[While Rufus witnesses the violence unfold, Alex is taken to a barren land held together by manmade parts. Twomen converse with one another when a familiar child in ragged clothes approaches them.
"Are you the legendary bounty hunter?" he asks in a youthful voice that has yet to break.
The second man turns around with a look of mild surprise. "Rufus?"
"Just answer my question. I asked if you're the legendary bounty hunter."
"What a bold kid." The first man turns to the second. "Do you know him?"
"I do. That's the son of Legis." When the name is echoed, the second man continues, "Yes, the real legendary bounty hunter. I'm just sharing the title as his partner. Do you understand, Rufus? That was your father."
Rufus scoffs. "How is he a legend . . . I understand why they say bounty hunters are no different from outlaws. I am not looking for cowards." He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a gun too big for his hands, and points it at the sky, "I need money. Please make me a bounty hunter."
"Isn't that Legis' gun?" asks the first man. "Boy. A good kid shouldn't play with guns. Guns are for bad adults."
"The gun is already in my hand. If that's the requirement, I will become a bad adult."
"Why don't you sell the gun?" asks the first man again. "I'll pay you well. Or I can refer you to a good place."
"Listen to Randy. Look for a different job if you want to live," says the second man.
Rufus swallows, hesitating.
"My mother . . . my mother is very sick," he says pitifully.
The second man hums. "All right. Let me see what you've got! I'll help you since your father and I were friends."
"I don't like the reason . . . but I will let it pass this time."
The man frowns. "I think I should teach you manners first."
no subject
"Are you the legendary bounty hunter?" he asks in a youthful voice that has yet to break.
The second man turns around with a look of mild surprise. "Rufus?"
"Just answer my question. I asked if you're the legendary bounty hunter."
"What a bold kid." The first man turns to the second. "Do you know him?"
"I do. That's the son of Legis." When the name is echoed, the second man continues, "Yes, the real legendary bounty hunter. I'm just sharing the title as his partner. Do you understand, Rufus? That was your father."
Rufus scoffs. "How is he a legend . . . I understand why they say bounty hunters are no different from outlaws. I am not looking for cowards." He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a gun too big for his hands, and points it at the sky, "I need money. Please make me a bounty hunter."
"Isn't that Legis' gun?" asks the first man. "Boy. A good kid shouldn't play with guns. Guns are for bad adults."
"The gun is already in my hand. If that's the requirement, I will become a bad adult."
"Why don't you sell the gun?" asks the first man again. "I'll pay you well. Or I can refer you to a good place."
"Listen to Randy. Look for a different job if you want to live," says the second man.
Rufus swallows, hesitating.
"My mother . . . my mother is very sick," he says pitifully.
The second man hums. "All right. Let me see what you've got! I'll help you since your father and I were friends."
"I don't like the reason . . . but I will let it pass this time."
The man frowns. "I think I should teach you manners first."
Back to the present, Rufus turns to Alex.]
. . . Your follow-up could use work.