Author's Note
Okay, I really need to get cracking if I want to make this a serious series, I've been slacking and it shows. I've got it all planned out and everything, I just refine it a bit when I write it down, so there's no excuse why I don't update more!
And if you're wondering why I always give myself these pep talks beforehand, well I just kinda hope I'll end up listening to myself and updating moreā¦.
One World
Across the way, hidden within the maze of trees and rock walls that dotted the heavily forested area, the Hammer Squad stood at the ready. The Scotsman, as many had called him, was at the center of it. It seemed odd to simply call him, The Scotsman, but he felt no other name was necessary, he even refused a formal title when he was drafted into one of the highest commands on the 1st ground force. But he had done it to mimic his close friend, Jack, another who's true name was lost over the years.
He let out a long exhale, pulling a bottle of whiskey from the cotton pouch on his thick leather belt, and took a deep swig from it. His vision was a bit teetering, but nothing he couldn't handle. The problem, however, lied not in his intoxication, but in his troops. And in the vehicle that was meant to carry them to battle if the need arose.
"So then, we're going nowhere I can assume?" He said to no one in particular, and yet still managed to become angry when no response came. "I said can we get this damned clunker moving or do we just sit here and risk everyone's lives?" A man, dark skinned and dressed in heavy, makeshift armor that seemed to be torn from a tank, stepped forward.
"Sorry, I've only ever ridden in a Derrick, don't know nothing about fixing one." Said Augustus Cole. He was a veteran in many of his world's wars. A similar earth, but locked in a combat with alien like creatures known as the locust that lived beneath the crusts of their hollow planet. But that was all in his past before the merge, all that was left is who he was now, a football player, a local legend, and just bat-shit crazy enough to join up with the Hammer Squad.
"So we're stuck then, huh? Lyons couldn't figure the damn thing out either?"
"Nope, sorry sir, she's one hell of a genius, but not in mechanics. Jim, Tavish, even Mouse took a look at it, but we're soldiers, not engineers."
"Well then, we're fucked ain't we?" He said, brashly.
Cole fished for an answer for a few seconds, not wanting to upset what may be the only man he knew comprised of more muscle than himself, a star football player. He had just opened his mouth, when thankfully Lyons, another of the Hammer Squad, drew her rifle, aiming down into the bushes. The other troops nearby pulled their own armaments, along with Cole and Scotsman, who merely placed a hand on the large claymore strapped to his back.
"Hold, this is the Thirty Seventh" A voice called from the bushes, "This is the Thirty Seventh Scouting party of the Rebellion Ground force. Call sign 'Phoenix'" The voice rattled off it's words, in a straight and to the point manner. The Scotsman raised his hand, to signal the troops to drop their weapons, at least for the moment.
"Step out slowly, all troops you have with you, arms in the air." Lyons said, uniformly. Within a few seconds, two soldiers, a green bear and a heavy set man came from the bushes, their arms raised above their heads. The weapons strapped to their backs were quickly removed by the soldiers nearest them, and the Scotsman stepped forward.
"Name, rank, and why don't you tell me what the hell you think yer doin' out here?" He said. His hand had been taken from the blade, and now his arms were crossed in a manner that exuded power, as if he didn't need a sword to crush these two if they had been Empire aligned.
"Sgt Flippy, sir" Flippy responded, " Second in command, and now the stand in commander of the Thirty Seventh. With me here is Cpl Coop, communications and repair specialist. We were on the move when our squadron was ambushed by General Spicer. A soldier of ours was taken, and we've got a man in the obsidian factory going in after her."
"Who was taken, and who did you send?"
"A robot sir, Serial number XJ9, given name Jenny. Sgt Reece H.R. Valor, current commander of this squadron, has gone in after her.
"Anyone else with you?"
Flippy nodded and whistled twice, Flaky and Homsar emerged close behind. Flaky stepped up to the enormous man and gave a timid salute,
"Pvt Flaky sir, light infantry and scout of the Thirty Seventh."
Her eyes began to wander across the battalion before them, studying each of them cautiously. The first thing that drew her eye was the enormous vehicle that they were all stationed around.
The Derrick, as it was known, was a vehicle as long as a coach bus, and as tall as two. Aside from it's size, the front of it appeared to be the cockpit of a very large truck, with enormous bullet proof windows for the driver. And the back of it was a platform, raised above the cockpit and dotted with several mounted turrets. It was truly a machine of devastation, and a wonder that the Rebels could move it through the forest covertly while her own squad was found in a small convoy.
She looked to The Scotsman; he took up most of her field of view, his bulky form towering above her meek, mouse like self. Behind him was Cole, who was nearly as intimidating, but had a joking smile towards her, as if he found her "Cute". Cute as a puppy, not cute as a young girl, though. Stepping back to let Flippy and the Scotsman speak, she examined the others around her.
Another dark skinned man stood nearby a few crates of ammunition. Dressed in a red shirt, covered in a blackened flak vest he sat staring across the forest, occasionally taking gulps from a bottle he held in hand. Rubbing the wool skull cap that adorned his head, he removed it, and tossed it onto the crates beside him with a wet thud. The hail and rain had stopped, but only a few hours ago, and the night was frigid and damp. He ran his fingers through his curly hair, and turned slowly to Flaky, hardly knowing or caring she was there. When she caught a glimpse of his worn face, she panicked and turned, fearing his anger at her impolite stare. She had not realized until he turned in that brief second the man had only one eye, the other covered in an eye patch.
Trying to get her bearings with the strange new band of soldiers, she stepped back a little, before a voice called to her.
"Hey, little one, c'mere."
She was shocked, but calmed her own nerves quickly as she faced the one beckoning her. Another soldier, clad in worn steel armor and a helmet that encompassed their face was sitting in the dirt, polishing a rifle. Flaky noted it was the same soldier who had first spotted Coop and Flippy, probably very perceptive to have detected them so early. Lyons, the Scotsman had called him.
"Have a seat, I won't bite," The Lyons, motioning to a cloth where a few weapons had been pushed aside to make room. Flaky reluctantly sat across from the steel person before her. A few seconds passed with nothing but the muffled breathing of the soldier and the occasional squeek of the cloth on the cold rifle, before Lyons spoke again.
"Oh, my helmet. I'm sorry, it must be like sitting with a robot for you, isn't it?" He seemed to be apologizing to Flaky, and removed the helmet, carefully placing it aside. All at once Flaky came to realize that she was speaking not to a strong man, but to a woman. She brushed the unwashed, yet beautiful hair from her face and spoke to Flaky softly.
"You seem scared, not accustomed to fighting I suppose?" She asked, setting the gun aside with the rifle.
"No, I can't say I am."
"Flaky, was it?" She asked, and the Porcupine nodded, " Where are you from, I mean, before the merge?"
"A small town, Happy Tree Town, to be exact. A lot of my friends lived there, but nobody knows where the town went after the merge, so we each went our separate ways."
"It sounds like a very peaceful place, I'm sorry that you're here now." But Lyons couldn't be more wrong, Happy Tree Town was far from serene or peaceful, and even in war Flaky had a better chance of living.
"Well, it's not all bad, Flippy's still here." She said, blushing a little. "But it must be tough for you too, I suppose."
"No, not at all really," Lyons said. "I came from an Earth sort of like this one, but my people destroyed that world. Famine and sickness took many people, but I stood to help the remnants of human life along with my father. He's a general here too, but he's in another sector, far off from here."
"What was your world like, was it really that bad?"
"Absolutely, and the worst part is we caused it all to ourselves. Out of all the dimensions this Earth was crafted from, I'm thankful mine was not one of them." But she tried to shift her tone, their atmosphere was depressing enough, "But at least my world made me strong, so I could fight this empire with the best. Speaking of fighting with the best, I suppose this would be a bit easier for you if you knew who you were fighting alongside, huh?" Flaky nodded, and she called towards the rest of her squad. But only one of the few troops came, the others were either too busy or merely didn't hear her. But, the soldiers who did were quite the sight. The soldier approached her and kneeled, he appeared to be a man, dressed in what seemed like a space suit from a fifties space drama. He was muscular, and at his side was a powerful laser blaster, presumably one of the best and most powerful weapons the rebellion could muster.
But his physique and weaponry was not what drew Flaky's eye. Sitting on the man's shoulders, where his head should be was an earthworm, sticking out of the body's neck. She stared in a mix of frightening curiosity before Lyons introduced the 'man'
"Jim, his name is Jim," She said, to break the silence. Flaky blushed when she realized how awkwardly she had been staring at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Jim, I'm Flaky," She held out her hand, and he stared at her for a few seconds, almost analyzing her. But this passed, and a goofy smile dawned on his face as he took her hand and he shook it briskly.
"Pleased to meet you!" His voice was odd, to say the least. In fact, he sounded outright funny. Flaky giggled a little while he spoke, "Earthworm Jim, special ops unit of the 1st rebellion hammer squad!"
"Very nice to meet you, I'm Flaky, light infantry of the 37th scouting party." She was beginning to finally relax, "If you don't mind, where'd you get the laser? I mean, rebels hardly can get their hands on weapons like that."
"Oh this little beauty?" He laughed and spun the handheld blaster around on finger, before catching it and pointing at Flaky. She jumped a little and he made a tiny 'Pshooo', kicking back his wrist with recoil,
"It came with the suit. I wasn't always this much, below my neck. Y'see, back when I was just an Earthworm I.." He sat to make himself more comfortable, and continued his tale to the enthralled Flaky.
Scotsman, however, was far from amused with his situation. "So then, not only is our one way to get in action broken," He motioned to the Derrick behind him. "And now we have to baby sit you little kiddies too?"
Coop stepped forward, stifling a laugh as he tried to sound important, "Sir, if you don't mind, I understand this is your mission, but vehicle repairs and operation are my specialty. If I could just take a quick look."
"Listen laddie, you can try, but none of our soldiers had any luck. But if you could even make this junker budge, you'd finally be pulling your weight around here and I might even consider," His staunch attitude and composure came to a quick end through, when he realized that Coop wasn't even in front of him, and the sound of a screwdriver could be heard. He turned to find a fat pair of legs sticking out from under the Derrick, and soon Coop pulled himself free, a smug grin hidden behind the grease on his face.
"And there we are, recalibrated."
"Now, how in the hell did you,"
Coop stood, feeling quite proud of himself, and explained, "The Derrick was unbalanced, it's a highly sophisticated piece of machinery, a failsafe was designed into it to lock it's tires up if the calibration was off. Now what was it you were saying?"
The Scotsman stared in awe, before he clutched his own chest and laughed, "Well I'll be damned! Alright boy, for the night you and your squad are Hammer Squad recruits. Men, gather up, time to introduce yerself to our new brothers!" His bellow drew the other soldiers, and they stood at the ready. Lyons, Jim and Cole introduced themselves, as a small mouse carrying a backpack much larger than him stuffed to the brim with explosives, stepped forward.
"Bonjour, Flippy!" He laughed, twirling his moustache. Flippy immediately warmed up the soldier, they had known each other for years, after all.
"Mouse Ka-boom! You son of a bitch, how did you of all people get into the 1st?"
"How else? With zee boom!" He laughed, and the two began exchanging old war stories until the last man, the one-eyed man who Flaky had seen before. He approached, his posture was slouched and weighed down with the bottle of alcohol he held in one hand.
"Tavish Degroot, the real explosives master around here." He held his hand out to Coop, who cautiously shook it. His hesitancy angered Tavish, who began to shout, "What, you ain't never seen a black Scottish Cyclops before? Yeah, go ahead and stare, they'd charge you a buck fifty at a freakshow to look anywhere else, ya bloody bastard." He turned away in disgust from Coop, who was more confused than anything. The Scotsman assured him though, that it "Wasn't his fault". The two began to discuss what they'd be doing for the remainder of their time, when Lyons came forward,
"Sir, we've just received a transmission from Jack, the factory's hot. Alteast 200 soldiers have been confirmed alongside any number of robots currently there, and some have been scrambled to survey the area. We need to cut them off." Scotsman knew what could happen if they didn't, though the others were a little confused. Cole explained to Coop their situation
"We're the last line of defense if the Dagger squad fails to eliminate the threat. We've got more troops, but we can't risk getting them involved or we'll lose thousands by tomorrow morning."
Flippy was in doubt, "How close can you possibly be, they'd need some time to reach your camp."
"An hour at best," The Scotsman said grimly, "Our main base of operation is directly across the supply bridge about a mile away from our position. They'll find the Derrick tracks and be on our asses in an hour. We need to act fast, are your men ready for combat?"
Coop looked back at his squad, then to the Scotsman,
"We're in, but one condition," A smile drew over his face once again, and even though The Scotsman knew Coop for less than an hour, he seemed to know he wouldn't like the request.
"I'm driving"
Eh, I'm not exactly sure what I should be saying right now. In case you didn't realize, Tavish Degroot is the Demoman from TF2(Using his official name, for those who didn't know).
Maybe I'll post a list of characters and their origins at the end of this book, which should be in maybe five more chapters? Oh the excitement!
