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Post by Karcentric on May 18, 2010 5:15:17 GMT -5
Karc left early in the morning jogging quickly using an unused path he used to reach Yantar, by the time the sun was up he was in sight of the factory, scanning the area he found it to be quiet. Climbing down the steep hill looking over the area, smiling at the light breeze, which was blowing the smell of the swamp away, walking quickly to the lab he pressed the button waiting for old Sakharov to open the door. After introducing himself the door opened.
"Ah yes, I remember you young man, how do you do?" The old scientist asked with a thin smile, "What happened to your friend?" Karc nodded, "Good day professor, I'm just dandy myself, Torch isn't so dandy, got himself killed, Poltergeist attack in Red Forest." Karc said shrugging his shoulders. "So what can I do for you today?" Sakharov asked Karc, "Well I'd like some work done to this new suit of mine, and I hear the only place to get it done is right here. Psy-protection is what I'm looking for." Karc replied.
"You don't happen to have any work going do you?" He asked after the work was complete.
Work done to SKAT Military suit - Psy-protection Cost - 12,000 ru
[CHECK]
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Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Jun 11, 2010 1:59:39 GMT -5
Vasily woke slowly, pushing the sheets of his bunk off of his chest, he sat up with a groan. His entire body was stiff, he had a small but constant pain tugging at his head and his scalp felt as if a red-hot iron had been laid across it. Placing a hand on his head, Vasily felt the rough surface of gauze bandages. Swinging his legs off of the bunk he slowly stood up, bracing his arm against a wall for support. The joints in his legs gave off groans of protest as he took a small step towards the sink and mirror built into a nearby wall. Slowly regaining control of his motor skills, Vasily shuffled over to the sink and leaned heavily against it. After splashing his face, and taking a large drink of the lukewarm and dead water from the Lab's reserves, he looked into the mirror.
His face seemed unchanged, but what of his hair he could see had turned solid grey. Slowly unraveling the bandages on his head, he could see the strips of no hair where the Psy-Helmet had been making contact with his head. The burns had already been covered with scar tissue and hair was beginning to grow again. How long have I been out? he wondered. Glancing at the clock on the table next to his bunk, Vasily saw that only a day had passed since the experiment. That's not possible. he thought, There's no way burns that bad could've healed so quickly. Unless.. Removing one of the blades from his razor, Vasily made a small cut across one of his fingers. The blood flowed freely for a second, then seemed to instantly coagulate, forming a scab, Fascinating. he thought. scratching at the scab with a finger, it fell off, revealing a perfectly healed finger. Astounding! Almost instantaneous tissue regeneration. Turning to the opposite wall of the room, Vasily bashed his little finger into the sink. With an audible crack several of the bones broke, leaving visible white lumps of bone poking through his skin. Groaning with pain, Vasily pushed the broken fragments back into place and quickly made a makeshift splint. "Extremely brittle bones," he muttered, "that will be interesting to deal with."
Crossing the room to the closet, he slid it open and pulled out a lab coat. After slipping on the coat he started walking towards the door when the pain in his head intensified and a deep booming voice echoed through his mind.
You are an abomination among Humans, look deeper, you are changed more than you believe.
The voice seemed to be projected from a great distance, and it came from a specific direction. As he turned towards the direction the voice came from, the pain stayed in that direction moving to a different part of his head. "Who are you?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Who am I? Come now, you know the answer. Do you know of anyone as great as I? I am the Monolith, the Wish Granter, leader of armies and breaker of mens minds.
"How do you know who I am?" Vasily asked wearily.
I know of all who enter my realm, mortal. Few escape my knowledge and you are no exception. Your consciousness, and those of a few others, burn brighter than the rest. Some I can make mental contact with, others I cannot. Your and your fellow scientists are vital to my plans, but until your 'experiment' I have been unable to contact and break any of you. Your experiment changed that however, and I first entered your mind during your coma in an attempt to break your mind in it's weakened state. However, you proved to be stronger than I originally anticipated and you withstood my attack. You are as close to an equal among mortals as I have yet to find, and I have a proposition for you, stalker.
"And what would that be?" Vasily asked.
In return for your complete neutrality in my oncoming reclamation of my realm, I will circle my forces around Yantar and allow you and your men to continue your research. Your men are poor fighters, and you are in no condition for battle. If you resist me you will be crushed. I leave the choice to you. I will contact you again on the morrow. Choose wisely, mortal.
As the Monoliths massive presence removed itself from Vasily's mind, the pain subsided and became a small tugging sensation, pulling his mind to the north. Voices from the rest of the bunker caught his attention, Sakharov was talking to someone. Pushing open the door to his quarters, Vasily walked into the main area of the lab and, to his surprise, saw the mercenary that had traveled with him and Seth.
"Well Karc," he said, catching the mercenary by surprise "Fancy seeing you here again. It's good to see you survived the battle for the Dead City. Where's Seth and the rest of the group?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
As he started towards the bunker, Sigbrand's bunker buzzed at him. Pulling it off his belt, he saw he had a message from HQ.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Sergeant. You're needed back at Rostok ASAP, the General has a new assignment for you."
Pulling out his radio, he said "Karc, I'm needed back at the Bar. Good luck out there, and make sure to stop by if you ever need something. Duty's headquarters is open to you now, just tell them Rurik or I sent you."
Placing his radio back on his belt, he set off towards Rostok.
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Post by Karcentric on Jun 11, 2010 5:51:20 GMT -5
"Vasily! I was wondering where you had got to. As for Seth, last I saw he was escorted into to see the commander and that's last I saw of him, later Sokol received a message saying he was dead, up north in Pripyat. Now I'm not the brightest but I saw several chaps, in black Duty suits, but they weren't Duty boys to timid by far. I also saw that guide we meet with another random in a coat." He paused taking a breath, "Me and Burner did some S&D work in the ARI ended up in the tunnels under the army base. As you can see the pay was good." Taping his suit.
"Also rumor has it that Lt. Rurik himself showed up with a pack of newblood stalkers in the base. A tough crew he had despite most of them being green. They managed to over come Jurgen and his mob's ambush in the Wild Territory, tore the old construction site to the ground."
Karc stopped talking letting the info sink in. "However the good old captain took off with his men, and now half the base is looking for him, the commander wants him brought in ASAP."
The message came in from Sigbrand: "Karc, I'm needed back at the Bar. Good luck out there, and make sure to stop by if you ever need something. Duty's headquarters is open to you now, just tell them Rurik or I sent you." Karc replied simply, "Affirmative, I'll probably drop in sometime soon, I hear you lot got a pile new of shooters recently."
Looking back to Vasily, "so what's been happening with you since you got back? Need any help with your experiments?" Karc asked leaning against the metal wall while inspecting an unopened energy drink before opening and taking a long swig from it.
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Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Jun 13, 2010 15:30:31 GMT -5
"Seth's dead?" Vasily asked, "Well, let's just hope their new leader doesn't think the Zone is more 'free' without our little research lab. As for experiments, we do need a whole bloodsucker. Normally I'd get it myself, but I'm in a rather..erm..weakened state after a recent test." Glancing at Karc's equipment he saw only a P90 PDW and a Colt. "If you are interested in helping, I would suggest taking something from the armory. I need the specimen intact, it won't do to have a dozen holes in it."
HORRIBLY SHORT POST IS SHORT.
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Post by Karcentric on Jun 15, 2010 4:13:40 GMT -5
"It's a damn shame about Seth, word is the new leader whipped freedom into shape, making them have little training and turning them into a formidable foe amongst the factions again, unlike the when there was the Black incident."
"As for experiments, we do need a whole bloodsucker. If you are interested in helping, I would suggest taking something from the armory. I need the specimen intact, it won't do to have a dozen holes in it." Vasily said.
Karc burst out laughing,"You want me to capture a living, breathing bloodsucker and bring it back intact? That's a good one." He couldn't imagine how he'd manage to capture one, the last bloodsucker he'd met had been a giant one easily a foot taller than him but was no match for him and Torch. Looking over the stock he picked up a RGD5 grenade tossing it up and catching it, "You reckon you and your boys could rebuild a couple of these things to blow as smoke grenades? You do that and lend me a thermal monocular and you'll have yourself a living, slightly bruised bloodsucker. But chuck us one of them FN SCAR-Ls too, just in case of course." He said, gathering up several ropes and a solid metal bar. He put his excess gear on one of the bunks, and began going over plan, I've gotta lure one of 'em out from somewhere, get it into the clouds of smoke, use the thermal to locate it and give it a knock on the head, too easy. I wonder how much they weigh cos if more than one appears while lugging one I'm screwed. Too many factors to worry about. If I can get one secured and tied up I'll be happy. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he was well aware that it wouldn't be that easy at all. He stood waiting for the work on the grenades. Attempting to juggle his knives, the occasional clatter from one of his knives was the only noise in the lab with the technicians working on modifying the grenades.
Karc purchased SCAR-L 10,250ru
[CHECK]
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Post by Basil on Jul 9, 2010 9:04:07 GMT -5
The airlock of the scientist's bunker opened with a hiss, and the door squeaked open on automated hinges, letting Balalaika in. She had failed to acquire a better suit in the Red Forest and had instead made a headscarf out of a stalker's spare olive green t-shirt, hiding most of her burns.
She went down the small corridor, walking past a stalker who appeared to be juggling knives. Ignoring him, she quickly went over to Sakharov, who had walked over to his small counter.
"Professor", she said, taking on her most pathetic 'help me' voice and expression, "I need medical care. Could you help me?"
"-Well, let me see what is wrong with you first", said the old professor. Balalaika glanced at the knife-juggling stalker before reluctantly exposing her burned face, hand and upper chest.
"Oh dear...you need immediate medical attention. You might have to stay here for a few days while I treat your wounds. How did you get them?"
"-Chemical burns", she replied hastily, "fruit punch anomaly spat some gunk at me."
Sakharov looked at her somewhat skeptically. "Those burns don't look like fruit punch burns..."
"-Please professor, I just need help", said Balalaika. Her hand hovered over her Stechkin, a movement Sakharov failed to see.
"-Very well. I'll give you some soothing cream."
Sakharov left the counter and disappeared into the back of the bunker. Balalaika stood and waited for the professor to return.
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Post by Karcentric on Jul 9, 2010 9:56:33 GMT -5
Karc heard the door open and watched as a short stalker rushed by paying him no mind. He heard her talking to Sakharov about something to do with burns. He caught each knife seething them quietly and watched the small loner. I know where I've seen you before. He thought. He saw her put her hand to her pistol.
Holding his P90 casually he waltzed over to the counter. "Your not looking so good there short stuff." He said before turning to one of the scientists who gave Karc a small package containing the smoke grenades and thermal monocular. Nodding in thanks he turned away.
Walking into the bunker he check each grenade and the monocular, before standing and moving to leave. As he got to the door he turned back, walking back looking to the small woman, "I've got an old merc suit if you want it and if you feel like being useful I've got job for these eggheads that I could use some help with. Half of my fee will be yours should you decide to agree." He said.
Six grenades should do just fine. I'll find a bunch of them bloodsucking arseholes, stir 'em up take a few down and draw one out somehow. To easy He thought waiting for the sort stalker to answer.
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Post by Basil on Jul 9, 2010 11:32:07 GMT -5
Balalaika almost reached for Mr Stabby when the arrogant tit of a merc made his annoying joke about her small stature, but decided against it. She needed medical treatment, and starting a fight in the scientist's bunker would probably bar her from the place forever.
As the stalker left the bunker, he stopped and turned to address her:
"I've got an old merc suit if you want it and if you feel like being useful I've got job for these eggheads that I could use some help with. Half of my fee will be yours should you decide to agree."
Balalaika stared at the stalker, taking in what he had just said. She needed a new suit but didn't have enough money to get one. She also needed money, badly. Helping the scientists get something they wanted would also earn their trust and more medical care...
"-Okay buddy", she said with a smile, "what does this job entail?"
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Post by Karcentric on Jul 9, 2010 12:41:03 GMT -5
"-Okay buddy", she said with a smile, "what does this job entail?"
"Well princess these gentlemen would an intact bloodsucker breathing and all, however as you know most bloodsuckers hunt in packs, you pick off most of the pack leave me one of those cranky squid faced fucker and you'll get paid. Sound good to you, here take this as a sweetener to the deal." He said passing the vest and gas mask to Balalaika, "By the way, Sakharov is waiting for you." Karc said pointing to the old scientist. Watching Balalaika, Karc noticed the AW50 amongst her equipment, ignoring it he studied an old map of the area, an old tunnel in the swamps looked like a promising place to find bloodsuckers.
Waiting quietly he checked the new rifle inspecting the shape of it. Eventually Balalaika walked back donning the gas mask and the merc vest. "Ok you ready to do some shooting?" He asked in an upbeat tone. "We'll scout about the swamp it, this tunnel is supposed to contain 5 of those bastards, you keep an eye on it make sure nothing comes out of that tunnel. You see a bloodsucker, you shoot. Once the fourth one is down come back here and get up on the roof and cover me."
"All clear?" Karc asked. "Let's go make some bodies."
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Post by Basil on Jul 30, 2010 11:02:55 GMT -5
"Okay" said Balalaika before following Karc out of the lab. Her eyes wandered around the landscape, looking for any signs of danger, but they also wandered back to Karc's back every now and then.
Now to figure out how to off him and get all the money for myself.
She smiled to herself as the thought crossed her mind.
Oh you.[/b]
After a short walk, they arrived at the swamps, and Balalaika turned to her companion.
"Now where that tunnel of yours?"
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Post by Karcentric on Jul 30, 2010 11:50:18 GMT -5
As they walked Karc attached the thermal device to his helmet, muttering to himself when it refused to stay attached. Banging it held it in place testing it he found it worked well picking shapes in the mist, looking at Balalaika showed an intense bloom of heat. "Good." He said to himself quietly.
"Now where that tunnel of yours?" Balalaika asked.
"Well, I'll show you on this map." He said clicking on his PDAs screen to show the map of Yantar, zooming in he had pinpointed the tunnel earlier, "There has been reports of a pack living there, five in total. I'll stir them up, you point that rifle at them and make four of them dead. Aim for the top of their heads, we can sell the lower jaw for a nice bonus."
Putting the PDA away again Karc held the SMG ready they passed the tunnel he and Torch had entered only a week ago. The area seemed unnaturally silent as they got close to the tunnel Karc held his hand and they stopped by an old dead tree. Giving the tree a firm push proved the tree was still strong.
"Climb up here I'll give you a hand," He said helping Balalaika into the tree, "go up at least 12 feet, that will put you out of range should any snorks come. Can you see the tunnel?" He asked pointing to the tunnel. Balalaika nodded aiming her rifle at the tunnel. Karc fired a burst from his P90 several rounds slamming into the embankment around the tunnel three rounds went in the tunnel, the shots echoed about the swamp, several growls from within the tunnel could be heard.
The another noise nearby made Karc whip around a couple of snorks were galloping towards him. Raising the P90 again he lined up the closer snork unloading the remains of the magazine into the beast, it dropped skidding on the soft mud. The loud shot of Balalaika's SVD echoed followed by another and an approving chuckle.
The second snork stopped it seemed to be sizing Karc up, it crouched and threw itself at him, Karc side stepped the beast twirling around to face it, the beast swung it's claw knocking the SMG from Karc's grasp.
Jumping back in surprise and dismay Karc watched the beast waiting for it to make a move know exactly what he was going to do. Crouching slightly he pressed his right foot down and placed his weight on it waiting. The beast again jumped this time Karc spun on his right foot and allowed the concealed blade in his left sleeve to slide out taking a large gauge out of the snorks neck sending a spray of blood over Karc and the tree trunk. The snork was slowly bleeding out at his feet, scratching weakly at his boot. Raising the blood soaked boot he stomped the beasts head into the ground. It twitched and died quickly. Whipping the blood from the blade he let it slide back into his sleeve. Picking up his fallen gun and slung it over his shoulder.
He held the new assault rifle to his shoulder scanning the area waiting for Balalaika. "How's it going up there sunshine?" He asked.
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Post by Basil on Jul 30, 2010 12:06:54 GMT -5
Balalaika heard and saw the two snorks attack Karcentric, but she didn't feel any distress at that. What she felt instead was eagerness: if the snorks killed him she'd be able to get the reward all for herself.
"Sharing is for faggots", she muttered to herself before laughing again. Several shapes emerging in her field of vision made her clamp her eye to the scope of her SVD. The bloodsuckers had come out.
Without a word, Balalaika aimed at the first one and pulled the trigger. The top of its head exploded in a satisfying manner. She quickly re-adjusted her aim and took another one out, and another. She almost killed the fifth one as well, but quickly shot it in the leg as it cloaked, maiming it nicely. She was chuckling to herself now, thouroughly enjoying the little shooting bout.
"-How's it going up there, sunshine?"
Balalaika almost swore. The bastard merc had survived...he was tougher than she had thought. She looked down from the branch, giving him her most charming smile and said:
"-Oh, shot a few down, left another one injured. You can go in and nab it."
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Post by Karcentric on Jul 30, 2010 12:39:51 GMT -5
"-Oh, shot a few down, left another one injured. You can go in and nab it." Balalaika said, in a cheerful voice.
"Good work and nice shooting, I'll deal with it." He said, pulling the first smoke grenade from his bag. Pulling the pin he lobbed it as close to the tunnel as he could and pulled the solid metal bar from his pack waiting for the smoke to become thick enough for him to enter laughing in a deep manic tone, lobbing a second grenade made the area almost impossible to see, clicking on the thermal monocular, he allowed himself to get used to the lack of depth, spotting both grenades instantly.
Walking towards the tunnel he could hear the angry hissing of the final bloodsucker limping about within the tunnel, throwing the third grenade into the tunnel more smoke filled the area, the beast snarled before bellowing and charging out of the tunnel as fast as it's injured leg would allow. Karc swung the heavy bar at it's head making a heavy, meaty thud. The beast dropped to the ground, it's breathing was labored. He gave it a nudge with the bar, the beast was out cold. Binding it's hands and elbows quickly and securely, before binding the feet and the knees. Noticing the blood ebbing from the wound he wrapped a bandage around it's leg.
He quickly cut the 4 lower jaws from the other bloodsuckers, wrapping them carefully and placing them in his pack. Turning back to the prize he dropped to his knees, and slung the beast over his should, with grunt he stood up and made his way towards Balalaika, who was still in the tree. Stopping at the base he called up to her. "Let's get this bastard back to those eggheads."
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Post by Basil on Jul 30, 2010 13:13:36 GMT -5
"Yep", said Balalaika, grabbing the beast's legs, "let's hurry, I don't feel like having to face even more mutants."
The two set off, carrying the bound and decidedly unhappy bloodsucker. Balalaika was still considering the best way to proceed. Attacking Karc now was out of the question. He had better armour and was probably better in close combat than she was. Besides, killing him would probably lead the eggheads to suspect something and not pay her.
She'd wait until they were rewarded. Only then would a sneak surprise attack on Karc be fruitful.
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Post by Karcentric on Jul 30, 2010 14:06:15 GMT -5
As the two got back to the bunker Karc pressed the button on the door. Sakharov casually spoke into the comm. "Who is it?"
"It's an angry bloodsucker, intact and breathing." Karc said.
"Oh yes, you must be here with the specimen. I'll open the door for you."
The door swung open and they carried the large mutant inside following one of the lab's assistant's, as they entered a part of the lab not normally seen by most stalkers Karc looked around making mental notes of the layout. "So let's talk about a reward. Now I now you'll want to give us, oh 20,000ru, but I personally think this fella is worth more than that, a lot more." Karc said patting the still unconscious bloodsucker on the head. "I'd say 50,000 is generous. What do you think madame?" He said directing the last part of the statement to Balalaika who was watching every person with a strange look Karc had seen before she was sizing up the scientists, reminding him of himself when he was working in Singapore in a hostage situation.
"So just around this bend and we'll be in view of the lab?" El asked looking to Schwarz.
"Yeah, nearly there. I hope they've got some work for us." He replied.
Four and Dark were trudging along quietly looking around. As they came around of the corner they saw the mobile lab surrounded by walls. "At least." Dark muttered looking around.
They made their way to the lab sitting down to catch their breath before entering.
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