009: I can fix it...

[hardhat_truckie]

Action: Outside the hospital

[No sooner had the hospital released him did Engie start to make the long, tiring road back. Without a mirror, he has no idea that there's a sapper stuck to his back that's draining him. But right now, he knows that the first step to fixing the problem is to know what it is.]

Action: 1450 Mitchell Street

[He pushes the door open and stumbles into the house. The walk back had taken out quite a bit of his energy, and he now knows that Dr Johnson must have done something else to him other than implant those metal wings on his back. He sinks down on the couch; he needs to catch his breath and rest or he won't be able to carry on.]

Phone

Howdy there folks. Engie here. I was wonderin' whether any of ya want some help? I can't claim to be a doctor, but I've got a degree in Medicine an' I know a thing or two.

Comments

Science House

[ex_haveaplan64]

(Enough time has passed that being doubly useless, and unable to relieve stress in his usual manner, has worn down his facade of stoic calm.

Have an increasingly upset Sniper pounding on your door.)

Trukie, you in there?

Please, tell me you're there.

Re: Science House

[hardhat_truckie]

Slim? Y-yeah, I am.

[He's about to open the door, when a thought comes to mind.]

Hey, Snipes. Promise me ya won't freak out, alright? I mean, I'm fine, I think, but well...I jus' look, strange now.

[ex_haveaplan64]

So long as you're not th' Spoi, Truckie, it doesn't matter 'ow you look.

Please, open th' door. I--I can't do this boi moiself any more.

[hardhat_truckie]

[Upon opening the door, he figures out quickly why the Sniper is so upset. His hand reaches out carefully to grip his friend by the arm firmly.]

S'alright Sniper. I ain't goin' nowhere.

[ex_haveaplan64]

(The Sniper's grip on the Engineer is akin to a drowning man grabbing onto a life preserve.)

I'm so bloody pathetic, just two days and I'm a wreck already--

[hardhat_truckie]

[Engie leads him into the house and sits him down on the sofa. He could understand why his friend was freaking out; sniping was pretty much his friend's life.]

Hey, it's ok. Isn't this what the town loves doin' to us? We'll get through it, like we always do.

I'll go git you some coffee, OK?

[ex_haveaplan64]

(Being around a fellow team member has calmed him down considerably, but he doesn't let go of the Engineer's arm.)

Th' coffee can wait, Truckie. 'ow are you 'olding up? Didn't 'ear from you for a woile.

[hardhat_truckie]

Been tryin' ta help summa the kids around. It ain't pretty Snipes. One a'them got his organs taken out and attached with tubes. Boy's only 9 years old. Held up pretty good fer his age, but it ain't right fer kids ta go through alla this bull.

The crazy she-devil up in the factory kidnapped me too. Did somethin' ta me. I don't really know, but I haven't been the same ever since. Can't seem ta git my strength back, and carrying 'round these metal things she put on me really tires me out.

[ex_haveaplan64]

Bloody 'ell, that's not roight.

(Hearing about the Engineer has made him forget about his own problems--his hand has been properly dressed anyway, that can wait.)

I'm not all th' way bloind--it just looks loike I'm peering down a microscope all th' toime--maybe I can take a look for you and see wot th' matter is.

[hardhat_truckie]

That alright with ya? I don't wanna bother you none, an' it can't be good fer ya ta keep lookin' at things, if she's made it like a microscope.

[ex_haveaplan64]

It's not bad if I keep the glimpses short. You'll 'ave t' goide moi 'ands t' th' roight general area first, though.

[hardhat_truckie]

OK then. Hold up your hands Sniper.

[After his friend does that, Engit turns around and leans back carefully, to Sniper can feel the metallic wings that Dr Johnson attached to him. Exploring near the base of the wings, Sniper should be able to feel the rough shape of an electrosapper attached to Engie, which should explain the source of his lack of strength.)

Can ya feel it?

[ex_haveaplan64]

(Even not seeing, the Sniper knows what THAT is. He's about to tell the Engineer that his problems were just the BLU Spy being a dick when he takes a closer look.

It's not the wings being sapped, it's Truckie himself. The wires go deep into the other man's flesh, and probably can't be removed without serious pain or even death.)

Those bastards--those blood bastards--!

(And the Sniper descends into Strine expletives.)

[hardhat_truckie]

Hey, it's not too bad.

[Engie turns around to face his friend again, trying to smile for his sake.]

Least they didn't do somethin' to m'brain. Some people in town had their heads messed with. On the whole, I think I got off pretty lucky.

[ex_haveaplan64]

(He's too upset to speak coherently, so he just steams.)

[hardhat_truckie]

What...what is it Snipes? Can't be too bad, can it?

[ex_haveaplan64]

(Finally, he collects himself enough to squeeze out what he saw.)

They've put a Sapper on you, Truckie. And I do mean on you--the wires are going straight int' you. There's no getting this one off.

[hardhat_truckie]

What!?

[OK, maybe Sniper had some right to be that angry. Engie lets off some steam by swearing, Texan style. If only the Sapper wasn't there, because Engie soon tires out and slumps down on the couch again, rubbing his temples.]

...this town has a sick sense a'humor.

[ex_haveaplan64]

(If it were anyone else, Sniper might have sassed back with "no, shit, Sherlock", but it's Truckie and it's event time and he needs a traumabro.)

You said it.

[hardhat_truckie]

[Engie sighs.]

Well, no point moppin' about it. I guess the question is what are we gonna do? I'd like to go and let'em have a piece of m'mind, but I last I couldn't get into the factory.

[ex_haveaplan64]

You tell me. If th' drinks around 'ere didn't taste loike piss I'd be off moi face already.

[hardhat_truckie]

At times like this, I wish I had Demo's Scrumpy. A few shots a'that, an' I'd be out like a light.

[ex_haveaplan64]

Too bad wot li'ell I saved is gone. After this mess is over I've got 'alf a moind t' troi brewing some moiself.

[hardhat_truckie]

I'll help ya. I got Demo ta show me how ta make it back before Christmas. We'll make damn good Scrumpy, an' drink the night away.

[ex_haveaplan64]

That's th' best oidea I've 'eard in a woile. It's a promise--we'll make th' best Scrumpy this soide 'f Mayfield.

[hardhat_truckie]

We'll have a good ol' barbecue to go with it too. Scrumpy, some meat, an' the stars. It'll almost be like back home. Almost.

Action 1

[gotyourbones]

[How did Medic scrape together enough karma to avoid being a subject himself? It's a mystery, but he's finding the additions he's seeing all around town to be funny as hell. Still, he'll point it out if it's not being noticed; RED or BLU, they share a world.]

You seem to have something attached to your back, Herr Engineer.

Re: Action 1

[hardhat_truckie]

Heh, I, I noticed.

[There's a grim smile on his face as he rests on a post box. Why was he so tired, he couldn't get it...]

Good...good ta finally meet ya, Doc. I was startin' ta think that you were droned.

[gotyourbones]

I am good at being unnoticed. Partially because of you, actually; zhe machine sees clearer zhan a person.

[This is totally a compliment, okay, and Medic doesn't actually seem bitter about it. Death is cheap when there's respawn, and once you get over the blow to pride the arms race is pretty entertaining.]

I vas droned for a bit, but it vas nossing. Let me see.

[For serious, metal wings? He's moving around behind you to get a better look.]

[hardhat_truckie]

So long as you promise you ain't gonna stick my kidney in a jar or somethin'.

...sorry, that was a bad joke.

[gotyourbones]

[Medic actually looks mildly indignant.]

Vhat do you take me for? I have plenty of kidneys!

[Totally reassuring. Upon getting a better look, though, he sees the reason that the Engineer is exhausted.]

You are being sapped.

[hardhat_truckie]

[TMI Medic. TMI.

But it's Medic's next statement that gets Engie's attention. His already pale face drops a few more shades.]

S...sapped? Like, an electrosapper?

[gotyourbones]

Ja. Because zhe vhings are metal, I guess. Vhait still, I can take it off.

[Probably via violent yanking. May want to stop him on that one.]

[hardhat_truckie]

H-Hey! Dangnabit Doc, stop that!

[Engie takes a deep breath after that slight outburst.]

Look, I didn't mean ta yell, but I've jus' been operated on, an' it hurt like the devil itself. I...I can't deal with alla this bull. I don't think pullin' it off is goin' ta work, not when she melted it onto my bones.