|
Post by CaptainNips on Sept 4, 2012 2:01:46 GMT -5
Mikhail remained calm as the conflict progressed. But at the same time, he was surprised at his companion's vigilance and initiative. He continued to stroke his knife until he noticed another figure approaching, heading from the Red side of the station.
Ah great, Mikhail thought,now the Reds want in on this crap.
Mikhail changed to a more assertive position and cautiously looked between the hooligans and the approaching man.
|
|
|
Post by Lawnmower Joe on Sept 4, 2012 4:26:52 GMT -5
As the conflict dragged on, neither side wanting to back down, Nadya's fear began to evaporate. The thugs before her now seemed less terrible than before. Now that the memories of blows and beatings were being stifled by the disappearance of her fear, she was beginning to see these men under a new light. They were little more than cowards hiding out in their station and giving themselves the illusion of bravery by picking on those they considered unfit to coexist with their wretched lives.
And thus came the anger. Wherever she went, she was hounded like vermin, forced to live in the darkness of the tunnels, scrounging whatever scraps she could find to stay alive. But what had she done to deserve this? Pure bad luck had made her one of those whom radiation and unknown weaponry dumped on Moscow's agonising streets had changed beyond simple psychological trauma.
"I am not scum. You are", she stated before tugging back her hood, revealing her inhuman eyes for all to see. Some of the thugs and onlookers who'd gathered to see the scene gasped in surprise and shock. "Go ahead", continued Nadya, "kill me. Hang me from that gibbet. Do the Metro a favour and kill one more mutant scumbag, but all you'll be doing is killing someone without a home. After that, you can tell the Metro you hanged Gadiuka, the guide who knows the tunnels like the back of her hand."
Overwhelmed by disgust and anger, Nadya spat on the ground close to where the thugs were standing. They recoiled from the gesture almost as if she was contagious, their resolve clearly shaken by what was going on. Armed men stepping in to defend their target and the intervention of a Red Line officer certainly were not part of their original plan.
"Hey, it's Adder. I remember her", called a rough male voice from the crowd of onlookers. A tall, scrawny man clad in worn combat gear and carrying an AK-47 stepped forth. "She lead me and my boys through the cursed tunnel between Sukharevskaya and Kitai-Gorod."
Nadya looked at the man who'd just spoken, not recognising him until she saw the scar running along his neck. He was part of a trading company that sent caravans throughout the Metro, and she had indeed guided him and his men through the tunnel between Sukharevskaya and Kitai-Gorod during a particularly bad time for travelling. Three well guarded caravans and a group of travellers had vanished over the course of five days in that tunnel, and many were blocked at Sukharevskaya, too frightened to continue.
Another man stepped forth, this time an older man in a telnyashka and dirty jeans. She remembered him too. She'd helped him and his family go from Belorusskaya to Arbatskaya, in Polis, even sneaking them all through a Nazi station. Quite a dangerous feat considering what Nazis did to clandestine travellers and mutants.
"She did it free of charge too", added the old man, "when we arrived in Polis, we asked her how we could ever repay her for such an enormous favour. She just shook her head and said 'no need to pay me, I have enough.'"
"If you do anything to Adder", said the caravan guard threateningly, "I'll make sure you and your pals end up hanging from that gibbet."
The thugs now found themselves outnumbered by much tougher and better armed men. Some of them even slipped away, estimating that the face off was already lost. The more determined thugs stayed put, however, trying to keep their composure in the face of so many guns.
"You're all fools!", spat Mr Nail Bat, "mutants are mutants. There's no difference between a nosalis and this bitch here. They're all on the same side. They're all just tunnel trash!"
|
|
|
Post by bawls34 on Sept 4, 2012 8:44:26 GMT -5
Dmitri watched as his presence drew a few looks as the argument ensued, his approach from the red sector was a source of usual suspicion by the humans that frequented the Hanza sector. "mutants are mutants. There's no difference between a nosalis and this bitch here. They're all on the same side. They're all just tunnel trash!" said the man who seemed to be in charge of the dwindling amount of thugs. Dmitri wondered what could possibly be enough to stir up so much trouble, and noticed the woman who had just thrown back her hood, "A mutant!" Dmitri realized as he studied her features. However, Dmitri held no particular ill will against mutant humans, and the comment comparing her to a Nosalis was a bit ridiculous. "And i suppose she's trying her best to stop from tearing us to shreds right now, eh?" chuckled Dmitri, loud enough for everyone to hear.
|
|
|
Post by The Karcolith on Sept 5, 2012 11:33:46 GMT -5
"You're all fools!", spat Mr Nail Bat, "mutants are mutants. There's no difference between a nosalis and this bitch here. They're all on the same side. They're all just tunnel trash!"
Finally unable to hold back his annoyance anymore, Oleg took another step forward, clasping the leaders throat with his blackened hand, slowly choking him.
"I don't have times for this superstitious shit." Oleg hissed at the man as his face began to change colour going bright red, "You're clearly unaware that this group isn't moved by your simpleton ramblings."
The man had dropped to his knees and was pawing at Oleg's hand which had an iron grip on him. Waiting a few more seconds he finally let go, pushing the man to the ground he pressing his boot on his throat and looked down at him.
"We're going to leave this station and next time any one of us are here." He said indicating Mikhail, Nadya and himself, "You'll be smart enough to stay well away. Clear?"
"Clear." Mr Nail Bat spluttered.
"Good, that goes for you lot as well." Oleg said looking at each of t he remaining members of the now outnumbered gang.
Lifting his boot he nudged the man to get up, "Now fuck off." Oleg said.
The man and his gang scattered out of sight. "We should go before the guards come and do something." Oleg muttered, pulling on his glove again and looking to his two companions awaiting their reply.
|
|
|
Post by CaptainNips on Sept 5, 2012 17:27:51 GMT -5
Mikhail merely nodded, even more surprised of his companion. Very few men in the Metro would openly defy corrupt acts of superstition. This man was definitely not to be reckoned with. Mikhail sheathed his bowie knife and fastened his protective vest. He took a pitiful glace at Mr. Nail Bat before replying.
"Agreed," Mikhail replied and motioned to the surface exit, "We go up and through Komsomolskaya square. We then follow the main road north. Simple as that."
Mikhail patted his AK then looked questioningly at his companions, "You two all ready and geared up?"
|
|
|
Post by bawls34 on Sept 5, 2012 20:20:35 GMT -5
Dmitri watched as the group of the two men and the mutant women began speaking, they certainly seemed to be quite well trained and proficient, and there must be some reason they were all together. "you two all ready and geared up?" he overheard as he started to slink back into the darkness and keep a watchful eye on the group. "it seems these ones have a mission on their hands..but what could it possibly involve?" he thought to himself. "I'll trail them for the time being and see what turns up.." he concluded, taking a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it.
|
|
|
Post by Lawnmower Joe on Sept 6, 2012 2:23:42 GMT -5
A sigh of relief was all that Nadya could manage once the thugs were beaten back. The crowd slowly broke up, the onlookers losing interest and returning to their daily tasks. It had been a close shave, really. Had the man with the blackened hand and his companion not intervened, she would probably be hanging from the end of a rope by now. She unconsciously reached for her hood before abandoning the gesture. Everyone had seen her eyes now, so hiding them seemed rather pointless.
"You two all ready and geared up?", asked one of the two men who'd saved her from the lynching mob. Geared up for what? Nadya quickly remembered the offer to go to the surface and raid a pre-war warehouse. A dangerous endeavour, but what wasn't?
"I don't have my weapons. I had to leave them with the guards", said Nadya, scratching the back of her head, "if we can stop by the guard post, we can leave straight away. We'll have to be careful, though. Some demons made their nests on top of the Hotel Leningradskaya..."
A few metres away, a boy holding his mother's hand stopped and pointed at Nadya, only to be scolded and dragged away by maternal retribution. Abashed and somewhat ashamed, Nadya turned away and looked at the floor. The station's lighting had made her pupils retract into disturbingly inhuman slits, which were still drawing attention despite the row from earlier.
"Oh...I'm Nadya, in case you were wondering. But everyone calls me Gadiuka, because...well...the eyes."
|
|
|
Post by CaptainNips on Sept 6, 2012 2:55:44 GMT -5
Mikhail nodded with comprehension. He pitied the woman for the troubles she has faced. Even thinking about it made Mikhail hate the human race more and more. The mention of demons made Mikhail's heart sink, he hated dealing with those vile beasts.
"Very well. I'll call you Nadya," he replied, "I'd feel better by calling you by your real name."
"We'll be sure to retrieve your weapons soon," Mikhail continued.
He then looked at both the black-fisted man and Nadya. He said simply, "I'm Mikhail Zukov."
Mikhail peered at his other companion and inquired, "Your name?"
|
|
|
Post by The Karcolith on Sept 6, 2012 6:00:26 GMT -5
"Your name?" Mikhail asked Oleg.
After a pause he replied, "Oleg, Oleg Mihailov, or Black Fist if you'd like."
The mention of Demons made Oleg shudder, he'd seen his share of horrible deaths thanks to the winged beasts and wasn't keen to face them if he could help it.
"Hopefully we'll find something that will aid us against those winged monsters." Oleg commented as they walked to the guard post to collect Nadya's weapons.
Once they arrived at the guard post, Nadya went to collect her gear leaving Oleg and Mikhail for a few moments.
"I suspect we haven't seen the last of our superstitious friend or his group, but that could be me just being pessimistic, or hoping for a proper fight." Oleg said, half hoping they did encounter the gang again, outside of the station's confines.
|
|
|
Post by CaptainNips on Sept 6, 2012 6:23:04 GMT -5
Mikhail followed Oleg and Nadya to the guard post. Oleg and Mikhail were left alone as Nadya gathered her supplies.
"I suspect we haven't seen the last of our superstitious friend or his group, but that could be me just being pessimistic, or hoping for a proper fight," Oleg remarked.
Mikhail replied, "I doubt it. You scared those idiots up quite a bit."
He then dug in his pocket and brought another cigarette. "Besides, they wouldn't dare pick a fight with us, armed men."
After he had gotten done speaking, Mikhail struggled to light his cigarette. Only weak sparks emerged.
"Shit..." he mumbled as he boggled over his lighter.
|
|
|
Post by Lawnmower Joe on Sept 6, 2012 14:16:22 GMT -5
"The best way to fight a demon is to avoid it", said Nadya, "if they don't see or smell you, they won't do anything."
And with that, the mutant woman walked over to the guard post to reclaim her weapons. The head of the guard did not seem too pleased to see her, but refrained from making any unfriendly remarks.
"I want my weapons back", said Nadya, looking straight into the man's eyes, "I found a job and I'm going to the surface."
"Surface, eh?", said the scruffy man, passing a hand through his greasy, uncombed grey hair, "dangerous place there. Anyway...Nadya Orumov, was it? Yeah. So, one rifle, one harpoon gun, one revolver..."
The guard handed Nadya her equipment. The weight of her SKS Simonov and of her Helsing felt comforting to her hands and back. She felt less vulnerable and incapable with them. With her weaponry retrieved, Nadya headed back to where Oleg and Mikhail were standing.
"I got everything", she said , fishing a clip of Metro-made bullets from her rucksack and feeding it into her SKS. As she did so, she thought she caught a glimpse of the Communist who'd intervened in the face-off with the gang of Hansa thugs. Was he following them?
Now feeling suspicious, Nadya switched from her SKS to her Helsing, loading fresh steel arrows into it.
"The best thing up on the surface is to avoid confrontation with anything mutated. One gunshot can draw dozens of the damn things, it's like a dinner bell, but I suppose you both know that already."
|
|
|
Post by bawls34 on Sept 6, 2012 17:57:16 GMT -5
Dmitri ducked behind a support beam as the mutant woman looked suspiciously in his direction. The group had just been collecting weapons and getting their equipment ready at the Hansa gate when the woman was checking her weapon and just happened to look in his direction. Dmitri wondered if the woman had seen him for a moment and peeked around the corner of the support beam. The group seemed to have gone back to speaking about their mission, but Dmitri was still concerned, he was outnumbered, if the group spotted him, it could very well end badly for him.
|
|
|
Post by The Karcolith on Sept 11, 2012 13:51:24 GMT -5
Avoiding mutants appealed to Oleg, of course it was never that easy but in this dark, twisted world what is? Scrambling through his pack he fished out the silencer for rifle. Screwing it on he nodded, it wasn't perfect but it would certainly minimise the noise dramatically enough to fire without warning of their presence.
"I doubt it. You scared those idiots up quite a bit." Mikhail said in response to what Oleg had said before.
"Hopefully not, but I won't hold back if they do." He said back, a thin smile passed over his face at the thought.
As they left the station Oleg looked back, out of habit if anything perhaps a straggler wanted to tag along, or someone had a last second request, not seeing anything of interest he turned his attention back to following Mikhail.
Speaking to Nadya he asked, "How did your eyes become... well as they are? If you don't mind me asking?" Oleg asked, he'd heard about Nadya, but a lot of the rumours seemed far reached.
They were nearing the exit to the surface and stopped. "Mask on." Oleg said quietly to himself, another little habit he'd developed over time. Wiping the lens clean he pulled the mask on and looked to the others.
|
|
|
Post by CaptainNips on Sept 16, 2012 7:24:59 GMT -5
The group neared the surface exit. Before a great, metal door several guards manned a cheap, metro made machine gun. Their only defense was a row of sandbags that separated them from the door. At the moment, the guards were idle. Three men stood around a lamp-lit table, playing cards, while a stone-eyed officer peered at the approaching party.
Mikhail gazed at the exit door reminiscently. Knowing that beyond it would be the Komsomolskaya dome and square. Mikhail had loved visiting the station when he was a child. His eyes never once left the grand roof, where great battles of Russian history were etched onto fantastic mosaics. But he knew that it would not be the same when he went up. The dome would be a mere skeleton of it's old glory.
Mikhail was broken out of his trance by a raspy voice, "Where do you think your going, sir?"
Mikhail looked over to see the stone-eyed officer eyeing him up and down. The officer had noticed his Ring badge and Hansa helmet. Mikhail had never met this officer before, which made his chances of going up, without permission, even worse.
"Look, gramps," he reasoned, "I'm just going up for a little stroll with my companions here. No need to report this to Aleksandrov."
Aleksandrov was the Hansa governor for Komsomolskaya. Mikhail hated him and tried to stay out of his way. But Aleksandrov always seemed to find ways to torture Mikhail, whether it's about bad conduct or even smoking in the armory.
"Aleksandrov is your leader and you will address him as so," the officer rambled on, "Furthermore, soldiers of the Ring are not to leave their home station without permission."
The officer eyed Mikhail's conversing companions and remarked, "Who are those people anyway?"
Mikhail grimaced, he had had enough of this quack. "Just mind your own business! Now I suggest you just shut up and open the damn gate!"
His outburst earned him a couple stares from the Hansa guards. One bald man stood up and glared at Mikhail venomously.
Oh great, Mikhail thought, my own brethren prove to be as troublesome as those superstitious nutters.
|
|
|
Post by Lawnmower Joe on Sept 19, 2012 4:54:07 GMT -5
As they all headed to the station's surface access, Nadya couldn't help but look upwards at the ceiling and walls. Even though they were now caked with soot from all the oil lamps and small, controlled fires that the station's inhabitants used, she could still make out all the elements of Soviet architecture and decoration. Looking at the mosaics made her remember all the times she, as a student, had rode the Metro. Everything had been so easy back then. All she had to worry about was arriving late for work or her course. The Metro was just a place of passage, a network that kept the city's people moving like millions of human blood cells running through some gigantic being's veins and arteries.
She started hearing and seeing the bustle of those days now long gone. People pushing their way out of vanished trains and briskly walking over to the escalators, now locked behind a heavy hermetic door. Cell phones ringing, people reading Izvestia, Novaya Gazeta or some other newspaper or magazine.
Nadya was pulled from her reverie by the sound of arguing. She blinked and looked around her. They'd reached the barricade that guarded the access to the surface. Nadya noted how weak the defences seemed: one Metro-made machine gun, a wall of sandbags, some men with old Kalashes or Bastards. Mikhail was arguing with the leader of the guards, and Nadya heard that Hansa soldiers were not allowed to leave their home station without permission.
Well that's problematic, thought Nadya before furtively glancing over her shoulder for any sign of that Red Line officer. She saw nothing and returned her attention to Mikhail and his superior. Not being able to leave through the official exit was not a problem; she knew of many other ways to get to the surface. The real trouble was that Mikhail couldn't leave his home station without permission, something that would be hard to obtain if he was accompanied by such shady characters as Oleg and herself. She waited for someone to intervene or for some decision to be taken.
|
|