Matt's Story

The Message

     Notifications came up on every communication device of every soldier on the field. It took several minutes, but eventually, the fighting slowed, and even stopped. Then, taking everyone by surprise, a holographic video started playing. Many soldiers didn't know who the two people in the video were, but few exclaimed that they did know who these two rebel fighters were. 

      "My name is Captain Olia. I have two sons and a husband, all of whom I love so very much. If I could see them again... if I could just tell them one last thing, it's just that. I love them. I also had a brother and a sister-in-law. Until recently, when I learned that the Galra Empire had taken over their city. They were killed then. I have no news of my sons and husband. I stayed with them, hoping that the war would soon end, but five years ago, I gave up that hope. I knew that the war was truly only just beginning. And so I joined a group of rebels- the first group I could find. I wanted to save my family at any and all cost."

     "And I am Matthew Holt. I am a human from the planet Earth. You're probably wondering why you're watching this. This is, after all, the middle of a battle. But between whom? What side are you all fighting on? Does anybody here truly know?"

     Almost one million cries of "we fight the Galra Empire" and "we fight for freedom" were shouted with pride into the air from both sides. Many people stood there silently looking at not only their teammates, but also their adversaries. They had just been fighting. How could they be fighting somebody who also claimed that they fought on their side? Was this some sort of practical joke?

     "This is a pre-recorded message. Captain Olia and myself are watching, but cannot change this video's content. We have no way of making you even listen anymore. But my best guess is that there are close to a million people left here. And that means that there are probably close to a million people here that just said that they fight the Galra Empire. That they fight for their freedom, their families, the freedom of other people. But let me assure you- this is not some childish practical joke. This is war. WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR GAMES!" Matt roared into the holographic projections. "LOOK AROUND YOU! HOW MANY LIE BEFORE YOU NOW DEAD? DOES THIS SEEM LIKE A JOKE TO YOU?"

     Matt had eyes sliding down his face in the holographic projection. Everyone looked on at the bodies surrounding them. How many were now dead? If this was not a joke, then what was going on? Even the smallest of skirmishes that had reemerged now quit once more. This boy was hardly more than a child by the standards of anyone in that clearing and he had just told every last one of them something that should have been common sense. This was a war. Unless this was a trick of some kind, what would be the point of all of this? But looking at this, each soldier noticed that their enemies looked just as confused as they did themselves. Turning back to their messages, they noticed that the boy had managed to compose himself once more.

     "I was once a prisoner of the Galra Empire. I went on a mission to a place called Kerberos- a station of Pluto in the Milky Way Galaxy, where I lived. I was with my father, Commander Samuel Holt, and my friend, Captain Takashi Shirogane," Matt went on now, calmer, his voice a hoarse whisper. "They are both gone now. I do not know if they live or not, but... I have searched. I have little to no hope of ever finding them again. But I did not go back to Earth when I was rescued by this group of rebel fighters. I wanted to go home to my sister Katie. I wanted to see my mom again. But I couldn't risk luring the Galra Empire to them. So I chose to fight the people who had taken the people I cared about away from me. 

      "You may be wondering 'so what? I know of people with more tragic stories. Why are you telling us this?' Well let me tell you. Commander Sendak of the rebel forces is not in fact a rebel commander. He is one of the top commanding officers of the Galra Empire, and has been lying to us all. To the rebels I say this: the people before you now are Galra. Captain Olia and I have met one of their members before. But they are not of the Galra Empire, but of the legendary Blade of Marmora. They fight the Galra Empire as we so long have believed we do. But we do not. Each of the countless battles we have fought have been against those who stand in front of you today."