I think I get it (Ending Spoilers)

[-CSM- Abamor]

I think I get it (ending spoilers)

So, just got done with the game after a single 150+ hour playthrough, where I've done, collected and read everything there is.

It's going to be a long one, but if you've felt confused/upset/backstabbed by the ending in question - I promise you this will be worth your time.

I went for the Skif/Faust ending, was shocked as much as everyone else by that "Doc was actually Faust all along" reveal, but the more I thought about it - the more it made sense to me.


Faust.


Let's start from the beginning - Faust is a human turned sentient controller. He is not deformed, mentally impaired or hostile as all the other controllers are and has, as mentioned by his creator Dvupvalov, one more crucial and defining feature - free will. During that dialogue with Skif on top of Duga he mentioned being a "stalker looking for adventure long time ago", but he "took one awkward step" and his "world plunged into darkness". I believe it's safe to assume that he was a stalker before the Zone, as we know it in the games, even existed (between 1986 and 2006, so still a radioactive exclusion zone, still all the horrible Project X shenanigans going on, but no noosphere kaboom yet), got caught trespassing on Duga (I presume) and subsequently used in the "Controller" program as a test subject. As for the "world plunged into darkness" part - we all know he can actually see (his pistol's name, the fact that he even uses a pistol, the ending reveal scene where he clearly has normal eyes, all other controllers having functional eyes, and so on), so I assume that this is in reference to the horrors he had to endure while in captivity (and his blindness was a trick intended to instill religious belief and awe in people around him).

On the topic of that "free will" thing - he operated as the Monolith's "voice" (while it was controlled by C - Consciousness) not because he was conditioned to do so, quite the opposite, he was so good at this precisely because he chose to do it (as mentioned by Dvupvalov). He was the perfect religious leader for those poor bastards, cared for them and whole-hartedly believed in the Monolith. His specific version of it (wink-wink). More on this later - but when you confront him with the whole "You are just a controller, the Monolith is just a device used by those green-tube eggheads" thing, his answer is something like "Yeah, sure you would think that".


The Doctor.


So, he is not in the game. At all. The first time you see him in that psi-dome-thing - it's Faust. Let's brake it down.

Strelok (by his own words) did not see Kaymanov in years (no wonder he doesn't know about the switch).

The mercs that Strelok sent after him - didn't see/fight Strider, the only survivor in that house mentions that this (the mercs looking like they found themselves on the wrong side of a blender) was all done by THE DOCTOR himself. That same survivor says that the guy was going through Geiger-counter-melting radiation zones like it was nothing without even a gasmask, and when he put two bullets in him - the man just shrugged it off, got close and incapacitated him. Hmmm. I know those mercs probably don't actually know exactly what the good Doctor looks like, but you'd think they could tell him apart from a middle-aged Monolith commander in full uniform, right?

The very next mission he gives you is to infiltrate the Monolith hospital near by and, without killing anyone (what a good man), steal a regeneration device to "save" Strider. But when you bring the device back to his house - Strider is so back that he almost kills you, only for the good Doctor to step in at the very last moment and, not without regret (what a drama), save your life by killing the poor thing (what a guy).

More over - I don't think that THIS Strider is real either. Think I got too close to the Brain Scorcher while it was still active? Think again.

What do we know about the house? It's surrounded by a bunch of psi-emitters. If you go to that place before you are tasked with finding the Doctor - you can enter it, but the dome will only contain an empty field and a healthy dose of psi-damage for your gray friend. So this field makes your brain go boo-boo and messes up your perception of reality via a psi-field. Our "Doctor" gets blasted with an emission while we are still under it's effect (and then just hangs around there like nothing happened in the last cutscene), but Richter reaches us like the entrance to the basement did not get buried in rubble. Also - do you remember when Faust reveals himself in that ending? That's right - exactly when he crosses the border.

"But we know Strider is dead. We saw and talked to his ghost-noosphere-imprint-thingy when we went to the Orbita station!". Did ya now? Could someone explain to me how plucking a board from a machine that creates ILLUSIONS (from X3 on Cordon) and putting it into a one-way noosphere TV costitutes talking to the dead? Not convinced - you can find an audio recording while at Orbita, where Scar convinces Professor Ozersky to join him by tricking him into thinking that he can speak to the deceased member of the original Spark group (Ozersky blames himself for this dude's death. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?). And we all know how Scar and his illusion are.

"But why tho?", right?


The Zone.


Here is where this gets real speculative. I am 100% open for your own opinions and suggestions on this topic, but this is what I've gathered.

Listen to the way Faust describes the Zone while pretending to be Kaymanov. The OG Doctor gave off this "I messed up, I need to seclude myself from the world and make amends by healing everything that suffers because of me" feel. He did not want Strelok to go North and "fix" his wrongdoings. He just wanted his "son" to be well. Faust, while wearing his disguise, describes the Zone as a living being that suffers due to how it was brought on and how it is being treated by all humans (he even shows it to you the way he sees it while on Duga). He wants to set it free. This is his Monolith.

While every poor stalker that was indoctrinated by the device was turned into a human automaton and only heard commands from it - Faust, being it's willing and mentally enhanced servant, heard and understood more via that connection to the Noosphere. He heard the Zone itself. And when the Monolith fell silent - he was distraught and looking for a way to "reconnect" to it again. And he did. At the Swamp. Remember that recording? He's not talking to the Monolith. He's talking to the Zone.


Skif.


Now, to sum things up and provide a full picture.

How does Skif tie into all of this (I'll be skipping over a lot of plot points here, this post is long enough).

He was the Zone's agent since the moment he touched that artifact in his apartment. See those flashing moments from the future in the ending cutscene? They are not just a recap of your decisions - they are instructions that Skif was implanted with.

So, our protagonist is now acting on the Zone's behalf. He heads in, gets ambushed by Faust's Monolith loyalists that got tipped off by Hermann and looses the Alfa artifact.

Faust uses the Alfa to establish connection on the Clear Sky's base in the Swamps, receives his "orders" from the Zone, but... and this is an important "but" - those orders are not what he expected. I imagine it going something along the lines of "Hey, stop messing with Skif and let him do the thing. Better yet - aid him. He's my chosen conduit". Faust, at this point in time, still yearns for the good ol' days under the Monolith. Him, his god and his brothers being a single entity with a common greater purpose.

So, what does he do? He defies his "God". Remember the thing about his free will? He starts using the X network to locate all ex-Monolith stalkers and plans to reconnect them all to it, and later, using the Duga, all the stalkers in the Zone too.

He hands over the scanner with the Alfa inside to Skif, but does not kill him (I bet he could), tasks his loyalists with building a network of those good ol' Monolith psi-antennas (those are capable of reaching the Monolith in CNPP by themselves, see CoP for reference) and activates them just when the Alfa establishes connection with the Generators.

He needed Duga and Alfa to convert all people in the Zone, but we foil his plans. This is where he starts to see the error of his ways. What did he refer to Skif as during that talk on Duga? "Envoy of the Monolith". "You stood by His side, carrying out His will, and now you've come for me. I have angered Him and that is why you are here - seeking revenge and the reward."

*Note - if you don't accept his hand while climbing onto Duga - you'll get up yourself and have that dialogue. If you do accept his hand - he'll let you go and you will fall to your death. I think it's his way of seeing for himself if you are up for the task the Zone bestowed upon you. You'll have to turn away every faction that has it sites on the Zone to carry it's will (Spark, Ward and Strelok). Trust no one but yourself (or your programming).

After that - you get through all of his gaslighting in that psi-funhouse of his, and you are ready to go. He trusts you with the keys to his God's future.

As Skif said to Richter (If I'm not mistaken) - "I now understand that this artifact in my kitchen was not a random event - it was a cry for help".



So, what do you guys and girls think? Did I hit the nail on the head? Or did that anomalous moonshine from Dvupalov + activated Brain Scorcher combo hit ME on the head a little too hard?

Glory to the Monolith.

Update:

You, my brothers and sisters are awesome! This is exactly what I wanted from this post - a discourse around the game's ending that will eventually bring us closer to the truth.

After reading your comments I'm currently gravitating towards a slightly different Interpretation that I will share below. As for the original post - I'll leave it as is.

So, I now believe that almost all that we see In this ending's cutscene (besides the moment Skif enters the pod and the Doctor/Faust reveal) takes place in the past.

1. Skif's apartment, the anomaly and the alfa artefact (with the addition of implanted commands).

2. The scientists are performing the sabotaged Second Carribean Experiment, during which anomalies (not new Zones) pop up all over the world (similar to Skif's apartment, but without the alfa). Perhaps they are a kind of a diversion by the Zone itself to get the thing out there into the world but without powers-that-be being able to know where it ended up (and if it did at all). Don't quote me on that last part.

3. The globe at Kaymanov's basement (self explanatory and ties into 2).

So, that just leaves us with the Doctor/Faust scene. Now the line about all hidden things coming out to the light makes a whole lot more sense. Skif now knows how everything started. But this also means (since that globe/scientists part was all it the past) that we don't actually know what exactly happened (to the Zone/World) after Skif entered the pod! We just know that Faust felt this change. So this - is an open ending! Which means (for me, at least) that it is indeed the canon one, since it's the only one that leaves us guessing what happened next, allowing the authors to continue the story.

[Hashi23]

Originally posted by GenezisO:

Originally posted by Immortal_:

Interesting conclusion. Could you elaborate further? The endgame cutscene was just a flashforward, a vision of what Skif must do. What was all that game about then? What happened? Does this imply that all that was just a scheme to lure Skif into the Zone, and the actual game didn't even started?

That flashfoward only makes sense if you have THIS ending, it's not shown in any other ending. So yes, according to this ending, The Noosphere already shown Skif his "Destiny" through the Alpha when he touched it, but everything you did to get that ending indeed happened. It wasn't just an illusion and it wasn't a scheme. Like I said, the point was, Zone needed someone who willingly wanted to free the Zone. Skif does that in this ending, and only this one.

I explained how this ending wouldn't be possible, same with Scar's ending and Strelok's. Those 3 endings directly contradict the method that is being used to communicate with the Noosphere because the mediator doesn't have any power over the Noosphere and can only translate data that is being sent to him.

[Hashi23]

Originally posted by TOG | Tancred2005:

TL:DR. Skif is an Agent. Whether originally, or Agatha turned him after the Colonel got into the Pod, he wakes up from some form of unconsciousness.

Yes according to the lore, this the only possible ending.

[GenezisO]

Originally posted by Hashi23:

Again this is all just made up lore, yes C-Consciousness were successful in taping into the Noosphere and implanting they minds within it to control it (Again this is just basic Clear Sky lore)

No bro, it's YOU who don't get it. That's the lore because that's what Clear Sky believed according to the information THEY had. Everything you said was true until it's shown in Stalker 2, that C-Con (as of the C-Con existing in the Noosphere) couldn't ever become a thing, because that was just their hypothesis, theory that didn't end up being true.

In S2, it is clearly said that their theory of one sending their consciousness over to the Subtle Matter in order to control the Noosphere is busted! Only a copy of the consciousness is preserved and it can't act on it's own. That's the part when we see Strider again when we enter the pod the second time, but it's just his imprint, not real Strider living in the Subtle Matter. If you don't believe me, play Stalker 2 again, and listen very carefuly to everything related to Subtle Matter. You will understand.

We thought it was all the C-Con's doing, all that you are describing, but it was not.

[Immortal_]

Originally posted by GenezisO:

Originally posted by Immortal_:

I couldn't wrap my head around one thing: what the ♥♥♥♥ that ZOne is, how could she "talk" and persuade Faust to do what he's done? ANSWER ME, BIG BRAIN BOIZ

It didn't have to persuade him.. Faust chose to help the Zone. We know from Project Controller that Faust was a controller with a human soul and free will. His psychic abilities allowed him to connect directly to the Noosphere. He DECIDED to help the Zone as the Noosphere called to him. That "Come to me" or "Idi ku mene" line, is actually THE ZONE calling for help.

Faust was playing along with Noontide but he always planned to activate their Monolith brains once again from the very start. But in the end, he got corrupted, as him being a controller was still just a lab experiment and his brain must have eventually stop working properly, he got mad and Skif had to put him down. But he was always loyal servant of the Zone itself, because he CHOSE it. Same way as Skif chose to help the Zone in this ending.

To be honest, I'm not so sure about all that "noosphere/zone called to him." He did say that in the ending, stating that no secret can be secret forever and that zone taught him to be free, but I think that up until his death (or not death), he was pursuing simple things like purpose in life and happiness of service. In my opinion, he did it for his men, so that his brother, the only thing that was important to him, could feel happiness again; he stated that a lot. I'm not sure what to think about all that "all of Stalker's story was the zone playing with us; there was never any C-cons, agents. MDSTs, regulatory boards, and other stuff. Stalkers were always about pseudoscience, but that explanation smells like pure magic and "it's just the zone, bro." Off-topic, does your message above mean that you did not agree with the point that Faust didn't die and played the role of Kaimanov, that he was put down at Duga? 

[GenezisO]

Originally posted by Hashi23:

I explained how this ending wouldn't be possible, same with Scar's ending and Strelok's. Those 3 endings directly contradict the method that is being used to communicate with the Noosphere because the mediator doesn't have any power over the Noosphere and can only translate data that is being sent to him.

you still don't get that what is revealed in Stalker 2 completely twists what we thought was happening in the original trilogy and everything related to the C-Con

the things that happened happened, but for different reasons and someone else was pulling the strings all allong, not those who you think it was

another thing you probably didn't get is that although Scar was brainwashed in the end of CS, he would follow his programming, but since Marshal from Spark was dying he used the transfer device to transfer his consciousness into the mind of Scar, so then Scar was not only fighting the brainwash programming, he literally had another person in him trying to act as the Spark's leader when in reality he was just a complete mental with all that going on in his head, it's not really him who wanted Shining Zone, it was the Marshal who wanted that, that's why Scar is so conflicting personality in S2

[GenezisO]

Originally posted by Immortal_:

Off-topic, does your message above mean that you did not agree with the point that Faust didn't die and played the role of Kaimanov, that he was put down at Duga?

Whether Faust really died and whether he really took role of Kaimanov are things independent from each other, both might or might not be true and I think we will only know with the upcoming DLC.

[Hashi23]

Originally posted by GenezisO:

Originally posted by Hashi23:

Again this is all just made up lore, yes C-Consciousness were successful in taping into the Noosphere and implanting they minds within it to control it (Again this is just basic Clear Sky lore)

No bro, it's YOU who don't get it. That's the lore because that's what Clear Sky believed according to the information THEY had. Everything you said was true until it's shown in Stalker 2, that C-Con (as of the C-Con existing in the Noosphere) couldn't ever become a thing, because that was just their hypothesis, theory that didn't end up being true.

In S2, it is clearly said that their theory of one sending their consciousness over to the Subtle Matter in order to control the Noosphere is busted! Only a copy of the consciousness is preserved and it can't act on it's own. That's the part when we see Strider again when we enter the pod the second time, but it's just his imprint, not real Strider living in the Subtle Matter. If you don't believe me, play Stalker 2 again, and listen very carefuly to everything related to Subtle Matter. You will understand.

We thought it was all the C-Con's doing, all that you are describing, but it was not.

Like I said before, the leader of Clear Sky Lebedev, AKA Dr.Lebedev, alongside other members of Clear Sky are infact members of C-Conscioussness and created the zone, it's then that they spit up from C-Conscioussness and hid in the swamps to figure out more about how the zone was operating as C-Conscioussness didn't have complete control over the zone. And yes all emisions in both Clear Sky and Shadow of Chernobyl are due to people attempting to enter the center of the zone and created by C-Conscioussness. Also as Dr. Kaimanov explained Subtle Matter and the Noosphere are two different things that are not related in any way. But like I said before the whole thing about Subtle Matter being false comes directly from Strelok and like I said characters will lie to you about everything if it means that they can achieve their goals. As for the whole thing with Strider if Subtle Matter wasn't real how could he showcase Skif his point of view during the events of SoC? Like I said before I believe the truth will come out in future DLCs.

[Immortal_]

Originally posted by GenezisO:

Originally posted by Hashi23:

I explained how this ending wouldn't be possible, same with Scar's ending and Strelok's. Those 3 endings directly contradict the method that is being used to communicate with the Noosphere because the mediator doesn't have any power over the Noosphere and can only translate data that is being sent to him.

you still don't get that what is revealed in Stalker 2 completely twists what we thought was happening in the original trilogy and everything related to the C-Con

the things that happened happened, but for different reasons and someone else was pulling the strings all allong, not those who you think it was

I do get it; I've researched that topic a lot. Even before the game was released, using disdocs and builds that were leaked, but still, I don't think that this GIGA twist you're talking about is that global. The game has already twisted a lot; going even deeper is unnecessary in my opinion. Or maybe you are some sort of employee in GSC and know so much more than anyone else)

[Hashi23]

Originally posted by GenezisO:

Originally posted by Hashi23:

I explained how this ending wouldn't be possible, same with Scar's ending and Strelok's. Those 3 endings directly contradict the method that is being used to communicate with the Noosphere because the mediator doesn't have any power over the Noosphere and can only translate data that is being sent to him.

you still don't get that what is revealed in Stalker 2 completely twists what we thought was happening in the original trilogy and everything related to the C-Con

the things that happened happened, but for different reasons and someone else was pulling the strings all allong, not those who you think it was

It doesn't, and the information about the pods is a document that you can find in Stalker 2, not in the previous Stalker games."you still don't get that what is revealed in Stalker 2 completely twists what we thought was happening in the original trilogy and everything related to the C-Con" But let's say that C-Consciousness never existed, then how did Scar get implanted the memories of a warden and get turned into a C-Conscioussness agent? And why were the emissions in CS and SoC controlled and not naturally ocurring like CoP and Stalker 2?

[GenezisO]

Originally posted by Hashi23:

But let's say that C-Consciousness never existed, then how did Scar get implanted the memories of a warden and get turned into a C-Conscioussness agent?

I'll tell you. Here's a quote from another forum:

2) Some stalker named Marshal, who is barely fleshed out, had joined Iskra (the four stalkers working for scientists in Call of Pripyat) at some point. He was a key figure there. Iskra grew and eventually started interfering with Ward (possibly influenced by Marshal). After a slaughter by Ward, Marshal managed to survive and continued his fight against them. Also, he had a passion for croutons and a sincere belief in the Bright Zone and an afterlife in the noosphere.

3) Marshal, on the brink of death, managed to find the "sleeping" Scar in the brainwashing facility and transferred his own memories—and essentially his personality—into Scar using yet another C-Consciousness device capable of transferring minds between bodies.

So Scar WAS indeed made an agent after the CS, but then at some time he was also implanted the mind of Marshall, having completely split personality.

Originally posted by Hashi23:

And why were the emissions in CS and SoC controlled and not naturally ocurring like CoP?

From Stalker wiki:
"When the C-Consciousness learned how to control the energy of the noosphere, control came at a price - the energy was so immense that they had to periodically release the excess, lest they be overwhelmed by it. Such a release became known to the inhabitants of the Zone as a blowout or emission. On June 10, 2006, the very first emission occurred. Unprepared military and scientific personnel were instantly obliterated. This also caused the Zone to expand by 5 kilometers. "

Emissions never occurred un-naturally. Emissions are only a side efect of built-up exotic energy periodically charging up by the breach between our dimension and the noosphere.

Scientists were only able to realize it and built a device that allowed them to partially control when the next emission would hit.

When Strelok destroyed the pods (essentially killing C-Con scientists in physical form), emissions just kept occurring more naturally, but probably still regulated by the automation system the scientists had built up to this day.

[Hashi23]

Originally posted by GenezisO:

Originally posted by Hashi23:

But let's say that C-Consciousness never existed, then how did Scar get implanted the memories of a warden and get turned into a C-Conscioussness agent?

I'll tell you. Here's a quote from another forum:

2) Some stalker named Marshal, who is barely fleshed out, had joined Iskra (the four stalkers working for scientists in Call of Pripyat) at some point. He was a key figure there. Iskra grew and eventually started interfering with Ward (possibly influenced by Marshal). After a slaughter by Ward, Marshal managed to survive and continued his fight against them. Also, he had a passion for croutons and a sincere belief in the Bright Zone and an afterlife in the noosphere.

3) Marshal, on the brink of death, managed to find the "sleeping" Scar in the brainwashing facility and transferred his own memories—and essentially his personality—into Scar using yet another C-Consciousness device capable of transferring minds between bodies.

So Scar WAS indeed made an agent after the CS, but then at some time he was also implanted the mind of Marshall, having completely split personality.

Originally posted by Hashi23:

And why were the emissions in CS and SoC controlled and not naturally ocurring like CoP?

From Stalker wiki:
"When the C-Consciousness learned how to control the energy of the noosphere, control came at a price - the energy was so immense that they had to periodically release the excess, lest they be overwhelmed by it. Such a release became known to the inhabitants of the Zone as a blowout or emission. On June 10, 2006, the very first emission occurred. Unprepared military and scientific personnel were instantly obliterated. This also caused the Zone to expand by 5 kilometers. "

Emissions never occurred un-naturally. Emissions are only a side efect of built-up exotic energy periodically charging up by the breach between our dimension and the noosphere.

Scientists were only able to realize it and built a device that allowed them to partially control when the next emission would hit.

When Strelok destroyed the pods (essentially killing C-Con scientists in physical form), emissions just kept occurring more naturally, but probably still regulated by the automation system the scientists had built up to this day.

"I'll tell you. Here's a quote from another forum:

2) Some stalker named Marshal, who is barely fleshed out, had joined Iskra (the four stalkers working for scientists in Call of Pripyat) at some point. He was a key figure there. Iskra grew and eventually started interfering with Ward (possibly influenced by Marshal). After a slaughter by Ward, Marshal managed to survive and continued his fight against them. Also, he had a passion for croutons and a sincere belief in the Bright Zone and an afterlife in the noosphere.

3) Marshal, on the brink of death, managed to find the "sleeping" Scar in the brainwashing facility and transferred his own memories—and essentially his personality—into Scar using yet another C-Consciousness device capable of transferring minds between bodies.

So Scar WAS indeed made an agent after the CS, but then at some time he was also implanted the mind of Marshall, having completely split personality.". Suprisingly I found the reddit post in which this was posted by accident and even you don't believe that according to your replies in the post. That aside the whole thing with Marshal is just speculation (Again I found that post too by accident), but I'm pretty sure that Marshal wasn't just any stalker he was part of the Ward and was helping helping the original Spark not Iskra, as by then Iskra was eliminated. Here are his final words:
"Marshal: That night at the Chemical Plant… It keeps coming back to me, Spirit. Spark and our boys. Why did it have to happen? We ran to them as soon as we heard the first gunshot. Topol was the first to die, and I can still see it. Mace tried to warn us, but all he could do was wheeze. That ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ second assault squad… That workshop, packed with barrels of chemicals…
Marshal: We wouldn’t be talking right now if it weren’t for Snake.
Marshal: Thieves rule, Wardens drool. That’s what he always said, remember?
Spirit: Of course I do.
Spirit: Just be careful. Don’t defy Korshunov openly.
Marshal: Don’t worry. We’ve got other ways to give him hell.
Spirit: I just don’t want them to find you too.
Marshal: Don’t worry, Spirit.
Marshal: I’ll go north. The Ward won’t get me there.". And now I'm going to reinstall the game to confirm that he was part of the Ward, but that's gonna take a while. But so far here is your proof "Spirit: Just be careful. Don’t defy Korshunov openly.".
"When the C-Consciousness learned how to control the energy of the noosphere, control came at a price - the energy was so immense that they had to periodically release the excess, lest they be overwhelmed by it. Such a release became known to the inhabitants of the Zone as a blowout or emission. On June 10, 2006, the very first emission occurred. Unprepared military and scientific personnel were instantly obliterated. This also caused the Zone to expand by 5 kilometers. " This partially true, the Zone was created by an emission also known as the first emission, which was accidently caused. This is confirmed at the beginning of both CoP and is also confirmed by Dr. Kaimanov. As for the device that limits the emissions I don't know where that information comes from since it's not mentioned in any of the games in any shape or form. "Emissions never occurred un-naturally. Emissions are only a side efect of built-up exotic energy periodically charging up by the breach between our dimension and the noosphere.". This is partially true, yes emissions are caused by an excess of anomalous energy but the part that they were never unnatural is completely false, again let me refer you to the original trilogy's lore.

[UkrainianDoomer]

Originally posted by Immortal_:

Interesting conclusion. Could you elaborate further? The endgame cutscene was just a flashforward, a vision of what Skif must do. What was all that game about then? What happened? Does this imply that all that was just a scheme to lure Skif into the Zone, and the actual game didn't even started?

It's not "flash forward" - it's your actions that led you to this point
They are different for each ending and highlight the moments of you choosing this path. And then, after the game is done reminding you, you get an actual ending reveal for every ending.

Skif is not an agent. In Ward's ending, after he helps Agatha & Co, he gets brainwashed using C-Consciousness tech by the Ward (gaining which is hinted at multiple times in the game as their ultimate goal), which hints they will be taking over the world using this tool, ultimately leading it into the totalitarian dystopia. It also looks like the worst possible ending in the game as the whole humanity will suffer.

[GenezisO]

Originally posted by Hashi23:

but I'm pretty sure that Marshal wasn't just any stalker he was part of the Ward and was helping helping the original Spark not Iskra

Spoiler alert: Spark == Iskra.

Iskra in slavic languages literally means spark. Spark is just english word for Iskra.

Yes, Marshall was originally Ward, but he decided to split and form Spark/Iskra. That's why Korshunov and Ward was hunting him and other defectors like rabid dogs.

And then, since Spark was only a small group and Marshall was their leader, he used half dead Scar to transfer his mind to Scar (who was already Zone's agent) so that Spark wouldn't lost its leader. Everything else, you just agreed with me and I hope it finally makes sense to you. :D

Originally posted by Hashi23:

Marshal wasn't just any stalker he was part of the Ward and was helping helping the original Spark not Iskra, as by then Iskra was eliminated.

Ward only thought Iskra/Spark was eliminated.. because they didn't knew the "progamer" move that Marshal did when he transfered his mind into Scar. That was the whole point, Ward had to believe that Iskra is eliminated. You may remember if you did Scar/Faust ending how Scar explained to Skif that they never stayed at one place for too long, except the Chalamite, otherwise Ward would figure out that Spark is indeed alive. When they DID finally find out, they launched brutal assault on Spark base in Chalamite and you had to eliminate like 50 Ward exo soldiers and Spark had to evacuate the Chalamite base.

There are definitely gaps and questions unanswered, but everything I said is like I said.

[GenezisO]

Originally posted by Mr. Bro:

It's not "flash forward" - it's your actions that led you to this point
They are different for each ending and highlight the moments of you choosing this path. And then, after the game is done reminding you, you get an actual ending reveal for every ending.

I think whether it was indeed flash forward or not is up for an interpretation of the player. Both cases can be true. In the Faust ending, it would make sense that Zone already showed Skif what he would do (as if it was his destiny) but its also possible that they only added it into the end cinematic to remind YOU, the player what decisions led you to that ending. :)

[Hashi23]

Originally posted by GenezisO:

Originally posted by Hashi23:

but I'm pretty sure that Marshal wasn't just any stalker he was part of the Ward and was helping helping the original Spark not Iskra

Spoiler alert: Spark == Iskra.

Iskra in slavic languages literally means spark. Spark is just english word for Iskra.

Yes, Marshall was originally Ward, but he decided to split and form Spark/Iskra. That's why Korshunov and Ward was hunting him and other defectors like rabid dogs.

And then, since Spark was only a small group and Marshall was their leader, he used half dead Scar to transfer his mind to Scar (who was already Zone's agent) so that Spark wouldn't lost its leader. Everything else, you just agreed with me and I hope it finally makes sense to you. :D

Originally posted by Hashi23:

Marshal wasn't just any stalker he was part of the Ward and was helping helping the original Spark not Iskra, as by then Iskra was eliminated.

Ward only thought Iskra/Spark was eliminated.. because they didn't knew the "progamer" move that Marshal did when he transfered his mind into Scar. That was the whole point, Ward had to believe that Iskra is eliminated. You may remember if you did Scar/Faust ending how Scar explained to Skif that they never stayed at one place for too long, except the Chalamite, otherwise Ward would figure out that Spark is indeed alive. When they DID finally find out, they launched brutal assault on Spark base in Chalamite and you had to eliminate like 50 Ward exo soldiers and Spark had to evacuate the Chalamite base.

There are definitely gaps and questions unanswered, but everything I said is like I said.

"Yes, Marshall was originally Ward, but he decided to split and form Spark/Iskra. That's why Korshunov and Ward was hunting him and other defectors like rabid dogs.

And then, since Spark was only a small group and Marshall was their leader, he used half dead Scar to transfer his mind to Scar (who was already Zone's agent) so that Spark wouldn't lost its leader. Everything else, you just agreed with me and I hope it finally makes sense to you. :D". Completely made up, Marshall wasn't the leader of Spark, it was Spirit and he even confirms it when you find him and is very unhappy with Spark because he didn't like Scar nor the direction Spark was heading. And Spark wasn't eliminated either, Scar just came in and took over. As for Marshall implanting his memories into Scar by himself is extremely unlikely as the way to the generators is completely blocked and is unreachable, that's why you need to use a teleporter to get there and I doubt that Marshall knew how to operate one, let alone have access to one. But even if by some slim chance that was possible I doubt he'd be able to figure out how the whole brainwashing works let alone how to imprint his memories into Scar, but in the extremely unlikely scenario in which he did, why would he write down the whole thing in a document about C-Conscioussness agents? It just makes no sense. Also as a side note, yes you're right about Iskra meaning Spark. I'm slavic myself, but it's often confusing when people interchange words in other languages in the context of another, and I though that Iskra was the name of another faction without giving it the thought that it meant Spark.