Chapter 10

In the distance the spy could hear the interrogation happening, but refused to let herself look. It brought back too many unpleasant memories. Trying to push what they might be doing to the back of her mind she took a seat on a nearby log, gazing absent-mindedly at the calm blue sky. Sadly she took off her mask, holding it in her hands for no reason other than to keep herself busy with something, however small and trivial it was.

Not too long had passed, maybe five minutes, before something snapped her out of her deep state of thought. The boy said soberly as he took a seat beside her on the log, “Yo, what’s up?”

She tried to answer casually, but found that she couldn’t. Her emotions overpowering her logic and finally breaking free she burst, “He was looking at me, smiling as they killed him! I couldn’t stay there, not when he looks so much like the one I loved... I couldn’t even think of hurting him even though he’s the enemy, much less bear to see him tortured!”

Tears streamed from her eyes, making her cheeks mini-rivers, her emotions spilling out after being kept at bay since the event. She’d held it back for so long, but now found that she couldn’t stop it happening.

“I know what you mean...” he said softly, hanging his head.

“HOW COULD YOU?”

“This is a war, and terrible things happen. My brother and sister were killed in the line of duty, tortured for information as your medic was. These are all I have left of them... one from each,” he admitted sadly, taking hold of the two dog tags he wore constantly.

Unsure of what to say the spy simply muttered, “I... I’m sorry. I didn’t know, scout...”

“It’s ok, not many people do. But you know what? Even though they’re dead, they’re not gone. In memory and in my actions they’re still here, just like how your medic’s with you,” he smiled, trying to cheer her up at least a little bit. He didn’t like to see her like this, especially not after such a big victory.

“Yeah, I guess...” she responded, looking from him to the ground in front of her.

“No, he’s definitely still with you,” he assured her, “Now I figure we should wipe those tears up... sounds like they’re just about done over there.”

Carefully he reached up and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, a kind and understanding look in his eyes. She sniffed a few times before regaining her usual control. Nodding, the scout jumped up, offering her a hand.

She took it, rising from her place on the log with his help. Before leaving she put her mask back on, knowing that outside of this small treed area were cameras that could easily catch her identity on film. Once she was ready they headed off, wanting to hear the information that had been obtained. With the scout’s help she now felt a bit better, and felt that she could at least be in the medic’s presence without breaking down again.

Before long they reached the others, and confused looks crossed both of their faces. The medic was perfectly fine, as if he hadn’t been subjected to the harsh methods of interrogation at all. Even more puzzling was the fact that he was talking and laughing with his captors like he’d known them for years and was on completely perfect terms with them.

“Uh... hey? Uhm... what’s going on here, guys?” the scout asked, his mouth hanging open slightly.

“Ah, there you are, scout, spy. You’ll never believe what this old bloke had to say!” the sniper smiled as they approached.

The spy cocked her head, still not quite understanding. The medic must have won them over somehow. Having never seen that happen among enemies, she wanted to know how he’d done it.

“Zey said zat zey vanted invormation on ze announcer, and vhat zey vanted to know isn’t easily explained,” the medic told them, “So instead I hovered to lead zem to vhere I vent before being reassigned here.”

“So... we’re going to be traveling and fighting together?” the spy gaped. She knew that doing that would bring back memories both bad and good on a regular basis and while she wanted to remember the good times, she didn’t want to live in the past.

“I know it’s not ideal for you right now, but it’s the only way to advance,” sniper nodded.

She merely hung her head. No amount of arguing would change this that much she could see.

“If you feel like staying separate from them I don’t blame you,” the scout muttered just loud enough for her to hear, “I’ll keep you company if you choose that route. Besides, he seems kinda... off. He’s being too casual about this or something.”

“Thanks... I’d appreciate that, at least for the first little while,” she agreed. She then turned her head and asked the rest of them, “And how exactly are we going to get to wherever it is we’re going?”

“Ve vill get zere by helicopter.”

************

“OK, so we don’t mean to harm them. We only have to get them off safely and get on before it takes off again. We don’t want to draw any more attention to ourselves than we already have. You lot got that?” the sniper instructed.

“Easy as cake!” the scout grinned confidently.

“Sounds simple enough,” the spy said, looking to the skies. They were lying in wait for the RED helicopter to arrive. Since this match had taken place rather unexpectedly under not-so-normal conditions the incoming RED team hadn’t been informed of the events and was still on their way.

They didn’t have long to wait. Soon enough they could hear the distinct sound of the approaching aircraft.

Secretly they hid in the shadows, making sure to not be seen until the perfect moment. After what looked to be a rather bumpy landing they saw the doors of the chopper open, and the RED team hired for the job in this arena started to pile out.

On the sniper’s signal their assault began. Jumping from the cover of the trees everyone but the spy showed themselves, running at the transport ship. She would be their backup, firing her new toy only if they were attacked or if the pilot didn’t follow their demands.

“Everyone, off ov ze helicopter. Iv you cooperate nobody vill be harmed!” the medic announced. With his ubersaw held at the ready he herded the small group of people away from the craft.

It was clear that being thrown into this kind of situation made them nervous. They hadn’t been trained to deal with this kind of thing and by the looks of it were rather new to this war in the first place; those factors didn’t combine exceptionally well.

“Don’t worry, we won’t harm you,” the sniper assured, as he carefully helped the unsuspecting people off the helicopter.

There were still two people remaining on the helicopter when the pilot decided he wasn’t going to stand for this. His orders were to drop off this team and then head back to the main base, and he wasn’t about to let these rogues stop him from fulfilling his orders.

Hastily he turned on the machine, the blades promptly beginning to spin. Whether these last two were off his ship when he took off or not, he was getting out of there.

“Um, guys?” the scout started. Pointing a finger to the helicopter he pointed out the obvious, “He’s trying to get away... shouldn’t we stop him?”

“Little man not get away so easily!” the heavy said. As he lumbered forward the helicopter doors began to close. He prevented this, knowing it would hinder their chances of getting out of there, jumping in at the last possible moment and kicking the door off.

The two left inside quickly shifted into defence mode at the sight of the heavy charging toward them. As soon as he was in the helicopter the newbie demoman took hold of a nearby bottle, smashing it over the larger man’s head.

“C’mon lad, let’s be off!” he said, grabbing hold of his pyro companion’s arm. The two of them climbed over the heavy as he tried to shake off the dazed state they had given him, hopping onto the ground and running to safety.

“Damn wankers... we can’t let that chopper get away!” the sniper yelled above the roar of the blades. By now the aircraft was hovering a foot or so off the ground, and wasn’t going to stop rising any time soon. Time was fast running out for them to do something. “Spy, go ahead! This may be our only chance...!”

She nodded, taking careful aim from her hidden spot amongst the trees. She was going for his arm or a non-vital part of his torso, wanting to hurt him and hinder his movements but not kill him. Her aim was steady, the shot perfectly lined up. Knowing that this golden opportunity would last only a short time she pulled the trigger as soon as she was sure of the shot.

Her finger pulled back on the trigger, though immediately wished she hadn’t. Out of nowhere the newly arrived pyro and demoman appeared, fleeing the scene of the crime. At the perfectly inopportune moment they burst into the foliage, bumping into her as they made their escape.

“Damn it!” she muttered, lowering the gun. The crack had already sounded and the yelps coming from the clearing and sound of shattering glass told her that she’d hit her target. Unsure of what damage she’d really done she ventured out from her hiding place, making her way toward her companions.

“Hurry, everyone on before it rises too high and we can’t get out of here!” the sniper called out, ushering his team onto the chopper. He knew that it wouldn’t be unlike the announcer to blatantly abandon them all there and focus on other things. The spy barely made it, taking a leap of faith. For a split second she feared she wouldn’t make it, for she was falling just short of her goal, but the arm of the scout darted out to grab onto her and pull her up just in time.

“That was a close one... you almost didn’t make it, idiot,” he smiled, pulling her up with a bit of a struggle. In just a moment she and the scout were each sitting in one of the seats, panting.

For a moment they all just sat there, getting used to the rockiness of the ride. They were careful to steer clear of the right side of the helicopter, for falling out of the permanently open door would most certainly mean death from this height. As time went on the ride grew bumpier and bumpier.

Growing curious as to why it was growing bumpier by the minute and wanting to get them going the right way, the medic got up to give the pilot their directions.

“Alzough you attempted to take off like ze coward zat ve all know you are, ve are grateful zat ve now have your cooperation,” the medic said to the man, who was dressed in a very official-looking black suit.

For a moment he stood there, waiting for a response but receiving not a single sign or gesture to show the man was listening to him.

“And ov course, ve do have your cooperation. Ozervise ve may have to inflict some serious... pain on you.”

Still no response.

“Vhy you little...” he started, climbing fully into the front seat. He was about to slap the man across the face when he noticed something rather troublesome.

Although the spy’s shot had hit its target, it had done a little more than render the man’s arm useless. Much to the medic’s dismay it had rendered his entire body useless, the bullet straying off-course and heading through the side of his head.

“Oh, no...” the medic mumbled in a fluster, “Shnell! Ve need someone who can fly zis zing!”

::End of chapter 10::

Yay, double digits! I'm on a roll! Hahaha!

So... yeah. How many of you figured out the romance portion? The scout may ba a force o' nature, but everyone has a story. On the inside he's a softy. He's going to play a bigger role that I thought (I'm writing chapter 12 out on paper right now and some crazy crap goes down hur hur). Anyway, spy/scout. Yup.

Writing this chapter was fun. Anyway, tune in next week (or possibly - and I mean a very slim chance of possibly - later today) for the continuation! I like where they're going and there'll be revelations and craziness and all that awesome stuff.

TF2 (c) Valve