Metro: A New World

The tunnel grew colder--Miller and I were close to the surface now. Soon we'd climb up into the howling wind, to find our way through whatever nightmares were waiting there. My long journey was nearly at its end. But would I have the courage...the will to see it through?

"Hey, Artyom. When you left your home station, did you ever think you'd end up in a place like this? Not knowing whether we were about to save our world....or send it straight to hell." said Miller.

I didn't respond as me and Miller continued our slow ascent back to the surface. I was focused on the objective, and that was to get to the top of Ostankino Tower, set up the laser beacon, and have Vladimir launch the missiles from D6 and destroy the so called "Dark Ones".

We continued to climb further and further up the ladder. Miller reached the top first. As I reached the top and prepared to grab the ledge, the began to crumble below me. Miller's fast reflex's saved me from a premature death, and possible saved humanity's last hope.

"Got you!" Miller than pulled me up to join him. "That would have been unfortunate. Now, come along, the others are waiting." We continued a bit further until we reached a blast door. Miller approached it and pressed a nearby button. The groaned with age as it began to open.

"Seems like things are going our way."

As quickly as the door opened, it immediately slammed shut.

"Chyort!" Miller groaned and turned to me "Just our luck, huh?"

I heard scratches behind me. On instinct, I turned around, aiming my Kalash 2012 at the darkness.

"I'll cover you. Go use the manual override on the door."

I approached the manual override, which was just a basic wheel. Gripping it firmly, I turned it to right. As I continually did it, I noticed the door beginning to open. After a minute or so, the door was fully open.

"Excellent job, Artyom. Now, let's keep moving."

Proceeding forward, we went through a hall that lead to a small weapons cache.

"It would be wise to take what you need, Artyom. Running dry in the middle of a firefight would be disastrous."

Looking through the weapon cache, I took two extra mags for my Kalash, Twelve shells for my automatic shotgun, and eighteen bullets for my revolver.

"Are you ready, Artyom?"

I racked the charging handle of my Kalash "As ready as I'll ever be."

Me and Miller continued past the cache and into a cramped hallway. As we proceeded further, the once illuminating lights shut off.

"Well....great." Miller said sarcastically. He then activated the light on his helmet. I did the same as we approached another door. Miller readied his weapon and carefully opened the door.

"Uh-huh.... Seems like nobody's home." Miller than went into the next room with me following closely behind.

"Before we hit the surface, Artyom, put your gas mask on. Otherwise, you'll be like a goldfish outside it's bowl." As he finished saying that, the veteran ranger donned his gas mask. I did the same. I heard stories about people who went insane and thrusted themselves out onto the surface, unprotected. If they weren't killed by Nazis or eaten by Demons, death by suffocation seemed a worse fate than the latter two options.

"Were almost there." said Miller as we entered what appeared to be the lobby of a building. "This is, or rather was, the Korolev performance hall, it's really close to the tower."

As Miller approached the exit, the sound of growling was heard above us.

"Load your weapon!" Miller inserted a fresh mag into his Kalash and readied it for the incoming attack. I readied my weapon also, bracing myself for what was about to come.

"Here they come!" As if on cue, a Lurker came charging at Miller. Not breaking focus, the ranger pumped the mutant with five shots, stopping it's speedy advance. Another Lurker made it presence know by howling above me. I aimed my Kalash up and fired, killing it. Lurkers are...to say the least, both annoying and unnerving. While they don't attack people in groups, they will ambush stragglers or people traveling alone. I've heard terrible stories about attacks on people when I was little. But, like all hostile mutants, they're easily dealt with with a few bullets.

"Alright, let's get out of here before their friends show up."  Miller reloaded his weapon as he exited the performance hall. I quickly followed, not wanting to meet the two Lurker's friends. We exited and found ourselves back on the cold surface of Moscow, an all to familiar feeling to me at this point.

"There it is...our goal." said Miller as he pointed toward Ostankino Tower. Me and the ranger then continued toward our objective.

"Come in...Ulman, come in... Over."

"You're coming through loud and clear. Over." said Ulman over the radio. Ulman is Miller's second in command. A capable soldier with a sense of humor was a rare thing to come by in the metros.

"We're at the tower. I Repeat. We are at the tower. Did the group move out? Over."

"That's affirmative, we've made contact. They should be in the vicinity of the tower now. Over."

"Roger. We'll contact you again when we reach the top of the tower. Get a fix on our location then. Over."

"Over and out." said Ulman.

"Lets go, the others should already be here." Miller began to pick up the pace. I quickened mine to catch up to him. We continued to grow closer and closer to the tower, passing by the ruins of destroyed buildings as we went. Just then, the sound of a car horn behind me made Miller breathe a breath of relief.

"Ahh, and there they are!"

An armored car equipped with a heavy machine gun rolled up to our location and stopped a few feet ahead of us. The driver of the car honked the horn twice and left the driver's seat. He then approached Miller.

"Glad to see you, Colonel." said Ulman as he shook Miller's hand.

In the distance, I swore I heard the sound of a roar.

"Did you hear that--listen! What the hell is it..?"

The soldier operating the machine gun began to look around nervously as he readied himself for an ambush.

"FORM A CIRCLE!" ordered Miller. The accompanying rangers began to take defensive positions by the armored car, ready to attack.

"Stay calm." said Ulman.

"Watch your backs, boys." said Miller. As soon as he said that, a pack of Lurkers rushed passed us, paying us no mind.

"Okay, okay. It looks like it's going to be tougher than the Library."

A single Lurker stopped running and turned it's attention toward me. It's black beady eyes starred into my soul. The mutant than roared and charged me. I aimed Kalash at it's head and pulled the trigger, splattering it's brains on the ground. And like that...all hell broke loose.

"Shit! Fire at will!" ordered Miller as more Lurkers began to appear. The rangers obeyed and began to unload their rounds into the oncoming horde of Lurkers. I fired My Kalash with deadly accuracy as more and more Lurkers kept coming.

"Hold the line!" yelled Miller.

I kept firing till my my weapon clicked empty. As I reloaded it, I was knocked to the ground by a sneaky Lurker. I looked up to see it turning around and charging at me. With my Kalash to far for me to get, I pulled out the combat knife I kept in my right boot. I waited until the Lurker was close enough to me. Once within range, I drove my blade through the base of it's jaw, stopping it dead in it's tracks. Pushing the body away and retrieving my gun, I turned around to a sight that made my heart sink.

"Demons!" screamed a ranger. If you've never heard of Demon, it's best you keep it that way. They are rather large, winged, mammalian creatures with complex facial features with prominent nose and fangs. Another thing about them that can can make even the bravest soldier cry for their mother is their roar, which is almost akin to a tiger's, but a tiger is practically a kitten compared to a Demon.

The soldier on the heavy machine turned in the direction of the incoming pack of Demons and began to open fire. One of the Demons broke off from the group and charged the armored car. The soldier manning the machine gun was screaming and desperately trying to break free of the Demons's grip as it carried him off to his death. Another Demon soon after knocked the armored car over, destroying our best shot at eliminating them. The Demon that knocked over the car circled back and went directly for me. It approached with speed as it kicked me to the ground with it's prehensile limbs. I felt the wind get knocked out of me as I lay on the ground. I quickly checked for injuries. I sighed a quick breath of relief that none of my ribs were broken. My gratitude was cut short when said Demon returned and landed in front of me. It slowly approached me and reared up to attack. The attack was cut short when I heard the sound of gunfire close to me. The Demon roared at it's attacker and flew back up into the sky.

Miller rushed to my side, firing his Volt Driver at the retreating Demon. "Artyom, are you okay? The horde has dispersed! This is our only chance to reach the tower!" Extending his hand down, I grabbed it and was kindly helped up.

"Follow me, Artyom! And don't stop for a second!" I stayed as close as could to Miller without tripping over him. I readied my Kalash to protect myself from any straggling Lurkers from the previous attack.

"From the left!" Miller turned and fired as a Lurker appeared to his left. Another one quickly followed suit, but joined it's friend after I fired a quick burst into it.

"Keep moving!" Miller than continued his advance toward the tower with me shortly behind him. More Lurkers appeared in front of us. I couldn't get a shot off as Miller cut them down as quickly as they appeared.

"Go-go-go!" Miller and I made a mad dash toward the Tower's entrance. Seeing a door, we quickly rushed toward it and ran inside.

"Phew! This'll be one hell of a story when we get back." Miller slowed his pace as I closed the door behind us. Walking calmly through the lobby, we encountered an ancient elevator. Miller pried open the elevator doors to allow us entrance. He then looked up to see that the roof of the elevator was missing, leaving a nice view of the sky.

"Yeah....a way to the top....you are an eternal optimist, Miller....easier said than done."  Miller began to look around the elevator.

"Okay! Okay! I have an idea, climb on top of the elevator. We'll try to unlock the counter weight stopper." Climbing onto the elevator, we jumped onto the second elevator in hope of Miller's plan being successful.

"Ah-h, come on.... come on, bitch." said Miller as he pulled the stopper. After a minute of fierce tugging and swearing, the elevator roared to life and began to climb toward the top of the tower.

"Voila!" exclaimed Miller. "Join the army, they said--it'll be fun, they said. What a load of shit."

The elevator delivered us to the top of the tower. For decades, news was broadcast from this place. But whether today's news would be good or bad, depended entirely on us. Once we installed the guidance system, our mission would be over. But plans were made to go wrong.

"Brace yourself, it's going to get a bit rough." said Miller. As soon as Miller finished talking, the elevator's roof caved in below me, making me fall.

"Shit!" exclaimed Miller.

As I flipped and watched the world rush around me, my fall was stopped short by a convenient ledge. I looked over the ledge and saw the massive drop down. I'm pretty sure my guardian angel is working overtime today.

"Are you okay, Artyom?" asked a concerned Miller. I gave him a thumbs up. Miller began to laugh. "That's the spirit boy."

"Ulman, come in. We're in the tower. The target's covered with high clouds. We're going higher. Over."

"Alright, Artyom, we need a way to get you up here."

A roar was then heard in the distance.

"Demon! Hide!" Running back to the elevator, pressed my self up against it's rear wall. Just as I did, a Demon landed in front of the elevator. It immediately spotted me and tried to reach in and grab me. I equipped my automatic shotgun and stabbed it's hand with the attached bayonet. The beast howled in pain at the attack. I quickly followed up by pumping four shots into it's ugly face. What ever was left of the Demon's face was hanging off by tendons. I then kicked the body off the ledge and watched fall off the tower.

"Nice shot! Now. Try looking for a way up here, Artyom!"

I looked around to see if I could find a way to Miller. A fallen filing cabinet had thankfully given me an option to progress. Climbing over it, I discovered a small hallway in front of me.

"Look out, Artyom!"

Taking in what Miller said, I quickly ducked down, just as another Demon struck when I was once standing. Miller took the opportunity to fire at the attacking hell-spawn.

"Die, you bitch!" The Demon roared in pain at the attack. As I lay on the ground, the sound of retreating wing flaps told me that the Demon has left. I got back up and proceeded further down the hallway, which lead to what I assumed was the built in meteorological center.

"Artyom, there should be a staircase next to your location." said Miller. Looking around, I happened to find said staircase. It had seen better days. Not wanting to become Demon food, I went up the stairs as quickly and as carefully as I could. It was a long drop down to the surface. Upon reaching the next floor, I met up with Miller, who was waiting for me.

"Well done, Artyom. Come in, Ulman. We've just fended off some Demons. Still going up." As soon as Miller finished, the Demon he attacked earlier plowed through the wall beside him, knocking him to the ground.

"Ahhhh!" The Demon looked a bit dazed from plowing head first into the wall. The impact from the blitz attack knocked my Kalash over the edge of the tower. It took my brain a few seconds to process what happened. Upon completion, I moved my right hand as fast as I could to my revolver's holster.

"Shoot, Artyom! Shoot!" The Demon was bearing down on Miller.

"No you don't" I quickly sat up and drew my revolver. I shot all six bullets into it's head. While one would have sufficed, I had to make sure that Demon didn't hurt Miller. The Demon dropped a few inches from Miller's feet.

"Artyom! Miller! Respond!" said Ulman.

"Ahhh....that bitch! Come in, Ulman. I've been wounded. You keep in touch with Artyom. Over."

"Roger that, Colonel....Over."

"Artyom, the laser will do us no good from here, the clouds are to thick. Ugh. You've got to climb as high as you can and set up the guidance system."

"You sure you'll be alright here?" I asked.

"Yes, now go, the world depends on you."

I nodded at Miller's words. Before I proceeded further, Miller stopped me.

"Artyom."

I turned to Miller.

"Take my gun. You're going to need it."

He pointed to his Kalash 2012, complete with scope and silencer. I reloaded and chambered a round before I continued to the top of Ostankino Tower. I walked over the Demon's corpse and continued on the adjacent catwalk. A short walk later, I encountered a ladder leading to the tower's roof. I latched on carefully to the ladder. One wrong move and I'll become a human pancake. As I climbed the ladder, I heard the rusted metal groan under my weight. Imminent death was running through my mind as I continued further up the ladder. Upon reaching the roof, the ladder buckled below me. I quickly clambered onto the roof just as the ladder collapsed and fell of the tower. Lucky I wasn't on it. I turned around and faced a small spiral staircase. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves before I continued upward.

....He is here....       ....Can hear us....       ....Can understand us....

I quickly shook my head as the voices quieted down. Apparently, the voices belong to a species known as "The Dark Ones". The reason I'm on this tower. The reason why I must destroy them, to save humanity.

"Come in, Artyom! Something is blocking the signal! Come in, Artyom! Come in!" said Ulman. I paid no attention to Ulman's cries over the radio. I proceeded upward to the tower's spiral. Upon reaching the top, I got the guidance system out of my backpack and began to assemble it.

....Why are they here....?       ....He brings death.....

My vision blacked out to what appeared to be a cave system. I could see white light illuminate the humanoid bodies of the Dark Ones. Slowly, they approached me. Before they got any closer, my brain snapped back to reality. I focused on assembling the guidance system, ignoring the vision I just had. After a minute or so, the guidance system was fully assembled. I hesitantly walked over to the edge and set it down. I aimed it at the huge black mass in the distance, the origin point of the Dark Ones. I pressed a button on the side of the guidance system.

"Contact Zone reached." said the computerized voice.

"Artyom, the signal is just perfect, hold out for just one more minute and we'll get them." said Ulman. I quietly watched as the guidance system acquired it's target. As I stood there, waiting for the inevitable, I felt as if the wind was becoming stronger.

....He's coming to destroy us....  A bright light shined in my face ....Why?.... I started to feel a bit woozy. My knees were first to go as they failed to keep me standing. I dropped to the cold ground just as I whited out.

....He cannot be allowed....       ....They always do....

Another bright light shined in my eyes. This time, the source was that of a distant nuclear explosion. I could feel the winds whip around me, almost tearing my mask off my face.

....They never change....

Suddenly, a group of Dark Ones appeared in front of me, dark energy swirling around them like a cloak.

You will be stopped.

I slowly woke up from my fainting session. I blinked the drowsiness from my eyes as I looked around to see where I was. A light then turned on above me, revealing the stone ground beneath me. I looked up to see a white tunnel in front of me, but no clear path to get to it. I walked forward, causing stones from the surrounding walls to build a bridge to the tunnel.

Surrender!

The tunnel was then replaced by a metal door. I opened the door, which lead to a straight drop down. Logically, long falls equaled death, so I closed the door and turned around. I saw another door in front of me, walking toward it, I opened it and proceeded through. The white light felt warm, comforting, but the feeling didn't last long.

He cannot be allowed!

A Dark One appeared before me, stretching out his right hand. I tried to turn around, but I couldn't move as I was brought closer and closer to the creature. As soon as I was in touching distance, my vision once again faded to black.

I found myself in a tunnel. A white light was in front of me, waiting for me. I began walking toward it.

You will be stopped!

I turned around to see a Dark One behind of me, red energy following in his wake. Not wanting to feel his wrath, I began to sprint in the direction of the light.

Surrender!

I paid no mind to the creature behind me. I kept focused on the light, a beacon in the surrounding darkness. I kept running for what seemed like an eternity, until I tripped over a small rock jutting out of the ground. The light was very close now.

DIE!

I'm not dying now. Using whatever strength I could muster, I crawled the remaining distance toward the light.

"Artyom!" I looked up to see Hunter, my role model and fellow ranger in front of me. He pulled out something from his back pocket and threw it to me. It was my revolver.

"If its hostile - you kill it." Hunter then vanished.

....He's coming to destroy us....

I turned around to see the Dark One a few feet from me. Time began to slow down as the creature crept further and further. With no other choice available, I aimed my revolver at the Dark One and fired.

BANG

All....

BANG

Die....

BANG BANG

WHY?

BANG

ANSWER!?!

BANG

My vision returned. I found myself still on the tower's roof, revolver clutched in my right hand. I looked up to see a corpse. The corpse of the Dark One I killed.

You reap what you sow, Artyom: force answers force, war breeds war, and death only brings death. To break this vicious circle, one must do more than just act without any thought or doubt.

Khan's words echoed in my ears. I slowly got to my feet and approached the guidance system.

Pain... I looked down to see the Dark One still moving Death....Prevent

I aimed my revolver at it's head.

We only want peace. It reached a shaking arm toward me.

I fired.

Ten seconds to homing procedure completion. chimed the guidance system.

....His path....into nowhere....

Homing procedure complete.

In the distance, the sound of rocket engines were heard. I turned and watched as the missiles from the D6 military base began to approach their target. After a few seconds, the rockets reached their destination and destroyed the dark mass in the middle of Moscow.

And like that...it was over. We had won. But, I still wonder. Was something lost from burning the Dark Ones from the face of the Earth? I'll never know. After a few minutes of watching the residual fire burn the black mass, I began the long descent down from the tower.

A few days later....

Exhibition Station

"Alex!" yelled Eugene.

"What is it, Eugene?" Alex lifted his head from his desk "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"I know....but."

"But what?"

"Well...."

"Hey, is that?" said a voice outside.

"Oh my God, it is!" said another voice.

With the volume of voices getting louder, Alex got up and went to examine. "What's all the ruckus about?"

"Look who's come home!" said Boris as he pointed behind Alex. Alex turned around to see Artyom, his stepson, approaching him.

"Artyom!" yelled Alex as he embraced him.

"Hello, Sukhoi."

"Are you injured?"

"No. I am quite alright."

"Your son is quite the ranger, Alex." said Ulman.

Alex relinquished his grasp of Artyom "I knew he would."

"So, Hero of Russia. What are you gonna do now?"

"I need to sleep. I deserve it at this point." The surrounding people laughed.

Alex smiled "Alright, I'll leave you to it. And Artyom, I'm glad your safe."

"Thanks." Artyom the proceeded a short distance till he found his room. He went inside, shut the door, and dropped himself on his bed.

Home. I never thought I would miss it this much. My back muscles felt relaxed as I lay on the bed. I closed my eyes and drifted off into sleep.

Your sins.....       ....shall never be forgiven....

I suddenly felt myself being dragged into my bed. I struggled against it, but my weakened body couldn't break free.

You...shall suffer....for eternity!

My vision went to black as I was absorbed by the Dark Ones.