In the charged atmosphere of the confrontation, Braze's instincts took over. Loomi's warning was a clear signal that diplomacy had failed, and the presence of Alina, with her cold and savage demeanor, left no room for a peaceful resolution.
Braze's hand moved with a practiced ease, betraying no hesitation. The training saber, its safety restrictions removed, was in his grasp in an instant—a blur of motion that was almost imperceptible.
The tension in the air was a tangible force, electrifying the space between Braze and the looming threat. Loomi's words had barely faded when Braze's instincts, honed to razor-sharp precision, kicked into high gear. His hand shot forward, engaging the quick draw attack with his training saber—a move he had
drilled countless times, slicing through falling water droplets with obsessive dedication. Now, it was not water but the fate of his friends that hung in the balance.
The saber came to life with a snap-hiss, the sound cutting through the heavy silence. The activation switch yielded to his touch, and with a swift motion, the blade came to life with a hiss. The blade's glow illuminated their surroundings, bathing the world in a cerulean light. This was the moment his relentless practice was meant for, each session of cutting through droplets converging into this single, critical draw. The speed and precision of his action left no room for doubt; Braze was ready to defend, to protect,
at all costs.
Tessa, witnessing the unfolding drama, felt a surge of adrenaline. Her eyes were fixed on Braze, the young Jedi whose quick draw was a blur of motion too swift to follow. She didn't quite know the stakes, the danger they all faced, but seeing Braze's confident stance, the way he positioned himself as a barrier between Aliris and the dark force before them, instilled in her a flicker of hope.
Tessa however found herself rooted to the spot. She was torn between the urge to flee and the desire to stand and fight alongside the group. Braze's voice, commanding and clear, broke through her indecision.
"Run, Aliris!" he called out, and Tessa felt the weight of his words with a flinch at the stark sharpness they carried.
With Aliris unable to tap into the Force, Braze knew he had to be her shield. He urged her his voice firm over the hum of his saber.
"Find Knight Toth, we'll hold her off!"
But even as he spoke, he knew Loomi's prediction of her own fate could very well be their shared destiny if they didn't act swiftly. The training saber in his hand was a lifeline, a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness. With every movement, every controlled breath, Braze was the embodiment of the Jedi's resilience—a protector, a warrior, a friend unwavering in the face of darkness. He had
promised he wouldn't leave Loomi behind and he wasn't about to do that now.
This... this was chaos, and Tessa's role was clear. She had to support Braze, to ensure that Aliris's escape was not in vain. With a nod to Braze, and surprisingly Loomi with an unspoken vow of solidarity, she readied herself for what was to come, drawing a few capsules from her belt and dashing them against the ground and creating a plumbing smoke that filled the immediate area.
As Alina advanced, dismissing Loomi's threads with a wave of her hand, Braze's mind raced. He needed to buy time, to create an opportunity for escape. The Tràkata style, with its emphasis on the lightsaber's unique ability to be activated and deactivated, provided him with an unpredictable edge. He feinted, the saber flickering off and on in rapid succession, a dance of light that was disorienting and difficult to track.
Tessa reached for Aliris and she tried to pull her by the wrist trying to flee the scene.
