Lab X-18

Lab X-18
Basic Information
Type	Secret laboratory
Factions	Military
Neighboring levels	Dark Valley
People
Notable characters	Piotr Kalugin
Items
Anomalies	Burner Comet Fruit Punch
Notable loot	See Loot
Related quests
Find the documents in X18
Map
Technical
Game ID	l04u_labx18
Appearances
Games	S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Laboratory X-18 is a secret laboratory located underneath the Dark Valley, which appears in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

History

X-18 is a laboratory that was used to study the effects of psychic radiation (based on the informational field, noosphere) on living cells using Kaymanov emitters. It was set up in the wake of the 1986 disaster, underneath an old factory. Mutations of living beings following exposure to these emissions is meticulously noted. X-18 also helped in the creation of the Brain Scorcher, which is located in the Red Forest.

In one of the last experiments, mutations involved hair loss, aggression, etc. Eventually, subjects stabilized, with only 10% of their hair remaining and substantial growth of claws and teeth. Bursts of seemingly random activity were present, but not directed at their peers, leading to speculation on an increase in intellect. Thus, the second stage of the experiment with a new modulation of psi-emissions was authorized. Security incidents took place, as the aggressive subjects were prone to causing damage when prompted to by researchers or security guards. In one heinous instance, two dozen test subjects broke out and vandalized the main experiment area and forcing the researchers to lock down the lower levels. The security team had to respond with force, suffering minor wounds. The final experiment concerned the use of new psi-emissions on test subjects, which ended with their brains roasted. The experiment was considered a success and led to experimentation on larger creatures.

The end of the laboratory came when, after receiving too much radiation, an experiment broke out and destroyed most of X-18 (it did this by opening all the other containers and releasing the previous experiments). The surviving staff members locked themselves out of the main hall by a series of large coded doors. Eventually, their experiments reached them through the piping, and killed them off. Later, stalkers began venturing into the laboratory for any treasures that may remain there. Few survived, many died from shock, while others were at the mercy of the Poltergeists.

Borov, the bandit leader in Shadow of Chernobyl, discovered that the door may not have been locked; he then proceeded to lock it, keeping what treasure may be inside safe for him to collect at a later date. Borov was always too afraid to enter the lab after locking it, thus it remained locked until the Marked One unlocked it, using the keycard he recovered from Borov after killing him.

Appearances

Shadow of Chernobyl

Lab X-18 plays a major role in the story as the Barkeep sends the player there to recover documents that must be retrieved from the lowest levels of the lab. Initially, the door to the laboratory is locked; it is not until Borov's key has been acquired that the player can enter the lab, the entrance of which is located underneath the Old factory controlled by Bandits.

The laboratory is home to many mutants and contains multiple anomalies. There are two locked doors that the player must unlock by retrieving the codes from the bodies of former laboratory personnel. After grabbing the documents, the laboratory is assaulted by the military, with four soldiers sent to the laboratory in order to prevent the player from escaping. After killing the soldiers, the Marked One escapes from the lab and delivers the documents to Barkeep.

Inhabitants

• One Pseudogiant (in the storage area)
• Two Snorks (2nd floor hallway to the left)
• Six Poltergeists (2nd floor)
• One Pyrogeist in the crescent moon shaped room with the documents

Anomalies

• Burner anomalies
• A Comet anomaly in the same room as the Burner anomalies
• A Fruit Punch anomaly in what appears to be a pool of (corrosive?) chemicals

Loot

The Documents from Lab X18, part 4, that the Barkeep requires are found at the lowest level of Lab X-18.

One AKM-74/2 fitted with a Grenade launcher and two VOG-25 Grenades, a Monolith suit and two medkits can be found inside the lockers on the middle floor. There is also a loaded RPG-7u in the room with the Pseudogiant. The second dead scientist holds a IL 86 assault rifle in his inventory.

The room adjacent to the laboratory room containing the documents contains three scientific medkits, five bandages, two anti-radiation drugs and 120 5.45x39mm FMJ bullets, all found in the furthest cupboard. The cupboard also contains two metal boxes which can be destroyed for additional 5.45x39mm and 9x18mm FMJ ammunition.

The following stashes are found in this location:

• The left-behind backpack
• Secret stash of Smoked

Trivia

• While the location of X-18 is beneath Dark Valley, on the PDA it's depicted as an above ground location close to the Red Forest. This is because no map exists of the area.
• If the player revisits the lab after taking the documents, more Snorks can spawn here, and the Pseudogiant can spawn again too.

See also

• Walkthrough

Gallery

An attacking Snork in the lab.

Control room.

Stasis pods.

What appears to be a embryonic form of a Poltergeist.