The reason
The garbage acted like a holy land to the loners and the bandits due to the availability of easy-to-find and common artifacts and the rare presence of powerful mutants. A couple of years ago, countless bloodshed were made between the two factions as they fought to gain control of the territory. Fortunately enough for both of the bandits and loners, today the casualties are less extreme than before.
A fight ensued at the southwest corner of garbage beyond Bes's hangout. At first sight it was just the usual loners and bandits, but to a keen observer, one could spot the skilled tactics the loners are using. For this battle, the loners only had four stalkers while the bandits had twelve. Separated between distances to create a square field surrounding the bandits whilst taking cover, it was a charming maneuver that made the loners effortlessly picking off the bandits one-by-one, like a casual party hunt shooting disoriented critters.
As the bandits decreased gradually, the leader of their gang gets more unnerved.
"Die you fucking cocksuckers!" roared the veteran bandit, as he whizzed his worn-out Uzi towards the small circle of loners. The loners took cover in their respective and separate derelict parts of the garbage, and then the bandit suddenly ended his rampage with four solid shots to his torso.
The loner closed in near his remains, holstered his Beretta 92F, crouched over to him and dug up his PDA. While the three remaining loners scavenged through the corpses of the other bandit lieutenants.
"Phew! Good shot Crow, we finally caught the bastard, got to admit though...that was too easy." congratulated his colleague loner Ovseenko.
"Tonight we celebrate! We didn't lose anyone! Woohoo!" said the third loner cheered and held up his LR-300 to the air, victorious once again.
Crow smirked and replied while rummaging through the deceased's PDA.
"Oi Ov, what was the name of the target that Shev said?"
"Uhhh I think it was Evgen or something, he calls himself the Dark Crusad-"
"We've got company!" the fourth loner exclaimed as his PDA detected foreign figures that gradually increased to fourteen stalkers, excluding them.
It's a fucking trap! Crow thought as he commanded his team to find cover, he didn't expect the bandits to use these kind of tactics, disguising their novices as elite bandits and played them for bait. He double-checked the "veteran's" PDA, instead of Evgen it was Ivanchuk.
Now he just realized the real expert bandits were closing in, with better equipment, weapons and more ammo. He cursed himself for being outsmarted by these unforgiveable scoundrels of the zone. Crow knew only luck would save him and his fellow loners, for this rare occasion has made him prayed for god's mercy because only Him can hear their far cry.
While Crow and his faction's fate remained unclear, four other stalkers entered through the garbage entrance from Cordon. Two pairs divided the four stalkers, one with Wolf and Hacky, which the former was politely listening to the latter. The other was Roksana and Tolik, both suffering from the excruciating awkward silence since their extraction point.
Instead of having the faintest effort self-introduction, he made a miserable attempt of eavesdropping what Hacky has been blabbing about the whole trip, but the only words he picked up was "fool" and "fat fuck". Just a few minutes later, he gave up with a sigh and looked down the concrete boulevard.
"Well sorry!" Roksana said abruptly, thinking that Tolik's sudden fed up expression was directed to her.
"Oh no, it was not meant for you!" he replied, barricading himself with reassurance.
"Riight…"
"No I'm serious! I'm just…I'm…just bored." Tolik retorted, knowing that he failed to pick up the right words, he looked down on the stones that were once belonged to the jaded road, and kicks them.
"And the reason of your boredom?"
"Is that its quiet?"
"Because?"
"I know where this is heading…" Tolik said, losing his politeness thanks to the unwanted nostalgia catching up on him.
"No shit." With that said she smiled at the corner of her lips, with utmost satisfaction and looked upon the grey cloudy sky, wondering when it will ever shine.
"At least we're talking now."
"Uh-huh,"
"So, where are you from?"
"I was born in Kharkiv, moved to Australia at the age of two…can't remember anything but the name," she explained.
"Sad…"
"I know right? "How about you?"
"The capital, grew up there and had a family too." Tolik looked away, regretted for saying the last part and prayed that Roksana won't press on further.
"Why the hell are you here then?"
"Because they're dead, so why bother…" Roksana can detect the coldness of his hasty reply, she quickly said:
"Oh sorry-"
"Please, don't be. But why are you here?" Tolik smiled as he spotted a couple of pseudodogs fighting over some meat scraps.
"It's a long story,"
"I like long stories."
Roksana chuckled, "Fine then, I'll tell you…"
Meanwhile, Wolf looked over his shoulder to check upon Tolik and Roksana, and looked back at Hacky.
"So her father is here in the zone and part of the military?" Wolf asked pointing towards his subject.
"Yup," Hacky replied, examining his low weaponry.
"And so is her brother, but instead a merc?"
"You got it!"
"And is she like, trying to find them or something?"
Hacky holstered back his weapon and smiled to Wolf with content, "You can say that,"