Chapter 2: The Medallions
When Savannah came to, her head was pounding with a headache and her perception was foggy. It was pitch black but she could hear the faint echo of voices. Oh, her eyes were just closed.
She scrunched up her face and tried to open her eyes. It was difficult but when she did she was met with blinding light. Groaning and quickly shutting her eyes, Savannah soon tried again.
Ever so slowly she opened her eyes. It hurt at first but as her eyes got used to the light she started to make out objects. First she noted the tile sealing; then she noticed that she hade a blanket covering her. When- oh… where were her clothes? She could still feel her bra and underwear, but not much else.
Who would- then everything came back. The storm, the fight, the mercenaries, oh man, that was a lot to take in all at once. Savannah groaned again at the onslaught of memories.
"Mhh thunn shess erweerk (I think she's awake)" mumbled a voice.
Savannah glanced over to see the gas-masked face of Pyro sitting next to her bed looking at her curiously. It was the strangest thing though, she understood Pyro, like, clearly, as if Pyro was talking without the mask.
"Huh?" Was all Savannah could muster before she saw another figure in her line of vision. It was Demoman holding small bundle of clothes, Soldier right behind him closing the door.
"I wouldn't get up if I were you." Demoman said, "And don't freak out, we had to take your clothes off to clean them." He set the clothes down on the near by table.
That calmed Savannah down, and she openly sighed in relief. She slowly began sitting up and then sat back on the head board. Looking around the room she saw her friends lying in the other beads, sleeping contently.
The room remained quiet for a few more moments, Savannah alternating between resting her eyes and looking around the room. Pyro strangely stayed by her bed, using crayons to draw on paper, occasionally showing her, not that Savannah minded, it was welcome company. Plus, it was just down right adorable.
It wasn't long before the other girls woke up. They almost freaked out over not wearing any clothes, but where soon calmed down by Savannah.
As Dream sat up she looked around the room. Spotting the three mercenaries present, she took note on the fact that Scout was absent from the room. Remembering that she was half naked she figured out why very quickly.
As they got up they used the blankets to cover themselves and discreetly began putting their clothes back on underneath.
"We couldn't take your necklaces off though." Soldier finally said, ending the silence, not so much shouting as he normally would. He opened the door letting Scout in when the girls were dressed.
"Necklaces?" Catie asked
The girls felt around their necks and found the medallions, feeling the impressions to find that they matched the symbols of the classes that they became a while ago. Savannah was just wondering how she didn't feel it earlier.
"Do you think it was these that changed us earlier?" Catie asked, remembering the battle with the robots.
"It must be," Dream said, "How else would we have gained those skills?"
Suddenly the conversation was halted by the door slamming open and the sound of a revolver cocking. Spy was standing at the door, pointing his revolver at the girls.
Now, all of the girls considered themselves able to stay calm in almost any situation, and for the most part they did, expect Savannah. At the sight of the gun, she immediately screamed and backed up as far as she could, into the wall. She had only ever seen a gun up close a few times, and certainly had never had one pointed at her.
Spy, sensing an easier target, pointed the gun at Savannah, which caused her to roll into a little ball on the bed and start shaking.
"Spy! What the Hell are you doing!?" Soldier barked.
"I just got off the phone with Ms. Pauling, asking her where she found these replacements. She told me that she didn't recall hiring four women into this battle." Spy explained keeping the revolver trained on Savannah, hoping to get her to talk.
She just continued to shake, now rocking back and forth. In her head she was replaying a conversation she had had with her dad about handling having a gun pointed at you.
"Put the gun away, you're scaring her asshole!" Catie yelled, wanting to protect her friend.
But it was Pyro who stood up in front of Savannah, Pointing at Spy and saying something.
"Yerrr Skrrinn Hhhrr! Puuh Thrrr Guhhn Awhhr! (You're scaring her! Put the gun away!)" They shouted through the mask, just barely being understood. By now, Savannah could be herd sobbing just a little. She really had no idea why she was scared like this, but she was and from Pyro protecting her, she felt a little better.
"Lay off fancy pants! Ya want me ta cave ya skull in!?" Stella shouted, her Boston accent coming through at the end. Scout happen to catch it but decided to ask later.
Wanting the yelling to stop and to get the conversation somewhere, Demoman grabbed Spy's gun and put it in a near by drawer. Savannah peeked out and at seeing no gun, went and hugged Catie breathing shakily. It was only then that she noticed that her glasses were missing.
"I-I'm s-s-sor-r-r-y. I n-n-n-normal-ly d-don't act l-like t-that." Savannah stuttered shakily, trying to catch her breath and see where she was going.
"You don't need to be sorry; it's the damn Frenchi that needs to be sorry!" Scout turned to Spy "What the Hell was that about!" He got in Spy's face, trying to intimidate him.
"Did you not listen to me, boy? They are not employees of Mann Co." Spy pushed Scout out of his face and turned to the girls. At his look Savannah flinched. She was going to be on edge around him for a while.
"Who are you and why are you here" Spy demanded.
"I am Stella" She started voice equally as strong "And we have no idea where we are or how we got here." She continued, voice even toned, anger evident. She stood strait and walked to stand in front of the masked rouge, staring him in the eyes.
Spy knew how to spot a liar, and looking in Stella's eyes, he could tell that she was not lying.
"I apologies mademoiselle" He backed up but he still had his suspicions. Stella did as well, going to see if her traumatized friend was okay.
"I-I'm fine, r-really" Savannah insisted "But where are my glasses? I can't see a damn thing"
"Heeer (Here)" Pyro handed Savannah her glasses. She smiled, put them on and thanked them. Weird, she could still understand them; maybe it was the medallions doing. Pyro then looked at Spy and gave him a look that said Stay away, it even showed through the mask making Spy shudder.
Dream spoke up "Umm… now that that is over, I'm Dream, and we are trying to get home. If it's not too much to ask, perhaps you can help us? We don't want to cause any trouble." She spoke to Demoman in a sheepish voice.
"I think that all depends on where you live."The scot responded.
"Seattle Washington" She responded.
"I live an hour away from Boston" Stella answered.
"We live in Houston Texas" Savannah and Catie said together.
"Ya see," Stella started "we where playing our favorite videogame, Team Fortress 2 during a thunder storm and lightning struck our houses and now we are in the game but now that I think about it maybe we are in an alternate reality of some kind" She spoke somewhat quickly, hopping that they would not brand her as insane.
She was met with blank looks and the mercenaries tried to process what she said.
"Video game, thunder storm, alternate reality, what are you talking about lass?" Demoman asked trying to understand the woman's words.
"The game is called 'Team Fortress 2'" Savannah spoke. "In a nutshell it's a game that shows what you guys go through on a daily basis, even before the robots started attacking."
"If our lives are truly a game, then how did you girls end up here?" Spy asked, trying to process how his life is just a game.
"That's what we'd like to know." Catie said letting Savannah out of the hug once she was sure her friend was okay.
"Like I said, the last thing I remember was a lightning bolt hitting my house and that somehow 'transporting' me into the world I've always fantasized about being in." Stella explained saying the last part to herself.
There was a brief silence as everyone toke in the new information. The mercenaries had a small existional crisis over there lives being just a game. It was soon over when they remembered the whole 'alternate reality' part. Still, it left even these harden mercenaries a bit shaken.
"Perhaps Merasmus has the answers?" Dream suggested. Really she had no idea if he would help, but that wizard was notorious for things of this nature.
"How do you know about Merasmus?" Soldier asked as if he had just listened in to the conversation.
"Have you been drinking water from the tap again and not from the bottles that Ms. Pauling has been giving you?" Stella asked, eyebrow raised at the patriot.
"Exactly how much do you know about us?" Spy asked.
The girls then proceeded to explain everything they knew about the mercenaries. They told of how some of the information that they knew came from online comics that were posted on the game's official website, how there were short videos that showed each mercenaries skills and personalities, and how they knew which properties belonged to which weapons and who specifically these weapons were for.
"Exactly how long have you been playing this game?" Demoman asked.
"About a couple moths or more for all of us." Stella answered
"So based on the information you've given us," Spy started "I would assume that you know which one of our colleagues will be joining us next."
"According to the recent comic, the next mercenary who will be joining you will most likely be Heavy." Dream theorized.
"Yeah, cuz dat's the first thing we need." Scout complained, "An open target for the robots that screams 'I'm a slow bastard, go ahead and fill me up wit lead!'" He threw his arms into the air in exaggeration.
"No." Stella interrupted, "The first thing you need is another heavy hitter. Especially if more than one tank enters the area."
"Actually I would assume that the first person they'd need is Engineer." Savannah said, standing up from the bed, "Remember when you'd always leave us after you'd play Engie? We'd get our ass handed to us after losing our good Engineer."
"Does this necklace thing look like a wrench to you?" Stella exclaimed pointing to her neck.
The room then fell into silence; the whereabouts of Engineer was still a mystery. If what Savannah said was true, the mercs felt little confidence that they would triumph against the robots in the next round.
"So uh..." Catie said breaking the silence, "Were we going to see Merasmus and ask him about these things?" she pointed to the medallion around her neck.
"Oh! Right!" Soldier said
"If I know your relationship with Merasmus," Stella said crossing her arms, "he wouldn't be too thrilled to see you after the suffering that you've put him through."
"Where is he even?" Savannah asked; her memory foggy from her gun scare.
"Merasmus is in prison." Spy explained seeing the girl flinch at his voice. Why did he feel bad at seeing that?
"In any case, I will go with you!" Soldier exclaimed.
"NO!" The mercenaries shouted at the same time.
This was followed by an awkward silence and Savannah clearing her throat.
"What I think they mean is that they need you to stay here with Pyro and Demoman in case any more of those robots appear."She said covering for them.
"Good idea private...private..." Soldier stuttered, "What was your name again?"
"I'm Savannah," She said introducing herself to the American, "And this is Catie." She pointed to the girl next to her. She was still speaking quieter than normal but her confidence was slowly returning to her.
After the small introduction, the girls, Spy, and Scout piled into Spy's car and began heading to the prison that held Merasmus. Savannah made sure to sit far away from Spy, still not trusting him.
After a few minutes of driving in silence, they arrived at the Teufort Penitentiary.
"You ladies go on ahead." Spy said as the girls got out of the car, "Scout and I will wait for you in the car." Said 23 year old was in the passenger side looking grumpy.
"Bad memories from when you were almost hanged?" Catie asked the runner in a smug voice.
"You can shut ya mouth right now." Scout retorted, not wanting to think about how true she was.
They all went inside the prison and asked the guard present to see the wizard.
"What business do you have with him?" The guard asked.
"We wanted to ask him a few questions." Stella explained.
The guard, having led poisoning from the water like everyone else in Teufort, thought the explanation was good enough and let them through.
The girls where directed to the visiting booth where they could talk to Merasmus without being disturbed. Minutes later he appeared in front of him with a confused look, soon picking up the phone.
"Who are you and how do you know about the all powerful and all knowing Merasmus?" He asked, talking to Stella.
"If you were 'all knowing' then you would have known not to check for a pulse on the man that Soldier killed, and if you were 'all powerful' you would have used your magic to get out of here." Stella said into the phone, "We know about you from the already mentioned Soldier."
"Oh, are you his new 'friends'? Trust me; the friendship will not last long." Merasmus said in a deadpan voice.
Stella rolled her eyes and then proceeded to explain the situation the girls were in with Merasmus and showed him the medallions that hung around their necks, asking if these were something of his creation.
"I don't recall creating medallions such as those. Perhaps whatever force brought you here gave those to you." Merasmus explained. However, this story did sound familiar. He definitely was going to read into this later.
"So...we're dealing with bullshit magic right now." Savannah moaned. This was just like those crappy fanfictions she has read on websites! Or like a Magical Girl anime. She didn't know which was worse.
"Pardon?"
"You know, when someone has a specific magic that can't be explained or is never really explained at all."
Merasmus understood completely, having dealt with magic like that before. Now he knew why there story was familiar.
"Nevertheless, I hope that your quest to find your way home is a successful one."
"Now hold on wizard boy!" Catie yelled banging on the table, "If anyone is going to help us with this 'magical dilemma' it's gonna be you!"
"My dear girl, I would be happy to help, but the prison bars are what keep me from doing so." Meramsus explained. Might as well have a little fun teasing while he is here.
"We'll pay the bail money, we need you out here as soon as possible, and we'll even pay for a new castle if we have to!" Stella proposed.
"Are you sure we can do that Stella?" Savannah whispered to the older girl.
"Hey, those robots drop money when they die, I'm sure we can collect enough to get him out of here." She reminded her friend.
"Very well," Merasmus said, "If you can get me out of here, I will help you with your struggles." A favor for a favor after all. Plus; he really wants to get out of this idiotic place.
"Thank you, oh and one last thing." Stella said.
"Yes?" Merasmus asked.
"We'll be sure to kick Soldier in the privates when we get back to him." Stella said, "Multiple times." She didn't mean any harm, but anything to get him on their side.
"Thank you." Merasmus said smiling, hanging up the phone, and returning to his cell.
After the drive to the base just outside of Teufort, the girls returned to the other mercenaries and explained what Merasmus had told them.
"Also, Soldier, if Merasmus asks, I kicked you very hard." Savannah said. "I promised him I would to that for but I don't actually want to do it." After all, she had respect for Soldier.
"Now that that is over" Catie started "We should start our search for the other mercenaries soon." They would definitely need all the help they could get.
"Especially Dell..." Stella said quietly, "He's going to be the most important out of the whole team." She honestly didn't know if all of them could beat the robots.
"We seem to be doing pretty well now." Dream mentioned, and it was true, the girls had done well fighting the robots the first time.
"True as that may be; you girls could still be arrested for fighting in a man's war." Demoman said.
"First: that was incredibly sexist," Savannah hissed. Sexism was one of her biggest pet peeves.
"And second: we technically weren't born in this time period." Stella finished.
"Wha' d'ya mean?" Scout asked.
"It's the 1970's, correct?" Savannah asked. When met with a yes she continued "I was born in 1999. We where all born in the 90's" at this there was a pause before Spy spoke up.
"What year were you currently living in before you came here?" he asked. Savannah didn't answer immediately, as she was still wary around the espionage expert. Catie, luckily, saw this and answered for her.
"2014" Catie said. As proof they held out there phones, all touch-screen smart phones. This left the older men puzzled for a while and after more explanations of the technology and a discovery that they still had internet access (which Savannah blamed on more bullshit magic), the sun had finally dipped below the horizon.
"It's getting late." Savannah said, "Is there a place we could stay for the night?"
"You girls are welcome to stay wit me if you'd like." Scout said trying to give a seductive look. It was mostly toward the older girls, Dream and Stella.
"I'm going with Spy." Stella said seeing the look but choosing to ignore it.
"I'll go with Pyro." Savannah said. She didn't see the look. Savannah had always been oblivious to flirting and really preferred the direct approach.
"I-I think I'll stick with Demoman." Dream stuttered. While she liked Scout as a friend, he just wasn't her type.
The three girls went off with their respective mercenaries leaving Scout with a disappointed look on his face. He crossed his arms and looked away, his pride wounded.
"I'll go with you Scout." Catie said.
"Ya will?" Scout asked, full of joy. Catie nodded then followed Scout to his place, leaving Soldier to patrol the empty battle field.
((((LINEBREAK))))
Meanwhile in an undisclosed location.
Grey Mann was his office looking over the footage the Spy-bots captured from the battle earlier that day, disgusted and furious at what he saw.
"I build you to be the ultimate in combat robots, yet you managed to be defeated by mere girls!?" Grey shouted towards the present robots.
"It wasn't our fault! They appeared out of nowhere!" One of the Scout bots stuttered in defense. This one happen to be one of the only ones to survive but just barely, coming out with a missing left forearm,
"That gives no excuse for what I have witnessed on these screens!" Grey shouted "Clearly you pieces of scrap need to be upgraded!" It was almost an insult to his intelligence to say that.
He then looked back at the screen that where transmitting footage from the Spy-bots, and heard the girls conversing over Merasmus and how his knowledge of magic could help them.
"It appears we have another target as well." Grey said to himself, soon turning to his robots. "Go get yourselves fixed and prepare for tonight, we're going to eliminate this 'Merasmus' and make sure that those damn mercenaries don't get any more outside help."
The robots left the room as Grey turned to his computers and began making a few plans. As he typed he eventually found an old plan left forgotten in a random folder. As he continued to read what he had typed long ago a cruel grin came to his face.
"Heheheh, Watch out Mercenaries, you'll soon be in for a big surprise! Hahahah!"
