Black Market Merchant

"We have a victor!" The Announcer's voice boomed out to an entertained crowd. "For his eighth win in Shadow League Tier 10, Stinger Sam battles on for glory!"

"Sounds like it’s time to get ready." Lisa said to the others. She had been stretching and limbering up in preparation for the fight. She even already had a light sweat worked up and she felt ready as ever.

"Alright now remember, move fast and watch out for when his gloves start to smoke heavily. That's your cue to go on the defensive." Sadie said to Lisa as she opened the locker door facing towards the hallway.

Immediately the crowd’s cheers grew louder. The previous fights seemed to have been going well. Perhaps the Mad Dogs gang was much better at providing entertainment and retaining returning fan than previous thought. Lisa took note and considered looking into this more in the future.

"Got it." Lisa said leaving the room and turning to go lead the way down towards the stage area.

Benny and Hanna followed closely, and Sadie closed the door behind them. Lisa took a moment to ensure her hair was in place before going out on stage. It was always annoying to have hair getting in the way during a fight. Besides whom ever took that picture of her might take another.

The three caught up to her and then they headed out of the hall and into the view of the Arena's crowd. Where the hall entrance met with the stands, fans were slapping the walls sides and jeering at Lisa. Some were encouraging her to win, while others tried taunting her as Golem was clearly the fan favorite. Lisa was waiting at a line marked out on the floor for the Announcer to introduce her, before coming onto the stage.

Benny held Hanna close. Though she had her mask and Lisa's Yankee hat on, he still didn't want anyone to notice her and get suspicious. No telling who might be interested in whom Lisa might be affiliated with, and with Hanna being a young girl, she would make an easy target.

"Tonight, we now start our main event!" The Announcer's voice rang out, just as the cleaners finished preparing the stage. "We will be having a battle that is Leagues apart, nearly quite literally! From the Shadow League, at Tier 9 with 4 wins and 0 loses, Golem takes to the stage! Will this iron clad giant pound his way through for an easy victory? Only time will tell."

Across the Arena, opposite of Lisa's position, came the sound of a deep drum pounding away, as the crowd was also being stirred up into cheers. Golem appeared from his hallway and marched boldly and with heavy footsteps towards the stage. The military green, black and tan armor appeared as impenetrable as ever. He didn't even spare a glance at the crowd on either side of him. He pressed on towards the stage with all his focus clearly being displayed on his rugged face to be ready for the fight.

Reaching the stage, a worker opened the gate for him to enter the high chain linked fence that surrounded the stage. Going through it, his wide armored shoulders nearly brushed the polls on either side, adding even more to his colossal image. He smashed his armored fists together with a resounding clank and glared in Lisa direction expectantly.

"Entering from the opposing side is a budding beauty coming to us from the Shadow League's beginner Tier 20. With a record of 3 wins and 0 loses, this powerful woman has started off her MFA career with a bang! Give it up for Queen! Can this charming lady hope to stand a chance against nearly unbeatable odds, or will she be crushed like a wayward flower?" The Announcers voice then droned on about the two fighters’ statistics.

All the while, Queen approached the stage while waving at the enthusiastic crowd. Sharp whistles came out from random areas in the stands. Apparently, her looks and reputation preceded her, and it seemed that some fan base was already forming. Not to mention that this match was extraordinary considering that the difference in the Leagues Tiers was uncommonly huge. Sadie had mentioned to her before that fights between tiers more than five apart were not unheard of, but rarely happened.

She entered the stage and the smile faded from her soft face to return to a cold glare at Golem. Unperturbed, Golem leered back. The referee motioned for them to come to the center. The referee then explained the standard rules and both fighters nodded that they understood, all while never taking an eye off the other. Then backing up to an opposing corner the two waited expectantly for the sound of the bell.

…

Xander had been watching Lisa ever since she had arrived at the compound. Though she had become an MFA Fighter, he still had a gut feeling that she was more than what meets the eye.

He had found out from circulating rumors that a woman had killed several gang members outside of a local tavern. Also, that two Match Fighters has also been beat in a fair fight in that same tavern. The description of the woman from each case was remarkably similar to Lisa's. Naturally, he decided to watch her out of caution and due to the fact she already seemed suspicious around the market.

His suspension only grew as he took note of the new man that she had brought into the Arena Market. As expected, they had no previous record of either. The man appeared young and inexperienced when looking at the items for sale. Anyone that has seen as many customers as he had, would immediately pick out a newbie such as that man. So, when the new man approached Dino McMathers, it surprised Xander.

McMathers was a regular member that often frequented the Warehouse Arena and had maintained a positive record in his visits. Xander also new that he was a member of some private Betting community. So, it was possible that McMathers and Lisa were linked in some way. However, he didn't know what that link may yet be.

"Get a man to keep tabs on that younger man there." Xander said to one of his subordinates nearby. "I want to know of his relationship with Dino McMathers. As for that young man, put him on the caution list and linked in affiliation with Queen."

"Right away sir." The subordinate replied and left the observation room.

"What are you playing at?" Xander said to himself while looking at Queens image on screen. "Why did you show up out of nowhere and cause problems in town. I will find out, as I always do."

…

Zane was enjoying the event immensely. The fighters were amazing, and some were clearly more talented him that he felt nearly ashamed. They fought so valiantly and with a ferocity that he no longer felt as if he had been watching a rival gang, but actual athletes. Though of course not all the Fighters were with the Mad Dogs, but it still seemed that way to him. The rich people around him only added to the event.

They constantly were betting on who would win, how and what might happen next; all while the fights were in motion. He had long lost track of how much money was being tossed around him and gave up trying to simply enjoy the fights. After all, he only needed to actually be concerned about Queens fight.

He did learn the names of the other two men that he had met from before. The thin man was Charles Goodman. He owned a string of wineries and a perfume factory that had been doing well as of late. The red-haired man was Rich Rotters, the owner of a civilian Mech parts production factory for construction and farming Mechs.

Mr. Cline turned out to own a river shipping company based out of Moab City. His vessels traded mainly along the Gulf of California and the Pacific shore. Though he couldn’t trade vary far north or south due to the military dangers of the California Republic, South American countries and drug lords; he was beating the odds and being quite successful. It was clearly a very lucrative endeavor and Zane definitely felt some envy hearing him gloat about it to the others. To Zane being able to travel all over the world sounded so much better than fighting for scraps in this town.

However, Dino McMathers occupation still remained unknown to Zane. No one ever mentioned McMathers's job or how he came to be a part of this rich society. All Zane knew was that McMathers betted on everything, every chance he got. To the point where it seemed like it was an obsession.

Of the four men, that he had stayed around in the booth room, Mr. Cline had yet to lose a single bet. The others had mixed success by getting their predictions right, but every little detail Mr. Cline said would happen, did.

"Well now, Zane. It's time for your bets to come into play." Mr. Cline said sipping on a glass of clear wine. "I long ago predicted that Golem would win, and I have yet to be wrong. Let us see if you got some luck in you at all."

"Don't fret too much." McMathers said to Zane. "Always have faith in your bets, even if you know you might lose. That's what makes betting enjoyable!"

Zane nodded to the two men. "My Queen won't let me down. I hope." He replied slowly and he focused his attention at the two fighters as they entered the stage. "She's strong."

…

"Begin!" The Referee yelled as the bell dinged out sharply.

The two fighters didn't waste a single second, they charged right at each other head on. However, unlike before, Queen didn't have her sword out and ready, nor did she take a fighting stance. Seeing this, Golem felt confident and dove right at her throwing a straight right hook at her head.

As if Queen anticipated this attack, she jumped to the left lightly with a rotating motion. Golems fist traveled just centimeters under Queens torso with such speed, that if you blinked you missed it. Yet it appeared to the onlookers that Queen was seemingly rolling alongside Golem forearm. As soon as she reached Golems shoulder, she landed facing alongside him, with a smirk plastered on her fair face.

“Hello there!” Queen shouted as she grabbed his outstretched arm and using his forward motion, flipped him backwards and up into the air using the judo throw Uchi mata!

It seemed impossible that someone so heavy would suddenly be sent flying up over the much thinner woman's shoulder. The Arena seemed to hold its breath as he tumbled down like a falling tree. With a resounding crunchy boom, Golem landed hard on the stage, face up. Cracks appeared all around Golems body in the stages flooring.

Immediately Queen wrenched her sword off from her magnetic belt and whipped it out to reach its full length of three meters. Holding it high over her head, she prepared to stab down at Golem. However, the fight was far from over!

Golem suddenly grabbed her ankle and vigorously sat up to throw the smaller woman like stick. Queens body summersaulted like a rag doll, through the air towards the chain link fence. Her body collided with it sending a rattling ripple effect all around the enclosure. Unexpectedly, however, she did not fall from the impact.

Queen had caught herself onto the fence and was hanging on with her free hand! She appeared to position herself like spider dangling high above in her web. She raised her sword to point its tip at Golem as he jumped up on his feet to face her. Behind him was a clear imprint of where his body smacked into the stage and a small puff of dust followed after him.

"Bring it on!" Queen yelled.

Golem roared intelligibly and pounded his chest like a gorilla. It was as if he was saying the same thing right back at her. The fight had started off with a great intensity that no one expected!