//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - What a dump // Story: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Zone of Nightmares // by Merc Scar //------------------------------// Having traveled from the worn home Alexei had guided her past what he said used to be a farmstead, then north through a cluster of small hills and groves. There they found a small dug out cave with supports made from cut branches and a small cut barrel, much like the one back at Alexei's home. The pair had spent the night there, taking a shift each while the other slept. They had set off in the early hours of the morning passing through ravines and underbrush, Nightmare had watched on with curiosity as her companion constantly checked a small device in his hands as they traveled, warning them of anomalies; even pointing a cluster out to her, yet she merely beheld what appeared to be heat distortion, which struck her has odd considering the morning had been a fridge one. Nightmare sighed as she readjusted her new attire for another uncounted time that day as they rested. The coat that Alexei had modified for her had been chaffing all day, during a a couple of their rest stops he had taken the liberty to provide extra pieces of the finer fabric from the sewing kit to alleviate some of her discomfort. While she had to commend him for his efforts, it was obvious from the start his experience in the field of tailoring was limited. That wasn't to say his skills weren't completely inadequate, he had managed to make a series of straps to holster her shotgun - which also had pouch attached to it for extra ammo- along the right side of her barrel, as well as a holster for a pistol and knife. Gazing up she watched as thick clouds rolled overhead, promising rain later in the day. "Alright, breaks over time to get moving," Alexei's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Rather reach duty territory than spend a night out in the garbage, also that's another thing we're about to hit bandit country so be alert." Nightmare nodded her head in response as she rose to her hooves and fell in behind her companion. Making their way through a stone tunnel they emerged to the sight of what could only be described as a metallic graveyard and hills of corroded steel and crumbling concrete. "This place is a dump," Nightmare remarked in disgust, wrinkling her nose as she detected the scent of decay nearby. "Well there is a reason why this area is called the Garbage and not the amusement park, " Alexei replied, oozing sarcasm. "I wouldn't see the difference between the two," she replied dryly. "I can think of one who would find entertainment in a place like this back in Equestria." Alexei made his way towards the field of what Nightmare initially thought were piles of twisted eroding metal, but as she approached she noticed they were once contraptions; many similar to the one she had woken up next to since coming here, albeit far more worn. One contraption however stood out from the rest, the main body was long and smooth with two shattered glass domes at the front, on top were five long blades drooping under their own weight; a similar set were found on the tail of the machine, on each side a pair of unusual cylinders pitted with holes hung from supports. "What is that machine over there," Nightmare inquired. "That? Depending on your outlook, it was a Hind gunship; nothing more than scrap now cause I doubt anyone will get it to fly again," Alexei answered. "So I assume it would have been used by your military forces?" she asked "Correct, they're capable of moving around squads of soldiers while providing heavy aerial support with rockets and machine gun fire." "So why leave such a useful machine rotting here then?" she asked perplexed "Probably was abandoned her after the first disaster back in '86 for being too radio-" "Hands above your head asshole, or I'll remove them from you," a new voice threatened. Before realising what was happening, she and Alexei were cornered by three thugs. The one standing directly in front of them wore a black coat wielding a sawn-off shotgun, the thug to her right wore a black jacket with blue pants with a pistol pointed straight at her face, the last to Alexei's right wore a maroon suit with a black tactical vest with a gun she had yet to identify. Alexei grumbled to himself as he raised his hands slowly into the air. "Now, you're gonna hand over your loot and there'll be no funny business got it," the thug in the coat demanded. "The hell is this thing here anyway," The thug to her left asked while motioning towards her. "Who cares, it's just a stupid animal, check those bags on it," the apparent leader answered. Nightmare narrowed her eyes at the thugs. She then noticed how Alexei began to shake the rifle off his shoulder gently onto his arm, until the strap was nestled into the crook of his arm - the bayonet was still attached. The vested thug began reaching out for the rifle. Knowing what to do, she played along; acting like a supposed animal she began backing away from the jacketed thug, which caused the lead thugs attention to focus on her in the process. "Hey, keep that bitc- WHAT THE FUCK" The lead thug exclaimed, in the brief moment of distraction Alexei had swung the rifle up into his grasp and driven the blade into the vested thugs throat. The lead thug re-aimed back to Alexei and fired both barrels. Instead of Alexei being cut down, he swung the body around towards his attacker; the thugs shots had instead landing in his now well dead comrade. Taking the opportunity Nightmare pivoted in place and bucked the jacketed thug as hard as she could, sending him right over a decaying machine, hearing a loud grunt on the other side. The loud bang of more gun fire caused Nightmare to spin around again, fearing that Alexei had been shot down this time; instead the sight she saw was of the leader having collapsed on the ground, several red blotches spreading on the chest while Alexei was holding his pistol at the twitching body. Nightmare released a breath she had not realised she had been holding. Sitting down she took a moment to calm herself. "What's the matter, not used to a bit of blood?" Alexei asked with a trace of mocking in his tone. "Make no mistake, I'm well versed in combat, this was unexpected is all," Nightmare retorted. Nightmare glared at the human as he hummed to himself at her response, busying himself by patting down the bodies for anything of value and stowing it away in his pack. She cocked an eye as he stripped the vest and coat off their previous owners. "I reckon someone will be able to do a better job with this coat at the bar," Alexei said when he saw her gaze. "Alright lets keep moving, Duty territory will be around here somewhere." _____ Day was gradually giving way to night as Alexei and Nightmare approached a fortified checkpoint, large concrete slabs had been positioned into makeshift walls, guards positioned near gaps and a large sheet metal gate. Alexei knelt down near an old soviet statue by some ruins nearby, motioning for his companion to stay low. Nightmare moving surprisingly quiet, given she was wearing metal horseshoes, shuffled next to him. "Alright, here we are, Duty territory," Alexei said to Nightmare. "I'm going ahead to gauge how they'll react to you, just go duck down in those ruins somewhere and I'll give you a call if we can go or not." "And what happens if we may not pass," Nightmare asked. Alexei scratched his chin before answering. "Right now, I dunno. I've never come this far into the Zone before, only made a couple of peeks into the Garbage here, but I just never wanted to have a close encounter with the bandits." The alicorn gave an exasperated sigh, muttering something he was unable to catch. "If the Dutyers do block us from going to Rostok factory then I'll ask for the alternative, they're quite well traveled and know the Zone better than most," Alexei assured her. Nightmare gave him another look before creeping her way towards the concealing shadows in the ruins, the closer to the darkness she got Alexei noted the immensely harder it got to see her. If it were a moonless night, she'd be able to move anywhere unseen, He thought. Rousing himself he began a slow walk towards the checkpoint. Once he got close enough the few guards that were in sight raised their guns at him, quickly he raised his hands. "What's your business here stalker," the gravelly voice of one Dutyer called to him. "I'm on a job from Sidorovich, to deliver some documents to the barman and escort a specimen to the scientists," Alexei answered. "Come forward then, your shooters stay holstered while your in Duty territory understood," the guard called to him again. Complying, Alexei kept his hands raised until he came to the guard who had addressed him. "May I speak to your commander? It's about the specimen I'm escorting," Alexei asked the stoic guard. "Warrant officer Kazakov should be inside or around the bunk hut," the Dutyer replied, pointing to the faded green-grey container by the gate. Thanking the soldier he made his way towards the hut, peering inside he saw a couple of men resting in the beds, one stood out however. At the far back was who he assumed was the Warrant Officer, signified by his better than most suit and red beret. Upon noticing his entrance the commander motioned for Alexei to approach. "Stalker I'm Warrant Officer Kazakov, what's your business here? Access into Rostok is limited due to recent bandit activity," the officer stated once Alexei was in front of him. "I'm on a couple of jobs on Sidorovich's behalf. I've got to deliver documents to the barman, and I'm also escorting a specimen to the scientists in Yantar," Alexei answered. The Kazakov's eyes narrowed at him. "What kind of specimen, Duty doesn't allow mutants into the factory area unless they're caged and heading for the arena's pens," the officers said suspiciously. "The thing is this creature isn't a mutant, somehow it's arrived in our world-" "Wait your the stalker escorting the non-terrestrial creature?" Alexei nodded. "The report that Sidorovich gave to General Voronin said that the creature was completely docile, is this true," the officer asked. "Well it's docile when your not threatening it with a gun, but the thing is actually sentient, she can speak and think exactly like us, plus she's got psi abilities or something," Alexei explained. "I can't allow your mystery creature to pass then. The general gave orders that should it present any possible threat that is was not to enter Duty territory until it has been inspected by the scientists," Kazakov responded. "But I have to pass through the factory, it's the only way to Yantar," Alexei insisted. "Not quite. While we were based over at the Agroprom Research Institute, I was apart of a few patrols that would occasionally deliver artifacts to the Yantar science bunker," Kazakov confessed. "There is a track hidden in the swamp north of the Institute, we placed scraps of cloth though the swamp and track north to show the safe route, should you go that way stay on the track if you value staying in one piece." "Well it looks like I don't have much of a choice then, Agroprom it is," Alexei sighed, recalling the stories of the area and the notorious mutants that inhabited it. A few moments of silence lasted between the two, interrupted by the snore of a sleeping Dutyer. "Look, I can tell you're still very much a rookie, more experienced than most, but still fairly green. I'll deliver the documents to Barkeep on your behalf and have him wire your reward straight to you," Kazakov offered. "In return I'll need you to do a job for me, nothing serious." "There's a problem with that, Sid never put any extra software onto my PDA," Alexei said. "I can install the application easy enough, let me have a look," Kazakov replied. Taking his PDA from his jackets inner chest pocket he handed it over to the officer. Kazakov attached a chip to the USB port and began tapping away on the screen, a few minutes later he handed the device back to Alexei. "There all set up, now you can have money wired straight to your PDA, you can then get it converted into real cash by a major trader," Kazakov said. Alexei removed his pack and pulled out the white case handing it over to the officer. "Now about this job," Alexei asked. "While we were based over at Agroprom I was but a private, the sergeant of my squad had a modified Groza rifle. The under-barrel grenade launcher mount had been replaced with a pair of shotgun tubes which made it quite ideal in fighting close quarters. During our shift he was killed by a bloodsucker somewhere at the factory next to the Institute, I want you to find and collect the rifle then return it to me," Kazakov explained. "Do this and I'll throw a good word towards General Voronin's way, Duty honor." "Nothing serious, what if that factory is a bloodsucker nest!" Alexei exclaimed, there was no way in hell or high heaven that he would go there if that was the case. A yelp caused Alexei to quickly looked behind himself as the sleeping Dutyer shot up awake, looking around until he spotted Alexei standing next to the Warrant officer. Grumbling the man went and laid back down in his bunk. "It's not a nest, that much we're certain, stalkers occupied it all the time, they still frequent it to my knowledge, it was just one of those moments that the beast had been hunting around the factory, anyway it was a good month ago," Kazakov reassured. Alexei sighed, he just knew this was a bad idea. "Fine, I'll have a poke around, but if I see one of those bastards I'm gonna leg it, no arguing that." "Very well, I wouldn't expect you to win a fight with one anyway, there is a reason why so few stalkers have the claim of killing one, usually accompanied by a set of scars," Kazakov replied. "Now if that's everything, I will have to ask you to move along." Shaking his head, Alexei slung his pack about over his shoulders. "Then safe travel stalker," Kazakov concluded. _____ Nightmare sat in the safety of the shadows of some ruined building, alert for any sound or movement nearby. Yet she found her mind wander and eyes drift up to the clear night sky, it was alien to her, but at the same time she recognised some of the constellations. The crescent moon that glowed dimly reminded her evermore of Equestria, of home. Sighing she tore her gaze away from the sky and returned it back towards the checkpoint to which Alexei had entered, by her reckoning at least half an hour - give or take - and now she was starting to wonder if something had gone wrong. Perhaps he's offended someone over there and now they're holding him prisoner, Nightmare thought, she didn't know anything much as to how humans socially interacted - today's earlier lesson with the bandits had shown that they are quite liable to be highly aggressive to one another - and most likely wouldn't get much of a chance to learn until she made it into this Rostok factory that Alexei had said they were traveling to. She was contemplating on climbing higher on the ruins to see over into the camp as she saw a light bobbing its way out of the camp towards her general direction. taking the precaution just in case, Nightmare sunk deeper into ruins in an effort to hide her position. The light began to scan over the layers of broken masonry, she could hear the crunch of boots on gravel as the owner made it's way around the site. Then a voice called out softly. "Nightmare, you around here, you can come out now," The voice unmistakably belonged to Alexei. Nightmare rose from here concealment, responding just as softly. The light emanating from his forehead was as bright as the sun itself, Nightmare hissed as she was blinded by it's intensity, raising a wing to shield herself. "Would you mind dousing that infernal light," Nightmare hissed, the light quickly dimmed to a low level followed my a mumbled apology. "So what happened, are we allowed to pass?" Nightmare grumbled, eyes slowly readjusting to the gloom. "Unfortunately not, Duty's leader believes that since you pose even a slight threat, coupled with whatever unknown powers you may have that you're too dangerous to be allowed access to their territory," Alexei explained with a sigh. "The officer at the check-point did tell me of another route to Yantar, but it involves going through the area around the Agroprom Research Institute and from the tales of the few veteran stalkers I've spoken with, the area is home to a few nasty predators," Alexei continued. "Do they not realise that I'm not very capable of doing much of anything right now?" she asked. "They don't care about what your capable of right now, it's what you might be capable of," Alexei replied. Nightmare let out an exasperated sigh. "Come on, lets get going, I'm sure the dutyers won't appreciate us hanging around here," Alexei said, turning his light back on and turning away. Nightmare rose up and followed him into the night. _____ (Ambiance for next part) _____ Alexei and Nightmare had been walking for a couple of hours now, clouds had rolled in from the north blotting out the night sky. Around her, Nightmare could hear various insects chirping and in the distance the occasional bark or howl, crows called out through the darkness. Thanks to her natural night-vision she could see creatures moving about in the underbrush as they trekked along; some were digging into the ground, other simply ran away. Even from what she had learned about his land so far Nightmare felt an odd sense of calmness. Nightmare heard a low hum somewhere far off in the distance, accompanied by a weak wave of energy that tingled her horn. "We should come across an old train depot soon, we'll duck in there for the night if it's empty," Alexei whispered back to her. "And if it's not empty?" Nightmare inquired. "We take our chances in the nearby tunnels," Alexei replied. Again she heard a low hum that grew into a deep rumbling and moan, this time the wave was stronger, the tingle turned to an almost unbearable itch. "Alexei, what was that?" Nightmare spoke up. "That rumble, nothing we should be worried of," he Alexei said. "The Zone does it on the occasion, if it was a couple days from now, then I'd be a bit paranoid." "why is that?" she asked. "Well you see everyone once in a while the Zo-" Alexei was cut off by a sudden explosive clap of thunder, the entire landscape lit up by the flash off in the distance. "Oh fuck no..." Alexei mumbled, eyes wide and starring off towards a great cumulonimbus, erratic flashes of lightning lighting up the world around them. "What's the matter?" Nightmare asked, unnerved by his sudden change. "...Run..." He whispered. The cloud began to emit a dull orange glow that grew steadily, but was loosing shape. "What?" she asked again. The cloud now collapsed, appearing to be on fire and expanding outwards. Orange aurora tendrils began to snake across the sky. "FUCKING RUN, YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!" Alexei yelled, charging off. Nightmare quickly gave chase, following the terrified human; her own fear rising as the winds quickly rose to gale force. Still deep groans came from the far off cloud like tormented wails. Quickly she caught up to Alexei. "Where are we going!" She called at him, looking around wildly, the ground quaking beneath their them, "The safest place I can think off!" he called back. "Over there, QUICKLY!" Alexei abruptly changed his course and began making for the maw of a tunnel, half of an old rusted train stuck out like the tongue of some great beast. Then she felt it, the light pulse she felt before compared nothing to this, she stopped just outside the tunnel and looked back. Nightmare's eyes widened to the point it hurt, but what she beheld terrified her like nothing else ever had, a great storming cloud crackling with red bolts of lighting rose over the hills from where they had come and washed down consuming everything in its path. Nightmare felt wanted to move, but was to petrified to do so. She heard Alexei call her name, yet she couldn't turn her head. The wrathful wave was quickly approaching as she felt herself yanked into the tunnel. "MOVE IT YOU BLOODY IDIOT!" Alexei yelled at her. Finding herself able to move again she quickly sprinted deeper into the tunnel, Alexei close behind. Soon they stopped, panting out of breath. Outside the could still feel the ground trembling with the fury of the sudden storm. "What in the name...of the stars was that?" She asked between breaths. Alexei slid down the tunnel wall and sat on the ground. "An emission...one that should't have come...for a couple of days," he said equally exhausted. "They're like these periodic bursts of energy...from the center of the the Zone." "And how often do they happen?" Nightmare asked. "Sometimes they happen daily, sometime it can be up to a week," Alexei answered. "And you stay here even having to deal with them?" Nightmare asked, unable to understand why any would stay in such a hostile land. "Yep, they're only dangerous if you get caught off guard," he said "You humans are crazy...all of you," Nightmare grumbled to herself. "And I'll be crazy to stay here." "Don't worry you'll get used to it," Alexei assured. Nightmare just snorted in response. Instead she looked back to where they had come, the shaking had now died down. She walked back a bit, inspecting some of the debris in the tunnel, then heard a dull crack behind her. Quickly looking back towards Alexei she saw he was on the ground unmoving, surrounded by three figures head lamps shining around; two wore long black coats like the one Alexei had pilfered earlier that day, the other wore a black jacket and blue pants. Nightmare quickly crouched down, hugging the wall of the tunnel amongst some debris. "This is the asshole that killed our guys earlier," the figure in the jacket said. "Lets take him to the boss, maybe we can put this cocksucker to work," one of the long coats said gruffly, stripping Alexei of his pack and weapons. The other two bandits bound Alexei and began to carry him deeper into the tunnel. "Didn't you say this wanker had some mule with him or something," the third bandit asked they were moving away. "Yeah, not sure where it is, probably ran away from him the ugly bastard," the jacket bandit replied. Nightmare heard their laughing echo as they moved deeper into the tunnel. She rose and gave pursuit, keeping a reasonable distance between herself and the bandits ahead. Soon they arrived in a large open room, which appear to be an underground depot. A few locomotives and carriages sat on the rails, some tilted to the side by their damaged suspension. Boxes, barrels and sheets of either metal or planks were made into makeshift barricades around the platforms, a few fires burned brightly here and there with more humans loitering around them. Nightmare trotted away from the tunnel she was in and took cover behind a few large crates in the corner of the room, scanning around she saw the bandits who had Alexei toss him into a crudely made prison. How in Tartarus am I going to get him out, she thought to herself. Looking around she noted the decrepit walkways around the room, most had fallen apart and were merely nothing more than loose platforms; however the depot was poorly lit, most of the light source coming from the few fires that the bandits hung around. Perhaps, she thought, getting the idea to hide in the shadows and navigate around. I should be able to glide from one to another...but I can't take all of them on. "Well hello," a voice softly spoke behind her. "And who are you I wonder."