Brandon Levi

****B******randon Levi** is the conductor of the only remaining train that runs on the Belowground Transit. He is also a professional fighter.

## Biography

### *Greenglass House*

Milo and his father went outside to check on a loud noise that they'd heard during a storm. They found two men emerging from the Belowground Transit station by Greenglass House. Milo noted that it was not well known that the Belowground Transit System still ran, but that his family knew it because the conductor was a Greenglass House regular and had come to trust the Pines with this secret. As Milo approached the station, he saw the iron-bolted wooden door lying on the snow, and someone emerging from the darkness inside the station. Mr. Pine and the other man helped him scramble out of the station. The third man was wearing a large padded coat, gray coveralls, and leather-bound goggles on his forehead. He apologized to Mr. Pine, saying that the lock had been frozen.

Milo, due to the accent and the goggles, recognized him right away as the conductor of the last train that still ran on the Belowground, Brandon Levi. Mr. Pine told Brandon not to worry about it, and that he was glad they had not gotten stuck inside the station. Together they lifted the door back up into place. Brandon then turned and brushed snow from his leather gloves. He told Mr. Pine that they had company, and waved to Milo. Milo waved back and said hello. Mr. Pine advised Brandon and Fenster, the other man, who was a smuggler, to come up with a story about what they did, due to the other guests in the house. Brandon decided that he would tell them the truth but omit the part about the Belowground Transit System, noting that he fought in the fight houses on Morbid Street, and telling Milo how he'd won a fight. Fenster insisted that he would come up with something, and Brandon rebuked him and insisted that he come up with something right away, as he was a bad liar, and helped him come with something reliable.

Mr. Pine led the group through the woods and eventually up the road, to keep the Belowground secret, something Brandon insisted Fenster try hard to do. The power then went out to Greenglass House. Mr. Pine and Brandon went to work on the generator. They took a long time, however, and Mrs. Pine went to check on them. Fenster later went out to help them. They eventually returned, looking quite frustrated, perhaps even angry. Mrs. Pine and Milo provided blankets and hot drinks, and Mrs. Pine asked what had happened. The three broke the news: someone had sabotaged the generator. Mrs. Pine expressed disbelief, and Brandon declared that it was certain. They sat up for a long time discussing what to do about the generator, and the house being without power.

In the morning, Fenster and Mrs. Hereward made a cake to cheer up Georgie, though Fenster could not bake and insisted on doing things like inserting pepper into the mixing bowl. Brandon called for them to be stopped, and Milo followed his voice to a pile of blankets on the sofa, where Brandon had slept, saying he couldn't bring himself to climb the stairs. He asked Milo, peeking out from the blankets, if he could get him some coffee. Milo soon returned, and found Brandon adding logs to the fire. Brandon thanked Milo, and confirmed that he'd been up late but Milo's parents later. Stirring the coals and giving Milo half a smile, he commented on the eventfulness of Milo's winter break so far. Lowering his voice, Milo told Brandon that he'd heard someone sneaking around, and that he was surprised someone hadn't found something missing yet. Brandon shrugged, commenting that there was plenty of time left for things to go wrong, and at the sound of a mixing bowl falling on the floor, he commented that 'it was beginning'. He took a big drink of his coffee, and instructed Milo to tell Mr. Pine that Brandon had gone outside to work on the generator. He told Milo that he was hoping it would look better in the daylight, and plus, if Fenster set the house on fire he would be safer out there. He clapped Milo on the shoulder and started to put on his coat.

Mr. Pine later left to help Brandon. After a while, Milo was sent to check on them, and he noted that they'd stomped flat a path, which he followed. Milo knocked, and Brandon peeked out the door of the shed. Milo relayed the message that they could stop for breakfast, and Brandon smiled and asked Mr. Pine and Fenster if they could go. Mr. Pine invited Fenster to try it, and the generator sputtered on. When the three men returned to the house, they were greeted with a standing ovation.

Milo noted that Brandon and Fester had taken rooms on the fifth floor, the two closest to the stairs. After Milo found that one of the guests was a customs agent, Mrs. Pine instructed Milo to send Brandon and Fenster upstairs if he saw them without giving anything away. Milo's parents later arrived with Brandon and Fenster. Brandon appeared ready in case anything happened, though Fenster was a mess. Fenster stumbled on the rug, and Brandon caught him, warning Fenster to keep it together. Fenster later winked at Milo, causing Brandon to elbow Fenster and tell Fenster to stop signaling.

The Pines had tried to get Fenster out of the house. Fenster, Brandon, and Mr. Pine had left, saying that they were going to check on the generator, but half an hour later they were back. Mr. Pine told Mrs. Pine that the control system was frozen and damaged, and that while Brandon thought he could fix it, it would not be quick. Brandon did not think it was sabotage. For the rest of the day, Brandon came and went, busy with the BTS. He was not done by the time Milo and his father went sledding in the afternoon. Brandon later called it a night with the train still not working. Brandon joined in a boys-against-girls card game with Fenster, Georgie, and Lizzie. The girls were winning when Milo checked in.

Brandon agreed with Mrs. Pine that they would like to hear Mr. Vinge's story, Brandon seeming wary and hard (knowing that Mr. Vinge was a customs agent, and the thief), and Mr. Vinge told a story then. Fenster interrupted Mr. Vinge's story many times, making slips, and Brandon kicked Fenster under the table, much to Fenster's annoyance. Fenster continued to argue with Mr. Vinge and ignore Brandon's warnings, telling Brandon multiple times to stop hitting him. Fenster argued again with Mr. Vinge, and Brandon seemed to be contemplating knocking Fenster unconscious for Fenster's own good. Brandon assisted the Pines in getting Fenster out onto the screened porch, even though he tried to wrestle away from them. Mr. Vinge refused to leave. Brandon growled that he would throw Mr. Vinge out himself, and stalked toward the customs agent. Mr. Vinge took a gun from underneath his vest and pointed it at Brandon, and at that moment Mr. Vinge's thugs arrived. Brandon was presumably one of those locked in the laundry room until Mr. Vinge was eventually driven out of the house.

Georgie took the Belowground Transit System out of Greenglass House with Brandon and Fenster. Milo was surprised, as the Caraways had known about the Belowground just like the Pines because Brandon was a regular. He asked if Brandon had told Georgie, but Georgie told her that she did not need that, as she was the Eye, and all she had to do was convince him she would keep the secret. Brandon and Fenster emerged from the house and joined Milo and Georgie on the porch. He shook Milo's hand and wished Milo a happy Christmas, and then he joined the others in following Mr. Pine to the Belowground Transit station.

### *Ghosts of Greenglass House*

Brandon arrived to Greenglass House via the Sanctuary Cliff station. Milo noted that Brandon was the only conductor on the Belowground Transit System. Brandon greeted Milo and Mr. Pine and made sure the new bell had worked, then said that there were 'dubious characters' that he'd brought. Clem and Georgie came out and greeted Milo and Mr. Pine. Milo noticed that Georgie was wearing Brandon's large clothes, and Brandon was wearing only a pair of jeans and a shirt. Georgie explained that she had gotten wet and was wearing Brandon's clothes, which she was grateful for. Mr. Pine told Brandon about Emmett, their other guest, and they then went back to the house.

Brandon stayed for dinner. He told Emmett that Clem and Georgie had met each other at Greenglass House. Georgie noted that she and Clem had told Brandon the details of their heist. Brandon stood watch for Emmett while they told the Pines. He insisted that they get straight to the point, and asked Mrs. Caraway and Lizzie if they planned to squeal. Brandon gave bored all-clear notices throughout Georgie and Clem's telling, until he coughed deliberately and walked into the dining room, signaling that Emmett was returning.

Georgie said that Brandon had offered to give them a ride out on the Belowground if the Pines did not want them to stay. Emmett and Brandon talked to each other in the evening. Brandon slept overnight at Greenglass House, and Mrs. Pine expected him downstairs when breakfast was ready. Brandon left after breakfast, promising to tell them if he heard anything interesting.

### *The Thief Knot*

After hearing about the kidnapping of Peony Hyde and Emmett having come to the Liberty via the Belowground, Marzana wondered whether Peony could have been brought to the Liberty by way of the Belowgound Transit System. She called Milo Pine, asking for how to contact the conductor, and Milo suggested that she check in with the fight houses in Shantytown or call him from a station by one of the buttons he was working on installing in each station.

Marzana and the rest of the Thief Knot found their way to different stations in the Liberty, and after having figured out about the kidnapping of Peony Hyde, they went to one station in the hopes that it would be a clue. While in the station, Meddy heard a rumble, and Marzana realized that Emilia had pressed the call button by accident and summoned Brandon and the train. Brandon recognized Meddy, whom he had met at Greenglass House, and was introduced to the members of the Thief Knot, including the grandson of Padraig del Olmo, the latter of which he'd met when taking over the Belowground from its previous conductor. Marzana promised that she and her group would keep the Belowground Transit System secret, and explained what they knew and what they needed. Brandon could, he said, take them to Mergenthaler Street Station, but required that they not take the kidnappers on alone, so two members of the group stayed behind to contact adults, including Clem and Georgie as Brandon suggested.

Marzana, Emilia, J.J., and Meddy got into the train and Brandon started it up. They filled him in on what else they knew, and Brandon taught them about the tunnels and the old iron in them. They went over what they knew about Peony's whereabouts, and Meddy suggested that they catch the kidnappers and make them talk. Brandon shouted updates as the train moved down Whilforber Hill toward the Printer's Quarter. They then entered the station warily, and found that someone was indeed trying to break in, and also that the old iron was really everywhere. They explored the station with Brandon's flashlight, and Brandon turned on the emergency lights. Brandon noticed that the kidnappers, whoever they were, were becoming close to coming through the ceiling, so he and the Thief Knot situated themselves around the station, Brandon nearest to the bad guys.

J.J. and Brandon came running in soon after the kidnappers (Moth and Kit) caught Marzana, but were forced to surrender as Marzana was held hostage. Brandon warned Marzana to be careful, then later blocked the exit. Soon, the kidnappers let go of Marzana for something else, and Brandon sent the kids up to call the police while he guarded the two kidnappers. Moth rushed Brandon, but Brandon kicked him down easily, and guarded them as Mrs. Hakelbarend, Mr. Hakelbarend, Emmett, and Thad arrived. The kidnappers were marched away, and Brandon assured Meddy that the Belowground would stay secret. Brandon spoke to Emmett, then drove the group back to the Liberty and snuck out of the school where the station was situated for a celebration at Marzana's house.

## Physical appearance

Brandon is very tall, over six feet, and has short blond hair. He often wears gray coveralls and leather-bound goggles. Brandon has an accent that is not from Nagspeake, and says things like "mate" and "oy".

## Personality and traits

Brandon is a very powerful fighter. He is also a very nice man, and is helpful and friendly. Brandon is outspoken and caring.

## Trivia

Brandon Levi is based off of the boxer Kru Brandon Levi from Evolution Muay Thai, Kate Milford's boxing teacher.

## Gallery

**Take a look at our **gallery for Brandon Levi****.

## References

1. ↑ https://stonesoup.com/post/interview-with-author-kate-milford/