Private Squatter's Rights

[Serina Calis]

Equipment: Traditional Jedi Robes (Beige and Brown), Lightsaber (Aqua),
Location: Korriban, Undiscovered Tomb.
Tag: Braze

Serina staggered forward, her legs unsteady beneath her as the world around her seemed to crumble. The raw energy she had unleashed moments before still coursed through her veins, wild and untamed, but it had taken its toll. Her throat burned with the residue of her scream, and her arms ached from the strain of channeling power she had only just begun to grasp.

The dust choked the air, thick and suffocating, as the ceiling groaned under its own weight. The crash of falling stone reverberated through the chamber, and for a moment, Serina was frozen, her mind a chaotic storm of exhaustion, fury, and confusion.

Then she heard him.

Braze's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding despite its strain. Her eyes snapped toward him, catching the shimmering barrier of the Force he had erected above them, holding back the deadly cascade of rubble. His body trembled under the strain, his knees threatening to give way as the ceiling pressed mercilessly against his shield.

The words pierced through her haze of pain and anger, a desperate lifeline in the collapsing tomb. She stumbled toward him, each step dragging as the weight of the Dark Side clung to her like a shroud. The sight of him, a figure straining against impossible odds to protect her, ignited something within her—a flicker of clarity, of purpose. Serina had heard of Braze before, a young exemplar of the Jedi could never escape gossip.

"Braze," she rasped, her voice raw and hoarse. "I won't let you fall here."

She reached out with trembling hands, summoning the Force once more. It surged to her call, chaotic and unruly, but she forced it into shape, weaving her will into the threads of energy that shimmered in the air. Her hands joined his, invisible tendrils of power intertwining with his barrier, reinforcing it as best she could.

The strain was immense, her already taxed body screaming in protest, but Serina refused to falter. She gritted her teeth, her golden-tinged blue eyes meeting Braze's for a brief, intense moment.

"You're not doing this alone," she said, her voice steadying as she drew deeper from the dark well within her. "We survive. Together."

The combined power of their efforts pushed back against the avalanche of stone, the barrier holding firm as cracks in the ceiling began to settle. Sweat dripped down her face, mingling with the blood and grime that streaked her skin, but she didn't care. This moment—this alliance, however tenuous—was all that mattered.

As the last of the debris fell harmlessly around them, the chamber settled into an uneasy silence, the oppressive tension lingering like a ghost. Serina's knees buckled, but she caught herself, her hands still faintly trembling as the Force receded from her grasp.

She turned to Braze, her expression unreadable, her voice quieter now. "You didn't have to do that," she said, a hint of curiosity laced with something she wasn't ready to name. "But you did. Why?"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Serina Calis

Braze panted heavily, each breath rasping through his lungs as though they'd forgotten how to function. His small chest rose and fell in frantic rhythm, chasing the air he so desperately needed. The threat of death had passed, but its shadow still lingered in the edges of his vision. He collapsed unceremoniously onto the seat of his pants, a wave of relief surging through him like a crashing tide. For a moment, he simply sat there, letting his head tip back as the adrenaline ebbed.

When her voice broke the quiet, Braze turned his gaze to her. Her question hung in the air between them, but he didn't hesitate in his response. His puzzled expression softened as he tilted his head, his reply straightforward and firm, as though the answer was self-evident.

"It was the right thing to do," he said simply, his voice steady despite the lingering tremor in his limbs.

A flicker of doubt crossed his face before he added, "Are... are you okay?" The concern in his voice betrayed his usual guarded nature, his unease bubbling to the surface. He shifted his weight forward, willing his body to rise despite the protest of aching muscles. His legs wobbled slightly as he stood, and he brushed the dust from his tunic with absent motions.

Then he saw it—the blood pouring down her face. His brows knitted together as he stepped closer, his gaze fixed on the injury she had. "You're hurt," he said softly, his voice tinged with worry.

Braze hesitated, his exhaustion clear in the droop of his shoulders and the faint shake in his hands, "Do... do you want me to heal you?" The question carried an earnestness that seemed almost too large for someone so small. He knew she could likely patch herself up with bacta, but the offer stood, dispite his weariness.

Before she could answer, his eyes darted to their surroundings, the unease that had been simmering now bubbling to the surface. "We shouldn't... we shouldn't linger here," he said, his voice dropping to a hushed urgency. "It's not safe." He reasoned.

​

 

[Serina Calis]

Equipment: Traditional Jedi Robes (Beige and Brown), Lightsaber (Aqua),
Location: Korriban, Undiscovered Tomb.
Tag: Braze

Serina wiped at her face with the back of her hand, smearing the blood across her cheek rather than clearing it. Her hand trembled, but she ignored it, her gaze fixed on the jagged stones littering the ground around them. The room felt heavier now, not from the rubble but from the weight of everything that had just transpired. The power she had unleashed, the fury she had let consume her, the cost of it all—it pressed down on her chest like an iron weight.

When Braze spoke, his simple honesty caught her off guard. She turned to him, her blue eyes dimmed but still piercing, their usual sharpness dulled by exhaustion and something more difficult to name. His words—the right thing to do—echoed in her mind, foreign and strange in a place like this, in a galaxy that had rarely afforded her such ideals.

"I'm fine," she murmured, though the blood and bruises told another story. She turned her face away slightly, unwilling to meet his worried gaze for too long. The sight of him—small, exhausted, yet still standing—stirred something in her. Gratitude, perhaps, though she pushed the thought aside as quickly as it came. She couldn't afford softness now. Not here. Not after what she had done.

When he offered to heal her, Serina hesitated. For a moment, her expression flickered, the mask of strength cracking to reveal something raw and uncertain beneath. She shook her head slowly, her voice soft but firm. "No. Save your strength. I can handle this."

She straightened, though the motion sent a lance of pain through her ribs. Her hand drifted instinctively toward the wound, pressing lightly against her side as if to reassure herself that she was still whole. Her gaze swept the chamber, following Braze's nervous glances, and she nodded in agreement.

"You're right. We can't stay here." Her voice carried the weight of her exhaustion, the fire that had driven her earlier now reduced to smoldering embers. She glanced at him again, her expression unreadable, though her tone softened. "Thank you."

It wasn't an apology, nor was it fully an acknowledgment. It was simply a truth spoken aloud—a fragment of the turmoil she couldn't quite articulate. With that, Serina adjusted her grip on her saber, its hilt still warm in her hand, and began moving toward the only path back to the surface, the air around her heavy with tension.

She turned her body after a couple of steps, looking upon Braze with a mix of judgement and coldness. "Nobody finds out about this." She spoke with a severe lack of emotion, as if she was physically and mentally drained.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Serina Calis

Braze watched her with a wary eye, his focus never straying far from the subtle shifts in her voice. From pained, to exhausted, to unsettlingly emotionless. Each tone painted a clearer picture than her expression could manage.

He hesitated to reply, the right words eluding him, but the feeling she radiated struck a chord deep within. He had known it before, though in an entirely different context—on Lothal, no less. Danger prickled at the edges of his awareness like an unseen storm on the horizon. With a curt nod, he acknowledged her state. He didn't know her well, not yet, but in these tense moments, he was learning more than he anticipated.

Taking a soft breath, he moved closer, offering her a sense of stability as he grounded himself first. "Korriban is deep in Sith territory; This is no place for a Jedi." he stated plainly, his voice level yet edged. Without waiting for a response, he turned toward the crumbling exit, motioning for her to follow. The air in this desolate, forgotten place felt heavy, as though the shadows themselves refused to let them leave unscathed.

The snow-haired youth cut an imposing figure, his dark robes bearing crimson-edged details that contrasted sharply with the archetypal garb of a Jedi. His Padawan braid was adorned with a black feather dipped in blood-red—a memento gifted by Teresa Zambrano, Darth Pellax herself. It dangled proudly, a symbol of ties that would no doubt raise eyebrows in Jedi circles.

And yet, if Serina reached out to sense him in the Force, the darkness surrounding him would be unmistakable. It clung to him like a second skin, a startling contradiction to the selfless act she had just witnessed. His concern, however, seemed genuine, almost disarming. Whatever threads of mystery bound him, one thing was certain: Braze was not easily understood.

 

[Serina Calis]

Equipment: Traditional Jedi Robes (Beige and Brown), Lightsaber (Aqua),
Location: Korriban, Undiscovered Tomb.
Tag: Braze

Serina followed Braze's gaze, catching the faint flicker of something deeper beneath his calm demeanor—an edge that matched the shadows of the tomb. His words carried weight, even as they seemed plain on the surface. She studied him in silence for a moment, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as her instincts sharpened, probing the contradictions she sensed in him.

"You're right," she said softly, her voice measured, carrying none of the venom from before. "This isn't a place for a Jedi. But then again…" Her eyes dropped to the crimson-edged details of his robe and the braid adorned with a blood-red feather. "Neither is whatever it is you are."

She stepped closer, her movements deliberate, her blue eyes—still tinged faintly with gold—piercing as they locked onto his. The faint threads of darkness clinging to him were unmistakable now that she reached out, brushing against his presence in the Force. It was not the overwhelming weight of a Sith, but it was there, undeniable and disquieting.

"What are you, Braze?" she asked, her voice low, almost a whisper, as if the tomb itself might overhear. "You're no ordinary Jedi. I can feel it." There was no accusation in her tone, only curiosity laced with caution.

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken tension. Then, with a faint shake of her head, she turned toward the exit. "It doesn't matter," she said, her tone colder now, shutting the door on whatever vulnerability she might have shown moments earlier. "I don't care who—or what—you are, as long as you stay out of my way."

She took a few steps before pausing and glancing back over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. "But don't think I've forgotten what you did back there. Whatever your reasons… I owe you. For now."

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Serina Calis

"What are you, Braze?"

"What am I?" Braze echoed simply. "Well that's easy. " Braze stated simply. " I'm you're friend. "

Braze said simply as if this was obvious.

"You're no ordinary Jedi. I can feel it."

"You're right... I was a failure. " Braze stated lightly in reply.

"It doesn't matter,"

"Oh I beg to differ... " He trailed.

"I don't care who—or what—you are, as long as you stay out of my way."

Braze glanced back at her as he moved towards the way out. " That's a little hurtful here. " He offered her a candy bar. " You're probably just upset considering what happened. " He trailed.

"But don't think I've forgotten what you did back there. Whatever your reasons… I owe you. For now."

"Yeah? Does that mean you have some sort of code of honor, then?" Braze asked, his tone sharp and probing.

As he stepped forward, a Tuk'ata burst from the shadows, its predatory snarl echoing through the dim space. Without hesitation, a crimson blade erupted from Braze's hand, the hum of the weapon slicing through the air as he met the creature head-on. With graceful ease and precise movements, he dispatched the beast in one fluid strike.

Another Tuk'ata, not far behind the first, lunged toward them. Braze turned sharply, his blade flashing once more. The second beast fell just as swiftly, its fate sealed in an instant.

"We do not want to draw attention to ourselves," Braze said, his voice calm but edged with authority. He extinguished the crimson blade with a sharp flick of his wrist. "So, please—step lightly."

 

[Serina Calis]

Equipment: Traditional Jedi Robes (Beige and Brown), Lightsaber (Aqua),
Location: Korriban, Undiscovered Tomb.
Tag: Braze

Serina's eyes narrowed as she observed Braze, his casual demeanor grating against her nerves. The candy bar he offered seemed almost absurd in the wake of their earlier chaos. Her gaze flicked to the offered treat, then back to his face, unreadable and unrelenting.

"A friend?" she repeated, her tone tinged with incredulity. "You certainly have an interesting way of showing it."

She watched him closely as he dispatched the Tuk'ata with unsettling precision, his crimson blade a stark contradiction to the so-called friendship he claimed. The smoothness of his movements, the lethal efficiency—it all spoke of a familiarity with darkness that couldn't be ignored.

When the second beast fell, and his blade extinguished, Serina crossed her arms, leaning slightly on one leg as she regarded him. The faint golden hue in her eyes flared briefly as she spoke, her voice low and cutting. "You don't make sense, Braze. A crimson blade, a darkness I can feel radiating off you, and yet here you are—saving me, offering me candy, and pretending none of this is unusual."

She took a step closer, her voice growing quieter but no less intense. "What's your game? Because I don't believe for a second that someone like you—someone like us—does anything without a reason."

With that, Serina turned and began to walk toward the exit, her steps deliberate and controlled, her blue saber still lit and casting faint light against the shadowed walls. "Step lightly," she echoed over her shoulder, the faintest smirk pulling at her lips. "Sure. But I suggest you keep up. I'm not about to get ambushed again while you're busy playing cryptic philosopher."

 

[Braze]

Serina Calis

Braze cast a quick glance over his shoulder as he approached the entrance, “You don’t have many friends, do you?” he asked, his tone probing yet devoid of malice. His keen eyes caught subtle cues in her demeanor—telltale signs he’d learned to recognize in others over time. “Friends are supposed to help each other,” he added, the statement plain, almost matter-of-fact.

He let the thought linger, unsure if the sentiment resonated with her. It wouldn’t surprise him if the concept was alien to someone like Serina. Her guarded nature, the way she carried herself—it spoke of solitude, perhaps even isolation. Friendship, in its simplest form, seemed like something she might not have much experience with.

“I have to admit,” he continued after a pause, his voice measured but with a thread of curiosity woven in, “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around why someone like you would venture into the heart of Sith territory.” He didn’t outright question her motives—it wasn’t his style—but his words carried an undercurrent of concern.

His gaze briefly flicked toward her before settling back ahead. He gave no indication of judgment, only an unspoken resolve to ensure they both left this treacherous place in one piece. “Not that I’m questioning your actions,” he clarified, a touch softer now, “but I do wonder…”

A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he slowed his pace, drawing a deep, steadying breath before exhaling it in a quiet sigh. “Do you want me to have ulterior motives?” he asked, his voice carrying a quiet amusement. The question hung in the air between them, almost teasing, but beneath it lay an unspoken reassurance. Whatever doubts she had, whatever suspicions, he wasn’t here to play games.

Not now, at least.

"Maybe I just like playing hero and rescuing cute girls?"

 

[Serina Calis]

Equipment: Traditional Jedi Robes (Beige and Brown), Lightsaber (Aqua),
Location: Korriban, Undiscovered Tomb.
Tag: Braze

Serina's steps faltered for just a heartbeat as Braze's question—and the playful tone that followed—hung in the air. She turned her head slightly, the faintest smirk curling her lips despite herself. The tension that had weighed heavy on her seemed to shift, its sharp edges dulled by the sudden levity of his remark.

"Cute girls, huh?" she replied, her voice smooth, carrying a hint of teasing warmth. Her exhaustion was still evident, but the spark of her natural charm began to reemerge, a glimmer of the confidence that defined her. "Well, I can't fault your taste, though your timing could use a little work. I'm not exactly at my best right now."

She caught up to him, falling into step beside him as they moved toward the exit. Her blue eyes, still faintly tinged with gold, flicked to his face, assessing him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "You know," she continued, her tone light but edged with a hint of sincerity, "you're either the bravest fool I've ever met or the most reckless. Charging into a collapsing tomb to save me? Facing down Tuk'ata without a second thought? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to impress me."

Her smirk deepened as she nudged his arm lightly with her elbow, the gesture playful but deliberate. "As for ulterior motives… well, I've found most people have them, one way or another. But I'll admit, you're a bit of a mystery, Braze. And I do love a good mystery."

She glanced ahead, the flickering shadows of the tomb stretching before them. Her voice softened, losing some of its playfulness but retaining its charm. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't have many friends. But in my experience, friends don't usually come with crimson sabers and cryptic one-liners. So forgive me if I'm a little… cautious."

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she let out a soft laugh, the sound light and almost musical despite the heaviness of the tomb. "But hey, if playing hero's your thing, who am I to complain? Just don't expect me to fall for you or anything. I've got standards."

 

[Braze]

TAGS: TAGS: Serina Calis

​

Braze offered her a faint smile and shook his head, his snowy white hair catching the dim light of Korriban. He let her words roll over him, allowing her to talk as much as she liked while he strode out into the red sands of Korriban.

His ship awaited ahead, a sleek, custom starfighter with professionally made modifications that set it apart from an aetehr Spriet being nearly twice as large. Its streamlined exterior held a paint job with a fire bird and flames. As Braze approached, the vessel's hatch slid open with a soft mechanical hiss. The interior had extra space to accommodate more than a standard cockpit with two other rows that alowed the center seat to fold back in to a bed for rest. He moved with practiced ease, hopping up into the starfighter and pausing at the threshold.

"But hey, if playing hero's your thing, who am I to complain? Just don't expect me to fall for you or anything. I've got standards."

Turning back, he raised a snowy brow at her, his expression that of dry amusement and mock contemplation. "Then I suppose you can imagine my disappointment," he said, his voice carrying the faintest edge of teasing, "when I found a shrew instead."

Despite the barb, his gloved hand extended toward her, palm open and steady. The gesture seemed genuine, offering of assistance. His expression softened slightly, as if daring her to accept. "Coming aboard, or are you planning to charm the desert into taking you home?"

 

[Serina Calis]

Equipment: Traditional Jedi Robes (Beige and Brown), Lightsaber (Aqua),
Location: Korriban, Undiscovered Tomb.
Tag: Braze

Serina stopped a few paces from Braze's ship, her eyes scanning the sleek starfighter with a flicker of appreciation. The craftsmanship was undeniable, the bold firebird emblazoned on its hull standing out even amidst the blood-red sands of Korriban. It was the kind of ship that spoke volumes about its owner—flashy, functional, and built to turn heads.

Her gaze shifted to Braze as he stood in the threshold, his snowy hair catching the light in a way that might have made him seem otherworldly under different circumstances. His words, that teasing barb, drew a smirk to her lips, though her blue eyes darkened slightly, betraying the storm of thoughts beneath her polished exterior.

"A shrew?" she repeated, her voice a silky blend of amusement and mock offense. "You wound me, Braze. And here I was thinking you might be worth a second glance. Shame."

She took a step forward, stopping just short of the ramp, her head tilting as she regarded him. There was something in the way he extended his hand, in the way his expression softened ever so slightly—it was genuine, disarming in a way she hadn't expected. And for a fleeting moment, she considered it. Stepping onto that ship, leaving this forsaken planet, letting someone else take the reins of her chaotic path, even for just a moment.

But no. That wasn't who she was. Not anymore.

The smile she offered him was dazzling, almost too perfect, the kind of smile that could lower defenses and leave even the sharpest minds vulnerable. Her voice, when she spoke, carried the weight of her natural charm, smooth and inviting, but beneath it was a quiet resolve.

"You know," she began, stepping closer, her gaze locking onto his with an intensity that seemed to hold the universe in it. "I've been told I have a habit of complicating things, of leaving a little chaos wherever I go. And while I do appreciate the offer—really, I do—I'm afraid I can't take you up on it. Not just yet."

She leaned slightly closer, her voice lowering to a near whisper, carrying a hint of conspiracy. "There's something here I need to find. Something… important. And no offense, hero, but it's not something I can trust anyone else with. Even someone as charming as you."

Straightening, she let her fingers trail lightly across the edge of the ship's ramp as she began to step back, her movements slow and deliberate, as if she were reluctant to leave but resolute in her choice. "You've been fun, though," she added, her smirk softening into something almost wistful. "And if the desert doesn't swallow me whole, maybe we'll cross paths again. Who knows? Maybe I'll even let you rescue me a second time."

She turned then, her back to him, her hair catching the light as she began to stride away, her footsteps kicking up the crimson dust that seemed to cling to everything on Korriban. Her voice called back to him, warm and teasing but with an undertone of finality. "Take care of that bird, Braze. She's a beauty. But next time, bring a ship with room for all my baggage. Trust me, I've got plenty."

As she disappeared into the desert, the smirk faded from her lips, replaced by a determined set to her jaw. She didn't look back. She couldn't. The ancient and terrible secret that called to her from the depths of this forsaken world was too dark, too powerful, to risk revealing to anyone—even someone like Braze.

Whatever it was, whatever it cost her, she would find it. Alone.

-END-​