The small figure of Braze was sent sprawling.
Carnifex's brutal kick reverberated even in the silence of space, shattering Braze's mask into fragments that clattered across the starship's surface like brittle glass. He collided with the hull before slamming in to the star fighter, the impact knocking the air from his lungs, a spray of blood trailing down his neck. His surroundings spun wildly as he gasped for breath, each inhale a struggle, the darkness gnawing at the edges of his mind.
The world around him blurred as he fought for breath, each inhale a torturous struggle against the void threatening to engulf him.
Pain lanced through his body, causing violent tremors to rattle him from head to toe. Every nerve in his being blazed with agony, a cacophony of shrieks resonating as his nervous system spiraled into chaos. It took every ounce of his willpower to stave off unconsciousness, to defy the finality of death as he drew upon the Force, its familiar warmth enveloping him in the absence of his mask. Pain continued to surged through his body in waves, each pulse proving just how fragile he was against such an immense force. The fight to stay conscious was a battle all its own. The Force was his only anchor in the vast, uncaring void. He rolled forwards coughing up spatters and sprays of blood. His nerves blazed with agony, every muscle convulsing as his body threatened to give out.
As his vision dimmed and warped, the small Jedi rolled again, struggling to find his footing. His legs buckled beneath him, and he tumbled to the cold floor again, gasping as he knelt there, desperately clawing for stability. A violent convulsion ripped through him, a primal response to the agony he could no longer suppress. With a final retch, he doubled over, expelling the bitter contents of his stomach alongside the crystal he had foolishly swallowed. It tumbled across the hull, now lying in a pool of bile and blood, shimmering faintly in the distant starlight. His vision dimmed and warped as he attempted to rise. The effort sent him collapsing back onto the cold metal.
Braze's hands dug into the harsh unforgiving surface of the ship, his fingers scraping through the puddle of blood as he knelt, heart hammering against his ribs, breath coming in sharp, ragged bursts. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay grounded as the world around him blurred and darkened. He tried to rise only to feel his knees buckle and fall back down. Braze's fingers scraped across the unforgiving metal, grounding him as he sank back to his knees, heart pounding, breath ragged.
Meanwhile, Valor clutched at Carnifex's wrist with trembling hands, his legs thrashing wildly in search of purchase. But hope felt as distant as the stars themselves. The devastating weight of the Dark Lord's grip constricted around his throat, suffocating thought and resolve alike. Desperation clawed at him as he struggled to form a coherent plea.
Please… don't take him! Spare him! Take what you want... take the crystal.
Valor's thoughts reverberated through the void, fear tearing through every attempt to reason.
He's just a child… brighter than your darkness. I'll serve you; Take my freedom—anything! I'll forsake everything, if you let his light survive!
A desperate plea in the face of despair.
Please, spare him! Please show mercy—he deserves more than this fate!
The rock that Braze sought now seemed insignificant compared to the life of his ally. The words spilled forth in a frantic, sorrowful cadence, each thought a plea that echoed his shattered dignity and boundless love for his friend. As the cold tendrils of panic tightened within him, narcissistic thoughts of self-preservation faded into the background. All he could focus on was that desperate plea, his entire being reduced to a singular wish: to see Braze freed from the clutches of the abyss.
Braze's consciousness flickered. Through the haze of pain, one thought burned fiercely.
I will not let you take him.
He mentally screamed those words into the void, defiant even as his body threatened to give in to the crushing weight of Carnifex's presence. Every fiber of his being thrummed with the singular desire to free Valor from the Dark Lord's clutches.
With a groan of pain, Braze forced himself to move again. His muscles protested, but he drew on the last vestiges of his strength, the Force answering his call, faint though it was. His surroundings spun, a dizzying blur of light and shadow, but his hand instinctively reached out. His lightsaber flew into his grasp, the hilt becoming slick with his blood, its hilt warming under his trembling fingers.
Staggering to his feet, Braze ignited the blade, the light cutting through the surrounding darkness. But every movement sent fresh waves of pain coursing through him, nausea building in his gut. He coughed violently, spitting blood that tasted of metal and fear. His side burned, the wound draining him with each passing second, his vision flickering as his body struggled to keep up with the demands of survival.
Still, he pushed forward, each step shaky and uneven. The blade trembled in his grasp, yet he advanced, driven by nothing but willpower and the faint hope that somehow, against all odds, he could still save Valor.
As he staggered, another sharp pain lanced through his skull— the concussion hammering in time with his heartbeat. Blood dripped steadily, pooling at his feet. The darkness pressed in, threatening to swallow him whole if he faltered even for a moment.
Yet Braze fought on, defying his own weakness and the overwhelming odds. This was no longer a battle of strength—it was a battle of will, a desperate struggle against despair itself. Each breath felt like a jagged shard in his chest, his body protesting with each agonizing movement, but he pushed forward, fueled by an unwavering determination to endure.
The ground beneath him seemed to sway, the shadows closing in with merciless hunger. Braze staggered, feeling the weight of his wounds—a searing pain that spread like wildfire through his veins. He drew on every fragment of strength he could muster, every cherished memory and promise to those he loved. His vision blurred, the world around him spinning into a kaleidoscope of darkness and light.
Yet, he would not yield.
I will not succumb... not yet... he thought defiantly. But the pull of oblivion tightened its grip, and as he took another faltering step, his knees buckled beneath him.
Braze fell forward, the ground rushing up to greet him as despair wrapped its cold fingers around his heart. He hit the earth with a dull thud, the impact reverberating through his weary body. A cold sweat coated his brow, everything around him fading into a haze of gray.
He struggled to remain conscious, clawing at the tendrils of darkness that threatened to swallow him whole. Faces flashed through his mind, memories of laughter and light, but they slipped away like smoke. His thoughts turned frantic.
But even the spark of defiance began to wane. His eyelids grew heavy, the warmth fading from his limbs. A sense of peace washed over him, as if the very earth was cradling his broken body.
It's okay... let go... whispered a voice he couldn't recognize.
No!
With a final, desperate gasp, Braze fought against the encroaching darkness, but the effort was too great. The light within him dimmed, flickering like a dying star, and with a last shuddering breath, he succumbed to the abyss, his consciousness slipping away.
