“Finger off the trigger, look down the sights, and align them with the bean can target, Mai.”
“Yep. I think I got it, Pa.”
“Whenever you’re ready, Mai.”
“I’m taking the shot.” Her small finger moves off from the side of the stock and repositions to the front of the trigger. Mai braces her shoulder against the rubber pad covering the metal and slippery butt plate of the wood stock. The rifle is heavy, but it’s positioned on a makeshift shooting bench located entirely in her backyard so that Mai won’t have to burden herself with the weight of the rifle. This is not the first time Mai has gone shooting with her dad, but today was a special day. It was her birthday and her father was showing her one of his old rifles. It was a war trophy from her father’s previous deployment. The rifle’s wooden stock was in decent condition for its age with a couple of dents. The steel and bayonet were still intact and the rifle was still functional all these decades later; going through multiple countries and users until it finally ended up in Mai’s family. A Chinese Type 56 SKS: a weapon that was outdated the moment it was adopted and cloned from Russian rifle design in a time where select fire automatic rifles were becoming the norm. It’s the sort of rifle a partisan would use. The PLA adopted it with the reality that the bayonet on the rifle was going to be used more so than the barrel due to China’s incapability to produce enough ammo for every soldier. Yet somehow, despite the rifle's antique design, the Type 56 SKS has become a favorite among many users around the world for its simplistic design, ruggedness, reliability, accuracy, and for a time one of the most affordable rifles to invest into. It was a popular rifle in America of all places where the rifle has found a new home as a budget semi-auto alternative to the more expensive AK derivative imports. It was legal in almost all 50 states, it was loved by many owners, and soon to be loved by Mai. “Plap!” “Ding!”
“Nice shot Mai!” Her father pats her daughter on the back after witnessing Mai take down the empty bean can at about 45 meters from their shooting bench. He was used to training Mai on 22 lr rimfire rifles. He was impressed she was able to handle the moderate recoil of an intermediate center fire SKS just fine.
“That felt….amazing!” Mai grins widely. Something about shooting a rifle that had some serious stopping power impressed Mai. Shooting 22lr for years, it always felt like a slight step up from the airguns she used to play with on her dad’s property. Shooting the SKS was like stepping into a whole other world of firearms. It made her feel confident, like she would be able to win a war all by herself with this SKS alone. A rifle that was just as effective as the one her dad was issued while he was off in the war. Now that he was off duty, she could finally spend time with him. Mai was always looking forward to spending time with her dad whenever he would return from the war.
“You handled it like a pro, Mai.” Her father ruffles her hair. “It’s a lot more powerful than the AR-7 you’ve been shooting for years. You’re finally old enough to handle this serious rifle, Mai. I expect you to be responsible with it. It’ll be your’s rifle when you turn 18. Think of it as an early birthday gift.”
“Aw thanks, Pa!” Mai embraces her father. “I promise you, I’m gonna get real good at shooting it. I’m going to make sure it outlives the both of us!”
“Ha. I don’t doubt that, Mai.” He lays the rifle on the shooting table horizontally. “This rifle has gone through more history and stories than what most people can imagine. It’ll feed you, protect you, and teach you to appreciate its history.”
“A real soldier's rifle…” Mai says in awe.
“You betcha, but hopefully one that will never see combat again.”
“Hm? What do you mean Pa?” Mai tilts her head.
“War is nasty business, Mai. It brings food to the table for you and your mom, but I wouldn’t want you to follow the same path I, your grandfather, or your great grandfather took.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“Because there’s no future in being a soldier. If you’re lucky, you get to go home and see your family every once in a while. For some soldiers, they will never get to see their loved ones. It’s dangerous out there on the battlefield. Doesn’t matter who you're fighting. The leaders back home and the politicians will make you think we’re unstoppable super heroes, but the enemy is just as determined to fight for their country too. Warfare does not discriminate against who gets to live and who dies. Which is why I want you to focus on your education.”
“I understand, Pa.” Mai nods her head. “Ma told you about my grades right?”
“You’re incredibly smart, Mai. Smarter than your Ma and I ever were when we were your age. You’re gifted Mai. You have a bright future ahead of you if you keep it up. I know you will.” He grabs a clip of ammo for the SKS. “Want to try taking some more shots?”
“I can’t say no to that, Pa!”
“Ha, I knew you wouldn’t back down! Let’s see if you take down the rest of the targets. Then we’ll go back inside to have some dinner with your Ma!”
“Seriously? Why do you have to be so stubborn?” Hikari complains as she witnesses Mai shake her head while holding her damaged SKS. “It’s about time you move on and adopt something that’s more capable and modern. We’re going to get our asses kicked again if you bring that thing into the next tournament.”
“I refuse!” Mai snapped furiously. “I thought I told you, Hikari! I’m not going to use anything else in this tournament! I will win or lose with this SKS whether you like it or not! I told you, this rifle means everything to me!”
Emi and Flint watch the two argue back and forth. It’s quite clear that Mai has a strong attachment to her rifle which she’s not going to let go until it’s been properly repaired. Hikari wants Mai to move onto something more practical and modern. It’s hard to pick sides for either of them. Mai places the damaged SKS in front of Flint. “Come on, Flint! You gotta help me out here! Please tell me you have some spare stocks. The receiver and barrel are still functional. Just a little cosmetic blemish.”
“Hm...well darn. I guess I ought to see if I have something for that Type 56 of yours. I don’t really carry surplus parts for rifles this old.” Flint goes behind the counter to his gunsmithing room to look for something to repair Mai’s Type 56 SKS. “If I can’t find something, you can always ask other sellers or players.” Emi just stands there with a tired look on her face.
“Mai, is this the way you want to carry yourself in this tournament?” Emi asks Mai seriously. “I know you’re very attached to that rifle platform but I hope you understand that you could potentially hinder our squad. Just like how you cheaped out with your RPG warheads.”
“I won’t hold you back with my rifle!” Mai speaks directly. “I swear it. I am proficient with it and you know that.”
“If this is because of finances, Hikari and I both agreed to help you buy something better.”
“My SKS is good enough. This isn’t about finances, Emi.” Mai takes a deep breath. “This rifle represents everything my father taught me. It makes me wish I could see him again. You two have no idea what it means to me.”
The gun store went silent as Mai spoke. Hikari and Emi have no words to say. The only sound is that of the store’s speaker and the sounds of Flint scavenging through his wares in the backroom. “Alrighty, this is something!” Flint can be heard from outside the counter before he comes back with a long box. “I’m afraid I don’t have any original stocks for that Type 56 SKS.”
“Damn it.” Mai sighs.
“Don’t fret, I have an after-market solution here!” He opens the cardboard box, revealing a black polymer style stock with a retractable stock similar to that found on Emi’s M4A1 carbine, a SAW style pistol grip, and Picatinny rails on the top and bottom portions of the hand guard which is ribbed on the sides. Most notably, there are three duckbill magazines which appear to be 20 rounders with one already attached to the empty stock. There is a Tapco logo on the stock.
“Ew! What on earth is that?!” Hikari asks, baffled from what she’s looking at on Flint’s counter.
“This here is an aftermarket Tapco stock kit for the SKS. It’s an affordable way to bring the SKS up on par with the modern rifleman’s needs. These kits were quite popular in the early 21st century with SKS owners. It also comes with some detachable box magazines.”
“Detachable Magazines?” Mai looks down at the stock kit on Flint’s counter. It’s not something she can imagine ever putting on her father’s real SKS. It would almost seem blasphemous to do so. But since this is in a VR video game, Mai ponders if this is something she has to consider to keep her rifle. “So in other words, this is going to “Bubba” my rifle?”
“Er….well...kind of….yeah.” Flint admits reluctantly. “But the magazines will give you 20 rounds which is a step up from the internal 10 rounds of the Type 56 SKS. They still have a last round bolt open just like with the 10 rounders and you can even use your 10 round stripper clips with the 20 round magazines. You would just have to load two clips for the magazine from now on.”
“Sounds like an improvement already.” Hikari commented. “More magazine capacity and quality of life improvements, how can you refuse?”
“How much is this kit?” Mai asks flint, her face dreading to hear the price.
“80 Credits for everything you see.”
“That’s McDonalds money!” Hikari eyes light up. “Mai, you should have upgraded to this stock ages ago.”
”Hikari, you can’t just make a tactical abomination over a perfect rifle like the Type 56…”
“Are you kidding me, Mai?” Hikari looks absolutely baffled by Mai’s continued reluctance to make some changes to her kit. “It’s not like you’re defiling an actual heirloom here. This rifle is a dime a dozen as it gets. It’s not a one of a kind historical relic. It’s just old and outdated.”
“You’re old and outdated!” Mai snarls back.
”We're the same age, Mai. That’s just a childish insult if I ever heard one. Just listen to me for a moment please!” Hikari eases her tone as she speaks. “These new features are things that are commonplace with every modern rifle we’re going up against. You remember how our battle against Vampire and JarPig squad ended? If we’re serious about this competition, we need every single advantage we can muster and this upgrade is one way that’s going to make victory possible without making huge sacrifices. I don’t want us to be seen as a joke anymore. I’d like to be more than just a rich spoiled girl. I want to seem impressive to the guys too. I want to be taken seriously too, Mai.” She took a deep breath after speaking with sincerity to her.
“Hikari and I both know you are very sentimental about your rifle.” Emily finally speaks up after listening to Hikari lecture to Mai. “This one isn’t your family heirloom. You’ll always have your father’s rifle back home no matter what. You know your rifle better than anyone in our squad. You understand that this upgrade is not going to be permanent. Just like Flint said. You can always swap back to an old stock if you ever find another.”
“I guess that's true.” Mai admits begrudgingly.
“You can’t always stick to old things forever, Mai. That doesn't mean you can't appreciate everything that SKS means to you, but there comes a time and place where we have to move on and adapt. I’d imagine that’s something your father would have wished for you to understand someday.”
Mai stands there in silence, overlooking the Tapco stock kit in the box. It would be unimaginable to even consider turning her family’s rifle into something that looks like a mall-ninja cope. Mai would have opted for an AKM rifle if optimization for combat was her priority. She didn’t want to tarnish her Type 56 SKS in-game because of statics or any benefits over any other rifle. It was certainly more accurate than any 7.62 AK. The simplicity and rugged nature of it was appealing to Mai’s own philosophy of K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Even her side arm, a Hi Point C9 with duct taped grips was nothing more than a simple blow-back operated 9mm that was overly chunky and heavy to the point where it would make a good throwing blunt weapon if the pistol ever had a catastrophic failure. To her, it was more than just the ends justifying the bare means of being effective in combat. The Type 56 SKS was a tribute to her father’s legacy.
“Mai,” Hikari began, her tone softer than before, “Your father knew you were capable of greater things if you had the means to access better opportunities.” She places her hand on Mai’s shoulder. “I remember way back when I was just starting to know you in high school. You used to tell me how amazing your father was. I don’t deny that. But I also remember you telling me about how much grief you had from your father’s passing. You promised him that you would do everything to make him proud.”
“I did promise him…” Mai finally spoke. Her eyes close as she starts to think about her father and her promise to do well in school, adapt to the challenges ahead in life, and forge her own path. She opens her eyes again, looking over the aftermarket stock on the table. “Sometimes…” Mai speaks quietly. “Old tools need to be sharpened and refurbished to become useful again. If this is what it takes to bring my Type 56 back to life...so be it.”
Emi takes a big sigh in relief. Hikari smiles and squeezes Mai’s hand. “I knew you would come to your senses, Mai.” She looks up at Flint. “I’ll buy it for her. 80 Credits seems fair.”
“Hikari! No. I’ll pay for it…”
“It’s alright, Mai.” Hikari pulls Mai into an embrace which completely catches Mai and Emi off guard. “You made a big sacrifice today. I wouldn’t want you to lose anymore than you need. We’re teammates...no...we’re best friends. We have to look out for each other, you know?” She gently lets go of Mai. “Besides, Emi made her own sacrifice unintentionally when she got injured during her track completion.” Emi chuckles shyly in the background. “And I plan on making my own sacrifice after class tomorrow. I know a classmate who knows how to cut and stylize hair. I’ve been thinking of getting rid of these.” Hikari tugs on her twin ponytails.
“Hikari, Don’t! You had hair like that for as long as I knew you.. You love your ponytails!” Mai remarks completely in shock.
”Yeah. But they were a hindrance in our practice match. They are probably going to be a hindrance in nursing school too. I don’t see any reason to keep them around for any longer. It’s not going to stop me from being pretty.”
“Pfft...of course you would say that.” Mai’s smug attitude finally returns.
“Just admit it, Mai.” You’d wish you would be as pretty as me.”
“Nah. I think I’m fine the way I am.” Mai looks over at the stock and at Flint. “Can I borrow your workshop for a second? I’m gonna put this thing together.”
As Mai hopped over the counter to grab her SKS parts and her new stock to take the backroom to assemble, Hikari and Emi waited outside by the counter. “So...what’s been going on with Chiara lately? She’s been acting a bit….unhinged.” Emi asks Hikari.
“She’s been pretty bummed about losing that match.” Hikari shakes her head. “No doubt about that. But today, she’s even more reclusive than usual. She’s been at the practice range shooting the same targets over and over again, trying to improve her speed, but it doesn’t seem like she’s determined to get better.”
Emi looks over at Flint. “Hey, Flint. How long has Chiara been at the shooting range here?”
“Since sunrise. She’s been at the same shooting stall for hours.” Flint shrugs his shoulders. “You tried talking to her about what’s been going on with her noggin?”
“Hm...not yet. I just hope she’s alright.” Emi turns over to see Mai finally comes out with her Type 56 SKS. The rifle’s silhouette is almost identical to its original form, but the pistol grip, adjustable stock, and 20 round magazine give it a more conventional assault rifle look. Hikari notices that Mai took off the Picatinny rails on the hand guard and even more baffling, her spiker bayonet is missing too.
“Mai, what happened to your bayonet?”
“If I was going to go all out with Bubba-ing, I might as well remove it anyways. It was just going to add unnecessary weight. Same with the rails. It’s not like I have any attachments like lights or optics to put on them for now.”
“I think your rifle still looks cheap and tacky.” Hikari admits honestly “But it looks more capable now.”.
“Yeah, I know. Cheap and tacky has always been my style” Mai grins widely, making Hikari laugh. “I better go and see how this is going to shoot. Might as well check on Chiara too while we’re at it.” Mai spins her finger next to her head, indicating that Chiara might have gone a little crazy. “I don’t like the way she’s been taking our defeat.”