Black Market Merchant

Chapter 14: Border Trouble
Alan’s plan was working. They had found a gap in the Mad Dogs patrol routes and snuck into a storage unit facility. At the facility’s main office is where they set up a temporary base. They chose this place because it was located on top of a hill and was not far from their own territory. The building was spacious enough that all of them could occupy the building comfortably. One wall had somehow been knocked down and accidently created a perfect view of the roads below, perfect for observing the populace.

Over the next few days, they started intimidating and making themselves known to the people living in the immediate area. Then when the Mad Dog gangsters came to investigate, they would suddenly come under attack by Skull members and forced to retreat. The Skull gang would call after them saying that the Mad Dogs were trespassing on their territory. The Mad Dogs knew full well that it wasn’t so and sent word to their boss.

”The Skulls have claimed two blocks?” The Mad Dogs leader, Martinez Sanchez, yelled. He chucked a half full cup at the wall in anger, splattering its contents on the wall.

”What is their Head thinking? I thought we had a deal to have peace for another two years! That lying bone freak!” Martinez yelled.

”Don’t worry boss.” Hugo said unfazed by the boss’s temper. He was one of Martinez’s top lieutenants and had seen him angry quite a lot. ”I’ll go personally to deal with the situation. They might be strong, but their numbers are too few.”

Hugo was not an original member of the Mad Dog gang when they first arrived in the town. He joined them once the Mad Dog gang and another rival gang started fighting for control of the neighborhood that he lived in. Since then, he had quickly risen up in the ranks and could be considered Martinez’s number four guy.

”Fine, deal with it. I want them gone as soon as possible. I want the freak Head to know who the real leader of this town is. I want you to kill as many of them as you can and while you’re at it and take two blocks from him as well.” Martinez said sounding rather heated as he kept pacing back and forth in his office.

The office was located at the top of the National Bank where the gang had set up their main base to utilize the vaults to store their plunder. The bank was also one of three places that had electricity in them in the entire town. The other two places were the office building to the right side of the bank and a large warehouse on the banks left side. The two places were where the top gang members lived, fought Matches, and traded with merchants or townspeople. The lower level members lived in unpowered apartments behind these three main buildings.

The electricity was being provided by three solar powered generators, of which were located on the roof of the warehouse. They were kept under close guard and Martinez even hired technicians to keep up the maintenance on them. This was a major factor for the reason the gang had been able to stay so powerful.

Hugo nodded hearing the Boss’s orders and turned to leave the room. Leaving Martinez with the other lieutenants and his main bodyguard, Joe Swanson. Hugo headed down the hallway towards the stair leading to the lobby. Two of his subordinates were talking with some other gang members, but quickly followed after him upon seeing him leaving.

”What up boss?” One of the men questioned.

”Skull forces are breaking the border deal. We’re going to put an end to it.” Hugo replied.

”Finally!” The other guy said with a sigh. ”I was getting bored just waiting for something to happen.”

The three men were heading out of the entrance to the bank when another gangster, that Hugo recognized as a handler of one of their Match Fighters, hurried past them going inside. It was Jerry. He looked worried, yet excited. Hugo payed him not much attention though and hurried on.

Jerry quickly went up the staircase to go find the lieutenant Jackson. But once he arrived at the top, he saw that the gang was holding a meeting. He then decided to wait with the other members that were talking in groups scattered around in the hallway.

”How’s it going Jerry?” Someone called. He saw it was his buddy Phil. They had been friends for most of the time that they had been in the gang.

”Not good.” Jerry said shaking his head. ”Things are getting messy.”

”What are you talking about? Where’s Vance?” Phil asked.

At that moment the door to the Boss’s office opened noisily. The lieutenants were leaving rather quickly; some were headed for the stairs, while others joined up with the groups of other gangsters to talk about what went on. Jerry also spotted Lieutenant Jackson heading towards the stairs.

”I’ll tell you what happened later, I need to speak with Jackson.” Jerry said to Phil. ”Jackson, I need to tell you something!”

Jackson paused and turned to see Jerry hurrying over towards him. ”What is it?” He replied with a tinge of annoyance.

”I went to meet up with the merchant like you told me, but our meeting was interrupted by a woman. She challenged Vance and the merchant’s Match Fighter at the same time!” Jerry paused at this point and spoke in a low voice. ”She beat both of them.”

Jackson was interested now. To beat Vance alone was a feat in itself, but for a woman to beat two Match fighters in the same fight was unheard of in these parts. ”What was her name? What does she want? If she sent you here, there has to be a reason.”

Jerry nodded and replied, ”She wants to fight the Boss for some reason. I told her that I would talk to you first and then we would meet back at the Ragged Flagon in two days.” Jerry took a breath then finished, ”She called herself Queen.”

…

Special Officer Daniel Hawkins sat in this comfortable office chair brooding. Mulling over what the Commander had told him about that woman concerned him greatly.

At the time when the Commander had mentioned the Queen type soldier, Daniel commanded everyone, except for Mark Caswell to leave. This information was clearly going to be confidential. Once the nonessential personnel were out of the Command Room, the Commander continued. ”A Queen type soldier is a female soldier from a special unit that has been brought back from the past. Kings are the description of male soldiers in that same unit. Additionally, the King or Queen code name is followed by an identification number.”

”Two hundred years ago, after the Third World War, a USA Marine Cyborg Unit called the Hazard Corps. had been voluntarily put into cryo-sleep for future use by the military. However, as you know, the robotics industry had been making human personnel in the military obsolete in the wake of their sleep. But two years ago, the base in the West Virginia area that they were being stored in, became under attack by insurgents. The secret Hazard Units were relocated and then revived.” The image of the Commander talking then switched over to a video of the Hazard Cyborg Unit. They were preforming training drills and live fire exercises.

”We thought we could utilize this old force to help us quell the rebellion. They were refitted with upgraded cybernetics and weapons. The exact specifics I can’t disclose to you, yet. Using them worked for a few missions, until they learned that we were no longer like the government they once knew.”

”At first it was just one or two insubordination instances, but it spread. They eventually started their own rebellion inside the base they were stationed in. The real cause that sparked the incident is unclear. To stop this rebellion, we sent two full Mark 7 Assault Robotic Battalions to face them. Our forces were defeated, and the Cyborg Unit dispersed. Some we know formed up with each other and into rebel groups. While others, like this Queen soldier you discovered, have gone on apparent solo endeavors. We have been trying to track their movements with low success and fortunately you discovered this one out of chance.”

The Commanders image reappeared on the screen. His face remained regal and sullen.

The Commander then boomed out the following orders. ”Your orders are to observe this ’Queen’. Find out what her motives are in this area. Is she in contact with any other cyborg Kings or Queens? You do not need to engage her unless you have a clear opportunity. Lastly, if you can take her alive that would be preferable. Understood?”

”Yes Sir!” Daniel saluted making a fist with his right hand and thumping it over his chest.

”Very good. We will be sending to your location Recon drones and allow you access to a spy satellite when requested. That is all.” The image of the Commander instantly disappeared from the main screen.

…

Adjusting in his seat, Daniel knew he need to come up with a plan. Before that he still had to first relocate the woman. Then try to track her without raising suspicion. This could be accomplished with the drones once they arrived. However, if he hadn’t lost the blueprints to the dam, he could have brought power back to the town and utilize the security cameras scattered everywhere. He cursed his incompetence for loosing that seemingly unimportant intel.

”Second Lieutenant!” Daniel called out.

Second Lieutenant Mark Caswell opened the door and stood in attention. ”Sir?” He replied.

”Get me the Sargent and tell him to bring two others with him for a recon mission.” Daniel said getting up from the chair. He then clasped his hands behind his back and turned to stare out the window. ”Dismissed.”

”Yes Sir.” Mark said giving a salute and left the room.

”Now my mysterious Queen, let the game of cat and mouse begin.” Daniel spoke quietly to himself.