The world slowed down as Maksim approached the outpost. He knew that hardship would await him ahead, he knew that the Zone would bring a suffering of it's own but he also knew that he was worthless to the outside world, the Zone was his only choice.

Suddenly, a crackling sound filled the air,

"Is this thing on?"

A loudspeaker burst to life and the sound cut through the valley like a monstrous blade slicing through Maksim's flesh.

"The Security Service of Ukraine is calling all right minded and loyal citizens to collaborate with the authorities..."

Maksim took a deep breath and walked forward.

"...Report all known cases of stalking..." A soldier walked out of the old crumbling building, his filthy coat contrasting the shine of his boots,

"Hey you! Come h-"

"...do not let the looters hide behind your backs..."

"Turn that damn thing off!" he screamed into the brick building from which he'd emerged.

A horrible screech pierced through the air followed by a deafening silence.

"Come here!" Demanded the soldier.

Maksim walked towards the man his heart racing, would his journey end before it had even began?

"You must be Mr Volkov, you know Sidrovitch, nyet?"

"Da ser," Maksim replied, a sudden Relief in his voice,

"Do you know him?"

The soldier replied,

"Yes, he told me to expect your arrival. Commander Chernov, glad to see you have arrived safely and with your... Possessions..."

He put out his hand, Maksim quickly shook it.

"No! Let's try this again shall we? You understand, my friend, that we can't simply let somebody through. Now, I'm a glad to see you have arrived safely with all of your POSSESIONS"

He stuck out his hand again and this time Maksim reached into his pocket and placed a large wad of notes into the Commander's hand.

"Better. Now be quick"

Maksim walked through the gateway into a small courtyard, it was bland with gravel lining the ground and concrete blocks forming it's walls. A couple of vehicles sat to one side, they certainly looked like they had seen better days.

"Get moving!" Came a yell from behind him. Maksim hurried to the other end of the courtyard and went through the other entrance and back onto the dirt track. Welcome to the Zone.

Trees were sparsely spread out across the valley, the track inclined up ahead of him and he could hear the sound of gunshots coming from the distance, followed by an echoing howl. The sky grey above him, the dirt beneath his feet, half dead grass lay either side of the track. Maksim slowly sauntered up the long track,

"Attention! You are approaching the border of an ecological disaster zone..."

The loudspeaker, the first of many of the Zone's annoyances that Maksim would have to get used to,

"...criminal act..."

He would just have to learn to filter it out,

"...any means necessary..."

Reaching the top of the incline Maksim sighed at the thought of his new life but then, he saw the ground slope downwards on the other side revealing some old homes, the buildings were falling apart, the roofs full of holes and bricks falling away from the walls. But it wasn't the buildings that intrigued Maksim, it was the people.

The small group of buildings were full of stalkers laughing around campfires, telling jokes and eating food. Quicker in his pace, Maksim moved towards the buildings, he approached a lone stalker at the edge of the encampment who appeared to be the guard.

"Zdravstvujtye tovarisch, what brings you to our humble base?"

"I am here to see Sidrovitch, he is expecting me."

"Certainly my friend. First, however, I must ask you to speak to our leader Wolf."

"Of course."

Maksim followed the stalker into the encampment. They passed a group sitting around a campfire, one was playing the guitar, there was a small round of applause,

"Instruments are popular in the Zone" said the guard,

"They give people something else to think about"

They passed the campfire and approached a man standing alone by an ancient half destroyed house, he was quiet tall, wearing an old combat vest, he seemed quite and yet he had an experienced air to him. Maksim knew this was a man to respect.

"Wolf" said the man,

"Maksim Volkov" Maksim replied, they proceeded to shake hands.

"We don't see many unknown faces in the Cordon, Mr Volkov" Proclaimed Wolf,

"So what is your busy here?"

"I have come to see Sidrovitch, he knows I am coming," Maksim explained.

"We can't allow any... unhappy customers, to meet with him. Why do you wish to see him?"

"He has supplies for me, I have been in contact with him"

"Don't worry I believe you."

"Well then I'll b-"

"But in this place we are better safe than sorry, I will join you."

Maksim followed Wolf past some more broken buildings and followed him out of the encampment to the entrance of what appeared to be an old bomb shelter. There was a large open hatch with concrete stairs leading down into the surprisingly well lit shelter.

"After you" Wolf exclaimed.

Maksim slowly stepped into the hatch,

"Quickly now, he doesn't bite!" Wolf mocked playfully.

Maksim descended down into the grey tunnel and reached it's end finding a large thick metal door. Wolf stepped past Maksim and opened the door.

"Well, well, who do we have here?"

They entered a small room. The wall opposite the door only came up to waist height and vertical iron bars completed the top half of the wall, behind these bars was a slightly larger room full of containers and wiring. A desk sat right next to the bars, on it was an old computer and sitting in a chair was the man who had spoken. He was an old fat man but what lacked in hair he certainly made up for with his smile. The man wore an old sheepskin jacket and a white vest, he looked intelligent and experienced but most importantly, he gave off an air of friendliness.

"Ah Wolf, who have you brought for me today?"

"A rookie: 'Mr Volkov' if I remember correctly. He claims you are expecting him."

"Indeed I am," Replied Sidrovitch, "Lovely to finally meet you Maksim my friend."

"Likewise ser!"

"Oh please, cut the formalities. Anyway, I have some gear with your name on it!"

Sidrovitch rummaged around under his desk before emerging with an AK-74 assault rifle, a Makarov pistol and a considerable amount of ammunition.

"Hold on," said Sidrovitch.

With a heave he got up from his chair and went over to one of the containers. He dragged out some black army overalls and a heavy vest full of pockets for ammunition and medical supplies. Sidrovitch placed this through a gap in the bars along with the weaponry. Then he trundled over to yet another container and pulled out an army backpack.

"In here are medical supplies, food, water, a gas mask and a bottle of vodka on the house!" Exclaimed Sidrovitch. Wolf stared in disbelief and his jaw dropped at the amount of gear that Maksim was now eagerly putting on.

"He pays well," said Sidrovitch simply, "And he'll need it where he's going."

"Where he's going?" inquired Wolf.

"Maksim why don't go out and fire off some shots? It would be ideal for you to get used to your weapons before you really need them."

"I hope not to have to use them but you are correct of course" Maksim agreed before leaving the room.

"He intends to travel to the power plant." Sidrovitch told Wolf.

"But it is a long dangerous journey into the Zone. Few make it back from Pripyat alone, not even mentioning the plant! Strelok is one of the only people who has lived to tell the tail, besides, Volkov is new to the Zone, he'll be killed long before he gets there."

"I think he knows that, Wolf." Sidrovitch said sadly.

"What!? Then why is he?..."

"I think that's what he wants, Wolf. While I've been in contact with him I've noticed it, he hasn't come here for profit, he's come here to forget his mistakes and to do die if need be."

"We can't let him, he's young, he has a future!"

"Wolf. I can't do anything, I can only do my job, I've supplied him well, that's all I can do. Oh and believe me, there's no changing his mind."

"Then I'll go with him!" Announced Wolf, "I can't just let him die like that."

"Very well," said Sidrovitch. Wolf turned to walk out of the room.

"You're a good man, Wolf." Sidrovitch told his old friend. Wolf left the room and began to climb the stairs out into the Zone followed by Sidrovitch's voice:

"Good hunting, stalker."