When they finally decided to come out, the storm was over, sun shined bright and it hurt their eyes.
"Put your goggles on."
The salvaged welding goggles wasn't the best to use, but worked well to shade some of the light. Life in the shadows has lasting effect.
"We better get going."
"Agreed. Keep your eyes sharp and ears clear. We have no time to waste. I take the front, Carsten take the back, other two watch your sides. Keep it fast and silent."
The snow has gone thicker and it made even harder to walk. By the time day turned to evening they made it to the Kohila. Riots and looting has left the mark and most houses have the windows knocked in or burnt into empty shells and snow piled up inside. Some street lights were on, lighting the snow left untouched for weeks. There's no signs of life anywhere.
"Let's go inside the city, we can cover our tracks better there."
"Okay. Let's move on then."
They pass the large building with most windows knocked out. Some of the houses are almost hidden under the snow as they pass. Suddenly snow went up hill and they climbed on, next moment Yazad fell through the glass roof of the greenhouse and landed in a frozen plant rack tangled with dried out tomato plants.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a small cut. Help me out of here."
"Okay, grab the rope, we're going to pull you."
"Watch out for the glass, it is about to collapse."
They went down the roof and threw rope at him, he grabbed and climbed out onto the railing, taking the rope with him.
"Watch out for the surprises like this."
As they continue they stumble onto the mansion. It looked intact, but some of the windows on first floor are bashed in and snow covered the floor.
"Fancy. Let's get inside, it's getting dark."
They climb in and walk up the stairs. One of the rooms with the fireplace was intact and Yazad made a fire into it. They drag couches from the larger room to there and dry it out in front of the fireplace. Some pictures were left on the walls, slanted and dusty. Chandelier glimmered from the light of the fire as they eat their ration. Suddenly they hear footsteps, Yazad and Oliver hid behind the large closet and Andreas and Carsten hid behind the couch, ready to attack.
"Don't shoot, it's us from the village. We tried to get to you but we were stalled by our injured companion."
"You can come out. Let me see his injuries."
Yazad leads them to carry their mate in front of the fireplace.
"He has bone broken and muscles ripped. What happened?"
"A bear attacked us as we hid in the forest. Sten got him, but the bear got him first."
Injured guy mumbled something. Yazad took a poker and placed it into the center of the fire.
"He has lost some blood."
"I can transfer some to him, but we got to get this wound sealed first. Bite this and keep it in your mouth, it is going to hurt a lot." He gave him a piece of wooden board. He knew what is coming next so he took the tight grip of the blank. Yazad grabbed the red hot poker and dried the blood as much as possible with it, he screamed through the wooden blank and bit it so hard the splinters came off, Yazad then placed the poker back into the fire and took a closer look at the wound.
"One more time, then I can batch it up properly and prepare the blood transfer. You're ready?"
He nodded. Yazad took the red hot poker again and burnt the rest of the wound shut, then he took out a bottle of vodka and sprayed it onto the wound, then he ripped a piece of fabric to cover it. He went downstairs and came back with two strong wooden logs and tied his leg together to brace the broken bone.
"We're going to stay here for few days until his leg is healed enough to carry on. We're taking shifts in guard duty." Said the old man.
"Agreed. I'm first."
Next morning they cleaned up the room from their presence, put out the embers with snow and got ready to continue on.
"Check your ammo."
"Not much."
"Damn I'm almost empty."
"Me too."
"Okay, there's a military base near Rapla, but we have to get there first. It is not going to be easy and the base may be already raided. We take 2 hour shifts for carrying him. We also need a three man team in front to cover the track in front. Yazad, take Oliver and Sten for first shift at front. Sten has the radio link with me, so if anything happens, I let you know. Clear."
"Clear as water." Answered Yazad.
Others nodded, they followed Sten as others prepared to start carrying the injured. Sten waited them to come closer and followed them behind.
"Let's not go further than 200 meters from the main group. I'm not the best runner, specially with this."
He pointed at his shotgun hanging on his back against the backpack side.
"Okay. Take a lead."
They passed by an old church, Sten decided to check through so they took a fast glance inside. One of the window has gone broken and snow piles in a middle of the large room. There's nothing useful there, everything is either taken already or useless.
"Anything useful?"
"Nothing. It's already ransacked."
They continued on as others waited for them to check the path in front, Sten knew where to go and soon they were on the highway. Road to Rapla was almost covered in woods, there was few clearer patches, but the snow was deeper there.
-continues-
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Part 12
They walked for over an hour until making to the highway overpass, for their luck there was signs partially covered by mold still left up for directions. Rust has started to eat the poles, there's pieces of concrete loosen and rusty rebarb is exposed to the elements. They decided to use their luck and cross it towards Rapla. Behind the forest was empty field and they lost the sight of the road under the snow. After crossing the hill they spotted a house with lights still on. The front door was open and swinged in the wind, LED floodlight shining bright the front yard. Carsten walked to the doorway as others waited behind the fence. He yelled:
"Hello! Is anyone here?!"
Nobody answered. Snow has started to flood the hallway lit by two out of five lights in the ceiling.
"Hello! Anybody here?!"
He shrugged and entered. The whole living room was turned upside down, anything valuable was taken away. He started to walk back when he spotted a older man dead on the kitchen floor, white eyes frozen open and black bullet hole in a middle of the balding scalp. Pool of frozen black blood surrounds him. Cold chill went down Carsten's spine.
"Oh fuck. I'm so sorry."
He ran outside.
"There's dead people on the floor. That place has been trashed."
Wind started to turn into storm.
"Let's get inside anyway. We carry them into the back room."
"Okay. Let's get some heat up too."
Yazad helped Marcel to carry the old couple out of the kitchen and took them to their bedroom, turning off lights and closing the door behind.
"Too bad about them, they had no chance to fight back."
They cleaned up the place to sit somewhere, then Yazad made fire into the fireplace, warming their freezing toes and hands. Wind howled outside and slapped snowflakes against the windows, covering it with a white mass.
Next morning they heat from the fireplace was gone and the room was cold again. They stretched themselves, ate as little food as possible and started to walk again. Carsten stumbled and almost fell as his foot got stuck behind a power line wire.
"Watch out, Carsten."
"Yeah I know."
They pass old apartment buildings, windows all frozen. There's an old stone shed with roof fallen in obscured with snow surrounding it, Sebastian almost fell in as he climbed what he believed is a hill to check the surroundings. Some of the wall has crumbled, leaving a large hole into the building. They climbed in to the car repair shop from open door partly hidden by snow. They found few tools that might be helpful, two knives, shelves full of canned beans and pineapple pieces. They stocked up as much as they could carry, then continued their walk in thick snow, passing a generator box, that was still humming.
"Don't touch it. Circle around that."
They followed Oliver's instructions, passing in front of the brick ruins with trees growing out from inside. All the doors and windows on the garages were shut and boarded up, they gave up looting it after watching three sides of it. There was nothing of interest in rest of Tõdva village, a wild fire had burned through the rest of the habitat and charred empty ruins stood like broken teeth. Forest has grown where once was high voltage power line corridor, rusty remains of the power poles were mostly hidden by overgrowth of trees, creating a snow filled barrier on their way. Luckily Sebastian found a way through it and waited others to reach him. Day started to turn into night as they continued deep into the forest. They break in to first house they saw to escape another snowstorm. It was abandoned for a long time, but someone tried to conserve it as much as possible. There was no food, the furniture was covered with transparent cellophane film, which was a good fire starter mixed with firewood in the furnace. Sebastian collected more of it to carry along. Next morning they continued through the village and on the faint line of the road between the forest. Suddenly they made it to the part of the road that was cleaned from snow and modular fence with large sodium street light mounted on top of one pole lighting the road with bright yellow light.
"Stop! Show me your hands!"
"Bags on the ground! Now!"
Five people with heavy winter clothing and assault rifles climb out from the gate and take aim at them. One of them took their guns and then searched through their bags.
"They have canned food! What is the cellophane for? Hey, I'm asking a question!"
"Fire starter. It burns well."
"Okay. So what is your purpose for coming here."
"We don't have any purposes. We left the city when military started to take over it."
"What city?"
"Tallinn."
"Fuck." He whispered in surprise. "Okay, we keep the guns in storage for you during your stay. We also take five cans as entry tax."
"Okay."
"Dima, take the guns to the storage. Open the gates!"
He turned back as Dima took over the guns to take five cans.
"Follow me. I want to know what is the exact situation there and who were the military. Take your bags with you."
The village was lit by different style and shape street lights, some brighter some dimmer. They were taken to the brick row house in front of the wood mill, where people worked. Smoke was coming from the large chimney of the boiler house. They entered a warm hallway and was leaded to living room where they sit down behind the table, placing their bags next to their chairs.
"So let's start from the beginning. I want to know how you survived it all."
After listening the story from each person and taking notes while at it, he concluded.
"So there was survivors after all. Okay, I take a book and I want you to point the exact emblem you saw on the sleeves of the soldiers, Marcel."
"Okay."
He went to the next room and came back with a large book with a lot of military signs. He let Marcel look through the book.
"This one."
"U.S. Marines. Why are they collecting survivors into camp? I be right back, wait here."
He hurried outside, then came back with another guy.
"Is this true?"
"Yes."
"I will warn the guards. God damn those..."
He turns around and exits the building, closing the door behind him. The commander sits back down on the armchair and sighs.
"Okay, I have a proposal for you guys. We need people to guard the premises and help with work. Are you willing to stay and work for us, we give you warm room and food in return."
"I guess I can. How about you guys?" Said Marcel.
After talking with each other.
"Okay, we're cool with that." Answered Sebastian.
"Good. So let's get started, we have no time to rest."
They follow him to the saw mill, where he whistles with his mouth. The operator shuts the machine off after finishing the last board, people stop the cart with a timber on it and gather in front of him.
"Listen up. We have increased alert situation. Alex, Dmitri, Juhan, Karl and Siim: go grab your weapons and go to your guard posts. The material production will be decreased temporarily, we also have plenty of firewood also. Stay frosty, we are dealing with Marines. According to my source the capital city is overrun by them and they are gathering survivors with unknown purpose. Move out."
He waited for most of men to leave and turned to them.
"You take over the wood work while we guard the area. If the story of the hostile takeover is true, we all are in deep trouble. When shit goes sideways, I make sure you get your weapons back to defend yourselves. So now let us do our job and get to work."
Despite the size of the timber it was relatively easy to maneuver the cart. It took all of their strength to get it up the small ramp in the doorway. Operator helped to attach the hook to the bottom of the timber and winch pulled the log off the cart, then he continued to saw through the first log. The noise was loud. Suddenly they hear a loud bang in a distance, crows fly out of the forest followed by bloom of smoke.
"Hey! Hey!" Carsten yelled to operator, who then turns off the machine again.
"What is it?"
"There was an explosion in the forest north from here."
"Somebody tripped the mine..."
Rattle of gunfire stopped his sentence.
"Call everyone inside now!"
"Okay." He runs outside almost crashing into Oliver.
"Everyone get inside. Hurry."
They run into the mill house when suddenly bullets knock holes into the doors, break windows and lights in the ceiling. With a large bang the power went out. The operator took out the sniper rifle and climbed up the elevator, took a good position and returned fire. After third shot the shooting stopped. He opened fire again, now shooting much more frantically.
"Get out of here, go to the boiler house! Hurry!"
As they run out from the side door they saw a large APC crash into the wall, knocking one of the doors off and smashing the timber cart against the other wall. Next moment the other wall gave way and concrete ceiling panel came crashing down on the vehicle. Several soldiers jump out of the back door and open fire at the operator, then shoot at them while they jump in from the back door of the boiler house. The room is hot, red light is flickering in the furnace and hot water gashes through the pipes. They met commander who was armed with M249 and as they go behind him, he took aim at the hot water pipes. As the soldiers enter the room he shot the pipes, sending boiling hot water into them, causing three of the soldiers to get severe burns, steam quickly fills the room as hot water bursts the damaged pipes, steaming hot liquid flows on the floor like fast lava and soldiers scream in pain behind the wall.
"Grab your guns from the table and move. We have immediate evac of the site."
They grab their weapons and follow him. Bullets starts to whistle by as they exit out the front. He opens cover fire as they run into the woods. Snow is deep and gets into the boots, making running uncomfortable, but the share amount of adrenaline keeps them going. Their tracks are obscured by snowstorm that started to blowing again, pushing them forward. Yazad kicks in the door of large abandoned factory and they follow him inside and hide in the maze of the chemical processing equipment and odd apparatus they didn't recognize. They entered one of the back rooms and sheltered behind the rows of metal closets, ready to defend themselves. As day turned into night they were certain that the soldiers lost their track.
Next morning they heat from the fireplace was gone and the room was cold again. They stretched themselves, ate as little food as possible and started to walk again. Carsten stumbled and almost fell as his foot got stuck behind a power line wire.
"Watch out, Carsten."
"Yeah I know."
They pass old apartment buildings, windows all frozen. There's an old stone shed with roof fallen in obscured with snow surrounding it, Sebastian almost fell in as he climbed what he believed is a hill to check the surroundings. Some of the wall has crumbled, leaving a large hole into the building. They climbed in to the car repair shop from open door partly hidden by snow. They found few tools that might be helpful, two knives, shelves full of canned beans and pineapple pieces. They stocked up as much as they could carry, then continued their walk in thick snow, passing a generator box, that was still humming.
"Don't touch it. Circle around that."
They followed Oliver's instructions, passing in front of the brick ruins with trees growing out from inside. All the doors and windows on the garages were shut and boarded up, they gave up looting it after watching three sides of it. There was nothing of interest in rest of Tõdva village, a wild fire had burned through the rest of the habitat and charred empty ruins stood like broken teeth. Forest has grown where once was high voltage power line corridor, rusty remains of the power poles were mostly hidden by overgrowth of trees, creating a snow filled barrier on their way. Luckily Sebastian found a way through it and waited others to reach him. Day started to turn into night as they continued deep into the forest. They break in to first house they saw to escape another snowstorm. It was abandoned for a long time, but someone tried to conserve it as much as possible. There was no food, the furniture was covered with transparent cellophane film, which was a good fire starter mixed with firewood in the furnace. Sebastian collected more of it to carry along. Next morning they continued through the village and on the faint line of the road between the forest. Suddenly they made it to the part of the road that was cleaned from snow and modular fence with large sodium street light mounted on top of one pole lighting the road with bright yellow light.
"Stop! Show me your hands!"
"Bags on the ground! Now!"
Five people with heavy winter clothing and assault rifles climb out from the gate and take aim at them. One of them took their guns and then searched through their bags.
"They have canned food! What is the cellophane for? Hey, I'm asking a question!"
"Fire starter. It burns well."
"Okay. So what is your purpose for coming here."
"We don't have any purposes. We left the city when military started to take over it."
"What city?"
"Tallinn."
"Fuck." He whispered in surprise. "Okay, we keep the guns in storage for you during your stay. We also take five cans as entry tax."
"Okay."
"Dima, take the guns to the storage. Open the gates!"
He turned back as Dima took over the guns to take five cans.
"Follow me. I want to know what is the exact situation there and who were the military. Take your bags with you."
The village was lit by different style and shape street lights, some brighter some dimmer. They were taken to the brick row house in front of the wood mill, where people worked. Smoke was coming from the large chimney of the boiler house. They entered a warm hallway and was leaded to living room where they sit down behind the table, placing their bags next to their chairs.
"So let's start from the beginning. I want to know how you survived it all."
After listening the story from each person and taking notes while at it, he concluded.
"So there was survivors after all. Okay, I take a book and I want you to point the exact emblem you saw on the sleeves of the soldiers, Marcel."
"Okay."
He went to the next room and came back with a large book with a lot of military signs. He let Marcel look through the book.
"This one."
"U.S. Marines. Why are they collecting survivors into camp? I be right back, wait here."
He hurried outside, then came back with another guy.
"Is this true?"
"Yes."
"I will warn the guards. God damn those..."
He turns around and exits the building, closing the door behind him. The commander sits back down on the armchair and sighs.
"Okay, I have a proposal for you guys. We need people to guard the premises and help with work. Are you willing to stay and work for us, we give you warm room and food in return."
"I guess I can. How about you guys?" Said Marcel.
After talking with each other.
"Okay, we're cool with that." Answered Sebastian.
"Good. So let's get started, we have no time to rest."
They follow him to the saw mill, where he whistles with his mouth. The operator shuts the machine off after finishing the last board, people stop the cart with a timber on it and gather in front of him.
"Listen up. We have increased alert situation. Alex, Dmitri, Juhan, Karl and Siim: go grab your weapons and go to your guard posts. The material production will be decreased temporarily, we also have plenty of firewood also. Stay frosty, we are dealing with Marines. According to my source the capital city is overrun by them and they are gathering survivors with unknown purpose. Move out."
He waited for most of men to leave and turned to them.
"You take over the wood work while we guard the area. If the story of the hostile takeover is true, we all are in deep trouble. When shit goes sideways, I make sure you get your weapons back to defend yourselves. So now let us do our job and get to work."
Despite the size of the timber it was relatively easy to maneuver the cart. It took all of their strength to get it up the small ramp in the doorway. Operator helped to attach the hook to the bottom of the timber and winch pulled the log off the cart, then he continued to saw through the first log. The noise was loud. Suddenly they hear a loud bang in a distance, crows fly out of the forest followed by bloom of smoke.
"Hey! Hey!" Carsten yelled to operator, who then turns off the machine again.
"What is it?"
"There was an explosion in the forest north from here."
"Somebody tripped the mine..."
Rattle of gunfire stopped his sentence.
"Call everyone inside now!"
"Okay." He runs outside almost crashing into Oliver.
"Everyone get inside. Hurry."
They run into the mill house when suddenly bullets knock holes into the doors, break windows and lights in the ceiling. With a large bang the power went out. The operator took out the sniper rifle and climbed up the elevator, took a good position and returned fire. After third shot the shooting stopped. He opened fire again, now shooting much more frantically.
"Get out of here, go to the boiler house! Hurry!"
As they run out from the side door they saw a large APC crash into the wall, knocking one of the doors off and smashing the timber cart against the other wall. Next moment the other wall gave way and concrete ceiling panel came crashing down on the vehicle. Several soldiers jump out of the back door and open fire at the operator, then shoot at them while they jump in from the back door of the boiler house. The room is hot, red light is flickering in the furnace and hot water gashes through the pipes. They met commander who was armed with M249 and as they go behind him, he took aim at the hot water pipes. As the soldiers enter the room he shot the pipes, sending boiling hot water into them, causing three of the soldiers to get severe burns, steam quickly fills the room as hot water bursts the damaged pipes, steaming hot liquid flows on the floor like fast lava and soldiers scream in pain behind the wall.
"Grab your guns from the table and move. We have immediate evac of the site."
They grab their weapons and follow him. Bullets starts to whistle by as they exit out the front. He opens cover fire as they run into the woods. Snow is deep and gets into the boots, making running uncomfortable, but the share amount of adrenaline keeps them going. Their tracks are obscured by snowstorm that started to blowing again, pushing them forward. Yazad kicks in the door of large abandoned factory and they follow him inside and hide in the maze of the chemical processing equipment and odd apparatus they didn't recognize. They entered one of the back rooms and sheltered behind the rows of metal closets, ready to defend themselves. As day turned into night they were certain that the soldiers lost their track.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Part 11
"Hey, over here!"
They spotted a guy who yells and waves at them to get closer, his long silver hair flying in the wind, he wears black leather jacket and blue jeans, handguns in holsters at both sides on the thick black belt. They didn't come any closer than 10 meters.
"Hey guys, can you give me a lift? I give you this in return."
His voice sounded calm but cold but with pleasing undertone. He pulled out a large glass marble that was glowing green from his jacket pocket.
"Okay. Make some room Sebastian."
He pulls the boat to the side of the ruins before climbing on and then pushed the boat away from the wall. Oliver turned the boat back on track and Carsten received the marble, carefully packing it into his backpack.
"My boat sunk on a way here and I was stranded on this ruins for days."
"We're happy to help out. So where you were destined to?"
"Anywhere. I'm looking for my brothers, we got separated during the bombardment." He looked around for a moment.
"We can keep an eye open for you, so what's your name?"
"Yazad."
"Oliver. They are Sebastian and Carsten."
He nodded then ducked his head to get through under the low edge of the window. They went through what looks like to be a mall with drop ceiling with most of the tiles gone and only the rusty frame with few lights dangling on cables left behind. He turned left and drove into the small space that was left from between the wall and ceiling, exiting the building from where it had collapsed. Suddenly they hear awfully familiar scream from behind, something jumps into the water and the long haired stranger immediately pulls out his two large pistols.
"Get ready."
Something jumps out of the water, grabs Sebastian and drags him into the water. Stranger jumps after him and few brief flashes of light is coming from below the water. Greenish black blood starts to surface, then few bubbles and then he surfaces with Sebastian few meters away.
"Over here! Hurry!"
Oliver drives the boat towards him and they help Sebastian back onto the boat. He has a large gash on his right leg covered in blood, large teeth marks cover his upper torso, his shirt is shredded and he doesn't breath. Carsten starts to CPR on him and Yazad takes over as he gets tired.
"Go to that building over there, we need a stable ground."
"Okay, right away."
Oliver turns the boat towards the highrise standing out from the water with most of the glass facade gone. He drives in to the office and stops near the stairs. They help him upstairs onto the dry floor and Yazad continues the CPR. After second breath Sebastian coughs water out of his mouth, they help him sideways to let the water out. Yazad breaks wooden pieces from the broken furniture and piles it onto the concrete floor at the staircase. Then he lights it on fire, after that he took an iron rod and places it into the fire. He takes the rod that is red hot and seals the large wound on Sebastian's leg to stop the bleeding, he screams in pain.
"The pain will get over. We need to go to nearest survivor camp and get some help with this. That was only temporary solution."
Yazad rips off the curtains and ties the wound up with the fabric, they help Sebastian back onto the boat and drive back to the nearest habitat. As Carsten climbs onto the makeshift platform made out of scaffolding parts he was greeted by two rifles aimed at him.
"We have an emergency, do you have a doctor here? Anyone who can help?"
"Dima, go call Polkovnik. I'll help them up."
They pull their guns onto their shoulder and one of them runs inside. Third guy remains on the post behind the machine gun. He follows Carsten back down, looks at the wounded Sebastian and goes back up again to set up a pallet to the winch, then he drops the pallet down so they can bring Sebastian up with it. Oliver helps the guard to pull Sebastian up onto the platform where Polkovnik already waits.
"We can help him, but you need to work for us for a little while."
"Okay."
"Good. Alan! Kaido!"
Two guys walk out of the room behind the gunner.
"Yes, sir."
"Take him to the medical wing. You follow me to the office."
Despite being a bit crooked, the building looked well maintained inside. Most of the LED lights worked and floor was covered with carpet that was starting to wear out. They walked up stairs and saw people living on first five floors, then there was barracks, armory, medical wing where two strong guys took Sebastian and someone was already waiting for him and then was the offices. His office was right above the medical wing, inside was a archives and his work rooms. He takes them to his office and sits down on comfortable chairs.
"We need to trade fish with the supplies in the market, your job is simple. We give you merchandise and fuel, you trade it with goods listed to you. You are escorted by one of the members all the time. Run away with our goods and your friend goes swimming. Am I clear? Good. Your work starts tomorrow."
We were taken to a separated sector on one of the floors that was meant for housing visitors. The room was lit by dim fluorescent lights, all the windows are covered with plywood and there are three rows of bunk beds with rusty military boxes underneath for personal items. Next day we were waked up early, Oliver couldn't guess the time but sleepiness made him guess he hasn't slept much. They walked to the larger boat that was already stocked with bags of fish and their guard waited them. They carried the fish from the boat to the market once they got to the familiar shore, once there they got a list of items to gather and timeline to be back on the boat. It wasn't hard as much, you could talk to the locals and see more people, the market is much more active now, odd sight with the chaotic world in the background. Oliver noticed that the ruins next to the market has been exploded inside out, one of the fusion reactors must gone to thermal runaway, it was old soviet technology left unchecked for decades, no wonder it exploded. It's a mere luck that it was only few that went out with a bang. Usually the shockwave from explosions caused most of these generators to shut down automatically, there are thousands of these throughout the city. The work routine was slack, they would make a trip once a week, then be in the building doing whatever they like. When the weather went colder they were provided with thicker clothing made out of random materials people could scavenge from old factories or warehouses south from the city or trade with last few people who knows how to make it. When the ice was too thin to walk on but too thick to go through with the boat, the trips were halted. They were reassigned to help some homework until one day Sebastian was healed enough to let out of the hospital wing. The medical staff did a great job patching him up, that would expect from the people who managed to get out of the hospital and onto higher grounds when the part of the city started to sink 4 years after the war. After the ice was thick enough to walk on and the average temperatures plummet beneath 20 degrees Celsius, they were released from the contract and started their journey back to their homebase, taking Yazad with them just in case his brothers are in the station. There was no point to go on the mission, but there could be a chance to get back to the base. As they made it to the entry way to the tunnels they noticed that something is wrong. There are no guards on their posts, most of the lights are broken and walls littered with bullet holes. Ammo casings cover the blood stained floor, an explosion has smashed a hole into the concrete wall and rebarb sticks out of it like tentacles. Last remaining lights flicker, turn on with a buzz and then turn off again followed by an electrical zap in the cable tunnels.
"Let's go from the secret passage and see what's going on down there, I don't think we can get through from here."
"Okay. Come, Yazad, follow us."
The walk fast back out and go to their secret passage at the basement of an old apartment building. For the relief they saw that the passage has been untouched as it was still hidden behind the rubble they left there before leaving. They climb down the rusty ladder and walk towards the base, the cable tunnels are bit warmer than outside. It was quiet, too quiet, as they make it to the main area it was ransacked and abandoned. Makeshift hospital wing was torn down, beds empty and some turned over. All the doors in the living quarters were either left open or smashed in, some lights were on but there was nobody there. Their rooms were also intruded. In Oliver's room his computer and other electronic devices were gone, but his ammo stash in a secret compartment behind the floor boards under the bed wasn't found. He took all of it and packed into his backpack. They check their rooms as fast as possible and leave they way they entered.
"What the hell happened there?" Asked Carsten when they made it back to the basement.
"Marauders. We need to warn others, let's go to the train station and then to Marcel's place."
"Okay, let's go then. Yazad, you with us?"
"Yeah, sure. I'm sorry about your home, looked cozy before it was destroyed."
"It can happen, nothing we can do about it any longer."
They walk fast through the city towards the train station, watching every corner as they continued. The train station wasn't same any longer, there was guard towers and soldiers surrounding the area. Floodlights light the ground surrounding it.
"Don't go Oliver, look."
"Military. Now we know who's behind this. Let's go through Kalamaja district to the Marcel's place."
"Okay."
They turned back and walked around the train station through the residential area. The buildings wasn't damaged as much as it's in downtown, but the snow made it harder to walk and more of it fell to the ground. Some of the doors were fallen off, some windows knocked open or fallen down onto the streets. As they passed one of the houses, someone whispered behind them.
"Psst. Over here."
They turned around ready to attack, when Sebastian saw familiar outline of his friend.
"It's all right, Yazad. That's our friend."
They lower their weapons and Yazad holsters his gun. Marcel has his ARX-160 hang on his back, they follow him into the dark basement. He shuts the door and enters one of the basement compartments, a small fire was made onto the floor and embers are still glowing in the dark. Small LED lamp illuminates the room with cold dim light.
"There was a raid to our base, some of us got away, but they got most of the people."
He has Romeo with him, there's also some blond guy, who sits silently watching the embers.
"He's Ivan. He can't speak."
"Our place was raided too."
"Damn. We need to get out of the city."
"We do indeed. Who were they anyway?"
"I have no idea. But they spoke English, that's all I know."
They sat down around the fire.
"It should go dark soon, then we can leave the area."
"So what route should we take?"
Marcel takes out the Estonian map.
"Through Viljandi road should be fastest way out. Tartu road is blocked from here and here by military base. We need to cross the open ice field to get there."
"If we're lucky we can warn habitats in here and here for pending danger. And get some supplies for the journey."
"That's a good plan."
It is colder after dark, frost immediately starts to bite their noses and fingers as they walk fast through backyards and alleys towards the market. Evacuation was already under way as they make it to the site.
"We already know. Take whatever you like, we can't carry all out of here."
They grabbed some unknown vintage dry food packages, some canned foods and other supplies that they need, then followed the group of people to the fortress, ice is already knocked out from three sides of the building, scaffolding pad is partially removed and only a ladder to the first floor is left for some people to climb up. They continued on and some of them yelled after them:
"Hey where are you going?!"
"Out of the city via Viljandi road!"
"Thanks. Good luck then!"
Wind started to pick up speed as they continued walking, making it harder to continue. But adrenaline pushed them on further away from the city. They had to climb up on the large pipes to get to the up the ledge, then continued their journey into the dark forest. Trees started to grow from the cracks in the tarmac, some of the light poles were still standing and some tangling on the thick cable. None of these worked. They passed a large factory with dim bluish light flickering inside. They went in to check for any supplies, but the factory was filled with corroded steel parts and material. One of two fluorescent lights on the ceiling flickered, other was turned on casting a ghostly light on the decay, rest of the fixtures were burnt out. A fusion generator still hummed behind the locked steel door, keeping the frost off the door. They left the building and continued walking down the road with only moon light illuminating the way.
They spotted a guy who yells and waves at them to get closer, his long silver hair flying in the wind, he wears black leather jacket and blue jeans, handguns in holsters at both sides on the thick black belt. They didn't come any closer than 10 meters.
"Hey guys, can you give me a lift? I give you this in return."
His voice sounded calm but cold but with pleasing undertone. He pulled out a large glass marble that was glowing green from his jacket pocket.
"Okay. Make some room Sebastian."
He pulls the boat to the side of the ruins before climbing on and then pushed the boat away from the wall. Oliver turned the boat back on track and Carsten received the marble, carefully packing it into his backpack.
"My boat sunk on a way here and I was stranded on this ruins for days."
"We're happy to help out. So where you were destined to?"
"Anywhere. I'm looking for my brothers, we got separated during the bombardment." He looked around for a moment.
"We can keep an eye open for you, so what's your name?"
"Yazad."
"Oliver. They are Sebastian and Carsten."
He nodded then ducked his head to get through under the low edge of the window. They went through what looks like to be a mall with drop ceiling with most of the tiles gone and only the rusty frame with few lights dangling on cables left behind. He turned left and drove into the small space that was left from between the wall and ceiling, exiting the building from where it had collapsed. Suddenly they hear awfully familiar scream from behind, something jumps into the water and the long haired stranger immediately pulls out his two large pistols.
"Get ready."
Something jumps out of the water, grabs Sebastian and drags him into the water. Stranger jumps after him and few brief flashes of light is coming from below the water. Greenish black blood starts to surface, then few bubbles and then he surfaces with Sebastian few meters away.
"Over here! Hurry!"
Oliver drives the boat towards him and they help Sebastian back onto the boat. He has a large gash on his right leg covered in blood, large teeth marks cover his upper torso, his shirt is shredded and he doesn't breath. Carsten starts to CPR on him and Yazad takes over as he gets tired.
"Go to that building over there, we need a stable ground."
"Okay, right away."
Oliver turns the boat towards the highrise standing out from the water with most of the glass facade gone. He drives in to the office and stops near the stairs. They help him upstairs onto the dry floor and Yazad continues the CPR. After second breath Sebastian coughs water out of his mouth, they help him sideways to let the water out. Yazad breaks wooden pieces from the broken furniture and piles it onto the concrete floor at the staircase. Then he lights it on fire, after that he took an iron rod and places it into the fire. He takes the rod that is red hot and seals the large wound on Sebastian's leg to stop the bleeding, he screams in pain.
"The pain will get over. We need to go to nearest survivor camp and get some help with this. That was only temporary solution."
Yazad rips off the curtains and ties the wound up with the fabric, they help Sebastian back onto the boat and drive back to the nearest habitat. As Carsten climbs onto the makeshift platform made out of scaffolding parts he was greeted by two rifles aimed at him.
"We have an emergency, do you have a doctor here? Anyone who can help?"
"Dima, go call Polkovnik. I'll help them up."
They pull their guns onto their shoulder and one of them runs inside. Third guy remains on the post behind the machine gun. He follows Carsten back down, looks at the wounded Sebastian and goes back up again to set up a pallet to the winch, then he drops the pallet down so they can bring Sebastian up with it. Oliver helps the guard to pull Sebastian up onto the platform where Polkovnik already waits.
"We can help him, but you need to work for us for a little while."
"Okay."
"Good. Alan! Kaido!"
Two guys walk out of the room behind the gunner.
"Yes, sir."
"Take him to the medical wing. You follow me to the office."
Despite being a bit crooked, the building looked well maintained inside. Most of the LED lights worked and floor was covered with carpet that was starting to wear out. They walked up stairs and saw people living on first five floors, then there was barracks, armory, medical wing where two strong guys took Sebastian and someone was already waiting for him and then was the offices. His office was right above the medical wing, inside was a archives and his work rooms. He takes them to his office and sits down on comfortable chairs.
"We need to trade fish with the supplies in the market, your job is simple. We give you merchandise and fuel, you trade it with goods listed to you. You are escorted by one of the members all the time. Run away with our goods and your friend goes swimming. Am I clear? Good. Your work starts tomorrow."
We were taken to a separated sector on one of the floors that was meant for housing visitors. The room was lit by dim fluorescent lights, all the windows are covered with plywood and there are three rows of bunk beds with rusty military boxes underneath for personal items. Next day we were waked up early, Oliver couldn't guess the time but sleepiness made him guess he hasn't slept much. They walked to the larger boat that was already stocked with bags of fish and their guard waited them. They carried the fish from the boat to the market once they got to the familiar shore, once there they got a list of items to gather and timeline to be back on the boat. It wasn't hard as much, you could talk to the locals and see more people, the market is much more active now, odd sight with the chaotic world in the background. Oliver noticed that the ruins next to the market has been exploded inside out, one of the fusion reactors must gone to thermal runaway, it was old soviet technology left unchecked for decades, no wonder it exploded. It's a mere luck that it was only few that went out with a bang. Usually the shockwave from explosions caused most of these generators to shut down automatically, there are thousands of these throughout the city. The work routine was slack, they would make a trip once a week, then be in the building doing whatever they like. When the weather went colder they were provided with thicker clothing made out of random materials people could scavenge from old factories or warehouses south from the city or trade with last few people who knows how to make it. When the ice was too thin to walk on but too thick to go through with the boat, the trips were halted. They were reassigned to help some homework until one day Sebastian was healed enough to let out of the hospital wing. The medical staff did a great job patching him up, that would expect from the people who managed to get out of the hospital and onto higher grounds when the part of the city started to sink 4 years after the war. After the ice was thick enough to walk on and the average temperatures plummet beneath 20 degrees Celsius, they were released from the contract and started their journey back to their homebase, taking Yazad with them just in case his brothers are in the station. There was no point to go on the mission, but there could be a chance to get back to the base. As they made it to the entry way to the tunnels they noticed that something is wrong. There are no guards on their posts, most of the lights are broken and walls littered with bullet holes. Ammo casings cover the blood stained floor, an explosion has smashed a hole into the concrete wall and rebarb sticks out of it like tentacles. Last remaining lights flicker, turn on with a buzz and then turn off again followed by an electrical zap in the cable tunnels.
"Let's go from the secret passage and see what's going on down there, I don't think we can get through from here."
"Okay. Come, Yazad, follow us."
The walk fast back out and go to their secret passage at the basement of an old apartment building. For the relief they saw that the passage has been untouched as it was still hidden behind the rubble they left there before leaving. They climb down the rusty ladder and walk towards the base, the cable tunnels are bit warmer than outside. It was quiet, too quiet, as they make it to the main area it was ransacked and abandoned. Makeshift hospital wing was torn down, beds empty and some turned over. All the doors in the living quarters were either left open or smashed in, some lights were on but there was nobody there. Their rooms were also intruded. In Oliver's room his computer and other electronic devices were gone, but his ammo stash in a secret compartment behind the floor boards under the bed wasn't found. He took all of it and packed into his backpack. They check their rooms as fast as possible and leave they way they entered.
"What the hell happened there?" Asked Carsten when they made it back to the basement.
"Marauders. We need to warn others, let's go to the train station and then to Marcel's place."
"Okay, let's go then. Yazad, you with us?"
"Yeah, sure. I'm sorry about your home, looked cozy before it was destroyed."
"It can happen, nothing we can do about it any longer."
They walk fast through the city towards the train station, watching every corner as they continued. The train station wasn't same any longer, there was guard towers and soldiers surrounding the area. Floodlights light the ground surrounding it.
"Don't go Oliver, look."
"Military. Now we know who's behind this. Let's go through Kalamaja district to the Marcel's place."
"Okay."
They turned back and walked around the train station through the residential area. The buildings wasn't damaged as much as it's in downtown, but the snow made it harder to walk and more of it fell to the ground. Some of the doors were fallen off, some windows knocked open or fallen down onto the streets. As they passed one of the houses, someone whispered behind them.
"Psst. Over here."
They turned around ready to attack, when Sebastian saw familiar outline of his friend.
"It's all right, Yazad. That's our friend."
They lower their weapons and Yazad holsters his gun. Marcel has his ARX-160 hang on his back, they follow him into the dark basement. He shuts the door and enters one of the basement compartments, a small fire was made onto the floor and embers are still glowing in the dark. Small LED lamp illuminates the room with cold dim light.
"There was a raid to our base, some of us got away, but they got most of the people."
He has Romeo with him, there's also some blond guy, who sits silently watching the embers.
"He's Ivan. He can't speak."
"Our place was raided too."
"Damn. We need to get out of the city."
"We do indeed. Who were they anyway?"
"I have no idea. But they spoke English, that's all I know."
They sat down around the fire.
"It should go dark soon, then we can leave the area."
"So what route should we take?"
Marcel takes out the Estonian map.
"Through Viljandi road should be fastest way out. Tartu road is blocked from here and here by military base. We need to cross the open ice field to get there."
"If we're lucky we can warn habitats in here and here for pending danger. And get some supplies for the journey."
"That's a good plan."
It is colder after dark, frost immediately starts to bite their noses and fingers as they walk fast through backyards and alleys towards the market. Evacuation was already under way as they make it to the site.
"We already know. Take whatever you like, we can't carry all out of here."
They grabbed some unknown vintage dry food packages, some canned foods and other supplies that they need, then followed the group of people to the fortress, ice is already knocked out from three sides of the building, scaffolding pad is partially removed and only a ladder to the first floor is left for some people to climb up. They continued on and some of them yelled after them:
"Hey where are you going?!"
"Out of the city via Viljandi road!"
"Thanks. Good luck then!"
Wind started to pick up speed as they continued walking, making it harder to continue. But adrenaline pushed them on further away from the city. They had to climb up on the large pipes to get to the up the ledge, then continued their journey into the dark forest. Trees started to grow from the cracks in the tarmac, some of the light poles were still standing and some tangling on the thick cable. None of these worked. They passed a large factory with dim bluish light flickering inside. They went in to check for any supplies, but the factory was filled with corroded steel parts and material. One of two fluorescent lights on the ceiling flickered, other was turned on casting a ghostly light on the decay, rest of the fixtures were burnt out. A fusion generator still hummed behind the locked steel door, keeping the frost off the door. They left the building and continued walking down the road with only moon light illuminating the way.
Monday, July 4, 2016
Part 10
They started to walk faster as they heard mutant screams nearby, it gave them chills to the
bone as the scream was far different from usual they were accustomed to hear. One of the
sudden Carsten was struck down by a hairless white skinned humanoid mutant with skin torn
off around the mouth up to it’s nose, revealing the nose holes. Blood like substance dripped
from it’s exposed jaw onto his face as it screamed at him with the gurgling grating sound.
Sebastian pulled out his hand gun and shot the brains out of the creature as Carsten hold it
back from biting him with his rifle, teeth marks were left on the handle of his trusty AK-47, shock from the gunfire caused Carsten to let go of his gun. The creature dropped on top of him,
dead and motionless, gurgling last breath of air out of it’s torn up head.
bone as the scream was far different from usual they were accustomed to hear. One of the
sudden Carsten was struck down by a hairless white skinned humanoid mutant with skin torn
off around the mouth up to it’s nose, revealing the nose holes. Blood like substance dripped
from it’s exposed jaw onto his face as it screamed at him with the gurgling grating sound.
Sebastian pulled out his hand gun and shot the brains out of the creature as Carsten hold it
back from biting him with his rifle, teeth marks were left on the handle of his trusty AK-47, shock from the gunfire caused Carsten to let go of his gun. The creature dropped on top of him,
dead and motionless, gurgling last breath of air out of it’s torn up head.
“What the fuck is that! Get it off me, guys!”
Sebastian and Oliver pulled it off from Carsten, who was shaken by the attack, but luckily didn’t get
hurt.
“Fucking hell. Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.”
“Hey guys let’s get the hell out of here, I don’t want to meet more of these things.”
“Me neither, Oliver. Let’s move.”
They ran a few blocks until coming to the dead end in a form of two collapsed high rises
completely blocking the way. They climb onto the first floor of remaining part of one of the high riser building and walk against the wall on floor remains, trying not to fall 3 meters into the
basement with broken pieces of concrete and rebarb sticking out like death trap. They quickly make it to the little bit more intact part of the building, where concrete floor hangs on rebarb
exposed from the shockwave caused by the explosion from one of the nuclear fusion
generators in the basement that went unstable over the years of neglect. Dawn light starts to
paint the sky red.
basement with broken pieces of concrete and rebarb sticking out like death trap. They quickly make it to the little bit more intact part of the building, where concrete floor hangs on rebarb
exposed from the shockwave caused by the explosion from one of the nuclear fusion
generators in the basement that went unstable over the years of neglect. Dawn light starts to
paint the sky red.
“Grab my hand.”
Oliver helps others to get across the wall.
“You hear that?”
“What?”
“Something is rumbling over there.”
“Yeah, something is coming.” Carsten looks in the distance.
“Storm! We need to get to the shelter and fast!”
“Oh shit!”
They run across road, hide between to car wrecks when group of nosaleses pass by, then
continue to run towards building with shipping containers surrounding it. They just make it
between the containers when storm hit them. Metal creeks and vibrates as wind pounds onto
large steel boxes welded together well. Suddenly one of the doors on the containers opens, a
man stands into cold light flooding out of the open doorway and calls them.
between the containers when storm hit them. Metal creeks and vibrates as wind pounds onto
large steel boxes welded together well. Suddenly one of the doors on the containers opens, a
man stands into cold light flooding out of the open doorway and calls them.
“Get in. Hurry.”
There’s food counters in the container. Sebastian is first to go in, others follow him, man pulls
the door shut and locks it with a home made bolt lock made out of pipe welded onto the door
and a piece of rusty rebarb bent to L shape. Two fluorescent light fixtures on the ceiling swing
and flicker slightly as the storm gathers strength, cold white and bluish white tubes
mismatched shines bright light that slightly hurts their eyes.
and a piece of rusty rebarb bent to L shape. Two fluorescent light fixtures on the ceiling swing
and flicker slightly as the storm gathers strength, cold white and bluish white tubes
mismatched shines bright light that slightly hurts their eyes.
“That storm is quite a surprise huh?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“So what’s your names? I’m Oleg.”
“Oliver. They are Sebastian and Carsten.”
“Do you wish to buy something for the journey, I have fresh vegetables and fruits.”
“Where did you get these?”
“We have a grow house in a undisclosed location.”
“It’s okay, we should have enough right now. We are on our way to the Järve shopping center.”
“That is going to be a problematic. The area is flooded, you need a boat to get there.”
“What?” Sebastian sighs.
“You’ll see in the next evening, but now get some rest.
When they exit the market they saw what the problem Oleg told them. Building ruins stand out of the mirror smooth surface where even moon light reflects back.
“Water. Fuck.”
“You don’t know how to swim, Strify?”
“Of course I can, but it’s damn cold.”
“You can borrow one of our expedition boats for 20 euros.”
“20 euros?”
“Let’s take it. Like we have any other options.”
“Grigori lends boats, go ask from him, he’s the older guy sitting next to the port.”
They walk to the port and Sebastian takes out 20 euros.
“We liked to lend a boat.”
“So what brings you three to the hell waters?”
“Expedition mission.”
“20 euros is fine. I’ll get you a good one.”
He puts the money into his breast pocket, calls his assistants from the shed who walk to one of the
shipping containers and pull out a home made raft and a paddle.
“It’s yours. Happy sailing.”
“Thanks.”
They climb onto the raft and one of the assistance helps to push it onto the deeper water. They
take turns and paddle the raft across the water. It gets a bit scary looking at the higher floors of
the highrises on a same level as they are.
the highrises on a same level as they are.
“Damn it’s quite deep.”
“It is. I hope it doesn’t sink.”
“I hope it too.”
They pass one of the highrise building that has a crude port to its’ side and lights glowing inside one of the rooms near the water level. There’s home made sign above the crude doorway
saying “Pärnu road 139C.” Two children wave at them as the pass by and then they start yelling
profanities, laughing at the same time.
profanities, laughing at the same time.
“Rude children.”
They saw as someone was scolding those children just before disappearing behind the corner
of another building standing above the water level.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Part 9
The moment they stepped out of the door they almost got swept off the roof by something that started to fly off the roof. These things were large as a small plane. Carsten grabbed rebarb on a way to the edge and Sebastian got a hold on his leg, while Oliver dodge back into the staircase.
"Holy shit biscuits." Said Sebastian after looking down from the edge of a roof. Some of the roof had collapsed, taking 5 floors of living rooms with it and turned the sixth floor into slide to 64 meter freefall. Carsten helped him back on more solid ground as the concrete edge started to crumble. There isn't enough space to do anything.
"Looks solid. Maybe another building?"
"I agree, this is dump."
"Okay. Another building it is."
They climbed down the stairs again and walked to another building. Dawn started to appear as they turned on another bank of generators and climbed up the stairs again.
"Look, dawns coming."
"Shit. Let's find a shelter for a day, we can reach the roof next night."
"Okay." Said Carsten who watched down from the broken window. Mutant activity started early.
They walk in from one of the doors and checked for unlocked apartment door. Sebastian found one and they walk in. Broken glass is everywhere, flat panel TV is thrown into hallway and the display is broken.
"Let's clean up that place, this is going to be our safepoint."
After brushing off most of the broken glass and debries, they set up the radio communication link with the base.
"Home Base, this is Delta 1, Home Base, this is Delta 1. Do you copy?"
"Affirmative, Delta 1. What's your status?"
"Code Blue. I repeat code blue."
"Eagle is flying 36 hours."
"Affirmative, over."
Carsten puts the microphone back to it's holder on the radio and turns around.
"They are here tomorrow evening, we have to be ready for it."
"Let's eat and rest. It's going to be a long night."
Morning sun is bright, it shines on the jagged edges of the broken window glass. Something big flies across the window, knocking pieces of glass loose. It's followed by other thing.
"That's why we move outside only at night, Carsten."
"Yeah. No shit."
They watch in the shadows how more of these things fly pass the window and eat as little as possible.
"Do they bring food too?"
"Of course. It's all arranged now."
After eating they set the rest area in the one of the windowless rooms, where most of the LED lights were still working.
"Lets switch watch every 4 hours. I'm first." Said Oliver.
"Fine by me."
"I'm second, I know Carsten likes to sleep."
It was 2nd hour of Carsten's watch when he heard a rumble from downstairs, then he saw flashlights flicker in the hallway, he immediately loaded his gun, waked up others and they get ready for anything.
"Who is this? Show yourselves!"
"Calm down, we are on your side. Hey Igor, they are here. Let's move people, we have no time to waste. Two of you come with us, one stay to guard the staircase."
"I'm staying." Said Carsten.
"Alrighty then."
"Let's go then." The transporter leader dropped a large backpack next to the door. "Your supplies and futher instructions. We are taking over this site for now. But now follow us to the roof, we need you for now."
They stood guard as the five strong men built the tower and installed the antennas using compasses and complicated homemade alignement devices. They finished just before the sunrise.
"You can stay here until sunset, then it is advised for you to move to another site. You can keep the backpack."
"Will do."
They eat by the improvised fire pit Grigori built during the day, then they go to sleep after noon to get some shut eye.
"Sleep tight, you're going to have a long night to get there. The other team is moving to there as we speak."
They were waken at the dusk, the sun cast red light on the wall of the room.
"Good evening. Your time is up, my friends."
"Good evening to you too."
"Eat before you go, Vitali made a great rat stew."
"Oh thanks."
They ate from their dented aluminium bowls and started the journey. Sebastian notched Oliver and asked.
"So where are we going exactly?"
"To the retail store at the southern side of the town."
"So what's so bad about it?"
"It was the most devastated area in the city."
Road ahead was blocked by large crater filled with radioactive water, tail of a large bus stands out of the water.
"Let's go around it, it's too deep to go through."
"I agree. Let's move."
They follow the edge of the crater to the large mall, glass doors are smashed and part of the ceiling collapsed into the doorway. They climb through the narrow gap between the door edge and debries, Oliver pushed the backpack through and Sebastian cought it.
"I got it."
"Okay, I'm coming."
As he climbed through the gap he saw something move in the dark.
"Watch out, there's something at the other side of the crater."
Carsten took his gun and turned around to look. Sebastian helped Oliver down and they also look, listening any sounds of movement. Silence is breaked by howling in the distance and the whine of the wind. Carsten spotted another shadow.
"There at the hardware store!"
"Let's move on. Whatever the hell is it, I don't want to meet it."
They started to walk again, this time Sebastian carried the backpack, holding his rifle in his hand, eyes and ears sharpened for any danger. They made it to the other side of the mall and into the parking lot filled with rusty remains of the cars. As they continue on they stumble onto the evacuation camp littered with human skeletons.
"God damn. We are not going through this."
"I agree. Look."
Multiple shadows stand in the dark like smoke pillars.
"Those fuckers were camped like animals."
"What was going on here, take a look at this."
"Why there is a disease containment facility in an evacuation camp?"
They look at the darkness behind the airlock, that is long been broken from the decay.
"I don't like this place. Sebastian, Carsten, let's move."
"Holy shit biscuits." Said Sebastian after looking down from the edge of a roof. Some of the roof had collapsed, taking 5 floors of living rooms with it and turned the sixth floor into slide to 64 meter freefall. Carsten helped him back on more solid ground as the concrete edge started to crumble. There isn't enough space to do anything.
"Looks solid. Maybe another building?"
"I agree, this is dump."
"Okay. Another building it is."
They climbed down the stairs again and walked to another building. Dawn started to appear as they turned on another bank of generators and climbed up the stairs again.
"Look, dawns coming."
"Shit. Let's find a shelter for a day, we can reach the roof next night."
"Okay." Said Carsten who watched down from the broken window. Mutant activity started early.
They walk in from one of the doors and checked for unlocked apartment door. Sebastian found one and they walk in. Broken glass is everywhere, flat panel TV is thrown into hallway and the display is broken.
"Let's clean up that place, this is going to be our safepoint."
After brushing off most of the broken glass and debries, they set up the radio communication link with the base.
"Home Base, this is Delta 1, Home Base, this is Delta 1. Do you copy?"
"Affirmative, Delta 1. What's your status?"
"Code Blue. I repeat code blue."
"Eagle is flying 36 hours."
"Affirmative, over."
Carsten puts the microphone back to it's holder on the radio and turns around.
"They are here tomorrow evening, we have to be ready for it."
"Let's eat and rest. It's going to be a long night."
Morning sun is bright, it shines on the jagged edges of the broken window glass. Something big flies across the window, knocking pieces of glass loose. It's followed by other thing.
"That's why we move outside only at night, Carsten."
"Yeah. No shit."
They watch in the shadows how more of these things fly pass the window and eat as little as possible.
"Do they bring food too?"
"Of course. It's all arranged now."
After eating they set the rest area in the one of the windowless rooms, where most of the LED lights were still working.
"Lets switch watch every 4 hours. I'm first." Said Oliver.
"Fine by me."
"I'm second, I know Carsten likes to sleep."
It was 2nd hour of Carsten's watch when he heard a rumble from downstairs, then he saw flashlights flicker in the hallway, he immediately loaded his gun, waked up others and they get ready for anything.
"Who is this? Show yourselves!"
"Calm down, we are on your side. Hey Igor, they are here. Let's move people, we have no time to waste. Two of you come with us, one stay to guard the staircase."
"I'm staying." Said Carsten.
"Alrighty then."
"Let's go then." The transporter leader dropped a large backpack next to the door. "Your supplies and futher instructions. We are taking over this site for now. But now follow us to the roof, we need you for now."
They stood guard as the five strong men built the tower and installed the antennas using compasses and complicated homemade alignement devices. They finished just before the sunrise.
"You can stay here until sunset, then it is advised for you to move to another site. You can keep the backpack."
"Will do."
They eat by the improvised fire pit Grigori built during the day, then they go to sleep after noon to get some shut eye.
"Sleep tight, you're going to have a long night to get there. The other team is moving to there as we speak."
They were waken at the dusk, the sun cast red light on the wall of the room.
"Good evening. Your time is up, my friends."
"Good evening to you too."
"Eat before you go, Vitali made a great rat stew."
"Oh thanks."
They ate from their dented aluminium bowls and started the journey. Sebastian notched Oliver and asked.
"So where are we going exactly?"
"To the retail store at the southern side of the town."
"So what's so bad about it?"
"It was the most devastated area in the city."
Road ahead was blocked by large crater filled with radioactive water, tail of a large bus stands out of the water.
"Let's go around it, it's too deep to go through."
"I agree. Let's move."
They follow the edge of the crater to the large mall, glass doors are smashed and part of the ceiling collapsed into the doorway. They climb through the narrow gap between the door edge and debries, Oliver pushed the backpack through and Sebastian cought it.
"I got it."
"Okay, I'm coming."
As he climbed through the gap he saw something move in the dark.
"Watch out, there's something at the other side of the crater."
Carsten took his gun and turned around to look. Sebastian helped Oliver down and they also look, listening any sounds of movement. Silence is breaked by howling in the distance and the whine of the wind. Carsten spotted another shadow.
"There at the hardware store!"
"Let's move on. Whatever the hell is it, I don't want to meet it."
They started to walk again, this time Sebastian carried the backpack, holding his rifle in his hand, eyes and ears sharpened for any danger. They made it to the other side of the mall and into the parking lot filled with rusty remains of the cars. As they continue on they stumble onto the evacuation camp littered with human skeletons.
"God damn. We are not going through this."
"I agree. Look."
Multiple shadows stand in the dark like smoke pillars.
"Those fuckers were camped like animals."
"What was going on here, take a look at this."
"Why there is a disease containment facility in an evacuation camp?"
They look at the darkness behind the airlock, that is long been broken from the decay.
"I don't like this place. Sebastian, Carsten, let's move."
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Part 8
It took a moment to translate what Merily saw on the cctv screen, but then she jumped up for that thought.
"Oh my god, there are people up there!" She picked up a radio and called: " Guard Post 2, this is Center, come in Guard Post 2."
"This is Guard Post 2."
"Can you confirm what is going on outside. I see a lot of people walk kinda strange."
"I'm on it. Over."
She watched from the screens as the guard walk towards the blast door while others stand in guard. He opened the door and one of the "people" who walked behind it almost bit him to the neck. A pistol shot to the neck saved him. They pulled the door shut again as others started to walk towards it.
"God damn it, I almost got bit by that damned zombie."
"Did it do any damage?"
"Negative. Quarantine is not needed for now."
He stepped back and called in Grigori, a large man with a flamethrower.
"Burn it."
"With pleasure." He answered with low rumbling voice.
Grigori stepped closer to the corpse that started to move again and lift it's head that had missing half the upper part. He set the creature ablaze, it screamed hissingly as it burned to dust. He spit into the embers and walked back for the showel, hanging still hot flamethrower on his back next to the gas tank. He scooped still glowing ashes and threw it down the drain.
"Nobody opens the door without my permission. Double the guards, I go check to the center what the hell is going on. Good job, Grigori."
He stepped in to the security center where she already looked through the cameras that were operational throughout the city.
"As far as I can see, the whole city is littered with these things."
"Well I be damned. Alright, I relay it to the commander, he wont be happy about it. What about survivors?"
"There was some activity in old town area. They were armed."
"Keep me informed of any new activity."
"Will do."
"Good evening, gentlemen." Oliver steps in to the bar and sits in front of Sebastian and Carsten.
"Good evening to you too. So what's the plan?"
"We had a slight change in plans. Commander just got a word from tech department and assigned us a new task. He waits us in an hour."
"Okay, sounds interesting."
They eat their meal from the aluminium plates and drink water from plastic cups. After taking the dishes to the back for cleaning and reuse, they walk casually to the commanders office.
"You are probably aware why I called you back. Please, sit down and listen."
They sit on the chairs put ready in front of the table.
"I got a positive confirmation from the tech department for the cell phone station prototype. Your mission is to secure the sites suitable for install and holding the sites clear until permanent establishment is completed on site. Your reward is double the pay and food. It will not be easy, soldiers. I cannot guarantee your safety, but I expect you to be extra vigilant. There are walkers in the city. Take extra ammo, if needed, ask armory, I already gave my permission. Get ready in 15."
They went to pack for a long mission, took extra ammo from their stash, made sure that the rooms are safely locked and walked to the access point. The cable tunnels felt quite long this time.
"Isn't it beautiful."
Said Oliver, when they stepped up out onto the streets. The setting sun painted the ruins orange, it felt like they walked straight into some giant beast mouth with jaggered teeth. One of the high rises collapsed in the distance, throwing dust up into the air. They took direction towards Mustamäe, where a 50 story apartment buildings stood, less damaged from the war, it was most suitable for the cell phone station.
"Shh. Listen." Said Oliver when they made it to the area where roads were completely blocked and they had to go through the apartment buildings. There was footsteps dragging across glass shards covered floor, they hear slow crunching coming from one of the ground floor apartments. They sneak against the wall and bypass the walker from around the apartment, but they had to climb up to second floor from the floor panel that had fallen to form a ramp. Pieces of concrete crumble between the rusty rebar, as they climb up slowly, then they walk through living room in precurious angle. The pieces of furniture litter the floor, wire dangles down from the ceiling where a light used to be, there is an empty carcass of a TV in a middle of the floor. On a way out of the narrow hallway, Carsten stumbled on the mangled rusty remains of the crib.
"Damn garbage."
"Keep it quiet, Carsten."
"Alright, alright, Sebastian. I try my best."
The staircase at the other side has collapsed, they had to climb up onto the rubble to get down. As they slide down from the concrete panel, one of the floor panels from down from somewhere on the upper floor and starts crashing towards them, Oliver grabs Carsten and pulls him down as the concrete rubble comes crashing down. Slam echoes from the maze of buildings and breaks the dead silence.
"Holy fuck!"
"Let's get going, this shit can collapse any minute."
They took off and ran until they made it to the other side of the maze of ruins. Wall of highrises stood in front of them.
"So which one we are going to pick?"
"Nearest one that looks fine."
"Alrighty then, lets get going."
They follow Sebastian as he leaded them to one of the apartment towers. Oliver went down the stairs into the basement and with Carsten's helping hand they broke down the door to the generator room. 6 large soviet era nuclear fusion reactors stand, he switches the light switch and walks to the control panel, after turning on some knobs he grabs a lever and starts cranking one of the generators. One of the sudden it starts up, lights flicker on the panel, then one by one other five generators kick in, large relay slams shut and cold fluorescent lights flicker on from the ceiling with a buzz. Sebastian looks at the LED lights turn on in the hallway and in front of the building, shining light onto the large plants. One of the light poles is croocked and the lamp hangs on the wires flickering. Others come back up and barricade the door to the generator room.
"Are you sure it works now."
"Yes, I'm sure. It was an earthquake caused by the blasts that caused it to shut down."
"We have a light! Isn't that beautiful?"
"It is kinda strangely beautiful. Let's go then."
They start to walk up the stairs.
"Why we can't use the elevator?"
"It's probably busted, or too dangerous to use."
The building wasn't in the best shape, there was cracks everywhere, the more they walked up, the more croocked the walls became and more the damage was seen. Glass crunch under their boots as they walk, dodging light fixtures hanging down from the drop ceiling. Some lights are broken or flicker slightly.
"Oh my god, there are people up there!" She picked up a radio and called: " Guard Post 2, this is Center, come in Guard Post 2."
"This is Guard Post 2."
"Can you confirm what is going on outside. I see a lot of people walk kinda strange."
"I'm on it. Over."
She watched from the screens as the guard walk towards the blast door while others stand in guard. He opened the door and one of the "people" who walked behind it almost bit him to the neck. A pistol shot to the neck saved him. They pulled the door shut again as others started to walk towards it.
"God damn it, I almost got bit by that damned zombie."
"Did it do any damage?"
"Negative. Quarantine is not needed for now."
He stepped back and called in Grigori, a large man with a flamethrower.
"Burn it."
"With pleasure." He answered with low rumbling voice.
Grigori stepped closer to the corpse that started to move again and lift it's head that had missing half the upper part. He set the creature ablaze, it screamed hissingly as it burned to dust. He spit into the embers and walked back for the showel, hanging still hot flamethrower on his back next to the gas tank. He scooped still glowing ashes and threw it down the drain.
"Nobody opens the door without my permission. Double the guards, I go check to the center what the hell is going on. Good job, Grigori."
He stepped in to the security center where she already looked through the cameras that were operational throughout the city.
"As far as I can see, the whole city is littered with these things."
"Well I be damned. Alright, I relay it to the commander, he wont be happy about it. What about survivors?"
"There was some activity in old town area. They were armed."
"Keep me informed of any new activity."
"Will do."
"Good evening, gentlemen." Oliver steps in to the bar and sits in front of Sebastian and Carsten.
"Good evening to you too. So what's the plan?"
"We had a slight change in plans. Commander just got a word from tech department and assigned us a new task. He waits us in an hour."
"Okay, sounds interesting."
They eat their meal from the aluminium plates and drink water from plastic cups. After taking the dishes to the back for cleaning and reuse, they walk casually to the commanders office.
"You are probably aware why I called you back. Please, sit down and listen."
They sit on the chairs put ready in front of the table.
"I got a positive confirmation from the tech department for the cell phone station prototype. Your mission is to secure the sites suitable for install and holding the sites clear until permanent establishment is completed on site. Your reward is double the pay and food. It will not be easy, soldiers. I cannot guarantee your safety, but I expect you to be extra vigilant. There are walkers in the city. Take extra ammo, if needed, ask armory, I already gave my permission. Get ready in 15."
They went to pack for a long mission, took extra ammo from their stash, made sure that the rooms are safely locked and walked to the access point. The cable tunnels felt quite long this time.
"Isn't it beautiful."
Said Oliver, when they stepped up out onto the streets. The setting sun painted the ruins orange, it felt like they walked straight into some giant beast mouth with jaggered teeth. One of the high rises collapsed in the distance, throwing dust up into the air. They took direction towards Mustamäe, where a 50 story apartment buildings stood, less damaged from the war, it was most suitable for the cell phone station.
"Shh. Listen." Said Oliver when they made it to the area where roads were completely blocked and they had to go through the apartment buildings. There was footsteps dragging across glass shards covered floor, they hear slow crunching coming from one of the ground floor apartments. They sneak against the wall and bypass the walker from around the apartment, but they had to climb up to second floor from the floor panel that had fallen to form a ramp. Pieces of concrete crumble between the rusty rebar, as they climb up slowly, then they walk through living room in precurious angle. The pieces of furniture litter the floor, wire dangles down from the ceiling where a light used to be, there is an empty carcass of a TV in a middle of the floor. On a way out of the narrow hallway, Carsten stumbled on the mangled rusty remains of the crib.
"Damn garbage."
"Keep it quiet, Carsten."
"Alright, alright, Sebastian. I try my best."
The staircase at the other side has collapsed, they had to climb up onto the rubble to get down. As they slide down from the concrete panel, one of the floor panels from down from somewhere on the upper floor and starts crashing towards them, Oliver grabs Carsten and pulls him down as the concrete rubble comes crashing down. Slam echoes from the maze of buildings and breaks the dead silence.
"Holy fuck!"
"Let's get going, this shit can collapse any minute."
They took off and ran until they made it to the other side of the maze of ruins. Wall of highrises stood in front of them.
"So which one we are going to pick?"
"Nearest one that looks fine."
"Alrighty then, lets get going."
They follow Sebastian as he leaded them to one of the apartment towers. Oliver went down the stairs into the basement and with Carsten's helping hand they broke down the door to the generator room. 6 large soviet era nuclear fusion reactors stand, he switches the light switch and walks to the control panel, after turning on some knobs he grabs a lever and starts cranking one of the generators. One of the sudden it starts up, lights flicker on the panel, then one by one other five generators kick in, large relay slams shut and cold fluorescent lights flicker on from the ceiling with a buzz. Sebastian looks at the LED lights turn on in the hallway and in front of the building, shining light onto the large plants. One of the light poles is croocked and the lamp hangs on the wires flickering. Others come back up and barricade the door to the generator room.
"Are you sure it works now."
"Yes, I'm sure. It was an earthquake caused by the blasts that caused it to shut down."
"We have a light! Isn't that beautiful?"
"It is kinda strangely beautiful. Let's go then."
They start to walk up the stairs.
"Why we can't use the elevator?"
"It's probably busted, or too dangerous to use."
The building wasn't in the best shape, there was cracks everywhere, the more they walked up, the more croocked the walls became and more the damage was seen. Glass crunch under their boots as they walk, dodging light fixtures hanging down from the drop ceiling. Some lights are broken or flicker slightly.
Part 7
As Oliver made it back to his homebase, a search team was already dispatched to search them. He was escorted to the office, where their commander, experienced marine, sits on the chair back towards the door. The room was dimly lit by 4W LED bulb in the ceiling light with a green cracked lamp shade, not because of lack of power, but because he wanted it that way. Shelves were full of books, a radio, a cd-player and rows of cd cases. On top of the cupboard stands an old tv with a dusty cathode ray tube, a cow skull on top of it. When Oliver stepped into the room, the commander asked without turning around.
"Where the hell were you people?"
"I'm sorry for getting late at comeback, but we established a trade opportunity with nearby station built into train station. We got some food."
He turned around and looked at me with his single eye, other eye has covered by eyepatch.
"So where are the other two?"
"They met their pre-war friends and they are coming shortly after."
"They met their friends. What makes you think I believe you?"
His voice is stern and cold.
"Because it was like he said." Said Sebastian behind Oliver's back and they drop their bags of merchandise on the floor.
"Good score, now take it to the storage. After that we need to talk."
"Yes, sir."
They took their merchandise to storage center and came back with their own share of the loot.
"So here's the plan. I'm going to assemble two teams who is going to be actively trading merchandise with that base. You are going to search the city for more survivors, as it is already familiar to you."
"So when we are going to start?"
"Whenever you are ready for a long trip. Rest well."
"Okay we have a deal."
"Next time inform me before you plan doing anything like this again. This isn't a gulag, we are all like one family now."
"We understand that."
"Alright, then close the door when you leave."
After a good sleep Marcel stepped out of his bedroom to step out onto the balcony to stretch out. He immediately saw humanoid figures walk strangely outside. He walked to the guard post to ask about it.
"We know already. Take a close look, they are not humans."
"So what the fuck are these then."
"Fucking walking dead. They started to appear out of nowhere."
"Ah shit in a basket. That was what we needed now. Double the guards, don't let these things in, I go check how much armory guy has in stock."
"Will do. Aleksei, get the looters team up here! Stay focused everyone, if these walkers get in, everyone are in danger."
They watch as the walkers wander towards the north of the city, but more came from the south and east districts. Things started to escalate as the walkers clash with skinless dogs and nosaleses, resulting mess of limbs and a stentch that threatened to drown them.
"Oh fuck, get the gasmasks."
"Damn that reeks." They pull on the masks and continue watching, it made breathing little bit harder, but the stench wasn't wiped out completely.
"That is years of rot. How the hell are they even walking?"
"Who the fuck gives a damn? Point is, better not risk of letting them get in here. Lock and load."
They check their weapons and ammo. Meanwhile Marcel came back from the armory and tried to contact anyone via the radio transmitter, when suddenly power went out.
"Dima, get up! Generator is down!" He knocked on the electricians door, Dima pulled the door open and looked at him with his flashlight turned on.
"Come, hurry. We need to get it fixed, I need to contact the other stations."
"Right away. I go get my tools."
They run to the other side of the bunker where he entered the code and followed Marcel down into the cable tunnels.
"The generators are worn out. We may get few years out of it but we need other means of power."
"I have the engineer work this out."
The tunnels are dark, floor is covered by water and dirt. One side the tunnel ends with a collapsed section, other side goes to the generator room door, blast door with ramp leading to surface and junction with sewer tunnels below. The sewer tunnels are filled with water since the pumps at the water treatment plant are out of order for a long time. Corpses float in the water mixed with debries. Dima enters the code to the blast door leading to the generator room and opens the door, enters and starts working. About half an hour later machines start to work again, lights flicker on and he walks out of the room.
"Rat had been climbed into main breaker box and electrocuted itself. Bloody freaks."
He throws the rats corpse into the sevage.
"It should work now for a while, I sealed the hole. Those damned rats climb and chew everything."
"That's what they do. I need to go back, hurry up."
"I'm right after you."
He closes the door and locks it and follows Marcel back to the base. Marcel runs up the stairs back to the radio room, where Kalmer already contacted someone.
"I got three stations on line, train station including. They are ready." He said while swiping his long red hair off his eyes.
"Thank god. You can continue, I going to help others get ready to evac at first notice."
"Where the hell were you people?"
"I'm sorry for getting late at comeback, but we established a trade opportunity with nearby station built into train station. We got some food."
He turned around and looked at me with his single eye, other eye has covered by eyepatch.
"So where are the other two?"
"They met their pre-war friends and they are coming shortly after."
"They met their friends. What makes you think I believe you?"
His voice is stern and cold.
"Because it was like he said." Said Sebastian behind Oliver's back and they drop their bags of merchandise on the floor.
"Good score, now take it to the storage. After that we need to talk."
"Yes, sir."
They took their merchandise to storage center and came back with their own share of the loot.
"So here's the plan. I'm going to assemble two teams who is going to be actively trading merchandise with that base. You are going to search the city for more survivors, as it is already familiar to you."
"So when we are going to start?"
"Whenever you are ready for a long trip. Rest well."
"Okay we have a deal."
"Next time inform me before you plan doing anything like this again. This isn't a gulag, we are all like one family now."
"We understand that."
"Alright, then close the door when you leave."
After a good sleep Marcel stepped out of his bedroom to step out onto the balcony to stretch out. He immediately saw humanoid figures walk strangely outside. He walked to the guard post to ask about it.
"We know already. Take a close look, they are not humans."
"So what the fuck are these then."
"Fucking walking dead. They started to appear out of nowhere."
"Ah shit in a basket. That was what we needed now. Double the guards, don't let these things in, I go check how much armory guy has in stock."
"Will do. Aleksei, get the looters team up here! Stay focused everyone, if these walkers get in, everyone are in danger."
They watch as the walkers wander towards the north of the city, but more came from the south and east districts. Things started to escalate as the walkers clash with skinless dogs and nosaleses, resulting mess of limbs and a stentch that threatened to drown them.
"Oh fuck, get the gasmasks."
"Damn that reeks." They pull on the masks and continue watching, it made breathing little bit harder, but the stench wasn't wiped out completely.
"That is years of rot. How the hell are they even walking?"
"Who the fuck gives a damn? Point is, better not risk of letting them get in here. Lock and load."
They check their weapons and ammo. Meanwhile Marcel came back from the armory and tried to contact anyone via the radio transmitter, when suddenly power went out.
"Dima, get up! Generator is down!" He knocked on the electricians door, Dima pulled the door open and looked at him with his flashlight turned on.
"Come, hurry. We need to get it fixed, I need to contact the other stations."
"Right away. I go get my tools."
They run to the other side of the bunker where he entered the code and followed Marcel down into the cable tunnels.
"The generators are worn out. We may get few years out of it but we need other means of power."
"I have the engineer work this out."
The tunnels are dark, floor is covered by water and dirt. One side the tunnel ends with a collapsed section, other side goes to the generator room door, blast door with ramp leading to surface and junction with sewer tunnels below. The sewer tunnels are filled with water since the pumps at the water treatment plant are out of order for a long time. Corpses float in the water mixed with debries. Dima enters the code to the blast door leading to the generator room and opens the door, enters and starts working. About half an hour later machines start to work again, lights flicker on and he walks out of the room.
"Rat had been climbed into main breaker box and electrocuted itself. Bloody freaks."
He throws the rats corpse into the sevage.
"It should work now for a while, I sealed the hole. Those damned rats climb and chew everything."
"That's what they do. I need to go back, hurry up."
"I'm right after you."
He closes the door and locks it and follows Marcel back to the base. Marcel runs up the stairs back to the radio room, where Kalmer already contacted someone.
"I got three stations on line, train station including. They are ready." He said while swiping his long red hair off his eyes.
"Thank god. You can continue, I going to help others get ready to evac at first notice."
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