68 INT. SAFEHOUSE - ENTRANCE - NIGHT

A dark and dingy tunnel, lined with rusting pipes and eroding iron walls, ends in a misshapen, half-melted brown door. It rattles, clangs, refusing to open. Solomon's hand hooks it from the other side, tearing it free.

MARIA

Thanks.

SOLOMON

Don't mention it.

The party enter the tunnel. It's almost pitch black, the only illumination being Aether's patterns.

JOSEPH

Hold on, I've got this.

Searching through his clothes, Joseph pulls out a TORCH, switching it on to point the way. It flickers a bit, and he smacks it around somewhat to turn it back on.

JOSEPH

Just... one second.

Solomon loses patience almost immediately, holding out his arm and lighting up his own patterns - instantly more effective than the torch.

JOSEPH

Or that. That's... That's fine, I suppose. I'll just...

He reluctantly puts his torch away as the four advance.

AETHER

You people and your interior decor.

MARIA

It's better than I was expecting. I was worried that the fire hit here too. Guess not.

SOLOMON

Isn't this connected to the Shrine's heat exhaust?

MARIA

It was going to be. This was a prototype for the vent system that Pilate designed. They cancelled construction long before it was finished, so it's disconnected from the Shrine itself.

AETHER

I that four-eyed bastard seemed knew shady! So he was an engineer for the First all along?

MARIA

The head engineer. He was the old Magister, but he left.

JOSEPH

I never knew that.

MARIA

He doesn't like to talk about it. Apostasy isn't taken kindly up in the Towers. Nothing you haven't seen with your own eyes already though.

JOSEPH

Yeah, I don't think I'd want that Sophia lady coming after me either.

AETHER

Oh, don't worry, you've definitely sealed that fate. She hates you guys.

JOSEPH

Oh. Good.

The four cast long shadows on the decaying walls as they advance deeper inside.

69 INT. SAFEHOUSE - MAIN CHAMBER - NIGHT

The four enter into a wide squarish room, with makeshift furniture laid out inside. Maria flips a breaker switch on the wall, and a number of lights on the ceiling blink to life. She checks a pressure gauge next to it, connected by tubes to a large engine-like MACHINE.

JOSEPH

You're kidding me! The generator still works?

Silence. The machine doesn't move.

JOSEPH

Or... I guess not.

MARIA

Figures. We're on reserve power.

SOLOMON

How long have we got before the lights go out?

MARIA

Impossible to say.

JOSEPH

We always kept the batteries topped up for a week's worth of energy, but they're probably drained. Or leaking.

Maria gives a shrug.

MARIA

Make yourselves comfortable. We'll be here for a while.

Joseph frowns, confused.

JOSEPH

Wait. What's the plan?

MARIA

There isn't one.

JOSEPH

But...

MARIA

But what? What goals do we have to achieve? We came here to hide Aether.

Joseph looks to Aether, who looks down at her feet.

MARIA

The only thing left is for her to make her decision about whether to finish The End or not. I'm sorry that we don't have any boulevards to walk down and ponder about the meaning of life or anything, but that's the hand we're dealt. This is the end of the line. There's nowhere else to go.

Joseph looks back to Maria. He was expecting more than this. Instead all he's faced with is an abyss of despair.

MARIA

Sorry that you weren't paying attention, I guess.

JOSEPH

I was, I just... I thought you, of all people, would... have something.

AETHER

I understand. I'll think about it.

MARIA

I recommend you all get some sleep. We've got four days to go.

70 EXT. MOLTEN FIELDS - DAY

The Fire hasn't died down by the next morning. It's not better, nor worse. A pair of helicopters fly over the scenery, doors open. A cohort of Warpriests stand ready inside each one. Pilate stands by Sophia's side, staring hollowly at the devastation below.

SOPHIA

It's glorious. You must be proud.

PILATE

(incredulously)

Glorious? Proud?

SOPHIA

To see mortality itself immolated, a divine flame to cleanse mankind... Look. They are liberated from their physical forms, and have ascended as higher beings. They themselves have become the Fire.

Pilate stares at her, dumbfounded at the lengths of her denial - or perhaps the depths of her delusion. She has not lost her mind, but her absolute devotion to The Faith has left her unable to see the destruction for what it is.

71 EXT. FIRST CITY - STREETS - DAY

The helicopters land in the street, blowing ashes into the air as they do. Sophia puts on her helmet, and steps out. The Warpriests follow. One of them hands Pilate a rifle. A crowd of corpses sees the landing squadron, beginning to make their way toward them, chanting in unison.

FIRE

You... Who are... you, standing upon... my body?

Sophia drops to her knees. The Warpriests, and even a reluctant Pilate, follow suit.

SOPHIA

It is the greatest of all honours, O Highest of Highs, ye Grandest Holiness. We are in the presence of Heaven itself.

FIRE

Who are you?

SOPHIA

I am Deborah Sophia, the Defender of the Fifth Grand Shrine.

FIRE

Who are you?

The corpses are getting closer, reaching out. Sophia takes to her feet, offering a solemn bow.

SOPHIA

Please forgive me for my impudence, great divine one. Our salvation is fated at the hands of the Fifth, not yourself.

FIRE

Who are you?

She looks up. The burning finger is less than an inch away from her - and then it stops. The figure is trapped in Sophia's telekinetic prison.

SOPHIA

I see. If you cannot understand my words, then perhaps this will suffice.

Sophia raises her hand and musters a cataclysm. A ludicrous blast of force explodes from her gauntlet. Destruction emanates. Entire blocks of the city explode, blown away by the tremendous force. The crowd before her is reduced to dust and strips of blackened flesh. Ash fills the air as the ground is torn asunder. It is a feat unlike anything she has displayed before - out here, she no longer has any reason to hold back. Everything before her is instantly reduced to rubble and remains. Although the city sustains great damage, the Fire itself does not die down, unfazed by the tremendous blow - we see that although she has obliterated so much, it is practically nothing from a bird's eye view. If the sea of Fire is the flesh of a god, then this is barely even a bruise. Pilate approaches her from behind, clearly trying to act discreet.

PILATE

(quietly)

I wasn't aware you were allowed to do that.

She has no such reservations.

SOPHIA

Do not mistake reverence for submission. I answer to the Faith, not its creations.

PILATE

Just be careful. Even you're doomed if it learns violence.

Sophia turns to the Warpriests behind her.

SOPHIA

Remember this. We are here for the god that will complete The End. god, Our the Fifth, will bring about our deliverance! We have a sacred duty today! Is that understood?

The Warpriests take to their feet, saluting.

WARPRIESTS

Yes, Holiness!

SOPHIA

Let us begin the final pilgrimage.