Page 43 of Powerless
"The future is fucked," I retorted. "It'll take decades to recover from the Collapse, if we ever do. Neither one of us will see a return to order in our lifetimes, so who gives a fuck? I ride hard and live like I'll die tomorrow because that's exactly what might happen. And you know what?" I turned sideways in his cushy chair, throwing my legs up over the armrest. "I've never been happier. Life is fucking good when you live it one day at a time."
"That's so typical of a young buck like you to say." Uncle Jerry leaned back, propping his feet up on his desk. "But planning for the future doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a fun life in the present." He spread his arms wide. "As you observed, I've done well for myself in a short amount of time."
"Yeah, how'd you manage that?" I didn't bother to hide the disdain creeping into my voice. "General to governor isn't exactly a straight climb up the corporate ladder."
"Are you lecturingmeabout survival tactics in a post-Collapse world, mister outlaw biker?" he chuckled patronizingly. "I haven't done anything you wouldn't approve of for yourself or one of your outlaw brothers."
"Right. Here's the difference between you and me, Uncle Jerry." I swung my feet back down to the floor, looking at him straight on. "A Steel Demon doesn't play politics. You couldn't pay me enough to stab one of my brothers in the back, no matter what the personal gain might be. And while we're the furthest thing from saints, we don't use people like machinery or sex toys. Whether we're buying weapons or women for the night, we pay fairly. All this shit," I gestured around the room, "and that dead-eyed, broken girl sucking your dick under your desk? I don't want any part of it. Hell, I'd drop the Youngblood name if I could."
He didn't say anything for a few moments that seemed to stretch on, but just watched me with a guarded expression as the cigar smoke swirled around him. The guy went from popular actor to decorated general because of his charm and charisma, but he was also manipulative and crafty as hell. I didn’t trust him as far as I could blow smoke.
Under the former governor of the Colorado territory, Jerry kept the borders fairly consistent as when it was a US state and maintained independence from all the surrounding power grabs post-Collapse. Because of this, the state government held on much longer than most other former states. Colorado was known as a utopia of order, safety, and stability in the chaos that followed the Collapse. People flocked here by the thousands over the last five years. I was with Uncle Jerry in the broadcasting room when he announced over the radio that anyone was welcome in Colorado. The citizens, military, and governor at the time all trusted him.
Then he took that trust and brutally abused it.
Not long after thousands of new citizens got settled in, he recruited women for a "job fair." It turned out that job was servicing his soldiers and not being allowed to leave.
Frantic spouses, siblings, children, and parents all petitioned General Youngblood to find their missing loved ones, not knowing they were being held in cells right beneath their feet.
Until one woman escaped.
The public rioted when they found out what my uncle had done. His personal guard and the small military units with him were quickly overwhelmed. The Steel Demons were just passing through at the time of the riots and I had stopped by for a visit, as we were more cordial back then.
He threw himself down at my feet, begging for protection with tears in his eyes, just until the rest of the army came down from the capital. I told him he deserved a pitchfork up his ass for what he did to those women. I never should have listened to his hysterical whimpering about family and being there for each other. I should have kept walking. Everything would have played so differently if I had.
But had I done so, I wouldn't have him now in my back pocket for when General Tash fucked us. And as much as I hated to admit it, a governor would be a hell of a lot more useful than just another general.
“Fair enough, Gunner,” my uncle finally said lightheartedly, although I knew for a fact he wouldn’t let this go so easily. “What can I do for you and your adopted biker family?”
“We had a falling out with our biggest trade partner and need a replacement,” I cut right to the chase. “We have a surplus of weapons right now, and I have good working relationships with firearm suppliers and manufacturers. Assuming you want to grow and expand the influence of your new province, you’ll want to keep your position protected.”
“What if I already have weapons deals?” he said smugly.
“That’s fine, keep them. But as your province grows, you’ll need more. Consider it an investment for the future,” I used his own words right back at him.
“And in exchange, you want…?”
“Food, toiletries, clothing, motor oil and fuel, medical supplies, tools for home and vehicle maintenance,” I counted on my fingers as I rattled off the basic necessities. “And building materials such as lumber and sheet metal on an as-needed basis.”
“For how many people?”
“Around thirty. Mostly men, but some women and kids. A few pets.”
“What are you running, a commune out there?” Jerry scoffed.
“Basically,” I answered. “We have a permanent home with a thriving community. Taking care of our people is a priority.”
“I see.” His response was carefully measured. “This sounds like an exchange to me. A fair one, I might add, which still leaves me in your debt. How do you intend to cash in on your favor?”
“I’m so glad you asked.” I took a hearty sip of bourbon. “Our former trade partner is a general who double-crossed us. He led us into a trap and tried to have us executed. We escaped with no casualties, but retribution must be paid for what he did.”
My uncle swallowed. For the first time, he seemed nervous.
“Retribution as in?”
“Death. A nice, slow public execution. It’s been a long time since my president’s done one of those and he’s probably itching for it. But we need manpower. This general has his own army, plus agreements with other MCs.”
Jerry’s face paled a little. “What’s the general’s name?”
