M E D I C

[Example: For the Ubersaw and Vita-Saw swap out the needle of the Ubersaw and put the longer one from the Vita-Saw into place, Remove the wooden cylinder and blade piece Vita-Saw handle, Remove the cylinder flask from the Ubersaw handle and place it onto the Vita-Saw handle, If needed adjust the handle for the Vita-Saw so the cylinder flask from the Ubersaw fits perfectly into place. As for the Kritzkrieg and Quick-Fix take the medigun piece from the Kritzkrieg and remove it from its current medipack, Do the same with the Quick-Fix. Once done place the medigun piece from the Kritzkrieg and attach it to the medipack of the Quick-Fix]

— “This is a really interesting idea — it's been on my mind for a while, but I didn't think anyone would share their thoughts with me on it. I'm glad you came to me with this question, since I already had similar ideas. Let's weigh all the pros and cons and come to a conclusion”

Pros (What you would get):

1. Increased range and effectiveness of the melee hit.

· Replacing the Ubersaw's short needle with the Vita-Saw's longer one gives you a more "long-ranged" weapon. Theoretically, this allows you to land hits from a safer distance, staying out of reach of enemy melee weapons (like the Scout's bat).

2. Comfort and versatility.

· Replacing the bulky Vita-Saw handle with the Ubersaw's vial makes the weapon more comfortable and less conspicuous. It's easier to carry and won't snag on clothing or gear. This is an "aesthetic" plus that could improve practicality in the field.

3. Speed + Crits.

· You get very fast healing (from the Quick-Fix) while giving your patient 100% crits (from the Kritzkrieg). This makes your patient extremely dangerous, especially in close-quarters combat.

4. Mobility.

· Thanks to the Quick-Fix, you can quickly keep up with your patient without falling behind. This is especially useful for aggressive classes like Soldier or Demoman who use rocket and sticky jumps.

5. Synergy.

· The combination of crits and high healing speed makes your patient nearly invincible in short firefights. They deal massive damage and recover health instantly.

---

Now onto the cons —

1. Loss of functionality and durability.

· A weapon isn't just a set of parts — it's a unified construct where each component has a specific function and withstands certain stresses. Swapping parts (e.g., putting a vial on a different handle) can throw off the balance or make it fragile. The Vita-Saw's long needle mounted on an Ubersaw handle could simply snap under a heavy blow.

2. Anatomical and logical mismatch.

· The Vita-Saw is essentially an amputation tool, while the Ubersaw is a bone saw. They have different purposes and balances. Swapping parts between them could make the weapon awkward and ineffective. The long, curved Vita-Saw needle might be inefficient for the straight chopping strikes characteristic of the Ubersaw.

3. Loss of warranty and safety.

· If viewed as a real tool, any DIY modifications could make it dangerous — both for the enemy (due to instability) and for the user (risk of breakage or mishandling). This is basically "garage tuning" of a medical instrument, with unpredictable consequences.

4. Technical issues.

· System incompatibility: The Kritzkrieg and Quick-Fix work on different principles. The Quick-Fix uses a "tether" technology with the patient, while the Kritzkrieg generates crits. Their backpacks may be incompatible in terms of power consumption or delivery protocols.

5. Overheating.

· The Kritzkrieg has a more powerful emitter that could overheat the Quick-Fix backpack, which is designed for a different operating mode.

---

Final verdict:

In the end, we get a powerful but not quite durable hybrid saw — and a powerful but extremely situational tool. The Kritzkrieg/Quick-Fix combo is ideal for aggressive play in short skirmishes, but a complete failure in prolonged fights or against a well-coordinated team.

I would rather try to mix the Medi Gun + Kritzkrieg. Let me show you in a table to make it clearer:

[But the Medic's enthusiasm suddenly vanished, as if he had remembered something unpleasant]

— “But personally, I think we also need the opinion of someone who actually specializes in weapons and mechanisms. Maybe I'll ask the Engineer—... from my team, what he thinks about it. I saw him in the garage recently, I hope he's not too busy right now. Come with me”

[Friedrich led you along, passing by grey-blue walls with peeling paint in some places, a sign that there hadn't been any repairs here in a long time. He stopped near a bulky door that bore the emblem of a wrench. The Medic knocked]

— "Mr. Jedediah, you in there?" ( @icecoldinventing )

There's the scrap of a stool against the hard workshop floor, then the sound of things getting kicked out of the way to make a path. Then, after a few seconds, quick footsteps – ones alternating between boot and metal – approach, and the door swings open, the Engineer hiding within offering a curious look.

Hopefully he's got something entertaining, he thinks. Damned sheet metal won't drill out how I want.

— “It doesn't matter to me what some civilian suggested about crossing my weapons — I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter”

[He handed him the letter with recommendations for modifying his melee weapon and healing device]

"I-I, uh– I wasn't expectin' company," he admits sheepishly, reaching out and taking the letter. "Well, lessee here.."

He scans over it, having to reread a few bits to catch all of it, humming quietly in deliberation.

"Well, I agree wit' ya on one front – just combinin' parts of somethin' you're pokin' into someone ain't gonna make somethin' what lasts very long at all. You'd have to upgrade darn near everything, I reckon – metal for the needle, glass for the vial, allat that stuff. All-in-all, you'd just be better savin' your existin' tools an' buildin' somethin' from scratch. An' at that point, you may as well work wit' any improvement ideas you got bangin' around, y'know? Probably make it for an entirely different purpose than what the Übersaw or the Vita-Saw are for – you don't fix what ain't broke."

He scans over the potential medigun combinations, pausing to think about the metrics and ramifications.

"I see where this fella's comin' from, suggestin' a swap-around combinin' the Quick Fix an' the Kritz. The Quick Kritz, if you will." He chuckles to himself. God, he was hilarious. "A-Anyway, but it's as you say, they's completely different machines running on two completely different hardwares 'n' modes. You could overclock the central processor of the Quick Fix to handle the Kritzkrieg's output, but at that rate y'all'd probably just fry the whole damn thing. An' on the other hand, you could try the inverse, fittin' Quick Fix parts ont' the Kritz an' try and achieve the same effect that way, but because of how the Quick Fix is inherently more lightweight than the Kritz, y'all'd just end up underclocking it and making everything worse. Either way, you're just puttin' cow crap on a good sandwich."

He chuckles again awkwardly.

"Very suboptimal. I'd go the Medi Gun an' Kritzkrieg approach, myself. Numbers are closer together, an' they're both meant for heavier-weight performance. Vaccinator and Quick Fix also go damn well together – they's just about sixes on their charge rate. Only about, uhh, a second's difference? That said, means their power load's gonna be about the same. Medi Gun an' Vaccinator's a bit sketchier, just 'cause you might have to overclock the Vaccinator's processor to keep up with the power that the stock gun has to put out in order to, y'know, make a fella practically invincible. Though, long as you worked somethin' in to prevent overheating, it'd probably work well."

He clears his throat, looking up from the page and up at Medic.

— "Honestly, I'm actually quite satisfied with my melee arsenal as it is. The daily mercenary routine gets exhausting pretty quickly, no matter how much one enjoys violence and scattered enemy remains across the field. So really, modifying what already exists is rather boring. Variety keeps things from getting dull, and if everything worked too perfectly... what would be the point? But I do think it would be nice to expand my ranged weaponry. The syringe gun and crossbow aren't particularly effective when you need to fend off someone chasing you. Perhaps if I had something more like a firearm, my work on the battlefield would be more efficient... And that's where I'm heading with this"

[He stepped right up to the Engineer, trying to smile as friendly as possible, but as always, it came out looking like the kind of grin you usually see at a funeral for an enemy — not the kind you use when asking a teammate for a favor]

— "You wouldn't happen to have any spare guns lying around, would you?"

It wasn't that he disliked the idea of handing over one of his spare firearms to Friedrich – although, he'd certainly have a hard time choosing a gun to give away – or even that he felt particularly conflicted about it. Rather, he was worried what would happen to him if the Administrator – or anybody on RED, for that matter – discovered that he was the one that had handed a gun over to the good doctor, all the possibilities for disaster and horror that could befall him swimming through his head.

"W-Well, uh..."

He hesitated, uncertain of how exactly to proceed with the matter. Did he just say no? Did he let it happen? Did he just...'accidentally' leave something out.

"That's a bit...L-Look, it ain't that I don't want to, fact o' the matter is I'd love to see what you could do with a gun. But– But I also gotta think about what'd happen if folks found out I was the one what helped you break the one 'n' only rule we got."

Really, he was just worried it'd give RED even more of a reason to use him as their personal punching bag. A lump caught in his throat just thinking about it.

"L-Let alone, y'know, the other issues it'd cause. If'n we play nasty, next thing ya know, we're gon' have them REDs up in here causin' us trouble even when we ain't fightin'."

[Friedrich let out a light chuckle and gave a stiff shrug, trying to appear casual, but it came off as far too unnatural. No matter how hard he tried, he just didn't have the charisma]

— "I'll be honest with you. I don't want to deceive you. I know how your lock opens, I know perfectly well where you keep everything. You're very predictable, even in your mess. Maybe that's what caused your failure that day..."

[He circled around the Engineer, never taking his eyes off him, as if sizing up an object. His gaze drifted over Jed's hand, the one wearing the glove]

— "Don't you want to try something new? Something Dell never did. You don't like being compared to him, yet you keep following his lead... Why? You could come up with something better, I know you could. Or do you not want to? Don't want trouble? Like right now?"

[Friedrich came up behind the Engineer, breathing down the back of his neck. The BLU Medic had always had trouble understanding personal space. And with his eyesight too]

— "Don't you think our fight over these old men's land has gotten way too banal and trivial? If you tell me you're satisfied with everything, I won't believe you. When everyone went to bed, you were sitting out in the cold. You've got no appetite, low spirits, no motivation, you're nervous way too often. It's because you're stuck in this loop. We need chaos — if we play by their rules, we'll end up getting disposed of like expendable materials. Either they get us, or we get them"

[He reached out and straightened the Engineer's collar, his voice dropping lower as he spoke —]

He flinches when he feels Friedrich come up behind him, cringes just slightly when he feels the Medic's breath on his neck. He tries to hide it, but he's never been particularly good at lying when it came to his body language. His teeth grind together as the doctor brings up that foul night at the RED base – weren't bad enough poking holes in his mind, had to go and prod open sores, too.

"Weren't my fault," he mumbles. It's not his usual, resigned mumble, like he's ashamed, but rather something more heated. Irritated, maybe even just flat out pissed off. "How was I s'posed to know he was gonna choose that one time to wander out 'n' about?"

He doesn't acknowledge the remark about how he never relaxed. He doesn't acknowledge the way the Medic looks at him, the way his eyes skirt over the glove-concealed robotic limb attached to his right wrist. He wasn't a follower, he was just using what knowledge he had when he'd first finished cooking. His stolen knowledge happened to be good at pumping people full of lead, good at cracking open skulls. Why fix what wasn't broke?

"Why bother askin', then?" he abruptly asks. He doesn't want to talk about himself like that. "If ya want one o' my guns, why not just...take one? Why ain't you done it already? Is it just 'cause you know I'd notice?"

It's not an accusatory question. Really, it's not even one asked in bad faith. He seems genuinely curious as the words leave his mouth. It'd be easy enough just to take one, he thinks. He's not sure about the rest of the team, but he knows he'd be too scared to even do anything about it. Coward.

"An' what happens when the important people notice? Totin' a gun around's awful obvious. Why not just–" An idea crosses his mind.

He hesitates. It's clear that he's thought of something, but just like most other things that are different, different from the status quo, he's hesitant to say it out loud.

— "Why not... uh..." [he repeated, not mockingly, but rather chewing on the word as if tasting it]

— "You didn't finish, Jed. And that is the most interesting part. The moment when a thought has already formed but hasn't yet taken shape in words. Those are the moments when the brain produces the most... unexpected solutions. Are you afraid your idea will seem stupid to me? Or are you afraid it might turn out to be right?"

[His voice became softer, almost thoughtful. He clearly liked the fact that the Engineer had actually come up with something. All it had taken was a little pressure. Now all that remained was to give the poor man a tiny push]

[Example: For the Ubersaw and Vita-Saw swap out the needle of the Ubersaw and put the longer one from the Vita-Saw into place, Remove the wooden cylinder and blade piece Vita-Saw handle, Remove the cylinder flask from the Ubersaw handle and place it onto the Vita-Saw handle, If needed adjust the handle for the Vita-Saw so the cylinder flask from the Ubersaw fits perfectly into place. As for the Kritzkrieg and Quick-Fix take the medigun piece from the Kritzkrieg and remove it from its current medipack, Do the same with the Quick-Fix. Once done place the medigun piece from the Kritzkrieg and attach it to the medipack of the Quick-Fix]

— “This is a really interesting idea — it's been on my mind for a while, but I didn't think anyone would share their thoughts with me on it. I'm glad you came to me with this question, since I already had similar ideas. Let's weigh all the pros and cons and come to a conclusion”

Pros (What you would get):

1. Increased range and effectiveness of the melee hit.

· Replacing the Ubersaw's short needle with the Vita-Saw's longer one gives you a more "long-ranged" weapon. Theoretically, this allows you to land hits from a safer distance, staying out of reach of enemy melee weapons (like the Scout's bat).

2. Comfort and versatility.

· Replacing the bulky Vita-Saw handle with the Ubersaw's vial makes the weapon more comfortable and less conspicuous. It's easier to carry and won't snag on clothing or gear. This is an "aesthetic" plus that could improve practicality in the field.

3. Speed + Crits.

· You get very fast healing (from the Quick-Fix) while giving your patient 100% crits (from the Kritzkrieg). This makes your patient extremely dangerous, especially in close-quarters combat.

4. Mobility.

· Thanks to the Quick-Fix, you can quickly keep up with your patient without falling behind. This is especially useful for aggressive classes like Soldier or Demoman who use rocket and sticky jumps.

5. Synergy.

· The combination of crits and high healing speed makes your patient nearly invincible in short firefights. They deal massive damage and recover health instantly.

---

Now onto the cons —

1. Loss of functionality and durability.

· A weapon isn't just a set of parts — it's a unified construct where each component has a specific function and withstands certain stresses. Swapping parts (e.g., putting a vial on a different handle) can throw off the balance or make it fragile. The Vita-Saw's long needle mounted on an Ubersaw handle could simply snap under a heavy blow.

2. Anatomical and logical mismatch.

· The Vita-Saw is essentially an amputation tool, while the Ubersaw is a bone saw. They have different purposes and balances. Swapping parts between them could make the weapon awkward and ineffective. The long, curved Vita-Saw needle might be inefficient for the straight chopping strikes characteristic of the Ubersaw.

3. Loss of warranty and safety.

· If viewed as a real tool, any DIY modifications could make it dangerous — both for the enemy (due to instability) and for the user (risk of breakage or mishandling). This is basically "garage tuning" of a medical instrument, with unpredictable consequences.

4. Technical issues.

· System incompatibility: The Kritzkrieg and Quick-Fix work on different principles. The Quick-Fix uses a "tether" technology with the patient, while the Kritzkrieg generates crits. Their backpacks may be incompatible in terms of power consumption or delivery protocols.

5. Overheating.

· The Kritzkrieg has a more powerful emitter that could overheat the Quick-Fix backpack, which is designed for a different operating mode.

---

Final verdict:

In the end, we get a powerful but not quite durable hybrid saw — and a powerful but extremely situational tool. The Kritzkrieg/Quick-Fix combo is ideal for aggressive play in short skirmishes, but a complete failure in prolonged fights or against a well-coordinated team.

I would rather try to mix the Medi Gun + Kritzkrieg. Let me show you in a table to make it clearer:

[But the Medic's enthusiasm suddenly vanished, as if he had remembered something unpleasant]

— “But personally, I think we also need the opinion of someone who actually specializes in weapons and mechanisms. Maybe I'll ask the Engineer—... from my team, what he thinks about it. I saw him in the garage recently, I hope he's not too busy right now. Come with me”

[Friedrich led you along, passing by grey-blue walls with peeling paint in some places, a sign that there hadn't been any repairs here in a long time. He stopped near a bulky door that bore the emblem of a wrench. The Medic knocked]

— "Mr. Jedediah, you in there?" ( @icecoldinventing )

There's the scrap of a stool against the hard workshop floor, then the sound of things getting kicked out of the way to make a path. Then, after a few seconds, quick footsteps – ones alternating between boot and metal – approach, and the door swings open, the Engineer hiding within offering a curious look.

Hopefully he's got something entertaining, he thinks. Damned sheet metal won't drill out how I want.

— “It doesn't matter to me what some civilian suggested about crossing my weapons — I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter”

[He handed him the letter with recommendations for modifying his melee weapon and healing device]

"I-I, uh– I wasn't expectin' company," he admits sheepishly, reaching out and taking the letter. "Well, lessee here.."

He scans over it, having to reread a few bits to catch all of it, humming quietly in deliberation.

"Well, I agree wit' ya on one front – just combinin' parts of somethin' you're pokin' into someone ain't gonna make somethin' what lasts very long at all. You'd have to upgrade darn near everything, I reckon – metal for the needle, glass for the vial, allat that stuff. All-in-all, you'd just be better savin' your existin' tools an' buildin' somethin' from scratch. An' at that point, you may as well work wit' any improvement ideas you got bangin' around, y'know? Probably make it for an entirely different purpose than what the Übersaw or the Vita-Saw are for – you don't fix what ain't broke."

He scans over the potential medigun combinations, pausing to think about the metrics and ramifications.

"I see where this fella's comin' from, suggestin' a swap-around combinin' the Quick Fix an' the Kritz. The Quick Kritz, if you will." He chuckles to himself. God, he was hilarious. "A-Anyway, but it's as you say, they's completely different machines running on two completely different hardwares 'n' modes. You could overclock the central processor of the Quick Fix to handle the Kritzkrieg's output, but at that rate y'all'd probably just fry the whole damn thing. An' on the other hand, you could try the inverse, fittin' Quick Fix parts ont' the Kritz an' try and achieve the same effect that way, but because of how the Quick Fix is inherently more lightweight than the Kritz, y'all'd just end up underclocking it and making everything worse. Either way, you're just puttin' cow crap on a good sandwich."

He chuckles again awkwardly.

"Very suboptimal. I'd go the Medi Gun an' Kritzkrieg approach, myself. Numbers are closer together, an' they're both meant for heavier-weight performance. Vaccinator and Quick Fix also go damn well together – they's just about sixes on their charge rate. Only about, uhh, a second's difference? That said, means their power load's gonna be about the same. Medi Gun an' Vaccinator's a bit sketchier, just 'cause you might have to overclock the Vaccinator's processor to keep up with the power that the stock gun has to put out in order to, y'know, make a fella practically invincible. Though, long as you worked somethin' in to prevent overheating, it'd probably work well."

He clears his throat, looking up from the page and up at Medic.

— "Honestly, I'm actually quite satisfied with my melee arsenal as it is. The daily mercenary routine gets exhausting pretty quickly, no matter how much one enjoys violence and scattered enemy remains across the field. So really, modifying what already exists is rather boring. Variety keeps things from getting dull, and if everything worked too perfectly... what would be the point? But I do think it would be nice to expand my ranged weaponry. The syringe gun and crossbow aren't particularly effective when you need to fend off someone chasing you. Perhaps if I had something more like a firearm, my work on the battlefield would be more efficient... And that's where I'm heading with this"

[He stepped right up to the Engineer, trying to smile as friendly as possible, but as always, it came out looking like the kind of grin you usually see at a funeral for an enemy — not the kind you use when asking a teammate for a favor]

— "You wouldn't happen to have any spare guns lying around, would you?"

It wasn't that he disliked the idea of handing over one of his spare firearms to Friedrich – although, he'd certainly have a hard time choosing a gun to give away – or even that he felt particularly conflicted about it. Rather, he was worried what would happen to him if the Administrator – or anybody on RED, for that matter – discovered that he was the one that had handed a gun over to the good doctor, all the possibilities for disaster and horror that could befall him swimming through his head.

"W-Well, uh..."

He hesitated, uncertain of how exactly to proceed with the matter. Did he just say no? Did he let it happen? Did he just...'accidentally' leave something out.

"That's a bit...L-Look, it ain't that I don't want to, fact o' the matter is I'd love to see what you could do with a gun. But– But I also gotta think about what'd happen if folks found out I was the one what helped you break the one 'n' only rule we got."

Really, he was just worried it'd give RED even more of a reason to use him as their personal punching bag. A lump caught in his throat just thinking about it.

"L-Let alone, y'know, the other issues it'd cause. If'n we play nasty, next thing ya know, we're gon' have them REDs up in here causin' us trouble even when we ain't fightin'."

[Friedrich let out a light chuckle and gave a stiff shrug, trying to appear casual, but it came off as far too unnatural. No matter how hard he tried, he just didn't have the charisma]

— "I'll be honest with you. I don't want to deceive you. I know how your lock opens, I know perfectly well where you keep everything. You're very predictable, even in your mess. Maybe that's what caused your failure that day..."

[He circled around the Engineer, never taking his eyes off him, as if sizing up an object. His gaze drifted over Jed's hand, the one wearing the glove]

— "Don't you want to try something new? Something Dell never did. You don't like being compared to him, yet you keep following his lead... Why? You could come up with something better, I know you could. Or do you not want to? Don't want trouble? Like right now?"

[Friedrich came up behind the Engineer, breathing down the back of his neck. The BLU Medic had always had trouble understanding personal space. And with his eyesight too]

— "Don't you think our fight over these old men's land has gotten way too banal and trivial? If you tell me you're satisfied with everything, I won't believe you. When everyone went to bed, you were sitting out in the cold. You've got no appetite, low spirits, no motivation, you're nervous way too often. It's because you're stuck in this loop. We need chaos — if we play by their rules, we'll end up getting disposed of like expendable materials. Either they get us, or we get them"

[He reached out and straightened the Engineer's collar, his voice dropping lower as he spoke —]

[Example: For the Ubersaw and Vita-Saw swap out the needle of the Ubersaw and put the longer one from the Vita-Saw into place, Remove the wooden cylinder and blade piece Vita-Saw handle, Remove the cylinder flask from the Ubersaw handle and place it onto the Vita-Saw handle, If needed adjust the handle for the Vita-Saw so the cylinder flask from the Ubersaw fits perfectly into place. As for the Kritzkrieg and Quick-Fix take the medigun piece from the Kritzkrieg and remove it from its current medipack, Do the same with the Quick-Fix. Once done place the medigun piece from the Kritzkrieg and attach it to the medipack of the Quick-Fix]

— “This is a really interesting idea — it's been on my mind for a while, but I didn't think anyone would share their thoughts with me on it. I'm glad you came to me with this question, since I already had similar ideas. Let's weigh all the pros and cons and come to a conclusion”

Pros (What you would get):

1. Increased range and effectiveness of the melee hit.

· Replacing the Ubersaw's short needle with the Vita-Saw's longer one gives you a more "long-ranged" weapon. Theoretically, this allows you to land hits from a safer distance, staying out of reach of enemy melee weapons (like the Scout's bat).

2. Comfort and versatility.

· Replacing the bulky Vita-Saw handle with the Ubersaw's vial makes the weapon more comfortable and less conspicuous. It's easier to carry and won't snag on clothing or gear. This is an "aesthetic" plus that could improve practicality in the field.

3. Speed + Crits.

· You get very fast healing (from the Quick-Fix) while giving your patient 100% crits (from the Kritzkrieg). This makes your patient extremely dangerous, especially in close-quarters combat.

4. Mobility.

· Thanks to the Quick-Fix, you can quickly keep up with your patient without falling behind. This is especially useful for aggressive classes like Soldier or Demoman who use rocket and sticky jumps.

5. Synergy.

· The combination of crits and high healing speed makes your patient nearly invincible in short firefights. They deal massive damage and recover health instantly.

---

Now onto the cons —

1. Loss of functionality and durability.

· A weapon isn't just a set of parts — it's a unified construct where each component has a specific function and withstands certain stresses. Swapping parts (e.g., putting a vial on a different handle) can throw off the balance or make it fragile. The Vita-Saw's long needle mounted on an Ubersaw handle could simply snap under a heavy blow.

2. Anatomical and logical mismatch.

· The Vita-Saw is essentially an amputation tool, while the Ubersaw is a bone saw. They have different purposes and balances. Swapping parts between them could make the weapon awkward and ineffective. The long, curved Vita-Saw needle might be inefficient for the straight chopping strikes characteristic of the Ubersaw.

3. Loss of warranty and safety.

· If viewed as a real tool, any DIY modifications could make it dangerous — both for the enemy (due to instability) and for the user (risk of breakage or mishandling). This is basically "garage tuning" of a medical instrument, with unpredictable consequences.

4. Technical issues.

· System incompatibility: The Kritzkrieg and Quick-Fix work on different principles. The Quick-Fix uses a "tether" technology with the patient, while the Kritzkrieg generates crits. Their backpacks may be incompatible in terms of power consumption or delivery protocols.

5. Overheating.

· The Kritzkrieg has a more powerful emitter that could overheat the Quick-Fix backpack, which is designed for a different operating mode.

---

Final verdict:

In the end, we get a powerful but not quite durable hybrid saw — and a powerful but extremely situational tool. The Kritzkrieg/Quick-Fix combo is ideal for aggressive play in short skirmishes, but a complete failure in prolonged fights or against a well-coordinated team.

I would rather try to mix the Medi Gun + Kritzkrieg. Let me show you in a table to make it clearer:

[But the Medic's enthusiasm suddenly vanished, as if he had remembered something unpleasant]

— “But personally, I think we also need the opinion of someone who actually specializes in weapons and mechanisms. Maybe I'll ask the Engineer—... from my team, what he thinks about it. I saw him in the garage recently, I hope he's not too busy right now. Come with me”

[Friedrich led you along, passing by grey-blue walls with peeling paint in some places, a sign that there hadn't been any repairs here in a long time. He stopped near a bulky door that bore the emblem of a wrench. The Medic knocked]

— "Mr. Jedediah, you in there?" ( @icecoldinventing )

There's the scrap of a stool against the hard workshop floor, then the sound of things getting kicked out of the way to make a path. Then, after a few seconds, quick footsteps – ones alternating between boot and metal – approach, and the door swings open, the Engineer hiding within offering a curious look.

Hopefully he's got something entertaining, he thinks. Damned sheet metal won't drill out how I want.

— “It doesn't matter to me what some civilian suggested about crossing my weapons — I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter”

[He handed him the letter with recommendations for modifying his melee weapon and healing device]

"I-I, uh– I wasn't expectin' company," he admits sheepishly, reaching out and taking the letter. "Well, lessee here.."

He scans over it, having to reread a few bits to catch all of it, humming quietly in deliberation.

"Well, I agree wit' ya on one front – just combinin' parts of somethin' you're pokin' into someone ain't gonna make somethin' what lasts very long at all. You'd have to upgrade darn near everything, I reckon – metal for the needle, glass for the vial, allat that stuff. All-in-all, you'd just be better savin' your existin' tools an' buildin' somethin' from scratch. An' at that point, you may as well work wit' any improvement ideas you got bangin' around, y'know? Probably make it for an entirely different purpose than what the Übersaw or the Vita-Saw are for – you don't fix what ain't broke."

He scans over the potential medigun combinations, pausing to think about the metrics and ramifications.

"I see where this fella's comin' from, suggestin' a swap-around combinin' the Quick Fix an' the Kritz. The Quick Kritz, if you will." He chuckles to himself. God, he was hilarious. "A-Anyway, but it's as you say, they's completely different machines running on two completely different hardwares 'n' modes. You could overclock the central processor of the Quick Fix to handle the Kritzkrieg's output, but at that rate y'all'd probably just fry the whole damn thing. An' on the other hand, you could try the inverse, fittin' Quick Fix parts ont' the Kritz an' try and achieve the same effect that way, but because of how the Quick Fix is inherently more lightweight than the Kritz, y'all'd just end up underclocking it and making everything worse. Either way, you're just puttin' cow crap on a good sandwich."

He chuckles again awkwardly.

"Very suboptimal. I'd go the Medi Gun an' Kritzkrieg approach, myself. Numbers are closer together, an' they're both meant for heavier-weight performance. Vaccinator and Quick Fix also go damn well together – they's just about sixes on their charge rate. Only about, uhh, a second's difference? That said, means their power load's gonna be about the same. Medi Gun an' Vaccinator's a bit sketchier, just 'cause you might have to overclock the Vaccinator's processor to keep up with the power that the stock gun has to put out in order to, y'know, make a fella practically invincible. Though, long as you worked somethin' in to prevent overheating, it'd probably work well."

He clears his throat, looking up from the page and up at Medic.

— "Honestly, I'm actually quite satisfied with my melee arsenal as it is. The daily mercenary routine gets exhausting pretty quickly, no matter how much one enjoys violence and scattered enemy remains across the field. So really, modifying what already exists is rather boring. Variety keeps things from getting dull, and if everything worked too perfectly... what would be the point? But I do think it would be nice to expand my ranged weaponry. The syringe gun and crossbow aren't particularly effective when you need to fend off someone chasing you. Perhaps if I had something more like a firearm, my work on the battlefield would be more efficient... And that's where I'm heading with this"

[He stepped right up to the Engineer, trying to smile as friendly as possible, but as always, it came out looking like the kind of grin you usually see at a funeral for an enemy — not the kind you use when asking a teammate for a favor]

— "You wouldn't happen to have any spare guns lying around, would you?"

[Example: For the Ubersaw and Vita-Saw swap out the needle of the Ubersaw and put the longer one from the Vita-Saw into place, Remove the wooden cylinder and blade piece Vita-Saw handle, Remove the cylinder flask from the Ubersaw handle and place it onto the Vita-Saw handle, If needed adjust the handle for the Vita-Saw so the cylinder flask from the Ubersaw fits perfectly into place. As for the Kritzkrieg and Quick-Fix take the medigun piece from the Kritzkrieg and remove it from its current medipack, Do the same with the Quick-Fix. Once done place the medigun piece from the Kritzkrieg and attach it to the medipack of the Quick-Fix]

— “This is a really interesting idea — it's been on my mind for a while, but I didn't think anyone would share their thoughts with me on it. I'm glad you came to me with this question, since I already had similar ideas. Let's weigh all the pros and cons and come to a conclusion”

Pros (What you would get):

1. Increased range and effectiveness of the melee hit.

· Replacing the Ubersaw's short needle with the Vita-Saw's longer one gives you a more "long-ranged" weapon. Theoretically, this allows you to land hits from a safer distance, staying out of reach of enemy melee weapons (like the Scout's bat).

2. Comfort and versatility.

· Replacing the bulky Vita-Saw handle with the Ubersaw's vial makes the weapon more comfortable and less conspicuous. It's easier to carry and won't snag on clothing or gear. This is an "aesthetic" plus that could improve practicality in the field.

3. Speed + Crits.

· You get very fast healing (from the Quick-Fix) while giving your patient 100% crits (from the Kritzkrieg). This makes your patient extremely dangerous, especially in close-quarters combat.

4. Mobility.

· Thanks to the Quick-Fix, you can quickly keep up with your patient without falling behind. This is especially useful for aggressive classes like Soldier or Demoman who use rocket and sticky jumps.

5. Synergy.

· The combination of crits and high healing speed makes your patient nearly invincible in short firefights. They deal massive damage and recover health instantly.

---

Now onto the cons —

1. Loss of functionality and durability.

· A weapon isn't just a set of parts — it's a unified construct where each component has a specific function and withstands certain stresses. Swapping parts (e.g., putting a vial on a different handle) can throw off the balance or make it fragile. The Vita-Saw's long needle mounted on an Ubersaw handle could simply snap under a heavy blow.

2. Anatomical and logical mismatch.

· The Vita-Saw is essentially an amputation tool, while the Ubersaw is a bone saw. They have different purposes and balances. Swapping parts between them could make the weapon awkward and ineffective. The long, curved Vita-Saw needle might be inefficient for the straight chopping strikes characteristic of the Ubersaw.

3. Loss of warranty and safety.

· If viewed as a real tool, any DIY modifications could make it dangerous — both for the enemy (due to instability) and for the user (risk of breakage or mishandling). This is basically "garage tuning" of a medical instrument, with unpredictable consequences.

4. Technical issues.

· System incompatibility: The Kritzkrieg and Quick-Fix work on different principles. The Quick-Fix uses a "tether" technology with the patient, while the Kritzkrieg generates crits. Their backpacks may be incompatible in terms of power consumption or delivery protocols.

5. Overheating.

· The Kritzkrieg has a more powerful emitter that could overheat the Quick-Fix backpack, which is designed for a different operating mode.

---

Final verdict:

In the end, we get a powerful but not quite durable hybrid saw — and a powerful but extremely situational tool. The Kritzkrieg/Quick-Fix combo is ideal for aggressive play in short skirmishes, but a complete failure in prolonged fights or against a well-coordinated team.

I would rather try to mix the Medi Gun + Kritzkrieg. Let me show you in a table to make it clearer:

[But the Medic's enthusiasm suddenly vanished, as if he had remembered something unpleasant]

— “But personally, I think we also need the opinion of someone who actually specializes in weapons and mechanisms. Maybe I'll ask the Engineer—... from my team, what he thinks about it. I saw him in the garage recently, I hope he's not too busy right now. Come with me”

[Friedrich led you along, passing by grey-blue walls with peeling paint in some places, a sign that there hadn't been any repairs here in a long time. He stopped near a bulky door that bore the emblem of a wrench. The Medic knocked]

— "Mr. Jedediah, you in there?" ( @icecoldinventing )

There's the scrap of a stool against the hard workshop floor, then the sound of things getting kicked out of the way to make a path. Then, after a few seconds, quick footsteps – ones alternating between boot and metal – approach, and the door swings open, the Engineer hiding within offering a curious look.

Hopefully he's got something entertaining, he thinks. Damned sheet metal won't drill out how I want.

— “It doesn't matter to me what some civilian suggested about crossing my weapons — I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter”

[He handed him the letter with recommendations for modifying his melee weapon and healing device]

It’s so rare that we get to speak like this outside of the battlefield, isn’t it? Not that I plan on fraternizing, you know how the Administrator would hate that — it’s just nice to have a good look at you when you aren’t shielding yourself behind your team to prevent mine from killing you! ☺️

( from: @herrhealer 🫀 )

— "Oh, hello there, Mister Ludwig. It's been a long time since I've seen you. Well, specifically, since I've seen you alive. The other day, during the battle, I managed to have a fascinating conversation with your dead head. Actually, no. That was a monologue. Anyway. Glad to see you whole and alive "

— "The Administrator is somewhat right — our teams are like the cardiovascular system. Your team is arterial blood, and ours is venous. We cannot be mixed. Hah! Und also, you probably don't see me on the battlefield very often because I'm shorter than you and my teammates. It's both a hindrance and a lifesaver at the same time"

—"But my saw saves me quite often! If you strike the enemy right in the neck, you can lop their head right off their shoulders — well, halfway off, anyway. I haven't quite perfected my swing yet "

[Friedrich smiled his most friendly smile (at least, he tried to). His gaze fell upon his colleague's hands. In an instant, he pulled a syringe and two vials from his pocket. With a light but firm motion, he fastened a tourniquet around the red Medic's arm]

Perhaps he would have been more upset by such unfavorable happenstance, had he and his own Demoman not have stopped the BLU Team’s push entirely with a well-timed Über that same round.

Oh well. Water under the bridge! RED and BLU killed each other all the time, so yet another instance of wanton murder amongst themselves hardly meant a thing anymore.

Most in this position would hear about the morbidity of Friedrich’s one-sided conversation and react with deep disturbance, but not Herbert. He was beyond such sensitivities and lacking so much in inhibition that he reacted with a suggestion of intrigue amidst his otherwise nonchalant expression.

Friedrich was certainly an interesting one, wasn’t he? He will admit: it was a shame that he missed it on account of being dead. He would’ve loved to hear what Friedrich had to say. He regarded it wistfully, endeared by the thought of his clone entertaining his head with conversation and intrigued by the idea of accessing his thoughts.

He raised a brow as his counterpart rambled on, finding amusement in the medical analogy used to describe their teams’ incompatibility — the calling out of the other’s stouter height and how it’d somehow been used to the BLU’s advantage, his progressing proficiency in wielding various saws …

The other spoke as though he wasn’t in the presence of someone who’s long perfected the art of committing murder with the most mundane of medical equipment. He can do so much to incapacitate the human body with a tool less lethal than the bonesaw; a skill that he’d picked up when he was but a boy and honed in the decades since.

Still, it was nice to hear that Friedrich was starting to get the hang of his technique. Though he was an enemy, he would still hate to see a fellow Medic defenseless. And if his duplicate displayed incompetence on that front then he should be embarrassed to see it.

Herbert attentively observed the other’s manner; how he mimicked his own enthusiasm but failed to exude any of the charismatic poise of his inspiration. He looked uncomfortable, the stiffness of his posture posing a great contrast to Herbert’s easiness, so much so that Friedrich could’ve been easily mistaken for a corpse that was only held upright by the onset of rigor mortis. Even his skin supported this notion with tones; far too pale for a man who’d spent the better part of his existence underneath the desert sun. When he smiled, his lips tugged with a noticeable strain. Herbert could tell that it was his attempt at wearing an amicable expression, but the most he could manage was a Cheshire grin that complimented the disturbed look in his eyes that he seemingly was never without.

It was clear that in the BLU Medic he found a mind perhaps more deranged than his.

Did his creator — whoever they were — design him to be like … this? Or did that come from whatever development he’d undergone on the outside? Unfortunately, he wasn’t privy enough to the process to say for certain, but one day he’ll worm his way into that anonymous circle. For now, though, he’d like to examine the living product of their research as much as he could.

It didn’t surprise Herbert to see that his interest in studying the other was mutual.

He could’ve easily stopped the BLU doctor from taking his arm and readying it for venipuncture — God knows that none of his teammates would be so cooperative — but he didn’t. Perhaps he should’ve, but where would the fun in that be?

THE RED MEDIC was a medical anomaly in his own right; an unholy amalgamation of inhuman parts inhabited by a congregation of souls that weren’t originally his own. He’s experimented and modified many patients in his day, but none more-so than himself. As such, his blood could no longer be limited to standard classification, and in fact took on unique properties of its own. No normal doctor would be able to discern its true nature, but perhaps his duplicate wouldn’t be so bewildered.

The blood vessels that Friedrich admired so much were still Herbert’s own, kept in good health by deliberate maintenance. Clearly, the BLU Medic was impressed by what he saw without further examination needed, and Herbert wanted to see what he would do with it should he be given further access. He smiled at the prospect, keeping his arm perfectly still, undaunted at the clinical sharpness of invasive metal.

All this time he’d remained in his intentional silence to give Friedrich room to speak — to see what he had to say — and he received his words with a vested interest. It was a rare chance for him to gain insight on his counterpart’s psyche, the likes of which were beyond apprehension from a simple dissection of his physical form.

“Good to hear that your technique with the bonesaw has improved, Herr Doctor. For future reference, you should aim for the spot between the third and fourth vertebrae for the cleanest result. Then again, it’d be quite the experiment to see how long one of our own could survive while only partially decapitated.“

Herbert mused. Was it strategically beneficial to give the enemy a tip for how to more efficiently kill his teammates? Not at all, but he was feeling generous, and he was hoping that his advice would allow BLU to give them more of a challenge in the future.

[As can be understood, despite Friedrich being a clone of Herbert, they still have very different outlooks on life and motivations for development, as well as physical attributes. They have quite a lot in common on the battlefield, in the medical field, and in the almost complete absence of moral principles that most doctors follow. Herbert simply ignored the Hippocratic Oath, while Friedrich doesn't even know about it. Ideal doctors. But in terms of character and motives, they differ in everything, even starting with their own bodies. Herbert looked rather tall and well-built for a mercenary, while Friedrich is thin and far too short for such a stressful job, where your strength and endurance play a huge role. Perhaps if Friedrich stopped brushing off the BLU Engineer's advice, BLU might be more effective if their Medic could stay on his feet longer, without trembling and the risk of fainting]

[But making his RED colleague wait was rather rude, so the BLU Medic quickly refocused on Herbert, trying not to show his brief moment of hesitation. He took a lancet in a sealed package from his pocket. He opened it and pulled out the medical instrument. After securing the needle (25G — 0.5 mm, Friedrich was well aware that Herbert clearly felt no discomfort from having his blood drawn, as he had endured far worse injuries, but still, even in such a minor matter, he seemed to treat the RED Medic with... care? If that could even be called that). He applied a tourniquet to Herbert's arm, feeling for the veins. He treated the skin surface with an alcohol sterile wipe and slowly inserted the needle into the vein. Crimson blood filled the vacuum tube within a couple of seconds. Friedrich carefully withdrew the needle, pressing a cotton ball to the collection site. After the procedure, he sealed the arm with a bandage already decorated by the BLU Pyro. Even such basic things as bandages were divided by color, as if the Administrator was so afraid that someone from different teams might become friends that even in every aspect of the mercenaries' lives, there was a red/blue division]

— «Thank you for the advice, although it is rather unwise of you to teach me combat skills, considering that this could negatively affect your team's success. I have often wanted to ask what it is like to win almost every match? My team only wins if the stars align. And I understand why — there is a share of my fault in that, I will not deny it. But I would much rather hear about your feelings during the process of victory»

[Friedrich very skillfully changed the subject, shifting the attention onto Herbert, as if he had realized that the RED Medic was already anticipating dissecting him, not only as an organism but also as a person. The BLU Medic was a rather closed-off individual, and not without reason. It was not that he was hiding something — he was the last person to care about others' opinions — he simply did not understand social norms, and therefore he also felt no shame or resentment, as a healthy person would. Friedrich did not fully understand himself; the large and sudden gaps in his memory prevented him from grasping his own character traits, so he had nothing to say. And seeing his colleague's enthusiastic mood, he became even more disappointed in himself, for he could not offer him any interesting information. He could not even elaborate on his relationships with his teammates, because he simply avoided them in the secluded corners of the base. He only occasionally spoke with the Engineer and the Scout, and even then only because they sought him out themselves]

— “Although, nein, nein, wait. Asking about work, especially in such a rare moment, is foolish, isn't it...”

[Friedrich nervously tugged at the edge of his medical coat collar, which was surprisingly too clean, without a single bloodstain, somewhat unusual for mercenary work and the dusty desert terrain of Mexico. At least, even if Friedrich did not take care of his body, he was at least very meticulous about cleanliness]

[The BLU Medic appeared for the first time not detached from reality or unnervingly smiling — he seemed nervous? Yes, his pupils were greatly constricted, and his eyes darted around. Usually, even before the most severe memory lapses, Friedrich never showed nervousness or signs that he cared about how he presented himself to another person. But now he stood there, slightly trembling, like a schoolboy before an important exam, which starkly contrasted with his usual behavior. Perhaps this was even progress for his emotional intelligence]

— “I often think about what will happen when the war between Blutarch and Redmond ends. Will we be disbanded and reassigned to other teams? Or just let go. What would you do if our teams parted ways?”

[This question clearly troubled him, as he subconsciously already understood that if his main purpose for existence were fulfilled — then there would be no point in him anymore. He had nowhere to return to; he only vaguely remembered Herbert's family. But it was all so blurred, and he understood that he had nothing to do in Germany. He did not feel German at all. He had no medical license; Herbert had already messed up so badly that obtaining any official access to public medicine while bearing the face of the RED Medic was practically impossible]

— "By the way. Why did you come here?"

Cos I'm God's gift to women! He even told me that - I died and went to heaven and God was mad that I didn't sleep with all the women yet but I convinced him not to blow the Earth up about it. So he sent me back instead.

— " Or maybe you just experienced 'deathbed hallucinations.' Or the effects of severe hypoxia. Scientifically speaking, 'deathbed hallucinations' aren't mysticism - they're a neurological failure in the agonal state. When the brain is dying, it drowns in a chaos of electrical activity: an avalanche of glutamate release overexcites neurons, while hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) paralyzes the cortex responsible for critical thinking. It's hypoxia that's the main driver of visions. Without oxygen, neurons begin to fire synchronously, creating a 'perfect storm' in the visual and temporal cortexes. This produces a tunnel of light (due to peripheral vision fading) and a feeling of peace (due to the release of endorphins as a protective response) "

— " Could this make someone see God? Absolutely, it could. But the specific image - Buddha, Jesus, or Krishna, depends entirely on the cultural code and personal experience of the dying person. The brain cannot create an image that isn't stored in memory, so it takes the template of an all-knowing protector from deep-seated memories. In simple terms: the brain, at the moment of cardiac arrest, tries to 'out-shout' its own dying. "

[BLU Medic let out a slight chuckle, as if he were explaining that Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy didn't exist - so absurd did this story about "God's favorite" seem to him. He understood that perhaps everything "God" had said to Scout was merely the Bostonian's subconscious desire to affirm his own self-worth and significance in this world]

[Friedrich suddenly fell silent. Then, quickly and rather unintelligibly, he started babbling]

Cos I'm God's gift to women! He even told me that - I died and went to heaven and God was mad that I didn't sleep with all the women yet but I convinced him not to blow the Earth up about it. So he sent me back instead.

— " Or maybe you just experienced 'deathbed hallucinations.' Or the effects of severe hypoxia. Scientifically speaking, 'deathbed hallucinations' aren't mysticism - they're a neurological failure in the agonal state. When the brain is dying, it drowns in a chaos of electrical activity: an avalanche of glutamate release overexcites neurons, while hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) paralyzes the cortex responsible for critical thinking. It's hypoxia that's the main driver of visions. Without oxygen, neurons begin to fire synchronously, creating a 'perfect storm' in the visual and temporal cortexes. This produces a tunnel of light (due to peripheral vision fading) and a feeling of peace (due to the release of endorphins as a protective response) "

— " Could this make someone see God? Absolutely, it could. But the specific image - Buddha, Jesus, or Krishna, depends entirely on the cultural code and personal experience of the dying person. The brain cannot create an image that isn't stored in memory, so it takes the template of an all-knowing protector from deep-seated memories. In simple terms: the brain, at the moment of cardiac arrest, tries to 'out-shout' its own dying. "

[BLU Medic let out a slight chuckle, as if he were explaining that Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy didn't exist - so absurd did this story about "God's favorite" seem to him. He understood that perhaps everything "God" had said to Scout was merely the Bostonian's subconscious desire to affirm his own self-worth and significance in this world]

Cos I'm God's gift to women! He even told me that - I died and went to heaven and God was mad that I didn't sleep with all the women yet but I convinced him not to blow the Earth up about it. So he sent me back instead.

— " Or maybe you just experienced 'deathbed hallucinations.' Or the effects of severe hypoxia. Scientifically speaking, 'deathbed hallucinations' aren't mysticism - they're a neurological failure in the agonal state. When the brain is dying, it drowns in a chaos of electrical activity: an avalanche of glutamate release overexcites neurons, while hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) paralyzes the cortex responsible for critical thinking. It's hypoxia that's the main driver of visions. Without oxygen, neurons begin to fire synchronously, creating a 'perfect storm' in the visual and temporal cortexes. This produces a tunnel of light (due to peripheral vision fading) and a feeling of peace (due to the release of endorphins as a protective response) "

— " Could this make someone see God? Absolutely, it could. But the specific image - Buddha, Jesus, or Krishna, depends entirely on the cultural code and personal experience of the dying person. The brain cannot create an image that isn't stored in memory, so it takes the template of an all-knowing protector from deep-seated memories. In simple terms: the brain, at the moment of cardiac arrest, tries to 'out-shout' its own dying. "

[BLU Medic let out a slight chuckle, as if he were explaining that Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy didn't exist - so absurd did this story about "God's favorite" seem to him. He understood that perhaps everything "God" had said to Scout was merely the Bostonian's subconscious desire to affirm his own self-worth and significance in this world]

"Well, I never been a big fan of dealin' with their damned Soldier. He'll be somewhere fifty paces away, an' then one of his damned rockets comes along an' turns all my buildings to scrap and me to nothin' but bits and pieces."

He leans back in his seat casually.

"I like our Soldier well enough, he's a goodun to talk to, even if he is a bit out there. But, heck, that damn BLU Soldier! He grinds my damned gears! Everytime I see him, I try to aim my pistol or the Wrangler and" – he mimes firing a gun – "see if I can't pop him in the head before he gets any bright ideas about sendin' me one of his presents. Just 'cause he looks like my Solly don't mean I feel bad about sendin' his sorry behind back to respawn for breakin' my things."

He hums thoughtfully.

— "Oh, and here I thought it was just luck. Sometimes I envy that you're not as stupid as our Engineer. The guy can't even be bothered to check his machines before a fight, and then he just shrugs when our control point gets captured in seconds. Looks like bacon and beer really do have a negative effect on some people's brainpower. He's lucky your Spy's gotten lazy and doesn't even bother checking in on him. But that lazy bastard still manages to complain. Then again, so does the rest of our team"

[With each passing phrase, Friedrich's smile faded, and a barely contained irritation crept across his face. But he quickly waved off the rising anger]

— "Funny how people who look so alike can be so different! Hah!"

He cocks his head, looking at Friedrich with a look of...disapproval, maybe? It's hard to tell with his goggles.

— "Although, maybe I really do expect too much from them..."

The activities of the blue medic have long caused uncertainty amongst his teammates; it was merely a question of time before Journalist got a hold on the rumors.

(Un)Fortunately, the medic Bay has windows.

If Medic was being attentive to his surroundings (and he most certainly was), it was almost impossible he missed the pair of eyes outside his window, just so far that the light from inside couldn't help to make out the characteristics of the face that used them. One almost wonders if anything alive can stare without blinking for that long.

📽️ ❞₊˚✧ ﾟ —

📩🖊️

[HEEEY I LOVE LOVE YOUR BLOG AND YOUR CHARACTERIZATION!!!!!! I thought your medic and my freak of nature would interact interestingly]

[Friedrich was so utterly consumed by his work that the world beyond his grimy window ceased to exist - or perhaps he simply chose to ignore it, feigning obliviousness with the practiced indifference of a man who had long ago learned to shut out distractions. His hands moved with a unsettling, almost surgical grace, fingers dancing through the glistening coils of intestines with the feverish intensity of a prospector panning for gold. He rummaged, probed, parted the slick tissue, his brow furrowed in concentration as if he were decoding some ancient, fleshy scripture. The way his eyes darted and narrowed, the slight twitch of his lips - he looked less like a medic and more like a treasure hunter on the verge of a breakthrough]

[But the moment the Journalist blinked — just a fraction of a second, a mere flutter of lashes — the Medic was simply gone. No rustle of fabric, no creak of the floorboards, no whisper of a retreating breath. Just emptiness where he had stood. The intestines remained, draped across the steel table like abandoned ribbons, still wet and glistening under the harsh fluorescent light. That was wrong. That was deeply, unnervingly wrong. Friedrich never abandoned his work — not for coffee, not for calls, not for anything short of an emergency. He was a man welded to his craft. If he had vanished, it meant something had disturbed him. Or someone]

If subjected to the right conditions or presented with irrefutable truth, often a heart can fly across all manifestations of dread and panic to land in terror; absolute unmovable terror. For a split second, there is an urge to regain control of the situation; turn around and face the predator, at least get to glimpse the face that will kill you.

He wonders for a heartbeat if he is perhaps judging the Medic too harshly, but his doubt dissipates the second his gaze focuses back onto the intestines that flop around the table, the picture of earth worms creeps into his mind and turns his stomach.

He slowly lets the camera down to the ground, into a pile of rubber. The shakiness of his hands couldn't be overlooked, but who would blame him? This was going to be his only legacy, if he died right there and now, if all that remained of him was a piece of brain in a formaldehyde jar.

It's right there, with his knees full of dust, that he turns around. He sees the bloody clothes before he can even make out a face.

[He radiated nothing — no warmth, no pulse, no presence beyond the dreadful fact of his closeness. His coat was crusted with dried blood, already beginning to sour, to rot. Unlike the other Medic, the red one, Friedrich couldn't be bothered with such trivialities as soap or clean linen. He wore his gore like a second skin, soaked from knee to elbow, for weeks on end ]

[And right now, that rotting silence was louder than any scream]