Laboratory X-10[1][2][3] is a secret laboratory located in the Radar, featured only in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.
Background
Lab X-10 is a hidden underground lab where the main components from labs X-18 and X-16 were sent, to construct a large scale psychic antenna (codenamed Rainbow). It is located directly below the surface complex, accessed via a dead-end railway sidetrack.
It is a large complex, occupied primarily by massive power generators necessary to supply enough energy for the continued operation of the Rainbow emitter, known by stalkers as the Brain Scorcher[4].
Appearances
Shadow of Chernobyl
Lab X-10 is the focal point of the main mission Turn Off The Brain Scorcher. After fighting his way through numerous Monolith fighters within the Red Forest, Strelok enters the lab and disables the Brain Scorcher for good. The Monolith attempts to ambush him within the labs, but he manages to escape before making his way to Pripyat
The inside of the lab is mostly empty, containing up to four widely scattered Bloodsuckers. After the machinery is disabled, a large number of Monolith soldiers will start patrolling inside the lab. Once the Marked One gets to the surface, a platoon of Spetsnaz will be fighting against the Monolithians. Duty and Freedom will be in a skirmish near the road to Pripyat, and the winning faction's stalkers will almost immediately engage the Monolith squad at the top of the slope, near the transition point. Loners and Spetsnaz soldiers can be found near the exit to the Army Warehouses. In addition to these new threats, new Monolith squads may appear in places that were previously cleared out.
If the player chooses to return to the area later in the game, they may again encounter Bloodsuckers and large amount of Rodents.
Loot
Going down the stairwell leading to the lower floor will lead to a room with a numerical keypad next to a locked door. The room inside contains several boxes of 5.56x45mm AP rounds, Medkits, and F1 grenades. The combination is obtained from a monolith squad's leader's body (in the easternmost road leading to an outpost), after which the combination "342089" and other information will appear in the diary of the player's PDA under "Monolith soldier's PDA".
"A number haunts me, as if it's chasing me from a previous life. I knew it then, when i didn't believe. I remember it now — 342089. it's a code to a door but i don't remember the way to the door" — Monolith soldier's found PDA
Development
In earlier builds, most notably Build 1935, the level was named "Bunker X-10"; in the final version of the game, this bunker was moved and renamed to its current label. In the pre-release version, the entrance to X-10 was somewhere else in the Red Forest. In the final version, the entrance to the area was moved to the Brain Scorcher antenna grounds.
In the PDA's diary notes in Shadow of Chernobyl, this location is referred to as Lab X19. Seemingly it's a leftover from an old story draft, just like the cut character called Psycho / Crazy who is referenced in one of those journal entries.
Gallery
Trivia
- In Shadow of Chernobyl, lab X-10 is referred to as Lab X19 in all cases (meaning two diary entries with one of them mentioning a cut character) but one — the name of the save file in the level (and the actual current name of level). As it's the most visible name for most players, it became commonly known as Lab X-10. Further games made that "mistake" canon (except it's not a mistake actually).
- Boosting your health with at least two Soul artifacts and using two Crystals against radiation, and using an exoskeleton, it is possible to quickly fight past the handful of enemies on the road towards Pripyat, taking medkits against the psy-emissions. Once loading the Pripyat level the emitter is disabled, bypassing the need to deactivate the Brain Scorcher. Warning: make sure to save before entering the psy field as loading inside it will kill the player. When returning from Pripyat, the emitter stays disabled. Duty and Freedom can be seen standing at the crossroads but not fighting.
References
- ↑ The bunker is also referred to as Lab X19 in the PDA diary notes (stable_storyline_info_yantar.xml and stable_storyline_info_bar.xml), but it's most likely a leftover from an early story draft. The actual name of the level is listed in the string_table_general.xml text file: Lab X-10.
- ↑ One more puzzle
"I'm shocked! Ghost is the same person as the man on the photo from the file attached to the mission to kill Strelok. I'm thoroughly confused. There must have been some mistake. But who made the mistake? There is no answer yet. From Ghost's records I learned the name of their "mutual acquaintance" - the fourth man in Strelok's group - Doctor. He has been helping the group for a long time playing the role of their "headquarters". He can be found through a stalker by the name of Guide, who frequents Cordon. Alright, Guide, just don't go dying all of a sudden... before we meet. On Ghost's dead body I also found documents regarding the "Psi-Brain" mechanism. The whole neigborhood was under the influence of that piece of trash - it zombified everyone who came within range. I learned that there is another mechanism in Lab X19, and that's what is likely to be the Brain Scorcher. I also learned that these mechanisms are not always operating at full strength. There are periods when their power is lowered to cool down the apparatus. - ↑ After meeting with the Psycho
"Well, I am ready to go to the Scorcher. I found out from Crazy the times when the emission levels decrease. He also told me about a safe place where I can wait for these periods. My psi-protection won't work at other times anyway. I'll have to find a way into the underground bunker of Lab X19. Inside I should find the controls for the Brain Scorcher antennae." - ↑
Rainbow emitter - main technical characteristics