Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Science Fiction

Wake up!
Wake up...?
....
BANG!!! A loud metallic bang of his door,

Artyom shot up bewildered, 
"I'm awake..awake already" 
"About time brother...we are going to be late, it's your final day they give you your papers today..a fully fledged Ranger with permit to the surface"
It was Artyoms mentor a veteran Ranger and the man who had raised him since the age of 16, Khan a often misunderstood man his appearance fearful to most , taller broader than most from his ventures to the surface being in peak physical condition.

"Get your things ready... Don't forget filters for your gas mask, always bring extra won't last a minute without one up there still" Khan stopped talking reaching in his pocket and threw over a small clip of bullets to Artyom "buy more if you need to or anything else you might need".
Military grade bullets the currency for the underground tunnels and it's residents, bullets from the past of the highest quality.
Bullets are still produced and used often just being handmade in the tunnels you can tell the difference , stop a beast all the same still.

Artyom got up it'd been a late night laid there unable to sleep trying to imagine the surface and what it's like , he had only heard stories from rangers and traders of its dangers and mysteries
His life so far had consisted entirely of underground and it's tunnels.
He couldn't wait he grabbed his things making sure to pack his gasmask carefully and a whole 2hours worth of filters, there whole journey should take no longer than 45 minutes.
He checked his pistol fully loaded and 8 more clips, he holstered it and picked up his rifle a custom made single shot bolt action rifle
A gift for his final day from khan and a very rare piece packing a powerful shot even at long range 
Artyom had learnt how to use a gun well after years of training and tunnel patrols, he had even been on solo expeditions into the tunnels and survived it pitch black darkness and the creatures that lurk.

Feeling ready he threw on his backpack, and rifle over his shoulder and went to meet khan,
Artyoms home a small wood and metal shack was just like the usual for all stations a small square enough room for a bed and small bookcase along one side with a small camp stove the other, and enough room in the centre for 2 people to sit comfortably.
From their home station there was no longer access to the surface it had been sealed long ago, after many sightings of mutants which is what they called the now changed humans of the surface,
Artyom remembers well one breaking through the defence line to the station entrance, how it tore down heavily fortified barricades and doors as though they were mear sheets of paper to scissors, the huge size like that of a silverback gorilla but apptly walking on two legs it's skin a pale grey like that of corpse.
If it wasn't for that just 30 minutes earlier two rangers returned from surface patrols and where still in station all would have been lost...
One of them rangers was Khan, the other Boris I know little of he died protecting the undergrounds citizens,LIKE A TRUE RANGER so they say...

"What are you doing daydreaming?.....
Come on boy " khan's harsh voice brought Artyom round, "stay sharp today I don't want any mistakes, your on lead out there...all part of the test boy lead on" with that khan handed him 2 hand signed bright yellow cards "permits...free range around the underground and surface"
Artyom took them and walked confidently on out the side passage and on to the main station platform South point station as far as you can go south, end of the line there was more but it had collapsed at the start of the war and had remained sealed since. The huge dark room barely lot by the old hanging emergency lights and the candles scattered around traders came in with torches well lit but soon turnt them off to save on batteries,
Only one tunnel led out of south point and Artyom quickly headed toward it avoiding the busy station full of traders and stalls selling all kinds clothing,often salvaged or made from recycled clothes etc, 
Food such as mushrooms , rat, pigs all was available south point although small southpoint did well from trade and it's renoun for being a generally easy going station and since the sealing of the surface entrance years ago was rather safe compared to other stations,

Artyom approached the tunnel entrance entrance, "permits ranger...even yous need them" asked one of the guards at the checkpoint to the entrance,
He quickly pulled out the two yellow cards handing them to the guard ,
"All's ok... Open up" he shouted out as he banged on the large metal blast door of the station,
This is what made south point special it was able to seal itself off from the rest of the underground , close it's only entrance and remain safe from the creatures in the tunnels.

The huge door creaked and groaned as it moved slowly open , a miracle after all these years it's mechanical parts still working. From deep in the darkness the noise echoed back making it a very unnerving sound , growls and scurrying of inhuman steps soon followed it.

"Ok quickly out yous go... Becareful doors been shut since yesterday, you'll be alone out there till the next station..who knows what's waiting out there traders come through in caravans of 10+, lots of light and noise tends to keep them safe..you 2 are just going to stir them up "

Artyom and khan stepped out into the darkness imdiately turning on there torches to light the pitch black,
The door began to groan and grind back into place as it closed behind them, till with a dull thud and click it locked closed again, 
A sharp high pitched screal came from down in the darkness , turning Artyoms stomach no matter how many times you enter these tunnels you never get used to it , the same tunnel never has the same feel or the same dangers.
Kind
Artyom pulled his rifle down off his shoulder and checked it over quickly then held it firm ready to use at any moment.
"Let's get this over with , I hate these tunnels" with that Artyom took lead and begun to walk ahead into the darkness of the tunnels.

The tunnel felt as though a million eyes where on you through the darkness,
The screeching and scurrying soon fell silent,
Artyom could hear his own heart beat and breathing it was so silent except for the occasional drip of water slowly dripping down from the surface.

"It's too quiet....the beast's they lie in wait for us" khan broke the silence
"I know they should have come charging at us already...strange,not there usual behaviour" Artyom replied trying to let his voice break from the nerves and chills running through him.

The most typical breast down in the tunnels where know as 'dogs' although other than size they bore no resemblance to any canine companion of the past , thick grey black skin no fur a mouthful of razor sharp teeth and incredibly fast , even able to climb they can drop from any angle out of the darkness ready to devour any unprepared travelers.
While not a problem in small numbers to a trained ranger like Artyom or Khan when in large numbers ,which is how they tend to travel in large packs they can present a problem to even the most battle hardend if he doesn't stay aware, as they will soon silently surround you.

CLICK.., Khan had taken the safety of his AK rifle "stay alert...be ready"

Slowly they began to proceed forward , the next station from southpoint was Southall a small station with a ranger base at its core, it had direct access to the surface and the rangers took advantage of that controlling the station as there own , few civilians lived there a few farmers for food and traders to keep supplies flowing.
The station however was a free station and anyone was allowed to pass through only rangers where allowed to the surface though.

Artyom jumped as a drop of water fell right down his back "AHH shit... That was cold" he chuckled
At this precise second Khan raised his rifle and BANG!BANG! BANG! shot three rounds directly above Artyom,followed by a sharp yelp and a dog fell down barely missing falling onto Artyom, Khan stepped straight to it drawing his knife and plunged it into the beast's skull "Stay alert.. this tunnel doesn't leak yet you should have known that it's our own"
Khan spoke firmly and unforgivingly.

Artyom was speechless , sweat pouring down his forehead he wiped it away and regained himself, he hadn't paid enough attention and 10 minutes down the line it already nearly cost him his life
"Thank you" he mumbled to khan 
"I'll be alert from here... I take lead like I should" Artyoms words felt heavy , now he was fully aware his and khan's life's where in his hands.

Suddenly in the distance five shots rang out echoing down the tunnel, then ahead Artyom could start to see the flickers of torches heading towards them... Fast the track below began to rattle, "carriage... There shouldn't be any today.... STOP WHERE YOU ARE OR WE SHOOT!!" Khan quickly bellowed out , he was there gun pointed out into the darkness, Artyom rushed to aim down his sight directly at one of the torch beams.

There was a screeching of brakes on the rails as the carriage came to a halt, then the torches went out followed by three quick flashes 2 quick the middle long , The ranger signal "the sky is clear today brother can almost see the stars" the rangers safewords.
Artyom felt at ease and lowered his gun,
Khan to had eased off still gun in hand ready but the tension had released.

Artyom and khan walked down to the carriage ,
Straight away it was odd only 4 people, too few carriages weren't aloud to leave with fewer than 8 people for safety.
"We need all rangers at south hill station now, 
There's big problems from the surface" the large carriage driver shouted out to them upon seeing Khan in his rangers suit 
"We have to tell southpoint to stay sealed or there safety , the tunnels have been breached... Who knows what's down here now"

Artyom and khan said nothing just moved aside for the carriage to pass and quickly get to southpoint with its warning.

Khan looked at Artyom 
"Your test is over.... Go back to southpoint now!" 
And with that he began to walk off 

"Wait.... Let me help" 
Artyom called after him 
Khan turned around looked Artyom straight in the eyes "NO...go to southpoint ensure the station is safe......" He paused biting his lip 
"If im not back in 48 hours..... Use this to exit the station"
He handed Artyom a well worn red pass and ran off toward south hill.

Artyom stood in disbelief , he was now a ranger and if the information was true mutants had begun to over run the ranger station southhill ,
In 48 hours the underground could rely entirely on Artyoms decision, if khan did not return then the rangers had fallen.

Regaining his awareness Artyom quickly turnt round and ran back towards southpoint, the gate was still open from the carriage, when he arrived back in the station it chaos , the market rushing to pack away, few rangers gathering there things and heading back to the carriage to head out in south hills defence .

Artyom went straight home to think and rest , he needed to be ready just in case, as muchas he prayed Khan would return and this was all over embellished information.