As Beacon starts to continue his story of the downfall of Ascherus, Erika interrupts him asking, “You said to keep it secret, but why are you telling us in the first place?”

Beacon pauses, gives her a weary look, and simply says, “Becca.” Seeing her confused expression he adds, “I can count on one hand the number of people who’ve survived her knife. Three of them are in this room.” Glancing at Eldritch he continues, “I think that means something. It also worries me, because I know what happened to Ash and I want you to avoid going down the same road.”

Eldritch looks away before answering with, “That’s why I want your help.”

Weary, Beacon replies, “I can’t stay. The Association only sticks together on the back of my constantly currying political favor by publicly appearing with senators and other dignitaries. It’s why I’m here in the first place actually.”

Slightly desperate, Eldritch asks, “But you could come back.”

Apologetic, Beacon answers, “I could, and I will when I can. But-”

Eldritch finishes his statement in a downcast voice, “Because of Becca, and the other A1s, you can’t. They could attack anywhere and you need to stay ready.”

With a faraway look, Beacon adds, “I have often wished it were otherwise, but my life stopped being my own that day at the Temple.” Refocusing, he turns back to the miniature layout and says, “Shall we continue?”

“Please,” murmurs Eldritch with a nod.

The three look down again as the miniature figures resume the fight. With the Temple falling apart under the weight of the continued fight, the pair stands alone in the midst of a crumbling city. The ground begins to fall away as the two continue to trade blows. Finally, with a sudden motion, Beacon moves forward and collides with Ash.

As the collision ends, Ash howls and stumbles back with a blade of light stuck in his chest. The swirling voids cease as he hoists himself on his cane, visibly weakening as he says in a mocking voice, “Enjoy this victory Beacon, it is the last one you will ever have.”

Ash then falls, his legs giving out as the blade of light continues to bisect his form. Driving the blade deeper, Beacon says in a sad voice, “I cannot enjoy any of this. Even if the world rejoices your death, I will mourn.”

“Then I will deny you even this sliver of satisfaction. Live, and know that I am waiting. The moment you slip, the instant you falter, I will be there.” Casting aside the cane, Ash seizes the glowing blade with both hands, his fingers cracking and blistering under the searing blazing of the light. Then he hisses, “I am not going to die here. I am going to haunt you until the day your edifice of weakness crumbles. Then I will come for you and we will go down to Hell together.”

With a violent motion, Ash tears the blade from his body and wreaths his wound in a bloom of void, a moment later the blooms of black nothing wreath his figure. Ash vanishes into the expanding tear in reality that explodes as he vanishes leaving behind a stunned Beacon staring down at the blade of light in his hands and the ruined Temple laying scattered across the scarred ground about him. Falling to his knees, Beacon cries as the image fades away. The lights slowly disperse into nothing leaving behind just the three figures in the hospital room.

“HE’S ALIVE!” screams Erika in terror as she bursts to her feet.

Beacon calmly moves her chair, knocking her back into it before saying, “As far as I know, yes.”

As Erika wrestles with herself, Eldritch asks, “Why did you lie?”

Sighing, Beacon answers, “His army began to disintegrate into internal power struggles. Those on the outer edge of his sphere of influence started running. We were making progress and if they’d known he was alive it would have all fallen apart. The army would have rebuilt itself on the promise of his eventual return.” Then he begins to recreate the image and continues, “And, look.”

The explosion that takes Ash away replays, this time in slow motion. However, this time Beacon highlights his own form. Slivers and rents begin to appear in his armor as his body starts to fall backwards from the force of the explosion. Then, as Ash disappears, Beacon’s armor vanishes and the slices begin to appear in his body. The explosion fades, leaving Beacon covered in damage with chunks of his flesh scored from his body. Unable to stand he falls to his knees and starts to scream through a savaged throat before falling to his side unconscious.

Once again, the lights fade away. As they do, Eldritch studies the age lines on Beacon’s face. Almost imperceptible, but apparent once she knows what to look for, are tiny lines of scar tissue that match Ash’s final explosion. Gently, she says, “I assume you were in a hospital?”

Beacon replies, “For a day. But I needed to be visible, so I was.”

Agitated, Erika ruins the moment saying, “But he’s alive, Ascherus is alive.” Putting her head in her heads, she says helplessly, “I just can’t wrap my head around it. Ascherus is alive.”

Gently, Beacon pulls her hands away from her face and helps her to stand. Then he says in a comforting voice, “He is my enemy, not yours. He will come for me and none other.”

“That’s what you said about Becca,” Eldritch interjects.

Chastised, Beacon clarifies, “Becca is a creature of madness. Ash was always methodical. If he says he will come for me, he will have no interest in anyone else when the time comes.”

“When will that be?” Erika asks in an uncertain voice as she allows Beacon to shepherd her towards the door.

“No idea,” replies Beacon with a wry grin, “tomorrow, today, ten years, I’ve no clue.”

Unsteady on her feet, Erika bursts out, “Why tell me? Why put this weight on us?”

Holding her steady, Beacon explains, “Becca. Both of you are destined for greatness if the pattern holds. Everyone who stayed sane after surviving her became great, even Ash.” Looking to Eldritch he says, “As much as she shows you the worst of this world, that experience can also spur you to becoming a hero,” suddenly a genuine smile breaks out across his face as he says, “sorry, heroine, unlike any other.”

Turning back to Erika, he continues, “And you’re going to make sure that happens. I’ve watched you grow from a girl who lost her entire world to the woman you are today. This road is lonely, difficult, and unrewarding. You’ll need each other.”

The two trade looks that convey uncertainty before Eldritch says, “Well I already hired her, so that’s taken care of.”

Erika lets out a peal of faintly hysteric laughter before stumbling towards the door, leaning on the wood for support. Then collecting herself she says, “I need to go do my job. I’ll be back and we can talk about how to handle what happens next.”

As she leaves, Hailey asks Beacon, “So what does happen next?”

With a smile, he responds with, “You just fought alongside Beacon against Becca and lived. You’re not just Liberty City’s sweetheart anymore, you’re notorious. Villains looking to make a name will gun for you. Media trying to get a story will hound you. People will know your name, here and elsewhere. In sum, your fan club will grow in ways both good and bad.”

Inhaling and exhaling once, Hailey closes her eyes, clears her mind, and says, “I’ll be ready.” Then she nods at the door and says, “Thank you for introducing me to her.”

Beacon gives a mysterious smile and says, “Introducing? I was fighting Becca at the time, remember?”

Hailey says with a knowing grin, “I’m not that dumb. The odds of another Becca survivor simply appearing in the back of the ambulance like that are insanely low.”

With a quixotic look, Beacon simply says, “I’ve got nothing to say about that, I just know you’ll need friends and I’m glad you’ve got one.”

“I have friends, some even know about this,” replies Eldritch with a gesture to her costume.

Sitting down again, Beacon says in a more serious voice, “That’s a mistake. Telling them, I mean.”

Hailey asks, “Why? The secrets are causing problems. If I don’t start telling my friends, I won’t have friends much longer.”

Beacon gives her a sad look and then responds. “They’re your friends now. But you’ve got college, a job, and the rest of your life for things to change. Telling someone about your secret identity is a lot like getting married, don’t do it unless you’re absolutely certain they’re right for you or you’re pregnant.”

Eldritch laughs a little at his joke, stopping when her stomach wound flares up. Then she says, “It’s hard to carry all this alone. If you hadn’t come here, if Erika hadn’t introduced herself, I’d have lain here staring at the celling and worrying until they discharged me. I need help. I need people to talk to about this stuff.” Then she cocks her head to the side, listening to a silent voice, before adding, “Help from friends my age, not from a mentor or a lawyer.”

Beacon shrugs at the strange behavior and nonchalantly says, “It’s your choice, but I would caution restraint. If you do decide to tell, then be certain.” As he finishes speaking, he steps to the door and walks through, leaving Eldritch alone with her thoughts. Almost as an afterthought, he steps back in the room and adds, “You know, Jennifer wanted to keep her identity secret. She tried to keep everything secret, but if it wasn’t for a jealous ex you’d have known her as Madame Mindbender and she wouldn’t be living in a cabin.”

Digesting his words, Hailey watches him leave for good. Before he turns, she sweeps her eyes over the wear and tear on his age-lined face. Faint scar tissue marks his cheeks and throat alongside fresher wounds. From the faintly glowing bandages that mark the wounds from Becca’s knife to the wisps of white encroaching on the edges of his blonde hair, Beacon’s frame seems to carry an immense weight. Letting her gaze trace the remainder of his body in a clinical fashion as he turns to go through the door, she finally spots his nigh imperceptible limp and a bend in his left pinky finger that indicates a poorly healed bone. These little injuries pale in comparison next to the splotches of lightly discolored skin that cover his entire frame, the accumulated weight of scar tissue borne upon scar tissue.

Looking up at the celling as he exits, Eldritch reflects before speaking aloud in the empty room saying, “He seems so fragile Bel.” Listening for a moment she then continues, “Because Beacon is Beacon. He’s always been here.” Her eyes look off into a distant vision, towards something only she can spot. “He’s like the Statue of Liberty. I knew that there would be rust, but seeing it in person is unnerving.” Then she leans back, exhausted from the blood loss and the conversation. Slowly, her eyelids close and she falls into a dreamless sleep.

Across town, a weary man alights in a courtyard full of flowers and walks to a table with a pair of fancy ice cream sundaes sitting on it. As he sits, the man across from him proffers the treat with a gesture of his spoon before digging into his own. Then he says between mouthfuls, “Vanilla with a cherry and hot fudge, I remembered.”

As he takes his first bite, Beacon answers, “Thanks, you’ve no idea how much I needed this.”

Admonishing him, Napp replies, “Don’t talk with your mouth full!” Chuckling gently he adds in a heavier tone, “Anything I can do?”

Beacon gives him a forced smile before swallowing and saying, “Unfortunately, no. I’m just tired.” Then he looks down at his dessert and adds, “Bone tired.”

Napp offers a branch, “You’re welcome to stay. Ginny would be overjoyed. She’d love to hear more stories about Gwen.”

Beacon shakes his head reluctantly, his expression telling Napp everything he needs to know before he answers with, “You’re the only one she let knock off the ‘y’ at the end. Anybody else forgot and she’d blister their ears for the temerity of it.” Then Beacon’s voice turns sad as he continues, “I envy you Napp. I’ve always wished I’d had the chance to become a father. After today I imagine having a daughter would have been-” unable to find the right word, Beacon silently grasps about for something to say before finally adding wistfully, “wonderful.”

Napp studies his sundae, swallowing the lump in his throat before he can speak. “Don’t forget terrifying,” he says in a wry tone. Distracting his friend he adds, “You know I had to buy Liberty Prep a new parking lot just to get mine readmitted?”

Laughing, Beacon leans back in his chair and answers in a mirthful but guilty tone, “About that, she’s at St. Cecilia’s now?” Seeing Napp nod he adds, “She should stay.”

Frowning, Napp asks, “They were just attacked you know, that’s not a positive.”

Waving away his concern, Beacon answers with, “Trust me, she should stay.”

“Oh I do,” Napp clarifies before continuing in an aggrieved tone, “I’m just lamenting the fact that I’ll have to pay for the repairs!”

And so the curtain closes on our most dangerous story yet, dear reader! Becca is gone, but she leaves behind a bloody wake that carries an emotional toll born by unready shoulders. Hailey’s relationships with her friends hang on delicately thin threads that may not be enough to survive… “The Ire of Anderson!”