Escape From Remnant: A Tarkov X RWBY Crossover

Chapter 62: To Cut A Tree Down

Darkness had come for the suburb streets, leaving a dreadful and creepy atmosphere for all its inhabitants to contend with. Despite bringing illumination to the suburb, the remaining lights still active, such as streetlamps, only added to the creep factor, and the whole place just reeked of death. Not in the sense that many people had died here but more so there were absolutely no signs of life to be found. No evidence that other people were inhabiting this place. Sure, it was confirmed to be but just none in their immediate surroundings.

Texas and Floridaman were down in the streets by themselves, outside of their new temporary home at the base of the tree blocking their view partially of the mall. Their surroundings were lit up by white light from lampposts, and the only sound was Texas setting up the charge and the howling wind blowing debris. Hunched over the tree trunk, Texas had rigged several grenades, including more powerful improvised grenades fashioned out of automatic grenade launcher ammo. Meanwhile, standing behind him was Floridaman, weapon in hand and standing guard.

"Alright...bomb should be ready," Texas announced, picking his rifle up from the ground and marching backwards to the side of his friend. A long extended cord connected to all the grenade pins via knots in his hand, ready to detonate everything with a sharp pull.

"Well? Are you ready to wake the whole neighbourhood?" He asks.

"Hah...you find this place peaceful, my friend?" Floridaman suddenly asks Texas, turning to him. The latter ponders the question for a little bit before proceeding to answer the question.

"I guess...? It's quiet, so that's good, no constant gunshots like reserve or customs, just the sounds of wind and the shit it's blowing." He answered.

"This light too... It's so white. I'd expected the light to be yellow but here it is reminding me of the fucking live-action Mr Bean opening." He added on and paused as if the two of them were having drinks casually rather than getting ready for a demolition.

"So what is it? I know you're trying to tell me something else."

"Yeah..." Floridaman admitted turning his gaze away from Texas and onto the asphalt below his hand, beginning to admit his thoughts.

"I've been thinking, during the walk from the bomb shelter to here. We keep on discussing all this shit about fulfilling the mission for Peacekeeper and his benefactors, only to say that we're gonna use the device to return to remnant..."

"Right...we've never talked about that exactly. I think we were gonna before Black Division came crashing in...as it stands, I don't know myself...however...I remember you did say you wanted to stay suddenly."

"Four words, I have a family. I don't care if I have to hand that fucking device back to some shady corporate fucks. I will do so if I get to be a dad to my kids again." Floridaman's voice was genuine as he exhaled deeply before continuing.

"Like, remember how when we were in remnant we thought we'd be there forever, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, before that stupid Glenn mountain and Katya and the White Fang bullshit."

"I tried to fight it, and I really tried to move on from my family, which sounds fucked but..."

"Hey man, I get it, not all of us can be so...free...? I guess that's one way to put it? When we get that device and decide to stay or not, it will be entirely you're choice. Follow you're heart, it'll be your choice to make."

A smile formed under Floridaman's mask as Texas spoke those words. It was comforting and also a strange feeling because, for all the time they had known each other, and generally the group, nobody had this kind of man-to-man talk in a while. Not since Ubel had died, since he was the most compassionate despite his large stature. The happiness was short-lived, however, as no less than 5 seconds later, a group of armed men quickly rushed out of a corner, pointing their weapons at them.

There had to be about 10 of them dressed like regular scavs but with high-tier equipment on their persons. With guns drawn they moved in closer as Texas and Floridaman stared them down hands on their rifles knowing to raise their weapons now would be akin to suicide since they had them down and they had theirs up. But the fact that they weren't dead immediately yet showed that they wanted to talk, whether that talk was gonna be a few words, a robbery, or a more lengthy conversation was anybody's guess.

"I wouldn't have those hands on your guns..." A familiar voice spoke to both Texas and Floridaman that they hadn't heard in weeks came from behind. Walking out of the shadows was that scav gang boss again, the same one from customs when they had first returned to Tarkov. He had the same gear on, the same KS-21, and a sickening grin as he pointed said shotgun with 5 more men doing the same at his side from behind them.

"Aw shit!" Floridaman cursed, his eyeballs rolling around in their sockets so much so that he felt they could fall out as he watched both of them get surrounded while they couldn't do anything.

"What a surprise! I was not expecting you to be just here standing! You know I haven't forgotten about those men you killed." The man walks up closer to Texas and Floridaman, his movements sharp and energetic wildly pointing his gun with reckless abandon at whoever the barrel was pointed at.

He made sure not to get nearer enough to either man so that they could not grab him and hold him as a hostage. Both sides knew that if Texas and Floridaman both pulled up their firearms right now they would become Swiss cheese very quickly.

"So what are you doing here? You know this was my territory?" He asks in an exaggerated manner and tone to which both men keep silent.

Within their heads, both Texas and Floridaman were trying desperately to find a way out of this mess. Maybe the others could see what was going on and rush to their rescue! Assuming they saw what was happening or they were able to alert the rest of course.

"Silent treatment huh? That's not very kind for your new host." The scav gang leader spoke again, this time he was way more annoyed than before which was evident from his voice.

"Fine if that's how you wanna play. Seize them! Alive!" As soon as his orders came the men surrounding both Texas and Floridaman began marching closer with weapons aimed at them. Communicating in Russian with each other, Texas and Floridaman both had their heads dart back and forth all around still unwilling to draw their weapons. As more time came and went, the scavs all got closer and closer with every step. Like a snail restricting its prey, the pressure built up giving a sensation almost like they were getting choked.

"Fuck do we do?!" Floridaman cried out.

"S-shit!" Texas made the call and raised his weapon finally but they were too close. One man quickly knocks it out of his hand to the ground before he could aim it right at him.

Thinking quickly he socks the man in the face with his prosthetic arm shattering his skull and sending both blood spraying and his body flying to the ground. Floridaman meanwhile was too late to even hold up his rifle as multiple men piled onto his person bringing him to the ground trying to jostle the weapon away from him. They were quickly swarmed and unable to come to each other's aid, scavs came from front and behind without end in an attempt to subdue them.

"Get off me!" Texas screamed wilding flailing his arm striking some but not all which would be his downfall as one scav raising his AK-12 swings the stock of his weapon right into Texas' face breaking his nose and knocking the man out much to Floridaman's horror.

"No!" Floridaman cried out gaining some momentary strength to throw off the men and pick himself off the ground to get to his friend. Instead, one leaps from behind and locks his arms around his neck bringing him into a deadly chokehold. His face began to turn red as Floridaman desperately searched on his person for anything sharp to stab the scav with such as the knife he keeps on him but another scav sees the plot and punches him right in the face making everything go just black.