Maren was on the second floor by the time the firestorm picked up. Then, a loud voice Maren was all too familiar with raised itself above the din. 

“Inferno...” 

“Not again,” Maren breathed, rushing to the closest door and opening it. 

As she slammed it shut, Mav yelled once more. She didn’t catch his final attack’s name, but she knew what effect it would have. A massive howl of rushing flame pressed her ears. And the base, once again, rumbled. 

Incredible. Mav looked about the storm, the fires twisting and striking. I’m not doing any of this. 

JJ floated behind Mav, arms spread, face pointed up. Mav smirked. He really had found his flame. 

After several seconds of intense power, the winds and thus the flames died down. Mav searched for any sign of the Ethereal Leaders. JJ touched down, back-to-back with Mav, as he noticed a strange blob along the wall. 

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Mav breathed. 

Chunks of molten rock blasted away, revealing Asaka and Dearil. Looked like they’d formed a shield behind the ceiling chunks, keeping them alive. They, however, hardly moved. Both Asaka and Dearil – burned, with most of their clothing gone and hair singed – remained where they stood, swaying slightly. 

They looked to be faring as well as Mav, who could hardly budge from the frost, and JJ, whom Mav hadn’t heard take a breath. 

“Guys!” another voice called from above. 

Imani leaped from the top walkway. Scowling, Asaka flicked his wrist upward and Imani hung for a moment before hitting the ground. Asaka stumbled as she ran over to them. 

“The bombs are busted,” Imani said. “They won’t work.” 

“Come on, JJ,” Mav said, stepping forward. It was like moving through a ten-foot wall of snow. “They’re distracted.” 

JJ didn’t respond. 

“Fill us in later,” Dearil said. “If that’s true, there’s no purpose being here.” 

“JJ?” Mav asked. 

Dearil pulled Asaka toward the collapsed exit, then raised a hand. The collapse rose, but only slightly. Imani began pushing the two beneath it. 

“Get back here!” Mav yelled, taking a step forward. 

But they made it through the exit, then the rocks collapsed again, blocking the way. 

“Dammit,” Mav whispered. 

Then, something thudded from behind. JJ, who’d been standing resolute, had collapsed. 

The world had been shifting. A place that had once been so full of light and heat was steadily growing darker and colder. Normally, that would make JJ panic. He was quite fond of the light and would always prefer to be warm than cold. But now, he found he didn’t care. 

A sense of pride, accomplishment, and even finality settled over him. Was this peace? Regardless, he accepted the dark and the cold, welcomed it like he would an old friend. 

Wait... he’d only had one of those, right? 

A golden light shone, starting as a pinprick, then expanded over his whole vision. JJ found himself smiling and, oddly, walking. He’d almost forgotten he had limbs. What was stranger, though, was what he was walking on. 

There was only golden light. Nothing else. And no one was there to– 

JJ’s heart clutched. Someone was here. In the distance, a stray figure waved at him. 

“Paul!” JJ yelled. 

He took off, as fast as he could. Paul grew closer and closer, waving and smiling. JJ reached him, spread his arms, and flung himself forward, ready to embrace his best friend. 

Then Paul held out a hand. As if he were the Wielder, a gust of wind shoved JJ back. 

“What are you doing?” JJ asked. 

“Denying you entry,” Paul said, then he smiled. “For now.” 

“Look, Paul, I’m sorry,” JJ said, rising. “I was a horrible friend and I–” 

Again, Paul held his hand up. “It’s alright. I heard everything, JJ. I saw everything.” 

“Then you know I did it. I made amends. I got rid of those bastards who were harming our city. I atoned for your death with mine.” 

“That’s not how that works, JJ. Besides, you never needed atonement.” 

JJ’s hands balled into fists. “Stop being so nice and noble! I did awful things to you. Said even worse. Why can’t you be mad at me?” 

“Because you found your way. That’s all I wanted for you.” 

“You shouldn’t have had to die for me to do it!” 

“Maybe, but that’s what happened. The Titans work in strange ways, JJ. They give someone who feels he doesn’t deserve power just that. They also remove someone important from his life before he feels it’s time. But that’s Their will, and as men of faith we have to understand that.” 

“It’s not fair! You have so much life to live!” 

“Don’t think of it that way. What’s beyond here, JJ, is amazing.” 

JJ deflated. “I guess you can say you’re totally free, huh?” 

“Don’t think of it that way, either. I loved my life and what I was able to do. I would’ve loved to live more, experience more, do more to help people. But JJ, at the end of the day, I was only given so much life. So it’s a good thing that I actually lived it. 

“Maybe it’s because of how well I lived my life there that I have the promise of an even brighter forever.” 

JJ’s chest pumped. A small pain sprouted over his pectorals. 

“So now it’s your turn,” Paul said. “Every choice I made was my own, and I loved it. Now it’s your turn to show true freedom to the people of Talam.” 

“I don’t want to go back without you,” JJ said, his chest hurting yet again. 

Paul’s smile turned sad, but only for a moment. “And I guess that’s the true punishment in death: those left behind. But that’s also something you should think differently about. We’re here, JJ. We’re always with you, watching and rooting for you. Maybe you should tell your new friends that, too. 

“They blame them as much as I blame you.” 

JJ’s chest ached a third time. “I don’t want to go.” 

“You’ll be back, eventually. Until then, JJ, be free. Save the world. And live.” 

Then darkness encroached upon JJ. He opened his eyes to find Mav leaning over him, performing chest-compressions. 

“Thank the Titans,” Mav said, panting. “Didn’t want them taking another one.” 

JJ blinked, tears flowing, and he sucked in sweet air even through a pained chest. “I’m here. I’m alive.”