The whole convoy stopped at the closest fast-food joint. Demo, Engie, and Heavy were staying in Sniper's van while the others got lunch and heard Spy's plan for the first time. Spotlight made sure Pyro's meal had a toy before the firebug disappeared completely.

"Pyro's part is straightforward, it is of no consequence." Spy waved his hand as the rest of them sat around a table. No one was out and about in this weather, it seemed. The restaurant was practically deserted.

"Now then. We each have a role to play in this if we are going to be successful. Doctor, you, Pyro, and I will arrive as representatives of this gang. We will go to meet Louie Hallison and his men in order to discuss terms. Before we get too far along in negotiations- Yes?"

Medic had raised his hand. "And I am to be playing this mob boss character?"

"Yes. From what we have been able to gather, you are the much-feared head of the organization. I do not know why Sniper chose to describe you, but it is not worth pondering in my opinion."

"Very well. Continue."

"Before we get too far along in the negotiations, Spotlight will- Yes?"

"What are my motivations? Am I some sort of conniving ringleader in the pursuit of money, or a maniacal sort aiming to bring only chaos and destruction?"

Spy rubbed his temple with one hand. "It is up to you."

"I see. Go on."

"Thank you. Before the negotiations- what!?"

Medic lowered his hand. "May I dismember one of them- just an arm or something- to really set the mood for this character? I think it would bring out the sadistic, inner turmoil-"

"You can dismember as many as you please when we are done! Before we reach that point, however, Spotlight and Heavy will interrupt the deal with a distraction. Soldier, this is important so listen to me."

"I have not listened to a word you have said thus far and I refuse to do so now."

Spy was about a second away from murdering Soldier right here at the table when Spotlight intervened.

"Are you sure, hon? It sounds really important."

Soldier paused. "Very well. Continue with your French nonsense."

Spy bit back some profanity. "Thank. You. Gentlemen." He took a breath. "Soldier, you will need to destroy as much of the office building as is possible without touching the portables."

"This is where the cows have established their base?"

"Yes, hon." Spotlight jumped in before Spy could have an aneurysm. "And they're holding these fine American portables hostage."

"I will kill every cow in sight and dismantle their communist establishment."

"Wonderful." Spy looked like he could use a drink. "This will throw them into confusion. Spotlight, you will demand the code, which will force them to bring out Scout and Sniper."

"And then I can dismember them?"

"And then you can dismember them."

Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light from outside one of the windows. The outdoor trashcan was a flaming wreck and Pyro was bouncing a propane tank back and forth like a beach ball.

"We need to leave immediately."

He was in trouble, but he didn't care. Sniper leered at ol' Brass Frank and settled back in his chair. "No idea, mate." The mob man glared at him silently. After questioning him at length, there didn't seem to be anything left to say. Sniper thought the man would never shut up. It was all numbers and places and names Sniper didn't care to make up. He'd thought this one through pretty well.

"And you can't beat out of the kid somethin' I don't know anyways. 'Less you just want a lie, cause that's all I've got left to tell."

Frank left the room without another word. Figures. Sniper tried to stretch out the stiffness in his elbows and heard one of them click. He rolled his neck around. There was a lot of tension built up from sitting in the same position for so long. Usually he had a little wiggle room in the perch, but there was none of that here.

They'd separated him and Scout a few hours after Truckie went upstairs. For all he knew, the kid was still in the storm cellar. If he had any luck left, they'd all three meet up there again before something worse went down. There was no mistaking the sound of the gunshot he'd heard earlier, and Sniper could only hope that it hadn't been for Scout or Truckie.

Maybe the best thing to do was catch a nap. Frank was much too angry to talk to him anymore for a while. The man could sure hold a grudge. All of them could. Must be why they hadn't given up looking for him on the side all these years. Sniper slouched as far as he could in the seat and fell asleep. It was easy, after being awake for so long.

He never liked being woken up. Preferred to wake up naturally or at least with an alarm he'd set him self.

Sniper really didn't like being awoken by a falling sensation. His eyes snapped open, and he saw Louie with his foot on the front of the chair before he hit the floor. What the fall lacked in height it made up for in energy. Sniper hit hard, and it took him a moment to recollect himself.

"'S'at really necessary?" He groaned.

"Yeah, cause I don't like bein' lied to, Mundy. Frank told me you didn't know anything, but your little buddy had plenty to share."

Sniper's brow creased, and he tried to see Louie's expression over his own knees. The floor was a really uncomfortable place to put an upended chair. Louie seemed to sense this, and the dumbfounded expression on Sniper's face made him chuckle.

"Or you're that stupid. I knew you weren't all that sharp Mundy, but please. Not like I need to ask you anything else. The kid told me plenty. For instance, I know about the Chateau de Sable."

Try as he might, he couldn't bite back a grin. Louie's face fell. "What's so funny, hot shot?"

It occurred to him that this might get Scout in trouble. Sniper kept the smirk on. "All you've got's the name of the organization. And 'ere I was worried the kid actually knew something."

Louie bought that and moved on. "It's all I need for this meeting I've got set up with the Big Man."

Sniper couldn't hide his surprise. "He's here?"

"Yep. Had some of the boys meet the enforcer. Took your pal Hoss back with him. Though, if you ask me, he wasn't looking too good. I suppose a bullet'll do that to you."

Struggling to keep his anger in check, Sniper attempted to turn the chair on its side. That's just what Louie wanted, for him to give him an earful just like Scout had. But Sniper knew better. As furious as he was, he knew if Spy had Truckie back, everything was fine. For all the pomp, the backstabber was efficient. He'd get everything taken care of. Heck, Sniper wouldn't be surprised to see Truckie leading the rescue party, guns a'blazin'.

"Better him than me."

"Ooh, you're still a cold one, Mundy. I bet you practice this kinda thing in the mirror. Nah, I got you read to rights. It'd eat you alive if you found out I'd killed your little buddy, wouldn't it?" Louie kicked the chair on its side. At least he'd given him that much. "But it doesn't matter. Cause with this deal opening up, I'm gonna finally get a piece of the action. I'm getting my share of the pie and you're not gonna stand in the way of that again."

Louie started walking towards the door.

"You just gonna leave me here on the floor?"

"Yep."

Sniper was alone in the portable again. He knocked his head against the carpet in frustration. Just what had he gotten them all into?

The rain was coming down heavily. Water feel in sheets on the three windshields, smacking the glass almost horizontally with the force of the gale.

"I take it back." Medic mumbled. "I am not grateful for the thunderstorm."

They continued forward slowly, maintaining a sight line between all three sets of brake lights. It was perilous weather, and according to Demo, it was only going to get worse.

"Picked up a newspaper this morning." He commented to Heavy as they drove. "They're expecting it to get nasty."

"Hopefully, we will not have to drive in this much longer. According to map, we are nearing the county line."

Fortunately, the inclement weather would provide cover for their approach. Spy indicated a building at the end of the street. It was another development, but something standing on its own and clearly not Louie's headquarters.

He hopped out of the truck and returned moments later with a duffel bag. Spotlight recognized it immediately.

"That's Jeremy's! Where'd you get it, Sniper's van?"

"Yes." Spy said. "Heavy found it last night. Aha, this will do." He pulled out a pair of black pants and handed them to her.

"I'm supposed to wear my son's pants?"

"It is part of the disguise. Engineer's torso is too broad for any of his shirts to fit, so the next best-"

"Frenchie. This is real flatterin' and all, but my son's a stick, and I've popped out eight kids."

Spy stopped with a hand still in the duffel bag. She could see the gears turning there. It seemed she'd thrown a wrench into his plan.

"Y'know what? Gimme a sec." She hopped out the driver's side door, and hurried back in with a bundle of cloth. "It's all gonna be wet so who cares?"

Spy glanced back at the truckbed for Engineer's suitcase, and when he turned around, she was wearing a black skirt instead of her brown one, which sat on the seat between them.

"Now for the best part." She closed the space between them and started loosening his tie.

"Ma belle, now is not the best time-"

"Gimme the jacket too."

"Oh."

Spy saw where this was really going and reluctantly parted with his jacket. She tied the tie with an expert hand and soon had the jacket done up as well.

"And what am I supposed to wear then, hmm?"

She rolled her eyes and fished around in the duffel bag. Spy cringed. Not only did Scout have no taste, but he seriously doubted whether or not the boy had bothered to wash anything before he packed it.

"Jeremy owns one shirt I like. He wouldn't wear it on the plane, so I bet you- aha!" She fished out a button-up shirt wrapped in plastic. It was charcoal grey, with a tiny spotted pattern. "You put this on and it'll be perfect."

For the sake of the act, Spy picked up the plastic and turned the shirt over in his hands. It was very well taken care of, if rarely worn. He supposed it would fit. His Spotlight was a genius, but the things she was putting him through...

"Very well." He began unbuttoning his own shirt and noticed her watching out of the corner of his eye.

"Don't mind me." She leaned one elbow through the top hole of the steering wheel casually. "Just enjoying the opening act."

He pretended to ignore the comment and was silently thankful for both the cover of darkness and of his mask. For the first time, he could sympathize with the poor Engineer. His cheeks were positively scarlet as he began slipping on Scout's shirt.

He was nearly finished with the buttons when someone knocked on the driver's side window. Spy jumped, and Spotlight accidentally set off the car horn.

It was Heavy. Spy opened the door.

"Out." Heavy said. "Is time to change cars. Doctor is waiting with little man."

Spy cast a sidelong look at Scout's bag before snatching up a hoodie and throwing it over his head in a futile attempt to keep dry. Heavy took his place and shut the door.

"Jacket looks better on you than Spy."

She grinned. "Thanks, pal. You ready to go get these guys?"

"Heavy is ready." He replied. "They will not be."