That Engineer was mad at Soldier went without saying. However, one less obvious event is him not panicking at the sight of the time vortex. It wasn't obnoxiously loud or painful. There was no air to breathe, but it felt like breathing wasn't even necessary. If anything, this trip was pleasant, instructive. Who knew time travel without magic was possible, even though the hazard of a teleporter stone protoype being forcibly reverse-built had to but added to the equation ? This was a major discovery, one which the scientific community had to know about.
This train of thought was interrupted, however, by a vision. A still rectangle shaped portal appeared in the vortex, which kept on rushing by. Since there was nothing else to watch, Engineer decided to witness what could only be described as an epic battle inside a temple. Three figures could be identified from the vision's bird view : two on the left, one in the middle. Despite the distance, their conversation was clearly audible. « Up there ! » Said one of the left side figures, wielding an oddly designed sword. What was most likely an ally of his shot a miniature thunderbolt at the middle side figure from its hand, but missed, the discharge landing on a nearby pillar, ripping it apart. Engineer almost felt ashamed of how weak the Short-Circuit was compared to what he saw.
The middle side figure laughed similarly to Merasmus, although less beaming and more evil. « You fool ! » Declared it solemnly. It managed to pin the swordsman on the ground, and held his hand high up. A purple sphere was slowly being formed above it. « Die ! » He roared. Before Engineer could see the outcome of the battle, the portal closed, only to be opened again a couple of minutes later. The middle side figure was lying on the ground, very likely dead and gone.
The swordsman was holding his ally up, who was most likely wounded. « Are you all right ? » He said. « That's the end of him. Thanks to you, we carried the day. » Engineer couldn't help but to let a small smile escape from his lips. Not since his departure from Bee Cave had he seen one person actually caring for another. The closest thing to that was Medic deploying his Übercharge on him to help him save his sentry which was being assaulted by the RED Heavy, Demoman and Soldier at the same time. His memory was cut short, though, as the swordsman whimpered in pain, a thunderbolt similar to the one shot earlier piercing his stomach. Engineer blinked several times under his goggles. This vision ended too, leaving him perplexed. But before he could give what he just witnessed too much thought, he saw the end of the time vortex in the distance. In less than a second, it closed in, blurring Engineer's vision.
He was still conscious. The time vortex was painless. Excellent news. However, wherever he reappeared must have been very high up, as he could feel himself falling, faster and faster. « Guess that just ain't my day. » Was his last and most sarcastic thought of the day, before momentary excruciating pain struck him as he passed out.
He was quick to wake up. At least he thought that was the case, considering he woke up at all. He no longer felt the familiar sensation of his hard hat, but could still feel his goggles. Examining his surroundings without moving an inch, he first felt that he was on a mattress, although drastically more comfortable than the ones he had slept on the past decade. Thanks to his goggles, the many people at his bedside didn't know they were being observed. « Isn't that embarrassing. » Was the first sentence he caught, followed by two well-marked laughs. « Back on topic, » resumed the voice on a serious tone, « I'm starting to think your adventurer could have survived without any healing spells. I only know how to use Heal staffs, and those usually take weeks for major injuries. »
Engineer supposed that the 'adventurer' was him. Spy had taught him a few tricks about waking up in counterintelligence territory and gathering information, except that, unlike what Spy would be very likely to believe in the situation he was in, Engineer was probably in neutral territory, as well as indoors and in a hospital. He was about to pretend to very slowly wake up, when he heard a shrill cry coming from outside, followed by panicked racket from which he could make out « under attack », « help » and roars of laughter. The two people attending him had left, soon replaced by a single tall, muscular man. He was bare-chested, wore an unidentified animal's skull as a hat and another's skin as a cape, seemed to have never touched a shaver in his life, and wielded a gigantic axe.
« Well, well ... » He said, smile on the lips. « What do we have here ... » As he approached Engineer's bed, turning to a chest of drawers, searching loot of any kind. Easily putting two and two together, the false patient rose and removed the glove his right hand held to reveal a cybernetic hand. Holding the Gunslinger high up, he silently let it crash down on the barbarian's head, killing him instantly. It may not have been fair to murder someone who probably didn't have the experience of countless deaths to harden, but Engineer didn't doubt a single second that he would be next on the bloodied axe's list. He trippingly recovered his hard hat and slowly crept through every corridor of the building he was in. He upped his pace when he smelled the familiar smell of ashes taking over. As he neared the exit, he saw through the door's glass panes that a much stronger looking barbarian was guarding the building. Analysing the rest of the battlefield, the mechanic saw other bandits being slaughtered by much more elegantly dressed fighters.
He wanted to stay hidden until the battle was over, but the burning hospital began collapsing from far and wide, forcing him to force the doors open, unsurprisingly getting the alpha bandit's attention. The latter's confusion immediately turned into odious joy. He said « Here, sheepy, sheepy ! Come to the slaughter ... » And readied his axe. A small and oddly dressed man such as the one before him couldn't be much of a threat, he thought. However, as he was delivering his blow, Engineer made an impossible dodge right next to him and pulled a string on his robotic hand, which began to spin furiously.
He thrust it forward.