“Gunny Chen. I didn’t expect I ever would come back. But it seems that I’ve found a reason to draw my gun again. However, the gun could probably use a once over, all those years of just sitting about. I need some ammo, too.”

“Jed, now you know the cleaning I’ll do, but I can’t just gi-” the Asian woman stopped mid sentence at the sound of clinking metal. A small, but significantly laden, black pouch found itself on the table in Grey’s right hand. He smiled, letting go of the bag and his gun, taking a step back from the counter. Gunny reached out tentatively with her right hand as it settled on the wooden grips of Grey’s gun. “Pearl? Is this actual pearl?” Grey nodded.

“Antique. Salvaged from an alliance general’s pistol. Came into the wrong end of my own weapon. He was fast, though. Managed to twist just so. Missed him completely, but the velocity of the round shattered the barrel of his gun.” Grey sighed. “Anyway. The panels matched up pretty closely with the rubber grips that came on that beast originally. So I just had a jeweler line the edges in silver to make up the rest of the shape.” Gunny had already broken down the massive revolver into its basic parts. He chuckled. “Shall I leave you two to some privacy?” Gunny shook her head.

“Sorry. You know me and guns, especially rare ones. I have some of the scramjet shells that will work in here, but they’re meant for rifles. They won’t carry the punch of what should be used, and they’ll be a lot tougher on the gun itself.” She eyed the bag carefully. “Platinum?” Grey nodded. “I can give you a case. The gun I’ll tool and tune up for free. And there should be enough left over for a meal and as much as you care to drink. Head on upstairs and tell my mom I’m covering you tonight.” Grey smiled and made his way to the stairs on the left wall.

“Join me later?” He motioned up the stairs. She laughed.

“Sure thing, old man.”

“Old man? I’ll give you old man. Youngin.” She stuck her tongue out at him and he returned th