Sins of the Past
By
Captain Anonymous

Trowa entered the hospital through the main entrance, and walked up the stairs to the second floor. He got to the room at the end of the hall and walked inside, making sure the door was closed behind him. Trowa stood over the bed. "Hello Ralph."
Ralph looked up at Trowa, "I thought that you would show up here eventually."
Trowa nodded slightly, "I figured we should talk."
"I really don't feel like talking right now."
"Why did you do it Ralph?"
Ralph looked up straight, "You really want to know why I went through all this? I'll tell you why. Peace under these terms isn't the answer."
Trowa showed no emotion, "We fought together for the colonies." Ralph clenched his fist, "That's right we both used to fight for the colonies. After the war it all changed. What we got was peace under these terms but it is just like it was before. The Alliance and OZ are both still very much alive. The Preventers and OZ are just two sides of the same coin. How many of the same Preventers you fight along side now. How many of those Preventers fought for OZ? How many committed atrocities against the colonies? What about Lady Une? General Septem? Do you think people like that change? Its just a false front, in a few years it will all be the same. The new Government will strive for peace, even if it means peace by oppression."
Trowa clenched his fist, he could see the bitterness in Ralph's eyes. Ralph went on, "What are going to say now. Some tripe about peace? There is no peace without freedom."
Trowa stood silent for a moment. He finally said, "We fought together. We both sacrificed for the colonies, the same way soldiers on Earth sacrificed there lives. They have made the same choice the colonies have made, they want peace. I've met many of these former OZ soldiers. I killed many of soldiers just like them, I've been able to put aside my differences and put the war behind me. We can't keep fighting the battles of the past, there is no point. The only thing that will cause will be more death and result in
is the death of more of our comrades. Two Preventers have been killed, one wounded and your organization has taken losses. There has been far too much blood spilled over this. I don't want to see more soldiers like ourselves to die. We've killed many people Ralph, you and me, during the war. We'll have to pay for our sins."
Ralph said, "You used to be the perfect soldier."
Trowa said, "I met someone and fell in love. For the first time since I was very little I have had feelings. I've become someone like you."
Trowa left the room, his friend was gone.

Johnnie walked across the open space of the circus floor, his legs felt like they were made of lead. Catherine smiled at him as he approached. "Hi Johnnie, is anything wrong?" Johnnie took a deep breath. He sat down on the packing crate next to Catherine. He turned and looked into her loving eyes. He almost didn't have the nerve to tell her. Johnnie said in shakey tone, "I've got something I have to tell you Cathy, it's important."
Catherine stopped what she was doing and looked at Johnnie. He said slowly, "I was at the raid when those two Preventers were killed. The one that you knew, the one that died of his wounds. I pulled the trigger on him."
Catherine brought her hands over her mouth and looked at him in disbelief, as if what he was saying was not possible. Johnnie could feel Catherine's eyes on him, they ripped into him like a knife. He wished she didn't look at him. His hands were stained, and would never be clean again.
"I want you to that, neither Midii or my brothers had anything to with this. I was alone. I'm not proud of what I've done."
Catherine carefully wiped the tears from her face, "Why......why after all this time......did you have to keep fighting."
Johnnie stood up, "I did it for my brothers. I did it to feed them and take care of them. You really think I wanted to kill him? I killed him so they wouldn't have to. That's why I fought. That's why I joined with Ralph. That is why I had to keep fighting. I didn't hate him, or Trowa, or anyone else. I just was doing what I had to do."
Catherine got to her feet. Johnnie looked her in the eyes. He spoke in pale tone, there was tremble in his voice, he sounded defeated. "I'm sorry."

Captain Mitchell let Trowa off work early, Lt. Norton would be taking the late shift. Trowa was finally glad to be home. He cut across the lawn and could see Midii in the window. Walked up the stairs to porch and opened the door. Midii was still looking outside. Trowa didn't say a word as he looked at her. She was starting to show signs of being pregnant. She still looked lovely to him.
She turned as Trowa came in the room. "Trowa, I'm so glad that you are here."
Trowa walked over to Midii, "What's wrong?"
"Johnnie left, he said he was coming back, but I'm worried. He told Catherine about what happened, he seemed upset about it." Trowa said, "He'll be back. He wouldn't leave his brothers." Trowa thought about Midii's two younger brothers, they were eight and ten years old, Johnnie had been helping to take care of them for years. Trowa knew he would leave them for long. Trowa walked over to Midii and let her bury her face into his chest.
Trowa could feel her warm body as he her, moving his fingers through her long hair. He needed to be with her as much as she needed him. He whispered lightly into her ear, "Don't worry, it will be all right."


Captain Mitchell laid in bed, he could see the lit up numbers on the clock, 2:47. The room was dark, he was breathing heavily. It was all happening again, after all this time he still couldn't escape it.
Mitchell could still see the doctors standing around, waiting for him to be brought in. They stood waiting, as he was restrained in the chair, making sure that his eyes were propped open. The doctors would apply eye drops, and hook up the measuring devices. When it was all set, they would start the program.
It would go on for hours. The flashing lights, he would kill the ones he loved, be forced to fire on the enemy, regardless of the cost. It would get to the point where the system would just take over. Mitchell wouldn't be alive, it would just him going through the motions, as if he had no control. It would go on for hours. The tests were endless. IT was an eternity before it would end and they would have enough data. Mitchell during every test would have to be carried back to his cell. He was considered one of the lucky few. Many of the others who were tested didn't survive, or had nervous breakdowns as a result.
No matter what he did, Mitchell was still haunted by the Epyon system, it would come back haunt him. He moved under the blankets, and pulled Sylvia close to him, he could her cew lightly as he touched her warm body. He didn't want to hurt any one else. She was the same girl he fell in love with in Marseilles years ago. He could still her with her grandfather, and the other upper-class group. She was like a dream. He loved her.

Johnnie walked through the rain, it was three in the morning. He had too much on his mind. The thoughts of what had happened that afternoon still were fresh in his mind and burning into him. Johnnie still didn't want to go back, and it seemed the only thing right now that would give him any sort of solace would be to continue walking the streets. He just didn't want to see Catherine again. He didn't want her to forgive him, there was no way his hands would ever be clean of this sin.
A girl stood at the corner, she had been out in the rain as well for some time it seemed. He short blonde hair was wet, Johnnie glanced at her as he walked by. She said, "Excuse me, I'm sort of lost, I was wondering if you could help me." Johnnie stopped and looked at her. "Where are you trying to go?"
"I was looking for Euclid Avenue, that is where my hotel is at. I was in town seeing a friend, and I sort of got lost."
"Its two blocks over. You should find it pretty easily."
The girl smiled, "Thank you, you've been such a help. Since it is almost morning, would you like to get a cup of coffee?"
Johnnie looked at the dark street around him. "I really don't feel like talking."
"I'm sorry, is there anything wrong?"
"I really don't want to talk about it."
The girl turned, "Thank you again for your help, I hope I'll see you again."
Johnnie said, "Yeah, sure." He kept walking in the rain. He prayed God he did the right thing in telling Catherine.

To be Continued.