"Alright, get back!" Colt said, pulling Wesson and Steven back as Nils threw a few grenades at a few demons. "Damn, who knew it would be hard to get into this place?"
"Well, it IS chock-full of weapons we can use." Wesson pointed out. "It looks like that's the last of them, after we took out the guys at the turrets, the guys at the doors, and this hallway."
"Should be smooth sailing, then?" Steven asked.
"Yeah, assuming we don't get jumped and someone runs off and loses his gun again." Colt said, leading them through the hall. "Keep your guns ready and watch all directions."
"Don't have to tell me twice." Nils said, looking around cautiously as they walked through the hall, their boots clanking on the steel grating. Colt held up a hand and slowly opened a door, looking in.
"Looks safe." He murmured, nodding to them and opening it wider to reveal a room full of crates of ammunition and odd hexagonal metal boxes.
"Booyah, jackpot!" Nils fist-pumped.
"Alright, let's reload in here." Colt said, grinning. He noticed Wesson lagging behind as they entered. "Wess, you doing okay? You've been a bit late to react today." He turned to him.
"I'm fine. I think it's just Slow still." Wesson sighed. "It's almost gone, but it's affecting my movements."
"Good thing that Berserk wasn't sighted around Sanktberg." Colt muttered. "You should be better by tomorrow. There are beds in here for factory workers to rest, so let's find that room and set up camp there."
"That sounds good." Nils started to yawn but caught himself.
"Yeah, it has been a while since we slept." Wesson nodded, going to look through the boxes. He touched one and it opened. "Hey, a new revolver! Cool!"
"You don't mind parting with your starter?" Colt asked as he opened another box.
"It won't hurt to keep it on hand in case I need an extra." Wesson said, clipping the holstered revolver to his belt. "Look, now I got two!"
"Cute, but it won't be much effective in battle to use both." Colt shoved a larger box to Nils. "Here, Nils. More ammo for you."
"Yessss!" Nils opened the box and eagerly began to reload his rocket launcher.
"Well, at least I have an extra weapon when one runs out of ammo. It's quicker than reloading." Wesson replied.
"True." Colt smiled.
Steven reached out and touched a box, but it didn't open. "Hn…?"
"Oh, sorry." Colt looked at him. "These are ARMs cases. You gotta synchronize with it to open it."
'That explains why we couldn't.' Steven thought, frowning. 'I wonder if Alhazad will have any luck?'
"Looks like that's the last one for this room." Colt said, pulling out a pistol and ammo. "Here, Nils. An extra weapon for you in case you run out of rockets and bombs." He handed it over.
"So, we meet again." Nils said to the gun as he reached for appropriate ammo.
"Looks like there's nothing here for me." Steven said, looking around.
"Well, it IS an ARMs factory." Wesson said, zipping up his bag and slinging it onto his shoulder. "Let's move on to the next room."
They went from room to room, the three Holmcross gathering more arsenal each time they opened a box. 'I sure hope you know what you're doing, brother.' Steven thought, shaking his head a bit as he watched them quietly. 'Because I would not go against them when they were this heavily armed!'
"You feeling left out, Steve?" Wesson asked, noticing his silence. "There might be a normal gun somewhere in here. Do you wanna see if you can find one to keep for yourself?"
"Well, I don't know the way around here." Steven said, shrugging. "I might need a guide."
"Okay!" Wesson smiled and walked over to him. "I'll guide you, then! Most ARMs factories have the same layout, so if you've seen one then you've seen them all. Still worth checking out all of the shut-down ones, though."
"Why?" Steven asked, walking out of the room with him.
"Well, you never know if you'll find a jackpot like we found here. Granted, this one wasn't shut down, it was just…well, taken over." Wesson frowned. "If the Demons could use ARM, we'd be in big trouble. But, that would kind of contradict the name, wouldn't it?" He rubbed the back of his head, laughing.
"ARM?" Steven blinked. "What's so contradictory about that?"
"It stands for 'Artificially Rebirthed Matricide Machine'." Wesson explained. "It's a weapon made specifically to kill Demons, especially The Mother." He clenched his fists. "She's the one responsible for thousands of deaths. We're going to destroy her and end this war."
'…Ah. That's what the name means.' Steven thought. "How…grim. I don't normally see you like this, Wesson."
"I hate war. Thousands of people get killed. I like fighting, but I hate war." Wesson turned a corner, continuing down another hall. "Let's see…non-ARM armory…here we are!" He stopped and opened a door, gesturing in. "Well, go on. Pick out something, we'll teach you how to use it. Something long-range might help against Berserk."
"Alright…" Steven walked into the room and looked around at all the choices. "Er…what would you suggest?"
"Colt uses a rifle." Wesson replied, walking into the room. "There's also rocket launchers and hand-cannons…or you could go short-range."
"Any with a blade?" Steven asked.
"Sorry, no such luck." Wesson turned to him. "You really like blades, huh?"
"In Heralda, we didn't use guns." Steven said softly. "It was blades and magic only."
"Did you use magic?" Wesson asked.
"Oh, no. Never. I didn't have the talent." Steven shook his head, chuckling. "I used the same rapier you met me with."
"Maybe you should look at another type of sword. Oh, here's something." Wesson said, taking a musket off the wall and testing its weight.
"Why?" Steven asked with surprise.
"Rapiers make Colt edgy – no pun intended. It's Break's weapon of choice, after all." Wesson replied, putting it back and taking down another one. "At least we have the upper-hand in a fight, until we run out of ammo. I don't know why Luger humors him and fights him with a blade all the time. It's a waste of time." He put that one back and picked up a shotgun. "The longer Break is around the area, the longer his troops will terrorize the city we're trying to save." He handed the shotgun to Steven. "Better to shoot him as soon as you see him. Monologues are pointless and boring to listen to and only drag out the fight."
"I…see." Steven took the shotgun and looked it over. 'Say what you want, but I like my current style.' He thought, then handed the shotgun back. "I'll just have another pistol, thanks."
"Okay." Wesson picked out a pistol and handed it over. "Try this one."
Steven took it and tested the weight, looking it over and aiming it towards the wall. "So, you don't like war, but you're a soldier. Why?"
"I can't be anything but." Wesson replied. "I was created to kill. Sure, I'm really human-like…but my blood is different. I don't have the same kind of bones. I'm completely metallic on the inside, even though the Living Metal makes me appear completely human." He looked down. "I'm…just a weapon."
"What about after the war?" Steven asked.
"Well, I guess I'll figure that out when the time comes." Wesson smiled. "Springfield wants to be a farmer, but I might remain a soldier and help out people when it's needed."
"Well, time will tell. You're still young." Steven said, looking up from the pistol. "I like this one."
"Okay." Wesson tossed him a box of ammo. "Here. Your current ammo will work with it, pretty sure, but it's always good to have extra."
"Alright." Steven took the case and nodded. "Let's get back to the others."
"Yeah." Wesson led the way out, pausing in the hall to wait for him.
Steven nodded and walked out, hitting the light-switch and closing the door as he left.
Colt looked up as they came back into the room. "You were gone a while. Find anything?"
"He found another pistol." Wesson shrugged. "I tried to suggest something else. He likes the pistol and his silly sword."
"Hey, it's not silly." Steven looked at him. "It's an honorable, traditional weapon. Hand-to-hand is best when in battle. Where's the honor in shooting from afar?"
"Pfft. I like glory, but honor is annoying." Colt brushed it off. "Well, I found that room. Let's make camp and eat before getting some sleep."
They all entered the room and Colt knelt to pull out a pack of sandwiches he'd packed with their rations, passing them around.
Steven took his and looked at it thoughtfully. "Hey, what will you two do after the war?"
"I dunno." Nils said, unwrapping his sandwich.
"That's too far in the future to worry about now." Colt said, shrugging.
"But, isn't this new ARM supposed to be the ultimate weapon?" Steven asked, blinking.
"We don't know how effective it is." Colt shook his head. "If it can beat the Dragons that would be great, but against The Mother…"
"She is rather powerful, isn't she?" Steven said, nodding understandingly.
"Yeah." Colt lowered his sandwich, staring at the floor. "…The most powerful Demon out there. It might take all of us to kill her."
"Some of us might not make it back." Wesson nodded.
"This is depressing." Nils said, biting into his sandwich roughly.
"Maybe you shouldn't take such big bites, then." Wesson said. "Let it last longer and it won't be such a depressing amount."
"I meant the conversation, Wess!" Nils bopped the younger one on the head with his free hand. "Not the sandwich!"
"Well, you didn't make that clear." Wesson grinned.
"It was pretty damn obvious!" Nils snapped.
Colt chuckled. "Play nice, kids. I want to bring you both home intact."
"Yes, Colt." Wesson pouted as he ate his sandwich.
They finished in silence and then Colt stood up. "All of you rest up. I'll secure the door." He walked over to the door and closed it. Then he opened a console next to it and placed his hand against a screen similar to the one in the ship.
"What's that?" Steven asked.
"It's an ARM-reader." Colt turned to him. "Only people who can use the ARM can activate it and shut it down. I just made it so this room can only be opened by one of us. There's also a field around the room to prevent anything entering or leaving it while it's activated." He walked over and sat on one of the beds. "Get some sleep. You'll need it. Berserk almost killed Spring recently…"
"I heard about that." Wesson nodded. "Something about the Dragon prototype weakening him and then Berserk coming to finish him off. Springfield didn't say how he survived it, though."
Colt shrugged. "Let's sleep. You especially, Steven."
"As you wish." Steven lay down one of the beds, looking at them all. 'Take away the weapons and they're just children. Easy kills. But, Berserk just HAD to want a fair fight…' He sighed softly and lay on his back, looking at the ceiling. 'This will be a blood-bath.' He closed his eyes