Roleplay part 9

Thats alright. Just edited it, Skaara.

I believe he is dropping out for awhile.

 

Edit your post, UltimLux; Joe doesn't know about it.

Everyone are actually still in the service room except:
Fyodor, currently on his way to Mendeleevskaya to get his little brother. (I honestly didn't quite catch wether he'd drop out of the roleplay or come back to us).
Joe left the service room to find some rooms for the night, but Melkov followed him outside and stopped him to ask him why he'd be looking for a room.

If we'd be able to hear their conversation from within the service room, is questionable. But apparently, we can hear it, according to Dimitri and Anton who both heard it.

(Sorry if I've forgotten about anyone or anything).

 

Finally feeling satisfied that I had vomited the last drops of toxin from the most recent antivirus (as well as any non-vital organs) I stumbled out of the bathroom taking a swig of sroom vodka as I did so. Looking out into the room it appeared that a few where missing, presumably just strolling along nearby. Odessa and Benji could be seen having a bonding moment that seemed to only further cement their friendship. However, the only thing in that whole scen that caught my eye was the briefcase around her wrist.

Although we had just escaped the Nazi's we had not escaped their reach. Not yet. They have been surprised by the unseen rapier of the metro but not defeated. Not in the least.
As soon as they straighten things out in D6 (which has probably started in D6 already) they'll start putting the pieces together. And figure it out they will, the clever bastards. They'll no doubt find Steves body and realize the Rangers are up to this, they'll no dobt find my file displayed in the filing cabinet and realize that GRU has infiltrated them. Soon their spies imbedded deep in the Red army will discover the rouge action GRU has taken here against it's own 'Mother'. The reprecutions GRU will face are unknown, but hopefully lenient.

Bringing myself out from the land of far details I began to grab my stuff and exit the room. "I suggest we move to where ever it is we are going to move quickly. The Riech will soon release it's hell hounds if we continue to linger outside their gates. I'll be cooling off on the platform in the meantime." I said as I limped out the door.

In a broad sense the platform wasn't very far away, but for my flopping legs, it was miles. I had to stop three times for a drink and rest until I finally reached the platform, rolling myself out on the cold floor for a moment or two to get the weight off of my legs. I kept waiting for the moment when I would feel the strength return to my legs just as the rest of my body had. But as time dragged on that light grew dimmer and dimmer, this wasn't good. Not one bit...

 

"i followed the group out pulling my helmets mask piece down as i did just in case i jogged to the platform only to see the sick man rolling around on the floor."

 

*it was time to go. I was nowhere near recovered, but had no time for it. with an ultimate effort I stood up and gather my gear, Jet jumping on my shoulder as usual and settleing down for the journey. it shouldn't take us more than half hour to reach Belorusskaya, and with any luck we should be back to Polis by the end of the evening. I looked at the case cuffed to my wrist and my resolve to get to Polis as quickly as possible grew. I had had enough of this mission. I wanted it over and done with. As I approched the platform I saw Gena on the floor*

'hey Gena, you will be fine. it will pass. I heard you vomiting out the rest of the virus. your life is in no danger from it anymore. come on friend. let's get rid of this damn case and finish this mission before all hell breaks loose again. the nazis are sure to retaliate at some point, although it will take them sometime to get their house in order' and saying this to Gena I offered him my shoulder to lean on and got ready to move out.

 

Melnikov walked to the platform before Gena stumbled out of the bathroom like a drunk man coming out from a bar after spending hours of drinking there. He then proceeded to the platform as well, followed by Steve. Odessa eventually walked with them, and so I eventually did so too. With curiosity, I fished my map of the Metro out of my backpack and rolled it open in my hands while walking down the tunnel towards the platform. I studied it for a while, and noticed how the path between Belorusskaya and Kievskaya was unnervingly close to Pushkinskaya, the home of the Reich. "We will be going across the platform of Mayakovskaya, North-east to Belorusskaya, then use the Hansa ring south to Kievskaya, I presume? Will we have to switch trains there, or will the train make a V-turn and head North-East to Polis?", I asked aloud while looking at the map as I said so, before I looked over at Odessa.

 

'yeah, that's right, and then straight to Kievskaya and, from there, through Smolenskaya Arbatskaya onto Polis. Arbat and Polis are quite friendly of late, the same as Arbat and Hanza, so no problems there. we change at Kievskaya though. about a ten minute wait, no more' I said to Benji after looking at the map.

 

"I see", I answered her in a tone that clearly revealed how I did not seem certain about the case. "And what about Krasnopresnenskaya? The train will take a stop there to let passengers on and off, correct? What if there are Nazis preparing to board the train to patrol it as we speak? It is in fact just outside Pushkinskaya. What if they've sent a patrol to make sure we are not present there? Perhaps to prevent us from reaching the safety of Polis?", I asked. I just realized that I had asked the same question twice, just slightly differently.

 

'I see what you mean' I said to Benji 'but we are not taking a passanger train. we'll be taking a freight train, taking supplies to Kievskaya, non-stop anywhere else. that train is just there for us. was especially prepared for this mission. don't ask me how Polis did it, I'm just glad they did' I said, lighting up a smoke while waiting for the rest of the group to be ready.

 

I let off a face expression that now seemed more calm, but even more so, impressed. I was a little surprised that Polis was this eager to help us. Then again, I recalled how Odessa had a lot of contacts in the Metro. "Alright then", I said before I scrolled the paper together and put it back into my backpack.

It was interestig to spectate how Odessa supported and comforted Gena so warm-heartedly. The fact that the two of them knew each other from before, had not struck me until that moment.

 

No, I did not drop out. I was just waiting to see if anyone accepted my invitation. But alas, no one did.

Everyone seemed ready to go, yet no one wanted to join me. I cannot say I blame them, going back to Mendeleevskaya was tricky. 'But it was their fucking fault', I think to myself. 'If they didn't start shooting inside the station then our situation with Hansa would be perfectly fine.' Yet still, I do not hold a grudge. I sigh aloud and look around the rat infested station. Melnikov is sitting on the platform's edge, not far from me. Using my right foot, I push down the kick stand and step off of the motorcycle. I approach him and pat his shoulder lightly.

"Take care of them, okay?" I ask softly. "And watch out for the new guy, too. If he has a close relationship with Steve, then there is a high chance he's lost his fucking marbles. I'll see you at Polis." I say with a smirk.

I nod to Melnikov as I step back over to the motorcycle. Straddling the rubber seat, I lift the kickstand. I start the engine and quickly drive off towards Mendeleevskaya. The faster I got to Yuri, the faster I would feel whole again. Life seemed a bit empty without him. Sure, I had stumbled upon a new family. Benji the dad. Odessa the mom. Joe the crazy uncle. Grigori, Anton, Gena older brothers. A family. We even had some new additions. I was even starting to like the idea of this family. But it would not be complete, at least for me, without Yuri. I though about this as I ride to Mendeleevskaya. It is funny, time always seems to fly when you are deep in thought. I hadn't been paying enough attention to notice I was approaching the gate to Mendeleevskaya. Not until the warning shot rang out down the tunnels. I flinch and squeeze my fingers around the brake shaft. The motorcycle skids a few feet down the line before coming to a complete stop about twenty meters from the gate house. When I look up from the handle bars, all I can see is a blinding bright search light burning in my face. Great, who am I going to deal with this time?

 

Ignore everything in my last post.

I began to look more and more over Benjiman's shoulder as he pulled out his map of the Metro. "So that is what the Metro looks like." I thought to myself as I studied the map.

"The Metro being as vast and dangerous as it was I was never able to explore it fully but maybe just maybe I will be able to explore with this group of misfits" I told myself.

 

Hold it there, I Hate Lurkers. I got an idea for a confrontation

 

I was hoping you would. Thats why I didnt clarify who fired the warning shot.

 

After leaving the crowd I went back to my tent to gather my stuff and head back. But as I approached the cluster of tents, I saw my commanding officer stand outside. I saluted him and stood at ease. It wasn't the formality expected from your regular footsoldier - but then again, I wasn't. "Konovalev, we got a tip the rangers might appear at the eastern guardpost. We need the best team availible, and since you were around, you will stand guard along with Vasili and Aleksandr. Dismissed" He said calmly before walking away. As soon as he was out of sight I packed my bags and went to the guard post. When I got there, my comrades had already gathered. "Ey what took you so long, Nikolai? Had to get your hands off your junk, eh?" He asked in the typical jargon of my unit. "You don't want to talk like that to your squad leader" I replied, stating my authority over the group. We had been on missions multiple times before, and I would happily sacrifice my life for any of theirs. It is the kind of cameraderie that can only be found in places where your life depends on the person next to you. I lit a cigarette, motioned for Aleksandre to take the MG and for Vasili to take up hidden guard post.
We had been called in for "special guard duty" before, mostly during the Hanza-Communist wars, so it wasn't much of a big deal.

It didn't take long before the first visitor came. I padded Aleksandr on the shoulder and he lifted up the heavy MG, accidentally hitting the trigger and letting off a shot in the process. I gave him the death stare, and he looked genuinely sorry. He would be washing the latrines tonight. I looked back at the stranger and casually shouted down the tunnel: "Leave your vehicle and come forward with your hands up!"

 

With all that has happened in the past few hours, I didn't even realize that I was still tightly gripping the silenced AKS-74U which Odessa gave to me some time ago - before the mission at D6 properly started. After all the thrills, the action and the dangers, I was still feeling quite anxious, like there was some sort of grim reaper looming over me. I tapped her on the shoulder, "Thank you, Odessa. I'm glad I didn't have to use it." I told her quietly, handing back the shortened variant of the famous Kalashnikov. And I really was glad that I wasn't forced to shoot anyone... I saw enough death back there for a lifetime.

It looked like we were headed to Polis, but I still wasn't sure how to get there. Due to my inexperience in combat and young age, I was only sightseeing for the whole journey - even if the sights were rather unpleasant. At least I kept my promise and wasn't a burden at any point during the mission. I did feel like I was invisible, but perhaps it was for the better and I was used to that feeling anyway. The only person in my entire sodding life who has ever given me a lot of attention was my own mother, and she was long dead. Well, there were also the Neo-Nazis, but that wasn't the sort of attention that I was looking for.

Staying quiet and not doing anything wasn't particularly interesting, but plenty of things happen when you follow a group of stalkers. I was wondering what other plans they had, but I didn't have the confidence or will to ask. All the running and excitement had made me tired. We needed to find a place to eat and sleep soon. I was sure that the men surrounding me were becoming weary too. They were human, after all... I think.

 

"Leave your vehicle and come forward with your hands up!" A voice hollered from behind the light.

I grunt, turning off the engine. I push down the kick stand and put the soil of my boots on the concrete, letting the motorcycle's weight collapse onto the thin metal bar holding it up. I unhook the AKS from the climbing harness and leave it hanging from one of the handlebars by its strap. Before stepping off the vehicle, I remove the revolver from it's holster and stuff it into the from of my pants, flicking a shirt over it. I raise my hands and approach the gate in nonchalant form. Having done this a million times, I didn't see it as something big. It was smart of me to leave all of my equipment and weapons, except for the concealed revolver, on the motorcycle. Can't put it past the Hansa sentries to 'confiscate' any piece of equipment they fancy. Besides, I might need the revolver. I will do anything to get back Yuri. Even if that means taking down a few weekend warriors. These are the things that run through my mind as I approach the gatehouse. The search light attached to the stationed MG follows me, blinding me.

"Will you turn that damn thing off?" I bark, in a harsh and annoyed tone.

The light flicks off, revealing two men. 'Can't just be two men' I think to myself, glancing around. When I see the man crouched in a hole in the wall, rifle pointed, I scoff. I give man a little wave and a sarcastic smile. When I turn back to the two men at the gatehouse I notice something, a rucksack. And a smirk forms in the corner of my mouth.

 

When Vasili was noticed by the newcomer, I facepalmed. The stranger was apparently angry, but we were doing our job, and this was a high-risk environment. He wanted us to turn off the light. Normally I would have the hidden guard search him first, but I had a feeling I'd better search this guy myself. I waved Vasili back to his hole, before moving forwards towards the new guy. "What is your name?" I asked when I got close enough to search him. I could smell a weird smell coming from him. It was synthetic and harsh, almost like some form of gas had sunk into his clothes.

 

As the man got closer, I continued to eye the rucksack. I'd seen it before. Everyone in the Orange Line had seen it before. From Chistye Prudy to Oktyabr'skaya it was infamous. Guards along the Orange Line would never search it, only smile and let the carrier walk on through with a hello and a goodbye. For me, it use to be an omen. A symbol. A sign, one that meant Yuri and I would eat most nights that month. My eyes use to light up when I saw it. It always put a big fat grin on my face. Narcotics were carried in that bag. Narcotics I would sell for bullets. Bullets I would trade for food. It was legend that that rucksack had hidden pouches, but none were even found. Yet still, the hash and black tar would come rolling in. How and where they hid the drugs from searching was beyond me. I was just glad they did. It has been just over a year since my eyes laid upon it. Now here it is. When the man was within range to search me, I wanted to ask about it. But whether or not the other guards will hear me spawned caution in my head. 'I should probably to play this one safe', I thought. The sentry asks for a name.

"Fyodor ..- and don't waste your time. I never leave home without this." I say.

I cautiously lift the front of my shirt to reveal the revolver stuffed tightly against my body.

"Can't be too careful. Especially in our line of work, eh brother?" I ask softly, nodding to the rucksack on the man's back as another smirk forms in the corner of my mouth.