Distance by Captain Anonymous Lt. Norton opened the door to Townsend’s office and stood at attention. The sound of his heels clicking together echoed through the empty office. “You wanted to see me Colonel?” Townsend moved his hand towards his head, giving a half effort at a salute. Townsend looked at the former OZ officer. This all seemed so familiar, like he had done it all before. When he came in, he almost expected Sgt. Course, even after all this time. How much he wanted to see his former aide. To see him come in, wearing the oversized chevrons on his preventer uniform. He was like so many comrades that Townsend had once known. Norton had been assigned to him as a replacement, after Ordway and Course had fallen. Townsend tapped his pen against the desk as he finished the report. Townsend said in his slow drawl, “If you wouldn’t mind, could you drop off the units daily reports to Lady Une.” Norton nodded, “Yes sir.” Townsend picked up the folders from the out box on his desk. Almost as an after thought, he opened his desk, placed a small envelope between the folders. Norton leaned down and took the folder from his commander, catching the lingering smell of the brandy that never seemed to leave the area around his desk. Norton held the folder. “Will that be all Colonel?” “That will be all, dismissed.” “Sir.” Norton closed the door behind him. Townsend sat at his desk. He had finally done it. The letter that he had been writing for so long, it was finally sent. The letter that would free him. There was no feeling of peace inside of him. He thought that maybe he didn’t do the right thing. He knew that sooner or later, he would have to leave the service. Eventually he knew that he would be released from his command. The Preventer Agency was on its last legs. With support for the local enforcement, and the lack of funding, it was only a matter of time. Townsend felt the very same way. That he was slowly having the life drained from him. There was nothing. No one who cared, no one to love. The world didn’t need him any more. He knew how it felt to be left behind. It happened to him before. This time maybe things would be different. He wasn’t going to count on that being the case. That no one wanted to be with him. Lovers, comrades, friends. He had seen them all fall along the way. Some died. Others just disappeared into the darkness. Townsend opened his desk drawer and poured a small shot of brandy into a glass. He stood up from his desk and walked to the window. This would the last time that he would look out over the familiar view, looking at the setting sun. Townsend closed his eyes. ------------------ The small angel moved her body, eventually standing, awkward, before falling back onto her thick pink blanket. Midii moved her hand against the small angel’s fine hair. “It’s okay honey.” The small angel seemed undaunted by her small set back, and proceeded to try again. Trowa walked into the room, rubbing his eyes, after finally finishing his work for the day. Trowa leaned down beside his wife, looking at his daughter. “She’s still trying.” Midii nodded, with a proud smile on her face. “She’s only been able to stand a bit, she hasn’t been able to take any steps yet.” Midii lifted the small angel as she stood, holding her close. “That’s enough for today, Marie.” Midii laid the small angel down in her crib, next to her stuffed lion. “She’s been getting better. She must have your sense of balance,” Midii said, teasing him. A slight smile came to Trowa’s face. Midii leaned down and lightly kissed Marie on the forehead, “I’ll be back later. You just play nice with your lion.” They walked out into the hallway. “Dinner should be almost ready.” Midii smiled, “No rush, Catherine is making her soup tonight.” Midii looked down the hall, making sure that no one else was around. Trowa said flatly, “Are you all right?” Midii nodded, “I’m all right, I guess I’m still worried about it. I try not to think about it, but it really scares me.” Trowa didn’t say word, he knew just how she felt, and that there was nothing that he could do right now. “Maybe I should call Lady tonight.” Trowa nodded, “That might help to keep your mind at ease. If there is anything I can do to help.....” Midii touched his hand, “No, there is nothing else you can do.” She moved her arms around him, rubbing his back. “You’ve been so wonderful.” Trowa could feel her lay her head against his chest. He put his arms around her, holding her for a moment. Midii laid her head on his shoulder. “We’d better go. I’ve got to get Marie a bottle before dinner. “Besides we shouldn’t keep Catherine waiting.” Trowa closed his eyes and held her for a moment in the embrace. ------------------------ Lady Une turned in her desk chair and looked out over the setting sun. The light shimmered through the window, giving a pale orange glow. She leaned back, and touched her long brown hair with her fingers, gently brushing it back. She closed her eyes, as the warm rays of light shined on her. Lady couldn’t forget what happened as the words still echoed in her mind. Her thoughts still drifted back to Johnnie, everything he had said. The look in eyes. Everything. Johnnie still hung on to the anger that had been kept inside of him. As time went on, the anger inside of him fed on the blood and death that he seen and grew strong off the pain. Lady hadn’t talked to Midii since then. The relationship they now had was so delicate. Did Midii know yet that she had seen Johnnie? It seemed like her cousin was so far away from once again. There was something about all this. She breathed deeply as she opened her eyes, as the last light of the day disappeared. She felt that there was nothing should could do now. Midii would have to make the next move. She felt alone now. She stood from leather chair and closed the blinds, leaving the office dark. She picked up the papers from her desk and placed them in her briefcase. Townsend’s report. Daily files and forms. She would look at them in the morning. It could all wait. ---------------- Mitchell laid in bed, covering his eyes as the early morning light came into the room. He looked into the light as it filtered in past the swaying curtains. There was something familiar about the glow, something he could remember. The bright flashes of light still echoed in his mind, still haunting him. He could still see it as clear as day. The paths the Epyon system showed him, what was, or what could have been. Playing out the bloody scenarios one after another. Sometimes he was able to win, and find a path out. Others it was total hell. Seeing everyone he loved, seeing them die at his own hand, something he caused. It was never real, just Epyon playing with his mind. But it all seemed so real. They used him, to test the effects of the Epyon, to see just how much a pilot could take. To see how far over the edge it would take him. Many of the test subjects didn’t survive. Some ended up in hospitals, there minds destroyed as the settings were too powerful for anyone to handle. Mitchell was one of the lucky few. He felt Sylvia touch him as she turned over, the sunlight glowed against her soft features. He was lucky. ------------------ To be continued. Next chapter: Last Review.