Chapter 3: Re: Try
3 years ago.
It had been a bumpy ride to say the least. Nikolai knew getting into the zone was getting harder with the zone's expansion and the increased military presence. But he didn't expect to have to fight his way in. But finally he arrived at Cordon.
He saw various stalkers sitting by a campfire, wearily looking at him. He felt their eyes burning into the back of his skull. He slowly walked slowly into the bunker walking down the stairs of the run-down complex. When he opened the door he saw a familiar face. An old balding man sat inside a locked vending post. Sidorovich was one of the better-known characters in the zone.
"Welcome-" Sidorovich looked at him for a second and then grinned. "Nikolai it's so good to see you!"
"You too Sidorovich" Nikolai said leaning against the wall.
"You look like hell" he pointed out pointing at his gear which was in pretty bad shape.
"We were ambushed, had to fight my wat out, ran into a few anomalies" he said nonchalantly. Sidorovich stood up and opened the gate motioning for him to come in. They retreated deeper into the bunker, he had been inside Sidorovich's house before but this time it looked different. Many more guns and supplies.
"The military has also been giving us problems" Sidorovich said arriving at the living room. He took a seat in a dusty old chair which had seen its better days already passed. Nikolai sat on the couch in front of him.
"Zone is getting harder to traverse" Nikolai said.
"And every day there are less of us. Loners are a dying breed Nikolai" Sidorovich said pulling out a cigar and lighting it. "Most people join a group... Duty, Freedom, bandits, monolith even."
"I saw more loners than ever, how are we a dying breed?" Nikolai asked.
"Those you see out there are fresh meat. They have no clue what they are getting into. Most don't make it a week. Experienced stalkers are a dime a dozen" Sidorovich said puffing smoke from his cigar.
"You know why I'm here" he said calmly.
"Of course, I'm not stupid, young one. You're here to track your father" he replied grinning. "I did wonder when you would come!"
"Any leads?"
"Just know he was heading close to the center of the zone. He kept rambling about your sister." That... That shouldn't be possible, she had died long ago. It had hit them hard but it hit his dad the hardest. Still why after all this time why would he bring this back up?"
"Did he lose it?" he asked fearfully.
"Ha!" He laughed loudly. "Your father was a tough son of a bitch no way that's the case. If he was willing to head to the center there must be a reason. We all know it isn't the wish granter so it makes you think huh?"
"I'm nowhere near geared up enough to make the trip" he said looking at the condition of his equipment
"Aye, but you could get some work around here and a pair of extra hands. The way to the center is worse than it's ever been" he warned.
Present
Nikola gasped for air as he fell to the ground. He barely could breathe. He felt the mask on his face, he quickly got it off and looked around.
He was back where he had been earlier... Was it all a dream? No... That felt too real, somehow he was back. He didn't know how but here he was. Well... It didn't matter he have a score to settle. Whoever had killed him... They wouldn't even know what hit them.
While he knew exactly where she would be he had noticed she was extremely fast. Nikolai thought he might need some backup, maybe some guards? As he kept walking he bumped into someone.
"Excuse me are you alright?" A voice asked. He looked closer at him and raised his brow. He had red hair deep blue eyes and an all-white outfit. But what really stood out was the sword on his side.
"It's quite alright. Excuse me are you a knight or something?"
"Yes I am, is there a problem?"
"Well if you don't mind could you keep a look on the slums, I feel something is brewing there."
"Really now?" He asked raising his brow.
"Yes, now if you'll excuse me I have places to be..." He quickly kept walking. Hopefully he would come, if not he would have to find other ways of killing the woman. He walked down the alleyway and sure enough the two bandits were there. Not being up for this repeat he quickly pulled out his revolver and shot at their feet. They quickly jumped and ran away.
"Hmm should have done this before..." He muttered he kept walking down the alleyway. He knew where that woman would be, it was now a matter of how to take her down. He knew she wasn't bulletproof. Then again he didn't know how she looked like. All this and more kept running in his mind. Any hunter worth his salt prepared for any eventuality.
Then he thought about it. Thanks to that Emilia girl he was more prepared for this world. He knew more about it. While it wasn't his problem to deal with he felt a sort of debt to her. So after killing her he would give her back her insignia and be on his way.
Nikolai could see the slums from where he stood, a good eagles view of the whole area around the tavern. He could try to snipe it from here but it would be a hard shot. Possible but very hard. He could also just try to get her with a point-blank shotgun shot but that would be rather luck dependent.
"Is something the matter?" A feminine voice asked. A voice that made his skin crawl as he wanted to tense up. It was the same voice from the tavern. He slowly turned around and looked at the woman. A dress that was anything but modest. The eyes of a hunter, her smooth skin... If she wasn't on his to kill list he would totally go for her.
"Indeed, you see I'm lost" he said keeping his cool. If he rose her suspicion there was no telling what she would do.
"Is that so? Are you not from around here?" She asked seductively.
"I'm an adventurer. Recently arrived, decided to see what the city had to offer."
"Does that include the slums?" She asked raising her brow. She was definitely suspicious but there was still saving it.
"Good to remind myself where I come from. My shithole of a home back when I was younger looked like this place" he said nonchalantly.
"Never lose sight of your beginnings?"
"Exactly. Also miss quick question. Do you know anywhere where someone like me could get a job?" He asked. Slowly moving his hand inside of one of his hidden holsters the one that had his sawed-off shotgun to be exact. To the common eye it would look like he was reaching for his pocket.
"There is a guild not far from here. Head west you should see a large building with a guild sign."
"Appreciate it miss. Let me see if I have money to pay you back"
"That won't be necessary," she said sympathetically giving him a smile.
"Not at all! I am in your debt" he said.
"A gentleman" she mused.
"I try to be" he said winking. At that moment he finally got it out of the holster and pointed it at her through the fabric of his sweater. At that moment he gambled it all. Two loud bangs could be heard as her body was sent flying backward a small bag with what seemed like money falling in front of Nikolai. He quickly reloaded just in case and aimed at her. But she didn't move...
"Died on impact huh?" He said calmly. Then again being shot like that point-blank was enough to shred your internal organs. He got closer to her and saw she wasn't breathing. "Next time do not mess with a stalker" he said laughing. Knowing one problem was done and dusted meant he could focus on getting the insignia back.
He could just shoot them both dead but at the same time he looked around and saw the shithole that this place was and how he identified with it. Maybe he should just them the money... Help them start a better life. He arrived shortly at the tavern and knocked on the door. A rather large man opened the door.
He immediately remembered it was the corpse he saw last time.
"Are you the grim reaper?" He asked in a gruff voice.
"If I am no one gave me the memo" he shot back making the man chuckle.
"What are you looking for."
"An insignia a girl robbed recently"
"You mean Felt? What is your business with her?" He asked his eyes narrowing and his body tensing a bit.
"Business as usual. I'm here to buy" he said calmly. The man relaxed a bit and motioned for him to come in.
"A drink?" The man asked. Nikolai quickly pulled a vodka bottle from his bag and put it on the counter. The bar was well... Rather quaint, just a few tables and chairs. A bar for the bartender a few bottles and dust lots of dust. Then again he couldn't complain.
"Mind giving me a glass?" He asked. The man nodded and gave him a glass. He poured himself a nice serving and gave one to the old man.
"Are you trying to poison me?" The man asked suspiciously. Nikolai replied by downing the whole glass.
"If you can't handle alcohol it sure as hell is poison." The man nodded and drank, his eyes widen.
"This is great!" He said gleefully "it has a really good kick."
"Glad to see you're a man of culture... Um..." Nikolai said, he hadn't caught his name.
"Rom but most people call me Old Man Rom" he said.
"Nikolai at your service" he said calmly.
"Anyways do you know when our little thieve is arriving?" As soon as he said that a knock came from the door. Rom quickly opened it a small girl walked in. Blonde hair, fiery eyes petite form. She was really young as well as a bit underdressed.
"Who is he, Old Man Rom?" She quickly asked.
"A buyer for that insignia you stole" Nikolai quickly said.
"How do you know?" She asked raising her brow.
"It's part of my job" he pulled out a bag and tossed it at Rom. "This is my offer" they took the coins out as their eyes widen.
"20 holy coins!?" The girl exclaimed.
"Why is the bag covered in dried blood?" Old Man Rom asked.
"Swiped it off your would be buyer. Or should I say assassin" Nikolai said calmly.
"Wait you killed my client!?" Felt exclaimed
"She was an assassin. Did you really think someone would play fair?" He asked.
"And we should expect you to play fair?" Rom asked suspiciously.
"More than her at least. I was dirt poor once, know the feeling kiddo. Take the money give me the insignia and we will never see each other again" then a knock came from the door. Nikolai quickly pulled out his pistol and aimed at it.
"Wow calm down! Good joke but it seems my client its-" the door blew open as he saw a familiar girl at the door. It was Emilia!
"Hand over the insignia!" She said demanding or at least it seemed to be her attempt.
"You tricked us!" Felt accused.
"No I was going to give Emilia back her insignia. Look you got the money give it to her and live a better life" He said. Emilia looked at him puzzled.
"Do I know you?" She asked. That confirmed it to him. Only he can remember. Whatever happened rewinded time after his death.
"Just consider me as a friend" he said quickly taking aim at Rom.
"Look last thing we need is a bloodbath we all have what," Nikolai said trying to defuse the situation.
Felt looked conflicted. She knew this could go south really quickly. She didn't know why Nikolai was pointing at Old Man Rom with that thing but if she were to guess it was a weapon. One she had never seen.
"Seems negotiations failed. I guess I'll take it after I kill you all" a familiar voice said. Upon the roof a battered woman stood her stomach wrapped in bandages which seemed to be slowly seeping out.
"You're alive?" Nikolai asked aiming at her.
"Indeed I am! That weapon of yours did do a number on me so I will have to return the favor!" She quickly dove at Nikolai. He kicked up the table as he dove to the side. The woman cut through it cleanly. A volley of ice shards flew at her as she dodged them.
"Thanks" Nikolai said.
"You're welcome!" Puck said appearing.
"Well let's see who has the most beautiful guts" the woman said smiling in a sadistic manner. Nikolai took aim and unloaded his revolver as she quickly dodged them he quickly noticed how her bandages were slowly getting more red.
"Your organs are shredded or in really bad conditions you should run and cut loses" Nikolai said reloading taking cover in the bar area. She began her onslaught against Emilia. Not wasting a second Nikolai pulled his Kalashnikov and opened fire as she backed out.
Nikolai was a pretty good shot but this, she was faster than anything he had fought before. He saw Old Man Rom swing at the woman. She dodged and slashed his throat.
"Rom!" Felt yelled as she was about to charge in Nikolai pulled her over and grabbed her.
"Treat his wounds, I'll take care of this" he said confidently.
"I think my time is over" he heard Puck say.
"I have this under control" Nikolai said.
"Please take care of Emilia for me" he said yawning. The woman laughed as the odds were stacking in her favor. That was until an explosion blew the roof.
Out of the whole a familiar man landed. The knight Nikolai had met earlier.
"It's good to see you again knight" Nikolai said reloading.
"The feeling is mutual" he said smiling. "Now gut hunter, care for a dance?" As the dashed into combat Nikolai saw the chance and ran towards Rom and slowly dragged him behind the counter. Emilia quickly kneeled next to him.
"Can you two take care of him?" They both nodded as Nikolai entered the fray. Taking a shot he hit the gut hunter in her upper left thigh.
"You!" She yelled. "I'll kill you!" She dodged the knights attack again as she seemed to slip away.
"Thank you for the help" the knight said.
"Name's Nikolai" he said as they both shook hands.
"Reinhart" the knight said.
A bit of time past by as they got everything in some sort of order. One thing was for sure, the bar had seen better days.
As a discussion erupted as Reinhart seemed to take Felt in Nikolai felt his spine tingle. Time slowed as he saw the gut hunter lunge at Emilia. He kicked a table up and got in front of Emilia.
As the gut hunter cut through the table Nikolai aimed his revolver. A loud bang ringing as the woman shot back a clear hole in her skull. Sadly it came at a price. Blood seeped out of Nikolai's chest as his vison grew blurry and voices became distorted.
And cut! Yes I am back from the dead! hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always feedback is welcomed. UltimateMetroMan out!