Running on Merit

How do you lead a revolution when there is no government to overthrow, and what should society give up for the sake of safety, stability, and economic growth? In a world with no government, no safety nets, no privacy, and no value other than your credit score, what does it take to succeed and what is that success really worth?

Meet Patch Robinson, an awkward teenager who has survived on the streets scrounging for scraps of food left behind by the posh society that sprung up after the world's banks decided to stop investing in world governments. He's bright, cautious, and can run like the wind. When a wealthy patron spots his talent and makes him an offer, it opens up a new world to him. But even as he moves into a life of luxury, he sees the darkness behind the system that keeps him fed.

Gwendolyn Reynolds is a lost remnant of the abandoned Midwest, getting by on her wits and innate fighting skills & spirit. A chance encounter with an aging man of lost renown opens her eyes to the possibility of making a difference. But how can a teenage girl change society when she barely has enough to eat?

Revolution is coming. Discover the paths Patch and Gwen take through relationships, self-realization, and loss-the paths that bring them together at a critical moment and could change the course of the world order forever.

"Remarkably, little changed once the Economic Wars ended and all government assets were transferred to the bank corporations in exchange for the overwhelming debts the world's government owed. People still drove to the box grocery stores to buy the same milk, eggs, and doughnuts. People still owned and worked for companies trying to beat out their competitors. Differences showed up in more subtle ways: Teachers no longer wasted time with standardized tests. People no longer feared flashing lights in the rearview mirror when running late to work on Monday mornings. No more body scans took place at the airports. Reports of terrorism, mass shootings, and homemade car bombs no longer kept news organizations solvent. No privacy meant no more crime."