I decided to go with a ranged weapon. I still had my push dagger if I needed to resort to close combat, and having the option to exterminate invasive bloodthirsty creatures from a safe(r) distance was a good option to have.

I recalled that during Orientation I was given the choice to purchase a small handgun for 300 Crypt. I couldn’t imagine that being worthwhile to invest in at this point, especially if it was of the basic variety, and it seemed that the two other options currently in the Armory’s lineup and within my price range were before me.

The hand crossbow and the snubnosed revolver.

I dismissed the Melee and Thrown weapons menus, and hovered over each of the remaining weapons in turn to view the details while Colonel Peacekeeper looked on with a skeletal grin.

[Weapon: Hand crossbow

Weapon Type: Ranged (piercing)

Cost: 500 Crypt

Level: 1 of 10

Frequency: Common

Damage Output: 10

Details: A smaller version of a traditional crossbow that can be held in one hand or modified to be attached to the wrist and can fire a single bolt or quarrel (a metal dart-like projectile).

Properties: Ammunition - requires crossbow bolts. Fires one bolt at a time. Can be fired one-handed but requires a free hand to reload. Bolts that miss their targets may be recovered.

Size: 20 metabytes

Weapon: Snubnosed revolver

Weapon Type: Ranged (ballistic)

Cost: 500 Crypt

Level: 1 of 10

Frequency: Common

Damage Output: 20

Details: A small revolver with a short barrel, designed with minimal external movement of the firing mechanism so that it can be drawn with little risk of snagging, and may even be fired from within clothing. The design compromises range and accuracy at a distance in favor of maneuverability and ease of carry and concealment.

Properties: Ammunition - requires .32 caliber cartridges. Holds five cartridges at a time and must be manually reloaded.

Size: 20 metabytes]

The hand crossbow had a lower damage output, but with the possibility of reclaiming bolts that missed their targets. The revolver could hold five cartridges whereas the crossbow held only a single bolt at a time. The crossbow seemed a bit medieval to me. Perhaps it was more useful as a stealthy weapon. It was hard, after all, to ignore the sound of gunfire. With my minimum Accuracy value, the higher damage output of the revolver felt promising.

Excuse me, if I purchase this revolver, does it come with ammunition included?

“The revolver will come fully loaded with five cartridges in the chambers of the cylinder. Any additional ammunition must be purchased.”

How much?

“10 Crypt per cartridge. A great deal!”

And how much storage space does each cartridge take up?

“Each cartridge in addition to the ones loaded in the revolver requires 1 metabyte each.”

I did some math. Spending 500 Crypt would free up 5 metabytes of space, bringing my total storage to 199.2 out of 210. Purchasing the revolver, which mercifully included five loaded rounds at no additional cost or storage requirement, would increase my total to 210.2.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Shiva on a stick.

I was quickly coming to realize that both Crypt and storage space were incredibly limited and important commodities in The Collective. I was experiencing real anxiety over maxing out my storage. The tactical jacket that I could not yet afford came with a nice storage perk, so there must have been other ways to increase my storage space.

And Volunteers normally store their extra ammunition in their inventory?

“But of course! Unless that savvy Volunteer purchases a quiver, bandolier, or other relevant accessory!”

I doubted I could afford anything else from the Armory at this time. But it didn’t hurt to ask.

Since this is my first time shopping here, do you have any deals for first time customers? Maybe throw in a holster or something like that for free or at a discount? I think it would really help boost customer loyalty.

The cyborg in the powdered wig stared at me with its dead, metal eyes, saying nothing. Perhaps some internal calculation was passing through its programmed vendor brain.

“A novel suggestion, soldier, but not persuasive. As it is, we are the only place to acquire new weapons in The Commons. Customer loyalty is guaranteed!”

I remembered that my Persuasion score was a measly 10. Probably not worth the effort to try and barter or debate with this thing.

If I buy that revolver, I will be .2 over my data storage limit. What happens then?

“Do you have an account established at the Repository and an instant transfer subscription?”

I do not.

“Then you can’t add the revolver to your inventory.”

Can I temporarily carry the revolver in my hands without adding it to my inventory?

“Most items can be temporarily carried without being added to your inventory. However, if you were to lose that item, there would be no record of ownership. Also, you would not be able to back up that item at the Restoration Point. But it is a moot point, soldier. Armory policy is no purchases can be completed unless the weapon or armor can fit in your available storage space!”

I racked my brain, thinking of how I could free up .2 metabytes. I did not want to part with anything in my inventory.

That tactical jacket I saw. Can I somehow place a deposit on it for later?

“You can. But there is no guarantee it will remain at its current discounted sale price.”

Sale? I didn’t notice it was on sale. What is the regular price?

“2,000 Crypt. Right now it is only 1,500.”

Ugh. Put 20 Crypt down as a deposit on the tactical jacket and give me the revolver.

The vendor screen flashed a confirmation, then another.

[Snubnosed revolver selected. Selection confirmed. Would you like to equip this weapon?]

Not right now.

The revolver materialized then dematerialized straight into my inventory as 500 precious Crypt melted away into the digital ether. I only had 100 left. I felt sick.

“Thank you for shopping at the Armory, soldier. Hooah! Have a FUBAR day!”

I turned away from the counter to leave and walked straight into a group of Volunteers loitering close behind me.

Oof.

“Watch where you’re going, noob.”

Sorry.

There were four of them. They wore outfits with similar colors and textures. Black denim and leather, mostly. Each had a circular patch somewhere on their clothing depicting a fanged cobra ready to strike.

The one I had collided with, a medium-built male with a reverse mohawk and eyes like black marbles, wore a vest with a prominent cobra patch above his breast and a lower jaw the color of raw steel. Whether it was painted, dyed, tattooed, or actually replaced with metal, I could not tell.

“Noob. What do you think you’re going to do with that malenky pooshka?”

With that what?

Another member of the group butted in.

“Your little gun! Think you’re hot Shiva with that toy?”

Without waiting for an answer, the first man moved in close, his face twisted in a snarl.

“We’re bolnoy of noobs like you coming in and snatching up all the easy bounties.”

Easy bounties? I thought we were all in this together. What happened to Volunteer solidarity?

“Yeah, yeah. Glory to the Volunteers. But we’s been here awhile. Some of us has gots to eat. Gots bills to pay, needs to meet. New volunteers been showing up and taking our kills, making us travel far off to drat more dangerous prey.”

The last time I saw the bounty boards there was no shortage of bounties. If anything, there were too many to count.

“A smart odin, aye? The point is, you noobs gots no respect. You needs to pay tribute to those that come before you. Those of us that paved the way.”

Are you with the hunters from the Round Table?

The man hawked up a wad of saliva and spit straight on the Armory floor. It soon evaporated into a wisp of nothingness.

“Round Table. Bunch of self-righteous arseholes. Think they can actually earn their way out of this hellhole. But we’s know this is the new normal. This is where we’s gotta stake our claim. Build our kingdom.”

I don’t know what to tell you. Now if you would please get out of my way and let me pass.

The man put his hand up against my chest as I tried to leave, blocking me. A butterfly knife materialized in his other hand.