Warrior Nun

A millennia since I've seen another human face.

But a thousand years alone...

in this hole...

seems like a small price to pay, now that I lay my eyes upon you, my dear.

Hello.

Hello.

You seem surprised to see me.

I am.

You must have many questions,

but first there's something I have to say, and I mean this sincerely.

Thank you.

Thank you for returning my Halo, Ava.

He knows my name?

How can he know my name?

Oh...

...I know a great many things.

Time check.

Three minutes since she went through.

Did you hear that?

Someone's coming.

Fine. Let them come.

We still need to talk about what's happening...

Yes, right after I'm done with this.

Jesus.

- What is this? - Please...

don't be afraid.

How do you know my name?

How is it even possible that you can be here?

Is this some kind of trick by Duretti?

This is no trick.

What are you doing?

Get out of my head.

As you can see...

I am...

I am who I claim to be.

Is she...

She'll be fine.

Just a little rattled. Don't draw attention to it.

I understand.

Tell them.

Tell us what?

Duretti, he's been named Holy Father.

Why am I not surprised?

We should just burn this whole goddamn place to the ground.

- How long has Ava been in there? - About five minutes.

What's taking so long?

She needs at least seven minutes to recharge the Halo

before she can phase back to us.

Assuming she made it in.

Can you talk to her? We need to know what's happening inside.

I have no signal.

It might be the walls or interference from the energy the bones are giving out.

Standing here doing nothing is not an acceptable strategy.

We need to get the Halo out of this place.

What are you doing?

We talked about this.

I'm gonna blow the wall and get Ava out of there.

No. You don't know what you're doing.

Just setting these off like that could kill us all. Ava included.

So we do nothing?

You don't get to touch the dynamite. Are we clear?

Not until we figure out what happened to you.

I'm trying to help.

I know.

Look, if Ava doesn't come out in the next five minutes,

I'll blow the wall myself. But it needs to be done properly.

Come. Help me drill a hole in the rock.

We need to channel these explosives deep.

But this is just a worst-case scenario.

I think we give Ava the benefit of the doubt

and a little more time.

She can do this.

You're right.

I know it.

I don't understand. How is this possible?

The science behind who I am and how this is possible

would only confuse your fragile mind further.

Fine, I don't need the science, just tell me why.

Why you're here?

Why am I imprisoned?

Men.

Humans.

You're all driven by irrational fears.

That makes you, what?

Something else.

An angel?

If you like.

We would certainly never refer to ourselves as such, but...

if the terminology helps you grasp the essence of this,

feel free.

No, it doesn't.

Why am I here?

I am here because Areala tricked me.

The Areala?

The same.

She stole my Halo from me.

But I thought you gave up your Halo willingly.

That gesture was perverted... into a betrayal of the highest order.

Jesus Christ.

Kristian, you better come to my office.

I have news.

What?

Michael.

Hey.

Sweetie, what... what are you doing? Come here.

Hey, what's wrong?

He... he called for me, and then the light came, and I saw him.

I don't understand, darling.

All the ghosts were there, and they were looking at me from the pit.

The pit? What pit?

Please take me to the ark.

No, sweetie, it's not ready yet.

We're... we're nearly there. A few more days.

No. It's almost time, Mommy. Today.

Time? Time for what?

For me to go.

No. No.

No, Michael, it's not. It's not time.

I'm...

going to get you better, remember?

You know that's not true.

I know you built the ark so I wouldn't have to die.

Now, please, Mommy, don't cry.

You're going to save me. The angel told me.

Please take me to the ark.

I need to see it.

Okay.

When Pope Urban the Second was made aware of Areala and her gifts,

he contrived to keep the power of the Halo to himself.

To do so, I needed to be removed.

They soon found out I could not be killed in this realm,

so they built this cage for me...

to keep me locked away for all eternity.

But you're proof of Heaven.

You're proof of God. They could have used that.

My child, you don't understand.

For these people, faith is based upon that which cannot be proven.

For without faith, there is no manipulation.

Without manipulation, there is no fear.

And without fear, there is no power.

Holy Father,

it's tradition to address the faithful and friends in the square

within the next few hours.

Of course. I know. It will be done.

Excellent.

We are here to help you with anything you may need, Holy Father.

What I need is to be alone for a moment.

I'm sorry, my child.

I am exhausted, and I would like to prepare myself better for the speech.

Put me through to the Commander of the Swiss Guard.

I don't blame Areala.

She was surrounded by opportunists who preyed on her innocence, her loyalty.

Both qualities that drew me to her at first.

What?

You remind me of her.

I'm not. I'm... I'm just someone who accidentally...

Don't.

Don't underestimate yourself.

Before this...

you were a victim of circumstance.

Alone, crippled, and angry, but you were given a second chance.

Now, most people in that situation would subjugate themselves