Chapter Seventeen: D6
"Is this what you thought it would be like?" Artyom asked of Aleks, watching her steel blue eyes as they followed the rails thoughtfully.
"What, the Metro-2?" Aleks replied, only glancing at him for a second, then was drawn back to the mesmerizing motion of the train as it devoured the tunnel ten meters at a time. "It wasn't such a fantasy in the first place. I'd heard the tales, of course. But who would believe such junk?"
"It was fun to believe in the legends as a child, to think there was another version of this Metro right next to ours, only much nicer… I guess I don't know what I expected it to be, but it was what we needed it to be when we found it." Artyom thought back to how he and some of the other Spartans had stumbled into the Metro-2 almost by accident after escaping from the cannibal cult at Park Pobedy. In reality it was no more special than the regular Metro, and Artyom supposed it was the rumors themselves that had made it extraordinary and gain a sort of life of its own.
"Well, we aren't children anymore." Aleks said gravely. "All of our parents' misfortune has become ours."
"Do you blame them for the way things are?" Artyom hoped that wasn't true. It was regrettable, of course, but there were far too many innocent survivors for anyone to try to lay blame on one another.
"No - just stating a fact. We've inherited this broken world. It is ours to do with as we please. There are survivors who try to keep things the way they were up there. Time keeping, work shifts, governments, religion, all of it. The way I see it, the way Hunter taught me to see it, is that the slate has been wiped clean. We can make this place whatever we want it to be." Her stare now seemed to go much further beyond the tracks in front of them.
Artyom was stilled by her words. Though before, at times, she had displayed resentment and abhorrence for the circumstances, hearing her talk about things now seemed so much more hopeful. He had never really considered that he or any single person in particular could have such control or impact over the Metro as a whole, but her and subsequently Hunter's point of view was enlightening. He had usually thought of Hunter to be hardened and sometimes even cynical towards the general state of things, but perhaps there was part of the Stalker's personality beneath that which Artyom had never known.
"So, how are you planning to get to Emerald City?" He asked, remembering his question from their conversation on the platform.
"I suppose I could ask Colonel Melnik for help, if he's interested to see what's there, maybe the Council at Polis… if not, I'll figure out a plan once I return to Avtozavodskaya." Aleks shrugged casually, as if either option was fine with her.
"You would go alone?" Artyom asked, alarmed. "With your soldiers?"
"Maybe." Aleks replied, blinking her eyes a few times as if holding conversation was interfering with her view out of the windows.
"But you could be attacked, or lose your way on the surface, the Red Line territory ends there at Sportivnaya and the bridge collapsed when the rest of the city did…" Artyom's voice waned as he thought of the dangers between here and where the University was. "Listen, if you are really wanting to go that badly, I will talk to Colonel Melnik myself. I'm sure he's just as curious about the place as you are."
Aleks turned her head entirely this time, an eyebrow arched up hopefully. A smile betrayed her lips and she couldn't hide her gratitude from him.
"I don't want you to get hurt." The words tumbled out of his mouth, although he wasn't entirely sure why he said them once they had been unleashed. Somewhere deep down, he knew he understood, but his mind wasn't fully connected to the part of his soul that had spoken up for him.
"Oh?" She stifled a laugh, still peering over at him with that same eyebrow raised.
Her intonation expected him to elaborate but Artyom had no further explanation. He felt his face flush and get hot, and turned his head to look out the windows on his side of the train. He awkwardly began counting the number of lamps as they passed at spaced intervals along the tunnels between stations, and let out a quiet sigh of relief once the train slowed at their destination.
He was happily surprised to see a familiar figure standing on the platform waiting for them – Ulman. Artyom had known all along in his heart that his partner had made it back alive, but he still enjoyed the joy that the solid proof gave him. The comical Ranger grinned from ear to ear as Artyom stepped off the train car.
"Well, well, well, look what the demons dragged in!" Ulman chuckled and clapped Artyom on the shoulder playfully. "We thought you'd been gobbled up by the watchmen for sure." It was understood from the tone that he didn't really believe that and was just teasing him.
Artyom returned the gesture, and a similar grin, but only mumbled some stupid response to the joke. He still wasn't sure if he'd be in any trouble for losing his way, even though it turned out to be somewhat lucrative for the Spartans in finding someone who was affiliated with Hunter. Either way, he wasn't about to go explaining himself just this moment.
"And would you look at this beautiful thing you've brought! You had better keep your eye on her around here." Ulman turned to greet Aleks whose cheeks flushed pale pink.
"This is Aleksandrya Dmitriyev; she is a friend of Hunter's." Artyom dispensed with the introductions hastily, although it seemed none were really needed from him as Ulman walked right over to her.
"Call me Ulman; I'm a fixture in these ranks." Ulman said, bowing his head and putting a hand over his heart respectfully but not ceasing to smirk. "I'm also the smarter, stronger, and better-looking partner of Artyom over there."
Artyom frowned and rolled his eyes.
"It's nice to meet you." Aleks returned the niceties with an amused but cautious look on her face, glancing over at Artyom for some kind of verification that he would not give. "Just call me Aleks."
"You're an Aleks?" Ulman leaned back with surprise. "So that explains it!"
"Explains what?" Artyom interjected, stepping almost between the two, subconsciously in a protective stance in front of her.
"Well, whenever Hunter talked about visiting Aleks, I thought he meant your Uncle Aleks up there at Exhibition. Seemed strange to some of us that he would go up there so often… but it turns out all this time he's had a secret girlfriend!" Ulman slapped a hand over his knee and chuckled heartily.
Aleks trembled slightly and looked uncomfortable, giving Ulman a wary look. Just how many people in the Order had known about all this?
"Exactly how often was Hunter at VDNKh, Artyom?" Ulman gestured to him with one hand.
"I-I don't know…" Artyom raised his shoulders, looking nervously over at Aleks whose expression was now of piqued interest that commanded him to answer the question. "Maybe once a year?"
"Ha! And he was sneaking out almost twice a month sometimes!" Ulman laughed again, this time taking Aleks by the shoulder and whispering close to her. "Well, I think it's great. That just means you are already a part of the family!"
Aleks laughed with a tone of apprehension but nodded her head happily in response, glancing over at Artyom with a pained look that begged for some kind of assistance.
"She has a message for Melnik." Artyom said under his breath, trying to get Ulman off the subject.
"Uh, yes, you're right. The Colonel is expecting you both, I'll lead you inside." Ulman's playful smile immediately melted from his lips and his voice took on the same tone as when he was readying himself for combat. As humorous as he could be, Ulman also understood when he needed to be serious.
Leading onwards from the platform, they entered the main vestibule of D6 – if you could describe it as such. The massive internal bunker loomed over their head with two more levels of differently angled tracks above them. Aleks' craned her neck to see as they walked, and she groped for a strap on Artyom's rucksack to hold on to so she could continue to look around the enclosure without losing pace.
Artyom was finally home, for now, at least. As he predicted, his thoughts fell into place much better now that he had returned to the safety of the main base; he even looked forward to sitting down in his little room and reading a book. Wait… Book! He just realized that Nikolai and Dmitri had never actually given him any books as was his promised payment for going with them from Novokuznetskaya to Avtozavodskaya. He was just about to turn around and protest to Aleks when Ulman stopped suddenly and he nearly crashed face-first into his broad shoulders.
In just that short time they had reached the sector in which the main offices and intelligence rooms were. Artyom recognized the painted markings on the walls of the hallway that led onwards to Melnik's personal study and to the main operations center. There was also a radio room set up on the right and a rear stairway that led down to one of the training areas, common rooms, and barracks.
As Ulman side-stepped from in front of Artyom, Melnik was exiting the frame of the hall that Artyom had just been musing about.
"Colonel Melnik, sir!" Artyom sounded loudly, standing tall and holding his head high, arms rigid by his sides.
"You've finally made it back, Artyom. And all in one piece? Good." The old stalker towered in stature over the pair as he closed the distance and stood at ease in front of them. He was attended by another Ranger whom Artyom didn't recognize. Melnik's eyes wrinkled at the corners as he displayed a welcoming and genuine smile. It was a rare sight to see the man gesture so warmly and Artyom wondered if it was only because of the guest he had brought. "And you must be Aleksandrya."
"Yes, Colonel. Aleksandrya Adrianovna Dmitriyev." Aleks tensed up noticeably, coming out from behind Artyom's back and standing firmly in a similar fashion.
"Hunter told me a little about you – a refugee from the Reich?" Melnik revealed his knowledge with a sigh, as if he knew her whole story. His smile had faded into one more of pity, and then his expression steeled as was usual.
"Yes, sir." Aleks cleared her throat. Artyom turned only his eyes in her direction without moving his head and saw her grasping at the cartridge around her neck, seemingly not wanting to part with it.
"Let's talk more in my office. Artyom, go with Ulman for now. I'll send for you in a little while, I still want to hear your report." Melnik gestured to the hallway and to Ulman respectively.
Aleks looked over at Artyom with an expression of uneasiness but thanked him in short before following Melnik into the office and out of sight.
Once again, the next time he would see her was thrown into question. Could that really have been their goodbye? At that moment he would have given anything to be privy to the conversation that was about to transpire in Melnik's office. Somehow he consoled himself by thinking she would still be there when he was summoned and he might be filled in on the details.
Ulman had still been nearby watching him stand there dumbfoundedly staring at the corridor that led to the office deep in thought and sauntered over with a knowing grin.
"Come on Artyom, you'll see her again later." He confirmed, leading Artyom into the heart of the bunker with an arm around his shoulders. "We've got to get your gear cleaned up."
Artyom worked autonomously as Ulman helped him lay out all the things in his rucksack. He seemed to understand that Artyom wasn't in the mood to chat or joke and then left him to change uniforms while he returned the weapons to the armory. At his behest, Ulman agreed to leave Senya's and Aleks' pistols behind on the condition that they were unloaded. When Artyom asked why, Ulman got quiet and solemnly replied that it was a new rule. He was promised the ammunition back when he next checked out for a mission.
Gathering up a clean Spartan uniform, he shuffled down to the showering facilities silently. It seemed he was alone here, except for one young ranger shaving his face in front of a large basin and mirror. There was a moderate amount of steam filling the white tiled room, and Artyom chose the stall at the very end of the row so he could be alone in his thoughts again.
Letting the hot water run over his body, he hadn't noticed until now how tired his muscles were. They pulsed with dull pain as if every step he'd taken on his journey home was reverberating in his feet. His mind however, was once again consumed by what Aleks and Melnik might be talking about. The old stalker had professed that Hunter had already spoken to him about her existence, but what else had he already known? If Melnik had any intel on Roten Spaten or Avtozavodskaya then he would have expected to have seen a symbol on one of the maps or heard about it in at least one briefing. But Artyom also knew to what lengths Aleks would go to protect her station, keep it secret, and to quell rumors about her clan. After all, he remembered, she was still being hunted by the Nazis.
The sound of the other Ranger closing the door as he left derailed Artyom's thoughts. He knew he had to focus more on how he would explain his experiences since the Church, but it was all rather straightforward. The past few days' events were all still fresh in his mind; it was more a question of how to edit it down to only the relevant bits. For instance, he knew immediately that he wouldn't speak about anything Khan had said to him. In fact, he wouldn't mention seeing the mysterious man to the Colonel at all. Reporting the possibility that their mission at the Gardens had failed, with no solid evidence, would only distract the commander needlessly.
There was already general unrest amongst the Order as it became known around the Metro that D6 had been found. Aleks herself had warned him that everyone knew about the discovery. D6 probably had enough preserved food to sustain hundreds more people than the modest number that Sparta had in its ranks, supplies and other property in untold amounts, and almost certainly enough weapons to end the world all over again. Melnik, while steadfast about defense, was definitely softened by the thought of war with the surrounding territorial powers. The Nazi's were their most pressing of adversaries, their stations being the closest and they themselves one of the most volatile organizations in the entire Metro. Beginning a conflict with them would quickly drain the resources afforded to them in the warehouses beneath their feet.
His mind suddenly made the awful connection for him; what if the Nazis were to attack, as anyone could at any moment, and find Aleks here? Although not very likely, the idea made Artyom panic and he quickly dried himself and slipped on his normal uniform. The faster he finished his duties, the faster he could return to the office and see her again.