Matt's Story

Ulaz

     "We don't have long. The rebels will want us back soon."
     The Galra looked at them, or so Matt assumed. He still couldn't see the Galra's face. Matt felt unsettled. A few minutes had passed in silence before Olia had spoken. The rebels we're corrupted. Who could they trust besides themselves?
     "We need to know. Who are you? What rebels do you work with?"
     "How can I know that you will not report me?"
     Matt could not answer. How could he? What could he possibly say that would convince the Galra that they meant no harm. Olia turned to Matt, apparently hoping that he had an answer. Something came to Matt, but he didn't like it.
     "How much do friends and comrades mean to you?"
     "My comrades are my family. I care much for them. Though we all understand sacrifice, it does not stop our greif in loss."
Matt thought for a moment, thinking. Finally, he knew what to say.
     "I lost my friends to the Galra. Well, my friend and father. They... went on a mission with me. We were taken. I never saw my father again. Not long after, I lost my friend. I can guarantee you that I would be the last person to help the Galra Empire."
     The Galra before him was silent.
     "And your friend?"
     "I have a family. A husband I love. Children of my own. I want nothing more than to see them safe. I joined the rebels believing that I was doing that. I would never have joined if it meant working with them voluntarily."
     "Very well," the Galra said. "I am Ulaz, a member of the Blade of Marmora, not a group of rebels. For ten thousand years, the Galra Empire has tried to completely take over the universe. The Blade of Marmora has been successful in keeping them from fulfilling this goal."

     "Have you any clue how much the Galra Empire has done? They have destroyed countless worlds, taken freedom from hundreds more!" Olia argued. Ulaz held up a hand.

    "I know it does not seem like the Blade of Marmora has salvaged much, but we have few members and resouces. We do what we can, though the outcome is not always favorable. We do what we do to protect as much as we can. We need more members. We need allies. We need resources. This is the best we can do with what we have."

     Static crackled in Matt's ear. He motioned for silence from Ulaz and Olia, who looked ready to argue the point further.

     "Matt! Can you hear me? It's Te-Osh! You aren't back yet, what is going on?"

     "Te-Osh, we had some trouble with the Galra we found. Olia's suit is malfunctioning and I can't risk her losing oxygen. The ship has also suffered too much damage. I don't know if we could get it started again."

     "We'll send another ship to come collect you and Olia can get a new suit once you're safely back. What happened with the Galra prisoner?"

     Matt hesitated. He was lying to Te-Osh, who had rescued him. Te-Osh, who was distant, but still considered a friend to Matt and Olia. He was lying to the rebels he had been training with for six months. It had been a year and a half since he had been abducted by the Galra. He looked at Ulaz, who gazed calmly at him. Then he glanced at Olia who looked worried. He muted his microphone for a moment.

    "Last chance to turn back." 

     "No. There is no turning back."

     "Te-Osh, the prisoner got away. We messed up. Well, I messed up. Olia-."

     "Matt, it's alright. I'm just glad to hear that you are both alive. The ship will arrive for you two in about ten dobashes. Be ready to leave when it gets there."

     "Of course, Te- Osh."

    "Over and out."

    "Over and out," Matt repeated. "We need to get you out of here, Ulaz. And we need to break your suit, Olia. We have ten dobaches."

     "I'll take the escape pod. When I get back to the Blade of Marmora's base, I will explain what happened. We can set something up and send an operative after you two so that we can explain everything."

     "Right," Olia said. She had already managed to sabotage her suit somehow, though Matt hadn't been paying attention. She nodded to Matt and put her mask back on. "Goodbye, Ulaz."

     "This is not goodbye, Captain. But thank you." He headed for the door. Matt watched him go. "Oh. And Matthew Holt?"

     "How do you know my name? I don't remember telling you...."

     "Do not lose hope. You will see your family and friends soon enough." And then Ulaz was gone.

     "What do you mean? I can't go back to Earth! Ulaz!"

     "Let him go, Matt. He'll explain later. If he hasn't come within fourteen quintents... um, two Earth weeks... we will have to leave the 'rebels' anyway and we can find out then."

     "Two weeks? That's-."

     Olia faced him, her mask hiding her face. Matt stood still for a minute and then nodded, understanding. He took a deep breath and replaced his mask. It was time to go wait for the ship.

     

    "Matt! Matt look what Dad brought from the Garrison for us!"

    A little five year old girl with the same amber eyes and a slightly darker shade of blond hair as Matt ran toward him. He was about nine years old. His glasses sat crooked on his nose and his white t-shirt and blue jean shorts were stained by the grass, but he sat with a computer in his lap. Her pink dress flew behind her as she ran. Her hair was tangled and in her face.

    "What is it?" Matt asked. 

     "What are they," the girl corrected, holding out a small black device. "He said they're called walkie talkies."

     "That's so cool!" Matt said reaching for one. "Katie this is awesome!"

     "We should come up with cool secret named for when we use them!" Katie said excitedly. "You can call me Princess Sparkles and you can be Prince Dork!"

    Matt stared at her for a minute, then they both burst out laughing. "I'm sure we'll think of something."

     Summer science camp was fun, but Matt missed his mom, dad, and little sister. Most kids didn't get along with their siblings, but Matt and Katie were not most kids. He got his walkie talkie out and would talk to Katie each night about what they learned. Katie took all of the information in and learned it even more quickly than he did. She should have been in advanced classes by now.

     "What are you doing now, Matt?" she would ask when he was through telling her about the lessons. He would almost always answer something different just to keep her talking to him.

     "Well, tonight I'm watching birds fly outside the building. I think they're pidgeons. They're common in cities like this."

     "Huh. That's cool... I guess."

     Matt laughed quietly, trying not to disturb any of the other boys. "Yeah. I guess."

     There was a moment of silence between them. Matt looked at his watch. It was nearly nine thirty at night. It was getting late for Katie to be up. Matt himself was exhausted. It was everything he could do to stay awake and say the right words when he was talking. 

     "I have to go to bed," Katie finally said. Matt could imagine her pouting. Her brow would be furrowed, her bottom lip sticking out as she scowled at her parents. Matt smiled. 

      "Well then, good night, Pidge."

     "Pidge?"

     "Katie. Sorry. I was thinking about those birds."

     "Okay I'll admit it's kind of cool. But only as code names."

     "Alright, then. Good night. Over and out, Pidge."

     "Over and out, Prince Dork."

     Matt smiled again as his eyes closed and he promptly fell asleep.