Chapter Nine: Kinsie

As Kinsie entered the Cantina she realized that she was being followed.  She smiled, in this small of a settlement it was hard to go unnoticed.  The Bounty Hunter was no exception.  Kinsie moved into the cantina greeting a few of the bikers as she passed tables.  No need for secrecy anymore.  Information was obviously flowing freely between the two groups as a few locals sat at tables with the bikers.  The take-over would be relatively easy, this settlement was ready for anything that could help them out of whatever hole they had dug.

Kinsie approached the bar and smiled at one of the servers.  The same zabrak that had served the group earlier.  She smiled back and took her tray of drinks out into the crowded tables.  The bartender was missing from behind the bar.  Kinsie shrugged and turned to watch the rest of the cantina, arms resting against the bar.

The musicians lively music was just loud enough to cover any conversation at the tables, but not loud enough to cause challenges with the exchange of information.  The din in the cantina was vibrant, a drastic difference from earlier in the day.  One of the bikers took a seat next to Kinsie at the bar.

“The locals are free with information,” he said casually.  “But they are anxious about what is going to happen.  They see our strength and have some fear.  Some believe that we are here to collect the debt the community owes.”

“Any indication on what the debt is related to?” Kinsie responded.

“More related to who the debt is owed,” the biker replied.  “The Exchange.”

“Ah, I can only guess the reason for it, strange that the entire community is involved in the debt and not just one person,” Kinsie pondered.  “The Exchange doesn’t tend to employ entire communities.”

“I think the community involvement is a secondary consequence of the relation with The Exchange.”  the biker shrugged.  “Usually The Exchange doesn’t deal this harshly with it’s suppliers.”

“There is more than just that I do believe,” Kinsie smiled.  “A lot more, thank you for the information.”

“Would you like a mug of ale?” The bartender asked as he moved back behind the bar.

“IF that’s all you have then I have no choice.  Though if you have something sweeter I would enjoy that better,” Kinsie responded turning towards the bartender.

“Sweeter we have, but not in drink,” the bartender flirted as he started to pour the mug full of the bitter drink.  “This one is on us.  Thank you.”

Kinsie smiled, bowed her head and moved off to a table in a darker corner that had just been vacated.  She wanted to watch the patrons a little more before she went looking for more information.  As she scanned the cantina she notes that the Bounty Hunter had taken the same table as he had earlier in the afternoon.  This time however he had company.

Catching the eye of one of the bikers Kinsie quickly spread a warning about the Bounty Hunter. No one was to engage him.  If he asked for information they were to refuse and direct him to her.  There was something that seemed odd about him in this place, and she would not risk the hospitality of the settlement on a false move.  She watched as the message spread to the rest of the bikers.

Slipping into the booth she pulled shadows closer to her.  Not to disappear, but to become less noticed.  She watched the bikers share information with the locals and the locals share information with them.  She sipped her ale and smiled.  The only anomaly was the Bounty Hunter.  She watched him intently.

He seemed disconnected, not entirely paying attention to the conversation around him, but not entirely ignoring it either.  More watching the entire scene as she was.  He did not share information but nodded as the conversation around him brought information to him.  His actions, movements, and responses giving little away of his actual intent.  He was potentially dangerous, yet seemed somehow caged.

“May I sit for a moment,” the zabrak server asked quietly from off to the left of the booth.

“You may,” Kinsie replied, she had felt the zabrak approach and so was not disturbed by her request, in fact had been hoping for it.

“You watch him intently,” the zabrak smiled.  “Be cautious of him, he is not one to be trifled with.”

“I gather that piece of advice comes from experience,” Kinsie shrugged seemingly brushing the comment aside.

“Unfortunate experience that,” she sighed.  “One I have tried to rectify since, but he is skeptical of all offerings.”

“You are being criptic,” Kinsie stated.  “For a reason I presume.  No don’t answer that, I know what you practice, there is no need to keep secrets.  I know what you keep below ground.”

The zabrak’s eyes narrowed.  The power she held in a tight grip threatening at her control.  Kinsie smiled and leaned closer to the zabrak.  Her eyes bright with amusement.

“Your reaction,” Kinsie chuckled. “Confirmed more than I already knew.  Relax, we are not here to disturb your life, but certainly to enhance it.  How long has it been since you had a play thing?”

“It has been,” the server began then sighed heavily. “Too long.  Too very long.”

“As I had thought,” Kinsie leaned back in the booth.  “I would help with that if I could.  How many have you had at once.”

The zabrak’s eyes this time went wide.  The thought of more than one play thing was something she had only ever dreamed of.  To be able to practice openly was the only way that such was possible and in this settlement it could never be done.  She realized that her face was again speaking for her and tried to settle her excitement.

“Oh, only ever one,” Kinsie smiled brightly.  “Our last dominatrix left us many years ago, her place has never been filled.  What is your name my dear?”

“Ysme, my name is Ysme,” the zabrak found herself responding. “I-I”

“Do not be ashamed of what you are, Ysme,” Kinsie soothed.  “You are powerful and the Syndicate would have such as you as ally rather than enemy.  Your talents, well this place doesn’t use enough of them.”

“Thank you,” Ysme smiled, it broke some of the spell between the two.  “Be careful of the Bounty Hunter.”

“Has he a name?” Kinsie asked.  She watched as the Bounty Hunter approached from behind Ysme.

“My name is none of your concern I would think,” he responded loudly enough for a few of the bikers to become more alert.

“I call him Hunter, it is enough,” Ysme frowned over her shoulder,  “I should be getting back to work.  Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Kinsie smiled as Ysme floated off to pick up more mugs for delivery, she motioned for the Bounty Hunter to sit.

So much information passed is such a short conversation with the server.  This was her bar, she was the one who kept the peace in it.  For fear of what lived below.  Yet, Kinsie was impressed that it was not well known about Ysme’s appetite.  An interesting concept, there were not many with her particular talent who could keep the cravings at bay for as long as she had.  The release of them would be extremely powerful and possibly destructive, depending on the victim.

“So Hunter,” Kinsie smiled turning her attentions to the Bounty Hunter.  “Where is the rest of your crew?”

“Damn it, how?” the Bounty Hunter responded.

“More easily than you know,” Kinsie laughed.  “You don’t fit in here, yet your actions are not of a follower but a leader, so it just fits.  You might as well tell me you name, I am bound to figure it out eventually. Wait, don’t, that would ruin my fun.”

The Bounty Hunter snorted, crossed his arms and leaned back in the booth.  He stared hard at the twi’lik sitting across the table from him.  She was bluffing, he could feel it, but something about her bluff held a little bit of truth.  She enjoyed gathering information.  That much was obvious.

“You tell me something and I might share,” the Bounty Hunter grumbled, he really did hate being in this position, the twi’lik nodded her head.  “Who are you after in this settlement?”

“We are not here for one person,” Kinsie smiled, “In fact, no one here is even remotely of interest to us, save you and only because you don’t fit in here.  Unless you are the true leader of this settlement.”

“Ha,” the Bounty Hunter scoffed, “No, you have met the leaders of this settlement, for what it’s worth, they are more than they appear.”

“As are you,” Kinsie responded.  “So are you the reason for the long range communication blackout?”

“Only in part,” the Bounty Hunter took a sip of his mug of ale and grimaced.  “Didn’t help that I blew up the communications tower.”

“The crater on the edge of town was your doing?” Kinsie nodded at her question which wasn’t really a question.  “You must have been after a big prize, double crossed?”

“You could say that,” the Bounty Hunter nodded.  “Alright names, I still don’t know yours and you don’t know mine, might be easier to get information from each other if we stopped trying to figure out who each other is.”

The Bounty Hunter was getting tired of pulling information.  Even though it was his usual way of doing things, with her it seemed harder.  Or maybe he was just out of practice.  He slumped a little more against the booth feeling just a little more defeated.

“My name is Kinsie,” Kinsie responded, “Cheer up, I think we can help you with your dilemma.”

“Kinsie,” the Bounty Hunter repeated, “Nice, they all me Killswitch.”

Kinsie smiled, she had heard rumors about a Killswitch lost and believed dead.  Yet the crew he belonged to still had their bounty up for information on their captain.  Kinsie leaned closer to Killswitch and reached out to touch is gloved hand.

“They will be here soon.” Kinsie whispered.

Killswitch sat up straighter.  Had he really heard her.  His crew still looked for him.  He turned to look directly at her, questions in his eyes.  She smiled and nodded removing her hand and leaning back into the shadows.  The promise was there, but could he believe it.  It didn’t matter, really, the settlement would never let him go, he sagged again and looked down at the table.

“It will happen,” Kinsie her voice so soft he could scarce make out what she was saying.  “We have eyes and ears everywhere.  It will happen, but only if you wish it to.”

“Nothing more would I wish than to get out of this forsaken place,” Killswitch responded, his head snapping around as he heard his own voice.  More quietly he asked.  “What do I need to do?”

“I know you spy for one of the settlements council members,” Kinsie explained the request, “convince her that the offered arrangement is in the best interest of all involved.  Leave out that we will help you get back to your crew, as this will only occur should you prove useful in this arrangement.   Should you fail…”

“I will give myself to Ysme, should I fail,” Killswitch smiled.  “And thus I will not.  Your offer to the settlement, exactly what is it?”

“Takeover, removal of all debt to the Exchange in exchange for the settlement, infrastructure and those who wish to stay and work for Kajidic,” Kinsie returned Killswitch’s smile.  “Those that do not wish to stay are free to go and find new homes, we will assist with transport to the nearest port city.  Those wishing to stay are free they have no debt and no asset.  They are free to work for Kajidic to gain everything they could ever desire.  Our leader is just, but cross us and well…we do employ some of the most powerful and deadly assassins known to, well I guess I should say not known.”

“And me,” Killswitch asked, “Does the offer also stand for me and my crew?”

“Should you wish it, we could always use another bounty hunting crew, especially one as loyal and deadly as yours,” Kinsie nodded.  “Should the settlement choose to not assist we will leave, none will come with us and you will all die, painfully I am afraid, death by starvation is not an easy death.  And we will return when that has happened to claim the town.  It would not take long.”

“You see this,” Killswitch frowned.

“Not in certainty, but the settlement food supply is in question, soon you will start to eat the rat creatures, if you have not already, they might be plentiful now, but that will not last, and then there will be the sicknesses that come with this type of meat.  The water and ale are already somewhat in question,” Kinsie stated.  “But this you already know.  I am not telling you anything you aren’t already aware of.  People leave to return changed, mad.  When you listen the walls speak of such things.”

Killswitch nodded.  He had been witness to many of these things.  People so far gone that they could not even be brought back through any means.  It was strange that the bikers did not have the same reaction to being outside of the town.  Then again the hills and valleys were mazes and without proper directional tools one got lost easily and the creatures that lived in the valleys were something from nightmares.

“I will help.  I will not fail,” Killswitch agreed.  “If I do Ysme can have a new play thing as I would be useless to anyone for much else.”

“I will not tell her,” Kinsie nodded.  “As you will not fail.  Oh, and what tipped you off to her?”

“It’s the way she moves.” Killswitch said distractedly as he watch Ysme walk from table to table.  “It’s hypnotic.  Kind of like you.  I should go.”

Kinsie scanned the cantina floor, she had been watching it as the night and conversation had worn on.  She had watched the bikers slowly leave back to camp.  Now only a few remained.  Those that did had partaken in too much ale, many had heads down snoring on tables.  This would not do.

“I too must go, it is late, and I must attend a meeting at dawn.” Kinsie stood and stretched, the movement seductive.  “Sleep well Hunter.”

Kinsie moved through the cantina waking the sleeping bikers and ushering them out of the cantina.  She used the force to clear the minds of those who had partaken of too much ale and sent them all on their way back to camp.

“Thank you,” Ysme said from the door way.  “It would have been awkward to get them out at closing.”

“Ah yes, I know,” Kinsie smiled as she turned and started towards the Inn.  “I too used to run a Cantina.  You are welcome.  Goodnight.”

Kinsie walked back to the Inn and the room she had rented.  She had a few hours before she needed to meet Josey and a lot to meditate on.  She had stirred up a two of the locals that would be beneficial to the cause.  The server Ysme would be extremely useful when the time came to deal with the enemies of Kajidic.  Killswitch, well, his return to his crew would return credits to the Syndicate and potentially create another ally, of which you could never really have enough.