Weapons

"How come I never get a weapon?"

Neil's bottom lip wobbled slightly as he gave his best puppy-dog eyes to Jay, trying to convey two year's worth of want for such an item.

Jay, ignoring Archie's sniggering from the other side of the kitchen, turned from his breakfast to give Neil a look. "Neil, it's just... well..."

"Well what?" The blonde gave him a pouty glare. "It's unfair. Everyone else has a weapon. Atlanta has her crossbow, Archie's got his whip, you've got your swordy thing and Theresa has her nun-chucks."

"And what about Herry and I, Neil?" Odie pointed out. "We don't have weapons either."

Neil shrugged. "You've got the shock thing on the PMR. And Herry's got his... um... fists!" He grinned proudly at his last point.

Jay paused thoughtfully. "I guess you could have a weapon."

Herry, who'd been watching the conversation from the back of the kitchen with much amusement, chuckled. "Maybe if you gave him one he'd help more in battles."

"Lay off him, Herry." Archie mockingly scolded. "Besides, Neil's already got weapons. His stunning good looks. And killer smile."

This caused a round of laughter at the old joke.

Atlanta, who'd claimed one of the stools near the kitchen bench, sat up quickly, a grin spread across her face. "I know just the thing!" She exclaimed, and dashed up to her room. Returning moments later with a large box, she set it in Neil's hands before returning to her spot.

Neil opened the box, pulling out what looked like a stun-baton had been squashed into a circular disc. "Uh, thanks Atlanta." He pursed his lip. "Um, what exactly is it?"

The redhead rolled her eyes. "It's a Stunner. Heph gave it to me a while back. You just press that button," she pointed to a purple button on the flat side of the disc, "and it emits a charge that renders everyone in a ten meter vicinity completely unable to move."

By now, the whole team had gathered around Neil, examining the device shrewdly. Most hadn't come to terms that Neil was being trusted with a weapon.

"So." Neil glanced at Atlanta. "I think I've got it. The Frisbee thingy stuns people nearby when I press the blue button."

"Purple, Neil."

"Oh." He blinked. "Purple, right. Sorry." He paused, looking at the purple button, outstretching his finger to it. "You mean, this purple button?"

Atlanta nodded, ignoring the buzzing sense in her head that something was about to go wrong. "That button. Wait, Neil – DON'T PRESS THE PURPLE BUTTON!"

A shock emitted through the room, and seven teens dropped to the floor, all the muscles in their bodies disrupted by the Stunner.

Jay managed to choke out a groan. "That," he moaned, "is the last time we give Neil a weapon."

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How come Neil never gets a weapon? That's why!