Apocalypse Eden

Apocalypse Eden


The first section is background notes for America in 2220; the second is the introduction to the story of Apocalypse Eden.


Background Notes: Earth 2220


America splits into dozens of city states as the union is irreparably severed, over a two hundred year period the population grew by almost two hundred million, as people flooded in from central and south America as well as Europe and Asia. Until finally the weakened government helpless to act, was forced to relinquish much of its control to the growing mega corporations that had held the states together with their wealth and power.


The construction of clone armies and cybernetic, stealth and mech technologies are used to create vast armies to protect and control the corporate ruled mega cities and provide their corporate masters with the means to fend of any attempts by invading forces to cause them disruption. The cities are turned into fortresses, no one leaves without permission, and no one from the outside ever enters unless they are invited or brought to the city as either citizens or servants.


While servants are still brought from the outside, the practice is gradually becoming less used as the growth in clone technology from military to civilian use becomes increasingly more prevalent and is seen as the ideal solution to the ever growing demand for servants. The clone servants have proven to also to be less of a risk in terms of the rebellious nature of those brought from the Waste Lands, and helps prevent things such as disease being brought into the cities.


The experimental testing of a military grade bio plague inevitably doesn’t go as planned and the testing research station leaks the plague into the atmosphere, millions die as a result. While the plague can only be passed from person to person, the symptoms are obvious and carriers are usually shot on sight. To date, no known cure has been created, at least that is the thought among the Waste Landers where the plague ravaged hundreds of communities, until those communities were eventually annihilated to try and remove all taint of the bio plague. It is mandatory for all citizens of the corporate controlled cities to be inoculated against the plague; they have long had the cure but have refused to use it beyond their own borders.


While slavery is supposedly outlawed among the corporate ruled cities, there is enough corruption within the cities to allow servants to be traded on the black market as slaves. Some already think there is little difference, but to say as much would result in the offenders bringing themselves unwanted attention from the authoritarian corporate police.


Beyond the mega cities there is little in the way of organized law, many communities reverting to the old style small town law of sheriffs and deputies. About the only notable force within the mainland are the agricorps, petrochemical corps, great domed production centres and heavily guarded cities that produce much of the resources needed to supply the other mega cities. Most of these facilities are located in the old southern states such as Texas.


The corporations bring in their own extreme brand of government, while citizens are treated well, servants and those who choose to live outside the rule of the city states are treated as little more than slaves and criminals. Many flock to the city states in the hope of finding a better life for themselves and their families only to find the repressive regimes that control their people with an iron fist regard them as little more than animals to serve their master’s will.


Europe becomes a xenophobic super state. While not as absolute as that of America, the power of the corporations is enough to control the now almost powerless European government. Europe is turned into a nuclear armed fortress ready to face any enemy that would repeat the invasions of the past, such as the growing threat from the communist east.


As many had expected the troubles of the Middle East were never resolved, continuous wars and civil wars resulted in nuclear exchanges until there was little left to fight over, those who survived fled either to Europe, though many would be turned away or further east to the nations that had survived the fallout of war.


Russia, after struggling with democracy for many decades was finally forced into revolution and the return of communism. With it came the old enmity shown towards the west, creating a new cold war era that has survived until the present day, the wealthy tyrants and dictators were forced to flee or were slain, much as in the purges of the past.


With no intervention from America and its former allies, the Far East saw the kind of arms race and stand off between its most powerful nations as was experienced by Europe in the twentieth century. Religious hatred sparks the first real nuclear war between the nations of Pakistan and India, tens of millions die in the exchange and much of the area is engulfed in radioactive dust clouds, the war rages on unabated, the next exchange is likely to destroy both nations.


China swallows most of its neighbours, as the largest of the super powers, its expansion seems almost unstoppable, bringing it into direct conflict with the growing power of the now communist and much strengthened Russia. Only Japan survives the expansion but is isolated from its former allies in the west and forced to return to a heavily armed and aggressive nation, if only to keep out its western neighbours.


The continent of Australia sees a massive influx of refugees trying to escape the events unfolding across much of Asia, Europe and America, within two hundred years its population has risen to well over a hundred million people and the nation remains one of the few countries under the control of a freely democratic government.


This is the story of those left to fend for themselves in the harsh environments outside the rule of the city states, where the mega corporations have yet to exert their rule over the desperate and unruly populations. The story centres on the lives and journey of a group of Waste Landers, from the Northern Territories, a vast swathe of land that surrounds the city of New Chicago and much of what was once the territories bordering Canada.


Much of inland America has retuned to the rule of the gun where only the strongest and deadliest survive, beyond the mainly coastal urban mega cities lies a land blighted by famine, extreme temperatures and freak conditions, bio plague, armed rebellion and the seemingly endless number of criminals that plague much of the land.


The legend among the northern tribes and people of the northern territories speak of a city where the people are free of the rule of oppressive corporations or dictatorial tyrants, or warmongering warlords. Many say the legend of New Eden is simply a fable told to the young of the tribes to give them hope in a hopeless world; many have tried to find the city and never returned. For one group of young tribals, it is theirs and their people’s only chance of survival in a world that seems to care nothing about the people of the wastelands.


Among the northern wastes lies the old city of Chicago, now a city of criminal gangs and powerful clan families and warlords who rule over the people like the empires of old. While life in the mega cities is regimented, life in such forgotten cities as Chicago is to say the least bloody and deadly, and often short for those who do not have the will or means to survive. There is no pretence in cities such as Chicago, the servants of the mega cities would likely last no more than a week under the harsh conditions of the slaves that keep the ruling clans in the luxury to which they have become accustomed.


The slavers guilds are among the largest organizations of the free north as they like to think of themselves. They boast of millions of slaves among their assets, a constant flood of people to the city providing a seemingly endless supply of such resources to feed the industrial machine that arose out of the collapse of the states. An entire city of slave workers ruled over by the overseers and their hired guns. For the free people of Chicago, to remain so requires either wealth or the ability to remain free, which usually means the willingness to kill whoever gets in their way.


The mega cities tolerate such cities because they provide invaluable resources and often a surplus of servants (slaves) that can be traded for the more high tech resources of the mega cities, such as medicines, cyber technology and weaponry.


If slaves are the foundation on which the city has survived, what truly makes the city what it is are the countless dens of depravity, gambling casinos, fighting arenas, and numerous other pastimes that raise the ruling clans above the city’s other inhabitants. At least in the sense that they can afford such luxuries, while the majority are forced to eek out an existence the best way they can.


There are even rumours that certain corporations actually wish to ensure the survival of the city and help to strengthen the rule of the ruling clans. While this is seen as unacceptable in many so called civilized city states and among the majority of the mega corps, it is also deemed necessary if the city states aren’t going to get their hands dirty and have to actually deal with the problems outside their own borders.


With a growing population of over twenty million people the city is far from the sparsely populated wasteland that one would predict in such an environment, the only problem is that the ruling clans control everything, from the food and water, to the cost of trade goods, even arms and drugs. With such a firm grip on the lives of all who make the city their home, the clans have ensured that while ever they continue to cooperate, they will remain as the rulers of the city and its downtrodden people.


Introduction: New Chicago 2220


The journey to New Chicago had been to say the least fraught with troubles. What with raiders attacking the caravan, slavers looking for easy targets to drag back to the slave markets of New Chicago and the intense conditions of the summer heat, Leon was relieved they had finally arrived in one piece and with most of their trade goods still intact.


He was the caravan master for the people of his tribe, most of who were of the clan McGregor. They were renowned hunters and trackers, mercenaries and cattle herders. Among the people of the northern territories they managed to survive through their shear determination and their small but growing military presence. They were the descendants of the people of an old military town, when the States collapsed they wasted little time in claiming whatever they could as their own, such as the local military base.


While their weapons and equipment are more than two hundred years out of date, they maintain them out of necessity and an almost unheard of expert knowledge of the old tech that has ensured their survival to this day and kept them out of the hands of slavers and raiders.


Leon was rare among his clan in accepting places such as New Chicago, albeit very reluctantly. While the place was undoubtedly evil in nature, without it, the northern territories would simply disappear. That’s not to say he liked much of what obviously went on there, with entire tribes taken and sold by the slavers, forced into labour camps, industrial slave factories or worse.


But for now he had to put that out of his mind and concentrate on getting the best deal possible for his own people, the ruling clans of New Chicago were notorious for their underhanded dealings and treatment of anyone who couldn’t protect their goods and themselves.


The highway into Chicago was littered with refugees, no doubt fleeing from the barren wastes that swallowed countless communities of the Wastelands. Their torn and filthy rags barely passed for clothing, their few possessions perhaps amounted to no more than more rags and several days’ supplies, and those were the lucky ones. There were the dead and the dying, the beggars and orphaned urchins, the addicts and street whores all begging or selling their wares and services for little more than the cost of their next meal.


In some ways Leon felt sympathy for them; in others he loathed their very existence. This was no way to live, his clan had fought for two hundred years to remain free and provide at least a decent living for themselves, these people in his opinion had simply given up and allowed themselves to be forced into this existence, little more than animals.


They would be the newcomers to New Chicago; no one would survive there long without the slaver gangs rounding up the next batch of human goods to sell at one of the many slave markets. There was little many could do but accept their fate, they had nothing and no way of stopping the slavers, for many it was even a relief, at least they would be fed, which was more than many of them could hope for if left to themselves.


Hundreds if not thousands of rusting metal wrecks lined the sidewalks, metal skeletons of a long forgotten age, devoid of anything except their flaking destroyed shells.


Military style checkpoints guarded the routes into the city; sometimes the only way to gain entrance to New Chicago was to bribe the heavily armed guards. While money and goods were often used to buy entrance, the guards were not above accepting almost anything as payment, or taking what they deemed a suitable fee for their tolerance and valuable time, at least as they saw it.


The arrival of such a large caravan obviously attracted attention, while the guards were only too pleased to let them in for a fee, the poor citizens of Chicago were more interested in what they could perhaps beg or steal. Leon had given his men orders to shoot thieves on sight, any other response would invite trouble, such actions were encouraged by the ruling clans, and it helped to weed out the undesirables.


The entrance to New Chicago was little more than a fortress, twenty metre high walls, with laser and missile towers, gun emplacements and even hover tanks obtained in trade from the corporate city states. The defences were indeed formidable and no one doubted the need for such protection, with random assaults from raiders there was no other choice than for the clans to cooperate in the defence of the city.


After an hour or more of negotiating entrance with the guards and avoiding the unwanted attention of those who wanted only to steal or beg, Leon had managed to get the thousand or so cattle into the holding pens at the central market, and the trade goods set up for the local merchants. With just over a hundred men to pay for the journey, he could only hope that the merchants would show some interest in the assortment of wares they had brought.


The men were eager for their wages, and to sample the pleasures that New Chicago had to offer. It would be a few weeks before they reached home, and for many of them their families, they would make the best of their time in the city.


Leon was unmarried, at twenty eight and a prominent member of the McGregor clan, he was often under pressure to take a bride from one of the tribes of the northern territories, such unions were often arranged and brought with them a dowry and alliance between the clans.


Leon had so far resisted, even threatening to leave the clan unless he was allowed to find a wife in his own time. He had his reasons, his life was often dangerous. And he spent seemingly less time among his people, preferring to hire himself out as a mercenary when the caravan season was at an end. He felt it was hardly the life into which he wanted to bring a family, although he often wondered if it was the responsibility that held him back.


One aspect of visiting New Chicago he did enjoy was visiting one of the local gang leaders, a seemingly vicious and violent woman who had her hands in everything from casino’s to brothels, the arms and drugs trade, and pit fighting arenas. She didn’t have the power of the ruling clans, but had contacts with most of them. She was seen as ruthless and reliable, someone who would get the job done and didn’t mind getting bloody in the process.


When alone Maria was something entirely different, an intense woman certainly, slightly older than Leon at the age of thirty three, but still attractive despite the dangers of her profession, and unusually passionate. Although she did her best to hide this side of herself, one didn’t remain at the top for long if they showed any signs of weakness.


He smiled as he thought of her, since the day she had saved him from being torn to pieces in one of the local bars by a gang of thugs, they had remained friends and often lovers, although neither had the stomach for settling down, it didn’t suit either of them.


With the merchants slowly arriving and Leon’s job done for now, he wanted to get cleaned up and visit Maria, the clan’s own traders would take care of dealing with the merchants, he felt more at home in the saddle or with a gun, the niceties needed for such negotiations were never his strong point.


The casino was named simply Maria’s Place, not too original, but it never seemed less than full, drawing in mostly merchants, traders and their hired hands. It was a four storey building. A bar and restaurant on the first floor, the casino on the second, an all night private club on the third and Maria’s personal suite and servants quarters on the top floor. The basement had been turned into a pit arena, where combatants would often fight until death to please the baying mass of gamblers and blood thirsty onlookers.


Guards were in evidence throughout the place, armed openly with laser tech weaponry that had been obtained in trade with the mega cities; most of New Chicago’s weaponry was provided by the corporations, usually for the massive surplus of slaves the city could provide.


A courteous nod here and acknowledgement there from those who recognized Leon McGregor was enough to tell him he was still welcome. If Maria had ordered him not to be allowed entrance or perhaps even killed, it would be doubtful he would still be alive.


The place was brimming with life, an old converted warehouse, turned into one of the numerous bars and casinos that seemed to be present on every street of New Chicago, thousands spent the proceeds of their trade in such places. Maria’s Place was no different, and had provided her with a position of respect and power within the city, not to mention a small fortune, making her one of the wealthiest women in the city outside of the ruling clans.


After a few double whiskeys it was time to show his face, hopefully she wouldn’t be too busy to see him. The top floor was only accessible to Maria’s trusted guards, servants and slaves. Usually only those who were there by appointment were granted an audience, all others were told to make such an arrangement or leave.


Maria’s bodyguards recognized Leon from his previous visits and were not foolish enough to press the issue for long, while they were expected to do their job; Maria had long ago told them he had an open invitation. That didn’t stretch to the arsenal of weaponry he carried, he handed over his weapons before being aloud to enter her private suite.


The suite was quite the contrast to the smoke and sweat filled bar, the pleasant odour of expensive perfumed wafted across the room, the bright pink and red décor were not what one would have expected of Maria Giovanni. Dominating the room was the king sized canopied bed. Around it sat four young women, presumably slaves or servants, each dressed in silk robes and holding what they were obviously using to fan their mistress who sat astride a young worried looking male, his hands and feet tied to the bed, probably another of her slaves, or perhaps one of her young lovers. Leon cared little which it was. Maria turned as she heard him approach, her own silk robe falling off her left shoulder as she did so and giggled as she continued to move on top of the slave beneath her.


“You should have let me know you were coming, Leon, I’d have got you someone special.” Maria said with a laugh as the male slave looked over at Leon, his pale expression giving away his fear, as the large tattooed man stood over them.


“Shall I come back when you’re finished, Maria?”


“Join us.”


“I don’t think so.”


“Then help yourself, Leon. I’m sure the girls …”


“I came here to see you Maria, not your slaves, if I want whores, there’s thousands of them out there.”


“They’re not whores, Leon.”


“They’re your whores, that’s good enough. I’ll be downstairs, when you’ve finished with that.” He said, gesturing in disgust at the worried youth.


“As you wish, see you later, Leon.”


“Fucking bitch.” He muttered to himself as he left.


Maria laughed but made no attempt to get up, they had a mutual understanding, they were free to do what the hell they pleased, and she wasn’t about to allow any man to change that particular rule.


Leon walked back down to the bar, pissed off certainly, but not surprised, he wasn’t bothered who she fucked, but she didn’t have to do it under his nose. The poor bastard probably didn’t have much choice anyway, slaves rarely did, they served and served well or found themselves in some back breaking existence in one of the labour camps or one of the back street brothels where they would likely survive no more than a few years before either taking there own life or being murdered. Life was harsh for slaves in New Chicago, the few who served the clans and other wealthy individuals were counted among the lucky ones.


He ordered a bottle of whisky and walked over to an empty table, it’s previous occupants being dragged into the street and beaten unconscious after they couldn’t pay their bar bill. ‘Fucking idiots’ Leon thought, it was one sure way of being dragged off to the camps.


Within minutes of sitting down, several of the casino girls were heading in his direction. It was inevitable, that was what they were paid to do. They had to keep the customers drinking and happy, and more importantly, spending money. Two sat down at the table, their cheap perfume was in stark contrast to Maria, strange that was the first thing he thought of, their breasts barely held in by their low cut dresses. He did little more than smile at each of them, and ordered the waitress to bring them whatever they were drinking.


Milli and Rose, they were sisters apparently, two of Maria’s new girls, outcasts from one of the cities, after stealing from their employer. He was trying to keep it friendly, he had no desire for familiar just yet, although Maria was deliberately taking her time, ‘whore’ he thought, but he was no different and could hardly blame her for doing what they had both agreed to. He figured the sisters were mid twenties, good looking even under all the makeup; he decided they’d have been better off without it.


“You’re Leon, right. Leon McGregor?! Milli asked, she remembered his photograph the one time she had been invited to Maria’s suite.


“That’s right, how’d you know that?”


“Mistress Giovanni told us when she hired us and said you were the only man she kept anything of.”


Leon smiled, he couldn’t help but think she might fuck little slave trash like the youth upstairs, but she always came back to him.


“What else did she tell you?”


“That you were probably the only man she had ever cared about.”


“How the hell did you get her to admit that?”


“She was high at the time.”


“And what’s your story, how did you end up in this god forsaken hell hole?” Leon asked, wandering what the surprisingly well spoken young women were doing as casino hostesses.


“Like I said, we were servants, when our master caught us stealing from him, he threatened to have us turned over to wasteland slavers, we fled the city and headed straight here.”


“I’m surprised you managed to survive without being picked up by one of the slaver gangs.”


“We were, one of Mistress Maria’s, they brought us here and after she checked us over with the other slaves offered us a job in the bar and casino, she said we would have been wasted in the labour camps.”


“I’d say you got lucky; at least until she gets bored of you, don’t do anything to piss her off.”


“We won’t, it’s not too bad here, at least we haven’t got that fat old man mauling us any more, servants are no better than slaves in the city, it’s just a different name for it.”


“So what now?”


“We keep you entertained until Mistress Maria arrives.”


“And how do you propose to do that?”


“We can either sit here and talk or go upstairs, the mistress sent word to keep you entertained.”


“Well that’s good of her, just sit and drink ladies.”


An hour later Leon had almost forgotten his reason for being there, the two women had kept him talking and drinking until he had all but given up on Maria coming down.


He felt the touch of a hand on his shoulders and the familiar smell of perfume from earlier.


“I hope they helped pass the time, Leon. But you really could have stayed you know.”


“Why, you already looked like you were enjoying yourself without my help.”


“Jealous?”


“No, maybe a little.” He admitted reluctantly.


Leon noticed the youth stood behind her, now dressed and wearing something of a smirk across his face.


“You’re boy needs to know when the fuck not to look at me like some fucking smirking dog, Maria.”


“Leave us.” She ordered as she turned and gave him a look that told him he should know his place.


The youth looked unsure again, looking around, and quickly wandered off, Leon staring at him as though he could have blown his head off there and then.


“I sometimes think you just like to test me, Maria, see how I’ll respond to your fucking games.”


“Whatever do you …?”


“Cut the bullshit alright, I came here to see you.”


“You came here to sell your shit at the market, I’m just something extra you get whenever you can be bothered to visit, Leon.”


He looked at her, studying the cold mask she often wore for a face when in public, she gave little away, gone was the passionate woman he would spend time alone with, in her place was the cold hearted and ruthless business woman that many who knew her feared. From the tribal tattoos to the pair of laser pistols she carried at her waist, she looked every bit the kind of person who wouldn’t hesitate to kill someone for even the slightest wrong doing, as was matched by her equally well known reputation. Leon remained silent, words were her game, she could twist him around her finger and he knew it.


“Am I right, Leon, do you really come here to see me, or do you think I’m one of your cheap mud hut whores that will be satisfied with an occasional roll in the mud and the rest of the time I should wait patiently for the next visit.”


“I never said … Maria, I came to see you because I …”


“What, because you what, Leon?”


“Fuck this, I’m out of here, play you’re fucking games with your fucking boy. Are you two coming, is that alright with you, Maria?”


“Go with him, he’ll be back soon enough, once the whisky has had time to wear off.”


“I leave in the morning, Maria, maybe for good this time.”


“Don’t forget to say goodbye.”


Leon stood looking down at the now sitting Maria, she sipped slowly from a glass of red wine, the smile on her face was just too much, he’d never touched her and never would, but she could make his temper rise faster than anyone he knew, maybe because he refused to admit just how much he really did care for her. She knew it, and knew he would probably never say it, at least it would be a shock if he ever did, and until then she’d do whatever she pleased, and maybe after as well, she hadn’t thought that far ahead. Milli and Rose helped steady him as he stumbled slightly, they looked to Maria, who simply nodded and motioned for them to take him upstairs.


Leon sat on the bed, the room spinning, the nearly empty bottle of whisky still in his hand. Milli and Rose sat either side of him, “Do you want us to stay, Mr McGregor?” Rose asked, as she looked down at the drunken man.


She never got an answer, he was never one who could hold his liquor, within moments he was asleep. They undressed him and left him to sleep it off, neither envied him the hangover he was going to have in the morning.


Maria was waiting outside, “Is he alright?”


“Sleeping mistress, shall we stay or go back down stairs?”


“You can go now, thank you girls.”


Maria walked into the room and laid beside him on the bed, the public show was just that, to make out she really didn’t give a damn, although those who knew her weren’t fooled by her attempt at the uncaring lover.

“You fool, Leon.” She whispered as she stroked his face, and lay down beside him, within moments she had joined him, falling asleep with her arm draped across his chest.


Leon awoke to the sound of gunfire from what he presumed was the street below; he looked over at the still sleeping Maria and kissed her on the cheek, smiling as he did so. They argued, but never for long. He stood and walked over to the window, troops in battle armour were finishing off what appeared to be one of the local gangs, of which there were countless numbers. The clans maintained their armed forces with the high tech weaponry traded to the corporations in return for slaves and other goods that were generally seen as too controversial to produce in the strict regimes of the mega cities.


The fire fight lasted only minutes, none of the gang members survived, and those left wounded were executed on the spot. Leon cared nothing for the reason behind the slaughter; perhaps they were high on drugs and causing trouble or raiding one of the local businesses. Justice in New Chicago was dealt out quickly and usually at the end of a gun or rope, there were other more painful methods for those who truly made an enemy of the clans, none were ways in which Leon would like to meet his end.


He sighed, yawned and then walked back over to the bed, his head pounding from the alcohol he had drunk the night before. He realized it wasn’t Maria’s suite but Milli and Rose’s, the casino girls he had met earlier; they slept opposite the bed in what looked to be uncomfortable wooden chairs. He almost felt guilty he had taken their bed for the night, he could remember little after seeing Maria in the bar, but somehow remembered the argument and what they had said.


He tried to wake her, but she remained asleep, he dressed and wandered down to the bar. It must have been early morning as there were few customers. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his grandfather’s watch and looked at the time. Five thirty in the morning, the caravan was leaving at ten, and he felt like crap. He hadn’t even spent any time with Maria, other than being asleep. He cursed the fact that the caravan was returning so quickly, but recent raider attacks meant the town needed them back as soon as possible.


If he thought it would be worth staying he would consider it, but what was the point, Maria probably had a string of slaves and lovers lined up for when he wasn’t there. He ordered a glass of water and breakfast, sitting at the bar to eat it. He turned to see Vance, his second in command stood behind him. The large bearded older man was a veteran of many wars and conflicts, and perhaps the most experienced mercenary and warrior of the McGregor clan.


“I thought I might find you here Leon.”


“Everything ok, Vance?”


“We’re ready to go when you are, Leon. We’ve sold out, everything’s gone, and we’ve traded enough supplies to last us until the next caravan. How’s Maria?”


“A bitch, as ever.”


“I sure as hell don’t know why you two aren’t married yet.”


“You’re kidding right. Maria isn’t the settling down kind of girl. Besides, I’m not sure I could live in this place for too long, and there’s no way in hell she’d leave this place, so it makes it a little difficult.”


“Stay for awhile, Leon. You need to sort this out before it messes with your head any more than it already has. I’ll take the caravan back home and expect you sometime before the next one.”


“Three months, in this place, maybe a few days at most, you’ll be alright?”


“I’ve been doing this shit longer than you’ve been alive, boy, I think we’ll manage.”


“Thanks, Vance. I should be back within the week, unless anything goes wrong.”


“Take your time; we’ve only got those damn raiders to deal with once we get home. The town elders are talking about taking them out for good, we’re losing too much to those thieving bastards.”


“Maybe I should …”


“Don’t be a fool, Leon. We can deal with this without you. You don’t have to always try and take responsibility for the entire bloody clan, that’s your problem, boy, never giving yourself a minute to get your own life sorted out.”


“I just thought …”


“Well don’t, listen to your uncle and sort this out with Maria.”


Neither of them had seen the woman come up behind them, she leant over and kissed Vance on the cheek. “Vance, what was that you were saying?”


“Hey, Maria. I’m just trying to talk some sense into this young fool, you too if you’ll listen.”


Maria sat down next Leon, smiled and ordered a drink. “And just what is it I’m meant to be listening to, Vance.”


“You two have been doing this same shit for the past eight years, don’t you ever get tired of the fucking games, isn’t it time you settled down?”


“You mean become the little lady of the house, live in one of your mud huts and wait for Leon to come home occasionally when he’s not too busy, while taking care of our own little tribe.”


“And what in the hell is wrong with that, Maria?”


“I’ve got slaves with more interesting lives, Vance.”


“I don’t want that either, Vance, it would drive us both crazy. And if I stay around here and have to watch you fucking every goddamn slave you bring into the place, I’ll end up killing …”


“But you get to bed whichever whore takes your fancy for the night, and I’m supposed to be alright with that.”


“God damn idiots, the pair of you. Eight years and you’re still having the same god damn arguments.” Vance shook his head in disbelief as he looked at them in turn.


“And I’m supposed to be alright with the fact that you use people, slaves. Maria, you own people.”


“Where do you think you are, Leon? This is not the fucking tribal lands; this entire city is built on slavery. If you have a problem with that then leave, I grow tired of this, Leon, perhaps you should return with your people.”


Leon looked across at her, knowing this was something they couldn’t and never would agree upon. The whole idea of the northern territories was that its people lived free of oppression and slavery, it was times like this that made him think how much he really despised this vile city and the horrific nature of the place.


“I’m leaving, Maria. Either leave with me, or I won’t return.”


“You think it’s that easy, you give me an ultimatum, and I’m supposed to just leave everything I’ve worked so long to build up. The answerers no and will always be no, you’re welcome here, Leon, but on my terms. I won’t be controlled by you or anyone else.”


“Then I shall leave, I can’t stomach this place any longer.”


“Then leave …”


He took one last look at her, stood and walked out of the door, leaving Vance and Maria looking after him. The streets were already filling with the daily bustle of activity. Columns of slaves and overseers marched along the road on their way to the slave markets. He wondered how many overseers he could kill before they brought him down, it was just a thought but one he had often had while walking the streets of the city and especially after seeing Maria. He wondered what it was that kept him returning to this vile cesspit, only the need to trade and Maria, without that he would have never returned. But he wondered how long he could continue this particular charade.


The scenes inside the city were perhaps even more desperate for its people than the refugees they ad seen on the way into New Chicago. Among the beggars, junkies and street whores were the gangs. He knew well enough not to go too far off the main streets, to do so would only invite unwanted attention from thieves and gangs looking to make a few dollars from whatever they could salvage of his corpse. The mood he was in, he almost felt like wandering down one of the backstreets just to see who followed.


Vance followed behind him moments later, stood beside him for a moment and laughed.


“What’s so damn funny, Vance?”


“She’s sat in there looking damn miserable now you’ve left. You’re stood out here contemplating doing something damn stupid. I know that look Leon and whatever you’ve got in mind, don’t do it.”


“Maybe I should walk back in there and sign myself up for the pit, relieve some of this fucking tension.”


We kill if and only if we have no other choice Leon. We’re not animals who get off on this shit, if you’re not staying because of Maria, there’s no reason not to return with us.”


“Stay for what? You heard her, Vance, nothing changes. It’ll be the same next time we return; perhaps I’ve just had enough.”


“Then find someone else, Leon. This place isn’t for you, most of the clan can barely stand the sight of the place, we trade and we leave, but you, you had to fall for someone like Maria. She’s as much a part of this place as the gangs and the ruling clans, the warlords and the slave overseers.”


“I’m thinking of leaving the territories for awhile, Vance. Perhaps travelling, maybe sign up with one of the mercenary outfits; they’re always looking for people to hunt down raiders. I’ve even heard of armed rebellion down south, whole armies being mobilized to fight the corporations.”


“You owe your allegiance only to the clan and the territories, Leon. I’ve heard word of the wars in the south, I’ve also heard of entire armies being annihilated by the corporations, they’re too powerful to be brought down.”

“Maybe you’re right, Vance.”


The two men walked back to the traders’ market where the last of the wagons was being loaded up. They had been loaded with provisions, needed for the coming months. “What’s it to be then, Leon, are you staying here or returning with us?”


“Staying, at least for the next few days, maybe some of the guilds are hiring. I’ll speak to Maria before I leave, even if it’s just to say goodbye.”


“God damn it, Leon, you never could be decisive about anything, don’t stay long, this place has a habit of sucking the life out of you, believe me, I know from experience.”


“Alright Vance, I suppose I’ll see you when I get back, safe journey.”


“I almost forgot, there’s your share of the trade run, two thousand, Leon, not at all bad this time.”


“Thanks, Vance. I’ll need it while I’m in this place.” Leon took the money, stuffing it into the inside pocket of his leather jacket. Even that drew attention; Leon stared back at anyone who looked at him, raising his rifle slightly to show he would have no hesitation in using it if he had to.


Vance nodded, and within moments was leading the caravan back out of the city for the hundred and twenty mile journey that lay ahead of them. At least the return journey was usually less troublesome, and quicker without the cattle, they’d be home within the week.


Leon watched them leave until they disappeared from view and then wandered back down the main high street. Even at this time of morning the beggars were out looking for someone to pay for their next meal. The junkies seemed to wander aimlessly, many would be looking for some way to pay for their next fix, others seemed little more than walking dead, wandering aimlessly, until they either collapsed or the drugs wore off.


Perhaps the most tragic sight was the families walking through the streets, seemingly lost and with nowhere to seek shelter and barely any possessions of their own. They would be the new arrivals; he was guessing that within the week most of them would be working in the slave factories or being held in the labour camps. He knew from the stories he had heard the conditions were inhuman, he had seen with his own eyes the labour camps, more like prison camps of the past, he cursed to himself that these people were stupid enough to think they could ever find sanctuary in such a place as this.


But it really wasn’t his problem, he was just one man and though he hated much of what he saw, there really was nothing he or anyone else could do. Down the street from where he stood a group of armed overseers were gathering up those who couldn’t pay to be left alone, entire families dragged off without so much as a murmur from the onlookers.


He turned and walked away, heading back towards Maria’s Place, he had to try and speak to her at some point, ‘better to get it out of the way now’ he thought. Ten minutes later he stood outside. The place was already beginning to look lively. He walked in; Maria was still sat where she had been when he had walked out. The barkeep looked up and nodded, Maria turned and smiled, and gestured for him to sit down.


“What are you drinking Mr McGregor?” The barkeep asked, as he sat down next to Maria.


“Whisky, thanks John.” Leon replied, as he sighed and turned to Maria. She smirked, that smug expression he had seen so often before, the look that said I told you that you would be back.