He Who Strikes First: REBELLION | Original Version

Chapter VI

Tao headed quickly back to section G, down the old path. He was surprised Byung Ho even agreed to be his friend, and Tao hoped he would be an ally for the rebellion. He and Boa had begun planning the rebellion a few days ago, when she helped a young man after he saved her mother from being beaten to death. He hoped that Boa would get the boy to join their rebellion against Shang. They still hadn't found someone to lead it out, but for now Boa was in charge. Boa hadn't found any other people who were different from the others, other than the boy she saved. Tao kept thinking about it all the way back to section G. He hoped it would go out perfectly, and they'd eventually take down Shang. He sighed, as he entered the section G part of the home base. Maybe, if he went home and went to sleep, maybe he would feel better.

Byung Ho walked to the training yard again. He was feeling a lot better, and decided to drop by Tao's cave before going to his training session; and give them some more bread. Tao had mentioned that his family enjoyed the bread before. "Tao!" He called, as he saw his friend. Tao looked up. "Oh, good morning Byung Ho!" He greeted, waving. He gasped as he saw the flax bag. "W-What is in that?" He asked, curiously. Byung Ho smiled. "It is bread, for..." He stopped as he saw Tao's siblings run out to greet him. "Byung Ho!!" They both called, happily. Byung Ho really had a soft spot for young children, seeing their happy faces made his day. He waved, as he saw Tao's mother slowly creep out from the cave. "What's in the bag?!" Fang asked. Byung Ho pulled out a couple of loaves of bread. "Here. It's bread for you and your family." He said. The two children cheered as they took the bread, and ran over to their mother. He chuckled, as they happily ate the bread. "Oh, and also..." He pulled out a small rock jar. "What other odd things do you carry in your bag?" Tao chuckled. "Oh," Byung Ho twisted the rock, and a liquid was inside it "it is medicine for your mother." Byung Ho smiled as Tao grabbed the rock cup, and ran to his mother. "Mother! Mother!" He exclaimed. A larger smile crept onto Byung Ho's face when Tao's mother drank the medicine. "Oh- Tao!! I'll see you later!!" He called, as he quickly headed off. "Where you off to in such a hurry?!" Tao exclaimed, laughing. Byung Ho turned. "Practice with Muta!!" He yelled back. "Don't want to be late!!"

He walked to the lake, because it wasn't so far from section G, as everything else was- when he bumped into someone. Tao rubbed his head. "I'm terribly sorry, I am very clumsy." The person looked at him. It was Boa. "Hey, Tao. How's your mother? Still sick?" She asked, sympathetically. "We'll talk over fishing." She said, as she picked up two fishing rods.

Tao looked around, as he headed back home after fishing. Something was odd about the way the smoke a few meters away rose. Usually he could smell bread, which made him hungry. But today it was a different smell. It smelled like burning. Not burning bread, he knew the smell, this smell was a different kind of burning. Then it hit him. The smoke was rising from near his cave. His mother was there. Dropping the fish, Tao ran through section G, as fast as his legs could; maybe even faster. He turned the corner hoping his cave was fine, but he saw Shang.

A scream rung through section B. It came from a distance away, but from where Byung Ho was he could still hear it. He couldn't help, but be curious. Maybe Shang was torturing another person. He ran, now. Because the screaming stopped for a bit. It was coming from section G. He ran through the section, and passed those same caves he saw that morning on his way to training. He gasped, as Shang was standing before Tao's cave. The cave was burning, and there was screaming coming from inside the cave. He looked around, hoping Tao was ok. "Tao!!" He yelled as he saw Tao on his knees crying. In attempt to run to comfort his friend, something collided with his head. He fell to his side. Another scream of Tao's name, it gave Byung Ho the strength to look up. He saw her. Boa. "Boa!! Don't!" He yelled, because he saw Shang who was ready to through a large rock at her. Byung Ho could feel the blood drizzling down his head. Boa turned, and saw Byung Ho on the ground. A rock laying there next to him. She stopped her reach out to Tao. As she stopped, the rock flew at her head. Tao screamed in pain as he saw his home burning. He turned, as he could hear his name being called. Then, as he looked to the voices- he saw Boa and Byung Ho. Both lying on the ground. There was blood coming from both of their heads. He was broken. The screaming from his cave stopped. "Shang!!" He yelled, forcing himself to stand again. "Why... Why did you kill my family?!" He looked at Shang, and realized that Shang didn't feel a bit of regret for what he did, nor did he feel innocent. He look like he enjoyed watching the cave burn, with

innocent lives in it. "I killed them, because your mother has disobeyed my rules for the last time!! Oh, and I have a perfect job for you, my dear boy. You won't be living in section G anymore." Tao's eyes widened. He was confused, and angry. "Why?!" Tao screamed. "Why? Well, first off you'll be moving to section B." Shang replied. "Commanders!!" Shang shouted. Two big men came running to his side. "Take these children to section B." He ordered. One commander picked both Boa and Byung Ho up, and flung them over his shoulders- then headed into the direction of section B. Tao screamed as the other commander grabbed him, and picked him up.

"Why did Shang burn your family, Tao?" Boa asked, putting her arm around Tao's shoulder. "Because... she stole some food to help us. We were going to starve to death if she didn't." He cried, and he looked to Byung Ho. "Well, now at least... Byung Ho and I can be proper friends." Tao tried to force a smile. "Tao... we were already proper friends." Byung Ho said. "Living in section B cannot replace your family. And I am sorry for your loss," Byung Ho looked at Boa. He could see a little blood running down her cheek. "Boa... There's a little blood..." He pointed to his own cheek to point out where the blood was on her face. She put her hand on her own face. "Oh, thank you Byung Ho!" She walked over to a rock, and grabbed some bandage fabric, and placed it onto her face.