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Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Nov 18, 2010 2:49:40 GMT -5
The scrawny Freedomer's face bounced harmlessly off the mask of Tarasov's helmet. Picking up the small man, he threw him against the wall of the tunnel then kicked him savagely in the ribs.
Tarasov pulled off his helmet, "Let you go?" He laughed, "No, no. I still have use for you, scum. If I didn't, you'd be dead by now. Just like the rest of your..." Tarasov's voice died off, "squad." he finished.
The flickering light of the fire, and the flashes from the pools of lightening on the ground cast both halves of the soldier's scarred visage in sharp contrast. There was a madness in his eyes. The light from the hatred, lust for revenge and grief that burned inside of him seemed to pour out of them.
"Have you even been responsible for the lives of other men? Men who look up to you? Who respect you?" He asked, to the world more than Ferret, "Have you ever experienced the pain of loosing a man you are responsible for?"
Throwing his rifle to the ground, he wheeled around to face Ferret. "You're young and strong, you think you can take anything, even the death of a friend, of a brother, it was all for a cause."
"It breaks you, the first time. Physically and Mentally. It takes a while to set in, everything vanishes in the fog of war. You've seen death before, as a grunt, but this is different. Your squad sounds off, but you're missing a name. You count heads, you're still one short. 'Where's Katlov?' you ask. Nobody replies, they stand there. They know what comes next, they've all seen it before."
Kicking his helmet away, Tarasov spread his arms out "'KATLOV!' You'll shout, 'KATLOV!' There will be no answer. The men just stand there, none of them can bring themselves to tell you that he's dead. Killed as soon as the fighting began."
Pulling a pair of dog tags from around his neck he threw them at the ground before Ferret, the light from the fire glinted off of them, the name on them read Pvt. Vitaly Katlov. Age: 18. "Then you start searching. You tear the battleground apart, he has to be there somewhere, he's lost or wounded, not dead. He isn't dead, he can't be dead."
Tarasov turned away again. "Then you'll find the body." he said, so softly it was almost inaudible. "His face will lifeless and white. He's slumped there, in a pool of his own blood. You'll tear his uniform open, looking for the wound and there it will be, right above his heart."
"You'll bandage the wound, there's no use though, he's already lost all of his blood. You'll feel for a pulse and find nothing. You'll start CPR, you'll scream for a medic, but no one will come. They all know he's dead, it's just you that refuses to believe it. He must still be alive, there has to be a way to save him."
"There is no saving him" He said, almost in a whisper. "He's dead, and when you look at your hands, they're crimson with his blood. That blood will never wash off, it will stay there for the rest of your life, reminding you of the man you killed through your actions. You had to have done something wrong, there was no other way. Your men and your superiors will all tell you that you did nothing wrong, that it wasn't your fault, but you know better. You'll sit down at your writing desk and read through his files. He had a Mother, Grandfather and two younger siblings all living at their farm south of Kiev."
"Then you'll write the letter. The Colonel will give you a few days leave to recover and deliver the letter personally if you choose. You'll accept of course, to not do so would be disrespectful. It'll take you a day to write the letter alone. You'll take a train to Kiev and when you get off there will be a car waiting for you, paid for by the government. You'll drive there yourself, sending the driver away, and you'll take the longest possible route. After nearly an hour of driving, you'll reach the farm. The mother will see you in your formal uniform and rush to the door to welcome you in, 'Come in! Come in!' she'll say, 'Are you a friend of our Vit?'"
Drawing his knife, he ran a finger along the edge. "You won't be able to say anything. You'll just pull the letter out of your coat pocket and slump into a spindly wooden chair by the door. The mother's face will change as she takes the letter from you, she knows what it contains but can't admit that it's true. Tears will fill her eyes as she reads the letter. Once she's finished she'll wail. Fall to the floor sobbing. The rest of the family will rush in, the daughter will begin to cry and the younger son will try to comfort them both, pushed into his manhood six years too soon. The grandfather will watch from the hallway, he's seen it happen before. He will have seen it with his own son, many years earlier. He'll shuffle down the hallway, past the weeping women and the stone faced son and offer you a drink from his flask. You still can't speak, you'll just stand up and walk out. You'll drive away and not look back once."
"It will still hurt to loose men, the next dozen or so times that it will happen. But you'll contain it, you'll stay strong for your men. In a way, with each death, more and more of you dies." He said, kneeling next to Ferret and cutting the man's bonds. "Go!" He shouted at the man, slumping down against the tunnel wall, head in his hands.
"Go!"
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Post by Karcentric on Nov 18, 2010 9:15:46 GMT -5
Looking up to the night sky Rurik turned his NV on and saw a fenced area and an antenna, followed by the snarl from a chimera in the distance made the squad stop looking around cautiously. Just what we need, a chimera attacking at night. He thought gripping the PKM he'd carried for so long tighter.
Continuing forward slowly the group began to climb a small looking at the area, "It looks like a ventilation complex of some sort. Perfect place for mutants to hide in, see the top has been torn open." He said to the group as a warning as well as an observation.
Rechecking his PDA he noted a series of building that may have been a checkpoint some time. Deeming it a good place to set up a makeshift camp he marked it in his PDA.
Before he could relay his intentions to the squad a massive chimera smashed into two of the smaller members of the squad, landing heavily on them before swiping at another member. The group had been scattered by the attack but was regrouping into two groups to fight the creature, unloading several short bursts from his PKM into the side of the enormous beast made it screech.
The beast gave a half-hearted snarl before leaping away into the dark heading for the checkpoint which Rurik had wanted to use as a temporary base. Watching the beast run into the darkness before turning tho his dwindling force. "Now that chimera has headed for an old checkpoint which I want to set up as a base of operations, we'll eliminate it and then set up. Then we can finally get some rest." Rurik said.
Looking down towards the buildings he could see the mutant moving in and out of the building, "Snipers, take it out." Rurik ordered.
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Post by blackpapermoon on Nov 18, 2010 12:10:54 GMT -5
As soon as he was free Ferret bolted, trying to get as far away from the soldier as he could. It was starting to get dark and the mutants where waking up. He was unarmed and unsure of his location. Taking out his PDA he was much relieved to find that he was just north of Yanov. The Ex- Bandit began to make his way towards the station, but something the demented man said had stuck with him.
"No, no. I still have use for you, scum. If I didn't, you'd be dead by now. Just like the rest of your... squad."
He must have been lying, there was no way the rest of the expedition was dead, they couldn’t be. The man had just made it up. The Freedomer had to go see for himself. He passed the old train station and began to follow the road back to the factory. He continued to make his way into the compound until he came upon the remains.
The smell the came from the body was enough to make his stomach turn, he fell to his knees and vomited. These people where like his family and now they where dead, they had been locked out of the shelter during the Emission. After allowing himself time to get himself to together he slowly made him way back to Yanov. Ferret entered the station around midnight and sat down look at the ground. He did not pay any notice to anyone or what they had said.
“I was nabbed when I was resting,” he finally said softly as he rubbed the bumps on his head, “It was the same guy that locked out the team during the Emission… it had to be... god I need a drink.”
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Post by Basil on Nov 19, 2010 11:39:37 GMT -5
Maginot stopped running and dropped to his knees. His lungs were on fire, and his skin was slick with sweat. The chimera had stopped chasing him back at an abandoned car park rife with electro anomalies, as it had decided to attack a couple of zombies that were sitting near an old Zap. While he was running, Maginot had heard the sharp clatter of machine-gun fire, and judging from the sound the weapon had made, it was a gun commonly used by members of Duty. With Duty's expedition present in the area as well as Balalaika, it seemed like Freedom's chances were rapidly thinning.
He stopped gasping for air when he heard an angry, throaty snarl nearby, followed by a series of angry barks and the aggressive clatter of a small calibre automatic weapon. He cautiously stood and looked around him and saw a short, familiar figure shooting at a pack of blind and pseudo-dogs. Balalaika had, in her eagerness to reach Adder, stumbled on a pack of mutants. Maginot quickly started running again, heading for a large and abandoned train station in the distance where, according to his PDA, Adder was waiting. Thunder rumbled in the sky and a light drizzle started to fall, the drops pattering softly on the helmet of Maginot's suit. After more running, and an uncomfortable encounter with some angry tushkanos, Mag reached the train station.
Just as he climbed over an abandoned concrete quay, he heard the click of a weapon behind him.
"Stop right there, Frenchie", said Balalaika. Mag turned around and saw she was aiming her APS straight at his face. Her trouser leg bore the marks of a dog attack.
"-I thought the dogs had gotten you", said Maginot.
"-It'll take more than a few mangy mutts to take me down", snarled Balalaika. "Now hand your guns over."
Maginot sighed and did as he was told. There was nothing he could do to escape right now. As soon as he had handed his guns over, Balalaika grabbed hold of the back of his suit and pressed the barrel of her APS against the side of his skull.
"-We're going to see Adder!", she said in a chirpy voice.
_________________________
Adder stared emptily at Ferret for a while before speaking.
"Well it seems pretty clear: the expedition is a disaster. Mag is on his way, we'll wait for him and leave for the warehouses as soon as he gets here."
She slowly paced the room for a while, her boots leaving footprints in the thick dust. Rain was falling now, and water streamed through small holes in the station's roof. It seemed that Duty would prevail this day, and not Freedom. Then again, Duty did have quite an edge over Freedom: better weapons, better training as well as larger numbers. Their ranks included quite a few veteran soldiers, and even some ex-Spetsnaz people, whereas Freedom had to make do with artists and other daredevils who were altogether quite rare in the Zone.
"We'd better hope Duty doesn't barge in on us, Ferret", she said. "They'd kill us all without even blinking."
Just then, there was a thunderous crash as one of the station's doors was kicked open, revealing the slightly hunched figure of Maginot and, to Adder's horror, Balalaika. The small woman threw Maginot to his knees, keeping her APS aimed at the back of his skull. As Maginot hit the ground, lightning slashed through the sky behind Balalaika, and was quickly followed by a deafening crash of thunder.
"-Welly welly well!", she said, her mouth twisted into a horrible smile. "Hello Adder, I brought you a little present."
She kicked Maginot in the back of the head, sending him sprawling. She seemed completely unafraid of the mercenaries present in the room.
"-Mag!", cried Adder. "Let him go, Balalaika!"
"-Tut tut", said the small woman. "If you want Frenchie to live, hand yourself over...then I'll leave, with you. The others can go safely, but you...I want you all to myself."
As she spoke, her shoulders shook in quiet, cruel laughter. She could feel the fear in Adder's heart, as well as the fears of the other men present. She seemed to exude a black aura of fear that pervaded the air inside the room, clawing at the minds and hearts of those who stood before her.
"C'mon Adder", said Balalaika, "come over here, or I'll repaint the floor with your lover boy's brains."
Adder hesitated. Never had she been in a situation where Maginot's life was being threatened. Balalaika had gambled here, but she had gambled wisely, for even if she failed to kill Adder and died here, she would still take the life of Freedom's leader and brutally wrench Adder's only true friend and support from her. Ever since they had first met, Maginot had helped her stay on the right path. He had put up with her fits, comforted her and guided her. If it hadn't been for him, she'd have died a long time ago, alone and terrified in the Cordon or the Garbage, her corpse left to rot like countless others.
She was indebted to Maginot, and now was the time to pay her debts.
"-Okay Bal", she said. "You win."
Balalaika smiled an evil, triumphant smile full of untold cruelty.
"-Good girl! Now give all your weapons to the runt next to you", she said, jerking her head at Ferret. "No poison bullets for you, my dear."
Adder gave her Vintorez and knife to Ferret before slowly walking over to where Balalaika stood. Balalaika's smile got even wider as she grabbed hold of Adder's arm and pressed her APS against her temple.
"You can all go", she told the others. "You too, Frenchie...your whore is doing something very, very brave. You should be grateful. Ciao ciao, everyone!"
She backed out of the station, taking Adder with her and slammed the doors. Maginot picked himself up, turned around and stared silently at the now closed doors. After a while, he spoke, his voice faint and haggard.
"-She...took her..."
Still staring at the doors, he spoke again.
"She went with her...she gave herself up..."
And then, his voice grew louder, and he slowly raised his shaking hands to chest level, clasping them against his heart.
"Adder...why? Why did you do something so stupid?"
Maginot, usually a pillar of calm and containment, underwent a sudden and shocking transformation. His face became distorted with anger, and his hands balled into fists.
"I didn't come all this way for this! NO!"
Suddenly, he ran towards the doors, slamming them open with his shoulder. He stopped outside in the pouring rain, haggard and shaking with barely controlled fury before crying out in a voice heavy with fury:
"I'M NOT GOING TO LET A PSYCHOTIC LITTLE BITCH TAKE HER!", he yelled before turning to Ferret. "You! You're coming with me...as for you", he added, turning to the mercenaries, "you can come too...I'll pay you anything you want, I just want her back."
He took a few more steps. His hair was soaked and plastered against his skull. He stared off into the gloom for a while before turning, one fist clenched so tight his knuckles had gone white.
"By God, I'm not going to let some murderous midget take Adder, even if it means I get killed in the process!"
_____________________________
"Here we are."
Balalaika had taken Adder North, to a large structure similar to an amphitheatre with a brick, chimneyed building next to it. It was in that building that Balalaika had taken Adder, forcing the metallic door with her bayonet and roughly shoving the other woman into the pitch black room. Adder struggled onto her hands and knees and looked around her. The room was utterly silent and filled with ancient industrial piping, corroded by time and humidity. A lone tushkano stuck its head out of a crack in the wall before disappearing again.
"-You could've shot me right outside the station", said Adder in a flat voice.
"-Why would I shoot you?", said Balalaika as she switched on an old gas lantern that stood on a wooden crate.
"-Your dearest wish is to kill me", said Adder.
"-True...true...but why spoil the fun when I can do whatever I please to you?"
Adder watched Balalaika walk slowly before her, her cruel, saw-toothed bayonet in one hand, and her eyes gleamed malevolently in the dim light. Balalaika approached her victim, bayonet in hand, and slowly caressed the front of Adder's body with the tip of her blade, starting between her legs and ending at her chin.
"I want to break you", she said in whisper that sent shivers down Adder's spine. "I'm not going to use those fancy new powers I obtained...I'm going to do it the old fashioned way."
"-Go ahead then, short stuff", said Adder with her usual sarcasm. Balalaika's face became distorted with ugly rage as she heard her victim's defiant remark.
"-SHUT UP!", she yelled before slapping Adder with surprising strength and violence for such a small woman. Adder stumbled sideways, almost falling over until Balalaika grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the floor.
"Now that we're on equal terms again", said Balalaika, placing one foot on Adder's shoulder, pinning her to the ground, "I can get started."
She removed her foot from Adder's shoulder, and Adder stood up again.
"Take your top armour and shirt off", said Balalaika. Adder stared at her captor, unsure what to do until Balalaika pressed the tip of her bayonet against her throat. "Do it."
Adder silently obeyed, removing her armoured vest and the insulated shirt she wore as part of her gear. After removing the shirt, she hesitated at removing her tank top, but a threatening look from Balalaika compelled her to remove it, leaving her half naked. Balalaika smiled.
"Kneel."
"-You don't have to do this", said Adder calmly.
"-Shut it", said Balalaika before forcing Adder to kneel. "I'm going to strip away every shred of dignity you may have, and I will see you broken, bleeding and weeping before I kill you."
Adder felt the cold pressure of Balalaika's boot on the top of her back before she was brutally slammed into the floor, knocking the air out of her lungs and crushing her breasts against the cold concrete. She cried out in pain as Balalaika put one foot on the small of her back before putting the other one on Adder's back as well. She slowly walked over Adder's back, driving the soles of her boot into the snake-eyed woman's skin.
"Oooh, I'm enjoying this!", she said, listening to Adder's pained breathing. Adder gasped in pain as Balalaika put her foot on her neck, and the short woman giggled before stepping off her victim and pulling her to her knees by grabbing her hair.
"-You...disgust...me", panted Adder. Balalaika smiled as she sensed the woman's fear and saw the tears brimming in her reptilian eyes, relishing the pain and distress she had caused. Without warning she kicked Adder in the face, making her fall over again and splitting her lip. Blood splattered on the floor as Adder struck it.
"-This is pure bliss", said Balalaika in an oddly breathless voice before rolling Adder onto her back and slamming her boot down onto the woman's breasts, "I want to hear you scream some more!"
Not giving Adder any relief whatsoever, she proceeded to kneel on her victim's chest and press her head down on the floor with one hand.
"I want to see you bleed", said Balalaika before pressing Mr Stabby's cold blade against Adder's shoulder and slicing the skin and flesh. Adder screamed in pain and struggled furiously to break free, but Balalaika kept her in her cruel, unfeeling grasp. Blood ran down Adder's shoulder. Balalaika soon lost control of herself, the sight of blood driving her into a frenzy of cruelty as she forced Adder's mouth open and pressed the blade against the corner of her lips. Adder gave off a blood-curdling shriek of pain as Balalaika cut through her cheek.
"Your pretty, pretty little face...", said Balalaika, withdrawing her blade once the work was done. "Ruined."
As she paused to giggle at her disgusting work, Adder lashed out, throwing her smaller enemy off her and standing up unsteadily. Balalaika simply laughed and kicked Adder's feet from under her, sending her sprawling.
"Now don't be foolish", she scolded, clamping her foot down on Adder's belly.
"-Please! Stop!", moaned Adder. She was crying profusely now, an abject, bloody, cowering wreck beneath Balalaika's boot.
"-Only once you've croaked", said Balalaika matter of factly before kneeling next to Adder and making a cut along the top of her left breast. Adder screamed again, bringing her vocal cords almost to breaking point. "Hmm...I wonder what your blood tastes like..."
Balalaika slowly pressed Mr Stabby's blade against her tongue and licked Adder's blood off in one go. She smacked her lips in an almost comical manner.
"Tastes sweet...and now...for the final act of my show."
Balalaika undid her belt and used it to tie Adder's hands behind her back. She didn't want her to move while she did this. After doing this, she grabbed hold of Adder's legs and spread them, bringing Mr Stabby to bear. Adder, tears running from her eyes, stared in wordless terror at Balalaika, her eyes imploring her with a million unspoken pleas for mercy.
"This is going to hurt...a lot", said Balalaika.
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Post by blackpapermoon on Nov 19, 2010 17:10:22 GMT -5
Ferret followed Maginot out into the dark rainy night, Adder's Vintorez still in his arms. It didn't take long for the rain to totaly drench the Ex-Bandit, his longish black hair stuck to his face causing him a slight annoyance. Yet he paid it no mind, they had to get to Adder before it was too late. However he soon noticed that his leader was unarmed, if anyone in the group should have a gun it was Mag. He was the one spearheading the rescue and the one that should take revenge for both Adder and himself.
"Boss hold up," he called over the rain and wind as he offer his leader the Vintorez, "Take it, and make sure you shoot that bitch in the heart for me."
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Post by Basil on Nov 19, 2010 18:25:56 GMT -5
Maginot took the gun from Ferret and weighed it in his hands. It felt strange, almost alien, as if it had been infused with Adder's aura.
"I promise you, Adder, I will return this gun to you", murmured Maginot. Rain water dripped down his nose and ran down his face, while his hands and hair were utterly soaked. He ignored these minor discomforts, focusing on the task ahead: saving Adder. Not bothering to wait for the others, he set off, snatching his PDA from his pocket and looking for Adder on the satellite map. Fortunately, her PDA was still giving off a signal, and seemed to be located North, near a large semicircular structure.
"You saved me from blind dogs, Adder", he said as he ran forth into the rainy gloom, his boots squelching wetly in the mud and soggy grass. "You watched my back and helped me every step of the way. But you also counted on me, and I let you down. I must find redemption."
He skidded slightly as the ground sloped. Up ahead lay the massive structure he could see on his PDA, but his heart sank as he saw a familiar object lying on the cracked asphalt of the old road leading to the building: Adder's PDA. It was definitely hers, for he recognised the cracked screen. She had gotten very angry with the small device once, as it had failed to upload the latest satellite info, and had thrown it over the warehouses' perimeter wall. Maginot wiped water from the screen, his soaked hand leaving a smudgy trail on it. Where was she?
Just then, he heard a faint noise, barely audible over the sound of the driving rain. Could it be? Was it just the cry of a mutant? Maginot decided to make a leap of faith and went straight for the large brick building that sat next to the old concrete semicircle. At the base of the building was a rusted metal door which hung half open, dim light streaming out of it. Balalaika and her prisoner had to be in there.
Maginot only briefly stopped before charging the door and ramming it open. Inside he was greeted by a vision of horror: Adder lying on the floor, bloody and in tears, while Balalaika seemed about to mutilate her further with that ugly bayonet of hers. All Balalaika saw as Maginot slammed into the room was a face distorted by fury and a hellish determination to kill her.
"SALOPE!", yelled Maginot as he crashed into the small woman, sending her rolling. Balalaika cursed incoherently as she slammed onto the floor with Maginot on top of her, and she tried to stab him.
"-Get the fuck off me you piece of shit!", she yelled, struggling like a demon. She violently punched Maginot in the face with the hilt of her bayonet, throwing him off her and retreating into the shadows.
Maginot, not caring whether or not she had broken his nose, stood up and raised Adder's Vintorez. Balalaika didn't even budge, staring right at him with eyes full of hatred and murder. The room became filled with an intangible sense of fear as the small woman's unnatural abilities kicked in.
"You can't do anything against me!", she snarled. "I know your fears..."
The world began to distort crazily around Maginot. He heard Adder whimper behind him as she too was affected by Balalaika's power. His eyes bulged slightly when the world before him began to collapse into nothingness.
"-I have one more card", said Maginot, slowly reaching into his backpack. The world shook, and he fought the urge to run away from the horrible void that had appeared before him. Balalaika watched with curiosity as he drew a seemingly normal helmet from his bag and proceeded to fit it on his head. Almost immediately, the world reverted to normal, and Balalaika's face contorted with frustrated rage.
"Psy-shielding, bitch", he said, raising the gun once again. "Now prepare to die."
"-You won't get me so easily!!", yelled Balalaika before opening fire at Maginot with her APS. Maginot barely had time to duck, avoiding getting hit with a burst of parabellum rounds. Balalaika ran, laughing insanely, into the darkened facility.
"-I'm going after her", said Maginot to Ferret and Adder before running after the insane woman.
The building seemed to contain a large, central machinery pole which seemed to consist entirely of piping and various counters. The machinery was then surrounded by metallic catwalks that led to the roof, and it was on those catwalks that the battle began. Vintorez in hand and eyes alert, Maginot cautiously ascended.
"-I might not be able to use your fears against you", said Balalaika from somewhere above him, her voice echoing in a sinister manner, "but I'm still a damn good shot..."
There was a deafening detonation as the small woman fired her SVD. The bullet grazed Maginot's shoulder, causing him to wince and duck. He glimpsed Balalaika quickly going up a flight of metallic stairs and he fired, sending several 9x39 mm bullets slamming into the steps. However, he missed, and Balalaika was able to escape unharmed, laughing all the way.
As she once again disappeared from view, he felt like he was being watched from the shadows. The woman was probably looking at him through her scope right now.
"Hiding won't help you!", said her voice from somewhere above him. "Y'see, I understand the bullets. I make them go where I want."
Two deafening shots echoed through the room, both barely missing blowing Maginot's head off. Using the barrel flash given off by her weapon, Maginot shot back and heard a scream of anger, followed by the sound of someone running away.
"-These bullets are coated with the most deadly venom in the world", he said. "One hit and you're dead."
There was the sound of a door opening and closing. Balalaika had obviously reached the roof, and judging from what he had seen outside, there was no way down from there. He had her trapped.
Maginot dashed up the remaining stairs and made it to the door, cautiously opening it and stepping out onto the roof. The rain had become torrential, and lightning slashed through the sky regularly while thunder crashed and rumbled in the tormented heavens. Maginot kept his calm as he walked out onto the roof, Vintorez raised and ready to fire. The roof here was flat, with a small wall running around its edge, but he saw no sign of Balalaika.
Lightning flashed, briefly blinding Maginot and making him lower his gun. He turned back to the door, blinking, just as a new flash of lightning illuminated the scene.
And then he saw her. She was crouching right above the door, her SVD rifle trained on him like a death wish.
"Je ne regrette rien", she sang, "non, rien de rien."
Maginot threw himself to the ground just as she fired, sending a bullet ricocheting off the concrete roof. Before she could fire another round he was on her, jumping up, grabbing hold of her foot and dragging her down. She landed heavily on the ground and, with vicious speed, brought Mr Stabby to bear.
"WHY DO YOU INSIST IN INTERFERING WITH MY PLANS???", she shrieked, slashing out at him. As Maginot avoided the attack, she was back on her feet and attacking again in a paroxysm of murderous folly and anger. Maginot blocked one blow with the Vintorez, but she kicked him in the belly before knocking his helmet off. She cackled as Maginot dodged yet another blow.
"Your helmet is gone now!!", she yelled over the driving rain, "I have you in my hand! I will crush you!!"
Maginot saw the world waver around him, distorting horribly. He felt like vomiting, and he struggled to remain in control. Balalaika attacked again and again, Maginot barely dodging her blows and striking back weakly until she skipped onto the ledge of the roof, hopping onto the small wall that bordered it. Maginot raised the Vintorez with trembling hands as he struggled to make her out amidst the distortion. A huge, white hole of nothingness was appearing by his feet, and he stumbled backwards to avoid being swallowed by it.
"Nothing can stop me! NOTHING!", cried Balalaika. "With my power, I have all the Zone under my thumb! You will die, and then I'll go down and kill the runt and your precious whore, and My Will will be done!! I..."
The small parapet she was standing on had been weakened over the years due to neglect and the effects of time. The poor quality concrete it was made of had finally decided to give up its struggle against gravity, and it broke beneath Balalaika's feet. Balalaika screamed as she fell over the edge, on the side of the roof facing grassy hills. Maginot rushed to the edge and looked down, and saw her lying on the ground below, next to some bushes.
So it was over. He took a deep, shuddering breath and made his way back into the facility, his body now overcome with exhaustion, for he, Yves Castel, had danced with Death.
And he had lived to tell the tale.
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Post by blackpapermoon on Nov 19, 2010 19:55:08 GMT -5
“Oh, god…Adder,” Ferret said as he entered the building averting his eyes out of respect for her.
Kneel down next to her he pulled out the knife she had given him, and cut the belt that was holding the commandant’s hands together. Her exposed back was covered with Balalaika’s boot prints, her breast and her face had been mutilated by the insane woman’s blade. He helped Adder to her feet and handed her armor and clothing back.
“I’ll leave, tell me when I come back in” he said not wishing to make Adder suffer any more humiliation by have her dress in front of him. He too and suffered under Balalaika’s hands, but still his torture was not as bad what Adder had received. He waited outside the rain soaked through the layers of his suit, making him shiver some.
Once called back in he sat down beside Adder and tired to comfort her the best he could and did his best to mind his commandants personal space.
“It’s going to be ok,” he said softly, “ Mag will come back soon… It will be ok I promise.”
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Post by Basil on Nov 19, 2010 20:28:56 GMT -5
Maginot was surprised at the incredible weariness that washed over him as he reached the bottom of the stairs. His face was bruised and his nose was bleeding from the blow he had received earlier, not to mention his injured shoulder. Balalaika had been a dangerous opponent, but now she was gone.
Or was she?
Maginot ignored the thought. She had fallen from the roof of a tall industrial building, and even if she had survived she had probably sustained major injuries. She wouldn't last long out there. Adder stood in front of him, Ferret trying to comfort her. Her eyes were staring emptily ahead of her until she noticed Maginot.
"M...Mag..."
"-It's okay", said Maginot in a tired but reassuring voice, "she's gone. You're safe."
Adder slowly stepped towards Maginot and gently leaned against his shoulder. She began to sob, and Maginot put his arms around her battered frame.
"She's gone", he said. "She's gone."
Adder kept sobbing. Maginot held her closer to him, as if his presence could ward the pain away. She had been through a terrible ordeal and needed all the comfort she could get.
"-M...My rib...I think I got...a broken rib..."
"-We'll take care of that", said Maginot. "We'll get you home, and I will have Fungus make you a good cup of coffee."
To his surprise, Adder's sobbing subsided somewhat and was replaced by quiet laughter. Maginot smiled.
"-F...Fungus makes shitty coffee."
"-He does his best", said Maginot with a chuckle. "Quality coffee isn't a common thing in the Zone."
Adder looked up at Maginot and smiled. She had stopped crying. Her mutilated cheek had also stopped bleeding, but would need stitching and disinfecting. One side of her face was also heavily bruised where Balalaika had kicked her, and one of her lips had split.
"-I...I didn't want to lose you", said Adder after a while. "I wouldn't be able to live without you."
"-Adder..."
"-You know Mag", said Adder as tears came again."I...I love you."
Maginot softly stroked her hair and kissed her on the forehead. Adder blinked in surprise at this sudden show of affection.
"-I love you too, you silly cow", he said.
Adder smiled, wincing slightly at the pain it caused.
"-That's...that's the best thing I've heard in ages."
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Post by Διμι on Nov 19, 2010 20:52:26 GMT -5
He was running lightly, his leaps carrying him as he flew through the air before landing soundlessly on the ground, his telekinesis keeping his body aloft. Victor sprinted silently through the forest, not even stopping to examine his surroundings - his optics caught the slightest traces, the heat trails still lingering although the stalkers had passed minutes ago.
Maginot and the woman had been ahead of him by a couple of miles. His zoom thermal readings had picked them up, fighting on a slope a good distance ahead of him and heading all the further north. It was time to finish a job sloppily started, Victor thought, recalling as the helicopter over Yantar had fallen due to the woman's uncanny psychic influence. Neither Maginot nor Adder could have known about this development, so it was of utmost importance to apprehend the minuscule demon before she could make short work of them both.
Neither would they recognize him. Given the commandant's tendency to shoot at any stalker who seemed even in the least threatening. He would have to explain himself later, he thought as he sprinted into the open.
A marsh rose before him, bordering a road that led further west. Unexplored lands, Victor thought, pausing to stare at an abandoned container yard. His thermal sensors detected the faint aura of a bloodsucker trudging through the swamp in the distance, but the loner was too occupied with his own pursuits to delve into combat at the moment.
He sprinted on down the road, the impact of his rubber-soled metal boots silenced by his own gravitational manipulation. Victor was steadily gaining greater and greater hold of his powers, and could now apply them locally in a number of versatile ways.
Victor did all of this almost subconsciously as he passed over a bridge spanning over train tracks before stopping to look around. The Freedom leader's trail still lingered faintly, although the rain was doing its best to obliterate all evidence that he had passed. Victor could clearly see that it led to an abandoned train station in the distance, where it disappeared.
He also noticed several mercenaries patrolling the area far before the one nearest him could notice him.
The man was lifted bodily into the air, his guns floating down silently onto the ground. The mercenary attempted to scream for help, but his throat was slowly choked by an invisible force. Victor willed it, and the man glided over silently into his iron grasp. Pressing the barrel of his magnum to the immobilized mercenary's head, Victor spoke.
"One wrong move or word and I'll kill you on the spot." he growled "The Freedomers. Where are they?" he relaxed his psychokinetic grip on the man's vocal chords, and the mercenary sputtered back from him muteness.
"They went.." he rasped, gasping for air "to the cooling tower over there" he pointed to a massive concrete structure in the distance "tryin' to rescue some chick of theirs. Our boss ordered us to stay back and protect the station."
Victor let go, and the man landed on the ground with a thump. "Go get your weapons. Tell your boss me and the Freedomers will be back soon. We're in a heap of shit deeper than you can imagine."
The mercenary ran to collect his gear. Grabbing his rifle, he wheeled around, but the massive stalker that had held him down seconds earlier with some unseen force was gone, as if he had vanished into thin air.
The medic arrived at the cooling tower in less than a minute. Almost immediately, he noted a heat trail leading away already from a set of bushes next to the brick wall of the structure. Someone had just fled the scene. Balalaika was still out there. But pursuing her would be reckless, and Victor needed to make sure the two Freedomers were alive first.
Drawing his shotgun, he calmly propped open the unlatched door, and stepped inside.
"You know Mag" he suddenly heard Adder's voice say "I... I love you."
A second later, he heard Maginot himself reciprocate "I love you too, you silly cow"
Victor slapped his hand to his face silently. Now was hardly the time for amorous confessions, but the two just couldn't seem to get over one another. But at the same time, a rush of relief came over the medic as he lowered his weapon and stepped into the adjoining room. The two were still alive.
The Freedomer on the ground, who was none other than Ferret, whirled around and pressed the trigger on his rifle in panic, failing to recognize the massive mechanical construct that had entered. Several bullets slammed into Victor's chest plate, more ricocheting off his side armor and slamming into the wall behind him.
Victor swept his arm, the telekinetic blast knocking the rifle out of Ferret's hands and sending him spinning across the floor before coming to rest next to Adder.
"Hold your fire!" he exclaimed, sending the gun skidding away to the opposite wall "It's only me, Victor." he knelt down to the level, of the two, his tinted lenses sliding up to reveal the two round, glowing green optical sensors. "Sorry I had to resort to direct measures," he tossed at Ferret, probing the dents the Freedomer had made in his armor "Funny how someone's shit could end up this way, isn't it?" he muttered absentmindedly before turning to Adder.
"Jesus," he groaned, taking in the woman's condition. Adder's cheek had been sliced messily open, and there were no doubt more wounds to follow that couldn't be as easily seen. "We need to get her back to the station quickly. I know what's happened. There's a trail leading away from the complex, but it's fading. Balalaika's gone."
He whirled on Maginot "Why the fuck didn't you finish her off?! Why not destroy the body just to make goddamn sure!" he seethed suddenly "One mistake was enough to let me know that we can't take chances with her! I manage to capture the goddamn bitch, I had her, and I could have crushed her like an insect under my foot. And then watched as she broke out of a high-security cell and took down two goddamn Hinds with her, only to go after you again!"
As Victor spoke, the walls shook heavily. Some of the old brickwork cracked, and concrete dust and paint chips fell in small wisps from the ceiling. It was the first time he had truly felt even something akin to rage and frustration at his fellow friends, and his entire surroundings seemed to echo his mind.
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Post by Karcentric on Nov 20, 2010 4:58:08 GMT -5
With a loud crack several rifles all trained on the chimera's heads all fired together mincing the giant beast's heads. The squad quickly jogged down to the abandoned check point, inspecting the building Rurik nodded approvingly. "This will be a fine place for a base of operations, set up communications in here," Walking into an adjoining room with two other soldiers, "This room will suffice as a barracks. You get the technical equipment set up. The rest of us will go about fortifying this building. Let's get started." He ordered.
After nearly an hour the building was patched up and the radio had a weak signal with which they were able to communicate with Rostok. "Excellent work, there was a building on this map I want to check, it might make a good permanent second base. It's about here." He marked on his PDA. "Find out if there is any orders from General Voronin. I'll be back soon." Rurik said, walking towards the central building which had taken his interest.
As he got closer his PDA picked several lifeforms, checking he found that the mercs had obviously already set up a base in the station.
Walking as cautiously as a 7 foot stalker could, he made his way to one of the large double doors. Knocking twice he waited a brief spell before entering, he was instantly halted by another exo clad stalker.
"What do you want Duty?" The man inquired in a flat voice, "We aren't going to kick you out but be warned Freedom has already passed through and might drop in again, and while you two aren't friendly you'll do well to keep your gun to your self."
"Fine by me, do mind telling me how many of them there were?" Rurik asked.
"Talk to Schwarz or Slasher, they were talking to em before." the merc replied pointing to a corridor to his left.
Nodding in thanks Rurik walked into Slasher's office.
"Lt. Rurik, welcome to Yanov. What brings you this little corner of the zone?" Slasher asked sizing Rurik up, he'd heard about the Dutier, but had never seen him in person. Slasher wasn't a small man but even he felt dwarfed in Rurik's presence. Even with only two stalkers in it the room seemed rather cramped.
Glancing around the small room before he replying, he turned to the merc. "We set off in pursuit of whatever Freedom is looking for, simple really. If they a looking for some sort of artifact to sell to the scientists, I want Duty to find it first, we may have a cease-fire but if we can find a way to gain profit and deny Freedom from it we will take it. How many members have you seen here?"
"Well, that's a two part answer, one of my men found several Freedom members which had obviously been stuck out in the blow out which struck recently, eight or nine I think not pretty. Then there was their second in command and another lad who went missing before turning up again." Slasher pausing to think, "But it turned out that the happy gathering wasn't to last, a midget burst in with the leader, Maginot and babbled about wanting Adder."
Pausing again, "Schwarz said her name was Balalaika I think. Anyway after that Maginot charged on out of here to get Adder back. Dunno if they're coming back. You can wait around here if you like."
Several beeps from their PDAs indicated a group making it's way back, "Looks like this is going to get awkward, remember Lt. Rurik, this is a fire free zone, you don't shoot we won't shoot. Same for them." Slasher warned before walking out of his office to greet the returning group. Thinking over what the merc had said Rurik too exited the small office also.
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Post by Basil on Nov 20, 2010 7:19:39 GMT -5
Maginot merely stared at the metallic thing that had burst in on them.
"Oh, so she can take helicopters down...thanks for the info", he said in a flat voice. He was absolutely exhausted after all this, and even a giant metal humanoid that could knock a man's gun out of his hands through the power of thought couldn't surprise him. He put his arm around Adder's shoulders and slowly lead her to the door.
"As soon as we get back to base I'll organise a manhunt. She almost killed me up there, and letting her run free in the Zone is not good for anyone...if we even make it back to base that is. Duty's probably at the station by now and will want to shoot first and ask questions later."
He pushed the door open. The sky was grey and overcast, but it had stopped raining. The storm had moved North.
"And if we get back to base...would we even be able to organise a manhunt? We've been bled white recently. I don't really want to say this, but Freedom's losing the struggle against Duty."
"-Don't say that, Mag", said Adder weakly, but she couldn't deny the truth of her companion's words. Stalkers were flocking to Duty's ranks in droves while Freedom, who had spear-headed the attack on the Scorcher, was slowly dying out. Maginot and Adder's current appearance: injured, beyond the point of simple physical and mental exhaustion and broken.
"We'll bounce back...somehow", mumbled Adder. Maginot turned to the metal man.
"-Sorry to sound rude, stalker, but who are you?"
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Post by Διμι on Nov 21, 2010 21:56:44 GMT -5
"Sorry to sound rude, stalker, but who are you?" Maginot inquired as he turned back to face Victor.
The massive loner paused, his metal form completely still for a moment before answering. "It's too long a story to explain in detail right now, and Adder knows more of it than you as it is." he glanced at the woman, who was lying limp on the floor, propped against a wall.
"I don't want to trouble her with it at this hour." he said finally "I'll explain everything in full, but later, when we're properly rested and safe at the station." he looked outside, checking for any immediate danger, finding none, he turned back to the Freedom leader "For now," he continued "just know that I'm a friend, and one you've seen before at that. Now let's get to safety before any local nasties, human or not, decide to come around."
"There's a bunch of mercenaries over there that I'm certain we could strike a deal with for an escort through the Forest," he mused as they walked "if not, I'll take you through myself."
He stepped outside and almost unnoticeably, projected a light antigravitational field around Adder's persona. Even if she could walk, it wouldn't hurt to make the job easier. The woman would feel as if she had suddenly gotten fifty pounds lighter.
The presence of the space anomaly caught him by surprise. As he probed the area with his psychokinetic field, he seemed to meet a brick wall of nothingness several feet away from one of the walls of the cooling structure, as if reality had suddenly warped from existence there. Victor shrugged in acceptance. He could always inspect the area later.
His optics scoured the area for any signs of Balalaika, but the female sniper was gone. Victor knew full well that armor or not, a round from her rifle to the temple would be the end of him as all of the Zone had known him. Moreover, the Freedomers would be left to deal with the rampaging poltergeist remainder of him that would escape, and they were far from any fighting condition.
Cautiously, he led the way down the road to the station. The clouds overhead were slowly starting to clear.
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Post by Basil on Nov 22, 2010 17:39:03 GMT -5
Maginot walked in silence next to the metal stalker, keeping a close eye on Adder. His body felt heavy from exhaustion, the exhaustion of running through several kilometres of dense forest, almost being killed by a psychotic woman and seeing the failure of the enterprise he had himself ordered. He also felt guilt, guilt for sending Adder into such a dangerous situation. She had barely managed to survive through the entire thing before finally giving herself up to save him.
"Ferret", said Maginot to the other Freedomer. "If you could give me a report on what happened during your journey from the warehouses, I'd be rather grateful. Freedom needs all the information it can get, especially if we're to send any more expeditions North."
The group finally made it to Yanov, and as the unknown metal stalker pushed the doors open with his thoughts, Maginot could only mutter tiredly to himself:
"Once we all get back to the warehouses, I'm going to smoke a fucking joint."
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Post by Διμι on Nov 22, 2010 17:52:44 GMT -5
The Monolithian stood at the edge of the destroyed bridge connecting the lands surrounding the Yanov station, and the marshes in the distance. Two aides stood at his sides, one wearing a regular sunrise suit.
They were all here, he thought, foolishly believing they were out of danger, that they had managed to break free and secure what they had almost lost. He drew his rifle from his shoulder and stared through the scope at the Yanov station in the distance before turning to the sunrise-clad Monolithian beside him.
"The Dutiers are at the checkpoint," he spoke "find the young one, the Myrvang brother, the young one, the deadly. Show him this and tell him what he must do, if he needs any more resolve to finish his job." he extracted a single photograph from the depths of his trench coat, folded it in two and handed it to the Monolithian wearing the stalker suit. "Do not fail." he ordered "find him even if it costs him your life, and tell him that what he seeks will be given back if he accomplishes his task."
Sokol leapt down to the small islet beneath the smashed bridge and slowly picked his way across the marsh. The Monolithians followed suit, and the servant carrying the photograph quickly ran off into the distance towards the checkpoint.
The Monolith leader quickly climbed the massive tower by the cement plant, beholding the wild, unexplored land in all of its magnificence. The Freedomers would not escape its confines, so the Monolith had willed.
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Post by blackpapermoon on Nov 22, 2010 19:28:12 GMT -5
"Ferret", said Maginot to the other Freedomer. "If you could give me a report on what happened during your journey from the warehouses, I'd be rather grateful. Freedom needs all the information it can get, especially if we're to send any more expeditions North."
Ferret looked at Mag, what could he say the expedition had been a mess since they hit the riverbank.
"A disaster," he said slowly, " we lost one man to Snorks only a few meters into the forest, but the thing that really fucked us over was the Monolith. Adder and I where…. separated from the others and an emission started. Adder and I found shelter in the tower next to Yanov, others where not so lucky…they…they where locked out by someone or something…they're all dead. The Mercs found the two of us and the rest you where here for."
Ferret knew he left a lot out of the story but how to tell Maginot about Adder being over powered by the Monolith or about his strange mutation. He knew he would need to tell someone about it eventually but how to go about it, it was not something some one could see or even notice, but he could worry about that at a later time. The expedition north was over, it seemed that Duty had won. Freedom was in a bad spot they where losing men left right and center and they had not had any new members. He was the last to have joined after the Scorcher had blown up.
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