Stephen led me to the place where they store the special weapons they are talking about. Because these weapons were deemed important, they made a storage space where these weapons are stored safely.
The storage warehouse was not far from the warrior's training grounds. It seemed like an old school gymnasium. In fact, the area of the community looked like school grounds.
"Stephen, is it okay to ask if this place was a school before?" I asked out of curiosity.
I haven't explored all of the community's ground, but I believe I can explore it in one or two days at best.
"You are quite observant." Stephen smiled at me as a reply. "Yes, that is correct. This place was a school, actually it was a big university before the apocalypse. The mess hall was once the school canteen, the lodgings for the residents of the community were once students' dormitories, and this was once the school gymnasium."
Stephen took out a key from his pocket and opened the lock of the door. Once inside, he switched on the lights and I saw the interior of what was once this university's gymnasium. The basketball court now has rows of weapon's display cases. At the far corner I saw Humvees parked side by side, I count a total of four.
When we walked through the first rows of weapons, I saw different kinds of guns and assault rifles. At the next row was melee and bladed weapons like axes and swords, I even saw a Japanese katana that I only dreamed of holding. My hand reached out to touch the hilt and I can feel goosebumps all over my body. All I could say is that this place is heaven for any weapons enthusiast.
"Do you like swords?" Stephen asked when I stopped and touched the katana.
"What… oh?" I noticed that I was focused so much on katana in front of me that I retracted my hand afraid that there is a 'no touch' policy here. "I guess I had a fascination back then. I never knew that I could see an actual genuine Japanese sword. Is it real?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Yep, that is genuinely real. This is called an Nodachi." It was Devon that replied. "This was once a possession of an old Japanese guy from this community. He said this was his family's heirloom." His bright cheery face changed into a sad one.
"Is he…?" I do not want to end my question because I knew the answer from their faces.
"He was a good guy." Sasha said. "He thought Devon and I many things with bladed and handheld weapons. He was our sensei."
I do not want to ask what happen to the owner of this sword because I knew that it would bring out the sadness with both Sasha and Devon.
"Would you like to take it?" Stephen asked while looking straight towards me.
"O no… no, no. How could I?" I replied while shaking my hands. "I mean, isn't this an heirloom? Shouldn't family member or you who has been thought by him be using it?" I asked.
"The old man didn't have any family left. And none of us thought that we are worthy having it. But if it is you, I think you can use it with your skill with the sword. The way you swing back there… swoosh." Devon replied while making a swinging action holding an imaginable sword. "Well, it may be a long sword compared to your stature, but I think you can manage it." He said while looking at me from head to toe, sizing me.
"Hehe, if that is okay with you all?" I asked.
"It is okay with me." Sasha replied. "I am sure sensei would like his sword to be used by someone capable of wielding it. Devon and I had our specialty weapons already and swords are not one of them."
I looked at Stephen questioningly.
"I use long range weapons, if you remember." Stephen replied. "And I also think you are rightful to take use it."
Stephen took the sword out of its display and handed it over to me. Curiously, my hand felt warm holding the katana. It was as if it has a life of its own.
"But wouldn't it be useless to daemons?" I asked while taking out the sword from its sheath. "I mean, you said normal weapons are useless with daemons."
The blade gleamed from the light. It looked like it has been properly maintained and sharpened. It was rather longer than those Japanese katanas I see on movies or television, but I think I can manage using it. I thought at first it was heavy, but I was able to carry it with ease.
"Yes, that is what I said." Stephen replied. "But amazingly, this sword is different. It can slice a daemon in half." I was surprised hearing what he just said.
"I did not believe it at first. But when I saw it with my own two eyes, it was unbelievable." Devon said with sparkling eyes. "The old man said that this sword was blessed by the gods in his home country. He said it had been used to slay demons in the old ages and was passed down in his family generation after generation."
"If this sword was used against such demons as sensei ha said, then I believe it is very useful against daemons." Sasha added. "Well, daemons typically came out of the gates of hell, right?"
I nodded understanding what this sword can do.
"If you are okay then… can this be my weapon of choice?" I asked in anticipation.
"Then it is yours." Stephen replied with a gentle smile. "Well of course we will still be going to the special weapons section. I think having one special weapon by your side together with that sword can help you when you are outside."
"Oh really?" I asked thinking that one weapon was enough for a warrior. As they have said, special weapons are more valuable in this apocalyptic world. "I thought one will be enough?" I asked.
"This is a normal weapon. Other warriors won't hold it against you having one normal weapon and one special." Devon replied. "All of us has side weapons too you know, if we ever encounter other people."
"Other people?" I asked. "So, these normal weapons in your storage are against other humans?"
I have had this question to myself the first time I saw the normal weapons, 'why do they store these weapons if they are useless against daemons?', now I know why.
"As I have said, the world has become chaotic." Stephen said, starting to lead the way to where the special weapons are stored. "The evil in humans emerged after society collapsed."
"We are not only fighting daemons but also other humans that deems a threat to us." Sasha said with a serious face. "Ironic, isn't it? The surviving humans should be banding together to defeat the monster threat, but now we are fighting against each other. Those scums should be called monsters as well." She had such hatred etched in her eyes.
"Well, here we are." Stephen was standing in front of an armored door. It was sealed rather safely.
Stephen put his hand on a glass pad at the side and it started to scan his palm. It was a lock that can only be opened using specific palm print, I thought. Once open, I saw a room with three huge monitors. In front was a man typing on a keyboard so fast.
"Hey JD." Devon called out. "Aren't you even tired being cooped up in here?" The man turned around and looked at us.
"Oh, its only you guys." JD said and got back looking at the monitors.
JD looked like a man nearly in his forties, with curly unkept hair and beard with large round eyeglasses. He resumed his work and got typing on his keyboard.
The monitors are showing different kinds of weapons. They are flashed one after another while JD is typing at a fast speed.
"JD here is the head of our R&D." Stephen said. "He is a little eccentric, but he is a good guy."
"Hey, I can hear you Steph." JD said while scratching his head. "You are the one barging here in my lab and now is saying such things about me." He stood up awkwardly and scratched his head.
"This is Claudia." Stephen introduced me.
"Yeah, yeah… I know." JD replied and pointed at one monitor. "I saw her taking the test."
"It is a pleasure to meet you." I stretched out my hand. JD was about to take it when he looked at his hand and rubbed it in his shirt. He then took my hand and shook it.
"I am JD." JD replied with a nonchalant expression. "As Steph had said, I am the head of the R&D department. As if we you can call this R&D. My team only consists of three people. So, you're here for a weapon I believe. I have got the best one that suits you. Come with me."
JD walked towards a door with another door that was locked by palm. He opened it scanning his hand and the door opened. Inside the door was a room full of the weapons I saw Stephen's group used when they rescued me, but without the blue streaks.
"While watching your every move and analyzing your stats, I have just the weapon that is available and ready for use." JD said while walking through rows and rows of weapons. "I have made some adjustments a while ago based on your fighting ability, but we can still do modifications after you have used it in combat."
I was looking around in awe seeing different kinds of special weapons being displayed in the room. Besides the special weapons, I can also see the special armored suits that the warriors were wearing being displayed in capsuled cases.
'Why am I remembering batman and the bat cave looking at this room?' I giggled thinking of one of the comic book superheroes that I loved back then.
"These are the ones." JD stopped in front of a glass weapon's case and opened it. He took out two pistols out and handed them over to me. "These are both M1911-style handguns. I believe you have the knowledge to use them."
"Yes." I replied while looking at the twin pistols in my hand. They are quite heavy and are colored black.
"Unlike normal pistols, you do not need ammos to reload them. They use compact energy that is being supplied in your special armored suit. That is why, these are connected to your suit." He held out the wire that is connected to the pistols. "As for the suit, hmmm. You need to be measured at once." He was about to touch my waist, trying to measure it with his hands.
"Where do you think your hand is going?" Stephen caught JD's hand midair. He had a chilling smile etched on his face towards JD.
"Ohh… I just thought of measuring the young lady, hehehe." JD chuckled awkwardly.
"Be careful with this guy. Mostly he is focused on his work, but he has a tendency to be a pervert." Sasha whispered.
"Hey Sasha, that's harsh." JD replied. "I am not a pervert. I just… you know… praise women's body, hehehe."
"Middle aged pervert." Devon said with a blank face.
"Let Patty do the measurements." Stephen said.
"Is someone looking for me?" There was a cute voice from a corner and a head popped out. She had eyeglasses and had her red hair braided in pigtails.
"There you are Patty. I have been looking all over for you." JD said.
"I am just checking the weapons' condition here boss." Patty said while jogging towards us. She stood beside JD and I saw she was small in height. "Hello, my name is Patty."
"Hi, I'm Claudia." I replied to her greeting.
"Patty, get her measurements for the special armored suit." Stephen ordered.
"Right away captain." Patty saluted like a soldier. "Come with me Claudia."
I followed Patty to get my measurements. Before going, I looked back at Stephen.
"We will be waiting for you." Stephen replied, Sasha waved at me at Devon smiled.
I felt at ease being able to join this community. I cannot but help feel lucky having to meet them in this chaotic world I woken up to.
Edited by: nalyn