It had been awhile since Bourbon had left Prospekt Mira with Artyom and it wasn't a good note on the Hansa guards. Even though he was accompanied by Polis Rangers, he felt the men he owed money too. Although he wasn't part of the Order, Colonel Miller sought allowed the stalker join the group out of sympathy of his economical situation - a free pass one would say.

After they had gotten past the checkpoint, Colonel Miller stopped the group and huddled in the corner on the other side of the street. "Before we get going, Danila needs some time to recover." He stated. "Do we have any volunteers?"

Bourbon observed one of the Rangers raised his hand. "Might I keep him company?"

Miller shook his head. "Actually, you're the exception. You might annoy him to suicide."

The masked young man chuckled. "Thank you, sir. You just saved me from the hell known as Uhlman."

"My jokes aren't that bad. I mean those guys looked small when they were trying to kill Danila. Something like a Little Caesar."

"No." Colonel Miller stated.

Two Rangers stepped forward. "We'll keep Danila safe, sir. You can count on that."

"Stephan, Boris, once Danila's wounds are good, I want all three of you to get back to Polis."

The second Ranger began to ask questions. "Sir, do you think it's the other factions will actually work together?"

"I don't know, Boris. The fuckers we killed seem to be appearing in the Metro ever since Exhibition reported that they were fighting the Dark Ones." The colonel answered. "Yet, they're also attacking the independent stations. If there is something the Red Line and the Fourth Reich do not like is someone trying to oppose them. While it is an issue, you two should worry about Danila."

"Understood sir, we'll be on our way." Stephan replied. "Let's go Danila. There better be a fucking doctor around."

As the group began to split into a smaller party, Bourbon found himself uncomfortable about the survivors of the attack. "Colonel Miller, what are you going to do about the Exhibition civilians."

The commander lowered his head. "Hope they settle down in Riga or here. There isn't a safe passage into the inner stations without encountering mutants or bandits. Why do you care?"

"I knew the stepson of the Exhibition commander." The stalker answered. "If he does come back, he might want to know where he is."

"I see. Well, we better leave this station while you still have the chance."

Uhlman pulled out a cigarette placed it between his lips. "Say, colonel, what do we do next? I might end up getting bored here."

"After I interrogated the survivor at Riga, he said he was the vanguard of a Legion - scouts."

"Shit." Commented Bourbon. "Looks like we're outnumbered if they were able to overrun an entire station."

"Aside from his attempts in trying to scare me, I took off one of his toes for good measure. A reminder that he fucked with the wrong people."

"So, how will you report this to the Council?"

"The weapons are good enough, but the Red Line and the Fourth Reich might dismiss this entirely of delusion. Something really bad has to happen if those two decide to ceasefire and defend the Metro from whatever is trying to attack us."

To the group's surprise, the stalker heard a familiar voice surprise him. "Ah, Bourbon, it's good to see you. I've been wondering where you've gone off to. You remember, don't you?"

Bourbon turned around and recognized the face of the man he crossed. "Mikhalych, it's a surprise to see you."

The Hansa soldier walked up to him and grabbed him by the collar. "Alright you fuck, what makes you think you can come back here after the stunt you pulled last time?" He demanded. "You're not leaving this station." Then Uhlman stepped between him and puffed his cigarette smoke into his face. He released his grip and took a step back. "What the fuck?! Who do you think you are?! I can put you in prison for that, you piece of shit."

Uhlman laughed. "I'm sorry, we were in the middle of business until you came along to interrupt us."

"Look, take your business elsewhere." The Ranger laughed. "Why are you laughing?"

Colonel Miller walked past the stalker and crossed his arms. "You must have bad eyes if you haven't realized that you're interfering with the Order's business."

Mikhalych's eyes widened as his attitude changed. "My apologies, I didn't even know. I thought the guards at the checkpoint would have told me."

"We just got here." He replied. "Perhaps you were indisposed while we were here."

"So tell me, what brings Bourbon and the Rangers to my station?"

"None of your damn business." Miller replied.

"I see. Well, I hope you and your friend don't mind-"

A Hansa soldier ran up to him with a pair of headsets around his neck. "Sir, news from Hansa Command! One of our merchant trains has been hijacked!"

The bearded Mikhalych glared at him. "What?! Who the fuck would want to do that?"

Then the masked soldier replied. "I don't know, but our goods are on that train. We'll lose a lot of bullets if it doesn't make it to their destination."

"Shit!"

Bourbon chuckled. "Looks like you'll need some help." He commented.

"Why the fuck would you be laughing? You owe me money."

The man he was in debt to had his train stolen. Perhaps lady luck was on his side when it came to people bothering him. An opportunity to get rid of the very thing that plagued him. "Colonel, could we help Mikhalych or are you too busy with the threat from the North?"

Miller turned his full attention on him. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I was thinking about erasing my debt."

"Your debt?" Mikhalych wondered. "You want to pay it off? Clean some of the shit in the pig pens."

"I was thinking of killing the hijackers for you. Think of this as a win-win. I pay off my debt and you don't have to worry about your investment going down the drain."

"Bourbon, you are playing a very dangerous game with me." He said. "I'll accept your offer, but if you don't save my train you would wish you were dead."

"I hate to say it, Bourbon, but you are on your own." The colonel replied. "I got to get to Polis and I can't waste my time with something like a hijacking. So best of luck to you."

"Well, shit." The stalker commented. "Looks like I have to do things myself."

"Ha. You actually thought the Rangers were going to help you? You should be lucky that I'm giving you a railcar to chase after the train." Mikhalych stated. "Let's go, you got some killing to do."

Stella shivered as she looked around. The train was not as appealing as the one she had been on between Camp McCarran and New Vegas, but it was working after all of these years. As the Legion drag her through the train cars, she noticed bodies of men killed at her captors hands. Their clothes seemed far better than the average prospector in the Wasteland. She pitied whoever was unlucky to meet their soldiers with a blade.

When her captor put her down, she heard him speak. "Keep your head down if you want to live, capture."Gunfire flew past her as she looked around the corner of a crate to see the prime legionaries engaging the owners of this train.

However, she saw the strange soldiers return fire. Yet, she saw a tall figure walking towards the primes in plates of armor. It was almost similar to the power armor she had seen on the heavy troopers, but this was far more primitive in terms of design. Then she saw it carry a large weapon in its hands. "You don't fuck with Hansa!"

She was shocked when she saw the large gun spew pellets of buckshot at the two Legion soldiers, who attempted to charge him. Their bodies were riddled with such firepower before they succumbed to their doom. The only thing keeping him from rescuing her was an entire car of Legionnaires. She could try to disarm her enemies, but they would know and immediately put her down. If only there was an opportunity to get out of these bonds.

Her capture shoved her back behind cover without hesitation. "Know your place, capture!"

Stella looked up to him, eyeing him with pure hatred. "Fuck you."

His head looked past her as he brought out his assault carbine. Although it was not maintained as the NCR's weapons, it was still dangerous. Yet, he never got the chance to use his weapon as a bullet struck him in the chest. The prime dropped his weapon as the force of the bullet made him fly off the train on the other side.

She looked at where the shot came from, only to see two men riding on a railcar. Both men were armed, but one of them stood up from his seat and slipped his weapon aside. "A nu cheeki breeki iv damke!" There was space between the train and the railcar, but she couldn't believe what she was seeing. The man was willing to get himself killed just to get on.

As he jumped from his seat, she watched with awe while his hands reached for the railing. She crossed her fingers knowing that there was a chance he wouldn't make it.

Despite the possibility of death, the man's grip got ahold of the railing before he pulled himself off the side and into the car. His arrival didn't go unnoticed as two legionnaires ran past her with machetes in hand. The stranger was quick to pull out something from his pockets.

The first legionnaire fell, but Stella notice an object protruding out of his throat. Then the second legionnaire was close enough to swing his blade at the arrival. He stepped back before pulled out his own knife, but the attack made the legionnaire extend himself to him. Without delay, the man punched the knife's knuckles into his arm before the knife took care of his throat.

When he was finished with them, the ex-Ranger observed him as he wiped the excess blood off the edge, but when he spoke the words he said did not make sense to her. It was a whole new language for her. "I'm sorry, I don't understand you." She stated. He nodded his head, but it was clear that he understood her.

His knife went to the rope that bonded her into captivity and although it was close to her, she could feel the rope loosen as he brought his blade into its sheath.

"I hate to ask, but do you know where I am?" She wondered.

To her surprise, he spoke in clear English despite the accent. "Rescue train then we'll talk." Then he looked over beside him and handed her the assault carbine on the ground. "Help Hansa out."

Stella heard more shotgun blasts as the volume of gunfire increased. "The Legion is about to take control of the train. Most of them are in the car trying to get past the armored guy."

"I see." He said before pulling out the most bizarre weapon she had come across. It carried shotgun shells in the clamps, but it's design was nothing of the weapons she had seen in the Mojave Wasteland.

"What the hell is that thing?"

"Uboinik, it means murderer." The stranger replied before proceeding into the car with his shotgun raised.

She followed after him watching the various Legion soldiers take notice of him. When they saw him move in from behind, he began to fire shells downrange, inflicting harm on those who were caught in the crossfire. Six shots flew throughout the car as bodies fell. Then he took cover behind a blue box. "Cover me, I'm reloading!" He shouted before he picked the shotgun shells off of his belt and slipped them into the clamps.

The ex-Ranger did what she was told, only to see the infamous armor amongst the Legion ranks - a Centurion. "Look out!" She was quick to pull the trigger as her weapon fired away at the armor. Bullets bounced off or scratched the outer layers as her rescuer stepped back from his cover before blasting away at the warrior coming to kill with his weapon. Then she heard the sounds of chains spinning, only to fear what he had in store for him.

When the Centurion was in the open, Stella saw a ripper in his hand. One of the infamous weapons amongst the Legion. "Profligate, you openly defy the glory of Caesar. Those talents would have been useful in his ranks than in a society lacking morals." He stated.

The man shook his head. "I did not survive the Zone just to deal with a fucking Roman."

Worried about her rescuer's life, she called out to him. "Stay back, he's dangerous at close range."

"Indeed, even this capture knows about my feats. You should be honored that you will die before a glorious warrior of Caesar's Legion. I do not know where I am, but Caesar's Legion will come and will conquer your tribe. Only the strong will endure and I will test you whether you worthy for the Legion."

The man spat at him. "You better start calling me Uncle Bourbon, because I'm going to make you my bitch." This man had plenty of guts to say that to a warrior of the Legion.

"So shall it be, but I will be the one to spill your gu-"

Stella felt the wind fly past her as she watched the gloating Centurion stop talking. Instead, she heard him choking as he placed a hand on his throat. There was a metal rod protruding out of the man's neck as blood seeped throughout his armor.

"...you dare?" The Centurion questioned. "Answer…"

Then she saw the bolts whistle past her as the centurion succumbed the additional attacks, but the ex-Ranger saw the bolts were placed in the chinks of the armor. Either someone had a good eye or noticed the weak points of the Centurion's armor.

When she turned around, an old man was standing there with a weapon unlike any she had seen before. The bolts were lowered as the old man slung his weapon over his shoulder. "I see this train has been through some terrible fighting." He began.

Her rescuer turned around and glanced over to him. "Who the fuck are you?"

"I, my good stalker, am a traveling old man." The stranger said. "You may call me Khan, but as of right now you should worry about the security of the train coming towards us."

Dozens of men stormed into the car with guns raised as a man shouted. "You're on a Hansa train, hands up!" When she returned her full attention towards the front of the train, she saw masked men carrying rifles made out of junk parts while others appeared to be prewar. It didn't matter to her, she was free from the hands of the Legion even if she was lost.

Her rescuer stepped forward.

"Wait a minute, Bourbon? What the hell are you doing here?"

Who named their son Bourbon? "Simple, I'm saving your train. Mikhalych sent me to save your asses."

"Who are the other two?" The armed soldier demanded.

"The old man, I don't know. He arrived last minute. As for the girl, she seemed to be a captive of these assholes."

"Well, if Mikhalych sent you then you are a sight for sore eyes. Those fuckers were pushing towards the conductor." Then he lowered his weapon. "Stand down men, Uncle Bourbon isn't here to take our train. Are you?"

He scoffed at the mere thought. "Me? Fuck that. I know better than to fuck with Hansa after what happened."

"Okay then, you three can sit for the ride since you saved our asses. I got a call to make."

As the tension faded, Stella looked to Bourbon and found him confronting the old man. "Why did you help us?

"You were going to die Bourbon. There was no other way." Khan answered. "I made sure it didn't happen. Where will you go now that you saved this train?"

She saw him glance over to her a curious expression. "I think dropping you off would be a priority as soon as I get off this train. Say girly, where are you from?"

"The New California Republic." Stella replied.

His face changed at the mere mention of her home. "California? Are you fucking with me?"

"No, I'm from California. I'm ex-NCR Ranger that was just captured by these assholes. Why does that matter?"

Bourbon looked over to Khan, who merely took a step back from the duo before he turned his full attention to her. "I hate to say it, but you are in Moscow's Metro System."

"Moscow? I've never heard of that place before."

"How the fuck do you not know where Moscow is? Have you read a geography map before?"

"Like I said, I'm from California. I don't exactly know where I am."

The man shook his head. "Well, if you want answers we'll have to go to Polis."

"Polis? Is that some sort of city?" She wondered.

"Here in the Metro, knowledge and books are a rare thing to come by. Polis is one of the last few stations in these tunnels to have really good lights and the last source of knowledge thanks to their stalkers at the Moscow State Library." The man said. "Besides, if you're from California and were captured by these people dressing up as Romans, they would want to have words with you."

The woman crossed her arms. "Why would they want words with you?"

"You were their captive and the Metro is being under attack. They'll want to know about every single detail during your captivity."

"Information about Caesar's Legion, is it that important to you."

"An entire station had to evacuate because these guys overran their defenses. Colonel Miller of the Polis Rangers would like to know about what we're up against. Would you help us?"

She grinned at the prospect. After what happened to her at Ranger Station Charlie, this would be her vengeance for an attempt to enslave her and make her one of the Legion's baby factories. "Yes. These people killed some good people, I don't mind as long as you kill them good."

Author's Note: This might be one of my weaker chapters out there. The next chapter will focus on Artyom, but that is all I'm going to say in the meantime. However, I hope you guys saw the reference.

TwilightScarlet: Yeah, I decided to have that bit in there.