Team Fortress: Soaked Through

Chapter Fourteen: A New World

"I have a question for you, doc."

"Ja?"

Sniper was laid out on the seat, squinting up at the ceiling. Demo had gone to the front to annoy Tractus, so Sniper took the opportunity. Something was bothering him.

"The whole forgiveness between you and Dee..."

"Too quick?"

"That bloke can hold a grudge, is all I'm sayin'. And I mean, c'mon. You're part of the B.L.U team. It just doesn't make any sense."

B.L.U Medic twiddled his thumbs. "Ve are not using our physical bodies, you know. Every person has a mental image of zhemselves, vhich can be perfect down zhe last detail. Behavioral traits, however, can be slower to process. Ve are an almost primitive being in zhat regard: qvicker to anger, distracted - but ve also tend to cling to ozers in any vay ve can. Ve have little control over our impulses, so ve cope by finding any vay to trust people around us. Social norms simply don't exist."

Sniper furrowed his eyebrows.

"So, pretty much, he doesn't want to hate anybody deep down. And now that we're kinda in this...primitive state, he can't anymore."

"Indeed. Coupled vis stress and a need for familiarity, it isn't all zhat odd."

"Do you think it'll last?"

"Zhere's no telling. Zhis is still a completely new science. Anyzhing I do know is from experimentation and hypotheses."

"That makes me feel real good about millin' around god knows where."

Medic chuckled nervously. "If it vasn't an emergency..."

Just then, there was an announcement over the intercom.

"We have arrived at Corpus Central. Please make sure to take all of your belongings and exit the A.T in an orderly fashion. Your tour guide will be out shortly."

As if on cue, the tram grinded to a halt, causing Medic to grab a nearby pole and Sniper to roll onto the floor.

"Bloody hell-!"

Tractus walked out of what seemed to be the control room. Demo walked out as well, looking both frustrated and relieved.

"I went through this door...where the hell was I?"

Sniper got up from the floor, rubbing his head.

"What are you talkin' about, mate?"

Tractus grinned and gave Demo a long, hard side glance. "It's a little feature I installed. It's to keep people from distracting the driver."

B. L.U Medic started to say something, but shut his mouth. He knew it was no good.

"I was going up stairs," Demo mumbled, "then there were more doors..."

Sniper put a hand on the Scotsman's shoulder.

"This place is kookier than a kookaburra. But Medic might be right around the corner. Let's just find his and get out of here."

"Aye."

   "Alright, everyone, follow me!" Tractus said, the tram doors opening as he went through. B.L.U Medic raised a gloved hand.

   "I still remember you saying 'destinations.' You said you could trace Medic automatically. Zhrough vhatever brainwave tracking system you have. Vhy are ve going to multiple places if you know exactly vhere he is?"