After hours of sleeping, Artyom opened his eyes. Instead of seeing the morning daylight or the cloudy skies, the Ranger found a ceiling over him. When he raised his head to look around, he was on a bed without his boots and only his uniform on for comfort. Where was he?

Candles lit the wooden room, but there was still pockets of darkness all around. His equipment was present, lined up with his boots and weapons against the wall on the other side of the room. However, he wasn't the only person here.

Off to his left, Milena was sitting down at a desk reading a book in the corner. As she flipped through the pages, Artyom noticed the familiar cover on the book. It was his journal. "Hey, what are you doing with my journal?"

Milena quickly turned glanced over her shoulder before closing the book. "Oh, I was a bit curious." She answered. "One of your friends asked me to keep watch over you since you fell asleep after the battle. I was bored and I found your journal."

He smiled at the thought of its contents as he slipped out of bed. "Too bad you can't read Russian."

She glanced over to his journal before returning her full attention towards him. "Is that the language of your people?"

"Yes. It's perhaps the only language left that is important in my world."

"The only language left? Why do you think so?"

"I don't think I'll talk to anybody outside of my language."

The woman shifted in her seat to direct her attention towards him, but she was confused. "Yet, you're talking in the Imperial tongue. I don't understand."

"The only reason why you and I are able to understand one-another is because of the Dark Ones."

"Dark Ones - the creatures who were able to get us inside Italica? What about them?"

"Were it not for them, I'd be speaking Russian and you wouldn't have a single clue what I'm saying."

"What about your friends? Can the help them?"

Artyom shook his head at the suggestion. He knew it was impossible. "It's complicated to explain, but no. I'm rather a special case for the Dark Ones." Then he made his way over to the journal. "So since you can't understand a single word of Russian, I'm sure you were busy taking a look at the pictures."

She opened his journal and flipped through the pages of pictures he had drew over the course of his journey to fight the Dark Ones… before he reached the tower. One particular picture caught her eye, a very tall, but muscular mutant with an infamous reputation on the surface. "What is this creature?"

His encounter with those creatures was not a fond one. "That is a librarian. It's a mutant that lurks at the Moscow State Library. They're very hard to kill."

"You've fought one before?"

"You're looking at someone who was actually able to kill one of them."

Then she flipped the page, revealing the drawings of… men, but not in the same sense he could describe a normal person. They were only human; however, humans were just as capable of being monsters as well. "Who are these people? They look particularly different than your friends - here in Italica."

"Those are Nazis - soldiers of the Fourth Reich."

"Will I ever meet them?" She wondered.

"Pray that you don't." Artyom replied as he grabbed his boots.

Milena watched him as he slipped his feet inside. "Do you have any experience with them?"

"Yes, they will kill you if you meet them." He answered. "Unless you fit their ideals of what a human is, pray they won't come on this side of the Gate."

"Why do you say so?"

"I was once their prisoner." Then his thumb and index finger were a centimeter apart. "I was this close to getting killed. If the Rangers didn't find me, I would have died."

"My apologies if I pried into your life." She said. "I didn't mean any offense."

"Don't worry, they're too far to worry about them."

"Where are you going?"

"Going to find where Uhlman and the others are."

"Your fellow soldiers are downstairs celebrating with the defenders. The wounded one is under the care of the Japanese and the leader is at the Formal Mansion, talking with Princess Pina."

"If that's the case, I'm going to join my comrades in the celebration."

When he arrived at the bottom of the stairs, Artyom saw many faces within the establishment drinking and eating away. The siege was over, this was time for celebration and they deserved it. People with musical instruments unleashed their songs to the crowds of people. However, he was able to discern one Ranger amongst the others.

Many people were around him as he drank its contents from a wooden cup. When Alexsandr was finished, he slammed it back down and wiped the remains from his lips. "Oorah!" He cried out with both of his fists in the air. "That's some good shit." He was enjoying his time.

He was caught off-guard when Timur joined him with two wooden mugs in his hand. "You're finally awake." The sniper said. "Consider yourself lucky that you missed the shitshow before that." Then he handed him the mug.

Artyom took it out of respect, but looked at his team member. "What happened?"

"There was a food contest of how many people could eat bread covered in custard. As much as that was tempting to eat, I'm not going to kill myself with that many servings."

"Are the bandits gone?"

"Definitely." Timur replied. "The Japanese were able to round them up and force them into imprisonment. Perhaps that is better than letting the survivors escape and harass the countryside."

"Is Uhlman at the manor?" Artyom wondered. "Milena told me, but I wanted to be sure."

"Yep. He's busy talking with the talks between the Imperials and the Japanese; however, it's mostly about the prisoners."

"Why would we need the prisoners? They tried to kill Maxim."

"We won't, but he's trying to settle a deal with the princess to get food into the Metro." Timur replied. "Turns out Italica is the food producing town and if we can get a deal with the Imperials we might solve our food problem in the Metro. Hell, we might end up making the other factions stop fighting with one-another."

"You sound optimistic. I don't think it will be that easy."

"I am being optimistic. The way the Japs talk about their world, it's… enticing."

"What about their world?" Artyom asked.

"The bombs haven't fell, just like the days before we were living like rats."

Curiosity came into his mind. "Do you think we might go into their world?"

There was a small pause. "Maybe, but we should not think too much about it. We still have the Metro to care for."

Alexsandr broke through the sea of townspeople as he made his way towards him. "Timur, tell the man to drink his cup."

"Give the kid a break, he just woke up."

"Better late than never." The armored Ranger stated.

Artyom looked down at his cup before he took the chance to take a sip at its contents.

"There we go." He said. "Time to party, it might be our last!"

Then Artyom made his way out as more people came in. "Let's see if the man can drink this keg!" The crowd making their way in said while a wooden barrel was being brought inside.

He stepped aside, letting the locals enjoy their fun while he sipped his beverage. It didn't have that distinct taste of the Shroom Vodka, but at least it was sweet. He looked around in the streets to see the occasional guards pass by, but their expressions were better than before. These people survived their siege, it was the best moment for them.

Artyom took a quick glance to his right, only to catch a glimpse of Milena walking in the street alone. She must have had better matters to attend to, but he recognized his journal in her hands. What did she plan to do with a book that contained his thoughts? As much as he wanted to finish the rest of his mug, the woman was stealing from him.

He placed his drink on a nearby table before he slipped through the congested street. His weapons were back in the room he woke up in, but he was lightly armed - enough to keep a few people back. He slipped through their ocean and followed after her. With each step, Artyom's boots splashed in the puddles and smashed the wet dirt.

Milena appeared to be making her way to the manor ahead, but as he kept his distance following her she turned directions. She turned to the right, into an alleyway.

The Ranger quickly made his way towards the corner of the building. When he looked around, she turned to her left, continuing her way towards the manor. Artyom followed her footsteps and stopped where she turned directions. Then he looked for her, but she was nowhere to be found. "She must have returned back to the street." He quietly whispered to himself. The young man made continued straight after the turn, hoping to find his journal from her.

Artyom stopped in his tracks and tried to drown out the yelling of merchants and the noise in the streets. His first opportunity on the surface and his lonely experience in the tunnels taught him to take note of the noise. Either it could be the sound of a Nazi crawling through some small space or it could be a mutant breaking searching for him. The Ranger was very sure she couldn't disappear like that without leaving any trace.

Small and quick splashes behind his back was all that was needed.

The young man made a massive jump forward before he reached to his belt. Out from his holster, he pulled out his trusty revolver for this moment - the very same revolver he killed the Dark One with. Through its iron sights, Milena stood before him, confronting him with a knife in hand. "Why are you following me?" She demanded in a stone-cold voice.

His eyes glanced at his journal strapped to her belt. "Why do you have my journal?" He countered. "It seems odd that as soon as I walk out of my room you leave with my belongings."

"I wanted to… observe your drawings in better light."

"You can't fool me." Artyom replied. He knew that was the most bogus statement she ever said. "Why are you armed to threaten?"

"My country is at war, Artyom. My people need every advantage they can get even if I must take advantage of people like yours."

"Especially the ones who helped you?"

Milena shook her head. "You have not witnessed Alnus Hill. When we opened the Gates, Imperial Armies and even the massive Allied Armies were not enough when soldiers with magic destroyed them to the winds." She explained. "I know that you saved my life and I am grateful for that, but my loyalty is to my nation."

His eyes focused on his journal as he lowered his revolver. "If you truly believe that you'll find answers to help your country, I'm afraid you are sadly mistaken. What is inside contains nothing about secrets that will save your nation, but the terrible truth of a world I live in. Where humanity - one that ruled the earth - fell hard and scurry for its remains like rats. Is it truly worth betraying the person who saved you?"

"You think I will easily believe you?" She wondered.

"I am not your enemy. Now give me back my journal."

"My nation comes first."

As she rushed forward Artyom saw an outline of a tall figure standing over her. It's dark skin pitch black as night, staring at her back. The creature was going to do what he knew they would do. Despite Milena's betrayal, she didn't deserve the horrific fate he had seen at Exhibition - where men fell into madness and committed suicide to keep themself sane. No - he wouldn't let that happen.

The Ranger rushed forward, jumping aside and leaping past her as he stood between her and the Dark One. It's hand was raised towards her, but the creature's head noted his obstruction. "No!" He shouted. "Don't."

"She tried to kill you. We tried to protect."

"I know, but let me reason with her." Artyom replied. "There is no need for that."

"Very well." In a blink of an eye, the Dark One disappeared.

When he looked around his shoulder, Milena stood on the ground - frozen by what she saw. "Was that a Dark One?"

He turned around to confront her, but with his pistol by his side. "Yes. You should consider yourself lucky I stood in the way. It would have driven you mad."

"Why didn't it drive you mad?" She wondered.

"I have a long history with the creatures. It's something I won't share with the other Rangers." Artyom replied.

"You speak as if there is consequences with having contact with them."

"There are, but I was really lucky. If I wasn't, execution with a bullet through the head would be enough for them and we wouldn't have even met one-another." Then he reached his hand out to her. "Give me back my journal and I'll pretend this encounter never happened?"

"I betrayed your trust, I threatened to kill you, but you have the desire to approach me with forgiveness?" Milena commented on her own actions. "Why would you do such a thing, let yourself be taken advantage over from someone such as myself?"

He smiled at the question. "Even when my world has ended, I still believe that good people do exist. What makes this one any different?" He asked. "If my experience in the Metro is anything to tell me, people tend to live longer."

"You have a very optimistic view on the world."

"I do, because it's one of the few things that I'll still believe in."

Milena pulled out the journal and reluctantly handed it back to him. "So you'll forgive me?"

He nodded his head as he clutched it underneath his left arm. "You are already forgiven." Then Artyom turned away from her as he made his way back to the tavern. "The next time you pull a stunt like this off, I will shoot you."

Once the meeting was finished, Uhlman stepped out of the room with a smile on his face knowing that he didn't have the slightest clue what the Japanese and the Imperials were saying. They had already given the armor out to the peasants during the attack on Italica and all they needed was to wait for the shipment of food to be transported to their Gate for the refugees and for the Metro. However, their only valuable commodity was already in use of the garrison and the people in charge of the food could take back their word on the proposition.

Without a translator like Artyom or Maxim, he was standing in the room like a goddamn log bathed in radiation. "The colonel is going to kill me." He said to himself. "Might as well have my last supper before he hangs me at Polis."

Author's Note: The secret is out and the deal is done. What will happen next? Tune in on the Chernobyl Cheeki Breeki Channel to find out.

king Quinn The Last Heir: Thank you.

TorstenL: Danke.

jaalco: Artyom's Kalashnikov jammed.

Sigma-del-Prisium: The Metro universe before WWIII was drastically different. Two Middle Eastern countries were already tossing nuclear bombs at one another, but what kicked it off was that a third Middle Eastern country decided to get a preemptive strike on one of the two. Then everybody panicked with Russia being the last country to fire off its nuclear missiles. However, Moscow was somewhat lucky because they had a missile defense system.

Bruva Boreale: When they rush you, rush back, cyka.

delta2177: This chapter.

headreviewer mk2: Technically, they can't use the vehicles found in D6. Want to know why? The roads are busted, the tanks haven't been maintained for a very long time, and fuel is just as scarce as a working buggy.

Hindresh: Okay?

Assistant Elite General Matteo: I should mention that this is post-Metro 2033. The poor guy hasn't exactly had a good amount of sleep for a long time.