A Letter to Home
Timothy La Rocque
The following letter
was written by Second Lieutenant Troy Schills of the Imperial
Fleet Regiment of flight officers three days before the destruction
of Alderaan.
Dearest Mother,
In my ten years of absence from your everso-comforting arms I have seen
the worst our galaxy has to offer. The scum that exist within some of our
worlds, and even amongst those who I have had the discomfort of working
alongside, are of plenty. Why I am doing this, I do not know.
Transferring my application to the Academy wasn't a very wise decision on
the part of Father, but I need not talk about him, as I know these
old-fashioned letters are difficult enough to read when marked with the
tears of one person, nevermind two.
For the first few years I didn't even realize that I was working under a
dictatorship, and that every button I pushed likely killed innocent
people. Every switch I pulled ended the lives of hundreds, maybe
thousands. Now I just don't want to do this anymore. I want to come home.
The longing I've had to no longer bear this evil insignia on my clothing
has caused a depression in my mind that I cannot get rid of. Even if I do
come home, Mother, I know that although I will be happier, the mere fact
that I have literally signed orders to terminate lives of people I knew
nothing about will plague me for all eternity.
I didn't want to do those things, Mother. I need your help. I need you to
bring me back what I have lost and delete what I no longer wish to see.
It wasn't even my job to have those alleged criminals killed. When
Captain Vola was killed, they handed me all of his problems until they
could find a replacement. It was the worst concoction of hours I have
ever experienced. That was when I wanted to come home. I tried writing a
letter to you that same day, but I was transferred from this space
station to a different flagship and the message was never sent.
So now here I am, sitting at a cold uncomfortable chair, next to a cold
uncomfortable bed that I should be sleeping in. I miss you so very, very
much and the pen I hold in my hand is shaking as I write. The trouble I
went to so I could find even a simple sheet of paper to write on was
amazing, Mother, but worth it. I know that you seeing this letter in my
own writing will help you realize that it is real.
I am sending this to Alderaan immediately after I finish it, Mother, and
because my flagship isn't too far away, you should receive it by morning.
I finally got the authority from the decision group just above the
Imperial Senate to have my application in the Empire terminated. I'm
coming home, Mother. I'll be leaving this awful place and coming home to
Alderaan. I am so anxious to see you again that I can barely hold it
within myself.
I'm crying already, Mother. Keep reading this until I arrive. Keep on
reading this tearstained letter. It will keep on telling you that I am
coming home. I almost have everything in order and I should be out of
here in what I know will seem like an eternity.
Wait for me, Mother. I shall arrive at home in four days.
-Troy
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