Hello fellow Wolfenstein fans. My name is Phantom R.D.S. Foxx. Officially, I'm a writer for Star Fox fanfics but I've decided to turn my attention on Wolfenstein for a while. This story is, as the title, suggests, an alternate reality based on the three characters shown in the cutscene when you enter the catacombs in the first levels of Return to Castle Wolfenstein. I hope you enjoy. Be advised, there is some untranslated German in here.
Chapter 1: a Different side of the story
The fire from multiple torches give the ancient Wolfenstein catacombs an ominous gleam. The air is cold and feels tense, as if presences are running through it. The brick walls feel claustrophobic around three normal German soldiers. Armed with nothing more than an automatic MP40's and a semi-automatic Luger pistol as a side arm. Though these seem like potent weapons, the enemies they've encountered have shown that the 9x18 MM ammunition is inadequate.
The three stand in a circle facing each other in the midst of a T-intersection. Charrführer Xander van Acker, Obergefreiter Günther Mencken and Soldat Aiolos Zervas. Both look battered.
Xander, a 35-year old man from Holland, a neighboring country to the Vaterland. His helmet has the SS insignia on the right side. He has had experience on the Russian battlefield, fighting in Stalingrad until he was shot during the first attacks. Unwilling to surrender his service, he applied to the Wolfenstein SS and became a Charrführer with the ability to give orders to his two best friends. But didn't apply for the Vaterland's honor. He did because he didn't want to be separated from his friends. A very persistent man.
Günther is 33-year old and has a full-grown, brown beard and moustache that's connected to it. He served with Xander ever since the capture of Holland in 1940. He wears no helmet, simply because he doesn't trust equipment that doesn't do what it needs to do. Xander's helmet didn't protect him from a bullet when a Russian machine gun round nearly scalped him. He came back with Xander and remained at his side, joining the Wolfenstein SS as well.
Aiolos is the newest member to Xander's squad. Since the attack on Greece in 1941, he applied as a 29-year old volunteer for the Wehrmacht. His mother didn't agree with that at all. Günther got him out after 10 days of him just sobbing in his room, not wanting to confront his own mother. He wears a simple cap, showing that he's without a doubt the Soldat of this squad. He too fought along Xander in Stalingrad. He has a fairly large blood stain on the right side of his face, covering the entire cheek; He was the first to have a close encounter with those beings.
At the road towards the left, there lies a dismembered fellow soldier. His left arm has been torn off and his intestates lie all over the hallway's floor. Where his killer is, is unknown. This only enhances the spooky mood lingering here.
'It is like a slaughterhouse in here.' comments Aiolos disgusted. 'Uurgh…' He has to hold back a gag reflex to keep his manhood in check. A loud rumble in his stomach can be heard.
'I know. These things are everywhere.' proclaims Günther to which Xander gives a recalcitrant grunt. He just can't believe that this can all be true. It's like a nightmare. And he got his men into it.
'What are they? And… where do they come from?' wonders Aiolos nervous. He almost reaches for the Kar98K on his back, seemingly the only weapon effective enough to down one in just three to four shots. One extra to turn them to dust.
'Don't ask me. No one ever tells me anything.' says Xander a bit agitated. Suddenly, a desperate scream for help sounds through the hallway. Xander and the rest turn to towards, only to realize it's too far away and too late. They hear blood flowing with the screaming slowly degrading into gurgling and finally silence, only interrupted by frequent crunch and munch noises.
'Mein Gott! Did you hear that?' asks Aiolos on the verge of running for his life. He checks the hallway to the exit to assure none of those creatures are coming out there.
'Ja!' confirms Günther equally scared, checking the right side. 'And I wish I hadn't!'
'We have to get out of here.' says Xander, something to which all two can agree on. 'Follow me back to the entrance. Aiolos, your rifle. You take point.'
Aiolos grabs the rifle from his back and aims for the right hallway. He swallows hard as fear breaks down his bravery bit by bit. The sight of that being, reaching and clawing for him. Someone else took the blow that should have been his.
Guilt. It gnaws on him, but not as picky as ignoring Charrführer van Acker's orders. He proceeds on, leading the team towards a small excavation site. Four pillars hold up the ceiling, but didn't hold up the ladder leading towards the exit. It lies split in two on the ground.
'What!?' exclaims Aiolos worrisome. 'The ladder… it's destroyed!'
'T-they have sealed us in here!' panics Günther to Xander's irritation.
'Günther! Man up for God's sake!'
'Entschuldige Charrführer. But… aren't you afraid?'
'Silence…' orders Xander as more screams of agony echo through the hallways. He wishes not to answer that question. Of course he's terrified. He has seen cruelty, but this is different business. For his squad, he needs to swallow down his fear as the bitter pill it is. 'I will not stand for this!' he says powerful with renewed energy and willpower. 'Take positions everyone. We are holding this area.'
They move towards the back of the room. Aiolos takes cover behind a flipped table and readies his weapon. Xander kneels down near a set of munitions, in case any of his team members need any. Günther is the closest to the door, kneeling down near the left pillar.
'Get ready. They are coming!' says Aiolos with a panicked whiff at the end of his sentence. He takes one final look at Xander, who already aimed down his sight. Xander breaths calmly, keeping his heart rate down for the best accuracy as the MP40 submachine gun can provide. He turns back and places the Kar98K on the table, making it act like a bipod.
Out of the hallway, faint stomping can be heard. It's coming closer, at the nerving rate. It's like whatever is out there is teasing them. The only thing missed is a ghostly voice that proclaims 'We're coming for you…' in a haunting manner.
Xander sees the already drowned morale of his men wither even further. 'Show yourself you devil spawn!' he calls out towards whatever is inside that hallway. His wish is granted: two skeletons, armed with battle axes while wearing horned helmets and shields with a sharp spike in the middle charge at them. Behind them, several undead.
'FIRE!' orders Xander. Günter and Aiolos have no trouble in doubting that order. The first volley of fire fails when the bullets simply deflect of their shields. Not even the heavier Mauser cartridge of Aiolos' weapon is powerful enough.
'Günther get back here!' orders Xavier as he stands near Aiolos in a supporting fashion. 'I'll distract them!'
While Xander hauls the attention of the skeleton warriors towards him by gracing them with a rain of bullets, Günther runs from his position to join his squad behind the table. 'What do we do Xander? This going the wrong way!'
'We can't hold it like this!' panics Aiolos as he ducks before a deflected bullet pierces his eye. 'They are with too many!'
'Just keep firing. Thin out those without a shield!' Aiolos does so, with a little contempt. It has little success but it works better. Xander turns to a private conversation with Günther. 'Günther. We need to take these monsters out. We go around the pillars and flank their rear. Are you with me?'
'Of course Xander.' says Günther supportive. 'Glad to see you back in action Charrführer.'
'Sigh. It was my fault for getting you in this mess in first place. Right! Let's do this!'
They rise simultaneously and move around the skeletons now in the middle of the site. Once they are on the other side, they aim for the exposed backs of the skeletons and open fire. Now the ammunition has effect. Dead skin and ramshackle bones puncture and shatter the internal skeletons, turning them into collective heap of bullets. Finally, after emptying the entire 32-round magazine, the skeletons and undead alike utter a final grunt before falling to their knees. They plant their faces into the ground, to which all three exhale relieved.
'Well done Günther.' pants Xander as he drops his MP40 and grabs his knees, trying to reclaim his breath. It was a rushed action and everything could have happened. Unable to see where these monsters where exactly, they could have been just around the pillar where the table is close to. His head could have been chopped off, leaving the Aiolos' right flank exposed. God knows what else could have happened to him. Günther would follow soon after.
'Thank you Charrführer. That was quite distressing to be honest.' He was bend in a similar fashion as Xander but rises faster. He always said it was his age that allowed him to do that but it's just that he's an action junkie, always looking for the riskiest of ways. Xander's plan fitted perfectly. 'I don't know why I was so ängstlich to begin with.' he sniggers awkwardly.
Xander turns to Aiolos, whose weapon is pouring smoke out of the barrel. The internal magazine is empty but his finger seems frozen within the firing animation.
'It's over my Greek friend.' he assures.
'Hunh? What is?' rambles Aiolos snapping out of his trance. He was so focused on keeping those things at a distance that he didn't even notice Xander and Günther moving positions. He falls to his knees, exhaling once more before lifting his hand up in the air, showing a proud thumbs up.
Xander and Günther come towards the table, coming together again. Xander orders him to round up the undead by turning them to dust, preventing from rising again.
'What's the plan Charrführer?' asks Günther, his trigger finger itching.
Xavier looks at Aiolos and checks his own state of being. He's alive but mentally a little stirred. With no exit, the situation seems hopeless.
'We stay here for a while.' he suggests more than he orders it. It's improvised, because he doesn't know what he needs to do. He can't let either Günther or Aiolos get air of that. That would be the final nail in the coffin that is the weak morale.
Luckily, both seem very fine with it. Aiolos falls on his ass, not even caring that the Kar98K falls on his chest with him. He's just happy to be alive. Günther lies down on the ground, staring at the ceiling. He holds his MP40 by the pistol grip but released the magazine. Xander leans against a pillar, pondering about the next move.
*These men… are the best I've ever seen in my entire service. They do this for the Vaterland…* he thinks looking at Günther combing with his hand through his short hair. *… for their family…* as he looks at Aiolos who grabs a photo out of his inner pocket. He takes his cap off out of respect and preaches some Greek. *… but more importantly for me. They would go through Hell and back if it meant that I was save. Heheheh. Right back at them. I need to get them out of this Hell first though...*
Meager minutes pass by in which Günther whistled a fine tune that they've listened to at their time in Russia, when things were still on the positive for the Wehrmacht. They were thoroughly plastered and started to dance a traditional Russian folk dance. Of course, to mock them all. They got the entire café to join along.
Moans of complaint mixed with nostalgia came from both Xander and Aiolos. Both can remember what they did that night. Urinating against a guard post close to the German Governor of that part of conquered Russia. Wreaking havoc through the local center, trying to seduce the шлюхи (shlyukhi) with slurring German tainted Russian and of course enjoying more booze and vodka then a liver can take.
'Those whores probably had crabs all over anyway.' comments Aiolos insulting. Both Xander and Günther can get along with that.
'Ja. If you went down on one of them, I'm sure it would look exactly the same as this place right here.' he continues.
'Not to forget that those monster might also pour out of those hairy cracks. HA!' gives Xander as a final word, completing the collective insult.
Unfortunately for them, the innocent laughing that the expensive of Russian whores they didn't nail is disturbed by struggling and cramped grunts coming from above, where the exit is.
'What was that?' Günther already aims for what is up there. But Xander gestures to lower his weapon and remain quiet. As Aiolos tries to stand up, he signals him to stay down.
'We'll remain in the dark. The more we are, the better.' he whispers to the two as he looks up. The struggling is getting closer.
'Piece of shit!' he hears coming from above in an American accent. It's followed by a loud scream and sound of biting through flesh and bone. With a lot ruckus, a man in American uniform plummets down towards the ground with an undead gnawing away in his left shoulder.
'Charrführer! Pass auf!' yells Günther as he pushes Xander away from the falling soldier before backing off himself. With a loud thud, he crashes on the floor beneath him, possibly shredding his spine. If he wasn't dead already, he is now.
'Danke Günther.' thanks Xander a little shaken. He dusts himself off and turns to the undead. It's chewing away the American's flesh undisturbed. He didn't even notice the three. But Aiolos certainly did and fires a round right into the empty skull of the creature. It collapses and explodes violently after another shot from the same rifle.
'That's that!' calls Aiolos flat out. 'You can dine in Hell! Hopefully Charon will take your wretched soul and let it drown in the Styx piece of scum!' He falls on his ass again, exhaling forcefully. It was an eruption of adrenaline he didn't see coming. Neither did he want it.
'Well done Zervas.' compliments Günter impressed. Xander remains silent about it and bends over the American. He grabs his dog tags and reads the name out loud.
'William Joseph Blazkowicz.' he reads out. 'A Polish sergeant in service of the American OSA.' He disrespectfully plucks the dog tags off his neck and rises with the tags in his hand for Günther to see. 'This is the man who has raised trouble inside the castle he was imprisoned in.'
'The one that was captured along with that other American. The one who would not speak.' adds Günther.
'This one won't speak either.' contributes Aiolos a little quasi. From his voice, Xander can hear that he doesn't want to stay here anymore. The eyes of his friend lost a certain sham that was there before. The Greek rises and grabs his Kar98K with him. 'Can't we just get out of here?' he says, emptying what's on the heart.
Xander turns to where the monsters came from. They were far behind the others who went in to guard this area. Maybe there are survivors around here. Who know a way out? No matter if it's through the church, as long as they can get out of here.
'You're right Aiolos. We really have to get out of here. Günther, collect your stuff. We are getting out of here.' he commands as he walks ahead to get his MP40 from the ground. He gestures Aiolos to throw him the magazine currently in his MP40, since he doesn't want to let go of his trusty Kar98K. Meanwhile, Günther can't believe what Xander said.
'That's against orders Charrführer. We are supposed to stay here. As much as I hate it… it's the order of the Vaterland.'
'What did this Vaterland ever do for you Günther?' asks Xavier expecting an honest answer. Not a given one by the endless propaganda machine, but from Günther's real opinion. To that, Günther can only accept it. He has no idea what else then pain his service for the Vaterland has given him.
'Wiederum frage ich um entschuldigung Herr Charrführer.' apologizes Günther a little elaborate. Xavier gestures him to man up a little before Aiolos pads him on the shoulder whilst passing by.
'Come on beardman.' he jokes a little. 'We're leaving.'
'You're just eifersüchtig du Stinkmorchel!' calls Günther after the leaving Aiolos.
'Aufsteigen Günther. There's time enough to be jealous once were out of here.' comments Xavier taking point. Günther follows behind Aiolos who seems a little more relaxed now that they have direction that will also lead them out of here.
That was chapter 1. Hopefully Blazkowitz's death isn't too severe for the community to handle. But seeing how other stories don't neccessary follow him, I think I have room to play it around a little. Glad you read all the way to the end and hopefully I'll see you at the next update.
