The Great Eagle just stands there, glaring at Toby.
SQUIRT:
YOU’RE ONE TO TALK A**HOLE!!! YOU WHO MURDERED MILLIONS OF YER OWN PEOPLE!!! YOU YELL AT THE GREAT EAGLE, YER GOD, FOR SAVIN’ THE PEOPLE HE LOVES!!??
THE GREAT EAGLE:
I do not love Toby.
Squirt and Toby turn and stare at The Great Eagle in shock.
SQUIRT:
But…
THE GREAT EAGLE:
That’s why I won’t save his beloved. That’s why I won’t save him now.
Squirt stumbles forward.
SQUIRT:
But… but you said…
The Great Eagle looks down, knowing he might lose two followers with what he says next.
THE GREAT EAGLE:
I would have loved him, if he had loved me back. That’s how love works, Squirt. It’s reciprocal. And when it’s genuine it is a truly powerful spiritual energy. When it is not… it is like feeding a gaping maw that is never satiated.
He looks up.
THE GREAT EAGLE:
And I am perfectly willing to let that maw close forever, rather than waste any more of my energy on someone who will never love me back.
SQUIRT:
Please don’t give up on him… please…
The Great Eagle turns to Squirt.
THE GREAT EAGLE:
I selected him to be saved because he was insecure. He sinned. He did terrible things. And I was convinced I could use his guilt to make him love me. With his imagination and loyalty he would have been one of the greatest of my believers. An architect of heaven. One of the strongest of my silver hawks.
He looks at Squirt remorsefully.
THE GREAT EAGLE:
The most hopeless among men, when saved, are always the most grateful.
Squirt looks at the Great Eagle coming to a realization with a tear running down his cheek.
SQUIRT:
Is… is that why ya picked me? Ya didn’t really love me… ya just wanted to…
THE GREAT EAGLE:
Squirt. I do love you. I love the entire Benedict clan. Even Augustus and Octavian. The Benedicts have always been strong believers, even when they pretend they aren’t. And when they get here, they are always some of my most loyal followers. You are no exception, but you were SO insecure, and you had SUCH compassion for others, I knew you could be used to convert the most downtrodden, the most… lost followers and help me turn them into truly great silver hawks. I won’t lie, I AM using you. But I also love you, as you love me. Otherwise, I would have wasted no resources saving you out here, or at all. I look after my own. And I truly mean it when I say that love is reciprocal.
TOBY:
Liar. He was using you all along. He wanted you to worship him, because your worship gives him power.
A pause.
THE GREAT EAGLE:
He is not wrong. But, I do truly love you back, Squirt. I love all those who love me, and I will protect them and do everything I can to make them happy. Even hearing me say this, I know that you will forgive me, because you love me.
Squirt looks away.
THE GREAT EAGLE:
But you also love Toby. And even should you return now, you would eventually leave, just in the hope that he can be turned around. Squirt, I do not want to lose you. But I know you want to try to help your friend if you can. Remember, you can come back to us at any time, but not with Toby. And I will not interfere with the blasphemer’s destiny.
The Great Eagle stands.
THE GREAT EAGLE:
Toby, I allow you to live, only because Squirt will never forgive me if I send you to the Eternal Feeding Grounds. But where you go from here is up to you. Squirt, I cannot control the chaos. I cannot promise you this will have a happy ending, because I cannot control destiny outside of my realm. All I can say is… goodbye. And good luck. I hope you will return to me one day.
He leans into Toby’s face one last time.
THE GREAT EAGLE:
And before you judge me for being selfish with my love, only loving those who love me back, consider your nestmate. I wonder how long you would stay devoted to her, if she was to come to loathe you.
The Great Eagle and Toby glare into each others’ eyes for what seems like an eternity, then the Great Eagle departs, leaving Toby, Squirt, and Felicity standing alone in the chaos.