Stalker (pt.5)

“So, how long have you two known each other?” I asked.

It was late at night. We were still camped at the university, and were taking cover in Methuselah's office. The fire in the barrel roared. The German officer was seated across from me, his hands cupped around the fire in an effort to warm up.

After Andrei had shot the woman, we had decided to ban together with the officer, who’s name I learned was Wolfgang Wagner. I didn’t get to learn much besides that they knew each other, and were allies. After that, we spent the rest of the daylight hours barricading the place, so we could spend the night in safety. Still, despite this, we decided to take shifts. Really, it was them that decided that, and I just followed along. The two surprisingly worked together well, which raised even more questions, because from what I could tell, Andrei was a lone wolf (not literally)

and him working well with another person seemed improbable. Yet, here I was, being proven wrong.

The German himself was almost as interesting a character as Andrei. Almost. He didn’t have the same aura of mystery Andrei did, and he was more ready to answer questions than Andrei was.

He had to be the oldest military man I had ever seen. He was about fifty years old, with graying hair and a wrinkled, stress-lined face. He had one of the officers caps on, one you might expect an officer back from WW2 wear. On it, he proudly wore the black cross.

“For a few years,” he said. “I was commanding a tank at the time, I still am, in fact, and I found him in the woods, wounded. Took him to the infirmary at the garage I was stationed at, helped him out. We left on good terms. Now, of course, I am a Hauptmann, so I do not go to stations like that much anymore. I’m stationed in places like Berlin, teaching soldats.”

“Translate, please.” 

“Hauptmann is captain, and soldats are privates.”

“Ah. Why are you here?”

The German shrugged. “I do not know. Woke up in an alleyway, no idea how I got there. Last memory was seeing a lot of purple light. Found only me, my uniform, and my pistolen, and that was it. No tank or anything.”

“What tank do you drive?” I asked, out of politeness more than curiosity.

“Leopard tank, number 1396. Good crew. Wish I knew where they were.”

“Mmmm.”

It was quiet around the fire for a bit. I sat back in the chair, dozing, my tail curled around the chair back, when the German broke the silence.

“You like Andrei, don’t you?”

“Hmmm?”

I sat up, only to receive a blast of the “stern look” only German officers can give. The look he was giving me reminded me of those old black and white movies I had seen, with the stern, emotionless snouts of SS officers. However, the German was human, for one, and two, there was a bit of emotion there, I just had a difficult time trying to understand what it was…

“What makes you think that?” I asked him, concealing my nervousness. I was starting to wonder if this man was actually a tanker or a security officer, because dang, he was gooood.

“I have seen the way you look at him. Even though you are not human, it is… easy to tell.”

“Oh really?”

“You doubt me?”

I sighed and looked down, fidgeting with my claws. “No, because you're correct. Why?”

“I merely want to make sure you are prepared.”

I looked up at him in confusion. “What? One second, you're acting like a SS officer, and next, you're worried about me?”

To my surprise, this caused him to laugh. And even though it was a simple chuckle, it was still impressive, because that was the first time I had made a German laugh. An officer, no less.

“I am merely worried about you because for one,” he said, smiling,”you are not human. If you ever get home I worry it will cause enormous damage to your family, and on you.”

“And second?”

“Second, is because you like one of the most dangerous people on this planet. Possibly the most dangerous. But…”

“But what?”

“The thing is, he likes you too, which is…surprising to me.” 

“Oh? How do you know him so well? Because even I can’t tell.” 

The German chuckled. “Oh… that is a very long story.”

“Well, what are you waiting for? We got time.”

His smile faded, and he leaned back in his seat, gazing at the ceiling. “A long, long time ago, I was an intelligence officer in Germany, after the Berlin wall fell.

“I gave it up shortly after this incident, and transferred to the Army, because I hated being an intelligence officer from then on.

“This was about… oh… sixteen years ago by now? 

“We were invited to Russia to see the Stalker program, because my country wanted to see if doing the program would be worth it.

“It was top secret, you must understand, so no records of the trip exist

“We went there to witness the Stalker program. It was…horrifying

“They had taken about 1000 three year old children, when they were in their most developmental stages, and well…

“What we saw was bad. But the worst part of the training didn’t come until later, after I left.

“I had kept in contact with a friend, and he had updated me as the year progressed.

“They had something called ‘pain training’ when the children were ten…”

“You don’t mean-” I said.

“Yes. Andrei has had almost every bone in his body broken at one point, except the ones in his head.”

“Anyway, that wasn’t the worst thing. The worst was the ‘Graduation Test’

“They sent the now seventeen year olds to an extremely radioactive, which I don’t remember what it was called.

“By that time, there was only about 150 of the children left

“They all required a chaperone, to make sure that the Stalkers did not run off. I was called in and assigned to Andrei.

“I did my best to make sure he went through unharmed, but at the last moment his gas mask visor broke, because he was slashed by a knife. He has a scar from that today, and it is bad.

“Anyway, I was more successful than most of the other chaperones. Only 69 made it through, less than half. And their bodies are still rotting there today…

“My god…” I said, barely believing what I just heard. But the way he said it made me confident he was telling the truth.

“So Andrei…”

“Has literally gone through hell and back. He was the top of the ‘class’, too, which was no easy feat. And where he has gone and what he has done during the past two years have been far worse, I assure you…”

The door to the office opened, and in the doorway stood Andrei.

“We have a visitor. I talked to him. You might know him, Daronean…”

“Oh?” Somebody I would know, here? Likely story…

“Andrei, you stay here. I’ll take over sentry duty…” the German said.

“Kommandant.”

Andrei handed the German the SVD, and sat down where the German had been a few moments before.

“Why are you coming with me?” I asked him as we walked down the large staircase, towards the door.

“I wanted to see the visitor myself. Also, it was time, anyways…”

There was a fire at the door, where Andrei had been a moment before. And next to it…

“Craig!” I yelled.

The white wolf turned around, smiling. “There you are. I was wondering if you were still alive after all that.”

Craig was still dressed in his usual black shirt and jeans, but he had acquired a ragged leather jacket along the way.

Even after the incident, he was still looking as perfect as ever…

I gave him a big hug, which he happily returned. Craig had been a good friend of mine for years, after I had taken him under my wing (quite literally) after him being shunned the entire time, due to his orientation.

The German (I guess I should start calling him the Kommandant now) stuck out his hand in greeting. “I am Hauptmann Wagner. You are?...”

Craig smiled. “I’m Craig Holtman, Hauptmann. It’s good to be here.”

“How are you alive? I remember you got taken away in an ambulance…”

Craig nodded. “I did. Was in the hospital for a week. Got out and was walking when this purple light came…” he shrugged. “Ended up here.” 

I exchanged a puzzled look with the Kommandant.

“Time must go slower here, somehow.” The Kommandant suggested.

“Maybe. Anyway,” I said, turning back to Craig. “I’m glad you're here.” I said, hugging him again.

Craig nodded. “So am I. Everyone's been panicking, looking for you. Almost lost hope…”

The Kommandant suddenly looked out the window, gazing intently at something we couldn’t see.

“Craig,” he asked, “was there anyone with you?”

Craig shook his head. 

“Scheiße!” the Kommandant growled, then pulled out a whistle from his pocket, and blew into it.

It let out an ear piercing shriek that caused me and Craig to both cover our ears.

“Vragi!” he shouted towards the stairs, then whipped out his pistol. “Both of you, get down!”

We didn’t question him. All of us dropped as gunshots erupted from outside, and wood splintered and broke. It was so loud it made my head hurt.

“You! You… Craig, yes that's it! Can you shoot a gun?” the Kommandant yelled.

“Yeah, kinda!” he yelled.

“Here!” The Kommandant yelled, tossing him the SVD. “go to the second floor, snipe anything you see moving!”

“Okay!”

The Kommandant turned to me “you breathe fire?”

“I can, just not for long periods of time!”

“Help me hold the door until Andrei comes!”

The Kommandant got on his knees, and fired a few blind shots out the window. The door shuddered as someone began kicking it. 

I was terrified, but the Kommandant acted like this happened everyday. He looked at me grimly, then gestured to me to move away from the door.

Andrei came running down the stairs, carrying a knife and the submachine-gun. The two men nodded grimly towards each other then arranged a pattern that seemed familiar to them; Andrei in front of the door, and the Kommandant beside it.

“Where’s the shotgun?!” The Kommandant yelled.

“Out of ammo! I used the last shell yesterday!” Andrei answered back.

We heard a loud, distinct BLAM!, and a loud scream.

“Good boy!” The Kommandant shouted, smiling at the ceiling,”Let's help him out!”

Andrei unlocked the door and kicked it open. He let out a burst of fire from the machine-gun, and I heard another scream.

“Go! Go!” 

Andrei tossed me the machine gun and we burst out.

As soon as we got out there, I then understood fully why Stalkers are so feared. 

There were five men in ski masks with assault rifles, firing at the second story from various positions. One of them fell as another blast issued out from where Craig was.

Andrei didn't skip a beat. He tore a rifle from a dead man and let loose into one taking cover behind a pillar. He then threw his knife into the head of another, then shot a third with the rifle.

The Kommandant took care of the last one. He squeezed off a single shot with the handgun, and the last fell without a sound.

It was all over.

There were seven dead men, all carrying AK-74m’s. Two had been nailed by Craig, the rest by them by us.

Speaking of Craig…

I ran up to the second floor, and entered a bullet torn room. Craig was laying on the floor, breathing heavily. Red liquid was all over the fur on his shoulder…

“Craig!”

He was still clutching the rifle, holding it over his snout like it might protect him. I moved away.

He looked at me, green eyes full of pain, and tried to smile painfully. “Bout time you got here.”

“Oh god, oh my…”

Craig smiled reassuringly. “It's fine… Just get one of those two military guy’s up here…they’ll know what to do…”

I ran to the door yelling for help. 

Andrei came up the stairs, running. He saw me and ran into the room. Craig hadn’t moved, and Andrei knelt beside him, and removed Craig’s shirt.

Craig had a clean, red hole in his left shoulder, which was spilling blood in torrents. He whimpered in pain, looking at his shoulder.

Andrei looked at me quickly. “Run and tell the Kommandant I need his first aid kit and tweezers.” he said calmly.

“He had that all along?!” I yelled, panicked.

“Yes, now hurry!”

And then I ran.

I didn't stop running, even when I reached the stairs. This resulted in me slipping and falling down the last few steps.

The Kommandant looked at me in concern.”Is someone hurt?”

“Craig’s shot!” I yelled. 

The Kommandant sweeped up his bag and ran back up the stairs, with me in tow.

Everything was a blur. I remember arriving back at the room, then Andrei using his tweezers to pick at the bullet while Craig yelled in pain, and had to have the Kommandant hold him down.

I remember helping bandage his shoulder, while Andrei stitched it with a sewing kit.

After that, My memory fades.

***

“Rise and shine.” I heard Craig say.

I opened my eyes to see Craig sitting over me, smiling down at me. He had no shirt on, and his shoulder was covered in bandages.

“What happened?” I asked groggily.

“It's morning. I owe you and that Andrei guy my life.”

“Not the Kommandant?”

“No actually. Turns out he got shot in the leg, and didn't notice it until they were halfway through the operation.  You took over for him while he helped himself to the first aid.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“I’m not surprised. You were out of it and stressed.”

“Ah.”

He paused, then said. “I don’t think your mom or dad would mind you liking the guy.”

I covered my eyes in embarrassment. “First it’s the Kommandant and now it's you? Am I that obvious?”

Craig chuckled. “I guess so. But I’m gay, so I can tell when somebody likes a guy.”

“Great. Good for you.”

“I’m joking. Yes, you are that obvious.”

“Uhhh. And I assume Andrei knows?”

Craig laughed out loud at that. “Are you joking? That guy wouldn’t know somebody liked him even if they offered him marriage!” he paused. “He is a good guy though, so I think your father wouldn't mind.”

“You sure? You know how he is…”

“He will if I tell them how he saved me.”

“You would do that?”

“Daronean,” Craig said gently,”I owe you my life and sanity many times over. You don’t seriously think I would be joking about that?”

“I know, it's just a lot to ask…”

“Daronean, nothing is. So what, your dad doesn’t like me? Fine! I’ll stick up for you, even if you have an arranged marriage.” 

“Come here, you idiot…”

I sat up and wrapped my arms around his chest into a hug. We stayed like that for a solid minute before I let go. 

“Where are the others?” I asked.

“Andrei’s downstairs, taking post. Hasn’t slept all night, that guy. Kommandant is in another room, sleeping. We carried you over here last night, because as you were bandaging me, you fainted.”

I looked around. They had placed me back in the room where I had met Methuselah. 

Craig smiled. “Why don’t you go tell him thank you? About time you did.”