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[Levi Solus]

Mandalore, 2313 local time​

Music​

The sun had set a few hours ago over Mandalore, and Levi found it much easier to walk around without anyone asking questions at night. Most Mandalorians in the camp had either gone to sleep or were spread out in the vheh'yaim, some getting drunk, some polishing their weapons, and some others enjoying each other's company in ways that were much louder than was accepted anywhere other than a Mandalorian camp. The Jedi had managed to blend in well enough so far, even going as far as to wear a set of beskar'gam he'd made for the occasion of traveling back home. It was, like most other Solus armor, red and black, but lacked any decorations or distinguishing marks. Even Marauders had more badges than he did, but he simply couldn't bring himself to wear counterfeit war decorations. It was just wrong.

His lightsaber was, of course, still with him, clipped under the cloak he was wearing. He peered out through the T visor, trying to see through the poorly-lit camp site, keeping close to the torches. He was back home to visit his old camp—which he'd just barely managed to track down—but so far hadn't seen any familiar faces. Many, it seemed, were off-world to fight against the Empire. Others—who he tried not to think about—were likely dead on some other planet, riddled with bolts. He knew that was the Mandalorian way, and he knew that those who had fallen were now part of the Manda, but it only barely comforted him.

Levi was currently looking for his parents, but out of the many grass huts in the camp, he couldn't tell which was theirs. The only way to do it would be to ask someone, but that meant risking his cover, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

Poking his head into a hut he thought to be his parents' his eyes fell on a Mandalorian wearing dark armor, covered in scatterweave. His back was turned and he was conversing with the inhabitants—who were mostly definitely not Levi's parents—so he poked his head back out and resumed the search, stepping away from the hut and looking for another.

@Darasuum

 

[Koil Solus]

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♠ THEME ♠​

Apparently favors were starting to become his thing now. Well, maybe it was not a favor if he was getting something out of it but ever sense he had helped out those farmers on Concord Dawn people had started asking for his specific help. After that there were those arms dealers on Malastare and now there was some information about a new gang. The Girsav raiders were not actually new, just new to this area apparently.

Koil was fine taking out some pirates here and there. When they were Dar Manda he was fine kicking their teeth in especially when they were preying on other Mando'ade. "They came and harassed us. I mean, we have blasters and all that but they have more kit than we do. Last time they injured three of our employees."

The War Councilor was silent, as his well earned alias would indicate, but it became a contemplative sigh. There was more inteelligence that he wanted to gather first before fully agreeing to assist these people though either way he probably would. Hearing someone appproach he turned his head to the side and looked sideway through his visor at the new arrival. But the man turned and headed back out without so much as a word. He wore Solus colors, or just the red and black for their individual meanings. Whomever he was the Echani did not recognize him.

 

[Levi Solus]

Though no longer considered mando'ade, Levi still kept up to date with Mandalorian culture, from their politics to their latest trends. When he poked his head into that tent, he knew the armor of the man with his back to him seemed familiar, but he hadn't been able to quite put his finger on it. He'd seen it somewhere before, and not just because it was a common color. The markings on it, as well as the accolades, reminded him of someone in special.

Silent badger, came the instant thought as he was walking away. Koil Solus was one of the few on Manda'lor Raz Solus' War Council. The fact that he was here only meant that he was on important business—and Levi couldn't help but feel curious as to what exactly he was doing among his tribe. Curiosity spiked through him like a virus as thoughts raced through his brain, and the Jedi hopeful found his steps slowing down until he stopped. Looking around, he tapped into the Force to try and overhear what was going on in Koil's hut, only to stop himself seconds later. Using the Force? On Mandalore? He knew it was damn near impossible for anyone to discover him, but it felt wrong. It went against his culture, and though he was trying to become a Jedi, it was one thing using the Force somewhere else and another thing entirely to use it on his homeworld.

Sighing, he turned back around to the hut. Levi stopped right outside, leaning against its outer wall as he eavesdropped on the conversation within.

"So, will you help us? I know you're a busy man and I hate to ask you to take time out of your day to help us, but we're desperate. I've had to move my wife and kids away to the city so nothing bad happens to them. I barely sleep at night." The desperation in the man's voice was clear, and the fact that he was oversharing this much also showed some semblance of honesty. Levi wasn't sure what the man wanted help with, but he found himself ready to step into the hut and offer his blaster—well, lightsaber—to the cause. But he didn't. Because eavesdropping on a War Councilor was not a very clever thing to do in the first place.

@Darasuum

 

[Koil Solus]

___________________

How had he come to this point, he wondered. The man used to be a selfish prick who only looked out for himself. He had hunted and taken down targets with little care in the galaxy for anyone else. It was not like his father had been the most comforting. Then again he could not fault the man, too much. If Koil saw that man again he would probably give him a strong right cross and then give him a hand up.

Growing from a simple skilled marauder to an Al'Verde of his own Clan and now was a War Councilor to the Mand'alor. He had displayed plenty of what his past self would have probably considered weakness. Then again, a man who never loves or cares is not a man at all. That was what he was doing here, caring.

"Alright. How many others have you got that are willing to stand and fight against these bastards." He really hoped that the farmer had gathered others to see who would want to avenge the damage done to their livilyhood. Koil was confident in his own abilities but he expected the people of the area to defend what was theirs and fight along side them at least.

@vamp

 

[Levi Solus]

"Well...none. They injured all my able-bodied men and they're still recovering." Levi exhaled sharply, a hand rising to grip at his face, almost as if he were trying to hold himself back. He wanted to help—truly, he did—but he had no way of bursting into the conversation. He technically shouldn't have even been in the sector, let alone on Mandalore, and revealing his presence to a War Councilor would lead to nothing but problems.

But was it not Jedi-like to step in and help others at the expense of your own hide? Levi could feel two sides within him fighting—the selfish former Sith wanted to just leave, to let Koil deal with the problem alone—but ultimately, he decided that he had to do something to help—that was the current Jedi hopeful that won. He was not welcome in the camp or the conversation, but perhaps that was the secret to bursting in; he would make himself welcome. Mandalorian values were simple, and one who looked his peers directly in the eyes—or T-visor—was considered honorable and respectful. Levi would earn the respect of those around him, even if they started off hating him.

And so he turned and stepped into the hut as if he were diving into a pool. "Levi," he introduced, one fist on his chest as he bowed. "I couldn't help but overhear that you needed men and I'd like to lend a hand." Oh, he was fekked.

@Darasuum

 

[Koil Solus]

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Koil chewed his cheek for a moment at hearing the bad news. While it was bad that such a thing had happened it also did not help their current predicament. The Echani had wanted to reinforce the area. He wondered if there were going to be some of his marauders that would be willing to help just out of neighborly goodness. Some of them would probably but there were probably things that they had to do in their own free time that would be better than kicking some brigand butt.

"great." he muttered to himself and turned to pace back and forth. A moment later a figure appeared in the doorway and the War Councilor looked over at him behind his visor. Actually it was the return of the same person as earlier. "hmm." He said with a tone that was indicating he was not impressed or had any sort of positive feeling towards the entrance of the new arrival.

Turning to the man who was having the issue, "You know this man?" The farmer looked at him then back at Koil before shaking his head. "Fraid not but any help we can get is welcome." Afterwards the stoic mandalorian turned to look Levi up and down again. "What clan are you from, Levi?" The black and red of Clan Solus were obvious but he was not going to trust someone just based on the color of their plate.

@vamp

 

[Levi Solus]

He looked to Koil then to the man as the War Councilor pondered his arrival, Levi's T-visor shielding his face and preventing him from revealing his apprehension. As he was looked up and down and sized up, he simply stood there, arms loosely at his sides. He didn't look like a threat, and he was doing his best to keep from looking like one.

"House Solus," he replied, doing his best to make it sound like it was from his chest, like he was boasting it with pride. Technically, he was saying it with pride, but what Levi wasn't mentioning was his exilement from Solus back when it was still a Clan. Did Koil really need to know that?

"One of yours," the farmer remarked.

@Darasuum

 

[Koil Solus]

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Anybody could paint their armor black and red if they wanted. At least the man was mandalorian, that much Koil could observe from the way he held himself. When the farmer added a comment the Echani only grunted slightly in response. Taking a deep breath he looked back over to the agriculturally inclined individual. "Food, water, place to sleep and any weapons you've got."

"ah, um, right this way. Nothing but a few small arms. We've got food though my cooking isn't-" The man said in response. "Anything you've got. Take it out of any payment you were planning on paying." He said knowing the farmer had not really offered much. But he needed to eat and any warrior should be well fed before a battle. They had some time to plan a little before they moved on these bandits.

"What's your deal? What can you do?" If he was going to agree to having someone along for the job Koil wanted to know what he was capable of. If he was lacking in any areas or if he excelled at something.

@vamp

 

[Levi Solus]

Levi hadn't even realized they were going to be paid for this, but he didn't really see himself taking the payment anyway. He was fine with just food and board while he helped deal with the problem, maybe with some more food for the road—home cooking was so different from the processed shit he had to eat while traveling. Fresh food was always welcome when he could find it.

"Uhh," he replied at first, counting abilities off in his head. It was a rather vague question. "I can shoot anything in a 100 meter radius and fight multiple opponents in melee range," he offered, which should technically be enough. They were going to be taking out amateur mercenaries anyway.

@Darasuum

 

[Koil Solus]

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'radius' what did this guy think he was, some sort of aimbot, i-can-kill-anything-instantly-within-100-meters sort of guy. He supposed the man could not see the Echani's cocked eyebrow judgement but instead saw a cold stare of his visor back. Another grunt left Silent Badger's chest before turning towards the door and passing through the portal Levi had come through a few moments earlier.

This was going to be a tough job. At least he was doing it primarily to help out his fellow Mandalorians. He remembered when he would have just ignored it entirely unless the odds were stacked well in his favor, the pay was good enough, or he had a personal investment in it. Now it seemed the fact that it was his people at risk that qualified as a personal investment. Hopefully he would not regret such empathy.

♠ END THREAD ♠​

@vamp