Chapter LXXXIII: Hell's Antechamber

Western Yantar has long avoided the attention of stalkers, and for a good reason. Even without the psi-emission field, there's plenty of reasons to avoid the area. Anomalies are abundant, and many strong mutants patrol the area, from snorks to chimeras. If one has ever wondered where the seemingly endless supply of snorks comes to Yantar from time to time, it is the labyrinthine maze under the radar complex of this area that is the answer. With little human contact, the mutant population of the area has exploded. There are multiple bases overlooking the middle complex, and each houses both immense riches and perils. But nothing in the area compares to the maze of identical looking corridors under the complex in sheer danger.

Unfortunately for Boris' squad, that was their main destination. There was a large hole in the border wall of the central facility which the group used to get inside the walls. Numerous radar dishes encircled a large office building in the middle, protected by yet another wall. It was not abandoned however, as Boris soon discovered, a bullet whizzing past his helmet confirming this fact. The group scattered for what little cover was available, the distinct sound of shotguns filling the air as Kruglov and Zakarov let loose. Boris sprang forward when the attackers begun to reload and reached the border wall, swapping to his Fort shotgun.

The distinct wailing and grunting of the brainscorched finally revealed the identity of the attackers. A large group of Zombified was marching out of the gate, hip-firing their rusty and battered AKs and sawn-offs. Dima culled their herd one accurate Val shot at a time, while Sanyok's AK-5 sent a few others into the abyss. This distraction made it possible for Boris to stay unprepared as he pulled the pin off a grenade, sent it flying towards the group and sprayed his entire magazine of buckshot into the horde. The earsplitting explosion was followed by a quick advance and equally swift execution of the few unlucky survivors.

• I must say, you Redemption guys don't mess around when it comes to combat, Kruglov said as the action died down.

• When your entire faction is based on the act of self-sacrifice, you don't have much time to mess around, Boris replied, turning his gaze towards the monoblock now freed from the Zombified.

When everyone had reloaded their weapons and taken a sip of water, they entered the facility. While smoke still drifted in the air from the guns and explosion, the area was dead silent. Inside the large building was remains of the original guards, military conscripts, breathless on the floor. Boris raised his fist in the air and inspected the bodies with Zakarov.

• Clear signs of a bloodsucker attack. Bodies are almost devoid of blood, and there's visible claw marks here, the scientist whispered. Boris nodded to him, serious look on his face.

He rose from the kneeling position and gave everyone orders quietly. They would search the area and try to take the suckers out before they were noticed, of course taking into account that there could be none left. After all, the corpses looked old and partially decomposed, although the Zone had a strange way of keeping some corpses around for years. Dima and Boris took the second floor while the scientists and Sanyok sweeped the first. All that they found in the entire building was more corpses, broken-down machinery and some living quarters for the soldiers. Clearly, the place had been emptied by someone.

• Well, dead end. What now? Back to raiding labs, hoping for a crazed maniac to appear?, Dima asked.

Before Boris could answer, a message from Strelok popped up. They had found a hole in the ground leading to an underground tunnel area, much larger than anything they had expected. Strelok and his band of choirboys had fought off a large snork group near it, and had to keep pursuing them, but it was not far. Kruglov agreed that it was their best lead, the facility had been as useful as tits on a fish. They crossed the bridge over the now empty river. Snowflakes begun to fall once more, making the already miserable area look even more uninviting.

• Good call on Diodor by the way, earlier I mean. Using the Sin's odd habits as an incentive to get them on our side, Sanyok said to Boris as they walked.

• You know, I try to hold on to my faith too as well as one can in this literal hell, so in a way I understood them. Nevertheless, I wouldn't go calling this place something caused by otherworldly beings like they do. No, this is a folly of humanity, and humanity alone, Boris replied.

• Odd, I never took you for a Christian.

• I try to not bring it up too often, it's the one thing I have left of my old life, so I keep it to myself

• I see. I can understand it, among criminals you might've stuck out like a sore thumb. I know more than enough of that myself...

• Why's that, Boris took the bait, surprised at the talkativeness of his otherwise quiet companion.

• When I was with the mercs, most of them were Western fellows, or Russians. I'm Ingrian. I didn't feel anymore alike with the Russkies as I was with the Americans, Sanyok answered with a gloomy face.

• Well, you'll fit right in with us. We're divergents, mercs too soft to kill innocents, renegades with moral compasses, bandits with compassion. Some may call it a liability in the Zone, I call it a source of strength. If nothing else, it helps build reputation as reliable faction, Boris replied.

• Guys, hate to stop your little bonding moment but I think we found the hole Strelok spoke of. And of course it is covered by Burners, Dima interrupted, cursing the fire anomalies with a few choice words telling of long hatred.

Boris told the others to cover him and pulled out his Svarog detector. Kruglov looked at the experimental detector with a longing gaze. Slowly, despite the immense heat fumes rising from the pit, Boris moved forward, making sure to create a clear path for the others. Dima followed closely behind. Zakarov looked at Kruglov questioningly, but followed suit after the senior reseacher nodded encouragingly. Sanyok stepped into the crater last, taking one last scan over the area to make sure no one would bother them.

Sweating like a Dutyer caught with a bottle of booze, Boris made it to the hole in the ground. The tunnel below was pitch black. Dima gave him an orange glowstick and Boris dropped it into the hole. Warm light bathed the dungeon. The drop was much less than expected. Boris jumped down and his exoskeleton servos hummed as they slowed his descent. Without pausing for a second, he moved out of the way as Dima stomped down. They secured the tunnel entrance and lit it up with flashlights as the others followed.

• Damn, I wish to never go near a burner ever in my life, the Devil would complain of the heat in there, Zakarov complained.

• You can ask him soon, I have a feeling that we might have just left Hell's antechamber, Dima said ominously.

The darkness spread around them despite the high-power flashlights. It reminded Boris and Dima about the night after they had raided the power plant, so dark were the tunnels that they seemed to suck all light away. Checking their gear, the group descended down the large pathway, ready for anything. But all they met was pitch black tunnels, ominous screams and rattling of pipes. The maze of Western Yantar was readying itself for its latest victims.