Andy Cerberus's Arc

Chapter 2 of 4

Andy pushed through the SuperMart's metal doors and stepped into the main trading floor. Dust motes floated in the morning light streaming through the windows. He'd cleared the debris and fixed the structure, but an empty marketplace wouldn't attract anyone. The tabby pulled a worn notebook from his jacket pocket and flipped to a list he'd written three days ago. First priority: get actual goods on the shelves. He needed inventory before word could spread. The orange cat locked the doors behind him and headed toward the old mining district where he'd stashed his first cache. The prewar fuel station sat quiet in the morning heat, its blue and white facade still holding color after two hundred years. Andy had passed it dozens of times while mapping the area. He pushed through the door and found exactly what he'd hoped for—a natural gathering spot. Two merchants stood near a cracked counter, trading information about safe routes east. Andy listened for ten minutes, memorizing names and locations. The Pilot Travel Center would become his intelligence hub. Every trader who stopped here carried knowledge worth more than caps. Back at the SuperMart three hours later, Andy hauled crates from the mining cache into the trading floor. Pre-war tools, sealed medical supplies, and ammunition lined the shelves. He stepped outside and rang the bronze bell mounted on the tower he'd assembled from salvaged wood. The deep tone carried across the settlement. Merchants would learn that sound meant the marketplace was open. Two caravans appeared within the hour, drawn by the bell and rumors of fresh inventory. As the sun dropped toward the horizon, Andy sealed the day's profits inside a shipping container behind the SuperMart. The grey camouflage paint helped it blend against the rocks. He spun the lock and tested the door twice. The container would protect high-value goods overnight until he could afford real security. Andy walked back inside and counted the caps from his first day of real trading. Not enough to make his move yet, but enough to prove Broken Hills could work. He updated his notebook with three new merchant contacts and two route maps. The foundation was holding.