He is gone. He did what he could...And now he has gone to meet his kin. I can't judge him for that. the remainders of humanity are finishing each other off in their final fight - it is not his war. I hope he was able to forgive us...Me. For what we did to his brothers and sisters. His mother and father.
Prologue: D6
Perspective: Artyom
The force of the fiery explosion shook the ground in front of the D6 main chamber. Finally the waves of the Communists had halted; the now burning flame trooper was evidence of that. Our initial walls had been breached, but their advanced stopped at our last line of defence. The main command chamber right behind us served as a grim reminder that we had nowhere to fall back.
Enough bullets and that bastard was bound to die.
The dead flame trooper’s body gave a dull thud as it landed on top of the pile of his dead comrades. It was as tough as taking down that tank. That armour he wore could only resist so many shots in retrospective. His death gave us a short period of relief.
The Communist push had been halted. Waves after waves of soldiers had fled into our killzones. Dead bodies littered the floor to the point where one could not see the concrete beneath. On the left side laid the remains of their tank as well as mangled tracks from its gruesome end.
“Huh, well looks like we did it,” chimed Miller from my left side. “Great job everybody!”
Miller, our leader, the man who led us for the past few years, stood alongside us. His body was encased in the standard Ranger armor, which was covered in blood. No part of his body was without traces of Soviet blood. Even his greying beard had flecks.
As soon as Miller finished speaking, a roar of voices rose from beyond the wrecked gate. The Soviets weren’t done yet. I cranked the bolt back on my Preved sniper rifle. The bullet casing clanked loudly against the sound of the hundreds of casing littering our feet. If the Soviets didn’t let up soon then we would run out of ammo. The Communist continued to rally beyond our sight, their cheers echoing down the tunnel.
“Listen up, people,” Miller started as he turned to face the last of the Rangers, “I hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but it did, so … fuck. ...The facility is rigged for demolition - I gave the order back in Polis. Now that we’ve lost D6, our only option is to destroy it.”
The ‘Oorahs’ of the enemy had ceased halfway through Miller’s little speech. It was deathly quiet now. The only sounds coming from the killing field in front of us was the hollow crackle of the still burning fires.
Ulman spoke immediately after Miller, “Count us in, sir. What the hell, nobody lives forever.”
His wise words were being drowned out as a foreign noise began to resonate throughout the tunnel. It was almost like metal grinding on metal … shit.
“What the hell is this?” Miller yelled as he faced the frontline. The rest of the Ranger squad came to the same realization as me.
“Shit! Not again!”
“Baaack! Fall back!”
An armoured train burst through the wreckage of the first one. The dull metal sheen illuminated by the fires as it plowed every inch closer to us. Time stood still as that monstrosity barreled into each dead Communist body. It was tossed them aside like rag dolls. That too would be our fate.
Everyone began to retreat as far as possible. The only place we could go was the command post behind us. It would not be enough. This would be the end of our stand at D6. What was once ours would be under Communist control.
As the train smashed into the last barricade before reaching us, I could only utter one word.
“Фак.”
~~~~~
A high pitched ringing forced a moan out of me. It soon faded to the sounds of someone yelling orders of some kind. It made little difference to me. My eyes fluttered open to a blurry image of my right arm outstretched, against the floor, luckily still attached to me. I quickly became aware of the rest of my surroundings. My body was laying on the floor next to a lone control panel. Sparks were flying haphazardly amongst the wreckage that the Communist train had created, while voices were shouting orders behind the ringing in my ears.
I moved my head lazily off the concrete flooring. Trying to get a sense of direction when I heard his voice.
“Save your voice, Kirillov. Here, there are only dead Spartans ...”
Korbut.
The bastard that orchestrated everything that had happened. All the deaths of the past few years were on his hands. The сукин сын that had caused this entire war. How I wanted to wring his neck with my hands.
Everything about the man screamed typical bad guy. It was as if he was plucked out of a story book. His spotless uniform clashed among those who had blood soaking their armor. That deadeye of his seemed to pierce through anything, the blood coloured socket created fear in his victim’s mind.
“Ha ha. I feel a bit like Xerxes ...” He continued, “what an unforgivable waste of men and resources … so many good soldiers lost. And for what? Polis Station? The Council?”
Miller was propped up against a wall. Blood poured out of what was left of his legs. Almost the entire leg beneath the kneecap had been amputated in a rough procedure by that train. The pain he felt must have been unbearable, yet Korbut continued to drone on with his victory speech.
“Ah well … all are cleansed by the fire of Revolution.” It seemed Korbut had just noticed Miller laying on the ground. “What a pleasant surprise — Colonel Miller! … Or, what remains of you ...”
Miller sucked in a deep and ragged breath before speaking. It wasn’t in defiance of Korbut, it wasn’t some honour phrase made by the order. No; it was my last order. “Artyom … it is … time ...”
I knew what I had to do. As Miller collapsed from the pain, I dragged my way towards that control panel that I had first seen. I knew what it was; Miller had shown it to me before the battle started. From everything that me and Miller had witnessed together, I still thought the man didn’t trust me. If only I had known how wrong I was.
“And who might this be? Ahhhh … the resourceful young man. Tell me, Artyom, ‘Savior of the Metro’... where are you going?”
Under my mask I gave him one last smirk. My hand was rested on the knob to which the demolition sequence would begin. With a slow and methodical twist, the knob was activated. The surprise that resided on Korbut’s face was one which not even a picture could do it justice. It was the first time that I had seen such terror in his eyes. It would also be the last time.
The ground began to shake all around, concrete dust and debris descended from the ceiling. I brought myself to my knees and peered out over the Communist forces for the last time, rubble falling from the ceiling as the initial detonations began. I lifted my head to the ceiling, staring at the concrete as if it would turn into a beautiful portrait. With dying strength I shut my eyes.
Flashes of events passed in front of my eyes; the Rangers, my night with Anna, my friends, everything that happened while I resided in the Metro. A final memory surfaced, and the world slowed to a stop.
“Don’t be afraid! There’s nothing to be afraid of now!” It was my mother. Her face enlightened by the brightness of the pre-apocalyptic sun. I couldn’t remember what she had looked like until now … and now … she was as beautiful as ever. Her smile gave of the feeling of warmth; of being home.
A creeping white light illuminated around her face. It was if a halo had appeared around her; a halo that she deserved. The light seemed to slowly consume her face, eating at the edges. Her features began to lose shape until there was nothing in her place but that light, and it was beautiful.
They're not the soviets, they're the Red Line.
Сукин сын.
Dude, I am a big Metro fan and I want you to write this story. Please?
- The Good Doctor
2913386 Thanks for the help on the Russian. With regards to the whole Soviet/Communist/Red Line thing, I was just mixing it up with the names of that faction.
I might be mistaken but I think a character refers to them as Soviets. Might be wrong
But what if I didn't kill anything (even mutants? come on now metro >:() and got the good ending where the dark ones appear and stop the reds?
I can help you with translations. Russian is my first language so yea. Contact me on skype: poisonstreet
2913739
Artyom usually calls them 'Reds'. I mean, the Soviet Union is long gone in Metro universe.
But anyways, do continue, this is pretty nice so far.
I've managed to beat the game two times, once on ranger hardcore, got to the good ending. But I think the 'bad' ending I've got during my first play-through is far more epic. Made me feel feels.
A bit of trivia: For some reason the english version of the game is different in terms of character dialog, they say one thing in russian voice-over, and the subtitles show something entirely different.
Soviet's warm my heart, with butter. *Auto tune*
2913783 Well than you have created an alternate universe in which Artyom was not a dick
2913851 What about toast?
2913911
No. 'Cause I'm so close to toast.
We want more!
Did anyone else read the description in Artyom's voice?
On with the show.
2914263>>2915413>>2913493 You want more? More you say?
Well you know what?!
More is on the way!
2914525 Honestly, when I first re-read my description I read it in Ron Perlman's voice from the openings of Fallout
2913785 I probably won't contact you via skype if I have an issue; probably via a message here on fim.
2914238 Don't burn. I'm not a fan of burnt toast. Tastes like sezuires
Oh, well. Another Metro crossover.
Author... Just... Please tell me this....
Is Artyom going to go soft in the next chapter and forget everything and be all happy and shit. Because every story is like that and it pisses me off!
But good chapter lad
2915912 I'll have you know that I am not a lad. Add a y to that please hehe.
Anyways, what I will tell you is that Artyom will not go soft on you but he also realizes innocence. That is all I can say.
For the love of God please dont let the ponies speak English.
I haven't finish with Metro: Last Light yet so I don't think I would be reading this just yet, but I'll read it once I'm done.
Interested,
WarKing76
when can we expect the next chapter?
The last part in the video game. ( P.S. There are spoilers in it that aren't above.)
The "fuck" stands better for "ёбтвоюмать...". Just a little correction - from Russia with love.
2940938 Or "бля...", considering that it's shorter and kinda more appropriate to say when you are about to be run over by train. Also, just how many russians are here? I certainly keep bumping into either comments or stories written by *heavy accent begins* russian comrades *heavy accent ends*.
YES! YES! OH FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING YES! A WELL WRITTEN METRO CROSSOVER!
Здаров, могу помочь с переводом)
5145447 let me guess. Up yours too fucker? But still translation plz?
5382258
It means Zdarov, I can help with translation) in his words
And after favoriting this millenia ago, I finally get around to reading it. Damn me to преисподняя for not reading it sooner, this is quite impressive so far.
Nice. I eagerly anticipate the rest.
This...
I love finding crossovers that I never could have imagined, but when I do are so good I can't believe they are real.
2913908
Actually, Metro 2035 follows a version of the Redemption ending. So this is the Alternate Universe.
I want to read this so bad but i haven't finished the games, and i've already spoiled enough by reading the description
looks like they need some more train-ing
I just finished Metro 2033, almost done with Metro: Last Light. I am waiting for Exodus to come out. After that...I guess our time with Artyom will come to an end
i.imgflip.com/2jlz4f.jpg
Goodbye, hero of the Metro...