This is a challenge I've set myself. I have to write a story in under 10 minutes. Warning: this is going to be fairly angsty.

Jay and Harry both concentrated on their swords, thinking that the other was fighting to kill, and were oblivious to the rest of the fighting around them, as though it wasn't happening.

From somewhere behind Jay, a crew mate cried out in pain as their opponent presumably landed a hit on them. Out of sheer habit, Harry looked around to find said crewmate; if they were injured badly or bleeding, that would become his priority. He was a First Mate foremost and a VK second. This was a mistake.

Jay, who expected Harry to be sparring still, was given a clear opening that he didn't anticipate. But when your mid-strike, no force in the world but another sword can stop you, and there was no clash of steel this time.

Harry's hesitation cost him dearly. Jay's sword went straight past the unfocused cutlass, and was buried into Harry's side. Harry was bought back to Earth in the cruelest fashion, and fell to the ground. Uma screamed.

She abandoned the fight with Mal and expertly parkoured to Harry, who was lying on the deck, twitching, his sword discarded. "No! Harry, stay with me! You can't die!" She cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. The rest of the pirate crew gave up their fights too and joined Uma.

"U-ma. I...can't...I'm...sorry." Harry rasped, his grasping her arm. "Don't...give...up..." His hand went limp and fell with a 'thunk' to the planks of the deck. Uma knew it was too late. She buried her face in his shirt and sobbed her heart out. The pirates dropped their swords, and the VK's looked horrified, not least Jay.

"Jay, what have you done? This wasn't the plan!" Exclaimed Evie, as Mal and Carlos stared at him.

"I-I didn't mean to!" He replied, panicking.

Just then, Uma let out a second scream, venting the grief that tears couldn't represent. She stared into Harry's face, willing this to be untrue. But this was real, and Harry let out his final breath, looking skywards, his glassy eyes reflecting stars that weren't there.