Nix wanders through a forest of spikes. On the spikes are miserable angels. In the background, the hazy figure of an enourmous figure looms. It also appears to be on an equally large spike.



No hope...






No hope...






No fucking hope.





The Bastard appears between the spines.

I knew you'd be back, you know.


I fucking KNEW it.
And you
knew it too.

Deny it all you like.



Existence hates us.
No matter how hard you--
Do you want to know what I saw out there?

He halts in place. Last time she spoke to him was... how long was it? Has he ever heard her voice before?





Oh, now you have something to say...?




It was paradise.



Clear skies,
and calm seas,
and the softest sand under my feet.

FUCK you.
You're lying. Of course you're lying.
I could be.




You'll never know.




You're going to be stuck. here. forever.


As if-- as if you--
It's ALL of us.
All of us
are bound here
NO WE AREN'T.
There's always been a way.


You think it's someone else keeping you here?




No.



Nix's face twists into a smirk and she stares up at him with a little red eye



It's just you.



It's only EVER been YOU.







The bastard slams his palm down next to Nix.

RRRRAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!









Nix looks blankly at his splayed out hand, unfazed.







You--
you....









He clutches at his face, like he's nursing a migraine, and slumps against the floor, curled up in as if locked in prostration. Nix turns and leaves.









No hope...




No hope...


















As she walks out from the forest of spikes, Nix can't help but steal a glance back over her shoulder...



...before walking straight into a familiar-looking cyborg boot.

  Avean Machina
Fear not, citizen...!