Roleplay Part 4

"I agree with Andrey. If there's a station there, then there's no need to rest in an area like this." I said, "It'd be too dangerous for us to rest here, and an unnecessary danger at that, if Andrey's correct. A swamp like this is hardly defensible, and to rest in a bog is a death trap. A mutant catches sight of us, and we're screwed especially here."

 

Sitting down, I felt sleep overtake me. I didn't care if there was station two metros away, my legs were like frozen logs, and my eyelids were heavy. I glanced over at Jet Odessa. "Oh, pardon my lack of courtesy. I've had a bit of a shock a while back, so I wasn't in what you'd call my right mind when we met you. My name's Steven, ex-nazi, presently..." I stammered, it had been a while since we'd met a woman, and I lowered my eyes, feeling like an idiot.

 

*I went up the lader Benji had pointed out and found a room big enough to acomodate us all with no problems. the remains of a fire where left in the middle of the room and on the side it seemd to be ventilation grills, so we wouldn't die from fumes' poisoning*

'it's all clear up there. it looks like a good place to spend the night, only problem is just one way in or out, but I believe right now is more of an advantage than anything else, 'cause it is easily defendable' I said coming out of the room and looking down at the guys.

'so, what do you say? shall we stop here for the night? I'll take first guard after we get change and have something to eat'

*I had taken the oportunity of getting changed while I was up there on my own and was now sporting an old pair of camo pants and a long sleeve black T-Shirt, and had also lit the fire, so it would be ready for us*

'fire is lit and we can settle for the night' I said, looking at the rest of the tired faces looking back at me.

 

Odessa clearly did not seem to have heard the news. "We will walk for a little more to the next station to find a better place to defend for the night. Let us keep moving" I said, wanting to get to a safe place to rest as soon as possible.

 

*after listening to Andrey and Benji, I still hoped we could stop at the little room, but it seemed the decision to continue had been taken, so I returned to the small room, got changed into my wet clothes, since I didn't wan't to have to dry two set of clothes, and didn't have anymore dry ones, and put out the fire. I went back to the group and continued walking*

 

I wasn't to happy about stopping in the middle of a freezing and filthy river. But I gues Odessa was just anxious to leave the water. I couldn't blame her. I did however fine one good thing to do while we waited in the frosty, dim lighted air. I thought about our plan to deal with the satanists. "was there really a secret tunnel, how defended and ready for an attack where they?, what about the prisoners?" the questions rambled on and on threw my mind. I didn't say anything to the group though. I decided it would be better to talk strategy with drink and hot food in our systems. I imagined us all warming ourselves around a large fire, hot tea in hand and some good tabacco. I shook my head and sadly came to the cold and wet reality we impatiently waited in. I pulled out a cigarette and my lighter and slowly smelled the stick, savoring it. "this is as close to a warm fire as I'll get for now" I mumbled. As we continued down the tunnel I blew the time by studying my lighter closely. It was my fathers. It was an ordinary zippo lighter except for one detail. My father had carved his divisions name on the front "4th guards division" and on the back he had scrapped out a crudely drawn bears head. It was no master piece but it gave me strength and morale in the darkest of times, and for this I kept it close.

 

We had finally stopped, and I collapsed in a heap, dimly aware that I should be on my guard, but far too tired to care. I let the darkness take over...

 

*we arrived at the station at last. It was cold, but safe and dry. I had a good look around and saw no threats or traps. found a liitle room were I got changed into dry clothes. looking around I found the old public toilets, so I went there and answered mother's nature call. It was just a cubbyhole with a hole in the ground for toilet, but it would do. when you gotta go, you gotta go I thtought to myself. the place wasn't very hygenic but at that moment I couldn't care less. we lit a fire and sat round it. Jet jumped on the floor and I got her food out of the ruckpack. she ate it hungrily and then went to sleep beside me*

'so, whats the plan guys?' I said while I settled down.

'anyone would like some coffe? I'm making some already, so just say the word. I'll take first watch after we eat, no worries' I said looking at the guys who had started to sit by the fire.

 

The station was a welcome sight. after hours of wading threw water we were finilly out and on dry land. I wasted no time in sitting down and removing my boots. after peeling off my soaked socks i examined my feet with greedy eyes. i found a few blisters and soars but nothing to bad. as everyone got comfortable i went to a small room and changed in to the only dry cloths I had. A pair of worn cotton P.J's and a wool sweater. it didnt exactly give me the badass look but it was dry and warm and at the moment that was all that mattered. sitting by the fire i took up Odessa's offer and indulged in a warm cup of brew and a cigarette. after i finished the cup i dug around in my backpack until i pulled out some linen wrap and foot powder. i carfully covered my feet with it then wraped them up. "good as new" i told myself. as i put the remaining wrap and powder back in my bag i stumbled across a large tin of stew. i got a warm feeling in my heart as i wondered how long it had been lost in there just waiting for a hungry stomach like me. i put the stew in the kettle/pot and warmed it to a small boil. i hastily poured some in my cup and slowly yet swiftly devoured the meal. "please, help yourself's" i told the group.

 

Dead tired and trembling with cold I put down my gear, took a sip of water from my canteen and lay down by the fire with the others. Some started to make food but strangely, I found I had no appetite so I decided to get som shuteye instead, using my rucksack as a pillow and a dry blanket over me. In only a few minutes I felt Sleep overcome me and I fell into a dreamless sleep.

 

Sure, it was always nice with a little break, especially after freezing my ass off in the water, but I was determined on finding this drill and saving the metro from the satanists. And worse it was that the others didn't recognize the threat. Benjamin couldn't see the drill and Andrey simply ignored me. So when Odessa asked for the plan, it was my chance to underline this threat:
"Some of you already know this, " I said, holding up the paper, "But I have found valuable intel on the satanists. It's all on this paper!". I passed the paper to Dima, and signalled for him to pass it around. "It seems they have found the route to a drill from "before", and I fear for what they'll use it for. I've heard rumours about a villian wanting to flood Polis."

 

After wading through the water for hours, it was releaving to finally sit down in the station. As the camp fire was lit and the food was in progress, I sat down and begun to take off my black boots, followed by my big heavy metallic leg protectors that made the most awful sound as I dropped them on the concreed floor. I moved my hands up my legs that felt like two skinned and long dead chickens. I had nothing else to change to, so I sat close to the fire to let them dry. I took off my big brown heavy and thick coat, revealing my grey camouflaged uniform. I put the black backpack beside me against the wall and lay the katana in its holster on the other side of me.

After this, I crossed my legs in a comfortable position and knotted my dreadlocks in a ponytail that I allowed to hang down on the right side of my chest. My appetite was at presence, as usual, so I dug into my backpack to find anything. The bag of filters was pushed away and revealed a little bag of soup-powder. I borrowed a kettle that I filled with some of the water from my cantine as well as the powder. I missed the taste of coffee, but I did not ask for any as I needed some sleep soon enough anyway.

I wondered what this drill that Darkbringer was speaking of was. "What is this drill you are speaking of? Is it some sort of a huge mechanical device that drills it way through anything?" I asked curiously.

 

*I had managed to find a ration of dry stewed pig and mushrooms, and it didn't taste too bad. after having some coffee and a smoke I started to feel better. my clothes were drying nicely and my tummy was full. Jet was asleep next to me, her needs taken care of before mine. I had made sure she was dry and had her supper*

'hmm, this really looks like a shorcut to their lair' I said looking at the map with the route marked in red. 'and that can only mean that they either found some old abandoned service tunnels to move around, or they've decided to drill a new one, that I wouldn't put past them'

*I had a puff of my smoke and took a sip of my coffee and continued talking*

'but the questions remains, how are we gonna tackle them and what's the startegy to follow? guns blazing or stealh? I have an idea, but it might be a bit difficult to execute, well, two ideas really. I have no doubt what we will do with them once we find them, but this also raises another question, if we find hostages, what do we do about them?'

 

"It seems to be one of those that were used to dig out these tunnels. It most likely has microscopical diamond pieces on it, to dig through anything - even the concrete separating the Moscow river from the metro." I replied. If they weren't worried before, they should be now.
"And to your question, Odessa, as there will most likely be hostages, I suggest a stealth approach. If we go loud they'll execute the hostages on the spot" I said.

 

'hmm, yes, I think you might be right Dark, and that only adds urgency to our mission. thay are probably using it as well to dig new routes in between tunnels, unknown to any of us, so they can move freely around without being detected. the only thing is, if they dig too quickly, they'll flood themselves and no-one else, since it's a long way to any lived-in station from here. however, I suggest we rest for about five six hours and set of again. I know we are close, I can feel it'

*I strechted my legs in front of me with my back on my ruckpack. took out my cleaning kit and started cleaning my weapons methodically, one by one, making sure they were all ready and in good working order*

 

"We will do our best to prevent the death of any possible hostages, including Wolf. But we are Mercenaries, not a rescue team. I suggest that we leave the hostages to themselves after rescuing them", I said. It did not sound like me. But I knew what I was saying, and I knew that the hostages would slow our future travelling down. The uniform did not make me feel comfortable, so I took off the grey jacket, revealing my black T-shirt with long sleeves down to my hands. It was simple, thin and comfortable. It made me feel a lot more relaxed. It eased up the tension on my body, as all I could feel was the thin material almost hovering on the skin of my upper body.

 

As i examined the paper the drill finnaly began to stick out. i passed the paper along and listened in to the disscusion of the group. it was becoming clear that this would have to be a stealth mission lest we forget the hostages and there well being. "Ben's right, If we eliminate all the hostile satanists we automaticlly eliminate the threat to the hostages. the best we can do for them is point them on there way and be done with it." i said out load for everyone to hear. i said nothing further, instead I followed Odessa cleaning my rifle with a small rag trying to get the water out of the mecanism.

 

The soup was soon finished as I retracted it from the fireplace, got out an old wooden spoon and began pouring the hot soup carefully inbetween my lips before allowing it to slowly run down my throat. I could feel how the feeling of hunger was replaced by a comfortable feeling as I ate more and more. The fact that we were sitting around a fireplace did not exactly ruin that feeling either, as it strengthened it. All of a sudden, I remembered the flute I had. I had made it myself in the sanctuary many years ago. The Elders there seemed to have knowledge about the most, as they did not only teach me how to make the flute, but also how to play on it. As I could feel that the time was right, I dug it out from my backpack for the first time in quite a while. I could still remember all the tunes and the songs I had practiced. I started playing the first one. The flute was very silent and calm, unlike a guitar or a harmonica. The flute calmed down the whole situation, and I could even feel myself getting more and more tired as I played.