Spy Down!
Hello! Here's chapter 12 and thanks for the support.
Chapter 12.
The next morning found Spy out in the wilderness of Hoodoo at the train station, which was basically a bunch of wooden huts bundled together to create the Information Desk, the ticket booth and a veranda for the passengers to wait their chance to get on the steam train that ran between the locations for the mercenaries. There was also a little café for people to purchase a coffee and snack while they waited.
BLU and RED took separate routes to each destination, an obvious attempt by their employers to prevent them from interacting with each other. So, RED were taking the train this time, while BLU were being driven to the nearest airport to be flown off to Viaduct, the next battle royale port of call.
When Scout caught up to Spy, the espionage expert was sitting quietly on the platform, staring intently at one of the crates across the other side of the tracks with one arm extended. Scout took one look at Spy's scrunched up face and made an educated guess.
"Ya practising ya powers?"
Spy almost fell on to the railroad below.
"O-Oui," he stammered, righting himself quickly. "I am not used to zem yet. I 'ope zey are gone soon."
Great, more reasons for him to be depressed, Scout thought as Spy's face became forlorn. The whole war had probably screwed him up or something. Maybe it had screwed them all up.
"Hey, ya should be grateful, man," Pippin replied with a frown as Spy had the decency to look ashamed of himself. "I would LOVE to have ya powers! I could be like Martian Manhunter!"
Spy glimpsed Scout's dreamy face as he turned around to grab another coffee to refuel himself. On the way there, he bumped into Medic, who was just exiting.
"Ah Herr Spy, just ze man I vanted to see!"
Spy looked nervous and Medic laughed, patting him on the back heartily. Apparently, morning coffee loosened him up a bit.
Unless it was the "Irish" coffee Lance was fond of.
"Ahahaha, don't be scared! I just need you to drop by mein office at some point today. I have something I need to discuss vith you, ja?"
With Medic's beady eyes penetrating him, all Felix could do was nod hastily.
"Sehr gut! I vill look forward to it!"
And Medic strolled away with his briefcase and suitcase, whistling happily.
He could only pray that it was just a talk about his feelings.
"Men assemble! I have interesting information for us!"
The gathering was organised rather quickly.
"Wot is it?"
"Yeah, I could be running right now!"
"I vas in the middle of…medical science."
A collective shudder at those words.
"One of our former team members has gained an unusual advantage over BLU. Perhaps you've heard about it?"
There was silence as the group mulled over the facts.
"I think I remember something spreading through the rumour mill a few days ago. Sounds mighty good for us.
"Ah, you see things my way, partner!"
One voice piped up in confusion, representing the rest of the group.
"I don't get it. What's this thing you're talking about got to do with us?"
A sigh.
"You clearly haven't been paying attention. That former Spy of ours…the little coward has somehow developed powers."
Stunned quietness.
"I think it's time for a reunion. After all, I'm sure he's been missing us."
As usual, the team settled quickly into their new surroundings after arriving two days before, turning up the heating and unpacking their winter clothes in preparation for the winter battles. The giant Russian was in his element, the Bostonian not far behind.
"Aw sweet! Reminds me of home."
Bryn too was used to this cold weather, as the sun didn't poke its head out to say hello very often in Wales, Great Britain.
"Ydw, mam and tad always put me in front of the fire for a story when I was a lad."
Spy listened to the men exchange stories enthusiastically and smiled gently at the memory of his beloved grandmother and how she used to react. She had such love for snow…
He was snapped out of his thoughts by a crackling of the security feed by the front gates leading into RED's building – a fruitless endeavour considering the weakness of the rusted gate and the nine hardened mercenaries that could gut you with their eyes closed. The Frenchman heard Oliver answer and shrugged it off, assuming that it was another supplies delivery. Turning away, Felix made towards his room with the idea of unpacking his belongings and retiring early for the evening.
What happened next threw that all out of the window.
"Er, Spy, some guys want to see you about something."
Pyro called out hesitantly and Spy looked over his thin shoulder with a raised eyebrow and dull blue eyes.
He nearly passed out.
"What…what are you doing here?" he asked in unwelcome shock.
His former team mates stood in the doorway entrance with hard faces and each in wearing a smirk.
"Hello Spy. Long time, no see."
Medic straightened the bird cages in triumph before turning to his nestled doves perched in the rafters of the Medbay.
"Ja, zat vas hard vork, you lazy lieblings," he cooed fondly, holding out a hand for Hera to perch on. She nibbled at one finger and ruffled her feathers as he lightly stroked her glossy white plumage on her chest with the index finger of his other hand. "You don't care, as long as you get comfortable…isn't zat right?"
The rare moment of peace was disrupted by an anxious Pyro flinging open the doors to the Medbay.
"Doc, you may wanna help us provide back up." He said and Jasper frowned.
"Vhat…why?"
"There are some guys who are also a mercenary team and said they wanted to speak with Spy. They don't look like jolly bastards though."
Medic jolted his arm slightly to make Hera fly to her flock and hurried after the arsonist.
"Might as well give him back up, I suppose." Guy answered as he appeared from behind without warning.
The trio arrived in time to see Spy frozen in a staring contest with the other RED Soldier as the man's narrow eyes cunningly took in the view. Scout was already there, eyeing the other mercenaries suspiciously.
"What do ya want?" he asked, glaring with a competitive air at the other RED Scout.
"Can't we come say hello to our former team member? It was a shame that you left." The Soldier answered with a smirk and the three stepped closer to Spy.
They knew that Spy had transferred from another team, thanks to Miss Pauling's introduction. But they never knew why.
RED could make a decent guess now, courtesy of the underlying motive that seemed to run in a current through the air. This must be the former team then. Spy didn't make eye contact with any of the other RED team, although he noted how the new RED Spy looked down upon him with disdain.
"So zis is my predecessor. 'Ow unfortunate."
Spy bowed his head at their judgement.
"Ah don't like the atmosphere you're creatin', folks. Why don't y'all be so kind as to be tellin' us why you're really here?" Dusty said lightly, a threat under that polite manner.
Heavy loomed protectively over Felix, cracking his knuckles ominously. By now, the whole team had come out to see what the matter was. They prided themselves on being good mercenaries, able to sense trouble and judge other people's characters with one glance and so far, they weren't happy with what they were looking at.
"We'd like to make an offer…a trade if you will." The RED Soldier replied casually and Oliver snorted.
"Nah, hear us out, brother." The RED Scout spoke and Pippin muttered under his breath;
"I ain't no brudda of yours."
Their Sniper took off his hat in forced sorrow as he picked up where his Soldier left off.
"Yer see, we miss this mate here. He was loike a brother to us when he was with us. But then he left our squad."
Spy laughed derisively.
"I was no friend to you! My existence was barely even noticed 'alf of ze time!"
He cringed inwardly at what he revealed and Medic's pale eyes narrowed at this telling fact.
"Lying isn't very noice. What's gotten into yer?" the Sniper pretended to be concerned and Lance growled impatiently.
"Get to the point, you sorry excuse for a mercenary!" he snapped and their Pyro mumbled something under the mask.
"You have a pretty powerful ally over there." their Soldier continued and everyone's eyes widened.
How the hell did they know about Spy's psychic abilities already? He'd only just discovered them!
"Word travels fast amongst the employees of RED," the Soldier grinned wolfishly. "And we want our team member back in exchange for our Spy."
He gestured to their Spy, who sniffed in obvious annoyance at his potential dismissal.
"Fancy ponce thinks he's above us, does he?" Sniper asked loudly. "Sorry, but your answer is no."
"Can't we come to some form of agreement?" Their Engineer raised his hand in a placating manner; however, Heavy cut him down.
"You heard team. The answer is NO."
"Nein," Medic supplied mockingly. "In case you vould like it in another language."
The other REDs did not appear pleased at this development and their Demoman sneered.
"Och, it looks like the wee laddie has new bodyguards. Can't talk for yerself?"
"Pathetic." Taunted the other Spy and the members showed their true colours by laughing. "You never really were a good Spy, were you?"
Spy hung his head.
Much to his surprise, Pippin leapt to his defence, marching over to their Soldier.
"Hey pal, better watch your frickin' mouth. He's a better fighter than you, ya cowardly mug!" he responded angrily, shoving a finger in the man's wide chest and received a backhand for his trouble.
"You have no idea who you're messing with here, kid." The American spat as Pippin rubbed his jaw from his spot on the hard floor while Lance snarled in rage. "We were fighting before you were born."
CRACK!
Something deadly zoomed past the Soldier's head and embedded itself into the wall behind with a wooden thud and a metallic twang – a butterfly knife. Eyes flew from all sides to Felix, looming towards them with lilac eyes of light. His mouth lifted upwards ever so quickly into a growl before his masked face adopted a stony expression.
"Mon ami, I don't zink you quite understood," he seethed, causing the mercenary to step back in faint surprise. "we said no and we mean no! You may have ignored me before…but I have ze advantage now, oui?"
"This man is a better man than you, sir, will ever be!" Lance barked sharply, Spy blinking in response.
"He's OUR Spy." Guy put in.
"OUR friend." Scout cried.
"And most of all…OUR family member." Jasper finished, putting one hand behind his back and another on Spy's shoulder blade, standing ramrod straight.
Touched and emboldened, Felix lifted several crates into the air with his mind, watching with hidden glee as the other team's jaws dropped.
"So kindly get out."
They knew what they were beaten.
"Hmph. You're making a big mistake." Their Pyro retorted snobbishly, trying to cover up his team's humiliation. But there was nothing they could do without invoking the Announcer's wrath and so the older mercenaries stormed away, cursing the squad that they left behind.
Spy let out the breath he didn't realise he'd been holding in a gasp and spun on his heel as he bolted from the room. That had actually been the first time in a long time…he'd actually stood up to someone without putting a knife through their back. Throwing himself into his room, he'd shut the door tightly and locked it as he placed both gloved hands on to his masked cheeks. Sapphire eyes wide, he slid down the flashing wall as all the awkward feelings of self-hate flooded through his bloodstream again.
Damn them! They'd re-invoked the emotions he'd hoped were starting to fade…thanks to his wonderful new family.
He tucked his knees under his chin and remained in the position in silence, a tear or two finding their way to the faded carpet now and then as he let himself wallow.
Jasper waited outside, his forehead against wood.
He would make him come out of there somehow. They needed to have a group meeting to quash this unipolar depression – this CANCER – out of the French man once and for all.
Alright! That's chapter 12! A bit of filler before more action next chapter. I had Art exams last week and couldn't make myself write this chapter – lazy, I know. A new plot twist which will go towards FINALLY explaining the cause of Spy's emotional state, which is known as unipolar depression; a common term in Psychology. Sometimes I feel that this story is disjointed and that makes me want to scrap it and rewrite the whole thing again! But I've gone too far now and I know that you'd all kill me if I tried that. XD
…I like being alive, thanks.
Also, the real RED team from TF2 were the bad mercenaries in this chapter. Cameo time!
Please review and thanks for the support so far!