Azure: Gunner

“This is the Voice of the People, coming at you live here on K-RAD, the only radio station that brings you the truth! Also the only fucking radio station in LA baby!

“Now, y’all listen up real good here! It’s time to thank another one of our great sponsors, the Hammersmith Arms Company! Y’all know it's a dangerous world out there, and even here in the great city of Lost Angels shit can get real anytime! So, do yourselves a favor and make sure you’ve got the best in personal protection with a fine pistol from HAC! Don’t skimp on some cheap knock-off only to find out it’s lacking in the knock-down when you need it most!

“HAC is LA’s oldest and largest firearms brand, trusted by thousands for over three centuries! For a limited time, mention this ad when you buy a new hand cannon and you’ll get 20% off an additional magazine or speed-loader! Now that is a deal my friends, so get armed and get trained! Y’all don’t want to be shooting yer own foot off, ya dig?

“Once you’re packing heat, check out SDII to learn which end is which! The Shooting Dangerous Invaders Institute guarantees that their beginner’s course will get you from Pistols Level 0 to Level 5 in just a week, or half your money back!

“All right all right, back to the set! Let’s queue up something to get the blood flowing, it’s Simon Says Die! by Phoenix Huxley!”

- DJ Demophon Kerner on K-RAD LA, April 14th, System Year 453

Arlo’s Class Weapon appeared to be a pair of matched pistols. He left one holstered and raised the other in a two-handed grip. Like the cheap pistol I’d had back in Sunland, Arlo’s weapons were revolvers. After hitting his sixth bulls-eye – on the second target now – he paused, the cylinder popping out to the side, and he dumped the empty cartridges on the ground.

He reached into a pouch and pulled out some kind of device that had six bullets sticking up out of it. I watched jealously as he easily lined up the device with the holes in the cylinder, and in a moment he had six fresh bullets ready to go. He took his time with the fifty yard target, but it looked like he hit all three shots either inside or right on the edge of the bulls-eye. I was impressed, especially since he only had regular iron sights to go by.

For the dummy, he reloaded the three empty slots in his cylinder individually, then stepped to the line. He waited for Wolf’s instruction before nodding. Then, curiously, he held the gun up in front of him and used his left hand to set the cylinder spinning in a blur. He brought the muzzle down onto the target, the cylinder still whirling around, and squeezed the trigger.

bambambambambambam

The shots were so fast they were almost one continuous sound. I was immediately jealous of the Skill, though a moment later I noticed that his accuracy had suffered significantly. He’d fired the first shot at the dummy’s lower belly, and I realized the recoil of the rapid fire had driven each shot higher. They formed a ragged line up the dummy’s chest, with the final shot lodged in the neck area.

The impressive Skill drew scattered applause from those watching, and Arlo turned with a flourish, bowing to the crowd like a Bard as he holstered his pistols. This guy is a little strange, but it’s nice to finally meet someone else who uses a gun. Or guns, anyway.

After Arlo’s demonstration, I spent a few minutes mentally debating whether I thought his Class was as good as mine. It seemed clear that my slugs were far more powerful than his shots, but I couldn’t conjure those on my own. I was distracted from my thoughts by a loud noise.

whomp! whomp! whomp!

It was the cyborg, holding a shield and scepter and unleashing some kind of Spell at the first target. Identify.