Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Desire" is a word that describes a strong feeling of want, to obtain something that either is within your grasp or forever lost to you. It is something that dwells in every single human being, regardless of how much they try to embrace or reject it. A strong desire has proven time and time again to be the cause of the entirety of the human race.

A desire for land. A desire for wealth. A desire for love, lust, power, servitude and worship. These are are only but a few that many have done so much to achieve.

However, in spite of what they do to achieve it, fewer have managed to realize their desires. The only thing that would result from them would be the consequences  that would stem from them, for better or for worse.

No truer words have been spoken, as many would soon find out within the confines of the exclusion zone. During the times of the Soviet Union, an arrogant and foolish desire for supremacy and power, among other things, would result in one of the most catastrophic disasters ever occurred. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant had suffered structural damage and poisoned the land with radiation. The people were forced to evacuate and many lives were lost. This would also be an event that would become a nail in the State-sponsored proverbial coffin.

Unfortunately, this did not mean that the zone would recover from their mistake. In the year of 2006, another disaster occurred that would forever change the landscape of The Zone. Animals would turn into horrific and violent mutants, the atmosphere grey and foreboding and the very laws of nature and reality forever twisted and corrupted.

While Chernobyl punished those who became foolish, The Zone punished those who tried to become God.

Said punishment would come in with a deep rumble and red skies, followed by an emission; a wave of highly violate energy that surges throughout from the center of The Zone. While it is possible to escape such punishment, this is only but another day that a fellow S.T.A.L.K.E.R is granted to live.

And as another emission is set to occur in the open swamplands of Zaton, that is where our story begins.

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Zone of Alienation, otherwise simply known as The Zone, had seen many things during the last few years, many of which had no doubt led to unforeseen consequences.

While it still highly dangerous and illegal to traverse though its many areas, the disabling of The Brain Scorcher and Miracle Machine as well as the supposed lack of Monolith forces were more than enough for Stalkers to venture forth and claim its riches. Stories of the The Marked One, Wish Granter, The Oasis and many others drew in the highly adventurous while the promise of valuable artifacts and secrets brought the more greedier bunch.

The factions that inhabit the Zone are still active, doing their best to do what they were intending to do, whatever that may be. The Ecologists still study and learn from the Zone, Duty still tries to destroy it, Freedom still push for a more free and open Zone. Bandits and Renegades still plague The Zone, while Clear Sky silently hunkers down in the Great Swamps. Meanwhile the Mercs are fulfilling their contracts as the Military attempts to regain control of the situation in vain.

Which only leaves the outcasts, misfits and "Loners" of the Zone. Those who maintain a sense of comradery and brotherhood while still keeping to themselves. Those who came to the Zone not because of an ideology, but because of their desires. Those who would be willing to risk their lives in order to achieve these desires.

Or, in the case of a small boy named Iruma, those who went because there was no other choice.

BOOM! KA-KRACK!

Iruma dashes through the swamplands, his boots sloshing against the water as he runs towards the relative safety of the Skadovsk. The blaring alarm from the stranded ship was drowned out by the ever growing roar of thunder. The entire area illuminated by a red hue as both stalker and mutant rush towards safety.

He was with two other stalkers several minutes before it began, taking part of a hunting expedition that was taking place at Izumrudnoye where it was reported that several mutants were in the area. What they failed to mention however...

GWOOOOOARRR!

Was that the mutants in question were bloodsuckers.

"AHHHHHHH!"

"DAMNIT GOPHER, HAUL YOUR ASS IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!"

"I'M TRYINNNG!"

"WELL TRY HARDER!"

"WE'RE ALMOST THERE! JUST A BIT FURTHER GUYS!"

As the three stalkers get near the entrance, they see other stalkers rushing in as well.

"GUYS LOOK OUT! BLOODSUCKERS INBOUND!"

GWOOOOAARRR!

Hearing the sudden noise, they all reach for their weapons before firing at the general direction of where the noise was. Not bothering to see the outcome, the trio rushed inside and soon collapsed on the floor. Shortly after the ground begins to rumble, with many flashing lights adorning the afternoon sky as the emission is about to reach a critical point.

At the bar, the stalker known as Beard makes one last transmission before communications shut down. The radio crackles with interference as he tries to make his voice heard.

"Attention, Attention! An emission is about to occur! Seek shelter immediately!"

At this point everyone has already arrived at the Skadovsk, now waiting out the momentary hell. The emission would only continue for at least another few minutes, but there would be no doubt that The Zone would claim more victims. Regardless, it was just how life was in The Zone.

And as Iruma stayed on the floor of the Skadovsk catching his breath, this was how his life was now. Not that it made any difference.

Iruma Suzuki was born to very selfish and carefree parents, who were quick to drag him out into the harsh world as soon as he turned one. He was used as bait, lived in the forest, ate leaves and bugs and worked for unsavory people. He was, for all intents and purposes, someone who could not say no.

But he was a kind-hearted boy, one who would never dare to lay his hands on another person. He was quick to help others and to show kindness and respect, and never would he hold any grudges. A model son wasted on horrible parents.

It was only until he turned 10, when his parents decided to send him to The Zone. When asked why they wouldn't join him, they went with the excuse of only having enough money for his equipment. The plan was relatively simple: go out and find these so called "artifacts", smuggle them out of the Zone, and sell them for a high price. It was a simple plan that should have taken only a few months at best.

It has been four years since then, and since then Iruma lives his life as a S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Four years ago, he abandoned his name, opting with his stalker name "Gopher"

Four years ago, he learned how to shoot his first weapon

Four years ago, he learned the harsh realities of The Zone and how a human life is insignificant in comparison.

Four years ago... he had his first taste of combat.

Since then he has seen many things, learned different trades, hunted many mutants and completed many jobs. He has had conversations with many stalkers and sat with them by the campfire. He has visited many places and found many artifacts, his weapon knowledge is second to none.

The Zone had changed him, for better or for worse. He was still a kind-hearted young boy, but now tainted by the blood of those who tried to cut his life short. He never liked harming anyone, nor did he ever wished death to anyone no matter how deserving they were of it.

But never in his entire life did he feel anything as he did before going into The Zone. He learned to become independent and assertive, to become more aggressive in his goals. In his mind, a surge of mixed feelings went through him. Anger, sadness, pain, happiness, faith, perseverance and many other words were only a few of the things he was feeling.

Right now, however, as he lied there on the floor of the Skadovsk, with his vision blurred by his lack of stamina and the rumbling from the emission, with his hunting rifle by his side there was only on thing on his mind. A desire, one that up until this point he had not even considered because of how far it was. One that The Zone, in a way, was able to grant to him.

A desire to be free... to be free of his former life.

Chapter Text

"Судный день близок, сталкер... иди ко мне..."

Doomsday is near, stalker... come to me...

A young boy finds himself in an old and decaying structure, metal and debris strewed about while also brimming with anomalies scattered throughout. He has no recollection of when he arrived, nor how or why. The voice he hears still lingers, strong and urging him on through. His breath is heavy, and yet he doesn't remember doing anything that would tire him. His body and mind both weary and frail, begging to rest and let go.

But the voice would not allow it.

"Ты найдешь покой, который ищешь... Приди ко мне..."

You will find the peace you seek... come to me...

мир...peace... the voice promises peace. Peace that was wrongfully denied from him so long ago. Peace that was taken from him the moment he was brought into this unforgiving world. Peace that he would have had if he had loving parents.

Oh how he hated how he was denied what was meant for him, what was supposed to be a right of his childhood.

However, he would not regret his decision to stay in The Zone. The time he spent in that man-made hell were arguably the best years of his life, regardless of how much it changed him. Why though? Why would he succumb to the horrors of The Zone? Why would someone like him be happy in a place so dark and depressing?

"Твои страдания скоро закончатся... отдайся мне."

Your suffering will soon be over... give yourself to me...

The voices grow stronger as he slowly descends down the fallen beams of the container, each step being a stab of pain through his body. He dares not look down, less he loses his balance and falls to the jagged concrete below. He wants to stop, to cease. He wants nothing more than to relive himself of the pain.

It was only when he carefully drops down a ledge where he finds an amazing sight. A large crystal, glowing and very much alive in contrast to the dead atmosphere. The young boy looks on in awe, feeling the strong aura that pulses within.

The voice spoke once more, its tone now more powerful and commanding.

"Приди ко мне... и я исполню твое желание."

Come to me... and I will fulfill your wish...

The crystal claims that it would grant his wish... of what he truly desires. Whatever it may be, regardless of how far fetched it would be. Would it be possible? To be able to obtain something that he so desperately wanted so many years ago? Maybe, maybe not.

In any case, it wouldn't matter in the end. He had already lost so many things. What else did he have to lose?

However, it would seem that fate would answer his question. As the boy made an attempt to make another step, his balance was lost and his body crumpled to the ground. His breathing becomes more haggard as he tries to get the strength in his body again, to will it to move. Slowly he brings his arm out and scrapes the ground in an futile effort to crawl towards the glowing crystal. The voice in his head begins to die out, giving one last message to the young man.

"Приди ко мне... и ты найдешь счастье, которое ищешь."

Come to me... and you will find the happiness you seek

Then the voice becomes silent, leaving the boy alone with his final thoughts.

His vision becomes cloudy, his mind now succumbing to the exhaustion and pain. His breath begins to slow down at an alarming rate. Movement now withers to a slow and gradual halt. As he slowly begins to fade into unconsciousness, he reflects back on the last few years of his life.

The days when he was running errands for his parents. Working in horrid and unsafe conditions, always underpaid and overworked. The days when he was roped into dangerous situations, running from criminals and authorities alike. Living in constant fear of death or torture by the hands of those less morally concerned. Always struggling for survival, living in the woods or desolate lands, hunting and fishing, gathering and harvesting. For a young boy to go through so much, it was a miracle that he always made it alive.

Then he recalled the years he spent in The Zone, when he was abandoned at the Cordon. The days when he was a rookie, making deliveries for Sidorovich or going on hunting trips with other hunters. The days when he learned the many things that were essential to becoming a stalker, and how to make do with what you have. Living in constant fear of death, but relishing in the comfort of his fellow stalkers and relaxing by the campfire. For a young boy to go through so much, he does not know if he was still the same as he was.

With one last herculean effort, he manages to turn over on his back as he adjusts himself. To make himself as comfortable as possible as he waits for death with open arms. He doesn't hear the voice anymore, but he utters his dying wish.

" ...Я хочу жить в мире..."

I wish to live in peace...

...

...

...

"NO...YOU WILL NOT DIE HERE!.. "

A booming voice is heard throughout the structure, is volume shuddering the walls. Metallic groans and clanks resonate together, adding to the already unsettling atmosphere. Out of the corner his eyes, he spots a strange figure gliding from the ceiling towards him. As the strange being comes closer, the boy's eyes widen in horror as he begins to see the dark wings and protruding horns from his bald head. The glowing crystal shines its light all around, but an unnatural shadow obscures its face.

"YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH TOO MUCH... AND I CANNOT BEAR TO SEE IT MUCH LONGER!"

The large figure lowers down and gently picks up the boy in his arms, being careful not to add more to his injuries. The boy, while still frightened, finally accepts his fate as he asks one final question.

"W-who are you?..."

The figure leans in close to the boys face, no longer obscured by the shadow. It was a gentle small smile of an old man, looking down on him with emotion in his eyes.

"Do not worry, Iruma... I shall be the one who will grant your wish..."

It was the last thing the boy would hear before losing consciousness.

Iruma was jolted awake form his dream by a sudden pinging noise from his PDA that was on his person. Looking around he finds that he was back at the Skadovsk, in one of the bunk beds upstairs. His hunting rifle, and old but reliable Mosin-Nagant, as well as his backpack was placed by the wall close by. Quickly, he pats himself down to make sure that there was no injuries or missing items on his person. Once he confirmed that he was okay, he silently looked around the old room.

There was nobody around at the moment, which meant that it must be around noon. There were rarely any stalkers who would try to go early in the morning or night, as either time was the most dangerous since mutant activity is high. This would also mean that business within the boat would be slow, allowing for a bit of peace and quiet.

Iruma got up from the bed and pulled out the PDA from his pouch. The emission had already ended a few hours ago, and based on several reports from various sources another one was not to occur for another 24-48 hours. With this in mind, he grabbed his rifle and gear and swiftly went downstairs towards the bar. There he saw Beard by the counter, drumming his fingers and looking at the small crowd of other stalkers having their meals and chatting. He had a look of boredom, which quickly brightened up once he saw the boy coming towards him.

"Ah, I see you're awake there, Gopher! Good to know those bloodsuckers didn't wring you out dry!"

Iruma, or Gopher as he was known as to the other stalkers, pouted.

"Well, I wasn't told there was going to BE any bloodsuckers when I took the job! A little warning would have been nice."

Beard had the decency to look a bit sheepish, "Sorry about that, friend. I would have assumed that we would rid ourselves of that problem when we managed to destroy their lair by the antenna complex. Looks like I was wrong."

"Muuuu..."

"But never mind that now. You're still alive now, are you? How about I get you some nice flesh chops on me, eh?"

Well, Iruma was never one to turn down a meal.

" Hmm...Okay!"

"Great! Give me a few minutes."

Beard then left to prepare the food, leaving Iruma alone on the counter to contemplate. Out of all the things he had to think about, one of the first things he would think of was his name. Or at least the name that was given to him.

Many who have set foot in The Zone had left their previous life behind, wanting to turn over a new leaf or wanting to forget their past. Because of this, there was a universal rule among the stalker community that they were to mind their own business. There were a few exceptions, but many would not dare reveal their past nor ask about the past of others. With this included names.

Regardless of where or how they would receive it, many, if not all, would abandon their real name. They decide to call themselves by a "stalker" name that they would respond to.

When Iruma first arrived at the Cordon, he was given the name "Gopher". It was a name that was given to him by Sidorovich when he first began working for him. At first he (very lightly) protested about his nickname. Then he quickly remembered the advice that Sid gave to him back then.

"Listen kid, whoever you are and whatever you were doesn't mean shit here. Why would anyone try to remember the name of some brat who might be as good as dead in a few days? If you're going to be here, you might as well make yourself useful. Otherwise, you either wind up a slave for bandits or just some sack of meat for the dogs to chew on."

As harsh as that was, he couldn't argue about that since being unproductive in The Zone was as good as being dead. In time, he learned to earn his keep and managed to earn enough to get much more decent equipment, moving from a simple leather jacket to a much more protected "sunrise" suit, which was the most suitable and cost efficient for most experienced stalkers. There were also many other items that had to be purchased such as food, medicine, ammo and other essentials. His rifle is the only thing that he spent the most on, with it being around 22,000 rubles and the ammo an extra 1,600 for each box.

Seeing as his main jobs consisted of hunting mutants, he made sure that every bullet counts.

He was taken out of his thoughts when he heard the clatter of his food being brought to him, with a roll of bills on the side and a canteen.

"There ya go, one serving of flesh chops! I've brought some water, along with your payment for the hunting job. I'll let you know when I need you for another job, ok?"

Iruma silently nodded at the man before pocketing his pay and heading to an unoccupied table, where he then dived into his meal. It was chewy and a bit strong on flavor, but was clean of radiation so there was no fear of being poisoned. Of course there were always canned food for sale, but most were either past its expiration date or made with "questionable" ingredients, so it was a gamble every time.

Flesh chops is a common dish served in The Zone, made from the meat of a mutant pig called a flesh. Being considerably one of the more harmless mutants, it is a perfect target for rookie hunters, provided that they don't get to close nor have it cornered of course.

This was one of the many lessons that Iruma had learned when he was in an apprenticeship a while back with a widely known hunter known as Trapper, who lived in an abandoned train station called Yanov, which was south of Zaton. The man knew practically every mutant known in The Zone, and Iruma for one was lucky to learn from him. In any case, he would gladly take a hunting job over artifact hunting any day. Although he wouldn't mind if there weren't any bloodsu-

Iruma's train of though was interrupted as he heard someone place something on the table in front of him. Looking up he saw a person with an unreadable face, with sharp red eyes and red hair. Their face made it a bit difficult to know if the person is a man or not, as their features look slightly feminine. Their skin was fairly pale, but that alone wasn't a cause for concern.

What was surprising was the fact that they had a leather jacket on, indicating that they were a rookie. Rookies are rarely seen this far north in The Zone, even rarer that are alone.

Iruma also saw that they placed what looks to be an old leather book, which has seen better days with all the wear and tear it has. He quickly finished a bite of his meal before greeting them. He's not impolite, but he is weary.

"Hello? How can I help you?" Iruma asked.

"Greetings, young one." replied the rookie, giving a slight bow. "Are you perhaps the one they call 'Gopher'?"

"Y-yes, I am."

"Excellent. I apologize for interrupting your meal, but there is something that I have to discuss with you with utmost importance. Do you have a moment?"

"Um, sure thing. W-what's your name, if don't mind me asking?"

The rookie gave a small smile, this time doing a much noticeable bow. "Apologies once again. My name is Opera. I wanted to see you because I was told that you were a very capable hunter, and I would like to ask for your help in capturing a certain creature."

"Creature? You mean a mutant right?"

"Of course"

It seems the stranger known as Opera wants to conduct a safari in Zaton. While it isn't uncommon for such missions, these expeditions were very rarely done past the cordon since a dead client does not pay.

"Well if you need my help finding this 'creature', then I would have to ask that you pay at least a portion of the payment up front. This is a very dangerous area for a rookie, and I have to be sure that I don't leave empty handed."

"Understandable, Mr. Gopher"

"J-just Gopher, Opera. There's no need to be f-formal"

"Very well then. Once again I apologize for interrupting your meal, I shall take my leave and wait patiently by the entrance until you are ready."

"T-thank you, Opera"

The rookie took this as a cue to leave, but not before giving him one final bow and taking their leather book. As they left, Iruma quickly went back to his meal as he didn't want to keep them waiting. After a few minutes, he met up with Opera again at the entrance, now fully equipped. After receiving the payment from Opera, they both left the Skadovsk, now trudging through the murky swamplands heading south. While the weather was nice and the area seemed quiet, both made sure to survey their surroundings as they traveled with their weapons ready. Iruma has his rifle holstered, holding instead an AKM-74 while Opera has a Viper 5, both of which were from Iruma's stash.

"Hey, Opera?"

"Yes?"

"So where exactly are you wanting to go? If you're not sure, I know a few places we can go to for hunting."

"Hmmm... I am not too particularly picky about where to go in regards to hunting areas, so I would like to hear your recommendation."

"Well, first things first; what is this 'creature' you're trying to find? If I know what it is we can find a place where they are mostly around."

"I believe it was a creature they would call a 'Snork'. I was told by my master that they resembled humans in away."

"Actually, they- wait..." Iruma looked at Opera in confusion, "... did you say master?"

"Yes, I did. I work as a servant to a very important person, and it was him that asked for me to retrieve something for him."

"And... you're okay with that?"

Opera glanced at Iruma with a nonchalant look on his face. "Of course. As his servant, I am bound to his will."

"I see..."

"Now then, where can we find a Snork, Gopher?"

"Oh!", Iruma took a moment to survey the area in order to get his bearings, " Well there is an abandoned fueling station not to far from here. Next to it is a network of caves that house a nest of Snorks. We should be able to reach it in no time."

"Very well then, Gopher. Please, lead the way"

The rest of the walk went quiet, save for a bit of idle chatter between the two. From the swamp they headed southwest where the fulling station was, where it has seen better days. The building itself no doubt has degraded since the early 70s, riddled with cracks and other structural damages that it suffered with the ravages of time. However it pales in comparison to the area next to it.

While it is a series of caves that more or less interconnect with each other, it's entrance is anything but welcoming. Looking as if from science fiction, a massive crater resides in front, with its edges sprouting several claw-like pillars slightly curled in forming a sort of makeshift cage. The fuling station was built on an incline, so part of the building, more specifically the parking lot, had already collapsed from the massive cracks that had appeared along with the caves. As the two gets closer towards the crater, a series of rapsy grunts and growls can be heard from within the caves, not doubt signaling their presence.

They kept going until the reached the edge of the crater. From there Iruma holstered his assault rifle, switching it now with the Mosin-Nagant.

"Okay Opera, were going to have to be careful about this so I want you to make sure you have your weapon ready, okay?"

"Yes, Gopher."

"Alright, stick with me and don't wander off. You might stumble into an anomaly."

Opera tilted its head with confusion, "Hmm?"

"What? I-is something wrong?"

"I apologize, Gopher, but I don't seem to have a clue as to what this 'anomaly' is?"

"...Wait... you don't know what an anomaly is? Haven't you seen any weird, uh, things that happen here?"

"I have. However, I had assumed that it had to be some sort of natural occurrence."

Natural? This is anything but natural!, thought Iruma, Don't tell me he dosen't know anything about The Zone? But, if he did, then how the heck did a rookie like him get over here and not get killed!?

The young boy assumed that the rookie in question had only tagged along with a more experienced group go get to Zaton, but with the fact that they don't know what anomalies are it was clear to him that something is wrong. Such information is common knowledge, and for someone who doesn't know about it is either a rookie, highly stupid or generally suspicious.

There were alot of questions, but Iruma is getting paid for his hunting skills so he decides to set the matter aside for now and answer his client.

Iruma points to the crater, "Do you see anything weird over there?"

Opera peers into the crater, and at first they don't see anything. There was nothing out of the ordinary aside from the ground, but as they were about to ask Iruma to specify they noticed something.

The air around it moved, as in it rippled as if it were water. There were also leaves that were moving around with the air, but the strange thing is that the leaves were moving around in an orbit.

"...Yes, it appears that the air is... distorted for some reason?", answered Opera.

"That's right, and that is what we call anomalies. We don't know how or why it happens, but I can tell you right now that it is not natural at all."

"I see. How are you able to get around these 'anomalies' then, if they cannot be dealt with?"

"Well, all you need is a bolt."

"A bolt?"

"Yes, a bolt."

Iruma reaches into his pouch and takes out a large bolt, "There are these detectors that are able to tell if an anomaly is close, but they're very expensive. Most of us just keep an eye and ear out and throw these to find our way. Come on, I'll show you."

With that he motions Opera to follow him as they both slowly descend down the crater, staying close to one another. A rapid, sharp beat can be heard throughout the area almost surrounding them. They kept moving forward before Iruma suddenly halted, with Opera almost bumping into him.

Iruma looked back at them with a small smile, "Sorry about that, Opera. I just need to make sure the way is safe for us."

"That is alright, no harm done."

Giving a silent nod, Iruma looked out in front and threw the bolt. Whoosh! Almost immediately the bolt overheats out the other side, the air around rippling wildly from the sudden change.

"Ugh, looks like we have to go another way."

Opera is intrigued by what they just witnessed, wondering how something like that could happen if it wasn't found in nature.

"Excuse me, Gopher, but what was that just now?", they asked.

"Oh! Well that is a Whirligig. It's an anomaly that is able to sweep anything and anyone up into the air before violently crushing them into pulp."

"Then shouldn't we go head back and find a much more suitable hunting spot?"

Iruma shook his head, "Don't worry, were already close to the safe zone."

Just as he said, they soon reached an area where the air was much more clearer, close to one of the cave entrances. The growling became much more audible as one of the snorks were just by the entrance. Iruma quickly motiened his comapnion to get low so as not to alert it. Iruma spoke to Opera in a much lower voice to avoid detection.

"Okay, there's already one closeby. I'm going for the shot. If you see anything coming towards us, shoot it. Do not think about it and shoot it until it's dead, got it?"

Opera gave a slight nod, and Iruma quickly positioned himself with the rifle. Taking a squared stance, he aims through the sights at the snork. Relaexd and with a steady hand, he slowly applies pressure on the trigger. He holds his breath, untill...

BANG!

The head of the snork bursts with a splash of red, giving a slight jurk until it slumps over dead.

"Alright! We got one! Now let's get it out of here before-"

GROOOOOOOWWLL!

Alerted by the shot, several more snorks run out of the entrance, galloping on all fours towards the two stalkers. Iruma quickly swaped his weapon, now equipped with the AKM.

"Here they come! Shoot them now!"

They aim on one snork heading in their direction, and with a short burst were able to hit it dead center sending it tumbling over the entrance. The other two snorks take litle notice and dash towards the duo.

"Watch out Opera!"

GROOOOOWWWWWWLLL! One of the snorks leaps towards Opera with claws bared, but was easily taken down in mid air by them. The last one also leaps towards them, but they manage to dodge to the side in time. The snork rolls over as it lands, changing its course and charging towards Iruma.

"Look out, Iruma!", yells Opera.

The last snork leaps towards Iruma, but he also manages to dodge just in time. However the snork is not so lucky as it was not able to stop itself in time, landing in a Whirligig. The snrok suddenly cries out in panic as the anomaly sweeps its victim towards the air.

Both stalkers look on in morbid curiosity as the mutant steadily spins around faster and faster, the air becoming more distorted before finally...

SQUELSH! being violently reduced to a red paste as its flesh and bones blow out from the anomaly.

"Interesting..." remarked Opera, fascinated by the violent nature of these anomalies.

"Y-yes, I guess i-it is..." replied Iruma, a bit anxious at Opera's lack of emotion.

Despite the slight setback, they managed to obtain several heads of the snorks thanks to Iruma's skill with a knife. He also takes apart a few hands and feet to give to the ecologists when he heads back to Yanov station. It wasn't long before the hunt was over as they head back to the Skadovsk.

As they arrived they noticed that the barge has now gotten more livelier, seeing several stalkers enjoying their meals and drinks while talking about the days' events. One of them notices Iruma and raises his drink to him in greeting.

"Hey if it isn't the little hunter! How was that hunting trip in Izumridonye? Thought you got slurped up by those bloodsuckers there!"

Another stalker (who was part of that group) came to his defense, "Oh shut the hell up, Mu'dak! Like you could do better!"

"The hell did you just called me?"

"Are ya deaf too? Maybe that shit you call 'medicine' is filling your head full of smoke!"

"No, but I bet I can take that gun of yours and shove that up your-"

"Enough!" yelled out Beard from the counter, "Romka! Vadim! Both of you shut the hell up! I don't want to clean up another mess like last time."

The two stalkers were decent enough to look sheepish.

"Sorry Beard...", "My bad man..."

Beard then looked over Gopher and Opera with their new trophies, now sporting a knowing grin.

"Well then Opera, I see that Gopher here was able to help you with your 'request'."

"Of course. Now I can see why he was so highly recommended." They replied with a small smile.

"Ha ha! See! I told you he wouldn't disappoint! He might look a bit smaller than the others, but he knows how to take down a Chimera like a champ!"

"Interesting..."

Gopher interjected at this point, "P-please don't talk about that, I really don't need to hear it again."

"Oh come on now, Gopher. Why are you ashamed about hearing how you flawlessly took down a large mutant while dodging his attacks?"

"Holy crap, I know!", said Romka, now joining in on the conversation, "I was there with him when we were on that expedition through the Darkscape."

"Romka, I swear if you start tal-"

He ignored Gopher's pleading, "A few months back me, Gopher and a few other guys took an escort job for one of the scientists back at Yantar. They said that they wanted to measure a few anomalies that were going on in that area since almost no one goes there, and to be frank with you I don't blame them."

"What's wrong with Darkscape?", asked Opera.

"It's a fucking deathtrap, that's what that place is.", replied Vadim, "The whole damn place is surrounded by cliffs and anomalies, and with so many mutants and not many escape routs its practically not worth it looking for artifacts there. You'd have better luck wandering around the whirligig funhouse by the rookie village than going through that hellhole."

Romka nodded in agreement, "Ain't that the truth? Anyways, since we were in a group and had decent equipment we figured that we were able to take care of anything that came in our way, so we headed out at dawn and arrived there by mid-day."

"That was your first mistake there, my friend. You now how unpredictable The Zone can be.", said Beard.

Romka's expression became more sullen "*sigh* Yeah, I know. Even today I have no fucking clue where that Chimera came from. The first dude barely could give a word of warning before the beast pounced on him and tore him to shreds. After that we all started blasting, but our bullets were barely scratching the damn thing and it quickly took out two more guys before we decided to get the hell out of there."

Chimeras are rare to find in The Zone, and even harder to fight and escape from. With its great speed and agility, it's a very dangerous mutant that even the most experienced stalker would have difficulty putting down. There are few natural enemies that can go against a Chimera, each of them equally as terrifying.

"I can't imagine how horrible it must be to die in such a way.", said Opera.

Romka gave a wry grin at that statement, "And if you're not careful, you don't have to."

Dammit! This why I didn't want them telling that story!, thought Gopher, They're shook up about that experience!

Feeling the mood starting to dower, Beard felt the need to give his piece.

"Isn't this around the time where Gopher here became the Hero? I'm sure he made quick work of that damn thing!"

Gopher can see Romka's expression lighten up at the mention of him. If that's what it takes to keep him in a good mood, then by all means.

"Hell yeah he did! After we decided book it out of there, Gohper here had the bright idea to draw the Chimera from the group towards him."

"He did what!? Dude what the hell was going through your mind when that happened!?", yelled out Vadim

"Well, I, uh-"

Beard shook his head in disappointment, "Come on now, Gopher. I thought you knew better than to do something like that. I know you like to help others, but that was just asking for trouble."

"If this creature was as deadly as the other gentlemen here are making it out to be, I would have to agree with him on this. That was purely irresponsible.", said Opera.

"Well I'm here now aren't I!? Besides, I already know how they attack.", replied Gopher.

With everyone's attention now on him, he continued, "When I was learning how to hunt with Trapper, he told me the different hunting patterns of each mutant and to counter it. From him I knew that Chimeras quickly pounce on their prey before quickly running around and trying again. When the Chimera jumped at me, I quickly dodged to the side and took aim as it was turning around.", he mimicked the action of aiming his rifle, "I took my stance, eased my breathing and took aim around the area where the two heads meet and..."

He then quickly jerked his arms back, mimicking the recoil of the rifle, "Bang! It quickly lost its momentum, but I had to dodge another attack before I could make another shot. After that, it dropped dead. We had to camp for the night there while we were tending our injuries and burying the dead. After that it was smooth sailing from there."

When he finished the story, everyone was looking at him with smug faces.

"W-what?"

"Oh nothing." said Beard sarcastically, "I was just under the impression that you wanted to keep quiet about the whole ordeal."

"Yea man, I thought you were going to keep telling us to shut up!"

"Looks like little Gopher here likes being the center of attention after all, eh guys?"

"For what it's worth, Gopher, I must say I'm impressed as to how you were able to put down that creature. Truly remarkable."

"W-well you guys kept pestering to me about it, s-so I though that you guys woul... uh... hear it from..." Gopher was having difficulty speaking as his face was heating up with embarrassment.

"Okay, screw you guys! I'm heading to bed!"

A round of laughter was heard in the Skadovsk, which in some days is a necessity for when one travels in an unforgiving place such as the Zone. Otherwise, many stalkers would have gone insane a long time ago.

After receiving the rest of the payment from Opera, he quickly went upstairs where he spent a few roubles in repairs and restocking supplies with the merchants before heading into the private quarters to take a nap in the rusty, heavily weathered bed many call a luxury. The next few hours would be a dreamless sleep.

When the young boy woke up from his slumber it would already be night time, with the chatter of the bar and the sounds of the radio filling the otherwise haunting silence of the Skadovsk. It was not surprising, as many would not dare try to brave the night outside while the mutants become more active.

Making sure that he had everything on his person once again, he quietly made his way below deck to the bar where he found Opera, Romka and Vadim chatting along with a few other stalkers at one of the tables. When he was told to join them he quickly obliged.

"Heyyy-*hic*-Gopherrr, we w-wuzzz jus' talking about ya' man!", said Vadim, who was obviously drunk if the slurred voice and sluggish movements were anything to go by.

"And guess what?" said Romka, slightly less drunk, " Your good 'client' here offered us drinks for the occasion! Here have some!"

He then pushed his half finished bottle of vodka to Gopher, where he quickly declined with a wave of the hand.

"Uhh, I think I will pass thanks..."

"Come on! Just a sip!"

"Yeaahhhh maaaann, o-o-*hic*- one swig won' hur none'!"

"No I'm good, guys. I'll just get something to eat instead"

"Pfft, whatever..."

Gopher turned his attention to Opera, who was watching the conversation with mild interest.

"Soo-are you hungry? I can get you something to eat if you'd like."

Opera shook their head, "That is quite alright, Gopher. However, if you are not particularly busy at the moment I was wondering if I could have a word with you?"

"Um, sure. Let me eat first and then we can talk.", replied Gopher.

"Thank you. When you are done, please meet me at the deck as it is a bit more... private."

Opera then excused themselves from the table, heading upstairs towards the deck where he would be waiting. From there it would be a mostly quiet meal, with Gopher silently enjoying his meal while Romka and Vadim eventually both passed out from the vodka.

It would not take long before he would finish his meal and leave the bar to meet up with Opera at the deck. It wasn't hard to find them as only half of the barge was intact, as the rest would slowly rust and decay into a skeleton of itself. The only ones to be at the most top part of the barge are those who stand guard, looking out into the swamplands for any signs of danger. Thankfully there was enough space for a campfire, with several sleeping bags surrounding it to provide a somewhat comfortable setting.

Out in the far open, the distant howls and calls of the Zone could be heard. The entire area shrouded in a pitch black covering, save the full moon, the stars and the small fire made on top the Skadovsk.

Gopher took in the eerily calm scene, filling him with a sense of fulfillment and some other emotion that he could not quite recall. It was times like these when he wondered about where he would be if he didn't follow his parents towards the zone on that day. His emotions would conflict and bash against each other, both damming and forgiving. He would not regret his time in the Zone, but part of him wondered if he should've died that day. It wasn't the first time he has thought of this.

As much as Opera would like to move along and begin the conversation, they could not help but stay in silence. Almost as if entranced in a spell, they allowed themselves to relax, if only slightly. They would see the young boy staring into the crackling fire, as if it was some sort of crystal ball that held the secrets to the universe. Their relative silence would last who knows however long, and it seemed that it would stay that way before Gopher began the conversation.

"Opera?..."

"...Yes?", said Opera now giving him their full attention.

"When we went on the expedition to the snork nest, you said that you were a servant bound to your master's will...is that true?"

"...Yes, that is correct. I have trained and prepared myself to become his servant... although it is actually more than that."

Gopher looked at Opera with a confused expression.

"What do you mean?", he asked.

"...My master is a very powerful and influential individual. Where I'm from, his word is practically taken as law and has done great lengths to earn the right to become powerful. Although I am his employee, I have dedicated my life to him and by extension to his will. Whatever he asks of me, I will do so to the best of my ability."

"And... you're okay with that?"

"Yes. As I have said, he is very powerful. However, he also knows what's best for others and does not ask more than what I am able to do. That is because as much as I respect him, he also gives me respect in my efforts and in what I do. It is what I have decided, and I will continue to do so in the near future."

"Oh..."

The conversation dwindles again as they both take their time, staring into the campfire once more. Time passes for a while in silence.

"Gopher?"

"Hmm?"

"When did you start suspecting me?"

Gopher quickly snapped towards him, caught off guard by the sudden question.

"W-what do you mean?"

Opera tilted their head in a curious manner, discerning his reaction.

"When we first met, you immediately noted of my appearance. The slight furrow of your brows and the quizzical look on your face says everything."

Gopher groaned

"Oh god, I wasn't that obvious was I?"

"Of course not, Gopher. I'm just very observant of others, as what my job requires of me."

"I see...so I guess you aren't a rookie after all, are you?"

Opera shook their head, "Oh no, you are very much correct. I have only been in this area for several days now."

"Several? How the hell did you get here in only a matter of days? Even the most equipped rookie struggles to even make it to Rostok, barely halfway."

"I had a guide with me, of course. Although he could only go so far as the Garbage before I had to make it the rest of the way myself."

"Yourself? Wha-I-You can't be serious! How is it even possible for you to even get here with no weapons or equipment in the first place?"

"I never said I wasn't prepared."

Gopher gave Opera a deadpanned look, refusing to believe that statement.

"Opera, I had to lend you my equipment before we could even begin our expedition."

"Well yes, but only because you insisted."

"Insisted? What were you going to do? Fist fight the snorks?"

"I hired you so that YOU would hunt the snorks."

"And I had told you that a dead client doesn't pay!"

"I would have been fine, Gopher.", reassured Opera, "There was no need to worry yourself over it."

Feeling highly irritated by how the conversation has went, Gopher threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Alright! Fine! You would've been okay! Now then, could I ask YOU a question?"

Opera was undeterred by Gopher's shift in attitude, "Why yes, you can."

"*sigh* Okay, so I already know more or less about you, but can you tell me how you know me?", asked Gopher.

"Well it wasn't hard to find out about you, given all then rumors that spread around here.", replied Opera.

"That is true, it is near impossible to keep a secret..."

Click!

Suddenly Opera felt something lightly poking the back of their head, and immediately knew that something was wrong. It was further confirmed when the young boy didn't react at all, his features now forming into a quiet glare.

Opera can feel the tension rising and noticed that the guards are also keeping and eye on them as well. It quickly became clear that Gopher led them here not only for privacy... but for protection.

"...but now I have to ask another question, and please... for your sake, I hope that you tell the truth.", said Gopher in a soft voice.

It was obvious that the boy did not want to escalate things any further, but if what the stories of him were true... then it would be best to tread lightly.

"...Very well. What do you wish to know?", asked Opera.

"...Back at the snork nest, when I failed to raise my rifle in time you called out to me. You warned me of a snork that was about to leap at me. I'm grateful for that, and I want to thank you for it. However, I can't ignore what you called me when you did."

A simple mistake that was made. One that would have been avoidable, but The Zone has ways of bringing the truth to light. Opera mentally reprimanded themselves for committing such a foul up, but they could not help it when the person they were looking for was close to meeting their demise.

"When I called you by your other name, correct?"

"Yes...that's right. No one else has ever called me by that name, and there are only three people that I know who know this: Sidorovich... and my parents. And I know for a fact that Sid would not waste his time sending someone out to find me if he could just contact me by PDA. As for my parents..."

Gopher looked at the now dying fire, his face becoming more solemn at the mere mention of them. Opera was disturbed to find such an expression on a child, because it was too unnatural to even think about even in the most pessimistic of children. It was an expression... of hope already lost a long time ago.

"...I have been here for several years now, Opera. I know my parents more than themselves, and sometimes even more than myself. I know that they would not risk their life for me. I know that if they ever came back for me, I know that it will be because of necessity and not of love. I used to be this naïve, terrified little boy that did everything for them. That boy died the moment I set foot in here, in The Zone. If you are here, and you know my name... that means that they sent you. If they sent you... then that means I have to go back to being their errand boy. If you are going... to... take me away...then...then..."

He looked at Opera with a determined face, although marred by the unseen tears he was holding back.

"...Then you're going to have to kill me instead. I'd rather die in The Zone than waste another day being a slave to someone who is supposed to love you."

Opera is at a loss for words, as the weight of his words grew heavy on his shoulders. It was supposed to be much simpler than this, but now it seemed that the boy is willing to live in a desolate place such as The Zone. If it meant his freedom, then he would do anything to hold on to it as much as he could. Opera chose his next words carefully.

"Gopher... while I was sent here by my master, the request did come from your parents."

The young boy could only sigh deeply, his head hanging low. It appears that time really did come for him.

"I see... so then I'll be taken back after all, huh?"

"Yes. However, you will not be going back to your parents."

Gopher quickly looked at Opera, now confused.

"Huh!?"

"Your parents contacted him a few days before I arrived. They asked him for money, and in return agreed that they would turn over custody of you to him."

"Turn custody of me... to him? In exchange for money?"

"I'm afraid so."

"So they just sent you to get me, just to get his money's worth?"

"Yes. I understand how awful that sounds bu-"

"BUT WHAT!?", yells Gopher.

The boy stands up and quickly gets close to Opera, gritting his teeth in fury.

"I HAVE JUST BEEN SOLD TO SOME STRANGER BY MY PARENTS! AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT I SHOULD JUST SHUT UP AND TAKE IT!?"

"Gopher, I assure you he is not that type of man. He only wants to care and protect you like his own!"

"Bullshit! If that were the case, why the fuck would he go to them!? Did he want permission from them to take me away!? Or did he make an excuse just so he could get another 'servant'!?"

"I will not have you disrespect him in such a manner!"

"I don't care who the hell he is! For all I know he could be some old pervert looking for young fresh boys!"

"Enough!"

"Did he grow tired of you? Did you not 'service' him enough? DID YOU GIVE HIM ENOUGH FUCKING 'SERVICE' OPERA!?"

"I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!"

Gopher could barely register being lifted by his collar until the guards aimed their guns towards Opera.

"Hey! Put the kid down and back the fuck up!", one of the guards calls out. Neither party move, not wanting to risk any escalation.

There was a beat of silence as the two stalkers stared each other down. It was only until Opera relented when they decided to calmly put the young boy down when the guards lowered their weapons.

"*sigh* I...would like to apologize for that unsightly display. I am usually more composed against this type of tirade, but it seems the environment here makes a person more...susceptible I suppose.", says Opera

"It's okay... Honestly I didn't think I would be that angry but... what else could I be when I just find out that my soul was sold to some random person?"

"For what it is worth, I can assure you that he would never do something such as that. He's already at such a age where he can no longer have a lover, but he is willing to spend time with someone...with family."

"And what? He wants to adopt me as a son?" asks Gopher.

"Actually as a grandson, but yes he would like to adopt you."

"I don't know, man. I just... this is just so much to take in right now."

"I understand. There's no need to rush, but I would like to get an answer from you soon."

"Sure thing... but for now can we just... enjoy this night? I need time to think things through beforehand."

"Of course, Gopher."

The rest of the night would be in silence without any more preamble. Under the stars and the soothing sounds of the Zone, the two stalkers lay there by the campfire to remember the good times, and to recount the good and bad that have taken place in this abandoned part of the world. Soon, the need for sleep would take them back to the crew's quarters and there they would rest under the relative safety of the Skadovsk.

Chapter Text

A new dawn breaks out from the clouds in the Zone, signaling it's inhabitants another day of life granted. From within the confines of the Skadovsk a steady stream of stalkers head out for another day of rigorous artifact hunting, with only some staying behind for a quick and light breakfast, or maybe to cure themselves of a hangover. Iruma and Opera both arrive at the bar, the former eager for something to eat. Thankfully with the lack of patrons at this hour it was enough to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet.

Beard greets the two in typical friendly fashion, "Ah, good morning boys. Did you get any decent sleep last night?"

Iruma smiles back, returning the favor, "Of course! believe it or not those mutant noises outside make enough white noise for me to sleep."

"Mutant screeching helps you sleep? No offence, Gopher, but there must be something seriously wrong with you if the sound of a wailing lurker helps you sleep at night."

"Well it's either that or in utter complete silence, and for me that's even more unsettling."

"In any case, as long as that noise is outside the Skadovsk then you can go ahead and sleep all you want."

"Ha! I'll keep that in mind!"

Replying with a half chuckle, Beard turns his attention to Opera.

"And what about you, friend? I'm sure our Gopher here was able to help with your request, right?"

"Of course. I'm more than satisfied with his services, and I would like to thank you for that."

"Ahh, don't worry about it. That's what he does does best, a bonafide hunter that is."

Iruma tries to wave off the compliment, "Alright, enough with the flattering you two. I'm just doing my job"

"Okay, and? If anything that's more that what others would be capable of, at least when it comes to dealing with mutants.", replies Beard.

"I guess... by the way, do you know if you have any more of your special tea? I've been dying to get some more since last time."

"Well you're just in luck, I was about to make some more so just give me a few minutes and I'll get you a fresh batch."

"Great! In that case, would you mind waiting for me, Opera? I gotta go check on an order I made."

"That won't be a problem, Gopher. Do what you need to do."

Iruma then left, heading upstairs to where Nimble would normally be, leaving only Opera to keep Beard company. The barkeep of the Skadovsk begins to gather his ingredients while he continues the conversation.

"So, from the commotion I head last night, I'm guessing that he wasn't to thrilled about that proposal you were telling me about the other day."

Opera let out a weary sigh, "In retrospect, I should have left a few details out before asking him. Believe me when I say that despite what my employer does on a daily basis, he sometimes doesn't know how to handle delicate situations like this."

"Heh, no offence to you, but something tells me that you aren't to thrilled about doing such things either."

"It's more like there are more pressing matters to attend to rather than trying to look for a grandchild. Even if that weren't the case, there are better ways of adoption than looking through a dower place such as this."

"Hey it may be a hellhole, but its our home away from home. There are plenty of stalkers that have been living good lives just to one day decide to come to The Zone."

"Why is that? Surely there wasn't anything much valuable to obtain from here.", asked Opera.

Beard just shrugged, just as he continues to make his tea "Eh, apart from the artifacts, loot and mutant trophies you might find here, you might be right. For me, it's the steady flow of income from my business that keeps me going... Well, that and being able to help the other stalkers from time to time. Other than that, they have their reasons; to run from the law, live a life of adventure, to find oneself... one way or another, The Zone always provide."

"I suppose so... however I'm not sure what someone like Gopher would be looking for here."

"Well, given the circumstances I don't blame you. By all accounts he should not even be here, and yet..."

Beard takes a moment to look away from his tea to Opera with an unreadable expression, "He is still here. When he first arrived to the Zone some of the loners had tried to send him back through the checkpoint, but those bastards from the military already shut that down by trying to gun them down. After that, he was left to his own devices. Sure we help each other from time to time, but not many of us believed at the time that he would survive for more than a few days."

"But...he's still here... and from the looks of it he seems healthy enough to me.", replied Opera.

"Hah! When I first heard about the kid myself I was sure someone had to many run is with a controller or something. But then more and more stalkers started talking about him, and soon enough he became a celebrity of sorts for a while.", said Beard.

"I assume the novelty wore off soon enough?"

"Well, once you get over the issue of his age he is just like any other stalker, except the fact he attracts more danger to himself than others."

"Oh? how so?"

"Well, despite all that he has done, he is still a child. Many like to think that's just an easy target, but they tend to forget that he has already done his fair share of fighting. Of course, he always avoids combat whenever he can."

"In that case, it's a good thing he's able to know his limits. If there is fighting to be involved, it would be best if you held the advantage."

"Heheh, speaking from experience there friend?"

"When you are in the same line of work as I am, it always pays to have every advantage."

"That I can believe, brother.", says Beard as he pours his finished tea into a thermos. "Anyways, I'm glad he finally has the chance to leave; Not that I'm trying to get rid of him or anything but... well I would rather have someone like him be properly cared for, rather than having to tough it out by his lonesome. He's already shown that he could take care of himself, but The Zone is not a place for a child, especially when he still has his whole life ahead of him."

"I understand, and I will do my best to make sure he is taken care of when he arrives with my Master. I certainly hope Gopher will be able to adjust when the time arrives."

"He's a good kid, I know he'll be able to get along just fine."

Opera only gave a nod in response, and shortly after he could hear the young boy coming down the stairs.

"Beard, is the tea ready yet?"

"Of course! Here, take it. Be careful now, it's still hot"

Gopher gives a short laugh as he takes the thermos from the counter, replacing it with some cash. After he places the thermos inside his backpack he gestures Opera towards the door.

"Okay, let's head out now. Some of the more dangerous mutants don't roam out as much during the day, so we don't have to worry much about anything bigger than a pseudodog."

"Very well then. Good day to you then, Beard."

Beard gives them a wave goodbye while they leave," Same to you as well! Take care of Gopher for me eh? Be sure to send some letters when you can!"

Gopher returns the wave, a smile etched on his face.

"Bye Beard! I'll let you know when I get there!"

As the two head out through the door, Beard sees the Skadovsk now empty, devoid of any soul save for the few traders at their place.

"*Sigh* I'm going to miss that kid... may he live a better life than what most of us could dream for..."

He is not looking forward to breaking the news with his fellow Stalkers, especially Romka and Vadim. As for him... well many come and go, but at least for young Gopher, it would be a new chapter for him.
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The weather was fairly calm as they trudged along the old road, which was a small blessing in disguise as it was usually very cloudy or otherwise very stormy, which made the overall experience very uncomfortable.

That, along with the absence of any mutant calls and such would have made it more pleasant if it wasn't for the fact it was actually very rare for that to be the case. Regardless of the time of day, there was always a pack of dogs or flesh wondering around. Even the birds, so consistent in their cries, have fallen silent. Opera was somewhat confused, as while they haven't been in the zone for long there is always some activity that occurs within the wildlife.

As for Gopher, his blood ran cold. There can be only one explanation as to why it is, but before he could even tell Opera to run-

BWOOOOOOO!

The skies begin to darken with a solemn groan, announcing once again its arrival as a red hue covers the entirety of the zone.

"EMISSSION! WE NEED TO FIND SHELTER NOW!"

Both of them started running as the ground trembled and the skies flashed, the wind begins howling a somber tone and animals and mutants unseen begin to stampede. What was a silent stroll devolved into a chaotic race against time. This wasn't the first time that Gopher had to do something similar to this, but this time he realized this may his last. A wave of energy raced forward towards the two, frying anything caught in the crossfire.

It runs closer, it was obvious that it was no use outrunning it. To make it even worse, Gopher suddenly trips on his feet. This was it, this was the end of his life and all for trying to follow the whims of some old man...

...so he closes his eyes, and waits for the end... but he doesn't hit the ground.

Iruma opens his eyes, his whole vision now a purple hue. There was no ground, and he finds himself floating. Then lines begin to appear and form themselves, eventually forming a sort of room.

It wasn't long before reality started making sense again as he unceremoniously dropped to the floor, knocking him out of his trance.

"Huh!? What? What happened!? Where the hell are we?", he asked in a state of confusion.

"You, my dear boy, are in my mansion! Welcome home!"

Iruma follow the voice to a tall old man, sitting on a very intricate and decorated chair. As a matter of fact, the whole room itself was decorative and spotless not unlike some Victorian house. The old man was impeccably dressed, his suit not showing any sort of stain or wear and tear. His face looked like the definition of a kind grandfather, complete with a moustache and with horns atop of his bald head-

Wait, horns!?

"W-who are you!?", he yelled as he crawled back. Then he suddenly hit something, which when he turned around was Opera now in a butler's outfit.

That was when he saw the cat-like ears that sat atop of their head.

"Opera!? Why do you have cat ears!?", asked Iruma

"This is my true form, young master Iruma, and the daemon you see here before you is none other than One of the Three Heroes of the demon world, Lord Sullivan"

That was the only thing that they could say before Iruma fainted by the absurdity of all. The old demon looked at the small child with slight amusement.

"Oh dear, you may need to take him to bed, Opera..."

"At once, sir"
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When Iruma woke up several hours later, it was the most rested that he had ever been in his life. Then he remembered what had happened at the time during the emission, and began to panic. Thankfully Opera, ever the dutiful butler, was able to calm him down with some hell gray tea and a light breakfast in bed. It was quite strange looking, but compared to what he ate in The Zone, it wasn't as different, although more colorful.

Shortly afterwards, he and Opera went over to Lord Sullivan's study, where they spoke more in regards to his deal with his parents. Apparently, his parents had found some sort of hellish book that allowed them to summon a demon from their realm to the human realm. Predictably, they decided to summon Lord Sullivan to bargain.

However, when he asked where the child was, that was when they mentioned The Zone. He had never head of such a place, and ordered Opera to investigate. Needless to say, it surprised them what had occurred during the time that The Zone was created and were baffled at how it came to be. For now however, it was time to make sure Iruma was settled in.

"So you see, little Iruma, I never married and therefore was never able to have a grandson. When I hear my other two companions gush about their own grandsons, I always get left out! All I wanted is someone to take care of, to spoil and to love and care for!"

"I-i guess it's not much of an issue, but I'm human! Don't you guys devour humans or something like that?"

"It has been many, MANY years since any demon has seen a human before. At this point, many assume humans to be nothing more than myth, as creatures told of only in fairytales and children's stories. While we need to mask your scent, everyone else will just assume that you are just a demon like anyone else."

It was then that Lord Sullivan, one of the Three Greats of the Demon Realm, one of the most powerful demons that ever lived...

dropped to his knees and held both of Iruma's hands.

"So PLEASE! PLEASE BE MY GRANDSON, WON'T YOU? I BEG OF YOU!"

"THE HELL!?"

"PLEASE! I AM SO ENVIOUS OF THOSE OTHER TWO SHOWOFFS! THEY GET TO GUSH ABOUT THIER GRANDSONS, I WANT TO DO THE SAME!"

"OK, I GOT IT, BUT-!"

"I ASK ONCE MORE, PLEASEEE! WON'T YOU HELP THIS PITIFUL OLD MAN!?"

"DAMN IT, GRAMPS! I SAID YES!"

Suddenly, the old demon quickly stood up and grabbed him by the sides.

"You mean it!"

"Yes! I mean it! I'll be your grandson, just calm down please!"

"WAHOOO!"

Afterwards, all that was left was a signature on some adoption papers, and from then on Iruma officially took on the Sullivan name. Lord Sullivan made sure to provide his grandson with only the absolute best that was to offer. Clothes, books, games and treats of the greatest quality will be offered to him.

Speaking of which...

"Now that everything has been settled, it's time for you to get everything ready because I will now be enrolling you in demon school!"

"...Sending me to where?"

From there it was when Iruma began his education in the most unorthodox way.
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While he was not sure what an ACUTAL school looked like, Iruma knew that it wasn't as what he saw when he first laid his eyes in Babyls Demon school. At the very least it didn't look abandoned like the ones he had seen during his time in The Zone.

After a quick photo with his grandpa, he was directed to the auditorium, where he could see a lot of other demons gathered for orientation. Many shapes and sizes, some with fur and those without, quite different from the ones that were told to him by some of the more religious Stalkers. Regardless, he wasn't keen on being outed so soon.

Thank god Grandpa dumped that perfume on me, but why do I have to go to school?, Thought Iruma.

SNIFF SNIFF

He was startled by the large demon next to him, taking big whiffs. His friend beside him notices.

"What? You smell something cooking right now?", his friend asked. The large demon let out a grunt of disgust.

"Ugh, I hope not, it smells like shit!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, as if they're using rotting meat or something..."

Huh, looks like the perfume is working as intended... or maybe I still have some leftover radiation... I hope that's not the case.

Looking around, aside from the fact that demons are here, everything seems to be the same as some regular school.

Everything looks good so far, but there has to be something else goin-

"Okay everyone, time for the school anthem"

"~ALL HUMANS EXIST TO BE OUR FOOD!~WE SUCK THEIR SOULS AND SLURP THEM UP!"

Aaaannd there we go, why did I think differently? *sigh* I'm going to have to avoid any attention, don't I?

Still, the risk of being eaten wasn't new. Chimeras, bloodsuckers, lurkers, hell even blind dogs took every chance they had to eat any Stalkers. The demons can just take a number and get in line.

"Next, let's hear a few word from the Chairdemon!"

Okay, we get to see the one in charge! Hopefully they're a bit more reasonable!

"~IRRRRUUUUMMAAAAA! ~IT'S ME, MY SWEET, DEAR BOY! IT'S YOUR GRANDPA!"

Ти, мабуть, жартуєш!

"My Grandson just started going to this school and he's just the sweetest little thing! Oh here's a picture I made of him!"

Whyyyyy!

"Anyways! That's all I have to say! Bye-Bye!"

The Chairdemon leaves just as quickly as he came in, leaving his poster behind.

Take the damn poster with you!

Just then the demons started to whisper excitedly, prompting Iruma to look at their direction. There he sees someone who was quite different from the rest of the students. Pink hair, elegant white suit, and a regal and sophisticated demeanor shown about him. He made confident strides towards the stage as they announce him as this year's freshman representative.

Wow, so this is what the elites look like... or maybe he's just wanting to stand out? Not that I'm complaining, of course...

However, another announcement comes on

"There has been a last minute change! Asmodeus, our representative, will NOT be greeting you today! That honor will go to the honor student, Iruma! Iruma, will you please go to the stage!"

This causes Iruma to jump out of seat in surprise, "Wait what? Who decided to-"

His answer quickly comes to him as he sees his grandpa recording him in the distance.

"Iruma! Please come to the stage!"

"Oh kurwa! Yes, I'm comming!"

Iruma quickly makes the stage, now on the podium with all the demon students looking at him with their full attention. The demons whisper on about how's just standing there, commending his ability to remain firm.

Yeah, firmly scared out of my mind! What do I do!?

There he notices his grandpa in the distance again, this time motioning to look down at the podium. Iruma finds an envelope addressed to him, and he quickly goes to open it only to find...

Gibberish? Is this some kind of demon speech? *rustle* huh, looks like I can use some of my native tongue for this...

"ABERU HAUKE!"

The crowd immediately stiffens up, dread appearing on their faces.

"TARUTOU DARI! IUSA BEBE!"

The school staff also begin to tremble uncontrollably, fearing the worst.

"RISU TOURU! ABURUZE!"

The whole school trembles, the mood becoming intense like never before!

"SUTOUMANU! ABERUGE URU!"

"MAHORABA"

"TSUREZAZA!"

"RAAHHAHHHHHHHHHH!"

The whole school erupts in cheer! Elation and disbelief written on their faces as Iruma is dumbfounded as to what just happened. Several of the staff rush towards the stage, also with relief on their faces!

"What the hell was that!? You can't just read out forbidden spells like that!"

"Wait, forbidden?"

"If you messed up any of the words, your limbs would've been blown off!"

GRANDPA! WHAT THE HELL!? How is this supposed to help me!?. Iruma quickly asked one of the faculty members about it.

"Oh, that just prevents you from tripping or falling for the whole day."

...Is it too late to drop out right now? Or you know what? I think I'll go ahead and find the chair-demon, I have a few words for him...

With that the orientation ceremony ended, and Iruma left to go find him, not noticing another demon quickly following behind. As Iruma travelled through the hallways, a voice called out to him.

"Hey. You."

Iruma looked up from his paper, now seeing the same white suited representative looking at him with a look of utter contempt.

Even so, it doesn't hurt to be polite.

"Yes? How can I help you?" asked Iruma.
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Iruma quickly regretted asking that question, as he quickly dodged another fireball thrown at him. When he was asked to go to the courtyard by the rep, he knew that the demon was going to confront him about being snubbed at the ceremony. He figured that they could just have a simple conversation, maybe apologize for his (or more accurately, his grandpa's) actions.

That was twenty minutes ago.

Iruma spent 20 minutes dodging fireballs left and right, because apparently this "Asmodeus" guy felt that he sullied his honor, and accused him of nepotism and being given special treatment from his grandfather. That statement is only half-true.

Meanwhile the commotion had generated a crowd of students, wanting to look into the "fight".

"Dude, this is wild! The honor student and the top scorer are going at it!"

"That Iruma kid is toast! There's no one else who can make fireballs as Asmodeus!"

"Yeah, this is turning out to be a public execution at this point. He has nowhere to run!"

"Wait...but he's hasn't even gotten hit once."

Going back to the "duel", they would find both of them breathing heavily, the signs of destruction being visible everywhere. However, Asmodeus is not liking how this is turning out.

"How...the hell...do you keep DODGING MY ATTACKS!?" yelled Asmodeus in between breaths.

"Please... can't we... TALK THIS OUT!?", yelled Iruma. Of course, the peanut gallery had to take it the wrong way

"Oh damn! The honor student just told Asmodeus to surrender!"

"He's even feeling sorry for him, giving him an out like that!"

"HELL YAH MAN, TELL HIM OFF!"

"Пожалуйста, перестаньте кричать!" yelled out Iruma to the cheering crowd

Unfortunately, demons were not well versed in the Slavic language known as Russian, which they confused with him chanting a spell, pissing Asmodeus off even more.

"So, not only do you rob me of my place, but you also try to sully my name even further! You even refuse to attack! AS IF IM NOTHING BUT A WORM TO YOU! YOU THINK I'M NOT EVEN WORTH ATTACKING!? NOT TO MENTION THE FACT YOU INSULTED ME IN YOUR WEIRD LANGUAGE!"

Asmodeus then summons a flaming sword, the killing intent shining in his eyes.

"Very well then... if I can't beat you in magic... THEN I'll SLICE YOU TO DEATH!"

Asmodeus lunges at Iruma, intending to kill him with one single strike. However, Iruma is not without his tricks

During his time in The Zone, he had learn many skills from his fellow stalkers. One skill in particular was from a former military commander who joined Duty, which specialized in using various techniques from other martial arts. Iruma's Self-Defense Sambo style had gotten him out of difficult situations before, and this would be another example of his training paying off.

Using the opponent's momentum against him, Iruma quickly redirects the attack away from him. However, in doing so he quickly realizes that the attack was heading for another student. With a split second decision, he quickly maneuvers himself under Asmodeus intending to use the momentum to throw him to the ground and strike at the jugular.

Iruma wraps his arms around Asmodeus, but his feet refuse to budge. This causes his him to anchor his body, and quickly throws Asmodeus overhead. A resounding SMACK! is heard as the crowd witnesses Iruma perform a german suplex on Asmodeus.

The crowd cheers at the exciting conclusion of the duel. This event would soon be told all around campus, with singing praises for Iruma and his fighting prowess and solidifying his place among the school body.

However, this mattered little as Iruma quickly took Asmodeus to the infirmary to be treated. When he was assured that he was to recover, he quickly went to see his grandfather.
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With a bit of help with some of the school staff he was able to find his grandfather within a few minutes. Once he got in the office, he found his grandpa already looking into the preview of the school newspaper. Looks like that being out of sight is no longer an option anymore.

"~IRUMMMAAA! ~So many things you have accomplished and it's barely the first day at school! I knew you were special, my sweet boy!"

"What the hell do I do!? Why did this happen!? He's definitely going to come back and finish the job!"

BAM! Iruma quickly turns around and sees Asmodeus with an unreadable expression, silently going towards him.

"Asmodeus wait! This is a all a big-!"

Iruma's voice dies down as Asmodeus kneels before him, lead lowered and a hand over his heart.

"When we had our duel, I had all the advantages to easily win and therefore assert myself as the superior demon. However, I cannot deny about my utter defeat at your hands. Even then, you were gracious enough to take to the infirmary so that I could recover. So, as by demon custom, I shall serve under you and will do everything in my power to make sure that you conquer the school!"

Iruma was dumbfounded, not expecting anything like this. "Wait, what?"

"Just say the word, and I will slay anyone who gets in our way! I will do my best to serve you!"

"Wait hang on Asmodeus-"

"Just call me Azz!"

"Okay then, Azz. Look, you don't need to be serving me. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay, this was all because of a misunderstanding."

"Even more reason for me to be your subordinate! You tried to make me see reason, but I was ignorant! You had to humble me because of my blunder! I cannot overlook this gracious generosity you have given me, and I must thank you the only way I can!"

Ладно, что за блин? Is all demons like this? Well, got to make this work somehow. Iruma pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath.

"Grandpa, do you think you can let me speak with Azz for a minute?"

Sullivan quickly moved from his position and gracefully skipped to the door, "Of course, my dear sweet boy! Don't take to long now!"

SLAM! With the chairdemon gone, it was only him and Azz.

"Ok, in that case you are more than welcome to be my companion. If I'm going to be your boss, then we have to set some rules."

"Oh? And what would those be, milord?"

Iruma cringed at that, "Ok, first off none of that 'milord' business. I am not royalty, nor am I some stuffy noble. Call me by my name, Iruma. If not, you can call me by my other name."

"Other...name?", asked Azz

"Before I was with my grandpa... before coming here, I went by another name. Suslyk, or Gopher in the common language. Where I'm from, we had two names. Normally, we mostly use our other names instead of our real ones, but since we are the in mainland I have no choice."

"The mainland? I'm sorry, but I'm not quite not sure where that is exactly. Or rather, where you are from exactly"

"That's another rule there. Until I can trust you more, I am not going to tell you much about me. It's nothing against you, but again, where I am from we don't tend to give out our whole backstory."

"That is perfectly understandable! I will do my best to earn your trust!"

"Good, because here is the last rule..."

It was at this point that Iruma- or Gopher - looked at Azz deep into his eyes, freezing him in place. Azz could see that he had an unreadable expression on his face, unsure of what he was thinking.

"I have seen many good СТАЛКЕР die because they always think they know what they are doing, or because they get to cocky. You can never believe you know everything, because then it just makes it easier to catch you off guard. You believed that you were able to beat me, and honestly you could've, but you got overconfident. That can get you killed someday."

Iruma took a deep breath before continuing.

"Basically what I'm saying is that whatever happens, do NOT leave things to chance. Do NOT underestimate anyone, regardless of who they are. Look before you leap, and use every advantage you get to make sure you end it quickly and without fuss. I want someone who can get things done, not be a showoff."

He leaned closer to Azz, "Can you do that?"

It only took a few seconds before Azz took on a look of determination, "Mil- no, Gopher. I will follow your orders to the letter. I will not bring any further shame on your name, and will do all that I can to serve you to the best of my ability. I will strive to execute every whim, and will destroy those that will get in your way. This I swear."

"Davai, then we are in agreement."

"We are... but I do have one question."

"Yes?"

"Would you be able to teach me your language? I know that we've just met and you do not want to divulge your secrets, but I fear I would need to know what you are saying sometimes..."

"Прокляття..."

"Excatly!"

This was how Iruma, now Gopher, was able to secure his first subordinate.