entry_30

0407 hours, Wednesday, February 14, 1973.

For better or for worse, everything is over now.

The Pyro was shot next. It had jumped at a soft noise and run into the fog before either of us could stop it. We could see the light of its flamethrower moving about as though floating, then quite suddenly there was another gunshot. At the same instant the flames vanished. We were looking at a white wall of fog again. Herr Engineer started toward the point where Pyro had been, but I tightened my grip on his arm. I was shaking terribly.

E-001: PYRO!
0031: H-herr Engineer, do not shout bitte! They will hear us.

He glared over his shoulder at me, still attempting to pull away. I think, had he been in better condition, he might have pushed me over and run.

E-001: Let. Go. Of. Me.
0031: Do not be f-foolish, your ARM is gone. We cannot hope to-

I stopped. There had been a sound, quiet but unmistakable, like someone stepping onto dead grass. Herr Engineer looked sharply behind us, and I spun with the SMG out.

A dark shadow could be seen in the mist. It was drawing steadily nearer. I willed my voice to be steady and aimed the gun, ready to fire.

0031: Not another step if you do not wish to be shot! Identify yourself!

It stopped advancing. A low, very human voice answered us.

Sniper unit: Steve? That's you, ain't it?

I lowered the gun almost without thinking about it. Relief flooded my processor.

0031: Sniper? I thought you were dead! Why did you disappear-

Herr Engineer cut over me. His voice was rough and harsh, from what emotion I could not tell.

E-001: Get closer so I can see you.
Sniper unit: Well I was headed that way when you stopped me. What's wrong?
E-001: What's wrong is everyone's DEAD. Picked off out here in the fog, where we can't see nothing.

Sniper did not move. The feeling of dread that was becoming too familiar was booting up in me, and I hesitantly raised the gun again.

Sniper unit: What does that have to do with me?
E-001: It was a rifle that downed Heavy and Medic, and there's been something screwy going on here ever since the negotiation. Gray wouldn't shoot his own hostage. He ain't stupid.

The Sniper emitted a strange sounding chuckle as though he did not actually think the situation were funny at all.

Sniper unit: Blimey Dell, you don't think I could-
E-001: Get out where where I can see you NOW!

The silhouette began to move again. In a few strides it had resolved itself into a human shape with its hands over its head, and then it was Sniper. His injured eye was still covered, while the other one turned from the barrel of the gun in my hands to Herr Engineer's face.

Sniper unit: I didn't shoot nobody but robots today. I didn't even bring my rifle.

I nudged Herr Engineer softly, almost afraid of how he might react. He didn't.

0031: Ja, this is true Herr Engineer. He had his bow when he rescued me, und he has it still now.

Sniper nodded at my statement.

Sniper unit: And I was there when Scout was shot; we both were, remember Engie? It didn't sound like no rifle shot what took him out. It was a handgun.

After a moment's hesitation, Herr Engineer looked down at the ground.

E-001: Guess I ain't one to go throwing around accusations, huh?

Sniper relaxed, but he didn't put his hands down until I lowered the gun.

Sniper unit: You're just being careful. It's smart.
0031: We can be careful later. I would prefer it if we put more distance between ourselves und the tank, personally.

I didn't add that I could no longer tell where the tank was, or that the lack of sound from the robots was beginning to unnerve me. Sniper glanced back over his shoulder, then lowered his voice.

Sniper unit: I can get us back. Just follow me. Stick close, keep your voices low. We'll talk more when it's safe.

Herr Engineer only nodded. I did the same. And he led the way forward.

Sniper's legs are fairly long. When he wants to walk quickly, he can, and soon burdened as I was with helping my injured comrade along I began to fall behind.

Sniper unit: Keep up!
0031: I'm trying, but you are moving too fast!

He did not slow down. The mist closed in around his heels again, around his entire frame.

0031: Sniper, bitte!

He disappeared into the fog again. I couldn't even hear his footsteps.

0031: Verdammt! Sniper!
E-001: What the hell is he- wait.

I pulled up short because Herr Engineer had stopped walking. In the distance, I could hear machinery starting up. Were the robots coming to get us again?

0031: Herr Engineer we must keep moving.
E-001: Wait a damn moment. It... it was a handgun that shot Scout, right?
0031: Well yes, but can this wait until later?
E-001: No. Steve, it's obvious, it's been Spy the whole-

Before I knew what was happening, he went rigid. An odd blue light played across his back accompanied by crackling, and a horrible feeling of headpains and pressure gripped my body. It took all of my focus to wrench out of his grip. The pain stopped immediately, but Herr Engineer fell face-down onto the ground. A sapper sat squarely in the middle of his back.

Sniper stepped over him, but already his form was shifting. The handkerchief fell from his face, showing a completely undamaged eye. He kept his revolver aimed at me, and his expression was entirely serious.

Spy unit: I thought you would suspect me from the beginning, to be honest. Now-

I ignored the gun. I rammed into the Spy as hard as I could, knocking him backward across Herr Engineer. He didn't shoot me even as I came down on top of him and my hand closed around his neck. I didn't know where this anger was coming from.

0031: How long have you been working for him?
Spy unit: You are about to make a very serious mistake. Please let go of me.

My fingers tightened, and the Spy gritted his teeth. His eyes were watering.

0031: Wie lange haben Sie für Arbeits Gray? Antworte mir!

Something very near my auditory receptors clicked in a mechanical fashion. I froze.

Miss Pauling: He's not working for Gray. Get off of him now.

I turned my head slightly as I relinquished my grip. Miss Pauling had a gun trained on me. She looked slightly the worse for wear, and her lip was bloodied, but she was standing quite steady. I carefully pushed myself sideways off of the Spy. He got to his feet. Immediately he began to smooth the front of his suit.

Miss Pauling: On your back, and hands where I can see them.

I did as she asked, trying to grasp what was happening.

0031: I-I do not understand.
Spy unit: He only attacked because I attacked his friend first, Miss Pauling. Stephen is harmless.
Miss Pauling: I'm not taking any more risks here Spy. They're both going to be shut down for transit.
0031: But we thought... did Gray kill the Scout after all?

Spy rolled his eyes and pulled a cigarette from his case.

Spy unit: No, that was me.
0031: But-!
Miss Pauling: He got in touch with the Administrator when all of our plans went to hell. Respawn is working again, and it was the most expedient way to get everyone out of this situation. But that won't work for me or you or... or the Engineer.

She eyed Herr Engineer, who was starting to stir feebly again. I relaxed. The words were beginning to settle into my head.

0031: They are not dead?
Spy unit: Non. You will be though if we do not get out of here quickly.

He was right. Even now I could hear the clanking of my brethren's footfalls and the shouts heralding their onslaught. Miss Pauling swore under her breath.

Miss Pauling: Spy, hold them off. Robot, you can either cooperate with us or die right here. What's it going to be?
0031: I-I am rather attached to not being dead.

Spy took me by the hand to pull me to my wheel. I steadied myself, and he smiled. It is probably good that I cannot make expressions like a human because I would have only looked confused and dazed in response.

Spy unit: Good luck. You will need it.

Without any further explanation he stepped away from us into the mist. He vanished before he had taken two steps forward. I watched the place where he had gone, puzzled, until I remembered the SMG. I looked down to where I had dropped it near Miss Pauling's feet, but she stepped in front of the weapon. She did not look very happy with me.

Miss Pauling: Leave it. Help Engineer up, and we'll get back to the transport the Administrator has arranged.

I nodded hastily before turning my attention to Herr Engineer instead. Something about the way she talked to me made me anxious.

0031: Where are we going then?
Miss Pauling: You're going to headquarters. The Administrator will decide what happens from there.
E-001: What?

I shhed at Herr Engineer before carefully helping him to his feet. The sapper had spent its charge and fallen off, but he was still shaky. Miss Pauling didn't look at him.

Miss Pauling: This is out of my hands. Spy told her everything; it was the only thing he could do.
E-001: He... I-I feel like I missed something while I was out.

Miss Pauling sighed and pushed her glasses up her nose.

Miss Pauling: Everyone's alive. Spy contacted the Administrator, and he's sent everyone else through respawn. There's transport for us.
E-001: And he had to sap me for that?
Miss Pauling: Well I don't think it was that unreasonable considering just how sane you were acting during the negotiations with Gray.

He looked like he was going to respond angrily, so I cut him off.

0031: Herr Engineer bitte, we should move.

He leaned on me and looked down at the ground again, silent. Miss Pauling turned away from us and began walking. She was looking at a small handheld device, perhaps some sort of navigational system since the fog was so thick.

Miss Pauling: Follow me, and no more talking.

So we did not talk. It has made it difficult for me to ignore the slowly growing sounds from behind us, the clanking and robot voices. It would seem that the fifteen minutes I requested from 0484 are up; I am surprised that he gave us that much honestly. But we can see the shape of a van up ahead. It seems that two of RED team are manning it, their Engineer and their Sniper; perhaps his presence accounts for the rifle shots. We are almost out of here. Soon Miss Pauling will have Herr Engineer and myself climb into the back before shutting us down, and then we will be in transit to this base. We will meet Herr Engineer's boss, this Administrator, and she will decide our fate.

I do not think I have ever been more terrified in my life.

/entry_30