Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
|
Post by Zeus on Jun 6, 2013 14:12:42 GMT -5
"Need a hand! This should block it pretty well!" The newcomer yelled, and Kazmier ran over to him to help move the large bookcase. Everything was in a blur as he heard the howlers outside, the Librarians behind him deeper into the Library, and a demon or two above him. Mikhail was down, and Balalaika was somewhere.
After some struggling, Kazmier and his new friend placed the heavy bookshelf over the large doors with a loud thump.
With the doors secured Kaz took a deep breath and looked over to the inside of the Library and surveyed the interior. Tired, he slumped down against the bookshelf and took a deep breath.
|
|
|
Post by Lawnmower Joe on Jun 6, 2013 15:38:33 GMT -5
When the bookshelf was shoved into place, Balalaika paused and listened. The struggle to close the door had started off with vicious attacks from the mutants outside, but the agression had died out as suddenly as it had begun. As Balalaika stood in the middle of the dark entrance hall, she heard nothing but the muffled breathing of her companions and the quiet clatter of gear. Everything else was silent.
"You know", she breathed, trying hard not to make her fear too apparent, "I don't think the freaks outside want to come into the Library."
She turned around abruptly and stared down the corridor. Had something moved out in the penumbra? With a shaking hand she switched her headlamp on, the weak electric light doing little to restore her waning confidence.
"From now I want everyone to be really quiet", she murmured, "so no shouting, no shooting and no bumping into anything. You've probably heard of the things that lurk about the Library, and those things don't like noise. Also, stay away from windows or holes in the walls."
With that, Balalaika cursed softly. Her hands were moist with sweat and the fear was making her queezy. In a bid to stay calm, she headed over to Mikhail, who had been limping since they'd entered the Library.
"C'mere and stay still", said Balalaika, squatting next to Mikhail and examining his leg. The male stalker's ankle bore jagged tooth marks and was bleeding nastily. Trying to keep her hands steady, Balalaika unshouldered her rucksack and dug through it, eventually extracting a small and worn medical pack and a metal canteen. With some cloth she cleaned the blood off Mikhail's wound.
"D'you mind having a splash of vodka on that?", said Balalaika as she uncapped the canteen. She poured the alcohol over the bite marks, crudely disinfecting them. With that done, she bandaged Mikhail's leg and stood up.
"I think that should do", she said as she retrieved her rucksack, "I'm no medic, and you'll probably bleed some more but it should keep you going."
She turned away from Mikhail and looked down the corridor. The Library sat in silence, like a gigantic beast watching intruders on its territory. The only sound that reached Balalaika's ears was the faint moan of wind blowing through broken windows.
"This is the last time", she muttered, "I'm fucking done with this shit."
|
|
|
Post by CaptainNips on Jun 6, 2013 17:51:50 GMT -5
Kaz and the stranger heaved a bookshelf and placed it in front of the doors. The noises and attacks began to cease. Balalaika mentioned something about freaks but Mikhail didn't hear... he was busy observing the dark, ominous structure around him. The building, surprisingly, still had some of it's roof left. Pre-war books were littered everywhere down the corridor. Hell, the check out and information desk was just a few feet away!
The Library is just a mere skeleton of it's old past... I can remember like it was yesterday when my mother took me to this place before the war. As a young boy... I always favored the bleak but visionary works of Dostoyevsky.
Mikhail smiled to himself, glad that his mother also taught him the importance of classics. Maybe I can find a book or two around here that I'd like.
But then, Mikhail shook his head and broke out of his fantasy. Remembering the purpose of the mission and the hostilities that wait further within the Library.
"From now I want everyone to be really quiet", Balalaika said, "so no shouting, no shooting and no bumping into anything. You've probably heard of the things that lurk about the Library, and those things don't like noise. Also, stay away from windows or holes in the walls."
The stalker then approached Mikhail and observed his wound. She then cleaned the blood. He flinched as some spasms of pain still remained. Balalaika mentioned alcohol on the wound, Mikhail was about to agree but he had no time to say so. Mikhail grunted and felt almost relieved when Balalaika bandaged his lower leg.
"I think that should do", she said as she grabbed her backpack, "I'm no medic, and you'll probably bleed some more but it should keep you going."
Mikhail nodded, "Spasiba."
The female stalker turned away and looked down the corridor, muttering inaudible words. Mikhail stood up and felt the weight on his leg, content with the bandaged work. He then too looked down the gloomy corridor and turned on his headlight.
"Well, Kazmier, I'm guessing you know the way into this crypt. Go on then, we can't keep this technology waiting... nor the beings that guard it."
Mikhail turned to the new stalker, Kalash in arm, "Now, we're glad you came along to help... but who are you?"
He looked back to Kaz, "We should probably tell him what we're up to in this damned place, he may not want to go deeper into the Library. We could always try and recruit him..."
|
|
|
Post by jasonblade1 on Jun 7, 2013 8:50:37 GMT -5
Jason slumped against the check out desk,his mask starting to fog up. He did a quick filter change before turning to watch the group. "not to be nosy, but what are you people doing out here?" He started to dig through his bag, setting both his Bastards and his tokarev on the desk while he searched for another mask. he heard the injured stalker ask him who he was, as well as his comment about recruiting. "My name is Jason, I normally do minor clothing and armor repair for the citizens of Polis, but since i was running low on money for my "apartment", i took a scavenging job. i was sent with a team of two guards to scavenge for supplies up here. my group was ambushed and im the only survivor. then i ran into you guys." He started to repack his bag, disappointed when he hadnt found a spare mask. Sighing in a form of defeat, he glanced down the hall, checking and cursing under his breath at his broken flashlight. He thought to himself, 'Could this get any worse?'
|
|
Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
|
Post by Zeus on Jun 20, 2013 22:11:31 GMT -5
After a minute of catching his breath, Kazmier stood up and walked over to the new man named Jason. "Well, I don't know if you came in the knick of time or at the worst possible time, but I thank you none the less. My name is Kazmier and this is Balalaika and Mikhail." He pointed at his comrades.
"Now, if you wish to know what we are up to, I am a stalker from the Baumansky Alliance on orders to find whatever pre-war tech we can find in these crypts. For these two, I hired back in Polis for the extra firepower and such." He paused to look around when he heard a faint howling, then continued, "I don't know if you have any desire to accompany us, but if you do, when we get back to my home station, you will be richly rewarded with bullets, weapons or whatever your hearts content. If you don't then that's up to you and we part ways here. If you need a payment in advance to show I'm not bluffing here," He dug into one of his pockets and pulled out a magazine filled with military grade bullets and tossed it to Jason.
"Let's get moving soon, I don't wanna be around here any longer than we have to."
|
|
|
Post by jasonblade1 on Jun 21, 2013 17:13:54 GMT -5
Jason caught the magazine and stared at it in disbeleif. Looking at the rest of the group, he locked his eyes on Kazmier and tossed the clip back. "Keep it. I'll stay, but my only payment will be a new mask and a permanent home. deal?"
|
|
Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
|
Post by Zeus on Jun 22, 2013 2:26:40 GMT -5
"Keep it. I'll stay, but my only payment will be a new mask and a permanent home. deal?"
Kazmier nodded and said "As you wish friend, now, let's get a move on." He looked to his compatriots and announced "Follow me, if things haven't changed too much, I should know the way."
He unslung his VSS and started walking deeper into the Library, and received a shiver down his spine as he heard a roar deeper into the ancient building. I do hope we can keep our friends quiet, last time I was around here it wasn't to pretty..
After a few minutes of walking the group came upon what seemed to be the main hall. He could see the entrance doors barred shut with boards and bookshelves, which made him wonder. I wonder who tried to fortify the Library, other stalkers, or wor-
His train of thought was interrupted by the large thud made when a hulking creature leaped down from one of the other floors to around 15 feet from him. Kazmier paused and tentatively stared at the creature, his right hand grasping his rifle. The Librarian stood on two feet, curiously examining Kaz and his friends, it's head tilted to the side.
"Don't take your eyes off of it, and don't make any sudden movements," Kazmier hissed to his companions. "Let's try to get this one to pass without a fight." Please get bored Pleeaaase get bored and move on.
|
|
|
Post by CaptainNips on Aug 9, 2013 2:27:19 GMT -5
Mikhail went along with the group, still limping slightly and walking a tab bit slower. He cursed to himself for letting that damned mutant getting a bite on him. The distant roar unsettled him but only slightly... causing him to be alert and to grip his Kalash tighter.
The group entered a large hall, he barely had time to examine it when the Librarian landed with a loud thud. The creature stared at them, head to the side. Mikhail nearly jumped at the surprise and narrowed his eyes as he looked back to the beast.
"Don't take your eyes off of it, and don't make any sudden movements," Kazmier hissed. "Let's try to get this one to pass without a fight."
Mikhail nodded silently and stared stoically back at the creature. The ape-like mutant sniffed the air, and clawed the ground on with his feet. It's lip began to curl... exposing it's vicious and uneven set of teeth. It growled, beginning to take one step forward.
The Hansa soldier tightened in his stance and began to raise his weapon slightly... prepared at any moment to open fire on the beast.
"I don't think it's working," he'd say softly to his comrades, the muffle of his gas mask helping his voice remain quiet.
The Librarian grew more restless at the sheer numbers of the intruders. It growled louder and it's shoulders tensed.
|
|
Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
|
Post by Zeus on Aug 9, 2013 20:39:30 GMT -5
"I don't think it's working," Mikhail whispered as the Librarian began to grow more restless, growling and scratching at them and the ground. Kazmier nodded and began to think back to what his father told him.
Kazmier, when you see the bastards, don't fire unless mandatory, just stand your ground, only give a few steps when they seem they are about to attack. Otherwise size up and stare at them.
Kaz signaled for his friends to get back, as they edged back he took one small step and stopped.
This is my turf
|
|
|
Post by Lawnmower Joe on Aug 10, 2013 10:42:45 GMT -5
Balalaika stared at the Librarian and felt her heart begin to beat like a parade drum. The beast was enormous, easily four times the female stalker's size, with long arms and clawed hands that could undoubtedly disembowel her in an instant. Despite this she stood her ground and looked the mutant straight in the eye.
The beast growled and squared its massive shoulders, but the stalkers did not budge. They all knew that to turn their backs on this creature would be a terrible and potentially fatal mistake. Balalaika did her best to keep her hands from shaking. She felt sweat sting her left eye.
Just when she thought the beast would spring forward, the Librarian grunted and turned away, having seemingly lost interest in the little group. The diminutive stalker heaved a sigh of relief.
"That was too close for comf-"
She was interrupted by a deep, threatening growl from behind her. Before she could turn to face the new threat, the Librarian attacked, swinging its simian arms at the stalkers. Balalaika caught a glancing blow to her shoulder and lost her footing, her boots slipping on the dusty floor. It was only after she fell that she saw the gaping crack in the floor she was heading towards. With a muffled scream she fell right through it, arms flailing wildly for something to grab onto, her AKSU plummeting into the darkness below. It was through sheer luck that her gloved hand slapped onto the edge of the crack. Pain shot through her fingers and wrist, and her elbow seemed to scream in agony.
"Oh God, oh God, OH GOD!" she screamed. She could feel her legs kick about beneath her, in the black void. Who knew what lay below? She hung on with all her strength, desperately trying to grab onto the ledge with her other hand.
"Help!", she yelled, feeling the pain slowly numbing her arm, her precarious grip slipping inch by inch...
And then the ledge crumbled in her hands and she fell, screaming. The blackness swallowed her like the ocean and Balalaika became one with her fear. She clearly saw herself plummeting into an enormous maw filled with sharp, jagged teeth. Soon she would be dead.
Soon.
But instead of the awful jaws or the monstrous creatures of darkness, she hit the ground like a stone dropped from a wall. Her left leg exploded in pain, a sickening crack followed by a terrible scream. She hit her head against the ground and for a moment she lay on the floor, her scream killed by the impact, her field of vision burning with dancing colours and wild stars. When the shock cleared, all Balalaika was left with was complete darkness and crippling pain.
"Uuuuh", she managed. As her eyes got used to the darkness, she saw the crack overhead, now more like a star in this awfully black room. Through the dim light she saw the vague shapes of broken floorboards and smashed concrete above her. Had she fallen through several floors? Was she in the basement somewhere?
"Guys!", she croaked, trying hard to ignore the pain coming from her leg (had she broken it? Good God, let it not be broken), "Guys! I need some help!"
|
|
Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
|
Post by Zeus on Aug 10, 2013 17:44:08 GMT -5
Just as the Librarian lost interest and turned away to find something else to do, Kazmier sighed a sigh of relief.
But just as sudden as the first encounter started, a second appeared and another Librarian crashed into them, striking Balalaika causing her to fly backwards into a dark crevice, barely holding on with one hand.
Kazmier and the others were in a tight spot, Mikhail was already messed up pretty badly, Balalaika was about to fall to her death or worse, and Jason was just standing there like a little boy that was about to cry.
Fuck
Kaz lept forwards firing his VSS at the new Librarian, praying that Balalaika could hold on. After a moment of firing at the beast, it started to retreat, wounded and under fire by his compatriots. Kaz then dropped his gun and slid across the floor trying to reach Balalaika.
He was however, a second too late and she fell. Kazmier let out a gasp as she fell into the darkness, with screaming that was cut off by a sudden thud.
"Balalaika!" Kaz yelled into the hole, flashing his light into the darkness to see if he could see her.
|
|
|
Post by CaptainNips on Aug 11, 2013 7:08:51 GMT -5
"Oh god, oh god, OH GOD!" his companion screamed.
TAP TAP TAP... went the sound of Kazmier's gun.
He had barely any time to react to the second beasts charge, but thanks to Kazmier's timely refelxes... the Librarian soon retreated from the group, shielding his face partially with his fleshy arm.
He grimaced as he heard Balalaika fall into the void below. He cursed and crouched near the crevice, his head darting to look at the hallways. A sudden increase in growls and roars soon filled the Library ruin. The rapid tap of feet could be heard and the snarls of more Librarians....
The Beasts had been awoken...
He turned back to look down the crevice with his flashlight.
"Balalaika!" Kazmier screamed.
ROOOOAAARRRR!
Mikhail turned around instantly. The first Librarian had returned! It snarled and charged towards the pair, the large Hansa soldier particularly in it's sights. The mutant ran surprisingly fast, his clawed hands outreached before itself.
"Fucking hell!"
DUNDUNDUN-DUNDUNDUN!
He fired his Kalash. It seemingly shrugged off the burst of hot lead, only lowering it's outstretched claws. But even the stalker's burly stance could not stop the Librarian's charge.
It knocked him near to the wooden ground. Baring it's yellow and vicious teeth above him. The encounter was a blur. All actions were trapped inside a single moment. Mikhail yelled (or at least it felt like he did) and quickly felt for his AK.
Raising the barrel right against It's side, he pulled the trigger.
The rifle kicked in his grip at such close range. Every round released dug itself into the Librarian's torso. The flash of the weapon was replaced only by a spray of dark blood. The mutant groaned, it's muscles turning limp. With only instinct, Mikhail shoved the beast to the side and into the black crevice. Another but louder thud was heard soon after.
He groaned and crouched up into a sitting position. He looked down, hoping the Librarian had not landed on poor Balalaika.
"You alright down there?" the Hansa guard croaked.
His sight and hearing was still recuperating from the adrenaline pumping encounter... he did not hear the numerous growls and roars grow less distant.
|
|
Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
|
Post by Zeus on Aug 11, 2013 13:52:43 GMT -5
As he Kazmier kneeled peering into the dark hole, the roars of the other Librarians picked up Shit shit shit.
Then in a timely fashion the first Librarian returned and knocked Mikhail to the ground, but he blew it's guts out just in time. Before Kaz could blink Mikhail dove down into the hole Balalaika was in and Kaz was alone with four score the amount of Librarians close by.
Damn, well let's get a move on.
"Jason! Get into the hole, after m-" Kazmier was cut off as he was slapped across the back by another attacker, causing him to stumble near the crevice. Before the Librarian could swipe again, Kazmier slid into the hole, awaiting what was down there.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuuuuuuu
Thud
Kazmier landed on his back, his pack taking the brunt of the blow, but still knocking the wind out of him.
"Uh, guys, *cough* *cough* you there?"
|
|
|
Post by Lawnmower Joe on Aug 11, 2013 17:04:06 GMT -5
Mikhail didn't jump into the hole, and I don't think Kaz could jump down there too and land on his back without suffering any injuries.
Balalaika heard the gunfire above her. Some spent bullet casings even fell onto the floor near her with metallic tinks. Gritting her teeth against the pain in her leg, she switched her headlamp on and began to look for her AKSU. Unfortunately, a quick inspection revealed that the short rifle had landed on the floor above her and its barrel was sticking over the edge.
"T'voyu mat" swore Balalaika, wincing as yet more pain came coursing up her battered leg.
Suddenly the crack of light above her was extinguished. Balalaika barely had time to roll out of the way of a huge and stinking Librarian that seemed to have fallen through the crack. Grabbing her pistol, the stalker aimed the weapon at the now unmoving beast. The beast remained blissfully still and dead, though, and Balalaika heaved a sigh of relief.
"You've...probably alerted...the others", she managed to say, raising her eyes towards the fissure in the floor overhead, "you should get out of here. The place will be crawling with them in a few minutes."
You're going to die down here nagged a voice in Balalaika's mind, you're going to die down here, alone and afraid...
The small stalker looked up at her Kalachnikov again. Through the hole in the ceiling she could see the outlines of two or maybe three other levels above her, and her gun was stuck on the level immediately above her.
"Fucking hell...", she hissed. Her leg throbbed angrily.
|
|
|
Post by CaptainNips on Aug 11, 2013 19:44:16 GMT -5
I'll let Zeus post once again. And also... Remember, No Asterisks ***
|
|