With the chains unlocked (or broken in the case of the more corroded handcuffs) they where able to try and leave the monolith base as wealthy, but above all else free people.

Nikolai sat counting out the rounds scattered on the floor. "OK, considering they stole the rest of our ammo... that leaves us with 24 9mm, 5 .45 rounds, and 52 7.62 rounds to last until we get the rest of our stuff back."

Yomi sighed. "At least we have our guns"

"Thats true." Kagura said.

"We should figure out where we are first." Chiyo began.

Nikolai got his PDA. "Well the satellite signal is out so we're underground, and it says our last know location was the pump station so where still near the gold storage."

"We'll need more than this to get out of here." Yomi said.

"We'll get some as we move through the base to find the main ammunition storage. We need a small squad who can get a as many kills for every shot they take. Sakaki you're with me, grab a gun and lets move."

She stood up and quickly toppled back over.

Tomo crawled over. "What's wrong?"

Sakaki grabbed her right thigh. "My leg."

They dug through her clothes to see the wound.

"Damn it's infected." Yomi said.

A thought occurred to Tomo. "Have we treated this thing since before we went to Yantar?"

"My god you're right." Nikolai said grabbing his hair. "It's been festering ever since I first met you guys."

Kagura looked up. "That was what? Almost a week ago?"

"Well all that stomping through the Ukrainian brush in the middle of an irradiated ghost town couldn't have helped." Nikolai said.

"Do we still have that vodka?" Tomo asked. "It's really high proof and it could sterilize this."

Osaka went to the locker. "Yeah. It's still here."

Chiyo stopped her for a moment. "Osaka we need an applicator, don't just pour the stuff the wound.

Nikolai tore off a section of the sweater under his Kevlar and leather jacket and wadded it into something that resembled a cotton ball.

Yomi stepped back. "Thats all we can do. Bandage it back up."

"We'll need someone else to help the attack." Nikolai said.

"I'll go." Kagura said.

Tomo grabbed her hand. "No. You can't stop shaking." She had been shaking since the monolith soldier stomped through the door and beat on Nikolai. "I'll go"

Nikolai handed Tomo the second AK47. "You're sure you can handle this?"

"Positive."

"Listen. One more fuck-up like outside the pump station, and it may be last mistake we make. Now are you sure you can handle this assault?"

"I'm sure."

"Alright."

/\/\/\

The halls split off in two directions. The right lead to the room or Nikolai's encounter with man who held the keys. The left was an unexplored maze of concrete halls lurking with brainwashed soldiers of the monolith.

Footsteps came from the left.

As he came passed them to the other room Tomo crept up and bashed the man with the butt of her gun.

Without another word they grabbed his ammunition and left for the new wing of the complex.

"Hold on." Nikolai said.

"What is it?" Tomo responded.

"My PDA is vibrating." He pulled it out to see the issue. "Satellite connection reestablished. Loading current global location. OK we're next to Vladnik Chemical Corperation. Which means we're just down the road from the warehouse."

"Hey I just thought of something." Tomo remarked.

"What?"

"Gold is heavy. Really heavy."

"So?"

"So how do we move a fortunes worth of gold several miles through a ghost town of mutants and psychopaths with guns?"

"That's what the truck is for."

"What truck?"

He paused for a moment. "Oh. Right. We'll need to get a new truck."

"How about we go in style?" She said hinting towards a military outpost through a window, particularly the APC parked outside.

"Tomo you mad genius."

/\/\/\

They skulked onto the premises of the military checkpoint in the hopes of taking the APC without anyone noticing until in was too late.

Without a word they moved into the hatch and hit the front seat.

"Tomo get on the gun. I'll drive."

"This is a big engine you'll need to warm it up."

"It's ok they just shut this down so it should still run alright."

"Gotcha."

He started the engine and immediately rolled out of the area under a rain of hot lead.

"Go go go! Let's move!" Tomo screamed.

"I'm on it! Just keep em off of us! Use the fucking gun!"

"I heard you!"

The carrier lurched out of the alley the soldiers set up in and slowly but surly sped to an acceptable speed.

Tomo moved out of the gun and into the personnel space. Near the back sat a dark green box.

"What's this?" She called.

"I don't know. Open it."

She moved the cover to find a healthy cache of ammunition.

"It's ammo!"

"What's the caliber?"

She examined the boxes for a moment. "7.62"

"Perfect! That'll fit the AK's"

They darted back to their friend in the monlith complex. As they moved handfuls of ammunition to the team they held their breath and grimaced trying not to drop a box or make a noise. Before long they reached the holding cell.

"You made it!" Chiyo cried. "How'd the mission go?"

"Success." Tomo said uncharacteristically calmly, however quite self satisfied.

"Nice work guys. I heard a vehicle outside by the way. What was that?" Yomi said.

"Tomo got the idea to grab an APC from the military. It's gonna haul the gold out of here." Nikolai went on.

"It'll make a good ambulance as well." Chiyo added.

"By the way Sakaki. How's the leg?" Kagura asked.

"It's somewhat better."

"Wait." Osaka said. "Didn't you leave to find the ammo storage here in the base?"

"We got sidetracked but it worked out didn't it?"

"I 'spose."

"Well now we just load the gold and leave?" Kagura asked.

Nikolai looked over. "That's the plan, but when have our plans ever worked?"

/\/\/\

They carried Sakaki to the APC and stormed out of the building and drove towards the warehouse.

"Nikolai? You gotta stop up here." Yomi said.

"No I finally got one of these and I've always wanted to do this."

"Do what?"

Nikolai stomped on the gas and flew towards the door the warehouse.

"Stop. Stop! Stop!" Yomi screamed.

"No. No. No." Nikolai said manically.

The hulk crashed through the sheet metal doors. The sound could have woke the dead. Inside the APC there was a pause.

Everyone laughed and gawked at the vulgar display of power. Yomi however erupted. "What was that?"

"That was fun." Nikolai giggled.

"The whole town knows we're here now!"

"They'll think it's just another bomb going off. Now let's move. Tomo!"

"Yup?"

"You remember those ammo crates?"

"Yeah they're right back here."

"Get 'em we'll use them to move the gold out. Sakaki you stay here and guard the APC." He said tossing her a 9mm Beretta.

They descended the familiar elevator into the familiar room with the gold piles that seemed to have gotten bigger. As the monolith jumped out this time the team was ready and quickly shot the monolith without flinching.

They swept huge sums of gold coins and jewelry into the crates. Stuffing their pockets and carrying arm loads of priceless metal. As the crates filled and the team found themselves unable to carry anymore they stepped aboard the elevator. And dumped the contents of their hands, arms, pockets, hoods, and crates into the back of the APC. This continued once more before they warmed up the vehicle and stormed out of the city. Military, not realizing the vehicle was stolen, and all other combatants lacking sufficient weapons to attack such a target.

Nikolai grabbed a bottle of wayward vodka and took a swig as the rest celebrated as well, though not in kind.

/\/\/\

With the majority of enemy stalkers in Pripyat or at the power plant, the team had no trouble moving through the red forest. Their excitement had worn down and they now sat cautiously watching the ports on the side.

Soon they entered the old Cordon area and snapped the toll gate off at the hinge.

"It's time to go people!" Nikolai announced.

Everybody celebrated in the back until an explosion rocked the APC.

They recovered from their shell shock and realized that armored car was now on it's side. Groaning, they hauled their aching bodies from the floor.

Yomi rubbed her head. "What ju-" But suddenly the side hatch which was now above them, opened only to reveal a masked bandit.

Authors Note

Well... I'ts a new chapter. Sorry, I really released this half done but its up.