The scientist bunker in Black Forest is the only respite for those not brainwashed, or brainscorched, in the area. Even then, there was little to see, simply the mobile lab, some crates, a trailer kitchen and a machine gun nest on top of a ZIL truck. The place was guarded by ISKRA troops, four men in total, one in a proto-exoskeleton and others in standard issue Ecologist guard suits. They waved at Brenter, Koumiss and Dragoslav as the three wanderers returned to base.

"Professor, why do you have a Monolith with you? You do realize they're not the most socieable bunch?", the leader in proto-exo asked.

"Come now, Ensign, I was already in the Zone when you were still in your diapers. We believe this man is in a lucid state and no longer thinks his deity is a crystal sitting in a pile of radioactive materials.", Brenter scoffed.

"I'm not that young, professor, it was merely a jest. Did you get the samples you wanted?", Ensign laughed.

"Unfortunately, no. The pack of arachnids seems to have left the area, and we ran into this young man by the arch-anomaly so we had no time to take samples.", Brenter sighed.

"I'm sorry I inconvenienced your research.", Dragoslav said.

"No, no, it's not every day you find a sane-ish Monolith trooper. Even though your kind are more prevalent than before, now that the Scorcher is down, but still, you are the first one I have seen during all my years.", the scientist hastily added.

"What is the Monolith then? Why do you treat me with such curiosity and reservation?", Dragoslav finally asked, having almost bursted from seams trying to hold the questions in.

"It's a long story. Perhaps we should sit by the fire, me and Koumiss can fill you in on everything going on in the Zone. I've been here since 2007, so you'll get a lot of information you wouldn't get elsewhere.", Brenter offered, gesturing towards the campfire.

Dragoslav sat next to the fire on a metal crate, still feeling the chill in his bones and ever-present ache all over his body. Yet as Koumiss kindled the fire, some semblance of warmth returned, and this feeling was further reinforced by a meal offered by Ensign. A simple dish, merely potatoes, brown sauce and what appeared to be pig meat, but to Dragoslav, it was a feast fit for kings. As he was eating, Brenter began explaining all he knew about the Zone. How it was formed as a result of mad science by something called the Group, how its new reality functioned, why there were ripples in the fabric of the world and why mutated monstrosities stalked the lands. Koumiss, who Brenter claimed to be an expert on various enemies of the Ecologists, filled Dragoslav in on the Monolith, who they were, what they believed in and why Dragoslav was in that truck.

"So I've been a brainwashed foot soldier for some crazy cult for who knows how long?", Dragoslav exclaimed.

"Exactly. Thing is, Monolith recently filled their ranks massively, as there was an event called the Third Emission. Like the professor explained, emissions can cause zombification, but they may rarely also cause Monolithification-", Koumiss began, but was cut off by Brenter.

"I told you not to use that stupid term, the proper term is psi-radiation induced loss of autonomy."

"Yeah, yeah, and we are technically "Iskra Scientific Research and Investigation Team", but you fucking eggheads call us anomaly fodder all the time anyway.", Ensign commented.

"For your information, I would never use such derogatory terms for valued Institute assistants.", Brenter replied.

"You just used it in a report to the Sokolov brothers last week!", Ensign protested, getting only a sly smile from Brenter in return.

"This is all very entertaining but can we continue? Koumiss' term, however plebian to you, professor, nonetheless explains the process nicely.", Dragoslav interrupted.

"Thank you, for a highly esteemed professor, our glorious overlord sure loves to bicker with his employees. Anyway, Monolith recently received a sudden boost in recruitment thanks to another crazy cult, Sin, letting of the biggest emission the Zone had seen in ages. You may have been recruited in that blast.", Koumiss finished finally.

"And what do these Sin look like? I have some memories, flashes of events. Battles under a large antennae, scarred and disfigured men fighting against others in various armour colours, black and red armoured men with marks of red bird on their suits pushing against the scarred. And this strange... Pulsating orb shackled to a ceiling inside a silo of sorts... Some of these feel like visions, like not something I witnessed myself, but that orb... I feel a connection to it.", Dragoslav explained, feeling more trustful of these men now that they had shared so much.

The other men around the campfire went silent. Koumiss, under his Altyn helmet, shot a glance at the professor, who was trying to keep his poker face clean. Ensign lowered his gaze to the fire. Eventually, Brenter spoke.

"You described Sin perfectly. And in general what you spoke of sounds like the Siege of Limansk, where Sin was defeated and where their initial plan failed.", Brenter answered with a nod.

"And the orb?", Dragoslav continued, feeling like something was intentionally left out.

"Eh... I'm unfortunately not allowed to say anything. Just know that even though we among Ecologists have the brightest minds of our generation and probably know most of the Zone after the Group, we have no idea what that thing is.", Brenter finally replied after gathering his thoughts.

"You just said something though, no harm done sharing the rest.", Dragoslav prodded, hoping to get a tiny bit more information.

"You are welcome in our camp for as long as you want, but there are things we cannot share with you. I'm sorry, but as the chief of security I must set these boundaries.", Ensign commented.

"Alright, noted. Let us move past this, can you explain who these Noon fellows are? You mentioned them earlier.", Dragoslav asked again.

"That we can share. Blackbird, mind coming here to share your knowledge?", Ensign shouted to one of the guards, dressed in reinforced guard suit.

"Noon eh? I used to roll with them, back when I was a regular old stalker without a six-figure salary from the government. They're former Monolith troopers, who have since began a crusade to save everyone still under the boot of their former masters. Top notch fighters, staunchly loyal to the cause... and pretty robotic in their movements and talking style still. Some, like Strider, have mostly gotten rid of the emotionless voice, but to others, it's a slow process.", Blackbird, one of the guards in improvised scientific suit, explained.

"So these guys are like me?", Dragoslav asked.

"Well, oddly enough you don't seem like a former Monolith fanatic, there's no hint of brainwashing in your movement or speech. I was with Noon for a month, and saw many new recruits, and all of them still acted like Monolith in all bar for religious fervour. You're... human. Or more human, even based on this brief interaction. So I can't say for certain, but I think Noon brothers may help figuring out what you are.", the eco-stalker replied.

"Could be an agent.", Ensign muttered, and Dragoslav saw his hand hover over the pistol holster.

"Let us not jump into that conclusion until we have received expert's analysis. In addition to that point, why would Monolith deploy agents in their respective faction colours?", Brenter interjected.

"Good point. Well, nonetheless, Dragoslav, we will have to keep an eye on you. You'll remain in the camp under surveillance until Noon arrives.", Ensign ordered, and hesitantly, Dragoslav nodded.

The meeting dispersed, with Brenter called to accept a call from another science bunker. Ensign posted Blackbird near Dragoslav to keep watch, and Koumiss left without a word to do something of his own. Blackbird took out a device with a screen and began reading something, but Dragoslav could feel the man watch him despite the relaxed appearance. Still, given that no one had disarmed him, it would appear that Dragoslav was not entirely distrusted. It seemed like the best bet was to simply sit and wait, which was perhaps not something Dragoslav was entirely happy with. His wounds ached, even if they were healing, and the cold wind momentarily made him shudder despite the campfire's heat. Nonetheless, it felt reassuring to have company here, even if Blackbird wasn't of the talkative sort. Eventually, after sitting by the warm fire long enough, Dragoslav began to doze off. Leaning on the crate, he fell into a restless sleep, this time thankfully free of visions.

Far away, on the other side of the Zone, another man woke from sleep. Inside the large factory area of Meadow, Dimuha was shaken awake by sounds of gunfire. He slipped into a red, green and brown Redemption-class suit, which he had been temporarily given while the technicians of Redemption worked on his new suit. As the familiar weight of the suit's helmet-gasmask combination headgear landed on him, Dimuha stepped outside, ready for everything. He was greeted by absolutely nothing. Where less than a minute ago he had heard staccato screams of gunfire and screeches of agony from wounded men, now there was just the regular old Meadow factory yard. It was getting late, so the lights had been turned on, and most of Redemption's stalkers had returned to base. Sound of music carried over from the direction of the 3.6 Röntgen Bar, and by the gate next to Dimuha's sleeping spot, three men patrolled the premises.

Dimuha walked over to the gate, still confused as to what had awoken him, and saw that Vova Shaman, one of Redemption's medics, was guarding it, along with Jackdaw and Vetal.

"Evening, Cap.", Vova greeted him.

"Uh, hi. Did you guys hear any gunfire? I could swear I woke up to a proper battle going on here.", Dimuha asked, scratching his neck.

"No, this place has been more dead than Last Day for the duration of my watch. Colder than a witch's tit too, and we're out of moonshine since fucking Jackdaw drank it all.", Vova cursed.

"Even if I spared some for you, you'd complain about the taste, so there's no winning.", Jackdaw replied in a fake exasperated tone.

"You won't hear us complain once your liver gives in.", Vetal murmured.

"So no gunfire? Huh. I must be hallucinating or something then, it felt so real...", Dimuha sighed.

"Combat fatigue does that, and you've seen a lot of it. Maybe go visit Vityukha, he might have some drugs for that.", Vova proposed.

"No, I think I'll get some more rest now... I doubt it's anything worthwhile to look into.", Dimuha replied, shrugging, and turned to head back into the garage.

"I'd look into that if I were you. But fine, do as you wish. However, you might want to go see the big boss, he has some assignment for you.", Vova commented.

"No rest for the wicked. Fine then, see you around, Shaman!", Dimuha said and began walking back towards the factory.

Despite his unbothered appearance though, Vova's words had made him question the curious wakeup call. He had indeed been under a lot of stress ever since, well, the Sin attack in the North. First in Chornobyl, then in Pripyat, and then, when UNISG was beaten, Dimuha had led a joint attack with free stalkers and Clear Sky on the remaining Renegades and Black Slugs. While mostly just a rat hunt, it had nonetheless drained him as every hamlet, every ramshackle camp, could be a dead end, an ambush or everything else under the sun. As Dimuha made it to the administrative building, he stopped for second upon entering the highest floor. If he turned right, he'd be in Boris' office, but if he continued onward, Dimuha could enter Vityukha's medical office. He weighed on what to do, but eventually shrugged.

"If these hallucinations persist, I'll see Vityukha. Not like Boris has many big missions these days...", Dimuha mumbled to himself.

With a final exhale, he opened the door and entered Boris' office.