Black Market Merchant

By the time Lisa and the others had arrived back at their cal-de-sac the sun was already getting low. Since the town lacked electricity nearly everyone had to rely on old fashioned fire to cook their meals. In order to be able to cook outdoors, yet avoid the bad weather, anyone living with a decent home used the car garage to cook out of. This way they could cook while being protected from the elements but avoid being choked out by the smoke. However, this unusual kitchen wouldn't hinder Joan's cooking talents at all.

Dinner was delicious! Lisa had been living off of MREs for the last three weeks upon leaving from Salt Lake City. She was so hungry for a warm home cooked meal, she ended up having three helpings of Joan's vegetable stew. The vegetables had come from a large joint garden that everyone living in the cul-de-sac shared in their backyards. While as for the salt and spices, she wasn't sure as to how they got these items. After asking Joan, she told Lisa that the barges would transport the goods from southern towns further downstream in exchange for metal scraps or other items the townspeople could scavenge from the town.

This sparked Lisa's interest some. This meant that setting up some sort of trade networking might be possible here. However, she doubted she could ever make a fortune in a place with no electricity. She needed to learn more about what this town had to offer.

"Wait electricity!" Lisa suddenly thought. However, this sudden idea would have to wait for the right moment to come.

"Everyone." Lisa then spoke to the others that were all chatting around the dinner table with her. "We need to come up with a plan to deal with Hanna's parent's killers. We now know what they look like and where they might be. However, getting too them or how dangerous it might be to confront them, we don't know. Any thoughts?"

From all her military experience, Lisa understood the importance of gathering intelligence. In this particular incident it was no different. Hopefully these kind people would be able to give reliable advice.

Benny was the first to speak, "Simple really. We just stake the place out and wait for them to go to a vulnerable location and bam! We take them out."

John laughed, "How long would that take? Besides from what Lisa saw they had been doing dealings of some sort with the AFR soldiers. That must mean the gangsters that were there, might very well be the leaders of the Mad Dog gang. If we did it like that, there's no way we could guarantee our lives."

The group was silent for a few moments. Then Richard adjusted himself in his chair and cleared his throat. "What if we got into the Match Fighters Association and challenged him?"

"The Match Fighter Association? What's that?" Lisa asked curiously.

"What? No, you're not going to do that." Joan said looking very worried. "Neither can any of you. You all are too old to be getting involved in the Match Fighter Association."

"Again, what's the Match Fighter Association?" Lisa asked a bit louder before the others could argue with Joan.

John started to explain, "The Match Fighter Association is like a one on one cage fight, but there can be more fighters at a time. It's where locals deal out issues between each other. Also, the three big gangs also hold Match fights between themselves to see who controls what or to take care of disputes. It saves everyone from turning the whole town into one giant riot every time the gang’s fight. The system has been around for a very long time and even prominent people utilize its potential."

"Interesting." Lisa said tapping the side of her cheek with her finger. "Who are the three gangs? I know of the Mad Dogs already and they are the strongest, right?"

"Yes, they are." John continued. "They control the capitol areas, as well as the industrial zones from the dam all the way too downtown. Which is only a few kilometers to the south of us. Practically everything on this side of the river is under their supervision." He cleared his throat and continued. "Then there's the Skulls, they control everywhere downtown that the Mad Dogs don't. They also control the main docks by the river and the smaller residential area beyond downtown. Lastly, the Black Rats control practically the entire eastern far side of the river. But that side of town is only a third the size of everything on this side."

"I see. So, how would someone enter the Match Fighter Association? Just walk up to someone and challenge them?" Lisa asked.

"No, you have to earn your way up through reputation to be able to challenge anyone. Wait, you're not considering going into a Match? Lisa don't. I don't know what you're capable of, but as a woman you can't possibly be able to handle yourself in a Match. These guys are the real deal." John said with a bit of concern while raising an eyebrow.

Lisa was actually quite offended hearing what John had to said. When she spoke, she hid her anger as best as she could, because he did seem genuinely concerned. "John, me being a woman has nothing to do with me being able to deal with a fight like a man could. In fact, I have my own reasons besides helping with your revenge."

"Like what?" Richard said with a bit interest.

"You do remember that I had gotten my hands on those dam blueprints?" Lisa said looking at John, who nodded 'yes' back. "I want to see what was so important that the AFR would send gangsters to kill the Marshal's over it. Just to get some old data or is there actually something valuable we don't know about. Its defiantly I know we just met and all, but I am only interested in getting a profit and I smell one such opportunity here." Lisa said standing up.

"Well if you really think you got what it takes, I don't mind helping you." Benny said and the other three looked at him surprised. "Let's face it." He continued. "We are old now. If she says she can and wants to help us too. Let's help her."

"Sounds reasonable." Richard said giving a sigh. "I'll agree, but you have to beat me in an arm-wrestling match for me to agree. I'm the strongest one of us here. If you can't beat me, then we won't help."

Lisa smiled smugly, "Deal." She dropped down in her seat quickly and her right elbow thudded heavily on the tabletop. She opened her hand showing she was ready. "You ready to lose?"

"Nope." Richard said competitively as he put his big hand into her delicate looking hand. He noticed that her hand wasn't as soft and feminine like his wife's, but it had rough calluses. Then when she tightened her grip slightly. Richard then realized that he shouldn't underestimate her.

"I'll judge the start." Benny said putting his hand on top of theirs. "When I say go, you can start."

The two nodded. John scoffed slightly. Even he had never beaten Richard before, and he worked out every day outside of his normal efforts to provide for his family.

Then Benny started counting down, "3, 2, 1, Go!"

The two immediately started their match. Richard was apparently doing his best to pull Lisa arm down. His arm was bulging greatly, but Lisa didn't even budge. Then in one quick flick of her wrist, Richards arm was sent crashing onto the table with a boom!

Everyone was in shock. No one expected that the young and pretty looking woman to be so strong!

"Well then, where do we start?" Lisa said smiling with great satisfaction.

…

That night, inside of a big warehouse on the east side of the river, nearly a hundred people had gathered. They had all just voted to volunteer Nathan Dees to become their new mayor. This came as a great surprise to Nathan. Sure, he had been quite vocal in his complaints towards the gangs and their present living conditions, but to be mayor? Never would have guested to gain this position.

At the meeting he discussed with a "committee" of sorts, as too how they would deal with the gangsters they had captured in the town. As well as how to stop the Black Rats leader that escaped and end the gang's control over them permanently. The results were simple, everyone hated the gangs. Most of them were outsiders and not local residents and as thus, the vote was to kill them all. Mob rule was a terrible thing, democracy at its purest form.

Nathan decided to find a way to avoid such rash decisions from happening again. Sure, he agreed they deserved it, but what if this was to happen to someone from their own community? A system of rules needs to be set and a judge that could fairly deal out punishment. However, now was not quite the time.

By the end of the meeting they also decided to form a volunteer militia to act as police for the neighborhood and deal with any remaining gangsters. That is the main reason why the hundred people where gathered here. To volunteer. Nathan was still feeling the sweet feeling of gaining his new power when he walked out in-front of them to speak and they all applauded.

"Thank you all for volunteering to join this militia. As well as choosing me to lead you. We will protect our own and see to that no one will treat us like trash as the gangs did before. We shall call ourselves the East River Militia for now." The crowds reply was quite enthusiastic. Nathan smiled to himself, he might actually have a talent for this. "Starting tomorrow we will finally eradicate the rest of the Black Rats and free ourselves from them. Then we will rebuild the city like it never was before and bring us out of this hell we have endured for far too long! No more hunger, darkness or cold will be in our future!"

The crowd cheered so loudly that the warehouse rafters shook slightly, sending dust to come loose and fall onto the enthralled crowd. A new young leader was being born to the town.