[Scene]
Constantine is sitting in a circle humming an incantation in front of him is a brass pot with smoke wafting out, the room is filled with bizzare curios, dreamcatchers, voodoo masks, we can tell he is in New Orleans.
John's eyes are rolled into the back of his head
John speaking strangely: #';.;'.#';#.';.#';..;.#';...
John begins singing this.. pitch perfect!
A vortex opens and from the vortex and Sigma appears..
Sigma: WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING CONSTANTINE?? HOW DAREEEE YOUUU!
John: calm down luv.. you weren't my first choice but since there aren't many Netherwer on the earth.. let alone an Atom.. I thought I would 'try my luck!'
Sigma splits into two Sigmas and both begin punching John.
[scene moves to black]
Sigma: That was the first time I ever met John Constantine..
[Scene]
Constantine is sitting in a circle humming an incantation in front of him is a bass pot with smoke wafting out, the room is filled with bizzare curios, dreamcatchers, voodoo masks, we can tell he is in New Orleans.
His eyes are rolled into the back of his head
John speaking strangely: Ourobus inct Maketh roe.. roe Makleth inct Ourobus.. come to me and tell me your secret o' trader of souls!!
The brass pot begins to shake and then fountain of fat begins emerging slowly from the pot, this constitutes itself into a figure of a man with horns..
Makleth: Why have you summoned me?
John: Have you heard anything about my companion.. Chaz? He has been missing for almost a year..
Makleth: Do you have the payment?
John: I have something even better my old son!
Makleth: No payment. No trade.
John: Wait wait!!.. Hear me out first.. I have knowledge of something so secret.. so unknown.. that even you do not know it!
Makleth: HAHAHA.. [a single tear rolls down down Makleth's cheek] go ahead amuse me further! hehe
before John speaks.. Makleth adds.. 'I think I like you John.. you're funny!'
John: thankk.. y-you?.. erm right! I have in my possession a coin.. made of a metal not of this world or.. any other..
Makleth: Nth Metal?
John shows Makleth the coin who examines it..
Makleth: John.. this has a great degree of dark energy within it..
John: I know..
Makleth: where did you find it?
John: in an alleyway next to a bar in New York.. the last known whereabouts of my mate Chaz.
Makleth: oh dear.
John: what??
Makleth: well.. there's been rumors for sometime..
John: of. what.
Makleth: Some of the more powerful 'fallen' are originally from Heaven.. some are of the multiverse..there is however another place.. it is rumored to be called the 'Dark Zone'.. I shudder to think what that place is like..
John: Dark Zone?
Makleth handing John back the coin: Within the Nightmare realm there is a version of .. I suppose Hell.. but not the Hell that you know.. something else.. a Nightmare Hell where all the dreams of what Hell are go.. it is controlled chiefly by 'Dream'.. but it is said he has locked away someone there.. but all this is purely myth.. it can't be real.. or Neron would have sought it out.
John: wow..
Makleth: Hmm.. call me again John and we will go gambling.. however no drinking.. drinking takes the fun out of gambling I feel..
John: r-r-right.. thank you?
Makleth: see you around John.
Makleth pools back into the brass pot.
John thinks: No way I am summoning Dream.. I still have a dodgy shoulder from what he did last time.
[ we see a flashback of Dream snapping Johns shoulder like a twig with one hand, the background is a cave that looks much like the Batcave]
John thinks: Sigma?.. ohw another one that said he would 'snap me in two'.. Beta.. if I want an hour long lecture of why I shouldn't be messing with the 'natural order of things'.. Tera? no. no way not again.. he's like the Joker on even more drugs without the laughs.. running out of powerful beings here.. Speedforce entities? Barry said I needed *
his express permission* to speak to them again.. or he would have me locked up in Iron Heights..
John speaking to himself: pheewwww.. not much in the way of choice me old son..
as John is saying this he throws the coin into the brass pot which is still smoking..
Energy in the room suddenly shifts
At that point a portal opens and Sigma steps out..
Sigma: WHAT ON EARTH DID I TELL YOU? Stop messing with forces you do not understand!
John: I didn't summon you this time!!
Sigma: I know! I can feel the energy coming from this place..give me whatever caused it and I'll be on my way.
John: As ever the selfish self-righteous being says 'don't play with my toys!'.. descend from on high to take away that which has already caused mischief.. 'clean up your own mess'..
Sigma: I'm not like that.. but I agree with the sentiment. You shouldn't have access to any of this .. The Lord would NOT wish it so neither do I.
[we notice John is getting closer to in between Sigma and the coin.. closer and closer]
John: little kiddy am I?
Sigma: you have linked us together with your summoning/singing.. sometimes I even hear your dreams.. so yes. a child with too much power!
John: ohw sorry.. I didn't know it worked like that [strained face].. whoopsy.
[at that moment John grabs the coin as it is inside the brass pot.. putting his right hand on Sigma's chest]
John: Glorious are your creations and peace triumphant on earth..
he begins shouting this.. then sings it in perfect pitch.. the two vanish.
They appear.. elsewhere.. a very large, very dark, very old and very musky hall.
Sigma: you HAVE to be joking me. You didn't just..
John interrupts: yep!.. [John stops and realizes to ask] where are we??
Sigma: ohw flip!.. this is bad.
John: Listen.. I'll do ANYTHING for me mate Chaz!.. can't be any worse than I've already faced..
Sigma: this is bad John.
John: nahhh
Sigma grabs Johns collars: THIS IS BAD JOHN!!.. worse than even you have ever faced!
Seeing the emotion pouring out of Sigma, John shudders with fear for the first time in near 12 years.
Sigma: this is the Hallifer.. it's some very loose equivalent to purgatory. Rules: don't touch the walls. ever. Don't talk to the walls or to yourself. ever. If some 'hot chick offers you coco and turkish delight' don't reply just walk away. seriously.. I have no idea what twisted nightmares you have about hell.
John: I'm not clear on the last one mucker...
Sigma: don't talk to ANYONE here except me. ever.
John: well that's a bit boring..
Sigma: once we reach Visormier you can go back to being the mouthy child that you are..
John: hehe.. what happens if I talk to someone here?
Sigma: Words work differently down here you become their possession.. seriously. And they are equal parts 'keep you as a slave or eat you'.. I can't die. John you can.
John: what?
Sigma: You're normally quicker than this.. creation was brought about with a Word...
John: stressful day mate..
[John and Sigma walk down what looks like just a normal cave.. John starts to feel maybe Sigma was exaggerating but before that emotion can fully blossom.. he hears the walls whisper his inner most sexual desires to him]
Sigma: ohw flip.. it must be a full moon on the majority of the earths..
[as John turns his head forward he sees a great wall of green jello]
Sigma: trust us to come at this time.. erm I'm going to do something.. it's our only option, but.. it.. erm it will attract a bit of .. attention.
John: .. .. erm
[Sigma begins singing.. no effect.. he splits into two.. slight effect.. he splits into 4 and the hallway is a little cramped so John backs up a bit.. the green 'jello' opens.. Sigma remerges and the two walk down this very narrow green sliver of a corridor.. as John walks a corner of his coat gets caught on the green 'Jello' then sucks his coat in almost taking him in too.. with Sigma grabbing John, whom is saved but not his coat.]
The two right themselves and Sigma says: ohw flip!
Voice: Who tresspasses in my domain??
Sigma: It is I SigmaAtom.. Volmore; FEAR me and pay homage to the Almighty!!
Volmore: AHH an honoured guest.. and you have brought me a snack!! yum yummm!
Sigma: indeed he is unworthy but instead he is MY guest and so under my protection and so under the protection of the Almighty.
[Sigma and John are still in the middle of Volmore.. in the narrow gap.. even Sigma is a little worried John might die]
John opens his mouth as if to speak.. but Sigma sings a note and no words come out of John's mouth. Sigma whispers to John.. 'what did I tell you?'
Volmore: Well.. this IS an odd situation.. perhaps you will honor me with a song.. it *has* been such a long time since I heard a Netherwer sing..
Sigma thinks: yeah..
since you were imprisoned here during 'The Gating'. I REALLY don't want to show him any notes in case he could harness them..
[We flashback to Sigma as a child being taught to sing by his mother..they are in a field with cyan grass in fact the trees have cyan leafs and the bark is grey brown.. the Netherwer have an innate singing ability, however it is mostly inert until they are taught how to harness its power]
Mother: Now hold your head at this angle.. it shows proper respect for
the Lord.. try now.
Little Sigma: AAAhh..ghhh
Mother: nooo.. too harsh and your head is off by half a degree.. try again. [smiles]
Sigma, John and Volmore in present day
Sigma thinks: ohw man! this is baaad! I have no idea if he knows what to do with the notes.. last time he wasn't listening.. but now we have his full attention.
John looks at Sigma like.. 'go ahead.. what are you waiting for??'
[at that point a wave of small black monsters come flooding through the narrow passage..]
Volmore laughs..: 'so you HAVE been singing!.. why so shy now?'
Sigma to John: Run!
[The two run through the remaining green corridor as it gets narrower and narrower.. John can hear the little black monsters that look like a mix between demons and tiny batmans.. some are singing the song Sigma sung to open the corridor.. some are shouting 'sing for me.. we will eat your friend as you sing to us.'.. John finds this a little upsetting. Sigma junts John's arm with a shunt as Sigma flies out the end of the corridor.. we see Volmore closing; missing John's shoes by an inch.]
Sigma: Volmore.. I will return in two moons.. with a 'snack' for you. For the servants of the Lord do not steal nor let debt abide.
Volmore: Honour to you great Sigma and to your Lord... [slowly] our Lord.
John to Sigma: 'snack'?
Sigma: on earth I know a place that does amazing steak for cheap.. I might throw in some bacon.. no wait he can't eat bacon. Steak should do it. Also.. start listening John..
John: are we near the Visormier?
Sigma: Nooooo.. it'll be days before we get there, we have just passed two rooms.. Hallifer is HUGE! You're not even listening are you?!? ALL the places here are HUGE.. near unfathomably HUGE..and .. to be honest.. it is much much worse, in the Visormier *everything* is trying to and mostly successfully will.. eat you.
Sigma continues: ... this is why you are not allowed to do the things you do. you do not understand! you are petulant child with a big stick whacking it against police cars and mobster cars alike to see what happens.. it is shear grace you are not already dead.
John: as selfish as your 'masters'.. you know that??
Sigma: Glory to the Most High and to his servants.
John grunts in disagreement.
[The two leave Volmore's room through another cave looking exit.. inside it is dark but this time it vast.. each echo of a footstep gets louder and louder and louder.. seemingly never stopping..]
[Sigma splits into 'Gadgets Sigma' .. Gadgets Sigma hands John some special ear plugs which only let certain sounds in, then Sigma remerges]
[The two walk for what feels like hours.. John just blindly following the light from Sigma's helmet]
John: are we there yet?
[Sigma grabs his head]
Sigma whispers but in anger: not so loud! and no..
[a blackness surrounds Sigma..]
Blackness: I AM TERTIAN.. RULER OF THIS DOMAIN.. WHO COMES TO DISRUPT MY TORMENT?
Sigma: Terian the silence keeper of nightmares.. I am but a humble servant of the Lord. Glory be to His Name and to His Works! [quietly] I am SigmaAtom.. an infinite Atom do not hoist any anger upon us for know the Lord owns all Vengeance!
Tertian: Ah! A netherwer! ..I am honoured. You may pass if you give me true answer to three questions..
Sigma thinks: I could probably give this guy a severe headache however that would bring no glory to the Lord .. soo let's see what these questions are..
Sigma: we will enjoy the challenge at least! [whispers to John.. ] still don't talk to him.. let me do the talking.
John sparks another smoke from a pack he had in his trouser pocket.
Tertian: How deep are the depths?
Sigma thinks: This is a trick question .. because he has nothing to do with the sea.. is he asking about the depths of this place?.. wait no.. he means silence!
[Sigma walks forward saying nothing, palms up..]
Terian: is this your answer?
[Sigma says nothing..]
Tertian: Very well.. you are correct.. the depth is silence itself.. I must try harder next time.
[Tertian smiles a smile that chills both Sigma and John]
Terian: What is the worth of death?
John to Sigma: There is no worth to death..it's meaningless..you either leave debt or the debt of jealousy.. family members squabbling over scraps.. How long are we going to be here?
Sigma: I told you this would take time..
John: yeah.. I have more pressing commitments than hanging around here.. while you do a little dance for him..
Sigma: YOU DO NOT LISTEN!! I watched all your fears as you went through the Nth metal crisis. Barbatos surfaced to be with us on the Rock. These evil formless creatures refused the
Lord and were imprisoned here, each and everyone of them is equally or even more powerful than him, many could eat Barbados for breakfast and not blink an eye, should that an eye is afforded them..
[Sigma turns to Terian..]
Sigma: I apologize for such intense emotion.. my companion is a very abrasive person, so much so, his attitude alone could tan leather. It may be after we finish this 'adventure' I may turn him into a donkey for a day..
[Terian giggles unabatedly]
Tertian: No no.. you have amused me sir, ..I am surprised as I did not know that the Netherwer
could lose their temper.. in fact had it been suggested to me prior to this.. I would have assured that such a thing was impossible.
Sigma thinks: ohw great! now he thinks of it as a weapon.. I hope he never gets the chance to use it.
Sigma: The value of death is two pennies.. one for each eye.
Terian: you are correct. Now to the final question.. What is of the high quality but is given for free?
John to Sigma: I know this one..it's the soul!
Sigma to John:.. correct.
Sigma to Tertian: It's the soul.
Terian: correct. You may pass.. however you must not make any sounds, not in the slightest with your steps..
Sigma: Surely you are mistaken Tertian.. kindly, this was not part of the agreement.
Terian:
I agreed to nothing!
Sigma: HOW DARE YOU!!
[Sigma now floating begins to sing.. John grabs his head as his skull is vibrating.. suddenly everything is bright with a near blinding light.. John looks up and can see 40 Sigmas.. all singing.. he can just about make out Tertian's face.. struck with terror]
Tertian: ABATE! ABATE! Mercy.. your lord is the Lord of Mercy!
[Sigma Prime stops singing and begins to speak to Tertian]
Sigma Prime: This is true.. however The Lord counts all things, even his servants even his Angels count every blade of grass, The Lord is the counter of debts and the Lord of Vengeance.
[Tertian is terrified]
Sigma: However.. I will show you the Lord's mercy for His Glory.. if you can answer me ONE question! .. Why are we here?
Tertian: erm.. I don't know.. I.. erm.. you have a companion with you! Your companion is looking for something.. he has lost something.. no someone.. a friend? a wife? a family member?
Sigma: close enough. I will abate.. but remember this Grace as a Glory to the Lord.. and share it with the next unfortunate
'adventurer'.
Tertian: yes honour to you great sir, and honour to your Lord.. [slowly] our Lord.
[the two walk.. everything has returned to black.. so John follows Sigma's helmet light again.. they are walking and John feels a shift in the pressure and cold.. suddenly they are high up a snowy mountain.. John suddenly feels sick with altitude sickness]
Sigma: Ohw sorry.. I forgot..
[Sigma splits and becomes also Nature Sigma and hands John a handful leafs]
Nature Sigma: here.. chew these.
[John takes a mouthful and begins chewing. Sigma remerges]
Sigma: This is the nightmare version of the Mountain of God. It is a prison to those from the height of heights that refused the Lord. They are chased up and down the other side of the mountain by beings of the coldest wind..we won't be going anywhere near there.. it'll take around 6 hours to ascend this side of the mountain .. keep moving it will warm you up.
John feeling better: Ohw I dunno about that old son..
[John casts a fire spell in which three fireballs orbit him]
John: hehe .. see?
Sigma in low tones: arrogant child.
[After 3 hours of silent walking they reach the West summit.. ]
Sigma: do you hear that rumbling?
John: yeahh.. what is that??
Sigma: someone we do not want to disturb! .. we should take a break for an hour and set up a small camp.. you can get some food..
John: starvin'! But where exactly is this '7/11'.. or do you have a 'chef Sigma' up your sleeve as well?
Sigma sarcastically: fuunnnyy.
[Sigma splits into Fire, Nature, Atomic and Water Sigma's. Atomic takes a large rock and changes it into a bowl, Fire starts a campfire, Water fills the bowl with water and Nature with herbs.. Atomic places it by the campfire to cook into a broth..]
John: bein' honest.. I woulda preferred if Nature lad did it..
Sigma: they are all me.. [groans].. wait.. didn't BetaAtom give you a lecture on all this? I'm pretty sure she told me she did..
John: no idea what your talking about me old son [John feigns innocence]
Sigma: .. .. hmm.. each room in here is an interlocking puzzle.. as you pass into the next room three different rooms appear.. it is imperceptible to yourself and the creatures.. but Netherwer can see it as we were the ones who built this place..it also means those inside each 'room' cannot escape.. as the maze sprawls outward each time is one third the chance of being correct.. this place is a bit of a shortcut to get us to Visomier..
John: wait.. your people built this place??
Sigma:Is it really so surprising those who built the Source Wall built this place too?
they begin to ascend again.. walking in the icy cold
John: Couldn't you just fly us up there, quick style?
Sigma: see that icy wind there?
John looks
Sigma: if we disturb it in the slightest.. someone.. something will probably come round here and eat you.
John extinguishes his fire orbs that were a hair's breadth away from disturbing the wind.
John slightly stunned: If you say so chief.
16 hours later the two are near the summit..
Sigma: We should make a camp so you can rest and have a sleep..
John, eyes half shutting: I'm fine mate!
Sigma splits off to Atomic Sigma and Fire Sigma.. taking rocks and making them into an oblong shape on the ground they heat the rocks..
Sigma Prime: John.. step inside the rocks and get a sleep.. kindly.
John: maybe for.. 5 minutes.
8 hours later..
Sigma: rise for the day is young.. [Sigma smiles then puts his helmet back on]
John: What??..how long have I been out..
Sigma: 5 minutes hehe.. no.. around 8 hours. I woke you up 20 minutes ago but you fell back asleep.
John stands up and sparks a smoke..
John: time to get moving then..
Sigma: I went back and got your coat from Volmore.. he had.. only partially digested it..
John inspects coat which has large holes in the lower parts..
Sigma: Yeah I was right.. he's kind of Jewish.. no bacon.. he seemed pretty enthused about the steak..
John: Yeah .. I don't imagine much steak on the menu down here..
Sigma: There's a siren down here somewhere.. I'm surprised we haven't met her.. but no matter.
John: Siren?
Sigma: yes.. they were the wives of the Grigori who transgressed the law of
the Lord and the natural laws of Man.. as punishment
the Lord turned them into Sirens.. they died eons ago.. one ended up here so vile were her actions. She acted more like a Nephilim than a human.. no matter. If she offers you '
turkish delight'.. just say no. You still have those earbuds in right?
John: yeah.. keepin me ears warm!
The two almost reach the summit.. and Sigma begins walking into a cave.. John looks up and sees a bright light sitting atop the mountain peak..
John: hey.. how come we're not going up there, and instead inside yet another cave?!
Sigma: Firstly.. that light is to remind those who are tortured here.. of what they have lost.. secondly.. you weren't figured in to the scheme of things when building this place.. so on both counts.. neither were built for you in mind! Mind this first step.. its ultra sharp!
John follows Sigma in the cave entrance and falls about 8 feet.. he looks up and there is a small light on the roof, with a gold Sun metallic sculpture in the center of the room hanging and looking down he's on a set of stairs.. but not build for humans, these are stairs for beings of gigantic proportions..
Sigma: you might know this better as a 'Penrose Staircase'.. watch out for a creepy goth looking guy.. and if you see a turtle.. don't touch it!
John: goth guy. check. turtle.. check?
Sigma: .. this is the
Impossible Labyrinth.. only Netherwer know how to get out.. if we get separated.. you will probably die even with my help.. it would take ALL the other Atoms to get you out of here..
John: Which leads me to ask.. WHY THE FLIP HAVE YOU BROUGHT US HERE???
Sigma: be chilled John.. also I seem to remember you brought US here.
Sigma glares at John..
Sigma: If we don't take this shortcut it would be another 3 months.. the other choice was the '
Neutral Room' or the '
Tokens of Signal' .. and I have absolutely no belief you could survive either of them.
Sigma: If you just stick close.. we *should* be fine.
John sighs.
4 hours later..
Sigma: okay to be completely honest.. I am starting to feel a little lost John. But I can still remember *most* of the pathways..
John: Great! just greeeaaattt.. I trust you and you don't know what you are doing..
Sigma: I do! .. it works on the principle of identification as you reach the second stage of stairs the first changes orientation.. so long as you both keep the passage in your mind as you go and remember both orientations in relation to that sun looking metal sculpture [Sigma points to the sculpture].. we will..
John interrupts: but each point looks identical..
Sigma: I can see different colours than yourself.. it doesn't just look gold to me.
John: riiiighttt
Sigma: flip.. this is HARD. Don't worry.. I can always find the original entrance.
John points to a door nearby..
John: what about this..
Sigma: I hardly think.. wait.. wow.. it's got the right markings..
Sigma: John wait here. I will go and try it..
John sparks a smoke and laughs to himself as Sigma goes in..
As Sigma returns tentacles try to grab him..
Sigma: well done! this is the next room!
John: wait.. wait.. tentacles??
Sigma Prime switches to Atomic Sigma and splits off to Water Sigma..
Water Sigma: it's fiiinnee..
1 day later.. John and Sigma slurge out of a door with some water.. Sigma stands up..
John: never again!
John is shivering.. Sigma leans over..
Sigma: shiver me timbers? [Sigma lifts his helmet slightly to show a cheesy smile]
John: ha. horrified noise. ha
Sigma: I think it fancied you John.. maybe a second date? [Sigma giggle laughs gently]
John sits on the floor leaning his back against the door post
John: SURLY WE ARE AT THE VISORMIER NOW??
Sigma: stay your tone to chilled John. seriously. and no.. another .. week? unless we hit a lucky break..
John: Think I need a rest.. maybe a sleep?
Sigma: I wish we could John, but there is nowhere here.. maybe the next room..
John: squire.. you don't seem 100% confident on where we are going..
Sigma: it's a maze John. A maze I don't have memorized...it's not really my job to be down here.. I mean The Atoms have some responsibilities but.. this is Dream's domain. But if you think you can do better with 0% information rather than my.. I dunno.. 90% information.. go right ahe..
[at this point 5 wraiths come up]
Sigma: OH FLIP!
[Sigma stands up straight and faces the wraiths]
Sigma: This is the soul and body of John Alouishus Constantine and as such he is under the protection of myself and so
the Lord! Mark him and mark me!
Jesus is LORD!..
Sigma: where is your Master?
The wraiths ghoulishly whisper.. 'over there' and all point..
Sigma splits into many Sigmas and surrounds John.
Sigma: stay inside.
John: I can't see!
Sigma: You don't want to!
John looks up to the dark ceiling that seems to have dim light.. coming from somewhere.. he hears some crashing noises.. some singing.. some light.. a woop woop noise Atomic Sigma makes.. a force field comes up from Green Lantern Sigma and another from Quantum Sigma ..
Sigma Prime to battling force:
Threaten him again and I will time displace him!
John: What on earth is going on??
Water Sigma to John: be chilled John.. you really don't want any part of this!
Gadgets Sigma to John: Those earbuds are protecting you from hearing a lot of.. maddening noises..
A blinding light engulfs the room.. Sigma starts singing the Trisagion..
Sigma Prime:
Glory Glory Glory to the Lord the Most High, God of all creation.. The Ein Sof.. The TRUE Infinity!
one of the earplugs blow at the end of this and John hears a upsetting gurgling..
Gadgets Sigma quickly produces another earbud..
Gadgets Sigma: quick! replace the broken one!
John does so.. and as the light fades.. Sigma remerges.. John sees 30 or so wraiths..
Sigma: we should be fine now..
Sigma shouts aggressively at the wraths.. 'GUHGA!!' who all scatter.
John looks up to see a throne.. and under the empty throne is a small door.
John: That.. wasn't.. yknow.. Lucifer?
Sigma: noooo... it was Mastema's General of his Powers.. Obplox..
John: where did he go? Did you kill him?
Sigma: nooo.. I just teleported him to Volmore's realm.. He should be having fun right about now..
[scene flicks away: Volmore: Oh Obplox! I am so glad you can come for tea!
Obplox: Obplox does not do ..
tea. How do I get out of here???]
Back with Sigma and John walking through the door under the empty throne..
Sigma: I must come back later and fix all this..
John: What exactly is torturous about ruling this domain?
Sigma: A domain where.. everyone does what you say.. mindless and without question..and you never get any satisfaction out of your rulings?...
never being able to be cruel to those who break your rules or considered wise in judgement? I dunno..
John: ha.ha.
They walk through and are inside another cave..
Sigma: wow.. humans must dream a lot about caves now you mention it..
In a dark hollow room.. an hour later of Sigma and Constantine walking.. the pair start reaching another door..there are five doors and each seems to get further away the more they walk to it.. but Sigma has assured John he knows the right one for them.
The pair suddenly bump into Lobo coming out of another portal ..
Lobo under his breath:
uh-oh! .. Sigma!
Lobo begins to run away towards the door he entered..
Sigma: LOBO!! I warned you not to come in here!!
Lobo from a distance getting quieter:
yeah.. but like I told you..
'a jobs a job'.
As Lobo goes through the door, Sigma turns to Constantine ..
Sigma: I'll deal with him later..
John: I'm knackered mate!
[we focus in on John.. he eyes are very red and he is swaying as he stands]
Sigma: okay.. but I don't know anywhere we will have a chance for a rest.. I mean I agree you should sleep and have a meal before we enter the Visormier..
John: interrupts: and bog mate.. need the bog..
Sigma:
that you can hold..
John: says you..
Sigma: erm.. I guess we could go a different route.. but it will add time.. this place was not designed for such requirements ..
John: now would be great mate!
Sigma splits into Atomic Sigma and Nature Sigma.. nature Sigma holds John coat around him..
Sigma Prime looking away: You might get a little.. radiation dose.. but needs must..
John does what he needs to do and Atomic Sigma blasts whatever comes out, vaporizing it..
John fixes himself up..
John: I must have swallowed 10 pints in that water nightmare! few small tentacles too.. you know what.. you're alright! I mean that was totally humiliating for us both.. but you don't have to deal with this stuff..
Sigma: I appreciate the recognition.. I see humiliation and humility as linked.
Atomic Sigma: The smell though!
Sigma Prime: Wish I hadn't said that now.. but I had a point. Wait.. you ate some of the tentacles..?
Atomic Sigma cleans himself, Sigma Prime and Nature Sigma who has handed back Johns coat to him..
[Suddenly a light appears above them]
Voice: Who defiles my
Court of Doors?
Sigma: Ah.. Sidgewen! Your normally very quiet..
Sidgewen: Sigma?? This is impossible!
Sigma: well.. John here was having human problems... I cleaned it as best I could..
Sidgewen: I I I.. don't know what to say?!
Sigma to John: Sidgewen here.. is kind of still.. well not an 'angel' per~se.. but morally ambiguous.. he's helped me a few times in the past..
Sidgewen: I would hate for us to fight!
Sigma: I also.. howsabout I come back here in 2 months.. I'll give the place a thorough clean and bring you a song book?
Sidgewen: TWO MONTHS??
Sigma: okay okay
fair enough.. a week.. can you last with the smell a week?
Sidgewen: not really to be honest..
Sigma: for a song book and an ipod and some of those weird speaker things.. bluetooth speakers!
Sidgewen: that
does appeal to me.. but how would I charge it? Have humans got cold fusion working yet?
Sigma: noo.. erm I'll bring a little dynamo.. but you will have to try not to break it.. if you do I'll bring you another but I know you understand they are not unlimited.
Sidgewen: deal!.. a week: no later..
Sigma remembers: oh! a week
after we get out of here..
Sidgewen: how long will
that be??
Sigma: We are about 2 days away from the Visormier.. then I dunno.. a month?
Sidgewen: well.. lets see if we can cut that down a bit..
The light surrounds them.. suddenly.. they are at the gates of the Visormier.. huge 'waterfalls' of shadows on each side of the walls of the gates.. in the distance we see ledges with lava rain going upwards instead of down
Sigma: oh man! I never thought I would be back here.. well not so soon.. you look exhausted John..
John: I am.. why is it so cold? [John is sweating profusely]
Sigma: You might have hypothermia.. due to the severe heat change.. I think its time you got a sleep. While this is *no* hospital.. we are out of choices.
[Sigma splits into Gadgets Sigma and Ice Sigma.. Ice Sigma creates a igloo and Gadgets Sigma gives him a chest brace that monitors and levels his temperature]
John: okay..
John climbs inside the igloo and sleeps. [fade to black frame]
Sigma Prime starts flying around outside the gate inspecting the place..
Sigma Prime: it's changed a bit since Barbatos.. must be the multi-spatial energy disrupting the structures here.. I should notify OmegaAtom.. he could come down here to sort this.
4 hours later.. we see the igloo is partially melted.. Sigma reaches into the igloo and grabs John by the hand for a rude awakening
Sigma: We gotta go!!! now!!
outside the igloo.. John looks up and is alarmed to see small dragon looking creatures.. John starts making a fireball with his hands..
Sigma: noooo.. don't..
Just as Sigma says 'don't'.. John blasts a fireball towards one of the creatures,, who start to notice the both of them..
Sigma: RUNNNN!
Sigma sings a few notes and the gates open and as John and Sigma pass through as the door closes behind them with the smaller dragons crashing into the closed gate..
Sigma: I DO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH TIAMAT!
John embarrassed: hmm.. ok. Remind me again.. who is Tiamat?
Sigma: ohw! he is the embodiment of one of my nightmares inhabited by a creature from down here.
When I was a kid.. around 90 years old.. my parents took me down here.. Netherwer rarely sleep unless it was for the purpose of a vision from God.. but I fell asleep that night and dreamt him up..
John: Soo.. nightmares here.. kind of literal.. yeh? Let's hope we don't bump into mine..
[suddenly the stench of rotting corpses overwhelm the duo.. the walls are made of rotting people who are still conscious]
Sigma: just try to keep in mind.. its all fake.. none of these people ever had a soul.. it's like a dream..
John: speaking of Dream.. can't you conjure him up or something..
Sigma: He's a prison warden John.. we're trespassing.. well
you are. I don't imagine he will be too friendly .. best case scenario.. he teleports you home..
John: and worst?
Sigma: he breaks every bone in your body, leaves you here and changes his energy signature.. effectively blocking me or anyone from calling on him again.. not to mention the trouble I would get in..
John: so that's a 'no' then?
[at that moment John and Sigma reach the other side of the
Corridor of Rotting Flesh they see an identical door but in mirror image to the one they came through.. but at that moment Dream appears suddenly]
Dream: Why are you here Sigma.. running with stray puppy dogs I see..
John: speak of the..
Sigma coughs with a cough that lets John know 'that actually means something down here!' John discontinues.. then says to Dream
John: me mate Chaz.. he's stuck down here..
Dream interrupts: I know why you are here John.. but why is Sigma here?
Sigma: I apologize for the trespass that my remit of honour has been blackened or greyed in your eyes great Dream..
Dream: fine words.. flowery even.. but still I have not my answer.
Sigma: John asserted our kind are.. selfish.. I sought to show him this is not always true.
Dream laughs: I haven't laughed for a millenia.. this is quite funny! How dare you Sigma assert that we are filled with hubris and self concern..
Sigma: Ah you mistake me.. I merely do not vouch for others.. only myself.. how about you then SHOW us with your actions how you embody humility..
Dream: your actions betray your words.. for you act in worry of what this mortal thinks of us..
Sigma: this is true! I do worry but on my own regard did I undertake care of John Constantine and no one else's.. perhaps there is more urgent matters for you to attend.. as you are often want to tell 'mortals' this very phrase.
Dream: do not anger me SigmaAtom as this is my domain as well you know it.. and it is a rare time I come into your realm.. never would I 'dream' even though I fill many a dream.. never would I dare to tell you where you should be or what you should do.. within your own realm of course..
Dream to John: .. didn't I snap your shoulder?
John: yeh.. never healed properly..
John whispers to Sigma: thanks mate.. for doing this.. yknow.
Sigma whispers back: don't thank me too soon.. he's in a 'mood'.. things are turning a little sour
Dream: I am standing right here! I can hear you both.
Sigma: our peoples have a long history of cooperation.. perhaps I can offer you a trade? However I have no idea what you would want..
Dream: RhoAtom owes me a debt.. as I cannot get near him.. I would like for you to collect..
Sigma: oh man! Erm.. the Atoms are not well balanced at the moment..what is the debt?
Dream: of course I know about the imbalance. The debt is his soul.. he is to be imprisoned in here for his part in the imbalance..
Sigma: ggooaann.. erm.. it was more my fault than anything else.. we are dealing with it internally.. Last I heard the novices had turned on Omicron.. due to Delta's loyalty. Rho is recovering..
Dream: you surprise me! yet again.. not what I asked. Twice in one day.. are you unwell?
Sigma: to be honest.. it's been a very looong day Dream, kindly.
Sigma to John: I am allowed to go on.. but you are not.. I can't hand over a compatriot.. upset in tribal intention or not.. what does Chaz look like?
Dream: Are you sure Sigma?.. I will not give aide without the deal being struck..
John: my picture of him.. seems to have been absorbed..
Sigma: oh I am starting to get a headache!
Dream chuckles: this must be some kind of joke.. netherwer don't get headaches..
Sigma: ohw it's just been one of those kinds of days...
Dream changes stance..
Dream: On this account I can provide mercy.. let it not be said I could never identify
need.
Sigma: oh thank you!
John: thanks for doing us a solid.
The doors open behind Dream and light gushes out.. Dream floats the three of them into the light..Sigma splits into gadgets Sigma.. 'here wear these sunglasses John.. you don't need to see whats on the other side' Sigma remerges.
[scene: most of what we see is obscured to behind Johns sunglasses, as we look out from John's eyes..on the outskirts of the sunglasses.. the most maddening things are happening.. the most unspeakable.. the floor is lava.. with huge plumbs of fire.. while through the glasses John sees only the pools of lava and not what the creatures are doing from the corner of his eye.. he sees a small alter looking place.. and tied to the totem is Chaz]
John: over there!!
All three land.. and from the edge of his glasses John can see creatures running away..
John thinks: Chaz hasn't moved. is he dead?? what's going on??
John: Chaz!! chazz!! mate!!
from the corner of the glasses John sees Chaz's real eyes.. they have decayed all the white to only the other portions remain..
John: ohw mate.. mate.. I'm so sorry!
John hits his knees begins to cry
Sigma whispers to Dream: can he *do* that in here??
Dream: let's find out what happens..
John wipes his face with his hand and then touches Chaz's face.. which heals his eyes.. Chaz comes round.. well kind of.. he is still confused and horrified..
Dream: let us leave.
The group float up to the door and enter..
Sigma: but.. this still doesn't answer the question.. WHO put him in here? I mean if it wasn't you Dream..
Dream: Fear not.. it wasn't I who placed him here.. and yes.. it is very curious.
John: I got me mate back.. that's what's important!
Dream waves his hand and the group flash away in a ball of light.. with only Dream standing there..
Dream: but this is MY prison.. I am concerned; as is professional and dutiful of me.
[scene: in Ranx, Tera is sitting by a console with his feet up on the desk.. he his thumb tossing a coin up on the air.. we zoom in as he stops and looks at the coin.. it is an identical coin to the one John had..]
Tera to himself: You ever.. EVER summon me again John Constantine I will rip your head from your body. This was
merely a slap on the wrist.
[we slowly draw further and further away from TeraAtom as he begins to toss the coin in the air with his thumb flick.. in a head or tails style manor.. we draw out further.. and further.. until we fade to back]
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