan.
"What's that?" Asked Ghost.
"Your job is going to be to hit the low blows on G.U.N operations in Afghanistan. Ranging from demolition ops, to the all favorite assassination." Stated Logan.
I looked at Ghost.
"You two are the rebellion's special forces team. Get use to it." Stated Logan.
I was so overwhelmed by my new job. In G.U.N I was a sergeant that was basically a hand me down. Now I'm special forces in the rebellion and even better then that I'm a lieutenant. I thought to myself.
I'm putting Ghost in charge of you Shadow. He will show you what needs to be done. I have faith the next time I call you into my office you will be friends and ready to handle your first assignment. Stated Logan while standing up.
"Yes sir." I replied.
"Good. You may go." Stated Logan.
Me and Ghost stood up and exited Logan office. We walked down the halls.
"What do you want to do?" I asked.
Ghost looked over at me and replied.
"I don't care."
I gave him a look of confusion.
"How about we go get something to eat. Do you know any place good to get a meal?" I asked.
Ghost stared at me with anger.
"I told you I don't want us getting close and that means friends in anyway." Replied Ghost.
I looked away in sadness and Ghost stopped me.
"What's your problem?" Asked Ghost.
"I just think if we're going to be partners we need to know each other a bit better." I replied.
Ghost stared into my eyes and thought about it.
"I don't trust you G.U.N types. Even if you signed your life over to the rebellion. I don't trust you and I personally don't like you. Get this through your thick skull right now. I don't want to be friends, I don't want us hanging out together, and I don't really want you as my partner. To be honest. Your nothing to me." Stated Ghost with force.
Ghost stared into my eyes with pure seriousness. I knew he was telling the truth.
Ghost let go of my shoulder and walked away leaving me alone.
"Don't worry about him Shadow." I heard a voice call out to me from behind.
I turned to find Amy and Dove standing there.
"How much of that did you hear?" I asked.
"All of it." Replied Dove.
"What's his problem?" I asked.
"For starters I guess he just doesn't like you and Ghost has always been that way since he enlisted. No one knows whats wrong with him. He's always been to himself." Replied Dove.
I put my head to the side.
"Hey. Don't let him get to you. I'm sure he'll come around." Assured Amy.
"I don't know about that." I replied.
"Your partners' right? I'm sure he'll realize that soon and understand he has to work with you." Said Amy.
"Don't joke Amy. You know Ghost will never change. Sorry Shadow, but I think if you want to get along with Ghost you'll have to just leave him alone." Stated Dove.
Dove then looked at her watch and shouted.
"Come on Amy we're almost late!"
"Oh, I'm sorry Shadow we have to go. We got an appointment with Logan." Stated Amy.
I nodded my head as Dove ran by me.
I began to walk back to my room till Amy stopped me.
"Just give him some time. You're a great guy Shadow I can tell. I'm sure all you have to do is show ghost you understand how he feels." Said Amy.
"I don't know how he feels Amy." I stated.
"Same goes for Ghost. He has no idea what you have been through and I'm sure he has no idea how you feel. Just give him another chance." Pleaded Amy.
"I'll try." I replied with a small smile.
"Thank you Shadow. Good luck." Said Amy as she moved in on my face.
Amy gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek and ran off after Dove. I was left alone with a red face and a new problem.
I stopped and began to head off to find Ghost. I ran into Nexus who was checking on the barracks.
"Hey Shadow! What's the rush?" Asked Nexus.
"I'm looking for my partner." I replied.
"Oh I forgot you were assigned a partner. Who'd you get?" Asked Nexus.
"Ghost." I replied.
Nexus's face lost its smile.
"Wow. That's a tough one. Ghost has always been a loner. He's the best don't get me wrong I wouldn't want to fight the guy, but he's always had problems just no one knows what. If you want to find him I suggest the roof. He goes up there to clear his mind sometimes. Of what, I don't know. Listen I have to get back to work, but good luck with him." Said Nexus as he walked off.
"Thanks!" I shouted.
"No problem!" Shouted Nexus back from all the way down the hall.
I quickly searched for the stairs leading up to the roof and one I found them, I made my way slowly up. The door was a crack open and I gently pushed it outward. I looked around before exited the doorway and saw no sign of Ghost. I slowly walked out onto the roof and the second I did someone grabbed me by the neck. I was immediately swung into the floor. I looked up at the figure and it was Ghost.
"I told you to leave me alone." Said Ghost with his foot on my chest.
"I just wanted to know what was wrong with you." I stated while trying to keep his boot from crushing me.
Ghost exhaled deeply and replied.
"Why?"
"Because I think you and me could be friends if we just understood each other better." I stated.
Ghost rolled his eyes and took his foot off of me. I got up on my own and wiped myself off.
"The only thing you need to understand about me is the fact that you shouldn't." Stated Ghost.
"Why?" I asked.
"You couldn't begin to understand anything about me." Replied Ghost.
Ghost then walked over to the edge of the roof and took a seat. I walked up behind him and sat down next to him.
"My last partner Ghost left me to die so he could save his own skin." I stopped.
Ghost looked over at me.
"He left me because a sniper shot me three times. Do you know who my partner was?" I asked.
Ghost looked at me and waited for the answer.
"My brother."
Ghost widened his eyes a little.
"Your brother was your partner? I thought G.U.N didn't allow that?" Questioned Ghost.
"They don't. His name was Dark. He signed up with all my qualifications, but lied saying he was a orphan child. We got lucky in the range and were selected to be sent to sniper school. We passed and Dark was lucky enough to be my spotter. For two years we were together. Every mission we did together brought us closer as a family. We almost killed Logan." I admitted.
Ghost widened his eyes completely.
"My miss gave him that scar. I'm sure Logan knows it was me. I plan on telling him." I stated.
"The last mission we were sent to do was my last mission. I was going to retire from military life if we succeeded. But I missed the shot." I stopped.
"Who was the target?" Asked Ghost.
"Amy." I replied.
"The pink hedgehog?" Questioned Ghost.
I nodded.
"An informant in G.U.N told us she was the leader of the rebellion. We were sent to kill her. I missed though." I stated.
"Why?" Asked Ghost.
"It had nothing to do with my aim or Dark. I missed on purpose." I replied.
"On purpose?" Questioned Ghost.
"I knew she couldn't be the leader and the moment I saw her through my scope I think I fell in love." I stated.
"Love at first sight." Stated Ghost.
"Literally." I replied.
Ghost looked away and said.
"I can understand why you want revenge, but are you up to the task?" Asked Ghost.
"With someone like you by my side I am." I replied.
We both looked away.
"So what's wrong with you?" I asked.
"I can't say." Replied Ghost.
"What do you mean you can't….say." I looked over at Ghost and he was gone.
"Where did he go?"
I stood up and shouted.
"Ghost!"
I got no response.
I guess that's where he got his name. I said to myself while walking back to the stairs.
I opened up to the hog and he vanished. I understand now, he's hiding something. I just hope what I said made him feel different about me.
I quickly walked down the stairs and went to find something to do. Maybe I'll go out and grab a bit to eat.