Ascend - Act II — Scene Four - Ascend (Reprise)

[The Story — New Meridian, 2091. Cael Morrow rises from the Lower Grid to lead a revolution called The Ascending, seizes the Governing Council, and slowly becomes the very thing he overthrew. His oldest friend Lyra watches the drift. His enforcer Sable runs further than he authorized. And the people eventually sing his own words back at him as an indictment.] [Chorus — Ensemble] [Intro] [Instrumental – familiar melody, now in minor key, slower and heavier] [Verse 1] [Ensemble – slow, deliberate, accusing] What are we building here? What are we building here? You said something that matters You said something that lasts You said something to throw at the ones in the past [Chorus] What are you building here? What have you built here? Something that matters — something that lasts? Or something to throw at the ones coming fast? [Bridge] [Ensemble – building, relentless] We're done waiting We're done waiting We believed in the version of you that you sold And now we see the version that the power made bold [Outro] [Ensemble – quieter now, more devastating than loud] And we're asking — What are you building here? What are you building here? [Instrumental – fades into orchestral dread, then silence]