The room had its blinders closed, so there was only a desk lamp to light the two men who sat there. A large, muscular man showed a contract to the other one, who looked weaker than him. The second man read carefully all the lines in a low, whispering voice and answered all the questions. There were loads of them, but they were all important. The smaller man's future depended on them.
- Your life will be controlled by a thing called respawn. You will not age again and once you die in battle, you will reappear as before you started that battle: with full health and ammunition. - He read out loud and marked the "I agree" square. Once he signed the contract, he gave it back to the bigger man.
- Well, it seems you are done here. My name is Saxton Hale, Mr. Mundy, and welcome to Mann Co.!- He shook his colossal hand with the new employee- from now on; you'll be recognized as the Sniper.
A short black-haired woman appeared. She adjusted her glasses and read her clipboard, with the entire Sniper's information. She glanced at both men.
- It's time for the new employee to take a look around the Mann Co. facilities. My name is Ms. Pauling and I'll guide you around. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sniper
- Call me Mr. Mundy, if ya please. Sniper is only for my teammates.
The Sniper studied all the buildings and intelligence rooms, as well as good spots to snipe comfortably. Then he was introduced to Helen, the Administrator, the woman who will give him orders from now on. She gave him the keys to his room in the Mann Co. Residence, his new home.
- Oi, I have my camping van, I can sleep there!
- We require you to stay in the residence as we need to control all the mercenaries' movements and behavior. - She insisted, and Sniper had nothing else but obey her. He wanted to be an assassin since he was young and used to burn ants with a lens in his yard back in Australia. Now he had the job of his life, he will struggle to preserve it.
His parents, though, didn't like their son's decision. They wanted him to be a doctor or a lawyer, to have studies, not to kill people. The Sniper wanted to tell them about his new job, but he didn't find the way and the moment to do it. They will be disappointed, specially his dad. Since he pushed him to be a doctor, Mundy grew an aversion to doctors. He hated them with a passion and he prefers to die to be touched by one of these sawbones. Someone took him away from his trip. It was a short stout man, wearing a hard hat and goggles. He saluted with a gloved hand and a smile on his face.
- Howdy, partner! I am the Engineer, and I am the one who deals with machines and practical problems. You will now be introduced to the respawn system, are you ready to start?
- I'm sure Mann Co. will pay the side effects of this, right?
- Don't worry, buddy. I got everything under control. You just have to introduce this punch card in there. You got it?
The Sniper had closed his eyes before he was getting used to the function of the respawn. Once he opened them again, he saw the Engineer with a shotgun.
- Now I will have to kill you to make sure it worked.
- Oi, oi! What are ya doin'!? Put that down!
Too late. The shorter man had shot him on his forehead. Blood started to drip and Sniper could feel the pain, and also that he was dying. But he didn't die at all: he appeared after 10 seconds in the respawn room with the other teammates, who welcomed him. A young man sprinted to him and shook his hand so fast that the Sniper couldn't see both hands.
- Hey! I am the Scout here! Are you a noob!?
- Cut out the "noob" thing. We are all new here so let's do our best.- Engineer appeared as well in the respawn room.
- Aww, I was joking. Man, nobody here can take a joke!? You all suck!
Someone else entered to the respawn room shouting. He was wearing a helmet which covered his eyes and a rocket launcher. His roars echoed inside the room.
- Go go go, you goddamn pansies! We're here to fight! Not to gossip like ladies!
And then he started to shoot his feet and rocket jump inside the room, only for leaving after a few seconds. Sniper couldn't believe these kind of insane people existed, or maybe he was taking his job too seriously.
- Don't mind the Soldier; he was too busy killing Poles after WWII that somebody had to tell him the war ended a few years ago. He's a bit dumb and nobody really listens to him.
- Ya better keep that darn mate away from me.
The battle wasn't too bad for being his first one. He also noticed that the other team had another clone of him, but the Engineer told him that it was another of the respawn functions. He finally found his perfect spot on a balcony. From there, he could easily headshot Medics or enemy Snipers. It was there when he discovered that sniping was the perfect job for him. He even learned the professionals' standards: be polite, be efficient and have a plan to kill everyone you meet. But his happiness didn't last very longer.
It was an enemy Spy. That snake managed to sneak in his place and attempted to backstab him, but Sniper noticed him in time. He took out his bushwhack and finished him in time, but he was badly injured. He was told that when he had serious injures, he should call for a Medic. Well, he didn't have medical kits around so it was his only way. Then he remembered the words of his father and his urge to make his son a doctor, and also the doctor aversion he grew. But there was no time for memories and traumas. He called for a Medic but nobody came to heal him. He took a look on the Medic and discovered him healing the Soldier. The anger the Sniper felt couldn't be described so he decided to head for a medical kit. On his way there, he was killed by an enemy Scout. That damn little motherfucker... but he was angrier with Medic than anyone else in the team.
Once he respawned, he saw the Medic preparing the Heavy to become bulletproof and go to the front lines. Sniper cracked his knuckles and ran to the doctor, shouting.
- Oi, ya! I was bleedin' to death and ya didn't come and help me ya goddamn nurse!
- Vhat are you telling me!? Zhere are more people in zhe battlefield who need my help more than you vhile being under fire.
- I got the perfect position and a way to kill enemies!
- Entschuldigung, but you should camp near a medic kit.
The Australian man couldn't take it anymore and proceeded to punch the doctor across his face. He even broke his glasses. The Heavy noticed it and ran to the Sniper, grabbing him from his vest.
- Leetle man touch Doktor like that again and Heavy crush you.
Sniper ran away from the respawn room. What the hell was wrong with that lardass? He went back to his business but this time he managed to find a better place near a medic kit and ammunition. The time ran fast and the BLUs, their team, won. Everybody was celebrating their victory on their way to the showers, even the black guy with an eyepatch who everybody called Demoman was already drinking. Sniper didn't like showers, and the fact that he won't be taking care of his hygiene alone made it worse. He waited until everybody was in bed to go back to the showers and allowed some hot water to run over him and relax.
Sniper usually didn't take his time to use soap, so his natural odor was quite wild and everybody noticed that. He always thought that some water would do fine. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the hot stream on his face. The door closing sound made him come back to reality: there was somebody else in there. He was about to grab a towel and cover himself when the unknown man entered the showers. He was their Spy, all already suited up except for his jacket. He said in sort of mocking tone.
- Oh lá, lá... I was hoping to shower alone as always and all I find is the Australian bushman showing around his alligator.
- What!? No! Why weren't ya showerin' with the other ones!?
- And reveal them my face under the balaclava? Non, I prefer to be a mystery. Spies are always a mystery.
He always knew that there was no need of showering, and this encounter made it worse. He quickly went to grab his towel but the Frenchman took it before him as a taunt.
- Gimme that, ya mongrel!
- Ooh please... Stop whining over a towel. This is immature and not a proper behavior of a gentleman.
- Then give it back, I'm done.
Spy sighed and gave the towel back to him. Then he proceeded to undo his tie and shirt and Sniper rushed to get away from there. This was perfect for the Frenchman, since he waited until he was gone to take off his balaclava. Sniper entered his room and dropped himself on bed. His job was perfect, but his teammates annoyed the hell out of him. They were noisy and ugly, each and every one of them. Every single one of them except the last one. He knew the job of the Spy is to be sneaky and quiet, but their Spy was a hell of a handsome rogue. At least for his voice and that annoying French accent, which was somehow attractive? Bah, poppycock. He put on his boxers and tucked himself in.