Chapter 39 : Cirque du Sombre

Axion sits on a crate at the back of the circus tent, away from everyone. Her mind wanders through her training today. She let out a long sigh.

"Back then, at training, you kept on falling not because you didn't swing strong enough or because you couldn't reach me," said Kaizo who suddenly appeared.

Axion startled. She looked at him.

"You were hesitating," said Kaizo. "Why?"

Axion silent. She lowered her head.

"You noticed." She sighed. "When I was up there, I couldn't help but avoid your hand," she began. "It feels like I can't trust you enough to reach your hand. I know this sounds foolish, but it feels like if I try to hold your hand, you would let go and I would fall."

"So you choose to avoid my hand and fall without knowing if I'm going to pull you up?" Kaizo asked.

"Falling by my own choice and falling by betrayal is different," Axion grimly answered.

Axion clenches her fist. She suddenly stood up. "I'll make up for it. Somehow," she said before she walks away.

Kaizo grabbed her arm and stopped her. "If you can't trust me, can you at least trust in my capabilities?"

Axion looked at him in confusion.

"You know I have skills, capabilities. And I won't let go," said Kaizo.

"I'll try...." said Axion.

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

Later that night, Axion and Kaizo go to check on Mademoiselle Mendoza's Cirque de Sombre. Rosario kept his words and got them two tickets to the circus. Instead of wearing their hunting suit, they wear something that would make them look rich. Courtesy of Phoenix, they get to use the Circus endless choice of costume.

"Any other alias name? Surely we won't go in there as Noche and Mr.K," Kaizo asked.

"Hmm... Romeo and Juliet?" Axion shrugs.

Kaizo gives an unimpressed look. "You've gotta be kidding me."

Axion chuckled. "What about... Crow and Raven? You'll be Crow and I'll be Raven."

"Hmph. Okay."

After showing their ticket to the guard, they entered the circus. Mademoiselle Mendoza's Cirque de Sombre is a small circus located on the dark side of the planet. It is very well hidden within a narrow alleyway of a slum area. Limited to only 100 audiences, the circus tent itself isn't very big. The circus only provides seats for VIPs. And even the VIP's seat isn't that fancy. Just a simple wooden chair. While those who don't get VIP tickets have to stand throughout the show.

Kaizo and Axion blend in with the audience. They look around. Everyone who comes here wears a mask.

"I assume these people have an important role in society," Axion whispered.

Kaizo agreed. "Probably. Freak show is illegal after all. And this place is quite well hidden. Perhaps one of those masked rich people is a politician or something."

The tent turned dark before a spotlight suddenly appeared with a fat woman in the middle.

"HEELLOOOOO!" said the fat woman.

People start to cheer and clap.

"Welcome to Cirque de Sombre. Where the most bizarre and exotic show will be presented to challenge your most daring imagination. I am your ringmaster, Mademoiselle Mendoza, at your service."

Performers begin to come out from the backstage. Two aliens riding a unicycle. Few others danced and others played different kinds of tools. Like juggling or hula hooping. They all go around the stage, giving a preview of what they would see.

"Raven...." Kaizo whispers.

"I know," Axion whispers back.

They are, indeed, "freaks".

A freak show is an exhibition of biological rarities, referred to in popular culture as "freaks of nature". Typical features would be physically unusual bodies, such as those uncommonly large or small, those with extraordinary diseases and conditions, and others with performances expected to be shocking to viewers. Heavily tattooed or pierced people have sometimes been seen in freak shows.

Both Kaizo and Axion's mask starts to scan the performers on stage. Capturing detailed videos and images of their figures. Few acts passed. So far, Kaizo and Axion don't detect any anomalies besides the performers who mostly have a bizarre appearance.

"And now! We're reaching the part that you've all waited for. I present to you, the rarest alien you've ever seen!" said Mademoiselle Mendoza.

Few aliens came out from the backstage. The audience gasps. Lining on the stage, two aliens from Ata Ta Tiga with a conjoined body, an Alien with skin that constantly changes colors, a martian with 6 arms, an albino cactus-like humanoid alien, and a 3 feet Kraang with a human body.

"I know what you're all thinking. They're aliens. Diversities like these are normal," Mademoiselle Mendoza chuckled. "But! Among their race they are very rare," she adds with a dramatic tone. "Where else can you see a conjoined twin of Ata Ta Tiga? Or a martian who has 6 arms instead of two? Or a cactus tribe alien who is not green?"