Chapter XXXIV: Heart of Chernobyl Part 1, Crossing the Rubicon

 Six figures emerged from the mist covered Pripyat into the light of day near the Chernobyl Power Plant. They stepped over corpses of the grey and white camouflage-wearing Monolith, holding their guns at the ready for anything. The view opening before them made five of them lower their guns and marvel at it. And what a view it truly was.

In the clear blue sky, a single large tower loomed over the gigantic walls of the power plant. Protected by smaller walls around the plant itself, it stood there as the reminder of one of humanity's greatest failures and as an imposing temple to the might of the Monolith. It was here the darkness had spread to the Zone, and where, despite Strelok's earlier efforts, the Monolith kept fighting from. And it was here, at their most sacred place, the group was planning a raid to.

Strelok had explained to Boris, Dima and Hip that the Monolith Control Centre contained a shard of the Wish Granter. Strelok needed it, and only once he had it would he give the information Boris needed. But even as Boris had struggled his way here, fought and bled to make this raid a reality, he was terrified.

This was the heart of the Zone, the literal heart of all that the Zone represented. He had achieved a great deal but this was something else. This was madness. But as Boris glanced at Dima and Hip, he understood that there was no backing out now. He wasn't doing this for Strelok, or for Dushman, or even for his own gain. He was doing this for his faction, for Redemption.

They crossed a large bridge, Strelok guiding them ahead as if on a Sunday stroll to a park. While still on the bridge a large black chimera appeared from behind the gate of the facility, roaring at them seemingly surprised. Before it could use its terrifying speed to attack them, the whole group pointed their weapons it and let loose, filling it full of lead in seconds. The beast might've been the most dangerous predator in the Zone but six large-calibre weapons made short work of it.

They continued on, the power plant eerily silent. Only the wind howled around them, unknown voices whispering to them in it. On some other day, Boris could have found the day beautiful, but right now they were on a mission of their lives. The main road leading to the plant door was riddled with large objects that could hide all sorts of dangers. Boris told the group he'd scout ahead a bit with his binocs before they continued, something did not seem right to him. He scanned the desolate landscape ahead of him, and his suspicions were proven correct.

Around 500 metres ahead there were a single pseudogiants, chimera and controller battling each other, while pseudodogs and cats circled them, taking bites off the larger and more lethal mutants. Further on, a Monolith garrison was guarding the entrance, around eight heavily armed and armoured troopers. Nothing they hadn't fought before, but of great importance to defeat as soon as possible. No one knew how often an emission would start here, so close to the storm creator itself. Boris jumped down and reported the situation up ahead to the others.

• We'll let those mutants fight amongst themselves, no need to shed our blood fighting them when we could let them bleed themselves dry, Strelok ordered and the rest of the group agreed. They started moving slowly towards the montrosities, weapons held high. Up ahead, a large gunfight broke out as the Monolith warriors intervened in the mutant battle. Boris and Strelok gave orders to the rest of their group as silently as possible, the perfect situation had aligned itself.

Boris' squad too cover behind one of the large powerline pylons while Strelok and company hid behind metal pipes on the road. Boris rose from behind the pylon and took aim at one of the Monolith warriors, while the others did the same. They had not been seen yet, even though almost all of the mutants had perished to the Monolithian fire. Slow, balanced squeeze of the trigger, Boris thought as he aimed for the most heavily armoured soldier. A shot rang out, and through air Boris' bullet flew, penetrating the heavy Nosorog battleplate of his target.

The large warrior growled and the Monolith group scattered, one being killed by a shot from Strelok. The warrior Boris had hit limped for cover, seemingly invulnerable to the hail of bullets they sent after him. A booming shot could be heard coming from behind one of the trucks, and the massive bullet struck the pylon Dima was hiding under. The bullet hit the metallic pylon and tore part of it with it, far too large chunk of it to be from a normal gun. Boris looked through his ACOG for the source and in a glimpse saw the warrior sporting a massive gun. He only needed one shot to take the fanatic down.

Hip emptied both of her Bizon barrels at another enemy, killing him on the spot as slugs pierced his nose and sent blood spurting from the gaping hole. Dima meanwhile was ducking from cover to cover as Boris covered him, and got close enough to blast one of the Monolith warriors in a NBC suit with his KS-23. Strelok's group had moved inside the plant already, cutting the resistance as they went. Boris decided he would not be outdone and charged the truck, finding the Nosorog-clad warrior he had wounded behind it.

The two behemoths wearing massive armours tore at each other with their weapons, Boris slashing the enemy with his kukri while the zealot tried to block him with his rifle and swung it around like a mace. But Boris was either more collected or luckier of the two and his blade struck deep, releasing a wave of crimson liquid down the Monolithians armour. He looked at Boris with disbelief and collapsed. Dima had apparently also engaged one of the warriors in close-quarters combat, as he was now removing his dagger from the throat of one the X-18 suit wearing brainwashed. Hip appeared behind Boris, reloading her shotgun once again. The fight was over.

• Looks like Strelok and his boys beat us to the plant already, Hip commented, slamming her shotgun breech shut, two more darts now inside it.

• Yup. But we'll catch up to them. Strelok won't be leaving here without giving me those answers, I don't want Dushman to hang me once we go back to Dead City, Boris said, while calming his breath.

• Besides, as much as I hate the old bastard, I can't get me any 23mm ammo anywhere else, so we best not piss him off or I'll lose my best boomstick, Dima chimed in, cleaning his dagger. Boris nodded.

• Shall we then, ladies and gentlemen? The Sarcophagus awaits, said Boris, a tinge of excitement so rarely shown in his voice. Hip and Dima glanced at each other and then followed Boris down the ladder into the palace of the Wish Granter. The dice had been cast, now it was time for them to find out what they had rolled. Would they find what they were looking for, or would they find death?