"So let me get this straight. You want to get to Belarus due to some personal feud, because Serbin made you remember it exists?", colonel Degtyarev asked, raising his voice over the noise coming from downstairs.

On the first floor of the laundromat, celebrations continued between Redemption, the local stalkers and the two companions of Degtyarev. On the second floor however, Dima, Boris and Degtyarev were locked in conversation. Boris had taken Strelok's spot on the table, making the poor old furniture creak under the weight of the man and his battle-tank-in-a-pocket-form armour like it was about to get crushed ainto dust. Dima was sitting on the chair, legs on the little space left on the table, smoking a cigarette, while the secret service agent was still standing, scratching his chin.

"Yes. I lost everything because of that mob boss Harkushka, my job, my former life, my wife-to-be, everything. Yet my folks and Lena's remained at Minsk, and while I kept sending them money every now and then, I never expected my past to catch up to them. Yet Serbin seemed assured that he could hurt me in that way too, make sure the only people left of my old life would suffer. We never found Serbin's corpse among the Omega troops or the crashed heli, so it's safe to assume he is still out there.", Boris said, sighing.

"So you want to kill this Harkushka guy because otherwise he might kill your parents?", Degtyarev asked again, and Boris nodded.

"I tried telling him that this is nuts but he never listens to me.", Dima commented, rolling his eyes and crumbling the cigarette on the floor.

"No, no, I don't think it is insane. We know Omega has large network of connections outside the Zone, and in all honesty I am surprised I never considered Belarussian underworld to be their main supplier. It makes sense though, they're heavily involved in Polesie, supplying the local bandit groups. The local forces are, pardon my French, utter dogshit, and rife with corruption, so nobody deals with it and the shit trickles down to Chornobyl Zone as well.", Degtyarev replied, pondering look on his face.

"So this is also benefiting you jarheads if Boris shoots the joint up?", Dima said sardonically.

"Indeed it does, but I would help nonetheless. The state owes too much for your help, yet I have no real rewards to give as this is super hush-hush. Still, I can pull a few strings among my more reliable Belarussian contracts to get you across the border. If this is what you truly want.", Degtyarev responded.

"It is. I... I felt rage and vowed vengeance to Harkuskha after Lena's death and me becoming fugitive, but I forgot about it during all these years. What good was it to think that I could get my revenge, if I barely survived from one scuffle to the other. I made my peace on that slope in Limansk, seeing the night sky fade away, without the burning hatred in my soul. But he is still a threat and a bastard, one I need to deal with, for my parent's and Lena's do not deserve to be tangled up in this.", Boris answered.

"In that case, give me a minute. I'll contact my associate among the KGB and get you over the border that way.", the agent said and disappeared through the door to make a call.

Boris smiled faintly and looked at Dima. His friend was observing Boris with a keen eye, weighing what he had just said. If somebody in the world truly understood Boris, it was Dima, they had spent so much time and shed so much blood together. Nothing bonds men and women together like fire.

"I know you, Boris. You do not forgive things like this. Sultan paid the price for far less.", Dima finally said.

"There was a time when that would have been unquestionably true. But now... I witnessed vengeance ruin a person. It turned Veles into a shadow, a gruesome masquerade of what he used to be. I wish to do this, as one final trial to my leadership. If I am to lead men into battle and decide the course of their lives there, how can I do it if I allow vengeance to consume me too? I will destroy what remains of my past, so it can never haunt me again.", Boris replied.

"How is that any different though? You'll be killing him all the same. There's more bullshit in that explanation than in a bull farm with a diarrhea epidemic.", Dima questioned, not believing Boris' explanation.

"It is different. I do not care for revenge, I don't think it achieves much for my personal mission to redeem myself. It won't take away the sins I've committed, but it will keep those few left of the people I care about safe.", Boris argued back, getting slightly annoyed.

"I'll believe it when I see it. I do not want to see you lost on that journey, is all.", Dima replied with a shrug.

"I don't intend to be lost, as I've said. Believe me or don't, I'm going.", Boris snapped back and got up, yet Dima only sighed.

Degtyarev entered the room before any further words could be said, took one look at the tense and frustrated men in the room and cleared his throat. He explained that his contact had been hesitant to allow Boris to be transported over the border and to Minsk, but Degtyarev had called upon a favour of his and the man had had no choice but to oblige. Degtyarev shouted for Sokolov, and in a minute, the pilot entered the room as well.

"Yes? What's going on, Alex?", he asked, looking curiously at the scene.

"You didn't enjoy too many adult beverages down there, right, Vasyl?", the colonel queried.

"Eh, only a bottle. I'm fine to fly, if that is what you're after, but to where? If you want me to fly to the Big Land, I'm less inclined to do so, they're more strict about the flying-under-influence thing there. Complete killjoys.", Sokolov answered.

"Nope. You got a gig to fly to Belarus. Boris here will go on a vacation.", Degtyarev replied with a dry smile.

"Ah, the world class resort of misery, depression, alcoholism and potato authoritarianism. How fun. Boris, why in the name of the Zone do you wish to go there?", Sokolov asked in utter disbelief.

"Unfinished business there. I only need to get to Polesie, Alexander has hitched me a ride onwards from there.", Boris replied.

"Colonel Degtyarev to you, still, Boris. And yes, his vacation happens to hold significance to the state too, so it's important to the SSU as well. So, will you do it?", Degtyarev prodded further, and Sokolov nodded.

"Beats flying between the institute, Yantar, Jupiter and West Yantar all the time. Fucking Kruglov always pestering me to bring supplies to his new bunker... Anyway, I'll do it, provided you inform Mikhailo of this detour.", Sokolov accepted the deal.

"Mikhailo is aware of this whole mess here? Damn you two should be court-martialed, but I'll let it slip this once... Blyat, can't trust even my mates. Anyway, looks like you have a ride, Boris. Anything you need to do before we head out?"

"I need to address the men and send them towards Meadow. Would be inproper to just vanish after all this.", Boris answered, and the two government officials nodded.

Half an hour later, Boris had explained his reasoning to the gathered Redemption squad below. Dimuha was sterly against it, seeing it as lunacy and especially complaining about him having to become Redemption leader temporarily because of it. He calmed down when Boris replied that Dima would instead fill that role. Sanyok instead supported the journey to Belarus, emphatizing with Boris' quest for vengeance and redemption due to his own experiences. Vityukha was also supportive, albeit also cautious, but he stressed that Boris should do it if he truly believed it was needed. Felka was just happy that someone would kill "that rat Harkushka". Dimka and Sevka were mostly indifferent, but both wished Boris luck and told him to stay alive for the Redemption leader had grown on them. Dima was the last to talk, and to Boris' surprise, he had turned around to support Boris now.

"I do not agree with this, but I've known Boris long enough to know he does not listen. And when he doesn't, he often still makes the right decision eventually, bar for that one time in Limansk. As such, all we can do is hope that he makes it out again, and that he doesn't lose himself there. I will not stand in the way of a man looking to confront his past. So, good luck Boris. Come back alive, or I will hunt your ghost down and kick my iron-tipped boot up your ethereal ass.", Dima said, and the squad laughed in unison, giving a non-verbal approval to Boris.

"Thanks, Dima, I'll keep that in mind if dying becomes too lucrative. Thankfully you won't be coming so that is less likely to happen. And thank you, men. Nothing is more valuable to me than your input, and while I have made up my mind, I cannot express how important your honesty was. I will return, soon, but unfortunately I probably won't be able to see you off, Dimka and Sevka. So godspeed to you two, it has been a pleasure fighting besides you, if one can say so, and I hope you find your places in the world as I have.", Boris replied, and the two ex-UNISG stalkers nodded to him with faint smiles.

Boris said his goodbyes to everyone else individually, with Dimuha and Vityukha saying theirs with the warmth of lifetime-long friends. Sanyok shook Boris' hand and told him to come back in one piece. Felka, still weak from his wounds, could only wish him luck in the rathunt. Dimka and Sevka both shook his hands and wished him a fulfilling life after this mission. Finally, Boris came face to face with Dima. All that needed to be said between them had already been uttered, but Dima had one more thing left to do. Without a word, he lowered his Val rifle from his back and handed it before him, resting it sideways on his hands.

"This is far more suitable for your task, bratan. Take it, and these four magazines, and deliver the fucker straight to hell post-haste.", Dima said in a fiery voice.

"Chyort, Dima, you got me good this time. Thank you, I'll put Prividénije to good use then.", Boris thanked him, and took the silenced rifle, feeling its weight.

"May it serve you as well as it did during that one night in Dark Valley. I'm not a man of God like you, but I hope He blesses you if He happens to exist.", Dima said one more time, stepped out of the way and opened the door.

Boris gave the room one last look. So many more men awaited in Meadow, oblivious to this self-assigned crusade of his, but his most loyal friends and comrades had gathered here. With all his heart, Boris hoped that he would see them again, but if his hourglass ran out of sand in Belarus, he was glad he had had the time to say goodbyes here and now. With one final nod and a grin, he stepped out into the sunlight, seeing the Valkyrie already idling its engines. The rotors spun lazily, and Degtyarev was leaning on the small helicopter's side. Boris walked over to him, and after sharing a look of confirmation, the two climbed aboard. Dima watched the Hoplite climb to the skies with conflicted feelings, but now was not the time to dwell on them. As the SSU agents departed, he took his men and set course for the North Hills, to meet Scar and Lieutenant Maus. It was time to break out the news.