You stood in your shower, scrubbing all of the grime (and hopefully the memories of your dreams) off and letting them sink down the drain. You really tried to believe you were psyching yourself out, but something felt so wrong about it. You didn't have the time to worry about Medic right now. Was your dream some kind of premonition? I can't be. That'd be so... silly. If it was, what could you do about it? Yes, you sniping next to Engie was a part of your new plan, but is that all that happens? You had backups just in case something happened to your post there. Honestly, you were sure what to do about it. It had to just be a bad dream. Psyching myself out....

You hopped out of your shower and into your uniform. The leggings were definitely hard to get on, but you eventually managed. Next were the kneepads. You groaned. You eventually got everything on and situated, but you didn't like the whole... necklace around your neck thing. It just didn't sit right. Well, yeah it was similar to Scout's dog tags, but this was more important... and heavy. It'll be fine. You huffed and jogged in place to get yourself feeling better. When your mood slightly improved by laughing at yourself in the mirror, you grabbed your weapons and devices you needed and headed out to your teammates in the kitchen.

You stepped out of your room and immediately felt the tone of the air shift. Well, you expected this at least a little. After what Demo had told you, it was no wonder everyone either seemed worried or apprehensive. Part of you stopped and didn't want to continue on to the kitchen, but you knew that wasn't an option. Yes, you were... scared. You didn't want that ten percent to come true, but the odds were in your favor. It'll be okay (Y/N)....

You headed purposefully into the kitchen, ready to... well, get ready for your first battle. Whatever. It'll be fine. You stepped into the living room. All eyes were on you. You uncomfortably shifted your weight. Everybody, like you, were dressed in the gear they fight in. It made you, in all honesty, slightly excited to enact your plan.

"Morning!" You greeted everyone cheerfully, feeling slightly awkward when they looked back at you with confusion. You saw their eyes glance back and forth with each other, sending discrete messages to each other.

"Heya Strats! Ya ready?" Scout wrapped his arm around you, making eye contact with a cheeky grin.

"I think I am!" You let go of the awkwardness in favor of Scout's unknowing comfort.

"Ya think?" Scout shook his head. "No, toots, ya gotta know! We know you'll do great, right fellas?" He used his other arm to gesture to your teammates. They gave half-hearted whoops and cheers. Scout waved them off. "Eh, don't worry 'bout them, Strats. At least I have some faith in ya."

"Some?" You joked, adding a gleam to your eye.

"More than some! I am fully confident dhat we will win here, even if dhey aren't." You heard Scout's stomach rumble. "Oh man! Am I hungry. Come on Strats, let's get you fed and ready for da battle." He guided you over to the food Medic had prepared and handed you a plate. The plate still in your hands, you sat your stuff down by your seat. The other slowly followed you two.

Sitting at your seat, you all ate. After most of them were done, the mood turned more sour, as if the looming battle increased everyone's feelings of being on edge. Regardless of how they felt, or how it affected you, you had to do your part. No matter how worried you were about... no. It'll be fine. You'll be fine. You had to show them your plan anyway.

"Okay," you started, pulling out your tablet. "I've come up with our plan for the battle today. Is everyone ready to see it? It's sectioned off by points, but we won't let the BLU team get back that far." You smirked, pressing play.

The plan is as follows:

"At the Opening gate: Demo sets down stickies at both entrances, and Sniper stands next to Engie on the hill guarding the first point. Pyro joins them to watch for BLU Spy or BLU Strategist should the BLUs get past the gate. Hopefully they won't, but it's unlikely. While at the gate, he will airblast pipe bombs and rockets away from the others. Medic, his Uber being charged during the prep time, uses it on Heavy for serious damage output. Strategist sets up an exposed, temporary sentry to hold them back long enough to hopefully run down the time right outside of sticky range (should the BLU Demoman try to hit it while safe in his spawn). Spy hides behind the part of the building that juts out, backstabbing anyone who gets past him. Scout does his part by chasing after people who get out of the main fight. Soldier does his thing by sending people into the air for Sniper to get at.

"First Point: Hopefully a minute or more of time goes by at this point, but if we are pushed back, the first point will more than likely be captured. Still, I finish setting up the teleport from our spawn to the hiding place next to the second point. I join Pyro in hiding by the rocks, searching for Spies or getting behind the enemy team to burn them. Sniper moves back onto a safer platform. Demo and Soldier tag-team with Medic to push out a lot of damage. Heavy help protect Medic, because he'll be exposed here. Engie holds his place. Scout focuses the enemy Medic, and Spy disguises as him to hopefully get more backstabs in.

"Second Point: Sniper stands back on the little building, while I snipe next to Engie. I protect him from the enemy Sniper, because by now he'll have a vantage point to shoot him. Medic switches his focus onto Heavy and Demo while they set up traps and ambush the enemies. Soldier gets to have fun rocket-jumping with his shovel, collecting heads. Pyro controls the connecting tunnels before the second point, ambushing anyone who crosses him. Spy uses the railing above the tunnel to jump down and trickstab the BLUs when they try to push. Scout alerts us if anyone finds a way past us.

"Third Point: This one is tricky for Sniper. Since there aren't any safe vantage points for him to use, he'll tag team with Spy in the tunnels to, well, stab people. In such a wide open area, people are easier targets, meaning I'll be helping Medic in keeping everyone healthy. Soldier controls the track that hangs off the side of the mountain, rocket-jumping and smashing people. Demo and Heavy are out damage outputs. Pyro and Engie prepare a final sentry in a safe spot near our spawn. Scout once again handles the stragglers or those who get past the front.

"Final Point: Everyone's objective: Protect the sentry and Medic at all costs. Everyone must push together. No one fights alone."

The hologram and your voice detailing the plan fades away as the recording comes to an end. It was silent. You had to break the ice.

"Sooo what does everyone think? Does it make sense?" You asked, adjusting your knee pads. Heavy grumbled before nodding.

"Da. Is good plan," he announced, seeming to be in a better mood. It made you internally sigh with relief.

"Thank you! In all honesty, we shouldn't even need to get to the third or final point anyway."

"Wait. What about da other Strategist's plan?" Scout asked, and the others nodded. Thankfully you had already thought of the answer.

"That's where we'd have to adapt. Unfortunately I can't step into her head, but I don't see a lot she could do if we keep her limited to the first two points. There isn't a lot of space and she can't maneuver very well."

"And if she does, we have da rest of the plan!" Scout said, seeming to tie the loose ends together. He triumphantly leaned back into his chair, his hands behind his head. It made you laugh.

"Yeah, we do." You kept laughing. At the sound of it, some of your friends perked up and chuckled.

"Alright." You cracked your knuckles and smiled. "Who wants to beat these BLUs to a pulp?" You raised your fist in the air.

"LET'S DO ITTT!" Demo cried, joining you.

The rest of the team, their morale returning, laughed and cheered, getting up and heading towards the vehicles.

"Oi, Sheila," Sniper stopped you.

"Yeah Snipes?" You grinned. He chuckled for a moment before taking something out of his bag.

"Oi wanted ta give ya this. Oi think you'd do good wit it." He handed you a sniping rifle.

"Oh, is it like the other one?"

"No. It charges fasta the more heads ya collect." Sniper said with a grin. You smirked.

"I see. Does it have a name?"

"The Bazaar Bargain." You stopped. "Somethin' wrong?" Just like from my dream....

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"No, nothing's wrong. Are you ready?"

After thanking him, you decided to hop in the truck this time, sitting in the back seat. Medic insisted on watching Engie, and so he drove while Engie rode shotgun.

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

You saw the building loom near you, butterflies starting to build up in your stomach. You could feel yourself start to get nervous more and more. It was hard to rationalize.

"Ya alright, darlin'?" Engie looked back at you.

"I must admit that I'm getting a little nervous," you laughed slightly. He waved it off.

"You'll be fine, Strategist. That plan ya made was good. 'Sides, even if things go south, we can all manage. Right Medic?" He nudged the doctor, startling him slightly. He cleared his throat.

"Vell, yes I agree vith zhe Engineer," Medic stated, taking a glance at you through the mirror before looking back at the road.

"What's got ya thinkin', Doc?" Engie turned to look at him.

"I zhink jou know, Engineer." Medic was blunt with his words. Just focus on the mission, (Y/N). You'll be fine.

"Is that where you pull in?" You pointed to a little crevasse, trying to change the subject.

"Ah, yes. Good eye."

You left the gear you didn't need in the truck, making sure you had everything as you followed Medic and Engie to meet up with the RED Bread truck. Heavy drove again and you watched him hop out with a small grin. You wish you knew why.

"Yo Strats!" Scout rushed over to you.

"Yeah?" You asked, turning to see him.

"You ready?" He smirked before patting your head and racing away.

"I'll get you for that!" You called after him, laughing. You walked with Soldier.

"ONE MINUTE BEFORE WE RAISE HELL MAGGOTS!" He commanded and you wished you hadn't stood so close to him, covering your ears. One minute to set up? That's pretty quick....

You had to jog to keep up with the mercenaries running to their posts. They had to have turned on the respawn by now, right? No! I won't think about that right now....

"Mission begins in sixty seconds...," you heard a voice from above you. You turned and located a speaker. Was that who I think it was?

"Was that the administrator?" You asked Soldier.

"AFFIRMATIVE!" He confirmed for you. You entered through your spawn area's back door and was met by a little locker room. "THIS WAY CUPCAKE! HOORAH!" Soldier grabbed your wrist and flew through the area. You were starting to remember everything as he ran past certain areas and landmarks for you. You were a little concerned you couldn't remember the place well enough to traverse it, but you shook your head. I'll be fine.

You both landed right in front of the gate. You couldn't see the BLUs yet. You quickly switched to your Engineer gear and started putting up a sentry.

"Ya call that a sentry placement? They should've left ya back home!" You heard a Texan say. You turned, locating the BLU Engineer behind the other gate, holding a toolbox and sneering at you.

"We'll see who's talking when my 'placement' makes it so you can't get past the gate!" You laughed, causing the Texan to snarl at you. You watched as Scout taunted him through the gate, doing anything and everything to make the shorty mad. It made you laugh.

"Mission begins in thirty seconds...," the Administrator cut in.

"Ah'm going to lay you out!" The BLU Engineer growled, yelling.

"Aww is the shorty throwing a tantrum already? That's not very level-headed of you..." You snickered, causing Scout to howl with laughter as the enemy kept quiet.

"Heya Strats! I think we got 'ta him!" Scout jabbed his thumb at the Engineer. You watched as he scowled. You turned back to your sentry. You had collected metal while trading insults back and forth, you looked at your level three sentry, proud.

"Mission begins in ten seconds...," you heard the Administrator.

"Ya ready?" You heard Scout. You got your wrench ready and hid behind your gun.

"Born ready!" You called back.

"Five!

"Four!

"Three!

"Two!

"One!" The Administrator count down. There was silence for a moment, but at the sound of an uncloaked Spy and the dying cries of a Texan, the rest of the BLU team charged out.

BOOM!

Demo's trap went off, killing a good chunk of the team. You sentry went off on the rest and you heard the Uber go off... twice? You looked up to find the enemy Medic and Strategist covering the soldier who just died on their team ubered. You could see the solid blue girl smirk at you and start to aim at your gun.

"PYRO!" You called for him and pointed at the ubered team, sweat already racing down your brow. Pyro rushed in, airblasting the team away from your gun. You relished the other you's look of surprise. "Thanks Pyro!" He gave you a thumbs up and went to hide around a corner.

"Attention! Five minutes left in the mission! Five minutes left in the mission!" The Administrator called out, causing the enemy Soldier to throw himself at your gun, which did not work for him whatsoever.

There you were, your team working together on the plan just as you asked them to. A large smile crept its way onto your lips as you watched your enemies struggle to make it past your front. The BLU Demoman got a pipe to the face followed by a taunt from Soldier, the enemy Medic cried out as Sniper shot him down, and almost everyone was being gunned down by you and your team. You saw a blue ripple float past you and signaled to Pyro, who was thankfully paying attention and burned the BLU Spy. His screams of agony almost made you laugh. You could feel the glee and excitement fill your bones like when you had your first kill, Scout. You were made for this.

One minute ticked by, then two, and then three. You checked your watch. You had about two minutes before you won your first battle without a scratch on you. You were whacking away with your wrench, keeping your gun healthy, when you heard a distant scream get louder and louder... shit.

You ducked and ran away just in time for the BLU Soldier, feeling the lasting effects of an Uber charge you and Pyro thought you had dealt with, crash himself into your gun. It gave the enemy Demoman enough time to set up stickies and blow it to smithereens. The BLU team cheered as, in the confusion, you watched Heavy, Soldier, Demo, and Medic get gunned down. You made a retreat to Engie and switched to your phase two of the plan. You started scoping and shooting the BLUs with your gun from Sniper. As much as you wanted to try to figure out why it matched with your dream, you didn't have the time. You couldn't get distracted.

They advanced with the cart. It took two shots to kill the Heavy, one for the enemy Sniper-

"Oi! That was moi kill, Sheila!" You heard Sniper call at you and you laughed. "Ahh-!" He fell off his perch, dead. You looked to the source of the bullet, knowing it had to be the enemy Strategist.

"Do you see her, Engie?" You asked, hurried. Engie shook his head, seeming more focused on his gun.

You watched as Soldier few through the air and dive-bombed his counterpart. That's not what I told him to do! You inwardly groaned as the BLU Soldier killed yours, pushing the cart onto the point.

Ding!

"The enemy has received additional time..." you heard the Administrator. She seemed upset.

You checked your watch. They get three more minutes? You turned around and checked for Spies, thankfully finding none behind you or Engie. You were doing your part, but were the others doing theirs? You watched as the team fell back to the second point. So far, everyone except Soldier. Well, you guess he would technically be doing the right thing now he was on the second point, but still.

Everyone was doing their part, and you chill a bit with Engine, collecting more heads. You started to watch the time run down again when-

Whoosh!

A deep chuckle ran down your spine, causing shivers. You whirled around with a snarl, but Demo had already sent a pipe into the Spy's back. He exploded on you, almost making you gag. You gave him a thumbs up and went back to what you were doing, but a bit more attentive this time. You watched as the BLUs started attacking more staggered, looking desperate. Your eyes flicked over to the BLU Strategist, acting as a Medic, scowling as the Heavy in front of her died by your loving bullet. You started aiming for her when she smirked. Wha-?

"AUUGGHH!" Your Engie cried out, dead by the BLU Spy, who's come back with a vengeance.

"A pleasure to formally meet 'ou... and be the first to kill 'ou," the BLU Spy grabbed you by the collar, lifting you up like a prize. You writhed in his grasp, trying to get him to let go. You flinched as the enemy Demoman blew the sentry up.

"Aye! Just kill 'er already or I will," the BLU Demoman yelled at the Spy, clearly upset.

"I-!" You saw a bonesaw cut through the Spy in the torso. When he dropped, so did you while you watched the BLU Demoman get into a fist fight with Medic.

"Medic this wasn't the plan!" It was the only thing you could say. You couldn't get involved either, knowing you'd be beaten to a pulp. Medic wasn't even paying attention, gritting his teeth and socking the enemy Demoman like it was revenge for something. You tried to shoot the Demoman, but didn't want to risk hurting Medic. We need him right now!

Using your quick thinking, you switched to Spy's gear and backstabbed the BLU Demoman. He fell with a cry and you looked up at Medic. Before you could thank him, he grabbed you by your waist and threw you behind a rock before crying out in pain. The enemy Sniper got him. Shit. Shit! I don't have time to think about that right now!

You turned invisible and snuck your way around the second point. The BLUs were coming up the tunnel, and now it was only Soldier and Heavy holding all of them back. You had an idea. You switched to Pyro's gear in a safe spot and started creeping up behind the BLU team, and when you were close enough, you let loose on the flamethrower. Their screams of agony sounded like sweet revenge. Unfortunately, they turned around. You held your ground, knowing that they were getting close to death. Soon, you could just walk away and they'd burn out.

"LEETLE GIRL!" You saw Heavy charge in without a gun, push past the burning BLUs in their confusion, and protected you like a wall as bullets flew into his back. With a muffled cry, you watched the life drain from his eyes. Now it was just Soldier, and your reinforcements were far away. You switched to Scout's gear and started running, the cart healing the BLUs from their burn. You flew past bullets and headed to Soldier. You tried to grab his hand and run to regroup, but he shoved you back and readied himself.

"What in the hell are you doing?" You yelled at him.

"WE LIVE LIKE MEN WE DIE LIKE ONE, CUPCAKE!" He hollered, looking at you from under his helmet. "Go get the others, I'll hold them off." He let out a scream and started firing before you could tell him how stupid that was. As he fell, you ran to regroup.

Engie had set up at the third point, but it was no use. There was no protection for his sentry and the BLU team pushed by it easily with their Ubered Soldier. It was down to the fourth and final point.

You had everyone wait for the other to respawn before telling them to stick to the plan. Together, you all ran out and almost immediately got destroyed. You took cover to your left behind a wall leading to stairs. You turned to your left to look over your shoulder, watching in horror and the bomb dropped into your supplies.

"You failed!" You heard the Administrator groan over the loudspeaker, followed by a chorus of "boos."

DAMNIT, NO! The realization of failure felt like you were turning into stone as the BLUs celebrated, hoisting the BLU Strategist up on the BLU Heavy's shoulder. That should've been me....

A gun cocked to your right. You snapped your head, seeing the BLU Engineer's smug grin and fizzling, glowing pistol.

"Remember me?" He smirked.

"Honestly? Not really?" You smiled sheepishly. He snarled and lifted you up by the shirt. "Woah!"

"Whether you do or not, yer comin' with me..." You started laughing out of terror.

"No, you're supposed to send me to respawn! Go ahead! I'm waiting!" You started kicking your legs, trying to get down. Panic started to flow through you as all he did was smirk at you.

"Not at all, darlin'." You looked at him with confusion, stopping. "What? Ain't that what mah softer counterpart tells ya?" You didn't respond. The BLU Engineer sighed. "He's almost as useless as you."

"Do you have her?" You heard your voice call over. The BLU Strategist...

"Yeah! What do ya want be ta do with her?" She laughed.

"Oh! I don't know? Knock her out like I told you to?" You heard her voice turn menacing, causing the Engineer to shiver a little.

"You got it!" Panic overcame you as the BLU lifted his pistol over your head.

"Wait, WAIT!"

SMACK!