Disclaimer: The characters and story originally created by Dmitri Glukhovsky in the book and video game series "Metro: 2033" and its sequels do not belong to me. Those properties are owned by Glukhovsky, 4A Games, and Deep Silver. This work of fiction is intended for entertainment purposes and is not meant to be canonical, though I tried very hard to make it fit within the parameters. I do retain my rights for the creation of my own original characters and ideas. I do not make any money from writing this story.
Song Recommendation: "Let Me Out" – Egypt Central
Chapter Six: Outlaws
"Wake up Ranger. It's zero eight thirty. We're heading out soon." A deep gravelly voice penetrated Artyom's dreamless sleep with its halting sentences.
Artyom blinked his sleepy eyes open, squinting at the light of the lantern the speaker was holding. He was an impressively large older man, with a shaved head and long grey stubble. He wore the same gray fatigues and green body armor that the rest of the Red Arrow was dressed in but had shoulder pauldrons and more pouches than the other members seemed to wear.
"Who—?" Artyom began but the man seemed to understand what he was about to ask.
"Call me Ivanovich. Put these on." The soldier brandished a set of grey clothes like his own and then closed the tent flap. "Bring yours to the office."
Artyom caught the clothes as they landed at his feet and Ivanovich marched off before he could say another word. Checking his watch to confirm the time for himself, he then quickly undressed and slipped on the new fatigues. They were well worn but smelled like they had been freshly laundered. He wondered if he should put his own armored vest back on but running his fingers over the painted Spartan name, he decided against it. Bundling up his blue uniform and vest under his arm, he pulled his boots on and turned to smooth out the blanket over the cot for the next potential guest. He left the tent and headed for the supply room that Ivanovich had called the office. Assuming that Aleks would issue him armor if he required it, he stopped himself from worrying about not having his own gear on.
As he approached the doorway to the supply room he could hear several voices inside, an energetic conversation about preparing themselves for the journey. Artyom considered knocking or speaking, but there was such a commotion that he thought it best to just enter the corner of the room silently and wait to be noticed.
"Because, if anybody sees all of us surrounding a Spartan they will assume that either we are holding him hostage or—" Aleks was ranting, tying up the strings of her armored corset and adjusting her shoulder plates.
"Or that we're protecting him while he does something bad." Nikolai finished for her, shooting an annoyed look over to Dmitri who had probably just asked the same question that Artyom had been thinking of.
Now fully understanding why they gave him the grey uniform, he took a step forward to where Ivanovich was beckoning him with a green vest in his hands. It had the same red spade symbol painted on the front and back and Artyom thought for a minute how interesting it might be if he had joined this faction instead of the Order.
"Oh good, you're awake!" Nikolai said with the same enthusiasm he had in his voice at Novokuznetskaya, noticing Artyom for the first time as he had strapped on the armored vest. "Here, put your things in here."
Nikolai brought Artyom's own rucksack over to one of the tables and pushed it towards him. Artyom immediately put his Ranger uniform away and heaved the pack onto his shoulders, happy to have his possessions back.
"Good morning, Artyom." Aleks said, showing him a weak smile. "How did you sleep?"
There was no trace of the melancholic memories that she had displayed the previous evening, and Artyom was somewhat glad that she seemed to be feeling better but at the same time knew that it meant she would probably resume her stoic attitude.
"Fine, thanks." Artyom replied flatly, confused by her concern.
From a wide metal locker in the far corner of the room, Dmitri removed four automatic rifles and distributed them to his comrades. They apparently all had their own allowances for ammunition, as Aleks, Ivanovich, and Nikolai began loading their weapons with new magazines. Artyom wondered why Dmitri had slung his rifle over his shoulder without loading it, and also why he wasn't given his weapons back. Maybe they were in his bag?
"Is everyone ready?" Aleks stood tall in the middle of the room, looking to the four men around her for their replies as she adjusted her rucksack on her shoulders.
"Let's go." Dmitri answered first, to Artyom's surprise.
Ivanovich and Nikolai nodded their response and Artyom led the way out of the room and onto the tracks. Dmitri headed the group, which Artyom had been expecting of him, and Nikolai followed his brother closely. Aleks remained behind with Ivanovich at her side and Artyom was beginning to think more about how it would look if he were still wearing his blue camouflage uniform, a prisoner, and he began to feel like one as Ivanovich gestured for him to walk ahead of them.
There was no further talk along the way towards Paveletskaya and Artyom began to wonder how the Red Arrow as a group displayed themselves to outsiders. He much preferred Nikolai's persona of the friendly trader, even if Dmitri didn't sell his attitude as well as his brother. At the very least, he hoped there would be some kind of conversation soon, or it was going to be a very long trip. He tried to remember how long it felt like to travel through Hansa with Ulman but then all he could think about was losing track of his partner during their mission. Artyom sincerely hoped that Ulman had made it back to the Church alive and unharmed and he did his best to turn his worry into a drive to keep walking.
As before, they came up to Paveletskaya without stopping, only this time the residents didn't seem interested in seeing who was coming through. Most of them fled from the platform edge and disappeared through the arches. The Red Arrow had most likely scared them somehow, at least from moving down into their station, but even if they hadn't who wouldn't be scared by their appearance?
He watched Nikolai and Dmitri marching ahead of him; both brothers sported armor now that they could be themselves, when before all they wore was their grey clothes and large packs. Glancing back at Aleks and Ivanovich he also noted the improvisions that they had made with their outfits respectively. Ivanovich was attempting to be more of a heavy soldier than the others, carrying a big machine gun like the one Senya had with him on the surface.
Aleks had clearly customized her own version of an armored vest, though it was made of dark brown leather instead of green like the others. Maybe it helped signify her rank among the company? Or perhaps it was simply more comfortable for her to wear. She must have made most of her clothing herself because it fit her body perfectly. One could still tell she had a fine form even beneath layers of fabric and leather. She had even crafted a black wool cloak to conceal immediate recognition of her gender, which she was just now pulling around her shoulders. The cape wasn't very long, seeming to be refashioned from some other type of uniform because it still had golden trim and rectangular epaulettes with a rank symbol that Artyom didn't recognize.
"The passage is just ahead," Aleks said when she noticed Artyom looking back at her.
"You all have passports?" Artyom inquired, letting himself fall back a few steps, wondering how the mighty Hansa would interpret their large group.
"They aren't visas but we haven't had problems before." Aleks shrugged and pulled the hood of the cloak up over her head, tucking her hair inside.
The group reached the top of the short stairway which led down into the pedestrian passage that connected to Hansa's version of Paveletskaya. Artyom clenched his teeth as he quickly relived the memories of his prior visit here and how he had earned his access to the Ring stations. They walked for a long time through the crowded lineup of tents and structures that were the living quarters and safe havens for the Paveletskaya residents. Each night and eight-o'-clock, everyone who lived here or knew about the station's epidemic of huge nocturnal mutant creatures huddled into this hall and barred the gate.
Finally, there was a clearing near the end of the walkway and Aleks gave a nod to Dmitri who walked off towards the checkpoint without a word. The remaining four of them halted by a tall wooden outcropping and waited.
"Papers, please!" Someone yelled from behind a bright yellow searchlight.
Artyom noticed a short line of people further up ahead of them but didn't see Dmitri amongst them. He cast a confused look over at Aleks, who did nothing but take her passport from her pocket and motion for him to do the same. Nikolai kept right behind her as if he was shielding her and Artyom couldn't tell if he was being paranoid or if he always guarded Aleks so closely outside of their home station.
Dmitri then suddenly reappeared as if he had shifted through the wall. Artyom caught a glimpse of his concerned expression before he pulled Aleks aside.
"We can't go this way, boss." Dmitri's voice was hushed.
Nikolai and Ivanovich closed in next to Artyom and he got the unsettling and nauseous feeling that something bad was about to happen. Aleks craned her head over Dmitri's shoulder, first glancing at Artyom and then trying to see to the head of the line.
"Sturmann's guys are by the door with the border guards," Dmitri clenched his fists and sneered.
"Fuck, alright." Aleks tapped her fingers on her passport, breathing through clenched teeth. Artyom could almost see the gears turning inside her head, trying to come up with an alternative plan. "Alright."
She turned on her heel, weaving back through the passageway and away from the lights, each man following her without hesitation or question. They were in the vacant tunnel again in an agitated instant and heading north towards Novokuznetskaya. After a few steps Aleks broke into a brisk jog and the company all kept pace behind her.
"Who's Sturmann? Why can't we get into Hansa?" Artyom panted, following just behind Ivanovich, with the brothers bringing up the rear.
"You ask too many questions," Ivanovich grunted with a scowl.
"He's a Nazi spy; they send him after defectors and criminals." Nikolai informed him with an expressionless face.
"So, they've been, what, looking for her since she left? What for?" Artyom fell back a step to continue the conversation with Nikolai, trying to understand the connection. Was Aleks some kind of fugitive?
"Aleks and Ivanovich escaped from the Reich. They don't just let people leave." Dmitri said in a growl, his expression was one of anger and disgust.
"Her family is, well, let's say high ranking, and Ivanovich was a security sergeant. Basically, they are refugees just the same as us." Nikolai reported, slightly out of breath from the sprint.
Artyom's eyes went wide, searching for Aleks who was way ahead of the pack. He had no suspicions that she had illicitly expatriated and was being hunted down by the Nazis like an outlaw. She kept running, all the way to the first posted sign for Novokuznetskaya. Resting against the edge of the sandbags she stood catching her breath, pushing her hair back into her hood and wiping the sweat from her face with her sleeve. Artyom drew up next to her along with the others and watched for her next action, thinking it best not to ask any questions at this moment. Her breathing was returning to normal and she looked at each of her soldiers but avoided Artyom's curious eyes.
"Looks like… we are going to… have to go the long way…" she said breathlessly.
"The only other way is through the Red line." Nikolai motioned to the side, as if the Communist territory were right on the other side of the tunnel wall.
"I know but… if we can get to the Teatr… then the only hard part is getting to the Polis border. But then, we would have to let Artyom lead us." Now she looked at Artyom, seemingly judging from his expression whether he would be up to the task or not.
"It might only work if they thought he was for ransom. Otherwise, they would never believe that one Ranger caught four of us by himself." Nikolai thought out loud. Artyom wasn't very keen on his idea but it might turn out to be their only option.
"You don't think trying to go through Hansa would be okay? Was it just the one guy? We could wait a bit, maybe he will leave." Artyom supposed, looking at each of the faces of his companions and judging their expressions to be not in favor of his idea.
"Where there is one Nazi fuck, there is more." Dmitri spat.
"Let's stop talking and just get it done." Aleks said sternly, like a mother scolding her children. She didn't hesitate to start walking away again.
The approach to Novokuznetskaya was rather straightforward, as there were only a few outposts of guards at posted positions along the tunnels leading up to the platform. A few of the sentries seemed to recognize the members of the Red Arrow, so there were no questions or conversations to be had other than brief pleasantries. The residents in the main hall all but ignored their group, with only a few merchants continuing their sales pitches to them as they walked by the stalls.
"While we're here we might as well check in with Valya and see if the shipment has arrived yet. Why don't you two go and pay him a visit while we go check out the approach to the Teatr." Aleks gestured to Nikolai and Dmitri before dropping her eyes to the floor as she thought out loud.
"What about Oktyabrskaya?" Dmitri considered aloud.
"Evidently the extradition policy is in effect again if they let those Second Unit bastards hang around," Ivanovich submitted his negative opinion with narrowed eyes.
Artyom was almost surprised to hear him speak after he had been told by the man to not ask too many questions ten minutes earlier. He knew what extradition was but usually that was reserved for criminals or politicians. Did the Reich label everyone who escaped their stations as such? Nikolai had let slip that Aleks was from a prominent family and that Ivanovich was a security sergeant, so maybe the Reich was eager to retrieve them for those reasons. A security officer would be privy to all kinds of sensitive information, intricate details of the stations and the people who lived in them. Maybe he had been a bodyguard to someone important, someone with secrets. Even Artyom had to be granted a certain level of clearance because of the things he knew about and the missions he'd taken part in. But Aleks was just a civilian. Who was she related to that mattered so much?
"Which is the lesser of two evils?" Aleks spoke quietly and didn't seem to expect any of them to answer.
"Meet back here in thirty?" Nikolai offered to go along with the original plan with a slight shrug.
"Thirty," Aleks confirmed with a nod and then glanced at Ivanovich and Artyom both as an indication to continue following her lead.
Upon reaching the other end of the platform, there was a great deal of noise yet a lack of population. Aleks again gave a little nod towards Ivanovich who pushed ahead as she put a hand on Artyom's sleeve to prevent him from following. He decided to hold his tongue even from asking why they had stopped because perhaps Aleks didn't know the answer. She was certainly being overly cautious in their travels, not just sending her men to investigate because she could but because she didn't want to be seen at all. No complete sentences would form because he simply had too many ideas piling up to sort them out and he knew that trying to probe for the kind of answers he wanted would only be met with further suspicion and possibly hostility. Who the hell were these people of the Red Arrow?
Ivanovich returned after a few short minutes, explaining the bad news in the same kind of short blurbs he usually used. Part of the tunnel leading towards Teatralnaya had collapsed and it was completely closed off until it could be repaired. They were denied yet another avenue. Artyom was the first to let out a long sigh, not surprised at all in the difficulty of traveling to Polis but still completely annoyed. He almost wondered if their journey was becoming this arduous simply because he was with them. History was repeating itself.
They waited out the remaining twenty minutes in near silence, neither Aleks nor Ivanovich uttering a word about what they might do next. Artyom considered making a run for it if they hadn't all been standing so close together. Maybe he could slip away during their impending meeting with the twins and head for home on his own. He didn't need to worry about Nazi spies or the Red Line or Hansa, he figured he could be back at D6 by dinner time but then the memory of Aleks' cartridge capsule arose front and center. She needed to get to Polis for some reason, some reason having to do with Hunter, and he couldn't ignore that even if he wanted to. The Colonel had issued standing orders that ensured that anything having to do with the missing Ranger was brought to his attention and vetted out.
"Shipment's in," Nikolai reported with a wide smile as the group converged in one of the archways that led to the side-platforms. "Nothing else new from Valya."
"Next time say hi for me," Artyom said with a hint of sarcasm. If only he'd known what he was getting himself into when meeting the exuberant member of their clan. Nikolai didn't answer him.
"Right on time, and yet inconvenient," Aleks shook her head, not as happy with the information as Nikolai thought she would be because his smile instantly faded. "Teatr is a no-go."
"Tunnel collapse," Ivanovich explained to the brothers for her.
"That leaves Venice," Dmitri gave a disgusted look as he gestured towards a stairway.
"Unfortunately," Aleks confirmed with fearful eyes.
Artyom hadn't been to Venice before but he'd heard plenty about it from all sorts of people. It was an independent station that connected two lines as well as with Novokuznetskaya. Situated deeper underground, it was one of the few flooded stations that was still inhabited. They were famous for their beer and aquatic cuisine; the fish they served and sold varied greatly, and nobody knows what had mutated into what they called shrimp. Venice was also known for its unconventional atmosphere, offering the dichotomy of a popular brothel and shooting gallery contrasted with unscrupulous gangsters that did as they pleased.
"It won't take us too long," Nikolai tried to reassure her as he offered to take the shipment back to Avtozavodskaya.
"You don't need to…" she began something but then stopped. "Are you sure you don't mind?"
Artyom examined her expression closely, it seemed that her statement was somehow unrelated to this shipment they kept speaking of but he couldn't be sure.
"Of course not!" Nikolai smiled again, patting Aleks' shoulder. "We can catch up."
"Alright. Ivanovich, you're with me and Artyom. When you guys are done with the drop-off, we'll meet you at Revolution Square." Aleks put a hand on her hip, reinforcing her authority as she gave her commands.
"Don't cause any trouble or I'll swim after you." Nikolai teased but had a serious look on his face.
Dmitri rolled his eyes at his brother and simply gave a short salute towards Aleks before turning away. Nikolai gave a short wave as they left his company, blending in with the sea of people hurrying about the main hall.
Without word or warning, Aleks took out Senya's Tokarev from her belt and pressed the barrel into Artyom's chest. Although he had hardly felt the motion from beneath his armor, he didn't know whether the vest could stop even a silenced round at point-blank range. Had he really come all this way only to be shot dead? His eyes pleaded, confused, looking for some kind of explanation from Aleks but her face was like stone. Her eyes, though, expressed a certain sense of hopefulness.
"If you turn this gun on me, then you will never know the reason why I have this," Aleks slid the barrel of the gun from his vest and used it to point to the pendant that Hunter had given her before turning it around in her hands and offering it to him. "I am trusting you, Artyom."
As if he needed any more convincing than her warning, he felt the cold blue eyes of Ivanovich piercing into him. Silently nodding his head as confirmation, he took the weapon from her and replaced it in his own holster. Running his fingers over the textured grip, he welcomed the small piece of the fallen Ranger's memory back into his possession. He breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn't intended to shoot him and had only aimed at him to reinforce her threat. Still, Artyom hoped things would become a little less dramatic as they continued their journey.
Everything that led towards Venice was extremely damp, pipes in the ceiling dripped, and the walls were splotchy with green mold and white fungus. This was because the melting snow and ice from nuclear winter and the pressure from the Moskva River overhead was overwhelming the drainage systems that kept the waters at bay. Artyom wondered how long it would take before the systems finally surrendered and the flooding reached the next station or the station after that, perhaps one day their entire underground world would be drowned out by the irradiated waters.
Aleks approached the walkway over the tracks which led to Venice but soon began to slow down and let Ivanovich catch up with her. Artyom could see a blockade ahead of them, so Novokuznetskaya was still trying to be independent. But who was guarding which side?
"Well, well, it's the boss. To what do we owe the pleasure of your magnificent visage, Captain?" Spoke a short middle-aged man with a sparse combover and dirty clothing.
"You know we don't have ranks, Lev," Aleks said quietly and pulled her hood further down as she drew up in front of him.
"Yeah, but if I say it then you sound more important and it makes my job easier when the bandits come knocking," the man called Lev let out a reserved chuckle.
"You shouldn't be talking about me at all," Aleks scolded and scowled.
"Alright, alright, I'm just trying to make conversation! I know the directives," Lev held his hands out defensively. "You're lucky you caught me anyway, I'm off in fifteen."
"And heading to the strip club, I'm guessing?" Ivanovich accused in a deep voice but Artyom caught half a smile.
"Care to join me?" Lev pointed his fingers around at the three of them excitedly.
"We're on business." Aleks ended the man's hopeful tension with a curt growl.
"Of course, well hopefully I'll see you when you're on the rebound!" Lev stepped aside and gestured that the pathway was now open to them.
"Maybe," Aleks said uncertainly as she headed forwards.
"Behave," Ivanovich commanded with a stiff hand.
Lev only nodded intently at Ivanovich but stopped as Artyom passed by him last. There was now a look of curiosity because the guard didn't recognize him as a member of their clan and yet Artyom was wearing their uniform. Artyom just shrugged at him and hurried along after Ivanovich and Aleks.