RED Team's Train
En-Route to Well
Another day, another mission, and another chance to take down the BLUs. The night prior, the REDs vowed to end their current losing streak, Freak or no Freak. Everyone was in high spirits, doing their own individual thing or chatting with others. Midway through the ride, Spy and Sniper noticed that Intelligent Heavy, whom had been informed he had to accompany them as an assistant, had been staring into a photograph and sighing sadly. Deciding to check on the big lug, the Frenchman and Australian walked over to Intelligent Heavy and sat beside him.
"How's it going, mate?" Sniper asked. Intelligent Heavy looked at Sniper and gave a half-hearted smile.
"Oh, hello Sniper." The Freak sadly said. "I have lots on mind right now." Spy glanced at the photo in their new friend's hand, carefully gazing at the image. It appeared to be taken at some sort of amusement park, where Intelligent Heavy and other Freaks were standing about, looking like they had the time of their lives. Spy recognized a few of the Freaks in the photo, like Painis Cupcake. He even noticed Christian Brutal Sniper was there, but adorned in the same outfit as a RED Sniper instead of the black attire they encountered him in.
"Pardon me," Spy said. "Are you friends with those Freaks in the photo?"
"Dah," The RED Freak said. "Well, some of them…."
"There's a story behind this, I bet." Sniper joked. "Tell us all about it." Intelligent Heavy looked up from his photo, and gazed off out the window, staring into the vast deserts of New Mexico.
"Heavy was one of first Freaks created. The other Freaks who came before me were stronger and meaner, taunting Heavy and trying to hurt me." Memories flashed through Intelligent Heavy's mind, recounting all the times he had to hide from the dangerous Freaks, causing him to shudder at the thoughts. "I felt like loneliest man in Badlands." A smile slowly spread across the Heavy Freak's face. "But then, I met Spyper."
"Spyper?" Spy and Sniper asked. Intelligent Heavy gestured to the photo, pointing at the Freak to his right. It was a BLU Sniper, but instead had a BLU Spy's head in place.
"Spyper befriended me. Said he would protect Heavy and would be best friend." Intelligent Heavy sighed happily at the memories of all the merry adventures he and his Hybrid friend had. "Then afterwards, I met Polite Spy." He pointed to the figure on the left, a smiling BLU Spy wearing a yellow fisherman's hat. "He saved me from dangerous Freaks here in picture, and also made friends with all of them. We all became friends that day. Spyper, Polite Spy, Painis Cupcake, Christian Brutal Sniper, RED Vagineer, they all became Heavy's friends." He sighed at the memories of his bizarre circle of friends, and all the merry adventures they went in on.
"So what happened?" Spy asked, breaking the mood. The happy face quickly changed to an angry scorn, as Intelligent Heavy crumpled up the photo in his hand.
"Lord DeGroot…." Intelligent Heavy growled.
"Did somebody mention me *hic* grandpappy?" Demoman called, somewhat stuck in a drunken state.
"Nah, mate. Go back to sleep." Sniper shouted, waving the drunken Scotsman off. "Who's Lord DeGroot?"
"Lord DeGroot is evil Demoman Freak. Calls himself 'Devil's Right Hand Man'." Intelligent Heavy explained, holding back anger. "He wants to build an army for Devil, recruits dangerous Freaks to expand."
"So he works for that Nightmare Medic bloke?" Sniper guessed. Intelligent Heavy merely shook his head.
"No, Lord DeGroot hates Nightmare Medic, and Nightmare Medic ignores Lord DeGroot." Hatred began to enter the normally calm Freak's mind. "You see, Christian Brutal Sniper came to me and friends one day, three days before Freaks joined missions. He says he gets job elsewhere. He sold soul to Lord DeGroot for strength, and left us!" Tears began to pour down Intelligent Heavy's face. "Then, after that, Vagineer leaves to join herd, Painis Cupcake goes rampant, and Polite Spy is transferred away to other Facility!" In a fit of rage, Intelligent Heavy threw the crumpled photo at the window, only to have it bounce off and comically smack the Freak in the head.
"So, you blame Christian Brutal for leaving and causing all your friends to disband?" Spy asked, piecing everything together. When Intelligent Heavy calmed, he attempted to flatten the paper, staring at the pictures of his one-time friends.
"I do not hate that Sniper, but I miss him. Spyper and I miss our friends. Before Administrator sent Heavy to RED team, I still saw our old friends often, even when Christian Brutal broke his deal, but things weren't the same." Sniper nearly jumped when he turned and saw Scout standing behind him, the latter apparently having listened to the entire conversation.
"Wait, wait, wait," Scout said, waving his hands. "If Christian Brutal Sniper doesn't work for that DeGroot guy, then why ain't you all friends again?"
"Well, when he did come back from Pentagram," Intelligent Heavy explained. "At first, Spyper and I thought there was hope, but…." Images flashed through his mind of Christian Brutal's return, wearing that black outfit, and a new sense of bloodlust around him. "He changed." As the three mercenaries and Freak sat quietly, the train began to pull to a stop. Miss Pauling walked from the engine room, holding a clipboard in her hands.
"Alright REDs," Miss Pauling said, adjusting her glasses. "Today is a simple Control Point mission at Well. The BLUs are already waiting for you, but I have specific orders to tell you to avoid the waterways on either side of the map."
"What for, ma'am?" Engineer asked. "Don't tell me the pool's contaminated again."
"No, not contaminated, occupied." Miss Pauling said, eliciting a few confused looks from the mercenaries. "We're still trying to round up the Freaks that broke containment, and we recently found two hostile Freaks at Well. Unfortunately, we can't capture them while you are fighting the BLUs, but luckily they only stay in the waters." Intelligent Heavy raised his hand.
"Little assistant lady?" Intelligent Heavy called. "Is Freaks in water the scary Medics?" Miss Pauling gave a grave nod. Intelligent Heavy locked eyes with the rest of the mercs, his face carved a stern statue. "Do as she says. Stay away from water." Taking this advice to heart, once the train skidded to a stop, the REDs unloaded from the passenger cart and into the Respawn base. As Intelligent Heavy waved his new friends off while they did their job, Miss Pauling stood beside him and placed an arm on his shoulder.
"Even if the Administrator was against it," She said, giving a warm smile. "I think it's great that you've made friends with the REDs." The massive Freak turned his head down and smiled.
"Dah, they are not like Freaks, but we all came from them. Some traits show more in others." He said, giving a sigh. "I may look like RED Heavy, but I do not share his ferocity, instead his kindness. Spyper has BLU Spy's kind behavior and BLU Sniper's cruelty."
"Painis Cupcake has the Soldier's tenacity and aggression, but with increased insanity. Magic Mann has a doubled dose of Scout's snarkiness. The list goes on." Miss Pauling rattled on. However, she knew some of the Freaks were nothing but wild animals in the bodies of humans. "If only most of the traits weren't evil."
"Alas, without no evil, there is no good." Was the answer.
"Hey, that's actually really good, Intelligent Heavy." Miss Pauling chuckled. However, she noticed something odd about the voice that said it. It didn't come from the voice of gruff Russian man, but from someone else. It sounded like someone from America, yet had a cold tone coming from it. Turning to check, she noticed that her Freak companion seemed frozen in place, as did the environment around her. As she reached to check to see if Intelligent Heavy was alright, the same voice came again, this time, closer.
"He is frozen in time," Said the voice. "I needed to inform you of this in private." She turned around and saw someone standing behind him. It was a man, roughly about six feet, wearing a black and red plaid shirt, blue jeans, and a black hood pulled over his eyes. His skin was an ash pale tone, and his mouth was contorted in a small frown, with several sharp teeth slightly exposed.
"Who are you?" Miss Pauling demanded. "How did you get here? This is restricted access!" The hooded man walked over to the young assistant and looked down at her.
"Great perils are coming this way, assistant." The mysterious man said. "Events have been set in motion that cannot be stopped." This guy was creeping out Miss Pauling, but she felt sincerity in the man's tone.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"Unfortunately, I cannot intervene, as this is a fixed historical point, but I can help you prepare." He raised a black gloved hand and began listing five signs. "The Breach in Containment, a Living Virus, the Devil's Blade, the Grey Man, and the Army of Metal. Look for these five signs, and prepare for what is to come." The mysterious man took Miss Pauling's hands, and placed a small white crystal in her hands. "Call upon the Watcher, and break this crystal." Miss Pauling looked at her gift, then back at the man, only to see he had gone.
"Miss Pauling?" Intelligent Heavy asked. The assistant turned around, seeing that time had returned to normal, including the Freak. "Are you alright?" At a loss for words, Miss Pauling felt silence for a while. Questions about the hooded man, the ominous warning, and the crystal buzzed about her brain like a swarm of angry bees. Eventually, she finally decided to speak.
"I'm… not sure." She said. She turned to Intelligent Heavy, tucking the crystal in her pocket. "We need to make a few stops before coming back." She turned to the intercom, causing the speaker to crackle with life. "Tell the conductor we need to go to Saxton Hale's office and the Spire."
"Yes ma'am." Replied one of the train workers. The doors closed on the passenger train as the wheels slowly pulled the train forward. As the two passengers took their seats, Miss Pauling attempted to comprehend what happened. Also, a worrying thought that one of the omens may have happened already.
Freak Holding Facility
The Pentagram
The Pentagram sat at the very center of Freak Containment, from a bird's eye view it was a large pentagram carved into the very ground. However, the real facility lies underground, in a fiery hell-hole where the truly dangerous Freaks stir and wander. The ground is charred black, lakes of fire and brimstone dot the landscapes, trees are burnt to a crisp, rocks are only basalt, and skeletons of the deceased populate the destroyed towns. To say Redmond and Blutarch went all out to recreate Hell would be an understatement. Aside from the crumbling structures, only three buildings stood tall and above the rest: The Sunken Dutchman, the Mausoleum, and Castle Nightmare. The Freaks who sustained allegiance with one of the demonic menaces lived in one of these estates, either as part of an army or as slaves to their will.
Sentinel, the ungodly powerful Soldier Demon and Nightmare Medic's most powerful servant, stood in the throne room, overlooking the desolate lands of the Pentagram and watching at the Sunken Dutchman. Despite the normal ghost or zombified mercenary wandering about the blackened stone castle, the fortress was unusually quiet in its Master's absence. The Oni-Masked Freak waited for his master to return from his visit to the lesser Freaks in Insanity, USA. He was joined by Behemoth, the Gigantic Heavy Flesh Golem, and Infierno, the Demonic Pyro and second in command of Nightmare's forces, all awaiting for the antichrist demon to return.
"He must have a good reason for taking so long," Sentinel said. "It's not like him to take part in their parts without blood splaying the floor."
"Mmmph huddah mmmph mmph." Infierno muttered. Behemoth only remained silent as always, giving a little nod. Then, the Pyro Demon felt a burst of dark power. The doors swung open, and entered Nightmare Medic and his Disciples. Sentinel, Infierno, and Behemoth kneeled before their master, while the Devil Freak sat atop a throne of skulls and volcanic rock.
"Welcome back, sir." Sentinel said. "How was your trip to Insanity?"
"Mundane." Nightmare answered. "The mortal Freaks definitely reacted to my presence. I could smell the fear coming off them."
"Mmph hud huddah mph mmmmph." Infierno said.
"But, I saw something interesting." Nightmare Medic chuckled. He waved his hand to Behemoth, and the gigantic monster rose. "Go to the Sunken Dutchman and bring me Lord DeGroot. I have interesting news for him." Behemoth gave a silent nod, and slowly stalked out of the throne room. Once the Disciples had left, Sentinel rose from his place and walked towards his master's throne.
"My lord," Sentinel said. "You have never brought up anything with Lord DeGroot before. Why call him now?"
"Merely because certain circumstances require his attention." Nightmare casually said.
"Sir, do you mean something of an alliance with that pirate?" Sentinel asked. The room remained silent for a while, Sentinel worrying he may have angered his master. Before anything could happen, the doors swung open yet again, this time with Behemoth carrying a squirming Dark RED Demo-Pirate Freak in his oversized arm.
"Put me down you pot-bellied stitched up sack of meat!" Lord DeGroot shouted. Once center of the throne room, Behemoth dropped Lord DeGroot on the ground between a pair of Disciples. He picked himself off the ground, dusted off his dark red outfit, straightened up his captain's hat, and uncorked a bottle of rum pulled from his pocket.
"Greetings, Lord DeGroot." Nightmare Medic greeted with an icy tone.
"Ah, if it isn't the wannabe devil." Lord DeGroot taunted, taking a small sip of rum. "What do I owe the pleasure of havin' that golem of yours pull me away from me ship and drop me in this ashen castle that smells like roasted haggis?" Sentinel growled at the rudeness of their guest, and stepped forward.
"Watch your tongue or I'll rip it out, you maggot!" Sentinel shouted.
"Ach, I think that damn mask is cutting loose the blood flow to your brain, laddie." Lord DeGroot sneered. "I could take you on drunk and missing me arm. Hell, even Twitch could beat you without trying, and he's blind and deaf!"
"Why you miserable little piece of…." Sentinel growled. Before he could move, Nightmare Medic signaled him to back off. Reluctantly, Sentinel returned to his place besides his master, while Infierno chuckled at the sight of his ally being kept on a leash.
"Now what do you want, I have an army of the dead to build." DeGroot said, taking another swig of rum. Nightmare Medic impatiently tapped his fingers on the side of his helmet, bemused by the Devil's Right Hand Man's actions.
"Well, I had received word from one of my Men of Mystery that a Freak Fight had engaged outside the Facilities," Nightmare explained. "And your former subordinate, Christian Brutal Sniper, was involved." This caused Lord DeGroot to spit out all his rum all over an unfortunate Disciple.
"Brutal fought in a Freak Fight outside the Facility?!" Lord DeGroot shouted, coughing in surprise. "Wasn't he also involved with the Containment Breach?"
"Merely an escapee." Nightmare Medic, internally laughing at the misfortune of that Disciple.
"So who'd he fight?" The Devil's Right Hand Man asked.
"A reality bending RED Heavy Freak known as Stu Pidface." Infierno snorted at the ridiculousness of the name.
"Aye, I know that boy. He's incredibly powerful, but unpredictable. Both reasons why I won't recruit him." Said DeGroot, regaining his posture. "So what does Christian Brutal have to do with all of this?" If his face wasn't frozen in a state of anger, a wicked smile would have consumed Nightmare Medic's face.
"It appears your former protégé has gone soft." Lord DeGroot dropped his rum bottle, causing glass to shatter and rum to spill.
"He… he's gone soft?" Lord DeGroot echoed.
"He told me that at the end of the fight, he accidently lit himself on fire and died before returning back to the facility. I looked into his soul, and knew he lied. Instead, he felt regret in killing another Freak, and killed himself." As Nightmare Medic finished his recounting, the entire throne room fell silent.
"I… see." Lord DeGroot said, anger slowly beginning to boil. "When he joined me, I trained him to be an even greater murderer than ever was. Then, he broke contract when I ordered him to try and kill that trouble-making Hybrid. I assumed it was because he cracked, but if you mean what you say…."
"Yes, DeGroot." Nightmare Medic waved his hand to the side, and Behemoth stood behind the crestfallen Demo-Pirate. "Now that our business is concluded, Behemoth shall escort you back to that wrecked ship you call a fortress." Lord DeGroot glared at Nightmare Medic, shaking a fist at the demon.
"I don't need a bloody escort to me own ship, you monstrosity!" He shouted.
"That wasn't a request." Nightmare Medic snarled, his voice burning with malice. Behemoth grabbed Lord DeGroot by the collar of his shirt and hoisted him off the ground. "It was an order." With herculean strength, Behemoth hurled Lord DeGroot out an open window, the latter screaming all the way until he hit the mast of his ship thirty miles away. Now that the idiotic guest was gone, Sentinel decided to speak up again.
"Aside from the amusement of seeing that maggot thrown out the window," He said. "Why did you call him here?"
"Patience, my strongest servant." Nightmare said. "All answers will come in time." As the Nightmare's minions left the room, the Demonic Medic sat on his throne, looking at his kingdom of fire, waiting for all the remaining pieces to fall into place.
Freak-lopedia (Yes, we're changing the name)
Sentinel
Sentinel is a Demonic RED Soldier Freak, created by YouTuber Xho3546. Sentinel is a loyal servant to Nightmare Medic, considered one of his most powerful servant. He, like most of his Demonic counterparts, boasts ungodly strength and endurance. He specializes in close-range kicks, punches, and tearing the enemy apart. When necessary, Sentinel will fight with a crossbow for mid-ranged situations. As a magic talent, Sentinel has mastery over fire as well as immunity. Sentinel has trouble with aim, and will most-likely miss a punch during combat, and also is a little slow in speed, making him an easy target for faster Freaks. He wears an Infernal Impaler and a Yuurei Menpo, with a Dark Red outfit.
Infierno
Infierno is a Demonic RED Pyro Freak, created by Youtuber Xho3546. Infierno is Nightmare Medic's most trusted servant, who's only duty is to please his master. However, Infierno, despite sharing the insanity trait amongst most Pyro Freaks, is very stupid. His incompetence is usually unnoticed when surrounded by his loyal Men of Mystery, but alone is a little threat. However, he is not totally helpless. Infierno boasts a wide array of fire spells, as well as flight due to his devil's wings, and is inexhaustible. Infierno acts more as a team player, usually lacking in the strength to take on foes alone, rather than one on one. He wears a dark red hazmat suit, has a demon tail and wings, and wears Tribal Bones and the Hazmat Headcase.
Behemoth
Behemoth is a Demonic RED Heavy Freak, created by Youtuber Xho3546. Behemoth is a gigantic flesh golem made from a stitched together Heavy and metallic jaw accompanied by knight's helmet. Being merely a mindless servant of Nightmare Medic, he lacks any form of speech, but makes him even more intimidating. He has a very high endurance and resistance, making his allies commonly use him as a shield. Behemoth can attack through a mindless rampage or just being plowed by his lightning fast charges. Behemoth is considered very powerful, but slow to react, being able to be defeated by simply outwitting him. He wears a dark red outfit, knight's helm, metallic jaw, Steel-Toed Stompers, and has a stitched up body.
Lord DeGroot
Lord DeGroot is a Demonic RED Demo-Pirate Freak, created by Youtuber honorcrocketts. Lord DeGroot claims to be 'the Devil's Right Hand Man', boasting a wide array of demonic powers and necromancy. He has a goal of recruiting mighty Freaks to build an army for the Devil, and turn any unwilling foes into zombies. Lord DeGroot is known to have control of a monstrously insane Freak known as Twitch, and has succeeded in recruiting Christian Brutal Sniper. He fights with the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker, swung about with mighty strength, and alongside Freaks and zombies he has created. He is very boastful of his abilities, causing him to fall prey to his own cockiness. He wears a dark red outfit, a pirate captain's hat, and carries around a bottle of rum.
