[ LIVE: SEVEN HIGH PRIESTS HOST REVERENCE ON MOON ]
The broadcast had finally gone live. There, on television, in front of the millions that sat and watched the big screen in Santorium, the seven High Priests of the Elysian Congregation stood before the camera with the horizon of the Moon just behind them, and even with earth included in the background.
Raphael began to speak. "Welcome, everyone, to the Reverence of 2060. As you can all see, we have safely landed on the Moon, and we are here today with our one and only beloved MONA. Thank you Elysia, for joining us today as we worship our Mother with her presence in person. We will begin with a prayer."
Just as Raphael was about to begin, a new, large, sight came into view just behind the High Priests, arriving at high speed.
It was a large rocket with a nuclear sign on it.
"Dear Mother—"
A cataclysmic explosion ensued. The eruption of the blast completely wiped out the camera and its footage, leaving viewers with just the words [ OUT OF SERVICE ] written on screen.
BOOM—!!!
The echo of the explosion could be heard—it's delayed sound finally reaching the Elysians back on earth as they looked up at the midnight sky and saw that their beloved Moon bore a nuclear cloud. The people began to cry, not out of joy in MONA's presence as they normally would in a Reverence, but out of fear and horror at the sight of their goddess' death. What was supposed to be the annual celebration of the Moon to honour Her guidance and blessings, was now a moment of shock, too quick to process. For those who could just barely understand what'd happened, they already began to mourn their loss. People screamed as if they'd just witnessed murder; the people scattered as if the end had finally come.
Elysia wept as they witnessed the deaths of their leading High Priests, and the death of their goddess, MONA.