Black Tusk Comms: Welcome to the Team

**Prowler:** So...you're the new meat?

**Umbra:** That would be me.

**Prowler:** Hmm. You don't look like much. But your record speaks for itself. Come on, I'll show the rest of the team.

**Umbra:** Nice safehouse you got here.

**Prowler:** We are Schaeffer's favorites. And don't let those Darkest Horizon guys tell you otherwise.

**Umbra**: Some bad blood between you guys?

**Prowler**: *(chuckles)* Nah. More like a friendly workplace rivalry. Anyways, here's the squad. Over there is "Techie". She's our sniper, and a damn good one at that.

**Techie:** Hey. What's up, newbie?

**Umbra:** It's Umbra. And I'm doing fine.

**Techie:** Uh-huh. Well, we'll see how well you fit in with the team.

**Prowler:** Over there is "Sparks", our engineer. Need something fixed, or some out of the box solution or toy, he's the man for the job.

**Umbra:** American-born but you joined the Spetsnaz out of a patriotic duty to your homeland. That must have one hell of an uphill battle.

**Sparks:** You do your research.

**Umbra:** I read all your dossiers.

**Sparks:** Heh. Welcome to the team, then. Like ol' Cody said, I'm "Sparks". People say I'm predictable, but I don't know. I like to think I can be quite...shocking.

**Umbra:** Wow...

**Prowler:** Anyways, over there is "Backblast", our demolition expert. Need some shit to explode, he's the man to call.

**Backblast:** That's a rather crude way of putting it. I like to think of my work as an art.

**Umbra:** The best demolitionists do.

**Backblast:** Thank you. It's good to feel appreciated amongst racist Philistines like Prowler.

**Prowler:** Oh, fuck yourself, Singh.

**Backblast:** See what I mean?

**Prowler:** Moving on.... the big guy is "Titan", our heavy weapons expert. He's...interesting.

**Titan:** *(mouth full)* Hey new kid! You want some peanut butter?

**Umbra:** I'm good, thanks. *(to Prowler, softly)* Is he eating a whole peanut butter jar with his bare hands?

**Prowler:** Yes...yes, he is. He's a good soldier, but he couldn't find his way out of a paper bag. I have no clue in hell how he used to be MARSOC.

**Umbra:** Huh. And him?

**Prowler:** That's "Hush", our medic. Word of advice...don't bother "Hush" when he's working.

**Hush:** I'd listen to him.

**Umbra:** Man of few words?

**Hush:** *(fake laugh)* Funny. Here's another piece of advice, I hope you know how to bite your tongue if you get hurt. Or breathe through your nose. You wouldn't be the first patient I sowed their lips shut because they wouldn't stop screaming. I can't concentrate with that kind of noise. Don't worry...I take it out once I'm done....usually.

**Umbra:** That won't be an issue.

**Hush:** Lovely. Now, let me get back to work.

**Umbra:** *(to Prowler)* So, anyone else I need to meet?

**Prowler:** Oh, well, there's "Medusa", our Drone Expert and Techncian. She can be a tad...hostile, though.

**Umbra:** Heh, is that so?

(footsteps)

**Medusa:** *(with contempt)* So... you're the new bitch on the block?

**Umbra:** Does that make you the Queen Bitch?

**Medusa:** Hey, someone's got to wear the crown.

**Umbra:** That why they call you Medusa? Because you can kill anyone with a gaze? You like to act tough because you feel like everyone underestimates you. You think if you put up a wall to the world, always acting like the big, bad monster, you can make anyone submit to your will. Well, do you know what an Umbra is? It's the deepest, darkest part of the shadow. The part of the shadow that you feel like is watching you, just waiting for you to turn your back so the monster can emerge from within. Lovecraft said the greatest fear of man is fear of the unknown. Monsters in the light of day aren't scary. We know their weaknesses; they can be killed. It's the monsters in the dark that are the real ones to fear.

*(Short, uncomfortable silence)*

**Medusa:** *(brief laugh)* I like you, Umbra. I think we're going to get along quite nicely.