Maksim - Grigori?
An middleaged man, in colorfull shirt, walked around the group, while everyone else were gathering near campfire and eating some sort of soup...
Whole group stoped at some ruined plant. Rusty plate welcomed them with "Privat Property".
Grigori - I am here!
Man shouted from behind the crowd. And then a slender arm rised in to the air, catching attention of everyone. But most importantly, Maksim's attention. Once noticing the arm, Maksim lowered his gaze on a small note book in his hands.
Maksim - Danila?
Kikima - Injured! Cirrently under my suppervision!
Maksim - Ok... Evgeniy?
Crowd went a little silent, and everyone stoped eating for a second, taking a look around. After a few more seconds, Maksim writen on a notebook, near Evgeniy's name "Dead"
Maksim - I will miss this idiot... Irina?
Irina - Over here! Preapearing the meal!
Maksim - Yeah yeah... The usual... Kirill?
Nikolai - He is dead... This is all you need to know.
Boris slightly pushed Nikolai's elbow. Nikolai looked at boris with confused face.
Nikolai - What?
Boris silently shaked his head slightly, as if judging Nikolai.
=== In the mean time ===
Nita was taking patrol. It was one of the darkest nights. To the point that she was using night vision in order to see something. But luckly there were not alot of things around, that could possess any sort of threat to the camp or people inside.
But what occupied Nita's mind is how Mikhail runned out of truck, and then explosion that covered the tunel... They coulde'v made it much more efficient plan. But Mikhail didn't hesitated to just run out. Almost like Maria... But Mikhail sacrificed himself for everyone...
Nita - Do all humans possess some kind of deathwish?
A question were asked to noone. Without any expectation of an answer. These dusty and forgotten lands are taking away everything she supposed to protect. Like if she was on a wrong side of the world. Fighting the wrong enemy and trusting wrong people.
A ray of light appeared behind Nita. Seems like someone from the camp decided to take a stroll.
Roman - Nita? Everything is alright?
A slender young man in dark winter coat were heading her way, while holding a flashlight.
Nita - No signs of enemies within 800 meterts. Information were updated 7 minutes ago.
Roman - It is cold here! We are surely moving to the north!
Nita - Current temparture is 2° celsius. It is recomended you return to the camp.
Roman - Not right now... I had a little fight with someone. As i ate doubled bowl of soup. Some people can get mad over such thing. So... Mind if i make a company for you?
Nita - I am on a patrol. You safety is not guranteed!
Roman - Oh... Come one then! You are the best fighter we got here. I am more than sure you will be able to protect me if anyghing happens! And you said that there are no enemies around.
Nita went silent for a few momnets. Looked around and slightly noded.
Nita - But if anything happens. You will run back to the camp, or strictly follow my command!
Roman - Sounds like a deal to me! So... Can you tell me, you used to be a civil doll right?
Nita - I don't know
Nita picks up rifle and begin her usual patrol rout. All while Roman is making circles around her
=== Back at the camp ===
Maksim - Yaroslav?
Once again the crowd went silent. Maksim added "dead" nead Yaroslav's name in his notebook.
Maksim - Well... our camp lost twelve people. Two injured...
Boris - Wait a second! You forgot the girl!
Maksim - Oh... Yeah! What is her name?
Boris - She didn't told anyone yet.
Maksim - Well... Little addiction to our little family is nice.
Maksim wrote "Girl" on another line in the note book.
Maksim - Alright everyone. Segei is missing. Probobly dead, and Danila is injured, so far, not alot of people can sustain and maintain our group organized. So let's keep things simple for now! Everyone, do what you can do the best. And hope that tommorow will bring us a good news!
Maksim came closer to the table where Boris and Nikolai were sitting.
Maksim - So how about you, old soldier and yourn soldier?
Nikolai - While i am young. What an math teacher like you can find in this hole?
Maksim - Your idea to take a stop at the cinema were like invitation to surround and attack out little group. And as far as i am concerned. We are missing most of our people. I am surprised we are not dealing with mass panic.
Boris - I am in the state of panic!
Bosis said, and took a sip from bottle of beer.
Nikolai - So what next? We had a plan to go North-West to some rumored green zone. And now we took a turn to the east. And stop drinking!
Nikolay said in frustration to Boris. Boris just silently pulled out bottle of beer and placed it in front of Nikolai. For a few seconds, Nicolai's face remained tense, but the he took a bottle.
Maksim - Do you...
Before Maksim finished his sentence. Boris placed another botle of beer in front of Maksim.
Maksim - *Sigh* where did you even get them from?
Nikolai - Don't ask him such questions! But back on the topic. Where will we go?
Boris - For now we can go north! At the next city we will turn hard west and should be back on the track. But first we need to wait a little for injured to recover.
Nikolai - Why can't we just get them in to the truck and ride on? It's not like we will drop them behind! We are more likely to be attacked, if we stay here!
Maksim - It's more than likely we are safe. Exactly because this place is dangerous. We are bordering the red zone rightnow. Should workout!
Nikolai - We are what?
Nikolai nearly spiled his beer.
Maksim - The map we bought from merchant few months ago.
Maksim pulled out tablet from his bag and after few scrolings, opened the map on the tablet.
Maksim - If i am correct, we are just a two kilometers away from red zone. So they would think twice before coming here. But we need to be carefull. Who knows what will happen.
Boris - Well color me surprised. Did you made a calculated risk using that mathematic brain of yours? What if we are struck with some terrible ELID's? Now we have Varyag's on one side and ELID problem to worry about on the other side! What kind of Red flag are reaching out now?
Maksim - The only red here is red zone! So get over it and go sleep off your drunkines. We will have a hard day tomorow! And we will need a fresh mind for that.
Nikolai - Something is planed for tomorow?
Maksim - Not really! But i wanted to take him to look out and scout the road to the north. I just wan't to make sure that the road to the north will be clear to move, since it does go through the red zone.
Boris was about to take a sip from the bottle, but then stoped and turned to the Maksim.
Boris - Through the red zone? Are you kidding me? Why me?
Maksim - And who else i shoud take with me?
Nikolai - Take Nita! I have to agree with Boris! We are soldiers, but red zone is too big of a risk for us! Nita is a Doll, she can handle the shit that is going on over there! But we are not going there!
Maksim - You do understand that we have only three options here. We either take road to the north, throught the red zone. Or take road back, and we will have to go through the Varyag's... And third alternative, we go throught the woods on our foot.
Boris and Nikolai went silent for a moment, and then took a sip from their botles.
Nikolai - Anyway... You better take Nita on that hell of a task.
Boris - Take Nita there... We won't be able to do anything...
Maksim - Alright! If you so scared, i will take a bloody doll for this task!
=== On a patrol ===
Roman - And that view... It is magnificent! You can't find something like that in green zone!
Roman pulled out a photo cam and took a picture of a dead woods, surrounded by light of stars
Nita - Green zone?
Roman - Yeah! I used to live the green zone! I am "not so famos" professional photographer. Back when you lot found me, i was part of the expedition made by Great Wall Railway. They needed a photographer, and one of my friends gave me a proposal to volunteer as one. Unfortanatly... you know the rest of the story...
Nita - No... I don't.
Nita stoped and said, little confused
Roman - What? You were the one who saved me!
Nita were even more confused. She silently looked at Roman's gasmask.
Nita - Nevermind. Let's just resume the patrol