Where Yukari was, at that time, was at a relatively out-of-the-way gunshop in Kyoto's civilian sector, near Kyoto Base. The store was the size of a small bedroom, but was packed to the walls with weaponry.
What Yukari was smelling was brass, steel and gunpowder, with hints of gun oil here and there. Sunlight from the outside was the only source of light.
Why Yukari was fondling various instruments of death was because she still felt ill-prepared for a boarding, which Kotori had made all too apparent would not be in their favor.
Who Yukari was bothering at the moment was a gruff old gun shop owner, who not only was turned off by Yukari's uniform, but her annoyingly pleasant demeanor.
"You are sure it is legal to sell such a weapon?" Yukari asked as she hefted the blue-and-matte-silver revolver in her hand.
"It's in my shop, lady," the man grunted from behind the glass counter, chewing on a
long, thin plant of some sort. It was unlike anything Yukari had seen before, but then, the Nepleslian man was clearly not restricted by Yamatai's culture. He had smoking instruments hanging on a wooden panel behind the desk, and had on his hip a shiny revolver that did not appear to be made by Ketsurui Zaibatsu. There were plenty of
"The company that makes this weapon ... SiZi? What are they like?" The revolver was heavy enough to require two hands to hold; she was thankful for the smooth, but lightly textured grip.
"They're Nepleslian," the shop owner said bluntly. "They're good."
"I see," she said. The revolver was very well balanced, for being so large. "And it costs how much?"
"700 KS, with 48 rounds for 200 KS."
"Sou. ... And it fires plasma?"
"Yep." The man took a deep breath and chewed on his plant.
"I see." She hefted the revolver again and squeezed the trigger. The single-action was crisp and short. "And the
shotgun weapon?"
"New comp'ny. Styrling. Good comp'ny. Good guns." The man's beady, bloodshot eyes seemed glazed over.
"Sou. And it is 250 KS?"
"Yeah, with some free shit with it. Box of 25 rounds costs 20 KS."
Yukari nodded and put the revolver down. Then ... her eye caught something else, just behind the tiny counter. A pistol she had seen once before, but in worse condition. It hung on a hook upside down, and had wooden grips on it. "How much is that?" she said, pointing to it.
The man slowly turned on his stool and looked at the weapon. "I can'd sell that, lady."
"Oh?"
"Yup."
" ... Why is this?"
"Too good for you."
"I am sorry?"
"Too good for you. A woman can'd handle that gun. Wouldn' be right."
" ... Oh. I see."
"In fact, can'd sell ya the revolver, either. Too much gun for you."
"Is this so."
"Yep."
Yukari realized she was leaning forward some, and she stood upright. She was unfamiliar with the concept of not being "right" for a weapon because of her sex, but she suspected it was something to do with him being a stupid Nepleslian. No wonder his shop was so small. "I would like to see it," she said.
"Can'd."
" ... " Yukari reached around behind her and took out her communicator. She also took out her MPP and placed it on the counter, with the barrel facing her.
The man chewed on his stick, appearing disinterested. "Gonna quickdraw and shoot me, lady? Don'd take kindly to threats."
"No," she replied. "I am placing you under temporary arrest, as a member of SAINT. Your smoking instruments are illegal on this planet." She brought the communicator to her ear. She took a chance and spoke via telepathy as the communicator attempted to connect her. Once connected, she spoke in masculine Yamataian.
"Yes, this is Suzuka-Shosa,
NJ-X1-00. Yes. Yes. I am reporting an illegal substance present inside a gunstore called Guns. Yes. No. ... That is correct. NO! I want ten units,
with haste! Yes, you will send them now!"
"Wh-wait," the man stammered, the plant falling from his lips.
Yukari did not look at him. "No stun! He is carrying an illegal, high-powered pistol on his person. Set all weapons to kill!"
"WAIT!" The man stirred from his stool, leaning over it some. His belly prevented him from leaning too far.
"Ah — Damn!" Yukari cursed, backing up from him. "He has disarmed me! Send a Mindy to assist me, hurry!"
"
WAIT!" He shouted. "H-HERE! Here! All yours! Take'm! Take'm!"
Yukari paused, and finally looked at the man. "One moment," she said to the communicator. "It appears he is simply on a kind of medication ... have the Mindy standby." She glared at him, eyes catching some of the sunlight reflecting off of the glass. "I will pay your prices."
"SURE! SURE! Whatever you want! Don't want no fuckin' Mindys here, thasall! No Mindys!"
"Please total it up for me. The revolver, the shotgun, and the pistol on the wall."
The man looked to the pistol and hesitated.
"Now, please." Yukari held the communicator to her ear.
He did so, as fast as his grimy fingers would let him. "250 — 180 — 700 — 200 — thas 450, carry the 1, 630, carry other 1, ugh — 1,330 KS, ma'am! And here, shotgun and pistol ammo free! Two boxes each!"
Yukari smiled and handed him her money card from her datapad's pouch. "Here."
He took the card, ran it quickly, then disappeared in the back. He returned with the shotgun in the box — "The Silver Lining," it said in slanted lettering on the front — and the revolver in the box. It had an "S" surrounded by a circle, with a "Z" inside the S. "Comes with speedloaders!" the man said about the revolver.
Then, he reached for the pistol. He put it on the counter, after gesturing Yukari to take her MPP back, then put the gun on the counter. It had a magazine inside of it. He grunted as he bent down behind the counter and retrieved a worn cardboard box. He opened it up and put the gun inside; there were two more magazines inside it, along with a cleaning brush. Then he retrieved the ammunition.
"All yours!" he said excitedly. "Now call off the fuckin' armor?" It was a shouted, pleading question.
Yukari glared at him a moment more, then spoke into the communicator. "Withdraw," she said simply, in Nepleslian. She paused, nodded and closed the communicator, returning it to her datapad's pouch, along with her money card. "Thank you," she said. "Allow me a moment to transport this to my vehicle?"
* * *
After the last box was placed in the jeep, Yukari took her seat next to Miyoko, who was driving. Her communicator beeped, and she received a message from Tom.
"Aiyaa," she said. "Tom is waiting at a cafe for us. Let us go!" Yukari brought up a map on her datapad for them to follow.
)
