In which a little espionage goes unexpectedly sour.

Entering the RED base had been easy. Pondering the simplicity of the maneuver, the BLU Spy could only hope it wasn't this straightforward for his RED counterpart to invade the BLU base. It was early enough that the RED team would still be eating dinner, and probable that they wouldn't go to their rooms just yet as they would most likely be celebrating the day's flawless wins.

The BLU Spy made his way silently down the hall, treading carefully to avoid the squeaking of floorboards. He never understood the RED's fascination with rustic architecture. The BLU's hallways were carpeted in bleak linoleum tiles that were uninteresting to look at, but clean and efficient. Although, thought the BLU Spy, as he tread on a particularly vocal board, perhaps there was an advantage to squeaky wooden floors. They were an excellent warning system to the well-trained ear.

But a roar of laughter from below convinced him he wouldn't be apprehended. A quick peek into the dining room earlier had told him that the whole team was there, including the infamous Disabler.

He searched for the Disabler's room and found it a few moments later, at the end of the hall. He tried the door. It was unlocked. He slipped inside and closed it.

The room was a simple, standard-issue dorm-room. There were sparse signs of personal decoration here and there, the girl's suitcase leaning against the wall, a picture of the Disabler and a man sitting on the desk and a book about electronics.

The Spy made a thorough search of the room. The bed was empty of anything, the suitcase was empty as well, and the closet merely contained several duplicates of the Disabler's uniform; a red tank-top, maroon cargo shorts and thick red rubber gloves.

The Spy perused the book of electronics, but there was nothing special there. He took the picture out of the frame and looked at both articles. The picture had an unreadable signature on the back, as well as a heart. He checked the suitcase again, but there wasn't anything there. Frustration building, he flung the suitcase back into its place with more force than was necessary. It made a clunk, and a thump… as if something were inside of it.

The Spy snatched it up again and opened it. He felt all over the inside, caressing every inch, feeling for a slip, a catch… he found something. It appeared to be a small, electronic lock. He didn't hesitate. He withdrew a sapper from his coat pocket and attached one end of it to the suitcase. A moment later, a secret compartment sprang open to reveal a little book. The Spy withdrew the book and opened it.

The inside page read 'My Diary'. The Spy couldn't help but give a gleeful grin. The discovery of such personal items always gave him a thrill. He quickly replaced his sapper and withdrew a small camera from inside his pocket. It was supposed to be attached to the Camera-Beard, but he'd discovered that detaching it was useful as well. He flipped through the book, diligently photographing each page in turn. When he was satisfied, he returned the diary to its secret place, closed the compartment and the suitcase. He put the now-precious camera in a small pocket in his shoulder-holster. It was never a bad idea to be extra-careful.

Satisfied that he'd left everything in the right place, he made to leave. The floorboards creaked. He stiffened. Thank god for the RED's love of rustic architecture. Cloaking, he stood, rigid, against the wall of the Disabler's room. The Disabler herself entered, and he got a close-up look at her.

She really was quite pretty. Her hair was a warm, chestnut brown that seemed to shimmer in the dull light of the lamp. Her uniform suited her slim figure and her skin was practically flawless, and lightly freckled around the nose. The effect was ruined somewhat by her attitude and relaxed posture, giving her the air of a bored teenager. She picked up her book on electronics and turned to leave, her sheet of shiny brown hair swinging as she did. The Spy followed her, hoping to exit the same time she did. He made it past the door and smirked. He'd make a clean getaway.

It happened faster than he could have imagined. One moment he was setting his foot down to take a step towards the Disabler's back, the next, her amber eyes were staring directly into his own, her hand on his collar.

"I thought I smelled a rat." she hissed. With a grin, she pinned him to the wall.

"What am I gonna do with you?" she smirked, as the BLU Spy struggled. "I can't kill you, the respawn's off. Guess I better just teach you a lesson. She drew her stun-baton, and dealt him a crashing blow to the ribs. The BLU Spy choked as a shock of electricity momentarily robbed him of breath. The abundance of metal objects on his person did not help. His cloak flickered.

"Aw, so there's your pretty face!" said the Disabler with a cheery smile. She hit him again, in the other rib, and then removed his cloak watch. The BLU Spy leaned heavily against the wall, trying to struggle but finding his strength ebbing away. The Disabler took the liberty of removing all of his weapons. She grinned and waved his revolver around.

"Pew! Pew pew!" she said, mock-firing it. "Nice gun."

She took his disguise kit, his sapper and lastly his knife. She flipped it around a little, then, with a blindingly fast movement, pinned his hand to the wall with it.

The Spy let out a stifled cry of agony. Her eyes were cold, all of the sudden.

"If I catch you in my room again, buddy, I won't be so nice."

She dealt him another blow, this time to the knees, and then walked away, leaving him to slide helpless down the wall, suspended by his injured hand.

He lay there for a long time, seething with rage. The sounds of revelry from below did not cease. No one came to look for him. It seemed she hadn't told the REDs about his intrusion. Shaking, he reached up with a quivering free hand and wrenched the knife out by the handle. With a rough exclamation, he immediately dropped the blade and cradled his mutilated limb. The shock of electricity had worsened the stab wound. He was defenceless apart from his knife. He took his knife, staggered to his feet and limped down the hallway, leaning against the wall for support.

The trek back to the base was hell, but he made it back alive. His team received him with a cries of shock and horror, but he wouldn't answer any of their questions. He simply gestured wordlessly to the Medic, who whisked him away to the medical bay to be treated. While the calming beam of the medigun soothed his injuries, the Spy reached into his holster and felt for the camera.

He found it there, and tremulously withdrew it. He exhaled triumphantly.

It was intact.

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