Chapter 4

"Everyone, listen to me," Kirrick said speaking to his audience. "For too long have we been forced to live here in hiding, in fear of the Empire. The Rebels will succeed in overthrowing the Empire, but we must do all we can to help them. Now, with the destruction of the Imperial headquarters, we must carry this one victory to victory over all."

Kirrick continued to speak to the ever growing crowd in the center square of the alley. He stood on a podium, recently built just for him. As Trent watched in back of the crowd, his sense of dread continued to grow. Trent heard someone call his name and saw Brynn and Cor approach him.

"Trent, what's going on?" Brynn asked him.

"It's Kirrick," Trent replied. "He began giving his speech this morning to anyone who'd listen. He told me last night he plans to put on his own rebellion against the Imperials."

"He's crazy, it will never work." Cor said.

"That's what I told him but he wouldn't listen," Trent said. "Kirrick believes this is the best course of action, with the recent Rebel victory, and he's become blinded to the reality of the situation. Also," Trent lowered his voice. "He saw what happened yesterday."

"Has he told anyone?" Brynn asked.

"No, but he's using that as well for his motivation," Trent said. "I have to stop him."

"But how?" Cor asked.

"I don't know." Trent said and turned back to listen to his brother.

"With my contacts in the Rebellion, we can overthrow the Imperials," Kirrick said. "But we need as many people as we can get so I ask you, please, help us. We almost have all we need to accomplish our goal but we still need more people. Will you help us, help us make all our lives better?"

Many people answered Kirrick's question, all shouting their support toward the revolt.

"Good everyone, thank you," Kirrick said. "Now come up here and take what you need." Behind Kirrick two aliens, a Bothan and a Mon Calamari, opened crates that were hidden in the shadows. From the crates blasters of all kinds were taken out and began to be distributed among the gathered people.

"I can't believe they're going with him." Cor said.

"Well why wouldn't they?" Brynn said. "Everyone here has lost something to the Empire and now they feel its their time to make the Imperials pay. They are all rallied by Kirrick's speech and goals."

"They don't know what they're getting themselves into." Cor said.

"I have to stop him." Trent said and walked off to face his brother. He approached him as Kirrick was handing out a weapon. "Kirrick, I must talk to you."

"Ah, Trent, have you decided to join us?" Kirrick asked.

"No, Kirrick, I have come to ask you, even beg, for you to stop this." Trent said.

"And why should I stop, when we will succeed?"

"Kirrick don't you understand, you can't win," Trent explained. "There are too many enemies for you to fight and most of your combatants have never fought before. You said more people will join your cause as you fight and win but that will never happen. You'll be stopped long before that."

"Trent, don't you have any faith in me?"

"I do, but you are missing the point. Maybe at another time this revolt might succeed but not now. Tell your contacts in the Rebellion to send more of their own people."

"They can't, Trent, and that's why they selected me to lead this revolt." Kirrick said.

"Kirrick, you are being a fool," Trent said. "This is exactly what Mom said happened to Dad. He got too reckless and he got killed, and the same thing is going to happen to you. And have you thought about Mom, what she will think about this? About what will happen to her if you fail?"

"Then I won't fail," Kirrick said quietly with complete seriousness in his voice. "Now leave, big brother, while I lead us to victory."

"Fine, goodbye, Kirrick." Trent said and walked back to his friends.

"It didn't go well, huh?" Brynn asked.

"No, he's adamant about this," Trent said. "Even though he know the odds aren't in his favor."

"Then what can we do?" Cor asked.

"Nothing, just sit and wait." Trent said and looked back as his brother began speaking.

"Now that we are all ready, it is time to strike at the Imperials," Kirrick said. "We will not fail, and though some of you may die today, remember that what you do will go down in history. Now, everyone follow me to victory!" As he finished he cheered and the crowd followed his example, lifting their weapons in the air as they cheered. Then they all began to follow Kirrick, humans and aliens alike, weapons at the ready, as they marched out of the alley.

-

Death came from every b direction.

People were falling down, layed low by blaster fire. There was nothing they could do to stop the massacre.

Kirrick and his followers had left the alley and entered the main well lit street and claimed as much as they could for the Rebels.

Until the Imperial stormtroopers arrived.

They wasted no time in completely dispatching with the rebels, which the Imperials far outnumbered.

It was a massacre.

"Retreat!" someone called out, though the person's scream ended with a yell as he was struck by blaster fire. People fell even as they ran.

Kirrick was near the front of the retreating mass, nearly getting hit many times by blaster fire. Some did strike him however and he was seriously wounded. His weapon long gone he ran into the dark alley as fast as he could. Everything seemed to blur as he ran, his world turning completely upside down. He turned to look behind him to make sure nothing was following him and when he turned around he crashed right into Trent and his friends.

Both brothers toppled to the floor.

"Kirrick, oh no, what happened?" Trent said as he stood up and helped his brother to his feet. Kirrick's face was badly burnt and swollen and he was clutching his side.

"They came from nowhere," Kirrick said in short gasps. "We were overwhelmed, barely got away. So many dead." He began to cry.

"Don't worry, you're safe now," Trent said. "Brynn, get something for him to drink." Brynn nodded and went to get something.

"You were right, Trent," Kirrick said. "We couldn't win."

"Don't worry about that now." Trent said.

"I'm so sorry." Kirrick said.

"It's ok, as long as your safe," Trent said. "Calm down."

Brynn soon returned and handed a glass of water to Kirrick, who quickly drank it.

"Kirrick, we have to be careful now," Trent said. "I know you escaped the Imperials, but were you followed?"

"I don't think so I-" Kirrick said but froze when he turned around, as did Trent and his friends. Floating behind them was a small Imperial camera droid. The droid hovered close to them for a moment and then zoomed away in the other direction. "Oh no." Kirrick said his voice shaking. Cor gulped.

"We don't have much time," Trent said. "We have to leave now. And if that droid followed us here it might also lead the Imperials to our home. Brynn I want you to go home and get your belongings."

"But-"

"Go, now." Trent commanded and Brynn turned to leave, but not before kissing Trent. Then she was gone.

"Cor, I'm going to need your help with Kirrick," Trent continued. "I have to get him home and get my Mom. Then we all have to leave."

"Right." Cor said and helped Trent support Kirrick.

Monotone voices began coming from the alley entrance where the droid had left to.

"We don't have much time." Trent said. They ran for what seemed forever, both doing all they could to help Kirrick. But as they got closer to Trent's home, they heard shouting and chaotic sounds getting louder.

"Oh no," Trent said. "Hurry."

They passed a corner and entered Trent's home area. And they saw why people were shouting and what the sounds were.

The Imperials had beaten them home.

People, people Trent had known his entire life, lay still on the ground. Smoke from fire grew thick in the air as buildings burned. Blaster fire covered the entire area. Fortunately Trent and Cor, still carrying Kirrick, were hidden away from the carnage.

"The Imperials must have followed others back here." Cor said.

"I have to go," Trent said. "I have to find my mother."

"Wait, Trent," Cor called out above the explosions and blaster fire. "Look."

Trent turned to see what his friend was indicating and a horrified look came over his face. His home was burning, explosions rippling through it.

"No," Trent said, tears dripping down his face.

"I'm sorry, Trent." Cor said as they heard voices coming closer behind them. "We have to go."

"Right," Trent said wiping away tears. "Now's not the time. This way." They began running again when suddenly a huge explosion shook the ground. Trent turned to see where the explosion came from and his saw the building his home was in start to tilt towards the ground. He froze in place. Another explosion shook him, though he did not move, the flames and the building getting ever closer to him.

"Trent!" Cor called out to him and pushed him out of the way. Trent went flying, barely escaping the path of the falling building, the path that Cor now stood directly in front of. Trent could only look in horror as the flaming building collapsed on his friend.

The world was spinning as Trent could only stare in terror, lying on the ground, even as the flames began to get closer to him. The world started to get darker, the light going out. Trent didn't even hear as armored footsteps approached, blasters aiming for him, or the sudden sound of several surprised gasps and armored bodies falling to the ground. By that time, the world had gone completely dark.