章節 3: Inverse engineering

POV MC

To tell you the truth Vander wasn't as happy as I was about the loot, according to him it's too dangerous for me to handle, but you know what? Fuck it!

I need to be stronger and I'm sure this will be very useful in the future, not only for me but for Powder too, I can't get it out of my head how her little face became so sad when he confiscated our loot, besides she is genuinely interested in weapons and explosives so I will support her talent as much as I can.

Determined I went to talk to Vander I wanted to make that stubborn old man see reason, it was not going to be easy but I will not give up, with bravery I went down from the attic where I was "punished" to the main room of The Last Drop, which luckily was empty, the moment Vander saw me he frowned and said.

-What are you supposed to be doing out here boy, you should be thinking about why you are too young to have those weapons.

He said calmly but I was sure I could see his anger, so I answered him.

-I have reflected and I have come to the conclusion that I am capable enough to handle that and then teach Powder how to do it, it is necessary to survive down here, not everything can be solved with fists!

Passionately I stated my point of view completely sure that he has to come to his senses, reality.

-Sure because it's much better to go and just kill anyone.

He replied rather sarcastically, which got on my nerves.

-You know perfectly well that it's a better idea to use guns! Look what happened to us on the bridge, we were slaughtered like cattle!

Frustrated I answered, before I realized what I had said I felt a strong burning in my right cheek that made me fall to the ground, I looked at him astonished.

-Watch your words boy a lot of good people died that day, show them some respect.

I was almost on the verge of crying, my face hurt but what hurt me the most is that I know what I said was wrong, but I needed those weapons.

-I understand...I do, but I need to become stronger, smarter, smarter everything, just better...please I want to earn a place in the world...I don't want to be ignored all my life...please dad...

I quickly covered my mouth with my hands, I didn't want Vander to know that I thought of him as my father figure, damn shame, before he could say anything I spoke again.

-Look Vander, I'm sorry, it was an acci-.

Before I completed the sentence, he just bent down and hugged me and then held me by the shoulders and said softly.

-It's okay to call me that...son. But you have to understand that it is very dangerous and it is a road stained with blood I do not want you to dive into it so soon...

I hugged him back and said in a voice only audible to him.

-I know, I know it's not the best thing to do, but the world doesn't tolerate the weak, especially us lane rats...and I don't want to lose my family again...please dad I will be careful I assure you.

He gave me a solemn look before sighing.

-I'm going to regret it, Dyn just one accident and that's it, you know what I mean? and for Powder no practice, for now, just theory at least until he grows up, do we have a deal?

With a smile, I hugged him, when we separated he gave me the confiscated bag, and with happiness, I went to where Powder was to tell him the news.

-I swear you won't regret it, dad!

As I was leaving I thought I heard a "these kids will be the death of me" Bah that old man is an exaggerator.

**********************

Arriving at the room the three of us shared I was greeted by an intense discussion between Powder and Vi although to be fair it was more like Vi yelling at poor Powder about if she shouldn't put herself in danger, that she shouldn't imitate me, that was the only thing she had left, fuck Violet if she is dramatic, seeing the panorama I decided to enter but not before leaving the bag with the loot at the entrance, when I entered the room was as silent as a cemetery except for Vi's furious look that seemed to kill me with her eyes, then I said.

-Violet before you go crazy, take a deep breath.

This had the opposite effect and growling like a rabid animal she threw a punch straight to my nose which thanks to my reflexes I was able to dodge, I was thankful at that moment that she won't have been practicing with Vander for long yet, she was attacking senselessly so her position was unbalanced so I tripped her and she fell on her butt.

-Violet! Calm the fuck down! Everything is all right. Powder has never been in danger, at any time, she's important to me too, you know I wouldn't put her in danger!

When I told her that she seemed to come to her senses and took a deep breath she looked embarrassed, I guess for attacking me, with a sigh I offered her my hand to help her up and she looked at me with a regretful face before getting up with my help and say.

-I'm sorry, it's just...Powder is all I have left, I can't lose her...

I smiled wryly and replied.

-You two are the only thing I have left next to Vander, your safety is a priority for me, and losses are not acceptable.

She nodded and smiled happier and calmer, I'm glad she understood my commitment to them, I smiled at her too then looked at Powder who didn't look happy at all and I understand her, not only have they taken her loot but even scolded her for getting it, so I showed her the bag I had left right at the entrance, her face lit up like a lamp and she said in amazement.

-How...how did you get it back? Did you steal it from Vander?

I laughed and replied with a chuckle.

-I would never do that, at least not if I wanted to keep my physical integrity intact. I simply convinced him that it was a good idea for him to have them, unfortunately, you can't manipulate them but no one has said anything about learning and closely observing the machinery and how it works.

I answered the last part with a mischievous smile to which she responded with one of complicity, heh this girl understands me pretty well.

******************

From that moment and in the following weeks I dedicated myself to disassembling the weapons, and looking at their components I was good but not a genius, at least not like a certain cerulean head, really that girl has too much talent for that, she seems to be a natural in the theme of engineering and mechanics, but returning to the subject I think that it is necessary we could build firearms with scrap at least some simple ones, however, I feel that they would not be as powerful as that refined weaponry piltie.

The grenades have not been touched I don't even have the knowledge to disassemble them with the assurance that they won't explode in the process, so they are in a locked box until further notice, I should find books soon, now my favorite subject ammunition, gunpowder in Zaun is almost impossible to get simply nobody is dedicated to that, so it would have to be smuggled in, which is certainly not an option but I asked a friend of my father's named Benzo he is a smuggler and he gave me an idea if something abounds in this hole called Zaun are chemicals so I thought why not make a substitute for gunpowder using the combustion of a chemical reaction, it turned out that although it was a good idea is extremely difficult to carry it out, not only that the substance does not react alone, but also does not lose effectiveness with temperature and of course it is not so volatile that it destroys the weapon to detonate or every single shot.

For these experiments I did not want Powder to get hurt so she accompanied me from afar, in the end, I have not achieved an optimal result although it has not been in vain, I have synthesized a substance that with the simple contact with air burns, it is due to oxygen is a substance so reactive that with the mere presence of it explodes and burns for quite some time, which has made it a pain to store some bottles, also under lock and key by the way, in case you had not noticed it turns out that I have a great talent in chemistry!

As for Powder since she can't make anything dangerous she's trying to make smoke bombs, which are coming along nicely, they barely fail to detonate anymore and when they do the smoke is more or less dense than the expected so she's doing pretty well for the short time she's been practicing.

I have stored some weapons for emergency use, the rest will be sold to Benzo as soon as those above stop harassing us and we can smuggle in peace.

Another thing to note is that the relationship between Pow and I has gotten so much closer that she considers me her big brother, she is so adorable, I swear if anyone hurts her may the universe have mercy on her because I will not.

Of course, I've done more things like training with Vander and even sometimes with Vi, when I'm on my own I workout to increase my physical strength and speed so it's been pretty strenuous.

On the other hand with Vi I haven't coincided too much apart from training there is no problem between us we just don't coincide, anyway I think I'll go shortly with her to give it a shot.