Contains spoilers for the series.
Kimberly Baynes is a recurring character in The Destroyer whose childhood attachment to a mysterious idol develops into a conflict involving Kali, the devourer of life. She threatens Remo Williams, an operative of the covert organization CURE, and his Sinanju teacher Chiun. The later novels portray her in a four-armed form, while leaving her ultimate fate unsettled.
Childhood
Kimberly Baynes first appears as a child in a family story tied to a secluded cult. She and her brother Joshua are brought out of that setting and placed with relatives. Kimberly asks whether she can kill someone she dislikes and becomes attached to a clay idol, calling it her friend. Her grandmother later says Kimberly called the idol “Calley.”
A violent return
Years later, Kimberly is associated with Kali the Terrible. She attacks Remo in a four-armed form and declares herself the devourer of life. In the follow-up, the conflict is linked to Shiva and Kali; the Kali form subsides, rises again, and Chiun removes its weapons. The novels do not give a settled account of Kimberly’s later status.
Book appearances
- #59The Arms of Kali
Baynes’s daughter, joins the cult and survives the Paris operation; at the end she makes a pink Kali statue with her grandmother.
- #85Blood Lust
Missing thirteen-year-old introduced through Allison’s account; adult Kimberly/Calley is later inferred by Smith to be the same person and appears to Remo under the name Cynthia. The narrative presents her supernatural four-armed/Kali manifestations, but gives no medical explanation for the age/body discrepancy.
- #86Arabian Nightmare
Woman the narrative identifies as Kali’s host; she fights in the opening catastrophe and is later found apparently dead.
References
- ↑
- #59 The Arms of Kali · ch15:p0055, ch15:p0057, ch27:p0054
- #85 Blood Lust · ch01:p0071, ch01:p0072, ch01:p0079, ch01:p0150, ch01:p0159, ch44:p0138, ch44:p0141, ch44:p0150
- #86 Arabian Nightmare · ch01:p0007, ch02:p0011, ch44:p0048, ch44:p0049, ch44:p0071, ch44:p0082, ch44:p0086
- #1 Created, the Destroyer · ch07:p0007, ch07:p0018, ch10:p0033, ch10:p0052, ch12:p0072, ch12:p0075, ch13:p0020, foreword:p0001, foreword:p0011, ch34:p0118
- #22 Brain Drain · ch02:p0138
- ↑
- #59 The Arms of Kali · ch15:p0055, ch15:p0057, ch27:p0054
- #85 Blood Lust · ch01:p0071, ch01:p0072, ch01:p0079, ch01:p0150, ch01:p0159
- ↑
- #85 Blood Lust · ch44:p0138, ch44:p0141, ch44:p0150
- #86 Arabian Nightmare · ch01:p0007, ch02:p0011, ch44:p0048, ch44:p0049, ch44:p0071, ch44:p0082, ch44:p0086
Source notes
Contextual source review of the recurring Kimberly Baynes subject; book-specific observations and uncertainty remain separate.
destroyer-085:kimberly-baynes: The complete name and family context match the earlier child Kimberly Baynes, and Books 85–86 continue that named subject into later events. Keep the character’s actions and changed age/role scoped to each source; no alias to Kali is proposed. Lead inspected the cited primary identity contexts. No third complete reading claimed. (witness:00000249:ch01:p0108; witness:00000249:ch01:p0126; witness:00000252:ch01:p0007; witness:00000252:ch03:p0008; witness:00000171:ch15:p0067; witness:00000171:ch20:p0036).
destroyer-086:kimberly-baynes: The complete name and family context match the earlier child Kimberly Baynes, and Books 85–86 continue that named subject into later events. Keep the character’s actions and changed age/role scoped to each source; no alias to Kali is proposed. Lead inspected the cited primary identity contexts. No third complete reading claimed. (witness:00000249:ch01:p0108; witness:00000249:ch01:p0126; witness:00000252:ch01:p0007; witness:00000252:ch03:p0008; witness:00000171:ch15:p0067; witness:00000171:ch20:p0036).
The Arms of Kali
narrative
Sources 3 references
witness:00000171:ch15:p0067witness:00000171:ch17:p0020witness:00000171:ch27:p0054
Blood Lust
narrative
Sources 9 references
witness:00000249:ch01:p0001witness:00000249:ch01:p0108witness:00000249:ch11:p0028witness:00000249:ch11:p0030witness:00000249:ch11:p0085witness:00000249:ch12:p0063witness:00000249:ch23:p0082witness:00000249:ch35:p0029witness:00000249:ch44:p0133
Arabian Nightmare
narrative
Sources 4 references
witness:00000252:ch01:p0007witness:00000252:ch01:p0009witness:00000252:ch35:p0024witness:00000252:ch35:p0025