The Opening Act
By
Captain Anonymous


Trowa looked around at the familiar surroundings of the circus.
It was early yet; the show wouldn't be starting for about three hours.
It was going to be the opening night of the show. Trowa stood with Midii as they watched the crews and other behind the scenes people work with the performers, all trying to get ready for tonight.
Trowa remembered like these, before the show. All the time that they had spent in preparation, the last minute of going over details and plans for routines.
It seemed as though that in these times, that no one would be ready for the show. But when the time came, every night, all the problems would be solved, everything finalized and the show would go on.
There was a time before he had met Midii; this had been his family, the people here, along Catherine. They had looked out for each other.
They were some of his happier memories.

Catherine was probably in one the backstage areas, likely getting dressed, getting make up or readying the razor sharp knives she would be using in her act.
Midii's younger brothers had gone off to the backstage areas, to watch the clowns and the other performers as they warmed up and rehearsed their acts.

A figure caught Trowa's attention. He was standing amid a group of crew people, directing them to move a light fixture into place.
The Manager.
After finishing what he was doing, he turned and ordered another crew to take care of task.
He then turned and noticed Trowa.
The Manager walked over, on the way pointing to a performer, giving a word of encouragement.
Trowa watched him as he approached.
The Manager stood before Trowa and Midii.
"It's been a long time Trowa." The Manager spoke. "It's good to see you."
Trowa nodded, "Likewise."
The Manager looked at Midii. He had met her once before, when she had come down with Catherine. The Manager had always taken particular interest in her, and her relationship with Trowa. For someone as cold and silent as Trowa, it seemed so unusual that all of a sudden he would meet her and fall in love.
Never the less, he always did like the girl with blonde hair.
"So Trowa, have given any thought to coming back to the circus and taking up performing again. We could really use someone of your talents once again."
Trowa said, "No, I'm just here as a spectator. I really don't think that it would be right for me now."
"Well, if you ever change your mind, you'll know where to find us." The Manager said.
His attention was turned to the small Angel, held in her mother's arms.
The Manager smiled at her, "Perhaps she's inherited some of her father's talents. Even if she has only half of the skills Trowa has, she could make quite the performer someday."
Midii smiled, "We'll have to until she's a little older for that. Isn't that right Marie."
Trowa said, "Recruiting for the future I see."
The Manager said, "I've got to be on the look out for young talent when I see it.
With one hand, the Manager produced from what seemed like out of thin air a small lolly pop.
He watched as Marie's eyes lit up at the sight of it, as her sweet voice carried through the tent, "Lolly, lolly, lolly."
The Manager handed Marie the candy. Marie took it and wasted no time on starting on it.

The Manager had been a man who had spent his whole life running the circus, eventually inheriting his experience and position from his father, who had retired.
He was a man of endless energy, and brilliant organizational skills.
Trowa had once thought that in another life time, that he would have been a brilliant military officer.
But all the same, he was man who was dedicated to his trade. The circus was his life, the people in it; they were no interchangeable employees, but rather more like his children. He often pushed them to get things done, to get better, and to improve. He always made sure everything in the show was up to par, that everything would work, and prove to be an unforgettable experience.
It seemed during a show he was everywhere, taking pride in being the ring master, and after the show, meeting the audience, always having time for everyone, especially the young children.
Trowa had often thought of him as being almost a father figure. He often wondered, if maybe the man his father was something like this man.

Catherine had often commented, that she considered him to be the closest thing that she had to father, after her own family was lost.

Trowa looked aside as more lights were wielded in.

The Manager turned as more equipment was brought in.
"I had better get back to work. Please enjoy the show. I guarantee it will be unforgettable."
Trowa nodded. Midii smiled and said, "Thank you. I'm sure we will."

-------------------------

Lt. Norton walked down the narrow halls, after turning in his final daily report.
He was finally free the rest of the night, and the following weekend. It would weekend that he would have off in several weeks.
The halls the building were quiet now. It was Friday night, about 18:30.
Norton had requested this weekend off, well in advance to make sure that he would get it.
As he walked down the hall, he could still feel the weight of the hours he had put in that day still on him. His eyes were tired and heavy.
Maybe the best thing for him would have been to go straight home and to get some sleep.
But the young Preventer Agent had no intention of doing that.

Norton looked up as he saw two other Agents slowly approaching him.

One was Sally Po, his commanding officer.

The other Captain Sykes, from the central command.
He had only spoken once since he had arrived. Norton really had no intention of getting to know Sykes, since with his assignment here being only temporary, he would be leaving soon.
Still, he seemed like a good officer.
Sykes was a tall man, of average build, reasonably handsome, with short blonde hair. He had heard that during the war, Sykes had been an OZ officer, and was mobile suit pilot.
They were quietly talking some matter.

He was still friendly towards him, but with all the change ups he had seen during his military career, it seemed once you knew someone well enough, then a transfer or change in orders would break up before they knew it. Norton could barely even count the number of times that a friend would be transferred out, and never heard from again.

As they passed by, Norton snapped to attention, saluting them as they passed. Both Sally and Sykes returned the salute, and walked past him.
Neither seemed to pay much attention to him.
Norton didn't mind.
Norton lowered his hand and continued back towards the elevator.

He pushed the button and waited.

It was quiet for a moment as the footsteps of Sally and Sykes disappeared down the hall.
Norton had made his plans for the night. The circus would be in town tonight, and he would go and catch the show.
He thought about what Captain Harrow had said about the girl at the circus, he didn't pay them any heed.
She would likely be leaving after the show, it would be his only chance.
Not that he had of a chance he felt anyway.

He was glad that he didn't see Captain Harrow again tonight. He was sure where the Captain was, but he didn't want to see him for that reason.

Maybe tonight.

The doors of the elevator opened, and Norton stepped in.

-------------------

They were would landing in a few minutes, before transferring to another flight.
Sylvia looked out the window, at the endless sea of clouds that spread as far as the eye could see.
How peaceful it all seemed, with the clouds, and the clear blue sky.

In recent years, she never particularly cared for flying.

The image of her grandfather's shuttle still was a thought that haunted deep with in her subconscious.

She tried not to think about it.

They were their way back to see to see Midii and Trowa once again, it like it had been so long since they all had been together in person.
She could barely remember the last time the four of them were all together in the same place.

In the time after the war, she considered the times they had all spent together some of the happiest she had.

She looked to her side, to look at Joel. He was asleep, quietly.
He seemed so peaceful, but she knew that he still haunted deep down.
In the end, she hadn't been able to tell him about what had happened, at the grave of her grandfather, during the war.
She had tried so many times to find words, but every time she did, the thought of his reaction still worried her.
Would he be upset with her, or would do more harm than good in telling him?
She had been with him for some time now, but she still wasn't sure.
The scars in him were deep, so deep that she wasn't sure just how they reached down inside of him.
The thought crossed her mind, what would Mitchell have done if she had turned Heero Yuy over to him.
Her mind drifted back for a moment, to the young Alliance officer she had known then, before he had injured so badly.
She couldn't picture him doing anything to Heero Yuy aside from locking up and proceeding to find the facts of the matter.
But still, his dark side now worried her.

She just prayed to God that they would never meet, or if they were destined to, that would find the courage to tell him, and find to do it without hurting him before that could ever happen.

Of course, would Mitchell even know Heero if they met?
Maybe Mitchell already knew about the meeting they had, maybe he had already confronted the Gundam pilot.
He had met Trowa Barton, and become friends. Maybe still there was something more to it.
Maybe still, she didn't know, those times Mitchell had spent as a Preventer, those times when they were apart before they found another. She didn't know about those times. The only man other Mitchell could have asked, would have been the Major with the one arm. But he was gone now, and with it all he knew.

Maybe her grandmother would be able to offer some words to help, some advice, something to make easier. Heero had visited her as well, it just Sylvia.

What her grandfather tell her to do?

Why did it have to be this way?
She knew she would have to find the answer herself.

Mitchell slowly opened his eyes and looked at his young wife in the light from the window.
He had noticed this look on her face several times, but more and more, he noticed this worried expression far more often on her, and burning inside of her, after visiting her grandfather's grave.
Perhaps she worried about something. Or maybe he thought to himself, she was worried or afraid of him.

Sylvia looked at him, "I see you're awake."
Mitchell moved in his seat, "Sorry I fell asleep."
Sylvia smiled, "No, its okay."
Mitchell nodded, "Sylvia, you've seemed to be preoccupied with something. Is there something the matter? Is there something I can do for you?"
Sylvia smiled, even still, he was always concerned for her. "There is something, I have to tell you. I don't want to tell you here, one we get settled."
Mitchell nodded, "I understand."

-------------------

The sun had set over the mountains outside of Fairfax.
Count Townsend entered the empty halls and walked the familiar distance to his study.

He had just gotten back in. He had spent most of the day out in the woods doing some hunting.

Most of the day he had spent his time, wandering the woods, all alone, just him, the woods themselves and the heavy rifle that he carried.

In all the time that he had spent out there, he not once fired a shot.

A few times, game had presented itself to him, a few rabbits and deer, but Townsend could bring himself to open fire on these creatures.

Something in him had stopped every time, in the end, he was glad that his hunt had ended without any results.

Most of the time, he had been lost in thought, thinking about her.

He thought about her so long, and so often now. He had decided to go out hunting on this day, in order to put his mind at ease from thinking of her.

But it was to no avail.

The first thing that he did when he came home was to check with houseman, to see if she had made any calls to him or sent him any messages.

The time he had spent just seemed so lonely in these dark halls.

She knew that she was with her daughter, and when she could, she would contact him.

But it still change the fact that he was alone here, and that he wanted to be able to see her again.

He sat down in his study, letting his tired muscles relax for the first time in hours. He had been on his feet for most of the day now, with this being the first time he had sat down.
His body ached in a few places, maybe he was getting too old.
He closed his eyes slowly.

With one hand, he opened the top right drawer of his desk, and produced a fresh bottle of brandy.
His hand returned the drawer produced his pistol. He placed them both on the desk.

Townsend sat in silence, for seemed like an eternity.

The shrill sound of the phone ringing broke the silence. Townsend picked it up after the first chime.
"Townsend." He spoke softly.
His eyes opened wide. The tender on the other end seemed to give him a fresh energy.
"I'm glad to hear from you," he responded.
The sound of her voice, the kindness in it.
"Yes, I understand. I'll make my arrangements to come and see you tomorrow."
They talked for few more minutes, before hanging up.
Townsend picked up the bottle and the pistol and replaced them into the drawer.

He felt better now.


To be continued……………………