Black Market Merchant

Chapter 13: First Match
The two struggled to knock the other down. Lisa had grabbed him around his waist and was keeping her body stiff and low. While he was also holding on to her waist from above her, trying not to get pushed backwards and fall from her attack. They each tried to sweep the other over by throwing their momentum to one side quickly and knock them to the floor. But they were eventually matched in strength in this position.

”Well… this is a… surprise.” Lisa said breathing heavily. ”Can I ask… how you’re this… strong?”

”Not going to… tell you.” The bald man said taking a small step back to keep his balance. Then he suddenly switched tactics. Lifting hard he lifted Lisa by her middle up into the air over his head and chucked her at the bar!

Lisa’s body twisted rapidly, as she flew through the air and crashed onto the top of the bar. The impact knocked drinks and cups in every direction. She rolled twice then immediately sprung up, unfazed and slid to a quick stop on one knee. She hopped off the bar neatly and patted off her clothes.

”Impressive throw. Let me at least have your name. I can’t just call you baldly.” Lisa said while tossing her hair back.

”Vance.” The bald man replied taking a boxing stance. He now knew her strength and was prepared to take this fight a bit serious.

”Well then, Vance, let’s have a good fight.” Lisa said taking an Ap Kubi stance, a basic front stance in Taekwondo. She too would be taking the fight more seriously.

”I might be getting rusty with these moves.” Lisa thought to herself watching Vance carefully. ”This is a good chance to practice.”

Vance took a step this right with his arms raised. Lisa kept her pose but rotated keeping him in front of her. Seeing no openings to attack her, Vance charged her regardless. Closing the distance quickly, Vance took a jab at her, but Lisa took a small step back avoiding the attack. Then she countered. Everything that happened next was so fast, that it appeared to be a blur to those watching.

Lisa used her step back too fuel her stances attack power and with an open palm, slipped past Vance’s arm and slammed right into his chest. There was an audible cracking noise. His body was struck so forcefully that his chest rippled, like a rock hitting the surface of a lake. He was sent flying back into the crowd behind him, sending chairs, tables, and people tumbling down.

Vance struggled to sit up, breathing heavily. The fight wasn’t over yet. The huge, tall guy suddenly lunged at Lisa from her blind spot. He grabbed her arm with a hand the size of a dinner plate and picked her up like a child holding a doll. He lifted her so that they were looking at each other at eye level.

”My name is Gaston.” The tall black-haired man spoke in a deep slow voice. His hair parted briefly exposing a very Neanderthal like face, with a big brow and strong starring eyes.

”Hello Gaston.” Lisa said flashing a smile. Then she kneed him hard in the jaw, forcing him to drop her and stagger back. Her attack didn’t faze him for long. In a fit of unsealed anger, he picked up two chairs nearby and used them to attack her.

Gaston first swung at her head, forcing her to duck low. Then he chopped down at her with the other chair in his hand as she went into this vulnerable position. Lisa quickly jumped backwards rolling onto the old wooden floor. The chair hit the ground and shattered like glass, sending splinters and chunks of wood flying. He quickly repeated his attack with the other chair, but this time Lisa didn’t jump away. Rather, she moved closer towards him.

The second chair blew up as it hit the floor just behind Lisa’s head. Then as soon as it did, Lisa grabbed Gaston under his shoulder and by the collar of his shirt and she twisted her hips quickly while lifting him upwards. A look of surprise lit up Gaston’s face, as his huge bulk was suddenly lifted up over this slender woman’s shoulder and was sent flipping over her. He landed on his back so heavily that the room shook with the impact.

Gaston let out a gasp trying to catch his breath. Lisa quickly spun around to stand over Gaston and punched him hard in the face knocking him out. By now Vance had recovered and was on his feet. In a rage he attacked her with a flurry of punches. Lisa could only raise her arms up quickly to defend her face from his onslaught.

He knocked her down onto one knee as she defended herself. Thinking she was being beaten, Vance powered up for a heavy blow. That’s when suddenly Lisa countered. She kicked out while spinning on her knee knocking out his foot from under him. Vance tumbled down landing on his butt and Lisa jumped up and outwards to attack him with a punch of her own. Yet her attack was cut short when Gaston suddenly let out a deafening roar.

He had regained his consciousness sooner than expected and jumped up turning towards Lisa. When Lisa took a glance at him, Vance used the opportunity to get up as well. Lisa was now pinched in between the two hulking men.

The crowd was cheering loudly throughout the edges of the room. John and Richard struggled to see what was happening inside. They shoved aside several people until they got to the front of the crowd to get a better view. From this point on they couldn’t believe their eyes. Lisa looked like a tiger battling two oxen.

Standing in between the two men, Lisa was watching each carefully with quick glances. She knew this was a bad place to be in, but she still had some tricks up her sleeve. The two men suddenly tried attacking her at the same time. Vance swung fast and wide at her, while Gaston reached out to grab her. In a blur of motion, Lisa jumped high over the men’s attacks! Then, like from some action movie, she kicked both men squarely in the face while performing a split!

The impact stunned them, and they staggered back. Gaston’s outstretched arm was closest when Lisa landed, and she grabbed it and spun throwing him at Vance. The two collided and fell to the floor in a tangled pile. Lisa then jump at Gaston with both feet and planted them on his head. This time he was immediately knocked out for good. Finally, she turned towards Vance and slugged him hard in the face also knocking him out before he had the chance to block.

The fight was over!

”The Queen wins!” Someone yelled and others began cheering her nickname.

”Queen! Queen! Queen!”

She had done it! Not only had she won but gained a reputation as a Match competitor. Now she would be able to have the chance to meet the Mad Dog boss. Or so she thought that was how it was going to play out. Plans just never work out how you’d want them too.

Turning to the other two men that were with Vance and Gaston, Lisa headed for them. The two handlers were clearly shocked to see that their guys had lost. They, however, quickly recovered as she approached them.

”Now, let’s talk.” Lisa said breathing a bit heavy. She had taken little damage and couldn’t wait to get on with what was to follow. ”I have to ask you first, how soon can you set me up with the Mad Dog boss?”

The first guy that spoke was a small man with a nice purple and gold jacket, his chubby cheeks wobbled as he spoke, ”I can’t help you with that. I’m afraid. I am only a merchant from out of town. I was just here to set up some trade deals.”

”Really? Well hold on for a moment. We might be able to do some business because I’m also in the merchant profession.” Lisa said interested in what he might be trading. She then looked at the other man. ”How about you?”

”Well I can’t directly set up a meeting with the Boss.” The second man said a bit timidly. He was just slightly shorter than she was and just as thin, if not more so. His nervous brown eyes darted around like he was afraid to be seen talking to her. ”I can get you into another Match with one of his lieutenants though. Jackson Williams, you heard of him, right?”

”Ya, I know of him.” Lisa lied. She had to act like she knew him to help smooth over things.

”Cool, cool. I can set up a way for you two to meet back here. But it’ll be a few days.” The thin guy said nervously looking at her.

”Why not now? Or today?” Lisa said taking an impatient step towards him.

”I can’t just force him to show up. He’d kill me.” The guy said holding up his hands defensively. ”Best I can do is two days. Just come back here and I’ll be in this same spot, I promise! My name is Jerry by the way.”

”Well then Jerry. I hope for your sake you do.” Lisa said with bit of intimidation dancing in her voice.

Jerry nodded vigorously and slipped by her and bolted through the crowd to the door. Along the way he pushed in between John and Richard that were coming over to Lisa. They didn’t say anything to her. They were absolutely speechless.

Lisa turned back to the merchant, ”So please tell me, what do you trade? I too am also a merchant interested in opening a trade channel here. Perhaps we can do some business? You can just call me Queen for now.” She said giving him a reassuring smile.

”Well this is interesting. Sure, we can talk.” The chubby guy said gesturing to a table that wasn’t smashed up from the fight. The two sat down facing each other.

”My name is Frank Sellers. I deal in metal and construction materials.”