VB!Foxillians: Terminus

Reconnecting Raskals

- Vagabond's POV -

Ernst gave me a ride in his car to Refuge. I wanted to ask him a few questions.

"Vagabond, right?" Randal asked as we reached the door where he was waiting.

"Yes, that's me. Good morning, Randal." I say as I extend my hand to shake his.

"Let's keep it chill here." Randal says as he curls my hand into a fist and bumps it with his.

"Yep, that's the Randal I know." I say with a smile.

"I'm guessing I'm not that different from the Randal you had then." Randal says as he crosses his arms.

"You said he needed help with something?" Randal then asks, looking at Ernst.

"Yeah. The two of you can work out what he needs. I have to go and help Emist out at the tavern. See you around." Ernst says with a casual salute before driving off.

"Care to come inside?" Randal asks as he opens the door.

"Gladly. Thank you." I say, following him into Refuge

The two of us walk towards a familiar coffee table with couches surrounding three of its sides.

"Haven't been redecorating, huh?" I ask as I look around.

"Haven't taken anything down or put anything up in almost a decade, with the exception of Christmas decorations of course." Randal says while stretching. "Though I suppose we ought to do something about that eventually."

When we sat down at the table, Remmie came over and gave the two of us cups of hot chocolate.

"Thanks, Remmie, you're the best." Randal says as he pulls her down and pecks her cheek.

Remmie giggles, ruffles Randal's hair a little then walks back to the kitchen.

"So, onto business, I heard that you went to your version of me for help dealing with your version of Viper." Randal says as he takes a sip of the hot chocolate.

"Yes actually. We've decided to refer to the target as Vileper. I'm looking to put an end to Vileper myself, I just need a little gear." I say before taking a sip of the hot chocolate.

"What kind of gear are we talking about?" Randal asks.

"I'm going to need one of your custom-built rifles. Do you still make those A-R52s?"

"Oh, sorry. We stopped making those when the Zukarian Occupation ended. New regulations prevent us from legally making more too. Best I can do is an SA-R24 or a BF-R16"

"Mind if I take a gander?" I ask

"Gladly, this wa-- right. We didn't change the layout so you probably know where the workshop is." Randal says with a chuckle.

"I suppose, but you can lead me there regardless"

The two of us walk past the kitchen and towards the concealed staircase.

Randal opened the passageway and we both went into the bowels of Refuge.

"Hey there Patty. Got any Semi-24s in stock?" Randal asks as we walk past one of the machine rooms.

"Just finished one of them. Catch!"

Randal catches the rifle, inspects it and presents it to me.

"Huh, I can work with this."

"Would you like to try it out?" Randal says as he motions towards the firing range.

The two of us walk towards the firing range. Randal sets me up in one of the firing booths and a number of targets pop up from the floor.

"Go wild" Randal says as he gives me a loaded magazine.

Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang

"Five shots, five targets downed. As expected of Ernst Fox, even one from 7 years past."
"Guess I still haven't lost it after all those months."

I remove the magazine and clear the chamber. The unspent round tinkled as it ejected out of the rifle. Catching the round, I put it back into the magazine.

"You mentioned something about a BF-R16?"
"Yep, there's one over there on the wall."

Putting down the rifle in the booth, I move towards the weapon rack on the wall of the shooting range.

"Are these the new standard issue Raskal Rifle?" I ask as I pick it up.

"We hand it out to those that want it, so I suppose you can say that." Randal replies with a shrug. "It's on the lighter side, but we haven't quite worked out the recoil issues."

"It can't be that bad, can it?" I ask as I return to my booth and aim down the range

Braap

Just a burst in, the target took only one hit while the rest of the shots got sent to the lead pile at the back of the range.

"Told ya, it's the closest thing we've come to a burst fire. Everything else kept devolving into automatics which, as mentioned before, we cannot produce legally." Randal says with disappointment in his voice.

"I see. So it's either the Semi 24 or the Burst 16?"

"Yeah, that's about it."

I silently debate my options.

"I'll take the BF-R16 since it's a better choice at close range. Also, do you mind doing me a solid?"

"Go on."

"I need a backup plan, if ever things go south. I might be Vileper's target but that doesn't mean she won't go after Sophie after finding out that she exists."
"So what are you saying exactly?"
"If she manages to kill me, I want to make sure I kill her too. So I've been thinking..."

- Tsenre's POV -

"Best of luck Vagabond. Go show her who's really boss!" Randal shouts from the door of Refuge.

"You bet Randal. She'll be over by the time I'm through." Vagabond replies as he opens the back door of the car.

"What do you have there?" I ask him as he tosses a backpack and a rifle into the back.

"I got a BF-R16 and some ammo, as well as a component for a backup plan."
"Alright, sounds fine I guess. Where are you headed next? Ernst has already started clearing out an area for you to put an end to Vileper."
"Serpentine Development Tower if you don't mind. I'm interested in getting some Glycerol from their pharmacy. Haven't had a proper potty break in a while."
"Sure thing. Do you mind if I visit some... friends while you're there?"
"Not at all. It's not like I'm in a rush anyway, right?"
"Nope. Viper's... contacts... are keeping Vileper busy."
"Alright."