Day 1 | 0900

The screen blinked to life, depicting a young man standing in a small room adjusting the camera. The room was devoid of any decorations, consisting of only a bed, a desk, and a chair. Besides the young man’s feet lay a huge backpack. He stared at the screen with a satisfied smile and settled down on the bed.

“Today is my first day at the barracks, and I’m so excited!”

The young man clapped and did a fist pump.

“I’ve been dreaming of this moment for years! Justin and I passed all the tests with flying colors, and we were given our own rooms! They’re small, but it’s better than living with a bunch of other dudes. We won’t be sent to the front lines yet, but we’ll get to see how everything runs here! We can see the war machines up close and--”

Someone beyond the screen outside shouted at the young man, prompting him to turn to his right. After he responded, he stood and approached the screen.

“Ops, time for me to go. I don’t know how busy I’ll get, but I hope I’ll have enough time to record all the big moments. Alarik, signing off.”

He winked at the screen a second before it went black.

Day 3 | 1900

The instant the screen flashed to life, Alarik was seen dancing in front of the bed. As he did, he spoke slightly out of breath, but unbelievably delighted.

“We were chosen! Us! Justin and I!”

Alarik laughed, then sat on the bed, panting with a grin.

“In a week, we’ll be sent to the FOB closest to the front lines. I can’t believe we’re be moving months ahead of schedule! We still won’t be fighting, but at least we’ll be able to see some action, baby! Gosh. It feels like yesterday when Justin and I were still watching the movies about this, but now we’re actually here! For some reason he doesn’t seem as excited, but eh, understandable. He still has a girlfriend back home while I don’t. Tsk. Oh well, once I return home, there’ll be babes swarming me, hah!”

He sighed, then gazed at the screen rapturously.

“Things are going to be great.”

He marched forward, reached his arm forward, and everything turned black.

Day 5 | 2200

A bunk bed and a table on the side entered the screen. Alarik was seen speaking to a person off-screen while stepping backward. Brushing his hand across his face, he settled on the lower bed. His eyes were filled with joy and weariness.

“We arrived, but our convoy was attacked by those filthy creatures. One of the vehicles was taken out, but the rest of us made it out. Now, I know why they moved us here ahead of schedule. Clearly, they need as many men as possible fighting back. I admire how the people working here have been holding down the fort and supporting the front lines. Soon, I’ll be able to fight for the greater good, too.”

A leg entered the screen from the right as another man spoke.

“Still think the front line’s fun and games?”

Alarik snapped his sight to his companion, frowning.

“What, did that incident scare you, Justin? This only strengthens my resolve to fight!”

“If you say so. I saw you shaking back in the car.”

“I did not! Don’t butt into my diary!”

Alarik stood and rapidly approached the screen. Once again, darkness arrived.

Day 10 | 0600

The screen pans upward from beneath Alarik’s chest. He was smiling brighter than the rising sun. The screen shook ever so slightly without stopping, indicating he was walking as he spoke.

“So, Justin and I piloted the mechs yesterday. The small ones because those were easier to use. If we prove to be effective in controlling it, the bigger ones will be waiting for us. Honestly, I don’t mind if I was stuck piloting that thing forever because it was so fun! It controls similar to the simulation, but it feels so much different when controlling the real thing!”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Alarik glanced backward before facing the screen again.

“I’m not supposed to be out here right now, but I got so excited that I woke up early. Today, we’ll be attacking an enemy base! It’s been a while since I last made another entry, and it’s a big day today, so I wanted to record my thoughts before it happens. I really… I’ve-I’ve… There are no words I can describe how I’m feeling right now. Today, I’m going to show those filthy things and everyone in the base who Alarik Dyson is. Mom and Dad will be so proud. Sis will probably condemn and start spouting about some peace bullshit. Psh. If they wanted peace, they would’ve stayed on their side instead of coming over here. Anyway, I should head back now. Justin’s going to freak out if he doesn’t see me when he’s awake.”

With a wave of his hand toward the screen, the world fades to black.

Day 30 | 0000

Moonlight pierced through the window, being the only light source illuminating the room. The camera was facing the bunk bed again, and Alarik dragged his feet toward the furniture before crashing his butt on the lower bed. Then, he raised his head, showing a scar below his left eye and his unshaven face. Brushing his hand across his hair, he visibly struggled to form a word. A minute later, he sighed and finally spoke.

“The operation… was a success, but it wasn’t an enemy base. It was a makeshift camp filled with defenseless… civilians, if we could call them that. I… I didn’t… I thought I’d hear the cries of battle, not cries of… Oh, god…”

He pressed his hand on his eyes.

“I could still… hear it. And see it. They didn’t even fight back. Just pleaded. I thought the games and movies and virtual reality reels had prepared me for this. A fight was what all I, we, wanted, but this isn’t a fight. It was… It was nothing but slaughter. I could hear the bones crunching, their flesh squelching, a-and…”

Suddenly, he inhaled and exhaled rapidly and sharply before calming down.

“Justin ran away. We were pretty sure he did. I don’t know why, but… it seems like he had been planning to do it. Why, Justin? I didn’t think you were such a coward. I need you right now, but you’re not…”

He removed his hand, staring straight at the screen.

“They branded Justin a traitor and are planning to ship me back, but I won’t leave until I find him. I don’t give a shit if I’m court-martialed. I will find you, Justin, and we’ll go back home together.”

Sluggishly, he rose and shut the screen off.

Day 70 | 0900

Alarik was sitting to the right of the screen inside a spacious room made of mud. Sunlight spilled onto the ground from the window in the distance. A new scar was visible on his forehead. As he spoke, traces of anguish could be detected in his calm voice.

“I-- We were all wrong. I don’t know the whole situation yet, but I’ll be debriefed by Justin later. I found him, by the way. He was almost a thousand kilometers away from the front lines, living with… them. I was… So many emotions crossed my mind at once that I didn’t know what to say when he came out and told his new friends to stand down. I--”

He sighed with frustration, tightening his fist.

“I don’t know which angers me more -- the fact that he didn’t think to tell me he was still alive or that he was part of the resistance since… who the fuck knows how long. How the HELL did he even become a member of the resistance without stepping foot out of the country the whole time I've known him? How is he already so buddy-buddy with all of them? This is unbelievable.”

Silence followed, and he drank a glass of blue liquid nearby. Three minutes passed, and he spoke again.

“Justin better have one hell of a reason to be sticking around here or I’m dragging him home whether he wants to or not.”

Without warning, he reached his hand toward the screen, and nothing.

Day 150 | ???

There was nothing on the screen, but Alarik’s weary voice could be heard.

“We’re all sinners. Every last one of us, but the higher-ups in the military and government, the people I once admired… They deserve to meet Satan himself. They deserved to be personally punished by the Lord of Hell, because there is no justification in this world that can absolve them of their actions. Nothing. We were all fools to believe this conflict is as simple as it is.”

A strained pause, and then he continued.

“Over the past few months, I’ve seen… things. Things my younger self wouldn’t have believed. Things that my sister has been telling me, but I refused to listen. I saw the mechs, I saw the explosions, and I was in. That was all it took for me to murder innocents. How could I have been so blind? How could anyone? Weren’t we supposed to be ‘intelligent?’ ‘Superior?’ Ha, ha ha…”

His harrowing laughter echoed.

“I was skeptical at first, after hearing what Justin had to say. I was a fool to doubt him. It was in front of us all along, and we refused to see it. I refused to see it. Even though I’ve sacrifice much of myself to right my wrongs, it’s not enough. It’ll never be enough, but I still have to do this. I can’t live with myself if I don’t. Hopefully, my death will be a wakeup call to my parents, and I hope Sis will persuade them to realize the truth.”

He inhaled deeply.

“In three days, we’re mounting the biggest attack on the headquarters. Thanks to Justin, Miem, Lazlow, and me, we have enough firepower to push them back. I hope it goes well. If not, well, I hope this recording reaches my family. Mom, Dad, Sis, I love you. The truth is harsh, but you shouldn’t evade it. I’ll gladly sacrifice my life again for this cause if given the choice. We owe it to them, to every living being in this world. Goodbye.”

Day ??? | 1500

A man in a casual outfit settled down on a wooden box a distance away from the screen. He was inside a hall, staring straight ahead. Scars were visible across his arms and face, but he didn’t at all appear fierce. Instead, he wore a serene and somewhat indifferent expression.

“Alarik died a week ago. When I went through his room yesterday, I found this recorder and had someone repair it. I didn’t realize he was still recording his video diary, but it didn’t seem he made much entry. Since he wants this to reach his family, I’ll just record one last thing before sending it back to his home. Attached with this recorder will be my recorder, explaining everything in further detail. Just in case those watching can’t recognize me anymore due to the scars, this is Justin.”

Justin lowered his head, continuing in a monotone voice.

“The attack, which you would’ve seen on the news by now, was successful. Alarik was the only reason we won and the truth was revealed to the public. I’m sorry I couldn’t save him. I would’ve gladly sacrificed my life for his, but he wanted me to live. So I did. In a week from now, we’ll march to the capital and demand the ceasing of this pointless war. Maybe we’ll all die, maybe we’ll succeed. There’s no telling, but neither Alarik, I, nor anyone standing with us regretted fighting back. Humanity can be terrible, but we rebelled because if we can change, I believe everyone else can. It’s just a matter of effort and perspective.”

Seconds later, he raised his head once more, smiled, and approached the screen. Then, he stopped and uttered one last sentence.

“See you in the next life, Alarik.”

Fade to black.