Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

"Why are we here human?" The Trap Master asked as Jeb pulled up in front of Skeeter's shop.

"We're here to bring you lot into the 21st century. Or as close as we can." Jeb answered as he climbed out of his truck, aiding Ruby down while the the Trap Master jumped out on his own.

Ruby wore one of Jeb's donated t-shirts, though it has been tweaked to better cover her body. It looked like she was wearing a onesie. The Trap Master however, refused to accept any of Jeb's old clothes to wear. Him and a few others made do with the carpeting they "acquired" from Jeb's basement. Though after the attack some weeks ago they've been reinforcing the patches of carpeting and upholstery with sticks and bark.

So that's how they looked when Jeb and the two kobolds walked into the shop. One looking like she just spent the night with him and threw something on so she wasn't naked when she got a drink. The other looking like some weird backwoods mad max.

"Evenin' folks!" Skeeter greeted as he eyed Jeb and the two kobolds, who were both curious and nervous of the place they were in, and of the friendly Skeeter.

"Evenin' Skeeter! You got everythin' you need?" Jeb asked as he stood near Skeeter while also keeping an eye on the two kobolds as they wandered around examining everything in the store. He also noticed that the ice-cream chest had a padlock on it now, no doubt to keep over curious kobolds from getting frozen while getting a otter pop!

"Yup! Bring 'em over and lets get started!"

Jeb called over the two kobolds, Ruby had gotten distracted looking at colorful cereal boxes, while the Trap Master was looking at kids toys. Both stopped and trotted over when Jeb called.

While they walked over, Skeeter led the lot of them into a side room. A workshop, similar to the one Jeb had in the basement. Though this one was somewhat more dusty and hadn't looked like it had been used in some time. Skeeter flicked on a light and pulled out a toolbox and patted his hand on a table.

"So whos first?"

Neither kobold looked particularly thrilled with the idea. After several seconds of indecision, Jeb rolled his eyes and picked up the Trap Master, setting him on the table with a grunt. The Trap Master, after the brief shot of shock of getting picked up, gave the human an indignant glare.

Though it didn't last long as Skeeter pulled out a tape measure. The Trap Master looked wearily at the device.

"What is that?"

"Its a tape measure. Its so I can find out your measurements." Skeeter stated simply and continued his work. Having the Trap Master straighten his arm out so Skeeter can get the length, then width of his muscles. Having him hold a couple poses where it looked like he was holding something to his shoulder. Length from wrist to eye. While he did this Skeeter would mumble the measurements and scribble them down on a nearby piece of paper.

After a few, uncomfortable, minutes the Trap Master was told that he could get down now. He breathed a sigh of relief at having to not be the subject of Skeeter's, thorough, attention. While Ruby had chuckled a little at the faces both Skeeter and the Trap Master pulled, she was now less than thrilled when Jeb picked her up and placed her on the table next.

While she underwent her own humiliation, the Trap Master took the opportunity to wander around the workshop. It was bigger and more furnished than the one Jeb had, and pillaged. The tribe had eventually returned most of the intact tools to Jeb. Though some weren't in the same condition they were when the kobolds got their cold claws on them.

During those early days they needed any and all possible weapons to protect themselves. Whether it was wild animals, possible adventurers, or even Jeb himself. After so long however the tribe had grown content and felt less of a need to be fully mobilized.

Which put the Trap Master in a bit of a problem. While some had shown interest in becoming skirmishers most had returned to being general members of the tribe. He couldn't force them, but at the same time the tribe needed more bodies to protect it. Though the tribe had begun to throw its weight at making Jeb its new "center" so to speak, he has protected them to the best of his abilities, fed and clothed them, and has been nothing but kind to them. But, it still didn't sit right with the Trap Master to simply sit back and let someone else do the job he's done for many years now.

It was always known that eventually a replacement would come, though it was always AFTER the former office holder was dead and gone. Now the Trap Master had started to wished he had died. After all, with the power Jeb held, known or not, what would the tribe need him for? Though with their former master they were little more than fodder to be thrown at anyone dumb enough to assault a dragon's lair. Jeb actually cared and was going to lengths to prove that.

Now? Now there wasn't a need for him or the skirmishers. They needed food? Jeb. Clothing and warmth? Jeb. Protection? Jeb. It was both a blessing and a curse that Jeb was far more proactive than their last master. What was the Trap Master to do when his one and only job was gone?

Stolen story; please report.

"So what is it you were thinkin' of?" Skeeter asked as Ruby hopped down from the table.

"Nothin' too modern. Something simple but still functional." Jeb answered, unaware of the troubled thoughts of the Trap Master.

While Jeb and Skeeter brainstormed, Ruby walked over to the Trap Master as he halfheartedly picked through a box of scrap and parts. Nothing worthwhile that the tribe could use, at least nothing he could think of in the box of greasy parts.

"What's the matter Trap Master?" Ruby asked.

He turned and looked at her as if he hadn't quite heard her voice.

"Hmm?"

"You look sad and lost."

"Oh, nothing Den Mother. Just thinking about the future, and where in it I'm at." He said sadly.

"What do you mean?"

He sighed and gestured a scaled claw over to Jeb as him and Skeeter continued to talk and gesture.

"With such a strong, and bountiful, protector. What does the tribe need me or the skirmishers for?"

Ruby looked at the Trap Master with a hint of sadness. He had a point, while her and the Chief would still be valuable regardless, the Trap Master was now realizing that with Jeb his only purpose in life looked to be slipping away.

"But the tribe will always have need of you!"

"Will it?" The Trap Master snorted derisively.

"Of course! Jeb can't be everywhere at once! Right now he's here with us! And whos with the tribe right now?"

"The skirmishers." The Trap Master stated.

"And when Jeb leaves us alone who is there to protect us?"

"I am." He sighed and chuckled slightly. She was right. Jeb being proactive also meant he left on his own for various things. Which left the tribe unguarded. Save for him and the skirmishers.

"Thank you Den Mother. You're right."

"No problem! And if you DO get replaced then you can take up pottery!" She teased.

The Trap Master laughed.

"I doubt that I could make very good pots!"

She was right, the Trap Master thought. Even though Jeb is a more attentive protector the tribe will still need him and the skirmishers to keep them safe for when he is gone! These thoughts were nothing more than worries of the mind. Maybe the Trap Master and the skirmishers couldn't protect the tribe from a angry dragon. But that didn't mean that they weren't still needed.

"How about a Winchester?" Jeb asked finally.

Skeeter thought for a moment, a couple tweaks to accommodate the stature of the kobolds would have to be in order, but it would work.

"Sure. I'll get to work and might have somthin' in a week. In the mean time, lets test a few .22s!"

As Skeeter said this Jeb called over the kobolds. They both walked over as Skeeter pulled out a couple of small .22 caliber rifles. Kids and shorter people could handle them fine so it shouldn't be a problem for the kobolds. He handed Ruby and the Trap Master one each.

After giving them a lesson in gun safety, make sure the barrel of the gun isn't facing anyone, make sure your finger/claw wasn't on the trigger, DONT LOOK INTO THE BARREL, and make sure the safety was on. Once Skeeter and Jeb were sure that the two of them had gotten the point across, they led the two kobolds outside where a table with some tin cans and bottles were placed.

"Ok! So, put the butt of your rifle to your shoulder, look down the sights on the barrel, keep BOTH eyes open, and take some steady breaths!"

The two lizardfolk followed Skeeter's instructions carefully.

"Now, pick your target."

They nodded their heads.

"Now flip the safety off. Take one last breath, and squeeze the trigger at the end of the breath."

Two breaths, then followed by two bangs. But neither can nor bottle had been hit.

"That's ok! Practice makes perfect! Take a moment to calm yourselves, and try again when you feel ready!"

The Trap Master was more startled than frightened and after a couple seconds to readjust, tried again.

PING!

He had clipped the corner of a can! While he had focused himself to be familiar with this new weapon, Ruby was far more hesitant. While she still held onto the rifle she was shaking a lot! Jeb walked over and knelt beside her.

"You alright?"

She nodded, or maybe that was just her head shaking from fear, Jeb thought.

"It's ok! Not everyone likes guns. If you don't wanna keep goin' you don't have too."

She swallowed and tried to calm herself down and try again, but as she raised the rifle her arms were shaking to hard. She let out a sigh of relief when Jeb, gently, took the rifle.

"Its alright!"

She nodded and hugged him, she knew how to fight and was no stranger to combat. But something about the bang of the rifle scared her to her core! Which can't be said for the Trap Master, he was now confidently firing at the cans and bottles with great zeal! He hadn't realized how powerful it felt! Throwing a javelin was so time consuming in comparison! Now he knew why the two skirmishers were so hesitant to give up their impromptu weapon when the goblins attacked from the forest! They did give it back, even though Jeb's kin had said it was alright for them to have it since they had plenty more back home.

That was still a semi-auto, though the caliber was larger and required two kobolds to properly handle it. The Trap Master didn't want to potentially trigger some sort of conflict over the weapon so forced them to return it regardless. Now? If his small number of skirmishers could get fully trained with these? He alone could take out dozens of goblins by himself and from a well safe distance!

Eventually he ran out of ammo and the rifle gave out a clicking noise when he tried to squeeze the trigger. Skeeter walked over and showed him how to reload the rifle. Refilled once more the Trap Master continued. Bottles shattered and cans pinged as the Trap Master was filled with power!

Ruby relaxed in Jeb's arms as she watched the Trap Master shoot with a smile on his face! But before long he had run dry again.

"You do know that pretty much any youth .22 would work with 'em right?"

"Yeah. But a Winchester is so iconic!"

"What? You goin' to give 'em boots, some denim and a ten gallon hat too?"

"Shut up!"

Skeeter and Jeb joked as the Trap Master returned the rifle.

"No matter, kids body is different from your lizard friends here so I'll still need to make some adjustments. But like I said, come back in a week and I should have somethin' thrown together!"

Jeb and the kobolds thanked Skeeter and returned to the inside of the store. Where they found four goblins poking around the front!

"Hey!?"

They looked up at Jeb, Skeeter and the kobolds. They hissed at them before running off back into town! Jeb for a moment thought maybe it was Morty being a turd again. But these looked different than the ones Morty controlled.

They were a mix of mottled grey and black, their eyes were bigger and their ears were smaller. It also looked like their nails curved into hooks. Same size as the ones Jebs seen but no less ugly.

"The fuck was that about?!"

"Lil bastards! Heard from some fellas that lil creatures were causin' problems further into town. Thought he was drinkin' too much. Now, maybe I owe him a beer after all!"

"Has Morty been here?" Jeb asked suspiciously.

"No. Why?"

"Cause last I heard he had lil green buggers that looked kinda like that with him."

"Nope. Shithead hasn't been here. Though apparently he's been goin' around the denser part of town. Askin' for donations!"

"Donations? For what?"

"Apparently for a militia. A very REAL militia! Saw some when I went that way last. Not very tall fellas, but they knew what they were doin'! They was marchin' about like actual soldiers! Though they looked like they was dressed from the Revolutionary War."

What the hell is Morty up to now, Jeb thought. He thanked Skeeter and left after he made sure the goblins were gone. He knew Skeeter could handle himself, but it still put his mind at ease when he couldn't see them anymore.

Him and the kobolds got into the truck and drove home. The Trap Master in high spirits in spite of the goblins, the worries from before gone. Ruby a little rattled from the events, both the rifle and the goblins. Then there was Jeb, who brooded the whole way home. The weird goblins and Morty having an army, maybe a better one than he did last time. Both worried him and he wanted to make sure that whatever happens that the kobolds and him were ready for it!