"Chapter 8 – Waters of Life"
The seat in the train was really comfy. The fact rode through Dmitry's mind what how in the world makes this train run.
When he asked about it, one of the guards said that it has very limited power and that this trip could only be made once and back.
Miriam who was sitting next to Dmitry told him that the men were Vladimir, Victor and another man with the name Boris.
They slowed down when they were approaching a sealed door to another station. When they did the guards piled out and worked on getting the door open for about five minutes and they were on their way to Dmitry's station. When they passed through Dmitry couldn't see anything because it was so dark but he really didn't care. Other than that the ride was very quiet and short. They came to another stop in about fifteen minutes when Arkady told them that they were there. Dmitry couldn't be really sure since his watch stopped working from the damage it received. When they stopped for the finial time the guards opened the big blast door to the station once more. Dmitry, Vera and Miriam left the comfort of the train and headed out into the station. Karmin and Arkady came out with a big crate.
"This is the supplies we need for the plant." Arkady told them.
They used flashlights to find their way around the station. It was a small station with bluish marble tiles decorating the wall and pillars. They looked around aimlessly on the walls until a guard yelled.
"Arkady, I have found a sign it reads "Vodny Stadion station, Dmitry is this it?"
Dmitry walked over to him and read it.
"Yes. Voikovskaya should be next to us to the south." Dmitry said.
"O.k. let's get this over with. Boris, you and Victor take point and head down the tunnel!"
"What was that? Nikoli have a look!"
Nikoli rose from his seat by the fire and flung his Klashnacov from his back to his chest and walked toward the makeshift door and as loud and threatening as he could and said. "Password!"
Loud rumbleing of footsteps scurried away as he gave up and went back to the fire.
"It ran way." He said to his companion Bogdan.
"And you just let it go away?" Bogdan complained. "What if it were raiders who were scouting us and planning to wipe us out?"
"Nothing is living in the stations ahead. You need to stop worrying."
Strange noises made them rise to their feet and raise their Kalashnikovs at the door.
"Quit worrying you say." Bogdan cracked.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"PASSWORD!" yelled Bogdan.
"Resurrect." A voice said.
"What the hell, no that's not it!"
"Yes it is, is that you Bogdan?"
Bogdan lowered his gun. Was his mind playing tricks?
"Who is this?" He asked.
"Dmitry Volonsky. Remember me?
Bogdan rushed to the door and slowly opened it. To his surprise it was Dmitry, the man who was sent out to find the legendary Emerald City.
"Dmitry?" Nikoli asked. "Where in the world did you come from?"
"Later. I need to talk to Sukhoi now."
"Right, we will take you to him."
"You look hungry have something to eat." Sukhoi said.
Dmitry along with Arkady and Karmin stood in Sukhoi's office.
Sukhoi was the stations leader. He was not a pure Russian and told everyone that we came from a place called Mongolia. He was a tall skinny man with no hair and long eyes. He tells stories about his heritage and about an old leader called Genghis Khan. He wasn't really mysterious and he was always the first person to repond when the station was in trouble.
"Sorry sir but we are not here for pleasure." Arkady said.
Sukhoi was informed of the situation and that Dmitry's task was not yet over.
"So it was the water plant. All those resources and men we lost going to find parts." Sukhoi said. "Mr. Arkady you are sure that it is the plant?"
"I was in charge of security when important facilities were being targeted by terrorists before the blast. I knew everything about it. It's the filters, the radiation has spoiled the water up there and we need to restart the plant to fix it."
Sukhoi sat down in his chair.
"All right we will open the door to the surface and let you through." He said.
He stood and walked toward the intercom.
"Semyon report to the main gate ASAP!" He said and turned to Dmitry. "You guys get to the gate. Dmitry before you go I want to give you a gift."
Arkady and Karmin left the office as Sukhoi walked to a cabinet and opened it. He pulled out Uboinck or what it is referred to in the Metro an automatic shotgun.
"Have this Dmitry, made in the Metro but it won't let you down. Works like a revolver you see just load the shells into the slots and pull the leaver."
After a quick tutorial Dmitry was on his way with the shotgun. He wanted to say hello to his mother and sister before he left so he sent out to find them. He went through the public market of the station which had less people who were normally there. He didn't want to be recognized by anyone thinking he has returned to he putted on his gasmask for good sake. When he finally got to his small tent house he saw the same familiar girl he had every day when he came back from watching the tunnels. His sister Anzehla. Dmitry walked up to her and she gave a kind of awkward glance but when he removed his gasmask she jumped up and gave him a big hug.
"You did it didn't you?" She asked.
"No not yet. I have to finish it up first. Where is mom I will tell you they story with her?"
She led him into the same familiar tent he had lived in all his life. His mother sat in a rocking chair drinking imported tea. She broke to crying when Dmitry entered the tent.
"Oh god, you look tired. Have some tea and I will make you some food." She said.
Dmitry told them the story of Hansa and the Nazis and the sacrifice of the Revolutionaries and Emerald city, but left out the scare on the surface.
"That poor girl's father was killed right in front of her?" His mother asked.
"Vera. Yes she is a tough girl though." Dmitry said.
"You should invite her over."
"Mr. Volonsky please report to the main gate." Sukhoi said over the intercom.
"I have to go I still have a lot of work to do." Dmitry said.
"Please be careful up there Dmitry." His mom said as he ran out the tent.
"There you are Dmitry." Vera said as he approached the group heading up to the surface. "Where did you get that from? She referred to his shot gun.
"From a friend, what is the news?" He asked.
"We are going up now." Karmin came in.
"What's the plan?" Dmitry asked.
"Simple. We head across the street into the plant and get it working." Karmin said.
"Fine by me." Dmitry said.
"Geez that was easy. Na, we are going to secure it first and then find the main office so we can have plans to restart the filters and have Arkady install what ever he needs to from that case, also you to take these."
Karmin handed them little one eared microphones.
"They are so we can communicate up there better." Karmin said.
The three regrouped with the five other at the main gate.
Many guards from the station were there in case of mutants rushing into the station. Semyon the main guard opened the gate for the group. Vladimir and Boris were holding the heavy case holding the supplies.
"Give us a hand will you?" Boris said under his helmet.
Dmitry and Karmin walked up to the case. Dmitry strapped on his gasmask and along with Karmin, Vladimir and Boris, lifted the case.
"Let's head out!" Arkady yelled.
The group of eight walked up the ramp to the surface as the main shutter gate sealed behind them.
It was as cold and grey as it was when the left the station of Sportisvania. Thankfully they didn't have to walk very far as the water plant was only across the street. Arkady and Boris had taken cover behind destroyed cars trying to scout out the area for hostiles. Dmitry and the rest hung back under the tunnel entrance. He looked the old snow covered city. A few buildings still stood, but a sign that said M10 Highway caught his eye.
"Hey Karmin, what is M10 Highway?" He asked.
"M10 was a road, like tracks on the surface. People took this road to another city." Karmin said.
Arkady got up and rushed to them.
"We are going to head out across the street. Victor will take point you guys walk behind him. Miriam and Vera walk with them but stay in my sight. I'll cover our rear so let's go." Arkady said.
It was really a short walk across the street but with the threat of danger and the heavy case it felt like an eternity for Dmitry. They stopped out side of the gate for the facility. It sealed up with a really big lock.
"Victor, use your torch cutter." Arkady said.
The men holding the case dropped it to take a breather as Victor pulled up a funny device that emitted a strong flame that sparked the lock on the gate. They took positions covering him in case of an emergency. Nothing happened for that time until the giant lock fell to the ground making a loud thump. Back to business as the men picked up the case and got pack into formation.
The plant was recently built before the war, and with terrorists attacking major recourse security was tight, that's why Arkady knew so much about this place. They moved in formation until they got to a large metal door. Once again they dropped the case and it gave Dmitry a chance to look at his surroundings. The main building that they were in front of had a loading door that needed to be open. A security booth was next to it as other smaller buildings surrounded them. A large short and round silo was behind the main building.
"Let's see if we can get this open." Arkady said. "Dmitry use that shotgun of yours and check that security booth, there should be a green button on a wall to open the door."
Dmitry flung his AK-2012 to his back and grabbed his large auto shotgun. He walked to it and slowly opened the door.
It was small a cramped in the booth. Dmitry first noticed writing in white maker saying "Zechariah 14:12". He didn't understand what it meant and kept looking on. A bunch of papers scattered everywhere and file cabinets that were missing slots. A little control panel was on the wall. Two buttons marked with green and red. He pressed the green one and nothing happened.
"I pressed it!" He shouted.
Arkady kicked the snow. Then he looked at a smaller shack that was across from the main building.
"Karmin got to that shack and if a generator is in there tell me." He said.
Karmin jogged over to it and with his railgun aimed he opened the door. Yes an old generator sat there waiting.
"Yes there is one here!" He said to Arkady through the comlink.
"Alright it should be a back up does it have fuel?" Arkady said back.
Karmin unscrewed the cap that had a gasoline icon on it. Yes it had fuel in it.
"Yes it does!" He replied.
"Could you start it up?" Arkady asked.
Karmin pulled on the cord for the generator about ten times before it started. It made a really loud noise that contained the same annoying melody over and over. Lights around the facility turned on.
"Dmitry try it now!" Arkady yelled.
Dmitry pressed the green button and it lit up. The door screeched open as he regrouped with the rest. To his relief Arkady picked up the case and they headed into the water plant.
They were in a large room that has many pipes and drainages. Stairs led to an office and there was a catwalk above them. The men set down the case and opened it. A lot of tools and schematics was the reason it was heavy.
"Victor guard the entrance, Vladimir and Boris find other exits out of the facility, Miriam and Vera guard the tools." Arkady said.
Vera gave a little rude mumble.
"Karmin see that ladder?" Arkady pointed to a latter on the far end of the room. "Climb up it should take you to the roof if you use the cat walk. Watch out for anything headed our way. Dmitry, follow me into the office."
Arkady led him up the metal stairs into a small second floor office. It was mostly empty but a desk, file cabinets and a computer filled the far end of it. A window was on the left side of the room that made it possible to see the pipes and cylinders of the factory below. There was also a fuse box that was located on the wall opposite of the window. Arkady opened it and flicked the switches. Lights flickered and sputtered. The computer screen turned on and the loud noises of the plant began. Arkady walked to a file cabinet and pulled out a file with the words filter.
"You see Dmitry if an attack did occur at the facility, we were ordered to shut it down but keep the water flowing so it wouldn't freeze during the winter. We just need to replace the filter and then get out of here." Arkady explained.
"Attacks from who?" Dmitry asked.
"Everyone, ranging low level terror groups to Chinese commandos."
"What's a Chinese?"
"An old country before the war, it was the most populated one to and they use to be our allies back when we were the Soviet Union."
"Did the Soviet Union have many allies?"
"No not really. We had America and most of Europe who despised out communist way of life."
"America? I met someone who was born there once. Arkady I don't really have a good knowledge about other countries besides our own culture."
"America was a nation on the other side of the world. They were at war with many terrorist groups in the Middle East. Eventually it got out of hand."
"So what happened?"
"Well the war in the Middle East wasn't enough for the terrorists they also began attacking oil fields in Alaska. Alaska was a part of America, the United States. They were also attacking Russian oil fields to."
"Then it was the terrorist groups that nuked the world?"
"No not just them, everyone's really. I learned that there is no such thing as a winnable war, just a lie that everyone else believed in. Dmitry we can talk about this later, I would really like to finish this up." Arkady ended the talk.
He opened the file and pulled out a schematic.
"The filter is there so I need to take it out." He said to himself.
They walked out of the office and back to Vera and Miriam.
"Find it?" Miriam asked.
"Yes we did, should be really simple." Arkady said.
He grabbed certain tools out of the case such as a wrench and a screwdriver. He moved to a pipe that had a metal ring around it. He used the wrench to loosen the bolts around the ring until it fell off. It reviled smaller pipes that connected into the circular object that was coated with a thick leathery material.
"Is that the filter?" Vera asked.
"Yup that's it. Now we need to get a replacement filter. There should be one in a storage container somewhere. Dmitry, you go outside and look for a storage unit. They should be behind the building." Arkady said.
"You got it." Dmitry said.
"Let me come with you." Vera said.
"Alright, that's fine by me but we have to move quickly." Dmitry said.
"Always do."
Dmitry and Vera rushed out if the facility back outside. Victor still watching the front asked them where they were off to. They told him to find a replacement filter and he let them on there way. They cautiously moved to the back of the building and there it was a storage unit with the words "REPLACEMENT PARTS" on it.
"That Arkady really knows this place." Vera said.
"Yes he does come on lets find it." Dmitry said as they walked toward the unit.
Dmitry crept slowly into the building. His automatic shotgun trained and ready to shoot at anything that moved. Vera stayed outside at the door keeping watch. With the loud noise coming from the station anything could come and investigate. The storage room was filled with junk, scrap metal and other tools on many shelves packed side by side. A bunch of computers sat on a table on the far end of the room but they were not plugged in to anything. Dmitry scavenged around for the filter box by box. He spent a great deal looking around until Vera came in.
"What's taking so long?" her voice muffled by her gasmask.
"I can't find it." Dmitry replied with a shrug.
"Man your clueless." She snapped back.
"If you think this is easy? By all means help me." Dmitry said as Vera helped in the search.
It became a race as the two surveyed each box for that filter. They had checked almost every box on the shelves except for one table on the other side of the room. Dmitry got a head start and from the right side of the table he looked through boxes that were in a line that stretched to the other side of the table. He quickly checked every box he could before Vera started checking the boxes on the other side of the table. Dmitry came close to the middle and began to think that there were no filters here and that they would have to look elsewhere. Vera still seemed to have hope as she got quicker in her search. Finally Dmitry got to the last box on the table just as Vera did. There hands made contact on the box's lid and it made them look at each other. Vera, even though her face was shielded by the gasmask, Dmitry noticed her cheeks rise up as though she were smiling, and it made Dmitry smile as well. Vera took off her ear piece and laid it on the table.
"Don't stare at me like that your face will freeze." She joked at Dmitry as he gave a little laugh.
They looked at one another for a while, completely oblivious about the outside world that at any moment kill them. It would have been longer if Arkady hadn't called them through the radio in there ears.
"Dmitry, are you still alive, check your gas mask filter does it need to be replaced? Random laughter is a sign of slow suffocation." Arkady asked.
"Yes Arkady we are still here, my filter is fine and no we still haven't found the filter for the water." Dmitry said.
"And I thought it would be simple. I don't think we could replace the filter with anything else. Are you sure you checked everywhere?"
Dmitry noticed that his hand was still on Vera's. He lets go and motioned her to open the box, nothing.
"Affirmative there are no filters here." He said sadly.
"Hmm. Dmitry get back here I have another idea." Arkady ended as the static of the radio sounded.
Dmitry turned to Vera and sighed through his mask.
"Well let's get back there shall we." He said and the two headed out of the storage unit.
"He is up stairs in the office Dmitry." Miriam said standing over the case of tools. "Find anything?"
"No we didn't just full of scrap metal." Dmitry responded back. "Vera wait here and ill be back."
Vera waited patiently with Miriam as Dmitry headed up the stairs.
She looked over at Miriam who was watching Dmitry head up the stairs. The thought of why had she tagged along with them. A person who farmed all her life wanted to go out to another station and then to the surface for the "experience" she says it really didn't add up. Miriam noticed Vera looking at her.
"You looking for trouble?" she asked.
"Dmitry look over here." Arkady said.
He was on the computer sitting on a chair. Dmitry walked behind him and looked at the computer screen.
JULY 3 2013. Entry THX-1138
We are going to be sending back the shipment of V8-115 water filters back to head quarters due to employee mistreatment. A total of 50 filters are to be shipped out tomorrow by a Mr. Anton Medvedev. I do personally apologize to any equipment damage to the filters and those responsible will be discharged for security reasons.
Engineer Andre Sogliuzzo
"So they are not here?" Dmitry said.
"Wait, keep on reading." Arkady said.
JULY 4 2013. Entry THX-1139
I unfortunately have you inform you that Mr. Anton Medvedev suffered a severe heart attack last night when he returned home. I will not be able to ship the filters out until tomorrow. I apologize once again. We will be back on track soon and I will inform you when we ship out your filters.
Engineer Andre Sogliuzzo
"See they are not here!" Dmitry blurted.
Arkady opened up the next entry.
JULY 5 2013. Entry $#*^% ERROR MESSAGE UNSENT NO CONNECTION ESTABLISHED
THEY DID IT THEY FINIALLY DID IT! GOD HELP US ALL! IF ANYONE READS THIS THEN BY NOW I AM SUFFERING FROM RADIATION POISINING! MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT AND MY SKIN IS CUTTING LIKE WET PAPER! I AM THROWING UP EVERYWHERE AND I AM ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE OF IT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! WE ARE A DAY LATE, BUT IT IS THE 4th IN THE WEST!
"Jesus. Arkady how is this relevant. They shipped out those filters on the 4th." Dmitry said.
"Ah but when the world was destroyed we went into a complete factory shutdown. I got leave before, while the government investigated every recourse facility in Russia. My house is right next to the University so I was able to get there just in time. Anyway the truck caring the filters is still here in the garage, come on I'll take you the…" Arkady paused as he was turning to Dmitry, he looked out the window.
Dmitry turned to look out the window to and saw Vera hit Miriam with the stock of her weapon causing Miriam to fall backwards toward the ground. Dmitry and Arkady rushed to them. Vera was about to hit Miriam on the ground with her rifle stock again when Dmitry grabbed Vera and pulled her away from Miriam.
"What the hell is going on?" Arkady screamed at them.
Victor who was watching the front door didn't realize what was happening until he heard his commander yell. He got onto his mike and Dmitry could hear the words Vladimir, Boris and problem.
"That psycho bitch just randomly attacked me!" Miriam yelled.
"Bullshit! You told me that you were going to shoot me when we leave and say you saw a mutant attacking me, just so you could have a shot with Dmitry!" Vera protested.
"What?" Dmitry said confused.
Arkady helped Miriam up.
"Why would I want that trash from the Metro?" Miriam said.
"Vera there is a big flaw in your side of the story. Our mikes are all tuned into the same frequency. If you said something I would have heard it. I didn't hear her say that and I saw you attack her so I am inclined to believe her. There is only one punishment I believe in for crimes like this." He said and pulled out a revolver from his back holster.
Vera grunted really loud in fear.
"I left my mike in the storage unit." Vera mumbled.
Arkady coked his revolver and aimed it at her head. Dmitry Volonsky stepped in front of Vera quickly raising his automatic shotgun at Arkady. Victor raised his weapon at Dmitry just as Vladimir and Boris came from behind Arkady with their guns aimed.
"Now boy you just step out of the way. You are not involved in this." Arkady said.
"Yes I am." Dmitry said.
"What is she your property, your harlot of the Metro? Put that Metro made piece of shit down and let me do what I was born to do."
"What exactly is that?
"Putting down criminals, who attack others."
"She is not a criminal."
"Now son I recommend putting that gun down now, or you, her and that entire station will die."
Dmitry stood his ground. Is he going to die? He didn't care anymore but if he was he wanted to take out Arkady and as much of his goons as possible.
"Arkady!"
Arkday glanced at the direction his name was called from.
Karmin stood on the catwalk above them.
"Arkady, in the twenty years I served under you in Emerald City not once did you ever reach a conclusion that fast for a crime." Karmin yelled.
"What do you mean, Karmin?" Arkady yelled back.
"Well you just quickly jumped to the conclusion that Vera did hit Miriam out of random. I just happen to notice that other communication traffic was on another channel. So I switched over to it thinking it was a station transmitting something and I wanted to know what it was. I couldn't help but notice something about Dmitry, and how Vera should watch her back when they go back outside. It sounded just like Miriam's voice. She was going to kill Vera. If I were you I would check her headset."
Arkady looked frozen. He took his revolver sights off of Dmitry and lowered it. He then turned to Miriam and snatched her headset.
"And what channel was this on?" He asked Karmin
Karmin moved his mouth to the mike in whisper.
"Channel 8." He said through the mike.
Arkady looked angrily at Miriam. Dmitry saw Miriam's eyes widened through the gasmask as Arkady fired a shot into her face.