Aleksei paused and thought to himself for a moment.

"Dmitri, make sure you and your partner there have night vision on, and then come back to the village. We've all eaten, and we have more food and water left to spare. That's all we need here: we are leaving now for the nearest city, is that understood? Be at the village center in five minutes!"

________

The five advancing soldiers were ordered to stand ground and keep watch: in five minutes the rest of the platoon would set out to join them, after which the group could advance as a whole.

"Yes sir." he said. It took him longer than he liked to get to the village due to the fact that the other soldier was just an average human and Dmitri could outrun most sprinters. The other guy was leaning against the fence for a moment trying to catch his breath. After a quick minute he followed Dmitri.

Aleksei Petrov looked to Dmitri and his panting comrade and smiled, though the expression was invisible under his gas mask.

"Good job! You are both early! Now, let's get a move on! There is certainly something strange afoot here, and I would rather not stay for its next arrival. Of course, I will gladly shoot it down if I spot it on our way! Better to advance on a potential enemy than to let it come to you! Dmitiri, you and your spotter take the back of the formation: Tarasov and two others stay with them. Platoon! Form rows of five like this, Ivanov in the first row and myself right behind." The troops immediately formed up as instructed. "Now stagger!" The soldiers spread out. The group then advanced out to meet the five men up ahead, who would form the front row once absorbed into the formation.

"Dmitri," Tarasov spoke to Dmitri beside him, "I hear you have a good eye and strong legs. Watch out for anything, and at the same time be ready to run to a sniping position. Got it?"

"Got it sir." Dmitri said with a nod, paused incase the general had anything else to add then hurried to his spot in the formation.

(hate to post short but sis is grabbing the computer for a bit. Says she is going to kill off her other charrie. It's sad, she didn't have Dmitri do a very Dmitri sort of thing. He would have put snow down the back of Ghosty's shirt lol)

The formation advanced out into the freezing snow, guiding its course using a map, held by Petrov, given to the Russians by the subjected Alaskans of Bethel. After a few minutes, the five advance-troops were reassimilated into their force.

"PLATOON!!! Right turn, on to the dirt road, and then forward again!!! MARCH!!!" The road was not always the safest place for a traveling band, but it was certainly better than trudging the twenty miles to the next city through feet-thick layers of snow. All the while, the soldiers kept a watch out for any more mutants or attackers of any sort.

Wraith stopped and turned. He was hungry... He had wasted time and energy all because of the strangers in the village. Hunting would take more time, more energy. So back to the shrine he ran, reaching it in a matter of minutes. There he saw Geist. Why was she still living? She was up now, having made it to the tree line. She was following Aleksei's group from the shadows. Revenge or food? He grumbled and began shoving provisions into his pockets but left the animals. "Keep the rest human. I'll be back for them next time."

Now, to handle the problem at hand.

Geist kept her eye on the last two soldiers. She used every bit of cover to her advantage, unaware that she too was being hunted. She was focused more on the sniper, Dmitri then thought better of it. No, he was too strong and she was injured. She looked over her shoulder, feeling like she was being watched and saw Wraith. She froze there, just barely beyond the cover of a bush. She ran as fast as she could, darting past a few soldiers. Wraith was not far behind. He lunged at her and struck her down with the rifle, the sound of breaking bones echoing like a gunshot. She got up and a brutaly one-sided fight started. Wraith was easily winning, mostly by just force alone but also incredible speed.

He knocked her down. She rolled down the shallow hill then struggled to get to her feet. He kicked her, breaking her leg. As she continued to struggle, he broke her arms, kicking them out from under her. She begged for mercy, he put a single round into her heart. She fell, never to get up again. Wraith slung his rifle, still quite aware of the soldiers. He ran for cover in the tree line and waited in the shadows to see what they would do.

Tarasov immediately elbowed Dmitri in the side and then reached over and slapped his spotter.

"Now would be that time, sniper team! Go!" The rest of the soldiers were already making a cautious advance, some proceeding from cover-to-cover, some crouched, some crawling prone. Aleksei Petrov himself was crouching: he needed a good view of what was ahead of him. Ivanov, at the front of the formation, was also crouching. All guns were raised, and all eyes attentive; with night-vision, the soldiers' views were sufficient to spot anything moving within at least the nearest hundred meters or so.

Dmitri nodded then looked around. He saw the perfect spot with plenty of cover and ran for it. The spotter followed, this time further behind. Dmitri wasn't waiting up. He dropped onto his stomach and waited for an oppertunity to get the shot. The tired spotter dropped down beside him. "I think I see something." the spotter reported then pointed out the edge of Wraith's coat.

Wraith sighed then sat with his back to a large tree and shouted to the soldiers. "I mean none of you harm, I wanted only revenge. I have gotten my revenge. Just let me go on my way please. I do not want a fight."

Knowing this stand-off could take some time he took some of the smoked, dry salmon, somewhat like a jerky due to the temperature and chewed on it, mostly out of a nervous habit of his. Soon it was gone except for one last piece. Perhaps he should have waited or perhaps if he had to he could claim to have been proitecting the soldiers he saw Geist hunting. He preferred not to lie. It usually backfired later.

Aleksei considered is options. He could simply shoot down the mutant before him, but it didn't seem hostile. Then again, it could be playing a trick. On the other hand, it could be a useful ally, or perhaps of no importance at all, which would not merit the wasting of any bullets. General Petrov finally made up his mind.

"If you want revenge and you got it, then who is dead?! I definitely see a corpse there by you, and you certainly don't look innocent beside it holding a weapon!"

"The monster is the only one here I will kill, I don't want trouble. That was my revenge, she deserved to die." he said, ducking behind the large tree beside him. Ensuring he was out of their line of fire, he took a pint-bag of blood and bit the corner off then drained it. He buried the empty pouch beside him in the snow. He sighed. This wasn't going well. He should have waited. But if he had waited, someone else would be dead. Then again he probably wouldn't be in this predicament.

Alekei's voice grew sterner.

"Unless you want to be sitting next to a live grenade, I would get out from behind that tree!!! Front and center, where we can see you! Now who are you, why are you here, and what on Earth is going on around here?!?!"

He came out into the open with his rifle on his back but still kept his distance. "I am Markus, I am here avoiding those that created me. As far as what is going on, that monster entered my territory and so , for the deaths of my brothers and sister she had to die. It was her fault, her blood lust and violent nature that got them killed. For them, I killed her" he said, just loud enough for them to hear him clearly. His accent was the same as Geist's. His sharp teeth caught the light as he spoke. Most of his face was kept in shadow, even as the full moon was rising but what could be seen was his ashen pale skin. Still, the light was dim and he prayed that that would help him.

Aleksei noticed the details of Markus' speech and appearance.

"So...you're a mutant too? Maybe..." Aleksei's speech was cut off as a mortar shell screamed and landed by a Petrovian soldier, tearing him to burnt pieces. Scattered gunfire broke out as Alaskans charged at the Russians.

"D***it! SOLDIERS! TAKE COVER!" Many were already behind cover, but those who were not immediately ran for such.

Markus took cover behind a boulder then hesitated. He'd heard of the russians, Petrovia, a powerful group. So what to do now? Where to fire? He sighed. The strangers had better weapons but the natives had numbers. He could run now, hide but what then? If the alaskans were killed off he would have to hunt his own food, if the strangers were killed there would likely be more on the way. Hunting wasn't the problem really but he could just move on afterwards. Besides, the natives had been so eager to kill Geist, wasn't it only a matter of time before they tired of him? Perhaps afterwards when supplies would be shorter. He cursed then fired at the alaskans, deciding neither option ended badly for him but killing members of a powerful military country... being on a hit list wasn't exactly on his life's to do list.

Dmitri started picking enemy soldiers off, mainly the mortar operators at least the ones he saw. They weren't as well hidden or very militarily trained and it showed. He emptied the magazine in his weapon, reloaded and kept shooting. Why were they being attacked?

The Alaskans attacking had been secretly contacted via radio by a Bethel villager to destroy the villainous Russians demanding food and guidance at gunpoint. The hundred-strong small army of had seemed bent on some sort of charge, but after being hit by enough firepower at once, losing twelve soldiers in seconds, the group stopped to take its own cover and return fire from there.

After first running for cover, the Petrovian soldier began to show their military prowess. Ivanov was leading a nine-man assaulting squad forward from cover to cover, the general himself leading with shotgun raised. Tarasov was holding ground with three regulars and the two-man machinegun team to give covering fire. Aleksei lead the remaining five soldiers to get around and flank the enemy. It was assumed that Dmitri and his spotter would continue in suppressive sniper fire to add to Tarasov's barrage.

Markus slipped along in the tree line, somewhat trailing Aleksei's group for a short while then 'vanished' and reappeared, seeming to be moving faster than he really was though he was certainly already more than a match for any world class sprinter. He tripped but made it look good by catching himself, landing on all fours and launching himself at the nearest Alaskan, having slipped in amongst Aleksei's men and then jumped ahead, using his phasing ability to seem to disappear then come back, seemingly out of thin air. He tore a man apart like a animal then jumped to the next and the next before retreating behind cover and repeating his attack.

The Petrovians continued their attack. Tarasov's group, most of all due to the machinegunner, was doing wonders in pinning the enemy group down, keeping the Alaskans from advancing or leaving cover without being shot down. Dmitri was also a great help in this respect.

Ivanov's group neared the first collection of Alaskans, hidden out in a grouping of rocks. The Petrovian general skillfully threw a flashbang right into the midst of the enemy, allowing the blinded and stunned Alaskans to be easily mowed down in seconds once the Russians came close.

Aleksei's group also met with some enemies, but to less direct effect. The enemy flank was in a dead forest, where Aleksei's group came into contact with them. The result was a prolonged firefight, with the odds swaying towards the Petrovians due to their well-drilled firing and cover maneuvers, as well as their superior weapons. Although this fight was not decisive, it helped to keep a good section of the Alaskan fire away from Tarasov and Ivanov, the latter of which would break through to this point and sandwich the enemy in minutes.

It was also found that Markus was quite helpful: so far the Petrovians had only taken one casualty, thanks much to Markus's effective distraction and demoralizing assault into the enemy ranks.

The Russians were not able to finish their attack plan, as the enemy, discouraged by the power of their enemies, especially the fearsome monster Markus, broke and routed, now only sixty-one men strong from the original hundred.

Markus breifly considered pursuing the Alaskins who so eagerly attacked his sister. It would have only been a matter of time before they tired of him. With a resigned sigh he turned to face Aleksei and his men. He watched them suspiciously. Would they just shoot him too? They were human. Humans couldn't be trusted. However, to survive, he'd need allies, temporary as they may be. He looked at them. Awaiting his fate.

Aleksei stared into the mutants face inquisitively. He considered his options carefully, taking a good few minutes to do so, and then spoke,

"You, Markus, will stay with us...for now, at any rate. Now, you seem to be immune to the radiation, but we don't want that showing. Go take a radiation suit and a gas mask from some of those dead Alaskans; try to find some without any holes. Simply, if someone got shot in the head, their suit is probably fine and take it. If someone got shot in the chest, their mask might be fine, and if so take it. Savvy?"

"I understand." Markus nodded then turned and resumed scavenging. He found a good gasmask first. It took longer to find a radiation suit large enough for him but eventually he succeeded and lslipped the suit on over what he already wore then walked over towards Aleksei's group, keeping a cautious distance. For now? Hmm... so then, he would have to move on eventually. He figured as much. Just before slipping on the gasmask, he finished off the rations he had taken and the last pint of blood, with his back to them of course... then burried the wrappers and looked to the humans. Where to now, he wondered.

Aleksei turned back to Markus as the latter returned.

"Good, you appear genuinely human. Now, we do have directions and a rough map, but considering that we don't know the territory here, I am commissioning you, sir, to guide us to the nearest city. Are you up for it?" There was a hidden threat in these words: if Markus wasn't ready, then he wasn't useful.

"I am." he said calmly. He didn't dare anger these humans now. He had seen their skill in battle first hand and prefered not to be on the receiving end. "Do you intend to pay me?" he asked slowly, caution clear in his voice.

(Derek will be gone for quite a while and so I have limited control of Dmitri for now. He's going to a therepy hospital for injuries he sustained in Iraq.)

((Acknowldged.))

Aleksei spun his head back at the mutant, glaring (although the latter was undetectable below his gas mask).

"That depends entirely on your performance as a guide. What would you be wanting as payment, anyway?"

"I have a far faster metabolism, approximately four times as fast as a human's... and I doubt you'd be willing to let your guide run off to hunt. So either you provide me with food or allow me oppertunities to hunt. You won't get anything if I suddenly fall from starvation now will you. I know your type. You don't carry useless tools. And if I starve, I'm of no use, provide me with food and you'll have a guide who's roamed the land for years and knows it well including tactically valuable routes that are not only shorter but would provide cover for your men." he said warrily. He didn't like the commander's tone but his life was at stake and he would very much prefere not to starve.

"Fair enough," replied the director-general. "We don't have any meat with us, if that's what you need, and I don't know of many animals that roam around nuclear wastelands. However, there's a nice heap of freshly killed wild Alaskans over there whom you might find sufficient for your carnivorous needs." Aleksei pointed to a grouping of about a dozen enemy casualties on the ground nearby. "Just pick out the bullets and they should be fine." He laughed quietly to himself, but realized that his statement was quite frighteningly literal.

Markus had had no problem serving human masters and had never veiwed them as food, in fact the thought bothered him a little. "You mean... eat humans?" He questioned. "I've never done such a th-..." he paused then nodded. He had to to live now. If he refused, they might kill him here and now. God forgive him. He turned and walked over to the alaskans. He knelt beside one and removed his mask. He pinched some flesh and tore it from the bone and stared at it much in the way a child would look at brussel sprouts. He closed his eyes. He couldn't beleive he was doing this. And so, he ate with a general look of disdain for his own actions.

He wiped the blood off his mouth then put his mask back on. His posture was a bit slouched now, just ever so slightly. Resigned. No, he shook his head and straitened. He was no monster, he did what he had to. Though he had reduced a man's entire torso to bare bones. He felt sick now...

((I'll be gone for a couple weeks comrade. One weekend a month two weeks a year... *laughs* Anyways, expect me back no later than April 5th though I should be back on the 4th.))

Most of the soldiers turned their heads, but the three generals and those braver troops kept on looking, even if disgusted. Aleksei in particular was intrigued by the scene. He had never seen a mutant who connected himself so much with people...this Markus seemed almost sick from the experience, even though he had killed many of those dead. He acted...human.

"Good," Aleksei stated once the deed was done. "Now lead the way, markus."

((Ha ha. See ya!))

Markus shuddered but walked quickly to the front of the group. He wanted away from here. Away from the evidence of what he had done. He felt stronger, better than he had felt in his life but he... he had eaten humans. Humans were not food. He should have said no. He remembered the training camp... the terrible, horrifying things that had happened, the scientists... and the other experiment, his brother, Spectre who had attacked a human and eaten them.

His brother had been 'euthinized' they said. A cruel word. A way to put a humane mask on an inhumane thing.

And yet the standard was reversed during battles... He felt the same, stomach twisting confused emotions he had back then. Right now, he was thankful for the gas mask. It was a wall he could hide behind. For now though, he continued on in silence. He paused now and then, ensuring he wasn't leaving the humans behind. As much as he wanted to, he knew it would be a stupid idea. They'd hunt him down and kill him, he just knew it. Humans were all the same. Cruel. Evil. Depraved. Beasts.

Humans... such odd beasts. Eating human flesh was frowned upon and yet, it seemed every time he had served human masters, he was encouraged to do just that. On the one hand, they would get angry and hunt down the offender of that taboo, on the other hand they encouraged the behavior. He sighed. He'd never understand them. He'd given up a long time ago.

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