Isaac Shale - RED cyborg

He/they - employee of RED - caution: I bite.

[meet-the-cyborg]

NAME: Isaac Shale

AGE: 28

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada

Now, you might be thinking that all this machinery I have bolted to me is cause of some kinda horrific injury, but that’s not the case. All this is the handiwork of the wonderful Engineer, who, at my request, turned me from an ordinary assassin into a high-voltage killing machine with deadly precision, agility and strength. Ever since I was a boy I knew I was destined for greater things than mere humanity — and now I have achieved those greater things. Though, since all my upgrades came from Mann Co. I ended up having to work for them in return for Engineer’s services. But, hey, it’s not a bad job. Being a mercenary isn’t that different from being an assassin. People sometimes ask me if there’s anything I miss about being fully human, but that’s just stupid. I mean, what is there to miss about being all gross and fleshy? Some people think I’m crazy for doing this to myself. But me? I think they’re crazy for NOT doing it!

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Despite having been born to a mercenary and growing up with the knowledge of both the gravel wars- eventually the Truth behind it too- Mac still feared it.

Had tried to run from it and failed. His father, the red engineer before him...or in this he supposed Before Dell... had given him the harshest Truth.

That war breaks people. Changes them. It was that instilled fear that ran through him still.

And yet Cy and even Dell were standing here, unaffected by it all. All of which looped back to more thoughts of doubt in his head.

Of not being good enough. Capable enough. He came into this knowing he death was meaningless but it carried its own baggage he could not simply dispose of.

Pushing down the insecurities and fears that plagued him and.. well would probably plague him forever, he turned back to Cy.

Hoping his inner turmoil hadn't made it's way to his face, he spoke up, putting on a smile.

"Seems like this really was just the right job for you to end up in." He commented.

Mac envied them, so free from the -

No.

He was not going to spiral through that again. Not now.

So happy and willing to jump into this life he wanted out from.

But did he really? Maybe this was where he was really meant to be and he kept resisting which lead to more suffering.

He tries to silence the thoughts again, focusing on Cys machinery.

"Now that is impressive. You are just full of surprises." He remarked, thankful for something engineering related to get himself lost in.

[meet-the-cyborg]

“I sure am. I’m a man of many mysteries, though that kinda comes with being an assassin. Anyway, I don’t think I have anything else to be doing out here, so… I should probably head back to base. Give Dell his new gift and so on…”

He wandered out back through the streets of Teufort, getting a few passing glances from people who noticed the sunlight glimmering off his metal parts.

He carefully placed the radio into the sidecar of his motorbike, then got onto it and revved the engine. The bike’s metal frame shone as brightly as he did under the sun.

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Mac sighs.

"Yeah, I owe him a lot. When we first started doing this job, I wasn't fairing too well against your friends back on Red. Froze too much out of surprise and fear.

I know we're not supposed to be Afraid going into these missions. But I was scared of the inevitable. The pain and the..." he can't bring himself to say Death. He's died before many times but that's why it's hard for him to say.

But why in this particular context?

"You know, the dying gets a little less scary after you've done it a couple of times but it still...

The first time it still...." he trails off and moves on.

The event still sits heavy on his mind and in his heart.

"So Spy decided to help me with that watch of his. You know the one. Playing the part of several Reds until I wasn't so spooked at seeing them in some sort of...confrontation." He explained.

It had been hard at first but it got easier. Not the times where he was forced to fight against the image of Dell several times but he had played it off, trying to hide his family ties to Red.

Mac listened to Cys explanation and nodded.

"I suppose I didn't really think about how the hot weather must affect you in terms of staying cool. Thought Dell must have added an AC unit in you somewhere." He half joked.

"What about Cold weather?" Mac asked.

He gave a bittersweet smile at the mention of Dell.

"Well you're in luck. If things go the way they have been, we'll be at this job for a good couple of decades like my dad and his crew. Dell will be around to keep you up to shape."

[meet-the-cyborg]

“I guess my last as an assassin had me pretty well-prepared for this. I’ve never been particularly scared of getting hurt, or even of death. Though, I never believed in an afterlife either, so what exactly about death was there for me to be scared of, y’know?”

“Heh, yeah, well… I have cooling fans and stuff inside me, but they can only do so much, y’know? They can’t really prevent my electronics from heating up, just get rid of the heat before it becomes a problem. Cold weather’s easier to deal with, though it makes some of my parts shrink and they get kinda uncomfortable sometimes… but it’s not really that big a deal.”

Cy paid for a water bottle at the till, then opened up a panel on his thigh.

“Take a look at this,” he mentions, “since I don’t have a proper digestive system anymore, this is how I get water into my body. It’s pretty neat. I have a water tank in here that stores it up so I can use it.”

He opens up a small hole in the machinery of his leg, and carefully pours the water in. It’s a little like how one would refuel a car.

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Spy thought about this.

Perhaps the Red was more reasonable than he thought. More sincere. There were still many more questions and uncertainties but did the man not answer his questions?

"If there is really no dissuading the two of you from putting yourselves at risk for such clandestine friendships with each other, then could I ask one thing of you?

Could you keep Mac safe? Primarily from the other Reds. I still have my reservations about you...but if is truly inevitable.... I would rest easier knowing he wont be entirely outnumbered if the rest of your team discovered your little secret." Spy asked.

"As for the Blu team, I will do my part and keep quiet about all this. None of this will get back to the Blus the best I can.

But I swear...if you really do hurt him, I will hunt you down every mission." He hissed, having out his gun away.

"You...you really mean it, Spy? That... I could really just ...spend them with Cy and Dell and you'd cover for me?

That.... I don't know what to say. I know, you ain't an easy man to gain so much trust but I really, truly am grateful. I don't know how I could ever pay you back for this." Mac said, truly in awe. He had never expected this sort of outcome to happen. To be able to walk across lines and not just for emergency respawn repairs.

" You're an adult, as much as I want my teammates to obey the rules we have set up, I also want you to be Happy."

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Ah, now you’re getting it,” Cyborg replied, raising an eyebrow, “Obviously I’ll keep Mac safe. But not for your sake. I’m doing it because me and him and his cousin are friends. Also, you hunt me down pretty much every mission anyway, so I doubt that’d make much difference either way. But I appreciate the sentiment that you’re trying to be nice to me.”

After the two BLUs finished talking, he interjected again.

“Anyway, if we’re done here I have better things to be doing than standing in some little alleyway under the midday sun. I mean, really, I cannot imagine wearing a suit in this weather! You must be burning to death wearing all that.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

"I am not doing this because I approve, but because this is the safer option. If I could keep him away from your team I would have." Spy countered.

Cys comment broke the two out of their conversation.

"We did have a few other things to do today, didn't we?" Mac remembered.

Spy waves them off, although reluctantly.

"I have grown used to the heat. Not comfortable but used to it. I will see you back at the base." Spy said as he began to depart.

He stopped and turned towards the one he was so reluctant to leave for now.

"Take care, Engineer." His voice casual, but a hint of longing was in it.

"See ya later, pardner." Mac called back as he took his parts from the hardware store and left with Cy.

....

"Didn't realize there'd be such a delay....or that we were being followed. Should have .. trusted my instincts back there but I suppose it all worked out for the better, huh?" Mac asked as they walked to a different store. One that was cooler and probably had water.

[meet-the-cyborg]

Cyborg rolled their eyes as Spy left the two of them and wandered away.

“Ugh, well, at least we got him off our tail,” they replied, following alongside Mac, “And he decided to let us go, and didn’t shoot me in the back.”

They wandered into the store and sighed with relief at the feeling of AC on their skin.

“Whew. Yeah, it’s much nicer in here.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

"I told you Spy's really a nice guy. He's just worried about me. Would'a done the same for any of us." Mac chirped, oblivious to the love letter in Spy's speech.

"Sure, he likes his speeches, but he's got a pleasant voice so I ain't complaining." Mac continued.

"It's nice on the ears, comforting. Not like Soldier's, his voice is harsher but that's to be expected. Medics got a nice voice too, but it's nice in a different way." There was a faint smile on his face as he thought about it.

Spy had been a comforting presence and continued to be. Even when he disapproved, he was never too harsh on Mac. At least directly.

Mac relished the cooling contrast with the outdoors. Even if he was more used to it than the others, it was still Nice. A wonderful benefit of electricity and invention.

"Woowhee, that's some fine air conditioning. I don't know about you fellas but the air conditioning we got- thanks to my handiwork- is a god send back...at work." He stopped himself from boasting too much, they were somewhere more populated now and he became...self conscious.

"Think we should pick up some extra water. Never a bad idea." He suggested.

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Yeah… you two are close, huh? I see why he was worried about you.”

Isaac leaned against a shelf.

“I’m always grateful for the AC in our base. Some of my more delicate parts overheat pretty easily.”

Especially around Dell, they thought.

“It’s kinda the tradeoff for being a Cyborg. I’m stronger, more durable, just better in most ways… but I’m always gonna have to rely on Dell to fully maintain that. Not that I, y’know, really have any problems with that…”

It’s unclear as to whether the redness brought to his face is the result of the heat, or just of him thinking about his beloved engineer.

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Spy thought about this.

Perhaps the Red was more reasonable than he thought. More sincere. There were still many more questions and uncertainties but did the man not answer his questions?

"If there is really no dissuading the two of you from putting yourselves at risk for such clandestine friendships with each other, then could I ask one thing of you?

Could you keep Mac safe? Primarily from the other Reds. I still have my reservations about you...but if is truly inevitable.... I would rest easier knowing he wont be entirely outnumbered if the rest of your team discovered your little secret." Spy asked.

"As for the Blu team, I will do my part and keep quiet about all this. None of this will get back to the Blus the best I can.

But I swear...if you really do hurt him, I will hunt you down every mission." He hissed, having out his gun away.

"You...you really mean it, Spy? That... I could really just ...spend them with Cy and Dell and you'd cover for me?

That.... I don't know what to say. I know, you ain't an easy man to gain so much trust but I really, truly am grateful. I don't know how I could ever pay you back for this." Mac said, truly in awe. He had never expected this sort of outcome to happen. To be able to walk across lines and not just for emergency respawn repairs.

" You're an adult, as much as I want my teammates to obey the rules we have set up, I also want you to be Happy."

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Ah, now you’re getting it,” Cyborg replied, raising an eyebrow, “Obviously I’ll keep Mac safe. But not for your sake. I’m doing it because me and him and his cousin are friends. Also, you hunt me down pretty much every mission anyway, so I doubt that’d make much difference either way. But I appreciate the sentiment that you’re trying to be nice to me.”

After the two BLUs finished talking, he interjected again.

“Anyway, if we’re done here I have better things to be doing than standing in some little alleyway under the midday sun. I mean, really, I cannot imagine wearing a suit in this weather! You must be burning to death wearing all that.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

"I am not doing this because I approve, but because this is the safer option. If I could keep him away from your team I would have." Spy countered.

Cys comment broke the two out of their conversation.

"We did have a few other things to do today, didn't we?" Mac remembered.

Spy waves them off, although reluctantly.

"I have grown used to the heat. Not comfortable but used to it. I will see you back at the base." Spy said as he began to depart.

He stopped and turned towards the one he was so reluctant to leave for now.

"Take care, Engineer." His voice casual, but a hint of longing was in it.

"See ya later, pardner." Mac called back as he took his parts from the hardware store and left with Cy.

....

"Didn't realize there'd be such a delay....or that we were being followed. Should have .. trusted my instincts back there but I suppose it all worked out for the better, huh?" Mac asked as they walked to a different store. One that was cooler and probably had water.

[meet-the-cyborg]

Cyborg rolled their eyes as Spy left the two of them and wandered away.

“Ugh, well, at least we got him off our tail,” they replied, following alongside Mac, “And he decided to let us go, and didn’t shoot me in the back.”

They wandered into the store and sighed with relief at the feeling of AC on their skin.

“Whew. Yeah, it’s much nicer in here.”

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Spy thought about this.

Perhaps the Red was more reasonable than he thought. More sincere. There were still many more questions and uncertainties but did the man not answer his questions?

"If there is really no dissuading the two of you from putting yourselves at risk for such clandestine friendships with each other, then could I ask one thing of you?

Could you keep Mac safe? Primarily from the other Reds. I still have my reservations about you...but if is truly inevitable.... I would rest easier knowing he wont be entirely outnumbered if the rest of your team discovered your little secret." Spy asked.

"As for the Blu team, I will do my part and keep quiet about all this. None of this will get back to the Blus the best I can.

But I swear...if you really do hurt him, I will hunt you down every mission." He hissed, having out his gun away.

"You...you really mean it, Spy? That... I could really just ...spend them with Cy and Dell and you'd cover for me?

That.... I don't know what to say. I know, you ain't an easy man to gain so much trust but I really, truly am grateful. I don't know how I could ever pay you back for this." Mac said, truly in awe. He had never expected this sort of outcome to happen. To be able to walk across lines and not just for emergency respawn repairs.

" You're an adult, as much as I want my teammates to obey the rules we have set up, I also want you to be Happy."

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Ah, now you’re getting it,” Cyborg replied, raising an eyebrow, “Obviously I’ll keep Mac safe. But not for your sake. I’m doing it because me and him and his cousin are friends. Also, you hunt me down pretty much every mission anyway, so I doubt that’d make much difference either way. But I appreciate the sentiment that you’re trying to be nice to me.”

After the two BLUs finished talking, he interjected again.

“Anyway, if we’re done here I have better things to be doing than standing in some little alleyway under the midday sun. I mean, really, I cannot imagine wearing a suit in this weather! You must be burning to death wearing all that.”

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Spy felt a sharp pain in his nose, blood starting to drip down.

He backed off, still holding onto the gun, though no longer pointing at his targets back.

Mac put his bag of items on the ground out of the way and tried to separate the two.

"Hey now, let's not get into a fight. We're among civilians and it's cease-fire. Let's not make more work for Ms. Pauling. 'Sides, if either of you died, we'd have to bring you back to base and wait for the respawn machine to register your lack of Vitals." Mac tried to reason.

Spys mask was stained slightly purple around the nose.

"You have a lot to answer for. First this man," he gestured to Cy, glaring at him " terrorizes you for information. Pushes you to the floor in demands for who knows what you told him.

Then you appear out of respawn, shell shocked. I remember seeing you only like that once before. When Their Heavy tortured you.

Now you're here enjoying his company? And of a Red?" He growled.

"Are you going start confessing you've been spending quality time with the Man who ripped your fingers off one by one, next?"

Macs face was Stunned in shock and horror. And a little bit of trauma mixed in.

"It ain't like that Spy." He looked off to the side, holding his hands protectively close to himself, flexing his fingers as if in some attempt to reassure and soothe himself.

"Sides, who said he was involved with ..that other incident?"

Spy huffed.

"Call it a hunch." He turned to Cy.

"You. What's your excuse?"

[meet-the-cyborg]

If it had just been between him and Spy, he was certain that one of them would be dead by now. But he wasn’t keen on the idea of killing Mac’s teammate right in front of him, as easy as it would be to bleed him dry right in that moment.

He stood back, fists still clenched.

“My excuse? Oh, wouldn’t you like to know,” he hissed.

“If Mac weren’t here, I would’ve slit your throat five minutes ago. But hey, let’s be cordial for once, I guess. Y’know, maybe if you weren’t such a frigid bitch you’d understand how it’s possible for someone to make friends with a guy on the opposite team. I bet Mac’s not even told you that my engineer, who you might be familiar with after killing him so many times, is his cousin. Bet you’re jealous I know something about him you don’t, hm? I thought knowing stuff about people was a spy’s job, but clearly I’m a little better at that than you are.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Spy glared at Cy.

"It is not about being ' a frigid bitch' as you so ineloquently put it. It's about not violating the contract we all signed.

Don't you understand? These jobs we are offered, they do not come without stipulations. If the higher ups- the Administrator in this case- decides she is angry enough with us violating them- what do you think she will do?

We are replaceable, ultimately. I am simply trying to protect the ones I lo- care about."

"Or you can keep this up and see how long it takes for Ms. Pauling, or another mercenary to come and put us down on Her orders." Spy hissed.

At this Information, Spy turned to Mac, studying him.

"So, you and your father held the same position, working for the same woman. And now your cousin.

What is it about your family leads to you all being Mercenary Engineers?"

Mac felt his heart stop. He swallowed hard.

"M- my grandfather ran a weapons and munitions shop way back in the day. Passed on the knack to the rest of his kin." He explained partially Truthful.

"Interesting."

"If I may...say something. I get what you're trying to say, Spy. About all this precaution against befriending the enemy.

But Spy, I just want to spend time with my cousin again. The Administrator knows we're related. We were always gonna try and reach out eventually during cease-fire.or when we go home for break.

Is it really such a violation of our contract? Or was I never supposed to talk to that side of my family again?"

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Oh. Oh. I see how it is.”

Though his jaw stays unmoving, his eyes seem to light up with a wicked smile.

“It’s not really about the contracts, is it? It’s not about following Admin’s rules. You’re worried about your precious Engineer getting fired. I mean, I get that. I care about my Engineer just as much as you care about Mac. Pulling a gun on me for it felt a little unnecessary, though. And the way I see it, if you really care about someone, you should let them do as they wish. Plus, I don’t really care if I get fired for this. I could go back to freelance assassin work. Or if I get killed for it?” They shrug, “I’m dead, I guess. Worse things could happen.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Macs eyes darted between the two trying to follow the conversation behind goggles.

Spy felt his face get hot. As if The Cyborg could have read that deeper inner thought he kept to himself, trying to spread out a finer, more of distilled version of it over to the man who he held such affection for.

He raised his gun again, only to force himself to put it back down.

"If it were any other member of the Blu team I would have said the same." He countered half bluffing.

"They are all like family to me. And I must protect them."

Mac raised his eyebrow.

"Even Soldier?" He questioned in disbelief.

Spy hesitated.

"Soldier is a different case." He said rushing through it. He gestured as he talked.

"He can handle himself. He's got Pyro with him anyway."

Spy out his hands on Mac's shoulders, looking deeply at him. So much he wanted to say and yet so hard to say them.

"You, are on fine engineer. That I must say. No one could ever replace you. And I don't want anyone to. I am simply concerned about you. How this job of us takes its toll on you- as it does all of it. Not just you and your machines, but you as a person off the battlefield.

So please. Understand.

I only want the best for you. Even if the other engineer is your cousin- and I know how much family means to you as it does me.

But if it hurts you in the long run. If the reds use this against you. Knowing I could have stopped this.

I don't know how I'll live with myself." Spy finished. It wasn't well presented and out together. But rather as a cascade of raw emotion, sloppily dressed up as a speech of appreciation.

Mac said nothing for a while before smiling at him.

"Aw, Spy, I knew you were always a big softie under that cold, sauce exterior. I guess it comes with the territory of being a leader and all. I appreciate you too, you've already done so much for me and the rest of the team too.

Maybe, when we get back to base and all this cools down, we should talk about what we as a team can do to show we are all so grateful for what you do for all us. Hell, I know, that without you, I would still be flailing at well, the bloodier parts of our work. Soldier may have gotten me to this point, but you just have such a way with persuasion and teaching."

Spy felt like he was hit by a ton of bricks. And yet ..he had to be ok with this.

Mac was already married. He couldn't have this man no matter how deeply he longed for it.

"Will you keep visiting this...this metal man and his friend?" He asked, trying to keep the dejection from his voice.

A moment of silence, an ashamed look.

"Sorry, Spy. But he's the only family I got out here. And I've taken quite the liking to Cyborg."

Spy said nothing, Turning to Cy.

"You. If you were in my position. If you had to choose between letting someone you care about risk death and so much More on the off chance a man you've killed and been killed by. Someone who has murdered your own family and friends repeatedly.

On the off chance that person has decided to spare your one teammate and you know nothing about.

Even with the Administrator and the threat of permanent death hanging over them.

Would you still be happy to let them spend them with that person?"

[meet-the-cyborg]

Cyborg looked between the two men, noticing Spy’s internal struggle not to let his secret out.

Perhaps he and I aren’t so different, he thought momentarily, before Spy addressed him again.

“Well, no. I guess I probably wouldn’t be happy about it. And perhaps I would try and advise them against it. But there’d be nothing I could do to stop them. If it’s what they really want, I can’t put a barrier on that. And if I tried to punish them for it, they’d just find a better way to do it without getting caught. So in the end, all I’d end up doing is stressing myself out. If something bad ends up happening because of it? That’s still not something I could control. I’d try and prevent that bad thing from happening in any way I could, but I couldn’t just stop those two people from being friends.”

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Spy felt a sharp pain in his nose, blood starting to drip down.

He backed off, still holding onto the gun, though no longer pointing at his targets back.

Mac put his bag of items on the ground out of the way and tried to separate the two.

"Hey now, let's not get into a fight. We're among civilians and it's cease-fire. Let's not make more work for Ms. Pauling. 'Sides, if either of you died, we'd have to bring you back to base and wait for the respawn machine to register your lack of Vitals." Mac tried to reason.

Spys mask was stained slightly purple around the nose.

"You have a lot to answer for. First this man," he gestured to Cy, glaring at him " terrorizes you for information. Pushes you to the floor in demands for who knows what you told him.

Then you appear out of respawn, shell shocked. I remember seeing you only like that once before. When Their Heavy tortured you.

Now you're here enjoying his company? And of a Red?" He growled.

"Are you going start confessing you've been spending quality time with the Man who ripped your fingers off one by one, next?"

Macs face was Stunned in shock and horror. And a little bit of trauma mixed in.

"It ain't like that Spy." He looked off to the side, holding his hands protectively close to himself, flexing his fingers as if in some attempt to reassure and soothe himself.

"Sides, who said he was involved with ..that other incident?"

Spy huffed.

"Call it a hunch." He turned to Cy.

"You. What's your excuse?"

[meet-the-cyborg]

If it had just been between him and Spy, he was certain that one of them would be dead by now. But he wasn’t keen on the idea of killing Mac’s teammate right in front of him, as easy as it would be to bleed him dry right in that moment.

He stood back, fists still clenched.

“My excuse? Oh, wouldn’t you like to know,” he hissed.

“If Mac weren’t here, I would’ve slit your throat five minutes ago. But hey, let’s be cordial for once, I guess. Y’know, maybe if you weren’t such a frigid bitch you’d understand how it’s possible for someone to make friends with a guy on the opposite team. I bet Mac’s not even told you that my engineer, who you might be familiar with after killing him so many times, is his cousin. Bet you’re jealous I know something about him you don’t, hm? I thought knowing stuff about people was a spy’s job, but clearly I’m a little better at that than you are.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Spy glared at Cy.

"It is not about being ' a frigid bitch' as you so ineloquently put it. It's about not violating the contract we all signed.

Don't you understand? These jobs we are offered, they do not come without stipulations. If the higher ups- the Administrator in this case- decides she is angry enough with us violating them- what do you think she will do?

We are replaceable, ultimately. I am simply trying to protect the ones I lo- care about."

"Or you can keep this up and see how long it takes for Ms. Pauling, or another mercenary to come and put us down on Her orders." Spy hissed.

At this Information, Spy turned to Mac, studying him.

"So, you and your father held the same position, working for the same woman. And now your cousin.

What is it about your family leads to you all being Mercenary Engineers?"

Mac felt his heart stop. He swallowed hard.

"M- my grandfather ran a weapons and munitions shop way back in the day. Passed on the knack to the rest of his kin." He explained partially Truthful.

"Interesting."

"If I may...say something. I get what you're trying to say, Spy. About all this precaution against befriending the enemy.

But Spy, I just want to spend time with my cousin again. The Administrator knows we're related. We were always gonna try and reach out eventually during cease-fire.or when we go home for break.

Is it really such a violation of our contract? Or was I never supposed to talk to that side of my family again?"

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Oh. Oh. I see how it is.”

Though his jaw stays unmoving, his eyes seem to light up with a wicked smile.

“It’s not really about the contracts, is it? It’s not about following Admin’s rules. You’re worried about your precious Engineer getting fired. I mean, I get that. I care about my Engineer just as much as you care about Mac. Pulling a gun on me for it felt a little unnecessary, though. And the way I see it, if you really care about someone, you should let them do as they wish. Plus, I don’t really care if I get fired for this. I could go back to freelance assassin work. Or if I get killed for it?” They shrug, “I’m dead, I guess. Worse things could happen.”

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Spy felt a sharp pain in his nose, blood starting to drip down.

He backed off, still holding onto the gun, though no longer pointing at his targets back.

Mac put his bag of items on the ground out of the way and tried to separate the two.

"Hey now, let's not get into a fight. We're among civilians and it's cease-fire. Let's not make more work for Ms. Pauling. 'Sides, if either of you died, we'd have to bring you back to base and wait for the respawn machine to register your lack of Vitals." Mac tried to reason.

Spys mask was stained slightly purple around the nose.

"You have a lot to answer for. First this man," he gestured to Cy, glaring at him " terrorizes you for information. Pushes you to the floor in demands for who knows what you told him.

Then you appear out of respawn, shell shocked. I remember seeing you only like that once before. When Their Heavy tortured you.

Now you're here enjoying his company? And of a Red?" He growled.

"Are you going start confessing you've been spending quality time with the Man who ripped your fingers off one by one, next?"

Macs face was Stunned in shock and horror. And a little bit of trauma mixed in.

"It ain't like that Spy." He looked off to the side, holding his hands protectively close to himself, flexing his fingers as if in some attempt to reassure and soothe himself.

"Sides, who said he was involved with ..that other incident?"

Spy huffed.

"Call it a hunch." He turned to Cy.

"You. What's your excuse?"

[meet-the-cyborg]

If it had just been between him and Spy, he was certain that one of them would be dead by now. But he wasn’t keen on the idea of killing Mac’s teammate right in front of him, as easy as it would be to bleed him dry right in that moment.

He stood back, fists still clenched.

“My excuse? Oh, wouldn’t you like to know,” he hissed.

“If Mac weren’t here, I would’ve slit your throat five minutes ago. But hey, let’s be cordial for once, I guess. Y’know, maybe if you weren’t such a frigid bitch you’d understand how it’s possible for someone to make friends with a guy on the opposite team. I bet Mac’s not even told you that my engineer, who you might be familiar with after killing him so many times, is his cousin. Bet you’re jealous I know something about him you don’t, hm? I thought knowing stuff about people was a spy’s job, but clearly I’m a little better at that than you are.”

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Spy watched as the two left.

Together.

The teams were forbidden from attacking each other out in town and especially during cease-fire. But...if Spy were to do some...over time work, surely this would be acceptable.

" why don't we stop by the store and get some water bottles? " Mac suggested as they walked.

"Wouldn't want you to overheat before we got back now would we?"

Now was His chance.

Sneakily running behind them, he pressed a gun into the Cyborgs back.

"Why don't the two of you make a detour, first?" He hissed, low enough for them both to hear.

Mac whipped his head around to Spy's direction.

"You? I thought I smelled something familiar." Mac whispered, trying not to draw too much attention to them.

"So, you Can be snuck up on." Spy commented.

"Now, if you'd be so kind, let us move this conversation somewhere more private." He insisted.

"Spy, come on, let me buy some water for us. It's Hot out-" Mac protested.

"No. We talk now. If you survive, we can get water."

Spy ushered them into a side alley. He gestured to Mac. "You have a lot to answer for ."

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Yeah, sure, that sounds good—“

Cyborg’s words were interrupted by Spy’s sudden appearance.

“I’m not doing shit. If you wanna fight, face me head-on.”

After the three of them moved into the alleyway, Cyborg wrenched an elbow into Spy’s side and jolted his head backward, hoping a headbutt to the nose would catch the man off-guard. He knew he probably wouldn’t survive a bullet to the spine, but, once again, he refused to go down without a fight.

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

"You probably wouldn't be thrilled to listen to me playing my harmonica much then. It's really the only type of music I know how to play on it." He stopped and thought about it, having piled together a small assortment of bits and pieces he needed.

He could just order the parts through Mann Co but Mann Co was not Quality. At least not the stuff they got.

"I figure most music doesn't use a harmonica after all. Not quite as versatile as Dells Guitar, that's for sure.

He got that from his Dad, you know. Got initials carved into the back of it, from what I remember. Surprised he brought it with him." He confessed.

Ah, Scout.

He was familiar with Scout.

"How do you get along with your Scout? I know he's a fan of my ' work' , seeing how he keeps running into them." He let out a chuckle. Perhaps it was a spot of dark humor, or a glimpse of the growing darkness that came with the job of killing and being killed.

You took what pleasures and humor where you could get them.

And if they came at the expense of a loud mouth Boston boy who kept running into your guns?

The meaning and weight of those words, both conflicting with the world he was Meant for and the one he likes to play pretend in hit him hard.

He switched the subject.

"Now, I know this sort of thing is beneath us in the terms of ..what we do. But ..I could just pay for both of us." He sighed.

"Of course, I won't lecture you. I already got two kids, I don't need a third...yet."

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Oh, huh, yeah… hey, maybe I’ll treat you to a drum solo sometime. Drums go with pretty much any genre.”

“Me and Scout get along pretty well. We fight sometimes, but like, not in a serious way. Just play-fighting. I always win, of course, heh. I guess it’s cause we’re the most similar in age on the base.”

They stopped just as they were reaching for another item off the shelf as Mac spoke again.

“Guh. Um, well,” they shrug, “if you wanna. I like saving the money, though. And it’s not like I’ve ever been caught, this strategy of mine is foolproof.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

"Wouldn't that be nice? A little music session with the three of us." He tried to imagine what a mix of guitar, harmonica and drums would sound like. If Cy would play them like how the rock and roll fellas did it or something more old fashioned.

Or perhaps Mac could learn how to play his Harmonica differently. He hasn't touched it in a while. The thing could get loud especially if he was startled by it.

He had fond memories of his harmonica. How his dad had brought it home one day on the rare occasion he came home from his Merc obligations.

Mac had taken a shine to it fairly easily. Trying to make all sorts of sounds on it. He wondered if his parents had expected him to just Get Tired of the thing eventually and they wouldn't have to listen to it all throughout the house.

Or if they had been proud he stuck with the instrument.

The Conaghers were of course a very science and construction oriented group. One could add Violence and bloodshed to that as well.

But they also loved music.

And yet while Dell proudly shows off his guitar, Mac kept his harmonica more guarded. More hesitant to play it in front of others unless he knew them well.

Mac sighed.

"Well, I don't mind paying, but if you'd rather stick to your methods, I ain't gonna stop you.

But if you get caught, I'm gonna pretend I don't know you." He joked.

...

Their engineer played music? He'd never knew this before. But why?

An oversight on his part to not investigate his coworkers closer, or perhaps...he was hoping that he wouldn't have to go behind The Engineer's back. That he would...share openly these things.

Spy had been a fool. Too trusting.

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Yeah, just hope you can keep up with my rhythm.”

He playfully motioned playing the air-drums, before continuing along the aisle.

“Just don’t try convincing that store guy you talked to earlier that you don’t know me. The one you said we’d be doing ‘middle-aged men stuff’ to. For the record, I’m not even thirty… yet. Anyway, I think I’ve got everything I needed. Anything else you gotta pick up?”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

" Guess I'll have to do some practice then." Mac said half joking.

He grimaced at Cys comment.

"Maybe we'll be lucky and it's a different employee we run into." He mused.

It was a pretty small store, so it wasn't unlikely to see that same employee.

"Aw, sorry bout that Cy. Was talking more about myself than you "

Mac thought about it for a moment.

"The rest of the stuff I gotta order specially. Won't find them in the out in town hardware stores. My equipment is rather above .... what's average."

The two made their way to the check out as Spy made his way around the other side to wait and get a better ear for whatever came next.

As much as it pained him, Spy would have to question Engineer. He couldn't be wholly trusted... But perhaps there was a perfectly good explanation for this.

He wanted to hope.

The idea that one of their own would cross boundaries and willingly hang out with the Reds and what they would Do to them was not something that ever came up as it was outright forbidden.

Would they be forced to dispose of their Engineer and wait for a new one to replace him?

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Yeah, there’s a lotta more specialist equipment Dell uses, too. Particularly for my parts… turns out, making a cyborg is a little more complex than a sentry gun. Who’d have guessed, right?” He joked.

They paid for the radio, though not the rest of the stuff they’d taken. Then it was back outside, back into the sweltering heat of the New Mexico daytime. The vent on the back of his neck opened up.

“Oh, man. It’s hot out here… I’m gonna need more coolant when I get back…”

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

"You probably wouldn't be thrilled to listen to me playing my harmonica much then. It's really the only type of music I know how to play on it." He stopped and thought about it, having piled together a small assortment of bits and pieces he needed.

He could just order the parts through Mann Co but Mann Co was not Quality. At least not the stuff they got.

"I figure most music doesn't use a harmonica after all. Not quite as versatile as Dells Guitar, that's for sure.

He got that from his Dad, you know. Got initials carved into the back of it, from what I remember. Surprised he brought it with him." He confessed.

Ah, Scout.

He was familiar with Scout.

"How do you get along with your Scout? I know he's a fan of my ' work' , seeing how he keeps running into them." He let out a chuckle. Perhaps it was a spot of dark humor, or a glimpse of the growing darkness that came with the job of killing and being killed.

You took what pleasures and humor where you could get them.

And if they came at the expense of a loud mouth Boston boy who kept running into your guns?

The meaning and weight of those words, both conflicting with the world he was Meant for and the one he likes to play pretend in hit him hard.

He switched the subject.

"Now, I know this sort of thing is beneath us in the terms of ..what we do. But ..I could just pay for both of us." He sighed.

"Of course, I won't lecture you. I already got two kids, I don't need a third...yet."

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Oh, huh, yeah… hey, maybe I’ll treat you to a drum solo sometime. Drums go with pretty much any genre.”

“Me and Scout get along pretty well. We fight sometimes, but like, not in a serious way. Just play-fighting. I always win, of course, heh. I guess it’s cause we’re the most similar in age on the base.”

They stopped just as they were reaching for another item off the shelf as Mac spoke again.

“Guh. Um, well,” they shrug, “if you wanna. I like saving the money, though. And it’s not like I’ve ever been caught, this strategy of mine is foolproof.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

"Wouldn't that be nice? A little music session with the three of us." He tried to imagine what a mix of guitar, harmonica and drums would sound like. If Cy would play them like how the rock and roll fellas did it or something more old fashioned.

Or perhaps Mac could learn how to play his Harmonica differently. He hasn't touched it in a while. The thing could get loud especially if he was startled by it.

He had fond memories of his harmonica. How his dad had brought it home one day on the rare occasion he came home from his Merc obligations.

Mac had taken a shine to it fairly easily. Trying to make all sorts of sounds on it. He wondered if his parents had expected him to just Get Tired of the thing eventually and they wouldn't have to listen to it all throughout the house.

Or if they had been proud he stuck with the instrument.

The Conaghers were of course a very science and construction oriented group. One could add Violence and bloodshed to that as well.

But they also loved music.

And yet while Dell proudly shows off his guitar, Mac kept his harmonica more guarded. More hesitant to play it in front of others unless he knew them well.

Mac sighed.

"Well, I don't mind paying, but if you'd rather stick to your methods, I ain't gonna stop you.

But if you get caught, I'm gonna pretend I don't know you." He joked.

...

Their engineer played music? He'd never knew this before. But why?

An oversight on his part to not investigate his coworkers closer, or perhaps...he was hoping that he wouldn't have to go behind The Engineer's back. That he would...share openly these things.

Spy had been a fool. Too trusting.

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Yeah, just hope you can keep up with my rhythm.”

He playfully motioned playing the air-drums, before continuing along the aisle.

“Just don’t try convincing that store guy you talked to earlier that you don’t know me. The one you said we’d be doing ‘middle-aged men stuff’ to. For the record, I’m not even thirty… yet. Anyway, I think I’ve got everything I needed. Anything else you gotta pick up?”

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

"You probably wouldn't be thrilled to listen to me playing my harmonica much then. It's really the only type of music I know how to play on it." He stopped and thought about it, having piled together a small assortment of bits and pieces he needed.

He could just order the parts through Mann Co but Mann Co was not Quality. At least not the stuff they got.

"I figure most music doesn't use a harmonica after all. Not quite as versatile as Dells Guitar, that's for sure.

He got that from his Dad, you know. Got initials carved into the back of it, from what I remember. Surprised he brought it with him." He confessed.

Ah, Scout.

He was familiar with Scout.

"How do you get along with your Scout? I know he's a fan of my ' work' , seeing how he keeps running into them." He let out a chuckle. Perhaps it was a spot of dark humor, or a glimpse of the growing darkness that came with the job of killing and being killed.

You took what pleasures and humor where you could get them.

And if they came at the expense of a loud mouth Boston boy who kept running into your guns?

The meaning and weight of those words, both conflicting with the world he was Meant for and the one he likes to play pretend in hit him hard.

He switched the subject.

"Now, I know this sort of thing is beneath us in the terms of ..what we do. But ..I could just pay for both of us." He sighed.

"Of course, I won't lecture you. I already got two kids, I don't need a third...yet."

[meet-the-cyborg]

“Oh, huh, yeah… hey, maybe I’ll treat you to a drum solo sometime. Drums go with pretty much any genre.”

“Me and Scout get along pretty well. We fight sometimes, but like, not in a serious way. Just play-fighting. I always win, of course, heh. I guess it’s cause we’re the most similar in age on the base.”

They stopped just as they were reaching for another item off the shelf as Mac spoke again.

“Guh. Um, well,” they shrug, “if you wanna. I like saving the money, though. And it’s not like I’ve ever been caught, this strategy of mine is foolproof.”

[ashersbunker]

No shirt on, fellas!

This is a redraw.

[meet-the-cyborg]

I’m…. Overheatinggg… save me…

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Perhaps Mac was being paranoid, lingering effects of all the Battles. All the backstabbing, all the death.

This was in public and they were in cease-fire on top of that. Cy was with him and well, he didn't actually know if they knew about their little cross faction friendship or how they would react.

Relax.

Just relax.

" we're just looking for a radio, primarily. And some spare parts. Nuts, bolts, wires and such. Just boring middle aged man things, building and fixing. Some of its hobby projects."

The employee smiled at them.

"I take it this means you know what you're looking for and you can find it on your own?"

They turned to look at Cy. " You look like you woke up in a hardware store." They commented jokingly.

The aisles felt familiar and comforting. Not all stores were laid out the same, but they were similar enough that Mac had an idea of where everything was.

It reminded him of his time with his grandfather. Radigan spent his time equally among his grandsons. The Conaghers were not a large family but they largely valued each others company.

Of course, Dell was the most in tune with Radigan and while he tried not to show it, there was a slight favoritism. He alone was the one most willing to follow in the family business.

Dell was the heir, Mac and Linus were spares to different degrees. Whether Dell was aware of this was something he and Linus never speculated. Even with Linus' understanding of the true extent of the family business being more limited in scope than the realized..

Even if Mac could tell him, he doesn't think he would.

" First stop, the radios. The selection ain't very big but well, it can always be modified. Upgraded.

See one you like?" Mac asked as he gazed at the machines lining the shelves.

Spy slowly followed, keeping enough of a distance.

A radio?

[meet-the-cyborg]

“I’m not middle-aged…” they mutter, in reply to Mac’s words.

The employee’s comment happens to offend them more, however. They narrow their eyes slightly.

We’ll see who wakes up in a hardware store when I knock you unconscious and lock you in one of the storage closets with no food or water! They think, almost as if attempting to transfer their brainwaves to the employee’s head. They decided not to act upon their thoughts, however, as that would probably get the two of them thrown out. And it wouldn’t help them buy a radio.

They followed Mac through the aisles until reaching the shelf with the selection of radios. They scanned it curiously, trying to pick one.

“Hmm, well… I’m not gonna go for red, cause everything else in our base is red… the yellow one would match his hardhat, maybe he’d like that… but the black one would definitely remind him of me… but black’s not really his colour, either…”

They continued contemplating for a few moments, before eventually choosing the yellow radio.

“Yeah… I think he’ll like this one.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

"I suppose you would get tired of seeing the same color for years on end." Mac commented. He'd never thought about it before, seeing as he'd grown up assuming he'd be seeing Red for the majority of his adult life before ending up on Blu. He supposed it was a nice enough color.

Cooler than the warm Reds his father and his teammates had worn in his time. The colors had changed slightly between Generations, or so he thought.

The cool Blu and gray interior was..well it was a bit Bland for his taste, but it was a nice contrast to the warmer environment. Plus the Blu team had better air conditioning than the Red Base had back in his day. Knowing Dell, he might have fixed that, but he'd hardly had time to take notice.

" I think the yellow would go well with the red....well everything. Add a nice pop of bright color to the place." Mac Could imagine the Red workshop but it was the one that had belonged to his father. The one he had expected to inherit.

"Get ready to hear lots of Country music." Mac warned half joking.

"You're gonna be Real Familiar with it. Hear it in your sleep." He chuckled.

Spy crept slowly forward. Not enough to give away his presence but enough to try and hear better.

He caught some of the conversation, but what stood out to Spy the most was the Laughter. The smiles.

How could their engineer be so Friendly with the man who Hurt him? Who threatened him?

Perhaps spy would have to pay a visit to the Red Base himself. He shuddered at the thought, especially of being caught by their medic. But it had been some time since he went through there and it was his job to infiltrate and gather information wasn't it?

[meet-the-cyborg]

“God, yeah, his country music. Sometimes I hear him playing it on his guitar… it’s definitely not my taste. But I’m sure I can introduce him to the world of rock music, in return… I annoy our Scout by playing the drums in my room, but it’s not my fault my room’s right next to his. And he always plays his music too loud as well. He’s got a real obsession with Tom Jones, for some reason.”

Passing through other aisles of the store, he goes around selecting a a few of the parts he needs. But instead of carrying them in a basket or trolley, he instead places them in his mouth. A pack of batteries, screws, nuts and bolts — all end up inside his internal storage compartment. He doesn’t really consider what Mac might think about his blatant shoplifting, as this is all somewhat of a normal routine for him. He keeps the yellow radio tucked under one arm, since it’s too big for him to hide.

[voraciouspangolin]

the engi-neer is engi-faggot

[meet-the-cyborg]

I will save all the horses…

[meet-the-cyborg]

( tales-from-the-blu-team) Blu engineer, who would rather be known as Mac and back in his old life, came across the cyborg. Eyes taking in the details of this strange figure, he could not help but remark.

" I've never seen you around before? Are..are you a new class? Are we supposed to be getting a tenth teammate?"

Scout. Soldier. Pyro. .. engineer. Heavy. Demoman. Medic. Spy. Sniper. .these were the classes he had grown up knowing and was always destined to work with.

The idea of a new class was...something to get used to

They shrug.

“How am I supposed to know any of that? I’m just here to kill people. Used to be an assassin until I joined RED and my Engie worked his magic on me. Now I’m an assassin but even better. It’s pretty sweet you should try it out.”

He spins around, showing Mac every part of his body, as if to prove his point.

“I mean, if you want your own cyborg, you’re probably gonna have to make em yourself.”

[tales-from-the-blu-team]

Perhaps Mac was being paranoid, lingering effects of all the Battles. All the backstabbing, all the death.

This was in public and they were in cease-fire on top of that. Cy was with him and well, he didn't actually know if they knew about their little cross faction friendship or how they would react.

Relax.

Just relax.

" we're just looking for a radio, primarily. And some spare parts. Nuts, bolts, wires and such. Just boring middle aged man things, building and fixing. Some of its hobby projects."

The employee smiled at them.

"I take it this means you know what you're looking for and you can find it on your own?"

They turned to look at Cy. " You look like you woke up in a hardware store." They commented jokingly.

The aisles felt familiar and comforting. Not all stores were laid out the same, but they were similar enough that Mac had an idea of where everything was.

It reminded him of his time with his grandfather. Radigan spent his time equally among his grandsons. The Conaghers were not a large family but they largely valued each others company.

Of course, Dell was the most in tune with Radigan and while he tried not to show it, there was a slight favoritism. He alone was the one most willing to follow in the family business.

Dell was the heir, Mac and Linus were spares to different degrees. Whether Dell was aware of this was something he and Linus never speculated. Even with Linus' understanding of the true extent of the family business being more limited in scope than the realized..

Even if Mac could tell him, he doesn't think he would.

" First stop, the radios. The selection ain't very big but well, it can always be modified. Upgraded.

See one you like?" Mac asked as he gazed at the machines lining the shelves.

Spy slowly followed, keeping enough of a distance.

A radio?

[meet-the-cyborg]

“I’m not middle-aged…” they mutter, in reply to Mac’s words.

The employee’s comment happens to offend them more, however. They narrow their eyes slightly.

We’ll see who wakes up in a hardware store when I knock you unconscious and lock you in one of the storage closets with no food or water! They think, almost as if attempting to transfer their brainwaves to the employee’s head. They decided not to act upon their thoughts, however, as that would probably get the two of them thrown out. And it wouldn’t help them buy a radio.

They followed Mac through the aisles until reaching the shelf with the selection of radios. They scanned it curiously, trying to pick one.

“Hmm, well… I’m not gonna go for red, cause everything else in our base is red… the yellow one would match his hardhat, maybe he’d like that… but the black one would definitely remind him of me… but black’s not really his colour, either…”

They continued contemplating for a few moments, before eventually choosing the yellow radio.

“Yeah… I think he’ll like this one.”