94 EXT. HILL OVERLOOKING THE FIFTH CITY - DAY

  The vent nearby has become a pillar of light. Sophia stands in the wind. She removes her helmet and her cape, holding her gauntlet above her head. Wisps of violet light begin to bleed from it as she relinquishes the First Star, allowing it to float off into the sky as the gauntlet falls apart. She watches it go, lowering her hand.

  PHOTINE (O.S.)

  So this is where you were.

  Photine is behind her, panting for breath - she just ran all the way up the hill. Sophia turns, raising an eyebrow.

  SOPHIA

  You're still dreadfully out of shape.

  PHOTINE

  Anyone would want to die after doing that!

  Sophia sighs, sitting down.

  PHOTINE

  What are you doing out here, anyway?

  SOPHIA

  Just finishing my duties. All my life, I thought when The End arrived, I would die on my feet in full uniform. But I have to pay my dues to that nihilist somehow.

  PHOTINE

  Aether's friend? What dues?

  SOPHIA

  He had a point.

  PHOTINE

  Wow.

  SOPHIA

  Oh, be quiet.

  Photine sits down in the grass next to her. The two watch the light spilling from the city as it disappears into the sky. It's not just people now, but buildings and even the earth itself.

  SOPHIA

  I realised that there are other perspectives. I believe I am right. He believes he is. But we both have different ideas of what it means to be "right", so neither of us can refute the other.

  PHOTINE

  That... is how a conscience works.

  SOPHIA

  I know. But knowing is not always understanding. It's rare that such an idea truly sinks in. It's hard to explain.

  PHOTINE

  It sounds hard, but... why take it so seriously?

  SOPHIA

  Because when I arrived at the First City, I shot a hole in the God of Fire.

  PHOTINE

  Uh. Whoa. Okay.

  SOPHIA

  It was doing something I objected to. So perhaps my "good" wasn't the Gods, but my image of the Gods.

  PHOTINE

  Philosophy doesn't suit you.

  SOPHIA

  It doesn't, does it? But I don't have time to say anything more than "maybe he was almost right".

  BEAT.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  PHOTINE

  Can I hold your hand?

  SOPHIA

  If that is your "good".

  Photine links fingers with Sophia, and the two fade away watching the light.

  95 INT. FIFTH TOWER - INNER SHRINE - DAY

  Joseph rushes into the room. The heart of the Shrine is shining brightly.

  JOSEPH

  Aether!

  He looks around frantically at the equipment, almost immediately giving up, throwing his gun to one side.

  JOSEPH

  I'll pull her out! See if you can shut it down!

  He runs over to the glass, shielding his eyes with his arm as he tries opens a hatch. Solomon's hand grabs his shoulder. Joseph is flung aside like a ragdoll, landing winded on his back on the catwalk.

  JOSEPH

  What are you doing?! I thought you didn't want anything to do with The End!

  Solomon stands tall in front of the heart.

  SOLOMON

  And I thought you wanted to see The End.

  JOSEPH

  Are you insane?!

  Joseph gets to his feet, staggering. The two stand at opposite ends of the desolately gleaming shrine.

  SOLOMON

  Maybe. My body is perfect. But I've made mistakes. Is my mind flawed? If it is, would I ever be able to understand that with my flawed mind? Would I ever recognise "good", the way you do? There's no way to know. Except one. The Gods will make us perfect beings, because they are perfect too. They have no doubts about their functions. They were born exactly as they were created to be. They have no reasons to regret anything. So how will they judge me? What will my perfection look like? Will I change at all? Am I a good man, Joseph? Can I ever be?

  Joseph grits his teeth.

  JOSEPH

  SOLOMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

  Solomon closes his eyes. The two step forward, and trade fists. It's not even a contest. Joseph is send flying, crashing into the floor with tremendous speed. Solomon leaps the distance, falling toward him. Joseph narrowly avoids a stomp that would crush his head. He pulls himself to his feet, evading Solomon's fist and landing an utterly ineffectual attack. Solomon is too tough and too strong. He's also fast - Joseph finds himself unable to dodge another blow, blocking with his arms. A sickening crack - Joseph's bones break. Light erupts from the wound, and Solomon withdraws his fist - his knuckles are singed. On closer inspection, light is leaking from Joseph's back too - his shirt is beginning to burn off around it. He doesn't even flinch.

  SOLOMON

  I see. Perhaps this is Aether's way of asking us to stop.

  BEAT. The pair's eye contact has not broken. Neither of them back down.

  SOLOMON

  I suppose I'll have to apologise to her too.

  The two keep going. Joseph doesn't stand a chance. Solomon has no openings, and outmatches him in every single way. All Joseph can do is try to withstand the strikes. But for each blow Solomon lands, the white beams scorch him. He cannot attack with the same body part twice, and he cannot attack the same place on Joseph twice either. It is the price he pays for attacking a body made of light. The two are hardly fighting each other - their real battle is against the limits of their own bodies. Joseph guards his head. Solomon's hands are already cinders - he relies on his elbows and feet now.

  Eventually, Joseph is finally thrown to the ground.

  SOLOMON

  I've won, Joseph.

  A stomp to shatter Joseph's chest. He barely evades. Solomon's heel crushes his left hand. It bursts into light. Joseph throws his left arm to one side. The light, like a sword, sears across Solomon's chest. It lands directly over his heart. Joseph pushes on. He stands up. His gleaming left hand gets closer. Solomon raises his shattered hands to crush Joseph's head. He is not faster than light. The beam burns right through him as Joseph's hand touches his chest.

  JOSEPH

  That's no reason for me to give up.

  BEAT. Solomon lowers his arms in defeat. He has lost the will to continue, and begins to fade away.

  SOLOMON

  About that first apology...

  JOSEPH

  Don't bother. If there was something you did, I already forgot it.

  (beat)

  If this stops, will you come back?

  SOLOMON

  If it doesn't, will you join me?

  JOSEPH

  Even for a first joke, that sucked.

  SOLOMON

  Please. It was perfect.

  Solomon vanishes. There is nothing left in Joseph's path. He limps into the light, and the world vanishes around him.