'Compared to my brothers in arm… my comrades... I have lived... A long time…' The man spoke as he drove haphazardly down a road, side by side with a train.
The American he befriended in his time in Vorkuta will complete his last wish as he witnessed him jump onto the runaway train. He smiled.
Bullets whizzed by past his head as it pierced the back of the passenger seat. The guardsmen of Vorkuta are hot on his trail. He knew this was his last stand.
"REZNOV!" the American known as Alex Mason yelled, urging him to jump over to the train to make his escape. "It's your turn! Come on! Step eight, Reznov - Freedom!"
The man simply looked on and gave a small smile.
"For you, Mason...Not for me."
The man swerved off course down onto a different road, leading his pursuers away from the train.
"REZNOV!" Mason cried out.
….
'Mason… you will achieve what I could not…' the man thought as the impact of heavy caliber bullets impacted the back of his truck.
'For years, I have loved my country, answering her calls whenever they may be. I have lost many brothers and loved ones along the lines of duty', as his mind drifted to Chernov, the young soviet recruit who died in Berlin by a German flamethrower. His father, a musician, in Stalingrad, murdered in his sleep by the Germans. And finally, his well cherished friend, Dimitri, who died a gruesome death at the hands of his TRAITOROUS "Comrades" and that DAMNED NAZI.
"Dragovich, Kravchenko, Steiner… All must die…"
He uttered his last words/curses as he felt a powerful explosion rock his world. Time slowed.
…
'Mason… I believe in you… You will bring an end to Project Nova...' he smiled before succumbing to darkness.
...
His name, was Viktor Reznov.
Elsewhere:
Natsuki Subaru, age 17, walked down the marketplace as he was rejected by a fruit seller for having the wrong currency. So far his endeavor in this new world wasn't going as he expected so far but he hoped for the best. His strange apparel and personality only made him stick out more among the crowd in the streets as he continued walking, uncaring of the attention he might bring.
...
May fate have mercy on him.
*Drip*Drip*Drip*
Being in limbo was sure a weird feeling as Reznov did not know what lied beyond death, but it was not an unfamiliar one as he lived a harsh life.
*Drip*Drip*Drip*
Reznov wrinkled his face as he snapped opened his eyes as some water ran down his face. He gasped for air as he began to breathe erratically.
...
Confused, he slowly observed his surroundings and saw he was lying in an alleyway of some sort.
"Beh… Perhaps the mortician had nowhere else to put me," he joked as he slowly got up.
He struggled with this small endeavor only to realize he was being weighed down by something on his side.
A large pack, strapped to his shoulder.
…
'Something is not right…' he thought.
He looked at his hands as he went wide eyed.
...
His index finger was back!
Reznov could only gape at such a prospect as he went to feel around it with he other hand.
He had lost that finger during the invasion of Stalingrad by the German army... And now here it was again...
The loss of the crucial digits greatly inhibited his sniping skills as he greatly relied on Dimitri during that day he helped assassinating General Amsel by guiding him.
...
'This can't be real...' he thought.
...
He could hear commerce and conversations. Crowds?
...
He snapped out of his stupor and straightened his thoughts.
With a large heave, his picked himself up and made his way to the commotion.
With each step he took, the light from the end of the alley way grew brighter as he covered his face. What he saw next definitely surprised him.
A marketplace.
People of all kinds and shape walked along the market's cobblestone roads, attending to their daily lives.
His eyes nearly popped out when he saw a hippo walking on its hind legs and wearing clothing. There were animal like people and normal people walking side by side as it was nothing! And not to mention a cart being pulled by some great giant lizard beast.
Did he somehow stumble upon a circus set? He rubbed his eyes but soon came to the conclusion that he was not dreaming. He was alive.
He stepped out of the alleyway and into the street. It reminded him of home… before the war. So peaceful and beautiful...
...
He immediately made a bee line to the plaza of the marketplace whose great decor was a huge water fountain and took a seat on its ledge.
Just as he was going to scoop some water to wash off his face, he peered in his reflection which shocked him even further.
He was cleanly shaven and his features looked younger, but still rugged as ever. He noticed he was wearing an Ushanka hat with the soviet crest embroidered on the center with a matching trench coat to go along with it. It was his old uniform. On his back, slung was a PPSH-41, his preferred service SMG with a standard slim magazine. He did not however find any more magazines on him unfortunately. He did find his Tokarev pistol and the machete he once wielded to cut down the Nazi flag in Berlin, marking the Soviet victory. So many memories of the glorious days in the end of the war.
...
'What in Lenin's name is going on…?'
...
His presence did not go unnoticed however. His strange apparel and appearance gathered some odd stares from adults and children alike. He did have a scary face after all.
He heard a sharp whistle as he turned to see a well built man waving to him, motioning him to come over to his stand.
Reznov obliged as he needed answers. He wasn't at home any longer. He stepped up to the fruit stand and stood at nearly the same height as the owner.
"You look lost buddy… Are you perhaps a foreigner? Cause' you'd be the second one today…" the man said bored. "I hope you aren't as annoying as the other one…"
Reznov raised his eyebrow in confusion, having no idea what the man meant, but he will ask questions anyways.
"Where am I?" he simply asked. "What is this place?"
The well built man answered and scoffed. "You're in the Capital of Lugnica buddy… While you're here want to buy an appa?" as he offered a red fruit that greatly resembled an apple.
Reznov was a bit peckish...
He dug into his pockets but came to realize he did not have any currency whatsoever on him as he simply shrugged to the fruit vendor.
"I thought so…" the man sighed as he tossed the fruit to the Russian.
Reznov caught it with his open hand looking at the man with appreciation.
"What is your name comrade? For I will repay this debt to you one day."
"Kadomon… Kadomon Risch," he replied.
"Viktor Reznov," the Russian said back his own name while extending his other hand in a handshake which the salesman returned. "Your generosity will not be forgotten my friend."
Reznov was about to turn away and depart but stopped in mid-action to ask one last question.
"Have.. you ever heard of the country Russia?"
The man rubbed his beard. "Can't say I have… Nope."
Reznov nodded and finally walked away. He was definitely not in his world anymore. Things that one would only hear in children stories. Whisked away to a new world. He was living that story now. What did this mean for him he wondered, as he took the first bite into the succulent red fruit.
...
It has been many years since he had a fresh fruit, as he savored the sweet flavor.
...
He had spent far too long in the gulag, wasting away, plotting, brooding, hungry... for vengeance.
But here?... No more... What was his new purpose?
He walked down the market place in a slow pace, wondering what should he do now. For almost all his life, he was simply a soldier. What is to become of him and this new fate? Will he become a beggar? Will he ever adjust and just try to settle down? So many questions, very little answers...
"Hm?"
Reznov heard the familiar sounds of groans of pain. Far too familiar perhaps...
It was coming from his left as he looked down an alley way which seemed abandoned.
With nothing else better to do, he readjusted his large pack and went in to investigate.
This led to the fated meeting of the ones from the same world, but different eras.
Natsuki Subaru curled himself into a ball as he simply took the beating that was given to him by the three thugs known as Ton, Chin, and Kan. Blinded by his arrogance and overconfidence, he was easily taken out by Chin who punched him hard in the face as the rest started kicking him down. Reality literally kicked down Subaru as he realized he was losing consciousness.
"Svoloch!" he heard as his eyes slowly drifted to a lone figure down the alley. Was he saved? Or was it another thug ready to join in...?
...
"What did this young man do to you three to warrant this?!" Reznov asked rather angrily. This was not the first time he seen such a thing.
The smallest of them, Kan, hid behind his two friends as he barked his slurs like a chihuahua.
"Beat it old man! This ain't got nothing to do with ya! Unless you want to join him of course…" as they all smirked, thinking they can take on the old war veteran.
The largest of them all Ton, stood a little taller than the new stranger and was easily more bulky than he was but felt very intimidated by his presence alone. Chin, the young man with white and pink hair and odd clothing fashion simply produced two knives challenging the old man, hoping to scare him off.
As soon as the knives came out, Reznov immediately pulled out his Tokarev Pistol and set the hammer back. He aimed straight at Chin.
...
"You best put those away before someone gets hurt…" he said menacingly, eyes seeming dead with no emotion. This was the classic thousand yard stare.
Chin hesitated to move forward as shiver went up his spine. Then again, he was just an old man, and there were three of them and one of him. What could go wrong he thought.
Chin inched forward.
…
A sudden but loud crack filled the air as it resounded through the alleyway and into the streets where on goers jumped, startled by the sudden noise.
Shopkeepers looked out of their windows, kids and adults alike stopped in their tracks, mounts and beasts of burdens began to feel uneasy. This was something unlike they all ever heard of before.
Chin eyes snapped wide open as he felt something warm run down the side of his neck. A stinging sensation was felt on his left earlobe. He felt around the area and saw his hands covered in blood.
He shrieked in terror as he dropped his weapons. Almost immediately, the bravest of them all, Ton, charged forward to Reznov but the ear piercing sounds of the metal device cried out once more as Ton simply fell trying to go forward.
"Arrghh!" Ton grunted in pain as he clutched his thigh, quickly noticing it was bleeding.
Kan, the small midget stepped back in fear of the man as he nearly soiled himself. He finally realized the danger they were all in.
"P-P-Please! Don't kill us! We just wanted to rob him is all!" he cried out, not before realizing that was a shit excuse anyways.
The man's face contorted into anger as he pointed his pistol at him.
"You three… Out of my sight.. NOW."
...
With not a moment to lose, Chin and Kan scrambled to help Ton whose leg has been shot and ran off.
Reznov set aside his pack, holstered his weapon, and knelt down to help the poor young man who was beaten up badly.
"Boy! Can you hear me?" he asked shaking the boy who responded by going in and out of consciousness.
Reznov sighed as it was against his better judgement to leave someone like this alone...
He examined the boy's features and deduced that he looked like someone that originated from the far east in his world. But the weird clothes said otherwise...
An idea popped into his head as Reznov was about to check his sack to see if there were any medical supplies before suddenly hearing footsteps. Quickly, he put his hand over his pistol holster ready for more thugs but was surprised to see a young girl with silver hair.
"Ah… Please… don't be alarmed… I was just passing by until I saw what happened earlier," she said immediately defending herself. "I only just want to help."
...
After a moment, Reznov relaxed as his hand drifted away from his holster and motioned her to come over.
He got a better look at the seemingly young girl whose eyes were like gems, fair skin, and pointy ears.
'An elf?' he thought perhaps.
What happened next amazed him as the girl placed her hands onto the young unconscious man and started emitting a green aura. Slowly but surely the pain faced the boy made disappeared into a relaxed one.
Once done, he propped the boy onto the wall nearby and left him there to rest while he intended to discuss further with the girl.
"Do you know him?" the girl asked genuinely at which Reznov shook his head.
"No, I don't. I only saved him from his vicious beating moments ago..."
"Yeah... I saw... That was very brave of you..." she complimented.
"It was nothing... Only the right thing to do," he responded.
...
"S-So what kind of magic was that?" she asked. "The one where you made that terrible noise?"
Reznov was skeptical of this girl but soon remembered he was in a new world. No one probably even heard of a gun before, let alone a gunshot.
"I know not of any magicks," Reznov answered to the girl whose intentions he now deemed pure, yet odd.
"Eh? Really?!" she said surprise. "You're lying!" she said in which Reznov shook his head and chuckled.
"Magic from where I am from is considered fiction, fairy tales, and legends," he said.
At that moment a cat like creature popped out of the young girl's hair.
"Really? Magic is rather very common knowledge here," it said at which surprised the old war veteran.
"Chyort!" he cursed as he jumped back in surprise.
"No, don't be afraid!" the girl assured him. "His name is Puck, my Spirit familiar."
Reznov loosened up slowly but skeptically as he sat back down as the cat waved to him in greetings. 'Spirit familiar...?' he thought.
"Haa….. Last time I've seen a talking cat was when I was two hours in drinking Vodka in the Gulag… On a spit roast.." he laughed to himself while the cat seemed a bit offended.
The elf girl simply tilted her head, not knowing what the Russian meant...
!
The girl just remembered what she was doing before. She had to get her insignia back!
He face began to show some distress as Reznov was quick to notice.
"Worried over something? If you are needed elsewhere, please do not trouble yourself here any longer," Reznov said. "You have done more than I could've asked for, easing this young man's pain..." Reznov said a little regretfully, as he wanted to ask some questions... To ask more about this new world.
The girl shook her head. "I don't think I can do that..." She replied. "I consider myself somewhat responsible for his recovery now that I helped him after all..."
Reznov smiled at her response. Now he knows this girl was pure in her intentions and attitude for helping a total stranger. He felt like that he can trust her.
"Very well then... We will both watch over him," he said as the girl took a seat near him.
Now was the time, Reznov thought.
...
"I'll be honest with you... I guess you can consider me a foreigner to these lands... and I want to know more about them," he said to the girl who was surprised at his little request.
"Oh... well then.. umm... I don't where to begin but I'll try my best," she responded as the old man smiled in appreciation.
"But before we go on... aren't you scared of me...?"
...
...
"What?" Reznov deadpanned.
"Why should anyone be scared of beautiful and kind young girl like you?" he asked in confusion.
...
The girl blushed a bit at the statement as it was a response she didn't expect.
"I'm sorry... forget I asked that..."
...
"Very well," Reznov said rather intrigued by her response.
...
Perhaps she can be the key to answering some of his questions...
Little did they both know, this fated meeting would lead to great events in the future...