Illyria the Merciless is remembering. She’s reflecting on the last time she saw the fellow Old One in front of her. It was eons ago. For quite some time, she had remained restless, for it had been too long since she had been challenged. When finally a worthy opponent came, she was delighted – her smile may have given it away – and war was declared.

This was her way when the world was young. Her temple, her kingdom of terror, the ancient place of Vahla ha’nesh. An army of Darque Wurms launched their attack on her palace, their king shouting ‘Death to Illyria!’ – and then she ripped both of his throats out. It was an example to others to not oppose her rule – and also, she recalls, it was fun.

She had her followers bring the beaten king to her side. His name was Baticus. She had killed his father when he had tried to take her realm and now his last living heir would be a living testament to the simple folly of rebellion. Baticus spat in her demonic face. She was almost impressed by his gaul, but she took his eyes out instead. She left his carcass in her throne room for quite some time. Took pleasure in the lifeless husk. However, one day, through a rare moment of curiosity, Illyria’s time powers revived Baticus. Her touch bringing him back to life, Illyria smiled. She had found her first pet.

In the present day, Baticus screams in rage at Illyria. Gunn watches his companion – he’s seen her kick dragon ass from Silverlake to Echo Park – she can handle this. But the Old One is silent, quiet, almost looking… guilty? Baticus attacks, the floor giving way beneath them. Illyria picks Gunn up in her arms and gets them to safety. They see blue flames beginning to emerge from Baticus. “Soul fire,” Illyria calls it. It will seek to burn anything it touches.

As it touches Gunn, he suddenly finds himself elsewhere, in a memory. He’s twelve years old in his gram’s kitchen. He’s up against the wall, crockery smashed around him. He looks up and sees Officer Winter crouched on the kitchen counter, hands around his gram’s throat. The first vampire he ever saw. As he leaps to his grandmother’s defence, Winter throws her aside like a rag doll, crawling with speed to Gunn’s side, fangs to face. I was sure I was about to become one of them, he remembers.

Then the vampire exploded into dust. In his place, his grandmother, a wooden spoon in her hand, a makeshift stake. He asks her what happened, but she pulls him into a hug: “Shush. Sleep now Chas. There’ll be time enough for nightmares later.”

Gunn is shaken from the memory by Baticus’ giant tail swooping towards him. As it’s about to crush him, however, time stops. Illyria has stopped time, even though she shouldn’t be able to. Then they’re outside, safe from harm. How? he asks her. She hasn’t been able to do that since Wesley took her power. Before she can answer, she tells him that Baticus will adjust to her power – and sure enough, he looms over them.

Then time starts skipping – or at least their perception of it: Illyria remembers enjoying the having of a pet – until it turned against her. In her past, she asks Baticus how he feels. He says that she doesn’t care, but she says that this is simply not true. She does care that he came for her kingdom and tried to fan the flames of rebellion. That’s why she cares enough to keep him alive – forever, entombed under her feet for all eternity. As she seals the sarcophagus shut, Baticus screams.

Gunn is also displaced. He’s back in Los Angeles, in the hospital, and he knows what day it is: it’s his gram’s last day. He finds her in her room, old and feeble, illness having eaten her away. She tells him not to have tears – this life they chose could have taken her sooner, but it didn’t. She wishes him peace and he stays with her, in silence, until she passes away.

Shaken out of the moment, Illyria tells Gunn to put the car into neutral. As he does so, she pushes the vehicle clear of Baticus and the army of Scourge soldiers still loyal to him. She calls her former pet a coward for hiding behind them, but he casually obliterates them with flame. Fine, Baticus declares: she can burn with them.

Gunn, far enough away, can see the fire build across the valley. As he watches, Illyria strides out of the flames, unharmed. She asks Baticus: is that all the violence he has?

He roars at her in defiance! “Why won’t you fall, Illyria? At long last… fall!”

The Old One looks at him, just as steadfast.

She simply says no.