entry_7
1607 hours, Saturday, February 3, 1973.
I am shaking quite badly so that I can hardly speak. This is bad, the very worst thing that could have happened to us, and I cannot help but think it is my fault.
The Sniper pulled the van to a stop soon after the loud noise had sounded, the one mentioned at the end of the previous entry. The vehicle jerked so sharply that Herr Engineer slid out of his seat a little, and I had to hold onto Drei's box so she would not end up on the floor. The noise happened again several times in quick succession. I tried to look out the window again.
E-001: Keep down!
0031: Herr Engineer, those are gunshots.
E-001: I know! That don't mean you have to look!
0031: But what if they need our-
E-001: Our presence ain't gonna help no one, trust me!
I began to slide down below the window though I did not like the idea of not seeing what was happening outside. Before I was down all the way though, I saw Miss Pauling and the Sniper run around the front of the van. Both were armed. Miss Pauling was shouting into a large rectangular device I could only assume was a telephone. I paused.
E-001: Didn't you hear what I said?
0031: Please Herr Engineer, I want to keep informed of the situation. What if our attackers come to the van? It would be best to be prepared, ja?
He didn't say anything, so I kept watching. The Sniper kept running, hesitated briefly, then threw himself to the ground. A bullet hit the side of the van. I didn't observe where the bullet came from, but Miss Pauling turned to see where it had gone. I had to stoop to make sure she did not see my head through the blinds. Both of their voices raised as soon as I was out of sight. It sounded as though they might have been running nearer to us.
E-001: Dammit, did she see you?
0031: No, I don't think so.
E-001: Then why-
The van rocked sideways as though impacted by a large mass. Drei did fall onto the floor that time. I could hear her flapping and making distressed noises through her box's lid.
0031: Was geschieht?
Herr Engineer muttered something that was probably cursing and scrambled backward toward the door. I did not trust myself to stand, not in the tumultuous environment that was rapidly gripping my surroundings. The thing, whatever it was, hit the side of the van again. I could hear the Sniper shouting outside, sounding panicky, and shots that might have come from Miss Pauling's gun. Then I heard another voice.
A voice like mine.
It seems so obvious in retrospect; who else would have set an ambush for us?
Herr Engineer wrenching open the door brought me back to my senses. I scooped up Drei's box and pulled out my saw before balancing precariously on my wheel, little though I wanted to. I glimpsed the dull gleam of sheet metal over Herr Engineer's shoulder, sheet metal of the same quality and color as he was. Two pairs of glowing blue optics glared at us from two mechanical faces.
Mein Gott, I must be shaken. These descriptions sound almost like something a human would write.
Heavy Weapons unit 1266 drew back from where he had been about to pound on the van again. The other robot was Pyro unit 0805, and its flamethrower was raised toward us. Both myself and Herr Engineer paused. 1266 raised his voice.
1266: WE HAVE FOUND THEM! THEY ARE IN LITTLE VAN!
Herr Engineer jumped out and ducked underneath 1266's arm. He and 0805 turned to follow his progress, which gave me time to lower myself clumsily over the bumper and onto the ground. Drei flapped harder as I raced out of reach. 0805 spun toward me so that I had to skip back even farther, away from his fire and 1266 and, unfortunately, Herr Engineer as well. 0805 only watched me instead of advancing. I set Drei down on the ground and readied my saw, watching to see what the other robots would do.
1266's enormous arm swung out in an attempt to loop around Herr Engineer's chassis. He jumped to the side out of the larger robot's reach, then delivered a blow with his wrench to 1266's elbow joint. It bent back on itself. That is something a Heavy unit's elbows are not supposed to do.
He shouted and swung his other fist toward Herr Engineer's head. His injured arm swung at his side, the joint jammed into the incorrect position. Herr Engineer was forced to retreat again, away from me and the van.
I had my own trouble to worry about. 0805 advanced, apparently under the impression that my attention was absorbed by the fight, and sent another burst of fire at my face. I jerked backward before it could sustain any damage. It was most unfortunate that I did not have my syringe gun; I had forgotten it during the rescue from Herr Gray's headquarters. Trying to fight a Pyro at close range is not a good idea, to put it lightly, but when one is only armed with a melee weapon there is little choice. I circled around 0805, trying to lure it away from the box holding Drei. It did not seem willing to attack just then though. It kept its face to me, watching for me to make some mistake.
A scream that I only just recognized as being Herr Engineer's rang out through the air. It directed my attention to the fight just in time to see 1266 rip his jaw from his face.
0805 tried to burn me again. I slammed the saw down on its arm and sped around it toward my friend, ignoring the slight pain signals registering from my side. Human shouts were mixing with the robotic ones; several of both were drawing near to us. I did not process them at the time.
Herr Engineer went rigid, apparently shocked, then pulled the Heavy unit's bad arm out as straight as it could go. 1266 didn't have much warning or time to react. The smaller unit pulled, turning and dropping his weight at the same time, so that gravity and his own momentum worked against 1266. He crashed to the ground just as I arrived at Herr Engineer's side, but I needn't have bothered. 1266 had barely touched the ground when Herr Engineer was on top of him, jamming his wrench's handle down into the weak point where the neck connected to the head. 1266 jerked and shouted. Herr Engineer shoved it deeper, and the shouting stopped abruptly. He didn't move anymore.
Before I had time to say anything, a blast of air sent me hurtling sideways so I crashed into the van. 0805 was bearing down on the two of us. It sent a steady stream of flame making the Pyro unit barely visible from my vantage point. Herr Engineer jumped up and ran at it, sparks flying from the disconnected wires at his jaw's joint. 0805 shifted its trajectory just slightly, turning so it could keep Herr Engineer in his sights as well. It was all that I needed.
I skidded forward, skirting around the edge of the fire, and struck the Pyro unit's arm with the saw again. The flamethrower slipped, but 0805 kept its grip. I had to make a quick decision. Dropping my saw, I grabbed its weapon with both hands and wrenched it to one side with all of my strength. 0805 didn't like that and had to focus its attention completely on me, jerking and twisting the flamethrower as it made its incoherent shouts of frustration. It rocked me dangerously on my wheel so that I was constantly in danger of losing my balance. Herr Engineer could not approach as the fire flashed in an almost unpredictable pattern. I thought for certain that this fight could not end in our favor.
Demolitions unit: OUT OF THE WAY LADS!
The bellow caught me off guard. I looked up in time to see the human Demoman charging at us. Ah, I am being literal here; he was charging and not simply running quickly, charging with a shield and sword as though hoping to make impact against something with the force of a small truck. I let go of the flamethrower in surprise, which to my alarm was the only thing keeping me upright. I fell backward to the ground. 0805 didn't seem to have noticed the shout. Seeing that I was incapacitated it turned on Herr Engineer.
The Demoman bashed into it with his shield, and now it was the Pyro unit that flew backward into the van. The sword raised high over the human's head. 0805 lifted its flamethrower, head tilting as though confused as to what was happening. It was the last thing the robot did before the sword cleaved through the top of its head, splitting the metal with a terrible electric hissing and a shower of sparks.
I tried to push myself up while scanning the area for other foes. There were no other robots standing besides Herr Engineer but many destroyed metal shells. I turned my attention back to the Demoman.
0031: Danke.
Demolitions unit: Stop moving and stay quiet.
I hesitated, confused. Herr Engineer stooped next to the fallen 1266 to retrieve his displaced jaw. As I watched, the Demoman sent a kick to his back so he went sprawling over the destroyed robot. Herr Engineer gave a shout, though it was distorted from the destruction inflicted by the Heavy unit.
E-001: What... dammit-!
Demolitions unit: I GOT ALL OF 'EM OVER HERE, MISS PAULING!
Herr Engineer froze. I turned my head just slightly to see the Sniper and the woman in question approaching, both looking quite harried. I went as still as I could, hoping that she would not notice the glow of my eyes. Fortunately Miss Pauling's eyes were on her gun as she reloaded it.
Miss Pauling: Great, but Spy says there's more on their way, mostly Scouts with some heavier classes sprinkled in.
Sniper unit: Bloody...
He was looking down at myself and Herr Engineer. Demoman stared at him pointedly as though trying to convey information through his expression alone. I tried to keep looking dead instead of watching him.
Demolitions unit: I got those ones meself just now. Put up a fight, they did, but they were no match for the Eyelander in the end.
Sniper nodded in comprehension, shoulders relaxing, before he glanced back to his companion.
Sniper unit: How's it looking for us Miss P? Any casualties so far?
Miss Pauling: *sigh* Medic's had his hands full keeping everyone alive, but no. We can't hold out for much longer, not if Gray's sending more troops our way. We have to keep moving.
Demolitions unit: Er... what would happen if we were to have any casualties? We haven't been attacked on the run before.
He sounded slightly nervous. Miss Pauling looked up from her gun.
Miss Pauling: We'd have to go back and get you from the last base. The Administrator seems to think that Gray knows where you were stationed last, so basically you could be materializing right into a trap.
Sniper unit: Right. How's about we go round up the others then, eh? I don't fancy getting me head blown off while we stand here chatting.
Demolitions unit: You two go on ahead. I need to clean the oil off this.
He hefted his sword. Miss Pauling and the Sniper left, and he relaxed.
Demolitions unit: God I need a drink. Ye owe me one, Dell.
He helped Herr Engineer to his feet and frowned at his marred face. Herr Engineer held his dislodged jaw up for him to see.
E-001: ...metal... son of... ripped off...
Demolitions unit: Cripes, why are ye still talking boyo? That's only got to make it worse!
0031: Ah, n-not necessarily. A jaw on a r-r-robot is mostly useless for t-talking.
Both jumped and stared at me as though they had forgotten I was there, which they probably had. Herr Engineer offered me a hand up.
0031: D-danke.
Demolitions unit: All right there lad? You're shaking like a leaf in a gale.
0031: O-oh I am f-fine. Only... I d-do not know h-how to prop-perly describe the s-sensation.
I retrieved Drei's box partly so I would not have to look at either of them. Herr Engineer's face sparked a little, and the Demoman sighed.
Demolitions unit: Let's get ye packed into the van before she comes back, all right? We can get ye fixed up later.
Herr Engineer nodded, and the human helped us into the vehicle. Fortunately the van hadn't been badly damaged by the Heavy unit's barrage.
E-001: ...thanks.
Demolitions unit: *shrug* We're teammates, aren't we? Just try to keep yourself out of harm's way from now on, if ye can help it.
He shut the door. Herr Engineer and I did not speak for a long time. Even when the van started moving we said nothing; I assume he had much on his mind to process, just as I did. Do, I mean. We are still in the process of getting to the next base.
Herr Engineer's jaw is nothing. His speech will be fine once we identify which wires have been pulled loose, and then we can reattach the jaw whenever he has time for it. What I am concerned about is Herr Gray.
I know his process. If he is sending out robots for us, he is not going to stop just because his first attempt to take us was unsuccessful. And though I have not been able to communicate with anyone for more information on our current predicament, it would not surprise me if they were still giving chase. There has been no gunfire or other interruptions of course, but that is more of a source of concern than if they had been firing at us. It means that Herr Gray is thinking of a different way to approach this, and what that is I am uncertain. He is a highly competent human, a decisive leader, and perhaps even more intelligent than Herr Engineer in some ways. Predicting his every action would not be an easy feat.
I only know that whatever plans he has will not end well for us.
/entry_7