WARNING - contains graphic violence
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"Is everyone here?"
There was a round of cries as the entire team confirmed their presence to the purple clad woman before them. Everyone had just spent several hours cooped up in a van that smelt dubiously of birds and flesh, so the reply wasn't too enthusiastic.
That suited the assistant just fine however.
"After last nights events, you have all been taken off your current contract and will be put on low-priority intelligence and payload missions for the remaining duration of the month." There was a collective groan from the team as they heard this news. Low-priority meant lower pay and less action.
"Dell, you will be working with me, the Administrator and the opposing engineer to figure out the root of this problem as soon as possible. The rest of you, your next mission will be at 1015 hours tomorrow morning at gravel pit."
"Pauling, ah reckon ah already 'ave an idea of what's goin' on." The behatted Texan got up and walked over to the blackboard on the wall that was usually reserved for team briefings.
"For several years now, we, as Fortress Industries have been vying for tha high position of 'national defence contractor'. For those of ya who don't know, this is a highly prestigious place that'll grant tha holder a large slice of tha Amurican defence budget. Now, as ya can imagine, we ain't alone in the line for this position. We 'ave two other competitors." He turned to draw something on the board. "They are Black Mesa an' Aperture Laboratories. Now, at tha moment, Aperture Laboratories hold tha contract, but ah reckon either of those two companies would do anything ta hold or keep it."
"So, who's pulled a bloody spy on us mate?" Sniper asked, leaning back in his chair and examining a fresh jar of jarate.
"Ah reckon it's Black Mesa." He circled the cooperation in chalk. "Ah know Cave Johnson personally and while he's a fine scientist, he's a few metal short of a sentry if ya know what ah mean. He ain't got the intelligence ta pull somthin' off like this. Also, our company has been coll-ab-er-atin' with them for a while now an' it ain't exsac-tly in their best interest ta go an' backstab us. An' also, acordin' ta Cave, they've had a Mesa sabotage recently too."
"On ze contrary," Spy interjected, removing his cigarette from his mouth. "I think Aperture is exactly what we are looking for."
"Spah, ya know how stupid ya sound right now? That makes no darn sense."
"Oh ho ho, but it does." He got up and walked over to the black board and picked up another piece of chalk. "While Johnson is certainly more than slightly eccentric, we have his delightful zecond in command, Caroline. She, unlike her superior, has the intelligence to construct such a plan like this."
"Ah would point out two things to ya spook. One, shes a lady. She ain't got tha brains for this kinda operation."
There was a simultaneous snort of disapproval from Sniper, Heavy, Pyro and Pauling.
"An' two, she'd need inside information. Aperture isn't exactly known for their stealth, so they ain't got a spah in 'ere."
"Oh, the information. For zat, we'd need a leak." He smiled and walked over to Sniper. "And I know who zat leak is."
"I don't like what ya implying spook." Sniper growled. Spy used the end of his cigarette to force snipers chin up, making his greenish blue eyes meet spy's grey-blue ones.
"Monsieur Flinders, you are seeing Caroline, non?"
"Are ya suggesting that I'd do-"
"Yes. yes I am."
"An' why the bloody hell would I do that? I'm a professional, not some dirty backstabbing bastard like you!"
"Oh, that is easy. Fortress industries is a subdivision of Mann Co., a company that could be described as the embodiment of everyzing Australian. The embodiment of everything you are not. You would do anything to show your country you are worthy of ze title of Australian - or failing zhat, anything to show them zhat you are better than them, even if it would mean taking down zhis team. After all," He leaned in closer to Sniper, his grin growing even bigger. "Zhese are just mercenaries. Idiotic, ametuer, crazed gunmen, not proffesional assasins like you. Zhey are not your friends. Zhey. do. Not. matter. To. you. After, all what iz it you say? 'Be polite, be efficient and have a plan to kill everyone you meet'? Zhat would include this team, non?" Spy leaned back and turned to face Engineer, straightening his lapels as he did so.
"And zhere you have it monsieur Dell. you have your leak, your saboteur and your target."
"Ah can't help but feel ya workin' for a different agenda 'ere Spah."
"I was not aware I was ever working for your agenda Dell."
"So you are implying that one of these companies are sabotaging us?" Miss Pauling quickly asked, not wanting to let this escalate into an argument, especially when she had to report to the Administrator in five minutes.
"Ah reckon so Pauling. It makes sense either way ah guess."
"Spook, if ya seriously implying that I'd go and sell this team out simply for revenge, ya got another thing comin' for ya mate. And," Sniper got up and walked over to spy, leaning in so close to him the Frenchman took a step back from the overpowering odor of coffee, sweat and piss. "If ya do anything to Caroline, I'll fucking cut ya so hard they can hear ya screams down in Aus. Ya got that, ya french cheese eatin' fag?"
The Spy snorted at the Sniper and looked at him disdainfully down the bridge of his nose like he was something unpleasant he'd stepped in.
"Iz there really a need for such childish insults Bruce? After all, it fails to aid to your drivel you call conversation. And anywayz, it adds nothing to the insult to Australia you already are."
"Are ya seriously gonna do this mate? 'Cause ya asking to settle this the Australian way."
"Fine." Spy removed his dinner jacket as the watching mercs cleared a circle for the duelers. "So be it."
"Gentlemen!" The assistant snapped, but even her command could not calm the riled assassins.
"You will lose you know?" Spy smirked. "I am a highly trained agent of the french government."
"An' I fought a fucking croc bare handed mate." Sniper removed his glasses, hat and vest and put them aside. "Ya fancy tricks ain't gonna save ya now mate and ya bloody well know that."
"We'll see about that."
The two men circled each other for a moment, each one watching the other for a break in the others step where they could cut in.
Spy faulted first, his left leg landing awkwardly hitting the ground possibly as the result of some ancient injury. Sniper dove at the frenchman, only for Spy to slide impossibly quickly to the side before the other man hit.
Sniper stumbled forwards, the momentum of his throw forcing off balance. Spy continued this fall forwards by a swift kick delivered to his legs, knocking them out under the Sniper. While the Australian lay, slightly dazed by the turn of events, Spy jumped onto him, putting a knee against his back as he grabbed the man's arm and forced it behind his back.
"Over so soon?" the Frenchman asked, grinning as the australian let out a grunt of pain. "Really, I expected more for someone who fought un crocodile."
While the Sniper certainly lacked the muscles of his homeland's true occupants, all that time spent living in a country saturated with australium had not been wasted. However, the most intense exercise the Spy had done in quite a while had probably involved Scout's mom. As a result, the faux-australian was easily able to overpower the Spy, sending him tumbling off his back with a jerk of his pinned arm.
Each man quickly got up and glared at each other, Spy in hatred and Sniper in satisfaction, his grin revealing his unusually large canines.
"An' I thought you were a bloody Spy." he retorted.
And then suddenly, the Spy disappeared.
The Sniper spun around as the Frenchman turned invisible, expecting him to attack at that angle. The Spy decloaked directly behind him and grabbed the Sniper's head with one arm, flicking out a blade from his wrist with the other.
And with a quick and practiced slice, he sent the sharp blade of his wrist blade across the Australian's throat, its sharp edge slicing through his jugular vein.
There was a shout of pain and the Spy pushed the Sniper forwards, who fell to his knees. From behind him, Scout could hear Medic wince in pain as the doctor caught sight of the severed vessel and the resulting stream of blood.
"I am a Spy. What made you question zhat?" The Frenchman smirked as he watched the Sniper bleed out in front of him.
"You...fucking...cheat." Sniper growled, his voice already unsteady from his blood loss.
The Medic muttered something in German about dumpkoffs and pushed his way out of the audience and over to sniper, a large wad of gauze already in his hands.
"And what do you zhink you are doing Josef?" Spy asked as the German kneeled down before the Australian.
The Medic ignored him as he turned his attention to the Sniper. He had removed his gloves and had a hand to the Australian's neck in an effort to staunch the bleeding, with another on his wrist.
"Eins..zwei..drei.." He muttered, glancing from his watch to the pale skin of the injured Australian. "Someone get me a health-kit."
"Leave him." Spy commanded.
"Vhat?"
"Let him die." Spy looked down at the bleeding man with a slight smirk on his face. "He needs to learn a lesson."
The Medic turned his attention fully back on to his patient, with no intention of following the Spy's order's.
"Herr flinders, I need you to stay calm..." he trailed off halfway through his sentence as the spy pressed his still wet blade to the back of the medic's neck.
"I said, leave him. Unless you want to join him zhat is."
"Nein."
The Spy let out a small hmph and pushed the blade into the man's neck, the metal edge severing dozens of neural connections and veins as it did so. He didn't scream as for a fleeting moment, he was aware of the knife in his spine, its presence setting afire all the nerves there.
And then, the Spy jerked free his blade, sending the fresh corpse to the floor with a dull thud. Bending down, he used the tip of his blade to dislodge the dead man's hand from the Sniper's neck, widening the cut on his neck as he did so.
There was a stunned silence as everyone stared at the Spy in horror.
"Does anyone else wish to challenge my authority?" He asked, his tone surprisingly light for someone who had just killed another person.
"Christ…" Scout whispered, his face white with fear. He could feel the acid burn of bile creep up his throat and it took all his willpower to keep it down. "I think I'm gonna be sick…"
Yes, they were all mercenaries, but none of them, not even Pyro would willingly kill someone in cold blood. They always had a motive, be it money, revenge or defence. They all had standards and ethics.
Expect for Spy, who had just murdered one of their teammates and his healer without as much as a second thought.
Behind the Spy, the Sniper let out one final gasp and slumped to the floor, his skin a deathly white, his blood staining the floor and the white coat of the Medic.
"Ymphm." The blue form of the Pyro stood up and walked over to the Spy.
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand you." Spy looked at the thing in obvious disgust.
The Pyro let out a short of contempt and gave the Spy the middle finger.
"You aren't any better than Scout, you know?" He said while inspecting his blade, the brilliant red blood already starting to dry to a rust red colour. Sheathing the blade back up his shirt cuff, he activated his watch, turning invisible once again.
The Pyro stood there unmoving for a second, its mask hiding anything that could be used to discern it's emotion.
And then suddenly, it reached an arm out and grabbed ahold of the invisible Spy.
The Spy let out a hiss of annoyance and dropped his illusion. The Pyro had grabbed ahold of his left arm and was holding it in an almost vice-like grip. The Spy raised its other arm to strike with his blade, but if the thing even felt the attack, it made no sign of it.
The thing let out a snort of what sounded like laughter and gripped the Spy's arm even tighter, causing him to wince in pain.
But it didn't stop there. The thing spun the Spy around and slammed him into the ground, holding his arm there in a direct copy of what had happened to Sniper minutes earlier. There was a sudden sickening snap and the Spy let out a strangely shrill scream of pain.
Satisfied with its result, the Pyro got up off the Spy and inspected the wound on its arm.
"You sick bastard…" The Spy muttered, trying to get up. His left arm hung limp from where the firestarter had broken it, making the activity rather difficult.
The thing let out what sounded like a snort of laughter and looked down at the Frenchman.
"Mmph thp smmpk nnph?" It let out another laugh, this time louder. It kneeled to the injured Spy and Scout swore that if he could see the things face, it would be grinning.
It didn't say anything else, but instead procured a blue box of matches from a pouch on its belt. It took one out and it instantly burst into flames, despite the fact that the thing had done nothing to light it.
It stared at the flame for a long moment, lost in the almost hypnotic movement of the yellow flame before looking back to the Spy.
And then, it tossed the lit match onto the Spy.
The Frenchman instantly caught fire, the yellow-orange tongues of flame licking up his clothes and skin.
For a single moment, the look on the Spy's face was one of sheer horror before the flame took over his features, twisting them into a horrific, burning parody of his façade.
And the thing just sat there, watching the fire as it burned, turning the man into a pile of ashes and smoke.
"Fuck…" Scout whispered, unable to say anything else. He felt his stomach heave and he turned to the side, unable to keep back the wave of bile that had been pushing at his throat the whole time.
He stood there for a moment, the contents of his stomach on the ground in a pile, the acidic smell of bile and vomit mingling with the acrid smell of burning flesh that filled up the room.
He could see what medic meant now. This team was pretty damn fucked up.
21-6-16
+ Added chapter
/ well...that just happened. apologies if that seemed a bit gratuitous...did you really expect me to forget that one of my main characters is a fire-spewing daemon salamander pyromaniac from hell?
/ also, yay for tie-ins!