>you are anon
>and you are a STALKER
>you thought you had seen everything the zone had to throw at you, at least for the most part
>the zone is always changing
>but you never expected to see a griffon
>6 days ago you ran into a couple of mercenaries transporting a rare artifact 
>the griffon was among them
>you joined as an extra gun hoping for some easy cash, boy were you wrong

>the second day travelling through the wastes you stumbled into boar territory
>three of the hulking monsters attack while the others fled to a safe distance, one charged your way
>your group of five encircled the griffon 
>wanting to take the first shot you aim your crap sawed off and pulled the trigger
>it jammed
>as you struggled to open the barrel Ivan came up from behind you and nearly deafened you with his own boomstick
>the beast fell and kicked wildly before going still
>frantically cleaning your weapon of the residue you hear Ivan say something, probably scolding you
>that's what you get for taking a gun off a bandit

>a few emissions later and the path was blocked, it took two days to figure a way around
>you also had to enter the forest to your disdain and encounter a pack pseudodgogs
>Dimitri was lost in the first night, he had panicked and ran away from the group
>you saw two dogs chase after him in the firelight
>he wasn't seen again
>after an uneasy night in the trees the group moved quicker 
>Cutting through the forest along a more dangerous path saved you some daylight
>everything was fine until you reached the edge
>the dogs literally came out of nowhere
>The griffon took to the air without a word
>out in the grasslands again everyone fired with more confidence
>you resorted to your 9mm
>it looked like the whole forest was out to get you
>nobody paid attention to the griffon, not after the first few pseudodogs dissapeared into ethereal mist
>everyone came to the realization of a psydogs and became edgier
>desperate potshots and frenzied automatic fire filled the air
>without realizing it a member of your group got singled out
>you only noticed when you saw one of the dogs make a beeline for him
>pulling back the hammer on your gun and taking aim you only registered an empty click 
>digging the shotgun out of your pack you try again
>aiming down the sights you trace the dog until it jumps
>suddenly a large mass of feathers and claws swooped out of the sky and tackled it
>the two came rolling in a tangled ball right up to you
>you were treated to the killing blow up close as the griffon used her beak to pierce the dogs skull
>half the creatures disappeared instantly from the field
>giving you a cold stare as she came back up 
>you awkwardly lower the weapon you unconsciously aimed at her
>turning around she took a deep breath and let out a thunderous roar
>the rest of the dogs dissapeared but one remained
>it stumbled about stunned and disoriented until the whole company opened up on it
>they didn't stop until all that was left was a bloody pulp
>Ivan strolled up to her with a big grin on his face
>"Cheeki breeki iv damke. We could use a guerilla like you."

>now you were staring across the fire at her eating a can of meat
>she hardly noticed you, or anyone else for that matter
>Ivan had taken to calling her Guerilla, or Gilly for short
>he was the only one who could get a word out of her
>regardless of the past week's events you were safe at the clear sky camp
>your pocket was lined with money and you had a warm meal sitting in your belly
>laying back on your mat you look up at the stars
"How do you like that? Clear sky."



>The ground shook beneath as you snapped awaked
>You barely have time to register figures running around you before-
>Boom!
>The world is a swirling mess around you as pick yourself up 
>You hear a warped whistle overhead as you fall back down
>DOOOM!!
>The shockwave from the explosions knocks your hoody off
>Bewildered a strange force overturns you and a familiar beaked face frowns down on you
>"wake up"
>You force yourself to blink trying to do just that
>"DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME!!"
>You push her off as you take another look around
>Stalkers were either dead, dying, or fighting back against the enemy
>Exactly who it was became clear when a helicopter flew overhead and rained fire on the supply shed
>Sharp clawed hands dug into your shoulder 
>Snatching your pack you follow behind her
>"Come on! We have to find Ivan!"
>Your legs moved swiftly from years of experience
>One of the scientists came flying out of his window holding a covered object
>"Stalker!"
>He called out to you from behind his laboratory, over an open stretch of road
>Looking from the griffon to the scientist you take the stupid chance to run over to him
>Artifacts were valuable after all
>As you run several cracks sound at your feet but thankfully nothing hits you
>You dive towards him at the last second
>Not wasting any time he shoves object into your pack
>"Take it! Far away from here! Go to Freedom Base, my friend Anatoly will help you! GO!"
>The man of science pulls a gun from his holster and makes a break for the swamps
>He's not so fortunate as you as he is gunned down before he even makes it to the fence
>Cursing another day in the zone you adjust your pack and ready your 9mm
>A quick peek reveals two soldiers who immediately open fire on you
>Splinters sting your face as the bullets split the wood with ease
>Gritting your teeth you kneel down and try to defend yourself
>"Here's a grenade for you fuckers!"
>Ivan's voice sounded like an angel to your ears
>As promised a grenade landed at their feet and they ran back for cover
>Taking the chance you run back to the other side of the street to join his crew
>As the grenade explodes you feel a hard impact followed sharp pain in your shoulders 
>You close your eyes in agony and open your mouth in a silent scream, another thing the zone taught you
>For a moment you're sure that grenade was closer than you thought
>But as the pain got worse you realize your feet are no longer touching the ground
>"Damn, you're heavier than you look!"
>Kicking your feet uselessly you open your eyes again and find yourself disoriented once again as the ground continues to disappear
>You spot Ivan on the ground coming out of cover and take a bullet
>Struggling painfully you witness the military take the camp with overwhelming numbers
>The last thing you see is Ivan twisting on the ground before the mists swallow them from your sight

>Setting down atop an abandoned watchtower Gilly catches her breath as you nurse your talon wounds
"Ouch, oof. You have sharp claws."
>Gilly pounces on you nearly knocking you both off the roof
>Your head and shoulders over the edge as it is
>"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
>She shakes so hard you become lightheaded
"W-what are you saying? I didn't do anything."
>Again Gilly becomes violent with you and tosses you behind her
>"Why did you stay behind? Ivan's dead because of you!"
>Shaking your head your mind goes back there
"N-No!"
>"You killed him!"
>Gilly unfurls her wings and stands on her hind legs, claws at the ready
>"I'm going to make you pay!"
>You hold out your hands desperate to make a plea with the vicious griffon
"No, wait. He's not dead!"
>"You're lying!"
"No, i saw him moving. After he got shot, i saw him get surrounded."
>"And?"
>You lower your gaze
"I don't know."
>"You don't know!?"
>Gilly started to come down on you
"No, but wait! He was alive, a-and they didn't shoot him. At least i didn't hear any shots."
>That wasn't helping, Gilly still had that look you saw on her face the other day
"No, I'm sure he's alive. I mean, the reason i went back was for this."
>You nervously unshoulder your pack and pull out the wrapped object
>Your shaky hands force you to drop the artifact as you present it
>A hard clang sounds as the orange crystal hits the tin roof and rolls away
>Gilly jumps after it spreading her wings
>Unknown to you she catches it just before it reaches the ground
>You swallow hard wondering if you should look over the edge when she zooms back up and lands in front of you
>Her beaked face inches from yours
>"You went back for this?"
"Yeah, but i didn't know what it was. That's the same artifact you had with you when Ivan found you right?"
>She doesn't reply but gazes into the crystal ball
"Listen...I'm sorry for what happened. Ivan was a good man, and you're right, it's my fault he got hurt."
>Gilly glares at you
"But, but...i don't think he's dead. The military came for us for a reason, and i bet that artifact is the reason why."
>Gilly took a deep breath and responded more calmly
>"How do you know?"
"Because, the scientist that gave it to me told me to take it to Freedom Base. He said a friend of his would help us, he wouldn't have said that if he didn't think it was important."
>"I thought all artifacts were important to those brainiacs."
"Yes, but until now the military hasn't set foot in the zone besides to set up a camp. And they've never outright attacked a faction in their own hometurf."
>Gilly shook her head becoming agitated
>"So what? How do you know Ivan's not dead!?"
>You hold up your hands premeditavely
"Uh, i don't think he's dead because he knows you. He's the one that brought back the artifact, and you. If the military really wants that artifact, they're going to need him alive to find it."
>"You sure about that?"
>You nod
"Yes, they've done it before when looking for deserters. They'll strike up a deal with a STALKER if they know they need help."
>Gilly looked at the crystal then stared back at you
>"What if i don't believe you?"
>You reeled your head back in fear
"Y-you'll still need to get to Freedom. If i'm wrong and Ivan's dead, they'll still be looking for you and that."
>Gilly stuffed the crystal in your pack and held it close to her chest as she spread her wings again
"Wait! You can't go alone!"
>"Why not?"
"Because you don't know where it is."
>"Big whoop, I can fly remember? I'll find it eventually."
"Not if the military finds you first. They have helicopters and they always use them."
>A faint thumping sound was heard in the distance confirming your statement
"They're already looking. If i take you there, walking through the zone, we can hid a lot easier than you could in the sky."
>"Hmph, i don't need your help."
"Yes, you do. Nobody knows how the zone works, not even veterans like Ivan. We don't know if you'll run into an anomaly up there either, and the emissions also. You'll need shelter from the radiation when they hit."
>The thumping came louder this time
>Gilly scrunched up your pack before giving up 
>"Fine. Ivan told me to look after you anyway."
"He did?"
>"Why do you think you're alive?"

>The thick early morning swamp mist allowed you to move quickly and safely
>The trails were clear of any bandits and the creatures seemed to still be sleeping
>You reached the Machine Yard come mid-morning, seemingly clear of danger
>You wander around the yard a bit expecting to run into Clear Sky members
>Or maybe Renegades
>Your hand instinctively reaches for your holster, but only and empty wind blows through the structures
>A rusty creaking can be heard somewhere on the grounds, but besides that all is quiet
>Breathing a sigh contempt you decide you're safe enough
>Looking back for the first time in nearly four hours you see the same empty wasteland you always have
>Except for some movement at the far end all seemed quiet
>Feeling a pang of fear in the pit of your stomach you pull out your binoculars to have a look
>"They just found our trail."
>Gilly had spoken before you even raised them to your eyes
>"The watchtower we came from, there's a couple soldiers at the bottom."
>You peek through your visor just to make sure
>After a few seconds of scanning the horizon you finally spot them
>They were too far away, even for the optics to pick up what they were doing
"I'm guessing they're going to call it in, a full search party will be looking for us before nightfall."
>"Then let's keep moving."
>Gilly's voice seemed far away
>Dropping the binoculars you find her walking halfway across the yard 
>Cursing silently you store the binoculars again and rush after her
>You at least wanted to check up on the stash you had nearby
>A murder of crows flew up from the fields below as you caught up with Gilly
>You speak in a hushed tone 
"Wait."
>A dull beep makes you reach into your pocket
>Several other PDA's were popping up ahead
>Turning yours off you grab hold of Gilly's wing and drag her behind you
>"Let go of me you-"
"Shh. Quiet, we got company."

>Black and Red clad stalkers emerge from the tall grass and enter the yard, some just hopped over the broken fence
>They walk in like they own the place
>Gilly is crouched beside you
>The both of you took refuge in the loft of the nearest building
>You watched from a crack in the roof as they walked away and towards Clear Sky
>You didn't dare speak
>"who are they?"
>Gilly on the other hand didn't know any better, but at least she had the presence of mind to whisper
>You raise a finger to your lips
>A voice came up behind you
>"Hey look at all these goodies I found!"
>You cursed silently, they had found your stash
>Another voice rose up from the yard asking him what it was
>"It's an SMG and a couple of cans of food. Hey! There's even two grenades here!"
>"We're soldiers not thieves. Leave it for the poor soul to come back."
>"Hey, you're a soldier but I'm a mercenary. Besides what if he doesn't come back? It would sure be a waste."
>"I said no. But on second thought bring the grenades and ammo at least, the military might be stingy with supplies."
>You hear a metallic clang as the door on your powerbox stash is closed
>At least they left you the food, and maybe even the smg
>You felt a twinge a hope before you saw the mercenary walk by with a can in his hand
>Before you could drool over your lost treasure a shockwave hits the area
>"EMISSION! FIND COVER!"
>Duty troops rushed the building you were hiding in
>You couldn't chance one of them spotting you
"Gilly, run."
>You jump down from your hiding place and roll when you hit the ground
>Several Duty members jump in surprise as you land 
>Looking up over your shoulder you still see the Griffon in the loft and wave at her 
>"Come on!"
>One of the duty men calls out to you
>"No, wait! You'll be killed!"
>The man ran inside as Gilly landed behind you
>Several other brave men went back outside to watch you run away
>"Come back Stalker! We have an emission!"
>Gilly floated next to you 
>"Where are we going?
>You spoke between breaths as you pumped your legs 
"A farmstead...just north...renegades. I don't think they'll mind."
>Ahead of you the sky began to catch fire 
>You ran as quickly as your legs could carry with Gilly at your side
>A sudden quake made you stumble and fall over yourself
>Gilly too took a spill and dropped her artifact
>The world became red and you knew you had run out of time
"Gilly! Gilly you have to fly to that farm! Save yourself!"
>Gilly looked at you scared and confused
"GO!"
>Gilly took off without another word 
>She must've known you'd be fine
>The last blowout caught you all outside as well, it was you who led everyone to safety
>You produced a bottle of Vodka from your pack and started downing it
>As you walked towards the nearest pond you nearly trip over the artifact
>Not wanting to leave it behind you bend over in a semi drunken stupor to retrieve it
>You held it up to the sun to inspect more closely
>Through hazy eyes you see Gilly just reaching the farmhouse and diving inside an attic window just before the emission hit
>You yourself jump into the nearest lake to avoid the worst from the attack
>The bottle never leaving your lips
>You watch it wash over your radioactive pool as the heat from the water comforts you
>As the bottle empties you continue to hold your breath
>Just another day in the zone



>You emerged after you were sure the emission had passed
>Unfortunately for you it hadn't
>The amount of alcohol you had taken to the head dulled the pain in your brain though
>Enough to the point that you didn't immediately black out
>Whatever the matter if you didn't move now you'd die of radiation poisoning before you went crazy
>Stumbling onto the muddy bank you craw back onto the path, you blink once and find yourself in front of the farm
>Your groggy, addled mind can't comprehend the time skip 
>All this seemed fine to you, even the renegades passing by seem natural
>Their moaning and wailing left you all too soon and you really only noticed when you bumped into a wall
>A flurry of feathers enravel you before you wake up for the second time that morning
>Someone called your name
>Opening your eyes only serves to drive a sharp pain through your head, temple to temple
>You close them again and offer another silent scream accompanied by an abated breath 
>You press your hands against your head hoping to counteract the headache
>Rough talons wrap around your own hands and squeeze slightly
>It helps get you together enough to take a peek at your helper
>Gilly breaks her usually cool demeanor by seeming worried
>"Are you okay?"
>You grit your teeth and try to nod
>Gilly backs away from you as the pain begins to dull 
>Staring at the floor you find the softball sized artifact between your legs
>Secretly you were happy you didn't let go of it
>Even if it meant your life, which it usually did, you wanted to resell it to Freedom
>Your sopping wet clothes were the next thing to draw your attention
"Stand back Gilly, I am beings of radioactive."
>Vodka brought out the Slav in you
>"What do you mean?"
"Lookit."
>You reach out with your PDA and show her the Geiger counter
>She peers into it 
>"Look at what?"
>You wave it around drunkenly and present it to her again
>"There's nothing there."
>Feeling pissed off you bring it up to your face to read it
>A drunk man reading radiation measurements to a griffon, nothing could go wrong there
>AHA! Just as thought, it read nothing
>No radiation in the present area
>You smile stupidly as you tap it
>Your smile is wiped away as another wave of pain washes away
>Sure you were drunk, but you never misread the geiger counter
>Hell half the times you read it you were already drunk
>So why now?
>"You're not radioactive. Wouldn't that thing be clicking if you were?"
>You waved it all over your body but  again registered nothing
"How is this of happening?"
>"I don't know, but we better keep moving."
>Gilly turned for the door but stopped
>"The, uh, "blowout"? It should be over now, r-right?"
>You stare at the counter until you hear faint shots being fired
>"That should be them. I saw them leaving for that other place before you came in."
>Snapping out of your confusion you pick up the artifact and run for the door in a drunken stupor
"Da, blowout is over now. We move, to Agororoprom."
>Coming out the back of the building you rush for the railroad tracks
>"Wait for me you idiot. Where are we going?"
"Agrapronom. Agara-Agro. We are movings to research institute and base of Duty."
>"I thought they were the enemy!?"
>You trip as you reach the base of the hill and start clambering up the side
"But Duty is of leavings their base. Must be working with military's to kill us both. Do not worry, Stalker base is also nearby. They can be of helping."
>Reaching the summit you struggle with the barbed wire while Gilly soars overhead
>Looking back as jump over you find the Machine yard under siege, both of them
>You rub your eyes and look away for fear of going crosseyed
>"Is the Freedom base nearby too?"
>You wait until roll unwittingly to the bottom of the hill to respond
>"Oof! Freedom is not nearby, but next to garbage. Garbage is on the main road, the military will pass through. We go through Agoroprom, get help, then we move behind garbage in hidings of the military. Then we reach the Dark Valley, and Freedom. FREEDOM!!!"
>You scream the word at the top of your lungs for no apparent reason other than Vodka
>"Will you keep it down!? Why'd you drink that stuff anyways?"
"For kuring of radiation."
>"But you're not radioactive."
>You stop in your tracks before entering the woods
>The exercise helped you clear your head a bit
>And now that you thought about it, it really didn't make any sense
>Vodka cleans radiation from the body, but certainly not clothes
>The only other explanation would be an artifact protecting you
>It suddenly clicks in your head and you pull out the crystal from your pocket
>Looking at it through blurry, semi sober eyes you definitely saw a faint glow it didn't have before
>But what did you know? You were drunk
>Still you peered at it incessantly until Gilly floated back to you again and snatched up her artifact, hovering in midair
>"I'll carry this if it keeps you moving, Stalker."
>She flew ahead again forcing you to jog to catch up to her
>You've seen anti radiation artifacts before so it wasn't too surprising
>Still none of them were crystallized
>You put the notion out of your head, you needed what little brainpower you had to find your way to Agroprom

>Coming out on the other side you spot the walls of the institute far off in the distance
>The biggest problem you had in the forest was a pack of blind dogs
>They were dispatched quickly by Gilly who said she wanted to keep in hunting shape
>There were no quarrels with you
>Just as you thought, as you approached the facility it lay barren in your path
>The plains around it were completely silent
"Here is where we tread careful. The underground was cleared recently but that only means more mutants will kome."
>"Underground?"
>You point to the hills
"Tunnels and bunkers, built by Soviet cold war dickheads of great glory and poor thinkings."
>You motion Gilly to keep moving, the Stalker base seemed busy as usual
"Tunnels stretch underground, pop up everywhere, and that is why mutants are everywhere."
>Gilly scanned the area 
"No mutants now, the kome later...maybe tonight."
>"When were the tunnels cleared?"
>You scratch your greasy matted hair
"Perhaps one, no two. Yes, two days before we met. Duty pays well."
>Gilly went silent for ten full meters
>"What do you mean they pay well?"
>Her feathers, along with her fur began to ruffle up and her wings spread out a bit
"They were not of wanting to lose any of their boys, so they pay me and couple other crazy stalkers for to do their dirty work."
>You shake your head
"Not easy work. Two men die but three men live, they still pay us the same. No bigger cut like promised."
>You spit on the ground
>"I do not like being cheated, but at least i get job."
>Gilly paused behind you
>"You worked for Duty? You said they were the enemy!"
>You stop only when your drunken mind notices her absence
>Turning you spot her in attack mode
"Gilly, in the zone enemy means whoever is wanting to kill you. Not all the time, just sometimes. Now is one of those times."
>Gilly calms down when she hears you explanation
>"So then, are the stalkers..?"
"Nyet. Stalkers only enemy with Bandits, lazy punks steal from others for not wanting of job. Come, we are almost home."
>You walk ahead expecting to hear her footfalls and maybe a bit of grumbling
>That's not the case as approach two nervous looking guards
>Gilly watches you talk them into lowering their weapons
>Making some hand gestures she collects that you shared information about the artifact
>She gripped it tightly in her claws
>Finally one of them nods his head in approval and you motion for her to come over
>You watch as Gilly approaches slowly, almost awkwardly, towards your location
>The guards are equally as uneasy 
>You understood their disposition
>Gilly was a large creature after all
>Her head came to chest level and was tipped with a beak you knew to be deadly
>Each of her 'hands' could easily wrap around a human head and tipped razor sharp talons
>And not that you thought of her as heavy but her lion body was almost certainly more than 100 kilos
>Yes, Gilly was a dangerous creature from the zone, anybody would be wary of her
>She stared coldly at the three of you as she reached you, not saying a word
>An eerily clear memory rushed your mind as you remembered the day you met her a week ago
>She didn't want to speak then either
"Uh. Ah. Fellas, this is my favorite creature of the zone. She's a griffon, i don't know her name, but she lets me call her Gilly."
>The guard looked at you funny
>"She lets you call her?"
"Yeah?"
>The other guard chimed in
>"How do you know it's a she?"
>"Shut up Igorov. Are you saying she can talk?"
"Yes. Right Gilly?"
>You turn to her but she only stares back
>Laughing it off you face the guard again
"She's a little shy. But listen guys, I'd love to stay and chat but Duty is all over my ass right now. Is general Krylov here?"
>"Sure, he is upstairs as usual. But what is happening with Duty? They just up and left this morning."
"I'll tell you later, after i talk with the general, if he doesn't tell you himself. But Clear Sky camp is gone."
>"What do you mean? Did the Renegades finally win?"
>You shook your head
"This was the military."
>"But the military doesn't move into the zone. They even abandoned their warehouses."
"That's why i want to talk to Krylov."
>"Then quit wasting your time here Stalker, get moving."
>The guard motioned you inside
>You made sure to have a hand around Gilly's shoulder to let others know she was harmless, mostly
>Either way you still garnered the attention of every pair of eyes around you


>Back at the door the two guards were talking amongst themselves
>"What do you mean is she a she?"
>"I just wanted to make sure."
>"Why?"
>"Trachenko, it's been five years since i've been with a woman."
>"So you want to have sex with a creature from the zone!?"
>"What!? No! That's disgusting! Come on, man!"
>"Well then?"
>The guard shrugged
>"I just wanted to hear a girl's voice. That's all."



>"So, the military is finally making it's move. To think it took them this long."
>The general looked out the window at a rapidly darkening sky
>"It will rain before too long."
>You and Gilly sat at his desk enjoying your first meal of the day
>Sausages, cheese, and bread. A Stalker's delight
>Krylov insisted you gorged yourselves as he proclaimed you would have a long journey ahead of you
>An old wiry man in a lab coat entered the room
>"Anatoly? How is it coming?"
>The old man beamed at the question
>"Marvelous! I've never seen anything like it! Come, come."
>Gilly shovels down her food and follows behind Krylov with you in tow
>You carried your food intent on enjoying it
>Anatoly had set up the artifact in a sort of containment sphere with various bulbs and coils sticking up around it
>Several wires led to an outdated computer running some sort of simulation
>Three graphs in dimming green light on the screen seemed to measure distinct measurements 
>Gilly looked at the container apprehensively
>"Now, we all know the artifact absorbs radiation. What is astounding is how it neutralizes the radiation. Here..."
>He pointed to a seemingly straight line that hardly wavered
"This is the amount of radiation it absorbed from the pool you jumped in. As you can see it barely registers as a reading."
>Krylov studied the line
>"You're saying it has room for much more correct?"
>"Exactly! Those pools have enough concentrated radiation to kill a man in a matter of seconds, but to this artifact it is hardly anything. Now see here?"
>Again he pointed at a line that vibrated constantly and produced the occasional bump
>"This is the energy output of the artifact."
"Energy output?"
>The scientists smiled brightly 
>"Yes! This artifact is converting the active half-life of the radiation into pure energy!"
>"How doctor?"
>"I have no idea!"
>He laughed heartily as you pointed at the third graph
"What's that one?"
>His grin faded slowly when you mentioned it
"Well, that is the one small problem with the artifact."
>The third graph spiked wildly every 3 seconds or so
>"How shall i put this? Because of the energy output the artifact also creates a weak radio signal, the less energy it produces the weaker the signal. Think of it as a sort of beacon that anyone can hone in on with the right equipment."
>Krylov frowned
>"I imagine the military has such equipment."
>The doctor turned off the computer and disconnected the container
>"I would imagine so, but as it stands now the signal is too weak for anyone outside this room to detect it."
>Both you and Krylov breathe a sigh of relief
>"Young man, did Mikhail tell you anything else about this artifact? Any detail would be helpful"
>You shake your head no
>"He just shoved it in my hand and told me to come to you. He died two seconds later."
>You pull out the rag he gave you and spread it before you
>It looked like an old stained labcoat torn half to shit
"He wrapped it in this and told me to talk to you. Sorry doc."
>Anatoly stopped unplugging cables to look at you
>"What is that?"
>He stretched his hand out to the breast pocket when a Krylov's radio burst to life
>"General, the army has been spotted moving out of the swamp, they're headed down the main road towards the garbage."
>"This is Krylov, acknowledged. Stay out of sight. Well Stalker, it sounds like your friends are dying to catch up with you and your little songbird."
>Gilly turns her eyes to Krylov then immeditately lowers her head
>Her feathers ruffle a bit in what you think is the griffon equivalent of a blush
>Still her sight turns back to the containment sphere sitting on the scientist's desk
>"Doctor, return the artifact. We have no need for it."
"Whoa, wait. What are you saying?"
>You nearly choke on the food in your mouth as you speak
>"What I am saying is, i don't want that troublesome thing in my base. Take it somewhere else, bury it, i don't care what you do with it, just get it away from my men."
"Hold on. What about a reward? I almost died twice getting this thing here."
>"Is money all you think about Stalker?"
>Krylov spoke as the scientist tentatively handed back the artifact, enclosed in the sphere, to Gilly
"Well...no...but..."
>"Even if i wanted to pay you I don't think you'd be able to get it away from her."
>Following his gaze you found Gilly staring daggers at you
>Reeling from her voiceless threat you find yourself take a step back
>You already knew she'd have no problem dismembering you
"...Fine. I won't ask for any money. But, well, you were fine with it the first time they took it away from you!"
>Gilly maintained her cold stare
>"I am afraid i may be to blame for that little misunderstanding. You see Mikhail was only, er, renting the artifact from your friend. He communicated with me and we talked about passing it back and forth, for research purposes of course."
>Anatoly sighed before he turned around and opened a locker to pull out a pair of yellow lead pajamas
>He continued to speak as he put them on
>"However the situation is different now. The military has caught wind of his first notes on the artifact, again it was most likely my fault. I insisted that we communicate via a CB radio last night, how foolish i acted. I intend to make good for my faults though as i will accompany you to the center of the zone."
"What? The center? Why?"
>"There is a mobile research lab in yantar. Another colleague of mine is there, no doubt he will want to investigate this matter a little further."
>You were just about to open your mouth in protest when he held up a finger
>"Before you say anything Stalker, I will pay you for your services. Double, in fact, for your troubles getting here. I assume that is alright with you?"
"Can you pay 8,000 rubles so easily?"
>The doctor cinched his body suit up
>"Of course, we are a big organization. But only if we leave now."
"No problem. Gilly, we move."

>Outside you load up your sawn off shotgun and pray it doesn't jam anymore
>Your party was just leaving the base when Krylov stopped you
>"Stalker, wait up."
>He handed you a Molle belt with a noticeably large pouched attached
>"For your friend, to help her carry her burdens."
"Thank you general."
>"Is that all you're carrying?"
>You turn the weapon in your hand
"I lost my rifle in the woods. Bloodsucker scared the shit out of me."
>Krylov nodded in understanding
>"Well, it won't do."
>He looked between the two guards guarding the entrance 
>"You two, go with the Stalker and provide him protection."
>"But sir, what about the military? We want to help protect the base just in case."
>Krylov put his hand on the guards shoulder
>"This is a more important mission. Besides we've put out an APB for all Stalkers in the area to convene on our location. We will have enough arms to defend ourselves if necessary."
>The two guards looked at each other and shrugged.
>"Yes, sir."
>Thunder rolled over the fields around you
>"Go, now. The storm will offer cover for you."

What the hell were you doing here anyway? I thought your lab was set up in Freedom?
>"Oh, the Stalkers have started to bring in more artifacts in the past few days."
You mean about a week ago?
>"Yes, though not all of them have a friendly status with Freedom so i decided to move in with them."
>Trachenko shouldered his weapon as a flock of crows scattered ahead
>Oleg, the second guard, took a bolt out of his pocket and tossed it as hard as he could 
>You watched it toss and tumble and then finally shoot off in a random direction as the air rejected it
>Oleg spat on the ground
>"That anomaly wasn't there before. This whole area should've been clean
>A loud thunderclap exploded above you sending Gilly into your arms
>Her talons wrap around your neck and dig into your shoulder
>Gilly's eyes narrow and turn up to the rapidly darkening sky
>The clouds had gathered and thickened in the time since you left the Stalkers' base
>Now a powerful wind began to blow from the west shaking leaves from the trees and sending waves across the long grass in the fields around you
>The sun's rays were a fading memory as they attempted to wrap around the thunderhead
>Gilly was heavier than you thought and you were losing your grip
>You clear throat softly 
>Her gaze falls on you quickly
>You catch a hint of fright on her face before she leaps off, purposely pushing off harder than she had to
>She turned away from you as a smile creeps onto your face
>None of the others noticed
>They were too busy arguing which way would be best to go, they were practically screaming in each other's face
>It was hard to hear over the howling wind
>Trachenko and Anatoly were pushing for Yantar
>We're going to need help from people with guns! Not labcoats! The military is after us!
>Trachenko shot his hand out north
>"If we get to Yantar on time they won't be able to follow us in the rain! Our tracks will be wiped out!"
>"I must agree with Trachenko, we have to get the artifact somewhere safe."
>You decide to throw in your two rubles worth
"That won't matter doctor!"
>You point towards the garbage
"Freedom is the only one that can help us now! If we move to Yantar now we'll be caught out in the open, with no backup and no other option but to fight!"
>You wave Gilly over who reluctantly obeys
>"We have the artifact with us! And the military knows it! But if we go towards Freedom, they'll have to go through the bandits base to get to us and then face off against Freedom! That might buy us some time because they're going to have to gear up for a fight!"
>You look at Gilly
"What do you say? Want to go to Freedom?"
>Gilly glared silently at all the faces looking at her
>Thunder rolled over the plains and she looked back at the sky
>Lightning webbed itself among the clouds like a great skeletal hand 
>She looked back down to you and swished her tail nervously as she nodded
"Good. It's three against two! We move to Freedom."
>"We won't make it in time! The storm will catch us before we get Freedom! In case you've forgotten storms in the zone are a little deadlier than back home!"
"We might not make it Freedom, but we'll at least reach the Flea market! That's good enough!" 
>Gilly immediately started on her way, you only noticed when her tail brushed against your leg
>Reaching out, out of instinct, you grab her by the belt and pull her back
"Wait!"
>Gilly swiped at your hand 
>Surprised and a little shocked you let go and fall backwards on your ass
>Gilly stared you down
>Oleg came to your defense
>"Listen, uh, Gi-Lee? Why don't you let us lead!? It'll be safer for everyone!"

>All too often the blown out building offered more than just guidance and reprieve for the weary traveler
>The flea market stood as a monolith at gullet of the zone
>Those who wished to exchange their goods for fair prices met here before moving on either way
>It was a place to lighten your burden, and perhaps even your mood
>Even now its beckoning call offered you a bit of relief 
>The rain had begun as a torrent and did not let up
>Occasionally the lightning blinded you all and forced the world to disappear around you
>None of you could see farther than a few meters in the near white out
>Gilly propped her wings over her head to cover herself
>Anatoly too had pulled over the full face visor of his suit, though since it fogged up he had to hold onto Oleg's shoulder
>The rest of you Stalkers just had to just grin and bear it
>Except for Trachenko, he was wearing a face mask, so maybe he was frowning
>Still you had all made it, with the howling wind at your back you made it before the worst of the storm hit
>Oleg tapped your shoulder 
>"Don't forget to introduce your friend! I'll spread the word!"
>He and the doctor went ahead, Trachenko stayed at your side
>You shout her name but a thunderbolt crashed a few dozen meters away drowning you out
>Again Gilly jumped in your general direction but missed you and instead knocked against Trachenko's knees
>She folded her wings and looked up at him with wild eyes
>Her once proud tuft of neck feathers were soaked and clung to her skin in pitiful clumps 
>You swore you heard him chuckle but in the rain who knew what was going on
>Trying to reach out to her again seemed like a bad idea so instead you step into view, next to Trachenko
"We're here! Let's get inside and out of this rain huh!?"
>Gilly looked between the two of you and walked over to your side
>She gave you a sneer but waited for you to accompany her inside
>It struck you that she acted the same way around Ivan
>"Okay! Let's go!"
>Trachenko laughed one more time before walking ahead of you two


>A few moments later you found yourself hunkered down and cozied up next to Gillie
>For warmth of course
>Even though you and Oleg explained that she was essentially harmless the others still left you alone
>Some had even decided to go down into the leaky basement claiming to want to sleep even though the evening was
just coming on
>At least that was what the clock said
>All around you impenetrable darkness cloaked the zone
>The fire in the corner could only do so much to keep the immediate vicinity lit
>Lightning helped give everyone a quick glimpse of the surrounding area 
>Each time afforded the group a mixture of fear and relief
>Though uncommon, Bloodsuckers would often be seen around the garbage
>When the next flash assures your safety you take the time to inspect your new pre-owned rifle
>You had carried one of these before, the AS Val, it was really accurate and quiet
>Then you ran out of ammo and had to do without
>It wasn't as great as an AK, and you had to shell out for it, but it would do its job well enough 
>Another invisible bolt struck nearby and illuminated the hills
>By the sound of it the lightning had struck real close by
>Your ears were still ringing when you noticed a pain in your lower thigh
>The dim light was enough for you to spot Gilly's yellow talons digging into your skin
>One of her claws raked your knee pad and brought her to your attention
>She was quick to remove her 'hand' in a huff 
>Gilly faced off in a new direction to avoid your gaze
>Though the light was flickering you could see she was shaking, again
>You felt her shake that morning as well when you introduced her to the Stalkers
>The walls of the market blocked the worst of the storm but a few drops of rain still managed to wrap their way
around towards its inhabitants
>Gilly did her best to shake off the water earlier but she wasn't any drier
>Making up your mind you set your gun off to one side and stand up
>Two seconds later you're draping your jacket over her shoulders 
>She doesn't resist but casts an accusatory glance your way
>Taking it in stride you pull out the old lab coat from your pack and put it on
>It was dirty and stinky, but it was dry
>Across from you the other Stalkers began whispering to each other 
>Some didn't even hide the fact they were talking about you as they pointed your way
>Gilly pulled the jacket tighter around herself
>A few chuckles were had, money exchanged hands, and even a few dirty looks
>But soon after the excitement died down and everyone was back to their grim stalemate with the zone
>The pain in your leg was gone but you rubbed it just feel the holes she left in your pants
>Mysteriously Gilly rests her tail's tassel on the back of your hand
>You barely hear her
>"Sorry about that..."
>She wasn't even looking at you
"N-Not like it hurt or anything."
>You settle back against the rubble to try and get some sleep

>The day's events had left you drained
>That much was evident when you woke up feeling tired 
>A fond warmth caressed your shoulder and you found Gilly leaning her head on you
>You felt it would be prudent to move now while you had the time and energy
>Sure it would be dangerous but you've done it before, and so have the others
>The rain had long since stopped, now only darkness and a strange quiet remained
>You had put in fresh batteries in your flashlight the night before
>Moving at night would be no problem
>In the distance you heard the storm rumbling
>The thunder grew to a crescendo as it reverberated in the hills around you before washing away to the Dark Valley
>You preferred to watch lightning dance in the sky than listening to thu-
>Boom! Boom! Boom!
>For a moment you question what you heard
>Your groggy mind must be playing tricks on you
>Again the thunder rumbles in the distance
>Again the crescendo grows but this time you notice something else
>Shadows move in the darkness that you hadn't noticed before 
>Boom! Boom! Boom!
>You sit up harshly waking Gilly from her dreams
>Across from you the other Stalkers point up at the sky
>"Hey, whad's da big deal?"
>Gilly yawns as you stand up and run over to them
"What's happening?"
>You ask as you turn your head upwards
>"Fire, Stalker. Fire in the sky."
>The rumble returns
>You run out the side of the dilapidated building with a group of soaked hulking bodies moving behind you to the closest slope
>Gilly watches you run and flies up to a jagged corner jutting out the roof
>Following your gaze she finds the source of the light
>Just like the old man said, fire in the sky

>Up in the air, three short range missiles flew over the terrain
>The fires that shot out of their ass shone brightly
>Shadows moved briskly beneath them as though they were moving out of the way
>After their short flight they began to sink until they reached their destination
>"Santa Susanna..."
>The Stalker Base erupted in flames
>Air raid sirens pined helplessly in the distance
>There was nothing anyone could do
>Buildings exploded, ejecting fire, brick, and mortar all over the people below
>Stalkers gallantly rushed to set up defensive positions only to be cut down by machine gunners and snipers
>More muffled explosions were heard and three more missiles were away
>You heard them zoom in even from this far away
>A gut wrenching roar that announced the firestorm
>"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
>"HEY! HEY! WHAT IS GOING ON!"
>The straggles from the basement came out to join the witnessing of the end
>Everything went quiet again and the darkness grew back thicker than before
>No one dared to make a sound as they held their breath
>Just when the first was about to walk away you heard it
>The defiant Rat-tat-tat of return fire
>Hope began to well up in your chest but the fight was over
>It was over before it began
>The last of the Stalkers was dead
>...
>"...Stalker?..Stalker! There you are!"
>Anatoly came by to shake you out of your daze
>"You were right Anon Stalker. I'm sorry i didn't believe you."
>A flurry of movement out the corner of your eye caught your attention more
>You spoke with confidence
>"We move, NOW. To the Dark Valley, and to Freedom."
>Oleg and Trachenko came up behind him
>"Yes, Stalker! If the Military wants a war, we'll give it to them! The Zone is our home! IF THEY WANT IT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IT!"
>Trachenko fired up the crowd causing them to lift their weapons over their heads and chant
>"Aroo! Aroo! Aroo!"
>Trachenko was right, a war had begun
>But not for the Zone, and not for your home
>You stared over at Gilly, she just stared straight back

>Somewhere across the zone a lone death truck crawled through the wilderness
>Its cargo no more dead than alive
>The Dark Valley was a long walk from the garbage and it was even longer at night
>The group at the flea market split off into different directions
>Those that wanted to live, those that wanted to fight, and those that wanted to live just long enough
>You were one such individual, dragging the scientist and your two guards behind you
>Gilly and her artifact were the reason why
>Some of the younger crowd opted out of fighting, they claimed to only want to risk their lives for artifacts
>Many of the others, including old war veterans agreed to head to the depot and alert the Stalkers there
>They promised to give the military a better fight than the one in Yantar
>Only four others followed you
>Mercenaries in employment of Freedom who needed to alert their own leader of the trouble
>The entire trip was touch and go from the start
>No moonlight meant no visibility, the military meant no flashlights, in the end you had to rely on Oleg and his mercenary counterpart's NVG's 
>Both of whom could not agree on a single thing all night, from where to go, to which weapon would attract less attention, and even which faction was strongest
>You were interested in the latter argument when a frantic scuttle in the undergrowth urged them to stop their bickering
>The truck squealed to a halt, everyone hopped out expecting a fight
>A blind dog turned out to be the culprit but nobody wanted to shoot it
>As it got closer you realize your weapon's unique ability and decide to use it
>Unfortunately not fast enough as Gilly hopped forward and split the animal's side open with her large claws
>Another instant kill for the griffon, she seemed to like coming out of nowhere
>Gilly gave you another icy stare again as the group marched on

>Back in the truck you look over at her sleeping form curled up on the truckbed
>Oleg, Trachenko and Anatoly across from you were also fast asleep
>You just happened to smack yourself awake against the cab when the truck jolted
>The way the military was advancing Chekhov decided it best for you and your group to borrow a truck of his and get a head start
>Dawn had broken already and the sun's position suggested you had awoken at midmorning
>Yawning and stretching you try to avoid waking Gilly
>"You awake?"
>Retracting quickly you wondered if you had accidentally nudged her
"Da, just now thanks to this shitty truck driver we got."
>Gilly sat up, not even bothering to stretch
>"I couldn't sleep a wink."
>She looked at you with bloodshot eyes
>"Just kept seeing those fireballs."
>Gilly took the seat next to you 
"I've never seen the military use missiles in the zone before. Things must be getting pretty serious."
>A warm humid wind blew through the loose canvas flaps and caressed your face
>Summer was coming to the zone, and to all of Russia as well
>Gilly shoved something into your arm
>"Take your coat back."
"Oh, sure."
>You let the coat rest on your thigh as you change out off the old moth eaten labcoat and throw it on the ground without a second thought
>You happily redress in your own heavy coat as Gilly reaches for the discarded one
>While she looks it over you sort through your pack looking for breakfast
>"Didn't that old guy say something about this coat?"
>You pull out an old plastic shopping bag wrapped around something warm
>Bringing up to your nose you take a deep whiff
>The entirety of Freedom's base smelled like a bakery earlier
>Not blind to the attack at Yantar, Chekhov ordered production of bread to go into overtime, for rations
>He gave you and the others some of the freshest loaves for your journey to the center
>"Hey dimwit I'm talking to you."
"Huh?"
>The old man stirred at her remark
>"You should pay more attention to your friend, Stalker."
>Gilly drew back into herself at the sound of his voice but made eye contact 
>Anatoly mustered a kind smile as he continued
>"That old bit of scrap has quite the story behind it."
>You open the bag and break the bread handing it to Gilly
"Oh, yeah. What kind of story? Like the kind we see from Hollywood, USA?"
>Gilly didn't take it
"Not hungry?"
>Gilly scolds you again but after your second offer takes the bread anyway
>"Actually Stalker, yes, it kind of is."
>Gilly takes one bite of the bread and grimaces
"Well is it or isn't it? What's so important about a dumb old piece of fabric?"
>Anatoly boldly reaches across from him to take the coat from Gilly
>She responds by increasing her grip on the collar of the thing and again Anatoly smiles
>"Come vnuchka, I won't hurt you."
>After a quick glimpse to you she lets go
>Anatoly turns the coat over in his hands until he finds what he's looking for
>"Yes, i thought he would. That old crow always enjoyed mystery novels..."
>As he gets lost in thought you take note of Gilly's sour expression
"Keep eating, it will keep you alive."
>Gilly doesn't change her expression but forces herself to keep going
"Well Doc? The suspense is killing me. Are you going to tell us what the big deal is or what?"
>Anatoly shows you the stitching on the breast pocket
>"Tell me something Stalker, have you ever heard of 3rd Energy?"

>"Several years ago a prominent scientist named Edward Kirk developed a new way of creating clean energy literally out of thin air
>He began work on it secretly after his supposed death on a secluded island with aid from the Borginian government in exchange for weaponizing his energy source
>However when tests were being conducted a rather unusual side effect was discovered when overloading the core energy source
>When stabilized at low power it could create an infinite amount of energy releasing ozone as a byproduct, at exponentially high power levels the effects were less subtle
>Depending on the energy output of the system two events could potentially unfold
>Either the core would create a chain reaction that disintegrates the air around it and result in a large explosion similar to a hydrogen bomb vaporizing everything around it
>Or, when substantially higher levels are achieved, it could create a massive geographical time shift wherein the resulting explosion would transfer its surroundings to a different point in time rather than reduce them to dust
>Edward Kirk and his team stumbled onto these results by mistake as they became too greedy for their own good
>The resulting time shift brought creatures from another time into our own and unfortunately into his compound 
>A task force was sent in to recover Kirk, apprehending both him and his research for use by their own government
>In the end the facility was destroyed along with the dinosaurs and any surviving scientist's
>Since then the name third energy is only whispered by those brave enough to dwell into the archives
>One such man exiled himself to the zone."
>Anatoly reached into the breast pocket and pulled out a name tag encased in yellowing plastic
>"That man became my friend."
>Finishing off the last bite you dust your hands off and lean forward
"Thanks for the story doc, but i don't see how a third energy is going to help us in the zone. If you haven't noticed we've got worse things here than some tooty fruity dinosaurs."
>You swear you heard a snicker from Gilly
>Anatoly stuffs the id tag into his pocket and pulls out a knife
>"You don't understand Stalker, what I'm saying is two government's are aware of the Third Energy. Only one has it."
>Anatoly began scraping off the stitching 
>"Borginia is just over the border from us, they lost their man, their money, and their research. What they do have is the zone. They have us, Stalker. And now they want your artifact."
>The truck rolled to a stop before you could respond
>The driver opened up the back window
>"Alright folks we're going to take a moment here to stretch our legs and wake up a bit."
"What's the problem?"
>"We're near the military warehouses..."
"So? Keep going, are you crazy?"
>"Let me finish. I said we're near the military warehouses but it sure as hell doesn't sound like it."
>He held up a ham radio and turned up the volume
>All you heard was static
>Anatoly shifted in his seat
>"What does this mean?"
>Shaking his head the driver dropped the radio in his lap
>"The military is never quiet, they always have chatter on so they sound busy. I think we better check it out."


>The old farm buildings, home to several burner anomaly's, stood a good distance away from the road but in a pinch it was good cover
>The air wavered with heat and a few embers loosed themselves every time a leaf or some poor insect wandered too close to them
>The road stood as empty as ever, desolate, but seemingly clear of danger
>Since the last emission though you wondered if that was true anymore
>Making your way carefully to the top of a nearby hill you cast your gaze to the warehouses hoping to see some activity around the compound
>There was none
>The fields too were devoid of mutants and stalkers alike
>Things were starting to get eerie
>Below you the Freedom members instinctively set up a haphazard perimeter around the truck while Anatoly and Oleg peered at a map
>Trachenko joined them only a moment later with his compass after he finished pissing
>"What are you looking for?"
>You start as you turn to find Gilly sitting beside you
>She didn't seem to notice
>"Well?"
>You take a breath pulling your finger away from the trigger
"I just wanted a look. See those buildings?"
>You point needlessly as you notice her studying them already
>"They're empty. Is that good?"
"...empty...?"
>"Yeah, i don't see anyone outside, or walking past the windows inside? Don't you stalkers usually have patrols?"
>Ivan told you she was good but you never saw for yourself
"Uh, yes. Freedom is usually stationed here, it's their main base. Are you sure there's no one here?"
>"Positive."
"Fuck. That is not good."
>Gilly swished her tail in wide deliberate arcs across the grass
>You could only guess she was pissed as well, and maybe like you a little bit scared
>Holding your breath you force yourself to calm down
>The road led right past the warehouses 
>If you were alone you might chance it, since you weren't you could only hope the others would agree to cut through the field
>Right as you were about to break the bad news to your companions Gilly nudged you
>"Down there."
>You do your best to follow her gaze 
>"Where exactly?"
>"By that old tree stump next to that pond
>You spot the pond and raise the rifle's scope to your eye 
>The only thing you managed to spot was movement heading into the bushes
"Shit, what did it look like? Two legs or four?"
>"Four..."
>You were back to panicking, but thankfully before you could even think to ask how many heads it had she continues
>"I think..."
"What do you mean?"
>She seemed a little freaked out
>"I mean, it used both."
"Could you tell if it was man or beast?"
>She shook her head no
>"It was covered in mud."
>You breathe deeply again and lower your rifle
"I wouldn't worry too much about it then, none of the mutants in the zone that I know of have eyes as sharp as yours."
>A cigarette was still called for you thought
>"But what was it?"
>You shrug as you light a half tattered Marlboro
"If it switched between four and two legs it was probably human at one point."
>Gilly's eyes went wide
>"It...was human?"
>Nodding your head you confirm your answer
"Some stalkers just run into bad luck."
>Gilly shot a look between you and the pond then back to you
>"That's not going to happen to you is it?"
>Concern riddle her voice
>Looking in her eyes youre about to explain the nuances that came with psi storms, emissions, fractures, and snorks when a commotion back at the truck catcher your attention
>The radio seemed to spark back to life in the Freedom merc's hand and Anatoly waved you back frantically
>This news seemed rather important, but not important enough to distract you from Gilly 
>Turning to her you assure her adamantly
"No, Gilly. That will NEVER happen to me."

>Radio chatter meant the military was trying to hide their true intentions
>”It looks like maybe they’re taking their time moving into the zone. They don’t know it like we do.”
>Oleg twisted the dial until the chatter faded into a murmur only barely audible over the wind
>”What does this mean? Has Duty abandoned them?”
>Anatoly clutched the hood of his suit around his neck as it started to drizzle again
>Oleg shook his head as he stared at the Freedom members
>Soft flashes of light pulsed in the distance as he spoke
>”Our friends here would’ve been called to action if that were the case, but no such thing has happened... yet.”
“Maybe it won’t happen at all.”
>You speak nodding over the hill
“Freedom has abandoned it’s base.”
>Two of the Freedom members pulled out their PDA’s and began searching through messages
>The other two went to climb the hill
>”There is nothing here about leaving.”
>”Maybe it was analog.”
>Anatoly couldn’t help but ask what he meant by analog
>”Freedom has a motorcycle they keep for running messages back and forth during emergencies so our enemies can’t eavesdrop on our communications. It’s very effective except when you’re not in the loop.”
>”Hey guys! What do you see!?”
>From up top the answer came short and quick
>”Nothing!”
>The wind started to pick up as they came rushing back down
>”Nobody’s home, I think they packed up and moved to our defensive position in the Dark Valley.”
>”Any mutants there?”
>”Usually its safe enough to walk through, but with this new batch of emissions I doubt it will be the same as before.”
>Thunder rumbled again as the drizzle turned into a steady rain
>The wind whipping it into your faces
>Trachenko threw his hands up into the air
>”Well let’s get moving then, it’s not like we’re going to get any drier just standing here.”
>The world flashed white and not a second later a deafening crash nearly blew out your eardrums
“Fuck that shit! Let’s move to that farm up there!”
>You felt a familiar sting in your leg and you reached out to wrap your arm around her neck
>Gilly’s wings were doing a good job of catching the wind and nearly lifting her off the ground
>Letting go of her neck you half hug has squeeze her as best you can before you were both tossed around like rag dolls
>Trachenko led the way slipping his way up the steep muddy hill before giving up and started to crawl on his hands and knees 
>His fingers clawing at the dirt leaving deep gouges in the soft mud
>You passed him with relative ease as Gilly helped to steady you 
>”STALKER!”
>Oleg tossed a rope bundle up to you before you even make it
>On reaching the top you sit down and wrap one end of the rope around your waist before tossing the rest down to your comrades
>Trachenko intercepted the rope and gave you a tug before seemingly being satisfied and tossing the rest behind him
>Gilly’s claws dig into your shoulders as the weight of the other men became a burden
>Your ass had already started to slide with just Trachenko pulling at you
>Speaking of which he patted you on the shoulder as he passed by and stared at the invisible anomaly in front of him
>He turned quickly and unceremoniously reached for your crotch
>”Stalker let me take over! You find us a way in!”
>You were surprised how loud he had to speak even though he was next to you
>It still took you a moment to understand as he freed you
>You figured he just wussed out until you turned around and saw for yourself
>The nearest burner was hardly visible sputtering steam just a few meters in
>”Go stalker! We will follow your footprints!”
>Lightning flashed from somewhere up above just as you mulled it over
>”Go stalker! Don’t worry about your friend! I will look after her!”
>You couldn’t see too well with all the rain but Gilly’s claws digging into your thigh was the only response you needed
>Again you wrap your arm around her and dig into your coat pocket for a bolt
>It was empty
>Thinking quick you reach into your pants for some old ammo you were left holding back at the flea market
>Pulling your hand out you find three old grime covered bullets
>Tossing one ahead of you only served to remind you how strong the wind was as it flew away to your right and set off a burner further down
“Fuck.”
This next time you position yourself into an awkward half crouch against the wind and throw the second bullet as hard as you can 
>It disappeared into the rain but set off another burner up aways and to your left
>Progress you hoped
>If your luck held you might pull off a decent path through the anomaly field with as little turns as possible
>One burner every three or so meters
>An anomaly field of roughly eight to ten meters in width
>You just might make it
>Squeezing her gently you urge Gilly forward 
>The ground beneath was sodden and water logged so that your boots sank with every footstep 
>Thankfully Gilly served as a ballast while keeping pace with you
>When you felt you had gone in as far as you could go safely you stop and again position yourself to throw the bullet into the wind
>Nothing happened
>”What do you think you’re doing!?”
>All thought had left your mind
>You had no idea how to respond
>Gilly tugged you leg but you paid her no attention
>What the hell were you going to do now?
>Gilly dug her claws into you finally gathering your attention
>”This way!”
>She nodded over to your right
“How do you know?”
>Tugging your leg until you turned fully in her direction she said
>”It doesn’t feel as hot.”
>Gilly lead you a meter or so into the new direction and stopped
>”Now left!”
>You turn again nearly toppling over her as she rushed you into position
>She led the rest of the way confident in her stride until the farmhouse came into view then she stopped
“And now!?”
>She looked to both directions repeatedly and answered honestly
>”I don’t know!”
>The two of you stood together alone in the wind and rain trying to figure out your next move when a sharp pain spreads down the length of your arm
>You nearly let go of Gilly as you instinctively try to clutch your arm to inspect it
>You do however look over to try and see what exactly that was when the burners further away start going off in rapid succession encroaching on your position
>Another unexpected turn as Gilly’s claws release their grip on your leg and dig into your thick leather jacket as she pushes you to the ground
>A moment later you’re on your back watching a trussed shape zoom past you in the blink of an eye
>Before you could gather your thoughts she lifted you to your feet again
>The whole thing left you a bit disoriented
>”Let’s move! We should’ve backtracked sooner!”
>Gilly leads you down one more corridor before turning right again and delivering you to the wooden frame of the old farmhouse
>It took a moment before you realized she quite possibly saved your life
“Thank you, Gilly!”
>”Shut up and open the door!”

>The house was drafty, at first
>To say it was musty was an understated if not impertinent observation
>Soot and grime stained the ceiling, walls and windows
>Mold grew on plaster where the wallpaper peeled away from age and moisture
>The ceiling caved in some time before and the loose beams and trusses littered the back wall
>Water leaked from somewhere above 
>The floorboards were pulled out exposing the dirt floor below which was somewhat disheveled with pits dug irregularly and the soil piled next to them
>In the middle a fire pit surrounded by scrap metal and brick was laden with a hardened ash mound
>And it was dark
>The kind of dinge that spelled safety in the zone
>Now the fire pit was crackling with new life
>The shadows playing along the walls made you think that the mold and mildew picked certain spots to flourish
>Everyone picked either a pit or a pile to settle in whether it was to sit or lay down
>You chose to sit against the wall thanks to Gilly’s insistence 
>Not to rest but to keep you safe
>The two of you had an argument which she ultimately won by grasping your arm and pulling you down
>Spots took over your vision and you were left gasping for air 
>The others joined you soon after looking either exasperated or pissed
>They took one look at Gilly, you, and the blood pouring from your arm and calmed down
>Anatoly had to explain he lost sight of you in the anomaly and practically they had to feel their way along your path
>Bricklayer, one of the Freedom members had a burner go off in his face where Gilly tackled you 
>Thank God he had a good gas mask
>His brother Ditchdigger still had to put out the fire and the mask was now useless
>The other two were Misfit and Arab, they introduced themselves once you were lucid again
>Oleg suggested taking a look at your arm since a simple gash shouldn’t have almost knocked you out
>You agreed, it wasn’t the first time you were cut so deep, your mind going back to run ins with swamp cats
>Taking off your jacket and with Gilly’s help holding the flashlight you started inspecting the cut
>Pouring some water on it gave you a better look at what you were dealing with
>The gash was about 3 inches long and deep considering it was still bleeding
>Pulling it apart with you thumb and forefinger revealed something strange 
>There was a dull black spot at on one end of the cut that sat below the skin flaps
>Curious you close the cut and move your fingers for a better grip
>In the small moment when you closed it a tingling sensation ran down your arm before you opened it again
“What the hell is that?”
>You peer at it curiously for a while, admittedly you were afraid to close the cut again
>Gilly pulled your head back as she took a look
>”It looks like it’s...rusty.” 
>Rust wasn’t good, from the corner of your eye you even see Anatoly pick his head up
>Alright, something rusty was in your arm, now how do you take it out?
>You and Gilly exchange looks and fall into a silent agreement
>Holding your breath you pull back the skin a bit more and let Gilly have a go at it
>Gilly shifts herself on the ground and pulls her sodden claws into view
>To your surprise she actually stops herself when she sees how dirty her talons are
>Shooting you a glance before scowling she says
>”Don’t say I never did anything for you.”
>Slowly she leaned her face closer to your arm 
>You watch as she opens her mouth and with surgical precision locked her beak around it
>A moment later you feel a shooting pain erupt through your body as she lifts her head in one smooth fluid motion
>Gasping for air as the pain subsided you see Gilly spit a broken nail onto the floorboards
>”You’re welcome. Again.”
>You try to thank her but the words just wouldn’t come out so instead you grunt in acknowledgment
>”Damn Stalker” you hear someone say “That looked like it hurt.”