Bradshaw's Final Act

[Thatpyrodude 2008]

 

Spoiler

 

 

Bradshaw stood in the streets of Johannesburg as he had done many a time before, watching the hustle and bustle of the city’s soldiers, merchants and smallfolk. He drummed his fingers together.  Mostly, he longed for a good fight. He may have spent his life handling administrative duties, but he was a man of the empire, and an Imperial always enjoys a good duel.

 

In the corner of his eye, Bradshaw caught glimpse of a peculiar man. He was tall, fully armored in plate and wore a tabard bearing colours which he did not recognize. The knight’s face was hidden behind a helmet. Despite this, he looked like a strong fighter, someone Bradshaw could test his strength with. He hailed the man down.

 

“Ho there sir! I seek a skilled fighter to spar with me today, you seem a capable man.”

 

The knight turned to face Bradshaw. The count looked through the man’s visor and saw almost nothing. He shuddered, something about this fellow seemed off, but he chose not to comment on it. A brief exchange was had between the two, and the mysterious knight agreed to a friendly spar in the hippodrome. The count and the ironclad man made their way into the sands of the arena, facing off against one another.

 

The two clashed. Bradshaw drew his blade and launched himself into a whirling melee. He was the faster of the two, dancing around the hulking mountain of armor that was his opponent. The knight was slow, method. He bore a two handed great sword and his strikes were hard hitting, earthshaking.

 

Bradshaw kept up his guard, years of training allowing him to prevent being struck. But he was wearing down, tiring. A sheen of sweat had accumulated on his forehead. He grit his teeth and pushed forward, but a sharp pain spread through his forehead… before he realized he’d been struck, everything went black.

 

Bradshaw awoke, moments later. His vision was blurry, his head spinning. He could vaguely make out his towering opponent above him, waiting patiently for him to rise. He felt a pit of rage well up from the bottom of his stomach. Although he was nauseous and dizzy, he positioned his blade forwards and made a disjointed charge at his enemy.

 

The tower of iron simply held his greatsword out, and delivered the fatal blow.

 

The knight’s greatsword pierced through Bradshaw’s belly. The count heard his own flesh rend and bone crunch. The pain set in shortly afterwards. He cried out as the knight shoved his blade deeper into him. He felt an otherworldly draining sensation, his body losing all feeling. This was no mortal man who had struck him down. He heard him speak.

 

“Sorry, but I’m a tad peckish.  So just.. Try not to wriggle too much, until you get numb, or this will be a painful death.”

 

The man was right, Bradshaw soon found his body going numb. His consciousness faded. Drauch released his blade and let the Count’s body and let him slump to the floor like a ragdoll. Bradshaw noticed only his blood pooling around him, the tower of iron walking off stoically, and the vague recognition of the fact he was dying.

 

With the last of his consciousness, he saw two figures rushing towards him. He was rapidly fading, but he recognized friendly faces. The medicae Veluluai, the former ensign Kalehart. They knelt beside him, put their hands on him and tried desperately to fix the hole which had been torn through his stomach, but it was too late.

 

The last thing Bradshaw heard was his friends calling him beyond hope, and Kalehart swearing upon his god to turn the man who did this to him into ash.

 

As more people poured into the coliseum, realizing in shock what had happened to their minister of the interior, Bradshaw Gray passed quietly, letting go of the bonds that held him to life.

 

 

[lawnmowerman 3040]

Philip frowns and blames Bradshaw's death on Sanoist extremists.

 

Vitallius grieves.

[seannie 7443]

Andrik sighs sharply upon being told of Bradshaw's demise.

[SpodoKaiba 612]

Steven let a sigh pass through his lips upon hearing the news, as he dropped into his usual spot on the root of that one tree in Johannesburg. "Well." He paused, as if taking a moment to ponder the rest of his words. "That's a damn shame."

[Nathan_Barnett36 1564]

"Wait you died?" says Ivan

[Papa Liam 960]

Bell rests in his office, pouting into his palms, "First Calabreeni, and now this? How many more tragedies must the people of Johannesburg endure?"

[KeatonUnbeaten 1103]

A mali'fenn spares no pity for those who undertake unrighteous evictions.

[Sky 0]

"I tried." mumbles Toren.

[Andustar 4143]

"An honourable man worth respect!" Viktor would state

[AGP 3169]

Constantine flicks a wooden figurine from his desk upon hearing the news.

[Rammer 388]

Ian appears speechless upon hearing the news. Turning back to return to his home mumbling as he went "Taken before his time"

[TinyBiceps 569]

Jester wonders how the **** he's supposed to get into college now without daddy brad

[Taketheshot 3834]

Walter sheds a tear. "First Josseppi now this!"

[Cat Evocation 3728]

Sarrion mutters something about Grays, then mutters something about Pascals.

[Farryn 860]

Elvira sighs softly and she signs the clerical eye over her chest when she hears the news.

"Aenguls guide and protect you, Bradshaw."