X-16 Laboratory

Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl  → X-16 Laboratory

The usual population—zombies and snorks—seems unaffected by the radiation, though a slow, shambling snork would be a very handy opponent. Descend to the bottom floor via the stairs and, shooting the half-dead creatures, advance through the level. Save—in the large hall, you'll have to race up the stairs against the clock. The radiation is too powerful; your defenses won't hold up for long.

Kill the zombies as quickly as possible, then turn off the three levers on the three levels (don't miss the very first one). Once at the very top, turn right, save, and pull the lever on the control panel. Hurray, the radiation is gone, the danger is over, and a zombie career is over. The hero will again recall fragments of his past. I wonder who that powerful old man with the dog is?

All that's left is to go into the far hall, deal with the sad controller, and loot Ghost's body. Your primary interest is the regenerative artifact suit, and only then the documents from Lab X-16. To your right is a hole in the stone floor. Jump into it and exit through the tunnel. The first pair of snorks will meet you behind a pile of dirt. Be careful around the bend—a snork is hiding behind a curved piece of pipe lying against the left wall. Another one will jump out from around the bend, where a jet of flame is shooting. At the fork where you kill the zombies (a grate on the left, a pile of dirt on the right), try to throw a couple of grenades over the pile of dirt with the piece of pipe lying on it—just beyond the hill, two cheerful snorks are waiting for you. They think they can catch you off guard, but no such luck!

Get ready to fire bursts at the pseudo-giant, who will knock over the crates and run toward you, but of course, he won't reach you. There are zombies on the left—you can ignore them. Run straight ahead and around the two turns, up the stairs to the surface. The helicopter won't do anything to you—it'll fire a couple of missiles at the lab and quickly fly away to be on the safe side. Report to Sakharov and return to the Bar.

The bartender unequivocally suggests you visit the Monolith and disable their psionic field, opening the way north for the stalkers. And it would seem that now that you have radiation protection, nothing (except dozens of evil Monolithists, of course) is stopping you from setting out. But don't rush. The Ghost's notes contained information about a Guide who was supposed to meet with a certain Doctor. Why not try to find out who these Guide and Doctor are?

We'll find the first one in the south, in the Cordon area, in front of the destroyed railway bridge—the very same spot where you once spoke with Fox. The guide is laconic: "The doctor is waiting in a secret location. If you're in the know, you know where it is."

Of course, we're in the know! Return northwest to the Agroprom area and dive into the sewer hatch again—into the very same catacombs where you were looking for information about Strelok. After defeating the bandits and bloodsuckers, climb the familiar stairs... The doctor (the same old man from the visions) really doesn't want the player to start shooting at him out of fear and ruin their acquaintance, so without further ado, he'll hit the hero on the head and tell him everything while he's still suffering from a headache. And then he'll disappear, leaving behind information about a cache hidden in the Pripyat hotel, in room 26.

Let's remember this information and, armed to the teeth, head north to storm the Monolith lands. Next -  Army warehouses.