guess who is going to make an appearance here. Unlike most other chapters I say that I did the most re-writes on this one, was worth it though, I like how this chapter turned out and reminds me why I do NOT want to meet Saxton Hale in person.
"Does everyone understand the plan?" Heavy asks the team, they have all realized that the quickest way getting the children home would be splitting up and take each group of children to the area where they got kidnapped.
Everyone nod but before Heavy signs them to head out, he asks Sniper from this potential ally he and Spy spoke about during this meeting. "And you are certain this man will listen to you?"
Sniper nods, however, it is Spy there speaks. "He's the only one that moron is going to listen to. Everyone else has to survive his ridiculous urge to wrestle everything before getting the chance to discuss business." Sniper rolls his eyes just thinking about this businessman from the Kingdom of Auister there is so fantastic about his country that only a fellow Aussie can have a normal chat with him. "He'll listen to me." Sniper promises.
Heavy frowns lightly but trusts that Sniper knows what he is talking about and lets him and Demo take the children there got taken on the Eastern coast, before heading to the artificial island of New York where this weapon dealer lives. Hopefully, this Hale will listen and reestablish the secret aid to them as he did to the former teams located around in New France. Turning to the others. "Move out." He commands and the team splits up.
Engineer and Pyro take the two children there got taken in New Denmark, before they will be heading to Texas so Engineer can check on his son who he hasn't seen for months now.
Spy and Nathan will take the children further up north the coast since that is where they will be going anyway to reach Boston. Both Soldiers, Heavy and Medic will handle the rest of the kids that got taken further into the mainland. They all for a while thought this would be their last mission as a team, but after several discussions of their future plans where Engineer, Pyro, Sniper, and Spy all admitted that they would have one hell of a time returning back to their old way of life or work from all the trouble they have caused in their search for Nathan. Engineer especially was at risk. So, the more they spoke about it, the more everyone realized that they have more or less become a team during the travel over the sea and have proven to be able to work together as one. So staying with Heavy's team would be a better choice actually. Engineer asked to stay pretty quickly when he came to that conclusion- Pyro followed in the request not long after. Spy and Sniper were a bit more reluctant as they did have a bad experience with the last full-fledged team they were with before, but after a bit talking among themselves; they decided to stick with Heavy's team and see how things would play out. Heavy was of course very relieved hearing their decision and during the discussion, Engineer suggested a good place as a temporary base in form of a hidden farm which was built by Engineer's grandfather. Heavy had heard of Radigan Conagher and knowing his new Engineer is the grandson of that well-known inventor, he knew that place is as good as Engineer promised. That and he trusted Engineer enough that one wouldn't trick them into a Magisterium trap. So by Heavy's command, the team would meet up at that location when this delivery mission was over so they could figure out their next course of action.
After have giving Spy and Engineer a quick wave, he and Demo take Engineer's ship. While he lifts the anchor, the rest drive off in the "borrowed" vehicles for their delivery mission and when sure every child for their own mission are counted for, the ship sails back out to sea.
"Alright, where to first?" Sniper muses, taking out the map with locations to the three children he and Demo would bring home. Laraine lands on the table beside the map just as he finishes calculating the shortest and safest route they can take. "Right, Demo, help me with the sails." He calls as they won't be needing them where they are going. The scot nods; leave the three kids currently watching the small school of fish and after has emptied the rest of his bottle, the one-eyed man helps Sniper put the sails back into the storage. With that done, Sniper starts the motor and takes the ship a bit further out to the ocean. Only sailing back to land when they near the first home for two of the children. Like always, Sniper hides the ship from any Magisterium eyes, before stepping on land with the two siblings in tow. Demo and the remaining child will stay on the ship.
Near the middle sized town, the children said was their home, Sniper asks the oldest. "Recognizes anything?" For right now he is more escort than a pathfinder for these two ankle-snappers.
She nods and by his request leads them to a cute little house with two adults- presumably the parents tending a garden with both their daemon wandering as if looking for something they know is missing. Sniper has a very good guess what that might be, good thing he found what these two have lost.
"Mom! Dad!" Both children call, making their parents look up and after a moment of disbelief, they both run their children with tears of joy and relief seeing their children again. The two kids jump into their arms, crying of sheer happiness they are finally home. Sniper watches the scene, happy this family got reunited.
The father looks up and his eyes meet Sniper, but before he can say anything, Sniper shows that mark on his shoulder, tips his hat and leaves. He is in no hurry of leaving though, very sure this family won't rat him right after he brought them their children back, and if he is lucky. Perhaps this family will start supporting the resistance just a bit. But he won't stick around to find out which side this small family is now on. It is best not take the chance, especially when they are so few now and although these two parents surely are grateful, Team Fortress Resistance is not exactly the most popular among the civilians thanks to all the Magisterium's propaganda. Besides, he is not good at gratitude parties.
The next day and bit late in the evening, Demo takes the last child to their home which is on the island of New York, Sniper waits at the ship this time, not wanting a mentally overload before they are going to Hale. At the apartment, where the boy lives, and with sad boy knocking on his home's door, Demo backs a little away. Moments of waiting is awarded when the mother lets out a cry of sheer happiness seeing her little boy when she opens the door. She hugs him tightly and keeps telling him how much she had been worried.
"The nice men saved us." The boy says, pointing at Demo.
The woman turns her teary eyes up to him, saying very genuine. "Thank you, oh thank you so much returning my boy back to me. Why don't you—"
But Demo has to decline whatever offer she is making. "Sorry lass, but it will be best if I do not stay for long."
She blinks, now confused. "Why? Aren't you...?"
He replies by removing the jacket, revealing the yellow logo of a bomb. The woman gasps, as she clearly thought he would've been one of the police, some random and kindhearted person or maybe one of the Magisterium men; not one of the terrorists the media keeps saying are cold-hearted murderous that destroys everything on their path.
Demo is not surprised by her reaction and with a goodbye wave along with: "You have a good boy there, lassie." He leaves the two, not seeing the boy waves goodbye after him with his mother being split between letting him say goodbye to his rescuer or stop him from doing it.
With their first mission over, Demo watches a bit dumbfounded Sniper prepare himself in making an appearance for this Hale, preparing by arming himself up.
"You better take that sword with you, mate." Sniper suggests while doing a quick calibration to his sniper rifle before strapping it onto his back. Even though he were the one who made the alliance with Hale along with three other resistance groups, and the alliance most likely is still there. Sniper just cannot make himself trust Hale to welcome them with open arms. That man is more brain than muscle and that is putting this Sniper a bit on edge as he feels like he's going to deal with a crocodile instead of a human. Think he would prefer a crocodile over that brute.
"Isn't this one an alliance?" Demo asks a bit confused to why Sniper told him to arm up for this upcoming visit.
Sniper checks how many bullets his submachine gun has, not enough so he refills the clip. "He allied himself with the three teams stationed here, but after their destruction, I am unsure if he still wishes to keep the deal with us." He puts the submachine beside the rifle, turning to Demo. "I may give us the advantages being a fellow man of Auister, but I do not trust Hale. As Spook said: this moron is known to attack first and ask later, so I would like come prepared if we're not welcomed."
"Makes sense." Demo shrugs and grabs his medieval sword, right that moment, a ghostly voice leaves the old piece of metal. "heeaaads...!" Demo ignores it and puts on back, turning around he cannot help but smirk seeing the never going to get old reaction everyone gets when hearing his weapon speak for the first time.
"Is that sword... talking?" Sniper asks, completely dumbfounded from hearing a voice from that rusty old sword.
"Aye."
Sniper did recover quicker than most though. "Where in bloody hell did you get a talking sword?" For he has never heard of anyone wielding a sword begging for heads. Now he can see why Demo decapitated the Magisterium soldiers when he used that thing.
Demo grins; for this is not the first- and probably not last time he hears that question. He straps the sticky bombs bag onto his wolverine daemon's back- Heavy's not the only one weaponizing his daemon. "You don't want to know, might tell you... when I'm drunk."
Sniper rolls his eyes and yet is unable to hold back a grin of this dark-skinned man's reply. "You're always drunk, mate." Demo whole heartedly agrees and after a good laugh, the two heads out.
"Do you think he will let us in if we knock?" Demo asks Sniper, both watching the large building having the name of Mann Industry; the company owned by Hale and Demo can see why those past resistance members wanted that man as their ally. Turns out Hale is a very successful weapon dealer.
Sniper pulls out his rifle and watches the building through the scope. Out of habit, Lareine turns around to watch his back. Down below, Sniper takes notice that there are a few Magisterium soldiers walking about, from the looks of it; Hale has just sold them a truckload of weapons, no surprise there really. "Maybe, but I doubt the Magisterium soldiers will." He remarks to the scot, turning the scope to the edges of the building. If his past memories from his earlier visits serve him correctly, there should be a way for them to get inside with little risk of getting spotted. He smiles when he finds the path and signs to Demo that he should follow. The two sneak inside without getting spotted by either guards or soldiers. They did have to knock one person out, though, when a worker just happens to walk down the path they went down. That unlucky person got gagged and thrown into a closet, besides from several aches and a wounded pride; he will be fine. With that small issue done Sniper signs Demo to follow and takes the not-so-drunk man through the seemly countless hallways.
"This is too easy." Laraine muses worried, they haven't spotted one single guard and for a place like this, Sniper knows that something is clearly not right as big industries like Hale's should be swarming with guards. This smells like a trap, yet still against his instinct telling him to turn around and get the hell out, he pushes forward and steps into Hale's office– to then get thrown across the hallway along with the door.
Demo quickly pulls out his sword. "Bloody hell!" and is ready to attack whatever there not only broke the door but also threw Sniper to the floor.
What is behind the now thrown to pieces door is a huge man- very close in challenging Heavy in size, beside him is a just as big daemon in form of a muscular dark-grey bull with golden brown and sharp horns. This just as muscular man eyes the two residence members once and a wide smile appears underneath his big mustache. "I WAS WONDERING WHEN YOU WOULD DROB IN." He says loudly as if shouting. He eyes Sniper who is getting around from being flung through a hallway along with a door. "HELLO THERE MY FELLOW AUISTER! BEEN A LONG TIME EH?!"
"Not long enough..." Sniper grumbles while getting back on his feet, maybe he should consider himself lucky it was only a door that got thrown at him. Correcting his aviators and hat, Sniper introduces his new team member. "Mr. Hale, this is a new co-worker of mine." He nods towards Demo, the scot is still in a fighting stance and Sniper does not blame him. Meeting Mr. Hale is always a gamble as that man has a tendency mixing up a handshake with arm wrestling. "He's a Demoman."
"ARE YOU THE ONE WHO BLEW UP MY FACTORY IN MEXICO?!" Hale asks loudly and with little to no warning his bull daemon headbutts Demo's Taipa so hard he sends her flying into the nearby wall and almost knock her and Demo out. "I DO NOT LIKE WHEN PEOPLE BLOW UP MY BUILDINGS!"
"He wasn't the one who blew up you bloody factory!" Sniper steps in before they will lose another team member. Hale, fortunately, stops his attack, turning to his fellow countryman. The former teams realized Hale obsession when this brute of a man ceased his attack and even let them get a few weapons with only a minor warning they shouldn't destroy his factories when he realized that Sniper was from Auister like himself. That is why Sniper always has to be the one discussing business with Hale; even though Sniper here really wishes he didn't have to. Saxton Hale might not realize it but most people from Auister saw this one as an abnormally big man with an attitude a tad too bombastic for their taste. The only reason most people from the Kingdom of Auister tolerated Hale was that they listened to money which Hale has a load off. The Australians would've accepted him more, but Saxton Hale never spoke to those backwater blokes as he called them. Like the Australians out in the bush, Sniper didn't care much for Hale personally nor the rumors swirling around him. One of them is that Hale has cut his chest hair to look like
The Kingdom of Auister. If that's true or not Sniper doesn't- and never wants to know.
"WAS IT ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE SCOUT?"
"I'm a Sniper." Sniper grumbles annoyed he always has to correct this brute of a man of what class he is. "And yes, it was us who blew up the factory- but it was a necessary sacrifice." He adds, although not really worried that Hale will get mad at him. again, Saxton here is obsessed about his country to the point of ridicules.
"HMM, WELL IT DID GET THE MAGISTERIUM PENCIL PUSHERS OFF MY BACK. SO I LET IT SLIDE." Hale murmurs, but it still sounds like shouting for the two other men. Turning to the Sniper that currently helps Demo back on his feet. "BUT NO MORE BLOWING UP MY FACTORIES ALRIGHT?" He points at Sniper as if lecturing the man.
Sniper resists the urge to roll his eyes, he knows it will be best for both him and Demo to stay on Hale's good side. "Of course Mr. Hale." He instead replies in a somewhat stained politeness.
"GOOD, NOW WITH THAT SETTLED, I PRESUME YOU ARE HERE FOR SUPPLIES. BIDWELL, TAKE THEM TO THE STORAGE." Hale commands his personal assistance and heads back into his office that is filled with stuffed animals. "NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN SCOUT!"
"I'm a Sniper you dimwitted bloke!" Lawrence snaps, but of course, the fellow Aussie did not hear him. Grumbling he turns to Demo. "I look nothing like a Scout." But the Scot is not any help.
"A wee bit you do, mate." Demo grins. Sniper shoots him a death glare and if they weren't on the same team, then he might've shot the man.
Hale's assistance clears his throat, getting the two men's attention. "This way if you please." He and his just as calm Saluki daemon lead them down to the storage which is a room filled with pretty much everything they need for future missions.
Taipa jumps up on a crate filled with gunpowder. "We could blow up a whole building with this!" She grins wickedly, it fades as she wonders out loud. "What's the catch?"
Demo agrees with her, why would Hale give them all of this to wage war against the Magisterium; which is his best buyers by the looks of it. "What does he get in return for helping us?"
"Hale thrives on war." Sniper explains, pointing to Bidwell that he would like a crate filled with scrap metal and gunpowder. "As long we're fighting the Magisterium, they keep coming to him for weapons."That's why Hale secretly supports both sides, so he can keep this war going as long as possible.
Demo nods, he sees the reason now. "Sneaky plan."
"But dangerous," Sniper remarks. "if the Church ever realizes he gives us supplies, they will overthrow him. One of the reasons why he only hands us scrap and leftover materials."
"Good thing we have a bloody good Engineer then." Demo grins, packing a box with several ingredients for his bombs.
Sniper smirks in return, yes it is good they have Dell on their side. Otherwise, they might not be able to turn scrap into worthy weapons.
With his task done helping those two resistance members Bidwell walks into the office. He clears his throat to get his boss's attention. "Sir, the two have left with the resources." His daemon sits down calmly beside him.
"GOOD!" Hale bellows and turns back to wrestling his beloved daemon but does stop when his assistance says with his usual calm voice. "Oh, and Mr. Grey are requesting us to restock his old weapons with some newer ones his men found four months ago."
"THE ONES HE STOLE FROM THE CONAGHER GUY?"
"From the looks of it, yes."
Hale snorts loudly and no longer feels in mood wrestling his daemon. "VERY WELL, I WILL GIVE HIM HIS BLOODY STOLEN GUNS. BIDWELL, TAKE ONE OF EACH MODEL AND SEND THEM BACK TO THE ELITE!"
Bidwell nods. "Of course, anything else?"
"YES, SEND MY WRESTLING BEAR AND A GOOD SOLID WALL UP TO MY OFFICE, I'M GONNA NEED IT AFTER HAVE SPOKEN TO THAT FLITHLY BUG TO GREY!"
those of you who know about the tf2 comics. Saxton Hale is actually the normal one in tf2 Australia while Sniper was the weird one.
most people writing about Sniper and him being a runt in his country always explains how much it negatively affects him, more so when he stands before Saxton who is the prime example of what a true Aussie is.
but in my crossover, that is quite the opposite. here Sniper is the prime example of what a true Aussie is. so in this universe, Lawrence Mundy is quite chill about this whole Australian thing- he still dislikes being around Hale though.
comments are very appreciated, you have no idea how much it means hearing my readers thoughts on my stories.