"Medic! I need a medic over here!" One cried out, one hand cradling the head of Three as the other struggled to push his comrade's guts back into the massive wound across his abdomen.

Of course no one answered his cry, the running healers ignoring him as they rushed for the injured nobles and officers, taking care of concussions and the like no doubt. One couldn't...he couldn't blame them...he couldn't. Behind his helmet he grimaced, knowing the medics followed the protocol...yet...

Sighing he felt his shoulders drop, his hands dropping to his sides. Three's helmeted head struck the floor with a small clack, not to move again...

"Four, Five....Two?" There was no answer through the comlink. "Report!" His voice cracked with the bark. Cracked...as if he was a mere child. One rose to his feet, face dark. "Report now!"

"Si...sir?" One whipped about to see Two stumble out of the cloud of dust, the trooper dropped the blaster that he'd must have drawn sometime during the explosions, his legs stiff as he wobbled towards his commander. "I...I didn't see any enemy s...sir. Re...requesting...a leave..." He fell to his knees.

One instantly rushed forward, catching Two before the trooper could hit the floor.

Only then did he see the blood spurting out from his friend's throat, practically shooting out in a thin stream that stained One's armour red when he came closer. One saw his hands shake as he pushed them forth, pressing down on the wound in his squadmate's neck. It wouldn't stop pouring though, pushing past his trembling fingers it shot out, a rogue spurt shooting out over One's faceplate and obscuring his vision.

"Two? Two stay down! You need to save your strength!" One reached up and swiped the blood away, his vision remained blurry though, a mix of tears and crimson stains on his lenses. "Two! Stay conscious! That's an order!"

"Y...yes sir." There was humour in the trembling voice. "I...didn't...get...to...win..."

"What? What are you talking about?" One choked, shaking the stormtrooper in his arms.

The chuckle from his friend was but a rattle. "Pazaak man...pazaak..." One somehow managed to laugh, though it was more of a sniffle. "F...forgot did you?"

"No...no I didn't." One shook his head furiously, he shot a glance over at the distant group of shouting nobles and officers. "Where is that damn medic!?" None reacted though, as they shouldn't, damn them...

"You...liar." Another rattled chuckle, the other trooper jerked with pain in One's hands. "Al...always too...focused...no...fun..." His arm shot out suddenly, grabbing One by the shoulder, fervently almost. "Good soldier...I...I'm sorry..."

"Sorry? Sorry for what?" One shook his head, sniffling meekly. "You haven't done anything Two...you're a good trooper." He gritted his teeth, his hands closing tightly around his friend. "You hear that Two? Two? Two...Kern?" He merely whispered the name he'd almost forgotten.

There was no answer, the trooper before him unmoving.

One lowered his head, his voice but a whisper: "Four? Five? Report." He closed his eyes, squeezing them shut with all his might, until it hurt. "Report." They had been close to the explosion sure, moving to check on that couple moving out of the ball to make sure they didn't get somewhere they weren't supposed to be in. But not that close... "Report?" A stabbing pain in his gut shot up into his heart. "Report!"

One felt the floor give way under him, swallowing him in darkness.

"Are the nobles secured!? Take them into custody, nice custody! Give them everything they need! I will come with apologies when I'm done here! Move!" The voice was a distant one, echoing through the darkness. It almost put a smile on One's grim face, general San could rouse the dead if he wished it so. "Where are my troopers!? I want stormtroopers combing the barrack and I wanted it five minutes ago!"

One knew he should move to the words, but he couldn't bring himself to it, his hands resting idly on the chest of his squadmate, trusting the clouds of dust to conceal him from notice. "Double-no tenfold the reward for information on rebels that lead to their capture! I want random searches in every city! I want every farmhouse checked! I want troopers in every citizen's face! Let them know the danger they're in! Let them know of our power!"

One shrugged, knowing San was already planning his revenge, no doubt a dozen rebels would be dead within the week, the rest would soon follow. It always happened...One couldn't bring himself to care though. "Random arrests and questioning! I want children at blaster point if that what it takes for their parents to speak! The slightest hint of resistance or complaint will be met with fire and death! You hear me!? There will be no place to hide for those rats after this! I swear it upon Vader's fist!"

They were dead...all of them? Judging by the reports on the other channels there didn't seem to be much in other casualties...it didn't seem fair.

Not fair...One snorted and opened his eyes, stars blinking before his vision. Yet the vision was still there, the dead stormtrooper lay limp before him, his friend. The broad face wouldn't split in a grin anymore, the large blue eyes never again twinkle over a bad joke he'd come up with. And where was Three...the gaunt Lawar...to glare at the joke, as if it was an insult, drawing laughters from all the others?

"Stop gawking at me and enact my orders you wastes of flesh!" There was a storm of thudding feet as men ran to follow the general's orders. "And I don't need to tell you that there is now a curfew from eight in the evening now do I!?"

One pulled his helmet off, only now realising how stifling hot it was in the room after the explosion. He didn't care though, he needed to take his helmet off, to feel his face...trembling hands pushed against his skin, feeling its smooth texture, wrinkling in...sadness?

Sadness!? He was a trooper of the empire! A warrior of order! Of something larger than himself! He was strong!

Strong...One felt himself deflate, the rage within him snuffed out moments after he had found it. He was...spent...there was nothing else left but feel his loss, how his world evaporated...

Nothing.