When Crazy Dave announced to all the Plants to prepare for battle, each Plant prepared in their own way. Some of them went straight to the entrance of the bunker, others prayed for their survival, and others did a little target practice to make sure their accuracy was sufficient. Agent Pea, Law Pea, and Commando Pea spent the most time at the shooting range, knowing that their survival depended on every shot.
Agent Pea was a well-groomed and well-mannered peashooter with a posh accent and gleaming eyes. He was a strong silent type, only speaking when he needed to, or when he wanted to express his regards and sentiment. He previously worked with an unnamed agency that assigned contracts to assassinate top Zombie targets before it was disbanded, leaving him to become a freelance assassin.
Law Pea was a grizzled and tough peashooter with a thick Texan accent and gentle gaze. He believed in absolute justice for Plants and dedicated his career to fighting Zombies that threaten the livelihood of any Plant, whether close friend or distant stranger. Even though he only worked between Monday and Thursday, he would not hesitate to assist a Plant in distress on one of his casual days.
Commando Pea was a cocky and high energy peashooter with a thin Austrian accent and a fierce gaze. He was a daredevil and a risk-taker, choosing to run forward unwaveringly, spraying his Full-Auto shots at the slightest glimpse of a Zombie. His friends often tell him to be more careful and less rash about his fighting, but he understood his own combat skills and continued to use his fighting style.
"Alright then, do you chaps mind if I start?" Agent Pea asked.
"Go right ahead, partner." Law Pea replied.
"Pump those targets with lead!" Commando Pea cheered.
"Set up 12 targets for me Law, that'll be 1 bullet for each target." Agent Pea instructed Law Pea.
Law Pea brought up a keypad and punched in several letters and numbers to bring up 12 stationary wooden targets in the shape of gnomes. Agent Pea narrowed his gaze and slowly exhaled as he readied himself. Law Pea cued him with a countdown:
"3…2…1…FIRE!"
At that moment, Agent Pea began rapidly shooting every target in front of him, 1 bullet per target as he planned. After firing all 12 of his shots, he quickly reloaded before taking a deep breath.
"How did I do Law?" Agent Pea inquired.
"Hit all 12 targets in 6 seconds, with an accuracy of about 90%" Law Pea answered by looking at a screen on the shooting range module.
"I seem to be getting better every day, yeah?" Agent Pea remarked, proud of his new record.
"Alrighty then, it's mah turn." Law Pea said.
"6 targets, as usual?" Agent Pea asked.
"Yep…they're gonna go down faster than ya can blink." Law Pea boasted.
Agent Pea entered some numbers into the keypad to bring up 6 stationary targets. Law Pea took a slow, deep breath as he prepared to shoot. He hung his head and entered a sort of trance as he muttered to himself:
"It's high noon…"
"3…2…1…" Agent Pea counted.
"DRAW!" Law Pea cried out.
Law Pea raised his head and shot all 6 targets with blinding speed, so fast that even Commando Pea flinched at the sounds. After firing his last shot, Law Pea shut his eyes as he attempted to ease his sudden dizziness. Firing his Six-Shooter at such a fast rate often left him disoriented if he didn't warm up first. Regardless, his dizziness subsided and Law Pea regained focus.
"How was that?" Law Pea asked.
"Hit all 6 targets in 1 second, with an accuracy of 95%. Staggering if I must say!" Agent Pea responded.
"Mah accuracy sure don't improve much. I put in all I had firin' off mah shots and didn't even focus on getting bullseyes. *sigh* Ah well…it won't matter much in the long run." Law Pea commented in a somewhat disappointed tone of voice.
"Alright! It's my turn now!" Commando Pea insisted.
Commando Pea eagerly strutted up to the target range and stroked his cheeks to smear his face paint, creating longer, more accentuated streaks.
"Could you perhaps try and hit all the targets this time, friend?" Agent Pea said jokingly.
"Hah! I will pump as many bullets as it takes to make sure the Zombies stay dead! Bring them to me! 10 targets!" Commando Pea demanded.
"Alright, 10 targets it is then." Law Pea abided.
Law Pea operated the module and brought up 10 targets for Commando Pea. In an instant, Commando Pea yelled his battle cry and began spraying Full-Auto shots in the general direction of the targets. The shots were even louder than Law Pea's bullets, and were hitting the targets with such impact that splinters were flying up into the air. After firing off his last bullet, Commando Pea sharply exhaled, steam rising from his mouth due to the overheating of his Full-Auto shots. He looked up and surveyed the chaos he had caused, smiling at what remained of the targets.
"Well, at least he hit all of them." Agent Pea commended.
"Hit all 10 targets in 8 seconds, with an accuracy of 75%...welp, *chuckles* better than last time when he shot all his bullets into 1 target." Law Pea joked.
"Hey, that target was looking at me funny. He asked for it!" Commando Pea scoffed.
"I'm pokin' fun at ya Commando. Y'all doing just fine and dandy. But your fightin' style ain't meant for ya to be the 'lone wolf'. You have to learn not to stray away from the team." Law Pea informed Commando Pea.
Commando Pea looked at Law Pea with a judging glare, clearly showing discontent at his comment.
"Just because we're down to 4 peashooters doesn't mean I have to stay behind a wall like a coward. I'm not afraid of Zombies charging at me with flags and screen doors." Commando Pea spat in a frustrated manner.
"Commando, please listen. We all care about each other's safety, don't we? We just don't want you to go fighting on your own, and then get wounded without anyone nearby to help you. We can't afford to lose anyone else." Agent Pea patiently coaxed.
Commando Pea crossed his leaves and sighed, knowing that Agent Pea was correct. The Plants were fighting an uphill battle with the Zombies' improved technology and recruitments. He wasn't even sure they were going to make any notable progress in taking back Suburbia. The city was simply too vast, populated with far too many Zombies.
"So what do you want me to do? Have a Sunflower tag along and pocket heal me?" Commando Pea asked.
"That would be better than venturing on your own, yes." Agent Pea affirmed.
Just then, Peashooter came by and greeted the three, cheerful and composed.
"Hey guys!" Peashooter said.
"Peashooter, old chap! How are you feeling today?" Agent Pea greeted.
"Ya holdin' up fine, partner?" Law Pea asked.
"Yeah, I just spoke with Crazy Dave, and he sort of put my mind at ease." Peashooter replied.
"Do you want to practice your shooting before we go?" Commando Pea asked Peashooter.
"I…I guess." Peashooter responded.
"I'll set up 10 targets for ya. Good luck." Law Pea said.
Peashooter readied himself as the targets came up. His eyes narrowed, his breath steadied, and his leaves clenched tightly as he eyed each target. Law Pea began his countdown:
"3…2…1…"
"GO!" Peashooter cried out.
Peashooter began firing large pea projectiles at each target, each pea producing a big splash of green and splinters upon impact. Every hit felt rhythmic, every shot making a satisfying "pow" in musical succession. When the last target was struck, the other Peashooters applauded.
"Hit all 10 targets in 10 seconds, with an accuracy of 95%." Law Pea relayed the results.
"Incredible! With shooting skills like this, you can bring us far." Agent Pea commended.
"Thanks guys!" Peashooter replied.
"Where is Sunflower? Does she need to practice?" Commando Pea asked.
"Oh, Sunflower went off to meet with the other Sunflowers. They're all preparing, like us." Peashooter answered.
"If ya don't mind me askin', when are ya gonna treat her to somethin' special? It's gotta happen sometime, right?" Law Pea commented.
"Law, I'm going to ask her out, ok? Just not now, the battle's too important." Peashooter quickly replied.
"I don't know Pea, she seems to be pretty darn important to ya as it is. If you wait too long, ya might not get the chance to…" Law Pea started to say.
"Law, I apologize for interrupting, but don't suggest anything." Agent Pea intervened.
"No Agent, I get it. If I don't ask her out soon, I might…die in battle and not get the chance. Or even the…other way around." Peashooter said sadly.
"Now, now old chap. We're not hoping for that to happen." Agent Pea said, wrapping his leaf over Peashooter's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.
"We just want you two to be happy. You make a cute couple, and we'd hate for something to happen to either of you. You're both our good friends, I hope you understand that." Agent Pea continued.
"Yeah, I know…you guys are the best. You've stayed strong for everyone, never losing hope, always looking out for us all. We wouldn't still be here without you guys." Peashooter praised.
"Oh, we've endured far worse! Our fellow Peashooters wouldn't have given up on us either. Let's not lose confidence just because they're no longer with us." Agent Pea said with vigor.
"Determination is the definin' trait of all Peashooters! Never enter a battle without it!" Law Pea added, tipping his hat to Peashooter.
"Brother in arms! We shall wipe out the zombie terror together!" Commando Pea cheered, placing his leaf over Peashooter's shoulder.
Peashooter was brought to tears by the tender gestures of his friends, his heart aching at the joy of their company and the inevitability of their fates.
"Thanks guys…" Peashooter said, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Altogether now." Agent Pea said as he reached his leaf out for the others to grab.
Agent Pea, Peashooter, Law Pea and Commando Pea joined their leaves in a circle as a good luck charm.
"For king and country, and Crazy Dave!" Agent Pea declared.
"Justice ain't gonna dispense itself!" Law Pea followed.
"Kill them all!" Commando Pea yelled.
"Let's do it!" Peashooter said lastly.
