Drushka

## Description

**Drushka,** also known as Zhansaya Korshunova, is a character seen in Axiom Verge 2 and mentioned in Axiom Verge in two of the first game's Notes: Letter and The Outsider. She is described as being Kazakh, taking other soldiers into The Emergence after their arrival to Kiengir. In the ending cutscene, she is shown noticeably taller, as well as with some sort of tentacles behind her.

She has a great fascination with evolution and, upon discovering the Emergence, stayed with a few other members of her party from Sagimbayev Station in order to periodically progress the passage of time and allow her to, as she describes, steer the advancement of humanity.

## Story

Drushka was initially part of a team of Kazakhs who tentatively allied with Hammond Corp in order to build a portal to other worlds, both parties ending up in Kiengir. In exchange for their silence about the portal, they obtained six submarines, one of which can be seen in the Emergence. Hammond Corp sacrificed $220 million in order to fulfill their end of the bargain, and the freight elevator was assembled in order to safely pass through the Breach to travel to other worlds, in this case, Kiengir. However, both parties were trapped here after the portal to Kiengir was broken. This caused great tension between them, prompting the Kazakhs to steal an ansible from Hammond's party and some of them to flee to the Emergence.

After the events of Axiom Verge 2, Drushka pairs up with Indra in order to reach A'ansur and obtain the advanced technology stored there. They would require a PatternMind to get there, which implies the setup to Axiom Verge.

## Speculation

Since Drushka is referred to in both a purple note and a green note in Axiom Verge, it's possible that she was a double-agent, and may have been involved in some way in the failed "Plan A", which occurred before the story events and is discussed in Plan B (Note).

It's also possible that Drushka became a Rusalka, as she progressively changes appearance throughout Axiom Verge 2 where she is seen to grow to twice the height of a normal human. Additionally, she is mentioned by the Rusalki in a trusting manner, implying the Rusalki seen in-game are allied with Drushka and speak the same language as her. It's also suiting considering the six submarines the Kazakhs demanded, and the six Rusalki seen in Axiom Verge. Indra and Drushka requiring a PatternMind to reach A'ansur fits with the fact that Ophelia, who it is implied used to be Indra, used a Scry- mentioned in one of Elizabeth Hammond's notes- to find a PatternMind and bring them to Sudra.

## References

1. ↑ "*I see. My name is Zhansaya Korshunova. But you can call me Drushka.*" Cutscene 0046
2. ↑ "*Anyway, Drushka took other Kazakhs through breach into next world, PAST breach.*" -Ivan, Cutscene 0056
3. ↑ Re: Does Technology Weaken Us? (Note)
4. ↑ "*Most of those from Sagimbayev Station migrated here.*" -Drushka, Cutscene 0046
5. ↑ Cutscene 0047
6. ↑ Submarine Progress (Note)
7. ↑ "*As you know, the whole purpose of the elevator is to allow us to pass safely across the Breach from one world to another.*" -Terminal Breakthrough 1 (Note)
8. ↑ The Outsider (Note)
9. ↑ Cutscene 0023, AV1