- RED base, 7.30pm -
Finally. Everybody arrived. The bus took a few minutes to park and Sniper improvised a parking slot, next to the bus. Everyone got out of the bus.
"Come on in guys, let me show you around." Miss Pauling said.
The young lady lead the way to a big house, closely followed by the Scout, still trying to impress her.
They entered the big house and Miss Pauling showed them their rooms, the kitchen, the showers and the meeting room. Each room had a logo of the merc's it belonged to on its door. Miss Pauling then left everyone to unpack their stuff except for Engineer and Medic who were asked to still follow her. Engineer had a complete level for himself underground and the garage. The Medic had his Medic Bay in a different building, you had to go through what used to be a garden of some sort to access it. Unfortunately, nobody took care of this thin strip of land and only small cacti seemed to have developped there.
After half an hour, they all were asked to come to the meeting room. Miss Pauling turned on the big TV screen on the wall and the Administrator began to speak. As the day before, she was wearing a purple dress and her eyes and facial expression were as warm as an iceberg.
"Good evening mercenaries. Now that you are settled, know that you will receive your weapons tomorrow and that training sessions will start the day afterwards and last for a week. After that, we will consider that you can handle your weapons perfectly and the war against the BLU will start. I would like to remind you that failure won't be tolerated. Good night."
The screen went black again.
"There you go guys, I'll let you spend your first evening as a group. The weapon delivery is expected at 9.00am so make sure to be ready to welcome your tools! And on this, I wish you all a good night!".
Miss Pauling then left the meeting room and went outside were the bus driver was still waiting for her. Scout was still going around her, asking her for her number and what not.
"Whaddy'all say to a good ol' Texan dinner partners?" Said Engineer, joyful.
"Let's go and have dinner maggots, we can't be fresh and rested without our rations!" Answered Soldier.
And on these words, all the mercenaries went to the kitchen and Engie, with the help of Pyro, cooked an amazing dinner.
"So Big guy, you're from Russia right? ยป
"Da."
"So you fought bears your size right?"
"Da. We use bear for food."
"Woah. You will teach me to hunt bears, will ya?"
"Son, there ain't no bears here", said Engie.
"Oh alright.. what's terrifyin there then?"
"Spiders big as yo'head and with venom that'll kill you in less than a minute."
Sniper's voice was deep and he was talking through his breath. Half hidden behind his yellow tinted sunglasses, Heavy could swear the man was half smiling.
"Whot!? You mean like, here, like, there are spiders that could kill us?!"
"Come on Scout, surely a man of your strengz is not afraid by such a little insect? Said Spy, with a strong French accent, lighting a cigarette and putting it between his lips. "Miss Pauling would be disappointed to learn that you're afraid of such unique animals."
"Whot?! Nah, I ain't afraid! Who said I was?! Maybe you are fancy pants?"
Spy chuckled and shook his head.
"I for myself, find them beautiful. Deadly, yes. But zhey are a beautiful work of art by Mother Nature who made them strong enough to charm you with their colors and kill you with their venom instantly."
He then threw his cigarette end and proceeded to exit the kitchen.
"Let meh help ya with the dishes lad!" Said Demoman.
"Alright, thanks partner."
The rest of the crew exited the kitchen. Soldier went directly to his room. Sniper went outside, followed by Spy. Medic headed to his Medic Bay. Heavy looked around him. He wanted to talk to them and learn to know them but he was shy. Who should he start with? Surely the easiest pick was Scout for the boy never seemed to stop talking even when you don't ask him to start speaking. But no. No, Heavy put his hand on his head at the mere thought of the boy talking endlessly.
"Herr Heavy?"
Heavy lowered his hand and turned around. From the kitchen door, Medic's head was peeking.
"Vould you be so kind as to help me settle some zhings in zhe Medic Bay please?
"Da."
Heavy followed the man in the labcoat to his place of retreat.
"Vell, I find this crate quite heavy to move. Could you help me, I plan to put it zhere, in front of zhe window. Be delicate please, it is fragile."
Heavy found it weird that Medic would put a piece of furniture in front of a window. But then again, the man was reading "The Art of Lobotomy" with stars in his eyes so it was not a big surprise. Maybe there is some sort of logic in the madness?
They both carried the huge cardboard box to the said place. It took a minute but throughout the process, Heavy was sure he heard noises coming from inside the box...
"Danke Herr Heavy. Now, to open it."
Medic reached in one of his cupboards to take a cutter and opened the box neatly. Heavy's jaw dropped. It was a huge cage with half a dozen white doves. That accounted well for the noise he heard and for the fact Medic warned him to manipulate the crate with caution. The doctor opened the cage and they all flew out and around their master. "Hello my friends, I'm sorry I had to put in zhere but ach... rules... Now I put you next to zhe window so zhat when I'm busy at vork, you can enjoy zhe landscape." One dove flew and landed on Heavy's shoulder. The big man smiled and turned his head to the bird.
"Archimedes, don't frighten our guest! I'm sorry, Herr Heavy."
"Not a problem. I love birds. Used to have one back home."
"Oh I see. Zhen let me introduce you to zhe whole family."
Medic started pointing and naming all the birds with a lot of passion and enthousiasm. How he could tell them apart, that was a complete mystery to Heavy but he liked how delighted the German doctor seemed around his pets.
"Danke again Herr Heavy and sorry I got carried away while presenting my friends to you. Can I do somezhing to repay the favour?"
"No, nothing I can think of."
Then thinking quickly he said "Well, da, there is. You play chess Doktor?"
Heavy was fond of that game and never went anywhere without a miniaturised chess set.
"Ja, I used to play it a lot at medical school."
The doctor's face darkenend for a second and then lightened again.
"I vould love to see how good my memory is!"
"You stay here Doktor. I bring the chess set."
"Alright Herr Heavy."
Heavy was excited. He found a chess partner! But something bothered him. That dark and sad expression Medic had when mentionning his time at medical school. Heavy wanted to know more about the man and a few chess rounds would make a perfect occasion to chat.
"Doktor, you remember the role of each class?"
"Ja, I zhink so."
"Good. You are white, you begin."
They were both sitting in Medic's office. The sun was long set now. It was pitch dark outside and in their cage, the doves were cooing softly. A whistling noise came in.
"Oh, if you'll excuse me Heavy, I'll be a minute."
"Da."
The doctor came back with 2 cups of herbal tea.
"Zhat trip must have exhausted you as much as it did to me, zhere."
"Thank you Doktor."
"Nein, you don't have to zhank me, you helped me settle my birds right. It's zhe least I could do."
Heavy moved a pawn.
"Doktor, you are from Germany?"
"Ja. I was born and raised zhere. I studied in medical school zhere during zhe war."
"Oh, must be deeficult."
"The war or the medical school?" Medic was smiling, one eyebrow raised.
"Erm... war and medical school."
Medic chuckled. He moved a pawn.
"Vell, ja both were hard. The Nazi wanted us to vork for zhem in zhe end. I had friends of mine who were Jews in zhe school. Zhey were fired and never to be heard from again."
Medic stopped talking. He lifted his eyes to met Heavy's. He hesitated.
"Vell, it was too hard for me. I graduated and left Germany."
Silence fell upon the room. Only the cooing of the doves could be heard.
"But tell me mein freund! Vhat about you? What did you do in Russia before joining zhe team?"
"Studied litterature. Russian litterature. I have PhD in this.
"That's amazing kamarad!"
Heavy chuckled and blushed a little.
"Thank you Doktor but PhD in litterature is useless. You cannot save life with it. Whereas you..."
"Well I had to learn by heart all the bones in your body and all the muscle whereas you had the chance to read and discover realms that the human mind could invent!"
They looked at each other and laughed.
"Zhere is no point in comparing our studies," said Medic with a big smile on his lips.
"Da, Doktor is right."
"What is your favourite kind of litterary style zhen?"
"19th century from France. Balzac and Maupassant are my favourite writers."
Medic looked puzzled.
"Sorry mein freund but I have no idea who zhese authors are."
"Then Doktor needs a lesson."
And Heavy proceeded to tell the story of Bel Ami, the French novel by Maupassant. How George Duroy climbed the social ladder by having affairs with ladies who had a good position in society.
"I am surprised Herr Heavy. I wouldn't zhink it possible to progress in society zhat way!"
"What is more interesting is the evolution of the character. How he sees himself like... erm..."
Heavy was looking for the right word.
"I'm sorry, words are difficult in English."
"Kein problem, take your time."
"Well he is poor and not handsome at the beginning and in the end, he is veery charming man. Goes to fancy dinner with important people and seduces lots of beautiful women."
"I see. I would like to read that book. Do you have a copy of it?
"Da but is in French."
"Was?! You can read French?"
"Only litterary, da. When they speak, is too fast."
"Heavy I am impressed! Any ozher talent you're hiding?"
Heavy blushed and laughed.
"No, I don't think so. But what about you Doktor, any talent apart from saving lives?"
"Vell, I can play zhe violin. I used to play in the medical school orchestra. I was zhe first violin."
Heavy's eyes widened.
"Please play, I want to hear Doktor!"
"Now?"
"Da, please."
"Alright."
Medic got up, walked away and came back with his violin.
"Any requests?"
"Something you like."
"Alright."
He adjusted the instrument on his shoulder and rested his jaw on it. He raised the archer with his right arm and started off. Heavy didn't recognise the piece at first. He felt like time itself stopped. The German doctor was moving elegantly, almost dancing with his instrument. He looked focused, his eyebrows tensed. Sometimes he would go slower and close his eyes but when he played faster, the lock of hair on his forehead was accompanying his moves along with the labcoat and he would look fiercely at his instrument from the corner of his eyes. The light of his office shone particularly bright on his flying labcoat. Heavy's jaw dropped. He was in awe. The performance was breathtaking. He felt something weird deep in his guts, slowly closed his mouth, put back the pawn he had in his hand on the table and leaned back on his seat. He enjoyed every second of the performance who seemed like honey to his bear ears and brought warmth to his cold Russian heart.
Medic then stopped. Heavy applauded loudly and the doctor bowed to his audience.
"Woah, you play very well Doktor!"
"I used to be better, some notes were just not that good."
"No Doktor, it was perfect." Heavy stood up and continued applauding for a couple more seconds.
"Danke mein freund."
Did Heavy dream or did Medic blush?
"Anyvay, it is getting late now and we'd better get some rest Herr Heavy."
"Da, is good. We will continue chess game tomorrow?"
"Alright, I'll make sure to finish what I have to do early enough."
"Good night Doktor!"
"Good night Herr Heavy."
On those words, Heavy walked out of the Medic Bay and went through the alley of "dead garden". He walked lightly and was smiling, as if he were floating above the ground. He found a friend in Medic and that was sufficient to make him happy.
