Trust in the Butcher

[Gilamar Skirata]

MandalMotors tower was a mess.

The whole planet was a mess.

How did they let this happen? Maybe he should have taken a more active role within the Mandalorians. Maybe when the youth started their bickering he should have stood up and given them a good smack and a plate of spicy food to calm their nerves. So many regrets in this long life, they just compounded one on top of another on top of another. He had always been told by his father to live life without them. 'They slowed the flow of credits.' is what he would always say. He paused to look up at the ruined tower, once a symbol of prosperity in Old Keldabe. The regrets didn't stop the credits, if anything it pushed him into his work more and more.

"Oh, Mr. Skirata, we've been wondering if you were ever coming back to us! Joyous day!" Gil looked over his shoulder at a Mandalorian protocol droid, somehow still active. Half of its body was crushed underneath rubbel and its photoreceptors blinked sporadically.

"Sucuy." He gave the droid a wave before it powered down again. Maybe this time for good. It looked like many parts of the tower still had power, but with holes in the walls and entire floors missing the building was in no way a place to work or live. Despite that he could hear Mandalorians speaking all throughout the tower. Maybe Mia's followers? Here before the meeting to make sure he didn't try to kill her too? Or maybe Zeke was in and he brought some muscle.

He didn't much like Zeke.

The lift was still active which was good. Mia would be here soon.

[member="Mia Monroe"]

 

[Mia Monroe]

It had taken a great deal of arguing with Ordo to convince Mia that her son was safer far away from her until this war was over. Till the smoked cleared and she was able to step out in public without a sniper taking a shot at her. She'd clad herself in beskar'gam, not because she thought her meeting with Gilamar would go south, but because she wasn't about to make herself vulnerable to attack while she was out in the open.

She moved quickly, picking her way with ease through the rubble. MandalMotor's Tower was a wreck with gaping holes in its structure, she paused a short distance from it and looked up. Sucking in a deep breath, she exhaled slowly. The numbers she'd killed never came in, words like thousands or millions were cast about but the worst thing about it all is that she had no precise number. She told all those that had asked that it was the right thing to do, that she truly believed in her actions, because accepting the truth and the reality behind what had happened was too much. If she allowed herself to succumb to regret, to despair, all of it would fall.

And Ra would win.

She blinked, and looked forward, moving once more towards the tower. Ra could not win, she would not let him. She hoped very much, that an old man might share that view with her. [member="Gilamar Skirata"] had fought alongside her, had seen her rise up through the ranks and served her when she had become Mand'alor. If she could convince him to stand by her again, despite what she'd done, then she would have not only an old friend at her side, but a very valuable asset in the form of MadalMotors.

"Where's the old man?" she asked the nearest person as she stepped inside the tower. A hand pointed her to the lift and she stomped over to it. Trust him to head straight for his workshop. Only once the lift doors had closed and began to sink down to the basement did Mia remove her helmet. She was still pale following the birth, not allowing herself anytime to get more than a few hours sleep during hyperspace jumps between here and Okyaab VI. The doors slid open and she stepped into semi darkness, ha;f the lights were out.

"Gil?"

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

The lift doors hissed open and the sound of boots on pavement made the old man take a deep, tired breath. Gil set down whatever it was he had been fiddling with before Mia entered and acknowledged her entry.

"I'm here," he didn't turn to face, didn't want to. Not right now, but he had little choice. Ra had made his choice for him very easy. It was either his family, or Ra, but Mia didn't know that yet.

"He was about your age, maybe a little bit older. Found me on that moon, brought me home. I didn't like him at first, he wasn't really my son, not that any doctor in the known galaxy would be able to tell the difference." He placed his hand on the red helmet that sat on the table in front of him.

He sighed.

"I heard Ordo is back too?"

[member="Mia Monroe"]

 

[Mia Monroe]

It took a moment for Mia to realise he was talking about Mordecai, about his son. The softness of his words stung more than any bullet or blade would have. That despair threatened to come up and she swallowed hard, approaching him with slow steady steps.

"I'm sorry, Gil." she meant it, he might not believe it, but she did. Yet even to her the words sounded hollow.

She nodded in response about Ordo, her voice lost for a moment. She cleared her throat. "Yeah...he's back. Sucked into this mess by his seemingly boundless love for his sister." she paused "and his new nephew."

[member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

"Hmm."

Half grunt have groan. He couldn't tell if it was loathing that another Monroe lived while his own child was dead or if he just didn't care enough anymore. His had been a long life as far as a human Mandalorian went. He had seen and watch many of his friends pass on the battlefield young and old.

One more war. He thought to himself. Maybe I'll get it right this time.

He turned to face Mia now. He looked surprisingly well all things considering.

"I heard you're fighting him. Heard he's got all of Mandalore after your blood."

[member="Mia Monroe"]

 

[Mia Monroe]

His lack of emotion hit Mia harder than anything, but to her credit, she didn't balk nor look away as he turned to face her. She managed a tight smile.

" Not exactly hard for him, under the circumstances, but yes he has. And I absolutely intend to fight him."

With every fibre of my being.

"I need you." She dropped her gaze momentarily before looking back up. "I've no right to ask it of you, but, will you stand with me...one more time?"

[member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

"Don't have much choice, do I?" He grunted, "He'd have killed my wife and daughter if they were still alive. Davin too. Speaking of which, I heard you got in a fight with him."

He paused.

"You're lucky he's soft. I'd have killed both of you." He leaned against the table, resting his arm on his son's helmet. "By the Manda, I can't believe I'm doing another one of these." A civil war. He had met his late wife during one. His thoughts turned to family and he remembered something rather annoying. With a frustrated sigh he pinched the the bridge of his nose.

"Alright Mia I-"
Sir! Death Watch is attacking MandalMotors tower!

Talking about the Cold Iron City would have to wait. He was sure Clan Tetsuya could hold down the fort.

[member="Mia Monroe"]