Location: Harvest, Clint
The sun was high in the sky casting its hot grace across the land. Low pulled his hat brim down to help try and mitigate the glare but in landscape like this it only did so well. He could feel the heat through his clothes, it was oppressing but welcome. From spending time on stations and other planets he had come to appreciate the heat when he could get it. The cold made old wounds ache. The town of Clint was ahead of them on the old dirt road, the mule speeding towards it a small cloud of dust having been kicked up behind it as they drove along. It wasn’t as if they were trying to hide their approach.
He hazard a glance over at Kitsune who was sitting back and seeming to enjoy the ride. He could see the man’s eyes peering into the distance, he figured it was either that he was looking for trouble, or still thinking about those ladies they had run into at their meeting with the new pseudo employer.
They continued the rest of the way just the same, in silence. Low was certainly scanning for trouble as they came into the town. He slowed the mule as they crossed the town line, the streets were well kept for dirt, and the town itself seemed to be in decent shape. He noticed almost immediately that the streets had cleared as they approached, which was never a good sign. Usually meant trouble, but the question burning in the back of his mind was did they consider them trouble, or something else.
He pulled the mule to a stop near a saloon, and glanced over at Kitsune. “Friendly bunch, they scattered as we came into town.” he said as he dismounted from the vehicle setting the parking brake and shutting down the engine. He slowly slung his rifle, and scanned the buildings. He could see the occasional set of eyes squinting through curtains, or peering around sils or doorjams. “You’d think they were expecting trouble.” he smirked at the thought glancing back over at Kitsune.
“I think they live in trouble and want to keep it to a minimum. Just hope that doesn’t leave us with an empty bar, unable to gather information from talkative drinkers.” Kit replied. He ran over the lists in his mind. Missing persons, hired guns, oppressed people and a greedy land shark. This had a lot of stink on it for him. Kit began taking in the surrounding noting all the oddities. He noticed a lot of piping and wiring running around the outside of buildings and houses. Definitely quickly constructed, or cheaply. Yet the cleared streets showed a touch of care given to the town. Perhaps these were patch jobs for frequent repairs. The pipes would indicate a good sized plant of some sort, the might be running water but Kit would hazard it was a gas or something valuable. The presence of a few old solar farms and wind turbines might have meant the power was frequently interrupted or that its non existent. Also the lack of water collection barrels or devices concerned him, clearly this wasn't a place super hard up on its luck, or a people who are used to the hardships. He didn't get the feeling this town was formed around an every man for himself mentality. “I get the feeling when Dark said he doesn’t get missing persons here, he meant it.” Looking to Low. “Might have stuck our noses into something here.”
Low stepped up onto the wooden porch in front of the Saloon, turning to survey the buildings once more, nodding in agreeance with Kitsune. “Yeah, it is somewhat peculiar from what were used to seeing out in these parts of the verse. A bit contradictory even. Low turned and pushed his way through the doors to the Saloon, he grinned at the irony and cliche swinging door entrance. “Lucky day I suppose.” he said under his breath observing several people situated around the bar, some at tables, some standing and chatting, and a handful at the bar.
Kit scanned the room too, indeed it had a decent crowded, however Kit could easily recognise mercenaries. Most every patron was a hired gun, only one he figured was truly dangerous and he sat quietly alone at the end of the bar. A few citizens were present huddle in small groups at tables their hanging heads and silence giving them away. In a low voice, “Let's get a drink do a quick pass then I will engage the larger groups while you try to talk to the citizens discreetly as possible.” Kit began to walk to the bar, eyeing the selection. Pure rotgut or worse, garbage. Oh well least he won't be drinking much of it.
Low smiled as he watched Kitsune head towards the bar, “Discreet.” he muttered to himself. “We do discreet?” it was more of a rhetorical question, and half said under his breath, as thus far his experience with this man was anything but. He shrugged, and gave the Bartender a nod and turned to walk towards a small group of huddling citizens.
The group got quiet as one of them noted his approach. “Yes, I’m not from around here, and I only bite when you get quiet.” he said with a sneer, his voice kept low. “Names Low.” he said tipping his hat. “Figured if there was something to be learned about your nice little town here you might be able to help?” he asked knowing that they would likely hesitate.
“Nope.” one of them said quietly.
“Yeah,” another nervously took a drink of some obviously watered down swill. “Nothing we can help you with.” he said after flinching from the after effects of whatever it was he had just consumed.
The others just kept their eyes down, Low noticed that a few of the Mercenaries were trying very hard not to look like they were watching, but that feeling was unmistakable. Low nodded. “Very well, you fellas have a good day.” he said and tipped his hat, then glanced around to each of them, then finally settled on the man sitting at the end of the bar.
Low started walking towards him and he could feel the tension suddenly escalate in the room and Low noted the man dropping a pistol on the bar in front of him, his hand resting on the grip, his eyes slowly came up as Low approached.
Low gave him a nod, and settled onto the stool.
“Seat’s taken!” he said in a gruff voice.
“Yes it is.” Low said, and nodded to the keep. “I’ll have what he’s having, and you can refill his on my dime.” he said then turned his attention slowly back to the man who was regarding him carefully.
“You don’t take a hint well do ya?”
“Nope. Enjoy the drink on me. I’m not here for trouble, just information.” he said picking up the recently poured drink now sitting on front of him. It tasted like solvent, with a touch of cherry. It went down hard, and made him pause for a moment. “Okay maybe don’t enjoy the drink,” he regarded the glass and the liquid within. “Wow…”
The man seemed to tense up, staring at him, it took him a moment but he finished his current drink without looking away.
“You know if I was here to kill ya or start trouble I would have just shot you from the door, or across the street or something.” he said patting his rifles sling. “I’m a fair shot. Point is, as I said, were not here to cause trouble. Just looking for information.” he shifted in his chair taking another drink this time more cautiously. “Do you know how cliche that is?” he asked.
“What?”
“Seats taken.” Low said with a smirk.
“Sounded good at the time.” the man said, and slowly returned the pistol to its place on his belt hidden from sight. “What kind of information?”
Kit ordered two bottles of the finest, which on any other world would be tantamount to toilet water. There was a strong yet familiar smell lingering in the Bar. Rumblebooze, a hideous concoction that can be found in most any bar in the outer worlds. Each bars was different yet the same, it mixed a lot of leftover booze notably rum and ale. Mixed in with eggs, sugar, spices, bread crumb leftovers and served warm. It was good enough for a cheap booze or a cheap meal, if you had the intestinal fortitude for it. It had an additional benefit which Kit was going to need. It was a great medium for hangovers. Especially when taken with a greasy meal, which Kit was willing to bet would be the only thing found here.
Noticing Low he slapped his own face. Just wow he thought. Still to get the mercs attention he decided to shout to the bar. “Whos got cards!!” both bottles raised above his head. “Cause I ain't leavin without a pocket full of coin or no pockets at all.” This drew a large groups attention as the waved him over and pulled out a chair for him. A few of the side groups standing around began to crowed the table. “Hay Bar Keep, keep them coming dont wanna see any dry glasses in this place….the drunker they get the better my odds” Kit chuckled.
This was part of his plan, keep eyes on him, get the drunk maybe talkative drunk and happy, as they are getting drinks and money.
Low was pretty intent on keeping his eye on this Mercenary, but the ruckus was too much to resist, he took a glance over his shoulder at the commotion going on behind him, not entirely surprised, and even gave a bit of a chuckle.
The Bartender looked at Kit like he was a moron and shrugged grabbing three more bottles and heading to the table. When he got there “Coin first” he told Kit.
“Of course, of course” Kit put some Credits on the table prompting a look of disgust on the Barkeeps face. The hired guns on the other hand seemed more delighted at this notion. Probably thinking a Fancy man with credits is an easy mark, and Kit had every intention to playing to that.
Low returned his attention to the Mercenary, his eyes stopping on one particular tattoo, a familiar one. An eyebrow arched in curiosity. “Spent some times in the mines?” he asked, then pulled aside his shirt to show what was left of a similar tattoo on his shoulder, a bullet wound from not long ago had damaged it, but it was still discernible.
“Yup,” he said draining his glass. “But you didn’t come to compare tats. And we certainly aren't bonding, so speak your peace and then get out of my face!” he said rather gruffly, then pointed to his glass to which the bartender filled in a hurry.
Low nodded. “Straight to the point I guess. What do you know of missing persons around here?” he asked also going straight to the point.
Kit downed a shot and then readied for his hand. The cards were dealt and finally the Tall card was Red Diamond. Kit was sitting pretty if he was playing to win, but discarded three and got three in return. His hand was now officially trash.
The portly man next to him picked up the tall card, which probably meant he was going to be beating large this round. Kit sized him up. He was covered in dirt, more so than the rest of the patrons...a lot more. Loaded with tattoos and had a Sawed off Double Barrel Shotgun on his hip. He also had a series of small knives and a Meat hook on his other hip. Kit thought to himself, Really a meat hook. Clearly this guy was going for intimidation factor to get him out of some situations but was probably as dangerous as the Dealer. To round it all out he had studded biker gloves on.
The Skinny blond fellow on the other side of him folded. Kit couldn't help but notice the large amount of soot on his face, or GSR. The man's hair had a slight burnt look to it too. And His cloths well it was obvious now the man had been to close to some fire recently. When the man moved his right leg around it made a mechanical sound and when it bumped a table, it clanked. Clearly it was a prosthetic. The overall picture of this man was becoming clear.
Next to the Big guy was a Hispanic male, with a lot and not an exaggeration but a lot of facial scarring. One would think with a mug like that he would be wearing a mask. He wore a black trench coat with all black clothing. Kit could make out two distinct bulges on his hips and an X shaped belt across his waist confirmed dual weapons. Though much bigger than a pistol maybe some sort of repeater, possibly a shotgun. This was the guy Kit had to beat, couldn't let him remain in the game till the end, though not because he might be a good player he was just in the seat Kit needed to empty up.
“Missing persons…” he said indulging in his drink once more. “Can’t say that I do. People go missing, it happens.”
Low nodded slowly regarding him. “Right, I suppose I should have specified. How about recently? Any young kids, girls, mothers?” he asked taking another swallow of the rotgut, regretting it every time. “We were asked to look into the possibility of a missing young woman.”
The mercenary nodded slowly. “Yup. Couple days back. Don’t know more than that, though some guy fancied her, and she kept turning him away. Older guy, but she wouldn’t give him the time of day. Too young, I had half a mind to put a couple in him.” he said.
Low’s eyebrow rose again. A mercenary with a moral compass, that was hard to come by these days. Fascinating prospect, but Low could see that was about all he was going to get from this guy and simply nodded again. “Were just here looking for work, not to cause trouble for anyone that don’t need it.”
“It’s no secret who’s employing ya. Everyone say you burn in, just no one knew what to expect of you. You won't get much cooperation from people, they assume your being paid off by that two timing, good for nothing sheriff. Why do you think were out here.” he said pushing off his stool. “I’d watch your back, and that’s not a threat. Good advice.” he said as he headed for the door. “Good luck.”
Low watched the man leave, he stopped long enough to glance both ways down the street before disappeared out of sight. He slowly turned his attention to Kitsune and his game, this should be interesting he thought to himself.
