Lemur - The weapon

Quintus and Daniel are sitting in the treehouse where Lemur lives and are playing around with the stuff Quintus brought with him.

Lemur is lying on his fur.
He's still not really happy with his situation.
And he's pretty annoyed by his guests.

What is this?

Daniel takes some device.

Don't touch it! This might be dangerous. It's a laser gun.

Oh, cool. Can you show me how it works?

Sure.

Quintus takes the weapon himself.

I just target something and press the button.

He targets at a tree.

Maybe I should set it to low power. Else...

Quintus turns some wheel and after some seconds the tree in front of him starts smoking and shortly after has a small hole inside.

Did you see?

Yeah, really cool. It's still smoking. Can I try, too?

I don't want to let anyone else use it. It's too dangerous.
But there are enough places to try it in the city.

Okay, if you say so...

Lemur doesn't want to listen, but he can't just ignore them.

Can't you use it to hurt Racoon?

Racoon?

The boy Lemur doesn't like.

No, the weapon is only there for self defense.
It's not meant to hurt or even kill people actively.

Lemur is annoyed. They were just using the gun to hurt a tree.

Quintus and Daniel continue talking and fantasize about what they could do with that gun.

They also start talking about where they come from, life in the city and in the village, and how weird the life in this place is in comparison.

Can't you have fun somewhere else?
This is my place and I need some rest.

Sure, then let's go, Daniel.

Quintus and Daniel get up and leave the treehouse.

Lemur just keeps lying there.
After a while he realizes they left all their stuff here.
Quintus even left his weapon.

Lemur immediately gets up and takes it.
Now it's his chance to use it.

Lemur thinks, Quintus must have left it there on purpose.
Quintus couln't tell him to use the weapon, since then he would be responsible for what he does.
But now Lemur is responsible alone and Quintus can easily deny his involvement.

Carrying the weapon, Lemur jumps down his treehouse and heads for the clearing where they usually gather.

He is determined when he quickly moves towards his goal.
As soon as he reaches the clearing he looks around.
Most people are still there. Also his victim, Racoon.

Lemur immediately targets him with his weapon.
A few people notice it.
They know it's a weapon and soon everybody gets scared.

When people come closer to take it away Lemur moves back.

Don't! I'll use it!

Lemur points up and uses it.
Soon a branch falls down, almost hitting the crowd.
So nobody dares to come closer.

Quintus is also around and notices.
He immediately comes closer.

Hey, you don't know what you're doing!
that's dangerous! You could kill someone, you know?

That's the point!

No, don't!
The strength is probably too high now.
You might destroy a lot of the trees and wildlife behind him.
Maybe you'll accidentally kill more people around him.

Will you tell me how to target only a single person?

Quintus isn't sure about that.
If he does, he will definitely kill Racoon.
If he doesn't, he might kill even more people, though.

Maybe if he sets it very weak, he might be only hurt him a bit.
But if then Lemur might get mad and try to set it higher himself.

Mandarine also realizes and comes closer.

Hey, what are you doing here?
Even if you don't like him, there's no need to kill him.
We're still a family here.

Out of the way, Mandarine!
Of all the people, I don't want to hurt you!

Most people get close to Mandarine, even Racoon.

Quintus notices Daniel, who is walking around in the distance.
He tries to sign him, that Lemur has a weapon.
As Daniel realizes, he's getting very nervous.

Maybe you also have to switch channel after that shoot.
Else you might not be able to shoot at all.
Let me have a look!

Stay away!

Lemur looks at the weapon himself, and can't really pay attention to his surroundings.

Suddenly Daniel comes closer and grabs Lemur from behind.
He immediately takes the weapon away.

Lemur tries to struggle, but Daniel is stronger than him.

Oh, now you're helpless again.

Racoon gets closer, preparing a punch.

Mandarine immediately punches Racoon in the face, Racoon even falls down to the ground.

Hey, calm down. Can we please talk in private?

Lemur stops struggling.
Daniel waits for a while and then lets go of Lemur.
Then Daniel immediately jumps back, so he's out of reach.

Lemur seems to be calm now.

Okay...
Thank you!

Mandarine leaves the clearing and signs Lemur to follow him.

Away from everyone else, they sit down on the ground.

I know, I might have endangered everyone. No need to tell me that. I just feel-

Don't worry, that's not what I want to tell you.
I want you to realize there's no point in using such powers.
You still won't really be powerful.

What do you mean? Why?

Even if you see him as your enemy, he's still a person.
You should learn how to deal with your enemies.
If you just kill him, you won't be handle similar people in the future without such violence.
And maybe you'll end up hurting decent people as well, when you don't agree with them once, just because you can.

You really think so?

Yeah, using such a weapon is just a shortcut.
And if you use shortcuts in life, you will miss important lessons.
Only if you are able to resolve this conflict in a mostly peaceful way, you'll be able to grow.
If you get stronger, just like me, they will immediately respect you more.

Yeah, you're totally right.
I didn't see it like this before.
I'm sorry.

Lemur gives Mandarine a hug.
Then he starts walking back to his treehouse.
Mandarine accompanies him for a while, but then leaves since he has to go somewhere else.

Daniel and Quintus are still standing in the clearing.
Everyone seems upset, but at least they aren't mad at Quintus for even bringing that weapon.

They still decide to leave them and start walking through the woods.

Hey, finally give me back my weapon.

Please! Let me try! Just once!

Okay, fine. You might have saved us after all.
But only use it once.
Just let me check it, okay?

Daniel gives Quintus the weapon to check it, so Quintus turns the wheel, so it will only be a weak laser.

Then Daniel gets it back and uses it on a small, rather dry plant, which immediately starts burning and disappears after a few seconds.

Daniel laughs and gladly gives it back to Quintus.

Don't forget to visit the city.
You'll be able to try weapons in various settings.

Yeah, I probably will.

They keep walking and soon they meet Mandarine.

Hey, you.
I was wrong. I was expecting you to do the harm.
And now it's my friend himself...
Sorry about that.

Oh, it's okay. I was the one who brought the weapon after all.
So did you calm him down?

Yeah, I'm sure he wouldn't do that ever again.

Good. I still live at his place after all.

Mandarine laughs.

Oh, good to meet you. I wanted to tell you something.
I...

What is it?

It really has been nice here with all of you.
But now I have to go back home.
My family will be waiting for me in the village, where I left by ship to this place.

Oh, okay...
I'm sure we'll meet again some day.

Yeah, it was really nice to get to know you.
Showing you my weapon was fun.

Daniel hugs both of them and they wish him a good journey back home.

Then Daniel leaves and moves back towards the coast, where a few ships are standing.
There he waits for the ship which will bring him back to the village he came from.