Meet "The Client"

January 9th 1975 ( About 2ish years after MannCo. No More)

Location: Florence, Italy (12:09 am)

A young Italian assassin comes home after narrowly escaping a job gone wrong. She puts her gear on a chair and gets out a bottle of Pascalli Wine (an Italian wine of choice) and pours herself a glass and thinks out loud to herself.

"It's never this quiet not even at this time of night, even the sounds from my Cousin's workshop is silent… Speaking of something missing where is my Father and Uncle? They all can't be visiting my Aunts at this hour at same time can they?"

She finishes the wine and goes to her bedroom to find bags and suitcases packed next to her bed and on her pillow was a note in her father's handwriting and it reads: Arrangements have been made. Follow all instructions to the letter. And always remember: Any meeting we have could be our last!

She crushes the note in her hand then finds a list of what to do and an audio tape in an envelope… 2 Days ago….

Miss Pauling is on the phone about a job for the Mercs while a nicely dressed man is holding a suitcase full of money and a folio filled with paperwork

Ms. Pauling: "… And you're willing to pay THIS MUCH for just a deposit on the Mercenaries!?"

Male Voice: "… Call it… "insurance"…"

Miss Pauling: "… for them to be bodyguards?"

Male Voice: "These matters mean life and death Signora Pauling, my daughter means to world to me and if you say these men are the best at what they do then are you not assuring me that they're service is worth everything that I am offering?"

Miss Pauling: "Oh no i don't mean to insult your offer!… it's just that some of these Mercenaries can be hard to work with and the last job that was close to the type of work your demanding was all-out war. It's not that I don't think the job can't be done far from it in fact… it's just that they don't work well with taking orders from kids…."

Male Voice: "ooooh…. You misunderstand, my daughter isn't a child, the young lady in the picture is in her 20's, she just looks a few years younger than what she really is we Italians know how to age well… oh and I'a should mention that she is also a professionally trained killer…"

Miss Pauling: "… oh then she should fit right in!"

Male Voice: "eh… as long as they make a good impression they should be fine…" January 10th (10:47 am)The Mercs make it to the compound in an unknown part of the Rocky Mountains

Scout: "Woah! this place is built like a mansion! I mean check these sweet digs!"

Spy: "Scout don't touch anything that looks like it's worth more than you, the last thing we need is for you vandalize something priceless."

Scout: "Eh, don't worry 'bout it I'll be careful" (as he almost knocks down a porcelain bust)

Sniper: "This place is actually well hidden and pretty far out of the way, the blokes that own this place certainly go the extra mile to keep it off the maps."

Engineer: "And it has it's own energy generators so electricity isn't a problem. I'm wonder if they have themselves a workshop that i could make use of?"

Medic: "Ja, these are more than adequate accommodations but what are medical facilities like and where can I find them?"

Heavy: "This place is like maze."

Demoman: "ay, we just walked r'selves int'a nice place but where ay can get me' self some 'ard liquor round yere."

Soldier: "Who cares how fancy and expensive this place is the defenses are useless! No barbed wire, no landmines, not even a pit with man-eating animals how do they expect to keep this place from falling into enemy hands!"

Pyro: "mrrrerm!" (As Pyro points to floor layout map on the wall)

Scout: "hey, way to go there Pyro, you found something useful."

Engie: "Looks like we're in the south corridors if we make our way to that there central part the building we can branch off into the areas we need to get ourselves to."

When they made it to the central room there was living room setup on the middle left side with a well stocked kitchen on the right and next to the doorways were supply closets.

Pyro immediately starts the fireplace and expresses great joy in lighting a fire in it. Heavy looks in the fridge to see many fresh foods and ingredients and starts making himself some sandvich. Scout sits on the couch and turns on the TV only to find nothing but Italian Dramas and International News channels but managed to find and settle on 24 Hour Foreign Movie channel.

Demo finds the liquor cabinet and picked out the only bottle of Scrumpy he could find and sits on a chair to drink. Engie makes note of where the Workshop is on the layout map and makes his way there, Medic does the same for the Med Bay. Soldier continues to wander the halls claiming he's "on patrol" when he is actually just lost (Because he stubbornly refuses to look at the wall maps saying that he doesn't need to). Spy makes his way to the surveillance room and turns on the base's security system. Sniper found his way to the highest central balcony and sets up a Sniper Nest. 2 hours later the Mercs get a call from Miss Pauling…

Pauling: "Hey guys Pauling here. How are you all liking the base?"

Scout: "Hey, Miss Pauling you should come here and check this place out, it's really fancy!"

Pauling: "Sorry Scout but I've still got work to do, like getting your new equipment shipped and keeping tabs with our new employer, speaking of which has anyone went off to go pick up the Client from the airport yet?"

They all look at each other awkwardly realizing they all forgot only for Soldier to blurt out obliviously "We forgot the Client!"

Pauling: "WHAT!? oh no, this not good if you guys don't pick up the Client we're all going to be in so much trouble!"

Spy: How much trouble are we talking about Miss Pauling?

Pauling: "Try having 36 angry International Assassins plus every Italian Mobster on earth hunting for our heads if this job fails!"

Demo chokes on a gulp of schnapps before doing a spit-take.

Sniper: "What the bloody hell are you thinking giving us a job that involve blokes like that for? are you trying to get us hung on a wall?"

Pauling: "No of course not! but the employer said that he didn't have many reliable options to choose from and personally requested to hire you all and offered 11 billion dollars as advance payment!"

Heavy starts choking on his sandvich when he heard how much the employer was paying then tries to pummel chest to get it unstuck

Engie: "Now fellas maybe it's not too late to go to the airport and pick our client up without a hitch and we can clear things up before supper. So Pyro would you mind coming along and see if we can fix this mess?"

Pyro agreed and they went off. Along the 2 hour drive there was no traffic until they noticed some crazy person driving a motorcycle at a dangerously high speed without a helmet coming in their direction Engie managed to get a good glance at the person on it. He saw a girl with pale blood hair tied in a high ponytail held with white ribbon, she's wearing a green scarf and a little red dress. He saw the look on her face, it looked as though she was ready to give some poor fool hell and she was none too happy about it. The moment passed and another hour later him and Pyro were halfway to the airport arrival pickup and noticed the airport was in chaos… Meanwhile 1 1/2 hours later…

The Client managed to make it to the compound but without her gear and luggage she could only really rely on unarmed combat, the contents of her purse and the combat knife strapped to her thigh if things continue to go wrong like they have been the last few days. From nearly getting killed on a phony job to getting attacked and having to flee from the airport, she can't help but be on edge and she knows this will only continue as long as her enemies pursue her. She enters the driveway only to see a red dot move along the motorcycle realizing what it was she quickly jumped off using some acrobatics as shots were fired and ran for the nearest door and gets inside.

"accidenti!(Damn it!) they made it here before me!… Well if they want'a piece of me they will gett'a bigger bargain then what they ask for!" She said angrily.

Sniper runs down from his nest and into the living area as fast as he can

Sniper: "Look alive wankers we got ourselves a trespasser!"

Scout: "Alright! Day 1 and we're already getting some action round here!"

Heavy: "Heavy get gun…"

Demo: (wakes up from his booze nap) "ay-wha! we got trouble?!"

Scout: "So uh, what does this intruder look like?"

Sniper: "A short, pale blonde sheela wearing a little red dress, probably some rotten spy in disguise!"

Spy is watching this from the surveillance room while checking the cameras for their little "guest" only to find nothing on all screens. He then hears footsteps coming from somewhere and he prepares to fight.

"Ciao, trespasser…" she says in a polite manner

As Spy quickly turned around to face the opponent and stab he miscalculated her height and she grabbed him by the wrists squeezing them hard till he dropped his knife then she knee'd him in the groin and allowed him to drop to the ground only to kick him in the ribs. Then pins him down with one knee and grabs him by tie. Staring him down with nothing but cold hatred in her eyes.

Spy: "Horrid shrew! kicking a man while he's down!"

"When I am through with you Agency scum, you will all wish for death…" she says in very bitter tone

Spy: "…"Agency"?…"

But before Spy could get another word in the young woman bashed his head to the floor knocking him unconscious… she then checks his pulse and picks through his pockets for something she could use and picks out his Dead Ringer.

"Hmm, Dead Ringer eh… Would have come in handy had I intended kill you immediately. But it will be useful… for me."

Looking at the screens for another priority target she clamps shut the watch stuffs it in her cleavage then drags Spy off into another room…

…

Medic: Scheisse ein intruder!? I haven't even gotten the Med Bay up and running yet and we already have a problem… Guess we will have to make do.

While Medic finished talking to Scout through a small voice intercom he felt as though there was a presence in the quiet Med Bay and he noticed that a syringe of sedative missing from the counter. He went closer to investigate the sudden shift in atmosphere.

Medic: Someone is in here, but where?

As Medic grabs a bone saw from the tool tray getting closer to the counter with a grim expression on his face then as he stood in front of the counter his face turns to his typical smug, evil grin…

Medic: I know you're here intruder, you can't hide forever, someone is bound to find you eventually and I will be the one performing your autopsy!

As he quickly turns around only to stab his bone saw next to a hanging skeleton prop. Then out of nowhere Medic felt something grab him by the ankles tripping him and hitting his face on the floor, before he could get up he felt someone pounce onto his back, a hand pinning his head to the floor as a needle is injected into his neck. The weight lifted off his back and she stood before him. As he slowly feels conciseness fade he saw her face, a look of disgust and malice.

Medic: za Fräulein?… but how did you…?

"Silence, mostro! (monster!) Your presence here sickens me!" she hissed. Then her tone changed to sweet but cold whisper "Now sleep like a good little bambino (child) and we shall "chat" later."

…

When Heavy was wondering where the doctor was so he decided to check to see if all was alright for himself when he went into the Med Bay Heavy saw the doctor's coat, glasses, bone saw and rubber gloves on the floor near some cracked tile, a used needle and a splat of blood. He also saw the open cabinet and in it he saw a white leather purse, he picked it up and it smelled of ladies perfume. Inside the purse was a folio, a portable hair and makeup kit, a small bottle of perfume, a sewing travel kit, an empty metal flask, a brick, and a tiny silver pipe on a silver neck chain with the name "Sylvia" engraved on it. Heavy then looked in the folio….

20 minutes after warning Medic about the problem Scout went looking for the intruder expecting an enemy Spy to pop up and stab him out of nowhere. Then he saw something from the corner of his eye turned around and blindly shot into the empty hallway.

As he continues down the halls he sees a girl. Getting good look at her Scout noticed she was shorter than everyone on the team, wearing a little red dress with white accents with a rounded skirt that curls just above her knees. The having short sleeves that covers the top of her shoulders. Her arms are covered in long white gloves that go far past her elbows. At the top of the dress is a small v neck opening that exposes a little bit of her neckline and some minor cleavage. Around her neck is an emerald green scarf with a gold trim. She has long pale blonde hair held up in a high ponytail tied together with a white ribbon tied into a bow and on her feet are red go-go she turned to face him almost as if in slow motion Scout sees the girl's rosy cheeks and purple eyes all in an expression of surprised confusion. Scout thinking he's being suave walks up to her.

Scout: "Hey there cutie, uh what brings you to this place out of the middle of nowhere? You lost? Oh wait maybe you came here for the gun show"

Seeing this scrawny boy walk up and start flexing his arms in front of her she thinks to herself " Is this idiot for real? He seriously thinks his attempt at flirting is working?… wait… I might as well use this to my advantage, time to play this fool like a flute" She then grabs his arm, leans close to his shoulder, giggles cutely and bats her eyelashes.

"oh, signore I have had such a horrible day, maybe you can make it a little "sweeter". she says in a seductive Italian accent. As she secretly cringes at the thought of having to kiss him to keep up the charade.

Scout seeing this pretty girl fling herself on him and talking in a fancy accent. Thinking he hit the jackpot, he starts running his mouth. They walk through the halls while he continues to talk about himself without stopping that he didn't notice that she took his bat then they stopped in front of a door, she pulled key card from a chain in her boot and unlocks the door.

Scout: "Hey lady! Where did ya get that key? What's in this room? When did you take my bat?…. uh why do ya look so pissed?… oh crap…"

"DON'T YOU EVER SHUT UP!" she screams as she kicks Scout in the knees then hits him in the head with his own bat knocking him to the floor. Dragging Scout by the ankles she gets him into the room, passing a locker she grabs some rope and handcuffs and starts restraining him, then tying his ankles together then loops the rope around a low hanging rafter and strings him up like a piñata.

Even though he's upside down Scout was able to see the room and in the middle of the room he saw Spy and Medic propped onto their knees and their right hands cuffed to their left feet and their left hands cuffed to their right feet he also noticed that they had black "hoods" put over their faces preventing them from seeing where they are.

Scout: "Medic! Spy! Help! What's going on! Do something!"

"Save you're breath fool, they're unconscious for the time being. Although i have taken some 'precautions' just in case, don't want any spoilsports eh?"

Scout: "Ya know for a really cute girl you're real bitch!"

" Ha! That's not the first time I've heard someone say that to me before I interrogate them. So tell me 'mouthy one' how many more of you ruthless thugs should I expect to come after my head? she says as she winds up a swing with the bat

Scout: "Not the face!" he begs as he squirms in his binds.

She hits Scout in the shoulder hearing the loud snap of his bone breaking and the joint dislocating. His screams of pain can be heard throughout the base.

"Your screaming and squirming makes this all the more fun, but begging will get you nothing but my fury you pitiful worm. Now, answer the question!" she says smacking Scout with the bat three more times knocking his baseball out of his pocket.

Scout: "Alright I'll tell you just stop hitting me with my bat!"

"Well, out with it, i don't have all day!"

Scout: "There's nine of us mercs, each of us does something different so there's no way you can take'em all on!"

"Grazie per il testa a testa (Thanks for the heads up) Idiot, but I can handle six more trespassers. As for you and the other two I shall deal with you later, once I capture the others that is." she says as she gags Scout using his baseball.

"There that should shut you up" she mutters as she leaves the room.

…

Demoman hears Scout screaming somewhere in the building but is unable to find out where after the screaming stopped. Knowing that he might be next Demoman makes his way back to the central part of the base hoping to set up some sticky traps at the hall entrances. What he doesn't know is that the person he's trying to keep out already beat him to central building and was hiding waiting for anyone to ambush.

From her hiding place up in a nook in the high wall she see's this black one-eyed drunk man run into the room placing bombs in hallway entrance. After he set up his trap he goes to the liquor cabinet and grabs the tequila then goes back to middle of the room and watches his traps. From the little nook she retreats into a vent and as quietly as possible crawls on her belly to an optimal spot then jumps down on top Demoman making fall to the floor dropping his detonator. Before he had a chance to get up with nothing more than her index finger pokes him hard in his good eye. The sudden pain that was inflicted made Demoman fling her off of him sending her the direction of his sticky bomb detonator allowing her to grab it and run off with it. When his good eye was able to refocus he see's her running into the hallway with his gun so he grabs the Eyelander ready to give chase. He charges forth only to realize by the look of smug callousness on her face that she was waiting for him and then she sets off the bombs not too far behind him sending him flying from the explosion splash. Landing on his stomach he tries trudge forward but realized that his right leg had broke upon landing making it harder to get up. Then she stomps on his back flattening him on the floor.

"you're certainly not the first drunk person I've had deal with in my life and I'm certain you won't be the last either." she says looking down at Demoman with a serious look on her face.

Demo: "What's a wee lass like ye doing here anyway, and how are ye' kicking our arses?" he said with a drunken slur.

"That's none of your business"

And with one foot she crushes his hand that still had a grip on Eyelander making him drop it and with her other foot kicks him really hard in the face and head until he lost consciousness. She then brings him to the interrogation room.

Soldier heard the screams and explosions going on within the last hour. Trying not to let the possibility of his teammates being dead faze him he marches around the halls until he meets with Heavy whose holding woman's purse.

Soldier: "What are you doing carrying around a purse commie! This isn't the time for sowing and makeovers we got ourselves an intruder most likely an enemy spy running around as some prissy princess that's managed take out half of our team!"

Heavy: "Heavy does not own purse, it belongs to woman who is team's client. She only attacks team because we make her think we are enemies. If we…"

Soldier: "Negatory! Our client is still at the airport being picked up by Engineer and Pyro and will be back in few hours. We're dealing with an enemy Spy that might be dressed up as our client and took her purse to trick us."

Heavy: "Heavy will call Engineer. Soldier find client but don't attack or she will fight back."

Soldier: "Affirmative! I will find this 'Client' and find out if this person is a spy!" he says as he quickly marches away from Heavy.

Heavy: "Why Heavy's sister Zhanna marry stupid man like Soldier Heavy will never know." He says face palming.

Heavy then finds a phone and calls Engineer…

Engie: "Y'ello? who is this and why are you calling?"

Heavy: "Heavy is calling Engineer. Is Client with you?"

Engie: Nope, I'm afraid she's not at the airport anymore. From what Pyro and I were able to find out is that she got attacked, killed her attackers, stole a motorcycle and flew the coup leaving her luggage behind. We have her things and are heading back. The Client probably made it to the base on her own at this point. Is she there with you fellas?"

As he said that they heard a rocket explosions deep in the background.

Heavy: "Client is here but thinks we are enemy"

Engie: " WHAT?! What did morons do to piss 'er off so badly?"

Heavy: "Heavy doesn't know full story but will find out soon"

Engie: "Try reasoning with her big guy maybe if you try a nonviolent approach she won't have any reason to attack back."

Heavy: "Heavy will not hurt her."

Engie: "Let's hope she doesn't kill everyone before we get back, be seeing one way or another." he says and he hangs up.

As Heavy walks off he hopes it's not too late to make things right. And just like that the explosions stopped and an eerie silence washes over once again.

Sniper: "First Medic, then Scout, then those two blasting lug heads, I wouldn't be surprised if our Spy was taken out already. This little bugger pretty quick and hard to track, how is he getting around? Well I'm not letting this one get at me. " Sniper mutters to himself.

"So this is the one that tried shooting me from the balcony. So that means he knows i'm here and well aware that I'm hunting him down, but maybe he can be reasoned with. He doesn't look dumb like that rocket shooting man-ape from earlier" she thinks to herself as she looks at her slightly tattered dress skirt, bruised legs and soiled boots from her fight with Soldier.

As she quietly slips down from her hiding place a bullet is shot slightly grazing her arm making her fall to floor.

"Che diavolo! (What the hell!) So much for reasoning with you Bastardo! (Bastard)" She yells as she gets up and quickly avoids the next shot that would've shot through her head.

Sniper: "Hold still you ankle-bit'n wallaby!"

"How bout' you put'a down the cheap rifle and that pitiful SMG in your pocket and fight me like a man would a woman!" she says moving out of his shooting range and pulling out a fairly large combat knife off the holster on her thigh

Sniper: "So you're not a Spy disguised as a woman, you're just a tiny doll-faced she-la in a dress. But if it's knife fight you want come and get me you little bitch" He said pulling out the Tribalman's Shiv.

"There are five things I never let anyone get away with calling me and you just had the audacity to say two of them to my face!" She says with venom in her words.

Sniper makes the first move missing her by an inch which rips a part of her dress's skirt but allowing her to gut punch him and slash deeply into his leg. He grabs her by the arm throwing her off him giving them some room before she lunges in kicking his arm snapping his elbow the wrong way making him switch hands and slashes at her hitting her waist making her roll away holding her bleeding wound staining her white glove.

Sniper: "you got quite a lot of fight in ya don't ya there love, too bad your getting tired from taking out my teammates. Hope there's no hard feelings but this game of cat n' mouse is over" he says while limping over to her hunched over form ready to make the finishing blow.

Then she gets on her hands and bucks him in the pelvis like a donkey knocking him back making him drop his machete to hold his groin with his good hand. She gets up taking out her bow which lets her hair down, she kicks Sniper flat onto his back stepping on his wrist flattening his hand and throws her knife into his palm fully pinning it to floor. She then sits with her knees pressing down on his chest looking him strait in the eye and wraps her ribbon around his neck and starts strangling him.

"You know I kinda like you handsome, you're not afraid to give a lady the rough treatment! " she says in bittersweet tone as she tightens the ribbon more.

Sniper: "You rotten little sadist!" as he managed to choke out the words before he loses consciousness from the lack of oxygen.

She loosens the ribbon and checks his pulse and slaps him sightly.

"Good still alive, I definitely want to save you for last." she whispers sweetly to Sniper as she drags him to the interrogation room.

Heavy heard the fighting and when he got to the scene the hall was covered in blood leaving a trail for him to follow until it stopped a dead end he then examined further and noticed a panel in the wall with a bloody handprint on it. he opens the panel to reveal a hidden passageway with more blood on the floor. Heavy follows the blood until it tapered off leaving no more trail to follow. Instead of giving up he looks for another panel which he eventually finds which leads into another hallway and not far off into the next hall he hears a woman's voice.

"Accidenti selvaggi! (Damn savages!) I haven't been this beaten up like this since my days in etiquette school! *sigh* I'm surprised I managed to get this far with so little food and sleep these past six days… " she groans in pain and starts heading in the opposite direction.

Heavy manages to make his way to the kitchen without her knowing and starts making a sandwich, soup, some seared meat and hot cocoa. He puts the meal on the table and waits in plain sight.

Heavy: "Come out little woman, Heavy does not wish to hurt you…"

"Finally, someone reasonable…" she says with sarcasm mixed in with a sigh of relief as she stumbles out of her hiding place.

Heavy could see that even when horribly injured and tired she tries walking over to him with determination and elegance, yet still ready to fight if needed. Her arms and legs are bruised and scraped. Her dress is torn up with bleeding gash on her side, her hair is down and messy, her gloves caked in blood and she ditched most of her other accessories. Heavy wonders how this girl is still able to walk let alone fight for her life against a large portion of his team and still be ready for more. Then he wonders why he's been hired to be her bodyguard she seems to be able to handle a lot on her own.

She stands before him looking up and into his eyes giving him a look that would make lesser men run away in fear. He looks at her with a calm, stoic demeanor showing her that he isn't afraid but isn't going to fight her. They stood there looking at each other not saying a single word for five minutes then her hardened glare turned into a one that was soft, calm, and semisweet as she sighs gently.

"I can tell by the look in your eyes that you have no intentions of causing further harm to me. If that is case then tell me bear sized man, if you are not here to kill me why are you and these other men here on my family's private property?"

Heavy: "Heavy and team hired for job and told to come here to protect Client from bad men that wish to do harm. Now tell Heavy why little woman harm team?"

"They've either attacked or had the intention to attack me. I've been harming your 'buddies' just to survive, I've also been capturing all of them alive for later interrogation but that seems unnecessary now, isn't it?"

"Da, so that means little woman is Sylvia our client if Heavy is not mistaken?"

Sylvia: "Wait… how did you know my name?"

Heavy then hands over her purse and she immediately understood.

Sylvia: "Ah, normally I'm not so sloppy as to just leave this laying around but thank you for returning it. I wouldn't be surprised if you looked into the contents for information."

Heavy: "No problem, now eat. Sylvia must be hungry from fighting team." he says motioning to the food on the table.

Sylvia: Oh most definitely, grazie orso uomo! (Thank you bear man!) She says with excitement and a warm, sweet smile as they head over to the table.

Heavy taking in the context of her unusual words with her body language gets the general idea that she is genuinely grateful and they sit down to eat.

Sylvia: "So should we release the others before we eat?"

Heavy: "You said team was captured alive?"

Sylvia: "Si, they should be alive just painfully incapacitated for the time being, though i wouldn't be surprised if they all want to wring my neck when they come too…"

Heavy: "Then team is fine, we eat then release and explain later… Heavy make sure team won't hurt Sylvia. "

Sylvia: "grazie (Thank you). You have my gratitude bear man." Meanwhile 45 minutes later

Engie and Pyro make it back to the base and see Heavy with the client waiting for them at the entrance.

Pyro: mmrf mrrmf! (Translation: Look Engie, the Fairy Princess!) (as Pyro sees Sylvia in Pyro Vision)

Engie: Yeah, she's cute in all but she don't look too happy, so don't be givin' her hugs just yet Pyro."

Engie shuts off the truck and climbs in the back with Pyro to gather Sylvia's luggage and as they bring the bags to her irritated scowl softens into a sign of relief and gratitude.

Sylvia: "I'm still mad that didn't pick me up sooner but I thank you for retrieving my left behind luggage. I couldn't really take it with me on that motorcycle I stole."

Engie: "Howdy there little missy. We're sorry for being late and for any negligence on behalf of our team, but I'm glad to see you're still alive." He says trying to turn the conversation around

Sylvia: Ciao Tinkerer, I'm glad you and uh, whatever that is (motions to pyro) also choose to not attack me. I am far too tired for that shit. (She mutters) You can put to my luggage down when we get to the lounge. Then we shall let your 'buddies' out of the interrogation room." Meanwhile in the interrogation room the others are regaining consciousness.

Spy: "Where am I, and why is everything so dark?"

Medic: "I'm in ze same bout you are… I can't see a ze'ing but judging from the restraints and warm dark fabric on my face we're going tortured and executed!"

Spy: "Well this is just great who else is in here with us?"

Not far from where they are Medic was able to hear two people that are trying to talk but have been gagged and most likely bound in a humiliating manner. He could also hear Demoman mumbling in drunken slurs before waking up.

Demo: "ay, that wee lass kicks 'arder than a' donkey, I can't feel me face." he says moaning pain

Medic: "I would be glad to assist in relieving your head pain Demoman that is if I weren't trapped in these binds."

Demo: "Sorry mate, can't help ye' even if I wanted to, the wee lass hog tied me and caged me in wit' a bunch a' spikes. If I move Imma goner for sure."

Then out on the front of the room chained tightly to human dart board on the wall Sniper coughs and gasps as he wakes up and sees everyone.

Sniper: "What the bloody hell is going on! What ar' you blokes doing here just laying about soiling your trousers for. We're just dealing with some sadistic Italian princess in a dress. Now get me off this thing wankers!"

Medic: "Vell that's you, me, Demoman, Sniper and two others that are bound and gagged. Making six of us ze Italian Fräulein has captured and made a mockery of. Does that answered your question Spy?

Spy: "Unfortunately Doctor we're not dealing some ordinary Italian dame if she's able take us on so easily."

Sniper: "I certainly gave the little fanny a good gather before she got me, if we're lucky the she'll bleed ta death before she comes back to finish the job."

Soldier tries yelling racial slurs through his gag in hopes of getting out of his mouth. While Scout is crying hoping Sniper is right.

Spy: "But what can we can we do if she does come back most likely with The Heavy as her next prisoner."

Sniper: "If I can get off this crazy human dart board I'll…"

Sylvia: "You'll do what now, you savage? You already tried gutting me like some cheap hussy and look how that turned for you!"

Just then the door swings open and she turns on the light as she walks in with Heavy, Pyro and Engineer right behind her.

Engie: "Now, now little missy we didn't come here to raise conflict again. I think they've been punished enough." he says slapping the back of Scout's head making him spit out his ball."

Scout: Engie, Heavy, Pyro what the hell!? You're friends with this bitch?

Heavy: "Scout, show respect for client, unless Scout does not want to be paid for job." he says taking the black hoods off Spy and Medic."

Spy: "Client? You mean to tell us this little Italian woman, who was going torture us mind you is our client for the bodyguard job?"

Sylvia: "Oh, most definitely. and just you all wait to hear what my father, the man who is paying you quite generously for your services has to say about my bodyguards playing the side of my executioners." she says letting Spy out of his chains

Medic: "I don't zhink that will go vell." he says as Heavy unlocks his chains.

Pyro lets up the spike cage holding down Demoman and cuts him free. Demo gets up and walks up to Sylvia

Demo: So, wee lass ye been on our side this 'ole time yet ye' didn't say a' ting?

Sylvia: Starting out with a gentle but psychotic tone "I haven't eaten or slept well in six days, nearly get killed after doing a fake job from a fake client, come home to empty an house with all my bags packed for me and nothing but a set of instructions telling me i should be doing, fly a nine to ten hour flight from Italy and get attacked at the airport, I somehow manage to make my family's estate only to attacked by crazy people!… What do you think appropriate response!?" She ends with yelling in Demo's face.

Everyone just freezes and stops what they're doing with shocked looks on their faces at the sight of Sylvia ripping at Demoman about her week…

Demo: "ye' got e'self a fair argument there lassie, I'll just keep me mouth shut." he says scared and surprised by her anger. And he thought growing up with his parents was scary.

Sylvia: *sigh* "I'll be in the lounge" she says trying not to limp as she walks away.

…

After everyone was out of their binds and caught up on the situation the team make their way to the lounge. When they near the end of the hall they hear Sylvia crying and hear her talking.

Sylvia: Please pick up… (Sniffle)… I need to hear your voice…

and on speaker phone a man's voice answers "Who is this?"

Sylvia: "ciao, padre sono io, (hello, father it's me,) Sylvia." she says choking up.

Male Voice: "Sylvia, my sweet little murder angel what is the matter?" the man says in gentle caring tone.

Sylvia: "Many things are wrong, but I'm so glad to hear your voice again papa" She says with tears in her eyes.

Male Voice: "Is there anything you want or need to say?"

Sylvia vents everything in Italian (preventing any who isn't fluent in Italian from listening) while the her father listens and responding in Italian. The mercenaries stand at the entryway of the lounge watching her lay on the couch talking to her father on the phone crying to what they now know is their employer. Then she gets to the part about the violent mix up with the mercs and her dad blows his lid.

Male Voice: "WHAT?! Get those rotten good for nothing bastards in this room and put me on speaker!" Her Father yells with fury and authority.

Sylvia: "Your already on speaker Father, and the 'bastards' are practically in the room as we speak." she says glaring at them with tears and smeared makeup running down her face.

Male Voice: "All of you, get your asses in here NOW!" he says with an angry menacing tone.

They all walk into the room with looks of shock, embarrassment, and shame in everyone's demeanor. Sylvia gets off the couch walks over to her luggage and looks through her bags pulling out a tommy gun and a bag of candy.

Sylvia: "As much as i would enjoy listening to my father berate you all I need to clean up and get some beauty sleep. My room is on the second floor of the east building 5th door to the left hallway. If i'm asleep leave my luggage outside the door and I'll unpack later. Lastly if any of you try coming into my room uninvited I will shoot you on sight, no exceptions. Got it?"

All of them said "Got it" at the same time.

Male Voice: "Good night, my little murder angel, sweet dreams." her father says in loving manner.

"Addio (goodbye) papa, give my love and regards to everyone in our family, and please be careful wherever you are."

Male Voice: "You know the old family saying?"

Sylvia: "I could never forget."

"Cherish every moment, for any meeting we have could be our last." they said simultaneously.
As Sylvia walks out of the and toward an elevator, barely leaving the room and she can already hear father yelling at the mercenaries. Entering the elevator she sighs and she says to herself as she pops a candy in her mouth… " I'll face the fact eventually… I'm stuck with this band of idiots, even if it kills me…

End of Chapter 1