Chapter One: Crime Lord – The Beginning

Crime Lord – The beginning

He stood at the top of a dune and looked down at the pathetic settlement below.  This was the place that he had been directed to.  The settlement was pathetically small, out of the way, and it looked like the locals had not seen anything of the war or even knew that Empire and Republic forces again tangled in their fight for power.  Pathetic, but perfect, exactly what was needed for the home of the newly organized Crime Syndicate.

The roar of swoop bikes could be heard coming up behind him.  He turned to face his crew as they pulled up at the bottom of the rise where he stood surveying the settlement.  One of his lieutenants got off his bike and walked up beside the Crime Lord to look down on the settlement.

The lieutenant was a bulky figure fully decked out in armor colored in blues, greens and greys.  Though you could hardly tell the color under all the dust and dirt.  He removed his helmet as he looked down on the settlement.  His dark eyes scanned the small group of buildings; he scowled as he turned to face the Crime Lord.

“This the place boss?” He asked.  The Crime Lord nodded.  “How are we going to handle the take over?”

“That should be simple,” the Crime Lord responded. “What do you see?”

“Nothing more than a small settlement, little traffic, though they have a landing area for ships and what could be taken as a space doc.  Seems more like a smuggler town then anything big and special.” the lieutenant replied

“Yep that’s what you are seeing,” the Crime Lord smiled wickedly. “What I see is an opportunity to grow.  We are going to invite them to join us or die.”

“I always like your plans,” the lieutenant grinned.

“But first pick a couple of other officers to come down to the settlement for the first meeting with the locals,” the Crime Lord instructed.  “Instruct the others to stay hidden in the hills.  We will be back by midnight and if not they will need to come get us.”

The lieutenant walked back to the ranks and spread the instructions.  He chose two other officers, one a lithe twi’lek with slave markings covered over by freedom tattoos, the other a huge human brut with friendly eyes.  The three rejoined the Crime Lord and they headed down to the seemingly quiet settlement.

The group headed for the only cantina located near the far end of town.  This required that they needed to ride directly through the middle of the settlement.  Settlers watched from the edges of the dirt streets as the swoops past by.  All looked a little startled by the sudden appearance of the bikers, apparently they did not have much of this type of traffic.  The group parked in front of the Cantina.

“One of you stay with the bikes, we will come get you when we know how things will proceed,” the Crime Lord instructed.  “My lady, shall we.”

The twi’lik smiled and took the offered arm as they entered the Cantina followed by fully armored lieutenant.  Small and dark the Cantina itself was almost deserted.  The barkeep, a muscled twi’lik with light blue skin and dark blue tattoos, cleaned dust out of classes with a dirty rag.  A patron sat hunched at the corner of the bar staring into his mug.  A holo dancer shone from the corner where musicians played hypnotic music.  Her movements matching the rhythm increasing the hypnotic value of the music.

The floor was hard packed dirt, rutted where drinks, blood or both had been spilled.  The tables looking beat up and well used.  A dive if ever one was found.  The group found a table in the corner across from the door and sat down, the Crime Lord against the wall, the twi’lik at one side and the fully armored lieutenant with his back to the door.  It was a practiced seating routine.
A curvaceous zabrak server floated over to the table.  Her clothing dusty and worn, but her posture strong and sure.  Her movements all but made up for the dust covering her clothing and in the darkness her skin seemed to glow slightly red.  This was a poor settlement, but the residents were proud.  A challenging combination, but not impossible to take over with the right offer.

“What can I get you strangers?” the zabrak asked, her voice melodic and gentle, for all of the hardships that the settlement portrayed her voice told none.

“Well, being we are strangers what do you serve,” the twi’lik asked in a similarly melodic tone mirroring the zabracks.

“Now that would be the question of the day,” the Zabrack laughed, another sound unexpected in a place such as this.  “Pipe what’s in stock today?”

The barkeep laughed deeply, a reverberating sound that seemed to shake the floor, and wiped what could have been a tear from his eye before answering to her question.

“The same as always darling, Huttese or Lomin Ale,” the barkeep responded when he was done laughing. “Make sure their credits are good or they can leave now.”

“We have plenty of credits.” The Crime Lord responded quietly to the server.  “A round of Lomin Ale will do.”

“Three Lomin Pipe,” the zabrak yelled with a smile. “In clean mugs if you will.”

She floated back to the bar to wait for the mugs of ale.  The twi’lik squeezed the Crime Lords leg just above the knee where the sensation would get attention.  At the action he realized that he had been staring at the sway of the zabrack’s hips as she had walked away.

“She is intoxicating,” he murmured. “This place has potential.  Lots of potential.”

“Agreed,” the twi’lek smiled.  “But is it the place or the people that you are being seduced by.  We are here to take over not fit in.  There is much work to do if this settlement is to become our base of operations.  It is out of the way and small enough to not be noticed if things change, but how much bloodshed will be needed for the change.  Don’t get too lost in the sway of one server’s hips my lord, or you will lose sight of your goal.”

The Crime Lord nodded and turned his head toward the door.  The Brut of a lieutenant sat on his bike watching some children inch closer to the twi’lik’s swoop.  He started to growl and the children ran off.

“How would you like to pay for these?” the Zabrak was back with the drinks.

“Credits of course, will this do?” the Crime Lord displayed a golden card, somewhat transparent.

The zabrak snatched it from his hand and scanned it across a pad she wore on her wrist.  The pad hummed and chirped approval.  The zabrak smiled and handed the card back.  She then placed the mugs on the table.  The fully armored lieutenant grabbed one and took a gulp.  The drink was strong and as he swallowed his face turned red, then white and then red again.

“Well I am going to say that the local drink is pretty much as strong as Huttese Ale,” the twi’lik chuckled watching the fully armored lieutenant sputter and regain his composure.

“Yah think,” He squawked.

“Sorry I should have warned you about the first taste,” the zabrak smiled.  “However, I like to see new patrons squirm just a little.”

“I would caution you on that in the future,” the Crime Lord warned.  “You never know who you might be serving.”

“In this backwater.  Who would come here?” the zabrak shrugged, turned and went to serve a new patron who had sat at a table on the opposite side of the bar from the Trio.

The group had come into town later in the afternoon and as the day turned into evening a few more patrons turned up.  As they came in the door they eyed the Brut and the swoops.  They sat cautiously and you could see them asking the zabrak who the group in the corner were.  The zabrak shrugged as she had never asked who they were.

“I think we are safe enough, Serialz, why don’t you go and take Babaloou off watch.  He would enjoy the local brew more than you seem to be.” the Crime Lord suggested.

The fully armored lieutenant, Serialz, nodded and pushed his chair back from the table.  As he turned the Crime Lord noted three locals watching cautiously.  They were trying not to be obvious and failed miserably.  The twi’lek also noticed the attraction.

“I will be back.  That bunch seems to want to talk to you.  A distraction seems to be in order” the twi’lek stood and made her way towards the musicians.
As she past tables patrons turned and watched her move.  The Crime Lord Smiled.  Serialz chose well in those to accompany them to the cantina.  She was the distraction that was needed for the leaders of the community to feel more comfortable approaching the Crime Lord.

Three locals approached the Crime Lord’s table.  They looked like they had worked hard somewhere all day.  Their faces looked stern, but not unwelcoming.  The lead, a male, looked human, but you could never really tell, was tall and lean.  His dark hair closely cropped.  He wore newer clothes which seemed less worn than other patrons in the cantina.  He nodded to patrons as he passed their tables.

The second male, was shorter than the first, not quite stocky, but thicker.  He wore what could have been taken as armor, but looked used and did not quite fit right and seemed to have a pink hue.  His eyes didn’t miss anything as they past the tables and turned to follow the twi’lik as she talked with the musicians.

The third was female. Thin, pale skinned and hooded.  She seemed to glide along the floor.  The Crime Lord had a natural distrust of people who continually kept their faces in shadows and watched her intently as the trio approached his table.

“May we join you?” The lead male asked.

“By all means,” the Crime Lord motioned to the available seats at the table.  “Who do I have the pleasure of welcoming to my table?”

“I am Lord Tareq, these are my associates Veriag and Shala,” the lead male introduced. “You made quite an impression with your arrival.”

“A settlement of this size must not get many travelers not aboard freighters,” the Crime Lord acknowledged.

“We don’t get much traffic period these days, much has been routed elsewhere because of the war,” Lord Tareq scoffed.  “And who might you be that you come overland so as to avoid announcing your arrival?”

“Someone looking for the perfect location for a new venture,” the Crime Lord skirted the question.

“Well, that didn’t directly answer the question, but certainly gives us an idea of your intent” Shala smiled, folding the cowl of her hood back to reveal her face and bright red hair.  “I guess I can live with that.”

The Crime Lord from the corner of his eye watched the surrounding patrons to make sure that everyone was still more interested in their own conversations and saw that Serialz and Babaloou had taken seats at the bar.  The twi’lik had apparently convinced the musicians that she could dance better than the holodancer and had started to entertain the patrons.

“I believe in straight talk,” the Crime Lord responded.  “No reason to lead people on with flowery language when you can speak plain.”

“What type of venture are you looking for?” Veriag replied quickly. “We are a poor settlement without much to offer.”

“Ah well that is the thing, your little settlement location is precisely what I need,” the Crime Lord chuckled.

“We don’t want any trouble here, that’s why we settled so far out,” Lord Tareq growled.

“I am not bringing trouble, and to settle this far out, you are either already associated with a Syndicate or you have thoughts of forming your own.” The Crime Lord said simply.  “You can’t stay hidden out here with that size of landing area for ships.  A settlement this size shouldn’t need large freighters to drop off shipments.  That is unless”

The unspoken statement hung in the air…Unless you are a smuggling operation.  Lord Tareq sat stoic, no emotion playing across his features.  The other two on the other hand seemed not he have his control and displayed a variety of emotions from fear to anger.

“I am not here to rat you out for whatever you are doing out here.  Again I come looking for a location,” the Crime Lord continued.

“And if we are not willing to agree with whatever you are proposing,” Veriag asked.

“Well, we shall see about what happens then,” the Crime Lord smiled brightly.  “I like your little backwater, might be that I stay and do what I came to do regardless of your acceptance, might be I leave and you never see me again, might be, well you get the idea.”

“Who are you that you can make statements like that?” Shala asked.

“Who I am is relevant to what I am looking for,” the Crime Lord responded.  “It is the offer that I would make that is important to me and my associates.”

“I don’t like this,” Shala whispered.  “You are too hedgy yet say that you believe in straight talk.”

“What is the proposition?” Lord Tareq interrupted.

“The war has started again between the Republic and Empire.  There are opportunities for profit if you know how to navigate both sides.  I bring you an offer related to profit for your little community,” the Crime Lord began.  “I would tell you more, but I fear the walls here have ears and would prefer a more, controlled environment.”

“We are well aware of the war and take no part,” Shala snapped.

“Calm Shala,” Lord Tareq touched her gently on the arm.  “We are a small community, your presence is already known throughout including the riders you left over the ridge.  Do not be fooled about us, we may be a backwater place, but we have been approached before to be owned by a Syndicate and wish no part of this.”

“I have made no mention of ownership only of profit,” the Crime Lord lowered his voice taking a serious tone.  “Not only for myself, but for all who take up the offer.  Again I ask is there someplace more controlled we can speak further?”

“All walls have ears,” Veriag finally addressed the question at hand.  “Especially in a small community might as well just spit out what you are offering.  Secrets make the people, somewhat distrustful.”

“As you will,” the Crime Lord motioned to the twi’lik to come back to the table. “I would like to make your settlement the home for Kajidic.  I do not want to take over your community, but for you to join Kajidic as members.  This makes us all stronger.  I will provide security for your settlement, trade, and increased revenue for all, in exchange for your location, the space doc, such as it is, and your participation in the running of Kajidic.  Here is the offer in its entirety.”

The Crime Lord turned over a data sheet that the twi’lek handed him.  Lord Tareq read the message, his face betraying no emotion.  The offer was sound and the plan would bring prosperity to the little community.  It would however also bring notice and unpredictable elements.  It could be trouble.  He handed the sheet to Shala.

“Your proposal is interesting.” Lord Tareq smiled.  “We hold no love for the Republic, but I feel it is too early to pick sides.  This needs more thought.  We cannot give you an answer now.”

“Understandable.  Will you allow the rest of my men to join us in your fair settlement or shall we stay camped on the edge of your town?” the Crime Lord asked his voice turning somewhat cold.  “I can guarantee no trouble will be made with your people.”

Lord Tareq nodded sharply.  He could read that there really wasn’t an option to this request.  Either allow the members from this Kajidic to enter or not let them and have the settlement residents wonder what was happening.  Veriag and Shala nodded as well.

“No trouble,” Veriag snarled.  “We also have our security forces.”

The Crime Lord nodded.  The Cantina would get very full quickly.  Instructions would need to be given to the members, and those that were prone to causing trouble would be sent back to the ship to maintain its security.  Things had been fairly easy to this point, but it was now a waiting game.

“Thank you, for your hospitality.  I must give instructions to my members” The Crime Lord stood and extended his hand to Lord Tareq. “I await your response to the offer.  Do not take too long.  The longer we wait on this the longer it will take for profit to start being spread amongst your settlement and all of our members.”

“Good,” Lord Tareq nodded agreement.  “Veriag please let our proprietors know that we have guest incoming.  How many?”

“I believe we have close to a hundred riders with us,” the twi’lek smiled.  “If your accommodations can’t hold that many we can set up our own.”

“Good,” Lord Tareq said again this time his voice held the emotion of someone trying to grasp what was happening.  “Our proprietors cannot hold that many.”

The Crime Lord smiled.  This settlement was ready, almost.  There were a few things that would push them into joining, and one would require a lot of credits.  Good thing they had come prepared for such a scenario.  He nodded to the trio and moved around the table to head for the door.  Serialz and Babaloou sat waiting on their bikes.

“Kinsie, I believe you have some scouting to do,” the Crime Lord smiled mischievously.  “We shall be back in a couple of hours and I will await your report.  Specifically on who runs this cantina and how much they will take to part with it.”

“Done,” the twi’lek, Kinsie, nodded.  “See you soon Sweetie.”

That said Kinsie slid onto her swoop and took off toward the outskirts of town.  The Crime Lord smiled and climbed aboard his own bike.  He took a last look into the Cantina to see that the trio he hadjust met with had their heads together around the table.

“Let’s ride,” the Crime Lord instructed gunning the engines and sped off in the same direction Kinsie had just taken.