“I can’t believe there is a store named Guns R Us,” Zoe said. She had changed in the pizzeria’s ladies’ room.

“Well, there is and that’s where we’re taking you gun shopping,” Newt replied. Zoe started to protest, and Newt held up a hand to stop her. “We know you don’t have the money, but you can still look and get a feel for what you want.”

“That is what we planned this morning at the office,” Vee added as the group walked to the parking lot. They stopped at four motorcycles parked together.

“Alright,” Zoe agreed. Zoe gestured to her GT4 parked a little further away. “I’m sort of surprised all of you ride bikes.”

“Why is that?” Terr asked. “Bikes are easier to zip through the streets on and you can park closer to the doors at some buildings. Isn’t that why you got one?”

“Not really,” Zoe replied. “I saw a courier on a motorcycle when I first arrived and thought it looked fun. Then I saw the GT4 Triple Black and decided that was the one for me.”

“Love at first sight?” Vee asked.

“Oh yes!” Zoe answered. “That was reaffirmed and cemented when I first heard her growl for the first time.”

The others chuckled. TK walked over and gave Zoe’s bike a good look.

“You need to personalize her some,” the beastkin said. The others joined him and agreed.

“What do you mean?” Zoe asked. “I don’t recall any personalization options when I was shopping for her, not even a color change.”

“That’s because wheel lights and such are aftermarket accessories sold by third parties,” TK answered.

“Some manufacturers also sell them like Saito Technologies,” Vee added. “All of us have wheel lights and some have gone a little further.”

“Hey! I like my Christmas tree lights!” Newt replied. “I have red and green lights in several places on my SR-600 that everyone else says reminds them of Christmas trees.”

“We can light up the bikes while we ride to Guns R Us so Zoe can see what we mean,” TK said. “It’s clouding up and is supposed to rain in a little bit.”

*

“I admit I like the wheel lights and that is something I’ll add to my growing list of wants,” Zoe said as the group walked into the gun store. Her mouth fell open into an O of surprise at the sight.

The shop was smallish, and the walls were filled with long guns of all types available to the public. Cases were in front of the walls filled with handguns. The rest of the place was filled with displays and shelves full of ammo, accessories, and even clothing and decals.

“It’s quite the sight, huh?” Terr asked. Zoe nodded in agreement. He opened his jacket and withdrew his revolver. It was large, chrome, and had pearl handles. He quickly slid it back into the holster. “I use a SWW 6” barrel Model 797 that shoots .357 magnum explosive rounds.”

“Please don’t show off your personal weapons in the store,” a passing clerk said.

Terr smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.”

“I use a stainless RemingMoss 1911 R11 with a woodgrain handle that shoots .45 caliber explosive rounds, TK said as he took the group to a display and indicated the type of pistol he was talking about.

“I use an SWW M5.0 that shoots .40 caliber explosive rounds,” Newt said gesturing to a black gun in a neighboring case.

“What about you, Vee?” Zoe asked.

“I carry a 10mm Kimber-Springfield Scorpius,” the elf answered leading Zoe and the others to a different case. She pointed to a chrome barreled gun with a composite grip. “Like the others, I use explosive rounds.”

“Isn’t that a little reckless? What if you miss whoever you aimed at?” Zoe asked. She shuddered. “Besides, wouldn’t shooting someone with an explosive bullet make a huge bloody mess?”

“You’d be surprised,” a dwarven clerk behind the counter said walking over to them.

“Hey Rob,” Terr and Vee greeted the man. Newt and TK smiled and nodded in greeting.

“Hi guys,” he said returning the greeting. “Bringing a newbie in and showing her the ropes?”

“Do I have newbie printed on my forehead?” Zoe asked making the others laugh.

“Nah. It’s the way you carry yourself,” TK replied. “The best way to put it is that you’re hesitant or nervous acting when moving.”

“And the questions you ask,” Rob added. “To answer your question about explosive rounds, no, it’s not reckless to use them. In fact, it’s recommended by most police and gun sellers.”

“Tell her why,” TK instructed.

“Rob, this is Zoe. Zoe this is Rob, our favorite dwarf since he manages this place and gives us deals,” Newt said grinning at the clerk. “It was rude not to make introductions before you started being bossy, TK.”

“Meh,” TK replied shrugging. He grinned.

“Anyway, most of the people that would rob or attack you have subdermal armor. That will stop standard and even half the armor piercing rounds available to the public. Explosive rounds will make them feel that they’re being shot and if you can penetrate the armor, you’ll really do some damage, or kill the scum,” Rob explained. “As for buildings, most are reenforced so they can withstand consumer level firearms.”

“If the building isn’t, then you’re somewhere you really don’t want to be,” Terr added causing more laughter.

“What about armor piercing? I know that used to be a thing,” Zoe inquired.

“Armor piercing rounds are not sold to anyone that isn’t in a corporate army,” Rob replied. “And only then when in times of war.”

“They’re just too dangerous,” Vee chimed in.

“That makes sense,” Zoe said.

“Do you have anything in mind that you want to see?” Rob asked Zoe.

“Like I told these guys this morning, I’m not sure I could shoot someone,” Zoe replied.

“Trust me, most everyone feels that way at first and then changes their minds after being held up or robbed,” Rob said. The others threw the store manager a look. “What?”

“I was robbed just before lunch by a triad and the Hei Lianhua,” Zoe answered.

“Oh! Sorry lass,” Rob replied. “And you still feel that you couldn’t shoot or kill someone?”

“Y…yeah,” Zoe answered after giving it some thought. She explained what happened to the dwarf.

“You’re lucky. They usually make a point of using weapons,” Rob said. Rob didn’t have a beard which sort of surprised Zoe for some reason. He scratched his chin. “So, you want something non-lethal?”

“Preferably,” Zoe answered.

“Come this way,” the salesman said leading the couriers to another counter on the opposite wall. “Most of these displays have stun guns of various types in them.”

“That is probably more my speed,” Zoe said.

“And they’re worthless if someone has a subdermal weave,” Rob continued as if Zoe hadn’t spoken.

“I didn’t think most people have weaves,” Zoe said.

“Most don’t. Subdermal armor is cheaper and better protects against normal firearms. That said, some of the more… determined newer do wells do have both,” Rob replied. “I’ll be happy to sell you one if you really want it though.”

“You have something else in mind,” Vee accused. “And it’s probably expensive.”

“I do,” Rob agreed. “And yes, it’s more expensive than a standard pistol.”

“What do you have in mind?” Zoe asked. She was curious and could see that her coworkers were as well.

“This is the Spectre P750. It is a modular smartgun that shoots a variety of ammunition. It can interface with your frame for automatic targeting,” Rob said pulling a pistol out of a case to his right that was nearer to the regular handguns. It was small, black, and sort of boxy looking. “This is the compact version.”

“Ooh! Nice!” Newt exclaimed moving up beside Zoe. “Is there a full size one?”

“Yes,” Rob replied pulling out a slightly larger version of the same gun that had a black grip and trigger with a gray barrel. “And what do you mean nice? You already have a smartgun.” Newt shrugged. “Anyway, the compact comes with two 15 round magazines while this one comes with two 21 round mags.”

“Blast it, Rob! You’re just trying to upsell us too,” Vee said.

“Maybe,” Rob replied grinning at the elf. He cleared the action after dropping the clips out of both guns. He turned back to Zoe. “See how they fit in your hand.”

“Ok. What kind of ammunition do they shoot?” Zoe asked picking up the compact and pointing it away from the others. Rob nodded in approval.

“As I said before, the P750 is modular. It can shoot gas, heat, tranquilizer, and shock rounds that are 9mm, 10mm, and 40cal in size,” the dwarf answered.

“What kind of gas?” TK asked.

“Knockout and stink,” Rob replied.

“So, it’s completely non-lethal?” Terr asked.

“Yup.”

“Then why is it more expensive than a normal pistol?” TK asked.

“The modularity,” Newt guessed.

“Smart girl,” Rob said as Zoe tried the bigger gun. Zoe noticed the barrels of both were vented.

“Not for me,” TK said.

“Pass,” Terr said.

“Not for me either,” Newt agreed.

“I don’t know,” Vee said. “I see the appeal. How much are we talking?”

“MSRP is 2000 credits for the full-size model and the compact is 1750,” Rob answered. “I’ll take 250 credits off for friends and friends of friends though.”

“How much is the ammo?” Zoe asked as she sat the handgun back down.

“Fast acting tranquilizers are 15 credits a box, gas is 30 credits a box, heat and shock are 25 credits a box” Rob answered. “All boxes contain 20 rounds just like normal bullets.”

“Hey! Explosive rounds are at least 50 credits a box,” Newt complained.

“That’s because they are the most lethal round you can buy,” Rob retorted. “Standard ammo is 10 credits a box.”

“They also don’t work at all unless a person is completely unmodified,” TK said.

“Zoe, you want it don’t you?” Terr asked watching his new coworker stare at the gun.

“Yeah, I think I do,” Zoe admitted.

“Well, come on and I’ll let you fire a few rounds in the range so you can get a good feel and see if the P750 is truly something you want and can handle,” Rob said.

“Uh, did you forget that I’m broke?” Zoe asked.

“Nope. But I love playing with guns and this is an excuse to do so,” Rob replied.

*

“Will you save me one of the compacts?” Zoe asked Rob half an hour later. “I’m not sure when I’ll be able to pay for it though.”

“We do offer payment plans,” Rob replied. “But yeah, I’ll hold one for you.”

“Probably won’t have to do that since most people want real guns and not toys,” TK quipped.

“Hush you!” Rob said. Vee and Terr left for runs they had a few minutes before Zoe finished practicing with the P750s.

“You’ll give me the discount you mentioned earlier?” Zoe asked Rob.

“Aye.”

“I’ll get you the 1500 credits as soon as I can,” Zoe promised. “I’ll want four clips so I can have one full of each type of bullet.”

“That’ll mean you’ll have to buy two extra clips, a holster, and maybe a clip pouch,” Rob said. “The P750 comes with two clips. A lockbox would be a good idea too.”

“The lockbox is to lock the gun away in your home,” Newt informed Zoe.

“I’ll do the whole kit plus two boxes of each ammo type for 2000 credits,” Rob said after a moment of thought.

“It’s a good deal,” TK said.

“Alright,” Zoe said after doing a quick search of the items she would need for the gun. Rob’s deal would save her at least 300 credits. “I’ll take that deal as long as the holster and pouch won’t clash with my jacket.”

“I promise to match things as close as I can,” Rob laughed. “You guys have a good day.”

“Doesn’t look like Henri has anything else for us this afternoon,” Newt said as they exited the store. “Want to head back to the office and hang out?”

“Sure,” TK replied. “Zoe?”

“Yeah, why not?” Zoe answered. “I’ll start working on that scanner we talked about and see about improving my ICE too.”