Chapter XXVII: Redemption for the Unredeemable

 The varied bunch of criminals had gathered around Boris Unforgiven and Dima Lord in the Meadow factory, eager to hear Boris speak. During the months Boris had been working for Dushman, Dimuha and Vityukha had gathered old friends, associates and allies here. The factory had been transformed into a small base, with working kitchen, sleeping quarters and dinner table. Someone had even found a working television, although it only occasionally showed Duty propaganda videos and Sidoroviches commercials.

Boris scanned the crowd in front of him. There was roughly thirty of them together. Boris, Dima and Toshka had two merc comrades in the crowd, there was about 14 renegades and 10 bandits, Dimuha and Vityukha included. One Freedomer was also in the crowd, looking a bit confused. Some of the renegades and bandits were wounded, but all looked at Boris with anticipation. Vityukha and Dimuha had apparently marketed Boris' plan to them quite well. Boris coughed to open his throat and started to speak to them. The time had come to reveal his plan at last.

• Friends, comrades and brothers! It is great to finally be here, to see you with my own eyes. To see what already has been achieved. I can only thank Vityukha and Dimuha for their efforts, you two are absolute champions.

Boris saw the pair grinning at him, and the group of misfits ahead of him were each even more interested in what he had to say now that the anticipation was over.

• Now, you all know that you are here for a reason. And that reason is simple. When I first begun my journey as a renegade, I was bitter and broken. I hated all the factions and I wanted revenge. I wanted to destroy all other factions, I wanted to decimate all those that had wronged me. But every month that went by, I saw more of the Zone, I worked with people from each factions and I understood something. I understood that as much as the Zone is a place of backstabbing, betrayals and death, it is also a place of co-operation, friendships and alliances.

• I know that many of you have been wronged. I also know that we all have done things that we wish we could forget, things we want to be forgiven of. I am no saint either, I have killed dozens of stalkers to survive. I don't have much to give you. But I want to be forgiven, to be redeemed, and I know that you do as well. I am tired of factional warfare, and I am tired of fighting people I do not want to fight. I want to create a faction for people like me, people like you. Faction of redemption, instead of a faction of death, backstabbing or crime.

Boris scanned the crowd during the short pause he had taken. Most of them looked excited, some a bit sceptical, a few had mostly no expression on their face. Dimuha and Vityukha alongside a few renegades and the Freedomer nodded enthusiastically to make him continue, so Boris did.

• This past year I've been working on creating a reputation for myself. I've worked with criminals like Dushman and Sultan, ruthless men seeking profit from others suffering. I've worked with people searching knowledge, Sakharov and Cold for example, or men seeking power to realize their ideals on the Zone, like Petrenko and Lukash. I've worked with their underlings and done many things to gain their favour, and eventually I even joined Dushman's gang for a while to better further my own goals. This journey to recognition eventually led me to work for Strelok, the legend himself.

He saw that the namedropping of that extremely well-known hero of the Zone created a large wave of surprise in the crowd. Even those who had seemed indifferent seemed to energize. Boris felt reassured for the first time since he had started his speech. Perhaps he could get this group to join him. More confident, he continued:

• I have not much to offer you. I am, after all, just a stalker like you, and I have spent only a short time in the Zone. But the reputation I've built could buy us our freedom, help us remove the chains of the past. What I want, is a new faction for men like us. For the downtrodden, misunderstood, and yes, the wrongdoers who seek to atone their crimes. I can give you a roof over your head, a decent pay, comrades for life and a cause worth fighting for. All I demand in return is utter and complete loyalty to me and the faction. One misstep and you're out. On the road to redemption, there are no shortcuts, I learned it the hard way, with scars to prove it.

One of the renegades rose up quickly and raised his hand like they were in a school. Boris nodded to him.

• So, what is this cause worth fighting for? Money, fame, redemption?, he asked, in a honest voice.

• Redemption partially, yes. But it will be more complicated than that. I am tired of the factional fighting. I am tired of my friends, comrades and allies dying fighting my other friends, comrades and allies. I hate it that even today, when I have proven my worth to Duty and Loners, they look at me like an enemy when I visit Rostok. I want us to be an arm of peace. We cannot achieve total peace in the Zone, but we can try to nudge factions to not war each other as heavily. I want us to be a force reckoned with peacekeepers and arbitors, not murderers and thugs. We will protect stalker encampments and scientists, hunt dangerous mutants and Monolith warriors, kill or punish agitators and troublemakers and save hostages through force or diplomacy. I want to turn us from outcasts to diplomats and protectors. At one point I wanted to show the factions of the Zone that they were wrong about me through force, but now? We get to do that, without violence and we'll even profit from it.

The hall had fallen silent when Boris stopped. The crowd now seemed thoughtfull, only Dimuha and Vityukha seeming confident. The renegades, bandits and mercs had not expected this, not by far. Some discussed things with hushed voices. Boris continued to wrap things up:

• I do not expect you to decide this lightly. This all might seem far-fetched, I am aware. You'll have time until this evening to decide. I'll be waiting in there, on those containers, and will interview each one of you individually. If you wish to leave, you are free to do so. If you wish to stay, come to me.

Boris ended his speech and stepped of the large machine he had used as his stage. His leg was a bit better now, thanks to Vityukha's primitive but effective methods. He marched to the containers at the other side of the factory and sat down. Dima, Vityukha and Dimuha had followed him. They didn't say anything first, and Boris started to repair his heavily damaged suit. Dima, seeing this, opened his mouth:

• So I think the speech was good boss, but you sure they'll join? I think they expected a less noble things from you.

• They will. Or at least, most will. You know why?, Boris replied and as Dima shook his head, continued:

• When I was a renegade, all I ever wanted was to not be one. I hated it. I broke a bit more everytime I had to kill a loner or any other faction member. All I wanted was to be absolved, to walk through Rookie Village again, to drink a beer in 100 Rads with a few pals again, to visit Skadovsk and hear Beard tell stories to the wide-eyed rookies. When I joined the mercs and managed to get a cease-fire, I sort of got that, but everytime I visit those places, I get toxic looks and everyone still hates me. Some of these renegades most likely would not make it even that far. These bandits and mercs too, they most likely feel as I do, they hate the killing and the crimes. They wouldn't be here otherwise, everyone knows I fight mostly mutants and Monoliths.

Dima seemed to understand. He had felt it too, he had told Boris of it. Dimuha and Vityukha had revealed that to Boris too, when Boris first told them his initial, much more violent and bitter plan. They all sunk into their thoughts when two men appeared behind them. One was the Freedomer and one was Toshka. Toshka spoke to Boris:

• I would never have guessed what was going on here since I was just looking for artefacts. But I'm glad I found out now. If you will let me in despite my shooting skills, I would like to join. I was never much of a merc anyway and I feel good to be here, to be honest.

Boris smiled at him and agreed to let him join. Then he turned to curiously look at the Freedomer, who no longer seemed confused, at least not as much. He spoke:

• Name's Venya Mosquito. I lost my squad last week in Darkscape, and I've been wandering aimlessly since then. I do not want to return to Army Warehouses, the memories are too painful. I've lost so many friends fighting Monolith and especially Duty, and I don't want to fight for factional bickering no more. Can I join you?

• Welcome to the Redemption then, Venya. Join us, and tell us about what you're good at.

As Venya spoke, Dima lit a smoke he had stolen from Dimuha, who glared at him. More people started moving towards them now, first cautiously, then more confidently and soon all but a few bandits had joined them. One by one, they shared their stories, and Boris welcomed them all in. Once he had gone through them all and memorized their names and specializations, he asked Vityukha and Toshka to set up lodgings for everyone. Dimuha, Dima and Venya stayed with him. Dimuha spoke first, apparently saying what they were all thinking about as the others nodded:

• So were the Redemption now? Pretty pompous if you ask me.

• Hey, you come up with a better name then. Knowing your grey matter, you would have named us Boris' Shooty Boys or something stupid like that.

• You wound me, Boris. Dimuha's Shooty Boys are a totally better name, he said with a grin. Boris groaned.

• So what's our first order of business then boss? Do we make ourselves public already? What's the five-year plan Chairman?, Dima asked. He had clearly been pondering this as Boris had met all the new recruits.

• I will finish my business with Dushman and Strelok and generally help them as long as they need me. We will also help other factions as much as we can. And recruit more people. I'd like you, Dima, to join me in this. Dimuha and Vityukha, you'll both serve as my lieutenants too, and I'd like you to train those boys the best you can and prepare this place for anything. I'll make some deals with Sidorovich and Wolf so the loners leave us alone, and I'll deal with Sultan myself too. Once I feel like we're ready and in a good position reputation-wise, we'll go public on this.

Dima and Dimuha nodded. This was a lot to take on, but Boris knew he had chosen his friends well. The road ahead was going to be rough and with plenty of battles, but the first step had now been taken. It would be time to return to Strelok and don the disguise of a mercenary for a moment more. But the Redemption were no more a dream of Boris but an entity in the real word.