Moskau: Chapter 3

Bielski Train Station had fallen in a critical state of disrepair over the years. Stagnant water dripped from broken pipes and collected into murky puddles on the cracked and broken floor tiles. Razor sharp glass littered the floors and window frames, the odd fragment occasionally breaking off and shattering on the ground.

Vasili led Katenka through the wreckage of trains, long since disused and forgotten in favour of newer, more advanced models. He kept a firm grip on her hand, using his free hand to point a 9mm pistol ahead of them in an attempt to feel somewhat intimidating to any potential attackers.

Vasili knelt on the ground, glass crunching underfoot. He listened for a moment, his programmed senses picking up minute details in the air. he could hear voices ahead, he judged about seven. He let go of Katenka’s hand and told her to wait there for a moment.

Vasili kept low, moving slowly towards one of the shattered windowsills. He could hear the voices getting louder. He recognised Boris and Oleg. The others, he didn’t know. He peeked above the window, Boris and Oleg were surrounded by armed men, by the looks of them they were Railroad workers.

Vasili stood up, calling out to Boris and Oleg.
“Ah Vasili, we were beginning to think you weren’t coming” Oleg joked
“You know me, I always keep to my word” Vasili replied sternly, lowering his 9mm
“Where is she then?” Boris snapped
“Don’t worry Boris, she’s with me” Vasili turned round and beckoned to Katenka “it’s okay Kat, you can come out!”
“I knew you’d come through Vasili” Boris smiled as Katenka appeared from the train wreckage “you bring the money to?” he rubbed his thumb and index finger together
“Yes, you have your money” Vasili took a case full of money out of his bag and kicked it toward the Railroad workers
“Good” Oleg sneered and pulled a sawn off shotgun from beneath his grubby trench coat
“Grab the girl!” Boris shouted to the armed men around them, pointing his own shotgun at Vasili
“You double crossing bastard Oleg!” Vasili shouted, raising his 9mm at the pair
“I’m sorry Vasili, you were a good friend and stern ally, but she is worth much to us” Oleg shook his head “she will be safely returned to where she belongs” Oleg fired two rounds into Vasili’s gut, knocking him back over a desk.

Katenka tried to run, she had to get away from these men who meant her harm. She took off at a striking speed, dodging the first two men that tried to grab her. She put another down with a left jab to the nose, knocking him out cold. Two men grabbed her and wrestled her to the ground. Oleg and Boris slowly walked toward her
“Please my dear, don’t make this any more difficult than it needs to be” Boris cable tied her hands behind her back and pulled her up off the ground
“My, my you are a pretty one aren’t you” Oleg let out a sickening laugh, brushing her fringe away
“Don’t fucking touch me” Katenka shouted at him, spitting into his eyes
“You little bitch!” Oleg raged, slapping Katenka hard around the face and backed off
“Get her in the van!” Boris ordered the Railroad workers.
Vasili lay there as Katenka was lead past him, screaming trying to fight off her captors. He fumbled around on the floor for his 9mm, finally getting a bloodied grasp on it. He felt around in the open shotgun wound. Synthetic blood gushed from the grisly wound, causing Vasili’s circuits to buzz and crackle. He knew he only had a few minutes left, that was his best estimate too. He raised the 9mm up and propped himself against the desk. He closed one eye and aimed at Oleg, that treacherous bastard would get what was coming to him. He pulled the trigger three times, hitting him two in the chest and one in the throat.

Oleg recoiled at the impact of the bullets. He dropped to his knees and gripped his throat, trying in vain to stem the blood that was gushing from the newly opened wound. He choked and point at Vasili. Boris couldn’t get his shotgun up quick enough, three rounds tore into his torso and ruptured his internal organs. Boris slumped against the wall and slid down it, leaving a crimson trial of blood in his wake.

The other Railroad workers dropped to the floor, the bullets narrowly missing Katenka. Blood and the smell of gunpowder filled the old station. Three British operators buzzed into view as their thermoptic camouflage deactivated.

Katenka ran over to Vasili, who cut the cable ties around her wrists with a small penknife. She grasped his lifeless body, tears streaking down her face. Vasili gripped her t-shirt tightly
“No” she choked, tears dripping onto Vasili’s clothes
“It’s okay Kat” he feigned a smile “I’ll be okay” he looked down at the open wound in his stomach
“Don’t lie to me” Katenka screamed, gripping Vasili tighter
“Goodbye Kat, be safe, I‘m sorry” Vasili’s grip on her t-shirt loosened and his head slumped down.