Black Market Merchant

Chapter 107: Eastern Town
Lisa finally made it down and off the jagged cliff. It was an unnecessarily long way around and there was no doubt in her mind she needed to find a way to build a path up to the dam. The area’s she had run past clearly offered no such suitable location. A more detailed observation from below was likely going to be her only option to find a way to get the electricity to cross over the river.

Reaching a long-abandoned gas station at the edge of the town, did she finally stop running and deactivate her prosthetics Advanced Armament. She paced around breathing heavily to cool down some, but she was not yet tired in the slightest. Despite running so much, even at that speed, her prosthetics did much of the work and her lungs didn’t actually work as hard to supply her body with oxygen.

Setting her coffin down and leaning it on the wall of the gas station, Lisa opened it to take out some water that she had brought in a thermos. She sipped on it slowly while looking down the road towards the town and planned her next move.

…

So was Assistant Officer Caswell. He had been left in charge by Special Officer Hawkins and was to monitor Lisa. Ever since Lisa left the Powerhouse building and entered the woods with her coffin backpack on, he had been worried. She was finally on the move. To where or why, he had no clue. He was even more concerned when she suddenly started running along the top of the cliff at speeds that boggled reason.

He nearly called the Special Officer to ask for advice but decided to wait and see what she did first. Caswell didn’t want to appear to be incompetent or lacking in his command. He only had five drone operators with him at the hidden outpost. A single Osprey drone was monitoring the whole town, while one Blue Jay drone was left to follow the target whenever she moved, and the three Fly drones were still tasked with facing each side of the Powerhouse building.

The Fly drones were originally trying to follow after Lisa but were soon quickly out paced by Lisa’s speed and only the Blue Jay drone was able to keep up. Caswell had already ordered the Osprey to stay observing the town, which only left the Blue Jay drone to follow Lisa.

”Sir, where is she going?” The Blue Jay Pilot asked. ”There is nothing out there for miles. Just open desert wasteland.”

”I know that.” Caswell replied a bit annoyed. ”Just keep up with her and let me know if she starts to get out of range.”

”Understood.” The Blue Jay Pilot replied.

Caswell thought to himself as he watched her running on the pilots monitor. ”Did she find out that we are watching her and trying to flee. No that can’t be. We would have noticed her acting differently. Besides everyone that’s she’s been with has also remained normal.”

”All we can do for now is watch and wait.” Caswell called out to the room. Everyone chanted a reply and went back to watching Lisa run.

…

After catching her breath and drinking, Lisa put back on her backpack coffin and started walking towards the next closest buildings. If they could be called that. The rusting, rotting heaps were barely habitable for even mice. The two-way street she walked on wasn’t in any better condition. The pavement was cracked, crumbling, and full of either potholes or covered in large swaths of sand. The occasional tumbleweed even blew by in the lazy wind, only adding to the lonely barren surroundings.

Lisa took a quick glance inside the two collapsed buildings and found they were indeed unlivable. Giving an audible sigh she continued. It was going to be a long dusty walk to the rest of town.

”How could America become such an inhospitable wasteland? So far gone as to become so poor and backwards. The land I fought so long ago to protect and serve, gone.” Lisa spoke aloud to herself. ”It almost feels as if my efforts were in-vain.”

It seemed like forever until she arrived at what might be considered the main inhabited part of the eastern town. The buildings were in slightly better condition and much closer together. However, she still had not seen a single person. It was like a ghost town.

She had gone three blocks through an industrial looking area that had several warehouses and round storage containers. Nothing of real importance. It was starting to seem like she would have better luck finding someone further towards the center of town. She turned at the next block and saw that there appeared to be a residential area ahead.

Lisa casually started towards that area when she heard an odd scraping sound coming from an old corner store on her right. Curious, she headed towards it. Peaking in through the front door she saw an aging half bald man dragging a bed frame.

”Odd fellow.” Lisa thought.

Then she called out to him. ”Excuse me. Can you help point me in the right direction?”

The sudden sound of her calling out startled the man and he dropped the bed frame with a clatter. He spun around looking desperately around for the cause of the voice. When he spotted Lisa standing in the doorway, he fumbled at his waist and pulled out a knife.

”Stay back! Who are you?” The aging man cried. He pointed the knife at her, trying to appear threatening. However, his thin dirty unshaven face and unsteady gave him way that he was utterly afraid.

”Relax, you old geezer.” Lisa said holding her arms up. ”I am not going to hurt you.”

”I-it’s you that needs to be worried!” The aging man replied shakily. Clearly, she wasn’t very convincing.

”Like I said, relax. I just need some directions and I’ll leave you alone.” Lisa replied giving a friendly smile.

The old guy seemed to realize that she didn’t seem to be acting dangerous and asked in an unsure voice. ”Ask away and be quick.”

”I am trying to find the East River Militia’s headquarters. Can you point me there?” Lisa asked calmly.

”It’s that way, about seven blocks.” The geezer replied pointing the way she originally was going to go.

”I see, thank you.” Lisa said glancing that direction. ”I hope you have a nice afternoon.”

Lisa then turned to go. When she did, she could have sworn that she heard the old man sigh in relief. Things were definitely tense around here. It seems that the militia’s presence was either not strong enough or they were being oppressive to the people. She had to meet them to be sure. Yet from the state of the man’s condition, things were not going well here in town.

After going a few more blocks through broken homes and rubble filled streets she finally saw more people. They were in no better condition than the geezer from before. Each and every person going by was looking very haggard and hungry. Curiously enough, they were all carrying metal objects either by hand, on makeshift carts or dollies.

Though they would occasionally take precautionary glances at Lisa, they didn’t bother her. Apparently, strangers were not common around here. They all seemed to be taking their metal towards the river area.

”They must be collecting metal for the militia to trade.” Lisa thought. ”Either the militia has a rewards system, or they are being forced to work.”

She was about to ask a couple of people ahead, they appeared to be struggling to drag the heavy cart of metal and might want some help. When suddenly, in between her and them, two men carrying rifles and wearing green matching armbands came out of a burned down home. Lisa guesses that they must be with the militia forces. They hadn’t seen Lisa yet and instead headed for the struggling couple.

Lisa noticed that the people didn’t appear worried as the two-armed men approached. In fact, it appeared that the two men offered to help them. All four of them started to pull the troublesome cart together.

”Well, that’s reassuring.” Lisa thought moving on. ”The militia troops seem to be for the people, at least the lower ranked ones. Now to find Mrs. Smithy and the rest of the ERM leaders.”

She took a glance at the sky and saw that there was ruffly three more hours until the sun reached the mountains top, signaling that it was time for all to go home.

”Better hurry or they will think that I skipped out on them.” Lisa murmured and hurried in the direction that the headquarters was supposed to be.

Lisa came to the next intersection and was surprised by what she saw. The area was destroyed, like a bull had charged down the street and hit every house. Freshly destroyed rubble was still scattered in the road and only a thin trail had been cleared out by the residents.

”This might have been part of the fight between the militia and Black Rats, but what could have caused this much damage?” Lisa thought starting down the brazen path.

The rest of the street was similarly damaged like this. Lisa’s was definitely curious as to what had really gone on here and hurried her pace. Soon she reached the end of the destroyed street and found herself at a large open parking lot. The parking lot surrounded a large warehouse that had several guards posted around it. They all appeared to have on green arm bands and held some kind of firearm.

Though from the varied ways they carried their guns and guarded the area, it was clear to her that they were all amateurs. If these amateurs beat off an organized gang than they must have had some real good luck or help. Then again, she had seen how well Zane fought during training with Sadie.

”I guess it’s not all to impossible.” Lisa thought with a chuckle.

Lisa then decided to cross the parking lot and talk to the militia troop. A few of them noticed her walking boldly across the open ground and hesitantly approached her.

”What can we do for you? I haven’t seen you before.” One of the Militia called out. He was a scraggly looking young man, maybe no more than twenty.

”Hi, I am supposed to have a meeting with Mrs. Smithy. Is this the East River Militia headquarters?” Lisa asked giving a friendly smile.

Before speaking the man blinked nervously seeing her up close, only now realizing she was much taller than himself. ”Yes, it is. Well, I guess you can go in. Right?” He said looking at the other guys with him. ”She knows Mrs. Smithy.”

”Maybe. I don’t know.” One of them replied with a shrug. ”Gillian never told us what to do if a new person came here.”

”Well, is she here?” Lisa asked.

”No, she’s out at the moment.” The scraggly man replied.

”I see. Then can I wait for her to comeback inside. It’s rather hot out today and I have just come from the east road. I am sure you know that’s a long walk to make.” Lisa said looking at the unsure men.

”Sure. I think that’s fine.” The man finally replied after some thought. ”Follow us.”

The man and the others than lead Lisa into the Warehouse from the main entrance. Looking around Lisa noticed that the area wasn’t all that much of a headquarters. Boxes and apparent supplies were scattered around, Militia troops wandered aimlessly around, and no one appeared to be in charge. They took her over to a table and chairs to the left of the entrance.

”You can wait here.” The man said pointing at a chair.

”Thanks.” Lisa said slipping off the strap to her coffin. She set it down with a heavy thump and the men around her looked surprised.

”I-I think we better wait with you.” The man stuttered. The others nodded in agreement and all took a seat with Lisa.

”What’s in there that makes it so heavy?” One of them asked eyeing the coffin.

”Well, I am a Merchant and in there are some things I sell.” Lisa replied calmly. These guys didn’t act at all like a militia. More like civilians with guns. So, she figured that could act casual for now. ”That’s why I am meeting with Mrs. Smithy, to discuss trade.”

For the next while they would ask Lisa a lot of questions. She happily answered them while they continued to wait.

…

Mrs. Smithy and Gillian were waiting at the docks and feeling a bit impatient.

”No boats have crossed all day.” Gillian remarked. ”Maybe she’s not coming after all?”

”I am sure that’s she’s coming.” Mrs. Smithy replied. ”You, over there.” She said pointing at a militia trooper. ”If a tall lady comes by boat take her to headquarters, please.”

The man nodded reassuringly.

”Come on. Let’s go back for now.” Mrs. Smithy said rubbing her lower back and turning to go. ”I am getting tired.”

”Alright.” Gillian sighed turning to follow. ”So far I am not impressed.”