Oscar "Madd Tabby" Glens's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Oscar watched the Red Rock leader trace the boundary lines with one claw. The Atomic Cats leader nodded slowly. This was progress, but Oscar knew words meant nothing without action. He rolled up the maps and stood. "We test this for one week," he said. "Atomic Cats work the old factory district. Red Rock takes the collapsed housing blocks. Anyone finds trouble, we share the intel." Both sides agreed. Oscar shook paws with each leader. The real work started now. Oscar needed a place to keep records and track the agreement. He walked three blocks to the old U-Store-It building. The tan and blue exterior had faded, but the structure held strong. Green letters still marked the sign above the entrance. Inside, someone had cleared out the storage units and built office space. Oscar found filing cabinets and a working desk. He spread his maps on the table and started writing down each crew's assigned territory. Names, boundaries, and contact schedules filled the pages. This building would hold the proof of their deal. Back at his workshop, Oscar checked his power supply. The Dewey Electronics generator sat in the corner, its jungle camouflage paint chipped but intact. He needed it running to keep his equipment powered. Tools, lights, and communication gear all depended on steady electricity. He topped off the fuel and pulled the starter cord. The generator coughed once, then settled into a steady hum. Oscar adjusted the output and plugged in his radio. If either crew needed to reach him fast, he had to be ready. Water would matter too. Oscar dragged the MECO filtration system outside and connected it to his catchment barrels. The metal casing gleamed despite years of use. Clean water meant he could offer coffee to both crews when they checked in. Shared drinks built trust better than shared threats. He tested the flow and watched clear water fill his cup. The system worked. One week to prove peace could pay better than war. Oscar locked his tools away and headed out to check on the first day's salvage runs. Results would tell the story, not promises.